USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 14
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The close of the war seems not so far away to many of us, and yet there are many sections in the Aroostook Valley where may now be seen broad, smooth and productive fields and fine houses and other buildings, where at the time of the muster out the original forest covered all the hills and vales, and the grand old woods had never been invaded save by the sturdy lumberman, or the adventurous hunter.
Other towns there are where the first few pioneers came just before the commencement of the war, and, though seemingly "out of humanity's reach," yet the bugle call to arms penetrated even the far northern forest, and the patriot left his axe to rust in the cleft of the huge maple, while he marched away to fight his country's battles.
Such a town as this is the present prosperous town of Wood- land, which is today covered all over with beautiful farms and upon all the roads are the comfortable homes of a happy and contented people. "Where are your peasantry?" inquired a dis- tinguished foreigner, as he looked upon the comfortable homes of the laboring class in some of the more thickly settled por- tions of our country. Well indeed might he ask this question could he visit the homes of many of the farmers in these new towns of Aroostook, and see the evidences of comfort, and also of culture and refinement there presented. None of the cring- ing humility of the European peasant here, but each man the peer of his fellow, and all on an equal footing before the law as free citizens of this grand republic. Surely it is worth a struggle to make a home in such a land as ours, and in all its
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broad extent there is no portion where a man possessed of the requisite muscle, pluck and energy can sooner surround himself with a generous share of the necessaries and comforts of life than in this Garden County of Northern Maine. Those of the early pioneers of these new towns who are now living upon fine smooth farms, as they look back upon the period between the wilderness and the rose, will tell you with a flush of pride that the struggle was a hard one and that they hardly know how they came through, but that somehow or other they man- aged to live until the farm yielded a support, and many will aver that the days when they were clearing their farms and rearing their new homes were the happiest of their lives. Too much credit and honor cannot be given to the wives of the hardy settlers upon these forest tracts. Many of them were women who had been brought up in comfortable homes and accus- tomed to a moderate share at least of the luxuries of life. With- out complaining, they followed their husbands to the new home, leaving behind them the comforts and pleasures of society, and bravely faced the privations of pioneer life. Many a man here is proud to admit that his success is largely due to the help and encouragement of the good wife who shared and lightened the toil of all these early years. The first settlers of nearly all these towns were men of small means, and what money they had was usually exhausted in reaching their new home and . they were left with no capital save their strong arms and stout hearts. They were usually, however, men of courage and pluck and not easily frightened by difficulties or hardships. Here, as elsewhere, the law of the survival of the fittest held good, and those who had not the requisite sand gave up the fight when the hard pinch came and returned to the older settlements. Those who held on succeeded and are now enjoying the fruits of their toil.
The town of Woodland, formerly known as Township No. 14, Range 3, was surveyed for settlement by Lore Alford, of Old Town, in 1859, and was divided into lots of 160 acres each. The township is bounded by New Sweden on the north by Caribou on the east, Washburn on the south and Perham on the west- At the time when the first clearing was made in Wood- land, both Perham and New Sweden were wilderness town- ships and had not even been lotted for settlement. The low price at which the State offered these new lands to actual set- tlers attracted the attention of men who wished to make homes for themselves and families, and they were not long in the mar-
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ket before the sturdy blows of the pioneer's axe were resound- ing through the forest and clearings were commenced in differ- ent portions of the town.
The first to make an opening in the new town was Mr. Frederic E. Lufkin of Caribou, who as early as 1858, before. the town had been lotted, made a chopping of six acres in the north part of the town.
In 1859 Enoch Philbrick came from Buckfield, in Oxford County, and made a chopping near Mr. Lufkin's. Both these choppings were burnt on the same day in the summer of 1859, fire being set to Mr. Philbrick's first.
In the same year Charles E. Washburn, B. F. Thomas and Moses Thomas came from Oxford County and took lots in the north part of the town, and T. L. Jennison, Carlton Morse and Charles Carlton came from North Dixmont and settled near the centre. None of these brought their families that year, but after building their log houses and making small clearings, went out and returned with their families the next year.
The first settler who brought his family to the town and remained was Mr. Ephraim Barnum, who came from Ware, Mass., in 1860 and took a lot in the southeast part of the town. Other settlers who came in 1860 were Jonathan Sawin from Westminster, Mass., John G. Thayer and Luther Robbins. E. A. Cunningham had arrived during the previous year. In 1861 L. B. McIntire came in and settled near the centre of the town and a few years later sold his lot to R. A. Sanders. In the same year came George E. Ross from Kennebec County, Willard Glidden from Etna in Penobscot, and John Eddy from Ware, Mass., who settled on the lot adjoining Ephraim Barnum's.
Most of the above named settlers are still residents of the town and have fine smooth farms and large, comfortable houses with spacious barns and outbuildings.
The township was organized as a plantation in 1861, and in April of that year the first legal meeting for choice of officers and other business was held. At this meeting John G. Thayer was chosen Moderator, E. A. Cunningham, Clerk, and T. L. Jennison, Luther Robbins and Charles Carlton, Assessors.
A few more settlers came during that year but the outbreak of the war put a check upon immigration and hardly any new settlers came until after its close. It is the proud boast of this town that every citizen except two, who was fit for service, went to the army, either as a volunteer or as a conscript. This neces- sarily placed a check upon the growth of the town, but at the
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close of the war immigration was resumed and the town began to increase in population-
The first male child born in the town was Ernest Thayer, son of John G. Thayer, who was born in 1861, and the first female child was Julia E., daughter of Charles Carlton, born in 1862.
The first school in the town was taught by E. A. Cunning- ham in his own house in 1863. A log schoolhouse was built during the next year and Miss Maria Adams of Caribou taught the first school in the new house.
The first minister who held service in the town was Rev. W. P. Ray, a Methodist clergyman stationed at Caribou in 1861, who held meetings once a month in Woodland. The meetings were held in private houses until the log schoolhouse was built.
In 1872 all the unoccupied portion of the north part of the town was resurveyed and lotted into 100 acre lots and granted to the Swedes who could not be provided for in New Sweden, and they now form the larger portion of the citizens of this part of the town. As early as 1880, every lot in the town con- sidered fit for settlement was taken up, and the remainder, comprising about 1000 acres, was sold by the State to Messrs. Arnold and Dunn, who have since sold it to settlers. In the original survey a block of 1000 acres in the south part of the town was reserved for school purposes. This block was after- wards sold to Messrs. Johnson and Phair of Presque Isle, and the money placed at interest for the support of schools. This land has since been sold to settlers. There are now no lots in the town owned by the State and very few by non-resident pro- prietors.
Soon after their settlement in the north part of the town the Swedes built a mill on a small brook running into the east branch of the Caribou Stream. This was the first mill built in the town and was a steam mill with one shingle machine. For some reason this mill did not prove to be a profitable one and after running a year the machinery was removed and the mill abandoned.
Some six miles from the village of Caribou, on the road running through Woodland to New Sweden, is the steam mill of Messrs. Goodwin and Hackett. This mill was built in 1878 by York and Merrill and forms the nucleus of what is to be the village of Woodland.
As an agricultural town Woodland ranks among the best of the many good towns in Northern Aroostook, and, as the
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center of the town is but about six miles distant from Caribou station, the farmers are provided with a convenient outlet for their potatoes and other surplus produce.
Though a new town, there are now good roads in all parts of the town and the character of the soil is such that they are easily kept in good repair. Previous to 1860 there was no road anywhere in the township, and only a logging road leading from Caribou to the east line of the town. In 1860, a road was laid out by the County Commissioners running from Caribou through the towns of Woodland and Perham and away on through the wilderness until it struck the road leading from Ashland to Fort Kent in Township 14, R. 6. The road was built across the two towns named, but was never continued farther than the west line of Perham, owing to the opposition of the proprietors of the wild lands in 14, R. 5 and 14 R. 6, who succeeded in defeat- ing it. This road runs nearly through the centre of the town of Woodland and there are fine farms with broad, smooth fields along its entire length.
The northern part of Woodland is for the most part occu- pied by Swedes and as late as 1870 was nearly all wilderness- It is now covered with fertile farms and on all the roads are good, comfortable houses and most of them well built and neat- ly kept in all their surroundings. These Swedish settlers are good citizens and have been quick to adopt the manners and customs of their Yankee neighbors. The first tax was assessed on these Swedish citizens of Woodland in 1872, and this they refused to pay, as the colonists in the adjoining town of New Sweden were exempted by the State from taxation for five years from the date of their arrival. The tax collector of Woodland attempted at one time to drive away a Swede's cow, whereupon the owner appeared with his gun and drove the collector off his premises. For this the Swede was arrested and taken to Houl- ton, but was released without any punishment. For three years in succession the Swedes in Woodland refused to pay their tax and it was finally paid by the State. Since that time they have been prompt taxpayers and good, law abiding citizens.
Rev. Andrew Wiren, the Swedish pastor, settled among the people in this part of the town and built a handsome residence. He afterwards married a daughter of Mr. W. A. Vaughan, of Caribou, and removed to Florida, where he died some two years ago.
Woodland was incorporated as a town March 5, 1880. The population in 1870 was but 174 and in 1880 it had increased to
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679. In 1890 the population was 885. The valuation of the town in 1880 was $77,539 and in 1890 was $170,612. The rate of taxation was 017.
There are many enterprising farmers and business men in the town and when the completion of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad shall have given its added stimulus to the business of the County, Woodland is sure to become one of the most pros- perous towns in Northern Aroostok.
LUDLOW
The half township now incorporated as the town of Ludlow lies immediately west of the north half of Houlton which was the grant to Williams College. This half township (Ludlow) was granted by the general court of the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts to the trustees of Belfast Academy by a resolve passed Feb. 29, 1808. John Reed and William Smith were ap- pointed by the general court as agents to deed the grant to the trustees of the academy. The half township was surveyed by Park Holland in the month of September, 1809, and was deeded to the trustees on Dec. 6, 1809. The grant is thus described in the original deed: "Beginning at the southwesterly corner of a township granted to Williamstown College, at a hard maple tree, thence west, thirteen degrees north six miles to an ash tree, thence north, thirteen degrees east three miles to a maple tree, thence east, thirteen degrees south six miles to a cedar, thence on Williamstown College westerly line south, thirteen degrees west, three miles to the first bounds and containing eleven thousand five hundred and twenty acres, etc."
The conditions of the deed bound the trustees to "lay out and convey to each settler who settled on said tract before the first day of January, 1784, one hundred acres of land to be laid out so as best to include his improvements and be least injuri- ous to the adjoining lands." As no settler had entered upon this wilderness region previous to 1784, this provision was really su- perfluous. The trustees were also bound to "settle on said tract ten families in six years, including them now settled thereon." They were also to lay out three lots of 160 acres each, "one lot for the use of the ministry, one lot for the first settled minister and one lot for the use of schools."
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The condition in relation to placing ten settlers upon the tract within six years must have been extended, for the settlement was not made until some ten years after the expira- tion of that limit. We find upon the records the following cer- tificate : "Land Office, Boston, 29th March 1826. This certifies. that I have received of the trustees of Belfast Academy a cer- tified list containing the names of ten settlers who are now set- tled on the half township of land in the County of Washington and State of Maine lying northwest from Houlton Plantation, granted to said Academy and is satisfactory evidence that the condition for placing settlers upon said grant is seasonably com- plied with. Attest, Geo. W. Coffin, land agent."
On September 1, 1835, the trustees deeded all the unsold lands, comprising 7264 acres, to Henry P. Bridge of Boston, for $7264. He paid one-fourth, or $1816, down and gave his notes. for the remainder in three equal annual payments. September 4, 1835, Mr. Bridge deeds his purchase to Samuel H. Blake of Bangor. Various deeds of lots in the grant were given by the trustees until 1835. On November 22, 1853, they deeded to James White of Belfast, for $2000, "al the unsold lands in said half township, together with all debts, dues and demands be- longing to said trustees for any lands sold in said half township, he paying all claims against them for the services of their agents heretofore accruing." So much for the documentary his- tory of the grant to the time when the trustees of the Academy made a final sale of all their interest in the half township.
The first settler on the grant was Gen. John Cummings (or Comings, as the name was then spelled) who on the 8th day of October, 1825, made his way through the woods to the lot about two and one-half miles west of the Houlton line, where Mr. William Hand now lives. The woods were at that time filled with the dense smoke from the Mirimachi fire. Gen. Cum- mings with his party camped near where Mr. Hand's watering tub now stands by the roadside, and the General chose this lot for his new home. Here he cleared up a large farm upon a beautiful elevation from which he could overlook all the settle- ments upon the adjoining townships. Houlton was then but a small settlement and there were openings in the forest in Hodgdon, Linneus and New Limerick, the smokes from which could be seen from the elevation upon which General Cummings built his home. He was for years the prin- cipal man in the new settlement. and was agent for the trustees of Belfast Academy for the sale of lots
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and location of settlers. He lived on this farm until his death in 1849. His son, John M. Cummings, continued to live upon the old homestead until about 1870, when he removed to Wis- consin. Bradford Cummings, another son of the General, came at the same time and settled on the lot where David R. Small now lives. Mr. Cummings was a land surveyor and in October, 1826, lotted the half township and in all subsequent deeds refer- ence is made to his plan and survey. He built a mill on the stream which flowed across the southwest corner of his lot and which has ever since been known as Mill Brook. The mill con- tained an up and down saw and sawed lumber for the settlers. It was afterwards rebuilt by Daniel Small, who run it for a num- ber of years, when it was abandoned and has decayed and
fallen down. Bradford Cummings subsequently . removed to Houlton, where he remained for a short time and then moved to Fort Fairfield, where he resided for many years on a farm a short distance from the village, and where he died a few years ago. Judge Cummings, as he was known for many years, was a man well known and respected throughout Aroostook County. He served as sheriff of the county and also as judge of probate and was an influential citizen for many years.
Among the ten original settlers besides John and Bradford Cummings, were John Stuart, Lewis Wright, Robert Blaisdell, Barrows, Cyrus Hutchings, James H. Stevens and Alfred Marshall. Who the tenth man was who completed the list we have been unable to determine.
Miss Ruth W. Cummings taught school in the grant in the summer of 1830. Her bill for teaching eleven weeks at $2.00 per week and boarding herself, approved by John Stuart, school agent, is still preserved. Miss Cummings afterward married Jacob Pickard and lived in the town until her death in the sum- mer of 1891. She was a well educated lady and was much be- loved and respected by all who knew her.
John Stuart settled on the lot next adjoining John Cum- mings on the east, where he cleared up the farm upon which the Widow Ingraham now lives. He lived here until his, death some twenty years ago.
Lewis Wright took the lot opposite John Stuart. He made a small clearing and put up a log house and soon afterwards sold to Isaac Dickson, who cleared up the farm and lived upon it for many years, then sold to George Howe and removed to New Brunswick.
Robert Blaisdell settled on lot No. 7, Range 2, where Free-
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man Small now lives. He cleared up a large farm and built the house in which Mr. Small now lives. He afterward sold to Thomas Small and moved to Wisconsin, where he remained a short time and then went to Minnesota and invested in lands. The rise in value of these lands made him wealthy. He died some four years ago.
Mr. Barrows took the lot where Mr. Peter Moore now lives. Here he made a small clearing but did not live on the lot. He was a nephew of Mrs. Cummings and resided with that family during his short stay in the settlement.
Cyrus Hutchings took the lot next west of Barrows on the south side of the road. He cleared up the farm and lived on it some twenty years, when he removed to Minnesota. The farm is now owned by Mr. I. B. Rideout, who lives opposite.
James H. Stevens took the lot upon a part of which the Baptist Church and parsonage now stands. Here he lived until his death, some eight years ago. His son, Judson Stevens, now lives on the farm.
Alfred Marshall took the lot on the north side of the road opposite where Daniel Barker now lives. He afterward moved to Fort Fairfield.
Mr. John Chase was one of the earliest settlers of the town but was not one of the ten included in the certified list. He came from New Brunswick in 1826 and settled on the lot where Cyrus K. Bradbury now lives. He lived there some twenty-five years and sold to Stephen Morrison. He afterwards lived on a num- ber of different lots and ten years ago moved to the farm near the west line of the town, where he now lives. He is now eighty one years old, but is hale and strong. His son Abner carries on the farm.
Mr. Jesse Gilman came from Norridgewock about 1828 and took the lot north of Bradford Cummings. Here he cleared up a large farm which he afterward sold to Henry G. Allen and moved to Houlton. His son, Charles C. Gilman, cleared up the farm next east of his fathers, on which John Green now lives. He also moved to Houlton and built the brick house a short dis- tance north of the village on the Presque Isle road. He was for a number of years engaged in the manufacture of brick in Houl- ton. and removed to California a year or two since.
Zebediah Barker came from Norridgewock in 1838 and set- tled on the lot where his son, Daniel Barker, now lives. He was one of the active citizens of the town. Some twenty-five years ago he moved to Fort Fairfield, where he died. His son,
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Amos Barker, lived with his father until he became of age, when he bought the lot upon which he now lives with his son, Kelsey A. Barker. It was a new lot with no clearing when Mr. Barker took it. He cleared up a large farm and built comfortable build- ings. Isaac Barker also came from Norridgewock and cleared up the farm where John McCormick now lives. He afterwards sold to Wm. Chase and went to California, where he remained some time, and returned to Houlton. He has been for many years one of the principal farmers of Houlton and was for three years a member of the State Board of Agriculture.
Henry G. Allen came to the town about 1838 and bought the Jesse Gilman farm which he afterwards sold to Melzer Drake. Mr. Drake lived upon the farm until his death some ten years ago. He was engaged largely in the lumber business and ac- cumulated a considerable property.
Israel Dodge was also an early settler who came from Strong and made a farm north of the main road. He afterward moved to Easton and died there. His brother, Daniel Dodge, lived on a part of the same lot.
Mr. Joseph Goodenough, an early settler of New Limerick, came from there to the Belfast Grant previous'to 1843 and lived on the farm opposite the Thompson farm in the east part of the town. His son, Elias Goodenough, afterward moved to Dyer Brook, from which place he enlisted and died in the service.
Mr. George Howe lived on the farm north of the one on which Mr. J. B. Rideout now lives. He sold his farm to Mr. Rideout and moved to Monticello, where he died.
Silas Hilton lived on a lot north of Mr. David Small's farm. He built a small grist mill on Mill Brook near his home many years ago. It has long since decayed and fallen down.
Mr. John Tabor was a blacksmith in the town in 1843. He enlisted in the army, and after the war, worked at his trade in Houlton. He has been dead a number of years.
Mr. Royal B. Colbroth cleared up the farm where Mr. Henry Lamb now lives, in the west part of the town. His son, Matthew Colbroth, lived on the farm opposite.
Mr. Wm. Farwell, who was plantation clerk in 1840, had no farm, but worked in the lumber woods in winter and for farmers during the summer. He afterwards removed to Patten and died there.
The Belfast Grant was organized together with New Lim- erick as a plantation in 1831. In 1837, New Limerick was incor- porated as a town and the Belfast Grant seems to have had no
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organization until 1840. The warrant for the meeting to organ- ize the new plantation was issued by Hugh Alexander, County Commissioner, Oct. 17, 1840. The meeting was held on the 26th of October. John Cummings was chosen moderator, Wm. V. Farwell, clerk, and Bradford Cummings, George Howe and Silas Hilton, assessors. There were 37 voters upon the list in 1843, most of whom we have noticed above. The main road, running through the town on the line between the first and second ranges, was cut out soon after the first ten settlers came to the town, but was not made passable for carriages until long after- wards. It is now a well built turnpike and runs through a very good farming section. Coming up from Houlton village we turn to the west from the Presque Isle road either at Col. Black Hawk Putnam's or near the Gilman homestead, the two roads coming together a mile and a half further west, and crossing the western portion of the town of Houlton, in which are many fine farms and handsome farm buildings.
In the northern portion of the town the land is for the most part owned by non-resident proprietors. There is much good settling land in this part of the town, interspersed with tracts of timber land.
Ludlow was incorporated as a town in 1864 and is a farming town exclusively, having no mill, manufactory or store. The town has good schools, with comfortable school buildings, is free from debt and has a small amount in the treasury.
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