USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 2
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In the next ten years various changes were made in the Provincial railroad and in 1870 a branch was extended to Houl- ton. This gave Houlton railroad communication with the sea- board by way of Calais, but it was not until the E. & N. A. Railway was completed to Vanceboro in 1871, thus connecting Houlton, though by a circuitous route, with Bangor and the great American markets, that she became the busy inland city that we find today. Being practically the terminus of railroad com- munication with that portion of Southern Aroostook, Houlton came to be more than ever a trade center for all that large and
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fertile agricultural and lumber region, and its business and wealth has largely increased during the last decade.
From a straggling settlement in the midst of an almost im- penetrable wilderness and practically devoid of all communica- tion with the great business centers it has grown to be the me- tropolis of northeastern Maine.
HODGDON
One of the oldest, as well as one of the best towns in South- ern Aroostook, is the good old town of Hodgdon. The early history of this town is intimately connected with that of the town of Houlton, as a number of the earliest settlers of Hodg- don moved from that town, and the Creek, as Houlton was then called, was for years the trading point of the town of Hodgdon.
The south half of the township now included in the town of Hodgdon, was originally granted by the State of Massachu- setts to Westford Academy, and the high elevation of land ex- tending through a portion of the southern part of the town, is still known as Westford Hill. The resolve granting this half township to Westford Academy was passed by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27th of Feb., 1797. The tract was surveyed by Park Holland in 1801. It was deeded to John Hodgdon of Ware, New Hampshire. and Nathaniel Ingersoll of New Gloucester, Cumberland Co., Mass., by the trustees of Westford Academy, June 7, 1802, for the sum of $5760. The deed is signed by Jas. Prescott, Samson Tuttle and Hezekiah Packard. Nathaniel Ingersoll deeded his inter- est to John Hodgdon, Jan. 27, 1804, for the sum of $1000. The bounds of the half township in the original deed began at the southeast corner, at a spruce tree on the boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick, marked "Four miles north from the monument at the head of the St. Croix River; thence north three miles; thence west 6 miles, south three miles, and east 6 miles to the point of starting." The grantees were bound by the deed to lay out and convey a lot of 100 acres to each settler who was upon the township previous to Jan. 1, 1784, but as no settler had come to the town at that time, this condition was of no effect.
They were also bound by the deed to set apart three lots
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of 160 acres each, for municipal and school purposes. This deed was recorded in the registry of deeds of Washington County, September 12, 1782.
The north half of the present town of Hodgdon was grant- ed by Massachusetts to Groton Academy, by a resolve passed on the 27th of Feb., 1797. The deed to the trustees of Groton Academy bears the date of June 4, 1802. The half township was surveyed by Park Holland in 1801, and was deeded to John Hodgdon by the trustees of Groton Academy Jan. 28, 1805. This deed is signed by Timothy Bigelow, Jas. Boyle and Oliver Prescott. It was recorded May 28, 1824. By both deeds the grantees were bound to settle 10 families within six years from the date of the deeds.
On June 16, 1809, John Hodgdon deeded to Daniel Breed of Ware, N. H., 200 acres undescribed except as being an undivided part of the Westford Grant, and on the same day deeded to Moses Hodgdon 300 acres, also undivided. These men were never settlers upon the town.
All of the original settlers of the town have passed away, and it is quite difficult to trace the history of the early settle- ment of the town. We shall endeavor to tell the story briefly of many of the pioneers who lived in this good town, and the influence of whose lives helped to make the town what it is socially and morally today.
The earliest deed appearing upon the record is the deed from John Hodgdon to Aaron Perley of Lot 7 Range 8 in the north half of the town. This deed is dated June 4, 1824, and the lot is the one so long occupied by Deacon Putnam Shaw on the Calais Road. Mr. Perley deeded this lot to Samuel Houlton of Houlton June 18, 1827. September 9, 1826, John Hodgdon deeds to Chesley Drew of Hodgdon Plantation, physician, Lot No. 2, Range 7, No. 1-2, which is the lot afterward occupied by Geo. White, and now by Millard Jones. Sept. 18, 1826, John Hodgdon deeds to Jane Taylor and her sons, James, George, Charles and William, for $100, lot numbered 3, Range 7, North 1-2, "same upon which their improvements now are." These grantees were the wife and sons of James U. Taylor, one of the oldest settlers of the town.
September 13, 1826, Mr. Hodgdon deeds to Joseph Kendall Lot No. 8, Range 8, North 1-2, which lot is now owned by C. E. Skofield. It would appear that John Hodgdon, Sr., died in 1826 or 1827, for on Nov. 12, 1827 "John Hodgdon of Bangor, student at law," gives Joshua Putnam of Houlton a power of attorney
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to act as his agent for the sale of the lands in Hodgdon Planta- tion. This John Hodgdon was the son and heir of the original proprietor, and was afterwards, for a number of years, a resi- dent of the town which bears his name.
The early settlers who came upon the town to make a home were Jas. A. Taylor, Dr. Chesley Drew, Jos. Kendall and Jas. Doyle, but who was the first man to commence a clearing, we are at present unable to determine. It is quite certain, how- ever, that all the above mentioned settlers came to the town in 1824, although they did not receive their deeds until a few years afterwards. Dr. Chesley Drew came from Massachusetts to Hodgdon in 1824 and bought the lot on the west side of the Calais Road on the top of the hill, two miles from Houlton Vil lage.
Elisha A. Drew, a son of Dr. Drew, bought the two lots ad- joining his father's, the one on the east, the other on the west. He lived with his father. They made a large clearing, hauled much of the wood to the Garrison at Houlton, and built on the Dr. Drew lot a large house and two barns. About 1836 the Drews sold the property to Mr. Thos. White, and moved to New Brunswick. Mr. White lived upon the farm until his death some 25 years ago. His son, Geo. White, then came into pos- session of the farm and made improvements upon the farm and buildings. He died some ten years ago, and the farm was a few years afterwards sold to Millard H. Jones, who now occu- pies it. Mr. Jas. U. Taylor moved from Houlton in 1824 and took the lot next south of Dr. Drew. He cleared up the farm, and for many years was a well known resident of the town.
During the construction of the Military Road, and in fact before that time, when the supplies for the Garrison were hauled over the old "Soldier Road," Mr. Taylor was a noted ox team- ster, and was employed in that capacity in transporting supplies and building the road. He lived upon the farm in Hodgdon till his death, some 18 years ago. His oldest son, Mr. Chas. Taylor, had the farm opposite the old homestead, and still lives upon it. Many other descendants are living in this and adjoin- ing towns. Mr. Jos. Kendall also moved from Houlton in 1824 and took a lot of land near where the road now turns from the Calais Road toward Hodgdon Mills. Mr. Kendall was the son of Deacon Samuel Kendall, one of the early settlers of Houl- ton. He was a man of considerable education and culture, and afterward wrote a voluminous history of Houlton, which, how- ever, was never published. Mr. Kendall made a very fine farm
.
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upon his lot, one of the best, in fact, in this part of the town. Some 15 years ago he moved to Houlton, where he died. The farm was afterwards sold to C. E. Skofield, who now lives upon it. Mr. Jas. Doyle took the lot next north of the Dr. Drew lot, and next to the Houlton line. He cleared a farm here and built a house and barn. He lived there some years and sold to Lewis Morrill. He was a prominent man in the town until he moved to the West, and Mr. John Hodgdon again obtained possession of the farm.
The deed to Aaron Perley bears the date of 1824, but it is uncertain who commenced clearing upon his lot. Mr. Perley came from Monmouth, and bought the lot next north of Joseph Kendall, and probably commenced his clearing soon after the first settlers came. He did not remain many years upon this lot, but removed to the lot in the west part of the town, upon which Mr. Jas Rhoda now lives. He cleared up this farm and lived upon it until his death in 1850. His widow married Eli- akim Ames, who lived upon the farm until his death in 1859. Chas. Perley, a son of Aaron Perley, went into the army and died in the service.
Capt. Ebenezer Towne came from Topsfield, Mass., in 1825 and took the lot on the Calais Road, on which Mr. J. W. Jack- ins now lives. Mr. Jos. Kendall had made a clearing on his lot, and Capt. Towne, who was a carpenter by trade, helped Mr. Kendall build a house and lived with him until he could clear a piece of land and build a house on his own lot. Capt. Towne cleared up a farm and lived upon it until 1843, when he sold to his son-in-law, Mr. Alfred Todd, and made a home with another son-in-law, Rev. Daniel Outhouse, until his death, in 1866. Mr. Todd afterward removed to Maysville in North Aroostook, and sold his farm to Mr. J. W. Jackins, who still lives upon it.
In 1826 Mr. Rufus Wiggin came to Hodgdon, and bought the lot opposite Capt. Towne's. Mr. Wiggin came from the town of Bowdoinham, but for many years had worked at his trade as ship carpenter at Oromocto, N. B. He first took a lot in the west part of the town, afterward owned by Ephraim Benn, but as there was no road in that part of the town, he gave up the lot after felling about half an acre, and took a lot on the I'ne of the Calais Road. Here he cleared a farm and made a home, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the town until his death in 1864. He was for many years a deacon of the F. B. Church, and was a faithful worker for the moral and religious interests of his town. He was in town office during
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the whole of his residence in the town, and was postmaster for many years. He was a man of kindly disposition, scrupulously honest, and was beloved and respected by all who knew him. His son, Cyrus S. Wiggin, no w lives on the old farm. His oldest son, Edgar M. Wiggin, for many years a prominent man in the town, married the widow of Benedict White, a son of Thos. White, and lived on the farm opposite the White home- stead until his death. His widow still lives upon the farm.
Mr. Thos. Lander came from the town of Fairfield in 1826, and settled on the lot where Henry Jones now lives, three miles from Houlton village, on. the Calais Road. Mr. Lander and his son, Jesse Lander, cleared up this farm, and Mr. Lander lived on it until his death in 1846. He was one of the prominent citi- zens in the early days, and an old account book of his now in possession of Mr. Jones, shows that he had considerable deal- ings with the old settlers. One item in this old book is as fol- lows: "June 15, 1829. Charles Dr. to horse to River (meaning to Woodstock) $1.00. Cr. Came home sober to bal- ance."
After his death his son Jesse Lander took the farm and lived on it until 1851, when he returned to Fairfield, where he died. Mr. Henry Jones, a grandson of Thos. Lander, by whom he was brought up, then bought the farm, and has lived on it ever since. Mr. Jones was chairman of the board of selectmen for 20 years. Mr. James Lander, another son of Thomas Lander, was the first regular mail carrier to Houlton, carrying the mail on foot through the woods, on the old Baskahegan trail, before any road was laid to the town. Afterwards the Calais Road was opened and Mr. Lander drove the stage and carried the mail many years. He was a kind hearted, energetic and faithful public servant. He died about 30 years ago.
James Ham went from Bath to Oromocto, N. B., and worked some time in the shipyard at that place. He came to Hodgdon in 1827 and took a lot on the Calais Road, south of Mr. Thos. Lander's, and on the opposite side of the road. He cleared a farm and lived on it until his death, some 40 years ago. His son, Benj. Ham, lived on the place for some time, and his son- in-law, Mr. Alvarez Putnam, now of Houlton, occupied it for a number of years. It has since been divided, and is now owned by several proprietors. Mr. Abner Ham, a brother of Mr. Ham, also came at the same time and took a lot in the extreme south part of the town.
Here he made a farm, on which he lived until his death
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many years ago. Mr. L E .. Jackins now lives upon this lot. Many descendants of these two brothers are now living in Hodgdon and other towns in Aroostook Co.
Mr. Asa Brown came from Solon in 1827, and took a lot adjoining the Houlton line, which is now a part of the John R. Slipp farm. This lot was deeded by John Hodgdon in 1829 to "Nancy Brown of Hodgdon Plantation, married woman." Mr. Brown cleared a farm here, and was a man of some prominence in the town during his residence there. He lived upon the farm some 14 years, when he moved to Bangor, and Mr. John Hodg- don purchased the farm.
In 1828 there was quite an immigration into the new town, and a number of settlers came during that year who became prominent citizens of the town, and had much to do with shap- ing its affairs. Mr. Daniel Smith came from Hampstead, N. B., in 1828 and bought a lot on the line of the Calais Road in the south part of the town. Mr. Marcus Peters had made a small clearing on the lot and built a log house, and Mr. Smith bought his improvements. He was one of the first settlers in this por- tion of the town. He made a good farm and lived upon it until his death in 1858. Daniel Smith was a modest and retiring man, but a man of sterling integrity, and is remembered as one of the best citizens of the town. His son, Benj. J. Smith, after- wards had the farm for a number of years, and sold it to Mr. Andrew J. Tidd, and removed to Caribou, where he is now land- lord of the Vaughn House (1890).
Mr. John Outhouse came the next year from Nova Scotia, and bought the lot next south of Daniel Smith, and also the two lots adjoining on the East. He made clearings on all these lots, and built his buildings on the middle lot, through which the Calais Road ran. This 300 acre block was afterwards divided transversely into three lots, so that the buildings on each could be built on a county road. Rev. Daniel Outhouse, a son of John Outhouse, had the south 100 acres. John J. Royal had the middle lot, and Geo. H. Smith, a son of Daniel Smith, the north lot.
Mr. John Outhouse spent the last years of his life with his son, Daniel, and died at his house about 1850. Rev. Daniel Outhouse was for many years a preacher of the Calvinist Bap- tist fa'th, and was a good man and much respected. He died in 1878, and his widow now lives near Hodgdon Mills.
Mr. Thos. J. Brown came in 1828 from Madrid, in Franklin Co. He first settled on a lot in the north half of the town, next
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
to the Linneus line. Here he made a good farm, and lived upon it until 1858, when he exchanged farms with Mr. Benj. Tarbell, and moved to the Tarbell farm near Hodgdon Corner, where he lived until his death in 1862. He was an energetic busi- ness man, and for many years engaged in lumbering and trading.
Maj. James Daggett came from Wiscassett in 1828, and took the lot in the extreme south part of the town on the Calais Road, on which Mr. James Robinson now lives. His son, Ebenezer Daggett, lived with him until 1849, when he went to California, and did not return to Hodgdon to live. Maj. Daggett cleared up a farm and lived on it a number of years, and then gave it to his son, Frank Daggett, and moved to Massachusetts. He after- wards returned to Hodgdon, but soon went to live with his son, James Daggett, in Amity, where he died in 1856.
Mr. Frank Daggett lived upon the old farm for a number of years, and then sold to Mr. C. C. Bradbury and moved to Massachusetts, where he now lives. Mr.Waterman Daggett, a son of Mai. Dargett. came with his father, and took the lot on the east. Here he made a farm, on which he died in 1879. His son, Diego Daggett, row lives on the farm. Jabez Daggett, another son of Maj. Daggett, also came with his father, and bought a lot on the south line of the town, on which Mr. Chas. Nickerson now lives. He lived here until 1849, when he sold to Mr. Nickerson and went to California, where he died. James Daggett, another son, settled on a lot next west of his father's. A number of years afterward he moved to Amity, and died there some years ago. Many descendants of these brothers now live in Aroostook County.
Nathaniel Harrington came from Boston to Hodgdon in 1828. He was a mason by trade. He settled near Meduxnekeag Stream on the north part of the town. He died about 20 years ago (about 1870) and Joseph Hrarington now lives on the farm. Another son, Rev. E. W. Harrington, long a resident of Hodg- don, is now a pastor of a church in Calais. Benj. Durrell came about this time and settled near what is now Hodgdon Corner. He made a clearing and built a house, and after a few years moved to the west part of the State. Mr. Jas. Jones from Solon then took the lot and lived on it for ten years or more, when he sold to Mr. Benj. Tarbell, who also came from Solon.
About 1858 Mr. Tarbell exchanged farms with Mr. Thos. G. Brown, and died on the Brown farm a few years ago. Benj. Wil- liams in 1829 settled on the lot now occupied by Mr. Matthew Wilson. He made a clearing and lived there a number of years,
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when he sold to Mr. Wilson and moved to the adjoining township 11, Range 1, now Cary Plantation. Mr. Wilson has lived on the farm ever since, and is now about the oldest living resident of the town. He came from Ireland to Hodgdon in 1830, and first settled in the west part of the town. A number of sons are liv- ing on adjoining farms.
In 1829 the three Benn brothers, Ephraim, Abraham and Solomon, came to Hodgdon from Mirimachi, whither they had emigrated a short time previous from the Green Isle Erin. They at first all settled on lots a short distance west of the stream on which Mr. Lewis Benn now lives. Mr. Ephraim Benn after- wards took a lot further west, on a handsome swell of land, and Mr. Abraham Benn bought the lot adjoining on the south. Sol- omon Benn remained on the original lot. All cleared up good farms in town. Solomon died in 1867, and his farm is now owned by his son, Lewis Benn.
Ephraim died in 1876. Mr. Jonathan Benn, his son, has his farm, and has now 200 acres of splendid land, with 150 acres cleared. He has a large and handsome house, two large barns, a horse stable and other convenient outbuildings. Mr. Abraham Benn died in 1877. Chas. Smart came to Hodgdon about this time and settled on a lot next north of the Solomon Benn lot, where he lived for many years. He then moved to a lot on the "Horseback," and afterwards to Haynesville, where he died. Mr. Jared Williams then bought the farm and lived on it a number of years.
Mr. Isaac Gerow came from Hampstead, N. B., in 1830, and settled on a lot next east of Daniel Smith. He lived in Hodgdon until his death in 1866. Abraham Gerow came about the same time and settled on a lot opposite Mr. Joseph Kendall. Benj. Durrell had made a small clearing on the lot. Mr. Gerow cleared a farm on which he lived for a number of years, and then sold to his brother, Joseph, and returned to New Brunswick. The farm afterwards passed through a number of hands and is now owned by Mr. Wm. Jones. Mr. Joseph Gerow came also from New Brunswick, and settled on a lot east of Aaron Per- ley. Mr. Wm. Deering had made a clearing on the lot and bu'lt a house and barn. Mr. Gerow cleared up a large farm and made additions to the house, raising it to two stories, and mak- ing other improvements. He was a prominent man in the town for many years, and lived on this farm until his death in 1862.
Mr. Cushman Walker came from Anson in 1830. He first took the lot on which Mr. Abraham Benn afterwards lived,
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
where he made a small clearing and built a log house. He sold to Mr. Benn and took a lot in the north part of the town, a short distance west of the stream. Here he made a good farm and was also engaged in trade for a number of years. He died on this farm some time in 1875. Mr. Henry Hotham then settled on the farm.
Capt. Luther Quint came from Anson with Mr. Walker, and settled on the lot next east of Mr. Ephraim Benn. He cleared up th's farm, and died there many years ago. The farm was af- terwards divided between the sons, Edwin and Calvin, both of whom are now dead.
Mr. John Hutchinson came from Turner in 1831 and settled on a lot next south of the Abraham Benn farm. He cleared a farm, upon which he lived some twenty years, and then moved to a lot on Meduxnekeag Stream. His son, Mr. C. C. Hutchin- son, moved with him to this lot. They made a clearing and built a house upon the lot. There was a good mill privilege upon this lot, and in 1854, after his father's death, Mr. C. C. Hutchinson built a mill on the stream which runs through this lot. In 1860 Mr. Hutchinson built a large saw mill in which he put a rotary, a clapboard machine and lath saw. He cleared up a large farm and was for many years extensively engaged in farming. He was an energetic, persevering man, and took a prominent part in the affairs of the town. He died in 1883. His son, Alonzo S. Hutchinson, then took the property and operated the mills until they burned in 1885. He has since built a shingle mill on the old site. Mr. Matthias Hutchinson, a younger son, worked with his father until 1875, when he built a steam mill near Lin- neus Corner which he afterwards sold to Benj. Alexander, and in company with Levi Berry built a large steam mill near Hodg- don Mills. He afterwards sold this to Messrs. Price and Bea- tham, who, after running it a few years, sold it to Messrs. Sharp & Ketchum. Mr. Sharp has since sold his interest to Mr. Ketch- um, who now operates the mill.
Isaac Hutchinson, a son of John Hutchinson, came from Turner with his father in 1835. He bought a lot next to the Lin- neus line and made a farm, upon which he lived until his death in 1854. His son, Isaac L. Hutchinson, now lives upon the farm.
Mr. Chas. Lyons came about this time, and first settled on the road from the mill to the corner. He was a wheelright. He soon afterwards took a lot on Westford Hill, on which Mr. Wm. Gerow has lived since 1846.
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
After some years Mr. Lyons moved to a lot beyond West- ford Hill, and afterwards moved to Weston. , David Porter came from Bridgton in 1832 and settled on a lot east of Abraham Benn. He died some 14 years ago. His son, Stephen Porter, now lives on the farm. He has a fine two- story house and a large barn.
Thos. P. Packard came from new Limerick to Hodgdon about 1832 and settled on a lot near the mills. He was prominent man in the town during his residence in it and was town clerk for a number of years. He was also postmaster. He moved to Houl- ton and sold his farm to C. C. Bradbury.
Abraham Greene came from Boston in 1833 and settled on the lot west of Thos. Lander. He cleared a farm on which he lived for a number of years and returned to Boston. Mr. Fran cis Hunter went from Calais to Mirimachi when a young man and in 1834 came to Hodgdon and took a lot next to the Linneus line. Here he made a good farm on which he lived until his death in 1877. He was a worthy man and a good citizen. His son, Mr. George S. Hunter, now lives on the farm. He has 80 acres of cleared land, with excellent buildings.
Mr. Nicholas Outhouse came from Nova Scotia in 1834 and settled on the lot next north of Thos. Lander. His son, Wm. H. Outhouse, lived with him and carried on the farm for many years.
Nicholas Outhouse died in 1887. William Henry died two years previous, and his widow still lives on the farm.
Mr. Wm. Addington came from Nova Scotia to Hodgdon with Mr. Joseph Gerow. He bought a farm on what is now the Hunter road. His deed from John Hodgdon to Wm. Addington of Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, is dated March 22, 1832. Mr. Ad- dington lived on this farm many years, and then moved to Hodgdon Mills, built a blacksmith shop and worked at that business for a number of years. He also bought a small farm near the mills, which he still owns. Nearly all the above named settlers took lots either near the County line or on it, or in the west part of the town. In the earliest years settlement was made in the east part of the town, many of the pioneers of that section having moved from the Province of New Brunswick. The east- ern part of the town of Hodgdon has always been known to the citizens of the town and vicinity as the White Settlement, as people of that name settled in that portion of the town in the earliest days of its history. Mr. Jacob White came from Kes- wick, N. B., about 1826, and first made a clearing on the lot af-
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