USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 20
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After the inauguration of Gen. Taylor as President, Gen. Trafton retired from the custom House at Fort Fairfield and was elected as a representative to the State Legislature and it was largely through his influence that a change was made in the law relating to settling lands. The price of land was that year reduced to 50 cents per acre to actual settlers, the whole amount to be paid in road labor. A number of the earlier settlers who had already performed the requisite amount of road labor under the old law, but who had not made the required cash payment, now took certificates under the new law and again paid for their lots in road labor at 50 cents per acre.
The years immediately following the failure of Nourse & Eastman were hard years for the little settlement. No business was done at the mill and the greater part of the settlers left the town. Mr. Albion Whitney, foreman in the mill, removed to Minnesota, where, being unsuccessful in business, he removed to California, where he amassed great wealth in trade.
In 1857 Ephraim Osborn and Daniel Libby obtained pos- session of the mills and business at once revived. During the next four years there was a large immigration to the town and many lots were taken up. In that year Daniel Libby was ap- pointed local agent for the town and he at once proceeded to lay out roads in different parts of the town for the convenience of the new settlers. Among those who came to the town in the years 1857-61 (which was a most important period in the his- tory of the new settlement) and who remained to become prom- inent citizens of Limestone, adding much to its wealth and in- fluence, were I. W. Kennerson, J. E. Spear, L. G. Morris, Josiah M. Noyes, Hosea Webster, Josiah Ward, R. B. Chase, Charles
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Stetson, P. B. Sayward and James Edgecomb. Mark Trafton, who had previously married a daughter of Daniel Libby, came to the town in 1857 and bought a lot of land on the tract granted to the Mill Company, about a half mile from the mill on the road to the St. John River. Here Mr. Trafton made a fine farm, upon which he continued to reside until 1888. In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Trafton commenced trading in 1863, and in 1876 established a store at the mills, where he and his son, Charles W. Trafton, have continued to trade until recently, Mr. Trafton retired from the business and his son is now sole proprietor. In 1889 Mr. Trafton built a beautiful mansion on the high ground east of the mill and fitted it up with much taste and elegance, and with all the modern conveniences.
Messrs. Osborne & Libby continued to operate the mills until 1866, when they sold to Mr. Dennis Getchell. Mr. Getchell at once put in a large rotary and planer and made many other im- provements. In 1877 the mills were destroyed by fire and about the same time Mr. Getchell died. His sons proceeded at once to rebuild the mills and have since continued the business under the firm name of Getchell Bros.
The history of Limestone during the war is much like that of many other of the new towns in Aroostook County which were at that time in the early stages of development. The breaking out of the war found the town with nearly every avail- able lot taken, and small clearings were being made in all parts of the town. Many of the younger protion of the settlers, who had just commenced the work of clearing their new farms, went into the army and a large portion of them never returned to the town. Since the war the growth of the town has been gradual and no great number of settlers have come in at any one time. The soil proved to be as fertile as any in Aroostook and, being free from stone, was easy to clear and to bring under cultivation and there are now in this town some of the finest farms to be found anywhere in the county.
In 1876 a starch factory was built at the mills by the firm of Eustis & Aldrich of Boston, and Mr. Alfred Lovering of Cole- brook, N. H. The establishment of this enterprise at once gave a great impetus to the business of the town and was of immense benefit to the farmers. They at once went to wrok to smooth up their fields and to fit them for the working of farm machin- ery and for the easy cultivation of the potato crop on a more extensive scale. The business also brought much ready money to the farmers of the town and thus enabled them to improve
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their farms and build better buildings. Hardly a log house is now to be seen in the town and one is struck with the number of fine farm buildings, neatly finished and painted, to be found in all parts of the town. The mills and starch factory served as a nucleus around which has grown up a handsome little village which is destined to grow and become one of the handsomest country villages in Maine.
The starch factory is now owned by Mr. C. W. Trafton, who last year manufactured nearly 250 tons of starch. About 1885 Mr. Josiah M. Noyes bought the privilege where the second clapboard mill was built by Nourse & Eastman, about a mile up the stream fro tmhe village. Upon this site Mr. Noyes erected a large new mill which is a model of its kind.
The village of Limestone is beautifully situated in the valley of the stream, the land rising gradually upon either side and broadening out in every direction into large and well cul- tivated farms, with smooth and fertile fields. The houses in the village are neat and the grounds around them tidy and well kept, and the whole aspect of the place is one of thrift and enterprise. There is very little waste land in the town, and nearly every lot could be made into a good farm. There is still considerable vacant land in the town belonging to proprie- tors, though every State lot is taken up. It is safe to say that there is hardly a lot in the County fit for settlement now be- longing to the State. This shows how much more quickly the resources of Aroostook might have been developed, and her forests converted into fertile farms had the State retained pos- session of all townships suitable for settlement, and lotted them out for the benefit of those who wished to make homes for them- selves and families. Mr. Jerre Hacker of Fort Fairfield owns a large tract in the northern part of the town, which he is offer- ing to settlers at a reasonable price. Other proprietors are alse willing to sell good land upon fair terms.
The Plantation of Limestone was originally organized in 1848, but subsequently lost its organization and was reorgan- ized in 1858. In the early days of the settlement of the town, schools were supported by private subscription, and after the organization in 1858, schools were established and supported by taxation. The town was incorporated in 1868 and at once adopted the town system of schools, which has been maintained ever since and has given general satisfaction. The schools of the town are now in good condition and are generally supplied with comfortable schoolhouses.
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The population of Limestone in 1880 was 655 and its valu- ation $76,583. In 1890 the valuation was $149,938, and its popul- ation was 933. The rate of taxation is .916.
Limestone has a fertile soil, grand water power and favor- able location, and we see no reason why the town has not a grand future before it when its resources shall be fully de- veloped.
DYER BROOK
Though the development of Aroostook County has thus far been more rapid in the two tiers of townships lying next to the eastern border, yet there are in the western part of the county many fine agricultural towns with strong, fertile and productive soil and grand natural resources, only awaiting the opening of adequate means of transportation to develop into populous and prosperous communities. Of these western townships the plant- ation of Dyer Brook is naturally one of the best. This town- ship was formerly known as No. 5, R. 4, and has Merrill Planta- tion on the north, Oakfield on the east, Island Falls on the south and Hersey on the west. The stage road from Houlton to Pat- ten runs through the entire length of the township in a south- erly and southwesterly direction near its eastern border. The surface of the town in this section is rolling and somewhat hilly, but not sufficiently broken to interfere with easy cultivation. In the western portion of the town are broad stretches of more level land still in its forest state and containing much fine farming land.
The first settlement was made upon the town about the year 1844, as nearly as we have been able to trace it. In that year Mr. Orrin Laughton came from Smyrna and took the lot near the northeast corner of the town, upon which Mr. J. E. Tarbell now lives. Mr. Laughton made a clearing upon the lot and built a log house. After living on it a number of years he sold to a Mr. McMonagal, who died a few years after purchas- ing it. Mr. Oliver Dow then took the place, but abandoned it after a few years and the lot reverted to the proprietors of the town. In 1857 Mr. J. E. Tarbell took the place and cleared up a large farm and built a handsome set of buildings.
Benjamin Gerry, the second settler upon the town, came
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from Smyrna soon after Laughton and took the lot in the ex- treme northeastern part of the town, adjoining Mr. Laughton's. Here Mr. Gerry cleared up a fine farm, upon which he still lives.
The next man who made a settlement on the township was Moses Leavitt, also from Smyrna, who settled in 1850 on the lot next west of Laughton's and bordering on the north line of the town. The "State road" runs on the north line of the town, dividing Dyer Brook from Merrill Plantation, and continuing west on the line between Hersey and Moro, intersects the stage road from Patten to Ashland, some two miles from the western line of Hersey. This road was cut through at the time that Mr. Leavitt settled upon his lot, but was not made passable for car- riages until several years afterwards. It is now a good turnpike road and runs through a fine agricultural section for much of the way.
The road from the East branch through Dyer Brook to Island Falls, now a part of the stage route from Houlton to Patten, was opened in 1860, and in that year Mr. Jonathan Sleeper of Smyrna took the lot south of the Tarbell farm on the Island Falls road. Mr. Sleeper made a clearing on the lot, built a house and barn and after a few years moved to Sherman. Mr. John Heald then took the farm and extended the clearing. After living upon it a few years he sold to Mr. Seward Clough, who now lives upon the farm.
Mr. Asa R. Hall and Mr. John Gerrish came to Dyer Brook twelve years ago and bought in company a wild tract of 170 acres, to which they have since added 84 acres more. They commenced at once at once to clear up a farm and now have nearly one hundred acres of cleared land, divided into meadow, pasture and tillage. After passing the Hall and Gerrish farm we again descend to lower ground and after crossing a brook ascend to a handsome ridge of land, one of the finest in the town. On the west side of the road is the farm of Mr. Eben D. Townsend, who came from Limerick, York County, 29 years ago and bought this lot of Messrs Baldwin and Thompson of Bangor, who were at that time proprietors of the town. There was no clearing on the lot when Mr. Townsend came to it and after clearing eight acres and building a log house and log barn, he enlisted in the 7th Maine Regiment and went South to fight for his country and was wounded at Fort Steadman. At the close of the war he came back to the little farm in the woods and has since made a large and very handsome farm. The old
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log buildings have given place to a good frame house and barn. Mr. Townsend is now unable to do much hard work and his son has the active management of the farm.
On the east side of the road, opposite Mr. Townsend, is the farm of Mr. W. G. Drew, a son of Samuel Drew, who was one of the early settlers of the town of Smyrna. Mr. Drew and Mr. S. C. Philpot formerly carried on the business of farming in company, but divided their land a number of years ago. Mr. Drew has a very fine farm, with about eighty acres of cleared land handsomely located. Mr. S. C. Philpot is located next south of Mr. Drew on the east side of the road. Mr. Philpot came from New Limerick twenty-seven years ago and took a lot on this beautiful hardwood ridge. He was a soldier in the 16th Maine Regiment.
Next south of Mr. Townsend on the west side of the road is the farm of Mr. James I. Meserve, who came from Liming- ton to Aroostook County in 1839, and lived seven years with Mr. True Bradbury in New Limerick. He then returned to Lim- ington and in 1862 came to Dyer Brook and bought this lot, upon which Mr. John Downs had made a clearing of a few acres and built a small house and log barn. He now has about 120 acres of good land, with fifty acres cleared and under good cul- tivation.
Mr. F. M. Stevens has a good farm on the east side of the road opposite Mr. Meserve's, and beyond him are the farms of O. A. Lougee, James Clark and Mr. A. Keith. Passing these farms the road runs through a very handsome tract of green wood, the tall trees growing close to the road on either side and making a very pleasant drive on a summer day. Near this south line of the town, a road turns to the east from the stage road, and crossing the east part of the town a short distance from the line between Dyer Brook and Island Falls, continues on through Oakfield to Linneus Corner. Turning into this road we first come to the farm of Wm. C. Alward. This lot was taken up in 1858 by Mr. Charles Moore, who enlisted in the 8th Maine Regiment and died in Andersonville Prison. Mr. Alward came from New Brunswick thirteen years ago and bought the farm. It is somewhat hilly and broken but the soil appears to be productive. Beyond Mr. Alward's we ride through a beau- tiful piece of forest for a mile and a quarter, when we come to the farm of Mr. J. W. Edwards on the shore of Pleasant Lake. Mr. Alfred Moore came from the town of Gouldsboro in 1859 and took up this lot and cleared about twenty-five acres before
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the war. He then went into the 18th Maine Regiment and after the close of the war lived upon the farm a short time and then sold it to Mr. Albert Kelso. Mr. Edwards came from Searsport in 1879 and bought the place of Mr. Kelso. Mr. Edwards was a soldier in the 19th Maine Regiment. A short distance beyond Mr. Edwards's house the road again enters the beautiful green- wood, through which we ride for a mile and then emerge into the opening in which is the farm of Mr. Cornelius Lane. Mr. Lane came from Freeport in 1858 to find a home in Aroostook. He had in his mind the ideal of the location he wished to find and when shown this lot he desired to go no further. Although in the midst of a dense forest he saw what might be made of it and purchased it at once and went to work to make his home. He had cleared about twelve acres and built a small house, when his country's call sounded and he went to the war in the ranks of the 2d Maine Cavalry. He was not mustered out of the service until December, 1865, when he returned to his wood- land home. He has now 175 acres of land with 65 acres cleared.
Beyond Mr. Lake's there is no opening in the forest until we reach the clearings at Oakfield. All the eastern part of Dyer Brook is still virtually an unbroken wilderness invaded only by the hardy lumberman, the adventurous hunter and periodically recurring incursions of the surveying party locating the still mythical Aroostook Railroad. It is a fine timber tract, but there is so much good land suitable for farms and were it the property of the State and opened for settlement on the same terms that other towns have been would soon be occupied by thrifty settlers.
The township was first organized as a plantation in 1863, but afterward lost its organization and was again organized on July 14, 1880, at which time there were 41 voters. It was in- corporated as a town by act of the last Legislature, but has not yet held a meeting as provided by that act.
The war record of Dyer Brook is an exceptionally good one. At the breaking out of the war there were twenty-five men living in the plantation, seventeen of whom were subject to military duty. Every man of the seventeen went to the army and five of them never returned.
As an agricultural town Dyer Brook will take high rank when an impulse is given to its development by the opening of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. The population in 1890 was 221 and the valuation $35,582.
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ISLAND FALLS
In the whole of Aroostook County there is no more pictur- esque town than Island Falls and none where the natural scenery is more beautiful. It is a sportsman's paradise and is becoming noted as a pleasant, healthy and beautiful summer resort. Its lakes, rivers and wooded hills add much to the attractiveness of the town, and nowhere is there a purer air or a more comfort- able summer temperature than here.
The west branch of Mattawamkeag River enters the town near the northwest corner and, after flowing south for nearly two miles and being enlarged by the confluence of Fish Stream, sweeps madly through a rocky gorge and dashes over precipitous ledges, forming one of the finest falls in the country. Midway of the falls is a small island, its rocky sides rising abruptly from the water and dividing the swift current. This little wooded is- land in the midst of the falls gives the name to the town of Island Falls. After leaping the falls the river continues in a course a little south of east for nearly three miles, when it emp- ties into Mattawamkeag Lake, a beautiful body of water which covers a large portion of the eastern part of the town.
Previous to 1842 no white man had pitched his habitation in this picturesque region. Indians from the Penobscot and Pas- samaquoddy tribes were accustomed to spend a part of the year hunting and fishing in this vicinity and had their camps near the falls. They even continued their visits for some years after the white man invaded the region and during the first years of the little settlement, while the hardy pioneer was felling the for- est trees and clearing up fertile tracts of land near the banks of the dashing river the crack of the Indian's rifle woke the echoes in the surrounding forest, and the gentle dip of his pad- dle parted the waters of the river and lake as he glided along in his light birch canoe.
In 1842 Levi Sewall and Jesse Craig came from Farming- ton to search for a chance to make a home in the forests of Aroostook. Coming to Patten, they turned eastward through the town of Crystal and after traveling a few miles came to the end of the road. They then followed the streams down to the West Branch, in what is now the town of Island Falls. As soon as Mr. Sewall discovered the falls he at once saw that here was a valuable water power which might at some time be improved and utilized for manufacturing purposes. He therefore deter-
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mined to look no farther, but to make this place his home. He at once went to work and felled five acres of trees near the falls and then returned to Farmington. The town was then the pro- perty of the State of Massachusetts and Mr. Sewall bought a tract one mile square, including the falls. In March, 1843, he returned to Aroostook with two two-horse teams and one single sleigh, bringing with him his family, which consisted of his wife and six children. Leaving his wife and the younger chil- dren at Mr. William Young's in Crystal, Mr. Sewall with his two sons, David and Samuel, came down the stream to the falls, cleared up the five-acre chopping, built a log house and on the first day fo July, 1843, the family came to their new home. Mrs. Sewall was brought down Fish Stream and West Branch in a boat, and the girls walked in through the woods by a spotted line.
The family were now settled in the midst of a vast forest with no road on the west nearer than Crystal Mill and none on the east nearer than Smyrna Mills on the East Branch. Their first crop was necessarily put in somewhat late and though everything grew abundantly and promised a bountiful harvest, a heavy frost on the night of the last of August killed every- thing and nothing whatever was harvested from this first crop. The prospect looked dark, but the family had the courage need- ful for all successful pioneers. The forests abounded in game, and the river with fish, which ensured them against suffering from hunger and the boys worked at Patten and Crystal and earned bread enough to supply the family until another crop could be raised. The next year an additional clearing was made, a good crop was raised and after that there was no lack of bread.
Mr. Jesse Craig, who came with Mr. Sewall in 1842, took 160 acres of the mile square block taken by Mr. Sewall, and he also made a five acre chopping that year and returned to Farm- ington in the fall. In the spring of 1843 he went back and clear- ed up his five acres and felled five acres more, living with the Sewalls that summer and returning to Farmington in the fall. Mr. Craig did not bring his family to Island Falls until the win- ter of 1844, when they were brought in on a sled drawn by oxen. Mr. Craig cleared up a large farm on the north side of the West Branch and kept a hotel here for many years. He was for years the only justice of the peace in the town and was treasurer and clerk of the town for a long term. He also held the office of first selectman much of the time after the organization of the
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township. He was well known as a man of the strictest honor and integrity and was much respected by all his fellow towns- men. Mr. Craig lived to see a flourishing village spring up around him and died at a good old age five years ago.
In 1843, David Lurvey came from Woodstock, Oxford County, and settled on a lot north of the West Branch and next below Mr. Craig's. He cleared some twenty acres of land, built a frame house and barn and then moved to Patten, and afterwards to the mouth of the Aroostook road, where he kept a hotel for a number of years and then returned to Oxford County, where he died a number of years ago.
Charles W. Harding came from Windham in the spring of 1844, and settled on the south side of the stream, opposite Mr. Sewall's. Here he cleared a farm and built a house and barn, and afterwards returned to Windham and died. Charles Han- son came with Harding and made a small clearing near his, but did not remain long.
The above named were all the settlers in the town in 1844 and of these only the Sewalls and Craigs remained permanent- ly. No other settler came to join them for eight years. In the meantime Mr. Sewall and his sons continued to enlarge their clearing and were also engaged in lumbering in the winter sea- son. Levi Sewall was for many years a prominent man in this section and died at his home in Island Falls, in 1866. His widow, three sons and one daughter still reside at the Falls.
The next settler who came to Island Falls was Mr. Isaac Robinson, who came from Oxford County, and after living for some time in Crystal, came to Island Falls in 1852 and settled on the ridge a mile east of Mr. Craig's. Here he cleared a farm upon which he lived until his death in 1858. His son, George F. Robinson, then took the farm. He afterwards went into the army and gained a national reputation by being instrumental in saving the life of Secretary Seward on that terrible night of April 14, 1865. He is now a paymaster in the United States Army. The Robinson farm is now owned by Mrs. Mary Dow.
In 1853 Mr. Stephen Thorn came from Freedom and set- tled on the lot next to Mr. Robinson's. He made a clearing and built a log house and barn and then moved to Crystal, where he died some twelve years ago. Mr. John B. Hathorn now owns this farm.
A number of settlers came about this time, very few of whom remained. Among those who stayed was Mr. Jacob Man- uel, who settled in the north part of the town and made a farm,
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upon which he lived until his death. About the same year (1853) Mr. Cyrus Barker and family came from Kennebec County. With him came his son, Addison Barker, and family. Mr. Cyrus Barker took four lots for himself and sons on one of the most beautiful ridges of land in Aroostook County. It is still known as Barker Ridge, though none of the family are now living on the tract. Mr. Barker made his first clearing near the homestead so long occupied by his son, Capt. Rodney C. Barker. He cleared up a large farm and was for many years a prominent man in the town. Cyrus Barker died in 1886. His son, Rodney C. Barker, then took the farm and made it one of the finest in the County. He was largely engaged in lumbering and trading and was a prominent business man. He also served in the Union Army and received a pension for injuries received in the service. He built the first steamboat on Mattawamkeag Lake in 1882 and commanded it until his death. The steamer was used for towing logs across the lake and also in the summer season for excursion parties. Capt. Barker had cottages and boats on Norway Island in Mattawamkeag Lake for the use of pleasure parties, and it is still a most beautiful summer resort. Capt. Barker was a man of much push and energy, had strong friends and strong enemies, as such men generally do, but we remember him as a genial, whole souled man, a kind husband and father and a good friend. He died at his home some five years ago and his widow did not long survive him. The Barker estate, one of the finest in Aroostook, is now owned by Geo. E. Cutler, Esq., of South Framingham, Mass. Mr. Addison Bar- ker, who lived on the farm adjoining, was killed by a falling tree a year or two after coming to the town.
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