USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 22
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Mr. B. W. Chandler was then living on what is now the Low- ell farm and Benjamin Bubar had a small clearing on the west side of the road a short distance below. William Freeman and Sherman Tapley then lived in a double log house which stood on the line between what are now the farms of Mr. Tapley and Deacon Noble. Freeman had a small clearing on the east side of the road on the present Noble farm, and Tapley had a clear- ing on the farm where he now lives. Half a mile below Tapley's one Rideout had a clearing on the west side of the Houlton road, with a log house on the opposite side.
A short distance below where the road crosses Three Brooks, James Clark had a log house and small clearing on the west side of the road and William Rideout had commenced an opening and built a cabin on the east side opposite Clark's. James Gilman lived on the east side of the road in the extreme south part of the town next to the Bridgewater line, most of his clearing being in that town.
About a half mile west from where Blaine Corner now is, William Roake and Charles DeMerchant had small clearings. These settlers were all who were upon the town in 1847 and the clearings were then very small and very little improvement had been made in the new settlement.
With Mr. Valley came Joseph Bubar, who settled on the west side of the road about three-fourths of a mile south of Blaine Corner.
In the spring of 1848, John Bell came from New Brunswick and settled on the west side of the road near the Corner and during the same year George Monroe and George Hotham set- tled on opposite sides of the road, south of Sherman Tapley's, and in the fall Thomas Bell came and bought half of John Bell's lot. In 1850 Samuel Brown took a lot about half a mile southwest from Blaine Corner. Nearly all the settlers named above came from New Brunswick, but later families from dif- ferent parts of the State of Maine began to come in and settle upon the town. Levi F. Preble came from Chesterville in 1859 with other settlers who made their homes in Mars Hill. Mr.
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
Preble with his family settled in Blaine, where he lived many years.
Blaine, then known as Letter B, Range One, was a half township belonging to the State of Massachusetts and the land was sold to settlers for $1.20 per acre, payable mostly in road labor. A few of the early settlers received deeds from the State of Massachusetts, but the greater part of them did not complete the payment for their lands until after the town had passed into the possession of the State of Maine. Samuel Cook, Esq., or Judge Cook, as the settlers called him, one of the pio- neer settlers of Houlton, was agent for Massachusetts and at- tended to the sale of the lands and the location of the new- comers. When the State of Maine came into possession of the town the price of the land was reduced to fifty cents per acre in road labor and the settlers were credited with the work al- ready done under the Massachusetts agent.
Mr. Joel Valley cleared up the land on the east side of the road in the present village and in 1856 built a frame house on the spot where the hotel now stands. There he at once com- menced keeping public house, as there was at that time much teaming upon the road, and his house was a convenient stop- ping place for teamsters and other travelers going to Presque Isle and the country above. He continued in the business un- til 1864, when a disastrous fire occurred which swept away every building at that time standing at Blaine Corner. In 1866 Mr. Valley built the present hotel and the next year sold it, together with the farm, to Mr. Joseph Joy. Mr. Joy afterwards sold to Stephen Lake, he to Daniel W. Orcutt and he to Jonathan Her- som, the present proprietor. Mr. Valley was the first trader in the town, though in the early years he had no store but kept goods for sale in his house, and when he built his frame house he used the old log house for a store.
The first store at the corner was built by Messrs. Sherman and Perkins of Augusta on the site of the present Jones store. Perkins soon after sold out to his partner, Lewis Sherman, who continued to trade in the store until it was burned in 1864. Af- ter the fire Mr. Sherman sold out to Bedford Hume, who built the store now standing and continued in business for about a
year, when he sold to Charles F. Collins, a son of Hon. Geo. W. Collins, of Bridgewater. Mr. Collins traded in the store some two years and then sold to Stephen Lake, who in 1868 sold to Benj. F. Jones. Mr. Jones continued in trade and at the same time carried on a large lumber business until three years ago,
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
when he sold the store and stock to Mr. John Bubar, the present occupant. Mr. Jones still continues to reside in Blaine, though a large part of his business is at his mill in Mars Hill, only about a mile distant.
In 1866, Messrs. Jackson and Oakes built the store in which R. E. McFarland now trades. After trading a year they were succeeded by Henry O. Perry, Esq., who shortly after removed to Fort Fairfield and Orlando Robinson occupied the store for about two years, when he closed his business and for some years the store was vacant. In 1884 Mr. A. O. Nutter, former- ly of St. Albans, commenced business in this store, where he continued until 1889, when he moved into the store where he is now located, and his place was taken by R. E. McFarland of Cambridgeport, Mass.
In 1873 Stephen Lake built the building in which Mr. S. H. Hussey now trades. Mr. Lake continued in trade a few years, when he sold the building to Mr. Frank Levine, who resided in it but did not trade in the store.
In 1874 Mr. Joseph Chandler built a mill on the Presque Isle of the St. John about half a mile from the village. He still owns the mill, though it is not at present in operation.
In 1859 Mr. Wm. Robinson came to Blaine and purchased 260 acres of land in the south part of the town a short distance above the junction of Three Brooks with the Presque Isle Stream. Upon this land was a fine mill privilege, and in 1864 Mr. Robinson built a mill which contained one shingle machine. Mr. Robinson died in 1873 and the business was continued by his sons, H. O. and F. C. After a short time Harrison O. Rob- inson sold out to his brother and removed to Presque Isle, where he is now engaged in trade. The business has since been conducted by Mr. Fred C. Robinson and has been much en- larged and extended.
For some years after the first settlers came upon the town the road from Houlton to Presque Isle was the only road in the town and it was a long time before this was in a passable con- dition for travel. It was then so badly cut up by the heavy teaming in spring and fall as to render it a most uncomfortable highway and it was not until after the extension of the New Brunswick Railway to the towns in the Aroostook Valley that it became a smooth and easy road for travel. As the heavy teaming is now in a great measure discontinued the road is kept in fine condition through the town. In 1858 the East road was opened, connecting with the East Ridge road in Mars Hill
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
and running in a southerly direction across the town and con- tinuing on to Baird's Mills on the boundary line.
The next road opened was the new County road, which starts from Blaine Corner and runs directly south across the town on the lot lines connecting with the Houlton road about a half mile south of the line between Blaine and Bridgewater. This road was laid out in 1858 for about half the distance across the town, and some ten years later was laid out for its entire distance by the County Commissioners and was built by the town.
The half township was formerly included in a plantation organization with Bridgewater which joins it on the south, but when Bridgewater was incorporated as a town in 1858, it was organized as a plantation and known as Letter B, Range One.
In 1860, when a postoffice was established, the name was changed to Alva, which name it retained until 1874, when it was incorporated as a town and named in honor of Hon. James G. Blaine. Mr. Dennis Getchell was the first postmaster, but he soon resigned his commission and was succeeded by Mr. Joel Valley, who held the office until 1872, when he resigned and H. O. Perry was appointed. When Mr. Perry removed to Fort Fairfield, Mr. Valley was reappointed and held the office until 1885, when Mr. F. E. Brown was appointed and was soon after succeeded by Mr. A. O. Nutter.
Upon a pleasant eminence a short distance west of the Corner is the village schoolhouse, a handsome two-story building surmounted by a bell tower. The schools in this building are graded and there is also one term of free high school each year. The schools are under the supervision of Mrs. Sophia M. Tapley, a lady of much ability and herself a practical school teacher.
On the Houlton road there are fine farms with good sub- stantial buildings throughout its whole length through the town. Here are seen large, smooth fields, clear of stumps and stones and in fine cultivation. In every portion of the town we find good farms, though of course in the newer sections the stumps are not yet all out. The soil, however, is of the very best and in a very few years these newer farms will show broad, smooth meadows and the scythe and cradle will give place to the mow- ing machine and reaper. Blaine will class with the best of the farming towns in Northern Aroostook and is one of which the illustrious statesman for whom it is named has no reason to be ashamed.
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
NEW SWEDEN
The question of making some attempt to attract Scan- dinavian immigration to the State of Maine was discussed in this State as early as 1861, and in that year His Excellency, Gov. Israel Washburn, Jr., at the suggestion of Hon. Geo. F. Talbot, called attention to the matter in his inaugural address and recommended that some steps be taken by the Legislature to locate Swedish colonists upon the unsettled lands of Aroos- took County. The work of raising, equipping and forwarding soldiers to the Union Army occupied the attention of the State for the three or four years following to the exclusion of almost everything else, and no measures were formulated to bring about the result contemplated in Gov. Washburn's message. In 1869, the Legislature resumed the consideration of the subject and more definite action was taken. As a result of this action, Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr., was appointed a commissioner of im- migration, with instructions to proceed to Sweden, collect a col- ony, accompany the colonists to Maine and settle them upon a township in Aroostook County set apart for that purpose. Mr. Thomas was the one man in the State of Maine peculiarly fitted for this work, he having served as United States Consul at Gothenburg, and during his residence in Sweden having ac- quired the language and made himself intimately acquainted with the manners and customs of the people.
The details of the enterprise were largely left to the dis- cretion of the commissioner, and the faithful and successful manner in which he executed the work proves the appointment to have been a most wise and fortunate one both for the colon- ists and for the State.
The tract set apart for the settlement of the Swedish immi- grants was Township 15, Range 3, and the State engaged to give to each head of a family a lot of one hundred acres, to fell five acres of trees and build a comfortable log house upon each lot.
Mr. Thomas sailed for Sweden in the spring of 1870 and upon his arrival proceeded at once to recruit his colony. He exercised great care in the selection of emigrants, accepting only such as he was satisfied were honest, industrious men, and of this class only those who were possessed of sufficient means to pay the expense of passage for themselves and fam- ilies. No contract or written agreement of any kind was made with the colonists, all they had to depend on being the simple
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
word of the commissioner, supported by the authority he had received from the Legislature of his State. As Mr. Thomas has himself expressed it, they left their homes "without the scratch of a pen by way of contract or obligation, but with simple faith in the honor and hospitality of the State of Maine."
All arrangements having been completed, the little colony, accompanied by Commissioner Thomas, sailed from Sweden on the 25th of June, 1870. The company consisted of fifty-one men, women and children who thus consented to leave their native land and journey across the ocean to find new homes in what was to them the unknown wilderness of Northern Maine. Their faith and trust in Mr. Thomas was complete and the faithful manner in which he redeemed every promise made to them is shown by the respect and affect.onate regard expressed toward him by every cit zen of New Sweden today.
On the 23rd of July, 1870, the colony arrived at their new selves to their new and strange surroundings. Strangers in a selves. to their new and strang surroundings. Strangers in a strange land, wholly unacquainted with the manners and cus- toms of our people and nearly all of them unable to speak or understand a word of the language, unaccustomed to the work of clearing up the forest and contending with the hardships of pioneer life, it may be surmised that the first settlement of these "children in the woods" was attended with many misgiv- ings and frequent heart yearnings for the old home over the sea. With cheerful courage and a determinat.on to overcome every obstacle they went manfully to work and in every direc- tion the the forest resounded with the'r sturdy blows.
Mr. Thomas remained with them and not only superintend- ed the work of th's first summer, but pulled off his coat and worked with them, encouraging them by word and example to clear up their lots and prepare the land for a crop. His task was a hard one from the first, and there were not lacking busy- bodies in our own State who by their continual interference and captious criticisms rendered his position still more uncomfort- able. The many incidents of this first summer, some of them amusing and some otherwise, including a hurried trip which the Commissioner was obliged to make to Augusta to quiet appre- hensions raised in that quarter by foolish meddlers, are among the events of the unwritten history of the colony.
Having planted the colony in the wilderness it was neces- sary that they should be supplied with provisions and with im- plements until a crop could be harvested, and Mr. Thomas
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
adopted the plan of selling them the required supplies to be paid for in work upon the roads. The amount of State aid thus fur- nished was about $25,000, nearly all of which was paid for within three years from the time of the arrival of the colony.
Upon an eminence in the southern part of the town a large and substantial two-story building was erected by the State, the upper story to be used as a place for religious meetings and public gatherings of the colonists, and the lower story serv- ing as a store, where all needed supplies were kept for sale. This building was called the Capitol, and has played quite an important part in the history of the colony.
During the next year and the years immediately following, large accessions were made to the colony, and every available lot in New Sweden being taken, lots were surveyed in the nor- thern portions of the adjoining towrs of Woodland and Perham and upon these many Swedish settlers were located. It soon became apparent that these colonists were an honest, industrious people, and their stea ly application and frugal economy gave promise of assured success. The visitor to New Sweden fifteen years ago saw much to remind him that he was in the midst of a people whose language, manners and customs were those of a foreign land. The arrangement of their houses and their mode of living, their manner of doing farm work, more espe- cially of harvesting their grain; the single ox harnessed to the rude cart, the big, wooden shoes in common use; these and many other things betokened that the newcomers had not yet "caught on" to the ways and methods of the people among whom they had made their homes. All this, however, has now almost en- tirely passed away and anyone riding through New Sweden today would hardly know but that the dwellers upon these beautiful farms, and in these neat and comfortable residences were "to the manner born," so completely have they adopted the ways and appliances of their Yankee neighbors. Occasion- ally, even now, may be seen a pair of oxen with the light Swed- ish yoke and harness, attached to a cart, or even at times to a mowing machine, but for the most part these farmers have good horses and are well supplied with all the various kinds of farm machinery in use among their neighbors upon the older settled towns.
New Sweden is bounded on the east by Connor Plantation and also partly by Caribou, on the south by Woodland, and on the north and west by the wilderness townships of 16 R. 3, and 15 R. 4, respectively. These latter townships are owned by pro-
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
prietors, but a number of Swedish settlers are already located upon those portions of each of them adjoining New Sweden.
A short distance from the Capitol in New Sweden is the Lutheran Church. Farther to the west is the church building of the Baptist Society, while on the higher ground east of the Cap- itol is the Advent meeting house. In the rear of the Capitol is the little cemetery where lie the remains of those of the colony who have passed to their final rest. Directly opposite the Cap- itol and fronting on the Caribou road, is the handsome resi- dence of Mr. F. O. La dgrare, who came to New Sweden three years ago and bought the farm, upon which there was then very little improvement. Though much interested in his farming speculations, M . Landgrane is a skilled mechanic, having been for a number of years master mechanic of the city railroads of San Francisco. He is also the inventor of se- al street car ap- pl'ances, includ'ng a fare box, change gate, bell, safety brake, etc., which are in use in many of the c'ties of the United States, and from the manufacture and sale of whcih he derives a com- fortable income. He has a partner, and their manufactory is located at 1804 Mission Street, San Francisco. Mr. Landgrane intends to make his home in New Sweden, but makes period- ical trips to San Francisco.
Directly east of the Capitol is the farm of Mr. John G. Uppling, who was a man of means in the old country and came to New Sweden in 1871 and bought the lot next the Capitol of its original proprietor. Capt. N. P. Clase, one of the original colonists, was of much ass stance in the early days of the settlement, as he was the only member of the colony who could speak English, and upon him Mr. Thomas relied very much during these first years. We remember attending a banquet at his house years ago upon the occasion of the visit of Gov. Perham and his Council to New Sweden. The place has changed wonderfully since then and the Captain begins to show the marks of advancing years.
There are six good schools in the town, three of which were taught during the present summer by young ladies born in the town and graduates of the Caribou High School. Each school is doing good work under the supervision of Mr. A. F. Ulrich.
New Sweden may be ranked as one of the prosperous towns of Northern Aroostook. Its citizens are industrious and frugal and have the faculty of saving and adding a little to their possessions each year. They are an honest and religiously inclined people, yet have a keen sense of humor and are gener-
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
ally intelligent and well informed. They have for the most part adopted the manners and customs of their Yankee neigh- bors and all the men and children speak good English. There are very few of the original log houses left in the town, nearly all having been replaced by neat frame buildings. The im- provement made upon this wilderness town in twenty years is very creditable to the thrift and energy of these worthy people and the addition thereby made to the valuation of the State proves the wisdom and success of the enterprise.
New Sweden was organized as a plantation in 1876 and in 1880 had a population of 517 and a valuation of $22,041. In 1890 the population had increased to 707 and the valuation to $107,832.
The first birth in the New Sweden colony was a boy in the family of Mr. Nils Persson, on the 12th of August, 1970, the 21st day from the arrival of the colonists. The babe was christened by the name of William Widgery Thomas Persson, in honor of the founder of the colony. A few weeks afterwards Mr. Thomas presented his young namesake with a silver cup, on which was engraved :
WILLIAM WIDGERY THOMAS PERSSON The first child born in New Sweden, August 12, 1870. From W. W. THOMAS, JR.
The first marriage was performed on Sunday, August 21st, 1870, when Mr. Jons Persson was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Persdotter, by W. W. Thomas, Jr., Esq. The ceremony was in the Swedish language, but after the American manner.
The first funeral was on the next day (Sunday) after the arrival of the colonists. A child of Mr. Nickolaus P. Clase, only a few weeks old, died just above Woodstock on the way up the St. John River. The remains were brought to New Sweden and there buried. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Withee, a Methodist clergyman of Caribou.
The following are the names of the heads of families who were settled upon lots in New Sweden and Woodland in 1870, with the number of their lots:
New Sweden
Name Wilhelm Hard 75
Number of Lot
Per J. Jacobson 96
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
Eric Ericsson
961/2
Nils P. Jansson
97
John Borgesson
99
Carl Voss
1111/2
Per O. Julen
113
Gottlieb T. Pilts
114
Oscar G. W. Lindberg
1141/2
Nils Ohlson
115
Jons Persson
116
Svens Svensson
117
Karl G. Harleman
118
Anders Malmquist
121
Jans L. Lundvall
121%
Truls Persson
133
Nils Persson
134
Nickolaus P. Clase
135
Olof C. Morell
1351/2
John P. Johnson
136
Anders Johansson
137
Anders Svenson
138
Olof Ohlson
1381/2
Laurentius Stenstrom
991/2
Per Persson
112
Mans Mansson
131
Anders F. Johansson
130
Woodland
Per Petersson
A
Solomon Johansson
Jonas Boden
C
Jonas Boden, Jr.
D
Frans R. W. Planck
E
Jacob Johansson
F
Anders Wesbergren
32
At the close of the year 1870, the colony numbered 114 Swedes, of whom 58 were men, 20 women and 36 children. A number of the original colonists afterward emigrated to other parts of the United States and their lots were taken by later arrivals.
OXBOW
In all this fair northland no fairer river sends its waters to the sea than the beautiful Aroostook, and no river of all the
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
land flows through a grander or more beautiful country. Along the banks of its upper waters are not only immense tracts of valuable timber land, but through all its tortuous course from source to mouth it flows through a section as fertile and produc- tive as any in New England. Broad, smooth intervales, easy of culture and rich in all the elements of plant life are along its banks, and, swelling back from these, are grand ridges of fertile upland, which, when cleared of their forest growth, are easily converted into fair and productive farms, upon which are the homes of a peaceful, happy and prosperous people. Many strong flowing streams, draining immense timber sections, add their waters to its larger volume and upon all these are valuable water powers, capable of turning many busy wheels and adding to the industrial resources of this great county.
In the valley of the lower Aroostook the forest has given place to the fertile farm, whole townships have been brought undor cultivation, handsome villages have been built up, and from this section immense quant.t'es of food products are sent out to feed the thousands of hungry tollers in other portions of the land. Fort Fairfield, Car bou, Presque Isle, Washburn, Ma- pleton and Castle Hill, all lying on the Lower Aroostook, are towns whose exports are mainly cult vated and manufactured products, while still farther up, Ashland and Masardis are well maintaining their claim to be classed as agricultural and manu- facturing towns.
As we ascend the river st'll further we begin to find our- selves in the midst of the "forest primeval" and to leave be- hind us the larger settlements, and penetrate into Nature's love- liest retreats. Now standing upon some sightly eminence, we look away towards the rorth and west, and as far as the eye can reach behold an unbroken forest, with its mountains and valleys, its rivers and streams, and in these mild October days, its daz- zling richness of color, ranging from the darkest green of the spruce and fir to the most gorgeous crimson of the maple, a sea of heaven-tinted beauty, an ocean of enchanting loveliness.
Such was the beautiful picture spread before us as we stood upon the grand swell of cultivated land in the little set- tlement of Oxbow Plantation, the farthest inhabited township upon the upper waters of the Aroostook.
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