USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 28
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In the division of the wild lands of Maine at the time of its admission as a separate State, Township No. 5, Range 3, now Oakfield, remained in the possession of the State of Massachu- setts as the towns were divided alternately between Maine and the mother State. About 1830 two large lots, containing nearly two hundred acres each were run out by the Massachusetts land agent in the northern part of No. 5, adjoining the Smyrna line. These lots are numbered twelve and thirteen upon the present plan of the town.
In 1831, Mr. Daniel Spaulding came from Kennebec County and took the lot now numbered twelve and at the same time Mr. Alexander Caldwell, who had recently emigrated to this country from Ireland took the adjoining lot. These two men were the pioneers of the town of Oakfield. The tract of land comprising these two lots was comparatively level, free from stones and fine productive soil. Mr. Spaulding cleared a farm upon which he lived until 1859, when he moved to Minnesota, where he died. He was for many years a prominent man in this section and was a man of much business ability. He was largely engaged in lumbering and also had teams upon the road to transport goods
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from Bangor to Aroostook. At that time all the goods and sup- plies for this portion of Aroostook County were purchased in Bangor and hauled by teams over the old Military road. Aroos- took had in those years a close business connection with Bangor and a large trade was established which was continued for many years.
After Mr. Spaulding left the farm it passed through a num- ber of hands and is now the property of Mr. Avon D. Weeks.
On the lot adjoining Mr. Spaulding's is a portion of the lit- tle lake now known as Timony Lake. In 1831 Mr. Alex Caldwell commenced his clearing on the north side of the lake near the Smyrna line. Here he cleared up a considerable tract and built a set of buildings, which were afterwards burned. Mr. Cald- well died in 1865 and his daughter, Mrs. James Timony, came into possession of the property. Mr. Timony enlarged and im- proved the farm and rebuilt the buildings. He died in 1885. His widow still resides with her son, Mr. John Timony, who car- ries on the farm.
The next settler upon the town was Mr. David W. Clifford, who about the year 1848 made a clearing in the southwest part of the town on the lot now occupied by Mr. John Byron. These three were the only clearings made upon the town until it was opened for settlement in 1858.
In common with all the unsettled lands of the State this town became the property of the State of Ma'ne and in 1858 was surveyed and lotted for settlement by Parker P. Burleigh and J. E. S. Cony. The State then offered the lots to actual settlers for 50 cents per acre, to be paid in road labor. Thus the settlers could pay for their lots by making roads for their own accommodation.
Immigration to the new town at once commenced and set- tlers came and took lots in different portions of the town. On all the hillsides the sound of the pioneer's axe was heard as the lofty forest trees were felled and openings made in the wilder- ness for future homes.
The first deed from the State of Maine was given to Mr. Samuel Gerrish, who came from Linneus in 1858 and took a lot some distance south of the center of the town. Mr. Gerrish cleared up a farm and built a good set of buildings and lived upon the farm until some four years ago, when he went to spend the last years of his life with his son, Mr. John Gerrish, who has a fine farm in the plantation of Dyer Brook. The old gentleman is now 90 years old, but is quite active for a man of that ex-
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treme age. His children and grandchildren are still living in this and adjoining towns.
Mr. John Bell, one of the earliest of the pioneers of Oak- field after the survey, came from Stoneham in Oxford County, to Aroostook to seek a new home. Hearing of the State land in Number 5, he went there, and as the hills looked natural to him, and reminded him of his home in Oxford, he concluded to settle in the new town. He first took a lot in the southwest por- tion of the town a short distance east of the East Branch. The lot extended from Downing Brook on the south to Moose Brook on the forth, and was a very good lot, being beyond the granite belt. Mr. Cushman Walker of Hodgdon, had made a twelve acre chopping on the lot and Mr. Bell purchased Mr. Walker's possession. He lived in Lineus while he was making his first clearingg and ballding his log house, and in 1861 moved his fam- ily to the forest home. Mr. Bell cleared upwards of twenty neres on this lot and built a good barn. He lived upon this farm six years and then sold it to Mr. John H. Bartlett, who now lives apon is. M. Bell then took the lot next west of his former home, ami here he made a large clearing. He afterwards sold a part of this farm to his son, Mr. John F. Bell, reserving for him- self fifty acres, with something over ten acres cleared. The land is not much broken, lying lower than the adjoining farm, is not very stony and produces well. Mr. Bell has a neat house and good barn and a thrifty orchard of something over 100 bearing trees. Ile is now 74 years old and somewhat feeble and has given up the management of the farm to his son-in-law, Mr. Charles Bell, who lives with him. The old gentleman is justly proud of the fact that he sent three boys to the army, aged 14, 16 and 18 years respectively at the time of their enlistment, but all large of their age and good stalwart young men. All three went into the 3rd Maine Cavalry and served until the close of the war and all three came home uninjured.
In 1859 Mr. John Lougee came from Linneus and took a lot a short distance southwest from the centre of the town. There was then no road to the lot and after making a small clearing, Mr. Lougee moved his family to the new home in 1861. The farm is on the side of a high hill sloping toward the south and on all sides except the west is surrounded by lofty wooded hills. A short distance to the northeast of Mr. Lougee's is the highest land in the town and the "divide" between the waters of the Penobscot and those flowing into the St. John. Looking west- ward from the buildings the view extends through a valley or
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pass, to the farms in Dyer Brook Plantation and also away to the white cottages and cultivated fields of Crystal. From the higher ground the village of Patten can be plainly seen. Mt. Chase is in plain view directly to the west, while a little farther to the south old Katahdin rears his cloud-capped summit above all surrounding eminences. A road now winds through this val- ley and near the road Mr. Lougee has built a fine large house. He has two large barns and other convenient outbuildings near the house and another large barn in a field some distance away. Mr. Lougee has had much experience in the lumber woods and is well acquainted with all portions of western Aroostook. He is the present treasurer of the town. His son, Mr. Charles S. Lougee, lives with him and is a partner in the business. On the hills in the rear of Mr. Lougee's buildings is a deposit of iron, and surveyors are here obliged to discard the use of the com- pass on account of the deflection of the needle, caused by the iron deposit.
In 1859 Mr. Joseph T. Robbins, who holds the second deed given in the town by the State of Maine, came from Exeter and took a lot a short distance southeast of the center of the town. This farm is now on what is called the North road, one mile and a half from Morton's Corner. Mr. Robbins commenced clearing land and built a timber house upon his lot but did not move his family to the new town until August, 1852. At that time the road from Linneus Corner was made only as far as the Byron place in the west part of Linneus and from there Mr. Rob- bins moved his family, consisting of his wife and two children, through the woods to their new home on a sled drawn by oxen. Mr. Robbins has a farm of 185 acres with something over fifty acres cleared. A large portion of the farm is quite free from stones and produces well. He has a good set of buildings and is comfortably situated. Mr. Robbins has been a member of the board of assessors and has always been a prominent man in the town.
Mr. J. A. Tyler came from Augusta in 1861 and took the lot next west of Mr. Robbins. He cleared some forty acres of land and built a house and barn. Mr. Tyler lived upon this farm until four years ago, when he moved to California.
Mr. Lewis P. Young came from Linneus in 1861 and took the lot next west of Mr. John Lougee's. He made a small clear- ing on the lot and built a house and barn and then went into the army in the 16th Maine Regiment and died in the service. Mrs. Woodworth now lives on this farm.
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Benjamin Burleigh, a brother of Col. Moses Burleigh of Linneus, moved from Houlton in 1860 and took a lot in the south part of the town running back to Skitacook Lake. Mr. Burleigh commenced a farm here, but lived only about five years after he came to the town.
One of the earliest settlers of the town was Mr. William C. Thompson, who came from the town of Knox, in Waldo County, in 1859 and took a lot in the west part of the town south of the centre line. This lot runs back to the East Branch. Mr. Thomp- son made a small clearing in 1859 and built a frame house and in April, 1860, moved his family to the town and has l'ved upon this farm ever since. He has 150 acres of land with 60 acres cleared. The land slopes gradually westward to the East Branch and along the river is a fine intervale.
Mr. Daniel Allen came from Montville with Mr. Thompson and took the lot adjoining his on the north. He cleared up a farm and built a set of buildings, and d'ed here some twenty years ago. His son, S. J. Allen, now lives on the farm.
Mr. John Brown came to the town in 1860 and took a lot in the south part of the town (No. 134). He cleared about twenty acres and lived upon it four years and then removed to Merrill Plantation.
Enoch Bamford came to Oakfield in 1862 and first took a lot in the west part of the town, where he made a small clearing and then sold to Mr. David Byron. He then took the lot next north of Mr. Joseph T. Robbins, where he remained two years. This lot is now occupied by Mr. William T. Higgins. Mr. Bam- ford was for a number of years afterward engaged in trade at Linneus Corner and something over a year ago returned to Oak- field and took the L. C. Sprague farm on the south road a short distance east of Morton's Corner. Here Mr. Bamford has a store with a stock of general merchandise and is the postmaster of Oakfield.
Mr. Chas. T. Bussell came from Farmington in 1862 and took a lot near the centre of the town. He moved his family to the town the next year. Mr. Bussell cleared up a good farm and built a good set of buildings. He was for years a prominent man in the town and was well known in this portion of the coun- ty. He removed to Minnesota some six years ago. This farm is now owned by Mr. Elijah N. Nelson, who came from New Brunswick and purchased it some five years ago. He has ahout sixty acres of cleared land, a good house and a barn 40x60 ft.
The farm was neglected after Mr. Bussell left, but as Mr. Nel-
,
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son is a sturdy, energetic man, he will no doubt make a good farm of it.
Edward Adams came from Linneus in 1862 and made a clearing on the lot opposite the John Brown lot in the south part of the town. He lived on this lot a number of years and then moved to Colorado. Mr. James Fleming came the same year and took the lot adjoining Mr. Adams on the west. Here he made a large clearing, built a good house and barn and after living upon the farm a number of years removed to Colorado. Edward Sullivan came the same year and took the lot adjoining Mr. Adams on the east. He made a small clearing, built a house End barn and after a few years moved to Letter B. Plantation. This let is now owned by Mr. F. W. Stimpson of Houlton.
Isaac Chambers came from Baring in Washington County, in 1861, and took a lot in the southwest part of the town near Mr. John Bell's. He cleared up a farm and built comfortable buildings and still lives upon the farm.
Mr. William Gerrish, a son of Samuel Gerrish, came to Oak- field with his father and went to work with him to clear up a farm and make a home. They had just made a fair commence- ment when the war broke out and William went into the army in the 20th Maine Regiment. At the battle of Cold Harbor he lost a leg, and returning to Oakfield, bought a farm in the south part of the town. He farmed and traded until the summer of 1888. In June of this year Mr. Gerrish started to attend the Re- publican State Convention at Portland as a delegate from his town. He became exhausted from the heat while riding in the horse cars from the train to the hotel, and fell in a fainting fit. He was removed to the Falmouth Hotel, where he died that night. An appeal was made in his behalf to the convention and the generous sum of five hundred dollars was contributed by the delegates. This removed the mortgage from his little home and placed his widow and family in comfortable circumstances. The widow still resides upon the farm.
Theodore Gerrish, another son of Samuel Gerrish, also went into the army and at the close of the war returned to Oakfield and took the lot next north of the homestead. Here he made a clearing and built a house and lived upon the lot some five or six years, when he commenced to study for the ministry. He terwards became a clergyman in the Methodist Church and is well known as a writer of war reminiscences. Of late years he has been somewhat largely engaged in Western land speculation, having made large investments for himself and others at Sioux.
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Falls and other places.
Mr. Albert G. Bussell came with his brother, Chas. T. Bus- sell, and took the next lot to his, where he cleared up a small farm and built a house and afterwards removed with his bro- ther to the west. This farm is now occupied by Mr. Leontine Martin.
Mr. Albion Batchelder came from New Portland in 1861 and took the lot next west of Mr. Chas. T. Bussell's. Mr. Batchelder is still living upon this farm and has forty acres cleared and has good comfortable buildings.
Wesley Daggett came from Weston in 1863 and first settled on a lot in the southeast part of the town, north of the road. He afterwards moved to a lot on the south of the road, where he made a clearing and I'ved until his death five years ago. His son, Luther A. Daggett, then took the farm and now lives upon it. He has twenty-five acres of cleared lard.
Mr. George Foster came from Waterville in 1863 and took a lot in the west part of the town and made a clearing and built a log house and barn. He 1.ved here some eighteen years and then moved to Skowhegan. This farm is now unoccupied.
About the same time Mr. Bachelor Henry came from Waldo County and took a lot in the northwest part of the town running back to Long Lake. Here he made a farm and built a good set of buildings and lived upon the farm unt'l his death something over two years ago. His brother, John J. Hussey, came at the same time and took the lot adjoining on the west. He cleared up a farm and built a house and barn and afterwards moved to Sherman.
Albert A. Burleigh moved to Oakfield in 1865 on his return from his term of service in the army. Mr. Burleigh served in the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry and also in 1st Maine Cav- alry. At tlie battle of Staunton River Bridge he received a but- let wound through the left thigh and also had his left shoulder shattered by a fragment of a shell. A few days later he was taken prisoner while being conveyed to the hospital in an am- bulance. He was taken to Petersburg and afterwards to Rich- mond and was in prison fifty-five days in the summer of 1864. He was then exchanged and was discharged from the service in April, 1865. He returned to the home of his father, Hon. Parker P. Burleigh, of Linneus, and in December, 1865, moved to a State lot in Oakfield. His lot was in the southwest part of the town, on the east side of the East Branch. He made a clearing of thirty acres on this lot and built a good house, and
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afterwards purchased half of the lot adjoining. In 1870 Mr. Burleigh was chosen a member of the board of county commis- sioners and has since served upon the board fourteen years, having had eleven years of continuous service. In April, 1873, he moved to Linneus and in the following December removed to Houlton, where he has since resided. Mr. Burleigh learned the profession of land surveyor from his father, having worked with him from boyhood, and he has since practiced that profes- sion in many parts of Aroostook and probably no man in the county is more thoroughly acquainted with the topography of Aroostook than he. In 1881, Mr. Burleigh was appointed col- lector of customs for the district of Aroostook, which office he held for four years. He was succeeded during the Cleveland administration by Hon. John P. Donworth and in 1889 was re- appointed by President Harrison and is the present incumbent. Mr. Burleigh was actively engaged in working up the present en- terprise for the construction of a direct railroad to Aroostook County, and in the formation of the Bangor & Aroostook R. R. Company, and is the president of that company. He is now actively engaged in pushing that important enterprise and the people of the county have all confidence in his integrity and business ability.
In 1865, Mr. James W. Anderson moved to Oakfield and set- tled on a lot in the northern part of the town, east of Spaulding Lake. Mr. Anderson was a soldier in the old 24th Maine Regi- ment and afterwards served in the 20th Maine.
The township remained unorganized until 1866. The war- rant for the organization as a plantation was issued to Jacob Martin, Jr., on March 7, 1866, by County Commissioners D. A. Sewall, N. S. Lufkins and T. C. S. Berry. The first meeting was held April 17, 1866, at the house of Charles T. Russell. James Timony was chosen moderator; William Gerrish, clerk; Joseph F. Robbins, James Timony and John Bell, assessors, and Thomas Shields, treasurer. At the request of Mr. James Timony, then the oldest living resident of the town, it was voted that the plantation be called Oakfield. On June 7th a second meeting was held, at which the school districts were arranged and some action taken in regard to roads. In September 1866, Oakfield cast 57 votes.
Mr. Benj. F. Higgins moved from Lisbon to Oakfield in October, 1867, and settled on a lot a short distance northeast of the center of the town. When Mr. Burleigh lotted the town he selected this lot for himself or his boys, but afterwards ex-
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changed and took the lot on the East Branch, where Albert A. Burleigh afterwards lived. Mr. Thos. C. Segar then took the lot and felled five acres of trees upon it, and in 1861 went into the army and died in the service. Mr. Higgins served through the war and in 1867 came to Oakfield and married the widow of Mr. Segar and settled upon the new lot. Mr. Higgins was deputy land agent for some time and has been a prominent man in his town. He, with others, built a mill a number of years ago on the stream which flows across his lot, but not proving profitable, it has been abandoned. Mr. Higgins is now advanced in years and has given up the management of the farm to his son, Phil Sheridan Higgins, who lives with him. Another son, U. S. Grant Higgins, is settled upon a farm nearby.
Mr. J. D. B. Clark came from Smyrna in 1866 and took a lot in the northwest part of the town, running back to Long Lake. He has 133 acres of good land, quite free from stones, with 50 acres cleared. He has a handsome two-story house and good barn and outbuildings. Mr. Clark is a blacksmith by trade and works at Smyrna Mills a part of the time.
Mr. Avon D. Weeks came to Oakfield in 1872 and bought the old Spaulding place in the north part of the town, next to the Smyrna line. Mr. Weeks is the son of Abner Weeks, former- ly one of the business men of Houlton. Mr. Weeks has a mill on the thoroughfare between Spaulding Lake and Long Lake. Mr. Joseph Crandall built the original mill some twenty years ago. It then had but an up and down saw. Mr. Weeks rebuilt and enlarged the mill in 1885 and it now contains a rotary, shin- gle machine, lath machine and planer. The mill is run by water. Mr. Charles L. Weeks, the youngest son of Abner Weeks, has a farm adjoining his brother's and has built a very handsome residence. Last winter the Weeks Bros. built a shingle mill on Towrship No. 7, Range 3, which lies directly north of Smyrna. Mr. Charles L. Weeks is in charge of the business at this mill.
Mr. W. H. Gerrish has recently built a steam grist mill near the road which crosses the thoroughfare between the lakes. He has two run of stones and grinds feed and also bolts buckwheat flour. He also has a store near the mill and is doing a good business. Mr. Robert McElman has a blacksmith shop near the m'11.
Mr. Harry Fisher has a handsome residence on his farm on the south side of Spaulding Lake. He is largely engaged in lum- bering.
Some two miles from the east line of the town a road turns
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to the north at what is called Morton's Corner and runs north- ward across the town. Mr. George F. Morton came from Silver Ridge eight years ago and bought the Henry C. Taylor farm at what was then called Taylor Corner. Mr. Morton has a very good farm here and also keeps public house. Mr. Albert Smart has a farm a short distance west of Mr. Morton's and also has a store. Mr. Eli W. Tibbetts, Mr. Charles Libby and Mr. John R. Gerrish also have farms on this road. Mr. George Burpee has a farm two miles north of Morton's Corner, and beyond him are Wm. T. Higgins and his son, Andrew J. Higgins. Mr. Frank- 1.n S. Higgins has a small farm and a neat residence a short d.stance farther north. Mr. Higgins is a carpenter by trade and has been clerk of the plantat.on since 1873.
Mr. John M. Brown and Mr. Geo. W. Brown have farms still further north. Mr. Willard Brannan and Mr. Allen Walton have good farms in the western part of the town.
Oakfield is well supplied with roads and has good schools. The population in 1880 was 720.
Though possessed of a rough and rugged surface in many portions of the town, yet there is much good farming land in the town, and the time may yet come when all the hills, now covered with a lofty forest growth, will be converted into fertile farms, and occupied by a prosperous farming community.
WESTFIELD
Southward from Presque Isle the road leads through a beau- tiful farming country, and evidences of thrift may be seen on every hand, while the natural scenery is most pleasing. A short distance from the village we come to the handsome buildings of St. John's School, where some ninety of the boys and girls of Presque Isle, besides others from without the town, receive efficient instruction. The buildings are placed upon a healthy eminence and are of much architectural beauty without, while within they are roomy, convenient and comfortable. A handsome dome surmounts the principal building, from which the Stars and Stripes of the Union float proudly in the breeze. Next be- yond is the large farm of Rev. G. M .. Park, with its numerous and commodious farm buildings and its broad and fertile fields stretching away to the distant woods. A short distance below is the beautiful cemetery, with its well kept grounds and newly finished receiving tomb. We pass many fine farms with fields of rich green grass and grain, and with many acres of potatoes,
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somewhat backward this season, but giving promise of a bounti- ful harvest. A few miles below the village we come to Akeley Brook, upon which is situated one of the finest starch factories in Aroostook County, with two large dry houses and a conven- ient boarding house, the buildings all neatly finished and painted. This factory is the property of Hon, T. H. Phair, and many bushels of potatoes are here ground up and made into starch each year. Crossing the brook and ascending the hill beyond, we see on the right the lofty and irregular height of Quaggy Joe and its thickly wooded sides, while at its foot nestles the pretty little suburban village of Spragueville. Most of this vil- lage is hidden from view as we ride along the stage road, but the handsome new Methodist Church, but recently dedicated, is in plain sight upon the higher ground and shows to good ad- vantage with the dark sides of the mountain for a background.
Something over three miles from Presque Isle village, at the mouth of the road leading to Spragueville, we come to the large and handsome Grange Hall which the enterprising Patrons of South Presque Isle and Westfield erected a number of years ago. The building has two stories, the lower one being used for the Grange meetings and a large and convenient dining hall is fin- ished off above.
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