USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 3
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terwards known as the Patrick Ferry farm. He built a log house on this lot, but soon after bought two lots still further east-lots No. 3 and 4, Range 2, where he cleared up a large farm, upon which he lived for many years and was a well known c.tizen of the town. Mr. Wm. White came from Douglas, N. B., about the same time, and took a lot immediately north of the one upon which Jacob White first settled. He cleared a farm and lived on it until his death some thirty years ago.
Mr. Lewis Stone came from Keswick, N. B., in 1826 or 1827, and settled upon the lot where Jacob White first made his clear- ing. Mr. Stone cleared up the farm, and lived upon it until about 1844, when he moved to Wisconsin. Mr. Edwin A. Lowe, now owns this farm. Mr. William Stone came at the same time and settled on the next lot south of Lewis Stone. He cleared this farm and lived on it until his death some twenty years ago. Mr. Edwin Henderson now lives upon the farm. Mr. James Grant came from New Burnswick about this time, and settled on a lot adjoining the boundary line. He made a good farm and lived on it until his death about 1861. Mr. Thos. Buckley now owns this farm. Many of the descendants of the White and Grant fami- lies formerly lived in this portion of the town, but nearly. all of them have now removed to other portions of the country and elsewhere.
Mr. Thomas Furze emigrated from Devonshire, England, to Fredericton, N. B., when a young man, and in 1830 came to Hodgdon and settled on a lot adjoining the boundary line. He made a farm upon which he lived until his death in 1875. His son, Mr. George Furze, was for many years a prominent and re- spected citizen. He died in 1887.
Mr. Jos. D. Haven came to this part of the town in the early years, and settled on the lot south of William Stone. Mr. Haven made a fine farm, and was for many years a prominent citizen of Hodgdon. Some ten years ago he sold his farm to Mr. John Moore, and moved to the George Furze farm, where he lived three years, and then moved to Houlton, where he now resides.
Mr. Thomas Lloyd came to Hodgdon about 1830, and settled upon the lot upon which his son, Thomas Lloyd now lives. A man by the name of Worley, who is said to be the first man to make an opening in this part of the town, had made a small clearing on the lot, and built a log house. Mr. Lloyd cleared up the farm and lived on it until 1870.
Mr. John Bell came from New Brunswick about 1830, and settled east of Westford Hill. Mr. Bell lived here until his
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death in 1873, and many of his descendants are now living in Hodgdon and other portions of the County.
Mr. Francis Bird came to Hodgdon in 1831, and settled on a lot in the east part of the town adjoining the Houlton line. He afterwards bought the William White lot adjo.ning his on the south, and now has a fine farm of 200 acres, with 175 cleared.
Mr. John P. Lincoln went from Bath, Me., to Oromocto, N. B., to work at his trade as a ship carpenter. In 1835 he came to Hodgdon, and settled on the lot on which his son, Mr. Leonard Lincoln, now lives. Mr. Lincoln was a well known citizen for many years, and one of the most substantial and independent farmers. He died in 1882. Mr. Benjamin T. Lincoln also came from Oromocto, N. B., in 1837, and took one of the lots upon which his brother, John P. Lincoln, had settled two years before. Each of the brothers afterward bought an additional hundred acres nearby. Mr. Benj. T. Lincoln was for many years a mem- ber of the board of selectmen, and was a man of kindly and companionable disposition, and had many strong friends. He died in 1888. Mr. John Lincoln, father of John P. and Benjamin T., came to Hodgdon in 1840, and took the next lot south of the one occupied by the sons. Here he cleared a farm and lived upon it a number of years, when he sold it to John P. Lincoln and went to live with his son, Warren Lincoln, on the Calais Road. He afterwards removed to Wisconsin, where he died in 1864.
Mr. Warren Lincoln came to Hodgdon about 1843, and took the lot next east of Benj. T. Lincoln. He made a clearing upon this lot, and afterward sold it to Mr. Thomas Butler, and removed to a farm in the south part of the town on the Calais road. He lived upon this farm until 1854, when his buildings were burned and he sold the farm and removed to Wisconsin.
Rev. Geo. W. Haskell came from Poland, Androscoggin Co., in 1843 and settled in the White Settlement. He was a clergy- man of the Free Baptist denomination. He was pastor of the Free Baptist Church in that portion of the town until 1855, when he bought a farm on the Calais road opposite Mr. Daniel Smith, whose daughter he married. Here he built a neat residence, where he lived and continued to labor in his profession until his death in 1874. Elder Haskell was a man well known through- out Aroostook County. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the town, and was a number of times chosen as a representa- tive to the Legislature. He was a man of most genial and kind-
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ly temperament, and had many friends in his town and through- out the County.
Mr. Thomas Buckley, better known as Deacon Buckley, came to Hodgdon in 1846 and a few years later bought of Mr. Warren Lincoln the farm upon which he now lives. There was a small clearing on the lot and Dea. Buckley cleared a handsome farm, which he has very much enlarged by the purchase of a large tract adjoining.
Mr. Joshua Atherton moved to Hodgdon about 1850, and first settled on a farm east of Westford Hill. He afterward moved to a farm near Mr. J. D. Haven, where he lived until his. death in 1882. His son, William W. Atherton, now lives upon the farm. The above named were the principal settlers in the. east part of the town in the early days.
Very soon after the first settlers came to the town, Mr. John Hodgdon and Mr. Jabez Bradbury built a mill on the Meduxne- keag Stream at what is now the thriving village of Hodgdon Mills. The mill property afterward came into Mr. Bradbury's possession, and at his death, the sons, George and David Brad- bury, carried on the business until about 1854, when they sold the property to Mr. William Robinson.
In 1861 Messrs. Gilman Jewett and B. E. H. Durrell, came to Hodgdon from Dexter and purchased the mill property, which consisted at that time of a saw mill, grist mill, and card- ing mill. The saw mill contained an up-and-down saw, shingle machine, and lath and clapboard machine. The grist mill con- tained three runs of stones, and conected with it was a mill for preparing oats for grinding.
In 1861 Jewett & Durrell repaired and enlarged the saw mill, and put in a rotary for sawing long lumber. They also tore down the old grist mill and built a new one in the most thorough man- ner upon the same site. They now have every appliance for making first-class flour. To the carding they added a fulling mill and cloth dressing machinery. They carried on the cloth business and wool carding for a number of years, and then sold the machinery to Mr. Chas. Tarbell, who removed it to a build- ing better fitted to that purpose further down the stream.
Capt. Thomas, formerly of Bangor, leased the saw mill for a number of years, and carried on a large business in the manu- facture of lumber. Capt Thomas also bought a farm near the mill and set out a large orchard, which is still bearing abundant- ly. He afterwards sold the farm and removed to the town of Veazie, where he now resides.
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
Mr. Lewis Brown of Houlton also leased the mill for a num- ber of years after Capt. Thomas left. The saw mill was burned in 1882 and was immediately rebuilt. Mr. Durrell died in 1882 and Mr. Jewett bought the entire property. In addition to his mill business, Mr. Jewett was quite extensively engaged in farming. Very soon after coming to the town he bought the farm formerly owned by Mr. Stillman Pollard, an old resident of the town, and took much interest in its management and im- provement. He was engaged in mercantile business for some years, having a store near the mill. Mr. Jewett died in Decem- ber, 1890, and his son, Gilman F. Jewett, now occupies this fine property. Mr. Christopher C. Bradbury came to Hodgdon from New Limerick in 1836 and bought the T. P. Packard farm near the mills. He was for many years engaged in the management of the mills and when they were sold to Mr. Robinson in 1854, Deacon Bradbury removed to the farm in the south part of the town, now owned by Mr. Edwin Robinson. He lived o nthis farm a number of years and then removed to West Virginia, where he afterward died. Deacon Bradbury was one of the sterling citi- zens of the town and his memory is still cherished as one of the strong men of the early days who helped to mould the character of the new town.
Mr. John C. Ingraham came from New Brunswick in 1839 and bought a lot on the "horseback," a short mile from the mills. Mr. Robert Benn had cleared a few acres and built a small house on the lot. Mr. Ingraham cleared up a fine farm and with his son, Mr. Henry Ingraham, built a handsome set of farm build- ings. Mr. Ingraham has been a prominent man in the town for many years. He has been town clerk for sixteen years, treas- urer fifteen years and trial justice for twenty-five years. For the past twenty years he has been in the employ of Mr. Gilman Jewett as clerk and bookkeeper. Mr. Ingraham is now eighty- four years of age, but is still smart and active.
Mr. Isaac B. Adams came from New Brunswick in 1839 and settled on a lot near the mills and worked for many years in the grist mill. Mr. Adams died in 1860 and his sons are worthy citizens of Hodgdon and adjoining towns.
Mr. John Hodgdon, the proprietor of the township, moved to the town which bears his name about the year 1843. He made a large farm consisting of the Asa Brown, Lewis Morrill, Harri- son Howes and other adjoining farms which made an extensive block of most excellent land. He established his residence on this farm near the Houlton line and built the buildings now
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HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK
owned and occupied by Mr. John R. Slipp. Mr. Hodgdon took an active part in the affairs of the town and in 1844 was chosen. chairman of the board of selectmen and also town treasurer. He lived in the town four or five years and afterwards removed to Houlton, where he formed a partnership with Hon. J. C. Madi- gan in the law business and in the purchase and sale of timber lands. Mr. Hodgdon afterwards removed to Dubuque, Iowa,. where he died a number of years ago.
Deacon Putnam Shaw moved from Houlton about 1844 and bought of Joseph Gerow the Aaron Perley lot on the Calais road .. Deacon Shaw lived on this farm until his death in 1867. He was a good man and a worthy citizen, always working for the best. moral interest of the town.
Mr. Edwin A. Low was one of the prominent citizens of the town for many years and was for much of the time during his residence a town officer. His home was in the east part of the town. He is now residing in Houlton.
Mr. B. C. Smith came from Weston to Hodgdon about 1850 and bought a farm in the south part of the town. Mr. Smith was a blacksmith by trade and worked at that business for some time after coming to Hodgdon. He was afterwards for a num- ber of years extensively engaged in lumbering. He was an active, energetic bus ness man and was much respected by his fellow townsmen. He spent the last years of his life at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. F. C. Nickerson, of Linneus. His oldest son, Col. Zemro A. Smith of the 1st Me. Heavy Artillery, was for a number of years on the staff of the Boston Journal and is now engaged in journalistic work in the West. Hon. J. O. Smith, the next son, is the present Insurance Commissioner of Maine and editor of the Somerset Reporter. Mr. N. D. Smith, youngest surviving son, is a prosperous merchant in Portland. Another son, George A. Smith, was killed in the service of his country.
The town was incorporated February 11, 1832. It lies im- mediately south of Houlton and is bounded on the east by the New Brunswick line, on the south by Township No. 11, Range 1, now Cary, and on the west by the town of Linneus. The Meduxnekeag stream runs in nearly a due north course entirely across the town at a distance of something over a mile and a half from its western line. The peculiar natural formation known as the "horseback," extends across the town parallel with the stream and but a short distance west of it. A short distance south of the middle line of the town, Westford Hill, a beautiful
,
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elevation of land, extending two miles from east to west across this part of the town. With the exceptions of these elevations the town is very level, the surface nowhere being broken by ab- rupt elevations. In the extreme southeastern portion of the town is a comparatively small tract of low lying land hardly suitable for easy cultivation, and east of the Calais road, on the rear of the road lots in the north part of the town, are a few swamp lots. Aside from these small blocks the town i sa most excellent one for agricultural purposes and every lot in town ex- cept those spoken of is capable of making a good farm, and in- deed most of them are already made.
In looking over the good old town of Hodgdon we find that it has fully kept up its reputation as one of the best towns in the county. After many years of cultivation the farms are still producing bountifully and show no signs of losing their fertil- ity. Waste places are being reclaimed. Many new and hand- some farm buildings have been recently built and evidences of prosperity and good cultivation are seen on every hand.
WESTON
The tract of land included in the town of Weston at the time of its incorporation was originally granted to the trustees of Hampden Academy and consisted of a parallelogram two and one half miles wide and seven and one-fifth miles long. This rectangular tract extends in a northwesterly and southeasterly direction, its northwest corner projecting a short distance be- yond a bend in the Mattawamkeag River and its southwest cor- ner extending something over half a mile south of the Baska- hegan stream. The east line of the original town just skirts the lakes, leaving between this line and Grand Lake an irregular tract containing some 6000 acres, known as the Monroe Gore.
The resolve granting this half township to Hampden Acad- emv was passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts June 18, 1803. The tract was surveyed by Charles Turner, Jr., in the year 1804, and the following is a record of his survey: "Be- ginning at a cedar stake, marked, standing at the southeast end of the Indian Portash (sic) or carrying place from Baskahegan stream to the Great Schoodic Lake and run east by the magnet one mile and 280 rods to a beech (sic) tree marked 'S. E. C.
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H. A. C. T. 1804,' from thence run north 700 rods to a white pine tree marked, standing by the Great Scoodic Lake. Began again at the aforesaid cedar stake at Baskahegan and run west (crossing said stream) 200 rods to a white maple tree marked 'S. W. C. H. A. C. T. 1804,' from thence run north (crossing Baskahegan at 190 rods) continue on in the whole seven miles and sixty-five and a quarter rods to a stake, marked, from thence run south till it strikes the Great Lake, passing through ponds, thence by said lake till it comes to the afore-mentioned white pine tree."
This record reads somewhat blindly at first sight, but upon comparison with the map of the town the original boundaries can be readily traced. Mr. Turner run north "by the magnet." The var.atior. of the compass at that time was thirteen degrees to the west, so that by running by the compass without allowing for variation the tract is inclined in a northwesterly and southeast- erly direction. The record of Mr. Turner's survey establishes for all coming time the location of the old Indian Portage, or carrying place, from the Baskahegan Stream to the Grand Lake. This portage commenced at the point where the south line of the Hampden Academy Grant crossed the Baskahegan and contin- ued in a northeasterly direction until it struck the Grand Lake. Eastward of the Academy Grant and between the east line of that grant and the irregular coast line of the Grand Lake (then called Scoodic Lake) is a tract of nearly six thousand acres, known as the Monroe Gore. Between the south line of the Academy Grant and the north line of the half township granted to Thomas Danforth (now the town of Danforth) is a strip 147 rods wide, a part of which is known as the Nelson tract. As these two tracts are included in the present town of Weston, it is proper to insert their documentary history at this point.
On the 10th day of July, 1830, the Land Agent of the State of Maine contracted to Edmund Monroe a tract of land in the County of Washington, situated between the Hampden Acad- emy Grant and "Scoodic Lake" and containing 5892 acres. Mr. Monroe paid $301.00 down and gave four notes, bearing date of May 17th, 1830, and payable in one, two, three and six years respectively, each note being for $293.00, with interest annually. This tract was deeded by the Land Agent on May 14, 1835, to James Crosby of Bangor and Deodat Brastow of Brewer, assignees of Edmund Monroe, and has since been known as the "Monroe Gore."
By a resolve passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts
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Feb. 19, 1802, a grant of five hundred acres of land was made to Amasa Smith. This tract was not located until Sept. 1820, when it was surveyed by Alexander Greenwood, and on Nov. 18, 1820, it was deeded by Geo. W. Coffin, Land Agent of Mass., to David Nelson, of New Gloucester, assignee of Amasa Smith. The tract is thus described by the record of Mr. Greenwood's survey :
"Beginning at a white maple tree, the same being the south- west corner of the grant to Hampden Academy, marked S. W. C. H. A. A. G. 1820, D. N., thence running south one hundred and forty-seven rods to a beech (sic) tree standing on the north line of the half township granted to Thomas Danforth, Esq., marked G. 1820, D. N., thence running east on the line of said grant to Thomas Danforth five hundred and forty-four rods and eleven links to a yellow birch tree marked G. 1820 D. N. A. G. J. G. I. F., thence running north one hundred and forty-seven rods and eleven links to a yellow birch tree standing in the south line of the grant to Hampden Academy marked G. 1820, D. N. A. G. J. G. I. F., thence on said Academy line five hundred and forty-four rods and eleven links to the bound first men- tioned."
David Nelson conveyed the tract to Mr. Joseph L. Kelsey of Bangor, by his deed dated April 25, 1835. The land has since been sold to settlers and, though now a part of the town of Wes- ton, is still known as the "Nelson Tract."
The first settlers upon the Hampden Academy grant were John Davenport, Thomas Gilpatrick and William Butterfield, Esq. Of these, Mr. Davenport was the first to make a chop- ping, and Mr. Gilpatrick was the first settler who brought a family to the grant. John Davenport came from St. Albans and settled on the lot where Joshua Butler now lives, a short distance south of the middle line of the town. He cleared a farm and built a set of buildings and was for many years a re- spected citizen of the town. He died in Weston some twenty years ago. Thomas Gilpatrick came from Unity in 1825. He purchased of the trustees of the academy one thousand acres of land for twenty-five cents per acre. Mr. Davenport had made a chopping the year before and this chopping Mr. Gilpatrick cleared and put into crop at the halves. He afterwards settled near where Mr. Otis A. Gilpatrick now lives, where he built a log house and in 1827 his wife and son David came to their rew home. Mr. Gilpatrick lived on this place some six years, when he moved to a timber house at the foot of the hill some
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distance north of where the old homestead now stands. Mr. W.lliam Philbrook had made a ten acre chopping on the place and built a timber house. The family lived in this house till about 1841, when Mr. Gilpatrick built the buildings on the top of the hill, now known as the Gilpatrick homestead. He cleared a number of large farms and was extensively engaged in farm- ing and lumbering. His house was for years a stopping place for travellers and was a place well known in all that section. He afterward bought the William Butterfield farm, some dis- tance farther north, upon which he lived until his death in 1876. Mr. Gilpatrick was a prominent man in the town during the whole time of his residence there, at times doing a large busi- ness and being actively interested in the affairs of the town. Mr. William Butterfield, known throughout southern Aroostook for many years as "Squire Butterfield," was born in the town of Sidney and removed from there to New Brunswick, where he remained a number of years. He came to Weston about 1827 and settled on the lot now occupied by Mr. Ruel Peters, oppo- site the old steamboat landing. Mr. Butterfield was a land sur- veyor and in 1828 he lotted the Academy grant, dividing it into lots, or sections, running east and west across the grant, each lot containing five hundred acres more or less. The lot upon which Mr. Butterfield settled was numbered six in this survey. This lot was deeded by Josiah Kidder, secretary of the trustees of Hampden Academy, to Charles Buck of Bangor, April 12, 1831, and was conveyed by Mr. Buck to William Butterfield by deed dated August 25, 1835. Mr. Butterfield was appointed justice of the peace soon after coming to Weston, and the rec- ords show that he performed marriages there as early as 1832. He cleared a large farm on this lot and built the homestead where he lived for many years. He was extensively engaged in trading and lumbering and was a leading citizen of the town during all the time of his residence there. He moved to Dan- forth some twenty years ago and died in that town.
Mr. Samuel Cleaves was one of the early settlers of the town. He came from Clinton in 1827 and settled in the south part of the town near Baskahegan stream. Mr. Cleaves went from Weston to California, but afterwards returned to Haynes- ville, where he died.
Mr. Joseph Foss came from Clinton in 1828 and settled on the lot where Mr. Edward Earle now lives, being section 8 of the Butterfield survey. Mr. Foss purchased of the Academy trustees four lots, or sections of land, being lots numbered Eight,
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Nine, Ten and Eighteen, and afterwards bought of the town lot No. Seventeen, which was the school block. Mr. Foss cleared a large farm and was also largely engaged in lumbering. He was a prominent citizen and business man for more than twenty years, when he removed to California and afterwards to Wis- consin, where he died.
Mr. Samuel Springer came from Augusta in 1829 and set- tled on the lot in the south part of the town, afterwards owned by Samuel J. Foster. Mr. Springer cleared the farm and lived upon it until about 1847, when he sold to Mr. Foster and moved to Robbinston and afterwards to Danforth, where he died. Mr. Stutely Springer was a well known citizen of Weston for many years. He came from Augusta in 1830 and settled some dis- tance west of his brother Samuel on the lot now occupied by Mr. Charles Powers. He died in Weston in 1869. Mr. John Springer, another brother, came from Augusta in 1832 and set- tled on the lot where D. J. Barker, Esq., now lives, in the ex- treme southern portion of the town. Mr. Springer cleared this farm and built the buildings upon it. He was engaged also in lumbering and in 1868 moved to Eaton in Washington County, where he died in 1883.
Mr. William Gellerson came from Brighton in 1832 and set- tled in the northwest part of the town. He had a mill on Cold Brook near his farm, and was engaged in farming and lumber- ing for many years. He died in Weston some thirty years ago. Mr. Thomas Gellerson came at the same time and settled near his brother William. He was also engaged in lumbering, and was a well known citizen. He died at his home ten years ago. Mr. George Gellerson, another brother, came at the same time and settled near the others and this portion of the town has ever since been known as the "Gellerson Settlement." Mr. Geo. Gellerson cleared a good farm and was also for some years en- gaged in lumbering. He afterwards became a Free Baptist preacher and preached for many years in Weston and adjoining towns. Some twenty years ago he moved to Houlton, where he died in 1881. Elder Gellerson was a good man and was much respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Isaac Loveland came from Brighton in 1832 and first settled in the south part of the town. He afterwards bought a lot in the Gellerson settlement, where he cleared a farm and bu'lt a house and barn. After remaining there a number of years he removed to Orono, where he died.
Mr. Elijah Gove came from Waldo County in 1832 and set-
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