USA > Maine > Aroostook County > History of Aroostook. vol. I > Part 4
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tled in the rear of Thos. Gilpatrick's farm, where he died many. years ago. During this year (1832) a number of settlers came to the town, most of whom have now passed away. Mr. Joseph Webber came from Clinton and settled on part of the Joseph Foss lot, the original five hundred acre lots into which the town was divided by the Butterfield survey having afterwards sub- divided into smaller holdings. Mr. Webber made a small clear- ing and built a log house and after remaining some ten years re- turned to Clinton. Mr. Ira Watson came from New Hampshire in 1832 and settled in the northern part of the town, where he cleared a farm and built a set of log buildings, and died many years ago. Mr. Hezekiah Harris, who is now the oldest settler living in the town, came from New Brunswick in 1832 and set- tled on the lot where he now lives, in the north part of the town. Mr. Harris cleared a large farm and kept a house of entertain- ment for travellers for many years. Though now advanced in years and past work, Mr. Harris is still quite active and enjoys walking around among his neighbors and talking about the olden times when there were no roads in the town and when the early settlers were subjected to many hardships. Mr. Braman Price, a son-in-law of Mr. Harris, now carries on the farm.
Mr. James Brackett, one of the early settlers of the town, came from Mount Vernon in 1830 and settled near the middle of the town. He cleared the farm and lived on it until his death in 1845. His son, William Brackett, then took the farm and lived on it until his death in 1855. His widow afterwards kept a public house here for many years and this was long one of the pleasantest and best known stopping places upon the Calais road. Mrs. Brackett died in 1873 and her sons, Horace M. and Gilbert L. Brackett, now live on the old homestead. Mr. Luther Brackett was also for some time a resident of Weston and lived on the farm where Mr. George Brannan now lives, part of section 12. Mr. Brackett was afterwards appointed U. S. Consul to Pictou and did not return to Weston to live.
Dr. Joseph O. Smith came from Addison in 1833 and with his son, Mr. B. C. Smith, settled on the farm where Mr. James Moody now lives, part of section 11. Dr. Smith was an educated gentleman of pleasant and kindly manner, and is spoken of with much respect by those of the citizens who remember him. He practiced his profession for some time after coming to Weston. Mr. Barney C. Smith, as his name appears upon the records of the town, had the active management of the farm and also car- ried on the business of blacksmithing. He, like most of his
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neighbors at that time, was engaged in lumbering and was a prominent citizen of the town. He moved to Hodgdon about 1850, and his father, Dr. J. O. Smith, afterwards returned to Addison. Mr. Stephen Smith, son of Dr. Smith, came to Wes- ton at the same time and settled on the next lot south. He was engaged in farming and lumbering for many years, and some six years ago moved to Houlton, where he now resides.
Mr. Joseph E. Shorey was a resident of Weston at this time and was engaged in lumbering. He had no farm in the town and soon after settled in the adjoining town of Bancroft. Mr. Sweet Ellis came from Brighton in 1833 and settled in the north- west part of the town. Here he cleared a small farm and af- terwards moved to Haynesville and died many years ago. Mr. Charles Megquier came from Poland in 1833 and settled a short distance north of Mr. James Brackett, on part of section 13. Mr. Megquier commenced felling trees on his lot on June 17, 1834, as appears by a diary kept by him at that time. He that year felled and cleared twenty-three acres and finished clearing Nov. 1st. In the spring of 1835 he commenced work on the farm April 1st. He that year sowed five bushels of wheat on five acres and raised 166 2-3 bushels of prime wheat. Mr. Megquier was then absent from the town for a number of years, returning in 1839. He extended his clearing and built a good set of buildings and continued to live upon his farm until his death, six years ago. He was a man of strict integrity and was one of the most prominent citizens of the town. He was postmaster at Weston for many years and held numerous town offices. His son, Arthur Megquier, now lives upon the farm and has a store nearby. Mr. Samuel F. Marble came from Poland in 1833 and settled on the lot next north of Mr. Meg- quier's. He cleared this farm and lived on it until his death some eleven years ago. Mr. Marble was a highly respected citizen and took an active part in the affairs of the town. His son, Greenleaf Marble, now lives on the old farm.
Mr. Thomas Pratt came from Clinton in 1833 and settled in the northwest part of the town. Here he cleared a good farm and built a good set of buildings. He lived upon the farm until his death some ten years ago. He is spoken of as a good citizen and a worthy man. Mr. Lewis Smart, who is now one of the oldest settlers living in the town, came from Vassalboro to Old Town in 1831 and in 1834 came to Weston and first took a lot near the middle of the town, where he made a small clear- ing and then took the lot in the north part of the town now
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known as the Faulkner farm, and made a shopping and built a log house, but did not remain upon the lot. He then took a lot on Trout Brook ridge in the west part of the town, where he cleared a good farm and built good buildings. In 1848 he moved to the farm on the Calais road where he has lived ever since. Mr. Smart was for many years an active citizen of the town, but is now advanced in years and quite infirm. His sons, Frank and Charles Smart, live in neat residences near him on the old farm.
Mr. Patrick Faulkner came from Ireland and settled in Weston in 1835, in the rear of Mr. Hezekiel Harris's lot. Here he made a good farm upon which he lived until his death some ten years ago.
Among the other citizens who were in the town at the time of its incorporation we may name the following: Mr. Joel Foss, son of Joseph Foss, came from Lincoln in 1831, but did not set- tle upon a farm in the town until 1840, when he took the lot upon which Mr. J. C. Foss now lives, part of section 8. He cleared this farm and lived on it ten years and then moved to the farm on which Mr. Charles Clark now lives, where he lived until 1872, when he moved to Danforth and now keeps a public house in that village. Mr. Foss was a prominent citizen of Weston and well known throughout the county. He was for many years engaged in land surveying and was a member of the board of county commissioners from 1858 to 1861. He was also a member of the State Legislature in 1852 and for the two fol- lowing years and again in 1881. Mr. Orrington S. Foss lived with his father, Joseph Foss, and afterwards moved to Orono,
where he died. Mr. William Butterfield, Jr., settled on the lot where his son, David Butterfield, now lives, and lived there until his death some three years ago. Mr. Samuel Butterfield first settled on the farm where David Butterfield now lives. He afterward moved to the farm now owned by Mrs. Benj. Moody, section 9. He sold this farm to Mr. Moody and moved to Jack- son Brook, where he now lives.
We have thus briefly mentioned the settlers who opened up the town of Weston and a large majority of whom were citi- zens of the town at the time ofits incorporation.
The act of incorporation was passed March 16, 1835, and was signed by Gov. Dunlap on the following day. On April 14, 1835, a petition was addressed to Wm. Butterfield, Esa .. a justice of the peace, to issue a warrant for a town meeting. This petition was signed by Samuel Springer, Stutely Springer, John
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Davenport, Joseph Foss, Orrington S. Foss, Thos. Gilpatrick and John Springer. The warrant was issued to Mr. John Springer, who was directed to call a town meeting at the dwell- ing house of Joseph O. Smith on Thursday, April 30, 1835. The inhabitants met according to the warrant, were called to order by Wm. Butterfield, Esq., adjourned to Dr. Smith's barn and chose the following officers, viz: Joseph E. Shorey, moderator; O. S. Foss, clerk; Wm. Butterfield, Joseph Foss and Barney C. Smith, selectmen; Thos. Gilpatrick, collector and constable; Stephen Smith, treasurer. At the time of the organization of the town of Weston there were but two incorporated towns in the whole territory now embraced in Aroostook County, Houl- ton having been incorporated in 1831 and Hodgdon in 1832. At that time these towns were all in Washington County, Aroostook not being incorporated as a separate county until March 16, 1839. On the list of voters in Weston in 1836, twenty-five names appear and at the town meeting held that year it was voted "not to grant licenses for retailing ardent spirits." At that time and in fact for many years after, large lumbering operations were carried on in this vicinity and near- ly all the settlers of the town were more or less engaged in this business. Some who afterwards settled there and became prom- inent citizens were attracted thither by the opportunities offered for engaging in this pursuit.
In 1844 Mr. Benjamin Buzzell came from Alexander and settled in the north part of the town. He cleared a farm and lived upon it for nearly forty years and moved to Danforth, where he died. Mr. Edward Bedel now lives on this farm.
Mr. Samuel J. Foster came to Weston in 1847 and bought the Samuel Springer farm in the south part of the town. Mr. Foster was a member of the firm of Foster & Lincoln of Ban- gor, lumber operators. He made many improvements upon the farm and built a very large and costly residence, two large barns and a fine stable. The house was at the time one of the most expensive private residences north of Bangor. In the stables were stalls for a hundred horses and there were times when nearly all were filled. Mr. Foster owned some very fine driving horses and the fame of his roadsters and of their remarkable performances is still remembered in this section. In addition to his extensive lumber operations he paid much attention to farming and raised large crops of hay and grain. He was a man of much energy and enterprise and carried on a large busi- ness in Weston and vicinity for a number of years. He lived
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upon the farm until his death in 1858. The farm was then pur- chased by Mr. John Weller and Mr. William Lawrence, who opened the house as a hotel and did a large business in farming and raising and dealing in horses. This partnership was dis- solved after a few years and Mr. Lawrence moved to Houlton. Mr. Weller afterwards disposed of his interest in the property and now resides in Danforth. The Foster mansion was burned some ten years ago and the large farm has been divided. Mr. E. L. Heal now owns one portion and Mr. Weston Brannan the other.
In 1855 the "Monroe Gore" and the "Nelson tract" were both incorporated with the town of Weston and the town is now bounded north by Haynesville and Orient, west by Bancroft, south by Danforth, in Washington County, and on the east for its entire extent by the waters of the beautiful Grand Lake. The road from Houlton to Calais runs in a southerly direction en- tirely across the town and for much of the distance the land west of the road rises in high, mountainous ridges. In the north part of the town, a short distance east of the Calais road, is Longfellow Lake, a very pretty little sheet of water discharg- ing into Brackett Lake, which is of much larger extent and which empties its waters through a narrow thoroughfare into the Grand Lake. In the south part of the town is a smaller lake, called Sucker Brook Lake, the outlet of which is a small brook flowing northward and emptying into the Grand Lake at Dav- enport Cove. The scenery from the Calais road is very beau- tiful in a pleasant summer's day, the view extending across the wooded points and away to the broad waters of Grand Lake.
AMITY
The town of Amity is the northernmost of what may be pro- perly designated as the coast towns of Aroostook County, as, in common with the towns lying south of it in the same range, it is separated from the possessions of Her Brittannic Majesty by a water boundary. The coast line of the State of Maine, on its eastern border, in reality extends northward nearly to the north line of the town of Amitv and for the past two years a detach- ment of the U. S. Coast Survey has been at work in this region, determining the exact contour of the eastern coast and making
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an accurate map of this boundary. The Monument Stream which forms the head waters of the St. Croix, rises about a mile south of the north line of Amity, and, flowing southward in an irregular course, forms the eastern boundary of the United States until it discharges its waters into North Lake in the town of Orient. Amity lies directly south of Cary, is bounded on the west by Haynesville and on the south by Orient.
The settlement of the town dates back to the year 1825 and in that year Jonathan Clifford, who may be regarded as the pioneer settler of the town, commenced a clearing on the lot now occupied by Mr. James Lizette, in the north part of the town, a short distance west of the present Calais road. Here Mr. Clifford cleared a farm, upon which he lived for many years and on which he died some twenty years ago. At the time of Mr. Clifford's settlement a few pioneers had established themselves upon the adjoining township of No. 11, now Cary, and their smokes could be seen from the ridge upon which he commenced his clearing. These were his nearest neighbors and no road passable in summer led to his wilderness home. In 1826, Mr. Edmund Cone took a lot near Mr. Clifford's and com- menced making a clearing. Mr. Cone came from New Salem, Mass., to Houlton in 1815 and lived in that town until he re- moved to his new home in what was then called No. 10, now the town of Amity.
In Houlton Mr. Cone was employed for a number of years as a teamster, and he afterwards made a clearing on the lot in the south part of that town near the Hodgdon line, now owned by Mr. A. K. Bradford. Before leaving Houlton Mr. Cone mar- ried Miss Barbara Shepard of Richmond, N. B., and together they bravely commenced the work of making a home in the for- est. Mrs. Cone was a most excellent woman and was a cour- ageous and efficient helpmate in these pioneer years. Mr. Cone cleared up a large farm and was for many years a prominent citizen of the town. He was one of the officers of the town at its first organization, and continued to take an active interest in its affairs until his death in 1883. His son, Mr. Elisha Cone, now owns the old homestead, but lives upon a farm on the Calais road.
Mr. Seth Farrar was one of the earliest settlers of the town. Mr. Farrar came from Searsmont and settled in New Brunswick. He then emigrated to the south part of Hodgdon, and made a clearing on the lot afterwards owned by Daniel Smith. In 1826 he moved to Amity and took a lot in the north part of the town,
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a short distance east of the present Calais road. Here he made a farm upon which he lived for some twenty-five years, then moved to No. 11 (Cary) and afterwards to Orient, where he died some thirty years ago. A number of his sons now live in the south part of the town.
In 1826 Jonah Dunn, Esq., came from Cornish, in York. County, and established his residence in Houlton. Mr. Dunn was a man well educated and of much ability and force of char- acter. He had represented the District of Maine in the General. Court of Massachusetts, and after the separation from the mother state was a member of the Maine Legislature. He took an active part in the movement for the establishment of a mili- tary post at Houlton, and was instrumental in having the mili- tary road opened to that place and with his son, Columbus Dunn, built a part of that road. He was also a contractor and. builder of portions of the road from Houlton to Calais. Imme- d'ately upon coming to Houlton, in 1826, Esquire Dunn pur- chased of the State a block of land in No. 10, now Amity, con- sisting of four lots of 100 acres each, and including the Colum- bus Dunn homestead and the Walton lot on the east side of the Calais road, and the John Reed lot and Charles E. Dunn lot on the west side. In 1827, Columbus Dunn, a son of Jonah Dunn, Esq., settled on the block. At that time the only road was a. lumber road from Houlton, through Hodgdon and Cary, pass- able for teams only in the winter time. Here Mr. Columbus Dunn cleared a farm and established the home where he lived until his death in 1879. Deacon Dunn was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of the town and was one of its active religious workers. He was postmaster of Amity for 18 years and held numerous town offices. His widow still lives at the old home with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Erastus Haskell, who now has the farm. Mr. Charles Dunn, brother of Columbus, came soon after and settled on the lot next south, afterwards the Walton homestead. Mr. Dunn remained there some twelve years and was one of the selectmen of the town in the first year of its organization. He afterwards returned to Houlton, where he now resides.
Soon after the arrival of the Dunns a number of settlers came to the town and commenced making clearings in the forest. Mr. Asa Tracy came from Gouldsboro in 1827 and made a chop- ping on the lot in the rear of the Lemuel Tracy homestead. He moved his family to the town in 1829 and afterwards bought the lot where his son, Samuel Tracy, now lives, and remained
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tthere until his death in 1870. During the following year (1828) Jonathan Greenleaf, Samuel Newman, Benjamin Winship, Wil- liam Clark and James H. Curtis settled in the new town. Mr. Jonathan Greenleaf, for many years a well known citizen of Amity, came from the town of Starks and settled in the south part of the town. He cleared a farm and kept a hotel here for many years. He was a man of much business ability and took an active part in the affairs of the town. Mr. Greenleaf died in 1868. The old house, so long a stopping place for travellers, has since been burned, but two sons, Thomas and John Green- leaf, still live on the farm. Mr. Samuel Newman came from Sangerville and made a clearing some distance north of Mr. 'Greenleaf's. He was chosen one of the selectmen at the organ- ization of the town. He left Amity many years ago and after living for a time in Orient and afterwards in Haynesville, re- turned to Sangerville and died.
Benjamin Winship first settled on the lot opposite the Jacob Simpson lot, where he lived for a number of years and then re- moved to the south part of the town and died many years ago.
William Clark came from Liberty and settled on the lot where his son, William Clark, now lives. He cleared this farm and lived on it until his death in 1854. His son, David Clark, then took the farm and at his death in 1858 Mr. William Clark, the present proprietor, took possession of the farm.
Mr. James H. Curtis came from Dexter and settled on the lot where Mr. Samuel Tracy now lives. He made a clearing on this lot and built a log house and barn and after living there some six years moved to what was afterwards known as the Walker place. Here he built a set of buildings. Mr. Curtis lived on this farm until 1846, when he sold to Mr. Erastus Has- kell and moved to New Brunswick.
Mr. Samuel Wilkins was also one of the early settlers of the town. He settled in the north part, a short distance east of the Calais road, and lived in the town until his death in 1867.
A few years later than the settlers mentioned above, Mr. William Williams, who was then living in Houlton, bought four lots a short distance south of the center of the town. These lots included the two lots now owned by Mr. John R. Williams, the Benj. Curtis lot, and the Calvin Curtis lot. Mr. Williams made a clearing on the lot now owned by Benjamin Curtis, where he built a log house and lived upon the place a few years when he removed to Houlton and did not return to Amity to live. His son, Jared Williams, made a clearing on the lot where Mr.
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John R. Williams now lives and remained three years and sold to Mr. George Robinson. Mr. John R. Williams bought the farm in 1838 and has been a well known citizen of Amity ever s nce. Mansfield Williams, another son, lived on the Curtis place and traded at the "corner" near Mr. Greenleaf's. He afterwards moved to Houlton and died there some years ago. Abram Williams also lived on this place for a time and moved to Houlton and afterward to Hodgdon, where he had a farm near the Mills and where he died a few years since.
Rev. Elisha Bedel, the first clergyman, settled in Amity, came from the town of Crawford and organized the first church. in the town. At the first town meeting Elder Bedel was chosen one of the selectmen. He remained in Amity until about 1845.
The act of incorporation of the town of Amity was passed March 18, 1836, and was approved by Gov. Robt. P. Dunlap on the day following. The warrant for the first town meeting was issued by Hiram Estey, Esq., justice of the peace, to Edmund Cone, April 11, 1836. The meeting was held April 21st and the new town was organized by the choice of Columbus Dunn, mod- erator, Edmund Cone, clerk, and Edmund Cone, Elisha Bedel and Samuel Newman, selectmen. James H. Curtis was chosen treasurer and Asa Tracy, collector and constable.
At the first State election after the incorporation, fifteen votes were thrown in the town, all of which were for Governor Dunlap. The year 1837 was an extremely hard year for the new settlers and bread was scarce. By the town records it appears that Messrs. Todd and McAllister of Calais owed the town for the stumpage on lumber cut on the school lots. This money should, of course, have been devoted to the support of schools, but so great was the destitution that at a meeting held on June 5, 1837, it was voted to divide the amount equally among the in- habitants. It was afterwards decided to expend the gross amount for corn and divide the corn among the settlers. Teams were therefore sent to Calais and the corn was procured and di- vided among the hungry settlers.
In 1836 Benjamin A. Curtis came from Dexter and first set- tled on the lot where Daniel Williams now lives. Here he made a small clearing, but soon moved to the lot on which John Reed now lives. He cleared a number of acres on this lot and lived on it some ten years. He then moved to the Alexander Carr lot where he lived until 1858, when he bought of Mansfield Wil- liams the lot where he now lives in the south part of the town. Mr. Curtis improved this farm and built a new house. He lost
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three sons in the army and is now old and feeble and unable to work.
Mr. Daniel Harmon came from Calais to Amity in 1837 and taught the town school. He bought a piece of land of Columbus Dunn and lived in the town some six years and moved to Port- land. Mr. Harmon was an educated man and was clerk of the town for a number of years. James Austin and Jonathan Small came from Keneebec County about 1835 and settled on the lot where Alexander Carr now lives. Mr. Small died shortly after- wards and Mr. Austin moved to No. 11 and afterwards returned to the southeast part of Amity, where he died. John Dakin came from Nova Scotia and in 1836 settled on a part of the Walker lot, where he cleared a farm and built a set of build- ings. He afterwards sold to Mr. James H. Curtis and moved to the west part of the town, where he died some years ago. Mr. Hartley Deering came from Orient in 1836 and bought the Samuel Newman lot. He lived on this lot two years and then exchanged farms with Mr. James Daggett of Hodgdon and moved to that town, where he died. Mr. Seth Kempton came from Milltown in 1837 and settled on the lot afterwards owned by Mr. Alden Spurr. He lived on this lot until 1848, when he removed to Gardiner. Mr. Peter Beede came from Milltown in 1837 and settled on the lot next east of Seth Kempton. He lived on the farm until 1848, when he moved to Kennebec Coun- ty, and died. Mr. Samuel Slipp now owns this farm.
Mr. Daniel Williams came to Amity in 1838. He had been engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania, and upon first coming to Amity was employed as a clerk for Mr. Daniel Wood, who had a store near Mr. Greenleaf's. In 1840, Mr. Williams bought the lot where he now lives and where he has made a good farm and a pleasant home. He has been a prominent man in the town for many years, and though now eighty years old, is still smart and active.
Mr. Israel Davis came from Concord, N. H., about the time the town was incorporated or very soon after. He took a lot in the northwest part of the town. The Davis brook, a trib- utary of the Meduxnekeag, runs through this lot and on this stream Mr. Davis built a mill containing an up-and-down saw. After his death in 1868, his son, Mr. Elbridge G. Davis, took the property and added a grist mill and afterwards a shingle mill. This mill was afterwards burned and Mr. Davis built a new mill with steam power, into which he put one shingle ma- chine and was planning to put in a rotary saw, but died in 1888
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