USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 27
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There he traded with the Indians, cut lumber, and worked his farm, and acquired a title to a large tract of land. He wisely made friends of the natives, acquired their language and was never molested by them. He brought up a large family of sons and daughters who married, had large families, whose descendants are found in West Bath, Bath, and other immediate localities, some of whom bear the name of Williams, Campbell, Elliot, Page, Reed, Drummond, and others prominent and innumerable. Mr. Drummond and his wife lived to a great age, and tablets to their memory can be seen in the Drummond Cemetery in Phipsburg. Captain Drum- mond's house was the only one on the west side of the Sagadahoc River not destroyed by the savages in their raids upon the settlers in this region during the first half of the eighteenth century He
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was Captain of the first Company of Militia formed at Long Reach, in 1757, and was prominent in all public affairs of this locality.
Benjamin Riggs .- One of the most prominent men that ever lived in old Georgetown, was Benjamin Riggs. He was born in Gloucester, Mass., in 1759. His father having been lost at sea when he was quite young, he was apprenticed to a man engaged in the coasting business, and in early life became a skilful sailor. He was master of a vessel before he attained his majority. He carried on a large freighting business between various towns on the coast of Maine and those in Massachusetts, principally Boston, Salem, and Gloucester.
Early in the Revolutionary War he was anxious to join the army, but could not get the consent of his master, and, although never connected with the army or navy, he was taken prisoner five times by the British during the war. He often owned a part of the vessels which he commanded, and also a part of the cargo, and these in every case were destroyed or confiscated.
On his last capture, while on a voyage to Boston, he was taken to Bagaduce, kept all summer, and when discharged on parole, started on foot for his home. He was assisted on his journey by the inhabi- tants along the route, in ferrying him over the bays, rivers, and creeks that lay in his path, until his arrival at the house of Major Pearl, an officer in the Revolutionary War, in Edgecomb, on the Damariscotta River-foot sore, weary and penniless.
In the spring previous to his capture he and Miss Ruth Pearl, daughter of the Major, had made their intention of marriage pubilc, according to the laws of the times, but his imprisonment had post- poned the consummation. However, in September, 1782, they were married, and two years after purchased the farm at the entrance of Robin Hood's Cove (now Riggsville), which has been the homestead of the Riggs family for more than a century. It has ever been the home of hospitality and refinement. Mrs. Riggs was, indeed, a Pearl of great price. No better or nobler woman ever lived.
Mr. Riggs was often a member of the General Court of Massa- chusetts, before the division of the State, and also of the Legislature
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of Maine, when it met in Portland. At one time Phipsburg petitioned for a division of old Georgetown. Mr. Riggs was a member of the General Court. He was strongly opposed to the measure and exerted his large influence against it. But, distrusting his own ability as a speech-maker, he engaged a young lawyer, (a member), to speak in opposition. This he did to the great delight of Mr. Riggs. That young lawyer was Daniel Webster. Their united efforts, however, were unavailing, for Phipsburg was incorporated in 1814.
The foreign commerce of Mr. Riggs was wholly with the West Indies. He was often the sole owner of vessel and cargo, and he also built many vessels. In theology he was a Calvinist Baptist of the old school, and in politics a Democrat. He was a man of commanding presence and of remarkable native ability. His event- ful life closed January 2, 1846, at the age of 87 years, leaving a large property. Mr. Riggs was identified with Bath in commercial pursuits, and a large owner in real estate.
David Stinson, son of Elder Samuel Stinson, was born at Wool- wich in 1770. In 1793 he was a sea-captain and followed that busi- ness until 1801. He accumulated a handsome estate and settled in Bath. In 1802 he built a house on Front street, now occupied as a store corner of Front and Arch streets. He married for his second wife Jane Reed, daughter of Col. John Reed, of Topsham. Capt. Stinson was Postmaster of Bath about twenty-seven years. He died instantly in the Old South Meeting-house in 1842. His wife died the previous year. Samuel G. Stinson, David T. Stinson, and Mrs. James W. Elwell, of New York, were his children.
Samuel Winter was a notable citizen of his day. He was a son of the Reverend Francis Winter, Bath's first minister. Samuel Winter commenced business life sailing as supercargo in Bath ves- sels engaged in the West India trade. There were few commission houses at foreign ports in those early times, and young men were sent out in vessels, bound on foreign voyages, to transact the vessel's business. Eventually, Mr. Winter established himself in commercial
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business in his native city, trading wholesale chiefly in what was then termed West India goods, such as sugars, molasses, and liquors, and owned a wharf at the upper portion of the town. Those were the days when New England rum was a prime factor in trade. This was made from molasses, and this was a great port for the importa- tion of that article from the West Indies. The lower grades of smaller cost were well adapted to be distilled into rum. Accord- ingly Mr. Winter established a distillery a little south of where is now the gas house. He was having a fair degree of prosperity when he made a large purchase of molasses on speculation, and the price fell while his purchase was on his hands. He saw ruin ahead, and being of a very proud spirit he could not face a failure. He lived a widower, with his two unmarried daughters, in a modest cot- tage on the north part of Middle street. One night he sat up after all the others of his household had retired, wrote a note, which he left on the sitting-room table, walked down to his wharf, tied some stones to his feet and jumped into the river. The note told where his body could be found, which it was the next day. His sudden and tragic taking off was universally regretted, and the more so as very soon following this event molasses had a sudden rise in the market, which, if he had lived, would have restored his losses.
Mr. Winter was an unusually handsome man, tall, straight, and well-proportioned, always well-dressed, of suave manner, marked ability, and a leader in the old Whig party. At one time he was Sheriff of the County, and held other local offices.
Major Joshua Shaw was an older brother of Major David Shaw. He was a sergeant at the capture of Burgoyne. His mother was the lady who shot the bear on the west side of the road leading to Phipsburg, about one hundred rods south of the residence of T. W. Hyde. . The widow of Joshua Shaw afterwards lived and died at Galveston, Texas, at the age of ninety years. She was his second wife, and they had had two children.
Major Joshua Shaw was also a merchant of distinction; he bought all the land of the White lot, from High street to the river, embracing the point and the tract now covered by the old erudition
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school-house, and north to where stood the house of N. Groton, and so east to the river; for this he paid $650. He afterwards sold so much of it, in lots, as amounted to $40,000 in cash. He entered largely into mercantile business, but was overcome by the pressure of the embargo.
David C. Magoun commenced business in Bath, as an auctioneer, in 1821; afterwards was engaged in navigation, building and sailing his own vessels, mainly in the West India trade; kept a retail, and subsequently a wholesale, grocery store, doing an exten- sive business; was interested in banking; was much in politics, affiliating with the Whig party as a leader; was a member of the House of Representatives, Senator, a member of the Governor's Council, and the first Mayor of Bath; was a high Mason, and a member of Winter Street Church. He was a man of extraordinary executive ability and unswerving integrity of character. He died in 1872, at the age of 82 years, leaving children, of whom there are three sons now living.
Mr. Magoun married a daughter of William Webb, Bath's first Collector, who lived in the Webb-Torrey house, the site of which is now occupied by the Public Library Building. She was grand- daughter of Isaiah Crooker, senior.
Abraham Hammatt came to Bath, from Plymouth, Mass., early in this century, and was engaged, for many years, in the manufac- ture of cordage. His factory was situated between Raymond's court and Middle street, and from Centre street to the Crooker line. The double house on the east side of Raymond's court was head house to his rope-walk.
"Mr. Hammatt was truly a wonderful man. His knowledge was universal, and very accurate upon every subject of literature and science, having no equal in town; possessing uncommon presence of mind, and a most extraordinary memory. He was a great reader and diligent student, retaining everything he had learned to the degree that he was in himself a complete encyclopedia, more accurate than the best of such publications on many subjects. He took great
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pleasure in imparting his knowledge to others, in a manner that was delightful to listen to, while his statements proving truthful, implicit confidence was placed in them."
Having obtained a competency, he devoted his time to the acquisi- tion of knowledge for which he had ample opportunity, having been a bachelor until he reached the age of fifty-five years, when he married Mrs. Dodge, of Ipswich, Mass., to which place he removed in 1836, where he passed the remainder of his days with this highly esteemed lady, who was well-fitted in intellectual attainments to be the companion of such a man.
Mr. Hammatt was something of an orator, and delivered an address at a Fourth of July celebration in Bath, to great acceptance to those who heard it. Mr. Hammatt was one of the most notable men in Bath of his day.
Nicholas Loring Mitchell was of Pilgrim stock, and born in North Yarmouth, October 10, 1765. His father, David Mitchell, was a graduate of Harvard, and during his life occupied many important public offices. The son, Nicholas L., came to Bath and entered into the mercantile and ship-building business, and was a deacon of the Old North Church. He married, for his first wife, Dorcas Drinkwater, of Portland, by whom he had two children. His second wife was Nancy McCobb, daughter of Gen. Samuel McCobb, of Georgetown, and they had ten children.
Ammi Ruhamah Mitchell was born in Yarmouth, September 24, 1787, his father having been Deacon Jacob Mitchell, who held high positions of public trust. Ammi R. became a citizen of Bath, where he entered into mercantile business, filled important municipal offices, was a deacon of the Old North Church, and died May 1, 1875. His first wife was Susan M. White, by whom he had two children. His second wife was Nancy Jones, married July 15, 1817, and she died September 17, 1867. Their children now living are: Greenville Jones Mitchell, who was educated in the city schools, is a merchant of the highest standing, a leading member of the Winter Street Church, and a citizen of probity and honor; Mrs. Elizabeth
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T. Simpson, Caroline G. Mitchell, and Mrs. Julia Cutler Ring. The Yarmouth Mitchells have had five deacons in their families, and have been termed "the Deacon Mitchells."
The Hyde Family .- Jonathan Hyde, second son of Zina Hyde, Sr., and Sarah Goodwin, was born July 20, 1772, in Lebanon, Conn. He was a half-brother of Zina Hyde. Early in the spring of 1792 he made his first trip to Kennebec, in pursuit of health. With health improved he for several years traded there in summer, and returned in autumn, passing most of his time while on the river either at the settlement near Jones Eddy, at Georgetown, or at Pownalboro, now Dresden, which were then the principal seats of commerce on the Kennebec, and spending his winters, more or less, in teach- ing school in his native state.
In 1799 he began his permanent residence in Bath, and opened a store for retail trade. In later years his attention was mostly given to the trade in iron and steel.
In 1802, his half-brother, Zina Hyde, came to Bath to be with him as an apprentice. In 1803, their sister, Sarah, came to keep his house. She married Rev. Jonathan Belden, in 1809; they settled in Bristol, Me., where she died, March 25, 1812. In 1809, Gershom Hyde came as an apprentice, and his brother Henry soon followed and settled here in 1811. They were cousins of Jonathan Hyde.
In 1807, Mr. Jonathan Hyde built the brick store and wharf he occupied for many years, on Water street, and which was taken down in 1886. From 1810 to 1822, business was done there under the firm of Jonathan & Zina Hyde. Previous to this, and after- wards, one or both were more or less engaged in navigation. About the year 1838, James Thomas Hyde, his eldest son, became a partner with his father. On February 4, 1809, Jonathan Hyde married Deborah, daughter of Dr. James Thomas, of Lebanon, Conn. They came to Bath in an open sleigh.
He was a staunch Federalist, of the Washington and Trumbull school, and at a time when party politics ran high, he was firm but not violent. In 1809 he was sent a Representative to the Legislature of Massachusetts, in which he continued for three years, under the
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administrations of Governors Strong, Gore, and Gerry, but the influence of the Democratic party having been strengthened, they succeeded in carrying their candidates. He was again elected, and represented the town, in 1815 and 1816. In 1816 he was a member of the Convention that met at Brunswick, to determine the question of separating Maine from Massachusetts.
He was Director in the Lincoln Bank for more than twenty years, and for twelve years of the most difficult financial period of the country he was President of the Bank. To old age he continued to enter, with zeal and intelligence, into the public interests and improvements, and to aid in the support of the benevolent insti- tutions of the day. He died October 18, 1850, aged 78 years.
His wife, Deborah Thomas, was born in Lebanon, Conn., April 2, 1782. After the death of her husband, the house on South street was sold, and a house built on High street, opposite the Zina Hyde place, where, with her sons, Rodney and Adolphus, she lived until her death, December 3, 1863, at the age of 8 1 years.
Zina Hyde was born in Lebanon, Conn., October 14, 1787, and died in Bath, September 19, 1856. He married Miss Harriet Buck, at Bucksport, Me., June 10, 1816, and she died in Bath, January 2, 1817. Mrs. Hyde was born September 4, 1789, and came from a distinguished family, her father being Colonel Buck, for whom the town in which he lived was named. She was a very amiable and intellectual woman.
On April 13, 1840, Major Hyde married Eleanor Maria Little, widow of Israel Little, daughter of Isaac and Lydia Davis. She was born November 21, 1803, and died in London, July 28, 1885, where she was residing for her health, and where her son Thomas W. was present with her in her last days. There children were Thomas . W., and Mary Eleanor who was born November 4, 1842.
Major Hyde was prominently identified with the business interests of Bath ; commencing by learning the trading business with his half- brother, Jonathan Hyde, dealing in general merchandise, he shortly became a partner in the store for many years at the south end, in a brick building, when he finally opened business for himself, corner of Broad and Front streets, as Zina Hyde & Co., dealing in hardware
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and ship-chandlery, and the establishment became the leading one on the river.
As has been noted elsewhere in this volume, Major Hyde was actively identified with the State Militia when he was a young man, rising from the office of Seargent of a "unifom" Company in Bath, to Adjutant. of the Regiment and Brigade Major ; doing efficient service at the time the soldiery were on duty for the protection of Bath in the war 1812, while the town was in danger from the hostil- ity of blockading British men-of-war.
Major Hyde was the first to take an abiding and active interest in the movement for temperance reform, at the time when to use spiritous liquors as a common beverage by all classes of people was a universal custom. He was from early life of devoted Christian character, and first was a member of the Old North Church; became an intimate friend of Dr. W. Jenks, of the Old South Church, who together were embued with growing liberal religious principles, and he finally became a firm believer in the new doctrine of the Sweden- borgian faith, in which belief he lived and died, and had been the chief founder of that church in Bath. He had travelled extensively abroad, and brought with him, from the shores of Europe, only a more devoted attachment to the institutions of his own country, and if such a thing were possible with him, a broader and deeper love of his race. His exquisite tastes were displayed in the many treasures of art which adorned his residence in this city. As a man of business he was active, upright, reliable, and free.
Edward C. Hyde, son of Jonathan Hyde, when a young man followed the sea for a time. He afterwards engaged in business in Bangor, and, while there, was active in the promotion of an enter- prise which has much interest in connection with the early history of steam navigation in this country, in the building of the first iron sea- going steamer in America, a twin screw propeller to run as a passen- ger and freight boat between Bangor and Boston. The vessel was built at Wilmington, Del., under the personal supervision of Mr. Hyde. The enterprise was brought to an untimely end, by the loss of the vessel by fire, on her second trip from Boston. Mr. Hyde returned to Bath, and was, for several years, superintendent of the
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Kennebec & Portland Railroad, and afterwards held several public positions of trust in his native city, and since 1870, up to 1893, the position of City Treasurer of Bath, a period of twenty-three years.
He married Miss Rebecca Tibbetts of Lisbon, at Little River, whose father was Hon. Moses Tibbetts, who held many offices. He was Justice of the Peace, Town Treasurer, first Selectman of the town for forty years, Representative of Lisbon from 1820 to 1840, and Senator for Lincoln County.
Thomas Worcester Hyde, son of Zina Hyde, was born January 15th, 1841, at Florence, Italy ; only son of Zina Hyde of Bath, Me., who was a Brigade-Major in the war of 1812. His mother was Miss Eleanor Davis of Jamaica Plains. Was graduated at Bowdoin College in the Class of 1861, and also graduated the same year at Chicago University. He enlisted in a Chicago regiment which was not accepted on Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand men. Returned home and obtained papers to raise a company for the Seventh Maine Infantry. On going into camp with his company at Augusta was elected Major, and in the absence of the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel, took the regiment to the field. Was present with his regiment at the Seige of Yorktown, and battles of Williamsburg and Mechanicsville and all of the seven day battles in front of Richmond. Commanded the regiment in the battles of the Second Bull Run, Cramptons Gap, and Antietam. In this latter fight the regiment was ordered late in the afternoon to take a place where Stonewall Jackson had his headquarters. They broke through the lines of the enemy, suffering and inflictering great loss, losing all but sixty five men and three officers. In this fight Major Hyde's horse was three times shot under him and he was slightly wounded. After this battle the Seventh Maine was ordered to Maine to recruit, and its first battallion took the field the following spring. Major Hyde was soon after appointed Acting Inspector General of the Left Division, Army of the Potomac; when that organization was disbanded, was retained upon the staff of the Sixth Corps by Gen- eral Sedgwick, as Aide-de-camp and Provost Marshal. Was present with General Sedgwick at the storming of Mary's Heights, and was
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with his regiment at the battle near Salem Church. After which battle he was selected to present the flags captured from the enemy, to General Hooker, and was recomended for brevet promotion. He was with General Sedgwick at Gettysburg and all the battles follow- ing in which the Sixth Corps was engaged, and was by his side when he was killed near Spottsylvania. About this time was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and remained on the staff of the Sixth Corps until his three years expired, when he was commissioned Colonel of the First Maine Veteran Volunteers, a regiment organizaed from the veteran Volunteers of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Maine Infantry. He joined his regiment in the valley and was immediately put in command, but twenty-three years of age, of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, whose Commander, General Bidwell, had just been killed at Cedar Creek. He commanded this Brigade to the close of the war, leading with it the famous "wedge" assault of the Sixth Corps, which broke the enemy's lines around Petersburg. Was present at Sailor's Creek and at the surrender of Lee, and after- wards sent with a column under Sheridan to attack Joe Johnston in North Carolina. On this march took possession of the town of Danville, and Johnston having surrendered, was military Governor of Danville and the adjoining counties for two months. Mustered out in the summer of 1865 after four years' service. Was breveted Brigadier-General and selected to command a brigade in a Provis- ional Corps then proposed to be formed out of the Army of the Potomac for duty in the South. Then mustered out of service and went into the iron business in his native town, Bath, Maine, in which business he is engaged at the present writing, 1893. In 1873 was elected to the State Senate, where he served three terms, two of which as President of the body. The years 1876 and 1877 he was Mayor of the city of Bath. In 1877 he was appointed one of the Board of Visitors to West Point. In 1883 he was appointed by Congress one of the Board of Managers of the Soldiers' Home. Married in 1866 to Annie, daughter of John Hayden of Bath, Me., and has six children. President of the Bath Iron Works, an industry he has built up, employing in 1889, 190 men. He has always been a strong republican and in religious faith a Swedenborgian. Is
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Commander of the Maine Commandery of the Loyal Legion, and President of the Sagadahoc and a member of the Cumberland, Somerset, and Metropolitan Clubs. He has been, for twelve years, a director of the Maine Central Railroad.
Charles E. Hyde, son of Edward C. Hyde, was born in Bath, November 26, 1855 ; attended the city schools, graduating from the High School, after which he spent three years in the School of Tech- nology at Worcester, and one year in the Massachusetts School of Technology, Boston; then went on a trip to Europe for the purpose of examining the ship yards and engine works of the old country, obtaining much valuable information in his specialty. Upon his return he worked as a machinist in the Portland Machine Works; then as draughtsman in the Columbian Iron Works at Baltimore, being the first work he had undertaken as draughtsman; then in a drawing office of the Crampts one year; chief draughtsman for Ward, Stanton & Co., Newburg, N. Y., builders of all classes of fast vessels, affording him the advantage of working with Mr. Samuel Stanton, who is a man of remarkable ability as a designer of marine engine work. Returning to his native city he entered the employ of the Goss Marine Iron Works, in 1884, as chief draughtsman and superintendent of the works. While in the employ of these works he introduced the practical use of the triple expansion engine, the first used in this country, now become universal. When these works changed ownership, Mr. Hyde engaged with the Bath Iron Works Company and has continued its daughtsman and constructing engineer to the present time. In the construction of the government naval vessels, the Machias, the Castine, and the Katahdin, Mr. Hyde was chief draughtsman and constructor of the engines and machinery work for all of these war vessels.
As a citizen of Bath, Mr. Hyde has taken interest in local public matters, as member of the Board of Trade, and several terms on the Board of Aldermen and one term its president.
June 10, 1885, he married Miss Georgiana Miller, of Newburg; they have four daughters, whose names are Margaret, Emily, Dorathy, and Annie; and has a pleasant residence on the attractive banks of the Kennebec.
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