USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Bridgewater > History of Bridgewater, Maine > Part 3
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Now let's go back and trace the next generation.
John, son of Asolem, married Elizabeth Lawrence, daughter of Wil- liam Lawrence. He moved to the farm that had been owned by William Lawrence. John's children were Absolem 2nd and Fred. Absolem 2nd went to Massachusetts to live when he was a young man. Fred and his father operated the farm. Fred married Sarah Boyer of Florenceville, N. B. Fred's son, John 2nd, lives on the farm today. John 2nd married Hilda Agnew of Centerville, N. B. John 2nd is the only descendant in town today bearing the Kimball name. This is a fourth-generation farm, John Ist, Fred, John 2nd, and John's daughter Edith.
Frank, son of Absolem, married Myrtle Rideout, daughter of Oliver Rideout. He worked in the tannery until it closed; then he worked for the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Co. He also bought a small farm on the West Road, the first farm on the south side west of the village. This farm is today owned by Charles Simonson.
After Frank's death his widow and son, Verne, moved to Houlton.
Richard 2nd, son of Absolem, bought the last farm in Bridgewater on the south from George Stewart in 1880, then sold it to Doris Acker- son. It is today owned by Robert Harding.
Richard 2nd crossed the continent three times selling books and maps. In 1900 he bought Henry Bradstreet's store (see stores) which he operated until he retired in 1916. He was called "Uncle Dick" by nearly everyone in town.
Richard 2nd was on the Board of Health from 1909 to 1914 and was Town Clerk from 1909 to 1924. He was married to Frances Rideout,
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sister of Myrtle, and daughter of Oliver Rideout. They had two sons, Earl and Richard 3rd. Both boys served in World War I and saw action in the Argonne Sector. Richard 2nd and Frances were faithful mem- bers of the United Baptist Church.
Now let us go back to George's family. He had five children: Hiram and Israel, who were twins; Mary, who married George Capen; Belle, who married Guy Allen; and Edgar, who died when a small boy.
Israel never married but always lived with his twin, Hiram. Hiram married Millie Orser. After her death he married Camilla Kimball of Canada. Hiram and Israel lived on the farm that their father had bought, and cared for their parents.
When "Aunt Fanny the Bee Woman" died, the bees were "told" and properly draped. There is an old story that if the bees are not told and draped they will either go away or, if they stay, will stop gathering honey and die. After Fanny's death the bees were cared for by Camilla, and those bees are still swarming each spring, still making honey each summer, and still stinging those who disturb them-those bees who originally were brought here over one hundred years ago. They are still cared for by Camilla. Some years there were as many as forty hives and some years as few as three. One time they made over a thousand pounds of honey in a season.
Hiram's children were Beth, Mont, and George Jr. Mont and George Jr. have moved away from town, Bethe Kimball Stone is the present Postmistress.
George's farm is today owned by Kenneth Parks.
John Kimball 2nd has in his possession an old handmade cane bear- ing two sets of initials and one date. The initials are R.J.K., and in another place are F.A.K. June 11, 1881. The cane is probably over seventy-five years old. He also has a bootjack which is a piece of crotched wood, worn smooth with much use, with a hole on one end by which it was fastened to the floor.
Seven of the children of Richard Kimball Ist had families. Now there are only eight descendants living in town today. Bethe K. M. Stone and son Lloyd; Gordon and Claire Allen, sons of Belle Kimball Allen, and grandsons of George; Bert Ackerson, grandson of Betsy Kimball Farley; John Kimball 2nd, grandson of John Ist, and his daugh- ter Edith; and Wayne Allen, son of Clair Allen.
Edith Kimball is the sixth generation. Let's trace it down and see: Richard 1st; his son, Absolem; his son, John Ist; his son, Fred; his son, John 2nd; and his daughter, Edith.
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1852
Bedford Hume
Bedford Hume came here from Woodstock, N. B. He clerked in the store of John D. Baird about seven years, then in 1860 bought the Nathaniel Rideout farm. Here he started farming and trading, buying and shipping shingles.
He married Lottie Kidder, daughter of Samuel Kidder, in 1861. Mr. Hume had just got out lumber to build a barn when he heard of a fire in Alva Plantation, now the town of Blaine. Being an enterprising man with an eye for new business he at once got several teams of oxen and had the lumber hauled to Alva. Here he built a store on the east side of the road and lived across the road on the lot where the I.G.A. store now stands.
A year later, 1866, he returned to Bridgewater and bought the G. W. Collins store at the Corner which he ran until his death in 1889.
During this time he was also engaged in the lumber business and starch making with G. W. Collins, having factories at Mars Hill and at Clark Brook in Presque Isle.
The Humes had three children: Helen, born in Alva; Frank M. and Guy both born in Bridgewater.
Frank was commissioned Colonel on July 16, 1910 (see page 92).
1852
Smith Family
Joseph C. Smith and his brother Samuel came from Oromocto, N. B. They started lumbering operations and while lumbering, Samuel was drowned. Joseph then turned to farming. He bought the David Foster farm, the first farm on the north side of the Snow Road.
Joseph was married and had a family when he came here. There were four sons: Charles, Orlo, Ezekel, and Joseph Jr.
Charles bought the Atherton farm at the Corner, the second farm from the main road and on the south side of the Corner Road (now owned by Bernard Smith). Charles later bought an eighty-acre woodlot from Absolem Kimball.
Orlo bought the farm east of his father's, second farm on the Snow Road. This farm is now owned by Robert Simonson.
Joseph Jr., or 2nd, and Ezekel bought a tract of wild land and paid for it by making shaved shingles. This land was across the road from the present Smith farm. After a time they traded this farm with Alfred
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Nickerson of Houlton. Ezekel went to Houlton to live and Joseph 2nd returned to his father's farm.
Joseph 2nd then bought the farm on the south side of the Snow Road and erected a fine set of buildings. He later bought the land across the Main Road and in 1868 he bought the Thomas Durgin farm which adjoined his on the south.
Joseph 2nd married a lady from Houlton. To them were born two sons and four daughters. One son, Joseph 3rd, lives on the farm today.
Charles, son of Joseph Ist, married Mary Teague of Caribou. They had four children: Altam and Eveline, Charles Jr. and Malcolm. Altam married Joseph 3rd, Charles Jr. died in 1895, Malcolm lives in Presque Isle, and Eveline lives in California.
Joseph 2nd gave a lot of land for a cemetery on the corner of his farm at the top of the hill. He also gave land for a church just south of the cemetery. Through his untiring efforts a church was erected about 1866; it was later moved to the Center (see churches).
Joseph 2nd and 3rd kept many cows and operated a cheese factory for many years. Later, Joseph 3rd discontinued the cheese making and carried on a dairy business. This was in the days before automobiles and the milk was delivered all over town with a team. When Joseph's son, J. Donald, was old enough to drive the wagon he would start out be- fore school, deliver the milk, then start toward home. When he got to the little school building he would get out of the wagon, throw the reins over the whip and start the horse. J. Donald would then go to school and the horse, having been over the route so many times, needed no guidance on his homeward trip. When a team was met the horse turned out, then back into the road and on home, which he always reached safely.
Joseph 3rd has three sons: Joseph Donald, Charles, and Alton. J. Donald lives in Connecticut, Charles is engaged in the hatchery busi- ness, while Alton and his father carry on the farm. Joseph and his wife live in a beautiful home (the old one was destroyed by fire about twenty-five years ago). They are both interested in church work, are very keen, and enjoy life as they travel down the Sunset Road.
This is a four-generation family on the same farm: Joseph 2nd, Joseph 3rd, Charles and his family.
1854
George Green
This year saw several newcomers to town: George Green, Frederick Whited, George T. Freeman, and Joseph Sargent.
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George Green came from Jacksonville, N. B., and built a tannery and shoe shop at the "Line" across the road from the present Customs House. He employed several men in making shoes and harnesses, both of which were made by hand. Some put the pegs in the soles of cow- hide boots, some drew the waxed threads through the uppers. Cowhide was the leather used for shoes, and although they were not beautiful, they were serviceable, and that is what the people wanted. One pair of those shoes would outwear half a dozen pairs today.
The shop was the gathering place for the men, for Mr. Green was a very sociable man and a good talker. Many were the discussions on re- ligion, politics, and the differences between the North and the South, for these were troublesome times preceding the Civil War.
If a timid maiden entered, the talk suddenly ceased and she became a target for all the eyes, as she shyly approached one of the men to have her foot measured for a pair of shoes, and demurely asked if they would be finished by Saturday night so she could wear them to Meeting on Sunday.
Mr. Green was here a number of years, then seems to have drifted on, as there are no other accounts of him.
1854
George T. Freeman
The Freemans, George and Charles, came this year from Canada. George was a very smart businessman. He had a store across the road from the Green shoe shop where he did a thriving business. He also did a great deal of farming, having at one time four farms. In the winters he supplied the lumber camps with groceries, sides of beef, hay and grain.
He married Hannah Cronkite from Canada in 1866. To them were born two daughters: Hattie, who married William Whited, and Georgie, who first married Joshua Pryor and, after his death, Henry Randall.
About 1901 George sold his property at the "Line" and went to Cali- fornia for a few months. Then he returned and in 1902 built a large store at the Center with living quarters upstairs. He operated the store until his death in 1904; his wife had died in 1901, before he went to California. This store was the first one in town to have plate-glass windows.
Mr. Freeman was an honest man, extremely social and hospitable,
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and must have been a fine man to work for, as many of the men stayed with him over twenty years.
Dr. W. W. White boarded in his home at the "Line" for twenty- seven years.
Almost the last thing that Mr. Freeman did was to give the Baptist Church at the Center the land where it now stands.
Charles Freeman was not as smart a businessman as George.
1854
Whited Family
The Whiteds came from England to Massachusetts many years ago, and from there to New Brunswick. The name was originally White- head, but somewhere down the years was shortened to Whited.
Frederick Whited was born in Keswick, N. B. When he was a young man he spent two years in Pennsylvania; then in 1854 he came to Bridgewater The first two years he lived in the Gus Bradstreet house on the East Blaine Road.
He then bought a farm from Scott Roe at the Corner. He married Elizabeth Ann Esty and lived in a small house near where Perley Jami- son now lives. Later he bought a farm east of the Corner where he built a large house.
When the Corner burned on May 11, 1894, the Whited buildings miraculously escaped the flames, but exactly twelve years later, May 11, 1906, the buildings were burned. It is believed that two of Fred- erick's grandsons were playing with matches in the barn.
There is still a large lilac bush near the road which was at the corner of the house and years ago the old cellar wall was still visible, and down over the hill is an old orchard that was part of the place.
Frederick had four children: William, Charles, Harry, and Anne. After the fire he moved to the farm in the north part of town, formerly owned by Ketchum. This farm contained 160 acres. When Frederick retired, his youngest son, Harry, took over the management of the farm. Harry added a wood lot which surrounded a lake, thus giving the name Whited Lake to the body of water.
Harry married Effie Shorey of Houlton; to them were born two sons, Ernest and Norman. After his wife's death Harry married a second time, to Emma Drawyer who bore him one son and three daughters: William Elizabeth, Effie and Nellie. William and Elizabeth are now dead; the others live in Houlton.
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About 1918 Harry sold the farm to Edmunds Seed Co. of Boston, and in 1924 it was bought by Fred McBurnie, grandson of Frederick Whited. Fred McBurnie added another eighty acres to the farm, mak- ing a very large farm. It was while McBurnie had it that the farm came to be known as the "Bingo Farm." It is now owned by Woodbury Bearce of Washburn.
William, oldest son of Frederick, married Hattie Freeman, daughter of George Freeman. They had one adopted daughter, Margaret Tomp- kins Whited.
William bought the Nathaniel Rideout farm on the Corner Road, and later the Ed. McBurnie farm on the Snow Road. These farms are now owned by Margaret's husband, Ray Yerxa.
Charles, son of Frederick Whited, married Bessie Farley, daughter of Enoch Farley. Charles bought the Enoch Farley farm, and an addi- tional sixty acres which he worked until his death in 1934. Charles and Bessie had two children, Fred and Hazel.
In 1919 Fred bought the Hamilton Farley farm from the heirs. He is married to Edith Stackpole, daughter of H. G. Stackpole. They lived for a few years in the Dr. White house which Fred owned, but after his father's death he changed houses with his mother and took over the management of his father's farm with his own. In 1943 he bought the George Styles farm, which was the farm of Nathaniel Farley Jr. Today Fred has the farms of Hamilton, Enoch, and Nathaniel Farley Jr.
Fred has served on the Board of Health and as one of the Selectmen for several years, besides holding other offices.
Annie, daughter of Frederick Whited, married William McBurnie. It was her son Fred who bought the Harry Whited farm.
1854
Sargent Family
Joseph W. Sargent came from Montville, Maine, in the fall of 1854. With him came his wife, Laura, and two small children: Edward, aged two and a half, and Emma, one year old. He built a log house on the place now owned by Robert Simonson. Here Arthur was born in 1855. Mr. Sargent then bought the place across the road. Here James W. was born in 1857, and Mary in 1861. While living here Mr. Sargent went to fight in the Civil War. When he returned he sold out and moved eastward on the now Snow Road, which at that time was only
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a woods road as far as the present Earl Kingsbury place. Here Joseph Jr. and John were born in 1864 and 1866.
Joseph must have preferred the solitude of the deep forest, for again he penetrated farther into the woods, this time to what was to be the end of the road, and on the Canadian border. Here Percy was born, 1868. This farm was later the Durgin farm and today is owned by Carroll Sharp.
Having the urge to move again, but not wanting to live in Canada, he retraced his steps, this time to the clearing started by the Berry Brothers on the west side of the Snow and Boundary Road. This farm was later called the Buckley farm and is now owned by Sam Hartley. Here Howard was born in 1872.
After five years Joseph again retraced his steps, this time to the farm now owned by Jessica Sargent. This was, at last, to be his permanent home; here he lived until his death in 1894.
Joseph and Laura had nine children as listed above.
Edward married Sarah Robinson and lived on the so-called Buckley farm shortly after his father left it. Later he went to Massachusetts to live.
Emma married Nathaniel Tompkins, grandson of Nathaniel Rideout. Nathaniel Tompkins was killed by a falling tree when he was a young man. His son Nathaniel Jr. was born in Bridgewater, and became a lawyer in Houlton (see page 88).
Mary married Clarence Rideout, son of Oliver Rideout, and lived on the farm now owned by Byron Lawrence. After Clarence's death she married again and moved to Auburn.
Arthur and Joseph Jr. went to Massachusetts when young men.
John married Damy Cosman and lived for a few years on the farm now owned by Perry Carmichael. Later he operated the hotel (see hotels).
Howard married Eveline Quick and bought the farm originally owned by Dennis Nelson. His son, Chester, lives on the farm today, while Howard lives in town.
Percy married Jessica Buchanan. After his father's death the farm was left to his mother, Laura. Percy bought it from her and lived there until his death. Jessica still owns the farm, but her son, Percy Jr., lives here. Jessica is a nurse and spends most of her time caring for the sick; when not on duty she spends the time at home.
James Winfield, better known as "Winnie,' lived with his brother Percy.
Descendants of Joseph living in town today are Howard, son, aged eighty-one; Percy Jr., son of Percy; Chester, son of Howard (these two
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are grandsons of Joseph); Ronald, son of Chester and great-grandson of Joseph; and Ronald's sons who are great, great grandsons of Joseph. Edna, daughter of Howard. Ronald and Percy have daughters.
1856
Nathaniel Farley
Nathaniel Farley came here from Florenceville, N. B. He bought the Nathaniel Bradstreet farm on both sides of the Whitney Stream and moved into the house built by Mr. Bradstreet sometime between 1840 and 1850. This is the oldest frame house in town today, over one hundred years old, and known as the old Farley House.
He had three sons-Enoch, Hamilton, and Nathaniel Jr .- and three daughters-Matilda, Deborah and Sarah.
When Enoch reached manhood he bought the half of his father's farm south of Whitney Stream. He married Elizabeth Kimball, daugh- ter of Richard Kimball. To them was born one daughter, Elnora. After Elizabeth's death, Enoch married Lydia Shirley of Burton, N. B. To this union were born two daughters, Bessie and a little girl who died when very young. Elnora married Charles Ackerson and Bessie married Charles Whited. Enoch sold his farm to his son-in-law, Charles Whited, about 1894 (see Whited family).
Hamilton took over his father's farm, which he operated for many years. He was married and had two sons, Clarence and Roy; probably there were daughters also. Clarence lived in the old home until his death a few years ago.
Nathaniel farmed some but spent his winters in the woods as a cook. He had a large family, one of them being James Howard, better known as "J.H. and Howard." The others have moved to other parts of the state.
J. Howard started in as storekeeper at the "Line" at the age of twenty (see stores). He married Annie Farley in 1896. To them were born four sons: Albert Chandler and J. Howard Jr. (Pete) of Bridgewater, and Harry and Burtt of Connecticut.
Mr. Farley was a Republican and represented the towns of Mars Hill, Blaine, Monticello, and Bridgewater in the State Legislature for two terms from 1923 to 1926.
He was one of the organizers of the Bridgewater Electric Company and served as its president for several years. He was also one of the organizers of the Mars Hill Trust Company of Mars Hill.
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J. Howard was a Seventh Day Adventist and was affiliated with the Adventist Church in Westfield. His fraternal affiliations were Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Royal and Select Masters, Knight Temp- lars, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Elks.
He was a very friendly man, and always had the keenest interest in his town. In later years he became an ardent fisherman and knew all of the pools where the speckled trout lurked. He died in September 1938.
Mrs. Farley spends her summers in town and winters in Connecticut. A. Chandler is a very successful agent for a Life Insurance Co.
1856
James E. Briggs
Another arrival this year was James E. Briggs, who came from Mon- ticello. He married Sarah Farley, daughter of Nathaniel Farley Sr., and for a time they lived in her father's house.
In 1857 he bought a lot of one hundred acres of wild land, probably from John D. Baird, on the road between the Snow Road and the Boundary Line Road (now the Harvey place). He cleared this farm and built a good set of buildings, and here he raised eleven children.
James E. Briggs was a carpenter and mason by trade, and as his sons grew old enough to run the farm he left this work to them and worked more at his trade.
All of these sons left Bridgewater when they were young men and settled in nearby towns. Three of them served in the Maine State Legis- lature representing their towns: Enoch from Westfield, Albert from Monticello, and Wilmot from Littleton. Charles was a lawyer. After practicing in several Maine towns he finally went to California. Two daughters moved away, Nettie and Iva. Alfred died when a young man, and two died when children. Only two remain in town: Matilda, who married James Alexander; and Sarah or Sadie, who married Charles Ketchum, and after his death she married Clifford Sharp.
1857
Thomas Durgin
Three new families came to town this year: Thomas Durgin, Thomas and Edward Snow, and Jason Russell.
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Thomas Durgin came from Hempstead, N. B. He bought the second farm south of the Snow Road, which he cleared and built a set of build- ings. In 1867 he sold this farm to Joseph Smith. He then bought one hundred acres of wild land on the Snow Road, the farm that Joseph Sargent had at one time settled on, the last farm in the town on this road, adjoining the boundary on the east There was only a small clear- ing and a log house on the place that had been built by Mr. Sargent.
Mr. Durgin cleared this land and made a fine farm and erected a very good set of buildings.
Thomas married Miss Van Wart, a sister of Gilbert Van Wart. They had one son, Isaac, and three daughters, Letitia (Mrs. John Slipp), Sheloa (Mrs. Elbridge Hartley), and Rose (Mrs. Wilmot Hartley).
As Thomas grew older, his son Isaac took over the farm, which he improved and enlarged.
Isaac bought, first, a hundred-acre woodlot on the south side of the road, part of which he cleared. He then bought the John Nelson farm of eighty acres and another woodlot adjoining it. He improved this property, then sold it to Joseph Milbury who later sold it to Charles Simonson.
Isaac served the town as Tax Collector and Selectman for several years. Besides managing his farm he sold fertilizers.
After the death of his parents he lived alone on the farm; then his cousin Moses Brundage came to keep house for him. His birthday was March 17 and every year on that date he held open house for all of his friends. It became an event to which both young and old looked forward. The women would take cakes and sandwiches while Isaac furnished coffee and cream. The evening was spent playing cards and games.
A pair of horses hitched to a sled which was filled with hay and plenty of robes to keep warm was the means of transportation, for that was in the days before automobiles were used in the winters. Several of these teams would leave town picking up people along the way. It was an evening long looked forward to and long talked of afterward.
In his later years he was cared for by his niece and her husband, Cassie (Hartley) and Earl Kingsbury, to whom he left his property. They later sold it to Carroll Sharp.
1857 Thomas and Edward Snow
Two other arrivals this year were Thomas and Edward Snow, who came from Waterville, N. B. They bought two lots of wild land from
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Thomas Smith, which they cleared and on which they erected build- ings. Edward's land was the corner farm on the north side of the Snow Road and the east side of the road leading to the Boundary. Thomas had the next farm on the east.
Edward sold his farm to Ziba Barker. It then changed hands several times. Thomas' property was sold by his heirs to Wilmot Hartley. Both these farms are today owned by Sam Hartley.
1857
Jason Russell
The third arrival this year was Jason Russell, who came from Athens, Maine. He bought a lot of wild land from Thomas Smith, part of which he cleared. He put up a set of buildings, then sold it to A. M. Stack- pole in 1863 and moved to Bunker Hill.
Jason married Rachel Kimball, daughter of Richard Kimball Ist, and sister of Absolem and George.
In 1865 he sold his farm to his brother in-law, George Kimball, and moved to Mars Hill. Jason's son Frank operated a hardware store in Blaine for many years.
Jason's farm is today owned by Kenneth Parks.
1857
David Packard
David Packard came from Monmouth. He worked for a time on the farm of Joseph Ketchum and later married his daughter, Mary.
In 1868 he bought a lot of wild land from John D. Baird on what is known today as the Packard Road and built a log house in which he, his sons, and grandson lived, but it was remodeled and improved many times.
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