USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 32
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 32
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Col. Smart showed in his Congressional career, by the marked ability with which he served his constituents, that they had not overestimated his talents. Shortly after the expiration of his second term of office, in 1853, he was appointed Collector of Customs of the Belfast District and while acting in that capacity he established the Maine Free Press in 1854, editing the same with great vigor for about three years. At the end of his term of office as Collector in 1858, he returned to the practice of law in Camden in company with Thaddeus R. Simonton, Esq., who had shortly before been admitted to the bar. In 1859, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, the main issue upon which he was elected being the formation of a new county with Camden as the shire town. In 1860, he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Maine, but was defeated by Israel Washburn, Jr. In 1862, he was elected to the Maine Senate on a ticket nominated by men favoring the prosecution of the war of the rebellion. When in the House he had for a colleague the Hon. James G. Blaine with whom he had many tilts in debate. His ability as a debater was recognized by Mr. Blaine, who once said in speaking of his talent in that respect, that he was a most dangerous opponent and exceedingly hard to defeat, remarking that when his opponent thought that he had Mr. Smart down he would "pull a skunk from under the fence and throw it at him." He was again a candidate for the Legislature in 1862, but was defeated by D. H. Bisbee. Later he owned and edited a spirited campaign paper called the Bond Taxer and in 1868 owned and edited the Biddeford Democrat, continuing in the mean time his practice of law. Col. Smart married first, Sarah, daughter of Judge Thayer, by whom he had three children, Henry T., William R., and Mary S. In 1866 he married for his second wife Rebecca K., also daughter of Judge Thayer. Of his children, Mary S., now principal of the DeLancey School, Geneva, N. Y., is the only survivor.
Few men have filled so large a place in this community, as
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did Capt. Samuel G. Adams, who died Dec. 2, 1872. Capt. Adams was the son of Joshua Adams who was one of the early settlers at Owl's Head, and one of the leading men of this section of Maine. The subject of this sketch was born at Owl's Head, Thomaston (now South Thomaston), Sept. 28, 1803, and came to Camden in 1821, where he served as clerk in the store of Benjamin Cushing until 1823, and then began business on his own account. In 1827, he married Adeline Cushing, daughter of his former employer. He devoted himself to the mercantile business with assiduity and was very successful. He was in no sense an office seeker, but occasionally accepted an official posi- tion when tendered to him. At the solicitation of his friends he accepted the office of Captain in the militia, and also filled some town offices, among them being that of Selectman. In 1840, he was elected Representative to the Legislature by the Whigs. Capt. Adams was extensively and favorably known through his connection with commercial affairs, and was always distinguished by his integrity and noted for his square dealings. Capt. Adams was a member of the Congregational church from 1836, and was for many years one of its deacons. He evinced in his life the tenets of his Christian profession and his love for his church was unwavering. Samuel G., and Adeline Adams were the parents of ten children, viz : William G., Joshua, Benjamin C., Lucy C., (who married Rev. J. E. Adams), Cynthia W., (who married Dr. Elisha Hopkins), Flora J., (who married Frederick J. Simonton), Sarah J., (who married Rev. H. M. Parsons), Samuel G., Jr., Fannie E., (who married Reuben Leland), and Ella A.
1873. The public business of the town opened this year with a town meeting on Feb. 15, to elect a Treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hiram Bass, and take further action on the question of the Penobscot Bay & River R. R. H. H. Cleveland was elected Treasurer to serve until the annual meeting. All the articles relating to the railroad were "passed over."
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
At the annual town meeting held March 10, J. H. Sherman was elected Town Clerk ; J. F. Stetson, J. W. Thorndike and Ezekiel Vinal, Selectmen ; and E. M. Wood, Treasurer. The town voted to "take stock in the Penobscot Bay & River Rail- road to the amount of Five per cent. of its state valuation," the vote resulting as follows : In favor of taking stock as aforesaid, 399 ; opposed to so doing, 73. The money for that purpose was to be raised by loan, the town to issue twenty years six per cent. bonds.
Nelson Dingley, Jr., Republican, and Joseph Titcomb, Democrat, were the gubernatorial candidates this year. A new party called the Liberal Republicans, also appeared in the field, and nominated Jos. H. Williams. This party cast 2100 votes in the state. Mr. Dingley was elected by a good majority over both his competitors.
Camden had now become strongly Democratic in its political sentiments and gave Mr. Titcomb 470 votes and Mr. Dingley, 372. There seemed to be no Liberal Republicans in town. Edward Cushing of Camden, Democrat, received in town, 494 votes for senator aginst 347 for Moses Webster of Vinalhaven. Mr. Webster, however, was elected. There was a close contest for the election of a Representative to the Legislature, Joseph H. Martin, Democrat, receiving, 421 votes and Fred E. Richards, Republican, 423 which gave Mr. Richards the election.
This year died, Cyrus G. Alden, son of Judge Horatio Alden, on Jan. 19, at the age of 45 years. Mr. Alden was a very active and successful business man. His health failing he went south in October, 1872, visiting several of the southern states and finally went to Key West, where he died of consumption. He married Adelaide A. Ogier. Their three children: Adelaide, Fred C., and Horatio D.
On March 12, 1874, the town lost one of its very old citizens in the death of Deacon Isaac Pendleton, at the age of 92 years and 11 months. Deacon Pendleton was born in Islesboro in 1780,
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but came to Camden at an early age. He followed the sea for more than fifty years, and was a very successful master mariner, commanding first class coasters the most of the time. He owned the farm on the Belfast road, now owned by Mrs. Harriet B. Borland and Mrs. Chauncy Keep, his residence being the brick house, now a summer cottage. The "Norumbega" property was also a part of his farm. Capt. Pendleton was for more than sixty years a consistent member of the Baptist church and was one of its deacons for more than fifty years. He married for his first wife, Lucy, daughter of Job Pendleton, by whom he had the following children : Belinda, (who married Caleb Gilkey), An- drew, Sabrina, (who married Henry Dodge), Cyrus and Joseph. For his second wife he married Mrs. Catharine Thorndike. Although living to a great age, he continued to be an important factor in the church and community until the last.
James Clark was born in Waldoboro, Maine, Sept. 28, 1799, whence he moved to Camden about the year, 1822. During his early life he followed the sea for sometime, and then opened a store and went into trade which he continued until failing health compelled him to give up business. He afterwards bought and opened to the public, the "Megunticook House" otherwise known as "Clark's Hotel" (now the Bay View House) of which he was landlord for a long period. He was prominent in town affairs and was for several years Selectman and also served for a number of years as Treasurer. When Camden was made a Port of Entry in 1849, Mr. Clark was appointed Deputy Collec- tor of Customs. Mr. Clark was greatly interested in Masonic affairs and was Master of Amity Lodge in 1835 and 1836. He was one of the "Immortal Nine." Mr. Clark married Emmerline Ewell of Waldoboro, Maine, and the children born to them were : Julia, (who married Joseph Perry), James W., Fannie, (who married first Thomas Rogers, and second Charles Gilman, ) An- drew E., Charles and Emma, (who married Johnson Knight. ) He died Sept. 12, 1873, at the age of nearly 74 years.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
John E. Dailey, son of Christopher and Joanna (Thorndike) Dailey, who died Nov. 14, 1873, at the age of 52 years, was born in Lincolnville, Maine, May 20, 1821. After getting such education as the district schools afforded, he worked in the ship- yards at Bath and Rockport to learn the shipbuilder's trade. In 1848, he went to Deer Isle, Maine, where he built his first vessel. He then came to Camden where he lived until 1852, when he removed to Tenant's Harbor where for ten years he built a vessel each year. He had often said to his family, "We will return some day to live under the shadow of the Camden hills," and in 1862, made good his promise by returning to Camden to reside. He built vessels here for many years. In 1871, he returned to Tenant's Harbor to build his last vessel, the Annie Jones, taking with him his master-builder, H. M. Bean. Mr. Dailey married Lovina, daughter of Sedate and Abigail Wadsworth, in 1843, by whom he had eight children, viz : Julia M., (who married Isaac Palmer), Charles E., Nellie A., (who married Benj. F. Bass), Emma J., (who married Cornelius T. Hosmer), John E., Lovina E., (who married John D. Knowlton), Harry J., and Elizabeth B., (who married Everett N. Duffy.)
1874. The same Town Clerk, Selectmen and Treasurer elected in 1873, were all re-elected at the annual meeting held March 9, 1874. The question of building a new County Court House in Rockland had been agitated for some time and this year the various towns of the county were called to vote upon the proposition. Camden voted in favor of building the Court House, by a vote of 90 to 47. 1 It was also voted to establish a free High School in town.
The same Republican and Democratic gubernatorial can-
1. The Court House was built in 1874, at an expense of over $80,000 and is one of the best buildings of the kind in the state.
2. The establishment of " Free High Schools " in the state was authorized by an act of the Legislature of 1873, providing that the state should furnish every town one half the amount actually expended by the town for instruc- tion in a free High School, the amount furnished by the state not to exceed $500. Public Laws of 1873, Chap. 124.
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didates were again nominated this year. The Liberal Republican did not again put a candidate in the field. Mr. Dingley was again elected. In Camden the vote resulted as follows : Joseph Titcomb, 487 ; Nelson Dingley, Jr., 423. Edward Cushing of Camden, Democrat, was again a candidate for senator receiving here, 498 votes, and Mr. Webster, his opponent, 414. This year Mr. Cushing was elected. Joseph H. Martin, Democrat and Albert Johnson, Republican, were the candidates for Represen- tatives to the Legislature, the former being elected. The vote resulted as follows : Martin, 487 ; Johnson: 425.
On May 30th, this year, "Memorial Day " was observed by the veteran soldiers and citizens for the first time. The graves of dead soldiers in the various cemeteries were decorated and appropriate exercises were held. The principal address on this occasion was delivered by Thaddeus R. Simonton, Esq.
Hanson Andrews, a prominent citizen of the town, and an active business man of Rockport village, died April 2, 1874, at the age of 57 years and 11 months. Mr. Andrews held various town offices among them being a service of several years as Select- man. He served the town as Representative to the Legislature in 1855. Mr. Andrews was twice married, his first wife being Melvina Richards and his second wife, Mary Barrett. His chil- dren : Ada, (who married Ezra Merriam), and Nellie (who married Lourston Morton.)
Jeremiah C. Cushing was the son of Joseph Cushing, who, with his brother Benjamin, came from Hanover, Mass., in 1794. Joseph traded in Camden with his brother, as has already been stated. He owned the farm on "Belfast Road" now owned by Perrin P. Freeman, and built the buildings now standing on the place, where the subject of this sketch was born, in 1798. After living in Camden for some time Joseph Cushing removed to Skowhegan, Maine, taking with him all of his family, with the exception of Jeremiah, who remained in Camden where he passed the whole of his life. He learned the carpenter's trade of Alden
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Bass and became one of the best workman at his trade in this vicinity. Being both a house and ship-carpenter he worked for years upon the vessels that were built in the old shipbuilding days in Camden and won wide fame as a master-workman. He built the house on Elm street, now known as the "Sartell House" which was his home for many years. Mr. Cushing was a member of Amity Lodge of Masons, and was for many years its Treasurer. He was one of the "Immortal Nine." He died of apoplexy, Sept. 7, 1874, at the age of 74 years. Mr. Cushing married Abagail J., daughter of Capt. Josiah Dillingham. They were the parents of three daughters, viz : Elizabeth K., (who married Benjamin Crabtree 2d), Sarah F., (who married Edmund Wyllie), and Caroline M., (who married Alden Miller, Jr.)
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.
CHAPTER L.
" MEGUNTICOOK HALL."
1875. The annual town meeting passed off quietly this year. It was held on March 8. The following officers were elected : E. A. Morrill, Town Clerk ; J. F. Stetson, C. S. Pack- ard and A. R. Tolman, Selectmen ; E. M. Wood, Treasurer.
Selden Connor, Republican and Charles W. Roberts, Demo- crat, were candidates for governor in the election of 1875, Mr. Connor being elected. Camden gave Mr. Roberts 466 votes and Mr. Connor, 422.
Joseph H. Martin was again elected Representative to the Legislature, receiving 470 votes, while the Republican candi- date, Harvey H. Cleveland, received 418.
The winter of 1875 was one of great severity. In February Penobscot Bay froze over for the first time since the cold winter of 1868. People drove in sleighs from Vinalhaven to Camden by crossing the "Thoroughfare " to North Haven, thence across the bay to Islesboro and across the western bay to Lincolnville. They also came from Deer Isle by driving across to Brooksville, thence to Castine and then crossing to Islesboro and from there to Lincolnville. The Boston and Bangor steamship, Kathadin, was frozen in the ice at Belfast until April 15.
This year a newspaper called the Village Echo was published at Rockport village. After continuning for a little over a year it was suspended for want of patronage.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
At Rockport also this year was instituted Star of Hope Lodge I. O. G. T., but we have no list of its first officers.
On March 22, 1875, was organized the Camden National Bank, which is today one of the most prosperous banking con- cerns in this section of the state. It began business Dec. 20, 1875. Its first officers were, Henry Knight, President ; J. F. Stetson, Cashier ; Henry Knight, Jesse F. Hosmer, Benj. C. Adams, Geo. L. Follansbee, Horatio E. Alden, Harvey H. Cleveland and D. H. Bisbee, Directors.
A vein of gold and silver was discovered on the farm of George Oxton at West Camden, and a company was organized to work it, but it proved of no particular value. 1
J. W. K. Norwood, son of Capt. William Norwood, died May 3, 1875, at the age of 71 years. Mr. Norwood was born in North Haven in 1804, coming here with his father. He engaged in trade for many years with Mr. Joseph Jones, and subsequently alone. He was appointed Postmaster of Camden in 1849, serving for four years. He also served as County Commissioner for four years, by an appointment by the governor. He was a business man of accuracy and integrity, and a valuable citizen who was greatly interested in the educational and general welfare of his town. He married Clementine, daughter of Ephraim Wood, by whom he had one daughter, Frances. His residence was the fine old place on Elm street now owned by his nephew, Mr. J. H. Norwood of Rockport.
Rev. John L. Locke, the first historian of Camden, was born in Belfast, Maine, July 6, 1832. He learned the jeweler's trade in Belfast and came to Camden in 1854 and went into the jeweler's business in the "Old Sherman Building" on Main street. He gave up his business early in the sixties and attended the Theo-
1. At about this time there was considerable mining excitement in this section of the state and mining companies were forme . and mines worked for a short time herrabout, one being on Beauchamp Point, another on the Rockport shore known as "Porterfield Ledge," others in Appleton, Searsmont and elsewhere, none of which proved productive.
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logical Seminary at Sanbornton, N. H., where he completed a full course of study. Afterwards he joined the East Maine Methodist Conference and preached at Danforth, Topfield, Wes- ton and Ellsworth. Later he was transferred to the New England Conference where he filled the pulpits of his church at Lunen- burg, Warren, Mendon, Quincy and Stowe, Mass. He then re- turned to Belfast where he died Feb. 18, 1876. Mr. Locke was a man of excellent literary ability and took great interest in histor- ical matters. He was a member of the Maine Historical Society, and was a frequent contributor to the newspapers on historical subjects. The people of Camden owe him a great debt of gratitude for writing and publishing his "Sketches of the History of Camden," a volume of over 250 pages giving an interesting account of many of the events, men and institutions of the town from its discovery to the year 1858. Many important things happening in the early days of the town's history would have been lost completely but for Mr. Locke's Sketches. Mr. Locke also wrote "Sketches of the Early History of Belfast" which were published in the Belfast Progressive Age extending through six- teen numbers begining April 10, 1856. Mr. Locke married Hannah R., daugter of Simon Hunt. They had one son Herbert H., who went to the Klondike region a few years ago where it is supposed that he was drowned.
William Carleton, Jr., died Jan. 9, 1876, at the age of 66 years. He was the eldest son of William Carleton and was born in Camden, Sept, 28, 1809. He received a liberal education and in early life began trading in Rockport (then Goose River) village, where with the exception of four years spent in California, he continued in business all his life doing, in addition, an ice business. He and his brother, E. E. Carleton, established the firm of Carleton & Co. which continued for some time after his death, but finally became merged in the Rockport Ice Co. Mr. Carleton was frequently elected Town Clerk of his town and might have held many prominent public positions of trust and
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honor but preferred to attend closely to his business. He went to California in 1849, being one of the company sailing from Cam- den in the brig, Perfect, and returned in 1853. Mr. Carleton was always a strong advocate of temperance, was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and a high minded, kind- hearted, philanthropic gentleman. Mr. Carleton married for his first wife, Phebe H. Loring, of Yarmouth, Maine, and for his second wife Sarah Loring a sister of his first wife. He had two daughters, Frances E., and Sarah L., both of whom married Rev. Thomas E. Brastow.
Capt Ezra Cobb who died Nov. 4, was born in Princeton, Mass., and came to Camden in 1824, to visit his sister, Mrs. Timothy Fay. He was so well pleased with the place that his visit became a lifelong one, for the following year he married Nancy, daughter of Nathaniel Hosmer and settled down on the place where his children now live. The day following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cobb started for Princeton, via. Boston in a sloop to visit his friends and pay for his farm, the owners living in Princeton. He took with him all the money he had saved and Mrs. Cobb took the money she had received from her father to buy furniture for their home. The same evening the sloop collided with another vessel and was wrecked. The thir- teen passengers were taken off in a small boat and after being out all night were picked up by another vessel and taken to Boston. The money and clothing of the young couple, being in their trunk, were lost. This severe loss just on the threshold of life made it hard for Mr. Cobb to pay for his farm and he felt the effects of the disaster for many years. Mr. Cobb taught school winters and worked on his farm summers for over twenty-five years, then he gave up teaching and started the first milk route in Cam- den, continuing that business for the remainder of his life. He joined the Congregational Church in early life and was a most valuable member, being a teacher and superintendent in the Sunday School, a leader of the choir for many years, and when
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there was no pastor he used to read sermons. He was a Whig in politics and a strong abolitionist. He was often a candidate of his party for Representative but owing to the political complexion of the town at that time he was not elected. He was for a time a captain in the militia, whence he acquired his title. Capt. and Mrs. Cobb were the parents of ten children, viz : Nathaniel H., (who died in infancy ), Nathaniel H., Harriet E., (who married Isaac B. Melvin), Mary S., Emily A., (who married C. H. Baker), Jesse H., Joseph H., Nancy E., Sarah A., and Martha A.
Capt. Cobb's brother, George W. Cobb, was also born in Princeton, came to Camden in 1829, where he taught school for about ten years. He afterwards carried on a cabinet maker's and furniture business, and also was an undertaker. Like his brother, Mr. Cobb was also a strong Whig in politics. He married Betsy, daughter of Moses Parker by whom he had six children, viz : George S., who fell at Petersburg, William P., who died in infancy, Charles E., William P., Adelia M., and Mary A. He died in 1885.
John W. Simonton, son of John G. and Eliza (Richards) Simonton, was born here July 25, 1839, and died in Boston, Dec. 18, 1875. Mr. Simonton, during the war of the rebellion, and for a short time after its close, was residing at Fortress Mon- roe where he was engaged in trade. While there he was nom- inated for Representative to the Virginia Legislature, but declined the honor on account of business engagements. He afterwards returned to his native town and entered into trade here and en- gaged in the manufacture of lime for several years as a member of the firm of S. T. Cleveland & Co. About 1870, he went to Boston and entered the employ of the Metropolitan Horse Car Co. and held, at the time of his death, the position of cashier of the company. Mr. Simonton was a prominent Mason, and was a charter member and the first Secretary of Keystone Royal Arch Chapter. Mr. Simonton married Helen Wakefield of Belfast. Their children are Virginia, (who married William Farnsworth)
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and Helen, (who married Thomas Crimmings. )
1876. Annual meeting March 13. Officers elected : Town Clerk, E. A. Morrill; Selectmen, J. F. Stetson, J. W. Ingraham and A. R. Tolman ; Treasurer, E. M. Wood.
It was voted to refund the town bonds by the issue of new bonds to the amount of $35,000 bearing not more than six per cent. interest, which vote was shortly afterwards carried into effect by the Treasurer. 1
Gov. Connor, was this year, a second time the gubernatorial candidate of the Republicans and was a second time elected. The Democratic candidate was John C. Talbot. A new party known as the Greenback party that was destined to make much agitation in our politics for several years, this year for the first time made its appearance in Maine, although it appeared in the west two years before. The real founder of the party in Maine was Solon Chase who, prior to the campaign of 1876, had estab- lished a Greenback newspaper, and a party organization was formed by which Almon Gage was nominated for governor. He received 520 votes in the state in the election of this year.
Camden, unaware of the political wave being put in motion that in a short time was to stir the town to its very depths, both in municipal and state politics, did not cast a single Green- back vote in 1876. The town turned again to the Republican party this year, giving Gov. Connor 493 votes and Mr. Talbot, 465. Ephraim M. Wood of Camden and John C. Levensaler of Thomaston were again respectively the Republican and Demo- cratic candidates for Judge of Probate, Judge Wood being re- elected. His vote in Camden was 517, Judge Levensaler re- ceiving 442. Herbert L. Shepherd, Republican, was elected Representative to the Legislature receiving 506 votes against 437 for Fred Lewis the Democratic candidate.
At the presidential election in November of this year, the 1. A large portion of the town war debt bonds had been issued at the rate of seven and three tenths per cent. interest. They were refunded this year at five per cent.
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