USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 35
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 35
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This year Gov. Robie was again the Republican gubernatorial candidate. The Democrats nominated John B. Redman, the Greenbackers, Dr. Hosea B. Eaton of Camden and the Pro- hibitionsts, William T. Eustis. Gov. Robie was re-elected by an increased majority. Dr. Eaton received 3,136 votes in the state while the temperance people cast 1,151 votes for Mr. Eustis.
The Camden gubernatorial vote stood as follows : Robie, 374 ; Eaton, 294; Redman, 202 and Eustis, 1. Wilder W. Perry of Camden was the Greenback candidate for Representative to Cong- ress receiving in his own town 251 votes to 428 for Nelson Dingley, Jr., Republican, and 207 for David R. Davis,
Democrat.
Thaddeus R. Simonton of Camden, Republican, was
this year elected senator. He received in Camden, 430 votes to
323 for S. J. Gushee, Democrat. Judge E. M. Wood was for the fourth time elected Judge of Probate. His vote in Camden was 431, while his Democratic opponent, Chas. K. Miller of Camden, received 278, and his Greenback opponent, John P. Wellman, also of Camden, received 145. E. Frank Knowlton, Democrat or "Fusion," was elected Representative to the Legislature, re- ceiving 472 votes to 422 for John H. Eells, Republican.
451
THE BRIDGE QUESTION AGAIN
This year the constitutional amendment, forbidding the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, was adopted by the people of the state. In Camden the vote stood 471 in favor of the amendment and 20 against its adoption ..
The Republican candidates for presidential electors at the November election this year had a plurality but not a majority of the votes cast in Camden.
Mirror Lake Lodge of Good Templars was organized this year at West Camden. The following were the first officers : A. A. Mitchell, C. T .; Anna Clark, V. T .; M. S. Leach, Chap .; U. E. Leach, Sec'y .; L. M. Brewster, F. S .; H. U. Lamson, T .; E. B. Clark, M .; Nellie Tolman, I. G .; H. Bowley, Jr., O. G .; Mrs. J. C. Mitchell, R. H. S .; Augusta Ingraham, L. H. S .; Florence Bowley, D. M .; Lizzie Michaels, A. S .; L. C. Miller, P. C. T.
Paul Stevens was the son of Paul H. and Christiana (Ulmer) Stevens of Lincolnville, Maine, in which town he was born in September, 1826. He came to Camden when a youth and learned the tailor's trade and afterwards settled here as a mer- chant tailor. He built the old "Burd Block" on the site of the shoe store of George Burd, where he carried on his business for many years. Mr. Stevens was a fine musician playing several instruments with great skill. He was leader of the band organized in Camden village in 1848 and of the one organized in 1856, both of which were fine musical organizations. In 1864 Mr. Stevens received the appointment of Assistant Librarian of the Congressional Library in Washington, D. C., which office he held for some twelve years. After retiring from that office Mr. Stevens continued to reside in Washington doing a claim agent's business, until a short time before his death when he returned to Camden where he died July 30, 1884. Mr. Stevens married Mary L. Wetherbee, by whom he had three children, Horatio W., William H., and Edward C.
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452
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
CHAPTER LIII.
MIRROR LAKE WATER.
1885. On March 9, the town voters met in annual meet- ing and elected C. B. Veazie, Town Clerk; Thomas A. Hunt, J. W. Thorndike and J. P. Simonton, Selectmen, and Wm. H. Pascal, Treasurer.
During this year Knowlton Bros., at Camden and S. E. & H. L. Shepherd at Rockport, installed the first telephones used in town.
John Whitmore, who died Feb. 1, 1885, at the age of 76 years, was born in Sedgwick, Maine in 1808. When a boy he went to Vinalhaven, and as a young man removed to Lincolnville where he lived until 1870, when he came to Camden where he built the Jones house on Washington street and the Giles house on Union street. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Sally Calderwood and they were the parents of nine children, viz : Mary J., (who married Oliver Butler), Mark C., Olive, (who married C. R. Montgomery), Sabra, (who married Sylvanus Young), Elvira, (who married Cyrus Hall), Martin V., Sarah A., (who married Adelbert Knight), Ellen, (who married Geo Whitcomb), and Elizabeth, (who married L. D. Smith.) All of these children except Mrs. Montgomery, are living today.
Frederick Conway, son of Richard, was born in the year 1800, and died May 5, 1885. Mr. Conway was a mason by
.
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
trade and in early life wrought in the construction of some of the substantial brick blocks of Portland and Boston. He became a Free Mason in early life and marched in the procession when Lafayette assisted at the laying of the Corner Stone of the Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 1825. Shortly afterwards he located permanently in Camden living at the old Conway homestead now owned by his daughter, Miss Julia Conway, standing almost exactly on the town line between Camden and Rockport villages. Mr. Conway was Deputy Collector of Customs under President Polk's administration. He also traded for many years in the Hunt building. Mr. Conway, especially in early life before afflicted by disease, was a most genial, witty and companionable man. He had an excellent memory and that keen wit peculiar to the Irish stock from which he sprang, and could tell a story with infinite zest. He was greatly interested in Masonry and was elected Master of Amity Lodge in 1847. He was also a charter member of Keystone Royal Arch Chapter. During his later years he was
an honored guest at all gatherings of local Masons being revered as the last survivor of the "Immortal Nine." Mr. Conway was for fifty years a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he was a life-long and uncompromising Democrat. Mr. Conway first married Julia A. Spofford by whom he had two children, Marcia I., and Julia A. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary B. Cochran, by whom he had one son, Freder- ick H.
Oliver Morrill, died March 22, 1885, at the age of about 75 years. Mr. Morrill was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1810, but came to America when eight years of age. He came to Boston in a sailing vessel and from there came to Waldoboro, Maine, where he remained until 1835 when he came to Camden. Mr. Morrill was a ship-carpenter by trade, and was a good and valuable citizen, always interested in the welfare of his town. In politics he was a Republican from the organization of the party. Just prior to his coming to Rockport village from Waldoboro, Mr.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Morrill married Miss Esther Vinal of that town. They had three children: Isadore, who was a music teacher and died in 1865 at the age of 22 years ; Pelham C., and Edwin A., both of whom are now living in Rockport.
One of the prominent business men of the town of Camden was Jotham Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd was born in Jefferson, Maine, April 30, 1808, and died May 27, 1885. In his early days he worked on his father's farm and taught school. At the age of twenty-four he located in West Camden, now West Rock- port, and engaged in the manufacture of lime and subsequently married Margaret Ingraham, daughter of Job Ingraham. In 1834, in connection with Job Ingraham, he built the store at Rockport which was occupied by him until he retired from business in 1880 and is now occupied by his sons. He entered actively into trade and the manufacture of lime in Rockport. His great industry, perseverance and business capacity, shown as one of the pioneers who helped to build up one of the great business industries of Rockport, which has made it one of the largest and most pros- perous business places of the state, are worthy of recollection and imitation by our younger business men. Mr. Shepherd con- tinued in active business over fifty years. There were few, if any, of the business men of the early days who were so largely and prom- inently identified with and instrumental in building up Rockport as Mr. Shepherd. When he located there in 1834 and built his store there was scarcely a nucleus of a village. There were no churches no stores, one old building called a school-house and about a half dozen buildings altogether. The year his store was built the old Carleton-Norwood store and the stone building were erected. The Rockport of today with its modern improve- ments in the way of railroads, electric lights and telephones, its varied industries, its wide-awake business men and firms and active, thrifty population were not even dreamed of by the most en- thusiastic. Not only in business but in the cause of education, re- ligion and politics he was a man of decided views, and so far as he
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
could moulded others to his own views, honestly believing them to be the best. For many years he was a member of the Baptist Church, always actively interested in its welfare and ready to con- tribute liberally of his means for the promotion of its interests. Originally a Whig in politics at the formation of the Republican party he became a firm believer in its principles and policies and
Jotham Shepherd
worked earnestly for its success. In 1857 he entered into partnership with Abel Merriam under the firm name of Merriam & Shepherd, running a general store and manufacturing lime. In 1872 Merriam's interest in the company was purchased by R. E. Jones and Samuel E. Shepherd and the firm of Shepherd, Jones & Co. was established. In 1876 Capt. Jones retired from the business and H. L. Shepherd was admitted. In 1890 the Com-
-
456
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
pany was incorporated under the name of S. E. & H. L. Shepherd Co. with $100,000 capital fully paid in. Mr. Shepherd had nine children, five boys and four girls. One girl is now living, Julia, the oldest of the family, who married Eben Thorndike. Of the boys two are now living, Oliver P., and Herbert L. Samuel E., and Frank P., died in Rockport. Geo. W., sailed from Galves- ton, captain of the bark "J. G. Norwood" loaded with cotton for Antwerp in Dec. 1876 and the vessel and entire crew were lost. Fannie, deceased, married Wm. H. Hopkins; Maria died at the age of four caused by accident ; Maria C., died at May- aguez, Porto Rico, on board the schooner, "T. B. Witherspoon," Feb. 1880.
John Swann died June 4, 1885. He was born in England in 1793, being therefore nearly 92 years of age at the time of his death. He came to Pepperell, Mass., as a young man and there married Nancy Bennett of that town. In 1825 he came to Cam- den and went into the paper business with Leonard Follansbee. He also manufactured paper for some time in company with Ebenezer H. Barrett. Their paper mill was on the site of the Mt. Battie woolen mill. After retiring from this business he con- tinued to deal in rags and stock for manufacturing paper. Mr. Swann was a Methodist and strongly attached to the demonina- tion. He started alone to lay the foundation of the first Meth- odist meeting house built in Camden village and was always a strong supporter of the Church. John and Nancy Swann were the parents of seven children, viz: William, Charlotte, (who married Samuel Goodwin), James B., Mary, (who married John Ames), Nellie, John E., and Harriet E., (who married first, Isaac Loveland and second, Frank Hopkins.) The most of his de- scendants now spell the name "Swan."
Dr. Joseph H. Estabrook an old resident, distinguished citizen and well-beloved physician of the town died July 5, 1885. Dr. Estabrook was the son of Rev. Joseph Estabrook and was born in Athol, Mass., Oct. 15, 1797. He graduated from Williams
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
College in 1818 and from Harvard Medical School, 1821. The same year he came to Camden and began the practise of his profession. Two years later he married Caroline, daughter of Samuel Jacobs, by whom he had nineteen children, probably the largest family Camden has known since its settlement. Dr. Estabrook was eminent in his profession, his name figuring among
Joseph H. Estabrook
the foremost physicans of the allopathic school of his day. As a surgeon he is also said to have had but few superiors in the state. He had, for more than fifty years, an extensive practise and ac- quired a wide reputation as a consulting physician. The high estimation in which he was held by his professional brethren is evinced by his election to the office of President of the Maine
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Medical Association in the fifties. For a number of years during the last of his practise he had for a partner his son, Dr. Theodore L. Estabrook, who practised for many years in Rock land. Dr. Estabrook's reputation was not wholly confined to his profession. He took great interest in public affairs and was not unknown in the realm of politics. He was a strong Whig in early life and was for years an important and able worker in the ranks of his party. In 1834 and again in 1837 he was the Whig candidate for senator. "This mark of approval" says Locke, is not diminished by the fact that his party was unsuccessful in electing their candidate." Most worthy as a man, honorable and honored as a citizen, true and faithful as a friend, kind and lov- ing as a husband and father, and eminent as a physician, Dr. Estabrook is still remembered with affection and regard by the older people of this section, and his picture adorns the walls of many a Camden household. Dr. Estabrook's residence was the brick house on Elm street on the lot next southerly of the Opera House, being the last house totally destroyed in the conflagration of 1892. The last six or seven years of his life he passed with his son Dr. Theodore L., in Rockland where he died. Of the nineteen children of Dr. and Mrs. Estabrook, six died in child- hood, the remaining thirteen being, Joseph H., Jr., Caroline J., (who married Wm. H. Hunt), Samuel, Benjamin R., Theodore L., George C., Ellen E., Arabella O., Eugenia T., (who married Alonzo Sherman), Margaret V., (who married Geo. Warren), Frederick R., Georgia, (who married Chas. Freeman), Edward L. Four of the sons, Theodore L., George C., Frederick R., and Edward L., became physicians, and two, George C., and Freder- ick R., served as surgeons in the army during the Civil War, the latter dying at New Orleans.
1886. The annual meeting was held March 8. J. C. Paul was elected Town Clerk ; Thomas A. Hunt, F. H. Shaw and Daniel J. Andrews, Selectmen, and Wm. H. Pascal, Treasurer.
For governor this year the Republicans nominated Joseph R.
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
Bodwell, the Democrats, Clark S. Edwards and the Prohibitionists, Aaron Clark. Mr. Bodwell had an ample majority. 1 The Pro- hibition vote this year reached 3,868 in the state.
In Camden Mr. Clark received 105 votes, Mr. Bodwell 339, and Mr. Edwards 429. Thaddeus R. Simonton of Camden was again a candidate for senator, receiving 363 votes in his own town, against 347 for S. J. Gushee, Democrat. Mr. Gushee, however, was elected by a plurality of a few votes in the county. Charles A. Sylvester of Camden, Republican, was a candidate for county commissioner receiving in Camden 373 votes to 360 for Franklin Trussell, Democrat. Mr. Trussell was elected. This year John H. Eells, Republican, and E. Frank Knowlton, Demo- crat, were again the opposing candidates for Representative to the Legislature, Mr. Eells being this time elected, receiving 459 votes. Mr. Knowlton received 385,and M. S. Leach, Prohibition- ist received 29.
The Camden & Rockland Water Co. was this year prepar- ing to put its mains into Rockport and Camden villages to furnish the inhabitants water from Mirror Lake, and on Sept. 25, a town meeting was called to act upon the question of the town's contracting with the company for a supply of water for the ex- tinguishment of fires and other public purposes, at which a com- mittee consisting of W. A. Merriam, E. M. Wood, P. J. Carleton, Wm. G. Alden and Edward Cushing was appointed to take the matter under advisement.
It was voted at this meeting to "exempt from taxation a Woolen Factory formed upon and out of the Gould & Co. Mill Property on Megunticook Stream, to be operated by a Company hereafter to be formed, and for a term of ten years." This action was the encouragement given by the town that resulted in the organization of the Camden Woolen Co. and was the first step towards the creation of the prosperous section of Camden village
1. Mr. Bodwell died before the expiration of his term and Sabastian S. Marble of Waldoboro, President of the Senate, served as governor for the remainder of the term.
1
460
HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
now known as "Millville."
At a meeting held Nov. 6, a proposal from the water com- pany was presented to the town, the same being to furnish through a ten-inch main and forty hydrants, water for extinguishing fires in Camden and Rockport villages for $2,000 per year, which proposition was accepted.
Prior to this time there had again been much talk about a railroad being built from Rockland to Camden, provided that the town would subscribe $20,000 to aid the enterprise, and at this meeting T. R. Simonton, Edward Cushing and John D. Rust were appointed a committee "to consult about a Railroad to connect with the Knox and Lincoln Railroad at Rockland and run to Cam- den and report at our next March meeting."
This year on Jan. 21, the Fred A. Norwood Post, No. 146, G. A. R., was organized at Rockport with thirteen charter mem- bers. Gen. John D. Rust was the first commander, but owing to the loss of the records we are unable to give the names of the other officers. This Post is still existing and is in a flourishing condition. 1
Col. Nathan C. Fletcher died Feb. 5, 1886, at the age of about 80 years. Col. Fletcher was born at Newburyport, Mass., in 1806. He received his academic education at Readfield, Kent's Hill and Monmouth in this state, and afterwards studied for the ministry under Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, a Universalist clergy- man at Malden, Mass. He began preaching at Lewiston, Me., where he remained three years. In 1833 he came to Rockland (then Thomaston ) where he preached until 1848 when he went to Belfast, occupying the Universalist pulpit there until 1854 when he came to Camden. After removing here he supplied pulpits for a time in Kingston, N. H., and Baltimore but retired
1. The members of this Post, not already mentioned as members of the George S. Cobb Post, holding rank in the army or navy, are as follows: John D. Rust, Colonel of the 8th Regiment, brevetted Brigadier General; Dennis P. Andrews, Captain 4th R. I. Regiment; Thomas Perry, Acting Ensign in Navy and Barzilla H. Spear, Mate.
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
from the ministry in 1855 and engaged in the business of a druggist in Camden until 1877 when he retired from active busi- ness. In 1836 and 1837 he represented Thomaston in the State Legislature where he became distinguished as a debater. In 1839 he was a member of Gov. Fairfield's staff where he re- ceived the title of colonel. He was chaplin in the navy for a short time in 1845. Col. Fletcher was a life-long Democrat and always took much interest in politics. He was a talented writer and while located at Rockland for one year edited the Christian Intelligence a Universalist periodical - then published at Gardi- ner - which afterwards became the Gospel Banner. He was a constant contributor to newspapers, among his productions being the " Annals of Camden " from which we have frequently quoted in compiling this history, which appeared in the Rockland Opinion in 1883 and 1884. Mr. Fletcher was interested in Masonry and while at Belfast was chiefly instrumental in organiz- ing Corinthian R. A. Chapter and King Solomon's Council there and was the first High Priest of the former body. Col. Fletcher married Miss Lucy A. Prescott of Monmouth and to them were born the following children now living in Camden: Edwin C. Fletcher, Adelaide R. Fletcher and Annie F. J. Fletcher.
1887. At the annual town meeting held March 14, 1887, A. D. Champney was elected Town Clerk ; Alden Miller, Jr., J. S. Fuller and Daniel J. Andrews, Selectmen, and G. F. Burgess, Treasurer. This was the first time for many years that the town officers were all of a Republican "complexion."
The railroad committee reported at this meeting recommend- ing that the town pay one-half of the expense of a survey for the proposed road provided the amount to be expended by the town should not exceed $500, which recommendation was adopted. "Voted to exempt from taxation for ten years any parties or cor- porations who will establish a Shoe Factory in the town of Cam- den." This enterprise was, however, never established.
After this for quite a period there was more or less agitation
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
in town on the question of aiding the proposed railroad and at a meeting held July 16, after more or less sparring on this question the town voted to adjourn to August 20. When the voters again assembled they vigorously discussed the railroad question, but voted by the decided majority of 276 to 56 not to aid the project, to the great disapointment of many who had again in imagina- tion heard the shriek of the locomotive re-echoing among our hills.
The Camden Woolen Company was organized April 16, 1887. The first officers of the Company were Wm. G. Alden, Pres .; E. W. Gould, Treasurer ; Reuel Robinson, Clerk ; W. G. Alden, J. H. Montgomery, W. G. Adams, G. F. Burgess, E. W. Gould, W. P. Gould and W. H. Faunce, Directors ; W. H. Faunce, Superintendent.
Mt. Pleasant Grange, No. 185, was organized at West Cam- dan in May, 1887.
The Mirror Lake water of the Camden & Rockland Water Co., reached Rockport village on the evening of June 16. It reached Camden village on June 17. 1
On Oct. 16, an unknown man was found dead on the summit of Mt. Megunticook. He had been shot by a revolver that was found near him and it was supposed that he was a suicide. A description of him was widely advertised but no one ever appeared to claim an interest in him and his body was interred in Mountain Cemetery by the authorities.
Capt. William A. Norwood died April 9, at the age of 79 years and 10 months. He was the son of Capt. William Nor- wood, and lived for a time on the "Hall Farm " now owned by Mr. H. L. Payson, and built the house there. He was afterwards
1. This lake is located 367 feet above s. a level and is fed by pure springs. The elevation gives a high pressure for fire purposes and the water for domestic use is of great purity, giving Camden and Rockport the finest water supply for all purposes of any city or town in New England. The purity of the water supply has always been one of the attractions drawing summer visitors and others to these towns.
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MIRROR LAKE WATER
a merchant in Camden village. He married Eveline, daughter of Ephraim Wood. Their children : Ellen M., Harriet W., William E., Ephraim W., and George M. C.
The town lost a prominent citizen, April 19, 1887, in the death of Dr. Hosea B. Eaton. Dr. Eaton was born in Plymouth, Maine, March 22, 1822, and was a little over 65 years of age at the time of his death. He obtained his education at the Maine Medical School, Brunswick, Maine, graduating in 1845. He entered upon his practise at Northport, Maine, but after remaining there a few months removed to Vinalhaven where he remained about a year and then came to Camden, settling in Rockport village where he remained during the whole of his after-life. He began practise as an allopathic physician but in 1855 became a convert to homœopathy and soon became one of the most prominent and suc- cessful of that school of practise. He was president of the Maine Homeopathic Society, and vice president of the American Institute of Homeopathy. During the rebellion he served as a volunteer surgeon in the army. At the time of his death he had been in active practise for forty years. Dr. Eaton was interested in all municipal affairs and always attended the meetings of the town and was often called to preside over the town's deliberations as moderator, making an excellent presiding officer. He was act- tively interested in politics being an earnest Republican until 1878 when he became converted to the principles of that party whose votaries took their politics in by no means homœepathic doses, the Greenbackers. As a member of that party he was elected to the Maine Legislature in 1881 and 1883, and in 1884 was the Greenback candidate for governor of Maine. Dr. Eaton was a genial, well informed gentleman, a respected citizen, and a "beloved physician" to many. He was a member of St. Paul's Lodge, F. & A. M., and was the first Scribe of Keystone Chapter, R. A. M. Dr. Eaton married Martha, daughter of John Glover, and was the father of four children, John, Martha. (who married Dr. A. F. Piper), Dr. Hosea B., Jr., and Thomas G.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
CHAPTER LIV.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
1888. March 19, in annual meeting the town elected A. D. Champney, Town Clerk ; Alden Miller, Jr., John S. Fuller and Elliot Orbeton, Selectmen and G. F. Burgess, Treasurer.
It was voted to refund the five per cent. bonds maturing this year to the amount of $9,900 by the issue of four per cent. bonds on five years time.
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