USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 36
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 36
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This year began the agitation in town which led to its division into the present two municipalities of Camden and Rock- port, and an article was inserted in the warrant for the March meeting, "To see if the town will vote to divide the present limits of Camden on some convenient line between the villages of Camden and Rockport and to appoint a proper committee to designate such line and to present the same to the next Legisla- ture." The town was not at this time in the humor to go into the divorce court and after an animated discussion it was voted "not to divide the present limits of the town of Camden."
There were four gubernatorial candidates in the field this year, viz; Edwin C. Burleigh, Republican ; William L. Putnam, Democrat ; Volney B. Cushing, Prohibitionist; William H. Simmons, Labor. Mr. Burleigh was elected, receiving a large majority of the votes cast.
Camden had now swung into the Republican line, and at the September election this year gave Mr. Burleigh 524 votes,
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Mr. Putnam 440, Mr. Cushing 24, and Mr. Simmons 85.
Gershom F. Burgess of Camden, Republican, was elected one of the Knox County Senators, receiving in Camden 599 votes to 414 for his opponent. Reuel Robinson, Republican, Chas. K. Miller, Democrat, and Samuel D. Sanford, Labor, all of Cam- den, were candidates for Judge of Probate. Mr. Robinson re- ceived 519 votes in Camden, Mr. Miller 471, and Mr. Sanford 53. Mr. Robinson was elected. J. H. Montgomery of Camden, Democrat, was a candidate for County Attorney receiving 481 votes in Camden, but was defeated. H. C. Small of Camden, Prohibitionist, received in Camden, 23 votes for Clerk of Courts. James B. Swan of Camden, Labor, received in Camden, 83 votes for County Commissioner. John H. Eells was again elected Representative to the Legislature, receiving 585 votes, while J. P. Wellman, Democrat, received 452 and Edward R. Ogier, Prohibitionist, received 15.
At the presidential election this year the Republican can- didates for electors received in Camden, 473 votes and the Dem- ocratic candidates 327. Among the Republican electors chosen at this election was Thaddeus R. Simonton of Camden.
This year the Custom House was removed from Camden to Rockport village owing to the fact that a large amount of shipping came into Rockport harbor at this time.
The winter of 1888 was one of great severity, being the coldest since 1875. The harbors were frozen over and Camden harbor, frozen over far beyond Negro Island, was for a long time daily covered with skaters and ice boats.
On March 13, occurred one of the largest fires Camden village ever had excepting the conflagration of 1892, in the de- struction of the two large adjoining wooden Knight blocks on Mechanic street. These buildings contained stores, offices and the elegant new lodge rooms of Amity Lodge, F. & A. M. and Mt. Battie Lodge, I. O. O. F., and were totally destroyed with all the contents.
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This year there was again considerable "railroad talk," the project this time being a road across the country to Augusta, which like the others never materialized.
We note this year the death of Joseph Henry Jones, a native and old resident of Camden. Mr. Jones was the son of Joseph Jones and was born July 4, 1829. He was engaged in the shipping business here until about 30 years of age when he re- moved to San Francisco, Cal., and there continued to be interest- ed in the shipping business, and early in the sixties turned his attention to mining and later became a member of the San Fran- cisco stock exchange. Mr. Jones was of a genial disposition, kind and charitable. In business he was distinguished for strict integrity. He died in San Francisco, May 30, 1888, unmarried, leaving a large estate.
Cyphrian M. Knight died June 15, 1888, at the age of 70 years. Mr. Knight was born in Oxford County, but early came to this section of the state, first settling in Freedom in Waldo County, and from there going to Searsmont where he resided for a time. From Searsmont he came to Camden in 1854, where (in Rockport village ) the remainder of his life was passed. Mr. Knight taught many town schools in Thomaston, Hope, Camden, etc., and carried on for a time a most excellent private school in Rockport village, and was always interested in educational matters. He also carried on a harness business and was the first telegraph operator in Rockport village. He served in the army during the Rebellion entering the D. C. Cavalry Regiment, being later transferred to the First Maine Cavalry Regiment. In the same Regiment was his eldest son Augustus H. Mr. Knight married Evelina C. Pullen and the children born to them were Augustus H., Frank C., and C. Fred.
1889. This year at the annual town meeting on March 19, C. B. Veazie was elected Town Clerk ; Alden Miller, Jr., J. S. Fuller and Elliott Orbeton, Selectmen, and G. F. Burgess, Treasurer. The "bridge loan" of $7,000 maturing this year it
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was voted to refund the same by issuing five years notes bearing not more than four per cent. interest.
At a meeting held April 13, it was voted to exempt for a period of ten years a factory to be built on the "Bachelder Water Power " on Megunticook river, to manufacture woolen or cotton goods. 1
In the winter of 1889, Mr. Johnson Knight, having finished his fine brick bl ck on the site of the wooden blocks destroyed on Mechanic street and containing the Masonic and Odd Fellows halls, put in an electric light plant to light it and afterwards formed a company for lighting other buildings and the streets of Camden and Rockport villages. 2
This year was organized at Camden village, the Business Men's Association, a social club which also embodies a Board of Trade and Village Improvement Society. Benjamin C. Adams was its first President. It had rooms in Johnson Knight's brick block until burned out in the fire of 1892. After the re-build- ing of the village it took possession of its present quarters in the Opera House block. It now has a large membership and is one of the flourishing institutions of the town.
Rev. William H. Crawford died Feb. 18, 1889, at the age of 67 years and 4 months. Mr. Crawford was the last of eight brothers, four of whom were Methodist ministers. He was born in Pownal, Maine, Oct. 4, 1821. He joined the Maine Con- ference in 1844 and after three years of service there was trans- ferred to the East Maine Conference where he continued until 1870 when on account of ill health he retired on the superannuated list. He had an exceedingly active life while in the ministry, having many good charges. Through his agency church build- ings were built at Calais, So. Dresden, Round Pond, Bremen and
1. The Megunticook Woolen Mill.
2. This Company known as the Camden & Rockport Electric Light Co., several years later : ecame merged in the Rockland, Thomaston & Camden Street Railway, which now lights Camden, Rockport, Rockland and Thomaston.
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Waldoboro and a parsonage at East Corinth. When he retired he came to Camden where he carried on a milk business. He was always deeply interested in educational and temperance work. He served faithfully for twelve years as one of the Megunticook District school directors. Mr. Crawford was naturally aggressive but kind hearted and sympathetic. He was a good neighbor and
Nathaniel Talbot
citizen, affectionate husband and father and warm hearted friend. He married Julia A. Whittier of Cornville who still survives him. Their children are Rev. Geo. A. Crawford, for a long time a Chaplain in the U. S. Navy, Carrie C., M. T. Crawford, Esq., and Rev. Wm. M. Crawford.
Hon. Nathaniel T. Talbot died at his home in Rockport
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village, March 24, at the age of 75 years and 10 months. He was the son of David Talbot and was born in Turner, Maine. He received his education at Colby University being a class-mate of Gen. Benj. F. Butler. He came to Camden about 1838, where he taught school and studied law in the office of Hon. Jonathan Thayer. Having completed his legal studies he opened a law office at Rockport where he assiduously practised his profession. He entered the ice business with Gen. John D. Rust, Joseph H. Gould and Hanson Andrews, under the firm name of Talbot, Rust & Co., which business afterwards became the present corporation known as the Rockport Ice Co. Mr. Talbot was a Trial Justice for twenty years and served four years as Judge of Probate for Knox County. He was always a man of great energy of character, industrious and attentive to the duties of his profession or business, and was regarded by his legal brethren as a fair and honorable opponent. He was ever a great friend of the cause of education and an uncompromising foe of liquor traffic. He was a member of the Rockport Congregational Church and of St. Paul's Lodge, F. & A. M., and evinced a great interest in the affairs of both societies. Judge Talbot married Caroline Luce. Their children : Nathaniel T., Jr., Abbie E., (who married Orlando McCobb), Carrie, Millie, (who married O. G. Lord), and George H.
Judge Talbot's brother David Talbot, who came to Camden a few months after he did, was born in Turner, Nov. 22, 1808, being the eidest son of David Talbot. He located in Rockport village, where he became a ship-builder and owner and a lime manufacturer, owning kilns and quarries. He carried on a general mercantile business and was one of Rockport's leading business men from 1840 to 1880, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis and died seven years later, April 13, 1887. Mr. Talbot was a man of sterling qualities. He was for thirty years a member of the Methodist Church and to him that society is largely indebted for its church property. Like his brother, he was an uncom-
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promising temperance man. Politically he was a Republican from the foundation of the party. Mr. Talbot married, March 4, 1840, Eliza Achorn Brewster, daughter of John Achorn and widow of Wm. Brewster. To them were born six children, three of whom, two daughters and one son, lived to maturity, viz : Calista S., (who married Henry J. Cole of Waldoboro), Clara B., (who married Dr. S. Y. Weidman), and David, Jr.
Sidney A. Jones, a native and former business man of Camden and son of Joseph Jones, died in San Francisco, March 29. After being in trade here for many years he removed to the far West and at the time of his death was a citizen of the state of Nevada. He married Ellen, daughter of James Furber of Belfast and was survived by a son and daughter. -
Harvey H. Cleveland, a representative business man of Cam- den, died June 1, of this year at the age of 73 years. He was a native of the town, born April 18, 1816, He spent his early life on a farm and in teaching school, and is a good example of the young men of Camden who have started out in life with nothing but their brains and hands and have built up here their fortunes. In 1854 Mr. Cleveland came to Camden village and established the "Union Store " which he continued for eleven years and which he made a successful business for himself and the stock- holders, the stock having quadrupled in value during this time. He then bought out the stockholders and continued the business in his own name until 1868 when he took into partnership his two sons James S. and George H., enlarging the business by the manufacture of confectionery and wholesaling of fruit, etc., He was subsequently for a time associated with Mr. Thomas C. At- wick and finally retired from active business in 1881. He was extensively interested in navigation, and when the Camden Savings Bank was organized he was for several years Ass't. Treasurer and Trustee. About 1860 he built a block on Maine street which was destroyed by fire in 1887. He immediately built a fine wooden block which went down in the great fire of 1892,
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but was replaced by his estate in the fine brick structure now standing on the site. Mr. Cleveland was the thirty-second Mas- ter of Amity Lodge and was for many years its Treasurer. He was also a prominent member of Keystone R. A. Chapter. He married Dorcas Simonton, by whom he had the following children, viz : Mary F., (who married Moses L. Parker), Sarah E., (who married Ephraim M. Wood), James S., Orilla D., (who married Charles Blanchard ), and George H.
Hon. Ephraim M. Wood another distinguished and esteemed citizen of the town, died June 2, at the age of 71 years. Judge Wood was the son of Ephraim Wood and was born in Camden, May 15, 1818. His education was received in the common schools of his native town, where he passed the whole of his life. For forty-five years he acted as Steamboat Agent. He also acted as Express Agent for thirty years, and did an insurance business. He was a Republican in politics and took great interest in all public affairs, municipal, state and national. He represented Camden in the Legislature three times, in 1853, 1854 and 1861. Five times he was elected First Selectman and later he served five years as town Treasurer. He was also for several years Treasurer of Camden Village Corpora- tion. He was Inspector of Customs from 1865 to 1867. In 1872 he was elected Judge of Probate for Knox County and was three times re-elected, serving in that capacity for sixteen consecutive years, when he declined a fifth nomination. Although not a lawyer by profession, Judge Wood possessed, to an eminent degree, a judicial mind, which together with his keen sense of justice, caused him to be exceedingly successful in the judicial position that he filled so long and so well. His attitude almost always gave perfect satisfaction to the members of the legal pro- fession who practised before him, who learned to place full con- fidence in his integrity. His decisions, from which appeals were taken, were seldom overruled by the Supreme Court. Judge Wood was a lifelong supporter and constant attendant upon the
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services of the Camden Baptist Church and for twenty-five years he was teacher of the Bible Class in the Baptist Sabbath School. A good neighbor, a valuable citizen, an able official, a just judge and an honest man, his memory will long be respected by the people of his native town and county. Judge Wood married Sophia N., daughter of Nathaniel and Nancy Hosmer, Oct. 30,
Ephraim M. Wood
1845. To them were born the following children : George F., Edward C., Ephraim E., Emma B., and Helen M., (who married Ernest F. King.) Mrs. Wood died, Sept. 29, 1865, and on March 26, 1868, he married Sarah E., daughter of Harvey H. Cleveland. The two children of this union are Charles C., and Edward B.
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Hon. Edward Cushing died July 22, 1889. Mr. Cushing was born in Hanover, Mass., in 1819. He came to Camden when a boy to live with his uncle, Benjamin Cushing. He started business in Camden in partnership with E. M. Wood in the dry goods business, which they carried on for a time in the brick building on the corner of Main and Commercial streets. Sub- sequently in company with William Johnson of Belfast he bought the old Megunticook House and enlarged and rebuilt it making the present Bay View House, which they conducted for a time. The greater part of Mr. Cushing's business life, however, was spent in the steamboat business, beginning in early life as clerk on the State of Maine, of the Portland and Bangor line. He was one of the originators of the Portland, Bangor and Machias steamboat line, and was General Manager of the same for years. He was also prominently connected with other steamboat enter- prises. In politics Mr. Cushing was always a Democrat. He served his town in many municipal capacities. In 1870, he was Representative to the Legislature, and in 1874, he was a member of the Maine Senate. At one time his name was prom- inently before a convention as a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination. Under President Cleveland's administration he was Collector of Customs for the port of Belfast. Mr. Cushing was widely known and highly respected in this and neighboring states. He was 70 years of age at the time of his death. Mr. Cushing married Elizabeth W. Wetherbee, by whom he had three daughters, Mary S., (who died young), Elizabeth F., and Alice, (who married John W. Tufts.)
Israel Decrow, who died Oct. 27, 1889, was born in Lincoln- ville, Maine, Feb. 5, 1816. In early life he was a joiner by trade but subsequently opened a store at Lincolnville Beach and later with Austin Knight, under the firm name of Decrow & Knight, built several vessels. He also built several vessels alone and in company with Capt. Isaac Coombs. In 1863, he came to Camden and purchased the property afterwards known as the
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"Ocean House." After coming to Camden he built vessels in the Clary yard and later with Capt. Coombs. During the last of his life he was proprietor of the Ocean House, popular in those days as a transient and summer hotel. He possessed the esteem and confidence of the citizens of both his native and his adopted town. Mr. Decrow was for a long time a member of both Amity Lodge and Keystone Royal Arch Chapter and was one of the early members of Mt. Battie Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married Ruth J. Thomas. Their children who reached maturity are Georgiana, (who married William G. Alden), Israel E., Emma J., and Winnifred, (who married Richard C. Lichtenstein.) The Ocean House was used as a summer hotel for several years after Mr. Decrow's death when it was totally destroyed by fire.
An old citizen who will be long remembered for his unique character, passed away Nov. 11, 1889, in the death of William S. Barrett at the age of 78 years. Mr. Barrett was the son of Daniel Barrett and was born on his father's Beauchamp farm. In early life he was injured while working on the highway by a premature blast, his breast being blown open and his head penetrated with stone. He was not discouraged but took the rugged farm on the western slope of Mt. Megunticook received from his father, not worth $100, and taxed for only $75, and pro- duced therefrom productive orchard, grapery and fields. In the little house perched upon the mountain side near the lake he lived for nearly 50 years amid some of the wildest and most romantic scenery of the state, making the rugged and desolate locality to blossom as the rose, adding beauty to his rough and romantic mountain home. He became noted for many years for his extensive and successful culture of grapes. He was also an adept in bee culture owning many hives and swarms. His character and appearance were as rugged and picturesque as the locality in which he made his home. He had a vivid imagination and was an interesting story-teller. He possessed a stentorian voice, which he raised in town meetings when matters which
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interested him were under discussion, and in many ways impressed his personality upon the community. Mr Barrett married Martha Pendleton. Their two daughters were Mary, (who married Hanson Beverage) and Josephine, (who married Mark Calderwood.)
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CHAPTER LVI.
THE TOWN DIVIDED.
1890. Another decade ended, the last in the history of the good old town, for the forces were at work which were to result in its being rent asunder and of two new towns taking its place. After a century of common history the two sections were about to dissolve the long continued partnership and exist apart for the future.
This year, 1890, found Camden with a population of 4631 an increase of 245 over 1880, and of fourteen fold in the century. The number of polls and the valuation had both largely increased during the decade, the polls having reached 1415 in number while the valuation stood at $2,908,737. All parts of the town were in a prosperous condition, business was good, manufacturing flourished, and all who wished could find plenty of means of livelihood; but a spirit of unrest existed, the microbe of discontent was in the blood of our people.
Among the many things that entered into the agitations of the year was the railroad question, both steam and electric. A steam railroad company known as the Rockland, Rockport & Cam- den R. R. Co. had been organized with Wm. T. Cobb of Rock- land, President, which early in the year, made a proposition to the town to construct, equip and run a railroad from Rockland to Camden village, provided the town would vote to aid it to the extent of $40,000 to be paid after the road was completed. This
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amount was later reduced to $25,000, and an article in the warrant of the annual meeting, held March 17, called for a vote on that question. After a spirited debate, a vote was taken which resulted in 242 votes in favor of aiding the railroad enterprise to the ex- tent of raising $25,000 and 252 votes against it, thus ending the hope of getting the road by town aid.
At this meeting C. B. Veazie was elected Town Clerk ; D. A. Campbell, E. H. Piper and Elliot Orbeton, Selectmen ; Isaac Coombs, Treasurer.
After completing a portion of the town business, an article of the warrant relating to the question of dividing the town was taken up. This precipitated another lively and eloquent dis- cussion, after which it was voted "to divide the town into three towns," and a committee was appointed to establish the necessary lines. The members of this committee were unable to agree, and at a meeting held Sept. 6, two reports were presented to the town, both of which were rejected, and the town voted to re- consider its action at the annual meeting to divide the town and appointed a committee to draft and present to the next Legislature a bill for an act dividing the town into three or more voting precincts.
At the annual meeting a committee was also appointed to take up the matter of writing and publishing the history of the town to the year 1891" and report at the next annual meeting. On account of the division of the town prior to the date of the said next annual meeting nothing was ever done under this vote.
It was also voted at the annual meeting to exempt from taxation for ten years a "shoe factory of not less than $10,000 capital to be located at Rockport," an enterprise that never ma- terialized.
Gov. Burleigh was this year re-nominated by the Republicans. William P. Thompson was the Democratic candidate, Aaron Clark the candidate of the Prohibitionists and Isaac C. Clark of the Labor party. Mr. Burleigh received a large majority.
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The Camden vote for governor was as follows: Burleigh 454; Thompson 412; A. Clark 52; I. C. Clark 60. Geo. T. Harkness, Republican, Isaac W. Sherman, Democrat, Frederick A. Packard, Prohibitionist, all of Camden, were candidates for Senator. Mr. Sherman was elected, the vote in Camden being as follows : Harkness 416; Sherman 502; Packard 45. Johnson Knight, Republican, was elected Representative to the Legislature receiving 542 votes, while Ralph W. Carleton, Democrat, re- ceived 404, and C. E. Eells 28. The local issue of the division of the town entered largely into the vote for Senator and Repre- sentative, Sherman and Knight living in Camden village being voted for by many Camden residents irrespective of party against Harkness and Carleton who resided in Rockport village.
As the town had failed to aid the railroad an attempt was made during the year to raise the necessary $25,000, by sub- scription, $15,000 of which was apportioned to Camden village and $10,000 to Rockport. Camden subscribed nearly the whole of the amount apportioned, and Rockport citizens also sub- scribed towards their part, but this project like others fell through at the division of the town.
Among the prominent Camden men who died this year, were Albert Johnson of Camden and Dr. O. D. Ross of Rockport, both of whom died May 16, and Gen. John D. Rust of Rockport who died Nov. 22.
Albert Johnson was born in Levant, Maine, and was 70 years of age at the time of his death. He learned the business of manufacturing woolen goods at Vassalboro, Maine. He went to Warren in 1842 and shortly afterwards in company with Andrew Fuller began there the manufacture of woolens. In 1864 John- son and Fuller came to Camden and entered into partnership with Samuel T. Thomas of Laconia, N. H., and Horatio Alden, under the style of Johnson, Fuller & Co. and began the manufacture of paper-maker's felts, being the first to manufacture endless felts in the United States. This business was the beginning of what
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afterwards became Camden's most prosperous manufacturing con- cern, the Knox Woolen Co., which was organized in 1870, with Mr. Johnson as Treasurer. This office he held until 1881, when he was elected both Treasurer and Superintendent, both of which positions he was filling at the time of his death. Mr. Johnson was a noted wool expert and as such was widely known through- out New England. He was thoroughly honorable, kind and warm- hearted and was greatly beloved and respected by all his em- ployes, never having the least trouble with his help in all the times of strikes and labor troubles. He was public spirited and greatly interested in municipal and political affairs, always being a staunch Republican. As a recreation he indulged his taste for the manufacture of violins, many of which were of a very fine quality. He was a member of Mt. Battie Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married Nancy C. Libby and was the father of three daughters, Sarah G., (who married John Woster), Mary F., (who married John C. Curtis) and Caroline D. ( who married George H. Talbot), and one son, Albert J. Johnson of Boston.
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