History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 58

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Present officers : Andrew Ricker, Stephen Burnell, Stewards.

A class was formed at North Baldwin, in 1838, by Rev. Augustus Sanborn, with Eleazer Smith, class-leader, and David Paine, wife and daughter, James and Rufus San- born, William Thorn, and Haskett Mureh, members. A Union church was erected at " Beach Corner" by Moses Parker and James M. Sanborn, for the Methodist, and Isaac R. Wiggin, William Binford, for the Baptist soci- ety, trustees, at an expense of $1400, and dedicated by Rev. Marcus Wright, Nov. 1, 1874. The present officers . are James M. Sanborn, class-leader and steward; Luther McOrison, steward. Present membership, 16.

The Hill Chapel class was the result of a revival under the preaching of Rev. Dallas M. De Ilughes. Of the 20 who formed the class, there were but three old members. Joseph E. Parker was chosen leader. Services were held at the residence of Mr. Leonard Rowe, for two years, until the completion of their chapel, which was dedicated May 8, 1878, by Rev. Israel Luce. The pulpit has since been filled by the class-leader, and Rev. Henry Linscott, a superannuated minister. Membership, 20. Trustees : Isaac R. Wiggin, William Wentworth, Joseph Parker.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Through the exertions of Mr. S. G. Usher and Joua- than G. Paine, an ecclesiastical council was convened at the house of Capt. Artemas Richardson, May 16, 1821. Rev. Nathan Church was chosen moderator, and Josiah G. Merrill scribe. The new candidates for membership were Mrs. Mary Raddin, Mrs. Betsey Fitch, John C. Flint and wife, Miss Sally Flint, Mrs. Joseph Richardson, Jr., Ephraim Brown and wife, and Ephraim Flint.

Mrs. Charlotte Flint and Ephraim Brown and wife joined by letter from the church at Standish. Ephraim Brown was made moderator, Jonathan Paine scribe, Jo- seph Richardson, Jr., and Ephraim Flint deacons. At the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, administered in July, by Rev. David Marratt, Mrs. Benaire Davis, Mrs. Han- nah Wingate, Mrs. Abucr Dow, Eleazer Flint, and many others, were admitted to the church. Jonathan G. Paine

217

TOWN OF BALDWIN.

joined soon after. Rev. Noah Emerson, the first regular pastor, was installed June 1, 1825, the ceremony taking place in a beautiful grove of pines near the old school-house where meetings were held. Ephraim Brown and Deacons Ephraim Flint and Joseph Richardson, were chosen elders, Jan. 1, 1826. The death of S. G. Usher, in 1826, and Jonathan G. Paine, in 1827, was the loss of two leading members.

In 1832 the first building was ereeted on Meadow Brook, by Deacon Enoch Holden, and dedicated by a grand council-meeting. Rev. Mr. Emerson held the pas- torate until 1849, during which time Rev. John II. Gai- man supplied his pulpit for three years. Rev. Cyril Pearl was installed as pastor, Jan. 1, 1850. Mr. Pearl remained for five years. He left the church without a regular pastor until 1871, when Rev. Elkanah Walker came from Oregon, on the solicitation of his son, Joseph E. Walker, then a theological student, who had occasionally supplied this charge. Soon after the old church was abandoned, and a movement was instituted by the ladies of the society to build a new church. A beautiful grove, comprising hali' an acre of land, at East Baldwin Station, was donated by Joshua Chadbourne, of San Francisco, Cal., son of one of the pioneers of the town, and a building erected by the ladies, at an expense of $3000, and dedicated June 13, 1877, by Rev. Mr. Lamson, of Worcester, Mass. The communion service was presented by the granddaughters of Mrs. Phœbe Thompson Pierce, who was one of the first members of the church in Baldwin. Rev. Richard . Wickett was installed as pastor, which position be still honors. There have been 42 members added to the church in the last two years.

The present officers are Mrs. Eliza A. Richardson, Clerk ; Stephen P. Douglass, Paris Ward, Charles Mckinney, Deacons ; Trustees : Susan A. Brown, Treasurer ; Phœbe T. Flint, Mrs. Eliza A. Richardson.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-teacher in Baldwin was Joseph Rich- ardson, who taught in his own house, in 1795. In 1805 six districts were organized. In 1819 the school com- mittee were restricted from paying any money to any dis- trict not having "a school-house 18 by 24, well boarded or shingled outside, eeiled to the windows and plastered inside, with seats, writing-tables, and a desk for the mas- ter, a good chimney, panel door, and window-shutters out-

side." The report of Daniel T. Richardson, Leander E. Cram, and William Gitchell, Superintending School Com- mittee for 1878, show that there are 12 school districts, comprising 370 scholars. There are 9 good school-houses, supplied with modern conveniences, and schools are well attended. There was raised for their support, in 1878, -by assessment, $1000; for interest on school fund, in- vested in town securities, $71.57; from the State school fund, $609.54. A town-house was built, on land donated by John S. Chase, in 1850. The town has also a farm for the care of the poor.

ASSOCIATIONS.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

Mount Etna Grange, No. 147, organized April 8, 1875. Officers: Alden B. Sanborn, Master; John E. Cartrett, Sec. ; Anna Sanborn, Ceres. Present member- ship, 40.

Ephraim Flint, Esq., the only lawyer of the town, left for a larger field in 1843.

Among the earlier merchants have been Josiah Pieree, Lot Davis, J. Larrabee, John Burnell, Joseph Tyler, Joshua Chadbourne. Present - Stephen Burnell, Post- master, West Baldwin ; Daniel T. Richardson, Postmaster, S. G. Sawyer, East Baldwin; R. F. Chase, Postmaster, Baldwin ; James Weed, North Baldwin.

MANUFACTURES.

Fred. ITarding, carriage stuffs ; established 1839. R. Flint, spokes and tree-nails. A. N. Burnell, boards, shin- gles, staves ; established 1834. Peter W. Binford, wheel- wright; established 1869. Edward and Samuel Richard- son, saw- and grist-mill. Israel Richardson, cooperage ; es- tablished 1839. C. Parker, staves; established 1827. E. & A. Weed, blacksmiths' nails. A. & P. B. Young, lumber ; established by J. Pierce, 1786. Frank Wood, staves and boxes. R. & N. Sanborn, shingles, staves, and cooperage; established 1876. Burnham & Morrill, of Portland, canned sweet corn; established 1877.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physicians of the town were Dr. Joseph Ben- ton and Dr. Louis Whitney. Dr. James Norton, who commenced the practice of medicine at East Baldwin in 1835, is still the sole physician of the town.

218

IIISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

LITTLE

REUBEN BROWN.

Photos, by Conant, Portland.

MRS. REUBEN BROWN.

REUBEN BROWN,

son of David Brown, was born in the town of Ballwin, in 1792; spent his minority at home, attending the district school and working on the farm. After reaching his ma- jority he learned the carpenters' and joiners' trade, which he subsequently followed in connection with farming. He married Aunis, daughter of Richard and Sarah Pierce, of the town of Standish. Of this union were born three

children,-Electa, Orestes, and Trivilla. Only the youngest is living (in 1879). In 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Brown cele- brated their golden wedding, having been married fifty years, and during the same year he died.

Mr. Brown was a man of sterling integrity and correct habits. He was held in high esteem as a citizen of his town, was selectman for several years, and in 1827 served one term in the State Legislature.

BRIDGTON.

GRANT AND LOCATION OF THE TOWN.

IN the year 1761 the Legislature of Massachusetts passed an act granting to Benjamin Milliken, Moody Bridges, and Thomas Perley, agents for the legal representatives of Capt. John Tyler and 56 others, soldiers and officers in the Canada expedition of 1690, a township of land east of Saco River. They proceeded to lay out a traet adjoining the town of Pickwocket, now Fryeburg, nine miles in length by six and a half miles in width, lying on both sides of Long Pond, containing 37,440 acres. Their selection was confirmed by the Legislature, June 25, 1765, with the provision that a sixty-fourth part each should be set apart for the first settled minister, for the support of the min- istry, and for Harvard College, and that they settle 30 families, build a house of worship, and settle a learned Protestant minister within six years. During the next year that part west of Long Pond was surveyed in lots half a mile long and one hundred rods wide, under the direction of Moody Bridges, Richard Peabody, and Col.

Thomas Poor. The town was then allotted in 86 equal shares among the 61 proprietors, one each for the minister, for the ministry, for the support of schools, for Harvard College, for the first settler in the township, and the re- maining 20, lying east of Long Pond, now in Harrison, they held undivided. To encourage settlement they offered 100 acres of this land to caeh settler who should clear 12 acres of land, erect a house, and settle his family thereon before 1771. In 1767 a road was opened, sufficient for passage on horseback, from Long Pond to Pearsontown Fort, at Standish Corner, and the name of Pondicherry, a name derived from a city in Coramandel, Asia, by which it had been first known, abandoned for that of Bridgton, in honor of Moody Bridges, proprietors' clerk and a leading spirit in the enterprise.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler was Capt. Benjamin Kimball, a sailor, who came from Ipswich, Mass., in the spring of 1768,

FOREST MILLS, BRIDGTON, MAINE.

219

TOWN OF BRIDGTON.

under an agreement with the proprietors to settle in the township by the 10th of June, and build a convenient house for the entertainment of travelers by the 10th of September, to keep a store of goods, and also to build a sailboat of two tons' burden, with which he should hold himself in readiness to carry passengers and goods between the "carrying place" in l'carsontown* and the head of Long Pond for a term of six years. For this service one " right" of land, comprising about 435 acres, was conveyed to him by the first deed drawn by the proprietors, and bearing date: "The Sixth Day of April, in the eighth Year of the Reign of Sovereign Lord George the third," ete., 1768; and two shillings sixpence a trip for his boat, six shillings a day for himself and five for an assistant. His assistant was Stephen Gates, from Andover, Mass., who afterwards settled on lot 6, range 7.

Mr. Kimball kept an inn and small store of the most needed goods at the head of Long Pond, ran his boat and traded with the Indians until disabled by paralysis, from which he died in 1802.

Timothy Gates, brother to Stephen, came at the same time, living a roving life in the woods until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted. He was afterwards known as Sergeant Gates.

Jacob Stevens came from Andover with his sons during the summer and built a saw-mill and grist-mill at the outlet of Crotched Pond, receiving from the proprietors five acres of land along that stream, one "right" of land, and lot No. 8 in range 4, with the sole privilege of the stream so long as he should keep the mills in repair. From these mills, which were near the mouth of the stream, it took its name of Stevens' Brook. Mr. Stevens and his boys kept house for themselves, his wife remaining in Andover with her aged mother. In 1777 his daughter Elizabeth, who was but four years old when he left bome, came to Bridgton to be their housekeeper.

In 1769, David Kneeland, from Topsfield, Mass., settled on the upper ridge, and planted the first orchard. He was followed, in 1770, by David Clark, who commenced clear- ing in the northeast corner of the town, near Mr. Knee- land. He left his farm to enter the army in 1776, return- ing at the end of the war. In 1772, the time for award- ing the merited lots was extended to August, 1773, and the amount of cleared land fixed at 6 instead of 12 acres. Enoch and Noah Stiles, stimulated by the brilliant offer made them at their homes in Andover, the headquarters of the proprietors, proceeded at once to Bridgton, where they muade permanent settlements, but failed to secure the re- ward, owing to the heavy growth of timber and the extreme hardships of pioneer life.

In 1772, Azael Foster, father of Asael, Francis, Amos P., and Moody Foster, f came from Danvers, and built the

first frame house in Bridgton, at what is now Sand Creek post-office, and William Emerson, from Methuen, settled on the east side of Wood's Pond, near the ontlet. They both proved able pioneers, and received " merited" lots of land of 100 acres cach. Mrs. Foster was the first married woman settled in the town, Mr. Kimball's housekeeper being his daughter. Her son, Moses Hale, Jr., born June 8, 1772, was the first white child born in the town, and, after some years' delay, received the 100 acres promised. Mr. Emerson became known, in after-years, as the friend of the helpless, moving from place to place, with his hand- sled or pack, to relieve the wants of the hungry or sick, bis only reward the pleasure of doing good.

Reuben Burnham, from Bolton, Mass., the first deacon of the Congregational Church, settled near the centre of the town in 1774. He was killed by a falling tree cleven years after. He was the father of Timothy Burnham. The next year, James Flint, of Reading, Mass., and Simeon Burnham, father of Nathaniel and Simeon Burn- ham, located on the west side of Crotched Pond, and Ste- phen Johnson settled on the lowlands on the east side of Wood's Poud. Mr. Johnson was a famous hunter, delight- ing in the pursuit of the monse and the bears which abounded in this region long after the first settlement.

In 1776, Enoch Perley, a young man of twenty-seven, son of Thomas Perley, one of the proprietors, came to Bridgton, and, with that business sagacity still inherited by his descendants, saw the untold value in the dense pine forests which covered the land, valueless in itself from the immense wealth with which it was encumbered. To the rare sagacity he possessed, was joined an indifference for hardship and danger equal to that of his uncle, Gen. Israel Putnam. Making his camp alone in the woods, he ranged the forests for deer and bears, read, wrote poetry, and drew charts upon birch-bark, or from the top of Mount Prospect, near his cabin, viewed the surrounding country through his glass, finding time meanwhile to complete a house for the reception of his prospective bride. Such was his energy and skill in business affairs that, in 1777, the proprietors removed their headquarters from Massachusetts to Bridg- ton, and made him proprietors' clerk, placing all the records in his keeping. He held this important trust until the property having all been disposed of, the corporation ceased to exist.

Mr. Perley abandoned his first house for a better one, in which the records of the company were burned on the night of Oct. 2, 1780, together with many interesting

be soon saw her bearship coming up after him. He climbed as high as be dared to, lest his weight should break the tree. The benr took his heel in her teeth, tearing away the slipper and tlesh, and losing her hold, fell to the ground. Foster then supposed his danger past, but he was again disappointed. She had no sooner recovered her feet than she elimbed the tree again, this time tearing the flesh away from his heels, elenn to the bones, and both man and bear fell to the ground, the tree breaking. Mr. Foster was "top of the heap" when they struek the ground, and ran with all bis might towards his home,-the bear did not follow,-and was se wild with fear that he did not feel the pain of his feet until going through a field of rye stubble, which pricked the mangled tlesh. He married the lady. Years after, when in New York, he heard two men discussing the probability of the story, and astonished them by removing his boots and showing the sears upon his feet.

# The first settlement in Standish, on Sebago Lake, enst of Sebago Lake Statien, and now known as the "eld steamboat landing."

+ We elip the following from a biographical sketch of Capt. Amos P. Foster, father of Rev. Charles P. Foster, of Bridgton. Mr. Foster had been on an evening visit to his intended, Miss Annie Knight, of Den- mark, and was returning, when he stumbled upon a huge bear. The bear made for him at once, and to esenpe, he made haste to climb a small trec-ene which he supposed too small for the bear to bug. But

220

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

private records of early settlement gathered by Mr. Perley. The old house is still standing, though moved from its original position.

In 1779, Theodore Emerson, from Methuen, Isaiah In- galls, from Andover (a surveyor), and David Hale, father of David Ilale, Jr., from Templeton, Mass., were added to the colony. At the expiration of the Revolutionary war Robert Andrews located in the south part of the town, near Adams' Pond, living alone. He became a leading citizen, and at his death left $1000 as a fund for the relief of the industrious poor. Daniel Perley, from Boxford, and John Peabody, from Andover, came in 1780; and, in 1781, Na- thaniel, brother of David Hale, and Phineas Ingalls, of An- dover. In June, 1782, the merited lots-of 100 acres cach- were awarded to David Kneeland, William Emerson, Asael Foster, Richard Peabody, Stephen Gates, James Flint, David Clark, and Timothy Gates, and to Benjamin Kimball and Jacob Stevens two lots each. Moody Bridges and Stephen Kimball afterwards received one lot each. These lands are now southeastern Harrison. Fifty acres of land and a house and shop ready built were given to Jesse Knapp, as an inducement to open a blacksmith-shop. This was half a mile south of Bridgton village.

In 1781 a joint committee of the surrounding towns re- moved the most prominent obstructions from the Songo " Ripplings," under the management of Capt. Kimball. A public saw- mill was built at the outlet of Wood's Pond, and in 1785, when nearly completed, carried away by high water. It was rebuilt in 1786, and the next year sold at publie auction, " payable in any kind of produce, the buyer binding himself to receive the same kind of pay for saw- ing."

Fear of Indians prevented rapid settlement, and some- times sent families in alarm to Standish. After the close of the war, settlement advanced more rapidly, so that by 1787 the town contained 39 families. Besides those men- tioned, this number included Noah Beeman, John Daven- port, Moses How, Jesse Knapp, Nathaniel Hale, Samuel, Asa, and Richard Kimball, George Mead, John Porter, Thomas Symonds, Ephraim Jewett, and William, Nathau- iel, and Abraham Burnham.

VILLAGES. BRIDGTON.

In 1789, William Scars, of Beverly, Mass., purchased the two lots on Stevens' Brook, comprising the older part of the village of Bridgton, and erected a grist-mill below the saw-mill at the outlet of Crotched Pond, and erected the first tavern in the village, on the corner opposite Bridgton Hlouse. A meeting-house was commeneed in 1790, and finished in 1798. Ten acres of land were laid out for a burying-ground and training-field in 1792. A militia com- pany was formed the same year, with Isaiah Ingalls, cap- tain ; Robert Andrews, lieutenant ; and John Kilborn, ensign. This ground was for many years the scene of pat- riotic training-days, and brilliant with the red-and-blue uniforms and white cockades of the " Light Infantry" of Bridgton, who were paid 20 cents each in cash, and took

the balance of their pay in a hearty enjoyment of the occasion.

A post-office was opened in 1800. By 1811 the place had increased to a dozen dwellings.

Mr. Merrill kept a stock of goods in one room, and another was located in one corner of the Sears tavern, after- wards the Pondicherry House, and Mr. Fairbrother was making his famous pumps. The girls of the neighborhood spun and wove for fifty cents a week, the carding and finishing establishments of Rufus Chase, near the tannery bridge, or Artemus Brigham, just below the grist-mill, completing the process of manufacture.

Sixty years later we find a party of travelers from Ply- mouth, N. H.,* alighting from a balloon at the door of the veritable old hotel, in the midst of the most busy and popu- lous village in Northern Cumberland County, the one hun- dred and forty-three feet of waterfall in the stream passing through at the foot of the hill, and supplying the motive power for 13 mills and factories.

In 1879 this number had increased to 23, and a popula- tion of 1400, supporting a union high school, newspaper, bank, and telegraph-office, and the village had acquired a creditable repute as a manufacturing centre.

The Bridgton Savings Bank was incorporated in 1869, with William W. Cross, President ; Rufus Gibbs, Treas- urer ; Geo. G. Wight, Assistant Treasurer. Rufus Gibbs became president and P. P. Burnham treasurer in 1872. George P. Perley succeeded Mr. Burnham as treasurer in 1879.

NEWSPAPERS.

The Bridgton Reporter, S. H. Noyes publisher, Enoch Knight editor, was first issued at Bridgton village, Nov. 2, 1858, and afterwards edited by David Hale, who entered the army soon after. Ile was succeeded by Capt. Horace C. Little and George Warren. The office was destroyed by fire in 1864, just after elcetion, and re-issued by David Hale, with the startling head-line, " Death to Copperheads and Ineendiaries !" but ceased publication soon after.

The Bridgton News, a seven-column, four-page weekly, 24 by 30, was established Sept. 9, 1870, by HI. A. Shorey, editor and proprietor, at $1.50 a year. This paper is ably edited and well supported. Local editor since 1870, Chas. O. Stickney.

The Sebago Lake Steam Navigation Company, whose headquarters are here, built the steamer " Fawn" in 1847, made a trial trip, and soon after removed the machinery and abandoned the boat. In 1869 the "Oriental" was built by Capt. Symonds, and purchased by the company, of which Charles E. Gibbs was and still is manager. A larger boat, the " Sebago," was soon added, and the "Oriental," which was burned, was replaced by the " Mount Pleasant." A regular daily line has since been continued between the south shore of Sebago Lake and North Bridgtou.

From the completion of the first church, in 1798, it served the joint purpose of church and town-house, until the erection of the new church by the First Parish in 1834,

* An actual occurrence ; on a voyage of Prof. King, the aeronauf.

RESIDENCE OF BYRON KIMBALL, NORTH BRIDGTON, ME.

221

TOWN OF BRIDGTON.

when it was abandoned to the sole use of the town author- ities. In March, 1851, Moses Gould, John Kilborn, Luke Brown, Horace Billings, William T. Kilborn, Rensselaer Cram, and John P. Perley were chosen a committee to build the present town-house, which was erected on the

TOWN-HOUSE, BRIDGTON.

hill overlooking the lake and village, and dedicated by a grand mass-meeting of the citizens of Bridgton held Jan. 8, 1852. Hon. Nathaniel S. Littlefield was made president of the meeting, and an address was delivered by Hon. Marshall Cram, of Bridgton.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

This dates back to the advent of the " Waterspout" in 1840, a light engine worked by a horizontal motion in the hands of the young men of the village, and cutting their fingers against the brakes if worked too rapidly. This never offered any serious resistance to a fire, though led by the learned Judge 11. Carter, now of llaverhill, Mass., and worked by Augustus Perley, W. W. Cross, Rufus Gibbs, and the late Hon. Rensselaer Cram.

The present fire department was incorporated March 1, 1854. William W. Cross, Benjamin Walker, and Reuben Ball were chosen assessors; George G. Wight, Clerk ; Augustus Perley, Treasurer ; and Edward O. Adams, Col- lector. They have an engine-house, a good engine worked by hand, a Babcock chemical, American chemical engine, and a roll of 77 men. Officers: M. Gleason, Chief En- gincer ; L. S. Carman, P. P. Burnham, Assistant Engineers ; E. A. Littlefield, Clerk ; F. P. Bennett, Treasurer.

The town owns a farm, purchased in 1871, valued at 83000, supplied with $1000 worth of personal property, for the support of the poor.

NORTHI BRIDGTON,

at the head of Long Pond, on the site of the first settle- ment in the town, contains 40 fine residences, a church, academy, the Lake Hotel of Jobu B. Martin, established in 1873, near the site of the old Kimball tavern of 1768; the summer hotel of James Webb, Jr., remodeled from the "Lient. Andrews' House," built in 1812; machine- and saw shop of Osgood Bailey, established, 1857, by Richard G. Bailey & Son ; pottery, R. F. Kitson, estab- lished 1815; ornamental painting, John Mead, established

1856; store, Kimball & Co., established 1871; saw- and grist-mills and furniture-store of Lake & F. II. Brown. Mails are received by daily stage, Edward Kimball, post- master.

SOUTHI BRIDGTON

is a hill-side hamlet at Adams' Pond, overlooking Holt's and Ingalls' Ponds and the valley to the south, where Foster's mills and J. & O. F. Kuapp's box-factory occupy the site of the " old grist-mill" erected by Mr. Mead pre- vious to 1799. The place contains some 30 dwellings, a church, school-house, and the following industries : gen- eral merchandise, T. B. Knapp, since 1869, established by Z. Sylvester 1803; shoe and harness, Nahum Knapp, es- tablished 1824; and elothing-manufactory, T. B Knapp, established 1876.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 58

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780