USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Durham > History of Durham, Maine, with genealogical notes > Part 12
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JAMES STROUT, son of Joshua, Jr., was born in Durham 2 April 1792, and died in Brunswick 15 Aug. 1875. He spent most of his life in his native town and was one of the most prom- inent and influential citizens. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816, and acted as steward and class-leader therein for many years. The Rev. Charles W. Morse wrote of him thus, "A man of varied powers, he consecrated all to Christ, and showed throughout a long life a single eye, giving glory to God. He won all hearts by his ardent and cheerful piety. Few persons have left a more consistent example of a deep and abiding conviction of God, and a faithful adherence to the Holy Scrip- tures. His house was always a home to the itinerant, and he spared no pains in their great work of saving souls. True to God and the Church, he gained the esteem of his fellow-men, who honored hin with civil trusts, at home and in the Legisla- ture, both for the town and county."
He was on the Board of Selectmen eleven years, thrice Rep- resentative and twice State Senator.
DR. DAVID B. STROUT was born in Durham 5 April 1814. He was the only dentist that ever practiced in Durham. He was well known in Auburn and Lewiston where he lived many years. No one was better acquainted with the old inhab- itants and folk-lore of the town. He was Captain of one of the early militia companies. His memory retained many interesting items of personal and family history, and he knew how to relate them entertainingly. He was from youth a firm believer in the doctrines of Universalism and was always ready for a controver- sial argument. The cause of Temperance found in him an ardent and constant advocate. He died in Lewiston 25 Jan. 1890.
JAMES STROUT.
DR. DAVID B. STROUT.
WILLIAM HARRISON THOMAS.
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He married, 28 Nov. 1839, Jane B. Lufkin of Pownal, daughter of Joseph and Patience (Bartol) Lufkin. She died 26 Feb. 1898. A daughter, Amanda Jane, died at the age of five years. Another daughter, Priscilla Ellen, born 4 Nov. 1840, married Wm. Fred. Rowe and lives in Lewiston.
WILLIAM HARRISON THOMAS, son of Woodbury Thomas, was born in Durham 24 Aug. 1848. He acquired suffi- cient education in the public schools and by self-help to become a very successful teacher, having taught twenty-two terms in Durham, Lisbon and Brunswick. He has served as Town Clerk and Representative to the Legislature. He interested himself in the preservation of Durham's churches and collected most of the funds for the repair of the Free Baptist Church and of the Union Church a few years ago. He is remembered as an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party in Durham. To him was due much of the credit for the success of the Durham Centennial, and without his advocacy and financial management this History of Durham might not have been published. He is a lover and helper of his native town. He still owns a farm near S. W. Bend, but moved to Lewiston in 1890.
Mr. Thomas married, 25 June 1871, Cathie Susan, dau. of James and Sarah (Herrick) Newell.
Their children are George W. b. 25 July 1873, who graduated at Bates College in 1896 and is a student of Law at Harvard University ; Charles H. b. 29 Mch. 1875, who is an employé in the Manufacturers' Bank of Lewiston ; and Emery J. b. 12 Dec. 1876, who is a student in the Medical Department of Tufts College.
PROF. FREDERICK MORRIS WARREN, the oldest child of John Quincy and Ellen Maria (Cary) Warren, was born in Durham June 9th, 1859. His father dying in 1863, his mother married the Rev. Wm. H. Haskell in the fall of 1864 and moved with her husband and son to Westbrook (now Deering, Wood- ford's Corner) Maine, in 1865. The latter attended school at Casco St. Vestry (Miss Hall's) in Portland, the district schools at Woodford's and of Falmouth, to which town his parents moved in Jan. 1869. In the autumn of 1872 he was sent to Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., where he graduated in 1875. After a residence in France and Germany (attending M. Cuillier's school in Paris for a year and living in Hanover with a private
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family) he entered the Freshman Class of Amherst College in April, 1877, and graduated as A. B. in 1880. The year following he was a student and private tutor in Amherst. In August, 1881, he was appointed Instructor in Modern Languages at Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio, and when that Institution moved to Cleveland in 1882 and became Adelbert College of Western Reserve University, he was retained in the same position in Cleveland for one year. The academic year 1883-1884 was passed as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, the years 1884-1886 at the Sorbonne, College de France and l'Ecole des Chartres in Paris. In 1886 he was appointed Instructor in French at Johns Hopkins University. In June, 1887, he took the degree of Ph. D. at the same institution, and, continuing there as instructor, was made Associate in Modern Languages in 1888. In 1891 he was appointed Professor of Romance Languages in Adelbert College of Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, which position he now holds. He was married in Baltimore, June 8th, 1892, to Estelle Ward Carey, daughter of James Carey Jr., of Baltimore (deceased) and Martha (Ward) Carey of Rich- mond Co. Virginia. On June 24, 1894, a daughter, Martha Stockbridge, was born and on October 18, 1896, a son, James Carey.
Besides various contributions to scientific periodicals and magazines he has edited several French texts for class use, and is the author of "A Primer of French Literature," 1889 (D. C. Heath & Co., Boston) and "A History of the Novel Previous to the Seventeenth Century," 1895 (Henry Holt & Co., New York).
WAITSTILL WEBBER was born in Harpswell 17 Sept. 1779. At the age of thirteen and a half he was sent to live with a Mr. Corey who kept a grocery store in Harpswell near where Mrs. Eleanor Merriman now lives. Here he worked till he was sixteen. Not liking to sell rum he left the store and learned the carpenter's trade with John Curtis, remaining with him till twenty-one years of age. In 1803 he bought one half of lot No. 12 in Durham for $650. The new house which he built in 18II was destroyed by fire in 1831. He at once built the large two story house where his son, Charles W. Webber resides. In 1814 he joined the Society of Friends at South Durham, and was an honored member till his death, 15 Jan.
WAITSTILL WEBBER.
HOWE WEEKS.
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1869. In 1828-9 he was one of the Selectmen. He preferred the walks of private life and worked as a carpenter and farmer nearly up to the hour of his death. He was a good citizen and a sympathetic helper of his fellowmen. The text used at his funeral was Psalms xxxvii :37.
HOWE WEEKS, son of Benjamin, was born in Gorham 28 April 1812, and moved to Durham when six years old. He served his apprenticeship with John A. Briggs, a dam and bridge contractor. He helped build the old toll bridge between Lewis- ton and Auburn, also the first log dam on the Androscoggin River at Lewiston, and the Lincoln Mill. In 1840-6 he was in partnership with Daniel Wood in a general store on lower Main St., Lewiston. In 1858 he moved to Auburn and was for several years engaged in the manufacture of shoes with A. C. Pray. He served on the Board of Selectmen of Lewiston, and was tax- collector in Auburn several years. He was a Director of the Lewiston Falls Bank and one of the promoters of the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad, connecting with the Grand Trunk.
He was a lifelong Democrat and never missed casting his ballot at election till the one preceding his death, which occurred in Auburn, Me., I Mch. 1895.
He married (1) 1839 Sarah Daggett; (2) May 1850 Pamelia H. Stetson. Their children were Flora L., b. 4 April 1852, d. Feb. 1869, and William H. b. 19 Aug. 1858.
ABIJAH B. WRIGHT, M. D., was one of the early physicians of Durham. He lived just south of the present Cong. church, near S. W. Bend, and had an apothecary shop by the side of his house. He came to Durham from Lewiston. His ancestors came from Dracut, Mass. His widow, Abigail (Hardy) Wright, married Nathaniel Parker in 1858. He had a son Horace who married, May 14, 1840, Mary Ann Lincoln of Durham, and a daughter, Allura, who married, July 30, 1835, Sidney Skelton of Lewiston. She is still living in Auburn. Joel Wright was his nephew, who used to live near by the Doctor and had a family of thirteen children, none of them, however, born in Durham. All have moved out of town except Geo. Washington Wright. Joel Wright died 10 Jan. 1884, aged 83 yrs. 9 mos. 5 days.
Dr. Abijah Wright died 17 April 1842, aged 52 years.
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WILLIAM RILEY WRIGHT, M. D., was a cousin to. Joel. He was son of Capt. Jonathan and Sallie Wright, born in Strong, Dec. 15, 1816. His early life was spent on a farm. He was educated for his profession in a Medical School at Worcester, Mass. He moved to Durham in Sept., 1856, and resided there till his death, June 12, 1879. He married, Nov. 27, 1839, Mary Hinkley Backus of Farmington. They had two children, Belle J., who became the wife of Samuel K. Gilman of Boston, Mass., and now resides in Farmington, Me. ; and Jo- siah Lister Wright, M. D., who was born in Farmington Dec. 22, 1850, and has practiced medicine in Durham since 1884. Dr. William R. Wright was a man of cheerful and sunny disposition and one whom little children greatly loved. He was generous to an eminent degree, never pressing a claim against the poor or the unfortunate. The hungry were fed at his board and the homeless always found shelter under his roof. He was prom- inent in the establishment of the Acacia Lodge of Free Masons in Durham and was always a worker in that society. It may be truly said of him that he was "one who loved his fellow-men." His wife died Sept. II, 1889.
WILLIAM RILEY WRIGHT, M.D.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
Many will remember the little round brick powder-house that stood not far from the old North Meeting House. It was built in 1812 by William Webster and Barnabas Strout. The cost was $70, and the builders were to "have the rocks on Wesson hill to underpin the same gratis." It formed part of the habitation of Deborah Parker when she was burned with it a score of years ago. The Pound near by was built by John Newell in 1821.
The year 1815 was known as the year without a summer. Snow fell every month. July 5, ice formed as thick as window - glass. Corn sold for two dollars per bushel. Many farmers became discouraged and resolved to emigrate to the far West, i. e., Ohio. It has been estimated that 15,000 people went out of Maine. They were said to have the "Ohio fever." May 5, 1816 eleven emigrant wagons left West Durham, with as many families. Among them were families of Luther Plummer, John Ellis, Samuel Roberts, Eben Roberts, Daniel Roberts, James Roberts, Reuben Roberts. Others went in 1817. The Trues emigrated at this time to Indiana and N. Y. state. One of these emigrant trains was accompanied by sorrowing friends as far as the Pownal line. Here they halted. Hymns were sung and prayer was offered. So they parted, most of them to meet no more on earth. The journey occupied six weeks.
It has been previously said that after the building of the North Meeting House town meetings were held in it. This continued till 1840. Then some wanted to buy it and fit it up for a town hall. It was decided, however, to build a new hall. At a meeting held Nov. 9, 1840, it was voted "to set the Town House on Merrill W. Strout's land, near the great Gully ;" that it "shall be thirty-six by forty feet square with ten feet posts and twenty-three feet rafters." Nov. 15, the report of the committee
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appointed to draw up a plan was heard, and it was voted to amend their report "by having three rows of seats on each side with a rise of eight inches from the back seat to the front ; " also "to have three aisles, one on each end and one in the middle of the house, two feet wide each." George Williams, Waitstill Webber and James Strout were chosen a committee to superin- tend the building of the house and the erection of the same was bid off at auction to the lowest bidder, William Newell, Jr., for three hundred and sixty-four dollars.
This town house has been moved to S. W. Bend and has fallen very much into decay. I well remember the town meetings over thirty years ago. They were orderly assemblies and sometimes occasions for earnest debate over questions political and civil. People put on their Sunday clothes for town meetings. There were stands outside for sale of apples, candies, cider, gingerbread, etc. The boys had a game of ball. There was no smoking within the house. The place was clean and comfortable. Something of the reverence that belonged to the old meeting-place in the Church was shown also for the town house. I regret very much that a change for the worse has taken place. Durham needs a better town hall. Nobody can feel much respect for a dirty and dilapidated building, and there will be a corresponding disrespect for meetings held therein. It is to be lamented when citizens cease to hold in esteem and carefully guard places for the making and administration of law. Next to the church in the respectful conduct of citizens and youth should be the place of holding town meetings. To this end there must be at least needed repairs, cleanliness, good order and decorum. A new hall, well ventilated, with proper offices for all town officials, with, also, a Library and reading-room, having their walls decorated with portraits of Durham's noble- men of the past, would be a blessing to coming generations. These lines are written with the hope that Durham, like other towns, may find a generous benefactor. Where is the man who will build such a memorial in his native town ?
In the olden times alcoholic beverages were sold at every tavern and store, under a license system that dates back to early colonial days. Many sold without license. In 1840 one article in the town warrant was, "to see what method the town will take to put a stop to the immoral conduct of Rumselling."
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Jonathan Strout was chosen agent to put the law in force against those who were selling "ardent spirits to be drunk in their stores or shops without license." The old account books of store- keepers show that the best people of the town bought liquors frequently. They were considered necessary for laborers. Men could not be hired to go into the haying field, unless spirituous liquors were supplied. At every raising and "bee" the crowd must be treated. Between 1840 and 1850 good men began to recognize more distinctly the evil of all this. Some preachers had denounced rumselling and drinking and some temperance societies had been formed. Little progress had been made till 1848, when Neal Dow gave three lectures in the Union Church. Directly afterward thirteen persons met one night in Esquire Simmons' law-office and organized a secret society called "The Temperance Watchman Club." Among the founders were Rev. I. C. Knowlton, Rev. Moses Hanscom, Esquire Simmons, Benjamin Hoyt, Albert Gerrish, James Wm. Gerrish, James H. Eveleth, Jonathan Libby and George W. Strout. This was the beginning of a great temperance revival throughout the State. Its motto was, "Temperance, Humanity and Progress." In 1851 the Society had one hundred and twenty-two organized branches in Maine and nine in N. H., and it spread into other States. It soon put a stop to rumselling in Durham. March 4, 1850 the town voted " to instruct the Selectmen to prosecute all who sell liquors illegally." March 14, 1853 it was voted "to advise the Selectmen not to appoint an agent to sell spirituous liquors the ensuing year." Since that date there has been no open sale of liquor in Durham, nor has there been within the remembrance of the writer even a rumor that intoxicating liquors have been sold in town secretly. With very few exceptions the inhabitants of Durham have been total abstainers for half a century. To say of a man that he drinks, is to classify him with criminals. In 1884 the town voted for the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution, 166 to 44. For thirty years or more there have been Good Templars' Lodges at S. W. Bend and So. Durham.
Temperate habits have made law-abiding citizens. During the hundred years after Durham's incorporation only three persons were sent to State's Prison from the town, and one of these was a boy who seems to have had an unbalanced mind and horribly mutilated a playmate.
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Bears were common in the early days. Joshua Miller built a corn-barn in 1794, harvested his corn and returned to Cape Elizabeth to spend the winter. Soon word was sent to him that the bears were eating up his corn. He had to return and guard against them. The last bear that tradition mentions in Durham was seen by Rufus Warren, in 1815, near the Stone Mill Pond. He gave the alarm and everybody within the sound went for his gun. The bear was driven into the woods. A number of shots were fired at him without effect. He went up a leaning tree and hung his head over a branch and looked very saucy. Jeremiah Brown wanted to fire the first shot. He took a boulder, threw it and hit the bear in the head. This brought him down, maddened and crazy. Eben Roberts got a shot at him and broke his shoulder. After the bear was killed he was carried to the buildings of John Fabyan and dressed.
In 1822 it was voted to give a bounty of five dollars on wild- cats' heads. It must have been about this time that Nathaniel Getchell was out in the woods one day cutting some withes when he saw a large nest up in the top of a big pine tree. Curiosity impelled him to climb up, and there he found four young wildcats. As he picked one of them up, it commenced to snarl and cry out. The mother heard the cry and started for the tree, screeching at every bound. She made a flying leap and struck the tree nearly twenty feet up the trunk, ripping and tearing the bark with her nails. To say that Getchell was frightened is putting it mild. There he was up the tree with no weapon, holding on for life and likely to lose it if he didn't let go. The maddened wildcat was close upon him. Not knowing what else to do, he seized one of the young ones and hurled it out as far as he could. It went shrieking through the air into the bushes. The old cat left the tree and flew to the aid of the squealing kitten. Taking it in her mouth she carried it away and hid it, then came bounding back to the tree. By this time Uncle Nat had learned military tactics. The same means of defense was adopted. The fourth time he slung the kitten as far as he possibly could. As soon as the old cat started down the tree, he started too in a lively manner, and his legs carried him home swiftly and safely. It is not recorded whether he ever got any bounty on those wildcats.
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It may not be known to some how near Durham came to having another Congressman. Joseph Reed, Senior, moved into Durham from Peak's Island before 1830. His wife was a Miss Brackett. Their children were Joseph, Thomas, William, Daniel, John and Emily. This family lived on the road leading from County Road past David Crockett's. Their house stood east of the brook still called the "Reed Brook." Thomas, the father of Hon. Thomas B. Reed, moved to Portland in 1839. How unfortunate for Thomas! He might have been President ere this had he been born in Durham, one year later.
Durham has always had an ear for music. There was no lack of fifers and drummers in the old days of militia-musters. Joshua Miller was famed as a drummer, being able to play with three sticks at once, keeping one stick constantly in the air. All the Miller family of West Durham were skilful musicians and James Henry Miller was for years leader of a Band in Lew- iston. Freeman Newell was an expert with the flute, also manufacturer of melodeons and keeper of a music store in Auburn. The leadership in music, however, was for many years accorded to Joseph G. Tyler who was born in Pownal and died in Durham 22 Oct. 1882, aged 68 yrs. His wife Esther J. died I Mch. 1891, aged 72 yis. His first Band was organized at Pownal Corner, about 1842-4, consisting of himself, William Miller, Z. K. Harmon, Lewis Whitney, Richard Dresser and Joseph Sawyer. They played extensively at Trainings, Musters, Anniversaries, etc. This organization was short-lived and was succeeded by the Durham Band, which continued over thirty years with Tyler at its head. The other earliest members were William Miller, Simon W. Miller, George Plummer, Miltimore Watts, Lewis Whitney, Z. K. Harmon and Joseph Sawyer. Later were added William Miller, Jr., James Henry Miller, Henry and Andrew G. Fitz, Mark, Rufus and John Waterhouse and Tyler's sons, Joseph and Irving. There was no better street band in the State. It was in demand at political rallies of all parties. The Fourth of July could not be celebrated in Andro- scoggin County without Durham Band.
Tyler was also church chorister for several years and taught many terms of Singing School. He played skilfully the violin,
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bugle and clarionet. Mrs. Annie Louise Cary Raymond received her first musical instruction from him.
The Band was out in full force at the Centennial. That was its last parade. Few of the old members are now living in town.
Samuel Miller and Ralph Hascall are remembered by many as good teachers of Singing Schools. The most cultured musi- cian of Auburn, Prof. E. W. Hanscom, was born at S. W. Bend. He took lessons of Joseph Tyler when nine years of age. As an organist, composer and teacher his reputation is equalled by few in Maine.
The Durham Agricultural Society was formed May 8, 1886. The first officers were: President, Charles W. Harding; Vice- President, Charles H. Bliss ; Secretary, J. L. Wright ; Treasurer, Marcus W. Eveleth ; Trustees, Rufus Parker, G. W. Keirstead, Alfred Lunt, William Stackpole, Arnold C. Morse and Samuel B. Libby. The town voted $200 to build a house for the exhibi- tion of agricultural produce, etc. The annual exhibit is as good in quality as any town can show. Durham has many good farms and long-headed farmers. When that Electric Railroad shall be built through it from Auburn to Yarmouth and so on to Portland, it will become the garden of Androscoggin County and a favorite place of residence for business men of the cities.
It is a good town for stock-raising, as any one can see who attends one of the Annual Fairs. Here the big oxen drag away everything they can be hitched to. The sheep, once driven away by low tariff, are beginning to return. The fine butter indicates good Jersey cows and that the old-fashioned creamery is not yet out of date. The races call out good horses not only from Durham but also from distant towns. Liberal prizes are offered, and the usual excitement prevails. How people do like to see a struggle for mastery !
But the most attractive feature of the Fair is the people that visit it. It is an annual feast, when all the old residents who can go up to their Jerusalem. The whole town is there. Every- body shakes hands with everybody else. They talk over old times. The old renew their youth. The middle-aged find out what their neighbors have been doing and have an eye to trade
DURHAM FAIR, 1898. FIRST HEAT-"GO!"
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and future improvement. The young are just as fond of merri- ment and flirtation as they were thirty, fifty, a hundred years ago. Let the day be far distant when the Yankee farmer shall cease in Durham. The same enterprise with half the hard work the ancestors did will produce triple the comforts and luxuries of life that they enjoyed. With the many good things that Dur- ham is producing by improved methods of Agriculture let her continue to raise noble men and women, and perish the memory of any native who shall ever forget the old town.
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XI.
CENTENNIAL
On the twenty-second day of August, 1889, was celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Durham. A general committee, consisting of Charles W. Harding, Alfred Lunt, William H. Thomas, William P. Davis, Josiah H. Williams, David B. Strout and Z. K. Harmon, had made exten- sive preparations and issued about seven hundred printed invitations to old residents of the town. It was estimated that five thousand persons were in attendance. A big tent was set up on the Fair Grounds. The churches and houses at South West Bend were decorated.
The day was ushered in by a salute of thirteen guns in honor of the original States. At 8 A. M. there was a Parade of Fantas- tics. After that the procession formed and moved to the Fair Grounds. Prescott R. Strout was Marshal, aided by Sherman Strout and George Sylvester. The Continental Band, consist- ing of bass drum, tenor drum and fife, led the procession. Then came the "String Bean " Military Escort, commanded by Capt. William D. Roak and Lieut. David Crockett, and composed of veterans, etc., with uniform and arms somewhat irregular. Next was the " Singing School," consisting of thirty young per- sons, who sang "Star Spangled Banner." Frank Hascall was chorister. A big carriage contained thirteen damsels in white. representing the original States, and twenty-nine little girls to answer for the later members of the Union. Following them was a team with five little girls in white in a huge floral basket, repre- senting the Territories. Next came a company of school boys in white caps and sashes, commanded by Elmer Randall. Then there was a mowing machine followed by two men with rusty old scythes. A hay-rake succeeded, and behind it was one of the old pattern made by John Vining in 1832, steered by his son, Edward R. Vining, while the horse was ridden by a grandson, Willis J. Vining. Silas Goddard & Sons made an exhibition of
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