USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Garland > History of Garland, Maine > Part 12
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It was located in a dense forest, at the nominal center of the town. To the early inhabitants, the old Center schoolhouse never ceased to be an object of interest.
There they often met to discuss and perfect measures for the benefit of themselves and children. There they went to deposit the ballot which, though "a weapon that comes down as still as snowflakes fall upon the sod," was yet a factor in determining whether they should be blessed with the kindly influences of intelli-
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gent and conscientious statesmanship, or cursed with malignant and incompetent partisanship. There they sent their children to be instructed in the rudiments of knowledge that they might be prepared to act well their parts in the drama of life. There they met for religious conference and worship, ere yet they were favored by the regular and more public ministrations of the pulpit. There the first settled minister, Rev. Isaac Wilkins, having been called by vote of the town, labored faithfully for a period of five years to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the people.
Annual Town Meeting of 1816
The annual meeting for municipal business in 1816, was held March 14, in Garland's first public building, the Center schoolhouse, which was still in an unfinished condition. The meeting was organized by the choice of Ebenezer Greenleaf for moderator, and Moses Gordon, town clerk. Josiah Bartlett, Benjamin Gilpatrick and Ebenezer Greenleaf were chosen selectmen and assessors. Thomas Gilpatrick was chosen treasurer and Philip Greeley, collector. His compensation was fixed at three and one half per cent.
Isaac Wheeler, Abner Sanborn and Moses Buzzell were chosen superintending school committee. It was voted to raise five hundred dollars to build and repair highways, three hundred dollars to support schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges and fif- teen dollars to buy powder and balls. It was voted that all taxes, except the highway tax, should be paid in grain, wheat at one dollar and fifty cents, corn at one
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dollar and twenty-five cents, and rye at one dollar and ten cents per bushel.
The second meeting of 1816 was held on the 12th of April for the transaction of some unimportant town business. In the afternoon of the same day the citizens deposited their votes for governor, lieutenant governor, senators and councilors. The vote for governor was: For Hon. Samuel Dexter, twenty-four; for Hon. John Brooks, fifteen.
In this election Mr. Brooks was elected as the succes- sor of Governor Strong. Another town meeting was held on April 20th to transact business relative to the building of schoolhouses and the making of roads.
A New County
To the citizens of Garland and of this section of the Province of Maine, the year 1816 was the beginning of a new epoch. Until 1816, Garland had been a part of Hancock County, a section of country extending from the Penobscot Bay on the south, to the utmost northern limits of the State. It embraced territory nearly as large as one third of the present State of Maine, and larger than the present State of Massachusetts.
Castine was its shire town, although Bangor had been constituted a half shire town years earlier, and a registry of deeds had been established there, still all court business was transacted at Castine, which was so remote from the extreme northern settlements of the county that the inhabitants of these distant settlements were subjected to serious inconvenience when required to attend court.
A movement had been made a year earlier for the
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establishment of a new county, many petitions having been sent to the Legislature of Massachusetts in further- ance of the object. Garland was one of the towns that petitioned. In response to these petitions, the Legis- lature of Massachusetts passed an act on February 15th, 1816, to incorporate the county of Penobscot, which provided that it should take effect on the first day of April, 1816. Bangor was made the shire town of the new county.
The existence of a new county created the necessity for new offices and officers to fill them. With the exception of registrar of deeds, these officers were to be appointed by the governor. He was to be elected by the towns of the new county. The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 27th of May and voted as follows :
For John Wilkins, eight votes; for Charles Rice, one vote.
Mr. Wilkins was elected registrar by an almost unani- mous vote.
The legal voters of Garland assembled at the Center schoolhouse on November 4, 1816, to vote for represent- ative to Congress.
Hon. Martin Hinsley received fourteen votes. Hon. John Wilson received nine votes.
The Year Without a Summer
The year 1816 has been aptly characterized as the year without a summer. Several of the preceding sum- mers were so cold as to suggest a possible future famine. This tendency to frigidity reached its greatest intensity
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in the summer of 1816. The phenomenal coldness of that year was not confined to a small area. It prevailed through the United States and Canada and extended to Europe. That there were reasons for alarm, especially in the new settlements of eastern Maine, already impoverished by untoward events extending through several years, will be understood by a perusal of the fol- lowing graphic account from a reliable source :
"The year 1816 was known throughout the United States and Europe as the coldest ever experienced by any person then living. Very few persons now living can recollect it. The following is a brief summary of the weather during each month of that year: January was so mild as to render fires almost unnecessary in parlors. February, with the exception of a few days, was like its predecessor. March was cold and boisterous during the early part of the month. The latter part was mild. April began warm but grew colder as the month advanced. May was more remarkable for frowns than smiles. Buds and fruits were frozen. Ice formed half an inch thick. Corn was killed and again planted and replanted so long as there was the slightest prospect of success. June was the coldest ever known in this lati- tude. Frost and ice were common. Almost every green thing, including fruit, was destroyed. Snow fell to the depth of seven inches in Vermont and Maine, three in the interior of New York and Massachusetts. There were a few warm days in June. It was called a dry season. The wind, fierce and cold, blew steadily from the north. Mothers knit extra socks and mittens for their children in the spring. Wood-piles were renewed. Planting and shivering went on together. Farmers worked out their taxes on the roads in overcoats and mittens. In Vermont, a farmer had driven his sheep to pasture some miles away at the usual time. On the 7th
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of June there was a heavy fall of snow. The cold being severe, the owner went to look after them. As he left the house he said sportively to his wife, 'It being June, if I do not return in a reasonable time send the neighbors after me." Night came, the storm had increased, and he was still absent.
"The next morning the neighbors were alarmed and started in search of the missing man. On the morning of the third day, he was found with his feet badly frozen and unable to walk.
"July was accompanied by frost and ice. On the 5th, ice of the thickness of common window-glass was found throughout New England, New York and some parts of Pennsylvania. Indian corn was nearly all destroyed except on elevated lands. August was more cheerless than the earlier summer months. Nearly all the corn that had escaped thus far was so badly frozen that it was cut for fodder. September furnished about two weeks of the mildest weather of the season.
"October produced more than its share of cold weather. November was cold and brought snow and sleighing. In marked contrast with the preceding months of 1816, December was mild and comfortable. Such is the sum- mary of the general weather conditions of the phenome- nal year of 1816."
To us, who are at a remove of eighty years from that phenomenal year, the foregoing description may seem to have been inspired by a spirit of unrestrained exagger- ation, but it is confirmed by the traditions of the experi- ence of the early inhabitants of central Maine.
In his Annals of Bangor, Judge John E. Godfrey says: "The season was remarkable for the low state of the thermometer. In June the cold was severe. It snowed the seventh and eighth. Water froze for several nights, and on the 10th, the ice over puddles would bear
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a man. Great numbers of birds were so benumbed that " they could be readily taken in the hand, and many perished."
The Rev. Amasa Loring, in his history of Piscataquis County, says of the year 1816: "On the 29th and 30th days of May, snow fell to the depth of five inches. From the sixth to the tenth of June there were frequent snow squalls, and every morning the surface of the ground was found frozen. Every month during the sum- mer frost was visible. On the sixth of October, three inches of snow fell. No corn was raised this year in any part of northern New England. Early rye and wheat ripened, but were much pinched, and potatoes came in light and watery."
Garland in the Cold Year
The almost total failure of crops in the fateful year of 1816 put the faith of the inhabitants of Garland in their ability to maintain their foothold upon the lands where they had toiled many a weary year to make homes for themselves and their growing families, to a severe test.
Previous to the year 1816 they had been sorely buf- feted by adverse circumstances, and now, when they had reached the threshold of what seemed a brighter future, this disastrous year came to them with crushing force. Many of them were carrying a burden of debt incurred in the purchase of their lands, which they were bravely striving to pay.
A typical case was that of Moses Gordon. ] In the year 1815 he had felled ten acres of trees, partly on the
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land now owned and occupied by his son Albert, and partly upon the Murdock place, with the purpose and expectation of reducing his debt.
The conditions of exposure to the sun and soil favored an abundant crop. The early spring months had passed, and the calendar indicated the advent of the corn-plant- ing season, but there was nothing in the atmospheric conditions to suggest the presence of that usually joyous season ; nothing to inspire courage, confidence or hope. Planting was postponed from time to time for the hoped for favorable change which failed to come. At length in sheer desperation, with the assistance of several neighbors, Mr. Gordon commenced the work of planting. It was now well along in June, the month in which- "If ever come perfect days." But instead of sunshine and warmth, there were snow-squalls and frosts almost daily. Men were obliged to resume their winter cloth- ing. The summer passed, and harvest time came, but it brought disappointment instead of corn.
The value of the entire crop of corn harvested was not equal to that of the seed planted. The same dis- astrous results came to nearly all the farmers who attempted to raise corn. There is a tradition, however, that William Godwin raised a crop of corn in 1816, on an elevated farm, a little east of the present residence of Charles Greeley, formerly known as the Calef or Cram farm. Perpetual breezes over the hilltop kept the grow- ing corn almost constantly in motion, thus resisting the action of the frost, and allowing the crop to grow and ripen.
While the corn crop was virtually a failure in Gar- land, crops of wheat, rye and potatoes, were partially successful, but wheat and rye were much pinched, and potatoes were small and watery. The inhabitants of this region were greatly perplexed with the question of a
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food supply until the crops of 1817 should ripen, if, indeed, the unborn year should prove more fruitful than the present.
Forest, lake and stream could be depended on for the usual supply of game and fish, but beyond these the prospect was not inspiring. But expedients were at hand. Mashed potatoes and pumpkins were mixed with flour, corn and rye meal to increase the quantity of bread supply. Potatoes and pumpkins in milk was an esteemed dish. Clover heads stewed in butter often took the place of more nutritious food. Fields and thickets were scanned for berries.
Incidents From the Diary of Stephen A. Berry
In 1816, Stephen A. Berry, then a boy of ten years, was living with his parents in New Durham, N. H. The hardships of the family are typical of those that were common throughout New England. Mr. Berry says that the years 1815-16-17, constituted a period of privation and hardship without a parallel within the memories of the oldest inhabitants then living.
The year 1816 was the most memorable of these. On the 7th of June snow fell to the depth of seven inches. No corn ripened sufficiently for seed, and as an article of food, it was very near an entire failure. Wheat was but little used for food. Machinery for grinding it was very imperfect, and the methods of pre- paring it for the table were very crude. Rye and corn meal were much more highly esteemed.
The crop of rye in 1816, while light, was not an
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entire failure. Mr. Berry relates an incident of his own experience. In the vicinity of his home, there lived a Mr. Ela, a wealthy farmer, who had raised a large field of rye. After the rye had been harvested with great care, Mr. Berry, then ten years old, obtained permission to glean the scattered heads, and with the assistance of a sister, older than himself, entered upon the work with zeal and courage.
At the end of several days' diligent labor, the young gleaners bore the gathered heads of rye in triumph to their home. Aided by their good mother, they soon relieved the heads of their treasures. Breezes from the hilltops separated the chaff from the grain. The reward of their youthful toil was eight quarts of rye which the boy Stephen bore to the mill a mile from home, and soon returned with the meal which quickly took the form of bread, and the family sat down to a "square meal" for the first time in several days.
Mr. Berry says he does not remember whether there was other food before the family on that occasion, but he does remember that there was bread and a plenty of it, and that no achievement of his subsequent life gave him more satisfaction than this.
Later in the season the Berry family arose early one morning to find there was not a mouthful of food in the larder. The father quickly summoned his two sons: Ira, who was afterwards for many years a prominent citizen of Portland, and Stephen. The three went to the river at a short distance from the house, where they unexpectedly found an abundance of fish ready to take the bait upon their hooks.
After fishing for a brief time, a sudden shower of rain came upon them, when the fish instantly disappeared in the deep water, whereupon Stephen quaintly remarked that this must have been done to avoid getting wet.
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The breakfast that followed was characterized by abun- dance rather than variety.
Garland in 1817
To the inhabitants of Garland, the year 1817 opened with gloomy forebodings. The struggle for bread that. had characterized the year just closed, must of necessity be intensified until the harvest of 1817 would, perchance, bring relief.
Each year, following the year 1813 down to that of 1816, had been more unfruitful than the preceding year. This engendered the apprehension that the year to follow might be more disastrous to growing crops than the year that had just closed. In looking forward, it is not strange that the disheartened people indulged in serious questionings of the future. Was the sun losing its warmth? Would the seasons continue to grow colder? Had Providence designed this cold region for the habitat of wild animals instead of the home of civilization? Would the harvest of the new year bring relief? Will the best twelve or fifteen years of our brief lives, which have been devoted to the work of making homes in this eastern wilderness, years of struggle, hardship, privation, and severe toil, count for naught in the battle of life? And after all, shall we be compelled to abandon all our earthly possessions here and fly from the ills we now endure to those we know not of?
The early months of 1817 were not reassuring. January and February were intensely cold. The spring months were very chilly. They failed to dispel the clouds that had so long hung dark and heavy over the people.
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A Cheering Change
The month of July brought a cheering change to the desponding dwellers of this region. The sun resumed its wonted power over vegetation. Alternations of sun- shine and rain were followed by a remarkable change of the growing crops. Autumn made its advent laden with an abundant crop of grain. The protracted period of despondency now gave place to courage and hope.
An incident of the spring, summer, and autumn of 1817 was the presence of an innumerable multitude of wild pigeons. They flew through the air in clouds, often obscuring the light of the sun. They infested fields of grain doing much damage. Although esteemed as an article of food, they were caught in such numbers that bushels of them were thrown to the hogs. Forty to fifty dozen was not an uncommon catch in a single day by a single individual.
Friends in Need
The early inhabitants of Garland held many of the business men of Bangor in grateful remembrance to the latest hours of their lives for the kindly forbearance and encouragement received at their hands in the time of their direful extremity.
Those of our people whose indebtedness was to be paid in farm produce, were generously granted such extension of time as their necessities required. If, per- chance, any of them had a surplus of grain to turn over to their creditors, they were allowed to retain it for their
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own, or their neighbor's use, until more propitious seasons should afford more abundant means of payment.
Seed was generously offered to those who would promise to put it into the ground, to be paid for at the convenience of those accepting the offer. Conspicuous among these helpful friends was William Emerson, the following tribute to whose personal qualities was cut from a Bangor paper :
"Mr. Emerson gained a fine reputation in those days (1816 and 1817) by his tender and benevolent treatment of the poor and, in fact, of all who needed his assistance. He never took advantage of sudden rises in prices of articles of food or clothing. He took pains to secure a plenty of seed for the farmers, at prices, and on terms of credit that suited their circumstances, and in many ways tried to lessen the burdens of his less fortunate or less thoughtful neighbors."
This sketch of the considerate and unselfish acts of Mr. Emerson harmonizes with traditions from the early inhabitants of Garland, and it is fitting that a record of such acts should find a place in the annals of the town of Garland.
The Annual Meeting of 1817
The annual town meeting of 1817 was held March 19 at the Center schoolhouse. Josiah Bartlett was chosen moderator, and Isaac Wheeler, town clerk. Isaac Wheeler, Philip Greeley and Benjamin Gilpatrick were chosen selectmen and assessors. The selectmen were chosen superintending school committee. Thomas Gilpatrick, Jr., was chosen treasurer, and Philip
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Greeley, collector of taxes, whose compensation was fixed at three and three fourths per cent.
It was voted to raise one hundred and seventy-five dollars for the support of schools; eight hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges. At the same meeting, the town voted to use the money that had been voted for schools to defray town charges. This vote left the schools without appropriation. At a subsequent meet- ing, it was voted that one hundred and fifty dollars of the sum voted for town charges, at the previous meeting, should be expended for schools. The people of the town were still working at cross purposes respecting school districts and schools.
A second town meeting was held on April 7th at the Center schoolhouse. The main object of this meeting was the consideration of matters pertaining to roads. It was voted to allow twelve and one half cents per hour for the labor of men and oxen, and for the use of plows, and eight cents for carts while in use.
The First County Road
The year 1817 made a new epoch in the history of roads. Heretofore roads had been located and built by the town almost exclusively with reference to the require- ments and convenience of its own citizens. The time had now come when its necessities and convenience must, to a certain extent, be considered with reference to its relation to other towns. A county road extending from Bangor to the present county of Piscataquis, through the towns of Glenburn, Kenduskeag, Corinth,
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Garland and Sangerville, towards Moosehead Lake, had been projected. This road is now known as "the old County road" and the section of it within the limits of Garland was about seven miles in length.
At its second town meeting of 1817, held April 7th, the town voted to expend three hundred dollars of the eight hundred dollars that had been voted at the annual meeting upon the section of the county road between Church's mills and the south line of the town. It also voted to allow for the travel of men and oxen to and from their work, on the above named section, six cents per mile. This allowance was limited to men living north of Church's mills, while the allowance to laborers south of the mills was four cents per mile.
At a town meeting held on the 7th of October, 1817, it was voted that every citizen of Garland who pays a poll tax should work one day on the county road north of the late residence of Enoch Jackman. The site of this residence was near the place where the original county road intersected the present county road to Sangerville, a little north of the present residence of Henry Merrill.
A year later the town voted to raise twelve hundred dollars to build and repair highways, and that one half this sum should be expended on the county road. The building of the first county road was a severe burden upon the inhabitants of the town.
Ballot for Governor in 1817
On April 7th, the town balloted for governor with result as follows: Hon. John Brooks received fourteen votes ; Hon. Henry Dearborn received sixteen votes.
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Garland in 1818
The annual meeting of 1818 was held March 14th. The officers chosen were Isaac Wheeler, Esq., town clerk ; Benjamin Gilpatrick, John Trefethen and Abner Sanborn, selectmen and assessors; Ezekiel Straw, treas- urer; Philip Greeley, collector of taxes, whose compen- sation was fixed at two and three fourths per cent. Ezekiel Straw, Edward Fifield and John Trefethen were chosen superintending school committee.
On the 6th day of April, a town meeting was held for the transaction of important business which had been omitted at the annual town meeting. No money had been voted at this meeting for any purpose. It may safely be assumed that the omission was due to a bitter division of sentiment upon questions pertaining to schools and roads. At the meeting of April 6th, the town voted to raise twelve hundred dollars to make and repair highways, one half of this sum to be expended on the county road, and the balance on other roads of the town.
It was voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools, one hundred dollars for the support of the poor, twenty-three dollars to purchase powder (presumably to make a noise on muster day) and seventy- five dollars to defray town charges. There is no record of the raising of money for the support of the poor until the year 1818.
Until this year (1818) it had been the policy of the town to have all taxes, except the road tax, paid in grain at prices fixed each year by vote. This year it was voted that taxes, except the road tax, should be paid one half in money and one half in grain, wheat at one dollar and fifty cents, rye at one dollar per bushel, pro-
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vided that these grains should be delivered to the treas- urer by the first day of February, 1819, otherwise the whole tax, except the road tax, must be paid in money.
The Town's Treasury Boxes
When in 1850, our late citizen, Ezekiel Straw, who had been treasurer of the town in 1818, transferred his farm to George A. Brann, the latter found grain bins in an out-building which in size were greatly dispropor- tionate to the requirements of the farm. Asking an explanation of the former owner, he was informed that they had been provided for storing the town's grain received in payment of taxes. The acceptance of grain by the town in payment of taxes will explain the large percentage paid from year to year for the collection of taxes.
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