USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Garland > History of Garland, Maine > Part 15
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The late Rev. Amasa Loring, who was warmly engaged with his neighbors in efforts to arrest the progress of the flames, says in his History of Piscataquis County that much of the cleared land contained decaying stumps, and was enclosed with log fences, while the stubble upon the grain and mowing fields was thick and rank, and all as dry as tinder, and that fires that had been set did not go out, but lingered and smouldered still, and that in the evening of October 7th, after a still and smoky day, a violent gale from the north and northwest fanned these smouldering fires into a furious and rushing blaze. Men and boys were hurried to the earlier points of danger, but were soon summoned back to fight the fire from their own threatened dwellings. As morning broke, the wind subsided, and the fires lulled away relieving the terror of the stricken and weary inhabitants. With respect to the results of the disastrous fire-Mr. Loring says-"Almost every man's wood-land had been burned over, and much of its growth killed, large tracks of tim-
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ber land had been severely injured and many buildings destroyed."
Hon. John E. Godfrey says in his Annals of Bangor, that the roaring of the fire was like thunder, and was heard at a distance of from twelve to fifteen miles. Houses, barns, saw-mills and grist-mills were destroyed. He also says that there were burned in Guilford four houses and five barns, in Ripley eleven houses and nine barns, in Harmony four houses and five barns, in Dover one barn, in Monson one barn. There were other build- ings burned, and the damage to the timber lands was enormous.
There is still a lingering belief in the minds of some of the citizens of the counties that suffered from the ravages of the fires of 1825, that they originated from the burning of hay in northern Penobscot, by the order of the State Land Agent, to cripple the operations of the plunderers of the timber lands belonging to the State. It is not necessary to go so far away to find the origin of these fires. In the widespread and severe drouth of that time, the necessary conditions for start- ing fires were present in almost every town. The excep- tions were towns where there were no smouldering fires to be fanned into furious flames.
Mr. Loring, a participator in the fight against the on-rushing flames, says that the fire had marked its way from Moosehead Lake across the county. In his Annals of Bangor, Hon. John E. Godfrey says: "The enemies of the land agent were not unwilling that he should have the reputation of originating the fires which had caused such devastation in the northerly part of Penob- scot County, when he caused the hay cut by the tres- passers to be burnt," and adds that although this was not the case, yet the Indians had been impressed with the idea that it was.
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The town of Garland was on the line of the advan- cing flames, but before it was reached the wind had ceased, and the town escaped injury. Nevertheless its inhabi- tants had suffered keenly with terror and anxiety.
Garland in 1826
The annual town meeting of 1826 was held on April 6th. Abraham J. Cox was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Isaac Wheeler and Ansel Field, selectmen and assessors; Abraham J. Cox, treasurer, and Isaac Wheeler, Isaac E. Wilkins and Ansel Field, superintending school committee. Walter Holbrook was chosen collector, and a compensa- tion of one and nine tenths per cent. voted for the service.
The town voted to raise three hundred dollars for the support of schools, twelve hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. A step had been taken in 1823 towards the policy of requiring taxes to be paid in money. With the exception of that year all taxes but highway taxes, which were paid in labor, had been paid in grain at prices determined by the town each year. In 1826, and since, taxes, except for making and repairing highways, have been paid in money. The town voted "that the remaining three eighths of the public lands be divided between the religious societies which have not received any, according to their numbers."
The legal voters assembled on the 11th day of Septem- ber to vote for governor and other officers.
For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty-six
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votes; William Godwin received six votes; Ezekiel Whitman received five votes.
For representative to the State Legislature, Reuben Bartlett of Garland received twenty-four votes; Daniel Ladd of Garland received twenty-two votes; Lewis Goulding of Garland received one vote.
Enoch Lincoln was elected governor. Winthrop Chapman of Exeter, who had received no votes in Gar- land, was elected representative to the State Legislature.
The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams occurred on the Fourth of July, 1826. The news of the death of these two eminent men carried sadness into every town, village and hamlet in the United States. Both had participated in the stirring events that led to the Revolutionary War. Both were members of the convention from which had emanated the immortal Declaration of Independence, embodying truths that have given the people of this country the best govern- ment in the world, and that are destined to revolutionize all other governments. Mr. Adams had been the second and Mr. Jefferson the third President of the United States. It was a remarkable coincidence that these emi- nent men, who had been associated in establishing the foundations of this government, and of administering its affairs in turn, should die on the same day, and that day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The voters of Garland had met on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1826, to ballot for a representative to Con- gress. This Congressional district embraced the counties of Penobscot and Somerset. The territory of the county of Piscataquis was at that time embraced within the two counties above named. There having been no choice at this trial, another trial occurred on December 18, 1826, which, like the first, failed to elect. The third trial
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occurred on the second of April, 1827, which also failed to elect.
At the present time we hear much lamentation over the degeneracy of political methods and practices. People who indulge in such lamentations would do well to study the methods and practices which were prevalent in the earlier history of Maine.
In his Annals of Bangor, Judge Godfrey gives us some information upon this matter. Referring to the aspirants for Congressional honors, and their friends in this Con- gressional district, he says : "The candidates nominated by conventions and individuals were respectable men, but it mattered not who were the candidates, when one obtained sufficient prominence, he was pursued by the friends of the others with a bitterness that would be hardly excusable in savages. Like death they pursued the shining mark; no matter how sensitive the subject or how pure his life, if there were the least flaw in the armor of his character it was found and pierced, and reamed, and rasped, until it would seem to be the most rickety and unsubstantial character in existence."
He also says that Governor Lincoln's proclamation in 1827 for a day of fasting and prayer might well have been carefully studied by the politicians of the time. As the sentiments of this proclamation are good for all times, an extract will not be out of place here. "I recommend to every one to observe the day as a Christian ; if he be under the influence of any vice, to banish it; if in error, to correct it; if under obligations to others, honestly to discharge them; if suffering injuries, to for- give them; if aware of any animosities, to extinguish them, and if able to do any benevolent act to any being created by the Almighty power to which he owes his existence and his faculties, to do it. Especially I recommend that being members of one great community,
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we unite as Christian politicians so that we may render perpetual the peace and prosperity of our country and of this State."
Although there has been a manifest improvement in political methods and practices since the early days of Maine's statehood, there is still left a wide margin for further advancement in this direction.
Garland in 1827
The year 1827 witnessed a continuation of the contest for a representative to Congress. There had been three abortive trials to elect. The fourth trial was also a failure. Through the period of these failures to elect, this Congressional district was without representation in Congress. The failures were due to the manner of nomi- nating candidates.
Small coteries of men, at different points in the dis- trict, nominated personal friends without regard to the preference of the voters at large. To such an extent was this practice carried, that there were sometimes from six to ten candidates for Congressional honors before the voters of the district. As an illustration, at the third trial of the protracted contest which has been described, the voters of Garland distributed their votes to seven different candidates.
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Congressional Convention
After repeated failures running through two years, the friends of the administration met at Garland on the sixteenth day of August, and nominated Samuel Butman of Dixmont as their candidate for representative to Con- gress. Mr. Butman was the successful candidate.
The annual meeting for town business was held on April 2. The officers were Walter Holbrook, moder- ator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen and assessors ; Isaac Wheeler, treasurer, and Isaac E. Wilkins, Moses Buswell and Isaac Wheeler, superin- tending school committee. William Godwin was chosen collector of taxes, and his compensation was fixed at three per cent.
The appropriations were two hundred dollars for town charges, fifteen hundred dollars for highways, to be paid in labor at twelve and one half cents per hour, and three hundred dollars for schools.
Fall Election
For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty-seven votes; William Godwin received six votes; Ezekiel Whitman received three votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received thirty-one votes ; Elijah Skinner received three votes; William Eddy received three votes; David A. Gove received one vote.
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In the State at large, Enoch Lincoln was elected gov- ernor. Reuben Bartlett was elected to the Legislature.
The division of the public land reserved for the first settled minister became the occasion of considerable trouble to the town, and perhaps to the minister as well. The Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins was entitled to five eighths of this land by virtue of an agreement with the town, but no division between the contracting parties had been made. A committee had been appointed to propose a division of the land, but the records fail to show that any action had been taken by the committee.
Subsequently Mr. Wilkins was authorized to select a committee for this service. This had not been done. At a meeting held November 28th, the town voted "that Reuben Bartlett, Joseph Prescott and Isaac Wheeler, be a committee to make application to the Court of Common Pleas for a committee to divide the land which the inhabitants hold in common with the Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins unless the said Wilkins cause it to be divided immediately by virtue of a vote passed Sep- tember 11, 1827."
An Early Spring
Samuel P. Sargent is authority for the statement that his father, Joseph Sargent, raised the barn now standing on the farm of James Rideout, on the ninth of April, 1827, and that Major Merrill had a team plowing on the David Allen place on the same day.
This statement respecting the earliness of the season of 1827, finds confirmation in Judge Godfrey's Annals of Bangor, wherein he says of the same season, that cucumbers measuring from five to six and one half inches
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long were picked in Bangor on the eleventh of June which were the earliest that had then ever been raised in the country. The methods of forcing the growth of vegetables now employed were not in use then.
Garland in 1828
At the annual meeting of 1828, held March 31st, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Reuben Bartlett, town clerk ; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Jeremiah Flanders, selectmen and assessors; William Fairfield, M. D., Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins and Isaac Wheeler, Esq., were chosen superintending school committee. Samuel W. Knight was chosen collector, and a compensation of two and seven tenths per cent. was voted for the service.
The town voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars to make and repair highways, three hundred dollars for the support of schools and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. The highway tax was to be paid in labor for which men and oxen were to be allowed twelve and one half cents per hour until the 15th of September, and eight cents on and after that date.
Among the practices of the earlier years of the town's history, was that of allowing cattle to run within the limits of the highways for pasturage. This practice was an ever present menace to the growing crops which were often seriously damaged by cattle that ran at large on the highways. It forced the farmers to build and maintain fences between their growing crops and the highway, which was, perhaps, the most serious burden they were forced to confront. It led to disputes, neigh- borhood quarrels and litigations.
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In 1828, the town voted "that neat cattle be prohib- ited from going at large from the first day of June to the first day of November, 1828." Similar action was often taken by the town in subsequent years until the State made it the duty of every owner of stock to fence his own stock in, and relieved him of the burden of fen- cing other men's stock out. As the result of this policy, many a farmer has been relieved from a burdensome necessity, and the aggregate of savings has run largely into the thousands.
On the 8th day of September, 1828, the legal voters of Garland balloted for governor and other officers.
For governor, Enoch Lincoln received twenty-nine votes; Solomon Parsons received twenty-four votes ; Daniel Emery received fifteen votes; William Emerson received one vote.
For senator to State Legislature, Nathan Herrick received eighteen votes; Reuben Bartlett received seven- teen votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Samuel Butman received twenty-one votes; Samuel Whitney received seventeen votes, and William Emerson received one vote.
In several instances the successful candidate for the Legislature failed to get a single vote in Garland. This was the fact in 1828. Although Winthrop Chapman of Exeter failed to get a single vote in Garland, he was the successful candidate. Such results were due to the fact that the caucus system of the present time was not so fully developed, and its authority not so fully acknowl- edged then as now.
In the presidential election of 1828, Garland gave a small majority for the National Republican candidate, John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson, the Democratic candidate, was elected.
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The First Cemetery
In 1828 the town established the first cemetery within its limits, in what is now District No. 7. Its location is near the schoolhouse in that district, and is known as the Burnham Cemetery. Before this, the dead had often been buried on the premises of relatives, and their graves had been subject to neglect and desecration when such premises changed hands. Walter Holbrook, Moses Gordon and Daniel Ladd were appointed to inclose the cemetery and superintend the removal of the dead from their scattered resting places thereto.
Garland in 1829
The annual meeting of 1829 was held on March 30. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Daniel Ladd and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer ; Isaac E. Wilkins, Reuben Bartlett and Charles Reynolds, superintending school committee. Jeremiah Flanders was chosen collector, and a compensation of two and nine tenths mills voted for the service.
The town voted to raise two thousand dollars to make and repair highways, to be paid in labor at twelve and one half cents per hour for men and oxen until Septem- ber 15, and eight cents after that date. Three hundred dollars was voted for the support of schools and two hundred dollars to defray town charges. The inhabit- ants were forbidden to pasture their cattle in the roads during the period of growing crops.
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The inhabitants of Garland met on the 14th of Sep- tember, 1829, to provide for the rebuilding of a bridge across the neck of the pond, a little way north of the village mills. A contract was made with Daniel Moore to furnish the necessary timber for the bridge.
The legal voters assembled on September 14th to bal- lot for governor and other officers.
For governor, Samuel E. Smith received forty votes ; Jonathan G. Minturn received seventeen votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received forty votes ; Cornelius Coolidge received twenty votes.
The political canvass of 1829 had been bitter, and the result was unsatisfactory to both parties. Mr. Hunton was elected governor, and Mr. Chapman repre- sentative to the Legislature.
The Genesis of the Temperance Reform
In the year 1828 or 1829, Isaac Wheeler, Esq., one of Garland's pioneers, was at work in his field, on what is now known as the Foss farm. At work with him, was Joseph True, Jr., then scarcely more than a boy. On the opposite side of the road was the house where the Clark family now resides, which was then occupied by the Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins, Garland's first settled minister.
A county temperance society had been organized embracing in its membership some of the most prominent men in the county. The subject was a theme for dis- cussion in many of the towns. Mr. Wheeler and young True had an earnest conversation upon the subject which
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resulted in their going to Mr. Wilkins with the request that he would write a pledge, which he cheerfully con- sented to do. The three men signed it and from this transaction emerged Garland's first temperance society.
Review of Town's Growth From 1820 to 1830
From 1820 to 1830 there was an accession to the town of about seventy families. Among these were the fami- lies of Reuben Bartlett, Abraham True, Joseph True, Sr., Joseph Prescott, Joseph Sargent, Dr. Seth Fogg, Benjamin Pressey, Rufus Inman, Thomas B. Saunders, Walter Holbrook, Samuel Warren, William Warren, William Mansfield, Ansel Field, Samuel W. Knight, Zebulon Knight, Daniel Ladd, Jeremiah Ladd, William Buswell, M. D., Asa W. Soule, Gains Soule, Lewis Soule, Haskell Besse, James Powers, Leonard Leland, John Davis, James Robbins, William Soule, Gideon Soule, David Soule, John Soule, Gilbert Wallace, Enoch Rollins, John Hamilton, Joseph Strout, Joseph Johnson, John Johnson, Israel Colley, Lewis Goulding, Amos Higgins, William Doble, William Sargent, David Sargent, Aaron Hill, Elisha Nye, Rufus Soule, Phineas Batchelder, John H. Batchelder, Mason Skinner, James March, Jacob Quimby, Samuel Greeley, John E. Ladd, James Parker, George Curtis, Russell Murdock, Isaac E. Wilkins, William Fairfield, M. D., Herbert Thorndike, William Rollins, Fifield Lyford, David M. Greeley, Eben Battles, Seth Smith, Isaiah Stillings, Eliab Stewart, Andrew Smith, David Moore, James Holbrook, Benjamin Mayo.
A few of the above names are those of young men
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who were not heads of families previous to 1830, but became so after that date. The population of Garland in 1830 was six hundred and twenty-one, an increase of three hundred and forty-six in ten years. There were but few events in the period under review worthy of special notice.
The town had enjoyed a happy exemption from the remarkable discouragements and hardships that had char- acterized its earlier history. The allegiance of its citi- zens had been transferred from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the State of Maine. The town had settled Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins as its first minister. The Free Will Baptist church had been organized in 1825. Several school districts had been established, and the advantages for instruction of persons of school age extended. The policy of paying taxes, excepting high- way taxes, in money had been established, indicating that this convenience of civilization was becoming more abundant. Roads had been improved and extended. The crops had generally been good, and the people had been fairly prosperous.
Garland in 1830
The town officers of 1830 were Joseph Prescott, moderator; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Samuel W. Knight and Jeremiah Flanders, selectmen and assessors; Reuben Bartlett, treasurer ; Ezekiel Straw, collector, at a compensation of one and three-fourths per cent. ; Isaac E. Wilkins, Charles Reynolds and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school committee.
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It was voted to raise two thousand dollars for high- ways, three hundred and fifty dollars for schools and fifty-five dollars for town charges. Men and oxen were to be allowed twelve and one half cents per hour for labor on the roads until September 15, and eight cents per hour thereafter.
Charles Reynolds, town clerk, having been notified by Zenas Flanders, field driver, that damage had been done to the crops of Gideon Soule by two chestnut colored horses, and two red yearling colts that had been taken up and impounded, a warrant was issued to James Dinsmore and George Curtis, dated August 1, 1830, to proceed at once to the estimation of the damage to said crops. The amount returned for damages was fifty cents. Pro- ceedings of this kind were a feature of that period. Sometimes they originated in a spirit of spite, but were intended to protect the inhabitants from damage to their crops.
On September 13, 1830, the town balloted for gov- ernor, representative to Congress, representative to the Legislature, and other officers.
For governor, Jonathan G. Hunton received thirty-two votes; J. G. Hunton received two votes; Samuel E. Smith received sixty-seven votes.
For representative to Congress, Ebenezer S. Philips received thirty-one votes ; James Bates received sixty-six votes.
For representative to Legislature, Reuben Bartlett received sixty-five votes ; R. Bartlett received five votes ; John Bates received thirty-three votes; John Wilkins received one vote.
Samuel E. Smith was elected governor, James Bates representative to Congress and Winthrop Chapman representative to the Legislature. On the same day, September 13, the second public cemetery was estab-
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lished. It was located in the northwesterly part of the town, and is known as the Greeley Cemetery.
Action was taken to have it properly fenced, and the scattered dead in that part of the town removed to it. A bridge was built across the neck of the pond, just north of the village grist-mill, in 1830 or 1831. The timber for this bridge was furnished by Daniel Moore, a citizen of the town.
Increasing Prosperity
From 1820 to 1830 the inhabitants of Garland, being at a remove of several years from the depressing influ- ences of the war that terminated in 1814, and of the almost total destruction of their crops in 1816, began to exhibit new indications of prosperity. This was noticeable in the building of larger and more convenient dwellings. Philip Greeley built a two-story dwelling soon after 1820, upon the estate in District No. 1, now owned by the heirs of the late William B. Foss.
In 1822, Jeremiah Flanders built the dwelling now occupied by Edwin Preble. William Godwin built a two- story dwelling about the year 1822, upon the site now owned by the heirs of the late William H. Knight. It was built for a tavern when the teaming back and forth from western Piscataquis passed the site of this house. The Penobscot Masonic Lodge was organized and had its headquarters here for several years.
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Garland in 1831
The annual town meeting was held on April 11th. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator ; Charles Reynolds, town clerk; Reuben Bartlett, Charles Reynolds and Samuel W. Knight, selectmen ; Charles Reynolds, Daniel M. Haskell and Enoch M. Barker, M. D., superintending school committee, and Reuben Bartlett, treasurer. William Godwin was chosen collector, and his compen- sation was fixed at two per cent.
It was voted to raise two thousand five hundred dollars to make and repair highways, and to allow men and oxen twelve and one half cents per hour until October 1st, three hundred dollars for the support of schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges and thirty-five dollars for the support of the poor. This was the first action taken by the town in aid of the poor.
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