USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Garland > History of Garland, Maine > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
The cardinal article of the creed of this new party was unalterable opposition to the further encroachments
275
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
of slavery upon the free territory of the United States. It was not a popular party in its infancy. Its votes were classed as scattering in the papers which meant- thrown away. It was stigmatized as "the party of one idea." Nevertheless, the force of this one idea elected Abraham Lincoln to the presidency a few years later, and this event was soon followed by the banishment of the curse of slavery from the United States.
The Avenue Road
At a special meeting of the town of 1841, held Sep- tember 11, the question of building the Avenue road came up for final action. The town had remonstrated against laying it out, had petitioned for its discontinu- ance, had pursued a dilatory policy in making it. In view of the delay, the county commissioners decided to appoint an agent to do the work, whereupon the town voted to instruct the selectmen to begin the making of it, and to complete it by the first of October, 1842. This was satisfactory to the commissioners who refrained from further action.
Garland in 1842
At the annual meeting of 1842, held March 14, Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Nehemiah Bartlett, John I. D. Sanford and David Skillin, selectmen and assessors; Nehemiah Bartlett, treasurer ; Rev. Samuel S. Drake, Lorenzo Oak
276
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE.
and Daniel M. Haskell, superintending school commit- tee and Luther Rideout, collector, whose compensation was fixed at two per cent.
The appropriations were six hundred dollars for schools, one hundred and fifty dollars for the support of the poor, four hundred dollars to defray town charges, and two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. Also cash appropriations of two hundred dollars for the Dover county road, eight hundred dollars for the Avenue road, and one hundred and fifty dollars for road at Holt's Mills.
Fall Election of 1842
The annual election for State and other officers was held September 12. For governor, John Fairfield, Democrat, received one hundred and five votes; Edwin Robinson, Whig, received fifty-two votes; James Appleton, Anti-Slavery, received twenty votes.
On and after 1842, Exeter and Garland constituted a Representative class. For representative to the Legis- lature, Smith Libbey, Democrat, of Exeter, received one hundred and three votes; S. M. Rice, Anti-Slavery, of Garland, received eight votes.
As no Whig vote appears at this trial, there seems to have been some irregularity of proceeding. A second trial to elect a representative to the Legislature was made on October 3, 1842, when Smith Libbey, Demo- crat, received twenty-one votes; John Cutler, Whig, received seventeen votes; Benjamin Evans, Anti Slavery, received nine votes.
There was no election of representatives at this trial.
277
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
A third trial to elect a representative to the Legislature occurred on the 24th of October, when Smith Libbey, Democrat, of Exeter, received forty-eight votes ; Benjamin Evans, Anti-Slavery, of Exeter, received twenty-five votes.
Mr. Libbey was now the successful candidate.
A Notable Anti-Slavery Meeting
Nearly every member of the two leading churches of Garland, the Congregational and Free Baptist, was strongly anti-slavery in sentiment. In the autumn or early winter of 1842, two prominent citizens of Bangor, afterwards known as Judge John E. Godfrey and Hon. A. G. Wakefield, came to Garland to address its citizens in behalf of the anti-slavery movement. The meeting was held in the Congregational meeting house which was crowded by eager listeners of Garland and Exeter to the earnest appeals in behalf of the victims of African slavery.
Garland in 1843
At the annual meeting of 1843, held March 13, the officers chosen were Joseph Prescott, moderator ; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Asa Barton and Joseph Prescott, selectmen and assessors; Nehemiah Bartlett, treasurer; Rev. Samuel S. Drake, Asa Barton and Lorenzo Oak, superintending school committee; Luther Rideout, collector of taxes at two per cent.
278
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
The appropriations were five hundred dollars for schools, one hundred and fifty dollars to support the poor, two hundred dollars for town charges, two thous- and five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, and cash appropriations of one hundred dollars to pay bills incurred the preceding year on the Dover county road. The care of the poor was placed in the hands of the selectmen.
The meeting to ballot for governor and other officers was held September 11. For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received ninety-eight votes; Edwin Robinson, Whig, received thirty-three votes; James Appleton, Anti-Slavery, received forty-four votes.
For representative to Congress, Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, received one hundred votes ; Elisha H. Allen, Whig, received thirty-three votes; David Shepherd, Anti-Slavery, received forty-four votes.
The contest for representative to the Legislature in 1843 was the most remarkable of any in the history of the town. Garland and Exeter constituted a representa- tive class. Each town furnished the candidate for legislative honors on each alternate year, and Garland was the privileged town in 1843. It had been Demo- cratic for many years, and Democratic nominees had been sure of large majorities.
The contest opened on the day of the gubernatorial election when Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received seventy-one votes; Luther Rideout, Democrat, received thirty-three votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received thirty-one votes; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received forty-one votes. No choice.
At the second trial, October 2, Luther Rideout, Democrat, received seventy-two votes; Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes ; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received eleven votes. No choice.
279
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
At the third trial, October 23, Nehemiah Bartlett, Democrat, received ninety votes; Luther Rideout, Dem- ocrat, received eighty-six votes ; John P. Smith, Liberty party, received thirteen votes. No choice.
At the fourth trial, November 13, Nehemiah Bartlett received ninety-eight votes; Luther Rideout received sixty-nine votes; Lewis Goulding received twenty-three votes. No choice.
At the fifth trial, December 4, Nehemiah Bartlett received one hundred and three votes; Luther Rideout received eighty-three votes; Lewis Goulding, Liberty party, received fourteen votes. No choice.
At the sixth trial, the leading Democratic candidates having withdrawn, Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received eighty votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received sixty- eight votes. No choice.
At the seventh trial, January 15, 1844, Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received sixty-three votes. No choice.
At the eighth trial, February 5, 1844, Lyndon Oak, Liberty party, received thirty votes; Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received twenty-nine votes; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-eight votes. No choice. At the ninth and final trial, February 26, 1844, Lyndon Oak, Liberty party, received thirty-two votes; Charles Reynolds, Democrat, received thirteen votes ; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received five votes.
An examination of the result of the ballotings in the two towns, Garland and Exeter, disclosed the fact of Mr. Oak's election. The legislative session of 1844 was nearing its close. As soon as the necessary creden- tials were placed in his hands, he started for Augusta. This was before the time of railroads, and the journey
280
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
was made with horse and sleigh and occupied a part of two days.
On Thursday of the week of his election, he was duly qualified and took the seat assigned him in the Repre- sentative hall. He believes himself to have been the first representative in the Legislature of Maine who was elected on the straight anti-slavery issue. Owing no allegiance to either political party, he was at all times free to act as his own judgment dictated. He was some- times asked in a spirit of derision when we might expect the abolition of slavery would be realized. His reply in substance was, that there might be a long period of waiting for the event, but it was sure to come. It proved to be much nearer than the most sanguine antici- pated.
As a member of the House of Representatives of 1865, Mr. Oak had the satisfaction of voting for the ratification of the thirteenth amendment of the consti- tution of the United States, which banished the curse of African slavery from this country, and from all places within its jurisdiction.
There were incidents connected with the protracted contest for the election of representative in 1843-4 that created considerable amusement for the younger voters. One of the candidates for legislative honors was so con- fident of success, he had purchased a suit of clothes befitting the position he expected to occupy, and had engaged a team to carry him to Augusta.
The Rebuilding of the Long Bridge
At a special meeting held October 23, 1843, prelimi- nary measures for rebuilding the long bridge near the
281
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
village mills were adopted. The contract for rebuilding was awarded to a company of three citizens of the town, John Tewksbury, James Pillsbury and Orison Parkman. The timber for the bridge was hauled the following win- ter, and it was built in the summer of 1844. Although not an elegant structure, the average cost per year for repairs has been very light.
A Remarkable Religious Fanaticism
About the year 1840, a Mr. William Miller appeared in eastern Maine to apprise its inhabitants of the early coming of Jesus. He asserted that the first judgment would come in 1843. The enunciation of this theory in 1840, produced much excitement which grew in intensity as the fateful year of 1843 approached, when it reached its culmination.
The more indigent victims of this belief, reasoned that if all things earthly are to terminate in 1843, all we need to do is to provide ourselves with supplies for the intervening two years. When, in 1843, the great day was believed to be near, this class, having been reduced to absolute want, quartered themselves upon their more independent. friends for subsistence. Thus large numbers of men, women and children were brought together under a single roof where the most grotesque religious performances were indulged in. If, at the midnight hour, a mere child expressed a desire to be baptized, the whole company promptly appeared at the water's side to participate in the ceremony. It was not uncommon for a zealous member of the sect to be bap- tized several times. On such occasions, many of them
282
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
disported themselves in the water in a manner not fully in accord with the solemnity which is expected at such times.
Some of the more thoughtful and more confident, spent their leisure in making ascension robes to be used on the occasion of their "going up." One of its dev- otees, a Mr. became a citizen of the town early in the thirties, wrested a farm from the forest, and provided for himself and family a good home.
By industry, economy, and good judgment, he had taken rank with our most independent and esteemed citizens, and had been called to fill the most important town offices from time to time. But strange as it may seem, he found himself struggling in the current of Millerism and his home became the headquarters of its devotees where everything from cellar to attic, and in ell, shed and barn, was held in common. When the col- lapse came it brought with it the consciousness of a terrible mistake, a loss of self-respect, and of courage and of hope.
He soon became the victim of inherited consumptive tendencies, and passed from earth in a different manner from that which he expected a few brief years earlier. The disastrous results to the one victim that have been narrated were experienced by others. Several who had been enjoying a comfortable independence, were reduced to poverty by the same process. The tendency of this delusion to pauperism led to the adoption of legal measures by the municipal authorities, to rid the town of irresponsible leaders from other towns.
The Rev. Leonard Hutchins, pastor of the Free Baptist church and society, gave a semi-centennial address before that organization in 1875, in which he alluded to the disastrous effects of Millerism. After speaking of a period of universal prosperity, he says, "It
283
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
was interrupted by a season of severe trial. Many members abandoned the church and its ordinances, to enter the ranks of a sect which professed to believe that the second coming of Christ was an event to be looked for in the near future. Indeed the exact date for this great event had been determined in the councils of heaven and recorded in the books of prophecy.
"Some of the devotees of Millerism assumed the posi- tion of open enmity to the church and to the religion to which they had solemnly pledged fidelity. This con- dition of affairs resulted in great distraction to the church for several years. By the exercise of wisdom and forbearance by the church, the greater portion of those who had violated their church obligations, returned to it, while the more stubborn persisted in their recreancy to their church obligations, and were at length excom- municated."
Garland in 1844
At the annual meeting of 1844 the officers chosen were Joseph Prescott, moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Joseph Prescott and Luther Rideout, selectmen ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; and John P. Smith, collector. The compensation of the treasurer was fixed at four mills per dollar, and that of collector at two per cent. Rev. S. S. Drake and Lorenzo Oak were chosen superintending school committee.
The appropriations for the year were four hundred and fifty dollars for schools, one thousand dollars for town charges, one hundred and fifty dollars for the poor, two thousand and five hundred dollars for roads to be paid in labor, and a cash appropriation for the Avenue road.
284
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
Daniel Ladd, Enoch Huntington and Russell Murdock were appointed a committee to redistrict the town in the interest of the public schools. The treasurer was instructed to hire five hundred dollars for use of the town at a rate of interest not to exceed five per cent.
Autumnal Election
The balloting for State and other officers occurred September 9. For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty votes; Edward Robinson, Whig, received fifty-three votes; James Appleton, Liberty party, received fifty-seven votes.
For representative to Congress, Hannibal Hamlin, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-one votes; Abraham Sanborn, Whig, received forty-nine votes ; Asa Walker, Liberty party, received fifty-six votes.
For State Senator, Samuel W. Knight, Liberty party, received fifty-four votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Chas. Butters, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes ; John L. Hodsdon, Whig, received fifty-five votes ; Albana Pease, Liberty party, received fifty-six votes.
The Legislature of 1844 submitted to the towns of the State the following question : "Shall the Constitution of Maine be so amended as to make the political year begin on the second Wednesday in May instead of the first Wednesday in January?" Garland's vote on this ques- tion was seventy-three in favor, and four against.
Upon the proposed amendment to establish town courts, the result was thirty-six in favor, and forty-
285
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
eight against. The voters of the town assembled on November 11 to ballot for presidential electors. The Democratic candidates received one hundred and eleven, the Whig candidates forty-seven, and the Liberty party candidates thirty-five votes.
Garland in 1845
At the annual meeting of 1845, held March 10, Russell Murdock was chosen moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer ; and John P. Smith, collector. 'The compensation of treasurer was fixed at four mills per dollar, and that of the collector at two per cent. Moses G. Gordon, Jacob W. Haskell and Jonathan C. Lawrence were chosen superintending school committee.
The appropriations were five hundred dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for the poor, four hundred dollars for town charges, and six thousand five hundred and fifty dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. The treasurer was instructed to hire five hundred dollars at a rate not exceeding five per cent.
Annual State Election
Of the annual State election of 1845, held September 8, the records disclose the following results: For governor, Hugh J. Anderson, Democrat, received eighty-nine votes; Freeman H. Morse, Whig, thirty-one
286
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
votes ; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received forty- five votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received fifty-eight votes; Luther Rideout, Democrat, received twenty-nine votes ; Daniel M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-six votes; Lyndon Oak, Anti-Slavery, received forty-five votes.
The factional contest of 1843 was renewed and the result compared with that at Exeter disclosed a failure to elect. A second trial, on September 29, also failed to elect. At the third trial, on October 20, Lyndon Oak was elected.
By an amendment of the State Constitution, the begin- ning of the political year had been changed from the first Wednesday in January to the second Wednesday in May. The legislative session of 1846 was, therefore, held in summer instead of winter. The members elected on the anti-slavery issue had increased from one in 1844 to seven in 1846.
But this was only a slight indication of the growth of the anti-slavery sentiment at that time. 'The Demo- cratic speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ebenezer Knowlton, entered the Anti-Slavery ranks soon after. A large majority of the Whigs of the Legisla- ture of 1846 were opposed to any further concessions to slavery.
The Legislature of 1846 was visited by Joshua R. Giddings, the robust and fearless opponent of slavery, and member of Congress from Ohio. The object of his visit was to bring into unity of political effort all the opponents of slavery. He had interviews with the lead- ing Whigs of the Legislature. As a result a resolution was presented in the House by an Anti-Slavery member, declaring in substance that the question of the extension of slavery was of more importance than any other before
287
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
the American people. This resolution was supported in a vigorous speech by Hon. Elisha H. Allen of Bangor, and it received the votes of a majority of the Whig members.
Garland in 1846
At the annual meeting of 1846, held March 9, Stephen D. Jennings was chosen moderator; Lorenzo Oak, town clerk ; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen and assessors; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; Luther Rideout, collector ; and Moses G. Gordon, Stephen D. Jennings and Joseph T. Knight, superintending school committee. The com- pensation of the treasurer was five mills per dollar, and that of the collector two per cent.
The appropriations were five hundred and fifty dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, three hundred dollars for the poor, and two thousand, five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor.
State Election of 1846
The State election of 1846 was held September 14. For governor, John W. Dana, Democrat, received seventy-three votes; Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, received sixty-eight votes; David Bronson, Whig, received twenty votes.
For representative to Congress, James S. Wiley, Democrat, received seventy-three votes ; Jeremiah Curtis,
288
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
Anti-Slavery, received sixty-nine votes ; Sanford Kings- bury, Whig, received twenty votes.
For representative to the Legislature, John Walker, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-one votes; Samuel L. Woodman, Democrat, received sixty-eight votes ; John L. Hodsdon, Whig, received twenty votes.
No choice of representative to the Legislature. The second trial, October 5, was fruitless. The third trial, October 26, was fruitless. On the fourth trial, Wm. Palmer of Exeter was elected.
In 1846, Samuel S. Clark, then a recent and valuable accession to the citizenship of the town, entered into partnership with Lorenzo and Lyndon Oak, for the manufacture of boots and shoes, under the firm name of S. S. Clark & Co. A special feature of their work was the manufacture of lumbermen's boots. The excellent quality of their goods soon gave them a reputation that created a brisk demand in this and adjoining towns. This was followed by a wholesale business with merchants in many of the towns of Penobscot and Piscataquis and other counties.
Garland in 1847
The annual meeting of 1847 was held March 8. Joseph Prescott was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, Lorenzo Oak, town clerk; Daniel M. Haskell, Luther Rideout and David Pierce, selectmen ; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; John Bartlett, collector. The compensation of the treasurer was fixed at five mills per dollar, and that of the collector at two and one fourth per cent. Daniel M. Haskell, Edson L. Oak and Lorenzo Oak were chosen superintending school com-
289
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
mittee. The appropriations were five hundred and fifty dollars for schools, three hundred dollars for the support of the poor, three hundred dollars for town charges, and two thousand, five hundred dollars for roads.
Town House
Preparations preliminary to the building of a town house were entered upon in 1847. The question of loca- tion provided much discussion. Town meetings, religious meetings and all important meetings had been held at the schoolhouse at the geographical center of the town since the year 1816. Long existing associations favored this location. It was claimed that fair dealing with the inhabitants of the northern and northeastern sections of the town, demanded that the building should occupy a site at its geographical center.
The opposing contention was that the building should be located at the center of the village, one mile south of the geographical center. In inclement weather, citizens would be afforded opportunities to shelter their teams within the building at the village. Many of the strong- est objectors to location in the village, would embrace the opportunity afforded by the town meeting to visit the stores and shops in the village, even if the building should be located one mile away from the geographical center. Such considerations led to the selection of the village site.
Aaron Hill, Luther Rideout, Daniel M. Haskell, Russell Murdock and Lyndon Oak were appointed a committee to select and purchase a site in the village for
290
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
the proposed building. Joseph Prescott, Luther Ride- out and Samuel Skillin were charged with the duty of preparing plans for the building and providing for its construction by contract, which in due time, was awarded to L. & L. Oak & Co. In the summer of the following year, 1848, the building was completed to the satisfac- tion of the building committee.
State Election of 1847
The State election of 1847 occurred September 13. For governor, John W. Dana, Democrat, received eighty-four votes : Samuel Fessenden, Anti-Slavery, ยท received seventy-three votes; David Bronson, Whig, received twenty-six votes.
For representative to Congress, James S. Wiley, Democrat, received eighty-one votes ; Jeremiah Curtis, Anti-Slavery, received seventy-eight votes; Sanford Kingsbury, Whig, received twenty-seven votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Moses Ames, Anti-Slavery, received eighty-seven votes; Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received sixty-seven votes; Andrew M. Haskell, Whig, received twenty-three votes.
A second trial for the election of a representative to the Legislature occurred on October 4, when the result disclosed that Stephen D. Jennings had eighty-four votes, Moses Ames had seventy-three and A. M. Haskell had eleven.
291
HISTORY OF GARLAND, MAINE
Action of the Town on Proposed Amendments of the State Constitution
1st. On the question of electing governor by a plu- rality of votes, yeas sixty-four, nays twenty-one.
2d. On the question of electing senators by a plu- rality of votes, yeas forty-nine, nays nineteen.
3d. On the question of electing representatives by a plurality of votes, yeas forty-four, nays eleven.
4th. On the question of limiting the credit of the State to an amount not exceeding three hundred thous- and dollars, yeas sixty-five, nays one.
Garland in 1848
From 1816 to 1848 the annual March and September meetings had been held at the Center schoolhouse. In 1848, the March meeting was held in the Congregational meeting house. Nehemiah Bartlett was chosen moder- ator. The officers for the year were Charles Reynolds, town clerk ; Nehemiah Bartlett, Aaron Hill and Joseph Vickery, selectmen; Lorenzo Oak, treasurer; James J. Chandler, collector, and Daniel M. Haskell, Edson L. Oak and Edward H. Pierce, superintending school com- mittee.
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.