USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Garland > History of Garland, Maine > Part 21
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Appropriations of 1858
For schools, the amount required by law, four hun- dred and fifty dollars for town charges, four hundred dollars for the support of the poor, two hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, a cash appropriation of four hundred dollars to be expended on the north end of the Notch road, also a cash appropriation not to exceed two hundred and seventy-five dollars for the completion of the county road leading from Holt's Mills to the
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west line of Charleston by contract, the terms of which shall insure the construction of the road in a thorough manner.
Autumnal Elections of 1858
For governor, Lot M. Morrill, Republican, received one hundred and seventy votes; Manasseh Smith, Demo- crat, received one hundred and twenty-six votes.
For representative to Congress, Israel Washburn, Jr., Republican, received one hundred and seventy-two votes ; James S. Wiley, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-three votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Noah W. Johnson, Republican, received one hundred and seventy- four votes ; Samuel Skillin, Democrat, received one hun- dred and twenty-three votes.
Mr. Johnson was elected.
Garland in 1859
The annual town meeting of 1859 was held March 14. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Lorenzo Oak, T. J. Shaw and Luther Rideout, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, supervisor of schools; Edwin Hill, collector, compensa- tion two and one half per cent.
The appropriations were eight hundred dollars for the support of schools, four hundred and fifty dollars for
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town charges, five hundred dollars to support the poor and two thousand five hundred dollars for highways. The treasurer of the town was authorized to hire a sum not exceeding one thousand two hundred and fifty dol- lars at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent., to be applied to the making of the Notch road.
Autumnal Elections of 1859
The autumnal elections of 1859 were held on Septem- ber 12. For governor, Lot M. Morrill, Republican, received one hundred and sixty-six votes; Manasseh Smith, Democrat, received one hundred and five votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Winthrop Chapman, Republican, received one hundred and fifty- six votes; Washington L. P. Walker, Democrat, received one hundred and eight votes.
Mr. Chapman was elected.
Garland in 1860
The annual meeting of 1860 was held on the 12th day of March. Artemas Merriam was chosen moder- ator. The officers for the year were Henry C. Preble, town clerk; Lorenzo Oak, Russell Murdock and Stephen D. Jennings, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor ; Franklin Taylor, treasurer, compensation four per cent. ; Lyndon Oak, supervisor of schools; James J. Chandler, collector of taxes for a compensation of two per cent.
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The appropriations were eight hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars to defray town charges, five hundred dollars to support the poor, one thousand dollars to pay town debts and two thousand dollars for highways, to be paid in labor.
Autumnal Election
This election was held September 10, 1860. For gov- ernor, Israel Washburn, Jr., Republican, received two hundred and thirteen votes; Ephraim K. Smart, Demo- crat, received one hundred and fifteen votes.
For representative to Congress, John H. Rice, Repub- lican, received two hundred and fifteen votes; Samuel H. Blake, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes.
For register of probate, Joseph Bartlett, Republi- can, a native of Garland, received two hundred and thirteen votes; Henry Casey, Democrat, received one hundred and sixteen votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Luther Rideout, Republican, received two hundred and two votes; John G. Jones, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty- two votes.
Mr. Rideout received a majority of votes in the class.
Ballot for Presidential Electors in 1860
The voters of Garland assembled on November 6 to ballot for presidential electors, when the Republican candidate received one hundred and ninety-three votes;
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the Democratic candidate received fifty-three votes; the Straight Whig candidate received twenty-eight votes.
On the same day for representative to Congress, Stephen Coburn, Republican, received one hundred and ninety-three votes; Joseph Chase, Democrat, received forty-nine votes ; scattering, twenty-eight votes.
Garland in 1861
The annual meeting for town business was held March 11. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were Henry C. Preble, town clerk ; Russell Murdock, Samuel Skillin and George W. Otis, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Henry C. Preble, supervisor of schools; James J. Chandler, collector, who agreed to col- lect the taxes for two and one half per cent., and to pay twelve per cent. interest upon the sum of uncollected taxes at the end of the year. E. L. Oak was chosen town agent.
The appropriations for the year were nine hundred dollars for schools, four hundred dollars for town charges, five hundred dollars for the poor, seven hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hundred dol- lars for roads. The town voted to authorize the select- men to grant the use of the town house for concerts, lectures and kindred purposes upon such conditions as they judge proper. At a special meeting of the town, held on April 6, it was voted to appropriate five hun- dred dollars to make and repair highways.
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Autumnal Election of 1861
This election was held on September 9. For gov- ernor, Israel Washburn, Republican, received two hun- dred and two votes: John W. Dana, Democrat, received eighty-seven votes; scattering, twelve votes.
For county commissioner, John S. Patten, Repub- lican, received two hundred and two votes; Thomas K. Holt, Democrat, received eighty-five votes.
For representative to the Legislature, E. H. Small, Republican, received two hundred and one votes; Francis Hill, Democrat, received eighty-eight votes; John W. Osgood, received eleven votes.
Garland in 1862
The annual meeting for town business in 1862 was held on March 10. Artemas Merriam was chosen mod- erator. The officers for the year were H. C. Preble, clerk; Russell Murdock, Samuel Skillin and James J. Chandler, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor ; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; H. C. Preble, supervisor of schools ; E. L. Oak, town agent; Edwin Hill, collector, who was allowed two and one half per cent. for collect- ing the taxes, and was held to pay twelve and one half per cent. interest upon the sum uncollected at the end of the year until such sum was paid into the treasury.
The regular appropriations for 1862 were nine hun- dred dollars for schools, six hundred and fifty dollars for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, eight hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hun- dred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. The town
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voted to purchase a home for the poor, and instructed the selectmen to look for such home, and report at the September meeting.
Autumnal Election of 1862
For governor, Abner Coburn, Republican, received one hundred and sixty-seven votes; Bion Bradbury, Democrat, received ninety-four votes.
For representative to Congress, John H. Rice, Repub- lican, received one hundred and sixty-five votes ; Gorham L. Boynton, Democrat, received ninety-four votes.
For representative to State Legislature, Daniel M. Haskell, Republican, received one hundred and sixty- three votes ; Stephen D. Jennings, received ninety-three votes.
Mr. Haskell was elected.
Garland in 1863
The annual meeting for town business in 1863 was held March 9. Artemas Merriam was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were, A. M. Haskell, Elisha Skinner and Edwin Hill, selectmen, assessors and over- seers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Henry C. Preble, David Evans and Edson L. Oak, superin- tending school committee; Lorenzo Oak, town agent; John S. Oliver, collector, who was to collect the taxes for one per cent., and to pay twelve per cent. upon the sum of uncollected taxes at the close of the year.
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The appropriations for 1863 were nine hundred dol- lars for schools, five hundred dollars for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand two hun- dred dollars to pay debts and two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor.
Autumnal Election of 1863
For governor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received two hundred and seventeen votes; B. Bradbury, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-six votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Francis W. Hill, Democrat, received one hundred and twenty-seven votes; John W. Osgood, Republican, received two hun- dred and sixteen votes.
Garland in 1864
The annual meeting for town business occurred on the 14th of March. Luther Rideout was moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Elisha Skinner and Thomas Dearborn, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, David Evans and Calvin P. Berry, superintending school committee; John S. Oliver, collector of taxes, whose compensation was one and one half per cent.
The appropriations of 1864 were nine hundred dollars for schools, five hundred dollars for town charges, six hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars to
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pay debts, two thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor.
Autumnal Election of 1864
For governor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; Joseph Howard, Democrat, received one hundred and eleven votes.
For representative to Congress, John H. Rice received two hundred and eight votes; James C. Madigan received one hundred and eleven votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak received two hundred and eight votes; Albert Grinnell received one hundred and eleven votes.
'The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 8th of November to ballot for electors for President and Vice President, when the Republican candidates received two hundred and eleven votes; the Democratic candidates received one hundred and seventeen votes.
Garland in 1865
The annual meeting for town business in 1865 was held on the 13th of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Lorenzo Oak and Thomas Dearborn, Jr., selectmen, assessors and over- seers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; Lyndon Oak, David Evans and Calvin P. Berry, superintending school committee; John S. Oliver, collector, compensa- tion one and one half per cent.
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The appropriations for the year were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, one thousand six hundred dollars for town charges, eight hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand dollars to pay debts and three thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor.
Autumnal Election of 1865
This election occurred on September 11. For gov- ernor, Samuel Cony, Republican, received one hundred and seventy-four votes; Joseph Howard, Democrat, received eighty-three votes.
For representative to the Legislature, E. Augustus Chandler, Republican, received one hundred and seventy- four votes; Harmon Eastman, Democrat, received eighty-three votes.
Garland in 1866
The annual meeting for town business was held on March 12. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Joseph M. Gerry and Jacob W. Haskell, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; A. W. Reed, superintending school committee; William E. Skillin, collector of taxes, compensation one per cent.
The appropriations for 1866 were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, two thousand
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dollars for town charges, five hundred dollars for the poor, two thousand five hundred dollars to pay debts and two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor. It was voted to allow twenty-five per cent. discount to all taxpayers who paid their taxes on, or before, the 10th day of June.
Autumnal Election of 1866
This election was held on the 10th day of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received two hundred and eight votes ; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes.
For representative to Congress, John A. Peters, Republican, received two hundred and six votes; G. M. Weston, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak, Republican, received two hundred and six votes; Joel W. Otis, Democrat, received one hundred and one votes.
Garland in 1867
The annual meeting for town business in 1867, was held on the 11th day of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and Joseph M. Gerry, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Lyndon Oak and Henry C. Preble, superintending school committee; Franklin Taylor, treasurer; A. F. Parkman, collector of taxes,
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compensation fifteen mills per dollar. The selectmen were elected surveyors of highways.
The appropriations for the year were one thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for schools, two thousand dollars for town charges, seven hundred dollars for the poor, three thousand dollars to pay debts, three thousand dollars for roads.
Autumnal Election of 1867
This election was held on the 9th of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and two votes.
For senator, Isaiah Stetson, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; John Gardner, Demo- crat, received one hundred and one votes.
For representative, Amasa Stetson, Republican, received one hundred and eighty-one votes; Eben E. Brown received one hundred and two votes.
Garland in 1868
The annual meeting of 1868 for town business was held in March. Artemas Merriam was moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, clerk; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and George W. Otis, select- men, assessors and overseers of the poor; David Evans, superintending school committee; Franklin Taylor,
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treasurer, compensation five mills per dollar; Lorenzo Oak, collector of taxes, compensation one per cent.
The appropriations for 1868 were one thousand five hundred dollars for schools, one thousand seven hundred dollars for town charges, seven hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars for debts, two thousand five hundred dollars for roads, to be paid in labor at fifteen
cents per hour. Cash appropriations for roads were five hundred dollars to be expended on county road between Garland Village and Holt's Mills, one hundred and fifty dollars to be expended on the road leading from N. J. Johnson's mill to Dover line, two hundred dollars to be expended on road leading from I. B. Royal's to Dexter line, seventy-five dollars to be expended on bridge over the stream near Lewis Crowell's mill, one hundred dol- lars to grade the Preble hill, fifty dollars to build a road to Gray's mill.
The selectmen were authorized to purchase a hearse.
Autumnal Election of 1868
This election was held on the 14th of September. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Republican, received two hundred and ten votes; Eben F. Pillsbury, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty-one votes.
For representative to Congress, John A. Peters, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; G. W. Ladd, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty- two votes.
For representative to the Legislature, Lyndon Oak, Republican, received two hundred and nine votes; Stephen D. Jennings, Democrat, received one hundred and thirty-two votes.
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The legal voters of Garland assembled on the 3d of November to ballot for electors of President and Vice President, when the Republican candidates received two hundred and one votes; the Democratic candidates received one hundred and eleven votes.
Garland in 1869
The meeting for town business in 1869 was held on the 8th day of March. Luther Rideout was chosen moderator. The officers for the year were George S. Clark, town clerk; A. M. Haskell, Jacob W. Haskell and George W. Otis, selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor; Franklin Taylor, treasurer, compensation five mills per dollar; Lorenzo Oak, collector, compen- sation one and one half cents per dollar.
The appropriations of 1869 were one thousand five hundred dollars for schools, one thousand two hundred dollars for town charges, eight hundred dollars for the poor, one thousand dollars for debts, one hundred and fifty dollars for the road near Johnson's Mills, three thousand dollars for roads, to be paid in labor, for which men are to be allowed fifteen cents per hour.
At a special meeting held September 6, 1869, the town voted to exempt the mill property of H. L. Gordon & Co. from taxation for an indefinite time.
Autumnal Election
This election was held on the 13th day of September, 1869. For governor, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Repub-
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lican, received one hundred and fifty votes; Franklin Smith, Democrat, received one hundred and three votes; scattering, ten votes.
For representative to the Legislature, John Whitney, Republican, received one hundred and sixty votes ; Francis W. Hill, Democrat, received one hundred and three votes.
Special Meeting
A special meeting was held on November 24th to take another pull on the town farm question, when it was voted to purchase such farm and properly equip it for a comfortable home for an unfortunate class of our citizens. Money not to exceed three thousand five hun- dred dollars was voted to purchase such farm and prop- erly furnish it. Elijah Crane was appointed agent to make the selection and purchase of a farm with suitable buildings for the purpose intended.
Garland in the Temperance Reform
At the opening of the nineteenth century, the use of intoxicating liquors had become almost universal in the United States. Its citizens were at a remove of only a few years from the Revolutionary War. The terrible hardships of this war had been a fruitful source of intemperance. Its results had humbled the pride of our English cousins, who solaced themselves by characterizing the people of the United States as a "nation of drunk-
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ards. " The use of spirituous liquors invaded every department of life. They were used at the ordination of ministers, at the dedication of churches, at funerals and weddings. New England rum was the stimulating agency where the combined strength of numbers was required, such as the raising the frames of buildings, and to promote steadiness of nerve to those who scaled dizzy heights.
Such were the sentiments and usages at the date of the settlement of Garland. The early settlers were gen- erally men of good character, having been religiously educated in the homes of their childhood, but abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks had found no place in the creeds of the times. In the toilsome efforts to compel the resistant forces of a new country to give place to the homes of civilization, the stimulus of New England rum was believed to be essential to success. It was used to inspire courage, to promote strength of muscle, and to ward off the cold of winter and the heat of summer. In every day occupations it was used mod- erately as a rule. Its excessive use was reserved for pub- lic occasions, such as military inspections, musters and celebrations of public events. Corn huskings, where neighbors met to assist each other in divesting the ear of its coverings, were esteemed as pleasant social events of the long, autumnal evenings. The failure to provide a generous supply of the favorite New England beverage for such occasions was attributed to stinginess.
On one such occasion, the person who had been favored by the assistance of his neighbors, awoke the next morning to find that a favorite two-year-old heifer was missing. After a long and fruitless search in pasture, field and forest, the missing animal was found tied to a brace on the summit of a hay mow. Then, as now, the appetite for liquor in the case of individuals
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was, at times, very strong. At the end of the spring's work, on one occasion, two men living just across the line in Dexter, started to go to Bangor for the purchase of supplies, prominent among which was rum, the sup- ply of this article having been exhausted several days earlier. Their thirst having become imperative, they called at the house of Isaac Copeland, where Mark Jennings now resides, and asked for a drink of rum. Mr. Copeland informed them that he was out of that article, when one of them exclaimed-"For Heaven's sake bring out your rum jug and let us smell it!"
At military inspections and drills which occurred early in the month of May of each year, the pail of rum sweetened with molasses was passed from head to foot of the company standing in line, at the opening and close of the drill. This was a marked feature of the old- time May training. Rum was kept in all grocery stores for the double purpose of stimulating purchases and in- creasing trade. The increase of intemperance had now become a cause of alarm to thoughtful people.
In the year 1826, the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher of Litchfield, Conn., the father of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe, preached a series of start- ling sermons upon the increase of intemperance in the United States, which were given to the public a little later by the American Tract Society. The pungency and force of these sermons are indicated by the follow- ing extract : "Intemperance is the sin of our land, and with our boundless prosperity is coming upon us like a flood, and if anything shall defeat the hopes of the world which hang upon our experiment of civil liberty, it is that river of fire which is rolling through the land, destroying the vital air, and extending around us an atmosphere of death."
Doctor Beecher's utterances on the inroads of intem-
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perance produced a profound impression upon the New England mind. The ministry was especially stirred. Temperance societies sprang into existence as if by magic in many a New England town. Bangor's most eminent citizens led in the organization of a county temperance society. The towns in the immediate vicin- ity of Garland were moved to action by the stirring appeals of Cyril Pearl, then a student of Bangor Theo- logical Seminary.
The first action in Garland, looking to associated effort in the cause of temperance, occurred in 1829. Isaac Wheeler, Esq., one of Garland's leading citizens, was at work in his field with his hired man, Joseph True, both being ardent friends of temperance. The con- versation between them turned upon the importance of organized effort in behalf of temperance, when one of them proposed that they should step across the road to the residence of the Rev. Isaac Wilkins, the Congre- gational minister, and request him to write a paper pledging them to abstain from the use of alcoholic drinks. The pledge was signed by Isaac Wheeler and Joseph True. This led to the organization of Garland's first temperance society. To Isaac Wheeler and Joseph True belongs the honor of being the pioneers in the associated temperance movement in Garland. A society was organized shortly after which bore the names of Isaac Wilkins and wife, Isaac Wheeler and wife, Joseph True, Ansel Field and wife, Deacon Stephen Smith and wife, and George Curtis.
Deacon Smith was chosen president and George Curtis, secretary. The organization was effected at the house now occupied by the Clark family. Its members pledged themselves to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage and from furnishing them to others. This
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movement was at first treated with ridicule by the citizens of the town generally.
When a job requiring the voluntary assistance of num- bers to perform, was undertaken, the failure to furnish a bountiful supply of New England rum was considered an unpardonable infraction of a time-honored practice. The raising of houses and barn frames were illustrative cases. In 1829, Elder John Page asked the assistance of neighbors to raise a barn frame. Several persons who appeared in response to the request, finding that the anticipated stimulus was invisible, refused to assist and disappeared, whereupon, Elder Josiah Bartlett offered an earnest prayer for an increase of strength to the men who remained. The frame was raised without accident.
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