USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > History of Gorham, Me. > Part 34
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Portland.
Moulton, Charles J.
Waters, Reuel W.
Riggs, Charles F.
First Maine Regiment Veteran Volunteers, organized Sept. 20, 1864; mustered out, June 28, 1865.
Ai Waterhouse Ass't Surgeon.
James F. Harmon A. Sergt.
- George L. Darling
Corp.
ยท
Francis, Joseph F. Lacasse, Charles J. F.
Gilbert, Albert A. Libby, Tyng S. B.
The following Gorham men also enlisted, but were placed in unassigned companies, and owing to the close of hostilities not sent to the front.
Bangs, Charles E. 29th company. Parker, Winfield S. 29th company.
Clement, William F. 29th
Shaw, Carlyle W. 29th
Nims, Edward A. 26th
Shaw, Clinton D. W. 29th
Parker, John M., Jr. 28th
Turner, Samuel G. 28th
Gorham also furnished the following men who served in other than the State of Maine organizations.
Adams, A. Egerton
Captain in R. I. Battery, and Capt. of Troop L., 1st N. Y. Mounted Rifles.
Blake, Frank H.
IIth U. S. Infantry.
Bradbury, Charles H.
Sergeant in U. S. V. R. Corps.
Cannell, Marshall
Gen. Butler's Body Guard.
Cary, William H.
13th Mass. Regt.
Cary, Samuel E.
13th Mass. Regt.
Coonley, George W.
Ist D. C. Cavalry.
Conley, James B.
U. S. Navy.
Davis, Daniel W.
California Cavalry.
Day, James H.
Mass. Regt. California Regt.
Douglass, Orman L.
Dyer, Charles F.
Mass. Regt. 13th Mass. Regt.
Estes, Albert S. Estes, Oliver Dana
13th Mass. Kegt. U. S. Colored Troops.
Farr, Tellis
Surgeon of ist La. Infantry.
Gordon Seth C.
- Harding, Josiah
104th Illinois Infantry.
Adams, John R.
Chaplain of 121st. N. Y. Regt.
350
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Howe, Warren
U. S. Army. Chaplain in U. S. Army.
Jackson, Eliphalet W.
Johnson, Albert H.
U. S. Navy.
Johnson, John
U. S. Navy.
Mann, James
Major and Paymaster in U. S. Army.
McLellan, Actor P.
8th Minn. Regt.
Mclellan, Josiah T.
Ist California Cavalry.
McPhee, Francis
U. S. Navy.
Merritt, George H.
U. S. Navy.
Meservey, John
U. S. Navy.
Parkhurst, Alpheus C.
Izth U. S. Infantry.
Patrick, Albert
43d Mass. Regt.
Penfield, Charles
Mass. Regt.
Phillips, James L.
14th R. I. Heavy Artillery (Col.).
Richardson, Isaac, Jr.
2d U. S. Sharpshooters.
Robie, Frederick
33d Mass. Regt.
Sawyer, John
Ist Army Corps, (Hancock's).
Stackpole, Theodore, Jr.
29th Mass. Battery, Light Artillery.
Twombly, Wilson M.
Surgeon of 43d U. S. Colored Troops.
Waterhouse, Horace F.
Mass. Regt.
Waterhouse, Thomas
Mass. Regt.
Waterman, Charles F.
7th Conn. Regt.
Waters, William G.
Captain in Mass. Regt.
Webber, Thomas C.
Captain in Ist D. C. Cavalry.
Winship, John O.
Sergeant in Conn. Infantry.
Winters, William G.
Mass. Regt.
Wormwood, Samuel P.
R. I. Regt.
The Conscription in Gorham, July 17, 1863.
Daniel Mosher,
John Chester,
Edward S. Morse,
Edward Crockett,
Thomas Irish,
Archelaus L. Hamblen,
Isaac Mclellan,
William H. P. Files,
Fred A. Morse,
Toppan Robie, Jr.,
Lendall B. Lowell,
Rufus A. Fogg,
Albion P. Libby,
Warren H. Wood,
Kimball Eastman,
John O. Winship,
Lewis Mclellan,
Richard Willis,
George D. Robinson,
William H. Shackford,
William McLellan,
Ivory Libby,
Horace A. Cloudman,
Melville C. I.eighton,
Henry H. Hunt,
James L. Hall,
Daniel W. Greene,
Matthew Johnson,
George Patrick,
Seward Wescott,
David Patrick,
Robert Rounds,
Mark F. Fogg,
David E. Sawyer,
Benjamin L. Harmon,
William W. Webb,
Daniel D. Plummer,
Christopher C. Plummer,
Robert P. Jewett,
Charles B. Fogg,
Lorenzo D. Thompson, John M. Elden,
John H. Fogg, Frank P. Frost,
Charles Kellogg,
Frank Crockett,
John Johnson,
Levi Hamblen,
Charles B. Cotton,
James M. Brown,
Moses B. Dame,
Alexander Allen,
Charles Elwell,
Augustus Milliken, Charles L. Beck,
David Files, Edmund Greene, Augustus Sweetsir,
George F. Phinney,
Winfield S. Libby,
Silas M. Smith,
Alvan F. Emery,
William T. Skillings,
Lewis Lombard, '
John M. Allen,
Joseph F. Shackford,
Benjamin T. Metcalf,
Sylvanus Tuttle, John W. Files,
Albert Johnson,
Charles E. Bangs.
Potter, George F.
Lt. Col. and Paymaster in U. S. Army.
Sanford, John H. T.
N. Y. Regt.
Waterhouse, Ai
Lieutenant in U. S. Navy.
Of the above men, one enlisted, twenty-six furnished substitutes, one paid commutation, and the remainder were exempted.
Francis Paine,
Moses D. Purinton,
351
CIVIL WAR.
Drafted, reported and furnished substitutes, for the army.
NAME OF PRINCIPAL.
NAME OF SUBSTITUTE. RESIDENCE OF SUBSTITUTE.
Allen, Alexander Charles F. Foster
Portland
Bangs, Charles E. James Wilson
Crockett, Frank
John Hennessey
Fogg, Charles B. Fogg, Mark F.
Charles S. Harris
Fogg, Rufus A.
Hamblen, Archelaus L.
Irish, Thomas
James L. Fadden
Turner
Johnson, Albert,
John Johnson
Johnson, John
Charles Cole
Johnson, Matthew
William T. Nial
Libby, Albion P.
Freeman Grant
Libby, Ivory
William Bell
McLellan, Isaac
Michael Rooney
Mclellan, Lewis
Eugene Dunlevy
Portland
Mc Lellan, William
John Clark
Paine, Francis
William Henderson
Plummer, Daniel D.
Henry Kane
Portland
Purinton, Moses D.
Edward T. Phillips
Robie, Toppan, Jr.
George Ricker
Sawyer, David E.
Edward Whalen
Shackford, Joseph F.
Henry Clark
New York
Shackford, William H.
John Primrose
Portland
Skillings, William T.
John Brown
Wescott, Seward
John Clay
Boston Portland
Willis, Richard
Martin Harrington
Drafted and furnished substitutes, for the navy.
Chase, Albion K. P.
David Stephenson.
Elder, Randal J.
James Graham.
Hinkley, Stephen, Jr.
George Tucker.
Johnson, Charles
John C. F. West.
Johnson, Isaac L.
Charles Forest.
Libby, Benjamin I.
John Burnes.
Parkhurst, Leonard W. John Andrews.
Waterman, John A.
Edward Newman.
Watson, Oliver C.
James Smith.
Other substitutes furnished by Gorham men.
NAME OF SUBSTITUTE.
Devine, Alphonso
Fitch, Albert
Francis, Joseph
Chas. K. Hinkley. William H. Johnson.
O'Brian, Frank
Runnells, Perley
Scott, John
Smith, Edmund
Smith, James Smith, James Welch, Martin
Recruits mustered in by Provost Marshall.
NAME.
Bacon, Isaac E.
Blake, Horace P.
DATE OF MUSTER. Apr. 5, 1865, Dec. 10, 1863,
REGIMENT. 20th Infantry. Ist Cavalry.
NAME OF PRINCIPAL. Clarence E. Buck. Lorenzo D. Files. Almon L. Files.
Martin, John McCarty, Thomas
Daniel Wescott. Michael G. Hayden. Josiah B. Webb. Cyrus B. Clay. Chas. E. Wescott. Jonathan S. Whitney. Octavus F. Milliken.
John Meservey
Portland 66
Charles Davis James Smiley
Biddeford
352
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
NAME.
Bragdon, William H.
Cannell, Albert
Mar. 29, 1865,
Cannell, Heman
Mar. 29, 1865,
Cannell, John J.
Sept. 30, 1864,
Cannell, Samuel A.
Feb. 14, 1865,
Feb. 7, 1865,
Carter, Dennis F. Cloudman, Edwin H. Cole, William H.
Sept. 30, 1864,
Mar. 13, 1865,
Coonley, George W.
Feb. 19, 1864,
Crain, Charles G.
Sept. 26, 1864,
Dresser, Edward
Dec. 10, 1863,
Dunn, Alpha T.
Apr. 5, 1865,
Dunn, William F.
Apr. 5, 1865,
Freeman, James E.
Sept. 30, 1865,
Gibbons, Patrick
Apr. II, 1865,
Gilman, Fairfield J.
Dec. 10, 1863,
Gorman, Thomas
Oct. 8, 1864,
Harding, Edwin S.
Mar. 25, 1865,
Harding, Frank C.
Mar. 29, 1865,
Harding, George B.
Feb. 3. 1865,
Harding, Walter
Mar. 25, 1865,
Hivert, William A.
Mar. 31, 1865,
Libby, Lewis,
Mar. 2, 1865,
Libby, Stephen P.
Mar. 31, 1865,
Lombard, James
Mar. 25, 1865,
Lord, John A.
Sept. 30, 1864,
Low, John
Dec. 1, 1863,
McDonald, James G.
Apr. II, 1865,
Mc Mann, Michael
Feb. 6, 1865,
Moulton, Charles J.
Sept. 28, 1864,
Nimes, Edward A.
Mar. 24, 1865,
Parker, John M., Jr.
Mar. 28, 1865,
Patrick, Charles P.
Apr. II, 1865,
Patrick, Henry C.
Apr. 5, 1865,
Pierce, Edwin D.,
Feb. 23, 1865,
Plummer, Russell C. Potter, George F.
Oct. - 10, 1864,
Quigley, Michael
Oct. 7, 1864,
Richardson, Amos
Dec. 10, 1863,
Richardson, William A.
Dec. 10, 1863,
Robinson, Otis S.
Apr. 11, 1865,
Rounds, Robert B.
Mar. 29, 1865,
66
Ist Army Corps(Hancock's) 20th Infantry. 2d Cavalry. 20th Infantry.
=
Thompson, Henry
Oct. 4, 1864, Mar. 14, 1865,
Turner, Samuel G.
Mar. 28, 1865,
Usher, Sidney B.
Mar. 31, 1865,
Warren, Benjamin Webb, Eli
Dec. 10, 1863, Mar. 29, 1865,
Wentworth, Royal W.
Feb. 7, 1865,
Whitney, Frank R.
Mar. 25, 1865,
Whitney, Gershom S.
Mar. 7, 1865,
Wilson, Horace
Sept. 26, 1864,
Wilson, James K. P.
Mar. 13, 1865,
Apr. 5, 1865,
REGIMENT.
4th Battery. 20th Infantry.
Ist Cavalry. 20th Infantry. 29th Infantry. 2d Cavalry. 20th Infantry. Ist D. C. Cavalry. 30th Infantry. Ist Cavalry. 20th Infantry.
2d Cavalry. 1 5th Infantry. Ist Cavalry. 20th Infantry.
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
30th Infantry. 20th Infantry. 2d Cavalry. 17th Infantry. 66 66
29th Infantry. 6th Battery. 26th Unassigned Infantry. 28th Infantry. 20th Infantry.
66
29th Infantry. 2d Cavalry. 14th R. I. H. Art. (Col.)
30th Infantry. Ist Cavalry. 66 60
20th Infantry. 66 66
Sanford, Nathan J. Sawyer, John Sears, James S.
Apr. 11, 1865,
Sept. 30, 1864,
Small, Francis H. Smith, Thomas Spear, William
Oct. 4, 1864,
66
66
28th Unassigned Infantry. 20th Infantry.
Ist Cavalry. 20th Infantry. 30th Infantry. 20th Infantry.
18th Unassigned Infantry. Ist Cavalry. 18th Unassigned Infantry. 20th Infantry.
Wood, Warren H.
DATE OF MUSTER.
Oct. 6, 1864,
Feb. 23, 1865,
Apr. 11, 1865,
Sept. 30, 1864,
353
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
Early in October, 1865, Hon. Toppan Robie sent to several prom- inent citizens of Gorham a letter, offering to have erected, at his own expense, a suitable monument ; to be in commemoration of those who had perished in battle, or died of wounds, in the Civil War ; to be placed in front of the Town House. As a result of this, a town meeting was held on the 8th of November, at which the town accepted the proposition, and presented their thanks to Mr. Robie.
This monument was dedicated, with appropriate exercises, Oct. 18, 1866. On it are the following inscriptions : -
Captain Almon L. Fogg, 17th Maine Regiment, mortally wounded at Gettys- burg, Pa., July 3d, 1863, died July 4th, aged 24.
Captain Oliver H. Lowell, 16th Maine Regiment, mortally wounded at Gettys- burg, Pa., July Ist, 1863, died July 2, 1863, aged 33.
Captain Daniel M. Phillips, 12th Maine Regiment, killed at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864, aged 28.
Captain Chester B. Shaw, 9th Maine Regiment, killed at Fort Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863, aged 25.
Lieutenant George W. Edwards, 16th Maine Regiment, killed at Fredericks - burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, aged 22.
Sergeant Joseph Files, Jr., 32d Maine Regiment, killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864, aged 30.
Sergeant John McPhee, 16th Maine Regiment, killed at Petersburg, Va., Apr. 2, 1865, aged 35.
Sergeant Charles H. Patrick, 5th Maine Regiment, died at Washington, D. C., July 3, 1864, aged 28.
Sergeant Horatio F. Smith, 31st Maine Regiment, died at Gorham, Aug. 28, 1864, aged 19.
Corporal William Cannell, Jr., 16th Maine Regiment, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863, aged 30.
Corporal Shirley Harmon, Jr., 2d Maine Cavalry, died at Gorham, Oct. 28, 1864, aged 18.
Corporal Benjamin F. Metcalf, 16th Maine Regiment, died at Gorham, June 24, 1863, aged 20.
Corporal Henry H. Newell, 5th Maine Regiment, died at Alexandria, Va., Nov. 28, 1861, aged 21.
Corporal Mahlon H. Parker, 12th Maine Regiment, killed at Port Hudson, La., May 31, 1863, aged 22.
Sergeant Cyrus M. Hall, 17th Maine Regiment, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863, aged 22.
Sergeant Wm. H. Johnson, 9th Maine Regiment, died at Gorham, Feb. 15, 1866, aged 44.
Corporal Morris F. Bumpus, 5th Maine Regiment, wounded at Spottsylvania, Va., May 10, died May 12, 1864, aged 29.
- Corporal John F. Harding, 16th Maine Regiment, wounded at Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5, died Feb. 21, 1865, aged 22.
Corporal Daniel L. Roberts, 12th Maine Regiment, died at Ship Island, Miss., May 15, 1862, aged 25.
Corporal George S. Reed, 5th Maine Regiment, died at - Westbrook, Me., Apr. 27, 1864, aged 48.
Corporal Charles M. Ward, 5th Maine Regiment, killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864, aged 23.
Abram S. Andrews, 16th Maine Regiment, died in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., Nov. 2, 1863, aged 21.
James B. Brown, 17th Maine Regiment, died at Fredericksburg, Md., Aug. I, 1863, aged 21.
354
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Freeman Brown, 17th Maine Regiment, died at Baltimore, Md., Apr. 21, 1865, aged 34.
Franklin H. Blake, 11th U. S. Infantry, wounded at Spottsylvania, Va., May 8, died May 9, 1864, aged 20.
Geo. W. Coonley, Baker's D. C. Cavalry, died at Augusta, Me., Mar. 1, 1864, aged 18.
William F. Dunn, 20th Maine Regiment, died at Cape Elizabeth, Me., Apr. 14, 1 865, aged 19.
Peter Duffey, 5th Maine Regiment, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 20, 1864, aged 22.
Ormond L. Douglass, Ist California Cavalry, killed at Fort Laramie, Kansas, Oct., 1864, aged 23.
Alonzo S. Elder, 5th Maine Regiment, wounded at Rappahannock, Va., Nov, 8, died Nov. 10, 1863, aged 23,
Albert S. Estes, 13th Mass. Regiment, killed at Manassas, Va., Aug. 29, 1862, aged 25.
Ephraim Hicks, 17th Maine Regiment, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863, aged 21.
James E. Haskell, 17th Maine Regiment, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, aged 20.
Joseph D. Harmon, 5th Maine Regiment, killed at Gaines Mill, Va., June 27, 1862, aged 22.
Lewis Libby, 20th Maine Regiment, died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 7, 1865, aged 20.
Solomon Mains, 10th Maine Regiment, wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, died Sept. 18, 1862, aged 37.
Geo. H. Merrett, 5th Maine Regiment, killed at St. Charles, Ark., June 13, 1862, aged 22.
William Powers, 17th Maine Regiment, died at Washington, D. C., Jan. II, 1863, aged 20.
Chas. F. Riggs, 6th Maine Battery, killed at Petersburg, Va., Dec. 5, 1864, aged 24.
John H. Roberts, 17th Maine Regiment, wounded at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, died Aug. 15, 1864, aged 45.
Emery Rolfe, 5th Maine Regiment, died at Governor's Island, N. Y., Nov. 2, 1862, aged 20.
Freedom D. Rand, 17th Maine Regiment, wounded at the Wilderness, Va., May 6, died May 7, 1864, aged 23.
Joseph Small, Ist Maine Cavalry, wounded and prisoner, Aug., 1864, died in Rebel prison, aged 20.
Francis H. Small, 2d Maine Cavalry, died at Barancas, Fla., Sept. 5, 1865, aged 21.
William M. Spaulding, ist Maine Battery, died at New Orleans, La., July 5, 1864, aged 45.
James A. Smith, 12th Maine Regiment, died at New Orleans, La., May 27, 1862, aged 19.
William H. Smith, 32d Maine Regiment, died at New Haven, Conn., Sept. 19, 1864, aged 32.
John M. Stevens, 2d Maine Battery, died at Baltimore, Md., Jan. 4, 1865, aged 21.
Silas M. Smith, 17th Maine Regiment, died at Washington, D. C., May 24, 1865, aged 29.
Moses B. Tripp, 9th Maine Regiment, died at Fernandina, Fla., Aug. 6, 1862, aged 33.
William W. Ward, 16th Maine Regiment, died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 20, 1863, aged 19.
Chas. F. Waterman, 7th Connecticut Regiment, died at Fort Pulaski, Ga., June 5, 1862, aged 18.
Alonzo M. Whitney, 16th Maine Regiment, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, aged 18.
355
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
G. Sumner Whitney, 12th Maine Regiment, died at Savannah, Ga., May II, 1865, aged 20.
Charles Williams, IIth Maine Regiment, died at Meredan Hill, D. C., Apr. 10, 1862, aged 41.
Chas. H. Paine, Ist Maine Regiment, died at Gorham, May 25, 1866, aged 24. Reverend John R. Adams, D. D., died April 25, 1866, aged 64, of disease resulting from devoted service during the rebellion as Chaplain of the 5th Maine, and 12Ist New York Regiments.
In our late war with Spain the following enlisted from Gorham : First Maine Infantry.
Libby, Henry.
Battery E, 2d U. S. Artillery.
Bolton, Ralph. Fifield, Claud. Hanscomb, Walter G.
- Harding, George. Perkins, James.
CHAPTER XXI.
NAILS - CLOCKS - VELOCIPEDE - ORGANS - BUTTON-HOLE MACHINE - MECHANICAL INVENTIONS - CARPET WEAVING -TANNERIES- OTHER MANUFACTURES.
After Eliphalet Watson left his farm, somewhere about the year 1805, the buildings were occupied by a Mr. Sleeper, who was a nail maker. His business was the manufacturing of wrought nails for building purposes, and it is probable that here was about the last place where the business was carried on in this part of the country. Cut nails had begun to come into fashion, and the manufacturing of them was commenced by Mr. Valentine at Saccarappa at this time, or soon after. The making of wrought iron nails was a laborious business, taken from the commencement. Iron did not then come in a size and shape adapted to the manufacture of any article the smith might wish to make. Nail rods were not known. When small iron for light work was required, it had to be spilt out by hand with a cold-chisel from large bars of Russia and Swedish iron. The work of reducing a large bar of Russia iron to shingle-nails by hand-labor, and in sufficient quantities for building houses is hard to think of at this day.
About the year 1808 Mr. Samuel Edwards came here from Ashby, Mass., and for many years carried on the manufacture of wooden clocks in this village. His clocks were excellent timekeepers, though now out of date. Afterwards Mr. Edwards moved to Portland, and went into the iron-foundry business.
About the year 1820 an attempt was made to manufacture a velocipede in Gorham. The idea was suggested by a rough wood- cut in an English magazine which had come into the possession of some one in the village. A number of men subscribed small sums toward defraying the expense, and Mason Frost and George Hight undertook its construction ; their only guide being the picture and its description in the book. The machine was built in the shop after- wards owned by Capt. Bailey, and which at that time stood close to the street, but was moved back about 1840 to its present location in Alfred Bailey's yard. Mason Frost, who was a carriage maker, got
357
MECHANICAL INVENTIONS.
out the frame and wheels, while George Hight undertook the iron work.
The machine consisted of a stout piece of white oak, supported at each end by a sturdy oak wheel. The rider sat astride of this back- bone, and propelled the vehicle by striking his toes against the ground. There were no pedals or other machinery to it. It was steered by an iron bridle, attached to the forward wheel; and, as represented, was able to go up hill as fast as an active man could walk, while it could speed down a moderate slope at the rate of about ten miles an hour, and on level ground nearly as fast. At last the thing was completed, and a trial was made of it in the presence of a throng of interested spectators, but no one could do much with it, excepting to amuse the crowd. At this time there was no saddle or seat on it, but one was afterwards added. Frost was the only one able to make any headway at all on level ground, and he but little, while as to riding up hill, it was no go. The velocipede was finally stowed away in some corner, and the experiment abandoned.
The first organs made in the State of Maine were made in Gorham, about the year 1825, by Mr. Calvin Edwards. He was a very ingenious man. Afterwards, he moved to Portland where he in company with his son and William Twombly manufactured pianos quite extensively.
Though the machine for working button-holes was not really invented in Gorham, the first one was made here. A Mr. Humphrey came here to Elden Gamman, bringing patterns and drawings ; Mr. Gamman being one of the best machinists in the country. They went to work together, made, and set up the first machine of the kind ever made in this part of the country. Humphrey took out a patent, and in Boston sold a half-interest for seventy-five thousand dollars ; created a stock company for its manufacture, and was made president and managing agent at a handsome salary.
About the year 1826 Mr. Edmund Gamman of Gorham invented a machine for cutting brads with a head. This machine he disposed of to a Mr. Noyes, at Little Falls, as a kind of partner, to procure a patent' on the same. Mr. Noyes after procuring the patent sold it, and Mr. Gamman never received one cent for his interest. It was a great machine for the time, though improvements have since been made.
Edward Brown about the year 1846 owned and carried on the saw and grist mill above Fort Hill, situated on Little River. He first
358
HISTORY OF GORHAM.
originated the idea of a mowing machine. He was a very ingenious man, but poor, and destitute of a mechanical education, and with a lack of proper tools. At that time there was no such thing talked of as a mowing machine. Still, Mr. Brown went to work to get up one. Most of his gearing was of wood. His iron work was done by a common country blacksmith, and did not work kindly. His knives were in shape somewhat like those in present use, only longer and more pointed. The principle of their working was precisely like that of the present day. Mr. Brown's situation did not allow of his devoting much of his time to the machine, consequently its progress was slow. One day when he was from home, a stranger called and requested of Mr. Brown's brother the favor of examining a curious machine he understood they were making. He was allowed to examine it, and it was noticed that he was very particular in his examination, and even measured a number of the parts before taking his leave. Two years after Brown commenced his, a machine came out in Massachusetts, precisely like his in principle, so much so that it was evident that his was taken as a pattern on which to work and improve. This machine was patented. But to Edward Brown, then of Gorham, really belongs the honor of being the inventor of the mowing machine.
About the year 1827 Hugh Gilroy came to Gorham with his family. He was from the North of Ireland : a weaver by trade. He fitted up a small shop at West Gorham, opposite the house of the Rev. James Lewis, and commenced weaving ingrain carpeting, damask table-covers and bedspreads. It was quite a curiosity at that time. This was the first ingrain carpet weaving that was done in the State of Maine. At the time there was a small establishment of this kind at Dover, N. H. The manufacture of carpet warp and filling was in its infancy in New England. Gilroy's carpets were woven from materials of domestic manufacture, furnished by those ordering the goods, and woven to order. The story is told of a certain Gorham woman who hired Mr. Gilroy to weave her a carpet, he finding the warp and she the yarn for the filling. When she received the carpet, it seemed to her that Mr. G. had cheated her and not used all her yarn. So she went to work and ravelled the entire carpet, to get out the filling and weigh it; only to find that her yarn was all there, and that she had lost her carpet.
Mr. Gilroy's situation at West Gorham not being to his liking, he built a building on the Flaggy Meadow road, opposite the house
359
CARPET WEAVING.
formerly occupied by Mr. Seth Hersey, where he somewhat enlarged his business. From there he moved his building to Gorham village, on to what is now called Water St. Being poor and not able to keep up with the improvements of the times in machinery, and not meeting with the success he expected, he sold out his factory to John Parington, about the year 1832. Mr. Gilroy's son Patrick tells me (1875) that his father hardly had a settled residence after he left this town. He was an ingenious man, and got up many patents and improvements in machinery for weaving, some of which he sold for large sums ; but was always poor. In attempting to cross the Niagara River into Canada, about the year 1847, he lost control of his boat, was caught in the current, and carried over the Falls. His body was found, much mutilated, below the Falls, and buried on the American side. When he left Gorham he had a wife, four sons and three daughters - to-day his son says, " I have neither father nor mother, sister nor brother. My wife and my three children are dead. I have not a relative on the face of the earth that I know of; certainly none in America, and I am sixty-six years old."
Mr. Parington made some improvement in the machinery. He carried on the business but a short time ; his health failing, he sold out to Gen. James Irish and his son Isaac Irish about the year 1835. They built a large building on the opposite side of the street into which they put the best machinery of the day, most of which was made by Elden Gamman of Gorham. Mr. Parington dying in 1836, the company employed Robert Lowrey, an experienced carpet weaver, as their foreman. Lowrey was from Ireland, and had worked at the business several years in Lowell, Mass. He did not remain with them long. He finally purchased the Gilroy factory, and went into business by himself. His house and factory were destroyed by fire in 1844.
The new factory went into the hands of Messrs. Emery and Jameson, and finally to Daniel C. Emery, Esq., who ran it awhile. The busines becoming poor, the building was cleared out, and made into dwelling houses.
David H. McKenney opened a factory at the junction of the two Portland roads, where he manufactured carpets for a few years. The late Dea. Marshall Irish owned and ran a small factory a few years since, where he made a good article at a fair price.
There has been a large amount of carpeting manufactured in Gorham, since the business was first started in 1827; but the business from various reasons as a whole has not been a success.
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
For some years after the settlement of the town it was the custom for almost every house-holder each fall to kill a " beef creature," and have the skin tanned to make shoes for his family.
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