USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > History of Industry, Maine : from the first settlement in 1791 > Part 3
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Rufus Davis built mills at the outlet of the pond in 1804, now called Allen's mills, which have done good business, especially after the same passed into the hands of Benjamin and Newman T. Allen. Capt. Thompson built mills near Starks line in 1805 which were an accommodation to the settlers in that vicinity. Capt. West's mills were built in 1798 as has been stated, which have since been rebuilt and have done good business.
. A county road was laid out in 1802, from Waterville through the centre of Starks to Withee's corner in Industry, the nce by Week's mills to Farmington, and the next year a branch was laid out from Withee's corner by the Allen place and Allen's mills to the Viue- yard road in Farmington at Rufus Allen's. Immediately after the first choice of town officers the Selectmen proceeded to lay out the other principal roads, to wit : from the corner of Anson near West's mills to Withee's corner ; from Butler's corner to Davis' corner, from
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Thompson's corner over Bannock hill to Hinkley's corner, and from Butler's corner to Daulel Collins, and some other short pieces. In 1804 a highway tax of $800 was raised to open the roads.
Face of the Country, Soil and Productions.
The territory now comprising the town is hilly and a portion of it mountainous especially the Oregon territory or that part taken from New Vineyard. The native growth on the hills was Rock Maple, Beach, Birch, Ash and Basswood or Linden. In some places the Rock Maple predominated. The soil ou the hills is gen- crally fertile and was favorable to first crops on burnt land, but gen- erally very stony. Only a small portion of the town is suitable for tillage. The valleys were covered with a mixture of hard wood, hemlock and spruce. In the swamps there was some ceder and a few pines. One hundred acres on the point which extends into the pond was originally covered with good pine timber which at an early day, prior to the settlement of the town, was destroyed by fire. The soil in the valleys is not so good as on the hills, is very stony with few exceptions.
Where the prevailing growth was hard wood, even where it was so stony that places could scarcely be found for a hoe to enter to plant corn on burnt land, the first crop of corn or wheat was sure to be good. Corn at the rate of twenty-five bushels or more to an acre the first year, and wheat or rye the second year at the rate of twenty bushels and acre and sometimes more, and then when properly seed- ed down a good crop of clover seed could be obtained the third year, and good crops of hay for several years till the stumps decayed so that the ground could be broken up with a plough. But little profit could be derived from ploughed land as it required a strong team and much labor to make it productive on account of stones. The land when subdued and well seeded down affords the best of pasturage and makes the business of raising sheep more productive than tillage.
Although good crops of corn was raised by the carly settlers, they. could not get their surplus produce to market without great expense. In order to procure necessary stores for family use, salt and other things they were subject to much fatigue and cost. I will illustrate by a case or two of my own. My father having raised a good erop of corn the first year that he lived in town, prepared a load of forty- five bushels for market to pay for leather for shoes and to procure necessaries, having bought one yoke of oxen, he procured another yoke on condition that he would pay at Winthrop, fifteen shillings in grain for the hire of them ; got all things in readiness on Saturday '
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in January 1799 for an early start on Monday morning for a week's jaunt, and I was designated teamster. The boys were called up early and one sent two miles for the hired oxen, and before daylight appeared I started with my load. The roads being rough and the track narrow, my father went with me four miles to Col. Fairbank's near the Titcomb place in Farmington to pry up the sled when it run off the track. We arrived at Col, F's before sunrise. let the oxen rest and eat half an hour, re-laid the load on the sled and squared up and made all secure, I then proceeded alone ; the road being bet- ter, crossed the river opposite Farmington village and arrived at Lowell's in Chestervilie soon after noon, fed my oxen, eat my cold dinner with a tumbler of cider to wash it down ; stopped an hour and started again, got to Perry's at sun-set and put up, having driv- en nineteen miles, bought a pint of milk and ate bread and milk for supper ; got a warm breakfast aud started again at sun-rise, drove seventeen miles to Winthrop where I discharged teu bushels of corn from my load to pay the tauner for our winter stock of leather, tried to sell my load, but no one would buy, and had to go three miles fur- ther to leave another portion of my load for ox hire ; on a cross road I was directed wrong, and found myself at the end of a wood road in the dark, could find no suitable place to turn, but with much trouble I got my sled turned by taking my forward oxen with the chain to one corner of the sled and starting the sled off and then start- ing the oxen on the tongue, then first one yoke then the other a little . at a time till I got turned ; after half an hour thus spent, I at length got on the right track and having traveled twenty miles, arrived at Farbanks, my place of deposit, stopped over night, and as my team was beat out I accepted an invitation to stop a day to rest. On the fourth day I started carly and drove to Hallowell by noon, carried hay and bated my oxen in the street, sold my corn for four shillings, got ten dollars in money and the rest in goods. and started for home without entering any building in the place except the stores, and drove to Carlton's by daylight, eight miles ; the next day to Low- ell's twenty-two miles, and on the sixth day in the afternoon got home tired aud hungry with about four dollars in money after pay- ing expenses, and ten dollars in necessary family stores, salt, &c. the proceeds of my load of corn after paying the tanner.
Not being entirely discouraged with marketing, a year or two af- terwards I ventured again with an ox team by way of Vienna, ar rived at the Forks on the second day before night, put up my team at Cumming's and went to Augusta on foot to try the market as corn was a drug at Hallowell, but could do no better there, returned to
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Cummings' making twenty eight miles travel that day. The next drove into Hallowell sold my corn at sixty cents, two thirds in goods, returned to Mount Vernon at ten o'clock at night, having driven twenty four miles and traveled four miles extra, to recover goods left at the store. On the fourth day drove to Farmington hill and the fifth day home before noon, with little money left after paying expenses but had learned a good lesson and determined not to go to market again that distance, with an ox team. We after that manag- en to keep our produce at home till called for by settlers.
Poverty however, often compelled new settlers to carry their produce to market as soon as it was har- vested without counting the cost, and some were sure to sell themselves short at a low price, and before the next crop came to maturity were compelled to buy at a high price for the support of their families.
Many expedients were resorted to in our early days to raise spending money besides working out by the day. Maple sugar was a staple article and large quan- tities were made by some families yearly. I made nine hundred pounds one season by my own labor without any assistance. I have carried maple sugar on horseback to Augusta to market. Some made shingles, some baskets and some brooms to sell. The boys found profit several years in digging. ginsing at half a dollar a pound, till it was all collected. The main dependence of most of the early settlers during the first year was hiring out by the day to farmers in older places, two to four or six miles distant. A crop of corn was generally raised the second year, then grain, then their new land was seeded down so that they could get hay for a cow. The cows lived in the woods on bowse during the summer, and corn stalks and meadow hay winters. After two or three years, those who were industrious and prudent generally be- gan to emerge from poverty and want and advanced more rapidly for three or four succeeding years while clearing up new land, than afterwards, when they had to break up their new land with the plough, the soil being generally stony and hard to subdue.
All at first had to work hard and fare hard. Many had to live principally on corn bread and potatoes the
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first year with no meat except pork, and but little of that.
Schools.
There were no schools of any note before the incor- poration of the town. An old maiden lady was em- ployed occasionally a short time to teach children their letters and to spell out short words. Her school was kept one month in my barn. She did what she could "to teach the young idea how to shoot" but was quite incompetent. I visited her school on one occasion and she had a small class advanced to words of three syn- ables in the spelling book and when they came to the word "anecdote" she called it a-neck-dote and defined it to be food eaten between meals.
When the first town school was put in operation the master was quite deficient every way. When a boy hesitated at the word "biscuit" the master prompted him rashly, "bee squit, you rascal" But during the second year a portion of the town united with a dis- trict in Farmington which extended from the Vineyard gore to the Titcomb place more than four miles. The school was kept in a log school house near where Mosh- er lives, by Samuel ' Belcher, a competent teacher, and our boys made good progress. The master board- ed with us a part of the time two miles from the school house. When the road was not broken out they had to get breakfast by candle light, in order to be at school in season. The town ever afterwards manifest- ed a commendable interest in the support of schools and the youth of the town have been well taught and a large number of skillful teachers have been raised up who have found employment in some of the best of grammar schools and a respectable number have obtain- ed a College education and become distinguished as Clergymen, Lawyers and Teachers in distant places.
I had no opportunity to attend school but one month after I was twelve years old till I was twenty-two ; but having learned to read when we were young, our boys derived great benefit from a small Social Library which
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we joined at Farmington Falls, although at the dis- tance, often miles, I attended the meetings every month to return my book ; conforming strictly to the regula- tions by returning all books every four weeks. On one occasion being pressed with work in the month of June, after hurrying off my work I took an early sup- per, went on foot by a spotted line with a horse load of corn to Weeks Mills and thence by a road through New Sharon to Farmington Falls to exchange a book and do some errands. On my return night overtook me and a thunder cloud came up when I got within two miles of home so that could not keep the track with the horse, I therefore, before it commenced rain- ing, coming to a large fallen tree, I crawled under it and encamped for the night ; being fatigued I slept quietly till day-light and then got home before the family were up.
We often took long jaunts on moon-light nights in the winter six or seven miles to attend singing school, taught by S. Belcher Esq., where the good old tunes of Sherburn, Majesty, Victory and other tunes were rehearsed and sung with spirit and animation, more cap- tivating than the most splendid modern tunes or con- certs. The school usually closed at nine and after a little congratulation with our associates we returned home delighted with our excursion although it might be near midnight when we got home.
Religious Meetings.
Although there were many things that were repre- hensible among the early settlers, all were poor, rum drinking was common, many were intemperate, some were vicious and quarrelsome as well as drunkards, and there was no regular preaching for some time. Still a religious element prevaded a considerable portion of the inhabitants. Several of the carly settlers had a short time before, experienced religion and several who had long been esteemed for their piety.
BAPTISTS. Religious meetings were first holden on the gore at Deacon Norton's by members of the Bap- tist order. Several of that denomination came from
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Martha's Vineyard and settled in that vicinity. Rev. Jesse Lee, a noted Methodist preacher in his tour through Maine in the fall of 1794 was advised to call and preach at the Deacon's, but finding the family sick he passed on a mile farther to Daniel Luce's in Now Vineyard ; afterwards in December of the same year, Rev. Sylvanus Boardman visited the Deacon and preached the first sermon that was preached in town. The Baptist thus took precedence of all other religious denominations and as early as 1798, were organized in- to a church and connected with the Bowdoinham as- sociation consisting of fifteen or twenty members, and were supplied with preaching every fourth sabbath by Rev. Oliver Billings, of Fayette, for several years, and occasionally by Elder Boardman, Elder Hooper, Elder Frances and others. John Spencer settled in the cor- ner of Anson near West's Mills, preached several years part of the time in this town, but some imputations res- pecting his moral character impared his success. Af- ter eight or ten years, Elisha Robbins, a pious young man, who was much esteemed, settled in town and was licensed to preach, but died in 1809. Levi Young, Jr. took his place as a preacher being illiterate and con- scious of his want of qualification, he after a short time relinquished his post.
In the fall of 1808, Elder Jason Livermore from Hallowell, spent two months in the town, during the progress of a revival which was more extensive than any revival had been. He baptised twenty or more, most of whom united with the Baptist church. Ad- ditions were also made to the other branches of the church. The Baptists then took measures to have more preaching than they had before, and employed Mr. Oliver Peabody statedly for a year or two, and Elder Hooper of Paris and Elder Cain, of Clinton, preached occasionally. The number of members then, exceeded fifty.
1813-14, Elder Thomas Morrill was employed stat- edly at a salary of Eighty dollars a year. After two . years he left and went to Prospect. Elder Boardman
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of New Sharon then took a fatherly over-sight of the church and preached to them occasionally as long as he lived. By the minutes of the Bowdoinham Asso- ciation it appears that fifty-two were returned as mem- bers of the Baptist Church in the year eighteen hun- dred and nine ; part however resided in adjoining towns. About 1854, a second church was formed in the cast part of the town and Starks, consisting of a- bout twenty-five members, under the care of Rev. Da- tus T. Allen (since deceased) and in 1855, Rev. T. Brownson was installed over the church in the west part of the town, consisting of about thirty members. Ira Emery, Esq., and Franklin Norton of Farmington (now dead) were the deacons. Not having been able to obtain a copy of the statistics of either of these churches, the members are stated by estimates only.
Cornelius Norton, Ebenezer Norton, Benjamin Cot- tle, Josiah Butler, Bartlett Allen, James Davis, Alvin Smith, Rowland Luce, Tristram Norton, Abner C. Ames and Ira Emery were prominent members of the Baptist church, and most of their wives, but nearly all are dead. It is reported that the number during the last twenty years has diminished more by deaths and removals than increased by accessions.
The Baptists from the first settlement of the town to the present time have sustained a respectable stand- ing, embracing some of the best men in town, who have manifested a commendable interest to sustain preach- ing and to promote the best good of the town.
METHODISTS. On the first of Dec. 1794, Rev. Jesse Lee a Methodist preacher, as has been stated, on his way from Sandy river to Anson, passed through the gore with an intention to preach at Deacon Norton's, was prevented by the sickness of the family and went on and preached at Daniel Luce's who then lived in New Vineyard, being the first sermon preached in that town. Ile planned a circle for succeeding preachers, and the next year Rev. Enoch Mudge and Rev. Elias Ilull were appointed preachers the on Readfield circuit visited the new settlement on the Gore and, preached
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at Abner Norton's occasionally. In the course of the year Mr. Norton and his wife and one or two of his children with Daniel Collins and some others made a profession of religion, united in a society and were formed into a class. The class increased and Metho- dist preaching was furnished once in four weeks at Mr. Norton's or Mr. Collins' for many years. After a few years another class was formed at Esq. Boardman's, and in 1798 another at Capt. Thompson's who was li- censed as a local preacher and officiated with manifest success till the infirmities of age prevented. He was a zealous advocate of the cause of religion and devoted to the church of his choice. He was esteemed for his piety while he tselleved and had much influence over the intemperate portion of the citizens as well as with( all good men. He was a good citizen, was Town Treas. urer several years, Representative in the Legislature and once a Senator for the county. Ile had a good wife.
In 1802, John Gower, Esq., moved into town from Farmington, was licensed as a local preacher, was suc- cessful in forming a class in the lower part of the town, and preached occasionally during many years, till he became incapable by reason of disease on the lungs .- lle was a man of much firmness and decision, of a be- nevolent disposition, of strong mind and of strict integ- rity, a successful citizen highly respected by all who knew him. He was an acting Justice of the Peace, and Selectman for many years, and once a Representative in the Legislature. He closed a well spentlife in 1845 aged sixty-five years. His two sons inherit many of his good traits of character ; both have moved away.
A class of Methodists was formed at West's mills where the society erected a meeting house and built a small parsonage. Peter West, Jr., was for a long time identified as a prominent member and did much to sus- tain the cause of religion, but failed to secure the good will of all the community, had some personal difficulty with one or two and left the society and joined anoth- er church a short time before he died.
THE NEWBERRY WIRDADV
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Daniel Collins, Jr. who was raised up on the Gore, became a professor of religion, joined the class and was several years a licensed preacher.
John Allen (my brother) who in his youth was the rudest boy in the family experienced religion at a camp meeting in 1824 when thirty years old, after a regular probation was admitted to the Maine Confer- ence as a regular preacher and preached statedly till 1800 is extensively known as "Camp meeting John."- IIe was so zealous at first that we thought he would not hold out to the end, but has exceeded our expec- tations.
Henry Butler experienced religion when young, was admitted to the Maine Conference, and for several years was highly esteemed as a preacher. He died young and was much lamented.
The Methodists in this town under these and other agencies, by the gracious interposition of Divine Provi- dence acquired a predominating influence in the town and have no doubt contributed assentially to the good order and prosperity thereof. The "number in the Society in 1854 was one hundred and sixty and fifteen more on probation." Some belonged to the adjoining tows of Starks and Anson. By the last returns the number had fallen off considerably of late years. Rev. Daniel Waterhouse was the preacher in charge in 1869. Members, one hundred thirty eight, probation, four.
Congregationalists. About the time of the first set- tlement in this town, Judith Luce, a daughter of Daniel Luce went to live with Samuel Sewall in Farmington, and while residing with that excellent family she ex- perienced religion, united with the church and after- wards married John Trask, a brother of Mrs. Sewall, and removed to her father's in this town. Jonathan Bunker a young man living at that time near Mr. Sewall's, experienced religion under the teachings of Mr. Sewall and Rev. Jonathan, Sewall as did Mr. Trask, they embraced fully the creed of their patrons, and ever afterwards manifested a child-like regard for these good men. Mr. Bunker married in 1797, and moved into this town. These three persons were the
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germ of the Congregational church in this town. Un- der the influence of his daughter, Trask and her hus- band, Mr. Luce and two or three sons having experi- enced religion were induced to join this church. Wil- liam Allen, Thomas Flint, Samuel Mason, William Remick and Rufus Viles united and on the twenty- first of January 1802, were organized into a church (with some female members) and Rev. Samuel Sewall as a missionary was at first appointed to take the spec- ial charge of the church. Both the Rev. Jonathan Sewall and the Rev. Samuel Sewall always treated Mr. Trask and his wife and Mr. Bunker as their children, often visiting them and frequently preached at their houses as long as they lived in town.
Rev. Jotham Sewall in his diary states that he preached two hundred and ten sermons in this town during his ministry. Some 'of the original members moved away, several have died. Some additions were made from time to time. Cornelius Norton, Jr., Esq., Jacob Hayes, Zebulon Allen, Sylvanus Allen were prominent members, but are all dead. Pelaliah Shorey, also, who is living.
This Church has not been able to sustain preaching for any length of time statedly, Rev. Alden Boynton was once settled over them for a year or two, also Rev. Thomas Smith, Rev. Josiah Tucker, was employed one or two years a part of the time and the Rev. Mr. Burnham has re- cently spent part of his time with them. The number ofmembers has seldom exceeded twenty, including females. The influence of this church has always had a good effect on society. Sev- eral were among the foremost in every good work in town.
Harrison Allen, by unweared efforts obtained a Collegate and Ministerial education, was ad-
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mitted to the church in Farmington, and died at his post in Mississippi, as a Missionary to the Choctaws in 1831.
Three of Jacob Hayes's sons graduated with honor, at Bowdoin College. Stephen, the old- est is a Congregational preacher in Massachus- etts ; one was drowned in Lake Ontario ; all were talented and highly esteemed.
Thus notwithstanding that many obstacles and unfavorable circumstances attended the carly settlers, their children were placed under the influence of religious instruction in early life and generally imbibed religious principles and a high regard for religious institutions, and ministers of the gospel of all denominations, who visited the place, often going on foot six miles to the place of religious meetings on the sabbath, and in the order of Providence, gener- ally acquired habits of morality and good order, many of whom by Divine Grace have been res- cued from the dominion of vice and come for- ward, useful and worthy members of the church and State.
Boys innured to toil and hardship. while young, came on the stage prepared to emerge from degrading poverty and ignorance, to sur- mount all difficulties and to take a rank in so- ciety creditable to themselves and to their town, and to act well their part in life, and to trans- mit a good name to the succeeding generation.
This town has furnished its full proportion of Senators and Representatives to the Legislature of the State ; with a full quota of Militia Offi- cers up to a Brigadier General ; and when the town belonged to the County of Somerset from
HISTOSY OF INDUSTRY.
1809 to 1838, it was remarked that this town furnish- ed less business for the courts than any other town in the county of equal population and that her Jurors were distinguished for their intelligence and discretion. IIer Representatives and Town Officers have with few exceptions been professedly pious men and members of the different branches of the church in good and and regular standing.
By examining the statistics and records of the town it will be seen that the town officer's from the begin- ing were managed with the utmost frugality and econ- omy. The town officers were always attentive to their duties and were satisfied with a small compensation for many years. The pay of the Treasurer for ten years or more was two dollars a year, and the bills of the Se- lectmen who were also assessors and overseers of the poor averaged from six to eight dollars each. It is pre- sumed that no other town in the State was ever organ- ized and managed with so small a tax as this town was for town charges during the first twenty years ; and it was admitted by all who had an opportunity to know, that no town was ever served more faithfully ; inso- much that portions of the inhabitants of all the adjoin- ing towns for these and other reasons petitioned for and obtained annexation. But during the last twenty years the town has lost a number of its most efficient residents, some by death and others by removals or be- ing set off to other towns and the population has fallen off twenty per cent in number and the en- terprise and prosperity of the town have materially de- clined.
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