USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Wales > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 26
USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Monmouth > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 26
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Haraph Ro. Prin
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
but the ones thus formed were generally supported not more than a year. In 1794 a new school was organized at the Center, or, rather, at Dearborn's corner, one mile south of the Center. This encroached on the south district only in the matter of numbers, as the money set apart for that school was not divided, a sum more than twice as large being raised among the voters of the neighborhood for the support of their independent school. This school was abandoned at the end of the first year. In 1797 the Ridge was set off as a separate district, drawing its quota of school money from the town treasury. This, too, was abandoned after a brief trial. The first movement toward a new division, which had in it the principle of permanency, was in- augurated in 1802, when the two or three families living in the Bishop neighborhood were permitted to retain their school money. This continued until 1805, when a new arrangement was effected, and the Bishop district formed. A fair idea of the size of this school may be gained from the fact that, out of a sum total of four hundred eight dollars and sixty-one cents, its pro- portionate part was five dollars and sixty-five cents. In 1803 the east district was practically, though not nominally divided. At this time and in following years the money appropriated for the support of that school was drawn in two orders, one half going to de- fray the expense of a new school in Joseph Chandler's neighborhood.
Among the new arrivals for 1805 was Elias Stack- pole, a man of almost superhuman strength, whose muscular achievements astonished the heroes of the prize ring for miles around. While working in the
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
saw-mill at East Monmouth, it was no uncommon thing for him to catch a sawed log from the carriage and carry it to the board pile without any apparent ef- fort. At a training in Augusta, after the review, a field officer who was acquainted with him rode up be- side him and playfully knocked off his hat with his sword. No sooner did the hat leave the giant's head than the officer sunk the spurs into his horse's flanks with an exultant chuckle; but, before the animal could make the responsive plunge, Stackpole had caught him by the tail and pulled him back on his haunches. "He laughs best who laughs last," thought the chagrined officer, as he half leaped, half tumbled, to the ground, and ordered the drinks. Stackpole was not a pugilist. His remarkable strength never made a bully of him. While he always took pride in exhibiting his ability, he never sought opportunities to display it. He married Nancy, daughter of Joshua Smith of Monmouth Neck.
Nathaniel Marston, of Deerfield, N. H., purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land at Monmouth Cen- ter, in 1805, to which he removed either that year or the first of the one following. He served as town con- stable in 1807. His brother, Robey Marston, jun., and son, Daniel, settled at about the same time on a farm on Back street. Nathaniel subsequently moved to the eastern part of the state. His grandson, Nathan W. Marston, has recently accomplished the onerous task of compiling the genealogy of the Marston family.
Major Benjamin White was born in Dedham, Mass., in 1760. He was a descendant of Peregrine White, and one of thirteen children. In 1783 he married
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Residence of Joseph R. King, North Monmouth.
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
Polly Fales, of Walpole. Soon after, they removed to Winthrop, Me., and took up a farm in the wilderness. Their house was built in the heart of the forest, and was so closely surrounded by evergreens that the good lady of the house-or cabin, could stand on her door- step and pick a broom. Many were the lonely hours spent by this estimable lady during the first two years of her married life. Her only companion, while her husband was clearing his farm, was a small kitten which she brought from her old home in Walpole. After two years, a daughter was born to them, and, three years later, a son. On the advent of these troublesome comforts, all loneliness disappeared.
In 1805, the family removed to the Lyon district, in Monmouth, and settled on the Sinclair place, where the remainder of Mr. White's days were spent.
Maj. White held, in an unusual degree, the respect of the people, and was, in consequence, raised to important military and civil positions. Perhaps the most impor- tant one was that of high sheriff of Kennebec county, at a period when ability and desert were the factors that won. As incumbent of this office, he was called upon to discharge the disagreeable duties of hangman at the execution of Sager, and was saved from the per- formance of this part by nothing but an attack of sick- ness. To a man of tender sensibilities, such an act would have been a terrible ordeal. He possessed a genial disposition and a great fondness for children, which was so thoroughly reciprocated that many of the children of the neighborhood would cry after him when he left them. Mrs. White was a devoted Christian, and her home was often the scene of gathering for the
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
praying women of the vicinity, many of whom would sometimes remain all night in prayer.
Maj. White had four sons and five daughters. Ben- jamin, jun., will be noticed in a later chapter; Eben married Mary Durgan, of Walpole, Mass., and settled in Hallowell, Maine, where he engaged in trade as senior partner of the firm of White & Warner. He subsequently removed to Gardiner, where he died, in 1842. He was the father of Ex-State Treasurer, Hon. Charles A. White. David married, first, Hannah Hoyt. They settled in East Monmouth. After her decease, he married Cynthia Wickwire and removed to the northern part of the state, where he served in the ca- pacity of a government official, and thence to Skowhe- gan, Me., where he held the office of Judge of Probate. Greenlief married Julia Marston of Hallowell. He was a wholesale merchant in Augusta, Me. Mary, the old- est of Major White's daughters, married Maj. James F. Norris, of East Monmouth; Amelia married Reuben Brainerd, of Winthrop. They moved to East Mon- mouth and settled on the hill east of the mills. Lucy married William Cram, of Litchfield, and Sophronia, Henry A. Tilton, of Monmouth. She was the mother of Mrs. Wm. K. Dudley, of this town.
John C. Chandler was another 1805 immigrant. He was a nephew of Gen. John Chandler and was born in Sanbornton, N. H., July 20, 1783. He married Major David Marston's daughter, Locady, the first day of January, 1806. He built a house near his father-in- law's, in the field north of the B. S. Ellis stand, and a blacksmith shop near it in which he worked at his trade. These buildings he sold in later years to John
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
Sullivan Blake, and removed to Bath. After about eight years absence, he returned and purchased the place now owned by Christopher Hammond, at North Monmouth, where he died, May 25, 1830. He had six children, all but one of whom died in early life. Mary Ann Chandler, the surviving daughter, resides with B. M. Prescott, Esq., in Monmouth.
The advent of the Tilton family in Monmouth dates back to 1805, when Josiah Tilton, accompanied by his wife and child, came from Epping, N. H., and settled on wild land, now embraced in the farm of Albert A. Sawyer. His wife was Hannah Blake, a sister of the wife of Daniel Folsom, and of Joseph Blake, who came from Epping in 1810 and settled on the farm at East Monmouth now owned by Reuben Howard, from which he moved to the place now owned by Robert Gilman, in the Lyon district.
Josiah Tilton had only one child, Joseph, who married, first, Elizabeth Norris, of Epping, and second, Joannah Emerson, of Litchfield. He lived with his father until the decease of his first wife. After his second marriage he removed to the stand now owned by L. L. Allen, at Monmouth Center, and thence to Newport, Me. He had four children, two of whom died at an early age. Mary, the oldest child, married Wm. Wharff, now of West Gardiner, and Joseph F., the next oldest, Julia Towle, daughter of Benj. Towle, of Monmouth. He now resides in Newport, Me.
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Josiah Tilton had a brother by the name of Daniel, who settled on the farm now owned by E. Page White some years after Josiah took up the Sawyer farm. The exact date of his settlement in this town can not be as-
1
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
certained, but it is very probable that he did not live here more than one year before his decease, which oc- curred in 1819. His sons, Noah and Abram, came to this town in 1814 and 1815 respectively, and, as the father was never taxed in Monmouth, it is probable that he came in 1818 and died the year following. He had eight children. The youngest of these, Hannah, died at the age of fourteen. The others all married into Monmouth families except Noah, who elected a life of "single blessedness." He remained in town, however, after his father's decease, and plied the voca- tion of a tailor on the home place. The daughters were Elizabeth, Mercy and Rachel. The first married Joseph Blake, the second, Phineas Kelly, and the last, Clark Wilcox. Abram, who was, next to Noah, the oldest son, took up the farm now owned by Ethan Lit- tle. He married Mary French and had one child, Mary E., who married Hiram G. Judkins. Henry A., the third son, remained on the home place with his brother Noah. He married Sophronia, daughter of Major Benjamin White. They had three daughters, Mary A., Ann E., and Sarah A. The latter died at the age of fifteen years. Ann married William K. Dud- ley, and Mary, Cyrus L. Owen. William Frederick, the youngest son, married Charlotte, daughter of Eze- kiel Wickwire, and settled on the farm of his father-in- law. He had two children, Harriet O., who married James O. Preble, of Monmouth Center, and William Henry, who married Nellie M. Pike, of Salisbury, Mass., and remained on the home place.
"Dr. Frederick" Tilton was the son of Abraham Tilton, of Epping, who came to Monmouth in or about
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
1845, and settled on the place now owned by Davis Emerson. Abraham had two children, a daughter, who married and settled in New Hampshire, and Dr. Fred- erick. His wife died before he left Epping. The son, William Frederick, who, to distinguish him from William Frederick, the son of Daniel Tilton, was al- ways known as "Doctor" Frederick, had studied medi- cine in New Hampshire and taken his degrees at a medical college. The first time he was called to visit a patient he fell from his horse and severely injured his-temper. In that hour his professional career closed. The fates that had so unceremoniously tampered with his dignity had no power to induce him to resume his vocation. He lodged his diploma and saddle-bags in the garret, hitched his horse to a plow, exchanged his ruffled shirt for a farmer's frock, and satisfied his de- sire to mount fame's gilded ladder by running up and down the ladder that led to the hay mow. He was married before leaving New Hampshire, and had two sons, George and Arthur. The entire family removed to Kansas, with the exception of Abraham, who died in Monmouth, June 21, 1854.
Another branch of the Monmouth Tiltons sprang from Josiah Tilton, who settled on the farm now owned by his grand-daughters, the Misses Tilton, of Mon- mouth Neck. Mr. Tilton had two sons and two daugh- ters. Of the latter, Jane married Jacob G. Smith, and Louise married, first, Phineas Jewell, and second, Cy- rus Foster. The sons were Josiah and Greeley. The former married Diantha, daughter of Jacob Smith, and sister of Jacob G. Smith, of East Monmouth. He had two children, Martha and Louise. Louise married
!
390
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
James H. Chick, of Monmouth, and Martha, who is un- married, resides on the home place. After the death of their father, his widow married his brother Greeley. From this union came Sarah and Ada. The former married John S. Chandler. of East Monmouth, and the latter resides with her sister Martha, on the homestead.
To carry out the ancient custom of having a burying lot in close proximity to the church, the town voted, at a meeting held the 29th day of September, 1805, "that the town do appropriate and relinquish for a Burying ground the following part of the land that was given by Lady Temple, viz: Beginning at the South-east cor- ner of said piece, then running north 22 1-2 degrees, east, ten rods; thence running west north-west, carry- ing the width of ten rods so far as that a line parallel with the Range will run within two rods of the east end of the East porch to the meeting house." It will be seen that the whole of this lot lay east of the meet- ing house. A few were interred in this place before 'any action was taken to have it set apart as a cemetery. Later, the town voted to change the location to the present site, on account of the condition of the low land east of the meeting house. When this re- moval was effected, it was the intention to use only the upper part of the lot, and bodies that had been buried east of the high land were taken up and reinterred near the road. But, as this part of the yard has become filled, a gradual encroachment on the low land has been made, until, now, the portion that was discarded as unfit for burial purposes has become the most at- tractive part of the cemetery.
Samuel Avery, who died in 1799, was the first per-
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
son buried in the new yard. (He was son-in-law to Capt. John Arnold and lived on the Pettingill place.) Mr. Avery had two children buried on the old lot.
It has been supposed by some persons that the town acted without right in appropriating a portion of the land given by Lady Temple for such a purpose, and, occasionally, a local sage is found who knows that the lot was donated by Lady Temple to be used as a "com- mon" for military parades, and that a violation of the conditions under which it was conferred might result in a forced surrender of the property. This question has often been discussed under a proposition to enlarge the cemetery. John Chandler, by whom the land was secured for the use of the town, was moderator of the meeting at which it was voted to set apart a portion of this land for a burying-ground. Had any provisions or conditions existed in the deed of conveyance, Mr. Chandler would have known it, and would not have suffered them to be violated. Our citizens may rest assured that no forfeiture will be demanded if, in the course of time, the whole common is included in the limits of the cemetery.
A stained paper, bearing the date of July 4, 1806, shows that the cavalry, or troops, at this time, consisted of one hundred forty-four members. The subjoining transcript is thought to be accurate. There are, how- ever, two or three names on the list that are not fa- miliar to the writer, and these are so hidden in bad chirography and ingenious spelling as to be almost be- yond decipherment.
"Capt. Sewall Prescott
Nathaniel pettingill
Luta James MLellan
Bradford Bowers
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
James F. Norris Cornet, * John Rendall SERGANTS.
Elisha Keen
Simeon Rowes Joseph woodard Joseph Cowin Samuel Libbey
Jonª Judkins William Moure
Abither Bridge
Cyrus parker
John Hamilton Mesech Blake
Elipphlet Dearborn, Musct. Newell prescott COPERALS.
David Modey.
Simon Otis
Henry Jewell
Josiah Tilton
Benjamin pearker.
Benjamin Thompson
Icobart Hawes
Jacob goulder
Johnathan Curier
Walter Waymouth
Henry Cuttler
Ezra Ames
Oliver Hopkins
John Page
Elijah Gove
David Chandler
John Moodey
John Harvey
Levi Moody
John Owine."
Joshua Tilton
James Smart
John Jenkins
Enoch Dearborn
Up to this time the schools had, in the main, been under the management of district committees, consist- ing of one member for each school. As in each of these the committee was vested the authority of school agent and examining board, the success of the school depended largely on the ability and tact of their repre- sentative supervisors. And as popularity had more to do with the selection of these local potentates than eru- dition, the educational conditions were far from flatter- * Cornet is an obsolete title for standard bearer.
Samuel Jack
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
ing. The state of affairs certainly demanded a new system, and those who were inost interested in educa- tional matters were anxious for its advent. With no precedent to guide and no experience to instruct, the zealous advocates of a new departure did precisely what they should not have done-increased the number of committees instead of diminishing it. Acting on the idea that"two heads are better than one", we find our wise forefathers in 1806 appointing a committee of three members in nearly all the districts. This innovation was placed in its shroud at the next annual meeting, when the old system was resumed.
"Abner P. Hillman was born in Lincolnville, Maine, July 19, 1806. He was the son of Rev. Samuel Hill- man, for many years a member of the New England Conference. Abner was converted under the ministry of Rev. Moses Donnell, at Wiscasset, in 1829.
"In 1830, after earnest prayer and strong convictions, he gave himself up to the work of the ministry ; he re- ceived license to preach and recommendation to Con- ference, and was admitted on trial in Maine Conference the same year; he continued in effective itinerant service till 1856, when failing health compelled him to retire to the ranks of the superannuates.
"During his superannuation his home was for some time at Cape Elizabeth; for several years he served as chaplain at the State Reforin School.
"During the last few years of his life, his home was in Concord, Massachusetts, where he died, November 19, 1882, in the seventy-seventh year of his life, and the fifty second year of his ministry.
"Mr. Hillman was tall in person and gentlemanly in
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
manners, of superior culture, discriminating mind, keen sensibilities and kindly affections, and was an able preacher, and a prominent minister of the Maine Con- ference. His widow, Mrs. Alfrida R. Hillman, did not long survive her husband. She died in Wiscasset, her native town, September 4, 1884, a worthy woman and active christian worker."*
Jeremiah Towle was an immigrant of this period. Some two or three years prior to this date, he had transported his worldly effects from Grafton, N. H., to Augusta, Me., in a hay rack drawn by oxen. He wascc ompanied on this long journey by his wife and ten children. Why he settled in Augusta, and why he came thence to Mon- mouth, is not known. Coming into this town by way of the Neck, he made his first stop at the "Swift place," now owned by H. T. Leech, and then, probably, the home of Maj. James Norris, who may have been a for- mer acquaintance in New Hampshire, and possibly Mr. Towle's officer in the Revolution. Stopping there a short time for rest, he doubtless proceeded at once to the Nathan Randall place, near the academy, which was to be his future home. Fourteen boys and girls went out from this family circle; some into the world of spirits and some into the world of activity. Cyrus, the oldest of the family, went to sea when young, and no tidings of him ever came back. Several of the daugh- ters married and settled in Waldo county, and two- Sally, who married Benson Fogg, and Ann, who mar- ried Augustine Blake-remained in Monmouth. Robert married Nancy Marston, daughter of Maj. David Mars- ton of Monmouth, and settled in the north part of the * Allen's History of Methodism.
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
town, where he reared a large family, and Ira married Sarah Blossom and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Cyrus E. Towle. One of his daughters married Abner C. Stockin, the New England agent of the New York publishing firm of Harper & Bros., and another, Charlotte E. Towle, is a teacher of high repute in the public schools of Lewiston. Jeremiah removed to New York city and engaged in real estate brokerage. He became wealthy, and was a man of political influence even in so large a place as the American metropolis. From the office of alderman, he rose to a prominent po- sition in the naval bureau. His son, Stephen, is su- perintendent of one of the important municipal depart- ments of New York.
Dr. James Cochrane, sen., was born in Windham, N. H., about 1777. He was of pure Scotch extraction, his ancestors being members of the colony which "mi- grated from Argyleshire, Scotland" and settled in Lon- donderry, Ireland, in the Province of Ulster, about 1612. This colony consisted entirely of Protestants who were subsequently driven to this country through religious persecutions, and had no connection with the people of the country in which they settled; but from their long residence in Ireland they were called Scotch-Irishmen.
Of Dr. Cochrane's early life but little is known ex- cept that he studied medicine, and was united in mar- riage to Jane Moore, daughter of Hugh Moore, of Bux- ton, Me. He practiced in Limerick, Me., whence he re- moved to Monmouth in 1806, and bought of Gen. Jos- eph Chandler his houses on High street, and the large, square store which stood on the lot a few rods north of the site now covered by the residence of John M. Pres-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
cott. In 1812 his cousin, Andrew P. Cochrane, came to Monmouth and engaged in trade with the doctor. They dissolved the partnership after a year's trial, An- drew removing to the eastern part of the state. The store, which had no successful occupant after Joseph Chandler left it, was finally sold to Sammuel Brown and moved to the Center, where it now stands-the main part of the house occupied by Dea. C. B. Bragdon-the old-fashioned, hip-roof having been replaced by one of more modern outline.
The doctor easily established a good practice. He was courteous, suave, easy in manner, and, withal, pos- sessed the advantage of having no professional compet- itor. His wife was just his opposite-large and un- graceful in figure and blunt in manner, she presented a far from pleasing contrast to his graceful physique and gentlemanly deportment. She was a devout Chris- tian, and a member of the Methodist church, which did not then stand in high repute among the people of cul- ture, while he was a bitter opposer of religion and suf- fered much mortification from his wife's choosing to go with "Aunt Sukey and Aunt Becky", as he facetiously called them, instead of Mrs. General Chandler and others who held a higher position in the social world, but perhaps a lower one in the estimation of the great Judge of character.
From the first, a warm attachment existed between him and Gen. Chandler. It is possible that the ties which bound them in good fellowship would have been weaker if the general, on the one hand, had been less opulent, and the doctor, on the other, less influential. As it was, each served the other faithfully; the one
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A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
canvassing among his patients for votes for the other and receiving, in return, such honors and remunerative offices as the other could secure for him from the state.
In 1810 he was elected town clerk, an office which lie held five consecutive years. The books covering this period are kept in a neat, legible hand, and show him to have been a man of more than ordinary learn- ing for the times. He was the first commissioned trial justice in town, and, later, was appointed Judge of the Court of Sessions of Kennebec County. The first case which came before him in his capacity of trial justice, and, in fact, the first one ever tried in town, if the statement of the townsman who furnished this incident is correct, was that of Blossom & Judkins vs. Hutch- inson, in which the plaintiffs attempted to recover judgment against the defendant for stealing a bag of corn. Mr. Hutchinson lived near the Cochnewagan stream on the "Blaketown road". He had a large fan- ily, all the members of which were sick. Being out of provisions, he went to the plaintiffs to purchase a bushel of corn on credit. He found that his credit and the contents of his pocket-book were on an equal stand- ing. He asked that he might be permitted to work to pay for it. The gentlemen, who probably did not ful- ly understand the circumstances, had no way to utilize his services. He went up stairs and looked at the well- filled bin of corn. Visions of his bedridden wife and the pleading eyes of his famishing children floated be- fore him, and before he realized that the law of the land would not uphold him in the act, he had filled a bag with the coveted kernels and cautiously lowered it to the ground from a back window. Watching his
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
opportunity, he crept around behind the store and con- veyed the corn by a circuitous route to "honest John Welch", the miller, who ground it "coal free". The theft was soon discovered, and a warrant for his arrest sworn out before John Alphonso Chandler.
The evidence was all in, and the judge arose with a dignity which none but a country trial justice can as- sume, to pronounce the awful sentence. Before hill sat the trembling culprit, completely broken down with the weight of his guilt and the wretched condition of his family.
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