USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 16
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1837.
Isaac Harlow was made town clerk, and Timothy J. Carter was moderator. Action was taken at this meeting with regard to a road by Snow's Falls, and a committee appointed to examine the different routes. '$4000 for roads. Five hundred dollars additional were raised to be expended on the new county road from Barnabee Faunce's house to Ebenezer Rawson's, and the branch road from the same to Washburn's mills. It was voted that the town receive its proportion of the public funds known as the "surplus revenue." A. committee of three was raised to buy or bargain for a town farm. At the usual April meeting Elder Hooper moved "that the surplus money received by the town of Paris shall be disposed of by divid- ing it per capita among the inhabitants of the town, each head of a family to give his note for the amount his family shall receive, the note to be left with the town treasurer and paid, should the payment ever be demanded by the United States ; provided that town pau- pers shall not receive any part of the revenue, but that their pro- portion shall go to the town." This motion was amended by R. K. Goodenow so far as to dispense with notes, the recipients only being required to give receipts, and as amended, was passed, 126 to 83. At a subsequent meeting a set of several resolutions was offered by Elder Hooper providing rules for the distribution of the surplus revenue, and were passed 136 to 112. Rufus Stowell, Micah Walker and Isaiah Whittemore were chosen a committee to receive the money from the State. The subject was up at the next meeting. Mr. Goodenow's amendment was reconsidered and a note with suffi- cient sureties was required of every recipient of the surplus revenue. The question as it came before the several meetings, was quite sharply discussed, some wishing the money appropriated to the use of schools, some for general town purposes, but a majority wished to have it divided per capita, and it was so distributed. It was voted that future town meetings should be notified by posting a notice at Paris Hill, one at South Paris and one at Washburn's Mills. Voted to authorize the selectmen to contract with John Por- ter and George King to build a town house under the new meeting house for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars. It was voted to repair the bridge over the Androscoggin river at the South Paris
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factory. Moses Dudley died in February. He was the son of the late Luther Dudley. Dr. Asaph Kittredge moved from North Paris to the Hill in January. Dr. Thomas H. Brown succeeded to the practice of the late Dr. Buck. He first took rooms at the house of Simeon Norris. Levi Stowell, Esq., Attorney at Law, moved from Dixfield to Paris this year.
1838.
The committee appointed to purchase a town farm reported that they had purchased the farm of Joel B. Thayer, including the ser- vices of himself and wife. The report was accepted and the doings of the committee ratified, 103 to 64. Voted to choose a committee of one from each religious society who shall ascertain where each man will have his money expended. Chose Luke Chase, James Deering, Ebenezer Drake, Sibley Chase, Luther Washburn and James Perry. Voted also that the committee receive the money now due from the town treasurer. and pay the same to their respec- tive societies for the support of preaching. The governor vote this year stood for John Fairfield 367 ; for Edward Kent, 132. At the September meeting, it was voted to accept the town house and to allow John Porter $137.50, for brick which was not contained in his original contract. Mr. James Perry died Feb. 13th. He was a revolutionary soldier. Benj. Hammond died Feb. 28, aged 77. Josiah Smith formerly of Paris, died in Lincoln March 11, aged 71. Col. Wm. Ryerson died March 18, aged 68. The Union House was opened at the Hill by Nathan M. Marble. The 4th was celebrated this year. Prayer and remarks by Elder Hooper, Declaration of Independence read by Isaac Harlow, and oration by Charles Andrews. Dea. Caleb Prentiss died in October, aged 67. The Oxford County Temperance Association met at the Hill in October. Levi Whitman, Esq., presided and an address was delivered by Rev. Caleb B. Davis.
1839.
Eleazer Shaw was elected town clerk. He had previously lived in Woodstock and been clerk of that town. Among the highway surveyors was Wm. Swan, Jr., who had returned to this town after many years' residence in Woodstock. Rev. Caleb B. Davis had assumed the pastorate of the Baptist church and was chosen chair- man of the school committee. The several town lines were per- ambulated and renewed this year by the selectmen. The Paris Hill Temperance Society met at the meeting house January 10th, and
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was addressed by Rev. M. Stockman. On the 26th of January there was a severe freshet. The saw mill owned by Simeon Cum- ·mings was carried away by the ice ; the bridge near by also carried away. Mrs. Hannah (Standish) wife of Dea. Daniel Fobes died early this year. She was born in Duxbury, Mass., on Captain's Hill, and was a descendant of Miles Standish. Adam Turner died May 12, aged 70, and Col. Ebenezer Rawson, July 26, aged 77. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin of Calais, formerly of Paris, died in Texas, June 16.
1840.
$3000 were raised for roads, $2000 for town charges and $900 for schools. It was voted to petition the county commissioners for an alteration of the Snow's Falls road so that the location below the Falls may be on the east instead of the west side of the river. For Governor, John Fairfield, 378 votes ; Edward Kent 136. For elec- tors of President : the Democratic ticket 386 votes ; the Whig ticket, 141. Lydia, widow of John Tuell, died Feb. 26, aged 90. Mrs. Charity, wife of Capt. Chandler Cushman, was killed by a horse August 11. She was returning from a lecture on Paris Hill and drove into a shed to get out of the rain. The shed was too low for her to sit upon the seat as she drove in, and she seated herself in the bottom of the wagon, in front of the seat, having her umbrella in her hand. The horse was frightened and kicked, she receiving the blow in her head. She died instantly. Joseph Besse died Aug. 18, aged 80.
1841.
Luther Washburn was allowed fifty-six dollars for money paid out in a suit against John Dean. The town refused to take measures to prevent Daniel Curtis from being set off from Paris to Woodstock ; also half a lot of number 29 in the 4th range, that Thomas T. Lur- vey owned. $3000 dollars were raised for roads, an extra $1000 for the Snow's Falls road, $1000 for town charges, $900 for schools and $300 for outstanding bills. A constitutional amendment pro- viding for biennial elections and biennial sessions of the Legislature, was voted on this year, and resulted yeas 46, nays 246. On the question fixing the number of members of the Legislature at 151, the vote stood yeas 253, nays 14. At the meeting Sept. 20, the selectmen reported the building of 575 rods of the Snow's Falls road, and a bridge across .Moose Pond stream ; also that the road was nearly completed. For governor, John Fairfield had 370 votes.
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Edward Kent 98 and Jeremiah Curtis 18. The latter was the candi- date of the Liberty or anti-slavery party. John Gray died Aug. 30, aged 77. He had a family of 15 children, all of whom lived until the youngest was 30 years old. Mrs. John Gray died Oct. 30, aged 78. Mrs. Mary, wife of Jonathan Bemis, died Nov. 14, aged 78. A Washingtonian Total Abstinence Society was organized at the Hill with Benj. Walton as Secretary.
1842.
Voted that the income of the ministerial fund be distributed among the various religious societies according to the wishes of the legal voters. For Governor, John Fairfield had 309 votes, Edward Robinson 50, and James Appleton 14. Sept. 25th, Gilman Tuell's horse became frightened at the crossing of the east branch, above Elijah Swan's, and ran off the end of the bridge with the wagon, severely injuring Mr. Tuell and his sister who was with him, and killing his child. March 29, Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Col. Ebene- zer Rawson, died, aged 78. July 4th, the Washingtonian and and Martha Washington Societies of South Paris and Norway met with those at the Hill and had a grand celebration. Two thousand people were addressed by Geo. F. Emery, Esq. The Washing- tonian Society at North Paris was addressed by Hon. Charles Andrews. Dec. 17, died Elder James Hooper, aged 73.
1843.
Mr. Gilman Tuell having notified the town of the injuries he sus- tained on account of a defective bridge, the whole matter was left with a special committee consisting of Rufus K. Goodenow, Geo. F. Emery and Joseph G. Cole, and this committee was to report at the adjourned meeting. No report is on record. It was decided to rebuild the bridge near the woolen factory at South Paris, and the matter was left with the selectmen. The doctrine of Miller, predict- ing the second advent and the winding up of all earthly affairs was preached in town this year and created considerable excitement. A few people neglected to put in crops and others to harvest them, and the town authorities felt called upon to interfere. The delusion con- tinued throughout the year and in some neighborhoods did much harm. Day after day was set for the second advent, ascension robes in some cases were prepared and many ridiculous performances were gone through with by those who embraced this creed. Mrs. Wm. Pidgin, late of Paris, died in Portland. She was the widow of Rev. Wm. Pidgin and was born in Dracut, Mass. Mrs. Sarah Twitchell
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died, aged 90 years. Gilbert Shaw died June 6, aged 71. Luther Brett died suddenly June 23, aged 72. Samuel Hammond died Oct. 19, aged 73.
1844.
At a meeting on the sixth day of May of the municipal officers, Nathan M. Marble and Geo. Bridgham were licensed as innholders and retailers of strong liquors, and Ansel Field and Jarvis C. Marble were licensed to retail strong liquors from their shops in Paris. At the annual election James Appleton had twenty-one votes, a slight gain for the anti-slavery party ; Hugh J. Anderson had 352 and Ed- ward Robinson 91. The treasurer of the town at the November town meeting, was directed to hire a sum not exceeding five hundred dol- lars to pay an execution held against the town by Gilman Tuell for damages growing out of accident before mentioned. The selectmen were made a committee to try and effect a settlement with Gilman Tuell, and also with Ebenezer Tuell for injury received by his daugh- ter. The vote for electors of President stood, for the democratic ticket, 315 votes ; for the whig, 92 and for the anti-slavery ticket, headed by Samuel Fessenden, 16 votes. The town lines were again perambulated and renewed.
Asa Perry, an early settler, died June 18, aged 88 years, and March 6th, died Mary, widow of Gen. Levi Hubbard, aged 80. Rebecca, relict of Benj. Hammond, died Feb. 12, aged 81. She was of Gloucester, Mass. Edmund Dean, formerly of Taunton and a Revolutionary soldier died Oct. 24th. Nov. 17th, Rachel, widow of Jonathan Shurtleff, aged 79.
1845.
At the annual meeting, Stephen Emery, Esq., moved as the sense of the town, that persons not exceeding three in number, be licensed by the selectmen, treasurer and clerk, to sell wine, brandy, rum and other strong liquors, who shall give satisfactory bonds as required by law, and that they shall not sell to any person for other than medicinal and mechanical purposes, and that said municipal officers be instructed to prosecute all violations of the license law ; that such licensed persons shall keep a record of the names of persons to whom spirituous liquors are sold, with the date, kind of liquor and quan- tity sold, and that in licensing innholders and victuallers, it be espec- ially stipulated in such license, that they shall not sell any rum, brandy, wine or other strong liquors for any purpose whatsoever. The motion prevailed. It was voted that the school committee be
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instructed not to visit any school in town at the expense of the town, unless requested to do so by the districts to settle difficulties, and if there should prove to be no difficulties to settle, the expense to be paid by the district. "Voted that the selectmen be requested, in behalf of the town, to take such measures as they shall deem legal and expedient to arrest. the evils which attend some of our citizens professing a belief in Millerism, so called, and to avert the danger of such persons becoming a town charge." John Deering died July 26th, aged 84. Oct. 21st of this year, the house of Joseph Penley was entered in the night-time, and quite a large sum of money taken. Mr. Penley advertised his loss and addressed the burglar and thief through the colums of the Norway Advertiser, in a character- istic and unique manner. There was a mass temperance meeting at the Hill January 8th. Hon. Samuel F. Brown of Buckfield presided, and resolutions against the traffic in ardent spirits were introduced by R. K. Goodenow, discussed and passed. , A railroad meeting was held at Bridgham's Hotel, South Paris, March 7th. Noah Lunt was arrested and taken before Judge Cole, Apr. 2, charged with dis- turbing the peace by calling at persons' houses in the night time and preaching that "the church and the world were rejected of God." A severe hail storm about a mile in width passed through Paris, July 22, doing a great amount of damage to crops. Mrs. Abraham Pray died Dec. 11, aged 70.
1846.
The town passed the same vote with reference to the sale of liq- uors in town as was passed the previous year. The vote of the pre- vious year relating to visiting schools by the committee, was rescinded. Voted to raise forty cents on each inhabitant for the support of schools, to be computed according to the last census. Repairs on the poor-farm buildings were provided for, to be con- ducted with "rigid economy." Voted that the selectmen and agent be a committee to settle or not to settle with Dr. Kittridge and Oliver H. Dyer, for injuries from defective ways, and with Gilman Tuell for the loss of his child. At a meeting in November, an agent was chosen to superintend the building of the bridge at Snow's Falls.
Asa Robinson died January 12th of this year ; also January 18th, Benj. Cooper, aged 76. In January, the express carrying the Eng- lish mails went through from Boston to Montreal, by the way of Portland, in 26 hours. The time required the previous year was 32
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
hours. Alfred Gates, formerly of Paris, died in Carroll, January 22, aged 81 years. A daily line of stages to Portland, was run by G. G. Waterhouse. Hannah, relict of Jacob Paine, died in Greenwood, aged 93. The farm buildings of Sullivan Andrews were burned Sept. 4th ; loss $2,000. Daniel Cummings died Feb. 4, aged 66 years. Feb. 6th, Mrs. Tabitha Pearson died, aged 74.
1847.
The choice of school agents was referred to the several districts. At a subsequent meeting this vote was rescinded and school agents chosen for each district in town. $4000 were raised for the repair of roads, $2000 for the support of the poor and other town charges, and $1200 to pay outstanding debts against the town. The Gov- ernor vote this year stood, for John W. Dana, 297; for David Bronson, 54; for Samuel Fessenden, 65. The proposed constitu- tional amendments for electing governor, senators and representa- tives by a plurality instead of a majority vote, was defeated by about four to one. James Bowker, Esq., died May 16, aged 58 years. Elijah, son of Luther Washburn was killed in Boston by being run over by a team, aged 22. Mrs. Sally Brett died Oct. 16, aged 78 years. Abiezer Andrews died Dec. 21, aged 77.
1848.
Four thousand dollars were raised for highways, and voted that per- sons might pay their road taxes into the treasury within a time specified at the rate of fifty cents on the dollar. Joseph G. Cole was chosen a committee to investigate the finances of the town. The making of the Snow's Falls road was left in the care of the selectmen. The vote for Governor stood Dana (Dem.) 305 ; E. L. Hamlin (Whig) 62 ; Samuel Fessenden, (Free Soil) 67. For electors of President, the Democrats polled 281 votes ; Whigs 72 and the Free soilers 95. The railroad leading towards Paris was completed during the year to Mechanic Falls. G. G. Waterhouse, proprietor of the stage house on Paris Hill was appointed conductor on the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad. He had been a stage man for a long time, beginning as driver and afterwards becoming contractor. His appointment to the Railroad gave great satisfaction to his numerous friends in this vicinity. The discovery of gold in California created considerable excitement in Paris and vicinity and many were talking of making the long and dangerous journey round Cape Horn in search of the root of all evil. The political campaign this year was unusually exciting, and the election of Gen. Taylor to the presi-
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dency, a surprise to many. Sylvanus Robbins formerly of Plymouth, died Nov. 8, aged 85 years. Asa Thayer died Dec. 1, aged 81. The frame of the Oxford Normal Institute was raised Apr. 8. The question of the removal of the county buildings from Paris was agitated in the local papers during the summer largely growing out of the location of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad. Naomi, wife of Jesse Briggs, died May 9th, aged 80, and May 4, Mrs. Martha Bartlett, aged 93. Hannibal Hamlin was elected United States Senator in May, to fill out the term of John Fairfield, deceased, and in place of Wyman B. S. Moore, who had been appointed during the recess of the Legislature, by Gov. Dana. The vote in the House stood 93 to 45, and in the Senate, 23 to 4. News of peace with Mexico, reported in Paris in June, was received with satisfaction. Daniel Fobes died June 20, aged 75. Barn of Silas Maxim struck by lightning and burned July 13th. The Oxford Normal Institute, met and chose a Board of Trustees of whom Hon. Stephen Emery stood first on the list, Oct. 7. The Buckfield Branch Railroad Company was organized in November. The body of Joseph Pratt was found in the river a short distance below Snow's Falls, Nov. 3d ; supposed case of suicide. He was 67 years of age and had no relatives in Paris. The Oxford Normal Institute com- menced its first term November 6. with Ebenezer P. Hinds as Prin- cipal.
1849.
Town voted to pay Aretas Mixer fifteen dollars for injury to his steer ; to annex Benaiah Moody to District 17 ; chose the following a committee to investigate the town's finances : John Dennett, Charles Andrews and John Porter. Elbridge Gray obligated him- self to collect the taxes in one year, at the rate of three cents on the dollar. The selectmen perambulated and renewed the town lines in the month of November. Among the deaths this year were the following of quite elderly people : January 4, Levi Rawson, aged 64. In January, Mary, wife of John Whitehead, aged 72. Feb., Hannah, wife of Silas Maxim, aged nearly 79 years. March 8th, Betsey Perry, aged 86. Dr. Aaron Young was this year appointed to teach the natural sciences, in the Normal Institute. James Hooper, formerly of Madbury, N. H., died May 29th, aged 65. August 2d, Polly B., widow of Elias Stowell, aged 77 years. Oct. 1, died John Daniels, aged 78. He was the son of Jolin Daniels and a lad of twelve years when his father moved into this town.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Several persons left town this year for the California gold fields. 1850.
The selectmen were empowered to divide school district number 25, if they thought best. $5000 raised for roads, $1100 for support of poor and other town charges and 40 cents per capita for schools. The treasurer was directed to collect all the interest due on the ministerial and school funds. The cars run to South Paris January 1st. Thursday May the 15th, the jail was broken open and three prisoners confined therein escaped. They were Otis Walker, John Reily and Aaron Fuller. They evidently had help from the outside as the solid granite which held the bolt was broken. Jesse Drew was jailor and offered a reward of one hundred dollars for their cap- ture. Walker and Reily were retaken in Denmark the same week, but Fuller was never captured. Years afterward he returned to the county traveling as a clock repairer. He had formerly been a preacher. Among the deaths of people this year, were, July 4, Lucy Swift, aged 89 ; Mrs. Jane Dunham, wife of Eleazer Dunham, died in September, aged 76. She was a Bryant of Plympton, a niece of Solomon Bryant, our early settler. W. Huey was killed Sept. 13, while blasting on the line of the Railroad at Snow's Falls. The house of John A. Holmes ("Swearing John") was burned at South Paris, Oct. 28. The Rochester rappings began to excite some attention in town late in the year. Wm. Stearns died Nov. 25, aged 86, and Dec. 29th, John Whitehead, aged 71. The Insane Hospital and Maine State Prison were both burned during the year.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ANOTHER BRIEF RETROSPECT.
In a former brief resume the subjects most referred to were "land grants," "surveys," "roads," "clearings," and other matters per- taining to pioneer life in the wilderness. But everything is now changed, and how changed ! Only those who have passed through the transition period in a town's history, can fully realize it, although some idea can be formed by visiting our border settlements where new towns are yet springing up and are in every stage of develop- ment. Such new settlements may be found along much of our northern frontier and more especially in the great county of Aroos- took. It is 1850, and pioneer life in Paris has long since ceased, and the sturdy woodsmen who broke the wilderness for us, and their faithful wives who shared their toils, their privations and hardships, have passed away. The second generation from the first settlers, sons and daughters who came with their parents into this wilderness, have also deceased, save here and there one who has lived beyond the period usually allotted to man, for the town has now been settled about seventy years. The active business men and women of Paris are now either of the third generation from the early settlers, the sons and daughters of those who came in later, or else they them- selves have recently moved here from other. places. There are many of this latter class, as the new names in the census of this year go to show.
While we should never forget the toils and privations endured by our forefathers in hewing out for us these pleasant homes, because should we forget their cost, they might be less valuable in our eyes, yet it is pleasant to turn from a contemplation of the rough scenes through which our history has hitherto necessarily taken us, to those pertaining more to civilized life ; from the wide stretches of forest broken only here and there by a settler's little clearing, to the broad fields and meadows teeming with their rich harvests of grass and grain ; from the few rough paths cut through the dark woods, to our broad and easy thoroughfares forming a net-work all over the town ; from the low, log cabins and hovels of the settlers, to the well arranged and neatly painted homes of our farmers ; from that con- dition of isolation if not of penury, that only the bare necessities of life could be obtained or afforded, to plenty and even luxurious liv-
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ing ; from limited means of education and religious instruction, to conveniently constructed school houses, and funds and teachers in plenty, and in each quarter of the town, temples consecrated to the worship of God ; in short. from all those conditions of danger, of drudgery, of exposure and want which all those must suffer who open up a new settlement in the wilderness and which render such an undertaking under the most favorable circumstances, so much to be dreaded and so liard to be endured, to those other and far differ- ent conditions that surround and embellish, and go to make up civilized life.
In the reception and transmission of intelligence, there has been a marked change. The postrider's horn has not been heard for many years ; that was succeeded by the mail wagon, a veritable lumber cart, but a necessity when the mail matter had increased so that it could no longer be carried upon horse-back ; following this, we had the larger and more commodious carriage resting upon thoroughbraces, and this was a most decided improvement over the old wagon, the body of which rested directly upon the axles ; and lastly we had the coach, roomy, comfortable and even elegant, and with its frequent relays of horse, the journey to Portland or Augusta was no longer a very great hardship. These coaches came here from Portland three times a week, and we really felt that our connection with the outside world was quite complete. But in the year 1850, a greater change has taken place ; the cars are running twice daily from Portland to South Paris and back, and the journey to the sea- board which had previously taken the best part of a day, can now be accomplished in a couple of hours. Almost since the first settle- ment of the town, our farmers have been in the habit of hauling their farm truck to Portland and exchanging it for family supplies ; now the market has been brought as it were, to their very doors. The prices of farm products has thereby been greatly enhanced, and the cost of groceries and other supplies not produced on the farm, materially lessened. And with the cars, more wonderful still, came the electric telegraph. The cars have reached Paris and the road bed is being constructed through the town, and three years later, railway traffic will be opened the entire distance between the Atlantic ocean and the St. Lawrence River. The business of the country through which it passes has been completely revolutionized, and in all its branches must be adjusted to new conditions. Flourishing villages on the old stage lines will be deserted and speedily go to
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