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 17
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decay, while hamlets as if by magic, will spring up at the stations of the railway. If the first settlers could only come back and revisit the scenes of former days, how would they open their eyes in astonishment at the gigantic changes which the inventive genius of man has wrought ! Not one of them, not even Daniel Staples, once one of the greatest farmers in early Paris, cultivating a hundred or more broad acres, and wintering a hundred head of horned cattle, but who spent all his substance in experiments to perfect perpetual motion and died a town pauper, in his wildest flights of fancy, ever dreamed of coaches propelled by steam or intelligence transmitted by lightning. Yet in 1850, this is an accomplished fact, and right here in Paris too.
How different the journey between Watertown, Worcester, Sut- ton, Bridgewater, Middleboro', Plymouth, and Paris now, as com- pared with what it was when the first settlers came. They first journeyed to Boston and thence by sailing packet, to Falmouth or Yarmouth ; or else they took the long and tedious overland journey, occupying several days. From Falmouth, they found passable roads to New Gloucester, but from that point to No. 4, the way lay through the wilderness, and the journey could only be made on foot or on horseback. Now the journey from any of the towns named, can be made in ease and comfort, in less than a day. These are indeed great improvements, but it cannot be denied that with them have come some things not so desirable. The acceleration of speed by the utilization of steam, has so diminished the distance between city and country, that they are placed, as it were, side by side, and the vices peculiar to the former are extended in a greater or less degree, to the latter. It brings among us also, to a greater extent than before, the fashions and follies of city life, more extravagant practices in dress and modes of living, so that the simple tastes and frugal habits of the early settlers, are in danger of being entirely abandoned and forgotten. But it is always so; the good never comes to us unmixed with evil :
"Each pleasure hath its poison too, and every sweet a snare." Our duty in all such cases is plain ; we must not be "overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." We cannot if we would, stop the wheels of progress and the only way left for us is to try and adjust ourselves to whatever new conditions life's changes may impose.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
ANNALS CONTINUED.
1851.
The selectmen were instructed to investigate the Snow's Falls road damaged by the railroad and see that the legal rights of the town were maintained. Ezekiel Jackson was allowed forty dollars for the loss of his horse from a defect in the Rawson bridge. Polla Rawson was permitted to pay fifty cents on the dollar in full for her highway tax for 1850. January 3, died Sarah Howe, aged 85, and March 22, in Lincoln, Deborah, widow of Dea. Josiah Smith, aged 81. They were among the early settlers of this town. Rev. Joseph Walker died April 11. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College and long the able and faithful minister at South Paris. April 15th occurred a very severe storm of snow and rain, doing considerable damage in town, and much more in other places. Jane, wife of Alva Shurtleff, died June 4, aged 64. Abraham Pray died June 21, aged 74. September 23d, there was a destructive fire at Norway village. Bennett's hotel, Dennison's store and other property to the amount of $15,000 were burned. It was very smoky on that and the following days. The fire was supposed to have been purposely set, and arrests were made.
1852.
Geo. L. Mellen was elected town clerk in place of Hiram Hub- bard who had served for several years. The selectmen were instructed to require the town liquor agent to keep a list of all per- sons to whom he should sell liquors, the kind and quality sold and the price paid, and that he sell to no person not an inhabitant of the town ; it was voted that no trader or tavern keeper should be licensed to sell liquor. For electors, the Democratic ticket polled 294 votes, the Whig 93, and the Free Soil 40. Thomas Clark died Feb. 12th, aged 72. He was formerly a bookseller in Portland, and had lived in Lisbon and Hebron before coming here. Silence, widow of Gil- bert Shaw, and daughter of the late Eleazer Cole, died July 24th, aged 77. Mrs. Anna, widow of Dr. Cyrus Hamlin and daughter of Elijah Livermore, Esq., of Livermore, died Angust 25, aged 77 years. Hon. Sidney Perham was nominated for Clerk of the Courts, but declined to run. The son of Wm. M. Barton, formerly of Paris, was drowned at Oxford, Oct. 9. Another exciting political
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campaign came off this year, resulting in the defeat of the Whigs who had been in power four years.
1853.
Voted to build the newly laid road between Rufus Stowell's and the Brick store, and five hundred dollars were raised to be expended in material for a bridge ; a committee was chosen to draft a plan for a bridge. John Cummings was set off from school district number six and annexed to the Bacon district in Greenwood. The whole number of votes for representative to the Legislature was 494, and Mark H. Dunnell had 297, and Geo. P. Hooper 197. April 1st, Mrs. Betsey. widow of the late Elder James Hooper died, aged 89 years. She was the daughter of Benj. Stowell. Esq., of Worcester, and her first husband was Reuben Hubbard, one of our early set- tlers. She was married to Mr. Hooper in 1802. June 3d, the dwelling house of Mrs. Nancy Packard on Paris Hill was struck by lightning and badly damaged. Several persons were in the house at the time but no one was seriously hurt.
1854.
The choice of school agents was left with the several districts, and 50 cents per capita were raised for the support of schools. Five hundred dollars were raised and placed in the hands of the bridge committee of last year. For Representative to Congress, John J. Perry had 284 votes, and Wm. K. Kimball 243. The lines of the town were again perambulated and renewed, in the month of Octo- ber. Capt. Seth Morse died May 8, aged 90 years, 5 months. Sept. died Geo. King, aged 75. The dwelling house of Tristram Hersey of South Paris was burned Oct. 9th, under such circum- stances as to leave no doubt that it was incendiary. Mr. Hersey had been a strong advocate of temperance and prohibition, and had taken an active part in the enforcement of the law. A call for a public meeting was issued, signed by Rufus S. Stevens, and others, over which Henry R. Parsons presided, and at which resolutions of . sympathy for Mr. Hersey were passed, and denunciatory of the ras- cals who had caused his buildings to be fired. A committee was chosen to solicit subscriptions who pledged themselves to give one entire day each to the work. December 25, at 8 o'clock in the after- noon, a ball was fired into a room in the house of Moses Hammond, passing very near the head of Seth Sampson for whom it was no doubt intended. He had been making a vigorous war on the rum- sellers, and was attending court for that purpose, at the time he was
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fired upon. December 27th, the store of Stevens and Shurtleff at Sonth Paris was broken into and property to the amount of two hundred dollars carried away. In the early part of the winter, Charles Davis sold the Stage House, on Paris Hill, to Ambrose Buck of Buckfield. Mr. John Kilbourne died aged 64. No one knew anything of his relatives or of his former place of residence. Benj. Chesley died in Lincoln, in December. He went from this town with others to open up a settlement there, when that region was a wilderness.
1855.
The business transacted at the March meeting was entirely rou- tine. Asa Woodbury was chosen collector of taxes at 24 cents on the dollar. Elbridge Gray had been collector for a number of years. The selectmen were instructed to exercise their judgment with regard to a change in the location of the newly laid out road between Elias Stowell's and the Brick store. For Governor, Anson P. Morrill had 337 votes, and Samuel Wells 261. Several proposed amendments to the constitution were voted upon relating to electing certain offi- cers by the people, and generally in the negative. This was the first time in its history, that the town voted otherwise than democratic in the election of Governor, and it has never voted democratic at the September election since. The Sons and Daughters of Freedom had a fair and levee at South Paris, January 9th and 10th. Rev. Caleb B. Davis died in Portland, January 12th, aged 47. He succeeded Elder Hooper in the pastorate of the Baptist church at the Hill, and was an able and efficient man. He did good work in the temperance field. May 20th, the dwelling house of Elbert Clifford was burned. Whitney Cummings of Sumner took charge of the jail in June. The great rum riot took place in Portland, June 4th and 5th, under Neal Dow's administration. One man was killed whose name was John Robbins. July 4th, South Paris had a grand temperance cele- bration. Mrs. Jenette Loring, wife of Hon. Stephen Emery, died Sept. 29, aged 55. A severe rain-storm occurred the first week in October. The Androscoggin rose seven feet, and all the low lands along its course were covered. Considerable damage was done to roads and bridges. Nov. 4th, Mrs. L. D. Moore was fatally burned at Norway. David Bolster, son of our early settler died at Mechanic Falls, aged 73.
1856.
Henry E. Hammond was elected clerk in the place of Charles T.
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Mellen. Benaiah Dow, for school purposes, was set on to Wood- stock. Charles Bemis took the taxes to collect at 2 per cent. Five hundred dollars were raised to repair bridges, and four hundred to open the road from the King school house to Paris Cape. For Governor, Hannibal Hamlin had 394 votes, and Samuel Wells 227. For electors of President, the Republican ticket polled 398 votes, and the Democratic, 174. Widow Jemima Robinson died Jan- uary 30th, aged 81. She was a Haskell of New Gloucester, and the widow of Stephen Robinson who died many years before. In February, Mrs. Isabel Woodward died at South Paris, aged 90. April 29th, Samuel King aged 85. He came quite early into town and had been a prominent citizen. Widow Hannah Conn died at the north part of the town, in April, aged over 90 years. She was a sister of Asa Barrows, early in this town, and widow of Jonathan Conn of New Hampshire, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and who died at Hamlin's Gore some sixteen years before. In June, A. J. Blake, formerly of Paris, was murdered in California. His age was 26. Bartholomew Cushman, formerly of this town, died in Woodstock March 17, aged 80. Simon Fickett was drowned at West Paris, the first of October. He owned a mill there, and there having been a' heavy fall of rain, he stood by the river and was stooping forward trying to measure the depth of the water, when he lost his balance and fell in He floated down the stream for several rods in sight of persons who were on the bank, but all efforts to reach him were unavailing. He moved into town a few years before, from Woodstock, and was an enterprising and energetic citizen. The dwelling house of Darius Fobes was burned Nov. 23d. The political campaign this year was unusually exciting. The newly organized republican party run John C. Fremont and the democrats James Buchanan. The democrats were triumphant.
1857.
Five thousand dollars raised for the repair of roads, tax payers to have the privilege of paying 58 cents on the dollar in cash, if they prefer. Voted to have the reports of the selectmen and overseers printed together and distributed among the taxpayers. Raised $800 to open the road from Hebron to South Paris, and $300 to repair the bridge at North Paris. A meeting of the county commissioners was held in Buckfield in August, to consider the matter of a new road from Buckfield to South Paris. Lot M. Morrill for Governor had 368 votes, and Mannasseh H. Smith, 220. A new jailor's house
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was built by the county commissioners and finished early in the year. The first term of Paris Hill Academy was commenced in March by Oscar D. Grover, A. B., of Bethel as principal. Elias Partridge died March 6th, aged 91 years ; Abigail, wife of Stephen Paine, died Feb. 14, aged 76. March 26th, Mrs. Keziah, widow of Luke Ryer- son died, aged 86. March 24, Mrs. Joseph Sturtevant, aged 88. In April, the body of Anthony Smith of Norway was found in an out of the way place near South Paris, where it was supposed to have lain for two weeks. Mrs. Sarah, wife of Samuel Bryant of Woodstock, died from the effects of burns, May, 14th. She was formerly Sarah Jordan of Paris, and Mr. Bryant was her fourth husband. The following additional deaths of old people occurred this year : June 21, the widow of Benj. Cooper aged 88; David Marshall, aged 80. He was the son of Moses Marshall, and was with his parents when they made their escape from the Indians in Bethel, in 1781, and on their way, spent several days at Jackson's camp in Paris. Polly, widow of Geo. King died, aged 76. Aug. 17, died Caleb Fuller, aged 862 years. He was one of the early settlers and came from Plymouth County, Mass. The Congrega- tional Society at South Paris, built a parsonage this year. Eben Thayer fell from a barn and died from the effects of his injuries, Sept. 25. His age was 60. Dec. 6th. Deborah Drake, widow of Dea. William Berry, died near West Paris, aged 72. Dec. 24, Algernon Sidney. son of Hon. Rufus K. Goodenow, died at Buenos Ayres.
1858.
It was voted to dispense with a superintending school committee and elect a supervisor of schools. Seventy-five cents on the dollar, cash, was permitted to be paid as an equivalent for the highway tax. Voted not to accept the report of the selectmen. Five hundred dollars raised for the repair of the bridge at South Paris. A meet- ing was held in June to vote upon the act of the Legislature approved April 7, 1856, relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors, and upon the act approved March 25, 1858, for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops. The vote stood for the pro- hibitory law of 1858, 260; for the license law of 1856, 6. Col- ' lector's sales of land for non-payment of taxes, was recorded this year for the first time. Died Feb. 4th, Wm. Warren, aged 88 years. March 4th, Mehitable, widow of the late Samuel Perkins formerly of Middleboro', aged 88. The woolen factory at South Paris was
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taken out during the season, and a first class flour mill put in, in its place. Isaac Mann formerly of Randolph, Mass., died March 22, aged 74. May 21, Silas Maxim, one of the pioneers of the town, aged 92 years. April 24, Wm. Bent, another early settler aged 91 years. Job French died Sept. 9th, aged nearly 86. Alvah Hersey rebuilt the house burned last year, a fine building and finished late in the year. The editors of Maine made an excursion to Aroostook in September of this year, with the view of spreading before the people such information regarding that remote region as might con- duce to its settlement. Dea. Cornelius Perkins died, aged 83.
1859.
Action was taken at a special meeting in February, with regard to the petition of Titus O. Brown and others of Norway, asking the Legislature to set off certain territory from Paris and annex the same to Norway, and strong resolutions were passed against it. A com- mittee of three was chosen to remonstrate in the name of and in behalf of the town, against the proposed measure, and adopt such measures at the expense of the town to prevent the consummation of the project, as the exigencies of the town might require. $5,000 raised for roads, $2,000 for town expenses, $900 to complete the road from Northi Paris to Sumner, and $200 to commence the new road from South Paris to Buckfield. Resolutions were passed relat- ing to the contest with Norway, and a committee, consisting of Alvah Black, R. S. Stevens and Richard T. Lurvey, appointed to resist the passage of the bill through the House, it having already passed the Senate, and in case it should become a law, to take meas- ures for having the wrong redressed by the next Legislature. The selectmen and school committee were instructed to have their annual reports printed and ready for distribution, one week before the annual meeting. A meeting was held in June to vote on the act to aid the Aroostook railroad company. Approved April 4, 1859. The vote stood, for the act, 8 ; against the act, 163.
Hon. Sidney Perham having been elected, was sworn in as Clerk of the Courts, January 1. The deaths of aged people in the early part of this year were, Feb. 14, Mrs. Peter Chase, aged 80; May 15, Gershom Cole, aged 79 ; June 7, at South Paris, Capt. Stephen Pratt, born in Middleboro', Mass., aged 80. A Mount Vernon Association was formed by the ladies this year, the object being to raise funds for the purchase and care of the Washington place at Mount Vernon, Va. Mrs. Arabella Carter was at the head of the
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organization here, and many of the ladies in the town became mem- bers. John Hart, son of Henry E. Prentiss of Bangor, formerly of this town, died at the Insane Hospital, Augusta, July 3, aged 21. He was a medical student, and was there assisting the superintend- ent and studying the special treatment required there. He was a graduate of Union College, and a young man of great promise. Moses Twitchell died Sept. 9, aged 80. James Daniels died in Bethel, Sept. 23, aged 81. He was a son of our early settler, John Daniels. Sept. 11, Stephen Paine died, aged 82. Oct. 6, Wm. Clark Whitney died at Norway. He came to Paris from Worcester with the early settlers, but soon moved to Norway. The Universal- ist Chapel at Paris Hill was dedicated Oct. 9.
1860.
Eighteen hundred dollars were raised for schools, $2,500 for poor and other town charges, $4,000 for roads, $500 for the road at West Paris, and $500 for the mountain road. The proprietors of the Baptist meeting house were permitted to put a furnace in the east end of the town house. John Bird of Norway, was permitted to be annexed to school district Number 3. Another series of resolutions was passed with regard to the Norway "land grab," the bill having become a law in 1859, and the Legislature of 1860 having refused to restore the territory to Paris, and a committee consisting of Alvah Black, Rufns S. Stevens and Wm. A. Rust, was appointed to pre- pare and present the petition of the town to the Legislature of 1861, asking that justice might be done them, and to take such meas- ures relating thereto, as might be considered necessary. At a meet- ing in June, it was voted to discontinue the new road laid out near Locke's Mill at West Paris, and repair the old road and bridge at that place. Israel Washburn, Jr., received 410 votes and Ephraim K. Smart, 252. Republican electoral ticket polled 413 votes and the Democratic, 175. January 17, died Merrill Chase, aged 87. He was the father of Alden Chase, Register of Deeds, and formerly of Woodstock. Dea. Isaac Mann, formerly of Randolph, died March 21, aged 74. He had been a Deacon of the Baptist Church over 25 years. Timothy Chase died Feb. 15, aged 76. A saw mill was put in operation by Woodbury, Phelps & Co., at South Paris, this season. Mrs. Mary, widow of Col. Simeon Cummings, died Sept. 25, aged 71. Politics ran very high this year, and in the national election the Republican party was victorious.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
1861.
The Legislature of this year adjusted by compromise the law case between Paris and Norway, so that Paris was fairly satisfied. At the March meeting, a resolve was passed asking the selectmen for a statement of the expenses involved in the case, to be made at the next annual meeting, and also for a particular statement of the town's liquor agency. A series of resolutions was adopted, "hailing with hearty satisfaction the act of the Legislature in restoring the territory set off in 1859." and tendering the thanks of the town to those members especially who, by their speeches contributed so largely to the success which had attended the efforts of the town's committee. A meeting was held in June to see what action would be taken for the support of the families of those who had enlisted and gone to the war. The selectmen were fully empowered to fur- nish necessary supplies to such families, and also to the families of those who should enlist within the year. Widow Lydia Briggs died at No. Paris. March 8. aged 84. She was the widow of Luther Briggs, formerly of Paris, and daughter of Solomon Bryant, our early settler. Jonas Cummings died, aged 80, and Phineas Stearns, aged 68. The breaking out of the war of the rebellion created intense excitement here and elswhere, and the loyal spirit developed in Paris was such as her sons will have reason to be proud of in all time to come. Public meetings, flag-raisings and recruiting were the order of the day, and the highly satisfactory result may be found in the chapter devoted to the subject. Sept. 5, Victoria Dunn, daughter of David Dunn of Oxford, was run over and killed by the cars, at South Paris. Supposed suicide. Wm. Walker died Nov. 2, aged 85.
1862.
Six thousand dollars were raised for roads, $1,700 for schools and $1,500 for poor, etc. The selectmen were authorized to continue assistance to the families of soldiers. Voted to pay the Moderator $3.00, and David Jordan and Elbridge Gray $1.00 each for keeping order as constables. A special meeting was called in March to take action upon a project of Francis Whitman, to have certain Paris ter- ritory annexed to Norway, and Alvah Black was chosen a commit- tee to resist the attempt, should it be made, and it was voted as the sense of the meeting, that should the project be pressed, the commit- tee should give Norway legal notice and petition the Legislature for a restoration of the old line between the two towns. A special
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meeting was held in July to see about raising money for bounties for soldiers that should enlist on the quota of Paris. Voted to instruct the selectmen to raise $3,100 for the purposes indicated in the call, and that one hundred dollars be paid to each soldier who shall enlist on the Paris quota under the last call, and the three Captains of the Militia in town be appointed a recruiting committee. At a meeting in August, it was voted to pay $100 to each volunteer, and in case a draft should be resorted to, to pay $100 to each drafted man ; it was also voted to pay $100 to each enlisted man for nine months, under the last call. At a meeting Sept. 1, twenty dollars additional bounty was voted to each man that would enlist on the quota of Paris, under the last call for troops, and the selectmen and treasurer were instructed to issue town scrip to the amount of $5,100, in notes of $100 each, payable in one, two and three years, with interest annually, to be sold at its face value. A committee of ten was chosen to warn out the several companies of Militia and notify the inhabitants of Paris to meet at South Paris, Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 o'clock P. M. The following were the committee : E. P. Chase, A. C. Russell, B. W. Bryent, Alvah Black, A. W. Stearns, Thos. C. Cushman, S. R. Carter, Wm. A. Rust and Geo. F. Hammond. Among the deaths were Simeon Walton, March 9, aged 83; in Lincoln, May 18, Mary P. Chesley, formerly of Paris. May 25, Cushman Ryerson. James Dennett's stable at South Paris was burned in November. February 25 of this year, there was a very severe gale, which unroofed many buildings ; the court house chimney was blown down, crushing through the roof and doing considerable damage.
1863.
The proceedings of the spring meeting were of the usual charac- ter. At a meeting in July it was voted to pay drafted men or their substitutes three hundred dollars when mustered into the United States' service. At a meeting in November, it was voted that the town pay three hundred dollars to each person who would volunteer on the quota of Paris, under the last call for troops, to be paid either in money or town scrip. The terrible war was the all absorbing topic. The year previous, with its second Bull Run defeat, the loss of many men and several excellent officers, the nearly drawn battle of Antietam, the loss at Aldie, and numerous reverses in the west, had been one of discouragement, but at the close of this year affairs were looking brighter. The highest wave of the rebellion
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had been met by the union forces at Gettysburg, and the tide turned back never to return. The Mississippi had been opened to the sea, and the western conqueror who had the confidence of the country, was coming to lead the old army of the Potomac to victory. Among the deaths of elderly people this year, was that of Hon. Rufus K. Goodenow, March 24th, aged 73 ; Caleb Cushman, Feb. 13th, aged 79 ; Ezra Hammond, March 22, aged 66 ; and Caleb Perry, August 25, aged 70. January 19, Stephen Chandler was found dead in his barn-yard ; supposed heart disease ; October Henry E. Prentiss pre- sented School District No. 16, a library : this was the district in which he attended school.
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