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 18
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1864.
Voted to raise $1300 to pay the interest on the town debt. Voted that the law reports belonging to the town be deposited in the Oxford county law library for safe keeping. At a meeting August 22, the municipal officers were authorized to issue the scrip or notes of the town to an amount not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, and that the selectmen with one from each school district, be a committee to solicit the inhabitants to cash the same at par. At an adjourned meeting Aug. 25th, voted to raised $1375, for the purpose of enlist- ing soldiers to fill the quota of the town under the last call. This meeting was adjourned to Aug. 27th, when it was voted to pay $500 to any citizen of Paris who would enlist for three years. At this meeting the vote passed at a previous meeting with regard to issu- ing town scrip was reconsidered, and another and a similar one was passed. At the September meeting upon a resolve amending the constitution so as to allow soldiers of the volunteer service to vote wherever they might be, the vote stood 413 in favor and 150 opposed. The Republican electors of President received 421 votes, and the Democratic, 216. At a meeting in December, a committee consisting of H. N. Bolster, Hiram Hubbard and Peter C. Fickett, was chosen to canvas the town and see how much of the town scrip the inhabitants would take. Dec. 24th, a meeting was held and $900 raised for the purpose of enlisting men. The selectmen were authorized to procure forthwith soldiers enough to fill the present call, and for that purpose, to use all the money in their hands raised for the purpose, and to borrow a further sum not exceeding twelve thousand dollars; voted that it is the sense of this meeting that the selectmen give the enrolled men of the town a chance to put in substitutes, provided the town shall not thereby be subjected to any additional expense.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
The contract for an extension to the Court House, was awarded to Horatio Austin, including materials and labor, for $1,000. Mr. D. W. Davis, Superintendent of the railroad machine shop in Augusta, a native of Paris, died January 23, aged 38; also at Phil- adelphia, January 30, James H. Cummings, formerly of Paris. Elea- zer Dunham died January 6, aged 93 years. He was a native of Carver, Mass., but had lived here 66 years. The flouring mill at South Paris enlarged and greatly improved. Dr. Job Holmes of
Calais, formerly of Paris, died March first. Rev. Alanson South- worth, pastor of the Congregational Church at South Paris, died March 25. Mrs. Polly Fuller died March 22, aged 71, and Mrs. Rachel, wife of Seth Fobes. March 25, aged 84. Very sickly in Paris in March and April, affections of the lungs pre- dominating. Gideon Powers, aged 80, made 140 lbs. of maple sugar. June 20, a severe tornado swept over much of Oxford county, destroying crops and doing other damage. The hail was drifted in some places to quite a depth. Alfred Andrews, Esq.,
died Dec. 14, aged 642 years. J. H. Jackson's buildings were burned on the 8th of December. Station house at South Paris partially burned Dec. 30. 1865.
Seventeen hundred dollars were raised for schools, $2,000 for poor and town charges, $5,000 for roads, $6,000 for town debt and $3,300 to pay men who might enlist to fill the quota of the town ; the select- men were directed to issue town notes to soldiers who would take them. The selectmen were instructed to pay a bounty of $300 per soldier, on the town's quota, and to negotiate a loan of $5,000 to provide for present liabilities. The town voted its disapproval of the Superintending School Committee being interested in the sale of text books used in the town. Hannah, widow of Dea. Isaac Bol- ster, died January 25, aged 87 years. Dr. Charles Russell of West Paris, sold out and moved to Fayette. David Clifford died March 1, aged 81. Capt. Edward P. Chase sold his stand to Benj. W. Bryent for $3,500. Dr. Wm. A. Rust moved to Portland. Salute fired and fireworks, at South Paris, April 11, to celebrate the sur- render of Lee's army of Northern Virginia. J. C. Marble's powder mill in Buckfield, blown up "again" Apr. 28. Joseph Penley, a former resident, fatally injured by being run over by the cars while walking on the track in Portland. Store of Stephen D. Hutchinson entered and robbed of goods worth two or three hundred dollars,
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
June 6. May 31, at No. Paris, died Lydia, relict of the late Barthol- omew Cushman, aged 85 years. Geo. A. Wilson, Attorney at Law, came to South Paris. The blacksmith shop connected with the foundry at South Paris, burned. Mrs. Huldah Cummings, widow of the late Jonathan Cummings, claimed right of dower in certain real estate in the village at Paris Hill, deeded by her late husband. Benj. W. Bryent, Esq., Attorney at Law, died very suddenly July 21, of diphtheria. Mill pond at South Paris froze over Oct. 31. Dea. Thomas Stevens died Nov. 26, aged 64.
1866.
E. D. Marshall was chosen collector, and it was voted that all taxes be paid before the first of February following. Voted that the select- men be authorized to purchase fifteen acres of woodland, adjoining the town farm in Buckfield, at $15 per acre. $8,000 voted to meet maturing debts of the town.
Dwelling house of Geo. W. Young at West Paris, burned January 7th. The West Paris Land and Petroleum Company organized ; H. G. Brown, President, W. A. Pidgin Secretary. Second week in January, over a foot of snow fell. Mrs. Jane Reed died at South Paris, aged 92, March 22d. April 5. died Emily Bemis, aged 80. The village at Paris Hill was much improved during the summer by the erection of new buildings and the repair of old ones. The terri- ble conflagration in Portland July 4th, created great excitement in town. Prof. Geo. L. Vose settled in town this year. June 23d, Simeon Farnum died at West Paris, aged 62 ; he came from Rum- ford to Paris. A. P. Andrews bought of S. B. Locke, Esq., the mills at West Paris. South Paris Lodge of Masons built a new Masonic Hall. Jonas Cummings died in Nov., aged 874 years. Simeon Cummings, deceased, left $500 to Paris Hill Academy. In a November gale, the car house at South Paris was demolished. Widow Sally Merrill died at South Paris Nov. 10, aged 72. The new flouring mill at West Paris went into operation. Jonathan W. Felton died December 25, aged 80.
1867.
Eight thousand dollars raised to meet town liabilities, in addition to the usual sums for roads, schools, etc. The town in May voted again on the law for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling . shops, the vote standing 93 for the intensified law, to 18 opposed.
January 27th, died Seth Fobes, aged 86. T. Hersey sold his interest in the Plough manufactory at South Paris, to F. C. Merrill.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Rev. Wm. H. Walker accepted a call to the Baptist church at the Hill. Capt. Emor Rawson died April 27th, aged 83 years. Rufus S. Stevens built a store at Minneapolis, Minn., preparatory to going into business there. Dec. 20, the livery stable of Elbridge G. Bridgham of South Paris was burned, supposed incendiary. Gideon Powers now aged 84 years, made 350 lbs. of maple sugar last spring on the S. P. Stearns farm. Thomas Hilborn formerly of Paris, died in Milton Pl., July 13, aged 80. On the same day, died Mehitable (Keith) wife of Moses Hammond. She was born in Bridgewater, Mass., Dec. 16, 1794. Her mother was Betsey, the sister of Jairus Shaw, an early trader in Paris, and the former wife of Thomas King. In Rockford, Ill., June 12, died Sophronia, widow of Capt. Stephen Robinson, once of Paris. Caleb Besse of Woodstock, once of Paris died Aug. 2d, aged 83. Hiram P. Knight formerly of Paris, died at Vandalia, Ill., from eating green corn boiled in a brass kettle. S. R. Newell, the new Register of Deeds, bought the stand owned by Alden Chase. Nov. 15, Win. A. Pidgin sold the Oxford Democrat to Maj. Fred E. Shaw. A son of Wmn. G. Little of West Paris, fireman on the G. T. R., aged 19, was killed in November, by being struck by a bridge at Gorham, N. H. Rev. Mr. Wheel wright was installed at South Paris, Dec. 4th.
1868.
"Voted that the superintending school committee make no report for next year." Voted to allow a discount of 3 per cent on all taxes paid on or before the 25th of November, and charge interest on all taxes unpaid after that date. $5000 were raised for town debt, and the selectmen were authorized to hire a sufficient amount to meet the demands of the town, beyond that sum. Voted to divide school district No. 6. The old road from the junction near T. C. Cush- man's to the town line was discontinued. A special meeting was called March 28th to choose a town treasurer, in place of Mr. Woodbury who declined to serve, and Albert M. Hammond was chosen.
At the meeting of South Paris Lodge of Masons January 7, reso- lutions were adopted concerning the death of Joseph Gallison deceased, in Woodstock, aged 90 years, and Horatio G. Russ, deceased at Turner. Major Thomas Stowell died at South Paris, January 11, aged 79. Dr. Asaph Kittridge died in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 6; aged 75. He was a practicing physician in Paris nearly fifty years. Capt. Wm. Noyes died Feb. 6, aged 78 years.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
He once kept a hotel at Greenwood city. Dr. Nelson H. Norris came to Paris this year. Gilbert T. Chase aged 79, was found dead in his bed Feb. 19. A Post of the G. A. R. organized at South Paris March 9. Sylvanus Jackson, son of the pioneer Lemuel Jack- son. died March 25, aged 83. He was among the first children born in Paris. John Parsons died suddenly at South Paris April 24th. April 25. the store of F. A. Young and the grist mill of A. P. Andrews at West Paris, were broken into and robbed of quite a quantity of goods. The rogues were captured. Died in Darlington, Wis .. April 22. Laura, wife of Lewis Stowell formerly of Paris, and daughter of Ebenezer Tuell. The house and stable of John Bick-® nell of South Paris were partially burned May 20. Mrs. Patty, wife of Col. Cyprian Cole of Greenwood, died May 23d; she was the daughter of Ebenezer Tuell of North Paris. The office of the Paris Flouring Mill Co., was entered by burglars, the safe blown open and robbed of $264. Elder Wm. C. Witham aged 75, a former resident of West Paris, was fatally injured in Buckfield, July 22, by being thrown from a load of hay. Edmund Allen died at South Paris, Aug. 23, aged 86. Rollo M. Cole, son of the late Judge Cole, died Sept. 13, of typhoid fever, aged 23. In South Paris, Sept. 13, Mrs. Sarah, widow of Levi Stowell, aged 732 years. Ebenezer Morton died at South Paris Oct. 12, aged 68. The soldiers' monu- ment at South Paris built this year. Capt. Micah Walker, an early settler. died Sept. 16, aged 89. Nov. 25th, died Polly, wife of Josiah Dudley. aged 80 years.
1869.
One thousand dollars in money, and $6000 to be expended in labor. for the repair of roads, and $8000 for town debt. Voted to refund the money paid in taxes on the parsonage, since such prop- erty was exempted from taxation, by law. Voted to instruct the selectmen to abolish the liquor agency. Wm. K. Kimball, Sidney Perham, Wm. R. Howe, Alvah Black and Hannibal G. Brown were appointed a committee to investigate the financial affairs of the town. Voted to publish the warrants for future meetings in the Oxford Democrat. Voted that all poll taxes shall be due on or before the first of July next, and all other taxes due and payable on or before the first day of August, and that six per cent interest be charged on all unpaid taxes after that date. The selectmen were instructed to procure sufficient warming apparatus for the town house. At a special meeting in November, the selectmen were instructed to peti-
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
tion for a discontinuance of the bridge across Stony brook near John F. Pratt's, and as much of the road each side as may not be needed for the use of the town ; also to petition for a discontinuance of so much of the Utility road as is between the road leading by Capt. Swan's, and the road leading by John Whitman's.
Mrs. Lois Rawson died January 1, aged 84. Capt. Thomas Hill died January 18, aged 892 years. He had been a resident of Paris 80 years. Maj. John Dennet died at South Paris, Tuesday Feb. 2. At South Paris, March 10, Mrs. Philinda Morse, aged 80. Ebene- zer Tuell died at North Paris, March 20, aged 90 years, the oldest person in town. Mrs. Desire (Harlow; ) Felt, died in Portland, April 10. She was the daughter of Capt. Samuel Stephens form- erly of Paris. Alva Shurtleff died at South Paris, April 30, aged nearly 83. May 13, the foundry of F. C. Merrill was partially destroyed by fire, loss covered by insurance. Sally Ryerson, wife of Josiah J. Knight, died July 1. aged 71 ; she was formerly of Paris. Alpheus Shaw died in Portland, July 25 ; he was a son of Solomon Shaw who came to Paris in 1795, and had been in business since 1808. Soldiers' monument at South Paris dedicated July 5. Mrs. Mehitable, widow of the late Judge Cole, died Sept. 17th, aged 59. She was born in Bethel and the daughter of Nathan Marble and Mehitable Freeland, formerly of Sutton, Mass. The Oxford Register, a weekly paper, started at Paris the first of October. Terrible freshet on the Little Androscoggin, Oct. 3. Fifty thousand logs went out of the boom of the Sonth Paris Flouring company, and the mills were only saved by great effort. The bridge at Snow's Falls was carried away and the upper bridge at South Paris nearly destroyed. The bridge across Moose pond stream above Snow's Falls was carried away, and many others of lesser importance in different parts of the town, including all but one on Stony brook. The work shop of Dea. Elbridge Fobes burned Dec. 14. Mary, widow of Zadoc Keene, died Dec. 20, aged 88 years, 10 montlis, and at West Paris Nov. 18, Liberty Hall, aged 64.
1870.
The report of the committee to investigate the affairs of the town was read and recommitted, with power to send for persons and papers necessary to complete a full investigation. F. H. Skillings was elected town clerk in place of H. E. Hammond, who had held the position since 1856. Alexander S. Thayer, America Thayer and H. G. Brown were made a committee to sell the town farm, and take
193
HISTORY OF PARIS.
measures for the purchase of another. Voted to tax dogs one dollar each. The municipal officers were instructed to obtain and sell or exchange for town notes, the bonds of the State of Maine due the town on the equalization of bounties ; also to fund the town debt to the amount of $14,000, at a rate of interest not exceeding 7 3-10 per cent. At a special meeting June 5th, the committee on town farm, were authorized to take a deed of the one purchased, in behalf of the town, and thirty-five hundred dollars were raised for the pur- chase of the farm. The lines between Hebron and Paris were per- ambulated and renewed, and stone monuments set up at the angles and crossings.
Feb. 17th, Eli Aldrich was drowned at Bacon's Falls on the Little Androscoggin while attempting to cross at the bridge. The water was three or four feet on the bridge and running with such force as to sweep him away. Considerable wood and lumber piled on the banks of the river in Paris was carried away. The freshet was severe throughout the State. Rev. W. H. Walker of the Baptist church at the Hill resigned in March. Capt. Jesse Howe died at West Paris March 2, aged 84. He was the son of Jacob Howe, the first mail carrier in Oxford county. Mrs. Abby (Bradbury, ) wife of Jonas Hamilton, died at South Paris, March 28, aged 81. Mrs. Thankful, widow of the late Caleb Cushman, died June 14, aged 83. Sampson Andrews died July 16, aged 57, and Mrs. Esther A. Dean, June 13, aged 85. Mrs. Lucinda Ripley, once of Paris, died at Great Falls, N. H., Aug. 7, aged 78. Tuesday Aug. 9, there was a severe thunder storm in Paris. The barn of Dea. Joel B. Thayer was struck by lightning and destroyed with its contents ; the house was cleared, but saved by great effort and a favorable change of wind. Samuel B. Locke, Esq., died at West Paris, Aug. 16, aged 69 years. The census of the town was taken this year ; number of inhabitants 2775. The Norway Light Infantry mustered on Paris Hill and went into camp in September. Sept. 7, Henry McKenney died at South Paris, aged 91 years. Margaret McFadden died at the same place Sept. 16, aged 82. Benj. Hammond formerly of Paris, died in Lincoln, Oct. 24, aged 82. The citizens of Paris Hill raised nearly $3000 to purchase an engine to be placed in the steam mill built by John Willis, afterwards the sled factory. Capt. Wm. E. Goodenow of Norway, a practical printer, left for Kansas in the fall of this year. Sarah, (Cooper,) wife of John Billings, died
13
.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Nov. 10, aged 67. A movement was made toward the close of the year, for a steam mill at West Paris.
1871.
Samuel R. Carter was elected town clerk. The committee, on investigating the affairs of the town, reported that no meeting of the committee had been held during the year ; it was voted that the investigation be continued, and the committee were instructed to report on or before the next meeting, the report to be printed and distributed to the inhabitants of the town. The town treasurer was authorized to refund the balance of the town debt at a rate of interest not exceed . ing six per cent; the selectmen were instructed not to appoint a liquor agent ; dogs were exempted from taxation, the publication of the warrants in the Oxford Democrat was discontinued, and also the road from Addison J. Abbott's to W. W. Dunham's.
Rev. Adam Wilson, formerly pastor of the Baptist church on Paris Hill, died in Waterville, January 15, aged 77. Feb. 12, Ziba Andrews, Jr., of Woodstock, brakeman, was killed at West Paris, a car passing over him. Mary, (Dudley) wife of Dea. Joel B. Thayer, died March 30, aged 74. Moses Hammond died Apr. 10, aged nearly 80. Mrs. Salome, wife of Samuel Perry, died Apr. 12, aged 68. The sled factory was built during the spring and early summer, the capital being raised among the citizens of Paris Hill. The steeple of the Free Baptist church at West Paris, was struck by lightning, May 1, doing considerable damage. Mrs. Sally Walton died June 3, aged 92. Zilpha, widow of the late Nathan Marshall, and daughter of Eleazer Dunham, died May 31, aged 73. Lightning struck in several places in the north part of the town and in Green- wood and Woodstock, May 4. On the occasion of Barnum's Circus exhibit at South Paris, Albion Andrews of the Andrews House, was robbed of $750, probably by some follower of the circus. Caroline P., wife of America Thayer, died August 4, aged 71 years. She was a daughter of Caleb Prentiss. Charity Dudley, widow of David Dudley and daughter of John Tuell, an early settler of this town, died in Woodstock, August 1st, aged 91 years. Mrs. Nancy Dunn, widow of the late Daniel Dunn, died in Bethel, Sept. 20, aged 92} years. They formerly lived in this town.
1872.
Geo. A. Wilson was chosen town clerk. The school agents were authorized to employ teachers in their respective districts. The treasurer was authorized to collect the school funds and give treas-
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
urer's notes or receipts for the same ; it was voted to accept the report of the committee to investigate the financial affairs of the town and to indefinitely postpone the whole matter. The Republican electoral ticket, headed by Samuel E. Spring, received 376 votes, and the Democratic, headed by Wm. H. Simpson, 166. Horatio E. Swasey was elected Supervisor of Schools. At a special meeting, Nov. 16, voted to exempt from taxation for ten years, any manu- facturing establishment within the limits of the town, when the amount of capital invested exceeds ten thousand dollars. Mrs. Ann, widow of the late Phineas Morse, died January 18, aged 73; January 14, Mrs. Betsey Gross Parsons, aged 79 ; January 7, Mrs. Martha, widow of Ezra Stevens, aged 83 ; January 15, Haddassah Kimball, widow of Luther Stone, formerly of Waterford, aged 87. Silas Maxim died Feb. 8, aged 80 ; Jacob Jackson, aged about 80. March 1, Mrs. Huldah Crockett, aged 80. March 2, at West Paris, Consider Fuller, aged 92, a native of Plymptom, Mass. March 25, Capt. Peter Hardy, aged 72; 24th, Mrs. Peleg Hammond, aged 60. Eleazer D. Marshall, son of the late Nathan Marshall, was instantly killed by being run over by a freight train, at West Paris, April 12. Capt. John Andrews died at No. Paris, March 5, aged 81. May 16, the railroad bridge over the river at South Paris, took fire and was entirely consumed. On Thursday morning following, the roof of the railway station took fire and about thirty feet of it was burned. June 1, Josiah Dudley, formerly of Paris, died in Portland, aged 80. Mr. Samuel Briggs, an elderly man at Snow's Fall's, June 12, was drowned in the river. Died in Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Lydia (Chase,) widow of Asa Barton, formerly of Paris, aged 77. Three deaths from malignant typhoid fever occurred on High Street, in the family of Sidney Farnum, in July and August. Aug. 22, died Mr. Thomas Crocker, aged 84. Aug. 25, died Amos H. Bennett, aged 79. The house of Wm. L. Chase of No. Paris, was burned, Sept. 12. Rev. A. A. Ford preached his farewell sermon at the Baptist Church, on the Hill, Oct. 2. A pulp mill was put in at Jack- son's Mills, during the summer. The farm buildings of John W. Willis, near West Paris, were entirely consumed by fire, Oct. 28. Rev. Dr. H. C. Estes, was called to the pastorate of the Baptist Church, Dec. 16.
1873.
Voted to tax dogs one dollar each, to the owner or the one hav- ing the dog in his possession. The matter of Free High Schools
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
was indefinitely postponed. The treasurer, at a special meeting, was authorized to hire $2000 for the repair of bridges, and Wm. A. Frothingham, Alex. S. Thayer and Horatio Austin were a committee for expending it, with instructions to spend a portion of it on a sub- stantial bridge at North Paris. Jonathan Warner died April 2, aged 86 ; April 25, Cyprian Hall, aged 80; at Bryant's Pond June 6, Sophia, wife of Capt. Benj. F. Crawford formerly of this town ; June 29, Eliza Yates, aged 74 ; Dec. 17, Tacy, wife of Asa Wood- bury, aged 65 ; Feb. 5, Wm. Young, aged 67; Feb. 15, Rebecca Twitchell, aged 83 ; Feb. 28, Susan, widow of Joseph Briggs, aged 78. January 16, in Smyrna, Levi Berry, Jr., a former resident of this town, aged 72. Aug. 2, Capt. C. H. Ripley's barn was struck by lightning and somewhat shattered but not burned. Emerson Colburn, son of Jerathmel Colburn, was killed on the railroad track at Mechanic Falls, Aug. 18.
1874.
Two thousand seven hundred dollars raised for schools, $2000 for poor, $6000 for roads and $3000 on town debt. "Voted not to tax dogs." The line between Paris and Norway was perambulated in November. The superintending school committee gave notice that they had adopted Monroe's series of Readers for use in town. Died June 16, Nath'l Knight, aged 72 ; March 20, Lucy B. Rawson, aged 70 ; May 13, Olive B., wife of Mark Rawson, aged 73; June 19, Polly, wife of John Lombard, aged 81 ; June 17, Bezaleel White aged 75 ; Sept. 22, Charles Decker, aged 63 ; Oct. 22, Elisha Morse, aged 73 ; Nov. 20, Polly Field, aged 79. Feb. 15, died Rev. Clementine A. Parker, a preacher of more than ordinary ability, aged 56 years. April 17, Dr. Augustus Harris of Colebrook, N. H., a native of this town, was fatally poisoned by taking tincture of aconite, supposing it to be tincture of rhubarb. A. Russell, son of Dr. Charles Rus- sell of West Paris, was drowned in the river at Middletown, Conn., while bathing, in June. He was a student in the University there, a young man of much promise. Sewall C. Chase, formerly of Paris, died in Portland, June 12. Col. Henry R. Parsons died suddenly, Oct. 4. Charles A. Black accidently shot himself at Brunswick while removing a cartridge from his pistol. Ball struck between the eyes and completely flattened against the skull, but he was not seriously hurt. The forest-tent caterpillar went through the town in the summer, stripping the forest trees of foliage, and in some cases, orchards. Samuel D. Weeks and Benj. Walton died in November.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
1875.
The selectmen were authorized to appoint highway surveyors for the current year. Eighty cents per capita were voted for schools. On petition of citizens residing in the vicinity of Snow's Falls, a new school district was formed embracing the families of Geo. W. Hammond, Thos. E. Stearns, Jno. D. Briggs, Eli M. Noyes, Charles Davis, John Black, Geo. A. Briggs, Scott L. Farnum, J. O. Ripley, T. H. Gledhill and John Gledhill. Amendments to the constitution were voted upon at the September meeting as follows : Relating to the election of senators by plurality vote ; to special legislation and corporations ; to power of governor to pardon ; to appointment of judges of municipal and police courts ; to taxation ; to abolishing land agency ; to constitutional convention ; to bribery at elections ; to codification of amended constitution ; the vote in favor on each proposed amendment was practically unanimous. At a special meet- ing, $700 were raised for building a barn and necessary out buildings on the town farm. The widow of Oliver Porter, formerly wife of Ezra Hammond late of Paris, died in Waterford, January 26, aged 70. A Literary Society was organized at the Hill, Feb. 15th. Alvah Black, President, and Walter H. Estes, Secretary. Feb, 16, the Oxford County Poultry Association was organized at South Paris ; A. E. Shurtleff. President, Abel C. T. King, Secretary. Mrs. Fanny Freeland, wife of Henry M. Bearce of Norway, and daughter of Gen. Wn. K. Kimball of Paris, died Feb. 16th, aged 30 years ; Feb. 11, Sidney. son of Alex. Thayer, of Paris, died in Norway. aged 28 years. Feb. 24, died Asa Dunham, aged 85 years ; January 31, Daniel H. Blake of South Paris, aged 66 ; January 14, Dexter Giles, aged 41. Mrs. Mahala (Walton) Newell, wife of Sum- ner R. Newell, Register of Deeds, died Feb. 25, aged 65. Mrs. Hannah, wife of Col. Orrison Ripley, died in Wakefield, Mass., Feb. 21, aged 67. Dea. Levi Thayer died June 5, aged nearly 82. In June of this year, there was an invasion of the forest tent cater- pillar which stripped the trees of their foliage over a large area of northern Oxford county, and did great damage to forest, fruit and ornamental trees. Mrs. Mary J. (Walker), wife of Jonas Bisbee, died at North Paris, May 28, aged 62. John Parsons born in Jaffrey, N. H., June 17, 1781, was living in Easton, Me., in June of this year. He lived many years in Paris. Aug. 1, three prisoners, Chase, Merchant and Dunlap, escaped from the jail at Paris Hill. Aug. 19, a terrible tornado swept across the town, doing
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