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 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
According to a statement obtained at the U. S. Statistical bureau, a one dollar continental bill was worth, in October, 1777, ninety-one cents; one mill ; in December, 1777, seventy-five cents, four mills ; but in March, 1779, it had depreciated to ten cents, in April to nine cents, in June to seven cents, three mills, in September to five cents, five mills, in November to four cents, three mills, and in December to three cents, eight mills.
What Williamson says of the early settlers in Maine generally is undoubtedly true of those who fixed their location in this town. "To clear woodlands of their rugged incumbrances, and render them smooth for the plough and scythe and fit for human habitancy, required a fortitude and persevering industry, which are never per- mitted to abate. The first settlers possessed these qualities in an eminent degree. Nor were their felicities all in prospect. Rough as the log house may appear to the eye of luxury, it was usually the sanctuary of virtue, of health, of character, and the birth place of many such as the world calls good and great. Even the merest wood cutter amidst his solitude, breathes a nectarine atmosphere and exults in his freedom, as he sees field added to field and cottage after cot- tage rise, until, the wilderness changes and brightens into towns, the products of honest adventure, and productive toil-the prospective dwelling place of prosterity in successive generations."
In an interesting paper, read by Mr. William Allen, before the Maine Historical Society, in 1855, on the early Sandy River Settle- ments in Franklin County, he said : "The common course of pro- ceeding with beginners, was, first to cut down the trees on five or six acres the first year, burn the ground over and plant with corn the · next year and build a log house ; cut down more trees, remove the family in before harvest time ; live on corn meal one year, raise wheat the third year and build a small barn ; raise English hay,
-
209
HISTORY OF PARIS.
wheat, rye, and corn the fourth year, and then they were in a way to live comfortably. After living seven years in a log house, every one had a right to build a framed house, if he could; they were then called old settlers. All who had nothing better than a log house, were by common consent bound to give one new settler two weeks' accommodation and board when moving in." Whether similar practices and rules prevailed in the early days of Paris, I am not advised.
This town is favored with a good number of water privileges, of more or less power; the larger being at South Paris, West Paris, Snow's Falls, and at two or three other points on the Little Andros- coggin ; and Stony brook, Smith's brook, and Moose pond stream are also utilized for mill purposes at several places. In his history of Norway, Mr. David Noyes says that during the early settlement of that town there was no grist mill in the place, and that settlers were obliged to go to Jackson's mill, in Paris, on the Stony brook, which he says was but a poor apology for a mill ; or to what has been since called Ray's mill in what is now Otisfield, where they sometimes, in the winter, went on snow shoes with a bushel or two of grain on a hand sled.
Jackson's grist mill and a saw mill, the first in this town, were located on the Stony brook, and were built by Lemuel Jackson about 1783, prior to which the settlers were obliged to go for these accom- modations to New Gloucester. Taking a bushel of corn or grain on his back, the sturdy pioneer made his way by a spotted line twenty- five or thirty miles through the forest to that town, had it ground, and in like manner, returned with his grist to his family. On one occasion when Mr. Peter Durell was proceeding through the woods on this errand, he was suddenly confronted by a huge bear, which disputed his passage until clubbed off by force of arms. 'I have this fact from my brother Alonzo, to whom it was related by Mr. Durell himself. In these days there were few roads in this section to admit of the passage of a horse, much less a wagon. Boards for a table-leaf or shelf, were lugged many miles upon the back ; and it was long before horses, even for horseback riding, could be availed of to any great extent. Then, the women used often to ride behind the men, or they would take one or more of their children and travel long distances on horseback to visit their friends.
The population of this town appears to have been steadily on the.
14
-
210
HISTORY OF PARIS.
increase, probably from its first settlement up to 1850; but the census of 1860 shows a decrease of fifty-five in the preceding ten years, and the falling off in the next decade was sixty-five, doubtless partly owing to the war of the rebellion. * By the census, the number of inhabitants of Paris was, in 1800, eight hundred and forty-four ; in 1810, thirteen hundred and twenty; in 1820, eighteen hundred and ninety-four ; in 1830, two thousand three hundred and seven ; in 1840, 'two thousand four hundred and fifty-four; in 1850, two thousand eight hundred and eighty-two; in 1860, two thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven ; and in 1870, two thousand seven hundred and sixty-five. We have not time to investigate the causes of this decrease ; but I venture the opinion that a majority, at least, of our native citizens, who have left town to seek their fortunes in other places, would have been happier and better off, probably, in nearly every other respect, had they settled down contentedly at home.
History tells us that the earliest people of whom we have any record regarded everything ancient as venerable and sacred. When a Greek or Roman wished to say that anything was dear to him, he said, "That is ancient for me." We read also, that the ancient cities clung strongly to their past, because they found in the past all the motives as well as all the rules of their religion. "A city did not believe it had the right to allow anything to be forgotten, for everything in its history was connected with its worship." So, in founding a city, religious ceremonies of a marked character were observed. First, a sacrifice was offered, then a fire of brushwood was lighted, and as an act of purification, the companions of the chief eachı leaped through the flames. Next, in a small trench of a circular form, each person deposited a little earth brought from the country from which he had come, and in which he believed the souls of his ancestors were inclosed. On this spot an altar was set up and a fire lighted upon it. This was the holy fire of the city, the bounds of which were next marked by a furrow made with a copper plough-share, the plough being held by the founder in priestly robes and veiled head, chanting prayers, while his companions followed him, observing a religious silence.t
Although the first inhabitants of our town found its boundaries
*When the census of 1850 was taken, the railroad was under process of construction through this town, and nearly two hundred workmen were enumerated who had only a temporary residence here; this accounts for the apparent falling off in population in 1860. ""The Ancient City," by Fustel de Coulanges.
211
HISTORY OF PARIS.
traced to their hands and therefore had no need of special ceremonies to fix its limits, like the ancients, they gave heed to all the sacred memories of the past ; and if they did not bring deposits of conse- crated soil and kindle thereon their altar fires, many of them knelt in daily worship around the domestic hearth, and joined in the erec- tion of temples to the living God. We, too, who are here to-day, entertain for our predecessors who have passed from us, feelings of respect not unmixed with brotherly friendship, and a love that can never cease. We, too, would gather up as far as in our power, the leading incidents attending the origin and progress of our town, as a portion of the history of our common country, interesting alike to ourselves and to our successors. At the close of this one hundred years, we come together with mutual greetings, thankful that our lot has been cast in a land of liberty, and in one of the most remark- able epochs of the world's history, fraught as it is with extraordinary developments in all the domain of human knowledge. What revo- lutions, what important changes in the affairs of nations, what won- derful discoveries, what ingenious and startling inventions have taken place within the recollection of many here present ! Fortunate are we to have been so situated, and happy in having been spared to join in this celebration here in our native town. With one of our favorite authors, may we not truly say :
"There is no place like the old place, where you and I were born,
Where we lifted up our eyes on the splendors of the morn !
From the milk-white breast that warmed us; from the clinging arms that bore,
Where the dear eyes glistened o'er us, that will look on us no more.
There is no friend like the old friend who has shared our morning days ! No greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise !
Fame is the scentless flower, with gaudy crown of gold ;
But Friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold."
And now, dear friends, ere we separate, let us swear allegiance anew, not only to our native town but to our whole beloved country. Resting on the constitution, let us see to it that only the worthy are allowed either to make or to administer our laws. Our only safety is in the virtue, integrity and constant watchfulness of the people, who should guard the ballot, the palladium of our liberties, with unceasing care, and hold as a traitor every person who shall in any manner attempt to abuse or corrupt it. Thus, with able, honest and patriotic statesmen for our rulers, we have everything to hope for, and nothing to fear.
212
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Mr. King's address was followed by the singing of the following hymn, written by Miss Alice E. Maxim. The music for this hymn was composed by W. S. Ripley of Boston.
"GOD BLESS OUR NATIVE HILLS."
God bless our native hills ! We pray to Him who fills Our souls with trust. Our fathers' God! Thou hast
Our thanks for mercies past,
For good in years to be, We humbly trust in Thee : Thy ways are just.
God bless our native hills ! Green woods and sparkling rills, This glorious day.
Wherever we may roam,
We find no place like home ;
No other skies so fair,
Nor sweeter summer air, Than here to-day.
Dear old hills ! We love thee ! Each rock and flow'r and tree, To us are dear. When spring and song-birds come,
When summer roses bloom, When autumn tints are seen, Or winter reigns supreme, Thou'rt ever dear.
God bless our native town ! Sweet mem ries cluster round Each hearth and home! With willing hearts and hands Our fathers tilled these lands, Our mothers loved us here ; They lived to bless and cheer In days agone.
God bless our native town ! Her sons with honors crown, And blessings rare ; For centuries to come, Make this the happy home Of daughters good and pure, In ways of virtue sure, As true as fair.
213
HISTORY OF PARIS.
God bless the dear old town ! While angels looking down Send thoughts of love- From ancestors long gone To a bright heavenly home- From friends and kindred dear, Who once dwelt with us here In peace and love.
Hon. Geo. F. Emery of the Boston Post, then read a poem entitled,
OUR FAMOUS MEN.
As Time with wing unfettered flies Beneath these smiling, native skies, And ushers in th' centennial year, Recalling scenes to memory dear, And treading soil our fathers trod, We've gladly sung, thanks to our God- He, though unseen, their pathway made When first foundations here were laid ; To doubtful step he showed the way, And by his grace we meet to-day. Our love for country knows no bound, With all her varied riches crowned ; New England has a special charm, For her our hearts are ever warm. But whereso'er our footsteps range, To points remote or regions strange, Our thoughts will linger near the hearth Associated with our birth.
When foreign footsteps reach our shore, Our country's wonders to explore, What well arrests th' observing mind Are commonwealths which here they find, Our towns well governed by the choice Of rulers by the public voice. These, scattered thick on every hand, Embrace the glory of our land.' Of these, none have a better claim To share the honors of such fame, Than Paris, where to-day we stand, One of the noblest of the land. Could we retrace a hundred years, Though freely mingling smiles with tears, We gladly would the path pursue, And Seventeen Seventy Nine renew.
214
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Not that we now would substitute The year of sowing for its fruit, But rather better try to draw The picture which our Jacksons saw. We can conceive enough of this To say 'twas drear enough for Willis, Men of rare pluck they were, we know, For all traditions tell us so ; Nor are we left alone to these, For in our day there have been pleas, Which demonstrate beyond a doubt The Willis race was hard to rout.
But facts of earliest times I waive, These from our orator we have ; My muse prefers just now to show, What all Parisians ought to know, That, as to men of large renown, Ours is no doubt, the banner town ; The fact, I think, is very clear, That Paris has, in this, no peer. Not natives all were these I name, For this is not what here I claim ; But what I do intend to say, And can be proved on any day, Embracing with our native sons. Those who have been adopted ones, . More men of note have issued here Than can be seen or found elsewhere; That is to say, remembering size, And census of the town likewise.
By one consent our foremost son, Who highest honors well has won, Is he wose name need not be told- To young 'tis known as well as old. He little thought in school where sent, He would become Vice-President, Nor did he dream while sticking type, For what he then was growing ripe- Yet step by step, from day to day, He onward pressed his upward way, Until, save one, their highest prize Awarded those bound high to rise, Was by the sovereigns of the land Placed cordially in Hamlin's hand. How well this nation's gift was borne, And all the laurels he has worn,
215
HISTORY OF PARIS.
"The muse of history will relate Much fuller at a later date, And justice done to you as well, When we shall hear from M. & L.
Proceeding now with rapid wing, Next on the roll is Mr. King ; Horatio, too, played well his part, Since here he learned the printer's art. His mind while handling printer's sticks: Quite freely ran to politics. His genius could not well be spanned By any town this side Portland ; Hence there he flew with type and press, And left his townsmen in distress. But what then brought regret and pain, Proved for himself and them great gain; The path to honor it laid bare And in it all Parisians share. To Washington at last he goes, And honest skill and merit shows, Until, well worthy, there we see Horatio King our P. M. G.
Still passing on, the next we see A Senator in A. K. P. Of him, perhaps, it may be said, Among the living or the dead, More babies have for him been called Than any other in the world. This is enough to fix his place, And shows how well he ran his race. The highest place he went to fill, Was where he watched the Nation's Till ; This well he did for many a year, As many know who listen here.
From Forty Eight to Fifty One H. Hamlin Senatorial honors won. From Fifty One for six years more, He similar honors likewise bore. From Fifty Seven to Sixty One, Another Senatorial race he run. And, as by use pure metals shine, In Eighteen Hundred Sixty Nine, The people served him in that way, And have so done down to this day. His Senatorial life, I ween, Has been the longest ever seen.
216
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Next, passing on, th' observer sees A roll unusual of M. C's. "The first in time if not in fame, Was Hubbard Levi-a great name. His father in the deadly fight Fell on Quebec's embattled height, A Captain brave, a loyal son, As ever fame immortal won. All old Parisians used to boast The General was alone a host. A man of pluck and nervous force, No obstacle could block his course. With generous heart and open hand His operations all were planned. Good cheer around a game of Loo, Our fathers did not all eschew. Tradition says he used to sip Success inspired around his Flip ; That in his day 'twas understood "Twas part of man's essential food, Or, if not so, all men of note Knew how it helped a major vote. He in the year Eighteen Thirteen Was in the national Congress seen. He seldom spoke and never wrote, But always was on hand to vote. He fought the "Feds" with such a zest, That you can well surmise the rest. In Nation, State, or in the Town, He always earned a just renown.
Next Enoch Lincoln, honored name, And always worthy of his fame, Stepped to the front by one consent, And to the seventeenth Congress went ; Three times the people placed him there, But he preferred the Governor's chair. His race, though brief, was nobly run, And brilliant as the mid-day sun.
Next Mr. Carter, Timothy J., And well remembered in our day, Our people chose with great applause, To help enact the nation's laws. But this bright sun death's cloud obscured, Though with an honored name assured. Next on this list was Virgil D.,
217
HISTORY OF PARIS.
As crisp and crank as e'er need be, A Democrat from head to foot, And hardest of the hard to boot. His views he would not if he could Conceal, or shape to modern mould. His friends he loved, his foes he fought, But compromise his soul would not ; He never learned how to recede, But lived and died true to his creed.
In Eighteen Hundred Forty Three Our Hamlin in the House we see. In Forty Five again he goes, And Forty Six until its close.
In Eighteen Forty Nine or so, You sent to Congress Goodenow. For planning well, and party skill, None on the stage could him excel ; A gallant Captain too he was, And early served his country's cause. Few of our townsmen better knew On all occasions what to do.
Near by his side E. Gerry sat, With whom we students used to spat When poring over legal lore, Until in zeal we almost swore. Of course, when Bull his dogs set on, His voice was loud for Oregon. True to his faith E. G. still sticks, Especially in politics.
In Eighteen Hundred Fifty One We find another native son In Congress, full of life and zeal, And anxious differences to heal 'Tween North and South which then arose. The plan of "Compromise" he chose. No man deplored the Nation's snarls More truly than our Andrews Charles. His genial nature all esteemed ; Indeed, he always rather seemed Too winning for his party foes, And that his major ballot shows.
Near sat by him another man Who early was a young townsman, One of the lucky, pushing sort Which seldom from the goal come short ;
218
HISTORY OF PARIS.
This need I not now stop to show, His name was Robert Goodenow. With Lincoln here he studied law, And learned of him how writs to draw. In all the paths of life he trod, He loved the race, and served his God.
In Eighteen Hundred Sixty One We there espy another son. He hailed, by birth, from Mexico, His name was Walton, Charles, you know, In starting off to play his part, He too learned here the printer's art. When weary of the printer's stick, He handled well his fiddle stick. For precedent for such relief If one's demanded in this brief, Examples many I could cite, Which clearly show that he was right.
Thom. Jefferson will do for one, Of whom the world has said, "Well Done;" If one is sought beyond the sea, The name of Gladstone well serves me ; I think the Judge if here about, Would say this case is well made out. But printing was not to his mind, To law he soon became inclined. And that turned out to be his forte, As all of learned when in his court.
Last on this list was Sidney Perham, The mortal enemy of rum. Although the boys niek-named him "Sid," His sterling worth could not be hid. By his own merit he arose, And for three terms you gladly chose To send him to the Nation's seat, To speak and act as he thought meet. This, I believe, completes the roll, And now we'll take another stroll.
And yet before this point we leave, You'll all agree, as I believe, "I'would be unjust to them and you, Some candidates to shut from view. It often happens that the saint, Free from alloy and without taint, Is left far in the rear behind,
219
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Though not from lack of worth or mind. In fact, all saints, as you well know, With the majority seldom go, A doctrine in a day of need Perhaps some here would like to plead.
While still we claim for our loved town The highest prizes for renown, And asking are there any more, Our eyes stray off to Livermore. The reason you can well divine, For there we strike the Washburne line; A race unequalled, so they say, For push and pluck in any day. If by good chance one we can claim, Who bore that famous, honored name, The game is up, and we have won, The contest ended, and well done. Well, Paris has a right to boast Of one from this gigantic host, Judge Ruel here once studied law, And in the distance thought he saw Congressional honors beckoning him. He tries the course, and runs with vim- But all in vain-they rule him out,. The Democrats for Ripley shout.
Then there was Vinton, full of fight, For what he thought was just and right. Of Free-soil troops he led the van, Nor did his gun flash in the pan. 'Twas not his fault that he then failed, For he from foes has never quailed. What was the reason, ask you then? His ranks were found too short of men.
Another worthy high to rise, Though failing to attain the prize, I think was Andrews, Sullivan, By all consent a handsome man. But this was not the only merit Which from this town he did inherit ; His energy and enterprise I need not stop to emphasize ; These are so well and largely known, Success some day his head must crown.
Here, too, was Black, with record white, And almost always in the right,
220
HISTORY OF PARIS.
But he, like many a sainted one, In Eighteen Seventy was outrun. Almost eight thousand him stood by, Though not enough to conquer Frye.
If others on this list should go, I'll thank my friends to tell me so. All names like these may well go down To grace the annals of our town.
Of Marshals we have furnished two, O'er whom there is so much ado, By some thought dangerous at the polls, By some required to watch the rolls. But this is neither here nor there, From politics I must forbear : Enough, I think, we've had of late, The appetite of all to sate. Our first was Parris, Virgil D., Whose gay, blue coat we almost see. The last was Kimball, William K., A gallant Colonel of our day ..
But here we leave those high in station, Who in their times have served the Nation, And next, though briefly, I'll relate The story of our men of State. Yet, being still somewhat in doubt Where some come in or should go out, First I will mention among these, Electors, if my hearers please. These officers of high repute Hold a position in dispute. Some claim them to be national, But this is thought irrational By those who clamor for State Rights, When needful in our party fights. We'll compromise, my friends, to-day, And let each man have his own way. Electors Presidential three, From Paris you and I can see. The first was Chandler, Dr. Ben, Who voted with the Adams men. The next was Hubbard, Levi, General, Who ran against the ticket Federal. He cast his vote for Andrew J., And helped him well to win the day. The last was Rufus Goodenow, When "Tippecanoe and Tyler too,"
221
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Became his party's rallying cry, And had "hard cider" for the dry. For Harrison, the records note, He helped to throw Maine's first Whig vote. Of Governors, we've furnished four, And candidates for several more. The first was Parris, Albion K., How popular I need not say ; In Eighteen Twenty Two he served, The honor too he well deserved. Then Lincoln graced the chair of State From Twenty Six past Twenty Eight ; So famous was this noted son, None ventured by his side to run. In Fifty Seven succeeded him, Our most distinguished H. Hamlin. From Seventy One to Seventy Three, Our worthy Perham next you see.
Two others ran without success, Whose names were worthy, you'll confess, For highest honors of the State, And would have graced the Governor's seat. First on this list, I think, was he, Who, were he living, here would be. He fondly loved his native town,
As his whole record well has shown. He helped Mount Mica to explore, And treasures found unknown before; He for the Paris Tourmaline Prepared the way its fame to win. Elijah Hamlin led the Whigs. As well as when a youth the Jigs. The only reason of his bluff, Was that he gained not votes enough, A fault not his, but of the folk Who then adhered to J. K. Polk. Democracy in this man's day, Was always sure to have its way. One other of our sons was run, Tho' Governor's honors never won, Ezekiel Holmes, the candidate Selected for the chair of State, By men who set a ball in motion, Which set the Nation in commotion. For Liberty they sang and shouted, Until, at last, all foes were routed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.