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 36
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
'The thing is neither strange nor rare, But how the devil came it there?'"
The writer was then a young man and doubtless drew somewhat on his imagination, though the main facts may doubtless be relied upon as correct. From the well known character of Stinchfield as a brave hunter and Indian fighter, it is doubtful if he "screamed in terror" when he saw the approach of the Indians, though he might have counselled surrender, knowing that resistance was useless, and preferring to take the chances of subsequent escape, to certain death upon the spot. In so doing there was no impeachment of his cour- age, and subsequent events showed that he acted the part of wis- dom.
The body of water which passed through the rocky gorge was probably much greater sixty years ago than now, as many impor- tant tributaries of the river and of the ponds which form its head- waters have become dry, or nearly so, since the land was cleared along their banks. Geologists tell us that ages ago, during the glacial period, an immense arctic river flowed through the valley of the Little Androscoggin, and this may account not only for the "pot holes" which Mr. Hamlin describes as being near the Falls, but also for the one above the Falls and considerably above the bed of the river. The "two hills" spoken of by Mr. Hamlin, "one upon either side of the stream," were once joined together, as he suggests, when the lowlands above, including the Bemis meadow, the high interval east, west and north of it, the William Berry farm, and all the territory west and south of it to Robinson's hill and Greenwood line, must have been inundated. The Falls then must have been something grand, but in time the barrier was broken
391
HISTORY OF PARIS.
through, and since then the river has been constantly lowering its bed and cutting for itself a channel through the solid rock. There is abundant evidence to show that the surface soils of hundreds of acres of the lowlands above the Falls were formed under water, and that for a very long period the subsidence has been gradual.
.
CHAPTER XLII.
EARLY INDUSTRIES OF PARIS.
MILLS.
The portable mill of Dea. John Willis, or it may have been Willis & Jackson, stood in the field now owned by Asa Woodbury, about twenty rods from the road. The stones were removed to the Ham- lin residence, and on the sale of that in 1860, they passed into the possession of S. R. Carter, where they may now be seen as a relic of "ye-ancient time." No living witness remains to describe the mill, but we conjecture it was run in the style of the old time bark- mill. It may have been more properly called a hominy-mill, as hominy, samp and bean porridge, were ever recurring articles of diet in the culinary department of that day. This, however, seemed to be only an ad interim arrangement to the completion of Jackson's mill, on Stony Brook, in 1784. Like the mills of the gods, it ground slowly, but answered its turn.
The first saw-mill in this town was built on Stony Brook by Lem- uel Jackson, in the summer of 1783. The dam was just up stream from the bridge that crosses Royal's mill pond near the point of ledge that extends nearly across the stream. The location of the county road in 1793, and the deed of Elias Stowell in 1805, to Rouse Bisbee, determine the exact location. This mill furnished boards to the earliest settlers of Norway and was a great conven- ience to the pioneers of this town. Solomon Bryant was probably the first mill-man. The reader can picture it, as it stood in the forest shade until it cut its way to the sunlight-that the saw went up and the saw went down, awakening only the echoes of the wildwood. The generation has passed away that saw the last of the crumbling timbers of this rude structure.
392
HISTORY OF PARIS.
The grist- mill-the first in this section of the country-was built the following year (1784) on the site of the mill owned and occu- pied by Wm. B. Royal. The dam was midway between the present dam and the bridge, some portion of which may still be seen at low water, on the southern bank of the pond. The wheel was overshot, the water being conveyed in a spout from the dam. It was put in motion contemporaneous with the wheels of government a century ago, and the first grist was ground by Miller Ames. This was owned by Lemuel Jackson until Sept. 7, 1802, when it passed into the possession of Elias Stowell-being included in the mill lot. January 2, 1813, Elias Stowell sold to John Bennett, who sold, in November following, to John Valentine and Austin Buck. They conveyed the premises to Jonathan Cummings, carpenter, who sold, May 26, 1817, to Seth Morse, bounded by the roads and the brook, containing about two acres, together with the grist-mill thereon with two run of stones ; consideration, $375. Morse sold, April 16, 1820, to George King and Simeon Perkins for one thousand dollars. King sold his undivided half to Samuel Perkins. While in the pos- session of Simeon Perkins, the house now the residence of Wm. B. Royal was built. Benjamin Royal became the owner, and after his decease it passed into the possession of Wm. B. Royal, the present owner, who has done away with the grist-mill and substituted the manufacture of wheel-barrows, and has also added a saw-mill.
The saw-mill of Renben Hubbard and John Daniels, was built on Stony Brook, near the residence of Henry Fobes. It was probably built soon after Jackson's mill, but had been destroyed by fire previous to 1796. In the deed of Reuben Hubbard to Ephraim Field, March 9, 1796, reserve is made to John Daniels of the priv- ilege of one half of the stream and two acres of land where the saw-mill lately stood. Tradition gives the only explanation of its destruction. Slabs had accumulated at the mill and the proprietors were removing them, when they became tired and sat down to rest and refresh themselves. The project of burning the slabs was hit upon as a labor saving process, which they at once proceeded to put in execution. The slabs disappeared very much to their gratifica- tion, and, doubtless much to their surprise, the mill also.
A small grist-mill was built near where the Daniels road inter- sects with the Stony Brook road. We find mention of it in the diary of Dea. Prentiss. The raising is also remembered by Alonzo King and Luther Brett, our oldest citizens. It was "tended" at one
393
HISTORY OF PARIS.
time by Simeon Briggs. The miller's house stood in the pasture owned by O. W. Bent, just north of the road.
The saw-mill opposite Samuel M. King's mill, was built by Capt. Jairus H. King. It was operated at one time in the manufacture of dead eyes. It has been succeeded by the mill built by Samuel M. King, on the south side of the stream. It combines a saw and shingle mill, and is owned and operated by the proprietor.
A shingle-mill, built by Mr. Chase, was located still higher up the stream, near the bridge crossing the brook on the road leading to Solon Royal's. This was soon abandoned and the building taken down.
Lemuel Jackson built the dam on the Little Androscoggin river, and erected the saw and grist mills, the former on the west side of the stream and the latter on the east side, above the bridge. In Jackson's sale of land to Elias Stowell in 1802, these mills were included. The place seems to have taken the name of Stowell's Mills, after this. December 26, 1805, Wm. Stowell became the purchaser of all the estate between the road and Stony Brook, and from the center of the river on the west to the county road on the east. In this sale was the grist-mill, "including two runs of stones and all the utensils belonging to the mill." His son William, while "tending" the mill, fell through the floor and went through the wheel ; the ladle boards, being rotten, gave way, and he was landed on a rock at the tail of the mill, where he was able to call for assis- tance. This was June 6, 1806, at seven o'clock and forty minutes A. M., his watch having stopped at this hour. This grist-mill was taken down this season and a frame put up for a saw and grist mill, under one roof. The grist-mill was completed, and the saw-mill in the spring following. Hattel Bailey was the master workman, assisted by Wm. Twombly of Norway. The grist-mill was in the end next the road, and the saw-mill in the rear.
Solomon Cloudman and Ebenezer Morton have been millers here. It was long the custom to grind salt two days in the year and malt two days. This mill passed into the possession of his son, Thomas N. Stowell, and when the Factory Company was formed he conveyed it to them, and took shares, as referred to elsewhere. When the flouring-mill of Woodman, True & Company was established, it was taken down.
.
394
HISTORY OF PARIS.
PARIS FLOURING-MILL.
Elias Stowell, soon after his purchase in 1802 of Jackson, sold all of the real estate east of the river and south of the road to Seth Morse, Joseph Haven Hall and George King. There were eighty acres of land, the Rouse Bisbee store or shop (Stowell having pur- chased the one-fourth acre and building of Bisbee) being included in the sale ; also a privilege to take water from the east end of the dam, sufficient for a trip hammer. It seems that Howland & Page had erected a carding-mill next to the bridge previous to Oct. 13, 1813, at which time Henry R. Parsons of Waterford bought of Seth Morse, his privilege lower down the stream. On this purchase, Mr. Parsons built a fulling-mill, in which he did a very prosperous busi- ness. He subsequently bought the carding-mill. The fulling-mill was burned Nov. 19, 1834. He rebuilt at once and continued the business until the formation of the Factory Company, in 1836, when he sold out his mills to the Factory Company. They also bought of Thomas N. Stowell, his mill and privilege on the north side of the road, he taking stock in the new company. These mills were all taken down and the woolen-mill built the same season. The company was composed of Abijah Hall, who took 20 shares, or $2000, the shares being $100; Col. Parsons, $2000; Ansel Field, $1000; Thomas N. Stowell, $1000; and Cyprian Stevens, Charles Porter, James Deering, Col. Wm. Parsons, Samuel Deering, Elisha Morse and John Morse, $500 each ; Thomas Clark took $700, and Orren Jones $300, making the capital stock $10,500. This money was invested in the land, buildings and machinery. Ten thousand dollars were hired to purchase wool, and the machines put in opera- tion. But before they were able to put their goods upon the market the protective tariff had been taken off, and their cloth would not sell for the cost of the wool. The result of their first year's opera- tion was a dead loss of ten thousand dollars. One half of the property was sold to Samuel Thomas of Saccarappa, at a discount of fifty per cent. He was soon after burned out at Saccarappa, and this was another draw-back. The business was continued and Thomas failed, and his shares went into Hewett Chandler's hands. They finally sold the other half to Moses Hammond. The old com- pany lost the original shares and one dollar and fifty cents besides, on every dollar put in. The business was continued by Moses Hammond until 1858, when it was purchased by Woodman, True &
SLED MANUFACTORY, SOUTH PARIS.
MANUFACTORY OF HOUSE FINISH, S. P. MAXIM & SON, SOUTHI PARIS.
395
HISTORY OF PARIS.
Phelps, the machinery taken out, the mill enlarged and a first-class flouring-mill established. The flouring-mill is now owned and occu- pied by David N. True, a son of one of the former proprietors. '
OTHER MILLS.
Isaac Durell bought the lot on which he erected the paper-mill and on the same lot the house now occupied by Rodney N. Hall. This was run to manufacture brown wrapping paper. He sold one- half to Samuel J. Durell, who sold one-half his interest to John Flavel Durell. It was subsequently burned. The site of this mill was purchased, in 1880, by S. P. Maxim, who erected a mill for the manufacture of mouldings, house finish and job work, which is still in operation by S. P. Maxim & Son.
The saw-mill at South Paris, on the west side of the river, was doubtless built by Jackson previous to his sale to Elias Stowell. It has had many owners and many repairs. It is now run successfully by L. S. Billings, proprietor, in the manufacture of lumber, crates, &c.
BISco's FALLS.
In 1822, a dam was built and a grist-mill erected by Sylvanus Jackson and Simeon Cummings at Bisco's Falls. Luke Hastings, a clothier, and Alden Fuller, built a fulling-mill the same season at the same place. A carding-mill was erected in 1824, by Simeon Cummings and Enoch Lincoln. The following year Simeon Cum- mings, Sen., and Alfred Andrews built a saw-mill. This mill was carried away by an ice freshet in 1829, together with the dam. In 1840, Jairus H. Jackson purchased the property and erected a mill, which was in his possession until 1872, when he sold out to D. N. True, Geo. A. Wilson and Charles M. Morgan. They erected a mill for the manufacture of wood pulp or card board. It was in success- ful operation until burned in 1883.
THE BEMIS MILLS.
The Bemis grist-mill, on the privilege below Snow's Falls, was built soon after the incorporation of the town, by Seth and Luke Bemis of Watertown. They also established a store at the place and employed as clerk Alanson Mellen, who also "tended" the mill. Eleazer Dunham became the miller after the removal of Major Mel- len to Paris Hill. The mill and the bridge were carried away by a freshet about 1822. The floating wreck is well remembered by
396
HISTORY OF PARIS.
daughters of Eleazer Dunham-Mrs. Holden and Mrs. Jairus Cum- mings. Mr. Dunham narrowly escaped, having left the mill but a. moment before it was carried away. The house, barn and store were purchased by David Bemis and moved to the David Bemis farm, since owned by David R. Ripley and now by Mr. Jackson. The elm now growing on the river bank stood between the house and store, and is all there is left to mark the spot. Associated with. this locality, is the drowning of Allen and Strout, referred to in another place. Also it calls to mind the perilous ride of Doctor Goss. The planking of the bridge had been removed for repairs, and the Doctor, returning late at night, did not take in the situa -- tion, and his faithful, sure-footed Maggie walked the stringer of the bridge, and the safe arrival of the doctor at Mr. Dunham's, created. much surprise and caused the inquiry of how he came. His positive assertion that he rode across the bridge, induced Mr. Dunham to make an examination the next morning, and the tracks leading on and off the stringer substantiated the old doctor's statement.
The Bemis saw-mill was built by James and Francis Bemis, mid- way between Snow's Falls and West Paris. This was purchased by Simon Ficket, who was drowned here soon after. It was operated for a while by his son, who erected the commodious buildings in which the family resided until their removal to West Paris village. It has since been owned and occupied by Mr. Childs in the manu- facture of spools and bobbins.
SNOW'S FALLS MILLS.
The romantic locality at Snow's Falls, the admiration of the tourist, was finally seized upon by the restless spirit of enterprise, and while being shorn of its time honored attractions, its rushing waters were made to turn the busy wheels of industry. The extensive chair manufactory of Messrs. Stearns was erected previous to the building of the railroad. It was burned November 25, 1855. A new build- ing was at once erected on the same site and the manufacture of chairs continued under different firms until about 1875, when it was purchased by William Chase and converted into a manufactory of brown paper. After the decease of Mr. Chase, it passed into the hands of John Kersclake. This was also consumed by fire June 5, 1877. A mill for the manufacture of wood pulp by the Excter Wood Pulp Company, has since been erected.
.
397
HISTORY OF PARIS.
WEST PARIS MILLS.
The grist-mill at West Paris village was built by Samuel B. Locke soon after the building of the railroad, and was operated by him until his decease in 1870. It has since been operated by his son, Samuel B., and A. P. Andrews, and now by Samuel W. Dunham.
The Willis saw-mill, on the most northern privilege on the An- droscoggin in the town of Paris, was built by John Willis, and has been operated by his son, F. L. Willis, in the manufacture of boards, shingles and small lumber, up to the present time.
NORTH PARIS MILLS.
About the beginning of the present century, Ebenezer Hutchinson came here from Fayette, and built the first mills at North Paris. These were situated on the outlet of the Moose pond-the grist-mill on the west side, on the site of the present mill, and the saw-mill on the east side, on the site of the present manufactory of chairs. Stephen Chase, in his diary, speaks of his purchase of boards of Hutchinson, January 8, 1802. These mills were opera- ted by Hutchinson and his sons until about 1812, when he, with his sons' families-the Waltons, Colburns and the Jordans, who had all intermarried with the Hutchinsons-emigrated to Ohio, where he died in 1828. Stephen Washburn of Hebron, became the pur- chaser, and this locality then took the name of Washburn's Mills. The village was of slow growth, for in April, 1819, when Asa Dun- ham, Jr., moved in, the Drake store was just being finished. Stephen Washburn occupied the house on the knoll west of the bridge ; Stephen, Jr., on the site of the Bartlett stand ; Joseph Chandler occupied a house on the site of the residence of Solomon Chase, and Galen Field was just commencing on the lot, afterwards his homestead farm, now owned by Samuel W. Dunham. The lower privilege was purchased by Horatio G. Russ-the east side of the stream of Samuel H. Houghton, in April, 1834, and the west. side of Samuel Hammond in 1835. A mill was erected and machin- ery put in for cleansing clover seed, in the summer of 1834. It was operated by Mr. Russ, and afterward by Eben Drake. It is now owned and operated by N. J. Cushman, in the manufacture of boards and shingles. The west side of the stream was conveyed to James Russ, in 1837, and a saw-mill was here built. It has since been owned by Moses Hammond, Phineus B. Warner and - others.
398
HISTORY OF PARIS.
MILLS ON SMITH AND STONE'S BROOKS.
The Smith grist mill, on the Smith brook, was built by Nicholas Smith and Captain Samuel Stephens. Smith then lived in the house now owned and occupied by James Edwin Cole, and Stephens on the center lot. Smith worked the mill and Stephens shared in the toll. It is in the recollection of the writer that it ground very slowly. It was of convenience to the neighbors, who could leave their grists and economise the time by getting their horses shod at at Blacksmith Davis', near Gen. Hubbard's. Smith afterwards ex- changed his homestead with Gen. Hubbard, for the one the General first settled on, in the Andrews neighborhood. Samuel Rawson built a carding-mill just below the grist-mill. It was run but a short time. The cards were taken out and sold and the building removed to his homestead, where it is now standing.
Hammond's saw-mill, on the Smith brook, was built by Mr. Raw- son and Moses Hammond became the purchaser ; he operated it for several years. It is now owned by J. K. Hammond and Geo. W. Cole, who have provided first-class machinery.
A saw-mill on Stone's brook was built a few years since by Geo. R. Hammond, near the homestead of Peleg Hammond. It was a credit to his ingenuity and industry, but it failed to remunerate him for the outlay. It was only operated during the spring of each year. It was carried off by a freshet.
The Simon H. Cummings mill was built on the Smith brook, east of Paris Hill, and at the nearest point to which water would run. It was built about 1840, and was used by Col. Cummings in sawing material for carriage work, turning, &c. It was long since re- moved.
STEAM MILLS.
In 1870, the citizens of Paris Hill raised nearly three thousand . dollars to purchase an engine to be placed in a steam-mill built by John Willis. They also erected a building for a sled factory, in 1871, which was occupied by Henry F. Morton and George B. Crockett. O. A. Maxim subsequently became a member of the firm. The power for driving the machinery was furnished by the steam mill. A stock company was afterwards formed under the firm name of Paris Hill Manufacturing Company. This was a varied industry, and included the manufacture of sleds, carts, wag- ons, and children's carriages ; drag-rakes, step-ladders, and tables
399
HISTORY OF PARIS.
-the sales some years amounting to sixty thousand dollars. In 1883, buildings on the line of the railroad, South Paris, were erec- ted, and the business the following winter was transferred to the new location.
The furniture shop on Paris Hill was built by Silas P. Maxim and Theron F. Hathaway, in 1871, and the manufacture of furniture was commenced under the firm name of Hathaway, Davis & Com- pany. This was sold to the Paris Hill Manufacturing Company, and the furniture shop at South Paris was built by S. P. Maxim in the winter of 1874, to which the business was removed. It was owned and occupied by F. A. Thayer until recently, when it was consumed by fire. The steam-mill at West Paris was built in 1871, by a stock company of citizens, and has since been occu- pied by Messrs. Hannibal G. Brown and James H. Barrows in the manufacture of chairs. It is still in successful operation.
NAIL-MAKING.
Nail-making may well be classed among the early industries, for the blacksmith was as surely called in requisition in the construc- tion of the buildings of the early settlers, as the joiner with his axe and plane. The cost of nails was then an item of more consider- ation in the cash account of the dwellings than now, when quick- running machinery turns them out by the thousand almost in the time the diligent blacksmith was hammering out one. Improve- ments. or helps, in making the wrought nail, were early adopted by John Valentine of South Paris, who had a shop on Stony brook. He used a treadle and clamp for holding the nail while he headed it with a hammer. The motion thus acquired by using his foot on the treadle while striking with the hammer, became noticeable in his walk, and adhered to him through life. He moved to Mechanic Falls and died there May 28, 1862.
TANNERIES.
This industry that has had its day in the enterprises of the town, was first established by Elder James Hooper, who was a tanner by trade. During the first years of his residence in town, he boarded with Benjamin Hammond, and while there put in some pits near the foot of the hill on the west line of the lot. It was a small affair, doubtless, yet it may have been sufficient to accommodate the wants of the settlers at that date. Tradition reports that the water-pit
1
400
HISTORY OF PARIS.
was used for immersion purposes, but there are none now living to dispute or vouch for it. After Mr. Hooper's settlement on his lot, he built a house for Moses Hodgdon, a tanner and cordwainer from Berwick. The tan-yard was near these buildings, and portions of the old bark-mill were stored, till quite recently, in the barn. Mr. Hodgdon was employed for some years in the varied capacity of tanner, shoe-maker and farmer. On the decease of Mr. Hooper, his wardrobe and old chaise, by his request, were given to Tanner Hodgdon, who had moved to some eastern town. The tannery at South Paris was established by Dea. Ezra Cary, and carried on by him several years. Charles McFadden has been known in our day as the tanner, the business having ceased at the time of his deatlı. The Whittemore tannery was built by Isaiah Whittemore, near his residence on his homestead farm. He gained the sobriequet of the "Old Tanner."
A small tannery was established at Paris Hill, and Cyrus Hutch- ins from Kennebunkport, came here March 1, 1833. He continued the business for over twenty years. He lived in what was the old Bemis store adjoining the tan-yard, but moved to Canton and died there in 1883.
The tannery buildings were afterwards all burned. The tannery at North Paris was established by a man named Osgood, who con- tinued the business for some years. The yard was on the east side of the outlet of Moose pond, and nearly opposite the residence of Solomon Chase. It long since disappeared.
LIME.
Lime is found in portions of the town, but only one kiln was ever burned, of which we have any knowledge. This was near the Stony Brook road, and near the junction with the Daniels road.
MALT.
The old malt-house in the Hall neighborhood, referred to in the early records of the town, stood near the residence of John S. Bar- rows, at the junction of the road leading to the pond. It was built by Abijah Hall, who manufactured malt for himself and neighbors, enabling them to provide themselves with malt liquors, ale and por- ter. Two days in each year were set apart by the miller in which to grind malt.
1
401
HISTORY OF PARIS.
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.