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 41
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Isaac Jackson purchased of his father, lot 13, in the sixth range, April 22, 1794, thus extending his land from John Willis' on the west to Asa Perry's on the east. This he continued to hold until July 1, 1802, when he deeded to Nathan Woodbury one-half an acre on "Jackson's Hill," being sixteen rods on the road and five rods back, for $20.00. In September following, he sold the two above named lots to Jonathan Cummings, reserving one-half acre of land to accommodate Mr. Nathan Woodbury, being sixteen rods on the road and five wide, westerly of the county road and being on lot 13
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in the fifth range, his store standing in the center of the half-acre on this road. Also three-fourths of an acre on said lot 13, "where the dead are now buried," "provided, the said Jonathan Cummings, his heirs, and executors, pay the said Isaac Jackson two thousand dol- lars on or before April 1, next, and one thousand six hundred in three years from the first day of April next, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, with lawful interest." The mortgage was discharged February 20, 1806. For over twenty years, therefore, it had remained, virtually, "Jackson's Hill." April 6, 1803, Jonathan Cummings deeded the Meeting- house Common to the building committee of the Baptist church. On the sale of the pews the committee gave deeds, including joint ownership in the land to purchasers, February 16, 1804, and the ownership of the Common is still vested in the pew-holders of the Baptist churchr. The balance of Jonathan Cummings' purchase then passed into the hands of his father, Jesse Cummings, on March 12. 1804, and to him hereafter are traced the title deeds of the greater portion of Paris Hill. The County Common, on which the court house, jail, county office building, and the jailer's residence were located, was deeded by Jesse Cummings to the county, October 8, 1805, for the consideration of one dollar. May 20, 1813, it was . widened four rods on the street, by a deed from Jonathan Bemis, the stable standing thereon being removed to the rear of the Bemis buildings. The Nathan Woodbury stand referred to in the above deeds, was built by Woodbury. This stand, lot and store, together with three other lots of land, he sold to Daniel Hanney for $4,200, April 27, 1804.
The stand and store was set off on execution to Thomas F. Chase, who sold the same to Jonathan Bemis, Aug. 14, 1806, for $500.00, who opened the first tavern in the place. The Bemis store was built by James and Francis Bemis. It has been materially improved, and is now owned and occupied by Stephen D. Hutchinson and Edwin Newell. The Nathan Woodbury store that stood in the center of the lot, was moved to Lincoln street, and was long the residence of Tanner Hutchins. One-half of the main house-doubtless the addi- tion erected by Jonathan Bemis-has been removed and located on a lot next south of the residence of Elbridge Fobes, and is now owned and occupied by Joseph Cole. The Bemis stand is now owned and occupied by George W. Cole, Jr. From the corner of
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this lot, Frank Bemis sold the site on which the Universalist Church was erected.
Dr. Cyrus Hamlin purchased the tract on which he built his home- stead, Nov. 4, 1806, for $450.0). This sale included all the land south of the County Common, being twelve rods and twenty links in width, between the Common and the farin of Lemuel Jackson on the south, and extending from the County road on the east, to the lot line on the west-31 rods ;- also all the land west of the County Common and the Meeting-house Common, to within five rods of the northwest corner, containing seven acres. Some of the noble elms that now ornament the grounds were planted by Vice-President Hamlin in his early boyhood. This stand remained in possession of the family until 1860, when it was purchased by William Chase, Esq., who improved the grounds and buildings.
Dec. 10, 1811, Dr. Hamlin sold the store lot, about five rods on the County road and six rods on the County Common, for $75.00, to Increase Robinson and William Cox, of Norway, traders, one un- divided half, and also to Thomas Crocker of Paris Hill, the other undivided half part. They at once erected the store and opened trade, under the firm name of Cox & Robinson. April 16, 1818, . Cox & Robinson deeded their undivided half to Thomas Crocker, who was then occupying it. This store was burned at the time Emery's stable was burned ; Moses Hammond's shop and the hotel stable were also destroyed. It was rebuilt and occupied as a store for many years. It finally passed into the hands of Sampson Andrews, who sold the building to Benjamin S. Doe, who removed it to its present location,-now the residence of Jacob Daniels.
The lot on which Hon. Stephen Emery erected his stand, he pur- chased of Thomas Crocker, being the west end of the store lot, July 1, 1818-"beginning at a poplar tree, which is the first in a row of poplars on the southern line of the County Common, this tree being twelve feet from the corner of Crocker's store," &c. The elms that now add so much to this homestead, were planted by Hon. Stephen Emery. Sampson Andrews became the purchaser and incorporated all the land into his house-lot, and otherwise improved it. This place is now owned and occupied by his widow.
The lot on which Moses Hammond built his house was purchased of Dr. Hamlin, November 3, 1815. It was south of the County Common. The homestead is still owned and occupied by his heirs.
Isaiah Fuller purchased the lot, afterwards the Mellen homestead,
THE HAMLIN HOMESTEAD, PARIS HILL.
HUBBARD HOUSE, PARIS HILL, HON. HIRAM HUBBARD, PROPRIETOR.
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of Dr. Hamlin, and built part of the house. He then sold it to Enoch Burnham, clock-maker. This lot was the balance of the Hamlin lot lying between the. lot sold Robinson & Company and the line of Lemuel Jackson's farm, and extends west to the lot line. Burnham built his shop on the south-east corner of the lot, next to the road on the south line. November 4, 1815, he sold the opposite corner, next to the lot of Robinson & Company, to Moses Ham- mond, for a shop. It was three rods and four links on the county road, and contained one-eighth of an acre. It is the site of the Oxford Democrat and Post Office, owned by Geo. H. Watkins. February 12, 1816. Burnham sold to Nathaniel W. Greene, for $650, who conveyed the same to Dr. Asaph Kittredge, June 5, 1818. Alanson Mellen became the purchaser and occupied it through life. It subsequently passed into the hands of his son, Charles T. Mellen, who has made extensive repairs and improve- ments.
The first lot Jesse Cummings sold on the east side of the County road, was conveyed to Levi and Russell Hubbard, Dec. 31, 1806. It was ten rods on the road and eight rods back. The store had been built previously, and stood next to the north line of the lot. The Hubbard house was built in 1807, and "Hubbard's Hall," in the second story, was occupied by the Masons Nov. 12, 1807. Nov. 22, 1808, an addition was made to the lot on the south end. After the decease of Russell Hubbard it came into the possession of his son, Hiram Hubbard, who made extensive repairs and additions, and opened it as a public house.
Jacob Daniels, cordwainer, purchased the lot next the Hubbard stand Feb. 8, 1808, and built a house containing two rooms and a porch. This lot was five rods on the road and eight rods back. After the decease of Daniels, it was occupied by Gov. Albion K. Parris, and afterwards by Thomas Clark, Esq. While Gov. Parris occupied the house he built the little office on the corner of the Hub- bard lot, which was afterwards occupied by Gov. Lincoln, and by Judge J. G. Cole, who owned it.at the time of his death. It after- wards passed into the possession of Samuel R. Carter, the present owner. Nathan M. Marble purchased the stand of the Daniels heirs, enlarged it and opened it as the "Union House." It subsequently came into the possession of Horace Cummings by exchange, who enlarged it to its present state, and continues it as a hotel. On this lot was located the first school-house, with the understanding that
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
the school-house lot should be given to the district. The committee neglected to take a deed, and after the purchase of the land by "Charles Dean, Physician," April 13, 1808, the school-house was removed to the site of the present house, Lemuel Jackson giving the lot. Dr. Dean's purchase was an acre for $150-eight rods on the county road and twenty rods on Lincoln street. May 20, 1808, he conveyed the lot to Jonathan Bemis for $350. Bemis sold the cor- ner-four rods by ten-to Thomas Crocker, who built the brick house and out-buildings, which still remain in the family.
The north half-acre was sold to Solomon Hall, April 20, 1816, for $200, who built thereon the old Stage House. He worked for Lemuel Jackson and married Susan Cole, a daughter of the sec- ond wife of Lemuel Jackson by her first husband. On April 15, 1817, he sold the stand to Thomas Crocker for $1,000, who opened it- the second tavern on the Hill. Zachariah Stephens came here in 1829 and occupied it for the same purpose a few years. Simeon Norris then bought it and put on the addition since cut off to make Gov. Perham's house, kept it some years, when it again went into the hands of Mr. Crocker, who rented it to G. G. Waterhouse.
Simeon Cummings, Sr., bought of his father the lot between the Stage House and Union House, and for many years carried on the potash business here. He sold to Asa Robinson, who removed to it the present house from the spot where it was first built by Benja- min Hammond opposite H. E. Hammond's dwelling. It was pur- chased by Stephen D. Hutchinson, and is still owned and occupied by him.
The Job Rawson stand is on the site of the old printing office, which was built by Geo. W. Millett and soon after burned. This lot was originally partly included in the potash lot and partly in the acre purchase.
The Gov. Perham Stand is located on the site of the old tan-yard and was included in the acre purchase. The house was the addi- tion built to the Stage House, and after the tannery buildings were destroyed by fire, it was moved to its present location and repaired and out-buildings erected. It was purchased by Gov. Perham when he came to the Hill, and is still owned and occupied by him.
The site on which the Hutchins house is located is the east end of the Dr. Dean purchase, which became the property of Jonathan Bemis in May, 1808. It has been called the Old Bemis Store. At least, Jonathan Bemis moved it from the lot he purchased of Nathan
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
. Woodbury. If it was the Woodbury store, it was built between July 1, 1802, and the September following. It was long the resi- dence of Tanner Hutchins.
Isaiah Fuller, carpenter, purchased a lot of one acre of Jesse Cummings, April 17, 1810. It adjoined the Dean purchase and was the second lot sold on the north side of Lincoln street. Fuller built on it a small house and sold the same to Dr. Benjamin Chandler, who built the present ell and stable, just before he died in 1827. Judge Cole then became the purchaser. He took down the front-a square hip-roofed house-and erected the commodious dwelling which he occupied through life. It is now in the possession of the heirs.
The next acre, east of the Cole homestead, was purchased by Rufus K. Goodenow, Jan. 1, 1825, and by him sold to Dea. Joel B. Thayer, who built the buildings thereon. He sold to Alden Chase, who occupied it during his three terms of office as Register of Deeds, and sold it to his successor in that office, Sumner R. Newell. It is now owned by his heirs.
The next acre east was purchased by Nathan Ryerson, Oct. 24, 1825, who built a small house thereon. He sold to Dr. Asaph Kittredge, who enlarged the house and occupied it until his removal to Connecticut. His back field adjoining was a subsequent pur- chase. It passed into the hands of Cyrus Perkins, who occupied it through life. His family remain the occupants.
Francis Bemis purchased the next lot, being one-half an acre, for a potash. Hiram Hubbard became the owner and built on the west end of the lot, the house he since sold to S. D. Weeks. Hubbard took down the potash, and removed the building known as the John Merrill shop, to the premises, and finished it into a dwelling- house, which he sold to Josiah S. Hobbs. Elmer H. Marble be- came the owner and when occupied by him it was destroyed by fire March 7, 1880. This was originally the corn-barn of Dr. Hamlin and stood near the jail. The house of S. D. Weeks, after his decease, was purchased by Wm. T. Perkins, who removed it to the south side of the street, and the half-acre lot went into the hands of J. C. Marble, who erected thereon, for his son, one of the most attractive residences in the village.
The Harlow stand stood on the lot the next easterly of the potash lot. It was purchased by Isaac Harlow in 1834, of Jonathan Cum- mings. All lots on the street, heretofore sold, had been deeded by
29
s
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Jesse Cummings. Harlow built the house which he occupied until his removal to Boston, Mass. Stephen Emery became the purchaser, who extended the grounds and improved the buildings for a resi- dence for his son-in-law, Rev. Nathaniel Butler. G. B. Crockett became the owner, who subsequently raised the main house to two stories. The fine shade trees that ornament the grounds were planted by Judge Emery. The corner lot was purchased by Emer- son Colburn, who built a house thereon, but afterwards moved it to the site of his father's residence. The lot is now owned by Mrs. Angeline Mason, buildings having been erected on the same.
The buildings on Beech Hill were erected by Horace Cummings, on land deeded to him by his father. He occupied the farm until its exchange with Nathan M. Marble for the Union House. Joseph Holt became the purchaser, who occupied it until his decease. The present owner is Mr. A. S. Austin, Clerk of Courts.
The settlement on the north line of the Common may be traced as follows :
The Simeon Cummings, Jr., lot was nine rods on the Common and six on the county road, and was conveyed] by Jesse Cummings to his son, Simeón, June 11, 1807. He soon erected a store upon it, in which he traded until his decease. This was converted into a dwelling and was occupied by Simeon, Jr. After his decease his widow refinished it and occupied it through life. It is still in the possession of her heirs.
August 10, 1815, Simeon Cummings, Sr., sold a lot 18 by 20 feet, off the north-east corner of his lot, to Moses Perry, on which he built a shop for the manufacture of hats. This has been re- moved.
April 13, 1818, Simeon Cummings, Sr., bought of his father, Jesse, the land between the Hatter's shop and land sold to Jonas Cummings, and extending back on the line of the Common 21 rods. On this extension fronting the Common, he built his house. This was occupied by him through life, then by his widow. It afterwards passed into the hands of Job HI. Rawson, who moved the barn from the western end of the lot to the opposite of the house, and otherwise improved the premises. He sold to Dea. Joel B. Thayer, who died there. It is now owned and occupied by his widow.
The Benjamin S. Doe stand is located on a portion of the lot which Jesse Cummings deeded to his son Simeon, Sept. 17, 1829, extending westward to the lot line. Benjamin S. Doe became the
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purchaser of this lot, on which he erected a two-story French-roofed house, this being his present homestead.
. The Willis house, standing at the north-west corner of the Com- mon. was built by Dea. John Willis on the lot he bought of Jesse Cummings, April 11, 1810. This was the balance of the land west of the Common. adjoining land before sold to Dr. Cyrus Ham- lin. Dea. Willis, from his first settlement up to this time, had lived on his farm adjoining this purchase, on which his buildings stood. The site may still be seen. Previous to the location of the county road over the Hill, the travel was westward of the cemetery, pass- ing by Willis' and coming out near Levi Jackson's, and thence by Dr. Stevens' and Elder Hooper's to the south of the town. After the decease of Dea. Willis, it passed into the hands of Levi Rawson, and is now owned jointly by John Garland and B. C. Rawson.
June 15, 1816, Jesse Cummings deeded to his son, Jonas, "Black- smith," the lot on which he built the house now owned and occupied by his daughter. Calista. This lot contains one and one half acres.
The residence of the late Hon. V. D. Parris is the lot purchased by George Ryerson, May 20, 1818. It was next the north line of the town lot No. 13, and was six rods on the road and eight back. He built the house. It passed into the hands of Alfred Andrews April 4. 1829, with an additional strip of two rods and six feet, who occupied it until he sold to Hon. V. D. Parris, who resided here through life. It yet remains in the possession of the family.
April 4, 1829, George Ryerson purchased of Jesse Cummings a lot next south of the strip sold to Alfred Andrews of the same date. This was six rods and fourteen links on the road, and cost forty-one dollars. He built the house now owned and occupied by the widow of John Demming. and known as the Demming stand.
Jerathmel Colburn purchased a lot of Jonas Cummings, he hav- ing been deeded by his father, Jesse, April 17, 1832, "all the land, remaining unsold, on the west side of the County road." The house which Colburn built gave place to the house moved from the corner of Lincoln and Tremont streets, by his son, Emerson. Father and son have both deceased and the property is now in the possession of Emerson's widow.
Jonas Cummings deeded the Asa Woodbury place, it being next north of his homestead, to his son, Col. Simon H., who built the stand thereon, and occupied it until his decease. The blacksmith-
el
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shop was used by him for a carriage-shop. The stand is now owned and occupied by Asa Woodbury.
The Hilborn stand was built by Col. Simon H. Cummings, on part of his lot, and sold to Thomas J. Hilborn, who still remains in pos- session.
The balance of estate titles on the east side of the County road may be traced as follows :
As heretofore stated, lot 13, came into the possession of Isaac Jackson, Nov. 13, 1793, at which time no improvements had been made on this hundred acres, except the opening of roads. At this time mills had been built, so that the house that Isaac Jackson pro- ceeded to build, although the first on this hundred acres, was com- paratively a modern house. It is described as a long, narrow build- ing, and stood on the road north of the well originally dug on tbe premises and now used by Elbridge Fobes. The township had al- ready been incorporated. This house was occupied by Jackson until 1802, when it passed into the possession of Jonathan Cummings, who deeded it to his father, Jesse, in 1804, who occupied it until he had built the house now owned by Elbridge Fobes, since which time it has been torn down.
The Elbridge Fobes stand, as referred to above, was built by Jesse Cummings, and by him deeded to his daughter "Anna, single woman," April 30, 1827. It comprised the orchard, being about twenty-nine rods on the road and extending back about thirty rods. The southerly line was on the south line of the orchard, being five rods distant from the dwelling of Jonathan Cummings, afterwards known as "Tremont." He reserved the improvements during his natural life, and the life of his wife, Mary Cummings. After the decease of Anna this passed into the possession of Daroma Bates, who sold it to Elbridge Fobes, the present occupant.
May 6, 1820, Jonathan Cummings bought of his father, Jesse, the tract on which he built the "Tremont." It extended from the Nathaniel How lot, northerly, ten rods and ten feet, and fifteen rods back from the County road. This was occupied by him until the location of the new street, in 1855, when it was torn down.
The lot on which the old red store was built was purchased by Nathaniel How, "Attorney," of Jesse Cummings, Jan. 29, 1810. It passed into the hands of Joseph Rust, April 17, 1810, and afterward into the hands of George Ryerson. It has since been owned by
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Alfred Andrews, who moved it to the opposite corner of Tremont street, and has lately been known as the Bates store.
The Samuel R. Carter lot adjoins the north line of lot 13, and was deeded by Jesse Cummings to Amos Armsby, house-wright, March 10, 1812, who built the house now standing. He occupied it until 1815, when Dea. Joseph Lindsey, cabinet-maker, became the occupant. Rufus K. Goodenow became the purchaser May 2, 1825, and it was occupied by him until May 20, 1837, when he sold it to Levi Stowell, Esq. Through other hands it has passed into the possession of the present proprietor.
The Butterfield house-lot was purchased of Jesse Commings by Rufus K. Goodenow. It has since been owned by Joseph H. King and others, and is now in the possession of the Benson family.
April 17, 1832, Jesse Cummings deeded to Jonas all of his re- maining land easterly of the county road and northerly of the wall on the south side of the orchard. This came into the possession of his son Charles, who erected the buildings and occupied them until his decease. The place is now owned and occupied by his widow.
The Cushman stand was built by Charles Cummings, on part of his lot, and occupied by the heirs of Caleb Cushman. After the. decease of the Widow Cushman, it was sold to Geo. W. Cook, who sold to Mrs. Charles Cummings. This completes the record of the sales of the estate that passed into the possession of Jonas Cum -- mings.
The Benjamin Walton house-lot was purchased by Harrison Tuttle and fitted up as a dwelling for his mother. It came into the hands of Benjamin Walton, who occupied it during his life. It is now owned by E. I. Spofford, who occupies it.
At the same date that Jesse Cummings deeded to Jonas a portion of his estate, viz : April 17, 1832, he also deeded to his son Jona- than all the remaining land unsold south of the orchard wall and extending from the county road easterly to the Packard field. Jona- than deeded his share to Horace Cummings, who built the buildings on Beech Hill, as stated heretofore. Hiram Hubbard became the purchaser of a portion of this, and opened the street known as Tre- mont, through it.
We now come to Tremont street :
Mrs. Anna Brown's residence was built by Alfred Andrews and Benjamin F. Bates in 1853, and completed in 1854. After the de- cease of Alfred Andrews, Dec. 14, 1864, it was purchased by Geo.
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L. Vose, who settled here in 1866. It is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Anna Brown.
The Chipman Stand was built by Hiram Hubbard and sold to Cyrus Chipman, May 13, 1858. He subsequently built his black- smith-shop on the same premises and is still the resident proprietor.
The next lot on the same side of Tremont street, was bought by Geo. B. Shaw, who built the stand thereon. It is now owned by Mr. Proctor.
The Mrs. Hardy stand was built by Thomas M. Crocker. Since the decease of Mrs. Hardy it has passed into the hands of her heirs.
The Thomas M. Crocker stand was the carriage-shop of Simon H. Cummings, which was moved from his lot, and occupied by Thomas Chase until his decease.
The W. A. Barrows stand was the blacksmith-shop of Charles Perry and was moved by Hiram Hubbard and finished into a dwell- ing. W. A. Barrows is now the owner and occupant.
The Austin Partridge stand was built by Mr. Jackson and sold to Austin Partridge about 1871, and is now owned and occupied by him.
The Garland stand. The lot on which this stand was built was sold to Gilman Garland in 1862. It is now owned and occupied by George Garland.
The Hawks store-lot was purchased by Alfred Andrews, who re- moved the old red store, made it two-story and finished the upper story into a dwelling. It is now owned and occupied by S. U. Hawks, who continues trade in the store.
The Wm. K. Green stand was built by Benjamin F. Bates, on the lot he purchased of Hiram Hubbard, Aug. 23, 1854. Sarah J. Prentiss became the purchaser, who occupied it until her absence in Hospital service. After the close of the war she returned and made a trip to Europe. After her return, failing health compelled her to abandon her much prized home for a residence in Bangor. After her decease, the property was sold to Wm. K. Green, who is the present occupant and owner.
The York stand lot was purchased by Russell A. Cummings, in August, 1854, who fitted up a house for his parents. It is now occupied by S. L. York.
The next stand on the street was built by H. R. Hubbard, in 1882. It is now owned by James Andrews.
The J. Conwell stand was built by Hiram Hubbard and is now owned by J. Conwell, the occupant.
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No. 175.
ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
BY REV. ROBERT IBBOTSON.
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