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 43
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The lot of the Stevens homestead was in the right of Samuel Ful- ler, and came into the possession of Alexander Shepard, who sold to Elias Stowell Jan. 3, 1785. Dr. Cyprian Stevens became the owner and remained here through life. After his decease it came into the possession of his son, Simon, who also spent his life here.
The Hooper homestead was one of the four lots in the right granted to the first settled minister. Elder James Hooper settled here soon after he was ordained, in 1795. After his decease George P. Hooper became the owner, who late in life deeded the same to his son-in-law, Andrew Hall, who is now the owner and occupant. On a portion of the lot west of the road, Elder Hooper had erected buildings for Moses Hodgdon ; after Hodgdon moved away the last years of Elder Hooper's life were spent here. James E. Hooper afterwards owned it ; after his decease in the army, it was bought by Mr. Rowe, who is the occupant at the present time.
The homestead of B. F. Twitchell is the westerly half of lot No. 10, in the fifth range, and was purchased of Job Cushman of Hebron, by Jacob Twitchell of Gray, Sept. 16, 1794. This came into the possession of David Twitchell, and after his decease his son, B. F. Twitchell, became the owner.
The half lot, western part of No. 9, adjoining, was deeded to Moses Twitchell, and passed into the hands of Capt. Benj. C. Cum- mings, and after his decease remained in possession of his heirs. Mr. Andrews is now the owner and occupant.
462
HISTORY OF PARIS.
SOUTH PARIS.
The village of South Paris is built on portions of four lots, which corner together at a point near the Odd Fellows' block. The mill lot, No. 7, in the third range, on which the mills are located, was deeded to Lemuel Jackson in 1783. This was the remaining lot after the division had been made, as shown on pages 85 and 86. That division disposed of 260 lots, and the township had been lotted into 261 lots.
The lot west of the mill lot, lot 7 in the 2d range, was in the right of Nehemiah Mason, who had sold to Daniel Clark, and he to Lemuel Jackson, Jan. 12, 1788. The lot north of the mill lot and extending up the river and cornering also at the block, was in the right of Isaac Jackson, who had sold to Lemuel. The other lot, No. 8, in the 2d range, and extending north-westerly from the block, was included in the proprietors' right, as seen on page 36, and was deeded to Jackson at the same time they deeded him the mill lot. These remained in the possession of Jackson until Sept. 7, 1802, when Elias Stowell became the purchaser of this entire tract, together with other lands, excepting one-fourth acre that had been sold to Rouse Bisbee, and so much of lot 8, in the 3d range as lay east of the river ; this sale amounted to $5000. June 2, 1803, Elias Stowell purchased the one-fourth acre of Rouse Bisbee, and the building standing thereon, and then sold all of the mill lot east of the river, and south of the road, containing 80 acres, to Capt. Seth Morse, Joseph Haven Hall, and George King; this sale amounted to $2040. Dec. 26, 1805, all the land east of the river, and between the road and Stony Brook, was sold to William Stowell. This sale included the grist mill, then standing, as referred to under the head of mills. Sales of building lots on the west side of the river, were made by Elias Stowell as settlers came in. The village was of slow growth, however, for in 1820, the time that James Deering came to South Paris, the neighbors were hardly in hailing distance. From his recollections, corroborated by others, we are enabled to present the village as it was at that day.
Maj. Cyprian Hall occupied the house at the western extremity of "Stowell's Mills," being the John B. Stowell house, which was then but one story. The next was occupied by Austin Buck, and the same is now the residence of W. J. Wheeler. Mr. Buck was a carriage-maker, and his shop was the next building, and stood on
SOUTH PARIS VILLAGE, FROM STOWELL HILL.
463
HISTORY OF PARIS.
the site of the N. Mason house. This shop is now the well known paint shop of Robert Skillings.
John Millett's cooper shop stood next, and is the present house of Mrs. Tuell.
Daniel Noble's cabinet shop stood on the site of D. N. True's store.
Simeon Chipman's blacksmith shop stood on the corner, now occupied by the block.
The house farthest west on the south side of the street, was Daniel Noble's, opposite his shop above named, and since known as the Gallison house.
The next house was Isaac Smith's, a one story building, now the residence of Robert Smith.
The house of Col. Henry R. Parsons stood next, and was the last on that side of the street toward the river. Opposite Chipman's shop, stood his house. He afterward built an addition to it, and kept tavern. It has since been divided, and moved out on Cemetery street.
The next house toward the river was Esquire Stowell's. The third story was added in 1849, by James Deering, and this is now the hotel. On the site of the residence of S. T. Beaman. stood the first frame house of the village. It was built by Lemuel Jackson. The Hamlin house, now the property of Capt. H. N. Bolster, was built out of materials used in the construction of this old Jackson house. The saw mill stood on its present location, now Billings' mill. There were two "fifty foot" barns between the Elias Stowell house and this old house-one was burned with Newhall's buildings, and the other, which had been moved to Deering street, was burned at the time John Holmes' buildings were destroyed.
On the Rumford road on the east side, the first, last, and only house was James Lebaron's, which stood near the oaks at Jacob Nichols.
On the west side of the road was the house of Hiram Richardson, on the site of the brick house now owned by Jeremiah H. Winslow.
This makes a total of only eight houses on the west side of the river, at that time, although the town had been settled nearly forty years.
On the east side of the river, and north of the road, was the grist and saw mill, both under one roof. Major Dennett's store stood next.
464
HISTORY OF PARIS.
On the south side of the road was the carding mill, occupied by Howland of Brunswick, and next below, the fulling mill of H. R. Parsons.
Morse's inn stood next and back from the street. This had been built by Morse, soon after his purchase of Stowell, in 1803. The sign was an Indian in full dress and moccasins, with a bow and arrow, and underneath, "Morse's Inn."
There was a small building standing on the site of the Rouse Bis- bee building, which had been built for a nail shop, and was then occupied by Isaac Knight as a shoe-maker's shop.
Morse and Hall's store of that date, is now the dwelling house of A. C. Barrows. This was built in 1817, for Capt. Seth Morse, by Major Hall, carpenter, he having for apprentices at that time, Silas Maxim and Francis Shaw.
The Perkins house was a one story building, occupied by Solomon Cloudman, miller. This was the Rouse Bisbee building, and after its purchase by Morse in 1803, it was occupied by him as a store until the completion of his store above named.
The next house was on the Alonzo Shurtleff lot, and was occupied by Abijah Hall.
Solomon Bryant lived in the house now owned by Wm. L. Blood. This was the old Prentiss store and post office, and was moved from the Rice place. Bryant moved here from Gray, and his sons were the first settlers in Woodstock and gave the name to Bryant's Pond.
On the road leading from the Stony Brook to the Hill, was the schoolhouse.
The blacksmith shop of Phineas Morse stood on the site of the boundary.
The house of Wm. B. Royal was then owned by Simeon Perkins, who also owned the mill.
The next house was the Morse house, occupied by Nathaniel Green, who owned the tannery. The little shop on the side hill was the finishing shop. The last house on the west side of the road was John Valentine's-now the stand of Isaac D. Faunce.
On the east side of the road, on the knoll near John Martin's, was the house of Isaac Knight. This was torn down by Cornelius Knight, who built the house now owned by John Martin.
The last house on the east side of the road was Capt. George King's. It is now owned and occupied by O. W. Bent. The east side of the river at this time had nine dwelling-houses, the whole
I
RESIDENCE OF E. F. STONE.
CENTRAL SQUARE, SOUTH PARIS.
465
HISTORY OF PARIS.
village numbering but seventeen. The somber shades of wood color constituted the whole line of exterior decorations. Paint caine in later, in the order of yellow, red, and white. The esthetic taste of a later day has led to the blending of all colors.
Since 1820 the village has steadily increased. The greatest detri- ment to its prosperity was the failure of the woolen factory. The money lost here was the frugal accumulations of industrious citizens and was a blow from which many never fully recovered.
The titles to some of the estates may be traced as follows : The tract of land on the south side of the street, and extending from the Gallison lot to the John Dennett lot, was purchased of Elias Stowell by Joseph Rust, May 8, 1809, for $100. He sold to Seth Morse Dec. 28, 1813, who sold to Col. H. R. Parsons, Aug. 9, 1814. After this date all the titles to lots on this purchase passed from Col. Par- sons.
Abijah Hall bought the lot next to Dennett's and built what is now the residence of Mrs. Haskell. From the east end of his pur- chase he gave the lot on which the Congregational Meeting-house now stands.
Ziba Thayer purchased the lot between the residence of Col. Par- sons and the house of Abijah Hall. He built his house in 1851, and occupied it thirty years. He then sold to Augustus M. Whitman, and after his decease it passed to his heirs.
The Gerry stand was built by William A. Rust, M. D., on land purchased of Col. Parsons. It is now the residence of Henry Gerry.
The John Dennett house was built on land purchased of Elias Stowell, April 14, 1820. After Dennett's decease it was sold to Samuel Stowe, the present owner.
Odd Fellows Block was built on the site of the blacksmith shop of Amasa Fobes, recollected by few, as Chipman's shop, but generally remembered as the location of the brick store. The brick store was built by James Longley, in 1834. It was while building this store that he had a yoke of cattle killed by lightning. He occupied the barn near the Isaac Smith place, across the street from his store, and the cattle were standing at the corner of the building. A rafter was torn from the building and thrown some distance. The horses in the building were blindfolded and led out, but most of his robes, harnesses and carriages were burned.
The Robert Skillings stand was built by him in 1834. He pur- chased the lot containing nearly three acres, Dec. 5, 1833, on which
30
466
HISTORY OF PARIS.
he had commenced building his house in the November previous. His shop was moved from the site of the N. Mason house to its present location, the year following. His house, at that time, was the farthest out on the street. This purchase was made of James Longley who had recently bought of Elias Stowell the tract of land extending from the Cyprian Hall house to the Norway line, contain- ing about 200 acres, the price being $9.25 per acre. Longley re- served two acres between the lot sold Skillings and Cyprian Hall, on which now stands the residence of Arba Thayer, built by Man- ning of Portland, who was then a dealer in hardware in the brick store. The residence of D. N. True, built by Wm. Newhall, and since remodeled, refinished and enlarged, as also the residences of Alvah Shurtleff and Mrs. Angie Jordan, stand on this reserved two acres.
In 1834, Benjamin Sturtevant built on the lot next on the street to Mr. Skillings'. This passed into the hands of Wm. R. Howe, and was since burned. His present residence has been erected in its place.
The James Curtis house was the Smith house that stood in the Whitehead district, and was removed to its present location by David Jordan.
The lot of the Newhall stand was purchased by Samuel M. New- hall of D. P. Stowell, March 19, 1839. The house had been raised to two stories and the buildings thoroughly repaired, when they were burned at the time the hotel stable was destroyed.
The Leonard Shurtleff house was built by James Deering. He used in its construction the John Deering house that stood on the Eleazer Marshall farm. Simeon Chipman's shop was also used in the porch. The shade trees that make this location so attractive, were transplanted by Mr. Deering in. 1850. This stand was
exchanged with Mr. Shurtleff for a part of the Gen. Bolster farm.
The Deering residence was soon after built on the site of the John Holmes buildings, which had been destroyed by fire, and in which he has continued to reside.
The Edgerly house now occupied by Horacc Edgerly, was built by James Deering, and occupied by him for some years. His cabinet shop stood across the street. It now constitutes a portion of the store of D. N. Truc.
The house and jewelers shop of Samuel Richards was built out of the materials of the old Dennett Store. It originally stood on the
RESIDENCE OF JUDGE GEO. A. WILSON.
.
STONY BROOK, SOUTH PARIS.
NORTH PARIS.
9
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
east side of the river. It was moved to the site of the Phelps stand, and after Maj. Dennett retired from business, it was purchased by David Riggs, who took it down and rebuilt it. It was afterward purchased by Samuel Richards, who remains the owner. The store was built by Samuel and Lewis Stowell, and was occupied by them until they sold to Major Dennett.
NORTH PARIS.
In the sketches of mills, it is stated that Ebenezer Hutchinson built a grist mill on Moose Pond stream about the beginning of the present century. In the list of early purchasers of land, on page seventy-six, it is stated "April 2, 1799, Ebenezer Hutchinson of Walton's Plantation, bought of Stephen Robinson of Paris, the southerly part of lot numbered 27-28 in the 6th range." Walton's Plantation now constitutes a part of the town of Woodstock, and consisted of a few lots run out on the south end of what was after- wards the grant to Gorham Academy, and known as "Smith's Sur- vey." Several Walton families were among the first settlers here, and hence the name. Hutchinson came to this section from Fay- ette, and he, the Waltons and several other neighboring families emigrated to Ohio. This emigration occurred about the year 1812. The mills were a great convenience to the surrounding region, and did a profitable business. Mr. Hutchinson sold the mills to Stephen Washburn, a Bridgewater man, but who came here from Hebron. The mills then took the name of Washburn's mills. For a long time, the only buildings here were the mills and the house of the miller. Stephen Washburn and his son Stephen, Joseph Chandler and a few others had houses here in 1820. Ebenezer Drake came here and went into trade in 1819, with Ozen Gurney. They were the first traders. The other traders here have been Daniel Brock, Alanson Briggs, Lewis Stowell, Samuel Hammond, Charles Goss, Samuel H. Houghton, America Bisbee, Isaac Washburn, John Gardner, and Sullivan Andrews, William Benson, and Israel Fletcher, Luther Wash- burn, Eliab Murdock, Calvin Washburn, Alfred Andrews, Levi Her- sey, Ira Bartlett, Geo. Drake, William Drake, C. W. Chase, Lewis C. Bates and Geo. Walker, Bates and Hezekiah Stetson, Calvin Bisbee. Samuel W. Dunham and James Bird.
The oldest house at North Paris was built by Israel and Perez Record, and is now occupied by C. W. Chase ; the other old houses were built by Asa Dunham, Daniel Brock, Benj. Wasliburn, Samuel
468
HISTORY OF PARIS.
H. Houghton and Otis Washburn, and are now respectively occupied by Sullivan Andrews, Oscar P. Ellingwood, Geo. Adams, Levi Washburn and Edwin B. Richardson. The village is situated on part of lot number twenty-seven in the sixth range. The place has sometimes been called the "Harbor," and also "Sucker Har- bor." The species of fish known as "suckers" were formerly very abundant here in the spring, and hence the name.
THE MINERAL SPRING.
The mineral spring at North Paris was discovered soon after that part of the town was settled, and its water has always had the repu- tation of possessing healing qualities. Its peculiar odor when first taken from the spring, is due to the presence of sulphuretted hydro- gen, which is constantly escaping until after a time the water becomes odorless. Its peculiar taste, so disagreeable at first, is due to the presence of several salts. A gallon of the water submitted to Mr. F. P. Pearson, chemist to one of the largest corporations in Lowell, Mass., was found by analysis to contain the following ingredients :
Chloride of Sodium (common salt) 0.225 grains.
Sulphate of Soda (Glauber's salts) 0.780 66
Carbonate of Lime, 0.975 16
Carbonic Acid,
0.400
Oxide of Iron,
a trace.
Organic matter, a very small amount.
When first taken from the spring, there is doubtless much more carbonic acid than is given above, as this, too, is constantly escap- ing. Except its mineral ingredients, therefore, the water of this spring is nearly pure, being much more free from organic matter than brook water, and about as pure as the best spring water. Its medicinal properties are due to the mineral matter which it contains and which exists in sufficient quantity to produce an effect upon the system by a constant use of the water. The small quantity of iron found, renders it of no account as a chalybeate, but it is properly a muriated or saline spring, in which is an excess of soda and carbonic acid gas. This water is diuretic, aperient and in a certain degree tonic, and is effective in scrofulous and abdominal diseases, chronic rheumatism, kidney complaints, and cutaneous diseases. Its effect is more satisfactory when drank directly from the spring, but its
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WEST PARIS.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
gasses can be kept from going off by bottling it at the spring and corking it tightly, in bottles containing about a draught each. The water in the North Paris spring is not as rich in mineral ingredients as that of the Congress, Hathorn and Geyser springs at Saratoga, but it is richer and better than that of many springs that have a wide reputation, and would doubtless become as popular if as well advertized.
WEST PARIS.
The thriving village of West Paris, owes its origin very largely if not entirely, to the opening of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad, and the establishment of a station here for the accommo- dation of the north part of Paris, the south part of Woodstock, and the west part of Sumner. Previous to the opening of this road in 1850-1, there was only one house here, and that occupied by George Berry. John Willis had previously owned the land upon which the village is situated, built a small house, and had a few acres cleared up, but he sold out to Ebenezer Drake. Willis subsequently pur- chased the place west of the village, and still owns it. Fifty years ago when going to school from the place formerly owned by Samuel D. Marshall, now by John Willis, the most of the way to the school- house, which then stood on the south side of the road, a short dis- tance east of the Leonard Swan place, was through the woods. The building of the railway station here began quickly to attract settlers. Leonard Berry moved his house here from Trap Corner and other houses were erected. When a little later, Samuel B. Locke, Esq., came here from Locke's Mills in Greenwood, and erected a set of first class mills just below the old Witham Bridge, a new impulse was given to the settlement, and its future permanent growth was assured. After the removal of his father from town, Elijah S. Berry, who was long station agent here, occupied the homestead, but he finally sold it to Hannibal G. Brown, and built another. Francis A. Young went into trade here quite early, was appointed Postmaster in 1857, and has held the office most of the time since. Elijah S. Berry was the first Postmaster, having been appointed, February 27, 1854. Jeremiah Howe was also an early trader here, and was followed by John Locke, Samuel B. Locke, Jr., and others. The manufacture of chairs here has been an important industry, and while new industries have been added, the village has made a steady and satisfactory growth. Cyrus Howe from Sumner,
470
HISTORY OF PARIS.
was an early hotel keeper, followed by John Bicknell and others. The village is mostly situated upon the south-westerly part of double lot numbered 27-28 in the third range, owned respectively by Rev. Wm. C. Witham, Stillman Berry, Dr. Charles Russell and Leonard B. Swan. This double lot contained originally, nearly three hundred acres.
SNOW'S FALLS VILLAGE.
Phineas Stearns and one or two of his sons first utilized the water power of the Falls here, in the manufacture of chairs, and built the two story house still standing a short distance above. They also did considerable farming here. They began here a short time before the railroad was completed through the town. The few houses below the Falls were mostly built by workmen employed in the mill, among whom was James H. Barrows, now of West Paris. George W. Hammond has kept a small store, a short distance above the Stearns house, for quite a number of years. He is also farmer and Post- master. The little scattered village is built up mainly on parts of lots twenty-two and twenty-three in the fourth range, the river divid- ing these two lots nearly in the center. The business carried on at the Falls has been changed several times, and owners have suffered severely from fire.
TRAP CORNER.
This little hamlet is mainly built upon that part of double lot number 27-28 in the fourth range, which William Berry sold to Fox- well Swan. The first house erected here was that of Swan, who cultivated the farm. Afterwards he turned his house into a hotel. Ebenezer Drake came from North Paris to the farm now owned and occupied by Nathan L. Marshall, and built the store still standing in the corner, where he sold goods for several years. It was at this time and from the circumstance of building a store where there was no village for the purpose of taking the trade that would otherwise go to North or South Paris or the Hill, that the name of "Trap Corner" was given it. Several persons have traded in this store since Mr. Drake left it, among others, Ezra Stephens, who was here several years. After Foxwell Swan left the hotel, it was kept by Jared L. Young, but it ceased to be a tavern many years ago. The first house on the opposite side of the. East Branch was built by James Swan, son of Foxwell, who was living in it half a century ago. Several houses have been built on each side of the Branch since
RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. HAMMOND.
SNOW'S FALLS.
471
HISTORY OF PARIS.
that time, but the place was never much of a village, and not much more now than formerly. James C. Perry has granite and marble works here, and Oliver L. Pratt and son a carpenter's shop. Ebene- zer Humphrey occupies the James Swan place. Jeremiah Howe from Sumner, built up a place on the west side of the Branch a few years ago, and died there. He was the son of Jacob Howe, our first mail carrier.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
. PARIS POETS.
Some of the early settlers, and quite a number of the native born citizens of Paris, developed a talent for literature, specimens of which have occasionally been given in this volume. At the Centen- nial Celebration of the town, the literary exercises were of an ex- ceptionally high order, and most of the parts were prepared by natives of Paris. Of the earlier contributions to the literary press we have no means of knowing, but when a newspaper, the Oxford Observer, was started on Paris Hill in 1824, its columns were at once filled with articles both in prose and poetry, and upon a great variety of topics, the productions mainly of Paris people. Doubt- less many young writers were gratified at a sight of their first printed composition in this paper, and the columns of the Observer and of its successors, for many years, continued to be filled from week to week with the productions of home talent. Elijah L. Hamlin wrote under the nom de plume of "Viator ;" Dr. Ezekiel Holmes under that of "Libertas," "Selim," and "Veritas ;' Henry Prentiss adopted that of "Cimon," and Caleb Prentiss that of "Cincinna- tus ;" Polly Prentiss signed "M," and Mary Prentiss "Oithona ;"' by "M. D.," Levi Willis was understood, and by "Theodosia," Re- becca Hamlin ; John Otis wrote over the signature of "Don Alonzo," and C. Rawson over the letter "S." The early volumes of the Ob- server, Jeffersonian and Oxford Democrat, give other signatures such as "Decius," "Oxford," "Quarles," "Cato," "Yeoman," &c., whose real names we are unable to give. It is not possible in this brief chapter to pass in review the literary productions of all the above and give examples of their work, nor to refer, except in pass-
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
ing, to the literary work of our professional men, our ministers, ed- itors, lawyers and doctors, many of whom have been men of fine literary taste and ready and graceful writers, for all these have been duly noticed, in their several professions, in other parts of the vol- ume. It is only proposed here to make brief mention of a few who have excelled in literature, more especially in poetical composition, and some of whose fugitive pieces are within our reach. In some instances the best of their productions may not be given, but it is because they are not at hand.
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