History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 100

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KENDUSKEAG.

Kenduskeag enjoys the singular honor of being the smallest town in the county, with the exception of Veazie and perhaps of Brewer and Mattamiscontis. It was formed in 1852, by cutting into the towns of Glenburn and Levant, which were each about an even township, and making from the eastern part of the latter and the western part of the former a new town. A slightly larger section, however, was cut from Glenburn, the south line

of Kenduskeag on that side dropping just one hundred rods below the south line of the Levant section. Each section is in the shape of a parallelogram, and they are very nearly equal in width. The north line of the town is four and a half miles long ; the east line four miles ; the west line, as already noted, one hundred rods shorter ; and the south line, measuring in the sides of the angles at the break on the Levant and Glenburn line, nearly

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

five miles, although this part of the town is no wider than the north part.

Kenduskeag is bounded on the north by Hudson ; on the east by Glenburn ; on the south by Glenburn and Levant; and on the west by Levant. It is but two miles from Bangor. from corner to corner. It con- tains but about twenty-one square miles, or 13,440 acres, " more or less."

The principal water of this town is the important Ken- duskeag Stream, which gives the town its name. It intersects it completely in a course of nearly five miles, somewhat winding, but generally east of south. It enters about a mile from the northwest corner, and very near Higginsville, flows through that place and Kendus- keag village, nearly in the centre of the town, and out into Glenburn nearly one and a half miles from the southeast corner, returning into Kenduskeag after a short curve in Glenburn, and after a mile's further course mak- ing a final exit from the town one hundred rods above the southeast corner. Three quarters of a mile before its former departure from Kenduskeag it receives the waters of the Baker Brook, flowing from Hudson for about a mile a little below the north line of Kenduskeag, and thence almost due south, with a general distance of a mile from the east line of the town. About as far below the north line it is expanded into a good-sized mill-pond by the shingle-mill at the lower end of the pond. Fifty or sixty rods below the mouth of Baker Brook, on the other or west side, the Kenduskeag takes in the Nolan Brook, which heads in the western central part of the town, and flows southeast and south of east a little more than three miles to its mouth. Nearly across the northwest angle of Kenduskeag, for a north- east course of about one and a half miles, the Evelith Brook, heading in the central north part of Levant, makes its way to the stream, emptying its waters about one-third of a mile below the north line. These are all the streams of Kenduskeag worth mention.

The following pleasing poetical sketch, relating to a point upon the principal stream of this town, although not within its limits, may fitly find place here. It was con- tributed some time ago by Mr. W. H. Rice, to the Bos- ton Journal :

THE LOVER'S LEAP .- A LEGEND.

From the waters of the Kenduskeag, flowing through Bangor. there rises to a great height a massive cliff, the brow of which overhangs the stream, and which has long been known as "Lover's Leap."]

Adown in the bosom of Maine, Where Kenduskeag still flows thro' the hills, In the days when the Indian held reign We're given this legend that thrills The listener's heart.

Long ago, When the settler first paddled this stream, Long ere the vast woods were laid low, And the red man awoke from his dream, -

The smoke circled up to the sky From. a wigwam where lived Raven Hair; There were none of the band but would die For the sake of this maiden most fair, -- For the love of the chief's only child. Though twenty brief summers had flown,

On no brave of the band had she smiled, But to all her young heart was as stone.

The father oft grieved as he thought

Of his daughter so cold and so proud, And entreated to better her lot,-

Yield her heart and her hand to White Cloud;

But coldly she bowed the fair head- And answered his wishes with "nay;"

For she'd promised another to wed, And she begged the stern chief to say "yea."

"My daughter, what stranger has won The pride of thy father's brave band?" She answered-"The settler-the son Of the paleface-the brave Iron Hand."

The fierce warriors stole forth that same night To the town where the villagers lay; But swifter than they in her flight Raven Hair thro' the wood sped away.

At his post her young lover she found, In a breath all their danger she told; About her his strong arms he wound, And kissed the fair cheeks pale and cold.

"Iron Hand, for thy life thou must flee, There is war 'tween the red and the white ;-

So risk not thy welfare for me- Forsake Raven Hair this sad night."

"Forsake thee, my own !"-and his breath Fell hot on the dusky fair cheek;

"Not in life, but united in death," His husky voice choked nor could speak-

"In death we escape the dire hate Of thy father, and scorn of the white ;---

Yonder stream cannot tell of our fate,- Shall we go to the hunting-grounds bright?"

In answer her hand pressed his own, Together they turned toward the stream, Till they stood on the cliff high and lone, Like a moonlit vision or dream.

A moment two figures as one Were darkly portrayed on the sky;

Then a plunge through the air-it was done: 'Twas the depth of their love e'en to die,

The surface of Kenduskeag is quite even, and is easily cultivated. It is accounted a good agricultural town.

This town is moderately well settled, except in the eastern or Glenburn section, which has thus far been almost totally neglected by the residents. Kenduskeag, on the stream of that name, and near the geographical centre of the town, has the only post-office in the town, although a village exists in the northwest part, mainly on the northeast bank of the Kenduskeag, and bears the name of Higginsville. From the post-office radiate all the principal roads of the town. The old Charleston and Bangor stage-road, and one other highway, come in across Glenburn from the direction of Bangor, one of them close to the Kenduskeag Stream, and unite at the southeast end of the village. From the northernmost of these a road branches off about one-half of a mile from the east line, and runs north into Hudson. Just north of the Bridge over the Kenduskeag, near the southeast corner of the town, the road from Glenburn post-office crosses it, and goes on a mile to an end at the other Bangor road, in the bend of the stream. On the other side of the river a road runs south and southwest from the village, passing a cemetery at the edge of town and School No. 7 a mile and a quarter further, and ending in Levant a mile or more beyond that. West of this an- other road, running more nearly southwest, passes from Kenduskeag out nearly at the southwest corner, and goes

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

to South Levant. It passes School No. 9 about a mile from the corner. Another road from the post-office runs . westward and southwestward to West Levant, sending off a branch to the cross-roads southwest of Higginsville and Corinth a mile out, and another near the town line, which crosses the former below Higginsville, and runs north in- to Hudson. Another from this place makes off north- east across the Kenduskeag, and into Hudson at a dis- tance of about a mile and a half from its beginning. Finally, a highway runs up and tolerably near the east bank of the Kenduskeag to the north line of the town, with a branch starting off a little north of the village, and running east and northeast near the mill-pond to and into Hudson. At School No. 6 a branch runs through Higginsville and northwest into Hudson.

Higginsville has a store, a saw- and shingle-mill, and two or three factories and shops. At Kenduskeag village are the Town Hall, the public school-house, a Congre- gational and Baptist church occupied in common, a Universalist church, a hotel, and a considerable number of mills, factories, and shops.

The first settlers in the Kenduskeag territory were Major (afterwards General) Moses Hodsdon, in 1801; Recallis Clark, in 1803; Daniel Ladd, Samuel E. Dut- ton (afterwards the first Judge of Probate at Bangor, from whom Glenburn town received its first name), Dr. Isaac Case, Thomas Griffin, and Mark Little.

The town was incorporated February 20, 1832. As is well known, the name it bears is that which was originally given to the Plantation on the Penobscot, about the head of tidewater, subsequently erected into the town of Ban- gor. This is the first and only instance in the county, we believe, where a town has taken a plantation-name from any part of the county, not previously its own.

Previous to 1852 the censuses of the present tract of Kenduskeag were taken with those of Levant and Glen- burn. In 1860 its population was 816; in 1870 it was 770; in 1880, 650. The polls in these years were 184, 195, and 193; estates, $119,744, $171,230, and $181,700.

The Congregational church in this town was organized December 23, 1834. Its pastors have been the Rev. Messrs. Robert Page, Charles B. Smith, Solomon Bixley, and Amos Redlon. The other clergymen of the town are reported as the Revs. Loyal Spaulding, Thomas B. Robinson, William Day, W. G. Goucher, John Higgins, Baptist (church organized in 1828); F. A. Hodsdon, Jerome Harris, Elbridge Wellington, Moses Goodrich, Robert Blacker, Universalist, the last of whom is still pastor ; and J. J. Banks, Free Baptist.

The physicians of the town have been Drs. Isaac Case, Hiram C. Baxter, Ambrose Woodcock, Hall Davis, C. F. Gardiner, all now deceased except Drs. Baxter and Gardiner.

Lawyers-Solyman Heath, Abraham and Daniel San- born, S. S. Warren, Thomas B. Paine, Gridley T. Estes, Josiah Crosby, Charles Davis, and C. P. Roberts. There is now no attorney in the town; but there are two notaries. Hon. Levi Bradley, formerly resident here, was State Land Agent in 1842-6, and was also Sheriff of the county during his residence at Bangor.

Kenduskeag has much good water-power, and it was formerly largely utilized for manufacturing shoes, cast- ings, and other important articles of commerce. Of late there have been in the town one manufacturer of lumber, one of shingles and cooperage, three others of cooperage, one of stoves and agricultural implements, one of boots and shoes, one of harness, trunks, etc., one grist-mill, one tinman, one tailor, one undertaker, one auctioneer, one milliner, two dressmakers, four smiths, three general stores, two groceries, one jewelry, one drug store, one hardware and crockery store, one boot and shoe store, one stove and tin store, and one millinery shop. One hotel, the Kenduskeag, is kept in the town. The Ken- duskeag Cheese Factory has been in successful operation for nearly ten years.

The more prominent societies in the town are the Ken- duskeag Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and the David White Post, No. 19, Grand Army of the Republic, which was organized March 31, 1868. There were lately also in existence the Kenduskeag Lodge, No. 137, In- dependent of Order Good Templars, and the Mystic Tie Grange, No. 58, Patrons of Husbandry.

The Federal and town officers in Kenduskeag in 1881 were: F. A. H. Stackpole, postmaster; B. F. Higgins, Albert Hodsdon, F. A. H. Stackpole, Selectmen; F. A. H. Stackpole, Town Clerk; Greenlief Harvey, Treasurer; W. K. Nason, Constable and Collector; W. K. Nason, T. P. Batchelder, E. F. Nason, Constables ; M. L. Fisher, School Supervisor; T. P. Batchelder, E. B. Stackpole, F. A. H. Stackpole, Quorum; W. C. Spratt, Trial-Justices.

A WAR BIOGRAPHY.

The following highly complimentary notice of a native of this town is comprised in the military biographies con- tained in the reports of the Adjutant-General of the State for the war period :

CAPTAIN ISAAC WINSLOW CASE was born in Kendus- keag, where the larger portion of his life was spent, and was a graduate of Bowdoin College in the class of 1848. Of the character he sustained in college, a classmate, now a professor in a theological seminary, writes: "He was generous, warm-hearted, social, a true friend, and thoroughly trustworthy. He excelled as a writer, ex- pressing fresh and pertinent thoughts with ease and grace. He had by nature the temper and spirit which incite to brave deeds. He had, also, the self-control and power of leading others-the decision, energy, and boldness, as well as the quick sympathies which qualify for command. He could not stand idly by when there was a call to do and dare. In his college days he yearned for action, and sometimes was almost impatient for the conflict. He lived not to be, but to do; and his life culminated in fulfilling the inmost desires of his youth." Mr. Case en- listed as a private, September 10, 1862, and before leav- ing camp at Bangor was elected Captain of Company H, Twenty-second Regiment, upon which he was presented by his fellow-townsmen with a fine sword and sash. The regiment left Bangor October 2Ist, and in a few weeks joined the army of General Banks at New Orleans. The Southern climate, so trying to most of our soldiers, had

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but little apparent effect upon the health of Captain Case. Just before the surrender of Port Hudson, he joined the storming party of a thousand volunteers to make a con- templated desperate attack upon that stronghold; but be- fore the time appointed for the charge he was attacked by the congestive fever, of which he died on the 6th of July, 1863. His remains were taken to New Orleans the following morning, there embalmed, and forwarded to his friends at Kenduskeag, where they were buried with military honors. His character during all the trials and hardships of army life is reported as having been that of a true and self-denying Christian soldier. He left behind him a record the purity and beauty of which can never be tarnished.

The following further notice of Captain Case is in- cluded in the Roll of Honor of Bowdoin College:

Class of 1848-Isaac W. Case, born in Kenduskeag, November, 1822 ; was a teacher of youth two or three years, and then settled upon a farm in Kenduskeag, where he resided when he entered the service, October, 1862, Captain of Company H, Twenty-Second Maine; served under General Banks at Port Hudson. He had volun- teered as one of a storming party, but was seized with congestive fever, and, after a few hours' sickness, died. He bore the reputation of a brave soldier and a Christian man. Faithful as a soldier, he was true to his profession . as a soldier of the cross, exerting an important influence for good over his command.

OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Oliver K. Nason, of Kenduskeag, is a son of Edward and Susan Nason (nee Susan Small). His grandfather, John Nason, was a native of Berwick, Maine. Edward and Susan Nason had seven children, viz: Oliver K .; Aaron ; Richard ; Albion ; Mary, wife of Josiah Mayo, of Portland, Maine; Sarah, deceased ; Eliza, widow of George Murch, of Saccarappa, Maine; Susan M., de- ceased. Mr. Nason followed lumbering for a business. He spent most of his life in Limington, Maine, and died in Kenduskeag in 1856. Mrs. Nason died January 23, 1868. Oliver K. Nason was born December 14, 1809, in Limington, York county, Maine. He first settled in South Standish, Maine, where he lived about three years, and carried on the cooper business. From there he moved to Levant (now Kenduskeag) in March, 1833, where he lived about two years, and then moved to Brad- ford, in this county, and lived three years, being there engaged in lumbering. In Bradford he married Miss Sarah J. Holland, daughter of Daniel Holland, of Dover, Maine: About 1840 he moved back to Kenduskeag, where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Nason have had six children, viz: Susan, deceased ; William H., deceased ; William K., now in Kenduskeag ; Margaret A., wife of Captain George W. Wooster ; Richard M., now in Leadville, Colorado ; and Edward O., of Ken- duskeag. Mr. Nason was for many years an officer in the militia, rising to the position of Colonel. He rep- resented his class in the Legislature in 1854.

Captain Elijah B. Stackpole, of Kenduskeag, is a son of James and Abigail Stackpole (nee Abigail Brock). His

grandfather was Stephen Stackpole, of Somersworth, New Hampshire. James and Abigail Stackpole had seven children, viz : Elijah B., Lydia, Martha, Mary E., Wil- liam E., Sarah, and John, all of whom are living except Lydia and Martha. Mr. Stackpole was a tailor by trade, as was his father .. He lived in South Berwick the latter part of his life, and died some eight years since. Captain Elijah B. Stackpole was born July 10, 1804, in Somers- worth, New Hampshire. He first settled in South Ber- wick as a tradesman, having served an apprenticeship in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He lived in South Ber- wick three years, when he moved to Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and from there to Buxton, Maine. He lived in Buxton four years, when he moved to Bangor, and from Bangor he came to Levant, now Kenduskeag, in 1834, where he has since lived, following the business of store-keeper, hotel-keeper, etc. Since 1847 he has lived on a farm, working at other kinds of business, as survey- ing, etc. He married Nancy E. Wentworth, of South Berwick, Maine. They have had five children, viz: Henry A., of Kenduskeag ; Charles C., deceased ; Wil- liam H. H., of Kenduskeag ; Frederick A. H., postmas- ter of Kenduskeag, and Edwin M., deceased. Mr. Stackpole has held the office of Deputy Sheriff two terms, Justice of the Peace and Quorum for twenty-one years, and Trial Justice for many years. He is now seventy-seven years of age, and is at present Trial Jus- tice. He is a man widely known in this section, having been for many years a captain of the militia. He has held many other town offices ; was for five years a mem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture.

Royal S. Hodsdon, of Kenduskeag, was born July 26, 1834. His father, Jonathan B. Hodsdon, now living in Kenduskeag, was a native of Levant when it comprised Kenduskeag. He married Sarah Frees. They have five children, viz: Royal S .; Elmina F., wife of Francis Har- vey, of Kenduskeag ; Augusta A., now Mrs. G. Harvey, of this town; Nellie and Edwin C., twins. Nellie mar- ried William K. Nason, of Kenduskeag. Edwin lives in Boston. Mr. Hodsdon is a cooper by trade, and is still living in Kenduskeag. Royal S. Hodsdon, the oldest son of this family, was born in this town and has always lived here. He married Julia A. Elliott, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Elliott, of Kenduskeag. They have one son, Charlie E. Mr. Hodsdon learned the cooper trade, and worked at that until about 1853, when he en- gaged in trade here in Kenduskeag, which he followed about eight years, or until about 1862. He engaged in the jewelry business, in connection with his other busi- ness, in 1862, and now follows it exclusively. He is also a filer of saws. He lives on the Bangor road leading through the village of Kenduskeag.

Abner F. Clements, of Kenduskeag, was born April 1, 1847. He is a son of the late John C. Clements, who was born in Frankfort, Maine, and married Lucy Little- field, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Littlefield, of Winterport, Maine. They had seven sons, viz: Edmund, now of Levant ; Charles L., now of Winterport, Maine ; George M., now in Corinth, Maine ; John, Jr., deceased; Daniel W., deceased, died in the army; Albert, deceased ;

.P. Batchelder

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

and Abner. Mr. Clements was a farmer, and invented the Clements horse hoe, which he manufactured during the last years of his life. He died in 1869. Mrs. Clem- ents now lives with her son Abner in Kenduskeag, on the old homestead. Abner F. Clements married for his first wife Melissa Towle, of Hartland, who died June 13, 1874. She had two children, viz: Effie J., deceased, and Melissa. Mr. Clements married for his second wife Miss Dora Averill, of Winterport. To this couple have also been born two children, viz : Abbie M. and Effie D. Mr. Clements has a good farm about one mile south of Kenduskeag village, where he has always lived.

W. C. Spratt, of Kenduskeag, is a son of Nathaniel and Betsey Spratt, nee Betsey Ward. Nathaniel Spratt and Betsey Ward were both born in China, Kennebec county, Maine. They had eight children, viz: Emeline W., Marian C., William C., Thomas G., Francis D., Mel- ville B., Betsey E., and Augustus N .; all of whom are living except Betsey E. Mr. Spratt was a mason and manufacturer of brick. He lived during his later life in Alton, Penobscot county, where he died in 1865. Mrs. Spratt died in 1867. William C. was born December 24, 1826, in China, Maine. He settled in Alton, where he lived about twenty-six years. He married Christiana L. Crawford, daughter of Joseph and Olive Crawford, of Burnham, Maine. They have seven children, viz: Em- ma L., wife of R. A. Shaw, of Washburn, Aroostook county, Maine; Charles W., now in college in Philadel- phia; Sewall C., of Houlton, Maine; Arthur W., Alber L., Lillie A., and Willie L. Mr. Spratt has been a lumberman and manufacturer of lumber most of his life. He now lives on a farm in Kenduskeag, near the village. He has held all the prominent town offices in the gift of his townsmen. He has held the office of Trial Justice, and in 1860 was a member of the Legislature represent- ing Alton, Bradford, Charleston, and Lagrange. He is a Republican in politics.

Franklin D. Jenkins was born in Vassalboro, Maine, December 31, 1831. His father, Moses Jenkins, was a native of Kittery, and married Sarah Frye. They had six children, viz: William H., deceased; Mary A.,

wife of Christian F. Anderson, of Pioche, Nevada; Sa- rah M., deceased; Moses C., now of Vassalboro, Maine; Franklin D. and Eben F., deceased. Mr. Jen- kins was a prominent business man. He carried on farm- ing, tannery business, and the manufacture of boots and shoes. He died in 1854. Mrs. Jenkins died in 1846. Franklin D. Jenkins commenced life as a clerk in a store in Plymouth. at the age of seventeen. From Ply- mouth he went to Bangor as bookkeeper for Thomas A. White. He remained there two and a half years, when he went to Pittsfield, Maine, and engaged in trade. This was in 1858. He continued there for thirteen years, and also at the same time or during this time engaged in a successful pine land speculation in Michigan, though he did not live there. He came to Kenduskeag in 1871, and engaged in farming. He has a fine place near the village of Kenduskeag, and is successful as a fruit raiser. He married Helen N. Jerrard, daughter of John and Jane Jerrard, of Plymouth, Maine. They have seven children, viz: Alice, now Mrs. A. H. Cornforth, of Pitts- field, Maine; Annie H., Louise A., Vernon F., Fred A., Bertha L., and Ralph D. Mr. Jenkins has held promi- nent town offices both in Pittsfield and in Kenduskeag, having been Town Treasurer here several years.

Hon. T. P. Batchelder was born in Sanford, York county, Maine, in 1815, where he received a common- school education. In 1838 he came to Penobscot county and settled in Kenduskeag, and engaged as clerk in the store of Allen & Goodwin, and in 1836 purchased this stock of goods and engaged in business on his own ac- count, in which he has continued up to the present time. He also held the office of Postmaster of Kenduskeag for nearly thirty years, the longest term probably of any man in the county, and has held the office of Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Selectman of his town for over thirty years. In 1858 he represented his class in the State Legislature, as a Democrat, and was elected by a class that usually went one hundred Republican. In 1840 he married Mariah York, a native of Belfast, and is the father of two children, Abbe M., wife of William P. Mi- nor, of Brunswick, Georgia; Selah H., living at home.

KINGMAN.

Kingman may be said to lie almost upon the border of the great Aroostook wilderness. When the trains on the European & North American Railroad leave the Penob- scot for the eastward at Mattawamkeag, they run for eight and one-fifth miles without passing a station; and when they leave Kingman station, they run for nearly thirteen miles before coming to a regular stopping place, -Bancroft, Aroostock county ;- and thenceforth to the State line stations are few and small. Nevertheless Kingman is getting a remarkably good development for its years, and in the matter of population has a record for the decade 1870-80 that can not be approached, much less paralleled, by any other part of Penobscot county. In that time, as the returns of the ninth and tenth cen- suses show, its people increased more than three-fold- from 184 to 546, or by 361, an average of 36 per year. We doubt whether another town in Maine has a record in similar proportion for those years.

But Kingman is not a large town; it does not comprise a surveyed township. It is rather long and narrow-six miles, or township length, from north to south, and nearly four miles wide throughout. It thus contains a little over twenty-three square miles, or about fifteen thousand acres. Its southwest corner is fifty-one miles, in a bee-line, from the limits of Bangor. It is bounded on the north by Macwahoc Plantation, Aroostook county; on the east by Drew Plantation; on the south by Webster Plantation; and on the west by Mattawamkeag. Prentiss corners on it at the southeast, and Winn is at no great distance to the southwest.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100