History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 104

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 104

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Three miles northeast of the Upper Pond still another

beautiful series of lakes begins. Caribou Pond is the first, lying northeast and southwest, in size about one mile, by one half-mile. At a bay on the north is the out- let of Egg Pond, a water of perhaps a mile's length, in outline bearing some resemblance to a very badly battered egg. Long Pond connects closely with Caribou. It lies from southeast to northwest, and has a length of a trifle over two miles and an average width of perhaps one- third of a mile. Just beyond its foot is a tiny lake, and then, by a short outlet, Camedlasse Pond is reached. This lies mostly east and west, and is shaped somewhat like a ham, with the narrow part very much bent. The length of this water is a little more than a mile, and its extreme width, which is on the east shore, two-thirds of a mile. Nearly a mile's length of the Combolass Stream connects with the middle member of a chain of three small ponds, of which the easternmost is Centre Pond, lying from east to west, three-fourths of a mile long and rather narrow. An outlet of a third of a mile takes its waters to the middle sheet, which has about the same area, but lies rather in triangular shape. For half a mile below, the Combolass Stream carries the flow of all the. ponds into a still smaller lake, and thence by a short out- let across the river road and railroad to the Penobscot. Above this mouth the river seems to have no tributaries from Lincoln; but below the Mattanawcook it has four, all of them small. In the southeast angle and the cen- tral eastern part of the town are the four head-streams of Mattakeunk Pond, in Lee, which unite in Lincoln a short distance from the town line, and flow a mile or more in one stream to the pond.

The principal clusters of the eighteen hundred people, more or less, which Lincoln contains, are about Lincoln village ; Lincoln Centre, one and one half miles north of the village; East Lincoln, which also has a post-office, about the middle of the east town line, on the stage- route to Topsfield; the settlement on the road next south of this; and the settlement along the river-road in the west corner of the town, where are School No. 6 and a cemetery. The whole river-road, about ten miles of which lie in this town, is quite well settled. From Lin- coln village another road runs southwestward into En- field, upon which are School No. 4 and many residences. A mile out, a road diverges to the southeast, crossing near School No. 5 a neighborhood road, which has a branch crossing between Cold Stream and Little Cold Stream Ponds into Lowell,-and runs between the two small Cold Stream Ponds out into Burlington, The Topsfield and Lincoln stage route forks nearly two miles east of the village, the branches going respectively to Lincoln and Lincoln Centre. Two miles after entering the town it has a branch running south and southeast past School No. II into Lee, where it finally rejoins the stage-road at Lee post-office. Between Lincoln Centre and the north corner of the town the river highway sends off four neigh- borhood roads to the southeast, one of which, passing between Long and Camedlasse Ponds, is three miles in length, and is joined by another of the roads, crossing at the foot of Camedlasse, near the foot of Long Pond.

Lincoln village is a flourishing place, with an extensive

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

tannery and other manufactures. It has a railway sta- tion, with side-tracks to the tannery and the saw-mill; a Congregational church, with the school-house on the same lot, and the Mattanawcook Academy building in the vicinity; a Methodist Episcopal church, a cemetery, and a trotting park west of the town, and a considerable business quarter within it. Lincoln Centre has also a railway station, with a Baptist church, School No. 2, and a fair complement of mills, stores, and shops. The rail- road also makes a station four and one-third miles below Lincoln village, opposite the settlement near School No. 6, and calls it South Lincoln, which has yet no post- office. About a mile and a half north of east from Lincoln Centre, and south of Camedlasse Pond, is the Town Farm. East Lincoln post-office, as before noted, is on the stage-road to Lee and beyond, and accommodates the dense settlement east of School No. 8, and that on the road next south. The town abounds in mills and other manufacturing enterprises, and must have a pros- perous future.

The surface of Lincoln is broken, and the soil back from the rivers is apt to be rocky and hard to cultivate. Near the Penobscot the soil is freer from stone and less stubborn to the cultivator. A heavy growth of pine tim- ber formerly covered this tract, most of which has been cleared.

Part of this extensive town was purchased from the State at an early day by Governor Lincoln, of Portland, and others; the rest was mostly sold in lots to actual set- tlers. The first of these came in about the year 1825. Among them and early subsequent comers were Messrs. Israel Heald, John Carpenter, Alfred Gates, Benjamin Hammond, Stephen Chase, Humphrey Merrill, Ira Fiske, and several others. Most of the settlers upon the Lin- coln Purchase came from Oxford county, in this State ; those on other tracts were largely from New Hampshire. The early date after settlement at which the town was incorporated, as well as tradition, indicates that the set- tlements rapidly increased. The new-comers were intel- ligent and enterprising; improvements were promptly un- dertaken, and the waters of the Mattanawcook were soon turning the wheels of industry, at the point where the lower village now stands. It is, as before intimated, a fine lumbering tract, with abundant streams for driving, and very ready access to the Penobscot. By and by came the construction of the fine military road to Houl- ton, along the east bank of the river, which gave further impetus to growth.

Within a very few years after the forest was first broken by permanent settlers upon the territory, its people were ready for the incorporation of a full-fledged town. Ac- cordingly, on the 30th of January, 1829, the proper re- solve was passed by legislative authority, and the new municipality was given the name of Lincoln, in compli- ment to the Governor, one of the original proprietors Its growth was probably unparalleled by that of any town in the county, for its earliest years.

Lincoln, indeed, was already a flourishing town at the period of its formation, having then well toward one thousand inhabitants. It had 1,121 people in 1840,

1,356 in 1850, 1,631 in 1860, 1,530 in 1870, and 1,659 in 1880. The increase during the disastrous decade, 1870-80, when so many towns in this county and State fell off sadly, is specially noticeable.

The valuations in 1860 in this town were: Polls, 344; estates, $290,455. In 1870: Polls, 389; estates, $343, 177. In 1880: Polls, 449; estates, $365,295.

The Congregational church in Lincoln was organized August 3, 1831. It worshipped in unconsecrated build- ings until 1840, when a meeting-house was erected for it at the village. The Methodists have also a society and church edifice. There is likewise a Calvinistic Baptist organization in the town.

The other societies in Lincoln include the Penobscot Valley Lodge Independent Order of Good Templars, at Lincoln Station; the Starbird Lodge Independent Order of Good Templars, at Lincoln Centre; the Mattanaw- cook Grange No. 199, Patrons of Husbandry ; and the Horeb Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.

The business interests of this town are very large. There are two hotels-the Lincoln House, at the village; and the Penobscot House, at Lincoln Centre. The Matta- nawcook Mill Company turns out large quantities of lum- ber and the spool-stock of the famous Clark Thread Company. Other industries include one grist-mill and one saw-mill, with a grocery store, three dry-goods and grocery stores, two milliners and dressmakers, two har- ness-makers, and one smith at Lincoln Centre; one spool- maker and one tailor at South Lincoln; and one maker of furniture, coffins, and caskets, one of coffins and caskets, one firm of tanners, one of granite and marble workers, one wheelwright, three painters, four smiths, two masons, two barbers, five dry-goods and grocery stores, three dealers in millinery and fancy goods, one dealer in jewelry, organs, and picture frames, one in confectionery and fruits, one in hardware and stoves, one in groceries, one in notions, one drug-store, and one meat-market elsewhere, mostly at Lincoln village ..

There are also four resident physicians, two lawyers, and one pension notary.

The officers of the town for 1881 were: Meader P. Pinkham, Charles A. Brown, Cyrus Coffin, Selectmen ; Gideon Stetson, Town Clerk; E. T. Fuller, Treasurer ; Odell T. Fellows, School Supervisor; John Estes, G. S. Kneeland, A. P. Whittier, Fred A. Edwards; Center, John P. Hanning, Constables; W. C. Clark, A. W. Weatherbee, James Babcock, Charles Fuller, Alfred O. Ingersoll, Harrison Piper, F. D. Scamman, John P. Han- ning (Quorum), John Frost, Eben B. Pike, John Estes (Trial); W. R. Ayer (Dedimus), Justices.

The Postmaster at the Lincoln office is Harrison Piper; at Lincoln Centre, Horatio Gates; at East Lin- coln, Mrs. A. Ludden.

The following notices of the most noted soldiers from this town in the late war are extracted from the Adjutant- General's reports :

CAPTAIN Osco A. ELLIS, of Lincoln, was mustered into the service October 19, 1861, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Company E, First Regiment Cavalry. He was afterwards promoted to First Lieu-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

tenant, and then to Captain. He was killed in action at St. Mary's church, June 24, 1864, whilst heading his men, who were fighting on foot. He was buried one mile west of Charles City Court House, near Wilcox's Landing, James River, Virginia. The deceased was a lawyer by profession, and a young man of fine talents and irreproachable character.

BOWDOIN COLLEGE ROLL OF HONOR .- Prince A. Gatchel, born in Lincoln, August, 1841 ; did not complete his college course ; was mustered into service August, 1862, First Maine Heavy Artillery ; Sergeant on recruit- ing service in Maine; Second Lieutenant ; First Lieu- tenant and Captain.

OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

One of the oldest settlers of Lincoln is Mr. Aaron W. Huntress. He is a son of William and Betsey Huntress, of Berwick, Maine. William and Betsey Huntress had nine children-Caleb; Rhoda, who is ninety years old and lives in Waterboro, Maine; Robert, Rebecca, Aaron W., Hosea, James, Betsey, and Tyreann. Hosea, James, Rhoda, and Betsey are living, besides Aaron, the subject of this sketch. Aaron Huntress was born June II, 1798, and is therefore now eighty-three years old. He was born in Waterboro, York county, Maine. After becoming of age he first settled in Harrison as a brick- maker. Here he lived about ten years, following that business most of the time summers and teaching school winters. He moved from Harrison to Parkman about 1824, and engaged in farming and mason business till about 1827, when he moved to Lincoln, then called Mattanawcook, where he has always since lived. When he came here there was not an acre of cleared land where the village now stands. There was a mill and two small houses. He engaged in brick man- ufacture and mason work, which he has since followed principally. In 1822 he married Jemima Sampson, daughter of James and Jemima Sampson. They have had ten children-Jemima, now Mrs. S. H. L. Whittier, of Fredericton, New Brunswick; William, deceased ; Alice, now living with her parents at Lincoln; Milton H., now in Colorado; Warren, now in Minneapolis, Minnesota; James S., now in California; Adaline, wife of Timothy Heald, of this town; Charles, deceased; Laura, wife of J. W. Bradbury, of Burlington, Maine, and Hannah, now at home. Mr. Huntress has long been one of the most prominent men in this town. He has been so highly esteemed for his integrity and busi- ness ability that he has been given every elective town office in the gift of his townsmen, and was sent as a Representative to the Legislature in 1869. He con- tinued to hold positions of trust and important offices in town until within a very few years. He is now pass- ing his old age among those whom he has seen grow up about him, honored and esteemed by all. He has a pleasant home in Lincoln, and still retains his faculties to a remarkable degree.

Solon Gates, who now lives in Lincoln Centre, in this county, is a son of Alfred and Marcia Gates. His father, Alfred Gates, married Marcia House, daughter of Moses

House. Alfred Gates's father was Stephen Gates, of Rutland, Massachusetts. Alfred and Marcia Gates came to Lincoln Centre in January, 1824. He was the first man to fell trees at Lincoln Centre, and made the first clearing at the brook called by the Indians Cumalalasse. Here he built a log house and reared his family. Their nearest market was Oldtown. He brought with him a hand-mill, in which he ground corn and sometimes wheat for bread. To this couple were born eight children, four of whom are living. His log house was burned, and two of his daughters perished in the flames, aged about seven and eleven years. Those now living are Solon, Galen, and Homer, (the last two named live at Carroll, Maine,) and Harriet, now Mrs. Butterfield, of Springfield. Solon Gates was born April 27, 1804. He spent his boyhood on the farm, and has lived here most of the time since. Alfred Gates died here in 1846, and Mrs. Gates in 1859. Solon Gates married Betsey A. Chase for his first wife. She died in 1871, and Mr. Gates married for his second wife Miss Frances A. Chesley, daughter of David and Mary Chesley, of this town, but formerly of Paris, Oxford county. Mr. Gates has six children by his first wife-Horatio, of this town; Ruth, wife of B. Webber; Augusta, now Mrs. A. Lindsey, of Carroll ; Alfred, now in Chelsea, Massachusetts; S. Decatur, of this town ; Edwin S., also in Lincoln.

One of the earliest settlers of Lincoln was Jeremy Nelson, who came here in 1824, from Waterford, Maine. When he came, there were but few families in town. He settled where his son Chester now lives. He married Deborah Wheeler, of Greene, Maine. They had twelve children, of whom eleven grew to manhood and woman- hood : Eunice, wife of Jonathan Shepley, of Dexter; Horatio, now in Lee; Rosina, in Lawrence, Massachu- setts; Aaron, deceased; Luther, deceased; Orinda, wife of Augustus Turner, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Chester, of Lincoln; Mehitabel; Sarah, wife of Amasa P. Libbey; Deborah, deceased, and Jere, deceased. Mr. Nelson was prominent in town office during his life. He died August 9, 1881. At the time of his death Mr. Nelson was preparing a history of Lincoln. Chester Nelson was born April 21, 1843. He married Ellen Perry, daughter of Temple Perry, of Sherman, Maine, and resides on the old homestead, where his father spent the greater part of his life.

The first preacher in the town of Lincoln was Ste- phen Chase, who came here from Woodstock, Oxford county, in 1825. He was born in Newberry, Massachu- setts, January 19, 1772. He married Ruth Tyler, born March 12, 1778. He organized the first Calvinist Bap- tist church in this town, and preached to this society as long as he was able to preach. Stephen and Ruth Chase had eleven children-seven sons and four daughters. Or this family Cyrus H. is the third son and sixth child. Stephen Chase died July 14, 1843. Before coming here he was prominent in town offices, but on coming here he refused to hold any office. Mr. Chase represented his district the year after Maine became a State, in the first Legislature of the State as such. Of his large family only five are now living, viz: Ruth, widow of Simon

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Fickett, of West Paris, Maine; Peter M., now in Min- nesota; Cyrus Hamlin; Noah C., of this town; Abner B., now of Norway, Maine. Cyrus Hamlin Chase was born November 30, 1810, in Woodstock, Maine. He spent his boyhood on the farm, and on becoming of age bought a part of his father's purchase, and settled where he now lives. He married Harriet Bailey, daughter of David Bailey, of Bangor. They have three children liv- ing, having lost one in infancy. Their names are Free- man H., now practicing medicine in Orland, Maine; Stephen M., now of Winn, Maine; Lorenzo C., of Lin- coln Centre. Mr. Chase has always followed the busi- ness of farming. He assisted his father in making the first clearing in Lincoln Centre in September, 1825.

Joseph Hammond, who came to Lincoln in 1828, is a son of Joseph Hammond, of Paris, Oxford county, Maine. His mother's name was Lydia Parsons before her marriage. Joseph and Lydia Hammond had sixteen children, of whom Joseph was the oldest son and fifth child. He was born September 29, 1802, in the town of Paris. He first settled for a few years in Milton Acad- emy Grant, but came here in 1828. When he came here, there were no roads. There was a saw-mill and a kind of grist-mill at Lincoln, called Fish's Mills. He soon settled where he now lives, which has been his home fifty-three years. He married Lydia F. Cushman, daughter of Bartholomew and Lydia Cushman, of Paris. To this couple were born seven children-four sons and three daughters, viz: George, Ira, Andrew, B. C. Cush- man, Marion Wallace, Sarah, and Lydia E. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond live on the old homestead, cared for in their old age by their son Ira. During his younger days Mr. Hammond took active part in town affairs. He collected the first tax that was levied in the town.

William B. Pinkham, of Lincoln, is a son of James and Polly Pinkham. Mrs. Pinkham's maiden name was Bly. James Pinkham came here from Starks or Industry, in Somerset county, Maine. His father, Samuel Pink- ham, came from New Hampshire. James and Polly Pinkham had eleven children, all of whom lived to ma- turity. Their names were : Eliza, deceased wife of R. Jones, formerly of Lincoln, who was murdered by the Indians in the Indian massacre in Minnesota; Emily and Emeline (twins), both deceased; Samuel, deceased ; James, of Lincoln; William B .; Sarah, wife of Mr. Ben- jamin Rounds, of this town; Rufus D., now in California; Lois, deceased; Winborn, of this town; and Meader B. Mr. and Mrs. Pinkham died here many years since. William B. Pinkham was born March 23, 1862, in Indus- try. He married Augusta E. Brock, who died about 1863, and Mr. Pinkham married for his second wife Mrs. Mary E. Ordway. By his first wife Mr. Pinkham has five children-Eli H., of this town; Asa M., now of Provi- dence, Rhode Island; Ira E., now in the store in Lin- coln; Howard F., on the farm ; Willard C., of Providence, Rhode Island. By his second wife Mr. Pinkham has five children-Augusta E., Leslie F., Ella, Bertha, and Alma.

Meader B. Pinkham is a son of James and Polly Pink- ham. He was born February 9, 1837, in Lincoln. After

finishing his common school education he engaged in mercantile business. He began business here when twenty-one years of age, and has continued here ever since, evidently believing in the old adage that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Mr. Pinkham married Lucy A. Brock, daughter of Otis Brock, of Portland, Maine. They have had two children-Cora A., and Etta E. Mrs. Pinkham died February 26, 1873. Mr. Pinkham has served as Selectman of this town for thirteen years. He was postmaster here nine years.

Benjamin Hammond, father of Edwin B. Hammond, settled in Lincoln in 1825. He was born September 10, 1778, in Paris, Maine, and married Ruth Hersey, who was born January 17, 1795, and died November 9, 1880. The surviving children are Augustus F., of Aroostook ; Maria C., now Mrs. Stinchfield, of Michigan ; Aleathea P., now Mrs. Hersey, of Lincoln; and Edwin B. Mr. Hammond was an industrious farmer. He raised six hundred bushels of shelled corn from twelve acres of burnt land, in 1826. He died in Lincoln in 1870. Ed- win B. Hammond married Julia Lindsey, March 5, 1863. They have two children-Mae and Cora, born June 4, 1866, and May 17, 1873. Mr. Hammond served in the army two years. He is now a farmer.

Levi Whitham, of Lincoln, is a son of Mehitabel Whit- ham. He was raised by a Mr. Benjamin Rackliff, of Thorndike. When he became of age he came to Lincoln and worked on the Military Road that was then being built through this town. He came here on horseback, as there was no road. After that he worked in Houlton three years. He settled in Lincoln in 1834, when twenty- one years of age, and worked in the saw-mill here on the Cumulassie. He has since lived here and worked at farming and sawing lumber in the mill here. He mar- ried for his first wife Sarah Haley. She died, and Mr. Whitham married for his second wife Ruth A. Delano. Mr. Whitham had one son by his first wife, who died in the army, Adelbert by name. By his present wife Mr. Whitham has one daughter, Anna R., wife of Hezekiah Silver, of Lincoln.

Hon. Timothy Fuller, of Lincoln, was born August 10, 1806. He is a son of David and Sarah Fuller, of Dover, Massachusetts. David Fuller was a son of David Fuller, Sr. David and Sarah Fuller had ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, viz : Moses, Spencer, Clarissa, Maria, Daniel, David, Sally, Elizabeth (of California), Timothy, and Julia, all of whom, except Elizabeth and Timothy, are deceased. Mr. Fuller died in 1824, and Mrs. Fuller some twenty years later. Timothy Fuller spent his minority on the farm, where he lived until of age, when he bought a farm in Dedham, where he lived about three years. He came from there to Lincoln in 1836 and settled in the village, then a small town, and engaged in the mercantile and lumber business, in which he continued until 1871, when he retired to a farm. Mr. Fuller married Deborah E. Baker, daughter of John and Betsey Baker, of Dedham, Massachusetts. They have five children living, having lost one. The names of the living are: Horace B., of Newtonville, Massachusetts; Charles, doctor in this town; George, now in Lincoln

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

with his father; Francis H., of New York; Edward T., with his father in Lincoln. Mr. Fuller has served as Postmaster in this town eight years, and as Town Treas- urer for many years. He was elected to the Senate of this State in 1869, and represented his district in 1870 and 1871.

Nathaniel Fellows, of Lincoln, is a son of Moses and Libbie Fell >ws. His mother's maiden name was Bas- sett. His father was a native of Kingston, New Hamp- shire, and his mother was from Massachusetts. They came from Kingston, New Hampshire, to Kennebec county, Maine, in 1794, and from there here about 1836, and settled where Nathaniel now resides in Lincoln. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, six of whom grew to mature years, viz: James B., Nathaniel ; Lewis, deceased; Nancy, also deceased; Sophia B., widow of Abel B. Wetherbee, of Chelsea, Massachusetts; Caroline T., widow of the late Stephen P. Hewes. Nathaniel, the second son of this family, was born September 30, 1807. He spent his early life on the farm in New Hampshire. On becoming of age he came to this town and settled in 1832, four years before his parents came. He married Sarah P. Hatch, daugh- ter of Sylvanus Hatch, of Chester, Maine. They have had four children, one dying in infancy, viz: Dana W., of Portland, a dentist; Percy L., now engineer on the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad; Odel T., with his father on the farm, and Ida M., died in infancy. Mr. Fellows now resides with his father on the farm which he cleared up.

Timothy Heald, of Lincoln, is a son of Benjamin and Axa Heald, of Sumner, Oxford county. Maine. Benja- min Heald's father, whose name was also Benjamin, was one of the proprietors of the town of Sumner, and one of the first settlers. Axa Heald (nee Axa Hall), was a daughter of Captain Hall, of Croydon, New Hampshire. They had thirteen children, of whom eleven lived to grow to man and womanhood. Of this large family Timothy is the second son and third child. He spent his minority on the farm, and on becoming of age went to Illinois in 1838, and engaged in teaching. He re- mained there three years, when he returned to Maine, at- tended school at Buckfield, and taught in Auburn. The next year he came to Lincoln and engaged with Goddard & Jenkins, of Bangor, in the lumber business. He re- mained with them three years or more, when he spent one year exploring timber lands for the State. In 1852 he went to California and engaged in mining. He went from there to Puget Sound, remaining nearly three years in the employ of the Puget Mill Company, where he lost his hand. While here he was a member of the Territorial Legislature, from Jefferson county. During the summer of 1856 he returned to Maine and engaged in Lincoln in farming, lumbering, and mercantile and mill business, in which he has ever since continued. He married Addie E. Huntress, daughter of Aaron Huntress, of Lincoln. They have three children: Gemma L., Benjie H., and Clara G.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 104

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