History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 111

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 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Colonel James Pattin was born in 1751, in Brunswick, Maine. He married Hannah Floyd, a native of Surry. He came to Penobscot county in 1804, and settled in Stetson; he was the fourth settler in the town. He pur- chased his farm of Major Stetson. While in Surry he was Colonel of a regiment of militia. He died in Stet- son in 1826. He was the father of ten children-Susan,

440

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

who married Wilbury H. Sweet; Mary, Sarah, Hannah, Martha, Jane, James, Matthew, David, Mary, Rhoda.

James Pattin was born in Surry in 1793. He came to Penobscot county with his father, and settled on the same farm. He came to Newport about 1825, and set- tled on the farm now owned by James Pattin. He mar- ried Chloe Chadwick, a native of China, Maine, and he died in Newport in 1833. He was the father of seven children-John F., James, Nancy, Albert, Priscilla A., Eliza A., Elmira. James Patten, Jr., was born in Stetson in 1818. He came to Newport with his father when quite young. He married Priscilla Burrill, a native of Corinna; she had one child, and died in Newport in 1870. He then married Phoebe A. Clark, a native of Corinna, and is the father of one child, Lucy J., who married Calvin Gray and lives in Newport. John F. was married three times-his first wife was Mary A. Pattin, who lived but a short time; his second wife was Lucy Burrill, and his third wife was Dorcas W. Gillmer. He died in Newport.

Lawson G. Ireland was born in Newport in 1829. In 1846 he left home and went to the Bosquire Academy, in New Hampshire, where he studied a short time, when he returned to Newport. In 1848 he traveled through Pennsylvania and Ohio, when he again returned to New- port, where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1851 he sold out his business and again started West. He again returned to Newport where he remained but three days, when he joined a party that was organized to go to California. In 1852, on account of the ill-health of his brother, he returned to his native place, where he remained two years. In 1854 he went to Bangor, where he followed the carpenter's trade, in which he was en- gaged about five years, when he removed to Amerest, and there remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Maine Regiment of Volunteers, and was mustered in as Orderly Sergeant of the company. In the winter of 1862, for meritorious conduct, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and during the Penin- sular campaign he had command of the company. In July, 1862, on account of ill-health, he resigned his com- mission and returned home, where he remained two years. In 1864 he went to Clayton county, Iowa, where he engaged in the furniture business and also studied law, and in 1869 was admitted to the Bar and com- menced the practice of law. In 1868 he held the office of Justice of the Peace of Monora. He continued the practice of law in Iowa until the winter of 1881, when he went to Florida and purchased property in the town of Welaka, where he makes his home during the winter. He has held the office of Mayor of Sibley, Clerk of District and Circuit Court of Osceola county, President of the County Agricultural Society, Director of the State Horticultural Society, and Secretary of School Boards for many years. He takes a deep interest in agricultural, horticultural, and educational matters. In 1854 he mar- ried Annie L. Kenniston, a native of Bradford, and is the father of three children, viz: Clarence C., who died in Newport in 1857; Annie C., lives with her parents ; and Fanny M., lives with her parents.

Daniel Ireland was born in Bloomfield in 1790. At the age of sixteen he came to Penobscot county with his father and settled on the farm now owned by Frank Ire- land in Newport. He married Hannah Carl, of Ply- mouth. He built the first dam and mill at Corinna in company with Joseph Ireland, his uncle. He remained in the mill business bút two years, when he sold out to the Moore Brothers and returned to farming. He was the first man in his neighborhood to take hold of the temperance society in Newport. He died in Newport in 1877. His wife died in Newport in 1869. He was the father of fifteen children, two of whom died in infancy- Fannie S., Osbert A., Daniel E., John B., Hannah, Sarah P., Ellvina, Addison O., Lawson, Lawson G., Sarah E., Francis M., Ovando W. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a Republican. Francis M. was born in North Newport in 1834, where he received a common school education. He also attended school at St. Albans a short time. He learned the carpenter trade of B. O. Cutter, of Bangor, and followed his trade about six years in Bangor, but gave it up in 1858 and returned to Newport and settled on a farm. He has held the office of Selectman of Newport four years, and has been one of the School Committee nine years, and Road Commis- sioner one year. In 1854 he married Amanda J. Whit- ing, and is the father of one child-Charles F., who married Olive J. Varney and lives in Pittsfield, Maine, engaged in the mercantile business The Newport Grange, located at North Newport, was organized in 1874. Its first Master was H. M. Quimby; Philander Whiting, Sec- retary; Stephen Steward, Treasurer. Its present officers are F. S. Shepardson, Master; F. M. Ireland, Secretary; H. M. Quimby, Treasurer. In March, 1876, they opened a supply store at the residence of H. L. Quimby, but owing to an increase of business in 1880 they built the present store-room at North Newport and placed the business in charge of F. M. Ireland, under whose man- agement they are doing a prosperous business. They keep on hand a general line of goods at all times, such as is found in all well-regulated country stores. Although the business is just in its infancy their sales amount to between three and four thousand dollars per annum.

Ira Shepardson was born in the town of Guilford, Ver- mont, in 1788. When eighteen years of age he came to Penobscot county, and first settled in the town of Exeter. He was twice married, his first wife being Eunice Was- son, a native of Penobscot, who died in Exeter. He then married Hannah B. Manson, a native of Massachu- setts. While in Exeter he held the office of Selectman several years; also as superintendent of schools for two years. In 1826 he came to Newport and settled on the farm now owned by Ira Shepardson, Jr. He was ap- pointed the first postmaster of North Newport, which of- fice he held for over twelve years. His wife died in 1864, at the age of sixty-nine years. He died April 7, 1870. He was the father of seven children, three of whom, died in infancy-John W., Sophronia, Ira, Jr., Hannah B. John W. was born in Exeter in 1814, where he remained until twelve years of age, when he came to Newport with

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

441

his father. When twenty-one years of age he entered into partnership with Ranney & Bickrel in the mercantile business at Stetson. Four years later he disposed of his interest and turned his attention to farming, in which business he is now engaged. He is the father of four children-Mary E., married Thomas Hinton, and lives in Newport. Laura E. was twice married; her first hus- band's name was Mark M. Fernald; he died in Newport; she then married Joseph Williams, and lives in Newport. John E., lives at home. Leroy, lives at home. He mar- ried Mary E. Bickard for his first wife; she died in New- port in 1849. He then married Harriet Weston ; she died in 1859. In 1860 he married his present wife, Mary Ring.

The Shepardson family are of Welsh descent, and were among the first emigrants to America, coming here in 1665. They settled in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Their descendants took an active part in the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the late war, and an active part in the organization of our Government.

Rev. Robert Coburn, was born in Dracut, Massachu- setts, in 1773, and moved with his father when a small boy to Bloomfield. He married Mary Parker, a native of Bloomfield. He came to Penobscot county in 1824, and first settled on the farm now owned by John Dodge, in Newport. He was a minister of the Calvinist Baptist denomination, and was the pioneer minister of Newport. He organized and helped build the church at North New- port, and was pastor of the church for over forty years; also to organize many other churches in the surrounding country. He was an earnest Christian, and devoted his whole life to the cause of Christianity. His wife died in Newport at the age of seventy-two years, and he died at the same place at the advanced age of eighty-two, re- spected and mourned by all who knew him. He took a deep interest in political matters and was one of the first members of the Free-soil party, and clung to those principles until the organization of the Republican party, when he became a Republican. He was the father of thirteen children-Sarah, Eleazer, Betsy, Mary A., Sa- rah, Loantha, Aaron, Naham, Samuel S., Daniel M., Lucy M., Fisher, and Aaron. Aaron Coburn was born in Bloomfield, Somerset county, in 1820. At the age of three years he came to Penobscot county with his father. He has followed lumbering and farming all his life. In 1851 he went to California via the Isthmus of Panama, where he engaged in the mining and lumbering business. After remaining there two years he returned to his old home, where he has since resided. In 1878 he repre- sented his class in the State Legislature. In politics is an earnest Republican, and takes an active interest in the prosperity of the party. He is a thorough-going farmer and is the possessor of one of the neatest farms in the town of Newport. He first married Sarah E. Brown, a native of Etna, who was the mother of three children; she died in 1864. He then married Sabra A. Priley, a native of Waldo county. He is the father of six children -Mary H., married E. L. Richardson, lives in Newport; Lydia A., married Wilson D. Crowell, of Corinna; John M., Riley, Sarah E., and Frank R., live at home.

William P. Main, born in Rochester, New Hampshire, came to Penobscot county at an early day, and settled on the farm now owned by Addison Small, in Newport. He was a farmer all his life. He was twice married, first time to Lydia Bradford, a native of St. Albans. She had four children, three daughters and one son, and died in Newport. He then married Betsy Snow, a native of Charleston. She had nine children, six daughters and three sons, and died in Newport. Mr. Main was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. He died in Newport in 1864. His children were: Betsy, who died in Aroos- took county ; Lydia B., who married Moses Rose, and lives in Aroostook county; Jacob, who married Harriet Wilson, and died in Chicago, Illinois; Mary A., who married Joseph Beckford, and died in Aroostook county; David S., who died in Detroit, Maine; Bradford, who died in Newport; Meribah L., who lives in Newport; Roof 'S., who married Isaac Goodwin, lives in Winn; Hannah S., who married Hiram Rose, and lives in Illi- nois; Amanda M., who married Samuel Stimpson, and lives in Knox, Maine; Candelia C., who died in New- port; Eleanor, who died in Illinois; and William, who died in Newport.

Putnam Wilson was born in Lyonsboro, New Hamp- shire, in 1791. He married Fannie Hutchinson, a native of Wilton, New Hampshire, and came to Penob- scot county in 1826. He was captain of a company of militia in the War of 1812. He died in Newport in 1875, his wife died in 1864. He was the father of ten chil- dren -Abiah, Harriet, Putnam, Jr.,. Phillip, George, Lydia, Fannie, Joseph, Charles, Hollis B.

Putnam Wilson, Jr., was born in Wilton, New Hamp- shire, in 1817. At the age of ten he came to Penobscot county with his father, and settled on the same farm. Has held the office of Selectman of Newport eight years in succession, and holds the office at the present time. In 1843 he married Marribah L. Main, a native of New- port, and is the father of seven children-John, who mar- ried Marchie Lancaster, lives in Stetson; Phillip, married Anna March, and lives in Newport; Flora A., married Robert Jenkins, and lives in Newport; Forrest A., lives at home; Emma, died when one year old; Emma (sec- ond), lives at home; Fannie H., lives at home.

Dr. Byron Porter was born in Dixmont in 1839. He studied medicine with Dr. Porter, of Dixmont, and Dr. McRuer, of Bangor, and was graduated at Bowdoin Med- ical College in 1850. He commenced the practice of medicine in Dixmont, where he remained two years, and in 1854 came to Newport, where he has been in practice ever since. He has held the office of Supervisor of Schools for fifteen years, and in 1855 and 1856 repre- sented his class in the State Legislature. He married Almina B. Adams, of Dixmont, and is the father of three children : Charles B., married Georgia R. Pulsifer, of Hancock county, and lives in Corinna, where he is practicing medicine; Woodbury H. Porter, is a telegraph operator on the Maine Central Railroad; William, lives at home.

Samuel. Benson was born in Middleborough, Massa- chusetts. He married Rebecca Hunt, a native of Mar-

442

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

tha's Vineyard, and came to Penobscot county, first set- tling in Carmel in 1798. He was a soldier and non- commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war, and took part in many of the engagements. He followed the hotel business during the latter part of his life, and built the first hotel in Carmel. He was the father of twelve children. He died in Carmel in 1848. His children's names were Asa, Abisha, William, Rebecca, Susannah, Samuel, Permelia, Joseph, Sallie, Peleg, Elizabeth. Hon. John Benson was born in Carmel, March 2, 1809. He attended school at the China Academy for several years, and from there studied medicine with Dr. James H. Brainard in China, and received the degree of M. D. from Bowdoin Medical College in 1831. He com- menced the practice of medicine at Newport in i831 .. He has held nearly every office in the town of. Newport at different times, and in 1859 represented his class in the State Legislature, in 1860 and 1861 served his dis- trict in the State Senate, and for three years was a mem- ber of the County Central Committee of Penobscot. In 1862 he was commissioned surgeon of the Eighth Maine Regiment, but declined. In 1863 he was commissioned as surgeon of the Twentieth Maine Regiment, but owing to sickness he was obliged to resign. In 1872 he was appointed by Governor Chamberlain to represent the Srate of Maine at the National Prison Congress, held in Cincinnati. He has been twice married. His first wife's name was Achsa Martin, a native of Newport. She was the mother of two children, and died in Newport in 1850. He then married Thersa A. Green, a native of Pepperell, Massachusetts, who became the mother of three children, and died in 1878, in Newport. William R., died at Newport in 1865; Mary, lives at Newport ; John, Jr., lives at Newport; Isabella, married F. E. Parkes, and lives at Pittsfield; Homer F., lives at Waterville, where he is practicing medicine.

Hon. Elliott Walker was born in Brookline, Vermont, in 1822, and prepared for college at Townsend, Vermont. At the age of twenty-two years he entered Colby Univer- sity, at Waterville, where he was graduated in 1848. He then went to Brandon, Vermont, where he took charge of the Brandon Seminary as Superintendent, and remained two years. While there he commenced the study of law, which he completed with Boutelle & Noyes, of Waterville, and was admitted to the Bar in November, 1851. The same year he came to Corinna, Penobscot county, and took charge of the academy, where he remained two years. In 1853 he came to Newport, opened an office and commenced the practice of law, in which business he is now engaged. He has held the office of Superinten- dent of Schools, Town Agent, and School Committee- man several years. In 1866 and 1872 he represented his class in the State Legislature of Maine. In 1880 he was elected Probate Judge of Penobscot county, which office he now holds. He married Sophronia B. Coffin, of Waterville, in 1852, and is the father of four children: Harriet C., married Howard C. Atwood, and lives in Newport ; Jane W., married James T. Troutman, and died in California; William E., at home; Edwin C., died in Newport when six years old.

Peter Rowell was born in Brentwood, New Hamp- shire. He married Mary Marden, in Wolfsboro, in 1828, and came to Penobscot county and settled on the farm now occupied by his wife. He was a machinist and house-carpenter by trade. He died in New- port in 1863. He was the father of two children, Eliza J., who married David O. Trafton and lives on the old homestead, and Mary E., lives at home.

David O. Trafton was born in West Gardiner in 1836. He is a machinist by trade and was in the employ of Oakes Ames for many years. In 1859 he came to Penobscot county and settled on the farm he now occu- pies in Newport. In 1880 he was elected a member of the State Legislature by his class on the Greenback ticket. In 1859 he married Eliza J. Rowell, and is the father of two children, Maurice E., lives at home, nad Mary E., died in Newport.

Enoch Libby was born in South Berwick, Maine, in 1800 .. He married Sarah Lord, a native of South Ber- wick. He came to Penobscot at an early day and set- tled in Newport on the farm on which he now lives. He is the father of three children: Samuel, who married Hester Libby, of Orono; Richard H., who married Lydia Moore and lives in Newport; Charles F., married Albina B. Weeks and lives in Newport. Charles F. Libby was born in Newport in 1835. He attended the Newport Academy several terms. He was a lumberman on the Penobscot River for sixteen years, when he gave up the business, and in 1871 purchased the farm on which he now lives and turned his attention to farming. In 1861 he married Albinia B. Weeks, a native of Thomaston.

Samuel Weed was born in Tamworth, New Hampshire, in 1796. He was twice married. His first wife was a native of New Hampshire. He came to Penobscot county when quite a young man and first settled at Carmel, when he engaged in the business of tanning and erected the first tannery ever built in Carmel. He came to Newport several years ago and built a carding- and dressing-mill, and carried on the business here in connection with his tannery. After running the carding- mill for several years he sold out and returned to Carmel. He held the office of Selectman several terms at Carmel. His first wife died in Newport. He married for his second wife Amanda M. Sanderson, a native of Stetson, Maine, who survives him and lives in Newport. He died in Carmel in 1861. Their children were: Samuel, Harriet, and George F. George F. Weed was born in Carmel in 1842. In 1865 he commenced the study of medicine with N. L. Folsom, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and took his first course of lectures at Bellevue Hospital, New York, in 1868, and his second course at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1869. In 1869 he commenced the prac- tice of medicine at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. From there he removed to Dixmont, Penobscot county, and then to Newport, where he opened an office. In 1869 he married Lucretia P. Harrat, a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and is the father of one child-Mary H. Atkinson Hobart was born in Canterbury, New Hamp- shire, in 1816. In 1839 he came to Penobscot and first

John Benson, Srs

443

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

settled in Corinth, where he followed his trade, that of carpenter. While in Corinth he married May Kelsey, in 1841, and removed to Newport, where he followed his trade about four years, when he returned to Corinth and engaged in the mercantile business. He then returned to Newport, purchased a new stock of goods, and en- gaged in the mercantile business, in which he still con- tinues. He is interested in the banking business, and has been Treasurer " of the Newport Savings-bank; has held the office of Assessor two years, Town Clerk six years,

also the office of Justice of the Peace, and trial justice, for fourteen years. He at present holds the office of Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He is the father of seven children: Rosetta C., married Otis Springer and lives in San Francisco, California; Mariah, died in Newport; Charles C., died in Newport; Mary E., lives in Newport; Fred, died in Newport; Katie, died in Newport; and John W., married Emily E. Chase, lives in Newport, and is Receiver of the Savings Bank.

ORONO.

DESCRIPTION.

This town is of quite irregular boundary, having, be- sides the angles produced by survey, the indented shore of Pushaw Lake on the northwest, and the line of the Penobscot upon its whole eastern or southeastern limit. It is bounded on the north by Oldtown and the Pushaw Lake; on the east by the Penobscot River, beyond which lie the towns of Bradley and Eddington; on the south by Bangor and Veazie; and on the west by Glen- burn. Its greatest length, from the northeast corner, due east of the State College, to the west line of the town, is seven and one-half miles. The average length, however, is but about four. The extreme breadth of the town, from the angle in the north line, next east of Pushaw Lake, to the point formed at the southward by Veazie town and the river, is four and three-eighths miles. The westward part of the town has a width of less than two miles. Average of the whole, not far from two and one-half miles. Two miles' width of the waters of Push- aw Lake come into the northwest corner of the town; but they nowhere come in for the distance of more than three-fourths of a mile ; and the entire surface of the lake within Orono can hardly be more than a square mile. A small tributary, heading immediately at the southwest corner of the town, reaches the lake from the south. The Penobscot receives in this town one petty tributary, which rises near the crossing of the Upper Stillwater road and the east and west road through the town, and flows nearly three miles in a southwest direc- tion to the river. Above and below some smaller streams come in; and a mile above its mouth, at the village of Orono, is the debouchure of the Stillwater river, so called-a stream of importance, which is really but a side channel of the Penobscot, from which it de- parts at one place a little above Oldtown Island, and

again at a point abreast of that island, thus forming Orson Island, and thence by its southward course and junction with the main stream, forming the much larger Marsh Island, so named from an early settler and owner, upon which are situated Oldtown village, Pushaw, the State College, and a part of Orono village.

The European & North American Railroad has about five miles of its track in this town, on the lower ground following closely the course of the river. Upon a route of general parallelism with the railway, and at an aver- age distance of less than a quarter of a mile from it, is the main river road on the west side of the Penobscot. Another river road, but a short line, hugging closely the bank, runs from the mouth of the Stillwater to a junc- ture with the main road in Oldtown, a little beyond the northeast corner of Orono. From the village of Orono, east of the Stillwater, a branch road connects the village with Upper Stillwater post-office, Pushaw, and the north- ward. On the other side of the Stillwater, another road runs up that stream to a point a little way beyond Upper Stillwater, where it forks, one branch continuing up the river, and the other running sharply off northwest through the interior of Oldtown, soon reaching the neigh- borhood of Pushaw Stream. From Orono village, also, another road runs northwesterly to the Upper Stillwater and Bangor road, from which it is the only highway in an east and west direction through the remainder of the town. From a school-house on this road, half a mile from the west line of the town, a road runs south to the city of Bangor. Returning to the river road, another cross-line leaves that highway about a mile below the village, and strikes directly across the country to an intersection with the Bangor and Upper Stillwater road, beyond which it does not go. Half a mile below that, another wagon-road, running nearly half-way across

444

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

to the Bangor route, accommodates a small country neighborhood.

The old work known as the Stillwater Canal, following the course of the river of that name, and intended to facilitate the passage of rafts into the Penobscot, is an- other important feature of the town.

Notwithstanding the age of the country, it being among the first settled near Bangor, the settlements still, for the most part, cling closely to the Penobscot and the Stillwater. North and northwest of the triangle, two of whose sides are formed by the Penobscot and the boundary line of Bangor and Veazie, there is as yet but little settlement-or, indeed, much west of the Upper Stillwater road. Orono is a flourishing village, however; and the dwellings and farms below it on the Penobscot, and up the Stillwater on the west side, are quite nu- merous, as also on the next south road running into the interior.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 111

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