History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 113

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 113

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The Orono Bank was incorporated February 14, 1852, and organized for business the autumn following. Na- than H. Allen was the first President.

A spacious and convenient High School-house was completed in 1851, Nathan H. Allen, Gideon Mayo, and Eben Webster, Jr., constituting the committee for building.

In 1863 the Universalist society repaired and im- proved its church building. The Congregational church did the same by its own house of worship four years after that time. In 1867 a fine Catholic church was erected, costing six or seven thousand dollars.

The Orono Savings bank was incorporated February 21, 1868, and soon after went into operation.

In 1870 the census showed a population of 2,888- 334 in addition to the 2,554 of 1860.

ADDITIONAL NOTES .*

The first officers of the town were Allen Bliss, Town Clerk; Andrew Weber, Moderator and Treasurer; Rich- ard Winslow, Moses Averill, and John Read, Selectmen.

The first physician was Daniel J. Perley; afterwards came Dr. Stevens, from China, Maine.

Jonas Cutting, a native of Croydon, New Hampshire, who opened an office as lawyer in 1826, removed to Bangor in 1832; was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1854, and died August 19, 1876, soon

after his term of office expired. Jeremiah Perley, author of the Maine Justice, was a lawyer here for several years. The Hon. Israel Washburn, Jr., came to Orono in 1834. He ably represented Maine as one of her Representa- ives in Congress from 1855 to 1860; was elected Gov- ernor of Maine in 1860, and was in office two years; was appointed Collector of the District of Portland and Falmouth October 24, 1863, and continued in office uniil 1877. Since 1864 he has been a resident of Port- land. In 1874 Mr. Washburn delivered the address at the centennial anniversary of the settlement of Orono, which was published with the other proceedings of the day. Charles Buffum was President of the Senate in 1871.

The water privileges are abundant, and have been im- proved largely for the manufacture of lumber in all its forms. Flour- and grist-mills are in operation, and es- tablishments for machinery, cooperage, oars, boats, etc. From 1832 to 1835, during the great land speculation, the population increased from one thousand five hundred to six thousand. Many fortunes were made and lost. This period led to great activity in trade and manufactures.

The Bangor & Piscataquis Canal & Railroad Company was chartered February 8, 1833. Under this charter the railroad from Bangor to Upper Stillwater was built in 1835-36. The charter for the Penobscot Railroad from Milford to Bucksport, with a branch to Orono, was ob- tained in 1836.

The Stillwater Canal Bank was incorporated March 21, 1835, and closed in 1842. The Orono Bank, incor- porated February 14, 1852, afterwards became the First National Bank of Orono, with a capital of $50,000. The Orono Savings-bank was incorporated February 21, I868. Its deposits and profits for the financial year 1878-79 amounted to $33,323.13, and for 1879-80 to $29,371.53.

The new and capacious Town House was erected in 1874, and dedicated upon the occasion of the Centen- nial anniversary. A Town House had been voted by the people as long before as 1824, but no money was provided for building it. The Poor House was voted in 1837.

There are. Congregationalist, Universalist, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches in the village; two physi- cians, two lawyers, two notaries, nine justices, thirty-one merchants, and forty-five manufacturers. The associa- tions are the Meridian Splendor Masonic Lodge, and the Orono Lodge, No. 9, of the Independent Order of Good Templars. There is also a Horticultural Society, which holds annual fairs.

The State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, located in Orono, was established by act of Con- gress July 2, 1862, accepted by the Legislature March 25, 1864, and chartered February 25, 1865. It has a pleasant and healthy location between the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, on grounds originally cleared and set- tled by a French Canadian. The Stillwater River flows in front of the buildings, forming the water boundary of the College farm, and adding much to the beauty of the surrounding scenery. The buildings comprise the Brick Hall, White Hall, laboratory, boarding-house, Presi-

*Mainly by E. F. Duren, Esq., of Bangor.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

dent's, professors', and farm houses. The faculty consists of a President, seven professors, farm superintendent and steward. The results of study and farming, with me- terological observations, are taken daily, reported annu- ally to the State, and published. A much fuller sketch of this institution is given in the General History in the previous division of this work.

SOME STATISTICS.

In 1810 Orono had a population of 351, as already noted. In 1812 it had 70 polls, estates valued at $1,378.70, and a tax of 22 cents on the $100.

In 1820 Orono had 4r5 population, 100 polls, and $24,690 in valuation of estates. The remaining statistics of population, grouped rapidly together, are 1,473 in 1830; 1,521 (after the separation of Oldtown) in 1840; 2,785 in 1850 ; 2,533 in 1860; 2,888 in 1870; and 2,448 in 1880. Its polls in 1860 numbered 442, its es- tates were valued at $343,069; in 1870 these figures were respectively 566 and $523,888, and in 1880, 558 and $512,524.

The town officers in 1881 were: A. F. Lewis, Albert White, E. N. Mayo, Selectmen ; E. P. Butler, Town Clerk ; E. P. Butler, Treasurer ; Alanson Kenney, Constable and Collector ; George W. Brown, William Thompson, Solo- mon Gee, Constables ; N. Wilson, Samuel Libbey, Charles Buffum, School Committee ; E. P. Butler, N. Wilson, J. C. Wilson, Samuel Libbey (quorum), Elijah Wyman, Stinson Peaslee, J. C. Wilson (trial), Samuel Libbey, N. Wilson (dedimus) Justices.

There is a very large manufacturing and business in- terest in Orono, which we have not space to detail.

THE REBELLION RECORD.

The return of State militia to the Adjutant-General in 1862 included a company from Orono, of which John W. Atwell was Captain, Charles W. Ross First, Elverton W. Butler Second, Charles H. Holt Third, and John E. Bennoch Fourth Lieutenant, and Frank Hamblen Order- ly Sergeant. The first enrollment of the Orono militia numbered 148, the second 221; 166 had entered the Federal service.

The following biographical sketches of distinguished soldiers from Orono are taken from the Reports of Adju- tant-General Hodsdon :

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES H. CARLETON .- In Feb- ruary, 1839, during what was called the "Aroostook war," arising out of boundary disputes between the United States and Great Britain, this officer became captain of a company of Maine riflemen, and on the settlement of the dispute was appointed Second Lieuten- ant of the United States Dragoons. In March, 1845, he became First Lieutenant; served on General Wool's staff in Mexico; was promoted to be captain in February, 1847, and brevetted Major for gallantry at Buena Vista: and after the war served on the Western frontier and in California and Utah. When the late civil war com- menced, he was ordered by General Sumner to Southern California. In September, 1861, he was promoted to be Major in the Sixth Cavalry. The following spring he raised a body of volunteers, known as the "column from

California," and marched with them across the Yuma and Gila.deserts, through Arizona to Mesilla on the Rio Grande. He was appointed Brigadier-General of Volun- teers April 28th, 1862, and ordered to relieve General Canby in command of the Department of New Mexico. General Carleton is the author of a "History of the Battle of Buena Vista, and of the Operations of the Army of Occupation for one Month."

SURGEON ALDEN D. PALMER, of Orono, entered the service originally as Hospital Steward in the Second Regiment of Infantry, in May, 1861, but his health not permitting him to remain, he received his discharge. Returning to Maine, he passed the winter and spring of 1862 in attendance at the medical school at Bowdoin College, from which he received a physician's diploma. On the 6th of May, 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Second Regiment, which position he held until January 16, 1864, when he was promoted to Sur- geon of the Ninth Regiment, then stationed at Morris Island, South Carolina. During the summer campaign of that year he served as Acting Chief Operating Surgeon of the Twenty-fourth Army Corps. In August he was ordered to inspect the hospitals in Maine, after which he returned to his regiment in November, remaining until February, 1865, when he was ordered to Wilmington with the Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and placed in charge of a hospital. Here he was taken sick with a fever, and after a short illness died, March 20, 1865, at the age of twenty-eight years and five months. Dr. Palmer was unremitting in his efforts to alleviate the vast amount of suffering that came under his attention. All the responsible duties that fell to his lot he dis- charged with skill and ability, making himself much be- loved by all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He died most truly and fervently lamented.

LIEUTENANT ISRAEL H. WASHBURN, of Orono, is one of the young men of Maine who, from a conviction of duty, when enlistments did not keep pace with the re- quirements of the service, came forward and encouraged patriotic action by enlisting in the Sixteenth Regiment. He was appointed second lieutenant, and was afterwards promoted to first lieutenant. The first battle of his reg- iment was at Fredericksburg in December, 1862; and his gallant behavior on that occasion coming to the notice of Major-General Berry, that lamented officer gave him a position on his staff. Resigning the service in June, 1863, he was subsequently appointed lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Afterwards he was ordered to report on the United States steamer Rhode Island, the flag-ship of the West India squadron.

The following is from the brief notes in the Roll of Honor published by Bowdoin College. Captain Foster was a graduate with the class of 1855 :

Benjamin B. Foster was born in Orono in November, 1831; studied law and entered on the practice in Lin- coln; mustered in November, 1861, first lieutenant Eleventh Maine; detached as Assistant Adjutant-General on General Peck's staff, with rank of Major; captain North Carolina loyal regiment.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

The following further notice of Major Foster is from the Adjutant-General's Reports :

BENJAMIN B. FOSTER .- September 24, 1862. En- listed as private in Eleventh Maine Volunteers. No- vember 14, 1862. Commissioned by Governor Washburn as First Lieutenant Company I, Eleventh Maine Volun- teers. December, 1862. Detailed as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General First Brigade, Casey's Division, Gen- eral W. W. H. Davis commanding. April, 1863. De- tailed as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General S. Casey, com- manding Second Division, Fourth Corps. July, 1863. Detailed to duty as Acting Aide-de-Camp to Major- General G. B. McClellan, commanding Army of Poto- mac. November 17, 1863, Appointed by President Lincoln Major and Assistant Adjutant-General, and as- signed to staff of Major-General John J. Peck, com- manding United States forces at Suffolk, Virginia, and served thereon at Suffolk and at Newbern, North Caro- lina, until May, 1865. May, 1865. Assigned to duty as Assistant Adjutant-General Seventh Army Corps, Major-General F. Steele commanding, headquarters at Little Rock, Arkansas. November 14, 1865. Resigna- tion accepted by President Lincoln.

Another notice of an Orono soldier is included in Bowdoin's Roll of Honor, class of 1862:

Delon H. Abbott, born at Orono December, 1838; did not prosecute his academic course ; entered the ser- vice as Hospital Steward August, 1862; was promoted Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon Ninth Maine.

C. H. Fernald, A. M., Professor of Natural History in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, is the son of Eben and Sophronia Fernald, of Tre- mont, Mt. Desert, Maine. He was born March 16, 1838, and received his academic education at the Maine Wesley- an Seminary at Kent Hill, and at the Museum of Com- parative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is not a college graduate, but received the degree of A. M. from Bowdoin College. He spent much of the time summers when a boy as a sailor, but attended and taught school winters until the breaking out of the civil war, when he entered the navy as a seaman, where he was promoted to Master's Mate, and afterwards to Acting Ensign. At the close of the war he was elected Principal of Litchfield Academy, Maine. He taught at Litchfield one year, when he was called to take charge of Houlton Academy, Maine, where he taught six years or until the fall of 1871, when he was elected to the Chair of Natural History in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which position he has ever since filled. In 1862 he married Maria E. Smith, adopted daughter of Dr. Torsey, of Kent's Hill, Maine. They have one child, Henry L. Professor Fernald is at work upon a family of insects called the Tortricida, from all parts of the world, having already secured by far the largest collection in the world. He has in preparation for the press a Monograph of the Tortricidæ of North America, A Re- vision of the Tortricida of the World, and a Manual of Entomology for Agricultural Schools and Colleges. Many scientific articles have already appeared from his pen in the Canadian Entomologist, American Naturalist,

Psyche, Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Transactions of the American Entomological Society, and the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine of London, besides various popularized scien- tific articles in our State papers.

Professor A. E. Rogers, of the Chair of Modern Lan- guages, and Instructor in the Military Department of the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, is the son of W. W. and Mary S. Rogers, of Hampden, Maine. He was born April 21, 1855, at Ellsworth, Maine. W. W. Rogers had five sons and two daughters, of whom Allen E. was the youngest. After completing his common school education he fitted for college at Hampden Academy, Maine. He entered Bowdoin in September, 1872, from which he was graduated in 1876. After graduating he first taught at the Hampden Acade- my, where he was principal for three years, or until 1879, when he was elected to the Professorship of Modern Languages and Instruction in Military Tactics in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which position he is. still filling. In 1880 Professor Rogers married Mary F. Butler, daughter of James H. and Fannie M. Butler, of Hampden, Maine.

The Chair of Mechanical Engineering in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts is filled by Professor C. H. Benjamin. Professor Benjamin is a son of Samuel E. and Ellen M. Benjamin, of Patten, Maine. Samuel Benjamin had two children who grew to maturity, viz: Charles H. and John M. Charles H. Ben- jamin was born August 29, 1856, in Patten. He received his academic education at Patten Academy; then went to West Waterville and learned his trade, being there three years, and entered the Maine State College of Agricul- ture and Mechanic Arts, August 8, 1877, taking a special course in mechanical engineering for one year. After this he taught school one year, and worked again in the shop where he learned his trade, in Waterville. In 1879 he went to Massachusetts and engaged in mechanical en- gineering, in the employ of the Mckay Sewing Machine Association, where he remained one year, when he was appointed to the position he now holds in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1879 he married Miss Cora L. Benson, daughter of Rus- sell C. Benson, of West Waterville, Maine.

The Chair of Civil Engineering in the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts is at present filled by Professor G. H. Hamlın. Professor Hamlin was born in Sydney, Maine, November 18, 1850. He is the son of Wellington B. and Philena Hamlin. Wellington Hamlin had seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, of whom G. H. is the third. He received his academic education at Waterville Classical Institute, where he spent three years and entered the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1871, taking the full course in civil engineering and graduating in 1873 (having entered as a sophomore). He was ap- pointed Inspector in Engineering the same year he graduated, and in 1875 was Professor of Drawing and Field Engineering, which position he held until 1878, when he was made Professor of Mathematics and Draw-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

ing. He continued in this position until 1880, when he was elected to the Professorship of Civil Engineering in this college, which position he is still filling. In 1877 he married Miss Annie M. Mayo, daughter of Gideon Mayo, of Orono.

Professor Walter Balentine, of Orono, was born in Waterville, Maine, September 21, 1851. His father, William Balentine, was a native of Waterville, and mar- ried Olive Lowe, also of Waterville. They had four children, three sons and one daughter, viz: Edward, now of Campbell, Minnesota ; George, now in Waterville, Maine; Walter, and Florence, now deceased. William Balentine is a farmer and still living in Waterville. After completing his common school education Walter Balen- tine entered Waterville Classical Institute in 1868, where he remained three years, spending his summers at home on the farm. In 1871 he entered the Maine State Col- lege of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, where he was graduated in 1874, having entered one year in ad- vance. He taught for a part of the year after graduating and then went to Connecticut, entering the Wesleyan University, Middletown, taking the post-graduate course, and at the same time was Assistant Chemist in the Con- necticut Agricultural Expériment Station. He remained here two years, or until 1877. During this time he went to Kansas for three months, and took the position of Professor of Chemistry in the University of Kansas dur- ing the illness of Professor Patrick. During the latter part of 1877 and the year 1878 he was Principal of the High School at Fairfield Centre. In August, 1878, he went to Germany to study Chemistry and Physics at the University of Greifswald, where he remained one year. He then entered the University of Halle, remaining there about one year, during the latter part of which he was Assistant Chemist in the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Province of Saxony. Returning to the United States in 1880, he was appointed Assistant Chemist in the United States Agricultural Department at Washington, where he remained till November, 1880, when he was elected to the Chair of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, a position he is well qualified to fill. He has brought to this college not only skill and ability, but, being yet a young man, has that energy and zeal in his profession so necessary to success in any department of human industry.

Professor A. B. Aubert is the son of Conrad Aubert, of New York City, and was born April 27, 1853. He is the youngest of a family of five children. He received his academic education at the Imperial Lyceum of Stras- burg. After completing a course there he entered Cor- nell University in 1869, and took the full course in chem- istry, from which he was graduated in 1873. In February, 1874, he was elected to the Professorship of Chemistry in the Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, which position he has since filled.

Hon. B. P. Gilman, one of the most prominent men of Orono, was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, March 10, 1799. His father, Josiah Gilman, had five children, three daughters and two sons, viz : John H., of this town; Asenath, Judith, Mary, the three latter de-

ceased; and Benjamin, who is the oldest. Benjamin Gilman lived in Gilmanton until he was twenty-six years old, when he moved to Sebec, Piscataquis county, Maine, in January, 1825, and engaged in trade, but soon after- ward added the business of lumbering and farming. There he lived sixteen years. While residing in Sebec he married Alice Morrison, daughter of Robert and Sarah Morrison. In 1841 Mr. Gilman moved to Orono, where he has since lived. He has been engaged principally in lumbering, though he has a fine farm. In 1837 he was elected Sheriff of Piscataquis county, being the first elected in that county, and helped organize the first court ever held in the county. In 1840 he was chosen Elector and cast his vote for General Harrison. Again, in 1864, he was chosen Elector and cast his Electoral vote for Abraham Lincoln. He took a very active part during the Rebellion in sustaining the Government and breaking down the Rebellion, spending time and money, at one time having advanced over $20,000 to buy horses before receiving any of it back. He is now eighty-two years old, and is a hale man for one of his age, being able to do much business yet.

A. F. Lewis, of Orono, was born April 20, 1841. His father, Ammon Lewis, was a native of Kennebec county, Maine. Ammon Lewis married Priscilla Wormwood, of Houlton. They had seven children, of whom A. F. is the third. Ammon Lewis has always worked about the mills, running machinery, etc. Mr. A. F. Lewis enlisted in 1861 in the First Maine Cavalry, remaining until the. time of his enlistment expired in 1864. He was in all the engagements of this regiment during the three years. After coming back to Orono he went to work in the mill running a lath machine, where he remained until 1872, when he opened a meat-market and grocery store on Mill street, Orono, in company with Mr. Holms. For some years past Mr. Lewis has been one of the Selectmen of the town, also Assessor and Overseer. In 1865 he mar- ried Augusta Lord, daughter of William Lord, of Orono.

A. B. Sutton, who lives in Orono, but who now con- trols the mills which he built in Upper Stillwater in 1869, is a son of George and Nancy Sutton, of Hiram, Maine. George Sutton was a native of Limington, Maine, and had six children, two sons and four daughters, viz: Jane, now Mrs. Theodore Pingree, of Denmark, Maine; David, deceased; Arthur B., of Orono; Eunice H., wife of Mr. Quinn, of Baldwin, Maine; Sarah, now in New Hamp- shire, a widow; Catharine, deceased. A. B. Sutton was born September 1, 1825, in Hiram, Maine. His mother died when he was twelve, and his father sold the farm and the family became separated. A. B. lived with his uncle, John Sutton, of Parsonfield, until he was twenty, when he came to Oldtown and worked in a lath mill for his cousin. He taught school during the winter of 1845- 46 in Lagrange. In the spring he entered the employ of Boston parties to close out a stock of goods in this town. He afterwards attended Parsonfield Seminary and taught school several terms. He took a trip West in 1847, com- ing back in the fall, and entered into partnership with the late Colonel C. D. Jameson. This firm continued one year, when Mr. Sutton sold out and engaged in trade

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

alone, continuing until 1861, supplying teams and general trade. In 1861 he sold out, taking a farm in payment. He built the mills here in 1865 and in 1869, and has continued in the lumber business. He married for his first wife Almira Coombs, of Bradford, by whom he had six children, four of whom are living, viz : Charles, now in the mill with his father; Maria C., now Mrs. Mont- gomery, of New Jersey; Fannie A., at home; George A., in State College at Orono. Mrs. Sutton died in 1866, and Mr. Sutton married for his second wife Elbra A. Smith, daughter of Colonel James Smith, of Bangor. They have one child-Lottie A.

Edward Mansfield, of Orono, is the fourth son of Israel Mansfield, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Israel Mansfield married Susanna Wilson, of the same town. This couple had eight children, seven of whom lived to maturity, viz: Israel N., of Orono; Frederick, of Greenville, New Hampshire; Addison, of Greenville, New Hampshire; S. Wilson, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire; Susan, deceased ; Mary, deceased. Edward, the fourth son of this family, was born June 20, 1811. He first learned the cloth-dressers' trade in Rindge, New Hampshire, at which he worked about seven years. In 1831 and 1832 he learned the blacksmith trade in Ban- gor, at which business he has since continued; he came to Orono in 1833, where he has since lived. He mar- ried Mary Cole, daughter of Deacon Ebenezer Cole, of Athens, Maine. They have had two children, one son and one daughter. The son only is now living, Edward W., who resides in Orono. The deceased was named Angeline M. Mr. Mansfield does the mill work, and makes and repairs driving tools. He is now seventy years of age, and has not lost a day for a year, which is quite a remarkable fact for a man of his age. Mrs. Mans- field died in July, 1879.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 113

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