History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 116

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 116

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John B. Morgan, a blacksmith and waterman, came. He made a fortune "during the land speculations 1832- 38, and founded the Bank of Oldtown, of which he was President. The Bank building yet standing in the village was built expressly for it. He alone paid five hundred dollars for the first Congregational church bell, which went to wreck in the great fire of 1865.

Also came Dr. Daniel J. Perley, who, says Mr. Norton, was held to be a learned man and an able practitioner. He too made money here, at one time being esteemed worth fifty thousand dollars.

1825. A number of lumbermen obtained a charter and constructed the Argyle Boom. Two years afterwards Rufus Dwinel bought the franchise, procured a new charter in 1832, and built the present boom at Pea Cove, in a most advantageous situation. This property, then owned solely by General Veazie, was sold in 1847 to David Pingree and others for ninety thousand dollars. Five years before it had been inspected by the Legislature, and found to have cost, in material and construction, $65,373.77. This had increased to $100,504.27 by 1854. In that year an association of lumbermen leased the boom for fifteen years, and the lease was renewed in 1869

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

for a like period. The smallest amount of logs rafted through it for twenty-five years was in its second year, 1834-10,242,000 feet; the largest amount' in 1855- 181,809,000.

Came this year: Nathaniel Haynes, lawyer, who staid about two years, when he removed to Bangor, where he became son-in-law of the historian Williamson; and Dr. James C. Bradbury, a skillful physician and surgeon, and during the Rebellion one of the State Board of Ex- aminers for army surgeons. During or before this year, also, must have come Amos M. Roberts, of the firm of Bartlett & Roberts, and long President of the Eastern Bank in Bangor; also James Purinton, a stone-mason, who was here as early as 1825, and some of whose work yet remains in the village. Edward Smith-"No. 6 Smith," from his purchase of Township No. 6, Range 10, at five cents an acre-was here for same years before 1830, and must have come in not far from this year.

1826. General Veazie moved in from Topsham, bought all the landed and milling interests here of Jack- son Davis, and Daniel Davis's interests upon the falls at Marsh Island, thus acquiring nearly all the privileges upon them.

The shore road from Oldtown to Orono was built. "Be- fore that time there was but a bridle path, and travel and transportation was a difficult operation, except in winter."

1828. The Bennoch road, north into Argyle, was built this year.

William H. Smith came. He was at first a batteau- maker, but went into lumbering, and soon amassed a fortune. He became principal stockholder and Presi- dent of the Lumberman's Bank. After long residence in Bangor, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he now lives.

As early as this year William Jameson was here. He had a tannery, and was also a lumberman at Upper Still- water, which is said to owe much of its progress and prosperity to him. He lived in the present Joshua Buck dwelling, which he built. He was father of the late Brigadier-General Charles D. Jameson, who was born in Oldtown.

Asa, probably also Colonel William, Smith came. The latter was an officer of militia, and in 1830 built the present Codman House, near the Milford Bridge, which he kept for twenty years. Asa was a carpenter, and was the master-builder of the first Congregational meeting- house erected on "Mt. Carmel." He was for many years a constable here. Major Joseph L. Smith, of Old- town, candidate for Governor in 1868, and several other reputable and wealthy men, here and elsewhere, are among his sons.

1829. Jeremiah Perley came. He was a lawyer, and the author of Periey's Justice, a work of authority as a guide for Justices of the Peace in Maine until the statutes were revised in 1842. He is also remembered as a thorough-going, flat-footed temperance man, even at that early period in the history of the reform.

1830. The toll-bridge between Oldtown and Milford was constructed this year.

A town-meeting was called to consider the subdivision of Orono. Fuller notice of it is given above.

About this time came Dr. James Temple, a scholarly Scotchman of fine promise, but who survived here but a few years ; also Henry Richardson, who in 1833, with A. W. Kennedy, put up the well-known Richardson & Kennedy Block, in the village. Beginning humbly, he became a prominent man-was Selectman, Indian Agent, State Senator, and finally one of the Executive Council. Levi Young, a lumberman, now of Ottawa, Canada, and believed to be worth half a million, also came about this year. Levi Hoskins, a dry goods merchant here for a time, was also on the ground, but had come a while be- fore. He stuck the riding switch which he brought from New Brunswick one day into the corner of his lot in the village, where it became the present magnificent tree of more than four feet diameter, and the progenitor of all willows of that kind in town. A capital anecdote of him is related of him in Mr. Norton's book, as also in Judge Godfrey's chapter on the Bench and Bar, in this volume.

1832. The Veazie Block, of three stores, in the vil- lage, was built by General Samuel Veazie.

The church edifice on Mt. Carmel was begun this year, and finished in 1833. It was built by funds contributed by members of various denominations, but upon com- pletion passed under control of the Congregationalists. The structure was burned in the fire of '65, but rebuilt promptly the next year.

The Oldtown Railway Company procured a charter this year, to make a railroad to Bangor. They graded part of the route along the river to Orono, and did some bridging, but in 1835 sold everything to the Bangor & Piscataquis Canal & Railroad Company, for $50,000, which was never paid.

Liquor licenses had heretofore been voted by the town (Orono) ; but this year, mainly through the efforts of Mr. Perley, it was voted that none should be granted-a fore- shadowing of the Prohibitory Law that was to come four- teen years later.

George W. Ingersoll, an able lawyer and an ardent Whig, came and remained some years. He was Collector of the Port of Bangor under President Tyler, and be- came Attorney-General of the State in 1860, the year of his death.

1833. Another good lawyer-though "not a brilliant advocate," says Mr. Norton-came this year, in the per- son of Samuel Cony, afterwards legislator, Judge of Probate, State Treasurer, and one of the "War Gover- nors" of the State.

William T. Hilliard, lawyer and Clerk of the Courts for twelve years from 1847, was also an immigrant of this year.

A charter was obtained this year for the Bangor & Piscataquis Canal & Railroad Company to build a canal and railroad from the former place to the Piscataquis River and the slate quarries in Piscataquis county. Con struction began in 1834, on a route back from the river and it was finished the next year, being the second rail- way built in the country. "The first track was laid with

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

wooden rails, with an iron rail three-fourths of an inch thick on the top. The first two engines were of English build, weighing six or eight tons each."

Amos M. Roberts and Thomas Bartlett, both of this settlement, were appointed by the State authorities as Commissioners to buy from the Indians their four town- ships on the mainland. They were purchased accord- ingly for $50,000, which is a permanent fund for the benefit of the tribe, at six per cent interest, which is paid annually in April.

The Orono Company was organized this year, for mill- ing and manufacturing, and bought all the privileges and power at Upper Stillwater, with a slight exception. Among its enterprises it built a block of mills running five saws on the site of the old General Treat mill at Upper Stillwater, which has some note as the first block on the river that was put under one roof. It was burnt in 1863, but was rebuilt. The same year Dwinel, Sawyer & Co. put up a double mill at Great Works, and the next year five more mills, all covering twelve saws. They were burned in 1856.

The Richardson & Kennedy Block in the village, com- prising four stores, was erected this year.

1834. Wadleigh & Purinton bought the Indian in- terest in Shad and Pine Islands, and built a block of mills, with six saws, just outside of the Veazie mills, of three of which they took possession, alleging that the General had trespassed upon their privilege at Pine Island. A fifteen years' lawsuit, and a very costly one, was the result. A single retainer to Daniel Webster was $1,000, which was paid by a cargo of lumber to his Marshfield place.

The Congregational Society was organized this year, September 24.

The Oldtown Light Infantry was organized. Its first Captain was George W. Cummings, afterwards Colonel. Captain Ephraim B. Pierce was his successor, under whom the company was disbanded.

In January came John H. Hilliard, lawyer, long a partner here with his brother, William T. Hilliard, and still a resident, though much disabled by rheumatism. He has filled a number of the town offices, and been County Attorney and a member of the Legislature.

In December, on the last day of the year, came David Norton, the faithful and intelligent local historian to whom we and the readers of this book are so greatly indebted. He became a clerk, was afterwards a grocery- man, then eleven years clerk for General Veazie at the Boom, and otherwise engaged there for fifteen years more. He was two years Town Clerk, four years Select- man, Collector of Taxes thirteen years, and Justice of the Peace and Quorum or Trial Justice for the long period of thirty-five years. His Sketches of Oldtown grew out of a response at a Fourth of July entertainment in 1879 to the toast, "Reminiscences of Oldtown."

1835. The Upper Stillwater toll-bridge was built. Mr. Norton says :

It was an X-work bridge, strengthened by circular braces, which were too long to allow the bridge to settle into its proper position; the con- sequence was it toppled over sidewise and fell down. It was rebuilt in 1836, and was maintained as a toll-bridge until 1870, when it was pur-

chased by the town for the sum of $2,000, and made a free bridge.

The three shore mills at the falls were burned in De- cember.

Messrs. J. N. and A. Cooper built their block of mills at Pushaw village this year. It contained one gang and three single saws, with ample machinery for making short lumber. This was the origin of the village. The mills have never been burned, but the whole of the main dam was swept out in 1877, and has not yet been replaced.

The Baptist church was organized this year.

Dr. Niran Bates came about this time, and remained in fair practice here a dozen years or more.

1836. The Penobscot River Railroad Company was chartered, to build an iron way from Bucksport to Mil- ford, with branches reaching across the river to Bangor, Stillwater, Great Works, and Oldtown. Nothing tangible ever came of the scheme.

Samuel Godfrey built his steam-mill on the front of Lot 21, below Grass Island, uwon a site ever since known as "Steam Mill Point." It was burned in the autumn of 1837, and not rebuilt.

1837. The Rines Block, comprising six tenements, was erected, and stood until the great fire of 1865, when it was burned.

The Methodist Episcopal class was formed, which pre- pared the way for a church in 1843.

The great financial crisis of this year compelled the Bank of Oldtown to suspend.

Rufus Dwinel came from Lisbon. He did not long reside here, but maintained extensive business interests in this quarter for many years.

1838. George O. Brastow came. He was a trader for a while in the Richardson & Kennedy Block. He after- wards removed to Somerville, Massachusetts, where he became Mayor and a member of the Legislature.

1839. Messrs. Edward and Samuel Smith put up their mill at Shad Rips, on the east side of Treat & Webster's Island. It had a peculiar method of obtaining power "by a water-wheel extended across a sluice outside of the mill, so constructed that it could be raised or lowered to accommodate any pitch of water, and was turned by the current as it flowed under the wheel." The novelty was not a financial success, however. In 1842 the mill was burned.

A committee was appointed to report a boundary for a new town, which subsequently became the limit of Oldtown.

1840. Oldtown was incorporated March 16. First town meeting, March 26. The population of the new town this year was 2,345. Ten years before Orono, contain- ing both the present Oldtown and Orono, had but 1,473. There had been some growth meanwhile.

The Star in the East Lodge of Free and Accepted Ma- sons was formed. Mr. Norton says: "It has maintained a prosperous existence through the past years, and now numbers 158 members."

The Washingtonian (temperance) Society was also formed about this time, under the leadership of John B. Smith and others. It was a very popular association, increased its numbers rapidly, and did much good.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

1842. A Board of Selectmen was chosen by the tem- perance advocates, on the reform issue. Says Mr. Nor- ton: "Since that time, whenever the question of tem- perance has been the issue, the town has uniformly voted on that side."

1843. Cyrus Moore built a mill on Pushaw Stream, in the north part of the town, where he had a large prop. erty in land. It is still in existence.

The Universalist parish was organized.

1845. The old and unoccupied tannery building erected by Abner Dearborn more than twenty years be- fore was torn down by the people, ostensibly through fear of fire.

The first services of the Protestant Episcopal church. in Oldtown were held this year.

The Tarratine Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized. " It has always been one of the most prompt lodges in the jurisdiction, and now numbers eighty members in good standing."

Dr. Charles Fortier, a Canadian Frenchman, came about this time, and remained in successful practice here till he died.

1846. This was the year of the great flood. M. Norton says of its ravages in this region:

The river continued to fill up over the Great Works and Oldtown Falls, on and over the Quoik and Sunkhaze rips. The last important 'object of destruction was the Oldtown and Milford toll-bridge, which was taken from its foundation in the same manner as the Bangor bridge, and took up its march down the river.

1847. A vote of two thousand six hundred dollars was made by the town to the Pushaw bridge, which was built this year.

The Wadleigh block of mills was burned in April, and rebuilt by General Veazie in 1872.

The Bangor & Orono Railroad Company was incorpo- rated, to construct a road from Bangor to Stillwater vil- lage. Orono voted aid to the amount of-twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1850 the project was extended to include Oldtown, Milford, and Bradley, and the title al- tered to the Penobscot Railroad Company. Its franchise was bought by the European & North American Rail- way in 1863.

1848. Navigation was opened by stern-wheel steamer from Oldtown to Winn. The first vessel was built here the preceding winter, and called the Governor Neptune, from the Penobscot Indian John Neptune, then head of the tribe. A larger steamer, the Governor Dana, was put on the route by General Veazie in 1849. Three other boats - the Mattanawcook, Sam Houston, and Wil- liam N. Ray - were built by the original proprietors, Wyman B. S. and William Moore, who sold out in 1858 to William H. Smith and others. The latter built for this line the John A. Peters and the Lizzie Smith. In 1867 the company was bought off by the European & North American Railroad, to remove opposition. / A boat is occasionally run, however, to carry bark® and other material to the up-river tanneries.

The Oldtown Rifle Company was raised under the act of Legislature passed this year. N. H. Sawtelle was the first Captain; Winslow Staples the next and last. The

men were furnished with excellent rifles by the State, which disappeared with the company.

1849. The Union Academy of Oldtown was in- corporated, and buildings for it were erected. The Academy was maintained but about three years, however; Mr. Thomas Tash, Principal. The property was con- veyed to the school district in 1873, under the act for free high schools, when the building was remodeled and a public school maintained therein.

The Episcopal parish of St. James Church was organ- ized November 7. A lot was bought, and the building of a church edifice begun.

The Kirkland (Hudson since 1854) road was built, at an expense of $1,000.

A public hearse house was built, costing $200.

A committee was appointed to consider the subject of a town house.

David C. Merrick, a shoemaker, came. He was a sol- dier in the late war, and then went South to live.

1850. A Town House was voted, to be built by the lowest bidder. It was not put up, however, until 1870, when a neat structure was erected on the corner of Mid- dle and Brunswick streets, at a cost of about $12,000, raised from the sale of bonds received from the State on account of war bounties.

The European & North American Railway was char- tered.

Population of the town, 3,087.

1852. The Roman Catholics, who had heretofore wor- shipped, whites and Indians alike, in the chapel on Old- town Island, built a church near the cemetery at Great Works, for the people on the shore. It was removed in 1870 to lower Oldtown, where it now is, with a handsome addition made in 1877.

The Oldtown & Lincoln Railroad Company was in- corporated to build a road to Mattawamkeag. Its fran- chise was afterwards transferred to the European & North American Railway Company.

1853. General Veazie made an improvement at the falls, beginning at the Wadleigh block of mills and run- ning a continuous block to the shore, the whole covering sixteen saws. This was burned in June, 1878, and no part of it has yet been rebuilt, though a company has been formed for the restoration of profitable industry at this important point.

The Episcopal church was consecrated, February 2, 1853, by the Rt. Rev. George Burgess, Bishop of the dio- cese. It cost about $8,000.

The road to Argyle was made, costing $700.

1854. The Baptist church was built, largely through the energies of Elder Charles Blanchard, who was pastor of the society for ten years. The old church had been made many years before, out of the Lovejoy School- house. Both were burned in the fire of 1865.

1855. The J. C. Bradbury Block, of five stores, was built.

1856. The bridge thrown by the Penobscot Railroad Company across the river at Oldtown was destroyed by the ice this spring.

1858. The Aroostook Railroad Company was char-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

tered, to extend the road already built to Oldtown from that point or Milford to some point in Aroostook county. Its franchise was ultimately absorbed by the European & North American Railway.

The T. M. Chapman Block, with five stories, was put up.

The Union church was built at Upper Stillwater by the Baptists and Universalists.

The new prohibitory liquor law was submitted to the people this year. The vote in Oldtown was : For it, 96; against it, 8.

1859. A vote on the question of aid to the Aroostook Railroad project resulted : Yeas, 516 ; nays, 21.

The Congregational church was organized at Upper Stillwater October 6.

1860. Population, 3,860. Polls, 623. Estates, $556,- 903.

1861. The Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad Company was incorporated.

The town began to do its duty grandly to the Union in the hour of its trial. The following resolutions were passed at a town meeting held May 2 :

That it is the duty of the inhabitants of this town, in their corporate capacity, to do whatever is in their power to aid the Chief Magistrate of the United States in the full enforcement of the laws, and the Chief Magistrate of this State in complying with such requisitions as may from time to time be made upon him, for forces to repel invasion or suppress insurrection in any State in the Union.

That the sum of $5,000 is hereby appropriated out of any money in our treasury, to provide for the support of the families of citizens of this town enlisting in the service of the United States under the act of April 25, 1861, and to aid in support of soldiers thus enlisting, who have no families in this town, before they are called into said service.

1862. It was voted to pay $30 bounty to each volunteer, when mustered in, and a loan of $2,000 for bounties was authorized. The bounty was raised to $100 July 28, and the loan to $4,000. The next twenty recruits after August 30 were to receive $20 apiece, and $2,000 for soldiers' families were voted.

1863. For the same purpose $3,500 were voted. A debt of $4,700 had now been contracted for bounties, but it was nevertheless, November 23, voted to borrow enough more to give $200 to each of fifty volunteers needed to fill the quota of Oldtown.

The mill of the Orono Company, at Upper Stillwater, was burnt.

1864. Loans were voted this year, of $10,000, to pay $400 bounties, $1,300 for aid in securing enlist- ments, and $3,000 for other bounties.

A loan of $3,000, to. aid in securing the location of the State College in Orono, was voted.

1865. January 5, a bounty was voted of $300 to volunteers and drafted men, and of $25 to agents who would secure soldiers to fill the town's quota.

It was necessary to vote $18,000 for contingent ex- penses this year, $1,200 for aid of soldiers' families, and $800 for recruiting expenses.

The greatest fire in the history of Oldtown occurred this year, April 19, beginning in the Rines Block, just as the people were returning from a meeting to celebrate the obsequies of the murdered President, Mr. Lincoln. A high wind was prevailing, and the destruction was not

stayed until two churches, as many school-houses, one ·block of mills with six saws, a door and blind factory, the railway station, and twenty-two dwellings, had been licked up by the flames, with a loss to the village of more than $100,000. It was long before the place measurably recovered from this stroke.

Mr. Thomas M. Chapman erected a steam mill, which he still runs, "supplied with machinery for doing all kinds of ironwork, except some of the heavier pieces. There is connected with the mill a shingle machine, stave-dressing machine, and all the appliances of a ma- chine-shop."

1868. The first train into Oldtown on the European & North American Railway arrived in August. The road was completed to Mattawamkeag the next year.

1869. The Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad was fin- ished to Dover.

The Folsom Block, embracing seven stores, was built.

The Temple of Honor was instituted here this year.

1870. The last train on the old railroad from Bangor to Oldtown was run in June.

The Catholic church was removed from near Great Works to the lower village.

The Town Hall was voted, as before stated, and the boundary between this town and Argyle and Alton was run.

A large steam saw-mill, costing over sixty thousand dollars, and running one gang and three single saws, with other machinery, was built at Upper Stillwater by Hamb- len, Lancaster, and others. It proved an unprofitable venture, and was run but a few weeks.

The Ounegan Block, of five stores, was erected.

Population, 4,072. Polls, 713. Estates, $684,308.

1871. This was a costly year for the bridges, and those over Pushaw and Birch Streams, and the Lancaster, Irving, and Meadow Brook bridges, had to be repaired or rebuilt, at a total cost to the town of eight thousand four hundred and sixty-one dollars.

A new military company was formed under the act of 1869, now called the Hersey Light Infantry. Melville M. Folsom, since Major, was its first captain.

1873. The railway bridge was blown down, and the same night a locomotive and tender, with four men, went into the river at the break. The engineer was killed, but the others escaped with trifling injuries.

1874. The year of the temperance crusade. Among other reformatory measures in Oldtown, a Reform Club was organized, and the Temple of Honor, which had fallen into neglect, was revived. The Ladies' Union Temperance Crusade was formed about the same time. None of these is now in existence.

The purchase of three "Little Giant" fire-engines was voted by the town.

1875. The Godfrey Block of Mills, built by the Orono Company in 1834, was burned. It had been hopelessly dilapidated since 1866.

1876. The extensive repair and construction shops built by the European & North American Railway, near the station at the village, were burned. The new shops were erected at Mattawamkeag.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

1878. The great block of mills at the falls, together with the Canal block, was totally destroyed by fire.

The town voted not to license any one to sell spirit- uous liquor.

1880. Population, 3,395. Polls, 499. Estates, $528,- 109.

188I. The Oldtown Water-power Company was formed, mainly of Bangor capitalists, for the purchase and improvement of the Veazie property at the falls. A stone dam was to be constructed, also a canal, with large mills.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 116

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