History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 144

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 144

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).

1817. The name of Federalist had been for many years applied to the party opposed to the Administration, and that of Republican or Democrat to the party that sustained it. A writer in the Register of January 27, 1816, said that they were terms of reproach. "With one

is very often associated the idea of Tory and British politics, and with the other disorganization and French politics." Doubtless each party entertained these views of each other, and as there were few persons who did not belong either to the one party or the other, the feel- ing of reproach did not extend beyond the limits of the party that harbored it. The political parties did not permit their regard for the welfare of the country to slumber, or their virulence towards each other to abate. The Republicans nominated William D. William- son as their candidate for Senator. The Federal Repub- licans nominated Jacob McGaw.

The military organizations were still active. Captain Jona. Haskins, of Hampden, of the cavalry, and Captain David J. Bent, of Bangor, of the artillery, were elected Majors.

Personally attractive as Mr. Loomis was, it was too much to expect that, among such a promiscuous popula- tion as existed in Bangor, he could be popular with all, or that he could altogether avoid giving offense. In the Court House where he held his meetings there was a gallery opposite his desk, and seats were provided for a choir. Among the singers were some of the leading young gentlemen of the town; all of whom subsequently held offices of trust. One at least became Mayor of the city; others Representatives to the Legislature, and at- tained to other important positions. On one Sunday, the heat being oppressive, these gentlemen, as is not un- common with singers in a choir, after their great efforts in helping the devotions along as far as the sermon, placed themselves in comfortable positions for taking in the eloquent periods of the speaker, but, unfortunately, went to sleep, and continued in a happy state of oblivion until aroused by a reproving remark which the divine-whose forbearance had been too long taxed-directed towards them. Their pride was touched. They left the gallery and the house; and not more than two of the number ever re-entered it when Mr. Loomis officiated, and only one of them permanently.

Much feeling grew out of the affair in the town, and it was not difficult to organize an opposition among the non-religious and others who did not sympathize with Mr. Loomis and his people in the matter of doctrine.

At the town meeting on March 10, 1817, the opposi- tion had so much strength that the town refused to raise the customary sum for his salary; $1,200 were raised for highways; $850 for schools; $250 for the bridge compa- ny; $750 for town expenses, but nothing for preaching.

At this meeting Joseph Leavitt, Moses Patten, and Joseph Carr, were elected Selectmen; Joseph Leavitt, Town Clerk; Mr. Loomis, Allen Gilman, Joseph Carr, Joseph Leavitt, Superintending School Committee; Thomas A. Hill, Treasurer; Samuel E. Dutton, Town Agent. Mr. Joseph Leavitt was not in favor of raising Mr. Loomis's salary "in that way." But presently Messrs. Stephen S. Crosby, Joseph R. Lumbert, Newell Bean, Abner Taylor, Edmund Dole, Robert Parker, and Joseph Treat, requested Mr. Leavitt and the other Select- men to call a meeting "to see if the inhabitants will vote to raise the present year's salary of Rev. Mr. Loomis

578

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

according to the contract made with him," to be held on April 23, at 10 of the o'clock A. M. There Messrs. Edward Sargent, Mark Trafton, John Ham, Samuel Smith, Zebu- lon Smith, John Harlow,. Wiggins Hill, and Thomas Bradbury addressed a request to Mr. Leavitt and the other Selectmen to call a meeting of the inhabitants on April 28, at 9 o'clock A. M., to see if the town will take any measures or adopt any mode to divide said town into two ministerial or religious parishes, with metes and bounds, or otherwise, with equal rights and privileges, and appropriate money thereto," and "to see if the town will think it advisable to reconsider the vote passed at the annual meeting relative to the Rev. Mr. Loomis's salary."

The Selectmen called the meetings as requested, and the town voted at the meeting which was to be held at Io o'clock to raise eight hundred dollars for Mr. Loomis's salary. The vote was taken by yeas and nays, and Mr. Leavitt says the salary was raised "rather by consent," etc., etc. At the 9 o'clock meeting it was voted to di- vide the town into two parishes, and a large committee was raised to fix upon a dividing line between the par- ishes, and to report at an adjourned meeting on May 5. At that meeting a report was made which the town voted not to accept, and thus ended the matter of the two par- ishes.

This year Joseph Carr received, for County Treasurer, 3 votes, John Wilkins 50, Thomas A. Hill 36.

For Governor, Major-General Henry Dearborn had 67 votes, John Brooks 62, Luther H. Hills I.

For Senator and Counsellor, William D. Williamson had 61 votes, Jacob McGaw 55. Mr. Williamson was elected.

For Representative to the General Court, Joseph Treat had 76 votes, William Emerson 50, and Major Treat was elected.

At the March term of the Court of Common Pleas, Jedediah Herrick, Moses Patten, and Joseph Treat were authorized to contract for the building of a gaol of wood, well secured with iron, and one thousand dollars were ap- propriated for the purpose, and on April 3 they adver- tised for proposals for materials and building. The jail was built. It occupied a small portion of the space oc- cupied by the present Court-house, its front being about where the front of the Court-house is. Between the jail and Hammond street stood the gaoler's house. It was a narrow two-story frame house, painted straw-color, with the front door in the center.

A short distance from the left of these buildings on entering, was a high, steep gravel hill, from which the gravel-which was excellent -- was taken for the streets. The top of this hill was, perhaps, twenty feet above where Court street now is, and had a large surface which was occupied many years as a burial-ground. At the northerly end, a little west of where the city stable now is, was a brick powder-house. The view from this hill was very fine. At this time one can hardly be made to understand how great a change the little piece of territory between the Court-house, the Savary House, Hammond street, and the Kenduskeag, has undergone in fifty years.

Stephen Kimball, Thomas A. Hill, James Bartlett, Stephen S. Crosby, and Joseph Treat, having last year applied for incorporation to build a canal from Pushaw Lake to Bangor tide-waters, and a dam across the Pushaw Stream, below Dead Stream, organized on July 12 as the "Penobscot Canal Corporation." The canal is not now in existence, if it was ever built.

In July it was stated that the "Ohio fever" seemed to have received a check "by the season's pleasing pros- pect." But the "Hessian fly" made its appearance and created great alarm amongst the farmers, who feared that their wheat would be utterly devastated by the pest.

During the autumn of this year Messrs. Leavitt and Bartlett put up the walls and roof of the brick building on Washington street, now containing offices of the European & North American Railway, commenced it on September, and had the walls and roof completed Novem- ber I.

The French Block of three stores, at the corner of Ex- change and Washington streets-now also the estate of the European & North American Railway Company- was built by Zadock French about 1808. About the same time Mr. French built on the water side of Ex- change street, about half-way between Washington and Hancock streets, a long, low building which ran length- wise toward the river, called the "Still House." It was never used as a distillery, however, and hardly for any other purpose except storing.

The Bangor bank was organized September 15, 1817. Samuel E. Dutton, Joseph Leavitt, John Barker, Eliashib Adams, and Thomas A. Hill were elected Directors unanimously. Mr. Dutton was elected President, and Mr. Adams Cashier. On October 20th the first deposit and discounts were made.

The bank had formed a connection with Ebenezer T. Andrews, John French, and Ashur Adams, of Boston, who were the owners of four hundred shares, and were jointly and severally agents of the bank, and were to keep the bills in good credit.

On December 25 Mr. James Burton, Jr., from Augusta, commenced to publish the Register. He promised to furnish the public with a good paper; that "temperate and well-written communications would not be excluded because they were of a Republican or Federal character, for the Register would entertain no political predilection for the one more than the other." It "would espouse the tranquil spirit of the age, and support the ingenuous character it had borne under the management of its for- mer editor."

Notwithstanding the murmurings in regard to the bar- renness of Maine and the inhospitableness of its climate, yet there were those who had confidence in its fruitful- ness and faith as to its progress. Breadstuffs were scarce in 1810, and people feared a famine and removed to Ohio. This year, under the influence of a genial sun, the hopes of the disconsolate were revived, and they dis- covered that by making an effort they could obtain from the soil food sufficient for their families and to spare; that the reason of the scarcity of breadstuffs the last year "was not that wheat would not grow, but that it

579

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

was not sown." Much was made of the fact that Mr. Daniel Hussey, on the Kennebec, raised sixty-four and a half bushels of wheat on an acre and twenty rods of ground. It had been a cattle yard for two summers be- fore, was plowed in July, 1815; cross-plowed in the fall; plowed twice in the spring of 1816. Two and a half bushels of seed were put in.

CHAPTER XI.

The Register's Editorials-First Baptist Church Organized-Music- Successful Agriculture-Town Officers-State Election-River Fish- erics-Haty Colson-A Charitable Work Criticised-County Officers -The Court-house-The Gaol-How a Salmon was Caught-Nego- tiations with the Penobscot Indians for their Lands-Solicitor Davis's Speech-Result, the British Surrender Eastport-Commissioners of the Land Office Procure a Survey of the Indian Purchase-James Irish-Andrew Strong-Anecdotes of him-Young Ladies' Academy -Military training-Trustees-Visit of Governor Brooks-Colonel Hodsdon's Enthusiasm-Canvass for Representative to Congress- Martin Kinsley-Leonard James - Kinsley Elected -The Bussey Lands-Daniel Pike and others Shipwrecked-Rev. Mr. Loomis's Sickness-His Singular Recovery-Death of James Carr-Land Speculation.

1818. Mr. Burton's editorials were few and far be- tween in the early issues of his paper. The most im- portant bit of news on January Ist was communicated semi-editorially by "Brewer," that the Eastern Argus announced that " Mr. Holmes had a new suit of clothes before he went to Congress!"

On the last Friday in January the First Baptist church was organized in the "John Harlow house." The mem- bers were Nathaniel Burrill, Royal Clark, John LeGro, Edward Sargent, Thomas Bradbury, Rachel Burrill, Su- san R. Clark, Patience LeGro, Sarah Randall, Catharine Logan, and Sarah P. Burr. In the December previous, Rev. Isaac Case baptized, in the Kenduskeag Stream, Edward Sargent and Sarah Randall. It is believed that these were the first persons baptized by immersion in Bangor.

The people were not yet sufficiently engrossed in the severer labors of life to be averse to the harmonizing influence of music. Allen Gilman gave notice on Janu- ary 6th that the Hancock Musical Society would meet on February 22d, at the dwelling-house of Rev. Jona- than Fisher, in Bluehill. William Abbott, then a leading lawyer of Castine, and perhaps Joseph Bryant, a leading merchant, and Bradford Harlow, of the same place, were promoters of it. Mr. Gilman, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Bryant, and Mr. Harlow were afterwards Mayors of Bangor.

When the fact of Mr. Daniel Hussey's success in wheat-raising became known, people who had had simi- lar success had something to communicate in favor of the agricultural capabilities of the soil on the Penobscot. In 1817 Mr. Philip Coombs had raised in Bangor two hundred bushels of potatoes on half an acre of ground,

and a squash weighing forty-nine and a half pounds. Mr. John Ham had raised on a piece of ground twelve by fifteen feet, four bushels of onions-at the rate of 963 bushels to the acre. He sold them for $1. 121/2 per bushel-at the rate of $1,083 to the acre; and Mr. Tile- ston Snow, of Piscataquis, to excite "emulation in farm- ing," informed the public that he had raised a hog weighing 480 pounds, which he sold in the Bangor mar- ket for $60.07. This was well for that day. But in March, 1873, when the capabilities of the hog-kine were better understood, Mr. Elhanan Garland, of Kenduskeag, sold in the Bangor market a swine twenty-six months old, which weighed before it was dressed nine hundred pounds, and measured eight and a half feet in length, girth seven feet and an inch.

At the annual meeting March 9, 1818, Joseph Leavitt, Moses Patten, and Joseph Carr were again elected Se- lectmen and Assessors ; Thomas A. Hill, Treasurer; Samuel E. Dutton, Agent; Harvey Loomis, William D. Williamson, and Daniel Pike Superintending School Committee; $800 were raised for highways, $900 for schools, $400 for the Bridge Company, $1,400 for town expenses, $800 for Mr. Loomis's salary.

In April the votes for John Brooks for Governor were 66; for Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 59; for Jacob McGaw, for Senator, 57 votes; for William D. Williamson, 63. John Wilkins had 89 votes for County Treasurer. Amos Patten, Allen Gilman, and Jacob McGaw were appointed a committee to memorialize the Legislature in regard to the fisheries and weirs in Penobscot River, and to give instructions to the Representative respecting them. At the May meeting, called to elect a Representative to the Legislature, Mr. Amos Patten made a motion that it was inexpedient that year. The motion was negatived, and Joseph Treat received 88 votes and was elected. On November 2d the town balloted for Representative to Congress. Martin Kinsley had 35 votes, John Wilson 20, Leonard Jarvis 2.

Mr. Tileston Snow, who raised hogs "to excite emula- tion in farming," having been obliged to pay to Thomas A. Hill an office fee of 25 cents on one of Mr. Edes's bills, was so much aggrieved that he attempted to raise the public indignation by giving public notice that he had found to his cost that there was no reliance to be placed on the assurance given that "the fears of timid persons of being immediately put to cost were perfectly ground- less."

Some good people were annoyed by children going out of the meeting and crowding around the stoves during religious services ; and portable stoves were suggested as a remedy in cold weather. This, however, would not do for Hatevil Colson-called "Haty Colson"-an unfortu- nate man, who had been jilted by "Jenny Goldthread," and was supposed to be "love-cracked," and wandered about the country telling the young ladies of his griefs, and filling his pockets with such unwatched goods and chattels as he could readily lay his hands upon. Much of this property was stowed away in his pockets to ap- pease hunger in his travels; but sometimes it needed heat to make it palatable. When this was the case he

580

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY MAINE.

resorted to the place most convenient for cooking, no matter where it was. On Sunday, happening to be pass- ing, it occurred to him that a stove in Mr. Loomis's meeting-house, which stood near the door, would enable him to get up a feast. Accordingly he went in, and it was not long before the savory smell of sausages and bacon frying reached the olfactories of the congregation. The effect upon the tythingmen, it is said, was a marvel to see.

This Haty Colson was not without wit. When the British were at Castine, in his wanderings he reached that place, and getting into the fort greatly amused the soldiers, and the officers also. Having heard of General Gosselin, he demanded to be conducted into his presence. The wags humored him, and it was announced to the General in his quarters that a person wished to see him. The General ordered that he be admitted. On entering the room, Haty approached the General and asked, quite peremptorily, if his name was Goslin. "Yes," replied the General, "that is my name. What is your wish?" "- the goose that hatched you."

The General discovered his infirmity, and being amused by him, permitted him to come and go at his pleasure. He was the terror of children, but many amusing anecdotes are remembered of him by people who are now living on his ancient vagabond route.

A controversy was started this year by an intermed- dling "stranger," as he called himself, such as is not un- usual in the growth of communities. The ladies of Mr. Loomis's society had formed an association to provide means by their labor for the education of young men for the ministry. This "stranger" took it upon himself to suggest-while acknowledging their object noble and praiseworthy-"the absolute and imperious necessity to do something for the poor, suffering children in this vicinity," and that instead of spending $40 or $50 as they proposed it "would not be more a deed of real charity to examine and relieve the children of their im- mediate vicinity!"

This aroused the champions of the ladies. They be- labored "stranger" for intermeddling with matters that he did not understand, and for intimating that the ladies had expended only $40 or $50 in the education of ministers, when they had in thirteen months earned $100 for the purpose; and that the poor were neglected for this charity, when they were not "overlooked in the general regulations of the village or in the exercise of general munificence."

The controversy closed with accomplishing all that such controversies usually accomplish-the stirring up of bad blood. The Christian people of America have learned since then that men can bestow their labors and their charities for the improvement or comfort of their fellow-men as they think fit; and that, perhaps, they are as good judges of what it is proper for them to do as those who criticise them.

For the purpose of correcting an erroneous report that was circulating in the community, Professor Ashmun, of the Theological Seminary, gave public information that ex- press provision is made in the constitution of the seminary

for the gratuitous education of young men of any relig- ious denomination, who appear to possess the requisite character and hold the essential doctrines of the Gospel.

The subject of erecting a fire-proof building for the Record offices was agitated this year, and resulted in the erection of a long narrow building of three stories on the west side of Main street, directly opposite the southerly side of West Market Square, in the lower story of which, at the right as you entered, was the Bangor Bank, at the left the Athenaeum; in the second story the Registry of Deeds and of Probate, and, in the third story, offices.

There were then no buildings between the bank build- ing and Hammond street. The Court-house fronted on West Market Square, and the ascent to it was terraced and turfed. The building was handsome for that day, and appeared well from the Square. It was approached by broad steps. After a time Mr. Thomas A. Hill com- menced encroaching upon the front by erecting a block of two buildings next north of the bank. In a few years the whole front, including the passage-way to the steps, was closed, and the courts were at length accommodated elsewhere.

The jail proved not to be so strong that smart prisoners could not make their way out of it. On May 22 Thomas Delahant, an Irishman and a spinner, who for theft had been imprisoned, tried the strength of the "jug," as it was called, and found little difficulty in making his way out of it and compelling the keeper, Lynde. Valentine, to offer a reward of $20 for his re-arrest. This Delahant was the first goal-breaker in the county. Many others succeeded him at different times, for that. jail was rather inadequate to the purpose for which it was designed. John Dearborn, another thief, taxed Mr. Valentine's pocket, a month afterward, for another $20, by leaving the jail suddenly.

A feat performed by John Chambers was thought ex- traordinary. Standing upon Samuel Stone's wharf, at Brewer village, one evening in May, he observed the wake of a fish which was swimming in the river, and made up his mind to capture him. He jumped into a boat, and sculling near, thrust his hand into the water, seized the fish, and drew it into the boat. It proved to be a nice fat salmon weighing ten and a half pounds. The salmon of that day were more absent-minded than those of the present, or we should not have had this fish story.

At the last session of the Legislature a resolve was passed authorizing the Governor to appoint three Com- missioners to negotiate with the Penobscot Indians for their lands. Accordingly the Governor appointed Ed- ward H. Robbins, who had been for many years Speaker of the House, Daniel Davis, Solicitor-General, and Mark Langdon Hill, of Bath, who was many years a Senator, to carry out the intentions of the Legislature.

They met the Indians at Bangor, on the 24th of June, who were represented by their chiefs, twenty-seven in number, including their Governor, John Etienne, and Lieutenant-Governor John Neptune, and accompanied by General John Blake, the Indian agent.

The occasion was made of some notoriety by the

581

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

magistrates of the town. The Free Masons had a cele- bration, it being St. John's day-and had the Commis- sioners to dine with them at Lumbert's Hotel. After the dinner, agreeably to the arrangements, a procession was formed at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, consisting of the Commissioners, municipal officers, Rev. Thomas Wil- liams, of Brewer, military. officers, magistrates of the county, strangers, and citizens, and marched to the Court- house, where many ladies and gentlemen had already assembled. After the Commissioners were seated, the chiefs entered the house, accompanied by General Blake, Colonel Eben Webster, and Major Joseph Treat, and the. Commissioners arose. When all were seated, Mr. Davis, on the part of the Commissioners, addressed them in these words:

Chiefs and Brothers of the Penobscot Tribe: 'We acknowledge the goodness of Almighty God, the Great and Good Spirit, who made both you and us, and from whom all our blessings are received, that we are permitted to meet you here this day, in peace and friendship.

And as he is this year blessing the earth with the warmth of the sun and the refreshing rain from the clouds, and giving us the prospect of great abundance for the use of man and beast, it is the duty of both you and us to praise and adore him with our whole hearts.

Then, after saying that they had nothing in view but what was for the benefit of the tribe and the best means of improving their condition in life, and desired that nothing should be agreed upon without their "free will and consent," he proceeds :

Brothers: The General Court have empowered us to agree with you for the purchase of your right to the lands and islands on Penobscot River, which you now possess, and have a right to use for hunting and fishing. We therefore ask you to tell us plainly and explicitly, whether you are willing to sell us your right to the Islands. This is the first thing that we shall ask you to tell us; and we shall wait patiently for your answer, before we make you any particular proposals.

Brothers: If you tell us that you are willing to sell your right to the lands and islands, we now declare to you, that we are authorized to give and deliver you therefore such articles as will feed and clothe you and your women and children, while you shall be hunting in the forest, and they shall be suffering in the cold and storms of winter.

He then protests their intention to deal plainly and honestly with them, and their liability to punishment by the Great Spirit, the General Court, and the Governor, if they did not, and proceeded :

Brothers : If you should agree to sell us your right to these lands and islands, and if all can agree on the terms thereof, we further de- clare to you, that we are authorized and commanded by the General Court to examine into your situation and condition as men. The Gen- eral Court consider you as their children; for they know that you were made and are protected and governed by the same kind Parent and Benefactor as ourselves. We will therefore propose and are ready to agree upon all proper means to improve your moral and religious hab- its and feelings-to learn [sic ] you the use of tools for the improvement and tillage of the land-for it is the express command of the Great Spirit that we shall till the ground and subdue it-To afford you the means, of obtaining useful knowledge for yourselves and your children- To persuade you to live industrious and useful lives-To abstain from the use of spirituous liquors, which is the poison that has destroyed so many white men and Indians, and caused them to melt away like snow before the fire. But, above all things, to persuade you to love and obey God and his son Jesus Christ; so as that when you come to die and leave the land to your children, and your mortal bodies be buried in its bosom, you may be prepared to live forever with your 'good friends and fathers that have gone before you.

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 144

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