History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 149

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 149

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On March 29 the Bangor Meeting House Corporation (Congregationalist) issued proposals for materials and the building of a house of wood, seventy-two feet long by fifty-two feet wide, and thirty feet post, with a cupola.

The members of the Legislature nominated Governor King for re-election.

The Governor and Council appointed Jedidiah Her- rick, of Hampden, Sheriff of the county ; Isaac Hods- don, of Corinth, Clerk of the County ; Ephraim Good- ale, of Orrington, and Zeba French, of Dexter, Justices of the Court of Sessions.

The receipts for the Bangor Seminary in the three months from January, inclusive, in sums of from $1 to $50, were $840.67.

April 15 the ice left the river, and the schooner Auro- ra, Captain Joshua Jordan, arrived from Boston, loaded with goods.

The shock of an earthquake was felt on the 5th of May. It commenced with a heavy rumbling, which was followed by a detonation: loud as the heaviest thunder, and then a rumbling again. In some instances crockery ware was thrown from shelves, and the houses were con- siderably shaken. The night and morning had been tempestuous, with snow, wind, and rain, which contin- ued in the forenoon. The earthquake was felt between 7 and 8 o'clock A. M. It was probably the severest shock that has been felt in Bangor in this century.

The Penobscot Agricultural Society, having obtained an act of incorporation, organized upon the 17th of May and proceeded vigorously to work. Martin Kinsley was made President; Jonathan Farrar and Benjamin Butman, Vice-Presidents; Daniel Pike, Recording Secretary and Treasurer; and Archibald Jones, of Frankfort, Corre- sponding Secretary; which officers ex officio, and Jed. idiah Herrick, Samuel E. Dutton, Simeon Stetson, Wil- liam R. Ware, Jacob McGaw, Francis Carr, Rufus Gil- more, Ephraim Goodale, Seba French, Joshua Stock- well, Jonathan Sibley, Joshua Lane, Joseph Bridgham, Jr., and John Swan were made the Trustees.

The Governor appointed Allen Gilman County Attor- ney for Penobscot.

On May 28 Governor King addressed a letter to the committee who had notified him of his re-nomination for Governor, declining to accept it, for the reason that he had concluded to accept the appointment of Commis- sioner, a less eligible position than that of Governor, which he resigned, as the "unfortunate claimants in this section of the country asked, in the most feeling terms, his attention to the business of the Commission, fearing if he should decline that another person might not be selected from our State."

On the same day Mr. Williamson was inducted into the office of Governor in the Senate chamber in Port- land, "in presence of a large and respectable number of citizens from different parts of the State."

On June 4 Mr. Isaac Davenport, of Milton, Massa- chusetts, presented the Theological Institution with a deed of a site for its permanent buildings, valued at $1,- 000.

In this month the Trustees of the Bangor Young Ladies' Academy elected their officers for the year, and made ar- rangements for its future usefulness. Preceptor Briggs continued in Hampden Academy, and gave notice that tui- tion was still twenty cents per week, and board could "now be obtained not only in the family of the Preceptor, at 9 shillings per week, but in the family of the Hon. Judge Kinsley, and other most respectable families."

A military election was held on the 20th. Major Eb- enezer Webster was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, First Brigade, Third Division, and Captain Joshua W. Carr, Major.

The gardens of Mr. Jacob Chick and Mrs. Hatch yielded green peas on the 23d June, well-filled. -

The public mind in June was turned toward the selec- tion of a candidate for Governor. The persons most prominent were General Joshua Wingate, Jr., of Port- land; General John Chandler, of Monmouth; and Judge Albion K. Parris, of Paris. Mr. Chandler at once de- clined to be considered a candidate, and opinion began to concentrate upon Judge Parris.

Mr. Williamson, who had been for some time Post- master of Bangor, being also Senator from Penobscot and The Trustees of the Penobscot Agricultural Society President of the Senate, left Bangor for Portland on the | determined to hold a cattle show on the 18th of Octo- 17th of May to assume the position of Governor of the ber, and offered their premiums of from $5 to $25. This latter premium was to be given to the person who should "furnish satisfactory evidence of having discov- ered a cheap, certain, and effectual mode of destroying wood-lice upon fruit trees." State, Governor King having accepted the appointment of Commissioner, with Hugh White and L. W. Tazewell, for the settlement of claims under the treaty with Spain, to sit in Washington the same month.

Mr. Williamson resigned the office of Postmaster, and Major Royal Clark was appointed.

The anniversary of independence was celebrated by the usual salutes and a public dinner at Lumbert's tav- ern, to which about forty citizens sat down, and "the countenance of every one," says the Register, "indicated much good feeling, and a general expression of warm national partialities gave an interest to the occasion sel- dom witnessed." The last regular toast was: "The Downfall of Party-a union of all honest men."

The boys, to whom the uproar and excitement of the Fourth of July is the greatest treat of the whole year,

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had erected a fort of cobble-stones on the hill west of Main street, below the Bangor House, in which they had placed a swivel in order to salute a company of lads that was to visit them from Hampden. They were up early in the morning, and by 1 or 2 o'clock had succeeded by ringing the bell and firing their swivel and muskets, and making every other noise they could invent, in getting the whole town awake. Some time in the forenoon the company from Hampden, under Captain William A. Howard-who has since been a prominent captain in the revenue service of the country-made its appearance prettily uniformed, and attracted much attention by its soldierly appearance. The boys, of course, renewed their labors at the swivel, and Captain Howard's com- pany was handsomely received by a company of Bangor lads that had been extemporized for the occasion. After exhibiting their proficiency in marching and drill to the admiring lookers-on, they sat down at Mr. Jacob Chick's table and partook of his green peas and the other nice things he had provided for them. On the whole the boys had an exceptional good time on that day, as many of them remember.

Mr. Chick's peas were probably more tender than those of Mr. R. T. Man, of Sangerville, which were ready for the table as early as the 12th of June this year.

In July the excitement in regard to a candidate for Governor had much increased. The epithet of "Fed- eralist," which since the Hartford convention had be- come obnoxious, was applied profusely by those calling themselves Democratic Republicans to their opponents. Mr. Parris and Mr. Wingate were the two candidates in the field. Mr. Wingate was a Republican, and Mr. Parris was in fellowship with that party. But a troublesome memory presented to the people the fact that the latter gentleman was once a Federalist, and not only he, but William King, John Holmes, Abiel Wood, Benjamin Green, Mark L. Hill, and Erastus Foote.

But Mr. Holmes said of Mr. Parris, that "his father was a respectable farmer, and he himself was brought up and identified with a population exclusively agricultural." But Mr. Wingate, while Mr. Parris had been fighting single-handed against the opposers of the Administration, had been enjoying the emoluments of the Custom-house, and the public had rewarded him with property which had been estimated at $100,000; but it was "exceedingly questionable whether the habits there imbibed were very consistent with the prudence, economy, and frugality of a new and agricultural State."

Mr. Parris was the more popular and received the nom- ination in various counties, and was afterwards elected Governor by a very large vote.

The interest in the Fourth Congressional District was concentrated in the canvass for Representative to Con- gress. Mr. Williamson was recommended by a conven- tion at Castine on July 11, as the candidate regularly nominated by a convention at Bucksport, who should be supported by the Republicans, and on August 6 he was again nominated by a convention at Bucksport, having received fourteen votes to Mr. Kinsley's twelve, and one scattering. Still there were Republicans who considered

this Bucksport meeting packed and unfair. But a con- vention at Bangor on the 7th of August, at which Isaac Case was nominated for Senator and John Wilkins for Register of Deeds and Treasurer, approved the Bucks- port nomination of Mr. Williamson.

Simeon Stetson was a candidate for the nomination for Senator, and Thomas Cobb for Register of Deeds and Treasurer at this convention. They had a very small number of the votes, but their friends were dissatis- fied that they were not nominated, and held a meeting at Lumbert's tavern and nominated Mr. Stetson for the Sen- ate and Mr. Cobb for Congress.

The tickets were now presented to the electors of the district. The "Republican ticket," with Albion K. Parris for Governor; Isaac Case for Senator; John Wil- kins, for Register and Treasurer; and William D. William- son, for Representative to Congress; and the "Union Ticket," with Simeon Stetson, for Senator, and Thomas Cobb, for Representative to Congress.

The canvass became interesting and amusing. It was claimed for Mr. Williamson that he knew the principles of law and could combat Southern lawyers, and we Northeners had not our proportion of lawyers in Con- gress ; most of our Representatives were farmers at home; and Mr. Williamson could do something for us, while Mr. Kinsley could not, having been there two years with- out saying or doing anything that was ever heard of for our benefit ; and Mr. Cobb, although as clever as the day was long (except his Federal notions), would make but a poor figure and do but little good where hishead swam as it would swim if he went to Congress; and as for Cooper and Mowry, they were both notorious smugglers and British agents, and unfit to represent a free people.

On the other hand, it was denied that Mr. Williamson was sufficiently acquainted with the principles of law to combat successfully the prejudices of Southern lawyers; and we Northern folks had too many of that gentry in Congress, most of whom, when at home, knew nothing about farming; then Mr. Williamson would do nothing for us more than Mr. Kinsley ; but Mr. Cobb, besides being as clever as the day is long, would prove more efficient in the Government than a brigade of goose-quill heroes. Then if we suffered ourselves "to be divided and scattered by such restless and ambitious men as Judge K., W. D. W., Cooper, Mowry, and the Lord knows who, we may go on to eternity without effecting an election, and to balance the evil of being represented by such truck, we might fondly realize the blessing of attending frequent town meetings."

While these and more bitter things were said of the several candidates, Mr. Larry Costigan, of Sunkhaze, continued patiently to wear a beaver hat which had been in constant service for fifty-five years. He, however, ex- pressed the belief that he was entitled to a new one, but made no complaint that his personal qualities and qualifi- cations had not been discussed with reference to his fit- ness for Congress.

On September 18th the trial was had for the election to the several offices. In Bangor Mr. Parris received 54 votes; Mr. Wingate, 36; and Mr. Whitman, 38;

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scattering 3. Mr. Stetson received 66 votes for Senator; Mr. Case, 75. Mr. Williamson received 58 votes for Congress; Mr. Cobb, 47 ; Mr. Kinsley, 9. In Hampden Mr. Stetson received 147 votes; Mr. Case 2; Mr. Williamson, 6; Mr. Kinsley, 40; Mr. Cobb, 23.

Mr. Williamson received 1,823 votes against 1,816, and was elected. There was no election of Senator.

On September 4th a military election was made in Brewer of Messenger Fisher, captain of the "New Wren- tham" company, vice Captain Copeland, resigned; En- sign Russell Hart, Lieutenant, and Alexander A. Fisher, Ensign.

Moses Burley established a new line of stages between Bangor and Augusta this month. The route was through Hampden, Newburg, Dixmont, Joy (Troy), Unity, Ligonia, Clinton, Winslow, and Vassalborough. It left Bangor on Thursday, at 11 o'clock, A. M., and reached Augusta on Friday at 6 P. M. Left Augusta on Wednesday at 4 o'clock, and arrived at Bangor at 10 o'clock A. M., Thursday. Fare, $4.75.

On September 12th George W. Pickering opened "new goods" at the new store opposite Messrs. L. & L. Cram's. This firm transacted business in the middle store of a wooden block of three stores, that was erected by Charles Hammond on the east side of West Market Square. In the rear of this building was the bake-house of Major David J. Bent. The building in which Mr. Pickering commenced business was completed this year. It was a frame block of two stores, and stood on the recent site of the Kenduskeag bank, occupying more ground, how- ever. It was Mr. Pickering's place of business for many years.

The Messrs. Cram, who were doing a thriving busi- ness in all sorts of goods, found a rival in Mr. Pickering, who was a native of Bangor and popular. There was considerable competition for the trade.

Hon. Francis Carr died on October 5th, at the age of sixty-nine. He came first to Brewer from Newbury, and afterward removed to Bangor. He was a prominent citizen and politician, and represented the district in Congress.

The Supreme Judicial Court held its first session in Bangor on the first Tuesday of this month. The three Judges, Mellen, Weston, and Preble, were upon the Bench.

Chief Justice Mellen made a charge to the Grand Jury, which was published by their special request. After re- ferring to the "mildness and equity of our laws," and the advantages the American people possessed for political and social happiness, and the necessity of vigi- lence in regard to the execution of the laws, and defining the various crimes and misdemeanors of which the Grand Jury were required to take notice, he called attention to several important matters, essential to the welfare of the people, over which the people, as individuals, had con- trol-the proper training by parents and masters of those under their care ; good family government; public worship on the Lord's day. The practice of attending public services on this day would produce habits of attention to those duties (of parents) and respectful deportment to all

of reverence to the laws of their Maker and of the Gov- ernment under which they live; it will tend to form them into good citizens, and gradually diminish the number of those who disgrace themselves by their vices and disturb the happiness and good order of the community.

"Idleness was the mother of a thousand crimes." The young should be honestly and industriously em- ployed. Vicious and profane company corrupted not only good manners, but the heart. Another monstrous evil, which was extending its devastating influence in our country, bringing disgrace as well as ruin upon thou- sands, was intemperance. " Let us all do our endeavor to effect a discontinuance of this destructive practice."

The Chief Justice thought it a cause of congratulation that a term of this court was to be held annually in Ban- gor, for the more convenient administration of justice ; that respect for the laws and confidence in those who ad- minister them was of vital importance; that, compared with the inhabitants of any other country, we are free and happy in the proudest import of those terms ; and that, "in proportion to our privileges and blessings, is our ob- ligation to preserve them"; that the subjects he had re- ferred to were momentous, and he trusted that "this new and interesting occasion would give them increased im- portance and lasting effect."

Snow fell on October 19. The sleighing was so good that Colonel Joshua Lane rode from his house in Hamp- den, a distance of six and a half miles, in a sleigh with three hundred pounds' weight besides himself, in fifty-five minutes.

The cattle-show was held in Bangor at the time ap- pointed, and the "chief part of the cattle and articles exhibited would have made a respectable appearance at any cattle-show." Colonel Joshua Lane received the society's premium of $5 for butter; Captain William Comins, of Eddington, received the premium of $5 for cheese ; Hon. Ephraim Goodale, of Orrington, had much credit for seventeen varieties of apples, and seven of choice pears, of his own raising. The exhibition of domestic manufactures was not gratifying to the trustees. An address was delivered by Jacob McGaw, Esq., and a copy was requested for publication, but he declined to have it published. Mr. Benjamin Bussey, of Boston, presented the society with $50, being gratified with its exhibition.

Charles Plummer took the stock of books of Daniel Pike, and opened a book-store and bindery in connection with it.

Before Mr. Williamson left the Governor's chair, he removed General Herrick from the office of Sheriff, and appointed Major Royal Clark to the place. The Port- land Gazette regretted the removal of this " faithful, prompt, and intelligent officer," saying that no charge could be "brought against him but that of entertaining political opinions different from the ruling powers," and "thus we are furnished with a new illustration of the doctrine of conciliation." To this a person, signing him- self "Penobscot," said that Mr. Clark was "at least as faithful, prompt, and intelligent as the late Sheriff, and would be as easily satisfied with the honest fees of office."

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Out of this change of officials came a painful contro- versy. A writer, under the title of "Sidney No. 1- And pigmies rule," commenced by saying that he was " no office-seeker, or dependant upon office," that he was " no hot-blooded politician or religious bigot," but he had not arrived at that state of stoical philosophy that he "could view with indifference the intrigues of de- signing demagogues and ignorant political empirics." He had for some time seen "in our infant State com- binations among little, weak, and unprincipled politicians for the mercenary purpose of procuring the individuals concerned to be elected or appointed to offices to which, by their natural diminutiveness and paucity of talents, they would never be entitled." He would warn these. " Jackalents" of the fate of the frog in the fable, and would soon take notice of the article of " Penobscot."

But the notice of "Penobscot" in "Sidney No. 2" was simply an arraignment of Governor Williamson and his Council. It had been understood, when the new State was organized, that the policy of the Government in regard to officers should be conciliatory; that although the incumbents were Federalists there should be no gen- eral removal, but a portion retained, and Democrats should be appointed in the places of the other portion. In Penobscot county, as between the Sheriff and the Clerk, Governor King and his Council thought it better to retain General Herrick as Sheriff, and appoint General Hodsdon as Clerk, in place of Mr. Cobb, who was a lawyer, and had been in office a long time. But when Mr. Williamson (whom the people had no more thought · of making Governor than they had of making him Grand Sultan) clomb into the Executive window he ejected from office one old faithful Sheriff, and thus at once destroyed the fabric which Governor King had so cautiously reared, He could not wait the short months until Governor Parris, whom the people had elected, came into office, but he must take advantage of his accidental power to thrust from office one against whom there was " no other evidence of his official misconduct than what could be derived from a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal." He adverted to the inconsistency of the Council (in which he implicates Mr. Emerson), who, with Governor King, had sustained him, in uniting with Governor Williamson in removing him, without notice or giving him an opportun- ity to be heard; and as to the base insinuation of " Penob- scot " of " various instances of extortion objected against him," he would reply to that hereafter.

To this a writer over the signature of "Kenduskeag" replied that the writer of Sidney was General Herrick himself ; that his object was to make the people of other counties believe that he was removed for his political opinions; but Mr. Williamson and Mr. Emerson well knew what were the wishes of the people of their coun- ty in regard to him-that his removal was "demanded in that language which is, and ever ought to be irresisti- ble." As to "the old, faithful officers " party, it was im- possible to tell to which political party he belonged-both parties seemed to have passed upon him a sentence of excommunication.

In "Sidney No. 3," the writer, after saying that he in-

troduces individual characters not from any pleasure, but to illustrate his general doctrine "that it is not safe or prudent to put men in office who are wholly incompetent to discharge the duties of their station," he proceeds to examine the assertion of Penobscot that "in August, 1820, various instances of extortion were objected against " Herrick. The present Council had concurred in his appointment in February or March, 1821, after the subject had been canvassed for months by them, "and after every objection that could be generated by envy, jealousy, malice, and competition had been argued with the greatest force and acrimony; backed in one instance by family connexions, and in another by religious sympa- thy;" yet this Council, six months after the objections were made and proof offered, confirmed the appointment of General Herrick-that man "Penobscot" charged · with being guilty of extortion! The writer "by exonerating them from censure in making the removal, convicts them of conniving at extortion by making the appointment." .

"It would be a gross libel on the citizens of Penobscot to assert that they could sympathize with Mr. Williamson in his personal hostility to General Herrick, or with the Council in their oscillating policy." He then enumerated the moral, intellectual, and physical qualities necessary in a Sheriff, all which General Herrick possessed, and although Major Clark might possess them yet the question of the removal was one between the people and the Executive.

In "Sidney-No. 4," the writer has some general re- marks in regard to the indulgence of party spirit. In time of peace we should prepare for war. Party zeal had somewhat subsided now, but opposition was arising in the South against John Quincy Adams as a candidate for the Presidency; and from the intemperance with which the South pursued the Missouri question, we could not expect the calm long to continue. As to "Kendus- keag's" communication, as he "did not wield an assas- sin's dagger, but a chastising rod, he must be excused if he did not take much notice of it."

Mr. Williamson was so much annoyed by the "Sidney" criticisms that he made an effort to procure the name of the writer of those papers, by threatening the printer in the following note:

BANGOR, November 21, 1821.

MR. JAMES BURTON, SIR :- As you in your last Register published libellous matter on my character, nothing else will satisfy me and the public than that you immediately make in your paper a satisfactory apology and confession for the wrong you have done, give up the real name of the writer under the signature "Sidney," or answer it yourself at the next term of the Supreme Judicial Court in this County.

I am yours, &c.,

WM. D. WILLIAMSON.

Mr. Burton said he had "endeavored to avoid all per- sonal abuse and 'libellous matter,' and thought that in this, as yet, he had been perfectly successful-that 'Sid- ney' was personally unknown to him, but he hoped that, if necessary, he would come forward with his name. Such was his 'apology,' etc."

"Sidney" came forward in No. 5 with a severe castiga- tion of Mr. Williamson for this attempt to interfere with the liberty of the press. Was it possible that he "is so ignorant of the dispositions of freemen and of the nature

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of our republican institutions as to imagine that he can stop the mouths of freemen and deter them from writing their thoughts freely on the subject of his official miscon- duct? Does he really think that he has become Pope or Emperor, and that by the word of his power or the majesty of his name, he can awe them into silence ? Vain and impotent attempt of an impotent mind !" He assumed that Mr. Williamson was " Kenduskeag," and denied his charge that he had tried to mislead the people and make them believe that the removal of General Her- rick was in consequence of his political opinions. This was not true, for he had "established the fact that the removal was without any cause, either political, natural, or moral."

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 149

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