History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 154

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 154

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Only ye might perceive his wondrous eye Striving to read the feelings of your souls, That he might know if ye would hear the word. Ye do remember-well, he's not there now; Ye may be gay and thoughtless if ye will, His glance shall not reprove you; Or, if ye choose it, ye may slumber on your seats And never fear the watchman's eye; It weeps not o'er you now.

There! Listen to that hymn of praise. But how it falters on the lip! How like a funeral dirge it sounds! Oh! ye have lost your leader and ye cannot sing. But hearken! when ye struck that note Did ye not hear an angel voice take up The lofty strain, "For Thou, O Lamb of God, Art worthy ?" 'Twas his voice. Not using as in former days from this Low temple ;- sing softly, or ye will not hear! Only the clearest, sweetest note, waving its way From the celestial world, just strikes the ear, Intent-and now-'tis gone.

Oh, how it chills the heart to think That voice is heard no more within these walls.

It is no fiction, is it? no deluding dream? Oh, no !- our friend is gone. The damp of death Is o'er him. The moon is shining on his grave, He will not wake until he wakes to immortality. Tis sweet to pause and think, in what A higher world than this his spirit dwells, How very near he is to Jesus. Since he must now Be near to him in heaven, who did so love His name on earth. And now He's washerl his mortal woes and sins away,

And now he drinks the river of a Saviour's love, And now he tunes his harp to angel themes. And now he joins a band, the rapture of whose song

An angel mind can scarce imagine;

How does he swell the chorus, "Thou wast slain for us " --- A song not new to him-he sang it oft In years gone by.

But we are not in heaven; we are here

Where desolation reigns in every heart, And sorrow looks from every eye.

Soon we must go away, and there is none

To say a blessing for us. Though, when prayer is done, We stand-and wait-yet none shall say,

" Now grace be unto you."

Yet surely we must not repine

At what He does who made us. He hath done well. So be it, Father, even so, since it hath seemed Most righteous in thy sight.

And if we ask of God a blessing for ourselves,

If we repent that we have sinned against Him,

He will not frown on us, He'll hear our prayer.

We'll go, then, trusting in His name.

He oft hath blest us in this room; He'll bless us yet again-we'll go .*

On January 13th Bangor had not yet the advantages of more than one mail in a week directly from Portland. On the assembling of the Legislature in Portland it was five days before any report of its proceedings were re- ceived here.

On January 18th Messrs. Burley & Arnold gave notice that the mail stage would leave Augusta at 4 o'clock A. M. on Wednesday and Saturday, and arrive at Bangor the same evening, and that it would return on Monday and Thursday.

The Court of Common Pleas held a session of eleven days this month, during which time there were three ver- dicts of "not guilty " in criminal cases, and eleven verdicts in civil cases. The amount involved in the cases adjudicated in the aggregate was $800.

Some one writing over the signature of "500 Lumber- men and 500 Young Farmers," is much dissatisfied with the action of the Land Agent in regard to the timber lands. His charges for stump leave he considered ex- orbitant, and his course in selling lands such as to re- tard emigration and prevent their settlement. The writer appealed to the Legislature to limit the power of this office, that the lumbermen and farmers might obtain lands at a price that would keep people here and induce immigration.

The Land Agent, in his report, sets forth his proceed- ings in the sale of timber lands as being, in his judgment, most for the interest of the State and the settlers. He did not think it necessary to give away lands in order to accomplish the object of the State in procuring the erec- tion of saw-mills and grist-mills in large quantities; there- fore he had sold one mill site, with 163 acres of land therewith, for $500, and bargained for the building of mills on two other sites in different townships. As the law made it discretionary with the Agent whether to give this land away or not, he felt it to be his duty to act for the interest of the State, and make no sacrifices when it was unnecessary. By his management he had netted for the State $16,374.50, having made ninety contracts for the sale of land and delivered thirty-one deeds to pur- chasers.

* It is somewhat strange that this poem has since been at times ap- propriated as original, to "indicate the deep feeling that pervaded the community " over the decease of various good men.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Seth Elliot was hanged for the murder of his child at Castine, on February 3. There were about two thousand persons present. This was the last execution in the State for many years, although several persons were convicted of the crime of murder, a law having been enacted prohibiting the execution until the expiration of a year after the sentence and the fact was certified to the Gov- ernor, who might thereupon fix the time for carrying the sentence into effect.

It was announced, in February, that John Quincy Adams was elected President and John C. Calhoun Vice- President of the United States, whereupon a salute of thirteen guns was given as an expression of the joy of the people, and not as a signal of party triumph.

The election of President was by the House of Rep- resentatives. The States that voted for Adams were Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, Illi- nois, Louisiana, and Missouri-13. Those that voted for Jackson were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama-7. For Crawford: Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, and Georgia-4.

The inauguration of President Adams was celebrated in Bangor on the 4th of March by the discharge of thir- teen guns at sunrise, twenty-four at noon, and thirteen at sunset, and by illuminations and a display of fireworks in the evening. Captain Isaac R. Park, a painter of houses, got up three transparencies, on which were represented the "Genius of Liberty," "Justice," and the " American Eagle," which were exhibited in front of the Court-house, and attracted much attention.

The annual meeting for town business was held on March 14. Alexander Savage was elected Clerk; James Tilton, Issac Hodsdon, Newell Bean, Selectmen and As- sessors; John Godfrey, George Starrett, Amos Patten, Joshua P. Dickinson, and Wilmot Wood, Superintending School Committee; Amos Patten, Treasurer.

The Governor and Council appointed John Godfrey, of Bangor, County Attorney; Isaac Hodsdon, Clerk of the Courts; Amos Patten, Ephraim Goodale, Seba French, Justices of the Court of Sessions.

Tickets in the Cumberland and Oxford Canal Lot- tery were offered for sale at the office of the Bangor Register.

The Court of Sessions, in accordance with the opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court, then lately announced, extended the gaol-yard to the exterior limits of the county,

The leading merchants and business men in Bangor at this period were: Messrs. Barker & Carr, Joseph Carr, Pickering & Hill, Hill & McLaughlin, Waldo T. Peirce, M. & A. Patten, James Crosby, Fiskes & Billings, Tay- lor & Brown, Lewis & James Cram, William Emerson, William V. Crane, Daniel Kimball, Herman Fisher, John Ham, Newell Bean, Charles Plummer, Barker & Crosby, John Williams, David J. Kent, Asa Sawyer, David Hill, Edmund Dole, Henry Cole, Zebulon Smith, Levi Cram.

The dwelling-house of William Bruce, a manufacturer 78

of lumber at the third fall on the Kenduskeag, with his books, furniture, and papers, was destroyed by fire on the night of April 23d, and the family had barely time to save themselves. The house was a mile and a half from the fire companies, and there were no near neigh- bors to render assistance.

The Unitarian society was provided with preaching this season by the Theological school at Cambridge. Mr. Crafts officiated several months.

Rev. Mr. Loomis's library was sold by auction on the 20th of May.

Mr. Nathaniel Harlow died on the roth of May, at the age of sixty-seven. He removed to Bangor from Plymouth, Massachusetts, July 13, 1789. His estate ex- tended from the easterly bank of the Kenduskeag Stream northerly perhaps a mile. On the shore of the stream it extended from below the Kendus- keag Bridge to some distance above Franklin Bridge. It was lot No. 68, Holland's plan, and was very irregular. His first house was of solid hewn timber, and stood on the slope of the hill near the foot of Centre street. His second was a frame house and is the first dwelling-house on the left of Central street, above Harlow street. At the time of his death he cultivated his lot as a farm. His son Nathaniel, who inherited it, with his sister Mrs. Parker, extended Centre street through it and laid it out into house-lots, which have been nearly all sold and built upon.

This year there were indications of general prosperity throughout the country. Population and business were increasing. Manufactures were extending, canals exca- vating, railways contemplated, ships, steamboats, dwell- ings, and warehouses building. Bangor shared in this prosperity. Many buildings were erected, real estate increased in value, and all felt encouraged by the pros- pects.

The proprietors of Kenduskeag Point took advantage of this state of feeling and advertised for sale at public auction, on June 9, about eighty house and store lots. As an inducement to purchasers they said that from the rapidity of the growth of Bangor and the enterprise of its inhabitants it had already obtained a respectable rank among commercial towns, and from its situation in the heart of the State, at the head of ship navigation and tide-water on the Penobscot River, must soon become distinguished as a place of trade. A view of the map of the State would show that Bangor must at some future day enjoy the trade of a country of greater extent than any other town in Maine-that "the land about it, and particularly in the north and west, was improving in agriculture and increasing in population with a greater rapidity than any other portion of New England."

The showmen had for several years found their way to Bangor, and this year a "Grand Caravan of Living Animals," with its elephant and monkeys and baboons, and " Dandy Jack," made its appearance, to the delight of all the "little folks." This was an occasion to be re- membered. A young man took liberties with the elephant, which the animal was not disposed to submit to without indicating his disapproval. He therefore took

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

him by the arm, drew him upon his tusks, and broke both the bones of one of his legs, to the great terror of the bystanders, some of whom were perhaps benefited by the lesson.

Another lesson was learned by Messrs. Griffin & Wyman about that time. They had a horse and chaise at Oldtown, which they concluded to take with them to Bangor upon a raft, instead of having them come by land. When the raft reached Great Works falls, it ran under the water, and the horse, supposing that he was about to be plunged into the current, became frightened, and ran backward with the chaise into the river, destroy- ing the chaise and drowning himself.

There was much jealousy at this time in regard to encroachments upon the harbor. Some one had built a pier off Kenduskeag Point, and the Selectmen presented it to the Grand Jury as a nuisance. The fear was that if such erections were acquiesced in, there would not, in a few years, be sufficient accommodation for the naviga- tion, as it was believed the business of the town would continue to increase. It is wonderful how, as the necessity for water accommodation increased, that jealousy subsided. Wharves which had been projected as far as was necessary into the Kenduskeag to answer the public requirements, have since, through the cupidity and finesse of individuals, been so extended that naviga- tion will some day be seriously impeded. And every few years the disposition is manifested to extend them still further.

Mr. Chick's green peas were ready for the table on the 18th of June; "a week sooner than ever known before," says the Register.

The Fourth of July was celebrated this year with considerable ceremony. At eleven o'clock a procession of citizens and strangers was escorted from the Court- house, by Captain Dole's artillery, and Captain Rogers' infantry, to the meeting-house, which was thronged with ladies and gentlemen. After a prayer by Rev. Professor Smith, a hymn, the reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence by Rev. Mr. Crafts, and an ode, "an eloquent and impressive address" was delivered by Colonel Gor- ham Parks. An anthem concluded the services at the meeting-house.

Ezra Hutchins was then the keeper of the Hatch tavern. He erected a bower between the house and Main street, and therein served a dinner, of which two hundred patriots partook. Among these were several soldiers of the Revolution-one, Captain Wilkins, of Charleston, who was in the battles of Lexington, Con- cord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Princeton, and others. Others of those worthies fought their battles over again, and fell, flourishing their weapons nearly as vigorously as they did of yore. Fortunately they fell to rise again after the evening gun had proclaimed the close of the day.

But Mr. Chick was not to be outdone by his neighbor Hutchins. His "Tavern was elegantly decorated with evergreens on each side-with three arches composed of the lofty birch-and in the evening were displayed from the windows two elegant transparencies representing the "

Genius of Liberty and the American Eagle," which were recognized by several citizens as the productions of Cap- tain Isaac R. Park, and that had performed duty on the celebration of the inauguration of President Adams. The Register affirmed that the "effect of the whole was very pleasant."

The Orrington band enlivened the evening by its music, after which the people-many of them-retired in a frame of mind fitted for a state of happy oblivious- ness.

On the evening of the 5th of July the First Congrega- tional society voted, without a dissenting voice, to extend an invitation to Rev. Swan L. Pomroy to become their pastor. A salary was voted. A committee was ap- pointed to confer with him, and the call was shortly after accepted.

On the 12th of July there was a meeting of the Penob- scot tribe of Indians at Oldtown, at which were present the President and one of the Directors of the society for their improvement, who made propositions to them in regard to a school. The Register said: "It was pleasant and rare to see Mr. Smith, an 'orthodox' or Calvinistic minister, Mr. Crafts, a Unitarian minister, and Mr. Byrne, a Roman Catholic priest, engaged in friendly and social conversation, principally with a view to the improvement of the Indians."

The result was similar to that attending the efforts of Rev. Mr. Little, in 1786, when he attempted to obtain the co-operation of a Roman Catholic priest in his plan for the improvement and education of the Indians. The Register regretted to learn that they (the President and Director) were not able to make such arrangements as they proposed.

The enterprising Mr. Chick, at this period, furnished himself with an "excellent coach and horses for the ac- commodation of" those ladies and gentlemen who might wish to make an excursion to Oldtown and elsewhere.

The Indian name of Pcol was an unfortunate one. Early in the history of the town Peol was murdered by Page ; later, Peol murdered Knight. This year Peol, though unfortunate, was more fortunate than his prede- cessors. He was arrested on a warrant issued on the complaint of one Knight, who charged him with stabbing him with intent to kill, "at a place called Aroostic." At the examination before Justice Thomas Bartlett, the com- plainant showed several scars, one on the head or neck, one on the shoulder, and one on the breast. No one ap- peared for the respondent, and the complainant not being subjected to cross-examination, made a plausible story, and Peol was ordered to jail until the sitting of the Supreme Court the next June.

But the red man found friends. He had a story also, . which he related to several gentlemen who visited him in prison. He exhibited scars and a gunshot wound-two balls and several shot had been discharged at him by this Knight, and had penetrated his back just below the right shoulder blade, and one of the balls had come out below the right breast, and shots were felt under the skin of the breast. Upon his making oath to this statement, a war- rant was issued against Knight for shooting Peol with in-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

tent to murder him. The Sheriff found him at Owen's ferry, on his way to Bangor, in Mr. Chick's famous coach, and informed him that he had a warrant for his arrest, but permitted him to proceed to Bangor. After his ar- rival he disappeared. Peol was bailed ; and that appears to have been the conclusion of the whole matter.

Mr. Chick did not relax his endeavors to be in advance of the world in all things whatsoever pertaining to his vo- cation. He had served up the first salmon, and titillated the palates of his guests with the first green peas of the season from his garden, and now, on the 27th of July, he presents Mr. Burton with a "fine mess of green corn, very well filled."

But Mr. Chick's good fortune was not uninterrupted. On the Ist of August a fire broke out in his stable, which it consumed, with his other out-buildings, in which were two horses and five hogs; the stable of Major Williams; the inn and stable of Captain Andrew W. Hasey; the dwelling house, out-house, and stable of Mr. John Barker; and the dwelling house occupied by Major Simon Har- riman and Mr. John Reynolds, on Main street .. This was the most destructive conflagration that Bangor had ever experienced. The whole territory from opposite the Hatch Tavern, between Main, Fish, and Water streets, was burnt over.

The fire was set by Friend Watson, a young man about nineteen years of age, whose habits had been such that he was not considered accountable for his actions. He was imprisoned, tried, and afterwards confined in the poor-house as a person of unsound mind.

At this fire the females of the town of all conditions were in the ranks with the men, passing water and render- ing such assistance as was in their power.

Mr. Chick, however, was not discouraged. He im- mediately notified his patrons at a distance that they should have every accommodation to which they had been accustomed at his inn. He had procured another stable and his house had been saved.

Captain Zebadiah Rogers, of the Independent Volun- teers, was elected Colonel of the Second Regiment, vice Daniel Nickerson, resigned.

The Land Agent, General Irish, in order effectually to prevent trespassers taking timber from the public lands, caused the hay, which they had cut between the mouth of the Mattawamkeag and Baskahegan Lake, to be burned. This act created much animadversion among the operators and those who derived benefit from the public plunderings.

Wilmot Wood, Esq., having learned from the Penob- scot Gazette that he was nominated at a meeting of a number of respectable citizens of Bangor, on the 20th of August, as a candidate for Representative to the Legisla- ture, declined the honor.

So did not Simon Harriman, a manufacturer of cow- bells and pitchforks, that could be "heard from one to five miles," an illiterate and conceited person. Some wags, who styled him Major, flattered him with the idea that he was a fit person for the office of Representative, and aided him in presenting himself for the public suf- frages in this language: "The time has arrived when

men of talents, integrity, and political information should be elected to offices so important as that of a member of our Legislature; and should my fellow-citizens select me, they may be assured that their interest will be strictly at- tended to, and that no court favor, no private or selfish views shall deter me from a faithful discharge of my duty."

The wags followed up this Harriman movement by recommending him themselves, saying that he had taken the fair way of nominating himself, that he was a friend of the lumbermen, and that if the people would elect him, they might doubtless "see some exertions made to promote the interests of the very life of our wealth and prosperity," and that in sending him they would send a person "who not only had an opinion of his own in these matters, but would not be backward in advancing or de- fending them."

Rev. Swan L. Pomroy was ordained on August 31st, over the First Congregational Church and Society. The order of the services was: Prayer, by Rev. John Saw- yer; Sermon, by Rev. Dr. Edward Payson, of Portland; text, Luke xx. 36: "For they were equal unto the angels;" Consecration Prayer, by Rev. Eliphalet Gillet, of Hallowell; Charge, by Rev. Jona. Fisher, of Bluehill ; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mighill Blood, of Bucksport; Address to the Church and Society, by Rev. Arthur Tappan, of Augusta; Concluding Prayer by Rev. Thomas Williams, of Foxcroft. The audience was large and the services impressive.

A county convention, on August 30th, nominated Daniel Wilkins for Senator, and Charles Rice for County Treasurer. A town convention on the 26th nominated David J. Bent for Representative to the Legislature. All were not satisfied with these nominations, and individuals put forward Samuel Butman for Senator and John Wil- kins for Treasurer, and Joseph Treat for Representative. As we have seen, " Major" Harriman put forward him- self.

For a fortnight fires were raging in the forests north of Bangor. At one time nearly the whole country from Passadumkeag to Mattanawcook, on both sides of the Penobscot and Piscataquis, was a sea of flame. The roaring of the fire was like thunder, and was heard at a distance of from twelve to fifteen miles. The islands in the river were burnt over. The country between Passa- dumkeag and Lincoln was devastated. The towns upon the Piscataquis suffered from loss of buildings, cattle, fences, crops. The house, barn filled with hay, and store and tool-house of Joseph McIntosh, of Maxfield, were burned and the family driven to the river for safety. Other houses and barns, and saw-mills and grist-mills, were destroyed. A lad returning from school through the woods was so badly burned that his life was despaired of ; hawks and other birds were killed by the fire ; and the fish in the Piscataquis River were killed by the heat. Twenty bass, weighing from twenty to forty pounds each, many young salmon, shad, trout, and other small fish, were found dead in the shoal water and on the shores. The fires were running in Bangor, doing much injury in the woods, and the whole country was filled with smoke.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

A prominent citizen - Timothy Crosby, a son of Si- mon Crosby, one of the first settlers of the town - died on the 3d of September, at the age of fifty-nine. He was not far from six years of age when his father came to Bangor.

The meeting for the election of State and county officers was held on the 12th of September. The vote of Bangor was : For Governor, Albion K. Parris 34, Wil- liam King 28, scattering 17; for Senator, Daniel Wil- kins 64, Samuel Butman 44; for Treasurer, Charles Rice 27, John Wilkins 67 ; for Representative, Simon Harriman 48, David J. Bent 39, Gorham Parks 29. In

the class there was no choice for Representative ; Mr. Bent received the largest number of votes. He was elected at the third balloting on October 13. John Wilkins was elected County Treasurer, having 587 votes, to 528 for Mr. Rice.

A question having arisen between the town and the Bangor Bridge Company, the agents of the company published a statement that the validity of the contract between the town and the company, to permit the inhab- itants to pass free of tolls, for stipulated sums to be paid by the town from year to year, was questioned, and the opinion of the Supreme Court obtained that it was inval- id and, in consequence of the decision, toll was exact- ed from each inhabitant, as well as other persons, from July, 1824; that the charter of the company would ex- pire in 1828, and that the additional sum that the town was to pay would amount to $3.000 ; that in December, 1824, the town agreed to purchase the bridge and pay $2,8co therefor by the Ist of September, 1826, and the company were within a year to remove the toll-house, so that Hammond street in its original width should extend to the stream ; that the authority to purchase was subse- quently given to the town, but a misunderstanding had arisen in regard to the agreement to remove the toll- house, the town contending that the toll-house was to be so far removed that a passage-way might be made to the water ; the company, on the other hand, contended that the toll-house should be so far removed that the north line of Hammond street should pass unobstructed to the water ; and that, as it had since discovered that the toll- house was not in the street, they were not, by the terms of the contract, obliged to remove it at all ; and as the town did not see fit to adopt that view of it, the company would be reluctantly compelled again to demand toll.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 154

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