History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 155

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 155

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The matter was arranged, and the bridge was ever afterwards free.

The enemies of the Land Agent were not unwilling that he should have the reputation of originating the fires which had caused such devastation in the northerly part of Penobscot county, when he caused the hay cut by trespassers to be burnt. Although this was not the case, yet the Indians had been impressed with the idea that it was, and some one penned for the Lieutenant-Governor of the tribe this communication for the Register:

Now me speak in paper-hay timber all burnt up - all bare just like my harm no blanket - What meanum states agent send Captain Chase to burnum hay when everything so dry - Indian two township all burn up before rane come - Indian lossum all timber and hay - sartin me now walk general court next winter then me speakum Gov-

ernor Parris - me hearum he givum to the agent to burnum all hay - spose Governor Parris speak he no say so - then me speak states agent pay Indian all hay and timber he burn - spose he say so - then Governor Parris he pay sartin - When indian havum all timber and hay nobody burnum hay - now state gettum all indian land but two township, then he settum fire to drive all indian off - now me havum no more timber - by-by me be naked just like snake - all indians speak so.

JOHN NEPTUNE.

This year the following well-known business men of Bangor and neighborhood applied to the Legislature to be incorporated as the "Penobscot Manufacturing and Exporting Company," for the purpose of manufacturing, purchasing, and vending all kinds of lumber, viz: James B. Fisher, Joseph Carr, James Crosby, Joseph Rolph Lumbert, Amos M. Roberts, Simon T. Pearson, Stephen Kimball, Ebenezer Webster, Samuel Baxley, Charles B. Prescott, John Ham, John J. Coombs, George W. Pickering, Mark. L. Hill, Jr., John Bright, Mark Traf- ton, Caleb C. Billings, Jackson Davis, John M. Prince, Jedediah Herrick, David J. Burt, Jonathan B. Rogers, John Fiske, Joshua P. Dickinson, Jacob McGaw, and Thomas A. Hill. Only one of these persons is known to be now living, Mr. Bright.

Mr. Timothy Colby, who by trade was a brick-maker, was also a rare lover of the piscatory profession. He was famous for "drifting" nights in the Penobscot, and in the morning was proud of exhibiting the plump sal- mon and shad with which his labors were rewarded, in West Market Square, to which all good husbands resorted for a good dinner. In the early part of October he achieved quite a reputation among the good-livers by bringing into the market one hundred and eighty shad which were deemed superior to those taken in the spring. As the Register made this unusual advent of these delicious fish a matter of congratulation, the Ken- nebec Journal attempted to detract from "Uncle Tim's" laurels by calling them "outward bound," in other words, "run-down shad." Mr. Burton's indignation was aroused at this, and he called it "a gross libel on our taste and judgment," and undertook to show from Rees's Encyclo- pedia and a little argumentation that, although the visit of these sea shad to the Penobscot was an unusual event, yet that for six months, from May to November, they were about the capes and the mouths of our large rivers, and there was no good reason why they should not take a turn up the Penobscot, a large river, occasionally. Thus was Mr. Timothy Colby's averment that they were fine, fat, delicious sea shad, just from the ocean, verified.

The fires had ceased in October, and it was ascertained that, besides the buildings destroyed on the lower Pis- cataquis, there were burned in Guilford 4 houses and 5 barns; in Parkman, I house, 5 barns; in Ripley, II houses, 9 barns; in Harmony, 4 houses, 5 barns; in Dover, I barn; in Monson, I barn. There were other buildings burned, and the damage to the timber lands was enormous.

In October the editor of the Eastern Argus made a visit to Bangor and Oldtown, and gave an account of his travels in his paper. He had been more or less in thir- teen of the United States, and had never seen a more flourishing part of the country of like extent, than on

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the banks of the Androscoggin, Kennebec, Sheepscot, St. George, and Penobscot Rivers, though the smoke of the fires in the woods obscured the prospect so that the landscape sometimes was confined within the circle of a mile. The country was entirely enveloped in smoke.

"At Bangor," he proceeds, "the river is something like a furlong in width; the current is not rapid, and the ferry is pleasant-of easy passage, and well attended. Al- though it was in the night when I crossed it, it seemed more like taking a sail for pleasure than encountering a formidable and fatiguing barrier of a journey.

Although there are some very pleasant seats and some fine prospects in different parts of the village, yet, as a whole, its local situation is not altogether so pleasant as [that of ] many other villages in the State. The picture has many agreeable scenes and well finished parts, but they are not well connected; the groundwork is broken, and the whole view betrays a want of symmetry. Some central parts of the village are low, nearly on a level with the river; and others are built on almost as many hills as

there were in Rome. And yet the hills are not remark- ably tedious; perhaps hardly so much so as are found in Hallowell or Augusta. Bangor is a highly flourishing village, and will, without doubt, continue to grow rapidly. It stands at the head of the navigable waters of the Pe- nobscot, and the country above it is fast settling. A fine stream of water, the Kenduskeag, flows directly through the village into the Penobscot, and affords some good sites for machinery. Most of the buildings have a new appearance, and I observed that many had been erected the present season, and yet I was told that every building was occupied, and that to obtain one at any rent was exceedingly difficult." He mentioned the public buildings and the academy, which had sixty or seventy students the last winter, and pro- ceeds: "Bangor is amongst the candidates for the seat of the State Government, and there are some who seem to feel confident that the Government will eventually be lo- cated there. It is unquestionably destined to become the metropolis of that section of the State. There are two public newspapers published at Bangor, which may be regarded as a proof of its central situation and extensive population and business. There are but three other towns in the State which support more than one newspaper each, viz: Portland, Bath, and Hallowell."

The editor of the Register, in commenting upon these notes, said the writer's route did not lead him through the best lands and most flourishing portion of Penobscot county. He had been twice up the West Branch above Grand Falls. The first time was about eighteen years be- fore, when he ascended Katahdin to its summit. The last was two years before, when he had the pleasure of trav- eling about forty miles on snow-shoes, and camping out seven or eight nights on the snow in the vicinity of the Grand Falls, and he must say that, "although he too had traveled, more or less, in just thirteen of the United States," besides having visited the colonies of New Bruns- wick and Nova Scotia, most of the West India Isles, and traveled sixty miles over the mountains of Spain, yet had he seldom if ever seen a more beautiful and pictur-

esque country than the region of Ktahdinoga .* There are immense lakes, noble rivers, grand and stupendous cataracts, murmuring rivulets, and from the lakes a view of a vast chain of mountains, of which Katahdin, whose head is often veiled with clouds, is the principal. He had no doubt that in a few years a visit to that section of the country would be more fashionable than a visit to any other part of New England.

Captain Rogers having been promoted to Colonel, Ensign David Nye was chosen captain of the Independ- ent Volunteers, and Robert Long, ensign, on October 25. Sheriff Royal Clark gave notice to the coroners that as his term of office would expire immediately, the duties of the office would devolve on them.

The Bangor Bank suffered in various ways, and the Directors probably thought that there never was a bank of its size and importance that received so much of all sorts of attention. We have seen that bank men, busi- ness men, and failed men, had paid it their respects after different fashion. On the night of October 29th the rob- bers made an attack upon it, and succeeded in getting as far as the vault door, but that was an obstacle too diffi- cult to master with the appliances they had; therefore they had retired, leaving indications that on the next night the attack would be more vigorous. Of course the Cashier, Mr. Wilkins, who lay in wait for the British ships in 1814, was still brave enough to lay in wait for the robbers. He did so with "two or three strong men," but the robbers were too wary-they did not try again. But on the next day an agent of the Suffolk and . other Boston banks made a raid upon the bank, against which Mr. Wilkins and his strong men could make no resist- ance, and took what the robbers would have been glad to obtain-$10,000 in specie. Mr. Wilkins rather laughed at this, but he would have been better pleased if the raid had not been made.

A census was taken this year by Mr. Simpson and the number of inhabitants was found to be 2,002. The in- crease was 781 since 1820, when the population was 1, 22 I.

It has been before stated that the proceedings of the Land Agent of the State in regard to the public lands north of Bangor were of a character to subject him to censure. The State had changed its policy in regard to the lands, and his course, instead of being conciliatory and judicious, was deemed harsh and unwarrantable.

Prior to the separation Massachusetts had permitted timber to be cut upon the public lands, and was not very exacting or critical. After the separation Maine felt the necessity of more care. The timber lands might be made a source of revenue, and it was important that they should be looked after. The State prohibited the cut- ting of timber, but the old operators could not keep their hands off the grand old pines, and drove them down the Penobscot as usual. When threatened with prosecution they made their peace with the State by pay- ing a small consideration and went on as before. Find- ing that the valuable timber of the State was going to enrich individuals, and that the State was receiving no benefit from it, the Legislature passed a stringent law for

* Indian name of the country about Katahdın.

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the protection of their property, and directed the Land Agent to enforce it.

He might have been judicious in his action, and he might not have been. He certainly did not get the good will of the operators. He gave public notice that the law would be enforced against trespassers. He, how- ever, gave permits to these trespassers to cut hay on the meadow lands in the neighborhood of the timber, but gave it to be understood that the teams of the violators of the law would be seized, and the severest penalties would be imposed upon them. Upon some this had effect; others said "it is the same old story-the offense is venal-we can buy forgiveness, as we have before.

They operated. The Land Agent remained at his office, apparently oblivious to what was doing on the State's demesnes ; but in the spring he sent an obnox- ious deputy into the woods to ascertain if there had been any trespassing, and if there had been, to take an account of and mark the logs that had been cut upon the public lands. This was not agreeable to the trespassers. A party blacked and armed themselves and ordered the deputy away. He would have no collision, and returned. He had, however, obtained an account of the logs.

He supposed that he had, also, proof sufficient to con- vict the disguised men. He therefore informed the At- torney-General, and he caused them to be arrested and examined. The proof on the tribunal being in fault, the desperadoes were not convicted. The Attorney-General sued these trespassers for the damages they had done the State, and caused their logs to be attached, but finding from the failure of the original prosecution against the rioters that his civil suits would probably fail, he settled with them on the best terms he could obtain, as he supposed; although it was alleged, on the other hand, that if he had prosecuted the suits, he would have recovered the full amount of damages.

Believing, from the experience of the past year, that no reliance was to be placed upon the promises of the lum- berers, for they had the year before agreed not to use the hay they had been permitted to cut upon the public lands, averring that they had purchased it to use only in obtaining timber that they had purchased of proprietors, the Land Agent refused to permit the hay to be cut upon the meadows of the State, and gave public notice to that effect. This notice was disregarded, and the lumbermen went on and cut the hay as usual.

On learning this the Land Agent informed the Attorney- General, and proposed to go with sufficient force to bring off the trespassers. This course being approved, the Sheriff was sent with a posse to take the trespassers; but when he arrived at the meadows no persons were to be found to arrest. Interested parties at Bangor and Old- town, who had become acquainted with the design of the Land Agent, anticipated the movements of the Sheriff, and the haymakers were all notified in season to take care of themselves, which they did. But the "grass was in swath, in winnow, and in cock."

The order of the Agent to his deputy or assistant was that, if the Sheriff was defeated in making the arrest, the hay should be burnt-particular care being taken that

every spark of fire afterwards should be extinguished. The order was obeyed, and the trespassers, finding them- selves defeated this time, gave vent to their indignation in various ways. Lieutenant-Governor Neptune was doubtless one of their instruments to create a prejudice through the letter which he caused to be published. Much was said on both sides, and a pretty extensive feeling was excited against the Agent ; but it is very cer- tain that, if it had not been for the lawless acts of the timber and hay thieves, there would have been no oc- casion of complaint against the Land Agent for burning their hay, or for any other proceeding against them.

The lots on the we terly side of Main street, opposite West Market Square, owned by the Court-house cor- poration, were sold in December by auction, and brought from fifty-four to seventy cents a square foot.

A movement was started in Boston for the purpose of establishing a line of steamboats between that city and the State of Maine and the Provinces. This stimulated the citizens of Bath to add to their boats with a view to running the "Patent" between Bath and Owlshead. This led to the suggestion in Bangor to build a good boat to ply between Bangor and Owlshead, touching at towns upon the river, to give the people the advantage of steam travel to Boston.

In this year a colored barber, by the name of Abra- ham Hanson, came to Bangor. He possessed much humor, much good nature, and had quite as much con- fidence in the sincerity of his fellow-men as was for his interest. As he afforded amusement to his customers he was well patronized, and was deemed worthy to have his portrait painted by Hardy, who retained it many years in his possession. He announced the different capacities in which he was willing to serve the public, in rhyme, thus :

TO BE SHAVED OR NOT TO BE SHAVED. ·

A. Hanson, the barber, would publicly mention His trade and his goods, for they are worthy attention, His shop near the Court-house and A. Hasey's inn, Is always kept warm and decently clean; On whose pictured walls the artist displays Bold folly to scorn-modest virtue to praise. He'll shave you directly, without pain or delay, And always with thanks will pocket his pay. Your boots he'll polish, and your flowing hair Will neatly trim, and clean your coats with care. He'll sell cologne, to invigorate your looks, And, if you wish, soap, pomatum, or a shaving-box. He'll sell you razors, keen and polished well, (Not Pindar's razors, only made to sell). The ladies, too, his kind attentions share, He'll make them curls of any colored hair.

While he was in Bangor the Greek cause was agitated, and his sympathies, in common with those of the citi- zens, were enlisted in their behalf. Being disposed to contribute to the extent of his ability towards helping them in their struggle for independence, he advertised that he would devote a day in shaving for the benefit of the Greeks. As may be supposed the calls were as nu- merous as he could attend to. When the pay was ten- dered, however, he declined to take it, saying, with African simplicity, that he had given notice that he would shave for the benefit of the Greeks, and "d'ye spose I

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will take pay when I shave for the benefit of the Greeks?"

Among the new merchants of this year who estab- lished themselves in Bangor, were Elmore Parker, Sam- uel B. Morrill, J. F. & E. Hatch, P. H. & J. J. Coombs, Thomas Furber, S. & H. Allen, George W. Randall, William A. Hatch, John Roberts, Stover Perkins & Thomas Hancock, and Thomas Green & Co.

Edward Kent opened a law office in Bangor this year. His advertisement ran as follows:

EDWARD KENT, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, has taken an office over Messrs. Fiskes & Billings' store, and will attend to any professional business entrusted to his care.

Bangor, Sept. 19, 1825.

CHAPTER XIX.

James Burton Takes as Partner John S. Carter-Burton & Carter Pub- lish the Register-Oliver Leonard-" Washington" Fire Engine- Edward Kent's First Office-John Wilkins Appointed Sheriff-The Land Agent's Action Relative to the Northeast Boundary Lands- Explains His Conduct in Regard to Timber, Trespassers, and Hay -- His Receipts-Commission for Dividing Maine and Massachusetts Lands-"Hampden Volunteers"-Town's Right to Waive Election of Representative-Stillwater Bridge-Influenza-Annual Meeting- Mary Leland-A Character Settled by Reference-Charles Rice Ap- pointed County Treasurer-Brig "Bold Jack "-Brief History of Ban- gor"-Posse Comitatus and Trespassers-Nathaniel Hatch Chosen Captain of Militia-Fourth of July Claimed for All-" Penobscot Guards"-Supreme Judicial Court-Trial of Friend Watson-Mr. Chick on His Feet Again-Death of Amos Patten, Jr .- Citizens's Celebration of the Fourth-Blackguards-Death of Adams and Jeffer- son-Singular Circumstance-Thomas J. Forbes, Preceptor of the Academy-Candidates for Office-Political Excitement-No Choice of Representative to Congress-Major Bent Elected Representative to the Legislature-Business "Dispatch"-Willey Family De- stroyed-Steamer "New York" Burnt-Sale of Timber Lands-An Apology-Report on Fortifying the Penobscot-Penobscot Boom- Corporation-New Canvass for Representative to Congress-Mr. Williamson Withdraws, and Mr. Wilkins Recommended-Samuel Call in the Field-No Choice-Franklin House Opened-School Books-Business Men-Taylor & Brown-Winter Rhymes-Death of Tilly Brown.

1826. This year commenced with a change in the management of the Bangor Register. Mr. James Bur- ton, Jr., who had served his apprenticeship with Peter Edes, in Augusta, and started the Augusta Patriot in March, 1817, and in December of the same year taken charge of the Register, and continued his connection with it and published it alone until now, concluded that he must have a partner in his labors. For eight years he had devoted all his ability to the Register, and, with an increasing family on his hands, had found it difficult, if not impossible, to make both ends meet. He therefore formed a connection with Mr. John Stearns Carter, a young printer of considerable ambition and industry. As lotteries were then deemed of importance, legal, fashion- able, and respectable, the firm added the business of sell- ing lottery tickets to that of printing the Register. In his salutatory Mr. Carter said he "would be always at

his post, and use every exertion to accommodate the ad- vertising and other customers," and he was faithful to his promise.

Oliver Leonard had removed from Brewer to Bangor, and gave notice that he would hold a Justice's Court ev- ery Wednesday, at 6 o'clock A. M., at Mr. Hutchins's hotel.

Mr. Leonard was a lawyer by profession, and was the first representative from Orrington to the General Court, in 1798. He was re-elected for several years. His suc- cessor was Joseph Carr, who was succeeded by Timothy Freeman, who was succeeded by Francis Carr. John Farrington succeeded Francis Carr. Joshua Chamberlain succeeded Farrington, and Rev. Enoch Mudge succeeded Chamberlain.

Mr. Leonard's residence in Orrington and Brewer was about a mile above the Brewer and Bangor Ferry, on lot No. 53, upon which John Thoms had settled. He ob- tained a title to the farm while Thoms occupied it, but Thoms, from some reason, forbade his taking possession, and drew a line in front of the house, over which he bade Leonard pass at his peril. He did so, and was shot and severely wounded by Thoms. For this exercise of his will Thoms was arrested, sent to Pownalborough, tried, convicted, and sentenced to sit on a gallows. He after- ward returned to Brewer and died there .*

Mr. Leonard's wife was an Englishwoman, and having an annuity, they lived at first in some style. He was re- duced in circumstances when he removed to Bangor, and eked out a living as best he could. The annuity was stopped by a writ in chancery, but renewed after Mrs. Leonard's decease.

The town had purchased a new fire-engine, built by Hunneman, and it arrived on the 7th of January. It was "a single lever village engine, of the first-class, con- structed on the old double-chamber principle," the chambers being five and a half inches in diameter and the length of stroke sixteen inches. It had a suction hose. On trial with a force of twenty-four men, it was considered a success. Mr. French had just erected the Exchange Coffee House, and as the engine threw water so as to wet the roof, and a hundred feet horizontally, it was thought that, with the old engine, the "Old Settler," it would be sufficient for the present wants of the town.

A company was afterward organized to run with it. They named it the "Washington." They elected Edward Kent their Captain, and this was the first public office that gentleman ever held in Bangor.

During a session of the Court of Common Pleas in January, held by Judge Perham, sixteen verdicts in civil cases were rendered.

John Wilkins was appointed Sheriff of the county.

A convention of the members of both Houses of the Legislature nominated Enoch Lincoln as candidate for Governor.

The publishers of the Register announced that Messrs. Burleigh & Arnold had provided for the Kennebec line of stages one of the most elegant and convenient stage sleighs they had ever seen. It was upon double runners,

* Bangor Centennial, 80.

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"very easy to the passengers," of which it was calculated to carry twelve inside.

January found Mr. Zadock Davis still among the busi- ness men 'of Bangor, and still reminding his customers of the sheriff:

Davis & Weed are friends indeed To those who pay in season; But those who pay at Judgment Day Are asked to give the reason.

At the time he published this premonition he adver- tised "To Sell or Let" a pew in the southeasterly corner of Rev. Mr. Pomroy's Meeting House.

The Land Agent of Maine, James Irish, made a re- port to the Legislature, in which he stated that he and George W. Coffin, the Land Agent of Massachusetts, had made inquiries in pursuance of resolves of the Legisla- ture, with regard to the amount of timber cut upon the Aroostook and Madawaska rivers, under authority from the Government of New Brunswick, from a "mistaken view of the boundary line," and had visited Fredericton and left a written document with the Surveyor General of New Brunswick-William Baily-requesting the in- formation; that they had posted up notices offering to give deeds to settlers of lands upon the St. John and Madawaska rivers, in actual possession, of one hundred acres each, for $10 and the cost of survey; that they took Mr. Baker in a batteau down the St. John River to the boundary-which is about thirty miles from the Mada- waska River, and about two miles above the Grand Falls -that the settlers upon the St. John were from ninety to an hundred rods apart; that he counted two hundred and twenty-two houses which averaged eight or ten in- habitants each, making in all about two thousand per- sons-a "very industrious, civil, and hospitable people, well deserving the fostering care of the Government;" that many of them had grants of their lands from New Brunswick, but placed little value upon them; that they were informed that the Home Government had given in- structions that no more permits be granted upon the Aroostook and Madawaska waters until the boundary line was established.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 155

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