History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 156

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 156

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Mr. Irish stated his proceedings under the resolve for the sale and the settlement of public lands and the pro- tection of the timber-that he learned at Passadumkeag and Piscataquis that trespassers were upon the undivided lands of Maine and Massachusetts, above the Ninth Range of townships, near the Nollesemic Indian town- ship, on the Salmon Stream, and the East Branch of the Penobscot, and on the Seboois emptying therein ; upon the Mattawamkeag and Baskahegan; that he at- tempted to trace the lines and take an account of the timber, and ascertain the names of the trespassers ; that his agents were met by men blackened and disguised, calling themselves Mohawks, and threatened them with death if they attempted to proceed; that they returned with the best account of the timber cut that he could ob- tain. He then details the attempts made to punish the trespassers and his want of success, as has been before re- lated in these pages. He gives an account of the defeat of the Sheriff when he went to arrest the trespassers and seize their implements, and was at a loss to know what

course to pursue in regard to the hay he found cut. The trespassers carried on their operations in the summer, cutting trees standing near the river and rolling the logs in, and it was suspected that this kind of logging was to be carried on still. If he attached the hay he would be obliged to leave it, and it would be used as if it were not attached, to strip the land. The Land Agents of Maine and Massachusetts consulted together, and concluded that the only means left to protect the timber was to destroy the hay by fire, and joint orders were given to that effect, and the utmost care was enjoined. He proceeds :- "The hay was accordingly destroyed ; and the Agent is happy to say without occasioning any damage or loss to public or private property, and has in a good degree had the desired effect. But few have had the hardihood and effrontery to continue their work of trespassing; and those few will, if it is not already done, be brought off by the proper authority, and a stop will be put to the per- nicious practice of taking timber without liberty." He found no difficulty on the Kennebec and Schoodic waters in protecting the timber belonging exclusively to Maine.

His net receipts from the public lands were $45,607.41.

In January the Commissioners for dividing the lands held by Maine and Massachusetts, jointly, had surveyed 422,025 acres to Massachusetts, and 420,488 acres to Maine.

A rifle company was organized in Hampden this month, called the "Hampden Volunteers." Adaffy Has- kins was made Captain; George Stetson, Lieutenant, and Jonathan T. Hardy, Ensign.

A. Mr. Tenney entertained the people with a series of chemical lectures. They were of a popular character, designed to amuse much, instruct some, and put money in the purse of the lecturer.

The questions having arisen whether a town having a right to choose a Representative, has the power to waive that right, and whether, where towns are classed for that purpose, minority towns have the right to send a Repre- sentative when the majority towns have voted not to do so, the House of Representatives submitted them to the Justices of the Supreme Court, and Justices Mellen and Weston answered them in the affirmative ; Justice Preble dissented on the first proposition, concurred in the last .*

The Legislature incorporated the Stillwater Bridge Company this year.

The influenza as an epidemic prevailed very exten- sively this year. It was an uncomfortable and incon- venient disorder, though not often fatal.

Notwithstanding its prevalence, the business of the spring opened encouragingly, and the hopes were high of an excellent season.

The meeting for the election of town officers was held on the 13th of March. James Tilton, Isaac Hodsdon, and Howell Bean were chosen Selectmen ; Alexander Savage was chosen Clerk; John Godfrey, Treasurer ; Jacob McGaw, Agent. The Superintending School Committee were Rev. Swan L. Pomroy, William D. Williamson, Ben- jamin Nourse, Joshua P. Dickinson, and Samuel Cull.

At this time there died in Bangor a beautiful and in-

*Maine Reports, Vol. 6, pp. 486 to 495.

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Henry Ford.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

teresting Indian girl. She was the daughter of a native doctor, Loland. Her name was Mary. She possessed a beautiful figure, and her countenance, though dark, was fine and expressive. There was a dignity in her bearing that attracted the attention of all who beheld her. And she was as good as she was beautiful. Brought up among savages, her habitation a wigwam, with few of the comforts and conveniences of civilized life, sur- rounded by companions whose influence was rather for evil than for good, her instincts and tastes led her to a higher plane. She felt the difficulties of her situation- destined to a life of barbarism surrounded by civilization. She was bound to her family, and no civilized family cared to make her its inmate. But a kind Providence cared for her. At the age of eighteen she went into a consumption, and in the wigwam of her parents, who loved and were kind and tender to her, though destitute of the means to make a sick bed comfortable-upon a bed of boughs, in one apartment where a family of eight persons lived and cooked, ate and slept, "she bore a long and distressing illness without a murmur, and with a patience and resignation which may truly be called Christian. She was sensible when her change drew nigh, and desired her mother not to weep for her when she died, saying she was willing to die, for she might grow wicked if she should live."

Messrs. Burton & Carter rejoiced in the agency of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal and the Sullivan Bridge Lotteries, and tickled the people with promises of "lots of cash." With all this cash business, however, it does not appear that either they or their customers ever became rich.

Mr. Ezekiel Hayes, of Exeter, feeling aggrieved by words spoken by John Shaw in reference to him, which he regarded as defamatory to his character, they referred the matter to their neighbors, Francis Hill, Flavel But- ters, Joseph Walker, Daniel Butters, Barachias Holt, and James Adams. These gentlemen reported that in their opinion "Mr. Shaw had no just cause for a reproach against Captain Hayes," and therefore "ought to make his acknowledgment as public as he made the re- proach."

John Wilkins resigned the office of County Treasurer, and Charles Rice was appointed by the Court of Ses- sions.

The connection of the St. John and Penobscot waters was at this time suggested. It was thought that a canal six miles in length would unite the Aroostook with the East Branch of the Penobscot, so that the lumber and produce of the fine country in the north of Maine might be brought to Bangor.

On April 12th the famous firm of Davis & Weed dissolved copartnership. That was an unfortunate day for the muses.

A brig, built by William Lowder, and owned by him and William V. Crane, called the Bold Jack, was launched. It was very much complimented for "beauty and strength."

On the 11th day of May the Register published a brief history of Bangor, which, with the aid of a friend, it had

some trouble to obtain. According to that history "the first settlements in the town commenced at a very remote period, and were probably amongst the first in New Eng- land, as there are traces of them now remaining whose origin cannot be learned from history, and the traditions of which are very obscure. They are supposed to have been made by the French, for they, when in possession of the territory in this region, called by them Acadie, and which extended as far west as the Kennebec, established a fort and trading-house within the limits of this town. These were probably abandoned during the French war of 1756.

"Of subsequent events very little is known until the year 1772, when a number of families from old Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire removed hither. Among them was that of Thomas Howard, who is now living at an advanced age. A permanent settlement was then commenced, the trading-house re-established, and some soldiers, under the authority of the colonial government, stationed in this neighborhood.

"In 1793 there were only forty-five ratable polls in the town, and in 1796 but three dwelling-houses on the pres- ent site of the village." The writer says that the growth of the town was impeded by the Revolutionary war and the War of 1812, and by the severe cold of three succes- sive seasons. The regular re-establishment of business may be dated from 1817. The following are "the branches of business in which the population is now en- gaged, with the number:"

Merchants, 44; bookstores, 2; printing offices, 2; lawyers, 13; doctors, 3; apothecaries, 2; watch-makers, 2; tinmen, 2; machinist, I; blacksmiths, 5; shoemakers, 4; tailors, 5; mantua-makers and milliners, 7; cabinet- makers, 4; painters, 4; coopers, 3; hatters, 2; saddlers, 2; masons, 4; tanners, 2; pump- and block-makers, 2; vict- ualling cellars, 4; bakers, 1; taverns, 6; barbers, 2. There were four religious societies, Congregationalist, Baptist, Unitarian, and Methodist.

There was still trouble between the State and the tres- passers. The latter had become so accustomed to ap- propriating the timber of the public lands to their own use that the Land Agents were constrained to take ex- treme legal measures to satisfy them that the property of Government was to be protected, as well as that of indi- viduals. Consequently Sheriff Wilkins was sent to take possession of the logs that had been cut on the joint lands of Maine and Massachusetts. The trespassers, however, essayed to try their strength against that of the States and re-took the logs and forcibly retained them, converting some of them into boards. The posse comita- tus was called out and, as is usual where the odds are so great, Government was triumphant.

Nathaniel Hatch was chosen captain of the company of militia of the town, in place of Captain William Ran- dall, resigned. Thomas Hancock was chosen lieutenant, in place of Joseph K. Lumbert, appointed adjutant, and Francis Fowler was chosen ensign.

A little excitement was created this year by an effort on the part of certain religious people to appropriate the celebration of the anniversary of Independence to them-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

selves and such as entertained similar religious views. It was thought that as the anniversary was national so nar- row a way of celebrating it should be stamped out; and it was. The "American Colonization Society" was to reap the benefit of the celebration in the form of a con- tribution! But the people bestirred themselves to get up a general celebration, in which all might indulge in a lit- tle patriotic enthusiasm.

Orono was not without its military enterprise. A com- pany of light infantry was organized there this year, called the Penobscot Guards. John Bennock, Jr., was its captain; John T. Davis, lieutenant; Herman White, ensign.

The Supreme Court, with Justices Mellen and Preble upon the Bench, commenced its session on June 13. Charles Stetson, of Hampden, Nathaniel Hatch, of Ban- gor, and James S. Holmes, of Foxcroft, were admitted to practice as attorneys.

At this session Friend Watson was indicted for setting fire to Mr. Chick's stable and occasioning the destruction of so much property the year previous, but was acquitted on the ground of insanity. He was confined in the Alms-house for many years, and at length died in the Insane Hospital in Augusta.

James Potter and two others learned at this session that there was a day of retribution for bearding the State. They were convicted of assault and resisting a Sheriff and the Land Agent, and were sentenced to two months' imprisonment in the county jail.

Mr. Chick having been driven from his old quarters on Fish street, established himself in a building on the westerly side of Water street, in which the Bangor Bank first opened business. It stood perhaps from one hun- dred and fifty to two hundred feet from Main street, opposite what is now Pickering Square. He called it the Maine Coffee House. The green peas came along the 12th of June this year, but Mr. Chick's name was not in connection therewith. He had become an auc- tioneer, and had so much other business upon his hands that he left the raising of peas to Mr. William Thompson, Mr. Fifield, and others.

In June of this year Mr. Amos Patten, long a leading citizen, was afflicted by the loss of his only child, Amos Patten, Jr., at the age of seventeen years. He was a lad of great promise, and his death was generally la- mented.

The leaders of the movement against a sectarian cele- bration of the Fourth of July-Allen Gilman, John Wil- kins, Samuel Lowder, Z. Rogers, John Williams, Thornton McGaw, Samuel Call, and others-having organized a celebration at Mr. Chick's Coffee-house, car- ried it into effect, to the satisfaction of a goodly portion of the people.

Colonel Zebediah Rogers, as Chief Marshal, assisted by Captain Waldo T. Pierce and Lieutenant Samuel Thatcher, Jr., led a procession from the Court-house to the meeting-house, where Rev. Mr. Goldsbury, of the Unitarian Society, officiated as chaplain, Hon. William D. Williamson read the Declaration of Independence, Thornton McGaw, Esq., delivered the oration. The

Mozart Society sang the following hymn, written for the occasion by Samuel Lowder, Jr., Esquire :

O Thou who wast our father's God ;- Thro' the wide wilderness and wave, Thro' all the perilous paths they trod, Thou who didst cherish them and save ;-

Great God of Battle! to whose shield In war's dire conflict they did flee; Who gav'st the heart that would not yield To aught on earth save Truth and Thee ;-

Giver of sweetest peace ! whose hand, When war's destruction passed away, Didst heal and bless our favor'd land, And light up Freedom's purest ray ;-

O be propitious, gracious still ;--- Father of mercies! Thou alone Canst guide us by Thy sovereign will, And bless us, suppliants at Thy throne.

After the services at the meeting-house, the procession re-formed and marched to Hutchins's hotel, where a "handsome dinner was provided."

A patriotic company, presided over by "Allen Gilman, Esq., assisted by General Joseph Treat, Mr. James Cros- by, Major David J. Bent, Samuel Lowder, and Samuel Call, Esqrs., as Vice-Presidents, partook of the dinner.

The following volunteer sentiments by a son and his father indicate a somewhat different kind of culture in each :

"By S. Lowder, Jr., Esq. The Orator of the Day: The eloquent advocate of liberty, of the liberty which, to use his own language, 'is on the march, and will march until the sun shall no longer look upon a slave.'"

"By Samuel Lowder, Esq. Fourth of July, 1776: Its spirit, meliorated by the lapse of fifty years, has lost none of its strength, but is still fourth-proof."

These men, as well as the orator, Presidents, and Vice- Presidents, and all whose names have been mentioned as connected with the celebration have been dead many years. Most of them lived to witness such an agitation of the principles which they that day celebrated as they never had conceived could exist. None of them, how- ever,-unless Major Bent is an exception,-lived to wit- ness the culmination of that agitation in the greatest re- bellion that ever existed among civilized men, in the sacrifice of millions of treasure and a million lives, the emancipation of four millions of slaves, and the martyr- dom of a President of their Republic.

Notwithstanding good influences had been operating for many years to make Bangor an exemplary town, yet blackguards, low-minded and malicious persons, occa- sionally got into it and caused annoyance. On the 29th of June the Selectmen were constrained to offer a reward of $30 for the detection of the person or persons who, on the night before, smeared the store of Messrs. Barrell & Randall, and the office of Hon. William D. William- son, with black paint.

The report of the death of ex-President John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on the Fourth of July, reached Bangor before the 13th, and created a profound sensa- tion. The former was ninety years of age, and the latter eighty-three years, three months, and two days.

On that day, at a celebration in Hampden, Simeon

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Fowler, Esq., of Orrington, whose name is associated with the first settlements in Orrington and Bangor, and who was now eighty-nine years of age, by particular re- quest, sang a patriotic song. Enoch Brown, Esq., deliv. ered the oration on that occasion. It was pronounced "pertinent and eloquent."

Ezekiel Fisher Crane, Esq., delivered an eloquent ora- tion at Corinth.

No less than fourteen Sheriff's sales were advertised in the Register of July 13-an indication that some kinds of business were overdone.

On July 13 an "elegant standard" was presented to the Penobscot Guards in Orono, by Miss Bathsheba Holland, with an appropriate address.

Five brigs, five sloops, and twenty-five schooners lay in the port of Bangor on July 27, the largest number then ever known at that season of the year.

Mr. Chick came forward with his green corn on that day.

A very singular circumstance occurred on the 2d of August. A flock of seven geese belonging to Mr. Dole, of Orrington, were sitting in the road opposite his house, when a storm with thunder and lightning came up, and a bolt fell and destroyed the whole flock, without dis- turbing a particle of earth or, from appearances, a spear of grass.

The Register was of opinion that a great change had taken place in Bangor in twenty-five years. At the be- ginning of that quarter of a century, if a stranger of respectable appearance rode into the town on a tolerable horse, his name, residence, and business were known in a few hours through all the village. At its close, coaches, curricles, barouches, and carriages of every description came and went unheeded.

Thomas Jefferson Forbes, Esq., was in charge of the Bangor Academy this year.

David J. Bent was again nominated for the Legislature. The political season having arrived, there were candi- dates in abundance for Representative to Congress. Enoch Lincoln was the only candidate for Governor, and Charles Rice for County Treasurer and Register of Deeds ; but Samuel Butman and Thomas Dawes were nominated as opposing candidates for the Senatorship ; Jacob McGaw, William D. Williamson, David Perham, and Jonathan Farrar were nominated, and "Major" Simon Harriman nominated himself, as opposing candi- dates for Representative to Congress.

The canvass became very exciting. A writer under the name of "27 Delegates" proclaimed that Mr. Wil- liamson was the only candidate of the Republicans of the Old School, that he had always been uniform in his politics; had served the people in several capacities and given uniform satisfaction; had once represented the District in Congress "with honor to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents." On the other hand, Mr. McGaw had uniformly been a Federalist ; had directly opposed every measure of the Administration during the difficulties and war with Great Britain; op- posed the separation; had always been defeated when a candidate; and had the nomination in the convention

over Mr. Williamson, because the majority were avowed Federalists.

"Freeman" follows in a similar strain. "Mr. William- son was a Federalist," etc.

"Orono" sings the praises of Mr. McGaw in this style:

We rejoice with joy unspeakable that this nomination was made. We do not hesitate to believe and state that, for integrity, firmness, in- telligence, and every virtue and ornament that can adorn a generous and cultivated mind, the character of Colonel McGaw would lose nothing by comparison with the brightest among the worthies that grace the County of Penobscot, and the most substantial patriots that can be numbered. He is the man of the people. Believing that Colonel Mc- Gaw will represent this District with honor, with dignity, and with majesty, we shall cordially give him our suffrages.

But Simon Harriman considered it far more manly to ask for the suffrages of the people himself than to be influenced by "that extreme modesty which induces gen- tlemen to crawl behind the scenes and seek a nomination through the management of friends or the contrivance of a packed convention."

He flattered himself "that his age, gravity, experience, long residence in and knowledge of the interests of the district, and, what his opponents must be willing to allow him, his good sense and sound judgment, will be full as serviceable to him in judging of public men and meas- ures as the empty verbosity of some or the vanity and assumed importance of others." He was "no lawyer, to assist in encumbering the statute-book with entangling laws ; no politician, to contrive perplexing plans and art- ful measures for private aggrandizement ; no schemer for possible public good with the certain loss of good public moneys ; no partisan, ready to sacrifice any and every- thing to the interest of party ; - but one who will en- deavor to be an honest and upright man, whose aim it is to attain to the greatest possible good by the simplest, most direct, fair, and honest means." There was no ques- tion that Major Harriman's brains wrought over a forge.

"A Republican of '76" was grieved because the Re- publicans were overslaughed by the Federalists in the Convention. Mr. Williamson had been elected to Con- gress over Mr. McGaw and others who ran as Federal candidates against him, and now he would have the friends of Mr. Williamson bolt the nominee of the con- vention, for the reason, as he says, that the said nominee "had exhibited no evidence of political conviction or conversion."

"An Elector" denied that a majority of the conven- tion were avowed Federalists, and said that forty of the sixty delegates were Democratic Republicans, as the list showed; that Mr. McGaw voted for Monroe and Adams; and that the opposers of Mr. Adams "are now the most virulent opposers of Mr. McGaw."

" Moderato" ridicules " Freeman," deprecates the call- ing an opponent "a Federalist," as if names were of any importance when men of good morals and abilities should be the candidates for office. He had no particu- lar choice in regard to the two candidates; wished the best man to be elected, whether it may be one of them or some other person.

" Democrats of 1798, Republicans of 1814," did not want a Federalist of the Hartford Convention school, like Mr. McGaw, or a Republican who "grew fearful in

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY MAINE.

the hour of danger, who deserted the Administration in the late war and joined the Federal opposition under De Witt Clinton, as Mr. Williamson did ; but a man of more correct principles, who would not desert his party, such as Jonathan Farrar, of Dexter."

"A Republican" was astonished that Mr. McGaw should have heen nominated by this Republican county as a candidate for Congress.

"Somerset" was opposed to Mr. McGaw, because he was not and never had been a Republican. He had been the "denouncer of Jefferson, the reviler of Madison, and the sycophant of Strong."

"Candour " says it is painful "to see our Newspapers the vehicles of slander and bitter invective ;" that the articles of "Subscriber " and "Castigator," which "sullied the columns of the Register," must "reflect disgrace upon their authors," and it was to be hoped that their in- decent and abusive example would " not be imitated by the friends of the very respectable and worthy gentleman [Mr. Williamson] whose honestly acquired fame had ren- dered him an object of envy with the victims of disap- pointed ambition."

"Castigator" said that his communication had thrown the supporters of Mr. Williamson off their guard. They now raised the cry of "scurrility ; Disagreeable truths they called scurrility. He should spare Mr. Williamson for the present, as he had heard it suggested that he was to withdraw from the canvass.

"A Farmer" wanted to know what "rotation in office " meant.

"A Mechanic" likes to see "men of stern integrity and competent abilities elected to office by fair means," and when a man is nominated for office, he likes to see him remain perfectly passive and let the people act as they think best. He don't like to see men of mean abilities and questionable integrity thrusting themselves into notice, boasting of their Republicanism, and charging their oppo- nents with a want of moral principle; their near relations helping them; professing to be Christians; reviling their fellows of the same profession; being in public office crying with the horse-leech, give, give, and just before election fawning about men whom a few days before he would not speak to in the street.

"No Fiction " flings to the world

"A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE." I. Election day is fast approaching, Cheerly O, O, cheerly O. Some on our rights will be encroaching, Drearily O, O, drearily, O. 2. Who from ruin now shall save us? Harriman O, O, Harriman O; He'll guard the rights our fathers gave us, Cheerly man O, O, cheerly man O. 3 In politics he's all perfection, Cheerly man O, O, cheerly man O; Witness John Quincy's late election; Harriman O, O, Harriman O. 4. As a mechanic he is able, Harriman O, O, Harriman O,

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 156

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