History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 162

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 162

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Thomas Davee was nominated by the Republicans as their candidate for Senator. The Boston Statesman, leading Republican paper of New England, was pleased to designate his supporter, the Eastern Republican, "an able champion of the Democratic cause in the 'land of Egypt.''

During all this crimination and recrimination among the politicians, the disciples of Thalia offered their servi- ces to the amusement-loving public, and opened at Old- town, on August 19, a series of dramatic entertain- ments, which continued three evenings. Messrs. Belcour, Crouta, and Holden were so successful that they after- wards came to Bangor and erected a theater of rough boards upon the site now occupied by the Bangor House. Upon this spot the Great Bashaw became fa- mous, and Mr. Crouta won enduring laurels by singing

the songs of "The King and Countrymen," "Sitting on a Rail;" "Down in Fly Market," etc. Theater-going people laughed, religious people frowned, and the poor actors left town quite as poor as they came. Whether the acerbity of politics was modified by those perform- ances is uncertain. But it is certain that many a Bangor boy had his first introduction to the theater at this time.

The Hunton men were indignant because the Jackson papers spelled their candidate's name Huntoon, after it was determined that the right orthography was Hunton. But the Jackson papers did not care.

On August 29 Charles Thomas, Assistant Quartermas- ter United States Army, advertised for proposals to build the Military Road from Mattawamkeag to Houlton.

On the 3d of September the Unitarian church was dedicated. The sermon was preached by Rev. Benjamin Huntoon, then of Carlton, Massachusetts. The house was a brick structure and stood upon the site of the present meeting-house, but fronting on Main street. It had a plain, unpretentious tower on the roof, painted white, and a cupola. In the tower was a town clock.

The gubernatorial election took place on September 14. Mr. Hunton received 196 votes in Bangor, Samuel E. Smith, 187; Solomon Parsons received 201 votes for Senator, Thomas Davee, 164; Edward Kent received 196 votes for Representative to the Legislature; Amos Patten, 161; scattering, 19.

Thomas A. Hill, Amos Patten, and John Godfrey, a committee appointed by the Court of Sessions, advertised for proposals to build a stone jail, on September 9.

Maine this year showed a strong inclination to support the Administration. Mr. Hunton was elected Governor, It is true, but his majority was small. Mr. Davee was elected Senator over Mr. Parsons in the Penobscot district, and there was no choice of Representative in the Bangor class at the first balloting, Mr. Kent having 298 votes, Mr. Patten 224, all others 80. At the second trial Mr. Kent received 488 votes to 304 for N. Nason, and 25 scattering. This was his second election to the Legisla- ture.

The National Republicans were chagrined at the great progress of the Democratic Republicans, but they put on the best face they could, and said "on the whole, taking into view all the circumstances that belong to the occasion, the National Republicans have every reason to be well satisfied with the event of the election.

A meteor of great brilliancy passed from the southeast to the northwest on the evening of September 17. It illuminated the whole atmosphere for several seconds with a dazzling light. When in its most brilliant state it exploded, and in about two minutes afterward eight or ten successive reports, as of the rapid discharges of artil- lery, were heard.

The first Methodist meeting-house in Bangor was completed. It was situated at the intersection of Union and Independent streets, and fronted upon the Kendus- keag Stream.

Rev. George E. Adams, Professor in the Theological Seminary in Bangor, was invited to become the pastor of the First Congregational society in Brunswick.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

On the 8th October Enoch Lincoln, Governor of Maine, died at the age of forty. He was a brother of Levi Lincoln, Governor of Massachusetts. He was unmarried.

On October 14 the Universalist meeting-house in Dex- ter was dedicated.

George Evans was elected to Congress from the Ken- nebec district.

The Congregational meeting-house in Holden was dedicated November 18.

Madam Anne Royal, the woman who annoyed our citizens by her impertinencies some time ago, received an introduction by Mr. Edward Everett to President Adams, that she probably did not forget. Mr. Everett was standing near the easterly end of the Long Bridge in Washington, when he was accosted by Mrs. Royal with a request to introduce her to the President. He said, "would you like to see him now?" On her replying that she would, he took her to the side of the bridge and directed her attention to him bathing in the Poto- mac!

In the autumn an institution similar to others in dif- ferent parts of the country-a lyceum-was organized in Bangor, in which citizens could be profited by lectures, debates, etc. It was a popular society for the "diffusion of useful knowledge." The opening address was deliv- ered on the evening of November 17 by Professor George E. Adams, at the Court-house.

Dr. Dickinson was disturbed by the larceny of his saddle-bags, containing medicine and surgical instru- ments, from his horse, which he had left ten or fifteen minutes before, at about eight o'clock in the evening, "tied at a door in one of our most public streets near the Exchange." It was considered a very singular rob- bery.

Mr. Jesse Smith, a Revolutionary soldier, died at the age of seventy, on November 22. He had been long a resident in Bangor, and was the father of Colonel James Smith.

The year 1829 closed with Bangor in an apparently prosperous condition. The Lyceum and Literary Club were well patronized, and the people through them man- ifested their interest in literary pursuits.

The town was occasionally visited by fires, and the citizens were stimulated to procure the appliances nec- essary for extinguishing them and saving property en- dangered by them. "A hook and ladder" movement was inaugurated.

On the 29th the Fire Club had its annual meeting and supper, and congratulated each other that things were "no worse."

CHAPTER XXIII.

Register on John G. Whittier-Business Men-A Fire-"Long-Nine Association" -Sale of Pews in Unitarian Meeting-house-Bad Man- ners-"Eastern Pioneer" Newspaper-Soap Factory-Lottery Draw- ing-Strictures on Mr. Kent's Action in Regard to Argyle-First Parish Meeting-house Burnt -- Lieutenant-Governor Hunton's Appoint- ments-President Jackson's Appointments-Military Road-Price of Beef-Number of Lawyers-Samuel P. Dutton Elected Captain of Artillery-Rev. Mr. Huntoon Installed-Counsellors and Attorneys Admitted to the Supreme Court-Fourth of July-Murray & Wing at Bucksport -- Colonel Carpenter-Canvass Excitement-Lieutenant Gallagher-Church and State-Prognostication-Disclaimers-Bible - Census-Politics-Parks and Gallagher-Candidates-Kent and Parks-Theological Seminary Graduates -- Smith Elected Governor -Parks Representative to Legislature-Lower Mills on the Ken- duskeag Burnt-Dress Reform-Lyceum-Mud-Census of Mada- waska-Mechanic Association-Forensic Club-Fire Club-Death of Zadock French.

1830. The Register of January 5 contained the fol- lowing:

John G. Whittier, late Editor of the Manufacturer, and a poet of much promise, has assumed the editorial charge of the Essex Gazette. Mr. Whittier, who is quite a young man, has risen from a very humble situation by the force of his own industry and genius, and bids fair to be an ornament to the literary world.

Mr. Whittier afterward applied for the editorship of the Bangor Gazette.

At the commencement of this year Samuel B. Morrill, Thomas Furber, Joseph C. Stevens & Learned, Horatio P. Blood & Wells, Benjamin Nourse, Philip H. Coombs, Levi Cram, W. H. Thompson, Ivory Jefferds & Smith, Thomas A. White, Mark L. Hill, Jr., Page & Baker, Noah Fogg & Rines, William E. Robinson, S. & J. True, R. Haskins & Co., George W. Pickering, Jesse Fogg, Stephen Kimball, Asa Sawyer, John Fiske, David Hill, George Palmer & John Sargent, Jr., James Crosby, George A. Thatcher & Charles Hammond, Caleb C. Billings, Gardner Brooks, George W. Brown, Rufus Prince, Horatio Beale, John R. Greenough, were conspic- uous in various kinds of mercantile and mechanical business. Thomas C. Chick (son of Jacob) succeeded Ezra Hutchins in the Hatch House ; and John W. Snow and Nehemiah O. Pilsbury were rivals in the sale of lottery tickets. Amos M. Quimby, late Preceptor of the Academy, lectured upon chemistry before the Bangor Lyceum.

On January 9-a windy day, with the mercury below zero-a two-story frame building on the northeasterly side of Kenduskeag Bridge, near the intersection of State and Harlow streets, was destroyed by fire. The building was owned by Nathaniel Harlow, Jr., and was an awk- ward old landmark, with a hip roof.

Ezra Hutchins, President, and Albert P. Jewett, Secretary, gave notice that a meeting of the Long-Nine Association would be held at the President's East Room on the evening of the 11th.

Jonathan G. Hunton was elected Governor by a ma- jority of 315 over Samuel E. Smith. He received 23,315 votes ; Mr. Smith, 22,991, and there were 262 scattering.

The pews in the Unitarian meeting-house were sold on January 30, and brought the sum of $14,615-$1,575 more than the cost of the house.

Mr. "Somebody " was disgusted with the manners of

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

a person who put on his hat directly on leaving his pew in church, and the Register thought there could "be no greater evidence of ill-breeding."

A newspaper called the Eastern Pioneer made its ap- pearance from a press in Oldtown on March 13. Its ap- pearance was creditable. It preferred to be in the inter- ests of no party.

A soap factory-one of the first of Bangor factories- was in full operation this spring, under James Wagg and Rufus Prince.

A newspaper called the Bluehill Beacon and Hancock County Journal came up from Bluehill this month with a Jackson smirk on its face.

On the 27th the Maine State Lottery, for the benefit of steam navigation, was drawn at the Court-house, and John Wilkins, Samuel Lowder, Jr., and Samuel Call cer- tified that numbers 30, 3, II, 21, 8, and 16 were drawn.

Some strictures were made by the Jacksonians on the action of Mr. Kent in the Legislature upon the question of incorporating the town of Argyle. He opposed the incorporation, for the reason that the town was prin- cipally owned by Waterville College, whose lands were exempt from taxation; that there were but two freehold- ers in the township; that but thirty persons petitioned for the incorporation, while forty remonstrated against it on the ground that the taxes to which they would be sub- jected would ruin them.

The principal cause of complaint against Mr. Kent, however, was because he resisted the annexation of the township to the Bangor Representative District. Such annexation might have changed the political character of the district. It was natural that Mr. Kent should oppose this, if he could find legitimate reasons for so doing. His reasons were, first, that it would enlarge a district that was already probably the largest in the State, and second, that it could not be annexed constitutionally, as the Constitution prohibited the established representa- tion being altered until the next general apportionment. The Supreme Court afterward expressed the same opin- ion. *

On April 6 the First Parish meeting house, including organ and the fine-toned bell presented to the society, was destroyed by fire, supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The Selectmen offered a reward of $500 tor his detection. The house had been built about nine years. The loss was about $9,000; $300 insurance. The First Baptist society tendered the use of its house one-half the day on Sunday to the First Parish society. The offer was gratefully accepted.

Governor Hunton appointed Samuel G. Ladd, of Hal- lowell, Adjutant-General, in place of Samuel Cony. Al- bert Smith was appointed by President Jackson Marshal of Maine, and Leonard Jarvis was appointed Collector of Customs of Passamaquoddy District, in place of Stephen Thacher, removed. This latter appointment simplified the canvass for Representative to Congress in Washing- ton District by reducing the number of candidates by one.

The Military Road to Houlton received an impetus

* See Maine Reports, vol. 33, pages 587-8.

from the appropriation of $47,000 by Congress for its construction.

A meeting was called by George W. Pickering, Benja- min Nourse, and John C. Dexter, to be holden May 4, for the purpose of forming an Athenæum and Reading- room, such as would "meet the wishes of the literary and mercantile inhabitants of Bangor.

Beef was selling at reasonable rates at this time. When there was an unusually large and fine animal slaughtered an extra price was obtained for choice cuts. George Wellington, market man, slaughtered an ox that weighed 2,240 pounds alive, 1,601 dressed. The beef was superior to any that had been sold in this market. Choice pieces sold for one shilling per pound; whole ox for $176.41-about nine cents a pound.

This year there were sixteen lawyers in Bangor, twenty- six in Portland, and 313 in the State.

Charles Thomas, Assistant Quartermaster United States army, issued proposals for making the United States Military Road from Mattawamkeag to Houlton, in May.

Charles Gilman, of Bangor, Enoch E. Brown, of Hampden, and Jeremiah Russell, of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, were admitted as attorneys at the Court of Common Pleas.

Samuel F. Dutton was elected captain of the Bangor Artillery.

On June 23 Rev. Benjamin Huntoon was installed over the Unitarian Society; Dr. Nichols, of Portland, preached the sermon; Rev. Mr. Mason, of Castine, made the installation prayer, and Rev. Mr. Frothingham, of Belfast, gave the charge.

This month George B. Moody, Nathaniel Hatch, Jon- athan P. Rogers, Charles Stetson, and William Goodman, were admitted as counsellors in the Supreme Court, and Samuel Garnsey and Jonas Cutting, as attorneys.

The anniversary of National Independence was cele brated on July 5 by the Democratic Republicans. The committee were Isaac Hodsdon, Thomas A. Hill, John Williams, David Hill, Levi Bradley, Samuel Lowder, Jr., Asa Sawyer, and Albert G. Jewett. The orator was Gor- ham Parks. The Register reported the celebration as a failure, of course, and designated the oration "a lengthy production." The Register, describing the celebration in Foxcraft, says the oration was by John Appleton, Esq., of Sebec, and "was characterized by a sound and dis- criminating exposition of the origin, character, and excel- lency of our Government, and of the means which could not fail to give it perpetuity. It was free from the bitter- ness of party," etc. The Register said that the Jackson politicians undertook to give the impression that the cel- ebration was a party affair, but did not succeed in their " slanderous imputation."

July 13, Muzzy & Wing-Franklin Muzzy and Aaron A. Wing - at Bucksport, advertised machinery of all kinds and of the best quality ; cast-iron reacting water- wheels ; iron and wood turning "done with neatness and despatch. No mistake."

A notice of a celebration of the Fourth of July was given from the pulpits, and the Eastern Republican and

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

some of its supporters made it the basis of a prognosti- cation of a contemplated union of Church and State.

The "opposition party " were somewhat moved on get- ting into their possession a document of which the fol- lowing is a copy :-

Col. Carpenter is requested to procure the removal of Lt. Gallagher; is requested to see Lt. Charles Thomas, who has a brother who keeps a book-store in Philadelphia, in Chestnut or Market street.

New Post-office in North Dixmont. F. Butman at the corner to be removed after election.

County Committee: Gorham Parks, Wm. Emerson, Mark Trafton, Isaac Hodsdon, E. H. Allen.

Remove Hodsdon, Levant - Clark, Atkinson, Hill, Wiles.

Colonel Carpenter, it was alleged, took the document to Washington.

Lieutenant Gallagher was a religious man and supposed by the Jacksonians not to be friendly to the Administra- tion; therefore he was not in favor with them. Colonel Parks did not hesitate to express his antipathy to him.

Mr. Emerson denied that he signed the Colonel Car- penter memorandum. Lieutenant Thomas disclaimed any knowledge of it, and the publication of it appears to have caused some unpleasant feeling among the gentle- men whose names were alluded to in it. Much capital was made of this paper by the opposition.

At a meeting held in Bangor on July 22d it was stated that more than one thousand families in the county had been found destitute of the Bible and supplied.

The census of the town was taken this year by William Randall, and the number of inhabitants found to be 2,864, showing an increase in ten years of 1,643.

The annual political canvass was particularly exciting. The Democrats nominated Judge Samuel E. Smith for Governor, and their opponents Jonathan G. Hunton, the incumbent. The Eastern Republican was particular- ly sharp on Mr. Hunton, while the Register was earnest in his support. Colonel Parks, in the columns of the former, denounced Lieutenant Gallagher because in a debate in the Lyceum he expressed an opinion in favor of the Indians, and "Castigator " in the Register was quite as severe upon Parks.

The candidates this year were, besides Hunton and Smith for Governor, John Wilkins and Thomas Davee, for Senator; Edward Kent and Gorham Parks, for Rep- resentative to the Legislature; Charles Rice, County Treasurer; Ebenezer S. Phelps and James Bates, of Somerset, for Representative to Congress. The vote of Bangor for Mr. Hunton was 321; for Judge Smith, 267; for Mr. Kent, 326; for Colonel Parks, 260.

The contest between the candidates for the Legislature was hard fought. Mr. Kent was popular beyond the limits of his party. He was a man of practical common sense, genial, and interested himself in the affairs of the town. He was a good, sensible speaker, though not eloquent. Colonel Parks was a more ready, fluent speaker, affable, with some show of attainments, but superficial. He interested himself more in politics than in his profession of the law, and took no unusual in- terest in the affairs of the town or of the people. He offended the religious people by his attack on Lieutenant Gallagher, and as he belonged to a party that was not

known for its excessive regard for religion, he cared little for that. Mr. Kent was a Unitarian, but he respected the opinions of all denominations, knowing that they were founded in sincerity. Colonel Parks was not under- stood to have respect for any religious opinions.

The anniversary exercises of the Theological Sem- inary took place on September 8. Rev. John Crosby, a grandson of Simeon Crosby, one of the first inhabit- ants of Bangor, and born here, then a clergyman at Castine, delivered an address before one of the societies. The graduates this year were: Robert Crossett, of Ben- nington, Vermont; Elliot Palmer, Jr., of Vernon, Con- necticut; Henry Richardson, of Hadley, Massachusetts; Joseph B. Stevens, of Brookfield, Connecticut. The chief criticism on the performances was that there was "too much of what is called a ministerial tone in the voice of the speakers."

Full returns showed the election of Judge Samuel E. Smith, Governor, and Gorham Parks, Representative for the Bangor District. The opposition, as usual, tried to cover up their mortification by saying that Judge Smith was elected by less than one thousand majority "out of more than fifty-five thousand," and that Colonel Parks was not the Representative of Bangor at all, but of the towns classed with it, viz: Orono, Dutton, and Sunk- haze. Dr. Bates (Administration) was elected to Con- gress for Somerset and Penobscot.

On the roth the saw- and flour-mills at the. lower dam on the Kenduskeag were destroyed by fire. The fire, it was supposed, originated from the friction of the spindle in the flour-mill. The mills were the property of Cap- tain John Pearson.

This year the female scholars in the town of Atkinson started a project for reforming the fashions of the sex in such a manner that there should be no more consump- tion or death in that portion of the human family. They formed a society and adopted a constitution, of which this is

Article 4. Every person subscribing, pledges herself to refrain entirely from wearing Busks, Boards, Stays, Cushings, Pillars (sic), Bolsters, or any kind of furnishen or rigging about the body, which is likely to cause consumption or endanger life.

The penalty for violating this article was expulsion from the society. An adult thought such societies ought to be formed in other places. It does not appear that the plan was followed by the sex, or what became of the Atkinson society.

The citizens' watch continued to be an institution in Bangor.

The Lyceum, in which the subject of the removal of the Indians had been discussed until the people became surfeited and staid away from its meetings, was resusci- tated in the autumn, and Mr. Abel M. Quimby put some electricity into it by his lectures on chemistry.

Much interest was manifested this year in the improve- ment of the common schools in Bangor and in other parts of the State.

The condition of the streets in muddy times, and of Kenduskeag Bridge, was the cause of much complaint. In a dark night a trip from the post-office (which was in

Jones P. Viazies

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Merchants' Row, on the easterly side of Main street) to the east side of the stream, was attended with much dan- ger. The mud between Mason's Corner and the bridge was frequently over the shoes. The bridge was not lighted, and the plank walks were sideling and much out of repair. It was suggested that a lantern at each corner of the bridge on dark evenings would be of service.

General Webber succeeded in obtaining the census of Madawaska without interruption from the Provincials. The males were 1,314; females, 1, 174-2,488. The people were French Acadians, and "generally in favor of remaining citizens of the United States." It was pre- dicted that they were "but the pioneers of a mighty army of emigrants who will ere long be seen to spread them- selves over the valleys of the St. John and Penobscot."

The Mechanic Association, at its annual meeting in December, elected John Williams President; Henry Call Vice-President; John S. Carter Secretary; Preserved B. Mills Treasurer; John S. Sayward Librarian; Na- than B. Wiggin, Stephen Gilman, John Brown, Joseph Wing, and William Emerson, second, Trustees.

John A. Poor, Secretary, gave notice of a meeting of the "Forensic Club " at the Court-house, on December 2Ist, to discuss the "propriety of the transporting the mails and opening the post-offices on Sunday."

The Bangor Fire Club held its annual meeting for a supper on the 28th December, at 5:30 o'clock, at Chick's hotel. Mr. A. Savage, the Secretary, reminded the members that, by their vote, it was the duty of each to furnish himself with two fire-buckets, a fire-bag four feet long by two wide, with a round bottom, and draw at the top with cords, and a bed-key, to be constantly kept to- gether at some convenient place, and that they should keep their buckets at their respective houses.

There were at this time in the town four societies in operation for intellectual culture-the "Lyceum," the "Mechanic Association," the "Bangor Literary Club," and the "Forensic Club."

Zadock French, an enterprising merchant from Billerica, Massachusetts, who built the Penobscot Exchange and owned other valuable estates in Bangor, died December 3 Ist, at the age of sixty-two.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Remarkable Weather-New Interest in Schools and Education-Popu- lation of Penobscot County-Hardship-The Legislature and Mr. Williamson's History of Maine-"Healing Plaster"-Death of Samuel E. Dutton-Northeastern Boundary Decision-Death of Edward Wilkins-Election of Selectmen, Etc .- Great Freshet-Loss of Bridges-New Channel in the Sowadabscook-State Valuation- Death of Professor Smith-Classification of Representative Districts -"Hammer District"-Kenduskeag Bridge Rebuilt-Brick School- house at Veazie-Advardus Shaw, Innkeeper-Fourth of July Cele- bration by Captain Dutton's Artillery-Temperance-First Parish Meeting-house Rebuilt and Dedicated-Board of Education-Ban- gor Register Discontinued-Resignation of President Jackson's Cabinet-Penobscot Journal Established-Cheering Notice of Ban- gor-Valuation-Speculation as to Growth of Bangor-Independent Volunteers-United States Cutter "Morris"-State Election-Hemp -Indian Artist-Mechanic Association Festival-Wheat Growing- Trouble in Madawaska-Officers Imprisoned, Tried, and Convicted- Educational Association-Commercial Bank-Lieutenant Gallagher Transferred-Supreme Judicial Court-Chief Justice Mellen-Gover- nor and Council Take Action About Madawaska Prisoners-Bangor Bridge-Liquor Selling Criticised-Proposals for Court-house- Proposals for Building Brick Block-Selectmen's Petition-Apples and Grapes-Anti-manufacturing Pledges.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 162

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