History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 167

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 167

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The election occurred on September 8th, and the Democratic candidates were elected.

The vote of Bangor for Sprague and Kent was 873 each; for Dunlap 576, for Parks 577. In 1833 the vote of Bangor was, for the Whigs, 467; for the Democrats, 466. The vote of other towns in the neighborhood of Bangor was:

1834 W. D.

1833.

W. D.

Brewer

134

157

Dutton [Glenburnj. :

9 43

Hampden

168

232

125

Hermon.

121

Orono [including Oldtown]

347

423

133

229

Orrington

163

Henry Call, Whig, was elected Representative from

Bangor, over Thornton McGaw (Democrat), The- ophilus Nickerson (Whig) from Orrington, etc., Samuel Coney (Democrat) Orono, Thomas Emery (Democrat) Hampden.

Although the Whigs were defeated in Governor and Representative to Congress, yet they consoled themselves with the reflection that they had made "very flattering gains."

In September the Directors of the steamer Bangor published their reasons for the dismissal of Captain Barker, saying they had paid him in full for his services, and " had good and sufficient reasons for discharging him."

At this time the poets were abroad and "a sweet singer of Israel from the neighborhood of Bangor" in- spired some lover to perpetrate the following:

Sarah, what sound seraphic rapts my ear,

That heaven's own habitants might joy to hear ?

It is an angel voice from human lips,

Whence heavenly music inspiration sips. Sing on, my Fair, since it to thee is given On earth to prelude the harmonies of heaven.

The Whigs complained much of the irregularities of the Democrats (Tories, as they called them) in the election. "In one town in this vicinity" they alleged, "where there were more voters than inhabitants, three persons were torn from their homes and their sick beds, and borne to the polls, who" within eight days afterward "passed to their long home." The Portland Advertiser said: "In the town of Hermon there were sixteen more votes thrown than there were voters," and it was a very current story, not denied, that in that town, on the votes being counted at one time, one or two Whig votes were found in the ballot-box, and one of the Selectmen, ap- parently astonished at seeing them, said they did not be- long in that box-got there by mistake-and threw them aside without counting them.

Mr. E. Freeman Duren at this time established a cir- culating library at his bookstore.

Messrs. Albert G. Barker, a tailor, and Benjamin F. Baker,* a carpenter, established a school for instruction in sacred music. The former was a fine tenor, and the latter a superior bass. They made quite a sensation by the excellence of their singing.

The packets that at this time plied between Bangor and Boston were the schooners Free Trade and Mada- waska.

Mr. John Bright was the conductor of a news-room.

In the Bangor Temperance Society the subjects of es- tablishing a temperance society and of patronizing only such persons as did not use ardent spirits, were discussed.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Littlefield were teaching their Female High School, which was commenced. Mr. Stickney had charge of the Classical Department. Tui- tion for English, $5; French and Latin, one or both, $7.

The Whig, in commenting upon a notice that Caleb Cushing was to lecture before the Bangor Lyceum, won-

* Mr. Baker afterward went to Boston and became a professor of music. He was very popular and successful. Many years afterward he was employed to direct the Penobscot Musical Association repeated- ly. No bass voice for sweetness, smoothness, and compass, was superior to his.

670

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

dered if there was any such thing as a lyceum in Ban- gor. Literature, it was of opinion, found its votaries here solely among the ladies and mechanics. It com- plained that it had not more followers; it could not have better. "Temperance and other moral societies," it .said, "may rudely stop the current of vice, while literary societies will gently and effectually turn it, by engaging the time and attention of many whose leisure would otherwise make them liable to be led astray."

The friends of Captain S. H. Howes were much elated that the Steamer Bangor made a trip from Boston to Portland-wharf to wharf -- in nine hours and twenty- six minutes.

Anthracite was suggested by the Whig to be "an ex- cellent article for family or office fuel," and might be found at Gerrish & Co.'s, in this city, "broken into a con- venient size and neatly packed in barrels." The Whig further suggested that it was erroneously called anthracite coal.

Bangon received an occasional notice abroad. A cor- respondent of the Boston Transcript said :

The society is heterogeneous. There is no esprit de corps, or, perhaps, I may say, no genius loci -- no Bingorism. It is only a collection of Yankee Ishmaelites-every man fighting on his own hook, and only mingling with his neighbors, or with some of them, accidentally, as he happens to find the capacity in them to help him push forward to some „enterprise in which he has taken or wishes to take stock-a canal to Rutland [Pushaw ? ] Pond, or a railroad to Orono, or a new hotel, or a new meeting-house, or a new steamboat. The best hotel in the State, to say the least-a perfect Tremont-has been put up since I was here last year. So has one of the largest churches; so has a new bridge. The latter, by the way, is the most public-spirited thing of the kind I have seen-done by two merchants, Messrs. Smith. Private spirit abounds here, as well as elsewhere, so amply that it needs no record or eulogy; but an instance of a different character, so honorable as this, is too much one of the wonders of the times to be passed without a compliment.

The bridge referred to was the Central, next above the Kenduskeag. It was built by Samuel and Edward Smith, merchants and bold speculators, who made and lost several fortunes, and at last died in distant parts of the country poor men. The bridge was a necessity, and probably a greater benefit to the public the time it was built, than to the builders. That it has been indis- pensable ever since, there can be no question.

The hotel, of course, was the Bangor House, and the church the Hammond Street.

John Hodsdon was Land Agent at this time, and offered for sale the interest of Maine and Massachusetts in Shad Island, Pine Island, and Island No. Six, and a ledge between Oldtown Island and Shad Island, reserv- ing the fishing privileges of the Penobscot Indians.

Mr. Charles Taylor and Mr. Nahum H. Wood several- ly taught private select schools, in which pupils were in- structed in the higher branches.

This was the hop year of Penobscot. On one day in October twenty loads, each averaging about fourteen bales, came into Bangor from the western part of the county. The quantity of this product excited surprise. The raising of it did not continue profitable, and it was abandoned.

Three banks in the city made semi-annual dividends, October 6, as follow :

Commercial, 5 per cent .; Kenduskeag, 4 per cent .; Mercantile, 4 per cent. Stock of these banks was pur- chased-of the Commercial, 294 shares, at $115 per share; 80, at $120; 20, at $110; 35, at $112; 40, at $119; 20, at $1371/2; 5, at $150; Kenduskeag, 110 shares, at $110 ; Mercantile, 50 shares, at $110.

The officers of the Commercial were Henry Warren, President; Samuel Smith, Amos Davis, John Fiske, and Thomas Burton, of Warren, Directors; Edward Richard- son, Cashier.

There were forty lawyers in the city and one thousand cases upon the docket of the Court of Common Pleas alone.

Lamps were placed at the corners of the most crowded streets this season.

Every few years some interest was manifested in regard to the improvement of the Penobscot Indians. A cor- respondent of the Boston Courier gave his views, declar- ing that their religion-the Roman Catholic-never did and never would raise a people from degradation; that foreign priests, such as they had, could not benefit them; that they must be under New England teachers, who had a heart in the work, and referred to Rev. Mr. Wells, of Boston, as a man competent to do them good; that the Roman Catholic influence must be done away, for they could "never rise with the mill-stone weight of priest- craft about their necks. Never." He proceeds:

They inhabit an island containing about three hundred acres of rich and productive soil-around it flow the waters of the broad and beau- tiful Penobscot. The country around is rapidly settling, and already two prosperous villages (I might add equal to some of the best in Massachusetts) encircle them within a stone's throw. And look upon that island-not a single foot of earth upon it bears upon its bosom a cultivated plant-the rank and profitless weed grows around their wretched abodes-a fit emblem of the neglected soil. 1 deny not that there is a church where they can kneel. I dispute not that they have a Latin mass and kiss a rosary or a small relic; I declare not that there is no school-house, where a few scholars may occasionally learn the veri- est trifle of knowledge. But I do say that nothing more has been effected. The Rev. Mr. Brewer; now a missionary in Greece, four or five years since [twelve years] labored two months upon this island, but was compelled to leave on account of ill-health, and his influence was also counteracted by Roman influence, which is great, yet he did more than was ever done before, and many of the Indians became attached to him.

The editor of the Whig was of opinion that the In- dians were incapable of improvement, and asked, "Is there any single tribe of the aborigines scattered over our broad territory which has made any advances in improvement ?" These Penobscots, "living in the midst of refinement, still retain their original distinctness- within sight of a beautiful and populous village, they still cling to their barren island and their filthy wigwams."

He was "far from discouraging any plan that might tend to elevate their morals and happiness," yet he would not "have the Catholic influence over them done away by a law of the State. It is the religion of their fathers, the religion which Ralle taught them-let us leave them the enjoyment of that. It is true that their condition is miserable if there is not another world, yet, paradox though it seem, they are happy."

Some one, not altogether prejudiced against the influ- - ences controlling these Indians, suggested that last sum- mer a Protestant' Indian preacher of the Marshpee

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE ..

tribe lectured in three of the churches in Bangor, and then visited Oldtown. On his return he stated publicly to a-large assembly that "the condition of the Indians at Oldtown was infinitely better than that of his own. tribe." . The writer adds: "The Marshpee tribe, it is well known, is under Protestant influence. Now, would any Christian be willing to tear away from the Indians their beloved priest?"

This writer had not the ability to reconcile Protestants and Catholics.

The correspondent of the Transcript does not appear to have been remarkably reliable. He stated that one firm in this city had fitted out eighty teams at an expense of $16,000, and was corrected by the statement that the "real cost of outfits for such a number of teams would be about $240,000."

The Directors of the Mercantile Bank were John Hodsdon (President), Cyrus Goss, Waldo T. Pierce, Amos M. Roberts, Willis Patten, Samuel Veazie, Samuel Farrar (Cashier), Samuel Harris.

The Directors of the Kenduskeag Bank : John Wil- . kins (President), Joseph R. Lumbert, George W. Pick- ering, Abner Taylor (Cashier), Theodore S. Dodd.

The discovery of bituminous coal in Hancock county was announced. Mr. McFarlane found a piece that would burn, and purchased the land upon which it was found. He then made an excavation two or three feet deep, and found a quantity of coal which would ignite and burn freely on the flame of a candle being applied to it. It resembled Liverpool coal in its appearance and smell.

The locality of this discovery is about three miles east- ward of the village of Bluehill, upon or in the region of the farm of Mr. James Means. The editor of the Han- cock Advertiser said that no doubt could be entertained that, if coal existed in any quantity, it was the founda- tion of the quarry on that farm. The editor of the Ban- gor Whig said that he had seen a piece of the coal rep- resented to have been found in the place described, and it freely ignited in the flame of a candle.

The discovery does not appear to have been followed up. It is not improbable that among the throngs of mineral hunters about Bluehill, at some time there may be persons who will investigate the coal theory that Mr. McFarlane inaugurated.

The fertility of the soil at Houlton began to be talked about. A correspondent said: "A man who measures six feet in height relates that he has stood in his field of oats this season, and one of his neighbors has tied them in a knot over his head."

The County Temperance Society, at a meeting in this city in October, took strong ground against the traffic in ardent spirits ; against the friends of temperance allow- ing them to be transported in their vessels or sold on their premises, or being partners in any concern that is connected with the traffic; asserting that all laws sanc- tioning such traffic were morally wrong, had a destructive influence on public morals and national prosperity, and that, from facts before the community, the friends of temperance had reason to presume that what was sold in

shops as wine was not wine, but an adulterated alcoholic mixture, and that they were bound by their pledge to ab- stain from all such mixtures as drinks. Rev. Thomas Williams was President of this society, and E. Dudley and Albert G. Wakefield Secretaries. Teetotalism had begun to be agitated.

On October Ist the Bangor Savings Institution, which commenced operation April 10, 1833, with Amos Patten, President; John Wilkins, T. A. Hili, James Crosby, Vice- Presidents; George W. Pickering, Jacob McGaw, George Starrett, Thomas F. Hatch, John Fiske, Thomas Drew; Nathan B. Wiggin, and Benjamin Nourse, Trustees; and William Rice, Secretary, reported that the deposits had amounted to $1,998; interest, $37.15; amount with- drawn, $1,052.

Francis O. J. Smith, Democrat, was elected Repre- sentative to Congress from Cumberland district ; George Evans, Whig, from Kennebec ; Gorham Parks, Demo- crat; Penobscot-his vote was 6,192 to Edward Kent's 4,831, and 145 scattering; Leonard Jarvis, Democrat, Hancock, by 3,742 votes to Elijah L. Hamlin's 3,417, and 216 scattering.

Nathan Weston, of Augusta, was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Nicholas Emery, of Portland, Justice. Albert G. Wakefield, of Bangor, was admitted as an attorney. He formed a copartnership with William Abbot.

The subject of a watch house was agitated. Will'am Emerson, 2d, of the watch was getting great noto- riety for catching negroes. There was some difficulty in finding a place to put them.

Rev. Jason Whitman commenced preaching before the Unitarian Society on October 29.

Joseph J. Sager was convicted of the murder of his wife by poison, at Augusta. He was defended by Peleg Sprague, whose argument occupied five hours, to which the large audience that filled Rev. Mr. Tappan's meet- ing-house gave breathless attention. "He raised. all. manner of doubts that human ingenuity could devise, and broke forth towards the close in a strain of the most impassionate and thrilling eloquence, which melted every heart and moistened every eye, save those alone of the prisoner at the bar." Judge Parris charged the jury; Judge Weston pronounced the sentence of death. Nathan Clifford, Attorney-General, and James W. Brad- ford, County Attorney were counsel for the State. Fred. erick Allen and George W. Bachelder were associated with Mr. Sprague in the defense.

This year Bangor made rapid advances. The famous "land speculation," which commenced here and per- vaded the country, gave Bangor a start which made it famous. Above four hundred buildings were erected, among them a Roman Catholic church on Court street, and the Hammatt and Carr block on French street. One of the Brookses, James or Erastus, gave this account of the town in his correspondence :

Buildings are going up yet in all directions, not only in Bangor, but in the whole back country. The hotel is under good way, and will be opened in December or early in January. There is no mistake about this building. The Tremont is as yet its only rival. The carpeting 13 going down; and judging from what I have seen and heard, it will be as

672

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

elegantly furnished as any hotel in America. It has drawing rooms, many elegant sitting rooms, a spacious dining room, bathing rooms, and as for the kitchen department, it is the best I have ever seen-I dare say as good as that at the White House at Washington. The theatre-going people are talking of a theatre. The people's ideas are also as magnificent as ever. Projects innumerable are afloat, and many of them, I have no doubt, will be put into execution. The activity, en- terprise, and facilities for business are such in this region of the State, that, after all, there is but little exaggeration in what is said about it.

The importance attached to the right of suffrage was illustrated by a young man who, the New York Advo- cate said, "had come from Bangor, Maine, solely for the purpose of voting," and who voted in the Sixth Ward in that city.

Among the projects proposed was one by Captain Philip Coombs, to relinquish to the city nine acres of land lying in the rear of Broadway, on condition that the city should "at once enter upon and improve this land for the purpose of a public common, by surrounding it with double rows of trees, fenced in, with gravel walks between them, and citizens should purchase the lots in the com- mons for the purpose of erecting dwelling houses of brick, and not less than two stories high."

The tenure of the judicial office, which was to the age of seventy years, was at this time attacked by the East- ern Republican and defended by the Whig.

The subjects of a market-house and paving or macad- amizing the streets were discussed.

In December the Bank of Bangor elected its officers: Samuel Veazie, President ; John Barker, James Crosby, George B. Moody, Samuel J. Foster, Directors; William P. Richardson, Cashier.

I. Washburn, Jr., this year opened a law office in Orono.

A good-natured, jolly lumberman called at a lawyer's office to settle a claim upon which he had been sued. On being told the amount of the debt he threw down the sum and said, "Now how much is the stumpage ?"

The fame of Bangor reached New Orleans this year. The Bulletin thus remarked about it:

The city of Bangor, in the State of Maine, is among the Eastern wonders of the world. But a few years ago-a very few years-it was but a humble, unimportant village. In 1830 it had not a population of three thousand, we believe. Now it is supposed to have eight thou- sand inhabitants, and it is the second town in the State in population. But a short time ago the country all around was a wilderness. Now busy and thriving villages are opening up in all directions, and "the wilderness is blooming like the rose."

A Social Library was opened, with five hundred vol- umes. A Lyceum and Debating Society was organized. Hon. Henry Warren (counsellor at law) was President, Daniel T. Jewett Vice-President, William H. Foster Sec- retary, Solomon Parsons Treasurer

The Bangor House was opened on Christmas evening by Martin G. Wood, proprietor, from Providence, with a sumptuous feast, which was partaken of by a throng of invited guests. Dr. Enoch Pond said grace.

The subject of abolishing the death penalty for mur- der began to beagitated in the State. The Thomaston Republican started the discussion in opposition to the practice. The Bangor Whig defended it.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Fortification at Bucksport Narrows Agitated-Privations of Early Settlers-Anecdote-Fire Department-Cold-Senator Sprague Re- signs-Apprentices' School-James Thomas's Plan-Abolition of Court of Common Pleas Agitated-Temperance Delegates-Theo- logical Seminary-"Mechanic and Farmer"- Religious Services for Lumbermen-Death of William Hammond-Cyrus Hamlin- Jarvis's Challenge of F. O. J. Smith-Ex-Governor Smith Re-ap- pointed Judge-More Banks Required-Debate on-Timber Land Speculations-Frauds-Lying Certificates-"Concus"-High School -Allen Gilman Re-elected Mayor-Temperance in the Hands of the Ladies-A Hoax-McGaw, Allen & Co -- Rufus Dwinel and Kenduskeag Bank-Complications about Sale of Township No. 3, Thirteenth Range-Temperance and Hon. Samuel M. Pond-Geo. B. Cheever-Broadway Park-Moose-The Lumbermen's Return-City Government-City Officers Elected --- Baptist and Unitarian-Firm- bach's Concerts-Bangor & Oldtown Railroad-Eagle's Quill -- "Mung News"-Sewers and Side-walks-New Business Men-Poisoned Milk-"Gastine"-The Legislature and Molasses-Cattle Suffering -Reservoir-Corban Society Organized-Concert -- Baptist Organ --- Oliver J. Shaw-Stillwater Canal-John J. Jerome-Steamer Bangor -Small-pox-Land Speculators-Sale of Lands and Store Lots- Death of Benjamin Goodwin-Penobscot Freeman in Trouble- "Bangor Fever"-Admissions to Supreme Judicial Court-Com- mission Merchants-Change in Bangor-Death of Martin Kinsley- Concert-Meadow Brook Bridge-Granite Church-Whig Sold by Rogers to Marchant & Smith-Comments on Bangor-Quarrel about Justice of the Peice Commissions-St. John's Church-Daniel Webster Visits Bangor-Hops-Foreign Arrivals-Bangor House Trouble -- Anti-Abolition Mob in Boston-New England Review on Maine-S. S. Southworth, Editor of the Whig-Trial of Spencer- Capital Punishment-Lieutenant Prentiss's Lecture-Various Mat- ters.

I835. The Bangor Whig again commenced agitation of the subject of a fortification at Bucksport Narrows at the incoming of this year. It said "the most important portion in the whole State, concentrating more, and more important settlements than any other, with the most extended bay and noblest river, although nature herself had almost rendered it impregnable, and which needs but little aid from without, is left entirely unpro- tected."

The early settlers of the region above Bangor suffered from many privations, and thought they suffered from some that many people in this day would think fortunate privations. An intelligent woman, who had been a teacher in one community, and afterward a missionary among the Western Indians, when in Bangor this year gave some account of the beginning of that community twenty years before.

Two men, with their wives, settled about a mile apart in the very depths of the forest, about sixty miles from Bangor, in the first or second decade of the century. Apprehending danger from Indians, from wolves and wild beasts, they each procured a horn to sound when assistance should be required. One of them, however, was overfond of another kind of 'horn,' in which he could not often indulge. One day the more abstemious neighbor was taken ill at his work, and went home, and put himself under the care of his wife. It was a cold, blustering day, and the good woman had made a com- fortable fire, and just got her husband into a sweat and a comfortable doze before it, when they were startled by a blast of the horn. The good man sprang to his feet in an instant, and notwithstanding the protestations of his wife that it would be the "death of him," started off.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

She would not suffer him to go alone, however; their neighbor must not fall a sacrifice to Indians or wolves, and they make no sign. Before they reached the house, they heard alarming vociferations, and hurried their pace. On entering the house, what a scene presented itself! There were the householder and his wife making the welkin ring over a jug of New England rum, which they had procured in some wonderful way, and after indulging sufficiently to make them happy, felt it their duty to blow the horn for their neighbors to come and fight that Indian with them!

The Fire Department, although not extensive, was pretty well managed. It was under Ebenezer French, Esq., Chief Engineer. He was a very efficient officer, and took pride in his position. A fire occurred in a building belonging to Messrs. Hinckley & Egery, foun- ders. Mr. French was there before the engines arrived, and pressing thirty or forty persons into the service, he piled the snow upon the fire so plentifully that the en- gines had little to do. Some one inquired if there was much danger. "Oh, no," was the reply, "Eben French put it out before the engines got there !" Whereupon the Whig enthusiastically remarked : "We have been near Mr. French on these occasions, and no Newfound- land dog is more at home in the water than this gentle- man appears to be in the midst of the raging element."

Messrs. Hinckley & Egery received much commenda- tion for handsomely rewarding the city watchman who discovered the fire.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 167

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