History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 170

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 170

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There are some things, however, which the country cannot stand. It cannot stand any shock to civil liberty or any disruption of the Union. Should either of these happen, the vessel of the State will have no lon- ger either steerage or motion. She will lie on the billows helpless and hopeless, the scorn and contempt of all enemies of free institutions, and an object of indescribable grief to all their friends.

And he gave this sentiment:

"Civil Liberty : Its only security is in constitutional restraint on political power."

After the party returned to the table, the president, Mr. Kent, responded to a call for a sentiment. He said that we this day enjoyed an opportunity that we had long de- sired, that of offering "a simple, but sincere and honest, expression of our respect for the virtues, our admiration of the talents, and our gratitude for the services of our il- lustrious guest. Disregarding all externals, we offer our tribute to the man. Some men shine by borrowed or re- flected light; some depend for their power and brilliancy upon their position; change that and they sink into their original obscurity; there are other minds like the sun that shine on in their own inherent and inexhaustible light, which, although it may sometimes be obscured by the mists and fogs that float in the low and dark places of the earth at an immeasurable distance beneath, still shining in its own calm and exalted sphere, and will soon dissipate the low-born and earthly vapors. While we hope the American people will select this man of our choice for Chief Magistrate of the Nation, we feel that this is not required to place him in the front ranks of men. This station he has already won single-handed and alone. This station is his individual property by right of conquest, and from it he cannot be driven.

It was assigned to him by the American people after that memorable contest when he upheld by his single arm the ark of the Constitution, when those to whose custody it was entrusted faltered or fled. I give you-

"Our Guest: If his enemies can succeed in prevent- ing his being President of the United States, they never can prevent his being DANIEL WEBSTER."

The report says: "This eloquent speech of Mr. Kent was received with the greatest approbation, and the ef- fort was equally creditable to the head and heart of its author; that "the festivities of the day passed off in the most brilliant manner ; all were delighted," "and Mr. Webster received indisputable assurance that he pos- sessed the hearts and hands of the people of Bangor."

Mr. Nichols, the ventriloquist, made his appearance in Bangor about this time and amused the people.

E. T. Coolidge opened a singing-school. Mr. Wiley, from Dover, New Hampshire, also gave instruction in the same accomplishment.

Mr. Harding, the talented artist from Boston, visited Bangor for the purpose of painting portraits.

And Mr. S. B. Page came into town in order to aid our citizens in the improvement of their oratorical powers.

The steamer Independence, Captain S. H. Howes, arrived at this port on the 8th of October.

Samuel A. Hale, Asa Walker, Jr., and John E. Patten were admitted to practice as attorneys and counsellors in the Court of Common Pleas.

Fifty thousand dollars' worth of hops were received from the adjacent country within a few days in Septem- ber and October.

On October 10 Lord Rosslyn, Colonel Dundas, and Captain Stewart, of the British Royal Guard, arrived at the Bangor House and left the next morning for Halifax. On the 4th they had a spree in New York with the Mar- quis of Waterford, broke windows, etc., and were com- mitted to the watch-house, where they spent the night.

Bangor was not at this time favored with many side- walks. Complaint was made that in wet weather it was difficult to get up and down Harmon street hill ; the Street Commissioner was appealed to for a few planks at the side of the street by "a mother with nine children and no chance to send them to school."

The Mayor having offered a reward of $300 for the dead body of Penny, who was supposed to have been murdered, one Henry Stone, of Boston, brought the live body of Penny to Bangor, with the belief that the reward was for body. Finding his mistake Mr. Stone ac- cused the city government of injustice in not paying him, and appealed to the citizens to pay his expenses.

Martin S. Wood, the lessee of the Bangor House, was requested by the Directors to surrender the house to them. Complaints had been made in regard to the management of the hotel. Mr. Wood then addressed the public. He said that he was induced to leave the City Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island, which "was esteemed and celebrated as one of the most splendid houses on this side of the Atlantic-made so by his efforts-and take a lease of the Bangor House, which he did in June, 1834, and went into possession January 1, 1835; that the winter business was hard; that with the spring came a vast influx of strangers from almost every section of the United States, and with this great patron- age came "all the difficulties incident to an overflowing business;" that all went on smoothly until July or Au- gust, when some one, dissatisfied with his bill, wrote to the Boston papers denouncing the house as "an irregular concern," and accusing Wood "of charging three cents for a common sheet of paper," when the fact was that the gentleman had a sheet of paper that cost two cents and a quill that cost two more, and he was charged with sta- tionery as is usual; that this charge and others equally groundless were "swallowed with avidity by the Direc- tors," who in the middle of September asked him to leave, which he said he was willing to do if they would buy his stock of wines and groceries and pay him $6,000 for his unexpired lease; that this proposition was rejected for the alleged reasons that he had violated the lease by

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

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keeping an irregular house and altering the fixtures, and that there was no lease, or rather, it was void because it had been signed by only Rufus Dwinel-an original director who had quit his "unmanly associates" and sold his interest in the house; that he was then threatened with being "tumbled into the street," and deputy Sheriff Higgins, armed with a "resolution of the Board voting his ejectment," came into the house and presented it; that he (Wood) informed him that he should not regard it, whereupon he retired after telling him that his backers had an armed force of laboring men, who would compel him to leave; that he stood his ground and should until there was a legal adjudication; that one cause of the complaint of the Directors was that he would not dismiss from his house several intelligent ladies and gentlemen of spotless reputation, who had been "assailed by unpro- voked scandal," but that he had not kept an irregular house, and a "majority of the travelling public would sustain him in the avowal that the Bangor House has been kept by me in a style of elegance and sumptuous- ness that is not surpassed by any hotel in the country;" that every artifice that malignity could invent had been resorted to to keep him down. His creditors had been advised to rush in with their demands; but he met them; the Directors who boarded at his house trusted themselves to keep him out of his pay; and that, notwithstanding all, he remained in possession of the house October 9, and it would be conducted with the same ability and zeal "that had before distinguished it."

The first regular meeting of the Lyceum was held on the evening of October 20, and a lecture on the Drama was delivered by Francis H. Upton.

A view of Bangor, drawn by Wallace and lithographed by Pendleton, was offered for sale this month (October).

Mr. Hooper, from Boston, opened a dancing school.

T. S. Harthorn opened a cigar manufactory on Ex- change street, at the "sign of the Indian chief."

"Free Trade" was the name of the packet that at this time plied between Bangor and Boston; McGrath, mas- ter.

On October 21 a hand-bill was posted in Boston an- nouncing that "that infamous foreign scoundrel, Thomp- son," would hold forth that afternoon at the Liberator office; that it would be a fair opportunity to "snake him out;" it would be a contest between the Abolitionists and the friends of the Union; that $100 had been raised to reward the individual who should "first lay violent hands on him, so that he may be brought to the tar- kettle before dark."

A mob appeared; George Thompson did not. The Mayor asked the mob to disperse ; they did not, but raised a cry for Garrison, the editor of the Liberator, and finding him in a carpenter's shop in Wilson's lane, where he had gone for safety, the crowd were proceeding with him towards the tar-kettle, when he was rescued by the Mayor and hurried off to Seventh street gaol for safe- keeping. That mob of gentlemen (?) did not hear the last of that while they were living.

On the day of the mob in Boston four hundred Aboli- tion delegates assembled in one of the churches in

Utica, New York, and were attacked by a mob of a thousand persons, who, with fire-hooks, ladders, and ropes, proceeded to demolish the building. The delegates were together about half an hour, in which time they or- ganized a State society, and adopted a constitution. On being disturbed, they adjourned to a neighboring house to finish their business, and were followed by a mob headed by Haydon, the first judge of the county, and Beardsley, a member of Congress, determined to inter- rupt the proceedings.

Of the railroad to Augusta the Whig said: "Chimerical as the project may appear, it is nevertheless certain that the subject is now fairly before the public, and is receiv- ing a great deal of attention from men able to complete the undertaking."

About this time the Thompson excitement having reached Bangor, there was a public meeting at the City Hall, to give to such as desired an opportunity to vent their indignation against George Thompson and the Abolition movement generally. Mr. McGaw, Mr. Jewett, Captain Samuel Lowder, and Samuel Upton, Esq., made characteristic speeches. The tone was anti-Thomp- son, anti-Abolition, anti-"silly-women," and pro-slavery. Some of the speakers were cheered to the echo. Mr. Thompson did not make his appearance. But some- how the Abolition mill kept grinding, notwithstanding the meeting, and probably a majority of the actors in the course of time were drawn into the hopper, and came out in the end "original Abolitionists."

The New England Review, in its notice of Maine at this time, says:

The principal tributaries of the Penobscot are the Metawamkeag, Sabscahegan, Madunkunk, Kenduskeag, etc., which water an extensive tract of country. At the head of tide-water, sixty miles from the At- lantic, and thirty from the head of Penobscot Bay, is the city of Bangor, which is the natural centre, and must be the depot of its productions and most of its exchange?

Timber is the great staple commodity of the State. The quantity manufactured is astonishing. Boards are assorted into four qualities, and number from one to four. The present prices at Bangor are No. I, $23.00 per thousand; No. 2, $20.00; No. 3, $13.00; No. 4, $8.00. Shingles are of two qualities, I and 2. The present prices of the former is $4.00, and the latter, $3.50.

The speculation in Maine lands is not mere humbug or moonshine. It is a regular business transaction, and as easily stated in profit and loss account as any transaction whatever. If you ever think of making your fortune in buying Eastern lands, let us give you a hint which will be of service to you-be more careful about the quantity of timber and the facilities for getting it off than the price of the land. Poor lands are always sold for more than they are worth, and good lands for much less than their intrinsic value.

S. S. Southworth was at this time editor of the Whig and Courier.

Mr. Ford commenced a series of lectures on astronomy November 4th.

The county road through Hermon, Newburg, and Dixmont was completed about this time and made the main stage road.

The trial of Isaac Spencer for the murder of Reuben McPhetres commenced on November 5th, before the Supreme Judicial Court, in the Baptist meeting-house. Chief Justice Weston and Judge Emery presided ; Al- bert G. Jewett, County Attorney, and Nathan Clifford, Attorney-General, appeared in behalf of the State, and

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HISTORY OF. PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Jonathan P. Rogers and ex-Judge Mellen for the pris- oner; and as the occasion was extraordinary, General Hodsdon, the Clerk, appeared in small clothes. The galleries were occupied by the ladies. The trial occu- pied three days. The verdict was guilty. The prisoner was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. There was a question in re- gard to his sanity or moral responsibility. He after- ward became a maniac, and died in prison.

The "old Town Pump " that had stood "time out of mind " in Mercantile Square, was removed this year.

The Maine Anti-Slavery Society held a meeting at Brunswick on October 28th. Sixteen persons, ten of whom were clergymen, took part in the proceedings. Rev. Messrs. Pomroy, of Bangor; Lewis, of Brewer; and Thornton, of Winthrop, were of the number.

One thousand men were at work on the Bangor & Oldtown Railroad.

Daniel P. Wood advertised boots and shoes for sale at the corner of Main and Hammond streets, and George K. Jewett & Co. advertised dry goods, groceries, and hardware at 7 Main street.

This year the information was received that the Vigi- lance Committee, Parish of East Feliciana, Louisiana, offered a reward of $50,000 for the delivery to them of " the notorious abolitionist, Arthur Tappan, of New York."

Abner Kneeland was convicted of blasphemy, in Bos- ton, on the fourth trial.

T. A. & J. C. White advertised woolen goods at 16 Main street.

On November 11th Mr. S. S. Southworth, editor of the Whig, in a note apologizing for his absence, remarked that "he entertained the most profound respect for the people of Bangor and the patrons of the Whig and Courier."

The Portland Advertiser suggested the idea of steam communication between England and Boston by way of Bangor. The Whig said "we shall be satisfied with noth- ing short of a railroad from the British Dominions through this city to Boston."

In this year the subject of the abolition of capital punishment was agitated in the State. At the session of the Legislature in 1835 a joint select committee made a lengthy report on a memorial of the Friends of Vassal- boro for the abolition of the death penalty, which was published in the Daily Whig and Courier of November 23, 1835, in which the committee professed to be con- vinced of the truth of the following propositions:

First-The Scripture imposes no obligation for the continuance of capital punishment.

Second-The spirit of the Gospel clearly forbids any punishment based on a spirit of revenge.

Third-Government has no moral right to take life unless the public safety clearly demands it.

Fourth-The public safety in this State does not de- mand it in a time of peace.

They, therefore, reported a bill in conformity there- with, except in cases of treason which, after three several readings was referred to the next Legislature.

A concert of sacred music was given at the Methodist church, at the corner of Union and Independent streets, on Wednesday evening, November 25th, under the direc- tion of Samuel Eastman, Esq. The programme em- braced sixteen pieces, the last of which was the "Grand Hallelujah Chorus."

· Captain W. S. Hunter and Master W. S. Hunter gave a concert of vocal and instrumental music at Smith's Hall on the same evening.

A Bangor man proposed this year that Maine and Massachusetts appropriate public lands for a fund for a railroad from Mattawamkeag to the boundary, to meet a line of railroad and steamboat communication through the Provinces, which was to connect with a line of British packets which it was supposed the British Government contemplated establishing between Canso and the West of Ireland. This enthusiastic Bangorean thought that the consequence of the establishment of this line of travel would be to "fix a great amount of manufacturing capital in Maine." Foreigners who were landed at New York would take this route, and would "see much to invite them to stop and settle " in Maine.

Dr. F. P. Theobald, M. D., established himself in Bangor.

November 27th, John S. Sayward delivered a lecture before the Mechanic Association on the "Cause, Ten- dency, and Cure of Radical Opinions."

Joseph Bryant removed from Castine to Bangor, and established himself as a general commission merchant this month.

The extensive luniber house of Cram, Dutton & Co. assigned to Waldo T. Pierce and Samuel Smith for the benefit of their creditors.

Jacob Drummond and seven others prepared a law to prohibit the running of any lumber down Kenduskeag Stream more than twenty-eight feet in length. Mr. Drum- mond was the proprietor of the lower mills on the Stream.

Ephraim Moulton advertised a large stock of groceries, among which were liquors of all kinds.

The Bangor Temperance Association was in vigorous operation.

The "City High School" went into operation this year.

The anti-slavery agitation was increasing. Dr. Dem- ming wrote an essay against slavery. Governor McDuffie, of South Carolina, in his annual message denounced this agitation in the Northern States, and enlarged upon the horrors of amalgamation. " Domestic slavery," he said, "instead of being a political evil, is the corner-stone of our republican edifice."

The Fuel Society to relieve the destitute was organized December 12. Executive Committee : Moses Patten, Dr. R. K. Cushing, Edmund Dole, John R. Greenough, Benjamin Nourse, John Ham, Joseph W. Mason.

Mount Hope Cemetery Corporation was organized.

Joshua Abbe and Hollis Bowman established them- selves in the English, domestic, and West India goods business this month.

Lieutenant Henry E. Prentiss, late of the United

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

States Army, lectured before the Lyceum on " Our Means of National Defense." He thought our navy dispropor- tioned to the wants of our commerce, and our army of 6,000 men inadequate to our necessities, com- posed, as it was, of the most worthless foreigners and few Americans. Our fortifications were rather for show than use. The Military Academy was highly useful. The military pre-eminence of the nation was not desirable. We must be " content to yield the laurel to more despotic governments."

December 17th Reuben R. Stetson married Charlotte T. Herrick, daughter of General Jedediah Herrick, all of Hampden.

Cyrus Emery, Isaiah Stetson, and George Stetson con- nected themselves in business this month as Emery, Stet- son & Company.

The news reached Bangor of the great fire of Wall street, New York, that destroyed property to the amount of fourteen or twenty millions of dollars. The cold was so extreme that the firemen could scarcely work, and the hose froze rapidly; consequently it was impossible to arrest the flames except by blowing up buildings with gunpowder.

December 23d. The Lyceum discussed the " expedi- ency of the course pursued by the Abolitionists."

The Theological Seminary this year procured a sub- scription of $100,000 for its permanent endowment. The misfortune was that but a small part of it was realized. Philip Coombs, Esq., of Bangor, subscribed $16,666.66.

General William Henry Harrison's name was used by the Whigs in connection with the Presidency. John Tyler was named for the Vice-Presidency.

The Eastern Magazine, edited by Mr. Carter, had a respectable position among the periodicals.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Washington Monument Meeting-Sleigh-ride Accident-Juvenile Con- cert-Temperance Association-First Steam-mill-Teachers' Associa- tion -- Steamer Bangor-"Bangorean"-School Grievance-New Post- office-Market-house Project-Judge Stetson-Soldiers from Houlton -Temperance Hotel-Lyceum Debate-Universalist Meeting-house Contemplated-Second Unitarian Meeting-house Contemplated --- Cyrus Hamlin's Address-Bay Frozen-Amos M. Roberts Nomi- nated for Mayor-Edward Kent Nominated-Peter Edes-Receipts and Expenditures in 1835-36-City Government-Bangor House Difficulty-Business-Orphan Asylum-J. P. Hardy-Wooden Build- ings-Fire Department-Surplus Revenue-Sale of Lands and Per- mits-Mt. Hope Cemetery Dedicated-State Bank Proposed -- Ben- jamin Bussey, Esq., and Bells-Bank War-Bank Difficulty-Globe Bank-Rotation in Office-Theatre-Money Pressure-Bangor, a Homily-Market-house-Lyceum-Captain Luke Wilder-Carpen- ter's Receipt-Credit System-License Laws-Death of Nathaniel Haynes-Deposit Banks.

1836. A meeting was held January 2, at which the Mayor, Allen Gilman, presided, John A. Poor being Sec- retary, in behalf of the Washington National Monument

Association. A resolution offered by Thomas A Hill declared that it was reserved to this generation "to ex- press and perpetuate our patriotic sense of obligation to the immortal Washington by a monument that shall en- dure to the end of time," and a resolution was offered by Edward Kent commending the object to "our fellow-citi- zens," and a committee of fourteen was appointed to as- sist in advancing the objects of the association. The monument was commenced and many thousand dollars expended upon it, then it rested until 1874, when it was suggested that the materials be removed to some other locality. The structure was declared an abortion.

On New-Year's day a party with thirty sleighs went to Frankfort. Near the bridge in Hampden one of the horses became frightened, upset the sleigh, ran off the bank, and was killed. The sleigh was destroyed. The gentleman and lady escaped with their lives.

On January 7 there was a juvenile concert at Ham- mond Street church, under the direction of E. T. Cool- idge, the organist of that church. The class was highly complimented.

The Bangor Temperance Association was actively en- gaged in collecting facts in relation to the use of intoxi- cating liquors. The members of this association were pledged against the use of all intoxicating liquors, cider included. The resistance to the inclusion of cider in the pledge was long and obstinate. Many evenings were de voted to the discussion of the question, and as often as the question was brought to the vote-as it was many times in different forms-it was decided in favor of cider being embraced in the pledge by large majorities.

The first steam saw-mill ever erected on the banks of the Penobscot River was commenced last year at Turtle Head Cove in Hampden, by a company of Bangor and New York gentlemen. It was this year in full operation and a success. Mr. Haren Mitchell commenced erect- ing one this year about a mile this side of that, and just below the Bangor and Hampden line.

The "Penobscot Association of Teachers and Friends of Popular Education " was organized in January at East Corinth. Martin Snell, President; E. G. Carpenter and A. Sanborn, Secretaries.

This year the steamer Bangor ran to and from Port- land, and the Boston passengers were transferred from one boat to another, much to their dissatisfaction.

·A weekly paper, called the Bangorean, was issued by John S. Carter.

Complaint was made that too many of the public schools were kept in the same building. There were "four schools kept in one building." It was thought that "when a great number of children and youth, of diversity of character, were congregated together, much mischief and inconvenience would be the result."

A post-office was established at North Bangor (Veazie), and Samuel E. Marshall appointed postmaster.

The project of erecting a market-house between Ken- duskeag and Central Bridges, at a cost of $32,000, of brick and granite, was reported favorably by a special committee to the City Council. They estimated that nine per cent., at least, would be realized annually on the

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

investment. Messrs. E. & S. Smith, "with characteristic liberality," proposed to throw out land enough from their lot for a street from bridge to bridge.

Hon. Charles Stetson was at this time Judge of the Supreme Court, and had sufficient criminal business for this newly fledged city. It is recorded that he sentenced Martha A. Blagdon, a clothes-line thief, to fifty days' imprisonment in the common jail.

Two companies of United States infantry, under Major Dearborn, from the Houlton barracks, passed through Bangor on its way to Boston, February 14. Lieutenants S. L. Russell, G. W. Patten, J. Bumfrid, and H. W. Wessells, accompanied the command.

The subject of a temperance hotel was prominent early in the year. Its discussion was attended with some grave nonsense. A committee reported some facts which were thought to be important enough to publish, but the question was where? Some thought in the Daily Whig, where they could be published early and read by all ; others could not endure the idea that they should be published in a paper that published rum ad- vertisements ! It was better to publish them in an ex- clusively temperance paper-the Temperance Herald, for instance, which was published in a distant part of the State, a paper entitled to them first, in the opinion of its conductors ! This was thought absurd, inasmuch as the public that had the most interest in them would not see them under three, four, or six months. The sensible opinion prevailed. Mr. John Ham, Chairman, then re- ported on the hotel. The committee were unanimously of the opinion that "a first-rate temperance house should and must be immediately opened, and that they had a bond of the Franklin House for $20,000," which the committee thought extremely low, as the premises were extensive and well situated. Mr. Haskins proposed to open a subscription for stock to the amount of $60,000. This was opposed. A subscription was however opened, the $20,000 were divided into two hundred shares of $100 each, and before the close of the month all the stock was taken, and the Franklin House was purchased. Mr. Ham was the principal proprietor.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 170

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