History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 223

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 223

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Professionally, Mattawamkeag has been but a fitful residence. Since the early location of Dr. Lumbert, who returned very soon to Readfield, one other physi- cian was here for a short portion of a year. About 1860 Dr. Albert Pearson came to Mattawamkeag from

Lincoln. Since Dr. Lumbert left, no physician with a family has lived here. About 1870 Dr. Henry A. Rey- nolds, of red ribbon fame, removed from Winn to Matta- wamkeag, and after remaining a year or two returned to Bangor. In 1881 Dr. Daniel H. Kelly, of Bangor, lo- cated here, where he still remains.

'The sole lawyer who was at one time a resident of the town, was William A. Evans, a brother of George E. Evans, of Portland. He was in Mattawamkeag some time between the years 1872 and 1875, and removed to Bluehill, where he has since died.

About 1840 Jonathan Sewall, a Calvinist Baptist, preached in Mattawamkeag and vicinity. A small church was established, but is not now in existence.

In 1868, or the following year, a Methodist Episcopal church was organized under the preaching of 'Rev. George R. Palmer, and in 1879 a church edifice was started, but from some cause it has progressed but little, although the exterior was completed in 1881. The pres- ent membership is about twenty. The church edifice is located on Railroad street, on which several of the em- ployes of the European & North America Railway re- side.

In the sparsely settled upper Penobscot, for election purposes, a quite large territory was embraced in one voting precinct, and as late as 1853 the voters of Winn, Mattawamkeag, Woodville, and Nicatou, (Chester, be- ing incorporated in 1834,) met for election purposes near the end of Mattawamkeag bridge. In 1853 Five Islands Plantation was incorporated, which reduced the num- ber of voters here. Winn was incorporated in 1857, and Mattawamkeag in 1860, which threw Woodville, and Nicatou into another precinct for voting purposes.

March 26, 1853, the officers elected for Mattawam- keag were Asa Smith, Moderator; Asher Martin, Clerk; Thomas S. Ranney and A. Langley, Assessor; Ranney, Superintending School Committeeman; and Langley, S. W. Dudley, John Bradeen, John Hathorn, and James Rand, School Agents.

May 1, 1854, a petition was presented by Asa Smith, John Q. Adams, and Henry Haines, of East Indian township, to Alvin Haynes, one of the County Commis- sioners, for the issuance of a warrant authorizing a meet- ing for the organization of a plantation to be called Mat- tawamkeag. The officers elected were Asa Smith, Moderator and First Assessor, and Samuel W. Coombs Clerk. In 1855 three school districts were established. In 1856 George W. Smith was chosen Clerk, which office he held during the plantation existence. An ad- ditional school district was established in this year. In 1859 the last school district was merged into the first.

In February, 1860, Township No. 1, Indian Purchase, east side of the Penobscot River, was incorporated as the town of Mattawamkeag, a name taken from the river whose mouth is in that town. The best Indian authority gives its signification as "A river with many rocks at its mouth." In March of the same year Asa Smith issued his warrant to Richard Sibley to call a meeting for accept- ance of the act of incorporation. At the meeting Asa Smith. was chosen Moderator, First Selectman, and

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

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Treasurer, one of which offices he held nearly every year until his death in 1880. George W. Smith, his son, was chosen Clerk; Samuel W. Coombs and Colum- bus Chesley Second and Third Selectmen. Three hun- dred dollars was raised for the upper story for a town house, provided District No. I raised $500 for building for school-house, as a lower story.

In 1862 the Treasurer was authorized to pay $20 bounty to each of six volunteers who enlisted to save the town from draft. The same year $75 was voted to be paid to the families of soldiers absent in the war.

In 1863 $100 was raised as bounty for five volunteers. Also Asa Smith was authorized to hire $1,050, payable in five years, to pay bounties to volunteers to fill Matta- wamkeag's quota. In 1865 the town offered to pay any enrolled man who should volunteer or furnish an accept- able substitute, $300 for one year, $350 for two years, and $400 for three years.

In 1864 George W. Blake was chosen Town Clerk, and has been annually re-elected to the office since.

In 1871 $400 was raised for the support of schools; for a year or two before $280 had been raised, and for a long time previous $210 or $175.

In 1873, in accordance with the law for that purpose, a free high school was maintained in Mattawamkeag.

In November; 1869, the first train of the European & North American Railway reached Mattawamkeag. The advent of the railroad increased the population and prop- erty of the town materially. The railroad bridge across the stream was burned in May, 1874, and the same year a fine iron structure was erected at a cost of $20,000. The company owns property in the town amounting to $15,000. Their machine shop is under the management of A. O. Bailey.

In 1873 Pine Tree Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted, with Wilbur F. Lovejoy, of Winn, as the first Worshipful Master. The present membership is seventy.

In 1874 Sylvan Lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars, was established; the present membership is twenty-five.

October 13, 1877, Floral Grange of Patrons of Hus- bandry was instituted, of which George W. Blakemore is Master. It has a membership of about forty; it holds an annual fair at the town hall, at which a very creditable show is made.

STATISTICS, ETC.

Mattawamkeag had 280 people within its borders by the census of 1860; in 1870, 356; in 1880, 456.

It had 65 voters in 1860, 63 in 1870, and 122 in 1880. The valuation of estates for these years severally, was $25,000, $76,779, and $77,768.

Mr. D. S. Parker is Postmaster. The other local officers at last report were: Samuel W. Coombs, William H. Libby, Charles A. Smith, Selectmen; G. W. Blake- more, Town Clerk; George W. Smith, Treasurer; D. S. Chadbourne, A. L. Thompson, G. W. Blakemore, Con- stables; Stark Webster, J. H. Hamilton, Stewart R. Gra- ham, School Committee; George W. Smith, (quorum) Justice.

The town had then one manufactory of long and short lumber, one carriage maker, one picture frame maker, one carpenter and builder, and two smiths. There were two dealers in dry goods and groceries, one livery stable, two hotels, and one resident clergyman.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

George W. Smith, of Mattawamkeag, is a son of the late Hon. Asa Smith, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. He was born in Haynesville, Aroostook county, October 24, 1834, and came to Mattawamkeag when a child with his parents, and has always lived here. He married for his first wife Miss Rosetta K. Brown, of Haynesville, who died in 1871, leaving one son, Fred. For his second wife Mr. Smith married Althea H. Bab- cock, of Lincoln Centre. They have three children, viz: Gracie M., Sarah, and John. In 1870 Mr. Smith erected the fine store he now occupies, an illustration of which appears in this work. He is a man honored by his townsmen with the best offices in their gift, having held all the leading town offices. He keeps a general merchandise store and is express agent at this time. He is Secretary of the Pine Tree Lodge of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and an honored member of the frater- nity.

Mr. G. D. Stratton, of Mattawamkeag, was born No vember 22, 1843. His father, Paul Stratton, now eighty- four years of age, is a pioneer settler in Penobscot county. He was in the War of 1812 and is now a pen- sioner. He married Miss Sarah A. Frazier, of St. Johns, New Brunswick; they were married in St. Johns, and after living there thirteen years came to this county and settled in Chester about 1834. He lived there until 1851, when he moved into Winn, then known as the Five Islands, and built a hotel, being the second house in the place. He followed hotel keeping and farming until 1863; since then he has retired from active busi- ness, and now resides in Mattawamkeag. Mrs. Stratton died in 1879, at the age of seventy-nine. They had ten children, vız: Mary, wife of George B. Robertson, of Bangor; William, now in Chester; Eliza, now Mrs. Jo- siah Snow, of Mattawamkeag; Lewis F., Sheriff of Pe- nobscot county, now in Bangor; Jane, now Mrs. James Snow, of Mattawamkeag; Eunice, wife of the late James P. Crowell, of Orono; George H., in Minnesota; Ellen D., wife of O. T. Hooper, of Boston; Martha, now Mrs. William Jewell, of Gorham, New Hampshire; and Guil- ford D., now of Mattawamkeag .. G. D. Stratton was born in Chester; on becoming of age he engaged in hotel keeping in Winn; he also kept a livery stable there several years. From Winn he moved to Lincoln and farmed three years. He came to Mattawamkeag in 1872 and bought the hotel which he kept until the spring of 1881, when he sold out and moved to his farm just out of town. During his life in Mattawamkeag he farmed in connection with his hotel. He married Miss Eva L. Wing, daughter of Henry S. and Hannah Wing, of Mat- tawamkeag. They have three children-Alice May, Rosa, and Roy.

Frederick A. Greenwood, now of Mattawamkeag, is a

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

son of Francis and Mary Greenwood, of Lennoxville, Province of Quebec. Francis Greenwood has four chil- dren living-E. X., now in Detroit, Michigan; Ellen, wife of D. Moulton, of Minneapolis; Elizabeth, and Frederick A. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood are both living in Lennoxville. F. A. Greenwood was born June 20, 1852. After obtaining a common school education he studied locomotive engineering, and was engaged in that business until 1877. At that time he took an engine and cut the wood for the European & North American Rail- way, at which he worked three years, until March, 1881, when he bought the hotel at Lincoln, which he kept till about the Ist of August, when he sold out, and since then has taken a trip in the West. He has not again en- gaged in any business. He married Laura A. Greene, daughter of Charles Greene, of Mattawamkeag. They have one daughter --- Grace M.

The fourth permanent settler in Mattawamkeag was Samuel W. Coombs, who came here from Albion, Kenne- bec county, in 1835. He had spent about a year in the county before coming here. He wasborn August 25, 1810, in Islesboro, this county. His father, Jonathan Coombs, was a son of Anthony Coombs, of Brunswick, Maine. Jonathan Coombs married Martha Warren, daughter of Samuel Warren, of Islesboro. He was a seafaring man during his early life, but spent his middle and latter days on a farm in Kennebec county. He had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, of whom Samuel is the third son, the others being Jonathan, James, and Albert, de- ceased. Samuel W. Coombs on becoming of age worked at the house carpenter's trade fifteen years, building ho- tels along the river. Since then he has been engaged in surveying land and scaling lumber. He married Maria Jackins, of Chester, daughter of Christopher Jackins. To this couple have been born eight children, of whom six are living-Corrilla N., wife of Alonzo Babcock, of Augusta, Maine; Martha, deceased, wife of George H. Libbey, of Molunkus; Maria, at home; Hannibal Hamlin, now of Mattawamkeag; George W., deceased; Mary, of Minnesota; Sanford, at home; Dexter, of this town; and Matilda, deceased. Mr. Coombs is now Chairman of the Town Board. He has held many of the town offices.

George W. Blakemore, of Mattawamkeag, was born May 3, 1838. He is a son of Joseph D. and Hebsabeth Blake- more. His grandfather came from Northamptonshire, England. Joseph D. had three children by his first wife. George W. is the only son living of the second family. The names of this family were Joseph H. and Sarah M. Mr. Blakemore died February 14, 1866; Mrs. Blake- more is still living with her son and daughter. George W. was raised on a farm, and went into the army in 1862 in the Sixth Maine Infantry Volunteers, where he remained about six months, when he was discharged for disability on account of a severe attack of rheumatic fever. On his return from the army he came to Matta- wamkeag, and since then has been engaged as a clerk for George W. Smith. Mr. Blakemore married Catharine Asher, daughter of William and Mary Asher, of Sherman, Maine. They have three children-Elzaidee M., George E., and Lottie H. Mr. Blakemore has been Town Clerk

for seventeen years, and resides in the south part of the village.

Columbus Chesley, of Mattawamkeag, is a son of Sumuel Chesley, who was a native of Paris. His grand- father, Nicholas Chesley, was a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Samuel Chesley married Martha Perry. They had ten children, of whom Columbus is the fifth. He came to Mattawamkeag in 1854, when he was thirty-two years old, being born October 27, 1822. He has a small place in the village. He married Eliza- beth Babcock, daughter of Jesse and Polly Babcock. They have four children-Henry C., Alice M., Albert, and Eunice.

Mr. S. B. Gates, proprietor of the two fine hotels, one at Winn and the other at Mattawamkeag, is a son of Zadock Gates, who was born in Paris, Maine. He mar- ried Adeline Monroe. They had seven children --- Simon B .; Frances, wife of Samuel Lowell, of Danforth, Maine; Oliver P., deceased; Augustine, died in the army; Silas W., died in the army; George B., now in Nevada ; Vesta P., in Chicago; Galen, deceased. Mr. Gates died in 1880; Mrs. Gates died within a week after Mr. Gates. Simon B. Gates was born March 31, 1834, in Lincoln. On becoming of age he engaged in teaching, which he followed four years. He then went into trade in Car- roll, where he remained about three years, or until about 1867, when he went to Springfield and engaged in the hotel business, which he has since followed. He opened the large hotel at Winn in 1874. This hotel is the largest north of Bangor in this county. In 1881 he purchased the hotel at Mattawamkeag, which is also large, and under Mr. Gates's management a well kept house. He now runs both hotels, spending a portion of his time at each place, his family living at Winn. Mr. Gates married Theolocia Randall, daughter of Charles and Susan Randall, of Springfield, Maine. They have four children: Stella, Ora, Fayette, and Vaughn.

Mrs. M. E. Willey, of Mattawamkeag, is a daughter of Mrs. Maria McNamara, late of Bangor. Mrs. Mc- Namara was born in Providence, Rhode Island, May 28, 1791. In 1813 she married John McNamara, who was engaged in the War of 1812 in supplying troops at the battle of Lake Champlain. They went to Boston, where Mr. McNamara engaged in business. They lived here until 1834, when the financial crisis caused him to fail in business. Mr. McNamara, feeling his losses very heavily, left Boston, and with many others became interested in Maine timber lands. He went to the Aroostook, then a new and wild country. The family soon followed, and to them the change was very great, as there were only log houses, and no privileges, either social or religious. The children, three daughters, pleased with the novelty, did not realize the change, but the mother, though deep- ly feeling it, accepted the changed circumstances, and with Christian fortitude looked up for strength, went bravely forward, comforting and sustaining her husband who soon sank under the change, and died in 1842 at the age of sixty-two years. In 1852, with her children, four in number, a son having been born here, she re- moved to Bangor and passed the remainder of her days

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in contentment, having the respect of all who knew her. She died June 29, 1863, leaving to her family and friends a bright example of the power of Christian faith and for- titude to sustain the trials and discipline of life. She had nine children, of whom four lived to grow up, viz : Ann Maria, deceased ; Mary Eliza, now Mrs. Willey, of Mattawamkeag ; Louisa, deceased, wife of William Wil- ley ; and John T., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Willey have no children.

Mr. A. O. Bailey, Master Mechanic in charge of the European & North American Railroad shops at Matta- wamkeag, is a son of James W. Bailey, of New Glouces- ter, Maine. His grandfather was Jacob Bailey, of the same place. James W. Bailey married Hannah Smith, of Lisbon, Maine. They had eight children, viz: Au- gustus O .; Martha, wife of William Lucas, of Sangerville, Maine ; Solomon ; H. C., deceased; James E., now in Belleville, Canada West ; Jennett, wife of Benjamin E. Swett, of Brunswick, Maine; Sarah H., deceased, wife of Silas B. Foster, of Gray ; Mary A., deceased, wife of Charles Latham, Portland. Both James W. Bailey and his wife are now deceased. A. O. Bailey, the oldest son of this family, was born February II, 1825. When seventeen years of age he went to work in the woolen factory in Gray, where he remained one year when he went to Sacarappa, Maine, where he remained one year in the same business. In 1844 he went to Turner, Maine, where he worked in the factory three years, hav- ing charge of the weaving room. From here he went back to Sacarappa and entered the machine shop to learn the machinist's trade. After spending some years here he went to Gorham and worked awhile, when the firm sold out and he went with Mr. Gammon to New Hamp- shire and remained about six months. About 1850 he went to Portland and worked at the same trade. about two years, after which he went into the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad, at Gorham, New Hampshire. Here he remained as locomotive foreman eleven years, until about 1863. After this he went into mercantile business in Gorham, New Hampshire, and continued about two years, when he went to Glen Cottage, New Hampshire, and lived about nine months engaged in building a summer hotel. The hotel took fire and burned, placing Mr. Bailey back where he started in life. After losing his property here he went to Portland and engaged with the same company for whom he had pre- viously worked, taking charge of their new engines as they were sent out until they were accepted by the pur- chasers. He remained in their employ about two years, when he came to Mattawamkeag, and has since remained as Master Mechanic for the European & North American Railroad, and has charge of their shops at this place. These are the only shops of the road. Mr. Bailey mar- ried Elizabeth A. Cloudman, daughter of John T. S. and Mary A. Cloudman. They have one son, Frederick A., now with his father in the shops. Mr. Bailey has found time in his busy life to serve his town several terms, both here and in New Hampshire, as Selectman.

W. H. Libbey, of Mattawamkeag, is a son of Joseph and Nancy Libbey (nee Nancy Foster), of Macwahoc,

Aroostook county. Joseph Libbey has five children, four of whom are living, viz: William H .; Charles O., now of Macwahoc; Oscar H., also in Macwahoc; Jennie K., deceased; Ada G., wife of M. Bowley, of Macwahoc. Mr. and Mrs. Libbey are both now living in Macwahoc. William H., the oldest son of this family was born March 3, 1844. His father being a farmer he spent his boy- hood on the farm and after becoming of age he entered the employ of M. Johnson, of South Molunkus, where he remained eight years, when he came to Mattawamkeag and opened a general merchandise store, which he has since carried on. In 1871 he married Miss Maria A. Blackwell, daughter of Oliver and Sabra Blackwell, of Patten. They have one adopted child, Joseph by name, a child of Mr. Libbey's sister, who died and left it when an infant. Mr. Libbey is at present a member of the Board of Selectmen of this town.

Alexander McClain, who came to Mattawamkeag from Readfield in 1846, is a son of Alexander and Esther Mc- Clain (nee Esther Robbins). Alexander McClain had two wives. By his first wife he had seven children, of whom Alexander, Jr., is the second son. Mr. McClain was a lumberman and was drowned in the year 1826. Alexander, Jr., was born July 24, 1823, and left home when a mere lad, being bound out to a man by the name of Soule, in the town of Hope. He left him when twelve and went to live with an uncle in Readfield. He lived here until about eighteen when he came to Mattawamkeag, where he has since lived, except ten years he spent in Molunkus, where he built a mill. He has been engaged in lumbering, milling and farming. He was for ten years Deputy Sheriff of this and Aroos- took county, and now has a nice place of sixteen acres in the village. He has been in charge of the drives on the Mattawamkeag for many years and sometimes takes the job to get down the logs. He married Mary I. Shedd, daughter of Nathan and Celinda Shedd (nee Celinda Black). They have had eleven children, viz : Benjamin F., deceased ; Thomas, in the West; Alexander, Jr., in Danforth, Maine; Ann Maria, deceased; Emma, wife of Humphrey Chadbourn, of Mattawamkeag; Mary I., deceased wife of Alexander Daugherty ; Etta May, wife of Alexander Daugherty ; Rufus R., now at home; Celinda A., deceased; Nathan S., and George W. Mr. McClain is at present United States Revenue Detective.

Mr. J. H. Jordan, of Mattawamkeag, is a son of Luther Jordan. This branch of the Jordan family can be traced by Luther Jordan back to his grandfather, whose name was John Jordan, of Mariaville, Hancock county, Maine. Luther's father's name was John C. Jordan, who lived in the same town. John C. Jordan married Lucy T. Jordan. They had nine children, of whom Luther is the fourth son. He was born March 23, 1819, in Mariaville. He lived in Mattawamkeag until about eight years since, when he moved to Ells- worth, where he now lives. He married Polly W. Moore, of Mariaville. They have seven children living, viz: Wilmot P., now in Eddington, Maine; J. Harvey; Myra, wife of John F. Frost, of Ellsworth; Luther, now in St. Johns, New Brunswick; Moses L., of Veazie;

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Addie E., now Mrs. Charles Buzzell, of Veazie, and Eva J., now Mrs. Alonzo Jordan, of Ellsworth.

J. Harvey was born March 10, 1843. He first settled in Veazie, where he lived about one year when he moved to Brewer. He now owns a residence there. He came here to Mattawamkeag about four years since, in

1877, and bought the shingle-mill on Mattaseunk Stream. Since then he has built a saw-mill and now manufac- tures boards, shingles, and laths. He married Asha Spencer, of Veazie. They have two children, viz: Nathaniel and Albert H. He owns a farm also in con- nection with his mill.

MILFORD.

SOME NOTES THEREOF.

Our little bark of history now floats for many miles adown the broad Penobscot, till it is moored beside the traditional site of Tarratine sovereignty at Oldtown Island, and looks across the broad acres of old "Sunk- haze Plantation," the modern Milford. This town is only six and one-quarter miles from the northwest corner of Bangor; is immediately on the east bank of the Pe- nobscot; adjoins Hancock county on about two-fifths of its eastern boundary, and is separated only by Green- field from Township No. 39, in Hancock. It is bounded on the north by Greenbush; on the east by Greenfield and the Hancock county township No. 32; on the south by Bradley; and on the west by the Penobscot, beyond which are Oldtown and a narrow breadth of Argyle. In the river between, however, are Oldtown. Island, the lowermost of the Indian reservation, and still almost the exclusive place of residence for the tribe; northwest of it the larger Orson Island; below it the smaller one crossed by the tracks of the European & North American Railroad; and a small is let opposite the south line of Argyle.

The north boundary of Milford is almost one-fifth of a mile short of six miles; the east line is six miles long; the south line six and two-thirds miles; and the west line, following the windings of the Penobscot, is a little more than six and one-half miles in length. The north and south lines diverge a trifle from perfect parallelism, from east and west, so that the greatest breadth of the town, from north to south on a line dropped from the northwest corner, is about a quarter of a mile longer than the east line. 'The greatest length, from the inner- most bend at Milford village, is about seven miles. This line crosses the interesting series of waters known as the Otter Chain Ponds, a singular collection of small lakes, none of which are more than two thirds of a mile in length, and most of them but half a mile by perhaps half the length in greatest breadth in each case. The main part of the Chain is in the southwest quarter of the

town, back from Milford village, and beginning one and one-half miles from the river. It consists of a series of seven ponds, lying in a rude triangle, with a sort of open handle to it, the whole two and one-eighth miles in greatest length and one and one-half in largest breadth. Each pond is connected with another, the last, singular to say, joining by an outlet to the first about midway of its length. The little streams con- necting the ponds are each but one-third to three- fourths of a mile long. The pond at the south angle of the triangle is the largest, being two-thirds of a mile long by about one third in widest width. Just be- low the northwest angle is the last lake of the seven, half a mile below which is another small, narrow one, and a few rods further another, and smaller, beyond which the outlet runs one-third of a mile to the town line near the southwest corner, and then half a mile to the Penobscot through Great Works, where it furnishes valuable power.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 223

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