History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 74

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 74

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half-way across, stopping at its intersection with the north and south road through Charleston post office. A similar highway enters from Bradford, and stops at the same road, a little more than a mile south of the central route. A shorter road, but with the same general direc- tion, is still south of this, and connects the north and south road in the east of the town with a road to the northwest into that through Charleston post-office. The two roads across the town north and south are about two miles apart, the former running nearly through the cen- tre of the town ; and they preserve a rather remarkable parallelism. One more road very nearly traverses the entire town. It leaves the central north and south road close upon the south line of the town, and runs off north- westerly to a point very near the northwest corner, whence it cuts across the angle of Piscataquis into Gar- land. West Charleston is upon the crossing of this and the central east and west road. At the intersection of the two central roads, in almost the exact geographical centre of the town, there is no village, and scarcely a house, but the school-house No. 10 is quite near. Charleston village is about a mile north of this point. At this place is the Union church and cemetery, and an academy building. Schools, mills, stores, shops, and other buildings of public importance, are scattered quite thickly over the town, to accommodate a population

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

which has left few vacant tracts of any large size upon its surface.

Charleston is also an exceedingly well-watered town, though it is an interesting fact that the furthest northern part, for about a mile's width, is almost destitute of streams, except the headwaters of two or three brooks that flow southward into Corinth. A very small stream makes a rough semi-circle across the northwest corner of the town. In the second tier of sections, or square miles, from the north line a considerable number of creeks have their sources. They join other streams, which in turn unite with larger ones and receive more tributaries, until the south half of the town is full of brooks, One stream with its affluents in the southwest and west of the town is not unlike a tree in the number and form of its branches. No less than thirty five main streams and branches appear upon the map of Charles- ton, most of them in the southern half. All but two of these send their waters into Corinth, where the principal streams they form are the Crooked Brook and the Bear Brook, which becomes the Pushaw Stream after passing the outlet of Little Pushaw Pond, in Hudson. There is a small lake near the east line of Charleston, half a mile west of School No. 6, with a saw-mill at its outlet; also some broadening of two other streams, but not amounting to more than a mill-pond in either case. Sev- eral mills have been built at the ponds near School No. 4. The valleys and ravines which are made by so num- erous streams aid greatly to diversify the surface of this town. The soil of Charleston is quite fertile, and it is ac- counted a fine farming town.

The township which forms Charleston is No. 2, in the_ Fifth Range. The first white settler upon it came in 1795, and was either Charles Vaughan or, as Mr. Wil- liamson says (History of Maine, vol. ii., page 618), one or more who settled under his auspices. The territory was still in the possession of the State, and so remained for seven years, or until July 14, 1802, when it was granted to John Lowell. Less than nine years thereafter it was ready for incorporation as a town, and became "New Charleston" on the 16th of February, 1811, the same day that Exeter and Garland were ushered into be- ing at the hands of the General Court. It retained this name so lately as 1820, but by and by had it shortened by the dropping of the unnecessary and cumbersome "New," since which time it has been known simply as "Charleston." It was the one hundredth and eighty-first town incorporated within the present limits of Maine.

At this time Charleston had nearly 250 inhabitants. It had 210 people within its borders in 1810; 344 in 1820; 859 in 1830 (an increase of 150 per cent, the greatest in its history for a single decade); 1,269 in 1840; 1,283 in 1850; 1,430 in 1860; 1,191 in 1870; and I, III in 1880.

Charleston had 61 polls in 1812, with a valuation of estates to the amount of $1,363.38, and taxation of 22 cents on the $1,000. In 1820 the polls counted 87, and the estates were $29,483, In 1860 the figures were, respectively, 308 and $213,465; in 1870, 330 and $290,- 279; and in 1880, 293 and $277,883.

The first church in the town was Calvinistic Baptist. It was formed in 1810 (though Mr. Williamson says 1811), partly under the auspices of the Rev. Paul Rug- gles, of Garmel. Rev. Henry Hale, however, was its first settled minister. It had sixty-seven members in 1821. Elder John S. Higgins is now the pastor in charge. A Free Baptist or Union Church has also been founded in Charleston, to which Rev. B. F. Gerry is preacher. There is likewise a Universalist society in town, the pulpit of which is vacant at present.

The Charleston Academy was founded many years ago, and acquired a wide and excellent reputation. Many prominent citizens of the county and State were educated in part within its walls.

The post-offices are at Charleston and West Charles- ton. Thomas J. Peaks, Esq., is in charge of the former, and Mr. B. H. Ham of the latter.

The town has one resident lawyer, one doctor, three mercantile establishments, as many lumber manufacturers, one wheelwright, and three smiths.

The Charleston Cheese Factory Association was in- corporated February 12, 1874.

The Free Masons have a lodge at Charleston called Olive Branch. The Good Templars are organized in Oak Hill Lodge, No. 211, and meet on Wednesday even- ings. The Patrons of Husbandry have the Charleston Grange, No. 105.

OFFICERS FOR 1881.

C. T. Dunning, Melvin F. Martin, Nathan C. Trim, Selectmen; Amasa Holden, Town Clerk; H. C. Holden, Treasurer ; Frank Ross, Samuel L. Paine, Constables; Henry P. Haynes, School Supervisor; Thomas J. Peaks (Quorum), A. W. King, George W. Dunning, H. P. Haynes (Trial), Justices.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

William Tibbetts, sr., was born in England April 21, 173I. He married Laurania Young, and came to Bos- ton at an early day, where he remained but a short time. From Boston he moved to Goldsboro, Maine, and re- mained several years. He was one among the first set- tlers and pioneers of Bangor, as there were not more than a dozen buildings in the place at the time he ar- rived, and there was not a church in Penobscot county. He raised a large family of children, as follows: Abner, who married a Miss Davis, and died in Exeter; George, who married a Miss Dow, in Penobscot county, and moved to Indiana with his family, where he died; Wil- liam, married Sarah Thoms and died in Kenduskeag; Benjamin, married Hannah Rose and moved to Indiana, where he died ; a daughter, who married David Mann, and is dead ; Mary, married Jonathan Snow and moved to Kentucky, where she died; and Laurania, married Elisha Mahue and moved to Indiana, where she died. The elder Tibbetts died in Penobscot county, respected by all. His wife survived him several years, and moved to Indiana, where she died at the residence of her son, Benjamin. William, the third son, was born in the town of Goldsboro, about the year 1765. He came to this county and settled at Bangor, where he remained until

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

he became of age, and then removed to Kenduskeag, where he took up a farm in the wilderness. There was not a white man north of him to the Canada line. He cleared up a farm, on which he remained all his life. He married Sarah Thoms, of Bangor, and was the father of eleven children, five boys and six girls, viz : Elisha, who married Jane Mathews and died in Kenduskeag; Thomas, died at the age of eight years ; Hiram, married Eliza B. Stockman and lives in Charleston; William, married Sarah Cole and died in Corinth; George, mar- ried Rachel Black and lives in Corinth; Purcilla, mar- ried George Simpson and died in Corinth; Nancy, mar- ried James S. Norcross, and died in Glenburn; Mary, twice married, first to a Mr. Beath, second, to James Tibbetts-she lives in California; Susan, married William Webber and lives in Bangor; and Betsey, who died at the age of eight years. The father died in Kenduskeag in 1837; his wife survived him several years and died in Glenburn at the residence of her daughter, Jane, who had married Daniel Wooster.

Hiram Tibbetts was born in Kenduskeag December 8, 1803. He received a common school education and followed school-teaching for a number of years, but has devoted the greater part of his life to farming. He came to Charleston April 10, 1825, and in 1840 settled near the centre of the town, on the farm on which he now lives. He has held the office of Town Clerk for about twelve years, and in 1837 represented his class in the Legislature; is a member of the Baptist Church; in poli- tics was originally a Jacksonian Democrat, but joined the Republican party in 1854, to which he still belongs. He married Eliza B. Stockman, a native of Penobscot county, May 17, 1832. She died July 15, 1874, in Charleston. He is the father of ten children, five boys and five girls: David, lives in Marysville, California; William was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863, while a member of the Sixth Maine Infantry ; Charles, married Sarah Jennings, a native of Connecti- cut, and lives in Charleston; Henry L., lives in Lowell, Massachusetts; Clarence E., married Abby Foss and lives in New York; Isabella C., married Emmons Kings- bury, of Bradford; Sarah, married John Johnson, of East Sullivan, Maine; Mary, married Frederick A. Thayer and lives in Charleston; and Eliza F., married Joseph Ellis and lives in Charleston.

Solomon Dunning was born in Levant in 1800. He came to Charleston with his father at an early day, settled on the farm now owned by William E. Dunning, and married Susan Kingsbury, of Bradford. He followed the mercantile business in company with Amasa Holden, in Charleston Centre for about forty years; held the office of Selectman of the town for a number of years, and that of County Commissioner of Penobscot county for one term. He represented his class in the State Legis- lature two terms; was a member of the Baptist church; in politics was Republican. He died in 1871, in Charles- ton. His wife survives him. He was the father of nine children-Hannah J., married Daniel Morton, lives at Winterport; Henry W., married Lizzie Stephens, was accidentally killed in California; Emily, died in Charles-

ton; William E., married Susan Wyllie, lives in Charles- ton; Rachel, married S. C. Holden, lives in Wauseon, Ohio; Harrison, married Mellissa Joslyn, lives in Stock- ton, California; Horatio, married Evie Beacon, lives in Pleasant Grove, Iowa; Eudora, married R. R. Wyllie, Chelsea, Massachusetts; and Freeland, married Jane Rowars, Pleasant Grove, Iowa. William E. was born in Charleston in 1834. He received a common-school edu. cation, and also attended the Charleston Academy .. He is a farmer, in which business he is now engaged. In 1853 he went around by the Isthmus to California, where he engaged in mining, and remained there eleven years, when he returned to his native place and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1864 he married Susan E. Wyllie, a native of Warren, Maine. He has represented his class in the Legislature one term. In politics he is Republican. He is the father of one child, Richard T., who lives at home.

Mark Scribner was born in Kennebec county, Maine, in 1804. He married Dolly Cilly, a native of Brooks, and came to Penobscot county in 1829, settling on the farm now owned by Charles H. Scribner; he was a farmer, in which business he was engaged all his life. In politics he was a Democrat. He died at his residence in 1866; his wife died at the same place in 1877. He was the father of six children-Caroline, who lives in Utah Territory, engaged in teaching school, is the only Gentile in the territory that teaches a Mormon school, and has been engaged in the business for the past four years; Mary J., married Joseph Bridgham, and lives in Corinth; Daniel W., married Sarah Stephens, and lives in Utah Territory; Newell, lives in the same country; Alvena, married John M. Cary, and lives in Bad Axe, Huron county, Michigan; and Charles H., married Cora Dunning, lives at the old homestead.

Charles H. Scribner was born in the town of Charles- ton in 1849; here he received a common-school educa- tion, and also attended the Charleston Academy several terms. He followed farming until eighteen years of age, when he went to Corinth and learned the harness-making trade under Charles Edmunds. He remained here three years, then went to Calais, where he engaged in carriage trimming and remained three years. He then returned home and engaged in harness-making and farming. In 1877 he went to Michigan, where he re- mained but a short time, when he returned to his native place and engaged again in harness-making and farming, in which business he is now. He manufactures every- thing in the line of harness that is known to the trade. In 1878 he married Cora Dunning, a native of Charles- ton. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but in 1879 became a member of the Greenback party. He is the father of one child, John M. Scribner.

Lyman Lord was born in the town of Lyman in 1805. He married Lydia Daniels in the town of Kennebunk York county, Maine, in 1827. He came to Penobscot county in 1831 ; first settled in Bradford on the farm now owned by Jason Mosier, and followed farming ard lum- bering the greater part of his life. He died in Charles- ton in 1862; his wife survives him. In politics he was

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

for many years an old-line Whig, but in after years was a member of the Democratic party. He was the father of eight children: Lyman, who married Josephine Burn- ham, and died in Charleston; Elbridge G., married Eva A. Place, and lives in Charleston; Ivory D., lives in San Buenaventura, California; Charles, died in infancy ; Mary E., married Moses Goss and lives in Corinth ; Lydia A., married Henry C. Young, and lives in Greenville, near Moosehead Lake; Winfield S., married and lives in Pennsylvania, and Eastman T., who lives in Charleston. Elbridge G. Lord was born in Bradford in 1833 ; came to Charleston with his father in 1843; received a com- mon school education and also attended school at the Lincoln Academy; practiced the trade of millman for several years in Penobscot and Aroostook counties; in 1858 went to California via the Isthmus, and engaged in lumbering and mining. In 1873 he returned to his native place and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He has held the office of Selectman of Charleston for one term. He takes great delight in fishing and hunting; is considered one of the best marksmen in his section of the country, and is also one of the most suc- cessful disciples of Izaak Walton who visit Moosehead Lake. In politics he is a Republican. In 1873 he mar- ried Eva A. Place, a native of Charleston, and is the father of two children, Alice J. and Elbridge B. In 1877 he was elected by his class to the State Legislature, where he served one term.

Jacob Foss was born in New Hampshire in 1792. He married Abigail Foos, a native of the same State in 1831. He came to Penobscot county in 1831. He set- tled in Charleston in 1833, on the farm now owned by Job B. Foos. He was the father of twelve children, eight boys and four girls. Seven of the sons and one daughter are living: Job B., on the old homestead; Richard L., married Ann Dennis, and lives in Charles- ton ; Mary Jane, married William S. Place and lives in Charleston; John E., married Anna Huckins and lives in Charleston; Zebedee H., married Irene Nash and lives at Stillwater, Minnesota; Albert, married and also lives in Minnesota; Samuel W., married Statira Reed and lives in Charleston; James, lives in Charleston ; Alexander, married Anna Thompson, and died in Charleston; Eliza- beth, married Alonzo Dunning and died in Charleston; Marion, married Elbridge Thompson and died in Charles- ton, and Ellen, married A. W. King and lives in Charles- ton. He died in Charleston in 1879. His wife survives him.

Franklin King was born in the town of Whitefield, in the year 1806. He married Mary Hurd, of Harmony, in 1830; came to Penobscot county in 1836, and first set- tled in Bradford, on the farm now owned by Hosea Hurd. He was a farmer, in which business he was en- gaged all his life; was a member and deacon of the Free- will Baptist church for many years; in politics was Republican. He died in the town of Surry, of heart disease, in the year 1876. His wife died in Bradford, in 1873. He was the father of six children-Hiram F., died in California; Ansel W., married Ellen S. Foss, lives in Charleston; Hosea J., married Nancy Crommett,

lives in Charleston; Frank M., married Emma Smith, lives in Bradford; John L., lives in Charleston; and Eva M., married Dr. Frank Bickford, lives in the Indian Territory. Ansel W. King was born in the town of Wel- lington, in 1834; came to Penobscot county with his father, and settled in the town of Bradford, in 1836; re- ceived a common school education, and also attended the academies in Foxcroft, Corinth, and Hampden for several terms, where he received a more liberal educa- tiou. He followed school teaching for a few years, but gave it up and turned his attention to farming, in which business he is now engaged. In 1856 he went to Cali- fornia and engaged in mining until 1860, when he re- turned to his native place. He held the office of Select- man of Charleston for four years, and was Chairman of the Board during his whole term. He has also been Supervisor of Schools for two years, and was commis- sioned Trial Justice of Penobscot county by Governor Chamberlain, and subsequently Governor Conner, which office he now holds. In politics he was formerly a Re- publican, but became a member of the Greenback party at its organization. He married Ellen S. Foss, of Charles- ton, in 1862, and is the father of four children-Wilber M. died in Bradford, Alice also died, Walter M. lives at home, and Fred W.

William Peaks was born in Dedham, Hancock county, Maine, in 1843; came to Penobscot county, March 12, 1839, and settled in Charleston, on the farm now owned by Samuel Miller; was a millman by trade, and followed the business in connection with farming; in politics was a Jacksonian Democrat. He married Mrs. Betsy Fair- field, a native of Freedom, Waldo county. He died in Charleston in 1846; his wife died at the same place, in 1870. He was the father of seven children, five boys and two girls-J. F., married Mary J. Dennett, and died in Green, Iowa, 1878; J. B., married Jane Eaton of Ken- dall's Mills, Maine, and died at Charleston in 1867; William G., married Alice Porter, of Hudson, and lives in Lowell, Massachusetts; Thomas J., who married Rebecca Ring, of Deerfield, New Hampshire, lives in Charleston ; Joseph B., who married Eliza Chadburn, and lives in Dover; Lucinda H., who married John B. Leach, and lives in the town of Penobscot; Elmira, who married Hiram Folsom, and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Thomas J. Peaks was born in the town of Dedham in 1834; came to Charleston with his father at the age of five years, and settled on the same farm. He received his education in the common schools and the academy at Charleston. In 1851 he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he pursued the trade of millman, in which busi- ness he was engaged nine years. While in Lowell he married Rebecca Ring, in 1855. In 1860 he returned to Charleston and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he is now. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second Maine Infantry, and was elected by his company to the rank of Second Lieutenant. In the following year he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. While in the service he took part in the battle of Irish Bend and the siege of Port Hudson. In 1863 he was mustered out of service with his regiment,

Where I ales

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

and returned to Charleston and resumed business as a merchant. He has held the offices of Selectman and Town Clerk of Charleston for one term each, and in 1873 was elected Representative of his class, and served one term. In 1876 and 1877 he was elected State Senator. In 1870 he was appointed postmaster, under Johnson's administration, which office he still holds. In politics he is a Republican. He is the father of one child, Henry W., who lives at home.

Levi Marshall was born in Monmouth, Kennebec county, Maine, in 1821. In 1854 he came to Penobscot county, and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1850 he married Drusilla Stephens, a native of Corinth. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Republican. He it the father of four children : Nellie A., lives at home; Emma L., who mar- ried John S. Shedd, and lives in Charleston; Willis S., lives at home; and Annie P., also at home.

Jefferson Stephens was born in Winthrop in 1805. He

married Statira Snow, a native of Orrington, in 1823, came to Penobscot county in 1828, and settled on the farm now owned by Levi Marshall, in Charleston. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics was a Republican. His first wife died in Charleston in 1857. He married for his second wife Lydia T. Thissell, who died in Charleston in 1876. He died in 1872. He was the father of nine children: George S., married Pemelia M. King, and lives at South Framingham, Massachusetts ; Drusilla, married Levi Mar- shall, and lives in Charleston; Betsey M .; Obed C .; Jacquith, who died at Corinth; Daniel S., who died at the age of ten years, in Orrington; and Judah B., who died in Charleston at the age of sixteen; Levi, died of disease contracted in the late war ; James, who was a soldier in the regular army and died in service; Alexan- der, married Penial Bither, and died in Charleston; and Hannah B., who lives in the old homestead.

CHESTER.

TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

Chester is one of the up-river towns, which has a tole- rably extensive area, but is not fully developed as yet, al- though it has a population quite respectable in point of numbers. It lies on the northwest side of the Penobscot, which here runs almost exactly from northeast to south- west, having Winn and Lincoln on the opposite side, Woodville Plantation on the north, with a strip of Town- ship No. 2, and a larger portion of the same township as its next neighbor on the west. The country westward and northwestward for many miles is still very much in wil- derness.

opposite Brown Island, another near the head of Hersey Island, and the Medunkeunk Stream, a brook of some importance, nearly two miles from the southwest corner of the town. The Medunkeunk heads in Township A, west of Woodville, passes through Township 2, forming one good-sized lake on the way, enters Chester close to its northwest corner, receives the Trout Brook from Township 2 a mile and a quarter below, and two and a half miles from the mouth of the river is joined on the east side by Ebhors Stream, the two making a considera- ble pond at the place of meeting. The East and West Branches of the Ebhors rise in Woodville, and flow southward to the point of union in a pond on the north and south road through the town, where a saw- and shin- gle-mill has been located. These are all the waters of Chester.

Chester is thirty-five miles from Bangor, and twelve and one-half from the west line of the county. If the. river ran past it in a straight course-it does pretty nearly so-the town would be a perfect triangle, with sides eleven and one-third miles long on the river, nine miles The four hundred people, more or less, of the popula- tion of the town, reside almost altogether on the river road and up the Medunkeunk. A small settlement is formed on the north line of the town, near School No. 6, on the north and south road above mentioned. More than twelve miles of the river road lie in this town, and it ends, or did end until recently, at the northeast corner of Chester. A mile and a quarter from the west town line, it forks, the two branches, however, remaining quite near together. School-house No. 7 is at their junction; School on the north boundary, and seven and one-half on the west. The town includes thus about 34 square miles, or 21,760 acres. A number of islands lie in the river opposite its shore, belonging to the reservation of the Penobscot Indians. The two largest, Hersey and Nathan Islands, are between the Chester and Lincoln banks; the Snow, Gordon, Brown, and Fire Islands, with six or eight smaller ones, are between Chester and Winn. The Penobscot receives from this town one petty tributary a little above the Fire Islands another . No. 2 on the same road, opposite Nathan's Island; School

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 74

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