History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 76

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 76

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Mr. Walter Haynes, who first came to Chester in 1825, and settled here in 1829, is a son of Walter and Eleanor Haynes (nee Craig), of Readfield. Walter and Eleanor Haynes had ten children, of whom Walter is the oldest. He was born March 14, 1804, and lived for a few years in Foxcroft, where he followed the milling business. He came to Chester and settled when he was twenty-six years old. He cleared the place where he lives from the standing trees, and now has a good farm on the bank of the Penobscot River. He married Lydia

Carlton, daughter of Daniel Carlton, of Foxcroft. This couple have had nine children-Charles, of Minnesota; Walter, also in Minnesota; Daniel, of Winn; Lydia A., widow of Sullivan Keen; Langdon, of Montana; Hiram, deceased; Lovina, deceased; Henry, of Chester; Elvira, wife of Cyrus Smith, of Chester; Converse, of Lincoln Centre; Cynthia, wife of Frank: Jenkins, of Danforth, Maine; Martin, of Chester. Mr. Haynes has held many of the prominent town offices, and has been postmaster for over twenty-years. He is well known as one of the oldest settlers aud leading men in Chester.

Mr. George H. Haynes, a son of Walter Haynes, whose biography appears in this work, was born June 2, 1842, in the town of Chester. He has always lived on a farm. In 1861 he married Ada Heald, daughter of Andrew J. and Mary Heald. He first settled in Lin- coln, where he lived two years. He moved to Chester from Lincoln in 1865 and settled on what is known as the Bunker farm, where he lived two years, when he bought one-half of Mr. Heald's farm and lived there about one and a half years. In 1870 he bought the farm where he now lives, in what is known as the Chesley neighborhood. Here he owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, and is a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have six children-Elmer E., Charles C., Josie M., Agnes, Henry H., and the baby not named. Mr. Haynes has held his position as Selectman for twelve years almost consecutively. He has also been Town Treasurer of Chester. These positions show that he is held in high esteem as a business man by his towns- men.

One of the first settlers in Chester before the town was incorporated was Mrs. Paul Stratton, who came here from Albion, Kennebec county, in 1831. At that time there were very few settlers here. He was then married to Sarah A. Frazier, and had four children. He settled on the place where Mr. William Stratton now lives, and spent the remainder of his life here following the busi- ness of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton had ten children, viz: Mary, wife of George Robertson; Eliza, now Mrs. Josiah. Snow; William A .; Lewis F., now in Ban- gor; Jane, now Mrs. James Snow; Eunice S., wife of James P. Crowell, of Orono; George H., now of Minne- sota; Ellen D., now Mrs. Otis T. Hooper, of Boston; Martha C., wife of William Jewell, of Gorham, New Hampshire, and Guilford D., of Mattawamkeag. It is quite a remarkable fact that all of this large family are still living. Mrs. Stratton died in April, 1879. Mr. Stratton is slill living, being eighty-four years old. William Stratton was born in St. John, New Brunswick, September 5, 1827. He came here with his father and on becoming of age settled in Winn. He lived in Winn nine years, then moved back to Chester, where he has since lived, engaged in farming and lumbering. He married Miss Julia H. Snow, daughter of Israel H. and Sarah H. Snow, of Bangor. They have had eight chil- dren, viz: Fred W., Ida M., deceased; Paul, Henry H., Everett B., Sarah A., Charles A., and the baby which died in infancy.

Abram B. Brown is a son of Samuel G. and Mary W.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Brown (nee Mary Coombs) of Albion, Kennebec county. Mr. Brown was a native of New Hampshire, and Mrs. Brown was a native of Islesboro." They had thirteen children, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz: Lydia C., now Mrs. Jonathan Gilman, of Bangor; Lois B., wife of Jeremiah D. Webber, of Winn; Abbie M., now Mrs. Nicholas H. Huston, of Winn; Abram S. Warren, de- ceased; Lindley H., deceased; Clarissa J., deceased. Mr. Brown followed the business of farming, but held prominent town offices during his life. He died in January, 1872; Mrs. Brown died in 1870. Abram Brown was born November 5, 1827, in Albion, He came to Chester with his parents when a child, and has ever since lived here. He married Miss Ellen Rich, daughter of Robert and Martha Rich, of Mattawamkeag. They have five children, viz: Lida, Gilman B., Willie W., Edith, and Harriet C. Mr. Brown owns a good farm on the river in Chester. He formerly was a pilot on the river. He has served as Selectman and Overseer for over eighteen years, which speaks well for his ability as a business man. Mrs. Brown died February 9, 1879.

Mr. John W. Coombs, of Chester, is a son of Jona- than and Ann Coombs, nee Ann Monroe, of Albion, Kennebec county. They came from Albion and settled in Winn in 1843. They had seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, viz: Angeline, now Mrs. Wil- liam Bryant, of Passadumkeag; John W., Joseph, de- ceased ; Franklin, of Winn; Harrison, also of Winn; and two died in infancy. Mr. Coombs always followed farming for a business. He died July 1, 1876. Mrs. Coombs is still living on the old homestead. John W. Coombs was born October 21, 1832; on becoming of age he married Harriet B. Stratton, of Chester, and settled where he now lives, just opposite Winn, in Ches- ter. He cleared up the farm, and now has a hundred acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Coombs have no children, but are bringing up two adopted children. Mr. Coombs has generally followed farming, though he was formerly a pilot on the river here. Mr. Coombs has not been engaged in public life to any extent.

Mr. S. Besse, of Chester, is a son of John and Betsey 37

Besse, nee Betsey Tripp, who were from Massachusetts. They had fourteen children, of whom Mr. S. Besse was the sixth. He was born in Paris, Maine, June 25, 1815. He spent his early life on a farm, and on coming of age he attended school for several years, not having had an opportunity to get an education earlier in life. After attending school at Hebron Academy he settled in Lin- coln, where he lived twenty-five years. He was all this time, or nearly so, the pastor of the Baptist church. On account of failing health he retired to the farm where he now lives, in Chester, in 1870. While in Lincoln he was a member of the School Board for ten or fifteen consecutive years. Mr. Besse now owns a good farm in Chester, about three-fourths of a mile from Lincoln Centre. He is and has for years been one of the pro- nounced temperance men of this region. Since his removal to Chester he has been one of the Selectmen, or Town Treasurer, or School Committeeman, almost every year. In 1877. or 1878 he represented the District com- posed of Lincoln, Patten, and other towns in the Legis- lature. He is a man that is well known and highly es- teemed, as his public record shows.

STATISTICS, ETC.

Chester had 277 inhabitants in 1840, 340 in 1850, 318 in 1860, 350 in 1870, and 362 in 1880. Its period of retrogression, it will be observed, was between 1850 and 1860, since when it has not only held its own, but made some advance in point of population.

The voters in Chester numbered 73 in 1860, 75 in 1870, and 97 in 1880. The increase by thirty per cent during the last decade is quite noticeable.

Valuation of estates: 1860, $27,902; 1870, $47,103; 1880, $42,760.

The following named were the town officers in 1880: G. Henry Haynes, A. B. Brown, Sylvester Besse, Select- men; William A. Scott, Town Clerk; A. L. Chandler, Treasurer; J. D. Kyle, School Supervisor; A. L. Chand- ler, James W. Wyman, Constables; George H. Haynes, George H. Hathorn (quorum), Justices.

CLIFTON.

Clifton was formerly known as Jarvis's Gore, and is described in the act of the General Court of Massachu- setts, creating the county of Penobscot, as "The Gore east of Brewer." Notwithstanding these designations, the town, as it now lies, has but partial resemblance to a gore. About two-thirds of its length and breadth, in the central and southern parts, has rather the shape of a parallelogram, while the northern part narrows from the westward during but little more than half its width, and is bounded on the north by a nearly east and west line. This boundary, however, is but two and one-fourth miles long. Beyond it lies Bradley. The angling or gore line on the northwest, four and one-half miles long, also separates Clifton from Bradley, and, for a short dis- tance on the extreme southwest end of it, from Edding- ton. The west line is three and three-fourths miles long, and also lies between Eddington and Clifton. The south limit is five and one-fourth miles long, and beyond it lies the town of Otis, in Hancock county. The east line of Clifton is unbroken, and is the longest boundary of all, being seven miles in length. Upon parts of each of the confines, save the north, lie small lakes or ponds -Hopkins upon the eastern, Spectacle and Burnt upon the southern, Fitts and Nichols upon the western and northwestern. The town is ten and one-third miles dis- tant from Bangor, upon a line nearly due east and west between the two towns.

As already intimated, there is a great deal of water in and about Clifton. The largest sheet that enters it is Nichols Pond, in the northwest. This lies mostly in Bradley, but partly in Eddington, and reaches Clifton only by two small bays, covering about one hundred and sixty acres. Into the northernmost of these, close to the town line, flows a short creek, formed half a mile eastward by the union of the Mill Stream, flowing from the Parks Pond, near the centre of the town, a sheet two-thirds of a mile long by three-eighths broad, and covering one hundred and forty acres, and the Trout Brook, which rises just south of Eagle Mountain, and receives the small tributaries from the southward on its way. The other bay in Clifton also receives a small af- fluent, which heads at the foot of Bald Mountain. An- other brook, flowing from Davis Pond to the south bay of Nichols Pond, just in the edge of Eddington, courses through a short arc in Clifton. Immediately at its en- trance into the town it is joined by the outlet of Snow Shoe Pond, a small lake of thirty acres, also near the town line, a little southwest of Bald Mountain. This outlet runs for about half a mile in Clifton, then for a mile or less in Eddington, and finally for another half- mile near the town line to the junction with the outlet of

Davis Pond. Near the southwest corner of the town is Fitts Pond, one and one-eighth miles long by three- eighths broad in its widest part, with a rivulet at the head, coming in from the west of Snow Shoe Pond. A hundred rods east of the middle of Fitts is Little Burnt Pond, half a mile north of Burnt Pond (sixty acres), which lies mostly in Hancock county, and with which its little sister is connected by a narrow outlet. Nearly two miles east of these is Spectacle Pond, a long, narrow lake of one hundred acres, also reaching into Otis, but with about a mile of its length in Clifton. It also has à short headwater, with a very little lake upon it. Hopkins Pond, in the southeast of the town, lies mostly in Han- cock county, but has about half a square mile (three hundred and forty acres) of surface In Penobscot, with a small tributary lying wholly in Clifton, and rising near the corner of the town. The enumeration of lakes is completed with the mention of Owl's Pond, a small one near Eagle Mountain, with a petty headwater from the southeast and a short outlet into Parks Pond; and of Cranberry Pond, which contains forty acres. Some smaller ponds, however, give life and beauty to the scenery, and furnish some power for mills. The north part or "gore" of the town contains no ponds except small portions of Parks and Nichols; but is amply watered by the Bradbury Brook Branch, which itself di- vides into two branches, one on each side of Little Peaked Mountain, and joins a small branch near the north line, whence it flows into Bradley, as the Great Works Stream, intersecting that town throughout.

The incidental mention already of so many "moun- tains" leads easily to the remark that much of the sur- face of Clifton is broken, and parts of it quite abruptly hilly, making, with the ponds, its scenery decidedly varied and picturesque. The town derives its name, in- deed, from the cliffy character of several of the larger hills. On the west side, about two-thirds of a mile from the boundary and half-way down the town from the end. ing of the gore, is Bald Mountain, whose very name par- tially describes and identifies it. Three miles north of east from it, near Owl's Pond, is Eagle Mountain. A lit- tle more than a mile north of this is another eminence of respectable height, and half a mile northeast of it is the well-known Little Peaked Mountain, a prominent object in the landscape, whose height has been ascertained by President Fernald, of the State College, by trigonomet- rical measurement to be 1, 125 feet. About the same distance south of east from it, and on the east town line, is a rather long elevation known as the Peaked Moun- tain. Many subordinate heights, which need not be re- capitulated here, appear at other points in the town. The

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

famous Black Cap Mountain lies just outside the town, in the border of Eddington, abreast of Fitts Pond.

Notwithstanding the occupation of some space by these mountains and lakes, there is still abundant area left for cultivation and other industry ; and the beginnings of numerous and prosperous settlement have been well made in Clifton. Most of it, so far, rests along the road which comes from the river road on the Penobscot, at Eddington's Bend, runs through Eddington to Davis Pond, and there makes an angle to the northeastward into Clifton, through which it runs in the same general direction to its exit into Hancock county, between the Bradbury Brook Branch and Peaked Mountain. This is the stage road from Eddington to Amherst, in the lat- ter county.

Residences are quite thickly scattered along the six or seven miles of the river road in Clifton. Upon it are public school-houses, one mile from the west town line, at the road junction near Parks Pond (No. 2), and at another union of roads somewhat northwest of Little Peaked Mountain (No. 1). The highway coming in here is a neighborhood route of near two miles' length, with a short side road to Peak Mountain. The road which comes in west of Parks Pond, at School No. 2, is a through cross-road, connecting the first with the road of second importance in the town. It leaves the principal wagon-route at the Penney Store, near the crossing of Trout Brook, where the only post-office as yet in the town is kept, and runs in a general southeasterly direc- tion to a point three-fourths of a mile from the southeast corner of the town, where it passes into Hancock county. Upon this is School No. 5, a mile east of Spectacle Pond; the locality known as Owl's Head, whence a trail runs to Spectacle Pond; a cemetery directly above the junction of the cross-road aforesaid; School No. 4 a third of a mile above that; the hall of the Independent Order of Good Templars half a mile beyond that, and at no great distance the store and post-office already mentioned at the junction with the main road. North of this latter highway there is yet no road of importance in the town. The nearest railroad is the Bangor and Bucksport Nar- row-guage, along the river in Eddington.

At places upon the surface of Clifton, there are huge granite boulders and large pudding-stones and conglom- · erate rocks, some of them containing a thousand cubic feet or more. Occasionally a shell-rock is also found. The area of the town is about 20, 150 acres.

The first clearings in this town were made in 1812, by Messrs. Benjamin and Israel Barnes. Benjamin Penney and his family came in 1816. Their descendants still reside in considerable number in the town, and several of them, as will be seen below, are among its public offi- cers. Among the early settlers were also Ebenezer Davis and Mr. Parks.

This tract took the early name of Jarvis's Gore, from an original owner; but, when it came to be incorporated, August 7, 1848, it took the name of Maine, soon subse- quently becoming Clifton, as a more musical and appro- priate designation.

Jarvis's Gore, which must then have included more

than the present Clifton, which was not yet settled; had 50 inhabitants in 1810. The population had nearly tripled in 1820, when it was 139. We have no reports for the next two decades; but in 1850, two years after it had become Maine or Clifton, the population was 306. In 1860 it was 307, in 1870 348, and in 1880 350. It has thus increased, while other towns have fallen off.

The number of polls reported from Jarvis's Gore in 1820 was 20. In 1860 the number had risen to 66; in 1870 to 88, and in 1880 to 98.

The valuation of estates in these years, respectively, was $5,790, $36,529, $58,752, and $44,259.

The people of Clifton are engaged to some extent in lumbering and the manufacture of long and short lumber; but the chief industry is still agriculture. The farms produce hay, grain, potatoes, and other crops, in considerable quantities.

One general store is kept, and one establishment for millinery and fancy goods.

Churches have been built in the town for Calvinistic Baptist, Free Baptist, and Christian societies; but the Free Baptist is the only one now supplied with a pastor. The Rev. Benjamin Penney, of the old pioneer family, ministers to this. He is also, we believe, postmaster at the only post-office as yet in the town.

There are five school-houses, and as many district schools, in Clifton.

The Clifton Lodge, No. 48, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organized December 20, 1877. It meets on Saturday evenings.

OFFICERS FOR 1880.

John B. Rooks, D. W. Leonard, W. H. Parks, Select- men; Daniel Scott, Jr., Town Clerk; E. J. Penney, Treas- urer; M. F. Chick, School Supervisor; E. D. Penney, Constable; R. G. Chick, Moose Warden; E. Chick (Quorum); John B. Rooks, (Trial) Justices.

It is noticeable that this town, although little more than ten miles from Bangor, still has a Moose Warden.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

The father of Benjamin Penney was born in the town of Wells, county of York, Maine, in 1788. When a youth he went to Shapleigh, where he lived until his married, when he moved to Amherst, and from there to Eddington. In 1816 he moved to Jarvis's Gore, now Clifton, where he died in 1877, at the age of ninety-two years. He was by occupation a farmer and lumberman. His wife was Meribah Chick, born in Shapleigh in 1781. After marriage they removed to Jarvis's Gore, now Clif- ton, where she died in 1858, aged seventy-seven. Ben- jamin was the seventh child in the family, and was the first child born in Clifton, in 1818. Other children were Susan, who married Ebenezer Davis, by whom she had two children, and after his death she married Mr. Wood- bury, of Eddington; Joseph married Louisa Moore, and has seven children; Abigail married Thomas Graves, and is the mother of nine children; J. Calvin mafried Dorcas Davis, and died leaving eight children; Jarvis S. married Louisa Ames, and has five children; Esther married Wil- liam Graves, and has three children; P. G. Penny mar-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

ried Susan Fox, and has seven children; Luther married Lydia Parks, and has two children; Abram C. married Francis A. Campbell, and has seven children. Ben- jamin Penny while a youth followed farming, and since marriage he has been engaged in lumbering, milling, mercantile business, and farming. He was married to Olive H. Smith in 1839, and by this union had three children-Maribah, married Thomas Debeck, and died leaving one child, who lives with Mr. Penny; Benjamin W., died unmarried, and Evea S., who remains single. The father of Mrs. Penny was James Smith, and her Jerusha Moore. Mr. Penny has during his life held all the town offices, and was Postmaster nine years. He was formerly a Republican, but for the past two years has been a Greenbacker. For twenty-eight years he has been a clergyman in the Freewill Baptist Church.

Joseph Penny was born in the town of Shapleigh, York county, Maine. When about two years of age he accompanied his parents to Eddington, and after a few years' residence to Clifton, where he yet resides, aged seventy-two years. He was born in 1809, and during most of his life has been a farmer and lumberman. His wife was Louisa Moore, who was born in Vassalboro, Maine. She was married in Mariaville, to Mr. Penny, October 6, 1830, and died at Clifton, January 6, 1871, aged sixty-six years. Edward J. Penny was the second child. He married Helen L. Bradbury, and by her had two children, who reside at home. Mr. Penny has held most of the township offices. In politics he is a Repub- lican. The other children of Joseph Penny were Mary S., Edwin Archer, Eben D., Arthur R., Susan D., Ar- villa L., Viola W.

The father and mother of Luther Penny were natives of Shapleigh, Maine. Their children were Susan, Joseph, Abigail, Jarvis, Esther, Berya, Peregrine G., Cal- vin, Luther, Abram. Luther Penny was born in Clifton, where he now resides, in 1823. While a youth he worked at farming, and since he was married has been a lumber- man. His wife is Lydia Parks, to whom he was married in 1847. They have two children now living-Augusta A., married to Orlando Tibbets, and has one child; Ruth, married to Edwin Jordan. The father of Mrs. Penny was Thomas Parks; her mother was Keziah Rowe. Mr. Penny has held several town offices, and is now School Agent. In politics he is a Republican. He owns a farm and also the mills of the place.

Abraham C. Penny was born in Jarvis Gore, now Clif- ton, in 1826, in which place he has always lived, his business being farming and lumbering. He married, in 1831, Frances A. Campbell, who was born in the town of Charleston, she being but sixteen at the time of her marriage. By this union have been born seven children, two of whom are deceased. They are-John, who died young; Sylvia M., married Oakman Rooks; George, died young; Frances A., married Nathan Mayo; Leander and Leannie (twins), who reside at home unmarried; and Inez, also at home. In his political belief Mr. Penny is a Republican.

Oliver Eddy was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1785. When a child his parents moved to Eddy

Valley, and a few years later to Eddington. He enter- ed the service of the country and was killed at the battle of Fort Erie in 1814, aged twenty-nine years. His wife, Haunah Mann, was born in Massachusetts, and died at Eddington in 1844, aged sixty-three years. She had three children: Oliver C., Charles, and Lovina. Oliver C. was the eldest child. During his early manhood he was a seafaring man, but after marriage he engaged in farming. His wife was Eliza Penny, to whom he was married in 1839. Their children were: Elias (de- ceased); Charles H., killed in the battle of the Wilder- ness, in 1864. Fannie O. married Henry Rooks and has five children. Wyman O., living at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Loren O., unmarried. Mr. Eddy has held several township offices. In politics he is a Green- backer. His son Wyman O. was also a soldier in the late war, in which he enlisted when but thirteen years and nine months of age.

Rufus Rooks was born in Bucksport, Hancock county; Maine, June 16, 1802. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Orrington, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he came to Jarvis Gore, now Clifton, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died December 2, 1873, aged seventy-one years and six months. He followed the vocation of a farmer. His wife was Orilla Boobar, who was born in Milo, Maine, May 9, 1810. When about ten years of age her parents removed to Chester, where she was married March 11, 1830. With her husband she lived at Clifton until her death, December 20, 1871. John B. Rooks, their oldest child, was born in Clifton, Febru- ary 3, 1831. He was married to Eliza M. Campbell, October, 1854, and by this union had three children: Ella F. (deceased); Florence A., married Fred W. Bow- den and has one child, Sarah C .; Clarence H., unmar- ried. Mrs. Rooks's father was John Campbell, and her mother Sarah Doble. Mr. Rooks has held township office, and is now First Selectman and Assessor. For- merly a Republican, he is now a Greenbacker. The other children of Rufus Rooks are George F., Joseph A., Lydia R. (deceased), Cynthia O., Drusilla B., Rufus H., Amos O., Charles M., and Oakman L.

Ebenezer Davis was born in the town of Oxford, Worcester county, Mass., April 29, 1787. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Eddington, where he remained about thirty-one years. He then re- moved to Clifton, where he died July 1, 1850, aged sixty- one years. He was a merchant, lumberman, and farmer. Susan Penny, who became his wife, was born in the year 1807, in Shapleigh, York county, Maine, and when quite young removed with her parents to Clifton, where she was married in October, 1824. Daniel W. Davis, their oldest child, was born in Edington in 1825. The next. child, Eben, died when five years of age, August 19, 1835. Daniel W. Davis has always followed farming as an occupation. He was married September 9, 1849, to Almira D. Rich, by whom he has nine children : Helen M. married George F. Winchester, of Holden, and has one child. George E. is unmarried ; Marcia (deceased), Leavenis L., Lucia A., Gracie A., Susie A., Carrie L.,

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 76

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