History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 80

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 80

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A. L. Grant was born in St. Albans in 1847, where he obtained a common school education. When twenty years of age, he came to Corinna and engaged in the lumber and stock business, in which he is now engaged. In 1873 he purchased the Corinna House, of F. W. Hill, and in addition to his other business, now keeps hotel. He has held the office of Deputy Sheriff of Penobscot county three years, and Constable two years. In 1869, he married Mary F. Knowles, a native of Corinna, and has one child, Blanche M., who lives at home.

CHARLES GREENWOOD.

Charles Greenwood, proprietor of the Corinna Woolen Mill, is an Englishman by birth. In 1850 he landed at Castle Garden, New York, without money or friends. Although he did not possess either of these, he did pos- sess something which but few of the young men of this country at the present age fully appreciate the value of, viz : a good trade. He had a good understanding of the art of manufacturing woolen cloth. For some fifteen years Mr. Greenwood worked in woolen mills in different parts of the country. Being a very careful man and steady in his habits, he usually held positions of trust and responsibility. In 1870 he resolved to commence business for himself, having by economy and diligence at that time saved a few hundred dollars, besides supporting a family of eleven children. His large family now proved of great service to him, by working in the mill as soon as they became old enough. For one or two years he man- ufactured two thousand yards per month of very nice re- pellants, which found a ready market. This was all made by his own family. Although a loser in the great fire in Boston in 1873, he continued to prosper from the start, and now owns the Corinna Woolen Mill, unencum- bered, besides other property. This he has been able to do by strict attention to the details of the business, and by always making as good an article as can be found in the market. Mr. Greenwood's family are all yet with him in the mill except two daughters, who are married and live in Kennebec county. They fill places of trust and responsibility in the mill, and relieve Mr. Greenwood of much of the care of his business. One son-in-law has

charge of one department. The mill was built in 1876, and now Mr. Greenwood manufactures yearly one hun- dred thousand yards of first quality repellants. These goods find a ready sale in Boston and New York. The mill has a capacity of sixty thousand pounds of stock per year, and employs twenty-five hands, with a pay-roll of $1,000 per month. This, being the only mill in town, is a great advantage to the village of Corinna by furnishing employment for so many hands and a ready market for wood, wool, etc. Mr. Greenwood is still in the prime of life, and anticipates making large improvements the com- ing year, such as building a new stone dam, enlarging his mill, etc. For some years Mr. Greenwood has been interested in developing the mineral resources of Penob- scot county, and has done as much, perhaps, as any one

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

to develop the latent wealth of the county, sparing neither time nor money. After spending much time and prospecting extensively for two years or more, he believes that there is mineral wealth enough in Penobscot county to make the people all rich. Mr. Greenwood and his

family are held in high esteem by the people of Corinna and surrounding towns as an honest business man, lib- eral toward all objects and enterprises that tend to the development, growth, and prosperity of the town and county.

CORINTH.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHY.

Corinth is another of the beautifully regular townships to the west of the Penobscot, and in the older part of the county. The town, as a municipality, corresponds pre- cisely to the surveyed township. This town, then, con- tains thirty-six square miles, or 23,040 acres. It is six and one-quarter miles from Bangor, measured between nearest corners, and was in the old days known as Ohio Plantation. It is two tiers of townships, or twelve miles, distant from the west line of the county; only one town, Charleston, separates it from Atkinson, in Piscata- quis county; but parts of six towns-Kenduskeag, Le- vant, Hermon, Carmel, Hampden, Newburg-lie between it and Waldo county, although the distance is but eigh- teen miles. It is bounded on the north by Charleston, on the east by Hudson, on the south by Kenduskeag and Levant, and on the west by Exeter. Its boundary lines are uninterrupted by lake or large river. The headwater of Little Pushaw Lake-which is in Hudson, a little way across the line,-rises in the northeast corner of Corinth. The Bear Brook, coming in from Charleston, crosses the same part of the town, but a mile further in the interior, and in Hudson becomes the Pushaw Stream. It receives in Corinth four or five small tributaries on the west side. Straight across the town, in the northwestern part, is the Crooked Brook, which has its several heads in Charles- ton, Exeter, and the north of Corinth, and runs to the southeast across the town into Kenduskeag. It receives several branches in this town, most of them also from the west side. The principal one has its source near the southwest corner, and flows northward and northeastward toward the centre of the town, near which it joins the Crooked Brook. Not a single lake or pond of size oc- curs in the town. The Little Pushaw Pond comes rather close to the northeast part, beyond the Bear Brook. Corinth is well provided with post-offices, roads and other public conveniences. It has no railroad, the Maine Cen_ tral running some miles to the south of it, and the New-

port & Dexter to the west. Corinth village and post- office is about a mile from the south line of the town and two miles from the west line, upon a leading highway that comes in from Levant and runs northwestward into Exeter, and westward through that town and Corin- na. At this place are School No. 2 and a cemetery, and nearly a mile east of north from it, on the road to East Corinth. This place (more properly, from its central northern position, North Corinth) is a long, straggling vil- lage, mainly upon the road through the town from Charleston south to the Town House, and the junction of this with the road to Corinth post-office, whence it runs southeasterly through South Corinth and into Ken- duskeag, and thence to Glenburn and Bangor. Schools No. 4, 5, 6, 15, and 17 are upon this road, the last a mile from the southeast corner of the town, No. 15 at East Cor- inth, No. 5 a little above, No. 4 a third of a mile below the Town House, and No. 6 near South Corinth post-office. At East Corinth is also an academy building, a Baptist church, two parsonages and other like buildings. South Corinth is at a somewhat important cross-roads, two miles from the south line of the town; and one and a half from the east line. A cemetery is about two-thirds of a mile southwest of it, and another about the same distance west of East Corinth. Besides the leading roads mentioned, another makes almost a diagonal across the town, entering from Charleston near the northwest corner, and shortly striking the Crooked Brook, which it follows more or less closely to the exit of the road into Kenduskeag. Upon or near it are Schools No. 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, and 18, with a cem- etery upon a parallel road a short distance the other side of the brook and a mile from the south boundary of the town. Corinth is pretty thoroughly cut up with a net- work of roads, which it would take much space to de- scribe in detail. It naturally follows that the town is well settled and somewhat populous, having 1,333 inhabitants by the census of 1880. These are largely, as before sug- gested, residents upon the roads through East Corinth,

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

within one and a half miles each way from the place, al- though the highways through Corinth post-office and South Corinth are by no means sparsely settled. South of the latter place, near the town line, is a dense but lim- ited neighborhood, and another on the town line about School No. I, south of Corinth village. Most of the people are engaged in agriculture, although a goodly number of saw, shingle, stave, grist, and cider mills are scattered through the town. They are mainly, however, clustered at East Corinth.

EARLY HISTORY .*

Township No. 2, in the fourth range of townships north of the Waldo Patent, in the county of Hancock, containing 23,040 acres, was granted by the State to John Peck December 9, 1794, and afterwards purchased by Benjamin Joy and others. It was incorporated and established as a town by the name of Corinth, June 21, 18II.

ADDITIONAL FACTS OF GEOGRAPHY.

The surface of the town is level and watered by the Kenduskeag Stream, which is fed by the Pierre Paul* and Crooked Brooks, which stream runs in a southeast- erly direction, and nearly through the centre of the town, from which, for many years, the early settlers ob- tained salmon at a distance of seventeen miles from the waters of the Penobscot River. There is also a brook of goodly size in the easterly part of the town, known as Bear Brook, which discharges its waters into Pushaw Pond.

A growth of trees densely covered the soil, in which the maple, birch, beech, ash, basswood, hemlock, spruce, and cedar seemingly strove for predominance; yet the birds-eye maple must have seen-if it could see at all- that the attempt would be futile to vie with the majestic pines scattered over the entire township. The solemn grandeur of the township's native growth of hardy trees, tall and thickly planted, demanded the admiration of the explorer, as he traversed grounds free from recently fallen trees, where the foot of civilized man had never trod, where no effort at improvement had marred the forest's primeval beauty, save that of the industrious beaver, by damming running waters, thereby adding broad acres to their original homesteads.

SETTLEMENTS AND SURVEYS.

Such was Township No. 2, in the year 1792, when Mr. Abner Tibbetts and Mr. Daniel Bridge, from Bangor, while on a hunting excursion through these forests, were so pleased that they decided to abandon the idea of re- moving to the State of Ohio, and immediately made ar- rangements for settling here, on lands of their own dis- covery, naming them New Ohio.

In the spring of 1792 the first trees were felled by Mr. Abner Tibbetts, upon lot No. 10, on the south line of the township. Immediately others, and among them

Messrs. William Tibbetts, Mark Trafton, Joshua C. Thompson, John Goodhue, William Hammond, Royal Clark, and Dr. William Peabody, joined Mr. Tibbetts in his enterprise, and farming at once commenced in good earnest.

The township was located, and separated from other and adjoining townships, by Messrs. Ephraim Ballard and Samuel Weston, in 1792. It was afterwards re-sur- veyed and lotted by Messrs. Warner, Bellows, and Hods- don, and a plan of the township made by Mr. Alexander McIntyre.

In 1793 Mr. Daniel Skinner, formerly from Mansfield, Massachusetts, but more recently from Brewer, in this county, with a family of three sons and three daughters, all at ages of maturity, made an opening about two miles in a northeasterly direction from the Ohio settlement ; and as each member of the Skinner family married in early life and settled in his or her father's neighborhood, and as all were imbued with the determination of fulfill- ing the early command, "increase and multiply," a nu- merous, healthy, industrious progeny soon filled the ter- ritorial neighborhood with living souls, through whose veins ran quietly the Skinner love of domestic, quiet life. So numerous were they that the place in which they lived was properly called "the Skinner neighborhood." Mr. Jacob Wheeler, from Petersham, Massachusetts, and Mr. Richard Palmer, from Parsonsville, Maine, each mar- ried for their first wives daughters of Mr. Daniel Skinner. For the spice of life which variety is said to give, Messrs. Isaac and Nathan Hodsdon, with their families, from Ber- wick, Maine, domiciled within the quiet precincts of this Puritan family.

In 1794 Josiah Simpson, Robert Simpson, Robert Campbell, Simon Trescott, Jonathan Snow, Rufus In- man, and others, passing through the Skinner settlement, proceeded in a northerly direction some two miles, and near the westerly line of this township entered upon lands inviting both to the lumbermen and the agricul- turist. They here planted a neighborhood, which until the year 1818 was known as the Simpson Settlement. After that time, in consequence of change of ownership of the farms formerly owned by the two Simpsons, the place was called the Eddy Settlement.

On the easterly side of Kenduskeag Stream lay an elevation of ground peculiarly adapted for the planting of a farming neighborhood, on which Deacon John Hunting, Eben Hunting, Joshua Herrick, Reuben Ball, Isaac Ball, Benjamin Dyer, Aaron Gould, Josiah Gregory, David A. Gove, Andrew Strong, and others, commenced operations in 1808; and soon a correct taste, judicious management, and untiring industry, foretold the future growth and beauty of the coming neighbor- hood. The far-reaching vision of Deacon Hunting and his associates saw that the joint and undivided effort of this little colony would convert the woodlands on the eastern slope of the Kenduskeag into fields of growing grain, and by architectural skill move the hitherto ap- parently sluggish waters of stream and brook to run swiftly to man's assistance and willingly turn the wheels of industry. If this was first seen by the eye prophetic,

* The remainder of this sketch, except the biographical section, has been prepared by the Hon. Mason W. Palmer, a native of the town, and still resident there.

* Pierre Paul, pronounced by settlers " Peerpole," took its name from an Indian who lived upon its banks.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

all saw its fulfillment as the massive pine was being con- verted into boards.

As the good Deacon was untiring in every needed effort to aid the growth of this neighborhood, it was called the "Hunting Settlement" for many years, but is now East Corinth.

Thus, from 1792 to 1811, the four neighborhoods above-specified were receiving additions to their respec- tive localities, and both early settler and recent comer had a watchful eye to their adopted homes.

EARLY TRADES, SCHOOLS, ETC.

The nineteen years of occupation as a simple town- ship or plantation were years of quiet. Litigation was unknown; men were generally confiding, and at all times accommodating; the scarcity of implements of hus- bandry prompted invention, and necessity almost in- stantly brought forth the hastily made article wanted for immediate use.

Mr. Abner Tibbetts made the wood-work, and Mr. John Goodhue the iron-work, of the pioneer plough in Corinth.

Mr. Joshua C. Thompson framed and finished barns and dwelling-houses, while Mason Skinner, from straight- grained trees standing within sight of his shop, manu- factured tubs, boxes, kegs, chairs, and almost every article wanted for use.

Mr. Rufus Inman, a master of all trades in wood, iron, and steel, manufactured spinning-wheels of every necessary description, made surgical instruments, and with wondrous skill used them; extracted teeth for six and one-fourth cents singly and ten cents for two at one sitting, and would let blood when deemed necessary with a lancet of his own making, as keen of edge as his own wit. Mr. Inman believed that Heaven designed that innate goodness and a cheerful spirit should ever live in man (Inman).

In those early days the Sabbath was generally ob- served, and dwelling-houses were open for religious wor- ship, while large congregations would meet in newly finished stables, where praise was rendered to the Babe of the manger.

To the credit of the first settlers be it recorded that especial care was taken to instruct properly the young. In this parents never tired. The fireside and closet were dedicated institutions of learning, where were taught goodness, truth, justice, and love. By this parents and children alike became self-instructors. What they studied was practical, efficient, and good. By reading carefully they readily attained the common uses of words, and though no work of a Webster was before them, they soon learned that their own thoughts were "un- abridged."

The first school in the township was taught by Miss Eunice Fisher, of Canton, Massachusetts. For want of juvenile school-books the thoughtful teacher resorted to object teaching; and the nest of the bird in the lower branches of the tree near the school-room taught the in- fant mind the beauties of bird life, the connubial tender- ness between St. Valentine's mated birds, their care of.

the little ones, and that the unfledged bird gained strength of wing by failures and renewed efforts, and soon was enabled to reach the highest branch of the tree.

The first winter school was taught by Mr. Isaac Hods- don, where scholars were taught to enter the school-room with deferential bow; unbidden, rise when parents or strangers entered or left, and at all times, in the street or elsewhere, with uncovered heads give civil salutations to all they met. This school was called the school of good manners.

A WORTHY TRIBUTE.

Our first parents in this township were fearless and just, never hiding themselves among the trees of ancient planting, and were early enabled to partake of the fruit of their own industry. We would gladly name them all, but by so doing we should become a tombstone in commemo- rating the dates of the birth and death of early settlers. Biographical notices we would gladly give if space would allow; but what can there be interesting to the public in the lives of men whose chief merit consisted simply in the due fulfillment of the duties of private life? The names of the first settlers are interesting, but it is because they were first settlers. Of them we have no affecting tale to relate, no perils by fire, flood, or field; no crimes to relate by the wrong-doing of others or themselves; but of them it can be said that they were a moral, religious, prudent people, lovers of kindred and country, who lived lives of industry, and admirable foresight, made the best of their situation, lived in quiet comfort, begat children, and died.

MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION.

The act of the General Court establishing the town of Corinth, provided that any Justice of the Peace in the County of Hancock might be authorized to issue a war- rant directed to a freeholder in the town of Corinth, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such convenient time and place as should be appointed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law empowered and required to choose at their annual town meetings. Moses Hodsdon, of Kenduskeag, a Justice of the Peace for the county of Hancock, under his hand and seal on the 3d day of March, 1812, issued his warrant to William Tibbetts, of Corinth, requiring him to notify and warn the freeholders of the town to meet and assemble themselves together on Tuesday, the 17th day of March, instant, at 10 of the clock in the forenoon, at the dwelling-house of Elijah Skinner, in said town, for the purpose of choosing town officers for the ensuing year. This warrant was read in the presence and hearing of every freeholder and other inhabitant of Corinth, as directed therein, by William Tibbetts. They met at the time and place, and for the purposes aforesaid, and chose the following named per- sons as officers for the year 1812. Mark Trafton, Mod- erator; Isaac Hodsdon, Town Clerk; William Hammond, Elijah Skinner, John Hunting, Selectmen; Mark Traf- ton, Treasurer; William Peabody, Elijah Skinner, David A. Gove, Assessors; Joshua C. Thompson, Reuben Bass, Constables; Andrew Goodhue, Elijah Skinner, Jonathan

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Snow, Joseph Bragdon, Surveyors of Highways; Josiah Simpson, Jonathan Snow, Simon Prescott, Tything-men ; Benjamin Dyer, Robert Campbell, Richard Palmer, Abner Tibbetts, Fence Viewers; Rufus Simpson, Mason Skinner, Joseph Prescott, Joshua Herrick, Hog-Reeves. Seven hundred dollars were raised for highways, and it was voted to allow $1.25 for a day's work on the same, eight hours constituting the day. The meeting also raised $200 for schools, if so desired, to be paid in corn at $1 a bushel, rye at $1.17, and wheat at $1.33. One hundred and fifty dollars were raised to defray town charges. The following highways were established: A highway from New Charleston, through the Hunting Set- tlement to the south line of Corinth; a highway from John Goodhue's running in a northerly direction through the Skinner settlement and Simpson (now Eddy) settle- ment to the Exeter line; and a highway from Lewis Bean's (the Ohio settlement) running northerly to the Exeter line.

STILL HIGHER DUTIES.

Notwithstanding the necessary labor in building these highways, yet the formation of school districts, erecting school-houses, and selecting suitable grounds for ceme- teries were duties not overlooked; and schools were commenced as soon as school-houses could be erected.

Among the early settlers were those endowed with large capacities and rare abilities, who, sensibly feeling the want of schools in their own early life, resolved to do all in their power to enable the young by early instruc- tion to become more fully educated than themselves, and thus imbued with the truth that the present time is the planting hour, busied themselves as best they could in depositing the acorn, that those coming after them might find the oak.

At this time the venerable Father Sawyer, "the Pilgrim of a hundred years," whose efforts had much to do in establishing the Theological Seminary in Bangor, while on his missionary labors through the Penobscot region, visited the newly made settlements, and with that mind which sheds light on whatever it sees, and with fitting words in voice sweet to the ear of childhood, he spake truths which overwhelmed them with floods of happy thought; the influence of that good man's words live even to this day, as they lived more than half a century . ago with the early settlers, who then were putting forth that stretch of endeavor which taxed muscle of mind, heart, and hand.

THE EDDYS, OF EDDINGTON.

In 1818 several families from Eddington moved into the Eddy Settlement, which formed an important acquisi- tion to the town. Among the new comers was Mr. William Eddy, who was born in Sackville, New Bruns- wick, July 1, 1775, and died in Corinth, January 22, 1852. His death was occasioned by a fall from a scaffold in his barn, and was greatly lamented.

Mr. Jonathan M. Eddy, oldest son of William Eddy, was born in Eddington, October 22, 1797, and died in Corinth, August 5, 1875. Pope pronounced a fitting eulogy on Mr. Eddy, when he declared,

An honest man's the noblest work of God.

For his first wife he married Miss Eliza Morrill, who died February 5, 1861. His second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth G. Twombly, with whom he happily passed the remaining days of a useful and happy life.

THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY

of local infantry was commanded by Captain William Bean, and embraced the soldiery of Corinth and Le- vant. In 1823 the soldiers of Levant were withdrawn, and became a separate company, under command of Lieutenant Daniel Little. A military spirit was soon after much encouraged by the officers residing in Corinth, viz .: General Isaac Hodsdon, General Charles Piper, Colonel Josiah Morrill, Adjutant George Simpson, Major M. S. Palmer, and Major Ora Oakman.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

In 1823 the Rev. Stephen Dexter became the first settled minister in the town, Mr. Dexter was born in Cape Cod in 1776, and died in Corinth in August, 1836. His ministry was very satisfactory to his people. He was a man of industry, and equally at home on the farm, in the shop, or in the pulpit. His family was large, and sons and daughters learned to follow a father's judicious example and timely instructions.

The first church edifice (Baptist) was built in 1832, near the residence of the pastor. In 1856 the building was removed to a very desirable location in East Corinth village, and being remodeled and well finished, with fit- ting steeple and finely-toned bell, it was admired for its architectural fitness and sweetly ringing belfry music. This church has generally been fortunate in having. in its pulpit pastors of marked abilities, while the singing gallery has given notes divinely sweet to the cultured ear.

The Methodists have two churches, one in Corinth, the other in East Corinth, both of medium size, well finished, and so clean in all their parts that the fact is admitted that Methodists believe in internal purity in the sanctuary, as well as in practical life. One pastor supplies both pulpits.

In 1856 the Free-will Baptists erected a commodious house in East Corinth, excellent in all its appointments, where they worship with religious decorum and com- mendable zeal.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 80

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