History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 81

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 81

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Connected with all the churches are Sabbath-schools, which are doing wonders in the great work of Christian intelligence and practical piety. Looking recently into these schools, where the teaching of the young engrosses the philanthropic energies of the devoted Christian, we read in the faces of teacher and scholar that there is bliss in life's working days, and none need wait for death ere heaven's joys begin.

Connected also with the churches are social societies, sometimes called sewing societies, which are principally managed by the intelligent ladies interested in the church. Their meetings are generally weekly, in which all can par- ticipate; and while woman's industry works for church or pastorate, each contributes to its social enjoyments under the admonition from Apostolic lips: "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." While

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these societies refrain from all scandal and evil speaking, they make speech the vehicle of the mind, sometimes running light, sometimes loaded, endeavoring at all times to make language the garment of the soul, knowing that the grace of utterance comes not merely by observation, but from a root deeply within. The preacher, whose thoughts come to us in trained carpentry of words, is sometimes dull on the ear ; but words become fragrant with a charm, when their spirit is sensibly spoken in those societies which give social fitness of expression. Gems, scattered broadcast from the pulpit, after being rehandled and reset to words of social, graceful utter- ance, coming from the fountains of pure thought, be- come not only gracious, but divine. In the fifteenth century jests, opinions, and bon mots uttered in conversa- tion by men of genius, were published and transmitted to posterity. Giles Menage met with assemblies of literary men and wrote their sayings, which were published in 1693; and all lovers of genuine wit and deep thought admire the published literary conversations of Horace Walpole and the Table Talk of Selden. While men of colloquial eloquence thus gave to the world thoughts worthy remembrance, may not mothers and sisters, in their table talk at their social gatherings, teach the world that there is a power and sweetness in words spoken from the full heart and pure life of cultured womanhood?

CORINTHIAN HIGHWAYS.

From the northerly line of the town, and running in a southerly direction to Kenduskeag, are five main roads, viz: From Exeter, nearly on the line between Corinth (Ohio Settlement) and Levant, to Kenduskeag; from Exeter through the Eddy and Skinner settlements to Kenduskeag ; from Charleston through East Corinth to Kenduskeag (between these two last roads runs the Ken- duskeag Stream); from Charleston through East Ridge Set- tlement to Kenduskeag; from Charleston through the Farrar settlement, intersecting with roads leading to Kendus- keag. These roads are well made and kept in good repair and are the leading avenues to Bangor. Other roads are intersecting or town roads. That. probably most traveled is the road established in 1819, leading from Smith's Corner (East Corinth) in a westerly direc- tion, crossing the stream to Corinth (Skinner Settlement). From this cross-road, commencing near the bridge over the Kenduskeag Stream, and still nearer the en- trance of the Pierre Paul Brook with the stream, and running nearly parallel with the same, is a road leading through a farming neighborhood proli- fic in its hay crop, and terminating at a road near the residence of Andrew G. Fitz. On the easterly side of the Kenduskeag Stream, and running in a southerly direction as runs the stream, and nearly parallel with the road on the westerly side, is a road leading to Robeyville, near Kenduskeag's northerly line, at which place there is an excellent water-power, owned and once occupied by Mr. Clark Hersey. The stream is here spanned by a covered bridge, which gives. Robeyville a business-like aspect. The lands on each side of the stream, through which these roads run, are good.

A very pleasant road, leading from East Corinth and passing the Corinthian cemetery, crosses the waters of the Crooked Brook and the Kenduskeag, and branches in various directions.

THE MILLS OF CORINTH.

By changing the starting-point on the Hatch Road before named, proceeding in a northerly direction from Robeyville, and crossing the road leading from East Corinth to Corinth, you soon find yourself in the vicinity of the saw-mill and shingle-mill on the waters of the Crooked Brook, owned by Mr. John Thissell. At this place were the mills erected by Deacon Hunting.

At a short distance from these mills, but situated upon the waters of the Kenduskeag, is the saw-mill, shingle- mill, and grist-mill owned and occupied by the Messrs. McGregor. All of the above mills have done, and are still in condition for doing, good service. In their vicin- ity farmers are tilling a soil of easy culture, and very pro- ductive.

EAST RIDGE.

In 1816 Samuel Houston commenced farming on lands lying east of East Corinth, in the east division, and asked the town to cause a road to be laid out "from his chopping" to East Corinth. After the granting of the petition, other persons commenced clearing lands; and soon a neighborhood was in existence, called the "Savage Settlement," but soon known as the "East Ridge." The land was productive, families increased, and the road petitioned for was soon extended further east. East Ridge presently embraced a large tract of excellent land, extending from the ridge in an easterly direction to the Hudson town line; and those having the gift of prophecy predicted that in coming time East Ridge, in beauty and comeliness, would equal her elder sister.

The first settlers of East Ridge have been gathered to their fathers; others, loving more a warmer clime, have left; yet to-day the Ridge resounds with the farmer's cheery voice from his fields, and the mechanic's hammer in his shop.

The road from the Charleston line, leading through the Ridge, is mostly on elevated ground, and farms on each side show due culture of the soil, while the merry sound of voices tells of happy firesides. The children in the streets greet you with deferential bow, and with smiling faces hasten to the school-room. Such children are moving the world, and will eventually renovate its social conditions.

Crossing the main road that leads to Kenduskeag, you proceed in an easterly direction to Bear Brook, the waters of which, after putting in quick motion the saw-mill, shingle-mill, and planing-mill of Mr. James R. Trim, join the waters of Pushaw Pond. Travelling still farther eastward, you intersect Farrar Road, once known as the Hatch Road, leading from Charleston to Kenduskeag, and are within one hundred and fifty rods of the Hudson line.

"THE MIRROR" OF CORINTH.

In 1830, without previous announcement, a small, four-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

page monthly newspaper, called the Mirror, and pur- porting to be published in Corinth, was widely distributed through the town. From the tone of its published arti- cles, it was readily ascertained that its objects were to make odious the abuse of the faculties of speech; and while profane language and falsehood were treated as evils demanding the censure of all persons, scandal received the scathing denunciation of a pen sharp as the serpent's tooth and as keenly felt as the sting of the wasp. The sheet was small; but the presuming juvenile editor averred his ability to show that it was the contents of a paper which made it great, while with artistic skill he made each issue "a moving picture of the passing day." If there were any persons who feared that the flood gates of scandal might be raised and a quiet people inundated with tales of falsehood "strange and vile," these fears were soon allayed, for a change came. Words ceased to be shallow and babbling, like surface waters; scandal stopped-and so did the Mirror.

THE POST-OFFICES.

There are in this town four post-offices, each "supplied with a daily mail. Richard Palmer was the first Post- master in Corinth; Elbridge H. Bragdon is the present Postmaster in the same office. David A. Gove was the first in East Corinth; Roscoe A. Kingsbury is the pres- ent incumbent.

In 1818 the mails for Corinth were carried on horse- back. The carrier was a man small in stature, and ex- ceedingly anxious to be at each office on his route pre- cisely at the hour designated for his arrival. Attached to his saddle he carried a trumpet of powerful sound, and when within half a mile of a post-office this minia- ture Gabriel did not by sound of his trumpet declare ex- actly "that time should be no longer," but rather that he was on time!

THE DOCTORS.

Dr. William Peabody was the first educated physician in town. The Doctor was born in Boxford, Massachu- setts, January 10, 1768; received his education in By- field, in his native State; studied medicine with Dr. Skinner, of Brewer; was a surgeon in the War of 1812; was at the battle in Hampden; came to Corinth in 1812; was a successful physician, and a worthy and highly re- spected citizen. He died December 14, 1857. There was one particular instance in the Doctor's medical prac- tice which history, for the consideration of physicians, deems worthy of record. After prescribing for a patient who was evidently very sick, the Doctor found that the medicine administered had no effect upon the disease, and for a long time he studiously labored to reach the case of the sick man; but the disease was refractory, yielding in no wise to the Doctor's medicinal curatives. In fact the Doctor saw he did not understand the nature of the complaint, yet the patient being a man of strong constitution, recovered. For his services the Doctor re- fused compensation, alleging that no physician should receive pay for treating a disease which was both beyond his reading and present research.

Dr. Jared Fuller came to Corinth in the year 1832,

at which time he commenced practice as a physi- cian. He was usually successful in his profession, was moderate in his charges, kind to the poor, and circum- spect in all his social and business relations. In the State Legislature he served one term; and twice was a member of the Governor's Council. In 1868 he was chairman of a committee to investigate charges preferred against the Insane Asylum. He was also at the time of his death Postmaster at East Corinth. While one of the municipal officers of the town, the only charge brought against his official duties was his kindness to the town's poor.

Dr. Jason Huckins graduated at the Castleton, Ver- mont, Medical College, in November, 1859; commenced practice in Corinth in June, 1860; entered military ser- vice as assistant surgeon of the Twenty-second Regiment Maine Volunteers, in August, 1862, and served one year in the Department of the Gulf, principally in Louisiana. Since the Doctor's return from military service as a sur- geon, he has been in constant practice as a physician in Corinth and vicinity. His residence is in East Corinth.

Dr. C. S. Philbrick, homœopathic physician and sur- geon, has an office and residence at J. Wesley Hunting's, in East Corinth.

Dr. W. F. Johnson, surgeon dentist, is located In East Corinth.

The town hearse and hearse-house are maintained in East Corinth.

MAJOR ORA OAKMAN was born in Bangor Nov. 12, 1809, and died April 12, 1872. In early boyhood, with his father's family, he removed to Corinth, labored on his father's farm during the spring, summer, and au- tumnal months, and attended the town school during winter. Young Oakman easily accomplished any study he undertook. He resolved to study himself as he would study a problem in algebra, and thus make himself pro- ficient in all matters within the province of self-taught human attainment. The bird of song in the hedge taught him the love of music; hence he studied music. But it was in the branches of education taught in our common schools that he applied the energies of studious thought. To teach others what he himself had learned, became mere pastime. In the school-room he was per- fectly at home; his manner was imposing and dignified, and as a disciplinarian no teacher excelled him. Order in the school-room was the first thing in order. . No scholar cared to be otherwise than orderly in his pres- ence. Although a practical farmer he taught forty town schools and sixty singing-schools. His character and name were synonymnous. He was an Oak-man, showing at all times the grain of the wood; and that he was "live Oak" was evident from the active life he lived. Four Oaken sons survive the parent Oak; and they, like the father, are musicians, and when a public gathering is announced, you learn from the bill that the music will be by the "Oakman Brothers."

THE ROLL OF HONOR.

The citizens of Corinth, ever loving the remembrance of the heroic dead who fought in the War of the Rebel-

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lion, have most respectfully given to history the names of their townsmen killed in battle, or who died from wounds received or disease contracted in the army. In life they were their loved ones; by death they are em- balmed, and live in their thoughts :

George B. F. Hosmer,

Chester Pearson,

Stillman Guppy,

David B. Herrick,

Austin W. Whittier,

Josiah M. Whittier,

William H. Herrick,

Levi Stevens,

Eli W. Parkman,*

Alfred W. Warren,

Andrew J. Whittier,

Nathan Chamberlain,

Sumner S. Bean,

Asa H. Sawyer,

Rufus H. Gilman,

Charles A. Whittier,

Henry C. Heald,

Edgar Sargent,

Evander C. Curtis,

Allen Hunting,

Henry Lyford,

Frank Roundy,

Newell J. Bradley,

John Hunting,

Fred J. Robbins,

Isaac R. Worth,

James Stevens,

Chester M. Herrick,

Henry J. Hurd,

Henry D. Fuller,

Moses W. Fiske,

Alonzo Batchelder,

George F. Hurd,

Cyrus Perkins,

Aaron Houston,

Walter A. Crowell,

C. Augustus Kisor,

Benjamin Crowell,

Z. Taylor Reynolds,

Thomas M. Hinckley,

Israel Hodsdon,

William Eddy,

John Ham,

Stephen Barker,

THE INSTITUTIONS OF CORINTH.

East Corinth Academy was built in 1843. The Legis- lature of 1848, at its summer session, donated for the use of said Academy one-half of a township of land. Dr. Jason Huckins, C. Megquire, and T. McDonald were appointed Trustees. For six years now last past, Mr. David Fletcher has been Principal, and his present assistant is Miss M. E. Mathews. The academy is well patronized.

The Cheese and Canning Factory Association was in- corporated February 13, 1874, with Mr. John Thissell as President, Charles Megquire, Secretary, and T. Mc- Donald, Treasurer.

Mr. Charles Megquire's circulating library contains about three hundred volumes.

There are in the town six cider-mills, making in all about twelve hundred barrels of cider per year. The motive power of the mill now being built by Webber R. Clark, is steam, with an engine of sufficient power to carry saws, apparatus for grinding grain, planing lumber, and making cider.

The new town house just completed, is an imposing edifice, costing as a whole about five thousand two hundred dollars. On the ground floor is the town hall, especially adapted to the town's wants. It cost two thou- sand two hundred dollars. On the second floor is a large hall built by the Corinthian Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., admirably constructed, well finished, and costing the lodge three thousand dollars. This society numbers about one hundred members, who hold regular meetings in the hall every Wednesday evening. It was instituted October 2, 1878, with forty-five members.

There are two societies of Good Templars in town, that in Corinth, the Ivy Lodge, containing about fifty members, and meeting every Saturday evening at their

own hall. Anchor Lodge No. 321, in East Corinth, com- prising more than one hundred members, meets at the Grange Hall, every Monday evening. While it is be- lieved that these societies are doing much good for the cause of temperance, it is also evident they produce much social enjoyment.

The Orient Grange No. 50, in Corinth, was organized in 1875. At its commencement its numbers were few, and for several years its growth was tardy; yet those lov- ing its principles were untiring in their efforts to sustain an institution which promised the growth and culture of the human mind. For this they worked, as works the philanthropist and the Christian, believing that faith and works in a good cause would eventually receive their re- ward; and so it proved. To-day the Grange numbers more than one hundred ; and those that entered doubt- ing are now happy in knowing that sympathetic and fra- ternal intercourse with the laws of mind and the great truths of nature, will give to the inquiring human soul wondrous growth. Its members have learned and others are learning, that the Grange is not a place for the lazy of brain or the sluggard in thought; that it is a mental- working institution; and while it has hours of pleasant recreation, it has working hours, hours of study, of deep thought, where pure expression, oral or written, are only practical lessons that initiate them into the great millen- nial language of a coming period, when falsehood and rough words will be unknown, and unkindness will lose its name among men. The Grange meets every Satur- day evening, at Grange Hall.

The Penobscot Central Agricultural Society hold their annual exhibitions and fairs on the grounds of Mr. John Morrison, near Knowles's tavern, in East Corinth, using the large hall connected with the public house for an agricultural hall during show days. These shows exhibit in miniature the energy of a farming community and the handiwork of wives and daughters.

LUMBERING IN CORINTH.

From the commencement of farming to about the year 1845, the pine and the cedar were seemingly doomed to extermination. The ordinary pine gave boards, clap- boards, and shingles for the outside completion of every building, while that of a better quality furnished material for inside finish; and while the builder of his own house, for his evening devotions, read the words of the King to Nathan, the prophet, who exultingly exclaims, "See, now I dwell in a house of cedar," the reading man of humble pretensions responds, "See, too, I dwell in a house of pine!" But the great demand for shingles moved farmers to lay waste the cedars on their low-lands, converting them into merchandise. For many years farmers spent their winters in shingle making. This made wanton havoc with the cedars of the forest, and tree-tops thickly scattered gave the appearance of waste. But within a few years the felled timber, still generally sound, is find- ing its appropriate place in fencing the farms of the husbandman, thus keeping cattle within the well-fenced boundaries of ownership. Within the last two years alone at least twelve miles of cedar fence have been built in Corinth, most of it by one man.

* Parkman lived in Charleston, but is buried with Corinth's dead.

John Thissell

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Until recently the cedar has not been appreciated. Cedar wood, as noticed in Leviticus, was prescribed among the materials used for the cleansing of leprosy. The four-score thousand hewers employed by Solomon for cutting timber robbed Lebanon of its glory, and while we have no Solomons revelling in life's luxuries, thus to rob us, we have a second growing of cedar, which is bet- ter, at least so far as fencing is concerned.

ANOTHER PIONEER.

Andrew Strong, one of Corinth's most prominent men and one of her early settlers, was a citizen of unusual business capacities. He was a surveyor of land; and, being appointed agent of Benjamin Joy, the principal proprietor of the town, nearly all the sales of land were made by him. While he faithfully performed the duties of agent, in no single instance has it ever appeared that he lost sight of the interests of his townsmen. Mr. Strong, for many years, was one of the municipal officers of the town. He laid out her roads, and was generally foremost in all matters pertaining to her interests. In 1819 he was chosen one of the delegates to meet in the convention for forming a new Constitution for the State. In 1835 Mr. Strong became blind, and placed in the hands of his pupil, Mr. Andrew G. Fitz, the unfinished public business of his life, delivering him his compass and surveying apparatus, with all his carefully kept mem- oranda and field notes, which were full and complete from 1808 to 1835. Thus the.compass and chain long used by Mr. Strong are now in the hands of Mr. Fitz, and are still used with that care and ability which dis- tinguished the veteran surveyor.

SELF-MURDERS.

There have been in Corinth eleven suicides. The first was on May 15, 1815, being the drowning by her own act of Miss Louisa Knight, aged twenty, in the Crooked Brook. Miss Knight was the personification of happy girlhood life. Upon the brain horizon suddenly appeared a cloud, hiding from her the presence of her Maker, and she destroyed that life.

BUSINESS NOTES.

James Knowles is the popular landlord of the Parker House, East Corinth.

Daniel F. and Ira W. Davis are attorneys and counsel- lors at law.

There are in town eight stores, six blacksmiths, four wheelwrights, four stone-masons, and six house-car- penters.

Drugs and medicines are kept at C. Megquires'.

J. Wesley Hunting's four-horse mail stage-coach leaves Knowles's Hotel for Bangor every day at 6 A. M .; return- ing, arrives at 6 P. M.

STATISTICS.

In 1812 Corinth had 38 polls, a valuation of estates to the amount of $1,032.60, and a State tax of 16 cents on the $1,000.

In 1820 the town had 63 voters and a valuation of $24,771.

The polls and estates, respectively, in 1860, were 390 40

and $313,870; in 1870, 377 and $432,970; and in 1880, 381 and $439,036; in 1881, 341 and $383,942.

Ohio Plantation had a population of 189 in 1810. Corinth had 296 in 1820, 712 in 1830, 1,308 in 1840, 1,600 in 1850, 1,790 in 1860, 1,462 in 1870, and 1,333 in 1880.

As an indication of the agricultural resources of the town, it may be mentioned that in 1878 the Corinthian harvest was reported at 27,369 bushels of potatoes, 18, 165 of oats, 5,392 of corn, 2,780 of barley, 1,821 of beans, and 1,767 of wheat.

The public financial resources of the town in 1881 were $9,924.01.

There were then supported by the town 11 persons- 8 upon the Town Farm, 3 at the Insane Hospital.

Corinth is divided into 13 school districts; number of pupils, 431; funds for support of schools, $1,860.22.

Should the stranger ask why there were in town at least three accomplished and intelligent unmarried females to one unmarried male, the answer is that during the War of the Rebellion the girl of patriotism consented. that her affianced husband should fight the battles of our country-not that she loved him less, but her country more.

EARLY SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

The first efforts to establish Sabbath-schools were made in 1832 by Deacon Stephen Dexter and Miss Elma Her- rick, to which Mrs. Tozier, at present the widow of John Tozier, and now eighty-five years of age, contributed a supply of books.

THE CIVIL ROSTER OF CORINTH.

Persons once or now residents of Corinth, who have held or at the present time are holding the more import- ant elective offices, or offices under appointment, are named below: Royal Clark, Sheriff of the county; Ma- son S. Palmer, J. Manning Herrick, George F. Hill, Ed- win R. Bean, Deputy Sheriffs; Levi Bradley, Noah Bar- ker, State Land Agents; Dr. Jared Fuller, Counsellor two terms; John Thissell, John B. Nichols, John Morri- son (two terms), Daniel F. Davis, Noah Barker, State Senators; Jared Fuller, John Morrison (two terms), Jon- athan M. Eddy, Heman S. Jackson, Sylvester Eddy, Thomas G. Watson, John C. Blanchard, John B, Nichols, Joseph B. Wheeler, David Fletcher, Edwin R. Bean, George F. Hill, Luther Wadleigh, and John L. Robin- son, Members of the Legislature; Mark Trafton, An- drew Strong, Isaac Hodsdon, Reuben Ball, Henry K. Dexter, Elijah Skinner, John Tozier, Mason S. Palmer, Noah Barker, Joseph B. Wheeler, Matthew French, Henry K. Dexter, Thomas G. Watson, John L. Robin- son, John Thissell, Bradbury Robinson, Charles Meg- quire, D. F. Davis, Ira W. Davis, Humphrey Nichols, Farmer Bragg, Justices of the Peace; Joshua Hawes, Benjamin Ball, Edwin R. Bean, David Fletcher, Trial Justices. Isaac Hodsdon was Clerk of the Courts, Major-General of the Militia, and Adjutant-General of the State. Mason S. Palmer was Register of Probate for many years. Royal Clark, Mark Trafton, and George H. Fuller were Postmasters at Bangor, Daniel F. Davis was Governor of the State in 1880.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

The officers of the town in 1881 were: Charles A. Robinson, George H. Smith, Edwin A. Cole, Selectmen; Charles Megquire, Town Clerk; C. B. Bragdon (East), J. M. Herrick, A. F. Bragg, F. B. Trickey, Constables; Frank B. Trickey, Treasurer, Constable, and Collector ; Charles B. Bragdon, School Supervisor; Noah Barker, M. S. Palmer, Charles Megquire, J. B. Wheeler, Daniel F. Davis, Timothy McDonald, I. W. Davis (Quorum), Edwin R. Bean, David Fletcher (Trial), Justices.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 81

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