History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 84

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 84

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Nathan F. Roberts, of Dexter, is a son of Amos Rob- erts, of Buckfield, in Oxford county. Amos Roberts was a farmer and shoemaker and married Christina Byerson, of the same place. Their family consisted of thirteen children. Of this large family ten grew to womanhood and manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are still living in Dexter, where he has lived for several years. He formerly lived in Sumner, Oxford county. He is now eighty years old. Nathan Roberts, the oldest ·son of the family, was born October 2, 1825, in Sumner, Oxford county. He spent his early life on the farm, and on becoming of age he worked about at the shoe business most of the time until 1858, when he went into the boot and shoe business in Dexter. He manufac-

tured and retailed boots and shoes. Here he has since lived. He does not now manufacture, but confines him- self to the retail business. He also handles sewing ma- chines. Mr. Roberts is at present one of the Selectmen of the town, and has previously served in that office. He married Miss Augusta Parshley, daughter of Gil- bert D. Parshley, of Dexter. Their family consists of four children, viz: Frank E., now in the boot and shoe business in Brunswick, Maine; Nathan E., now in San Francisco; Charles D., with his father in the store; Mary A., wife of J. Willis Haynes, of this town,

Menzies F. Herring, editor and publisher of the Dex- ter Gazette, is a son of John R. and Julia A. (Parshley) Herring. He was born October 14, 1857. His father is a carpenter, now living in Dexter. Menzies is an only son and child. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Gazette, and has lived here all his life except one winter spent in Augusta in the Journal office and one summer in Newport in the office of the Newport News. He came back to Dexter in 1878 and went in as part- ner, and in 1879 bought out the establishment, since which time he has been editor and publisher. This is the only paper published in the northwest part of the county. All its rivals in this section of the county have existed but for a season and then have quietly withdrawn from the field, while the Gazette has not only lived but prospered and is now a recognized power in this section of the county, politically Republican. Mr. Herring married Nellie E. Baker, daughter of Benson and Mary E. Baker, of Oldtown.

Henry L. Wood, Postmaster of Dexter, was born in Yorkshire, England, February 23, 1832. His father, James Wood, woolen manufacturer, married Betty Wood. They had seven children that lived to maturity, viz: Thomas, William, Henry L., James W., Hervey, Sal- ly, and Louise. Mr. Wood had often been in this coun- try but never lived here. He died in 1878. Mrs. Wood died previously, about 1863. Henry L., the third son of this family, after receiving a common school edu- cation, engaged in the woolen business in Massachu- setts and afterwards in this town, having moved here in 1858. Since then he has lived here except the time he spent in the army. September 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second Maine Volunteers. He was elected captain and served in that capacity until Angust the next year. This regiment was in the De- partment of the Gulf, and was in the siege of Port Hud- son and other engagements in that Department. In 1864 he again enlisted, and after serving as private six months was again elected captain of Company H, Twelfth Maine Volunteers. He served in this capacity until March, 1866, after the close of the war being en- gaged in reconstruction duty in the Department of Georgia. Returning to Dexter in 1866 he went into business with Mr. N. Dustin as partner under the title of N. Dustin & Company. This firm continued two years or more, Mr. Wood being Assistant Post- master for Mr. Dustin. In July, 1869, he was com- missioned as Postmaster and has held the office ever since. Mr. Wood married Mary Buckley, of Saddle-

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

323

worth Parish, England. This family consists of one son and three daughters, viz: Lizzie I., Mary L., Imogene M., and H. Stanley.

Charles W. Morse, the well-known marble cutter of Dexter, is a son of Zebulon and Elizabeth (Weeks) Morse. Zebulon Morse was a native of Wareham, Mas- sachusetts. He came to Maine when a child. He was a shoemaker by trade, though he owned a farm, He lived for a while in Augusta. His family consisted of five children, three sons and two daughters, viz : Martha M., wife of Samuel Kendall, of Mt. Vernon, Maine; Charles W .; Franklin N., now in California; Henry T., of Augusta; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. G. F. Mason, of Auburn, Maine. Mr. Morse died March 31, 1872. Mrs. Morse died September 10, 1878. Charles W. Morse was born June 18, 1824, in Farmington, Maine. He learned the marble cutter's trade when a young man, in Mohawk, New York, but went into business for him- self at Augusta, Maine, where he lived three years. After this he worked for others for several years. In 1867 he went into business at Bradford, where he lived five years, and then came to Dexter in 1872, since which time he has lived here. The firm is Morse & Bridges. They employ five men and turn out a large amount of work. Mr. Morse married Ann M. Boston, daughter of. Franklin Boston. They have two children, one son and a daughter: Charles E. and Ella L., wife of F. E. Dustin.

Colonel Walter G. Morrill, of Dexter, the proprietor of the Merchants' Exchange Hotel, is a son of Aaron H. Morrill, of Sebec, Piscataquis county, Maine. His grandfather's name was Peter Morrill. Aaron Morrill married Eliza A. Willard, daughter of John C. Willard,

a native of New York State. Their family consisted of seven children, of whom Walter is the third child and second son. He was born, November 13, 1840, in Wil- liamsburg, Piscataquis county, Maine. His father being a farmer, Walter spent his boyhood on the farm. In 1861 he enlisted in the Sixth Maine Regiment. He was with this regiment until August, 1862. when he was pro- moted to the Second Lieutenancy, and in April, 1863, to Captaincy, and July, 1864, to Major, and February, 1865, to Lieutenant-Colonel, and had command of the regi- ment from that time until the close of the war, and came home in command of the regiment. At the close of the war he bought a farm in Hampden, where he lived till June, 1867, when he went to Brownville and engaged in trade for a year. In 1868 he opened in Brownville the Highland Slate Quarry. He sold the quarry in 1869, but continued in charge of it until June, 1870. In 1871 he engaged again in trade in Brownville, and continued for eight months. At the same time he built a set of buildings in Brownville. In 1872 he was engaged as agent for the Highland Slate Quarry Com- pany, selling their goods in Bangor; and continued either as agent or contractor for the company until 1874. In 1876 he came to Dexter and rented the large hotel here known as the Merchants' Hotel. Here he has since lived. Mr. Morrill married Miss Rachel S. Carl, of Hampden. She died in 1866, and Mr. Morrill married for his second wife Amanda M. Berry, of Brownville. He has one son by his first wife and one by his second, named Fred C. and James B. Colonel Morrill keeps one of the best hotels in the county, and the largest out- side of Bangor.

DIXMONT.

DESCRIPTION.

Dixmont enjoys an honor similar to Dexter, occupying a location at an extreme corner of the county-the south- west. It is not, however, directly south of Dexter, the break in the west line of the county bringing Troy, a town in Waldo, about three miles under the south line of Plymouth, and upon territory which would seem to be- long to Penobscot. Dixmont is thus bounded on the west by the said Troy ; on the north by Plymouth and Etna; on the east by Newburg; and on the south by Jackson and Monroe, in Waldo county. Its form is rectangular, but

made slightly trapezoidal by the gentle divergence of the south line of the county from exact parallelism with the range lines to the northward. The east line of the town is but five and a half miles long ; the west one-half mile longer, or the regular township length. The north and south boundaries are of nearly equal length-about five and a half miles. The town is just twelve miles from Bangor, by measurement on the extension of its north line to the south line of the latter place. The Penobscot River approaches a little nearer, however, at one or two points in Hampden. It is on the old stage-route from

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Bangor to Unity and Augusta, which runs through it.

The leading wagon-roads of Dixmont naturally come in from the direction of Bangor. The northernmost, crossing into Newburg at the corner of Hampden, com- pletely traverses that town and Dixmont, in the latter town at a general distance of about two-thirds of a mile from the north line. It passes the hamlet formerly known as Northeast Dixmont Post-office, one and a half miles from the east town line. This place is a little more than a mile from the east line of the town. Not quite two miles due west, the road passes the foot of Skinner Pond; and midway between that and the west town line, nearly one and a half miles distant from each, is the North Dixmont village and post-office. The road thence runs west of south into Troy. Schools No. 8 and 10, the latter near North Dixmont, and another near the foot of Skinner Pond, are on this road. From this neighbor- hood two roads, one on each side of the outlet, run north- ward-one into Plymouth and one into Etna, with a short link connecting them across the outlet. From School No. 8, at Northeast Dixmont, a short route northwestward in- tersects a north and south road at the Etna line, which latter road ends at the main highway half a mile south- east of the old post-office.

Through North Dixmont passes another high-road, with a general north and south direction, cutting the town throughout, from Plymouth to Jackson. Three miles due south of North Dixmont is another important cross-road, where is situated Dixmont village, also having a post-office. Half a mile below North Dixmont is a school-house, from which a road runs a mile east and half a mile north, when it joins the highway first mentioned. A Union church and cemetery, with a school on the same large lot, are situated a little off this road at Dixmont, another school a mile and a half be- low, and still another a mile west of this, hard upon the east town line. On this line a road, with two short branches, runs for some distance and then strikes into the interior to Dixmont post-office. A brief neighborhood road also runs back from each of the two school-houses last indicated.

The east and west road through Dixmont comes in from the Bangor way, but by a diagonal course across the central part of Newburg, and a nearly due west path across Dixmont with Ripley. Nearly three miles in the interior, at the crossing of a north and south road run- ning very nearly across the town, is the Dixmont Centre · post-office, with a rather thick settlement stretching each way from its former road. Not quite half a mile west of the post-office, where another south road comes in from Jackson, is a school-house, and a little way beyond it the Town House; half a mile beyond that and near Dixmont village, a cemetery. East of Dixmont Centre the road passes on the north shore of a small lake for about two- thirds of a mile, and a school-house half a mile beyond its eastern end.

The road from the Etna town line to Northeast Dix- mont is continued with a slight break at that place, south- ward a little more than a mile to another dense settle- ment, where another east and west road is crossed, and

where a school and union church (and formerly a post- office) are situated, and a little to the southwest, upon a mile and a half road connecting this through Dixmont Centre, is a cemetery. Nearly a mile and a half further the road from Northeast Dixmont crosses the Dixmont Centre route near the head of the little lake, and thence runs southeastward and southward, with two short breaks, to East Dixmont village and post-office, which is almost in the extreme southeast corner of the town. Here are a Masonic hall, a cemetery, a church, and a school; nearly one and one-half miles west is School No. 4. Other schools and churches, with mills and shops, probably sufficient for its present needs, are scattered through the town.

The only water of size in Dixmont is Skinner's Pond in the central north part of the town, lying from north to south, one and one-half miles long by nearly one-half mile at its greatest breadth, with an island almost exactly in the middle. Ten of the streams of the town, none of them large, but including the headwaters and the outlet of the pond at Dixmont Centre, discharge their waters into this sheet. Its own outlet runs west of north into Plymouth, with a course of two-thirds of a mile in Dix- mont. In the southeastern part of the town head three brooks that run into Waldo county; in the southwestern part one that traverses nearly the whole western side of the town and flows into Plymouth near the outlet of Skinner Pond; near the mill-pond it forms at North Dixmont another creek running to Plymouth has its source; one little stream running into Etna rises in the northeast angle; and nearly two miles down the east line and a little in the interior heads one of the Newburg waters, and another close to the Winn line, more than a mile below. Martin's Stream runs through the north- west part of the town. Butman's Pond, in this town, named from the old settler, covers about forty acres. Its outlet to the pond in Plymouth is called Butman's Stream.

The mountainous character of at least some part (the south) of Dixmont is hinted by the latter half of its name. Harris Mountain, in this town, is eleven hundred and sixty feet above the level of the sea. An observa- tory was erected in 1854 upon its summit, under the direction of Professor A. D. Bache, Superintendent of the Coast Survey. Peak's Mountain, in the eastern part of the town, is on the summit or divide between the Pe- nobscot and Kennebec Rivers.

The eastern half of Dixmont is more densely settled than almost any other part of Penobscot county, away from Bangor. Few tracts of size remain unoccupied. The settlements are naturally most numerous about Dix- mont Centre, East Dixmont, Northeast Dixmont, and Simpson's Corner. The western half, which contains Dixmont and North Dixmont villages, may also be con- sidered as tolerably well settled. . By the last census the whole town had 1, 132 people.

THE BEGINNINGS.

In the original surveys, this township was No. 3, of the first range north of the Waldo Patent. Its survey was made by the well known Moses Hodsdon. It was among

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

the grants made by the State of Massachusetts in aid of Bowdoin College, and from this circumstance took its original plantation name of "Collegetown." The trus- tees of the college presently made sale of the whole of it to two purchasers-Dr. Elijah Dix, of Boston, who bought nearly the whole tract, twenty thousand and forty acres, for $21,431; and John J. Blaisdell, of Parsons- field, Maine, who purchased the remaining three thou- sand acres, at one dollar per acre. He was unable to make his payments at maturity, and his purchase reverted presently to the college. Dr. Dix held on to his tract, and sold it out to settlers. He never himself resided in the town, but frequently made visits here; and during one of these, in May, 1809, he died in Dixmont, and was buried in the cemetery near Dixmont Corner.

THE PIONEERS, AND OTHERS.

The settlement of Township No. 3 began in 1799. Among the earliest comers who became permanent set- tlers were Friend Drake, Elihu Allen, John Bassford, Ben- jamin Brown, and some eight or ten others.

Samuel Butman was among the older settlers, and be- came a very prominent farmer and merchant. He was a Representative in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Con- gresses, being elected originally as a Federalist, and then as a National Republican.

In later years George W. Wilcox, Esq., of this town, was Clerk of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature, from 1857 to 1859 inclusive. Sumner J. Chadbourne, of East Dixmont, during the entire decade 1868-77, and was Secretary of State during 1876-77-78, and in 1880.

ERECTION OF THE TOWN.

Dixmont was the one hundred and sixty-ninth town created in the District of Maine. It was the sole town incorporated by the General Court on the 28th of February, 1807. Its name was derived from that of its principal owner, Dr. Dix, of Boston, with which was coupled "mont," from the principal eminence in the south part of the township.

SOME RECORD OF GROWTH.

"Collegetown " had already 59 inhabitants in 1800, the very next year after the first clearings were made upon its soil. By the next census (1810) the population of Dixmont had jumped to 337- an increase of 470 per cent., unexampled, we believe, by any other part of Pe- nobscot county. This progress was the more remark- able since a malignant fever prevailed during a part of the decade, of which many died. In 1820 the town had 515 people; in 1830, 945; in 1840, 1,498; in 1850, 1,605; in 1860, 1,442 ; in 1870, 1,309; and in 1880, 1,132.

Dixmont reported 80 polls in 1812, and 95 in 1820. It had 332 in 1860, 330 in 1870, and 324 in 1880.

The estates' valuation of 1812 was $2,551.20; of 1820, $27,390; of 1860, $227,741; 1870, $266,028; 1880, $308,176.

SOME HISTORIC NOTES.

The first post-office in the present Dixmont was estab- lished before the town was formed, and dates from 1806.

It was the earliest in this part of the county. The offices are now Dixmont-E. M. Dolliff, postmaster; Dixmont Centre-John N. Hoyt, postmaster; North Dixmont- Christopher Morse; East Dixmont -- Amos Whitney; and Simpson's Corner, with Mary Powlesland as postmistress. The office at Northeast Dixmont was discontinued some years ago. The Simpson's Corner office is a rather new one, at the cross-roads next south of Northeast Dixmont.

The next year after the first post-office came the first church. It was a Congregational society, formed No- vember 16, 1807, by the Rev. Messrs. Jotham and Sam- uel Sewall, and Daniel Lovejoy. The Plymouth branch was set off from this church December 14, 1834; and the two were reunited on the roth of September, 1861.

The Free-will (now called simply Free) Baptist Church was organized here in 1810. It has now two societies in the town-one at East Dixmont, of which Elder E. Allen is pastor; and one at Simpson's Corner, whose pulpit is vacant. There has been another society of this denom- ination in the town, as also several Christian or "Dis- ciple" bodies, and one "Church of God" organization.

The Calvinistic Baptists also organized in Dixmont in 1810. They had thirty four members here in . 1821. The church of this faith at North Dixmont has Elder A. Palmer as its minister.

We have not the date of organization of the Methodist Episcopal church in Dixmont. Its pastor in charge last year (1880) was the Rev. John Tingling.

This town had a specially honorable part during the last war with England, a large number of its able-bodied citizens volunteering in the army. None of them were killed, but some were severely wounded, and Charles Peabody, who was living in Dixmont for many years afterwards, lost a leg from a cannon shot, which struck his ankle.

The Dixmont Mountain Dairy Association was incor- porated February 24, 1875. It is now called the Moun- tain Cheese Company, and has Mr. L. P. Toothaker for President. Another corporation of the kind is the Cold Spring Cheese Company, Benjamin Bussey, President.

OTHER BUSINESS NOTES.

The remaining manufacturers of the town are two lumber- and grist-millers, two harness makers, and one wheelwright at Dixmont village, and one tinman at East Dixment. The former place has also two general stores, two smiths, and one carriage painter; the latter, two smiths, one jeweler, and one taxidermist.

Dixmont Center has a Grange store and one other general store, one smith, and one carriage and house painter.

North Dixmont has one general store and two smiths. Two hotels are kept in the town.

There is one resident physician.

THE SOCIETIES

of Dixmont, other than religious, are the North Star Grange, No. 47, Patrons of Husbandry, and the Archon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The Neal Dow Lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars, had an existence until recently.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

TOWN OFFICERS IN 1880.

John N. Hoyt, C. W. Prescott, Albert Mitchell, Select- men; Peregrine White, Town Clerk; Benjamin Bussey, Treasurer; Benjamin Bussey, William B. Reed (Center), Joseph S. Hamilton (North), Lewis F. Simpson (Simp- son's Corner), Constables ; John J. Sewall, G. C. Wheeler, L: P. Toothaker, School Committee; W. B. Furguson, Joseph Hoyt, William Harris, Jr., John Whitcomb, Jr., F. Piper, Benjamin Bussey, L. P. Toothaker, Joseph S. Hamilton (Quorum), Lorenzo W. Starbird, William Har- ris, Jr. (Trial), Justices.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Mr. Elihu Alden, of Dixmont, was born May 2, 1802. He is the first male child born in this town who lived, his brother Millbury, who died in infancy, being the first male child born in the town, His father, Elihu Alden, was a native of Middleboro, Massachusetts. He married Lydia Mitchell, of Readfield, where Mr. Alden first set- tled on coming to Maine. While in Readfield he en- gaged in trade and school teaching. He came here about the year 1795, but this date is not certain, as both the family and town records have been destroyed. Here he cleared up the farm where his son and grandson now live. His neighbors on either side were ten miles away. He used to entertain travelers at his home. He was a man who took a prominent part in all the early affairs of the town. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Alden had eight children, all of whom are de- ceased except the subject of this sketch. Their names were: Lucy, Millbury, Elihu, Lydia, Almira, Rebecca, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Alden died in 1830. Elihu, Jr., as he formerly wrote his name, has always lived in Dixmont, and been engaged principally in farm- ing. He married Eliza Butman, daughter of Benjamin Butman, who came here, in 1806, from Massachusetts. To this couple there were born six children, viz : Augus- tus E., now in Washington Territory; Almira E., An- nette M., John B., now on the old place; Frances, de- ceased; and one that died in infancy. The old home- stead formerly contained two hundred acres, but has been sold from till now Mr. Alden has fifty acres where he lives. He is a man well known throughout this sec- tion.

Mr. David Porter, of Dixmont, was born here. He is a son of David and Nancy Porter. David Porter was a son of David Porter, a native of Boxford, Massachusetts. He lived in Bridgeton, Maine, for a time, and here his son David, father of the subject of this sketch, was brought up. He died here in Dixmont. David and Nancy Porter (nce Nancy Stevens) had ten children, viz : David; Alfred, deceased; Ruth, deceased; Sally, wife of Captain Isaac Hatch, of Isleboro, Maine; Susan T .; Cor- delia, deceased; Amanda B., deceased; Christopher S., died in early life; Olive N., married Sewall H. Hasty, now living in Bangor; and Nancy, who died young. Mr. Porter moved to Dixmont in 1804, and settled on the place where his son David now lives. At that time there was not a tree felled on the place, and only a bush path to travel on horseback through this part of the town.

Here he made his farm, married, and brought up his fam- ily. He always followed farming for business. Two of his brothers also settled in this neighborhood. He lost his wife, and married Phœbe N. Stiles, by whom he had one son, Charles S., whose family live in this neighbor- hood. Mrs. Porter died in 1867. Mrs. Porter (his first wife) died in 1838. David Porter, Jr., the subject of this sketch, married Elizabeth W. Hatch, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hatch, of Isleboro, Maine. They have had three children: Philena E., married to Benja- min D. Prilay, of Bangor ; S. Evelyn, died young ; Clifford C., now with his father, is a teacher. Mr. Porter has about one hundred acres of land, part of the old home- stead, his brother owning the remainder. He has always been a farmer.

Mr. Charles S. Porter, of Dixmont, is a son of David and Phoebe (Stites) Porter, whose history appears in this work, and for the early history of the family, the reader is referred to the sketch of David Porter. Charles S. was born April 11, 1848, here in Dixmont, on the old place. He married Mary Anna Boyd, daughter of Leonard and Mary Boyd, of Monroe, Waldo county, Maine. Mrs. Porter died July 26, 1876, leaving two children, Wallace S. and Louis R. Mr. Porter lives on a portion of the old homestead, and is a farmer.

Alpheus P. Rich, of Dixmont, is a son of Benjamin and Experience (Boden) Rich. Benjamin Rich was a native of Gorham, Maine. His father, Joel Rich, came to Jackson, in Waldo county, near here, in 1798, and was one of the pioneers of the town. Benjamin Rich was born in Gorham, Maine, in 1790. He lived in Jackson until about twenty-five or thirty years of age, when he went to Monroe, an adjoining town, and lived there until 1837, when he came to Dixmont and lived on the place where Alpheus P. now lives. Here he spent the remainder of his days. He was a man who early experienced religion and took great interest in all religious. matters, and was among the foremost in all exercises for its pro- motion. He never allowed even obstacles to prevent regular attendance upon divine service. He died in 1849. Mrs. Rich died the year previous. He married Mrs. Stowers, whose maiden name was Boden. They had seven children, viz: Samuel Stowers, now in Glenburn ; Alpheus P., subject of this sketch; John B., now in Monticello, Minnesota; Nancy A., widow of George Woodbury, of Boston, now living in Pitts- field ; Amos, who died in the army, a member of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Regiment, and was an excellent scholar and a teacher in Ohio; Lizzie C., wife of Andrew Croswell, of Farmington Falls, Maine; and Mary Ann, wife of Charles Bridges of Boston. Alpheus P. Rich was born December 12, 1823, in Mon- roe, Waldo county. He has always lived on the old place in Dixmont, on which his father settled when Alpheus was about thirteen years old. He married Mariam Ferguson, daughter of Nahum and Betsey Fer- guson, of Unity. This couple have four children: Cora E., Isabella, Sadie G., and Perley B. Mr. Rich was formerly a teacher during the winter, but has been engaged in farming all his life. He has about ninety acres in the

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 84

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