History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 85

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 85

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

home farm and some thirty-five in another lot. He lives one and a half miles south of the Corner (Dixmont).

Among the first settlers in Dixmont was Mr. Thomas York, who came here from Middletown, New Hampshire. It was when very few settlers were here, but the exact date is not now known by his son David P. He married Phoebe Ellis, who came here with him. He settled on what is known as the South road in Dixmont. He always after lived in this town. Thomas and Phoebe York had ten children, viz .: Judith (deceased) ; Betsey married Charles Bick- ford, of Dixmont, and now lives here ; Lucy (deceased), wife of James Garland ; Hiram, now in Frankfort, Waldo county; David P., subject of this sketch; Lydia (de- ceased), wife of James H. Dill; John (deceased); Rufus (deceased) ; Rhoda, wife of Calvin Stevens, of Dixmont; Ephraim went into the army and was not heard from-re- ported killed and then disputed. Mr. York always fol- lowed farming. He died about 1863. Mrs. York died about 1856. David P. York was born May 3, 1811. He has always lived in this town, and has been engaged in farming principally. About thirteen years since he en- gaged in trade at Dixmont Centre, where he now lives. He keeps a stock of dry goods and groceries. Mr. York married Sarah Vinal, daughter of Captain Lot and Nancy Vinal. They have two children : Marcia, wife of Albert Mudgett, of Dixmont ; and Waldo M. now in California. Mr. York is now assistant postmaster in this town, keep- ing the office in his store rather than lose it.

William Y. Tasker, of Dixmont, one of the oldest liv- ing settlers, and who came here in 1812 during the war with England, is a son of Ebenezer Tasker, a native of New Hampshire. Ebenezer Tasker married Mary Pink- ham and settled first in Ossipee, New Hampshire. They had eight children, six of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Their names are Joseph, deceased; Wil- liam I .; Judith, now Mrs. Zachariah Fletcher, of Hermon; Clarissa, deceased; Betsey, now Mrs. Jabez Fletcher, of Dixmont; Margaret, deceased. Mr. Tasker settled on the farm now owned by Weston Jewett. He cleared up the farm and lived on it about ten years, when he traded farms and moved to the district known as the Mountain District, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a Free-will Baptist preacher, and was widely known in this region. He died about 1838. Mrs. Tasker lived to be eighty-five years old. William Y. Tasker, the second son, was born March 26, 1800, in Ossipee, New Hampshire. He came here with his father when twelve years of age, and can distinctly remember the battle in Hampden, his father being in the fight. He settled with his father on the old place, but afterward swapped farms with his brother and got the place where he has since lived. He married for his first wife Lydia Dodge, daugh- ter of Benjamin Dodge, of Monroe, Maine. By her he had eleven children, seven of whom are now living- Benjamin, now in Jackson, Maine; William, in Wiscon- sin; Abigail, deceased; Sally Ann, wife of Daniel Put- nam, of Jackson, Maine; Deborah, wife of Ebenezer Fletcher, of Herman, Maine; Lydia, now Mrs. James Patee, of Belfast, Maine; Sultana, now Mrs. Alonzo

Tasker, of Dixmont; Ephraim, of Jackson, Maine; Mary, deceased. Mr. Tasker has always been a farmer and never engaged in public life to any extent. He is now eighty-two years old, and during the last fall he husked twenty-three bushels of corn in seven hours, which shows that he is a remarkably smart old man.

John Prescott, of Dixmont, is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Buckmore) Prescott, of Northport, Waldo county, Maine. His grandfather, Samuel Prescott, was a native of New Hampshire. It was in Epping, New Hampshire, that Samuel, Jr., was born. He moved to Dixmont in 1816, the cold year. The subject of this sketch was then a lad, and remembers dropping potatoes barefooted in the snow in June. Samuel Prescott had twelve children -- Thomas, deceased; Henry, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Joseph, deceased; John; Joshua, now in Newburg; Mary, deceased; Eliza, deceased; Nancy, deceased; Jane, deceased; Harriet L., wife of Jesse Mitchell; Nancy, now Mrs. Thompson, of Searsmont, Maine. Mr. Prescott always owned a farm, but worked at mill business a good deal. He was a millwright by trade, as was his father before him. He died in Dixmont over twenty years since. Mrs. Prescott has been dead about ten years. John Prescott was born December 25, 1808, in Northport, Waldo county. Since becoming of age he has lived here. Mr. Prescott married Sally Gray, daughter of Reuben Gray, of Dixmont. They have had ten children-Angeline, now Mrs. James Foster, of California; Susan, now Mrs. James Carter, of Etna; Eliza A., married George Carter, of Etna; Harriet L., deceased; Reuben, in California; John F., died in the army; Daniel, now a doctor in Plymouth; Emery, now in Fairfield, Maine; Caroline, Mrs. Edward Blanchard, of Boston; Henry M., living in Dixmont. Mr. Prescott has always been a farmer. He lives in the northeast part of the town. He owns sixty-five acres of land in town.

Ebenezer Thorndike, father of Ashley C. Thorndike, came from Gorham, Maine, in 1816. He is a son of Ebenezer Thorndike, a native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Ebenezer Thorndike, Jr., married Betsey Clay. Her parents were from New Hampshire. They first settled on the place where Orrin Palmer now lives in 1820, where they lived ten years and cleared up most of the place, they then moved to the place where they now live, and cleared up the farm from the standing trees, making one of the best farms in town. Here they raised a fam- ily of ten children, viz: Persus C., wife of Charles Morse, of New York; Ebenezer, died young; Albert, de- ceased; Eliza (deceased) wife of Elias Sleeper, of South Thomaston, Maine; John C. merchant in Bangor; Sarah and Catharine, twins,-Sarah married John Newhall, of Bangor, and Catharine lives in South Thomaston, the wife of John A. Emery; Harvey M., deceased; Ashley C., of Dixmont; Edward R., of Lynn, Massachusetts. Mr. Thorndike is now living with his son, Mrs. Thorndike having died in January, 1870. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and is now a pensioner. Ashley C. Thorn- dike was born June 5, 1839, and has always lived here on the old homestead. He married Mary F. Crocker, daughter of R. D. Crocker, of Dixmont. They have

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

five children, viz: Romualdo P., Minnie Etta, Myrtie Ethel, John H., and baby not named. Mr. Thorndike has served in the capacity of Selectman of his town. The old homestead contains about ninety acres, but Mr. Thorndike owns 285 acres, He has a very good set of farm buildings and is a prosperous farmer.

Mr. John Morse, of Dixmont, is a son of Josiah Morse, who was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, about 1763. He married Mehitabel Carlton, and moved to Gorham, Maine, and from there to Hampden. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving three years. From Hampden he removed to Troy, and from Troy to Dixmont. He was a clothier by trade, and died in Dix- mont about 1823. Mr .. and Mrs. Josiah Morse had ten children, viz: Harvey, Barnet, Charlotte, George, Eliza, Thomas, Abigail, John; one died in early life and one in infancy. Only John and Abigail (Mrs. Work) are living. John Morse was born January 18, 1805, in Troy. He moved to Dixmont with his father at the age of twelve. On becoming of age he settled on the place where he now lives in North Dixmont, where he has since lived. He married Miss Belinda Durgin, Decem- ber 7, 1831, whose folks came here from New Hamp- shire. They have had four children, viz: Frances E., wife of John Ross, of Dixmont; Christopher M., of Dixmont; Joseph, also in Dixmont; and John H., now in Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Morse live on a good farm of ninety-five acres, where they have passed so many years. Mr. Morse has not engaged in public life, but always preferred to attend to his farm.

Mr. Ezra G. Crocker, of Dixmont, was born January 8, 1816. He is a son of Nathaniel Crocker, whose history may be found in the sketch of Job Crocker, else- where in this work. His father owned the farm where Ezra now lives and here he was brought up, though born in Barry, Massachusetts. He married Clarissa Hillman, daughter of Thomas Hillman, of Troy, Waldo county, Maine. They have but one child, Emma L., wife of L. B. Harding, of Troy. Mr. Crocker has always fol- lowed the business of farming. He lives on the old homestead or a part of it, but owns other land to the amount of 150 acres in the west part of the town.

Charles M. Adams, of Dixmont, is a son of Joshua Adams, who was born in Wales, Maine, October 5, 1767. Joshua Adams married Sarah Plummer, and by her had eleven children: Benjamin (deceased), Aaron (deceased), Charles M., Joshua, David (deceased), Mariam, wife of the late James Smith, of Monmouth, Maine; Sarah, now Mrs. Cyrus K. Foss, of Washington, District of Columbia; Jacob (deceased), David (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Mr. Adams was always a farmer and spent the greater portion of his life in Wales, in this State, where he died August 25, 1849. Charles M. Adams was born December 9, 1796, in Limington, though his father moved to Wales when he was an infant. On coming of age he settled in this town, where he has since lived. He engaged first here in the leather and shoe business, but afterwards kept a hotel for many years. For the last ten years he has been engaged in farming. He married Hannah McDonald, daughter of John McDonald, of

Brunswick, Maine. To this couple were born ten chil- dren, viz: Eliza A., whodied in infancy; Charles Henry, deceased; John Q., now in Plymouth; James M., deceased; Elmira B., wife of Dr. Porter, of New- port, Maine; Sarah, now with Mrs. Porter, unmarried; George E., now of Dixmont; Albert L., now in Portland; Hannah L., now Mrs. W. Whittemore, of Fairfield. Mr. Adams was for many years Town Agent here. He is now eighty-five years of age, and retains his faculties very well, and converses intelligently about affairs of sixty years ago.

S. B. Bickford, of Dixmont, is a son of Thomas and Nancy Bickford (nee Nancy Pease). His grand- father was a native of Parsonsfield, Maine. Five brothers came from Parsonsfield and settled in this part of Pe- nobscot county. Thomas settled in Newburg. He was in the battle of Hampden, in 1812. He had eleven children, viz : Melinda, George, Van Rensselaer, Alva, Asa, all deceased; and Thomas, now in Bangor; Samuel B .; Nancy, widow of late Elder Elias Doble, of Etna; Sarah, widow of Cyrus Davis, of Danvers, Massachu -. setts; Julia, wife of Benjamin B. Thomas, of Hampden; and John, of Hermon. Mr. Bickford was a farmer and always lived in Newburg. He died suddenly in his field of heart disease, in 1830. His wife survived him ten years. Samuel B. Bickford was born May 3, 1811, in Newburg. He lived in Jackson, Waldo county, about six years, and in 1843 moved to his present place in East Dixmont, where he has since resided. He mar- ried Mary B. Thomas, who was born in Lincolnville, Maine, a daughter of James and Sally Thomas. They have had five children, three of whom are living: Sally E., now Mrs. W. D. Snow, of East Dixmont, living at home; Nancy M., now Mrs. L. W. Starbird, of Fargo, Dakota; and M. Florence, at home. The deceased were: Cornelius T., and Mary E. Mrs. Bickford died October 22, 1880, Mr. Bickford has a fine farm and a good set of farm buildings, and is a successful farmer.

Elnathan White, of Dixmont, was born March 18, 1850. His father, Elnathan White, Sr., was a native of Jackson, Waldo county, Maine. He married Sarah Tasker, of Dixmont, a daughter of William Y. Tasker. They had two children, William T., who makes his home with his brother, and Elnathan, the subject of this sketch. Mr. White died the day Elnathan was born. Mrs. White afterwards married Daniel Putnam, now of Jackson, Waldo county, Maine. Elnathan, after receiv- ing a common school education, commenced life for himself and learned the stone-cutter's trade in South Thomaston. Here he lived six years and during that time married Miss Maggie Craig, daughter of Deacon James S. Craig and Margaret L. Craig (nee Margaret Tasker), of Dixmont. From Thomaston Mr. White moved to Dixmont and bought the farm where he now lives, in South Dixmont. He has two children, Eva Gertrude and Harry E. Mr. White has a good farm of two hundred and ten acres and a good set of farm build-

ings. He has never engaged in public life.

G. D. Wheeler is a son of Daniel Wheeler, who was in the Revolutionary War, and came to Dixmont in

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

1835. His father married Mary Pollard, of Kennebec county, and died at ninety-six years of age. G. D. Wheeler is now farming on the old place, and has made farming a success. He married Lydia Crosford, of Dix- mont, daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia Crosford, and has seven children, viz: Luella, born October 1, 1839, died in 1841; Martha, born September 22, 1841, died September 25, 1865 ; Henry Clay, born September 18, 1843, enlisted in Company F, Maine Heavy Artillery, taken sick, and died May 27, 1867; Abbie Sophia, born September 30, 1846, now at home; Eva L., born De- cember 13, 1850, died December 12, 1869; Ida M., born January 28, 1853, died December 8, 1878; George C., born December 8, 1856, now living at home. Ida M. married Asa H. Twitchell, of Dixmont, and has one child, Howard Dustin, born August 20, 1878.

Ira Gardner, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Anson Gardner, one of the earliest settlers of the county, who located in Plymouth when the township was but a wilderness. He was a mason by trade, and did much in developing the county, clearing up the farm now occupied by Joseph Eaton, living on the place some time; then emigrating to this township, and settling on the place where he lived until his death. He was engaged in building the first mill in Plymouth. He was a member of the Methodist church. He married Anna Stephens, of Dixmont, daughter of Samuel Stephens. By this union he had ten children, viz: Ira, Sarah J., Huldah, Benjamin J., Elmira J., Jonathan A., William S., Martha A., Ellen, Augustus S., six of whom are now living. Ira Gardner was born in Plymouth, February 6, 1816, where he received a common school education. In early life he was engaged with his father on the farm until twenty-one years old. After the age of twenty-one, he started out in life for himself without assistance, and by industry and close application to business has secured to himself a pleasant home. He was in the mercantile business four years at Dixmont. He has been Repre- sentative to the Legislature, and Selectman a number of years, and Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Gardner is a staunch Republican, standing firm with his party. He has been a faithful representative of his party, and is highly respected by his townsmen and all who have dealings with him. He has always been an honest, temperate, upright, hard- working man, and in his declining years is surrounded with an independence which he deserves and enjoys. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance. He married Mary J. Leighton, daughter of David and Lydia Leigh- ton, of Mount Vernon, and had by this union one child: Charles O., born November 12, 1845, died December 20, 1872.

Cyrus Dolloff, the subject of this sketch, was born at Mt. Vernon, Kennebec county, May 5, 1824. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Dolloff, of that place. He settled in Dixmont in 1875, on the place now occupied by him. He received a common school education. He has been engaged in farming and quarrying. In politics he is a Republican. Starting out in life without any as- sistance, Mr. Dolloff has been a hard-working, honest, upright man, and has made his business successful. He

is now. surrounded with an independence which he and his family enjoy. He married Joanna Smith, of Monroe, and has had five children-Charles Tenney, born No- vember 26, 1849, died October 7, 1873 ; Mary E., born July 26, 1851, married Dr. Charles J. Milliken, of Cher- ryfield, Washington county, Maine ; Lydia C., born April 29, 1853, married Jacob Bussey, and is now living in East Boston; Ezra N., born August 15, 1855, at Dix- mont; Caroline A., born December 21, 1857, living at home, is a graduate of the Normal School at Castine, has been a successful teacher in graded and common schools. Mr. Dolloff's first wife died August 27, 1859, and he married Sarah J. Wildes, daughter of Thomas and Mar- guerite Wildes, of York county. By this union three children were born-Anna M., born October 28, 1863, is a graduate of the High School of Boston, and is now living at home; William W., born April 8, 1865, and Burton B., born June 1, 1867, are living at home.

Ezra M. Dolloff, the son of Cyrus Dolloff, of Dixmont, was born at Monroe, August 15, 1855. He received a common school education, and was occupied with his father until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Concord, New Hampshire, to learn the stone-cutting trade. After learning the trade he followed it for a busi- ness for four years, after which he settled in Dixmont, where he has been engaged in mercantile business since that time. Starting out in life without any assistance, by hard work and close attention to business he has built up a good trade, and is well liked by all who have dealings with him. He keeps a line of dry goods, hardware, no- tions, boots and shoes, drugs, groceries, etc. He has been postmaster about three years. In politics Mr. Dol- loff is a Republican. He was married August 18, 1877, to Carrie B. Durham, daughter of Toford and Caroline Durham, of Monroe. By this union one child was born, Evelyn H., born August 21, 1878.

William Harris, Jr., came to this county in 1833 with his father, William Harris, and settled in Dixmont. They emigrated from Clinton, Kennebec county. He was born April 8, 1801. By trade he is a tailor. He was in the Aroostook war. In politics he is a Democrat ; in spiritual belief Universalist; was Postmaster in North Dixmont about fifteen years; married Lucinda Ryan, by whom he has had thirteen children: William, Harris, Mary, Ellen A., Rachael, Stephen E., George M., James K. P., Elizabeth, Dorcas Ann, Virginia, Charles T., and Ada, nine of whom are living. William Harris, the sub- : ject of this sketch, was born in Clinton, Kennebec county, Maine, October 25, 1833. In early years he went to Boston to learn the machinist trade of Henry Sibley; worked four years with Grover & Baker's Sew- ing Machine Company ; enlisted the 13th of August, 1862, in Company D, Third Massachusetts Cavalry, under Captain Fred Polk. He enlisted as private; was raised to rank of First Lieutenant ; served three years ; was in twenty-nine general engagements; never was wounded; had two horses shot from under him; was absent from - regiment but two days on account of sickness. Since the war he has been engaged in carrying mail for four years to Newport, farming and shipping hay, handling one thou-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

sand tons per year, and is successful in his avocation. Starting out in life without assistance, but by industry and close application to business he has accumulated a competence. In politics he is a Democrat. He has been Selectman four years, Town Agent four years, and now holds said office. He takes an active part in political affairs, as Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. He married Mar- guerite Simpson, daughter of William and Mary Simp- son, of Brunswick, Maine. By this union two children were born: William S., born June 4, 1879; Mary E., born December 7, 1880.

Benjamin J. Gardner, the subject of this sketch, was born. June 19, 1822, in Dixmont. He is a son of Ansel Gardner. He received a common school education, and was engaged on a farm with his father, taking care of his father and mother until their death; is now living on the old homestead. Mr. Gardner has always been a hard working, honest, upright citizen of the township of Dix- mont, and well respected by his townsmen; has made farming a success. In politics he is a Republican, stand- ing firm with the party. Mr. Gardner is a self-made man. He married Mary J. Tole, daughter of Josiah and Mary Tole, of Searsport. The family was one of the early settlers of Searsport. By this union were born four children : Bradford P., born June 19, 1851, married Lillian G. Hughs, now living in Etna; Ida A., born February 8, 1853, married George A. Varney, of New- burg, now living at Minneapolis ; William J., born May 22, 1858, now living in Minneapolis; Sydney I., born April 10, 1860, married Carrie Ferguson, daughter of Charles Ferguson, of Etna, now living in Etna. Mr. Gardner was a member of the Dixmont Light Infantry.

Albert D. Crocker, son of Robert D., was born the 4th of June, 1842, in Dixmont, and has been engaged with his father on the farm until the present time. He was one of the first of the brave boys who, when the battle-cry sounded through our land, left home, parents, friends, to lay down his life, if need be, in defense of his country and home. He enlisted in Company F, Fourth Maine Vol- unteers, under Captain A. D. Bean; served four years ; the last year was a private in cavalry, Company F, under Captain G. A. Stanley; was in the Battles of Gettysburg, Bull Run, battle of the Wilderness, Fair Oak, etc. In the last year of his service he was engaged in Florida and Alabama. He is Republican in politics. He was married to Abbie B. Wright, daughter of J. H. and Dorothy Wright, of Jackson. By this union one child was born, Betha L., December 12, 1873.

George Gould came to this township with his father, Samuel Gould, in 1822, and settled on the place now owned by John Gray, clearing up the farm from its rough state. He has held nearly all of the town offices in the town of Elliott, York county (now known as Gould's Point). He was a Congressman, and a hard-working, sturdy man of great strength. He married Leonicy Em- ory, daughter of Noah and Susanna Gould, of Elliott. To them thirteen children were born, viz: Theodosia, Robert, Lydia, Joseph, Elisha, Hannah, John S., Susan, Elbridge G., Gillman, Susan E., and George Lyman.

Three of them survive-Elisha, now living at the Cor- ner; Lyman, now in Texas, President of Henderson Col- lege, and one of the finest teachers of the country ; and George L. Gould, born in Elliott October 25, 1815, came to this township when a boy. He received a com- mon and academic education, and for a number of years taught school winters and worked on the farm summers, making a success of both occupations. He is now sur- rounded with an independence of which he is worthy. He served the township as Superintending School Com- mittee, and held other minor offices. He married Catharine R. Sweetser, of Newburg, Penobscot county, and has two children-Lyman E., born July 21, 1844, now living in. Pennsylvania ; and Hellena E., born De- cember 6, 1846, married Joshua Twitchell, Jr., now liv- ing in Jackson, Waldo county.

Lyman E. Gould, son of George Gould, was a private in the late war. He was taken sick with army fever in Augur Hospital, Virginia, but by good care and nursing was brought through it. He married Caroline Tyler February 9, 1869, daughter of Allison Tyler, of Searsport. He was Representative of the town in 1850.

James F. Emory, the subject of this sketch, was born in Maxfield, Penobscot county, December 25, 1824. . He is a son of Robert and Susan Emory, who emigrated from Limerick, Maine, and settled in Maxfield in 1821, when the county was a wilderness, taking up a farm and clearing it from its its rude state, suffering the privations to which the early settlers were subject. His occupation was farming and milling. He was a member of the Free- will Baptist Church, and was deacon of the church sev- eral years. He was a man who lived upright. before God, and dealt justly with his fellow-men, and died at the age of fifty-six. He married Susan Furlong, of Limerick, by whom he had eight children, viz: Julia Ann, Nancy, James, Isaiah, Joseph, Harriet E., Hannah Y., Susan Ann. Four of them are living. James F. received a common school education, and has made his occupation of farming a success. Mr. Emory was of the men who left home, friends, and family to lay down life, if need be, in defense of his country, and was a private in. Company D, Fourteenth Maine Volunteers, under Captain Sawyer. He served seven months, and was discharged for disa- bility. Mr. Emory has always been a hard-working, hon- est, upright man, dealing justly with all men. He mar- ried Lucy F. Porter, daughter of Tyler Porter, of Dix- mont. By this union four children were born-Emma F., born September 19th, 1849, and is the wife of Allen E. Foster, of Newburg; Jabez K. H., born February 4, 1857, died August 10, 186); Melvin P., born June I, 1854, died August 26, 1855; Harris P., born January 26, 1859, married Bertie E. Nason, of Dixmont, December 5, 1879, now living on the farm with his father.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 85

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