History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 87

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 87

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The inhabitants were patient and waited for more than thirty years from the entry of the first white settlers, until the comparatively slow growth of population warranted the incorporation of a town. At length, on the 22d of February, 1811, anniversary of the birthday of Washing- ton, the requisite act or resolve was procured, and Edding- ton became a full-fledged town. Colonel Eddy was no longer among the living, but, in honor to his memory, the municipality received the fitting name of Eddy's town, or, more smoothly rendered, Eddington. It had now some- thing more than two hundred inhabitants.

STATISTICS OF EDDINGTON.

In 1790 the tract now Eddington had 110 inhabi- tants; in 1800, 167; in 1810, 205; in 1820, 276; in 1830, 405; 1840, 595 ; 1850, 696; 1860, 856; 1870, 776; 1880, 746.

The first report we have of polls in Eddington is for 1812, when it had sixty-five. In 1820 there were sixty ; in 1860, 194; in 1870, 220, and in 1880, 214.

The valuation of estates for the same years, severally, was $1,547.18 (tax 24 cents on the $100), $19, 130, $123,704, $165,235, and $128,767.

PRESENT FACTS.

The post-offices of this town are Eddington, with S.

O. Day in charge, and East Eddington, A. F. Merrill, postmaster.

At the latter place are two general stores, two establish- ments for the sale of millinery and fancy goods, one manufacturer of long and short lumber, clothes-pins, and spools, one grist-mill, one carriage-maker, two smiths, two carpenters, and one meat-market. A neat and spacious public hall has recently been erected at this place.

At Eddington Bend is one general store, and there are also in the town one shingle-mill, one joiner, and one land surveyor.

The Sovereigns of Industry had lately a branch in this town; but the only society of note now surviving, and not religious, seems to be the Pine Tree Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars.

Eddington has an annual fair, held in the large public hall. It makes a very creditable exhibit, which is liber- ally patronized by the people of the town and surround- ing country, and by the citizens of Bangor.

TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1880.

Festus F. Merrill, L. D. Knowlton, E. L. Rich, select- men; A. R. Merrill, town clerk; A. F. Merrill, treasurer ; G. B. McMahon, J. T. Hammond, constables ; J. H. Comins, S. O. Day, Boyden Bearce, school committee ; Ashbel W. McMahon, A. P. Bradbury, E. G. Morse, Albion F. Merrill, (quorum), John J. Temple, (trial), justices.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

[We are again indebted to the Reports of the Adju- tant-General of the State for a biographical sketch of one of the heroes of Penobscot during the late war. ]

LIEUTENANT L. M. COMINS was born at East Edding- ton, December 4, 1834, and was a graduate of Wiscon- sin University in 1860. He afterwards studied law. He enlisted in the First District of Columbia Cavalry, Janu- ary 15, 1864, and before leaving the State was commis- sioned second lieutenant. He served with his regiment through its marches, raids, battles, and skirmishes to the time of the capture of a large portion of its number at Sycamore Church, when Lieutenant Comins was taken prisoner and lodged in Libby Prison, whence he was pa- roled in twenty-three days, but much emaciated and prostrated by starvation and sickness. After a furlough he returned to the parole camp, was exchanged and trans- ferred to Company A, First Maine Cavalry, in which he served until March 31, 1864, when, under Sheridan, in taking the South Side Railroad, he fell with a ball in his right thigh. He was carried from the field by his men and conveyed to City Point, where he died April 14, 1865. Lieutenant Comins was ever at his post at the call of duty. He was in command of his company when taken prisoner, and also when he received the fatal wound. His death was much lamented as that of one of the bravest of the brave men of the war.

William Merrill settled in New Gloucester, Maine, and lived there some forty years; afterwards moved to Foxcroft, Maine, and lived there until he died, at the age of eighty-six years. He married Margaret Forbes, who was born in Canada in 1768; she died at the age of sixty-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE

two years. William Merrill, jr., the sixth child of this family, was born in New Gloucester June 19, 1811. He had five brothers and four sisters. Their names were John (dead), William (dead), William, jr., Alvin, Joel, Abigail (dead), Dorothy (dead), Margaret (dead), and Mary Ann. His early educational advantages were poor, and he had to go to school about two miles some eight or ten weeks a year. While a youth he worked on the farm at home. He was married to Mary D. Rich, daugh- ter of Arthur Rich, on the 29th day of May, 1836, and has eleven children-Celia M. (dead), Albion F., Arthur R., Carrie C., William E. (dead), Festus F., Mary E., Emily L. (dead), William E., Barney R. (dead), and Emily L. Albion F., Festus, Arthur R., William E., Carrie C., and Emily L. are living in Eddington, Mary E. in Brewer, Maine. Mr. Merrill's business is that of farmer and lumberman. He has held some of the town offices in this town. He owns a fine farm of eight or ten hundred acres, some two hundred and twenty-five of which are improved.

John W. Towle's father was born in New Hampshire in 1776, and lived there thirty-six years, when he moved to Exeter, Maine, and resided there until his death in 1866. His mother was born in 1784, and died in 1866. They had sixteen children-Sally S., Ruth, Joshua, Jane S., Margaret, Benjamin W., John W., Lyman, Cyrus, Orel, Mary, Ebenezer, Eleanor, George F., Susan, and James H. John W. was born in New Hampshire in 1807, and in 1828 moved to Jarvis Gore, now East Ed_ dington. He was married in 1832 to Miss Sarah Ward daughter of Peter Ward, by whom he had three children -Cyrus Franklin, who married Jane Broad, and has three children; Russell S., who died in the army while on his passage to Ship Island, under General Butler; and Darius E., who married Ida Woodbury. Mr. Towle's first wife died in 1863, and he married for his second spouse Mrs. Lydia L. Ford, his present wife. His business is farming, which he carries on on a farm of about forty acres. He has held some of the town offices.

The father of Arthur D. Rich was born at Jarvis Gore, now East Eddington, in 1804, and has always lived in this place. His wife was Almira Davis, born in Edding- ton in 1808, and died in 1874. Arthur D. Rich was born in 1835, being the third child in the family. The other children were Almira D., and Jonathan S. Arthur Rich was married to Fannie L. Levenseller, daughter of George V. and Nancy Rowe Levenseller, in 1860. They have one child living, Laura B. Mr. Rich is engaged in farming and lumbering. He has held some of the town offices; in politics is a Democrat. His grandfather, Arthur Rich, was born in Sudbury, Massa- chusetts, in 1777, and moved to Jarvis Gore in 1803' being one of the first settlers. Reuben Rich (now liv" ing) was the first white male child born in Jarvis Gore. His wife was the first white female child born at the vil- lage of East Eddington. Caleb Davis, his grandfathe on his mother's side, died at East Eddington in 1870, aged ninety-two years ; his wife died in 1862, aged eighty years.

The father of George Davis, of Stockwell, was born at East Eddington, Maine, in the year 1817. His mother was born in Exeter, Maine, in the year 1823. Both are now living. The only .son now living is George Davis, who was born at Bangor in the year 1850. He was the only child. His early educational advantages were good, attending the schools of Bangor city. He lived at home with his father while in youth. He was married to Sophia E. Budge in the year 1871. His wife's father's name was James Budge; her mother's Nancy G. Clifford, both of whom are living. They have three children: Amos D., May E., and Addie B., all living at East Ed- dington. Mr. Davis' business since his marriage was farming and milling. In politics he is a Greenbacker.

The father of Jesse H. Moulton was born in Gilman- ton, New Hampshire, in 1776, where he lived some twenty-three years, when he moved to Levant, Maine and afterwards to Sebec, where he lived some forty years. He then lived in New Jersey four or five years, and moved to Jefferson county, New York, where he died, aged eighty years. His business was inilling, lumbering, and farming. Hls wife was Sarah Hill, who was born in New Hampshire, and was married to Mr. Moulton in Charlestown, Maine, in 1808. She died at Sebec at the age of about fifty-five years. Their children were Ben- jamin, Jeremiah, Ephraim, all deceased ; Maria C., Mary P., and Jesse H. The latter married Mary A. Oliver, in Houlton, Maine, in 1845. She was the daugh- ter of Nelson and Betsey Morrill Oliver. Mr. and Mrs. Moulton have five children living: Jerry, Jesse, Maria, Albert, and Mary, who is now teaching in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Mr. Moulton has held most of the town offices; is a Republican in politics. His business has been merchant, farmer and lumberman.

Asa Comins was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, July 4, 1793, and after a life of seventy-five years devoted to milling and farming, he died at Hadley, Massachu- setts. He married a lady by the name of Smith, who died at the age of twenty-six years. They had two chil- dren. Sophronia married Henry Sweet, but died, leav- ing six children. Cooledge, the only son, was born in Leverett, Massachusetts, in 1818, and educated in such schools as those early days afforded. He married, April 9, 1846, Julia E. Robbins, daughter of John Robbins, by whom he had one child, which lived only a few hours. His first wife dying, he married, in 1850, Sarah J. Hall, daughter of Lemuel Hall, and had one child, now dead. He was married a third time to Mrs. Margaret B. Davis, May 6, 1854. January 1, 1862, he married his present wife, Mrs. Margaret B. Clewly, daughter of John Ward Mr. Comins has given his time and attention to farming since marriage, but has found time to hold some of the offices of this town. He helped build the Hall at this place, and now lives on a farm of about one hundred acres. The children of the present wife of Mr. Comins, by a former husband, are Abbie M. and Addie S., the former living in California, and the latter with her mother.

Lewis Bearce was born at Middleborough, Massachu- setts, in 1777. When eighteen years of age he moved

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

to Hebron, Maine, where he died of consumption, aged forty-nine years. He was a lumberman and farmer. His wife was Judith Buckman, who was born at Hebron in 1780, where she married Mr. Bearce. In 1828 she moved to Foxcroft, Maine, where she died at the age of seventy-six. Josiah B. Bearce, fourth child of Lewis and Judith Bearce, was born at Hebron in 1816, and when about twenty-six years old moved to East Eddington. The other children were Rebekah, Bathsheba, and Levi. Josiah Bearce had limited educational facilities, attending school about six weeks during the year. He was mar- ried December 25, 1846, to Susan K. Hammond, daugh- ter of Jacob and Eunice Knights Hammond. To them were born five children : Flora J., married E. E. Byard, and has three children; Louise M., married Charles L. Libby, and lives at home; Boyden, married Jennie L. Phillips, March 5, 1881 ; Lillie F., married Alonzo G. Davis, in August, 1880, and lives in Michigan; Charles H. lives at home. The first wife of Josiah Bearce died, and in 1870 he married Angie W. Hunting, by whom he has one child, Mabel Estelle, nine years of age. Mr. Bearce has held town offices, and in 1876 was elected to the State Legislature, on the Democratic ticket, and served one term.

The father of Erastus N. Comins was born in Charles- town, Massachusetts, and died in East Eddington, in 1848, at the age of seventy-eight years. His mother Margaret Mansfield, was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, and died at the age of seventy-five years. They had the following children : Catharine, Margaret, William J., and Coolidge, jr., dead; and Benjamin V., Elijah, and Eras- tus, living. Erastus was the sixth child, and was born October 20, 1811. He learned the carpenter's trade in youth, but after working at it thirty years he became a farmer, and still continues business on a farm of some 120 acres. He married a daughter of Jonah Taylor, January 17, 1834, and had three children: Charlotte M. (dead); Charles W., who married Hattie Hill, has two children, and now resides in Brooklyn, New York ; Amelia F., who married A. W. Campbell, and has one bright little child three months old-she now resides with her parents. Charlotte M. was the wife of George H. Parsons, and left three children, all now living. Mr. Comins is a Republican and attends the Universalist church.

Bradley Blackman was born at Walpole, Massachu- setts, in 1777. He came to Eddington when a lad, and lived here until his death, in 1848. His wife was Hep- sibah Knapp, born in Massachusetts, and died at Brad- ley in 1837. John Wesley Blackman was the sixth child. They were Francis, Temperance, William, Adam, Horace, and John Wesley. The latter married Sylvia K. Campbell in 1837, and has had seven children, six of whom are living: Bradley, Almon W., Charles A., Ithiel C., Ella S., and Oscar (deceased). Mr. Blackman had a poor opportunity to obtain an education, being engaged at farming and as a lumberman. He was a Selectman and Assessor for eight years ; in politics is a Republican.

The father of Albion P. Bradbury was born in the town of Minot, Oxford county, Maine, in 1783, and

went from there to Foxcroft, Maine. He moved to Bangor in the year 1835 or 1836, where he lived until his death, in the year 1847, at the age of sixty-two years. His business was that of merchant. His wife was Alethea Hersey, who was born in the town of Sumner, Oxford county, Maine, in 1786, was married in Sumner in 1810, and with him moved to Bangor, where she died, in the year 1868, aged eighty-two years. Albion P., the oldest child in the family, was born in Foxcroft in the year 1817. His business is a lawyer. The remain- ing child was Matilda A., born in the town of Foxcroft, Maine, about the year 1821. Married to J. W. Pottle, of New York City, and has three children named Mary, Emma, and Annie, who reside in that city. Is an out- and-out Democrat.

John Temple was born April 30, 1784, at Marlboro, Massachusetts, where he lived about twenty-five years. After several years' wandering he finally settled in the east part of this town, and resided there until his-death, October 22, 1868, occupied as a farmer and land sur- veyor. He married, August 16, 1819; Catharine Bedell, who was born May 2, 1795, and died January 6, 1846. Their children were: Orrin, Dorothy S., Josiah S., Abi- gail B., Ephraim H., Miriam B., and John J. John J. was the third child, and was born in Eddington, Septem- ber 5, 1827. August 31, 1851, he married Broocksey C. Adams, daughter of Thaddeus Adams, and has had five children-Hanson J., Etta M., and Elroy E., living at home; and Elbert J. and Anson, died in infancy.

The father of Joel Foard was born in Berwick, Maine, in 1784, and moved with his father's family to Lyman, York county, when a small boy, where he died in 1859, aged seventy-five years. His wife was Lydia Haley, boin in Kittery, Maine, in 1791. They were married in the town of Lyman, where she died in 1851. Joel Foard, the fifth child, was born February 11, 1814, and when thirteen years of age came to East Eddington, where he has since lived, engaged in lumbering and farming. The other children were Olive, Hiram, Paul, Leonard, Lydia, and Betsev. Joel Foard was married September 15, 1843, to Miss Betsey C. Sweet, by whom he had one son, C. H. W., who was married December 25, 1844, to Nettie M. Bridgham, and has two children-Leonard H., and Bernice M., who reside at home. Mr. Foard keeps a house of entertainment at East Eddington, where he has lived about thirty years. Mrs. Foard is a daughter of John C. and Martha Campbell Sweet.

Zelotes G. Hapworth was born in Amherst in 1844, and married Edna E. Thompson in 1874. . They have four children living: William R., Charles E., Lucetta, and Leonard M. His business is lumbering and farm- ing. His father was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and in 1831 married Lucetta Grover, daughter of Zelotes and Margaret Fletcher Grover, by whom he had seven children: Horatio, Henrietta, Edwin G., Ann J., William B., Zelotes G., Charles L., Fannie E. He has been through life a lumberman, and with his wife, aged respectively seventy-two and seventy-three years, are still living. The grandfather of Zelotes G. Hapworth was born in Ellsworth in 1788. After marriage he removed

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

to Mansfield, Massachusetts, then back to Mariaville, where he died, aged eighty-six years. His wife was born in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and lived to be seventy- seven years of age.

Peter Ward, the father of John Ward, was born in Charlton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, in 1781, where he lived some twenty-seven years, when he moved to East Eddington, where he died in 1855. His wife, Sarah Tucker, was also born in Charlton. They were married in 1784, and she died in 1868, aged eighty years and eleven months. John Ward was born in 1807, being the eldest of the family, which consisted of Sarah, Lewis, Tamizon, Harvey, Ann, William B., Elmira D., and Emery W. John Ward married May Bond, April 16, 1835, and has had five children, four of whom are now living: Margaret B., married Sanford Clewly, and has two children. Her first husband died and she mar- ried a second time, but has no children. The next child was Adaline S., who died aged twenty-six years. Asbury C. married Flora M. Sweet, and has one son. Almira D. married Nathaniel T. McKusick, and has lost one child. Nellie M., unmarried. Mrs. John Ward's father's name was Hollis Bond; her mother's maiden name was Margaret Orcutt.

Mary A. Lambert was born in Foxcroft, Maine, in 1819. When eighteen years of age she came to East Eddington, and in 1843, June 20, was married to Solon Sinclair, and with him moved to Brewer, where they re- mained some sixteen years, when they returned to East Eddington, where her husband died in 1861. . After re- maining a widow nearly two years she married Amos Lambert, who died in 1878. She had few advantages for obtaining an education, attending school but about four months in a year when a child. She has never had children, but has brought up several. She was the youngest daughter of William and Margaret Merrill.

Jacob Hammond was born in New Gloucester, Maine, in 1795, and spent all his life at farming in this State. He married Eunice Knight, who was born in 1795, and died in East Eddington in 1866. Their children were as follow: Elbridge K., who, at the age of seventeen, was accidentally burned in a camp on Great Works Stream and lived only twenty-two hours afterward; Sylvanus S.,

Susan K., and Live K., dead; and Jacob T. Jacob, the fourth child in the family, was born in Guilford in 1825, and in youth was engaged in milling and log driving. In 1856 he married Miss Maria L. Frye, daughter of Fred- crick Frye, and has had six children : Effie M., Mattie C., Sarah A., Eunice G., Bessie S., and Elbridge M. One daughter is married and lives in Gardner, Massachu- setts. Mr. Hammond is engaged in farming and cattle dealing, owning a farm of three hundred acres. For sev- eral years he has been collector and constable in East Eddington.

The father of George B. Glover was born at Pembroke, Massachusetts, in 1809, but since he was nine years old he has lived in Maine, He now resides in Buckfield, ()ford county, at the good old age of seventy-two years, in fair health. He married Annie D. Bryant in 1840, and she is still living at the age of sixty-four years. They had

five children : Hulda R., George B., Annie 'T., living, and Mary A. and John N., dead. George B., the second child, was born in Waterford, Oxford county, Maine, in 1843. In 1865 he married Marilla Kingsbury, daughter of Elie Kingsbury, and has had three children, two living : Lil- lian M., and Geneva R., residing at home. Mr. Glover was over ten months a soldier in the service of his coun- try. He has held several town offices. He lives on a farm of 175 acres in Eddington.

Asa Johnson was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, about 1768. When about twenty-one years of age he removed to Gilmanton, New Hampshire, where he re- mained some twenty-five years. From there he went to Bethlehem, New York, and lived eight or ten years, and spent his last days at Whitefield, where he died aged eighty-seven years and six months. He was a tailor and farmer. His wife was Hannah Bean, born in Gilman- ton, where, about the year 1781, she married. Their children were : Catharine, Simeon B., James H., Joan- na S., Sarah S., David B., Hannah H., and W. H. T. William Henry T. Johnson was the eighth child. On the 5th of December, 1842, he married Ruby T. Rich, by whom he has had six children : David B., Helen L., Clarence H., Diantha R., Hattie E., Edna W. Helen L. married A. F. Merrill, and has two children. David B. married Abby A. Comins, and has two children. Clarence H. married Nellie E. Spiney, and has one child. The other children are deceased. Mr. Johnson has worked at painting, teaching, farming, lumbering, and hotel-keeping. He has held both town and county offices, and was two terms in the State Legislature, being first elected in 1861. He has also been postmaster some twenty years.

Nathaniel McMahon was born at Dunnell's Island, in the town of Georgetown, at the mouth of the Kennebec River, Kennebec county, June 17, 1768. He grew to maturity in the town of Eddington, where he passed his life, and died December 29, 1831. His wife was Nancy Wilde, who was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, January 23, 1773. She came to Eddington in 1795, where she was married in March, 1800. She died December 8, 1826. Asahel W. McMahon was born March. 22, 1810, and has always lived in Eddington. He has held the office of County Commissioner for three years. The names of the remaining children of Nathaniel McMahon were: Nathaniel, Samuel W., Thomas D., and Abigail S. Asahel W. McMahon was married September 27, 1832, to Lydia P. Rowell, who died March 4, 1839, aged thirty-one years. He married for a second wife Elizabeth Pease, April 26, 1840, and has two children- Caroline E., who married Charles E. Baker, and has three children; and Emma S., wife of Ithiel C. Black- man, who has one child. Mrs. McMahon died May 8, 1873, aged sixty seven years.

Elisha S McFarland was born in Hancock county, Maine, and spent his whole life in this State, dying in East Eddington at the age of seventy-seven years. In 1877 he married Hannah E. Springer, who died at the age of forty-three years. They had six children-Thomas, William A., Francis O., and Emily S., deceased; and

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Elizabeth E. and Winfield S., living. William was killed at the battle of Fairfax Court-house in 1864. Winfield S. McFarland, the fifth child, was born in Hancock in 1835. After moving from place to place several times, he finally, in 1871, settled in East Eddington, where he now resides. In 1861 he married Laura E., daughter of Josiah Grindell, in the town of Penobscot. They have no children. His business is milling and farming, Sev- eral town and county offices have been held by him. He is a member of the Baptist church, and besides a farm of seventy-nine acres supplied with substantial buildings and other equipments, he has a nice residence in the village.

Kennedy McMahon emigrated from Scotland to Ire- land in the year 1715, and two years after married Anna Hollerin. Their son Charles, born in 1820, in the year 1735 emigrated to the State of Maine, near the mouth of the Kennebec River. About 1740 he mar- ried Elizabeth Dunnell, of Georgetown. Their son Michael, born 1741, married, in the year 1763, an Eng- lish lady by the name of Thankful Horton, and with his wife and family moved from the Kennebec to Eddington in 1770, and located upon the farm which A. W. Mc- Mahon now resides upon. In the spring of 1777 he was drowned in what is now called Gardner's Falls, near Eddington Bend. Nathaniel, his only son, was at that time only nine years old, but he with his mother and five sisters buffeted the storms of life through the hard

times of the Revolutionary struggle, and came out bright in the end. Nathaniel had four sons, three of whom are now living, A. W. McMahon being the youngest,

Wilder Broad was born at Albion, Kennebec county, Maine, where he grew to manhood. He lived some ten years in New Brunswick, then went to Mobile, Ala- bama, where he died in 1819, at about thirty-two years of age. He was by trade a blacksmith. His wife was Hannah Stevens, who was born in Albion, Maine, and after her husband went to Alabama she moved to Epping, New Hampshire, aged about seventy years. After the death of Mr. Broad she married Henry Sanborn, who is also deceased. Daniel S. Broad, her son by her first husband, was born in Albion, Maine, in 1809, and dur- ing early life lived in several different places. He mar- ried Mary Jane Woodcock, who died leaving four chil- dren-Eliza Ann, Louria K., killed during the late war; Jane Maria. After the death of Mrs. Broad he married Mary J. Burrell, daughter of Rufus Moulton, and had five children-Elisha H .; Louisa; Franklin, killed in the late war; Alverado, and Alphonso, the former deceased. Alphonso married the daughter of Mr. Warren, of Ban- gor, and lives in Berkeley, California. By her first hus- band his second wife had three children-Lizzie, wife of Samuel G. Patten; Albert J., who married Angeline Jameson; Ellen H. (deceased), married Henry A. Patter- son. In politics Mr. Broad is a Republican.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 87

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