History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 93

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 93

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Susan G., wife of Horace Wentworth, was born in Glenburn April 8, 1837; was married to Silas C. Ridley, of Wayne, August 20, 1854, in Glenburn. Mr. Ridley was born in Wayne April 3, 1831; died November 1, 1870, aged thirty-nine. Mr. Ridley represented one of the oldest families in the State-was a descendent of Jonathan Ridley, of Wayne. Mr. Ridley left two chil- dren: Gertrude L., born in Glenburn November 10, 1858, is a teacher in the public schools of that town; has also taught in District No. I, in Hudson, where her mother and grandmother taught before hef, in the same building. Louise F. was born in Glenburn October 8, 1865; died January 23, 1873, aged seven years and four months.

William Mann, father of Mrs. Edson and grandfather of Mrs. Wentworth, the oldest son of Amos Mann, was married to Sarah Sherburn, and afterwards to Sarah Bell. By his first wife he had eleven children, and two by his second wife. He died December 4, 1850, aged sixty nine years. His first wife died July 7, 1833, aged forty-three; his second, December 7, 1861, aged sixty- three years. Mrs. Edson was William Mann's third child, and has five children, four of them now living : Susan G., married Horace Wentworth; Louise M., born in Bangor March 2, 1840, married Jeremiah L. Flagg, now lives in Lowell, Massachusetts; Lucy, born in Ban- gor December 30, 1843, married Hooper B. Stuart, now lives in Culbertson, Nebraska; Austin Edson, Jr., born

December 12, 1846, died September 16, 1848; Evelina, born July 31, 1849, married James S. Thompson, now lives in Bellingham, Massachusetts.

George W. Worster was born in Glenburn, Maine, August 27, 1834. His wife, Margaret A. Nason, to whom he was married December 6, 1865, was born November 17, 1843. They have a family of four chil- dren-Frank E., George H., Edward W., and Neliie A. Mr. Worster worked at lumbering in Wisconsin in 1857, and took steps toward organizing a company for service in the Kansas border troubles. In 1859 he returned to Maine, and in 1861 enlisted as private in company E. Fourteenth Regiment, Maine Infantry, and was promoted to sergeant in camp at Augusta. He accompanied Gen- eral Butler's secret expedition to Ship Island; was com- missioned First Lieutenant June 20, 1862. He served with his company in the Louisiana campaign, and ac- quitted himself with credit. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and after enjoying a furlough returned with the regiment to Louisiana, and from there embarked for Washington in July, 1864. In February, 1864, he was commissioned captain, and on September 19th of the same year was severely wounded in the thigh while leading his company in a charge near Winchester, Virginia, and was left a prisoner within the rebel lines. His sword and belt were taken from him, but were recaptured later in the day. After the close of the war he removed to Bangor and en- gaged in the manufacture of suspenders. He moved to Glenburn in 1877, where he has served as clerk and agent of the school district; also as Assessor, Selectman, and Overseer of the Poor. He is at present engaged in farming.

Horace Pendexter, of Glenburn, is a son of James and Sally Pendexter, of Cornish, York county. Mrs. Pen- dexter was a Hammonds. James Pendexter was a farmer. He came to Glenburn in 1843, and settled on the place where Horace now lives. He had five chil- dren-Horace; Mary, deceased, wife of Daniel B. Head, of Bangor; Olive J., wife of Thomas Gibbs, of Glen- burn; and Augusta, Mr. Pendexter died January 3, 1875, and his wife November 8, 1880. Horace Pendex- ter, the oldest of the family, was born May 15, 1825. He came to Glenburn when eighteen years of age and has always since lived here. He married Lydia S. Thomas, daughter of Bradbury Thomas, of Glenburn, formerly of Centre Harbor, New Hampshire. They have one daughter-Mary. Mr. Pendexter has held the offices of Selectman and Overseer of the Poor for four- teen years.

Abner T. French, of Glenburn, is a son of George S. and Ann S. French (nee Ann Taylor). His grandfather was Zadoc French, who came to Bangor from Billerica, Massachusetts. George S. and Ann French had eight children-George Z., now in Wilmington, North Carolina; Maria T., deceased, wife of Captain C. B. Sanford, formerly of Bangor; Charles H., deceased; Anna H., de- ceased; Frederick F., deceased; Abner T .; William H., Wilmington, North Carolina; Josiah, also of Wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. French formerly lived in Bangor He moved to Glenburn in December, 1843, where he

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY MAINE,

lived the remainder of his life. He died in February, 1849. Mrs. French is still living in North Carolina with her sons. She spends some time also in Glenburn and Bangor. Abner T. French was born April 29, 1844. He received a common school education, and spent one year afterward in Hampden Academy. He has always lived on the old place, except a short time in Virginia with his brother. He married Miss Caroline E. Farn- ham, daughter of Frederick and Sarah Farnham, of Glenburn. They have two children living, having lost three. Their names are Mattie M. and Charles F. The deceased were named George Z., Malcom, and Morris.

Joseph Merryman, of Glenburn, is a son of Thomas and Martha A. Merryman (nee Martha Melcher). Thomas and Martha A. Merryman were natives of Brunswick, Maine. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, viz: Oliver P., now of Kingman, Maine; Nancy, wife of Hiram Church, of Levant, Maine; Thomas, of Bangor; Joseph; Alfred, now of Moline, Illinois; and Mary A. Mr. Merryman in his younger days was a ship-carpenter and joiner, but spent his later days on a farm. He died in St. Albans, Maine, in 1874. Mrs. Merryman died in 1841. Joseph Mer- ryman was born April 16, 1834, in St. Albans, Maine. He first settled in Glenburn in 1865, where he has since lived. He has spent several winters in the West. He farms during the summer, but winters he is engaged in the pop-corn business, both here and in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, where he has spent several winters. He mar- ried Miss Abbie C. Frees, daughter of Allen B. and Electa Frees, of Orono. The Frees family were among the first settlers in Bangor and Orono. Mr. and Mrs.

Merriman have two children, viz: Annie M., and Emma.

Mr. Harrison G. O. McDonald, of Glenburn, is a son of Joseph and Mary McDonald (nee Mary Wilson). His grandfather, John McDonald, was a native of Scotland. Joseph and Mary McDonald had eleven children, of whom eight are now living. Their names are: Ann, deceased ; Sophronia; Harrison; Rev. William, now of Massachusetts; Jonathan F., of Glenburn; John, in Montville, Maine; James, deceased; Susan, wife of Major Payne, of East Newport, Maine; Mary, now Mrs. Nathaniel Annes, of Placerville, California. The others died in infancy. Mr. McDonald lived in Unity, Waldo county, most of his days, though he died in Bel- mont, Waldo county. He was a farmer, and died April 18, 1835, his wife dying about 1840. Harrison G. O. McDonald was born February 4, 1814, in Unity. He received a common school education, and on becoming of age settled in Belfast and learned his trade of house- carpenter and joiner. He lived in Belfast about twenty years, with the exception of about six years spent in Boston, working at his trade. In 1860 he moved to Bangor, where he lived for about ten years. He moved to Glenburn in 1870, where he owns a farm and also works at his trade. He married Miss Harriet Flowers, of Belfast, by whom he had two children, viz: Ann, de- ceased, and George F., now in California. Mrs. Mc- Donald died in March, 1866, and he married for his second wife Alvina A. Lambert, by whom he has three sons, viz: Charles, Henry R., and Franklin ·(deceased). Mr. McDonald was a member of the Fourth Maine Vol- unteers for eight months, when he was discharged for disability.

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GREENBUSH.

Greenbush is a large town, territorially, up the valley of the Penobscot, on the east side of the river, eleven miles from Bangor, by the nearest corners. The Maine Register a little more than doubles these figures, giving twenty-three miles as the distance.

Greenbush is bounded on the north by Passadumkeag; . on the east by Township No. I and a small part of Greenfield; on the south by Milford; and on the west by the Penobscot, beyond which, opposite its front, lie Argyle and a very narrow strip of Edinburg.

In the river between Greenbush and the last two towns, are some thirty-five of the Indian islands, a larger number than lie off the front of any other town in the county.

Most of them are very small and unnamed; but a few have geographical designations, as Goose and Sock's Islands, abreast the south part of Olamon Island, in the north part of the town; Sugar, Birch, Comstock, Hemlock, and Cow Islands, about the middle of the river's course along the Penobscot front; and Jackson and White Squaw Islands to the southward. Olamon Island, in the northwest part of the town, passes a little way into Passadumkeag, and is large enough to be almost consid- ered a part of the mainland, from which it is separated by but a narrow channel. There are several residences upon it, the Indians inhabiting it to some extent; and the school authorities of Greenbush have generally

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

looked to the education of the children of the Indians.

The Penobscot flows through a slightly winding course for a distance of about eight miles along the west front of Greenbush. The north line of the town is less than four miles long; the south is five and five-sixths, and the east line seven miles long. The boundaries are straight on these three sides, but do not make exact right angles with each other, the town lying somewhat off the cardi- nal points of the compass.

Along the river, at a distance never more than three- fourths of a mile from it, runs the European & North American Railway, with nearly the same length of track within the limits of the town that the river has channel along its front. The railway makes two stations in the town, one at Greenbush post-office, and one at Olamon.

Between the railway and the river, most of the dis- tance, runs the river road from the southward. The only exception is for some way each side of Olamon Station, where the railroad gets between the wagon road and the river. At the depot the Olamon Stream comes in-a good-sized water, which enters Greenbush at the north- west corner of Greenfield, and flows about six miles northwesterly across the town to this point, two-thirds of a mile below the north line of the town. About a mile from its entrance it receives the Parker Brook, a little stream, from the east, and Otter Brook from the west, and takes no other tributary in the rest of its course through the town. About half-way to Olamon Station it is crossed by a north and south road which begins at a road from Greenfield, entering at the exact southeast cor- ner of the town, running northwesterly to a cemetery some two miles distant, and thence a little less distance southwesterly out of the town into Milford. Between it and the river are two small tributaries of the Penobscot; near the mouth of the north one, on the river road, is School No. I. A mile and a half north of this, near the foot of Jackson Island, is the mouth of a two and one- half mile stream called the Boom Bridge Brook. Three other creeks flow at tolerably regular intervals into the river between this and the Olamon. The last of these is a stream of some five miles' length, running altogether in Greenbush, with a general parallelism to the Olamon Stream. In the extreme north part of the town, a small arc of a brook that dips down into Greenbush from Pas- sadumkeag completes the catalogue of waters for the town. It has no lake or pond.

Returning to the north and south road in the east of the town, it has about seven miles' length in Greenbush. School No. 4 is at the intersection of an east and west road from Township No. I to Olamon Station. A mile north it sends off another but shorter westerly road to Olamon. From the cemetery named in the south of the town a mile and a quarter road runs to a longer highway from the southward, which has School No. 5 below the junction, and passes northwestward to the river road and the river, at the foot of Olamon Island.

Most of the settlement in Greenbush is on the river road. Upon it are Olamon Station, at the northward, which has a hotel, stores, shops, and School No. 3. About midway from the south town line to this is Green-

bush Station, which has School No. 2, hotels, stores, etc. Two and a half miles below it a "boom house" has been built, below the Boom Bridge Brook. The middle north and south road through the town is also moderate- ly well settled, especially on its forks at the lower end. The northeastern part of the town has a tolerable settle- ment. Much of the town, however, is still in wild lands, and the biggest room in Greenbush is so far the "room for improvement."

The first white settlers got into the Greenbush region about 1820, and by 1834 the tract had enough popula- tion to justify the formation of a town. February 28, 1834, it was incorporated. Its population in 1840 was 261, in 1850 457, in 1860 656, in 1870 621, and in 1880 681. The valuation in 1860 was-polls, 141; estates, $62,813; 1870-polls, 151; estates, $129,718; 1880- polls, 169; estates, $91,996.

There is no church in Greenbush. The Good Tem- plars have a society-the Tarrantine Lodge, at Olamon.

At the same place is kept the European and North American Railroad House. There are also in the town one saw-mill, two establishments manufacturing moc- casins and snow-shoes, one axes, and two coopers. Four persons or firms keep general stores.

The officers of the town in 1880 were: G. L. Com- stock, J. T. Mullen, A. M. Edgerly, Selectmen; Gilbert L. Comstock, Clerk and Treasurer; J. C. Scott, Consta- ble and Collector; G. G. Weld, School Supervisor; J. C. Scott (Quorum), C. S. Weld (Trial), Justices.

Nathan Ellingwood is postmaster at the Greenbush of- fice; Henry L. Wheeler at Olamon.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Among the oldest settlers of Greenbush is Mr. Elijah Spencer, whose father, Asa Spencer, came to Bradley from Kennebec county in a very early day, when a youth. His father, Nathaniel Spencer, was a Revolutionary sol- dier, and when he came to this county from Kennebec he brought one of his children on his back, walking all the way. He lived to be one hundred and three years old. Asa Spencer married Miss Lucy Rankins for his first wife. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Of these Elijah is the oldest, and the rest are all dead except one, Jefferson, who lives in Bradley. He married for his second wife Mary Warren, by whom he had six children. He died in Ohio about 1879. Elijah Spencer was born October 9, 1803, in Bradley. He came to Greenbush as a workman in 1821. He mar- ried Elizabeth Stanley, daughter of Benjamin Stanley, of Greenbush, in 1823, by whom he had five children, viz .: Charles, now of New Hampshire; Lovina, now Mrs. Bal- lard, of this town; Eleanor, deceased wife of Thomas Hill; Orilla, also deceased; Margaret J., also deceased. Mr. Spencer's wife died in 1850, and he married for his second wife Mary Freeman, of Greenbush. By this union there are four girls and one son, viz .: Aurora, now Mrs. Bean, of Greenbush; Abbie, now Mrs. Mudy, of Milford; Mary, now Mrs. Eldredge, of Greenbush ; Nancy E., now Mrs. Robinson, of Bangor. Mr. Spencer has had in all seventeen children by both wives. He now lives on the

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

farm he cleared in South Greenbush before a road was made in town. He has one hundred acres of land, and is still rugged and works in the field.

Among the leading men of Greenfield is Mr. Ransom Kennedy. He is the son of Samuel and Harriet Ken- nedy, of Newcastle, Maine. Samuel Kennedy had fif- teen children, eight boys and seven girls, thirteen of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Caroline, Samuel, James, Austin, Elbridge, Harriet, Hiram, Theodore, Jackson, Martha, Alden, Adeline. Theodore Kennedy is the sixth son of this family. Samuel Kennedy settled in Somers- ville, Waldo county, Maine, where he lived and died. Theodore Kennedy married Sarah Young, daughter of Henry and Susan Young, of Greenbush. They have had eight children, seven daughters and one son, viz .: Lauetta, now Mrs. A. Littlefield, of Greenbush; Elbridge; Myra, now Mrs. Arthur Brown, of this town; Ella May, now Mrs. Thomas Herriman, of Greenbush; Susan, wife of Charles Burr, of Milford, now deceased; Lillian; Florence, and Hattie. Mr. Kennedy settled in Green- bush, in 1851, on the farm where he now lives with his son Elbridge. Elbridge Kennedy married Mary F. Young, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Young. They have three children now living, viz .: Blanche N., Lena R., and Genciva E. Mr. Kennedy has a farm of one hun- dred and eighty nine acres, and is now engaged in farm- ing, which is his principal business.

Among the leading men of Greenbush are Messrs. Charles and Moses Weld. They are sons of Daniel Weld, of Cornish, New Hampshire, born May 27, 1781. He married Lydia Fuller, daughter of Thomas Fuller, of Hardwick, Vermont, born June 6, 1784. They had six children, viz: John F., now of Nauvoo, Illinois; Daniel, now deceased; Moses; Eben; who died in Oregon ; Martin, now of Groton, Vermont, and C. S. Mr. Weld died September 13, 1851. Mrs. Weld died November 6, 1846. Moses Weld was born January 18, 1813, and first came here from Groton, Vermont, about 1841, and worked in a shop and foundry in Bangor for a few months. He came to Greenbush in 1842, and located at Olamon. He engaged in axe-manufacture, at which business he has ever since continued, adding farming to this, which he follows during the summer season. He married Mrs. Olive Lovell. They have had four chil- dren, three of whom are still living, viz: Daniel C., died in youth; Moses E., now in Pennsylvania; Gawin G., now of Oldtown, studying medicine, and Edith L. Mr. Weld has a farm of about four hundred and fifty acres, with a fine set of farm buildings. His residence and grounds are well arranged. He has taken much pains to set out trees, and has a very fine grove of maples all along the road.

C. S. Weld was born May 5, 1819. He came to Olamon in 1850, and engaged in mercantile business and teaching. He taught several years, and in five States. He has of late years not been in business, hav- ing retired in 1875. He boards with his brother, with whom he has made his home for thirty years and over, never having married. He has held many of the principal offices of the town, and some of them many

terms. He has served as postmaster at Olamon for six or eight years.

J. C. Scott is the son of David and Betsey Scott, of Albion, Kennebec county, Maine. J. C. Scott was born September 30, 1822. He lived about two years in Pass- adumkeag, and then moved to Greenbush in 1843, where he has ever since lived. He married Keziah A. Gilman, daughter of Nicholas and Ruth Gilman, of Passadum- keag. Mr. David Scott died in 1851; Mrs. Scott was the daughter of Jonathan Coombs, of Islesboro, Maine, aud is still living. They have had seven children-two sons and five daughters, viz: Sergeant Jasper, died in the army; Maria A., now Mrs. J. A. Atwood, of Greenbush ; Ruth G., now Mrs. W. W. Harris, of Greensbush; Elizabeth C., now Mrs. H. F. Harris, also of Greenbush ; Ambrose S., now of Greenbush (married Clara E. Carney); Martha A., married W. H. Smart, who died in 1877; Louisa D., wife of A. L. Harris, of this town. Mr. Scott first settled on the farm where he now lives in 1843, felling the first trees on the farm. He has two hundred acres, with about fifty acres cleared. He has served as one of the Select- men of this town for twenty-four years, and held every office in the gift of his town, except one which he would never accept.

G. W. Merrill is the son of Joseph Merrill, of Skow- hegan, who came from New Hampshire to Skowhegan about 1804. He married Mary Neil. They had six children, three boys and three girls, viz: Albert N., now deceased; Joseph, now living in North Anson; Mary, now deceased; George W .; Mary F., deceased wite of Edward Selden, of Norridgewock, Maine; Sarah E., wife of 'Augustus C. L. Hill, of Bryan, Texas. Mr. Joseph Merrill died in 1821. Mrs. Merrill died in 1825. G. WV. Merrill was born October 20, 1814. He first settled in Greenbush. His father dying when he was seven years old, left him to be cared for by his mother, who died when he was twelve. He lived with an uncle till nineteen. He commenced in Greenbush as tavern keeper and merchant in 1845. He had served in the Aroostook expedition ere this. He married Par- melia Delett, of Littleton, daughter of Lewis Delett. They had six children that have grown to maturity, hav- ing lost two in childhood. " The names of the living are Mary F., Albrie, Lewis W., Helen H., George H., and Augustus, also Sarah, died in infancy or early childhood. Mrs. Merrill died in 1870. Mr. Merrill married for his second wife Mrs. Caroline M. Conant, who is still living. Mr. Merrill has always lived here, being now engaged in mercantile business, hotel keeper, and farming. He has frequently held office in town as Selectman, Treasurer, Overseer of Poor, &c.

William H. Scott is the son of David Scott, who came to Greenbush from Albion, Kennebec county, Maine. His father's name was also David. He married Betsey Coombs, of Berwick, Maine, who afterwards lived in Islesboro. They had nine children, six boys and three girls: James, now of Greenbush; Martha, now Mrs. Moses Ingalls, of Passadumkeag; Jonathan, deceased; William H .; David, now of Oriington; Ann, now de- ceased; Ann, now Mrs. Bates, of Passadumkeag; Olney

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

F., now living at Islesboro; Albert, deceased. Mr. Scott came here in 1845 and settled toward the eastern part of the town, where he always lived and where he died in 1850. Mrs. Scott is still living with her son, William H. William H. Scott was born in 1825 and came to this town when twenty years old. He first lived on the East Ridge. He married Caroline A. Folson, of Green- bush, daughter of Joseph G. Folson and Hannah Folson. They had two children, viz: Winfield and Clarence, both now living at home. Mrs. Scott died April 13, 1872. Mr. Scott married for his second wife Mrs. Vickery, of Troy, Waldo county, daughter of Noah and Eunice Weeks. They have no children. Mr. Scott has held the office of Selectman for four terms, and Superintend- ing School Committeeman five years. He represented his district in the Legislature of 1863.

John B. Manning is the son of James Manning, of Machias. James Manning married Jane Bowness. They had ten children, viz: Betsey, now deceased; Mary Ann, now Mrs. White, of Idaho; Sarah, now deceased; Cyrus, deceased; George, now of Lewiston, Idaho; William, now of Newport, Maine; Lydia, now Mrs. Al- bert Cushman, of Montville, Maine; Hamilton, de- ceased; and John B. James Manning died September 20, 1866. Mrs. Manning is still living in Greenbush.

John B. Manning was born May 4, 1847, in Oldtown, Maine. He married Alzina Munson, daughter of Isaiah and Barbara Munson, of Princeton, Maine. They have no children, but an adopted son. Mr. Manning first settled on the old homestead in Greenbush, where he now lives, following the business of lumbering and farming.

John H. Avery is the son of Jeremiah and Jane Avery, of Monroe, Waldo county, who moved to Greenfield about 1830, and spent the rest of his days there, dying about 1852. Mrs. Avery died about 1863. They had six children, three boys and three girls: Rachel, deceased wife of George Ricker, of South Berwick; Olive, now deceased; Jeremiah, now living in Milford, Maine; John H .; George W., now deceased, died in the war; Mary Jane, now Mrs. Dolliff, of Veazie. John H. Avery was born in December, 1812, at Monroe. He married Susan Pinkham, daughter of Nathan and Charlotte Pinkham, of Alna, this State. They first settled in Greenfield,

living there about three years, then moved to No. I, North Division, Bingham Purchase, where he lived twelve years, then moved to Greenbush, where he has since lived. They have had eleven children, eight of whom grew to man and womanhood, viz: Charlotte, now Mrs. Ricker, of Greenbush; Sallie (deceased), wife of L. J. Babcock, of Enfield; Susan, now deceased; Fi- dela, now Mrs. J. W. Hathaway, of Passadumkeag; F. A., now of Passadumkeag; John A., now of Michigan ; Malvina A., now Mrs. J. H. Grant, of Burlington, Maine. Mr. Avery and his wife are now living on the old place in Greenbush, and though now about seventy years old, they do their own work.

Joseph Mullen is a son of John Mullen, who came here from Ireland and settled first permanently in this town, about the central part on the river road. He married Bridget Butler. They had six children, viz: Ellen, now deceased ; Maggie, also deceased ; James B., now living in Greenbush; John, now of Minnesota, Joseph, and Charles. Mr. Mullen died about twenty- five years ago. Mrs. Mullen is still living in this town on the old place. Joseph Mullen, the third son, was born January 6, 1856. He married Georgie Ellingwood, daughter of Nathan Ellingwood, of Greenbush. They now live on the old Ellingwood place. They have no children. Mr. Mullen has held several prominent town offices in this town, having been on the Town Board for four years, also as Superintending School Committee, and Assessor, Overseer of Poor, etc.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 93

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