USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > History of Piscataquis County, Maine : from its earliest settlement to 1880 > Part 11
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Dyer & Hughes have done a good business of late, in the manufacture of musical instruments,-pianos, melodeons and organs. Foxcroft has a fair proportion of the professional, mercantile and mechanical business done in these combined villages, but a detailed account of it would be long and tedious.
As a town, it assisted the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad to the amount of $27,750, and this, with its war debt, makes its liabilities large, nearly $40,000.
LAWYERS. J. S. Holmes, J. S. Wiley, C. P. Chandler, A. G. Lebroke, Ephraim Flint, and D. L. Savage have had law offices in Foxcroft village. Hon. Mr. Wiley was elected a member of the 30th Congress, in 1847, while a resident of Foxcroft. Upon the expiration of his term of office, he set- tled in Dover, and still remains there.
PHYSICIANS. Wentworth Brown, Jeremiah Leach, Aaron
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Tucker, Castillo Hamlin, Josiah Hobbs, Josiah Jordan, J. Lawton, William Buck, A. T. Walker, T. H. Merrill, have practiced here, the last three still remaining.
MERCHANTS. Those who have remained for some consid- erable time, are John Bradbury, William Bradbury, Nathan- iel Bradbury, S. S. Herring, Caleb Prentiss, Melvin Stevens,- all previous to 1840. Since then, many others have been, and still are, in this business.
A telegraph line connects Foxcroft and Dover villages with Dexter, and with the Maine Central Railroad at New- port. And now another line from Oldtown to Greenville and the Mt. Kineo House is under contract, and is expected to be in operation by next summer, which will pass through this place.
In 1870, the population was 1170; its valuation $400,109.
CHAPTER XIV.
BROWNVILLE.
BROWNVILLE was Number Five, Range Eight, with an area of 21,320 acres. This range of townships was run out by Samuel Weston, in 1794, and is a full mile wider than usual, giving each town a larger area. Its pine timber and favora- ble streams for log-driving, soon drew the notice of land buyers. In 1795, it was sold to Samuel Fowler, for £2,964, with the condition that he should have forty families settled on it within eight years. He paid £261, but afterward failed to meet his engagements, and it reverted to the State. Jo- seph Blake was the next purchaser. The terms and date of this sale are unknown. He employed Park Holland to lot it out, in 1803. In 1805, Mr. Holland explored it, probably for Moses Brown and Josiah Hills of Newburyport, who soon after bought it, and commenced its settlement.
SOIL. Light interval soil is found to some extent on the river, but the larger part consists of upland ridges, which, though stony, are strong and productive. It is rich in slate quarries, already alluded to, and the working of these has benefited all the various industries. So, too, the Katahdin Iron Works, twelve miles up the river, have furnished a very steady market to the farmers.
WATER POWER. The main trunk of Pleasant River, which suggested its own name, passes through this town, and affords three excellent mill sites. One has been constantly occupied since 1806, the other two are not improved. The supply of water is sufficient for a saw-mill, grist-mill, and shingle machine, nearly all the year round.
FIRST SETTLEMENT. It is a matter of deep regret that
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dates, names and places cannot be more accurately given. It is said that one Hiram Heath felled the first opening, in the north part of the town, but when and where, is not now easi- ly settled. In 1806, a decided strike was made toward a per- manent settlement. In the spring of that year, Messrs. Brown and Hills sent Francis Brown with a crew of work- men, to build a dam and mills on Pleasant River. They se- lected the falls, where the mills now stand, and around which the village has grown up. They brought up their tools, mill- irons, and provisions, in boats from Bangor. By fall, the work was completed, and a saw- and grist-mill put in opera- tion. These mills preceded the Spaulding's' at Foxcroft by a few months, and were the second mills built in the county.
The first settlers were probably there then, and others were preparing to come in. To a certain number of the early set- tlers, fifty acres of land were given. In the fall of 1806, Maj. J. Hills, one of the proprietors, moved in, and took charge of the mills. He eventually sold his share of the mills, and of wild land, to Mr. Brown, moved upon a new farm, and died there in 1810. There are indications that the settlement in- creased rapidly. In the spring of 1808, if not earlier, Dr. Isaac Wilkins, a practicing physician, moved his family in, and settled upon the well known Wilkins place. He had a son born there, July 27, 1808, Sidney Wilkins, now living, who was the second child born in town. It is also remem - bered that Dr. Wilkins was a chain-man in a survey party which measured the distance on a straight line .to Canada, and that they passed near the foot of Mt. Katahdin. Dr. Wilkins remained in town until his death, in 1820, and reared up a family there, to which the late Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins belonged.
The same year, there was another advent of still greater importance to the rising settlement. Rev. Hezekiah May, a learned and pious Congregational minister, came to town, being sent and sustained by the proprietors. He taught school in winter, and preached upon the Sabbath. He partly cleared up the Brown place, built a small framed house and other buildings upon it, but in 1814, he sold out his possession to
+
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Dea. Francis Brown, and moved out of the State. Francis Brown had removed from Newbury to Bangor, thence to Brownville in 1812, and from 1814, resided upon the place which still bears his name, the soil having been devised to him by Moses Brown, his uncle. He ever exerted a very ef- fective and healthful influence in town, and died there in 1854, greatly lamented. Not long after Rev. Mr. May left, Rev. John Sawyer made a home in the neighborhood, suc- ceeding Mr. May as teacher and preacher, and also traversed those new settlements as a missionary.
In proof of the early and rapid settlement of this town, we find that, in 1810, it had 131 inhabitants, then exceeded only by Atkinson and Sebec, of all the townships in this county, while Milo had only 34. But in 1820, it had only 172, and seven other towns in the county paid a higher State tax.
For most of the above statements, I am indebted to papers left by the late E. A. Jenks, who commenced writing an his- torical sketch of this town, but his last sickness prostrated him, and he died, leaving it unfinished, which no one regrets more than the writer.
INCORPORATION. Materials for tracing the progress of the settlement were not found, but we have learned that re- ligious meetings were kept up, and schools sustained, before there was any legal organization. The first step toward this was in June 29, 1819. On that day it was organized as Brownville Plantation. For five years it remained so. But on Feb. 24, 1824, it was incorporated as the town of Brownville. The first town meeting was held March 29th, following. At this it was voted to invite Rev. N. W. Sheldon, Congrega- tionalist, to settle with them in the ministry, and also voted to raise annually, with other town expenses, $150 toward his support. And it continued to do this while Mr. Sheldon re- mained as their minister, never diminishing, but sometimes increasing, the sum.
TRADERS. Dea. F. Brown was the first trader in town. In a small shed. attached to the house built by Rev. H. May, he kept a few goods, as early as 1823. About 1830, E. A. 10
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Jenks became a partner with him. Then a larger store was built, nearer the village, and the business continued by Brown & Jenks.
Some time after this, Jefferson Lake, who pursued the lumbering business largely, also opened a store. Others suc- ceeded Mr. Lake, and two or three stores of general mer- chandise have been in the place ever since.
A bridge across the river was much desired. For a season they hesitated, and ferried across the mill-pond. At length a cheap kind of a bridge was built, but for many years a good substantial bridge, on an improved plan, has spanned the river.
THE SLATE QUARRIES. The working of these has great- ly increased the population, the business, and the thrift of Brownville. It introduced quite a foreign population, mostly Welsh, who make an industrious and frugal class of citizens.
The Bangor and Piscataquis Slate Company opened the first quarry in 1843. When in full operation, this wrought out from 8000 to 12000 squares of slate annually, selling in Bangor for from $35,000 to $40,000, and employing sixty men, and paying out in wages $25,000 per year.
A. H. Merrill's quarry, though he resides in Williams- burg, is mainly in Brownville. This was opened for trial in 1846, Mr. Merrill then owning one-fourth. The experiments proved encouraging. They expended a large sum, and in- · creased the quantity produced. At length he became sole owner. He has bought 1500 acres of land, and put up and furnished buildings, so as to make 30,000 squares of roofing slate annually, investing in all, $75,000. It gives steady em- ployment to eighty men, who are paid from $1.50 to $2.00 per day. This quarry is less than two miles from Brownville village, and sends its productions by teams to Milo depot.
The Highland quarry, in the east part of the town, has been more recently opened. Slate of a superior quality is found here. Through the pressure of the times, it has proved unprofitable of late, and suspended business. But its owner, Hon. S. O. Brown, is expected to soon have it in operation.
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This town assisted in building the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad to the amount of $5000. Its war debt then amount- ed to $8000. Now its indebtedness is less than $10,000.
Through the depression in business since 1876, many, for want of employment, have moved away, and many have been reduced in their pecuniary resources by the failures of the Slate and Iron Works companies. But the prospect now is that the hard times are easing off, and that the former pros- perity will be restored.
Dr. L. B. Crosby is the only professional man in town, ex- cepting its clergymen.
Its State valuation in 1870, was $157,626; its population, 860.
CHAPTER XV.
WILLIAMSBURG AND BARNARD.
WILLIAMSBURG and BARNARD were Number Six, Range Eighth, and adjoined Brownville on the west. Originally, they had an area of 22,304 acres. A fair proportion of their soil is good for agriculture, but much of the northern part has never been cleared. Williamsburg is well watered. Pleasant River passes through the north-east corner, and Roaring Brook empties into it from the western side, both affording good mill privileges, which have not been improved. Near the center, Whetstone Brook, another tributary of Pleasant River, affords a good privilege, upon which a saw-mill and shingle machine have been erected.
A large quantity of slate is probably concealed beneath its soil. Moses Greenleaf Esq. early discovered this, had its qualities tested, and led the way to the working of all the quarries in the county.
PROPRIETOR. Mr. William Dodd of Boston early pur- chased this township of the State, hence came the name, Williamsburg. Moses Greenleaf was Mr. Dodd's agent, from the beginning of its settlement.
FIRST SETTLEMENT. The names of the early settlers are unknown, also the precise date of their entrance. Probably its settlement began soon after that of Brownville, and near its eastern border. John Crommett had settled there as early as 1808, Moses Head in 1810, and Mr. Greenleaf, proba- bly, by this time. Mark Pitman and others were, at this date, settled in the west part, now Barnard.
There were two families early settled, one in Williamsburg, the other in Brownville, named Hemminway and Downing,
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which may have been the first there, but it cannot be deter- mined. They moved away soon after the cold seasons, but will come again into notice.
According to the census taken by Mr. Greenleaf, there . were 71 persons in this township in 1810, more than in Milo, Foxcroft, or Guilford. From this date there was a slow, but gradual increase.
In one respect Williamsburg has a notable preeminence. Here the first map of Maine was plotted, and the first book written within this county. As early as 1816, Moses Greenleaf Esq., having prepared them, published both of these, sending out a book of 154 pages, entitled "Statistics of Maine," to accompany and explain his map. This book he afterward enlarged and amended, and issued in 1829, as"Sur- vey of Maine," a work of 468 pages, and of great statistical value. At the same time he issued a new map, larger and much improved. Let it then be noted, that, before Rev. Sid- ney Smith sneeringly asked: "Who reads an American book?", and before the late John Neal crossed the ocean to contribute articles to British Reviews written on the Brit- ish Isle, to win a reputation as an American author, here, in the back-woods of Maine, a book was written, and read too, by some, who thought it worthy of their notice.
In June, 1819, the inhabitants of this township were or- ganized as Williamsburg Plantation, Eben Greenleaf being chosen plantation clerk. But it remained in that state scarcely one year. June 21, 1820, the first Legislature of the new State of Maine incorporated it as the town of Williams- burg, the second town incorporated by that body, Kennebunk being the first. At that time it had a population of 107, and cast about twenty votes. The first State tax levied upon it was $18.67, only eight towns in the present county then paying a larger one.
In 1828, William Dodd, the proprietor, died. From that time a serious difficuty arose, in regard to collecting the non- resident taxes, which embarrassed the town for many years. · But a few years later, quite a valuable accession was made
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to the population, by immigrants from Brunswick and vicin- ity, and its prospects were rising.
In the annual town meeting of 1831, measures were taken to secure preaching in town. They voted to raise $30 for this purpose by taxation, with the condition that any tax- payer who would file a written request to that end, with the assessors, should be exempted. The committee chosen to expend it, were also instructed to procure, each his pre- ferred minister.
The next year, 1832, the reserved lots were selected by a town committee, and by Mr. Greenleaf as proprietor's agent,- three, of 160 acres each, in both the east and west half of the township.
In 1830, a small Congregational church was organized. In 1833, it invited Rev. Joseph Underwood to settle over it, with the understanding that he should spend one-half of his time in Sebec. The town, at its next meeting, voted to con- cur with the church in this invitation, and to regard him as the minister of the town. This secured to Mr. Underwood the minister's lot of land. But as he continued with them only two years, he did not claim it, and when he left the place, relinquished his right to it. But with sorrow it must be said that, from the sale of this and two other reserves of the same quantity, the town has not realized and retained any fund for the support of ministry or schools in either town.
In 1833, it was voted to petition for a division of the town, and the terms were agreed upon, without a dissenting vote. The line of separation was to run through the low land, which naturally divided the township ; the town's poor was to be assigned to each, according to the location of their former homes; each town was to hold the equal part of the reserved lots, as located within it; the unpaid taxes and town debts were to be divided to each in proportion to their re- spective valuations, which finally fell, fifty-four per cent to Barnard, and forty-six to Williamsburg.
In February, 1834, the Legislature divided the town on
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WILLIAMSBURG AND BARNARD.
these conditions, and incorporated the west part as the town of Barnard. At the next State election, Williamsburg cast but thirteen votes, and neither town has made much advance since. The present town of Williamsburg, in a business point of view, is closely connected with Brownville. The inhabitants go to Brownville village for trade; and relig- ious meetings. Though A. H. Merrill resides in Williams- burg, his slate quarry is nearly all in Brownville, and increases the valuation of that town. Another quarry has been opened within the limits of this town by the Pis- cataquis Central Slate Company, which was incorporated in 1874, and the work on a limited scale is still pursued by Thomas E. and J. R. Hughes. Slate of an excellent quality is here wrought out, some of which has been used upon the most expensive mansions in Foxcroft.
A personal occurrence will now be noted. Mr. Winslow Hatch took up a wild lot in this town, and spent a few years upon it. He cleared up some ten acres, built a small house, married a wife, and was getting on prosperously. Some two years after his marriage, in the winter of 1823, he left home to visit his friends in New Gloucester. He made his visit, and pretended to start for his eastern home. But he was not seen in these parts afterward. His disappearance gave rise to many dark and trying conjectures. Many years after- ward, an old acquaintance found him in Ohio. But why or wherefore his strange absconding, no one knows.
Moses Greeenleaf Esq., usually known as Judge Greenleaf, held a high position in both town and county. In 1790, when Moses was thirteen years old, his father moved from Newburyport to New Gloucester. There his children en- joyed superior advantages for obtaining an education, which they readily improved. On reaching manhood, Moses en- gaged in trade, first in New Gloucester, but removed to Ban- gor as early as 1804. Becoming Mr. Dodd's agent, he took a lively interest in the wild lands of this new section, and made himself acquainted with their resources and their fa- cilities for water transportation. In preparing his maps and
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
books, his researches were extensive and valuable. He dis- covered that line of slate quarries which crosses the county, held correspondence with, and sent specimens from them to, experts in the business, and obtained favorable, assurances, more than ten years before the first quarries were opened. His "Survey of Maine," is a noble monument of his untiring industry and eminent talents, devoted to the development of the natural resources of our State. Again, we must express our deep regret that so few copies of it are preserved. He was an Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions in Penob- scot county, and filled other responsible positions. He died March 20, 1834, aged fifty-seven, with an unblemished repu- tation, and universally lamented. His sons removed to the West.
Eben Greenleaf Esq., brother of the preceding, also resided in this town, though for a season in the west part of it. He, too, was eminent for both natural and acquired abilities. He commenced his career upon the sea, and soon became a sea-captain. When he married, he abandoned that pursuit, and moved into this new region. He was often employed as a land surveyor, and was plantation and town clerk contin- uously. He died in Williamsburg Nov. 29, 1851.
An incident in the Hemminway family will close this sketch. After they left, their field, being on Judge Green- leaf's lot, was turned out to grazing. Bushes sprang up, the buildings went to decay, a taller growth overhung the orchard, the garden with its roots and roses, and the fruitful field too, became a wilderness.
A few years since, one of their sons came back to revisit the home of his boyhood; to review the haunts of his youth- ful pastime; to mark the progress that fifty years had made, upward, as he expected, rather than downward and back- ward; to re-possess those same fields, so engraven upon his young memory; and to close his days where his early ambi- tion budded, and where the auspicious prospects of a whole life opened to his eager view. With an intelligent guide, he sought out that endeared spot. Alas, how changed! The
1
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cellar was not quite obliterated, but sturdy trees had thrust their rank roots through its wall. Bush and brake and over- shadowing forest blotted out the garden. The top of sunken stone heaps, here and there, alone marked the place where his father once swung his scythe, and where the fields yielded their affluent increase. The apple tree, scarcely found, was not so much as the other trees of the forest, for a tall, heavy growth showed how vigorous nature blots out the noble, but neglected monuments of skill and industry, even as neglect or dissipation carries man's higher nature down to its deepest degradation. His disappointment was overwhelming.' His fond yearnings were crushed beyond recovery, and with the intense sadness of a double exile, he left that disturbing and depressing place, to return no more.
BARNARD.
Barnard is the west part of the original town of Wil- liamsburg, and as such, it was purchased and settled. A por- tion of its soil is good for agriculture, and a part of it was covered with valuable timber, the hemlock, spruce and ce- dar, not being yet exhausted. A rich vein of slate crosses the town, which has been opened and worked successfully in two places. It is well watered. Bear Brook passes through the town from north to south, which, with its branches, af- fords several mill privileges, three of which have been im- proved.
The first settlers entered this town by way of Sebec Mills, about 1809 or 1810. Mark Pitman, John Thompson, Benja- min Miller, and B. Bunker being the earlier of them.
A large swamp running through the center of Williams- burg separated the settlements, and presented natural incon- venience's which led to a separation, and Barnard was incor- porated as a distinct town in 1834. But this move did not increase its population.
A. H. Merrill's farm, in this town, contained a good slate quarry. He made an advantageous sale of this in 1835, and moved into Williamsburg. So much of the settlement is
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
near Sebec village, that most of the trade and mechanical business gravitates to that place, and only one small store has been kept in town, but a large amount of lumber has been sawed out here.
For the last few years the population has steadily de- creased. Those remaining found the public burdens on- erous, and in 1877, petitioned for the repeal of its act of in- corporation. This was done, and it became Barnard plantation, but this is now disorganized. When the demand for roofing slate increases, this town will probably rise from its present low estate, to a more flourishing condition.
CHAPTER XVI.
ABBOT.
ABBOT was Number Seven, Range Seven. Its entire area is 23,040 acres. In the quality of its soil, it is above the av- erage. More interval is found in this town than in any other on the river above Milo and Dover. It is the most western of the college townships, and was sold out to settlers by its treasurer and his agents.
FIRST SETTLEMENT. This was made by Abraham Moore. He exchanged his farm in Norridgewock for 800 acres of wild land, having the first choice in the township, of four lots of 200 acres each, most of which he located on the two rivers, securing two mill sites. In 1805, he felled the first opening, and in 1806, raised a crop, and built a log-house. In March, 1807, he moved his family into it,-a wife and six children. A single horse and sled were their means of con- veyance, and their way quite roundabout. They came to Harmony and Ripley, through Dexter, and Amestown, and thence to Lowstown, and thence up the river, seven miles, to their own place.
When at Harmony, a dozen miles in a bee-line would have reached the point aimed at, but after plodding on twice that distance, they had to press their way seven miles further, ere they could step into their new home. Then an unbroken forest covered the whole space between Number Seven and Harmony, Ripley and Dexter. From Lowstown, they passed up on the ice of the river, occasionally compelled to cut out and tread down a way around open rapids. Upon a little ridge that rises from the surrounding interval, afterward occu- pied by the substantial buildings of James Gower, a rude home
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
stood ready to receive them-the first family in the township, the first in the county westward of Sangerville and Guilford. For a whole year they dwelt there alone, having only occa- sional calls from explorers and new beginners. For the want of a road, Mr. Moore, like a good waterman, took to the river. He went down to Spaulding's saw-mill, twelve miles below, and made a batteau. With this he could pass up and down the river, conveying both persons and supplies. His cabin had only the dry, bare earth for a floor. His wife could not keep it satisfactorily clean, by sweeping or washing. So, one morning the batteau was launched; Mr. Moore and wife drift- ed rapidly down to the saw-mill; Mrs. Moore made a hasty visit to her three brothers, the Spauldings, while Mr. Moore selected the floor-boards, and loaded them into the boat: then up the river that batteau was resolutely poled to its port of entry, for both captain and mate had the push in them. There was then a floor, not marble nor mosaic, but a new clean floor, testifying their preference for civilized life, though in a wilderness.
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