USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > History of Piscataquis County, Maine : from its earliest settlement to 1880 > Part 12
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The next spring, 1808, two other families moved in, Peter Brawn's and Eaton Richards'. Others must have been early there, for in 1810 there were forty-five inhabitants within the township. The settlement was then called Moorestown. As early as 1812, openings were made and settlers moved on to the "Jackson Ridge," in the east part of the town. Simon French, Samuel Mansfield and Stephen Tucker, sev- erally began there. But these men soon sold their posses- sions to others, and left the town. Barnabas Jackson moved on to the French place, in 1815, and he and some of his sons have continued there ever since, the longest residence of any family in Abbot. Eben Deane settled in town for a few years, and then went up to the interval in Blanchard. Jo- seph Jackson, William Huston, and Asa Piper dwelt here in the early settlement of the township, but all sold out their possessions, and went to other places.
At a later date, 1818, Jeremiah Rolfe settled in Abbot. He was a Revolutionary soldier, fought on the field of Sara-
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toga, and after Burgoyne surrendered, marched with Gen. Gates to South Carolina. He was honorably discharged and drew a pension. After the war he lived in Rochester, N. H., then cleared up a farm in Paris, Me., moving thence to Fox- croft, in 1808. There he cleared up a part of the Daniel Buck lot, but in 1812, sold his possession and moved to Guilford. There he cleared up the Webber farm. His next move was to Abbot, and there he cleared up the best high- land farm in the county, lying about one mile south of Ab- bot village. Under his industrious hand the wilderness soon became a fruitful and beautiful field, and abundant crops rewarded his toil. He once drove a valuable horse upon the river, when the ice was unsafe, and it was drowned, but his bountiful wheat crop soon enabled him to satisfy its owner. Through the peculiarities of his sons, most of those broad acres passed into other hands, but the old pioneer retained a portion of them until his death, in 1843.
The "Rolfe Apple," which he introduced into these parts, and which will not be soon forgotten, will perpetuate his name and bear witness to his skill in fruit raising. He had some peculiarities, but many sterling virtues, and could en- dure as much hardship as any other man.
This town abounds in WATER POWER. The Piscataquis River enters the township near its north-west corner, and leaves it near the south-eastern. On this, there are good mill sites, one of which is now improved. The south branch of the Piscataquis, issuing from Kingsbury Lake, passes through a part of Abbot, and unites with the main river, a mile below Abbot village. This is a very permanent stream, and two privileges upon it in Abbot are occupied.
At an early date, Mr. Moore built a saw-mill upon this stream, and marked the spot for a village eventually to be gathered. This privilege has been occupied ever since, and is now known as Abbot village.
Alas for Moorestown when the cold seasons had their frosty reign! No portions were so early and so heavily smitten as those intervals hitherto fruitful and beautiful. In the cold-
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est season, 1816, wheat and potatoes were so early killed, as to be nearly worthless. The settlers began to scatter and pitch upon higher ground. Mr. Moore sold his saw-mill and 400 acres of land to Elder William Oakes and David Douty, in 1817, and moved to Foxcroft, and soon after built a grist- mill on the Great Falls in Dover. Before Mr. Moore's re- moval, the township had been organized as Plantation Num- ber Seven, but after he and others left, the organization ran down. In 1820, there were but forty-four inhabitants re- maining in town.
Messrs. Oakes and Douty had pursued lumbering business higher up the river, before this, and as pine trees abounded upon the stream above their mill, it was kept well supplied. They once took down the mill and moved it to a fall, a few rods below. But upon putting it in operation, they soon learned, what they should have known by intuition, that the first chosen was better. So it was restored to its former lo- · cation. In raising it, Mr. Charles Bradford accidentally fell from the frame, upon the rocks in the stream, and received severe injuries. They and a Mr. Hutchinson continued to run it until 1822, and then they sold both mill and land to James Gower, who soon after put a grist-mill in operation. Mr. Gower moved on to the interval, and built large buildings, and he and his sons increased the business of the place, Rob- ert soon opening a store at the Mills. He was agent for the sale of the college lands, which were then sought after. Many new lots were now taken up, and an enterprising class of settlers came in rapidly.
The town of Monson was already considerably settled, and already incorporated. Quite a settlement had been made upon Number Three, Bingham Purchase, now Blanchard. Lumbering was getting under full way upon Moosehead Lake, and upon the Bingham Purchase. So this township lay in the path of a large travel. But its summer roads were not passable for teams and carriages. When the snows of winter did not smooth the way, riding and carrying burdens must be done on horseback. The plantation had lost its
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identity, and the people were not obliged to open roads to accommodate the public, however much they were wanted. These were necessarily postponed until the town was incor- porated.
INCORPORATION. January 30, 1827, the town of Abbot was incorporated, and named for Prof. John Abbot, then, and for a long time, treasurer of Bowdoin College. In March following, Robert Gower Esq. issued a warrant to James Gower, to call the first town meeting. This duly met on March 17, and Cyrus Cook was chosen town clerk. Then there were about fifty voters. With a good degree of carefulness, school districts were established, roads laid out and accepted, and the facilities for public travel began to improve.
About this time, A. Moore and his sons sold out their prop- erty in Dover village, and returned to Abbot. They moved on to the lot which embraced the mill privilege on the Pis- cataquis River, one chosen by. Mr. Moore at his coming, and commenced building mills. By 1828, they had a saw-mill and clapboard machine in operation, and laid the foundation for the upper village. J. P. Moore took the lead in the business, and, excepting a few years' absence in California and in the town of Dexter, has been a resident in town ever since, and has been largely concerned with its political and municipal measures.
In 1832, Col. J. S. Monroe opened a store here and entered upon a successful career of business. At that time, mercan- tile and mechanical business was struggling on at the lower village, only two miles below. As might be expected, a sharp rivalry between these two places was enkindled, and it had some elements that were unquenchable. Its strong an- tagonism was soon brought to the front by an attempt to build a bridge across the river at the upper village. It could be easily seen by all disinterested parties that such a bridge would be a great convenience to the public travel up and down the river, as well as increase the business facilities of the place, and make it accessible to all parts of the town. But a bridge had been already built by subscription near the
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residence of Mr. J. Gower, and this was helpful to the lower village, in which his interest was concentrated. Of course he opposed the building of another. Many tax-payers went. with him. The town would not build the desired bridge. Backed by well founded public opinion, the minority felt that they must have it. A petition for a county road from Monson to Parkman Corner, crossing the river at that point, brought the subject before the County Commissioners. The road was located, the minority triumphed. The town then gracefully yielded, raising money in the spring of 1836 to open the road and build the needed bridge. An armistice followed, the public traveled through the town as their con- venience required, the people traded when and where they chose, and the laws of destiny executed themselves without let or hindrance for the next forty years.
FATAL CASUALTIES. A large number of these have fallen to the lot of Abbot, some of them painfully interesting. The first occurred in the family of Samuel Weymouth. He was then settled on a lot in Abbot, on the river road adjoin- ing Guilford. In a cold winter night, in 1820 or 1821, when he was away from home, his log-house took fire and was burnt with all its contents. His wife and the elder children es- caped in their night clothes only, while the two younger, a girl of about ten years, and a boy of eight, perished in the flames.
The death of Mr. Elihu Whitcomb, was the second, sad and painful, but full of admonition. He was a graduate of Harvard College, professed religion, entered the Christian ministry, and was settled as pastor of the Congregational church of Saco in 1799. He was quiet and grave in his de- portment, affable in his manners, and able, as a preacher of the Word. It is not easy now to realize how full of perni- cious snares the customs of society then were. A mistaken Christian courtesy then greeted teachers of morals and relig- ion with a tempting array of intoxicating drinks, or with a sorrowful apology for their absence, when they made pastoral calls upon their people. And Christian principle,
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then unenlightened, unwatchful, allowed them to quaff the poisonous beverage. Mr. Whitcomb's appetite for strong drink grew, and was habitually gratified. As a blind to sus- picions of an excessive use of it, he adroitly purchased his supplies in moderate quantities, and of various dealers, and kept it carefully concealed in his cellar. The habit grew upon him. Some saw it and spoke of it. His most intimate friends could not believe it and rashly rejected the imputa- tion. Others felt convinced of it, even when he entered the pulpit and ministered at the sacred altar. At length, upon a Sabbath morning, while on his way to God's house, he fell down in the street an intoxicated minister. The eyes of his apologists were now opened. He never preached again. He was deposed from the ministry in 1810, and a worthy man succeeded him. He remained in Saco about fourteen years longer, in comparative obscurity, an object of kindness and of pity, but still followed his cups. In 1824, he and one of his sons, Levi, came to Abbot and commenced clearing a wild lot. While camping there, in the winter of 1825, his son left the camp a few minutes, and the intoxicated father, in attempting to rise, pitched into the fire and was fatally burned. His sun went down in darkness. His grave by the road side long whispered its silent but affecting tale. His sacred dust still mingling with the sands of Abbot, lifts up its warning voice to all who sip the enticing drink : shun, for- ever shun the fatal draught !
The " drink demon" soon found another victim. Nathan- iel Bennett jr. was wayward and intemperate from his youth. At first he followed the sea, then enlisted in the army, from which he deserted. He married and lived here and there, in Guilford, Abbot, and Monson. He buried his first wife, and found homes for his children in other families. In 1829, having married again, he was living in the Crockett neigh- borhood, and was often at Guilford village. One Saturday evening, in August, 1829, he started in a boat alone, against the remonstrances of his friends, to go up the mill-pond to his home. In the darkness he paddled his boat under the 11
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top-end of an obtruding fallen tree, and was thrown into the water. He was too much intoxicated to extricate himself, and was drowned not ten feet from the shore. The next morning search was made, and the writer saw his lifeless form drawn out of the water. He, too, was buried in that old burying-ground in Abbot, though no man knoweth the place of his grave at this day.
Another enterprising citizen of this town, Mr. Isaac H. C. Hall, perished in a logging camp, in the present town of Bradley, February 25, 1835. He and three others, Jacob Hammond of Guilford, Mr. Randall of Foxcroft, and a Mr. Libby of Pownal, were lumbering, and occupied a camp whose walls were round logs, the roof covered with boards within and without, the door-way enclosed by an entry par- titioned off and having an inner door. That fatal night was severely cold, and one of the men arose about one o'clock, and recruited the fire. A board chimney extended down within six feet of the fire, and when all were locked in heavy slumber, this took fire, and communicated the flame to the roof. The smoke kept them in a deep sleep until the walls and entry, the only opening out of the camp, were in a blaze. The fire reached Hammond's feet, and the pain awoke him. Half suffocated with the smoke, and bewildered with fright, he rushed to the burning door, and nearly dropped dead ere he broke through the wall of fire. With feet and hands burned and bleeding, he started for the nearest house, expect- , ing that his companions would follow on. He heard a fear- ful shriek, and waited, but no one came. He pressed on two miles to reach the house, marking the snow with his blood- stained foot-prints. The occupants of that house were a branch of the same lumbering company, and upon his arrival, at four o'clock A.M., and dire report, one started to Oldtown . for a physician, and others for the burning camp. As soon as the fire sufficiently subsided, the charred remains of Hall, Randall and Libby were found in the smoking ruins. Lib- by's, known by a watch that he carried, denoted that he awoke, gave that despairing cry, and fell, overcome with suf-
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focation. The other two "slept the dreamless sleep," where they lay themselves down that night little thinking that such a direful fate awaited them. Another person started for Hammond's widowed mother, but before she arrived, he had expired. His hands and feet were frozen, after being so dreadfully burned, and in passing through the fire, he in- haled the heat, which scalded his vitals. In great suffering he lingered until eleven o'clock A.M., and then followed his de- parted companions.
Mr. Hall had lived about seven years in Abbot, had there married a wife, and left her a widow with three young chil- dren, one of which is M. W. Hall Esq., now Register of Deeds in this county.
S. G. Prescott, a lad of fifteen years, was instantly killed in March, 1847. In felling a tree for firewood, he was caught between it and an already fallen tree, and his head was sev- ered from his body by the stroke.
About the same time, a son of Mr. Steadman Kendall, a lad of seven years, was drowned in the mill stream at Abbot village.
In the winter of 1880, Fred C. Flint of this town was fa- tally injured by the rolling of logs, while at work in Cole- brook, N. H.
After the building of the bridge, the population increased, and changes in business occurred. J. P. Moore sold his mills to J. S. Monroe, who rebuilt them, and run them till his death. They then passed to Foss and Monroe, and now they are owned by other men, who keep them running. In 1830, Robert and Henry Gower built an improved grist-mill at the lower village. A few years later, 1838, John How opened a store there also. But after a few years, his buildings were burnt, his business was not remunerative, and he sold out and returned to Portland.
About 1842, the carding and cloth dressing business was removed from Monson to the lower village, by Steadman Kendall, and this has been continued there ever since, recent-
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ly by Charles Foss. Trade and mechanical business has been steadily increasing in this place, and improvements go- ing on.
In 1846, a machine for turning shovel-handles was put in operation in Monroe's mill, by Homan Johnson, which was run successfully several years by him, and then passed to James and Charles Foss. The ash of which they were made abounded in this vicinity, but at length it was worked up, and the business was abandoned.
The extension of the railroad from Guilford to Abbot turned a new leaf in the business of the town. This was completed, and the cars commenced running in 1874. It was on the north bank of the Piscataquis, and terminated about a mile above the upper village. At that point it ac- commodated the slate business from Monson, and also the Lake travel and teaming. But it passed by both villages, within sight of Abbot village, but the river rolled between. No bridge crossed it there, no public road opened a way to ford the river, or to cross it upon the ice in winter. St the people of Abbot village and its vicinity had to travel nearly three miles to reach the depot by an open road. Again, it was thought desirable to draw business to the railroad, from the direction of Kingsbury. So the County Commissioners were petitioned to locate a road from Athens to the railroad, opposite to Abbot village. In due time the route was exam- ined, a public hearing given, none appeared to oppose it, the road was located, and eighteen months given for the town of Abbot to build a bridge, and open the new road. This touched the rivalry of the upper village and of that portion of the town, as it would make the lower village accessible to a larg- er portion of the people. So the battle of the bridge was re- newed. The old rusty weapons were burnished for the con- test. The battered shields were hammered into shape and fitted for action. But the contestants had changed places. Those who formerly contended for the upper bridge and ob- tained it by the aid of the County Commissioners, were now
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bent on preventing the petitioning public from obtaining this. "Your bull and my ox," right over again! In the spring of 1876, a town meeting was called to provide the ways and means for constructing both road and bridge. It called out a full house, and a stormy debate. Responsible parties offered to open the road, and to build a good X-work bridge across the river, and to maintain it for five years, for $1000. This offer was rejected by a strong majority, and all measures rejected for opening the road. In April, 1877, a petition from J. P. Moore and seventy-four others was pre- sented to the County Commissioners, praying for a discon- tinuance of the road from Abbot village to the railroad. This petition was received at the April term of Court. At this time the State had granted the town of Wellington $800 to aid it in opening its portion of this same road, and its part was nearly completed. But, if this discontinuance was made, the great thing aimed at, to wit, convenience in reaching the railroad, would be defeated. Only one of the County Com- missioners who located the road was now a member of the board. But they decided that the petitioners are responsi- ble, but that an inquiry into the merits of the case is inexpedi- ent, and dismissed the petition without an entrance upon their records. The petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court, hoping to obtain a new committee to decide upon the discontinuance of the road. At two terms of the Supreme Court, this appeal was refused, and then went up to the full bench, in June, 1878.
After the time allotted for the town to open the road and build the bridge had expired, J. F. Sprague and others peti- tioned the Court of Commissioners to appoint an agent to carry out the order of the Court. The town was notified of this, an agent appointed, notice given for proposals, and con- tracts duly made, and in the time stipulated, both were com- pleted and accepted. They were done at an expense of $1,840. The town was certified also on this point, but made no provision to meet these charges. The County Commis- sioners were now compelled to take another step-to issue
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their warrant to the Sheriff to attach and sell any personal property in the town of Abbot, until a sufficient amount was secured to pay these bills and costs. Then a town meeting was called, but as this appeal. was pending before the Su- preme Court, the town voted eighty-four against, and eighty- three for, raising money to satisfy this warrant. The law term of the court came on. The appeal of these petitioners was entered and argued by C. A. Everett Esq., and opposed by A. G. Lebroke and J. F. Sprague Esqs. The full bench sustained the decision of the County Commissioners, and shut the door against further litigation. The Sheriff had waited for this event, and had not distrained and sold prop- erty at a sacrifice. The town now held a meeting and voted to authorize the Selectmen to hire money and settle the de- mands. So the second "battle of the bridge,"-not so bloody but quite as resolved as that of Lodi,-was carried in favor of public convenience and of untrammeled judicial decision.
The lots of land reserved for public uses in this town were disposed of, and the avails put into a school fund, amounting to $700. Mr. Ira Faunce, a citizen of Abbot, bequeathed $100 to increase this fund, an act that others might well repeat. In addition to its common schools, this town has had occasional high schools, both free and private.
But few professional men have established themselves in this town. A few clergymen have dwelt here for short pe- riods. Recently J. F. Sprague Esq. has been in the practice of law at the lower village, but now he has removed to Mon- son. ' Dr. Chandler Wood dwelt here for a long time, and practiced medicine in the Thompsonian way, but death has recently removed him. Dr. N. S. Davis is now located at Abbot village, and is securing an increasing practice.
In 1876, the railroad was extended from Abbot to Blanch- ard. But Abbot did not feel this extension so much as other towns had, as the depot was remote from its villages. The Monson slate quarries still do their business at the Abbot depot, and the Monson stage still connects with it.
In the winter of 1878-9, a large amount of rock maple
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timber was drawn to Abbot lower depot, and worked into last blocks, by C. E. Valentine, thence sent to Boston by railroad. It amounted to thirty car loads. The same business has been pursued the present winter, bringing maple timber from Parkman and adjoining towns. In vari- ous ways the natural resources of this new region are thus being developed, increasing productive industry, and return- ing a moneyed equivalent.
Abbot in 1870, had a population of 712; a State valuation of $155,197.
CHAPTER XVII.
MEDFORD, FORMERLY KILMARNOCK.
THIS township was Number Two, Seventh Range, and contains 20,625 acres. Feb. 1, 1816, the western half was granted to David Gilmore, for making the Dixmont road. He conveyed to Rufus Gilmore, Moses Patten, Jedediah Her- rick, J. W. and Francis Carr, and William D. Williamson, each one-eighth of his part, and the residue to others. These parties sold their rights, and it has had several successive proprietors.
The eastern half was sold to Gen. John Parker Boyd of Boston, in March, 1816, who had, eleven years before, bought the Orneville township. The west half was lotted out by Gen. J. Herrick, the east half by Eben Greenleaf, in 1831.
A fair portion of its soil is good, but only a part of it is under cultivation. Portions of it bore a valuable growth of pine timber, but the great fire of 1825 destroyed this and most of the other native growth, sweeping away more than three-fourths of the taxable property in town. But the fertile soil, in the lapse of time, has wrought a work of recovery, a new growth has sprung up, and some of it is already fit for timber.
In water power this town has a decided pre-eminence, though but little of it is improved. The Piscataquis River crosses it from west to east, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. The volume of water here, exceeds that of the Merri- mack, and it has two falls,-Little Falls and Schoodic Falls,- both inviting mill privileges, but both unimproved. On the Schoodic stream, issuing from the Great Schoodic Lake, there is a fall of twenty feet, now occupied by a saw-mill and
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shingle machine. Where this stream falls into the Piscata- quis, Gen. Boyd erected the largest saw-mill, in 1820, then upon the Penobscot or any of its branches. Logs from the Schoodic stream were taken in at the upper end of the mill, while those from the Piscataquis were drawn in from the op- posite direction. This mill did a large business, being some- times rented for $1000 per annum, before the great fire. It was saved from the flames, but its business was diminished. After Gen. Boyd's death, his executors sold this building to N. Hatch of Bangor, and he, in 1832, had it taken down, and rafted to Bangor. Afterward, Clark Rand & Co. erected another mill upon that privilege. This was sold to Asa Getchell, who also sold it to John Hitchborn. He took it down and rebuilt another, which is still running.
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