USA > Maine > Oxford County > Rumford > History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its first settlement in 1779, to the present time > Part 15
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WILLIAM K. KIMBALL.
William King Kimball, son of Moses F. and Mary (Bean) Kimball, was born in Rumford June 7, 1820. He attended the academies at Bridgton and Bethel, studied the legal profession at Harvard Law School, and commenced practice in Dixfield. In 1844, he moved to Paris Hill where he subsequently resided. He was twice elected County attorney and served ten years as clerk of the courts. He also served four years as United States Marshal for Maine. In the late war, when the twelfth Maine Regiment was organized, Mr. Kimball was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. He was afterwards promoted to Colonel, and at the close of the war he was mustered out as Brevet-Brigadier General. He was an efficient and popular officer, and retired to private life with the respect and esteem of all those who had served under or with him. He married July 29, 1842, Frances Freeland, daughter of Samnel Rawson of Paris, by whom he had five children. One of his sons, Wm. W. Kimball, is an officer in the United States Navy. Mr. Kimball's death and attendant circumstances, at his home in Paris, in 1875, caused the deepest regret.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
WILLIAM WIRT VIRGIN.
Hon. William Wirt Virgin, son of Hon. Peter Chandler Virgin, was born in Rumford, September 18, 1823. He fitted for college at Bridgton Academy and at Gould's Academy in Bethel, and grad- uated from Bowdoin College with the class of 1844. He studied law in the office of his father, and on being admitted to practice, he settled in Norway Village. He soon took high rank in his profes- sion, both as an attorney and advocate, and for many years he had a part in the management of the leading cases tried in Oxford county. He served one term as County Attorney, was a member of the State Senate and President of that body. He was twice appointed Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court, and in 1872 resigned that position to accept the office of Associate jus- tice upon the bench of the same court, which he still retains. Ilis reports are models of clearness and perspicuity, and his two vol- umes of Digests of Maine Reports are among the best ever published. He is regarded as among the ablest of the judges upon the bench.
When the war of the Rebellion broke out, Judge Virgin was one of the major-generals of the Maine militia. He was at once placed upon active duty in the recruiting service, and aided in organizing several of the early regiments that went to the front. In the sum- mer of 1862 he resigned his position, and was appointed Colonel of the Twenty-Third Maine Volunteers, one of the regiments enlisted for nine months' service. He was mustered out with the regiment in June, 1863. His family record is elsewhere.
HENRY F. BLANCHARD.
Henry F. Blanchard, son of Benjamin H. and Mary P. (Berry) Blanchard, was born in Rumford, April 26, 1838. When quite young the family moved to Boston, and his early education was received in the public schools of that city. He then came to Kent's Hill and fitted for college. He entered the college at eighteen years of age, but did not take the college course. He taught school winters from the time he was sixteen until he was nineteen years of age, when he entered the law office of MeCunn and Moncrief of New York City. He also studied in the office of Hon. F. E. Hop- pin of Providence, R. I. He was admitted to the bar while a student in the office of Wm. W. Bolster in Dixfield, opened an office at Rumford Point in 1859, and practiced there until the break-
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ing out of the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted and served nearly three years and a half. In 1872, he settled in Augusta, and became a member of the firmn of Weeks and Blanchard, Attorneys at Law and Claim Agents, in which business he is still engaged. His military and family record may be found in their appropriate places.
ORLANDO W. BLANCHIARD.
Orlando W. Blanchard, son of David S. and Mehitable (Taylor) Blanchard, was born in Rumford, October 7, 1836. He attended the common sehools and one or two terms at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. He read law in the office of Henry F. Blanchard at Rumford Point, and was admitted to practice at the October term of the Supreme Judicial Court held in Paris in 1861. He opened an office at Rumford Point and practised there the brief years of his professional life. He married first, Miss Thirza A. Holt, and second, Catherine, daughter of Charles A. Kimball of Rumford. He died March 2, 1872.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
UMFORD has never been overburdened with physicians, and some of those who settled here did not long remain. Among the earlier practitioners here, were Dr. Elisha Howe and Dr. Ben- jamin Flint ; among those whose practice covered a period of many years, were Dr. Joseph Adams and Dr. Thomas Roberts. Both were highly respected citizens and both labored hard and laid down the burden of life while residents of Rumford. Concerning Doctors Howe and Flint, but little has been learned, and they appear to have left the town after a few years' residence. Dr. Victor M. Abbot was a son of Levi Abbot of this town, and practiced more or less within its borders, but he died much lamented and in middle life in the neighboring town of Mexico.
DR. HIRAM F. ABBOT.
Dr. Hiram F. Abbot, son of Hiram and Mary (Huston) Abbot, born June 2, 1835, studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Roberts and graduated from the Maine Medical School in 1864. He served for about a year in the Regimental Band of the Second Maine Volun- teers. He married Mary J., daughter of Warren Mansur, and settled in practice at Rumford Point. He enjoys a good practice, and is deservedly popular. He occupies the mansion house erected and long occupied by Porter Kimball, Esq.
DR. ZENAS W. BARTLETT.
Dr. Zenas W. Bartlett, son of Elhanan and Joanna (Willis) Bartlett, was born in that part of Bethel now incorporated as Han- over, August 10, 1818. He worked upon his father's farm until nearly of age, attended the Academy at Bethel Hill, studied medi- cine with Dr. Thomas Roberts, graduated at the Maine Medical School in 1840, and commenced practice at the Centre. He was energetic, persevering, and soon became a skillful physician with a
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large practice. After a few years he moved to Dixfield, where he had a broader field and a still larger practice. He rode through all the towns in Eastern Oxford, and had a large business in East and North Franklin. He gave himself little rest, and literally wore himself out in the practice of his profession, though slight blood- poisoning occasioned by an autopsy, may have hastened the event. He died September 9, 1870. His son, Zenas W. Bartlett, Jr., born January 7, 1848, a graduate of the Maine Medical School in 1870, died in Dixfield, September 29, 1885.
DR. JONATHAN S. MILLETT.
Dr. Jonathan S. Millett, son of John and Martha (Sawyer) Millett of Norway, and born in Norway, October 6, 1794, studied medicine with Dr. Jacob Tewksbury of Oxford, graduated from the Dartmouth (N. H.) Medical College, and commenced practice in Rumford. He remained here only a few years, when he returned to Norway, where he continued in practice until the time of his death, which occurred May 5, 1866. He was skillful in the treat- ment of chronic diseases, and often effected cures where other physicians had tried and failed. While in Rumford he was appointed Surgeon's Mate in the Maine Militia, but his profes- sional career belongs rather to the history of Norway than Rumford.
DANA BOARDMAN PUTNAM.
Dana Boardman Putnam, son of Jacob and Betsey (Parker) Put- nam, born in Rumford, September 19, 1825, fitted for college and graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1852. He taught school in Ipswich for one term, then went South and was professor of languages in the Southern Military Institute in Fredonia, Ala- bama. He studied medicine and took his degree from the Medical College of Georgia, located in Augusta, in 1854, and also took a degree from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1855. He began practice in Lagrange, Georgia, and continued there until 1868, when he came to Boston. He was a contributor to the press, and at the time of his death was collecting materials for a history of the Putnam family in the United States. He held official posi- tions in Masonic and other kindred associations, and was a member of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society. In 1855, he married Huldah J., daughter of Richard Manley of Alabama,
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and had two sons and three daughters. He died of pneumonia in Boston, February 11, 1881.
DR. THOMAS ROBERTS.
Dr. Thomas Roberts, son of Joshua and Sally (Powers) Roberts, was born in that part of Bethel now the town of Hanover, Novem- ber 22, 1805. He received what advantages the town schools afforded, attended a few terms at the Academy, studied medicine with Dr. Jonathan S. Millett of Norway, graduated at the Maine Medical School, and after practicing a short time at North Norway he came to Rumford and settled at the Point. He had a large practice here, and as a physician had the confidence of the people of this and the adjoining towns. He did not attempt the higher branches of his profession, but as a family physician in the treat- ment of ordinary ailments, he had excellent success and was very popular. He was kind and sympathetic, and gave his best services to rich and poor alike. He married Harriet, daughter of Darius and Abigail (Merrill) Wilkins of Norway. They had five children, but all are dead. Dr. Roberts died June 8, 1876.
DR. FRANK G. RUSSELL.
Dr. Frank G. Russell graduated from the Dartmouth Medical College and came to this town from New Hampshire. He settled at Rumford Corner. He was active, energetic, skillful in his pro- fession, and possessed the elements of popularity in a remarkable (legree. At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion he enlisted and was commissioned First Lieutenant in the Twentieth Maine Regiment. Ile never had a strong constitution, and his nervous energy was not balanced by physical strength. He could not stand the hardships incident to active service in the field, and early in 1863 he resigned and came home. Ile died soon after.
DR. FREEMAN E. SMALL.
Dr. Freeman Evans Small, son of Henry A. and Mary Small, born in Stoneham, Maine, July 24, 1854, graduated from the Maine Medical School in the class of 1879, and commenced practice at Rumford Centre. He married, in October, 1879, Miss Mary E. Hoyt. After practice in Rumford a few years, where he met with good success, he removed to Portland, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.
CHAPTER XXVI.
RUMFORD FALLS.
LOWER FALL.
HE chief physical feature of the town of Rumford, one that stands pre-eminent above all others, is the great water-fall, or the succession of falls on the Androscoggin river, known as Rumford Falls. These falls were well known to the Aborigines, though the name by which they were called among the Indians has not come down to us, and this is much to be regretted. Some writers have stated that they were called Pennacook Falls, but there is no evidence that they were ever so called until the plantation was named New Pennacook. Tradition states that this location
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abounded in salmon when the early settlers came and before the river was dammed at Brunswick, and for the authority of this, there is something more than tradition. It was one of the numerous carrying places on the river, and beaten paths were found along the banks and around the falls by the first English visitors in this region. There is no doubt that the fall was much greater in for- mer times than it now is, the constant friction of the water wearing away the granite of which the bottom and sides are formed, and thereby gradually though slowly lowering the bed of the river.
Aside from the pituresqueness, and in times of high water, the grandeur of these falls which render them an object of great inter- est to the lover of nature in her wilder moods, they possess a pecuniary value of great importance to the town and to all this region of country. For the purpose of propelling machinery, they are unrivalled by any water fall in New England, and if utilized to their fullest capacity, would furnish employment for hundreds of operatives of both sexes. This great increase of population would make a market for the products of the farm, and would bring hun- dreds of thousands of dollars worth of taxable property into the town. There is no reason why a Manchester, a Lowell or a Lewis- ton should not spring up around Rumford Falls at no distant day. When the development of this vast water power is assured, rail- way facilities will not be wanting, either by the extension of the Buckfield road from Canton, or by a branch road to connect with the Grand Trunk line at Bryant's Pond. As a preliminary to the under- taking, the entire falls with a large tract of adjoining lands, amount- ing to nine hundred aeres, have been purchased by Hugh J. Chis- holm and Charles D. Brown, two enterprising business men of Portland, and a careful survey has been made to ascertain fully the capacity of the falls for driving machinery. The result is more than satisfactory, and shows that in previous surveys, which have been much less elaborate, the available power has been considerably underrated.
In round numbers, the head of Rumford Falls is five hundred and eighty-four feet above the sea level, and the foot of the falls four hundred and twenty-two feet. This shows the fall, in a distance of one mile, to be one hundred and sixty-two feet. The Androscoggin is a variable rather than a constant river, as regards the mass of its waters at different seasons of the year. This is due, as stated in another chapter, to the excessively mountainous character of the
MILLS .-- RUMFORD FALLS.
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upper portion of its catchment basin, together with the bareness of the mountains which form no small portion of its water shed. This is its character more especially above Rumford Falls. When these are reached its character is materially altered. The channel where the waters begin to pitch over the precipice, is only about a hundred feet wide, and operating like gates, the waters are held back in time of freshet, occasioning a great rise above the falls, but equalizing its flow below them. A dam at the head of the falls, which would not be very expensive, would tend still further to overcome the in- constancy of the river, by keeping the waters back, though such a course might be a damage to low intervale lands bordering upon it. The water power here consists of the entire flow of the Androscog- gin river, and in the mile which is the extent of the falls, the same water could be used many times over before it reaches still water. The volume of water is of course less than at Lewiston, and allowing it to be one-fourth less, which is a liberal allowance, or seventy-one thousand cubic feet per minute, the whole fall, even in a dry time, would represent in round numbers twenty-two thousand horse power sufficient to run eight hundred and seventy thousand spindles. In time of higher water the power would be proportionately increased, but even in low water this power represents a business of vast mag- nitude.
There are at the present time four water falls, but anciently there must have been several others, for deep holes or basins are worn in the rocky banks far above present high water mark. There are two principal falls and two minor, while in other places the water runs swiftly but is not broken. Two of the falls are about ten feet, one is about twenty feet, and the other, which is the upper fall, is sev- enty feet perpendicular. This last is the one that will attract most attention, for here the torrent of water pouring down with the noise of thunder and dashing itself into foam as it chafes the rocky walls, produces an effect of wonderful grandeur. Persons come long dis- tances to witness these falls, and are well repaid for their time and trouble. Mr. Gould refers to the enterprise of Rufus Virgin and Nathan Knapp in utilizing a portion of this great power, but a few years later Mr. Knapp lost his life by going over the falls, and what was done at that time and all that has since been done, is but an insignificant fraction of its capacities. With a dam such as the new survey proposes, the power would be materially increased, and would be about equal to the combined power on the Merrimac at Manches- ter, Lowell and Lawrence, or about thirty thousand horse power.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
TYSOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. A considerable num- ber of the early settlers of Rumford had served more or less in the patriot army in the war for independence. They had served practically without compensation, for the depreciated currency in which they were paid was worth but little more than the paper it was printed on, and in a short time it became utterly worthless. But there was no fault-finding among the discharged soldiers ; they did not enter the service for pay, but for freedom from British thralldom, and this they had nobly achieved. Eastern lands were abundant and could be had for the settling, so at the close of the war and for several years after, there was a steady emigration from the old Bay State to the District of Maine. The towns of Oxford county, including Rumford, were largely settled by this class of citizens, and the best of citizens they generally were. The second settled minister in Rumford, Rev. Daniel Gould, left school to serve a term of enlistment, returned and graduated, studied for the min- istry and then came to Maine. In 1840, there were five survivors of the Revolutionary war then residing in this town. Their names, ages and places of residence were as follows :
Philip Abbot, 83 ; with Henry Abbot. Samuel Ackley, 76 ; with Samuel Ackley. Richard Dolloff, 85 ; with John Dolloff. Joseph Wardwell, 80 : with Aaron Graham. Daniel Gould, 86 ; with Daniel Gould.
Benjamin Lufkin, formerly of Rumford, then of Roxbury, aged 78, was living with Rufus K. Bunker. Others who had served in this war and came to Rumford, were Amos Howard, Daniel Knight, Stephen Putnam, Benjamin Sweat, Joshua Ripley, Aaron Moor, Josiah Segar, Silas Howe, Benjamin Sweat, Jr., and very likely others whose names have not been found. Some of them had served two
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
or more enlistments, amounting to several years, some had enlisted and served a full term of three years, while others who were quite aged when the war broke out, had served in the brief Rhode Island campaign or acted as home guards.
The early settlers of Rumford were required to do a certain amount of military duty, both before and after the separation from Massachusetts, and the May trainings and fall musters are well remembered by middle aged people as among the enjoyments of their youthful days. Independent companies were sometimes or- ganized and dressed in uniform, but the militia wore their cartridge box and knapsack over such clothing as they happened to have. Officers were chosen by the companies and commissioned by the Governor of the State, and the competition for these offices was generally sharp and sometimes bitter. The office of captain was beyond the reach of a poor man, for that officer, when elected, was expected to dispense the ardent with a liberal hand, and the election often turned upon the ability and disposition of the aspirant to do so. The company books of records of the Rumford militia are probably not in existence, but if they are their whereabouts are unknown to the writer. May trainings were held in different parts of the town, and regimental musters were held, in later years at least, at Rumford Corner. There was also a company of light in- fantry in Rumford. The following list embraces the names of Rumford officers, in both militia and light infantry, for a period of about twelve years, and are taken from the books in the Adjutant General's office in Augusta. The dates given are those when com- missioned :
Moses Kimball, Adjutant, June 7, 1817.
William Wheeler, Colonel, August 8, 1818.
Colman Godwin, Captain, August 31, 1819.
Benjamin Flint, Surgeon's Mate, April 15, 1819. Ebenezer Abbot, Ensign, August 31, 1819.
David H. Farnum, Lieutenant, August 31, 1819. Jonathan Millett, Surgeon's Mate, December 15, 1820. Alvin Bolster, Ensign, May 8, 1821. Solomon Cushman, Captain, May 8, 1821.
Joseph H. Wardwell, Lieutenant, May 8, 1821.
Peter C. Virgin, Division Quartermaster, March 21, 1821. Hezekiah Hutchins, Jr., Adjutant, March 19, 1823.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
Colman Godwin, Major, July 19, 1823.
David H. Farnum, Captain, November 1, 1823. Joel Howe, Lieutenant, November 1, 1823. Henry C. Rolfe, Ensign, May 4, 1824. Henry Martin, Ensign, May 14, 1825. Asa Graham, Ensign, August 31, 1825. Simeon Fuller, Surgeon's Mate, September 8, 1825. Colman Godwin, Colonel, August 10, 1825. Simeon Fuller, Surgeon's Mate, September 8, 1825. Joel Howe, Captain, May 14, 1825. Henry Rolfe, Captain, May 14, 1825. Alvin Bolster, Captain, August 31, 1825.
Nathan Abbot, Ensign, July 6, 1826. Henry C. Rolfe, Captain, June 24, 1826. Levi Abbot, Lieutenant, June 24, 1826. Henry Martin, Lieutenant, July 6, 1826.
Colman Godwin, Brigadier-General, September 8, 1827. Hezekiah Hutchins, Jr., Aide-de-Camp, November 12, 1827. Joel Howe, Major, September 29, 1827.
Calvin Howe, Ensign, June 19, 1828. Joel Howe, Lieutenant-Colonel, June 7, 1828.
Henry Martin, Captain, June 19, 1828.
Joseph H. Wardwell, Captain, June 30, 1828.
Nathan Abbot, Lieutenant, June 19, 1828. Asa Graham, Lieutenant, June 30, 1828. Alvin Bolster, Major, June 7, 1828.
Henry Martin, Captain, June 19, 1828.
Uriah H. Virgin, Lieutenant, October 6, 1828. Jesse Morse, Cornet, October 6, 1828.
Asa Graham, Captain, July 11, 1829. William Frost, Ensign, July 11, 1829. Timothy Jarvis Carter, Paymaster, April 19, 1830. Joel Howe, Colonel, November 27, 1830. Alvin Bolster, Lieutenant-Colonel, November 27, 1830. Alvin Bolster, Colonel,
The following were those commissioned during the last four years that the old militia law was in force :
Kimball Martin, Cornet, April 9, 1839. Albion K. Knapp, Adjutant, February, 18, 1839.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
Chas. A. Kimball, Brigade Major, March 25, 1839.
Patrick H. Virgin, Aide-de-Camp, March 29, 1839.
William M. Morse, Captain, May 2, 1839.
Loammi B. Peabody, Ensign, May 2, 1839.
Thomas Roberts, Surgeon's Mate, July 20, 1839.
Anson W. Farnum, Paymaster, August 26, 1839.
Lyman Rawson, Division Advocate, September 23, 1839.
William Andrews, Captain, May 5, 1840.
Enoch Knapp, Captain Cavalry Company, August 1, 1840. Kimball Martin, Lieutenant, August 1, 1840.
Stephen Farnum, Major-General. October 6, 1840.
Albion K. Knapp, Aide-de-Camp, October 24, 1840.
William Andrews, Major, July 6, 1842.
Livermore R. Hall, Lieutenant, July 6, 1842.
Nathan S. Lufkin, Lieutenant, March 3, 1843.
Nathan S. Lufkin, Captain, March 12, 1843.
Joseph W. Elliot, Lieutenant, May 20, 1843.
Warren M. Adams, Ensign, April 20, 1843.
The law requiring annual musters and frequent training by the Maine Militia, was repealed in 1843. William Andrews was pro- moted from the ranks to be Captain in 1840. He was subsequently promoted to Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, but was not mustered into the latter office until the law was repealed. Among the Light Infantry captains were Alvan Bolster, Solomon Cushman and Joseph H. Wardwell. Joshua T. Hall was Captain of the militia from 1836 to 1840. He was detailed as Captain to serve in the "Aroos- took War," so called, and under him were sixteen of the militia and eight of the Light Infantry, all from Rumford. Stephen H. Abbot and Cyrus Small served as Lieutenants under Captain Hall, and Alvan Bolster was subsequently promoted to the command of a Division, and was commissioned as Major General.
The following is a list of Captain Joshua T. Hall's company of infantry for the protection of the northeastern frontier, which was mustered into service March 6, 1839, and discharged March 29, 1839. John C. Stockbridge was Ensign, and John M. Adams, Orderly Sergeant. The men were from Rumford and adjoining towns :
John C. Stockbridge, John M. Adams, John B. Holman, George
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
K. Smith, Enoch Stiles, George A. Ray, Moulton Ellis, Jr., John W. Dearborn, Rathous B. Waite, Albert G. Glines, William An- drews, JJames Andrews, Horatio N. Abbot, Jonathan A. Bartlett, William Bailey, James S. Boynton, Simeon Brackett, George Dolly. Abner II. Elliot, William French, Enos A. Hutchins, Kimball Hall, Asa Hardy, Abiathar C. Jennings, Aaron H. Lufkin, Azel Lovejoy, James Lamb, Silas MeKenney. Ezra Noyes, Luther Rich, Alsworth Tainter, John Shackley, Benjamin Stevens, Elbridge Tueker, Stephen Virgin, John Winter, Hiram Young, William P. Frost, Ashur Burns, Rufus S. Royal and John I. Cross.
WAR OF 1812.
When the war of 1812 broke out, the people of Rumford were loyal to the General Government, and bitterly opposed to the nar- row and almost insurrectionary policy of the Governor of Massa- chusetts. The latter had a party in town, but it was comparatively small and insignificant. There was not much that a small, inland town could do to show her loyalty except to vote when occasion offered, and the votes of Rumford during those years were very strongly in favor of the war. Several Rumford people also enlisted in the regular service, as it was called ; some died while in the ser- vice, one returned minns an arm, and others with health more or less impaired. Among those who entered active service early in the war, were William Simpson, Jeremiah Farnum, Paul Simpson, Daniel Hodsdon, Daniel Carr and Alfred Lufkin. Carr lost an arm, and was a well known character in Rumford for many years after his return from the war.
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