USA > Maine > Oxford County > Rumford > History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its first settlement in 1779, to the present time > Part 22
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the current very strong, and the tub in spite of all its occupant could do, was carried into and down the great river. Half way or more toward the Center, the current set in toward the shore, and by making what effort he could without upsetting his frail bark, Mr. Hemmingway touched the land and sprang upon it. It was a narrow escape from a watery grave, and he fully realized that he had jeopardized his life all for a drink of rum. When the Washing- tonian movement came soon after, Mr. Hemmingway signed the pledge and was one of the few reformed ones in town who kept it inviolate to the day of his death.
The following list of the three principal officers of Blazing Star Lodge, was received after the other was in print. It is placed here to complete the record. It will be noticed that the officers for 1872 differ somewhat in the two lists :
1872. Edgar H. Powers, Wm. Frost, Jonathan K. Martin.
1873. N. S. Farnum, Waldo Pettingill, Jonathan K. Martin.
1874. Edgar H. Powers, Waldo Pettingill, Wm. M. Blanchard.
1875. Waldo Pettingill, C. P. Eaton, John H. Howe.
1876. Florus H. Bartlett, C. P. Eaton, John H. Howe.
1877. Florus H. Bartlett, C. P. Eaton, John H. Howe.
1878. Waldo Pettingill, Henry M. Colby, John H. Howe.
1879. Waldo Pettingill, Freeman E. Small, John H. Howe.
1880. 1881.
Florus H. Bartlett, Freeman E. Small, John H. Howe.
Florus H. Bartlett, Freeman E. Small, John H. Howe.
1882. E. H. Hutchins, N. F. Hoyt, John H. Howe.
1883. Freeman E. Small, N. F. Hoyt, John H. Howe.
1884. Freeman E. Small, N. F. Hoyt, John H. Howe.
1885. Isaac Bagnall, Geo. L. Smith, John H. Howe.
1886. Isaac Bagnall, Henry M. Colby, John H. Howe.
1887. Isaac Bagnall, Henry M. Colby, Waldo Pettingill.
1888. Florus H. Bartlett, Henry M. Colby, Waldo Pettingill.
1889. Wm. H. Farnum, Henry M. Colby, Waldo Pettingill.
The statement in Chapter one, and also that in Mr. Gould's brief sketch of the town, with regard to the east line of Rumford, is somewhat misleading. The east line of Rumford is straight, while the course of Swift river is more or less meandering in its course. The mouth of Swift river is wholly in Mexico, but a short distance above the mouth the river is in Rumford. The bridge across the river on the road leading from Rumford Falls to Mexico Corner is
16
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in Rumford, but a short distance above the bridge the river is again wholly in Mexico, and at the northeast corner of Rumford it is nearly two miles distant toward the east. In making measurements to ascertain the center of Rumford, Swift river was referred to as one of the easterly starting points, but only in places does it form the easterly line of the town.
Mr. Chaplin Virgin, who was long in business at Rumford Falls, furnishes a list of persons who have engaged in different branches of business, which will hereafter be of great value for reference. A portion of it has been given before, but for the sake of having it all together for convenient reference, that portion is repeated.
TRADERS. Alvan Bolster, Isaac N. Stanley, Lyman Bolster, Alonzo Wilson, M. W. Kimball, Dennison Marble, Wm. W. Stevens and Uriah Virgin.
BLACKSMITHS. William Morse, David F. Adams, Peter D. Brackett, Cyrus Small, Nathan Handy, Nathan Ethridge, Joseph Arnold, Loring Glover, Abraham Maxfield and Mr. Sargent.
HOTEL KEEPERS. Levi Abbot, John B. Leach, Benjamin H. Blanchard, A. W. Adams, J. A. Stockbridge, Moses T. Cross and Mr. Winslow.
MILLMEN. Stephen Putnam, Rufus Virgin, Nathan Knapp, Enoch Knapp, David Knapp, Jonathan A. Virgin, Chaplin Virgin, Abbot Virgin, Scott Hall, B. F. Reed, D. F. Putnam, Levi Moody, Levi Abbot, David Dolloff, Seth Puffer, Albion K. Knapp, A. B. Swain and Hiram Ricker.
CARRIAGE WORKS. Chaplin Virgin, David Elliot, Marble and Thompson, A. G. Richardson, E. C. Allen, Horace and Frank Holman, Leonard Woods, Samuel Wing and Leavitt C. Virgin.
WOOL CARDING AND CLOTH DRESSING. Lewis Cole, William Walcot, John Harris, Moses T. Cross and Thomas Prince.
SHOE MAKERS. J. P. Small, J. A. Stockbridge and B. L. Knapp.
CLOVER MILLS. Simon Stevens, Hiram Hubbard.
STARCH MILLS. J. W. Bennett and J. A. Plaisted.
CHAIR MAKER. Henry Smith.
POTASH. Haines Eastman.
AXE MAKER. B. C. Perry.
BOX MAKERS. J. W. Bennett, Henry Smith.
Among the Rumford graduates from College is John F. Elliot, son of Rev. John Elliot of the Congregational church. He gradu-
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ated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1873, and ever since has been engaged in teaching. He has taught at Lawrence, Mass., Academy as sub-master, taught the Winchendon, Mass., High School, and as principal of the Grammar School at Hyde Park, Mass., since 1876 to 1889. He was elected Principal of the Hill School at East Boston September 11, 1889, with the rank of Master. Maria Danforth Elliot, a sister of the above, a graduate of Welles- ley College in the class of 1881, was a fine scholar and a lady of remarkable depth of mind and character. She taught in high schools at Beverly, Mass., three years, at Arlington, Mass., two years, and at Washington D. C., two years. She was an excellent teacher, a constant inspiration to her pupils, and won the confidence of all. She died in Rumford July 4, 1886.
The name of Sullivan R. Hutchins was by mistake omitted from the list of Rumford lawyers. The fact is, Mr. Hutchins engaged in other pursuits so long, and commenced the study of law at so late a period in life, that the writer of these pages had never asso- ciated him with the legal profession. He spent several years on his father's homestead in Bethel where he engaged in teaching, survey- ing and farming. Later, he was for some years a Deputy Sheriff, during all which years he was not a resident of this town but of Bethel. After studying law and being admitted to the bar he opened an office at Rumford Corner, in the Dr. Fuller house, which he also makes his place of residence, Though not for many years a citizen of Rumford, his name has been associated with it through his an- cestor, Deacon Hezekiah Hutchins, from the early settlement of the town.
There were several natives of Rumford who served in the war of the Rebellion whose names do not appear in the list as printed in chapter twenty-eight. Lester Dwinel, now a prosperous business man residing in Bangor, entered the service as First Lieutenant in the Fifteenth Maine Regiment, and was promoted to Captain. John F. Putnam, now City Clerk of Lewiston, served nearly three years, first as Sergeant and subsequently in the commissary department of the Seventeenth Maine. Charles Henry and Francis N. Putnam served on the quota of Bethel, the former in the Sixteenth Maine and died in the rebel prison at Belle Island, and the latter in the Twelfth Maine and died as a result of over-exertion in the battle of Cedar Creek. These three soldiers were the sons of Hiram and Clarissa W. (Farnum) Putnam and were all born in Rumford.
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Samuel, son of Jonathan Bartlett of Bethel, was born in that town April 1, 1794. It has already been stated that he settled at Rumford Corner and built the house afterward occupied by Joseph H. Wardwell as a tavern, and which he also kept as such. He owned the land at the Corner from the ferry to the Dr. Fuller place, and carried on quite extensive farming. He sold out after a few years and bought what is now known as the Cotton Elliot place below the Center on the south side of the river. In 1835, he sold this farm to Cotton Elliot and bought the Aaron Graham farm oppo- site the Center, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where his two sons now reside. He was a large and prosperous farmer. He died June 12, 1837, aged 43 years. He married Sarah J., daughter of Joseph Wardwell, who long survived him and died November 12, 1864, aged 70 years.
In Milton Plantation nearly opposite Rumford Centre, is a famous mineral spring known as the Mount Zircon Spring. It takes its name from Mount Zircon near whose base it is found. In the fifties this spring was brought to notice by Dexter D. W. Abbot who built a large summer hotel near it which was well patronized. But the war came on which paralyzed all business, the patronage dropped off and finally the house was burned. It is a delightful place, several hundred feet above the bed of the river and overlooking a large extent of the Androscoggin valley. The water is regarded as equal to that of the Poland Springs, and is liberally supplied by the spring. Parties have recently purchased the spring and adjoining lands, with the view of rebuilding the hotel. It is an enterprise in which Rumford people have a deep interest.
A mystery has ever shrouded the fate of Moses Wardwell, the second son of Joseph Wardwell of this town. He was a master mariner and his last voyage was to New Orleans in the barque Rumford, named for this town, for which the citizens presented him with a flag. He piloted the vessel into port at New Orleans, thus saving the owners the usual pilot's fees. He went on shore one night to attend the theatre, and from that time, so far as his friends could learn who made dilligent search and inquiry, he disappeared from mortal sight. Many years have since passed, and in all prob- ability the mystery will never be explained.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
SKETCHES PERSONAL.
HILIP ABBOT came to Rumford in 1791, from Concord, N. H. He had previously worked for Col. Timothy Walker seven years, at the rate of seven dollars per month. He came here with an ox team which he had driven all the way from Concord, bringing his wife and household goods on a sled. There were no roads, and his oxen traveled one before the other, or "tandem," as it is said of horses when so driven. During the journey they camped nights in the woods, making a bed of hemlock boughs. He was a soldier in the war for independence, and was at one time captured by the Indians, but succeeded in escaping from them. He was a prominent man in town in early Rumford, served on the board of selectmen and held other positions of trust and responsibility. He married Experience Howe of Bolton, and reared a large family. He opened his house as a tavern as early as 1792, and continued to entertain travelers for many years. He lived opposite East Rum- ford, on the south side of the Great river.
NATIIAN ADAMS, JR.
Nathan Adams, Junior, inherited the homestead of his father, or rather he became possessed of it long before his father's death, taking the property, and upon himself, the care of his parents. Like his father, he was industrious, prudent and thrifty, a worthy son of a worthy sire. Under his judicious management, the Adams farm became one of the most productive farms in town. Mr. Adams enlisted in Capt. William Wheeler's regiment of militia that was called out for the protection of Portland during the war of 1812, and when the regiment was ordered out, Mr. Adams mounted his horse and served notice on the members who were widely scattered through the towns of Rumford, Andover, Bethel, Newry, Green- wood, Norway and Waterford. He held places of honor and trust in town, but died when forty years of age from the effects of a fall
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from the great beams of his barn. He married Susan, daughter of Ezekiel Merrill of Andover, and had six children. His sudden death was a staggering blow to his wife and family, and a great loss to the neighborhood and town.
SUSAN MERRILL ADAMS.
Mrs. Susan Merrill, wife of Nathan Adams, Jr., was born in Andover, Maine, July 13, 1791. Her father, Ezekiel Merrill, came there two years previous, and was the first settler. She was the first child of English descent, born in Andover. She was early sent to school at Fryeburg and at Brunswick, and obtained a good edu- cation. She married March 17, 1817, Nathan Adams, Jr., son of Nathan Adams who was one of the original proprietors of Andover, but who moved to Rumford near the beginning of the present cen- tury. They settled upon a tract of land on the west side of Ellis river and near Bethel (now Hanover) line, where father and son lived and cleared up one of the best farms in town. In 1828, Nathan Adams, Jr., was fatally injured by falling from the great beam in his barn, and died soon after. This threw upon the mother the entire charge of the family, the oldest child being only about ten years of age, and the youngest two. This care and responsibility developed in her great force of character. The late John A. Poor, himself a native of Andover and well acquainted with Mrs. Adams before her marriage, in a notice of her published after her death, thus speaks of her : "Like her four sisters, she had great beauty, with exhuberant health. All those sisters married young and all reared families, well known in different portions of the State. Her marriage was an event of importance in the town ; and her natural elegance and grace of manner, were fully recognized in the cultivated circle drawn together from this and the neighboring towns on the occasion, the hospitalities of which embraced a large family connec- tion." Referring to the death of her husband and the responsibility which this sad event devolved upon her, Mr. Poor says : "She showed prudence, energy, sagacity and skill in the management of her affairs that excited universal admiration, and everything pros- pered after her husband's death beyond what could have been pre- viously imagined from her delicate sensibility and refined organiza- tion, which seemed to many to unfit her for the arduous duties sud- denly devolved upon her. The hospitality which marked her earlier
The Human Family
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life was continued to a numerous circle of friends and relatives. The spacious old house was burned some years ago, and after her children had departed, all of them but two, to the other world, the farm was sold and she made her home with her daughter who mar- ried Dr. George L. Peaslee, at whose house she died, honored and beloved by all who knew her. Of Mrs. Adams' religious character more might be written than upon any other topic. In early life she became connected with the Congregational church, and was, through- out the entire period of her residence at Rumford, a constant and liberal supporter of it, her interest in which continued to the end, though entirely free from all bigotry or sectarian feeling. In the vicissitudes of a somewhat eventful life, she never grew impatient or uncharitable, more anxious apparently at all times to promote the happiness of others than to seek her own gratification, faithful and devoted in every relation of life, daughter, wife, mother and friend. She welcomed the messenger of death at her appointed time, anxious to realize that reward which a life of self sacrifice and devotion made sure." Mrs. Adams died in Wilton, Friday, May 1, 1868.
JOHN M. ADAMS.
Col. John Milton Adams, son of Nathan and Susan (Merrill) Adams, was born on the Adams homestead on the west side of Ellis river near its junction with the Androscoggin, September 22, 1819. He attended the town schools, the Turner High School, at Gould's Academy in Bethel and at Bridgton Academy, and gradu- ated at Gorham Seminary. He subsequently attended a year at the College in Saint Hyacinth, Canada, to perfect himself in the French language. At seventeen years of age, he commenced to teach school, and had charge of schools in Rumford, Bethel, Norway, Westbrook and two years in Maryland. He studied law with Fessenden and Deblois of Portland, and was admitted to the Cumberland bar in 1846. He was a law partner at one time, of Hon. John A. Poor and subsequently with Judge Clifford. While Hon. John Appleton was Secretary of Legation to England, Mr. Adams edited the Eastern Argus, and became permanent editor and manager of the paper in 1857. He traveled in Europe, visiting the principal cities and coun- tries, writing numerous letters while abroad which appeared in the columns of the Railway Gazette. He became sole owner of the Eastern Argus establishment in 1866, and has conducted it since that
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time. Under his able management, the paper has largely increased in power and influence, and is the leading organ of the Democratic party in the State. Mr. Adams is an easy and graceful writer, a forcible speaker, and in private life, genial and kind hearted. He was Orderly Sergeant during the "Aroostook War," aid with the rank of Colonel on the staff of Governor John Hubbard, and has served most acceptably on the Portland School Board. He was ap- pointed Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court, and volumes forty-one and forty-two of Maine Reports, are of his com- piling. Col. Adams is much interested in rural affairs and connect- ed with his beautiful home in Deering, are several acres of land- mowing, tillage, orchard and woodland, of which he takes personal charge. He delights in working the soil and in serving his guests with vegetables and fruit of his own raising. He is fond of flori- culture, and in a small pond on his premises, in its season, may be seen the beautiful pink lily, a native of Sandwich on Cape Cod. His life is a very busy one, but Col. Adams loves work. Besides the oversight of a daily and weekly paper of which he is sole pro- prietor, he has many other business interests to look after, and still finds time to look after his family and farm. He visits the Argus office every morning, and returning puts on the overalls and engages in any work that may demand his attention. In this garb, few would suspect him of being the editor and manager of a great party paper. A tramp came along one day and seeing Col. Adams in his working clothes, inquired what pay he received for his work. "Only my board and clothes," replied Mr. Adams. "Well," said the tramp, "if I were going to work for such wages, I should want better clothes than you have on." Col. Adams likes to see his friends, and whenever one visits him at his charming home, from him and his amiable and excellent wife, he is sure of receiving old- fashioned hospitality. Ilis attachment for his native town and the spot where he was born, has not been diminished since he went ont from the old homestead. and "the world was all before him where to choose," and to him more than to any other, is due the publication of this volume of records and reminiscences of Rumford.
ALVAN BOLSTER.
General Alvan Bolster, son of Isaac, Jr. and Hannah (Cushman) Bolster, was born in Paris December 7, 1795. When he became of age he went to New Brunswick where he remained a couple of years
. Tien Bolster.
His Cynthia Polster.
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when he returned and entered the store of his uncle at Rumford Point. Afterwards he moved to East Rumford where and at the Falls, he was in trade for many years. He also engaged in farm- ing, working one of the best farms in town. He was Postmaster at East Rumford for many years. He was often in town office and enjoyed the confidence of his townspeople to the last. He served as representative to the Legislature and was twice elected State Senator. He was interested in military affairs and held various offices as shown by the chapter on military affairs. He became a strong temperance man, and was a leader in the organization known as the Sons of Temperance, both in town, county and State. He was also an active Free Mason. In religious belief he was a Meth- odist, and an active member and liberal supporter of this denomina- tion. He was an upright and honest man, industrious, prudent and thrifty, and interested in every movement calculated to benefit the people of his town. He was an active Republican, and when the war broke out, and southern states seceded, he advocated the war for the restoration of the union at whatever cost. But he did not live to witness that glorious consummation, and died December 8, 1862, during the darkest and most discouraging period of the war. Gen- eral Bolster married Cynthia, daughter of Colonel William Wheeler, and his family record is elsewhere.
Mrs. Cynthia Bolster, wife of General Alvan Bolster, and daughter of Colonel William Wheeler, whose portrait appears opposite that of her husband, was born in Concord, New Hampshire, but came when a child to Rumford with her parents. She taught school after she had acquired a good common school education, but was married when less than twenty years of age. She was an exemplary woman, an excellent wife and mother, performing faithfully her duties to her family, to the Christian church, and to the community in which she lived. She survived her husband some seventeen years and died in Poland Sept. 26, 1879.
WILLIAM W. BOLSTER.
Hon. William W. Bolster was born in Rumford July 6, 1823. He attended the common schools of Rumford, was a student at Bethel Academy and at Peacham, Vermont. He read law in the office of Randall and Walton of Dixfield, attended the Harvard law school and was admitted to the bar in 1847, and commenced practice
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at East Rumford where he remained until 1852. He then moved to Dixfield and remained there twenty years. While here, he was Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and for several years on the school board. He served as clerk in the office of Secretary of State for several years, a portion of the time as Commission Clerk, and afterwards had charge of the engrossing department. He was for six years State's Attorney for Oxford County, served two terms in the State Senate, the last as president of that body. Served also as Bank Examiner and as a member of the Executive Conneil in 1883- 4. He was Lieutenant and Captain of the Rumford Light Infantry and Division Inspector on the staff of General William Wirt Virgin. Mr. Bolster has been an active Free Mason, and an efficient worker in the temperance cause, through various organizations for the pro- motion of the same. After moving to Auburn in October, 1872, he served two years as alderman and three years as city solicitor. He has compiled several law books, including the "Tax Collector and Farm Book," an "Invoice and Valnation Book" and the "Highway Surveyor's Book." As may well be supposed, his life has been a busy one, and he has achieved marked success. He is President of the Little Androscoggin Water Power Company, and of the Maine Mortgage Loan Company of which he was the organizer. He is also a trustee of the Reform School. Mr. Bolster has been twice married and his family record is elsewhere.
JAMES H. FARNUM.
James Harvey Farnum, son of David and Dorcas (Wheeler) Farnum, was born in Rumford August 1, 1807. He attended the common schools and also received private instruction, so that he had a good English education. He taught school in his early man- hood, but soon went into trade with General Bolster at the Falls. Hle traded here and also at other places in town, and at one time was proprietor of the tavern at Rumford Corner. Ile also engaged in farming and speculated more or less in cattle and sheep. He was often in town office, was sent to the Legislature and was elected and served as State Senator. Hle moved to Bryant's Pond before 1856, and was in trade with Charles P. Knight. While here he also dealt in cattle and sheep. He was a genial, kind hearted man, and a good neighbor and citizen. He died of typhoid fever prior to 1860.
1
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GEORGE L. FARNUM.
Among the Rumford young men who started out in life with bril- liant prospects, but who was cut down in early manhood, was the man whose name stands at the head of this notice. George L. Farnum, son of George J. and Hannah F. (Jackson) Farnum, was born in Rumford February 9, 1844. He was a bright scholar and early decided on going to college and preparing himself for one of the learned professions. He attended the common and high schools of Rumford and finished his preparatory course at Hebron Acad- emy. Before entering college, he decided to serve a term of enlist- ment in the war of the Rebellion which was then going on, and became a private in the Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers in March, 1864. His first baptism of fire and his last, was in the battle of the Wilderness where he was severely wounded, resulting in the loss of the use of one of his hands. He entered Colby Uni- versity in 1866, and graduated with the class of 1870. He studied law at the home of his parents in Rumford and graduated from the Albany, New York, law school. He had previously taught the high schools of Ellsworth and Augusta, but this was only to obtain means to pursue his legal studies. He commenced the practice of law in company with Henry Upton of Norway. He was at once recognized as a young man of ability, and his prospects as an attorney were most flattering. He had planted well but the fruit was not to be gathered by him. After a year or two, his health began to fail, and late in 1876 he was obliged to return to his father's house in Rumford where he died June 18, 1877, of Bright's disease of the kidneys. His classmates noticed his death in a series of eulogistic resolutions, and the Oxford Bar in a similar manner. He left hosts of friends to mourn his early death, and no enemies.
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