USA > Maine > Oxford County > Rumford > History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its first settlement in 1779, to the present time > Part 9
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1863. William Frost was again elected collector of taxes at two cents on the dollar. The appropriations of money were large this year, growing out of the expenses of the war. The meeting house at Rumford Centre was ordered shingled. It was voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to such persons as should en- list or furnish substitutes for the army under the conscription act. The selectmen were directed to furnish ropes and boats for Put- nam's Ferry, and employ some person to tend the ferry. Samnel Cony had two hundred and thirteen votes for governor and Bion Bradbury had seventy-six. At a meeting November twenty-first, it was voted to pay recruits on Rumford's quota a bounty of two hun- dred and fifty dollars, as soon as mustered into United States ser- vice, and to assess and collect the money for this purpose forth- with. At a meeting December third the bounty was increased to three hundred dollars, and five dollars were offered the recruiting committee for each recruit.
1864. Timothy Walker, Henry Abbot and Orlando W. Blanch-
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ard were chosen selectmen, and Asa Howard and Hiram F. Abbot school committee. Voted that the town pay William Frost one hundred and twenty-five dollars for collecting the taxes the ensuing year. It was voted to raise four thousand dollars to pay town debt and interest, and the usual amount besides. Voted that the town fence the new burying ground near Rumford Corner. Samuel Cony had two hundred and eight votes for governor, and Joseph Howard sixty-six. The question of allowing soldiers to vote for president wherever they might be, stood two hundred and forty in favor and fifteen opposed. The republican electors polled two hundred and twenty-four votes, and the democratie seventy-seven. Charles A. Kimball and Nathan S. Lufkin were appointed recruit- ing committee for the next call, and the treasurer was authorized to hire the necessary funds.
1865. William Frost was elected collector and the same com- pensation allowed as last year. F. P. Putnam was chosen school committee. The appropriations this year amounted to about ten thousand dollars, including four thousand for roads. Timothy Walker was authorized to hire what money should be needed to aid soldiers' families, and "to borrow the school funds in the hands of the treasurer, and such as can be readily collected by him." Sam- uel Cony had two hundred and nine votes for governor and Joseph Howard forty-nine.
1866. Henry Abbot was chosen collector of taxes, and for selectmen, Wm. Irish, Jonathan K. Martin and George W. Perry. The chairman of the board was made auditor of accounts. Francis A. Bacon, treasurer, having deceased, Calvin Howe was elected to fill the vacancy. A committee was chosen to oppose a road con- templated by way of the Falls. At a meeting in part to see if the town would erect a monument to the memory of deceased soldiers, the article was passed over. For governor, Joshua L. Chamber- lain had two hundred and seventeen votes and Eben F. Pillsbury eighty-eight.
1867. George K. Martin, George W. Perry and Prentiss M. Putnam were chosen selectmen. Charles V. Martin bid off the taxes and was elected collector. John N. Irish and Waldo Pettin- gill were chosen school committee. Twelve hundred dollars were voted for the support of schools. Voted to purchase a town farm. Five thousand dollars were raised for town charges. The act ad-
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ditional to an act for the suppression of the Liquor Traffic, sub- mitted to the voters of the State was approved in Rumford, fifty- three in favor and thirty-nine opposed. At a meeting June twenty- ninth it was voted to discharge the town farm committee and leave the management of the town farm to the overseers of the poor. The matter of a soldiers' monument was again put into the warrant and again passed over in silence.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF RUMFORD, 1826 .- BY REV. DANIEL GOULD).
N 1826, Rev. Daniel Gould, then a resident minister in Rum- ford, was asked by Hon. William D. Williamson, author of the History of Maine, to furnish some data for his work, concerning the town of Rumford, with which Mr. Gould complied. A copy of this, with some additions, was left among his papers, and has been preserved to the present time, though somewhat damaged by fire, and also considerably worn. Mr. Gould wrote as follows :
"The town of Rumford lies on both sides of the Great Andros- coggin River, and above and below the Great Falls, in the same. It was a grant made by the General Court of Massachusetts to Timothy Walker, Jr., Esq., of Concord, N. H., and his associates, being eighty-four in number, to compensate for some evils which had arisen to the proprietors of Concord, at the time Concord was under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay, which according to their charter was three miles north of the most northerly branch of Merrimack river, which would have extended at least as far as Wells, or farther, in this State. But the Court of Massachusetts Bay granted Concord and many other towns in New Hampshire, until the line was settled and established by the crown in 1740. Many charters of towns covered each other in part. This created troubles, law suits and great expenses, to prevent which, appeals were made to the crown of England for a redress of grievances. The Rev. Timothy Walker of Rumford, was sent as agent for the Proprietors, and before the difficulty was settled, he crossed the Atlantic three times to the King upon this business.
Bow or Johnson's Grant, below Concord, formed a part of Con- cord until the line was settled. The proprietors of Concord had been at great expense in getting the line established, and Timothy Walker, JJr., Esq., and his associates, petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts Bay for a township on the Androscoggin River.
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The court granted their petition on the fourth of February, 1774, but the next year the revolutionary war commenced, and put every- thing into confusion. The Massachusetts records, or many of them, were either lost or carried away, and before the proprietors of Rumford had obtained their charter of the town, they were again under the necessity of petitioning for it. It was again granted and ratified by the General Court of Massachusetts, on the third day of April, 1779.
This year the town was surveyed, and a division was inade which gave to each proprietor, now increased to one hundred, one hundred acres. A second division was made in the year 1788, of one hun- dred acres to each proprietor as before. The proprietors became acquainted with their lots in the former division, and finding many of them to be poor, and some of very little value, owing to rocky hills and barren land, they made a third division in 1788. This division gave to each proprietor different quantities of land to com- pensate for poor lots, so as to make them equal in quantity and quality.
There is yet some undivided land in town, belonging to the pro- prietors, as well as rocky and barren mountains and barren land, which will never be settled nor improved even for grazing.
In the town are four public rights, laid out by the proprietors, viz : one right for the use and benefit of Harvard College, one for the schools, one for the first settled minister in the town, and one for the ministry or parsonage.
The town was laid out in a square form of seven miles and forty poles on each side, and is bounded as follows : Beginning on Bethel, thence running north 182 degrees west, by Bethel, How- ard's Gore and Newry ; thence north 713 degrees east by Andover and Number VII; thence south 182 degrees east by Mexico and Peru : thence south 71} degrees west by Number II to the first mentioned bound.
About one-quarter part of the town is under improvement, and one-quarter part may be allowed for water, barren lands and rocky mountains ; the other half of the town remains unimproved.
There are no ponds of any magnitude, nor islands in the river of any consequence.
The town was first settled in 1779. In the autumn of this year, Mr. Jonathan Keyes moved his family here. This was the first family which settled in the place.
Mr. Aaron Moor soon after moved his family here, but his wife, through fear of the Indians, went to Bethel, where a son was born which she called Waid. If she had remained in town, he would have been entitled to a lot of land granted by the proprietors to the first male child born in the place. Sometime after, Mr. Benjamin Lufkin moved into town with his family. She soon after had a son which she named Samuel. A dispute arose between them relative to the first-born in the place, and somehow or other they both lost the right. Both of them are yet living.
The town was incorporated Feb. 21, 1800, by the name of Rum-
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ford. It never had an Indian name. Until incorporated, it was called New Pennicook by the proprietors and the first settlers, from the ancient Indian name of Concord in New Hampshire. Concord was named Rumford when incorporated in 1733, by the General Court of Massachusetts. From this year to 1765, it bore this name, and after, a parish of Bow. As it had been called Rumford, the proprietors and inhabitants who chiefly came from Concord to this place when it was first settled, it was called Rumford ; and like- wise for the peculiar regard the proprietors had for Count Rum- ford who was a large proprietor and entitled to six rights in the township, and in hopes he would give them his shares for giving his name to it. Hence the town received its name.
The town records commenced on April 14, 1800, the same year it was incorporated. Francis Keyes, Esq., was chosen clerk and first selectman ; Mr. Philip Abbot and Mr. John Martin being the other two this year.
Androscoggin River runs through the town from west to east in a pretty straight course. In its windings, there are excellent turns of interval which are rich and very productive. This river is gen- erally rapid through the town, as is its general character from its source in Umbagog lake, till it empties into Merrymeeting Bay where it meets the Kennebec River, and the two empty themselves into the Atlantic Ocean.
There are two or three ripps in this river as it passes through the town. They are rocky and rapid, but in high water, rafts pass over them in safety.
The Great Falls on the river, or as they are sometimes called "Pennycook Falls," are in the easterly part of the town. They are the largest falls in the river. The water at the falls gathers into a very narrow channel when it comes to them, owing to the lofty rocky mountains on both sides of the river which crowd upon it. There are several sharp pitches before the water comes to the great cascade. The water falls here about seventy-five feet in the short distance of two or three rods. The water then falls into a large basin, as it were to refresh itself till it comes to another large fall in the river. After the water is precipitated, it gradually slack- ens its pace till it gains its usual course at the mouth of Swift River.
In dry weather, when the river is low, at the "narrows," as they are called, at the top of the Great Falls, the water in the river is only a few feet over and, by the help of a plank thrown over, peo- ple pass to the opposite side in safety. In high water, in the spring or fall, it presents a majestic and terrifying scene, and shows that it will not be trifled with nor insulted. In falling over rocks, its roaring is heard at a considerable distance. Some of the logs in passing the river, when the water is high, jump out of the water, others pass under water, and some of a good rift strike the rocks and are rift asunder, and many are much broomed and bruised in passing the falls.
In the course of half a mile, the water falls over the rocks about
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one hundred and forty feet. It is in contemplation to build a bridge over the head of the Great Falls.
At the head of this fall, Mr. Rufus Virgin and Mr. Nathan Knapp, two ingenious, enterprising and persevering young men, have erected a carding, and a shingle machine, a saw-mill, and a grist-mill carrying two pairs of stones, by the same water. These mills are well supplied with water at all seasons of the year. The water is brought from the river in a canal formed partly by drilling the rocks with much labor and expense and partly by plank. By their labor and industry the town and others are well supplied with flour at all seasons of the year. It is contemplated to erect other machinery at this place.
There is no bridge built over this river in this town. A grant has been obtained to ereet one at the Point, but no preparations as yet are making to accomplish the object. But there are three established ferries in the town, namely : one at the Point, one at the Center and one at the lower part of the town. The one at the Point is most valuable, has the most custom, and the post passes this ferry.
The other rivers in the town are Ellis, Concord and Swift rivers. Ellis river east branch rises in Number VIII and the west branch in Andover Surplus ; they unite their waters in Andover, and the river pursnes its course through Rumford and empties its waters into the Androscoggin at the Point. The river is lined with high ragged mountains, especially on the west side. It, however, affords good turns of interval on both sides of it, and is settled on each bank. It affords no mill privilege in this place. It has an expen- sive bridge near its mouth to be maintained, and is much exposed by freshets and logs. Concord river rises in Woodstock, passes through Hamlin's Grant, a corner of Bethel and Number II, and empties into the Great River in the southwest part of the town. The westerly branch of the river affords no mill privilege. The mountains crowd upon it, especially on the westerly side. In pass- ing on the easterly bank of it, on the "Whale's Back," so called, to Paris, the traveller passes higher than the tall pines which grow on the margin. Another branch of this river rises from two ponds in Number II, and meets the other branch near the Great River. Mr. David Abbot's grist and saw mills are erected on this branch of the river. A fulling mill and a carding machine are erected on this stream, a short distance below Abbot's mills, owned by Mr. Samuel Page of Brunswick. There is an expensive bridge to maintain over this river near its mouth. It is exposed to ice, freshets and logs. The stream however is small, and affords water but a part of the season.
Swift river, which divides this town from Mexico. rises in Num- ber VII and VIII. It is a wild, rapid river and affords much good interval on each side. The uplands are generally poor and moun- tainous. It affords no mill privileges owing to its wildness and rapidity. Small rains will raise it, and they rush from the moun- tains and pour their waters into it. It often falls as rapidly as it
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rises. A bridge has been erected over it near its mouth, where it flows into the Great river, and where the post travels from the east, but it has been swept away by the freshets, ice and logs ; but it has not been rebuilt and it would be very expensive to build one, and uncertain how long it would stand. In the summer season, the river is easily forded by horses, but when it is high, it cannot be passed without ferry boats.
Split brook rises on the north of the town among the mountains. It empties its waters into the Great River at the Center of the town. Graham's mills are erected thereon, near the Great River. Here are a saw and grist-mill carrying two pairs of stones. The stream is small and affords water only a part of the season; and when the water is high, they are troubled with back water from the Great River ; therefore, these mills are not very profitable to the owners. It is difficult also, to make a dam stand, as the ground is muddy and soft.
The mountains in the town are numerous. The most noted are White Cap, Glass Face and Black mountains. These are the only mountains in town which have names. White Cap is situated in the north-westerly part of the town, and lies between Rumford and Andover. It is naked and bare on the top, and hence its name. On the south side it is very steep, rocky and barren. On the north side, there is an easy ascent to its summit, and is thinly covered with wood. It is about four hundred feet high, and on its summit there are fine and picturesque views of the country and hills in all directions which fascinate the eyes of the beholder. It is remark- able for the great quantities of blueberries which it produces every year. Cartloads of these berries are carried from it every season. When they are ripe, the mountain has many visitors both for pleas- ure and profit. This is the most remarkable mountain in the town.
Glass Face lies near the center of the town, on the road and near the river, and on the north side of it. It is about three hundred feet high, is rocky and steep in front, and impassible. It is barren on its summit. It may be ascended with ease from the north side. There is still some pine timber on the north side of the mountain. This mountain also affords abundance of blueberries. It is visited by many when the fruit is ripe, and affords pleasure and profit to its visitors at this season of the year.
Black mountain is situated on the north-east part of the town. Indeed, there is a continued range of mountains through the north part of the town from White cap to Black mountain. This is said to be the highest mountain. It is in the neighborhood of black land, and hence its name. As there is no settler contiguous to it, it is but little known.
These mountains as well as others in the town afford lurking places for bears, foxes and other animals, and they often prey upon sheep and poultry ; but there are no rattlesnakes nor other poison- ous serpents to be found in this place or vicinity. Indeed the town and the surrounding country abound with rocky and barren moun- tains and hills which are scattered over the surface of the country.
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They are steep and pointed at their summits, like sugar loaves. Generally, on the south side of them, they are steep, rocky and barren ; but on the north side, they are covered with wood and timber. On some of the hills, there is good land and fit for tillage and grazing, such as Eaton Hill, Red Hill and some others, and still others not yet improved. In the sags between the mountains, the land is good and fertile. There are no caves in the mountains or hills.
There has not yet been found any iron ore within the town ; neither limestone nor clay of any value. There is, however, a large body of paint. It is at the foot of a mountain near the road that leads from the center of the town to Andover. There are three sorts of it, red, yellow and black. It has been used in paint- ing buildings, but it requires considerable preparation before it is used. It needs boiling and grinding, and then it is fit for use. The red when prepared and used, is of a lively color like vermillion. It has been used in painting weather boards and ribbons for barns. It appears durable. The yellow is prepared in the same way and has been used in painting buildings. It resembles spruce yellow in color, but is not as durable. The black is really so, and when it has been analyzed, and the method of preparation known, it may be as durable and handsome as any paint of the like color, and would be very valuable.
The east and west parts of the town are the most settled, owing to crowding of mountains in the center. The Point at the upper part will make a handsome village, and will be the center of busi- ness. The road from Andover and the back towns, up and down the river and also to Portland, all center at this place. Much busi- ness is done here, and it will be increasing in business and popula- tion continually. On both sides of the river in this place, there are some handsome buildings, and they are increasing every year.
The center and lower part of the town, can never make a center for business, owing to the mountains crowding upon them. A road from Andover meets the river road at the Center, but there is no cross road here or at the lower part of the town. The river roads lead to Augusta, Hallowell, Brunswick, &c., but none directly to Portland. The Point has the advantage of all these towns for trade and market. At the Great Falls, though a good place for mills and other machinery, yet it can never make a village, owing to the crowding down of the mountains on each side.
As there are no squatters in the town, every one of them holds the title of his land in fee simple from the original proprietors. The price of lands at the present time is very low, and but few who buy can sell their farms. The wild land is worth from one dollar to three dollars per acre ; but all land is valued according to its intrinsic value, whether cultivated or wild.
There are in the town three taverns : Kimball's at the Point, Graham's at the Center and Bolster's at the lower part of the town. They are all emblazoned with the square and compasses of the Free Masons.
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There are six stores in town ; two on the south side of the Great River, owned by Crockett and Cushman, and three on the north side of it, owned by Stevens, Kimball and Bolster; one at the lower part of the town, north of the Great River, owned by Bolster.
There are roads passing up and down the Great River, one on each side. One at the Point leads from Andover, through the town at the Point, to Portland, and one from the Center to Andover ; and one on the west side of Swift River leading to Number VII. There are no other roads leading into the town. The other roads lead to various parts of the town. About twenty miles of the roads in town are county roads. A tax of one thousand dollars is raised annually to mend and repair the roads.
The orchards are yet in their infancy. The first settlers planted themselves on the intervals where the soil is not suitable for orchards, but since the uplands have been reduced to farms, or- charding has been attended to very well. About a dozen orchards begin to be profitable, and have produced some apples and cider for several years past.
There are five paupers who have been provided for more or less for some time past, and have been at some expense to the town ; but they have generally supported themselves, and are doing so at the present time.
The number of bushels of wheat raised annually is not easily ascertained, but is supposed to be eighteen hundred. It is a good wheat and grain country. The land produces well, so that the inhabitants are amply supplied with breadstuff, and much is carried away to market.
As to the religious concerns of the town, there is nothing at the present time very encouraging. There are two religious orders, but they are not properly separated into distinct societies. The Con- gregational and the Methodist, except two or three Baptists, com- pose the different orders. The Congregational Church was organized August 5, 1803, which now consists of forty-six members, and the Methodists in the town are twenty-five.
There is a meeting house in the center of the town erected sev- eral years ago, but it was never finished and it is much fallen into decay. During the summer season the Congregational order wor- ship in it, but during winter, they hold their meetings alternately in the school houses at each end of the town. It is now in contempla- tion to erect another meeting house at the Center for the use of those who choose to worship God in it. The Methodists have the last season erected a meeting house at the lower part of the town, and expect to finish it the present season. Both orders have met alternately, the present winter, in this house.
The first settled minister in this town was the Rev. Samuel R. Hall, who was ordained Nov. 14, 1811, and died Nov. 4, 1814. His ministry was short but useful. He was a lay preacher, and was orthodox in his persuasion. His successor was the Rev. Daniel Gould, formerly a minister at Bethel. He was preaching in this town during the sickness of Mr. Hall. Soon after his death
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the church and people gave him a call to settle with them in the gospel ministry. He accepted, and was installed May 31, 1815. The Methodists support their preachers by contribution, and have no settled minister with them. The Congregational order support their minister partly by subscription and partly by a fund arising from the sale of the ministerial lands in town. Mr. Hall was aged when he settled here, and gave up the ministers' right of land for the benefit of the Congregational order. From what has been sold of both rights, the interest amounts to one hundred and forty dollars annually, which is principally the salary for the support of Mr. Gould. The subscriptions have amounted to but little. When the two rights shall be sold the funds will be a handsome sum.
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