USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 91
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THE FIRST FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH IN PARSONSFIELD was organized in 1790, by Elder Benjamin Randall, of New Durham, N. H., the founder of this denomination. Elder Samuel Weeks was the first pastor. Elder John Buzzell took the pastoral charge in 1798, and continued in that office for about sixty years. During the last thirty years of his life he was assisted in his ministerial duties by the teachers of the North Parsonsfield Seminary. The first house of worship occupied by this society was of rude construction, and soon gave place to a larger and more elegant building, erected at North Parsonsfield in 1804. This was destroyed by fire in 1852, and a third one erected soon after. The society was released from the support of
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
the Congregationalist society in 1795, hut it was not until 1823 that they, with the other churches, began to draw their share of the town fund arising from ministerial lands. Rev. L. Brackett commenced laboring with this church as assistant to Elder Buzzell in 1851. During his ministry the present church was built ( 1863). He was succeeded by B. S. Manson in 1854, also an assistant of Elder Buz- zell. In 1857, C. Hurliu was made pastor, and remained until 1860, when G. S. Bradbury was ordained, and acted as pastor for nearly five years. In 1865, C. Hurlin was called to a second pastorate, and remained until 1867, when E. C. Cook was appointed, who was succeeded by L. Brack- ett in 1871. Rev. F. F. Millett, the present pastor, suc- ceeded Rev. Mr. Brackett in 1878.
THE EAST PARSONSFIELD FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH was organized July 3, 1822, by Elder John Buzzell, Deacon Samuel Moulton, John H. Rand, and Moses Banks. Chris- topher Bullock was chosen the first pastor. He died April 18, 1824, after which the church was supplied for six years by itinerant preachers. In 1830, J. Fernald was chosen pastor, and remained until 1836. In 1840, John O. Hacket became pastor, who, with J. W. Hubbard, supplied the pulpit until 1846. Shortly after James Rand became pastor, and remained till 1852. Uriah Chase, Z. Jordan, and others supplied for four years. From 1856, G. W. Whitney served as pastor five years. Commencing in 1861, P. Caverly was pastor two years, succeeded by G. W. Gould two years. In 1865, E. Cook was chosen pastor, and was succeeded in 1870 by H. Brewer. Present min- ister, Rev. L. T. Staples ; membership, 51.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AT SOUTH PARSONS- FIELD
was organized by a council which met at the old meeting- house, July 15, 1830, with 36 members.
The first meeting-house, in which the council met, had been erected as a branch house of the North church. A second house of worship was built at South Parsonsfield in 1839. and dedicated by Rev. Silas Curtis. Among the first members were Deacons Samuel Moulton, Pelatiah Ricker, James Bradbury, David Merrill, and Rev. Andrew F. Foss. Three Samuel Moultons have been successively deacons in this church, father, son, and grandson. The second deacon, Samuel Moulton, died in 1871, at the age of ninety-three years, and was buried on the old Moulton homestead, a short distance from the church.
The first pastor was Andrew J. Foss, who remained until Oct. 16, 1832. The succeeding pastors have been D. Jack- son, from July 6, 1834, to May 8, 1836; Carlton Small, from July 7. 1836, to Aug. 24, 1837 ; Thomas M. Preble, from Jan. 27. 1838, to July 15, 1838; A. R. Bradbury, from October, 1838, to October, 1839; Z. Jordan, from Oct. 10, 1839, to May 4, 1846; J. W. Woodman, from June 7, 1846, to June 8, 1847 ; Z. Jordan, a second pas- torate, from June, 1847, to June, 1848; William T. Smith, from January, 1849, to Oct. 27, 1852; C. O. Libby, from Nov. 26, 1852, to May, 1860; C. Bean, from June, 1860, to June, 1861; G. W. Whitney, from June, 1861, to May, 1862; O. F. Russell, from May, 1862, to May, 1864; A.
Caverno, from May, 1864, to April, 1866; F. W. Towne, from April 1, 1866, to April 1, 1871; C. B. Peckham, from June 18, 1871 ; P. S. Burbank, supply, 1873; H. P. Lamprey, April, 1874, to 1877; F. O. Bardeen, present pastor since March, 1877. The church numbers 142 mem- bers.
Deacons : Samuel Moulton, died 1838 ; Peltaiah Ricker, died 1842; John Pease, Samuel Burbank ; Samuel Moul- ton, died 1871. Present : David Burbank, Harvey Page, Senior Deacons; A. S. Hilton, George Moulton, Junior Deacons; A. S. Hilton, Clerk.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The following Baptists had their tax abated in 1790: Samuel Pease, Jr., John Lybia, Ed. and John Fox. Gil- man, Samuel and John Longee, Jonathan Towle, Jeremiah Mudget, John Fox, Jr., Lot Wedgewood, James Perry, Philip Paine, Samuel Weeks, and Enoch Lybia. They were also allowed a share in the meeting-house equal to their part of the tax.
The Baptist Church was organized in 1792 by Rev. Levi Chadbourne, David Marston, Caleb Marston, James Marston, John Doe, Walter Neal, Joseph Towle, Richard Taylor, and others. The first pastor was Rev. Levi Chad- bourne, followed by Rev. Wentworth Lord, who was suc- ceeded by Rev. William Slason.
This society was doing Christian work some years before it was regularly organized, and was a source of much an- noyance to the established or Congregational Church. Their building still stands near the site of the old First church at Parsonsfield village, large, solid, and well built, but fast going to decay. The membership, which was 28 in 1870, has been reduced by deaths and removals, but the remaining members adhere to their faith and support worship the best they ean with the means at their com- mand. Since Rev. J. M. Coburn was pastor, in 1870-71, the pulpit has been supplied only a part of each year.
CHRISTIAN ADVENT CHURCH.
This church is the outgrowth of a series of social prayer- meetings held in West Parsonsfield, by D. W. Stevens and others, in 1869. Soon after, Rev. Mark Stevens became pastor over the society thus gathered. They were organized as a corporate body under the State law, Aug. 21, 1877, with 12 members, among whom were Elder Mark Stevens, David W. Stevens and wife, John G. Lombard and wife, George O. Davis and wife, Ephraim Billings and wife, and Van Buren Glidden. David W. Stevens was ordained July 4, 1876, and has since been doing evangelist's work as a minister of the church. The mecting-house was erected near Province Pond, and dedi- cated in June, 1872, by Rev. Mr. Stinchfield, of Effing- ham, N. II., and Rev. Horace L. Hastings, of Boston, Mass. A union meeting-house formerly stood near the site of the present church. The present officers are Rev. Mark Stevens, Pastor ; George O. Downs, Clerk ; Giles G. Lombard, Deacon. Membership, 30.
FRIENDS.
Among the early members of this religious fraternity who settled in the town were Pelatiah Cartland, Benjamin
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TOWN OF PARSONSFIELD.
Stevens, John Sweat, David Merrill, and Edward Cobb, afterwards a minister.
Meetings of this society were held here as early as 1805-6. They were held at the dwellings of Mr. Cobb, Mr. Cartland, and Mr. Sweat, about two years, until the first meeting-house was built. It stood on the Middle road. Edward Cobb preached here, and Friends came from Lim- ington to join in the services. A second meeting-house was built on Silas Cartland's farm, a mile and a half far- ther east, in 1844. This was occupied until 1878, when a larger one was erected in the village of East Parsonsfield, at an expense of $1800. Though plain in its outward ap- pearance, it is faultless in its style of architecture, and one of the neatest church buildings in the north of York County. There have been new members occasionally joined by re- quest, since 1844, who were not previously eonueeted with the Friends. Sinee 1876 there have 24 been admitted in this manner.
The Limington and Parsonsfield preparative meetings were set off from Windham, and became a separate monthly meeting, March 8, 1846, under the name of the Limington Monthly Meeting, and have since held services alternately at Limington and Parsonsfield. Silas H. Cartland is elerk. Though an industrious and successful farmer, both himself and wife devote a great portion of their time to preaching at other places.
At present there are the following-named ministers in Parsonsfield : Silas H. Cartland and Lydia A. Cartland, his wife, Charles C. Varney, Phoebe L. Pope, and James Cartland. The elders are Annie Cartland, mother of Silas H. and James Cartland, and Sarah W. Leonard. There are now about 100 members, 50 of whom are living in Limington and the adjoining towns. The society is gain- ing in numbers, and is more progressive and active in its work here than ever before. Among their prominent men of the past were Charles and Silas Cartland, Benjamin Dalton, and James Cram.
PARSONSFIELD MINISTERIAL FUND.
There is a fund, held by an elected trustee and treasurer, the interest of which is devoted to the support of preaching the gospel. This is divided pro rata among the various denominations, as called for by their requisitions each year. The Friends have never made application for or received any of this money. The vote in 1850 showed the following applicants : First Regular Baptists, 46 ; Second Regular Baptists, 54; First Free-Will Baptists, 18; Second Free- Will Baptists, 61; Third Free-Will Baptists, 28; First Baptists (Bullock branch), 161, -- making 398, exclusive of Friends and Congregationalists, who had not applied. In 1879, after paying the schools their one-half, $60, the re- mainder was distributed as follows, the figures expressing round numbers only : Free-Will Baptist, $18; Christian Union (west), $10; Free-Will Baptist (east), $8; First Regular Baptist, $3; Second Regular Baptist, $1; First Free-Will Baptist, 86; Congregationalist, $1.50; Free- Will Baptist (north), $11; Universalist, $2.50; Free-Will Baptist (north), $2.50. All persons who are citizens are entitled to a share of this fund, whether organized or not. Clerk of Fund, George Fulton.
SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES.
The first town-meeting voted $100 in produce for the support of schools. Masters Elisha Piper and James Hart are still remembered by the oldest citizens as men whose lives were spent in the first rough school-houses of Parsons- field, and whose influence thus exerted has given to them a reputation rarely excelled. Master Hart was elected town elerk in 1795, and copied the town records from the first books into their present form. From the sale of the min- isterial and school lands a fund was created, one-half of the interest of which goes to the support of schools; this amounts to about $60 a year. To this amount the town has added a town-tax of $1520, in 1878, making, together with the State appropriations, $2448 for their support.
The schools are managed by Dominicus Ricker, J. F. Dearborn, and Lorenzo Moulton, committee for 1879.
NORTH PARSONSFIELD SEMINARY.
The North Parsonsfield Seminary was established under the auspices of the Free-Will Baptist Church in 1833. The building was burned Sept. 21, 1854, and a new one erceted at North Parsonsfield in 1855. The originators and chief leaders in this enterprise were Elder John Buzzell and Dr. Moses Sweat. Rev. Hosea Quimby was the first principal, with a salary of $400 a year. A fund was formed for its support by its founders. This institution is under the management of M. E. Sweat, secretary, and Rev. F. F. Millett, principal, and is well patronized by the surrounding country.
Elder John Buzzell, the main founder of this academy, was born in Barrington, N. H., Sept. 16, 1768, and taught school in his younger days. He became a min- ister of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and was first settled at Middleton, N. H., in 1792. He was settled at Parsons- field, April 4, 1798, and remained until his death, in 1864, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, when he united with the Free-Will Baptists ; the whole body of members num- bered but 101, including himself. He published the first two volumes of religious magazines published by the denomi- nation; was editor of the Morning Star for seven years from the time of its starting; published the first hymn- book for the denomination ; was president of the Foreign Mission Society for several years, and has done much for the upbuilding of the cause of religion, and of the church of which he was a member.
Dr. Moses Sweat was born in Portland in 1789; went with his father into the country when he was twelve years of age ; commeneed the study of medicine with Dr. James W. Bradbury, of Parsonsfield ; completed his course under the celebrated surgeon and anatomist, Alexander Ramsey, a Scotchman, who lectured in different parts of New Eng- land ; and graduated at the medical school at Brunswick, where Ramsey was demonstrator of anatomy. He com- menced practice in Parsonsfield in 1810, and continued until his death, in August, 1865. He was the leading surgeon in this part of the State, and one of the most skillful in New England. He served in hoth houses of the Legislature several years ; was one of the Governor's Council ; trustee of the Maine Hospital; and took a prominent interest in the education of the youth of his town.
42
330
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
PROFESSIONAL.
LAWYERS.
Ilou. Rufus Melntyre was born in York, Dec. 19, 1784. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1809, read law with Hon. John Holmes, of Alfred, and was admitted to the York County bar in October, 1812. He took an active part in the war of 1812, on the close of which he located in Parsonsfield. Mr. MeIntyre was a member of the con- stitutional convention of the State of Maine, first repre- sentative in the Legislature from Parsonsfield, county at- torney, member of Congress for four terms, commencing December, 1827, and on retiring from Congress was again clected to the State Legislature. He was land-agent under Governor Fairfield at the time of the " Madawaska War;" marshal of Maine under President Polk, and sur- veyor of customs under President Pierce. He died at Parsonsfield, April 26, 1866.
Ilon. James W. Bradbury, son of Dr. James Bradbury, graduated at Bowdoin in 1825, read law with Judge Shep- ley, Rufus McIntyre, and William C. Allen, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. He afterwards located in Angusta, and became distinguished as a senator of the United States for a term ending March 4, 1853.
Hon. L. De M. Sweat, of Portland, a son of Dr. Moses Sweat, was born in May, 1818, graduated at Bowdoin in 1837, and at the Cambridge law-school in 1839, during which year he was admitted to the bar. He removed to Portland in 1841, where he afterwards became distinguished in public life.
William B. Wedgwood, LL.D., M.M., a descendant of Lot Wedgwood, one of the first settlers, and a native of the town, graduated at the University of New York City, in 1836; was principal of the Dutchess County, N. Y., Academy in 1837 ; was made Master of Arts in 1839; was admitted to the New York bar in 1841, and made professor of the law-school of the University of New York City in 1858. Ile was made Doctor of Laws of Rutgers College, N. J., in 1860, and elected vice-chancellor of the National University at Washington, D. C., in 1870.
Hon. Zenas P. Wentworth, a native of Parsonsfield, graduated at Waterville College in 1836, entered the prac- tice of law, and removed to Houlton, Me., where he was made county attorney, judge of probate, and died in 1864.
Robert T. Blaizo, Esq., was a member of the bar for many years.
PHYSICIANS.
James Bradbury, M.D., a native of York County, was a prominent physician and member of the State Medical So- ciety of Massachusetts. Ile began the practice of medi- cine in Parsousfield previous to the year 1708, and continued a prominent citizen and leading physician until his death, in 1844.
Moses Sweat, M.D., was born in Portland in 1789, and moved to Parsonsfield with his father in 1801. He com- meneed the study of medicine with Dr. Bradbury, and completed his course under the celebrated Scotch surgeon and anatomist, Alexander Ramsey, at the Brunswick Med- ieal School, after which he commenced practice at Parsons- field, where he remained until his death, August, 1865.
Dr. Sweat became distinguished in his profession, served several terms in the Legislature and Senate, and was ap- pointed a member of the Governor's Council.
John B. Sweat, M.D., a son of Dr. Moses Sweat, died in 1856. Although young in the profession, he had won a reputation which promised well for the future.
Moses B. Sweat, M.D., another son, graduated at Bruns- wick, and commenced practice at Limington Corners, where he remained twenty years, removing to North Parsonsfield in 1862, where he still continues (1880) in active practice.
PROMINENT MEN.
Thomas Parsons, one of the original proprietors, was a man of uncommon business ability, and prominent in all public affairs of his town.
Capt. Luther Sanborn was for many years a prominent business man of the town, and served in both houses of the Legislature.
Hon. Alvah Doe, a descendant of one of the first settlers, has held many offices of trust with ability, and served in both branches of the State Legislature.
Among the leading men of the present time are Hon. John Brackett, Ivory Fenderson, Wm. E. Moulton, Joseph S. Dearborn, Jno. Devereaux, Eben Foss, Rev. L. T. Staples.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
David Marston, 1806-8; Noah Weeks, 1809; James Bradbury, Simon Marston, 1810-12.
Rufus MeIntyre was elected in 1820, but resigned his seat before the house met.
MILITIA.
At a meeting to organize the militia, held Nov. 5, 1789, Joseph Parsons was chosen Captain ; James Morrison, First Lieutenant; and Samuel Longee, Second Lieutenant. So much feeling was displayed at this election that the opposi- tion procured a division of the town and the organization of two companies of foot. The new, or south district, elected Thomas Parsons, Esq., Captain ; James Marston, Lieuten- ant ; and Joseph Pease, Ensign. The north district then elected Jonathan Kimman, Captain ; Samuel Longee, First Lieutenant ; and David Hobbs, Ensign. Capt. Kimman was colonel of the regiment, and David Hobbs was captain, in 1792. Joseph Granville and Paul Burnham were cap- tains in 1799. Joseph Parsons was colonel in 1815, and James Thomas in 1823. Those who were drafted in 1812- 14 were paid $14 per month by the town, including their pay from the government. The town stock of ammunition was increased in 1790 by an outlay of $150. This was always kept in the town-house loft, where, on subsequent annual election-days, the boys climbed up and secured each a few musket-balls for pocket-pieces until the supply was exhausted. Companies C, D, and E of the 2d Regiment were officered by Capts. Samuel R. Lord, George W. Bick- ford, and Harvey Moore, Jr.
WAR OF 1812.
Captain-afterwards Hon .- Rufus McIntire recruited a company in York County, and was commissioned captain in the regular army. He marched with his company to the
Photo, by Conant, Portland.
Il Decarbono
SAMUEL G. DEARBORN, son of John and Sally Dearborn, was born in Parsonsfield Feb. 4, 1830. The other children's names are: Ruth B., born Ang. 2, 1827; Jeremiah W., born Nov. 2, 1832 ; Elisha W., born Nov. 15, 1837; and Eveline, born Nov. 8, 1839.
Samuel G. Dearborn occupies the old homestead where his father was born in 1801, and where he died in 1877.
His grandfather, Gen. Dearborn, first settled on the farm in 1792; erected a dwelling, a portion of which is standing in 1880. The subject of this notice received a fair common-school education during his boyhood, and has followed farming. In 1875 he was elected selectman of his town, and discharged the duties of the office satisfactorily to his constituents. He is known as a man of strict integrity in all his business relations.
WM. D. D. CHURCHILL.
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TOWN OF PARSONSFIELD.
northern frontier, was at Plattsburgh under Gen. Macomb, and remained with the army until the close of the war.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Elmwood Grange was organized April 10, 1875, by C. H. Cobb, of Poland, Me., with the following officers : Otis B. Churchill, M .; Elisha B. Wadleigh, O .; Sherman E. Piper, L .; John H. Chapman, S .; Robert Merrill, A. S. ; Mark Chapman, C .; Nehemiah T. Libby, Treas .; Charles T. Wentworth, Sec. ; George R. Young, G. R .; Mrs. Susan E. Churchill, C .; Mrs. Mary E. Chapman, P .; Mrs. Isaiah E. Merrill, F .; Mrs. S. C. Merrill, L. A. S. The same were duly installed May 7, 1875, by C. H. Cobb.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
MAJOR THOMAS CHURCHILL,
son of Ichabod Churchill-who was born June 21, 1764, and died Sept. 15, 1855, in the town of Parsonsfield-was born Jan. 20, 1798, and died Oct. 16, 1878. His minority was spent at home. His opportunities for an education
were confined to the common school. In 1830 he married Miss Mary E. Banks, of Parsonsfield. Of this union were born six children : Thomas S., born May 6, 1831; Otis B., born Nov. 5, 1832; John C., born Dec. 11, 1834; Reliance B., born Feb. 12, 1837; Nathaniel II., born May 8, 1839 ; and Lydia F., born March 15, 1851.
Thomas S. Churchill married Mary A. Dixon, formerly of Lebanon, but at the time of the marriage of Parsonsfield. Their children are Eva, born Dec. 19, 1856; Wm. D. D., born Sept. 6, 1858 ; Thomas G., born Nov, 20, 1863, died Nov. 13, 1878. His wife died Dec. 30, 1878.
Otis B. Churchill married, Jan. 2, 1861, Susan E., daughter of James and Sally Woodman, of New Hamp- shire. Their two children are Charley B., born June 2, 1863, and Sarah May, born June 14, 1868. Mr. Churchill has filled the office of town clerk for several years, select- man for four years, since 1875, and is in trade with his brother, John C., in the tannery and leather business in New Hampshire.
The family of Churchill is Democratic in politics, and members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. They were among the early settlers of Parsonsfield, have always been known for their integrity in all relations of life, and are representative among the agriculturists of York County.
LITTLE
Photos. by Conant, Portland.
MRS. C. O. NUTE.
C. O. NUTE.
C. O. NUTE, son of Jesse and Hannah G. (Goldsmith) Nute, natives of New Hampshire, was born in Wolf borough, that State, Aug. 8, 1831, where he lived until he was four- teen years of age, when he removed to Parsonsfield with his mother, who had married John Pray, June 2, 1845. He received a good commou-school education, and served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, which he fol- lowed successfully, employing a number of hands, until Nov. 1, 1866, when he commenced the manufacture of ready-
made clothing, which, with farming, has engaged his atten- tion to the present time. He was postmaster from May 7, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1874, when he resigned the office. He was also collector in 1878, and town treasurer in 1879.
Dec. 10, 1854. he married Sally F. Weeks. daughter of Samuel Weeks. She was born June 4, 1835. Two chil-, dren have been born to them, viz. : John A., born Aug. 6, 1857, and Charles L., born Oct. 5, 1863. Mrs. Nute died March 2, 1878.
LIMERICK.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
THE town of Limerick is the central one of the five original Ossipee towns north of the Little Ossipee River. It is irregular in outline, and covers an area of about twenty-four square miles, or 15,360 acres. It is bounded on the north by Cornish and Limington, on the east by Limington, on the south by Waterborough and Newfield, and on the west by Newfield and Parsonsfield. Though less than six miles in width, it has nearly ten miles of its southern boundary defined by the course of the Little Ossipee River.
The surface is uneven and hilly, rising to its highest point in Strouts Mountain, in the northeast corner, near the Limington line. Brown's and Cobb's Brooks, the principal streams, flow in a southeasterly course across the town, and empty into the Little Ossipee. Holland Pond, on Brown's Brook, is a double pond, a mile and a quarter in length by half a mile in width, joined by a narrow channel near its centre. Half a mile to the east is a second pond bearing the same description, but covering only about two- thirds the area. These, like most of the ponds in the north of the country, trend east of south, conforming to the course of the ancient glaciers. Many of the hills are composed of ledges of coarse granite, traversed by large irregular veins of quartz and feldspar intermixed with schorl. Reddish-brown quartz and blue granite are also to be found in the ledges.
The soil is good, producing the staples of corn, oats, wheat, hay, and potatoes in abundance. The highlands are more generally tilled, while the lower land in the val- leys is better adapted to the prodnetion of hay and grass. Apples, grapes, and cranberries are successfully raised, apples being a leading product.
There are railroads on three sides of the town,-the Portland and Ogdensburg on the east ; the Portland and Rochester on the south ; and the Portsmouth and Conway on the west. The nearest railroad station is about ten miles distant from Limerick village.
THE INDIANS.
The Nokokis Indians, who inhabited the country drained by the Saco River, had their favorite hunting-grounds upon its western shores. The main trail from the dwelling of their great chief on Factory Island, in Saco, to their principal village at Pequawket, now Fryeburgh, in Oxford County, passed through the eastern part of the town, and entered Cornish near the base of Wescott's Hill. This route was improved for the use of the early white settlers, and was long knowu by the name of the " Old Pequawket Trail." The land between the Ossipee Rivers was famous for its abundant supply of game, and was tenanted by venture- some hunters long before any permanent settlement was
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