USA > Maine > Somerset County > Skowhegan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 16
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Canaan > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 16
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Bloomfield > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 16
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Starks > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 16
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Norridgewock > History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan, comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan, and Bloomfield, from their early settlement to the year 1849; including a sketch of the Abnakis Indians > Part 16
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Mr. Waugh kept his farm until it was incor- porated into Starks. He reared a large family
261
HISTORY OF STARKS.
of children, and died Jan. 17, 1826, aged 77 years.
James Waugh was, during his life time, em- phatically the Man of Starks. He was revered by all the people, and was well worthy of the esteem he received. Without making any professions or pretensions, he had the interests of Education and Morality at heart, and threw all his influence in their behalf. He was him- self a rigid moralist, and died universally lamented. His children were James, dead ; John, living; Sarah, died unmarried ; Elijah, living ; William, living; Abigail, who married William Hilton ; Lucy, married William Syl- vester, then Elder Samuel Hutchins; David, dead ; Randall, living ; Joseph, died an infant in 1787.
Capt. Fletcher, and his sons Daniel and Joseph, are not known to have been of any relation to William Fletcher and his fam- ily. They remained but a short time with James Waugh, when they returned to the large settlements, in consequence of the Revo- lution, and are not known ever to have re- turned.
Robert Crosby moved to the Sandy river in 1778, and settled next to James Waugh, on the same side of the river. Asa Crosby was his son, and Maj. Thompson Crosby, who served in the Mexican war, his grandson. The family became large and numerous, and the descendants are highly respectable.
Zimri Heywood took up the lot called the " Bull's bow," and put a man named Cham-
262
HISTORY OF STARKS.
berlin on it, about 1779. Chamberlin after- ward went to Ohio, and Heywood put the farm into the hands of his son Thomas. He, too, ultimately went to Ohio, and the farm passed into the possession of the Wood family.
John Heald, in 1777, went up to Sandy river, and settled on the lot opposite Old Point. The next year there were the following settlers in Starks :- James Waugh, Robert Crosby, John Heald, Nichols, Oliver Wilson, and Capt. George Grey. Oliver Wilson first located, for a very short time, on land now possessed by the Cutlers ; but he soon after purchased John Heald's improvements.
James Young came to Starks in 1780, and Peter Holbrook in 1781.
Thomas Waugh * came in 1780, and settled near his brother, where he continued to live until his death, which was in the year 1830, at the age of 79. His descendants are quite nu- merous.
The foregoing names are the first who set- tled within the limits of the town of Starks, then called by the name of Norridgewock, or Sandy River Plantation. Other families flocked in, and began to people the beautiful alluvial vales of the Sandy river, until the town be- came populous and flourishing. In 1790, six- teen years only after the axe first disturbed the primeval solitudes, there were three hundred and twenty-seven souls within the limits of Starks.
* His wife was a Laughton.
263
HISTORY OF STARKS.
The Town of Starks, the one hundredth town in the State, County of Somerset, State of Maine, lies on the west side of the Kenne- bec river, at its junction with the Sandy. It is bounded north by Anson and Industry, east by Madison and Norridgewock, south by Mercer and Industry, and west by Industry, and is in 44 deg., 40 min. north latitude. It is 37 miles N. N. E. from Augusta, 95 miles N. N. E. from Portland, and 60 miles W. from Bangor. It was granted to Dummer Sewall and others in 1790. It received its name from John Stark, the hero of Bennington. It had been, for a long time, called "Lower Sandy River Planta- tion," but was incorporated as a town, Febru- ary 28, 1795.
It contains an area of 17,154 acres, of which 363 are in roads, 2,224 waste land, 7,859 unim- proved land, 1,703 wood land, 1,134 pasturage, 171 natural meadow, 2,509 mowing, and 1,200 tillage. The value of the real estate is $103,688, and of all taxable property, $195,800. There are 347 polls, 186 dwelling-houses, 230 barns, 20 stores, shops, &c., and 40 other buildings.
Sandy river, called by the Indians, Penob- squisumquis-sebou,* rises on a spur of Saddle- back mountain, in the wild region north of Madrid, and pursues a serpentine course, south, east, south-east and north-east, and empties into the Kennebec at Starks. It passes through Madrid, Phillips, Avon, Strong, Farmington, Chesterville, Industry, New Sharon, Mercer,
* Governor of Penobscot, via Rev. O. H. Johnson.
264
HISTORY OF STARKS.
and Starks. Much of these towns was occu- pied by the rich corn-fields of the Norridge- wogs, and it is highly probable that at the time Râle was slain, Harmer destroyed corn as far west as Farmington, while Moulton was de- stroying the village. The level beauty and fertility of the soil, generally watered by the Sandy river, is unsurpassed in the State. The river is about seventy miles long.
Little Norridgewock river, interesting to this history only from its name, rises in Fayette, and, running north through Vienna, Chester- ville and New Sharon, empties into the Sandy. It is about fifteen miles long.
Leeman Stream is another small stream, emptying into the Sandy river at Starks.
The first officers were Jonathan Williamson, moderator ; James Waugh, town clerk ; James Waugh, Oliver Wilson, Joseph Greenleaf, selectmen ; Thomas Waugh, town treasurer ; Jonathan Williamson, Nathan Wood, Samp- son Sheaf, assessors ; Nicholls Kimball, collec- tor and constable ; Benjamin Arnold, Reuben Gray, John Pomroy, Thomas Haywood, Ben- jamin Hilton, Luke Sawyer, Peter Holbrook, Samuel Williamson, John Greenleaf, and Jo- siah Dutton, highway surveyors; Jonathan Williamson, James Waugh, lumber surveyors; George Nicholls, Joseph Greenleaf, fence view- ers ; Thomas Lovejoy, Caleb Witham, Benja- min Arnold, John Pomroy, Samuel William- son, David Leeman, tythingmen; Thomas Haywood, Nathan Wood, fish committee. The
265
HISTORY OF STARKS.
town meetings were held at the houses of James Waugh and Stephen Williamson.
The following petition, against a movement to establish a new county, in 1814, is a novelty. The schoolmaster cannot always be at home ; he was abroad when this was penned.
" the pertition. to the Honarable Senate and house of Representatives in General Court as- sembled January 1814 Whereas at the Last Session of the Leguslator an order of Nitice Was Granted on the pertition of Supply Belcher and others, praying that a new County might be Established from a part of the Counties of Somerset Kennebec & oxford the Inhabitants of Starks in the County of Somerset being in- trested With other inhabitents of Said County in said pertition would respectfully remonstrate against Granting the prare of said pertition ; Because, our County buildings are now erect- ed, the Expences of Which is partly on Credit Which must in som futer time be paid by the inhabitents of said County ; because it Would Grately Deminish the population ; and increase the taxes, having to pay the same Jury fees, Justices of the Court of Sessions, Sherrefs and Goalers fees
" because it would make Starks a fruntear Town the Center of which is onley Eight miles from the Court house of said County We therefore pray that the prayr of said Belcher and others may not be granted and as in Deuty bound will ever pray January 8, A D 1814 JAMES WAUGH Selectmen JOHN MCLAUGHLEN of Starks."
23
266
HISTORY OF STARKS.
In the year 1816, declaration of the feeling in the town in regard to the separation of Maine from Massachusetts was made. The vote stood, yeas, 32; nays, 33. At a subse- quent meeting, in the same year, the vote stood, yeas, 34; nays, 50. In 1819 the vote was, yeas, 35 ; nays, 23.
A somewhat similar occurrence to the " Lam- bert Fraud," related in the sketch of Canaan, had its origin in Starks.
About the year 1814, a shrewd, money-mak- ing Yankee justice of the peace settled in Cornville, and commenced working on the credulity of his less intelligent neighbors.
William Young, of Starks, John Fowler and Nathaniel Burrill, of Canaan, and Joseph Gree- ly, of Belgrade, had heard of a foolish boy named Michael Eldred, who lived in Massa- chusetts, and who had found a perforated stone, by aid of which he could discover money and valuable minerals in the earth. They employ- ed Abner Kirby to bring the boy to Starks.
He arrived and commenced his work ; - his manner was to place the stone in his hat, and then his face, and he then declared that he could see a chest, or a bag, or a jar of money. The money he saw, however, had the faculty of sliding from place to place, and it is not known that any was ever found. Young, Fow- ler, Burrill, and Greely were evidently deluded, and those who deceived them, it has been thought, intended to place counterfeit money in their excavations, and thus get it into circu- lation. This suspicion grew out of the fact
267
HISTORY OF STARKS.
that a large issue of counterfeit coin made its appearance on the Merrimac river, about that time, but it was detected, and after the delusion had cheated a few persons and benefited no one, except those who were hired to dig for others, it died away.
Tradition relates that on one occasion, on a very dark night, a large company of people were assembled together, and the conversation turned on the boy Eldred. It was declared that he could find any metallic substance in a few moments, dark as was the night. An in- dividual dared a trial of his skill, and he was brought to the house. A logging chain was carried a long distance and sunk in a brook. Eldred put the stone and his face into his hat, and walked directly to the chain, which he pulled out of the brook! The historian does not vouch for the accuracy of this story ; he " tells the tale as 'twas told to him." It was said that Eldred was a fool, but it is quite evident that in that respect he was not alone.
In the year 1825, it was voted to build a town house, and that the expenses thereof should be paid in grain. It was bid off by William Sylvester, Esq., at $260. It was voted to "set it on James Waugh's, Esq. land, in frunt of his old Barn, by giving him six dollars for the land." Rufus Viles, Aaron Higgins and Thomas Waugh were appointed building com- mittee.
The first action on the part of the town, on the subject of Temperance, was March 1st, 1841, when it was voted to prohibit the sale of ardent spirits in the town.
268
HISTORY OF STARKS.
As will be seen by the table of statistics, Starks produces annually the most abundant crops, and possesses within itself all the ele- ments of independence. Within a few years past, it has been rapidly advancing in industrial enterprise, and in all that adds to the prosperity and dignity of a town.
The agricultural productions for the year 1837 were, - 2,532 bushels of corn, 3,537 of wheat, 70 of rye, 8,192 of oats, 221 of beans, 13 of pease, 83 of barley, 31,883 of potatoes, 100 of turnips, 945 of apples, 5,163 lbs. of wool, 43,785 of pork, 400 of beef, 1,876 tons of English hay, 139 tons meadow, 5 bbls. of cider, 165 horses, 34 colts, 173 oxen, 386 cows, 396 other cattle, 2,309 sheep, 327 swine, 4,323 lbs. of but- ter, 150 lbs. of cheese. The valuation of 1850 will show a great gain in the productions of this town. It is almost entirely an agricultural town, and is capable of very great wealth. There are several mills, such as saw, grist, starch, &c., and a small tannery. The real estate was valued in 1841 by the Legislature, at $131,824, in 1845, at $134,538, and the tax- able estates in 1837 were worth $152,974.
MODERATORS. - Jonathan Williamson, 1795, 6; Benjamin Young, 1795, 1801, 7, 14; James Waugh, 1796, 8, 1800, 4, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16; George Sawyer, 1797, 8, 9, 1803, 5; Ezekiel Elliot, 1802, 11; Nathan Wood, 1806, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18, 20, 1, 2; James Elliot, 1806 ; James Waugh, Jr., 1808, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ; Stephen Williamson, 1814, 33 ; James L. Wood, 1815,
269
HISTORY OF STARKS.
16, 17; Nicholas Kimbal, 1818, 22, 3; John Greenleaf, 1818, 23, 4, 5; William Greenleaf, 1819 ; Benjamin Holbrook, 1819, 21, 3 ; Thomas McFadden, 1819 ; Martin Moor, 1820, 31; Leon- ard Greaton, 1820, 1; Valentine Felker, 1824, 30, 1, 9; James Young, 1826, 8, 9, 30, 1, 2, 3; Stephen Greenleaf, 1826, 32, 5, 8; Edgar Hil- ton, 1827, 8, 9, 34 ; Samuel Chapman, Jr., 1829 ; William Meader, 1831; Jas. Thompson, 1832; William E. Folsom, 1833, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 40, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6; Asa Chapman, 1833, 5, 42; Peleg Bradford, 1833, 5, 42, 4, 5; John Frizzel, 1838; John H. Smith, 1839, 40, 9; Levi Curtis, 1839; Elijah Dutton, 1840, 7; Ebenezer Grey, 1841, 2, 4 ; James G. Waugh, 1842, 5 ; James Davis, 1842; Cyrus Rogers, 1843; Abijah Joy, 1843 ; Thomas Waugh, 1843; Jason Greenleaf, 1845, John A. Witham, 1845, 6, 7, 8, 9; Robert Waugh, 1846.
TOWN CLERKS. - James Waugh, 1795, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3; Leonard Grea- ton, 1824, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ; James Varnum, 1830, 1, 2, 9; Washington Waugh, 1833, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; James G. Waugh, 1840 ; Thomas Waugh, 2d, 1841; Leander G. Smith, 1842, 3; Cyrus Rogers, 1844, 5; John Greenleaf, 2d, 1846, 7; Cyrus M. Greenleaf, 1848, 9.
TOWN TREASURERS. - Thomas Waugh, 1795; Stephen Williamson, 1796, 7, 8; George Saw- yer, 1799, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7; James Waugh, Jr., 1806, 9, 10, 11 ; Benjamin Holbrook, 1808, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4; Nathan 23*
270
HISTORY OF STARKS.
Wood, 1812, 13; Valentine Felker, 1825, 6, 7, 33, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 40, 2, 3, 4; James Varnum, 1828, 9, 30; James Young, 1831, 2; Thomas Williamson, 1841 ; Stephen Greenleaf, 1845, 6, 7, 8, 9.
REPRESENTATIVES .*- James Waugh, delegate to Hallowell, 1798. July 27, 1809, the first representative was chosen to General Court. Benjamin Young, Stephen Williamson, Nathan Wood, and Luke Sawyer, were appointed " a commity to agrea With the Representative, and Give him such instructions as they shall think best, to promote the publick good." Nahum Baulding, 1809 ; Jas. Waugh, Esq., 1812, 13, 16 ; delegate also to Brunswick in 1816, 18 ; dele- gate to Portland in 1819, 20; John Gower, 1821 ; Luther Burr, 1822 ; Benjamin Holbrook, 1823; Andrew Croswell, 1825; Leonard Grea- ton, 1826, 9; Ezekiel Hinkley, 1827; Nahum Baldwin, 1828 ; Jabez Norton, 1830 ; Hannibal Ingalls, 1831; John Elliott, 1832, 41; William Metcalf, 1833; Asa Chapman, 1834; James Field, 1835; Stephen Greenleaf, 1836 ; Hanni- bal Ingalls, 1837 ; Peleg Bradford, 1838 ; Mason Wiley, 1839; John H. Smith, 1840 ; Arnold Hardy, 1842; } Moses Whittier, 1843 ; } Wm. H. Ellis, 1844 ; Saml. Holbrook, 1845 ; Ephraim Low, 1846; Arnold Hardy, 1847; Henry Leach, 1848.
VOTES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. - 1804, Federal 15, Democrat 25; 1808, Madison ;
* The person receiving a plurality is here recorded.
+ Eleventh trial. # Tenth Trial.
271
HISTORY OF STARKS.
1812, Madison 55,-22; 1820, Federal 17, Democrat 16 ; 1824, Adams 52, Crawford 55 ; 1828, Adams 61, Jackson 36; 1832, Adams 104, Jackson 97 ; 1836, Van Buren 59, Harrison 55 ; 1840, Harrison 146, Van Buren 99; 1844, Polk 102, Clay 73, Abolition 41; 1848, Cass 42, Taylor 59, Van Buren 106.
TAXES - 1795 TO 1849.
Highway.
Schools.
1795
Town. $60
$333
$50
1796
120
700
200
1797
60
400
200
1798
40
500
200
1799
50
500
100
1800
110
500
200
1801
6
600
200
1802
50
400
200
1803
50
600
200
1804
150
400
200
1805
80
800
200
1806
80
800
200
1807
80
1000
250
1808
80
1000
250
1809
30
800
250
1810
70
1000
250
1811
150
1000
300
1812
80
1000
300
1813
100
1000
300
1814
200
1000
300
1815
250
1200
300
1816
700
1000
300
1817
900
1200
300
272
HISTORY OF STARKS.
Town.
Highway.
Schools.
1818
900
1200
300
1819
900
1500
400
1820
900
2200
400
1821
500
1500
300
1822
500
1500
400
1823
330
2000
400
1824
320
1800
400
1825
350
1800
420
1826
200
2000
420
1827
300
1700
420
1828
300
1750
420
1829
500
2000
420
1830
800
2100
420
1831
500
3000
588.40
1832
600
2000
588.40
1833
1000
2000
600
1834
1000
2000
600
1835
550
2150
525
1836
600
2500
550
1837
800
2500
550
1838
500
2400
550
1839
500
2000
550
1840
600
2100
600
1841
800
2000
600
1842
600
2100
600
1843
800
2500
1844
1000
2200
*
1845
1000
2125
623.60
1846
1000
2100
623.60
1847
1000
2000
1848
800
2000
1849
1000
2000
* The sum required by law.
273
HISTORY OF STARKS.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The people who originally settled Starks would not seem to the uninformed reader of the town records to have been very religiously inclined. In Norridgewock and Canaan, as well as in most other towns, it was almost the first movement after settlement, to see what could be done for the support of the Gospel. Not so with Starks. Incorporated in 1795, it was not until 1828 that the slightest ecclesias- tical movement was made on the part of the town. Indeed, it must be acknowledged that the name of Starks has not been held in the best repute in times past. Religion has been in a low state ; Education has not been prop- erly regarded, and as a consequence Poverty and Irreligion have somewhat marked the people. These observations, however, refer to the past. The town has now two churches, enjoys the labors of several clergymen, is ele- vating its schools, and has already, as a town, obtained a worthy position, and there is every indication that the time will speedily come, when its natural advantages as a town will be rightly used, and when the beauty of its soil, and its loveliness as a country will be emblem- atical of its Religious, Social, and Intellectual condition.
The early settlers were generally of the Meth- odist persuasion, and knowing that the town would be obliged to devote all the funds it might raise to the support of the Congregation- alist order, they wisely refrained from any
274
HISTORY OF STARKS.
Town efforts. The Methodist evangelists were well supported by the people, in advance of the labors of any other preachers, though the facts do not appear on the town records.
The first Ecclesiastical movement was April 7, 1828, when it was voted " to choose a com- mittee of three persons, (James Varnum, Leon- ard Greaton, and James Young,) to draw a plan by which to finish the inside of the town house into pews, and to sell the same at publick auction, and the money propriated to defray the expence of finishing said house, if said sum shall be sufficient, and the owners of the pews shall have exclusive right to occupy their pews at all religious meetings, for which use the house is to be devoted free to all denominations of cristians, according to the property in pews owned therein." After making this single and useless effort, the town, as such, halted, and all subsequent efforts have proceeded from the members of the different sects.
The people of the town have erected two commodious churches for the accommodation of the different denominations. The River meeting-house was erected in 1839, and the Centre house in 1841.
METHODISTS.
This denomination had quite an early origin in Starks. From 1790, to about the year 1800, there were different itinerants who sounded the notes of the gospel in the town. Rev. Messrs. Lee, Yallerlee, Martin, Asa Heath, Bishop Soule, (then 17 years of age,) and
275
HISTORY OF STARKS.
others, penetrated the town, and proclaimed their sentiments. About the year 1799, or 1800, a church was formed. There were then but a few members, and but two classes. The different preachers who have been stationed in the town, so far as they can be recollected, are Rev. Messrs. Joseph Parker, Robert Hayes, Joshua Randall, Henry True, John Atwell, David Hutchinson, John S. Ayer, Benjamin Ayer, William McGray, Philip Ayer, Daniel Wentworth, Ezekiel Robinson, Peter Burgess, Elisha Streeter, Elliott B. Fletcher, John Perrin, Samuel P. Blake, Aaron Fuller, James Far- rington, Asa Heath, Theodore Hill, Thomas Smith, John Allen, Abel Alton, Harry Latham, Zebulon Manter, Junr., Marcus Wight, Silas B. Brackett. These preachers were stationed on the Industry Circuit - which includes Starks - from the years 1812 to 1848. *
Public meetings are held in the Red meeting- house in Industry, near the boundary line, and in Centre meeting house. There are four classes, eighty church-members, about one hundred Sunday school scholars, and two good libraries ; the Schools are conducted on the Union plan.
During the labors of Rev. Messrs. Allen, At- well, and Perrin, there were seasons of revival, and additions were made to the church.
The Methodists of Starks are numerous, and are distinguished for general integrity, and a love of religious liberty, and will compare well with all differing Christians.
* Wm. E. Folsom, Esq.
276
HISTORY OF STARKS.
FREE-WILL BAPTISTS.
This order is quite numerous in town, and comprises many of the most respectable citi- zens. The discipline has been very strict, and the welfare of the members has been care- fully regarded.
The first church was organized in February, 1803, with five members. The first preachers were Revs. James Elliott, Ezekiel Elliott, his son, and Daniel Young. These resided in the town, and preached in Starks and elsewhere. Revs. James and Ezekiel Elliott died in 1811, of the Cold Fever, which raged in this part of the world at that time. Rev. Daniel Young removed in 1834, and now lives in Lewiston, and is understood to have embraced the Uni- versalian sentiments.
Revs. Reuben Gray and Stephen Williamson were ordained December 4, 1826; Mr. Gray having charge of the first, and Mr. Williamson of the second church. These, and those pre- viously mentioned, have had pastoral charge of the first and second churches since their forma- tion, with the exception of the year 1845, when Rev. Abel Turner was stationed there. The second church was formed in June, 1823.
About the year 1837 the third church was formed, and the Rev. Ephraim Harding had pastoral charge for about five years. Revs. Thomas Oliver and John Spinney preach with the society, and labor in other places in the vi- cinity. There are now about 125 members of
* Church Record. Rev. Stephen Williamson.
277
HISTORY OF STARKS.
the Free-will Baptist communion in Starks. The Sunday School enterprise has received some attention, though there are no schools at present in actual operation.
Some of the records are quite curious to the reader of to-day. " March 12, 1808. This day part met and part were absent but we opened our meeting with solom prair and waity exhor- tation, then gave in the Relation of our minds, and found it to be a very low Distressing time, yet some fealing Determined to arise and thrash and beat down all apperishion &c." First Church Records, page 18. Some of the princi- pal laymen have been Benjamin Holbrook, Thomas Williamson and Aaron Higgins.
The church records containing some of the foregoing facts, were furnished by Messrs. Abi- jah Joy and Silas Wood.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
There was a small church consisting of elev- en members, organized in August, 1804, and the occasional services of a missionary were obtained. Meetings were held in schoolhouses and barns, and private dwellings. One of the first preachers was Rev. Jotham Sewall, who aided materially in the formation of the church.
During the residence of Rev. Mr. Sikes in Mercer, the church enjoyed preaching one fourth of the time. About the year 1839, the church disbanded, and the members united with the church in Mercer. Occasional preach-
* Dr. James Varnum.
24
278
HISTORY OF STARKS.
ing is had at the Centre meeting-house, though the small number of the order in the town, for- bids a distinct church. No Congregationalist clergyman was ever settled in Starks.
BAPTISTS.
The Baptist church was organized June 26, 1833, with eleven female and four male mem- bers. A revival was enjoyed in 1837, and in April fourteen members were added to the church. In the spring of 1842 fourteen more were added. Another revival commenced in the spring of 1849, and is yet in inter- esting progress. Five have been added to the church, and others are expected. There are now twenty one male and twenty-two female members. The pastor is Rev. Datus T. Allen of Industry, who commenced preach- ing in the society in the year 1831, and who has labored a portion of the time since. He was ordained pastor of the church in Industry, in 1828. There is a school of thirty scholars, and a small library attached to the church.
PROTESTANT METHODISTS.
At the time of the great schism in the Metho- dist church, on the subject of slavery, there were secessions in Starks. They were then, and still remain, few in numbers. They have occasional preaching.
* Rev. D. T. Allen, Peleg Bradford, Esq.
HISTORY OF BLOOMFIELD.
THE Town of Bloomfield-the two hundred and third town incorporated in the State - County of Somerset, State of Maine, lies on the west side of the Kennebec river, north lati- tude 44 deg., 40 min. It is 33 miles N. from Augusta, 95 miles N. N. E. from Portland, and 50 miles W. from Bangor, and is bounded north by Norridgewock and Skowhegan, east by Skowhegan, south by Fairfield, and west by Norridgewock. It contains an area of 11,910 acres of land, of which 1,200 are tillage, 1,950 are mowing, 41 are fresh meadow, 2,885 are pasturage, 3,157 are wood land, 2,158 are unimproved, 219 are roads, and 300 are waste land. The value of the real estate is $193,308, and of all taxable property, $292,227. There are 290 polls, 160 dwelling-houses, 175 barns, 10 stores, shops, &c., and 140 other buildings. The soil is rich, and presents a beautiful ap- pearance. Some good limestone is found in the town.
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