USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Leeds > History of the town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine, from its settlement June 10, 1780 > Part 12
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8. Dorcas E., b. Dec. 14, 1836; m. Nov. 4, 1857, Russell S. Linscott, b. in Nashua, N. H., Jan. 22, 1835. They had issue :
I. Walter, who died in infancy or when a small boy.
2. Hattie E., b. in Boston Dec. 14, 1859.
Dorcas E. d. in Boston Dec. 21, 1859; Mr. Linscott d. in Oakland, Cal., Aug. 30, 1887.
9. Laura M., b. May 22, 1839; d. Feb. 25, 1852.
IO. Rachael E., b. Dec. 6, 1840; d. Jan. 28, 1853.
II. Catharine M., b. June 6, 1842 ; m. April 6, 1871, Melvin Berry, b. in Leeds in 1815. They had no issue. She d. in Leeds Sept. 10, 1874. He d. in Leeds May 10, 1888.
I2. Walter Payson, b. Jan. 6, 1844; m. Dec. 25, 1874, Hattie F. Cox, who was b. in Gardiner, Nov. 9, 1841. They reside on the homestead of his father and grandfather who redeemed it from the forest. The house in which they live is the handiwork of the pioneer, Uriah. Mr. Foss is a neat and careful farmer, and for a time made a specialty of sheep-raising. He has been a buyer of wool and still continues in the business, but the scarcity of sheep limits purchases to small and scattered lots. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen and officiated in various other positions of trust. The care of his parents was entrusted to him, which duty he faith- fully and tenderly performed. Nor did his labors cease when they were laid at rest in that place which had been so carefully and beautifully prepared by the father. The trust accepted of perpetuating the result of the father's labors will cease when he, too, shall sleep the sleep of the just. One child only is the fruit of his marriage, George M., b. Feb. 16, 1881.
13. Vesta P., b. Jan. 18, 1846 ; m. Jan. 31, 1869, Frank G. Foss, b. in Leeds Jan. 3, 1842. They reside at North Leeds, in the house built by George Gould in the year 1852. Mr. Foss is a mason by trade, in which business he is engaged
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when his time is unemployed on the farm. Mrs. Foss succeeded her son, Guy W., in the post-office, and holds a commission at the present time. They had issue :
I. Alvin Wilson, b. June 3, 1871 ; d. Dec. 3, 1872.
2. Guy Wilson, son of Frank G. and Vesta P. Foss, b. June 12, 1874; d. Jan. 3, 1901. He was a young man of sterling character, respected and beloved by a large circle of friends. At the age of 21 years he was appointed postmaster at North Leeds, the duties of which office he ably and faithfully performed until a short time prior to his decease. His early death was occasioned by consumption.
3. Annie Howard, b. Oct. 3, 1876; m. Frank G. Davis Sept. 23, 1897. To them one child was born, Muriel, March 29, 1898; d. May 28, 1900.
4. Oliver Johnson, b. Oct. 13, 1882.
5. Frank Maynard, b. June 29, 1890.
I4. Charles Wilson, b. Oct. 11, 1847; went to California in 1868, where he engaged in the lumbering business. From an injury received by a rolling log, he died in Nevada City, Aug. 31, 1868.
15. Varnum R., b. April 10, 1850; d. Aug. 19, 1854.
Of the foregoing fifteen children of Rev. Walter and Dorcas S. (Morrison) Foss, four only are now living, namely : 5, Adoni- ram Judson ; 6, Ann H. (Mrs. A. J. Lane) ; 12, Walter Payson ; 13, Vesta P. (Mrs. Frank G. Foss).
Ruel, tenth and youngest child of Uriah, the pioneer, b. Feb. 24, 1802, m. in June, 1827, Polly Lothrop. They settled on a portion of his father's original homestead at North Leeds. He was a man whom his and the neighboring children and young people enjoyed very much. His cheerful nature, cor- dial greetings and funny sayings made him a welcome mem- ber in the society of people of all ages alike. His memory is cherished and associated with many pleasant events in the lives of those, his friends, who are yet in time. For a term of years he was postmaster, prior to the moving of the office from Foss' Corner to the store near the Railroad Station. To them were born, in Leeds, two daughters and one son, namely :
I. Orintha, m. Dana Goff, of Auburn ; issue, one son.
2. Rodney, m. Miss Merrow. Their residence was Auburn. They had issue two sons.
3. Florida, m. Capt. Benjamin J. Hill and resides in Auburn. They have issue one daughter.
About 1865 Mr. Foss sold his farm at North Leeds and removed to Auburn, where he lived with his son, Rodney, and
G. W. FOSS.
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died there Jan. 21, 1877. The forgoing comprises the descend- ants of Uriah4 and Sarah (Goodridge) Foss. The descendants of his brother follow :
Capt. Phineas Foss3 (Levi2, Walter1,), the youngest son of Levi, was born in Peperellboro Feb. 10, 1772. His father was a Revolutionary soldier and died in the service. When his brother, Uriah, came to Littleborough in 1786, Phineas was a lad of 14 years and living at home with his mother. After her decease, about 1790, he came with his sister Hannah, to Littleborough, where they both lived in the family of their brother until they had homes of their own. Phineas worked on the land purchased by Uriah while he was at Bath, earn- ing money to finish paying for the same; after which, he was rewarded for his labors by sharing a portion of it, and on which he erected buildings, where he resided the remainder of his comparatively short life. In September, 1799, he married Rebecca, the youngest child of Thomas and Sarah (Paul, nee True,) Stinchfield-the first white child born in the Plantation, the date of her birth being Dec. 11, 1780. To them were born seven children, yet few are their descend- ants. Their children were:
I. John, b. Oct. 10, 1800.
2. Harriet, b. Aug. 14, 1802.
3. Allura, b. Feb. 5, 1805.
4. Alvin, b. -, 1807.
5. Eliza W., b. June 13, 1809.
6. Loring, b. June 18, 1812.
7. Phineas, b. Jan. 8, 1814.
I. John, married Laura Rowe and for a time was engaged in the boot and shoe business with his brother, Lor- ing, in Winthrop, Me. They made a specialty of manufacturing boots for river drivers and had a large trade in the eastern part of the State and in the Province of New Brunswick. While on a business trip to that locality he disappeared and his folks were never able to learn more of him. He left no known issue.
II. Harriet was a maiden lady. When the buildings of Eben Stinchfield were burned, about 1875, in attempting to remove some of her effects, she was cut off by the flames and thus met her death.
III. Allura married John Stanley, of Winthrop, in which ยท town they resided. They had issue four children- three daughters and a son, neither of whom married. IV. Alvin was drowned when a small boy.
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V. Eliza W. married in 1831 Wingate Linscott, born in Chesterville, Me., June 27, 1809. Most of their mar- ried life was spent in New York and Boston, where Mr. Linscott was in business. In later years they purchased the old homestead of Mrs. Linscott's father at North Leeds, where they constructed a fine set of buildings-the same now owned and occupied by Charles Lovell. To them were born four sons and four daughters, viz .:
I. Frances Ellen, born in Utica, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1832; married Henry A. Choate, of Boston, in Novem- ber, 1856. They had issue Alice Frances, Arthur Henry, and Harry Wingate. Mrs. Choate died in New York Nov. 30, 1901.
2. Russell Streeter, born in Nashua, N. H., Jan. 22, 1835; m. Nov. 4, 1857, Dorcas E., b. in Leeds, Dec. 4, 1836, a daughter of Rev. Walter Foss. They had issue a son and daughter, Walter E., who died in infancy, and Hattie E., born in Bos- ton, Dec. 14, 1859.
Mrs. Linscott died in Boston Dec. 21, 1859; and Mr. Linscott died in Oakland, Cal., Aug. 30, 1887.
3-4. Samuel C. and Calvin W., both died in infancy. 5. Edwin Wingate, b. in Nashua, N. H., Feb. 28, 1842 ; married in 1865 Elizabeth Razin, at Dor- chester, Mass. Issue, two children, Elizabeth and Edwin W., Jr .; Mr. Linscott died in Brook- lyn, N. Y., in October, 1900.
6. Harriet Eliza, born in Boston Nov. 14, 1844; died September, 1855.
7. Jennie. Augusta, born in Boston, Dec. 14, 1847; married William D. Pennell at Lewiston, June 22, 1869. They have three children, Dwight Richard, Frances Cornelia, and Maude Robie.
8. Caroline Wilhelmina, born in Boston Oct. 4, 1850; married first, in Portland in 1884, Frank W. Patterson, of Belfast, Me .; second, married Henry D. Clark, of Belfast, Me. No issue by either marriage.
Eliza W. (Foss) Linscott died in Lewiston, Me., June 27, 1870; Wingate Linscott died in Brooklyn, N. Y., October, 1883. Both were buried in the family lot Forest Hill Cemetery, Forest Hill, Mass.
VI. Loring married Jane, a daughter of William and Rhoda (Knapp) Gott, July 15, 1838. She was born in Wayne, May 2, 1815. They resided for a time in
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Leeds, but later lived many years in Winthrop, where he was in business. He returned to Leeds, beside the lake, where he died in 1895, and his widow the following year in Lewiston. No issue.
VII. Phineas married a Miss Bradford, and after living some years in Winthrop, profited by the advice of Horace Greeley and went west. They reared a small family of smart children, to the sons of whom is entrusted the perpetuation of the name in this branch of the Foss family.
LEADBETTER FAMILY.
Among the names of the early settlers is that of Leadbetter, in 1785. In that year Increase Leadbetter, who had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, with a large family came from Cam- den and settled in the extreme north end of the town-then a part of Livermore. The farm by him taken up, cleared and subdued, is the same now owned and occupied by Samuel P. Francis. His wife, who was a Miss Calderwood, with her parents, resided in Camden at the time of her marriage. In that town children were born to them to the number of seven or eight, and the balance of the number of thirteen were born in I.eeds, viz .: Thomas, Benjamin, John, Samuel, James, Luther, Jabez, Ezra, Abigail, Betsey, Hannah, Sally, and Joanna. While in the war he left his wife with small children, on a farm stocked with cattle and sheep, all of which she cared for during his absence. With her own hands she sheared the sheep, carded, spun, wove, colored cloth, cut and made clothing for her children, and at the same time attended to raising crops of breadstuff, thereby mak- ing them comfortable while awaiting the uncertain return of the father. After their removal to Leeds for a time their only means of conveyance was by boat to and from his farm along Dead River and across Androscoggin Lake to Wayne Mills. Like most of the early settlers he was a strong, hardy man, of good physique. Most of his children married and settled in Leeds. Thomas married Miss Clark ; Benjamin m. Miss Collier ; John m. Rachael Foss; Samuel, born in 1774; m. Betsey Parcher, of Saco, d. Sep- tember, 1859, and his wife April, 1854; James, m. Fannie Otis, of Leeds ; Luther m. Jemima Lane, of Leeds; Jabez m. Lucretia Howard, of Leeds ; Ezra. m. Sally Woodman, of Leeds ; Abigail, m. James Lane, of Leeds; Betsey, m. Simeon Gould, of Leeds ; Joanna, m. Benjamin Woodman, of Leeds; Hannah was drowned at the age of sixteen years, caused by the falling of a foot bridge across Dead River, near her father's house; and Sally died of fever, the same year.
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Of the children of Thomas and Benjamin, sons of Increase Leadbetter, the writer is not informed, but of the others, mention is here made.
John's children were, Alvah, Asaph, Eliza, Warren and Rachael.
Alvah moved to the Province of New Brunswick, married a Miss Durkeshire, who bore him six children.
Asaph was killed by Indians in the far West.
Eliza married Seth Millett, of North Leeds, and had a family of children.
Warren died of fever when in youth.
Rachael married John Fletcher, and settled in Nashua, N. H.
Samuel's children were, Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1807; m. Uriah Foss, lived with him fifty-five years in their home in North Leeds ; had a family of seven children, four of whom are living, and died in Farmington, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Orrah M. Jennings, at the advanced age of about 92 years.
Lorenzo, b. March, 1809; was engaged in lumbering in the eastern part of the State several years, and subsequently in Mich- igan, where he died ; Sally, b. Sept. 9, 1811 ; Horace, b. Nov. 18, 1813, spent most of his life on a farm at North Leeds, where he raised a family, though subsequently he went to California, where he died at the home of his son, Wallace; Samuel, Jr., b. August, 1816, married Colista, a daughter of Charles Knapp, settled in Glenburn, Me., raised a family of six children and died in that town; Emerline, b. June, 1822; Charles H., b. July, 1826, drowned July, 1840.
Ezra's children were: Pamelia, Orson and Orisa.
Jabez's children were: Nelson H., b. 1821; Rosa, b. 1823; Lucius Clark, b. 1825; Laura M., b. 1827; Aurelia B., b. 1829; Rhodephus H. and Delphina, b. 1832; Lucia J., b. 1836, and Henry B., b. 1844.
Joanna Leadbetter and Benjamin Woodman's children were: Henry, Jason, Emily, Julia, Charles, Benjamin, Edward, Sewall, and John.
Betsey Leabetter and Simeon Gould's children were : Lloyd, Elizabeth and Frank.
Abigail Leadbetter and James Lane's children were : Joanna, m. Perez Jennings; Pheba, m. Sheplierd Cary; John, m. Vesta Phillips ; Abigail, m. Stephen Rackley; Asenath, m. Doctor Hale; Eliza, m. Nathaniel Perley; Hannah, m. Ammi Wood- man; Columbus, m. Miss Perkins; Alden, m. Mary Rackley; James, m. Lovisa Wyman.
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GEORGE FAMILY.
Around this man cluster many and varied tales relating to his birth, life, and death. He was an Englishman and is said to have been a member of the royal family. It is further said that, on account of the established laws of descent in the families of nobility, he, having an older brother and thus being deprived of equal position and honor, resolved to make his own course in life, and quietly leaving his home shipped on a man-of-war ves- sel, left England in the spring of 1778, and came out to America to fight in his country's cause. This was the same vessel on which Rev. Thomas D. Francis came, and the story of his expe- rience tells the story of Francis George until they separate in Gray,-the former returning to New Gloucester, to the house of Thomas Stinchfield, where he afterward remained; and the latter, with his comrades, after recuperating and receiving a sup- ply of clothing, proceeded to Falmouth and reported for further orders. It is said of him further, that the inequality of birth of brothers and other matters in his family and nation were so dis- tasteful to him that he espoused the cause of independence with more vigor and endured the hardships of a soldier's life with less murmur, than any of his associates. After the war closed in 1783 he was in Taunton, Mass., where he married a young widow, Charity Chubbock, who had a daughter, Charity. They settled, as did many of his comrades, in Saco; but a little later- about 1785-came to Littleborough and took up a piece of land on Fish Street, the house having stood on the east side and near that road, northerly and distant from the buildings now occupied by Seth Fish, about 20 rods. The old George well on that place is still utilized by Mr. Fish. Later, he dwelt on the side of the hill on the north side of the road, between the Foss bridge and the corners near the house of Freedom Gould. Later, the build- ings were occupied by his grandson, Seth Millett. "A rolling stone gathers no moss." For a time he lived at the corners where the old road from the bridge across Dead River and the Otis Hill road intersected. In the year 1830 he purchased the build- ings formerly occupied by William Carver, which stood near the east bank of the river, nearly opposite the buildings on the town farm. These he removed to the place where the old George house now stands, on the North Leeds road, northerly of the dwelling of Davis P. True. There he spent the remainder of his long life, dying in March, 1852. It was said, at the time of his death, that his age was 112 years. In the absence of a family record, or other data at hand, the writer cannot vouch for the years, but the saying. Elezer Carver was the authority and claimed to have verified the statement by the military record of his age when he entered the Revolutionary Army. At the time
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of his death one of the longest and most severe snow storms pre- vailed and ten days the roads were impassable for teams. His remains were kept at the house six days and finally placed on a horse-sled and drawn by men to the Robert Gould cemetery, a distance of nearly two miles, and buried.
His children were:
Sally, Priscilla, Francis, Jr., Lucinda, Malinda, and George Washington.
Sally married John Millett in 1799 and spent her life in Leeds. Her children have received mention in the sketch of the Millett family in this work.
Priscilla married Thomas Drinkwater, of Livermore, in July, 1809. They settled in Palmyra, Me.
Francis, Jr., was a minister of the gospel and became quite noted as a preacher. He married Nancy Fish, of Leeds, in August, 1818. Of his, or his sister Priscilla's family, we have no reliable information.
Lucinda married Samuel Wing, of Livermore, in June, 1824. Their family has not been traced.
Malinda married James Campbell, of Livermore, in March, 1824. They settled in that town and raised a family of children, one of whom, John, is, or was, a resident of Fayette Mills.
George Washington, the youngest child, married first, Mary Ann Gilbert, of Leeds, in March, 1832, but they lived together less than twenty-four hours. He married second, Clarissa Leighton, of Hartford, in December, 1839, and brought her to his father's house where they spent their lives. Assuming the care of his father and step-mother, and having a large family of children of his own, his energies and efforts were heavily taxed to provide for their every want; but his honesty and integrity at all times and under all circumstances were so well appre- ciated, that he met with success, where many would have failed. They had issue :
Francis, born in 1842.
Loren, born in 1844.
Otis B., born in 1846.
Augustus S., born April 3, 1848.
Eliza Jane, born in 1850.
Charles L., born in 1852.
Henry, born in 1854.
Volney, born in 1856.
Cyrus, born in 1858.
Francis, the eldest child, was a soldier in the Civil War. He enlisted in the "Third Maine Infantry Regiment," and re-enlist- ing when his first term ended, he went through the war. On his return he was some time an employe in the Elm House, in
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Auburn. He was later in Lewiston, where he married Ida Ray. They had one child, Mira, who married Rev. Mr. Starbird, a Free Will Baptist minister, whose residence is Farmington. Mr. George, later, entered the employ of the Maine Central Railroad, and at Farmington was jammed between two cars and so badly injured that he never fully recovered and died in Togus, at the Soldiers' Home. His remains were taken to Brunswick for inter- ment.
Loren, the second child, has never married. He has lived in several families in Leeds and Wayne, and at present is residing in Wayne.
Otis B., the third child, went out in the "Eleventh Maine Infantry Regiment," a substitute for Llewellyn Gould. On his return went to Lewiston, where he learned painting. He there married Amanda Hundon, of North Auburn. From there he removed to Brunswick. The hospital practice he received while in the army he here turned to good account, and as a professional nurse his services were in constant demand. Later, he took a course in Boston, learning the massage treat- ment which he afterwards practiced successfully until his death.
He was buried in Brunswick. He left his widow a fine resi- dence in that town, tenements in other villages in the State, and a bank account of several thousands of dollars. He had one son, Ernest, who is a locomotive driver on the Mountain Division of the Maine Central Railroad.
Augustus S., fourth child of George W., was also in the Civil War. He went out in the "Eleventh Maine Infantry Regiment," a substitute for Ezra Ramsdell, of Leeds. After returning from the army he was an employe of the Elm House, Auburn. He married July 3, 1869, Hulda J. Sprague, of Greene. After living in Greene a few years he returned to his native town, where he engaged in farming. Later he removed to Wayne village and for eleven years was owner and driver of the mail stage from that town, first to Winthrop, and afterward to North Leeds. During the time he purchased a farm, about a mile from town, where he now resides. He is past commander of Lewis H. Wing G. A. R. Post, and a good working officer in the Methodist Episcopal Church .* He is a good and respected citizen. They have issue Lewis W., b. April 29, 1870, and Annie A., b. March 26, 1874. From school Lewis W. learned telegraphy and entered the employ of the Maine Central Railroad. He was an operator at Oakland, and later made station agent at that office. His business ability, morality, punctuality, honesty and accuracy
* He is a member of the Norland Grange, Pomona Grange, and will become a member of the National Grange ere this work is issued.
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were recognized by the higher officials and he was given full charge of the station at Belfast, Me., where the receipts amount to more than $100,000 annually. He married Georgie Todd, of Freeport, Me.
They have no issue-lost one child, Donald D., b. May, 1897; d. Nov. 19, 1897.
Annie A. married June 1, 1895, Fred Walker, of Sabattus, Me. They have one child, Owen Mckinley, b. Nov. 3, 1896.
Eliza Jane, fifth child of George W., married Almond Ray, of Lewiston. They had four children. She died at the age of 25 years. .
Charles L., the next child, is single. He has lived in many families in Leeds and Wayne and now resides in the family of I. D. Lincoln in the latter town.
Henry, next in the list, has always lived in the family of R. S. Loring, M.D. He is a farmer and takes special pride in the care of the cattle and horse stock in his charge.
Volney and Cyrus both died young.
George Washington was a member of Capt. Giddings Lane's military company that went through the Aroostook War with no fatalities.
It will be noticed that the George family has been loyal and patriotic through its several generations. The father, son, and grandsons have, in turn, rallied to their country's call.
SYLVESTER FAMILY.
From the time of the first settlement of Leeds until a few years ago the Sylvester family has lived in the western part of the town upon the River Road.
Here, upon the eastern bank of the Androscoggin, Harvey Sylvester built his cabin and settled in the wilderness, near where A. P. Russell now lives. He came from Greene where he had married his wife, Hannah Brown, and where his two eldest children were born.
After living in his new home a short time, he sold part of the tract of land he had bought and his house to one Ramsdell and went farther up the river. Here he built again near the river and in this home lived until he built the old-fashioned house that still stands upon the old Sylvester place where W. C. Dunton now lives. This house was built about 1826. On this place grew to manhood and womanhood his eleven children of whom one only, Hannah, is still living at an advanced age.
The family is of English descent. Harvey's grandfather came to the Massachusetts Colony from England and settled in Scituate, the tradition being that he ran away from his home
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while a young lad, and came to the new country to better his prospects in life.
Harvey's father, Elisha Sylvester, was one of the first settlers of Greene, and the second teacher in that town. He was a suc- cessful teacher, a man of ability but with many peculiarities. He had more education than was common to those times and a talent for writing poetry, but he lacked ability to meet the realities of life.
He came to Greene from Scituate, Mass., where he was born Nov. 28, 1752. He died Jan. 1, 1836, at the age of 83 and was buried in Scituate, Mass. He married Abigail Palmer, of Scitu- ate, who died July, 1814, aged 66, and was buried at Leeds in the neighborhood burying ground upon the River Road.
Harvey Sylvester was born in Greene June 12, 1779, and died Nov. 12, 1864. He married Hannah Brown, of Greene, who was born Sept. 17, 1783, and died Aug. 3, 1870.
The children of Harvey and Hannah Sylvester were as fol- lows :
Sophronia, born Nov. 28, 1801 ; died March 16, 1884. She married Cyrus Leavitt, of Turner, and lived and died in that town.
Lorenzo, born Aug. 23, 1803 ; died Nov. 24, 1883. He mar- ried Sarah Leavitt, of Turner, sister of Cyrus Leavitt, mentioned above, and died in Leeds on the home place.
Harvey, Jr., born Aug. 23, 1805 ; died Jan. 29, 1868. Mar- ried Iva Taylor and died in Buckfield.
Rosalinda, born Jan. 9, 1808; died Nov. 24, 1896. Married Amos Thomes and lived in Leeds with the exception of the last few years of her life, which she spent in Turner, where she died. Orilla, born Nov. 1I, 1809; died July 4, 1873. She married first, Josiah Skillings ; second, G. W. Jones. She died in Greene. Alonzo, born Oct. 8, 1811; died Aug. 30, 1838. Married Rhoda Caswell. He was killed by a stroke of lightning. Died in Livermore.
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