USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Waldoboro > History of the town of Waldoboro, Maine > Part 7
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
another and better fire engine appeared. The town having declined to buy an engine, funds were raised by subscription and Capt. Benjamin Roberts was sent to Boston to make the purchase. He succeeded in securing a second-hand Hun- neman tub. The machine was brought down on the last trip of one of the coasters and landed on the ice down river whence it was hauled up to the village. It was named the Medomak, and has done good service in many fires.
In 1848 the town built a covered sewer on the south side of Main Street, from the residence of B. B. Haskell to the river. It is still doing good service.
The Maine Telegraph Company, built in 1848-9, opened for business in Waldoboro in 1849, in the westerly store of the Clark building. Thomas D. Currier was the first operator. Jo- seph Clark of Waldoboro, was a director. With him were B. C. Bailey of Bath, Abner Stetson of Damariscotta, Edward O'Brien of Thomaston, Knott Crocket of East Thomaston, (now Rock- land). During the last twenty years of its exis- tence, before it was absorbed by the Western Union Telegraph Company, more of its capital stock was owned in Waldoboro than in any place in the State outside of Bangor.
The war with Mexico caused no excitement here. The only man from Waldoboro in the ser-
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vice was William H. Stahl, who was a marine and was with the fleet at Vera Cruz.
A character, who attracted much attention at this time, was John Fellows, a soldier who had served under Napoleon. He lived and died at East Waldoboro.
The census of 1850 shows a steady increase, the population of the town being 4199.
The store of Gorham Smouse was burned and later the store of Schwartz & Castner
In 1853 Joseph Clark completed a fine brick building on the site now occupied by Waltz's fur- niture establishment.
The Fourth of July of 1853 was celebrated in an elaborate manner. A military company was raised and drilled for the occasion by Capt. Wil- liam S. Cochran.' The uniform of this company consisted of white trousers, black coats and black glazed caps. A supply of muskets was obtained from the State. The Bucksport brass band fur- nished music. After parading the streets an elaborate dinner was spread under the trees in front of the residence of Charles S. Brown, where F. W. Scott now resides.
About 1853 a fire company was organized by young men and boys of Waldoboro Village and a committee went to Warren and bought a small
I. General Cochran came from Wiscasset and carried on a sailloft here many years. He removed to Rockland where he died.
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
fire engine for $25. George Sproul contributed a supply of hose. The company was known as "Fire Fly No. 3." The company did good work especially in the fire of 1854, when they did much to stop the spread of the fire from the Edward Benner house to that of Aaron Kaler on Pleasant Street. The boys finally got into a wrangle and the company broke up. The last we knew of the tub it was used by Isaac B. Miller for raising cab- bage plants.
Rufus Rich, who had operated an iron found- ry on Main Street, sold out to Atwell & Harriman (C. C. Atwell and M. B. Harriman), who sub- sequently built a foundry near the Sproul mill. In 1855 they sold to Isaac Boyd and Samuel Vance. Some three years later this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Boyd continued the busi- ness. April 14, 1868, Mr. Boyd died and his son, James P., succeeded to the business which he car- ried on till the foundry, both iron and brass, was destroyed by fire in 1893.
The year 1854 began with better prospects of business in Waldoboro than any year before or since. The shipyards were never more active; the mechanic never commanded higher wages; the situation of affairs was never more prosperous. Yet in one brief hour was this condition of affairs changed, and many a man who went to his busi-
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ness in the morning with a consciousness of a competence returned at night with a knowledge of his poverty. On the 25th day of August, about one o'clock P. M., a fire broke out in the stable connected with the hotel, and with the whole square of buildings to Jefferson street, and in less time than is required to relate it, the whole was in flames. Thence taking a south-easterly direction it burned its way through the village with such rapidity, that in less than forty minutes from the discovery of the fire, every portion was enveloped in one sheet of flame, and the people in many cases barely escaped with their lives. So exten- sive was the conflagration, that not a store nor workshop was left, and more than seventy families were rendered homeless, and would have suffered for the common necessaries of life, but for the un- exampled liberality of the citizens of neighboring towns, who furnished them with provisions and clothing. Both Banks (the contents were saved), the Custom House, Post-office and hotel, several livery stables, a large number of dwelling houses, thirty-seven stores, with their contents, one ship and one barque, together with the timber for another large ship, were destroyed almost as if by the lightening's blast. The whole loss was esti- mated at upwards of half a million dollars, not more than a third of which was covered by insur- ance, and much of this was in companies entirely
طه
WALDOBORO CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
worthless. The engine companies of Thomaston and Damariscotta arrived in the evening, and rendered efficient service in subduing the smoul- dering fires among the ruins. The fire occurred Friday, and the following Sunday immense crowds of people from adjoining towns visited the ruins. Before it was hardly safe to traverse the burnt district, our merchants began to move on build- ings for their temporary accomodation, and with an energy, which has not been excelled by Port- land, Chicago or Boston, commenced to rebuild with such substantial structures, that in a year the village presented a better appearance than before.
The Federal government purchased a lot of land, which had been an orchard, of Hon. Isaac Reed, on which in 1855 the present Custom House and Post-office was erected. In 1908, this building was enlarged and very much improved.
In the spring of 1856 a military company was organized, called the Conrad Rifle Guards. The officers were Lincoln L. Kennedy, Captain, John Richards, First Lieutenant, George W. Caldwell, Second Lieutenant, George W. Wildes, Third Lieutenant, Ambrose C. Weeks, Fourth Lieuten- ant. The Guards were equipped with rifles and the uniform which was procured in Boston, con- sisted of black frock coat, faced with green and gold, grey trousers with green stripe, the regula- ion army cap with green fountain plume. The
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company was drilled in Scott's tactics by sergeant J. B. Greenhalgh of Rockland.
June 17th, 1856, the body of Conrad Heyer, who died Feb. 19, 1856, was reburied with mili- tary honors in the German Cemetery. Conrad Heyer, who had been a revolutionary soldier, was the first child born here after the first per- manent settlement. It was a day long to be remembered in Waldoboro. Thousands of people came, said to have been the largest number ever assembled in town. At II a. m., Col. A. W. Clark, with aids M. M. Rawson and W. S. Brown, appeared mounted and heading the Conrad Rifle Guards, 32 rifles, with the Bath Cornet Band, marched to Farrington's Corner to receive the Rockland City Guards, which mustered 57 mus- kets, under command of Capt. Hiram G. Berry,1 appearing with the Rockland Band. This com- pany made an imposing appearance in their handsome uniforms and big bear skin hats. The two companies marched to the new hall in Tebbetts & Fish's block where a collation was served. In the afternoon the line was formed with the Rockland Guards as escort. Then came the hearse suitably draped with the American flag, followed by the Conrad Guards and a large con-
I. Hiram G. Berry entered the army as Colonel of the Fourth Maine Regiment, was promoted to Brigadier and Major General and was killed while commanding the 2d Division of the 3d Army Corps at Chancellors- ville.
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
course of citizens. At the grave a dirge was played by one of the bands, prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Stone, pastor of the Congregational Church, followed by a second dirge, and three volleys of musketry fired by the Rockland Guards. At the old church the exercises were as follows: Reading the 46th Psalm, Rev. Joseph Kalloch, singing "Landing of the Pilgrims" by a large choir outside the church, prayer by Rev. Mr. Kalloch, hymn in German by Christian Schwier and his two sisters. Dr. Frederick Robie,' Presi- dent of the day, then read a letter from Rev. D. M. Mitchell, regretting his inability to be present. He then introduced Rev. John Dodge, who pro- nounced an eloquent eulogy. The choir sang again, prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Byrne of North Waldoboro, and the benediction was pro- nounced by Rev. Enos Trask of Nobleboro. The procession was reformed and marched back to the village where the Rockland Guards drilled for a time and attracted much attention by the pre- cision and rapidity of their manœuvres. At 5 p. m. the two companies, with invited guests, sat down to a sumptuous entertainment provided by the Conrad Guards. Rev. Joseph Kalloch asked the blessing upon the occasion. No speeches or sentiments were offered. Immediately after the
I. Governor Robie was practicing medicine in Waldoboro at that time.
-
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repast the Conrad Guards escorted their guests to Farrington's Corner where carriages were taken for home. In the evening General Cochran in- vited the Conrad Guards and Bath Band to his home where they were splendidly entertained.
The Fennelly Fund, often mentioned in town reports, came by the will of Mrs. Elizabeth F. Gurney, who died in Boston. Her bequest was as follows: "I give to the town of Waldoboro, where I was born, one thousand dollars to be in- vested on interest forever, and to be called the Fennelly Fund, the income thereof to be applied to poor but respectable widows of that town, and paid to them annually, preference to be given to descendants of German settlers of that town." Mrs. Gurney was a daughter of Peter Hilt. Her mother was Polly Klous. She married Dr. Fen- nelly of Boston, a man of wealth, and after his death married Mr. Gurney. Among her other gifts was the elegant glass chandelier which for- merly adorned the Baptist church. Mrs. Wm .F. Storer was her neice.
The Waldoboro & Thomaston Steam Naviga- tion Company was formed and the steam pro- peller General Knox, of 259 tons, was built in Philadelphia. She arrived here in August, 1854, and commenced running from Boston to Waldo- boro and Thomaston alternately under command of Capt. Lewis Winchenbach. She was put on the
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
Penobscot route in 1855. That fall she was sold at auction to Capt. J. A. Creighton for $16,000 and he sold her to Boston parties at an advance of $4,000. She was lost during the Crimean war.
In September, 1856, a militia muster was held in Solomon Prock's field, the last of the militia musters. The Rockland City Guards, Rockland City Grays, Conrad Guards and an ar- tillery company (from Damariscotta Mills, we think,) composed the battalion which was com- manded by Col. Burns of Rockland. Davis Till- son acted as Adjutant. The Division Com- mander, Gen. William S. Cochran, and staff were escorted to the muster field and reviewed the troops. During the last day, a company of old time militia was revived and marched upon the field under command of Major Thurston Vinal.
March 19, 1857, Charles Havener, a revo- lutionary soldier, died and was buried with mili- tary honors by the Conrad Guards.
After the fire of 1854, schools for the older scholars, (the schools had not been graded,) were held in the vestry of the Baptist church. Numer- ous district school meetings were held and it was finally decided to build the brick school house, which was erected in 1857.
The Waldoboro Bank was organized Aug. 8, 1858, with the following officers and directors: President, Isaac Reed; Cashier, B. B. Haskell;
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directors, Isaac Reed, John Sides, Solomon Shu- man, George Farrington, Augustus Welt. This bank closed business in September, 1884, with the same officers and directors.
About this time a brass band was organized, the first in town, which kept up its organization for several years and was succeeded by other bands, the village generally having a band, while others were formed later in different parts of the town.
A panic occurred in Union hall caused by the explosion of a camphine lamp. Several young people jumped from the third story window and were seriously injured, while many were injured in the hall by being thrown down and trampled upon.
The business directory of the village at this time comprised the following names: John Bul- finch, John H. Kennedy, Albion P. Oakes, S. S. Marble and Edward A. Reed, attorneys at law; A. Hovey & Son, Winslow & Austin, Isaac Reed, Otis Miller, Henry Kennedy, J. M. & F. A. Hahn, H. B. Levensaler, Joseph Clark, James Cook, Miller & Eugley, Schwartz & Castner, Edward Benner, Daniel Light, John Sides, George Kaler, T. D. Currier, Kaler & Chapman, Morse & Cald- well, M. M. Rawson, Genthner & Atwell, W. S. Brown, merchants; George M. Allen, jeweler; John Balch, druggist; E. V. Philbrooks, boots and
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PERIOD FROM 1840 TO 1860.
shoes; John W. Tebbetts, Isaac French, cabinet makers; A. W. Clark, J. W. Miller, lumber dealers ; Lewis S. Soule, doors, sash and blinds ; J. Ludwig, E. E. Chapman, stoves and tinware; Charles F. Smith, harnessmaker; Daniel Lincoln, hotel; R. Robinson, boarding house; W. H. Mathews, eating house; H. B. Woodbridge, Daniel Lincoln, Richards & Burkett, William H. Castner, livery stable; Soule & Ewell, carding and oakum mills; George Sproul, carding, grist and saw mills; Boyd & Vance, iron foundry; William White, William G. Waltz, Francis Johnson, George Farrington, Nathaniel Mathews, black- smiths.
CHAPTER XVII.
FROM 1860 TO THE CENTENNIAL. THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD.
In 1860 the town reached its largest popula- tion, the enumeration that year showing 4,569. The same year Knox County was formed from portions of Lincoln and Waldo counties.
In the war for the suppression of the south- ern rebellion and the preservation of the Union of the United States, threatened by the secession of eleven States, Waldoboro filled its part. May II, 1861, on motion of B. B. Haskell, the town adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas rebellion and civil war exists in several States of the Union, therefore
Resolved, that we are in favor of sustaining the Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws, and that we are in favor of the enlist- ment of a company of volunteers in this town.
Voted that the sum of three thousand dollars be appropriated and placed at the disposal of the selectmen, to be expended, in part or in whole, for the purposes hereafter provided.
Voted that six dollars a month be paid to each man, having a family, and four dollars a
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month to each single man, inhabitants of this town, who shall enlist in a company to be formed here, the time to commence when said company shall be mustered into service, and continue while absent from the State, in accordance with an act of the extra session of the legislature; and if the family of any such volunteers shall on account of sickness or death, stand in need of further assis- tance, the selectmen may, at their discretion, fur- nish it to such family, and they are authorized to furnish conveyance for said company to such place as they may be ordered by the Governor.
On motion of Henry Kennedy, voted that the selectmen be authorized to negotiate a loan of the money, or any part of it, that may be needed in any contingency.
July 28, 1862, the town voted to pay to each volenteer in the quota called for $100, and the selectmen were authorized to borrow the sum necessary to pay the volunteers. This was for three years.
August 23, 1862, another town meeting was held to provide for enlisting the town's quota for nine months men instead of resorting to a draft. The sum of $5,000 was appropriated and the selectmen were authorized to pay each volunteer under this call, $ 100.
Sept 9, 1862, the town appropriated $9,500 (including the $500 previously raised) to pay
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
soldiers' bounties. The two banks loaned the town $4,500 each.
July 21, 1863, the town voted to pay $100 to each man drafted, or his substitute when accept- ed. At an adjourned town meeting July 25, 1863, it was further voted to pay a sum not exceeding $200 to each man drafted, or furnishing a substi- tute, and accepted.
August 3, 1863, the town voted to authorize the selectmen to make arrangements to bring Company A, 2Ist Maine Regiment home from Augusta. At the same meeting the selectmen were directed to go to Augusta to attend to the wants of drafted men.
April 4, 1864, the town voted to ratify and confirm all former votes and doings and all con- tracts made by the selectmen, or other persons, in behalf of the town, in procuring funds and raising this town's proportion of men required under the several calls for soldiers, to this time.
Aug. 23, 1864, the town voted to raise $300 for bounty to each man required to make up the quota of the town, under the call of the President, July 18, 1864, who shall volunteer to go into the army or navy.
Aug. 23, 1864, a committee previously ap- pointed, reported in favor of raising $11,631.35 by taxation for the purpose of carrying out vote of town in enlistment of soldiers. Nov. 5, 1864,
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the selectmen were authorized to borrow any further sums that may be necessary to pay bal- ance due for furnishing recruits. They were also authorized to pay for each recruit hereafter enlist- ed a sum not exceeding $450.
April 17, 1865, the town voted to refund to each person the amount subscribed and paid for the purpose of raising funds to obtain recruits. June 2, 1866, the town voted to refund money paid out by individuals, who put in substitutes and to take up notes given by drafted men. B. B. Haskell reported for the committee chosen for that purpose, 535 different persons had subscribed $18,225.65.
The indebtedness of the town reported by the Treasurer, March 3, 1860, was $193.34. April 17, 1865, it was $65,172.57. During that period the town had raised for war purposes by taxation $13,000. This would indicate disbursements ag- gregating seventy-five thousand dollars on account of the war. The people of the town also con- tributed $1750 for hospital supplies, etc. The town is credited with furnishing 457 men.
During the first year of the war no company, or part of a company, was raised in town, but men enlisted in different regiments, particularly in the Fourth Maine. While the Damariscotta company of that regiment was marching through the village, a sad fatality occurred, by the bursting of a cannon
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with which a salute was being fired on Clark's wharf. A piece of the bursting gun was thrown up over the buildings and, coming down upon the head of Gilman Kuhn, killed him instantly.
The last part of July and first of August, 1862, fifty volunteers were secured, which united with thirty men from Bristol and twenty from Union, became Company E, Twentieth Maine In- fantry. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 29, 1862, and participated in all the great battles of the war from the Antietam to Appomattox, bringing home colors upon which were inscribed the names of nineteen battles. When the original regiment was mustered out of the U. S. service, June 4, 1865, the recruits with the recruits of the Sixteenth Maine and the First Sharpshooters were incorporated into a regiment called the Twentieth Maine, which was finally mustered out July 26, 1865. On the seventeenth of June, 1865, eleven survivors of the Waldoboro quota, after three years' service, arrived home and were provided with a reception in Union hall. Five had been killed, two died in confederate prisons, two had deserted, and the remainder had pre- viously been discharged from wounds or disease. The individual war record of this company is as follows:
Captain Atherton W. Clark, mustered into U. S. service, Aug. 29, 1862, Brevet Major Oct. 25,
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CIVIL WAR PERIOD.
1864, for gallant and distinguished services at battles of Peeble's Farm and Hatcher's Run, Va., promoted Major, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, March 13, 1865, for gallant conduct in battles be- fore Petersburg, Va. Discharged May 29, 1865, died in Waldoboro, April, 1882.
First Sergeant James H. Stanwood, mustered into service Aug. 29, 1862, promoted First Lieu- tenant Co. C, wounded at Gravelly Run, Va., March, 1865, discharged May 15, 1865, died in Waldoboro, Feb. 12, 1898.
Sergeant Henry F. Sidelinger, mustered into service Aug. 29, 1862, promoted to First Lieuten- ant Co. E and Captain Co. K, Brevet Major, April 9, 1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct in Appomattox campaign, discharged June 4, 1865, died in California.
Sergeant Thomas R. Hogue, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, promoted Second Lieutenant Co. E, re- signed Aug. 15, 1863, re-enlisted in Co. H, Second Mass. Cavalry, gun shot wound in thigh at Fisher Hill, discharged August, 1865.
Corporal Henry S. Mathews, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged for disability Dec. 29, 1862, enlisted in Coast Guards, Feb. 3, 1865, discharged July 6, 1865, died in Thomaston.
Corporal Raymond W. Hoffses, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, wounded battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, foot amputated by confederate sur-
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geons, discharged Dec. 12, 1864, died in Thomas- ton.
Corporal Hiram W. Kaler, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Invalid Corps, Sept. I, 1863.
Corporal Nathan S. Chapman, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Invalid Corps, Nov. 14, 1863. Residence New London, Ohio.
Corporal William H. Stahl, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Invalid Corps, served as a marine during Mexican War, died at North Wal- doboro, March 3, 1906.
Musician William Edward Ludwig, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, died in Waldoboro, while at home on sick leave, Nov. 19, 1864.
Musician Gardner Ludwig, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Dec. 27, 1862, later served in U. S. Army, died in Portland, Oregon, in 1891.
Private Calvin Bates, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, promoted corporal, captured in the Wilder- ness, May 5, 1864, lost feet from exposure in pris- on, died in Manchester, N. H.
George G. Benner, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, promoted corporal and First Sergeant, wounded battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, discharged June 4, 1865, died in Waldoboro, Oct. 9, 1892.
Charles E. Bickmore, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, gun shot wound right shoulder, near
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CIVIL WAR PERIOD.
Spottysylvania, May 12, 1864, disharged June 4, 1865.
Lowell Brock, mustered Aug. 29. 1862, taken prisoner at Fair Play, Md., July 10, 1863, and never heard from afterwards.
Edward K. Chapman, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, wounded in shoulder at Bethesda Church, Va., June 3, 1864, discharged June 4, 1865.
William A. Cole, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged for disability, May 5, 1863, died at South Framingham, Mass.
Sherman Cummings, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, transferred to Invalid Corps.
John Q. A. Fernald, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged for disability, died in Augusta.
Lewis G. Flanders, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, taken prisoner July 10, 1863, died in Andersonville prison March 16, 1864, buried in National Ceme- tery there.
Cyrus B. Hall, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, dis- charged Dec. 30, 1862, died in Belfast, Maine.
George Allen Hoch, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, wounded and prisoner battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, died May 14, 1864.
Emerson W. Hoffses, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Jan. 30, 1863, died in Maple- wood, Mass., Oct. 13, 1903.
Seldon D. Hunt, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged Jan. 30, 1863, deceased.
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HISTORY OF WALDOBORO.
Charles Keizer, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, killed at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864.
Frederick Kinsel, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, killed at Rappahannock, Va., Nov. 7, 1863.
William H. Knight, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, deserted, July 5, 1863.
Elijah S. Levensaler, mustered, Aug. 29, 1862, in every battle of the regiment, discharged, June 4, 1865, died in Waldoboro, Feb. 5, 1901.
William H. Levensaler, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, promoted Corporal, detached in Division Sharpshooters, Aug. 1, 1864, on skirmish line in every battle from Petersburg to Appomattox, dis- charged June 4, 1865.
Leander N. Mank, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, wounded and died of wounds Sept. 18, 1864.
Tolman Matthews, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged March 27, 1863.
Charles H. Mero, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged June 4, 1865, residence Minneapolis, Minn.
Leander J. Miller, mustered Aug. 29, 1862, discharged May 22, 1865, died May 22, 1872, from injuries on railroad.
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