Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 104

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

Territory embraced .- Settlers in South .- Saw Mills .- Incorporation Act .- Change to present Name .- Settlers in Other Parts .- Surface .- Mills and Tanneries .- Post Office .- Present Village .- Lyon's Mill .- Cider Mills .- Granite Quarries .- Pleasure Resorts .- Civil History .- Schools .- Ecclesiasti- cal .- Cemeteries .- Personal Paragraphs.

T HE territory embraced within the present town of Manchester, although more recently incorporated, was settled contempora- neously with Winthrop, Readfield and other surrounding towns. Those who settled early followed the trails from the river, by blazed trees. Joseph Wingate settled opposite the Friends' meeting house, on the pond road. His brother, Frederick Wingate, settled below the meeting house, on the farm of the late R. W. Smart. Alvah Wads- worth located where Joshua Brown lives, and opposite-where widow Mary C. Hawks lives-Daniel Haines first settled. Isaac Hawkes set- tled where I. W. Hawkes lives; and next south, on the Loren Farr place, Payne Wingate settled. South of the last, Elijah Farr made his settlement, where his son's widow, Sylvia, now resides. Wingate Haines made his first clearing where Otis Foster is, and Joseph Patti- son was the settler on the Proctor Sampson farm. The farm just below, rented by Thomas Douglass, was settled by William Hopkins.

The farm of Willis H. Wing was cleared by Proctor Sampson, but Daniel Magoon had been permitted to make a clearing and reside there till a sale was made. Where Mark Osborne lives Jacob Sampson set- tled, and next south, where E. R. Mayo lives, George Collins located. Where Christopher C. Bowman resides, Thomas Farr settled. Next south was the settlement of Ebenezer Bailey-where Thomas Sinclair lives. Benjamin Howard settled the farm now owned by his son, Benjamin, and where the outlet house stands was early occupied by James Pullen. Across the outlet, where Mrs. Meady lives, was the old settler Job Douglass; and next to his clearing, and opposite on the road, was the pioneer, Timothy Bailey, accompanied by his son, Isaac. A man named Sawyer settled next to Bailey, about where Mrs. Bush lives; and next south was Isaac Haskell-the first on the place. Op- posite the last, where Fred Spear now owns and lives, Paul Collins was the first settler, occupying to the present town line of West Gardiner.

876

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

The pond road, along which the foregoing settlers located, was a chosen part of the town. No mill could be built at the outlet, for Doc- tor Gardiner, who owned the land, reserved all rights to the north bank of the outlet stream. It will be remembered that some of the original lots in Gardiner and Farmingdale were a mile wide, and ex- tended westerly to Cobbosseecontee great pond. The Vaughn tract was one of these great lots, and the farm in Manchester now owned and occupied by Proctor Sampson was taken from the northwest cor- ner of that tract.

On the road leading to Gardiner, along the outlet, other settlers lo- cated. The first was Braddock Hathaway, where the buildings were subsequently burned; opposite him was Asa Benson-a large land- holder-on the site now occupied by his son's widow, Julia Benson. On the opposite side, Andrew Hutchinson settled where Charles Nick- erson is. Israel Hutchinson settled opposite his brother-where Jo- seph Spear lives.

On the road leading to Hallowell over Meadow hill, and next to the farm of Willis H. Wing, is the Hopkins farm, settled by David Mogan; and where George Wadsworth owns, opposite the Hopkins farm, Samuel Dunn first made his clearing. Where David Douglass lives was settled by Wingate Haines, who sold out his betterment on the pond road and started again. Opposite the last, where the Wilder farm is, Henry Wilder early purchased of a man named Cogswell, who had made a clearing. Samuel Dunn sold his farm on the pond road, and settled where Leonard Dearborn lives, and where Lindley Pinkham lives Noah Pinkham was the first settler.

These settlers of the southern part of the present Manchester being but a few miles from the mills at Gardiner-which had become a con- siderable place-were not compelled to undergo such hardships as be- fell the earlier settlers in the more remote plantations.

The only saw mill in the south part of the town was built in 1848 by Proctor Sampson, on the brook that runs through Willis H.Wing's farm. He ran it a few years, and sold to Sands Wing, who after a short time sold to Joseph Spear. He took it down and used it in the erection of a mill down the outlet out of the town.

The town was erected August 12, 1850, from Augusta, Hallowell, Litchfield, Readfield and Winthrop. The text of the act as passed was:

" Beginning on the north line of Augusta and on the west line of a gore at the end of the third mile from Kennebec river, thence south- erly on the west line of said gore to land of Bethiah Knowles, thence easterly on the north line of Knowles' land to land of Sewell Longfel- low, thence to the east line of said gore, thence southerly on the east line of said Longfellow's to land of William Goldthwait, easterly on the north line of said Goldthwait to the northeast corner of said Gold- thwait's land, thence southerly on the east line of said Goldthwait and

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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

on the line of land owned by Timothy Goldthwait, jun., to the land of the late Salmon Rockwood, thence easterly on the south line of said Rockwood to said Rockwood's northeast corner, thence southerly to the northwest corner of land owned by Peter Atherton in Hallowell, thence southerly to the southwest corner of a piece of land which Dr. Elias Weld conveyed to Winslow Hawkes. thence south westerly until it strikes Jimmey's stream at the point where it intersects the north line of the great five-mile lot number twenty-two, as surveyed by Solomon Adams, thence along said stream to Jimmey's pond, thence down said pond to the outlet, thence following the outlet of said pond to Hutchinson's pond, thence S. 223° W. to the south line of Hallowell, thence westerly on the south line of Hallowell until it strikes Gardi- ner stream and across said stream to the south line of land owned by John Collins in Litchfield, thence westerly on the south line of said Collins' land and by that line extended until it strikes a point in Win- throp pond due southwest of the S. E. corner of land owned by Fran- cis Fuller, in Winthrop, thence running due northeast to said south- east corner of said Fuller's land, thence northerly on the east line of said Fuller's land, thence by the east line of Capt. Shaw's land to Richards pond, thence across said pond to the west line of land owned by Samuel Richards on the north line of said pond, thence northerly on the west line of land owned by Oren Brainard, and also by the west line of land formerly owned by James Brainard to land owned by Elisha Case in Readfield, thence westerly on the south line of said Case to said Case's southwest corner, thence northerly on said Case's west line to the land of J. Whiting Winslow, thence northerly on the west line of said Winslow's land to said Winslow's northwest corner, thence easterly to land of the widow Carr, thence northerly on the west line of said Carr and the west line of land owned by the widow Adams, William Taylor. Joseph Knowles, Eliab Lyon jun., Elisha Prescott, Stephen Hill and William Hill, to the north line of Read- field, thence easterly on the north line of Readfield to the southwest corner of Augusta, thence easterly on the north line of Augusta to the bounds first mentioned be and hereby is incorporated into a town by the name of Kennebec."

The remainder of the act provided for the poor within the limits of the new town, and placed the town in the representative district with Readfield and Fayette.

The territory included the post office known as Hallowell Cross Roads, and after the incorporation of the town as Kennebec, the mail matter frequently addressed to the town was so miscarried to Kenne- bunk at the south that the legislature was petitioned to change the name of the town from Kennebec to Manchester, which was done April 15, 1854, and in 1856 the post office was changed to the same naine.

The northern portion of the town was not as early settled as those portions along the pond road in the south, which had belonged to Hallowell. On the Augusta road, where Frank J. Hewins lives, Eben Hewins settled. On the Hallowell road, where George H. Kilbreth lives, Isaac Wadsworth settled. Near by, where Isaac Varney dwells,

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

was the first settlement of Samuel Stevens, and just beyond was the clearing of Colonel Francis Norris-now owned by Mr. Sanborn, and rented by Josiah Gray.

On the Mt. Vernon road, on the farm now owned by Joseph Fifield, Nathaniel Lovering first settled, and opened a tavern. John Day set- tled on the Readfield road, where Helen Freeman resides; and next above, where Albert Daggett lives, John Morrill was the settler. Where Jacob Pope resides, George Waterhouse made his first clear- ing. The ancestors of Charles Wing settled the place occupied by him. On the Winthrop road, where E. L. Eaton lives, William Wins- low settled; and opposite Eaton's, where Bradford Boynton resides, Samuel Merrill settled. The L. H. Hammond farm was settled by a man named Brainard.

This territory was well settled during the first half of the present century, and many residents were compelled to go several miles to the surrounding towns to the town meetings. This fact and the objec- tions of some to being included in the two adjoining cities, then being chartered, led to a separate municipality of the present form. It is ten miles long and three wide, the line between it and Winthrop be- ing the center of Cobbosseecontee great pond. Jimmey pond and Hutchinson pond are between this town and Farmingdale, while Shed pond is wholly within the town, near the Readfield line. A broad valley at the head of Cobbosseecontee great pond stretches across the town, extending northerly nearly to the Belgrade and Sidney lines. The eastern edge of the town, along the Augusta, Hallowell and Farm- ingdale lines, is hilly and broken. The western edge of the town, along the Readfield line, is high: while the southern border, along the West Gardiner line, is the lowest land of the town.

No heavy water powers exist, consequently large mills have been the exception. A small saw mill was built in the Fifield neighbor- hood, where Edward Bowman lives, and William Thomas operated the mill; he also put in a small tannery, which was more within the power of the stream. Samuel Cummings had a saw mill on the brook on the Frank Hewins farm.

The old post office, established January 1, 1818, as Hallowell Cross Roads, was kept in the Grinnell tavern by the proprietor, Jesse Rob- inson, who was appointed the postmaster. He was succeeded in April, 1830, by Samuel Quimby. The succeeding postmasters, with the year of their appointment, were: September, 1830, Thomas Phillips; Au- gust, 1834, Lorain M. Judkins; 1838, Jabez Churchill; 1845. Erastus Shepard Loomis; February, 1853, Abraham I. Thing; June, 1853, Darius Lewis; 1854, Erastus S. Loomis; 1856, Joseph B. Haines; May 28, 1856, the name of the office was changed to Manchester and Wil- liam A. Sampson was appointed postmaster; 1859, Alden Sampson;

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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

1864, Isaac N. Wadsworth; 1868, Elbridge M. Boynton; 1875, Jesse L. Wood; 1889, George H. Kilbreth; 1890, Augustus M. Bowman.

About 1857 Alden Sampson built and opened a store (now Jesse L. Woods') and the office was removed there, where it has since been kept. This one post office has supplied the town.

The old Robinson tavern was only one of three. Thomas Phillips opened a tavern nearly opposite the present store, but sold it when he rented the Robinson tavern.

The present village, where the store and office is, was locally known as Hallowell Forks, before Manchester was incorporated. John Mulliken settled just east of where the only store stands. Fran- cis Day was an old settler on the Readfield road, opposite the old hotel, now George C. Grinnell's residence. Samuel Weston came in 1805, ·settling where N. C. Weston lives. Where the large two-story tene- ment house is, oppsite George C. Grinnell's, Daniel Day settled in 1793. Many years ago Alton Pope started a carpet factory, which was sold to Alden Sampson. This was on the farm of E. L. Norcross. Joseph Ham carried on an old tannery with a shoe shop on the vil- lage brook, near where Noah F. Weeks lives. No industry of any importance is now carried on in the village, which lies in the broad slope at the head of Cobbosseecontee great pond, and could at least be made an attractive summer resort.

In April, 1884, Fred L. Hewins and Lovicount S. Lyon, as partners, erected a saw mill in the northeast part of the town. The power is furnished by a forty-five horse power engine, to run circular saw, planer and shingle machine. Lath, pickets, flooring and boxes are also manufactured. The mill is cutting about 300,000 feet of lumber as ·custom work, and the owner is converting a half million feet of his own logs into lumber each year. In April, 1886, the firm of Hewins & Lyon was dissolved, and since that time the business has been owned and carried on by Mr. Lyon.

There are several good cider mills, for the town has many large orchards. The cultivation of apple orchards has received especial at- tention, and with substantial results. Another feature of the farming is the keeping of good stock.

The granite quarries are an important industry of the town. The Central Granite Company, Joseph Arche, proprietor, is located in the east edge of the town, and near the Hallowell Granite Works, both of which are more particularly mentioned at page 184.

At the head of the pond, and near the village, is the beautiful pine grove known as Hammond's Grove. In 1879 L. H. Hammond erected several cottages, allowed others to build, and built a café on the grounds. He kept boats for pleasure, and the lovely spot has grown into distinction as a healthful summer resort. In the spring of 1891 ·Colonel Farrington and others leased the grove conditional to pur-

880

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

chasing, which should lead to the laying out and building up of a. cottage city with a large hotel. Manchester, along the great pond, includes already some fine resorts, and bids fair to win a prominent place in the county as a retreat for health and recreation.

Several neat cottages have been erected on the Cobbossee shores by Augusta gentlemen. The artist's glimpse at this east shore, as seen from the western or Winthrop side, gives to the reader a hint of the pretty shore and the rolling lands of the town still eastward.

CIVIL HISTORY .- Since the formation of the town the usual town meetings, with occasional special meetings, have been regularly held. The territory of the Hallowell Granite Works was originally incor- porated in the town of Manchester, but a few years ago the granite company sought to have it annexed to Hallowell, in order that the roads might be kept to please the company. This was a measure that the people of Manchester strenuously opposed; but the interests of Hallowell prevailed, and the large quarry of the Hallowell Granite Works was added to the city. In 1852 the sum of $450 was raised and used in making a town hall over the school house then being built. In this hall the town meetings have since been held. In 1875 the town added to the hall a suitable office for the convenience of its offi -. cers. The poor fund voted annually is judiciously distributed; those wholly dependent on the town have been placed in private families for keeping. The affairs of the municipality are in good condition, and care is taken to elect the most conservative and careful to office.

The Selectmen have been as follows (the dates preceding the names show the years of first election, and if the same man was again elected the whole number of years of service is indicated): 1850, Eliab Lyon, 4, Isaac Wadsworth, 10, and Albert Daggett, 4; 1851, Richard M. Pinkham; 1852, Henry G. Cole, 3: 1853, Enoch Wood, 11, and James M. Allen, 2; 1854, Proctor Sampson, 6; 1855, John Prescott, 4;

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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

1858, Paine Wingate, 2: 1859, Carpenter Winslow, 2; 1861, Sullivan Kilbreth, 7, and Jacob Pope, 5; 1864, William P. Merrill, 3; 1866, Dan- iel S. Goldthwaite, 3; 1867, Isaiah Jones; 1868, I. Warren Hawkes, 9; 1869, Albert Daggett, jun., 2: 1870, Henry A. Caldwell, 2; 1872, Rob- ert T. Hopkins, 2; 1873, Hiram S. Young, 3: 1876, Albert Knowles, 4; 1877, Charles S. Pope, 6; 1879, Willis H. Wing, 7; 1881, George H. Kilbreth, 3; 1882, Edwin Caldwell; 1883, Frank J. Hewins, 8: 1884, Lindley H. Hammond, 5; 1885. Thomas E. Jackson, 4; 1890, Alfred W. Hawkes; 1891, Joseph G. Sampson, 2; 1892, O. J. Foster.

The Town Clerks, with date of commencement of each man's ser- vice, have been: 1850, Isaac N. Wadsworth; 1852, Thomas J. Smith; 1854, Sullivan Kilbreth; 1861, Francis E. Wood; 1863, Jacob B. Thomas; 1865, William P. Merrill; 1866, Daniel S. Goldthwaite; 1867, William P. Merrill; 1870, Charles S. Pope; and since 1871, George H. Kil- breth.

The Town Treasurers have been: 1850, Jacob Pope; 1851, Thomas J. Smith; 1854, Asa Morrell; 1860, Isaac Wadsworth; 1861, Asa Mor- rell; 1866, Jacob Pope; 1867, Proctor Sampson; 1870, William P. Mor- rell; 1873, Charles F. Hewins; 1875, Charles S. Pope; 1876, Charles F. Hewins; 1880, Joseph G. Sampson; 1890, James T. Collins; and 1891, 1892, Wallace M. Prescott.

SCHOOLS .- The parts of districts of other towns thrown together by the act of incorporation required immediate attention, and at the first regular town meeting the town was carefully divided into seven school districts, which, with the occasional change of a family for more mutual accommodation, is the present division. Five hundred dollars was the first sum voted; the amount has been annually in- creased as circumstances demanded. Since 1874 the office of school supervisor has been filled in the town, and the result has been bene- ficial. About this time a high school was instituted, and, since, a free high school has been supported two terms a year, one at school house No. 6 and one at the village. This, with the town system of uniform books, has raised the schools to a high standard.

In 1891, after a trial, Prof. Elijah Cook, A.M., with I. L. Pope, as- sistant principal, opened the Kennebec Home School for Boys. The long experience of the teachers, the rural beauty of the village, and the inducements of the pleasant home should make this a chosen spot for the education of young men.

ECCLESIASTICAL .- The Friends, who were among the first to estab- lish public worship in the town, have their meeting house on the pond road. The Baptist Society of Manchester was organized in 1792, May 10th, as the Baptist Church of Readfield, with the Rev. Isaac Case as pastor. The church edifice was built in 1793, near the old burying ground in Readfield, and in the chapter on Readfield the

882

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

early history of this society will be found. After it was removed, in 1838, to its present site in Manchester, the society was strong and prosperous, but for the past few years has not sustained a regular pastor. Rev. William Smith, during whose pastorate the removal oc- curred, remained until 1841, and Robert C. Starr preached in 1842, 1843; Lucius Packard filled the desk to 1845, since when supplies have been employed, except for a few years after 1860, when S. D. Rich- ardson was settled. Among the supplies were: Rev. Eliphalet Smith, William Goding, Henry Kendall, Benjamin Cole, Joseph Palmer, John Benter and William Johnson.

The Union Church is a plain edifice, erected in 1833, in the village. It was built for the use of all societies, but during the first few years the Baptists occupied it almost exclusively. Occasional services only are held there now.

CEMETERIES .- A large town cemetery is in use just out of the vil- lage, on the Augusta road, and is kept in order by the municipality. The Friends' burying ground is near their church-a little distance in the rear- on the pond road. A beautiful cemetery, walled in, is in use by the Baptist church in the west part of the town. Here rest the ashes of some of the settlers of the town, and especially those of the northwestern part. Eliab Lyon died in 1849, aged 86. He settled where W. H. Lyon lives, in 1784. His son, Eliab, born 1797, died 1882; Sanborn T. Fifield, born 1808, died 1878; Dea. William Thomas died 1855, aged 65 years; Brimsley Caldwell died 1869, aged 82 years; Jon- athan Knowles died 1871, aged 78 years; and Joseph Knowles died 1874, aged 74 years. On the largest monument in the grounds is written, "David Sanford, 1806-1849." In the very northwestern cor- ner of the town, near the Belgrade line, is a small ground, well cared for but not much used.

PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.

Joseph Arche, born in Spain in 1835, spent his life until 1865 in Cuba, and came from there to the United States. He worked ten years at Westerly, R. I., from 1875 to 1885 was sculptor for the Hallowell Granite Company, and in August, 1885, he opened a quarry in Man- chester, where he cuts both ornamental and monumental work. His wife was Mary O. Conol. They have one son, John F. Arche.

Martin Caldwell, born in 1843, is one of five children of Henry A. and Ruth (Smith) Caldwell, and a descendant of Stephen and Abigail (Low) Caldwell, who came from Ipswich, Mass., and settled in Man- chester. Mr. Caldwell spent twelve years in the West, then returned to the northern part of Maine, where he had been six years, when in 1887 he came back to Manchester, where he is a farmer. He married Marie, daughter of Luke and Mary (Caldwell) Dinsmore. She and her parents were born in Anson, Me., and afterward resided at Solon, Me.

Joseph I Fibrela

PRINT, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

Joseph W. Emery, born in 1849 at Waterville, is a son of Joseph and Mary (Baldic) Emery. He is a stone cutter by trade, and has worked for the Hallowell Granite Company since 1869. In 1875 he bought the Samuel Collins farm at the outlet of Cobbosseecontee lake, where he has since kept the Lake House as a summer hotel. He mar- ried Annie M. Tibbets and has one son, Charlie G.

JOSEPH S. FIFIELD .- John Fifield was born in Deerfield, N. H., in 1804. He was a son of Sanborn, and a grandson of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Sanborn) Fifield. John left New Hampshire in 1826 to seek his fortune in the Pine Tree state. He came to Augusta, after he was married to Margaret, a daughter of David Hall, of Chester, N. H. This union was blessed with four children: Eliza S. (Mrs. Albion Nutting), Sarah A. (Mrs. H. S. Roberts), Joseph S .. and a deceased daughter, Mary.

Joseph S., the only son, was born on the home farm in Augusta, April 9, 1837. Here he spent his boyhood, attending the public

schools of that city. At an early age he manifested a natural taste for business, foreshadowing subsequent success, and at the age of fourteen he began to buy stock, slaughtering and selling to the local traders. This early venture proved successful and, with the exception of three years, has made a part of his large business operations since that time.

He resided with his parents in Augusta until his father sold his farm there in 1868. In the fall of that year Mr. Fifield purchased 160 acres of his present home farm in Manchester, of Nathaniel Lovering. He has added to his farm by subsequent purchases, until he now has a farm of 300 acres. It is fair to state that his farm operations are second to none in Manchester. The care, earnestness and persever- ance which characterized his early beginnings, coupled with that well directed purpose of more mature years, make his success as a business man and agriculturist a most natural and rational conclusion.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

February 27, 1870, he married Lucy, a daughter of the late Ithiel Knowles, of Manchester, and granddaughter of Elisha and Margaret Knowles. To them have been born four children: Alice H., Ida C., Grace L. and Herbert J. In the meridian of his life, surrounded by a happy family, he resides in his beautiful country home, in the midst of one of Maine's prettiest rural communities.

George L. Fifield, born in 1826, is a son of John and Sarah (Gilman) Fifield, whose children were: Rufus, John A., Eliza, William, Hannah, Sarah, Mary, George L. and Abbie B. George L. is a farmer, owning and occupying the homestead of his father. He married Huldah A., daughter of Richard H. Gilman, and they have two sons: Fred L. and John R. Mr. Fifield's grandfather, Joseph Fifield, of New Hamp- shire, married Elizabeth Sanborn, and their children were: Sanborn, Joseph, John, Eliza, Elizabeth, Jacob and Tristram.

Marcellus S. Fifield, born in 1849, is one of three children of Hiram and Sylvina (Whittier) Fifield, grandson of Joseph and Lovina Fifield, and great-grandson of Joseph and Elizabeth (Sanborn) Fifield. He is a farmer on the farm where his father and grandfather both lived. His brother and sister are: Winfield S. and Eliza A., who lives in Readfield with her mother. He was married to Emily F., daughter of David C. and Mary Ann (Hunton) Williams, and granddaughter of Joseph and Mary (Clifford) Williams, who once owned a part of the present site of Waterville. Their sons are: Hiram D., Harry C., Charlie B. and Chauncey W.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 104

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York, Blake Number of Pages: 1790

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790