USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146
87
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
'52: Jonas Chase, 1853; Samuel Haines, 1855; David L. Hunter, 1859; William Lamb, 1861; Daniel H. Brown, 1863; Charles Jesett, 1866; William H. Bigelow, 1869; John F. Lamb, 1871; John Totman, 1873; William Lamb (unseated), 1875; Alfred Weymouth, 1879; William G. Foster, 1883-4; Daniel Cain, 1889-90. China, Robert Fletcher, 1820, '21, '22, '23, '24; Abishai Benson, 1825, '26; Alfred Marshall, 1827, '28; John Weeks, 1829, '30; Ebenezer Meigs, 1831, '48; Benjamin Libby, jun., 1832; Gustavus A. Benson, 1833; Alfred Marshall, 1834; Prince B. Moores, 1835; Nathaniel Spratt, 1836; Freeman Shaw, 1837; Tim- othy F. Hanscomb, 1838; William Mosher, 1839; Corydon Chadwick, 1840; Jonathan Clark, 1841; Samuel Hanscomb, 1842; Charles F. Russ, 1843, '44; Reuben Hamlin, 1845; Jason Chadwick, 1846; James H. Brainard, 1847; Thomas B. Lincoln, 1849; Samuel Plummer, 1850; John L. Gray, 1851, '52; Alfred Marshall, 1853; Eli Jones, 1855; Alfred Fletcher, 1857; Abel Chadwick, 1859; Dana C. Hanson, 1860; Josiah H. Greely, 1862; Ambrose H. Abbott, 1864, '65; Alfred H. Jones, 1867: George F. Clark, 1871; Eli Jepson, 1872; L. B. Tibbetts, 1874; John O. Page, 1875; Moses W. Newbert, 1877; Francis Jones, 1879; Charles F. Achorn, 1881-2; Elijah D. Jepson, 1883-4; John A. Woodsum, 1889-90. Farmingdale, Daniel Lancaster, 1856; Gideon C. McCausland, 1863; Andrew B. McCausland, 1869; Reuben S. Neal, 1873; David Wing, 1879; Levi M. Lancaster, 1885-6; Elisha S. Newell, 1891-2. Fayette, Samuel Tuck, 1820, '21; Charles Smith, 1823; Merrill Clough, 1826; Ezra Fisk, 1829, '31; Joseph H. Under- wood, 1833, '35, '38; Abijah Crane, jun., 1841; Isreal Chase, 1843; Jona- than Tuck, 1846; Howard B. Lovejoy, 1849; Moses Hubbard, 1854; Asa Hutchenson, 1860; Phineas Libby, 1864; F. A. Chase, 1869; J. H. Sturtevant, 1873; Albert G. Underwood, 1878; Charles Russell, 1887 -8. Gardiner, Joshua Lord, 1820, '21, '24, '31; Robert H. Gardiner, 1822; James Parker, 1823, '32: Daniel Robinson, 1825; George Evans, 1826, '27, '28, '29; Peter Adams, 1830; Alexander S. Chadwick, 1833, '34, '35, '36; Parker Sheldon, 1837, '38, '39; Ebenezer F. Deane, 1840, '41; Edwin Swan, 1842; Philip R. Holmes, 1842; Philip C. Holmes, 1843; Mason Damon, 1844; Silas Holman, 1845; Noah Woods, 1846, '47; Isaac N. Tucker, 1848, '49; Charles Danforth, 1850, '51, '52, '57; Robert Thompson, 1853; John Berry, jun., 1854, '55; Charles P. Wal- ton, 1856; John W. Hanson, 1858; John Webb, 1859, '60; William Perkins, 1861, '62; Lorenzo Clay, 1863, '64; John S. Moore, 1865; Henry B. Hoskins, 1866; John Berry, 1867; G. S. Palmer, 1868, '69; D. C. Palmer, 1870, '71; James Nash, 1872, '73; Nathan O. Mitchell, 1874, '75; Arthur Berry, 1876: Melvin C. Wadsworth, 1877, 78; William F. Richards, 1879, '80; David Wentworth, 1881-2, '83-4; Gustavus Moore, 1885-6, '87-8; Oliver B. Clayson, 1889-90, '91-2. Hallo- well, Peleg Sprague, 1820, '21, '22; William H. Page, 1823, '24, '25, '27: William Clark, 1826, '28, '29, '30, '32, '33; Charles Dummer, 1831,
88
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
'32; John T. P. Dumont, 1833, '34, '35; S. W. Robinson, 1834, '35; Samuel Wells, 1836, '37; James Atkins, 1838, '39; Henry W. Paine, 1836, '37, '38, '53; John Otis, 1839, '40, '41, '46, '47: Benjamin F. Mel- vin, 1840, '41; George W. Perkins, jun., 1842, '43, '45, '65; Henry K. Baker, 1842, '44, '54; Samuel K. Gilman, 1848, '49, '50, '51, '52; Rodney G. Lincoln, 1855; Henry Reed, 1856; Eliphalet Rowell, 1858, '61, '80, '81-2; Francis F. Day, 1859; Edward K. Butler, 1863; Charles Dum- mer, 1865; Ariel Wall. 1866, '71; Isaac F. Thompson, 1868, '70; Wil- liam Wilson, 1872; John S. Snow, 1874, '75; Joseph R. Bodwell, 1877. '78; Albert M. Spear, 1883-4, '85-6; Walter F. Marston, 1887-8; Hiram L. Grindle, 1889-90; George S. Fuller, 1891-2. Litchfield, Asa Batcheldor, 1836; Hiram Shorey, 1837; John Neal, 1838, '39; David W. Perry, 1840; Ebenezer B. Pike, 1841, '42; Rev. William O. Grant, 1843, '44, '46; Aaron True, 1847, '49; Constant Quinnan, 1850; John Woodbury, 1854; Mark Getchell, 1855; Benjamin Smith, 1858; True Woodbury, 1860; Josiah True, 1861, '62; Nathaniel Dennis, 1864; Charles Howard Robinson, 1866; James Colby, 1868; Oramandel Smith, 1870; Isaac W. Springer, 1872; John Woodbury, 1875; Samuel Smith, 1878; David S. Springer, 1880; James E. Chase, 1883-4; Enoch Ad- ams, 1887-8. Manchester, William A. Sampson, 1857; H. G. Cole, 1860; Isaac N. Wadsworth, 1864, '77; Stephen D. Richardson, 1869; I. Warren Hawkes, 1874; Willis H. Wing, 1889-90. Monmouth, Abra- ham Morrill, 1820, '21; Benjamin White, jun., 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32; John Chandler, 1832; Isaac S. Small, 1833, '34; Ebenezer Freeman, 1835, '36, '37, '46; Otis Norris, 1838, '39; Augus- tine Blake, 1840; Jedediah B. Prescott, 1841; Henry V. Cumston, 1842; Joseph Loomis, 1844; John A. Tinkham, 1847; Royal Fogg, 1849; Jona- than M. Heath, 1851, '52; William G. Brown, 1854: Charles S. Norris, 1855; George H. Andrews, 1857, '59; Abner C. Stockin, 1861; Daniel F. Ayer, 1863; John B. Fogg, 1865; Ambrose Beal, 1867; Mason J. Metcalf, 1869; James G. Blossom, 1871; Henry O. Pierce, 1873; Joshua Cumston, 1876; Seth Martin, 1879; J. H. Norris, 1881-2: Otis W. Andrews, 1885-6; Josiah L. Orcutt, 1891-2. Mt. Vernon, Nathaniel Rice, 1820, '21; Elijah Morse, 1822, '24, '26, '28; David McGaffey, 1830, '39, '40; John Blake, 1832, '34; Samuel Davis, 1836, '37; James Chap- man, 1842; Daniel H. Thing, 1844, '63; Daniel Marston, 1846; William H. Hartwell, 1848; Edward French, 1850; Stephen S. Robinson, 1853; Aaron S. Lyford, 1856; Elisha C. Carson, 1859; Washington Blake, 1861; John Walton, 1866; Ezra Kempton, 1869; Calvin Hookins, 1871; Moses S. Mayhew, 1873; James A. Robinson, 1876; James C. Howland, 1878; Quintin L. Smith, 1881-2; John P. Carson, 1889-90. Oakland, William Macartney, 1874; Greenlief T. Stevens, 1875; George W. Goulding, 1879, '80; Albion P. Benjamin, 1885-6; William M. Ayer, 1891-2. Pittston, Thomas Coss, 1820, '21. '23, '25; Eliakim Scammon, 1826, '28, '30, '31, '35, '36, '47: Henry Dearborn, 1832, '39; John Stev-
89
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
ens, 1833, '34; Hiram Stevens, 1837, '38; John Blanchard, 1840, '41; Samuel G. Bailey, 1842; George Williamson, 1843; William Troop, 1844, '45; John Coss, 1848; Samuel Clark, 1849; Benjamin Flitner, 1850; Benjamin F. Fuller, 1854; Heran T. Clark, 1855; John Blanchard, 1856; Alphonso H. Clark, 1858; William H. Mooers, 1859, '61; Caleb Stevens, 1860; John Boynton, 1862; Gideon Barker, 1864; Arnold Good- speed, 1866; Sumner R. Tibbetts, 1868; Warren R. Lewis, 1870; Zachariah Flitner, 1872; William Grant, 1874; Sumner Smiley, 1876; Daniel H. Moody, 1878; G. A. Colburn, 1880; Moses J. Donnell, 1883-4; Gorham P. H. Jewett, 1887-8. Randolph, Henry P. Closson, 1889-90. Readfield, Samuel Currier, 1820, '21; John Smith, 1822; Edward Fuller, 1823; Solomon Lombard, 1824, '25; Jere. Page, 1826, '27: James Wil- liams, 1828, '29; Eliphalet Hoyt, 1830, '31; Oliver Bean, 1832, '33; Jon- athan G. Hunton, 1834; David F. Sampson, 1835, '36; William Vance, 1837; John O. Craig, 1838; Elisha Prescott, 1839; John Haynes, 1840; Richard Judkins, 1841; Peter F. Sanborn, 1842; Dudley Haines, 1844: Timothy O. Howe, 1845; Hiram S. Melvin, 1847; Thomas Pierce, 1848; Eliab Lyon, 1850; Joshua Packard, 1851, '52; Emery O. Bean, 1852; Joseph A. Sanborn, 1854; George W. Hunton, 1856; Elisha S. Case, 1858; James R. Batchelder, 1860; Peter F. Sanborn, 1862; H. M. Eaton, 1865; Bradbury H. Thomas, 1868; Gustavus Clark, 1870; John Lam- bard, 1872; Josiah N. Fogg, 1875; George A. Russell, 1877; Benjamin W. Harriman, 1880; Francis A. Robinson, 1883-4; Frederick I. Brown, 1891-2. Rome, Hosea Spaulding, 1830; Job N. Tuttle, 1832; Samuel Goodridge, 1836; Thomas Whittier, 1839, '50; Eben Tracy, 1844: Nathaniel Staples, 1847; N. P. Martin, 1857; John T. Fifield, 1864; Eleazer Kelley, 1869; Elbridge Blaisdell, 1874; Thomas S. Golder, 1879; John R. Prescott, 1885-6. Sidney, Ambrose Howard, 1820, '21; Daniel Tiffany, 1822; Samuel Butterfield, 1823, '24, '27, '32, '33; Reuel Howard, 1825, '26, '28; Nathaniel Merrill, 1820, '30, '31, '34: Daniel Tiffany, jun., 1835, '36; Asa Smiley, 1837, '38, '39, '42; John B. Clifford, 1840, '41; George Fields, 1843; Moses Frost, 1845; Moses Trask, 1846; Silas L.Wait, 1848, '49; Lauriston Guild, 1851, '52; Gideon Wing, 1854; Paul Hammond, 1856; James Sherman, 1858; John Merrill, 1860; Jo- seph T. Woodard, 1862: Martin V. B. Chase, 1865, '67; J. S. Cushing. 1870; Jonas Butterfield, 1872; Henry A. Baker, 1875; Nathan W. Tay- lor. 1877; Gorham Hastings, 1880; Lorin B. Ward, 1883-4; Martin L. Reynolds, 1887-8. Vassalboro, Samuel Redington, 1820, '21, '28; Philip Leach, 1822, '23; Joseph R. Abbott, 1824, '25, '26, '34, '35; Elijah Robinson, 1827, '29, '30, '31, '32; Albert G. Brown, 1833; Moses Taber, 1836, '37, '38; Amos Stickney, 1839, '40; Obed Durrill, 1841, '42; Isaac Fairfield, 1843, '46; John Moore, 1844, '45; Joseph E. Wing, 1847, '48; George Cox, 1849; John Homans, 1850, '51, '52; John G. Hall, 1853; William Merrill, 1854, '55; Hiram Pishon, 1856; Henry Weeks, 1858; Warren Percival, 1859; Timothy Rowell, 1860; W. H. Cates, 1862; Jo-
90
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
seph B. Low, 1863; Thomas S. Lang, 1865, '66; Orrick Hawes, 1868, '70, '79; Ira D. Sturgis, 1869; James C. Pierce, 1872; George Gifford, 1873; Howard G. Abbot, 1874; William P. Thompson, 1876; Isaiah Gifford, 1877; Nathaniel Butler, 1880; Edwin C. Barrows, 1883-4; W. S. Bradley, 1887-8; Hall C. Burleigh, 1889-90; Reuel C. Burgess, 1891-2. Vienna, Bernard Kimball, 1822; James Chapman, 1825, '28, '34; Benjamin Porter, 1838: Nathaniel Graves, 1841; Joseph Edge- comb, 1846; Thomas C. Norris, 1851, '52, '64; Joshua Little, 1857; Obadiah Whittier, 1867; Henry Dowst, 1874; Saunders Morrill, 1879; Albion G. Whittier. 1885-6. Waterville, Baxter Crowell, 1820, '21, '22, '23, '24, '32; Timothy Boutelle, 1825, '26, '29, '30, '31; Sylvanus Cobb, 1827, '28; Jedediah Morrill, 1833, '34; David Combs, 1836; Ne- hemiah Getchell, 1837; Calvin Gardner, 1838; Wyman B. S. Moor, 1839; Erastus O. Wheeler, 1840; Joseph Hitching, 1841; Moses Hans- com, 1842, '55; William Dorr, 1844, '45; Frederick P. Haviland, 1846, '76 (unseated): Stephen Stark, 1847, '48; Thomas Baker, 1849; Joseph Percival, 1850, '51, '52; Joshua Nye, jun., 1853; Joel Harriman, 1854; Jones R. Elden, 1856; Josiah H. Drummond, 1857, '58; James Stack- pole, 1859; B. C. Benson, 1860; Joseph Percival, 1861; Dennis L. Milli- ken, 1862; John M. Libby, 1863: W. A. P. Dillingham, 1864, '65; Reu- ben Foster, 1866. '67, '70; Edwin P. Blaisdell, 1868, '69; Solyman Heath,. 1871; Edmund F. Webb, 1872, '73; Nathaniel Meader (contestant), 1876, '77, '83-4; Franklin Smith, 1878; F. E. Heath, 1881-2; Fred- erick C. Thayer, 1885-6; Perham S. Heald, 1887-8, '89-90; Frank L. Thayer, 1891-2. Wayne, Moses Wing, 1825; Thomas S. Bridg- ham, 1828, '30; Moses Wing, jun., 1833; John Morrison, 1835; Francis. I. Bowles, 1837; Uriah H. Virgin, 1839; James Wing, 1841; Hamilton Jenkins, 1842; William Lewis, 1844; Benjamin Ridley, 1845: Caleb Fuller, 1848; Napoleon B. Hunton, 1850; Thomas Silson, 1853; Josiah Norris, jun., 1856; Arcadius Pettingill, 1858; Josiah Norris, 1860; James H. Thorne, 1862; George W. Walton, 1867; Matthias Smith, 1872; Jo- seph S. Berry, 1877; Alfred F. Johnson, 1883-4; Benjamin F. Maxim, 1889-90. West Gardiner, Thaddeus Spear, 1853; Cyrus Bran, 1859; Asa F. Hutchingson, 1865; George W. Blanchard, 1867; Phineas S. Hogden, 1871; William H. Merrill, 1875; William P. Haskell, 1877; E .. P. Seavey, 1881-2. Windsor, Joseph Stewart, 1820, '21; William Hil- ton, 1822; Joseph Merrill, 1824; Charles Currier, 1827, '29; Nathan Newell, 1832; Gideon Barton, 1834, '36; John B. Swanton, 1838, '40; Benjamin W. Farrar, 1842; Henry Perkins, 1843; Stephen F. Pierce, 1845; Asa Heath, 1847; David Bryant, 1849; William S. Hatch, 1851, '52; David Clary, 1854; Thomas Hyson, 1856; Stephen Barton, 1858; Elias Perkins, 1861; Elijah Moody, 1864; Levi Perkins, 1867; Horace Colburn, 1871; Joel W. Taylor, 1875; Adam L. Stimpson, 1878; James E. Ashford, 1881-2; Samuel P. Barton, 1885-6. Winslow, Josiah Hayden, 1824; Joseph Eaton, 1829, '31, '32, '62; Joshua Cushman, 1834;
91
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
David Garland, 1834, '50, '60; Sidney Keith, 1836, 40; Robert Ayer, 1838; William Getchiell, 1844, '48; Thomas J. Hayden, 1846; Robert H. Drummond, 1854, '58; Isaac W. Britten, 1856; Charles Drummond, 1865; Charles A. Priest, 1868; Colby C. Cornish, 1872; James W. Withee, 1875 (contestant); Leslie C. Cornish, 1878; Allen P. Varney, 1881-2; Charles E. Warren, 1887-8. Winthrop, Andrew Wood, 1820, '21, '22, '23, '30; Thomas Fillebrown, 1824, '27, '29, '31; Nathan Howard, 1825, '26; Isaac Moore, jun., 1828; Samuel Clark, 1832, '33; Samuel P. Benson, 1834, '35; Dr. Ezekiel Holmes, 1836, '37, '38, '39, '40, '51; Nathan Foster, 1841, '42; Samuel Wood, jun., 1843; Francis Perley, 1845; Thomas C. Wood, 1847; Francis Fuller, 1849; Ezekiel Bailey, 1853; Benjamin H. Cushman, 1855; William H. Parlin, 1857; John M. Benjamin, 1859; Francis E. Webb, 1861, '65; P. C. Bradford, 1863; David Cargill, 1866; John May, 1868, '70; Dr. Albion P. Snow, 1871; George A. Longfellow, 1874; Amos Wheeler, 1875; Silas T. Floyd, 1876; Elliot Wood, 1879; Abijah R. Crane, 1880; Reuben T. Joues, 1881-2; Rutillas Alden, 1887-8; John E. Brainard, 1891-2. Unity Plantation, Francis B. Lane, 1869.
The Speakers of the Maine House from Kennebec county have been: George Evans, Gardiner, in 1829; Benjamin White, Monmouth, 1831; J. H. Drummond, Waterville, 1858; William T. Johnson, Au- gusta, 1859; James G. Blaine, Augusta, 1861; W. A. P. Dillingham, Waterville, 1865; Reuben Foster, Waterville, 1870; Edmund F. Webb, Waterville, 1873; George E. Weeks, Augusta, 1880; J. Manchester Haynes, Augusta, 1883.
COUNTY OFFICERS .- The successive sheriffs of Kennebec county since the incorporation of Maine, in 1820, have been: Jesse Robinson, Hallowell, who began serving in 1820; Benjamin White, Monmouth, in 1832; George W. Stanley, Winthrop, 1834; Gustavus A. Benson, Win- throp, 1838; Eben F. Bacon, Waterville, 1839; William Dorr, Water- ville, 1841; James R. Bachelder, Readfield, 1842; Ebenezer Shaw, China, 1850; Charles N. Bodfish, Gardiner, 1851; John A. Pettingil, Augusta, 1854; Benjamin H. Gilbreth, Readfield, 1855; John A. Pet- tingil, Augusta, 1856; Benjamin H. Gilbreth, Readfield, 1857; John Hatch, China, 1861; Charles Hewins, Angusta, 1867; Asher H. Barton, Benton, 1871; William H. Libby, Augusta, 1875; George R. Stevens, Belgrade, 1881; Charles R. McFadden, Augusta, 1885; and Greenlief T. Stevens, Augusta, since January 1, 1889.
The present sheriff of Kennebec county is Major Greenlief T. Stevens, of Augusta, now completing his fourth year of faithful and efficient service. Although educated to a profession and thoroughly identified with civil affairs, he is best known and probably destined to be longest remembered by his military career. Facts are the only fast colors in history. The facts that hold a life like his, fully repre- sent the actor, without comment or commendation. He comes of
92
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
patriotic stock. His grandfather, William Stevens, came from Leba- non, in York county, and settled in Belgrade about the year 1796, and was a soldier in the revolutionary war. Daniel and Mahala (Smith) Stevens, daughter of Captain Samuel Smith of Belgrade, where he was born August 20, 1831, were his parents. A farm life, a happy home and a country school, supplemented by the advantages of the Titcomb Belgrade Academy, and of the Litchfield Liberal Institute, were the good fortune of his childhood and youth. Then he applied his talents and acquirements for several years to teaching school, a part of the time in the South.
By that time the purpose of his future was settled and he went to Augusta and read law with Hon. Samuel Titcomb till 1860, when he obtained admission to the Cumberland bar. Wishing the best possi- ble equipment, he then took the regular course at the Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in August, 1861, receiving the de- gree of LL.B.
In the meantime the first cloudburst of the impending] rebellion had captured Fort Sumter and fired the patriotism of every truly American heart. Instantly the inherited hero blood of the citizen dominated over the professional ambitions of the lawyer, and with his own name at the head of the roll, he recruited at his own expense, a large number of men for the Fifth Maine Battery, and tendered his services to Governor Washburn. From the Maine adjutant general's report it appears that on December 14, 1861, he was commissioned first lieutenant in that battery, and on January 31, 1862, was mustered into the United States service for three years. In May he joined the army at Fredericksburg, Va., and served successively under McDowell, Pope, Mcclellan, Mead, Grant and Sheridan. At the battle of Fred- ericksburg he was temporarily in command of the Fifth Battery, and at the battle of Chancellorsville was wounded in the left side by a fragment of a shell. He was promoted captain, June 21st, and at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2d, received another wound, a ball passing through both legs, below the knee. In July, 1864, he was detached from the army of the Potomac with the Sixth Corps and proceeded to Washington for its defense. Subsequently joining the army of the Shenandoah under Sheridan, he was engaged in the three great bat- tles which resulted in the complete destruction of the rebel army under Early. On February 14, 1865, he was appointed major by brevet, to take rank from October 19, 1864, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Cold Harbor, Winchester and Cedar Creek. Major Stevens was mustered out of the United States service with his battery, at Augusta, Me .. July 6, 1865.
An extract from The Cannoncer in describing the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, under Sheridan, reads:
G. Y. Stevens
93
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
" At the time when Getty's division was fighting in its second position Stevens, who had apparently been retiring in the interval between the right of Getty and the left of Wheaton, formed his bat- tery on the knoll opposite the right flank of Warner's Brigade and opened a tremendous fire of canister on that part of the enemy's line which was advancing to envelope Warner. These must have been Kershaw's troops, but there was another Rebel division coming up still beyond Kershaw over the ground vacated by our First Division. This, according to Early's account, was Gordon's division, and one brigade of it started to charge Stevens' Battery. According to the best information immediately after the battle or since, there was no infantry of the First Division within supporting distance of Stevens at that moment, as that division was then reforming at from one-third to one-half a mile in his rear. But he stood his ground and repulsed the charge of Gordon's troops, who did not get more than half way up the acclivity of the knoll he was holding, and who, according to Gen. Early's account, 'recoiled in considerable confusion.'"
On a document requesting his promotion General Wright, com- manding the Sixth Corps, endorsed: " The gallant and important ser- vices rendered by Captain Stevens of which I was personally cogni- zant make it my duty to bring his merits before the authorities of his state and to ask for him at their hands such acknowledgment in the way of promotion as it is in their power to bestow." General Sheri- dan endorsed the recommendation as " highly approved."
Describing the great crisis in the battle of Winchester the field correspondent of the New York World said: " The moment was a fear- ful one; such a sight rarely occurs more than once in any battle, as was presented on the open space between two pieces of woodland into which the cheering enemy poured. The whole line, reckless of bul- lets, even of the shell of our battery, constantly advanced. Captain Stevens' battery, the Fifth Maine, posted immediately in their front, poured its fire unflinchingly into their columns to the last. A staff officer riding up warned it to the rear, to save it from capture. It did not move-the men of the battery loading and firing with the regu- larity and precision of a field day. The foe advanced to a point within two hundred yards of the muzzles of Captain Stevens' guns." Colonel C. H. Tompkins, chief of artillery, Sixth Corps, said: " However try- ing the circumstances Captain Stevens has always been found equal to the occasion."
After the war Major Stevens returned to his profession and opened a law office in West Waterville, now Oakland, where he had a lucra- tive practice, being employed in nearly every case in that vicinity. During the score of years of Mr. Stevens' professional life he has built up a most enviable reputation, not only for knowledge of the law but for what is still more important, complete devotion to his clients' interests. His fellow citizens expressed their respect and confidence by placing him in the legislature in 1875, where he was a most useful
'94
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
member of the judiciary committee. In 1877 he was promoted to the state senate, serving as chairman of the committee on legal affairs. He was also a member of the committee on railroads and military affairs. Reelected to the senate of 1878, he was chairman of the com- mittee on the judiciary. In 1882 he was commissioned colonel and assigned to duty as chief of staff First Division Maine Militia, under Major General Joshua L. Chamberlain. He is a member of the Maine Gettysburg Commission, and is widely known in Grand Army circles.
He was first elected to the office of sheriff in 1888 and was reëlected in 1890. His administration of the affairs of this important office, and his management of the criminal department have been characterized by economy, efficiency and good judgment.
Major Stevens' wife is Mary Ann, daughter of Richard Yeaton, 2d, a prominent citizen of Belgrade. They have had four children: Jesse; Don Carlos, a Unitarian minister now located in Fairhaven, Mass .; Ala, and Rupert-the first and two latter now deceased.
The first deed recorded in this county bears the date 1783. Only .a few transfers are recorded, however, while Augusta was a half shire- town, and until the regular series of dates beginning with 1799. Those who have served the county in the capacity of registers of deeds are: Henry Sewall, from June 12, 1799; John Hovey, April 10, 1816; J. R. Abbott, December 29, 1836; John Richards, January 1, 1842; Alanson Starks, November 1, 1844; J. A. Richards, January 1, 1858; Archibald Clark, January 1, 1868; William M. Stratton, September 23, 1870; P. M. Fogler, November 12, 1870. The present efficient system of the office was largely inaugurated during Major Fogler's long term of service, and he compiled the elaborate indexes now in use. His suc- .cessor, George R. Smith, of Winthrop, took the office January 1, 1892.
The following have served as treasurers of Kennebec county. Accompanying their names are the dates on which their respective terms of office began: Joshua Gage, Augusta, 1810; Daniel Stone, Augusta, 1832; Daniel Pike, Augusta, 1838, died in office, July 1, 1868; John Wheeler, of Farmingdale, who was appointed to fill the vacancy, served until 1869; Alanson Starks, Augusta, 1869; Mark Rollins, Al- bion, 1879; and James E. Blanchard, Chelsea, 1889. Mr. Blanchard is a son of Edwin H. Blanchard. of Chelsea, where he was born in 1857. He was educated there, and in Hallowell Classical School, and Dirigo Business College. He was elected town clerk of Chelsea in 1879, and after holding various town offices, was elected county treasurer in 1888.
ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE .- Prior to 1839 Maine had no state pro- vision for the care of the insane. The several towns provided in various indifferent ways for such unfortunates as were in indigent circumstances, while dangerous lunatics were simply restrained in the common prisons, which were wholly without means of care or relief.
H. M. Harlow
95
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
The cardinal motive in building a state asylum was to provide better care for such. Now any indigent person within the state may be ad- mitted upon proper order, and the town in which such person has a settlement is charged chiefly with. the expense; bnt a person within the state not having a settlement may be cared for wholly at the ex- pense of the state. The attention of the legislature was first called to the subject in 1830, by Governor Jonathan G. Hunton; but nothing ·definite was done until 1834, when Governor Dunlap urged that a sys- tematic and suitable provision be made by the state for the relief of her insane. Petitions to that end and in regard to a location followed from various parts of the state, and these, with that part of the gov- ernor's message pertaining to it, were referred to a legislative com- mittee, which reported in favor of the establishment of such an insti- tution.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.