Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 118

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

USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 118

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The Quaker burying ground, as its name indicates, contains only the remains of members of the denomination of Friends, once a lead- ing sect of the town. It is a small, three-sided tract of land, and was formerly a part of the farm of Eleazer Burbank, by whom it was pre- sented to the Society of Friends, of which he was a member. Their meeting house once stood in one corner of it. Few burials have been made here in recent years.

A short distance from this, and on the large tract near Pinkham's Corner, called Pine plains, are the two burying grounds known re- spectively as the Old and New cemeteries, which are the largest and most important of the town. The former lies on the north side of the road, and originally was just an acre in size, containing 160 lots. It was first occupied in 1814, and David Farnham is said to have been the first person buried there. Since then large additions of land have been made on either side, and now it contains many hundred graves and has room for but few more. The location is a beautiful one, while the care it receives adds greatly to the beauty of this popu- lous but silent city of the dead. Beside the road which runs by is a tomb of Norridgewock granite built by the town in 1885, at a cost of $500. Hannah, wife of Asael Littlefield, is buried in this cemetery. The headstone says she died January 5, 1868, aged 106 years and 6 months.

Owing to the crowded condition of this cemetery the town bought of Vassal D. Pinkham, in 1883, a large tract of land lying across the road almost directly opposite this. This was enclosed and divided into lots, and although it is much larger than the old cemetery, it is fast filling up. It is high and level, and in beauty of location is equal to the other, while its dry, sandy soil makes it especially adapted to the uses of a burying ground. In its northeastern corner, near the road, is a small tract, now overgrown with trees, which contains the oldest known graves in the town. Many of the old slate headstones have crumbled away or become covered in the soil, but quite a num- ber remain, and on some of these the dates of deaths, several years

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before this century opened, can be deciphered. This little plot was doubtless the first burial place used by the early settlers, but upon the occupation of the large cemetery across the road in 1814, many of the bodies were removed there and burials were no longer made here.

SCHOOLS .- The earliest schools of the town were kept in dwelling houses, and when Belgrade was incorporated in 1796 a committee of three-Captain Samuel Smith, Anderson Taylor and Joseph Greely- was appointed to divide the town into districts. They divided the town into five districts, and the number has been gradually increased until now there are eighteen, though schools are not held in all of them. The town has persistently clung to the district system. The school houses, with the exception of two more modern ones at the Depot and Mills, are of the little, old-fashioned kind so common to New England hills and valleys. In the good old times these used to be crowded, but there are fewer young people now, and many go away to higher schools after receiving a start in the little red school house, so that the average to each school is much smaller than formerly.

The whole number of pupils registered in 1891-2 in the different schools in town was 470, some districts having three terms, others two each year, and each district averaging about twenty-one weeks in all. In 1796 the town raised $80 for support of schools, and in 1892 the grant was $1,500. At times the schools have been under the charge of a committee and at others under a supervisor, as is now the case. For the present good standing of the schools, with their more competent teachers and more beneficial work than formerly, the town is much indebted to H. F. D. Wyman, who, both as supervisor and citizen, has taken a keen interest in them for many years. Free high schools have been held in town, but the need of one to-day is not met. Titcomb Academy, built on Belgrade hill in 1829, the only institution of higher education there has been in town, is treated in another chapter.

INDUSTRIES AND PEOPLE .- Belgrade always has been and always will be a farming town. Few other industries except those incidental to nearly all agricultural communities, have occupied the attention of the inhabitants. Its resources and advantages for agriculture need not be dwelt upon here. In this it is prosperous, and there are few abandoned farms here to-day. Orcharding is carried on quite exten- sively, and as an apple town it is famous. The best orchards are on Belgrade hill and in the west part of the town. More or less lumber- ing is done in its woods each winter. With the exception of the period when one Morgan operated a slate quarry on the farm of Albion Rockwood, no mining has been done in town. No newspaper has been published in Belgrade. Joseph W. Russell, who was at the Mills in 1844-5, is the only lawyer who has hung out his sign in town,

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and Ward Safford, who has practiced here many years, is the only dentist the town has had.

Doctor Williams, who was here before the town was incorporated, was the first physician in this vicinity, and Doctor Hemmenway, who came before this century opened, practiced here many years. Others who have practiced medicine in town since then have been: Doctors Sandborn, Joshua Davis, Aaron Crooker, W. W. Springer for forty years, L. J. Crooker, George A. Field, Holmes, Burbank, Huntington, George S. Currier, B. F. Neal and L. E. Reynolds, who came in 1887 from Lubec, and is now the only physician.

The population in 1790 was 159; in 1810, 800 (about); in 1820, 1,121; in 1830, 1,375; in 1840, 1,784; in 1850, 1,722; in 1860, 1,592; in 1870, 1,485; in 1880, 1,321; in 1890, 1,090. In 1890 the valuation was: polls, 361; estates, $471,889. The population was largest just after the an- nexation of Dearborn, and every census since has seen a large decrease. The fate of Belgrade is only that of most of the rural dis- tricts of Maine. The valuation has not fallen away in proportion to the decrease in population, but is larger than thirty years ago. Many things have combined to cause this decrease in population and retard the progress of the town. Families are much smaller than a century or half a century ago, and Belgrade has been known far and wide as a good town to emigrate from. No town can make advancement when it is being drained of its very life blood, as a steady stream of young men and young women go from its homes to neighboring cities and distant states. They cannot say there is no chance for them here, for most who have remained behind have been happy and prosperous, and some have won high names for themselves, but the discontent and ambition common to young people in all country places have led them away by the hundreds.

A traveler may drive for miles along the roads of Belgrade and pass scarcely a single home which has not its representatives in the cities of Maine, in Massachusetts, or in the West. Belgrade men have found their way everywhere, and by their brain and muscle have made many cities and towns far away much richer, though the loss to their native place cannot be estimated. Many by their lives have won endearing names in the world, and their fame will make the name of Belgrade ever a respected one for the sons she has sent forth, as well as for those who have staid at home to win honor in town and county. As examples of the kind of men the outside world has en- ticed away from Belgrade a few may be mentioned.

The lives and works of Anson P. and Lot M. Morrill belong to the state and nation, but Belgrade claims a large share of the honor, as both were born in the north part of the town, the former in June, 1803, the latter in May, 1811. Both were leaders in local politics as young men, and since they moved away both have been governors of

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TOWN OF BELGRADE.

Maine and members of congress, and Lot M. has been a member of the United States senate and secretary of the United States treasury. No Maine town but Livermore has produced brothers like these.

Horace Austin went from Belgrade to Minnesota about 1853, and has since been governor of that state, an auditor of the United States treasury, and has held other high offices. The late Judge Titcomb, of Augusta, was born here in 1820. Charles A. Austin, who went to Dakota in 1880, has won bright laurels in legislative and legal circles there. Campbell Bacheldor was a poor boy, but his energy enabled him to graduate from Colby, and he has since worn the ermine in California. John S. Case was born on the farm of George Worcester, and went to school but six weeks in his life, but since he left Belgrade he has been mayor of Rockland, presidential elector in 1884, representative to the legislature, and is president of the Rockland National Bank.

George W. Knox, who died in Washington in 1892, at the head of the greatest private express concern in the country, and who was one of the wealthiest and most influential men of his adopted city, was born in Belgrade, July 4, 1829. He was a poor boy, and for many years before he began to build up his immense express business he was connected with various railroads, being conductor of the special train that bore President Lincoln on his famous ride from Baltimore to Washington. From his resemblance to the martyred president he was selected as the model of a famous statue of Lincoln in Washing- ton. In all his prosperity he was ever loyal to his native town. John F. Spaulding was born here in 1828, was a Bowdoin graduate of 1853, and became a celebrated Protestant Episcopal clergyman in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. For many years he has held the high position of bishop of Colorado.

Many other sons of Belgrade, who have strayed away and have given the town as great cause as these to be proud of them, are equally deserving of mention, but space forbids.

VILLAGES AND POST OFFICES .- Belgrade has no large villages. Being strictly an agricultural town, its population is scattered over its whole area. There are four post offices within its limits: Belgrade, North Belgrade, Belgrade Mills and Lakeside; while at the Mills and Depot (Belgrade P. O.) are small villages. From the time Belgrade was incorporated until 1840 it was the leading thoroughfare of all travel from the cities along the river to New Portland, Anson, Nor- ridgewock and other towns in that vicinity. The great amount of teaming over this route at all times of the year made all business much brisker along the line, and was the chief support of many a public house, or tavern, as they were always called.

Stimulated not a little by this travel, the first small village of the town sprang up at the place where this route crossed Belgrade stream. On account of the bridge at this point, the village was called, in local

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

parlance, "The Bridge," a name which is still often applied to the vicinity. Here, at the opening of this century, John Crosby kept a tavern. He built the large structure now known as the Wyman House, and was drowned in Snow pond in 1805, while boating some limestone from the Sidney shore.

Such was the hospitality of the people, and so little stock did a place need to have in order to be called a store, that it is hard to say who were all the early tavern keepers and traders. On the premises now occupied by Taylor & Son, Solomon Hoxie erected a large building, the basement of which was used for many years as a store, and the upper stories as a tavern. He traded for awhile, but died at last a prisoner for debt. Moses Page was in company with him. Others who traded here were: Robert Wells, Eri Wells, Palmer Branch and Adams & Noble. In 1837 it was first used as a tavern, when H. Bur- gess hung out his sign here. Other landlords who succeeded him were: Elias Taylor, David Blunt, Smith L. Gale, Edward P. Gilkey and Alonzo Rogers. In 1855, while owned by Mr. Rogers, the old tavern was burned.

William Rogers came from Massachusetts, and in 1823 built a house below the stream, on the place now owned by J. O. Rogers. This was burned before fairly completed, and the next year he built another, which still stands, and which he used as a tavern for fifteen years. William Wyman came from Hallowell in 1828 and occupied the old house which John Crosby had built. He traded here for many years, and for half a century was the most eccentric character of the town. He was father of a large but singularly unfortunate family, four of whom afterward became insane; and three sons-William, Wallace and Wellington-were drowned in Snow pond in October, 1859. In 1834 Stephen Page built the house now owned by Reuel Williams, where he traded for many years. Isaac Weaver kept a store there afterward, and finally it was occupied by Dr. Joshua Davis, who traded there until about 1852, and was the last merchant in the little village around the bridge.

The building of the railroad through Belgrade in 1848-9 was the cause of many changes, but of none more marked than the disappear- ance of the old village at the bridge and the growth of a new one a short distance away, near the track. To this were transferred the business interests of the town and the gathering places of the country loafers. On account of the great hill at the Depot and the bog beyond, it was a hard part of the line to construct, but the straight stretch of track here is one of the longest on the whole road. The first regular train ran through here December 6, 1849.

Two stations were established in town : one in the south part, not far from the bridge, called Belgrade, and one near Belgrade hill, called North Belgrade, a name which still commonly appears, though, to

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avoid confusion in telegraphing, it has recently been changed to Mes- salonskee. The first station agent at Belgrade was Lemuel Lombard. He was followed by George Richardson, the faithful servant of the road (who was greatly surprised that the trains were to run on rainy days), Albert Caswell and the present efficient incumbent, J. C. Mosher. At North Belgrade the agents have been : Charles Richard- son, James Lowe and Frank H. Judkins.

To distinguish the village which began to grow up around the station of Belgrade upon the completion of the railroad, from the old village below at the bridge, it was called the " Depot," and is com- monly so spoken of now. Before the building of the railroad the tract had been a large " common," destitute of habitations, but with the chief highway of the town running through it. Here was soon the leading village of the town. George Richardson built a hotel here, known as the Railroad House, in 1851. He was soon followed in its manage- ment by Leonard & Stuart. Other landlords since them have been: J. Manter, C. Young, Samuel Whitehouse and Leander Yeaton, who took possession in 1877 and is still landlord. It has been the principal hotel of the village, though the so called Miller House, built in 1851, by Frederick Spencer, has been used at times as a public house and at other times as a store. Those who have been landlords or merchants there since Spencer are : A. Kimball, Stephen Worcester, A. J. Mills, A. K. P. Mace and H. C. Minot.

Solomon Leonard, from Augusta, built a large store and dwelling near the station in 1850. Two years later Watson Leonard and C. W. Stuart began to trade there and remained in business fifteen years. They were followed in 1867 by A. Hammond & Sons, who are still prominent merchants of the town. In 1854 Rufus Hill built the store above the hotel and traded there until his death in 1864. Others who have occupied the store since have been : Samuel Whitehouse, Alex- ander & Goodwin, Tibbitts & Damren and C. W. Safford.

In 1860 Dr. Aaron Crooker built a large store and dwelling on the site of the store formerly owned by George Starrett, and burned in 1852. Albert Caswell occupied it in 1863-4, and was followed by Eldred & Stuart, who traded until 1887, when the old firm was dis- solved, and R. K. Stuart, Esq., has continued the business alone. In 1887 Lincoln A. Bartlett and Herbert Wadleigh built a large store and steam grist mill on the east side of the track and established a prosperous business. In 1891 Mr. Bartlett bought out the interest of his partner. Among others who have kept stores at the Depot in past years have been: Tibbetts Brothers, in store now owned by Paul Hammond; Jared Trask, in house owned by Charles Stevens; W. Y. Bartlett, in a building opposite the station, now removed ; and Albert Caswell, in house afterward burned, on the site of Mrs. Braley's house.

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There are about twenty-five dwelling houses in the village. But few enterprises outside of the minor industries common to all villages have been started here, and its chief support has been the railroad.

In 1831 David Tibbetts built a tannery near the house of Hartwell White, below the stream, which he operated for six years. Edmund Williams, in 1883, started a brick yard a few rods south of the station, on the west side of the track. The clay was excellent and the location as good as could be desired. Soon after three prominent Belgrade men-George R. Stevens, James Tibbetts and George E. Minot- went into partnership with him, and did business on an extensive scale, pressing the bricks by steam and building large sheds and buildings. In the winter they utilized the steam engine to saw shingles. For several years the business prospered, and employment was given to many, but the enterprise was destined to a short life, and for various reasons the manufacture of bricks was discontinued, the engine sold and the great sheds torn down.

In 1885 J. C. Taylor & Son established a corn canning factory near the stream bridge, and each fall do a brisk though not extensive busi- ness in canning a fine quality of sweet corn. They also can apples.

Besides its railroad connection, the village is on the daily stage line from Augusta to Belgrade Mills, Rome and New Sharon, now owned by J. H. Thing. A post office was established at the old village at the bridge August 24, 1821, with John Hoxie as postmaster. It was kept in the old tavern there. Robert Wills was appointed nine years later, and William Rogers in April, 1833. Frederick Spencer, who kept the office in the new village at the depot. was appointed in May, 1853. His successors have been : William Y. Bartlett, December 18, 1860 ; James Tibbetts, January 24, 1883; Edwin C. Taylor, July 20, 1885 ; and Lincoln A. Bartlett, who has been postmaster since April 2,1889.

Although there has been no public house or store for many years on Belgrade hill, the same travel that during the first half of the cen- tury was so important to the sonthern part of the town, helped not a little to make this a much busier place than it is now. Besides the taverns kept by Caleb Page and David Wyman, as mentioned else- where, Thomas Eldred, who came from East Pittston in 1830, kept a public house for many years in the large house now owned by William Eldred. Anson P. Morrill, of national fame, when a young man kept a small store on the hill, and this being burned, he traded in company with Sidney Norton in a small building near the forks of the road there. David Blunt afterward kept tavern in the same building, and next William Tilton, who hung himself there. Gustavus Clark and John Sandford were in turn landlords in the same house. Near by William Wing kept a store, and in turn William Bowman, David Pol- lard, Samuel Wyman and Sandborn Brothers traded at the same stand.

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The building was hauled further north, and is now the dwelling house of William Keeler.

Not far from Belgrade hill, and near the Adventist camp ground, is the station of North Belgrade, on the shore of the lake. There is no village here, but Charles Richardson has kept a store near the sta- tion for many years. April 30, 1880, a post office was established here, with the name of Lakeside, and James Lowe was appointed postmas- ter. He was succeeded in April, 1886, by Charles Richardson, who held the office until the appointment of Frank H. Judkins, October 27, 1891.

The stream at North Belgrade which formerly separated Belgrade from Dearborn has been, and is now, the scene of some manufactur- ing enterprise, though there can scarcely be said to be a village there. It is often called Spaulding's Mills. Three dams have been built on this stream, and two are now used; of the other, known as the old Butler dam, only a few remains are to be seen. Captain Henry Richardson, one of the first settlers in this vicinity, is said to have built the first dam here before this century opened, and to have run a grist mill, of which his son, Oliver, afterward had charge. Jeremiah Tilton had a saw mill on this dam, and Holman Johnson owned a shovel handle factory here. In 1867 John and James Alexander built a saw and grist mill on this dam, which they ran for several years. The former met his death while working here. In 1876 Spaulding Brothers began to manufacture scythe and axe boxes in this mill, and a few years ago the name of the firm was changed to Spaulding & Bickford, who are still doing business here.

Peaslee Morrill, the father of governors and congressmen, was a trader here for many years, and some of his sons were in business with him. Esquire Morrill was a prominent and influential man in this vicinity. Jeremiah Tilton, who built the store now owned by Joseph Merrow, was also a trader here many years ago. Solomon Lombard, George Blake, Alexander Brothers and Joseph Merrow have traded here, but there is now no store in this part of the town.

Where the stream runs into Great pond Jonathan Palmer built a dam about 1840, and operated a saw mill there, which was afterward burned. He rebuilt, and after passing through various hands it has been owned for the past twenty years by John Damren. It was burned in February, 1889, but Mr. Damren has rebuilt, and is doing a brisk business sawing lumber and shingles.

Quite a number of cottages have been built by Augusta, Water- ville and Oakland parties along the shore of the pond, on the farm of George R. Gleason, and the increasing number of those who come to this vicinity each season shows that the beauty of scenery here and the fine chances for fishing are becoming appreciated by others than the residents of the town.

A post office was established here, under the name of Dearborn,

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

December 23, 1818, with Peaslee Morrill in charge. This is the oldest of the four offices in town. In March, 1840, the town of Dearborn having passed from existence, the name of the office was changed to North Belgrade, and in April of the next year Thomas Eldred became postmaster. The subsequent appointments have been: Almond H. Wyman, July, 1845; Hiram Goodwin, March, 1854; Crowell Taylor, March, 1855; Almond H. Wyman, February, 1859; Jeremiah Tilton, December, 1861; Lemuel Lombard, January, 1864: James Alexander, January, 1865; Joseph Merrow, November, 1873, and Edward Rollins, August, 1886.

At Belgrade Mills we find the second small village of the town. Ninety years ago this was called Locke's Mills, and later Chandler's Mills, a name by which it is often known to-day. It is situated on the short stream connecting Great and Long ponds, and separating Bel- grade from Rome. It is six miles from the Depot, with which place there are daily stage connections. John Jones built the first dam across this stream before this century opened, and about 1800 John Locke established a grist mill here, the first one in the town. Next after him John Chandler and John Goodrich ran a saw and grist mill together, and then dissolved partnership and operated separate mills for many years. Both were prominent men in town. The grist mill of Chandler was burned in 1820, but was rebuilt. For the past twenty years or more Nathaniel Morrill has operated a saw and grist mill on the same site, but now a grist mill is not so necessary an establish- ment in a town as in the old days.

Adam Wilbur ran two carding machines and a fulling mill here, and dressed and colored cloth for many years before his death in 1854. Then Thomas Golder and George Goodrich began the manufacture of excelsior in the same building. This being burned, David Golder built the present excelsior mill in 1871, and soon sold it to Nathaniel Towle and S. C. Mills, who sold it after a few years to Towle & Austin. E. W. Towle Is the present owners. Once an extensive business in tanning was done at the tannery of Whitten & Southwick, which was burned in 1845. David Golder rebuilt it, and it has passed through several hands, but is not operated now.

But the leading manufacturing industry of the Mills and of the town, and the chief support of this little village, is the spool factory of Henry W. Golder. In 1852 Frank Harnden and J. H. Thompson built a spool factory here, and soon after sold out to David Golder, who, in company with several partners at different times, carried on the busi- ness until his death in 1882. Since then his son, Henry W., has owned and operated the factory. The old building was burned in 1885, but a new and better one was quickly erected, and great improvements made on the dam. From twenty to twenty-five men are employed, and the business is a credit and benefit to the town.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 118

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