USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 136
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
Among others whose names appear on the early records are: Sam- uel Pierce, Jonas Proctor, John Bugbee, Joseph Reed, Aaron Choate and Edward Gove. Pierce, the progenitor of the numerous family of that name in the north part of the town, came about 1806, and settled near Lynn hill. Proctor settled in the same part of the town, just south of William Hallowell's. Bugbee came from Bristol. He set- tled on the Neck, on the farm now owned by Charles Fletcher. Reed also came from Bristol and settled near Dockindoff, where his grand- son, George P. Reed, resides. Choate and Gove were the first settlers under Vining hill. Gove cleared the land now owned by his grand- son, George Gove, while Choate took up the farms now owned by Charles Fletcher and the next lot north, now the property of the Robert Sproul heirs. It was he who employed Paul Chadwick on that fated 8th of September, 1809, and it was on this lot that the tragedy was enacted.
On March 3, 1809, this territory was incorporated as the town of Malta-a name it bore for eleven years. It was at the very beginning of this period that events occurred which made the name and terri- tory memorable in state history. The land troubles, in which the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase and the early settlers on their estates were the principal contestants, culminated, at about this time, in the unfortunate event known as "the Malta War," in which Paul Chadwick, of China, employed by Aaron Choate to assist Isaac
1176
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
Davis in surveying his lot, in Malta, was murdered by a party of squatters. As a matter of policy the assassins were acquitted, in the face of strong evidence of guilt, and the conciliatory measures which followed arrested an uprising, the extent and importance of which can be but faintly conjectured.
In 1820 the town was reincorporated as Gerry, in honor of the statesman, Elbridge Gerry. Two years later, the name it now bears was placed by a final act of incorporation, at the suggestion of Esquire Anthony Coombs.
During all these years, a continual influx of population, which was augmented by the development of a new generation, spread over the territory, opening new farms and establishing new industries, until the dawn of the fourth decade from the pristine settlement found nearly all the valuable land in the hands of permanent proprietors.
Among those who settled at an early date south of Windsor Corner, were: James Wingate, Eliphalet Rollins, Barnard Cole, Jonathan Lawton, James Given and Joseph Norris. Wingate came from the vicinity of Bath. He settled on the farm now owned by his grandson and namesake, at South Windsor, and erected the unoccupied dwel- ling nearly opposite the buildings now in use. His brother, Joseph Wingate, came several years later, and made a home on the next ad- joining lot south. The first negro that came into the town worked for Wingate. His name was George Brown. His body lies under the pines on land owned by Mrs. Townsend. Eliphalet Rollins purchased, in 1810, the farm on which his grandson, David Rollins, resides. Cole, a blacksmith from Nantucket, established a home on the Jonathan Connor farm, where he built the house now in use, and a shop near by. Given settled on the farm now owned by his son, David Given, Norris on the one tenanted by John P. Halpin, near Maxcy's Mills. J. F. Dearborn established himself on the " Widow Murray place," about a mile west of the Corner.
The first settler on Windsor neck was Joab Harriman. He made a clearing on the farm now owned by William Gray. His cabin stood about forty rods south of Gray's buildings. "Squire" Anthony Coombs, who moved from Harpswell, was one of the first permanent settlers in this section of the town. He took up the farm on which Mrs. Julia A. Coombs resides, which had been partially cleared by a squatter. Jesse Harriman, from Wiscasset, cleared the next lot north, now the property of Henry Dunton. In 1836, having sold his farm to John Perkins, he entered the Maine Conference as an itiner- ant preacher. He died in 1873. Joab Harriman, jun., cleared the farm lately occupied by Samuel Glidden, and Josiah, his elder brother, that of Cyrus Jones. The land of M. A. Ware was taken up by John Hyson ; that of G. L. Hall by Benjamin Albee.
Rufus L. Choate came from Connecticut about 1812. In company
1177
TOWN OF WINDSOR.
with Isaac Marsh, he took up the land included in the farms of his son-in-law, Simeon F. Morton, and Julian Sproul. Later, they divided the farms, Marsh taking the south lot. The farm of G. and I. Marsh was probably cleared by Thomas Rines, who sold it to Abraham Marsh, the father of the present proprietors, and removed to the land now owned by W. R. Hysler, on which he cut an opening. He re- moved to Augusta, and settled near the base of the hill that rises from the business part of the city, which still bears his surname. Isaac Marsh sold his claim on the south lot to Choate, and removed to the place now owned by his son, Charles Marsh, which he cleared. The original Marsh buildings stood north of those now in use. The Choate buildings were erected on the extreme north line of the lot. The Moody farm, opposite Simcon Morton's, was cleared by Mark Stevens; the Sproul lot, on the east side of the road, by William Sproul, grand- father of the present owner. His buildings, which stood a little northeast of where the present stand, were burned July 4, 1880. Moses Weymouth cleared the F. Reed place; Jonathan Vining the farm now owned by his son, Daniel Vining, and Thomas Morton the land of Dennis Trask.
At North Windsor the available lots were nearly all taken up in 1820. The second generation of Pierces had left the paternal abode, and shaped new homes from the forest. Luther had settled on the farm now owned by his grandson, Hiram Pierce; Varanus and John, his brothers, on the farms now occupied by Varanus Pierce, jun., and Varanus F. Pierce, their respective sons. Jason Pierce lived on the unoccupied farm north of Varanus Pierce, jun., now owned by Hiram Pierce. John Hallowell lived on the farm where his son, Caleb Hal- lowell, lives. A few rods north the cellar of his house may still be seen. William Hallowell settled on the Frank E. Hallowell place, and erected the present buildings; and Joel Hallowell settled on a lot just south of Jonas Proctor's. Nehemiah Ward made a home on the farm which is now the property of S. P. Barton; Abiezer Trask in a log cabin on the one owned by Horace Pierce. Nathaniel, James and John Lynn, sons of John Lynn, the pioneer, all settled between Lynn hill and Windsor Corner; Nathaniel on the farm of Amos Hewett; James where Charles Hewett lives, and John, jun., on the C. F. Don- nell place. The farm nearest the town line, in the north, now the property of J. Studley, was first settled by Eliphalet Morse, of North Yarmouth, who purchased the wild land of Luther Pierce. Thomas McCurdie settled in a log house on the Orin Trask place. The build- ings now standing were put up by Ezekiel Peva, a later pro- prietor. David Leeman settled where C. A. Merrill lives, and sold his improvements to the latter's father, Abraham Merrill. James Peva took up the land lately owned by his son, William Peva, on the Neck, and Nathan Newell, the Theodore Moody farm.
1178
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
Not far from 1820, a number of families removed from Monmouth and settled near North Windsor. Among them were those of Wil- liam White, Jonathan White and John Merrill. William White settled on the place now owned by Daniel Merrill; Jonathan, his brother, on the one owned by Charles Bailey. He exchanged farms with his brother, Joseph, and returned to Monmouth. The house Jonathan built was burned about fifteen years ago. It stood on the knoll north of the one now occupied by Bailey. Wickwire purchased the farm now owned by Varanus F. Pierce, whose father occupied the land on the opposite side of the highway. John Merrill settled on the farm now owned by his grandson, Nathaniel Merrill. The place had been partially cleared by P. Jackson, with whom he ex- changed for his farm in Monmouth.
CIVIL HISTORY .- The first town meeting was held in the house of Rev. Job Chadwick. From then to 1819, when the annual meeting convened at the Center school house, they were held at private resi- dences. For the next five years the school house and Methodist meeting house were the principal places of meeting. Subsequently, the annual meetings were held in barns. At a meeting called May 15, 1845, it was "voted to build a town house on the lot offered by William Haskell, the house to be finished by the first day of June, 1846." This house, which now stands at Windsor Corner, was first occupied at the annual meeting of 1847.
At the annual meeting of 1815, it was "voted that Joseph Norris' house, not far from his dwelling, be a house for the poor of this town." In 1822 it was " voted that John Cottle's old house be a poor house to put the poor of the town in," and "voted that John Cottle be the overseer of the poor to keep them employed." April 5, 1830, it was " voted that the poor be put at auction, to go to the highest bidder." They were struck off at amounts ranging from sixteen cents to forty- four cents per week, and this system is still in vogue, although a farm was at one time owned by the town for the use of the poor.
The Selectmen, the date of each man's first election, and the num- ber of years he served, if more than one, are as follows: 1809, Benja- min Duren, Walter Dockindoff, 5; 1810, Prince Keene, 2, John Bugbee and James Gray; 1811, Joseph Reed, and William Bowler, 3; 1812, John Lynn, jun., 5, Thomas Melurda, and Bernard Cole; 1813, William Hilton, 4; 1814, Gideon Barton, 15, Jonathan Lawton, 2; 1818, John W. Jameson; 1819, F. F. Dearborn; 1820, Joseph Merrill, 4, Isaac Mer- rill, 2, James Merrill, 1; 1824, Nathan Newell, 7; 1825, Charles Currier, 2; 1827, Anthony Coombs, 11; 1828, Sumner French, Asa Perkins; 1830, William Perkins, 23, Jesse Jewett; 1834, James Lynn, 2; 1835, James Given, 7; 1836, George Haskell, 2, Danforth P. Livermore; 1838, William Sproul, 4; 1840, Robert Thompson, 4; 1845, Stephen Barton, 3; 1847, Ambrose Bryant; 1850, Stephen Pierce, 5; 1851, A. S. Coombs,
1179
TOWN OF WINDSOR.
9, Horace Colburn, 6; 1853, B. W. Keene, 2; 1855, J. Sullivan Perkins, 2: 1857, A. L. Stimpson, 6; 1858, J. W. Taylor; 1861, Stephen Pierce, 16, Samuel P. Barton, Robert Ashford; 1863, Samuel Trowant, 3, David Bryant, 3; 1866, Charles F. Barker, C. A. Merrill, 9; 1867, John Pope, 9; 1871, David Given, 5; 1876, Adoniram Griffen, Cornelius Merrill, 3; 1879, James Erskins, 2, E. H. Mosher, 2; 1880, Ira D. Perkins, 4; 1883, Benjamin Albee, 2; 1885, Jasper S. Gray, 2, L. A. Howe; 1886, Ira A. Perkins, 4, - Francisco, 2; 1888, William R. Hysler, 4, C. F. Don- nell, 2: 1891, Joseph Colburn, 2.
The Clerks of the town have been: Benjamin Duren, 1809; Prince Keene, 1810; John Lynn, jun., 1812; William Hilton, 1813; John Lynn, jun., 1814; William Hilton, 1815; Nathan Newell, 1825; J. B. Wanton, 1833; William Perkins, 1841; Asa Heath, 1843; William Perkins, 1851; Stephen Barton, 1853; William Perkins, 1859; B. W. Keene, 1863; C. E. Coombs, 1872; A. C. Merrill, 1876; Charles E. Coombs, 1879; Joseph Colburn, 1883; Charles E. Coombs, 1884; Joseph Colburn, 1887; Charles E. Coombs, 1889; E. H. Mosher, 1892.
The Treasurers have been: Joseph Linscott, 1810; Eliphalet Rollins, 1811; John Lynn, jun., 1813; William Hilton, 1816; James Lynn, 1822; J. B. Wanton, 1837; James Lynn, 1840; Ambrose Bryant, 1840: James Merrill, 1844; Joseph Merrill, 1847; Horace Colburn, 1848; Samuel Barton, 1849; Horace Colburn, 1850; Thomas Hyson, 1851; Horace Colburn, 1856; Moses Donnell, 1857; R. Thompson, 1858; Samuel Wheeler, 1860; R. N. Thompson, 1863; Andrew D. Chapman, 1866; R. N. Thompson, 1867; Levi Sibley, 1875; James E. Melvin, 1876; Charles Ashford, 1879; H. D. Murray, 1880; L. A. Howe, 1881; Francisco Col- burn, 1882; Frank Colburn, 1884; Charles E. Coombs, 1885; David Given, 1886; Charles E. Coombs, 1887; F. W. Barton, 1891; Herbert Perkins, 1892.
CEMETERIES .-- The first general burying ground was established on Windsor neck, but a few bodies were early interred in undated graves a short distance above Leonard Hallowell's, on the west side of the highway. The cemetery known as the Mill Road burying ground, the principal one in the town, dates back to 1808. The lot, which originally comprised one-half acre of land, was donated by Joseph Linscott, whose grave is yet unmarked.
The burying ground on the Twenty-rod road, near Lynn hill, is the next younger. Sixty years would be a fair approximation to its age. Dea. William White, who gave the land, was the first person buried there. The cemetery on Lynn hill was first used as such about ten years later, in opposition to the one near the Baptist church, which dates back to the same period. The small and newer cemetery, near the Methodist church, known as the Chapman burying ground, is exclusively the property of those who have purchased its lots.
1180
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
INDUSTRIES .-- A saw mill --- the first in Windsor -- was established at a very early date on the west branch of the Sheepscot, at a point known as Maxcy's Mills, by Mr. Bowman, of Gardiner. The dam was built by Cornelius Maguier. It was purchased, about 1805, by Joseph Linscott, who built a grist mill on the same dam. Both build- ings were destroyed by fire while his. The grist mill which he erected on the same foundation, was purchased, not far from 1820, by Smith Maxcy,* and from that time the place was known as Maxcy's Mills. Mr. Maxcy sold the business in 1838 to Nicholas Smith, and removed to Gardiner, where his grandsons are prosperons business men. Mr. Smith's successor was Harrison Gray, for a few years. In the meantime Mr. Linscott sold the saw mill. It was operated by David Bryant and Smith & Pope. It was again burned while in Mr. Pope's possession. After the fire Mr. Pope sold the privilege to Mr. Stearns, who rebuilt the mill. It was burned, the third time, while owned by Anthony C. Merrill, the next occupant. After it was rebult both mills were operated by Samuel Cookson. Walter Stuart, the next occupant, was succeeded by the firm of Stuart & Moody, of which he was the senior member. They are now controlled by Ezra Moody.
Bowman's mill could have been in operation but a short time, when a saw mill was built by a corporation a mile and a quarter further up the stream, at the point generally known as Pope's Mills. A carding and fulling mill, which was operated about twenty years by Mr. Wilder, was soon placed on the same power. The entire establish- ment was purchased, not far from 1820, by William Haskell, who sold it, about thirty-five years later, to John Pope, by whom a stone for grinding corn was added. The original saw mill went to decay. The carding mill was in charge of James Melvin for a long term of years, under both Haskell and Pope's proprietorship.
In 1822 a saw mill was built on Boston stream by Gideon Barton and Thomas Gaslin. Gaslin transferred his share to Elijah M. Bar- ton and he to David Moody. It was operated only about fifteen years -- until the timber land in that section was quite thoroughly cleared.
The Colburn mill was erected, not far from sixty years ago, by Nathan Tollman, who occupied it but a short time. He exchanged the farm on which it stood with John Swanton, for the place now owned by Nathaniel Jones. Swanton occupied the mill only a short time, and sold to Horace Colburn, by whose sons the business is now conducted.
*Smith Maxcy was born in Union, Me., February 3, 1895, and died in Gar- diner, November 14, 1872. His father, Josiah, was from Attleboro, Mass. His son, Josiah, was born in Windsor in 1820, went to Gardiner in 1838 with the fam- ily and later became manager of the Gardiner estates. He died in 1878.
1181
TOWN OF WINDSOR.
A saw mill was built on the west branch of the Sheepscot, about six years later, by Jones Pratt, who, with the assistance of his sons, operated it ten years.
A saw mill was erected on the brook that flows from Savade pond, about fifty years ago, by Solomon Bruce, who sold the establishment to James Harriman, and immediately built another, about ten rods further down the stream. Harriman sold his mill to Harrison Doe, and he to James Melvin. The Bruce mill was taken down, after a few years, while Melvin's was allowed to decay.
A saw mill was built about one-fourth of a mile northeast of South Windsor Corner, on a small tributary of Sheepscot called Gully brook, by David Bryant, not far from 1850.
A tannery was built on the Belfast road, about a mile east of Pope's Corner, prior to 1830, by Anthony S. Coombs. The business was abandoned, after a run of almost twenty years. The next tanning establishment of which any knowledge can be secured, was that of A. L. Stimpson, which stood half a mile from South Windsor Corner, on land now owned by Mr. Stimpson. It was built in 1848. During the civil war that gentleman conducted a large and successful busi- ness in the preparation of shoe leather.
Near 1850 a tannery was established at Pope's Mills by John Doe. It was purchased by C. E. & G. H. Stimpson, by whom the business was conducted but a short time. The upper floor of the building was subsequently fitted up for a dance hall. It was purchased by Isaac Hilton, who razed and rebuilt it as a barn.
CHURCHES .- Although evangelistic work had been done prior to that date by itinerant circuit riders, the first church society here dates from 1814, when Rev. David Young and Rev. Joshua Nye, members of the New England Methodist Episcopal Conference, opened a side field in connection with their work on the Bristol and Pittston circuit. Three years later the town was annexed to the circuit.
In or about 1819 a church was erected on land donated by John Cottle, about twenty rods north of the residence of A. Rogers, near Windsor Corner. The building was of the regulation type, with high box pews, galleries, sounding-board and elevated pulpit. It was fired by an incendiary, September 6, 1838, and burned to the ground. The new church was built in 1839, and was dedicated on the 29th of August. In 1872 a parsonage was erected a few rods north of Wind- sor Corner, and, in 1884, a chapel was built at Tyler's Corner, an im- portant division of the field, in the north part of the town.
Among the pastors were: John Briggs and Henry True, in 1817; W. M. Gray, 1819; John Atwell, 1820; Gorham Greely, 1821; David Wentworth and O. Williams, 1822; E. F. Newell and Ezekiel Robin- son, 1823; B. Jones, 1824; William S. Douglass, 1825; Gorham Greely, 1826; Peter Burgess and Francis Drew, 1827; W. S. Douglass, 1828; J.
1182
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
Libby and J. Thwing, 1829; Philip Munger, 1830; C. L. Browning, 1831; A. P. Mayhew, 1832; J. Currier and N. Norris, 1833-4; Aaron Fuller, 1835; Asa Heath and Jesse Stone, 1836; Samuel Jewett, 1837; Moses Donnell, 1838-9( Mr. Donnell located in Windsor in 1840); J. Harrington, 1840-1; D. Hutchinson, 1845; Obadiah Huse, 1848; Phineas Higgins, 1849; Elisha Chanery, 1858: True P. Adams, 1861; Ephraim Bryant, 1862; George G. Winslow, 1864; John P. Simonton, 1873; Will- iam B. Jackson, 1875; A. Plummer, 1878; Wilbur F. Chase, 1879-80; Thomas R. Pentecost, 1881-2; John W. Collier, 1883; S. Bickmore, 1885-6; E. A. Glidden, 1887; E. S. Skinner, 1888-9; E. S. Gahan, 1890, and C. M. McLean, 1891.
The "North meeting house," or Union church, on the Neck, was built in 1827, by Daniel Bean, agent for the Congregational and Free- will Baptists. Ten years later, the Baptist church at North Windsor was built, during the pastorate of William Bowler. The society was organized about seventy years ago, under Elder Lemuel Jackson. For about fifteen years services were held in the Lynn Hill school house, and during the long period when the church was without a settled pastor, the rite of baptism was administered by Nathaniel Copeland, an itinerant evangelist. Among the early preachers were: Elder White, Elder Lemuel Rich about 1828; Enos Trask, who came a year later, and Elder White, not far from 1840. Mr. Trask was re- turned, and served the church, at intervals, for many years. Elder Goldthwait came about 1870. The church has been supplied a large portion of the time.
SCHOOLS .-- The earliest authentic record which has been pre- served states that in 1810 the town of Malta was divided into five school districts. By a comparison of statements of some of the old residents, the writer is led to infer that the entire territory had pre- viously been divided into two, or at most, three districts. From north to south, one district included all the section east of the west branch of the Sheepscot. It was sub-divided into three districts. The school house, which was built of logs, stood in the corner near where Charles Mason lives.
The first school house in town was built at Windsor Corner, about where the town house now stands. It was destroyed by fire in February, 1832. The first school building at South Windsor was erected just north of the corner. The school house which stood about twenty rods south of this point, a few years later, was burned. The old school house in the Barton district stood about fifteen rods west of the forks of the road, near R. P. Barton's. It was moved, about forty years ago, to the center of the district, and partially recon- structed. It was burned about three years ago. The one recently erected stands on the old foundation. The school house now in use in the Neck is located on the exact spot where the old one stood,
1183
TOWN OF WINDSOR.
which was torn away nearly fifty years ago. The first building erected for the school in the Pierce, or Hallowell district is still stand- ing and occupied-a veteran of three-score and ten. Other original buildings are found in districts Six, Eight, Ten and Sixteen.
Among the early teachers were William Hilton and Charles Cur- rier. The first printed school reports were issued in 1851 when, by vote of the town, 350 copies were distributed two days before the annual meeting.
In 1867, the upper floor of the town house was furnished with seats and desks, and a high school opened, with Horace Colburn as teacher. Two terms were held here, annually, for about five years. In 1878 a free high school was opened in District No. 1, which was continued five years, one term being held each autumn. The town is now divided into twelve districts.
VILLAGES .- The first trader at Windsor Corner was Mr. Linscott, who, at a very early date, occupied a store which stood on the site now covered by the residence of George E. Cleaves. Subsequently, but early in the town's history, the store was owned by Nathan Bachelder, of Hallowell, who employed Robert Williams, familiarly known as "Square" Williams, and, later, Fred Stuart, as clerks. This building was taken down many years ago. It was succeeded by a store which stood on the spot where H. A. N. Dutton's now stands, which was occupied, at different periods, by Ambrose Bryant, Stephen Barton, Nathan White, W. S. & G. E. Cleaves and H. A. N. Dutton. It has been occupied by George E. Cleaves, as a clothing manufac- tory. A store was built, by Mr. Wheeler, on the corner where the residence of Henry Orcutt is, not far from 1840. It was removed, after being occupied by Mr. Wheeler a short time. The building in which Mr. Dutton now trades was built in 1874, near the place where Herbert Ware's residence formerly stood, in the vicinity of South Windsor. It was removed to its present location in 1876. The store occupied by H. & A. H. Ware was erected by them in 1890.
The first tavern in this part of the town was built and opened by John Cottle about 1820. The building, burned in 1866, stood on the site now covered by the house of A. Rogers. About 1861 a public house was opened, near the Corner, by Robert Thompson. One of the oldest buildings in this part of the town is the house built by Captain John Lynn, near where Mr. Rogers now lives.
At South Windsor, formerly Bryant's Corner, a general store was opened by Cornelius Maguier, as early, probably, as 1820. In 1832 the building was purchased by David Bryant, who traded in it not far from twenty-five years. His successor, Jeremiah Connor, was the last occupant. The store which now stands nearly opposite Mrs. Bryant's was built by Seth Pratt for William Ware, who occupied it as a tailor's shop and general store, and for a short time before his
1184
HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
decease, in 1889, as the post office. He employed quite a force of seamstresses in the manufacture of sale work for city clothiers. The store now occupied by H. D. Cooper was built, about 1881, by James Wingate, of whom Mr. Cooper purchased the business. Prior to its removal to the present site it was known as the Bryant & Pratt store. The upper floor was used as a dance hall. Following Mr. Wingate, Edward Woodward, who removed from Whitefield, occupied it several years. It was subsequently utilized by William Ware as an annex, and for a short time prior to September, 1881, when it was burned, was occupied by Oliver Woodbury as a general store.
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.