Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 141

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 141

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).

The farm now occupied by John O. Fowler, on the east side of the Sebasticook, was first settled by one Barnes, nearly a century ago. From him it passed to Abram Wallace, and from the latter to Samuel Fowler, father of the present owner. Just north of this farm Samuel Fowler, father of John O., settled early in the century. Across the river from him lived "Squire " Stinchfield, over eighty years ago. His son, Captain John H., and Captain Trial Hall, occupied farms in this vicinity, and in Captain Hall's barn the town of old Clinton held its meetings for a number of years. Captains Stinchfield and Hall died of old age about 1840. A part of the latter's farm is now owned by Henry M. Piper. On the road from Sebasticook river to Clinton town house were two early farmers-Charles Ames and Isaac Holt. The former died many years ago; the latter died at a comparatively recent date, and his son, Sprague, now occupies the farm.

Isaac Spencer's father, Colonel Reed, was an old settler. A roman- * In the possession of David O. Smiley, Benton Falls.

1221

TOWN OF BENTON.

tic incident is attached to the early history of Joseph Piper, a protégé of Isaac Spencer. When Joseph was a child, early in the present century, his parents embarked with him in a canoe on the Kennebec to remove from Anson, in Somerset county, to Ohio. The boat was capsized in the rapids at Ticonic falls and the father drowned. Joseph, snugly wrapped in a blanket, was picked up by Isaac Spencer and taken to live with him; the mother, who was also saved, being unable to support the boy. Joseph eventually became a successful farmer, and when he died, some time in the 'fifties, left a large estate, on a part of which one of his grandsons, Charles, now resides. Previous to 1820 Isaac Spencer built the house called " The Star and Eagle " (from a curious device which he placed over the front door). It stands about a mile above the Falls, on the east side of the river, and is now owned by Asher H. Barton, Sumner Hodgkins and Mrs. Loudon Brown.

In April, 1820, the Reed Spencer farm was deeded to Hobart Rich- ardson. In the same year Henry Sleeper and Samuel Hudson bought of Peter Grant one undivided half of the lot afterward known as the Ford and Hudson lot. In 1824 Amos Barton deeded the Joseph Hurd farm to Jonah Crosby. About 1830 Thomas J. Hinds bought the mile square, and in June, 1833, sold it to Stewart Hunt; and in October, 1831, Johnson and Samuel Lunt conveyed to the Stinchfields house lots back of the brick store in Benton village.

Still other old settlers in this neighborhood were: Abram Roundy, brother of Job, who lived on the east side of the Sebasticook and died between 1850 and 1860; Nathaniel Brown, who lived on the Albion road and died in the 'fifties; and Moody Brown, who occupied a farm next east of Nathaniel, and died about the same time that the latter dicd.

Mathias Weeks and Henry Johnson were early lawyers here. Johnson's office was where the town house now stands. He died some time in the 'twenties. Weeks had, at different periods, an office both at the village and at the Falls. He died in the 'sixties. James Stack- pole was another early practitioner here. He came from Waterville and afterward returned there. There was also a lawyer named Pres- ton, who had an office on the east side of the Falls; and later, in the 'thirties, Solyman Heath practiced in the building now occupied by Mrs. Getchell, opposite what was formerly the old Cony & Barton store. About 1830 Stephen Stark practiced here; Harvey Evans, Will- iam Matthews and James W. North practiced previous to 1840; Henry Clark and Crosby Hinds about 1840.

Three early school teachers who labored to " bend the twig as it should grow " were -- Healy, who lived where the town house now stands, and died and was buried in the Kennebec river road cemetery about 1820; and Darius Rand and --- Bigelow, who taught some time in the 'thirties.

1222

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

At East Benton, among the first settlers were: Andrew Spaulding, who came here about 1823, and took np a farm, part of which is now occupied by his nephew, John Spaulding, near Roswell Paul's land; Samuel Spaulding, who in 1831 bought nearly all the tract first set- tled by Denico, Brown and Anderson; Noah Paul, who came from Hallowell about 1830, and settled on the lower Albion road on the farm now occupied by his son, Noah S .; Josiah Hollingsworth and Solomon Hines, who arrived in the 'thirties, and settled on part of the Denico, Brown and Anderson tract; and Captain Andrew Richardson, who about the same time settled half a mile west of William Paul, on a farm bought of the proprietors, through Reuel Williams, of Augusta.

At Brown's Corner (now generally called Benton Station) lived a former surgeon in the revolutionary war, Dr. Ezekiel Brown. His house was at the corner of the road leading to the bridge. He died about 1820, and was buried on the knoll where the railroad station now stands. His grandson, Beriah F. Brown, lives on a farm on the east side of the Sebasticook, on the Unity road. Isaiah Brown also lived at the station, previous to 1815. He was father of Daniel H., a large cattle dealer and trader, and of Luke, who also dealt in cattle, though much less extensively than his brother.

About two miles north of this, on the river road, lived Samuel Gib- son, who was born previous to 1798. About 1800 Timothy Hudson built a house on the site of that now occupied by Sumner Gray; and James, son of the early settler, David Gray, lived in the house now owned by the widow of Henry Wyman. The ancient house formerly occupied by David Gray was removed up the river road a short dis- tance, and is now the residence of Albert Gray. In this neighborhood Israel Fox and Abijah Brown were engaged in trade from about 1825 to 1830.

At Goodwin's Corner, the farms now owned by B. P. Reed, James Warren and Charles A. Goodwin are on the land originally cleared from the primeval forest by Stephen Goodwin, grandfather of Charles.

EARLY TAVERNS, STORES, MILLS, ETC .- In 1818 David Reed kept a tavern at Benton Falls, on the east side of the river, in the house in which the widow of George W. Reed now lives. Previous to 1823, Silas Wing kept a tavern where the pulp mill boarding house now stands. He also kept a tavern, previous to 1831, at Benton village, on the site of the Crosby Hinds house, which was burned about fifteen years ago. The house owned by the heirs of Loudon Brown, at the east end of the bridge in Benton village, was opened as a tavern by Major Joseph Clark, previous to 1830. Passing from his hands, it was successively kept by Luke Brown, Daniel H. Brown and Warren

1223

TOWN OF BENTON.

K. Doe. The last named sold it to Loudon Brown, who was the boni- face until he died, some years ago.

The old Cony & Barton building was run as a tavern by James B. Farnsworth between 1840 and 1850. James Roberts afterward pur- chased the house, and kept a tavern there until he died, between 1870 and 1880. There is now no public house in the town.

About 1800 Captain Andrew Richardson established one of the first saw mills ever built on the east bank of the Sebasticook at the upper falls (now Benton village). Above this point, however, two saw mills were built nearly a century ago, back of the farm now owned by J. O. Fowler. They were owned by Job, Lacy and Abram Roundy, and others.

About 1810 Jeremiah Hunt followed the tanning business near Benton Falls, on the west side of the river, at the place where Roy Bowman now lives. Hunt died previous to 1814 in the Bowman house, which is said to be over one hundred years old. Henry Clark, also a tanner, died in the same house about 1821. About 1830 Thomas J. Hinds bought of the proprietors 640 acres of land on Fifteen-mile stream, and built a saw mill about two miles from its mouth. He sold it to Stewart Hunt in 1835, who added a shingle machine to the mill.

In June, 1835. William Dewey, Harlow Spaulding, William L. Wheeler, George Perkins and John Mulliken bought three farms, and all the mills and privileges on the Sebasticook, at a total cost of $32,000. They sold portions of the property at different times, until, in 1850, they had parted with all the original purchase.

Between 1820 and 1830 there were two saw mills, a carding, dye, and grist mill, and a tannery occupying both sides of the river at the upper falls. Isaac Spencer, sen., and Isaac, jun., owned the saw mills; Captain John H. Stinchfield, the carding and dye mills, and Martin Bisbee, the tannery. Afterward Gershom Flagg built and ran a grist mill at Benton Falls.

In 1824 Herbert Simpson and Ezra Mitchell kept the only black- smith shop in town, at Benton Falls. Other early blacksmiths in the town were Noah Boothby and Japheth Wing, who was there about 1830, and after forty or fifty years sold to William Simpson.

About 1840 Jonah and Otis Crosby built a saw and shingle mill on a small stream in the southeastern part of the town, and ran it till they sold to Andrew H. Crosby, who abandoned the business in 1888. Previous to 1840 Nelson, Jesse and Thomas Norcross built single saw mills on Fifteen-mile stream. They sold to Joseph Eaton, and he afterward sold to David Hanscom, who put in a gang of saws and a planer. About 1855 the mills were burned. Mr. Hanscom rebuilt them, and about fifteen years later sold to Charles M. Rowe and John Waldron. Shortly afterward the mills were again burned,

1224

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

and have never been rebuilt. About 1840 Joseph Hurd and Amos Foss built a mill on the stream below Otis Crosby's, which stood until the timbers decayed and fell to the ground. In September, 1854, David Hanscom sold a privilege on Fifteen-mile brook to Hiram Pishon and Daniel Ayer, who built a tannery there. The latter con- veyed his interest to Horace Wentworth in 1856; Pishon & Went- worth conveyed to Augustus Hunt in 1865; and the heirs of Hunt conveyed to Asher H. Barton, who still owns the privilege.

About 1864 a brush block and handle factory was established at Benton Falls by Crosby & Walker in a building just above the bridge, on the east side of the river. It was run until about 1874. In the same building wooden shoe soles were manufactured by Heath & Crosby from 1879 to 1882, when the business was abandoned. In 1872 a potato planter manufactory was started on the Albion road in a build- ing now occupied by John Palmer as a carriage shop. The projectors were Joseph L. True, the inventor, Hanes L. Crosby and John B. and A. G. Clifford. A few years afterward the business was sold to Ben- jamin & Allen, of Oakland.

The Kennebec Fiber Company, manufacturing pulp boards, now carries on the only industry of any magnitude in the town. Their plant is located at Benton Falls, east side. The first mill was built in 1874, and burned in 1877. The incorporators were: J. W. Wakefield, of Bath; William P. Frye, of Lewiston; Hannibal Hamlin, of Bangor, and F. E. Heath, of Waterville. In 1880 the present mill was built; it was enlarged in 1882, and again in 1888. The present high dam was built in 1880, just above the old dam. The old dam at Benton village was bought by the company in the beginning of its career and demolished. The number of men employed in the pulp mill is about fifty, and the capacity of the mill is ten tous of wood pulp per diem. Its present officers are: J. G. Richards, of Gardiner, president, and F. E. Heath, of Waterville, treasurer.

Major Amos Barton (father of Asher) and Samuel Cony (father of Governor Samuel) built on the east side of the Falls, about 1808, the store now occupied by Daniel King as a residence. They sold new rum and groceries, the principal stock in trade of all the early stores. About this time Peter Grant, one of the earliest settlers, kept a store on the west side of the Falls, opposite where the pulp mill now stands. Previous to 1817 Gershom Flagg built the store on the east side, now occupied by G. & J. Withee as a storehouse. In June, 1817, Johnson Lunt hired the Flagg store, and ran it until June, 1823, when he bought the Cony & Barton store, diagonally across the road, and made over part of it into a dwelling. The Flagg store was opened again in 1826, by John Reed, who con- ducted it for a few months; and afterward Asher Hinds came into possession. Mr. Lunt ran the Cony & Barton store one year, and

1225

TOWN OF BENTON.

Sewall Prescott kept it the following year. The entire building was then made over into a dwelling, in which Mr. Lunt kept a public house for a number of years. In 1824 he built the store across the road, south from the Coney & Barton building. It is now owned by Mrs. Getchell. Previous to 1831 Johnson Lunt and his brother, Sam- uel, built the brick store (the only brick building in town) at Benton village. Johnson continued in business, at the same time, at his new store on the east side of the Falls until 1835, when he removed to Augusta. The brick store is now occupied by S. H. Abbott & Co.

The Stephen Getchell house, on the east side of the Falls, was built by Sewall Prescott in 1827. It was run by him as a store for about a year, when it was bought by Samuel Lunt, who sold it, in December, 1829, to Mr. Getchell. This store has been occupied by Hiram Has- kell, later by Edward Bush, who was sticceeded by Edward Bradbury & Dean Richardson, and is now owned by Abbott & Co. In 1828-9 Samuel Lunt built the house now occupied by George E. Withee; and in 1832 Johnson Lunt built the shingle shed near the Getchell house, now finished as a store, and occupied by the Withees. Previous to 1830 Israel Herrin built the present town house at Benton village, and con- ducted business there until his death, previous to 1836.

About 1828 Thomas B. Stinchfield and Ezra Randall built a store at Benton village, just north of the Hinds & Barton store, and traded there a few years. Jacob Butterfield afterward kept the store, about 1832, and also ran a shovel handle factory on the dam. Later on, about 1840, Edmund Pearson purchased and kept the store. In 1831 Stewart Hunt and Temple Hinds traded at the Falls, on the east side. They afterward dissolved partnership, and Hunt kept the store alone until about 1842.

In April, 1835, Johnson Lunt sold the Cony & Barton building to Prince Haws; in 1840 Zimri Haywood traded one year at the Falls, and also ran a long boat on the river. About 1840 James B. Farns- worth and Briggs Carter traded for two years at the village; and pre- vious to 1850 William Reed traded in the brick store. He died be- tween 1850 and 1860.

An industry sui generis was practiced on the Sebasticook previous to the building of the Augusta dam, in 1836. Herring in countless thousands, and numbers of shad ran up the river every spring, and the privilege of taking the fish was sold at auction, by the town, to the highest bidder. Teams came from a radius of forty miles to ob- tain the herring, which were thrown into the carts literally by the shovelful. The townspeople enjoyed the prerogative of a fixed price for the fish, viz .: twenty-five cents per hundred for alewives, and four cents apiece for shad.

At Benton Station, David Herrin, father of Israel, kept a store, . previous to 1810. Before 1836 Winthrop Gibson was in trade at the

1226

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

corner of the road to the river; and about ten years afterward. George O. Brown conducted the business for a short time.

At East Benton the first store was originally built as a smithy by Benjamin Abbott, but was afterward enlarged and opened as a store by Hill & Bragdon, about 1878. The business was conducted just six days, when the building was burned. It stood on the west corner of the road to Clinton, opposite Hiram B. Robinson's present store. This latter building was formerly erected by David Hanscom, just south of the house now occupied by J. O. Peaslee. Mr. Hanscom kept the post office in it in 1858. The building was bought by Rowe & Hurd, pre- vious to 1860, and removed to its present site. About 1878 Edwin Rowe built a store across the road, south, from that now occupied by Mr. Robinson. It was afterward burned.

EARLY TRANSPORTATION .- Previous to 1830, Benjamin Paine con- veyed the mail on horseback, twice a week, from Winslow, through Benton to Bangor. It was this worthy's custom to carry a long trum- pet which, when half a mile away from each post office, he sounded vigorously, thereby giving warning to the postmaster of his approach. In the 'forties a stage was run for a short time from Vassalboro, through Benton, to Newport. Previous to the railroad entering Waterville, in 1849, a stage route was established from that place, through Benton and Unity, to Bangor. The "stage " was a one-horse wagon. It was driven for four years by a man named Marr, and, after him, for a like period, by Charles Smith. After the advent of the railroad in Water- ville, and until it reached Bangor, Shaw & Billings, of the latter place, ran a four-horse coach over the route. F. M. Hinds now runs a wagon, carrying the mail (and passengers, if any) from Fairfield, through Benton, to Albion, twice a day.

About sixty years ago long boats were used on the Sebasticook to convey goods from Benton to Augusta, Hallowell and Bath, via the Kennebec river, from Winslow. The boats were loaded with timber and farm produce, which were exchanged for salt, molasses, rum, etc. When the small steamers began running on the Kennebec, in 1836, the long boats gradually disappeared.

CIVIL HISTORY .- The census returns for the last five decades show the population of Benton to have been as follows: 1850, 1,189; 1860, 1,183; 1870, 1,180; 1880, 1,173; 1890, 1,136. The valuation of the town is thus recorded: 1860, polls 264, estates $175,526; 1870, polls 310, estates $248,123; 1880, polls 323, estates $376,601; 1890, polls 327, estates $399,071.

In 1800 the Kennebec river road was laid out in 1835 the Nor- cross road to East Benton was accepted, and about 1855 the Clinton road from East Benton was put through. The Unity road was laid out in 1810. The road from Hanscom's mills to Albion, on the north side of Fifteen-mile stream, was laid out between 1850 and 1860; that from

1227

TOWN OF BENTON.

Benton Falls to Albion, called the lower road, was laid out about 1820-3; the Harris road, from Albion lower road to Winslow, was laid out in 1867; the road from the old Asher Hinds house, on the Sebasti- cook river road, to the old Smiley house in Winslow, was laid out previous to 1830; the road from Unity road to Clinton line, near John Richardson's house, was laid out in 1852; and the road from the Ken- nebec river road to the east end of Fairfield bridge was laid out in 1847.

The covered bridge between Benton and Fairfield was built in 1848. It was made free in 1873. Bunker's island, between the two towns, was set off from Benton to Fairfield a few years ago. Previous to the building of the bridge, Jacob Ames kept a ferry, for teams and foot passengers, about half a mile north of Benton station. The rail- road bridge that formerly crossed the river from Fairfield to Benton, above the covered bridge, was built in 1858-9, and burned in 1873. The bridge at Benton Falls was built in the fall of 1869. The so- called artificial bridge at Benton village was built in 1887. At the same spot, about twenty years ago, stood a covered bridge, which was car- ried away by a freshet about 1871. A short distance above this bridge stood another, built in 1850, but it was carried away prior to the build- ing of the village bridge. A toll bridge was built just below Benton Falls previous to 1800. It was carried away several times, the last being about 1871, after which it was never rebuilt.

The town house (formerly Israel Herrin's store) stands in Benton village just south of the brick store, on the opposite side of the road. It was purchased by the town for its present purpose, November 6, 1860. Previous to this, town meetings were held in No. 5 school house, at the Falls.

The poor of the town have never been numerous, and are cared for by individual contract.

Since the incorporation of the town the selectmen have been as follows (the number of years of service, when more than one, being denoted, together with the year of first election): 1842, Daniel H. Brown, 12, Andrew Richardson, 3, Andrew Grant; 1843, Orrin Brown, 3, Otis Pratt; 1844, James Bradford, 4, Thomas J. Hinds, 3; 1845, Sar- geant Joy, 3; 1848, William Stacy, 5, Stephen Getchell, 2; 1850, Timothy Spencer, 4; 1854, Moses Stacy, 4, Clark Piper, 10; 1857, Asher H. Learned, 3; 1859, Madison Crowell, 2, Albert L. Spencer, 2, Horace Wentworth, 2; 1861, George O. Brown, 5, Otis Roundy, 5; 1862, Henry L. Flood; 1863, Ezekiel Brown, 2; 1865, Andrew H. Richardson; 1866, George W. Files and Simon S. Brown; 1867, Asher H. Barton, 6, Joseph C. Brown, 8, Ezekiel Chadwick, 4; 1869, James W. Sylvester, 7, Han- nibal J. Drake; 1871, Bryant Roundy, 5, Howard W. Dodge; 1872, John O. Brackett, 2: 1873, Sprague Holt, 3; 1874, Albert G. Clifford, 4; 1876, Amos L. Hinds; 1877, George W. Spencer, 2; 1879, Charles M. Row and William Spearin; 1880, Jacob O. Peaslee, 3, Charles A. Good-

1228

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

win: 1881, Benjamin L. Reed; 1884, George E. Withee; 1885, Otis C. Brown; 1886, Gershom F. Tarbell, 7: 1887, Stephen H. Abbott, 3, Will- iam L. Eastman, 3; 1891, James G. Barton; and 1892, James S. War- ren and Joseph Spencer.

In the following list of those who have acted as town clerk, the date of the beginning of each man's service is given: 1842, Charles H. Winn; 1844, John Clark; 1845, Japheth Winn; 1848, Asher H. Bar- ton; 1854, Andrew H. Richardson; 1859, Asher H. Barton; 1861, An- drew H. Richardson; 1862, Asher H. Barton; 1863, Bryant Roundy; 1867, Sprague Holt; 1870, William C. Simpson; 1871, Bryant Roundy; 1873, Fred M. Hinds; 1874, Bryant Roundy, and, since 1880, Amos L. Hinds.

The office of town treasurer has been filled as follows: 1842, James W. North; 1843, Hobart Richardson; 1844, Crosby Hinds; 1852, Madi- son Crowell; 1855, George O. Brown; 1859, Luke Brown; 1862, Isaac Abbott; 1863, Clark Piper; 1866, Albert G. Clifford; 1868, Bryant Roundy; 1870, William C. Simpson; 1871, Otis Roundy; 1873, Clark Piper; 1874, Samuel Hodgkins; 1877, George Lincoln; 1879, Charles W. Piper; 1881, Andrew H. Richardson, and, since 1884, Charles W. Piper.

Previous to 1864 two or three farms in Albion, adjoining the south- east line of Benton, were set off to the latter town.

POST OFFICES .- July 29, 1811, the post office at what is now Benton village was established as Clinton, with Gershom Flagg postmaster. The succession to the office was as follows: Sewall Prescott, appointed May 6, 1826; Johnson Lunt, September 10, 1827; Israel Herrin, Jan- uary 29, 1835; Mathias Weeks, September 18, 1835; Madison Crowell, July 10, 1841. The name of the office was changed to Sebasticook, May 11, 1842, with Crosby Hinds as postmaster. June 21, 1852, the name was changed to Benton, with Crosby Hinds still the incumbent. He was succeeded, June 17, 1853, by Hobart Richardson, and his suc- cessors have been: Andrew H. Richardson, July 8, 1854; Edward W. Bush, August 7, 1861; Crosby Hinds, April 15, 1862; Edwin Bradbury, October 22, 1883, and Stephen H. Abbott, December 1, 1890.

The post office at East Benton was established August 5, 1858, with David Hanscom as the first incumbent. Henry M. Robinson was appointed August 22, 1860; David Hanscom, July 16, 1861; Alvin Rowe, February 1, 1867; Joseph A. Hurd, April 13, 1868; John O. Brackett, November 19, 1869; Henry M. Robinson, January 24, 1872; Samuel N. Spaulding, June 9, 1882; Daniel R. Preston, March 22, 1887. On December 28, 1887, the name of the office was changed to Preston Corner, with Daniel R. Preston still in charge. He was succeeded by Hiram B. Robinson, November 20, 1889. The name was again changed back to East Benton, May 29, 1891, with Hiram B. Robinson still the postmaster, which position he holds at the present time.

1229

TOWN OF BENTON.

The Benton Falls post office was established May 31, 1878. Will- iam K. Lunt was the first postmaster. The succession has been as follows: John W. Withee, appointed May 27, 1886; William K. Lunt, April 4, 1889, and James M. Atwood, July 8, 1891.

At Benton Station, the first postmaster was Blake T. Dow, ap- pointed January 27, 1888. Seven months later he was succeeded by James W. Sylvester.

SCHOOLS .- The intellectual status of a community may be gener- ally premised from its educational facilities, and in this respect Benton compares favorably with her sister towns. There were nine school districts at the time of incorporation, and since then another district has been added. Each contains a comfortable and well appointed school house, uniform text books are used, and the entire school prop- erty is valued at about $3,500. Until 1892 a high school was main- tained in No. 5 school house, at the Falls; but this year no appropria- tion was made for the purpose, the proximity of Waterville offering advantages in higher education with which it was useless for Benton to compete.

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.

Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 141

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