Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 48

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 48

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).

An act was passed by the legislature February 27, 1833, specially for the town of Augusta-which in effect anticipated the recently passed general state law that authorizes the abolition of all school districts, and the placing of the schools under the management of a central committee or supervisor. The special act referred to authorized any school district in Augusta to elect annually seven (since changed to not less than three nor more than five) directors, who should have all the rights and perform all the duties of school agents and superintending school committees; with ample authority to classify and grade the different schools according to the scholars' attainments, and lay out and expend the school money raised by the town and assigned to the district as its proportion in the support of its schools. Any two or more districts in the town were authorized to consolidate into one district, and have all the benefits of the act.

Those citizens who had procured the passage of the act met many rebuffs in their efforts to have it made of any effect. The majority of the people were not yet ready for the proposed innovation, and the high school as a semi-private enterprise grew up to relieve the necessity of the hour. But in 1842, after several years of agitation and deliberation, two districts, Nos. 3 and 9 (originally one), voted to unite under the provision of the act of 1833, and adopt the name of the Village School District. The first meeting of the new district was held in the town house April 6, 1842, when George W. Stanley was chosen moderator, and Jonas G. Holcomb, clerk. The directors elected were E. S. Tappan (brother of Parson Tappan), R. D. Rice, C. C. Whitney, William Pillsbury, John G. Phinney, Moses E. Ham- len, George W. Morton; they classified the scholars into one high, two grammar, and six primary schools. There were then 974 scholars in the district. There was a school house on Laurel street (called the Piper school house), and another at the corner of Grove street and Western avenue (this was sold in 1854). The district now built a new frame house on Perham street, and another on North street. The un- used building of the Classical School Association was hired for the new high school.

423

AUGUSTA.

In 1848 the Village School District purchased the Classical School Association's building for $3,000. The same year a wood school house was built on Kendall street, and another on Chapel street, south of Green street. In 1850 the present brick school house on Grove street was built, also another on Crosby street, at a cost of about $3,200 each. In 1853 the present double brick house was built on Kendall street, at a cost of $2,520, and in 1855 a similar house was built at the corner of Orchard (now Chestnut) and Winthrop streets, at a cost of $3,015. In 1869 the old high school building which had descended from the Classical School Association, was superseded by the present spacious edifice, which was dedicated August 26, 1870, in the presence of a large audience. Among those who participated in the exercises were Joshua L. Chamberlain (then governor), Warren Johnson (state superintendent of schools), U. S. ex-Senator James W. Bradbury, ex- Mayor Samuel Titcomb and ex-Mayor James W. North, who was chairman of the building committee. In 1891, by vote of the district, this building was named the William R. Smith School, in honor of a steadfast friend and able promoter of the public schools-Mr. Smith having had an official connection with the schools of the Village District from the formation of the district until his resignation as director in 1890. A large four-room brick school house was built in 1890, at a cost of $10,000, at the corner of Oxford and Franklin streets, and named the Cushnoc Heights Grammar School. Gustavus A. Robertson has been the principal of the schools of the Village Dis- trict since 1868. Charles E. Nash, Rodney B. Capen, George W. Vickery, are the directors in 1892.

The last term of the high school of the Village District was held in 1881, when the Cony Free High School was established. The number of scholars in the Village District in April, 1892, was 2,052- about two thirds of the whole number in the city. The school sys- tem of the Village District, which was adopted in wisdom fifty years ago, is identical with the modern town system that is so generally commended by public educators.

In 1882 -- forty-nine years after the passage of the act enabling them to do so-three school districts-numbers 1, 20 and 26-lying contiguously on the east side of the river, united and formed the present Williams School District, which contained in April, 1892, 581 scholars. Daniel A. Cony, Joseph H. Manley and Eugene W. White- house made the first board of directors. The scholars were assigned to grammar, intermediate and primary grades. In 1890 the district began the building of a fine four-room school house, locating it on Bangor street at a place called Wedge hill. Its cost and furnishing was $13,000. The directors and building committee were William H. Libby, A. M. Wight, W. H. Williams, Joseph H. Manley, Daniel A.

424

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

Cony, F. L. Farrington, W. B. Leighton. The building was first opened for schools in 1892.

The Cony Female Academy was founded by Daniel Cony in 1815 .* The first building was erected that year at the corner of Cony and Bangor streets. The founder conveyed the building and lot to trus- tees, in trust, who, on the 18th of February, 1818, were incorporated. They, with their successors, were made "visitors, trustees and gover- nors" of the institution. The founder endowed it with ten shares of the Augusta Bank and other gifts. In 1826 the legislature gave to it half a township of land, which was sold for $6,000. The same year the house at the corner of Bangor and Myrtle streets, now the resi- dence of Harvey Chisam, was built for a students' boarding house. The same year Samuel Bussey, of Boston, gave to the academy a tract of land in Sidney, which sold for $500. In 1828, the value of its property amounted to $9,795. The original academy building having become overcrowded, the then disused Bethlehem church at the junction of Stone and Cony streets (built by the Unitarians in 1827), was purchased in 1844, and remodeled into a commodious academy building. Among the later corps of teachers were Jonathan and Newton Edwards, the Misses Hall and Bailey, Milton Welch, E. V. and D. A. Ingraham and Mrs. Arthur Berry, in 1856 and 1857.

After nearly fifty years of usefulness, the institution ceased to be self-supporting, and was closed. The endowments, however, remained, and by the accumulation of interest had in about twenty years reached the sum of about $20,000. It was the generous motion of ex-Gover- nor Joseph H. Williams, a grandson of the founder, and who repre- sented the trustees of the academy, to propose to devote the idle fund to the erection of a new institution for educational purposes. The city of Augusta accepted his proposition, and engaged to maintain a free high school for the youth of the city, in consideration of the use of a building suitable for the purpose. Governor Williams thereupon authorized the appropriation of the academy fund's accumulation to the building of the present stately edifice on the site of the second academy building. The old building -- once the Bethlehem church- was removed to its present location on the Fort Western lot at the foot of Cony street.

The new building was projected in 1879, and completed for occu- pancy in September, 1881. The name of Cony as applied to the Fe-

*Daniel Cony-ex-officer of the revolution, scholar, physician, legislator, judge-with his ruling love for the agencies that elevate and refine society, was to Augusta in its educational beginning, dating from the Hallowell Academy of 1795, which he helped to establish, what Reuel Williams-the lawyer, senator and man of affairs-was, a generation later, in constraining the location of the state government, and in inciting and promoting other enterprises of incalculable influence in shaping the future of his native town.

425

AUGUSTA.

male Academy, falls appropriately to the new institution .* The Cony Free High School, which has, in 1892, about 120 students, is conducted by a mixed board of directors, consisting of the superintending school committee on the part of the city, a trustee of the Cony Fe- male Academy and one of the directors of the Village School District. This board in 1892 consists of George E. Weeks, Winfield S. Choate, W. H. Harris, Joseph H. Manley, Charles E. Nash.

Since the substitution in 1887 of the town system of management for the suburban schools of the city, the names given to the different

ENGilbert ....

CONY HIGH SCHOOL, AUGUSTA, ME.

schools in lieu of the formerly distinguishing district numbers, are as follows: the Bracket School, Jewett, Stone, Leighton, Cony, North Parish, Fletcher, Howard, Hospital, Church Hill, Hewins, Spaulding, Bolton Hill, Howe, Stony Brook, Ward Road, Wellman. The number

*The following is a complete list of the principals of the Village District and Cony Free High Schools, with the year when each was engaged: 1848, George W. Jewett, 10 weeks, David Fales; 1850, G. P. Goodwin; 1852, Walter Wells (com- piler of the Water Power of Maine, 1869); 1853, David Fales, 5 weeks; 1854, Ephraim C. Cummings, John F. Dean; 1855, Albert A. Scott, 21/2 terms, Thomas K. Noble; 1859, F. A. Waterhouse; 1868, A. W. Jackson, 3d term, W. H. Lam- bert; 1870, G. L. Farnum; 1872, J. N. Ham; 1875, George B. Files; 1890, J. H. Parsons; 1892, William A. Hoyt.

426

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

of scholars eligible to these schools in April, 1892, was 468. The total number in the city was 3,101.

The act of the legislature authorizing the town of Augusta to be- come a city was approved by the governor (John W. Dana) on the 23d of July, 1849. The voters assembled in town meeting at Winthrop Hall, on the 31st day of December of the same year, to consider the question of accepting the provisions of the act. John A. Pettengill was moderator, and Daniel Pike, town clerk. The number of votes in favor of becoming a city was 588, and those opposed, 196. The town accordingly adopted the city form of government, and began its first municipal year in March, 1850.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AUGUSTA (Concluded.)

Churches .- Secular Organizations .- Banks .- Other Business Enterprises .- Lo- calities .- Civil Lists .- Personal Paragraphs.

T HE Congregational Church Society, of Augusta, has had an ac- tual existence since 1771, and its records extend back to 1786. From a handful of members in the latter year, it now numbers over a thousand communicants. It has built three houses of worship, and a like number of chapels.

In 1771 the inhabitants of the newly incorporated town of Hal- lowell petitioned the Plymouth Company for a ministerial lot of land, and a lot for a meeting house. The next year they voted £15 "for schooling and preaching," and in 1773 the town officially invited Rev. John Murray, of Boothbay, to preach one Sabbath, which he did; and the same year Rev. John Allen was hired, and preached two years, being the first resident minister. Those who immediately followed him, though each preached but a short time, were Reverends Samuel Thurston and Samuel Spring in 1775, and John Prince in 1780. In 1782 the frame of the first church in Augusta was erected on a lot nearly in front of E. C. Allen's building in Market Square. The fol- lowing year the house was first occupied for worship, but it was not completed until 1795. Here the society worshipped for twenty-six years, and the building, yet standing, and after several removals, is now known as the Friends' chapel, on Winthrop street.

Rev. Nathaniel Merrill preached in the new church in 1783-4, and in 1785 Rev. Seth Noble was engaged for sixteen Sabbaths. Rev. William Hazlitt preached fourteen Sabbaths, and was afterward hired on probation; Rev. Mr. Kinsman preached occasionally, and Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, once. October 11, 1786, Rev. Isaac Foster was ordained, and two years later was dismissed. In 1791 Reverends- Jacob Emerson and Adoniram Judson preached; and Rev. David Smith officiated for three months the following year. In January, 1793, the church at Chesterville (formed in 1790) was united to the elder church, and in July of that year, Rev. Charles Turner occupied the pulpit, remaining until March, 1794. In this year the Middle parish was formed (which, when Augusta was incorporated in 1797, became the South parish), and here, in October, a church of fifteen

428

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

members, who had withdrawn from the Hallowell church, was or- ganized, Rev. Charles Turner officiating for a few months. From this small beginning has grown the present South Parish Congrega- tional church. Rev. Daniel Stone began as regular pastor of the church October 21, 1795, remaining fourteen years. The first South parish meeting house was begun in July, 1807, and dedicated Decem- ber 20, 1809. It stood on "that lot of land belonging to Judge North, near the Grammar School House, on the east side of the street lead- ing to the Court House," and served the society until July 11, 1864, when it was burned by lightning. The society immediately took measures to build a new church; a design was accepted in November, and the corner-stone of the granite church was laid the following spring. It was dedicated July 5, 1866.

Rev. Edwin B. Webb succeeded Doctor Tappan as pastor, and re- mained until 1860. Alexander Mckenzie was the next pastor, and remained until 1867, when Rev. Joel F. Bingham came and officiated until 1870. Rev. James H. Ecob then came, and was dismissed at his own request in 1881. Rev. Henry E. Mott came next, and resigned in 1882. Rev. Arthur F. Skeele was ordained in 1884, and resigned in 1889. Rev. J. S. Williamson, the present pastor, was ordained May 15, 1890. The first and second chapels were built during Doctor Tap- pan's pastorate.

The pioneer of Methodism in the Kennebec valley was Elder Jesse Lee, of Virginia, who visited this section in 1793. Augusta was then within the Readfield circuit, and the third quarterly meeting was held at the former town in a barn, the sacrament being admin- istered on the green in front. The first meeting in Augusta to listen to a sermon in this faith was held in 1800, when Rev. Epaphras Kib- bey lectured in the hall of the old Thomas house.

In 1802 the town was included in a circuit that extended from Gardiner to Skowhegan. The preachers who traveled this circuit were, that year, Reverends Comfort Smith and Aaron Humphrey. The few attending the Methodist church resided in the north part of the town, and it was not till 1807 that a class was formed in the vil- lage, with Elihu Robinson as leader. November 30 and Decem- ber 1, 1810, a quarterly meeting was held in the old court house, Zachariah Gibson then being the minister in charge of the circuit. The society having greatly increased, a station was made here in 1828, with Rev. Daniel B. Randall in charge. The same year steps were taken to build the edifice still in use, though alterations and re- pairs have greatly changed its appearance. The successors of D. B. Randall were: Oliver Beale, 1829; John B. Husted, 1830-1; Elijah Crooker, 1832; James Warren, 1838; George Webber, 1834; Justin Spaulding, 1835 (who was sent to South Africa as a missionary, and

429

AUGUSTA.

the year completed by James Warren); Asbury Caldwell, 1836; Daniel Fuller, 1837; Ephraim Wiley, 1838, but whose year was filled out by Benjamin F. Tefft. In this year the class in the north part of the town was joined with Sidney. In 1839 Joseph Aspenwall preached; in 1840, Joseph H. Jenne; and in 1841, Albert F. Barnard, under whose pastorate the society had a great revival, and its membership was increased by 129 persons. Caleb Fuller preached in 1842-3; Asa- hel Moore, 1844; Charles W. Morse, 1845; Stephen Allen, 1847; Charles F. Allen, 1849; H. M. Blake, 1851; H. B. Abbott, 1853; Ste- phen Allen in 1855, during whose pastorate the vestry was added to the church; Joseph Colby, 1856; Aaron Sanderson, 1858; A. J. Church, 1860, who went to the war as chaplain, his place being filled by Will- iam McK. Bray, until the coming of Charles Munger in 1863. D. B. Randall preached in 1865; Cyrus A. King in 1867, during whose pas- torate the church edifice was cut in two and greatly enlarged; Ezekiel Martin, 1870; and Roscoe Sanderson, 1873, during whose pastorate 102 persons were received into membership. E. T. Adams was pastor in 1876; W. M. Sterling, 1878; Roscoe Sanderson, 1881; Charles W. Brad- ley, 1883; G. R. Palmer, 1886; T. F. Jones, 1889; and I. G. Ross, 1890.

The North M. E. Society is in the present Fourth Ward. The first Methodist class formed in the town was then known as North Augusta. A class was organized in 1802, and Japheth Beale was leader between 1803 and 1810. In 1838 the class was united with the Sidney charge, and Sabbath worship was held at Bacon's Corner- now Sidney Centre. The society in North Augusta was organized in 1861, and measures were at once taken to build a house of worship, which was completed the same year. In 1869 a substantial parsonage was erected, and in 1881 the church was repaired, and supplied with an organ. The labors of the pastors have been divided between this house and the Jewett school house, their names and terms of service being as follows: William Wyman, 1851; Thomas J. True, 1853; John Young, 1855; J. S. Cushman, 1856; Nathan Andrews, 1857; True Whit- tier, 1859; A. C. Trafton, 1861; Nathan Andrews, 1865; J. P. Weeks, 1866; J. M. Howes, 1868; F. E. Emerick, 1869; F. W. Smith, 1871; R. F. French, 1873; John W. Perrey, 1876; George L. Burbank, 1877; Thomas Hillman, 1878; John B. Fogg, 1879; C. L. Libbey, 1884; D. L. Ford, 1886; H. F. Patterson, 1887; W. H. Barber, 1888; H. L. Crockett, 1891; and C. M. Abbott, 1892.

In April, 1825, Christ Church (Unitarian) was formed, worshipping in the court house and Cony Female Academy, the services being led by various clergymen temporarily engaged. In September, 1825, Daniel Cony and fifty-two others petitioned the legislature to divide the South parish, and January 23, 1826, an act was passed incorporat- ing the East parish. May 27, 1827, the frame of the church building was raised on the corner of Cony and Stone streets, and the edifice

430

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

was dedicated October 18, 1827, as Bethlehem church. In 1828 Rev. William Ford came, and was settled as pastor, September 9, 1829. He was succeeded by Rev. Allen Putnam, November 23, 1831. A lot was purchased at the head of Oak street, and on it a new edifice was erected, and dedicated October 17, 1833. Mr. Putnam was dismissed upon his own request in June following, and the society received occasional supplies until 1836, when Rev. Edward H. Edes accepted the pastorate. In 1839 he asked for a dismissal, which was granted.

For nine months supplies filled the desk, when a unanimous call was given to Rev. Sylvester Judd, of Northampton, Mass., who was installed October 1, 1840. Mr. Judd died suddenly in the night of January 3-4, 1853, and Rev. Loammi G. Ware, of Boston, succeeded him, July 26, 1854. He resigned in July, 1857, and was succeeded in October, 1858, by Rev. George W. Bartlett. June 1, 1860, Rev. Henry W. Brown was installed, and continued until August, 1866. Rev. S. Curtis Beach preached two years from August, 1867, and Rev. Wil- liam A. Cram assumed the pastorate in December, 1869, and was dismissed by his own request August 16, 1871. Rev. L. E. Beckwith was the next pastor. He resigned in October, 1874, and in 1875 Rev. Charles A. Curtis became pastor, being succeeded in 1879 by Rev. Philip T. Thacher, who held the pastorate until 1889, when Rev. Richard F. Griffin was called. The present pastor, Rev. J. K. New- bert, entered upon his duties in July, 1892, and was ordained October 25th. The new church on State street, at the head of Oak, was dedicated December 18, 1879.

In 1833 the Maine legislature first met in Augusta, and the few Universalists here, stimulated by the interests of the persons of this faith belonging to the legislature, organized a society in 1833, and for two years meetings were held in Bethlehem church, and in the old court house. Then a church edifice was erected in 1835, and was dedicated on Thanksgiving day of that year. The first minister was Rev. William A. Drew, founder of the Gospel Banner, and after him in order came Reverends William A. P. Dillingham, Zenas Thompson, R. A. Ballou, George W. Quimby, Charles R. Moor, Almon Gage, John W. Hines, William H. Dearborn, George W. Whitney, Albert C. White, John S. Gledhill, Harrison S. Whitman and J. F. Leland. The present fine brick church on Winthrop street was dedicated March 5, 1868.

The First Baptist Society was organized with seventeen members, November 12, 1831. Lemuel Porter, jun., became pastor. His suc- cessors, with year of their coming, have been: E. N. Harris, 1837; Thomas Curtis, 1838; P. S. Adams, 1840; Edwin R. Warren, 1841; N. W. Williams, 1844; Amaziah Kalloch, 1847; George S. G. Spence, 1849; Asa Dalton, 1851; H. V. Dexter, 1855; Lucius M. S. Haines, September 27, 1860; Charles H. Rowe, 1862; J. Ricker, 1865; A. V. Tilton, 1872;

431

AUGUSTA.

H. W. Tilden, 1875; H. J. White, 1884, and J. M. Wyman, since July, 1879. Services were held in the old court house until their church on Winthrop street was erected in 1835. In December, 1868, the church building now in use was completed at a cost of $20,000, on the site of their old building.

In December, 1846, a warm discussion of the slavery question led to a split in the church, and the seceding members formed a Second church, " having for its leading object uncompromising hostility to the system of slavery." Feeling ran high, the new church was not " recognized " by the old, and it was voted to withdraw fellowship from the recusant members. At length, however, through the good offices of Rev. Amaziah Kalloch, pastor of the First church, harmony and good feeling were restored on January 8, 1849, and each church recognized the other "as a church of Christ in Gospel order, and en- titled to fellowship and communion of the sister churches."

A Freewill Baptist church was organized in 1834, with only seven members. They met in a room on the first floor of the town hall, which had been fitted up for the purpose. After about a year, under the pastorate of Rev. Silas Curtis, the society removed its place of meeting to the town hall-the upper part of the same building-for better accommodations. Early in 1836 their numbers had so increased that they held services in the old court house, where they assembled until 1838, when they occupied the new court house. Attempts to erect an edifice of their own had proved unsuccessful. Mr. Curtis left the pastorate in the fall of 1838, and only occasional preaching was held for several years. In 1850 Rev. John Stevens was called by the society, and held his first meeting in Darby Hall. The congrega- tion increased rapidly. In June, 1852, Rev. O. B. Cheney became pas- tor, and, in the spring of 1853, a building was commenced, and dedi- cated November 3d, of the same year. In 1856 Rev. G. W. Bean suc- ceeded Mr. Cheney until July, 1860, when Rev. Hiram Whitcher was called, and remained till June, 1861. Rev. Charles F. Penney was called in June, 1862. In 1866 the edifice was repaired, and in 1868 enlarged. Mr. Penney remained till 1885, when he was succeeded by J. B. Jordan until February, 1891, when Rev. C. F. Penney again be- came the pastor. The church edifice is on Bridge street, near State, and is the original building with many alterations and improvements added.

SAINT MARY'S .*- On the eastern side of the Kennebec, about three miles north of the historic Cushnoc trading post, may be seen, at Gil- ley's Point, the ancient site of what was once known as the Mission of the Assumption. Here, upwards of two and a half centuries ago, at the period of the establishment of this religions mission, there ex- isted a small settlement of one of the most powerful, yet, at the same

*By Thomas J. Lynch, Esq.

432

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

time, one of the most peaceful tribes that resided within the borders of our state, called the Abenakis. Prompted by the noblest motives this tribe of the children of the forest sent a special deputation of their chiefs to Quebec, in order to obtain, if possible, a missionary, whom they might retain as their spiritual guide and teacher.

The venerable Superior of the Jesuits, after due deliberation, ap- pointed, on August 21, 1646, Father Gabriel Druillettes, S. J., who at once set out with the Indian embassy for the field of his missionary labors, where he arrived at the close of September of the same year, and was received with universal joy and thanksgiving. With paternal care and tenderness, the father received the cordial felicitations of his spiritual children, who looked upon him with wondering eyes, and as a messenger of the Most High. To acquire a knowledge of the In- dian dialect he studiously applied himself and his efforts were rewarded with the happiest results.

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 48

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