USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 59
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In 1840 a determined effort was made for graded schools, and was carried through. A school house was built, and with few changes, the system of schools then adopted has remained to the present time. A new high school building was dedicated December 20, 1890, when remarks were made by Major Eliphalet Rowell, architect A. C. Currier and others. At one time the high school and classical academy were united, and under the tuition of Charles Fish and A. W. Burr, the school made good progress; but lack of funds brought the institu- tion to a close, the academy was shut up, and a new high school build- ing provided for. Emma O. French is now the first lady superintend- ent of schools for the city.
Hallowell Academy was chartered in 1791, and with the exception .of Berwick Academy, which was chartered on the same day, is the oldest chartered institution of its kind in the state. Twenty trustees were named in the act, and a majority was required to do business. With the act of incorporation the academy received an endowment of land, afterward incorporated by the name of Harmony. A building
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was erected, and first occupied in 1795. In 1804 the building was burned, and in 1805 another was built on the same spot. In 1803 over 400 different students had been in attendance, and in 1813 over 800. In 1807 a bell, purchased of Paul Revere and Son, was hung in the bel- fry. The academy continued to prosper until schools were graded, and scholars could be fitted for college in the high school. Then its patronage fell off as it did from all similar institutions in the state.
The early teachers of Hallowell Academy and years of service are given below; Woodman, 2; Moody, 8; Kinne, 2; Bailey, 1; Webster, 2; Curtis, 3; Folsom, 1; Emery, 1; Webber, 1; Olcott, 1; Hubbard, 1; Gurley, 1; Packard, 1; Boutelle and Tenney, 1; Greene, 1; Crosby, 1; Caldwell, 1; Bradbury, 1; Apthorp, 1; Learned, 2: Lovejoy, 1: Munroe, 1; Goodenow, 2; Mckown, 1; Blanchard, 1; Parker, 2; Sawyer, 1. This brings the institution down to 1838. In 1873 its name was changed to Hallowell Classical Institute, and it was made a Congregational school and a feeder for Bowdoin College. This did not prove a success, and for several years the academy has been closed.
ECCLESIASTICAL .- The Congregational or standing order, as it was called, was the first church established in Hallowell. This was March 1. 1791, with twelve members. A church edifice called the "Old South " was erected on the spot where the granite church now stands, just before the separation of Augusta from Hallowell. The commit- tee to build the church consisted of Moses Sewall, Robert Randall and Jason Livermore. Mr. Livermore was the architect and builder. This has always been the leading religious society in town. A few years ago, the church edifice, which was of wood, was burned, and the present fine granite building was erected. Among its ministers have been: Eliphalet Gillett, George Sheppard, Eli Thurston, Americus Fuller, Mr. Rogers, Horatio Q. Butterfield, Mr. White and Edward Chase, the present incumbent.
Mr. Gillett, the first pastor, was ordained August 12, 1795, and dis- missed May 12, 1827. He was a man of distinguished ability and many of his discourses were printed in pamphlet form. His successor, Rev. George Sheppard, was ordained March 5, 1828. The first deacons were: Obadiah Harris, Henry Sewall, James Gow and Ebenezer Dole, and the latter was also treasurer. Samuel K. Gilman was the first scribe. The twelve original members were: Benjamin Pettengill, Obadiah Harris, Henry Sewall, James Gow, Samuel Babcock, Jeremiah Babcock, Jonathan Davenport, William McMasters, Jason Livermore, Shubael Hinckley, Molly Page and Keziah McMasters. In 1835 the whole number admitted had been 332, and the number of members. in good standing at that time was 207.
The first Methodist sermon preached in the Kennebec valley was delivered in the Academy building in Hallowell, October 13, 1793, by
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
Rev. Jesse Lee, of Virginia. Mr. Lee went to Farmington, but re- turned to Hallowell, and preached here again on the 20th. In 1800 Epaphras Kibby preached by invitation, at Hallowell, in the school house, on the east side of the river. At this meeting, twin brothers, Melville B. and Gershom F. Cox, were presented for baptism, and both became ministers. The "new lights," as they were called, met with much opposition, and the school house where they held their meetings was often assaulted by those of the baser sort. Hallowell circuit was set off from the circuit of Readfield, in 1802. In 1810, largely through the influence of Sullivan Kendall, Peter Clark, John Haskell, Gershom F. Cox and a few others, a small chapel was built on Academy street, on the lot occupied afterward by the Thomas Hovey house. In 1826 measures were taken to build a house of worship, a lot was secured where the church now stands, and in November of this year, the church was dedicated. There have been various improvements since that time. Among the pastors here have been: Zachariah Gib- son, S. Hillman, John Atwell and Henry Butler. The preachers of this denomination have been: Melville B. Cox, who became the first foreign missionary of the denomination and who died in Liberia in 1833; his brother, Gershom F. Cox; Comfort L. Haskell, Leonard H. Bean, Isaac Lord and Josiah Bean.
The first regular effort to found a Baptist church in Hallowell was made by Rev. Henry Kendall, of Litchfield. Meetings were held in private houses, and then in a school house, but this was soon refused him. Meetings were then held in an old building standing where the soldiers' monument now is and then at the " Democratic Reading Room," at Niles' Corner. A church was organized in 1807, with three members, but in September of the same year, it numbered twenty- one. James Hinckley was the first deacon. They built a church on Winthrop street, which was burned, and then they purchased the Unitarian church edifice. Some of the pastors of this church have been: John Robinson, Winthrop Morse, Daniel Cheesman, Henry Fitz, Arthur Drinkwater and S. Adlam.
The Unitarians formed a church here in 1823, when Rev. Stevens Everett came and preached in the academy for about a year, and a society was formed. This society embraced many of the wealthiest men in the place, and soon they set about building a church edifice. This was the same building now owned by the Baptist society, but it has been much modified. Mr. Everett was succeeded after a few years by Rev. Henry A. Miles. The society was now in the zenith of its prosperity, and its meetings were fully attended. Then came Rev. Jonathan Cole, who had a long pastorship, but during this period great changes took place. The society was thinned by death and by remov- als from town, and after Rev. Mr. Squires had occupied the pulpit for
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a year, and others for short periods, the meetings were suspended, and finally the church edifice was sold to the Baptists.
The Free Baptists early formed a society here and later built a church edifice on Academy street. The society flourished for a time, then ran down, and their church was sold and changed to a dwelling house. After a few years interest in the society was revived and another building was put up, and meetings have been occasionally held there. The society has never been very prosperous.
A Universalist society was organized here, but the date is not known. Among the early ministers were Rev. Nathaniel Gunnison and Rev. Darius Forbes. They have a good church edifice, erected in 1843, and sustain preaching a large part of the time. For a few years past they have united either with Augusta or Gardiner in the support of preaching.
The Church of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) was until re- cently a mission dependent upon St. Mary's. It is now an independ- ent parish, with Rev. John P. Nelligan, pastor. Dependent upon this is the Catholic mission at Togus, which has formerly been supplied by Father McCarthy, of St. Joseph's, at Gardiner.
CEMETERY .- The present fine cemetery in Hallowell, situated on the Augusta road, and which does great credit to the people of the town, is but an extension of the old one. The southeastern portion is what constituted the old burying ground. The first interment here, as shown by the inscription on the headstone, was in 1800. This stone was erected in memory of Obadiah Harris, the first deacon of the First church in Hallowell. Deacon Harris lived on a farm beyond the quarry. The first hearse was built in 1816, by Mr. Partridge. Moses Palmer built a tomb here in 1815; Major Page built one in 1826, and others have since been built by Joseph Wingate, Thomas Metcalf, Isaac Pillsbury and John Dorr. The cemetery now contains many fine specimens of monumental work, including the shaft erected in memory of Hallowell's soldiers who fell in the war of the rebellion.
CIVIL HISTORY .- The Selectmen of the town of Hallowell, the first year, and the number of years each has served, have been: 1771, Pease Clark, 2, James Howard, Jonathan Davenport, 3; 1772, Peter Hopkins, Daniel Savage, 11, Samuel Bodcock; 1773, Ezekiel Page, James Cocks, 8; 1774, Benjamin White, 2, Samuel Bullen, 2; 1775, Nathaniel Floyd, 2; 1776, Josiah French, 2; 1778, David Thomas, 2; 1779, Levi Robin- son; 1780, William Howard, 3, Amos Pollard; 1782, Benjamin Petten- gill, Isaac Clark, 2, Samuel Dutton; 1784, Ephraim Ballard, 4; 1786, Daniel Cony, 2, Henry Sewall, 6; 1787, James Carr, 6, Brown Emerson; 1788, James Page; 1789, Joseph North; 1790, Lazarus Goodwin; 1791, William Brooks, 3; 1793, Elias Craig, 3; 1794, Nathaniel Dummer, 3, Matthew Hayward, 2; 1795, Joseph Smith, 7; 1796, Seth Williams, Beriah Ingraham; 1797, Robert Randall, 2, Peter Grant, 4; 1799,
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
Thomas Fillebrown, 5; 1800, Benjamin Poor; 1801, John Sewall, 12, Dr. James Parker; 1803, Isaac Pillsbury, Edmund Dana, 3; 1804, Will- iam Springer, 2; 1807, Samuel Moody, 13; 1810, Nathan Bachelder, 3; 1813, John Agry, 2, Levi Morgan, 5, William H. Page, 2; 1815, Jacob Abbott, jun., 3, Nathaniel Cheever, 3; 1818, James Clark, 2, William G. Warren, 8; 1819, Samuel G. Ladd, 3, Benjamin Wales, 4; 1822, John Merrick, 3, William Clark, 9, John Dunn; 1825, Samuel K. Gilman, 11; 1829, Nathaniel Stevens, William W. Fuller, 2; 1831, John D. Lord, William Winslow, 3; 1832, James Clark; 1833, James Atkins, 7; 1834, Aaron H. Davis, 3; 1836, Samuel Locke, 5; 1838, Thomas M. Andrews, 6; 1839, Benjamin F. Melvin, 11; 1841, Ebenezer Freeman; 1844, Jo- seph D. Lord; 1845, George Carr, 4. For 1850 and 1851 there is no record.
The Town Clerks were: Jonathan Davenport, elected in 1771; Daniel Savage, 1773; Daniel Cony, 1785; Joseph North, 1789; Henry Sewall, 1790; Moses Sewall, 1797; Benjamin Poor, 1798: John Sewall, 1802; Samuel G. Ladd, 1818; John Sewall, 1819; Samuel Locke, 1821; John Brown, 1832; Silvanus W. Robinson, 1838; Justin E. Smith, 1840; and Thomas Hovey, from 1845, until the city was incorporated in 1821.
The Mayors, with the year of election of each, have been: Rufus K. Page, 1852; A. H. Howard, 1855; Jesse Aiken, 1857; Henry Cooper, 1859; Moses B. Lakeman, 1860; Simon Page, 1866; James Atkins, jun., 1869; John H. Lowell, 1873; Peter F. Sanborn, 1874; John H. Lowell, 1875; John W. Clark, 1876; George S. Fuller, 1878; Joseph R. Bodwell, 1880; James H. Leigh, 1881; James J. Jones, 1883; Joseph R. Bodwell, 1884; Augustine Lord, 1885; J. Warren Fuller, 1887; B. F. Warner, 1889; Eliphalet Rowell, 1890; Fred E. Beane, in 1891; and William A. Winter in 1892.
City Clerks: Justin E. Smith, 1852; Thomas Hovey, 1855; J. Q. A. Hawes, 1872; A. H. Davis, 1874; J. Edwin Nye, 1879; D. K. Jewell, 1888; George A. Safford, 1890, and C. F. Kilbreth in 1892.
Treasurers: Peter Atherton, 1852; Ezra S. Smith, 1867; Hiram Ful- ler, 1869; James H. Leigh, 1876; John Graves, 1880; W. H. Norcross, 1882; G. A. Bullen, 1884, and Charles K. Tilden in 1886.
The Presidents of the Common Council have been: Andrew Mas- ters from 1852; E. K. Butler, 1855; E. Rowell, 1857; D. D. Lakeman,. 1859; Austin D. Knight, 1862; D. D. Lakeman, 1864; Mark Johnson, 1865; J. Q. A. Hawes, 1866; James H. Leigh, 1867; I. F. Thompson, 1869; H. A. Brooks, 1870; J. J. Jones, 1872; A. P. Macomber, 1873; Jus- tin E. Smith, 1874; Charles B. Johnson, 1875; J. W. Fuller, 1876; A. D. Niles, 1877; Samuel B. Glazier, 1878; A. D. Niles, 1879; J. J. Jones, 1880; J. B. Thomas, 1881; I. F. McClench, 1883; Ai C. Harrington,. 1884; C. H. Kilbreth, 1885; M. W. Boyd, 1886; L. H. Grindel1, 1887; D ..
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E. Shea, 1889; L. H. Grindel1, 1890; J. R. Gould, 1891, and J. F. Bod- well in 1892.
At the first meeting after the separation from Augusta in 1797, the following names were placed in the jury box-indicating who were the leading men in Hallowell after the separation: John Beeman, Andrew Goodwin, Elisha Nye, James Cocks, Jason Livermore, David Sewall, Joseph Smith, Thomas Fillebrown, Chandler Robins, Edmund Green- leaf, Edmund Dana, Alfred Martin, Peter Grant, Lemuel Tobey, Mar- tin Brewster, James Hinckley, Isaac Pilsbury, James Springer, John O. Page, William Springer, John Stratton, Shubael Hinckley, Elipha- let Gilman, Benjamin Guild, Samuel Norcross, Benjamin Stickney, Joseph White, Enoch Greely, John Couch, Moses Springer, Philip Norcross, Abner Lowell, Benjamin Prescott, Levi Morgan, Josiah Buswell, Harlow Harris, Henry Smith, Moses Palmer, Joseph Glidden, Gershom Cocks, Rowland Smith, Eben Church, Samuel Bullen, Will- iam Dorr, Electious Hoyt, Ebenezer Phelps, Thomas Hinckley, Na- thaniel Shaw, William Morse, Nathaniel Rollins, Benjamin Allen, Stephen Osgood, Joshua Wingate, jun., Samuel E. Dutton, Daniel Carr, James Lothrop, Hugh Cocks, Samuel Carr, Nathaniel Colcord, Joseph Dummer, David Day, James Partridge, George Gardner, James Gow, Daniel Herd, Nathaniel Kent, Ephraim Lord, Tristram Locke, Samuel Manning, Shubael West, James Atkins, Nathaniel Tilton, Na- thaniel Folsom, Gideon Gilman, Moses Carr.
There was ever a rivalry between the people at the Fort settle- ment (Augusta) and those at the Hook (Hallowell), and for many years Hallowell took the lead. To show the difference in the business of the two places in 1821, the next year after Maine became a state, the following figures are given: Dwelling houses in the village at Hallowell, 187; in Augusta, 84; population of Hallowell village, 1,942; of Augusta, 1,000; printing offices, Hallowell, 2; Augusta, none; book- stores, Hallowell, 3; Augusta, 1; newspapers, Hallowell, 2; Augusta none; tons shipping, Hallowell, 3,906; Augusta, 105; stock in trade, Hallowell, $47, 965, Augusta, $10,842; valuation of estates, Hallowell, $315,000; Augusta, $194,000.
The following is a recapitulation of the names of localities: Hallo- well was called by the Indians Medumcook, by the early settlers Bom- bahook, and subsequently, the Hook. The brook now called Vaughan's brook was early known as Bombahook brook, and for short, Bom brook. The plain above the cemetery was known as Hinckley's plain, and the point where Doctor Wilder's oilcloth factory is was known as Hinckley's point. Sheppard's point, at the lower end of the village, was so called from John Sheppard, an Englishman, who once owned it. Joppa was the name given to the lower part of the village. Loudon hill is on the Gardiner road and Bowman's point was in the present town of Farmingdale.
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In the early part of this century there was no place in Maine that, from a business standpoint, stood higher than Hallowell, and socially and intellectually it had few, if any equals. The Vaughans, the Mer- ricks, the Moodys, the Sewalls, the Dummers and many others, whose names are omitted for the sake of brevity, were men and women of education and refinement, and imparted to Hallowell society a char- acter and tone which gave it a wide celebrity. Business prosperity enabled them to erect beautiful homes and to elegantly furnish them. Some of these old mansion houses are still standing, but from most . of them the glory of other days has departed. Circumstances over which the people could have no control have diverted the once large business of Hallowell into other channels and left the city but the · shadow of her former self. This statement is made only in compari- son, for Hallowell still has many prosperous business establishments and many able and energetic business men. The people, also, from an educational, moral and religious standpoint, are in no respect in- ferior to the people in the neighboring towns and cities. But Hallo- well in the early part of the century was the most thriving town on the Kennebec, and now she is obliged to take a position much lower down in the scale. The cities of Gardiner and Augusta have pros- pered, but not at the expense of Hallowell. In later years they have had the advantage of more capital, to say nothing of superior natural advantages of situation and water power.
Hallowell has ever been a loyal and patriotic town. A number of the early settlers left their rude homes and half cleared farms to par- ticipate in the war for independence. In the second war with Great Britain, which nearly ruined the commerce of Hallowell, her citizens enlisted freely to serve on land and sea. Her numerous sailors made excellent material for the navy, and quite a number who enlisted in this arm of the service never lived to return. In the late war some of her best citizens joined the army for the preservation of the Union, and all the quotas assigned her were promptly and cheerfully filled. Her record in all respects as a town and city is free from blot or stain .*
The extension of the railroad to Augusta in 1851 may be said to mark the decadence of Hallowell as a commercial city, and from that time the thoughtful people were looking toward manufacturing enter- prises as the foundation of its future importance. Local capitalists, in 1886, united to secure a shoe manufactory in the city. At this time Johnson Brothers (practical shoe men), of Lynn, Mass., were seeking a new location and additional capital, and were induced to locate here. The city made generous provisions for tax exemptions. Governor Bodwell, Emory A. Sanborn, Colonel Livermore, Samuel Currier, jun., B. F. Warner, J. W. Fuller and others were among the promoters. A
*Dr. Lapham's Hallowell manuscript ends here .- [ED.
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building was erected in 1887 and business began in October of that year. In 1888 the interests were incorporated, with Emory A. San- born, president; William C. Johnson, general manager and salesman, and Richardson M. Johnson, secretary and treasurer. The business now furnishes employment for seventy-five people, producing 600 pairs per day of ladies', misses', and children's medium fine wear.
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.
William P. Atherton, born in Bath, Me., in 1833, is a son of Peter and Mary (Copeland) Atherton, who came from Massachusetts to Bath, and in 1834 to Hallowell, there they bought a farm of Captain Abram Thing. In 1846 they exchanged farms with Captain Levi Thing, thus securing the farm where William P. now lives. The house was built by Jonathan Haines in 1806. Mr. Atherton's brother, Horatio N., a soldier, discharged in 1861 on account of ill health, was associated with him in farming and orcharding until his death in 1878. These orchards (about fifteen acres) yielded 600 barrels of choice apples in 1891, shipped direct to Liverpool. Mrs. W. P. Atherton was Susan Parsons, of York, Me. Of their six children but three are living: Charles Warren, assisting his father on the farm; Frank Copeland, and Mary Sophia Atherton.
Greenlief Clark, born in 1813, son of James and grandson of Peter Clark, married Martha, daughter of Braddock Hathaway. She died April 11, 1887. Her only child, Charles G., died in 1865. Mr. Clark's neice-Mrs. Mattie E. Dunlap-has lived with the family since 1883.
George Albert Clark, brother of Greenlief, was born in 1817, mar- ried Emma J. Hildreth, daughter of Robert, and granddaughter of Paul Hildreth, of West Gardiner, and has one son, George Edward Clark.
Alexander C. Currier, born April 16, 1831, in Readfield, was a son of Samuel and Eunice Jane (Mace) Currier, grandson of Nathaniel and Polly (Veasey) Currier, and great-grandson of Greeley Currier, of Brentwood, N. H. Mr. Currier lived in Hallowell from 1839 until his death, April 24, 1892, with the exception of the time that his various mechanical and architectural occupations have taken him to other states. In the latter years of his life he was draughtsman for the Hallowell Granite Company. He married Ellen E. Peckham. Their son, Alger V., began the study of fine arts in Boston in 1883 and in 1885 went to Paris, where, after a three years' course, he dis- tinguished himself by exhibiting four pictures at the Salon Exhibi- tion, they being the only ones he offered for exhibition. He has been at home since his grandfather's death in 1888, having been engaged with the care of his estate.
Augustus N. Currier, born December 18, 1832, in Readfield, is
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brother of Alexander C. Currier. He came to live at his present home in 1855 with his parents, his father having bought the farm of one hundred acres in 1839, and subsequently built the present resi- dence near where the buildings of the original settlers (the Vaughans) was built. Mr. Currier is a farmer, and at the death of his father, February 26, 1888 he came into possession of his farm of some 600 acres. He married Mary, daughter of Gabriel Dennis. She was born in Liberty, Me., June 13, 1836. Their sons are; Herbert E., born November 12, 1862, and Judson Samuel, born May 22, 1866.
John L. French, born in 1809, at Seabrook, Mass., was a son of Enoch and Sarah (Libby) French, who settled in West Gardiner in 1812. Mr. French was a blacksmith and edge tool manufacturer in Chelsea from 1830 until a few years before his death, which occurred in 1884. His wife was Aurelia Littlefield, of Chelsea. Of their eleven children seven are now living: Caroline (Mrs. Ira Clough), Julia (Mrs. Nathaniel L. Francis), Susan (Mrs. Austin E. Wallace), Harriet E., Emma O., Stephen H. and Charles F., who is married and resides at Santa Rosa, California. The home, which was formerly the Charles Vaughan farm, is now occupied by Stephen H. and Emma O.
JUDGE AUSTIN D. KNIGHT was born March 21, 1823, in Lincolnville, Me., which was the native place of his father, Nathan Knight, who was the son of Nathaniel Knight, of Westbrook, Me., whose ancestors came from England. Nathaniel Knight and his son, Nathan, were both merchants. Nathan was the seventh son in a family of eight children, the youngest being a daughter. He married Lucy, daughter of Samuel Dean, of Lincolnville. They had eight children-six girls and two boys -- only two of whom are now living: Austin D. and one sister, now Mrs. Captain Ephraim Perry, of Hallowell.
Besides attending common school, Austin was one of a class of thirteen boys who were placed under the tutorship of Rev. Edward Freeman, in Camden, Me., who took his pupils through a course of study so thorough that they were fitted to enter Waterville College two years in advance. Instead of going to college, Austin read law and prepared for a professional career. About this time the activities of trade made the mercantile outlook more promising in the eyes of our young man, than the legal; and feeling that his general and special education were good business capital, he dropped the law and became a merchant. Ship supplies were his specialty, to which he added the building of ships. Quicklime was then shipped in vessels to many southern cities, and Mr. Knight became a large jobber in this article.
November 20, 1851, he married Julia A., daughter of Henry Cre- hore, of Malden, Mass. After a profitable and honorable following of the kinds of business described for more than fifteen years, he dis- posed of his Lincolnville enterprises and came, in 1858, to Hallowell,
PRINT, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.
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where he bought a small farm and settled down to take a rest. But his active organization and habits of work demanded occupation. He discovered that the material was sufficient and concluded that the conditions were favorable for a national bank in Hallowell. Among his friends who entertained the same views was John Graves; and the movements from which resulted the inauguration of the American National Bank were the direct result of their wise counsels and united efforts. Mr. Knight was elected its first president, serving from 1864 to 1871. From 1871 to 1888 he was cashier, with the exception of a few months, and he became well known as an expert judge of money. Although nominally retired, he still retains a seat as director of the bank whose interests have always been the subject of his special care.
In 1876 he was first elected judge of the municipal court of Hal- lowell, and his reëlections for twelve years attest the public approval of the impartial manner in which he held the scales of justice, and administered the duties of this difficult, often thankless, but always important judicial position. Judge Knight has also served the city eleven years in its legislative councils, generally as alderman. For over forty years he has been active and zealous in the ranks of Masonry, with an extended reputation for knowledge and experience of its workings, and devotion to its beneficent teachings and provisions. He was made a master Mason in Camden Lodge in 1848, and since that time by rapid and regular promotion he has ascended the fascinating scale of ancient and mystic rites, to the thirty-second degree-the highest honor but one. He also belongs to the numerous and honor- able order of Odd Fellows, and has been identified with the temper- ance movement almost from boyhood, joining the Sons of Temper- ance in 1846.
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