Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 60

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 60

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Judge Knight has been an extensive traveler. With characteristic good sense he first became familiar with his own country, visiting every state but two, making a prolonged stay in Colorado, California and New Mexico. Besides a thorough knowledge of the Canadas, he has traveled leisurely through England, Ireland and Scotland, and extensively through seven of the nations of the continent, Austria being the most easterly point. Politically he was a democrat until the formation of the republican party, to whose interests and faith he has since been devoted. His successful and honorable career has been marked by high aims, practical duties, intelligent action and strict integrity. He has been blessed with a most excellent wife, is social in his nature, and together they enjoy and dispense the charms of an attractive and hospitable home to a wide circle of friends.

Colonel D. P. Livermore, born December 20, 1804, at Canton, Me .. is a son of William and Sarah (Taylor) Livermore, and grandson of Dea. Elijah Livermore, who was the original settler of Livermore, Me.,

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

and for whom that town was named. Colonel Livermore came to Hal- lowell with his parents in 1806. Here he received his education in the common school and academy. At the age of thirteen he began as merchant's clerk, and eighteen months later he began the printers" trade. He was many years the junior partner of the firms of Masters, Smith & Co., and Masters & Livermore, publishers of Maine Farmers' Almanac, Maine Reports, etc. He was elected colonel of regiment of artillery consisting of the artillery companies of Hallowell, Waterville, Readfield and Monmouth. He was manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Hallowell, from 1850 until 1892. In 1828 he married Emeline Spaulding, who died in April, 1891. Their five children were: Emma Francis (deceased), William Danforth (deceased), Sarah M. (deceased), Sarah S. (now Mrs. Charles E. Nash) and Charles . D., now manager of the Western Union Telegraph office at Portland, Me.

Abner Lowell built the first brick building still standing in that part of Hallowell called "Joppa," and kept a store in it. He and his son, William, about 1825, built the river packet Elisa, which ran in the Boston passenger service. In 1827 William married Eliza Clark, sister of Greenlief, George A. and Maria, children of James Clark, and died at sea in 1831. His only child, Albert Lowell, died unmarried, in 1865.

MAJOR ELIPHALET ROWELL .- This citizen of Hallowell comes of sturdy, patriotic New England stock. His grandfather, Eliphalet Rowell, moved from New Hampshire to Livermore, Me., where his father, Abijah Rowell, was born in 1795, the only boy in a family of five children. Eliphalet was born May 28, 1822. His mother's father was Moses Warren, a revolutionary soldier, who moved from Water- town, Mass., to the town of Jay, Me., where he died at the age of seventy-five. Major Rowell well remembers hearing his grandfather tell about Bunker Hill and other battles he was in.

Both of the major's parents lived to a great age; his father to eighty-nine years and six months, and his mother to ninety-six years and two months. Abijah Rowell was a farmer, in which calling his son, Eliphalet, grew to the age of sixteen, when he left home and went to Brunswick, Me., and entered the office of Thomas W. Newman, to learn the printers' trade. In September, 1839, Mr. Newman left Brunswick and came to Hallowell, and founded the Maine Cultivator and Hallowell Gasette. Eliphalet came with him and worked on the newspaper until 1843, when he took a term of study in the Hallowell Academy, then taught school two terms in his native town of Liver- more, working during the summer of 1844 on the Boston Post, his case being next to that of B. P. Shillaber, who, as " Mrs. Partington," has since convulsed the world. In 1845 Mr. Rowell returned from Boston to Hallowell and bought a half interest in the newspaper and printing concern of his old employer-Thomas W. Newman. The firm of

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HALLOWELL.

Newman & Rowell existed until June, 1852, when Hiram L. Wing bought Mr. Newman's interest and the new firm of publishers and printers became Rowell & Wing. This continued for two years, when Mr. Rowell bought his partner's interest and was sole proprietor to 1859.

At this time Charles E. Nash, a former apprentice, who had grown up with the business, bought a half interest and Rowell & Nash were in partnership until June, 1862, when Mr. Nash went into the army and stayed three years. In 1865 he returned from the war and pur- chased the entire business of Mr. Rowell, whose continuous connection as proprietor, in whole or in part, of the Maine Cultivator and Hallowell Gazette, had lasted through twenty-six consecutive years. The ability, labor and care required to conduct so able a paper, so long a time, are worthy of the monument it has erected to their memory.

During the war Mr. Rowell was appointed paymaster in the army, and was stationed six months in Philadelphia, then at Fortress Mon- roe until June, 1865, with rank of major. In 1866 he received the ap- pointment of postmaster at Hallowell, which he retained for the long period of twelve years.

Major Rowell was elected to the legislature in 1858, and his reëlec- tion in 1861, and again in 1880 and 1881, is the record of approval that his constituents endorsed upon his services. He' has also served in both branches of the city government, and in 1890 was chosen and served as mayor of Hallowell. He is now the municipal judge of the city.

In 1877 he was elected treasurer of the Maine Industrial School for Girls at Hallowell, and soon became business manager, holding this office for two years, when he was elected superintendent and treas- urer, and has since continued to manage with great fidelity and good judgment the difficult affairs of this worthy institution. Major Row- ell's financial standing is indicated by the position of president of the Hallowell Savings Institution, which he has held for the past six years.

Before the republican party had an existence, Major Rowell was a whig-since then a staunch republican. In 1844 he joined the First Baptist church of Hallowell. The records contain the names of but few persons now alive who were members when he joined-nearly half a century ago. His activity and zeal in all Bible class, Sunday school and church work are well known. In temperance reforms and organizations his position has been always in the foremost ranks. In a word, Major Rowell has always been a man of strong convictions, and never lacking the courage to declare them.

He married in 1844, Ellen Frances, daughter of Captain Samuel Smith, a shipmaster of Hallowell. Their seven children have been: George S., Edmund P., Lizzie F., Emeline P., Ellen F., William W.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

and Lillie P. Of these only two are living: George S. Rowell, editor of the Portland Daily Advertiser, and William W. Rowell, formerly business manager of the Auburn Gazette, but now in Minneapolis, Min- nesota.

George R. Smith, born in 1811, at Hallowell, is a son of Stevens and Nancy (Robinson) Smith, and grandson of Nathaniel Smith, of Monmouth, Me. He was for forty-six years a resident of Bangor, but returned to Hallowell to assist his brother, Justin E., as cashier of the Northern National Bank, and in February, 1879, became cashier, which office he held until January, 1892, when he retired, and returned to his old home in Bangor. His marriage was with Caroline H. Tarbox. Their children are: Henry T., of Troy, N. Y .; Fred B., of Chicago, Ill .; Julia A., at home; and Mary D. (Mrs. F. H. C. Reynolds).

George F. Wingate is a son of Francis and Martha (Savery) Wingate, and grandson of Joseph Wingate, who came from Ames- bury, Mass., and settled in Hallowell. Mr. Wingate began as clerk with Thomas Leigh in 1857, and three years later became a partner, and has since been the junior member of the firm of Leigh & Win- gate. He married Emma, daughter of James Myers. Their children are: Mary, Florence M. and Frank S.

CHAPTER XX.

TOWN OF FARMINGDALE.

BY A. C. STILPHEN, ESQ.

Location .- Settlement and Settlers .- Incorporation. - Natural Features .- Civil Lists .- Valuation and Appropriations. - Schools. - Present Condition. - Per- sonal Paragraphs.

T HE territory now in Farmingdale was at its settlement included, in nearly equal parts, in the old towns of Hallowell and Pittston, afterward Gardiner, and its early history, while cherished as its own, is also a part of the history of those towns. December 17, 1760, the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase granted to Dr. Sylvester Gardiner great lot No. 20, which began on the westerly side of the Kennebec river, near the north bank of the Cobbosseecontee, and ex- tended northerly on the river a distance of one mile at right angles from the side line and running back from the river northwesterly five miles, making a tract of five square miles; and on the same day they granted the next northerly lots, No. 21 to James Pitts and No. 22 to Benjamin Hallowell. These grants were on condition that the grantees should each " settle a family on his lot within one year unless pre- vented by a war." Upon these lots were the settlements made which were later to form the town of Farmingdale.

Doctor Gardiner conveyed the north half of lot No. 20 to Thomas Hancock, of Boston, January 8, 1761, subject to the settler's condition, and in compliance with that Mr. Hancock " settled " Jonathan Phil- brook on the northeasterly corner of the tract on a one hundred acre lot, having fifty rods frontage on the river and extending northwest on the line of the tract one mile, upon the then usual condition that he should clear land and erect a house, and that being done he con- veyed the lot to Philbrook April 25, 1762. Mr. Pitts, to comply with the terms of his grant, " settled Job Philbrook on a similar adjoining lot in the southeast corner of lot No. 21, and conveyed it to Philbrook April 30, 1762, and thus Jonathan and Job Philbrook became the first settlers of Farmingdale. The Philbrooks' nearest neighbors were Pease and Peter Clark, father and son, two miles away on the north, and the settlers below the Cobbossee on the south.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

Job Philbrook made some improvements on his lot and, December 28, 1765, conveyed it to Joshua Philbrook, who conveyed it, October 29, 1767, to Jonathan Church, of Barrington, N. H., conditioned that the grantee shall " clear not less than five acres of land within three years, and shall build a house on same and shall occupy said house by himself or some other person for seven years," thus showing that the improvements made by the Philbrooks, though sufficient to confirm the title, were not extensive.

Jonathan Church, who probably never moved here, had two sons -Ebenezer and Benjamin. Ebenezer settled on this lot and became its owner. He erected a large two story house, which was still stand- ing within ten years, and of which the cellar still remains, some thirty or forty rods back from the highway, and in the gully just south of this he erected a tannery and for years carried on business there as a tanner. He was the first permanent settler in this town, and became a prominent and influential man in the later settlement and affairs of Hallowell and Gardiner. He married Sarah Winslow, an older sister of the first white child born in Pittston, and they had thirteen chil- dren, of whom the eldest daughter, Charity, married Ichabod Plaisted, the ancestor of the Plaisteds of Gardiner.

Mr. Church died in 1810, and Mr. Plaisted, as administrator, in set- tling his estate, sold the farm February 23, 1813, and shortly after that it became the property of William Marshall, a son of Anna Mar- shall, forming, with the part of the " Pierpont lot " already owned by him, the farm which he sold March 28, 1834, to Daniel Lancaster. It is now the well-known " Pine Tree Stock Farm."

The lot which the settler, Jonathan Philbrook, had from Thomas Hancock, who by the way was the Boston merchant of noble fame and uncle of John Hancock, was conveyed by Philbrook to Robert Pier- pont, of Boston, September 23, 1775, by mortgage deed and title after- ward become absolute in Pierpont, and it was long known as the " Pierpont Lot."

May 20, 1773, Mr. Pierpont conveyed it by deed of gift to "my young and beloved kinsman, James Pierpont Fellows, a minor and son of Gustavus Fellows, of Boston," and later Gustavus Fellows suc- ceeded his son and by him it was conveyed to Moody Haskell, of Ips- wich, Mass, November 17, 1800, and the following year Haskell con- veyed five acres in the southeast corner of the lot to Dr. James Parker, then owner of adjoining land, and the remainder to William Mar- shall. There had been several temporary houses and settlers near the river on this lot, but I fail to find any evidence of a permanent settler before Mr. Marshall.

Both north and south of these lots was for years after their settle- ment an unbroken wilderness from the " Hook " to the Cobbosseecon-

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tee, and in 1787 Mr. Church's and a small house near his were the only houses between the present pottery lot and Captain Smith's house, which stood on the northerly corner formed by the intersection of the Loudon Hill road in Hallowell, where a settlement had then lately been begun.

The only road then existing between the Cobbossee and Hallowell was a mere bridle path through the woods and skirting the bank of the river about where the road now lies from Bridge street, in Gardi- ner, to the gully just south of the homestead of the late Captain A. Rich, whence it continued along near the bank over the spot where Captain Rich's blacksmith shop now stands, over a rude bridge across the deep gully and then bending westerly around the high gravel bank and then again near the river near where the railroad lies, till it reached and crossed the mill brook by another bridge, when it turned sharply to the west and followed the bank of the brook to the present location of the road at Atkins' wool shop, which it then followed over Loudon hill. The present location of this road was established by the court of general sessions December 10, 1799, and relocated Octo- ber 5, 1807, and again more elaborately and with a plan December 29, 1823.

The next important road located was that from Loudon hill, fol- lowing the high lands in its earlier course and after about a half a mile keeping the center line of the Pitts tract (No. 21) through to the Winthrop pond, while the " old post road " was established some years later.

Along these three roads the earlier settlers all then sought their homes and it is fitting that their location should be noted and pre- served.

The Pitts lot was first generally settled. At about the close of the revolutionary war, Joshua Bean, of Readfield, and Colonel Samuel Greeley, of Gilmanton, N. H., purchased the Pitts tract (No. 21) ex- cepting the church lot, together with land in rear of same to Win- throp pond, but their title was not fully confirmed till 1799. In the meantime they had divided the tract between themselves, and had it surveyed, and a plan of the subdivisions and lots made by Dr. Obediah Williams, and many of the lots had been bargained to settlers and entered upon and improved by them. All the lots were conveyed by the Williams plan, but it was not recorded, and diligent search has not enabled me to find a copy of it in existence. The descriptions in the deeds show that the northeasterly corner of the lot, at and im- mediately south of the mouth of the Mill brook, was divided into some twenty house lots and small lots of from one to eight acres each, and that apparently for the accommodation of persons already located on part of them. Below them were several lots of one hundred acres

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

each, being fifty rods in width and extending back one mile, and the remainder of the tract was divided, mostly into lots of one hundred acres each. A large part of these lots were settled several years be- fore 1799, but few of the settlers had titles prior to that and it is now impossible to determine the date of settlement.

The northeast corner of the lot was early settled. A dam was built across the Mill brook and a grist mill, and tradition says a bark mill and shingle mill were erected and operated by Joseph Smith and Isaac Pillsbury, who both lived on Loudon hill and beyond the limits of the town. Sonth of this, near the railroad track, where the cellar still is, back of Seavey's glue factory, then on the westerly side of the road, stood a large two story house, for years used as a tavern, built and kept by Captain Eben Hinkley. Connected with it was a large stable with stalls for sixteen horses.

The taverns of those days were hardly what would now be thought houses of rest and ease. Corn bread, venison, potatoes and fish then satisfied the healthy stomach, when settled with a nightcap of rum, and the tired traveler sought his rest in a blanket on the floor, his feet near the glowing fire and his head pillowed on his saddle.

A large one story house just south of this was the home of the widow Runnells, who lived there till her death at the age of ninety- seven years, and gave it to her son, John Runnells.

One hundred acre lot No. 1, lay next north of the church lot and was settled on by Captain Nathaniel Rollins, who resided there till his death, February 8, 1826, when he was succeeded by his son, Captain Enoch W., at whose death February 16, 1863, it descended to his son Captain William E., and his daughter, Mrs. Lowell, and is now owned by Captain Henry W. Hall.

The southerly three fourths of lot No. 2, together with back fifty- acre lot No. 49, was conveyed to Nathan Sweetland September 19,. 1799. It was subsequently conveyed to Captain Abram Rich, in whose family it has since remained.

The remaining one-fourth of No. 2 and lot No. 3, with small lot No. 11, and the east half of back lot No. 26, were conveyed September 19, 1799, to Esquire Enoch Wood, or as he was called, "Squire Wood," who was a gentleman of culture and prominence. He had one son and two daughters. The son, Perley Wood, and the daughters, Maria and Saphronia, became teachers, giving a notable record to the family for that period. The cellar of their house still remains on the farm of Captain A. Rich, on the hill south of the great gully, and on the west- erly bank of the road.

Back from the river and the front lots the ranges of lots were divided by the Loudon Hill road, those on the north side being num- bered from the east from 22 to 36, and on the southerly side from the west, 37 to 50.

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TOWN OF FARMINGDALE.

Colonel Greeley did not abandon his old home in Gilmanton, where he lived till about 1825, but he was still represented in the wilderness by two sons and a daughter, who were early settlers on this road. Sam- uel Greeley had lot 47 and other land adjoining, comprising the pres- ent farms of William Winter, where he lived, and of William C. Horn, J. P. Carter and E. S. Smith. Gilman Greeley had lot 30, and built a house there, it being where S. G. Bucknam now lives. In 1811 the westerly half of the lot, with the buildings, was conveyed to Daniel Bullen, of Hebron, whose son, John R. Bullen succeeded to its possession and lived there many years, owning with this lot, No 31, lying next west.

Betsey Greeley married James Burns, who had bought lot 42, lying on the south side of the road. Her father afterward gave her the easterly half of lot 30, formerly occupied by Gilman, and lot 41. Mr. Burns lived on his lot nearly opposite the present school house lot till his death, and the place is still owned by his descendants.

On lot No. 43 Benjamin Church, son of Jonathan, built the house where B. F. Sandford now lives. It was for many years a tavern, and was the frequent stopping place of travelers from the lower Kennebec to the Sandy river settlements.

Captain Gideon Colcord bought lot No. 44 in 1803. He came from New Hampshire. and first lived a few years on Loudon hill. He built the house where that now owned by William Moody stands, and known as on the Glazier farm. He afterward bought lot No. 29 and a fifty-acre lot in rear of No. 44, so that he had a farm of 250 acres. He married Sarah Marson, of East Pittston, and they had six children. He was a shipmaster in 1816, and was lost at sea when his oldest child was only eleven years old. His youngest child died soon after, and Mrs. Colcord three years after married Montgomery McCausland, a son of Andrew McCausland, who was a widower having five children, and they afterward had five children. There is a tradition that two other children lived with them, that the schoolmaster boarded there, and from the house built by Mr. McCausland, eighteen persons at- tended the district school at the same time.

Of this great family the oldest son, Hiram B. Colcord, alone sur- vives, a well-preserved gentleman, eighty-seven years old. He says the first school house stood near where Warren J. Carter now lives, and was afterward moved down on the corner between the two roads, near Mr. Bucknam's. It was here he attended school, and "got lots of lickings there." It was burned some fifty years ago, and the next was built where the school house now stands.

Orrin Colcord, second son of Gideon, born April 1, 1809, lived on a part of the old homestead, and died there December 21, 1890. His widow, who was Sarah Collins, still resides there with her daughter, Mrs. G. W. Paul.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

Thomas Davis, or D'Avis, was born in France in 1759, came to this country in the French service during the revolution, and at the close of the war remained here, and lived for a time in New Hampshire. With the Greeleys he came to Hallowell, and settled on lot 40, which he received from Colonel Greeley in settlement for services rendered him. He built a house, and in 1796 the farm was conveyed to him, and was occupied by him till his death, November 16, 1844. He had three sons, of whom James, the eldest, went as a soldier in the Amer- ican army in the war of 1812, and never returned.

Jefferson, the youngest son, succeeded his father as owner of the homestead, which occupies a commanding and beautiful situation, now more than half a mile from the nearest road, the old road having been discontinued from Mr. Bucknam's to the "Bog Farm " many years ago. It is still owned by his children, who make it their home, while in winter it stands alone, a silent witness of the labors of those gone before.

Deacon James Hinkley built the house where Warren J. Carter now resides, and his brother, Captain Thomas Hinkley, that where R. S. Neal resides. Captain Hinkley afterward bought adjoin- ing lands till he had a farm of 240 acres, which he sold in 1834 to Deacon Seavey, who was grandfather of the present owner.

Thomas Burnham Seavey was born in Scarboro, Me., February 26, 1783. He learned the hatter's trade, and began business in Portland, but soon gave up that business, and by his industry succeeded in earning his support while attending the academy there, and acquired a superior education. In 1807 he married Keziah Hinkley, of George- town, and settled on a farm in that town. In 1824 he was appointed inspector of customs, and keeper of the light house at Monhegan. In 1834 he came to Hallowell and bought this large farm, which he car- ried on till his death, September 2, 1875.

Andrew McCausland was one of the first settlers, and built the house where E. D. Patterson lives. He was a son of Henry McCaus- land, who was one of the first party of settlers that came to Pittston in 1760. This house is said to be first built of those now standing on that road, having stood there over one hundred years.

John Rice built, prior to 1804, the house now occupied by his grandson, John H. Rice. July, 1804, Alden Rice was born there, and it was his home till his death, December 31, 1881. Alden Rice was, during a large part of his life, a justice of the peace, and till his death the only postmaster of West Farmingdale.

While the Pitts or Greeley tract was being settled the Bowman traet or northerly half of No. 20, other than the " Pierpont Lot " re- mained a wilderness until 1795. Thomas Hancock had bequeathed it to his nephew, William Bowman, in 1763. Mr. Bowman was a son of Jonathan Bowman, who was judge of the probate court of Lincoln

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TOWN OF FARMINGDALE.

county from 1772 to 1804, and clerk of the courts of common pleas and general sessions for over thirty years, and he conveyed this tract to his father August 19, 1783. One mile from the west end of the tract had been sold and became part of the Greeley tract. The remainder was then known as the Bowman tract, and when subsequently settled the village was known as Bowman's Point, and this part of the town still bears that name.

Early in 1795 it was bargained to Peter Grant and associates, and surveys were made. A monument marking the south line of the tract and of Hallowell was set by "C. Barker, Surveyor," in June of that year. It stood at the west line of the road, where the stone monu- ment still stands, though covered, on the land of William H. Ring, and about ten feet from the northwest corner of land of D. C. Shep- herd.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 60

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