Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 69

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 69

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).

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

April, 1865, and continued his services till 1868. Rev. Joseph O. Skinner became pastor in 1869 and served the society till September, 1873. He was the last resident minister. During his pastorate, in December, 1872, Mr. Jediah Morrill, who had been the acknowledged leader of the society for more than fifty years, went down to his hon- ored grave. He did not forget the cause he loved so well, but put $3,000 into the hands of trustees of his own selection, to be held as a fund, " the interest to be used for the support of the Gospel in and by the Universalist Society." Mrs. Susan L. Hoag, a niece of Mr. Mor- rill, who had been a member of his family from her childhood till his death, gave, previous to her death in 1879, $500 to repair the church.

After Mr. Skinner's pastorate Rev. E. M. Grant settled at West Waterville and preached in 1875 and 1876, when the church was again closed. Rev. Amory Battles, of Bangor, supplied the desk for one year, beginning September, 1880. In 1882 Rev. G. G. Hamilton, of Oakland, was engaged to preach every Sunday for two years. Rev. R. H. Aldrich, pastor at Fairfield, succeeded Mr. Hamilton in 1884 and supplied the pulpit till 1888. Rev. S. G. Davis, of Fairfield, came in 1889 and preached till the summer of 1891, when he resigned on account of failing health and was succeeded by Rev. E. L. Houghton, the present pastor.

There have been Unitarians in Waterville for many years, but the first Unitarian sermon in the place was delivered by Rev. D. N. Shel- don, D.D., then of Bath, June 19, 1859. He preached again on July 10th, of the same year. In 1860 Doctor Sheldon preached ten times, and in 1861 was engaged to preach on the second Sunday in every month, with the exception of December. December 14, 1861, the friends of Unitarianism met at the town hall and finding that money could be raised for the purpose, invited Doctor Sheldon to preach regularly after the first of January, 1862. The salary fixed was $900 per annum, and a committee was appointed to convey the invitation. Doctor Sheldon accepted and became the Unitarian minister of Water- ville on and after January 1, 1862. The Unitarians were organized as " The First Unitarian Society of Waterville," July 17, 1863. The first meetings of the society were held in the town hall. In 1866 the present edifice was erected and was dedicated September 4th. The pews were sold for $2,664. The bell was presented by Alben Emery, of this city; the clock in the audience room, by J. M. Crooker, also of Waterville, and the pulpit Bible by Colonel R. H. Greene, of Winslow. The society also received $2,000 from the American Uni- tarian Association and a generous purse from a committee of Portland gentlemen. The clock in the tower was presented by Samuel Apple- ton, and was put in motion June 23, 1869.

The one person of all others to whom the Unitarian society is in- debted for favors is Mrs. S. M. Ware, widow of the late John Ware.

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On November 28, 1881, in accordance with certain conditions, she placed in the gallery a fine organ of the most complete pattern, from the manufactory of Hook & Hastings. It is an unusually sweet-toned and valuable instrument.

In the summer of 1888, Mrs. Ware purchased a fine residence in Waterville, west of the City Park, which she has since generously per- mitted to be used as a parsonage. She always contributed most gener- ously for the annual expenses and has always aided largely in all repairs and pecuniary subscriptions for any purpose. Her greatest gift to the parish was the Ware Parlors, a unique and beautiful vestry for chapel and social uses, erected in the summer and autumn of 1889. The workmanship is of the finest pattern, the elegant frescoing being done by Strauss Brothers, of Boston. It is a costly and beautiful gift and will always reflect the kind heart of the donor. This building was dedicated January 14, 1890; Mrs. Ware presenting the building in person, all of her children, and a large assemblage of parishioners and neighbors being present.

There have been five pastors. Rev. David Newton Sheldon, D.D., the first pastor, preached his farewell sermon, December 31, 1876. Doctor Sheldon lived in Waterville, after his resignation, honored and respected, until his death, October 4, 1889. The second pastor, John Adams Bellows, was a son of Judge Bellows, of Concord, N. H., and a graduate of Dartmouth in 1870. He was ordained June 6, 1878. He closed his pastorate, November 25, 1883. The third pastor was Rev. Daniel Rowen, who came here from Stoneham, Mass., and was installed April 30, 1884, and resigned February 12, 1885. The fourth pastor was Rev. Albert Corydon White. He came here from the Universalist church in Augusta. He was not installed. His ministry extended from March 22, 1885, to December 31, 1887. The fifth and present pastor, Rev. Josiah Lafayette Seward,* began his ministry, without formal installation, August 1, 1888.

The church in connection with the society was organized, under Mr. Seward, September 2, 1888, and there have been about seventy- five members enrolled. During the early part of 1892, a debt of about $1,800 was raised. The parish is now in a prosperous condition.

The Episcopal form of belief and worship is represented by St. Mark's Mission, which was formed by ten adults of Waterville in 1876. Among those most zealous in this movement were J. F. Percival and the late Judge J. G. Soule. Granger Hall was the first place meetings were held, and Rev. Edwin F. Small was the first clergyman. In 1878

* He was born in Sullivan, N. H., April 17, 1845, prepared for college at Phillips Exeter Academy, graduated at Harvard University in 1868 and at the Harvard Divinity School in 1874. He taught a year in the South, in 1868-69, a year in Boston, 1869-70, and a year as the principal of the Conant High School in Jaffrey, N. H., 1870-71. He was ordained in Lowell, Mass., December 31, 1874, and continued for fourteen years the pastor of the First Unitarian church in that city. He has received the 33d degree in Freemasonry.

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the society built their present neat chapel at a total cost of about $2,500. In 1886 the rectory belonging to the society was purchased, costing $3,000. The mission now numbers eighty-three communi- cants. It has had a boy choir since 1890, and has a chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew connected with the church. Through the efforts of the present rector, there has been established the first in- dustrial school in the city, in which sewing is taught every Saturday to about sixty girls. Each one pays a penny a week, or as often as they attend. Mr. Small, the first rector, was succeeded in 1881 by John M. Bates to 1883, by L. W. Richardson to 1885, by Mellville Mc- Laughlin to 1889, and since that time by Rev. James W. Sparks.

Religious services according to the Roman Catholic faith were first established in Waterville about 1840 as a mission attended from Ban- gor. The movement grew in interest, and a small chapel was built in 1847 on the plains. No resident pastor, however, was appointed here till 1857, when Father Nicolyn came. He was succeeded by Father L'Hiver, Father Picard, and in 1870 by Father D. J. Halde, who in 1871 bought land of John Ware, and built St. Francis de Sales church, costing $22,000, since which time the sum of $8,000 has been ex- pended on it. He was succeeded in 1880 by the present pastor, Nar- cisse Charland, under whose administration the parochial residence, formerly known as the McCaffrey property, was bought of Mrs. In- galls in 1886, at a cost of $3,600, to which $1,000 was added in repairs. The next year Father Charland built the parochial school, which was completed in 1888, and cost $7,000.

The convent, Order of Sisters Ursulines, costing with furniture, $8,788, was erected in 1891. It is used as a residence for the sisters, a boarding house for girls, and has class rooms for recitations. The parochial school has from 450 to 480 scholars, including twenty-one boarders in the convent. Although the church seats over 1,100 per- sons, and has two services each Sabbath morning, it is too small to accommodate the worshippers from this large and growing parish, which numbers, including Winslow, over 3,000 souls. In addition to accumulating and imperative duties at home, Father Charland holds services monthly at two missions: one at North Vassalboro, in St. Bridget's church, which was built by Father D. J. Halde in 1874, and the other in the Memorial Hall at Oakland.

Here is the oldest Sunday school record: " Being desirous of hav- ing a well-ordered Sunday school in Waterville, we hereby agree to meet at the old meeting house Sunday, August 10, 1827. Daniel Cook, Hall Chase, G. W. Osborne, Thomas Kimball, John C. Jewell, M. P. Norton, T. Boutelle, Shubael Marston, Asa Redington, James Burleigh, Nathaniel Russell, Lemuel Stilson, J. Alden, Daniel Paine, Jarvis Barney, Russell Ellis, William Pearson, J. M. Haines, S. Scam- mon, Isaac Dodge, William Hastings, J. M. Moor, W. Loring, Moses Appleton, James Stackpole, jun., George Stickney."

CHAPTER XXIII.

CITY OF WATERVILLE (Concluded.)

BY HENRY D. KINGSBURY.

Organizations. - Banks .- Cemeteries .- Post Office .- City Incorporated .- Offi- cials .- Schools .- Almshouse .- Music .- Personal Paragraphs.

A YOUNG Men's Christian Association was formed in Waterville soon after 1870. It flourished while a novelty, but lacked vitality to live as a fixture. Over $1,000 was expended in the experiment. Its affairs were closed up in 1875, leaving a small bal- ance in the hands of E. R. Drummond, which was deposited in the savings bank, and reinvested in the same worthy scheme when the present association was organized in 1886. C. W. Davis was the president, and Frank B. Philbrick the next and present. Charles F. Carpenter and Henry L. Tappan have been the treasurers. Edward A. Pierce was the first secretary, L. N. Tower the second, and George A. Mathews has served since February, 1892. The association hold a public meeting every Sunday afternoon, and keep their pleasant rooms open every day, in which they have a library of 200 volumes, 42 periodicals, a piano and other attractive features, including a gym- nasium for the use of the 150 members.

The Masonic Lodges of Maine derive their charters from four dif- ferent sources. Before the revolution there was a provincial Grand Lodge in Boston, having jurisdiction over New England, and subordi- nate to the Grand Lodge of England. Portland Lodge was chartered by this body. Later, there was another Grand Lodge, having head- quarters in Boston, claiming jurisdiction over all North America, subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. This body chartered the Warren Lodge, of Machias. After the independence of the United States, these two grand bodies became one, which was known as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The first Lodge chartered by this grand body was the Lincoln Lodge, of Wiscasset, in 1792. Immedi- ately after Maine became a state there was a Grand Lodge established for it. The first Lodge which it chartered was Hermon Lodge, of Gardiner, and Waterville Lodge, chartered June 27, 1820, was its

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

second, being the thirty-third within the limits of the state, and so numbered.

Of the charter members Thomas B. Stinchfield, of Clinton, was a clothier and died there long ago. General William Kendall owned the whole water privilege at what is now Fairfield village. From him the village was known for many years as Kendall's Mills. Old guide posts on the highways still exist, giving the direction and distances to Kendall's Mills. He was the sheriff of Somerset and the father of Captain William Kendall, of circular saw notoriety. Dr. Stephen Thayer was a well known physician. Colonel Ephraim Getchell came from Berwick. Henry Johnson was a remarkable man. He was of Clinton, to which place he came from New York about 1808. He was said to have been concerned in some way with the duel between Burr and Hamilton, which was the occasion of his coming. Jepthah Ames was an axe maker. Hezekiah Stratton, jun., was a merchant and the partner of Jediah Morrill. David Nourse was a lumberman. Colonel Ellis Burgess kept a public house at West Waterville. Calvin Wing was a lumberman. Elias Cobb was a law student in the office of Mr. Boutelle. Major Ebenezer Bolkcom was an old and esteemed citizen. Nahum Wood was a carpenter, of Winslow.

The first meeting of the Lodge for organization was in the hall of Thomas Kimball, October 26, 1820. Here the first officers were chosen, of whom Benjamin Adams was master.

The Masonic fraternity of Waterville have held their meetings in eight different places. Their first hall was in the public house kept by Thomas Kimball; after June, 1823, by Luther Ingraham. It stood very nearly on the site of the building now used by Mr. Estes for a shoe store and nearly opposite the old Williams House, of later date. When the present structure was built the former house was moved back into the rear of its former location and still stands there. Their meetings were held here from the date of organization until 1824. Their second hall was in the Bank House, so called, which stood ex- actly where the Ticonic Row now stands, in which Redington's furni- ture store is located. Their first meeting here was July 8, 1824, and their last March 23, 1831. When Alpheus Lyon built Ticonic Row he removed this building to the corner of Front and Temple streets, where it was afterward burned. Their last meeting here was in the dark days of the anti-Masonic excitement. There was only one other meeting held for fourteen years, and this was held at the office of Mr. Lyon May 4, 1837, for the very worthy object of voting to give a re- spectable brother twenty-two dollars with which to redeem a cow that had been pledged for the payment of a debt. When the Lodge next met it was February 22, 1845, in the hall of the Waterville Liberal Institute, on the corner of Elm and School streets, in a building which still stands on the same site, converted into a dwelling. While wait-

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ing for the fitting of a new hall the fraternity occupied, from Decem- ber 16, 1850, to February 3, 1851, the Phenix Hall, in Boutelle's build- ing. the same room which is now used for the typographical and printing work of the Waterville Mail. The fifth hall used by the fra- ternity was owned by Jediah Morrill and was in the upper part of the building now occupied by Wardwell's store. The first meeting in it was held February 10, 1851. The fraternity used this room for twenty- four years. The last meeting of the Lodge here was April 12, 1875. The Commandery, newly organized, held its last meeting here on the 25th of March previous. The sixth place of meeting was in the old Plaisted Building, which occupied the site of the present fine brick Plaisted Building. The old building has been moved to Charles street. The fraternity occupied these apartments from 1875 to 1890. The seventh place of meeting was in Ware's Hall, on the upper floor of the building next south of that occupied by Wardwell's store.

The eighth and present place of meeting, is the elegant Masonic Temple on Common street. The first Masonic service in this Temple was a meeting of the Lodge, March 23, 1891. It happened to be pre- cisely sixty years to a day since the last meeting, March 23, 1831, be- fore the silence of fourteen years of Masonic darkness, during the Morgan excitement. As if the fates meant to symbolize the event, the motor of the electric light works became disabled and the "lights went out." By the aid of feeble kerosene lights, rudely arranged for the occasion, the ceremonies of the first meeting in the beautiful hall were performed in the presence of a great concourse of the brethren. The consecration of the Temple was on June 13, 1891, just seventy years to a day from the consecration of the Lodge. An oration was delivered by Rev. J. L. Seward, of the Unitarian church. There have been connected with Waterville Lodge, either by having taken one or more degrees, or by becoming members or honorary members, the full number of 537 men, the present membership being 198.

The worshipful masters have been: Benjamin Adams, David Shep- herd, Joseph R. Abbott, Alpheus Lyon, Milford P. Norton, Daniel Cook, Richard M. Dorr, Samuel Wells, Asil Stinson, Alden Palmer, Jeremiah Arnold, Thomas W. Herrick, Wadsworth Chipman, Josiah H. Drummond, Charles M. Morse, Edward G. Meader, Charles R. McFadden, Willard B. Arnold, Frank W. Knight, Nathaniel Meader, Jonathan Meader, Isaac S. Bangs, Edmund F. Webb, Charles H. Alden, Llewellyn E. Crommett, R. Wesley Dunn, Frederick C. Thayer, Frank A. Smith, Edwin F. Small, Horace W. Stewart, True B. Page, William H. K. Abbott, Anson O. Libby, Warren C. Philbrook and Andrew L. McFadden.

At the meeting of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine for 1892, a dispensation was granted to the Royal Arch Masons of Water-

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ville, with H. W. Stewart at the head, to organize a Chapter in this city, which will be known as Teconnet Chapter.

St. Omer Commandery of Knights Templar, was organized with sixty charter members, September 27, 1874, and elected officers, George Wilkins being chosen as eminent commander. The Commandery was constituted and the officers installed, at the Unitarian church, October 13, 1874. The eminent commanders have been: George Wilkins, Isaac S. Bangs, Nathaniel Meader, Frederick C. Thayer, Frank A. Smith, Andrew L. McFadden, Horace W. Stewart, E. L. Veasie, Fred. A. Lovejoy and W. A. R. Boothby.

Several Masons have received the thirty-second degree and Rev. J. L. Seward has received the thirty-third degree, in the Supreme Coun- cil for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

Samaritan Lodge, No. 39, I. O. O. F., instituted in Waterville in 1846, flourished for several years in charge of Amasa Dingley, its founder, and Solon S. Simons, James Smiley, Henry B. White and George H. Esty, who were some of the charter members. Eldridge L. Getchell, Sumner and Joseph Percival, Ephraim Maxham, Doctor Boutelle and Simeon Keith became early members. About 1854 the meetings were discontinued, and twenty years later, when Odd Fellow- ship revived, a new charter, with the old name and number, was granted, and the officers of the Grand Lodge came here January 14, 1874, and instituted the present Lodge, with eleven charter members. H. B. White, a charter member of the first Lodge, none of whom are now living, was the first noble grand in 1874, and has been succeeded by: E. C. Low, George H. Esty, Joshua Nye, D. M. Black, L. T. Boothby, H. T. Chamberlain, C. H. Drummond, George S. Dolloff, E. Gilpatrick, C. W. Gilman, C. H. Jones, Simeon Keith, E. A. Longfellow, W. J. Maynard, N. J. Norris, J. L. Perkins, F. A. Robbins, W. B. Smiley, J. E. Scribner, E. N. Small, E. L. Spaulding, W. I. Towne, J. L. Towne, C. R. Tyler, C. H. Williams, E. W. Woodman, M. H. Blackwell, J. M. Barker, John Dailey and Charles M. Turner. G. H. Esty was the first secretary and E. C. Low was the first treasurer. Samaritan Lodge has 196 members.

Encampment No. 22 was chartered August 9, 1876; Canton Halifax, No. 24, was chartered June 5, 1889, and Dorcas Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 41, was organized April 25, 1892.

Ticonic Division, No. 13, Sons of Temperance, organized Novem- ber 27, 1845, was the outcome of the agitation of the evil of rum drinking, that began to take new and strong hold of public attention about that time. This order did much to prepare the way for the pro- hibitory laws that soon followed, and have made the state of Maine con- spicuous in the battle with alcohol, from that day to this. The names which follow show who were pioneers in the temperance movement. The first worthy patriarch of the order here was T. O. Sanders. Eldridge

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CITY OF WATERVILLE.

L. Getchell held that position in 1846, when, on the 4th of July, a public lecture was given by Rev. Mr. Judd, of Augusta, and a celebration was held under the auspices of this order, and the Martha Washing- ton Banner now in possession of the Sons of Temperance was given by Mrs. Alfred Burleigh. The painting on this silk banner is still regarded as of great merit. It was done by a professional artist and cost $100. Some of the succeeding patriarchs were: W. M. Phillips, Edward L. Smith, E. H. Piper, R. Perley, Simeon Keith, E. C. Low, John P. Caffrey, Jones R. Elden and George S. C. Dow. Ticonic Division was reorganized in 1858 and has maintained an active or- ganization ever since, constantly doing good work in the temperance cause. Its present membership is 138.

Waterville Lodge, Good Templars, was organized January 17, 1876, with F. S. Clay, W.C. T. Samuel Osborn, the colored janitor of Colby University, has long been one of its most useful members. He is an officer in the Grand Lodge of Maine. The order is prosperous in Waterville.

Waterville Lodge, No. 5, A. O. U. W., was instituted March 22, 1881, with twenty-two charter members. William T. Haines was the first M. W .; J. W. Garland, by whose efforts the order was established here, was past M. W., and L. J. Cote was recorder. The presiding chair has since been filled by: F. D. Nudd, C. P. Toward, C. P Sherman, A. E. Ellis, C. F. Johnson, O. O. Cross and Edwin Towne. January 1, 1890, Pine Tree Lodge, No. 19, of Fairfield, with thirty-three mem- bers, was consolicated with Waterville Lodge, which now has 175 members, and is very prosperous.

The Knights of Pythias are well represented in Waterville by Havelock Lodge, No. 35, which was instituted December 14, 1882, with nineteen charter members. The following members have filled the chair of the C. M .: A. H. Plaisted, Frank Redington, Rex. Potter, F. J. Goodrich, A. C. Crockett, Sidney M. Heath, L. D. Carver, H. P. Bush, H. M. Stewart, F. A. Lincoln, G. S. Dolloff and S. F. Brann. Appleton Webb was the first keeper of records and seals. The present membership is ninety eight.

Commandery, No. 332, U. O.G. C., was instituted in February, 1888, with twenty-six charter members. Jefferson Wood was the first pre- siding officer and his successors have been: Herbert Fuller, Lewis P. Mayo, H. W. Ludwig, Samuel W. Fuller, Mrs. H. M. C. Estes and Lewis M. Small. This is a temperance organization for mutual insur- ance and has sixty members, of whom S. A. Estes is financial recorder.

An organization of Grangers existed in town some years ago, of which Martin Blaisdell was the first master, and George Ballentine and Fred. Pooler were leading members. Like their brethren and sisters in many other towns, this Grange tried their skill in running a store. Jonathan Garland was the first storekeeper, and James

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

Drummond the second-the latter in a store built by the order on Elm street. After an extended experiment, in which it was found a diffi- cult matter to make the income equal the expenses, the enterprise passed into a decline, then to its long repose. The organization has also returned to dust.

The organization of The Woman's Association in 1887, was due to the efforts of Mrs. S. M. Ware, Mrs. A. E. Bessey, Mrs. S. L. Blaisdell and Miss Florence Plaisted. Its work consists in keeping a place where women and girls can come for useful information, and for special instruction. Night schools are opened through the cold sea- sons, where needlework, penmanship, music and a variety of useful arts are taught. A library of 400 volumes has been gathered, from which 100 books are taken weekly. Religious exercises are held every Sunday afternoon, which are entirely unsectarian. The presidents have been: Mrs. S. M. Ware and Mrs. A. E. Bessey. Mrs. S. W. Crosby has been the secretary from the first, and Mrs. S. L. Blaisdell has been the treasurer. This worthy association numbers fifty mem- bers.

Through the efforts of Rev. Henry S. Burrage, A. A. Plaisted and the cooperation of a few spirited ladies, the Waterville Library Asso- ciation was organized in 1873. Solyman Heath was the first president and H. S. Burrage was the second. A. A. Plaisted has been secretary and librarian from the start. The plan of operation is simple. Each member, of whom there are about thirty, pays three dollars per year, which is invested in books. This accumulation of 1,500 volumes con- stitutes the only public library in Waterville.

FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS .- Waterville Bank was organized March 14, 1814, with a capital of $50,000. Nathaniel Gilman, Asa Redington, Thomas Rice, Jonathan Farrar, Daniel Cook, Samuel Red- ington and Timothy Boutelle were the first directors. Nathaniel Gil- man was elected president, which office he held till 1831. Asa Red- ington, jun., was cashier till 1818, Asa Redington till 1826 and Alpheus Lyon till 1831. During the early part of the latter year the business of Waterville Bank was closed up, and Ticonic Bank was incorporated April 1, 1831, with $100,000 capital. Timothy Boutelle was chosen president and served till 1855, when he was succeeded by Joseph Eaton till 1865. The cashiers were: Daniel Cook till 1834; Augustus Perkins till 1850; Sumner Percival, till 1854; E. L. Hoag till 1856; Silas Redington till 1858; and A. A. Plaisted till 1865, when the bank was changed to Ticonic National Bank, with $100,000 capital. Joseph Eaton was president till August, 1865; Solyman Heath till 1875; Sam- uel Appleton till 1884; Nathaniel R. Boutelle till 1890, when he was succeeded by Charles K. Mathews, the present president. A. A. Plaisted has been cashier of the bank since its organization. The de-

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 69

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