Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 76

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 76

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Robert Hallowell Gardiner, in whose honor the city was named, became its first mayor. The successive incumbents of the office, each

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serving until the next, have been: Parker Sheldon, first elected in 1851, resigned April 12, 1852, and Robert Thompson elected April 20, 1852; Edward Swan, 1853; Noah Woods, 1854; Henry B. Hoskins, 1859; Noah Woods, 1861; James Nash, 1863; Nathan O. Mitchell, 1865; George W. Wilcox, 1867, died December 17, 1867, and Joshua Gray elected December 30, 1867; D. C. Palmer, 1871; H. M. Wentworth, 1874; James B. Dingley, 1876; D. C. Palmer, 1879; Joseph E. Ladd, 1881; William Perkins, 1882; S. Everett Johnson, 1884; Joseph E. Ladd, 1886; John W. Berry, 1887; Albert M. Spear, since March, 1889.

The city treasurers in succession have been: Freeman Trott, first elected in 1850; Cyrus Kindrick, 1852; Elbridge Berry, 1854; Charles P. Branch, 1857; I. Wheeler Woodward, 1859; James M. Colson, 1863; John Berry, 1864; James M. Larrabee, 1865; Henry B. Hoskins, 1869; and the now venerable Sifamai Bowman, serving continuously since the city election of 1872.

The city clerkship is an important office, and the good condition of the records which constitute the political history of the city indicates that the place has been filled generally by men of ability. John Webb opened the records as clerk, and was succeeded the next year by Charles P. Branch, who served eight years consecutively. Charles B. Clapp served four years, beginning in 1859. Llewellyn Kidder was clerk for 1863, succeeded by Charles P. Branch for five years. John Webb was elected in 1869, George H. Ray in 1872, Anthony G. Davis in 1873, and in 1878 Charles O. Wadsworth, the present efficient in- cumbent, began his continuous service. Mr. Wadsworth has collected and bound the printed reports of the city officers, including the act of incorporation and city charter, which volumes comprise the best printed data on the civil history of Gardiner.

The government of the city is vested in the mayor, a board of six aldermen, and a common council of eighteen, three of whom are elected from each of the six wards, which boards constitute the city council. With the exceptions of constables, wardens and ward clerks, the city council elects or appoints the executive officials of the city. The last report of Mayor A. M. Spear shows the general condition of the city to be prosperous and progressive. By an outlay of two thousand dollars the city hall now furnishes rooms for the liquor agency, ample conveniences for the police court, the city marshal and his deputies, and seven secure cells for prisoners. The report of the city marshal, Edgar E. Norton, for the fiscal year ending March 1, 1892, shows that of the 439 warrants of arrest served, 330 were for drunken- ness. The police work is done by two officers on duty by day and two by night. During the year 1889 the number of warrants issued was 360.

The report of the chief engineer makes the encouraging statement that the fire department was called out only ten times during the year,

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and that the total loss in these fires was small. The city owns two fourth class steamers, two hose wagons, five two wheeled reels, one hook and ladder truck, three hose pungs, 7,150 feet of 23 inch rubber lined hose, and 500 feet of two inch hose. The hook and ladder com- pany has thirty men, each steamer has fifteen men, and hose companies 1 and 2 have each fifteen men. Besides these the volunteer company of old firemen furnishes ten men. Steamer No. 2, with fifteen firemen, is stationed at South Gardiner. Charles M. Drake is chief engineer, at a salary of $100 a year, and there are two assistant engineers, who re- ceive $30 each. The cost of the fire department for the year 1891-2 was $3,173.02.

The Liquor Agency, in charge of Andrew J. Hooker, city liquor agent, handled $6,088.35 worth of goods, on which the city received a profit of $1,229.05.

The alms-house at New Mills, built of brick, with fourteen acres of land attached, was purchased of William Bradstreet for $2,200, in 1849, by the town of Gardiner. Additions and repairs costing $3,000 more were soon made, since which but little has been expended. George W. Shepard is the superintendent in charge, and with rooms for forty boarders he has less than a dozen. The annual poor fund budget is but a trifle over $3,00 .

Although the upper Kennebec is navigable to smaller craft, Gar- diner must be regarded as the practical head of navigation, and thus it enjoys a distinctive and permanent advantage. Favorably situated for good drainage, the city is a healthy and desirable place of resi- dence. On the summit of Church hill, neatly enclosed and orna- mented with trees, is a beautiful park of five acres commanding a sweeping view of the valley, and constituting one of the many attrac- tions of the city. Its site, 125 feet above the Kennebec, was given conditionally in 1824 to the town of Gardiner. It was subsequently conveyed absolutely to the city of Gardiner by Francis Richards, as trustee of R. H. Gardiner's estate.

At Gardiner was established January 1, 1795, one of the first four post offices in the county. It was named Pittston and Barzillai Gan- nett was the postmaster until the office was moved across the river in May, 1804. September 30, 1804, Mr. Gannett was again commissioned as the Gardiner postmaster, the office taking at that date the name of the new town. He kept the office in his store and in the Jewett house at the foot of Vine street. When Mr. Gannett went to congress in 1809, Seth Gay took the office, May 2d. The names of the postmasters, with the years of their appointment, since that time have been: Wil- liam Palmer, 1835; Thomas Gay, 1841; Joseph Merrill, 1845; Lawson H. Green, 1849; Frederick P. Theobald, 1853; Charles A. White, 1857: John Berry, 1861; Samuel D. Clay, 1866; John Berry, 1867; Daniel C.

Difamai Boroman

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Palmer, 1882: Charles A. White, 1886; Eleazer W. Atwood, 1890; and Fred. E. Milliken, April 20, 1892.

BANKS .- The Cobbossee settlement was more that fifty years old before it had a local bank. The business men of Gardiner were obliged to go to Hallowell for banking facilities until 1814. On Janu- ary 31st of that year the Massachusetts legislature chartered the Gardi- ner Bank, and at a meeting of its stockholders, held at Mrs. Longfel- low's tavern March 21st following, a board of directors was chosen, consisting of Robert H. Gardiner, Major Peter Grant, Joshua Lord, Simon Bradstreet and Nathan Bridge. The institution was.a bank of issue, organized under the state laws, with a capital of $50,000. For over half a century its bills were kept at par in all the money centers of the nation. March 23, 1865, it was changed to the Gardiner National Bank, with the same amount of capital and without change of officers. Its presidents have been: Peter Grant, Samuel C. Grant, William B. Grant, William S. Grant, Joseph Bradstreet, W. F. Rich- ards and Isaac J. Carr. Its cashiers have been: Sanford Kingsbury, Major Edward Swan, Joseph Adams, James F. Patterson, George F. Adams, Fred. W. Hunton, Everett L. Smith, and Alvan C. Harlow since April, 1891.

The Oakland Bank was organized January 30, 1855, as a state bank, and began doing business with a capital of $100,000. The directors were: Noah Woods, of Bangor, Me., and Joshua Gray, Myrick Hop- kins, John S. Wilson and Charles Swift, of Gardiner. Noah Woods was chosen president and Sifamai Bowman cashier. The bank was located on the second floor of the Gardiner Block. At the end of ten years it closed up its business as a state bank, and its managers organ- ized the Oakland National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. Joshua Gray was chosen its president and Sifamai Bowman was again chosen cashier. Business was continued in the Gardiner Block until 1881, when the present bank building was erected at a cost of $8,000. The bank pays five per cent., semi-annually, and its stock sells at 165. The bank has had but one cashier. For twenty-four years Mr. Bowman did the work without an assistant.

The uninterrupted prosperity of the above institution emphasizes somewhat the long and honorable career of its cashier, who has been from the first its practical and actual manager, and to-day the city has no other citizen so eminently and distinctively a bank man as Sifamai Bowman, whose portrait here appears .*

Mr. Bowman was born at Litchfield, Me., February 5, 1812. When he was ten years old the family moved to Hallowell. At the age of sixteen he left home and went to Topsham, where he learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1834 he engaged in the same business on his

* The following sketch is by his friend and neighbor, Judge Henry S. Web- ster .- [ED.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

own account at Topsham, and afterward, in 1836, at Gardiner, where he has since resided.

When the Oakland Bank was ready to commence business in July, 1855, Mr. Bowman had become well and favorably known in the com- munity as an upright, industrious, clear-minded, shrewd and careful business man. The directors judged rightly that they could not bet- ter promote the interests of the new institution than by selecting him as its cashier. Nor is it strange that the management of its affairs was left almost entirely to his judgment. Whether it was the dis- counting of a note, the obtaining of a settlement with some refractory and impecunious debtor, or the far more important transaction of winding up the affairs of the state bank and organizing a national bank in its stead, reliance was placed upon his tact and ability to see that everything was done properly and in order. And never was an institution served more faithfully. Its remarkable and uninterrupted success is the best commentary that can be made upon the devotion and capacity of its trusted official. Always at his post, always affable and discreet, yet with a rare knowledge of human nature which ren- dered him incapable of being imposed on, he placed the bank on a solid foundation and secured its long and prosperous career.

For the first twenty-four years Mr. Bowman performed his duties as cashier without any assistance, and during that period, by reason of sickness and all other causes combined, he was not absent inore than a dozen days from his desk. Yet, with all this strictness of at- tention to his chosen task, he has always found time for other labors. Since 1872 he has served as city treasurer. He has always been en- gaged more or less in business of his own, and by this means has acquired an ample competence. At the same time he has been the adviser and confidant, in matters of business, of a great many per- sons, who have felt that they could rely implicitly upon the soundness and fidelity of his advice. Add to this that he has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has never neglected an opportunity to promote, by word and example, any enterprise calculated to in- crease the growth and prosperity of his city. The extent of his private benefactions will never be known except to the grateful recipients.

He was married in 1835, to Julia T. Hinkley, of Topsham. A happy union of fifty-six years was terminated by her death in 1891. A painstaking and affectionate wife and mother, she was no less re- markable for her intellectual gifts, her bright and active mind, and her unfailing interest in all that was passing around her. They had six children, only two of whom reached maturity. Neither is now living. Miss Fanny Bowman, who died in 1879, was well known for her accomplishments and literary attainments. The son, Edward H., was for several years his father's assistant in the bank. He died in

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THE CITY OF GARDINER.

1886. He left two sons who are still living. Let us hope that they will be spared to perpetuate the honored name of their grandsire.

Previous to 1820 Richard Clay, J. N. Cooper, A. Leonard and E. F. Deane organized the Franklin Bank in Gardiner, and became its di- rectors. At the expiration of its charter another bank called by the same name was organized, of which John Otis of Hallowell, Joseph Eaton of Winslow, Stephen Young and William Stevens of Pittston, and E. F. Deane of Gardiner were directors, and Hiram Stevens was cashier. This bank discontin- ued business previous to 1850, and the closing of its affairs was involved in long and tedious liti- gation.

The history of the Gardiner Savings Institu- tion is interest- ing. It was in- corporated June 6, 1834, and was organized at a meeting held in R. H. Gardiner's office, June 26, same year. Mr. Gardiner was chosen president and Peter Grant, Edward Swan, Arthur Berry, Enoch Jewett, Richard Clay, Dennis Ryan, Arthur G. Lith- gow, George Ev- ans, H. B. Hos- kins, Henry Bow- man, Jacob Da- vis and George Bachelder were chosen trustees, and elected Ansyl Clark, treasurer. The first semi-annual report recited with evident satisfaction that the sum of $1,845.50 had been received on deposit, all of which it

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

was voted to loan to the town of Gardiner. The salary of the treasurer was about as lucrative as that of the ordinary town clerk in the present times-he received twenty dollars a year. Mr. Gardiner held the office of president until his death, in 1864. His successors, with the dates of their election, have been: Henry B. Hoskins, April 11, 1864; Robert Thompson, August 1, 1866; William Palmer, July 17. 1872; Robert Thompson, July 27, 1875; Weston Lewis, April 14, 1888; Isaac J. Carr, October 1, 1889. The treasurer, Ansyl Clark, was succeeded by H. B. Hoskins, August 13, 1836; James F. Patterson, July 15, 1840; Joseph Adams, July 19, 1843; James F. Patterson, July 21, 1847; Joseph Adams, July 17, 1850; H. B. Hoskins, August 1, 1866; Joseph S. Bradstreet, July 27, 1875; Weston Lewis, July 19, 1876; Henry S. Webster, April 14, 1888. Twenty-seven years after its incorporation the deposits and profits amounted to a quarter of a million dollars, and yet the bank never had a public place of business until 1866, the officers attending to its affairs at their own private offices. In 1891, at a cost of $30,000 they erected their own building, shown on page 627-the finest structure in Gardiner- containing the strongest vault and the best safe in the state of Maine. The deposits in 1892 exceeded two million dollars.

In a room now the private office of A. C. Stilphen in Gardiner, the Cobbosseecontee Bank began business in 1853. Later they erected the building opposite the present Gardiner National Bank. February 23, 1865, this bank became the Cobbossee National Bank. Edward Swan, Stephen Young. William Bradstreet, James Stone and Stephen J.Young were presidents, and its cashiers were Joseph Adams (who was Mr. Swan's son-in-law), Edwards S. Adams, Treby Johnson and Henry S. Webster. In 1884 the stockholders saw fit to wind up its affairs. The liquidation gave them 118 per cent.

Under a charter dated July 11, 1884, the Merchants National Bank of Gardiner, Me., opened its rooms for business in Milliken Block, July 17, 1884, with a capital of $100,000. Charles Danforth, David Dennis, Edward Robinson, Weston Lewis and Joseph S. Bradstreet composed the first board of directors. David Dennis was chosen president, Jo- seph S. Bradstreet vice-president, and Henry Farrington cashier, in which offices the present is their eighth year of service. At the death of Judge Charles Danforth in 1890, his son, Frederick, succeeded him; on Weston Lewis' resignation, in 1889, Harvey Scribner became a director, and in 1889 Captain Jason Collins succeeded Edward Rob- inson.

The Maine Trust & Banking Company of Gardiner, Me., is a char- tered institution that was opened for business August 15, 1889, with a paid up capital of $100,000. In addition to doing a regular banking business, this company is an incorporated trustee, and has power by its charter to execute trusts of every description under appointment by courts, corporations or individuals, and is authorized to act as agent

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or trustee for the purpose of registering and countersigning bonds of any legal issue. It makes investment securities an important feature in its business, and has the first and only safe deposit vaults, with boxes for individual use, in the county. Its officers from the first have been: Weston Lewis, president; John F. Hill and Josiah S. Maxcy, vice-presidents; and John W. Dana, secretary, with a board of twelve directors.

GAS AND WATER .- After the usual agitation of a new project, the Gardiner Gas Company was chartered by act of legisature in 1853, and F. A. Butman, jun., Josiah Maxcy and S. C. Moore were named as incorporators, with a capital stock of $35,000. Noah Woods was the first president, Josiah Maxcy was treasurer and clerk, and F. A. But- man, jun., Edwin Bailey, H. B. Hoskins and S. Bowman constituted the board of directors. Only seventy out of five hundred shares of the stock could be placed in the city, the balance being taken abroad, and there were but eighty-four consumers of gas during the first year. Strange and hard to believe is the fact that the people of Gardiner continued to wend their way in darkness for years after gas was intro- duced before they adopted it for their streets. In 1887 the gas com- pany of Gardiner sold their plant to the Kennebec Light & Heat Company.

By act of legislature the Gardiner Water Power Company was created a corporation in 1880. The incorporators were: Robert H. Gardiner, Frederic Gardiner, Francis G. Richards, Richard Sullivan, John T. Richards, Ellis A. Hollingsworth, Leonard Whitney, Samuel D. Warren, Charles Fairchild, Joshua Gray and Henry Richards. The corporation is authorized to purchase, construct, maintain, repair and rebuild dams, sluiceways, basins and canals on the Cobbosseecontee and its tributary waters, for the purpose of holding, storing, regulat- ing and discharging the flow of water for the benefit of the water privileges and powers on said stream. John T. Richards was elected president, Josiah S. Maxcy treasurer and secretary, and Ellis A. Hol- lingsworth and Josiah Gray the directors.

Ground was broken in the construction of the Gardiner Water Works June 16, 1885, and they were completed so that the city was served with water in the following November. The towns of Ran- dolph and Farmingdale were subsequently connected with the Gardi- ner system and are also efficiently supplied for fire protection and for domestic uses. Cobbosseecontee water is pumped from the pond above the upper dam into the reservoir situated on the Andrews farm, 110 feet above the surface of the Cobbosseecontee and 238 feet above the surface of the Kennebec river. This elevation proves to be ample to force water to the highest point in the city. The main pipe leading from the reservoir is twelve inches in diameter, which with the pres- sure is capable of supplying a population three times that which is now

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

supplied. Fifty hydrants and fourteen miles of main pipe are in use. The actual daily consumption is about 300,000 gallons. The capital stock of the company is $200,000. Weston Lewis has been president and Josiah S. Maxcy treasurer, from the first, and to their efforts and management the city is largely indebted for its excellent water sup- ply. All the details are carefully administered by Gustavus Moore, superintendent.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY .- The religious ideas of Doctor Gardiner and the other early comers took form first in the organization of an Episcopal church, but Puritanism soon colored the religious trend of the public mind and that in time was variously modified, so that in 1892 we find eleven distinct societies maintaining in the city regular services.

A house of worship was erected, and St. Ann's Epis- copal Church was estab- lished by Dr. Sylvester Gar- diner, in 1771. The next summer Rev. Jacob Bailey came and held the first meet- ing in the unfinished house, on the 17th of August. The revolutionary war came on and Doctor Gardiner and Rev. Jacob Bailey both es- poused the English side so

strongly that they left the country. Doctor Gardiner died in 1786, leaving by will funds to finish the building, ten acres of land and an annuity of £27 per year " to villy'ın!, the Episcopal minister for the time being of St. Ann's CHRIST'S CHURCH, GARDINER. Church in the said Gardin- erston." His executors finished the church, placing thereon a tall steeple surmounted by a gilt sturgeon, then called a " Cobbossee."

The society or parish was incorporated as the Episcopal Society in Pittston March 28, 1793, in answer to a petition signed by Jedediah Jewett, William Barker, Henry Smith, Henry Dearborn, Nathaniel Bayley, Seth Gay, Barzillai Gannett, Stephen Jewett, Samuel Lang and Reuben Moore. Rev. Joseph Warren was the first minister. The pews were arranged in three classes, and it was voted that those who

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sat in the first class should pay four pence, the second three pence, and the third two pence a Sunday.

The following August the church was set on fire by a crazy man and burned, and regular meetings were held in the Great House. Another building was at once erected and ready for use in April, 1794, when it was voted to give Rev. Joseph Warren £72 " and the loose contribution money as a salary-and when he shall be married the parish will add £18 more." He was succeeded in 1796 by Rev. James Bowers, who left in 1802. Rev. Samuel Haskell became rector in 1803 and was followed by Aaron Humphrey, formerly a Methodist preacher. After 1813 there were no regular services in the society till Rev. Mr. Olney was called in 1817. The name of St. Ann's Church was changed for legal reasons, in 1818, to Christ's Church. The project of building a new church found so much favor that the corner stone of the present attractive church edifice, really one of the most de- sirable in the state, was laid in May, 1819. The stones, which are of rare tint, were brought from a farm in Litchfield. The total cost was only $14,000.

Mr. Olney resigned in 1825, Rev. T. W. Motte succeeded in 1828, Rev. Isaac Peck in 1830 and Rev. Joel Clap in 1832. The old meeting house of 1794, which had for many years been used as a town house, was burned in 1833. Mr. Clap's pastorate was a prosperous one and lasted till 1840, when Rev. William Babcock began a most successful pastorate, and was followed by Rev. George Burgess in 1847. Rever- end Burgess, after accepting the pastorate of the parish, was made the first bishop of Maine and subsequently served the parish and the diocese in this dual capacity until his death, April, 1866. Bishop Burgess was succeeded as rector by John McGrath to 1870, C. S. Lef- fingwell to 1880, Leverett Bradley to 1885 and Charles L. Wells to 1888, when Allen E. Beeman, the present rector, was installed.

The initial effort toward the formation of a Congregational society in Gardiner was at a private house, when Rev. Dr. Gillett, secretary of the Maine Missionary Society, preached to a small gathering one rainy Sabbath in the spring of 1833. During the summer following he preached in the old school house on Summer street several times, and was followed by Daniel Hunt, of Andover Theological Seminary, who held services for three months in the old Masonic Hall. A move- ment to organize a parish was perfected September 28th of the same year, and Seth Sweetser, a licentiate of Andover, was the next preacher, holding services first in the school house, next in the Masonic Hall and then in the Town Hall.

On the 28th of July, 1835, ten individuals who had been members of Congregational churches in other towns were organized into a church, and during the winter following R. H. Gardiner showed his interest in the young parish by giving it the present location, on

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

which after much difficulty a church was completed. The dedicatory services were held November 23, 1836, and the same day Rev. Seth Sweetser was installed pastor. Two years later he received a call from Worcester, Mass., and Aaron C. Adams, of Bangor, succeeded him July 10, 1839. After two years Josiah W. Peet, from Andover Seminary, received a call and was ordained pastor December 15, 1841. During his pastorate the house of worship was much improved by an organ and new furniture, and a vestry building was erected on a contiguous lot. In 1848 Mr. Peet was succeeded by W. L. Hyde, a Bangor stu- dent, who was ordained in May, 1849. Since then the successive pas- tors have been: Harvey M. Stone, 1857; John W. Dodge, 1860; Austin L. Park, 1864; Edgar Davis, 1882; and Richard W. Jenkins, who came in 1884, was installed in 1885, and under whose pastorate the society has enjoyed spiritual and material prosperity. The next year after his installation a religious awakening added thirty-five members to the church, which has continued to grow; the church edifice has been enlarged and repaired at an expense of over $8,000, and was rededi- cated April 8, 1890. The present membership numbers 155, with a large Sabbath school.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 76

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