Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 83

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 83

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).

Robert D. Rhoades, born in 1829, is a son of Chester and Mercy (Douglass) Rhoades. Chester Rhoades came from New Hampshire to Maine in 1814, and in 1824 settled in West Gardiner, where he died in 1882, aged 83 years. Robert D. was railroading seven years and since 1855 has been a farmer. He married Almira M., daughter of Joseph Fuller. Their daughters are: Lizzie A. (Mrs. James F. Booker) and Myra B. (Mrs. John Cragan.)

James Spear, born in 1800, was a son of Annis and Sarah (Hil- dreth) Spear. He was a farmer, and until his death in 1871 his home was where his two youngest children now live. He married Mary Ann Merrill, and of their twelve children six are now living: Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Wright), Melissa (Mrs. Gilman), Leander, Alonzo, James Abbott and Annette M.

John Spear, 2d, son of John and Mary (Potter) Spear, and grandson of Israel Spear, was born in 1826. His father was a pensioner of the war of 1812. Mr. Spear served in the late war from March, 1864, to July, 1865, in Company I, 31st Maine Volunteers. He married Re- becca, daughter of David and Saralı (Smith) Bassett, and granddaugh- ter of David Bassett. Their children are: Flora E., Millard F., Phi- lossa A., and S. Emeline.

Alpheus Spear, born in 1838, is a son of Richard and Priscilla (Lunt) Spear and grandson of Israel Spear. He is a teacher and farmer, and is now a member of the school committee. He married Elura L., daughter of Orlando F. D. Blake and granddaughter of John S. Blake.

John A. Spear, son of Richard and Priscilla (Lunt) Spear, was born in 1844. He was in his country's service during the civil war. He is a school teacher and farmer. He served nine years on the board of selectmen, three years as supervisor of schools and several years as member of the school committee. He married Lizzie, daughter of Samuel P. Stinson. Their children are: Bertha and Edward.

Joseph Trafton, the youngest of ten children of Thomas and Jerusha (Oliver) Trafton and grandson of Jotham Trafton, was born

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TOWN OF WEST GARDINER.

in 1838, and is a farmer. He served in the late war in Company I, 24th Maine Volunteers. He married Mary E., daughter of Hiram Haines. Their children are: Fred P., Alice M., Charles E. and Willie L.

Jesse Tucker, a native of Canton, Mass., and his wife Rebecca (Fisher) Tucker, came to West Gardiner in 1806 and bought of Julius Morton, who then kept a store near by, part of the farm where his grandson, Edgar D. Tucker, now lives. Their ten children were born here and three daughters are still living. The children were: Lucy (Mrs. Woodman True), John, Rebecca (Mrs. Daniel Bartlett), Miss Hannah, Ann (Mrs. Moses True), Miss Jane M., Jesse, jun., David, Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Barber) and Mary (Mrs. George H. Billings). David Tucker, who died in 1887, married Abigail W. Fuller, who died in 1861. His second marriage was with Susan Tappan. He was a farmer on the homestead. He left two children, Angelia and Edgar D., who married Annie E. Cram, and has two daughters, Florence E., and Jessie E. He is a farmer and occupies the homestead with his sister and two aunts, Hannah and Jane M. Jesse Tucker's parents were Benjamin and Jane (Babcock) Tucker.

Ezekiel Ware, born in Webster in 1822, is a son of James and Lydia (Staples) Ware, and grandson of John Ware. Mr. Ware came to West Gardiner in 1836, where he is a farmer. He married Jane S., daugh- ter of Charles Smith. Their children are: John A., Georgia A., Martha L., Fred J., Jessie M., Frank E. and Irving L.

William H. Williams, son of James and Bethiah (Sparks) Williams, was born in 1824. His mother was born in Bowdoinham, Me. Mr. Williams is a farmer. His parents came from Saccarappa to West ·Gardiner in 1806. He married Eliza A., daughter of Samuel Butler. She died, leaving two children, James E. and Kate M.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

BY H. D. KINGSBURY.

Location and Natural Features .- Thrift of the Inhabitants .- The Settlers .- Civil History .- Purgatory .- Litchfield Plains .- Litchfield Corners .- South Litch- field .- Saw and Grist Mills .- Brick and Lime .- Cider Mills .- Asheries .- So- cieties .- Schools .- Churches .- Cemeteries .- Personal Paragraphs.

T HE town of Litchfield-many sided and many angled-constitutes the southwestern extremity of Kennebec county. Its appear- ance on the map is that of some unfortunate object whose head lies submerged in Cobbosseecontee pond and whose neck is still being uncomfortably squeezed between Monmouth on the left and West Gardiner on the right, which towns, with a touch of Wales on its lower left flank, form its northern boundary. On the east lie West Gardiner and Richmond, the latter being separated by the Cobbossee- contee and its ponds; on the south it rests on the towns of Richmond and Bowdoin in Sagadahoc, and Wales in Androscoggin county, and its western neighbors are Wales and Monmouth.

The eastern part of Litchfield is somewhat uneven, the central is comparatively level, and the western portion is hilly. Oak and Neal hills are its highest elevations. Its soil has all the varieties of south- ern and central Maine, from the thin sprinkle of sand and gravel that in many spots try in vain to conceal its rocky anatomy, to the rich clay loam and alluvial deposits of its productive plowlands and mead- ows. The records of nearly a score of once active, but now generally defunct, saw mills attest the variety and abundance of its primitive forests.

The number and size and the tasteful and durable structure of its farm houses and barns, every one created from the products of its for- ests and its fields, are unmistakable proofs of the sterling qualities and high character of its permanent settlers and their descendants. Hundreds of miles of stone walls, made from the scattering and over plentiful deposits of old, snail paced glaziers, before their farms could be leveled and cultivated, are the time enduring monuments of their heroic will and work. Well does the present generation retain the characteristics of its noble fathers and mothers! The first proof is

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their continued vigor and thrift-the persistent power of compelling the oft-times reluctant soil to yield a living income, and then that ad- mirable, anti-failure habit of living within it. The next proof is the fact that they keep in step with modern progress. Underneath and besides the Litchfield Institute, which was organized forty-six years ago, and had been preceded by a high school for several years, lie the common schools, which have always been kept in an efficient condi- tion in Litchfield, for without them no demand would have existed for a school that begins where they leave off. Then, when the high- est of all tests is applied-the moral test-the present is encouraging, the churches and Sabbath schools being generally well attended and supported.

SETTLERS .- The first comers were hunters, one of the most promi- nent being a man named Wilson. They made selections, built cabins, marked trees, hunted and fished and awaited the advent of any pros- pecting settlers to buy their claims. A survey made in 1776, by John Merrill, of six lots of eighty acres each, is the earliest definite proof we have of names, dates and location of settlers. Benjamin Hinckley had lot No. 1; Eliphalet Smith, 2; Barnabus Baker, 3; Thomas Smith, 4: Benjamin Smith, 5; and Barnabus Baker, jun., had lot No. 6. Ben- jamin Hinckley and Eliphalet Smith were here in 1774, and Thomas Smith, on whose lot his great-grandson, David Thurston Smith, now lives, did not settle here till 1780.

Thomas and Benjamin Smith bought claims of hunters, and it is believed that many other first comers did the same. When the pro- prietors of the land, who lived mostly in New York, learned of what was being done, they sent surveyors to establish lines and boundaries and make maps of their possessions. The hardy pioneers did not take kindly to this. Disguised as Indians, they attacked the survey- ors, drove them from place to place, and made it impossible for them to do accurate work. But they were determined and plucky, and managed to take observations from one elevated point to another, computed distances they were not allowed to measure, established some land-marks, recorded their work on a map, and returned to their employers with the story of their hazardous and arduous undertaking.

Then commenced correspondence and negotiations between the proprietors and the pioneers, partly of a peaceful and partly of a threatening character. After a time a conference was effected be- tween the parties and in most cases the differences were adjusted by the settlers surrendering one-third of their claims and receiving quit- claim deeds of the remaining two-thirds.

Sumner Clark lives on the farm owned by his father, Samuel Clark, and by his grandfather, Samuel Clark, who settled and built there before 1800. Some of the old names in the Ferren school district, in the southwest part of the town, were: Richard Ferren, John Thurlow,

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

John Lydston, Alexander Gray, Isaac Randall, James Williams, John Gatchell and Simeon S. Higgins.

On the Earle school house road were: Thomas Alexander, from Topsham, Me .; Edward Gove, Eben and Robert Dunlap, from Bruns- wick, Me .; Joseph Potter, and a brother of his; Jabez Robinson, David Springer, and his two sons, Thomas and David; Adonis Johnson, and Andrew Springer, and Elisha Nickerson, on a cross road. On Oak hill were: George Potter, James Marr, Enoch, Isaac and James Dan- forth, sons of Isaac Danforth; Joshua and Joseph Mitchell, Solomon Dennison, James Hutchinson, Levi Day, Isaac and Nathaniel Frost, Peleg Campbell, Deacon Moss, Thomas Burke, Thomas Bucher, Es- quire Shirtliff, Elisha Smith, Samuel K. Smith and Stephen Lemont. On the Plains road were Cornelius and John Toothaker. John Potter and James Libby, Jerry and William Potter, lived on the Mill road; also Joseph and James Williams, Samuel Cook, Robert Stinson, John Smith and James Adams.

In the Waterman school district, in the southeast part of the town, some of the early settlers were: Samuel Patten, Sylvanus Waterman, John Robinson, James Brown, Nathaniel Smith, Timothy Blanchard, who came in 1791 from Massachusetts; Deacon Morgridge, John Brown, Samuel Jack and Elisha Hopkins. Barney, Smith and Judah Baker all lived near the Corners, and all came before 1800; also Moses Smith, father of Nathan, Samuel, Elisha and Josiah Smith. James Earl was a large land owner. Captain Joshua Walker had fourteen children, all alive when the youngest was forty years old. Jabez Robinson, David Potter and Andrew Springer, three old settlers, were each killed by falling trees while chopping in the woods.

CIVIL HISTORY .- Litchfield was organized as a town in 1795, be- fore which it was known as Smithfield Plantation. Town meetings were held in Daniel Nickerson's house until 1813, then in the North Litchfield Baptist meeting house until 1840, and in the Free Baptist meeting honse in 1841. The town purchased the site and built the present town house in 1840, at a cost of $1,100.

In 1860 a town farm of 112 acres was bought, on which to support the town poor, who had been boarded by the lowest bidder up to this time. Rev. Isaac Frost was particularly active in this humane move, which met strong opposition. At present there are but five inmates of this house. The total annual expense for town poor is $250 more than the proceeds of the farm. Reuel W. Cunningham is employed by the town to manage the concern at a yearly salary of $250.

The original area of Litchfield has been reduced three times since its organization by additions to other towns. November 4, 1816, the town voted to set off the entire neck lying east of the Cobbosseecontee pond. In 1827, when the town of Wales was erected, a detachment

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TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

was taken from Litchfield, and in 1859 all that part of West Gardiner lying west of the Cobbosseecontee was also taken from Litchfield.

The affairs of the town have been well managed by a board con- sisting, from the first, of three selectmen, chosen annually. For the most part those chosen have been the otherwise prominent men of their time. The following have served the number of years, not always consecutive, indicated after their respective names, the date of first election being given:# 1795, James Shirtliff and Thomas Morg- ridge, each 2, and John Neal 29; 1796, John Dennis 3, and Nathaniel Berry 1; 1797, Abijah Richardson 2; 1798, John Smith, jun., 25; 1800, Thomas Smith 8; 1806, Sewall Brown 2; 1808, Sylvanus Waterman 7; 1809, Edward Gower 5; 1812, John Pike 3; 1813, William Robinson 23; 1816, David C. Burr 11; 1827, Samuel Hyde 2; 1829, John Robinson 2; 1829, Hiram Shorey 7; 1830, Martin Metcalf 2, and Elias Plimpton 4; 1833, Ephraim Wadsworth; 1834, William Farr 2; 1835, Asa Bachelder 4; 1837, L. Y. Daley 3; 1838. Thomas Springer 3, and Joseph Williams 3; 1844, Josiah True 11; 1845, James Alexander 2, and Hugh Wood- bury; 1847, Samuel Patten 2, and John Woodbury 8; 1849, Smith Baker 3; 1850, David True; 1851, William Buker; 1852, True Woodbury 5, and Daniel Adams; 1853, Isaac Frost 6; 1856, Isaac Starbird 4; 1858, Nathaniel Dennis 7; 1859, Charles H. Robinson 4: 1861, John Hancock 2; 1862, Thomas Holmes 12, and Samuel W. Libby; 1864, James Colby 3; 1867, David S. Springer 8; 1868, Benjamin W. Berry 3; 1870, William G. Williams 2; 1872, John Patten 2, and John L. Allen; 1874, Samuel Smith 9, and Melvin Tibbitts 4; 1878, M. S. H. Rogers 7, and William G. Webber 5; 1880, William S. Snow; 1881, Charles A. Metcalf; 1882, Elisha N. Baker and Charles B. Preble, each 2; 1884, Reuel W. Cun- ningham 2, and George A. Emerson 4; 1886, John Purington 4; 1887, Samuel Williams 2; 1888, Stillman H. Ring; 1890, E. P. Springer 3 years; and in 1892, Samuel Smith and Frank N. Adams.

The town clerks in succession, with year of election, have been: John Neal, jun., 1795; James Shirtliff, 1802; John Neal, 1803; Jolın Smith, 1808; John Neal, 1809; John Smith, 1810; Sylvanus Waterman, 1812; John Smith, 1814; John Neal, 1815; David C. Burr, 1817; John Neal, 1824; David C. Burr, 1825; Asa Bachelder, 1826; Elias Plimpton, 1832; Asa Bachelder, 1833; Elias Plimpton, 1834; Asa Bachelder, 1837; William O. Grant, 1839; Constant Quinnam, 1847; William O. Grant, 1849; Isaac W. Springer, 1852; William G. Williams, 1860; G. C. Waterman, 1863; Isaac W. Springer, 1870; William G. Williams, 1874; Charles A. Metcalf, 1876; Gardiner Roberts, jun., 1880; and William F. Adams, since 1885.

The successive treasurers have been: John Dennis, elected in 1795; Abijah Richardson, 1797; Jabez Robinson, 1806; Thomas Morg-

* The names in these lists are from the records, by William F. Adams, town clerk.

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

ridge, 1810; John Neal, 1811; John Dennis, jun., 1815; William Bart- lett, 1831; John Smith, 1835; John Dennis, 1840; C. Toothaker, 1844; John Neal, 1845; John Dennis, 1846; Nathaniel Dennis, 1857; John Hancock, 1864; N. Dennis, 1865; Thomas Holmes, 1873; N. Dennis, 1875, and David S. Springer, since 1882.

PURGATORY .-- That early settled locality, so long called Purgatory, seems to have received its name from a humorous incident that oc- curred in August, 1776, when William Gardiner and a party of his friends came to this locality to inspect the old dam, timbers and plank from which are still to be seen a rod above the present dam. The next day, on their return to Gardiner, some one asked where they had spent the previous. night, and Mr. Gardiner replied. "in pergatory- the mosquitoes and black flies were so thick we couldn't get a wink of sleep." The reply was repeated and laughed over by the people of the surrounding country, till they refused to call it by any name but Purgatory. Preachers and map makers have tried Pleasant Valley, North Litchfield and Litchfield P. O., but the old name is indelible.

General Dearborn gave the water rights to the first settlers; but who built the first grist mill and saw mill, and when, is not known. Simeon Goodwin came before 1800, and the property was known as "Goodwin's Mills" for the next three quarters of a century. William Gay, of Gardiner, told Warren Plimpton that his father, Esquire Seth Gay, owned an interest in the old grist mill, and that in 1805, when he was a small boy, he often came from Gardiner on horseback, when the road was by marked trees, after a two bushel bag of toll grain. There is a report that an early settler by the name of West once owned the mills. Simeon Goodwin was succeeded by his son, Andrew Goodwin, Daniel Bartlett and Deacon Dennis, as mill proprietors. Andrew Goodwin's interest descended to his son, Andrew J., who bought his partners' interests, and ran the mills till about 1870, when he sold the property to Jesse Bartlett and Merrill True. The latter now owns the grist mill, and Andrew Bartlett owns the saw mill. The grist mill has one run of stones taken from a granite boulder near the Colby bridge by Simeon Goodwin, over one hundred years ago.

Elias Plimpton came in 1820 from Walpole, Mass., to this noted water privilege, bought property, built shops, put in a trip-hammer, and began making hoes and axes, and doing general blacksmithing. He drew his manufactured goods by wagon to Portland and Bangor. In 1845 he began making forks, and since then potato diggers have been made in large quantities. Upon his death he was succeeded by his sons, A. Warren and George Plimpton, who had been his partners, and they continue the business under the old firm name, E. Plimpton & Sons, giving work to twenty-five men. Their tools have such a sterling reputation that they have never been able to make as many goods as they could sell. This manufactory is the largest in Litch-

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field. During war times this firm bought of John Robey his landed rights at the upper dam, which they have just rebuilt and raised, ad- ding greatly to the reservoir capacity of the pond, which includes the Purgatory ponds for a distance of over six miles. The water com- pany at Gardiner joins with them in this wise provision against a scarcity of water.

David Sawyer built before 1800 a tannery where Asa Getchell's stable stands. It was torn down in 1834 by Doctor Pidgeon. Esquire Burr owned it at one time. A fulling mill and carding machine were built in 1814, by a company which intended to start a woolen factory. Mr. Adams operated it for a while as a carding mill. It was sold and moved to Monmouth over forty years ago, and made into part of the present Ames shovel factory. Moses Glass ran the ashery and made potash there in 1820. About fifty years ago the shingle factory now run by Alfred D. Bartlett was started by Jesse Tucker, and com- pleted by Daniel Bartlett, who made shingles several years and sold out to Andrew Goodwin. Alfred D. Bartlett bought the mill in 1888, and has run it since that time. He had operated the mill sometime previous to 1888 in company with another young man.

Captain David C. Burr was the first storekeeper at Purgatory and was located in a building near the grist mill. He was followed by Benjamin Babb and he by Rufus Blake. Mr. Blake was burned out and he went into Freeman's hat shop, where he sold goods till he built a new store. This was also burned after he had occupied it a few years, and he left the place. Other storekeepers have been: Pease & True, Ebenezer Kelley, Rufus Howard, Hiram Allen, Daniel Bartlett, Mr. Hyde, John Arnold, Granville Baker, Eli Merriman and Safford Brothers. In 1890 Mr. Merriman was burned out with a heavy stock of goods and suffered a large loss. He immediately moved to his present location, which he owned and where he is still in business. Loring G. Dunn built the store he now occupies in 1882, where he keeps a large variety of goods. Up to about the time Mr. Blake went out of business the merchants all kept and sold large quantities of liquors. Since then Purgatory has been strictly a temperance place.

The Union Hall Association at Purgatory was formed about 1875. The Reform Club had brought more people together than any build- ing in the place could accommodate. Such crowds were a damage to the school house and larger quarters became a necessity. A subscrip- tion paper for funds to build a public hall was circulated, and almost every citizen pledged money, work or material. In a few weeks the building was up and finished on the outside, and a floor laid. Then a series of entertainments to raise further funds were held, which were generally successful, over two hundred dollars being col- lected in a single night. So the present fine, commodious hall was soon completed at a total cost of about $1,500. A stock company was

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

formed, each member being credited with the amount he or she had contributed. The hall is free to meetings of public interest, but a charge is made in all uses for individual benefit, and its earnings keep it in good repair. Frank Adams, Fred Baker and Augustus Goodwin are the present managing officers, and Doctor Adams is secretary and treasurer.

John Glass, father of Moses Glass and grandfather of Sewell S. Glass, came to Goodwin's Mills when there were no roads and blazed trees were the only guides. He was a revolutionary soldier and lived on a road now abandoned. Moses Glass lived back of Plimpton's shop. Thomas True, father of the twins, Thomas and David, and of Benja- jamin True, lived where David Crain resides. David Tappan's home was where the Plimptons live. He came here before 1800, and so did David Sawyer, shoemaker and tanner, who lived near the present mill.

David C. Burr was a prominent man in early times. He was a farmer, ran the ashery, bought the first wagon owned in town, and was a member of the legislature. He died about 1825. James Jewell was a harness maker; George R. Freeman was a farmer and a hatter, and William Parks was a wool carder and cloth dresser. They all lived near the mill. David Getchell lived where Augustus Goodwin does. James Parker, farmer, lived where Charles Goodwin does. He was a zealous Baptist. He went west about 1835. Richard Davis lived where his grandson, David Wilson, now resides. Mr. Davis, in addition to farming, often loaded and unloaded boats, and sometimes. engaged in the coasting trade.

Elijah Galusha lived on the Woodbury road, where John Goodwin does. Elijah was a great trapper, which paid very well in those days when wild game was plenty. True Woodbury, father of David and Joseph, was the pioneer from whom the road took its name. He took his farm in its wild state and was noted as a large landholder. The old homestead was where Simeon Goodwin lives, and is still in the possession of his descendants. Hugh Woodbury was another criginal settler, who cleared up the farm where his son, Benjamin Woodbury, lives. Simeon Goodwin also lived on the Woodbury road where his. son, Simeon, jun., now lives. Nathaniel Nevins lived where Milbert Woodbury now resides.

Litchfield post office, the oldest in town, was established October 1, 1805, at the house of Jonathan Clark, the first postmaster. He was succeeded by William Cleaves October 1, 1810, who kept the office in the house where W. F. Adams, the town clerk, now lives. He was succeeded by Newcomb W. Stevens July 1, 1813; Asa Bachelder Feb- ruary 11, 1831; Augustus Bachelder September 18, 1846: Thomas J. Foster October 28, 1846, and December 5, 1853, by Moses True; Freeman P. Crowell, 1865; Curtis L. Irving March, 1868; Granville W. Baker,

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TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

April, 1868; and Eli Merriman, the present postmaster, in March, 1873. From 1813 to 1846 the office was kept at True's Corners, when through the efforts of Elias Plimpton and others, it was removed to Purgatory, where it still remains.

LITCHFIELD PLAINS .- The central part of the town, called Litch- field Plains, from its comparatively level surface, also known as Pot- tertown, has a sandy soil, easily worked and well adapted to garden- ing and fruit culture, particularly apple orchards. It has been settled over one hundred years. In 1802 Saul Cook, Noah Powers, James Springer, Moses Smith and Captain Jewell were living on the plains.

In 1832 the school districts now known as numbers 12 and 15 were one, and the school house standing where the present Baptist church stands, was burned. At that time Jerry and Harvey Springer, Daniel Nickerson and Andrew Baker lived at the west end. On the north road were Deacon Bartlett and Walter Merriman, and on the Corners road Gould Jewell and Robert Ashford.

Who built what is known as the old Libby grist mill, no one seems to know. James Libby, who came in 1823, bought it of Esdras Nick- erson, and ran it till the freshet of 1825 destroyed it. The next year James Libby, Moses Dennet and James Earl rebuilt it. After oper- ating it many years, they sold it to Joseph Williams, who a few years later sold it to Jeremiah Varney. Varney & Son ran it till the dam was washed away, which they rebuilt. The mill has not been in opera- . tion since about 1880. Irving Varney still owns the water privilege.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 83

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