Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 84

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 84

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).

About 1827 William Small built a fulling mill below the bridge. A carding mill above the bridge, owned by Esquire John Neal, and run by Joseph Clifford, had been carried away by the freshet of 1825. Another had been built by Potter & Ashford on Spring brook, which Mr. Small bought of them and ran in connection with his fulling mill, coloring and dressing cloth for several years. This mill came back into Potter & Ashford's hands, and was bought by Joseph Williams in 1840. In 1850 W. G. Williams built a new mill on Spring brook, and put in carding and fulling machinery. After three or four years they dropped the fulling business, but continued the carding works till 1886. The old Small building was used for a time for a tannery by a Mr. Heath, who had sons, Charles, John and Edward. He had a bark mill run by horse power.

Ezra H. Daws, afterward a preacher, built a dam and shop where the old original carding machine had stood, made shingles, had a trip- hammer and did blacksmithing. He sold to Abiel Daily, who con- verted it into a pill box and match factory, and about 1860 Samuel Libby owned it, then Joseph Williams, and afterward David Potter, who made shingles there. Then Jonathan Rideout bought it, built a two story building, moved the dam down stream and sold to Henry Bosworth. He sold to William Knight, who put in a grist mill, oper-

692

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

ated it a short time and sold to James Bartlett, who ran it till 1866, when its active career closed.

Jeremiah Potter built, about 1810, a saw mill which he used sev- eral years, and then allowed to stand idle till 1853, when Daniel W. Perry purchased the property and rebuilt the mill. After that Uriah Gray, John Whitten, Deacon William Chase, George H. Jack, Abiel L. Small. Lorin J. Ayer and John Hutchinson owned interests in the property at different times, till Ayer bought all claims and is now the owner. The mill stands back of Deacon Chase's residence, and is leased and operated by George M. Rogers.

Jeremiah and Amos Potter were among the earliest business men on the Plains. The settlement was named after them. They built more than half the houses still standing there, and the stream that drove so many mills bids fair to carry their names far into the future, for it is only known as Potter's brook.

William Potter owned a grist mill that was carried away by the great freshet of 1825. The original builder and owner is not known. Amos Potter, son of William, rebuilt the grist mill and ran it twenty or thirty years, and his sons, William and Henry, continued the busi- ness till about 1870. This mill and the Libby mill each had a separ- ate run of stone, and the requisite bolts to make wheat flour, as the farmers then raised wheat for home consumption. Below the Potter grist mill stood a saw mill owned by William Spear. Frank C. Wy- man has a wood shop and a blacksmith shop on his farm, in which he makes from six to ten new wagons, sleds and carts during the winter time each year.

At Litchfield Plains the storekeepers have traded as follows: Jerry Potter, Lendall Adams, Purinton & Berry, Jesse Hatch, - Conforth, John Perry, William F. Adams, Jonathan Hunt, Wilson M. Hatten, William Chase, Alden B. Jack, A. E. Brown and James A. Chase. Nearly all these men traded in an old store built by Jerry Potter north of the saw mill. Joseph Williams kept a store between 1850 and 1860 in a building opposite W. Gee William's present residence on the corners.

Litchfield Plains post office was established in 1871. Eben Tooth- aker was appointed postmaster, and opened the office at his house, where he has retained the position ever since, with the exception of during a part of President Cleveland's administration, when, in 1887, James A. Chase was appointed. Mr. Toothaker again received the appointment in 1889.

LITCHFIELD CORNERSis, in many respects, one of the most attrac- tive portions of the town. The surface is agreeable and rolling, and possesses productive mixtures of soil. The fact that the skirmish line of civilization, the capricious but discerning hunters, paid this section such decided attentions, and that their judgment was confirmed by the

693

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

intelligent men bearing the name with which common usage so soon christened the entire plantation, is indisputable evidence of its primitive superiority. These earnest men and women came to stay, and their descendants have honored their memory by perpetuating their virtues. By the character and permanence of its moral, educational and secular institutions and associations, it enjoyed many intellectual and social privileges. These varied attractions have made it a central resort for business and trade, and a desirable place of residence.

Litchfield Corners has had one, and sometimes two, hotels since about 1850. Their proprietors have been: Smith Baker, Alden Baker, James Chase, David Billings, Dexter Smith (1861 to 1864), William Metcalf, Daniel Campbell, George W. Earle, for eleven years, Elisha Baker, and Dexter Smith, who is at present engaged in the business.

The storekeepers at Litchfield Corners, as near as the succession can be traced, have been: Reuben Lowell, Joseph Williams, James Walker, Lorenzo Dailey, David Billings, Isaac Starbird, Solomon Brown, Smith Baker & Sons, Union store, Earle & Holmes, William & Thomas Babb, J. H. & T. Holmes, Alden B. Jack, James E. Chase, Syl- vester Stewart and James W. Starbird, whose store is in the oldest store building at the Corners. It used to be in old times the headquarters of the liquor traffic.

Litchfield Corners post office was established in January, 1842. Its postmasters, with dates of appointment, have been: William Rob- inson, 1842; Isaac Starbird, 1856; Thomas Holmes, 1856; Alden Jack, 1857; Isaac Starbird, 1861; James E. Chase, 1873; Thomas Holmes, 1885, and James E. Chase again, in 1889.

SOUTH LITCHFIELD post office was established October 23, 1856, with Augustus L. Bachelder first postmaster. Moses True was ap- pointed in 1863, and Charles A. Metcalf in 1889.

SAW AND GRIST MILLS .- About the year 1815 Andrew Jack, Rob- ert Patten and Charles Robinson built a saw mill in the southeast part of the town. Since that time the following men have had proprietary interests in it: Nathan Rogers, William Perry, Warren Smith, Samuel Jack, Charles H. Robinson, Samuel Patten, Samuel Odiorne, James Briery, Joseph S. Hatch, David W. Perry, Daniel W. Perry and Bar- net Thorn. Shingles have been made in the mill for about thirty years, and a grist mill which has not been used for fifty years was once in the same building. A. D. Cornish bought the mill recently of the Robinson estate, and runs it now.

About 1790 Samuel Clark built and ran a grist mill on his farm. Before his death, in 1843, his son, Samuel Clark, tore the old mill down and built a larger one, putting in two run of stones and bolts for mak- ing flour, and operated it during his life. The second Samuel was suc- ceeded by his son, Sumner Clark, who in turn operated the mill for a time and is still on the old farm. A little below the grist mill Dennis

694

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

G. Getchell and Richard F. Ferren built a shingle mill, which they operated a few years. A half mile still further down the stream John Thurlow and David Ware made a dam and a saw mill on land now owned by James Carville. About 1835 this mill was destroyed by fire. Much interest and mystery have been associated with this mill and its surroundings. It was here that one William Wilkins, a cooper, was employed at his trade, and when he disappeared one spring night cir- cumstances pointed strongly to two men, who were generally believed to have murdered him, and later burned the mill to effectually cover their crime.

BRICK AND LIME .- The bricks of which chimneys and the many substantial, well preserved brick houses in Litchfield have been made were mostly of home manufacture. From 1810 to 1820 bricks were made on the Hatch farm, on Robert Ashford's farm, and the John Toothaker farm. The Libbys made bricks near the Potter saw mill, and about 1840 bricks were made on Asa Spear's farm, also by Hiram Morrell, on Gideon White's farm. About 1832 bricks were made at Purgatory, on the west bank of the creek, by Moses Glass, John Neal and John Bolden. Simeon Goodwin also established a brick kiln at Purgatory, the only one in town still in operation.

Lime was also burned a little before war times on the old David Ware farm, where there is a ledge of lime rock. Rufus Godfrey now owns the place,

CIDER MILLS AND ASHERIES .- Among the cider mill men were: William Payne, Captain Henry Jewell, Aaron. and Woodman True, Thomas True, Captain Samuel Patten, Amos Potter, David Ware and Benjamin Sanborn, who had mills in town. Amaziah Goggins oper- ates a mill built and run by Levi Herriman, forty yearsago, and Frank C. Wyman has recently put steam power in his cider mill, where for .each of the past fourteen years he has ground from seven to eight thousand bushels of apples, making a total of over ten thousand bar- rels of cider. He has two large tanks for vinegar, holding together fifteen thousand gallons.

Not many years ago the " ash peddler " was a familiar personage. He drove a stout pair of horses on a wagon with a big box, and car- ried a limited assortment of groceries and notions, with which he paid for any ashes he might buy, at the rate of from eight to twelve cents per bushel. These were taken to asheries and made into potash, for which there was always a cash market. Jerry Potter, Isaac Starbird, Josiah Nickerson, Smith Baker & Sons and Hatherton Earl each made potash, and there was another ashery on the George Ricker farm.

SOCIETIES .- The history of Masonry in Litchfield begins with Morning Star Lodge, No. 41, chartered July 13, 1822. The first officers of the Lodge-John Neal, W. M .; Captain John Dennis, S. W .; David .C. Burr, J. W .; John Smith, secretary; J. W. Watson, treasurer, and

695

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

Edward Gove, tyler-were publicly installed in the Baptist church. About 1830 meetings were discontinued and the charter was surren- dered. At a meeting held November 14, 1867, over Isaac Starbird's ·store, the old charter of Morning Star Lodge was restored and officers were duly installed. The four living members of the old Lodge -- William O. Grant, John Randall, Andrew Goodwin and Joseph C. Barstow-joined in the new movement. Since then the Lodge has been prosperous, now owning their Masonic Hall, which cost $2,000, and having a membership of 112.

A Lodge of Good Templars was chartered here October 17, 1887, with fifteen members. Meetings were held for two years in Stuart's Hall, since then in lower Masonic Hall. The present membership is about one hundred. Samuel Clark is W. C. T.

Litchfield Grange, No. 127, was organized in 1875, with fifteen members. It became quite prosperous, numbering as high as 150 members. A store was kept in Moses True's house, managed by the Grange, with Lucy A. True as selling agent. After about ten years it was discontinued. John Woodbury was the first master of the organ- ization, Daniel M. Emerson was the next, and Samuel Smith was the third. The present membership is one hundred, with E. M. Pinkham, master, and A. C. True, secretary.

The agricultural fairs, noticed in Chapter VIII, that have for the past quarter of a century given Litchfield such a wide celebrity, grew from the Town Farmers' Club, which was formed in 1857 by a general movement of the most active farmers of that time, among whom were Thomas H. Springer, John and Benjamin Woodbury, Woodman and Aaron 'True, John Patten and Josiah True. The first annual exhi- bitions were held in the yard about the town house.

The Litchfield Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1873, with Isaac Smith, president; Daniel L. Smith, secretary, and Dr. Cyrus Kindrick, treasurer. The first policy was issued in 1874, and the num- ber now in force is 204, representing a total insurance of $200,000. The losses incurred have been less than $5,000. The present officers are: Thomas Holmes, president; Dr. Cyrus Kindrick, treasurer, and James W. Starbird, secretary.

EDUCATION .- There had been a high school established by Isaac Smith, Smith Baker, Solomon Brown and David Billings (of which Benjamin Smith was the first teacher) at Litchfield Corners for seven years previous to 1845, when, by act of the legislature, Litchfield Academy was incorporated. The high school had been located over Starbird's store, but the new school was opened in the upper story of the Congregational meeting house, and there continued till the present academy was built, in 1852, costing about $2,000. The summer ses- sion of the legislature of 1849 passed the following: "Resolved that the Land agent of this State is hereby authorized and directed to con-

696

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

vey to the trustees of the Litchfield Academy, one half township of land situated in the county of Aroostook," etc. The land was not lo- cated, but was sold by the trustees for $5,650. A part of this money was used in building and for necessary expenses. In 1891 the leg- islature granted this school an annual appropriation of $500, for ten years. The first teacher was Joseph Stacy. Timothy Davis was the first president, and David Billings, secretary. The present officers are: M. S. H. Rogers, president; Asa P. Smith, secretary, and David S. Springer, treasurer.

When the Litchfield Academy was established, some of the sup- porters of the old high school were so much displeased because it was not located north of the Corners, that they withdrew from the new school, and organized the Liberal Institute, which held its sessions over the Starbird store till funds were raised by subscription and a building was erected in 1851 for its use. The Liberal Institute was kept in existence till about 1870. William Robinson, David Billings and George Potter were prominent in its inception and support. The school building was finally sold. to the Masonic fraternity, and is now known as Masonic Hall.

There are fifteen school districts in Litchfield. The schools are in good condition, and are doing good work.

CHURCHES .- The following is an extract from the venerable records, now in possession of Charles A. Metcalf, of the Baptist church at what was then known as Litchfield, now South Litchfield:

" Being requested by the brethren of the branch of the first Church of Christ in Litchfield in order to assist them into a separate church .- Met with them on Thursday the 19th of July A. D. 1798 at Brother James Pierce's, in said Litchfield, examined each particular member of those who were to be embodyed, and found them sound in the Faith of the Gospel and gave them fellowship as one branch of the Baptist Church. Signed JOB MACOMBER, of Bowdoinham."

" The members embodyed are as follows: John Neal, Joshua Rich- ardson, Joel Richardson, John Waymouth, Joshua Waymouth, James Pierce, Nathan Stevens, Andrew Tibbets, Bartholomew Taylor, Ebeneezer Moon, Betsey Harrimon, Polly Waymouth and Polly Hutchinson."

Prior to the opening of the records above quoted, a Baptist church was organized in 1791, with twenty-one members, with William Stin- son as pastor, who continued as a pastor in Litchfield for thirty years. This primitive preacher was ordained in a barn in the northern part of the town. After 1822, this older church had no pastor, and ten years later it disappears from the records of the association."

The Congregational Church of Litchfield Corners was organized June 6, 1811, in the small Congregational meeting house that was afterward moved to Bowdoin for a school house. These are the names

* Joshua Millet's Baptists of Maine, 1845.

C97

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

of the eleven original members: Benjamin Smith, Thomas Smith, Elkanah Baker, Samuel Smith, Mehitable Baker, Hannah Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Desire Springer, Elizabeth Smith, jun., Rebecca Hutchinson and Mary Smith. Benjamin and Thomas Smith were the first deacons. The society built a meeting house across the road from the one now in use, and worshiped there till 1845, when it was moved to the present site, remodeled into a two story building-the lower part for church purposes, the upper part for the Litchfield Academy- and so used till 1862, when the building was taken down and the pres- ent church built on the same foundation, at a cost of $2,000. Rev. David Thurston preached the dedication sermon. The pastors have been : Reverends D. Lovejoy ; David Starret, 1828; Thomas N. Lord, 1836; Timothy Davis, 1837; Benjamin Smith, 1852, died 1858; David Thurston, died 1865, 86 years old; Josiah Taylor Hawes, now 94 years old. probably the oldest Congregational minister in Maine.

It appears from the records of the Freewill Baptist Church at Litchfield Plains, that it was organized by Rev. Josiah Farewell and Rev. Samuel Hathorn, a committee appointed by the Bowdoin quar- terly conference for that purpose, October 11, 1826, with the following members: Samuel Cook, Andrew Baker, Daniel Nickerson, Dea. Cor- nelius Toothaker, Robert Ashford, Robert Stinson, Sally Ashford, Hannah Toothaker, Andrew Baker, jun., Mary Cleaves, Lydia Smith, Mary Knight, and Robert Patten, jun., as clerk. Meetings were held in the barns of C. Toothaker and Robert Ashford, and in the Hall school house until their meeting house was built in 1837. The names of the ministers of this church are: Reverends Samuel Hathorn, Hale Sweet, Barnard Goodrich, Nathaniel Purinton, Homer Gatchell, Robert Stinson, Constant Quinnan, Mark Gatchell, Stephen Purinton, Nehe- miah Preble, Ezekiel G. Page and since 1883 Edwin Marson. Deacon William Chase has held his office since 1840.

The West Litchfield Freewill Baptist Church was organized in 1875, with forty members, some of whom were: Sumner Clark, Deacon William Varney, Deacon Ferdinand Tracy, Elder William Cunning- ham, Ensign Danforth and William Frost and their wives. In 1877 the society built the present church, at a cost of $1,000. Elders Wil- liam Cunningham, Mark Gatchell, -- Bowie and Joseph Nicker- son have been the preachers. At present the church has twenty members.

The Calvinistic Baptist Church at Litchfield Corners was organ- ized some years before the war. and held meetings in the Liberal Institute building. Prominent among the leading members were: Isaac Starbird, David Billings and Benjamin Jackson, with their wives. Elders -- Lawrence, and John Jackson were preachers. At a meeting held September 5, 1863, it was voted to dissolve the church

698

HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

organization by giving each member a letter of recommendation to any sister church of the same faith.

CEMETERIES .- The cemetery at Litchfield Plains, the largest in town, was used to some extent as a burying ground previous to 1800. Early in the present century Cornelius Toothaker and others bought land of Daniel Nickerson, making the first enlargement of the old plot. A few years after, Robert Ashford and Esquire Joseph Barstow made another addition. About 1860 Dea. William Chase bought ad- joining ground of Cornelius Toothaker and James Hopkins did the same. M. Toothaker's daughter afterward sold some lots from her fath- er's estate. Steps were soon after taken, in obedience to public senti- ment, to organize a burial association to take charge of these grounds. The Litchfield Plains Cemetery Association was incorporated August 1. 1871. Purchases of land for enlargement were made in 1874 and in 1883. John Purinton is president of the association; M. S. H. Rogers, secretary and treasurer, and William F. Adams, sexton.

The cemetery lying between Purgatory and the South Litchfield post office contains the venerable dust of such persons as Aaron True, born in 1758; Hon. John Neal, born in 1790; Andrew Goodwin, born in 1793; John Magoon, born 1781; William Bartlett, born 1775, and Elias Plimpton, born in 1794. Esquire David C. Burr and Elias Plimpton in 1826 built a receiving tomb, that it still in possession of the Plimp- ton family.

The burying ground at Litchfield Corners is probably still older, as in its sacred bosom were deposited the honored remains of Benja- min Smith, who was born in 1754; Deacon Thomas Smith, born 1744; Deacon Isaac Smith, born 1795; David Springer, born 1763; Josiah Morrell and his son Josiah; Smith Baker, born 1760, and Rev. Thomas Ayer, born 1797.

The Grant burying ground, near John A. Lapham's, contains the remains of many original settlers and their families. A few of them are: Captain John Dennis and wife, Woodman Watson and wife, Joseph Lord and wife, Arthur Neal and wife, Major David Neal, Smith Emerson and wife, Edward Smith and wife, Levi Harriman and his son, Levi, and their wives. Many have been buried there with noth- ing to designate the lots.

In 1839 Isaac Randall and Richard Ferren gave the land for the burying ground on the Sabattus road. Isaac and .Harvey Randall, sons of Isaac Randall, both of whom died of an epidemic the same day, in early manhood, were the first interments in the new ground.

PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.

Rev. Smith Baker, whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all residents and all but the latter natives of Litchfield, was a student in the old Litchfield Academy, then graduated at Bangor,

699

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD.

from whence he went forth to face the trying duties of manhood. He is now one of the most powerful Congregational preachers in the great West, standing at the head of his denomination in Minneapolis, a city where only the most capable men can be leaders in any busi- ness or profession.

Granville W. Baker, son of Andrew and Betsey (Damon) Baker, was born in 1825. He kept a store at Purgatory several years pre- vious to 1866, when he sold it to Eli Merriman. He was a mason by trade, but after the war was several years employed in the Plimpton handle shop. He was postmaster from 1868 until 1873. He was bugler in the army from1 January, 1864, to June, 1865. He enlisted in the 1st D. C. Cavalry and was later transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry. Company M. He married Ann M., daughter of James and Abigail (Davis) Hutchinson and granddaughter of Nehemiah Hutchinson. His wife and two sons survive him: Fred E. and Everett B.

William Bartlett was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1775, removed to Durham, Me., and in 1810 came to Gardiner. In 1821 he bought the Bowman farm of one hundred acres and came to Litchfield, where he died in 1860. He married Dorothea M., daughter of Roger Merrill, died in 1880. Of their fifteen children there are five now living: Daniel, Priscilla (Mrs. M. B. Gilman), James, Alice and Dorothea (Mrs. George Stockham). Alice now occupies the homestead, and has charge of the farm. Her sister, Elizabeth M., died in December, 1891.

James A. Chase, son of Deacon William, grandson of Nathaniel, and great-grandson of Judah Chase, was born in 1842. Nathaniel Chase was born in Brunswick in 1770. William was born in Bruns- wick in 1807 and married, first, Mary J. Alexander, of Litchfield, in 1834. Their children were: Alonzo M., Sarah A., William E., Nancy J., James A., Llewellyn and Olivia H. Mr. Chase married Mrs. Eliza- beth Maxwell, of Litchfield, for his second wife, in 1886. He has been a deacon of the Baptist church for over fifty years. James A. Chase was first married to Lizzie J. Parsons, who died in 1877. His present wife was Mary E. Small, of Bowdoinham.

James E. Chase, born in Bowdoin in 1838, is a son of James and Louisa (White) Chase, grandson of James and great-grandson of Isaac Chase. He was a farmer and school teacher until November 19, 1863, when he succeeded George Sawyer in the store at Litchfield Corners, where he has since remained. He has been postmaster since Septem- ber 2, 1873, except from March 19, 1888, until August, 1889. He mar- ried Junietta M., daughter of Enoch and Lydia (Shurburn) Miller.

George F. Chick is a son of Charles and Eliza A. (Mathews) Chick, grandson of Jotham, and greatgrandson of John Chick, who came from Kennebunk to Litchfield and settled on the farm where Mr. Chick now lives with his mother.

700

IIISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

Melville A. Cochrane was born and studied in Litchfield, gradu- ated at Bowdoin, and is now colonel of the 6th Infantry, in the regu- lar army.

Ebenezer D. Crane, born in 1799 and died in 1886, was a hoe and fork maker. He learned the trade in Walpole, Mass., and came to Litchfield in 1820, where he worked for the Plimpton Company for the remainder of his active life. His wife was Joanna B., daughter of Thomas True. They had seven children, four of whom are living: Henry, Laura M., Susan and Amanda (Mrs. G. W. Horton). The three that died were: George W., Julia T. and an infant.

Reuel W. Cunningham, son of Daniel, jun., and grandson of Rev. Daniel Cunningham, who came from Wiscasset, Me., was born in Litchfield. Daniel Cunningham, jun., married for his second wife, Martha Neal, by whom he had seven children, Reuel and William being the only ones now living. Reuel W. Cunningham and Emma F. Williams were married in 1863, and have two children-Mattie A. and Willie E. Mr. Cunningham's grandfather and his great-grand- father were both preachers in the denomination of Calvinistic Bap- tists. The former preached many years ago at South Litchfield and the latter in Bowdoin, Me. Mr. Cunningham has for three years past been in charge of the Litchfield town farm.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 84

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