Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 89

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 89

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).

Edward Soper, born in 1825, is a son of Seth and Abigail (Billings) Soper. He followed the sea from 1840 until 1877, with the exception of the time he spent in California. Since 1877 he has occupied the homestead of his father.

Henry N. Soper, youngest son of John and Evaline (Smith) Soper, and grandson of Seth and Prudy (White) Soper, was born in 1845. He was for ten years engaged in the machinist trade, and has since been a farmer. He married Almatia, daughter of Jacob W. Nelson. They have one daughter, Effie G.

Sanford Stevens, born in 1814, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Han- over) Stevens, grandson of Caleb and Elizabeth (Wilson) Stevens, and great-grandson of John Stevens. Mr. Stevens married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Jewett, and their children were: Maria (Mrs. J. H. Scammell), Mary (Mrs. F. W. Pitcher), Walter (married Mary Baker), John S., Kate W. and Edward D., who died. Mr. Stevens is a farmer.

Daniel Thompson, son of Hugh and Mary (Lawrence) Thompson, and grandson of James Thompson, was born in 1818, and is a farmer, owning and occupying the farm where he was born. He married Nancy, daughter of William and Mary (Hunt) Moody. Their children are: Daniel A., Henry, Henrietta (Mrs. John Blodgett), Emma L. (Mrs. Henry Hunt), and Herbert L.

Henry Thompson, son of Daniel Thompson, was born in 1842. He is a carpenter by trade. He was in Nevada from 1873 to 1885, where he worked at his trade. He served in the civil war 113 months in the 21st Maine. He inarried Abiah F., daughter of Royal and Eliza (Nickerson) Moody. They have four children: Henry B., Ernest C., Mabel A. and Jessie S.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

Incorporation .- First Town Meeting .- Early Inhabitants .- Industrial Interests. -Post Office .- Civil History .- Education .- Religious Interests .- Ceme- teries .- Personal Paragraphs.

T' HIS town was formerly part of Pittston, but a few years ago the inhabitants expressed the desire to become an independent municipal body. A destructive fire occurred near the river, above the bridge, in what was known as the village of Pittston, which circumstance awakened the citizens of the village to the subject of being prepared for such occurrences; but the town, outside of the village, voted against incurring the necessary expense of an extension of the Gardiner water works across the river for the protection of the village. This led to petitioning for a separate corporation, which re- sulted in an act of separation from Pittston. A strip of land fifty rods wide had been annexed to Pittston from the town of Chelsea; but with this exception-embracing lands of Rufus White, John Dow and George Lyon-the territory incorporated was part of the original Pittston of 1779.

The act provided that all that part of Pittston lying north of the south line of Worromontogus stream be incorporated into a separate town by the name of West Pittston, and that the care and current ex- penses of the Gardiner and Pittston bridge were to be borne by the town of West Pittston; but in case of total or partial destruction, the liability for rebuilding the bridge was to remain as if no division had been made.

On the 14th of March, 1887, at the first annual town meeting, the usual town officers were elected. March 17th, by an act of legislature, the name West Pittston was changed to Randolph. The body politic has taken up the burden of self government in every branch; the Gardiner water works have been extended to Randolph, providing the village with water for fire and domestic purposes; electric lights adorn the principal streets; and in many similar respects the village vies with the neighboring cities across the river.

This was the principal village of Pittston before the separation, and is now the only one of the town of Randolph. The town is small

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

and uneven, but contains some good farms, of which hay is the prin- cipal product. The town-practically a rambling village-is remark- ably picturesque, with its long rows of old elms, well cultivated lawns and attractive residences. Of the old settlers of Pittston it is very difficult now to determine who was first on the soil of Randolph; but Daniel Sewall and George Williamson were here at an early day. Captain James Bailey, Gideon Barker and John Jewett were old men on this territory within the memory of the oldest now living. Promi- nent among those of past generations were Caleb Stevens, James and Alexander Stevens, and Daniel Jewett, who, while employed by the Gardiner estate, transplanted the large elms, at present the pride of the village.

INDUSTRIES .- This portion of old Pittston, now Randolph, was prominent in the business life of the past. Shipbuilding was an early industry, the particulars of which are found in Chapter VII. Frank- lin and William Stevens, of the later generations, began building ves- sels in 1840 where the shoe factory now stands, having four on the stocks at a time; and as late as 1847 they built ships of 1,400 tons bur- then. Notable was the White Falcon, which was one of the first ves- sels sent to the Crimea, as a transport for the. French, during the war there. Of the later firms were James & Alexander Cooper and Ste- phen Young. Their yards were near and below the bridge.

About 1850 Franklin Stevens erected a saw mill on the Little Togus, about where the Kennebec Central railroad strikes the street. It was built for Door Bullen, who ran it several years, and then sold the business to Franklin Stevens. When the civil war began Mr. Stevens sold the machinery at a large price, and the business was dis- continued.

Near where Putnam & Closson's extensive lumber mills are, Joseph W. Bradbury, Henry Bowman and John Blanchard built, in 1835, a steam saw mill. After them, Arthur and John Berry, and Clay, Frost & Co. operated it. In 1860 it was taken down, having stood idle for some years. In 1869 Ira D. Sturges, of Augusta, bought the Williamson farm of over one hundred acres, including the old mill site. and the Kennebec Land & Lumber Company, which was then formed, built the present mill, which, after being operated by Bod- well, Allen & Bodwell, was purchased in 1881 by Lawrence, Putnam & Co., and in 1882 by the present owners, Putnam & Closson. It is now a plant of much importance, running a rotary and gang of saws for long lumber, two lath machines, a shingle machine, and a clap- board machine, besides the smaller saws and requisite machinery. It is run by an engine of 200 horse power, with boilers of still greater capacity. Below and near this large plant the firm of Putnam & Clos- son have another mill, in which three planers are placed, run by a sixty horse power engine. This firm employs eighty men in all

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

branches of the business, the logs being sorted and hauled from the river near by. The capacity of the saw mill is 80,000 feet of long lumber daily.

The later industries here are the ice buildings, which were com- menced about 1860, and. still later, the shoe factory, built in 1888 by a corporation of the citizens. Littlefield & Co., of Lynn, ran it about one year and closed; then Caldwell & Libby, of Lynn, carried it on one year and discontinued.

On the Togus stream was an old carding and fulling mill, on what is now Samuel Stevens' farm. It had disappeared before the recollec- tion of the present generation. There was a saw mill built in 1808, on the Togus stream, called the Cooper mill; it stood just above the present mill of Oliver Moulton. A portion of the dam only remains.

Oliver Moulton built a saw mill in 1864, on the Togus stream, a short distance above the river road, but it was burned ten years after- ward. Another mill was at once erected, a little lower down the stream, and is now leased and run by Henry & Warren Moulton, sons of Oliver. It contains a rotary saw for long lumber, planers, lath and shingle mills, and employs twenty-five hands. This mill controls the stream up to the reservoir at Togus.

L. W. Goodspeed had a store here, which he ran for several years; and the post office was kept in it the last year of his term. David Mooers & John Frost were in a store, years ago, where A. E. Lewis now is. After a few years they dissolved partnership and Mooers continued the business alone, moving across the street, to where Goodwin & Drake are. The business was closed out after a few years. James R. Goodwin, in 1876, started a store where A. E. Lewis is, and after two years moved to his present site.

After air and water, articles of food rank next as necessities of life. For this reason the grocery, the market and the feed store always pre- cede establishments where dry goods, clothing and boots and shoes are sold. Randolph's inhabitants can much more easily go for the latter articles to Gardiner or Augusta, than for supplies to meet the primal, constantly recurring demands for food. It is for such reasons that the sagacious dealers like Allen E. Lewis bring as varied and as abundant stocks of eatables to Randolph as can be found in much larger places.

Mr. Lewis is a son of Captain Alpheus Lewis, who came with his father, Captain Stephen Lewis, who came from Boothbay to White- field, Me. Stephen Lewis had six children: Alpheus, Jason, Francis, Louisa, Osborn and Mary A .- all now dead but Francis and Mary A.

The Lewises were a seafaring family as far back as known. Cap- tain Alpheus Lewis commanded a vessel, after coming to Whitefield, till about 1840, when he quit the ocean and became a farmer. He married Hannah S. Little', daughter of Samuel Little®, of Pittston

Ce E Leurs

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

(Joshua®, Samuel‘, Daniel3, Joseplia, George Little1, of England, who- settled in Newbury, Mass, in 1640). The Little family have produced in America in each generation men eminent in public and private. life. The children of Alpheus and Hannah S. Lewis were: Maria Louisa, born 1842; Francina A., 1844; Vira E. and Vesta (twins), 1850; Allen E., February 2, 1853; and Lizzie M., now Mrs. William E. Bailey. The two eldest sisters are dead.

Allen E. Lewis grew to years of maturity on his father's farm in Whitefield. Always active in body and mind, he became a butcher as well as farmer, and was an expert judge of live stock and a thorough master of all the details of the trade. At the age of twenty-seven he came to the Kennebec valley in search of a locality that offered free scope to the energy and desire for work that animated every pulsation of his blood. After looking the ground carefully over he selected Randolph (then Pittston), with its river and railroad advantages, but more particularly because of the fine country lying back of it, from which our young tradesman saw must come much of the demand for the articles he proposed to sell. With characteristic good judgment he selected the corner of Windsor and Main streets, where he still re- mains, and offered the public a stock of groceries, flour, feed and meats. At the same time he became a buyer of grain and all kinds of farm produce, in which articles he has always been an extensive. dealer. He early recognized the fact that honesty makes the most friends, and that fair dealing pays the largest profit, and the high reputation his business methods enjoy, and the substantial compe- tence they have brought him, are the proofs of his wisdom.

In political matters Mr. Lewis' opinions incline to the democratic side and in religious matters to the liberal side. The social side of his nature is strong, finding its highest delights in the society of his family and the sunny atmosphere of his happy home.

In 1883 he married Augusta L., daughter of Captain George W. Bailey, of Pittston, and has three children: Bertha E., born in 1884; Grace W., 1888; and Alice M., 1891.

In 1873 Richard C. Moody engaged in mercantile business in a building at the west end of the bridge, buying out the stock of William T. Searls. The business was sold to Orrison V. Row less than two years after; and he sold to John Campbell, who had become a partner. Mr. Campbell conducted the store until the building was burned. About 1876 Mr. Moody again engaged in the mercantile business with William F. Ladd, in the brick store on the corner, near his former place, occupying one-half of it. A year after he bought out Ladd, and also bought the building now the confec- tionery store of Mr. Towle, and in 1877 removed to it. In 1885 he erected his present store, in which his wife conducted a millinery and dry goods business. Five years afterward the health of his wife

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

caused her to retire, and Mr. Moody removed to the place, added gro- ceries to the stock, and has continued there since. Other merchants here are: A. C. Clark, grocer; J. F. & J. E. Kelly, hardware; Goodwin & Drake, grocers; J. A. Jackson, drugs; Labaree & Ryan, general mer- chandise; and Benjamin Lawrence, groceries.

The railroad to Togus, with its several trains daily, thronged with excursionists, makes the village a busy railroad terminus. The neat new depot was erected in the autumn of 1890, just south of the west end of the river bridge. L. W. Goodspeed is agent.

Coopering has been a prominent industry here for over two-score years. A man named Thompson was engaged in the business in the for- ties. In 1849 Fuller G. Sherman came to the village and engaged in the same business in a shop where the south lumber yard is. In 1863 he built and moved to his present place, where he is assisted by his son.

The Gardiner & Pittston Bridge, opened as a toll bridge October 18, 1853, has no doubt assisted largely in building up the present vil- lage of Randolph; but since January 1, 1887, when the two towns con- nected purchased the shares of the bridge and made it free, it is claimed by some that business has declined.

The business of William Grant was started in 1861 on Windsor street, where Henry S. Winslow now has a boot and shoe store. About 1864 he moved to the end of the bridge, in the building since burned. In 1866 he moved to Jewett Block, where, after five years, he closed up. He went up the street and engaged in the coopering business; but preferring mercantile life, he altered his shop into a store, and again put in a stock of groceries. After remaining there five years he removed to Jewett Block, where he remained five years more, and then came across the street to his present place of business, two years ago.

Early in this century a tavern was established on the street opposite the shoe factory by Samuel Hodgedon, who was afterward succeeded by John E. Merrill. About forty years ago this hotel was kept by Asa C. Cross; but was burned during his administration. A long period intervened, after which E. R. Marston fitted up a dwelling into a comfortable hotel, and opened it as the Pittston House. A few years ago Albert White purchased the property and continued the business under the name of the Randolph House.

POST OFFICE .- After the separation of Gardiner a post office was established at Pittston, of which Jacob Loud was appointed the first postmaster, May 7, 1804. His office was near Smith's Ferry. At the death of Loud, Henry Dearborn was appointed, July 17, 1820, and re- moved the office to Togus Bridge. Stephen Young was appointed, April 4, 1831, and the office was removed to the village. He was suc- ceeded, August 19, 1841, by Alphonso H. Clark. Hiram T. Clark was appointed June 19, 1845; and Samuel S. Colburn June 6, 1849. No-

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

vember 16, 1850, Caleb Stevens was made postmaster, the office being in a brick store, since burned, near where the Randolph shoe factory now stands. March 30, 1853, Hiram T. Clark was again appointed. Stephen Young succeeded him May 16, 1857, keeping the office at the same place, and later moving to where Goodwin & Drake have a store. July 9, 1861, Alphonso H. Clark was again appointed and held the of- fice until January 14, 1878, when he was succeeded by A. C. Clark. April 19, 1881, Larry W. Goodspeed was appointed, and kept the office in the store where Labaree & Ryan are, until he removed it across the street to its present place. J. R. Goodwin was made postmaster April 29, 1885. March 25, 1887, the name of the office was changed to Ran- dolph, with Mr. Goodwin still in charge; and June 15, 1889, Edwin W. Trask, the present postmaster, was appointed.

CIVIL HISTORY .- Jewett Hall, in the block of that name, has been used for town meetings, especially the annual meetings, when the at- tendance is large. In it the first town meeting for the new town of Randolph was held, March 14, 1887, when G. P. H. Jewett, Charles E. Clark and Newton Mitchell were chosen selectmen; William H. Dud- ley, town clerk; and A. C. Clark, treasurer. B. A. Cox was chosen mod- erator of the meeting. In March, 1888, B. A. Cox was again chosen moderator, and the same selectmen, clerk and treasurer were reelected. In 1889 B. A. Cox was a third time chosen moderator at the annual March meeting, and W. H. Dudley continued as clerk. B. A. Cox, Robert Barber and Newton Mitchell were elected selectmen, and J. R. Goodwin was elected treasurer. In 1890 Charles H. Dunton was chosen moderator, and the old clerk was reelected. The selectmen were Daniel Glidden, G. W. Howe and D. S. Tasker; J. R. Goodwin was continued as treasurer. In 1891 Charles H. Dunton was chosen moderator, the selectmen chosen were Daniel Glidden, D. S. Tasker and Charles H. Dunton. In 1892 the officers elected were: Selectmen, B. A. Cox, D. S. Tasker and C. H. Dunton; treasurer, J. R. Goodwin; clerk. W. H. Dudley.

The selectmen have an office in Jewett Block, where the books are kept in a large, fire-proof safe.

Thus far the new town has no poor house, but to the very few in need of temporary aid the proper relief is given.

SCHOOLS .- In 1887, when Randolph was erected from Pittston, the territory contained two districts. The two schools were at once graded and placed under what is known as the town system, with a competent superintendent, so that at the present day the schools are not elsewhere excelled in standing and efficiency. There are in the system two primaries-one up out of the village-one intermediate, kept in the Engine Hall, and one grammar department, employing five competent teachers. High school instruction is obtained at Gar- diner, where, by a mutual arrangement, scholars are sent, securing

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

excellent advantages, for which Randolph votes and raises $175 yearly. The appropriation for the schools of the town is $1,000 yearly. Charles O. Turner has been the efficient school superintendent since the formation of the town.

CHURCH .- The Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittston village, now Randolph, became a distinct charge-separated from Augusta and Gardiner-in 1842. Occasional preaching was held, and the few Methodists had become greatly strengthened by the moving in of several strong families. In the spring of 1844 a powerful revival occurred, and the conference appointed Rev. P. P. Morrill as preacher in charge. A place for worship was the cherished project of the pas- tor, Freeman Yates, who had been appointed in 1846. After several meetings for the purpose, John Blanchard and Smith Cox, in 1847, undertook the erection of an edifice by their own individual efforts, and in December, 1847, the church was dedicated, with Rev. Francis Soule, pastor. The church has been twice repaired and is kept in a good state of preservation. A bell was paid for by subscription in 1851 and placed in its belfry. This is the principal place of worship ·of later years in Randolph. The pastors have been, besides those named: Marcus Wight, Zina H. Blair, Abia Foster, Phineas Higgins, Daniel Clark, Horace Bray, T. P. Adams, Freeman Chase, Ezra San- born, George Strout, C. A. Plummer, C. B. Besse, J. N. Marsh, G. A. Crawford, G. G. Winslow, C. E. Libby, J. W. Price, Howard Clifford, E. S. Gahan, G. B. Chadwick, J. T. Crosby; and in 1887, Rev. W. W. Ogier was appointed.

CEMETERIES .- The principal burial ground of the town is Maple Grove Cemetery, controlled by an association of citizens. The act creating the association was passed in January, 1868, and the first officers chosen were: B. A. Cox, president; A. H. Clark, secretary; Benjamin Flitner, treasurer; Caleb Stevens, Benjamin Clark, William B. Winslow and E. D. Hardy, trustees or directors. B. A. Cox served -as president until 1888, when F. Stevens was elected for two years; then J. R. Goodwin was chosen, in 1890, and has served until the pres- ent time. A. C. Clark was elected secretary in 1873, and has served since; and F. G. Sherman has been treasurer since 1875. F. Stevens has been chosen chairman of the directors since the year 1870. Land was purchased on the river road, a few minutes' walk to the north of the village, and the requisite expenditures made in beautifying and laying it out. Additions have been made from time to time, and it is now a large and beautiful burial place, containing a suitable vault. Here lies Nathaniel Berry, one of General George Washington's life guards. He died August 20, 1850, and was buried amid the tolling of bells and firing of minute guns, and was followed to his grave by a military escort and a large procession of military and civic bodies.

Another very old burial place is on the old Blanchard farm, now

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

occupied by James Hayes, a short distance above the Maple Grove Cemetery, on the river road. It was the family ground of the Blanch- ards, but lots have been sold to others.

PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.

Robert Barber, the youngest of nine children of James and Eliza- beth (Moore) Barber, was born in 1833, at the place where he now lives, his father having bought the farm in 1830 from William Moore. James Barber came from England in 1816 and lived in Hallowell and Gardiner until he bought the place where Robert now lives. Mr. Barber married Eunice, daughter of Ezekiel Buzzell. Their children are: Edith R., Robert, Thomas W., Jesse, Fannie A., Grace M. and Lillie.

Charles E. Bradstreet, jun., born in 1836, is the eldest son of Charles E. Bradstreet. He has been employed since 1867 on Gardiner and Boston steamers, since 1869 as mate. He married Delia A , daugh- ter of Jonathan L. Reade, of Dresden. Their two sons are: Leslie W. and Harry W. The ell of his house was formerly the residence of General Dearborn, who at one time lived in Gardiner.

George W. Eastman, youngest of eleven children of Samuel and Eliza (Luce) Eastman, and grandson of Hubbard and Sarah (Stevens) Eastman, was born in 1845. He was engaged in steamboating from 1868 to 1879, since which time he has run a steam tug boat, in which he is an owner, on the Kennebec. He has lived at Randolph since 1875. He married Mary E., daughter of Captain John Merrill. Their children are: Mildred E., Amy F. and Howard W., born June 29, 1891.

Daniel Glidden, born in Whitefield in 1821, is a son of Charles and Ruth Ann (Plummer) Glidden, and grandson of Benjamin Glidden. Mr. Glidden came to Pittston in 1845. He is a ship carpenter. He was eight years chairman of the board of selectmen of Pittston and was selectman of Randolph in 1890 and 1891. His first wife, Joanna Dudley, died leaving four children: Mary E. and. Walter S., living; and William R. and Warren C., deceased. His present wife was Lizzie A. Quimby.

James R. Goodwin, born in 1840, is a son of Oliver, grandson of James and great-grandson of Andrew Goodwin, who came from Bidde- ford, Me., to Gardiner prior to the revolutionary war. His mother, Laura, was a daughter of Philip and granddaughter of Samuel Bullen. Mr. Goodwin was in California from 1860 to 1868, mining and lumber- ing; since 1876 he has been a merchant at Randolph, and was post- master from 1885 to 1889. He was chairman of board of selectmen one term and has been town treasurer of Randolph since 1889, and was treasurer in Pittston for several years before the town was divided. He married Octavia, daughter of Israel Hayward. Their children

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

are: Grace A .. Alice M. and Philip R. Andrew Goodwin, of Gardiners- town. Mass. (now Gardiner, Me.), enlisted July 25, 1775, and served twenty days as corporal in " A " Company of minute men, under the command of Oliver Colburn, in Colonel Arnold's regiment. The original muster roll of this company is at the state house at Boston, in the office of the secretary of state, Vol. XII, p. 2.

William Grant, born in 1834, is a son of Charles and Abigail (Rol- lins) Grant, and grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Babcock) Grant. Thomas was a native of Scotland Highlands. Mr. Grant began as a clerk in 1847 and has been in the mercantile business since that time, with the exception of two years, and since 1861 has been in trade for himself. He was selectman two years and has held other town offices; he was representative one term. He married Ann Jane, daughter of Oliver Philbrick.

John F. Gray, son of William and Mary (Farnham) Gray, was born in Windsor in 1829, and is a ship carpenter by trade. Since 1877 he has lived in Randolph. Of his ten brothers and sisters only one is living-William, of Windsor.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 89

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