Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 97

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 97

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About 1852, through the labors of Rev. John Stevens, a Freewill Baptist church was organized at Wayne village. A building was soon erected for public worship, which has since been purchased by the town, and without being removed from its original foundation, remod- eled into the village school house. Mr. Stevens was succeeded as pas- tor of the church by Reverend Gould. As the doctrinal tenets of the denomination are nearly identical with those of the Methodist church, it was not long before the small society became enlarged into the latter, and the organization ceased to exist.

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SCHOOLS .*- It appears that there were schools supported by private subscription from the time of the first settlement. In 1801 the first appropriation of $100 was made for the support of schools; in 1806 the sum of $300 was raised, and in 1810, $400. The first school house built in town was located in the northwest corner of what is now J. F. Gordon's farm, near the place where his store shed now stands. It was used for religious services and town meetings. This part of the town was first settled in 1773, and here was for years the First school district. Among the early teachers were Eliza Allen and Moses Wing; and later, Polly Buswell, who was a most successful teacher. Work, knitting and plain sewing were mingled with her instructions.

In 1802 the town was divided into school districts " territorially." Each district contained certain "lots according to Prescott's Plan." District No. 1 was where No. 3 now is; No. 3 was at North Wayne, and No. 5 was at Wayne village. Districts 2, 4 and 6 were in the vi- cinity of the schools now bearing the same numbers. In 1803 Wayne appointed Joseph Lamson, Moses Wing and Ebenezer Besse for a select committee to visit the schools in town, and to " license schoolmasters and schoolmistresses." In 1804 Job Fuller, Allen Wing, Thomas At- kinson, Braddock Weeks, Nathan Norris, Nathaniel Atkins and Z. Washburn were chosen a committee to divide the town into proper school districts. In 1807 the town was divided into six school districts, which were numbered and described. Wayne village and vicinity comprised No. 1, the Norris neighborhood No. 2, the Dexter district No. 3, Smith's Corner No. 4, North Wayne No. 5, and the Wing neigh- borhood No. 6. Some of these districts were subsequently divided and additional districts formed.

In April, 1807, the "First School District raised $150 to build a school house." This was the first school district tax. The first school house built in Wayne village was located near where the dwelling house of Mrs. Sally Norris now stands. In 1883 Wayne adopted the town plan of managing schools, and in 1884 two free high schools were established, one at Wayne village, the other at North Wayne. Since 1891 the town has furnished free text books in the public schools. Wayne has good school houses, and the schools of the town will com- pare favorably with those of other towns expending annually about the same money for this purpose.

INDUSTRIES .- The first mills within the limits of Wayne were, in all probability, erected at the outlet of Wing's pond prior to 1790. The dams on which these mills stood differed considerably from the ones which now regulate the water power. Twenty-five feet above the Main street bridge, with its west abutment about where Swift's blacksmith shop now stands, was the upper dam, constructed of logs, as was also the lower dam, which crossed the stream about sixty feet

* Facts furnished by George W. Walton, of Wayne.

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below. On the latter stood a saw mill, erected by Jonathan Howe, and a grist mill, by Thomas Wing. A law suit between these parties over the water privilege resulted in Mr. Howe's securing both mills. The next proprietor of the grist mill of whom we have any knowledge was Jonathan Norcross, who, in 1802, was taxed for mill property to the value of $1,000. The next owner was Joshua Winslow, who, in 1817, deeded to Jacob Haskell a portion of the property. Joseph Lam- son and John Bowles had come into possession of a considerable share, which they relinguished to Ellis Sweet in 1818. The same year Mr. Sweet sold three-fourths of the property to Job Fuller, and a short time later Sweet and Fuller deeded a quarter interest in the property, including a fulling and carding mill, to Jabez Leadbetter.

The next year Mr. Sweet sold one-sixth of the double mill, as it was denominated, to Leadbetter. In 1820 we find the property in the hands of Mr. Leadbetter and Jacob Haskell, the former owning thir- teen parts, the latter three. It was burned this year, and was probably rebuilt immediately, as the next year Nathaniel Norris purchased of Mr. Leadbetter one-half interest in the mill. Isaac Blethen, of Dover, purchased, in 1830, Leadbetter's remaining interest. It was destroyed by fire in 1844. Mr. Blethen then sold his interest in the privilege to Wellington Hunton and Sumner Moulton, who, with Mr. Haskell, re- built the mill on the present site. The following year the latter trans- ferred his interest to Nathaniel B. Haskell.

In 1858 Mr. Hunton purchased of Mr. Moulton's heirs the undivided half of his share in the property. Two years later he deeded his en- tire interest to Cyrus B. and Frank Swift. It was again burned in 1863. The ensuing year it was rebuilt by Holman Johnson, who pur- chased the entire water power. In 1875 Mr. Johnson presented one- half of the property to his daughter, Mrs. Frances L. Wing, and after his decease the remaining half was purchased by Charles E. Wing, the present occupant, whose father, Obed Wing, operated the estab- lishment for Mr. Johnson.

Among the early proprietors of the saw mill erected by Jonathan Howe we find the names of Ellis Sweet and Jacob Haskell. In 1816 Sweet sold a quarter interest to Samuel Brown. Four years later Brown was taxed for the entire property. About this time the mill was destroyed by fire. Subsequently Isaac Smith held a controlling interest in it, as did also Amasa Dexter, who probably sold to Peter and David Fifield, of Fayette. Not far from fifty years ago the prop- erty was purchased by Josiah and Oliver Norris, by whom a shingle and clapboard mill was established on the same power. The upper part of the building was used as a sash and blind factory. It was re- moved by Mr. Johnson, and a portion is now used as a store house, opposite the woolen factory. The next proprietors of the saw mill were Samuel Brown, jun., and William Burgess. The latter relin-

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quished his title to Brown, by whom the entire property was sold to Elias and Jesse Prince. It was purchased, with all the other mill property, by Holman Johnson, who remodeled the building, moved it back to a new foundation and furnished it with improved machinery. It is now controlled by the Wayne Mill Company.

Mr. Johnson, soon after liis removal to Wayne from Vermont, in 1856, established a shovel handle manufactory, which was operated by him and his son, A. F. Johnson, until 1886. The woolen mill, which was burned in 1892, was erected by Mr. Johnson. After his decease it was controlled and operated by his sons, under the superintendence of George Johnson, until 1872, when it was purchased by the Wayne Mill Company, John Holland, agent. The machine shop was built by Mr. Johnson in 1866. It was operated by L. W. Fillebrown several years, as a manufactory of cultivators and shovel handle machinery.

The edge tool industry at North Wayne was established as early as 1837, by a stock company. The name of the original projector is unknown. It proved a financial failure. Not far from 1842, R. B. Dunn purchased all the property of this company and other interests in contiguous real estate, and two years later organized the North Wayne Scythe Company, to which he relinquished a controlling in- terest in the stock. The business was conducted by this company un- til 1861, when it failed, under the superintendence of J. F. Taylor. From 1861 to 1862 it was conducted by Mr. Taylor and a Mr. Tewks- bury, assignees. The opening of the civil war was an opportune event for the management, and in the short space of twelve months they established the business on a firm financial basis. A new com- pany was then organized as the North Wayne Tool Company, which was controlled by the Ames Brothers, of Boston, proprietors of the Ames Plough Works. At the end of twelve years the business was suspended, and until 1880, when the present company was formed, the works lay idle. The present official organization consists of Joseph F. Bodwell, president; General C. W. Tilden, secretary and treasurer, and Williston Jennings, superintendent; Mr. Bodwell succeeding Hon. J. R. Bodwell, deceased, who was elected to the first position in the corporation in 1880. The present daily capacity of the works is 20 dozen scythes, 300 axes, 24 dozen hay knives, 48 dozen corn knives or 100 dozen band knives. Forty-five operatives are employed.

The first factory, a building covering 70 by 40 feet, stood on the west bank of the stream, on the north side of the street. On the same power were two mills, erected prior to 1820, by Comfort C. Smith, one of the early pastors of the Methodist church. The saw mill and the old scythe factory were connected. The latter was a brick build- ing, and the former was constructed of wood. The grist mill was on the east side of the steam. The site on which the brick factory was

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

erected was formerly covered by a fulling mill, operated early, it is thought, by a Mr. King. This building was removed, about the time the factory was built, and remodeled into the main part of the old North Wayne hotel, by Benjamin Palmer, whose son now occupies it as a private residence.

After the suspension of business by the Ames Plough Company the brick factory was remodeled, and fitted with machinery for manu- facturing paper, by J. F. Taylor and W. M. Harvey, who conducted the business under the corporate name of the North Wayne Paper Company, until about 1882, when the mill was destroyed by fire, to- gether with the saw mill. Two years later the grist mill on the oppo- site side of the stream was burned; and a year later an axe factory, which had been erected east of it, on the same power, by the North Wayne Tool Company, on land leased of the paper company, was de- stroyed in the same manner.

ASSOCIATIONS .- Asylum Lodge, F. & A. M., received a special com- munication August 22, 1865. Succeeding Emery Foss as W. M., the following have held that position: H. J. Ridley, September, 1869; L. R. Sturtevant, 1870; A. F. Johnson, 1872; Charles E. Wing, 1875: L. R. Sturtevant, 1877; Thomas Wing, 1881: H. J. Ridley, 1882; L. R. Sturtevant, 1883; C. W. Crosby, 1884; James M. Pike, 1890; J. M. Gor- den, 1891.

Wayne Commandery, United Order of the Golden Cross, was or- ganized March 5, 1885, with fifteen charter members. The noble commanders have been: A. G. French, two terms; A. L. French, five terms; Mrs. H. H. Stinchfield, six terms; C. E. Wing, two terms.

Prescott Lodge, No. 6, A. O. U. W., was instituted August 21, 1882. Past master workmen: F. L. Dixon, P. H. Culhane, J. C. Stinchfield, W. B. Howard, J. M. Pike, W. B. Frost, S. Pettingill and A. W. Manter. Financier, E. L. Lincoln.

VILLAGES .- Among the first traders at Wayne village were Lam- son & Bowles, who traded as early as 1807, in a store which stood where the brick store now stands. After being occupied as a paint shop many years, this building was purchased, not far from 1830, by George Smith, who used it as a store until 1849, when he removed to a point near where the cheese factory now stands, and erected the brick store on the lot. It was subsequently taken down by James Tur- ner and rebuilt as the residence he now occupies. A store was erected at a very early date by Mr. Howe. As the only person of that name of whom we can find any trace on the existing records is Jonathan Howe, the miller, it is easy to presume that the trader and miller were identical; and it is a question whether he was not the first trader, as his name disappeared from the tax lists at an early date. Seventy years ago this building, which stood on the vacant lot opposite the brick store, was occupied by Farnham & Stanley. Following this firm

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came Alfred and Philander Morton, of Winthrop. After a few years they closed out the business and removed to Hallowell. Joseph H. Bishop, who purchased the building, removed it to a point north of the Johnson house, and remodeled it into a dwelling house. Later, John Dexter changed its location to the lot on which it now stands, and re-arranged it for a Methodist parsonage.

On the site of E. L. Lincoln's tailoring establishment an early store was erected, which was occupied, about 1820, by Bowles & Lee. It was burned while in their hands, not far from 1824. A store was soon standing on the same lot, built by Lemuel Bartlett. Wellington Hun- ton, who purchased the building in 1835 of the Bowles heirs, who had regained possession of the property, was the next occupant. He sold the business, not far from 1850, to Reed & Besse. A Mr. Weymouth and Alfred Sawyer were later occupants. The upper part was at this time used as a milliner's shop, by Miss Maria Fairbanks, and, later, by Miss Marcena Foss. It was burned in 1863. Mr. Lincoln's store was built on the same site by Jeremiah Foss, jun., who occupied it as a shoe store and manufactory several years. W. C. Tribou was a later occupant.

Wellington Hunton, after selling this store to Reed & Besse, erected a building on the lot now covered by the store occupied by L. K. Cram & Co. In 1857 Mr. Hunton removed to Livermore Falls. The business was sold to Ebenezer Norris, and was subsequently pur- chased by James Thorn. The building was destroyed by fire in 1863. The same year the Cram store was erected by James Moulton, whose son, Jonathan Moulton, traded in it a large portion of the time until his decease. J. M. Gott, C. T. Sanborn, J. M. Moulton and W. C. Tri- bou have each occupied it a short period. Between this building and the post office is a vacant lot, on which the Wing store rested in the days when the oldest citizens were boys and girls. Moses Wing, jun., was the first trader in this building of whom we have any knowledge. In 1830 Henry W. Owen was engaged in business there. Later, the sale of a half interest to Uriah H. Virgin brought in the firm of Owen & Virgin. Sumner Moulton purchased the stand in 1836. He was succeeded by his brother, Jonathan. This building shared the fate of the entire business section of the village in the sweeping conflagra- tion of July 1, 1863.

On the post office lot a building used by David Smith for a carpen- ter shop was converted into a dwelling house by Henry W. Owen. Later, it was removed to the foundation it now covers, near the high school building, where it is occupied by Samuel Bishop. Holman Johnson erected a store on the same lot not far from 1856, which was rented by Rev. C. C. Whitney for a drug and dry goods store. After the fire of 1863 Mr. Johnson rebuilt on the lot. After about a year's occupancy as a general store, he abandoned the business to give his

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

entire attention to manufacturing. Barker & Clark, his successors, yielded to the firm of Sawyer & Clark. ' About 1872 the death of Mr. Sawyer cansed a change in the business, which passed into the hands of Joseph S. Berry, who conducted it continuously until 1888. After Mr. Berry's decease, the business was conducted by W. C. Tribou un- til his recent removal to North Leeds. One side of the store is now occupied by George W. Besse as a general store, the other by W. E. Norris as a tin shop and by Gideon S. Smith as a post office. The " Cary store," as the building occupied by Doctor Cary, the father of the celebrated vocalist, was called, was built by Amasa and John Dex- ter, for J. F. Hayes. It stood between the hotel and Mrs. Moulton's, on the north side of the street. Subsequently, it was moved across to the lot east of the post office. Charles Allen, Doctor Cary, and, later, James N. Moulton traded in it while it stood on this lot. It was con- verted into a carriage shop.

The vacant lot southeast of the post office, on the south side of the main street, was once covered by a store erected by Bartlett W. Var- num, who occupied it many years. His successors in trade were Arza Gilmore, Allen Brothers and Pinkham & Frizell. Mr. Varnum re- sumed the business at a later date. The " Grange " or " brick " store was erected in 1849, by " Esquire " George Smith, who occupied it as a grocery, and something more, until about 1860. It was then pur- chased by Samuel S. Brown and leased to Ebenezer Norris, jun., who was proprietor at the time of the conflagration of 1863. The interior was destroyed by fire in 1870. The Grange purchased it a short time after it was restored. It was purchased at a later date by Edward Dexter. The millinery store of Mrs. G. W. Besse was erected on the site on which the old Moulton store stood before the great conflagra- tion. This was a large, two-story building, containing two stores, one of which was occupied for a number of years by the Moultons, the other by Rev. C. C. Whitney and others.

Among the early industries at the village was the indispensable " potash," established by John Bodge, the father of the popular con- ductor on the back route of the Maine Central railroad. The building stood on the lot now owned by G. M. True, near the upper dam. Mr. Bodge also conducted the pottery business in a building which occu- pied the ground now covered by Mr. Folsom's carriage shop. He afterward moved across the streamn and built a factory in front of the house now occupied by Mrs. Burnham. Another potash was built eighty years ago, about where the cheese factory stands. It was taken down and rebuilt as a stable. An early tannery was erected by Alfred Pinkham, on the place now owned by Samuel Graves. One of the first brick yards at the village was on land near the residence of James Turner. When the supply of suitable material was exhausted, the

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location was changed to the opposite side of the street, and, later, to the place now occupied by Michael Murry.

The first blacksmith shop of which any record or tradition is pre- served was the Collins Lovejoy shop, which stood on the lot now cov- ered by Folsom's carriage shop. It was taken down by Mr. Bodge, who established his pottery on the same ground. This was afterward taken down and another blacksmith shop built on the foundation, by Francis Bowles, for Lewis Norris. Alfred Swift, who occupied the shop after Mr. Norris vacated it, was succeeded in the business by his son, Cyrus B. Swift, by whom it was moved a few feet, to the place where it is now occupied by John McKinnon.

The blacksmith shop of A. R. Swift was built in 1849 by Humphrey Hight, one of the early settlers at the village. The upper part of the building, which is now used as a dwelling, was finished for a hall, and used to quite an extent for a private school room. L. W. Fillebrown purchased the property of Hight. Among those who have more re- cently made it their place of business are Mr. Keith, Cyrus B. Swift, Levi Brown and A. R. Swift.

Mr. Hight built another shop a little above the grist mill shed. This he sold to John Raymond, who converted it into a dwelling, which was burned at the time of the general conflagration. Mr. Hight immediately built another shop, which at a later date was raised on a brick basement and remodeled into the dwelling house owned and re- cently occupied by J. C. Stinchfield.

Some time in the forties a match factory was established by the Allen Brothers, about where the shovel handle shop was afterward built. The same business was prosecuted by this firm in a building which they erected across the stream, below the saw mill.

A public house was opened at the village by Farnham & Stanley as early, it is supposed, as 1820. This firm was followed by Alfred and Philander Morton. The house stood nearly opposite the brick store. It was closed to the public for many years prior to 1848, when it was re-opened by Albion Smith. It was again closed after it passed from Mr. Smith's hands, and was burned in 1863.

The residence of Mrs. Jeremiah Foss was built by Uriah H. Virgin, not far from 1837, for a tavern. After his decease it was purchased by Dea. Thomas Wilson, of whom Mr. Foss purchased the property. It was closed to the public during Mr. Foss' occupancy.

The Stinchfield Hotel was opened by Alpheus Lane, more than sixty years ago. Mr. Lane sold the establishment to James Moulton, who was succeeded as proprietor by Jeremiah Foss, and he by Daniel Foss. After the death of the latter the house was managed by his widow and the relict of Mr. Moulton. James H. Thorn, who married the latter, was the next landlord. After his decease the management was resumed by the widows Thorn and Foss, of whom the house was

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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.

purchased by Stillman Howard. The present proprietor, J. C. Stinch- field, assumed control in 1890).

The Wayne post office was established September 5, 1809. Moses Wing, the first postmaster, was followed by Ellis Sweet, 1817; Anson G. Chandler, 1821; Heiney Bishop, 1821; Henry B. Farnham, 1826; Charles H. Pierpont, 1827; Alfred B. Morton, 1829; Henry W. Owen, 1831; Sumner C. Moulton, 1840; James M. Moulton, 1846; Bartlett W. Varnum, 1848; Wellington Hunton, 1849; Caleb Fuller, 1853; Bartlett W. Varnum, 1854; Alfred Sawyer, 1863; Joseph S. Berry, 1871; John C. Stinchfield, 1885; James M. Moulton, 1888; Gideon S. Smith. 1889.

The store occupied by C. W. Crosby at North Wayne was built by Tillotson Lovejoy for a dwelling house, about fifty-five years ago. After the last fire it was remodeled by S. A. Nelkie, and occupied by him two years as a general store. The next trader in this building was George Besse, who was succeeded by Edward Smith, of whom Mr. Crosby recently purchased the business. In the early days a small store was erected, nearly opposite the Crosby store, by Benja- min Smith. It was taken down about fifty years ago. Another early building was the store built by the North Wayne Scythe Company, on the lot nearly opposite the tool company's office, soon after they located their plant at that village. It was run by the corporation about twenty years as a general store. In later years it has been leased to individuals, and at the time of the fire was rented by S. A. Nelkie. A store built by Williston Jennings for a shoe manufactory and salesroom, about fourteen years ago, was destroyed at the same time.

The building which has recently been removed from the north side of the road, near the school house, to furnish an addition to the dwelling of Sylvanus Blackwell, was constructed for a carriage shop, about fifty years ago, by James Lamb.

The first postmaster at North Wayne was Urban L. Hitchcock, whose commission dates from February 14, 1846. His successors have been: Josiah F. Taylor, 1852; Williston Jennings, 1884; Frederick E. Nason, 1886; Charles J. Libby, 1886; Frederick E. Nason, 1887; Wil- liston Jennings, 1889.

PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.

Charles H. Barker is a son of Dr. Charles H. and Mary A. (Small) Barker, who came from Buxton, Me., to Wayne in 1851, where Doctor Barker bought the practice of Doctor Cary, and continued to practice medicine here until his health failed, about 1887, when his son, Charles H., jun., came to live with him, from Winthrop, where he had carried on dentistry. Since the father's death in June, 1891, Charles .H., jun., has carried on farming and dental work. He married R. Louise,

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daughter of A. K. P. Burgess, and they have three children: A. Louise, Mary A. and Albion C.

Benjamin F. Bradford, born in Livermore, Me., is a son of Henry Bond and Lydia J. (Norton) Bradford, grandson of Doctor Benjamin, and great-grandson of Chandler Bradford, of Turner, Me., who was the seventh in lineal descent from Governor Bradford. He graduated in 1876, from the College of Pharmacy of Boston, and after three years' clerking in Lewiston he became a partner in the firm of B. F. Bradford & Co., and after eight years he sold his business and in Jan- uary, 1889, came to Wayne, where he had bought the old Gott farm on Morrison's Heights, and is now a farmer. He was elected first selectman of Wayne in 1891. His wife was A. Ada Hinckley, of Lewiston. Their children are: Nina L., Frank H., Joseph H., Robert, Harry B., Philip L. and a son not named.

William B. Frost, born in 1842, is a son of Nathaniel B. and Julia A. (Macomber) Frost, and grandson of William and Betsey (Bil- lington) Frost. Nathaniel Frost came to the farm where he now lives with William, about 1850. He taught school nineteen terms, and was miller in Lewiston for twenty years, returning to the farm in 1882. He was made selectman in 1887, which office he filled until succeeded by William B., in 1891. The latter married Ellen M. Farington.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 97

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