Old Foxcroft, Maine : traditions and memories, with family records, Part 11

Author: Lowell, Mary Chandler, 1863-1949
Publication date: 1935
Publisher: Concord, N.H. : Lowell
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Dover-Foxcroft > Old Foxcroft, Maine : traditions and memories, with family records > Part 11


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Rev. Wooster Parker was next to be installed, the exercises taking place on Nov. 10, 1842. Rev. Mr. Parker was b. May 9, 1809 at Underhill Vt. Class of 1832 Bangor Seminary. Ordained at Cas- tine Me. Sept. 21, 1832. The population of the town was increased during his ministry owing to advance in industrial enterprises. The second church was burned on the night of Oct. 2, 1850. Another lot, the present one, was purchased and the church erected during his stay. It .was dedicated Oct. 22, 1851, Rev. Enoch Pond D.D., Mr. Parker's father-in-law and a member of the teaching staff of the Bangor Theo- logical Seminary, preaching the sermon. Mr. Parker continued with the church until Sept. 9, 1856.


Again did the Corporation have recourse to the Academy building for religious services until the new church was completed. And again on Nov. 2, 1850 was a call issued to Charles P. Chandler, a Justice of the Peace, as follows :-


"To Charles P. Chandler Esq. one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Piscataquis,-


The subscribers being desirous of becoming an incorporated Parish or Religious society, request you to issue your warrant to one of us, directing him to notify the other applicants to meet at some proper place to choose a Clerk and other needful parish Officers and thus be- come a corporation and body politic. Nov. 2, 1850


John Hale, Benjamin Johnson, John H. Loring, William J. Smith,- G. W. Sawyer, Nathan Carpenter, W. F. Sampson, Levi L. Tucker (son of Dr. Aaron) Dominicus Mitchell, Samuel Greeley Daniel Mans- field, William Parsons, Melvin Stevens, Allen Chandler, Joel Pratt, Daniel Tower, Luther Chamberlain, J. G. Mayo, J. Bush, William H. Mitchell, Jeremiah Follansbee.


A meeting was duly held and John Haskell Loring was elected Clerk, Dea Joel Pratt, Moderator, Silas Paul, John Haskell Loring and Dr. Benj. Johnson Assessors, Charles P. Chandler, Treasurer and Silas Paul, Collector.


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It was voted to take the name of "The Congregational Parish of Fox- croft and Dover." A contract was signed with Nathaniel Chamberlain to build the church, he to furnish all material, do all the work, including stone work, give the building three good coats of paint, furnish and hang a bell of not less than one thousand pounds, warranted good, build a chimney, a front platform and steps. The entire contract was not to exceed $2000.00. Mr. James Bush, grandfather of Harry Martin Bush, who had volunteered to solicit subscriptions to defray building expenses, reported whole amount subscribed, $1727.00. Mr. Bush having done all possible locally, Dea. Carpenter and Rev. Wooster Parker the minister, went outside. Dea. Carpenter returned with over two hundred subscriptions, in amounts from $4.00 to two cents. He was gone twenty-nine days, collected $207.10. He charged for himself, horse and expenses, S32.10, a trifle over $1.10 per day. Mr. Parker took the cities, collected $976.80 at an expense of $70.66 one sub- scription alone being for $100.00 and a second for $50.00. Mr. Parker also took two trips to Boston at the expense of the church, to purchase a solid mahogany pulpit, which adorned the painted pine interior until the extensive changes in 1877.


The Meeting House was dedicated Oct. 22, 1851. The first altera- tions were made in 1866 when the audience room was frescoed and the gallery at the front of the edifice was remodeled to admit the pipe organ which cost $1200.00. Of that amount it is said Dea. J. G. Mayo gener- ously gave $500.00.


The Piscataquis Observer of Thursday Oct. 15, 1857 announced the "Rev. Edw. S. Palmer was installed Pastor of the Foxcroft and Dover Congregational Church on Tuesday afternoon last. There was a full attendance both afternoon and evening." He resigned Oct. 7, 1858 because of so much controversy between factions in the church and society. During his pastorate however, the church membership was largely added to.


Rev. Calvin Chapman was b. in Bethel Maine, Nov. 1814. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1839 and then taught for some time. In 1842 he was graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary and was settled over several Congregational churches in N. H. and Maine, among others, our own church from 1859-62.


He purchased of Ansil Vaughan the present Annis house where he resided; also owned other real estate. in town. On Sept. 3, 1842 he married at Parsonsfield Maine, Lucy B. b. Mch. 25, 1815, daughter of Luther and Elizabeth (Parsons) Emerson. She died Apr. 14, 1873 leaving two sons and a daughter. Mr. Chapman married (2) Sarah A. Ward of Kennebunkport. He was not popular with the Foxcroft and Dover church and was followed by Rev. Walter E. Darling, who was b. in St. Stephens N. B., Sept. 15, 1835, the son of Samuel and Alice Jane Darling. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1857


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and then entered the Theological Seminary at Bangor where he was graduated in 1860. Was ordained and installed pastor of the Congre- gational church of Foxcroft in May 20, 1862 where he continued until Jan. 20 1865 when his health compelled him to resign.


He married Ellen, dau. of Rev. Dr. and Prof. Shepard of Bangor. They had two children. Mr. Darling d. in Arlington Mass. Sept. 16, 1890.


Rev. Benjamin Chapman Chase succeeded him, being installed May 8, 1866. Rev. Mr. Chase was b. Jan. 29, 1819 in Cornish, N. H., the son of Benj. C. Chase Sr. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1846 and Bangor Theological Seminary in 1849. Ordained in Camden, Maine, Jan. 8, 1850 where he preached until 1857. He came to the Foxcroft church from Orono in 1864.


Mr. Chase purchased the residence, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Everett Kitchen. Joseph Kelsey, Esq., who had owned the house, and his wife died only a short time before, and Mr. Chase was fortunate in being able to purchase it for his home. There were five children, Edward L., Amanda, who died here, Benjamin Jr. Sam and Mary, twins, and my playfellows.


The minister's pew in church was in front of the one in which I sat. Mrs. Chase, the mother, was a member of the choir and in those days the "Singers' Gallery" was in the front of the house opposite the pulpit. The children were thus left to themselves in the pew. They were chil- dren, minister's children and very human, mirth loving children and not altogether interested in the very doctrinal discourses delivered by their father. On several occasions, in anticipation of what was coming, the sermon, they would, during the Bible reading, prophesy the thirdly, fourthly and fifthly's to come, using some very good anticipatory gestures. Mr. Chase, one eye on his children, would continue the reading, announce the hymn preceding the prayer and sermon; as the congregation rose, turned to face the choir, with ministerial and very reverential attitude, he would descend the four or five pulpit steps, walk to the third wing pew ; enter, pinch the ear of each offspring, place Mamie between her brothers; lift Sam and seat him with no small amount of determination ; while I looked on in fearful expectancy lest I too was coming in for a share. He returned to his pulpit and what information he gave the Lord in the prayer that followed, and the peti- tions that ascended for parental guidance etc., I am not able to say, as I was too in awe of the petitioner to listen. As I was firmly con- vinced that was a part of the regular Sunday morning service, I never looked forward to it with zest. Mr. Chase always wore the clerical dress, and though kindly toward children, always impressed us with solemnity. Mr. and Mrs. Chase were held in high esteem and respect by the community as well as members of their own parish and his death, in Oct. 13, 1868, was very sincerely felt. Mrs. Almeda S.


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Blanchard Chase b. June 13, 1829: d. Mch. 14, 1917. Burial was in Rural Grove Cemetery, Foxcroft.


With the arrival of Rev. John H. Gurney and family, an impetus was given to both religious and social activities of the church. Dover was . the birth place of Mr. Gurney, cor. Dexter Rd. & Grove St. and though his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gurney moved away when he was young, he had grown up with regard for Piscataquis County. In stature, carriage and voice, one was impressed by a feeling of ag- gression; and his power over diction and oratory were masterful. Nothing was more satisfying to him than theological argument, and in that he found a matched adversary in my aunt. Mrs. Emily C. Hale, although a constant attendant of the Congregational Church was an Unitarian in belief. She read and studied and knew, as Mr. Gurney would say to her, better than most lettered theologians. I recall many an afternoon when Mr. Gurney appeared soon after one o'clock, with his sermon nicely folded inside his coat, with this greeting,-" I confess, Mrs. Hale, that I have gotten into deep water. Let me read and you tell me if I'm inconsistent." Then we, the family knew the next Sunday's sermon was under discussion. At five o'clock his in- vigorating laugh would be heard and a jovial "thank you Mrs. Hale, you are the best theologian of my acquaintance." In my childish love and admiration for my aunt, I disliked to hear him appear, for so earnest was each disputant, I often thought them angry.


Mr. Gurney thoroughly enjoyed young people; and the annual dona- tion parties to his house were saved up for by us youngsters. The annual barrel of flour and sugar that we drew on sleds to that party, represented many sticks of candy that we had denied ourselves. I recall one evening when a picnic supper (lawn party in these days) was nearly ready to serve from the kitchen, the consternation excited, by the appearance in the kitchen of Charlie, the bay horse. Two out- side doors were opposite, and Mr. Gurney's boyish spirit was aroused to the extent of leading Charlie to the door, and allowing him to go through the kitchen "to hear the ladies scream!" Ten minutes later when he appeared in Prince Albert buttoned closely, and most clerical countenance and mien, one thought him the gravest of the grave!


And it was in those days that we, (the Congregationalists) had the most perfect of quartetts,-the Obers, Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso, bass and rich contralto, Miss Mattie (as we knew her) whose soprano was as clear as a bird and Mr. Addison, a delightful tenor.


Mrs. Gurney was very deeply admired and loved, not alone for the sympathy and fellow feeling she carried in their pastoral calls, but in her ministrations to a large family, five stalwart boys and two daugh- ters. The younger daughter was my play-fellow and as I write my hand is upon a package of letters written by her during that first sum- mer of 1875 after they left here. Personally I was deeply grieved over


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the departure of the Gurney family. I missed them especially, from the pew in front of me at church; and I missed my playmate. Within myself I had resolved to have nothing to do with any more minister's families. They were unsatisfactory, migratory people, and I would have nothing more to do with such a class.


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On the Saturday morning in March that Mr. Herbert Loring came up from "the Seminary " as a candidate, he went first to Dea. Mayo's (the Sawyer house) to leave his "grip." Fred Wyman and I had decided that the wooden sidewalks, from Winter St. to the Exchange, were to be cleared that morning and had marshalled our forces. The old fire well (in front of C. H. Blood's residence) was always a source of pugnacity between us. I desired to drain from the hill (and it was in those days, a HILL) while he ran his drain from the lower part of the street in such a manner as to obstruct mine. The boys and girls were in "fine fettle", as our expression was, when excitement started because our drain was clogged and water could not run off the sidewalk. Fred and I were having something more than an animated discussion, when the very citified young Theologue appeared, and commenced telling us stories. and complimenting us upon our work, and the superiority of our walks over Bangor walks. That changed the "Congos" (as we styled our- selves) and there and then, we pledged ourselves to Mr. Loring's sup- port, if he came to live among us! He did, and proved an indefatigable worker among all ages and classes. His ordination took place in June 1875. At once he commenced WORK. He convinced the society that a chapel was necessary; and straightway the Wade store and house commence to roll. Then the dear old Church itself was attacked. The stoves around which the kindly old first settlers were wont to gather in front (or was it back?) of the church were cast aside.


There on winter mornings Dea. Carpenter and Dea. Parsons re- moved their caps and home knit scarfs, two and three yards long, for they uncoiled until a mound of knitted worsted piled before them on the floor,-all the time discussing religious topics, of course! Then, in would enter Mrs. Allen Chandler, her head enveloped in a large silk quilted, pumpkin hood; and Mrs. Dawes and Mrs. Parsons with their heads wrapped in "clouds" and each lady with a huge and long fitch pelerine. The hood and "clouds" removed, pretty little black bon- nets of Miss Julia Ann Budge's latest creation, were revealed.


By this time many others arrived, each and all stopping by the stoves to warm and exchange different forms of greetings and saluta- tions. But the young minister and his citified ideas were to change all. Heat was to be thrown up from the cellar through holes in aisle floors. Instead of a good, generous gallery, a little hanging basket was to furnish seats for Mrs. Gifford and the Obers. Then the nice, quiet, dignified and countrified little Christopher Wren belfry had to make way for a loud, pompous appearing, citified spire with a clock,-noisy thing-clanging off the hours! And because Dover folks wouldn't


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subscribe for it, they have been punished all these years by having no face or dial on their side!


And to give visitors the impression that really they were in a suburb of Boston, Hattie Wyman (then so called) and I were urged to go about begging (now soliciting) subscriptions for granite posts, between which were to be placed black enamelled chains of large links, enhancing the beauty of the church! The posts were obtained and paid for, but the chains never materialized; hence we have, what visitors think, are a row of expensive hitching posts about the church and chapel.


But while all this fuss and furor was taking place, Mr. Loring and his accomplished and earnest Christian wife were arousing a large degree of splendid religious interest and the membership markedly increased. Of Mr. Loring, the Council held to dismiss him, is recorded as voted, --


"They (the Council) wish to bear the strongest testimony to his ministerial and Christian character, to his faithfulness as a preacher ·and especially to the earnestness and zeal with which he has labored, not only with his own people but also in all the region round about."


When Rev. Mr. Loring left the church in 1880 there had been twelve deacons and the church rôle numbered 580. Just prior to his resigna- tion, the Church, largely through his efforts and the cooperation of his father, Rev. Amasa Loring, very delightfully and successfully enter- tained the "Maine General Conference of Congregational Churches. It was the first time that this large and intelligent body ever met in this County."


Rev. Amasa Loring was a native of our mother town of New Glouces- ter, b. Feb. 9, 1813 the son of Bazaliel and Lydia (Haskell) Loring. On his paternal side the descendent of Nicholas 6 Loring, (Mary 5 Rich- mond; John 1 Alden) and on the maternal side of Geoffrey Parsons of Cape Ann. Mass.


Rev. Amasa Loring's mother was the Mrs. Loring who, in 1814-18 used to accompany Mrs. Carpenter to services at Garland and who later was of the group of original members of the first Congregational Church of Foxcroft; and especially interesting has it been, to note, that a son and grandson, should have been so closely identified with the same church


Mr. Amasa Loring m. Aug. 22, 1842 at Yarmouth Maine, Lydia Louise, dau. of Dr. Wm. and Judith (Porter) Parsons of that town. Mr. Amasa Loring was educated at Foxcroft Academy and Bangor Theo- logical Seminary. He was intensely interested in historical research work and was the author of "The History of Shapleigh", "The History of Piscataquis County Maine", "Notes on the History of Old Yarmouth Maine" and his "Researches" supplemented by his son Lincoln Ripley Loring were the nucleus of the "Lorings in Maine" in the very comprehensive volume, "Loring Genealogy."


Amasa Loring was a most earnest and faithful student, devoted pastor and valued citizen. He d. Jan. 28. 1890. Mrs. Loring, his wife, d. Mar. 3, 1891.


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Mrs. Rosetta (Oakley) Loring (Mrs. Herbert) was a woman of rare charm, intellectually and socially; of a Christian character radiating the love of our Divine Master, and a spirit of willingness and strength to perform. She d. Aug. 2. 1884. Mr. Loring d. Jan. 6. 1904.


Their children were, Herbert A. Jr. b. at Foxcroft June 16, 1876, d. Sept. 16, 1888; Edith Louise, b. at Foxcroft, Feb. 7, 1880, and Julia Elizabeth b. Oakham Mass. July 7, 1882.


Much has been written about some of the men of the Corporation and Parish. Much more could be written of many others, and of the women, who did so much by subscriptions and hard, very hard work. Especial reference has been made to the first "donation party" as it was then called, on Jan. 1, 1843 at the home of Rev. Wooster Parker. And so much was it enjoyed by our genial Dr. Johnson, that he "moved that it be made perpetual." May we wonder if he first conferred with the Pastor's wife, to learn if it was convenient and "enjoyable" to her to have the house taken possession of by her dear parishoners, ex- amined from the attic to the cellar, from parlor to woodshed! And if the women of the society found it "enjoyable", added to their own home duties, to do all the extra cooking, solicit cash for tea, coffee, sugar etc .; transport the edibles, dishes, silver, glass and linen required ; have a committee to help put Mrs. Parker's house in order, etc., etc.


Mrs. Lizzie Cochrane, Mrs. Rebecca Wyman, Mrs. Charles Ham, Mrs. Sarah Lebroke, Mrs. Ellen Ober, the Chase and Dow girls, Mrs. Mary Mansfield, Mrs. Maria Mansfield and scores of others are fully as deserving of prominent mention. Their names should be an inspira- tion to the younger members of the society. And there are those yet with us who recall the many feasts spread upon tables on the Academy campus on religious, temperance and political occasions; with the band- stand in the north corner, from which much forensic ability and brilliant oratory poured forth ; and upon the women of the Congregational Society and later Parish, fell the "privilege " of catering, because of the proximity of their chapel and church; and to Hattie Wyman and myself fell the "privilege" on such occasions of starting at four o'clock in the morning to the farm homes on our tour of collection of milk, cream, butter, fresh eggs, roast chicken, boiled hams, doughnuts, pies, cheese, etc., wearying one horse in the Lee, Holmes and Jefferds districts; and a second travel- ling the road to Low's Bridge and East Sangerville to the Leland's, never forgetting Aunt Hannah Crockett on the Dexter road and one half of a delicious cheese! Memories? Yes, crowds of memories! and very precious ones. And Mrs. Lizzie Cochrane's and Mrs. Sarah Lebroke's generous words of gratitude still fill my ears, "Oh! you have done well girls. Go home and rest, then come back for a good dinner!


I am not unmindful of the very generous and valued assistance ren- dered on all occasions by the Dover sisters, but these are "Old Fox- croft" memories and as they are under an ecclesiastical title, I must stick to my text!


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الصلاة


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· BAPTIST SOCIETY


A list of the names of the members of the first Baptist Society in Foxcroft organized the nineteenth day of March A.D. 1832


Benj. T. Buck


Azaph Howard


Noah Hersey


Azel Howard


Stephen Packard


Eliphalet Washburn


Peleg Weston


Moses H. Washburn


Ethan Brawn


Sidney Bearce


Zebulon Murch


Syria Bearce


Daniel Carsley


Lathrop C. Jones


Peter Quimby


Apolles Jones


Thatcher Blake Jr.


Samuel Cross


Alven P. Mayhew


David H, Cross


William S. Mayhew


John C. Robinson


Benj. Leavitt


Barnabas Pratt


William Pratt


Nathaniel Gould


Samuel Peirce


Josiah Pratt


John G. Pratt


John A. Leavitt


Azel Pratt


Harrison Decoster


Daniel Buck


Jacob Cotton


James Howe


Chandler Decoster


Thatcher Blake Sr.


Robert Harmon


Eles Robinson


Azaph H. Hersey


Elles Robinson Jr.


Nathaniel Buck


A true copy


Attest BENJ.ª LEAVITT Society Clerk


After the above organization, the society held its meetings in the school house at the Four Corners. The Dover and Foxcroft Baptist society was organized in 1840 and in 1841 in Dover, the first church was completed.


Several of the pastors of the society had their residence in Foxcroft until the erection of the parsonage.


FREE BAPTIST SOCIETY


On Saturday, Nov. 15, 1845 those residents in town of the Free Bap- tist faith, William Mayhew, William Gallison and wife with Flavel Bartlett and John Douglas and wife assembled in the home of Mr. Andrew Blethen on North St. and with Elder Leonard Hathaway, leader, organized the Free Baptist society. This society united with the Methodists and held their services in the old Court House. That year the Free Baptist Church on Main St. Dover, was dedicated.


UNIVERSALISTS


Universalists in Foxcroft in 1827 who signed the church Constitu- tion,



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Rev. William Frost, minister


Bela Hammond Jr.


Thomas Rose


Moses Buck


William Thayer Jonathan Plummer


Nathaniel Chamberlain


Daniel Brown


Adoniram Blake


James Call


Daniel Buck


Isaac A. Thayer


In the early fifties the church was in a most prosperous condition. There was a fine church edifice on "the Hill" in Dover, now the loca- tion of the buildings for graded schools.


Rev. William W. Wilson was minister and lived in Foxcroft in the house later known as Col. Pillsbury house. Miss Ann Holmes, daugh- ter of Esq. Holmes was leader of the choir. She possessed a very beautiful high soprano voice never equalled by one in town perhaps ex- cept her niece, Eva Stuart Holmes.


It would seem from the foregoing that the people of Foxcroft were somewhat disrupted, denominationally. In 1818 the Congregational church organized in 1822 called a minister. In 1827 a few designated themselves, Universalists and joined with those of that faith in Dover. Daniel Buck, evidently was undecided, for his name appears among the Universalists as well as among the Baptists in 1832.


SCHOOLS


In a survey of the germination and growth of schools in "old Fox- croft" I would suggest the similarity existing between our own heroic pioneers, shut in among the Indians and wild animals of this extreme, " northern wilderness and that earlier heroic little band who came so near perishing at Plymouth Mass. in 1620. Each, at first, too poor . to think of schools, and our pioneers too anxious to let the sun's rays into their homes and on to fields for the production of food stuffs.


Up to the time of the arrival of Mrs. Carpenter, the homes had been scattered and the women too much engaged to give thought to schools. Mrs. Susan Proctor Carpenter, as has already been pointed out, had enjoyed advantages of a cultured, educated, and religious community. For two years, Nathan Carpenter had been devotedly preparing one of the best of homes for those days,-the house is still standing with but few changes, save necessary repairs. The self-denials, real hardships and loneliness of pioneer life, she could not fully appreciate. The Daniel Buck's were across the road and the Samuel Chamberlain's just below the hill. Neighbors no nearer today. Young, and in anticipation of motherhood, Mrs. Carpenter turned her thoughts to the child life of the settlement and logically to schools.


As she and Mrs. Mitchell rode to and from Garland on those Sun- days in 1812-14, naturally their minds were sympathetic,-religious privileges for their town's people, and its corollary, educational privi- leges for the children and youth; and as they talked, they planned. Mrs. Mitchell's daughter, Betsey, was then a young woman of twenty years. William Mitchell the father, educated at Gilmanton Academy, Gilmanton, N. H. had been a school teacher previous to coming to northern Hancock County, and with a growing family had already estab- lished the evening school system in his own home. So the generous, far-seeing women evolved plans,-a private school in the Carpenter's new barn that very summer! Betsey Mitchell would enjoy the ex- perience of teaching and life away from home. Wm. Mitchell would loan the books to his daughter. Mrs. Carpenter would confer with the Chamberlains, Bucks and Pratts and Betsey should board a week or more in each family. Thus the first school in "old Foxcroft" was inaugurated, Betsey Mitchell teacher. One Chamberlain, three Pratts and ten Bucks, for pupils. A second and a third summer and then the Washburns, Townes and Crookers wanted her.




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