USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Dover-Foxcroft > Old Foxcroft, Maine : traditions and memories, with family records > Part 15
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MEMORIES
"Fond memory brings the light of other days around me!" TOM MOORE.
Perhaps one of the earliest recollections is the resounding clatter of hoofs and rolling of heavy wheels over the ledge on the road in front of Calvin Chamberlains', heralding the approach of Jerry McDonald's stage, drawn by six horses! The snapping of "old Jerry's" whip, then that heavy, lumbering, rocking coach, with trunks and boxes lashed on the rear rack and all sorts of band boxes and bundles piled on the top, -and-the stage-sick passengers within !!
A trunk or bag placed by the hitching post in front of the house was always a signal to "old Jerry" to "draw up". As the horses slackened their pace one morning, out ran a chit of a child, copper-toed shoes and gray pantalets much in evidence as she clambered to a seat by "old Jerry's side. A cousin of my mother's was a great invalid and on very frequent occasions would ask to have me come down to amuse her. So "occasional " had my trips become that I felt "old Jerry" could not get the horses up rough Charleston Hill without my assistance, for then, he always placed the reins in my hands to do the driving!
The exchange of mail bags at Charleston and horses at the tavern just outside East Corinth were exciting, but the dinner with chatty Mrs. - - was worth miles of stage coaching to experience! The stage entered Bangor by way of Kenduskeag Avenue (Then called) and the thrill of the sensation produced by the echo of Jerry's "Hallo- 0-0-0", in passing through that ravine is still with me.
The stage drew up at the old Windsor Hotel, and there, I was always welcomed by the genial Irish smile of "Tim", my cousin's coachman. Into his arms I jumped, not to leave them, until he seated me on the back seat of the large carryall. The home was on the corner of Union and Second streets, opposite High St.,-a beautiful, large colonial house, yellow, with green blinds ; a veranda skirting three sides ; spacious vegetable garden on one side of the house, while, to my eyes, millions of flowers and all kinds of delicious fruits in season, luxuriously dom- inated the other side. During the late morning hours I would amuse myself,-and in that way, my cousin,-with a multitudinous assort- ment of playthings, while a young friend of my cousin would read to her, for criticism, the last finished chapter of a book she was writing. Un- known to them, I was following the story closely, and one day ex- claimed, "Gem can't get well, if you don't marry off Leigh and Phillip!" The young author was Bangor's favorite .- Blanche Willis Howard.
Later, grown to young womanhood, with a handle before my name, I was passing a vacation in European travel. Our itinerary included Stuttgart, in old Wurtemburg, Germany. As has always been my habit, I registered at the hotel from "Foxcroft, Maine, U. S. A." My
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surprise can better be imagined than expressed, when on returning for lunch after a morning of sightseeing, I was handed a note, containing,- "As there is but one 'Foxcroft' in the world, and that in 'Maine U. S. A.',-a short distance from my American home, I wonder if you are the 'Cousin Eliza's Mamie', I used to know. If so, may I call this evening?" At once I dispatched a courier with the following note,- "My Scotch-Irish blood prompts me to answer your delightful surprise of the morning, by asking a question,-are Leigh and Philip married and how is Gem? Need I assure you of the pleasure, a call from you this evening, will give 'Cousin Eliza's Mamie""'!
How small the world! and what an honor it was to be able to register from the only "Foxcroft" in it! To have made the tremendous leap above noted, may come under the head of "writer's license ", hazardous, as it has well nigh proved, to a "Bit of Old Foxcroft,"-for flights of memory are swift, and again have I feasted on the mysteries of that wonderful old city in Western Germany.
Time was, before Summer St. was christened, when the walk along its side was untrodden, and the beaten path in the center, narrow and in spots, grass grown. The houses between Lothrop Jones' (cor. North and Summer St.) and the top of the hill were few and the distance, far between. The Clark's (now Sanford), McCoomb's (R. R. station), Leonard Robinson's, McKusick's and Jackson's dominated that section of the town ; while upon the hill was the residence of Mr. George Colcord ·and his cobbler's shop.
To the child of today, how vague the meaning; but to Myrtie Chase and me, it was a wonderful, almost mystic, word! First, it meant new shoes and boots,-shoes in spring, long legged boots (to the knees) in winter. It meant the cautious removal of our remnant of leather wear, lest a hole might have crept into the stocking during our long, long walk, and how rude that would be towards our kind Mr. Colcord! It meant that we, each in turn, must stand, stocking footed, upon a sheet of brown paper, while Mr. Colcord outlined our foot upon it, one half inch longer than the real foot, that the foot might grow. Then, the unlocking of that little cupboard, if the winter boot was being con- sidered, and the spreading out of three sheets of kid,-momentous hour! and the mighty decision, whether the cuff at the top should be blue, or red, or black enamel, kid! That decided, would we again submit to the taunts of playmates, and have copper toes, or risk the indecency, of worn out toes? That question could hold over a week, when, on the next Saturday, sunshine or storm, we would go up again to have the first "try on". At the age of eight years I had made a visit in Boston, and noticed that my cousin's "store boots" had a pro- truding sole. They called them "mouse tracks". I imparted to MIr. Colcord that was "the style". and I must have mine finished that way. Myrtie was inclined to be more conservative and adhere to the "coun-
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trified" way. After three trips, we brought our boots home; and to my discomfort, the boys in the family laughed at the extended soles, but worse, no rubbers could be found to fit, and my attempt to ape city cousins failed. I had to take my boots back and have the soles pared !
In those early days shoe dressing was not known; and each night we children had to rub mutton tallow into the leather to keep it soft, and reduce the redness of "wetted leather." Whenever there were pieces of the bright colored kid left, Mr. Colcord saved them for us, and we made our own balls. Ravelled stocking legs and wound the yarn over old rubber. Then some older person would cross stitch the leather around the ball for us. A store ball never equalled our home made balls, either in bounding quality or beauty; and the saving in expense, even to our young minds, a huge consideration! It meant an extra bat, or hoop, or jump rope.
I think it was that same fall that I confided to Myrtie that I was tired of wearing bonnets for "best", and that I would select my own "best hat". We were on our way out to the pasture on the Dexter road, for our cows. The day before I had, with my grandmother, spent the afternoon at the Pitman home, next the Court House in Dover. The girls, Kitty and Leila were sent to Miss Julia Ann Budge's shop (the house now the residence of Dr. Brown) with some millinery work. I
.accompanied them. While there we saw the " most superlatively beauti- ful" hat (to my eyes) that ever existed. One of the girls said, she was going to have it; while I mentally resolved to have it. Therefore when Myrtie and I reached Mayo's Hall, I suggested, that we go on to Miss Julia Ann Budge's shop for a hat. It had not been sold, and as I was known to Miss Budge she was more than "willing", to let me have it. I was a very decided brunette, with very straight, jet black hair, and the hat was of sky blue color, silk plush, turban in shape, with two white wings spread on the front; and the effect was, to say the least, amusing! I arranged with Miss Budge to wear the hat and come the next morning for my old one. As we drove our cows through the streets we attracted considerable attention, and Myrtie said it was my new hat! When I went through the yard to the stable with the cow, my aunt stood in the side door enjoying a hearty laugh. She asked what I had on my head, and where I got it? I replied, "my best hat and Julie Ann Budge says it's the sweetest in town". "You may go to your room, put on your Sunday clothes and that hat, then come and show it to the family". Now, Mayo's mill had just commenced to make a waterproof cloth, that every one was buying for "best". Mrs. McKusick had finished a cloak for me, the length of my skirt, with double capes, scalloped and bound with black silk braid. The waterproof cloth was navy blue. Brown's mill was making beautiful grey checked flannel for pantelets. I had some. My dress was a black, red and white plaid! Topped with the sky-blue silk plush hat and outstretched white wings I cer- tainly was anything but "fetching", as the country expression was for
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beauty. The amount of sarcasm and ridicule of the next ten minutes, and the real merriment my appearance provoked, sent me to my room, resolved to take that hat back to Miss Julia Ann Budge and to wear my black velvet bonnet with fancy red and white aigrette as long as I lived!
The singing schools conducted by Miss Boadicea Thompson, Miss Arra Chase and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Drake were productive of some musical training and the concerts given at the end were looked forward to with interest. So also were the semi-annual spelling matches first held under the auspices of the Good Templars I believe. There was usually a presiding officer with Dr. Thompson and Benj. F. Hammond as umpires and a school master to "put out the words". George A. Meder and Benj. C. Lowell were always excellent leaders and the choosing of sides caused much merriment. In no sense were these matches a village affair, the rural neighborhoods were well represented and by some top-notchy spellers! Hon. A. G. Lebroke and his "little sister" Mrs. Tim Pollard, Miss Arra Chase, H. C. Prentiss, Mrs. Harriet Mayhew, Charles Waterman, Mrs. F. K. Drake, Florence Blethen, David Dinsmore, Miss Cora Lambert, Willie C. Woodbury, Allie Gray, Asa Green Esq., Walter Blethen, Mrs. Sally Greeley, Mrs. Katie Jackson are some of the names among a list before me. After an hour of spelling, those who had not missed, formed one class. Their names, A. G. Lebroke, Mrs. F. K. Drake, Harriet Mayhew, Mrs. Katie Jackson, H. C. Prentiss, Asa Green, Allie Gray and they were gradually outspelled until Mr. Lebroke, Mrs. Drake and Mrs. Jackson remained. Mrs. Jackson was the first to go down on "macerate". Mrs. Drake and Mr. Lebroke fought bravely. Finally Mrs. Drake could not with- stand "piercing", thus leaving the Honorable A. G. victorious; who jocosely remarked, "I am monarch of all I survey." The proceeds of that evening's spell were given, I think, to Dyer's Band, to help liqui- date their debt for new instruments.
An evening amid Mrs. Jarley's Wax "Figgers", with Miss Sally Crocker as Mrs. Jarley, I recall as particularly "well-staged" by the Congregational Society. The "Figgers" looked well, behaved well and were well exhibited !
Then came the ambitious presentation, by Mr. Brackett's pupils of the Academy, of the play of Hamlet. The costumes came up from Boston,-cast-offs of Edwin Booth's company,-for which the rental for one night only, was $80.00. It was pronounced a marked success; and the proceeds were some $140.00. Mayo's Hall was packed! Fol- lowing the play was the musical burlesque, "The Death of Cock Robin". The costumes very unique and appropriate. Abbie Chase as a sparrow, her sisters Myrtie, a butterfly and Mantie, a thrush; Fannie Curtis, a fly ; Lizzie Paul a fish : Hattie Wyman a Parson ; Nellie Colcord a dove; and W. C. Woodbury and Clarence Chase, the bull; Miss Lora Dyer, pianist.
Still later came carnivals, the trades, professions and craftsmen
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uniting in a most brilliant affair. At one, Ethel Knowles represented W. A. Pratt Groceries,-dress of blue serge with cracker panel, clothes pin girdle, bracelets of coffee, necklace of cut sugar, cap of black trimmed with oyster crackers, pearl tapioca and pea beans, banner, U. S. flag with broom as standard. Grace Buck, represented E. S. Favor, Stoves and Tinware. Dress of white albatross, with panel decorations of elegant drawings of stoves of all kinds and silver knives, forks and spoons, epauletts of burnished wire and necklace of wire tea strainers, copper tea-kettle for a handbag, elegant turban hat of tin and tinfoil with plumes of burnished tin. Banner of electric blue plush with tin letters, fringe of colored and white lamp pendants, burnished tin standard with elaborately decorated top. Ella Kittredge,- National and Savings Banks. Dress of light blue crepe trimmed on one side with bank checks; waist covered with coins; necklace and bracelets of coins; blue cap with fringe of coins and decorated with quills; pink sash tied at one side, in her belt a 38 caliber revolver. Banner, a thousand dollar bond, lined with plush, handsomely deco- rated with ornaments.
Especially was "old Foxcroft" fortunate in her young folks-En- thusiastic in all that seemed for the best interests of their home town; with an energy that was more than elastic; a determination that knew only a successful ending ; with musical, dramatic and oral ability of the highest character ; and a genuine pride in civic advancement, they were capable of attaining the desired goal. The history of the social and intellectual life of the town, is not to be turned aside, without concern. Charmingly situated, amid the best scenic grandeur of the "Dirigo" State, "Old Foxcroft" has had much of a supreme character to entice, and much to bestow.
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WOMEN OF "OLD FOXCROFT"
In 1682 a wedding of unusual import to those of us who cherish the name of "Old Foxcroft" took place in Cambridge Mass. On Oct. 3 of that year Deputy-Governor and Judge, Thomas Danforth gave in mar- riage, his daughter, Elizabeth to a young English merchant of Boston, Mr. Francis Foxcroft.
Elizabeth Danforth, reared in a home of culture, wealth and high so- cial connections, became the mother of five children of rare attain- ments. The sons, Francis and Thomas Foxcroft married sisters. Francis adorned the legal profession, later becoming an eminent Judge. Thomas chose theology and for fifty-two years was pastor of the "First Church of Boston." He was born in Cambridge Mass. Feb. 26, 1697 and was graduated from Harvard College in 1714.
In Boston on Mar. 9, 1718/19 Miss Anna Cony became his wife. She was the daughter of Boston's one time flourishing goldsmith, John Cony; and wife Mary (Atwater) Clark, who was the daughter of Joshua and Mary (Blakerman) Atwater and widow of Capt. John Clark.
John Conny Sr. the grandfather, was bp. in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, July 17, 1628 and in Boston England, he married, June 26, 1654, Elizabeth, dau. of Robert and Sarah Nash. Mr. Conny was a nephew of Rev. John Cotton.
Anna Cony was well educated, spending the year previous to her marriage in a "finishing School for Young Ladies" thus preparing her- self for the social duties expected as wife of an eminent Boston Divine and the colleague of the Rev. Mr. Wadsworth. Rev. Mr. Foxcroft was also a warm friend of that promoter of religious interests, Rev. George Whitefield who on his several visits to Boston was always a guest in the home of Mrs. Anna Cony Foxcroft.
Could it have been she who, after listening to a sermon by Rev. Mr. Whitefield on the text, "If I take the wings of the morning etc." com- mented thus:
"His voice was like that of an angel when he uttered these words, while his arms rose slowly from his sides with an indescribable grace. I should have felt no surprise to see him ascend into the air. That would have been no miracle. The miracle was rather that he remained on earth."
A trifle emtional perhaps as mentally weighed in these modernistic days two hundred years later! But we have it from no less authority than her husband, the Rev. Thomas Foxcroft, that the "character of Anna Cony Foxcroft was beyond descriptive beauty and he rejoiced in her wealth of virtue and amiability." She d. Oct. 9, 1749.
And it was the son of that Mrs. Foxcroft who became the "first and worthy pastor" in Jan. 1765 of the Congregational Church of New Gloucester, then in the District of Maine, Commonwealth of Massa-
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chusetts. As may be expected, Samuel Foxcroft, bp. Dec. 14, 1735, graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1754, and when, in 1765 the young clergyman went to New Gloucester to commence his labors on the "confines of civilazation it was no sinecure of a posi- tion." Religious services were held in the "block house" or private homes.
As the wife of the Pastor of such a parish, came in 1771, Mrs. Lucy Ellery Foxcroft. Born in "Gloucester-by-the-Sea" on Cape Ann in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Lucy Ellery, as the daughter of Capt. Wm. and Elizabeth (Allen) Ellery (Wm.1 and Hannah 2 Vincent) had received everything that money, travel and culture could bestow. She was gifted beyond most young women of that period. A home in New Gloucester, of almost palatial magnitude, had been made ready for her. With graciousness and charm, joyousness and anticipation, did she enter upon and share her husband's life as Pastor in that young settlement. To them were born six children, of whom, Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, was the second. She died soon after the birth of the youngest child.
Joseph Ellery Foxcroft, the only son of Lucy Ellery Foxcroft, was born in that new and wonderfully beautiful home, on one of New Gloucester's fairest hillsides, on March 10, 1773 during the trying times of the Revolutionary War period; and his earliest memories were of the Revolution, perhaps having much to do with his having been "every inch a patriot" Very early he became interested in Bowdoin College at Brunswick, Maine; and it is possible that quite as much, was it in his mind to aid the young college, as for personal achievement, that he undertook the settlement of Plantation #5 in the 7th. range, north of the Waldo Patent.
Hannah Stone, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Littlefield) Stone of Brusnwick, b. 1776, became the wife of Col. Foxcroft. Benja- min Stone, the father, whose emigrant ancestor was Simeon Stone of Watertown Mass. came from Kennebunk in 1760, to Brunswick. They first lived in the fort. Later he erected a large house, on the corner of Maine and Mill Streets, overlooking the Androscoggin Falls. It gradually became the tavern of the place. Of Miss Hannah, I am not able to gather much, but assume that she attended Miss Wey- mouth's Select School for Young Ladies, in Brunswick, and belonged to the "genteel set" of the town. At that time Bowdoin College was in its infancy. But to hold the attention, and gain the affection of New Gloucester's learned minister's son, and the ablest young business man in those parts, no doubt, gave her prestige. To them were born three children, Samuel, Hannah and Joseph E. Jr. who died in infancy. Mrs. Hannah Foxcroft d. in 1806
On Nov. 9, 1809 at Boston, Col. Foxcroft m. Abigail, b. in Boston Oct. 1772, dau. of Abijah and Mary (Saltmarsh) Hammond (John1). He took his bride to the old home in New Gloucester and to them on
معادلة الصراع
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July 12, 1812 was born a daughter Abigail Catherine who lived with her parents and d. unmarried.
Samuel Foxcroft, the son b. Aug 1 1802; d. 1882 also remained on the home acres. He m. 1854. Salome, dau. of Caleb & Judith Haskell.
ABIGAIL (POOL) CHANDLER
We have seen with what faith in God and love and trust in her hus- band, Abigail (Poole) Chandler rode, nay, walked, drawing her home furnishings on a handsled, into a wilderness amidst the howling of wolves and growling of bears. How with a wealth of love, the simple log house had been prepared for her; and it is possible that on that first night as they sat by the light, only, of the large open fire, they made plans for that larger and more comfortable framed house John Chandler soon erected. What were the sensations of that young woman, if ever she gave herself up to thought, alone there in the dense woods!, For a year, at least, the only women near were those noble Spaulding women, living from day to day in intense dread lest the husband of one might be drowned or brought in crushed by the big logs he was helping to place for the dam. What a day of thanksgiving for Abigail Chandler when the Hutchinson family arrived to make their home in a near by cabin. We can, without stretch of imagination, believe that something more than hulled corn and maple syrup was spread upon their first dinner table! And the thrills that she experienced as she listened to Mrs. Hutchinson and the children's description of their journey from Massa- chusetts, are incomprehensible. A woman of sublime courage and beautiful faith, indeed, when in the hour of sudden bereavement and two (2) months after the birth of her fifth child she exclaimed, "The Lord is my strength, In Him will I trust." Falter? Not once !. Her thought was of her children, now doubly her responsibility, and their preparation for life. How she kept her courage amid adversity and or- deals, caring for them with a wealth of affection, is, to us, truly mar- velous. Tradition has brought to us, with what graciousness of spirit she planned the spring's work, putting a little more acreage under the plow and overworking her highway tax!, And how young Nancy, a child of eleven years relieved her mother of the care of the younger children. Later in 1816 she returned to her father's home in Minot, she was followed by her old neighbor, Moses Towne, who sought her hand in marriage. Abigail Chandler's father, Samuel Poole, moved to Minot from Hingham, Mass, in 1786/7, with the Chandlers and when Rev. Samuel Foxcroft & Peleg Chandler, from the New Glouces- ter Church, helped to organize the Cong. Church in Minot, Samuel Poole was soon made a Deacon. Moses Towne and family later moved to Ohio.
Samuel Poole Chandler son of John Jr. & Abigail (Poole) Chandler and grandson of Samuel and Abigail (Porter) Poole of Minot, m. at
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Hebron Feb. 18, 1834, Martha Johnson, b. Nov. 25, 1808, dau. of Thomas and Abigail (Hersey) Millett.
In 1846 Samuel Poole Chandler decided to move from Maine to Galena, Illinois. The grandsons tell this story of that trip.
With his wife and six young children they journeyed in a covered wagon drawn by four horses. A faithful dog, by his growling and barking, protected them by night, against the Indians and horse thieves. The family remained near Galena about eight years, a baby girl being added to the family group in 1851. Again in 1853 they moved westward, driving in "prairie schooners" to Dubuque, Iowa, leaving the two sons, Wesley a youth of seventeen years, and Penn a lad of ten, each to drive a schooner filled with household furnishings, to Red Wing. Mr. Chandler, with his wife and five daughters, went by boat up the Mississippi to Red Wing, then a small hamlet, where they landed Oct. 9, 1853. At Red Wing the Chandlers remained for two years, and with true Yankee thrift, operated a hotel, the "American House". In the early spring of 1855 they were lured to the beautiful valley of Belle Creek, settling on a farm where rocks, woods and water were plentiful. They had suffered terribly in Illinois from lack of good water. In Minnesota they found it. At once a log house was built of logs, lighter than those Samuel Chandler's father had used, in the con- struction of the first log house in "Old Foxcroft". But Samuel's was for temporary shelter, until he could build a stone house by fall. Snow came before the roof was on the stone house and canvass, from a "prairie schooner," was spread over the room with a fire place, during the storm. Native stone was used, quarried from the hills on the farm and the lime was burned on the place. In 1856 Mrs. Chandler died, leaving Mr. Chandler with a family of small children. In Mrs. Betsey (James) Schwieger whom he married, he found a companion and mother for his children and a family of six of her own! All came to the stone house. Seven children were born to Samuel and Betsey (James) Schwieger Chandler, making when all were together, a family of twenty- two! Mr. Samuel Chandler established the first post-office in Belle Creek and was the post-master; the mails were carried by ox-cart over trails. He was also the first schoolmaster in the district, the school being held in a neighbor's, house half a mile away. Later Mr. Chand- ler built a schoolhouse on his own land. Along with his other activities in frontier life, he performed the duties of Methodist minister, until about 1865. Hon. H. B. Wilson, instructor in Hamline University, knew and loved Mr. Chandler when they were students at Kent's Hill, Readfield, Maine, and at Rev. Mr. Chandler's funeral services spoke of "his intense religious feelings; of his preaching and conducting Sunday Schools while a student. His youth had been surrounded by an at- mosphere of honesty, good examples and sterling habits." In 1865 Father Chandler, as he was affectionately known, changed his religious belief, to that of the Protestant Episcopal faith. Incidents relating to
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