Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 62

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Maine > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 62
USA > New Hampshire > Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary > Part 62

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).

Joel was a grave-digger withal and was watchful for work, it is said, with as much anticipation, when some poor neighbor was sick, as a modern under- taker. It is reported that some time before the pale horse and his rider had come to the community Joel would be seen "scouring his shovel." At one time Joe Decker was dangerously ill and for many days his life was despaired of. The eccentric Dr. How, a man wiser than his generation, was the attending physician. He saw that the courage, the cheerfulness, of his patient was essential to his recovery. On one occasion he found Joe very downhearted and evidently sinking under his malady. He told him the following: "Joe, you shall not die now: you mus'n't anyway. As I was coming up ] saw Joel Briant out scouring his shovel and he said he was getting ready to dig a grave for Joe Decker. But I told him to put away his shovel for he shouldn't have Joe Decker." This speech had the desired effect. Joe Decker was of humor- ous temperament (as all the Deckers were), appreciated the joke, and laughed so heartily that the disease was sloughed off and he recovered apace.

Away upon the hill-side, under the protecting shade of an old gnarled oak, stood the little leaning and lonely head-stone that marked the grave of Eunice Cutting, consort of Joel Briant, many, many years before Joel himself fol- lowed in the caravan, and was laid by her side. The dueks still paddled in the pond, Ephraim Tibbetts and Joe Decker lived on, but Joel Briant had passed beyond the trouble of the world, and the robin sang his plaintive requiem in the oak tree. NABBY married a Harmon, and when advanced in years was left a widow. Not many years ago the author of this book spent an evening in the company of this old lady, and heard from her own lips many stories of "ye olden time" on the Saco. JUDITH and her constant little dog went their daily rounds for many years, until, one day, he died. Judith was never quite the same after this loss, and though considerably past the age when the ten- der emotions are supposed to kindle romantie visions in the female mind, she seemed to scan with longing gaze a wider horizon, till, at length, her mental

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overtures were responded to and she became entangled in the sober uet of matrimony. She immediately passed from the local stage, and her subsequent fate is unknown to me. LOUISA lived on in "single blessedness " long after her professional services in the school-room had ended, with the manifest con- sciousness that she was a learned person who had left impressions upon the minds-and bodies too-of the rising generation that would bear fruit in honor of her name. HORATIO was his father's successor at the homestead, and for long years carried on business as a merchant and manufacturer of clothing. He was blessed with an excellent companion and reared a family of intelli- gence and respectability.

Buch Family.

Rev. James Buck was a Scotchman, born in 1787. He came to Prince Edwards Island in 1808, being twenty-one years of age. He married Eliza- beth Laird, of P. E. I., and had three children, JOHN, ELIZABETH, and ANN, born there. JAMES J., JANNETTE, and ELIJAH S., were born on or near the Gut of Canso. EDWARD and ADAMS, twins, were born in Limington ; THOMAS, born in Hollis, near Muddy brook. Elder Buck was a Methodist preacher, at one time settled at West Gorham. He subsequently preached in Liming- ton; then removed to Hollis, near Muddy brook; afterwards settled on a farm in Dayton, where he spent the remainder of his days. A brother came to New England later whose son, DAVID BUCK, is now engaged in the hardware trade at Saco. John Buck is now (1894) living, aged 82. Jannette, spinster, lives on the homestead. They were a tall, strong-framed, dark people.

Elder Buck was a man of much originality, whose speech was of the broadest Scotch sort. He was a very practical and logical preacher, whose figures, employed for illustrations, were nearly all chosen from Bonnie Scotland's storehouse. When preaching from the text, "He who putteth his hands to the plow and looketh backward is not fit for the kingdom," he laid much stress on deep plowing ; he said that in Scotland they put the "pleaugh in up to the snuddocks." At one time he saw some sheep in a neighbor's bean field, and driving up to the door called out: "The shapes are in the banes and are going from hell to hell." Elder Buck was a good man with a will and way of his own.

Bullock Family.

Richard Bullock, the ancestor of the numerous families of this name in New England, settled in Rehoboth, Mass., in 1644. For several generations the family remained in Rehoboth, where Richard contributed £200 toward the purchase of the town, receiving in return large allotments of land on which his posterity settled. Rehoboth, then a part of Plymouth county, was eight miles

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square, and its western boundary the Blackstone river, which alone separated it from Roger Williams Colony, at Providence, R. I., and some of the Bullocks moved over there, where descendants have since resided, and among them several distinguished men have arisen. Few if any of the family remain in their old cradle town of Rehoboth now. No railroad touches it; its soil is sterile, and one family after another moved away from a locality that would not yield a support. Among men of note descended from Richard Bullock may be mentioned ALEXANDER BULLOCK, of Worcester, at one time governor of Massachusetts; STEPHEN BULLOCK, of Rehoboth, member of Congress under Jefferson's administration, and his son, DR. SAMUEL BULLOCK, a meni- ber of the Massachusetts legislature, and of the convention in 1820 to form a new constitution; RICHARD BULLOCK, of Providence, a merchant of means and high standing; COL. WILLIAM BULLOCK, who surveyed the town of Savoy in Berkshire county, and other towns adjoining ; NATHANIEL BULLOCK, speaker of House of Representatives, 1826-7, lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island in 1842, and candidate for governor in 1837, a lawyer of ability; JONATHAN R. BULLOCK, lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island, 1860, judge Supreme court, and later judge United States court, now living in Bristol, R. I., advanced in years, who has furnished the author much data for this notice. Descended from Richard Bullock was :

I. CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK, who lived in Cumberland and Scituate, Provi- dence county, R. I., and children were born in both towns. His wife was Sarah. Children's names as follows :

I. JEREMIAH, b. Aug. 7, 1748.

II. EBENEZER, b. Mar. 25, 1749: d. Aug. 19, 1751.

III. SARAH, b. Jan. 22, 1752.

IV. NATHAN, b. Apr. 16. 1754.

V. EBENEZER, b. Feb. 1, 1756.

VI. CATHERINE, b. Sept. 26, 1757-

VII. CHRISTOPHER, b. Jan. 22, 176r. This man m. Hannah, and followed his son Yeremiah and daughter Mercy to York county, Maine. He was a minister of the gospel, and traveled and labored much with Elder John Buzzell. He was considered an able sermonizer, candid reasoner, prudent counselor, and godly man. He was a man of gigan- tic form, possessed of a voice deep and strong, and "he never feared the face of clay." He lived in Limington and Parsonsfield, and the town records show that he solemnized many marriages in these towns. He d. Apr. 29, 1825. in Parsonsfield, after which his widow went to live with her son in Limington, where she survived until Feb. 7, 1847. and passed away in triumph. These had several children, three of whom died in Maine.

(1). Rev. Jeremiah Bullock, son of the preceding, was b. in Rhode Island, but the town is not known. He began to preach before he was twenty-one years of age, and came into Maine on a mis- sionary tour, preaching as he went. He was ordained in the "Brook Meeting-house," in Buxton, May 22, 1811, and baptized about fifty persons during the month. Elder Bullock was a man of heavy build, whose resounding voice could be heard for a great distance. He was a bold, plain, impressive preacher, who was

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for many years a successful evangelist and pastor. In the early years of his ministry he was sometimes opposed and persecuted. At one time a large party of the "baser sort " assembled about the meeting-house, where he was preaching, firing guns and threaten- ing violence. One man is said to have seized him to pull him down from the chair upon which he stood while preaching, but was not successful. The elder said he talked as fast and as loud as he could for he knew not that he would ever have another opportunity. He subsequently administered the ordinance of baptism to several who dated their experience of conviction to the "gun meeting " of May 6, 1811. He traveled and preached much in the counties of York, Cumberland, and Oxford, until 1817, when he m. Almira, dau. of Edmund and Hannah (Morton) Wes- cott, of Gorham, and settled in Limington. From the time of this marital union the two went together preaching the word in many places. He d. Dec. 16, 1849. His widow was m. to Dea. Andrew Cobb. of Bridgton, who accompanied her on her preach- ing tours until her death, April 25, 1857. She was said to have been just ten years younger than her husband, and survived him ten years; thus it is inscribed on the grave-stone of each "aged 62 years." He recorded the names of 370 persons he had baptized during his ministry.

(2). Stephen Bullock, son of Christopher, was b. in the state of Rhode Island, and came to Maine a young man. He m. Betsey Chase in Hiram, Me., and lived in that town until the close of his days. He was a farmer.

(3) Mercy Bullock, dau. of Christopher, came to Maine and became the wife of a Mr. Davis, in Limington.

(4). Westcott Bullock, son of Christopher, was a young man of fine scholarship and great promise, who d. single.

(1). Warren C., son of Stephen and Betsey (Chase) Bullock, was b. Aug. 26, 1817, in Limington, Me. He acquired a common school education, and for many years owned and conducted a dry goods and grocery store in that part of Bridgton now known as Sandy Creek. He then purchased a farm in Naples, whence, after the death of four children, he removed to Denmark where he continued the pursuit of farming until 1870. He then located at Bridgton Centre, so that his son could have better educational advantages. After the death of his second wife, he went to the home of his daughter in North Dakota, where he remained several years. He revisited the East in 1888, and lived with his son in Philadelphia one year; now living at Aurora, N. J. He has been a vigorous, active man with good business ability, honest and upright in all his dealings. He was baptized in early life, and has ever been very conscientious in matters of religious duty.

He m. Sarah A. March, of Bridgton, at Denmark, Mar. 9, 1843 (by Eld. Larkin Jordan). She was b. Nov. 25, 1822 ; d. there, Jan. 21, 1847. He m. second, Jan. 10, 1854, Nancy P.

Warren & Bullock

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Day, who was b. in Bridgton, July 3, 1833; d. there Sept. 21, 1884. Both marriages were happy ones ; his second wife, an invalid many years, was an amiable, helpful woman who pos- sessed a sunny and cheerful disposition. Two of his ten chil- dren were by first wife.

(a). Martha z., b. July 9, 1844, in Bridgton ; m. in 1864, to Frank J. Hill, of Sebago. They removed to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1866, and fifteen years later removed to Dakota Territory, where they now live. Several children.

(b) Mary, b. Nov. 27, 1845 ; m. to Cornelius Peterson, of Bridg- ton, in 1870; d. in 1873.

(d). Lizzie S., b. Dec. 24, 1856; d. Oct. 25, 1864.

(e). Luther P., b. June 2, 1859; d. Oct. 19, 1864.

(f). Viola A., b. Dec. 22, 1861 ; d. Nov. 2, 1864.

(g). Linwood M., b. June 2, 1866, in Denmark, is the only sur- viving son. He attended the graded schools at Bridgton, passed through the grammar and high school departments, graduating in class of '84 at the age of 18; paid special at- tention to business course, but ranked well in classics; en- tered large dry goods store of Horatio Staples, at Portland, in 1884, and during the four years employed there became conversant with all branches of the business; was chief sales- man the last six months. In fall of 1888 resigned to accept a lucrative position with John Wanamaker, in Philadelphia. Poor health caused him to seek a warmer climate and in 1889 he became connected with the Normal and Agricul- tural Institute, at Hampton, Va., as accountant, a position he now (1893) holds, and in which he has given satisfac- tion ; unmarried.

(h). Three daughters of Warren and Nancy, triplets, b. Dec. 14, 1870, in Bridgton ; d. the same day.

(!). Rev. Wescott Bullock, only son of Jeremiah and Almira, was b. in Limington, July 7, 1818. He received his education in the common schools and at Parsonsfield AAcademy, and was a teacher in early life. He embraced religion in 1842, and soon after began to preach. The twofold and wonderfully woven mantle of his parents had fallen on him; that part received from his father, coarse, hard-twisted, and substantial, proved a panoply of security amid the storms that sometimes gather about the minis- ter's pathway; that inherited from his saintly mother and dyed by her gentle spirit. was of soft and silken texture designed to keep the heart warm and tender. This sacred mantle was " re- versible " and sometimes changed in the pulpit, alternating be- tween the rough and silken sides. Wescott was ordained at Saco, in August, 1856, his mother preaching the sermon to a vast assembly of people in the town hall. He says: " I have preached in various towns of Maine and New Hampshire, sometimes in a fine pulpit, sometimes in school-houses and sometimes stand-

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ing on stone walls; wherever I had a thus saith the Lord." He has always preached what he believed and lived as he preached. In personal appearance both commanding and attrac- tive ; his voice pleasant and melodious, and his language plain and pure. He has been a very useful man, who was widely known and much beloved; now passing the snowy years of venerable age, cheered by the sunshine of the Christian's un- dying hope. He has been incapacitated for active service from paralysis, and says he "lives by praying"; resides in Bidde- ford, Me. He m. Elmira, dau. of Isaac Gove, of Limington, b. July 14, 1821, and had issue, the following children, of whom Martha MI., William R. T., and Daniel S. have deceased :

(a). Jeremiah, m. Ellen Dickson, of Parsonsfield, Me.

(b). William R. T., m. Fanny Baldwin, of Biddeford, Me.

(c). Martha E., m. Edgar E. Clark, of Biddeford, Me.

(d). Daniel S., m. Annah B. Hutchins, of Biddeford, Me.

(e). Elizabeth C., m. Joseph H. Dearborn, of Biddeford, Me.

(11.). Harriet, m. to George Freeman and is now living in Bridg- ton ; Mr. F. deceased ; one dau .. Belle, m. in B.

(III). Mary, m. Daniel Segon and lived in Bridgton; both de- ceased. Issue.

Came and Ziame.

This is a Scandinavian surname, transplanted into Scotland and England by the Viking invaders at a very early period. The name is now common in Scotland. There is a hamlet about three and one-half miles from Edinburgh named Kames. A village in Argyleshire, on the west side of the Kyles of Bute, bears the same name. A fine, old, gabled mansion in Berwickshire, situ- ated in the midst of a grove of ancient trees, named Kames, was the birthplace, property, and residence of the distinguished judge and philosopher from whence he derived the title of Lord Kames. An ancient castle, about three miles from Rothesay, is known as Kaimes castle. Families long domiciled in Devonshire bear the surname Came. One branch of the New England stock, planted in New Hampshire, have spelled their name " Kame."

Arthur Came, the earliest person of the name known to have settled in New England, had land granted to him at Bass cove, in the town of York. Jan. 14, 1670. The full maiden name of his wife has not been found; her first name was Violet. In 1710 he and his wife gave to their " only son" Samuel, for their maintenance during the remainder of their days, a deed of their homestead farm with buildings thereon. He probably died about the time that he conveyed his property, as in the deed he is called "aged, decripped and almost quite past labor." He was constable of York in 1674; often juryman and appraiser of estates ; evidently a prominent citizen.

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CAME AND KAME.

Samuel Came, son of Arthur and Violet, was born in York, presumably in 1673 or 1674, and, as appears from his monument, d. Dec. 26. 1768, in the 95th year of his age. He m. Nov. 22, 1699, Patience, daughter of Samuel Bragdon; she was b. Apr. 17, 1678. Mr. Came was a distinguished man in his day. In the history of Maine, by Williamson, it was said of him : "He represented his town in the General Court five years; was chosen into the Council in 1733, and had, in all, nine successive elections into that legislative branch. He was commissioned to the bench of the Common Pleas in 1730, which position he filled, with reputation to himself, twenty years." He was influential in town and county affairs; a gentleman of the puritanical stamp, respectable and respected, honorable and honored. He was the owner of quite extensive lands. In his will. 1764, he gave his homestead farm to his grandson, Samuel Young, whose wife was a daughter of his only son. He also gave his negro man Sharper* to the same person. He and wife were buried in Scotland parish, where suitable monuments mark the place of their rest. His second wife, Elizabeth Stover, of Cape Neddick, after his death, returned to that place and there died and was buried. Mr. Came built the garrison house on "Cider hill," the old homestead, about 1710. during the Indian wars, which was taken down in 1850. In 1855 George L. Came, Esq .. of Alfred, by whom much herein was provided, found the large. slate head- stone of this ancestor broken, and in the following year had it mended and stone posts and iron rails placed around his grave; a very laudable action.

Joseph Came, only son of Samuel, was b. Apr. 25, 1715; m. Nov. 25. 1736. Keziah, dau. of Micum MacIntire, a woman of pure Highland Scotch blood. He lived on Birch hill in the town of York ; dropped dead before he was forty-nine and was buried on his homestead; supposed to have had issue. six daughters and four sons, named as follows:

SAMUEL, b. Apr. 24, 1738, of whom no other record has been discov- ered.

2. MicoM. d. in infancy.

3. JOSEPH, b. Dec. 20, 1741 ; m. Phebe Gowen, of Kittery, and settled in New Hampshire, and his descendants spell the name " Kame." There were seven sons and five daughters in this family, but I shall not trace them.

4. ARTHUR, b. Apr. 24, 1745; m. Mary Haley, of Kittery, and d. in York, Jan. 30, 1821. Four of his sons settled in the town of Buxton, and to them and their families we shall now give our attention.

I. JOHN, b. Oct. 27, 1767. in York, and settled in Buxton in 1787. He m. Phebe, dau. of Nathaniel and Hannah ( Fields) Lord (b. June 25, 1769; d. Sept. 10, 1835), of Buxton, Oct. 2. 1794. after which he made his home on the high table-land not far from the eastern bank of Saco river, where, he cleared the large and valuable farm and erected the imposing and well-arranged mansion and farm offices since owned and occupied by his son. While extensively engaged in farming he carried on a considerable and successful lumbering busi- ness at Bonnie Engle village, to which also his son and grandson

*Sharper is said to have been the last slave owned in New England. He lived to be nearly or quite one hundred years of age, and according to his wish was buried in the garden of his former master, where he used to work, and suitable stones mark his grave.

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succeeded. His wife d. Sept. 10, 1835; he d. Sept. 16, 1857. These were laid down under the protecting shade of trees near their dwell- ing upon the farm. There were five children of whom I have record :

(1). Polly, b. July 25, 1796; m. John Eastman; d. Dec. 26, 1871.

(2). Hannah, b. Mar. 3, 1798; m. Aaron Leavitt, of Buxton, and d. Feb. 5, 1856.

(3). Abram L., b. April 20, 1800; m. Feb. 2, 1825, Annis, dau. of John and Esther (Shaw) Green, of Standish, who was b. June 27, 1803, at Little Falls. These had ten children, whose names will follow this notice. Mr. Came lived all his days in his native town. His education was limited to the common schools, but by observation and extensive reading he became a man of varied and accurate information. He developed great sagacity and good judgment in business affairs in early life, and was entrusted with commissions by his father, when quite immature in years, that involved considerable financial importance. It has been related of him that when a very young man he was sent by his father to view an extensive tract of timber land with authority to purchase if he could do so at figures which, in his judgment, would allow of a fair margin of profits. He closed the bargain with instruc- tions for the seller to come to his home to formulate conveyances and receive payment. It seems that the man rued his sale, and on coming to Bonnie Eagle inquired for "one Abram L. Came, a young man having an old head." He continued to augment his lumber business and investments in timber until he was one of the foremost manufacturers and dealers on Saco river. From early years his habits of industry were pronounced; he was ever a busy man, always at work on the farm, about his mills, or in the timber swamp. He was a man of strict integrity, benevolent and public spirited; always interested in whatever was calculated to advance education or in any way practically advance the good of society. Originally a Whig, he become a Republican at the organization of that party. He was for several years selectman in Buxton, and served in the legislature of his state in 1837-38 and in 1847. His public services were attended to with the same faithfulness and good judgment applied to his personal affairs. Being held in the highest esteem among men his death was sin- cerely lamented. Mr. Came d. Nov. 27, 1882, at his home, and with his wife, who d. May 13, 1888, was interred in the family burial-ground on the farm. Children :

(1). Charles G., b. Sept. 25, 1826; graduated at Yale College, and was for many years editor of the Boston Journal. He m. Sarah M. Lewis, and left issue, Alice, Francis L. and Katherine E .; d. Jan. 16, 1879. We subjoin the Yale record, with some extracts from " In Memoriam," published in 1879.

CHARLES GREENE CAME :- Born at Buxton, Me., Sept. 26, 1826; entered freshman, Sept. 1845; studying law in Portland, Me., 1849-52; teaching in Maine during winters of 1850 and 1851; editor in Portland for one or two months, in 1852; admitted to the bar in Portland, Oct , 1852; practicing law in Rockland, Me., Oct., 1852-Aug., 1863; practic-

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ing law in Portland, and assistant editor of the Porttand Advertiser, Sept., 1853-July, 1855; chief editor of the Portland Advertiser, July, 1855-May, 1857; elected member of the House of Representatives, of Maine, Feb., 1854; re-elected to the same office, Sept., IS54; asso- ciate editor of the Boston Journal, 1857 to 1879.

He contributed many articles to the Atlantic Monthly and North American Review, besides his editorial work. For an essay on "Legal Nomination," he received a prize of $300 from the Union League club, of Philadelphia. The following from the pen of William W. Hill, who was the longest associated with him on the Boston Journal, speaks for itself :

After more than twenty years' acquaintance with Mr. Came, the impression of him which first arises in my mind is that of his sterling manhood. His whole manner and life were those of a man who, with high aims and purposes, was true to his convictions. He made no profession of friendship or principles that he did not feel, and would scorn to mislead any one by concealing his true sentiments. In form- ing his opinions, he regarded what was right, rather than what was expedient, and what he believed he acted up to. His very presence was a rebuke to anything mean or underhanded.

He was a man, too, who impressed me as possessing a superior judgment. Calm and self-possessed, clear in apprehension and ex- pression, his opinions carried with them the force of a keen insight and firm conviction. His mind, in which the reflective element pre- dominated, took a broad view of matters of public interest, and his exposition of the topics which came before him for treatment was marked by philosophical apprehension and high moral principle. He possessed " the pen of a ready writer," and the constant strain which a daily newspaper exerts upon its writers seemed not to tax either his powers of thought, or his faculty of expression. His style was digni- fied, his illustrations felicitous, and the graces of composition often enlivened the dullest of themes. A cultivated imagination gave tone to all his articles, and a playful fancy frequently imparted zest to his writings. I think he impressed his associates with the feeling that he possessed powers more than equal to his opportunities, and that with more self-assertion, he would have gained distinguished honors in any department of mental effort.

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Saco Valley settlements and families. Historical, biographical, genealogical, traditional, and legendary, Part 62

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Portland, Me., The author Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Ridlon, Gideon Tibbetts, 1841- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Portland, Me., The author
Number of Pages: 1424