USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Sangerville > Sangerville, Maine, 1814-1914; proceedings of the centennial celebration, June 13, 1914 > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Three years later he acquired by purchase a large tract of land, with outlying islands, in a beautiful and fertile part of Woolwich called Phipp's Neck. There in 1789, his son Turner was born, the father of Abner, and there also in the Wool- wich home was born Abner Turner, November first, 1817.
CAPTAIN ABNER TURNER WADE
149
CAPTAIN ABNER TURNER WADE
In the history of Mt. Kineo Lodge, F. and A. Masons, * of which Captain Wade was the author, he says of himself,-"I was born in the good old Puritan town of Woolwich, where many a better man was born before and since." That is a statement of characteristic modesty; but we may say that if better men have been born in Woolwich they have failed of recognition. For Captain Wade not only imbibed the manly and heroic spirit of his military grandfather, but was blest with a godly parentage and a faithful and wise Christian training. His father, Turner Wade, though he died a comparatively young man, had become a deacon in the Baptist church. His mother, Hannah Carleton Farnham, of Woolwich parentage, was a devout, exemplary Christian all her days.
This heredity and carly training had profound and permanent influence on the character of Abner Turner. He was ever reverent and hospitable toward Christian ideals. He had great respect for true Christians who showed their faith in their lives. He was himself a Christian believer though for some reason never making public and formal profession of it. But to one friend, at least, he confessed personal faith in the saviorhood of the Lord Christ.
His constant support of the church where he worshipped, his sympathetic reception of all ministers and unfailing hospitality to them, his deep and active interest in the Sunday school, his genuine interest in young people that they should walk in the ways of wisdom; such evidences he gave of the possession of a true Christian character.
All his life Captain Wade maintained a warm affection for "that good old Puritan town of Woolwich," and was a frequent visitor there long years after he had ceased to be a resident.
His memory is cherished in many a home in the town of his birth to this day.
His father died when Abner was but twelve years of age. His mother was left with a considerable family of young children, and he, being the eldest boy, was obliged to labor and bear burdens of responsibility that deprived him of the schooling that otherwise would have been his.
At sixteen he went to sea, a leading and attractive vocation for the hardy sons of Woolwich in those days of the prosperity of the American merchant marine. By fidelity and industry the young seaman rose from "fore the mast" through all the grades to master mariner. He proved himself a thorough seaman and also developed business sagacity of no mean order.
At the age of twenty-eight the Pattens of Bath gave him charge of a ship, in which position he was not only captain of the ship but business manager for the owners.
The Pattens were then in the cotton trade and the young captain took cargoes of cotton from New Orleans to Liverpool, attending to their disposal to the great manufacturing concerns there. These voyages and the business results were so successful that the Pattens retained him in their employ and gave him their un- limited confidence.
On a return voyage with three hundred immigrants on board, his noble ship Halcyon encountered a succession of terrific gales off the coast and became help- less. The captain proved fully equal to the trying ordeal. By most skillful seamanship he managed to keep the doomed vessel afloat until help appeared, other crafts answering his signals of distress. Meanwhile he kept his frightened passengers from panie and safely transferred everyone to the rescuing vessels before the Haleyon foundered.
The loss of the ship was no fault of his seamanship, on the contrary he was praised by the owners for his skill and heroism in averting terrible loss of life.
After fourteen years of this exacting service as master mariner, Captain Wade was compelled by ill health to resign and quit the sea greatly to the regret of the Pattens who were his staunch friends as long as he lived.
When twenty-six years of age, ten years after he began seafaring life, he took in marriage Miss Sarah E. Ayer of Sangerville, whose father was Dr. Moses Ayer, a practicing physician then resident in Sangerville. From that time, 1843, until his death, 1895, Sangerville was his home.
* History of Mt. Kineo Lodge No. 109, Free and Accepted Masons (1861-1868) by Abner T. Wade (Portland, ISS9).
150
SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY
In his wife he had a helpmeet indeed, sweet, gentle, brave and wise in caring for the home while the husband and father was away on the seas.
Seven children were born to them, four of whom have outlived both of their parents.
Captain Wade's mother married, after a few years of widowhood, Captain John Stinson of Woolwich, and continued to live in Woolwich until his death which occurred in 1877. After that event this loyal and affectionate son took his mother to his own home in Sangerville, she being then greatly advanced in years and in feeble health.
Mrs. Wade rejoiced in the privilege of ministering to her husband's mother. She lingered, greatly beloved and tenderly cared for in this haven of rest until her death in 1884, in her ninety-first year.
Mrs. Wade outlived her husband but a short time, and died loved and mourned by all who knew her March 30, 1896.
Sangerville village was a very quiet hamlet when the Wades established their home there, and it was a quiet hamlet when Captain Wade returned permanently from his seafaring life.
There were then but two streets crossing at right angles. A store or two were at the corners. The only meeting house was perched on the summit of the steep hill on the east side of the hamlet. Up that long, steep incline the church-going people wended their sometimes weary way to worship; none more faithfully and constantly than the family of Captain Wade.
Out to the west ward the road climbed another hill and then made off over the hills toward Parkman.
The street to Guilford on the south side of the river was then undreamed of. The only way thither from Sangerville was by crossing the river through the covered bridge and thence by the road on the north side, then unvexed by iron rails and steam trains.
There was a blacksmith shop and a grist-mill just below Captain Wade's residence. The stream on the banks of which now stand the busy woolen mills, was an idle, babbling brook where horses were sometimes led to water, and where barefooted urchins waded, fishing for "chubs."
Where now there are streets and beautiful, substantial residences, mills and churches, then were vacant lots, pastures, fields and woodlands. Communication with the outside world was by stage coach, and the "coaches" were "mud wagons" in the long seasons of heavy roads.
The arrival of the stage from Bangor was the event of the day and furnished about all the excitement there was.
How much the change of those conditions to the present was due to the coming and residence for fifty years of this man of farsightedness and public spirit may not easily be determined. Other public spirited citizens Sangerville had in those days, but none more so than he.
What a change it must have been for a busy man like Captain Wade, used to the great world centers of trade, to settle in such a quiet hamlet shut away from the world of action. But for all this, and though his health was undermined, he was not the man to give way to discontent or settle down to a life of inaction.
As has been said, his school privileges were limited when he was a boy; but he loved knowledge, had used his faculties when in active life, had gathered books, and now in the quiet of his surroundings he gave himself to profitable study.
He loved English literature and choice fiction. He became an authority on matters of history, ancient and modern. He acquainted himself with law. Even the trained ministers, of whom he had a wide acquaintance, found in him one who could most intelligently argue questions of theology and biblical and archaeological learning.
Sunday school teachers found in him an unfailing and willing helper with their problems.
Besides this, his commanding knowledge of business, his good judgment and his acquired knowledge of law, gave him large influence and usefulness with men in matters of estates and other lines of business.
And at length the time came of Sangerville's commercial awakening. Rail- roads came nearer. Water powers were valued and utilized. When the new
151
CAPTAIN ABNER TURNER WADE
manufacturing life was offered to Sangerville, Captain Wade was a helper and a supporter both in encouragement and by investment.
He shared the awakened life with enthusiasm. The present prosperity of Sangerville manufacturing interests are due not a little to his foresight, practical counsel and help.
His interest and helpfulness in the religious and social life in the community, to which we have already alluded, have been recorded by others clearly and well.
A writer, at the time of his decease which occurred in 1895, when Captain Wade was seventy-eight years of age, says of him,-"Always in his place at church and Sunday school, he was very helpful to the pastor and his associates in the good work by his always welcome counsel and earnest labors. He was a dear lover of children and the organizations made up of this class will sadly miss him.
"The West Piscataquis Sunday School Association is largely indebted to him for its existence and the prosperous condition which it has attained. He was always present at its sessions and his modestly offered advice was sel- dom rejected, and when heeded proved beneficial in the highest degree."
He was also an ardent Mason and a strong and helpful influence in Masonic circles. He liked a good Mason just as he liked a consistent Christian, and he detested sham and hypocrisy in either relation.
Politically, Captain Wade was a life long Democrat. In his earlier life he made many close friendships among high-minded men in the South with whom he came into contact in business relations, and respected their opinions even when differing from them.
With his training and the personal contact he had experienced with Southern- ers in the period of his seafaring life, he was enabled to look on the tremendous problems that faced the country before the Civil War with less prejudice than the average Northerner, and certainly with as much intelligence and judgment.
But he respected political opinions of such as differed from him while ready enough to give expression to his own convictions.
I have a mental pieture of him that illustrates how he could extract fun out of politics. At one time his little grandson was an inmate of the Wade home and followed his grandsire about (said grandsire being far from unwilling) much as I imagine Captain Abner following his grandsire when himself was the small boy.
The lad had learned that his hero grandfather was a "Democrat," whatever that may have meant to him; hence as a matter of course "Barlie" was also a "Democrat." Together they start down the street to go to the post office.
The captain meets a citizen, in this case a Republican, and they engage in a goodnatured chaffing over polities. Suddenly he turns to his grandson standing by his side with upturned face. "Barlie," he asks, "What are you?" "Demo- crat, by Georts!" is the prompt and emphatic reply. There was some suspicion of previous rehearsal in private; but the captain administers a feeble rebuke with voice quivering with laughter mingled with pride. Then he passes on with the lad trailing along, perhaps to meet some other Republican victim and cover him with like discomfiture.
The writer has among his choice souvenirs two likenesses of Captain Wade. One, an old fashioned photograph, taken when his hair and beard were dark and his kindly eye strong and piercing.
The photograph, a vignette, is surrounded with pin pricks. How did they come there? Many years ago the photograph stood on the mantel in the room of a niece of his, a young girl, with whom the unele had corresponded from her child- hood and who ardently appreciated the kindliness, sympathy, helpfulness and friendship of this friend of the young. She kept the picture where she could always see it, and usually it was garlanded with flowers held in position with pins. The flowers have faded. The niece passed out of this life long years before her loved uncle. But the photograph with its curious markings remains, a silent token of blessings given and received, the influence as lasting as eternity-who can doubt?
The other picture was taken later in life. The hair and beard in this are white, but the eye is yet sparkling and keen. He is shown in his library sitting tilted back in his easy chair before the fire, one leg crossed over the other, his table on one side, his working library of books on the other. One often found him so
152
SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY
when entering the hospitable room in response to a hearty call down the stairs,- "Come up to my den and we'll spin a yarn."
Then would follow bright and interesting converse, witty and wise :- it might be theology, or it might be Bible exposition, or history, or politics; but it was sure to be worth while to the young man or the older person who shared the interview.
Many there are, living today, who recall easily those pleasant chats with the Sage of Sangerville in the peace and quiet of that library at the head of the stairs. He was a good "mixer" with all kinds of men; no less so with young people and children whom he loved and sought to serve.
His friendship with his only surviving brother, Deacon Eben D. Wade, was very strong. Deacon Wade was seven years the junior of his brother. While Deacon Wade lived in Dover, as he did for many years before removing to Ocean Park, the brothers were often together.
But Captain Wade has passed on. Others are bearing burdens and responsi- bilities that once he bore right manfully.
How many are performing life's duties more patiently and strongly because influenced by this good man in former years, none can tell,-but many, not of his own household and kin only, not of his own townsmen only. His influence, like that of every right intending and right doing man, is wide reaching and going on forever.
I close this tribute with the words of another, written of Captain Wade at the time of his decease:
"The windows of memory will long be open in evidence of his high Christian and moral character, his kindly, genial nature, his unquestioned honor and integrity, and his sympathetic generosity extended so freely to all in affliction or adversity.
"May we all emulate the example of this noble life."
Kenduskeag, Maine. December, 1913.
Letter From Honorable Stanley Plummer
Dexter, Maine, June 15, 1914.
Dear Mr. Sprague :-
Referring to the sketches of the Oakes family given in your address and that of Brother Parsons at the Sangerville celebration, in which you both pay high tribute to William P. Oakes, permit me to add a few facts from memory about Col. William Oakes, the father of William P., and younger brother of my grand- father, Otis Oakes, and his other sons.
Col. William, besides being many years Colonel of a militia regiment, Justice of the Peace, Selectman, and Trustee of Foxeroft Academy, was a member of the State Legislature, and High Sheriff of Piscataquis County. But of greater credit and honor to him than any office he ever held was the fact that, living as he did in a little backwoods town with limited opportunities for money-making, he so loved that higher learning of which he himself often felt his own lack, with strenuous effort and much self sacrifice he was enabled to send four of his sons to college, all during the decade from 1850 to 1860, when the acquirement of a college edu- cation meant so much more than it does today.
These sons were:
Abner, who, after graduation from Waterville, married the daughter and only child of Dr. Gilman Lougee Bennett of Parsonsfield, Maine, a distinguished physician and politician, who served in both branches of the State Legislature and as Treasurer of York County. Abner settled in South Berwick, where he practiced law successfully, making a specialty of Probate Law. He served in the State Legislature, and for years was Judge of Probate for York County. I have
153
AGRICULTURE OF SANGERVILLE
been assured by a prominent State Senator from York County, his neighbor, that such was the confidence of the people in his honesty and integrity, as well as his professional capability, that he was made executor of more wills and adminis- trator of more estates than any other man who ever lived in York County.
Albion, who also graduated from Waterville, married into the Clarke family, prominent in the ship-building industry at Waldoboro, where he settled as a lawyer, interested himself in politics, and was a short time before his premature death when in his early thirties, defeated in a convention of his party as a candi- date for Representative in Congress, by only thirteen votes.
Valentine, a handsome gallant fellow, who, just graduated from Dartmouth College, entered the Union Army, and was shot dead in a charge at the Battle of Fair Oaks in front of Richmond.
The fourth was William P., to whom both you and Mr. Parsons have made appreciative reference.
Very truly yours, STANLEY PLUMMER.
Agriculture of Sangerville
By Will E. Leland
Sangerville stands seventh in point of population among the towns of Pis- cataquis county but is first in the number of cows kept and is near the front in general farming. The assessors' books for the current year give the number of live stock as follows: Horses and colts 341, neat stock 797, sheep 610, swine 135. The number of cows is less than last year and an examination of the records shows a slight decrease from year to year for several years owing to a change in the system of farming rather than any decline in agriculture.
The town has but little waste land and from an agricultural standpoint is well located as her products can be delivered at the great markets of New England in a few hours of time by way of the Maine Central and Bangor and Aroostook Rail- roads.
The potato industry has become a very important branch of farming and is receiving increased attention, resulting in the plowing and renewing of many old fields and larger crops of grain and hay.
Our hillsides, with their deep and fertile soil, are ideal locations for fruit trees and it is coming to be realized that we can grow apples of the finest quality.
There are approximately 175 farms in town. As a rule the farms are owned by their occupants and the farm homes are commodious and comfortable and fitted with modern conveniences. The farmer of today has his mail delivered at the door and is in close touch with his neighbors by means of the telephone. The social life on the farm is another feature that is better by far than was possible in the early days when neighbors were more distant and means of travel not so abundant.
There are two granges in town that have added much to the welfare of their members, not only socially and intellectually but financially through fire in- surance and co-operation in buying.
In the days of our grandfathers each farm home was a community by itself, producing most of the necessities of life and its products were largely manufactured at home. Today the farmer is as dependent on the manufacturer for his goods as is the manufacturer on him for the raw material, hence the interest of each is identical and all should work together in harmony to the end that the business of the town be developed and its growth and prosperity be assured.
MOSES CARR
155
THE WOOLEN INDUSTRY OF SANGERVILLE
The Woolen Industry of Sangerville
By Honorable Angus O. Campbell
At the close of the Civil War, some of the enterprising citizens of Sanger- ville, seeing that if the town was to be anything more than a cross road, with a blacksmith shop in the corner, formed a mutual company and built a building suitable for a woolen mill. Among those identified with this company were A. T. Wade, Jacob True, O. B. Williams, Moses Carr, Rob't Ordway, Edwin Jewett, Stoughton Newhall, and others which I can't now recall. This building was leased to D. R. Campbell and Wm. Fairgrieve, who took possession in 1868. Mr. Campbell purchased the interest of Mr. Fairgrieve in 1874 and ran this mill successfully until 1889 when he sold to the Carr family, who do business under the name of Sangerville Woolen Co. The original buildings were burned flat in 1891, but with indomitable energy they at once built a new and much better plant which has run continuously with marked success. The present officers are Frank S. Carr, President; Fred H. Carr, Treasurer, and H. M. Carr, General Manager.
In the year 1SS1, a stock company officered by Moses Carr, President; Abner T. Wade, Treasurer, and O. B. Williams, Agent, built the Carleton Mills, on the original Carleton Mill privilege. This mill ran with variable success until 1910, when it was purchased by the Sangerville Woolen Co., who have since run it as a part of their plant. In the year 1885 the citizens of the town said to D. R. Campbell that if he would build a modern mill on the lower privilege on Carleton stream, they would provide a site and build a dam. They fulfilled their contract, and in 1SS6 he erected one of the best mills in New England. In 1890 he took in his sons, A. O. and D. O., and the company was known as D. R. Campbell & Sons, until 1900 when a close corporation called the Campbell Mfg. Co. was formed, the officers being D. R. Campbell, President, D. O. Campbell, Treasurer, and Angus O. Campbell, Agent and General Manager, which continued until the death of D. R. Campbell in 1911, when the heirs consolidated with a mill they owned at Dexter and it is now known as the Dumbarton Woolen Mills, the officers being Angus O. Campbell, President, and George Park, Treasurer and General Man- ager.
The woolen industry has been the means of changing Sangerville from a small rural community to a large, prosperous village, filled with neat homes mostly owned by their occupants. The mills employ about two hundred opera- tives, and there is disbursed each month in wages the sum of fifty-five hun- dred dollars. The operatives are happy and contented; there are no labor unions, and there has never been a labor strike.
Documentary History of the Town of Sangerville
FROM PAPERS ACCOMPANYING CHAPTER 25, ACTS OF 1814
To the Honorable Senate and the Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court Assembled
The Petition of the undersigned, Inhabitants of Township Number four in the sixth Range of Townships north of the Waldo Patent & West of the Penob- scot River in the County of Hancock and District of Maine, Humbly shows, that there are about forty Families-in said Township who, in their present situation, labour under many Burdens and Inconveniences which they are persuaded, might be removed or greatly alleviated if they were in a situation to enjoy the Privileges of an Incorporated Town
DAVID R. CAMPBELL
157
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF SANGERVILLE
They therefore respectfully request your Honorable Bodt that they may be Incorporated into a Town by the Name of SANGERVILLE Bounded Easterly by Township Number three in the sixth Range of Townships, Southerly by Number four in the fifth Range Westerly by Number five in the sixth Range and Northerly by a part of Number five & a part of Number six in the seventh Range of Townships & in Duty bound will ever pray 1 C
Sam" MI Clanathan Walter Leland John Carsley Ebenezer Carsley Ellis Robinson Ebenezer Stevens 1 Nath" Stevens John Stevens Edward Magoon n Phi. Ames Daniel Ames Nathaniel Stevens Jr.
Samuel Ames William Stevens Thomas Riley Samuel Waymouth James Waymoth Aaron Woodbury
In the House of Representatives Feb 11th 1814 y
Read & committed to the committee on Towns to consider & report. Sent up for concurrence
Timothy Bigelow Speaker In Senate Feb. 15. 1814. Read & concurred t John Phillips Presid In Senate June 3. 1814
Read and Committed to the Committee on Towns Sent down for concurrence
t
John Phillips Presid
In the House of Representatives June 3: 1814. Read & Concurred Timothy Bigelow Speaker
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
An aet to establish the town of Sangerville in the County of Hancock.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same: That the township numbered four in the sixth range of townships, north of the Waldo patent, in the county of Hancock, as contained within the following described boundaries; be, and hereby is established as a town by the name of Sangerville, viz: north by a line drawn on the middle of the river Piscataquis, east by the township numbered three in the sixth range, south by the township numbered four in the fifth range, and west by the township numbered five in the sixth range of townships. And the in- habitants of the said town of Sangerville are hereby vested by all the corporate powers and privileges, and shall also be subject to the same duties and requisitions
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.