USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 20
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The people were aroused ; the Legislature indignant ! Money was voted for the protection of the public lands, and a draft of 10,000 men from the militia was ordered and the men sent at once, through the winter snows to the frontier, where they spent three months near Presque Isle, on the Aroostook.
A company was drafted here and at Fairfield with Samuel Burrill as captain, and on February 25, 1839 joined the 2nd Regiment at Augusta, and marched through deep snow to the frontier.
216
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
A peaceful settlement was enforced by this timely occupation and the troops marched home.
A roster of the Waterville-Fairfield company with the names of the Waterville men marked with a star, follows. But one man of this company from Waterville survives, Adrastus Branch.
Roll of Capt. Samuel Burrill's Co. I of Infantry, in the detach- ment of the drafted militia of Maine, 2nd Regiment, Ist Brigade, 2nd Division, called into actual service by the State of Maine for the protection of its Northwestern frontier, from the 25th of February to the 19th of April, 1839.
Commissioned officers : Captain, Samuel Burrill, Fairfield ; lieutenant, John J. Emery, Fairfield : ensign, Charles Cornforth, Waterville .*
Sergeants : James Hasty, Jr.,* Elias C. Hallett,* William Gardner,* William L. Maxwell .*
Corporals : John Bradbury, Ephriam W. Leach, Daniel W. Tinkham,* Thurston H. Tozier .*
Musicians : Josiah Pearl, Silas Richardson .*
Privates : David P. Banks,* Goodwin Bradbury, Walter Burleigh,* Adrastus Branch,* Gersham Boston,* Charles Church, Isaac B. Clifford,* Benjamin F. Corson,* Eben S. Cor- son,* Charles E. Dillingham,* William Davis,* Briggs H. Emery, 2nd, John Evans,* Joseph Fogg, William Green,* Heman Gibbs, Jr.,* Abisha Higgins,* James Heywood, Moses Healey, Jr.,* James Holmes,* Chancellor Johnson,* Williams Lander,* Theodore McGrath,* George W. Priest,* Granville D. Pullen,* Joseph G. Peavy,* William Peavy,* Joseph Peavy,* John Rines, George Rose,* Joseph Ricker, Jr.,* Ivory Ricker,* William Southwick, Henry A. Shorey .* Hartson Smith,* Peter Sibley, Jr.,* Curtis Tobey, William P. Tozier,* William Wood- man,* Charles S. Wyman, James E. Wyman, Sewell Whitcomb,* Thomas Whitcomb,* James Wyman.
Officers' servants : Joshua Ellis, Jr., capt's .; Thomas J. , Emery,* lieut's .; Oliver Cornforth,* ensign's. po.
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217
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
MEXICAN WAR.
No record has been found on the rolls of the war department of the enlistment of any volunteer soldiers from Waterville for service during the Mexican War, either for volunteer regiments or for the regular army.
The principal recruiting in Maine was at Portland, Bangor, Eastport and Lewiston.
Hiram Cothsan enlisted at Bangor, September 28, 1847, giv- ing his birthplace as Waterville, Maine. He was assigned to Company M, 2nd Artillery, U. S. A., and was discharged there- from July 19, 1848, by expiration of service, as a musician.
Hostilities began April 24, 1846, with a skirmish which resulted in the capture of Captain Thornton and his party of dragoons by the Mexicans. The act of Congress approved May 13, 1846, declares that "A state of war exists between that gov- ernment (Mexico) and the United States." Treaty of peace was concluded February 2, 1848, ratifications exchanged May 30, 1848, and proclaimed July 4, 1848.
From a report of the adjutant general, dated December 3, 1849, (published in Ex. Doc. No. 24, House of Representatives, 3Ist Congress, Ist session ), together with certain additions com- piled from the official records on file in this office, it appears that the number of regulars and volunteers received into service dur- ing the war with Mexico was 10I, IIO.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
From a "Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces called into Service during the War with Spain," published by the adjutant general's office, December 13, 1899, it appears that the total number of volunteers in service during the war was 223,235. This number includes 453 officers who were also officers in the regular army.
Our representation in this war is as follows :
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
First Battalion Heavy Artillery.
Co.
Avery, Harley E., C,
Private.
Barnaby Alec, C. Private.
Barnes, Ernest A., C, Private.
Barry, Richard J., Jr., C, Private.
Bennett, Nelson, A,
Private.
Butler, Joe,
A,
Private.
Buzzell, Henry E.,
C, Corporal.
Cabana, Charles L.,
A, Private.
Chanpagne, Mathias,
C, Private.
Cone, Augustus, C, Private.
Conway, James J.,
A,
Private.
Dutton, James W.,
C, 2d Lieutenant.
Ferguson, William, C,
Sergeant.
Foster, Ralph H., D, Musician.
Francouer. Joseph,
C,
Private.
Furlong, Richard E.,
C, Private.
Greenwood, Arthur,
A, Private.
D, Private.
Keniston, Charles W., C, Private.
Latlip, Frank C.,
A, Private.
Lessor, Edward,
A, Private.
Libbey. Llewellyn M.,
A, Private.
McLellan, William J.,
C, Sergeant.
Merrill, Edmund W., C, Corporal.
Moore, Thomas F., A, A,
Private.
Perry, Frank F.,
Private.
Pooler, David B.,
C, Private.
Pooler, Fred E., A, Private.
Pooler, Harry, C, Private.
Soucier, Oniseme, C, Private.
Sterling, William I., C. Corporal.
Thing. Daniel H.,
C, Private.
Vigue, Joseph, A, Private.
Volier, Joseph D.,
C, Private.
Willette, Edward, C. Private.
Hall, Fred G ..
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HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
First Maine Infantry.
Co.
Berg, Lars,
L, Private.
Burgess, Fred E.,
M, Private.
Dor, George F.,
L, Private.
Ellis, Walter L.,
B, Private.
Gilman, Forest J., M, Corporal.
Hewes, Irving R.,
L, Private.
King, Joseph F.,
H, Private.
Lidstrom, Axel, M, Private.
Pomelow. Trefflin,
Band, Private.
Pooler, William J.,
M Private.
Surman, William J.,
D,
Private.
Winslow, Henry L.,
E. Private.
PIIILIPPINE WAR.
From a "Table Showing the Organization, Service and Strength of the United States Volunteers Authorized by the Act of March 2, 1899," published by the adjutant general's office October 1, 1901, it appears that the total number of volunteers in service during the Philippine Insurrection was 39,178. This number includes 252 officers who were also officers in the regular army.
List of Soldiers of Philippine War from Waterville.
Burgess, private, Co. C., 43rd U. S. Inf. ; Butler, Melville, pri- vate, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Barker, Edwin, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Besse, Edward H., Q. M. sergeant, 5th U. S. Inf .; Chamberlain, William, private Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Doe, George Fred, sergeant, Co. I, 43rd U. S. Inf; Dutton, J. W., Ist lieutenant, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf. ; Furlong, Richard E., Jr., private Co. I, 46th U. S. Inf. ; Hawes, Percy W., private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Larkin, Phillip, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Latlip, Fred, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Mclellan, William J., sergeant, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; McFarland, Howard, sergeant, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Micue, John, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf. ; Micue, Joseph, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf ; Micue, Gus, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Morgan, G. A.,
220
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
U. S. Art .; Pomeleau, Trefflie, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf., (killed in action) ; Preble, Hallis, musician (band) 43rd U. S. Inf .; Pooler, Barney, private, Co. B., 43rd U. S. Infantry ; Quint, Willis, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Tallouse, Willie, private, Co. H, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Towle, Winfred, private, Co. B, 43rd U. S. Inf .; Wilson, George A., Jr., musician (band) 43rd U. S. Inf.
REGULAR ARMY AND NAVY.
Among the sons of Waterville who have served in the regular army and the navy are :
Lieut. Boutelle Noyes. U. S. N. the son of Edwin and Helen (Boutelle) Noyes, was born in Waterville, January 3, 1848. He entered the United Statess Naval Academy, September 26, 1864, and was graduated with honor in 1868. His first service afloat was on the Guerrierreer, flag-ship of the South Atlantic Squadron, 1868-69. He was promoted to be ensign in 1869. He was in the European fleet from 1869-1872, was promoted to be master in 1870 and commissioned lieutenant in 1873, which rank he held at his death. From 1873-1877 he was with the South Pacific fleet ; was on the training ship Minnesota from 1877 to 1880. In 1881 he was ordered to the Asiatic squadron on board the Richmond where he met his death by accident, August 29, 1883. His last command was for his men to save themselves while he, looking out for their safety, died at his post of duty. He had previously received honorable mention for saving the lives of seamen at peril to his own. It was in the days of the Civil War when naval service was of utmost value that Boutelle Noyes gave himself to his country. In the days of peace, promotion was slow, but his high ideals, great ability, and faithful performance of duty seemed to assure the highest rank in his profession.
Lieut. Noyes was married, June 25, 1879, to Miss Charlotte Bleecker Luce. Two sons were born to them. Robert Boutelle Noyes and Stephen Henley Noyes. The family home is at New- port, R. I.
John Herbert Philbrick, was born in Waterville, Maine, June 15th, 1853; fitted for college at the Waterville Classical Insti- tute (now Coburn Classical Institute) ; entered Colby Univer- sity, (now Colby College), in 1869; graduated in 1873, A. B .;
22I
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
entered West Point Military Academy, July 1, 1873, and served there as a cadet until June 15, 1877, when he was graduated and appointed 2nd lieutenant in the IIth U. S. Infantry ; he was at first stationed at Fort Bennett, and afterwards at Fort Sully, on the western frontier ; in 1879 he was ordered to West Point as acting assistant professor of modern languages at the Military Academy ; at the expiration of this assignment he rejoined his regiment at Fort Sully ; he was promoted Ist lieutenant, April 24, 1886 and served as regimental adjutant from December I, 1889, until the date of his death, July 24, 1890.
Francis Edward Nye, son of Hon. Joshua Nye, was born in Waterville, Maine, August 27, 1847; entered West Point Mili- tary Academy in 1865, and was graduated in 1869, being assigned to the 2nd U. S. Cavalry, in which he served four years ; at the expiration of this service he resigned and was in business in Augusta, Maine for twelve years, was then appointed captain in the Commissary Department, by President Arthur in 1885; was stationed at Fort Monroe for four years; at Washington, D. C. for five years ; June 1, 1896 he was commissioned major, and was stationed at Omaha, Nebraska, for four years, at Chat- tanooga, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., for one year ; he was in San Juan, P. R., for two years and since that time has been at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. By regular promotion he has attained the rank of colonel.
Major-General Charles Heywood, Commander of the Marine Corps of the U. S. Army, was a Waterville boy, the son of Lieut. Charles Heywood of the United States Navy, who died at sea. Before he was twenty years old he received a commission in the Marine Corps, April 5, 1858. Before the Civil War he had seen service off the coast of Africa, and off Nicaragua. He was on the Cumberland at Vera Cruz, Mexico, at the outbreak of the war. He commanded the after-gun deck division in the fight between the Merrimac and the Cumberland, and when the latter went down with the flag flying, Capt. Heywood fired the last gun and jumped overboard. "For gallant and meritorious service on this occasion he was brevetted major and received honorable mention from his commander. Afterward he was in command of the guard on the Hartford, Farragut's flagship and, January, 1864, was made fleet marine officer. He was on the Hartford in
222
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
the battle of Mobile Bay, commanding a division of nine-inch guns. For his part in this action he was commended and brevetted lieutenant-colonel. He shared several other engage- ments and at the close of the war was recommended for advance- ment five numbers by a special board. During the railroad riot of 1877 he commanded a battalion of marines and was highly commended for the efficiency of his soldiers as well as for his care of them. He received the thanks of the Navy Department. He rendered important service on the Isthmus of Panama in 1885, commanding a force of 1, 100 men and keeping the Panama Railroad open in the midst of revolution. He was made lieu- tenant-colonel in 1888 and three years later became commandant at Washington Barracks. The good work of the marines during the Spanish War and the present superb condition of the force is largely the result of the work of Gen. Heywood, who has inspired the force with his own spirit, perfected its discipline and provided its thorough equipment. At present the Marine Corps enrolls 6,000 men. Gen. Heywood became brigadier-general in March, 1899 and major-general in July, 1902. On the latter occasion a very unusual compliment was paid Gen. Heywood. The Secretary of the Navy, instead of sending the commission by an aid, the usual custom, called in person and presented the commission with words of high appreciation.
Charles Leonard Phillips, was a member of the class of 1881 at Colby University (now Colby College), and for three years took high rank in his class ; at the end of his third year he par- ticipated in a competitive examination for entrance to the , West Point Military Academy and was the successful candidate; he entered the Academy and graduated with his class; was appointed 2nd lieutenant and has since been promoted Ist lieu- tenant and captain. Colby College conferred upon him the degree of A. M. (out of course).
Otho W. B. Farr was born February 6, 1871. He entered Colby in 1888 and West Point Military Academy in June, 1889. He was graduated in 1893 and was assigned to the 2nd Artillery, stationed at Fort Preble, Me. Afterward at Fort Warren, Mass., Fort Riley, Kan., and Fort Sheridan, Ill. He served with light battery A, 2nd Artillery, during the Spanish-American War, taking part in the battle before Santiago de Cuba, July, 1898.
223
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
Promoted to be Ist lieutenant, March, 1889, and to captain, July I, 1901. Served in Cuba from January, 1899 to January, 1902. Capt. Farr is now stationed at Fort Warren, Mass., and is in command of the 77th Co. Coast Artillery.
Alexander Fred. Hammond Yates, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Yates of this city, was born January 11, 1879. He entered the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in September, 1895, and was graduated, January 28, 1899. He served as ensign on the U. S. Ship Detroit during the Spanish-American War, from June Ist to August 23, 1898. In January, 1899, he was ordered to the Asiatic Station, where he has served on the Oregon and Pam- panga and has been in command of the Leyte and Arayat until, his three years' cruise being completed, he was ordered to the United States in the summer of 1902 on a furlough.
General Isaac Sparrow Bangs1 was born in Canaan, Me., March 17, 1831, the son of Isaac Sparrow Bangs and of a family which already for three generations had been prominent in the military and civil history of the Kennebec valley. He was prepared at Rochester, N. Y., for the first class that was graduated at Rochester University but on account of trouble with his eyes did not enter.
He began his business life in 1856, was for sometime cashier of the Waterville Bank and afterward becoming interested in granite quarries has done a large business as a contractor. He has also owned interests in milling and other industries.
Mr. Bangs had prominent share in the Civil War history of Waterville. He became captain of Co. A, 20th Regiment, Maine Infantry Volunteers ; was soon promoted to be lieutenant colonel 8Ist U. S. C. Infantry and afterward to be colonel of the 10th U. S. C. Heavy Artillery. As reward of meritorious service he' was made brigadier general by brevet at the close of the war. Since the war General Bangs has shown himself loyal to the old soldiers and has done much to advance their interests. He is a charter member and past commander of W. S. Heath Post No. 14, Department of Maine, G. A. R., has been department com- mander and junior vice commander-in-chief of the Grand Army
1. The sketch of Gen. Isaac Sparrow Bangs was prepared by the editors of this volume. It seems to them fitting that it should be inserted here. EDITORS.
224
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
of the Republic. He organized the Sons of Veterans of the six New England states as the first Grand Division S. of V. of the U. S. A.
General Bangs is the author of the chapter in this volume upon the military history of Waterville. To the securing of the list of soldiers which accompanies it he has given a great deal of time and labor and expense. He deserves great credit for this labor of love and patriotism.
General Bangs is also member and past commander of the Commandery of Maine of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He is a member of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and a member of the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston."
In Masonic circles he is a member of the lodge, chapter, council and commandery; Past Commander and Grand Com- mander of the Grand Commandery of Maine, Knights Templar ; Maine Consistory Ancient and Accepted Rite and Mystic Shrine.
October 20, 1857, General Bangs was married to Miss Hadas- sah Jane Milliken, daughter of Hon. Dennis Milliken of Water- ville. They have one son, Dennis Milliken Bangs, who was graduated at Bowdoin and is at present engaged with his father in the insurance and real estate business under the firm name of The I. S. Bangs Company with offices in Milliken block.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE CHURCHES OF WATERVILLE.
By GEORGE DANA BOARDMAN PEPPER, D. D., LL. D., Lately President of Colby College.
The chief wealth of a community and the permanent basis of all its otlier wealth is character, but morals and religion, if not identical, are at least inseparable. Moral law has its origin and seat in the nature of God and he who consciously honors God will take care to conform to his laws. In a centennial review, therefore, a sketch of the history of Waterville's religious life may well have place. It is not practicable, however, to trace that life definitely, save as it has come to organized expression. Hence our view must be confined mainly to the origin and devel- opment of our churches and religious societies. Of the churches here organized none have died out. Nine have been born and nine still live. Named in the order of age they are the follow- ing : Baptist, Universalist, Congregationalist, Roman Catholic, Unitarian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Second Adventist, and Free Baptist. Along with these are. other religious organizations, some of them included in some or all of the churches or closely connected with them, and more or less under their care and over- sight. Such are the Christian Endeavor Society, Epworth League, the Young Men's Christian Association, Woman's Asso- ciation and the like. There are other religious movements of more or less significance which are independent of the churches named, such for example as that of "Christian Science," which may claim a passing recognition.
From the beginning Massachusetts had, as a state, assumed the control of the religious as well as of the civil life of its citi ---
15
226
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
zens and required the several towns to provide religious instruc- tion by legal enactment and to support it by taxation. Before the incorporation of Waterville, Winslow had discharged this duty,-at times, however, so poorly as twice at least to subject itself to legal prosecution : had built meeting-houses on both sides of the Kennebec ; had secured an able minister of the "standing order" Rev. Joshua Cushman, D. D., (see historical chapter ) to divide his services equitably between the different sections of the town and had even voted the terms on which persons might come to the Lord's table. These terms required acceptance of the Bible as a creed and engagement to live purely and peacefully. When Waterville was made a separate town much care was taken in the act of incorporation to define exactly the relative duties or rights of each town as to the existing houses of worship. Waterville at once looked after the religious instruction of its people. It voted in one instance $100 on condition a certain minister by the name of Allen of Duxbury, Mass., could be secured otherwise only fifty dollars. The usual annual appro- priation seems to have been fifty dollars. The town put a pulpit and in front of the pulpit, "a deacon's seat," in its "east meeting- house" which through subsequent changes became our old town hall, and granted the use of the house for religious meetings to different denominations under certain conditions. It was thus that the old meeting-house, our venerable town hall, became for- most of the churches now in the city a temporary home in the period of their infancy. The town was in the beginning, and from the beginning, catholic and considerate in its treatment of all. Indeed throughout Maine there was, at the beginning of the century, a more liberal spirit toward those not of the state church or "standing order" than elsewhere in Massachusetts. This is probably due to the fact that in Maine the various sects had been represented more fully among the original settlers.
THE BAPTISTS.
The First Baptist church of Waterville was organized August 27, 1818. Prior to this there were Baptist churches in the neigh- boring towns of Vassalboro, Sidney, Clinton, China, Bloomfield (Skowhegan), and Belgrade. The first of these was organized
rr
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
227
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
in 1788, the last in 1806. Waterville was doubtless visited occa- sionally by Baptist preachers. A preacher's diary, under date of 1803, reports a visit to "Watervail" for a preaching service and speaks of the "Methirdous" as meeting in a dwelling house, of "a meeting kept up by a number of Baptists," and of an apparent "revival of religion in the place of late." The Water- ville Baptist church is, in a sense, a child of the college. The Massachusetts legislature in 1813 chartered The Maine Literary and Theological Institution, which in 1820 on a charter given by the Maine legislature, became Waterville College. The Theo- logical Institution began operations in 1818. Its first faculty was a learned and powerful one, although it consisted of only one man, Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin. He with his family and sev- eral (probably seven) theological students arrived at Waterville on the 25th of June of that year and was welcomed with great gratification by the leading men of the town, and indeed by the citizens generally, for they had earnestly desired and had con- tributed to, the origination of the institution. His residence, still known as the Wood's house, stood where now stands the Elmwood Hotel, and here, as Mrs. Chaplin states in her interest- ing diary, a number of gentlemen called before the first Sabbath, requesting President Chaplin to preach in the meeting-house. He gladly complied and his first sermon was on "God's love to sinners." The attendance was large, the attention close. At subsequent meetings the attention was not less and the attend- ance was greater. Arrangements were made to make perma- nent these public services. Hon. James Brooks, "the accom- plished editor of the New York Express" characterized Dr. Chaplin's discourse as "clear," "cogent" and "as irresistibly convincing as problems in Euclid," and Dr. Wm. Lamson, years after hearing them, remembered them as in style "chaste, simple, suited to the subject and remarkable for their purity," also as "enlivened with striking illustrations." Under the controlling influence of this strong and Godly man twenty persons met at his house on the 27th of August, 1818, and organized The First Baptist church of Waterville. Their names were Jeremiah Chaplin, his wife Marcia Scott Chaplin, Hadley Proctor, John Wakefield, Henry O. Wyer, Samuel C. Dilleway, John Turner, Jr., William Lewis, William Lewis, Jr., David Webb, Manoah
228
HISTORY OF WATERVILLE.
Crowell, Thomas Parker, Abigail Lewis, Mary Showry, Mary Coombs, Mary Coombs, Jr., Eliza Plummer, Hannah Yeaton, Lydia Perkins, Martha Miller. Of these the first seven were connected with the Literary and Theological Institute and the other thirteen had been members of the Sidney, Me., Baptist church. The new church adopted "Articles of Faith," "Articles of Discipline," and a "Covenant." The articles of faith and covenant were substantially like those still accepted, but the arti- cles of discipline numbering twenty-five have disappeared as a separate declaration. Their provision for ruling elders was in a few years found superfluous and the elaborate provision for the correction by punishment of offenses was doubtless found to breed rather than correct transgressions. The early church records containly show a vast expenditure of thought, time, and labor in the line of "discipline." In the service of recognition at the town meeting-house Rev. Asa Wilbur of Sidney gave the hand of fellowship and Rev. Otis Briggs of North Yarmouth preached the sermon. So was this ecclesiastical child born, hav- ing by its union of the two elements of school and community, a character which it has ever retained and which has determined in large measure the signal nature and extent of its influence in the world. To the original twenty members (ten of each sex) there were added during the first year eighteen (nine of each sex). In the first decade the additions were eighty, making a total of one hundred. The need of a house of worship of their own was soon felt, for the continual change of place for the preaching and the social services alike, was unfavorable to growth. Accordingly in 1824 a legally constituted society was formed whose first work was the erection of a new meeting- house. A building committee, consisting of Ephraim Tripp, Daniel Cook, and Avery Briggs, was chosen with power to go forward and build. The contract to build for $3,375 went to James Packard of Readfield. For laying the foundation there was an added expenditure of $100 and a pew worth $125. According to a custom then general, the money was raised mainly by the sale of pews. These were sold partly by private sale and partly by auction and the process was continued for some years. The house was dedicated December 6, 1826 "to the service and
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