USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 14
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Many acts of Great Britain had been of an irritating and insolent character. In June, 1837, Ezra S. Greeley, while taking the census of the Madawaska settlement, under the direction of the commissioners of Penobscot County, for the purpose of distributing the surplus revenue, had been arrested by British authority and confined in jail at Fred- ericton, charged with "seditious conduct." Mr. Greeley was subsequently released, through the intervention of Presi- dent Van Buren, and immediately completed the taking of the census. In January, 1839, large numbers of men and oxen were found trespassing upon the disputed territory, under permits granted by the authorities of New Brunswick. The legislature was then in session, and these facts having been communicated to Governor Fairfield, that functionary immediately transmitted the information to the legislature in secret session, on January 24th, and that body passed a resolve authorizing Rufus McIntyre, the land agent, and Hastings Strickland, sheriff of Penobscot County, to summon an armed posse of two hundred and fifty men and proceed immediately to Madawaska, to arrest the trespassers and secure the timber which had been cut.
The posse, with their patriotism at boiling point, reached the scene of the trespass February 12th, having a brass six- pounder in addition to their small arms, and determined to vindicate the authority of the State to the soil which had been polluted by the foot of the invader. The trespassers
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
had obtained news of the arrival of the force, in the environs of their encampment, and immediately retreated down the river to await there, further developments. The posse en- camped at the mouth of the little Madawaska, and during the day the land agent sent the Provincial land agent a re- quest to meet him at the house of Mr. Fitzherbert, about four miles from the encampment, where he proposed to pass the night, there to arrange for a peaceful solution of the problem.
During the night, the trespassers got wind of the where- abouts of the land agent and his party, and to the number of about fifty, surrounded Fitzherbert's house, capturing Mr. McIntyre with his assistants, Gustavus Cushman and Thomas Bartlett, and others. The prisoners were placed upon horse- sleds and transported to Woodstock, where warrants were issued against them, and they were committed to Frederic- ton jail. Sheriff Strickland, finding that matters were as- suming a more serious aspect than had been anticipated, delegated his authority to Capt. Stover Rines, and started for Augusta. By a relay of horses, and sleepless vigilance, he reached the Capital on the 14th, and lost no time in com- municating with the Governor.
Capt. Rines, upon assuming command of the expedition and fearing an attack from the trespassers, withdrew his force to township number ten, where he hastily threw up fortifications, mounted his six-pounder upon the ramparts, and defied the "blue noses." During his retreat he captured a squad of trespassers with a number of yokes of oxen. Matters at Augusta were now assuming a war-like aspect, with patriotism at a premium. Governor Fairfield listened attentively to the revelations of Sheriff Strickland, and at once expressed his patriotic indignation, by a special message to the legislature then in session. That body at once caught the enthusiasm so forcibly set forth in the Governor's mes- sage, and on Monday, Feb. 20, 1839, passed a resolve to pro- tect the public lands, and appropriated the sum of eight hundred thousand dollars, to carry out its provisions.
George P. Sewall, a representative from Oldtown, while
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AROOSTOOK WAR.
the question upon giving the resolve a passage was pending, perpetrated the following triplicate :
Run, Strickland run, Fire, Stover fire, Were the last words of McIntyre.
On the following day, a general order was issued by au- thority of the Governor, for a detachment of ten thousand three hundred and forty-three officers and men, to be made by draft from the several divisions of the militia, and to hold themselves in readiness for an immediate call into the service of the State. Under this order, the quota assigned to the eighth division was one regiment to rendezvous at Skowhe- gan, and forty-five men were called for from the three Farm- ington companies of infantry, viz .: fifteen from the north company, commanded by Capt. Henry Kempton ; fifteen from the south company, commanded by Capt. Charles Free- man; and fifteen from the west company, commanded by Capt. Alvan Currier. These commandants immediately re- sponded to the call, and the requisite number of men were drafted. Subsequently, in response to a brigade order, a draft of the men was made from each of the foregoing com- panies from those already drafted, but no Farmington officer or soldier was required to leave his comfortable fireside. A draft was also made from Capt. Levi M. Williams' com- pany of artillery. All the men thus drafted were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warn- ing. The original order, however, was countermanded be- fore the troops, or at least a part of them, reached the place of rendezvous. There were many episodes connected with this draft which were calculated to surround the whole per- formance with an air of ridicule. Some of the drafted men were suddenly taken ill, and a physician summoned, while others found it necessary to make hasty visits to friends in other States.
The settlement of the vexatious controversy concerning the northeastern boundary was finally made, by the treaty negotiated by Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton, in 1842.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Of this treaty it may be truthfully said: The people of Maine, sensitive upon the question of her territorial rights, felt aggrieved, and regarded a portion of her territory as wrongfully ceded to Great Britain.
In spite of the rumors of war, and the general financial depression which was more or less felt by the people, the year 1840 found Farmington in a prosperous condition. The number of inhabitants had increased from 2341 in 1830, to 2613, and the total valuation of the town was returned as $462,375. The growth of the village was marked. Several important buildings were erected, the principal of which were the Baptist and Free-Will Baptist meeting-houses, both built in 1835, and the Congregational meeting-house, built in 1836. A number of residences were also built. At that time the only streets were Main, Pleasant, Perham, and Anson Sts., and nearly all the business was done on the Main street. The ten years succeeding 1840, witnessed many important movements, and this period was doubtless the most stirring in the history of the town. It opened with the famous Harrison campaign, which was carried on with all the excitement and ludicrous incidents which distinguished this campaign in our national history. The temperance and anti- slavery agitations occupied important places in public atten- tion, and during the decade gained vast strength among the people. The discussion of railroad projects also came for- ward as an absorbing topic of interest, and all these various enterprises served to draw the people from the ruts in which they had been moving. Various religious movements were also organized, new sects were formed, and a general awaken- ing in moral, philanthrophic and political subjects was experienced.
An anti-slavery organization, known as the Franklin County Anti-Slavery Society, was formed in 1837, and several citizens of Farmington were deeply interested in it. The sub- ject was as unpopular, however, among the masses of the people, as it everywhere was in the early days of its agitation. But its supporters possessed the same carnestness and moral firmness which distinguished the more famous leaders in the
179
WASHINGTONIAN MOVEMENT.
cause. It does not appear that any attempt was made to introduce the anti-slavery clement into politics until 1841. A ticket was then placed in the field which received a mca- gre support. July 19, 1842, the annual meeting of the Franklin County Anti-Slavery Society was held at the Con- gregational church in Farmington. A series of ten resolu- tions was introduced which, while somewhat verbose and exaggerated, yet set forth clearly the fundamental principles of the anti-slavery faith. At this meeting the officers chosen were Charles Morse of Wilton, president; Joseph Dyer, Jr., of Phillips, Ebenezer Childs, of Farmington, and Samuel Wyman, of New Sharon, vice-presidents; John Titcomb, of Farmington, secretary ; Thomas Croswell, of Farmington, treasurer; Ebenezer Childs, Dexter Waterman, Joshua Bul- len, Jacob Ames, and Daniel Stickney, executive committee. They also put in nomination as the ticket of the Liberty party the following county officers: For senator, Charles Morse; county commissioners, Joseph Dyer, Jr., Ebenezer G. Trask, and Hebron Mayhew ; county treasurer, Ebenezer Childs; clerk of courts, John Titcomb; county attorney, Elnathan Pope. This party polled thirty-five votes in Farm- ington at the September election, and double that number the following year.
In the meantime the temperance cause was rapidly gain- ing ground. As we have seen, the moral temperance society had secured the co-operation of a large number of the most influential citizens in the town; but a larger class of persons was not reached by it. About 1840, a new and somewhat novel temperance movement was started, known as the Washingtonian Society. A peculiar feature of this organiza- tion in its beginning, was that its membership embraced only those who had heretofore resisted temperance work or had been of intemperate habits. This class of men, after their conversion, apparently took great pride in narrating in detail the scenes through which they had passed while under the influence of the intoxicating draught, and seemed to vie with one another in reciting what was most ridiculous and revolt- ing in their careers. The society was for a time very popu-
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
lar and successful in winning converts to its standard, and in the later years of its history was by no means confined to the formerly intemperate.
One society, or more, was formed in every town in Frank- lin County, and through their influence, much was done to stay the ravages of intemperance.
A Washingtonian county convention was held at the court-house in Farmington, Feb. 22, 1842, Col. James Rus- sell of Temple, in the chair, and Samuel Baker of Farming- ton, secretary. Twenty-five different societies, with a total membership of 1386, were represented, the three Farming- ton societies claiming 340 of this number. Robert Goode- now, John L. Cutler, of Farmington, Sewall Cram, of Wilton, and John Trask, of New Sharon, addressed the enthusiastic assembly. These temperance organizations exerted great effect upon public opinion, and the practice of selling liquor as a beverage became discountenanced. The town voted in March, 1843, to allow only two persons, of good moral character, to sell intoxicating liquors, and then only for medicinal, mechanical, or chemical purposes. Three years later, the first State prohibitory law was passed, which removed the question of licensing from local politics.
The spring of 1843, was a season of great religious excite- ment. Two simultaneous movements in the Methodist church occurred at this time. The Protestant Methodist secession, while but a revolt against the mode of government in the Methodist Episcopal church, yet assumed in Farming- ton the form of a great religious awakening. Meetings were first held in the upper part of the town, but the excitement soon spread to the Center Village, where meetings were held in the court-house nearly every day during the months of March, April, and May. Rev. John McLeish, a speaker of great eloquence and power, preached to large and deeply in- terested audiences during a part of the time, and also Rev. John Norris, of Boston. At the same time, a society of Wesleyan Methodists, whose corner stone was opposition to African slavery, was organized in the vicinity of the Brick church near Fairbanks' bridge. The same year, great reviv-
18I
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
als were experienced in the other churches of the town. But the great religious excitement of 1843, was the so-called Millerite craze which extended over a large part of the United States. The central doctrine of this sect was the immediate second coming of the Messiah, the proof of which was found in an ingenious interpretation of the Prophesies. John Preble, one of the foremost disciples of William Mil- ler, the founder of the sect, visited Farmington in March, and addressed the people on the approaching end of things created. The time set by Miller himself, for the end of the world, was sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, but various of his followers ventured to be more definite, and appointed the day and the hour of doom. Meetings were held in various parts of the town, and were attended by crowds of curious or interested listeners. A strong and intelligent opposition was made by the press and clergy of the town to the delusion. Rev. J. S. Swift, editor of the Franklin Register, delivered lectures and published articles against the views of Preble, and was thus influential in warning the people against a fanaticism which in many places was so disastrous. It does not appear that many, if any converts, were made to the peculiar doctrines of Miller, although a few Christians of various denominations an- nounced their belief in the Second Advent, and clung to the doctrine through life.
The legislature of 1840, granted a charter to the Franklin County Agricultural Society. The first meeting for organiza- tion was held at the court-house, May 26, 1840, when a code of by-laws was adopted and an adjournment made until June Ioth, when a permanent organization was effected. This society received hearty support, not only from the farmers throughout the county, but from all citizens interested in the subject of agriculture. Throughout its history it has proved of great value in arousing an interest in agricultural matters, and stimulating a competition among the farmers. The officers first elected were : Elnathan Pope, president ; Elisha Keyes, vice-president ; Isaac Tyler, recording secretary ; Nathan Cutler, corresponding secretary; Joseph Titcomb,
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
treasurer; Adam Mott, collector; Josiah Prescott, Samuel S. Ward, John Morrison, Cyrus Pierce, and Eben Pillsbury, trustees. Various committees were also appointed. The first cattle show and fair, under the auspices of this society, was held at the Center Village, October 9th and Ioth, in which the farmers of the county generally participated. The address was delivered by Dr. James Bates, of Norridgewock. Similar shows and fairs have been held by the society every year since its organization.
A mechanics' association was formed in 1841. This asso- ciation assumed the form of a lyceum, and held weekly meet- ings for the discussion of questions of the day. It continued in successful operation for several years, and proved a useful organization to the young men of the village. A teachers' association was also formed in 1842, principally through the influence of Mr. Jacob Abbott, which prospered for a time. The year following, the Franklin County Musical Society was formed, with William Reed of Strong, as president, and Ezekiel Lancaster of New Sharon, vice-president. All of these various organizations were instrumental in cultivating the intellectual character of the young people, as well as giving them social enjoyment.
The population of the town increased but slowly from 1840 to 1850, the census of the latter year showing 2725 inhabitants. The valuation, as shown by the town books, was $588,820. The village, however, grew perhaps more rapidly than at any time in its history. Academy St. and High St., from Perham St. to its junction with Academy St., were located in March, 1842, through Hon. Nathan Cutler's land, and several houses were soon erected upon these streets. South St. and a portion of High St. north from South St., were laid out in 1848, and this part of High St. was extended to Academy St. the following year. Numerous dwellings were erected on these and other streets, so that in 1850 the number of houses in the village was about one hundred; the number of stores was about fifteen, including two grocery stores, three millinery establishments, two tailor shops, one apothecary, one boot and shoe, and one hardware
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NEWSPAPER.
store, besides several grocery and dry goods stores. There were also eighteen mechanic shops, including four black- smiths, four cabinet makers, three saddle and harness mak- ers, two workers in tin, one carriage maker, one tanner, and one printer. Seven lawyers were ready to settle disputes, three physicians, to heal diseases ; a dentist also followed his profession, and an artist was prepared to take daguerreotypes. Four churches sustained stated worship in houses dedicated to this purpose. One newspaper was published. The Frank- lin Register was established in 1840, by Rev. J. S. Swift. The first number was issued January 3Ist of that year, from his press, situated in a building on Pleasant St. at the foot of Broadway, now used as a dwelling. This paper was very creditable to both printer and editor, and while devoting less attention to current affairs than is now the custom of local papers, was yet filled with valuable matter. It was succeeded by the Chronicle, in 1845, which was conducted by the same proprietor. Mr. Swift also edited and published, during a part of 1847, a monthly religious journal, called the Baptist Expositor.
CHAPTER X.
RAILROADS.
First Mail. - Stage Line to Hallowell. - Railroad Meeting in 1845. - Railroad Meeting in 1847. - Survey Made. - Franklin and Kennebec Railroad Incorporated. - Organization of Franklin and Kennebec Rail- road. -- Survey for the Road. - Railroad Meeting at Mercer. - Survey of a Railroad Through Chesterville. - Negotiations with the Andro- scoggin Railroad. - Completion of Road to West Farmington. - Extension of Androscoggin Railroad to Center Village. - Agitation Concerning a Railroad to Phillips. - Organization of Sandy River Railroad Company. - Completion of the Road. - Franklin and Megantic Railroad.
FOR the first twelve years after the settlement of the town, the inhabitants had no regular communication with the outside world. Everyone owned horses or oxen, or could obtain their loan from a friendly neighbor, and when a journey was necessary, all found their own conveyances. Regular mails at that time were by no means the necessity in civilized life that they have now become. But two or three daily newspapers were published in the country, and no weekly paper was established nearer than Portland; nor did the business of the people require constant com- munication with cities and other towns. According to Judge Parker's History, a man by the name of Willis was accustomed to come through from Hallowell, and bring newspapers, etc., for some time before the first mail was established. About 1793, a mail-route was opened between Farmington and Hallowell, and the mails carried weekly
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RAILROADS.
on horseback, by Zaccheus Mayhew. The post-office was located on the west side of the river, and Moses Starling, who kept a tavern at that time, was appointed post-master.
As early as 1808, Nathan Backus, who was an innholder, at the Center Village, began running a four-horse stage-line to Hallowell. The stage left every Monday and Friday, and returned Tuesday and Saturday, and, connecting with the packets at Hallowell, gave good facilities for communica- tion with Boston, which was then the farthest Mecca of this rural people. The line passed from Mr. Backus' hands about 1815. Between that time and 1837, various con- tractors controlled the route. Joseph D. Prescott drove the stage for a time previous to 1819, probably as the employe of Dr. Josiah Prescott. Moses Hanscom was the contractor, probably from 1825 to 1829; Argalis Pease, probably from 1829 until 1833, and Ephraim Hartwell probably from 1833 to 1837. During these years, various styles of conveyances were put upon the route. Passengers were accommodated in coaches, or in wagons, or in "shays," and trips continued to be made but twice a week. Hartwell sold to F. V. Stewart in 1837, and the increase of business soon demanded better conveyances. In 1841, four-horse post-coaches were put upon the line, which ran three times a week to Hallowell, and continued to Phillips with two-horse coaches. This route soon became one of the best managed in the State. Another mail-route was established about 1830 to Minot, where it connected with Augusta stages direct for Portland and Boston. Mr. Stewart also owned this line from 1834 to 1838, when it was sold to Thomas Beede. Upon the exten- sion of the railroad to Livermore, in 1851, daily stages were run to connect with the cars, and continued so to run until the completion of the road to Farmington in 1859. After the opening of the railroad, the line of stages to Hallowell and Augusta became of comparatively little importance. Mr. Stewart disposed of it in 1862, and the line was discontinued about 1878. A mail line still runs a stage from Farmington Falls to Hallowell, on boat days, but its patronage is for the most part local.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Although the stage-line between Farmington and Hal- lowell was among the best and best managed in the State, the citizens were eager to obtain the advantages of a railroad as soon as the agitation concerning the building of railroads began in other parts of the State.
At the time that the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad Company, as the Grand Trunk was then called, were discussing measures to construct a road from the city of Portland to the city of Quebec, and the route between the two cities lay undetermined, many prominent citizens of Franklin County believed that a direct and feasible route could be found by the way of Farmington, thence northerly, leaving the valley of the Carrabasset stream in Jerusalem Plantation, and thence to Quebec. Pursuant to notice, the citizens of the county met at the court-house in Farmington, on the first day of April, 1845, and organized by choosing Joseph Johnson president, and Joshua B. Lowell, of Chester- ville, secretary. Josiah Perham, Jr., of Wilton, Josiah Pres- cott and John L. Cutler, of Farmington, William Morgridge, of Chesterville, and Benjamin F. Eastman, of Phillips, were chosen a committee to correspond with the directors of the road. At a subsequent meeting, held on the thirty-first of March, 1846, to hear the report of this committee, it was voted to divide the proposed route, extending from Lewiston to the Forks of the Kennebec River, into four sections, and appoint committees to personally explore each section. The committee for the first section was Barron Randall, Dimon Fernald, and Joseph Covell; for the second section, William Morgridge, Joseph D. Prescott, Francis Knowlton, and Joseph Keith; for the third section, Josiah Prescott, Philip M. Stubbs, Moses Sherburne, Theodore Marston, and Benjamin B. Mace; and for the fourth section, Eliphalet D. Bray, Rufus K. J. Porter, Solomon Luce, and William Titcomb; who were expected to report to the directors of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad Company ; but all subsequent efforts to bring this road into the County of Franklin, were given up, as it was soon ascertained that it would be located through the State of New Hampshire.
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RAILROADS.
Notwithstanding the disappointment felt at the abandon- ment of this project, the subject of railroads still continued a fruitful topic of discussion, and animated meetings were held in different parts of the county. Charters had already been granted to the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth, the Atlantic and St. Lawrence, the Kennebec and Portland, and Androscoggin and Kennebec companies, a portion of these roads having been completed, while others were under contract to be finished at an early day. The people of Farmington caught the enthusiasm and began to discuss the question of building a line of railway from the Center Village to the tide-waters of the Kennebec river. On Wednesday, the twentieth of January, 1847, a large and enthusiastic meeting was held at the court-house, F. G. Butler in the chair, and J. D. Prescott secretary. Large delegations were present from Portland, Winthrop, Augusta, Waterville, Bangor, and from many towns in Oxford and Somerset counties. The meeting continued until late in the evening, and was ably addressed by Prof. Champlin of Water- ville, Gen. Moore of Bangor, Phineas Barnes of Portland, S. P. Benson of Winthrop, J. W. Bradbury and W. A. Drew of Augusta, Samuel Taylor of Fairfield, and John Simmons of Canton. The speakers held different views upon the question of what was for the best interests of Franklin County in regard to a line of railway-one advocating the importance of striking tide-waters at the nearest point, another the advantage of intersecting the Androscoggin and Kennebec, and still another the benefit of a union with the Atlantic and St. Lawrence at some convenient junction. Spirited resolutions were reported and adopted, and the meeting adjourned to March 30, 1847.
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