USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 16
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In the spring of 1858, the Riverside Cemetery was opened. The desirable lots in the church-yard connected with the Center meeting-house being all taken, a new bury-
201
FRANKLIN PATRIOT.
ing-ground became imperative. Dea. John Bailey, whose farm was located about three-quarters of a mile below the Village, selected a beautiful site upon a slight elevation on his land overlooking the river, and opened it for a cemetery. The first interment, that of a young son of Richard S. Rice, was made in April, 1858, and from that time, lots were rapidly disposed of. The original ground contained about six acres, and this was enlarged by an addition of four acres on the south, in 1866. In 1876, Hon. Joseph W. Fairbanks purchased some four acres of land lying directly south of the Riverside Cemetery, and laid it out as a burying-ground, known as the Franklin Cemetery. A receiving tomb has been built in this ground.
The first number of the Franklin Patriot was published Jan. 29, 1858. H. B. Stetson and E. F. Pillsbury were the editors, and Stephen B. Lee, of Lewiston, the printer. This paper was issued as a local journal especially devoted to the interests of the democratic party, its motto being "Liberty in the harness of the law." Mr. Stetson retired from the firm at the end of two years, and was succeeded by J. A. Linscott, Esq., who, in company with Mr. Pillsbury, edited the paper for some years. Mr. Leander B. Brown, after- ward editor of the Maine Standard and night editor of the Boston Globe, had the paper in charge for a short time, suc- ceeding Linscott and Pillsbury, in 1864. In 1865, the type, etc., belonging to the Patriot, were bought by a Mr. Chick and moved to Augusta, where they were used in the publica- tion of the Maine Standard.
A somewhat remarkable occurrence took place Nov. 3, 1859, when a black bear was killed within the limits of the town. While a lad was partridge shooting in Temple, he dis- covered a bear in one of the mountains. The alarm was at once given, and a hunting expedition organized to give chase to Mr. Bruin. He was driven into the borders of Farming- ton, where he was shot by Mr. James Allen, a visitor from Boston. He proved to be a full-sized bear of the black variety usually found in Franklin County, and is the only one known to have been captured in town within the pres-
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
ent century, although in the mountainous districts of adjoin- ing towns they are occasionally found even at the present time.
A second serious conflagration occurred in the Village in the winter of 1859. On the morning of December 29th, fire was seen issuing from the cellar of the store owned by Hiram Belcher, and occupied by A. H. Bonney, for the sale of general merchandise, situated on the west side of Main St., on the site now (1884) occupied by the New York Storc. The building was of brick, with a tin roof, and was considered nearly fire-proof. The second story was used as the publishing office and counting-room of the Franklin Patriot, and also as the law-office of Messrs. Linscott and Pillsbury. In the attic, Mr. Belcher had some twelve hun- dred pounds of wool stored, without insurance. It was sup- posed that the fire was caused by the heat from the stove burning through the floor and dropping fire into the cellar. Such headway was gained before the fire was seen, that it was found impossible to save the building. The Village was still without a fire-engine or fire department, and the citizens were obliged to use their utmost endeavors to save the adjoin- ing building. The walls of the store being of brick, and its roof of tin, it was possible to confine the fire to its own limits. For a time, the store on the north, owned and occu- pied by G. W. Whitney, was in great peril, but was finally saved with slight damage.
Mr. Bonney was carrying a heavy stock at the time, which was entirely destroyed. The loss was partially covered by an insurance of $4,000. Mr. Belcher had an insurance of $1,200 on the store, but the valuable law library of Linscott and Pillsbury was a total loss.
Again the attention of the citizens was fully aroused to their inexcusable neglect in failing to supply the Village with suitable fire apparatus. The Village charter, which had been obtained ten years before, had fallen into desuetude, and the measures necessary for the maintenance of the corporation had not been taken. It was thought best to obtain from the legislature then in session a new act of incorporation. Ac-
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VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.
cordingly, another charter was granted differing but slightly from the first, and signed by the governor Feb. 24, 1860. The charter was accepted March 27th. A code of by-laws was subsequently adopted to regulate the government of the corporation, and officers elected. The Village included, ac- cording to its charter, lots Nos. 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27, but lot 23, was afterward dropped from its limits. The first officers of the Village Corporation were: William M. Reed, super- visor; Francis Knowlton, treasurer and collector; J. A. Linscott, clerk; John Titcomb, Alanson B. Caswell, and Reuben Cutler, assessors.
A. B. Caswell was designated to procure a fire-engine and other apparatus. The engine was secured at a cost of $500, and has been the only one owned by the Village. An engine- house was erected on Academy St., east of the Academy, but upon the erection of the Normal School building, its site was needed, and it was moved to Pleasant St., where it now stands. Reservoirs have also been dug from time to time to supply the engine with water. Since the adoption of the charter, the ordinances of the Village have been regularly maintained. The supervisors have been :
William M. Reed, elected April 4, 1860. Died Aug. 5, 1860 John L. Blake, 66 Sept. 8, 1860
Frederic C. Perkins, “
Jan. 31, 1866
John H. Allen,
Jan. 17, 1868
Isaac S. Jacobs, 66 Jan. 22, 1869
Francis G. Butler, 66
Jan. 21, 1870
Isaac S. Jacobs, 6 Jan. 27, 1871
Thomas B. Smith,
Jan. 27, 1872
John L. Blake,
Jan. 25, 1873
Benjamin Goodwin, Jan. 31, 1874
John F. Woods, Jan. 29, 1876
Jacob C. Church, Jan. 26, 1877
Levi G. Brown,
Jan. 23, 1880
Joseph S. Kempton, “ Jan. 21, 1881
Levi G. Brown, 66 Jan. 19, 1883
In August, 1860, the citizens were thrown into a state of great excitement by the visitation of the small-pox, the first
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
time that scourge had ever prevailed in the town. It was brought into the place by a man by the name of Jones who at that time kept a livery-stable. Jones himself had only the varioloid, but before he was taken violently sick, he had com- municated to several friends the unadulterated small-pox. The physicians, unaccustomed to the disease, did not at first pronounce the malady small-pox, and it thus got some head- way before proper measures were taken to stay the contagion.
Mr. William M. Reed, one of the most prominent and popular citizens of the Village, was attacked by the disease in its most virulent form, and died after a few days' illness. One of the boarders at the Farmington Hotel was seized with the disease, and it at once spread among other members of the family. For a time, the wildest consternation pre- vailed among the people of the town, for no one knew where the dreaded scourge would next appear. The authorities were prompt in taking means to arrest its progress, as soon as its nature was made plain. While it seemed for a time that the whole Village was infected, as nearly every one had been directly or indirectly exposed, only some fourteen or fifteen cases were actually reported, about half of which were of the varioloid form, and but three deaths occurred. The cases of William M. Reed, Frank Kilgore, and Daniel A. Cony, were fatal.
The growth of the town in population, in the decade closing with 1860, was greater than in any previous decade. The census then taken showed 3106 inhabitants, and the valuation was estimated at $998,814. As the railroad termi- nus, the business of the town was beginning to perceptibly increase, and a number of new dwellings were erected in the Center Village.
CHAPTER XII.
FARMINGTON IN THE REBELLION.
Slavery. - Election of Abraham Lincoln. - Secession of Eleven States. - Fort Sumter Attacked. - Loyal Sentiment in Farmington. - Call for Troops. - Gov. Washburn Issues a Proclamation. - Meetings in Farm- ington. - Patriotic Sentiments. - Organization of Farmington Companies. - The Draft. - Farmington's Quotas. - Bounties and Aid to Soldiers. - Work of the Ladies. - John F. Appleton Post No. 25. - List of Sol- diers. - Drafted Men. - Principals and Substitutes.
THE question of slavery had been a disturbing element between the northern and southern sections of the United States, from the adoption of the national Constitution. In- deed, angry discussions upon this question antedated the adoption of that instrument. For a period of more than half a century the South had clung to her peculiar institu- tions with great tenacity, and had claimed to shape the legislation of the country in various ways favorable to the perpetuation of slavery. There had been many congres- sional acts begotten by the South, such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Fugitive Slave law of 1850, and the Dred Scott decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, which were repugnant to the North, and caused a sentiment adverse to such legislation rapidly to develop in political circles. During the presidential canvass of 1860, the republicans put in nomination Abraham Lincoln; the democrats divided, and nominated Stephen A. Douglass and John C. Breckinridge, while a third party, known as the constitutional union party, nominated John Bell. The cam-
27
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
paign was unusually exciting, and resulted in the election of Mr. Lincoln, who received one hundred and eighty electoral votes, and all others one hundred and twenty-three. The popular vote for Lincoln was 1,866,452; for Douglass, 994,139; for Breckinridge, 669,082; for Bell, 575,193; and 575,327 votes were cast for fusion tickets opposed to Lincoln. While the election of president was pending, the South was defiant, and in treasonable language threatened to secede from the Union in the event of Mr. Lincoln's election ; while the North was zealous and determined to ask for nothing but what was clearly right, and submit to nothing wrong. The South pretended to see in the election of a republican candidate, combined with the fact of the rapid increase of wealth, population, and representation in the free states as compared with the states over which slavery had cast its baleful influence, danger to her peculiar institutions, and claimed that now was the time to gratify a long-cherished desire to secede from the Union and establish a government upon a basis more in harmony with her views. Accordingly when the result of the election became known, the legisla- ture of South Carolina ordered a convention to assemble and consider the question of secession. The convention having met on the 7th day of December, 1860, on the 20th unani- mously adopted a secession ordinance, and before the end of May, 1861, eleven states had seceded and established a gov- ernment which they dignified as the Confederate States of America. The general feeling of solicitude and alarm which pervaded the entire North during the spring and summer of 1861, when eleven states of the southern portion of the Union had openly declared for secession, was fully shared by the people of Farmington, who early became aware of the importance of the crisis, and who believed that a question had arisen which would only be settled by the arbitrament of the sword. Great unanimity of feeling pervaded all classes and conditions of our people, and the sentiment that treason must be crushed out, found a response in every loyal heart. The paramount question of the hour, was the war, and the preservation of the union of the states. It formed the topic
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FARMINGTON IN THE REBELLION.
of discussion in the family circle, upon the street, in the stores and shops, and lastly, in public assemblages, where the voice of loyalty and patriotism was heard from eloquent lips, urging "the boys" to enlist in the defense of the flag.
On the 4th of March, 1861, President Lincoln was inaug- urated, and, in his address to Congress, declared that the accession of a republican administration afforded no ground for the Southern states to apprehend any invasion of their rights, and stated that the power confided to him would be used "to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and collect the duties and im- posts ; but, beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere."
The President, in other State papers, admonished the seceding states of the folly of their course, and called upon them to lay down their arms and return to their allegiance to the Union. This was their golden opportunity, which they failed to improve, and the consequences have passed into the history of the American republic.
Fort Sumter, situated near the entrance of Charleston harbor in South Carolina, was in command of Major Robert Anderson, with a garrison of one hundred and nine men, sixty-three of whom were combatants. When, on Friday, April 12, 1861, Gen. Beauregard, then in command of the rebel forces, fired upon the fort, Maj. Anderson heroically defended it, but being over powered by numbers, he was obliged to capitulate, and on Sunday, the 14th, the ruins of the fort were evacuated, and he marched out at "the head of his small command with drums beating and flags flying." President Lincoln, on Monday the 15th, called upon the different states for militia to the number of seventy-five thousand men for three months, to sustain the government in this emergency. Of this force, Maine was asked to furnish one regiment of a thousand men. When the intelligence of the wanton and unprovoked attack upon Fort Sumter, and the surrender of that fortress, reached the loyal North, one sentiment only pervaded the people of this town, and an
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
unalterable determination to stamp out treason with force and arms, at whatever cost of blood and treasure, spread through the community. On the 16th of April, 1861, Gov. Washburn issued his proclamation convening the legislature on the 22d. At the time appointed, the legislature met and promptly authorized the raising of ten thousand volunteers for three years, to be organized into ten regiments, and a State loan of one million dollars.
During the early part of the war, it became necessary for Farmington to raise its quotas of soldiers from time to time, and meetings were frequently held to adopt measures for filling these quotas. Among the most notable was one held on the Common, Saturday, July 19, 1862, for the pur- pose of organizing the militia of the town. Capt. Eben F. Pillsbury presided, and in a most effective speech declared substantially that it was the solemn duty of every citizen to support the government which protects his property, his liberty, and his life. He forcibly depicted the disastrous consequences of the dissolution of the Union, urging upon all, the necessity of upholding the integrity of the govern- ment, and upon the soldiers in particular, obedience to their country's call, and the use of all means in their power for the suppression of treason, secession, and rebellion, in all its forms. Other addresses were made by Col. E. W. Wood- man of Wilton, Maj. W. P. Frye of Lewiston, Capt. E. I. Merrill, ¿and Rev. R. B. Howard of Farmington, and the patriotic sentiments expressed found a response in every loyal heart. The New Sharon band was present and dis- coursed national music.
In answer to the call for volunteers, about twenty came forward and gave assurances that Farmington would do her whole duty in the impending crisis. The organization of three military companies was then effected, by the choice of the following officers :
Co. A-Daniel W. Pratt, Captain; Wm. H. Hutchinson, First Lieutenant; Gustavus A. Stanley, Second Lieutenant ; Nathan W. Backus, Jr., Third Lieutenant ; Samuel G. Craig, Fourth Lieutenant.
Edward I. Merrill
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FARMINGTON IN THE REBELLION.
Co. B-Alvan Neal, Captain; Benj. F. Watson, First Lieutenant; Edward A. Pearson, Second Lieutenant ; Rob- ert M. Morrison, Third Lieutenant ; Joseph B. Dow, Fourth Lieutenant.
Co. C-Edward I. Merrill, Captain; David E. Currier, First Lieutenant ; Ammi R. C. Turner, Second Lieutenant ; Hiram B. S. Davis, Third Lieutenant; Samuel J. Farmer, Fourth Lieutenant.
A volunteer artillery company had been organized the year previous (Sept. 14, 1861) with the following officers :
Eben F. Pillsbury, Captain; Henry M. Howes, First Lieutenant ; Andrew J. Wheeler, Second Lieutenant; El- bridge G. Craig, Third Lieutenant.
Capt. E. F. Pillsbury was appointed upon the staff of Maj .- Gen. William Wirt Virgin, of the 8th Division of mili- tia. He was appointed by that officer to cause a re-enroll- ment of the military companies, which service was executed in every town in Franklin County, in the summer of 1862.
As the war progressed, more men were wanted at the front to supply the places of those whose terms of enlist- ment had expired, as well as of those who fell by death or were incapacitated by disease, and the government made frequent calls for men, viz. :
April 15, 1861, for 75,000 militia for three months; May 3, 1861, for 42,034 volunteers for three years, of whom 22,714 were for the regular army, and 18,000 for the navy; July 2, 1862, for 300,000 volunteers for three years ; August 4, 1862, a draft of 300,000 men for nine months, was ordered to be made by State authorities from the militia.
Farmington's quota in the call of July 2, 1862, was 34 men, and in the call of August 4th, it was 64 men.
October 17, 1863, a call was issued for 300,000 men for three years; Feb. 1, 1864, 200,000 for three years; March 14, 1864, 200,000 men for three years; July 18, 1864, 500,- 000 men for one, two, and three years ; Dec. 19, 1864, 300,- 000 for one, two, and three years. Under these calls Farm- ington's quotas were respectively 26, 11, 15, 46, and 39 men.
Under these various calls the State of Maine furnished for all branches of the military service 72,945 soldiers, at an
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
expense for State bounties paid, of $4,629,633, and of this number 7,322 were killed or died from wounds or disease.
The total number of soldiers furnished by the town of Farmington under the foregoing calls, was 326, as shown by the Adjutant-General's report ; and the amount paid from the treasury of the town under the different calls was as follows :
To the three-years' men of 1862, $3,400; to the nine- months' men of 1862, $9,600; to the volunteers of 1863-64, $8,400; to the volunteers of 1864-65, $29,225; to drafted men who entered the service (3), $900; to substitutes (36), $1,800; amount contributed by individuals towards bounties to soldiers, $100 ; amount contributed, principally by ladies, to U. S. Sanitary Commission and other relief associations, $2,525-making a grand total of $55,950. The commissioners upon equalization of bounties allowed the town of Farm- ington, for 207 men, as follows: 117 men for three years, $11,700; 36 men for one year, $1,200; 54 men for nine months, $1,350; aggregating the sum of $14,250.
By the act of the legislature, approved April 25, 1861, cities, towns, and plantations were authorized and empowered to make proper provision for the support of the families of the absent soldiers who might enlist by virtue of said act. Under this and subsequent acts, the town of Farmington furnished aid to 162 families, consisting in the aggregate of 359 persons, at an expense of $5,820.05 to Jan. 25, 1866.
While men and treasure were thus freely given, the needs of the sick and wounded soldiers at the front were not for- gotten. The ladies organized a branch of the Sanitary Com- mission, and worked diligently and enthusiastically to gather and dispense needful hospital supplies. Belcher Hall was opened as the headquarters for sanitary supplies, and there the ladies met to prepare lint and bandages, comfortables, bed- ding and clothing. Matrons drew from their treasure- house stores of fine linen, which their girlish fingers had spun and woven for their bridal outfit, children's fingers pulled its threads and sent it on its mission of mercy. The young ladies formed a club for the purpose of raising money
2II
FARMINGTON IN THE REBELLION.
to aid in the work, and by their entertainments, added ma- terially to the fund.
The Grand Army of the Republic, John F. Appleton Post, No. 25, was organized at Farmington in April, 1880, to com- memorate the military achievements and services of officers and soldiers who participated in the late civil war, and to pro- mote charity, fraternity, and loyalty among its members. The object and purpose of this organization, arc to foster a spirit of patriotism, to aid the needy soldier, and to perpetuate, among the survivors of that sanguinary conflict, the memories of their dead comrades. Its officers consist of a comman- der, senior vice-commander, junior vice-commander, adjutant, quartermaster, surgeon, chaplain, officer of the day, and officer of the guard. This order takes an interest in the welfare of the soldiers' widow and orphans; assumes charge of exercises on Decoration Day, and performs many acts and duties appropriate to its peculiar sphere.
The town annually appropriates from fifty to one hundred dollars towards the expenses of Decoration Day, which oc- curs on the 30th of May each year.
The Grand Army Post, in some respects, is modeled upon the principles of the Society of the Cincinnati, an association founded by the officers of the American Revolutionary army after the peace of 1783; but the latter organization possessed a kind of aristocratic feature, being composed wholly of offi- cers, while the former knows no previous rank or distinction, for all enter upon equal footing.
The objects of the Society of the Cincinnati were lauda- ble and beneficent. They were intended to commemorate the success of the Revolution, to perpetuate sentiments of patriotism, benevolence, and brotherly love, and to recall the memory of hardships experienced in common.
The following is an alphabetical list of Farmington men who went into the United States military service for the suppression of the rebellion, and includes those who served upon the quotas of this and other towns in this State. It is based upon the Adjutant-General's report, and the number therein found exceeds the number awarded to Farmington by the commissioners on equalization of bounties paid by
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
the several towns in the State. This difference is accounted for by the fact that the Adjutant-General's Report contains three classes additional to those allowed by the commission- ers, viz .: those who enlisted before bounties were paid, those who entered the Navy, and those who received commissions. This list embraces some who were not residents of the town, while there were other Farmington boys who enlisted out of the State, and performed prodigies of valor in defense of the old flag. Many who went forth at their country's call, never returned, and their dust rests peacefully upon Southern battlefields, carefully guarded by the Eye that never sleeps. Farmington's roll of honor numbers fifty-eight.
Charles M. Adams.
Charles Alexander.
Musician 8th Infantry. Band. Mus- tered in Sept. 17, 1861. Served nine months .* Died in New York, June 30, 1862. Surgeon 16th Infantry. Mustered in July 10, 1862. Wounded at
Gettysburg, Penn. Served two years, four months.
Charles A. Allen.
Private Co. E, 14th Infantry. Mus- tered in Feb. 4, 1862. Served five months.
Henry T. Allen.
Private Co. A, Sth Infantry. Mus- tered in Sept. 7, 1861. Detached to Ist U. S. Artillery. Prisoner at Andersonville, Ga. Served three years.
Edgar W. Arnold.
Private Co. G, 17th Infantry. Mus- tered in Aug. 18, 1862. Wound- ed at Gettysburg, Penn. Taken prisoner near Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864. Served two years. Died in Andersonville Prison, Aug. 27, 1864.
* The length of service is reckoned from the date of muster-in to the date of discharge from United States service, and does not include the time from enlist- ment to muster-in, which in some cases was several months.
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FARMINGTON IN THE REBELLION.
Leonard Atwood.
Fireman Gunboat Dawn, U. S.
Navy. Mustered in April 17, 1862. Promoted acting 3d as-
sistant engineer, on Gunboat Flambeau. Served two years, one month.
Charles C. Avery.
John F. Avery.
Albert G. N. Bailey.
Elias H. Bailey.
John F. Bailey.
Josiah C. Baker.
Private 2d Battery. Mustered in Dec. 26, 1863. Served one year. On the quota of Avon.
Edmund T. Bangs.
Luman J. Bangs.
Private Co. L, Ist Cavalry. Mus- tered in Nov. 1, 1861. Corporal Co. B, 28th Infantry. Mustered in Oct. 10, 1862. Served one year, three months. Died at Bos- ton, Mass., Oct. 4, 1863. Private Co. H, 8th Infantry. Mus- tered in Sept. 7, 1861. Served eleven months. Died at Beau- fort, S. C., Aug. 1, 1862. Private Co. I, 3d Infantry. Mus- tered in June 4, 1861. Promoted sergeant. Served nine months. Died in California, Dec. 23, 1876. Private Co. H, 29th Infantry. Mus- tered in Dec. 16, 1863. Served one year, six months. On quota of Westbrook.
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