USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 23
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FRANCIS BUTLER bought the store of Col. Fairbanks in 1824, but he did not go into trade until the autumn of 1827, when he also purchased his stock of merchandise and
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
entered upon a successful business career which was termi- nated October 24, 1832. William Reed, who entered into partnership with Joseph Huse in 1834, was his successor. This firm did a large business until 1838, when it was dis- solved. Mr. Reed removed to Hennepin, Ill., where he died, and Mr. Huse to Bath.
HIRAM B. STOYELL entered mercantile life at an carly age, and in 1829, after serving an apprenticeship in Rosamus K. Lowell's store, began business for himself. He erected a store, on the cast side of Main St., upon the site where Mrs. S. S. Belcher's upper store now stands, and formed a co-partnership with his brother, John A. Stoyell. This firm continued in business six years and then dissolved, Leander Boardman purchasing their stock of goods. In 1837 Mr. Stoyell and his brother went to Sumpterville, Alabama, and after a two years' residence, in which they continued the sale of merchandise, they returned to Farmington and again embarked in trade. In 1842 the brick store known as the Stoyell store was built, and here they began the sale of goods on an extensive scale. In 1850 Mr. John A. Stoyell retired, and Mr. Hiram B. Stoyell continued the business alone or in company with Mr. Boardman until 1860, when he too retired from active mercantile life.
RICHARD HISCOCK first began trade as the partner of Samuel F. Stoddard about 1833, but after the dissolution of the firm he purchased a wooden store which stood upon the site where the brick store occupied by Tarbox Brothers and owned by Dolbier and Pillsbury now stands. This store was burned in the great fire of August 7, 1850, and the following year he erected the brick store above mentioned. Mr. Iliscock continued a successful merchant until his death, Feb. 3, 1859. He left a large estate.
SAMUEL F. STODDARD, as has been stated, was associated in business with Richard Hiscock, but subsequently pur- chased of the Stoyell brothers a store on the east side of Main St., and continued the sale of merchandise alone. He was also engaged in farming and the manufacture of potash. In 1849 Mr. Stoddard erected the hotel so long and favorably
MERCHANTS AND STORES. 301
known as the "Stoddard House," of which he remained landlord twenty-eight years. He died April 1, 1884.
LEANDER BOARDMAN'S early life was spent in New Vineyard, his native town. After a brief residence at New Portland, in 1834 he removed to Farmington, where, as a farmer and merchant, he resided through the remainder of his life. In 1836 he exchanged his farm in the northeast part of the town, for a stock of merchandise, and soon became one of the leading merchants at the Center Village. He continued in business alone, as the partner of Isaac M. Cutler, and as a partner of Hiram B. Stoyell, until 1853, when he retired from mercantile life, having amassed a substantial property. He dealt largely in real estate, and in farm products. Mr. Boardman was a man of industrious habits, keen perception, and ready judgment.
HENRY NASON, son of Bartholomew Nason, came from Augusta and commenced business in a store situated where a portion of Knowlton's block now stands. He was an enterprising man and soon entered upon a successful career, selling some goods at wholesale. He found his store quite too small for his business, and in 1840 built the one now occupied by George W. Titcomb. He closed his business in March, 1845, and went to the City of New York, where he became a prominent wholesale merchant.
ABRAHAM W. F. BELCHER began trade in 1838, in the brick store which stood where Belcher's block now is, and which was burned in 1875. In 1840 he added to his already large stock, drugs and medicines, and nine years later formed a partnership with Timothy F. Belcher. After a prosperous mercantile career of some eighteen years, he retired from active business life. Mr. Belcher has been a director of the Sandy River National Bank for many years.
HORATIO WOOD FAIRBANKS opened the first hardware store in Farmington. He was the eldest son of Columbus Fairbanks, a life-long resident of Winthrop, and was born June 27, 1817. From Hallowell, where he had served as a clerk in Gen. S. G. Ladd's hardware store, he came to Farm- ington in 1838, and established himself as a merchant.
39
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
June 12, 1839, he married Mary Caroline Ladd. IIe was attentive to business, honest and upright in his dealings, and soon secured a constantly increasing custom, but his mercantile career in the town, although prosperous, was short, for in 1842 he formed a partnership with John H. Eveleth to engage in the same business at Augusta. Some five years later he removed with his family to Boston, and still continued in the hardware trade, although as a wholesale dealer. When failing health compelled him to retire from active life, he passed several years in the Sandwich Islands and California. His last days were spent in San Francisco, where he died August 4, 1856, leaving a wife and two daughters.
FRANKLIN T. FAIRBANKS, another son of Columbus Fair- banks, established a boot and shoe store in the town in 1841. He afterwards added other merchandise to his stock, and manufactured boots, shoes and caps. In the autumn of 1844, he was joined by his younger brother, Joseph W. Fairbanks, who two years later became his successor, having acquired a thorough knowledge of the boot and shoe business during his clerkship. After a successful mercantile career alone, Joseph W. Fairbanks formed a partnership with Andrew Quinn of New Portland, and this firm, under the name of Fairbanks and Quinn, was long known as dealers in boots, shoes, hats, caps, and furs. Mr. Fairbanks was after- wards associated with F. C. Belcher. He retired from business in 1878, being at that time the oldest merchant in Farmington, and a business man of strict integrity and sound judgment. With the monetary interests of the town, Mr. Fairbanks has been closely connected, and in his finan- cial qualifications the community place confidence. He is one of the original stockholders of the Sandy River National Bank, and from 1874 to 1878 held the office of president, performing its duties with efficiency and fidelity. A trustee of the Franklin County Savings Bank since its organization, he was elected president April 4, 1883. Mr. Fairbanks entered the Legislature in 1865 as a representative from Farmington, was re-elected the following year, and for the
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MERCHANTS AND STORES.
two succeeding years was returned to the Senate. He was appointed Valuation Commissioner by Governor Davis in 1880.
JOHN W. PERKINS removed with his father's family from Weld to Farmington in the spring of 1836, and afterwards entered the drug store of his uncle, John Titcomb, as a clerk. In 1840 he purchased the stock of goods and commenced business for himself, which he conducted until his removal to Portland, in 1853, where he pursues a lucrative business under the firm name of J. W. Perkins and Co., wholesale druggists, and dealers in paints, oils, and dye-stuffs.
GEN. SAMUEL G. LADD began the sale of hardware, iron and .. steel, at Hallowell early in the present century, and continued in business until 1839, when he removed to Farm- ington. In 1842 he purchased of his son-in-law, Horatio W. Fairbanks, a hardware stock, and again began trade, contin- uing in business until September, 1851, when he sold to Edwin N. Stevens. About 1852, Gen. Ladd, with his family, removed to Pennsylvania, and he died in that State in 1863, aged seventy-nine.
WILLIAM T. ABBOTT was among the prominent and enterprising young merchants in Farmington in 1846. In the brick store erected by Samuel Belcher on the west side of Main St., he began the sale of general merchandise, which increased as time passed, bringing in large profits. Mr. Abbott liberally patronized the printer, and his adver- tisements in the local paper of that day, headed "Great Attractions at the Granite-Front Store," received no little attention at the time, and are still remembered by the older citizens. In 1854 he removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., which has since been his home.
REUBEN CUTLER, after receiving a good English educa- tion at the Academy, settled in Strong in 1843, where he began farming on an extended scale. His wife having died, he removed to Farmington in 1848, where he entered mer- cantile pursuits. He opened a store in the Center Village, at the same time devoting much time to the buying of wool and dealing in real estate, these two branches of his business
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
finally employing his entire attention. In 1868 he purchased a large cotton plantation, together with all the personal property connected with it, in Baker Co., near Albany, Ga. The purchase of this property necessitated annual trips to the South, and Mr. Cutler frequently spent the fall and winter there. In October, 1882, he went South, and being prostrated by the unusual heat, succumbed to its effects, and died Nov. 21, 1882.
Mr. Cutler was a man of genial, social qualities, of a generous and benevolent disposition, and his death left a marked void in the social and business circles in which he moved. He was elected deacon in the Congregational Church, April 30, 1859, an office he held until his death.
For some years he served as one of the directors of the Androscoggin R. R., and was selectman in 1861 and 1862. At the organization of the Franklin County Savings Bank, he was chosen a director, and president of the Board of Trustees in 1871, a position he held through the remainder of his life.
LEONARD KEITH acquired a thorough mercantile educa- tion in the store of Col. Daniel Beale, and in 1849 engaged in trade with Francis B. Field. At first the firm did busi- ness in the "Titcomb store," which stood upon the site where the brick store of Abbott Belcher now stands; but, upon the completion of Beale's block in 1851, they became the first occupants of the south store. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Field died of small-pox in Boston, and Mr. Keith continued the business alone until his death. He was born in Chesterville, Nov. 16, 1823, and died Jan. 22, 1866.
EDWIN N. STEVENS, son of Nathaniel Stevens of Hal- lowell, engaged in trade at Farmington, as the successor of Gen. Ladd, in September, 1851. He opened his store with an extensive assortment of hardware, iron and steel, which was always maintained, and purchasers were sure to find goods as represented. Mr. Stevens continued in business until his death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1884. At that time he was the oldest merchant in town.
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MERCHANTS AND STORES.
PHILIP M. GARCELON came to Farmington from the town of Webster, and commenced trade in general merchan- dise October 6, 1851. He first occupied the Stoyell store, but afterwards removed to No. 5 Knowlton Block, where he remained permanently. Mr. Garcelon devoted his energies exclusively to business, being instant in season and out of season, and conducting his large trade almost wholly alone. He died August 4, 1880.
ANDREW H. BONNEY was engaged in trade at Phillips from 1833 to 1854, when he came to Farmington and rented the store of Leander Boardman (now owned by T. H. Adams), where he began the sale of general merchandise. After a few years he removed to the store of Hiram Belcher, which was partially destroyed by fire Dec. 29, 1859. Mr. Bonney lost his large stock of goods by the fire, but the following season resumed business under the patronage of his brother, James Bonney of Rockford, Ill. Several years later his sons became interested in the business, and Mr. Bonney retired. The Bonney brothers are now carrying on an extensive flour, coal and grain trade, under the style of J. H. Bonney and Co.
BENJAMIN R. ELLIOTT, a native of New Portland, began trade in jewelry and silverware at the Center Village, in company with his brother-in-law, Ezra Staples, in the early part of 1855. Mr. Staples afterwards withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Elliott continued the business alone until 1873, enjoying a liberal patronage. He removed to George- town, Col., where he now resides. Mr. Elliott served the town as clerk for four years, from 1859 to 1863 inclusive. Mr. Staples' death occurred at Temple, Feb. 23, 1885.
RICHARD S. RICE was by trade a tailor, and first began business in the town of Wilton in 1855, where he remained about a year, and then came to Farmington, establishing himself as a merchant tailor in the store which stood where Mrs. S. S. Belcher's upper store now stands. He was regarded as an active and enterprising merchant, and during his brief business career won the favorable opinion of those with whom he was associated.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
HENRY M. HOWES was a prominent merchant of Farm- ington from 1859 to 1872, when he removed to Portland and entered the wholesale flour and grain trade. He dealt in drugs, groceries and flour. During the latter part of his residence in town, J. C. Tarbox was associated with him, under the firm name of H. M. Howes and Co.
SAMUEL S. HERSEY of Hallowell, opened a store in 1864 for the sale of stoves, tin and hardware, which was situated on the west side of Main St., and which was burned in the fire of Dec. 16, 1874. Mr. Hersey was a skillful mechanic, and his courteous bearing made him popular as a merchant. He acquired property during his residence in town, and in 1875 removed to Auburn, where a good degree of prosperity has attended him.
JOEL PHINNEY was a merchant in the town of Weld from 1853 to 1861. In 1864 he came to Farmington and became associated with Joseph R. Greenwood in the dry and fancy goods trade. The partnership was dissolved in 1867, and Mr. Phinney continued the business until his death. He was born in Weld, Feb. 25, 1823, and died Oct. 16, 1873. Mr. Greenwood removed to La Crosse, Wis., where he still resides.
B. F. HASKELL, JOHN H. and CHARLES G. ALLEN, constituting the firm of Allen and Co., removed to Farming- ton from Brownfield in the spring of 1866, and purchased the stock of general merchandise left by Mr. Keith at his decease. The firm at once added largely to their stock, and soon entered upon an extensive business, gradually abandoning the grocery feature of their trade. They dealt in dry and fancy goods, and also in ready-made clothing, the most of which was manufactured in their store. John H. Allen subsequently retired, and H. L. Jones became a partner in the firm, which sold to Lincoln and Richards Feb. 9, 1872. A large business in clothing and furnishing goods is now done by the firm of Allen and Co. in Portland, where they stand in the front rank of merchants.
The following list includes the merchants in business at Farmington, Jan. 1, 1885 :
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MERCHANTS AND STORES.
CENTER VILLAGE.
D. H. Knowlton, books, stationery, etc.
A. S. Butterfield, boots, shoes, etc.
F. C. Belcher, boots, shoes, etc. W. F. Belcher, clothing and furnishing goods. L. J. Lyons, clothing and furnishing goods. George B. Cragin, clothing and furnishing goods.
WV. E. Dresser, confectionery and canned goods.
H. L. Emery, variety store.
G. W. Titcomb, confectionery and variety store.
M. L. Keith, confectionery, etc.
P. W. Hubbard, drugs, medicines, etc. Tarbox Brothers, drugs, medicines, etc.
H. Ramsdell, dry and fancy goods.
H. H. Rice, dry and fancy goods. .
Lincoln and Richards, dry and fancy goods, and ready- made clothing.
T. H. Adams, furniture, crockery and carpeting.
J. H. Bonney and Co., grain, flour, coal, and groceries.
J. H. Waugh, groceries.
E. Gerry, groceries.
A. J. Odell, groceries.
Tarbox Brothers, groceries. Edwin N. Stevens' Sons, hardware, iron and steel.
E. G. Blake, jewelry and silverware. Russell and Priest, jewelry and silverware.
Mrs. G. C. Stewart and Co., millinery and fancy goods. Mrs. M. J. Burns, millinery and fancy goods.
C. A. Allen, music and musical instruments.
L. A. Smith, music and musical instruments, and sewing machines.
L. G. Preston, provisions. Woodcock and Ames, provisions.
A. J. Gerry, stoves, tin and hardware. Hardy and Fletcher, stoves, tin and hardware. Godfrey Gognoy and Son, stoves, tin and hardware. Byron Farrar, harnesses, etc.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
FALLS VILLAGE.
H. F. Walker, boots and shoes.
O. P. Whittier, dry goods and groceries.
T. and A. Croswell, general merchandise.
C. A. Day, groceries and furnishing goods. Miss S. G. Croswell, millinery.
WEST FARMINGTON.
S. S. Locklin, drugs, medicines, etc.
J. W. Hines, dry goods, groceries, etc.
H. W. Lowell, dry goods, groceries, etc.
T. McL. Davis, iron, steel, and groceries.
FAIRBANKS.
G. W. Ranger, general merchandise.
1
TABLE OF INCIDENTS.
A Table of Incidents of a Miscellaneous Character, Embracing Atmospheric Changes, Earliest and Latest Snow-Storms, Rainfalls, Frosts, Freshets, Fires, Casualties, Etc.
MANY of the incidents mentioned in this chapter, will be found treated more at length in the body of this work, to which the reader is referred.
1776. June. Stephen Titcomb, Robert Gower, James Henry, Robert Alexander, and James McDonald, from Topsham, first explore the valley of the Sandy River with a view to settlement.
1777. Dec. 17. An association, afterwards known as " Reuben Colburn and his Associates," is formed at Hallowell for the exploration of the Sandy River Lower Township.
1778. July 28. At a meeting of " Reuben Colburn and his Associates," they vote to open a road to the Temple Stream.
1779. Oct. 4. At a meeting of " Reuben Colburn and his Associates," they vote to purchase of the proprie- tors of the Kennebec purchase, " the Sandy River Lower Township."
1 780. May 19. Very dark day. Lights necessary at two o'clock in the afternoon.
40
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
June 10. Joseph North completes the survey of Sandy River Lower Township.
Stewart Foster and Ephraim Allen, two hunters from Winthrop, spend the winter of this year in what is now Farmington, being the first white men to pass a winter in the valley of the Sandy River.
1781. April. First families move into the plantation. First saw-mill built.
1782. Nov. 14. Stephen Titcomb, the first white child, is born in the township.
First grist-mill in the township, built by Colburn and Pullen, on the Temple Stream.
1783.
. Jan. 14. Samuel Knowlton, the second white child, is born in the township.
August. Severe frost kills all the corn, making bread very scarce the next season.
First sermon preached in the township, by Rev. Ezekiel Emerson of Georgetown.
1784.
Feb. 12. Prudence Butterfield, the first white girl, is born in the township.
First marriage solemnized, the contracting parties being Joseph Battle and Eunice Maloon.
1785.
Oct. 22. First great freshet. Jonathan Knowlton, Jonas Butterfield, and Joseph Brown, with their families, are taken from their houses, which were surrounded by water during the night, and conveyed to a place of safety.
1786. Sept. 15. William Thorn dies -the first death of an adult in the township.
1787.
July 1. Intense cold. Ice is formed.
Cold, unproductive year.
1788. Solomon Adams' barn burns-the first barn burned in the plantation.
Benjamin Jennings' log-house burns -the first dwell- ing-house burned in the plantation.
Francis Tufts built the first mills at the Falls village. September. A census of the settlers, together with 1789.
the number of lots occupied and the quantity of
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TABLE OF INCIDENTS.
land under improvement, taken by Dummer Sewall, under the direction of the committee on eastern lands.
1 790. July 13. Susannah, daughter of Samuel Butterfield, dies, being the first death of an adult female.
Town purchased of the State, by Dummer Sewall, Samuel Butterfield, and Francis Tufts.
1791. Nov. 14. Jacob Eaton drowned at the falls of St. John.
I792. First store opened in the township by Thomas Flint. 1793. March 29. Free-Will Baptist Church organized.
June 28. Great hail-storm in the northeast portion of the plantation, partially destroying growing crops.
Oct. 15. First Methodist sermon preached in the plantation by Jesse Lee, at the house of Moses Starling.
Post-office established. Moses Starling first post- master.
I794.
Feb. I. Town incorporated by the name of Farm- ington.
June 16. Severe frost, killing all the corn on the low lands.
I795. January. Winter freshet doing great damage at Hallowell, and breaking up the ice in the Sandy and Kennebec rivers.
I 796. June 10. Rev. Paul Coffin, the Congregational mis- sionary, preaches his first sermon in the town, at the house of Mrs. Jacob Eaton.
I797. Baptist Church organized with seven members.
1798. Supply Belcher elected the first representative to the Massachusetts Legislature.
I 799. October. First military review, on Capt. Leonard Merry's interval, near West Farmington,
Methodist meeting-house at the Falls village erected. Indian Pierpole and family bid adieu to Sandy River, never to return.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
I 800.
First attorney, Henry V. Chamberlain of Worcester, Mass., settles in Farmington.
First social library in town established at the Falls village.
ISOI.
April 21. The body of Mr. Washburne, who was drowned in the Sandy River, near the Center bridge, found on Samuel Butterfield's farm.
The saw and grist-mill of John Patterson, which stood on the present site of the Fairbanks mills, burns during the winter.
1 802. Daniel and Ezekiel Webster visit Farmington. They are the guests of Moses Starling.
1 803. May 8. ยท Great snow-storm.
Center Meeting-House is erected.
1 804.
June 28. Elijah, son of Joseph Norton, is killed by a falling tree.
Oct. 22. An unusual display of Aurora Borealis.
Dysentery prevails with great fatality.
1 805.
First bridge across the river opposite the Center Village begun.
1 806.
June 16. Remarkable eclipse of the sun, which at Boston, and places further south, was total. Here a small portion of the sun's northern limb was visible at the time of its greatest obscuration.
Sept. 10. Severe frost kills all the corn upon the low lands.
Isaiah Webster, Jr., is drowned in Starling's mill-pond.
1807. Feb. 13. Farmington Academy is incorporated.
1808. Oct. 10. A very dark day, -the evening one of profound darkness. Many accidents occur.
First bridge across the river at the Falls village is built. Bridge at Center Village is finished.
1809.
July 11. Jonas Butterfield, a much respected citizen, is killed by lightning.
ISIO.
Jan. 19. After a spell of moderate weather, a storm of snow commences from the northwest, with a tremendous gale and most intense cold. The change of temperature is so great as to cause many
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TABLE OF INCIDENTS.
deaths on sea and land. This day is known as the "Cold Friday of 1810."
James Johnson's dwelling-house, which stood on the farm now owned by Leander A. Daggett, is burned. Sept. 2. Universalist Society formed with fifty mem- bers.
18II.
During the whole autumn of this year, a brilliant comet can be seen in the northwest part of the heavens. Many regard it as the precursor of evil. First bridge across the river at Fairbanks erected.
1812.
April 4. An embargo is again imposed upon Amer- ican shipping, and this, on the 18th of June, is followed by a declaration of war against Great Britain.
1813. Jan. 29. The saw and grist-mill of Jonathan Russ, situated at the Falls village, is burned, and rebuilt the same year by his sons, John and Henry Russ.
1814. May 4. Great fall of snow.
Cold or typhus fever prevalent and very fatal.
Troops called out in the autumn.
Dec. 14. Congregational Church organized with twelve members.
1815. May 8. Great fall of snow.
1816. April 12. Great fall of snow, which makes good sleighing.
June 6. A snow-storm, which chills and destroys martins and other birds, freezes the ground, cuts down corn and potatoes, and compels workmen to put on great coats and mittens.
Frost in every month of this year.
1817. Feb. 14. Second cold Friday. Cold not quite as intense as in 1810.
1818. Sept. 6. The barn of Benjamin Weathern, which stood on the farm now owned by E. R. Weathern, is struck by lightning and burned with all its contents.
. Sept. 6. Universalist Convention convenes at the Center Meeting-House.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
1819. March 25. Great snow-storm. Probably more snow fell at this time than has ever fallen during a single storm in this town since its settlement. The depth is estimated from three to three and one-half feet, and the surrounding country is blockaded for sev- eral days. The winter had been remarkable for the absence of snow up to the 26th of February, at which time sleighs had not been much in use.
1820.
March 15. Maine becomes a State.
April 3. Jabez Gay elected first representative to Maine Legislature.
May 27. Six inches of snow falls. Apple-trees in full blossom much injured by the breaking down of their branches.
Oct. 16. Second great freshet.
1821.
Oct. 20. Great snow-storm.
1822. November. Thomas W. Tobey is drowned by falling from the Center bridge. His body was found the following spring on the farm where Luther Gordon now resides.
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