USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 43
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I. Elmer Joseph Marston, b. July 13, 1874.
III. * French Moses, b. Jan. 26, 1846.
IV. Melvina, b. Oct. 30, 1850; d. June 24, 1857.
V. George Washington, b. March 20, 1855 ; md., April 30, 1885, Eva H. Keyes of Lewiston.
VI. Charles Bates, b. June 2, 1858 ; md., Feb. 5, 1882, Cora L. Thomas.
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VII. Andrew Jackson, b. Dec. 8, 1862.
JEREMIAH R. NORTON was a resident of Avon for many years, where he served as a town officer. When he came to Farmington, he settled upon a part of the farm formerly owned by his father. He md., March 22, 1841, Keziah M. Vining, who d. Sept. 27, 1845; he md. (2), May 5, 1846, Amanda F. Stevens, b. July 18, 1824. Eight chil- dren :-
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I. Samuel Rice, b. Nov. 25, 1842 ; md., May 10, 1868, Mary N. Tripp of Temple. 2 chil.
II. Keziah Mitchell, b. Sept. 19, 1845; d. Sept. 3, 1847.
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:
Second marriage : III. Oliver Stevens, b. Aug. 2, 1850; md., Dec. 20. 1874, Ella J., dau. of Rev. William Cutting of Melville, N. H. Lives in Avon.
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105 106 107 108 109 (81)
III 1I2 II3 114 115 II6 II7 (85)
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
121
IV. Jeremiah Augustus, b. Sept. 20, 1853 ; md., April 28, 1876, Flora E. Hudson of Portland.
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V. George Washington, b. Aug. 25, 1855. Graduated at the Normal School in 1876.
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VI. Mary Keziah, b. July 7, 1857 ; d. Sept. 27, 1859.
VII. Ruth Amanda, b. Nov. 5, 1859.
VIII. James Stevens, b. Oct. 7. 1865. Graduated at the Normal School in 1884.
(86)
SYLVANUS R. NORTON, second son of George W. Norton, resides upon the farm formerly owned by his uncle, Samuel B. Norton, and ranks among the model farmers. He md., Sept. 25, 1860, Mary Cutler, dau. of Edward Butler, q. v. Three children :-
I. Everett Blanchard, b. June 8, 1861.
II. Isabella Butler, b. May 8, 1863.
III. Helen Butler, b. May 10, 1868 ; d. Jan. 29, 1869.
RICHARD R. NORTON lives upon a part of the home- stead, and is among the substantial farmers of the town. His children are the fourth generation that have occupied the same house. Mr. Norton md., April 13, 1876, Emily A., dau. of John T. Taylor, b. in Vassalboro', Aug. 10, 1841. Two children :-
I. Harry Taylor, b. Sept. 12, 1877.
II. Ralph Perkins, b. Aug. 11, 1881.
129 130 (91)
TIMOTHY SMITH NORTON is by occupation a farmer, and first settled on the Ebenezer Norton farm in the east part of the town. He subsequently purchased the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, Ephraim Norton, where he now resides. He md., April 11, 1833 (pub.), Susan Eliza, dau. of John and Susanna (Cony) Brooks of Augusta. He md. (2), Sarah H. Hobbs. Four chil- dren :-
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1. * James Smith Brooks, b. May 3, 1834.
Second marriage :
I32 I33 134 (95)
II. Mary Smith, b. July 15. 1847 ; md., July 18, 1869, Joseph H. Perham, q. 2.
III. Georgiana, b. July 25, 1849.
IV. Alma Clarke, b. Oct. 12, 1862.
EDWIN NORTON, youngest son of James I. Norton, was a native of Farmington, where a greater part of his life was spent. For many years he made his home upon the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, Ephraim Norton.
126 I27 128 (89)
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
In 1864 he removed to Boston, where his death occurred Dec. 24, 1880. He was a man of honest purpose and true gentlemanly feeling, and devoted his life and means to the education and comfort of his family. He md., March 9, 1841, Amanda Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. John Allen, q. v. Six children :-
1. Imogene Allen, b. Sept. 25, 1842 ; md., March 22, 1864, Emilio del Castillo. Their children are : Edwin Norton, Lola Juanita.
II. Annah Ione, b. Dec. 6, 1845 ; md., Jan. 13, 1870, George A. Walker of Boston. Their children are : Grace Antoinette and Philip Hersey.
III. Annie Bartlett, b. Nov. 18, 1848; md., Sept. 16, 1872, William F. Baldwin of Boston. Their children are: Edward Arthur, Robert South- wick. Lillian.
IV. Wilhelmina Kossuth, b. July 19, 1851 ; d. Nov. 24, 1869.
V. Lillian Bayard, b. Nov. 24, 1853; d. April 28, 1856.
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VI. Lillian, b. Dec. 12, 1857; md., Jan. 22, 1883, at Paris, France, Frederic Allen, son of Rev. Harrison B. Gower, q. v .= )La de Harde ca
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LLEWELLYN NORTON, son of Joseph, is a thriving farmer residing in the northeastern part of the town. He owns the farm so long owned and occupied by his uncle, Benj- amin F. Norton. He md., Nov. 19, 1868, Fidelia Angeline Norton, b. in Industry, Oct. 9, 1847. Two children :-
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I. Mary Etta, b. Nov. 4, 1869.
II. Anna Sands. b. Aug. 28, 1879.
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FRENCH M. NORTON, second son of Joseph and Miriam (Pike) Norton, is a resident of his native town, where he formerly was engaged in the provision business. He ind., Feb. 26, 1880, Ella F. Wood of Wilton, b. Nov. 1, 1851. Two children :-
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I. Joseph French, b. June 22, 1881. 11. Florence Mabel, b. Dec. 4, 1882.
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JAMES S. B. NORTON resides on the Timothy Smith farm, so-called. He md., March 20, 1863, Morgiana Allen Peterson, b. Dec. 8, 1840. Five children : -
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1. Emilio Castillo, b. Oct. 27, 1863; d. Oct. 20, 1864.
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Il. Avelino Castillo, b. Nov. 30, 1866.
135 136 I37 138 139
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
147
III. Florence Hallie, b. April 26, 1870; d. Aug. 14, 1872.
IV. Maud Florence, ( b. July 2, 1874.
149
v. Millie Florence,
I STEPHEN NORTON is not known to be related to the preceding family. He was a native of Martha's Vineyard, however, and may have been a descendant from Nicholas Norton, through his grandson John. He was a tailor by trade, and came to the settlement prior to 1792. He purchased of Ezekiel Webber front-lot No. 12, west side, where he resided until about 1810, when he sold to Tim- othy and Thomas Johnson, and removed to Norway to spend his last days. His wife was Lydia Smith. Four children :-
I. Lydia, b. July 18, 1792 ; md. Samuel B. Adams of Wilton ; d. about 1845.
II. Hannah, b. Nov. 14, 1793; mnd. Flavel Bartlett ; d. in Auburn.
III. Stephen, b. March 15, 1797.
IV. * John Stephen, b. July 12, 1799.
JOHN S. NORTON has been a farmer in the northeast part of the town, and an acceptable local preacher. He now resides at Backus Corner. He md., Oct. 30, 1825, Deborah Smith, dau. of Peter Norton, q. v., who d. March 19, 1883. Two children :---
6 7 (6)
* Peter Eben, b. June 22, 1827. I.
11. Lydia Caroline, b. Dec. 6, 1830; md., Nov. 17, 1856 (pub.), Lewis C. Johnson. Resides in Augusta. 2 chil.
PETER E. NORTON succeeded to the homestead, to which he made large additions by purchase. He is a man of scholarly attainments, and has served as a member of the S. S. Committee for many years. As a local Methodist preacher, he is characterized by earnest piety. His present residence is Stark. He md., June 9, 1853, Anna Johnson, who was b. in Vienna, June 9, 1831, and d. Nov. 9, 1881 ; md. (2). June 22, 1882, Cynthia N. Wyman, b. in Flagstaff, Feb. 5, 1841. Nine children :-
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I. Dora Miriam, b. April 21, 1854.
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II. John Franklin, b. March 26, 1856; md., Aug. 19, 1883, Nellie Spaulding. I child.
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12 III. Howard Peter, b. June 28, 1858.
IV. Lewis Johnson, b. Jan. 1, 1861.
V. Mary Ellen, b. July 8, 1862; md. Dr. Lauren Lindenberger of Troy, Ohio.
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Thomas Marker
547
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
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VI. Lyon Levi, b. Jan. 29, 1865.
VII. George Webber, b. Feb. 4, 1868; d. April 19, I868.
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VIII. George Wingate, b. Sept. 6, 1869.
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IX. Stephen Allen, b. Feb. 13, 1871.
parker.
Various persons bearing the name of Parker were residents of Chelmsford, Mass., and vicinity as carly as 1652, and the name is common in early New England records. The immediate ancestry of the Parkers who came to Farmington has not been traced. No relationship is known to exist between Elvaton Parker, Peter Parker, and William Parker who settled in the east part of the town.
I ELVATON PARKER was from Edgartown, Mass., where he married, Mar. 1, 1771, Mary Beetle. He removed to the township in 1793, and followed the trade of a house- carpenter. He was much esteemed for his moral worth. He was b. in Yarmouth, Mass., Nov. 21, 1749, O. S .; d. Oct. 20, 1797. His wife, who was b. in Edgartown, Mass., June 17, 1750, O. S., d. June 5, 1796. Six chil- dren, natives of Edgartown, Mass. : -
I. Polly, b. May 26, 1772 ; md., Jan. 1, 1807, Solo- mon Butler ; d. Oct. 22, 1836. He d. Jan. 30, 1833.
Il. Hannah, b. Apr. 30, 1775; md., Aug. 28, 1798, Micah Weathern, q. v .; d. Dec. 30, 1872.
III. Betsey, b. Feb. 13, 1779; md., Nov. 20, 1798, Ward Spooner ; d. May 23, 1845. He d. July 30, 1872, aged 95 years.
IV. Thomas, b. Nov. 12, 1783.
V. Cynthia Beetle, b. Jan. 25, 1786; d. Jan. 14, 1800.
VI. Clarissa, b. Dec. 28, 1788 ; md., Dec. 20, 1810, Ebenezer B. Wellman; d. Aug. 3. 1822. He d. Aug. 2, 1850.
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THOMAS PARKER, only son of Elvaton Parker, when ten years of age came with his father from Massachusetts to Maine. He learned the trade of a mason, which he pur- sued until he was called to fill various positions in public life. For twelve years he was a selectman of the town, and for eight years its clerk. In 1838 Gov. Kent appoint- ed Mr. Parker Judge of Probate, in which office he contin- ued to act for seven consecutive years. He also served as county commissioner for three years. Before the organization of Franklin County, Judge Parker had an extensive business in Probate Court, made necessary by the estates confided to his charge for settlement; and,
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548
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
after he ceased to act as Judge of Probate, his business as administrator, executor, and trustee engrossed his whole time and attention. He acquired by industry and frugality an ample fortune, and was in his way a very liberal man, one of his donations being five thousand dollars to Bates College in Lewiston. Judge Parker possessed great purity and simplicity of character, and was respected for his stern Puritan principles. He was a friend to those who sought his counsel and advice, and was beloved by all classes of citizens. In 1846 he published a brief History of Farmington, and rescued from oblivion many facts and incidents which otherwise would not have been preserved. The author of this work acknowledges his indebtedness to Judge Parker's History for much valuable material.
Judge Parker md., Jan. 22, 1807, Judith, dau. of Ezra Thomas, q. v., who d. June 22, 1855. He d. Feb. 4, 1860. One child : -
I. Thomas, b. May 14, 1808; d. Oct. 14, 1851 ; unmd.
I
PETER PARKER is not known to be a relative of the preceding. He was the son of Peter and Mary (Butter- field) Parker, and in 1788 came from Dunstable, Mass., to the township with his stepfather, John F. Woods, with whom he lived until his majority. Two sisters also accom- panied him, Mary, who married Francis Tufts, Jr., q. v., and Prudence, who married John Tufts. Mr. Parker purchased of Benjamin Luce a portion of the farm in the southwestern part of the town owned by Benjamin Lowell and others, where he erected buildings and made a home. He md., Nov. 4, 1799 (pub.), Sally, dau. of Joseph Bradford, q. v. His death occurred in 1842 at Sunbury, Ohio. Six children : -
2
1. Sally, b. Oct. 11, 1800; md., Dec. 4, 1817, Thomas, son of Thomas Hiscock, q. v .; d. Feb. 25, 1826.
3 II. Peter, b. Aug. 28, 1803; removed to the State of Ohio.
4 III.
Mary Butterfield, b. Feb. 5, 1806; md., Mar. 9, 1830, Francis Tufts, 3d, q. 7.
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IV. John, b. Mar. 29, 1810.
V. Asa Libby, b. July 14, 1818.
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VI. Julia Ann, b. Feb. 3, 1821.
Derham.
John Perham, the ancestor of the Perhams of New England, was an early immigrant who settled in Chelmsford, Mass. He married, in 1604. Lydia Shepley, and had three sons and four daughters. The eldest son,
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549
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
John, Jr., was born in 1667, and married Lydia Fletcher. Among their seven children was a son, born in 1695, who was named for his father and grandfather. He settled in Littleton, Mass. His wife was Experi- ence Powers, and to them were born six children.
I LEMUEL PERHAM, fourth son of John and Experience (Powers) Perham, was born at or near Dunstable, Mass., in 1727. We find him an officer of the First Parish in 1767. His name is appended to the pledge signed by the patriotic citizens of Dunstable to defend their country's liberties, March 1, 1775 .* He was elected one of the committee of safety after the hostilities began, and was a member of the alarm-list commanded by Capt. Leonard Butterfield. It is certain that he served in the army some length of time, for we find his name among others as one to whom the Parish of Dunstable voted to pay nine pounds " for six months' service att Rhode Island in the year 1777." +
Mr. Perham came into the Sandy River township with his family in company with Oliver Bailey, Eliphalet Bailey, and John F. Woods, in the spring of 1788. He made a settlement on the farm which his son Silas had taken up the year before, back-lot No. 24, east side, where he died about the year 1795. Mr. Perham was twice married. The name of his first wife is not known ; his second wife was Mary Butterfield, widow of John French. Mrs. Perham by her first marriage had four children : William French, b. July 2, 1752, d. 1842 ; Mary French, b. Mar. 21, 1754 ; John French, b. Oct. 25, 1755 ; Jonas French, b. Aug. 17, 1757, d. 1840. He is the ancestor of Col. Jonas H. French of Boston. These sons were among the fifty sons of Dunstable who participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Perham had seven children, born in Dun- stable : - -
2
1. John, b. about 1757. Was on board a privateer in the Revolution, and was taken prisoner and carried to New Brunswick. He escaped and returned to Dunstable, but soon died from consumption, aged 19 years.
Second marriage :
3 4 11. Rebecca. b. Feb. 23, 1760; md. Eliphalet Bailey, q. v .; d. 1806.
III. Elizabeth, b. Oct. S, 1762 ; md., in 1783, Jeremiah Fletcher of Wilton ; d. May 31, 1839. He d. Oct. 14, 1839. 12 chil.
* See biographical sketch of Jesse Butterfield.
f History of Dunstable, p. 132.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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IV. Lemuel, b. Oct. 7, 1764. v. *Silas, b. Feb. 10, 1770.
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VI. Rachel, b. Aug. 17, 1771 ; md., Oct. 1, 1795, Asa Cree ; d. in Waterville about 1818. Mr. Cree was b. in Topsfield, Mass., Feb. 5, 1753. - child.
8 VII. Josiah, b. May 1, 1773; md., Apr. 1, 1802, Eliza- beth, dau. of Silas Gould, q. v. He settled in Wilton, and d. July 6, 1849 ; she d. June 19, 1861.
(5)
LEMUEL PERHAM, JR., came into the country with his father as a young man. Having acquired a better educa- tion than most of the early settlers, and possessing schol- arly tastes, he opened a school the first winter after coming into the township, and for about thirty years directed the young ideas of the rising generation. He was a superior mathematician, and, being a skilled practical land-survey- or, his services were in frequent requisition during the settlement of the country. When William Bingham made his Kennebec purchase, Mr. Perham was selected to sur- vey many of the townships, and it has been commonly understood that he ran the west line of the tract, a most arduous undertaking, since the line runs over Mts. Abra- ham, Sugar-loaf, and Bigelow His assistants in this survey were his brother Silas Perham, Abraham Page, Micah Weathern, and Peter Norton.
Among his other gifts, Mr. Perham was a fine musician and an amateur poet of local fame. He taught singing- schools from time to time, and led the music on public occasions. His vocation, however, like that of all the early settlers, was farming. He first made a home on the lot adjoining his father's; but when failing powers com- pelled his father-in-law, Moses Starling. to abandon active life, Mr. Perham moved to the west side of the river, and took the north part of the Starling farm. Here he passed the remainder of his life, and d. Feb. 28. 1841. He was a man of irreproachable character, and universally respected. He md., June 22, 1795, Elizabeth, dau. of Moses Starling. q. v. Nine children : -
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I. Lemuel, 3d, b. March 2, 1796 ; md .. July 1, 1823, Mary Ann, dau. of Dr. Aaron Stoyell, q. v. ; d. Oct. 25, 1826. He was educated at Farm- ington Academy, and became a civil-engineer.
II. Abigail Starling, b. Dec. 17, 1797; d. Sept. 3. 1804.
IO
12 III. Mary, b. Sept. 15, 1799; d. Aug. 26, 1804. IV. Moses Starling, b. Aug. 22, 1801; d. Aug. 31, 1804.
551
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
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v. Joseph, b. Jan. 6, 1804. He was educated at Farmington Academy, studied medicine, grad- uating at Bowdoin Medical School in 1827, and opened practice in Missouri. Later be- came a druggist in Anoka, Minn., where he now resides. Unmd.
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VI. Benjamin Franklin, b. Jan. 15, 1806; md. Caro- line A. Bryant ; d. about 1837. He was edu- cated at Farmington Academy, and adopted the profession of civil-engineer, and gave prom- ise of distinction in his calling. He assisted in building the dry dock at Charlestown, Mass., and that at Gosport, Va. 2 chil., who live in Georgia.
VII. Eliza, b. Sept. 13, 1808 ; unmd. Resides at West Farmington.
VIII. Moses, b. Dec. 17, 1810 ; unmd. He is a respect- ed citizen of West Farmington.
IX. Narcissa, b. Nov., 1813 ; d. Nov., 1813.
SILAS PERHAM came to the Sandy River township when a lad of seventeen, in the spring of 1787, and took up back-lot No. 24, east side. Here he made a clearing, planted crops and harvested them, returning to Dunstable in the fall. He came with his father the following spring to make a permanent settlement, and found on the farm to which he had given his boyhood's labors a home for life. Mr. Perham was a carpenter by trade, and a man of most powerful physique and capable of a vast amount of labor. He was connected with the militia, and at one time commanded the North Company of Infantry. He md., May 1, 1806 (pub.). Hannah, dau. of Eliphalet Jen- nings, q. v. ; d. July 9, 1844. 'Two children :-
I. John French, b. April 11, 1808; md., June 30, 1828, Eunice Sweatland ; d. in California, Aug. 10, 1879; she d. April 10, 1849. He first lived in Farmington, but removed to California about 1850. 6 chil. II. * Silas Decatur, b. Aug. 6, 1815.
SILAS D. PERHAM resides on the homestead farm. He was connected with the militia, and at one time command- ed a company of cavalry. He md., Feb. 2, 1837, Mary Ann Hobbs ; she d. May 13, 1874. He ind. (2), Dec. 14, 1879, Mrs. Electa S. Lowell of Concord. Five children :-
I. Hannah, b. Jan. 20, 1838.
11. * Joseph Hobbs, b. Oct. 17, 1842.
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IV. Silas Alvarus, b. May 10, 1848 ; d. July 11, 1848.
V. Silas French, b. July 11, 1850.
15 16 I7 (6)
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19 (19)
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III. Georgiana, b. July 22, 1845 ; d. 1847.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
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(21) JOSEPH H. PERHAM is a farmer living upon the Richard Rice farnı. He md., July 18, 1869, Mary Smith, dau. of Timothy S. Norton, q. v. One child :- I. Archie Smith, b. June 17, 1874.
perkins.
Edmund Perkins emigrated from England before 1677, at which time he married Mrs. Susanna Howlett. She was born in Boston, Dec. 15, 1645, and was the daughter of Francis Hudson, late of Chatham, England, and his wife Mary. Edmund Perkins settled in Boston, and lived in a house near what is now the foot of Hanover St. His death occurred about 1693, the inventory of his estate, which was considerable, being presented to Court Jan. 29, 1693-4. Of his three sons, Edmund, the youngest, was born Sept. 6, 1683, and died about 1761. William, the son of Edmund and Mary (Farris) Perkins, was a resident of Boston. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Palfrey, and their eldest child, William, born in 1742, was lieutenant of artillery at Bunker Hill, and also major in the Massachusetts regiment of artillery in the Revolu- tionary War. He married Abigail Cox, and died in 1802, leaving four sons and three daughters. Of these Lafayette Perkins was the youngest.
I LAFAYETTE PERKINS (vide page 282) was born at Castle William in Boston Harbor, of which his father was then commandant, Mar. 26, 1786. He md., Dec. 30, 1817, Dorcas, dau. of Benjamin and Phebe (Abbot) Abbot, and granddaughter of Jacob and Lydia (Stevens) Abbot. She was b. in Greenfield, N. H., Feb. 25, 1797. Dr. Perkins d. May 9, 1874. Six children : -
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3
II.
I. Charles James, b. Oct. 19, 1818. Graduated at Bowdoin College in 1839 ; attended Jefferson College in Philadelphia, Penn .; and went to Upperville, Virginia, to practice dentistry, where he d. of apoplexy, Feb. 12, 1843 ; unmd. John Warren (vide page 303), b. Mar. 17, 1820 ; md., June 17, 1845, Margaret More, dau. of Thomas Hunter, q. v .; md. (2), Oct. 29, 1861, Eliza Bellows of Lancaster, N. H. He is a wholesale druggist in Portland. 5 chil. by first and 2 by second marriage.
III. Emeline Weld, b. Feb. 24, 1822 ; d. of consump- tion Nov. 22, 1858 ; unmd.
IV. Benjamin Abbott, b. Oct. 26, 1823 ; md., May 9, 1849, Augusta Bellows of Freedom, who d. May 31, 1850; md. (2), Sept. 23, 1860, Sarah W. Beals of Portland. I son by each marriage. Resides in Portland.
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GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
6 v. George Augustus, b. June 24, 1827 ; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1849. After a three years' course at the Bangor Theological Seminary, he went to Turkey, in July, 1854, as a foreign missionary. After several years he returned to this country, but in 1863 went back as a professor in Robert College, Constantinople. His health failing, he again returned to this country, and was at one time connected with a family school at Gorham, but is now pastor at Harvard, Mass. He md., July 17, 1854, Sarah E., dau. of Oliver and Hannah (Rider) Farring- ton of Brewer. 3 chil.
V1. Samuel Edward, b. Nov. 7, 1830; md., Nov. 22, 1855, Alice T. Kendrick of Bangor.
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Porter.
Richard Porter, the immigrant ancestor of the Porters of America, came from Weymouth, England, in 1635, and settled at what is now Weymouth, Mass. His eldest son, John, was one of the most enterpris- ing men of his time, and owned large tracts of land about Weymouth. He married, Feb. 9, 1660, Deliverance Byram, by whom he had nine children. Ebenezer, their eighth child, was a lieutenant in the militia, and married, Dec. 3, 1707, Sarah Humphrey. The third son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Humphrey) Porter, Ebenezer Porter, Jr., married, Dec. 17, 1730, Mary Lovell, and died in 1763. Ebenezer Porter, 3d, was born in Weymouth, Dec. 7, 1733, and married Tabitha Pratt in 1754. He died young, and his widow married as a second husband Dea. Jonathan Collier of Hull, by whom she had several children, one of whom was Gershom Collier, who settled on Porter's Hill in Farmington.
I EZEKIEL PORTER, the fifth child of Ebenezer and Tabi- tha (Pratt) Porter, was born in Weymouth, Mass., Nov. IO, 1762. He served in the Revolutionary army, and after the close of the war married, in 1784, Betsey, daugh- -- ter of Asahel and Rebecca Wyman of Groton. After residing a short time in Groton, he removed to that part of Hallowell now Augusta, probably in the year 1786. Here he engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he was unsuc- cessful. He became connected with the North Company of Militia, and was elected its captain, Apr. 12, 1787. In 1790 he removed to Farmington, and settled upon lot No. 17 on the west side of the river, upon the hill named from its first settler Porter's Hill. He at once took a foremost place in the town. His enterprise, intelligence, and in- dustry made him for many years among the most promi- nent of the citizens. His farm was large and productive under the cultivation he gave it. Paul Coffin, the mission-
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
ary, speaks of Mr. Porter several times in his Journal. Writing under date of July 10, 1796, he says : "One Porter, a major, a resident of only six years, cuts one hundred tons of hay." Again, on Sept. 15, 1800, he makes this entry : " Lodged on my return at Col. Ezekiel Porter's, one and one-half miles from Peter Gay's. Porter had about fifty acres of corn, fifty black cattle, a large house, three barns, shed, etc. He lives on 'The Hill,' a sightly place. His wife in his absence treated me well." Mr. Porter probably carried on the business of farming on a larger scale than had ever been attempted by any one in this section of the State. Upon one occasion, before dismissing the Regiment of which he was colonel, he invited the men to a husking and barbecue at his house. The men largely responded to the invitation. An ox was killed and roasted, and fifty acres of corn husked in the field. In 1803 Mr. Porter began the business of retailing goods, first at his own house and afterwards at West Farmington on the spot where the railroad depot now stands. Upon the organization of the militia, he was chosen captain, and soon after was promoted to the com- mand of the regiment. Col. Porter was active in the move- ment for securing the incorporation of the township. He served on the committee of incorporation, and will always be especially remembered from the fact that he gave the town the name of Farmington. His interest was strong in all that concerned the well-being of the place. The town books bear this record, written in a large hand : ," A gift received. Col. Ezekiel Porter gave for the use of Farm- ington for the more decent interment of the dead in this town, three yards of black broadcloth to be used as a Pall. Given July ye 11th, 1805. Valued at $18.00."
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