USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 8
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77.37
Hugh Stewart,
50.00
Thomas Johnson,
38.16
Joseph Starling,
47.25
Zachariah Norton,
50.00
Jeremy Wyman, 37.00
Dehave Norton,
46.00
Josiah Wright,
25.00
Peter Norton, 2d,
50.00
Amount,
$3,066.48
Jeremiah Norton,
42.00
Interest, 735.95
· Francis Norton,
50.00
Bassett Norton, 41.41
41.47
Elijah Norton,
42.00
Samuel Nevins,
24.50
Thomas Odell,
38.00
Ezekiel Porter, 91.21
Argalis Pease,
63.00
Lemuel Perham,
84.00
Samuel Poole,
50.00
William Reed,
42.00
N. B. These sums have been on interest from the time of incorporation which is four years last February.
Attest :
CHURCH BRAINERD, Treasurer for said institution.
.
$3,802.432
Winthrop Norton,
99
SCHOOLS.
We further certify that the Academy building is nearly com- pleted, and that taking from the above sum of $3,802.433 a sum of six hundred dollars which is estimated to be the extent of what will be necessary to complete the building and paint the same and pay all bills, there will remain, a fund of three thousand two hun- dred and two dollars and forty-three and one-half cents, as a fund over and above the completion of said Academy building, which same is in notes of hand and on subscription and is on interest, as appears from examination of treasurer's books.
CHURCH BRAINERD. Treasurer of Farmington Academy.
NATHAN CUTLER Secretary.
The foregoing subscriptions include interest on the same to Feb. 8, 1811,-that being the date of the resolve granting the half township of land.
The Academy was opened for instruction January 1, 1812, and the event was celebrated as a gala day amidst various demonstrations of joy. Rev. James Hall became its first preceptor, at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. He was a native of Scotland, a thorough Edinburgh scholar, particularly well versed in mathematics, an able teacher, though at times somewhat fretful and severe, and appar- ently conscientious in the use of the ferule as a sceptre of righteousness. Mr. Hall was not so far advanced in life as to be invincible to the attractions of the gentler sex, and he formed the acquaintance of a young lady of some sixteen summers, from one of the rural districts, to whom he was afterwards united in marriage. The school remained under his care for two years. He then took charge of the Canaan (afterwards Bloomfield) Academy, continuing there twelve years. He was later employed as preceptor of Anson Academy, but for what length of time is not known. Mr. Hall was succeeded by Rev. Otis Briggs, formerly preceptor of Hampden Academy. At the close of the year he removed to Wiscasset, and his valuable services were lost to the institution, much to the regret of its patrons
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
and friends. N. G. Howard acted as preceptor from 1816 to 1817; Joseph Caldwell from 1817 to 1818; Moses S. Moody from 1818 to 1819; William A. Drew from 1820 to 1823; Nathaniel Greene from 1823 to 1830; David Worcester, Horatio Getchell, and M. Upham from 1830 to 1837; John J. Butler from 1837 to 1839; Orrin B. Cheney from 1839 to 1841; Alexander H. Abbott from 1841 to 1849; Jonas Burnham from August 27, 1849, to July 15, 1859. During Mr. Burnham's preceptorship, the number of terms was twenty, the total number of scholars, two thousand five hundred and twenty-four, with an average of one hundred and twenty-six to a term; and fifty students were prepared for college. From 1859 to 1863, Horatio O. Ladd and Am- brose P. Kelsey were respectively principals of the Academy. During the existence of this institution, young ladies were admitted to its instruction, sometimes in a separate depart- ment under the tuition of a preceptress, but more frequently in the main department.
An additional half township of land was granted to the Farmington Academy, as well as like amount to the other academies in the State, by a resolve of the legislature of 1850, and this added some $2,000 to the endowment of the institution, which had suffered during its entire existence from lack of funds. At its inception, the trustees were unable to collect a portion of the subscriptions, and were unfortunate in the selection of the half township of land originally granted for an endowment fund; but, notwith- standing many discouragements and embarrassments, this school was generously patronized, drawing students from every part of the State, and its influence has been a power in the community by promoting a sentiment favorable to higher education. During the half century that the Acad- cmy was in operation, scores of young men went forth who have since become eminent in the various professions, and all its students received lasting benefit. By a resolve of the trustees, adopted on the third of June, 1863, a tender of the funds and all other property of the Academy, was made to the State for the establishment of a State Normal School at
SCHOOLS. IO1
Farmington ; and by an order of the Governor and Council of October 9, 1863, the tender was accepted, and the school located at Farmington. By a vote of the trustees of the Academy, passed January 26, 1867, the treasurer was au- thorized and empowered to convey, upon certain conditions, the whole property to the State of Maine; subject, however, to the payment of a mortgage, upon which there was under- stood to be due the sum of three thousand six hundred and thirty-two dollars and sixty cents, including interest. The total value of the property thus conveyed, subject to the mortgage aforesaid, was estimated as follows: Real estate, including old Academy building, chemical and philosophical apparatus, library, etc., five thousand dollars ; personal assets, converted into money and expended in the erection of the new building, about $3,500,-making a total of $8,500 given to the State.
The following statement shows the names of trustees, date of election, and when and how vacancies occurred. The first fifteen named, were charter members of the board.
Church Brainerd, Farmington. 1807
Resigned 1828
Nathan Cutler, Farmington.
1807
Died 1861
Thomas Hiscock, Farmington.
1807
Resigned 1814
Ezekiel Porter, Farmington.
1807
Absent 1814 Died 1818
Timothy Smith, Farmington. 1807
Ebenezer Taylor, Farmington.
1807
By vote 1808
Stephen Titcomb, Farmington.
1807
Resigned 1811
Thomas Wendell, Farmington.
1807
Died 1862
Benjamin Abbott, Temple.
1807
Resigned 1816 Died 1838
Ebenezer Eaton, Wilton. 1807
Thomas Fillebrown, Hallowell.
1807
Resigned 182 1
Thomas Flint, New Vineyard.
1807
Resigned 1845
John Hovey, Mt. Vernon.
1807
Resigned
William Reed, Strong. 1807
Died 1823
Jotham Sewall, Chesterville.
1807
Resigned 1837
Joseph S. Smith, Farmington.
1808
Absent
Thomas Johnson, Jr., Farmington.
18II
By vote 1828
Oliver Bailey, Farmington.
1814
Died 1829
Josiah Prescott, Farmington.
1815
Died 1864
14
102
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Sylvester Strickland, Wilton. 1817
Resigned
William Gould, Farmington. 1818
Died 1831
Joseph Fairbanks, Farmington. 1821
Died 1831
Isaac Rogers, Farmington.
1827
Resigned 1833
John Corbett, Farmington.
1828
Resigned 1845
Isaac Tyler, Farmington.
1828
Died 1869
James Butterfield, Farmington.
I828
Resigned 1845
John Reed, Strong. 1828
Died 1836
Robert Goodenow, Farmington.
1832
Died 1874
Asa Abbott, Farmington.
1832
Died 1863
John Russ, Farmington.
1832
Died 1838
Charles Morse, Wilton.
1835
Died 1845
Ebenezer Childs, Farmington.
1835
Died 1874
Jacob Abbott, Farmington.
Resigned 1845
Lafayette Perkins, Farmington.
1845
Died 1874
Holmes A. Boardman, New Sharon. 1845
1845
Resigned 1853
George Gage, Wilton.
1845
Resigned 1862
William Cothren, Farmington.
1845
John L. Cutler, Farmington.
1845
Resigned 1859
Samuel Belcher, Farmington.
1845
Francis G. Butler, Farmington.
1859
Hannibal Belcher, Farmington.
1859
Alanson B. Caswell, Farmington.
1859
Died 1874
Reuben Cutler, Farmington.
1859
Died 1882
Philip M. Stubbs, Strong.
1862
Died 1876
John R. Eaton, Wilton.
1862
Alexander H. Abbott, Farmington. 1862
Frederick C. Perkins, Farmington. 1863
Ambrose P. Kelsey, Farmington.
1863 Resigned
The State Normal School was opened for instruction August 24, 1864, with Ambrose P. Kelsey, A. M., a gradu- ate of Hamilton College, as principal, and George M. Gage, of Bridgewater Normal School, and Miss Annie F. Johnson, of the Framingham Normal School, as assistants. The
following year Mr. Kelsey resigned his position and removed to Clinton, N. Y., and was succeeded by Mr. Gage. Mr. C. C. Rounds, formerly of the Edward Little Institute at Auburn, assumed the charge of the school in the fall of
Died 1846
Moses Sherburne, Phillips.
Died 1879
١
ABBOTT FAMILY SCHOOL,
103
SCHOOLS.
1868, and continued to hold the position of principal until 1883, when he resigned. Mr. Geo. C. Purington, a graduate of Bowdoin College, and formerly principal of the Auburn High School, was chosen to succeed him, and still occupies the chair. The number of assistants has been increased from time to time, and the faculty now numbers five. The first class was graduated in 1866. The total number of graduates, July, 1884, was 487, of whom the greater part have been employed in teaching in the public schools of Maine.
ABBOTT FAMILY SCHOOL.
Farmington is perhaps best known outside the State, as the seat of the Abbott School for boys .. This school was one of the earliest of the class of institutions known as family schools, and has for more than forty years enjoyed an enviable reputation. Little Blue, as the estate connected with the school is called, is situated on the southern con- fines of the village, and is one of the most picturesque spots in this part of the State. It was selected by Mr. Jacob Abbott, as a family seat, and from him received the name of " Little Blue ' from a fancied resemblance of one of its min- ature mountains to Mt. Blue. He occupied it for three years, and began the work of developing its natural beauties, but upon the death of his wife, and his removal to New York, the estate passed to his brother, Rev. Samuel P. Abbott, who opened it as a family school for boys in 1844. Mr. Abbott and his wife both dying in the summer of 1849, the place was purchased by the present proprietor, Mr. A. H. Abbott, who continued the plans of the founder of the school. The place, some twenty acres in extent, possessed singular natural beauty, exhibiting on a reduced scale almost every variety of picturesque scenery, and Mr. Abbott has spared neither time nor expense in developing its charms. Upon Beaver Dam Brook, which winds through the grounds, are two artificial ponds, while the brook is crossed and recrossed by bridges of rustic or finished design. The little moun- tain may be ascended by winding paths or by direct flights
104
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
of steps, and it, as well as the terraces about the buildings, is adorned with choice shrubs and exotics. The house, which at the opening of the school was a cottage, has been enlarged from time to time until it will now accommodate sixty pupils. In 1858, a school-room was erected, about eight rods from the house, and supplied with every apparatus necessary for the highest grade of schools. Its philosophi- cal, chemical, and astronomical apparatus was purchased at a cost of $6,000, and was regarded at the time it was bought as one of the best in the State. It also has a fine cabinet of minerals, and a library of two thousand volumes.
Under Mr. A. H. Abbott's management, the school in- creased in favor, and received pupils from all parts of the United States, as well as from some foreign countries. In 1865, Mr. Abbott leased the school to Mr. E. P. Weston, a graduate of Bowdoin College, who had for many years been preceptor of a young ladies' seminary at Gorham, and was also superintendent of schools for the State of Maine. Mr. Weston was succeeded by Mr. A. J. Blethen in 1869, who continued the school with marked success until 1874, when Mr. A. P. Kelsey assumed the control. Mr. Abbott resumed the charge of the school in 1876, and still holds the position of principal.
MAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
A private school for girls was opened in March, 1868, in the Grammar school-building, by Miss Julia H. May and Miss Sara R. May, accomplished graduates of Mt. Holyoke Semi- nary, who had previously taught in Kentucky. This school, providing instruction in Latin, French, and higher mathe- matics, seemed to meet a want in the community, and was at once liberally patronized. Mr. F. V. Stewart provided a room for the accommodation of the school, which was soon outgrown. A few boys were admitted to instruction, and it becoming necessary to secure a suitable building to meet the wants of the school, Mr. T. F. Belcher and Mr. F. G. Butler erected a convenient school-building on School St., which was occupied for the first time in the spring of 1870.
IO5
SCHOOLS.
Two courses of study, a seminary and a college preparatory course, were arranged, and the following year the institution was chartered under the name of the Wendell Institute. The first class received diplomas in 1872, and with the exception of 1873, a class was graduated each year until the school was removed to Strong in 1881. The graduates num- ber in all twenty-four, and of them, four entered Vassar College, three Wellesley College, one Bowdoin College, and one Bates College. Twenty-one others entered various col- leges from this school, who studied for a longer or shorter time at other institutions.
During the last six years of the existence of the school, the teachers received pupils from abroad into their family, occupying for that purpose the Goodenow mansion, now owned by D. W. Austin. After the opening of the district high school, the patronage of this school became necessarily limited, and the institution, much to the regret of its patrons, was removed to Strong, where it is continued with marked success.
THE WILLOWS.
In the spring of 1870, Miss Lucy G. Belcher opened a boarding-school for girls at the homestead of her father, Gen. Hannibal Belcher. The first term began with twelve boarding and day pupils, and arrangements were at once made to erect a building for the accommodation of the school. During the following year, an elegant and commo- dious house was built, which was dedicated Dec. 26, 1871. The institution took the name of "The Willows," from the row of venerable willow trees which fronted the grounds. It continued in operation until 1875, when a class of eight young ladies was graduated. The building has since re- mained unoccupied.
So long as the Academy was in existence, little need of a public high or classical school was felt. Its abandonment, however, left the citizens without the means of fitting their youth for college. Various attempts were made to establish
106
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
a high school at the Center Village, during the twelve years succeeding 1864, and various teachers were employed from time to time to give classical instruction; but the private school of the Misses May supplying the lack, no regular system of graded schools, with a college preparatory course, was introduced. The village schools had been classified in 1864 as primary, intermediate, and grammar, and two buildings were occupied for their accommodation. But in 1877, after a somewhat stormy debate, it was voted by the district to build one school-building, after the approved modern plans, and add a high school to the grades already in existence. The school-house on High Street, used for the grammar and primary departments, was sold to Mr. F. C. Perkins, who converted it into a dwelling-house, and the in- termediate school-house on Anson Street was sold to Mr. Joseph Bangs, who also remodeled it for a dwelling. A lot was purchased on Middle St., and a commodious building erected at a cost, including land and furniture, of about $12,000. Mr. J. A. Greene was appointed principal, with four assistants. His successors have been Philip L. Paine, Donald L. Morrill, Frank F. Whittier, John C. Ryder, George M. Strout, and William Harper, the present principal. During the seven years of its existence the Farmington High School has sent four young men to college.
By the terms of the grant of the Sandy River Township, four lots of land, of three hundred and twenty acres each, were reserved for public uses. Among these was one lot for the use of the public free schools in the town. By an act of the General Court of Massachusetts, approved February 5th, 18II, authority was granted the town, through a board of trustees, to sell and convey the school lands thus reserved, upon the condition that the proceeds arising from the sales should be annually appropriated for the support of public free schools in town, and such funds should never be alien- ated or diverted by the town or its trustees from the pur- poses contemplated by the original grant. The school lands in town were sold at different periods, and the net total pro- ceeds of their sale was $1,449.25, which amount was placed
107
SCHOOLS.
in the hands of the treasurer of the school fund, and the inter- est - generally $86.95 - has been paid annually to the treasurer of the town, and appropriated for the support of public free schools. The trustees of the fund are entitled to great commendation for their good judgment in the selection of their treasurers, who have kept the funds unimpaired, during the financial reverses of more than half a century, while those of many towns in the State, arising from a like source, have been lost.
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY HISTORY, AND THE WAR OF 1812.
Need of Military Organization. - Formation of Infantry Companies. - Ap- propriations for Military Equipments. - First Muster. - Petition for a Cavalry Company. - Resolutions upon the Embargo. - Organization of Artillery Company. - Rumors of War. - Hardy's Attack on Eastport. - Militia Ordered Out. - List of Farmington Men in Service. - Hartford Convention. - Its Effect in Farmington. - Peace and its Results. - Later Military History.
HARDLY was the organization of the town effected, before measures were taken to form a company of militia. As we have seen, the early settlers were men who had done service in the field, and were perfectly competent to under- take the organization and training of troops. Under the State law of that time, each town was obliged to provide its own military stores, and equip its own soldiers. Powder was very dear, costing a dollar a pound in Boston, and the taxes laid upon a town to maintain a military organization, formed no small part of the burden of taxation. Yet the training of troops, and the general muster, were almost the only diversions known. In a strictly agricultural community, without a church or a library, or even a weekly paper, with almost no communication with the outside world, the means for recreation were necessarily limited. It can hardly be a matter for surprise, that the inhabitants were eager for a company of militia, which, with its music and trainings, its treats and parades, would give them in amusement far more
MILITARY HISTORY. 109
than was expended in money for its maintenance. Nor was diversion the only end to be gained. The federal govern- ment was as yet hardly established. No one knew what disturbances might break out. The memory of Shay's Rebellion was still potent, and fears of Indian incursions had by no means subsided.
At the time of the incorporation of the town, the western part of Maine was included in the Eighth Division of Massachusetts Militia. The first company in Farmington, was organized Dec. 9, 1795, and was attached to the Third Regiment, Second Brigade, and Eighth Division. On that day the following officers were elected: Ezekiel Porter, captain, who was promoted to major, Jan. 20, 1796, and to lieutenant-colonel, June 19, 1798; Samuel Smith, licutenant ; William Allen, ensign. The second company was organized May 1, 1798, with the following list of commissioned officers : Hartson Cony, captain, who was promoted to adjutant, January 20, 1796; Jason D. Cony, lieutenant ; John Brown, ensign. At this time considerable pride was taken in maintaining well disciplined and equipped troops. The town voted one hundred and thirty pounds for powder and military stores, at the spring town-meeting in 1797, and in October, appropriated a hundred dollars more for arms and equipments. If the new company was formed with hope of sharing in these arms and equipments, it was destined to disappointment, for the following year the vote was re- seinded, and the hundred dollars appropriated to defraying town charges.
The first general muster in Farmington, was held in the fall of 1799, on Mr. Merry's interval, on the west side of the river, just below the present site of the Center Bridge. From the little that is known of this first muster, it does not seem to have been a very successful occasion. The troops, gathered from Farmington and the neighboring towns, were raw, undisciplined, poorly equipped, and possessed of very little idea of the duties of soldiers. No sooner were the companies posted in line, than one of the Farmington companies took offense at the position assigned to it, and at
15
IIO
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
a given signal mutinied, and left the field. One man alone stood firm at his post. Abiathar Green, who had served in the Revolutionary army, understood the respect which a soldier owes to his superiors, too well to indulge in such insubordination. It was proposed by some to bring the deserters back to their duty by force of arms, but the gen- eral and field-officers, after some parley, prevailed upon the company to return. Matters being finally arranged, and the manœuvres about to begin, the colonel of the regiment gave the command to form column on the right. Captain Davis, of the New Vineyard company, being somewhat deaf, in- quired of his orderly-sergeant, Jonathan Look, what the order was: "New Vineyard company, right about face, dismissed," replied the waggish orderly. "Attention! New Vineyard company, right about face, dismissed," repeated the captain, in stentorian tones. With a whoop and a yell, and with full appreciation of the joke, off went the men. So much time was consumed in restoring order among these chaotic elements, that the day was well advanced, and the troops tired and disorderly, before the line could be formed for inspection, and treat served.
The third company of militia was organized May 1, 1804, when the officers elected were: Joseph Fairbanks, captain, afterwards colonel; Josiah Perham, lieutenant ; Silas Per- ham, ensign, afterwards captain. The three companies, thus organized, were companies of infantry, and were known as the North Company, South Company, and West Company.
The North Company embraced the territory of the town on the east side of the river and north of the center of Perham road; the South Company embraced the territory south of the center of Perham road on the east side of the river and south of lot No. II on the west side; the West Company included the territory west of the river north of the south line of lot No. II.
In 1807, a movement was set on foot to secure the or- ganization of a company of cavalry in Farmington and vicin- ity. A petition was circulated and generally signed, and forwarded to the General Court, which read as follows :
III
MILITARY HISTORY.
To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Gen- cral Court to be convened at Boston on the third Monday of January A. D. 1808 :
The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the towns of Farmington, Industry, New Vineyard, Strong, Temple, Wilton and New Sharon, all in the county of Kennebec and within the terri- torial limits of the Second Brigade and Eighth Division of the Militia of said Commonwealth, humbly shows, that in the opinion of your petitioners and they sincerely believe that a corps of cavalry raised and organized within the towns aforesaid, to be attached to the Brigade aforesaid, the center whereof to be fixed in said town of Farmington would, if granted by your honors, greatly subserve the purposes of military instruction and improve- ment, that the persons by law liable to do military duty in the aforesaid towns are so remotely situated from where any volunteer corps is established as to preclude them from any opportunity of improvement in the discipline of any such corps, that although three companies of cavalry are already raised and attached to the Brigade aforesaid, yet the unusual extent of territory and of num- bers comprehended by said Brigade will afford ample reasons for raising and organizing the additional corps herein prayed for; that the several standing companies of Militia within the towns afore- said considerably exceed in number respectively the number of sixty-four effective privates, and some of said companies are too numerous to render military discipline and instruction practical or considerable among themselves, to which last mentioned descrip- tion of companies the greater part of your petitioners belong, which will more fully appear by copies of their several muster rolls herewith exhibited. And your petitioners desirous as well to pro- mote what we conceive to be so salutary an object as from a de- cided preference for discharging our military duties in that mode hereby pledge ourselves that in the event of our establishment as a corps of cavalry as aforesaid or in the manner that in your Honors' wisdom may be deemed expedient to immediately and without delay provide, prepare and equip ourselves to do and that we will each and all of us enlist into and do military service as by law is required of members of a cavalry corps.
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