USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > The history of Norway: > Part 13
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Town officers for 1851 : Simon Stevens, Clerk ; Ebenezer C. Shackley, Treasurer; Ichabod Bartlett, William Hall, Ansel Town, Selectmen; Jacob Bradbury, Collector. Lee Mixer, Representative.
Number of polls 434 ; number of scholars 800.
Highway tax, $2110,00.
State tax,
-
-
-
$ 656.64
County tax, - -
-
404,72
Schools, - -
- -
950,00
Poor, and other.town charges,
-
1000,00
Overlayings,
-
64.04
Total money tax,
- - $3075,40
Valuation, $211,312.
168
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
New immigrants : Hezekiah B. Bisbee, Ephraim Bean, Haney Blake, Smith Bartlett, C. B. Coffin, Job B. Crooker, Isaac Copps, Edwin Cummings, Benjamin Cobb, Asa Green, William Green, Richard Hammett, Dr. Jesse Howe, Enoch Holt, George Jackson, J. II. Kemp, Josiah P. Lovejoy, G. W. Mann, William D. Merrill, Aaron D. Mussey, Josiah Monroe, E. J. Pillsbury, Isaiah Penley, Melvin Pool, William T. Raymond, Calvin Richardson, Levi D. Stearns, Rev. H. W. Strong, Jonas Stevens, Rev. J. L. Stevens, Michacl Welch, Thomas Melzeard. Old settlers' sons : William Cushman, Ansel H. Cushman, James Crockett, 2d, James S. Crockett, Amos French, Jeremiah Foster, 2d, Cyrus S. Cobb, Timothy Gorham, Benjamin F. Hall, William C. Hobbs, George A. Noyes, John W. Pingree, Jr., Albert Small, Jonathan M. Shed, Isaac N. Small, Jacob Tubbs, Rollin Town, Alanson B. Watson, John HI. Witt.
In March, this year, Joel Parkhurst, while sawing shingles, received a severe wound on his left hand from the circular saw. The tendon, or cord, attached to the third finger, was cut entirely off, and the finger rendered powerless ; one end of the cord protruding from the wound, it was removed with scissors. His hand was so injured that many thought it woukl never again be fit for active use ; but it has been in a great measure restored by persevering in the "cold-water-cure" treatment ; even when most inflamed and painful, no dressing but water was applied, and that always with comforting effect. In 1830, the same hand was severely wounded by a premature explosion, while Mr. Parkhurst was engaged blasting rocks, and it has suffered injuries from machinery several times ; yet, though not so convenient as an unmaimed hand, it is in tolerable repair, and serves quite well its owner, who is thankful it has so well endured the various accidents.
This year, on the night of the 22d of Sept., (or the early morning of the 23d,) a great calamity, by fire, befel the Village, the sad effects of which are felt by the whole town.
169
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
The fire was first discovered in the stable of Anthony Bennett, who kept the Railroad House, about midnight. The flames spread so rapidly, that Mr. Bennett saved but a small part of the contents of the house, as it was large, and contained much furniture of various kinds. The conflagration spread from building to building, until eighteen, of all kinds, were burnt, and one, a wood-house of Mrs. Young, was pulled down to stop the fire. The following persons were the sufferers : Joseph Shackley lost his house, barn, and two sheds; A. C. Denison a very large store, stable, and shed ; an extensive stock of goods of almost every description was in the store, owned by Isaac A. Denison and Joseph A. Kendall, who oc- cupied the building ; Anthony Bennett lost house, stable, a large wood and carriage shed, five valuable horses, one cow, one hog, harnesses and carriages ; part of the horses were owned by other persons; Benjamin Tucker, Jr., lost house, barn, and two large sheds, with a quantity of hay and grain, carriages, harnesses, &c .; Henry Rust, Esq., a very large, well-finished house, and three large outbuildings for necessary uses. There probably was more stuff saved from the last- named houses than from Mr. Bennett's, as there was more time for removing the goods. This was a sad blow to the Village, and even to the whole town, and tenfold more so to the owners. It seemed to almost paralyze all business for a while, and it will require a long lapse of time to fully recover from the shock. The origin of this fire is still shrouded in mystery ; but scarcely a doubt rests on the mind of any one but that it was the work of an incendiary. One individual, yea, two, were arrested, and examined before a magistrate touching the matter, but, the evidence not being very positive, were discharged ; still, public opinion awards a verdict of guilty, on some person ; but that is not legal proof. But, an all-wise Providence, perhaps, will not let justice slumber al- ways ; but will yet visit the atrocious wickedness of this deed upon the head of the guilty one.
170
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
On the night of the 28th of December a horrible affair took place near the middle of this town. A number of young men met for the purpose of " serenading " a party who had been recently married. In the midst of the performance, some one in the house discharged a gun, loaded with shot and peas, at the crowd. The charge principally took effect upon the person of a young man named Foster, a son of Capt. Jer- cmiah Foster, injuring him severely, and it was at the time feared fatally. He received from twenty to thirty shot and peas in his face and neck, one of which lodged in one of his eyes, destroying it entirely ; several took effect in one of his hands, breaking the bones, and otherwise injuring it. It is reported that some others were struck by the scattering shot, but not severely injured. The horrible transaction has been, and is still to come under a judicial investigation. The young man has pretty much recovered from his wounds, but with the complete loss of his injured eye. Much excitement existed at the time, especially against the individual who was supposed to have fired the gun. This " serenading" is not very com- mendable, but yet it is one of the fashionable follies of the present day ; and a person of common sense and humane feelings can plead no excuse for so wanton and wicked an act as firing into an indiscriminate crowd of men and boys.
Town officers for 1852 : Wm. Wirt Virgin, Clerk ; Ebenezer C. Shackley, Treasurer; Simon Stevens, Simeon Noble, Lee Mixer, Selectmen ; Jonathan Blake, Collector. Asa Dan- forth, Representative.
Valuation, $208,887. Number of polls 406; number of scholars 797 ; voters in March 478-in September 503.
Highway tax, as voted by the town. $2200,00.
State tax, -
-
$ 656.66
County tax, - -
-
-
522,35
Schools, - - -
950,00
Poor, and town charges,
1000,00
Extra road money,
-
4 200,00
Total money tax,
-
-
$3329.01
-
-
171
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
New immigrants : E. W. Collis, John Dealy, Edgar Emery, Benjamin B. Francis, Samuel Gibson, John C. Kimball, Joseph F. Herrick, John J. Hayden, Henry Houghton, Charles Jackson, Ezekiel Jackson, Elijah G. Knight, James Lyndes, Joseph M. Little, John McGee, Alexander H. Muzzey, Isaac Merrill, Francis W. Mallett, Stuart H. Noble, James L. Paine, Thomas Plummer, George L. Plummer, Charles A. Radford, E. Robinson, John W. Raymond, Erastus Richard- son, Franklin Sargent, W. H. Stillson, George Titcomb, Marshal Warren, Charles Wolcot, Ephraim F. Wood, Solo- mon N. Cloudman, Horace P. McAllister. Old settlers' sons : Joseph Bullen, William R. Danforth, William Frost, 4th, Elijah HI. Hobbs, Darius M. Holt, Aurelius C. Noble, Ben- jamin G. Holt, Benjamin Tucker, 3d, Amos H. Needham, Henry A. Bradbury, Servilla A. Bennett, Charles II. Evans, Wilson Hill, Jr., Simon Stevens, 2d, Daniel Herring, George W. Millett, Edward Morse, Joshua B. Crockett, Charles F. Parkhurst.
On the 11th day of May, this year, Daniel H. Witt, a son of Benjamin Witt, and grandson of Benjamin Witt, the old settler. was suddenly killed on the railroad: he lived one hour and ten minutes after being run over. He was employed , as fireman on an engine.
The following persons, in Norway, hold commissions as Justices of the Peace, and of the Quorum, viz :
Justices Peace and Quorum-Moses B. Bartlett, Levi Whitman, Samuel Cobb, Samuel Gibson, * William E. Good- now, David Noyes, Jonathan B. Smith. Jonathan Swift, Wm. Wirt Virgin. Justices Peace-William Foster, David F. Frost, Simeon Noble.
There have, since the first settlement of this town. been many different individuals who have engaged in trade, and have prosecuted that business for a long or short time, as
* Samuel Gibson formerly resided in Denmark, and is Sheriff of the County of Oxford. Asa Thayer is Deputy Sheriff at this time.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
suited their interest or inclination, with various success. I here give the names of such as can be recollected, without pretending to give dates as to the time when, or how long : James Kettle, William Reed, William Hobbs, Joshua Smith, Daniel Smith, William Cox, Increase Robinson, Allan Bart- lett, Jacob French, Jeremiah Mitchell, Edward Mitchell, Aaron Wilkins, William Pingree, Jonathan Swift, Ansel Field, Job E. Stevens, John B. Ford, Samuel Dunn, Jona- than Stevens, Asa Barton, Emery Livermore, George J. Ordway, Stephen Cummings, Ichabod Bartlett, Lemuel Bart- lett, Anthony Bennett, David Smith, Jonathan B. Smith, Lee Mixer, Samuel Houghton, John Tucker, Stephen Green- leaf, Jr., William E. Goodnow, William Frost, 3d, William Hayes, Otis True, Josephus Harris, Cyrus Thayer, Daniel Hubbard, Jotham Goodnow, James N. Hall, Moses G. Dow, David R. Holden, Moses A. Young, Bailey Bodwell, Ezra Jewell, James Crockett, Henry L. Crockett, Ebenezer C. Shackley, Samuel Favor, Adna C. Denison, Clark P. True, Elhanan W. Fyler, Isaac A. Denison, Joseph A. Kendall, Franklin Manning, Jeremiah Howe, Edwin W. Howe, Charles P. Kimball, M. L. Burr, Charles Tubbs, Orin Tubbs, Nathan Noble, William Hor, Newton Swift, David Crockett, Elijah R. Merrill, Henry Upton, James H. Merrill, William Foster, James French, Jr., George French, Asa Noyes, Joseph Ben- nett, William Buck, William Howe, Kendall Deering, Henry Houghton, Francis II. Whitman, George A. Frost, George W. Knight, Charles Penley, James Tubbs, David N. Cushman. In addition to this long list, a large number of females have kept milliner's shops, for furnishing articles in the female department.
Among this multiplicity of traders are many who, in their day, did a thriving business, and many more who did not lay out to do but little. Some continued in business many years, and others but a short time. Some got rich, and others prob- ably did not; but it takes everybody to do everything, and
173
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
men will generally do what they like best if they can. The method and character of trade has undergone great changes since the early settlements in this town. Formerly it was very difficult to sell any articles of produce for cash ; hence the farmer was under the necessity of carrying much of his surplus produce to Portland in order to get a little money ; and then it was quite a trick to get much, say one-half money, at best, for good staple articles. But at the present day, good staple articles will command cash, if required, at home, and but few farmers carry their surplus produce to Portland themselves. And we do sincerely hope that the town will always be blessed with good, fair, honest traders, rich enough and willing to pay the hard-laboring farmers cash when they need it.
I will here mention, though a little out of plaec, that Ste- phen Greenleaf, senior, was the first cabinet-maker in Norway Village, and in early times was considered a fine workman. He has performed the duty of sexton in the Village for many years ; but is now verging toward the grave himself, as he is quite aged.
Gentle reader, I have led you along, year by year, marking out the way through piles of old documents, and new scraps of memoranda collected with much labor, and have consulted both the living and the dead (as I have sometimes visited the grave-yard to procure dates of certain matters) to enable me to point out things in their true light and under proper dates ; and now I shall proceed to show the present situation of things "about town," that you may be able to make a fair compari- son between the situation of the place in 1786, and in 1852, comprising a space of 66 years. The great and principal business of the town is agriculture, although there is much mechanical and other business done at the present day, and for that matter, always has been, since its first settlement. There are now fourteen school-houses, and the same number
174
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
of school-districts, containing eight hundred scholars, and one academy, of which I shall speak hereafter. At the first- named period, this town was a howling wilderness-one unbroken forest, destitute of the first mark of civilization : now, few towns can boast of fairer fields, or a more pleasant, thriving Village. In regard to the business done in the town, besides that of farming, (which is the basis of all other busi- ness, ) I will commence with affairs at the Steep Falls.
The stream which furnishes the water-power is the outlet of the great Pennessewassee pond, and the whole fall is about sixty-five feet, within a distance of twenty rods, or less. The upper privilege is occupied by the paper-mill of Dr. Asa Danforth; it is built on the most improved plan, and does a good business. This establishment uses up 100 tons of rags, 175 cords of wood, 150 casks of lime, 12 casks chloride of lime, 960 pounds oil of vitriol, and turns out $15,000 worth of paper annually. Three men and three girls are employed. George W. Scaverns foreman and superintendent. This is a very fine privilege for the paper-making business, on account of the clearness and softness of the water, which far surpasses many other privileges improved for like purposes. The mill was put in operation in Jan., 1848, and the paper manufac- tured in it has already established a high reputation.
On the next fall is a shingle-machine, and an engine-lathe, owned by Joel Parkhurst, who saws 200 thousand of shingles per year, and sometimes more, besides other business.
On the lower fall is A. C. Denison's saw-mill, which cuts out about 600 thousand of lumber per year. J. B. Crooker foreman.
On the lower fall, also, opposite the saw-mill, is Brown & Co.'s iron-foundery, in which are manufactured, largely, stoves, fire-frames, ash, oven, and boiler-mouths, agricultural implements, wheel-hubs, and almost anything else made in such establishments, besides a large business in the manufac- ture of butt-hinges, latches, &c. ; they have two engine-lathes,
175
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
and are prepared to execute almost any work in wood or iron that is called for ; there are used 150 tons of iron, and 50 tons of coal per year. Connected with this establishment, is a shop for working tin and sheet-iron, and a large store of goods of almost all kinds, which are sold to the amount of $25,000 per year, exclusive of their castings. J. B. Brown, of Portland, principal, or sole owner; Franklin Manning, superintendent. Works started in 1847, and yearly increasing.
A new store has been opened near Brown & Co.'s by Henry. Houghton, within the past year, not long enough since to de- termine, with much accuracy, the amount of business ; but probably about $6000 to $8000 per year.
Adna C. Denison came from Vermont to Norway in 1842, and commenced trade in the store of J. B. Brown, at the Steep Falls, (the same store now occupied by Brown & Co ... ) and in a short time did a great business for a country store. He carried on trade on a different scale from what had previ- ously been customary in this section of the country : he bought almost every commodity offered, which could be considered a proper article of traffic, and for staple articles paid cash, if required; in this way he soon drew around him a large amount of business. He remained at the Falls about four years, and then moved his quarters to near the center of the Village; soon after, he purchased the stand next door east of Bennett's tavern, where he made large additions to the building, and erected a stable and other things necessary for his large busi- ness ; his trade amounted to about $50,000 per year. This trade was under the name of Denison & True ; afterwards, Denison, True & Kendall; and at the time of the destructive fire, his brother, Isaac A. Denison, and Joseph A. Kendall, occupied the store, and were, with others, great sufferers. Isaac A. Denison and Joseph A. Kendall have resumed trade since the fire, and now occupy the store near the center bridge ; they are doing a good business, probably at the rate of $30,- 000 per year; and it is hoped that the trading community
176
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
will not be unmindful of them, as a good run of custom would do much to make them forget their heavy loss.
Jeremiah and Edwin W. Howe are carrying on trade in the brick store near the center of the Village, built in 1830, and first occupied by Emery Livermore. Jeremiah Howe com- menced trade in this store in July, 1835, and has continued since in the same building. His brother, E. W. Howe, is now a partner in the business ; their trade amounts to some- thing like $20,000 per year. Pretty good business for the old mail-carrier's descendants. They are grandsons of Jacob Howe, who carried the first mail through Norway, and used to sound his tin horn, as he approached the post-office, and neighborhoods where any one took the old "Portland Gazette," or "Eastern Argus ; " and even these papers, at that day, were only in their swaddling-clothes, compared with the pres- ent time.
James H. Merrill carries on trade in a store built, a few years since, by George J. Ordway ; he deals in English and West India goods, and ready-made clothing; does a pretty good business, amounting, probably, to about $8000 or $10,- 000 per year.
Ebenezer C. Shackley and Samuel Favor trade near the head of the Village ; they keep a good assortment of articles of almost all kinds, and do a thriving business, probably about $10,000 or $15,000 per year; among their stock is a good assortment of joiner's tools and hardware.
James Crockett trades at the head of the Village, and has traded there for many years ; he never kept a large stock of goods, but does a steady, snug little business, and probably makes as good a living as any of them. He is the town agent for selling spirituous liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes. IIe has long been licensed as a retailer, and is as careful and discreet in selling the article as the most fastidious could wish. When his father, Joshua Crockett, moved into the place, he was a small boy, and has seen the town grow up
177
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
to its present state. In 1817, he was chosen Constable and Collector of taxes, and since that time has collected the taxes of the town twenty-three years, and been Constable ever since, and Coroner for many years, also; and when the taxes were collected, the money was always put in the right place, and that is saying considerable.
The tanning business is carried on largely in the Village by Mark P. Smith. He commenced in 1841 with fifteen pits, and has been making additions to his buildings and pits ever since ; and at the present time has fifty-six pits. He takes in 400 slaughter hides yearly, and tans at least 1700 hides and 400 calf-skins annually ; he uses 200 cords of bark, and $200 worth of oil and tallow in finishing his leather.
Ebenezer Hobbs, the third child born in Rustfield, has car- ried on the blacksmith and plow business for many years ; he makes from 50 to 150 plows annually; and from 1820 up to 1842, when the old-fashioned plows were used, he made many more than that number. He has done a large business in ironing carriages and sleighs ; for several years he has had a small foundery, and does his own castings ; and the probability is, that he has hammered out on his anvil, and cast in his foundery, a good many hard dollars-and he has worked hard to get them.
While speaking of plows, I will give the history of the first one ever made, or used, in the place; and that plow was con- structed for Mr. Dudley Pike. In the spring of 1790, Anthony and Nathaniel Bennett came up from New Glouces- ter to look out land, in order to purchase and settle on the same, and went to Dudley Pike's to stay over night, on their arrival in Rustfield. After exploring and selecting their lots, they returned to the same hospitable cabin for another night's lodging before returning home. Mr. Pike happened to have a set of old plow-irons, and they tarried another day with their host, and made a plow for him, which was a very valu- able acquisition to his new farm, and probably did not come
12
178
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
amiss to his few neighbors. And posterity may set it down, that Capt. Anthony, and Licut. Nathaniel Bennett, were the builders of the first plow in Norway.
Horatio G. Cole cards wool and dresses cloth. He came to Norway in 1820, and tended a carding-machine a few years for Nathaniel Bennett, near the grist-mill; he then bought the machine, and afterwards purchased the privilege where Bailey Bodwell first erected clothier's works, and since has carried on both branches ; thus he has had a very good chance to "pull the wool over the eyes " of the whole town. He cards, or has carded, from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of wool annually ; but carding and cloth-dressing are not so fashion- able as they were thirty years ago. Then you could hear the music of the spinning-wheel and loom in almost every house, and men and women, boys and girls, were clad in home-spun and home-dressed garments.
We have a few men to cut up leather after Mark P. Smith tans it. Solomon S. Hall manufactures 600, or more, pairs of boots and shoes annually. Lee Mixer has done a large business in the shoe line, probably to the amount of $4000 per year. Hawkins & Stearns do about $2500 per year. Many others in different parts of the town do much custom work, and use a large quantity of Icather. Benjamin Tuck- er, Jr., also helps off the leather ; he works at the harness- making and carriage-trimming business, to the amount of $500, annually.
Thomas H. Kelley, a tailor, cuts up Cole's cloth, and that of everybody else, which comes in his way. The amount of work done in his shop probably amounts to $2000, or more, annually. He makes good fits-otherwise he would do much less.
An apothecary store is kept by Robert Noyes in the old store first built by William Reed; but the building has a large addition to its former size, and is fitted up in good style. Amount of drugs and medicines sold annually, $1000. In
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
the same building is a bookstore and bindery, managed by Robert Noyes and George L. Beal; amount of business about $1000 annually.
Bulpit & Barnard, formerly of Boston, carry on a large business, for a country place, in the cabinet and furniture manufacture. They have very nice machinery for doing much of the labor, and can probably sell furniture cheaper, for the quality, than any other concern of the kind in this section of the country. They turn out about $15,000 worth annually.
The mills at the head of the Village, owned by the com- pany before spoken of, do a good business; the grist-mill grinds from ten to sixteen thousand bushels per year, and sometimes more ; and the saw-mill cuts out from two to three hundred thousand of lumber per year. There are four other saw-mills in the town besides those at the Village and the Falls, viz : Col. John Millett's, on the outlet of North pond, which cuts out from one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand annually ; Holden's mill, on Crooked river, which saws from two hundred to eight or ten hundred thousand per year, with a shingle-machine which manufactures from two hundred to six or eight hundred thousand of shingles annu- ally. Another saw-mill and shingle-machine stands on the Upton brook, and does considerable business-amount un- known to the writer. The latter mill, as previously stated, has been three times destroyed by fire, and Holden's mill once burnt. Jonathan Swift, Esq., has a grist-mill and a shingle-machine near the old Upton privilege, which do some business, but the stream being small, does not afford a suffi- cient supply of water in dry times. Capt. Richard Lombard has a saw-mill on the Everett brook, and cuts a large quantity of lumber each spring.
In 1847, Charles P. Kimball came into Norway Village, 'and commenced the sleigh and carriage-making business. At first he had from two to four hands employed in his shop, and had his iron-work done in other shops ; but his work proving
180
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
quite satisfactory to purchasers, he gradually increased his help from six to fifteen, or more, hands. In the spring of 1850, he purchased a water-privilege near Mr. Cole's works, and erected a large shop, 100 feet by 32, and three stories high ; the lower story is built of split stone, and used for the blacksmith shop, where he has all his sleighs and carriages ironed under his own direction; the machinery of the estab- lishment probably cost more than $2000. He now employs about forty hands in all departments of his business, that is, on the wood-work, ironing, painting, and trimming. He uses a large amount of lumber, iron, coal, leather, paints, oil, and varnish, and sells more than one hundred wheel carriages, and two or three times that number of sleighs ; besides doing a great deal of small jobbing and repairing. His carriages and sleighs go into almost every part of the State, and many into New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has recently estab- lished a depository for his carriages in Portland, and has a salesman to sell the same as opportunity shall offer. Last year he purchased the old stand where William Cox formerly traded and lived, and has almost built the store anew, and fit- ted it up in a handsome style for the purpose of trade; and a large quantity of articles are wanted by the men in his employ, and by other people, who can as well trade with him as with any other person, provided he sells articles as good and as cheap as others. The old Cox house, it will be recol- lected, was the first two-story building erected in the Village, and was occupied by Mr. Cox from 1808 to 1843. While trading here, he sold a great amount of goods, and accumu- lated a decent property, besides bringing up a large family of children ; he now sleeps in the silent tomb.
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