USA > Maine > Oxford County > Peru > The history of Peru in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, from 1789 to 1911. Residents and genealogies of their families, also a part of Franklin plan > Part 2
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School and Town House
The first schoolhouse was at the top of the hill, on the Merrill Knight farın, on the north side of the "New County Road," ascending the steep grade from the River road to the house and farm of Goin Knight. This house served for schoolhouse and townhouse till about 1842, a period of 25 years. Last meeting there, September 12, 1842.
Adam Knight, son of Merrill Knight, was the first man to represent Peru in the legislature after the town was incorporated, in 1821. He was elected September 8, 1823, having 21 votes, and Enoch Jaquis 1 vote. Physically he was a strong, robust, ener- getic man.
First Liberty Pole
Following the achievements of the American military and naval forces in the war of 1812 and 1814, the people were very patriotic. In those days, before the American flag was common and within the reach of all, a Liberty Pole was the emblem of patriotism. Now that the first public building in town was erected on a commanding eminence, overlooking the broad, fertile plain of the majestic Androscoggin, it was befitting that the first Liberty
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Pole should be erected on the first lot cleared and settled in the township, beside the first public highway. to commemorate the first schoolhouse and townhouse erected in town. With no small degree of pride and good cheer, a goodly number of the pioncer settlers met at the center of the plantation to celebrate the event. A tall, handsome pole was provided, and a deep hole dug in the earth nearby the schoolhouse.
Climbing the Liberty Pole
It is well known that one important feat of this demonstration calls for a man at the top of the pole, forty feet from the ground, to stand erect on a platform one foot square, swing hat in air and give the emblem of liberty a name. How to climb that smooth pole when erected is the conundrum. Now it is decided that this feat should first be shown by some one of the first settlers of the first farm, and Adam Knight, son of Merrill, Jr., was chosen to give the exhibition. Mr. Knight decides the easiest way to the top of the pole is to make fast before the pole leaves the ground, and thus he was lifted skyward and held till the pole was made fast, when he acted well his part of the program.
Evidently at a later period, Adam Knight, son of Merrill, Sr., changed his residence and occupation from his farm on the hill to the water power, or at least a chance to make available the power on Speer's stream at Dickvale, now the John C. Wyman mill and power. He gained possession and began a sawmill there before leaving the hill farm. In the meantime he went on foot from home to his work there and returned each day. His route lay near the new schoolhouse, fronting James P. York's, thence toward Black Mountain to the meadow leading from foot of Old Dick to Dickvale. This route was then a wilderness.
Bear Hug
Mr. Knight was accustomed to take his gun with him during his travel. One morning during his trip to his mill, he had reached this meadow or bog, then a forest, and chanced to see a bear's cub. It would seem he did not stop to consider what the result might be but shot the cub at once. Very soon the cries of the cub brought an old white-faced bear. She gave battle before Mr. Knight could reload his gun, obtain a club or climb a tree. Now came a tug of war. The bear strove to hug her man, and the man rammed the bear with gun barrel and the battle continued
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till Mrs. Bear yielded her life and that gun was well stove to pieces. He also trapped in cornfield on the Farrar farm eleven bears. Who shall say his war record was not worthy of a seat in the Legislature? Adam Knight was a prominent man in all the offices of plantation and town and was almost constantly filling some one office and often several of them the same year. He raised up a very likely family of children. Two sons, Merrill Knight, 2nd, and Nathaniel Knight, were of the leading towns- men in their day. A younger son, Daniel, went west soon after coming upon the stage of action and died about a year after in Oregon. Adam Knight and wife, Betsey Chase, d at Diekvale. She d June 22, 1847, ae 53 yrs. He d Apr. 18, 1853, ae 61 yrs.
The New County Road
The first publie road evidently in Township No. 1 was made years before the incorporation of Plantation No. 1. This road was to open a new line of travel from Dixfield and vicinity through the township to Sumner and to Paris Court House. It seemed the intent of the early settlers to seek the hills, however large or steep, and shun the valleys. This road is alluded to in the early plantation records and known as the "new county road." It began at the ferryway of Merrill Knight on the west bank of
the river, thence westerly across his intervale to and past his build- ings, erossing the river road as now traveled at right angles, thence up the big hill known as "Town House Hill" to Goin Knight farm and to Leonard Knight farm, Amos Knight farm, Francis Waite farm, thence bearing southeast to Harry Knight place, now Osroe L. Knight farm, to Josiah Smith and John Hodgdon farms closely nestled in the basin at the foot of moun- tain range surrounding east, south and west, thence up and over the mountain notch. a vast tract of ledge and rocks laid bare almost by falling rain and melting snow; thence on down the gentle slope to valley of Worthly pond.
Among the first settlers on this side of the mountain on line of the "new county road" were Robert Tilson and family. There is no record of this family except a head stone at the grave in the old yard at East Peru which reads, "Hannah, the wife of Josiah Tilson, father of Robert, sen., d Oct. 18, 1837, ae 69 yrs." We next mention the residence of John Moore. He is remembered as making baskets. His name appears on record of town meeting May 3d, 1830, when he and Wm. Kyle were chosen surveyors of
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Hollis Turner house on "'new county road" that extended by Ozroe Knight buildings up over the mountain to Paris. This road was built before plantation was incorporated.
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1807. Knight Cemetery. Abandoned about 1887. Became a dense forest. Reclaimed and enclosed with iron nino foneo 1010 Financo 4
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Merrill Knight house. "New county road" extends at left up Town House Hill where first schoolhouse was built 1818, serving till 1840 also for Town House. Road continued by the Hollis Turner house,
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View of the landscape on line of the "new county road" in Plantation days running by the Ozroe Knight build- ings (seen in the cut) to the Smith and Hodgdon farm in the basin and up over the mountain notch to the
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AS UN X BL TILDER FOUND IT
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highways. He was the father of Nahum Moore the popular con- ductor of P. & R. F. Ry. a term of years. It was here son Nahum was born.
Fairfield Moore, brother of John, was a resident and m Nancy Campbelle July 12, 1827.
Their sister, Nancy Moore, m Valentine Mathews, a soldier of 1812 war, settled in Franklin on Chas. L. Mathew farm (now Peru) in 1826 when their son Winthrop was three yrs old.
Early Settlers in Worthly Pond Region
A fine productive farm in this region was that of Asa Bonney who came from Sumner. He lived here in 1827. Dea. Freeman Irish owned and occupied the premises in the early forties or earlier, It was then a fine residence, a good set of buildings and the premises were in flourishing condition.
Asa Bonney sold to Benj. Stevens and moved up the hill where his girls built a log house; from there he removed to a lot of land beyond the Nathan Harlow farm above Ripley's continuing there through life. His son, Cyrus, and family, occupied the farm a term of years. John Poland built a frame house above the Bonney log house mentioned. Russell Ellis lived on what is now the James Irish farm east side of Worthly pond.
Another residence of an early pioneer settler was that of Thad- deus Oldham, sen., who came from Sumner November, 1827, and located on the "new county road" on side hill. Road extended along hill range to Sumner and Rumford. His house, as also the first and second residences mentioned this side of the mountain, was made of logs. Here his sons, Benj. F., John and Hosea B., were born.
Expensive Road over the Mountains
To build and maintain this road, particularly the mountain divi- sion, was a gigantic undertaking. It proved very expensive and a source of much complaint. It took a vast amount of labor each year to make the road passable. Records show Mar. 2, 1818: Plantation raised $750 highway tax and $400 of the sum was appropriated to this road.
Apr. 5, 1819, raised for this road alone $500, highway. Just ten years later the condition of this road led the court C. P. to assess a fine of $300 cash to satisfy an indictment on the "new county road" and Sept. 9, 1833, town voted $100 cash for repairs on this
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road to elear a second indictment. The writer rode over this road with his father's horse and wagon in 1840 or 41. The public travel changed about that period. A new road was opened on the west side of Worthly pond, making connection with the river road and the road through green woods to Sumner and Paris. Then the travel over the mountain ceased. The first record of road on plantation records is dated April 5. 1813, and reads : "Voted to lay out a road from the two mile tree on the county road, westerly by Brady Bailey's and Mr. Grover's" The residence of the former is now the town farm and the old Bailey house. Brady, sen., had two sons, Samuel L. and Brady, jr. The latter continued on the faim many years after the death of the parent. Samuel settled on the home lot erecting buildings near by, going east on the proposed town road; continuing thence down the slope toward the two mile tree above mentioned. The next resident was Daniel Delano who played the fife at the oldtime trainings with rare skill. The next farm residence before reaching the "new county road" was that of Sumner R. Newell a noted "schoolmaster" and a prominent town official many years. Going west from the Brady Bailey farm, the new town road probably continued to the Joshua Knox place, as now traveled, and to John Delano's above the Bray, formerly Stillman Wyman, residence. This section was designated "High street" at Elmer Knox place along the line where Mr. Jed- diah Grover was a pioneer settler. Meeting of March 6, 1815, Adam Knight, Edsel Grover and Francis Waite were chosen assessors.
Edsel was the son of Jedediah and Elizabeth Grover. They had two girls, Ruth and Betsey. This family continued in town at date of incorporation, 1821. May 13, 1821, Edsel Grover m Mary Walker, b June 26, 1800, daughter of Wm. Walker, sen. They had a son Peter Smith Grover. This family moved probably around '40, date unknown, to Carthage, Me., where wife d Sept. 5, 18-12.
Plantation meeting of Dec. 11, 1813, voted to lay out a road from James Lunt's through by Worthly pond and by Wm. Millet's to Hartford Line. This road intersected the river road quite near the Lunt house on south side, thence across Lunt pasture to Wm. Kyle house, standing then about twenty rods north of Henry Chase's house, thence down to road as now traveled to Worthly pond. The Chase buildings were built years afterwards by Moses True, who married a daughter of Amos Kyle, a brother to William. The description implies that Wm. Millet lived beyond the pond in
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the direction of Hartford. Hills were the first places settled in those days. The course leads up and over the range of hills of which Gowell hill was a part.
Here he resided. William Millet and wife, Betsey; Chil., Leonard, b Mar. 2, 1810 ; Israel, b Oct. 4, 1813 ; Wm., jr .. b Aug. 1, 1817; Betsey, b Sept. 10, 1819. All in town in 1821. In pass- ing the foot of Worthly pond, the course of road mentioned crosses its outlet, and further down the stream a water power was estab- lished a few years after the road was completed. This was the first sawmill known in this part of the town. It was some distance below Ripley's and was erected by Elisha Thomas. To obtain a sufficient volume of water from main pond to supply the pond and mill below, it became necessary to excavate a deep channel from the large pond to the dam at the mill. The question arose, What was the quickest and cheapest way to remove the earth? The fall was not enough for the natural current to carry away the earth. It is told that Mr. Thomas was resourceful for the occasion, and it was household gossip for years, how he washed out that channel with new rum and molasses. He made a bee and the fluid did the work. Subsequently the water power at outlet was fully util- ized by Maj. Wm. K. Ripley.
The Second on Gowell Hill
The second on Gowell hill was a Mr. Sanders, who sold to Hezekiah Gowell and Jonathan Haskell. Mr. Haskell afterward located on the road from East Peru village to Albert S. Holman's farm. He was there in the early forties. It was the Thomas Frashier farm here in 1828. Mr. Gowell's residence on the hill a term of years gave it a name. He was an expert in wielding the goad and usually kept a well matched pair of oxen. Other resi- dents were John Poland, who removed to Rumford, and Henry E. Young, from Hartford. Down the hill was James Tylor, between the Young place and Sylvanus Poland's, now the Albert M. John- son place. Tylor was followed by Joseph Sampson, and he by Ezekiel Poland at his first marriage.
Town meeting, April 16, 1821. "Voted, that Wm. Millet and those on the west side of pond should be set off into a school dis- trict, and Wm. Millet was chosen school ward." In 1844 a road was built from Henry E. Young's, by head of Worthly pond to County road. Hezekiah Gowell, b Sept. 21, 1804, d May 20, 1883; and wife, Agnes, b Jan. 1, 1803, d Jan. 12, 1876. They sleep at E. Peru Cem. Children known, John F. and Albert L. Gowell.
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Incorporation of Town of Peru
State of Maine. In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
An act to establish the town of Peru in the County of Oxford.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives in Legislature assembled: That the plantation hereto- fore called No. 1, in the County of Oxford, as contained within the following described bounds, be and hereby is, with the inhabi- tants thereon, established as a town by the name of Peru, and bounded as follows. to wit: Westly by the town of Rumford and Plantation No. 2; south by the town of Sumner ; east by the town of Hartford and Jay (now Canton), and north by Androscoggin river. And the said town of Peru is hereby vested with all the corporate powers and privileges, and shall be subject to all the duties and requisitions of other corporate towns, according to the constitution and laws of the state.
Be it further enacted that Stephen Barnard, Esq., of Mexico. in said county, upon application therefor, is hereby empowered to issue a warrant directed to a freehold inhabitant of said town of Peru, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be appoint- ed in said warrant for the choice of such officers as towns are by law empowered and required to choose at their annual town meetings.
In the House of Representatives, Jan 30, 18?1. This bill har- ing had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
Benjamin Ames, Speaker.
In Senate, Jan. 31, 1821. This bill having had two several readings, passed to be enacted.
William D. Williamson, President.
Feb. 5, 1821 : Approved. William King.
Secretary of State's Office, Feb. 10, 1821. Portland.
A true copy. Attest : Ashur Ware, Sec'y of State. Seal.
Oxford, ss.
To Wm. Brackett, one of the freehold inhabitants of the town of Peru, in said county :
In the name of the State of Maine you are hereby required to notify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants of said town of Peru, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to assemble at the
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schoolhouse near Merrill Knight's, in said Peru, on Wednesday, the fourth day of April, next, at one o'clock P. M., to act on the fol- lowing articles, to wit: 1st, to choose a moderator to govern said meeting; 2nd, to choose a town clerk; 3rd, to choose selectmen ; 4th, to choose assessors; 5th, to choose town treasurer and all other officers that towns are authorized to choose in the months of March or April, annually.
Given under my hand and seal at Mexico this 26th day of March, 1821. Stephen Barnard, Justice of the Peace.
Oxford, ss.
Peru, March 28, 1821.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the within named inhabitants to meet at the time and place, and for the pur- pose within named, as the law directs.
William Brackett, Constable.
Peru, April 4, 1821.
The inhabitants of said town that were qualified by law to vote in town meetings, assembled at the schoolhouse in said town, by order of Stephen Barnard, Esq., in conformity to an act of the legislature of this state, and the meeting being opened according to the directions of the warrant, proceeded as follows, to wit:
Art. 1st. Chose Amos Knight, moderator.
Art. 2nd. Chose Hezekiah Walker, town clerk.
Arts. 3rd and 4th. Chose James Lunt, Josiah Curtis, Amos Knight, selectmen and assessors.
Art. 5th. Chose Wm. Walker, Jr., town treasurer.
Arts. 6th and 7th. Chose Wm. Brackett, collector and con- stable.
Art. Sth. Chose Nathan Walker, Josiah Curtis, Oliver Hop- kins, Amos Knight, Wm. Kyle and Hezekiah Walker, highway surveyors.
Art. 9th. Chose Hezekiah Walker, James H. Withington, sur- veyors of lumber.
Art. 10th. Chose Robinson Turner, Wm. Brackett, Adam Knight, Josiah Curtis, fence viewers.
Art. 11th. Chose Nathan Walker, John Hodgdon, Robinson Turner, Wm. Brackett, Adam Knight, Josiah Curtis and Levi Ludden, hog constables.
Art. 12th. Chose George Walker, J. H. Withington, Abial Delano, tything men.
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At plantation meeting in November, 1820, there were cast 40 votes for Wm. King. the first governor in Maine. On Mar 20, 1816, 25 votes were cast for separation from Massachusetts, and again in September of same year 27 votes were cast for same.
Present Bounds of Peru
The bounds of Peru remained unchanged until Feb. 21, 1895, when that part west of a line drawn along the southeasterly lines of lots Nos. 29, 28, 27. 26 and 25. from Androscoggin river, were sold to Rumford for $2000; and about that period the northerly portion of Franklin plantation was annexed to Rumford, and the remainder annexed to Peru. The said portions of Franklin were incorporated by the legislature as annex to the said towns. The addition to Peru embraces the Johnson's Mill region (so-called ), to the Valentine Mathews farm. near Rumford line. Franklin plantation was composed of Buxton, Milton Academy and Bartlett grants, and was about five miles long and half as wide. The first clearing was made in 1816 and the first settlement in 1820. Gen- eral settlement was made about ten years later. and the plantation organized in 1841. The population in 1810 was 178, and in 1880 was 159.
View from Town House
The location on Townhouse hill where stood the first school- house, commands a magnificent and extensive view of the valley of the Androscoggin and the surrounding landseape. On the west. nearby, is a high bluff, "Morrill Ledge." extending northward to the plain that is about fifty rods wide from foot of mountain to the river. Its height hides the sun from view at the Walker home- stead farmhouse, in the valley, at 3.30 P. M., the longest days of the year. The top of this bluff commands a good view of Dixfield vill .. West Peru vill. and the valley, to Rumford Falls, seven miles, its towering chimneys belching forth clouds of smoke. Extending westward from the river, at West Peru, is a chain of high hills that tower above the last named village and the valley of Speer's stream to Dickvale and Speckled mountain. This hill range was first cleared and peopled by the early pioneers. They built log cabins and transformed rugged hills, rocks and stumps into fertile and productive farms, good plow land covering the high ridges. There were neighborhoods and school districts with schoolhouses where no dwelling is found in the twentieth century. The following are a part of the heads of families at one time here :
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Seth Burgess, Samuel Burgess, Paul Hammon, Jr., Dea. De- mus Bishop, Oliver B. Canwell, Nathaniel Swift, Squire Bishop, Oliver Hopkins, David Atkins, Ebenezer Besse, Trueworthy Thurs- ton, Mr. Fernald, Amos Kyle, Calvin Hopkins, Benjamin Lovejoy, Elijah Burgess, Luther Austin, Rollins Lovejoy, and many others.
Early Settlers
Oliver Hopkins cleared and settled on the Nathan Bishop place in 1809, near upper cem. and north of vill. of Dickvale. Dea. Demus Bishop, when 20 years old, in 1821, came from Wayne to Lovejoy hill, where Lucius Lovejoy resides, felled the trees, and built a log house. He returned to Wayne, was married and began housekeeping in their new home. The regular traveled road was then over Burgess hill, intersecting the River road, same as now, where Lewis Dunn lives, known as the Thomas Burgess place, and a part of the original township. When Mrs. Bishop made her first visit (date unknown) to Wayne, she traveled the more direct course, through West Peru to River road by a line of spotted trees. In 1830 there was a road from Wm. W. Gordon's place, along the hill- side, towards West Peru vill., as far as the Joel Hall place, brick house. Dea. Bishop had changed his residence to a log house on this road, and during that year he built a frame house, where the buildings, a brick house, of Hannah Bishop are located. He eon- tinued here through life. The present road from Wm. Woodsum's, now Office Rowe farm. to Adam Knight's mill was laid out April 13, 1832, and accepted April 1, 1833. This is now the John C. Wyman sawmill at Dickvale.
Opposite Morrill Ledge, across the river, is Marble Bluff, steep and rugged, with summit 300 feet above the plain, bordering on the river and barely wide enough for a carriage road between river and base of mountain. There may have been a huge dam here. in Valley Drift period, that formed a lake, flooding the valley of Webb's river on the east, and valley of Speer's stream on the west. The dam evidently raised the bed of the river and the plain on the west, connecting both mountains further up their fronting sides. From Marble Bluff, northeast, is seen a chain of mountains to Carthage and East Dixfield. The view from old schoolhouse com- mands a broad valley of varied landscape.
Rising easterly is an elevated landscape that hides Dixfield Center, peopled early by Holman families, conveying the name of "Holmantown" to the plantation. This was the hub of the com- munity for half a century. Continuing our vision southeasterly.
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Kidder mountain, Burnt hill and lesser hills reach to the valley, three miles down the river. Canton mountain is seen further down. The valley is dotted with elegant farm buildings and broad acres of fertile tillage on both sides of the river.
Head Waters of Steam Boat Navigation
Half a mile down the river is Moore's rips and head-waters of steamboat navigation. In the summer of 1853 a boat was built at Mexico Corner to run to Canton Point and make connection with the railroad at Canton. In October the boat was floated down the river to destination and there the engine and machinery were put in and made ready for trial trip. About the middle of October, on Saturday, with several passengers on board, the boat proceeded up the river to Lunt's upper island in the channel, on Dixfield shore, where boat grounded, and, being unable to get afloat, she remained there over night. A heavy rain raised the waters, so Sunday morning the boat went to Moore's rock, nearby, at the rips above mentioned. This was a very large boulder (since reduced), causing a broad eddy, and here the boat rested while the pilot consulted his chart. The problem that confronted the pilot at this point was, can the boat stem the rapid current in middle of river ? It is the severest test of any place on the route. This boat is propelled by side wheels. To favor the boat the keel should be kept parallel with the swift current. To attain that position, boat must back water and swing in line further down, instead of going at right angle to current from lee of rock to swift current. It was perfectly natural that the swift current struck brow of boat on starboard side and forced it down stream, in spite of tiller to resist ; but quicker than pen can describe, tiller and wheel were broken and the boat was lost control of. The shore upon either side was thronged with people, who witnessed the scene. Thomas Reynolds, Dr. Swasey, Cyrus Wormell, Esq., and Daniel Reynolds are remembered among the passengers on the boat. The name of boat was printed on either side, above the wheel, and rightly named "Surprise." Doubtless the proprietor of this enterprise intended to surprise the public; as it ended, he must have been most sur- prised at the failure. The boat floated back to Canton, was tied to bank and the engine used to drive a sawmill. That ended navi- gation on this line. The credit of this enterprise is due to Mr. Hiram Ricker, the father of the Poland Spring Rickers. If the boat had been guided from head of island, up the center of swift
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