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 27
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Robinson. Their dau., Jennie, m. John Williams. Wife, Loram, d .; m. (2nd) Flavilla Freeman of Cornville. Child :- Clois, b. Jan. 1, 1869, m. 1894, Maud Pray of La Grange. Child :- Verne C., b. 1895.
Columbus H. and Sarah F. Wing. In addition to farm work, Mr. Wing for many years was a noted basket maker. Preparing the basket stuff from a brown ash sapling six or eight inches in diameter and weaving in layers by hand is practically one of the lost arts in the twentieth century. His make were very strong and durable. Their children, as given in town register of 1905 :- Louisa P., m. Cyrus F. Goding ; Hannah J., m. Edwin F. Childs ; Lucy A., m. Burnham; Wm. J., a farmer in Leeds; Edgar D., farmer in Farmington; Mary O., m. Edwin B. Childs. Children of Stephen P. and Mercy B. Wing in Leeds. Their children b. in Franklin :- James S., Freeland G., Zelma, Lizzie, Mary E., Francis J. and Alfred S. Wing. The latter m. Carrie Higgins. They are farmers; P. O., Curtis Corner. Their children b. in Leeds are :- Stephen A., James M., Archa A. Marriages of Steph- en P.'s children : James S. m. Ellen Hallowell; res., Rd. Falls. Freeland G. m. Nellie McCulla ; Zelma, m. Charles Haines ; Lizzie, m. Herbert Andrews in Peru; Francis J., m. Augusta Burnham; farmers in Leeds.
Children of Ira B. Wing by first wife :- Delia Eliza Knowles :- Eliza B., d. Sept. 20, 1865, ae. three years, 11 months, 20 days; Delia B., d. Mar. 6, 1905, ae. 32 years, dau. of his second wife by Rufus Trask, her first husband. Ira B., Jr., m. Josie E. Wing, dau. of - Wing. Children :- Clarence A., Elma A. Chil- dren of Samuel F. Wing are Pliny, who m. July 29, 1882: Mary J., dau. of Wm. Roberts of Peru. Wife d. Stephen, m. Etta Larkins of Livermore. He d. at Farmington, ae. 27 years. Lois, m. Walter Fish in Waltham, Mass .; Maria, b. Sept. 1, 1869, m. (1st), ae. 16, and had dau., Nina B .; m. (?nd) in 1895, Daniel Phelps of Lincoln. Nina B., m. John Halsey of Rumford. Their children :- Archie, b. 1900; Leroy, b. 1904: Robert, b. 1906. Res., 1910, Peru. Wife attended church, and is worthy of mention.
Telotson P. Wing, b. in Franklin, Sept. 8, 1828, m. Clarinda H., dau. of Ezekiel F. Lovejoy. Wife d. at Smithville, Rumford, first week in Jan., 1911. Children :- Adelia A., m. Herbert L. Wood; stone cutter and builder. Res., Peru, on Stephen Chase farm. Rose A., b. June 11, 1858, m. Albion S. Burgess. She d.
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Jan. 22, 1901. Feed mill. Res., Rd. Falls. Ida F. Wing, b. Mar., 1856, m. Albert A. Frost : farmer, Peru, annex to Rd. Em- ma C. Wing, b. Apr. 21, 1854, m. Newbry Kincaid. Occupation, steam engineer. Livermore Falls. Ellery, b. 1852, d. young. Chas. W. Wing, b. Aug. 29, 1866, d. young. Wallace M. Wing, b. 1869. d. young. Family of Herbert L and Adelia A. Wood. Child, Wm. T. Wood, stone cutter and contractor. Wm. T. Wood, "widowed," m. Oct., 1910. Louise E., dau. of Elroy M. Gammon, both of Peru. Their son, Elroy Herbert, was b. Sept. 2, 1911.
Family of Elbridge, son of Reuben and Silence Wing, dau. of Peter Hopkins. Jr., 2nd. Children :- Elbridge G., b. Mar. 11, 1831, d. June 8, 188? ; Susan W., b. July 11, 1835, m. Clark Wing. She d. Apr. 11, 1862; Chas. N., b. Franklin. Jan. 10. 183 :. d. Apr. 28, 1863, in army, Co. C. 21st Me .. on Ship Island, single; Mary Jane, b. Jan. 25, 1841, m. Ira Murch, So. Paris; Viola B., b. June 23, 1843, m. Granville F. Child in Peru ; Cyrus J., b. Oct. 14, 1845. d. single, Oct., 1869 : Eunice, b. 1848, d. 1865; Chestina, b. Aug. 7, 1850, m. David Corbett, New Vineyard; Lydia O., b. Apr. 30. 1852, m. Newton Swift, Paris ; Wm. A .. b. Jan. 13, 1855, d. single, 1871; Willis E., his twin brother, m. Nellie York of Woodstock; Flora A .. b. July 30, 1862, m. Frank Stevens, Paris; Derias, b. 1872, m., lives in Paris.
Withington
James H. Withington first appears on record Mar. 1, 1814. He settled on the farm adjoining Rumford now owned by Otis Wy- man. The census of 1821 gives wife's name Sarah. Children :-- Sarah B., h. Sept. 18, 1811, d. Dec. 1, 1811; James H., Jr., b. June 5, 1813. Tradition says he m. Pub .. Apr. 25, 1832. Sarah Gordon of Fryeburg, and he became preceptor of Hallowell Acad- emy. Ebenezer P., b. Apr. 6, 1814; Augustus, b. Mar. 9, 1812; Sarah A. and Mary P., b. Oct. 28, 1819. Mr. Withington was very prominent in Plantation and in town affairs many years. He d. on the farm. by hanging, July 29. 1837. Subsequently the family removed to Madrid.
Plantation Meeting, 1812
At the meeting of Apr. 6, 1812, for the purpose of giving in their votes for governor, lieutenant governor for this common- wealth, and senators for this district, Elbridge Gerry for governor
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had 20 votes, Wm. King, lieutenant governor, 20 votes. At March meeting, 1814, James H. Withington was chosen moderator and one of the assessors.
Orin Walton of Canton m. Betsey, don. of Benj. Fobes. He d. 1897. Wife d. 1900. Their son, Orville Knight Walton, b. May 6, 1841, in Peru, m. Oct., 1873, Mary Amanda, dau. of William and Eliza (Randall) Babb No issue. Mrs. Walton d. Dec. 12, 1901, ae. 46 years, five months. Mr. Walton's res. is Dickvale. No relation to the other Waltons of Peru.
Genealogy of Waite Family
Benjamin Waite, son of John, b. in Newbury, Oct. 18, 1725, m., 1742, Abigail, b. Aug. 20, 1748. dau. of Capt. Isaac Ilsley of Fal- mouth. He d. Jan. 25, 1812. She d. Nov. 26, 1773. They had several children. One named John was b. in Falmouth, July 4. 1751. He m. Sept. 1772, Sally Burton, who was b. Sept., 1754. and d. May 25, 1801. He m. (2nd) May 1, 1802, Sally N. Smil- lage of Providence. He d. Mar. 16, 1838, and she d. Feb. 4, 1853. ae. 80 years. His children b. in Falmouth were as follows :- Abigail, b. Jan. 3, 1774. d. July, 1839; Ebenezer, b. Mar. 8. 1726, m. Mariam Knight of Peru, dau. of Merrill, Sr., and d. in Liver- more, Jan. 23, 1852; Betsey, b. Dec. 22, 1718, d. June, 1804: Amasa, b. Feb. 17, 1781, had wife, Betsey; Francis, b. Ang. 17. 1783. m., 1808, Dorcas, dan. of Merrill Knight, Sr. He d. May 16, 1875, ae. 91 years, six months. She d. Aug. 10, 1870, ae. 86 years, 25 days. Sally. b. Feb. 17, 1785, d. May, 1785 ; Henry, b. June 14, 1786, d. Jan. 1, 1820, had wife, Hannah; William, b. July 2, 1788, d. young : John. b. Sept. 9. 1290, d. Mar., 1838 ; Edward. b. Feb. 1. 1793, d. Ang. 2, 1881; Nancy, b. Oct. 8, 1794 : Charles, b. Oct. 30, 1796; Samuel, b. Feb. 12, 1803. d. Apr. 21, 1826; Mary Ann Susan Adelaide, b. Jan. 10, 1806: Martha Re- becca, b. Mar. 19, 1808, d. Dec .. 1841 : Martha Jane, b. June 9, 1810 : James Smillage, b. Sept. 16, 1811, m. 1835, Sarah M. Paine ; Sally Buxton, b. Dec. 5, 1815, d. Mar., 1845.
Francis Waite was b. in Westbrook and when a young man worked in a printing office in Portland. He next tried seafaring, at the age of twenty years, 1803. Five years later he came to Peru. He soon made the acquaintance of Dorcas, dau. of Merrill Knight, and secured a wife and farm. No one in those days but Merrill Knight gave a premium with the prize to sons-in-law.
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He made a clearing on the third tier of lots, back from the river, and erected buildings in 1811, on the "New County Road," as then known. Mr. Waite was a very active, industrious man, of good habits, honest and reliable. He is remembered for his generous hospitality, in which his good wife shared the good will of all.
In religion they were strong Universalists. The Gospel Banner was their favorite paper many years. He devoted his time and energy to home wants, and if called to store, mill, or town meeting, he hurried to return. Children :- Goodin, b. Aug. 6, 1809. d. in South Livermore, Mar. 1, 1887, m. Harriet, dau. of Addison Campbelle, in Livermore. His widow and two sons living at Leeds Centre. Children :- Charles, Edward, Clinton. d. about 1900. Mr. Waite carried on home farm from boyhood till he was past fifty years old. and remaining single. Ile kept a small assort- ment of store goods for sale at his parents' home several years. It is related that at one time a little girl of the neighbors' was sent to buy a darning needle. She made known her want to Goodin's mother and she sent the girl a long way up the mow field to call Goodin, who was making hay. He obeyed the call cheerfully. sold the needle for one cent, cash in hand, and returned to his work, about one-fourth mile up hill. A passerby observed he went whist- ling merrily, as well pleased as though he had made a ten dollar sale. It was on this farm the head of the family was once observed making hay without sunshine. After several days of rain and cloudy weather, wet hay was held by fork over burning stumps to dry.
Nancy, b. Oct. 16, 1811, m. Pub., May 16, 1831. Isaiah Leavitt, Jr., in Turner; Harrison, b. Nov. 1, 1813. d. Nov. 7, 1813; El- bridge, b. Oct. 22, 1811; Martha, b. Apr. 4, 181", m. James Carter ; Rotheus B., b. May 10, 1819; Charles, b. Feb. 26. 1821. d. Mar. 23, 1833 : Amasa, b. Jan. 20, 1823. d. Oct., 1819 ; Silas N., b. Aug. 24 1821. last known in Rockport, Mass. : Sally Medley. b. Apr. 11, 1827. m. Danforth Lary ; Rotheus B., m. Pub., Nov. 1, 1811, Martha Records of Buckfield. No issue. Mr. Waite spent the most of his married life on a farm in Buckfield. He was an enterprising, successful farmer, prominent in all moral reforms and popular with the masses in the common walks of life. He and wife were highly respected. He died.
1805. East Peru Village. Mills are above and below bridge. Residence of E. C. Poland on left. On right Warren F. Curtis, store of Chas. S. Luce and residence of Emerson A. Irish, formerly Ira Wormell's home. 1911.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERU
Benjamin Wormell
The first family in the east part of the Township was Benjamin and Ann ( Dennett) Wormell. He doubtless first utilized the water power at this place, in erecting a gristmill. The small collection of houses here at an early period was known a wide circuit as Wormell's Mills. This man had much to do in shaping Plantation affairs. In March meeting, 1813, he was chosen one of the select- men and assessors. In April meeting, same year, was moderator. In 1818 was chosen treasmer, also one of three Com. to divide the Plan. into school districts. He served in various other offices. This family and their children, with families, formed a large por- tion of the residents of Wormell's Mills a term of years. Five children :- Ira Wormell, b. Oct. 2, 1805, m. Nov. 5, 1826, Mary Deering. Their children :- Emeline, b. May 29, 1837, d. Aug. 1, 1832; Ann D., b. Dec. 28, 1829, m. Amos L. Harlow ; John Mel- vin, b. Mar. 30, 1831; Lydia Jane, b. May 31, 1810, m. Jan. S, 1863, James S. Jewett, d. July 28, 1873; Emily, m. Timothy Kyle, d. 1904. Wife, Mary Deering Wormell, d. Sept. 13, 1863. Ira m. (2nd) Mary G. Lovejoy, Pub., Jan. 23, 1865. He d. Feb. 7, 1880, a respected citizen and a Christian. Mr. Wormell's union with Mary G. Lovejoy was short. He had not got his affinity. They parted. James S. Jewett lived on the first farm in Canton adjoining the Benj. Packard farm. He was .Must. on quota of Peru. Dec. 26, 1863, Prt., Co. I, 1st Regt., H. A., wounded in action June 18, 1864, promoted Corp. and Must. out with Com'd Sept. 11, 1865. ITis dau .. Hattie, d. Aug. 19, 1871, ac. eight months.
Cyrus Wormell, b. Sept. 23, 1802, m. Caroline Fisk about 1824. He carried on marble works a term of years at his native village, doing fine work. Cemeteries in town bear witness. In later years and down to near close of life, he served either as deputy by ap- pointment or sheriff as elected by the people many years in the county. He was noted for promptness and efficiency. He was asked at one time how he found his calling. He answered prompt- ly: "Good many holes in the skimmer, and the biggest one in the handle." This family removed to Bethel around middle fifties and continued through life. Cyrus M. m. before the war, settled and d. there.
IIarriet Wormell, b. Oct. 25; 1825, .m. May 4, 1841, Horatio T. House of Peru. Their children :- Alma Ann Robinson, b. Dee. 19.
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1851; Alvena MI., b. Feb. 27, 1855; Lovina C., b. Dec. S, 1858. Horatio d. Mar. 2, 1864. Arvilla Wormell, b. Nov. 12, 1827, d. June 6, 1828; Wm. S. Wormell, b. Mar. 20, 1829, d. Apr. 19, 1848; Sarah I. Wormell, b. Feb. 14, 1831, d. Jan. 16, 1834; Amos Wormell, b. Sept. 6, 1833, d. Cyrus Monroe, b. Mar. 23, 1836. He served as deputy sheriff and detective several years after the war. He served 2nd Lieut., Co. 1, 5th Me. Inf. Vols., war of 1861. Mary Jane, b. Apr. 1, 1839, m. Mar. 3, 1855, Geo. W. Haskell, son of Jonathan and Mary Haskell, Peru. Geo. was wagoner in Co. F, 9th Me. Their children :- Lizzie N., b. Aug. 27, 1855; Addie L. b. Oct. 9, 1857; Charlotte A., b. Sept. 8, 1840, d. June 30, 1848; John S., b. Sept. 30, 1842, Must. S., Feb. 17, 1864, Co. I, 5th Me., re-enl., trf. to 1st Me. Vet .; Ellen Caroline, b. Oct. 10, 1846 ; Chas. Wm., b. Oct. S. 1849: Abby Frances, b. Dec. 6, 1851. d. May 28, 1852; Hiram, b. Sept. 1, 1810, son of Benj. Wormell, m. Feb. 10, 1836, Margaret Smith, a sister to one Joseph, known in town as Tomsonian doctor. In the days of military trainings at Walker's Tavern in the early forties, this Joseph Smith was a resident of Peru, and Capt. of a Co. named Light Infantry. This Co. pro- vided themselves each with a black velvet cap ornamented with gold tinsel and several long black, glossy feathers. All not wearing this uniform were identified as members of the Slambang Co., with- out uniform. We shall refer to these holiday scenes elsewhere. Their children :-- Remember M., b. Jan. 9, 183%; Elestus S., b. July 9, 1838 : Sylvester S., b. Apr. 30, 1840; Daniel C., b. Dec. 9, 1842; Elias O., b. Oct. 30, 1844. Hiram Wormell lived on the Wm. Harlow farm, preceding him. Family left town before ar- rival of Harlow in 1845.
John Wormell, b. June 13, 1814, m. Pub., July 11, 1835, Mary Ann, dau. of Eliphalet Tucker of Peru. Their children :- Benj. Wormell, b. Jan. 10, 1836: Cordelia Valista. b. Apr. 4, 1842; Cordelia. dau. of Benj. Wormell, m. Mar. 2, 1847, Sumner Robin- son. Jr., of Peru. Their children :- Clara Holmes. b. June 23, 1848 : Sabrina Alesta, b. Sept. 2, 1850. d. Mar. 22, 1852.
About these years the families of Hiram, John and Cyrus Wormell had left town. Cyrus was the last to remove, first to Mexico, near Dixfield Vill., there about two years ; thence to Bethel, where he and his son, Cyrus Monroe, spent their remaining days, the son serving many years as deputy and detective. Sumner Robinson, Jr., went West soon after the death of his child. He
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entered the ministry and followed that profession a term of years, till health failed.
Walton
Walton is an old English name, derived from wold, a wood. and ton, a town. The Waltons came to America from England at a very early date. Three brothers, Moses, Joshua and William, with their nephew, Reuben, came to Maine as early settlers. Wil- liam took up a lot of land lying partly in Wayne and partly in Fayette. His first wife was Hannah Littlehale, dan. of Abraham Littlehale. Wm., b. Jan. 23, 1725, in Dunstable, Mass., was a soldier under Gen. Wolf at the taking of Quebec, and also a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War. ITis height is given as five feet, six inches, dark complexion, with dark hair and eyes. The rugged old man walked all the way from Dunstable to Wayne to see his dau. He stopped in Wayne for a season and helped his son-in-law in clearing his farm. Drains which he dug are plainly to be seen on the meadow of his great-great-grandson. Ile d. in 1810, ae. 85 years. His children by first wife were Abraham, William, Jr., Benjamin, and John. Abraham removed to Ohio. Wm., Jr., and Benjamin removed to Peru. John stayed in Wayne. The second wife of Wm., Sr., was Mehitable Lyons. Their children were Sarah, Sophia, and Rufus. Sarah m. Sylvanus Blackwell in 1806. Sophia m. Nathaniel Atkins, brother to David Atkins; both came to Peru. Rufus m. Hannah Braley.
Wm. Walton, Jr., had two wives. Three of his children by first wife were :- Mahala, b. 1809, and Priscilla and Sibyl, who. m. Angier Mitchell, his second wife. He m. (?nd) July 18, 1828, Enseba Doolittle. They followed Peter Morrill on the Adam Knight farm in 1844. Mr. Walton d. in Oct., 1855. Their chil- dren :- Calvin Doolittle, b. Sept. 4, 1829, m. Pub., Oct. 16, 1856, Esther H. Dunn of Lewiston: Hannah Eliza, b. Dec. 4, 1830 ; Euseba, b. Nov. 11, 1833 ; America, b. Aug. 12, 1835. He is said to be living at 5 Ralph St., Lowell, Mass. Emeline H., b. May 26, 1838 ; Abraham, b. July 26, 1840.
Two other prominent men, sons of Wm. by first wife, and resi- dents of Peru, were Farewell, b. Jan. 21, 1802, and Wm. Bowers. Farewell Walton was a member of the board of selectmen in 1837, 1841, and 1842. He m. Sept. 13, 1827, Mary, b. Apr. G, 1807, dau. of Jeremiah Hall of Rumford. Children :- Jeremiah, b. Jan.
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21, 1828, in F. P., d. in Westbrook, Jan., 1891; Wm. II .. b. Dec. 26, 1829, and d. Oct. 31, 1831, in Fern; grave in Wyman Cen. Lydia Augusta, b. Jan. 3, 1833, m. May 2, 1861, Zachariah Small. Husband deceased Mar. 23, 1899. Widow living in Westbrook, 1901. Their son, Ehner F., b. Westbrook, Sept. 3, 1813. Mr. Walton moved first to Mexico, lived on first farm above the toll bridge above Dixfield Vill., thence to Westbrook. Me.
Later information: America Walton m., was Must. Sept. .. 1861, at the age of 26 years, 2nd Sergt. Co. B, Sth Me. Inf., from Patten. His brother, Abraham, ac. 21, from Patten, single, was enrolled same date, Corp. in same Co. and Regt. America Wal- ton re-enl. Feb. 29, 1864, promoted 2nd Lieut. and 1st Lieut. Abraham re-enl. same date, and Pr. Sergt. and Orderly Sergt .. Nov. 1, 1865. America Walton was lastly Pr. Capt. and resigned July 4, 1865. He has two daughters and three grandsons. The oldest is in Panama, attending a wireless station. The others have a home with grandparent, Abraham, and wife deceased, leaving two children. Other children not mentioned in family of Wm. Walton by first wife were Mahala, who m. Sumner R. Newell ; also daughters, Malintha and Malinda, whom writer cannot account for. Sybil Walton, m. Pub., Nov. 3, 1855, Angier Mitchell, Mex- ico. Priscilla Walton, m. Peter Morrill, his second wife.
Records are sadly deficient in the family of Wmn. Bowers and Charlotte (Thomas) Walton. Wife was a sister to John Thomas in Rumford. Their oldest son, Henry B., b. around 1830, gradu- ated from Westbrook Seminary, taught a term of high school at West Peru in fall of 1860. He began the study of law, and when the war came on he laid aside the law book and took a commission as 1-t Tient. Co. D, 12th Me., and was Must. into U. S. service Nov. 15, 1861. He had m. a Miss Virgin in Rumford. While in command of Co. E of his Regt. at. Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, he was killed by the enemy ; he was buried at town Cem .. East Rumford. He was a brave soldier fearless and true. His wife had a child, and after a period she remarried. Helen M .. b. Mar .. 1837. d. Nov., 1862. Benj. Franklin, b. 1840. He enl. in Co. D. 16th Me., and was discharged Mar. 23, 1863, for dis- ability. Returning to Peru, he m. Oct. 4. 1870, Loisa Robinson. and lived at one time on the Nathaniel Mabury farm, near Rd. Falls. where his father was living at close of life. This son was successor to the farm. His wife d. several years before. He d.
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around middle nineties. He was invalid ever after his discharge. He was pensioned, $8. Farewell Walton, b. 1843, enl. Corp., Co. D, 12th Me., in 1861. Priscilla M., m. Pub., June 18, 185%, Cha; P. Woodsum. Harriet Emily, m. Aug. 30, 1865, Oscar M. Tucker.
Bowers Walton possessed a fund of wit and humor that made him the central figure when he chanced to meet fellow townsmen. He was a host within himself, always sober, refined and modest. Speaking of an old townsman who had recently passed the bounds of this life, he said "his death gave the most general satisfac- tion of any he had known for a long time." He was upright in all deportment. This family ranked first class. The graves of the heads of the family and that of Benj. F. are in the Wyman Cem. At the head of the yard there stands a large, tall, granite monument. The earth beneath is level and smooth. No markers indicate graves. There are no names, not even family name, on this ponderous monument to show owner or occupant. Here are hidden the above graves.
Origin of Walkers in Peru
George Walker, b. at Kittery Point, Me., May 11. 1734, was the son of Wmn. and Deborah Walker. He m. Sept. 15, 1754, Eliz- abeth Snow. h. at Kittery Point. Mar. 13, 1734, dau. of John and Mary Snow. Their children :- William, b. Mar. 28, 1755, d. Dec. 1. 1833, in Peru, was the father of Peru Walkers: Susanna, b. Ang. 17. 1757, d. 1973 : Charles, b. Aug. 15, 1759: Betty, b. Nov. 10. 1761. d. July 9. 1823 : John, b. Mar. 25. 1764; Molly, b. Aug. 11, 1765, d. Sept. 17, 1843: George, b. Dec. 8, 1768; Rebecca. b. Feb. 12. 1771.
Wm. H. Walker, grandson of William, Sr., told writer of his grandparent playing on his violin at his father's when he was a boy. His musical qualities are revealed in the third and fourth generations. Two of the grandsons, one yet living, were some- thing of a genius in bringing out the musical tones of the violin. How unlike the old time music is that of the present day violin playing. It is a strenuons effort to render a discord melodious.
One of the early pioneers following Daniel Lunt. Jr., he being the third family, was William Walker. He, with his son, Wm., Jr .. rode on back of horse from Falmouth to Peru in Mar., 1802, when son was twelve years old. Wm. Walker. Sr .. b. Falmouth, Mar. 28. 1755. was the son of George and Elizabeth Walker, both h.
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at Kittery Point. Wm. was the oldest of a family of eight chil- dren. He m. at Topsham, Sybil Staples, Sept. 4, 1783. She was b. in Topsham, Mar. 23, 1764. Their marriage was novel, the first of the kind on record. The bride and groom were en route from Topsham to Brunswick, where the marriage was to be sol- emnized. They came to the Androscoggin river and found the water so high the boatman would not attempt to cross. What could be done to relieve two anxious souls? To wait the fallen tide was indeed discouraging. Presently a happy thought gave relief. "We will call the boatman to send the minister to the water's edge on the opposite shore." He obeyed the summons. Blessed with stentorian voice, he then and there united across the flowing tide the happy couple. This was the first instance of marriage by wireless telephone across the Androscoggin river.
W'm. Walker and wife, Sybil, had a family of twelve children that lived to grow up, eleven of whom were pioneers in Township No. 1. They settled on the farm adjoining the old Methodist meeting house lot at the center of the town. The Wm. Walker family were as follows :- Hezekiah, b. Jan. 4, 1784. m. Dorcas Hobbs, sister of Josiah Hobbs of Livermore. They had no issue. He d. Jan. 26, 1848. His death was seemingly in answer to prayer. His brother, Nathan, then living in Hartford, was very sick with fever. At the turning point he lingered till at the point of death. Hezekiah, hearing of his condition, had a talk with God at the family altar. He told Him that Nathan's children needed his care. IIe asked God to spare Nathan and take him as a substitute. Hezekiah, very soon after, was climbing a short ladder to the head scaffold over the barn floor and fell, striking his head on the floor, causing instant death.
Suffice it to say that Nathan recovered and lived over fourteen years after this event. The second child of Wm. Walker was Su- sannah, b. Apr. 9, 1785. m. Jedediah White, b. about 1783. They formerly lived in Jay. Had three children grown up in 1842 or about, when the family moved to Peru on the Hezelton place, ad- joining the Merrill Knight farm. Their oldest child, Polly, b. 1809, did not marry. She d. Dec. 10, 1873, ae. 64 years, three months. Joel W .. b. 1812, m., first wife d., no issue ; second wife, Dorcas W. Burgess, m. Oct., 1873. She was the former wife of Cyrus Burgess, and dau. of Seth Burgess and Virtue Decker of Wayne. b. June 24, 1824; had no issue by White; d. Sept. 11.
. ..
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House built 1813. The George Walker farm. Now owned by D. W. Knight & Son. The latter holds the reins.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERU
1904, ae. 80 years, two months. Joel W., d. May 31, 1889, ae. 77 years, enl. Co. H., 14th Me., pensioned. George W., b. 1819, did not marry, d. Dec. 7, 1873, ae. 54 years, four months. This family were devoted attendants at the Methodist church in its best days. Jedediah White.d. May 27, 1859, ae. 76 years. His wife d. June 16, 1853, ae. 68 years.
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