USA > Maine > Oxford County > Waterford > The history of Waterford, Oxford County, Maine, comprising Historical address, by Henry P. Warren; record of families, by Rev. William Warren, D.D.; centennial proceedings, by Samuel Warren, esq > Part 9
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the suggestion to the deacon, and who had lingered to see the result of the whole. The moderator turned to him, and said, " Well, I guess we may as well go." This ended all formal opposition. Re- luctantly and nobly the north acquiesced in the proposed location. The valley-road was built, and accomplished all that was claimed for it.
The present church was built in 1837.
In 1862, the people of North Waterford, assisted to some extent by those of South Albany, built a meeting-house at the Corner village, at a cost of about $2600. The great majority of the people who built this house were Congregationalists. Irregular preach- ing services were held until 1865. That year a church was formed, known as the second Congre- gational church, consisting of about fifty members, thirty-two of whom were dismissed from the first Congregational church.
The deacons of the first church have been John Nourse, Ephraim Chamberlain, Stephen Jewett, Moses H. Treadwell, William Warren, Solomon Stone, Edward Carlton, Amos Gage, Caleb Swan, Samuel Warren, and William W. Kilborne.
The deacons of the second church have been Jacob H. Green, Samuel W. Kilborne, Perley W. Kilborne, Samuel C. Watson, and Isaac P. Beckler.
Rev. Lincoln Ripley was a native of Barre, Mass.,
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and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1796. He was respected in college for christian demeanor and industrious scholarship. He was rather below medium stature and size. His voice and countenance bespoke dignity of character and kindliness of feeling. His power as a preacher was in the line of reverent reasoning from the scriptures. He was watchful and exemplary as a pastor, and loved the souls of his people. As a man and christian he was without guile and above reproach.
He was settled in 1799 ; was dismissed in 1821. He survived his active ministry some thirty-five years. His last days were spent in the family of Stephen Plummer, under the immediate care of his devoted niece, Miss Martha Robinson. Old friends gladly ministered to his few wants, and his days were spent like the apostle John's, praying for the peace of his people. He was constantly stripping himself to supply the needs of others. Always dig- nified yet always amiable, he was a model christian gentleman.
Mrs. Ripley was the daughter of Rev. Mr. Emerson, of Concord, Mass., and was aunt to Ralph Waldo Emerson. She was a lady of character and intellect, and thoroughly identified with the interests of the church and people.
Rev. John A. Douglass succeeded Mr. Ripley in the ministry at Waterford in 1821. He has now
11
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held the pastorate fifty-eight years. He was a native of Portland, Me., graduated from Bowdoin College in 1814, and studied theology with Rev. Dr. Abiel Abbott, of Beverly, Mass.
His ministry has been noted for uniformity and freedom from strife. As a preacher he was thought- ful, accurate, and thoroughly evangelical. He avoided extravagances in style and measures and everything doubtful and erratic in sentiment.
There were a goodly number of additions to the church in 1822, and an extensive revival in 1831, when the church was nearly doubled. In one in- stance three generations united on the same day, son, mother, and grandmother. Another revival was enjoyed in 1840, another in 1857. At one time the church numbered over 200 members.
Mr. Douglass still survives at the advanced age of eighty-six, enjoying the confidence and affection of all.
Mrs. Douglass, his second wife (his first wife died early), had eminent qualities of mind and character. It is impossible to measure her influence and exam- ple upon the mothers and daughters in town. She united quietness with energy, freedom from ostenta- tion with great power of influence.
Rev. William W. Dow was a native of Portsmouth, N. H., and graduated from Dartmouth College and Andover Seminary. He succeeded Mr. Douglass as
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stated supply. He remained two years. He proved himself a man of scholarly tastes, had literary ability, and left many friends in town.
Rev. Andrew J. Smith was settled as colleague- pastor in 1873. He graduated from Bowdoin College and Bangor Seminary. He won the confidence and esteem of the people. He was earnest, methodical, and argumentative as a preacher, and had much mental acuteness and great moral excellence. A re- vival was enjoyed in the last year of his ministry. He died of consumption in 1876, while pastor of the church.
The ministers of North Waterford Church have been Rev. Joseph Kyte, now in Buxton; Rev. J. W. H. Baker, now residing in New Sharon, Me .; Rev. Wellington Newell, now ministering in Greenfield, Mass .; Edwin Sherburne (licentiate), and Rev. H. H. Osgood, the present pastor; neither of whom were installed over the church. Each had excellencies and a measure of success. Revs. Jona. Fairbanks, Samuel Gould and Isaac Libby each ministered here for a short season.
The following is, I think, a complete list of min- isters raised up in the Congregational churches :
Rev. Thomas T. Stone, D.D., born in 1799, was son of Dea. Solomon Stone, graduated from Bowdoin Col- lege in 1821; was settled first in Andover, Me.,
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afterward taught the academy at North Bridgton ; was then settled in East Machias, Me .; afterward in Salem, Mass., in the Unitarian minstry ; still later in Bolton, same state, where he now resides, in feeble health. He also preached for some time in Brooklyn, Conn. He wrote essays on the subject of peace, which were republished in England. A volume of his sermons has excited attention for their breadth and beauty of thought.
Rev. Isaac Knight had been a farmer in town, but left the farm for study. He graduated from Bowdoin College, was settled in New Chester, N. H., after- ward in Franklin, same state; on whose ministry Daniel Webster, when there, used to attend. He was a devout man, had singleness of purpose and was useful in his work.
Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., was the son of Major Hannibal Hamlin; resided in Portland for several years, where he learned the jeweler's trade, which he left for study. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834, and at Bangor Seminary in 1837. That year he entered the service of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and embarked for Turkey. He married Henrietta Jackson, of Dorset, Vt., touching whom the volume " Light on the Dark River " was written by Mrs. Lawrence. Dr. Hamlin resigned his connection with the Board to take the presidency of Robert college, Constantinople. His
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labors in Turkey as teacher, and founder of this world-renowned college, together with his influence in promoting christian education in that empire and the east, have given him a name throughout the civilized world. He is now professor of theology in Bangor Seminary.
Rev. William Warren, D.D., son of Major Samuel Warren, graduated from Bowdoin and Andover; was ordained in Windham, Me., in 1840, where he preached and taught till 1849, when he was installed at Upton, Mass., where he remained till 1856, when he was called to his present service as district secre- tary of American Board of Commissioners for For- eign Missions.
Samuel M. Haskins, D.D., Episcopalian, is son of Robert Haskins, and nephew of Rev. Lincoln Ripley. He entered the Episcopal ministry some forty years since in Brooklyn, N. Y., and has easily obtained an honorable position in that city as a faithful and suc- cessful minister.
Rev. Ezekiel Coffin, Universalist, was first a teacher, and then entered the work of the ministry in con- nection with the Universalist denomination. He has occupied good positions, and has won confidence by earnest labors, good sense and habits, and wise meth- ods of working.
Daniel Green is a son of Thomas Green, 3rd. He is at present a student in Bangor Seminary.
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The first mention I find of the Universalist church in the town records is January 11th, 1820. Eleven persons that year certified that they were members of a Universalist society.
The Universalist society, according to the church records, was formed Nov. 9, 1830. Forty-six persons signed the call. The following is the list of names :
Joel Atherton,
Joseph Hale,
Crumbie Atherton,
Benjamin Hale,
Luther Bisbee,
Jonathan Houghton,
Volney Bisbee,
Moses Houghton,
Francis Barker,
Luther Hamlin,
John Barker,
William Hamlin,
Daniel Billings,
Cyprian Hobbs,
John Brown,
James Jordan,
Jabez Brown,
Ezra Jewell,
Molbory Brown,
Danforth Jewell,
Samuel Brown,
Sanders Kimball,
Thaddeus Brown, jr.,
John G. W. Kimball,
Perez Bryant,
Sumner Kimball,
George Bryant,
Eli Longley,
John Bryant,
Stephen Longley,
Orlando Coolidge,
Samuel Merrill,
Ezekiel Coffin,
John E. Perkins,
Stephen Coffin,
Joshua Sawyer,
Josiah Ellsworth,
Daniel G. Swan,
Sprout Hapgood,
Daniel T. Watson,
Oliver Hapgood,
Abram Whitcomb.
Thomas Hapgood,
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UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS.
Nothing further than organization was effected until 1832, when the society voted to hire Brown's hall (in Dr. Shattuck's house), as a place of meeting. Preaching services were held there much of the time until 1844. That year the church now occu- pied by them at the City was built at a cost of $1100. The church was dedicated Nov. 26th, 1845. For some years after regular religious services were maintained. In 1867 the meeting-house was sold to Messrs. Josiah Monroe, John C. Gerry, Albert Stan- wood and Charles Young; each pew-owner receiving two dollars fifty cents. The church reserved the right to occupy the hall, rent free, each Sunday. The lower part of the building is used for school purposes, the upper part as a village hall.
The following is a list of the ministers in the order of their settlement, as nearly as can be given :
Benjamin B. Murray,
John L. Stevens,
Darius Forbes,
T. J. Tenney,
Benjamin Hawkins,
M. Byram,
Zenas Thompson,
Costello Weston,
Gurley,
L. F. McKenney,
Edwin Quimby,
O. A. Rounds.
Rev. Sylvanus Cobb has preached here occasionally.
This church has sometimes united with Norway in support of a minister. For the last three years it has united with the church at Bridgton Center, Rev.
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Mr. Rounds preaching half the day at each place. The greatest prosperity of the church was about 1845.
From 1820 to 1840 the commercial activity of the state was very great, and of necessity made a great showing; for transportation in the interior,-except on the Kennebec and Penobscot and the Cumberland and Oxford canal and its connections,-was entirely by teams. Travel was by stages and private con- veyance, except as the few steamboats just entering into competition along the coast may have interfered.
Of course the travel, especially in the western half of the state, was enormous; for besides being the more populous section, it was the route from upper New Hampshire and Vermont to the sea coast by way of the Saco or Androscoggin valleys.
Most farmers once and oftentimes twice a year went to market; some of western York to Dover, N. H .; much of York and western Oxford to Saco; while Cumberland, part of York, and most of Oxford, went to Portland.
The farmers from New Hampshire (Coos county) and upper Vermont generally traveled in com- pany for mutual assistance in case of accidents. The oldest of you can remember the long line of red pungs, the two, four, six, eight and even ten horse- teams, that transported produce to the coast towns
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TAVERNS.
and carried back the West India goods and liquors, which made up the bulk of the stock in trade of a country trader forty years ago.
There was a constant stream of immigration, as well as the business travel incident to a population of 300,000 people; and in certain seasons of the year a large number of land speculators, agents and owners were moving through the country to attend to their several interests.
Naturally the crowds of teamsters and the busi- ness and pleasure travel demanded extensive hotel accommodations; of these in Waterford I will briefly speak.
Although Mr. Longley was the only man in Wat- erford who hung out a sign until 1817, he was not the only hotel keeper in town. Every man was liable to be called upon to entertain travelers. Be- side the stream of immigrants from Massachusetts and New Hampshire which poured for years into Oxford,1 New Pennycook,2 Peabodys Patent,8 Bost- wicks Plantation,4 East Andover5 and Cummings Purchase,6 there were crowds of speculators, land agents, proprietors and marketmen constantly on the
1 Albany.
2 Rumford. Rumford was settled from Concord, N. H.
8 Gilead.
4 Newry.
5 Andover.
6 Norway.
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road. Moreover, all the immigrants who succeeded tolerably well, made at least one journey to Massa- chusetts to tell their friends of their success, and their friends in turn must needs come, some of them, to see whether they told the truth. No wonder the Massachusetts boys of seventy-five years ago, grind- ing a scanty living from some sterile farm, thought Maine a paradise, as they saw riding home well- mounted and well-dressed, the brother who fifteen years before had left home with his axe, his pack and his mother's blessing. Perhaps the proudest moment of my grandfather's life was when he took his bridal tour to Massachusetts in 1794, his wife and himself mounted on his own horses. Poverty had taught the immigrants, years of sacrifice had taught the traveler, the necessity of economy, so they let the land agents, speculators, and proprietors patronize the hotels, while they, if possible, secured cheaper accommodations at farm-houses. They carried with them all the provisions they could stuff into their saddle-bags, if they traveled in the fall, and big boxes of provisions if in the winter. All they re- quired was food for their horses, a chance by the fire, and a bed; and some even objected to paying for the latter luxury, lying on the hay or kitchen floor to save the fourpence that was commonly asked by farmers for lodging. It was a common sight in those days to see half a score of men sitting around
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the huge fire-place at a country inn, eating bread and cheese from their little boxes, and patronizing the hotel only to the extent of a horse baiting, a bed and a glass of flip.
My grandfather could have told of one of these economists who came with his daughter to his house on Saturday and stayed till Monday, making an aggregate of ten meals and four lodgings, besides the food for his horse. As the horse was brought to the door Monday morning the gentleman turned to my grandfather and asked him for his bill, " Two dollars," he replied. "I will be obliged to you if you will take one," answered the traveler. Grandfather took it and said nothing. Verily that was the day of small economies-by small men.
After the death of Peter Warren (who had pur- chased in 1817 the old tavern of Eli Longley), Domin- icus Frost, Henry Houghton, William Brown, and George Kimball were proprietors. In 1847 the house was converted into a hydropathic institution under the care of Prof. Calvin Farrar, A.M., who was followed by Dr. Prescott, and he in turn by Dr. Shattuck, who now owns and has charge of it. It is now known as the Maine Hygenic Institute. It is now exclusively a hospital for lady patients. The treatment is eclectic.
In 1817 William Morse opened and kept a hotel in the house now occupied by Mr. Stanwood. Calvin
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Danley some years later kept a hotel in the house now occupied by Mr. Charles Young.
Two hotels were opened at Waterford City about 1820. The house now kept by Luther Houghton was opened by Capt. Abel Houghton, who was in turn followed by his son, Capt. Luther Houghton, the present proprietor.
About 1825 William Sawin converted the house where Dr. Wilson now lives into a hotel, and kept it for several years.
Oliver Hale, about 1856, rented the residence of Elbridge Gerry, Esq., which was converted into a hotel styled the Lake House. His cousin, Washing- ton Hale, succeeded him. The house was burnt in 1871, and rebuilt in 1873 at a cost, with its furni- ture, of $10,000. It is now known as the Waterford House, and has been kept by Horace Maxfield, Cyrus Plummer, John A. Drew and Charles L. Applebee.
The Dudley Brothers built a hotel known as the Pine Grove House in 1874, a little way from Dud- ley's mills. This house was built to accommodate summer company.
Eben Jewett, about 1825, opened a public house at North Waterford. The house then stood on the old road to Albany-a hundred rods west of Farnum Jewett's. It was afterward moved to its present location and kept as a hotel by his son Farnum.
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Sumner Stone, about the same time, kept tav- ern in the house now occupied by him. At that time the road by his house was the principal road to Norway.
Eli Longley, jr., kept a hotel further on at the head of McWains pond.
About 1850 Peter C. Moshier opened a hotel at North Waterford. He was followed by Mr. Graham, who in turn was followed by John C. Rice, the present proprietor. Philip Barrows kept a hotel a few years where Mr. Russell now lives.
Maj. Samuel Warren entertained travelers during the first part of the century. The old Lovell road was the route over which the New Hampshire people came who settled on the Sandy river and at New Penacook (Rumford).
Below Waterford there were numerous hotels. One at North Bridgton, two at Bridgton Center, Chute's afterward Church's at Naples, Longley's at Raymond; three at Windham - North Windham, Windham Hill, and Windham Center - and five or more in Portland. The Elm and American houses were the great stage taverns. The Elm stood at the corner of Federal and Temple streets; the American on Congress street, where Deering block now stands.
The policy of the Post Office Department for twenty years or more previous to 1840, tended to
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build up great stage-lines; for by law the mails must be carried in four-horse stage coaches, and any per- son who bid off a mail-route was compelled by United States law to buy at fair appraisal enough of the stage stock of the party who had previously car- ried the mail to fairly equip himself. Of course the effect of this law was to check and in most cases wholly to prevent opposition, and consequently build up great stage companies on all the principal lines.
The stage-lines in western Maine in 1835 (I men- tion this date because it marks the time of the greatest prosperity of staging in our state), with two exceptions, centered in Portland. The Portland post-office was the distributing post-office for the state, and it was naturally the center of all travel from within the state, and the distributing point of travel from without the state.
Mr. Barnard's two-horse passenger coach, which in 17871 was more than two days in going from Fal- mouth-town to Portsmouth, in 1830 had grown into the Portland Stage Company - a stock company under the management of Enoch Paine, who was its agent at Portland, and Alexander Rice, who was its agent at Portsmouth. These men were the sons of the gentlemen who put on the daily mail-stage be-
1 Until 1806 the only stage-route in Maine was between Portsmouth and Portland. At that date a passenger coach was run to Augusta, in 1810 to Farmington.
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tween Portland and Portsmouth a few years previous. Their capital was about $100,000. Their headquar- ters in Portland were at the old Elm House, corner of Temple and Federal streets. Their stables were where the Free-street block now stands. They had stables of their own at Kennebunk, Saco, and Ports- mouth. They owned three stage-routes; that from Portland to Portsmouth, from Kennebunk to Dover, and what was known as the back-route from Portland to Dover, N. H., by way of Gorham and Alfred. Of course there were connections at Portsmouth for Boston by the lower route (followed by the Eastern railroad a few years later), and from Dover to Bos- ton by the upper route, (afterward taken by the Boston and Maine railroad). From Portsmouth to Boston the stage-line was owned by the Eastern Stage Company. The Portland Stage Company owned two hundred or more horses; sleighs and stages in proportion. Between Portland and Ports- mouth they run two stages, a mail and an accom- modation. The mail-stage, a six-seated coach, ran through to Boston seven times a week, leaving Portland each morning at five A.M.,-breakfasting at Saco, dining at Portsmouth, taking supper at Salem, and reaching Boston at eight P.M. A half-hour was allowed for each meal. Five sets of horses were used between Portland and Portsmouth, the changes being made at Saco, Kennebunk, Wells, and Cape
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Neddick. Five sets were used between Portsmouth and Boston; the changes were made at Hampton, Newburyport, Ipswich, and Salem. The stage was on the road thirteen hours and a half. The time made was eight miles an hour. Since 1783 the dis- tance from Boston to Portland had been reduced to one hundred and eight miles by straightening the roads. The fare from Portland to Boston was $8.00; $4.00 to Portsmouth.
The accommodation stage, a nine passenger coach, left Portland for Boston six times a week. It break- fasted at Portland, dined at Kennebunk, spent the night at Portsmouth, dined the next day at New- buryport, and reached Boston in time for supper. This stage carried no mails. The fare was $6.00 to Boston, $3.00 to Portsmouth.
The mail-stage connected each day at Kennebunk with a mail-stage which run to Dover. Fare from Portland to Dover, $3.00.
A mail-stage run from Portland to Dover by the way of Gorham and Alfred three times a week. The distance was sixty miles, fare $3.00. This was known as the back route to Boston. It was formerly a part of the Haverhill Stage Company line. This company was a very extensive affair, having its headquarters in Haverhill, Mass., with lines running to Boston, Concord, N. H., Lowell, Newburyport, Salem, and Dover, N. H., and a capital of not much
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less than $250,000. It was started in 1804, at first between Haverhill and Boston; the stage did not run to Dover, N. H., until about 1820. Hiram Plum- mer of Haverhill was the agent in 1835.
Next in size was the Maine Stage Company. They owned all the lines which run between Portland and Augusta, except what was known as the back route. Its headquarters in Portland were at the Elm House, owned and kept at that time by Hale & Waterhouse. Its Portland stables stood where the Chestnut street school-house now stands. Mr. S. T. Corser, recently superintendent of the A. and S. L. R. R., was the Port- land agent. Their Brunswick agent was David Shaw. Their headquarters at Augusta were at the Augusta House. The Augusta agent was Jabez Sawin. This company owned two hundred or more horses, and a proportionate number of sleighs and coaches. Their capital stock was $75,000.
The mail from Portland east was called the "great eastern mail." It was a huge affair, sometimes weighing a ton. It was carried underneath the driver's seat and in a big box on the rack, and some- times in an extra. From Bath it was forwarded to Bangor by the way of Wiscasset, Thomaston, and Belfast; from Augusta to Bangor by way of Vassal- borough, China, and Dixmont. Seven times a week the Maine Stage Company sent this mail from Port- land at six A.M. by a six-passenger coach. The stage 12
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breakfasted at Yarmouth, dined at Richmond, and reached Augusta at three in the afternoon. The fare from Portland to Augusta was $4.00; distance sixty miles.
The Maine Stage Company owned two other lines between Portland and Augusta, - the Southwest Bend route and the Union line. Stages run daily, except Sundays, over the Southwest Bend route by way of Walnut Hill (North Yarmouth), Pownal, Durham, Lisbon, Wales, and Winthrop. The distance was sixty miles; the fare was $3.00.
The Union Line was a tri-weekly ; it run through Union, Lisbon Falls, Litchfield, and Hallowell. The distance was fifty-six miles ; the fare was $3.00.
There were numerous short lines of stages from Portland to the suburban towns. These were all dailies. One run from Portland to Yarmouth, leav- ing Portland at five P.M., reaching Yarmouth at seven. The distance was twelve miles; the fare was seventy-five cents.
Another run from Portland to Brunswick, leaving Portland at three P.M. The distance was twenty-six miles, fare $1.50. This was owned by the Maine Stage Company.
A third run from Portland to Saco, leaving Port- land at five P.M. The distance was sixteen miles, fare $1.00. This was owned by the Portland Stage
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Company. All these short lines run into Portland in the morning.
There were two cross-lines, so called, in western Maine, ending at Augusta.
The first connected with the line of stages which run from Concord through Center Harbor, Tamworth, and Conway to Fryeburg. From Fryeburg this line run across the country through Lovell, Waterford, Paris, Buckfield, Turner, and Winthrop to Augusta. The round trip was made once a week, if the con- dition of the roads permitted. There was more exercise per mile for the horses by this than perhaps by any other route in the western part of the state, for the roads often sought the high and steep hills. When the driver left Fryeburg in the spring for Augusta, friends crowded around with tearful good- byes ; it was like the parting scenes when a "banker" leaves Gloucester for the Georges in February.
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