USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Windham > Windham in the past > Part 18
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"By Command of MAJR. GEN. HEATH,
The Cartwright Ade De Camp."
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WINDHAM IN THE REVOLUTION
Josiah Chute, after his discharge, returned to Windham, and died on his farm, Oct. 21, 1834, aged 75 years. He was a man of honor and probity, and was respected by all who knew him. He is buried on his own land, where a stately monument has been erected to his memory.
In the same cemetery also lies his neighbor and companion in arms, John Swett, who died Mar. 23, 1845, aged 87 years. His grave is properly marked by a modest headstone.
Lieut. Edward Anderson was buried at Windham Hill, and a durable slate stone marks the spot.
Lieut. Ichabod Hanson's grave is in the cemetery that bears his name and has a suitable headstone.
*Stephen Manchester was buried in the Knight Cemetery, near Dutton IIill, but no stone points us to the grave where the dust of this old hero reposes "after life's fitful fever" was ended.
In the Smith Burial Ground, in the southerly part of the town, are the graves of John Elder, who died May 15, 1828, aged 76 years. and William Elder, died Oet. 20, 1799, aged 74 years. Both of these graves are properly marked by old-fashioned head- stones.
Capt. Thomas Trott, of the Town Company, has a fine granite monument on his lot in this yard.
Here too are buried James Mayberry. Benjamin Bodge, Thomas Bolton, William Bolton, and John Mayberry. None of these graves are marked as they should be.
Capt. Richard Mayberry was killed by a falling tree in Ray- mond, Nov. 4, 1807, at the age of 72 years; is buried on Leach Hill in Casco. His son William, who served three years in his father's company, died June 8, 1850, at the great age of 91 years, and is buried on Mayberry Hill in Casco. Both of these graves are said to be properly marked.
Corporal Ebenezer Barton, after a service of 42 months dur- ing the darkest period of the war, returned to Windham and, like his former captain, was accidentally killed by a falling tree, while clearing his land. This event took place on Apr. 15, 1785. His remains are interred in the private cemetery of the late Hon. William Goold near Windham Center.
* See previous statement, rgarding monument erected to Mr. Man- chester, in 1915.
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Ensign Richard Dole returned to Windham, after his three years of service in the army, where he remained until 1803. IIe then went to Hebron, Me., where he died in 1825, aged 89 years. His remains are interred in that town, and we are informed that a headstone has been erected to his memory.
Enoch Hall, a three-years' man, removed to Buckfield and died there Dec. 10, 1835.
Samuel Tobin, a nine-months' man, also died in Buckfield, Dec. 29, 1834, and both he and Hall are probably buried in that town.
Edward Webb, who served three years in Capt. Benjamin Walcott's Company, settled in Gorham and died there Nov 28, 1840, aged 86. He is buried in the Sapling Hill Burial Ground near the Maine Central R. R. station at White Rock, and his grave is marked by an old-fashioned slate headstone.
John Winship, a soldier of the Bagaduce Expedition, and a native of Windham, removed from here to Otisfield, where he died in 1848, aged 87 years. He is buried in that town.
James Jordan, who served three years in the army, after- wards settled in Monroe and died there Mar. 31, 1813.
Jonathan Knight went to Otisfield after the war, but prob- ably returned to Windham, where he died, Nov. 19, 1837, aged 78 years. ITis remains are interred in the Knight Cemetery in School District No. 6, and the above date is taken from the in- scription on his gravestone.
There were several Revolutionary soldiers who settled in Windham after the war. Among them was Jonah Austin. He enlisted at Falmouth and served three and one-half years in the Continental Army, after which he came to Windham and settled on a farm in the easterly part of the town. He died Sept. 27, 1833. and was buried on his farm.
Noah Read came to Windham from Attleboro, Mass. He served in five different companies for a total period of 10 months and 7 days. He was a Quaker of the most pronounced type and was very reticent in regard to his war record. He died in Windham, April 4, 1842, aged 87 years, and is probably buried in the old Quaker yard near Windham Center.
Lemuel Horton, also a Quaker, came from Milton, Mass., to Portland and thence to Windham. He served in nine different companies for 23 months and 20 days.
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Rufus Horton, his brother, served 24 months and 10 days in ten different companies, commencing when he was but sixteen years of age. He was wounded in the wrist and retired from the service with the rank of Sergeant Major.
Many years have come and gone since the last soldier of the War for National Independence joined the silent majority ; yet the memory of their sacrifices, sufferings and gallant deeds lin- gers with us today like a benediction.
"On fame's eternal camping ground, Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead."
CHAPTER IX
THE WAR OF 1812
As previously stated, the close of the Revolution found the inhabitants of Windham in a state of poverty of which the pres- ent generation can have no adequate conception. They were heavily in debt, with scanty means to meet their responsibilities ; yet they met their difficulties like true and loyal men, and ad- justed their outstanding bills as soon as it was possible to do so.
The soldiers were paid in the almost worthless government currency, and had returned home even poorer than their towns- men. It is a faet that many of these war-worn veterans were compelled for lack of means to travel on foot nearly all the way from the places where they were discharged to their homes, yet they at once took up the duties of civil life without a murmur, and began anew where they had left off their work to fight for national independence.
One instance of how readily these old soldiers returned to their former occupations will serve as an illustration of their zeal and energy. The writer's great-grandfather, Richard Dole, arrived home from the army late in the afternoon, and the next morning, at sunrise, he was in his joiner-shop busy at work on a job he had left unfinished when he enlisted more than three years before.
Others were equally energetic, and in a short time, a season of activity in all branches of business prevailed everywhere throughout the township. The population rapidly increased, more land was cleared and put under cultivation, while the lum- ber business, on which the inhabitants depended largely for ready money, flourished as never before.
This condition of prosperity continued without interruption until a second war with Great Britain eame on. This war was formally declared June 18. 1812, and the cause is fully set forth by the United States government as follows :
"Firstly, For impressing American citizens while sailing on
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the seas, the highway of nations. Dragging them on board their ships of war and foreing them to serve against nations in amity with the United States, and even to participate in aggressions on the rights of their fellow citizens when not on the high seas.
"Secondly, Violating the rights and peace of our coasts and harbors, harassing our departing commerce and wantonly spill- ing American blood within our territorial Jurisdiction.
"Thirdly, Plundering our commerce on every sea under pre- tended blockades, not of harbors, posts, or places, invested by adequate force.
"Fourthly, Committing numberless spoilations on our ships and commerce, under her orders in council, of various dates.
"Fifthly, Employing seeret agents within the United States, with a view to subvert our government and dismember our union.
"Sixthly, Encouraging the Indian tribes to make war on the people of the United States."
In this war Windham was not called upon to furnish any men for the army. The men needed were raised by voluntary enlistment. There were, however, twenty men belonging to this town, who enlisted for five years, or during the war, and served in the regular army.
They were Timothy Chadbourne, Josiah Freeman, Jonathan Freeman, Thomas Hardy. William Ingersol, Nathaniel Ingersol. James Jordan, Jeremiah Jordan, Thomas Jordan, Merrill Knight, William Knight. Joseph Knight. Samuel Libby. Joshua Mabury, George Mugford, John Peco, John Pettingill, Ephraim Winship, Isaac Varney. Daniel Knight.
Of these men, Thomas Hardy and Isaac Varney died in the service ; Joseph Knight was severely wounded; and Merrill Knight was killed in action. Several small enlistments of militia were made by order of the Governor of Massachusetts for short terms for the defence of Portland and vicinity.
Near the close of the war the Windham Company. then com- manded by Capt. Nathan Goold, was detached and ordered to Portland for the defence of that place, in expectation of an attack by the British war vessels, then said to be on our coast. Capt. Goold received his orders at nine o'clock at night on Sep- tember 9. 1814. He at once collected his Company, and. at nine the next morning they were on Munjoy Hill in Portland, armed
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and equipped, ready for any service that might be required of them. Fortunately, however, this proved to be a false alarm ; and, after remaining on duty until Sept. 24, 1814, they were mustered out and returned to their homes.
The following is the muster roll of this company :
"Nathan Goold, Captain. Noah J. Senter, Lieutenant. William Legrow, Ensign.
"Sergeants, Elias Baker, Nathaniel Knight, John Crague. Jr., John Brown.
"Corporals, Isaae Powers, Ezra Anderson, Benjamin Baker, Elijah Long.
"Levi Morrill, Fifer.
"Privates, Francis Jackson, Benjamin Morrill, Samuel Hamblen, Oliver Mabury. Abraham Anderson, Jr., James Crague, Philip Cobb, Daniel Waterhouse, Francis Mabury, William Hearsey, Peter Knight, David Proctor, John Lunt. Thomas Stevens, Samuel Bolton, Benjamin Davis, Daniel Bolton, Josiah Crague, Roger Jordan, Jr., Timothy Haines. Daniel Knight, John French, Richard Lamb, Jonathan Freeman, Joshua Rogers, John Loveitt, James Lombard, John Goodale, Jr., Jonah Austin, Jr., Stephen Manchester, Benjamin Jordan, Ezra Mugford. Caleb Graffam, Mark Crockett. John Bodge. John Anthoine, Joseph Crockett, Justus Law, Anthony Brackett, Nathaniel Hunnewell, Joseph E. Dolley, Joseph Brown, Abner Goold, William Austin, Thomas Leighton, Jonathan Goold, John Skillings, William Young. Israel Hodsdon, Jr., Aaron Hanscomb, Robert Wier. William Withington, Thomas Mabury, Ebenezer Smith. John Knight. Jr., James Brown, Ephraim Brown, Nathan Hanscomb, John Brown, Jr., Daniel Bailey, Robert M. Mabury, William Cobbey, Jacob Pettengill. Benjamin Whitmore.
CHAPTER X
PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. INDUSTRIES. MANUFACTURES, ETC.
Although the principal occupation of the inhabitants of Windham has ever been that of agriculture, various other in- dustries have flourished here.
We find that, previous to the Revolution, lumbering along the Presumpscot River was carried on quite extensively by the early settlers. During the colonial period. the English government reserved the best and largest of the pine trees for use in the royal navy, and all trees suitable for masts and spars were selected by an officer appointed by the crown for that purpose, and called a "forest ranger." At certain times he visited the woods in his jurisdiction, made his selection of a certain num- ber of trees, to each of which he affixed the mark of a "broad arrow." which made them government property. All persons were forbidden, under severe penalties, to cut one of the trees bearing this mark ; but, when called for and cut under the direc- tion of the "ranger" and transported to a landing place, the government would pay a liberal price for the work.
These landing places were located at convenient points on the rivers in the towns throughout the seaboard counties; the one in Windham being a few rods below the present woolen mill at Mallison Falls, and known as the "Royal Mast Landing." The logs were floated down the river to tide-water, where they were loaded on board of vessels built expressly for the purpose and called "Mast Ships," and were transported to England. This business was a source of considerable revenue to the settlers. as the work was usually done in the winter time. Hence, it did not interfere with their farming operations, while the money received for their labor enabled them to procure many comforts and necessaries which they must have otherwise lacked.
In former pages, we have given an account of the old sawmill at Horse Beef (now Mallison Falls), which was the first mill of any kind in this town. The next one was built at Little Falls by Maj. William Knight. sometime previous to 1756. and its site
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is now occupied by the mill of the Androscoggin Pulp Company. Maj. Knight operated the mill for several years, and, it is said, had a house near his mill. He is claimed to be the first settler of Little Falls on Windham side of the river.
He was succeeded by his son Nathaniel, who conducted the business with marked success for many years. He owned the farm lately owned and occupied by John J. Bodge. Mr. Knight finally sold his property here and removed to Naples, Me.
We do not know to whom the mill was sold, but we do know that the privilege remained unoccupied for many years, except- ing for two small buildings erected by Jonathan Andrew near the present pulp mill. One of these was used as a grist mill and contained a set of old-fashioned granite stones. It had for its presiding genius a kindly old man named William Johnson, whose grey hair, bent form, and dusty clothes were familiar to the inhabitants of the village and vicinity, as he wended his way to and fro about his daily work at the mill.
The other building was occupied as a earding mill, where the farmers' wool was made into rolls for home manufacture. It was operated first by a man named Leonard Bacon, and after- wards by Lathrop Crockett. Both of these buildings were long since torn down to make room for improvements.
In 1875, the water power on both sides of the river was pur- chased by C. A. Brown and Company, who erected a large briek
Pulp Mill, South Windham, Maine
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PROGRESS OF THE TOWN, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURES
mill and commenced the manufacture of an article called "wood board." This they continued to do with marked success, giving employment to a large force of workmen, until the death of Mr. Brown, which took place a few years ago.
Shortly afterwards the property was purchased by the An- droscoggin Pulp Company, who have more than doubled the amount of business done by the former owners. They have erected a large addition to the old mill, built of concrete and iron, have furnished it with the latest and most approved kinds of machinery, and give steady employment to a large number of workmen. They have also built several houses for their em- ployees, which add greatly to the comfort of the latter and also to the appearance of the village.
The waterpower at Gambo (now Newhall) was used for lumbering at quite an early date, but we are unable to say who built the first mill there. The first man of whom we have any record as using these falls was Jonathan Loveitt. His old ac- count book informs us that he was born at Cape Elizabeth in 1743, and came to Windham in 1769, where he "bargained for a sawmill then standing on the falls, at Gambo." so it would seem that lumbering had been carried on there prior to his arrival. It is said the mill was owned by parties living in Bos- ton. However, Mr. Loveitt appears to have leased the property, and he occupied it for many years. He also, in connection with his lumbering operations, had a grocery store, in which he kept for sale everything from a mouse-trap to a hogshead of New England rum.
Just how long Mr. Loveitt remained at Gambo we do not know, but, during that time, he purchased the falls that still bear his name. and built a sawmill there. In company with his sons, Benjamin, Robert and Jonathan, Jr., he carried on an extensive lumber business until his death, which occurred Mar. 19, 1819. His sons continued lumbering for several years, but finally gave it up and paid their attention exclusively to farming. We do not know who succeeded Mr. Loveitt at Gambo, but it may have been Peter Bolton : as we know that Mr. Loveitt, in addition to his sawmill, had a grist mill there, and employed Bolton as his miller. It is also said that Bolton afterwards owned the mills. but this statement we cannot verify. In 1817. Edmund Fowler and Lester Laflin came here from Southwick. Mass., and bought
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the privilege and twenty-five acres of land on Gorham side of the river. On this site they erected a line of mills for the manu- facture of gunpowder and put them in operation the next year. They continued in the business until the 22d of June, 1827, when both these men, together with their foreman, Matthew MeCully, were accidentally drowned in Sebago Lake.
On June 13. 1832. Oliver M. Whipple received a deed of the property from William Fowler and immediately took possession of the premises. He came here from Lowell, Mass., where he had been engaged in the manufacture of powder for some time; and, believing there would be no limit for the demand of the article, he at once set about enlarging the business here. To this end. he purchased several tracts of land on Windham side of the Presumpscot .. including the entire waterpower. On this land he built several buildings, one of which was a large and substantial stone mill fitted up for the manufacture of wooden kegs, in which to pack the powder for sale in the various markets. These kegs were of different sizes, but none held over twenty- five pounds of the manufactured article. This rendered their transportation an easy matter.
Mr. Whipple also erected a new line of mills on the site of Fowler and Laflin's old ones, but the greater part of his business was done on Windham side of the river. He had for agent and superintendent of the works his brother Lucius, a man of fine executive abilities, and one who had the esteem and confidence, not only of the employees, but of the entire community.
IIe remained here until his death and was succeeded by his brother, James Whipple, under whose judicious management the business went on with its accustomed regularity until Oct. 12. 1855, when a terrifie explosion took place at the works, by which he and six others lost their lives. Among these was George, son of Oliver MI. Whipple, the aged proprietor.
Previous to this catastrophe, on Jan. 20th, 1855, Mr. Whipple had sold the entire property to G. G. Newhall and Company of Boston. The consideration named in the deed was $10,000, and the amount of land, 360 aeres, more or less, together with all buildings thereon and all machinery connected with said premises.
The new company added largely to the already flourishing business ; they at once repaired the damages caused by the late
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PROGRESS OF THE TOWN, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURES
explosion, and erected a new line of mills on Windham side of the Presumpseot, together with several large and commodious dwelling houses for their workmen. They purchased more land, introduced new and improved machinery, and more than doubled the number of men formerly employed by Mr. Whipple.
This state of affairs lasted until July 21, 1855, when several new partners were admitted, and the Oriental Powder Company came into existence, Mr. William H. Jackson being appointed superintendent. Mr. Jackson was an energetic, far-seeing busi- ness man and a past master in the art of organization. He greatly improved the methods of his predecessors and soon made his personality felt all along the line. More land was purchased, better wages paid the workmen, and everything was done to promote the interests of the corporation.
After the War of the Rebellion began, with his usual energy, Mr. Jackson obtained large government contracts: and, during the entire period of the war, the mills were run night and day, making immense quantities of powder of the different kinds used by the government. All of this was transported to Portland by horse teams, Mr. Andrew D. Maxfield, the contractor, having several heavy four and six-horse teams, which he kept constantly at work hauling the deadly explosive.
After the war closed, the business went along more quietly, but prosperously until 1873, when Mr. Jackson suddenly severed his connection with the company, and returned to his home in Massachusetts.
He was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Newhall, who remained here but a short time. His brother, Ezra F. Newhall, then became superintendent, and under his judicious management the busi- ness kept up its old-time record of steady prosperity.
Finally, in an evil hour for Windham, the company consoli- dated their interests here with other manufacturers of powder farther west, with the result that they were compelled, on June 1, 1893, to suspend operations for nearly two years.
On May 23, 1895, the mills were put in operation and con- tinued to be operated until the latter part of July, when they were again shut down and remained idle until August, 1895.
In the meantime Mr. J. B. Coleman had been elected presi- dent of the company, and Mr. Karl Kaiser, a veteran powder maker, became superintendent.
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The mills started up under the new management on Sept. 10, 1895. Mr. Kaiser remained here in charge of the mills until 1902-3, when he left to take the superintendeney of powder works at Oliphant Furnace, Penn.
Mr. Howard M. Smith was placed in charge after Mr. Kai- ser's departure. After several years he left Windham, and shortly after this the property was sold to the E. I. Du Pont .de Nemours Powder Co.
Wood Pulp Mill of E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., Newhall
They converted it to the manufacture of wood flour, used in connection with dynamite, and so endeth the history of the old powder mills.
Great Falls is the next waterpower on the Presumpseot to elaim our attention. Here considerable lumbering was done on the Windham side, at an early date, the first man to occupy the falls being Mr. Zebulon Triekey, Sr. No one now living knows at just what time he came here, but the best informa- tion we are able to obtain places the time of his oceupaney of the waterpower before the commencement of the last century. Their sawmill stood on or near the site of the house owned by the late John M. White, and we are informed that they operated it for quite a number of years.
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PROGRESS OF THE TOWN, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURES
The next man to improve the falls of whom we have any knowledge was Enoch White, who had a sawmill here in the early part of the last century. Mr. White appears to have been an active, enterprising man. It was said that he had a "gang of saws" in his mill, then a new thing in this part of the country.
He gave employment to a large number of men and was suc- cessful in his business, by which he made a fortune. After this he retired and died many years ago.
His brother. John White, purchased the privilege and for several years carried on lumbering quite extensively. He was a fine business man, of undoubted integrity. In addition to his mill, he was engaged in other money-making ventures, among them what is known as the "Eastern Land speculation." In this he made a fortune and shortly afterwards retired from active business. He also built the first and only grocery store on Windham side of the river, which he occupied for three or four years, selling to Winslow Hall in 1826.
Mr. White died in the prime of life and was succeeded by his son, John M. White, who did but little business on the falls. being possessed of an ample fortune. He was a very popular man and greatly respected by all who knew him. He died in 1892, leaving many friends to mourn his loss.
In 1842, Walter Corey of Portland erected a large building on the south side of the town road near the Windham end of the bridge, in which he manufactured furniture of various kinds, one item of his business being an annual output of twenty thousand chairs. In 1856, he enlarged the mill to double its original capacity and gave employment to a large force of skilled workmen. He was a man of undoubted integrity and was em- inently successful in business. He remained here until 1870, when, his health having failed, he sold out to Mr. Charles H. Wright of Massachusetts.
This gentleman operated the mill until the summer of 1872, when it accidentally took fire and was totally destroyed, together with a large four-tenement house and several other buildings belonging to the property. Mr. Wright did not rebuild, and nothing has since been done on the privilege.
The entire waterpower on both sides of the river is now (1914) owned by the Cumberland County Power and Light Co., whose buildings are in Gorham.
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The Narrows, which is a waterpower at the foot of Little Sebago Lake, and one-half mile from the village of North Wind- ham, was first occupied by Gen. Moses Hunt, who erected a saw- mill here early in the last century, and, for several years was a successful lumberman. He was succeeded by his son Samuel, who ran the mill for a time and then sold it and engaged in farming.
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