REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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WMdstockv Sumner I B
TOWN REGISTER
1 9 O 5
COMl'ILEI) BY
MITCHELL AND DAVIS
Brunswigk, Maine: Published by The 11. E. Mitcihicll Co. 1905
1762768
TOWN
REGISTER 1905
Woodstock Sumner & Btickfield
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
WOODSTOCK
Early Settlement Organization and Incorporation Hamlin's Qore Town Officials Manufacturing Military Account Religious Organizations Education
SUMNER Butterfield Township, No. 6 and No. 7 Settlement Incorporation Town Officials Local Industries Military Matters Church Affairs School Items
BUCKFIELD
Township Number Five Early Settlement Incorporation Town Officers Industrial Account
Military Buckfield Churches School Items Zadoc Long Free Library Patrons of Husbandry
CENSUS OF BUCKFIELD
CENSUS OF SUMNER CENSUS OF WOODSTOCK
Woodstock, Sumner m Buckfleld
TOWN REGISTER. 1905
INTRODUCTION.
Nowhere in the State of Maine can be found more beau- tiful and varied scenery than presents itself in the rug<^ed landscape of the celebrated Oxford Hills bordering- the upper valley of the Androscoggin. The surface of the three towns of which we treat is beautifully varied by precipitous hills, with their peaks g'enerally covered with ever^ireen forest trees, quiet lakes nestling at their feet, and rushing brooks and hillside torrents wending their way to the noble river which surrounds this section to the north and east.
This section of Maine was not entered by civihzation, except for hunting and trapping, for many decades after the formation of permanent settlements along the coast, and on the lower courses of the great river highways. Gradually, as the native Indian tribes retreated or became weakened by the loss of numbers, the ambitious and progressive white men ventured farther up the river courses or penetrated the
G
INTRODUCTION
great unbroken wilderness; thus gradually but steadily pushing forward the pioneer line, and forcing backward the old order of native ownership of the soil and its common possession by a race which seemed to delight both in the lib- erties of peace, and the vicissitudes of war.
During the last twenty years of the eighteenth century many townships in Oxford county and the interior of Maine were granted or sold to men who sought them for the priv- ileges of making for themselves and their families homes where they sliould be at peace, and enjoy the liberties so dearly and heroically bought. vS(ittlement was made in Buckfield in 1777, in Sumner soon after the close of the American Revolution, and in the towns farther north and west very soon following. This was the beginning of a period of remai-kable growth and development in this section of the State, which we shall brielly follow in this account as they are related to the towns of wliich we write.
HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Not until settlements had been made in all of the sur- rounding towns did the ruj^ged tract of land now included within Woodstock, Greenwood, Albany, and Milton, and what was formerly Franklin plantation, attract the atten- tion of settlers. Fryeburg, on the Baco river, was settled in 17G2, the first settlement in Oxford county. Bethel had a settler in 1773 and Waterford in 1775. Buckfield was set- tled in 1777, Paris two years later, and Rumford in 1780, Sumner in 1783, Norway in 1786 and Peru in 1793, but up to this time none ventured to make a liome^within the terri- tory thus surrounded. This offered to those engaged in hunting, fishing and trapping, a 'Miappy hunting ground" but not so to the man who must till the soil for his living. Thus it was that the place became frequented by those of the former class before 1795.
The thrifty settlements at No. 4, (Paris) and at New Penacook (Rumford), being separated by a distance of about twenty miles wished better connection' than w^as offered by the single foot path, so in 1795, they jointly petitioned the Court of General Sessions for the location of a road that should connect the two settlements. This petition was granted and a committee consisting of John
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WOODSTOCK
Greenwood, Nath. C. Allen, Isaac Parsons, Ichabod Bonney and Peleej Chandler was appointed to locate the road which was soon after built. This, the first road built through Number Three as the township was then called, generally agreed with the present well traveled road crossing the west- ern section of the town.
Christopher and Solomon Bryant, Jr., sons of one of the settlers in Paris were already familiar with the attractions offered by the region around Long Pond, as Bryant's Pond was then called, where they had s])ent much time fishing and hunting. According to their wishes to locate, with another brother and several brothers-in-law, in this region, they employed one Thomas .loycelin, of Buckfield, to lay out ten lots of one hundred acres each, five on each side of the new county road. This was in the spring of 1797, and it was during the following summer that the Brvant brothers made the first clearings. The following year they returned from Paris where they spent the wintei*, burned their clear- ings and erected log houses. In October they came with their families and household goods, and on the twelfth of November the wife of Christ()[)her Bryant gave birth to her first child, a sou, who was named Christopher, Jr., and was the first white child born in town.
In the spring of 1791), Luther Briggs, a brother-in Jaw of the Bryants, brought Ids family into town, and the same summer, Jacob Whitman, Jr., of iiuckfleld, bi ouglit his wife to the settleujent, locating on the present town farm. Luke Owens, an Irishman, nmde a clearing on the Morton Curtis farm where he lived four or five years and then removed to
HISTORICAL
9
Paris. Levi Berry, from Buckfield, fell an openiuji; on lot No. 11 in the west part of Woodstock. In the fall of 1799 Sani- iiol Bryant bnilt a cabin on what is known as The "Com- mon" lot, and moved in. In 1800 Levi Berry married a sister of the Bryants and established a home on his clearing. Luther Whitman, a brother of Jacob, and probably Asa Thiirlow from Bnckfield and John Nason from Paris, moved in dui ing the year, making a total population of nine fami- lies in town during the winter of 1800-01, not reckoning- Owens.
At this juncture a change in the ownership of these lands was made by the acceptance of the western half of the town- ship by the Trustees of Dummer Academy in fulfillment of a grant of a half-township to that institution by the Massa- chusetts legislature. On March 5, 1800, the committee on the sale of eastern lauds conveyed the grant to the Trustees, and this became known as the " Dunimer Academy Grant." But on the thirteenth of the following October the Trustees sold the grant to Michael Little of Poland for the sum of 16240. Mr. Little employed Alexander Greenwood, of Hebron, to run out the land into lots ready for settlement. He treated liberally the few settlers whom he found already occupying his lands, realizing perhaps that their presence would aid him in fulhlliug the conditions of the grant.
In the fall of 1801 Stephen Chase, who had been in Mr. Little's employ, came hei'e with his brother Merrill, to select homestead lots. Ste|»hen selected lot 33 and Merrill lot 29, being adjoining lots situated South-easterly from the one afterwards selected by David Bicker, known as the "Bicker
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WOODSTOCK
Farm." The following March they moved their families to the clearings which they made during the fall. For five years after he came to town Steplien kept a journal which today throw^s much light on life as it was lived in those try- ing days. Noah Curtis moved to lot No. 10 in 1804 and his son Morton, to lot No. 15, the following year.
Soon after the settlement in the west part of Woodstock was made a section two lots wide was surveyed the width of the half-township on Paris line by John K. Smith. These lots were of different sizes, and in number some twelve or fifteen. Abraham and Jonathan Walton settled upon two of these lots, and the former, if not the latter was here in 1801. Mr. A. Hutchinson, and also Mr. E. Hutchinson, occupied two other lots. Another was taken up by one Mr. Reniff. Benj. Forbes bought lot No. 7, according to Smith's survey, in 1804 and soon after John Gray and John Star- bird bought two adjacent lots; the two last named lots in 1825, were annexed to Paris.
The eastern half of the township was, on June 23, 1803, granted by the legislature of Massachusetts to the Trustees of Gorham Academy, including the portion already settled. The stated conditions being met by the Trustees, they employed Lothro]) Lewis and Matthew Cobb a committee to run out the land. The grant was surveyed in 1806 by Gen. James Irish of Gorham, afterwards Land Agent of Maine. In this, as in the survey of the ''Thousand Acres" in tlie west part, the previous survey of a few lots was not dis- turbed. Soon after the survey was made, that is in 1807, the entire grant was sold to James H. Chadbourne and
IITSTOrvICAL
11
twenty others, mostly citizens of Gorham, for the sum of #10,000. These proprietors divided the land among them- selves, and afterwards sold it out to settlers.
But these lands were not attractive to the men seeking homesteads, consequently these settlements increased slowly, in the spring of 1801, (brmdius Perkins came from Paris to lot No. 0 in the east part, and was the first settler in the school district which has continued to bear his name since its format ion. Otln^r settlers in the eastern grant were Geo. Townsend, Lazarus liand, David Rand, Benaiah Dow,Lydia Dunham and sons, and Luther Dudley's sons, of wdiom Josiah was the oldest.
Others in the western grant who had taken up lots there prior to the organization of the plantation w'ere David liicker, Jr., who came to No. Three in 1803; John True who bought lot No. 21 about 1801, in 1807 he sold to Enoch Hammond; Wm. Swan from Paris, in 1802; also his sou of the same name who came the same 3^ear; Jotham Per- harn, of Paris, in 1808; James Nutting; Edward Lothrop ; Uowse Bisbee,from Sumner about 1808, erected a mill; Levi Drew^, Joshua Felt, 1810; Lemuel Perham and Lemuel Per- ham, Jr. We have endeavored to mention the men who were located within the township as permanent settlers up to the time of the organization of the plantation in 1812, further than this we shall be unable to trace the settlement of the town. At this time there were lorty-two families liv- ing in Number Three.
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WOODSTOCK
ORGANIZATION AND INCORPORATION
Number Three was org-anized a ])lantation for fcaxation purposes on ^lareli 23rd, 1812, when the inhabitants met at the home of Noah Curtis. Stephen Chase was chosen to preside over the gathering-, and Merrill Chase to keej) its records, as plantation clerk. The board of assessors chosen consisted of Cornelius Perkins, Merrill Chase and Jotham Perham. Christopher Bryant was made collector, with Luther Briggs and Oliver Colburn his "sureties." This board of oflicers was re-chosen the following year^ exce])t the collector, who was underbidden by Cornelius Perkins, The third year the same board served. As this was the last year of the plantation government it is seen that it was served by but one board of otlicors.
A meeting was held April 1th, 1814, "to see if the plan- tation will petition the General Court for an act of incor- poration." This petition m(;t the approval of the Court, and the act incorporating Nimiber lliree a town by the name of AVoodstock was approved by the Governor, Feb. 7, 1815. The first warrant was issued by Albion K. Parris, of Paris, who seven 3^ears later was elected to thegovernor's chair. The warrant was directed to Seth Curtis, a freehold inhabitant.
The town meeting called lor the election of the first board of town ofilcers was holden at Noah Curtis' house on March 20, following the passing of the act. Mr. Bowse Bisbee was selected moderator and Stephen Chase clerk. Cornelius Perkins, Alex Day, and John Billings composed
HISTOEICAL
13
the first board of selectmen, while John Gray, Jr., Ilichard Green and Josiah Dudle}'^ were elected assessors. Seth Cur- tis became treasurer, Luther Whitman, collector and con- stable. Other necessary town officers were chosen, includ- iii<>- tythingmen and school-committeemen. Thus we see this town admitted among her sister towns as one of the legal municipal bodies of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts. In the move for the separation of the District of Maine and its establishment as an independent state we find tlie new town very enthusiastic, in fact, the voice of the people, shown by the forty votes cast on the question July 20, 1819, was unanimously in its favor.
Several minor changes have been made in the bounda- ries of Woodstock since its incorporation. In 1825 John Gray, Jr., and John Starbird, with their estates, were set ulf from this town to Paris. In 1827 the estate of Daniel Curtis was set off from the towai of Paris and annexed to Woodstock. In 1873 James Uuss, with his estate, consist- ing of one and one-half lots, was set off from Milton Plan- tation to the town of Woodstock. In 1873 a larger acqui- sition was made by the annexation of Hamlin's Gore to this town; of this tract we shall treat in another connection, in 1880 Caleb Puller's estate was re-annexed to Paris. Su- |)erior school privileges and close business relations with Paris were the chief motives assigned.
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WOODSTOCK
HAMLIN'S GORE
When the western half of this township was surveyed in 1799, for the Trustees of Dnmmer Academy, a spotted line marked by sable hunters was mistaken for the Bethel line and was made, instead of the Bethel South line, to form one side of the grant. When the mistake was discovered it was found there was a strip of land lying between the two grants wdiich was included in neither. This was surveyed by David Noyes, Esq., of Norway, and was found to con- tain about 1,400 acres, bounded by Woodstock, Green- wood, Bethel and Milton Plantation. This gore he divided into thirteen lots, unequal in size, also including a large part of North Alder River Pond at the southwest corner. On the 26tli of February, 1816, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deeded this land to Dr. Cyrus Hamlin of Paris, for the sum of $()00. Dr. Hamlin soon after sold an undivided half of the land to John Daniels, of Paris. Steps were made for its immediate settlement.
The first settler here was Jonathan T. Clifford, son of Joseph, of Woodstock. He had previously erected a log house on the shore of the pond, then known as "Clifford Pond," but on April 2, 181G, he purchased a part of lot No. 9. He left the place prior to 1827. Two other early set- tlers were Asa and Caleb B. Barrows, who took the tri- angular shaped lot. No. ten, and erected two log houses near the Greenwood line. Caleb, who was a son of Asa, lived in his log house until about 1841 when he removed to Linneus. He was a soldier of the War of 1812. Tildeu
HISTORICAL
15
lUirtlett moved to the Gore quite early from Paris, purchas- iiio- lots seven and eight. A few years later he sold his lands to his brother Sylvaniis, and removed across the line into Bethel, John Buck, of Buckfield, bought lot No. 11 and occu- pied it. Issac and his son Geo. W. Cummings came to lot No. 1), from Greenwood. Porter and Peter Kimball, sons of Peter, of Bridgtou, came to the Gore about 1815. Peter located on lot No. 1, but Porter finally began a clearing just over the Bethel line. Peter was probably the second actual settler on the Gore. Later his brother, Jonathan, settled on No. 2. Josiah Moody, of Portland, settled lot No. 5. Other lots were purchased but were not settled until some time later.
Hamlin's Gore was first organized in 1826 when a board of plantation officers was chosen at a meeting held at the house of Peter Kimball. Regular i)lantation government was maintained until the Gore was annexed to Woodstock, in 1873. An attempt was made in 1833 for its annexation to this town but apparently no great effort was made for its success. In 1847 a project was started by Phineas Frost and others, of Bethel, for the incorporation of anew town made up of the east i)art of Bethel, Milton Plantation and the Gore, but the plan was stoutly opposed by the Gore and was defeated. Under the plantation organization taxes were comparatively low, a school disti'ict was maintained and the roads were kept in tolerably good shape. The ob- ject in its final annexation to a larger body was that a dis- graceful, licensed liquor shop, kei)t by Jolm B. Merrill, for- merly a trader at Bryant's Pond, who had removed to the
IG
AVOODSTOCK
Bailey farm ill the Gore, should be abolished. Under the protection of the licensiu/2,' board of the plantation, of which he was one, he sold large quaiititios of liquor which he pur- chased of the State Liquor Agency. Other methods were ti'ied to force him out of the business but all were failures until the last chance, that of annexing the plantation to the temperance town of Woodstock was acted upon and achieved. Soon after Merrill fouud his lucrative business taken from him he removed from the town, owing' the State liquor agent (juite a large sum, for which the inhabitants of the Gore were held responsible and the collection of which was enforced by legal process. By the annexation of the Gore to the town of Woodstock we find No. 3 once again united, with minor changes, as it was before the Academy grants, the first survey for which, by an error, had caused . the separation of the Gore from the body of the town for nearly three-quarters of a century.
TOWN OFFICIALS SINCE 1875
CLEKKS
C. R. Houghton, 1875-85; Alden Chase, 188G-95; H. J. Libby, 1896-1)8; N. 1. Swan, 1899-1905.
TUEASUKEKS.
Alden Chase, 1875; James L. Bowker, 1876-1905.
HISTORICAL
17
SELECTMEN.
1875— 0. C. Houghton, T. R. Day, 8am'l Riiss.
1876— Alden Chase, S. G. AYymaii, G. G. Dow.
1877— S. G. WymaD, G. G. Dow, W. H. PearHons.
1878— S. G. Wyman, G. G. Dow, A. L. Rowe.
1879— G. G. Dow, A. L. Rowe, Otis Dudley.
1880— G. G. Dow, T. R. Day, S. L. Russ.
1881— T. R. Day, S. L. Russ, S. B. Curtis.
1882— 83— S. L. Russ, S. D. Curti^^, 8. Dudley. ' 1881— S. L. Russ, H. Jl. (^uslnuau, (). S. Dudley. 1885-90— S. L. Russ, O. 8. Dudley, H. H. Cushniau. 1891-95— S. L. Russ, O. S. Dudley, W. S. Davis.
1896- 0. S. Dudley, G. L. Cushuian, R. L. Cuujmiugs.
1897- 0. S. Dudley, G. L. Cushuiau, AY. H. Luivey.
1898- 1901— G. L. Cusbuum, W. IT.Lurvey, H.C. Raeon.
1902— VV. H. Liu'vey, 11. <J. Ua'^'jii, Elbrid^e Crooker.
1903— \V. H. Lurvey, H. C. Ducou, Jas. M. Day.
1904— 11. C. Baeou, Jas U. Day, John A. Titus.
1905— H. C. Bacon, G. E. Stevens. D. (). Dudley.
MANUFACTURING
The earliest saw-mill in town was built by Uowse Bisltee, in 1808, on the brook near the Abel Bacon place; this he sold to James Nutting, in 1812, later it passed into the hands of Capt Samuel Stephens, and was hnally taken down
b2
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WOODSTOCK
in 1831 or 1835. Samuel H, Houghton built a saw-mill at
the foot of Bi vant's Pond at an early date; this was oper- ated by various parties for thirty or forty years, then al- lowed to decay. Merrill Chase built the first mill and was tlie first settlor in Sigotch. Rowse Bisbee, about 1820, built a, sa w-niill on the right hand side of the Ilumford road, at LMn liook, and afterwards built a grist mill at the foot of Billings Hill. Other early mills were built on the streams in town but the ]Kj\ver was not generall}^ sufficient to operate them the year round. Most of these sites have been aban- doned. Ziba Andrews built a niill in the south part of the town about 1827, which site has been occupied ever since. About 1840 a clover mill was built on the brook North of I'inhook, and was operated by Horatio G. Euss.
About 1875 a spool factory was erected at Bryant's Pond, the town contributing largely toward the erection of the bnildings. Other manufacturing industries have been established, generally for the manufacture of lumber or wooden articles; a corn canning factory is also successfully operated here.
The gejieral occupation of the citizens is the cultivation of tlieii' ragged fields, but the soil is found to be fertile and productive.
Stei)hen,s Mills, or Woodstock Corner, was for several years the business centre of the town. John R. Briggs be- gan trading here about 1 821, at which time the first ])ost- office was established in Woodstock, and was kept by Mr. Briggs until 18:U) when Jje was succeeded by Eleazer Shaw. Mr. Shaw was succeeded by Welcome Kinsley in 1837, not
HISTOIUCAL
19
long- after which, business having declined, the postoffice was moved to Andrew's Mill, which was tlien becoming- the central place of business. Soniethin**- of a villaj»,e also sprung up at North Woodstock, or Pin hook, where a post- olfice was established in 1847, with John M. (Jallison post- master.
It was not until the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Rciilroad was extended throng'h this toun, in 1851, that Bryant's Pond Village was brought into existance, liut thcie vci y soon sprung- up around the railroad station a lively busi- ness interest, and the neat though nuxk'st homes which iiave been erected here now fornj a beautiful village commu- ]iity wliich is both a pride and an honor to the town. A postoffice was established here t he same year the railroad was completed.
MILITARY ACCOUNT
One familiar with the town of \\'oodst(;ck during- the period of its development, and who, from l)cing- a non- resident, had no reason to be j)artial, has said "In propo- tion to its po]mlation, no town in the (!ounty has developed as many efhcient militajy nun as Woodstock, and this town was indeed fortunate in the nund>er and merit of its field officers." The breaking out of the War of 1812 cre- ated much enthusiasm, and a company of Infajjtry was
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WOODSTOCK
organized April 11, 1812, with Jotham Perham, Captain; Lemuel Perham, Jr., Lieutenant; and Edward Lothrop, En- si<:»'n. In Sept. 1814-, this Company was ordered to the de- fense of Portland, which it was feared would suffer an at- tack by the British. They served in Lieut. Wm. Ryerson's Pediment, and, besides the time occupied in traveling to and from Portland, were in the service eleven days. The Com])any was n)ade up as follows: J. Perham, Captain; Lemuel Perham, Jr., Lieut.; Alex Day, Samuel Bryant, Seth Curtis and Josiah Dudley, Sei'<>eants; Gideon Swan, Musi- cian; ami (Christopher Bryant, Luther Briggs, Solomon Bry- ant, Morton Curtis, Noah Curtis, Jr., Jno T. Clifford, Wm. Cotton, Aaron Davis, Moses Dudley, Samuel Dunham, Con- sider Fuller, Enoch Hammond, Wm. Swan, Amos Thurlow, Otis Townseiid, David Rand, and Jacob AVhitman, Privates. Be side this company several citizens served in other com- ])afiie8: Chiis. (hirtis, Jose])h Cole, Daniel Dacy, Joshua Young, Thayer Townsend, Christopher Bryant, Solomon l>rycint, Jr., John R. Briggs, and Thos. Farrar, as well as several of Ca[)tain Perham's men served in Paris companies. In all there were thirty-one that served during the autumn at Portland, a list including a majority of the heads of families of Woodstock. Others who served in the forces afterwards took u[) lots in this town or on the Gore. Of these men Caleb B. Barrows, Geo. W. Cummings and Moses Cummiiigs, saw active service before the enemy at Shad- ague and Flattsburg.
01 the training days su<'ceeding the close of the War of 1812, u]) to the year 1815, when the law enforcing military
HISTOEICAL
21
drill was repealed, we can devote little space, but to the citizens these were among the most enjoyable of the year, filling the place, in a way, of the modern town or county fair.
The citizens of AVoodstock were ever devoted to freedom and good government, and by the lai ge niajority given Lin- coId in 18G0, substantially expressed their anti-slavery sen- timents. When the call to arms sounded the following spring, and at other calls, this town was found no loss patriotic than it had appeared at the voting booth. The following is a list of the men who enlisted during the ser- vice from this town.
In the First Regiment: Ohas. W. Farnham, Thorndike H. Sawyer, Lewis II. Stevens, Wm. F. Jewell, and Nathan C. Knapp. Second lieg.: Anson G. Bowker. Fifth Reg.: Philip Abbott, Horace C. Berry, Coip,, Caleb Lessee, Jr., Geo. W. Ricker, Ezra Ridlon, Fessenden Swan, Cyrus Thur- low, Enoch Whittemore, Jr., Alanson M. Whitnum. p]ighth Reg.: Andrew Jackson, Wm. AV. Leavitt. Ninth Reg.; S. C. Farnham, Chas. G. Perkins, Corp. Tenth Reg.: H. C. Berry, Corp., Luther Briggs, Henry F. Cole, Jos, VV. Cummings, Aaron D. Cotton, Amos S. Bryant, Alpheus Fuller, Wm. 11. Fuller, Levi D. Jewell, Isaac F. Lapham, Fessenden Swan, Edw. K. Young, Jas. L. Perham. Twelfth Reg.: John H. Abbott, Chas. D. Rowe, James Russ, and Jas. P. Russ. Thirteenth Reg.: Samuel Robbins, Leander S. Swan. Six- teenth Reg.: Gilbert M. L. AVhitman. Seventeenth Reg.: Hiram Andrews, Luther B. Farnum, Wm. F. Harding, Chas. P. Jackson, Alvin H. Marr, Dustin B. Ricker, Geo. W. Whit-
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WOODSTOCK
man, Barnet Thorn. Twentieth Reo^.: Caleb Bessee, Jr., Geo. H. York. Twenty-third Reg.: John L. Noyes, Galen G. Bowker, Jos. H. Davis, Wm. F. Jewell, Oilman A. Whitman, Consider F. Farrar, Albert Green, Henry Jordan, Jr., Robt. B. Taylor, Thos, J. Whitman, Wm. B. Lapham, promoted Lieutenant. Twenty-ninth Reg.: Horace C. Berry, Sergt., Henry F. Cole. Thirtieth Reg.: Robert H. Doughty. Thirty- first Reg.: Oscar F. Whitman, Chas H. Packard. Thirt}'^- second Reg.: Chas. H. Chase, Wm. F. Jewell, Nath. H. Ful- ler, Chas. W. Farnum, Oscar F. Whitman, John E. Lapham. I'ifth Battery: Cyrus A. Andrews, Samuel W. Benson, Wm. H. Proctor. Seventh Battery: Wm. B. Lapham 1st Lieut., Alfred 11 Briggs, John M. Bryant, Lorenzo Billings, Chas. M. Bixby, Al})heus Fuller, Levi D. Jewell, Jas. B. Mason, J as. H. Pratt, Albert Billings. Ezra Ridlon, Jr., Francis F. Stevens, Luther Briggs and Isaac F. Lapham. First Maine Sharpshooters: Chas. B. Bessee.
Besides the above several men enlisted from Hamlin's Gore, since annexed to Woodstock. Wm. H. Pearson served in the 10th and 29th Maine; Oliver Millet, in the aist; John A. Buck, in tlie 10th; Eben A. Kimball, in the 10th; Stephen L. Ethridge, in the 27th; Chas li. and Geo. Buck, in the 15th.
Other Woodstock men were James M. Lapham, three years in the 3Gth Mass. Regiment; George L. Berry, Mass. volunteer, was shot in action; N. B. Whitman served in a AVisconsin Regiment, and died oi wounds or disease.
HISTOmCAL
23
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
BAPTISTS.
Soon after the settlement of this town the settlers tnrned their attention to the formation of a religious org anization. But prior to the org'anization of any society devotional ser- vices were held in private homes on the Sabbath day. The first preaching services were held as early as 1802. Mr. Chase records in his journal, under date of Sept. 4, 1802, that he "went to meeting at Luther Whitman's." Elder Tripp of Hebron was often the preacher but the names of Mr. Low, Mr. Woodward, Mr. Chase, Elder Hooper and others are also mentioned as early preachers or exliorters on the occasion of public worship.
A branch of the Baptist church in Paris was organized here some years after the first services were held. The names of the first members were Wm. and Deborah Berry, Jacob and Dorcas Whitman, Luther Wliitmao, Oilvin Cole, Christopher Bryant, Stephen Chase, Lphraim Drake, Lydia and Tabitha Briggs, Bethiah Swan, Sally Bryant, and Betsey Cole. Nineteen new members were soon after added as the result of a revival.
For many years this was the only organized church in Woodstock and enjoyed the support and attendance of most of the families of the town. Tn 1828 this branch of the Pai'is Church became an independent organization, The Vxim AND Woodstock cuurcu, and seems to have been generally ministered to by Elder Jacob Whitman, a licensed local
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WOODSTOCK
preacher. Luther Perkins, who became the first ordained pastor, in 1844, served the church for several years previous to that time. Pveuben j\lilner, Addison Abbott and C. Per- kins were also settled over this society, and Rev. Z. Andrews, a local preacher, filled the pulpit many years when it was not otherwise filled. Other ministers here have been Ilevs. iM. Lawrence, U. B. Andrews, O. iUcbardson, Wm. Beavins, II. C. Estes, 1). 1)., T. J. Lyons, and others. The meeting Imuse was located at Paris Harbor.
Tin: Woodstock and (jReenwood church was organized in 18^i0, holding its meetings generally in the Bryant neighborhood, in Greenwood, but sometimes in the Whitman sclioobhouse in Woodstock. No cliurch edifice was ever erected by the society, which was disorganized in 1855, and its members became members of the Bryant's Pond Baptist Church organized that year. Keuben Milner was pastor herein 1843 to 1845. I\ev. David Ricker preached several years and was formally ordained pastor in 1853 or 1854 serving until the disorganization, when he became pastor of the new society.
The Hamlin's Goke Baptist church was organized in
1827 and continued until this also merged into the Bryant's Pond church upon its organization. The membership in
1828 was 35. Rev. Ransom Dunham was settled pastor in 1837, serving until 1844 during which time his faithful labors were rewarded as is shown by the increase in mem- bership which was nearly one hundred at the time he discon- tinued his pastorate. Rev. Bobert Ooud was pastor at the time of the disorganization.
HTSTOTUCAL
25
The Bryant's Pond Baptist church was organized in 1855-0, its membership being made up of the two societies last mentioned, and some from the Paris and Woodstock church. A convenient church edifice was erected atBryant's Bond and dedicated in 185G. Ilev. David Bicker becamethe lii-st pastor in which position he has been succeeded bvBevs. M. Lawrence, Z. Morton, W. Beavins, T. J. Swett, A. Mor- ton, J. C. Tucker, A. C. Uerrick, T, G , Lyons, Seth Benson, E. C. Goodwin, J. IL Littlefiehl, and IL A. B>rown, the latter in 1U03. Kev. Seth Benson has been pastor at several differ- ent periods, the last in 18U8.
THE METHODISTS.
Tt was not until about 1814 that any religious move- ment aside from tliat made by tlie B>aptists was made in town. The families of David Kicker and Noah Curtis were the first followers of John Wesley to take up their abode here. Soon others of tliis fijith joined them, and near the above date the first Methodist Class was formed by Bev. John Adams. A society was h>ter organized. Woodstock has never been a charge by itself but has been connected with Bethel, Bumford and Paris, hi 1856 the Methodists and Free I^aptists erected a meeting house in the lower part of the town near Andrews Mills. Later the Free Baptists erected a house of worship at West Paris and the Methodists became the exclusive owners of the church in Woodstock. The Methodists also had an interest in the church built mostly by the Baptists at Bryant's Pond, this they occupied one-fourth of the time.
2G
W(30DSTOOK
A lon^ list of preachers have filled the pulpit for this denomination, chanoes being made every year during the early days of its activity. Of those who have preached here during the last fifty-five years we would mention Revs. Joseph Mooar, J. L. Frazier, A. Turner, Geo. Briggs, Levi Eldredge, R. H. Ford, Mr. Fogg, J. Collins, E. Gerry, G. B. Hannaford, A. H. Withani, I. A. Bean, I. W. Smith, F. W. Snell, A. K. Bryant, J. II. Hounds and E. F. Doughty.
UNI VERSA LISTS.
The Woodstock Universalist Church was organized in Feb. 1843, by Rev. D. T. Stevens. At that time a three days meeting was held after which thirteen persons were baptized. The society consisted of sixteen members, many of whom w^ere members of the I*erham, Dudley, or Day families. A church was erected at Bryant's Pond in 1852-3, being dedi- cated Feb. 2, the latter ^year. This was the first church erected in town, and the fii'st one in Oxford County, north of Norway, owned exclusively by this denomination. A^ari- ous preachers were employed here until 1867, when Rev. E. W. Coffin became the first settled pastor. At this time a parsonage was purchased by several of the members. Mr. Coffin remained but a year, removing to Orange, Mass. Rev. J . F. Simmons, then of Bethel, preached here in con- nection with his Bethel charge. Rev. L. H. Tabor was set- tled pastor here for a long period extending down to 1890, and Rev. F. E. Wheeler was pastor in 1892 and 1893. The pulpit is now vacant.
Besides the above named societies we find mention of a
niSTORTCAL
27
society of Free Baptists, organized in 1843, during the Mil- leiite movement which doctrine at that time was being preached in town, and which got quite a following until after the date set for the coming of the end of this terres- trial life. The membership soon decreased, however, and within eighteen months the organized society became extinct. A few styling themselves Second Advents are tomid ill town, the outgrowth of this movement, but by no UHians of the same faith.
EDUCATION
Wliether the early settlers of Woodstock were familiar with the advantages offered t)y free jmblic schools we are unable to say, but one thing seems to be certain and that is that tliey were not over-zt^alons in their establishment and sup[)ort in the new connnunity. Mr. Lapham, in his history of Woodstock, says '' The neglect to raise money for educational purjjoses can be accounted for only on the score of poverty." The plantation had been organized two years before any appropriation was made for schools. Sumsmust be raised for necessar}^ purjjoses, and it is apparent that, to their minds at least, this was not one of the necessary objects. There were around one Imndred scholars in town at the time the first school was o])ened in 1814: or 1815. f 100 was voted for this purpose in the spring of 1811 and the plantation was then divided into school districts by the
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WOODSTOCK
assessors so it is very probable that there were schools established that yesiv. At this time five districts were laid out. Two 3'ears later another districting was made lay ing out the same number of districts but with many changes. In 1820 and again in 1822, the town was re-districted, the latter year eight districts being formed. Frequent changes were made later as the settlements increased in certain local- ! ities, or decreased in others. Districts nine and ten were | later formed in territory wliich at this time had no inhabi- ] tants. I
In 1822 there were but three families in district number I four, all located at the head of Bryant's Pond, and it was not until 1857 that a school house was erected in this dis- trict. This is now the village disti-ict and its many scholars are well provided with suitable school privileges at the suc- cessful graded school and the regular free high school. |
Whatever may have been the neglect or inattention of the early voters in Woodstock to the subject of education | such is not the case to-day, the excellent work performed by I the many successful teachers who have been reared and edu- | cated in the public schools of Woodstock attests to the fact j that they have long been doing efficient work. The High | School held at Bryant's Pond, established about thirty j years ago, offers an opportunity to the young men and i women of the town, and surrounding towns, to follow j advanced studies without leaving their homes for the purpose.
HISTORY OF SUMNER
BUTTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, NOS. 6 AND 7.
FIRST l»ETlTION FOR (JRANT OF l^AND.
To tlie Honorable, tlie Senate, and the Honorable, the House of Representatives of the Conjnion Wealth of the Massachusetts Bay, Tn genei-al (!ourt assembled.
The I^etition of Samuel Butterfield of Dunstable, for himself, and in behalf of several persons here after named. For a tract of land now the property of this State, lying and being in the County of Cumberland and joining (has) Northerly Lands Petitioned for by Abijah Buck and others, and Northeasterly of No. J^^our (Paris). To the value of six miles square or a sufficient number of Acres for a town to be laid out as agreeable to your Petitioners as maybe— upon such consideration, or for such a sum as you in your Wisdom shall think best tor the good of this State, your Petitioners Being Desirous of Making a Settlement on Said Land if granted, which not only would be a Benefit totheni- Selves but to the Community at Large and the Wilderness l)ecome a fruitful field your Petitioners relying on your Wisdom, care and Tenderness l*ray the Above Said Lands may be granted as you in your Great Wisdom may Direct.
30
Your Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall ICver Pray. Janu- ary the 24th, 1781. (Sioned)
Samuel Jkri'TEKFiELD, Alexandeii Payson, Make Bobbs and others. The above petition seems to have been for Township No. G which formed the southern hall of the double town- ship of Butterfield, now the towns of Hartford and Sumner. We are unable to say what latej- petition whs made but both Numbers G and 7 were granted these petitioners nut long after.
The earliest meeting of the Pi'oprietors was held May 1 , 1788, at the house of Ebenezer Pancroft in Dunstable. Mr. Bancroft was chosen proprietary clerk. Three agents were then chosen to act in behall of the proprietors, selection of Mr. Bancroft, Samuel Butterfield and Peter Coburn being made, they being instructed to settle with those settlers who were entitled to a hundred acres of laud in Butterfield or No. 6 and No. 7, as formerly granted by the General Court. Sept. 22, 1791, the i)roprietors voted to accept the plan and report of this committee and to enter the same on the proprietors' records. Allotments were by them made, and recorded, to the following men who had already settled in the township: "In the West town to James Keen, llezo- kiah Stutson, John Briggs, Isaac Sturlivant, Benj. Haild, John Crokit, Moses Buck, Oliver Cummings, Jun'r, Jolm Bisbee, John Fletcher, Levi Crocket, Sinjeon l>assel, John Keen, Moses Bisbee, Joshua Ford, and Simeon Parlin."
HISTORICAL
31
''In the East town to Asa Robinson, Wm. Heaford, Increase Uoberson, Mesbek Keen, Joseph Roberson, Wm. Tucker, Isaac Bonuey, John Bonnej, Charles Bisbee, David Oldham, Charles Ford, Elisha Bisbee, Noah Bosworth."
It will be seen from the above that Butter field Town- ship, which was composed of township No. G in the south and township No. 7 in the north, was early divided into two sections by a line runnino- north and south or at nearly right angles to the old line. This was nearly parallel to the general course of the river which was originally the dividing Hue between Hartford and Sunmer. These were then dis- tinctively called the East Town and the West town, later, East and West Butterfield plantations.
Several petitions were made to the General Court of Massachusetts by the East and West townships. The first petition was made by West Butterfield May 1, 1793 and signed by Enoch Hall, Elisha Bisbee, John Keen, Moses Buck, John Crocket, John Fletcher, Simon Parhn, AVm. Tucker, Joshua Foard, Seth Allen, Jeames Keen, Meshach Keen, Solomon Bisbee, Joseph Robinson, JudahKeen, Noah Boz worth and Noah liozworth, Jr. This was followed by one from the settlers in the East [)iantation, dated Aug. 22, of the same yeai*. Both seem to have been rejected, as were also a second petition from the West plantation, issued the following December; a second from East Butterfield, dated Dec. 21, 1795; a third petition from West Butterfield in January, 1796, signed by twenty-nine tax payers; a fourth petition dated Dec. 18, 1797, asking that the river be the
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dividing line; a petition for the incorporation of both plan- tations as one town, dated Dec. 19, 1797; and a third peti- tion from East Butterfield, April 7, 1798, with the river for the dividing line.
The range line first adopted as the division between the townships gave the Eastern township 8365 acres more than its sistei town. With the river the dividing line the differ- ence in area was reduced to 4475 acres. A^ery soon after the last mentioned petition was made a joint petition was sent by the two plantations for their separate incoi-pora- tion. This met the approval of the General Court, and both towns, the Eastern taking the name of Hartlord, and the Western the name of Sumner, were duly incorporated.
The ''Proprietary" held its meetings in Dunstable ,a8 late as 1804, but the original book of records has been lost. They employed Oliver Cuniniings, Jr., and others of the early settlers, to build roads through the new plantation, that they might open up their lots for sale, usually paying for such labor by grants of land. In 1804 the proprietors instructed their clerk to have all sales and allotments of land in both towns recorded in the Cumberland Registry of Deeds, which appears to be the last act ol the Proprietary.
i
HISTORICAL