Front matter

JAMES R. TABER, Historian

HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE

By James R. Taber

MAINE FARMER PRESS, AUGUSTA 1916

To THOSE MEN AND WOMEN OF UNITY WHO HAVE LOYALLY GIVEN THEIR SUBSTANCE AND THEIR SERVICES TO THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR TOWN THIS SMALL VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR

To the Reader:

You may ask why I write these historical notes of Unity. I will answer that inquiry briefly. First, I have been asked to do so by many of my townsmen, interested like myself in the records of the past; second, research into historical matters has always afforded me great enjoyment. For many years I have been in the habit of noting everything of an historical nature relating to Unity or her people, with the hope that at some time I might gather my notes into some useful form for my fellow citizens, which I have now attempted to do. My great regret is that I had not commenced before those who were conversant with the town’s early history had passed away.

To the casual observer, the collecting of these brief notes may seem a simple task, but I find that all those who have undertaken a similar work tell a different story. It is evident that but little care was given our early records, as we find them in bad condition, many entirely missing. I have spent much time in looking over what we have, and in searching the records of Massachusetts prior to 1820. It has been difficult to trace the ownership of the different farms back to their first owners. Often there have been conflicting statements, which has rendered it impossible to give a correct version. I wish to say that if errors or omissions occur, the absence of the requisite information must be my apology. I intend to leave blank pages at the back of the book, where any error may be recorded for the benefit of the future historian.

To the “Brief History of Unity,” published in 1892 by our worthy townsman, the late Edmund Murch, I am indebted for many notes of interest. I wish also to thank the many friends who have assisted me in compiling these statistics and to express at this time to the citizens of Unity my appreciation of the loyal support they have given me during the many years that I have lived and worked among them.

James R. Taber.

History of Unity, Maine

The town of Unity, Waldo County, Maine, is situated twenty-five miles northwest of Belfast, on the Belfast branch of the Maine Central Railroad. The town was a part of the Plymouth Grant. It was incorporated June 22, 1804, the one hundred fifty-third town, and was called Unity because of “Unison in Political Sentiment.” The boundaries are as follows: Beginning at the northerly corner of the Waldo Patent, thence running westerly on the fourthly line of township number four, one hundred and sixty rods; thence west northwest five miles; thence four-fourths west six miles; thence east fourth east to the Waldo Patent line thence on said line to the first mentioned bounds, containing about 21,000 acres. [Taken from the Massachusetts records.]

Population in 1799— 264. Population in 1850—1557. Population in 1860—1320. Population in 1870—1201. Population in 1880—1092. Population in 1890— 922. Population in 1900— 877. Population in 1910— 899.

EARLY SETTLERS

The town was first settled by two men by the names of Carter and Ware. According to Surveyor Hayden, it was then called “Twenty-five Mile Pond Plantation,” it being that distance from the junction of the Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers, known as Fort Halifax, to the twenty-five mile pond, now called Lake Winnecook.

This was before the French and Indian war commenced. When hostilities broke out, the settlers were obliged to flee for fear of the Indians, moving their families to the fort at Winslow. After the close of the war, Thaddeus Carter returned, and with him a man by the name of Philbrook. They settled upon land now owned by Clarence Brown on the west side of Sandy Stream, near the Outlet Bridge. Mr. Carter had two sons, Bunker and Joseph. One of the Carter girls married Samuel Philbrook.

In 1782, Stephen Chase came from Durham, Maine, and settled on the shore of the pond. His wife’s name before marriage was Hannah Blethen. She was from Durham, Maine. They belonged to the Society of Friends. The ruins of the old cellar may be plainly seen today on the farm now owned by F. A. Whitten. Mr. Chase built the first frame house in Unity. He died at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Chase was one hundred and six years old at the time of her death. Their resting place is marked by a Welsh slate tablet in the Chase lot in Lakeside Cemetery.

A few years after Mr. Chase’s settlement, we find in Hayden’s field notes this note: “Upon the stream leading from Unity pond to the Sebasticook river, I found a man by the name of Mitchell building a mill on what I called a very good privilege.”

In 1788, Mr. Henry Farwell moved from Chester, N. H., and settled on the farm afterward owned by a Mr. Ordway, later by Jacob Truworthy, opposite Mr. Frank Mussey’s. He then moved to the farm later owned by the late Hon. Joseph Farwell, where he and a Mr. Pettie built a grist mill, and the place became known as Farwell’s Mills.

In 1792, Mr. Clement Rackliff moved from Limington, Maine. He came with an ox-team and cleared the farm afterward owned by William Taber, Elisha Mosher, E. A. Hussey and Duncan Jones.

In 1792, Aaron Kelley came from Boothbay to Unity. He was a Revolutionary soldier, having served under General Wadsworth. He walked through the forest with his family and chose his place of settlement about two and one-half miles south of where the village now is, on the Bangor and Augusta road, at the southeast corner, where the Belfast road crosses, where he built a log house and planted an orchard. His wife was Mary Canady, and they had the following five children: Mary, married Cummings and lived in Jonesport; Jane, never married; Hannah, married John Smith and lived in Knox; Eleazar, went to sea and never returned; and Samuel lived in Unity. Samuel, the youngest son, was born in Boothbay, and was twelve years of age when the family came to Unity. In the war of 1812, he served with the Unity quota. He succeeded his father in title to the land and built a fine stand of buildings, with two large barns and a lumber camp, where he made oars for the United States navy. He married Sarah Vickery, daughter of David Vickery, also a Revolutionary soldier, and they had twelve children.

In 1794, Mr. Simeon Murch came from Gorham, Maine. He and his wife came over one hundred miles on horseback and settled the place now owned by Ephraim Jones.

In 1795, Mr. John Melvin came from Manchester, N. H., and settled the place now owned by J. Arthur Thompson. Mr. James Packard lived just east of Mr. Thompson’s, at the corner where the road leads to the Clifford place. This road was laid out by the town, two rods wide.

In 1796, Mr. Joseph Woods came from Standish, Maine, and settled on the farm sold by Wesley F. Woods to William Walton. Joseph Woods died at the age of 93, his wife at 89. They lived together for 73 years.

In 1800, Mr. John Perley moved from Winchenden, Mass., and cleared the farm now owned by William Taber Stevens. He then bought from Charles Bickmore the farm now owned by Roscoe J. Perley.

In 1802, Mr. William McGray moved from Durham, Maine, and settled the farm now owned by George Webb. His last days were passed on the farm of his son, William, now owned by Harry Waning. He died at the age of 84 years.

In 1802, three brothers, Frederick, John and Nathaniel Stevens, came from Gorham, Maine, and cleared the place owned by the late Chandler Stevens, now owned by Frank L. Chase, and the land north to the Bacon brook.

In 1803, Mark Libby came from Gorham, Maine, and settled on what is called the McKenny place, now owned by A. J. Harding, but moved to the place now owned by his grandson, Mr. Nathan P. Libby. He died at the age of 84.

In 1807, Mr. Robert Carll came from Lyman, Maine. At this time Mr. Carll said there were but two frame houses in Unity.

In 1810, Mr. Richard Cornforth came from Readfield, Maine. He settled at Farwell’s Mills, on the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Otis Cornforth.

In 1842, Mr. Nathaniel Rice came from Hartford, Maine. His house stood just west of the residence of Mrs. Chas. Taylor. It was moved from there onto the Waterville road, and is now owned by Walter Bacon.

Mr. David Vickery came from Standish, Maine, and cleared the farm of the late Edwin Rand. He married Lydia Bartlett. They had a family of eight sons and three daughters.

Rufus Burnham, M. D., came from Scarborough, Maine. He lived at first with the family of John Chase, in the brick house near the station. Afterward he built and lived in the main part of the house where J. R. Taber now lives.

Gibbs Tilton came from Chillmark, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., and lived where S. A. Myrick now lives.

Ephraim Hunt came from Gorham, Maine, and settled where James O. Pillsbury now lives.

Isaac Myrick came from Gorham, Maine, and settled the F. H. Hunt place. He also owned what is now known as Windemere Park.

Col. James Connor came from Gardiner, Maine, and settled on the place now owned by his grandchildren. He married Mary Whitmore, daughter of Daniel Whitmore.

Archelaus Hunt came from Gorham, Maine, and settled near the E. T. Reynolds place. His father was a Revolutionary soldier and fought at Bunker Hill.

Daniel Whitmore came from Gorham, Maine.

Alexander Boothby, M. D., was born in Limington, Maine. He married Eliza A. Grant and lived on the place now owned by Miss Ruth Berry.

Chandler Hopkins came from Standish, Maine, and settled where George Murch now lives.

Amos Jones came from Lunenburg, Mass., and settled the farm now owned by Seth W. Mills.

Frederick Stevens was born in Gorham, Maine, in 1779, was elected to the General Court, Boston, Mass., in 1809, and died in Unity, Maine, June, 1839, aged 62 years.

This is the record of the early settlers of our town, and here for the most part the record ceases, but with our mind’s eye we can see these men, the pioneers of our town, strong, brave, sturdy men with brain and brawn and a sense of power and mastery over nature almost unknown now, in the pampered civilization of the present. These forefathers of ours here on the edge of our lake and on the banks of our stream toiled to fill the primitive needs of man. With an indomitable belief in their power to conquer, they fought with wind and snow and merciless cold. They felled trees for fire and shelter; they made the waters yield their toll of food; they dug the soil and built mills to grind their corn. Later they sought places for a real settlement, cleared the land, built roads, bridged streams, and put up their homes. They laid the foundation for our modern civilization; they made our way easy. We should honor them when we can with a thought of gratitude.

An account of life in those early days, interesting in the extreme, has been put into my hands by Mr. Reuben Murch. Mr. Murch, son of Josiah Murch, was born on the farm now owned by E. M. Jones, and spent his early manhood in this town.

MR. MURCH’S NOTES

Hampden Cor., Mar. 2, 1909.

My Dear Mr. Taber:

I send you today some facts and incidents relative to the early settlers of Unity. They are at your disposal. You may use them as you choose, alter, eliminate or add to them to suit your pleasure. I have written them in a hurried, offhand manner, without time to review and make alterations.

Sincerely your friend,

R. W. Murch.

At the time my grandfather, Simeon Murch, moved into Unity, the country was an unbroken forest east of Augusta, so that people were guided by blazed lines (spotted trees). The method of moving was unique, but neither comfortable nor convenient. As there was no road, the only means of travel at hand was on horseback. A strong bedtick was fixed astride the horse’s back, and the furniture was packed on each side. The load was completed by putting father, then one year and a half old, on one side, and an older sister on the other to balance. Thus they moved from Gorham to what is now the town of Unity, grandfather walking on one side of the horse and grandmother on the other.

Upon arriving at their destination, they found a small opening and a log house which grandfather had provided the year before. Here they began life in the wilderness. There were no stores, no shops of any description, no mills, nor any of the conveniences of modern times. They had not to wait long for food, for beans, potatoes and other vegetables could be used as soon as grown, but corn before it could be used had to be converted into meal, and there being no mill nearer than Winslow, it had to be carried through the woods, by spotted trees, to that town, to be ground. A number of neighbors would go together, each taking a bushel of corn on his shoulders. They travelled a distance of eighteen miles to the mill. They stayed in the mill all night and returned the next day with the meal, less what two quarts would make, which the miller took for toll.

Game was plentiful, the streams and brooks abounded with fish, so that all they had to do was to go to the stream with hook and line and in a few moments they could catch all they needed for their present use. In those early times, shad and herring came up the outlet to the “twenty-five mile pond.” After the Sinclair dam was built, I have heard my father say that one could stand on the shore, and, with a sieve, dip up a year’s supply of herring in a few moments.

In the clearing of the land in those days, there was a great deal of hard work to be done, which required a number of men, such as rolling large logs together to be burned. In such cases the neighbors used to assist each other by changing work.

One day while a party were at work piling logs, they heard a loud and prolonged squealing. It was evident that there was trouble among the hogs, so they started for the point from which the noise came, and saw a bear carrying off a hog. They gave chase and got so close upon the bear that he dropped the hog, made for the woods and escaped. They saved the hog, but it was so mutilated it had to be killed.

The first carriage that passed through Unity was a queer contrivance. It consisted of two spruce poles fastened together at a convenient distance apart. It was drawn by a bull fastened between the small ends of the poles, the large ends dragging on the ground. On these poles was fastened a large box suitable for what was to be transported. This was an improvement on the horseback method. This car was driven by Thomas Fowler.

We have but little conception of the struggles and hardships the pioneers had to endure. They could not, as now, go into a store and purchase clothing and footwear. In fact, these things were all home-made, except boots and shoes. One pair of the latter had to do service for a number of people. My father told me that at one time there was only one pair of shoes in the neighborhood. Children had to go barefoot the year around, except for the covering the mother could furnish by knitting and old clothes.

Nowadays every family has its supply of wood on hand; then it was supplied from day to day, as needed. Trees were twitched to the dooryard when not too large, but large trees were hauled in sections and cut for use from day to day. In winter it was sometimes pretty cold for boys who had no shoes to protect their feet from the snow while preparing wood for the fireplace. In order to avoid standing barefoot on the snow, a large chip was heated and carried out to stand upon until it became cold, when it was reheated. This method was adopted only in cases of emergency.

The following is from Bunker Carter, who told me the story many years ago. He said the first men who ever came to what is now Unity to make a settlement were Mr. Carter and Mr. Ware. They came up the outlet of the pond and landed on the “horseback,” did a little work and went back. But the following year, Mr. Carter and another man, a Mr. Philbrook, came back and made a settlement in the vicinity of the “horseback,” but I have forgotten the exact locality.

What I have written of the hardships of my forefathers is just a type of the struggle of all the pioneers of the town. Notwithstanding their hardships, they were a contented people. The sun shone on their little clearings as warmly and as brightly as it ever did on the larger clearings of the wealthy, and the birds sang as sweetly as ever they did in the parks of the nobles. They looked out on the growing crops covering the charcoal stumps of the clearings, with thanksgiving to God for what they enjoyed and for the bright prospects before them in the results of their promising crops. They were happy, happier, I sometimes think, than the people who now cultivate the large open fields of the lands our forefathers struggled so hard to clear.

EARLY HAPPENINGS

In our next glimpse of the town, the early settlers, having overcome the rigors of a new land and cleared for themselves sufficient farmlands, are turning their attention to civic duties. Below is an account of the first meetings of the town’s citizens.

First Plantation Meeting

To DANIEL WHITMORE, one of the inhabitants of Twenty-five Mile Pond Plantation (so-called),

Greeting:

Whereas, application has been made to me, the subscriber, by Stephen Chase and ten other inhabitants of said Plantation, requesting that a meeting of the inhabitants may be held for choosing such officers as the law directs.

These are, therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to wit, required to notify and warn a meeting of the inhabitants of said Plantation qualified to vote in Plantation meetings to assemble at the dwelling house of Lemuel Bartlett of said Plantation, on Tuesday, the third day of August, 1802, at two o’clock afternoon, then and there to choose a moderator for said meeting. Secondly, to choose a clerk, three selectmen, three assessors, a collector, a treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary. Hereof, fail not and make returns of this warrant and your doings herein unto Benj. Bartlett, on or before the time of said meeting.

Given under my hand and seal at Augusta, Maine, in the County of Kennebec and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this thirtieth (30) of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and two.

Daniel Coney,

Justice of the Peace through the Commonwealth.

The following officers were chosen:

Joseph Carter, moderator.

Abner Knowles, clerk.

Lemuel Bartlett, John Perley, Nathan Parkhurst, selectmen and overseers of the poor.

Daniel Whitmore, Frederick Stevens, Benj. Bartlett, assessors.

Benj. Bartlett, treasurer.

Benj. Rackliff, constable.

Isaac Mitchell, collector—at seven cents on the dollar.

At this meeting it was voted to raise “one hundred dollars to defray necessary charges for the past year and the present, which have or may accrue in the Plantation.”

The first town meeting was held at the dwelling house of Benj. Rackliff, which was at that time called a tavern. It was situated west of the house now owned by D. E. Loveland, and directly south of the place owned by Mr. Rackliff’s son, Hosea B. Rackliff, who sold the farm to the town for a poor farm.

THE SETTLEMENT

Although, as we have seen, the earliest settlements were made near the pond and stream, it was not this section of the town which was first built up. The next settlers pressed on to the south part of the town and occupied the land extending from the George Varney farm, known then as the Benj. Bartlett place, to C. R. Jones’ corner, known as the John Rackliff place. This was called “The Settlement.” Here the store, the school, the church sprang up, and one by one, as necessity demanded, the smaller industries. Here for twenty-five years nearly all the business of the town was transacted.

The first schoolhouse in town was built in these early days about five rods north of the building now known as the Cook Creamery; the second one in this district was built about ten rods south of this creamery. This is where the writer first went to school. The building mentioned as the Cook Creamery was also built for a schoolhouse by Edmund Mussey. Nelson Dingley, Jr., father of the Dingley Tariff Bill, was at one time a teacher there.

The Friends’ Church was built in 1827 by Benj. R. Stevens and Clement Rackliff on land purchased from Asa Jones. It has been remodeled and the entrance changed to the east end. Between the church and the large maple tree, still standing, which was planted when the church was built, Uncle John Chase, always, each Wednesday and Sunday, hitched his horse. After his death, Elias Jones used the same place.

The first town house was built by James Gilkey just across the road, a little south of George Murch’s house. On April 8, 1874, it was sold by auction to Thomas B. Cook for thirty-four dollars. Following its sale, the town meeting was held in George Clark’s barn (on the S. P. Larrabee place). It was voted to locate the new town house on land purchased from James B. Vickery on the west side of the road, opposite J. J. Varney’s house. The vote was taken by forming a line in the road, ninety-one in favor, seventy-one against.

Mr. Reuben Brackett lived where Chas. S. Cook now lives, and there manufactured clocks and oilcloth carpets. It was here that the noted painter, Walter M. Brackett, was born.

The first store in town was where George Murch now lives. It was owned by Chandler Hopkins, who came from Standish, Maine. His ancestors came over in the Mayflower. His partner in business was John Rackliff.

Joseph Ames lived on the Alonzo Bacon place and made hand rakes. Robert Jackson lived there at one time and was town clerk.

Doctor Abner Knowles lived east of the Bacon place, nearly opposite the watering trough. He was town clerk for twenty-six years, from 1803 to 1829.

THE VILLAGE

About 1810, people began to settle in what was then called “Antioch,” now the village. Mr. Stephen Chase, as I have said before, built the first framed house, also the first framed barn. The second was built on the farm of the Hon. Crosby Fowler.

The brick house on the Chase place, now owned by F. A. Whitten, was built by Stephen Chase’s son, Judge Hezekiah Chase, in 1826. The brick was made by Levi Bacon.

A little later the brick house in front of the church was built by Lemuel Bartlett. It was long owned by the late Benj. Fogg and is now in the possession of Mrs. J. W. Harmon. The carpenter was a Mr. Berry from Rockland.

Rufus Burnham, M. D., in 1827 built the main house where James R. Taber now lives.

Elijah Winslow built the house now owned by J. A. Adams in 1842. Henry Kelley did the masonry.

I have no data concerning the building of the other older houses.

SCHOOLHOUSES

The first schoolhouse in the village was built beyond Chas. J. Bartlett’s barn, toward the cemetery. It was later moved near the Chas. E. Stevens place, thence by Gorham Hamilton to the Damon place, thence across the street to the land of the late Benj. Fogg. It passed through several hands and was later bought by H. H. Grant and torn down.

This building was followed by a white schoolhouse, upon land purchased from Daniel Whitmore. That was burned and a brick one was erected upon the same lot. This in time was also consumed by fire. A two-story building was built upon the same site. This was afterward sold to Eli E. York, who later sold it to the Masonic Fraternity, Star in the West Lodge, No. 85. It has been enlarged and remodeled into the present fine hall.

In 1898 the town purchased one acre of land from James R. Taber for $125.00 and built the present school building. The basement was built by Mr. Joseph Brown of Benton Station, costing $428.92. The house was built by Joseph Sawyer of Fairfield at a cost of $2195.00. The building committee consisted of J. R. Taber, L. H. Mosher and N. C. Knight, the plan being drawn by J. R. Taber.

In the sixties there were thirteen schoolhouses in town, to wit:

1. District number one building, where the Cook Creamery stands.

2. Village building.

3. Mill district building. School now discontinued, and the scholars conveyed to the village.

4. Schoolhouse in the Parkhurst district, which was torn down.

5. Building in the Fowler district, which was burned. The two districts were then consolidated and a new house built. The house and lot cost $420.50. The builder was Edgar Harding.

6. The Woods house, which was repaired and refitted.

7. The Ayer house, which was discontinued.

8. The Clark house, which was burned. The scholars in these districts are conveyed to the nearest schools.

9. Worth house, originally built by Elisha Mosher, which was repaired at a cost of $311.70. The first teacher was Alonzo Roberts of Brooks.

10. Farwell’s Corner school. The first building was sold and moved to a location near the Hussey bridge. The present building has been repaired and refitted.

11. The Crosby house.

12. The Adams house. The two latter buildings have been torn down and the children are conveyed to the village school.

13. The Reynolds house, which was sold to Eugene Reynolds. The scholars are conveyed to the village.

At this date there are four houses occupied outside of the village. Here a standard high school is maintained for scholars from all parts of the town. There are also primary, intermediate and grammar schools in the same building.

CHURCHES

The first church built in Unity was a Methodist church, built in 1826 in the south part of the town, near the home of the late Peter W. Ayer. It was built by Benj. Ayer and others. Benj. Ayer settled on the P. W. Ayer place afterward, and died on the Thos. Ayer place. I have the information from his grandson, Joseph Ayer.

The next church was the Friends’ church, built, as stated above, in 1827. Benj. R. Stevens and Clement Rackliff were the builders.

In 1837 the Congregationalists built a church on the northeast corner of land belonging to Josiah Murch, adjoining the land of B. B. Stevens. The Murch farm is now owned by E. M. Jones. This church was built by Ephraim Murch, Elisha Parkhurst, David Vickery and Jonathan Stone. The ministry was largely supported by contributions from the village, and it resulted in moving the building to the village. The principal contributors from the village were Thomas Snell, John L. Seavy, Hiram Whitehouse and Nelson Dingley. It was through the influence of these men that the move to the village was made. The building was placed near Dr. E. M. Soule’s residence. The steeple was put in place by Edwin S. Stevens, Chas. E. Taber, Howard Carter and Archelaus Hunt. After services were suspended in it, it was sold to Albert F. Watson. Asa Stevens, his administrator, sold it to Thomas B. Cook, who took it down, moved it to the station, and made it into a store. He then sold it to S. S. & R. M. Berry, who carried on a grain business and dealt in potatoes. They rented it to William Rand. It was burned later.

UNION CHURCH

Union church was built in the village in 1840-41. It was built by Hale Parkhurst, Rufus Burnham, M. D., and Samuel Kelley, for the Universalist Society. Failing to receive the necessary support, it was sold by them to whomsoever wished to own a pew, regardless of the religious society to which they belonged; neither did it matter if they did not belong to any. The name was changed to Union church. The steeple was put in place by Jacob Taber, Jefferson Bartlett, Hezekiah Rackliff and Noah Linscott. In the sixties it was repaired and a bell purchased. Nelson Dingley, Jr., presented the present pulpit, Sprague and James Adams of Bangor the chandelier. Within a few years the building has been shingled and a weather vane has been placed upon the spire. It has been painted inside and out, a furnace has been placed in the basement, seats furnished with new cushions, floors carpeted, and several memorial windows added. These improvements have largely been accomplished by the efforts of the Ladies’ Aid Society, to whom the credit should be given.

Unity, Me., Oct. 5, 1900. To Paul F. Foss, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Waldo, State of Maine:

The undersigned, who are all of lawful age and owners of pews in Union church, in Unity village, being desirous of calling a legal meeting of said owners, in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Statutes, Chap. 12, Sec. 34, request you to issue your warrant to one of them, directing him to notify the other applicants to meet at some proper place, to be expressed in said warrant, on the 27th day of October, 1900, for the purpose of reorganizing said Union church, by choosing a clerk and other needful parish officers, and performing any business that may lawfully come before said meeting.

Signed by Charles Taylor, H. B. Rice, J. R. Taber, C. E. Mitchell, A. R. Myrick, W. H. Rolfe, and J. E. Cook, M. D.

State of Maine, Waldo Co., S.S. L.S.

W. H. ROLFE,Greeting:

Pursuant to the foregoing application, you are hereby directed in the name of the State of Maine to notify the persons whose names appear thereon as applicants to meet at the said Union church in Unity, in said county of Waldo, on the 27th day of October, A. D. 1900, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose mentioned, made a part of this warrant, on the outer door of said Union church, and in the postoffice in said Unity, and to publish in some newspaper published in said county of Waldo, three weeks at least before said meeting. Hereof, fail not and make your return of your doing thereon. Given under my hand and seal this 5th day of October, 1900.

Paul F. Foss, Justice of the Peace.

I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of application, warrant, and notice of said meeting is hereby given.

W. H. Rolfe.

Waldo, ss. Personally appeared the above named W. H. Rolfe and made oath to the above certificate by me made.

Paul F. Foss, Justice of the Peace.

Pursuant to the said warrant, said applicants met at time and place and proceeded to elect officers. Elected James R. Taber, president; Andrew R. Myrick, clerk; James R. Taber, Charles Taylor, William H. Rolfe, Charles Parsons and Jesse E. Cook, M. D., trustees; said trustees to act as custodians of said church. Voted to add two more trustees to the above board; elected John M. Thompson and Andrew R. Myrick.

Voted to elect a committee to draw and make a code of by-laws suitable to govern said organization; elected W. H. Rolfe and J. R. Taber as said committee. Voted that the above chosen officers serve in their respective places until new ones are chosen to fill their places.

Voted that the president and clerk be appointed to grant permission to whom they may think proper persons or parties to occupy said church.

Voted to adjourn.

A. R. Myrick, Clerk.

March 20th, 1904. Meeting called to order by the president. Voted to choose a select committee of ladies and gentlemen on repairs; elected Mrs. E. D. Chase, Mrs. C. E. Mitchell, Mrs. Willis Giles, Mrs. Charles Taylor, Mrs. Fannie Bartlett, Mrs. Fred A. Whitten, Henry A. Bacon, E. S. Stevens and F. A. Whitten, who shall spend the money on repairs as they think best. Voted to construct steps at the outside doors instead of a platform. Voted to adjourn subject to call.

A. R. Myrick, Clerk.

May 4th, 1912. Met according to call. A. R. Myrick not being present, E. D. Chase was elected clerk and treasurer. Adjourned.

E. D. Chase, Clerk.

At a meeting called in 1915, no quorum appeared.

THE METHODIST PARSONAGE

This property was purchased from Nelson Dingley, senior, by members of the Methodist church for six hundred dollars. A. M. Green of Troy, father of the late Lyman Green, gave two hundred dollars. Elijah Ware, Luther Mitchell, Josiah Harmon, Stephen, Harrison and John Chase, Col. Seth Thompson and others gave liberally.

The house was built by Hiram Whitehouse and sold by him to Nelson Dingley. It was here that Frank L. Dingley, present editor of the Lewiston Journal, was born. Within recent years this building has been enlarged and put into good condition, for which credit should be given the Ladies’ Aid.

CEMETERIES

April 30th, 1821. At a town meeting held this day, the following report on cemeteries was made:

Gentlemen: The committee appointed by the town at their last meeting, to provide one or more suitable places for graveyards, having attended to the duty assigned them, report:

That Lemuel Bartlett and Hezekiah Chase will make a donation and deed of gift to the town of one-half acre of ground where they and others have interred on their land, and Amos Jones will sell for fifteen dollars per acre any quantity for the above use where the burying ground now is, near his house (now called the Farwell yard), and Daniel Whitmore will also convey by deed to the town one-half acre of his field near the liberty pole for seventeen dollars.

Respectively submitted, Isaac Adams, Joseph Stevens, Jacob Truworthy, committee.

We have been told that the militia used to train in Mr. Whitmore’s field, now owned by H. B. Rice, which accounts for reference to the flag pole. Saturday afternoon before starting for California, Lawyer Wm. Weeks set out the elm trees on the west side of the Whitmore yard. He said it was for him to be remembered by.

THE FOWLER YARD

This yard was from Thomas Fowler, father of the late Hon. Crosby Fowler.

FRIENDS’ YARD

The Friends’ burial ground was purchased from Asa Jones in 1828. In this yard, Sarah Pattie, aged 97 years, was buried. A small slate stone marked S. P. was placed at her grave by James H. Cook. This was the first stone set in this yard. She was a sister of James Mitchell’s mother.

The towns of Unity and Freedom own a yard together near the residence of the late P. W. Ayer. The town also owns a small yard on the Freedom road near Unity’s south line.

VILLAGE CEMETERY

This cemetery is located on a section of land somewhat withdrawn from the village, and overlooking Lake Windemere. The old section of the yard is that which was originally donated to the town by Lemuel Bartlett and Hezekiah Chase. In this yard are two slate stones of interest. That of Stephen Chase has been set 95 years; that of his wife, Hannah, 71 years. Additions to this yard have been made on the east and west sides. On the opposite side of the street a section of land has been purchased from F. A. Whitten for burial purposes.

MILLS

The first mill of which I find any record was built by John Mitchell in 1782, just above the Moulton Mills. It was a rude affair, the water being conducted through a hollow log onto an overshot wheel. Mr. Mitchell lived on the lot now owned by Archie Tozier, near the Moulton Mill.

Henry Farwell built a sawmill about one-half mile from the junction of the Half Moon and Sandy Streams, on the latter, which he afterwards sold to Benj. R. Stevens. Pettie & Farwell built a grist mill at the junction of the above named streams, then sold it to Benj. R. Stevens, who sold it to his son, Benj. Stevens. He sold to his brother, Otis F. Stevens, he to his brother, Joseph Stevens, his heirs to Joseph Farwell. John Stewart heired it from Joseph Farwell and sold it to the Pendletons.

In 1810, Richard Cornforth built at Farwell’s Mills a wool carding and cloth mill, said to be the first in the state. The machinery came from England. Mr. Cornforth sold to Benj. Nickerson and Hall Scribner, they to Abner Young, he to Benj. Stevens, he to his brother, Otis F. Stevens, he to his brother, Joseph Stevens, his heirs to Joseph Farwell.

In 1831, a Mr. Pingrey of Salem, Mass., erected a large tannery at the village. Mr. Joseph Larrabee superintended the building, and Thomas Snell took charge of the business. His office and store were in the first story of the building now owned by Frank Fairbanks. Mr. Southwick of Vassalboro became the owner. For several years it was a prosperous venture. In time, the supply of bark failing, the business was abandoned, the buildings soon became valueless, and were consumed by fire in the late 50’s.

Col. James Conner and Lemuel Bartlett built the grist mill at the village in 1840. Later, Bartlett sold his interest to Conner. Mr. Conner built a mill on the west side of the grist mill for threshing grain, which was taken down in a few years. Mr. Chase built a carding mill on the north end of the dam, which was swept away in a freshet.

HUSSEY MILL AND FOUNDRY

About seventy-five years ago, Thomas B. Hussey built a small mill for sawing short lumber, also a foundry on the Sandy Stream, near Walter Hurd’s farm, and manufactured plows, stoves, and many farm implements.

MITCHELL’S MILLS

Isaac Mitchell built a gristmill and sawmill near Silas W. Bither’s place, known as Mitchell’s Mills. He also built the house where Mr. Bither lives.

SINCLAIR’S MILLS

Jefferson Sinclair built a fine grist and sawmill where the Moulton Mills now stand. Weeks & Ames were the carpenters. It was afterward owned by Samuel Hall. It was burned, rebuilt, and afterward owned by Eben F. Thompson and O. J. Whitten. The present mill was built by W. H. J. Moulton & Sons.

BACON’S MILLS

Levi Bacon built a sawmill on the Bacon brook, which was carried away. He built another, and at different times had four brickyards. James Banks had a tannery on this brook, which he sold to Mr. Bacon.

BARTLETT & CHASE’S MILL

Bartlett & Chase bought from Mathew Pendleton a small mill at the station, which they enlarged, fitting it up with steam and installing up-to-date machinery. This mill is used for sawing lumber, spool bars a specialty.

STEVENS & LIBBY’S MILL

Charles E. Stevens, Ira P. Libby and Melzor Stevens built the steam mill opposite Frank Kelley’s, in 1911. It is now owned by Ira P. Libby.

FAIRBANKS’ MILL

F. M. Fairbanks built his mill in 1911. This was burned. He rebuilt near the site of the Snell tannery. He now uses electric power.

WOODS’ MILL

John Woods built his gasoline mill in 1914, upon land purchased from J. R. Taber. He also uses electricity.

TRAFTON’S MILL

Ira Trafton built a sawmill on the spot where John Shirley’s sawmill stood, directly south from E. B. Hunt’s residence. This was burned.

WOODS’ MILL

Amaziah T. Woods had a small mill on the McKenney brook, afterwards taken down.

JONES’ MILL

Duncan M. Jones built a sawmill on his place in 1915. This farm was originally settled by Clement Rackliff, who sold to William Taber. Mr. Jones purchased from E. A. Hussey.

TOZIER’S MILL

Elijah Tozier built a mill on the Fowler brook, afterwards owned by different parties.

FOWLER & CLARK’S MILL

In 1915 this firm built a mill for getting out lumber for making boxes.

MANUFACTORIES

In early times, Samuel G. Otis owned a carriage shop situated in front of the residence of G. T. Whitaker, and there manufactured carriages. The building is now used for a barn on the J. L. Ames place. Mr. Otis’ blacksmith shop stood a little to the south, near the burial ground.

Thomas Chandler made furniture at one time in what is now Guy Morse’s stable.

James Myrick owned the N. C. Knights tinshop, and made boots and shoes. The original shop, a one-story building about half the size of the present, was moved from the road in front of L. P. Foster’s, leading to the poor farm.

At different times, R. B. Stone, Nathaniel Rice, Benj. Fogg, Bryant and Ames Moore, Otis and Daniel Starkey, Joseph Small and John Chase were engaged in the making of boots and shoes. Mr. Chase induced Mr. Woodsum to come here to manufacture morocco shoes.

George E. Linkfield and Stephen Dyer purchased from Henry Kelley the store that stood where the Taber store now stands, and there manufactured straw goods. Mrs. Linkfield carried on a millinery business. Mr. Dyer sold to Mr. Linkfield, who later sold the store and millinery business to James R. Taber.

The Unity cheese factory was built in 1874, upon ground now occupied by the Portland Packing Company. It did business but a short time, when it passed into the hands of James R. Taber, who sold the machinery for use in a cheese factory in Aroostook county. The building was sold to Russell Reynolds, who built the house now owned by Leon Bagley out of the lumber taken from it.

The Portland Packing Company built the corn factory in 1887. W. H. Rolfe was foreman for several years. He was succeeded by Albert Bacon. The Unity Canning Company sold their plant to the Portland Packing Company.

The Crystal Spring Creamery was built in 1891, on land purchased from F. A. Bartlett. The property passed into the hands of the Hon. Joseph Farwell. Charles Smith of Newport was manager. It was purchased from the heirs of Mr. Farwell by H. P. Hood & Sons, who have built additions and greatly improved it. R. F. Jaynes was manager for some time and was succeeded by E. G. Roberts.

In 1895, Chas. S. Cook fitted up the unused schoolhouse of District one, and there for some years carried on the creamery business.

In 1908 the Turner Center Creamery was built on the E. K. Adams property. It was destroyed by fire, but in the fall of 1900 was rebuilt, at a cost of $10,000. Additions have since been made. Mr. Guy P. Norton is the popular and efficient manager.

STORES

Chandler Hopkins built the house in which George Murch now lives, in which he kept a store, the first in town.

The first store in the village was owned by Isaac Adams, afterward by Allen Taber. This store was situated where Jack Van Deets now lives.

Elijah Winslow built a store where the L. H. Mosher store now stands, and traded there afterwards. Allen Taber traded there, as did Joseph B. Gilkey. It was burned, rebuilt by Josiah Harmon, and sold by his heirs to Mrs. L. H. Mosher, who now owns and conducts the store.

The store where A. R. Myrick now trades was purchased by him from Charles Taylor; he purchased it from J. R. Taber, he from Moses Hanson, he from Hiram Whitehouse, who built it. At one time in the late 50’s the farmers used it for a union store. Alfred Berry and Moses Hanson were the agents.

Thomas Snell conducted a store connected with the tannery where F. M. Fairbanks now lives.

The store now owned by C. Boyce Mitchell, he had from his father, G. E. Mitchell, he from the heirs of Chas. Taylor, Taylor from J. F. Parkhurst, he from Nelson Dingley, who built it in 1852. Mr. Dingley bought the original store from Daniel Spring, who built it. Dingley and Spring traded in it, also C. Snell, W. R. Chandler, Robert Webb and A. R. Myrick. This early store was sold to A. W. Myrick and moved onto a lot adjoining the place owned by Jack Van Deets. Here it was used as a carriage shop until it was torn down.

The first store on the lot now owned by F. L. Tozier was built by E. D. Williams, sold by him to James G. Patterson, by him to Mrs. Daniel Dummer, by her to J. R. Taber, and was then burned. He built a new store and sold to Josiah and Ansel Kelly, they to Green Carter. This was burned. The lot was then purchased by Lucretia Moulton from the Carter heirs. Mrs. Moulton sold to Mrs. H. C. Chandler, she to Mrs. W. G. Fuller, she to J. P. Libby, he to F. L. Tozier, the present owner.

On the lot now owned by Nellie M. and Vivian H. Taber, the first store was built by Henry Kelly, and sold by him to G. E. Linkfield. He sold to Taber & Moulton. This building was burned. The present store, now occupied by E. T. Whitehouse for store and postoffice, was built in 1880. The original store was occupied by H. B. Rice, Henry Baker, O. J. Whitten. The present store was occupied for a long period by J. R. Taber, for short periods by John Van Deets and E. D. Chase.

H. L. Glines had his store from C. D. Connor, he from H. H. Grant, he from J. S. Bither. Mr. Grant moved it to its present location from Bither’s Mills. Prior to these transactions, C. E. Mitchell purchased the old store from Nelson Vickery, Vickery bought of Luther Mitchell. Henry Kelly, Webb & Call, Augustus Broad, C. E. Mitchell and T. B. Cook traded in it. This store burned and was rebuilt by C. E. Mitchell. It was rented by Asa Howe, and at the time of the fire by L. H. Mosher. The lot is owned by heirs of C. E. Mitchell.

F. A. Whitehouse built the first store where J. A. Adams’ store now stands, and used it for a time in company with Albert Bacon for the manufacture of clothing. It was afterward rented by Willard Rand and Robert Cookson, and then sold to J. A. Adams. It was later burned. Adams & Knight, in 1904, built the present store now occupied by J. A. Adams.

Dr. E. M. Soule built his store in ........ The lower part of the building has been used for the millinery business by Mrs. E. M. Soule and Mrs. Ethel Whitehouse. On the second floor, Dr. Soule carries on a large and successful dental business.

Grant & Whitehouse purchased their store at the station from E. E. McCauslin, he from Frank Rice, who built it. The large storehouse was purchased from E. E. McCauslin, who built it.

The store now occupied by the Farmers’ Union was built and for some time occupied by Joseph H. Farwell.

O. J. Whitten moved a shop from the Damon place to the location where H. L. Truworthy’s stable now stands, for a shoeshop. It was occupied as a store by N. W. Vickery. F. H. Hunt moved it to the station where the Turner Center Creamery now stands, and traded there for a time. It was later occupied by E. K. Adams and by E. T. Walker, and was afterward burned.

At one time there was a store where the Whitehouse garage now stands, occupied by the contractors who were building the railroad, afterward by F. H. Hunt and N. C. Knight. This was burned. A store with two halls above, which for many years were occupied by the Odd Fellows and Masons, was then built, but this shared the same fate. Ed. Tolman, John Van Deets and Asa Howe traded here at different times.

Alfred Clark built a small store at the station, in which L. H. Whitaker traded. It was burned.

Outside of the village there have been several stores—one at Farwell’s Mills was owned by Henry Farwell, one at the corner near Esburn Nutts’ was owned by Thomas Cornforth, one near L. P. Foster’s was owned by J. S. Rollins, and one at Moulton’s Mills was owned by Samuel Hall and Mr. Lane. Edwin S. Stevens and his brother, Benjamin, had a small store at one time at Farwell’s Mills.

OLD ROADS

I find records of old roads, but the trees and marks have long since passed away. There is a record reading like this: “Starting from where John Mitchell lived, called the Sandhill (now owned by Archie Tozier), across land now owned by Eli Moulton and Clarence Brown, to land of Stephen Chase, thence across said Chase land by the burial ground to the house of Lemuel Bartlett (now owned by Mrs. J. W. Harmon), thence northeasterly across said Bartlett land to Woodbridge Webb’s house (now owned by F. H. Dutton), thence to the Mayo fall down.”

Another old road ran from what is now the Waterville road, on the south side of Sandy Stream, across land of Joseph A. Bacon to the main road. It can be traced a part of the way today. It is said that this is the trail followed by the early settlers mentioned in R. W. Murch’s letter when they went to Winslow to get their corn ground.

There is a record of a road starting from Daniel Whitmore’s land, running by Benj. Bartlett’s (now owned by G. W. Varney), by the Friends’ church, where it intersected a road from ’Squire Hale Parkhurst’s (now L. P. Foster’s), to Farwell’s Corner, thence to Pettie’s Mill, thence to John Scribner’s, thence following the country road to Hezekiah Chase’s place (now owned by E. D. Chase).

There was also a road starting from near Alonzo Bacon’s place and coming out near F. R. Cornforth’s. The ruins of a house which was on this road are to be seen near George Taylor’s south line.

Still another road started east from near Alonzo Bacon’s place, by the Ordway and Truworthy places, intersecting a road to Pettie’s mill. The birch trees mentioned have long since passed away.

A road leading from Packard’s Corner, near J. Arthur Thompson’s, by the Samuel Webb place to D. E. Loveland’s, was discontinued when the new road from Loveland’s to Jones’ Corner was laid out.

Nothing of value is attached to these incomplete records. I mention them only as a matter of “ancient history.”

BRIDGES

Sandy Stream rises in Montville, runs through Unity, and is spanned by six bridges, namely: The Douglass, Hussey, Farwell, Village, Moulton, and Outlet bridges. There are several minor bridges over small streams.

The first bridge at the village which the writer can remember was a frame bridge similar to a barn, but without a roof; the posts were about fifteen feet high, not boarded. After that was a bridge with X-work sides about six feet high, and a partition through the middle.

The iron bridge at the village was built in 1907. The committee in charge of the building consisted of W. H. J. Moulton, Frank Bartlett, George E. Grant, Amander Rackliff, E. T. Reynolds, Jacob L. Ames and D. R. McGray. The abutments were built by John Brown of Benton Station. The cost of the bridge was $3500.00.

TREES

The large elm trees standing upon the sides of our main street were set out by Jefferson Bartlett, Russell Reynolds and Isaac Childs. Lawyer William Weeks set those on the West and north sides of the Whitmore cemetery, near G. L. Whitten’s residence. Edwin E. Stevens set those on both sides of the trotting park, also those on the north side of the road leading east from Thomas Watton’s place to Farwell’s Corner. The maples in front of James R. Taber’s main house were set by William Taber in 1876, those in front of the rest of the residence by James Taber in 1880. The trees belonging to Mrs. G. W. Fuller were set by her husband, Dr. W. G. Fuller. Those in front of Mrs. J. W. Harmon’s house, she caused to be set, as did Mr. C. E. Stevens and Mr. W. S. Merrick those on their respective lawns.

The oak tree in front of Thomas Carll’s place was planted by his father, Robert Carll, one hundred years ago. The great willow on the opposite side of the road grew from a twig used by Robert Carll as a walking stick on a day’s journey.

HOTELS

The first hotel—at that time called a tavern—was kept by Benj. Rackliff. It was situated due south of the old poor farm, near the north line of D. E. Loveland’s farm. Here the occasional traveller of the olden times might find food and lodging.

In the village the first hotel was kept by Thomas Chandler. After his death, the house was carried on by Mrs. Chandler and her son, Benjamin. The house was near the center of the village, where Mrs. Chas. E. Stevens’ house now stands. It was conducted as a temperance house.

The Hale Parkhurst house, now owned by L. P. Foster; the Jesse Whitmore house, now owned by H. B. Rice; the Rufus Burnham house, now owned by J. R. Taber; the Amos Webb house, now owned by Mrs. Mantie Gregg; and the Stone house, afterward burned, were at different times used as hotels, but when the Central House was built, these were discontinued, except the Chandler House. For years the Central House has been the town’s only hotel.

The Central House was built by Elijah Winslow. It was at first a small one-story house, to which he made a two-story addition. He sold the building to John L. Seavey, who afterward sold to Fred Burrill, he to Daniel Dummer, he to T. J. Whitehouse and G. A. Hunt. It was burned at this time. Mr. Whitehouse then purchased Mr. Hunt’s interest and built the present Central House in 1878. It is now owned by Mr. F. A. Whitehouse. This hotel was situated half way between Augusta and Bangor, on the old stage road—hence its name.

STAGE LINES

As we pass the Central House today, we see drawn up before it auto trucks, touring cars, limousines, and we realize that our little town is in the clutch of the modern life. All this makes for convenience and speed, it is necessary, but with its coming we have lost the quaint picturesque quality of the earlier days.

There are but few people alive who can recall when V. D. Pinkham of Augusta owned the stage line from Augusta to Bangor, but those of us who can, remember well the thrill of excitement that ran through the village when the great stage coach, drawing near, blew its horn to announce to the townspeople that the mail was about to arrive. The Concord coach, resplendent with paint and varnish, drawn by four horses, caused a stir as it rolled through the town loaded with passengers for Bangor, often followed by a second four-horse coach equally loaded. Among the “Knights of the Whip” in those good old days, we distinctly remember Isaac Holmes, Wm. Nason, Davis Crocker and Mr. Flannigan.

Landlord John L. Seavey did a flourishing business in those days, this being the halfway place between Augusta and Bangor. Mr. Seavey had two large stables in which was kept a relay of horses.

When the Pinkham line was discontinued, a one-horse stage was run from China to Bangor, owned by the Brown boys. Later the route was shortened to run from Unity to Dixmont Center, and now it runs from Unity to Troy and is called a Star Route.

After the train ran from Augusta to Fairfield, the western mail for Unity came by stage from Fairfield to Unity via East Benton, daily leaving Unity at 6.15 A. M. and returning at 8.45 P. M. This was continued until the railroad from Burnham to Belfast was built. The mail for Thorndike and Brooks left Unity once a week, on Saturday. It was carried by a Mr. Ham.

In 1902 the rural free delivery was instituted, by which all mail is carried to the door of the man who lives outside of the village. Thus civilization sweeps on, bringing comforts and privileges to the rural sections. Gurney Stevens was appointed as carrier of the rural free delivery and has kept at his post for fourteen years.

THE RAILROAD

In the late sixties, the first excitement concerning a railroad arose. The land was surveyed from Augusta to Bangor, passing through Unity, but the project failed to materialize. The farmers, however, were tired of hauling potatoes and other produce to Belfast and Fairfield. They grew restless, capitalists began to get interested, and a survey was made for a road to be known as the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad.

For some time it was a question whether the road should pass through Unity or Troy, and surveys were made through each town, under Col. A. W. Wilds. Before a decision was made, there was much excitement. Unity called a town meeting and voted to take thirty thousand dollars’ worth of stock if the company would locate a station within one-half mile of the town pump, and sent the company a record of its vote.

Several public-spirited citizens had, prior to this action by the town, signed the following paper:

The undersigned, being desirous of having the Belfast and Burnham railroad built through Unity, do agree to pay to Chas. Taylor, treasurer of our railroad association, each subscriber being a member thereof, the sum set against our names, for the purpose of paying for the right of way across the lands of such persons in Unity as cannot be persuaded to give and relinquish their damages for the right of crossing their land. Albert F. Watson, $20.00; William Taber, $25.00; George Clark, $25.00; J. R. Taber, $25.00; James Fowler, Jr., $25.00; Chas. Taylor, $20.00; Ruel Mussey, $20.00; John T. Main, M. D., $10.00; Eben Thompson, $20.00; Josiah Harmon, $20.00; Jefferson Bartlett, $20.00; Stephen Dyer, $25.00 and right of way through his land; N. C. Knight, $5.00; Alfred Berry, $10.00; Joseph Chase, $20.00; B. B. Rackliff, $10.00; G. E. Linkfield, $10.00; Jonathan Stone, $10.00; Harrison Chase, $20.00; John Crie, $5.00; Simon Connor, $10.00; E. E. Hall, $5.00; H. B. Rice, $10.00; Daniel Starkey, $5.00; S. S. Coller, $5.00; J. R. Munroe, $5.00; C. E. Mitchell, $20.00; R. M. Munroe, $5.00; Shepard Giles, $2.00; Samuel Stevens, $5.00; John Royal, $5.00.

When the town made its offer, this paper was withdrawn.

The railroad company replied that it would not accept the town’s offer, and it looked as if we should lose the road. Unity people thought they had made a good offer, and when the company refused to accept it, they immediately called another meeting and rescinded their vote, in which they had offered to take thirty thousand dollars’ worth of stock, and directed the clerk to forward to the company a record of their doings.

It was finally decided to build through Unity, and the company called for the thirty thousand dollars. The town refused to pay, and left the matter with Lawyer Artemus Libby (later associate justice of the Supreme Court). Mr. Libby offered to leave it to the Supreme Court to decide whether the railroad had cause for action or not, to which the company agreed. A verdict was rendered for the town. Consequently, Unity and her people had nothing to pay.

The railroad was opened in 1870.

FIRES

Life in our village has for the most part been quiet and uneventful, with a slow but steady progress toward material success, yet fate has not left us entirely unscathed, for the older men and women can remember four times when the dreaded cry of “Fire!” has rung through the village, calling them out to find the stores in flames. They remember the quick rush of the villagers to the spot, the long, heavy strokes of the church bell calling the townspeople to aid, the dogged, persistent courage with which every man fell to work, handicapped at every move. They remember the great darting flames, which, as they watched, wrapped one store after another, until the quick call came to save the homes if possible, since the rest must go. They recall that the next day they stood over the ruins and planned to build again.

The first of these great fires was in November, 1871. It was on the west side of the street, and caught in the Mitchell store, occupied then by T. B. Cook. Nothing could be done—the fire swept over the whole block.

The second fire was on March 2, 1878, on the east side of the street. The fire broke out in the shoeshop of Daniel Starkey. Alfred Berry was one of the first on the spot, and he declared that if he had had a pailful of water at that moment he could have put the fire out, but no water was at hand and the fire was soon out of control. It swept up over the hotel store, hall, two stables and the hotel itself, occupied at that time by Thomas Whitehouse. In the opposite direction it destroyed the house and stable of H. B. Rice and the Thomas Snell house and stables, owned by Daniel Harmon.

Within three months, June 9, 1878, fire came again and the startled people fought, this time almost despairingly, to save the stores on the west side of the street. They failed and all were burned. Then for twenty-six years fire passed us by, until on January 5, 1904, the stores on the east side burned again, together with the halls where the Odd Fellows and Masons were located.

LIST OF BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN BURNED

The Randlett store and tannery.

The Lincoln Hussey house near Freedom line.

The John Larrabee house at the Douglass bridge.

The Cudworth Clark buildings.

The barn nearly opposite the Williams place, owned by G. E. Linkfield.

The Jacob Clark buildings.

The Washington Nickless buildings.

The schoolhouse in the Clark district.

Silver Greenleaf’s place, near Freedom.

The Hussey foundry.

The Clement Rackliff house, called “The Quaker Hotel.”

James Gilkey’s house on the south side of the Friends’ burial ground.

The Sinclair house, where Chas. S. Cook now lives.

The Fowler schoolhouse.

Farm buildings of Chas. C. Fowler.

Robert Carll’s barn, struck by lightning.

Ansel Stone’s farm buildings.

Samuel Kelly’s farm buildings, place now owned by heirs of late Edwin Rand.

The Hezekiah Stevens house, on place now owned by Joseph Bacon.

The Levi Bacon buildings, on land now owned by G. A. Stevens.

The Harrison Chase farm buildings.

The William Crosby house, near the old Crosby place.

The James Chase house, where A. R. McManus lives.

The Ira Trafton sawmill, south of E. B. Hunt’s place.

The Jacob McKenny place, near the Troy line.

The Chas. Stone hotel, store and stable at the station.

The E. K. Adams house, near the station.

Turner Center Creamery.

The J. S. Bither house and sawmill at Mitchell’s Mills.

The Amos Webb house.

Thomas Winter’s house, on the road leading from L. P. Foster’s to Unity Plantation.

Mill house near Moulton’s Mills.

Mills where the Moulton Mills are located.

House built by E. T. Thompson near Moulton’s Mills.

House and barn, known as the White place, built by Samuel Hall.

The E. E. Hall place.

House of Russell Reynolds, where Thos. B. Cook now lives.

The W. R. Chandler place, now owned by Ira Parkhurst.

Two small houses below Joseph Libby’s, owned by the Southwick Tannery Company.

The old Snell tannery, so-called.

The Weed house, where H. L. Truworthy, M. D., now lives.

The Snell house and stables, where George Mosher now lives.

The house and stable of H. B. Rice, north of G. R. Mosher’s.

Two small shops at the north end of Adams’ store.

The hotel where the Central House now stands, two large stables, shed, and store with hall.

The second fire on this spot burned the store erected by F. A. Whitehouse for manufacturing clothing, Tozier’s barber shop, the building occupied by the Karam Clothing Company, and the Odd Fellows’ and Masonic halls.

The first framed barn on the Chase place, where F. A. Whitten now lives.

The white, also the brick, schoolhouses.

The first fire on the west side of the street, among the stores, started in the L. H. Mosher store, then owned by Elijah Winslow. This was early in the town’s history.

The second originated in the C. E. Mitchell store, occupied by T. B. Cook; that, together with the Harmon store and house, where Ira P. Libby now lives, the J. R. Taber store, then occupied by John Crie, and the Kelly store, owned by Taber & Moulton, were burned.

The third fire originated in the Harmon store, occupied by Asa Howe, and a block of three stores, built by C. E. Mitchell and J. R. Taber, were burned. Mr. Harmon rebuilt. Mr. H. H. Grant moved the Bither store onto the Mitchell lot. Mrs. Lucretia Moulton built the Frank Tozier store, and J. R. Taber built the store now used as a postoffice.

The barn of George Taylor.

The house of James Clifford.

The cottage of Mrs. J. W. Harmon, situated at Windemere Park.

SECRET SOCIETIES

The Masonic Lodge: It is reported that the first Masonic meetings were held in Richard Cornforth’s house. The early records have been destroyed, but as near as I can learn, William McGray was the first worshipful master of Star in the West Lodge, 85. Since its organization the lodge has changed its location several times, but is now permanently located in a fine hall of its own. G. T. Whitaker is the present worshipful master, and Ruel M. Berry is secretary.

Antioch Chapter, 163, O. E. S.: Was organized March 26, 1913, constituted October 11, 1913. Cora M. Whitaker, matron; Addie L. Fogg, assistant matron; Mary W. Mosher, secretary; Chas. L. Gannett, worthy patron.

Sons of Temperance: This society was organized in Chandler’s hall in 1851. They built the building for years known as the “Temperance Hall,” upon land purchased from Jefferson Bartlett, now owned by Benj. Fogg. Among the prominent members of this society, we find the names of Jefferson Bartlett, Nelson Dingley, Gorham and Alonzo Hamilton, Adam, Hall and Washington Myrick, Solomon Hollis and S. S. Coller. Nelson Dingley, Jr., trained the cadets in the upper part of this building.

Glenwood Division, S. of T., 22: Occupied the hall over the postoffice, where it flourished for a time. John T. Main, M. D., Benj. Williams, M. D., J. E. Stone, J. R. Taber and Frank B. Lane were among its members.

Then came the Ironclads. In this lodge, John A. Van Deets was the leader. It had an active but short career.

The Order of Good Templars was several times organized, the last time in 1899, in Taber’s hall; Henry Bacon, C. F.

Grange: The Sandy Stream Grange, P. of H., 72, was organized March 11, 1875, in the Temperance hall. It prospered for many years, but afterward was discontinued because of lack of interest.

Invictus Lodge, 38, I. O. O. F.: The Invictus Lodge was organized July 2, 1882, in Taber’s hall. The charter members were J. R. Taber, A. R. Myrick, James Craig, M. D., Oakley Giles, Joseph C. Whitney, M. D., Joseph P. Libby, George W. Murch, Albert McManus, Alton Pilley, Samuel A. Myrick, Leslie L. Higgins, Marion Blanchard.

The officers elected at the first meeting were J. R. Taber, N. G.; A. R. Myrick, V. G.; J. C. Whitney, Sec.

Owing to increased membership, the lodge purchased from J. R. Taber the hall upon the opposite side of the street, and remained there until burned out, January 5, 1904. It then sold its lot to J. R. Taber and purchased another from him, upon which the present hall stands. The building and furnishings cost over $5000.

Favori Rebekah Lodge, 98, I. O. O. F.: This was organized Dec. 13, 1900. The officers elected were Fannie Bartlett, N. G.; Jennie A. Frost, V. G.; Grace A. Bartlett, Sec.; Grace M. Cook, Treas.; Clara E. Fuller, Ida P. Libby, Joseph P. Libby, trustees.

Knights of Pythias, 114: This organization was formed June 23, 1914, in Taber’s hall. E. T. Reynolds, C. C.; J. C. Van Deets, V. C; W. J. Getchell, K. of R. S.; G. B. Pillsbury, M. of F.; W. S. Libby, M. of E.

Commandery: The Commandery was instituted November 24, 1914. The officers were Carlton Kidder, C. P.; Clare Reynolds, S. W.; D. V. Rollins, H. P.; W. L. Fairbanks, J. W.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

North Waldo Agricultural Society: This was organized in the early sixties. Seth Thompson, president; Benj. Fogg, vice president; Eli Vickery, treasurer; H. B. Rice, agent and collector.

Grand Army, Calvin F. Pilley, 35: For years the Grand Army has held its meetings among us, with a reunion each thirteenth of August at Windemere Park.

Ladies’ Aid: The women of our town, banded together for service, have for several years proved efficient workers. Where they have seen a need, especially in connection with church and parsonage, they have worked seriously and accomplished the end in view.

ODD ITEMS

The following odd items cannot be classified. I jot them down as they came to me, sometimes in full, sometimes in fragments, thinking that here and there a reader may find something of interest.

Maine Militia: To Robert Cornforth, you being duly enrolled as a soldier in the company of which Capt. Rufus Berry is commanding officer, are hereby ordered to appear at the usual place of parade of said company, at Lieutenant George Wood’s dwelling, in said Unity, on Tuesday, the fourth day of May, 1824, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, armed and equipped as the law directs for military duty and inspection, and there await further orders.

By order of said commanding officer. Dated at Unity, this 20th day of April, 1824. Edmund Murch, Adjutant.

Elizabeth Fowler was the first female born in Unity.

The first juror drawn in town was Daniel Whitmore.

The first orchard was known as the Melvin orchard. It was on the place now owned by John M. and Arthur Thompson. The seeds were planted in a sap trough. One year, it is reported, they raised one thousand bushels of apples.

Dog Hill received its name in this way: Matthew Fowler, known as “Duke,” when going to “Antioch,” was usually accompanied by his dog. One day this dog attacked a sheep belonging to a Mr. Stevens, who took his gun and shot the dog as he stood by his master’s side. From that time it has always been called Dog Hill.

Choosing a Guardian: Unity, March 3, 1815. Remember this day a lad by the name of Ben Skiff, belonging to Lincoln, informed me that he had chosen Henry Farwell of Unity, Kennebec County, for his guardian. Abner Knowles, Town Clerk.

Gold: In the seventies there was quite an excitement in town, as it was reported that gold had been discovered upon the James Mitchell farm, south of where D. E. Loveland now lives, and opposite the George Webb place. Mining was begun in earnest, a stock company was formed and the blasting of the ledge commenced. Experts were called in, who, alas, reported that “all is not gold that glitters,” which caused a fall in the price of stock. The miners retired from work, and the mine remains for future generations to develop. The certificates of stock are held as souvenirs. The property is now owned by George Murch.

Range Lines: Range lines are the old lines between the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers, by which land was formerly located. One of these lines runs between the Rufus Burnham farm, now owned by J. R. Taber, and the Judge Hezekiah Chase farm, now owned by F. A. Whitten. The well on F. A. Bartlett’s place (the brick house near the station) is exactly on that line.

Lines: After the first store was burned, where the L. H. Mosher store now stands, a dispute arose with regard to the line, Elijah Winslow wishing to build. It was finally settled that the southeast corner of the foundation where the Mosher store now stands was the legal corner of the main street and the Waterville road, the Waterville road being a three-rod road like the road leading from the Chandler hotel to Chase’s Corner, on the Belfast road.

General Meeting: The Friends’ General Meeting was held in Union church, February 22, 1873. Mary Comstock of New York was the principal speaker, assisted by Eli Jones of China, Maine, and Chas. R. Tucker of New Bedford, Mass. A heavy snowstorm prevailed and no trains ran for one week.

Mast of the Constitution: One of the masts of the frigate Constitution was cut on the farm of the Hon. Crosby Fowler. It took twelve yoke of oxen to haul the mast to the river and one to haul the runs. A piece of wood cut from the same stump is in the writer’s possession.

Cider Mills: The first cider mill of which I have any knowledge was on the Jacob Truworthy place, now owned by G. W. Varney, nearly opposite the Frank Mussey place. The next one was the Parkhurst mill, now owned by L. P. Foster, which went out of commission several years ago. Thomas O. Knight has a modern mill on his place. There is also one near A. J. Harding’s, belonging to George Trull.

The Circus: The first circus in town was held on the lawn between the residences of J. A. Adams and J. R. Taber. The ring marks are still to be seen. Joe Pentland’s circus was held upon the grounds now occupied by the Portland Packing Company. The treasurer of that company said that they took more money at Unity than at any other place between the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers.

Kernoclis Bog and Kernoclis Brook: In the southern part of the town of Unity there is a bog called Kernoclis Bog, and along the eastern border flows a brook or stream, which is never dry, called Kernoclis Brook. This bog and this brook are both referred to in the ancient deeds, where it is sometimes found spelled Knock-Wallis. The name is derived from the name of an Indian who dwelt in the forest on the borders of the bog when the white men first came to the region. The bog itself in the centre is muddy peat to an unknown depth, covered, except in places, with a thick growth of moss. In places the water shows through the surface and is never dry. A person standing on a mound of this moss can cause the surface of the bog for a long distance around him to wave like the waves of the sea, from which circumstance this part of the bog is called the “Shaking Bog.” It contains about a thousand acres, and its borders are covered with a dense, dark growth, consisting mainly of spruce, fir and pine. In the winter it is the haunt of deer, as it is very warm, and the surface of the water holes in the “Shaking Bog” never freezes over.

At an election held May 17, 1810, to elect a representative to the General Court, Lemuel Bartlett received seventeen votes; Samuel Kelly, two.

May 11, 1818, Rufus Burnham was elected representative to the General Court.

July 6, 1819, the vote to become an independent state stood ninety-eight in favor, five against.

September 20, 1819, Rufus Burnham, M. D., was chosen to attend the convention at Portland which met to draft a constitution for the state.

April 13, 1820, Hon. William King received seventy-two votes for governor.

April 25, 1824, voted to pay each soldier the sum of twenty cents before the General Muster.

March 31, 1828, the support of the poor and all liabilities therefor were sold to Isaac Mitchell for $152.50.

April 26, 1829, the vote for representative to Congress stood: Hon. Ruel Williams, 40; Gen. Jesse Robinson, fifteen; Nathan Cutler, eleven; George Evans, one.

Postmaster: J. R. Taber was appointed postmaster in 1865 and held the office at three different times. The last appointment was May 31, 1895, resigned September, 1914, age seventy-five years, total service twenty years; succeeded by E. T. Whitehouse, October 27, 1914.

Station Agent: Railroad opened in 1870; Alfred Berry, station agent.

Mail Carriers: Thos. J. Whitehouse was appointed mail carrier in 1870, Fred A. Whitehouse appointed mail carrier in 1889. This service has been in the Whitehouse family since the railroad was built in 1870, with the exception of a short time after the Central House was burned, when it was conducted by J. R. Taber, who entertained the traveling public while the Central House was being rebuilt.

Rural Free Delivery: On October 1, 1902, the rural free delivery was established, with Gurney A. Stevens as carrier.

September 14, 1901, William McKinley, President of the United States, was killed. The church bell was tolled for forty-five minutes by Peter Whitney, after which fifty-eight strokes, suggesting the President’s age, were made.

December 15, 1901, a heavy rain was in progress. No trains ran from Burnham from Saturday, the fourteenth, until Sunday, the twenty-second, at 3 P. M., when a freight passed through to Belfast. The following Monday the writer handled over sixty bags of mail.

July 16, 1901, the glass in the shade at noon stood at 100 degrees above zero.

The mill house opposite Connor’s mill was built by Sherwin Crosby.

Nathan and Joseph Farwell, sons of Henry Farwell, were born in Unity and moved to Rockland. Nathan was elected to the United States Senate, and Joseph to the Governor’s Council.

On March 24, 1904, the sharp shock of an earthquake was felt here at 1.50 A. M.

Clement Rackliff and his wife, H. Chase Rackliff, were members of the Society of Friends and used to attend the Friends’ Yearly Meeting, held at Newport, Rhode Island, making the entire journey oh horseback.

When Walter Hurd’s barn was raised, Elias Jones made a speech from the ridgepole.

March 27, 1827, the support of Lydia Davis was sold to Isaac Mitchell for four cents a week.

Joseph Stevens built a house near a spring on the Jackson farm, now owned by Alonzo Bacon, it being east of south of Mr. Bacon’s house. The six acres directly in front of Mr. Bacon’s house were formerly owned by Henry Farwell. He left it unfenced for years, and it was called “Farwell’s Common.”

The first bridge at the village was built opposite the mill house.

Hezekiah Tilton, son of Gibbs and Huldah Tilton, was a noted Methodist minister, at one time bishop of the diocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Copps Opening was the section one mile west of the Elias Fowler place, now owned by William Gerald. Samuel Copps and a man named French built a log house here, each family occupying one-half. One-half mile this side lived a man by the name of Samuel Davis, one-fourth mile away a man by the name of Plummer, who built a log house north of the Fowler place on the main road. Isaiah Whitten built a house afterward owned by a Mr. Taylor.

Electricity was turned on in Unity Village for the first time on January 1, 1916.

The Unity postoffice will become a third-class office during 1916.

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS

In the records of the Revolutionary War, we find from this town the names of James Packard, John Melvin, William Hanna, Thomas Fowler, Aaron Kelly, David Vickery, John McKenny, Nathan Parkhurst, Thomas Pearson and Ichabod Hunt.

James Packard enlisted January 1, 1781, for three years, under Col. Joseph Vose, was transferred to the artillery, under Col. Swift, September, 1781.

John Melvin enlisted July 1, 1775, served seven months and one day, transferred from Massachusetts to New York, mustered out at West Point, transferred into the regular army.

Thomas Fowler served one month and six days, was a scout under Col. Josiah Brown and Gen. Wadsworth.

Aaron Kelly served under Major Dummer Sewall, discharged at Boothbay, November 10, 1775, enlisted again July 12, 1776, served six months and four days for the defense of the sea. In 1780 in service again one month, under Brig. Gen. Wadsworth.

David Vickery enlisted at Fort George, December 1, 1775.

John McKenny, private in Capt. Daniel Strout’s Company, enlisted July 17, 1775, served to December 31, 1775, five months, twenty-seven days, company stationed at Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough.

Thomas Pearson enlisted July 7, 1779, in Capt. John Gray’s company, Col. Jonathan Mitchell’s regiment, discharged December 12, 1799, re-enlisted at North Yarmouth.

No record can be found concerning the service of William Hanna, Ichabod Hunt and Nathan Parkhurst.

I believe the above record to be correct. I have spent many hours searching the records made in those days.

SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812

In Lieut. Benj. J. Rackliff’s company, Lieut. H. Morris’ regiment from September 12-27, 1814, the following names appear from Unity: George I. Fowler, Archelaus Hunt, Robert Blanchard, Nathaniel Carll, Robert Carll, Eben Reynolds, Nathaniel Stevens, Dean Libby, Mark Libby, Elisha Bither, Josiah Murch, David Vickery, Samuel Kelly, Joel Vickery, Elisha Parkhurst, Nathan Parkhurst, Jacob Truworthy, Thomas Fowler, Daniel McManus, Richard Cornforth, Eben Farwell, Reuben Cookson, Benj. Melvin, Aaron McKenny, John Larrabee, Jeremiah Connor.

SOLDIERS OF THE MEXICAN WAR

Otis Whitmore, Joseph Bither.

SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR

The Civil War began in 1861 and lasted four years. Unity was among the first to respond to the call for soldiers, and promptly furnished her quota of men, who proved themselves valiant fighters and of whom the town has always been proud. A large number lived to return. If I remember right, Unity sent ninety men, and I believe there are now twenty-two living among us, honored and respected by all.

The names of those who went to the war are: Isaac Avery, Ruel M. Berry, John Berry, Rufus B. Bither, Silas Bither, William Bither, Augustus Broad, Joseph A. Bacon, Eugene Boulter, Phineas Bennett, Rev. Jacob Crosby, Jefferson Clifford, John Crie, George Clifford, Eli Chase, Chas. O. Chase, Frank Cookson, Robert Cookson, Thomas Cookson, Alonzo Carter, Asa Douglas, Amos Douglas, Chas. Fogg, Daniel Flye, Elijah Flye, Walter Flye, Rufus Flye, William Hamilton, Myrick Hagaty, Frank Hamilton, Edwin Hall, John W. Hall, Streeter Harding, Marcellus Harding, Denis Hartford, Ralph Harmon, Cyrus Haskell, Eugene Hunt, Hoyt Hunt, Andrew A. Hurd, Boyd Hines, James Hines, Warren Jones, Jonathan Kelly, Joel Kelly, Joseph P. Libby, Nathan P. Libby, Alvano Lowell, Alonzo Libby, John T. Main, M. D., Chas. Marshall, Marcian McManus, Edwin Moore, William Moore, Daniel McManus, S. A. Myrick, Jeptha Murch, David H. Myrick, Otis McGray, Amos Moore, William Nason, Cyrus Myrick, E. R. Parkman, Thomas Phinney, Thean Randlett, John Randlett, Josiah Reynolds, Amander Rackliff, Amander Rackliff, Jr., Henry Robinson, Lemuel Reynolds, Hiram Reynolds, James Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, Joseph E. Stone, Edwin E. Stevens, Josiah Scribner, Fred Seavy, Daniel Scribner, Daniel Starkey, Daniel Small, John Smith, Lewis Thompson, Marcellus Whitney, William Whitten, Benj. Williams, M. D., Samuel Webb, Richard Whitten, Chas. Webster, John Van Deets.

Marcian McManus was in Libby Prison nine months, and contracted a disease there from which he died a few years after the war closed.

Daniel Small, 2nd, was killed in battle.

Phineas Bennett died soon after getting home.

Cyrus Myrick was killed.

Jeptha Murch died soon after getting home.

Lemuel Reynolds died in the hospital.

Alonzo Libby contracted disease in the army, from which he died soon after reaching home.

THE FORTY-NINERS FROM UNITY

When gold was discovered in California, Unity, like most other eastern towns, in spite of distance and perils, sent out her quota of men in the great search.

In 1849, Hon. Crosby Fowler, his brother, Dutton Fowler, Joseph Bartlett, William Weeks, Stephen T. Rackliff and Joseph Rackliff sailed from Bath, Maine, in September, in the ship, “Hampden,” arriving in San Francisco in a little’ less than six months. They went around Cape Horn. It took forty cents to send a letter to California in those days.

In 1851, Gorham Hamilton, Joseph Chandler and Seth Thompson started west, and in 1852 C. E. Mitchell and Chas. E. Taber, with his cousin, Albert Taber of Albion, went. In 1856, Joseph Kelly, Burnham Kelly and Simon Knight followed. In 1864, Crosby Fowler, J. F. Parkhurst and Wilbur Mitchell drove a herd of cattle across the plains, through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada, a long, hard journey. The cattle were mostly cows, which were sold to the dairymen. Job Chase, Bartlett and Harrison G. Otis also went to California, but the date I am unable to ascertain.

I append a letter written home recently by one of the “boys” who left Unity in those early days, which gives a mind picture of the journey to California:

Grass Valley, California, Dec. 24, 1910.

I am going to hark back a long way and tell you when, where and how the California gold fever bacillus got into my system, so that as a result I have for nearly fifty-nine years been separated from all my kindred and the companions of my youth.

The time was the spring of 1851, and reports were in circulation of the finding of gold in the northern part of Maine. There was much excitement, and a rush for the mines was started. Four from Unity joined it, E. S. Stevens, Robert Lytte, the hotel keeper at the village, and myself. “Shelly” and I went together with a little horse that grandfather had for his use. When we got on the main road up the Kennebec river, we were sometimes in a procession, all bound for the new Eldorado, but as we neared the boundary we began to meet teams returning, and after a brief examination of the mines a little farther on, we, too, turned and wended our way homeward.

Up to that time, I think I had never had any idea of going to California, but in three weeks from my return I was getting ready for the trip. At that time there was such a rush for California that tickets for passage were sold two or three months ahead. I paid three hundred and ten dollars for a steerage ticket.

We left New York on the 24th of February. My berth was away down in the lower regions of the steamer, but by the third night it was warm enough to sleep on deck, rolled in blankets, which I did for the rest of the trip. The steamer, the “Georgia,”, had as many—probably more—passengers as the law allowed. Food of all kinds was cooked by the barrel, and it didn’t come out in a condition to invite. Often I passed through the mess room without taking more than a bite of what looked best, but I had a box of food with me and got along fairly well. Such fare wouldn’t have seemed quite so bad to me after I had been in this state two or three years.

In due course of time we reached Havana, and at the same time the “Ohio” reached there with a load of passengers from New Orleans. Both steamers had all the passengers allowed, but at Havana all were taken upon the “Ohio” for the Isthmus. And such a crowd as there was! It was a jam upon decks and between decks and under decks. The cooks and waiters were kept “on the jump” from early morning till late at night to provide two meals a day. The first mess would be called in quite early in the morning, and it would be ten or eleven at night before the last mess had its second meal.

I think we were eight or nine days from New York to the Isthmus. At Aspinwall (now Colon) the railroad had been finished for about fourteen miles, at which point it reached the river, so, for the purpose of making a little easy money for the road, we were landed at Aspinwall. The fare for this ride on flat cars, with no seats, was five dollars. At one place where a stop was made for water, the engine could not start the train without help, and I was one of a number who got off to help boost.

When we reached the river, we found flat-bottomed boats with a capacity of from six to twenty. They were propelled by natives, standing upon the board walk on each side of the boat. In places where there was considerable current, the natives would jump off and push the boat along. Clad in the snug-fitting, waterproof garments provided by nature, the water being warm, they experienced no discomfort.

The end of boat navigation was at Gorgona, from which place one could proceed by “foot and walker’s line,” by jack or mule back, or be carried by natives. The four of us hired three jacks, upon one of which we packed our blankets and extra clothing, and took turns in riding the others.

Arriving at Panama, we found two steamers, “The Panama” and “The Isthmus,” waiting for us. Our party was taken out to “The Panama,” a mile or more from the shore. “The Isthmus” started several hours ahead of us, and we saw no more of her until we were making the Golden Gate. Heavy drafts were made upon our fuel, so a stop was made at San Diego—then a sleepy little hamlet, now preparing for a World’s Fair in 1915.

On the morning of April 1, “The Isthmus” was sighted, apparently a little in advance, though being outside, she was no nearer San Francisco than we. It soon became evident that a race was on between the two steamers. The passengers were made to keep in position to maintain an even keel. Fuel was wanting, and partitions and bulkheads were knocked down and fed to the furnaces. Our steamer had a little the advantage, but so little that the passengers were landed at the same time.

I recall here one sad event on the way up. A monkey had been chained on the upper deck. One day a passenger was having a little sport with him, stepping back when the monkey jumped at him. There was an airshaft leading to the engine room far below. In retreating, the man went down the shaft and was taken up dead. Nothing could be found upon him by which to learn his name or home; so I suppose that somewhere there was a long waiting for tidings that never came from the victim of this tragedy.

But here I am at last in San Francisco.

Chas. E. Taber.

MEN WHO HAVE HELD TOWN, COUNTY OR STATE OFFICES

Members of Governor’s Council

Joseph Farwell, Reuben Files.

State Senators

Hezekiah Chase, Amander Rackliff, Samuel S. Berry, James R. Taber.

Representatives to the Legislature

Rufus Burnham, Frederick Stevens, Lemuel Bartlett, Thomas Fowler, Seth Thompson, James B. Murch, Hale Parkhurst, Eli Vickery, James Connor, Abram Cookson, William Taber, James Fowler, Jr., Alfred Berry, John T. Main, M. D., James H. Cook, Ruel M. Berry, Jesse E. Cook, M. D.

County Commissioner

Crosby Fowler.

Deputy Sheriffs

Peter Jackson, S. S. Berry, Alfred Berry, Augustus Fogg, Frank Mussey, James A. Adams, Joseph H. Farwell.

Plantation and Town Clerks

Abner Knowles, Robert Jackson, S. S. Berry, Chenery Broad, Benj. Chandler, James Patterson, Gorham Hamilton, J. F. Parkhurst, Alfred Berry, Benj. Fogg, N. B. Parkhurst, A. R. Myrick, D. W. Parkhurst, Charles Taylor, Mott Cates, J. H. Cook, E. P. Blanchard, E. D. Chase.

Selectmen

Jacob L. Ames, Lemuel Bartlett, Rufus Burnham, S. S. Berry, Benj. Bartlett, R. M. Berry, Jefferson Bartlett, F. A. Bartlett, Walter Bessey, Hezekiah Chase, John Carll, Richard Cornforth, Otis Cornforth, B. F. Chase, Nelson Dingley, Crosby Fowler, James Fowler, Jr., Benj. Fogg, Joseph Farwell, Joseph H. Farwell, A. W. Fletcher, C. R. Jones, A. J, Hurd, B. R. Hunt, E. B. Hunt, Newell Harding, Walter Hurd, Peter Jackson, James Libby, Jr., James W. Libby, Raymond McManus, Edmund Murch, D. R. McGray, L. H. Mosher, W. H. J. Moulton, John Murch, Elisha Mosher, Ruel Mussey, Ansel Perkins, John Perley, N. B. Parkhurst, H. B. Rackliff, Amander Rackliff, Edwin Rand, E. T. Reynolds, Edward Rand, B. B. Rackliff, Frederick Stevens, Alonzo Small, Daniel Small, E. S. Stevens, R. R. Spinney, Joseph Stevens, Chas. Stevens, William Taber, J. A. Thompson, Daniel Whitmore, B. J. Woods, Wesley Woods, Eli Vickery, Nelson Vickery, John Vickery, George Varney.

Treasurers

Benj. Bartlett, Hale Parkhurst, Seth Thompson, Josiah Harmon, H. B. Rackliff, J. R. Taber, Benj. Fogg, T. H. Parkhurst, J. H. Damon, B. B. Whitney, Chas. Taylor, L. H. Mosher, E. B. Hunt, E. E. McCauslin, J. H. Farwell, L. J. Stevens, R. C. Whitaker.

School Superintendents

John T. Main, M. D., N. B. Parkhurst, John Gilman, Clara Vickery, James Craig, M. D., James Taber, James Libby, Jr., A. R. Murch, W. G. Fuller, George Fletcher, T. O. Knight, Myra Libby, E. M. Soule, C. M. Whitney, M. D., D. V. Rollins, Joseph Farwell, H. B. Arey, Arthur E. Irish.

School Committees

Hezekiah Chase, Peter Jackson, William McGray, Asa Jones, Chenery Broad, R. W. Murch, J. F. Fernald, B. B. Stevens, John T. Main, M. D., E. K. Boyle, Rev. E. H. Prescott, Alvano Lowell, Otis Cornforth, C. S. Cook, John Stewart, John Perley, George Grant, J. E. Cook, M. D., E. D. Chase, Harry Waning, T. O. Knight, J. B. Vickery, C. L. Gannett, E. M. Soule.

Postmasters

Lemuel Bartlett, Apr. 1, 1807

Daniel Whitmore, Oct. 10, 1815

Rufus Burnham, Jan. 23, 1829

Hiram Whitehouse, July 13, 1841

Joseph B. Gilkey, July 29, 1845

James G. Patterson, Apr. 9, 1849

James B. Murch, July 29, 1853

J. F. Parkhurst, June 15, 1858

Alfred Berry, Aug. 31, 1861

James R. Taber, Dec. 13, 1865

Clement R. Taber, July 15, 1867

Josiah Harmon, Dec. 7, 1868

L. H. Whitaker, June 15, 1874

I. F. Carter, June 30, 1875

H. B. Rice, Mar. 17, 1880

James R. Taber, Nov. 24, 1885

H. C. Chandler, Mar. 27, 1889

Robert B. Cookson, Aug. 17, 1893

James R. Taber, May 31, 1895

Edgar T. Whitehouse, Oct. 17, 1914

Doctors

Abner Knowles, Rufus Burnham, John Milliken, —— Parker, Alexander Boothby, Stephen Boothby, John Cook, —— West, Henry Hamilton, —— Dunlap, Loring Brown, John T. Main, Austin Thomas, J. M. Mussey, B. B. Whitney, C. L. McCurdy, James Craig, H. F. Benson, O. L. Emerson, C. M. Whitney, J. E. Cook, H. L. Truworthy, P. W. Whitaker.