Early Maine History vs. Twentieth Century History SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Vol. III JANUARY, 1915 No. 4 Early Maine History vs. Twentieth Century History The Maine Teachers Association is a great organization, an honor to the State and doubtless helpful to the educational interest of Maine. It has a "School Music Festival;" a "Maine branch of the American School Peace League;" a "Maine School Masters Club;" and other accessories equally as interesting. Its work is divided into twenty or more "departments" and among them is one called the "Department of History." At the recent session of the Association in Bangor this department held its meeting in ROOM 211 second floor in the High School build- ing. Its program of topics for discussion and consideration were: "Aids for the Teaching of Ancient History;" "Relation of Ameri- can History to Civics;" and a "Round Table Discussion" of "How May the Present War be Used to Interest Students in History." This schedule has some objectionable features and possesses some merit. And yet it should not surprise the managers of this Asso- ciation if there may be those of only the average stratum of Maine citizenship and blessed with only average intellectual processes, who may wonder why there could not have been discovered somewhere along the course of Maine History, which has been making for 300 STUDY OF LOCAL HISTORY 191 years, something that could have been "used to interest students in history," as well as the ghastly details of the most useless, cruel and barbarous slaughter of human beings that this world has record of, and now being waged by nearly every European nation each and all of whom are absolutely crazy. Study of Local History We are pleased to endorse the following editorial in a recent issue of the Bangor Commercial. It is entirely in line with what the journal has constantly advocated with what emphasis it could command. We can assure the Commercial that Mr. D. Lyman Wormwood, the efficient Superintendent of Schools of Bangor, is deeply interested in the subject and early placed the journal in the High School Libraries of that city. There are some other school officers in Maine who are making commendable efforts in this direction and teachers, who, like Dr. Caroline Colvin, Professor of history in the U. of M. at Orono, appreciate the value of the study of Maine history and are doing practical work in promoting it; yet as a whole the school system of Maine is lamentably derelict in its duty in this respect. It should surely manifest a greater interest in this matter. Every son and daughter of the old Pine Tree State should be proud of its 200 years of important Colonial history and not sit supinely by while selfish or thoughtless writers credit it to Massachusetts, simply because for a time that Commonwealth chanced to have political jurisdiction over a portion of its territory. We heard a well-known Maine educator speak the other day in endorse- ment of a plan that is being carried out in some out-of-the-state city look- ing toward the acquisition of a better knowledge of local affairs in our public schools. The Commercial has often advocated the study of local history in our public schools and we deem such as of much more importance than much of the historical knowledge acquired. We do not mean that present courses in history are not valuable but we believe that they should include a good course in local history, with full instruction in the settle- ment of Maine and its history and development and the same in regard to the city of Bangor. We should also include a specific study of the city charter so that our future voters shall have knowledge of the same. Prior to the recent election 192 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY our people generally had scant knowledge of the charter under which our municipal affairs is conducted. ............... It may be said that there is no text-book available for the study of local history and this is true but it is an obstacle that is being overcome elsewhere. Teachers of history prepare themselves for lectures and acquire the information that later leads to the preparation of a text- book. It would be interesting to know what proportion of the pupils of our public schools, particularly of the high school, have any commensurate knowledge of the early settlement of Bangor and its development from its settlement to the present day. We think that the number would be found to be very few and yet such knowledge would be valuable to all who expect to pass their lives in this city as most of the pupils do. Sayings of Subscribers Mr. S. J. Guernsey, of Peabody Museum, Harvard University: "I certainly look forward with pleasure to each number of the journal and enjoy all of them." Reverend George W. Hinckley, founder and General Superintendent of that wonderful Maine Institution for boys and girls, known as Good Will Farm and editor of a most interesting and valuable Magazine the "Good Will Record:" "In my mail, last evening I received the receipt for my subscrip- tion to your interesting magazine; this morning, as I come into the office, I received your check for $2.00, a subscription for the Good Will Record. An even exchange is no robbery. I only hope that I may make the Good Will Record as interesting to you as the his- torical journal is to me." Professor William Otis Sawtelle, Haverford College, Haverford, Pa.: "I am much interested in your publication and trust that you will continue it for Years to come." Dr. Dana W. Fellows, Portland, Maine: "I hasten to remit the amount due as I surely wish to have the journal of Maine History regularly. It is a valuable publication." SAYINGS OF SUBSCRIBERS I93 John T. Cannon, Bangor, Maine: "Enclosed find check for my subscription to your excellent maga- zine." Mr. A. W. Spaulding, Caribou, Maine: "I have the current number of the 'Journal' and have read it from cover to cover. I have noticed with much satisfaction the very kindly notice you make of my father and I am writing you this note just to say to you how very grateful I am to you for it." Harry P. Dill, Orillia, Canada: "I am enclosing $1.oo for continuation of the journal of Maine History, for I cannot live without it." Honorable A. R. Day, Bangor, Maine: "I take great pleasure in reading your publication for I feel sure that your historical statements are correct. "The whole family reads Sprague's journal with a great deal of pleasure, and I hope to be a subscriber as long as the journal is published." R. L. Grindle, M. D., Mt. Desert, Maine: "The journal is good, yes, excellent." Notes and Fragments The town of Kingsbury was incorporated March 22, 1836. Its charter was repealed February 24, 1885. It was reorganized as a plantation July 20, 1886. judge Sanford Kingsbury of Gardiner was the original proprietor of this township and the town was named for him. Hanson's "History of Gardiner and Pittston" (1852) P. 333, says of him: Sanford Kingsbury was born in Claremont, N. H., was graduated at Dartmouth in 1801, with Daniel Webster, came to Gardiner in 1804, became cashier of Gardiner Bank in 1814, and practiced law until he took his seat on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas, in 182I. He was State Senator in 1828-9, removed to Kingsbury in 1834, and fell dead in one of our (Gardiner) streets March 1, 1849, aged 66 years. In former years there was an old residence in Kingsbury just off of the old "road over the mountain" leading from there to Blanchard 194 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY which the inhabitants called the "Kingsbury Mansion" and where he formerly resided. Whether this was a permanent or only a summer residence or how long he occupied it, the writer has never been able to ascertain. One of the early settlers of Machias, Maine, was Phineas Bruce, from Mendon, Mass.: Born there June 7, 1762; Yale College, 1786; settled at Machias, 1790; first lawyer in Washington County; Representative, I791 to 1800 inclusive; elected Representative to eighth Congress, 1804, but did not take his seat oil account of poor health. He married Jane, sister of Honorable James Sav- age of Boston about 1795. He died in Uxbridge, Mass., Oct 6, 1809. His widow died in Cambridge, Mass., 1854, aged 86. Charles Levi Woodbury, a grandson of Maine, in an address some years ago before the New Hampshire Historical Society, said: Let it be clear, neither Pilgrims nor Puritans were its pioneers, neither the axe, the plow nor the hoe led it to these shores; neither the devices of the chartered companies nor the commands of royalty. It was the dis- covery of the winter fishery on its shores that led New England to civiliza- tion. The Honorable Frank Robinson, mayor of the city of Ban- gor, whose death occurred November 13, 1915, was the son of the late Honorable Alexander Martin and Mary (Chase) Robinson. His father was for many years one of the able and leading law- yers of Piscataquis county. His mother, Mary Chase, was the daugh- ter of the late Honorable Joseph Chase, who, when Piscataquis county was established in 1838, became the leader of the Democratic party in the county and remained so about all of his lifetime. He served in the Legislature, was once sheriff of the county and held many public positions. In 1872 Mayor Robinson married Elizabeth Reed of Belfast, Maine, whose death occurred in 1901. By that marriage there were four children, three sons and a daughter, three of whom survive him. They are Frank H. Robinson of Bangor; Earl P. Robinson of Franklin, Massachusetts and Miss Martha R. Robinson of Bangor. He also leaves a grandson, Morris, of Bangor. He was married again in I904 to Nettie E. Reed of Milford, who survives him. Mr. Robinson had formerly served in the city government of Bangor as alderman, and represented the city of Bangor in the NOTES AND FRAGMENTS 195 Legislature of 1913-1914, and was re-elected a member of the present Legislature. On March 8, I915, he was elected mayor, having received prac- tically an unanimous nomination as a candidate by the Democratic party of that city. His career as mayor was a most successful one and was recognized by all parties as one of Bangor's strongest executives. He had had large business experience. He was formerly employed to fill responsible positions with both the Bangor & Aroostook and Maine Central Railroads. He had much mechanical knowledge, and in 1904 he, resigned from the Maine Central to devote his time to the perfection of railroad appliances which he had invented. He was the inventor of several railroad devices which proved successful, and was a director in cor- porations which manufactured products that he had invented., He was a man of lovable traits of character and his integrity, high sense of honor, and loyalty to his friends, were recognized and appreciated by all who knew him. Like his father before him, he had always been interested in Maine Historical subjects and had been a subscriber to the journal since its first number was issued. The funeral services of the deceased mayor were held at the Universalist church in Bangor, Nov. 16, 1915. His pastor, the Rev- erend Ashley Smith, said: The presence here today of so many who called him friend, tells of that fine spirit of cordial friendship and comradely good-nature and genial kindness which drew men to him, for whether a man was rich or poor, educated or illiterate made no difference to him, he could meet with all on a common level of human nature. He gave of his best in service to our city and State, giving over many of his own personal interests in their behalf He represented as much in his private character, as in public office, the forces and principles which are the solid foundation of our American life. In his home there was unassuming devotion to the simple duties of a kindly and honorable gentleman; in public life there was always deliberate judgment and calm action, clear thinking and unswerving devotion to every trust. He shrank away from strife and contention and sought always for peace and concord, and yet nothing could move. him from his high sense of right and duty and his unfaltering loyalty to their demands. Modest and unpretentious, he bore the honors that rested upon him without ostentation and manifested always the 6 196 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY broadest democracy of spirit. Broad-souled he was, tolerant of the political or religious opinions of others, in all places and under every condition he was a gentleman. Men, irrespective of party, loved him for what he was, a simple, kindly man devoted to his home, loving and loved by his friends, with hardly a personal and very few political enemies. In some real measure his personality was the embodiment of the gentleness of strength and the strength of gentleness. Correspondence MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS IN MAINE. LETTER FROM PHILIP F. TURNER OF PORTLAND, President of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. To the Editor of Sprague's Journal of Maine History: I am very much interested in the note on Page I27 Of Volume 3, October of the Journal,' respecting the pocket book owned by the Bath party. The statements in this note are so entirely inaccurate, so far as Mayflower History up to this time is concerned, that it seems but right that your attention, as Editor, be called to it. There was a Thomas Williams who came over in the Mayflower, but up to the present time no evidence whatever has come to the surface that he had any descendants. If these Bath people can prove their ancestry without question, it would be a very interesting item for the General Society of Mayflower Descendants to be made aware of. Then, too, the item speaks of the Puritans who came over in the Mayflower. You know that those known as Puritans did not come in the Mayflower, but came subsequently to Massachusetts Bay, Salem, Boston, etc., and those who came in the Mayflower were known as Pilgrims and not as Puritans. I presume the name of the ship in the third line is simply a typographical error, "Maybower." I note that on Page I 13, in Mrs. Richards' article, the statement is made that Elijah P. Lovejoy was killed in I873.(2) (1) From "Notes and Fragments," Vol. 3, P. 127, of the Journal, and which originally appeared in a Bath, Maine newspaper. (2) 1837. 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