NOTES AND FRAGMENTS Vol 2 page 264 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY PUBLISHED -QUARTERLY Entered as second class matter at the post office, Dover, Maine, by John Francis Sprague, Editor and Publisher. Terms: For all numbers issued during the year, including an Index and all special Issues, $1.00. Single copies, 25 cents. Bound volumes of same, $1.75. Bound volumes of Vol. 1, $2.50. Vol. I ((bound) will be furnished to new sub- scribers to the Journal for $2.00. Postage prepaid on all items. "We must look a little into that Process of nation-making which has been going on since prehistoric ages and i's going on here among us today, and from the recorded experience of men in times long past we may gather lessons of infinite value for ourselves and for our children's children." -JOHN FiSKE. To Our Friends This issue completes the second Volume of the journal. Some of the greatest political and social movements in the pro- gress of the world's civilization have eminated from obscure events and small beginnings. The prophet Zachariah was wise in his day when he exclaimed "For who hath despised the day of small things'." If each small beginning had always evolved into great and important events then the future success of the journal would be assured beyond peradventure for its beginning was diminutive enough to fully comply with such a rule. Its advance has, however, already far exceeded what we in the first instance dared hope for, and for this good fortune we desire to acknowledge to our many friends and patrons our profound thanks. And yet we would Dot have you infer that its growth has been so vigorous or that its Virility is such that it does not still need assistance and support from all who appreciate it and who are in accord with the work which it is attempting to do. The long Colonial period when New France, for nearly one hun- dred and fifty years, was struggling for supremacy over what is now the State of Maine, the time while it was dominated by the Massachusetts Colony, and the lurid days of its devastating Indian (1) Zachariah IV-10. NOTES AND FRAGMENTS 265 wars, are all full of romance and mystery and constitute a fertile and fascinating field for historical research; and later its progress as a sovereign state of the American Union, is worthy of the profound attention of the student of history. One of the primal aims of the journal is an endeavor to stimulate in the public mind a deeper love for, and a more intimate knowledge of, the early beginnings and beginners of the State of Maine; for we believe that such knowledge engenders among the people of the state a greater pride for and a more devout interest in everything pertaining to its welfare. To accomplish this we shall strive to present such facts in a plain and simple manner that may inform, attract and interest those of our readers who are not themselves familiar with them and who have generally regarded early State history as "very dry reading." Our opinion is that historians have too frequently written "over the heads" of the average man and woman who are two busily engaged in their daily vocations and avocations to give these subjects much attention. Such writings are of inestimable value to the his- torical student but do not satisfy fully the needs of a much larger class of readers. Notes and Fragments Disasters, do the best we can, Will reach both great and small; And he is oft the wisest Who is not wise at all. (Wadsworth). The journal acknowledges its thanks to Congressmen McGilli- cuddy and Guernsey for valuable public documents. Among the Maine towns, which celebrated their Centennial Anni- versary in the year 1914, was the town of Hiram whose one hun- dredth birthday occurred February 27, 1914. 266 SPRAGUE'S. JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY The 80th Anniversary of the Bangor House as a Maine Hotel and the 25th Anniversary of Captain Chapman's proprietorship of it occurred October 30, 1914. The event was celebrated by an elaborate banquet with music, speeches, etc. this is one of the most famous hostelries in New England, and was opened to the public in 1834. The proprietors have been: Martin S. Wood, 1834-37. Moses Woodard, 1837-47. Samuel Farrar, 1847-49. Moncena Dunn, 1849-51. John W. Garnsey, 1851-53. Abram Woodard, 1853-56. George W. Larrabee, 1856-62. Orin M. Shaw, 1862-77. Harrison Baker, 1877-78. Flavius 0. Beal, 1878-89. Horace C. Chapman, 1889-95. H. C. Chapman & Son, 1895-19I4. Its old registers disclose the names of many famous men who have been entertained as guests therein. Among such were Daniel Webster, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Presidents Grant, Arthur, Mc- Kinley, Roosevelt and Taft. And other people of note like Colonel NOTES AND FRAGMENTS 267 Robert G. Ingersoll, Helen Keller, Admiral Peary, Secretary of State Bryan and many others. Honorable Rodney C. Penney, who has been a subscriber to the journal from its beginning, died at his home in Bangor, Maine, April 28, 1914- Mr. Penney was born in East Eddington, Maine, Nov. 1i, 1853. For many years he was manager of the slate quarries, owned and operated by the Monson, Maine Slate Company. In 1896 he moved to Bangor and was for several years manager of the Hinckley and Egery Company, now the Union Iron Works, and was also one of the promoters of the Penobscot Machinery Company. At the time of his death he was, and had been for some time past, the Maine representative of the Dodge Company. He was a member of the Masonic bodies and a 32d degree Mason, and was also an Odd Fellow and belonged to the Elks and the Royal Arcanum. He represented Piscataquis county in the Maine Senate 1895-97- He was a man of sterling qualities, an able business man and a progressive and public spirited citizen. On page I09, VOL 2, of the journal, in the Sangerville Centennial number, reference is made to two of the early settlers of that town, Isaiah and William Knowlton. Inadvertently the name of one of the descendants of the latter, Honorable Fred W. Knowlton of Old Town, was omitted. Mr. Knowlton is one of the prominent lawyers of Maine and judge of the Old Town Municipal Court. Proper reference to the Thompson family of Sangerville was also omitted in the sketch above referred to. James Thompson was also one of the early settlers of Sangerville. He was born June 21, 18o1, in Buckfield, Maine, and died in Dover, Maine, March 8, 1874. He settled in the town of Sangerville in 1826 and remained there until 185o. He was a descendant in the eighth generation from James Thompson, who was born in England, in 1593. He was the father of the late Honorable Elbridge Augus- tus Thompson. 268 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY One of the Thompsons, Edward, came over in -the Mayflower, in 1620. Freeland D. Thompson of Sangerville, a well known citizen of that town carrying on the business of farming on quite a large scale and Dr. E. J. Thompson of Lynn, Mass., are each of this Thompson family. The mother of the Honorable Frank E. Guernsey, member of Congress from the 4th Congressional District of Maine, was Hannah Thompson, born in Sangerville, April 20, 1833. She first married A. M. Foss of Charleston, and second, Edward H. Guernsey, son of Deacon Samuel Guernsey of Bangor, Maine. The journal acknowledged its thanks to the Portland Society of Natural History for its latest Volume of Proceedings of the Society, being Vol. 3, Part 1, and containing 198 pages. It is devoted mainly to, an able and exhaustive paper on "Fishes of Maine," by William Converse Kendall, Scientific Assistant U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. It is a scientific essay upon this important subject and a most valu- able addition to the natural history of Maine. In James Sullivan's History of the Penobscot Indians, published in the Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, (1804) Vol. 9, P. 2I7, he says of the Penobscot aboriginals: "But our Penobscot Indians were men of elegant nature and agreeable form; tall as the Europeans commonly are, and much better proportioned. In war and hunting, full of strength, vigor and agility. To this were added a component degree of intelligence for savage life, a due proportion of courage, and the same kind of low address which has been found in all the American savages." Sayings of Subscribers Honorable Henry Lord of Bangor, Maine, President of the Bangor Historical Society: "I hear frequently words of approval and commendation spoken for 'Sprague's journal of Maine History,' all of which it deserves." 270 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY Honorable E. M. Johnston, Brownville, Maine, member of the Maine Board of State Assessors: "My Greetings to the journal for a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. It is exceedingly interesting and instructive and enjoyed by myself and family very much." Mr. Eugene M. Edwards of Portland, for many years past one of the well and favorably known commercial travelers of Maine, a book lover, an appreciative student of the best literature and deeply interested in the work of the journal, writes from Franklin, New Hampshire: "I have just returned from a visit to Webster's birthplace and later to Elms Farm. The day has been beautiful, clear and mild with October's sunshine falling like a golden mist on hill and valley, softening the aspect of the peaks and domes in the (apparently nearby) distance. "Webster's birthplace about three and one-half miles from this hotel, is off the main line to Concord and reached over roads running through second growth, by abandoned farms with apple trees ming- ling strangely with oak saplings while now and then a spared mon- arch of earlier days rises proud and scornful above its fellows. "At the home of his birth there are shown a few household relics, of course not important as associated with Webster's youth, as lie moved from there when between two and three years of age. "The house at Elms Farm is now used in connection with The Children's Home and here Dr. Gardner has many interesting things to show visitors that call. I wanted to locate the ground where Daniel defended his first client and where his father sitting as judge said after listening to the respective arguments of Zeke and Daniel, 'Zeke, Zeke, you let that woodchuck go." "I was shown by the doctor's daughter the approximate spot, but .the railroad running across the yard seemed as great an anachronism as the phonograph in the room where Daniel used to sit by the fire (fireplace still preserved) or looked out upon the smoothly rolling acres of Elms Farm." Frank L. Dingley, Editor-in-Chief of the Lewiston journal: "I read Sprague's journal with regularity and attention and we refer to it frequently. I regard it as a valuable publication and of much interest to all interested in the State of Maine." SAYINGS OF SUBSCRIBERS 27I Hon. E. B. Weeks, Old Town, Maine: "I find many things in your journal which are valuable and of great interest to me." INFORMATION WANTED Mr. Frank L. Dingley, 14 Lisbon street, Lewiston, Maine, desire.; information regarding the genealogy or any historical facts relating to the Garcelons, the Lamberts and the McKenneys, and the Gree- leys of which family Ebenezer S. Greeley of Dover, Maine, was a member. Mrs. Frank Daley, 297 Forest Ave., Bangor, Maine, desires information relating to the ancestry and family history of Leonard Thomas, who lives in Presque Isle, Maine, and who has had brothers in Augusta and Gardiner. New Mount Kineo House and Annex In the Centre of the Great Wilderness on a Peninsula Under the Shadow of Mount Kineo On the east side of the most beautiful lake in New England, forty miles long and twenty miles wide, dotted with islands, and with hundreds of smaller lakes and streams in easy proximity, in the midst of some of the grandest scenery in America, is the NEW MOUNT KINEO HOUSE and ANNEX recently remodeled and with many improvements added making it second to none for comfort, convenience and recreation. It is a Palace in the Maine woods and in the heart of the great game region. This region leads all others for trout and salmon, Spring and Summer fishing. The NEW MOUNT KINEO HOUSE opens June 27, remaining open to September 28th. New Annex opens May 16, closes Sept. 28 WRITE FOR ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET, containing full description of its attractions for health and pleasure during the Summer season. First-class transportation facilities offered during the seasons. Ricker Hotel Company, Kineo, Maine, (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.