HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CORNVILLE
The East Somerset County Register
1911-12
Compiled and Published by Chatto & Turner
Auburn, Maine
Clarence I. Chatto; Clair E. Turner
page 76-86
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CORNVILLE
Cornville is situated on what was originally the north line
of the Plymouth patent, and, thus being outside the territory
of Plymouth Company, it was sold by the State of Massachu-
setts to Moses Bernard and others. It was first named Ber-
nardstown, from the original proprietor. The first clearings
were made about the year 1790; but the first settlement was
not made until 1794. The town was incorporated Feb. 24, 1798,
when the name was changed to Cornville, which is said to have
been given to it on account of the productivity of the soil for
grain, especially Indian corn. At the time of the incorpora-
tion, a strip of land, one and one half miles in width, was an-
nexed to it from the Plymouth patent.
Among those who settled in the town before 1800, may be
mentioned Stephen and Daniel Hilton, James Elkins, Ithial
Smith, David Perkins, Daniel Woodman, Josiah Woodman,
Joseph Parsons, Richard French, Edward York, David Dolloff,
Nathaniel Whittier, Samuel Fogg, Jedidiah Flanders. The
first male child born in the town was Sanborn Elkins (b. 1785)
and there was given to him five acres of land on the place now
occupied by William Perkins. The lot has always been called
the Five Acre Opening. The first female child born in town
was Sally Leavitt.
The first town meeting was held March 13, 1798. The first
settled minister was Joseph Palmer and the first physician to
locate in the town was Dr. John Lawrence. An interesting
comment on the peculiar ideas of the times is found in the
record that at the ordination of the second Baptist minister, in
1814, rum was on sale in the door yard during the service.
The first church was erected in 1825, and was later rebuilt into
the building which is at present used for a town house.
Joseph Barker came as one of the earliest settlers from
Massachusetts bringing with him only his ax with which to
fight his battle with the wilderness. He bought 600 acres of
land surrounding what is now known as Barker Pond. There
was only an acre cleared when he came, and he completed
clearing the farm where Joseph Barker lives now and much
land now occupied by adjoining farms. Mr. Barker m. Amelia
Morrill, of Cornville. Their children were: Mary A. m. Dun-
ton, Charles F., William, David, Eliza, Joseph, Micajah.
John W. Davis was born on a ship on the Atlantic Ocean,
during the voyage made by his parents from England to
America where they were to found a new home. His father
died, however, before the end of the voyage, and the widow
later married a Mr. Darling and lived in Aroostook County.
John Davis came to Cornville and cleared a farm on what is
now the East Ridge Road. In 1837 he moved to Palmyra
where he cleared the farm now occupied by Mrs. Jeremiah
Leathers. His son William cleared the farm in Palmyra now
owned by his grandson, Erwin E. Davis. Family tradition re-
lates that when Mr. Davis came to Cornville, he followed a
spotted trail through the woods from Skowhegan and after-
ward traveled this trail for years before a road was built. It
is said that John Davis rode horseback to Richmond and pur-
chased the first wagon ever brought into this vicinity.
Josiah Baine was another of the early settlers. The fol-
lowing children were born to Josiah Baine and Lucy, his wife:
Jepthah, b.1811; Nathan, b. 1812; Jacob, b. 1815; James, b.
1817; Lydia, b. 1819; Rachel, b. 1820; Josiah, b. 1821; Eliza-
beth, b. 1825; Daniel, b. 1828; Sarah, b. 1829; Nathaniel, b.
1831, Jeanna, b. 1833.
One of the most important names in the history of Corn-
ville is that of the Flanders family, the first member of which,
Jedediah Flanders (b. 1748), came to the town form Little
Salisbury, N. H. about 1795, only seven families preceding him
in time of settlement. He bought a thousand acres in the
center of the town and settled upon it with his boys. Soon
after his coming he built a saw mill and grist mill and later a
tannery and a fulling mill on the river near the present resi-
dence of George Warren. These were scenes of busy industry
for some time, but almost every trace of them has now dis-
appeared, as the buildings have been either torn down or car-
ried away by some of the freshets which have occurred on the
stream in recent years. Mr. Flanders m. Judith Tewksbury
(b. 1752.) Their children, all of whom were born in Salis-
bury, were: Mary, b. 1770, m. Currier; Jonathan; b. 1771;
Thomas, b. 1773; Sarah, b. 1776, m. McClure; William, b. 1778;
Jedediah, b. 1781; Jacob, b. 1783; Judith, b. 1785, m. Morrill;
Eleanor, b. 1787, m. Currier; Daniel, b. 1789; Moses, b. 1791.
Mr. Flanders died in 1823, aged 75 years.
Thomas Flanders, son of the above, came to Cornville from
Salisbury, N. H. prior to 1800, and settled on the place now
occupied by Mrs. R. A. Flanders. He m. Sarah Sawyer (b.
1777). Their children were: Parker, b. 1805; Salina, b. 1808,
m. McClure; Lydia, b. 1810, m. Greeley, William, b. 1813;
Thomas, b. 1816.
Jeremiah Flanders (b. 1799) and his wife Betsey (Blais-
dell) came from South Hampton, N. H. with a team prior to
1821, and settled on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mary J.
Flanders and her sons, which he cleared. The family lived for
some time in a log house and later Mr. Flanders built the house
which now stands on the place. There was born to them a
family of six children: Hannah, b. 1821, m. Morrill; Eliza-
beth, b. 1824, m. Fogg; Susan, b. 1828, m. Richardson; Nancy,
b. 1835, m. Smith; Joseph T., b. 1837; Emeline, b. 1840, m.
Evans.
Nathaniel Flanders (b. 1798) came to Cornville from South
Hampton, N. H. in 1822 and settled in the east part of the town
a mile above the residence of Mary Flanders. Mr. Flanders
came alone at first, began his clearing and built a small log
house. The next year he brought his wife to the new home.
The journey was made up the river to Waterville by boat and
the remainder of the distance by team, three weeks being re-
quired to complete it. Mr. Flanders m. Priscilla Flanders.
Their children were: George, b. 1824; Mary, b. 1828, m. Whit-
tier; Ruth A., b. 1834, m. Flanders; Hannah, b. 1837, m. Gard-
ner.
Joseph Kinsman, son of Col. Jonathan Kinsman, one of the
proprietors of Athens, was instrumental in tile settlement of
Athens and later Cornville. He was born in Exeter, N. H. in
1780, and m. Eliza Page. He accompanied his father to Maine
and was also one of the proprietors of Athens, was twice a
member of the Maine Legislature, for many years a Brigadier
General of the Militia, and air extensive land owner, lumber
dealer and farmer. He settled in Cornville on the place now
owned by C. C. Kinsman. The children of Joseph and Eliza
Kinsman were: Joseph C., b. 1821; Enoch J., b. 1822; Josiah
B., b. 1824; Hannah F., b. 1826; Clymene A. M., b. 1830; Ruel
D., b. 1833. The son Josiah attained eminence in the Civil
War, and was, after the war, for 5 years U. S. judge in Egypt.
Samuel Folsom was a blacksmith, storekeeper and land sur-
veyor in Cornville a hundred years ago. He came as an early
settler, from N. H., and settled on the farm now occupied by
Frank Folsom. He was a well read man, having received his
education in Londonderry Academy. His surveying instru-
ments and many of his old text books are in the possession of
a granddaughter, Mrs. Ira Page of Hartland, among them be-
ing all old compass bearing the inscription, "Made & Sold by
John Dupee ye North Side Swing Bridge, Boston, New En-
land." Mr. Folsom m. Hannah Green, and to them were born
three children: Mercy m. Robinson, James m. Deborah
Peavey, Hannah m. Allen Peavey. Mercy lived in Harmony
and the other two in Cornville.
Daniel Tilton came to Cornville and settled on the farm
where Fred Rowell lives at present, 80 years or more ago. His
children were: Josiah, John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Emeline, Pa-
melia.
John Robinson came from Exeter, N. H. about 100 years
ago and took up a vast tract of land on the west ridge, where
many of his descendants live today. He built a log house on
the farm now owned by B. J. and F. H. Robinson. The land
which he took up he divided later into three farms for his
three sons, Joseph, Josiah and Chandler. His children were
Calvin, Ruel, Joseph, Josiah, Chandler, James, Eliza m. Davis,
Abigail m. Malbon, Carolynm. Fogg, Mariam m. Fogg Lucy
m. Rice.
Ephraim Currier came to Cornville from Amesbury, Mass.
more than 100 years ago, and settled on the farm now oc-
cupied by Mr. Later and known as the Dow place. He m.
Mary Flanders. Their children were: Thomas, Ephraim,
Mary m. Folsom, Betsey m. Hodgdon, Judith m. Durrell, Ruth
m. Pollard.
Samuel Elkins, 3rd (b. 1766) with his wife, Lydia (Smith)
Elkins, came to Cornville from New Hampshire before 1800
and settled on the West Ridge road a half mile from where a
grandson, Fred Rowell, lives at present. Their children were,
Smith, b. 1789; Betsey, b. 1792; Sally, b. 1795; Lydia, b. 1797;
Samuel, b. 1799; Elmira and Statira, b. 1802; Melinda, b. 1804;
David, b. 1805; Mercy, b. 1807; Luther, b. 1809.
John French (b.1800) came from Epping, N. H. nearly 100
years ago, and with his son Joseph, settled on the place now
occupied by G. R. French. His children were: Joseph m.
Abbie Ames, Benjamin, John, Hovey, Charles, Abbie m. Home-
stead, Martha m. Loomis.
Moses Carr was born in New Hampshire, March 21, 1757
and died at Cornville, Maine, Jan. 13, 1843. His wife, Mary
Page Carr, was also born in N. H., April 1, 1767 and died at
Cornville, April 27, 1850. Moses Carr was a captain in the
Revolutionary War and his wife was the daughter of a cap-
tain. They came with a family of eight children to Cornville
in 1800. Four were born after their arrival in the town. The
children were: Celia, b. 1785; Abigail, b. 1788; Sarah, b. 1790;
Climena, b. 1792; Alice, b. 1793, d. in infancy; Alice, b. 1796;
Maria, b. 1798; Eliza, b. 1800; Julia, b. 1802; Caroline, b. 1806;
Enoch, b. 1806; Ethan, b. 1809.
Samuel Fogg, b. 1756, came from Raymond, N. H. to the
place on East Ridge where Mr. Jackson now lives. His wife
was b. 1762 and their children were: Josiah, b. 1780; Sally,
b. 1782; Dudley, b. 1784; Polly, b. 1785; Sam'l, b. 1787; Ruth,
b. 1788; Betsy, b. 1790; Abigail, b. 1792, Dolly, b. 1794; Joseph,
b. 1717; John, b. 1798; Nancy, b. 1800; Hannah, b. 1802; Isaiah,
b. 1804; Timothy, b. 1805, d. an inf; Timothy, b. 1808.
Josiah Fogg, eldest son of Samuel, who settled on the East
Ridge farm, now occupied by Mr. Jackson, married a Greene
and they had the following children: Josiah, David, Benj,
Sam'l Joseph, Mercy m. Whittier, Hannah m. Whittier, Mary,
Jane m. Chandler, Abigail m. Malbon.
Jacob Gardner, the first of the name to settle in this locality,
was a native of Germany. He was taken prisoner by the
English while serving under Napoleon.
But he re-enlisted under the English while in a prison ship
and after serving some time determined to escape, so together
with five others escaped while their ship was in Newport and
Mr. Gardner came to Athens then to Cornville about 1812 and
married Alice Foss to whom were born eight children: Isaiah,
Levi, Margaret m. McGuire, Jacob, Thankful m. Mallard, John,
George and Phillip.
Col. Joseph Hilton was a large land owner in Cornville
and he settled a number of his children there. He at one time
owned about one third of the town. His son Daniel came with
his wife Phoebe from Deerfield, N. H. about 1816 and settled
on the West Ridge road. He came before roads were built and
his wife rode horseback with a child in her arms. His chil-
dren were: Mahitable, Mahalia, Eldridge, Sarah m. Tuck,
Joseph, Hannah m. Russell, Alice m. Malbon, Daniel T., John,
Phoebe J. m. Spofford.
Hannah, a daughter of Daniel Hilton, m. Alden Russell and
lived on the home place for many years. Her children: Geo.
E., b. 1843; Ellen M., 1844; Mahala M., 1846; Frank, b. 1848;
Horace B., b. 1850; Clara A., b. 1850; Ansel A., b. 1853; Chas.
E. and Emma, b. 1858.
Theodore Hilton, b. 1802, and his wife, Polly (Butler) b.
1804, came to the east part of Cornville on the place occupied by
James Nason in 1827. The names of his children were:
Charlotte, b. 1824, m. Hight; Mary E., b. 1826, Sarah E., b.
1831; Loritta, b. 18,N; Albert T., b. 1843. Came here in 1827.
His older brother Joseph, came to Cornville in 1822 and
settled in same locality. Joseph's wife was Comfort Dear-
born. They had a family of nine children.
Benjamin Judkins came from N. H. and cleared and settled
upon the farm now occupied by Bert Smith.
Jacob Kinsmore moved into Cornville from Brighton 77
years ago onto the place now occupied by Dana Cooley. He.
bought the place of Isaiah Dore. He was of German parentage
but was pressed into the Frenchservice and was made prisoner by
the English soon after the battle of Waterloo and later escaped
and came from St. Johns to Maine. He married Anna Brad-
bury whose father was one of the early settlers of Athens.
His children were: Philip L., still living at 92 years of age on
the home place, Mary m. Browning, Sarah m. Flanders, Lucy
m. Robert Shorey, Nancy, Jacob, John, Henry and Annie m.
Lovejoy.
Allen Freeman, b. 1795 and an 1812 soldier, was one of the
men who took up wild land in the town. He came to the
place where Isaac Freeman now lives, 72 years ago from Leeds.
His wife was Jane Leadbetter, b. 1810. His children were:
Thomas M., b. 1831; Flavilla, b. 1833; Isaac, b. 1835; Marcellus
b. 1837; Allen, b. 1839; Roswell, b. 1841; Adelbert, b. 1843;
Emma b. 1845; Helen, b. 1848.
About the time that Mr. Freeman came to the northwest
part of the town Mr. Adna Kincaid settled on the land now
occupied by A. E. Bosworth. He bought several acres of John
G. Neal and a mill privilege on the stream below the place.
His wife was Harriet Jones. His children, who lived to reach
maturity, were: Warren, died in U. S. service, Martha, Geo.,
became an architect and builder and took many jobs in
different parts of the State.
Samuel Longfellow, b. Dec. 26, 1813, a direct descendant of
William Longfellow, the first immigrant by that name, came to
Cornville and married Sarah Winslow in 1842. He afterwards
cleared and settled upon the farm now occupied by Robert
Rawstron. To them were born six children: John, b. May
7, 1843; Horatio, b. May 11, 1845; Alando S., b. Feb. 4, 1847;
Jane C., b. Aug. 14, 1849; James S. T., b. Oct. 18, 1852; Charles
F., July 24, 1856.
Daniel Moody, whose wife was Jemima, came from Mass,
some time before 1820 and was one of the first settlers in the
east part of Cornville. He came to the place now occupied by
John Herrington. He built a log house in which he lived for
some time. His children: Daniel, Jr., Joseph, Jeremiah, Ma-
hitable m. Whittier, Elizabeth m. Dolloff, Mary m. Page.
Darius McCrillis came to the place where lie now lives in 1836,
He is now in his 92nd year. He improved the place, but did
not clear up much land.
Daniel Moody and his wife came on foot bringing an ax
and bag of coffee from Newburyport about 1820. He cleared
and settled upon the farm now occupied by John Harrington.
Their children were: Daniel, Maryan m. Page, Mehitable m.
Whittier, Jeremiah m. Bums, Joseph m. Locke-Wood.
Andrew Neal came with his wife Sarah from N. H. to
Brighton, afterwards moving to Cornville. About 1825 he clear-
ed and settled the farm now occupied by Samuel Foss. To them
were born eleven children, only three of whom are now living:
Joseph S., b. Oct. 18, 1832; Sarah E., b. Jan. 5, 1832; George
N., b. Mar. 12, 1841.
Joseph Parsons was one of the very earliest settlers of the
town. His wife was Sarah Ames. They settled a little cast
of the East Ridge road on Road "G." He cleared up a farm
and built buildings on the place. His children were: John,
Nathaniel, Sam'l, Marcus, Nancy m. Ames, the mother of Mrs.
L. M. N. Stevens, Statira m. French, Phineas, Asher, Joseph.
The oldest son; John, went a short distance to the cast and
cleared up another place. His wife was Catherine Pollard.
His children were: Statira, Sarah J. m. Tracy, John F., Mar-
cus L.
Capt. Enoch Page and his wife Elia (Cilly) came to the
place just below C. C. Kinsman's and afterward occupied by
Joseph Kinsman in 1799 from Ohio by way of N. H. He put
up a small house just in front of the present residence. The
youngest child, who afterward became Mrs. Kinsman, rode
through from N. H. on a four year old colt. Mrs. Page lived to
be 100 years of age. At the time of the Harrison election she
led a procession 1 1/2 miles long on horseback to a log cabin on
the mountain south of Athens village.
Thomas Paine came from Durham, Me. to Cornville about
80 years ago and cleared the farm across the road from where
F. H. Paine now lives. His son Daniel (b. 1806) lived on the
home place and cleared the farm. He married Elizabeth
French (b. 1812) on Jan. 20, 1835. Children: Edward, b.
1837; Sarah, b. 1838; Abigail, b. 1843, m. Robinson; James, b.
1840; John, b. 1850.
Enoch Rowell, whose wife was Comfort (Shaw) came from
Epping, N. H. to Cornville in 1839 and settled on place now
occupied by R. E. Dodge. His children: Hannah m. Folsom,
Wm.., Henry, Madama m. Stone-Shaw, Chas., Euphenia m.
Barker.
Biley Smith and his wife, Lydia (Elkins), came to the place
now occupied by the great grandson, L. L. Smith. He was
about the first settler in the town. He came from N. H. about
1792. He built a log cabin on the opposite side of the road
from the present home. The next spring the first hay was
raised from seed of English grass brought by Mrs. Smith's
brother. His children were: Trueman, David, John, Gilman,
Elkins m. Achsah Wentworth, lived on the home place, Lydia
m. Jewell, Sarah m. Malbon. m. Robinson. Elkin
Smith's children were: Hannah, Timothy, John, Dudley,
Clarke, Nath'l Sam'l, Josiah, Josephine, Winn.
Nathaniel Whittier, the first of the name to settle in Corn-
ville, came with his family from Stratton, N. H. about 1780.
He cleared the land and built a large two story house upon the
farm now occupied by Almon Whittier, his grandson. The
old house has since been moved from its former site and is
used for a carriage house. It is said that when the old house
was built Mr. Whittier hired a blacksmith to come to the place
and make the nails as they were wanted. Mr. Whittier reared
a large family. His children were: Nathaniel, b. 1777; Sarah,
b. 1782,; Reuben, b. 1805; John, b. 1807; Lucinda. b. 1809;
Sarah Jane, b. 1812; Smith, b. 1814; Russell, b. 1818; Julia, b.
1821; Norris, b. 1823.
William Whittier was another of the same name to settle in
Cornville. To William and Ruth Whittier were born nine
children: Betsey, b. 1808; Lavina, b. 1809; Sam'l, b. 1810;
Elizabeth, b. 1812; William, b. 1814; Rachael, b. 1817; Isaac,
b. 1821; Sophia Lawrence, b. 1825; Reuben, b. 1827.
John Wentworth, a direct descendant of William Went-
worth, who came to Exeter, N. H. in 1639, and it is said, of
King Edward VI, of England, was born in Berwick, Maine,
1761. He served in the Revolutionary War, and after the
close of the war m. Hannah Elwell of Buxton, Maine. In 1790
he moved to Limington and in 1798 to Athens, making three
journeys through the wilderness to the new settlement before
bringing his family, in order to have a home and provisions
prepared for them when they should come. Mr. Wentworth
cleared the farm now occupied by Chester Wentworth. To,
John and Hannah Wentworth were born eight children: John,.
b. in Buxton, 1786; Mary, b. in Limington, 1793; Robert, b. in
Limington, 1795; Phebe, b. in Athens, 1798; Lois, b. 1801, m.
Hall; Achsah, b. 1803, m. Smith; Pamelia, b. 1806.
Robert, the third son, m. Sally Leavitt, the first female child
to be born in town. She rode to the old Wentworth homestead on
horseback after the wedding and lived there until her death,
which occurred about 1890, when she was about 95 years of
age. The pioneers of the Wentworth family in Cornville were
Quakers and that has been the religious preference of their
descendants.
(c) 1998
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