The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-08-15
backs upon their humble home. and went /

dated the permanent settlement of the tow
and continuous history. Peace was declared
May 10, 1740, and a second war broke out il
the spring of 1866, and the settlers were il
constant anxiety until the fall of Quebec il
| 1859. The men went armed to their work
but no attack was ever made upon them, by
the Indians. During this war the first military
company was formed and Joseph Woodmar
was the first captain in this town. At meet.
ing held July 2, 1850 sit was voted that there
be meeting house built as soon as may be.
In Nov. 16, 1851 the proprietors voted to give
Mr.. Paul Coffin fifty pounds sterling yearly
'if he see cause to settle with us in the work
OF the ministry. Voted also fl00, lawful
| money, to be given him as an encouragement
| to settle with us in the work of the ministry.
| They voted also to make him reasonable addi-
tons, as shall be thought needful and con-
| venient. They likewise petition to hire a
| school master. Rev. Sias Moody entered the
| town as school master at the same time as
Rev. Paul Coffin as minister. Mr.. Coffin re-
ceived his call Nov. l6. He had been preach
ing since the 22d of March. He was then %
years DID, and does not seem to have given a
formal answer until Jan. 81, 1868, as follows
To the Froprerors OF Narragansct Township
No. /:
Gentlemen, Having considered the invitation
you give me to settle In this place in the capacity
Vi u vi INC GOSpel, anu Il pastor OIL tHt
church to be gathered here: and having never
heard OF any uneasiness among the people here
about my doctrine or manner Of life declare my.
self pleased with your invitation and ready to
settle as above desired soon as may be judged
convenient.
The ordination took place March l6, 1863
Rev. Messrs. Hemmenway and Little of Wells
with their delegates came on snow shoes and
lost their way, remaining in the woods one
night suffering from cold and hunger, but
reached the settlement in time to assist the
Rev. Messrs. Fairfield and Morrill, of Saco and
Biddeford. Et
Mr.. Coffin was young man born and edu-
Gated in polished society. He was a learned.
man able to read the scriptures in the Latin,
Greek and Hebrew languages, to which he
added knowledge of the French, which he
read and wrote with ease. At this place he
settled for life, with at that time less than
thirty families in town, most of whom were
living in log houses, and not single educa-
ted parishioner. He preached here 60 years.
With the most enlightened part of the COM
munity as preacher and gentleman he was
not only acceptable, but sought after and ad-
mired. His contemporaries in civil life, the
Wingates, Pickmans, Parsons, Bradburys.
Sewalls, Wells, Gorhams and Long
fellows sought his society,
for they felt themselves refreshed by it, and
his presence checked no decent joy. He
diedJune 6,1S2l.
July 26, 1863 meeting was called, "to
choose a committee to lay out We pew ground
of We meeting Lhouse] is sd Township and
sell we same TO such as
will buy in order to underpin the Meeting
House and build Pulpit and to finish We
Meeting House as far as we money will CO."
At the next meeting of July rs. it was voted
to give deed reserved for mill privilege on
Salmon Falls to Capt. John Eden, john Ma
son, Isaiah Brooks and Jabez Lane. At the
last meeting of the proprietors before the in
corporation of the town it was held in the
meeting house on the 18th of June,i1772 and
Deacon Amos Chase of Saco was present and
presided. Up to Oct. IL, 1852 the meeting
house had been occupied ten years. but had
not yet been finished. A days labor in silver
was equivalent to sixty-six cents of our money
in silver, which would buy as much then of
the necessaries of life as perhaps two dollars
would now.
The first saw mill was built in 1850. The
mill was built by Joseph Woodman. This
was probably the only saw mill in town until
276l, when not only saw mill but the first
grist mill was built by John Eden of this
town, jeremiah Hill of Biddeford and Joseph
Leavitt of York. sFt
CENTENNIAL GRAFTON.
We subjoin the following abstract of the
Centennial Grafton of Hon. Mark H. Dunnoll:
In commencement he alluded to the memories
of the past, the presence of so many sons and
daughters of Buxton from far and near COM
ing here to renew old associations. Some, alas!
have gone home to the spirit land, but their
memories will live forever. Let the mind go
back and forth over the track of the now past
life. Let young and old ponder upon their mus
ipUS 10 torphinUlv o11udad 70 ha nc
still remaining. The sacredness of the old
homes, the well known fields, the orchards, the
BEAUTIFUL Saco, the bridges, Sc, were also pa
thetically referred to. This day will be an oasis
in our journey of life. The early STIR ggles suf-
ferings and loves were also pictured. One can
not but exclaim
'Where'er pam, whatever realms see,
My heart untrammeled ever turns to thee"
Let the lessons of the past be needed and the
future improved. No town can come into ex-
istence without struggles and privations, and
SO it was with Buxton. Incidents Of its early
experience were given. Its revolutionary days
were full of heroism The Mayhower at Ply
mouth brought over the Puritans, the founders
of the American principles of government, and
it is the basis of town well as the national ex-
istence-the best system in the known world
The Declartion OF Independence is germ which
has developed into grander beauty. Bdxton
has wrought out glorious record and has expe-
rience prosperous growth The residents are
other industries prospecting. She will continue
to prosper Buxton's brave war record was elo-
quently alluded to. We should. cultivate a
broad and generous patriotism. drinking deeply
at the sources of natural liberty-lookng above
parties. In conclusion, he congratulated the
sons and daughters and residents of Buxton on
this most successful centennial The address
was frequently interrupted with hearty ap-
plause.
The Poem by Charles G.. Came, esq.,, was a
felicitous and well written effort, giving many
prominent events and incidents with rare poetic
talent and effect. We have only room for a few
extracts. In commencement he alluded to the
revisiting of the old home lingering around
the objects of affection, n asI5
This is our home whatever else we call
By that endearing name, and brethren are we all.
His allusion to the several localities and prom
inent citizens of the town, and former events
were very apt-caused loud applause; also his
| reference to the mothers and daughters, and
| their worthy experiences and merits The
towns progress, its heroic record in the wars of
the revolutions, 1S12-1S61-'65 the changes with.
in the hundred years were all graphically de.
picted. In conclusion, referring to the brave
Buxton boys in the war, he said:
$50 shall it ever be- though the blessed flag advance
Till welcomed Ger the continent, its stars in glory
| glance, E#
An little town, speck on the nations mighty plains
With her single drop of blood coursing through the
| nations VEINS
As vital as any other, as near the eternal heat,
With the Union eer shall stand, with that alone de
| part.
So while the sun smiles upon her or Saco rolls it
waters down,
Through ALL ali the coming ages God bless the town
The collation. was a most abundant and ex-
cellent one rejecting great credit upon the la
dies of Buxton. After the blessing by Rev. S
H. Merrill of Portland, the hungry assemblag'
fell to with relish. sas3 ..
After dinner the exercises were resumed
"Keller's American Hymn" was finely sung b,
Misses Alice and Annie Leavett of Buxton
Then followed America" by the Choral I'm
ion and the band. The next in order wer
the following toasts and responses DIR. A. X
P. Meserve acting as toast master: "The
President of the United States," response b.
Hon. Joseph Hobson of Saco; 'The sons an
daughters of Buxton resident elsewhere" re
Spouse by L. b. Foss, Esq, of Boston; 9Th
day we celebrate response by George Wood
man, Esq, of New York; 1.-THE town of Bux
ton," response by c. E. Jose, Esq, of Portland
"Our church edifces," response by Rev.. j. NJ
Bent of Buxton Centre Baptist church; 9Th
sons of Buxton in the late war;" response b