The Republican journal., 1888-02-09
Prospect.

Olu pioneer 1afnllleS could not he beaten In the
State for numbers. Most of the first settlers came
into the woods between the years 1s2O-7, very
nearly together. They were young men of from
q to p years old. Three were born in lS03 and
two in 1901 At that time large tract of woods
extended from BuckspOrt Narrows to what is now
known as the Paper Mills in Belfast while near
the river and the creek in Prospect there were set
tiers. Prospect was Incorporated in 1884, with a
population of $50 The town of Prospect then in
cluded Searsport and Stockton. The first town
house was built in 1880, about that time on the
S. S. Hcagan farm, then the centre of the town,
and after two schools had been kept in the town
house a school house was completed near by in
lS3G-hence the name of Centre. The school house
was large building, with two tirc-places, lathed
and plastercd inside and clapboarled and painted
outside.
1t seems strange now to think of young men liv-
ing in log OF small framed house, poorly fur
nshcd, finished and arranged. without convenient
outbuldings, with no cooking stoves, no friction
matches, no threshing machines, no horse rakes,
no double steel runncred siets, no fourwhceed
carts, and all the implements for doing work, in
doors and out, of the poorest. With only talow
candles for lights, and nothing raised on the farm
for expectation but potatoes, and in winter haul
ing cord wood, bark and spars to pay for land and
to build up comfortable buildings; with no better
outlook for the improvements that have since come
than the poorest family has of the future. Those
old pioneers ought to be revercnccd for their per
severance, frugality and industry; and their eN-
ample should be more generally followed by the
young men of the present day.
will now show the number in each family and
the large number that grew to the age of 81 years
and attended tn" old Centre school. The names
arc those by which they were known in school
days:
Daniel Crockett ma, rict Jane IIeagan. Their
first born died in infancy. Then followed Lucy
Ann, Caroline, Mary, Sarah, Daniel, Ruth, James,
Lean,eI, Adelbert, Clara, AmaE,la-l2.
Jno. Staples married Sarah Sparrow. Their
first born was Amalena, followed by Isaac, Mar.
ion Wilmouth, Ellen Jane, Mary, Roscoe, who
died young, Herbert, and with one who died in
infancy making ..
lothian staples, by first wife, Isaac Staples
by second wife, with family (Josiah Colcord and
William Cocordl samuel, Nelson, Susan, Zina-7.
Samuel S. Reagan, by first wife, Hannah, Elijah,
James, Samuel, john Maria, Sarah; second wife,
George, David, who died in infancy, Amanda, who
died Young, Margaret, David W.-l2.
Benz. Partridge, by first wife, Adelnc, Caroline,
James, Reuben, Ezra, Sarah, Joseph, Arletta,
Benjamin, samuel, Hannah Jaue, Albert, Ellen
by second wife, Carietta, Henry, George, Alice
Il; all lived to be p years of age.
Andrew Grant, by first wife, Sarah, Jeremiah,
Nancy Jane, Abby, Andrew, Raymond Mary; by
second wife formerly married to IIeriman)
Horace, Horatic, Ferdinand james AID Albert
Hcrriman-l2.
k1fns I jttinttp1I yCif hu1 Tho f,Ip ir,u
family: Sarah, John, Rufus, David, Mchitable,
Andrew Simon, Carin,la, Horace, Mary Ann,
Jennie-l.
James Hlarden, house Joiner and farmer, had
the following family: Horace, Octayia, RoNena,
Frank, Ezra, Fannie, Who died young, Annie,
Trueman, Fostina; Jane Gilchrist and James
Jones, adopted also three apprentices, Thomas
and Freeman Mar!en, and Ned Whte-l4
Charles Turner, by first wife, Elizabeth, Robert,
Ruth Ann, Charles, Henry, Mary Francis, who
died young. Isaac, George, Webster; by second
wife, Alberto.
John Sanborn and wife: Althea, Rosina, sum
ner, O-illa, Ashley, Morton, who died Young,
Catherine, Sarah, who died young, John-9.
William Thomas and wife Hannah, Desire
Sarah Jane, Peleg, Abby-5.
Amos Partridge and wife: Carissa, Mary Jane
Freeman, Gordon, Matthew, Henry, Amos. Ed
ward, Elva, who died at 10, Martha Ann Ella
who died young, Lyman, Wilson; one died in in
fancy-H.
Gordon Stevens and wife; Abraham, who dice,
Young, Gordon, James Alden, who died Young
adopted-3.
Graham Stinson and wife: Annette, Ncsta, 1Iar
vey, Lizzie; besides Calvin and Martin Smart
| a1iopted--G.
Joel WhitehouSe and wife: John, Caroline
Annie, Delphine, Luella-5.
William Smith and wife: Detsey, David, Viii
liam; by second wife, ISaac--4.
Miles Pcasey and wife: George, Freeman
Stephen Ella, Sanger-5.
Eben Seavey, millman; Ann, Henrietta, Eben
Mary, Jefferson, Charles, Martha, Atlrianna, Hi
ram, Helen and two who died in infancv-l2.
The members of the above Is families foot up 1870
Fourteen died under q years of age, and in infan
cy, making the large number of ll6 scholars
In the dlnerent families at that time one OF two
more made little difference. Among the number
adopted and the transient scholars that from veal
to year attended this school, were Samuel Wood
bury, Mercena Stnson, John Wilcox, John Perry
Clark Marden, George Miller, William Mears
Philip Holmes, John sparrow, Isaac Lanpher
Emma Staples and Grafton Staples.
One hundred and five have attended school a,
one time. An evening spelling school at that time
with the turnout from the other districts, would
astound the boys and girls now. The first summer
school in the school house was taught by Miss
Fannie Pierce in 1886. She is now the wife of Mr.
John Libby, of Prospect. Pcleg G. Staples taught
the first five winter terms, and after two winters
| taught two more. Among the teachers in summer
=
| nah Icagan; winter terms, Albert Shaw, Eben
Farwell, William l.. Towlc, and Barnahas NJ Rob
crts. The times the boys had out of school, if writ
ten up in those days, would have filed large
book But the schools were better than the aver.
age. The parents stood by the teachers. The first
teacher carried in his grcenhe whip and used it
the first five winters on both great and small.
Now will give, as nearly as possible, the occu.
atlons of the scholars i'll the district There were
more than - boys who grew up to be 81 years old
and of that number n have tried going to sea for
longer or shorter time. There were 3 stone cut
tiers, foremen in the stone business house.
joiners, wheelright, calker, backsmiths, en-
gineer, millmen, foreman in factory and the
remainder would be classed among the farmers.
1t is safe to say that the farers have sailed over
more miles of ocean and visited more ports than
those from many other districts. All classes of
vessels have been sailed in, from sloops to ships,
and one has tried canal boat. One has coasteti
on the Lakes and a few have tried the Grand
Banks. -Four served three years each in the navy,
and one longer ~ number have been masters of
vessels from sloops up to ships and steamers.
one was mate of steamer that ran more than 200
miles up the long rivers in China. One was cap
tain of vessel that was chartered Il number of
times by an old, rich Turk to carry oil to Beirout
Palestine and Alexandria, Egypt, for his caravans
to transport across the desert to Mt. Sinia and
Arabia, to exchange oil for wool. A number have
visited Mt. NeSuvlus and POmpeii.
The first pioneers soon after settling here began
to see better days. Some dated better times back
to the distribution of the surplus money in Jack
sons day. In 1S45 Searsport set off from Pros
pect and the number of the district changed to No.
9. Time rolled on and the boys began to know the
tried their luck as cook of the schooners Hudson,
Marceilus, TarquiD, Ruth Thomas, etc. One boy
made quite sensation in the district about that
time. He shipped before the mast in little full
raise, and got back alive! Two more shipped in a
Liverpool packet and went across to England, and
soon long voyages began to be general. In lS49
and after, the gold fever on the Pacific coast made
deep impression on the boys Seven of them
who went to sea, and three others, set out for Cal
ifornia. some around the Horn and some across
the IsthmGs The excitement grew, and finally
the Old settlers fell into line. Two of the number
bought a schooner and loaded her in the creek
with lumber sawed mostly in the district, and sent
and sold the vessel and cargo in San Francisco
The boys who arrived in California tried gold dig
gmS with various success; also prospecting in 9th
er places, driving mail teams, running saw mills,
sheep and cattle ranches, and farming. At one
time one of the boys sawed with two horse ma
chine the wood for what is now cjt v NJ