Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-22

True, Sewall Brown, Enos Jewell
Joseph Neal, Adam johnson, Thos
Besse. John Weymouth, John Neal, John
Potter, John Hutchinson, Israel Hutch
| inson. Andrew Potter, Abner True, David
| Springer Jr., Daniel Nickerson, Thos.
Colby, Samuel Hutchinson, Nehemiah
| Hutchinson, Bartholomew TAYLOR. Jacob
Knowlton, John Dennis, John Owen.
| Simeon Goodwin.
The Civil History
OF the town of Iitchfield was the very
interesting feature of the programme as
signed to Hon. A. NJ. Spear, another of
the towns talented sons. 1t was both
comprehensive and concise He found
That from the best evidence obtainable
settlements began in the territory of Litch-
neld shortly before the Revolutionary
war. After giving brief history of the
land grants, tracing the territory of the
town OF Litchfeld from the hunting
ground of the Indian TO title founded
upon well defined legal basis.
Mr. Spears paper includes the call for
the meeting to organize the plantation of
Smlthdeld. This was agreeable to law
OF the commonwealth, passed Feb. Is,
1893 The meeting was called at the
house of Henry Jewell, Sept 24th of the
same year. THIS call was given under
the hand and seal of Daniel Cony at Hall
DWELL, August 90, 1893 At the meeting
OF organization Abijah Richardson was
moderator, John Neal was elected plan
tation clerk, Samuel Hutchinson, James
Lord and Jabez Robinson were chosen
assessors and George Neal collector of
| taxes. Mr.. Spear then refers to the petit
tions for town organization. copies of
which appear in Mr.. Clasons paper.
Samuel Hutchinson and Daniel True pre-
sented and urged these petitions before
the general court and the bill to incorpo-
rate the town of Litchfleld passed Feb.
18th, 1895.
Il "A curious incident occurred in select
ing the name of this town, which prob
, ably is known to but few of its inhab-
, itant5 The original petition asked that
the town be named Great Hampton or
any other name This name is erased on
, the original, and the name 'Litchfeld' in
serted in its place"
| On April 81, 1895, the first meeting
under the act Incorporating the town was
held at Henry JEWELS, James Lord was
chosen moderator John Neal Jr., town
clerk, James Shurtleff, Thomas Nor
, gridge, John Neal, Jr., Adam johnson
Jr, and Daniel L. Trew, selectmen.
At this time a property qualification
underlay the right to vote. Those who
had the privilege of voting at this meeting
were such as had a freehold estate amount
, ing to about SIS or any other estate to
the value of sixty pounds.
, At this time the inhabitants of the
town numbered about 600 or 700, the
number in 1890 being sci The new
town was in the county of Lincoln. 1t
remained in that county until 1886. In
the mean time the boundaries Of the town
were being changed by legislative acts.
In 1927 a small portion was set off to the
town of Wales. In 1856 the line between
those two towns was again slightly
changed. In 1856 Litchfleld neck was
set off to West Gardiner. In 1867 Arthur
Maxwell was set off to Wales. One will
hardly recognize the territory now form
ing the town as that designated when
the town was incorporated in 1895.
Mr. Spear made mention of the agri-
| cultural features of the town and gave a
list of the minerals that had been discov
! cred within its limits
Il The early manufactures of the town
were quite numerous and varied. He
found 1t difficult to attempt to locate the
first min but thinks it was built and
operated by man named TibbettS on the
stream at Pottertown. The first grist mill
was erected by d. Richardson and Mr..
Neal about 1890. Prior to that the in
babitants went to Gardiner in canoes or
to Topsham through the forest, carrying
| a bushel or more on their shoulders, o
distance of 16 miles. The first sawmill
was built by VIM. Potter in 1889. In
1897 VIM. Small erected fulling mill
, below the bridge. Prior to 1925 John
! Neal owned a carding mill above the
: bridge. Potter and Ashford had built a
mill below the bridge on Spring brook.
, This was purchased by Small and run
! in connection with his fulling mill, color
ing and dressing cloth Ezra Dawes built
dam and shop where the old canning
mill stood and made shingles and run a
blacksmith shop. Other water privi-
leges were utilized until the facilities for
, transportation changed the conditions
In the southeast part of the town saw
and grist mills were erected at very
i, early period About 1890 Samuel Clark
built and operated grist mill on his
, | farm. The water power of Purgatory was
, | also utilized for mill purposes at very
, | early period Elias Plimpton came to
. Ltchfeld in 1920 from Walpole, Mass ,
and built his shop for the manufacture
, of hoes and axes and for general black
smith work The business is being sue
q cessfully operated ut the present time.
Litchfield has four villages and four post
Offices. The first post office in town was
established in 1905. Morning Star
, Lodge. f. q A. NJ was chartered In 1922.
a The first temperance society was formed
! by Joseph c. Lovejoy, student of Bow
i dom College. in 1925 In 1888 there
Il we're seven distinct organizations united
in one association with SAG members. In
. December 1889, committee of ~ was
= Eappointed to take consideration of the
II fact that intempcrance was on the increase
. L in town. At the next town meeting ar
article was inserted in the warrant provid
. ing for vigilance committee to prevent
the sale of liquors and at subsequent
meeting an attempt to reconsider this
yote was voted down III 60 35 The
liouor shops were closed and since thai
time no liquor has been openly sold II
, 4 @a,cr to1his action on the part of Its