The Republican journal., 1897-04-22
Early Days in Bucksport.

The Bucksport Eagle has been publish
ing some facts from the pen of the late
Rufus Buck concerning the early history
of that town from which we take the fol-
| lowing:
By the grant of the six townships
provision was made for the encourage
ment and support of a Protestant minis
try, and in most of the first settled towns
| the Inhabitants were not backward. We
find as early as 1772, a church consisting
of IA members, was formed in Plantation
No. 5, now Blue Hill, and in 1886 they
built a meeting house. In ITS, Rev.
Peter Powers was ordained over the Con-
gregatiunal church and society at Deer
Isle. Ia 1871, Elder Daniel Merrill was
settled in Sedgwick. In 1898 Rev. Will
liam Mason was settled in Castine. In
1898 Rev. Jonathan Powers was settled
in Penobscot; ordained December 31st,
1895, and died Nov. Sth, 1907. Mr.. Powers
was from Haverhill, N. H. a graduate of
Dartmouth, a man of eminent plety,
faithful pastor, whose labors were blest in
the advancement of pure religion, not only
in Penobscot, but in several adjoining
towns where he labored. A number OF
persons from this town were in the habit
| SAAooSSOeS
vious to the settlement of Mr. Blood. In
1896 Rev. Jonathan Fisher was settled in
Blue Hill and the same year Rev. Eben-
ezer Price at Belfast.
| At the second town meeting after the
incorporation of this town. in 1893, it was
voted to raise SIS for the support of the
gospel and at subsequent meeting Ben
Jamin Buck and Stephen Lanpher were
chosen IA committee to hire the Rev. Abra-
ham Cummings to preach the gospel in
the town of Buckstown. Mr.. Cummings
was very eccentric in his manner, but
! man OF ardent piety aud great learning;
| Baptist in sentiment, but IN communion
| open to all who loved our Lord in sinceri
! ty. How long he continued to preach in
| this town is not stated. He was employ
ed by the Mass. Missionary Society for
many years afterwards to labor upon the
sea coast Of Maine and upon the islands
, in Penobscot Bay, always passing from
place to place in boat being passionate
| ly fond of this mode OF travelling. In 1874
the town voted to raise go, and in 1875
SIS. for the support of the gospel. From
| this time up to 1905 we find no vote was
taken upon the subject. Rev. Jonathan
/ Sewall, Abijah Wines and several other
missionaries occasionally preached here
as they We're passing through the country.
In 1903 the town voted to give a call to
! Rev. Mlghill Blood to become their min
lister, also to raise $500 for his support A
council was called and church formed,
May 18TH 1903. The church consisted of
six members, viz: Rev. Mighill Blood
Jona Buck, Daniel Buck, Josiah Colson;
Jonathan Moulton and Lydia Hartman.
1 The clergymen invited to assist in or
daining Rev NJ. Blood were Rev. Dr..
g
| Templeton; MI. Lee of Royalston; Mr.
Cummings of Sullivan; MI. Merrill of
| Sedgwick; Mr.. Fisher of Blue Hill; Mr.
Powers of Penobscot; Mr.. Mason of Cas-
tine ard Mr.. Price of Belfast. The ser
vices We're performed in large house
then building by Capt James CHM, where
a temporary pulpit and seats We're fitted
up for the occasion, which is spoken of as
one of very deep interest to the people
and so great was the numbe in attendance
| from the adjoining towns that it was with
difficulty they could find places to lodge
in the village. MI. Blood's parish was
then the whole town and for number of
years he preached alternately at Mr.. Jas.
S. Higgins house in the upper part of the
town, at the schoolhouse in the Buck set
Element, and in the schoolhouse in this
village. Mr.. Blood was born in Hollis,
IN. IT,, graduated at Dartmouth college
and studied divinity with DR.. Morse of
Charlestown. Although not a brilliant
preacher, he was sound in his theology,
strong in argument, wise in council and
highly esteemed by his people, and it may
! be truly said of him that he was man of
peace, He was dismissed Sept. 24th, 1910,
but continued to receive the affections
and principal support from his parish un-
til he died, April 2, 1852, aged - years.
| Rev. William J. Breed was the next pas
tor, and was installed Dec 9, 1910. The
connection of Nh. Breed With the society
was one of great harmony and prosperity,
I but in few years he became uneasy and
anxious to engage in a larger field and at
! his request he was dismissed, Nov. s,
1915. Rev. j. B. Il. Walker was ordained
Oct. -, 1S4T, and was dismissed by mn
tua consent OF all parties July II, 1863,
Rev. Henry X. Craig was ordained Jan.
"a, 1855.
l have written Of some of the men who
were the pioneers in the settlement of
this town, but have said but little of the
wives who bore their children and gener-
ously shared in their joys, their sut1erings
and their dangers without murmuring OF
complaining. Much might be said of this
noble race of women that would be we'll
for wives of the present day to initiate,