Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-11-10
KINGS OF OLD MAINE.
Local Sovereigns Of Towns IN The
Pine Tree State.
How Men Of Konsy Have 0uA TAlA6a
IN Their Own lnteRe0to-
Last Of the Original
HanA.

How Men Of EOAey Have 0u0 TA1Aee
n Their Own lnteRests-
Last Of the Original
.---
The masterfu1 kings Of old Maine are
not all dead yet. A sturdy race Of un-
crowned monarchs rules many down
east town with the same vigor that
Simpson has held sway over Carmel for
so years. This is we'll illustrated by the
case of Elder George Higgins, leader Of
the Holy Ghost disciples, who was
tarred and feathered at Levant few
weeks ago. Since Elder Higgins was
carried on q rail over the town line into
Glenburn the believers in the gospels Of
Higgins have made frantic efforts to inn
mortalize John White by calling him
the modern Nero. John White owns
the town of Levant. When the annual
taxes come due he draws his check for
the full amount and deposits it with the
town treasurer, getting the benefit of
the ten per cent. discount allowed on
payments made before August 1. Then
he goes among the taxpayers, taking
hay, stock, potatoes and apples until
his claim is satisfied. He is the finan-
cial and moral center of the community,
higher than whom no man can presume
to be. What Patrick Jerome Gleason
tried to be in Long Island City John
White is in Levant, and has been for
40 years. Therefore, while Mr.. White
was not present when Higgins was dec
GRATED, the followers of Higgins be-
lieved the town boss was the instigator
Of the outrage. In the hope of implicat-
ing White in the affair, ~ men and boys
were arrested and taken before Judge
Vose, of the Bangor municipal court.
At the hearing three men testified
that they saw members of the mob
scratch matches and apply the blaze to
the tar-coated body of Higgins. In re-
ply to the question why these men ap-
piled burning matches to Higgins,
Reeves Clements said:
II suppose they wanted to touch him
off,"
"Nero!" "Nero!" cried some of Hig-
gins followers from the back part OF
| the courtroom.
In the days before the civil war near
ly every small agricultural town in
Penobscot county had it's local SOW
ereigns, whose functions were similar
to those which John White exercises
in Levant. They were all hardy money
grabbers, but punctilious in keeping
contracts and often generous, particu-
larly when generosity advertised their
business. Their ascendency was gained
by catering to the needs of the people.
The money in general circulation was
state bank notes, which were always
going to protest, and could not be nego-
tiated on any terms outside OF Maine
After repeated losses the poor farmers
| learned that the name of q leading
townsman on the back OF note was
far more reliable than any banks bill.
The issuing of national currency
saved Maine from ruin. 1t also enabled
the local money lenders to make large
profits from speculation in mortgages
bills of sale and brokerage commissions
upon everything from the sale of a lit
ter of pigs to the purchase of a substi
tute for some man who had beer
drafted and didn't want to 60 to thu
war.
The manner OF conducting their op
erations was much the same in all thu
towns, though every man had some spe
cialty which distinguished him from hi
rivals over the town line. Calvin Whit
ney, who owned most all of Dixmont
believed he could perpetuate his fam
J best by having male children named il
his honor. He paid cash prizes of fiv'
and ten dollars to poor parents VIII
would attach his name to their of
spring. The result is that about one
third Of the middle-aged men who re
side in Dixmont and Newburg to-da,
bear the Christian name OF Calvin Whit
ney.
Joseph Wheeler Eaton, for so year
the boss of Plymouth, displayed his tai
ents along agricultural lines. If a ma
) had yoke Of steers valued at $50 an
, wanted to raise $25 for immediate USE
Eaton furnished the money and took
bill Of sale. When the steers had grow
to oxen and were worth $3.50 or $50
, Eaton would go to the debtor and offe
to let him have another pair of steer
I as good as the pair for which the bi
Of sale had been recorded. The farme
was glad to consent. Then Eaton sol
the oxen for beef, making 5000 prof
on four-years' investment Of $25. {
: course the farmer had the use of tn
e steers all the time they were GROWN
e to oxen, and for this reason he natura
/. ly felt grateful to Eaton for his kint
ness.
= John Gardner, OF Patten; Natha
Elhngwood, of Greenbush, and job
t Morrison, of Corinth, held sway in the
respective towns. Gardner and Ellinl
wood are dead, but Morrison, who is
years old, drives pair Of fast bay
= = to Bangor, % miles away, as often {
: once week, and can train colt {
. shave a note as neatly as he could ha
e a century ago. Francis w. Hill, the kin
! of Exeter, made 100000 before the wa
|. He put half of his fortune into MAR
r Central railroad stock when quotation
+ v-ere down to ten and twelve cents. 81
d years ago Hill died and his estate W,
. appraised at 100000.
n White, of Levant; Morrison, Of Co
d NTH, and Simpson, of Carmel, are II
only survivors of 20 or more town KIM
who ruled Penobscot county for qua
ter of century. Simpson won las
;~v - ~ Il