Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-02
KINGS OF OLD MAINE.
Local S~overeigns Of Towns In the
Pine Tree State
How Men Of Money Have nsn Thinss
In Their Own 1nterestse
Last of the Original
Hand.


Last Of the Original
Hand.
The masterful kings Of old Maine are
not all dead yet. A sturdy race OF un-
crowned monarchs rules many q 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 a few
weeks ago. Since Elder Higgins was
carried OF a rail over the town line into
Glenburn the believers in the gospels of
Higgins have made frantic efforts TO i'm
mortalize John White by calling him
the modern Nero. John White owns
the town OF Jevant. 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 /. Then
he goes among the taxpayers, taking
hay, stock, potatoes aud 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, 81 men and boys
were arrested and taken before Judge
Nose, of the Bangor municipal court.
At the hearing three men teJtifed
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 APP
piled burning matches to Higgins,
Reeves Clements said:
81 suppose they wanted TO touch him
of"
"Nerol" "Nero!" cried some OF Hig-
gins followers from the back part Of
the courtroom.
e In the days before the civil war near
ly every small agricultural town in
Penobscot county had its 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 a leading
townsman on the back OF a note was
far more reliable than any banks bill.
The issuing OF a 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 10 the purchase Of a substi-
tute for some man who had been
drafted and didn't want to 70 to the
war.
The manner OF conducting their OPP
erations was much the same in all the
towns, though every man had some spe-
cialty which distinguished him from his
rivals over the town line. Calvin Whit
ncy, who owned most all of Dixmont,
believed he could perpetuate his fame
best by having male children named in
his honor. lie paid cash prizes Of five
and ten dollars TO poor parents who
would attach his name to their Off
spring. The result is hat about one
third OF the middle-aged men who re-
side in Dixmont and Newburg to-day
bear the Christian name Of Calvin Whit
ney.
Joseph Wheeler Eaton, for so years
the boss of Plymouth, displayed his tai
ents along agricultural lines. II a man
had n yoke of steers valued at $50 and
wanted to raise S25 for immediate use,
Eaton furnished the money and took a
bin OF sale. When the steers had grown
to oxen and were worth $3.50 or 5000
Eaton would 90 to the debtor and offer
to let him have another pair OF steers
as good as the pair for which the bill
OF sale had been recorded. The farmer
was glad to consent. Then Eaton sold
the oxen for beef, making $500 profit
on q ~four-years' investment Of s25. OF
course the farmer had the use Of the
steers all the time they were growing
10 oxen, and for this reason he natural
ly felt grateful TO Eaton for his kind
ness.
John Gardner. OF Patten; Nathan
E~llingwood, OF Greenbush, and John
Morrison, of Corinth, held sway in their
respective towns. Gardner and Filing
wood are dead, but Morrison, who is Sc
years old. drives a pair of fast bays
10 Bangor. 22 miles away, as often as
once a week, and can train a colt or
shave a note as neatly as he could half
y century ago, Francis W. Hill, the king
az Exeter, made 100000 before the war.
lie put half OF his fortune into Maine
Cntral railroad stock when quotations
ere down TO ten and twelve cents. Six
years ago Hill died and his estate was
appraised at 100000.
White, Of Leyant; Morrison, OF Cor
NTH, and Simpson. OF Carmel, are the
only survivors OF 20 or more town kings
who ruled Penobscot county for a quar-
ter OF a century. Simpson won last
ing force on account OF his opposition
to sacred concerts. - Chicago Inter
Ocean.
And the Hand Played.
Waiter-Kin An bring yo' an 'ade,
sab?
JoI1vhov-What Mind 30 tadas bava