The Republican journal., 1906-08-30
MONTVILLE CENTENNIAL.
Observed August ~, 1906 An interesting
Event Appropriately Celebrated.

The town of Montville observed the
tooth anniversary of its incorporation
Aug. 22nd, with a large attendance from
surrounding towns and the presence of
many former residents. The exercises
were held in Centennial Park OH the
farm of c. B. Ring ard included an
historical address by J. {. Carey of
Montvile, an Grafton by L. c. Bate
man and a poem, written and read by
Franklin F. Phillips of Cambridge,
Mass. The affair was in charge of a
committee of five, consisting of Allen
Goodwin, Volney Thompson, John c..
Carey, Charles B. Ring and Burton F.
Foster and to their untiring efforts, in
which they were seconded by the
citizens generally its success is due.
Mr.. Goodwin was the chairman, secre-
tary and historian of the committee
He has for years made a study of local
history, and The Journal has from time
published historical and genealogical
sketches from his pen. Following is
his history of Montville, in brief:
The town of Montville is i'll the
fourth range of townships east of the
Kennebec river and is a part of the
grant known as the Plymouth Patent
which fell into the hands of General
Samuel Waldo ard conveyed to the
Twenty Associates 10y the heirs Of Cen
eral Samuel Waldo on April Z, 1866,
and is that part known as the Second
Grand Division of the Twenty Assocl-
ates Land.
This township was first settled in the
year 1880, by Elder James Davis and
son OF twelve years. and older son,
Joshua Davis, following them one year
later. They probably settled on Bow
lin HILL This settlement was called
DavistoWn in honor of its first settlers.
Joshua Davis was married and had two
Young sons. Charles and Levi. In De-
cember, 1871, was born Elias Davis, the
first child born in Davistown. Joshua
Davis died when young man leaving
four small children.
William Davis grew to manhood and
married. first, Nancy Berry in April,
1T40 bv whom he lad three children.
She died January Is, 1893 He married
second Nancy CaIgiII 10y whom he.had
tive children. William Davis was a
man Of great ability, By occupation
he vas 4 farmer and a surveyor Of land.
In the wear $500 he surveyed the town
ship OF DayistoWu. which was SIX miles
VIDE by seven and d half in length and
which enlbrased the principal parts of
Nontvil.e and Liberty. William Davis
became Baptist minister and pastor
Of tie second Baptist church in Mont
10 ~ 4tl- ~ tho Dla,,t a+ "A
DayistoWn and Of M0ntyile for several
years. He moved his family to Ohio
in 1916.
In 1894 other settlers joined the Da-
Wis families in Davistown, among then
Ezekiel knowlton, William Clark,
Richard McAllister Jonathan Leigh
ION and Jacob RoWell. To the wife of
Jacob Rowell was born February p,
1895, daughter, Nancy, the first
female child born in DavlSton.
ln 1901 the people of Davlstown
wished TO be incorporated into town
bv the name of Davistown and petit
ton was sent to the General Court
praying that it might be granted, while
others opposed Incorporation, as they
aid not wish to be taxed for schools and
other town privileges. They also sent
a rem0nStIance to the General Court.
asking that the petition for incorpora-
ton be dismissed; and succeeded in
their efforts. In 1903 a new township
was surveyed by Phillip Bullin which
. ~, ,,.',,,o ~ noyisto,,.r ~
own u! Vi'e H"ile VI "a 4'' ~ Wv
tllS was opHostC dS DeIoit' III IoV' d
petition was sent TO Tile Henefal Court
asking that the Second Grant Division
of the Twenty Associates Land might
ne Ircorporatpd into a town by the
,,o,,t. If 6.rarvilIa In FMS tLav u-are
t' i - ''tA- l ~ Ii TX:
oPPooV" %'-u teIe"teu % oololc. ~
lsoo the p!ahlation voted 10 AGAIN ASK
the Genera Court TO incorporated the
Second Grand Division Of the Twenty
Associates Land into a town by the
lament ITon+viIIe which act ,yas mass
"a roI,r,1ar,- - $50 a,d ras oc III
Fu "i""'S 49, iN9'' "H'' was 90 ioi-
lows
f,,,,,,,,,,,,aaItI, of Massachusetts, in tho
aiSIh+ b,, rni
i,Inr'nr.,t tha pia,ta
ein,' Larf,,f,. let nJ-fstaIn tn"n
h, fhn name 6 Wnntvi Ser 1st i'p He IL en
,,9+ed h( The senate and Hnnse Of Renra-
set1aiys.s IN f3annraI 1nu,t a.semhlod nd
37 ~ s,,+b.,itv If 10 e,n,a that The tha
jan NJ Iarat,fCra naliad 4. 1stourp
80 ntl, i no Conrt, Of Kannebeoi,
i55 ~ tb ro,,nt' ni ho;'
4ha lsaao,-3d crand niuisi0n of tba TwentSS
Az assoni,taS 1and and agraaahla w tho homn
49,