The Somerset reporter., 1909-02-04
History of the Town Of Cornville.

AT the request or native Vi Nofn
vile we publish herewith the histori7
cal sketch of that town, compiled
some years since by c. F. Allen, D. D.,
under the title of "Early History of
Somerset Towns
This town lying north OF SkoWhegah
was first settled in 1894. The Wesser-
runsett River divides the town INTO
two ridges OF excellent tillage land /:
On account of the fertility OF tne SOIL
and it's capacity of producing aouho :
ant crops of corn, it received It's
present name.
The following sketch of the early
history of this town is furnished oy
Samuel Woodman, Esq, an hohoreu
native of the place, and Descendant
of the irst settlers; as his father was
Joshua Woodman, Esq, ana MS
mother was the daughter OF Samuel
Fogg. 1000 corn.,iI1e
was six miles wide and seven ana
half miles long,-at that time astrip
one and a hall miles wide from the
South part was annexed TO Mllpurh,
now Skowhegan, leaving the town as
at present six miles square. Inc
township was decided by the State OF
Massachusetts to Col. Barnard and
Col Hilton of Deerfieia, n. h.; and
was called Barnardstown, till It's IN
cornoration. Feb. "a, 1898, with lts
nresent name. The first town meet
mo was held March l3, 1898. Ihe fel-
lo1ino officers were then CHOSEN;
Tosenh Robinson, moderator; Samuel
Elkins. Eco, Clerk; Robert Evans,
David Flkins and William Mitchell,
Selectmen: Biley Smith, William Hill
Ton Chandler Dow and Joseph Robin
SON Tithingmen. The first settled
minister was Elder Joseph Palmer
and the first physician was DOCTOR
1obn Lawrence. Among the settlers
who came into town previous to the
YEAR 1900. besides those already mem
TONED were two sons Of Col. Hilton,
Stenben and Daniel, Ithial Smith,
lanes Elkins, David Perkins, Daniel
Woodman. Joshua Woodman, Esq,
.Iosenh Parsons, Richard French,
David Dolloff, Nathaniel Whittier,
Samuel Fopg, and Jedediah Flanders.
The last named purchased large
tract of land and built the first mills,
commonly called Flanders mills. The
families of the three last named
settlers were every large; Samuel
Fopg had eight sons and eight daugh-
ters that lived to be settled in life,
besides one child that died in early
life. making a family of seventeen
children, Among the sons and grand
sons have been farmers, mechanics,
MERCHANTS. lumbermen, ministers,
school teachers, shoe makers anq
tanners. coopers and butchers. They
have sustained various offices OF trust,
such as representatives to the legisla-
ture. justices of peace, and military
offices Pete Sanborn Eikins, son OF
lanes Elkin was the first white child.
horn in 1895 and is now living in
PALMYRA. Last fall he was present at
the Cornville town fair, ana was IN
troduced as the first person born III
town. Notwithstanding his extreme
age, he is very Intelligent ana gave
an interesting account OF his carry NE
and the incidents in the carry history
of the town.
The sixth generation of David
Dolloff was living i'll Canaan In 1874.
Some of the citizens of the town now
living have been acquainted with all
these generations.
A lot of land was given by the pro-
prietors to the first settled minister;
another lot was given to the first
child born in town, ana lands were
given for the benefit OF schools.
From the sale of this land, many
years ago, fund of $3.50 was raised,
the interest of which is still approprl-
ated for our common schools.
The first framed house erected i'll
this town, built by Samuel Elk1ns,
ESQ, was raised May 3, 1894.
Beavers were once common all over
the State, constructing their dams on
all the sluggish streams; but with the
Indians these animals have gradually
disappeared. A beaver was caught
by David Dolloff, Jr., on what is call
ed DEVILS Bog, as late as 1913.
The last family of Indians resident
in town was John Mitchell with his
squaw Moll and their pappooses Sally
and Joe. 1t was thought this family
on account of their bad character
were discarded by the tribe at Old
town and banisbed from that society.
They lived till about 1916.
The first meeting house was built in
1925 and after having been long used
as a house of worship was at length
converted into town house, and is
now occupied for this purpose"
In addition to the names of early
settlers mentioned are those of N.
Whittier, j. Flanders, and S. Fogg.
Gen. B. F. Butler was for some time
resident in this town, and when he
was quite young taught two terms of
school in this place. Many charac-
terstic anecdotes are told of him.
Some roughs who had threatened to
break up an evening spelling school
were awed into good behavior. When
they !were asked why they did not
turn out the teacher, as they had
threatened, they replied, che had a
pistol" But said the others she
would not dare to use it.' "You do
not know Ben Butler as well as we do"
was the significant reply.