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Dixmont
DESCRIPTION
THE
BEGINNINGS
THE PIONEERS, & OTHERS
ERECTION OF THE TOWN
SOME RECORD OF GROWTH
SOME HISTORIC NOTES
OTHER BUSINESS NOTES
THE SOCIETIES
TOWN OFFICERS IN 1880
SETTLEMENT NOTES
THE BEGINNINGS
In the original surveys, this township was No. 3, of the first range
north of the Waldo Patent. Its survey was made by the well known
Moses Hodsdon. It was among the grants made by the State of
Massachusetts in aid of Bowdoin College, and from this circumstance took
its original plantation name of "collegetown." the
trustees of the college presently made sale of the whole of it to two
purchasers -- Dr. Elijah Dix, of Boston, who bought nearly the whole
tract, twenty thousand and forty acres, for $21,431; and John J.
Blaisdell, of Parsonsfield, Maine, who purchased the remaining three
thousand acres, at one dollar per acres. He was unable to make his
payments at maturity, and his purchase reverted presently to the
college. Dr. Dix held on to his tract, and sold it out to
settlers. He never himself resided in the town, but frequently
made visits here; and during one of these, in May, 1809, he died in
Dixmont, and was buried in the cemetery near Dixmont Corner.
THE
PIONEERS, AND OTHERS
The settlement of Township No. 3 began in
1799. Among the earliest comers who became permanent settlers were
Friend Drake, Elihu Allen, John Bassford, Benjamin Brown, and some eight
or ten others.
Samuel Butman was among the older settlers, and
became a very prominent farmer and merchant. He was a
Representative in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Congresses, being
elected originally as a Federalist, and then as a National Republican.
In later years George W. Wilcox, Esq., of this
town, was clerk of the House of Representatives in the State
legislature, from 1857 to 1859 inclusive. Sumner J. Chadbourne, of
East Dixmont, during the entire decade 1868-77, and was Secretary of
State during 1876-77-78, and in 1880.
ERECTION OF THE TOWN
Dixmont was the one hundred and sixty-ninth
town created in the District of Maine. It was the sole town
incorporated by the General Court on the 28th of February, 1807.
Its name was derived from that of its principal owner, Dr. Dix, of
Boston, with which was coupled "mont," from the principal
eminence in the south part of the township.
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SOME RECORD OF GROWTH
"Collegetown" had already 59
inhabitants in 1800, the very next year after the first clearings were
made upon its soil. by the next census (1810) the population of
Dixmont had jumped to 337 -- an increase of 470 per cent, unexampled, we
believe, by any other part of Penobscot county. This progress was
the more remarkable since a malignant fever prevailed during a part of
the decade, of which many died. In 1820 the town had 515 people;
in 1830, 945; in 1840, 1,442; in 1870, 1,309; and in 1880, 1,132.
Dixmont reported 80 polls in 1812, and 95 in
1820. It had 332 in 1860, 330 in 1870, and 324 in 1880.
The estates' valuation of 1812 was $2,551.20;
of 1820, $27,390; of 1860, $227,741; 1870, $266,028; 1880, $308,176.
SOME HISTORIC NOTES
The first post-office in the present Dixmont
was established before the town was formed, and dates from 1806.
It was the earliest in this part of the county. The offices are
now Dixmont -- E. M. Doliff, postmaster; Dixmont Center -- John N. Hoyt,
postmaster; North Dixmont -- Christopher Morse; East Dixmont -- Amos
Whitney; and Simpson's Corner, with Mary Powlesland as
postmistress. The office at Northeast Dixmont was discontinued
some years ago. the Simpson's corner ofice is a rather new one, at
the cross-roads next south of Northeast Dixmont.
The next year after the first post-office came
the first church. It was a Congregational society, formed November
16, 1807, by the Rev. Messrs. Jotham and Samuel Sewall and Daniel
Lovejoy. The Plymouth branch was set off from this church December
14, 1834; and the two were reunited on the 10th of September, 1861.
The Free-will (now called simply Free) Baptist Church was organized here
in 1810. It has now two societies in the town -- one at East
Dixmont, of which Elder E. Allen is pastor; and one at Simpson's Corner,
whose pulpit is vacant. There has been another society of this
denomination in the town, as also several Christian or
"Disciple" bodies, and one "Church of God"
organization.
The Calvinistic Baptists also organized in
Dixmont in 1810. They had thirty-four members here in 1821.
The church of this faith at North Dixmont has Elder A. Palmer as its
minister.
We have not the date of organization of the
Methodist Episcopal church in Dixmont. Its pastor in charge last
year (1880) was the Rev. John Tingling.
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This town had a specially honorable part during
the last war with England, a large number of its able-bodied citizens
volunteering in the army. None of them were killed, but some were
severely wounded, and Charles Peabody, who was living in Dixmont for
many years afterwards, lost a leg from a cannon shot, which struck his
ankle.
The Dixmont Mountain Dairy Association was
incorporated February 24, 1875. It is now called the Mountain
Cheese Company, and has Mr. L. P. Toothaker for President. another
corporation of the kind is the cold Spring Cheese Company, Benjamin
Bussey, President.
OTHER BUSINESS NOTES
The remaining manufacturers of the town are two
lumber- and grist-millers, two harness makers, and one wheelwright at
Dixmont village, and one tinman at East Dixmont. The former place
has also two general stores, two smiths, and one carriage painter; the
latter, two smiths, one jeweler, and one taxidermist. Dixmont
Center has a Grange store and one other general store, one smith, and
one carriage and house painter.
North Dixmont has one general
store and two smiths.
Two hotels are kept in the town.
There is one resident physician.
THE SOCIETIES
The societies of Dixmont, other than religious,
are the North Star Grange, No. 47, Patrons of Husbandry, and the Archon
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The Neal Dow Lodge, Independent
Order of Good Templars, had an existence until recently.
TOWN OFFICERS IN 1880
John N. Hoyt, C. W. Prescott, Albert Mitchell,
Selectmen; Peregrine White, Town clerk; Benjamin Bussey, Treasurer;
Benjamin Bussey, William B. Reed (Center), Joseph s. Hamilton (North),
Lewis F. Simpson (Simpson's Corner), Constables; John J. Sewall, G. C.
Wheeler, L. P. Toothaker, School Committee; W. B. Furguson, Joseph Hoyt,
William Harris, Jr., John Whitcomb Jr., F. Piper, Benjamin Bussey, L. P.
Toothaker, Joseph S. Hamilton (Quorum), Lorenzo W. Starbird, William
Harris, Jr. (Trial), Justices.
Return to:
The Seasons of Dixmont, Maine
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