( Supposed to be the first Frame House built in Hermon ) 1814 1914 Pcnnbsrnt (Eouuta, Haiur >h 1814 - 1914 Piinted By THE CARMEL PRINT Walter A. Smith. Prop., Carmel, Maine t .^ f PRELIMINARY To appreciate the hardships and privations endured by the early settlers, it is necessary to contrast the conditions which existed at that time, with those of the present day. Plantation No. 2, now Hermon, was settled as early as 1783, near the close of the Revolutionary War. AT THAT TIME George Washington had about 16 years to live. The population of the United States was only a fringe on the Atlantic border. Thei-e were no railroads, steamboats, steam engines, telegraph or tele- phone lines and no lucifer matches on earth. It took about two weeks for a letter to reach Boston. Maine was a part of Massachu- setts. Wheelersborough, now Hampden, was a thriving settlement. Hermon was an unbroken wilderness. The early settlers lived in camps and log houses. Men, women and children wore home- spun. Furniture and dishes were homemade. They subsisted on game, fish, wild berries, sorrel, molasses and what could be raised in the clearing. New England rum was 25 cts. a gallon. Commun- ication with Wheelersborough, and with neighbors, was by water and by spotted trails. Flint and steel were used to start fires. Bears and wolves were troublesome. Natural meadows were mow- ed and the fodder stacked to feed the stock in winter. Religious meetings and schools were held in private houses. TODAY Our population is over 1200. The tax valuation of the town is $464,770.00 There are 3 R. R. Stations in our town and 25 or more trains daily. We have 3 Churches, 12 Schools, 7 Stores, 6 Frater- nal Organizations, 60 miles of Streets and Highways, Modern Mach- inery, Daily Mail, Improved Stock, Automobiles, Wireless Tele- graphy, Telegraph, Telephones, and countless conveniences and luxuries unknown to the world a hundred years ago. Histon/ of Herman o :ii History of Hermon EARLY SETTLEMENT It is not definitely known who the first settler in Hermon was, or the exact date when he came. Reference to the copy of the petition to the General Court herein given, signed by 16 early set- tlers, who state therein that they had taken up the land on or before January, 1784, fixes definitely who was here at that date. (Three of the signers were also petitioners for the incorporation of Hamp- den in 1777, viz: Daniel Neal, Joseph Pomroy and Gustaveus Swan.) It is believed that all, or nearly all of the 16 petitioners above refer- ed to came from Hampden and settled on the south and west sides of the Pond afterward known as "Hewes Pond", later "Hermon Pond" and now called Lake Hermon. At the Penobscot Co. Registry of Deeds there is a map showing the lots given to the petitioners. The lots are numbered, having the settlers names and the figures "84", showing conclusively just where these earliest settlers located and who they were. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA The following petition from Hermon, is a copy from the Massa- chusetts Records. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives: in General Court assembled. The petition of inhabitants and settlers on Township No. 2, in the second range, west of the Penobscot River, humbly sheweth, that your petitioners are now residing on land in the aforesaid Town- ship: and was taken up and improved, on and before January in the year of our Lord, 1784, and the interest of your petitioners wholly depends on our possessions or improvements. Your petitioners humbly pray that an hundred acres of land may be granted to each of your petitioners names; as is set forth in the following plan: and that a committee may be appointed, where applications may be made for deeds by paying the money for each hundred acres of land History of Hermon so assigned to each of your petitioners, and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray. (Signed) Daniel Neal, Ebineezer Garlin, Benjamin Page, Gustaveus Swan, Charles Blagdon, Joseph Pumroy, Joseph Pomroy Jr. , James Pumroy, John Blagdon, Jaramiah Swan, Paoli Hewes, Charles Blag- don Jr., William Hewes, Julius Hewes, John Swan, John Smith. Township No. 2, in the Second Range, 7th of November, 1795. The foregoing petition was favorably acted upon and in 1797 the lots were surveyed by Eliaoheb Delano by order of the General Court of Massachusetts. This is the first plan of Hermon on record, and is recorded in Hancock County. No public records can be found showing what took place in Plan- tation No. 2, from the time the survey of 100 acres of land to each petitioner was made in 1797, until Jan. 12, 1814, when the settlers petitioned for incorporation of the town of Hermon, stating that 40 families were then living upon the Plantation. The plan above referred to, showing the survey of lots to the settlers that were here in 1797, shows by the figures "84" on them who the settlers were, on, or previous to January 1784, (23 lots are 80 marked), the other lots shown on the plan, not so marked, but marked with the settlers name, show who came here between 1784 and 1797. The names are James Boyd, John Pumroy and Wm. Pum- roy, making 26 families here in 1797. These figures show that from 1797 to 1814, a period of 17 years, only 13 families came to Planta- tion No. 2. First Map of Township No. 2, (Hermon) This map is the first made of Township No. 2 (Hermon). The survey was made by E. Delano by order of the General Court of Massachusetts, called the "Quieting Act. " This plate was made from a copy made by F. A. Bishop of the Historical Committee from the Penobscot Co. records. It shows who the early settlers were and their locations. History of Hermon TTlt icU arthif Piatt -Miyr^ >ru5^»6/^-/<5/ ?^D>i t/utn. yft^^SeHAi. MfW l^ere Ut/mt Day a^Jh^aou^ /^Sf a4^tkjl. atfuu uh[Put^,b^ yva4 S^aiS^inoe, First Map of Township No. 2, (Hermon) History of Hermon EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NO. HERMON In 1804, Oct. 30th, a survey of lots of the early settlers at what is now known as North Hermon, was made by E. Delano, of lots granted by Genl. Salem Town, according to the Resolve of March 7th, 1804, to the following persons, viz:- Jothan Mason, Amos Mann, James Mayhew, Jeptha Clark and Benjamin Clark. These lots are shown on a plan of Hermon now in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds and is a copy of the original plan recorded in Hancock Co. (Belfast). This plan, above referred to, also shows lots in the south west part of Hermon granted to Gabreil Johannett, Mr. Wheeler, John Patten Jr. and Wm. Patten 2d. It seems certain from this showing that the persons above named came to Plantation No. 2 between 1797 and 1804. While but little is definitely known of the doings of these early settlers from about 1783 to 1814, (except as herein recorded), men- tion of a few experiences of this rugged pioneer life may be of in- terest. Deacon Julius Hewes, who was born in Boston and came to Hampden with his father Elihu Hewes, (who was chosen by the pe- titioners for incorporation of Hampden (Wheelersborough) to repre- sent them before the General Court of Massachusetts), was one of the first settlers in Hermon. Soon after his arrival he married widow Hannah Grey, who lived only a few years. Julius afterward married a sister of his first wife, Betsey Ann Annis. Before roads were built many trips had to be made to Hampden, their market place. Mrs. Betsey Ann Hewes made many of these trips, often carrying a baby. She would put the grist and the baby on the horses' back with herself, and on reaching the Pond, would trans- fer the load to a boat which she would row across the Pond, (about one mile), the horse swimming beside the boat without saddle or bridle. On reaching the opposite shore the load would again be placed upon the horse and the journey continued by spotted trail. History of Hermon When the grist was ground, the luncheon eaten and the trading done, she would return in the same way. On one of these trips she was chased by a bear. Deacon Julius Hewes was the father of 13 children, three by his first wife. He was a prominent member of the Universalist Church at Hermon Corner. He died July 11th, 1855 at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 15 days. Mr. Chesley Webber who lives at Hermon Center and who is 87 years old says that his mother, Mrs. Isaac Webber, when Hving in the old house now standing on the farm of Geo. H. Klatte formerly called the "Tracey farm", and by some believed to be the first frame house built in the town, going out to feed the swine, drove a bear out of the hog pen with a pitch fork. On another occasion when she went with her children where her husband was at work "piling", the bears came out of the woods and drove them to the house. It is known that John Miller who settled on "Miller Hill", car- ried corn on his back by spotted Hne to Wheelersborough (Hamp- den). Mr. Miller was an officer in the Battle of Hampden. He was a lumberman and riverman on the Penobscot for 26 years. In those days women were skilled in spinning, weaving and knit- ting; men in hunting and trapping and in lumbering and driving. Children were brought up to work, and when they became young men and women they had shoes to wear to meetings. To economize they went barefoot until near the place where the meeting was to be held and then put on their shoes and stockings. The shoes were mostly "cowhide" but stylish young swains and schoolmarms sometimes wore calfskin. Old boot legs were made into shoes for the children. ^ Hisforj/ of Hermoti From 1783 to 1814, a period of 31 years, Hermon was Plantation No. 2, and grew in population from 23 families (as shown by the plan referred to) to 40 families, as stated in the following petition for INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Court assembled: We the humble petitioners feel to labor under disadvantages in acting in the capacity of an unincorporated Plantation and as we have had a State and County tax assessed upon us for two years, and there are forty families living on said Plantation, we, as the obedient subjects and obedient petitioners, would intreat your good- ness to grant us the act of incorporation and the name of Hermon if your honors see fit and best, we in duty bound would ever pray. The above is the wish and sense of a legal meeting of the in- habitants of Plantation No. 2, in the Second Range north of the Waldo Patent. Signed in Presents and in behalf of said Plantation, January 12th, 1814. William I'attkn, Plantation Clerk. History of Hervion 9 The foregoing petition was favorably acted upon, the Town of Hermon being incorporated June 13th, 1814, by virtue of the follow- ACT OF INCORPORATION Chap, xxxiii, Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. An act to establish the Town of Hermon, in the County of Hancock. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled, and by authority of the same, that the Township numbered two in the second range of townships north of the Waldo Patent, in the County of Hancock as contained within the following boundaries, be, and hereby is established as a town by the name of Hermon, viz: east by the town of Bangor: south by the town of Hampden: west by the town of Carmel: and north, partly by the town of Levant, and partly by the Township numbered one in the third range of townships: and the inhabitants of said town of Hermon, are hereby vested with all the corporate powers and priviledges, and shall also be subject to the same duties and requisitions, as other corporate towns, according to the Consti- tution and laws of this Commonwealth. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that any Justice of the Peace for the County of Hancock, is hereby empowered upon application therefor, to issue a warrant directed to a freehold inhabitant of the said town of Hermon, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabi- tants thereof to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be appointed in the said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose and appoint at their annual town meetings. Approved by the Governor, June 13th, 1814. Hermon was the 207th town in the State and contains 23,360 acres. 10 Hiatorij of Heniion CALL FOR THE FIRST TOWN MEETING To Collings Howes inhabitant of the town of Herman in the County of Hancock: Greeting:- You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to summons and notify the free- holders and other inhabitants of said town qualified by law to voate in town meeting, viz: Such as pay to one single tax beside the poll or polls a sum equal to two-third? of a single poll tax. To assemble at John Swan's dwelling house in said Hermon on the 23rd day of March instant (1815) at one of the clock in afternoon to act on the following Articles, viz: (Nine Articles follow, all for choice of town officers) Signed and dated March Gth 1815 JosiAH Kidder, Justice of the Peace At this first town meeting, held in i)ersuance to the foregoing call, the following officers were chosen viz: Moderator, John Patten; Clerk, Collings Hcwes; Selectrren, Collings Howes, Jchn Patten and Julius Hewes; Constable and Collector of taxes, Elisha C. Grant at 4 1-2 per cent premium; Town Treasurer, Ceilings Howes; High- way Surveyors, John Swan, Andrew Perry, Elisha C. Grant, John Wiley, Benjamin Clark; School Committee, Dist. No. 1, Wm Patten, John Patten, Peter Gubtil: Dist. " No. 2, Isaac Webber, Stei)hcn Emerson, Andrew Pomroy: Dist. No. 3, Joseph Pumroy, Jcramiah Swan, Elisha C. Grant: Dist. No. 4, John Hopkins; Fence Viewers, John Swan, Isaac Webber, Nathaniel Garland, Benjamin Clark; Hog Reeves, Stephen Emerson, Benjamin Hopkins, William Waterman, John Miller; Tithingmen, John Swan, Jose] h Pumioy Jr. and Seth Thompson. "Voated that horses shant run on Commons without fetters." Voted to "take up rum" from Aug. 10 to Dec. 20th. Voted $100. for schools, $800. for highways and $10. for town expenses. Voted to have a s])ot of ground for a Pound at Mr. John Swan's brook south of his dwelling house. History of Hermon 1 1 SCHOOLS Before the incorporation private schools were kept in dwelHng houses. Hepsiboth Dempsie Gilpatrick. was one of the early teach- ers. At the time of the incorporation there were four school dist- ricts in town. At the first town meeting (1815) $100. was raised for schools. At the 1816 town meeting it was voted to build three school houses and $600. was raised for the purpose. This vote was afterward reconsidered. In 1819 School District No. 1, (Hermon Pond) raised $200. for the purpose and voted to build a school house 20 x 22 ft., 8 ft. posts, with square roof, shingled on one side and one end and clapboarded on the other sides, the chimney to be of stone to the mantle piece and finished with brick. Two years later District No. 2, (Garland) did the sam^e thing. In 1833 there were seven schools and 328 schol- ars in town. In 1913 there were 350 pupils of school age. .$3587.01 was exj; ended for schools. The citizens of Hermon have always made liberal appropriations for educational purposes. At the present time there are 13 schools in town. The school houses and grounds are receiving more atten- tion each year. Among the .successful educators and superintendents during the past 40 years may be mentioned Rufus Robinson, W. F. Harding, Dr. H. J. Webber, E. E. McLaughlin, Annie Mayhew, and the pres- ent incumbent Mrs. A. Linnis Snow, who, during her three terms in office, has kept in almost daily touch with the school work, promptly attending to every detail and meeting with great success. Several School Leagues have been organized in town. In the early days when school houses were to be built a commit- tee was chosen who notified each tax payer in the district to deliver his proportionate part of the materials on or before a stated time and those who failed to do so had to pay their part of the expense in money. 12 History of Hermon Residence of Thurston Hunt, Hermon Corner SOLDIERS In the Revolutionary War, James Mayhew served 7 years jmd afterward became a settler at North Hermon. WAR OF 1812 John Miller was a Captain and Elihu Hewes, P. Hender.-on and Eleazer Webber were privates in the war of l^^l'i and inirticipated in the battle of Hampden. CIVIL WAR The men of Hermon were loyal in the time of their Country's need. The town's quota was promptly filled e;.ch tim.e a call was made for volunteers. Citizens loaned money to pay bounties and the town was soon free from the war debt. Women, young and old prepared lint and bandages for the wounded and sent many useful articles to the Sanitary Commission and to the boys at the front. Histot'y of Hemton 13 The following list of Soldiers of the Civil War, compiled from the Adjutant General's Report of enlistments in this State, may be incomplete. Benjamin Additon, Sanford Annis, J. P. Annis, Gideon An- drews Jr. , Simon Annis Jr., C. F. Barrett, M. C. Burgess, H. L. Barrett, George Brackett, Albert Bryant, John C. Bowen, O. J. Dorman, Martin V. Bryant, S. S. Buzzell, Elwin Barrett, Thomas S. Bryant, J. H. Booker, J. T" Bradley, H. H. Crocker, E. T. Clif- ford, William Clark, Geo. Clark, J. F. Clark, J. F. Clifford, C. R. Clark, G. W. Clifford, T. T. Clark, S. W. Dawson, E. K. Drew, Sylvester Drew, Daniel Emerson, David Emerson, M. T. Emerson, Ithamar Emerson, C. W. Fletcher, A. W. Grant, C. T. Green, Michael Gallagher, Howard Grant, M. M. Grant, Charles S. Grant, Samuel Grant, C. J. Hammond, F. J. Hammond, Franklin Ham- mond, J. E. Holt, Clark Hammond Jr., Cyrus E. Hewes, John Hall, H. A. Higgins, John Haskell, W. D. Jenness, Frank H. Jewell, P. P. Kimball, Stillman Kelley, Henry Kelley, A. J. Kimball, H. P. Kimball, Edward Kelley, B. L. Kimball. A. R. Lord, Geo. H. Light, Henry W. Light, Andrew J. Light, H. W. Leathers, Chas. A. Mansell, Lyman Moses, C. A. Mannell, C. H. Maddocks, Thom- as Miller, Emory Morrill, M. T. Miller, E. R. Maddocks, Robert H. Nowell, Francis Overlock, Lemuel Overlock, W. F. Overlock, Newell Pomroy, L. K. Patten, Samuel Pomroy, James Patten Jr., C. H. Patten, C. H. Pickard, Henry H. Parks, Reuben Prescott, E. S. Pierce, J. F. Reed, J. J. Reeves, Lucius Rankins, G. F. San- born, John Sawyer, Samuel Sidelinger, A. J. Smith, Geo. H. Smith, Samuel Snow, Robert Swan, A. M. Smith, F. C. Sawyer, C. F. Staples, G. C. Spearing, Frank Smith, G. A. Tash, C. C. Tracey, A. J. Taylor, L. H. Tibbetts, Moses Wyman, Thomas Wyman, T. H. Worster, Benjamin Webber, R. D. Worster, Chas. A. Woodbury, 14 History of Hermon A. R. Witham, R. M. Whittier, James Wyman, S. L. Watson, G. A. York, S. N. York, Chas. B. Dore, Henry Derry, Hiram Emerson, Peter K. Patten, Alexander C. Hewes, Eleazer Webber Jr., Geo. F. Annis, John W. Garland, Wm. F. Johnson, George F. Luce, Wm. H. Pettee, Danforth Snow, George E. Tibbetts, Amasa Overlook, Obediah Banks, Alvin Overlook, Emery Leathers, Perry O. Bryant, Benjamin York, Lafayette Brown, D. W. Barrett, J. R. Bowen, A. K. Lord, C. H. Tuesley, J. W. Tuesley, F. G. Thomp- son, Wilson Hammond. Of this number, if facts were known, many thrilling experiences incident to a soldiers' life might be cited. Capt. Benjamin York died in Libby Prison. Chas. B. Dore spent considerable time as a prisoner at Libby Prison. When finally paroled he brought home a farewell message to relatives of Capt. York. Among the survivors at the present time is Robert H. Nowell who served in Company E, 11th Maine Infantry. One of his experi- ences was serving on the detail that did the work with the "Swamp Angel." 40 men were detailed and Mr. Nowell was among them. When the big gun burst an Oldtown man was thrown into the Swamp at such a distance it took a boat to rescue him, but he survived. Another survivor, Martin V. Bryant who served in Company D, 11th Regiment, was taken prisoner and confined in Andersonville pri- son for a period of six months. He tells that the only shelter which he and two other fellow prisoners had from the storms and burning sun during that terrible experience, was a blanket stretched on four stakes driven into the sand. He secured the blanket by trading an overcoat with a rebel soldier. After one of the three died the other two had more room, he says. History of Hermon 15 G. A. R. Daniel Chaplin Post ,No. 72, G. A. R., having a membership of over 40 residing in Hermon and Levant, flourished for 10 or 15 years. Meetings were held first in Levant but finally the Post mov- ed to Hermon and met in the Grange Hall. Soon after the dedica- tion of the Soldier's Monument at the Corner, in which the Post members participated, the charter was surrendered. W. R. C. Daniel Chaplin W. R. C, No. 39, auxiliary to G. A. R. Post No. 72, had about 40 members and did a noble work for many years among the sick and destitute, disbanding in 1904. The members were the promoters of the SOLDIER'S MONUMENT Erected at the Corner in 1901 and costing $905.88. Standing in the Village Square, enclosed by an ornamental steel fence, and surrounded by fragrant flowers growing in tasty beds well kept by loving hands, this beautiful Monument, a tribute to the liv- ing and dead alike, will ever perpetuate the memory of those who in the flower of their youth responded to their Country's call. 16 Hist or If of HeriKoii Soldier's Mominu'iit, Ilfiinon Corner History of Herman 17 The Monument bears this inscription. ERECTED A. D. 1901 IN HONOR OF THE DEFENDERS OF OUR COUNTRY 1861 - 1865 BY THE CITIZENS OF HERMON AND MEMBERS OF DANIEL CHAPLIN W. R. C. NO. 39 THE PROMOTERS 18 History of Hermon ON DECORATION DAYS in the cemetery at Snow Corner the Wyman and Barrett family burial lots are marked with three flags in each lot, in memory of soldier boys who never came back, a sad reminder of those dark days. "Snow Corner," Hermon History of Hermon 19 INDUSTRIAL In the early days Samuel Ames ran a saw mill on the Wheeler Stream at Snow Corner and there was a steam saw mill at the Cen- ter. About 1820 C. H. W. Tuesley had a brick yard at the Corner and did quite a business. A Cheese Factory, producing three tons of cheese daily, flour- ished for a time in the 70's. A Paper Box Factory was located, for a time, at the Corner. Before the Railroads were built Hermon Corner had four stores and a Carriage Shop. During the 60's - 80's quite an extensive Cooperage business was carried on, largely by N. D. & J. G. Eaton. These industries are a thing of the past although there is some- thing done in Cooperage yet. At the present time Hermon has a Creamery at the Pond doing a big business. Since the location of Hermon Junction in the town, the Railroad business, in various forms has given employment to a large number of men. The Eastnnan Heater Plant is located at the Junction, also extensive Coal Sheds. C. W. Uetz is proprietor of the Picnic Grounds at Hermon Pond, a favorite resort for fishing, boating and picnickers in large parties. Chas. Hopkins and Emery Luce each have resorts at the Pond. Agriculture is the principal occupation in the town. The soil is fertile and well adapted for raising crops of hay, potatoes, fruit, grain, and strawberries. The poultry business receives considerable attention. Shipping facilities are good there being three Railway Stations in town. Bangor, five miles distant, is a good market for farm products. Hermon originally was well supplied with pine, spruce, juniper and hard wood lumber most of which was driven to market in the streams and disposed of at prices that today would seem trifling. Pine, spruce and hemlock logs in the water were worth $2. per thou- sand and hemlock bark $2. per cord. 20 History of Hermon PROFESSIONAL The first resident Doctor was Chas. H. Kates, about 1870. Dr. S. W. Otis came next, afterward removing to Carmel. Dr. F. P. Whittaker has been practicing here for about twenty five years. Dr. H. J. Webber practiced here a few years. Dr. L. J. Wright has practiced in town for about nine years. FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS Lynde Lodge No. 174, F. & A. M. owns and occupies the upper story in the Town Hall and the basement is used as a dining hall. This lodge was instituted soon after the close of the Civil War. Jonathan Hunt Chapter, No. 9, O. E. S. also use the Masonic Hkll. Both of these orders are in a thriving condition. The Chap- ter sewing circle members are good workers and do much charitable work. It was organized 17 years ago. Union Grange, No. 26, owns and occupies the old Universalist Church. Among the prominent early workers were the Halls, Moores, and the Cushmans. Owning this fine property, and having a large and active membership, the future success of this Grange seems assured, especially as great interest is being shown through- out the State in the work of the Grange, the membership exceeding 60,000. Triumph Lodge, No. 119, L O. O. F., Eastern Star Rebekah Lodge, No. 36, L 0. O. F. and Hermon Encampment, No. 55, L O. O. F. have their home in the Odd Fellow's Hall. This fine build- ing, erected in 1907 to replace the one burned in 1906, is thorougly built on a concrete foundation and cost $5000. The basement is used for a kitchen and banquet hall, the first floor is used for entertain- ments and dancing, and the second story contains the ledge room, ante and preparation rooms. The building has hard wood finish and floors and steel ceiling. All three of these lodges are active and pr(jsper