|
Report that there are 5 (schools) in town considered entirely unfit for school rooms. "Students had to endure the greatest amount of cold and suffering with their dilapidated walls." Attorney & legal fees ($294.89) ($7,486.96 in 2005 dollars) were nearly 10% of entire town budget ($2968.48) ($75,366.74 in 2005 dollars)
* Herman
Melville wrote "Moby Dick"
7 1852 - Whitefield’s Jonathan Young Scammon’s Chicago law firm ( Scammon & McCagg) has “ by far the largest library of anybody in town (Chicago) and their office was constantly resorted to by members of the profession to consult their works and access to them was never refused. They were very kind to young men.” 36 * Potato chips are first made. 45
1853-
HOMICIDE in WHITEFIELD –
On Friday
last, Michael Skehan, a farmer in Whitefield was killed by an Irish
pauper named Thomas Ward, who was in the keeping of Skehan. They
were both at work clearing up a piece of land, and at the usual hour
Ward made his usual appearance driving the cows home, and having put
them in the yard, he disappeared and has not since been seen. Skehan
not making his appearance at night, search was made in the morning,
and his body found in the bushes, with his head severed from his
body by a blow from an axe.. Ward has been subject to fits of
insanity, and had before attempted violence upon persons.(
Kennebec Journal Thursday Sept 8 1853 Page 2 column 4) “on the 4th of July …Scammon ( Charles M.) and the Rio Grande had gone north again and were whaling around the area that would soon become famous because of him, Baja California, which he always referred to as Lower California.” 44 1854- Jeremiah Preble of Whitefield killed his wife and received life imprisonment. 3 1855 - James W. Gray is operating a “Public House” in town. 18
King, Sorren W.** Whitefield -1855- * There are 37 Daguerreotype photographers practicing in Maine (16 years after its invention in Paris)18 1856- Whitefield’s J.S.Scammon is one of the organizers of the Chicago Historical Society, becoming vice-president and then its president. 36 (It's first meetings are in his law office.) J.S.’s brother, Eliakim Parker Scammon is dismissed from service during the Seminole War in Florida for disobedience and bad conduct this same year. 50
King, Benjamin Jr. & Peter Whitefield -1856-
King II, Peter* Whitefield -1856 (b.1804 d.1858)
For setting monuments on Whitefield town line $1.50 ($33.37 in 2005 dollars) was paid to Samuel Brooking’s. Whitefield results in Presidential race: Fremont 227, Buchanan 137, Fillmore 15
Grist Mills : John King, Chaney & Partridge, William Glidden,
Briggs Turner. Jonathan Young Scammon’s Chicago Marine Bank was at the head of moneyed institutions of the entire Northwest. He left with his family for a protracted stay in Europe, wishing to give them the advantage of travel and education.36 * Brigham Young, by proclamation, ordered troops to repel "invasion" of United States troops sent by President to establish new Governor and officials in Utah. 5 1858- J.Y. Scammon’s wife dies while traveling in Germany and is buried there. He and his children did not return to the U.S. for two more years. 36
1859-
“ Oct 17, 1859, Michael C. Rogers of Whitefield in the county of
Lincoln having produced the necessary certificates from the
selectmen of the town of Whitefield and satisfactory proof of good
moral character and of citizenship as required by law .It is ordered
that the clerk issue a license to said Rogers to trade and sell
merchandise with a carriage drawn by one animal upon his paying into
the county Treasurer the sum required by law.”
34 J.Y. Scammon of Whitefield is the earliest homeopathist in Chicago. He organizes the Hahnemann Medical College and donated the land on which it’s hospital was built in this year. He served many years as trustee of both the college and hospital.36 1860- Population 1,883, 319 horses, 786 milch cows, 386 working oxen, 809 other cattle, 1,549 sheep, 256 swine. Production of : 283 bushels wheat, 10 grass seed, 1,297 rye, 7,759 Indian corn, 11,620 oats, 1,122 peas & beans, 30,331 Irish potatoes, 6,607 barley, 167 buckwheat, 6,165 lbs. wool, 60,126 lbs butter, 2,877 lbs cheese, 134 lbs maple sugar, 15 lbs bees wax, 1,296 lbs honey, 40 gallons molasses and 5,912 tons of hay. Evaluation $392,809 population 1883 polls 418 18 C.F.Barker is overseer at the Town Farm. (The 1857 map shows the Town Farm located one mile north on Town House Road.- Town Farm Road off East River Road is not shown) Our J.S. Scammon returned from Europe to find the first University of Chicago in full operation. Because of his previous work, foresight and leadership in education he was made a regent and a trustee and in 1862 became vice president of the board continuing in that position until 1879. 36 The Pinhook hotel at Cooper’s Mills destroyed by fire 3
1861-
Schoolhouse at King’s Mills built.
3 Jonathan Young Scammon becomes president of Mechanics National Bank. Also is active in the incorporation of the Chicago Academy of Sciences and president of its board for 20 years. 36 Brick belfry in Gothic style replaces one of earlier style at St. Denis. The bell cast in 1834 by G.H. Holbrook Co. of East Medford Mass was transported from the belfry over the church to the newly erected tower. 23 Michael Whalen of Whitefield age 19, single-one of nine from town, is mustered in Oct 20 1861 for service in the Civil War, Company C 1st Regiment Cavalry as a farrier (a blacksmith who shoes horses.). 20 J.Y. Scammon is one of the incorporators of Chicago’s Old Ladies’ Home. *Charles Dickens wrote "Great Expectations".7 1861-65 117 men from Whitefield enlist in the Union forces of our Civil War. ( 33 nine-month men , 19 one year men, 65 three year men ) 6
Here is a list of Whitefield
Veterans of the Civil War
We are coming, Father
Abraham,
We will not look behind us
1862 -
A special town meeting was called September 3rd to “To
see if the town will vote to grant and raise a sum of money
for the benefit of drafted or enlisted soldiers (in the Civil
War) to fill out the present quota assigned the town.”
At the Battle
of Antietam, Whitefield’s Elikham Parker Scammon leads his troops .
28 are killed, 134 wounded and 20 are captured or missing. The next
month he is promoted to Brig. General of Volunteers for the Union
Army.
Washington, July 11,
1862.
“Davis
H. Preble was lost with the steamer Golden Gate which was
burned just after leaving San Francisco, Cal
51 men from
Whitefield mustered in this year, for service with the Union forces.
20 Whitefield’s, Jonathan Young Scammon receives honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Chicago for his reputation as a “Man of Culture”. He is chiefly instrumental in the organization of the Chicago Astronomical Society. He was president of its board of directors. He was head of the committee that purchased the largest and best refracting telescope that had ever been made at that time. He furnished $30,000 ($579,120.00 in 2005 dollars) for the construction of the Observatory on the campus of the University. It was named in honor of Mrs. Scammon, as the Dearborn Observatory. For many years he paid the salary of the director of the Observatory. 36
1863-
Father
Edward Putman dies after serving the church for 13 years, and is
buried inside St. Denis to the left of the altar, in the European
manner. He was considered “Whitefield’s Saint”, for his important
work here (The
rectory and bell tower were built during his tenure).
Parishioners would pray for health at his grave. He was born into a
Protestant family but converted to Catholicism - his family was not
to see him again, until his funeral.
25
On Dec 25, 1863 Boatswain's Mate, USN.
FARLEY, WILLIAM Born: 1835, Whitefield, Maine.
Accredited to: Maine.
Christopher Erskine Pr. Corporal of Whitefield age 39 - married, mustered in Aug 25 1862. .(along with 12 others from town that year.) is killed at the battle of Gettysburg, 20 Claims for aid to soldiers families in Whitefield is $1,354.38 ($20,950.63 in 2005 dollars) 20 MONDAY, January 19, 1863. The following messages were received from the President of the United States by Mr. Nicolay, his secretary: To the Senate of the United States: I nominate the persons named in the accompanying list for appointment in the Army of the United States, as proposed by the Secretary of War. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Return of bounties paid by Whitefield $13,219.00 ( $204,482.00 in 2005 dollars) 20 1864- Balltown Church accidentally burned. 4 Whitefield men are mustered in the Union ranks. Dr A.R.G. Smith MD of Whitefield is serving the Union Army as hospital steward in New Orleans, La. (See 1894 note.) First case of small-pox brought from Whitefield, Maine by a student at Kent's Hill, resulting in two cases of small-pox and five or six of Varioloid, non-fatal. 96
* Union army numbers 806,737...President Lincoln called for 500,000
men to be drafted for 3 years.6
1865 -
The Catholic Society of North Whitefield has its first of what was
to become an annual picnic, later to become known
as “The Irish Picnic”. J.Y. Scammon started the Chicago Republican newspaper that survived until the Great Fire of 1871. He helped establish the Chicago Hospital for Women & Children, was president of its board and contributor to its funds and management. 36 President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated, Whitefield native Jonathan Scammon is chosen as a pallbearer to his friend, the great President. Scammon’s son and Lincoln’s son would later form a law partnership. 1866- Whitefield High School begins sessions in three locations.
* Alfred Nobel invents dynamite. Degas begins to paint his ballet scenes. 7 1867- Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln joins Whitefield’s J.Y.Scammon’s son Charles Trufant Scammon in Chicago to form the law partnership firm of Scammon and Lincoln. 52
Glidden & Sons** Whitefield -1867- Tools Made: Edge Tools * Russia sells Alaska to US for 7.2 million. 5 1868 -Grant beats Seymour in Whitefield Presidential race 187-162. 1869 - Whitefield’s Jonathan Young Scammon receives an honorary LL.D. degree from Waterville College ( Colby College ) 36 1870 - Whitefield’s population 1702 valuation $441,346 Census lists 103 Whitefield inhabitants who were born in Ireland. MONDAY, April 11, 1870. Mr. Hamlin submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a post route in Maine, from Cooper's Mills, in Whitefield, Maine, to Union, by the way of West Washington, Washington, North Union, and thence to Union. 67 The Union Meeting House (church) erected in King’s Mills. The Old School Baptists, who followed the Reformed Predestianarian Baptists of the early 19th Century, worked with the Methodist to erect the building. 23 J.S. Scammon helps organize Chicago’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, now known as the Illinois Humane Society. 36 1871- St. Denis "Convent" Whitefield Academy and Orphan Asylum built. 6 North Whitefield Mission, was undertaken by Mother Warde, who likewise sent foundations to Jersey City, Bordentown, and Princeton, N.J. In 1857 Bishop Bacon requested her to open an orphanage in Portland, but a disastrous fire delayed the work until 1872 77 Palmer, Hiram Whitefield -1871- Tools Made: Rakes (Horse Rakes) 74 * “Whoever blasphemes the holy name of God by denying, cursing, or contumaciously reproaching God, his creation, government, final judgment of the world, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost or the Holy Scriptures as contained in the canonical books of the Old or New Testament, or by exposing them to contempt and ridicule, shall be punished by imprisonment not more than two years, or by fine not exceeding two hundred dollars….” From The Maine Civil Officer a guide for justices of the peace, trial justices, sheriffs and their deputies, coroners and constables.. 1871 by Wm. Wirt Virgin esq. Great Chicago fire destroys much of that city along with the fortunes of Jonathan Young Scammon one of Whitefield’s most successful sons ( see 1890 entry), and one of the richest men in America. * Rasputin, Russian Monk born ...died 1916 7 1872- 1 physician, 1 lawyer, 6 stores, 6 manufacturing mils, and 2 hotels listed in Whitefield. Revere House is open in Cooper’s Mills, J.K. Folsom prop. 10 Whitefield's Presidential election results: Grant 94 Greeley 179 1873- Catholic Sisters hired by the town as teachers of public school 13 (Church school) 1874- S.K. Partridge's mill at Whitefield producing flour. S.M Partridge's mill, long lumber, shingles and salt boxes. “James Brown and Dominicus Winn have been arrested in Whitefield by Deputy Marshal Marble, for running an illicit distillery for the manufacture of rum………It is said has been running since the war.” Aug 7 9 * First Impressionists exhibition in Paris (name from Monets' "Impression Sunrise")7
1875-Whitefield Grange #101 chartered. Thomas Kelley returns to Whitefield and his wife and children, from the California mines where he had spent three years making “more money than a lifetime of farming”. 2 The Revere House in Cooper’s Mills is open under J.K. Folsom. 18
* Alexander Bell transmits sounds over electric cables.
45 1876- "The people of King’s Mills are again agitating the subject of a cheese factory, for next season.”. Nov 15 8 “ Oct 12, State of Maine vs. Francis E Vinight on complaint of Mary A Miller for larceny , picking cranberries on her bog or meadow. After final examination….is guilty as charged ..fines $1 plus costs." 35 1877- “ Diphtheria is quite prevalent in this town now. Warren Cunningham has lost two children by it and another is sick. Several other children are sick in another family. “March 22 8
1878-
Cooper’s Mills and No. Whitefield Baptist Church organized and
meeting house erected. Rev O.O. Ordway pastor. Meetinghouse erected
by Deacon Solomon E. Hopkins at a cost of $3000 (
$61,468.11
in 2005 dollars). Dedicated to the
Baptist Convention in 1883. Reverends Peter Collins and Mr. Clark
were later pastors. In June 1903 the house was leased to the Union Y.P.S.C.E.. This society has 25 active and 8 associate members. Rev
Alfreda Brewster, State evangelist, preached from Oct. 1904 to June
1905; rev L.L. Harris June to Nov 1905.
“ Dear sir - I don’t know as you ever let any of your instruments, but it is no harm to ask. I didn’t know but I would try and hire a violin of you, if you did, if I can get it reasonable. I would take either of them good violins and in one year could improve it wonderfully, because I should keep it to the letter A. and incessant use will improve them. I play considerable for parties, etc. If I should get one for a year I would return it as I took it, of course. I will give you a dollar at the end of the year if you want to let the best one, or next to it and if you don’t say I have improved the tone, I will throw in a quarter more. If you accept this offer I think it would be quite safe to put it in a box and carry it up to the Carney House and let the stage driver take it o Cooper’s Mills which is three miles north of me and let the mail carrier bring it down, as I hardly ever get out that way. If it comes, I will buy the strings of you.” Note written to a musical group and reprinted in the Thursday April 18 8 with an editors note about the writers creative gall. * Proclamation of President Hayes warned freebooters led by " Billy the Kid" to stop robbing ranches in New Mexico. 5 1879 -“Union Hotel is said to be the name of the new hotel at Cooper’s Mills, kept by A.B. Folsom.” 2 * Men from Saint Paul Minn. representing the flour mill industries, attend a meeting in Augusta discussing the possibilities of a railroad from Wiscasset to Quebec. 14 “There is to be a lecture on he subject of phrenology at Douglass & Tarr’s hall by Prof. J.P. Hallowell. The professor has a reputation of being a very fine speaker. The lecture will take place Friday night”. 9 Phrenology is the study of bumps and formation of the head as a way to determine the nature of ones character. Several parties in this vicinity are doing quite an extensive business of getting out ice. 9 “On Wednesday night of last week, the store of Tarr & Douglass, at Turners Corner, was broken into, and goods consisting of tobacco, prints, sheeting, men’s boots, ladies shoes and rubbers and cash in the amount of $100 ($1946.49 in 2005 dollars) or there abouts was stolen. They also took bitters to cheer them on their way. It would have been a good thing for John to have given them a blue pill to have quieted them for a spell.” In the next paper there was the following addition : “ …Well, we meant bitter-medicine. Not a tipplers drink….so that part is settled. Now for the “blue pill” we meant lead bullets ………” 9 “There has been a regular stampede for the West by the young men of this place. During the last week five have gone and more are going if they can raise the funds to pay he expenses. Times are so hard up here that some of us will have to quit using the weed altogether on the account of the scarcity of money. ” 9 1880 - Population 1511 ( 764 males and 746 females), 9 Catholic Sisters listed at an average age of 29 years of age, 54 orphans are listed at the St. Joseph’s Convent (22 females and 32 males ranging in ages 3 to 18 years), 23 people died in town, valuation is $440,974 (1880 census).
Wetherall, Samuel Whitefield 1880- Tools Made: Edge Tools
“Mr.
A.B. Noyes the enumerator of Whitefield kindly furnished the
following particular of census of the town: Inhabitants June 1,
1880: 1510, age 70-75: 32, ages 75-80: 25, ages 80-85: 20, ages 85-90: 4,
age over 90: 4, idiots: 5, insane: 4, paupers: 9, families: 330,
farms:287, horses 344, oxen 282, cows 653, sheep: 1263, hens: 4,964,
doz. Eggs: 52,890, lbs butter: 63,622, tons hay: 5,582, bu. barley: 3,853, bu. oats: 6,554,
bu. wheat : 11,869, bu.peas: 1,157, bu. beans: 1,296, bu. potatoes: 20,000, deaths: 23, births: 13.”
9 The Gardiner Reporter says: “ Joseph Mooney of Whitefield is selling apples to John Dumphy for his saloon customers. One (apple) weighs a pound and very few out of a bushel weigh less. They are eagerly sought after as curiosities.” 9 “ Some time ago a ledge was discovered on the farm of Elbridge Moody in Whitefield, which was thought to contain gold, and specimens of he surface rock was sent to Nevada and essayed (sic) . The samples sent gave $7.23 in gold and 98 cents in silver to the ton. Mr. Moody with some of his neighbors through whose farms the ledge runs, propose to work into the ledge and see what they can do with it. “ 9 “At King’s Mills, William Ford esq. Has nearly completed his new mill. He will continue to manufacture long and short lumber. A grist mill will be connected with the mill. “ 9 In the Presidential election Whitefield voted: 172 Davis, 211 Plaisted, 171 Garfield, 185 Hancock and 5 Weaver. Garfield was elected President. 1881- Paul King Gold Mine started and ? on top of a hill on Aldridge (sic) Moody Farm on Townhouse Road . 75’ from the Branch Brook where the findings were washed. 12 North Whitefield has 2 saw mills, 1 grist mill, 2 shingle mills, 1 planeing mill, 1 stave mill, 1carding mill, 2 carriage factories, 1 furniture factory and a boot and shoe factory. Cooper’s Mills has 1 lumber and shingle mill, 1 flour mill, 1 tinware factory and a boot and shoe factory. 27 There are 3 Baptist, 1 Advents, 1 Free Baptist, 1 Methodist and 1 Roman Catholic church . 27 There are 16 public schools and Saint Joseph’s Academy at North Whitefield. 27 * US President James Garfield, shot by an assassin on July 2, is given air-conditioning from a device that sucks in outside air, then passes the air over salted ice and into the sickroom; it lowered the temperature by 11 degrees C (20 F) for a period of 58 days, using over 250 tons of ice; Garfield dies anyway.. 45 1882- Joyce Post Office established. 2 D.H. Dunton Postmaster. “A Military Company has been formed at South Whitefield by the young men of Whitefield and East Pittston with a few gray-haired veterans sprinkled in, for counsel and for keeping the young members in line, I suppose. The Company at present bids fair to be a success. They have already about fifty members and are well organized, considering they have met but a few times. They have chosen for Capt., Jonathan Norris and for 1st Lieut. Marcillus Philbrick They expect quite a large addition to their number and intend to procure arms and uniform as soon as they are thoroughly organized. Friday June 9. 9 The Catholic Society of North Whitefield will give their 17th annual picnic on the grounds near the church on Wednesday August 16……..the National Band will furnish the music, and if the weather is stormy, the affair will take place the next fair day. Quite a company from this city usually attend. 22 “Preble and Turner sawed two thousand feet of hemlock boards with their new mill, one day last week, in two hours and ten minutes, with a 52 inch circular saw driven by a 36 inch Burnham Wheel, under a ten foot head. 9 “They celebrated the Fourth at King’s Mils with a rag-muffin procession and fireworks. Probably the new Military Company, which has now received its uniforms will parade also.” 9 1883- " The most interesting, perhaps the most enchanting business man to take part in trading activities in this community (Cooper’s Mills) was Commander James Robbins. In 1883 he opened a jewelry repair shop in a small building west of the present Birch residence. James Robbins, said to be the most original man in the State of Maine weighed 180 lbs, wore a 36 ladies shoe , starched petticoats, frills, ruffles and corsets when at home or in the shop. For street wear he donned man's pants. For more of this story consult the writer." Marieta K. Colby 1959 23 There is an interesting note in the German book "Jahrbuch für sexuelle Zwischenstufen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Homosexualität" on page 330 "...Mr James Robbins, kommandeur der militarstation in Coopers Mills............" The famous European psychologist, Henry Havelock Ellis wrote a detailed account of our Coopers Mills character, found in "Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender" by Vern L Bullough. Roman Catholic Bishop Healey at a meeting in Portland spoke of the Whitefield Catholic Orphan Asylum ..”……..started in this city in 1873, on Free Street, the Sisters of Mercy took charge of it . By 1875 it was found that accommodations were too small,……so the school was moved to Whitefield. It now contains 70 children “ 9 “There is now in process of erection, for the use of the children at St. Joseph’s Academy, the Catholic Institution, a building for a gymnasium or play room.” 9
“ The hall over the store of Mrs. J.W .Tarr having been
considered, for some time, as somewhat unsafe, she has, with
characteristic energy, commenced repairs upon it, and will soon have
desirable and convenient accommodations for public entertainment of
all kinds. Mrs. T deserves praise and encouragement for he
perseverance with which she has labored for the last three years. To
carry out the business left by her deceased husband, for the support
and education of her orphan children, and it is gratifying to know
that she has established an excellent trade, and has a very large
share in the confidence and patronage of the community, and
especially of such ladies as believe in the capabilities of a woman
in taking care of herself when occasion calls and rejoice in such
practical demonstration there-of.”
9 1884 - “ The question of a town library is now being agitated at Turner’s Corner to be located in the new G.A.R. hall, when built. “ 9 “There is a great deal of building and repairing in Whitefield the present season , especially of very large barns; which certainly give an appearance of prosperity to the place.“ 9 “The Collector has followed the old custom of balancing the account of 1882, by a portion of the tax of 1883. Consequently there are still an uncollected balance of about two hundred dollars on the tax book of 1882.” F.W. Douglas, Treasurer 10 “ In district # 2 better known as the Lewis Neighborhood, they had their annual tree on Christmas Eve. We also hear of two or three trees in private families.” 9 * Maine’s Hiram Maxim develops the machine gun. 45 1885- " D.H. Duton, postmaster of the new post office at Joyce, whose leg was very badly broken a few weeks since, is now able to walk a little with tee(sic) aid of a cane. The above mentioned post office is in the western part of this town, and would have received the name of West Whitefield if it had been allowed, but as it was not, it was called Joyce from the lovely little sheet of water in the neighborhood, which, with the surrounding scenery, has been said to resemble a view in Central Park, New York." Friday ,July 31, 1885. 9 "There is a mineral spring upon the farm of Franklin Morse, which has been known to posses great medicinal virtues...........when this spring was discovered many years ago it was thickly crusted with a yellow substance resembling paint..." July 31, 1885 9 Palmer, John F. Whitefield -1885- Tools Made: Rakes (Horse Rakes) 74 1886 - Gray’s Hotel open under Lydia Gray and C.F. Achorn 18 J. Robbins is a listed as a jeweler in Cooper’s Mills 18 “Paid Seth E. Tarr,$6.00 ($124. in 2005 dollars) - digging graves and making coffin boxes for Wilmot Hayward and his wife, out- of- town paupers.” 10 Selectmen are chosen from three separate districts : Cooper’s Mils, Joice and King’s Mills. “Whitefield is on the north-westerly town of Lincoln County, having Jefferson on the east, Alna on the south, and on the west, Pittston and Chelsea in Kennebec County, and on the north, Windsor, in the same county. The length of the town from north to south is about ten miles; its width at the northern part is about five and a half miles and at the south about one half the latter distance. The area is very nearly 29,000 acres. It was formerly covered with dense forests of pine and oak. Agriculture is the leading business. The Sheepscot River passes through the midst of the town from north to south, and the Eastern River takes a parallel course through the western part. In 1820 there were upon the several falls upon the Sheepscot in this town nine sawmills and four grist-mills. There are now at North Whitefield a grist-mill, tow saw-mills, two shingle-mills, a planing, a stave and carding-mill, two carriage factories, a furniture and boot and shoe factory. Cooper's mills has a lumber and a shingle-mill, a flour-mill, a tinware and a boot and shoe factory. At Alna post office there is a carriage factory. There is also a small village in the southern part called Kings' Mills, which is the same as Whitefield post-office. The Plymouth proprietors claimed the territory of this town, but failed to establish their right. It was settled about 1770 by Irish Roman Catholics. At this time the town was formed the western part of Ballstown, now Jefferson, to which it remained attached until 1809, when it was incorporated, being named in honor of the celebrated preacher, George Whitefield. At the close of the Revolutionary Was many of the veterans of the army settled in Whitefield. The town has three Baptist churches, and one each of the Advents, Free Baptists, Methodists, and Roman Catholics. At the North Whitefield is St. Joseph Academy, an institution belonging to the Roman Catholics. Whitefield has sixteen public schoolhouses, valued, with other school property, at $5,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $441,346. In 1880, it was $440,974. The population in 1870 was 1,594. In 1880 it was 1.511.” 71 1887- Cooper’s Mills Baptist Church built. 23 Teaching Sisters and orphans leave St. Denis "Convent " for Portland. 1888 - Whitefield votes 169 for Benjamin Harrison (Rep)., 140 for Grover Cleveland (Dem)., 4 for Clinton Fisk (Prohibition), and 4 for A.J. Streeter (Union Labor). * Van Gogh cuts off part of his ear, George Eastman (of Kodak) commits suicide after saying “….there is nothing more left to invent.” 1889- Sheepscot Lodge No. 122 I.O.O.F. formed in Cooper’s Mills. $3.00 paid to E.C. Jewett for furnishing and setting granite road markers near Ford Bridge. 10 Pine Tree Rebecca Lodge No. 113 I.O.O.F. formed. "The Dance and Rainbow supper given by the society at the GAR hall, proved to be quite a success, although poor wheelin’ prevented many from attending." Thursday March 28, 1889 9 1890 - Whitefield’s population 1215 “ The career of the late Jonathan Young Scammon, who died lately in Chicago, was of varied nature…..He began as a lawyer, drifted into railway construction, identified himself with the cause of education, went into politics, managed a bank, founded an insurance company, established three newspapers, saw his great wealth swept away by the disastrous fire of 1871, and spent the closing years of his life in an endeavor to pay his debts and achieve a competence. Mr Scammon was born in July 1812 in Whitefield and went to Chicago in 1835 where he passed the remainder of his life. ….several public institutions owe their existence to his care and munificence. He endowed the Chicago Hahnemann Hospital, paid for the erection of a Swedenborgian Church, donated an observatory to the Chicago University and defrayed all its current expenses for several years, and was an ardent supporter and contributor to he Chicago Historical Society. Yet a little before his death he told a friend that he “didn’t know where he could put his hand on a $5 bill he could call his own.” 9 Sept 4 “ Elbridge Moody, who lives in the town of Whitefield, has just discovered gold upon his farm. A short time ago he sent some of the rock which came out of a large ledge on the farm to New York to be analyzed and found it contained $20 worth of gold to a ton. This is sufficient to pay to work it, and Mr. Moody has already refused $4,000 for his farm which didn’t cost him a quarter of that sum.” 9
Oct 23 “ That Whitefield gold mine seems to be showing up in a
pretty encouraging manner. The vein which cropped out some four feet
wide, assayed $8 at the surface; ten feet down it showed over $13
per ton, and a few feet further they found the vein was yielding ore
rising $15 to the ton. As a result the work is to be pushed and at
once. A shaft is now under way and is to be continued along the vein
as long as the yield justifies it. The workers among whom are
experts in this line, being satisfied that there is is a rich
deposit there. That the gold is not purely local is shown by the
fact that a man digging a well in the neighborhood struck the same
deposit near the bottom and another well digger in another direction
from (sic) the same condition of things. The yield speaks for itself
and in a pretty certain tone too.”
9
“ “Forest Ware is quite busy hanging hay forks, which are very handy, especially in large barns.” 9 “ Charles Shute, who has been in Australia Africa and California for 30 years prospecting for gold on the farm of Andrew (sic) Moody at Whitefield. The farm was bonded last week by Andrew Morrill. The quartz has been assayed in California at $13.21 per ton and more recently in Boston, where its value increased 1%. The vein has a width at the bottom of the hole now dug of fifteen feet, at the top 5 feet, and it extends three quarters of a mile. Mr Shute is of the belief that he has discovered gallium in the vicinity of the gold mine. A company will probably be formed soon to investigate the matter.” 9 Average size class in Whitefield winter schools is 13 students, average in summer schools is 12
“Lieut. John H. Little, formerly attached to the revenue steamer
Dallas, died suddenly in Brooklyn, NY. ….He had been educated in the
old school, had gone to sea when a mere lad, sailed in East India
clippers, and when only 21 years of age was captain of a fine
merchantman. ….Lieut. Little was a native of Whitefield, and at the
time of his death was 47 years old. The immediate cause was
peritonitis.”
9 1891 - There are 4 Post Offices in Whitefield : Cooper’s Mills, No. Whitefield, King’s Mills and Joyce. “The Bath Enterprise understands that on the farm adjoining the one bonded by the syndicate of Bath gentlemen at Whitefield, a mine has been opened and the ore assays from $10 to $12 per ton. As soon as the weather permits, work will begin in earnest at the mine, and Bath gentlemen are hopeful. The entire operations will be in charge of a practical miner. A carload of the ore will be shipped to Denver, Col., early I he spring where it will be smelted.” 9
“We’ll
telegraph around the world
And promenade on Main street
|
1851-
Stone
rectory built at St. Denis.
1857-
King’s
Mills School (Bell School) House erected, replacing Jesse Crowell’s
school that was apparently on the site of the church (built in
1870).
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
July1862 AE 36.”
G.O. No.:32, 16 Apr 1864. Citation: Served on
board the 
A photographer aboard the ship Nightingale in Plover Bay,
Russia snaps a picture of its captain, Charles Melville Scammon and
his wife Susan and crew of geologists, biologists and surveyors all
ready for their work of raising the first Western Union Telegraph
line in Siberia.44
The Captain and his wife’s
thoughts must have been a long way removed from their beginnings on
the farms of the Whitefield area, thousands of miles and oceans
away. 
“The
Marine Mammals of the Northwestern Coast of North America described
and Illustrated:” is published and illustrated by Charles
Melville Scammon, son of former Whitefield selectman and tax
assessor, Eliakam Scammon. This book remains today a landmark
scholarly work on the subject by a man who lived as a famous whaler
on the west coast.
44
G.A.R. (a Civil
War fraternal organization called " the Grand Army of the Republic)
is considering building a hall at Turner’s Corner. William Douglas
has offered land. They have 30 members.
The president
having served under Whitefield’s Civil War General Eliakim Parker
Scammon at Fayetteville, West Virginia during the war, was one of 4
Presidents who had connections with people from Whitefield.