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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DEDICATION |
Written by Rethel C. West (1923) | Scanned by Seth Barden
EARLY HISTORY
PREVIOUS to the dawn of the nineteenth century, few white men had ever visited any of the territory now incorporated within the county of Piscataquis, and of these it is not believed that any had begun a permanent settlement. According to Rev. Amasa Loring’s “History of Piscataquis County,” Abel Blood began the first clearing in June, 1799, in what is now the township of Dover-Foxcroft It is also stated by good authority that Moses and Stephen Snow had been in Milo this same year, while their father, a hunter from Belgrade, had roamed over this entire section.
The town of Milo was first surveyed and lotted as township number three, in the seventh range north of the Waldo patent. It contained 21,920 acres of generally rolling or level land, watered by three beautiful rivers, which served the early settlers as thouroughfares for travel. Along the banks of these rivers the first homes of the settlers were built. The township was early purchased by Johnathan Hastings, to whom a certain Mr. Welk of Boston later became his partner. These two men sold the greater part of the land to the settlers and finally sold the remainder of the lots to Russell Kittridge of Bangor. The township was first divided into lots of 320 acres each by Park Holland of Bangor; later, in 1820, some of these lots were divided into lots of 100 acres each by Andrew Strong of Corinth; still later the portion south of the Piscataquis river by P. P. Furber, who was incidentally a prominent citizen here at that time.
The first man to make a permanent settlement and to bring his family here was Benjamin Sargent. He came from Methuen, Mass., where he had left his family and had taken passage on a schooner landing at what is now Exchange Street, Bangor. Mr. Sargent was accompanied by his son Theophilus, a lad of fourteen years. Together they proceeded up the Penobscot in a boat which Mr. Sargent had secured. At the mouth of the Piscataquis they turned their boat up that stream and landed a little above the present ferry, which is about a mile from Derby, Here, on May 2, 1802, they began the first permanent settlement in the town of Milo. They began at once to fell trees to make a clearing sufficiently large to plant enough corn for a small crop. Here they erected on a little knoll a log cabin of two rooms. This was to be the home of the settler and his family.
When these things had been accomplished, Mr. Sargent returned to Methuen, leaving his son here in the wilderness to tend the crop until he should return in the fall with the rest of the family. Theophilus managed very well until one day, as tradition says, he went out leaving the door of his cabin open. While doing some work, a bear walked in and stole his molasses and some flour. The lad undoubtedly would have been destitute had it not been for a friendly tribe of Indians. These Indians were up this way getting bark for canoe building and saw the conditions of the white boy. The chief took pity on him and left his son, Ateon Oseon, to stay with Theophilus until his father returned.
When Mr. Sargent reached Methuen, he found his family sick with typhus. Therefore he could not bring them to their new home at once. Later in the summer than he had expected, he set out from Metheun with his family and a few of their possessions, including a grey dog by the name of Hunter. They finally reached Milo as the water was commencing to freeze in the, river. Here in the wilderness of Maine the settler and his family passed the winter. To this family, on Dec. 28, 1804, was born the first white child in Milo, Alice, the late Alice Fisher of Cooksville, Wisconsin.
Moses and Stephen Snow, who are said to have hunted this entire section much earlier, in all probability began their clearing before the arrival of Air. Sargent. They had secured a square mile of land along the banks of Pleasant river and erected their cabin on the east side of the river, a. little south of the present Pleasant river bridge. The Snow brotehrs were single men and remained so for several years, but in I St I Moses married Nancy Colkett, of Kennebec county, and two years later Stephen married Fannie Page. of Belgrade. The townspeople of Milo are indebted to these two brothers, who settled -done: the banks of this beautiful river, for the name it now bears.
Benjamin Boobar probably was the next settler to bring his family to this town. Mr. Boobar took up land near Mr. and it is known that he was here as early as March, 1805. The coming of the Boobars was of great value to the settlers, as Mrs. Boobar was a very skillful nurse. They also brought with them a hand mill, in which corn and the other grains of the settlers could be ground. This mill ground the grain much easier than the settlers could with their hand-mortars. Later, this family moved to Medford to be nearer kin who had recently moved into this new territory.
The names of the next arrivals the author is unable to state, as data on this is lacking. The township increased slowly but surely. New settlers were coming in and taking up lots, clearing land where they must earn their living by the sweat of their brows. Here in the wilderness of Maine these hardy pioneers laid the cornerstone or this growing and prosperous town of Milo.
In 1820 the number of people had increased to 97. Five years later there were 119 children of school age, representing about 300 people in the town at that time.
The township was organized as a plantation in 1820. In 1823 it was incorporated, at which time there were 54 resident taxpayers.
The following is a list of them as recorded in the records of the town for 1823.
| Jacob Asplun James Brown Joseph Boobar Ezra Boobar Asa W. Bumps Samuel Brown Daniel Cook Samuel Davis Aaron Day Amos Davis Shubael Davis John J. Emery Win. M. Ewer George Gould Aaron Hill Isaac Harding Soloman Hamlin David Hollman |
David Holbrook Benj. Johnson Eisha Johnson Levi Johnson Elijah Johnson Luther Keen Samuel Livermore Jacob Mayo Allen Mayo Henry Mayo Ichabod W. Mitchell Simeon Lamphod Isaac Perry Asa Perry Asti Perry, Jr. Luke Perry John Robenson George Rollins |
Moses Snow Asa Low Stephen Snow Winborn A. Swett Benj. Sargent Theophilus Sargent Josiah Swett Lemuel Shipley Lemuel J. Shipley Benj. Stanchfield John W. Thompson Jonathan Tylar Ephraim Varney John Whidden George W. Whidden James Whidden Nicholas Winslow |
The naming of the town was a very important event, for it seemed that the settlers were unable to agree. Some desired to name the town for Joseph Lee, who owned a large part of the township; others desired to name it for Air. Wells, who owned considerable land here at that time; still others had different ideas. Finally the honor of naming the town was given to Theophilus Sargent. Mr. Sargent, having perhaps read the story of the noble Roman knight, Milo, or of the beautiful Venus de Milo, named the town for one of these, which we cannot say, but can all imagine.
TOWN OFFICIALSSELECTMEN OF MILO
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INCORPORATION(The original copy has been lost but a copy is preserved by the author.) SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled that the plantation number three in the seventh range in the County of Penobscot, Bounded north by the plantation of Brownville and west by the town of Sebec, with the inhabitants thereof be and they hereby are incorporated into a town by the name of Milo, and the inhabitants of said town are hereby vested with all powers, privileges and immunities which the inhabitants of towns within this State do, or ay by law enjoy. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted that any Justice of the Peace Act of Incorporation This act passed Jan. 27, 1 1823. A true copy.
Attest: LUTHER KEEN (Town Clerk)
The first town warrant was issued to Theophilus Sargent requiring him, “in the name of the State of Maine to notify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants,” of Milo, “qualified by law to vote in town meeting to meet and assemble at the dwelling house of Theophilus Sargent.” To act en the nine articles contained in the warrant. The meeting was accordingly held at the given time and place, at which time Samuel Livermore was chosen to act as moderator; Theophilus Sargent, town clerk: Samuel Livermore, Moses Snow & John Whidden, selectmen and assessors; John W. Thompson, treasurer; Stephen Snow and James Whidden, surveyors of highways; Lemuel Shipley, Stephen Snow and Luke Perry, tythingmen. To these men, therefore, befell the singular honor of being the pioneer rulers of the town. At a later town meeting it was voted to have future town meetings at Swett’s Mills. It was also voted to raise $100 for the sup- It may be well said at this time that in 1832 there was an article in the town warrant as follows: Article 10, To see if the town will prohibit Retailing of Spirituous Liquors. As no action was taken on this article the town clerk kept issuing licences like this, “License granted to Fronk Quimby to retail Spirituous Liquors one year from eleventh day of September, 1827.” Amos DAVIS (Town Clerk) |
INDUSTRIAL ITEMS
Settlements in Milo had been maintained twenty years before any mills were erected. The towns of Brownville and Sebec had saw or grist mills long before this time and in fact both of these towns were busier towns at that time than Milo. It was in the year 1823, that Winborn A. Swett built a dam across Trafton’s Falls and erected the first saw mill in Milo. A general store had already been established by Mr. Estes, who was succeeded by Amos Davis a prominent citizen here at that time. As business in Milo increased other stores were opened and as the people at that time were eager for ardent spirits all the merchants carried a large stock of liquors. Allen Monroe commenced trade in Milo in 1829 and was probably the third merchant in town. At this time Thomas White put in a carding and fulling mill which furnished employment for several hands. A little later Daniel Dennett in partnership with Stephen Snow purchased a part of the Snow farm together with the saw and grist mill. It seems to the author that this enterprise was successful as Dennett and Stephen Snow were the richest men in Milo at that time.
The old saw mill built by Mr. Swett, in 1823, was bought by Lewis Mayo, who sold it a few years later to Samuel Bradeen, who built a wing on one side of the mill. The later owners were Adonijah Webber, Ward Scripture, James Gifford and William Gifford, who sold it to the Boston Excelsior Co., and it was removed by them about 1898.
The next mill was a grist mill which was built by William Owen and Mr. Dennett on the island side of the darn opposite Vie saw mill. In 1851, this was bought by Isaac Leonard, who increased its capacity from two bushels per boor to ’05 bushels per hour, H. F. Daggett bought this mill in 1876 and sold it to the Boston Excelsior Co. in 1887. This mill was burned in the spring 1900.
A woolen mill was built here, in 1842, by Jos-ph Cushing & Co., but this was destroyed by fire six years later and was not rebuilt. Later a carding and fulling mill was erected on the site of the pumping station of the Milo Water Co. This mill was sold to James Gifford, about 1862, when he commenced weaving. Gifford & Co. operated this mill until the fall of 1884 or 1885, at which time it was burned.
Theophilus Sargent, Jr., built a saw mill on the canal, in 1871, but this was razed by fire five years later and was not rebuilt.
In the summer of 1878, J. Fenno & Co., built a mill for splitting out spool timber. This mill was bought by Bailey and Parker, who began the manufacture of excelsior and was operated by them for five years. It was then bought by T. J. Stuart who finally sold it to the Boston Excelsior Co. This mill has been remodeled by them and is used for splitting poplar.
The Boston Excelsior Co. has purchased nearly all the rights of the earlier mill owners and is the only company left of the companies which have been mentioned, but new and larger concerns have taken the places of the older ones. Excelsior has been manufactured here for over 40 years and for the last 30 years by the present company. The mill, now occupied by the Milo Textile Co., was erected by the Boston Excelsior Co., in 1879. The manufacture of excelsior was carried on here until it was sold to the Textile Company. Since then a new mill has been erected near the B. & A. station, which manufactures about 3,000 tons of excelsior per year. This mill furnishes employment for about 30 men and a weekly payroll of nearly $1,000.
The most important industry here at the present time are the mills of the American Thread Co. The spool manufactory was erected in 1901-2; the machinery for the mill being removed from Willimantic, where this company had been located for some time. A saw mill was erected by the same company, in 1901, where spool bars and box-boards are produced in large quantities. This company employs about 220 hand-, and has a weekly payroll of $3,000. At the establishment of this industry in Milo, real estate prices in the village have doubled and even trippled in some cases.
Next in importance to the American Thread Co. is the Milo Textile Co., which commenced operations in June, 1922, in the old excelsior mill which had been purchased by this company. High grade machine yarns manufactured, but very little knitting yarn is made by this concern. The Milo Textile Co. employs about 70 hands and has a payroll of nearly $1,000. This company was financed largely by people in this locality and nearly all the workers are residents of Milo.
Some of the industries here which have been discontinued are: A little red mill built in 1885, by William Gifford, for finishing spruce knees. A shovel handle factory operated by a Mr. Hartwell. The manufacture of wooden bowls, etc., carried on by the father of Sir Hiram Maxim. A clover mill, which was built over the dam between the early saw and grist mills. A hand rake factory by Mr. McGraw. A cheese factory built on West Main St., in 1972, and operated by Elisha McIntosh; finally sold to Fred Gould and was converted into a tenement house. B. J. Warren operated a wood-working mill here for some time; later sold to Warren & Blethen. A creamery was established in 1897, but was soon discontinued.
A charter was obtained for the Milo Electric Light and Power Co., in 1900, and the lighting plant was installed in the winter of 1903-4. This plant commenced operations in -March, 1904.
The manufacture of log and board rules has been carried on by Valentine Fabien & Son, in Milo for about 20 years, this business was carried on in Bangor and Orneville prior to 1897.
In 1906 the B. & A. car shops were moved to Derby. These, without a doubt, have been a great aid in the development of Milo.
As the author reviews the industrial development of Milo he sees no periods of decline, but a continual and more or less steady advance. One of the greatest factors in the commercial development of Milo was the construction of the Bangor Piscataquis Railroad, in 1868-9, and the construction of the Katahdin Iron Works Railroad, in 1880. The development since has been rapid; in 1900 there was a population of 1,150 and now it is over 3,000. It may be said without doubt that within a brief period of time will be the largest and wealthiest town in Piscataquis County.
MILITARY HISTORY
The military history of Milo begins with the formation of the Milo Light Infantry Company, in April, 1824. This company was successively commanded by Winborn A. Swett, 1. W. Mitchell, Moses Sturtevant, Charles Durgin, Rice Dow, Samuel Stanchfield and Benj. Sands. It is believed by the author that this company did not see any active service.
Another company of infantry was organized in Milo, in 1829. This company was commanded in turn by Nymphus Turner, J. W. Furber and Gee. 1″. Stanchfield.
Next came the terrible Civil War which shook the very foundations on which this country was founded, when all the North was arrayed against their brothers in the Southland. When president Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers 84 men from Milo and surrounding towns were formed into a company known as Co. D, of the 2nd Maine. These men left here May 1, 1861 and were among the first to leave the state and to arrive in Washington. This company fought from the first battle of Bull Run until the end of the war. The author regrets to relate that there is only one member of ibis company living at the present time, William Hobbs, a well known resident of this I own.
The following is complete revised list of the veterans now enrolled on the J. S. Sampson Post Roll of Honor. These are the men of this town who served their country in the Civil War an who joined others of their number in a happier land.
| Captain Walter D. Sturtevant William T. Livermore George W. Lord William H. Weymouth George W. Howe James Wiley Ephraim E. Severance Orrin Templeton Eleazer Carver Nath’l McLeod George Hodgkins Frank M. Hodgkins Uriah L. Stubbs Thomas F. Hodgdon Cyrus E. Durgin William Cunningham Charles H. Hodgkins Abner Ramsdell Arthur D. Bumps Able E. Leonard John S. Sampson Ezekiel Hager Sumner R. Kittridge Jeremiah C. Gilman Frank Sherburne Orison V. Carrier Willis K. Mouse John H. Spruce George B. Lincoln Edwin N. Lincoln Alvin H. House Archibald A. Campbell Thomas H. Palmer Luther Pollard David L. Buswell Samuel F. Welsh Orrington L. Buker Isaac F. Moores John W. Gould Franklin 0. Hanscom Jeremiah Boobar Zadoc F. Wilkins Thomas J. Spaulding Irving J. Rogers John W. Hamlin Williams C. Barnes |
Oliver M. Cutts Thomas B. Blaisdell Charles V. Chase Frederic W. Lane George Leach William H. Owen Osgood Coffran Martin W. Spaulding Mason M. Palmer Benjamin H. Drake Soloman Stanchfield Charles W. Farris Walter S. Farris William L. Johnson Samuel M. Johnson Seth Roberts Charles H. Gould James M. Gee Daniel O. Walton Albert P. Monroe Morris L. Mooers Frank D. Lindsey Benjamin Weaver Charles W. Stewart Chester B. Huckins Bowen N. Kimball Martin V. Young Eben D. Ames Hiram Mooers Henry P. Frost Elbridge G. Frost Cyrus Emery George B. Crane Samuel V. Millett Lewis M. Porter Richard A. Monroe Charles W. Rollins Francis C. Emery William H. Stanchfield Charles W. Henderson George Holman Forest T. Douglass Orrin Hamlin Isaac A. Bradeen Nathan W. Sargent Jared F. Millett |
James Lyford John R. Stanchfield James L. Smart Harston B. Farris JesseJohnson Theophilus Sargent Asa Carver James P. Kittredge Edmund A. Robbins John P. Kelley William Dolan Charles Johnson Urial L. Clark Stephen D. Millett Edward Thompson John E. Gould Seth C. Gould Isaac S. Leonard Charles Maginnis Stephen T. Douglass Albert F. Mansel Shepherd Holman William Rogers Waterman M. Hamlin Andrew Ricker William A. Godsoe Lewis R. Haskell Moses Welch Ivory N. Stanchfield Moses Tolman Hiram F. Savage A. M. Garland Everett Carver Jonas B. Smart Benjamin F. Bumps Columbus L. Mitchell Aaron D. Bumps Henry D. Savage William Mayo Warren McClinch Andrew J. Weymouth Elisha McIntosh Elias Brake Alfred D. Morse John F. Rollins Edward Ricker |
A total of 133.
The J. S. Sampson Post, No. 31, of the G. A. R., was organized in November, 1880, with 16 members; James L. Stuart being chosen the first commander. Since then 164 members have been enrolled but their ranks are now thinned to rive members; some have moved to other towns but the large majority have joined the list already given. The following are the members of the G. A. R. residing in Milo at the present time: Thomas Stoddard, Stewart Boswell, H. F. Daggett, William Hobbs and A. B. Cary.
The next warlike disturbance that the men from this town participated in was the Mexican disturbance on the Texas Border. The State Militia was called out in June, 1916, and returned from the border in October of the same year. About 20 men from Milo went to Texas but there were no casualties.
The next war in which the United States participated was the World War when, as my readers will recall, tyrannical Germany with her mailed first attempted to rule the entire world, when Germany attempted to impress upon the entire civilization that, “Might makes Right.” After allowing the nations of Europe to struggle in vain to conquer their formidable enemy, it was deemed wise by the president and Congress to formally enter the war, so on April, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and her allies.
At the call to arms wives, sweethears, schools, colleges, mills, farms and factories were left by the young manhood of our country to fight our common foe, “over there,” and to make the world safe for Democracy. The same month that war was declared Co. F, composed mostly of Milo men left for training camp and from thence to the front. Although many Milo men were in Co. F, a larger number left for other training camps.
After two years of fighting in Flanders Field an armistice was signed and the, “boys,” commenced to come home, haggard, wounded am] careworn but happy to be home again.
The following is a list of the names enrolled on the Honor Roll of the Joseph P. Chaisson Post of the American Legion.
| Joseph P. Chaisson Carl S. Brown Sidney C. Call Henry L. Davis Bert W. Dean Albert L. Glidden Lewis F. Hoskins |
Henry A. Lord Blair F. Thomas Sylvanus Hoxie Frank Woodbury Albert Larry Fred Parlin Andrew Oberg |
The Joseph P. Chaisson Post No, 31 of the American Legion was organized August 22, 1919, with 64 charter members, Capt. Roy E. Decker being the first commander. At the present time there are about 90 members enrolled on the books of the post. The present leading officers of the post are as followS: John W. Maher, Adjutant; D. F. Christie, Commander; Harry Karp, Finance Officer; Elmer Jenkins, Service Officer; Windsor Alexander, Chaplain.
Since the World War there has been a company of light infantry organized here. This company is composed of 71 men and designated as Co. L, 103rd Infantry of the National Guard, Captain Roy E. Decker commanding officer.
SOME THINGS WORTH KNOWING
Dr. E. Whetlock Snow was the first professional man to treat the physical ills of the settlers here. The first physician to locate in Milo was Dr. J. E. Califf.
J. B. Everett was the first lawyer to open an office in Milo.
The earliest church in town was the Free Will Baptist Church, which was organized with 12 members, in 1829. Elder L. Hathaway was the first clergyman in town.
The oldest house in Milo is either the house on Park St. owned by Benj. Stanchfield or the building now owned by O. E. West and occupied by the Milo Fish Market. Robert Cutts formerly kept a tavern and sold rum here.
The three merchants in Milo, who have been in business the longest. are ‘M. G. Brackett, R. M. Ingalls and O. E. West.
It was voted in one of the early town meetings to allow cattle to graze in the village streets.
It was also voted in 1823, to allow 12¢ per hour for manual labor on the highways and 5¢ per hour for oxen. The town voted in 1823 to raise $600 for the support of highways; last year over $7,000 was spent for this purpose.
TOWN CLERKS
1834-1923
| 1823-33 Records Lost 1834-35 Knee Dow 1836-37 C. G. Foss 1838-40 Noah Dow 1841 A. A. Richards 1842-49 Noah Dow 1850-51 C. A. Everett 1852-53 Robert Cutts 1854-55 W. H. Stanchfield 1856 Russell Kittridge 1857-59 W. H. Stanchfield |
1860-62 F. E. Dennett 1863-64 J. P. Kittridge 1865-79 R. A. Monroe 1880 E. E. Sturtevant 1881-84 W. H. Owen 1885-86 W. H. Freeman 1887-89 M. L. Durgin 1890-93 W. W. Hamlin 1894-1901 M. G. Brackett 1962-6 A. S. Leonard 1907-23 Leon G. C. Brown |
TOWN TREASURERS
1834-1923
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1823-33 Records Lost |
1866-71 Win. E. Gould 1872 J. H. Macomber 1873-76 Win. E. Gould 1877 1. W. Hanscom 1878-79 W. P. Young 1880 0. W. Freeman 1881-85 1. W. Hanscom 1886 F. IL Gould 1887 1. W. Hanscom 1888-92 Win. E. Gould 1893-94 W. S. Owen 1895-97 Win. E. Gould 1898-1906 W. S. Owen 1907-9 E. M. Brackett 1910 A. A. Clark 1911-14 Leroy F. Shaw 1915-17 F. A. Doble 1918-23 M. C. Horne |
Valuation of Milo
1823-1923
| 1823 $20,272.50 1824 26,329.00 1825 25,361,25 1826 30,323.75 1827 33,133.25 1828 33,472.00 1829 31,158.00 1830 31,663.00 1831 35,632.00 1832 48,133.00 1833 47,173.00 1834 42,840.00 1835 46,634.00 1836 51,631.00 1837 62,264.00 1838 64,929.00 1839 69,432.00 1840 71,260.00 1841 71,636.00 1842 69,770.00 1843 67,455.00 1844 136,600.00 1845 66,506.00 1846 72,747.00 1847 71,825.00 |
1848 78,459.00 1849 85,580.00 1850 76,567.00 1851 76,678.00 1852 75,571.00 1853 77,933.00 1854 85,268.00 1855 88,503.00 1856 95,215.00 1857 99,532.00 1858 100,460.00 1859 100,429.00 1860 101,331.00 1861 101,784.00 1862 103,467.00 1863 105,966.00 1864 110,726.00 1865 115,076.00 1866 115,101.00 1867 126,785.00 1868 134,497.00 1869 141,121.00 1870 264,392.00 1871 265,126.00 1872 233,420.00 |
1873 197,622.00 1874 186,271.00 1875 170,202.00 1876 161,652.00 1877 163,744.00 1878 163,257.00 1879 161,985.00 1880 160,893.00 1881 187,556.00 1882 185,665.00 1883 180,767.00 1884 185,105.00 1885 187,825.00 1886 235,039.00 1887 247,213.00 1888 247,723.00 1889 249,915.00 1890 355,964.00 1891 348,602.00 1892 353,301.00 1893 340,125.00 1894 348,037.00 1895 322,811.00 1896 334,899.00 1897 327,704.00 |
1898 329,380.00 1899 360,459.00 1900 375,611.00 1901 383,163.00 1902 404,918.00 1903 535,929.00 1904 578,449.00 1505 705,621.00 1906 906,312.00 1907 962,852.00 1908 1,014,343.00 1909 1,113,826.00 1910 1,143,808.00 1911 1,213,356.00 1912 1,259,413.00 1913 1,320,322.00 1914 1,351,102.00 1915 1,377,441.00 1916 1,399,169.00 1917 1,470,945.00 1918 1,562,390.00 1919 1,706,546.00 1920 1,887,527.00 1921 2,069,439.00 1922 2,027,740.84 |
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