Gazetteer of the State of Maine With Numerous Illustrations, by Geo. J. Varney

BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY B. B. RUSSELL, 57 CORNHILL. 1882. Public domain image from

MONSON.

left at the north end unappropriated. The trustees of Monson Acade-
my, learning of this, petitioned and obtained it.

Joseph Bearce felled the first opening in 1815, and the next sum-
mer—famous as the cold season—put in his first crop. George Doughty
and Simeon Irish, with Mr. Bearce, brought in their families in 1818.
Mr. Bearce put up a pair of Moose-horns on a stout pole to mark the point
where a path turned off northward toward the centre of the township.
The fork of these roads has ever continued at this point under the name
of Moosehorns. Other early settlers were James Stinchfield, Captain
Amasa Chapin, Captain Samuel Whitney, William A. Hyde, Calvin
Colton, Deacons Lucius Hyde and Abel Goodell, Royal Day, Austin
Newell, and Horatio Sherman. Messrs. Whitney, Hyde and Fay,
made a clearing on the site of Monson Village, and built a dam in 1820,
and a saw and grist mill in 1821. Deacon Andrew Cushman, Hiram
Vinton, Isaac Tyler and Austin Newell came in 1822. In this year the
town was incorporated. The first meeting was held, pursuant to a
warrant from Samuel Pingree, Esq., at the dwelling-house of Messrs.
Whitney and Hyde. In 1828, Alexander Greenwood, Esq., who sur-
veyed most of the townships in this vicinity, moved into Monson. His
death occurred by the fall of a tree while he was superintending a drive,
and the falls where the sad incident took place has ever since borne
his name.

A private school, free to all who could attend, was taught in the
winter of 1821-22 by Deacon Lucius Hyde, in the house of James
Stinchfield. The next winter Father Sawyer taught the first town
school, and preached to the people on the Sabbath. Dr. Alpheus
Davison, the first physician, settled in town in 1823. In 1824 other
citizens of note came in, among whom were John Crafts, Solomon
Cushman and Oliver Eveleth. In the same year the first post-office
was established, F. F. Gates being the first post-master. The Doughty
boys, succeeded by Benjamin Stinchfield, w^rere the first mail-carriers,
making the trip on foot between Monson and the next post-office at
Guilford, 10 miles distant. In 1827, Deacon Thomas Fuller carried
the mail in a carriage between Monson and Bangor. The town suf-
fered much damage in its woodland from the great fire of 1825. The
Congregationalist meeting-house was finished and dedicated in 1831,
and was the first house for public worship erected in the county. The
Baptists also have a good church-edifice. In 1835, the farmers suffered
much loss by the swindling operation of a real estate sharper. An
academy was chartered in 1849, being the second in the county.

On April 22, 1872, the fiftieth aniversary of the first town-meeting,
a celebration was held at Academy Hall. It was presided over by
Aretas Chapin, Esq., Rev. R. W. Emerson offered the prayer, and Mr.
Charles Davison, a native of the town, gave an historical address. Rev.
A. H. Tyler, and Hon. S. A. Patton, made interesting remarks, and
preceptor William S. Knowlton read a witty historical poem. Hon.
John H. Rice, member of the 38th and 39th Congress, and Hon. E. Flint,
secretary of state in 1864, were formerly citizens of Monson. There
are resident in the town four persons over ninety years old, and ten
who are above eighty.

From a population of 708, Monson furnished 84 men for the army
of the Union. Of these 6 were killed on the field of battle, 16 died of
wounds or disease, and 16 others were wounded.