farms of martin mower and james parker

Here's a newspaper article I recently uncovered from 1853 that refers to two of my 3rd-great-grandfathers, Martin Mower and James Parker. In addition, I believe the E. H. Gibbs included would be Ebenezer H. Gibbs, brother of my 2nd-great-grandmother, Betsey (Gibbs) Vickery.

Report on Farms

To the Trustees of the Penobscot Agricultural Society

The Committee appointed to examine Farms entered for the Society's premium for the year 1853, having attended to that duty would beg leave to report: That the whole number of farms entered were five, by the following persons, by Martin Mower of Bangor, E. H. Gibbs, Lowell Marston, and James Parker of Glenburn; and E. F. Crane of Kenduskeag.

In the examination of these farms, your committee were much gratified, in finding them in a prosperous and flourishing condition, not withstanding the last three successive dry seasons, that have exerted such an unfavorable influence on farming operations.

The first farm examined was that of E. F. Crane, containing about 110 acres of land, and about 70 under improvement; that is, to mowing, pasturing and tillage. The crops on this farm, excepting the hay crop, the convenience of buildings, the privilege of and convenience of water for the house and barns; the orchard and the improved breed of swine, were equal and perhaps superior to any other examined.

The second farm examined was that of Martin Mower, containing 100 acres of land. The soil of this farm is of a very superior character, and in all parts of it, very similar. It is capable of making one of the best of farms, as doubtless it will under the control and management of Mr. Mower, its owner; who being well versed in agricultural science, makes this knowledge available to practical purposes of agriculture. In manufacturing manure, Mr. Mower has few equals and less superiors.

The hay crop on this farm was tolerably good, and the turnip crop very superior.

The third farm examined was that of E. H. Gibbs, containing 125 acres of land, principally to mowing and pasturing. His barn was well filled with hay. On this farm which but a few years ago was grown up to bushes, unproductive and comparatively in a state of barrenness, now, by his energy and perseverance, has the appearance of neatness and thrift.

The fourth farm examined was that of Dr. Lowell Marston, containing 125 acres, mostly improved. This farm deserves particular attention. It consists of a variety of soils, which for descriptive purposes we will divide into high land, low land, and meadow land. The high land is used for pasturing. The lower land is laid up into sinks or beds, with an even curve, resembling a turnpike, and thirty six feet wide. This portion of the farm is under a high state of cultivation, producing from two to three tons of hay to the acre. The meadow land is improved and rendered more productive by the draining process. There were the most perfect specimens of ditches we ever saw, producing the most satisfactory results; some of them 60 to 79 rods in length, from two and a half to three feet deep, and to appearance perfectly straight. The turnpike that runs from the buildings through the farm, the fences, the sheds and cellars, for manufacturing and protecting manure, and whatever pertains to the management of the farm, were done in a workmanlike manner, and bore the appearance of order and neatness.

The fifth and last farm examined was the one presented by James Parker, Esq. of Glenburn, containing 140 acres. This was a very good farm, and with the energy and perseverance possessed by Mr. Parker thirty years ago, he would make it a pattern farm; and although Mr. Parker is on the down hill of life, yet his barns were filled with hay, his orchards with delicious fruit, and his flocks and herds in his fields, more than convinced us that he retained all of the judgment and prudence, and much of the vigor of his more youthful days.

The claims with some of the competitors were so equally ballanced [sic], it was with difficulty that your committee could determine to whom they should award the premium; but after a patient and careful examination and comparison, they at length came to the conclusion to award the Society's first premium.

To Lowell Marston of Glenburn, for the best farm, $8.

Second best to E. F. Crane of Kenduskeag, $4.

Third, to Martin Mower of Bangor, $2.

Respectfully submitted,

Per order,

E. F. CRANE

.........................

SOURCE: Bangor Daily Whig & Courier (Bangor, Maine), 30 Sep 1853.

photo: marcia parker and cynthia (vickery) swett

Cynthia Olive (Vickery) Swett (left) and Marcia S. Parker (right)

As we celebrate the Red Sox winning the World Series, my mind turns to my great-aunt Marcia as she was perhaps one of the biggest Red Sox fans I have ever known - she definitely would have loved to have seen the World Series this year!

Marcia was the daughter of Capt. Hiram N. and Ann Elizabeth (Johnson) Parker; born 9 Feb 1888, probably in Glenburn, Penobscot Co., Maine; died 30 Oct 1980 in Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine and is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Glenburn, Penobscot Co., Maine. She never married.

Cynthia was Marcia's niece (and my great-aunt), the daughter of Edward William and Harriet Bain (Parker) Vickery; born 9 Apr 1895 in Glenburn, Penobscot Co., Maine; died 8 Sep 1987 in Tampa, Hillsboro Co., Florida and is buried in Falmouth, Cumberland Co., Maine. She married Walter Elliot Swett on 4 Mar 1920 in Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine.

1900 census entry for the mower farm

As discussed when we looked at the 1910 entry, 2 Mower farms were in existence in close proximity on the Pushaw Road in Bangor. My direct ancestors were living up over the hill from the Mower homestead farm which was situated in the valley next to Kukunscook Stream, which ran from Pushaw Lake to the Kenduskeag Stream.

1900 U.S. Federal Census Record for Frank L. Mower

SOURCE: 19100 U.S. Census, Penobscot County, Maine, population schedule, Bangor City, Ward 5, enumeration district (ED) 78, sheet 12B, dwelling 247, family 280, Frank L. Mower household; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/); accessed 26 Oct 2007; citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 597.

[click here to view .pdf image of this census record]

On the Mower homestead, lived Horace B. Mower, my great-granduncle. The census shows him as a white male, aged 36 (b. Apr. 1864), married for 9 years, he and his parents were all born in Maine, and he could read, write and speak English. His occupation is listed as farmer. The entry also indicates that the farm was owned with a mortgage. His wife, Villa E., is also listed. She is shown as a white female aged 35 (b. Apr. 1865), married for 9 years, mother of 5 children, with 4 living at the time of the census. She was born in Canada-English, while her parents were born in Maine; and she could also read, write and speak English. Their children included:

1) daughter Marion E., a white female aged 8 (b. Dec. 1891), she attended school;

2) son Harris B., a white male aged 6 (b. Oct. 1893), she attended school'

3) daughter Grace E., a white female aged 4 (b. Jan. 1896); and

4) son John M., a white male aged 6/12 (b. Nov. 1899).

Meanwhile, further up the road, the Frank L. Mower household included:

1) Frank L. Mower (my great-grandfather), a single white male aged 24 (b. Sept. 1875), he and his parents were all born in Maine, and he was able to read, write and speak English as was everyone in his household. His occupation is listed as farm laborer, his home was home and the census indicates that it was a house, not a farm.

2) Elizabeth E[astman] Mower, his mother, a widowed white female aged 66 (b. Dec. 1833). The census reports that she was born in Maine, her father in New Hampshire and her mother in Massachusetts.

3) Charles H. Parker, servant, a single white male aged 19 (birth date unknown). He was born in Maine, his parents birth places show as unknown. His occupation is listed as farm laborer.

4) Edwin Bellyea, servant, a single white male aged 31 (birth date unknown), he and his parents were reportedly all born in Maine. His occupation is also listed as farm laborer.

5) Nellie M. Braun, servant, a single white female aged 18 (b. Dec. 1881), she and her parents were reportedly all born in Maine. Her occupation is listed as servant for a private family.

An interesting note, the Charles H. Parker that is listed in my great-grandfather's household would have been my great-granduncle through my grandmother's line (those two families hadn't connected on the family tree yet). Charles Parker was the brother of my great-grandmother, Harriet Bain Parker. The Parkers lived further up on the Pushaw Road in Glenburn.

photo: harriet bain (parker) vickery grant

my great-grandmother

Harriet Bain Parker

(25 Aug 1874 - 23 Dec 1967)

daughter of Capt. Hiram N. and Elizabeth Ann (Johnson) Parker

married 1st Edward William Vickery, 15 Dec 1892

married 2nd Winslow L. Grant, 4 Oct 1930

this photo circa 1963

the bain connection, part 1

The most recent family connection I have been researching is the familial connection to the Bain family, specifically the Harriet Bain my paternal great-grandmother Harriet Bain (Parker) Vickery was named for. The connection came to light when tracking my 2nd-great-grandmother Elizabeth Ann (or Ann Elizabeth) Johnson, wife of Capt. Hiram N. Parker, back through census records. She appeared in 1850, age 6, living in Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine living with her parents, William and Catherine Johnson. Also appearing in the household was a Harriette Rounds, age 13.

1850 U.S. Federal Census Record for Harriette Rounds

SOURCE: 1850 U.S. Census, Penobscot County, Maine, population schedule, City of Bangor, sheet 135, dwelling 1890, family 1945, Wm. Johnson household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/): accessed 21 Oct 2007); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 264.

[click here to view .pdf copy of this census record]

I had previously determined that Catherine McIntosh was the daughter of James and Peggy (Patrick) McIntosh, b. 21 Mar 1808, married 1st Ephraim Rounds on 14 Jul 1835 and married 2nd William Johnson of Bangor (SOURCE: Hugh D. McLellan, History of Gorham, Me. (Portland, Maine: Smith & Sale, Printers, 1903), 656). Therefore, my hypothesis was that Harriette was a daughter from the first marriage, and therefore a half-sister to Elizabeth Ann Johnson.

A search of the 1860 census revealed no Harriette Rounds. Perhaps she was married prior to that census. A search of marriage records at http://www.familysearch.org/ uncovered an interesting record of a marriage of a Harriet H. Rounds to a James Bain on 19 Jul 1858 in Portland, Cumberland, Maine. Could this be the same Harriett .. and be the connection to the Bain name for my great-grandmother?