Greene, Maine, USA
1886 - Greene

Greene, situated near the middle of Androscoggin County, is nearly square in its form, and rests its west side on the Androscoggin River, opposite the town of Turner. Leeds bounds it on the north, Wales on the east, and Lewiston on the south. It contains 15,905 acres of land. The principal bodies of water are Allen, Deane, Little Sabattus and Berry; and Sabattus Pond forms the southern half of the eastern boundary. Allen Pond, the largest within the town, is about one mile in diameter. The chief business centres are Greene Village and Greene Corner. The principal manufactures are of a carriage-factory, and of a grist, saw and excelsior mill, known as Sprague’s Mills. The principal occupation is agricultural. The soil is well adapted to grazing, and the chief crops are hay and apples. The M8ine Central Railroad bisects the town, having a station at Greene Village, a little east of the centre. The surface of the town is a little more elevated, and more broken than the towns to the east and south. The hills in the north-western part are quite high. The principal of these are Clark’s and Ames's mountains and Caswell Hill. Those southward are lower, the highest being Hill’s Ridge, in the south-eastern part. There are very few pine-trees in town, but other Maine woods are abundant.

This territory was first known as a part of Lewiston Plantation, then as Littlesborough, from Moses Little, of Newbury, Massachusetts, who was a large proprietor in the Pejepscot Patent, which covered a portion of it. He is said to have made a large purchase from the Indians of land in this vicinity. In 1788 it was organized under the present name in honor of General Greene, of Revolutionary fame.

Benjamin Merrill was the first man who became a permanent settler. He came from North Yarmouth in November 15, 1775, bringing his family and goods in an ox-cart. The snow lay a foot deep upon the ground, and was still falling when they moved into their log-house. Captain John Daggett, who settled in 1786, taught the first school in town the same year. He was also the first military oThcer whom the town could boast. Colonel William Sprague moved in from Medford, Mass., in 1779. He built the first mills in town, and excelled as a military tactitian. John Mower, another of the early esteemed citizens, removed from Charlton, Mass., in 1786. Luther Robbins came to Greene from Hanover, Mass., about 1788. He was the first representative to the Legislature. Captain Daggett, after teaching school three years, was succeeded by Elisha Sylvester,—who was noted for a facility of rhyming. The following specimen was inspired by a conversation with a predestinarian clergyman:

“If all things succeed, that’s already decreed,
And immutable impulses rule us,
Then to preach and to pray is but time thrown away,
And our teachers do nothing but fool us.
And if by hard fate, we’re driven this way or that,
As the carman with whip drives his horses,
Then none need to stray, but go on the right way
Like the stars that are bound in their courses.
But if by free-will we go, or stand still,
As best Suits the present occasion,
Then fill up the bowl, and count him a fool
That preaches up predestination.”

After the Revolution several soldiers came and made their home in Greene. Their names as far as has been ascertained are as follows:
Captain John Daggett and Colonel William Sprague and Luther Bobbins, Esq., previously mentioned; Colonel Jabez Bates, Captain Ichabod Philips, Jarius Phillips, John Mower, Samuel Mower, Thomas More, George Berry, John Allen, Joseph McKenney, Ezekiel Hackett, Benjamin Quimby and Benjamin Alden. In the war of 1812, 19 from the town enlisted in the national army, of whom 5 died in the service. In the war of the Rebellion, the report of the adjutant-general gives the town credit for 159 men.

There was no cemetery until 1805, when four were laid out in different parts of the town. A Baptist Church, organized in 1793, was the first religious society. A church edifice was built soon after. Another was built at the centre in 1826, and one by the Universalists at about the same time. There are now in town, one Baptist, one Free Baptist, and a Universalist society.

The number of school-houses in town is ten; and the school property is valued at $2,400. The value of estates in 1870 was $439,629. In 1880 it was $394,260. The population in 1870, was 1,094. In 1880 it was 999.

A Gazetteer of the State of Maine By Geo. J. Varney Published by B. B. Russell, Boston 1886

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