| Book 2 - Central Oxford County Mining History |
| Book 2 of mining in Oxford County will concentrate on the central portion of the county. The current manuscript discusses the initial "invasion" of Maine by Massachusetts in 1651. The invasion was part of that colony's expansionist policies, which began with the Pequoit War in 1636. The story fast forwards to the settlement of Oxford County through the granting of land benefits to pay off obligations of the Revolution. The grants were the reason the Hamlins moved to Waterford. An important part of the mining story is associated with the establishment of Oxford as a county. Cyrus I Hamlin moved to the new county seat in 1805. (There are four Cyrus Hamlin's to keep track of, although there are other Cyrus's in the family which don't make it to these pages. Cyrus II was a miner at Mount Mica along with his brother, Hannibal I. Hannibal II was General Cyrus III's brother, but their part in mining is essentially nonexistent. Cyrus IV founded the college in Turkey.) The fact that Cyrus I boarded many politicians and lawyers in his home is important and Enoch Lincoln's living with the Hamlin's is significant as he had moved from Fryeburg where he was a lawyer for a while, but more importantly, he had taught at Fryeburg Academy where Danilel Webster's immediate successor, Amos Cook, was an innovative teacher and had a museum of minerals and natural history objects, Indian artifacts, etc. Lincoln was a friend of Metalluk and probably introduced young Elijah Hamlin to him, although the Hamlin's were friends with Mollockett before Enoch moved up from Massachusetts. Ezekiel Holmes was given full credit for the discovery of Mount Mica in 1822 by Elijah Hamlin, although Ezekiel went to teach at the Gardiner Lyceum in 1824 and seems to have given up mineral collecting as he "gave" his collection to the Lyceum. When Elijah moved to Bangor in 1835 to hitch his wagon to the City's rising star, he found some jobs for his classmate. As Maine land agent for 1838, he commissioned Ezekiel to explore the Aroostook and write a report. Ezekiel eventually was editor for the influential Maine Farmer newspaper and was the most important booster for the formation of the University of Maine. The controversial Charles Jackson made a geological survey of Maine 1836, 1837, and 1838 and visited Oxford County in 1836 and 1838. While in Eastern Maine, he may have been trying to find information relating to answers to the Northeast Boundary question. The dispute was settled by two maniacs - Webster, again, and Maine land owner, Alexander Baring Lord Ashburton. (His mother-in-law was Ann Bingham, of Bingham's Kennebec Purchase fame, etc. Ann was the model for the Bust dime. It's one thing to have money and yet another to have your picture on it!) Follow the money! It turns out that the Hamlin's were particularly well connected and their friends and business connections were far ranging. The Hamlin's were not the only family interested in Oxford County geology and Addison Verrill, who was C. A. Stephens' cousin and Vivian Akers' father-in-law, became very interested in minerals in the 1850's and started Maine's second gem rush along with Hebron native Oscar D. Allen. (The first gem rush in US history was at Mount Mica in 1820 or 1821 - I'm still wrestling with this as I believe it was 1820, but the snowstorm of October 19, 1821 is tempting!) Augustus Hamlin who really got "tourmaline fever" is fully covered and his Civil War service is written about although I was sad to find out that he didn't invent the M.A.S.H. long before Hawkeye Pierce. (Yes, there are stories of the Red Paint People and the controversial "Norse" runes on Manana Island. I didn't forget to mention the Norse penny story either. The book's end notes are going to be illustrated.) When geologists and mineralogists began to study Oxford County's minerals in a serious way, there were many important and far reaching discoveries which greatly improved theories, which are still being refined today. Deposits in Greenwood and in Buckfield were particularly important. As a trained geologist, I hope to include some information about the many scientific discoveries made in Oxford County, although I fully admit that a biologist would come up with more in that specialty. (Most of the biological discoveries are are in the book dealing with George Howe.) {Addison E. Verrill named nearly 1,000 animals in his career, but his scientific describing of the Giant Squid is by far his most famous contribution - not an Oxford County animal.} The Oxford County story will be brought up to the Uranium Rush of the 1950's through today's more sedate search for gems. |
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