_Elihu CHASE ________+
| (1743 - ....) m 1773
_Asa CHASE __________|
| (1777 - 1865) m 1799|
| |_Sarah GOVE _________
| m 1773
|
|--Sarah CHASE
| (1802 - 1874)
| _Jonathan TOWLE _____+
| | (1747 - 1822) m 1773
|_Huldah TOWLE _______|
(1775 - 1858) m 1799|
|_Miriam MARSTON _____+
(1749 - 1835) m 1773
_Philip Chester EASTMAN _+
| (1902 - 1926) m 1921
_Chester Harry EASTMAN _|
| (1923 - ....) m 1945 |
| |_Fannie Leona BOWLEY ____+
| (1901 - 1978) m 1921
|
|--Gary Philip EASTMAN
| (1949 - ....)
| _Julius KLOTH ___________
| |
|_Lilian Edel KLOTH _____|
(1925 - ....) m 1945 |
|_Anne M. ? ______________
[199] Divorced Elaine July 1976.
__
|
_Richard HIGGINS ____|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--William HIGGINS
| (1655 - ....)
| __
| |
|_Mary YATES _________|
|
|__
_Bert Herbert SMITH II_+
| (1924 - 1969) m 1945
_Bert Herbert SMITH III_|
| (1946 - ....) m 1968 |
| |_Arlene May WILSON ____+
| (1924 - 1996) m 1945
|
|--Rebecca Lynn SMITH
| (1970 - ....)
| _______________________
| |
|_Linda RUSSELL _________|
m 1968 |
|_______________________
_James TOWLE __________+
| (1698 - 1756) m 1725
_Jonathan TOWLE _____|
| (1747 - 1822) m 1773|
| |_Kezia PERKINS ________+
| (1709 - 1794) m 1725
|
|--Daniel TOWLE
| (1779 - 1831)
| _Capt. Daniel MARSTON _
| |
|_Miriam MARSTON _____|
(1749 - 1835) m 1773|
|_Sarah CLOUGH _________
[252]
Daniel departed Pittsfield the winter of 1802-1802 along with his brother
Jonathan Jr. They went to Avon, Maine, in the mountainous region northeast of the
White Mountains and southeast of the Rangeley lakes, were both married and settled
and raised large families.
In every way he was unquestionably the leading spirit of the town: in wealth,
executive ability, public spirit, his was the first position, and during his
administration the town rapidly grew in population and influence; with his death, the
decline set in, which lasted to this day.
Let us, with the mind's eye, try to picture what manner of man this Daniel Towle
was; well formed, of five-feet-eleven stature, light brown hair and eyes, perfect
teeth, erect form, smooth shaven, medium frame, and weighing about 180 pounds, he was
the ideal frontiersman. He was even-tempered, courteous and charitable, and no worthy
person ever went to Captain Towle for assistance, and went away empty-handed. He was
an able manager and shrewd business man. Much of his produce he carted to Hallowell,
forty miles distant, to secure the best market. Usually his teams would load with
butter, cheese, beef and pork, and would return laden with the supplies necessary for
the entire town. His well-filled buildings were the department stores of those early
settlers, and when spring came, a good part of the village would be in debt to the
genial captain.
Let us endeavor to sketch out the probable course of events following the
departure of the two young men for their new home. Each had an ox-team loaded with
provisions and such rude farming utensils as would be of service, guns, ammunition
and axes, some rude home-made clothing, possibly a Bible and another book or two, and
that was all.(Three essentials always were taken: a gun, a kettle, and a trap). Very
likely they may have had a little money, (Jonathan(803) gave each of his girls $50
and a cow when they left home. He may have did as much for his boys) but that in the
country to which they were going would count for but little. They were weeks on the
road, and it was probably well towards winter before they arrived in Avon. Why they
went there, whether the land was purchased before or after their arrival, of who they
bought, and for how much, we do not know. Possibly the beauty of the location may
have appealed to them, but it is more likely that the fact that wood and water were
plenty, was the deciding feature.
It is but fair to suppose that the new-comers followed the usual course with
fresh arrivals. Whether they lived with neighboring farmers or not is uncertain, but
it is perhaps more probable that they put up some kind of shack that would protect
them from the inclement weather of the first winter. That year each probably cut down
five or six acres of timber, and in the spring burnt the ground over for planting.
The next year the settler generally built a log house, planted corn and possibly
potatoes and beans. Usually the family moved in the second year, about harvest time.
The main staple of food this year was corn meal.
The third year, the settler would erect a barn, and raise a crop of wheat.
Not until the fourth year would the family begin to be fairly comfortable. Then
English hay, wheat, rye and other farm products would be added to the list.
After seven years in this manner of living, each year marked with increasing
comfort, the settler might venture to erect a frame house. The frame and boarding
would be got out on the premises. The shingles or outside covering also would be of
home manufacture; even the nails, if any were used, were made by hand. When all was
ready, some day would be set, the neighbors would all turn to, and the settler would
have a house raising. In an incredibly short time the house would be ready for
occupancy. Most of the houses were not plastered at first, this being done later when
circumstances permitted.
Practically no money was in circulation. Everything was transacted by trade or
barter. The farmer would take such products as he had for sale to the nearest, or to
the best market if a large producer, and receive in return such goods and luxuries as
were needed in the country village, or would be useful on the farm.
Daniel Towle erected a small frame house the second year, which was quite
contrary to precedent, and marked him as a man of strong individuality. Not until
1807 did he bring his young bride to the now comfortable furnished quarters of Avon.
With the marriage of Daniel Towle, enlarged accommodations seemed to be demanded,
and we find him early at work on his large two-story colonial mansion, probably the
finest in the town at the time.
Assisted by his wife, who was a worthy helpmeet, we shortly find him the owner of
extensive farms and mills, and when in 1814 the settlements were threatened with
invasion, he mustered in a militia company, and became its captain.
It is difficult for us of the present generation to understand the relation that
a man of Daniel Towle's characteristics bore to the town in which he lived. He filled
many important town offices, and was the "bank of the town"; nothing could be done,
nor any enterprise carried on without his assistance and advice. Nor was his
influence confined merely to Avon, for to him must also be ascribed the credit of the
fulling and carding mills at Phillips. His farm was an experimental station for the
community, and he was always ready to try anything that seemed to make for
advancement. Perhaps a good illustration of this was his construction of what were
then known as potato-hoards. These were made of heavy plank, and were covered with
earth and sod, and were both rain-proof and frost-proof.
Just how much he amassed of this world's goods, as measured by modern standards,
it is impossible to say. Certain it is, however, that on the first day of October of
the month he died, he was planning with his wife to turn the farm over to the boys,
the old people to move into the new house then in course of construction on the
intervale lands. At that time he owned no man a dollar, and with his many "ships at
sea," a prosperous and happy future seemed opening before him.
The house itself was situated on a small plateau on the side of the hill, which
sloped to the road a thousand feet or so away, and was large and square. It had an
immense chimney, and a brick oven in proportion. In those days the bread was baked
directly on the oven bottom, the use of tins not having been introduced. The house
was guiltless of paint, inside or out, except the best room, which was finished in
blue.
The house faced the south, as was customary at that time, so that the living
rooms would get the sun, and was consequently back to the road. On the lower floor in
front was the parlor and sitting room, separated by a wide entry, the stairs leading
up from the kitchen, which together with a bed-room occupied the rear of the house.
The kitchen was large and airy, with fine windows commanding a view of the road and
river, with the mountains in the distance. The kitchen, sitting-room and parlor each
had a wide fireplace, and surrounded the chimney. It is said that from where the
house stood thirteen towns can be seen.
It was finally taken down, after standing fifty years, and moved to Farmington,
and was subsequently burned.
Just before his death in 1831, Daniel Towle began the erection of still another
house, between the road and the river. He was looking forward with great pleasure to
the occupancy of his new home, when he was taken with typhoid fever, which resulted
fatally.
One must endeavor to realize first the grade scale upon which everthing was done.
Dinner was ready promptly at noon, and supper at six. Mrs Towle would go to the door,
and blow the horn, when all hands would quit work, and start for the house, looking
for all the world in their tow clothes like a flock of sheep. In the summer to
provide for, and usually they brought their appetites with them.
To Mary (Ladd) Towle can probably be credited a temperance reform that was far-
reaching in its effects. Rum and water was the customary drink to serve to the hands
in the field, and it became her custom to substitute therfor a root beer of sweet
herbs and molasses. Twice a week a half barrel of this was made, which was drunk with
relish by the thirsty men.
The farm was considerable size, there being in fact three farms, aggregating some
500 acres. None of the modern farming tools had come into use, and a much larger
number of hands had to be employed to till these acres than would be now required.
Many of the neighboring farmers would be considerably in debt to Captain Towle for
supplies furnished during the winter, and these debts were paid in labor during the
summer months.
On the farm there were usually four horses, two yoke each oxen and steers, eight
or nine cows, 100 sheep, a half dozen hogs with perhaps a dozen pigs, a hundred or
more hens, and a score of geese. The bee-house was quite a feature, and contained a
number of hives.
The vegetables raised, other than the cereals, were potatoes, cabbages, turnips,
beets, carrots, onions, peas and beans, and lastly pumpkins. No squashes or tomatoes
were grown anywhere at that time.
For fruit there were apples, pears, cherries, pomegranates, and plums; there were
also currants, thimbleberries and gooseberries, while the wild strawberry, blueberry,
huckleberry and blackberry grew in abundance. Pie plant or rhubarb was also
cultivated largely, and maple syrup and sugar were household necessities. Nutmeg was
the universal flavor. Peaches, lemons, oranges and banannas were never seen.
David(1180) was the only one of the children to die in infancy. Correctly or
otherwise, the mother attributed its death to a mistake on the part of the doctor;
the child died of croup, and she said it was the one she ever had the doctor to, and
that one might have lived if no doctor had been called.
_Richard TOWLE _____________+
| (1929 - 1965) m 1951
_Barry Raymond TOWLE ____|
| (1961 - ....) m 1986 |
| |_Harriett Elizabeth WILSON _+
| (1933 - ....) m 1951
|
|--Dylan Smith TOWLE
| (1994 - ....)
| ____________________________
| |
|_Geralynn Patrice SMITH _|
(1961 - ....) m 1986 |
|____________________________
[127] Born 10 8.6 lbs
_Josiah TOWLE _______+
| (1769 - 1838) m 1794
_Josiah TOWLE Jr.____|
| (1798 - 1882) m 1825|
| |_Hannah AYER ________+
| (1774 - 1806) m 1794
|
|--Mary Learned TOWLE
| (1828 - ....)
| _William MORRISON ___
| |
|_Lucinda MORRISON ___|
(1806 - 1886) m 1825|
|_Polly ? ____________
[63] Resided in Monrovia, California.
_John WINCHELL ______+
| (1680 - 1733) m 1706
_Samuel WINCHELL ____|
| (1711 - 1785) m 1738|
| |_Martha ENO _________
| (1685 - ....) m 1706
|
|--Sarah WINCHELL
| (1750 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
|_Sarah MCNEISS ______|
(1718 - 1783) m 1738|
|_____________________