The million
acres of land purchased by William Bingham of Philadelphia, in
the western part of the State lie mostly in Somerset. The bounds
of that purchase commence at the south-eastern angle of the
Wellington in Piscataquis County, extending northward on the
east line of the town,
and westward on its south line to the south-western angle of
Mount Abraham Township, thence northward on its west line to the
northwestern angle of No. 6 of Range 7; whence it runs easterly
on the north line of this township to Moosehead Lake,
intersecting the eastern line near the north extremity of Deer
Island. The mountains of this county of present note are Mount
Bigelow, on the southern border of the most western part, Squaw,
Fletcher, Johnson, Pierce, Spencer, Heald, Bald, Owl's Head
Sally, Moxie, the Bald Mountain Range, Culcusso and Mucalsea
mountains.
The industries of this county are chiefly agricultural; and
having a good soil, few farmers fail to make a good living. Neat
cattle and sheep are raised in large numbers.
Somerset County was incorporated March 1, 1809. Its territory
was formerly embraced in Kennebec County; and sections of it
have since been taken to form Franklin and Piscataquis counties.
Norridgewock was the shire town until about 1870, when a new and
elegant brick building containing a court-room and offices are
presented to the county by Hon. Abner Coburn, and the county
seat was changed to Skowhegan. There are now twenty-eight towns
and four organized plantations. The townships classed as Wild
Lands number 68. The number of polls in 1870 was 8,169. In 1880,
8,698. The number of children of school age in 1870 was 11,068.
In 1880 it was 10,873. The population of the county in 1870 was
34,611. In 1880 it was 32,399. The valuation in 1870 was
$10,048,159. In 1880 it was $12,128,878.
Source: Varney, George J., Gazetteer of the
State of Maine. Boston: B. B. Russell, 1886. |
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