TOWN OF  SEBASTICOOK-BENTON MAINE 1842-1942
by Chester E. Basford, Elizabeth Reed, Hortense W. Piper, Oscar S. Piper

Benton was originally part of the Kennebec Purchase.  It was first settled by Ebnezer Heald about 1763.  He met his obligation by building a cabin and clearing land to obtain a land grant from Gershom Flagg (1705-1771).  The Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers provided access to this territory and, years later, the power for sawmills.

Benton was known as Hancock Plantation for a brief period before becoming Clinton.  In 1842, it was incorporated as Sebasticook, and in 1850, the name was finally changed to Benton.

The Kennebec River, named by the Indians as Canibus, forms the western line.  The Sebasticook River passes through the middle of town, the name anglicized form Chebattiscook or Chebattis, meaning John Baptiste’s Place.  The stream known as Fifteenmile Stream crosses Benton’s eastern sections and was an important waterway.  

The Red Paint Indians had a burying ground here on the West Side of the Sebasticook River.

The early settler’s main food staple of fish could easily be hand and it was not long before the fishing industry became an important source of income in Benton.  Alewives and Shad were the predominant fish caught, but salmon were caught in smaller quantities due to less than adequate spawning grounds in the Sebasticook River.

In 1817, fishing privileges were auctioned off so that sections of the river were sold to individuals.

Dams, which provided the power to the mills, conflicted with fishing.  The first dam, erected at the upper falls in Benton Falls was built before the Revolutionary War.  It provided a gap for fish to continue upstream/downstream through the dam.  In 1809, a second dam was built at the lower falls, with no fish way.  It so hindered the fishing that six years later the selectmen had it removed.  The construction of the dam in Augusta, with no provisions for the passage of fish, doomed the future of fishing in town. 

The great pines of the area were of prime value.  Many were destined for ships including the masts of the U.S. Frigate Constitution, which were cut in Unity and traveled down the Sebasticook through Benton.  In addition, some of the pines were used to build the Massachusetts State House.

Manufactured goods, forestry products and agricultural goods were moved to market by long boats, ox and horse carts and in later years by rail.  The Sebasticook had one of the first bridges built before 1800, at the lower falls.  It was a toll bridge owned by a private party with a fee being charged to defray expenses.  Later, a free bridge was built at the upper falls.  The bridges had to be rebuilt many times over the years due to floods.  

Benton Falls became the hub of the community.  From 1808 to 1840, there were at least 3 sawmills, a tannery, carding and dye mill, grist mill and shingle mill.  About 1864, a brush and block-handle factory was run in the same building that wooden shoe soles were manufactured.  In 1872, a potato planter was invented and manufactured at the Falls.

By the late 18^th century, Benton saw mills provided planks, plank stock, boards and shingles, which were rafted down the Sebasticook and Kennebec Rivers and Fifteenmile Stream.  In later years, pulp became the major harvest.  

In 1772, the first frame house north of Augusta was built on Eames Road.  A cluster of older homes can still be found in Benton Falls.  

Three villages developed in town and each had its own stores and school.  The Falls had 10 stores, 6 taverns, a church, library and an academy.  In later years, Benton had a short industrial/electrical road connecting to Fairfield owned by the Kennebec Fiber Co.  It had a one-car passenger accommodation that connected with the electric railway, familiar in many cities and towns in Maine as the broom stick train.  The railroad came to Benton in 1855.  

By 1850, Benton had many prosperous farms.  Good timber was becoming scarce and cleared land was available for farming.  Corn, wheat and hay were grown.  Many of the farms became operating dairy farms, providing a good income for their owners.  By 1900, the farms had steadily declined in numbers.