Welcome to Kenduskeag, Maine

For over thirty years, Timothy was active in town government. He was the first Chairman of Selectmen, first Town Clerk, first Constable and the first Postmaster, which he held for over thirty years. In addition, he held the following offices: Town Treasurer, Town Agent, Surveyor of Highways, Surveyor of Lumber, Tax Collector, and town meeting moderator. He also held other positions including Justice of the Peace, served a term in the legislature in 1858, and was Treasurer of the Penobscot Central Railroad Company in the 1890's. This organization was responsible for the development of a railway from Bangor passing through Kenduskeag to Milo Junction. Timothy died in 1902.

Because of his great record keeping skills, we have accurate records of the town's earliest history. There is no doubt that Timothy P. Batchelder was the most important person in the early development of Kenduskeag, Maine.

Timothy P. Batchelder was the founding father of the Town of Kenduskeag. Many old records from the early days of the town were recorded by him and are on display in the Case Memorial Library.

He was born in Sanford, Maine in 1815 and moved to Levant in 1838, where he operated a store. In 1840, he married Mariah York of Belfast and built a house in the village. Years later, a petition was circulated among the townspeople calling for a separate town to be formed in the eastern part of Levant. Proponents included state senator Charles Piper, state representative Abraham Sanborn, and the town of Levant; while opponents included Isaac W. Case and the town of Glenburn. A bill was sent for Batchelder to come to Augusta. On February 20, 1852, Batchelder returned home with the bill "in his breeches pocket" that incorporated the town of Kenduskeag.

Isaac was born in Kenduskeag, Maine, on November 14, 1822, the third child of Doctor Isaac Case and Abigail (Page) Case. He grew up on the Case Farm in Kenduskeag, mastered sufficient Latin & Greek to pass the entrance requirements of Bowdoin College, and graduated from Bowdoin in 1848. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, to study law, but upon the death of his brother Albert in 1850, his father called him back to Kenduskeag to help manage the farm. In addition to farming, he also taught school and was on the school committee in 1852. In 1855 he was elected Town Selectman, in 1860 Treasurer, and in 1861-62 selectman again.

At age 40, on September 10, 1862, Isaac enlisted as a private in the Maine 9-Month Civil War Volunteers. Before leaving Camp Bangor he was elected Captain of Company H by his fellow townsmen. His regiment, the Maine 22nd, left Bangor October 21, 1862, and in a few weeks joined the Army of General Banks in New Orleans. Just before the surrender of Port Hudson he had joined a storming party of 1000 volunteers to make a contemplated desperate attack upon that stronghold; but he suddenly fell ill and died of congestive fever on July 6, 1863. His remains were taken to New Orleans the next day, embalmed and forwarded to Kenduskeag where he was buried with military honors in the town cemetary.