Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-20

cd 10 locate the road Nathaniel G. Allen
Isaac Parsons. Ichabod Bonney. Johl
Greenwood and Peleg Chandler. The
following are some OF the points named
in the minutes of the survey: Beginning
at hemlock tree in the easterly line o
Paris standing in tn, center oil the Coun
ty road to be located and laying two rod:
on each side of the corner; thence TO q
point opposite Solomon Shaw's house
thence to u point opposite Abner Shaw's
barn thence to point opposite Benla-
min Hammond's barn; thence to the
center OF a county road formerly lad Out
10 The center lot in Paris; thence on said
road lj5 rods to the end thereof, thence
TO the bridge over Swift brook; thence
TO the north end of tie bridge over Fall
brook; thence 10 a stake and stones on
the easterly bank OF the little AmdriScOg.
gin river at Biscoe's Falls; thence across
said river to a spruce tree &c &c, to the
northwest corner OF Paris; thence
through number 3 to the southerly end
of ridge called "Whale's back" &c.
The Commissioners were eleven days
in locating this road and the entire ex.
pense including seven days labor by
Lcmuel Jackson, Jr. and six by Nicholas
Chcstcy. was 800 CO. This location is
essentially the present travelled road
which enters Woodstock from Paris near
what was formerly known rs Paine 5
bridge and passing up by the former site
OF Bisbee's mill and doSn by Colonel
! Dudley s. enters the present RumiOrd and
Paris road near ID. j. Libby's. Some
! slight alterations have since been made.
the mos. important Of which was above
E!ijth Days. lhe old location passing by
the Gilbert buildings and then turning
quite abruptly to the right.
The location of this road opened up
number > (Wools.ock) Tor settlement.
The surface was hi.ly and covered with
heavy growth O. wood, and not very
inviting TO the pioneer settler, Long
Pond. now Bryant'S Pond, then abounded
with trout, and this with the abundance
of small game in the surrounding woods,
afforded rare sport TO the fisherman and
hnnter. Among those who frequently
visited this region for the purpose OF
hunting and ii,hing, were the sons OF
Solomon Bryant oil Paris. Before The
location OF the road which we have
already described, the Bryant boys were
in the habit of spending considerable
time in the fall OF the year, in the vicinity
of Long Pond and Of returning to spend
the winter with their father. Alter the
opening OF this road, they conceived the
idea OF making settlement in the yet
unsettled township of number 3. They
accordingly procured the services OF Mr..
Thomas Jocelyn Of Buckfield, surveyor.
TO run out ten lots of land. five on each
side oil the new road. The township
then belonged to the State OF Massachu-
sets and the first settlers were squatters.
In the summer of 1897 Christopher and
Solomon Bryant Tell trees on the lots
which they had selected and in tie
autumn OF 1893 they moVedin with their
families. Christopher settled on the lot
now owned by John Day. and Solomon
on The farm afterwards owned by his son
Eli, and still later by his grandson,
Alfred d. Bryant: These two Bryants
were the first settlers in Woodstock.
They had selected this locality with tie
view OF establishing family colony
Christopher Bryant married Susannah
Swan, and Solomon. Sally Swan. daugh-
ters OF William Swan, who soon alter
moved into the settlement and took up
the lot since known as the Gilbert farm.
Luther Briggs married Lydia, sister oil
the Bryant brothers. and Samuel Bryant,
another of the Bryant brothers. married
Lucy. a sister OF Luther Briggs. and IN
the spring of 1899 the ttlement was re-
enforced by the addition of these two
families. Briggs took the lot now occu.
pied By Samuel S. Swan, and Samuel
Bryant the side hill tract now known as
the Common lot"
On the 18th OF November. 1888, son
was born to the wife of Christopher Bry-
ant, who was the first child born in the
township. This was the late Daa. Chris
topher Bryant of Woodstock. These
early settlers lived in log huts and it was
several years before they exchanged
these Tor frame houses. Christopher
Bryant was familiarly known as "Di
BRYANT" and in practicing the healing
art he frequently made the circuit of the
adjoining towns. He found his remedies
in the woods. and from his habit OF dig
eing for medicinal roots, he Was iacetious-
" called "IJr. Digeo." He seemed to
have an intuitive knowledge OF the med
ical properties OF roots and plants ana
was familiar with all the localities where
they could be obtained. In his practice
he sought those cases which had been
abandoned by regular physicians, and
some of the cures which he wrought. or
had the credit of working. were regarded
by many as little less than miracles. He
was somewhat conviVial in his habits and
like most of the pioneer settlers, he was
perhaps too fond of the social glass lie