Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-08

OF the company OF militia ia that Town,
and was exceedingly genial and happy
in bis command; the company soon had
full ranks; be was liberal in providing
entertainment for bis men, although he
furnished no intoxicating drinks. lie was
promoted to major of the regiment to
which his company was attached, and
then to lieut.. colonel. He also served for
many years as one Of the experimenting
school committee Of Denmark. In 1883
no married Miss Pike, sister Of COR in.
formant, Mr.. John T. Pike.
Some time previous to 1912, on account
Of his liberal expenditure connected with
his military command and the time spent
away from his business, he failed TO meet
some pocuniary obligations, and becam,
comparatively poor. He however, set
tied up honestly and honorably with ali.
saved something from the wreck of his
affairs, and in November, 1912, came
with Mr.. Pike to AroOstook. and made a
selection OF land in township Letter II,
now Lyndon, then an entire wilderness.
He Immediately purchased 600 acres Of
land, and he and Mr.. Pike made small
opening, laid up the walls OF q iog house,
and in December, leaving Pike to cover
the roofs of the houses, he and Mr.. Ivory
Hardison, who had commenced on q lot
near, the summer before, started to bring
in their families.
Ormsby returned in March, 1913. with
his wiie,-,bey had no childron,-
comm enced housekeeping, and rs soon IS
spring opened, commenced 20 clear his
land. lie WAS very industrious, very
economical in his personal expenses.
shrewd in the management. of business,
always honest and honorable in his desl-
irgs, and was much beloved and esteemed
by his neighbors lie raised grain and
grass seed in large quantities; also hay
which he sold to iumbermcn in the y.cia.
ity. and in a few years accumulated wha.
was regarded , ere in those days as q
good property. Ho was chosen p'au,a-
ton clerk at the Organization of the
plantation, which office ha held while re-
maiui1g there.
In 1883 he sold his land to Col. John
McC.u -, q Gentleman w I known in
this county, for $500 or $1,000, which
Col. McClussy paid him in gold lie
had l'so Other property TO ho amount
Of 5000 or moro. which he disposed Of.
lie and his wife nowarangad 20 return to
Denmark. where lhoy had not been since
they left in 1912, a1I after haying
visited their friends there, wolll decide
whether to return to Aroostook or not.
He gave his wife 5000 in gold and she
lel; before he did, he remaining to close
up some affairs, but was 70 follow in
few days. After di5posing Of what
property he had left, he had his gold(all
the money he had was in gold, )sewed
into the lining Of his clothes, so that he
carried it about his person. and left by
the way of Fort Fairfield and the St.
John river. and there has never been
any authentic intelligence OF him since.
Mrs Ormsbv. after living some years
in Denmark returned to Lyndon, married
again to a Mr.. Rolf, and died in Mays
vile last summer.
The story told by NJ. Rogers in all its
principal features is perfectly fanciful.
Ormsby never lived alone; his wife was
always a, home, aud he had hired men,
and besides was one of the most social
men in his habits in the world Ho went
away openly and in the daylight 1t
was known TO everybody that he Was
going, weeks before he went. Hardison
and Pike were the first settlers in Lyn-
don, except some Province people on
the river, end he came there with them.
The story as told by Mr.. Rogers Of this
strange mau" is fiction, myth.
We never had the pleasure of per-
sonal acquaintance with Col. Ormsby.
He left few years before we came to
Aroostook. But we have often heard
him described by those who knew him
well. Mr.. Jacob Hardson has told US
that he worked for him eight months
and lived in his family and that he never
knew better, more genial, pleasant
and excellent man. Mr.. and Mrs. Ivory
Hsrdison have told us he was an excel
lent neighbor, good company, always
obliging, friendly and kind. Mr.. Pike
says that his home was one of genial
hospitality, and he was never more
happy than when his table was surround
ed by friends and callers. Yet all OF
these people and others say he had his
eccentricities, his mysterious traits OF
of character, an unlikeness in some
respects to almost any one else. We
take it from all that we hear of him, tina
be was one OF NATURES noblemen, born
right the first time, and needed no being
born over again to make him man.
Unlike in some traits almost everybody
else, but the uulikeness was on the right
side of others, and not on the wrong.
His mysterious disappearance would
seem to indicate something wrong. Per-
haps there was, but to our mind it is
more likely he was fOully dealt with for
the sake OF his money. than that be LETT