Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-16

II lbs, Chocolate AT ses. pr. ID, 10,
" "a lbs. Tea at IS, 10 DIT. 10, 90. 10
" one Peck OF salt, ,, IL
" axes \ helvcs, 81, 10
II Quarter 10. OF Pepper at 9is., !. I
" kegg for Butter. 2, ,
Quarter OF Ginger at IS,
" lb.. shot at l2s, (, rs
oeo, .
The amount OF expenses, ON the road to
and from the township, Is stated at E302.
lis. Among the items are the following
Paid at Davlses. New Gloucester. f5. >
" for a lamb, q, 9
Keeping our horses, 10, Is
Mr. Maxim states that the line OF travel
OF the committee was through WOburn,
Andover, IIayerhill, Exeter, New Market,
Berwick, Well, Saco, Scarborough, Fail
mouth and New Gloucester, and that they
sold sundry articles, for which they re-
ccived f4l, l2s.
The explanation of the apparently fabu-
lous prices OF the various articles in this
account may be found, doubtless, in the
fact that ii was stated in continental, mon
cy, and at a time when one dollar Of that
money was worth only three cents eight
mills-thiS being its current value In De-
cembcr, l179, when the account was pre-
scented. Thus one peck OF salt, for in
stance, at 81, lis. continental currency,
rcckoncd at five dollars TO the pound, cost
about fif(y-four cents in gold; tea, at 60,
los. per pound. cost about one dollar and
ten cents In gold; rum, at - los. brought
in gold about ninety-hye cents gallon
and so on.
According 10 n statement obtained At the
| L. =. Statistical bureau, one dollar con
| tinental bill was worth, in October. l777,
nincty-one cents one mill in December,
| l777, seyenty-nve cents four mills; but in
March. l179. IL had deprecated 10 ten
cents, in April 10 nine cents, in June 10
seven cents, three mills, in September To
five cents, five mills, in November 10 four
cents, three mills, and in December 10 three
| cents. eight mills.
What Williamson says OF the early set
tiers in Maine generally is undoubtedly
true OF those who fixed their location IN
this town. ITO clear woodlands OF their
rugged membranes, and render them
smooth for the plough and scythe and NJ
| for human habitancy, required a fOrtitude
and perSevering industry, which are never
permitted TO abatc. The first settlers pos
seSScd these qualities In an eminent de-
gree. Nor were their felicitics all in pros
|
10 the eye ofluxury, il was usually the sanct-
uary OF virtue, Of health, of character, and
the birth place OF many such rs the world
calls good and great. Even the mcrcst
wood cutter amidst his solitude, brcathcs a
nectarinc atmosphere and cXnlts III his
| freedom, - he sees field added To field and
cottage after cottage rise, until, the will
dcrnesS changes and brightens into towns,
a 4
ductiye toil-the prospective dwelling
place OF postcrity in successive genera
| tons"
In an interesting paper, read by Mr..
| William Allen. before the Maine Historical
Society, in 1855, on the early Sandy River
Settlements in Franklin Comfy, he said
The common course Of proceeding with
beginners, was first 10 cut down the trees
on dive or six acres the first year, burn the
ground over and plant with corn the next
year and build i log house; cut down more
trees, remove the family in before harvest
time; live on corn meal one year. raise
wheat the third year and build a small
| barn; raise English hay, wheat, rye, and
corn the fourth year, and then they were
in a way tU live comfortably. After liv-
ing seven years in log house, every one
had n right TO build a framed house, II
h. could; they were then called old set
tiers. All who had nothing better than a
log house, were by common consent bound
To give one new settler two weeks accom-
mediation and board when moving in"
Whether similar practices and rules pre-
vailed in the early days OF Paris, | am not
advised.
II would be pleasant, had we time, TO
sketch, briefly, the lives of many OF our cit
liens, who have gone before us, but shall
name only few OF the more prominent.
Among the first of these who were honor
ell by high office, was Levi Hubbard, who
was representative to the General Court
of Massachusetts, aflerward representa-
tive TO Congress, State Councillor and
Presidential Elector
Albion X. Paris, Immediately on his adj
mission 10 the bar in 1909 established him
self on Paris Hill. He held successfully,
the Offices OF County Attorney, Represen-
tative to the General Court State Senator,
Representative TO Congress, Judge OF the
L. 5. District Court for Maine, member Of
the convention To form a State CouStitu-
ton, Governor for five consecutive terms,
Senator in Congress, Associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court of the State, Second
Comptroller OF the t. 5. Treasury, and
Mayor of Portland.
Enoch Lincoln, while practicing law
here, occupied the same little one story Of
flee, previously occupied by Mr.. Paris, and
which still stands here on Paris Hill, an
interesting monument OF the past. Twice
elected TO Congress, in his last term he was
elected Governor and was reelected TO that
Office the two succeeding terms.
Following Gov. Lincoln came Joseph G.
Cole, lawyer, editor, State Representative,
Clerk of Courts and District Judge.
While practising law, he, too, occupied the
same little building already referred to
and it is the same in which our distinguish
ed townsman, Hannibal Hamlin, studied
law, and from which he has risen to ill
successfully, with marked ability, almost
every office (the highest excepted) in the
gin of the people of both State and Ma
ton.
Contemporary with Judge Cole was Ste
phen Emery, long Probate Judge and one
year Attorney General Of the State; and
closely associated with them was Rufus