Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-15

the journal, OF the death OF Warren Colby
Of Vassalboro'. Captain Colby, as he was
familiarly known, was man Of marked char
acter, and possessed many of those native
abilities which go to make the true man. In
| April. 1922, he moved from Embden to Vas
salboro', where he occupied the same house
in which he lived up to the time Of his death,
and the fittest eulogy that could be pro-
nounced upon his memory is that during all
these years he has lived in peace with the
world. with no blot TO tarnish his good name.
and posse ssing the universal respect and love
OF the community in which he moved. Last
October visited Captain Colby at his home.
which is situated in one of the most pic
turesGue spots in the Kennebec valley-and
passed quiet hour With him. Notw ithstand.
ing his advanced years his mind was as clear,
well-defined and keen-cut, AMI his intellect
as bright as most men of forty. From early
boyhood he had taken a deep interest in poll.
tics, local, State and national. and during
the last Presidential campaign he evince1
more than ordinary interest in the progress
of the canvass. 1t is due to him. perhaps
more than to any other one man that the
town in which he lived gave a handsome ma
jorty for President Garfield Early and late
in season and out he labored for the tri-
umph of the republican cause. and he had
the proud satisfaction OF Witnessing glorious
victory over his political cneS,ies. He was
unyielding in his utilization to the republican
party and brought forward arguments to
sustain his convictions with clearness
which would have reflected credit upon more
pretentious political leaders. The previous
year,-during the memorable State crm-
paign.-the greenbackers. through treachery
by small majority. which so disturbed his
mind that his whole thoughts seemed centred
upon devising ways and means to redeem the
town and the State, and to again place II in
the republican ranks and by his plain and at
times homelv but convincing arguments the
town was relieved from the temporary dis
grace of greenback supremacy.
Captain Colby was born in the town Il En,b-
den. this State. on March ). 1900. and was
consequently 81 years of age at the time of
his death. His father was the third inhabi-
tant of that town in its primitive DAYS, which
at that time was comparative wilderness.
He was born in n hut constructed of logs and
mud. and his nearest neighbors lived more
than four miles distant. Embden is situated
twelve miles northwest of Skowb began. on the
Anson and Solnn stage line. was settled in
l119, and incorporated June 90, 1904. From
a recent communication published in local
paper some interesting facts are CLEANED con-
cerning the early history Of the birthplace of
Captain Colby. II is believed that George
Michaels, who settled on the McFadden farm.
and Mr.. Partridge, who settled on the old
Gray farm. were the first settlers.
Michacls was the grandfather of Mrs John
Philbrook Of Fairfield village He occupied
the farm for eleven wears. and then exchanged
farms with Thomas McFadden of what is
now Geo, getown. to whom. and his dscend-
ents the farm has remained to the present
time. Partridge sold to Capt. John Gray of
Woolwich. Capt. GRAY occupied it until
1926. when he died and it continued in the
hands Of his descendants until 4 short time
since. II is now owned and occupied by
Elias Clevelsnd In 1890 Benjamn Poor
made survey and plan ot township Number
One on the west side of Kennebec River in
the Second Range north of the Plymouth
claim in the county Of Kennebec. afterwards
incoi porat, 4 as the town Of Embden and
marked the following named inhabitants npon
his plan. Jacob Williams. Joseph Cook
Nath1 Martin Samuel Fling. John Thomuson
Moses Green. Joseph Chamberlain. Nath1
Stevens. stephen Chamherlan Thomas
McFadden. John GRAY. Joshua Grav. Will
lam IIamlin and Benjamin Colby. father of
the deceased. In 1904 the wear Of the in
corporation Of the town the sum Of fifty dol
lars was assessed TO defrsy town charges
| The list Of assessment for that wear contains
twentv-ihree names. Two individuals were
taxed five dollars each--the others 1ess the
lowest fifty cents. About the year 1900 Moses
| Thompson. E.g moved into the plantation
and settled on the hill near the ferry where he
built very large two story house. which is
still stsnding and which il now occupied by
his son. Clri-topbtr Thonpson. Esq. who is
st this time over ninety wears Of age. The
wife of his youth is still living with him. she
is ur years younger than himself. Nose.
Thompson also built store near his house
I and fr several years supplied the neigbbor-
and bar The latter was presided over
bv "Annt Motley" and the boys. In short
Il ncle Moses" was a notable and good man
in his dav. He was drowned at the ferry in
the spring of 1881.
Not far from the beginning of fbi. century
Asabel Hutchins and Simeon Cragin settled
in the western part Of the town on intervale
farms and became prosperous. and wealthy
farmers. The old ''Hutclins Farm" and the
old ..Cragin Farm" are well known Ia trav-
ellers far and near. They have, for some
wears past, however, been owned out of the
families and name Of the original owners
Old Jonathan Fowler. who was said to be
the LATEST man in the county lived two miles
back from the river. in the palmy days Of
Uncle Moses" and used to loaf around the
! store the most Of the time. and wbittIe. He
said that he and Moses Thompson owned
more cows than any man in town. His laz-
ness has been beaten since, however. Old
| Elisha Young who sai.i that s'he could find
bones As long as God Almighty could find
pain" lived on the west side Of Fshi Pond,
hut he Uof worsfed NJ Last The Clca anfs