Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-08-03
Great Pond.


near the head waters of Union River, vii
hold ITS place in the memory Of many
hardy woodsman, but few perhaps know III
trials and hardships Of its early settlers. Il
about 1911 the township of No. SO, par
Of the Bingham purchase, was owned b,
/ Square TIlden," of Boston, who otfere,
brilliant inducements with many promises o
/ the good time TO come" 10 those who ha,
/ courage enough to brave the danger of pi
oneer life. A party from Massachusetts
among whom was Simeon and Clark " il
lams, came by water this being an unbroker
/ Pond. Simeon felled the first tree. They
/ commenced clearing about 40 rods from th,
| pond choosing the highest land, erected I
/ log cabin or two and went back with fay
/ orable report Of this part Of the Pine Ire,
\ State. Clark Williams already married. anC
/ his father Joshua, revolutionary soldier
/ from Rhode Island, John Collar, from China
/ Me, Mr.. dyke. half brother of Mr. Add
son Dodge. and few other families whose
lanes | have not learned came here with
/ view TO settlement. After few years Mr.
| Tl.den sold out to John Black HIS prom
I ise.of road. mills and settlers proved fail
7 ure and discouraged all went back to then
/ native lands, except three families. Joshur
/ Williams, his son Clark and John Collar
/ In 1872 Simeon Williams married Harrie
/ kenney Of ~ B. In 1923 he moved her,
with his family Of four children, and hi
father, who having grown infirm from
wound in the lex received in the army drew
a pension until he died at the age Of 81
The method Of transportation was on horse
back, only spotted line for road. Tn,
/ nearest saw mill grist-mill and blacksmith
shop vas in Marlayille, distance Of y
miles. Capt. Snl Jordan and Eben Morn
,on first built Great Pond Dam.
A.hel Foster drove the first team across
Brandy Pond. In those days II was as Gus
tomary to take their barrel Of liquor a. then
hoir INTO the woods with them and v her
/ Mr.. Foster had got half way across the PonC
I he must celebrate the event by treating tn,
crrw. As no dish was at hand an lnyentiv,
genius proposed cutting hole in the !cc aut
filing it with brandy, which they did anC
lay down and drank it. hence the nam,
brandy Pond" Simeon Williams raiset
family Of nine children. They all settlec
around him and this place vas rightly called
Williams settlement James and Thomas
as BOYS had 10 take the responsibility o
men. Darkness has overtaken them v her
coming home from mill and they have tieC
their horse and laid down and slept be,id,
him. They owned the first wagon rvel
brought here In 1888 James married Lu
cjuIa JAhr,, " Cherr, field. He is the old
c-t InhabJtant here, % Years old next April
anI say, he j. Just young as he used L
be" IN feeling, and can do as much work il
the field a, any Of his boys. In 1872 rhom
a. married MARY Ann Lord Of Greenfield
He died Of dIphtherla in 1865 at the aye o
IA ,..r. IT,. %, b.. ,hl1..o .l..a ~
.,1. h,,, 81. v,c. ,,,,.d .,,;r aod :,
nov the widow OF the late Joseph Smith o.
N,ri,,urs TIA u ~ eh;Id,e, -. ro,
..,,l.,l,, Nip,..,ol,. Job, roIl,r ha3
f,r,l, of -, cbildra, mos, of ,h.n how
.,.r di.J /, .,,Iy M. lame. ~. oIl..,
..n /. Mn .rs.5Jso, of III. nl,c. Ush,,
-.,.h.3 b.. ,b,...o,,, -. o.-r.,,.