Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-04-13
OLD SCHOOL DIsTRICr"No. sIx,'
OXFORD, MAINE.
SECOND rArEE
nv J. ). =.
Editor Of Democrat /.

Editor Of Democrat;
In my former paper. very briefly rur
over some OF the incidents connected with
the early settlement Of Old "No Six
giving The names Of the pioneers IS fal
As | could gather them from recolleciior
are the early records.
In this number. propose to speak o.
some OF these men. giving something ol
their public record and standing In ,h'
community In which they lived. Amons
the frs, settlers Hoo. wm. G. wki,ne,
seems to have occupied one OF the mos
prominen, positions. lie was visorol,
active man. With large business capaei'
ties, and accumulated and left large
property. Before Maine became State
he was several years member OF ih'
Massachusetts, Legislature; was a mem
Der Of Governor Kings Council. the frs
year after the separation. and for many
years High Sheriff Of Oxford County
lie had large family, Of which. VI
think George 4. Whitney. Esq. whC
now occupies the old homestead, is the
only surviving member. lie died only q
few years since. At an advanced old age,
maintaining bis men,al faculties 10 .
wonderful degree-almos, TO the last,
Mr.. James HOlme. Was another prom
insh, citizen. although be never entered
public life. lie commenced lie without
means. bu, left large estate TO his heir,
OF large family. We think T.. H.
Holmes. Esq. who resides 10 the old
family mansion. i' the oaly survivor.
In 1918 Ms.r. Whitney s Holmes
had . famous lawsuit. abou, the dividine
line on . small strip Of land. on sdj j.eea'
territory. The case n reported in the
18th Massachusetts,. l52. They bad
two or three trials. ia which Whitney
finally won. Tradition has IL, ,ha, dur
ing this porirse,ed legal contest, these
wealthy parties would ooeasionally send
each other message. informing bis op'
poaen, tha, be bad q Thousand dollars
carefully laid by. for hghting money,
which would be followed by counter
return message. thA; "hfteen hundred
va, on dePo.i, for the same belligeren,
purpose. Judge Msllen VAS counsel for
Whitney and General fessedsn for
Holmes.
DR.. Jacob Tewk.bury very early in
life. settled as a pr.etieing physician and
surgeon In mo. Six" In bis profession
be was one Of the mos, distinguished
men Of bis day.-hAving a very large
practice. both in aud ou, Of town Had
be followed the practice Of nearly all the
members Of the profession Of the presen,
day. he would have accumulated for
tune. lie Was kind TO the poor. modsf-
ate in bis charges and never pressed hi'
patient. who were unfortunate, and Who
found !, hard to pay.
John Caldwell. the grandfather Of the
writer. on bis mothers side. sold ou, .
good business in Salem. Mass. fOr $1,000,
took bis entire pay 10 continental
moaey." which went TO smash" on bis
hands. and be WAS lsfi wi,hoa, a dollar.
lie then started for the wilds Of Maine,
and followed line OF spotted trees from
New Gloucester to 0xford-,hen Hebron.
lie va, . man Of remarkable energy and
will,-,he father OF Ms,hoii,m Ia that
part Of the Countrywide accumulated
a handsome property. aud settled ell bis
children around him upon good farms.
and died greatly lAmsn,ed by the whole
community.
Isaac ThAyer Was near neishbor to
my father. q thrifty. solid farmer, q man
Of brp9us ways. but honest and square
10 all ki, dealings. My bOyhOOd reeollec-
ton. Of the uniform kindness and good
will Of my father. two neare., nsighbor.
in the persons Of "Esq. whi,ney" (as be
WAS fsmiliArly called. and Isaac Thsyer.
will ever be fresh in my memory. 50 long
as life shAll last.
"Col." Na,hl. Fuller. Sen. was among
the pioneer settlers. Just how be 90,
bis military title. l eAnno. tell. bu,
ih., be had IL. all the inhabitants Of "No.
Six" can testify. The old Colonel bad a
vein Of vanity sbou, him, especially when
speaking Of his crops. 0ne year be told
bis n,ishbop ,ha, he fIIed h,s barns with
hay and pa, two stacks out Of doo-
for wan, OF room. The boys one night,
to play little trick upon the old gentle
man. pu, both stacks Of hay into the
barn and uod down bis mows 20 there
was room for As much more. The Colonel
always stuck to |, that the raseals stole
his two stacks.
The only store ever KEEP. in "No. Six"
was in the porch Of the old red house Of
the late Zebedee Cashman. and this Was
in the early days Of the settlement. The
good. were what Was common in those
day. in grocery shops-"New Rum and
Tobacco, and Tobacco and New Rum
As leading articles. This store did not
run . great many years. As Mr.. Ca'hman
found the cultivation Of bis excellent farm
q better paying investment.
The only mill in "No Six was an old
'oversho," run by Peter Thayer, on the
oa,le, Of "Riehmond Pond" Here corn
was ground for good many year; but
at las, "Unele Peter died. and his old
mill did no, long survive the homes, old
miller.
The main road through "No. Six
from Isaac Thsyer's TO "Jamb Bridge"
Hill was for several years the great thor
oughiare for the "up country towns to
Portland; and James SOule. one OF the
old settlers, erected large square house
near the present residence Of George Rob.
inson. for country tavern. This build.
ing vas . poor speculation for Mr.. Soule
for the public travel soon sought and
found . more feasible route to Portland.
and lsf. the unfinished hotel, with It's
keeper high and dry upon back route.
This was the beginning and end OF
tavern keeping" In "No. Six"
would be glad to say something OF
other men Of note In "No. Six"-of Capt.
Samuel Robinson, senior. who had the
largest orchard In town. and who ct the
head Of bis militia company, unsheathed
bis sword and marched them to Portland
n a.