The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-11-13
faft.p T. Is.fer
Leavos from the History of Canaan

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Leavos from the History of Canaan
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The plantation first called Heywoad-
town Afterwards Plantation u We--
serrunset, and finally called Canaan by
reason Of the piety Of the Inhabitants and
fertility Of It's soil, was surveyed by John
jones' Esq 10 l77J aud included Bloom
field, Incorporated Feb. q, lsl4 and
Skow hogan called Milburn till l'3G, set
oil from Canaan Ia the year 1873 aud the
present town Of Canaan. The latter town
after Bloomfield and Skowhegan were set
oil CT n,ained II. .9l acres OF which there
were about 500 acres Of water, but Range
and part Of Range ?, South Of Sbleyb
Pond containing about 800 acres were
annexed to Canaan In 1924 and large
territory added on the North from town
Of Hartslnd containg about 5000 acres.
In leaf No /, we spoke Of Oake-' long
pond and llaines' Ledge-aa recotr-we
come to the Sand shore, known and
long remembered by US and b, our youth
ful companions, many now scattered and
far away. Many school boy and girls
too have hied away TO this pond 10 early
spring time and summer and autumn too,
aud strolled along this shore, and gszed
into the crystal waters or weded far GU,
on the snow white sand bottom into the
shoal water of slow increasing depth or
went in s~imnlng,-a very few good
swimmers have swum across the pond
which at the sand shore was called about
one mile wide. Those who used TO visit
this shore in early days well remember
that the back ground Of the beautiful
strand was an impenetrable forest Of
tangled cedar and brush, but of late this
has been cleared away and during the
past season (ls90J 3 neat little cottage
has been erected on the sho. e by George
4. Washburn, our former neighbor, but
now the enterprisng proprietor of the
Skowhegan House, and road thrown up
by him with the view Of making this
public resort. Looking north from this
shore across the length OF the pond, al
this point about one anu one-hslf nil s
long, you see the .Clark farm, with the
meadow to the west and Clark'5 inlet to
the east, forming promsntory or cape
coming out into the pond to meet you and
away in the back ground stands mount
Tarus, fauked on the west Ivy long deep
valley, reaching back from the meadow,
and 10 the west of this valley and all
down the west shore of the pond is con-
tinuous highland crowned by the high
hill Of granite and slopng abruptly to
the pond and covered with forests OF
wood.
A long time ago about 90 years, the
road from Skowhegan village wound its
way along over all the high hills inclui-
ing Lamberts hill, and passing near
where John p. Herrn now lives, aud
divergiug to the north from the present
road from Skowhegan to Canaan, made its
way up ard over the Patten or Foster hill
and around across the meadow through
the "Clark farm thence, bearing south
easterly by James Smiths house, on the
farm more recently known A. the Timer
Smith farm, the house having been built
by James Smith for tavern and thence,
the road lead over the hill above George
IIubhard's, near where Richard Harris
now lives, and bearing to the North by
Eb Doan's house on John Drews farm to
the John o. Gardner place where Peter
Sioley then lived, and thence, by Crom-
NETS bridge and over Chases hill in
Canaan to Fuller's corner In Hartland.
In those early days Henry Z. Clark was
original proprietor of the Clark farm
alsnr41 aid, h4.ro hn ais-.d q lers- t.;--t.,-
of children, about ten, and lived to
good old age, his wife having died he
went west about % years ago, and died
there at his sons house. The old folks
remember Henry Z. Clark as 8 simple
kind hearted man, somewhat eccentric and
aboriginal in his habits, always wearing
the same homespun suit and frock, and
bringing his grist to mill at the village in
a bag slung over his shoulder, over the
hills in summer and across the pond in
winter on the ice. During the latter 20
wears of his life he was a member OF
Elder Joseph Mcrrills church, and often
with shaking head, trembling hand and
fearful eyes and choking voice he has
stood before the congregation in our vii
lage meeting house, and told of his con-
version and of the great love of God to
sinners. Mr.. Clark no doubt lived
happy, peaceful life in this secluded but
beautiful spot, but the buildings are now
all gone and not vestige remains.
Up the side hill to the west of the val
ley and meadow and on the road above
named there lived in old times a Mr..
Patten from whom Patterns hill derived
its name, here also lived Thomas Drawn
and Daniel Foster, the latter left
large family of children, among whom
was William and Max Foster both of
whom afterwards settled in Canaan.
vi
III Canaan many years and as coroner,
and was member of the Legislature
in lsGS, and he lost one son, John
S Foster, Il brave lad his Youngest in the
war of 1851. John enlisted rs corporal
in Co. NJ lst Me, n. ii. and was wound
ed in his first battle at Spottsylyania, Va.
May. 10Th, 1864 where 476 brave soldi-
ers were killed or wounded in battle, he
afterwards died OF fever; his monument
stands in the old village graveyard but
some envious person defsced it.James NJ.
Foster another son served in Co. A. III h.
Maine and in LIST, Maine, cavalry, Wal
lace Foster his eldest son was also
in the army, 10Th, Regiment, and he it
was who for many weary months day and
night watched over, and nursed the brave
Gen. Conuor. and saved his life, he hav
ing been wounded in leg in battle of the
Wilderness May 9th, lsG4
William Foster another son OF Daniel
Foster lost his youngest son William L.
private, Co. H. LIST Maine cavalry, killed
in battle. His other two sons Charles ii.
Foster sergeant aud Daniel NJ Foster cor
poral were in the same Co. and both were
wounded and now draw pensions and
reside in Canaan. Elijah S. Foster an
other son of Daniel Foster resides in Ca
DhAu ana has DttU seltttuldu several
Years and is a successful farmer aud in
company with his son, George II. has
raised and trained and sold many valu-
able horses.
Peter Sinley above named was son OF
Benjamin Sihlcy who settled near Sibley
pond which bears his name. Peter Sib
ley was Il curiosity even in tn )se days,
half century ago. While at the village
one day his neighbor, G.. asked his sd-
vice how 20 stop certain dog from fol-
lowing him to the village every time he
came. ON, that's easy enough done,
said Peter, cut "A his tail and he won't
follow you, well then said the neighbor,
here's the dog lets cut of its tail, there
upon Peter Sioley caught the dog by the
tail, while another man held 1t by the
head. Peter stretched the dogs tail
across log and neighbor G. raised his
axe to strike but at the moment the axe
was about to descend with force from
well directed blow, Peter jerked the dog
toward him and the axe cut the poor
brute through the middle of his back,
All shouted Peter Sibley you have cut
the dogs tail rather short, but he will
never follow you again.
Emerson and Newspapers.
Emerson's praise of newspaper Eng