The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-10-15
For the Reporter.
Early Settlers in Canaan, No. ID,

S eward Families-There were 1--we di--
tnct families of this name who may be
reckoued among the early settlers, and
from the similarity of names it Is suppos-
ed they all originate ed from one head.
extract the following from IL record
which has been furnished to me,
Sooman Steward Of kowley, near New
5uryport, Supposed to have been at the
destruction of the Norridgewocks at Old
Point, was born about 100, and dieo
about l7SS His sons were Benz smin,
solomon, Phneas, Daniel, William an
Jacob. and one daughter, Mary. II
copiectured that three of these emigratet
to Canaan; 1t is known that one grand
son did. He may have been the first, bu'
incline to the belief that others proceed
ed him, and will notice them first
Phinoas Stew ard | think was the mex
to come to Canaan after hose who hay'
been mention ed in the previous numbers
lie titled on the lot adj lining my Grand
father Whites, the place now owned nA
John Webb. He built a saw mill on tn
other side of the river nearly opposite
his place, but little lower down. ~ wa
on brook which ri-es, If l recollec'
right, near Haskel's Corner, runs soutl
and crosses the river road below wher
Sim. Parkmsn lived; one of his sons toll
me when | was in Skowhegan four year
| 4go, that be remembered seeing some OF
he timbers of the mill or the dam, as J
tlso do. There was excellent pine timber
near there, and in few years franco
| taI. h.., lao. IF ala
| iog cabins. Uncle Phin as he was csllec
was a carpenter, and he and bis Sons
probably did all the work of bull ling tn,
.pill and carrying ii on, Within my re
nembrance there were five frame house
and log cabin on that 200 acre lot wher'
he lived. One of them stood where tn
house now is an ther iwaS four or fv'
rods south, aud was moved after MI
Shepard bought the place, near the bach
md of the first mentioned and used Tor
store house aud work shop in one roou
vas a boiler for cooking potatoes an
pumpkins for fattening hogs. Auothe'
vas further south on the other side Of
he road. When | was small boy, Ma
Tor Asa Wyman lived in that and worke'
At shoemaking Ii was sold afterwards
and moved away These three were o.
the usual form of one story, four room
| louses There was house of two room
| 10 the corner by the road next to the
| White farm, with about an acre OF Oh
chard where an old man by the name
Russell lived, who WAS also IA shoemaker
| think he had life lease, for soon a1te
ne died the house was torn down and tn
fence removed On the south side OF th
larm a ross lad ran from the river ron
% the middle road and quarter OF a mlh
Ip this road As another two room hou't
occupied by Sally and Polly Boynt m; a.
acre or so of ground was attached to I'M
louse they raised fax and believe KEEP
Il COW. Itw as late a. 1873 that Sail
was married to Solomon Whidden, wild
over, who lived near Canaan village. J
.hink she must have been nearly 90 year,
old. Polly went away somewhere and
hat house was demolished. Farther wes
IN that cross road was the cabin where
Jonathan ireland lived sometimes; thu
marks of two small graves were to bt
seen there for many years, may be yet.
have an aili iavit of Abraham Steward.
son of Phineas, which states that his fatb-
er had claim by posses sion TO ano1h'
lot on the east side of The river, lowe
down than where the saw mill was; tina
he could not buy it on account OF oppos
ing claims to the ownership; and that he
wished to retain possession for the PRIV
lege Ct turning his cattle over there to
pasture, and getting some of the timber
If course to work up in his saw mill.
At what date he sold his farm to Ben
jamin Sheppard, Esq, cannot say. Han
son says Mr.. Sheppard was Repaesents
tive in 1905 | do not think he had been
in the town more than two or three years,
Uncle Phin then moved | understand Il
the place on the middle road near til
Snow farm, but back some distance from
the road, the place occupied Tor many
years by his son Thomas, deacon Tom
Of the Baptist church He was an ingen
ious mechanic and built chaise for him
self doing both the wood and i; on work
1t was probably the first chaise in town;
IL had square top not made to let dow
and either the shafts and springs or body
was painted red. He had several so s
and one daughter, the wife of Seth Wy
man | have no record of his death or
| Of his age.
| Samuel Ste ward, perhaps the Oldest son
was a man doing business for himself, in
| l776, as is shown by his receipt for fen
shlllings which my grandfather owed hin
He lived on the lot next south OF Uncl'
Seth Wyman's. His house, like my Uu
Gle Joseph's was two stories In front and
half story lower on the back side; +
NAV have been Of older date than INCL.
Joe's, but presume it was taken down
years ago. He had two sons, Samuel ano
Joseph who lived in St. Adams, and be-
came colonel in the militia; and five or
six daughters.
Phineas may have been the oldest. On
second thought am not certain but hi
father lived with him instead of with
Deacon Tom. only know of him thst
he had son called Tom Phn. and thst
he sold to Samuel Bcknel and moved to
Bingham or that vicinity.
Abraham lived iu st. Adams In my