The Somerset reporter., 1891-02-05


session Of three Of tie sons, who l sup.
pose bought the rights If the other heirs.
Uncle joe ha1 tae middle lot No. ~ the
place where his grand daughter Mrs /
L. X. Adams now Ives.
Most Of the early settlers when tired Of
their log cabins built one story houses
befolc erecting those Of Two stories,
which afterwards adorned 50 many Of the
farms in the town. But Albert Leighton
says he heard Uncle Joe'- Widow say that
they lived i've OF six years in cabin N
the bank VI the river before building the
house in which she then resided the
house now standing On that farm. II no.
the eldest house, II IS doubtless the liest
two story house in the town and perhsps
in the county; though Mrs. Helen Neil
Howard Claimed that pre-eminence for
hers. 1t has been entirely remodeied; e,
was originsliy only story and nalf Oh
the back side and had but one chimney
with Replaces il three Rooms. Il mus,
have been Duiltas early as l7,j.
Uncle joe was man of varied aet.7t-
tics. Besides clearing hundred acre. Of
heavily timbered land, he was a tailor
tanner and shoe maker, and held several
public Offices. At what date he commenc-
ed his tanuery | am unable to say, but Of
course it was after he got into his lew
house. His tan house, situated six or
eight rods south OF his dwelling, was
about "a by 30 feet a. judge from rec
objection, and two stories higu. The tau
watts, which were outside of the building
were plainly visible three years ago. The
bark mill was sl-o outside 8 circu.af
trough in which granite whe, four VI
live feet b N and Fix inctes thick, with
a ". ep, was rolled around ~ hCrs pow
er.
After Nath. Burr.ll cau.e into the town
and began tannery on larger scale
Uncle Joe went out Of the business and
tore down the tan house, and used the
material for a building near the house for
carriage shed. storage, and one room
roughly finished for spinning AID weav.
ing.
As for the shccnaking, l remember
seeing q big PILE Of lasts in the tanA use
so III shaped snd old fashioned tina. d.
not think they were used even then.
Uncle Joe was notew orthy for his love
for Improvements and conveniences OF
various kiuds, and was the hrst 20 intro.
/ duce many such. lie had a stove il HI.
tan house the only one presume in wha
+ is now Somerset county also lamp fol
tallow candles. clock leel which coul,
+ be reyol, ed like spinning wheel, and CAV,
+ notice y snap when 4 knot Of forty
+ bread was run of; coffee mill, WLel s.
+ others who used coffee poundci !: il S
mortar: steel comb which WAS said L
/ have electrical powers and wuuli cure
+ headache; and a tin Kitchen, semi. g q
drc reflector with an iron rod or spit, on
hich tie turkey or meat to be roasted
was fastened and cid in shy position ar
a dripping pan below. 1t wss splendid
coutriyance for roasting meat before the
wide open fireplace He wss the tiFst too
to raise buckwhest, but alSs, they had
never heard of gridd.e cake, and made
into bread it was not q grand success. He
also had tie first coach owned in the
town; and did not they cut big figure
when with wife aud daughters he drove
W to the meeting house Sundays, even
though 1t was only half m.la away He
did not keep il more than a yesr or two.
hut exchanged it for chaiSe.
w en- the barn now standing on the
place was raised, of course the New Eng
land rum was furnished, but there was
also potato whiskey. tasted it out uf
cn-iosity; it had degree of sprituous
flavor, but the predominant TASTE wa,
like potato ball. l think it was not
properly rectifed.
Uuoic Joe took CREST pleasure 10 good
horses, especially such as showed snv
high degree of speed, He generally kep.
two or three, which Was considered tx
trsvEgsnt. As they were not used for farm
work. that all being done by oxen. 1t
VIII surprise readers of this 10 learn that
horse rac,uI after fashion wss much
prsctiCed in CansSn loo wears ago. Tie
track was the public road from the meet
ing house south as far - the level ground
extended, about qusrter OF 4 mile. Tn
he Joe had a horse named Suwsrruw
that was a successful racer At some
public gs'herug, ml.itis training | be
Icve, 4 man present boosted much of the
speed Of his horse, but was shy of put
ting il to the test, After considerable
banter. Uucle Joe offered to bet mot 3
lar-e SUN Of course on his horse Suwar-
row without rider. He held him till
the word 20, then let him 90; the hor,e
had been over the ground SO many tine
he knew what was expected of him and
WAS easily the winner. | had this from
Uncle Joe hmsl If. Hanson says the IT
were several volunteers 10 join the amy
hut none of them went except JOSEPH
mon, som times for only three mGnths
| lived next door to him most of The
time till | was thirty six year sod and
have no recollection of ever hearing hin
recount any army adventures. He wa.
town treasurer twelve years, slso con
stable anu collector, and believe dep
uty sheriff This business took hiu
sometimes 10 the county seat of I.iucu,r
"A a..
there he Witnessed the hanging of I
man pamed Hadlock, not for murder bu
for brautsl assault on a little girl ten OF
welve years old.
| | hardly think he couli he called
model farmer for the reason that knew
him to sell manure; the price dollar an,
quarter cart load In the CID time,
he was a successful hunter aud gooC
shot. He was once sitting on the baul
of the river watching for ducks he saw
one flying up stream and another down
stres m. and just As they met nearly op-
poste to him he fired and brought dowr
! both
one thing | hsd almost forgotten Il
mention was a curious desk that be had
made by Dr. Whitaker; an octagon di
vicei into four compartments and placed
on a standard on which it revolyed St
that a man could seat himself and bring
any Of the divisions tefore him. Mrs
Adams has now another desk in the com.
mon form of those days made sso BY
DR.. Whitaker.
| Joseph Weston was man who epjoyed
good eslth though he net with some
hurtful accidents. Once he was thrown
from a horse against fence and broke
two or three ribs. His last sickness wa.
short but some what painful. He dice
March 22d, 1888, aged 81 years month.
and 5 dsys. His widow survived hin
more than % years. She died Sept. %
1851, aged 80 years months and II DAYS
She retained her strength and activit
wonderfully: it was said when she wa
ninety she could get in and out of car
rage almost like young girl.
Their children were eight; EuLice maj
red John Pooler; Joseph m. Lydi
Fletcher aud died 1871 aged 50 wears
months; Sally, unmarried died 1859. /
years; Lucy married Hon. David Kidder
Hannah married VIM. Walker Of Arson
James married Betsey Smith from N. H
died Nov. 1912, aged about 90; Eliza mai
ried Ebenezer Nutter. died aged 81; Pau