The Somerset reporter., 1892-09-29

On Historic Ground.

| had the opportunity of visiting some
of the scenes connected with the early
history of our state, and especially that
of my great grandfather, Rev. Ezekiel
Emerson, the first congregational minis
ter that carried the gospel up and down
the kennebec. and for nifty years was Il
faithful pastor in Georgetown and vicln-
ity. His many descendants in this Sec
ton might be interested in brief dis
cription of his last resting place and the
immediate vicinity where he lived 30
long and so we'll.
Crossing the kennebec al Phippsburgh
Center, about seven miles below Bath,
and passing up one-third of Il mile from
the shore, We come to an old burying
ground, one of the first used for thar
purpose in Maine. Here we find plain
slate maidstone with this inscription.
Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, son of John and
Mary Emerson, born l736, died Nov. o.,
1915. BY his side is the grave of Cath
rine Emerson, his wife. Other family
connections are buried in this lot. A
few years since Luther ID. Emerson of
Oakland, and Capt. &. +. Nash of Au-
gusta, defendants of Rev. Ezekiel Elmer
son, placed a substantial iron-railing
around the lot. Passing on "A few rods to
the eastward is a small orchard, the site
of the church which was erected in 1861
and where he preached for fifty years.
One mile and a-half still farther to the
east once stood the house in which he
lived, and where | was told my grand
father was born. The house is gone
but the cellar walls remain. Near the
house Is a large stone or boulder twenty
two inches high aud four feet across,
used by parson Emerson as a stepping
stone where he mounted his horse to
ride away on his journeyings. | broke
small piece from this boulder, also pro-
cured small stone from the cellar WALL
and brought them home AS mementoes.
In this locality We were shown the
site of an old graveyard long since gone
to decay, where the first settlers were
buried. 1t is now used as a pasture, but
we could easily detect the graves by the
rude stones placed at the head and foot
of each. Some were roughly marked,
Others were not. noticed one that bore
the date of 1851. Between this burying-
ground and the river stands the first
frame dwelling house erected In Maine,
as the inhabitants of that vicinity inform
ed me. The building has been kept in
good repair and is now used as an outer
house to large stand of farm buildings.
could not learn the date of its erection,
but probably it was early in the eight
zenith century. | measured one of the
b, ans on which the second floor rests,
and found it to be fourteen inches square
Here are the old cupbOards. doors, win
dOw-sills and braces that were construct
ed by hands that for one hundred and
fifty years have mouldcred in the dust.
As this building stood near the church,
it was the place where great grandfather
Emerson ate his dinner during the inter-
milton between services. TO know
that in the long ago his feet pressed this
soil; that he passed In and out of these
doors; that all around here were the
scenes of his honored and useful life,
was of great interest to me, rs it would
be to hundreds of his posterity now
scattered over our entire country.
Phippsbugh Centre is lovely little
village nestled close by the waters of
the kennebcc seven miles below Bath.
a large vessel is on the stocks here,
well underway towards completion.
1t was quite a curiosity for one from the
upriver towns, unused to such sights,
to climb from the hold to the upper deck
and before plank is laid on either deck,
view the magnificent proportions of this
great ship. She has three decks, her
keel is 245 feet and her Tonnage will be
2 200 tons.
We found some smart old men down
there in Phippsburgh. While down at
Small Point close to the ocean shore,
tntt m y N from, Il y
mile cruise on the Atlantic. They SEEM
ed rs lively as boys, but before parting
company with them found one was ~
md other so years of age. We crossed |
The Kennebec ut Bath and went down to-
in Georgetown. Thrty-five
years ago when boy of sixteen. visited |
IN uncle and aunt who lived at this /
place. have not been there since. The /
Did couple have long since gone to rest.
Dut my cousin and fam ly gave IL II cor /
lial welcome to Il beautiful home. MY !
cousins farm is nearly surrounded by /
water and was once tire site of an Indian
village. NV cousin has large collect !
on of Indian relics found on his farm |
We were not long in tinrling four Indian
spear heads, made out of flint which
brought home with me, and will be glad |
to show them to all who may desire to
see them. Thirty years ago last May
while in front of Yorktown, Va. | ciianc-
ed to pick up II hunters horn tina. lay
partially buried in the leaves under an
oak tree. 1t was probably lost by one
of the Virginia planters while on the
chase. gave it to Orderly Serg't W.
II. Higgins, of Co. ID. Sd, Maine, and he
sent it home to his son Frank. An these
wears it has been ut Captain Higgins
home. Phippsburgh. He kindly allowed
me to bring it home and have the little
now, rs Il mcmento of the siege
of orktown, 1862.
5. +. EMERSON.
Skowhegan, Sept. -, 1892