The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1892-04-14
SELECTED.
IT IIWT III
Venerable CItlZen.

One of the grand old gentlemen Of this
country Is Mr.. John L. williamson Of
West New Portland, he is now the oldest
person in that town ami was born in Mer-
Ger in 1851 and was one OF family of
thirteen chnlren
In the course Of time his father moved
10 Industry and there it is said John me,
the pretty blue eyed schoolmsrm, Miss
Mahala Collins to whom he was married
in the year 1899 when he was - wears of
age. While living IN Il at to Hu three child.
rem came to cheer their home; he then
moved his family to the town Of New
Portland, into the forest they went the
strong love they bore each other and their
children stimulated both heart and han I.
and the hardships and privstions in max
ihg for thems' Ives home in an unsettl, 4
country were endured with true courage
and christian foritude. As the years roll
ID on the family circle kept widening un.
il the good old fashioned number of
welve children "a hertd around the fam-
! y board, niue girls and three boys.
Early in life this worthy couple became
converted, in prayers and from the belov-
d Bible they daily sought guidance from
Him whose wisdom is above all others
10 rear their large family in His nurturc
and admonilion.
All but one of the children are now liy-
ing to thank God for such loving and
kind earthly parents, and for the good
christian iiluence in the home circle
they all live within a days ride of him
.Xcept the eldest daughter Mrs. Sarah
larr who recently moved from Fairfield,
Ne to Clinton, Wis Mrs Elvra Swe4t
of West New Portland; Mr.. Granville
Williamson, North New Portland; Mrs
Lucinda Winter, kingield Mrs. Mahala
Hilton, Norridgewock Mr.. John i. vii
hanson, Amherst, Mass; Mrs. Lvdis
Cragin, Ada, M inn., deceased July, 1856;
Mrs. Marilla Harmon, Canaan, Mr.. EDen
Williamson, Westboro, Mass; Mrs. Hat
tie Winter, Fireman, Me. Mrs. Della Sal
icy, Madison and Mrs. Addie Danforth,
Waterville, Me.
Thirty years Mr.. and Mrs. Williamson
lived on this farm where they built their
home from the rugged earth and worked
as people of to-day would hardly think
hey could work, end which to day is one
# the finest farms in New Portland they
then moved to Embden where they lived
twenty years of peaceful life. But the years
Of toll were telling on the wife and moth
er and in lSG6 she passed peacefully and
hopefully to Ler reward, breathing a
parting blessing upon her beloved family.
la course of time MIR. Williamson was
again married to a MIS-. GRAY of North
Arson, a widow and estimable christian
woman and u loving and kind step mother
70 his children.
They soon moved back to w. New
Portland village as the town where he
he had lived his younger years seem, d
more like home to him. la 1891 his Sc
cond wife died, he then went to live with
au elder daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Winter
# kingtield.
John Williamson was Of family Of
thi teen chi iren ard his first wife Ma
lala Collins came from family of four
leen in number, while they had the mod
est number of twelve, he has now 81
grandchildren and ten great-grand child
ZEN He il remarkably well preserved
old gentlemen of ninety-one years, for
| he past few years he has been able to
| perform considerable work, such as pre-
Barring his wood AMI attending to his COW
aud gar len, and is still able to do much
out he thinks he has done about his share
II hard work. Says that he brought up
his family OF twelve children as easily as
| they do one now.
He has been a member of the Free VIII
Baptist church "A wears which he still at
tends, also walks quite little distance to
the nost.o1,lce and reads his Bible and pap
4rs with much interest He is strong Re-.
publican and has voted for President ever
,ipce he was old enough to vote and will
vote again If spared to do so.
When a Young man he was seven years
n military service. With heart full OF
tanderness and possessed of fine sepsibili-