Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-12-07

! AMERICAN
Ehen kingman was born at Harvard,
Mass, Sept. G. l7ss. the fourth son Of
Molhory kingmsn. lst, who moved from
Harvard with his wife sibyl, maiden name
Haskell. and seven children, to what is
now Waterford, oxford county, Msine.
In this then mountainous place, far from
friends. schools and markets. they felled
trees and cleared land, u raise crops TO
support their large family, the de-t son
being but sixteen years Of age
Here Eben. the subject Of thi. sketch
then but sIx years OF age, not old enough
- be help aud no school to attend
passed more than three years Of his life
In l791 the town was Incorporated His
home was near the head waters of Crook
ed river, which ran into Sebago lake
Around this river and among the noun
tains there was much game, large and
small. Al the age of twelve he COM
| menced 10 hunt fur bearing animals and
other game, with some assistance from
] II
his traps, gong with him occasionally to
examine them. Here he was In his element
/ In this Wild region and here he spent many
happy days alone in the hunting season
I on the banks Of the Crooked river, aud in
the surrounding mountains.
/ This continued for about two wears
when in the spring Of 1902, in March or
I April, he took violent cold which
/ brought on nervous rheumatism, occa-
/ stoned by wading the river just as the ice
/ was going ont For three springs in sue
/ cession he had an attack of the same
, trouble from which he never fully recov-
cred. He had no fear of the wild animals
| in Maine, although he was a man Of slen-
/ der form.
! In 1902 or 1903, hi, brother Lebeus came
! from Waterford across the country near
Augusta. through Bangor. and crossed
! Union river on to Whist was then known
as Timber brook ridge. district of Maria
vile, which was composed of four town
ships, IA, 20, 26 and p. He took up land
on the south line of 20 on the very high
est part of the ridge. and felled trees there,
he being the first settler.
June 20, 1905, the father, Molbory King
man, lst, was killed while Telling trees in
Waterford, and sometime in the summer
or fall of that year, Eben came down to
stay With his brother Lebeus through the
fall and winter; but that fall Lebeus had
to go back 10 Waterford for some reason,
and left Eben to care for his camp and two
shoats that he wished to winter on the
corn aud other crops raised on the partial
ly-cleared land.
Here Eben remained through that long
he did not see or speak to anyone. Here he
amused himself as well as he could by
cutting wood and doing chores. Having
a musical ear he made violin, which he
In the spring of 1906 his brother Lebeu:
and | think Caleb came from Waterford tC
finish clearing and putting in the yeal
crop. l think Caleb about this time tool
|
that his brother Lebeus commenced on
Here Caleb commenced Telling trees, pre-
paratory to clearing up the farm on which
he afterwards settled. l do not know
how long a time Eben remained with hi
brothers before going back to Waterford
. Previous to 1912 we find him learning
the shoe-makers trade, with one, Cushman
then working at Waterford. About this tim
war was being agitated between the Uni
ted States and England; recruiting Off
Ger came into the shop and wanted him Il
) enlist and go to Canada. Being undecided
/ he took stick from the bench, by the end
. between his thumb and fingers, and he'll
r it up from the floor, saying: "Whicheve
way this stick falls, will 60" 1t fell il
: the direction Of Canada. and he enlisted.
j About this time neighbor, . man or