The Portland daily press., 1895-02-04
Especial to the PRESS, ]


Augusta. Feb 2. The Aroostook war is,
perhaps, generally regarded "a war that
was not war, yet to the hardy settlers
in rhe still unbrokens forests along the
border of the then infant State, it had
its hardships ands its horrors. And it
had, too, it's patriots and it's heroes. Such
an one was John Baker, whose devotion
TO his country and sufferings in its
cause have been set forth in memorial
presented to the legislature this week by
his daughter, Mrs. Adeline Slocomb. In
her petition Mrs. Slocomb tells the story
Of events which in her young days were
impressed upon her mind, never to be
forgotten, Her memorial IS as foilows
@The memorial of Adeljne Slocomb Of
Fort Fairfield III the county of Aroostook
respectfully represents; +
"That she is the daughter of John
Baker. late of Baker Brook in the
Province of New Brunswick. who was
an American citizen, a native OF the
town OF Moscow in this State. "A bout
the year 1915 Mr.. Baker, with few
neigh bors, started on journey by river
and lake through an almost unbIoken
wilderness of more than 200 miles, to
make homes and establish settlement
OF Americans in that part OF the State OF
Maine watered by the Upper st. John.
At that time the government or the
United Staes claimed the territory north
of the St. John to the line dividing the
waters flowing to the St. Lawrence from
those flowing to thesseas.
at SO CHANGED that Mr.. Baker selected
a tract of land on the river about SIX
miles below the present town OF Fort
Kent, whereoD he settled with his family
not doubling the right of his government
to the territory or its Willingness ana
ability to protect him in his rights. In
few years Mr.. Baker had cleared farm
in the wilderness, built mills, and by
the almost unremitting toll OF himself
and family. was the possessor of com
Portable home and a very considerable
property.
"A most prominent trait in my fathers
character was his intense loyalty to his
country and his dag. and this patriotism
never abated during all the troubles
q growing out of the boundary disputes.
He purchased his farm and adjoining
tracts from the land agents OF Name,
Massachusetts,, and when the hrs5 KNOW
edge came to him of the design OF the
Provincial government TO send troops
and take forcible possession of the terri
tory, he started for Augusta alone, max
ing his journey through the wilderness
on snow shoes to notify the governor.
He had previously offended the ProvIn-
Gals by raising on his premises on
Fourth of July an American nag, MADE
by nv mother. These acts of loyalty
to his country brought upon him the
vengeance of the Provincial authorities.
He was accused of treason, carried to
Fredericton, imprisoned Tor months,i ana
his property destroyed and conflscated.
He was suffered, to end his days in pow
erty on miserable remnant OF his once
l. sal, Lad al
yeyed uy the Provincial government to
parties in Fredericton. The story OF
my fathers efforts and sacrifice in en-
deavoring to obey the orders of the au-
thorities of the State are part OF the
history of the Aroostook war period.
I ask nothing for myself. | want no
money compensation as a recompense Tor
his life long sacrifices. respectfully
ask his native State to cause his remains
to be removed to American soil and to
cause the erection OF suitable monu-
ment to commemorate his patriotism. :
Mrs. Slocomb's memorial says that her
father went to Augusta on that terri Die
journey through an unbroken forest IN
The storm and cold of the dead of winter,
but the venerable Major Dickey, who
knew Mr.. Baker well, says that he went
through to Portland. II knew him
we'll, "said Mr.. Dickey. He was loyal
and.nev forgot the flag. He organ
lied Baskerville, six miles Below fort
Kent. After the border troubles in about
1910 I hired Bakers mills for years and
carried on milling there. His wife was
an American woman. She came from
Bingham, and in 1873, when he was
away she lived alone in their clearing III
the woods. In those old days there
were no roads in that country, and sc
on the third of one July she took a boa,
and went to Edmundston, about Is miles
There she bought some red, white and
blue cloth, and then poled the boat ur
river to her home. She made flag
and it was hoisted next day. When war
was likely to break out, and the Provin-
Gals sent troops to Edmunston and built
a block house. Baker came through to
Portland. carrying all the grub be had
in the woods unless he shot something.
Nobody knows how that man got to