The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-08-18

nebec county, in 1928, and bought of
Elder Blake, one OF whose sons, Martin
Blake, died few years ago in canaan.
Deacon Isaac Burrill bought the next
farm of John Lewis in the fall of 1929,
and moved his goods and family from
the town of Shapligh, on an OK sled in
February. We next come to the farm
owned and occupied BY Thomas Darling
and wife, good people but they had no
children.
Uncle Darling, as he was called put up
barn frame in the spring of 1880, and
of course must have a little rum for the
occasion and had three gallons at the
commencement costing only two shill-
ings per gallon. The barn was raised
but, having no rum for a parting drink,
a boy was sent on horse back to Canaan
village, for another gallon and after
taking good drink all went home
happy. 1t was customary in those days
to give the frame name after being
raised and this frame was called the
Chilly of Oaks Pond
The road leading to the Canaan coun-
ty road turned to the left a little north
of Mr.. Darling's and past by what was
then called PoOler's Mills, on the place
where Joseph Ireland now lives. saw
and grist mill was run by Col. John
Pooler David Dow carried on quite a
business coopering, making pork and
fish barrels which then had ready sale
! at a fair price. In the summer of 1880
the road was built from the Darling
place in a north east direction to the
Canaan road making the distance very
much less to reach Canaan village. In
the summer of 1880 the road was cut
through on the Moores Mill road to
Canaan line east from the Darling farm
by John Lewis, Deacon Buzzell and
Capt. Silas Richardson. Col John
Pooler put up large barn frame on his
place, think, in the spring of 1882, and
JOSEPH Barrett of Canaan, with the help
of others gave it the following name:
"Here is a fine frame and stands on a
fine spot and may God bless the owner
and all he has got. The timber con-
sists of pine, hemlock, spruce and fir
and may it be called the Morning Star"
We next pass on to "hitman's hill, so
called seventy years ago, two miles north
west of Pooler's and at that time the
following persons lived there with their
families: John Whitam, wife and 3
children, BENZ. Emery, wife and 10 chill
dren, Isaac f. Ames, wife and 10 chill.
dren, Joseph Patten, wife and II chill
dren, Daniel Foster, wife and II chill
dren, Gideon Simon, wife and chill
dren, Henry z. Clark, wife and II chill
dren.
Mr.. Clark then lived on point of
land at the head of Long Pond, now
Lake George. Mr.. Clark's family at.
tended the schools and meetings on Whit
mans hill. In the fall OF 1925, think,
Mr.. Whitman and wife left their chill
dren at home and went down to Pooler' s
Mills to an evening meeting, and while
they were gone their house took fire
and all their children were burned, five
in number. The first person reaching
the house could not get in all being on
fire inside, but some of the children
could be seen in bed up stairs. The
oldest, girl % years of age, from APP
pearances must have reached the entry
as her beads were found there. At this
time only two families live there, Davis
and Austin, the first having two chill
dren.
We pass off the hill and make a short
stop at Richard Lambert's place, well.
TODD farmer, who spent most of his
days on his farm. Isaac Ames, who
married his only daughter, now lives on
the farm. James Curtis then lived or
f, the farm north of the main road from
+! the Lambert place and raised up large
| family but none live in town now
Palmer Merrill now owns the place and
/, it is valuable for the wood, lumber and
| granite.