The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-31
A "REMINISCENCES OF EARLY SET
TIERS OF oTIsFIELD.
To the Editor of the Press.

To the Editor Of the Press:
When the war OF the Revolution was
brought to successful Issue, and large
standing army was no longer necessary.
q great number OF brave and hardy men
were discharged from the service, with
no settled home, and very little money In
their possessions.
To them the province OF Maine, with it's
thousands of fertile acres, Its honndless
q fisheries and pine clad hills TO be had
almost for the asking. seemed to open
up opportunities for securing comfortable
homes, aud TO tho ambitious adventures
wealth and government position.
Many Of the soldiers belonging in Mas
sachusetts came to Maine, and founded
homes which are now owned by their
descendants of the fourth and NTH gener.
alton.
Twenty six of these1 bold men settled
In Otisneld, most OF whom I knew per-
sonalIy, but the name of one has slipped
from my memory.
These veterans conceived the idea Of
celebrating July Fourth, 1893 in the town
of their adoption, and did so, by erecting
n liberty pole, and raising q flag; an ora
ton was also delivered, but the name OF
the orator Is unknown. A picnic dinner
was served, and as their contribution to
the refreshments, the old soldiers made .
cheese tub full Of lemonade, sweetened
with molasses, and made very nourishing
by the addition OF q liberal quantity OF
New England rum.
This was the first celebration OF any
kind, ever held in Otisfield.
The names of the soldiers who settled
In town are as follows: Captain Bracket,
Lieut.. Joseph Hancock, DIR. David Ray.
DIR. Joseph Wight, Jr., Stephen knight.
John Holden. Jonathan Knight, Mark
knight, Enoch Spur, John Winship.
Ebeneger Kemp, Benjamin Green, Jona-
than Britton, Timothy Jordan, Thomas
Fades. James Sampson. - Casweli,
Robert Anderson, Jonathan Piper, John
Knight, Joseph Weston. Zebulon knight.
Jonathan Moors, Daniel Jumper, Jacob
Thurston.
The name of Jacob Thurston brings to
my mind an incident which occurred
while our troops were at Valley Forge,
in that fearful winter of IT'S. Food OF
all kinds was very scarce, and meat was
"a luxury seldom obtained by the half
starved men.
Jacob Thurston was cook for mess"
of six men in comfortiess log hut, and
tn ey had as their only pet q lutte dog
named Bose Amid all the famine, little
Bose never lacked meal, for he was
general fsvorite in camp, and got bite
here and there, till he was as plump as
cub.
One day Mr.. Thurston invited i've or
six friends outside his own "mess' to
dine with him, and when the noon hour
arrived. he served TO the party itch
steaming soup, delightful alike to palate
and postril.
He did not sit at the table with them,
but tying towel about his waist, he
served his guests with the air of host
of the old times. When all were satisfied,
and sitting with the sense of comfort fol-
lowing hearty meal. one said TO him,
how does IL happen that you can get meat
when all others are dostituteg With
demure face, but twinkling eye, Mr..
1hurston simply said, "Nhere is little
Bosiep
The fearful truth burst upon the minds
of the party, and with heaving breasts
and pallid faces thy sought the open ali.
Let us draw a veil over the scene which
ensued. i know this to be fact. as
was told it by one of the participants.
B. W. KNIGHT.
S. Otistcld, Maine.