The Somerset reporter., 1902-01-02
The Holden Family.

I
Moose River, which recently took place,
removes one of the last links that con
meet the present with the past anu
should not pass without notice. In fact.
the Holden family gave its first mann
to the Moose River region which com
prised what ia now Moose River planta
| ton and Dennstown. Mrs. Hannah
| Holden was the widow of Gus Holden OF
Moose River, one OF the old-time resi-
dents of that section.
The first settler in the Moose River
Valley was Capt Samuel Holden,
the father of Otis Holden. Capt. Holder
WAS born at Groton, Mass, in 1872. H.
| 1877 he married Jane Farms worth, n
daughter of Joseph Farnsworth of Gro
ton. Two daughters were born to them
while they lived at Groton, Almira and
Jane.
About the year of 1900 Capt. Holden
with his family moved TO Norridgewo
Maine. He was accompanied by hi,
mother, Rachel Holden, then widow.
Melinda, Jonas, Sally, Lorinda, Mary
and Samuel Holden were born while theS
| lived in Norridgewock. About the year
| 1918 Capt. Holden moved with his family
to Anson, Maine, where Otis WAS born.
On the 4th day of March, 1920, Capt.
Holden with his family started for tn
Moose River Valley. From The Forks oil
the Kennebec to Moose River, more than
80 miles, there WAS not even trail at
that time and they were obliged TO travel
through the deep snow on snow shoes.
Otis Holden, then one year old, was car
ried on his mothers back.
Il, lit aan hnf mr. he
understood when 1t Is known that the
nearest settlement Of airy size at thai
time WAS Augusta, 125 miles away, Nor
ridgewock and Skowhegan then being
little hamlets, and il was In dense for
est for almost 100 miles that this faml,
penetrated to make their future home.
Capt. Holden and family at length
reached Moose River, where he proceeded
to build a log cabin, covering its ROOF
with bark and poles. With no neigh
bors for miles, with nothing to break the
stiffness of this vast solitude but the
murmur of the pines and bark of the fox,
he carved his future home.
How this family lived, what hardships
they endured for years can only be
known by the early pioneers who suf-
fered the same ordeal. For the first two
raised, hardly enough to sustain life.
Afterwards they were enabled to do bet
ter and at last the wilderness was made
to blossom as the rose. Rachel Holden,
the mother OF Capt. Holden, died at
Moose River in 1922.
A few other settlers moved in, the
children Of Capt. Holden grew up and
married. many Of them settling in the
Moose River valley and In 1858 Capt.
Holden and wife, both laden with years
and having the consciousness OF duty
we'll done, laid down the burdens OF life
and now sleep in the little cemetery near
by the scene of their early struggles and
hardships.
In 1928 the State of Maine authorities
attempted to build highway from Att
son through to The Forks of the Kenne-
bee and 80 on to Moose River. This
road ran over the highlands several
miles westerly from the Kennebec river
and WAS cut out and partially built. Sew
eral settlers took up farms on 1t and somt
$50 600 was expended, but 1t could moi
DC made Il success, probably for the SAME
reason that naturally the highways fol-
low the water courses In this State. The
settlers at length moved out, their farms
grew up to forests again, the roads were
abandoned and highway was construct
ed leading to The Forks along the banks
of the Kennebec, thence over the hill
and mountains to Moose River Valley
and on to Quebec.
The highway last mentioned was the
only way the settlers OF Moose River
Valley had to communicate with the out
side world until within a few years tn,
Canadian Pacific Railway was BULL
through the Valley.
Otis Holden, who became resident oil
Moose River when he was a year old, al
ways lived there. He married Eliza j.
Hughes, Feb. 49, 1912. After her death,
Dec. 81, 1913, he married Margaret Ray
and after her decease he married Hannah
Ray, recently deceased. Mr.. Holden WAS
postmaster at Moose River for forty
years and up to the time of his death, IN
1892. He was a man OF singularly good
Judgment. His word was law among
the settlers of the plantation. He was
the guiding spirit among them. He KEEP
q stable of good horses which he used In
transactlng his business which was most
ly at Skowhegan, so miles away. After
the building of the railroad he was ear
nestly entreated to take a ride on the
cars but he would not do 1t and said
hoOd horse and carriage could carry him
as fast as he cared to go.
He kept hotel for the travellers but
he early learned the curse that followed
the habtual use of rum and would moi
have it about him. He was the father OF
IA children. 10 OF whom survived him.
In 1892 they laid him away in his last
resting place, where he had spent ~
years of useful and respected life.
Mrs. Holden married Mr.. Holden after
the death of his second wife and took up
on herself the cares and bringing up OF
ten children. She was loving wife and
mother. She was devout Christian
woman, as this is shown In all her daily
walks of life. Two son were born to
her. both Of whom survive and keenly
feel the loss Of her motherly protection.
NEWTON.
300 Reward &1OO