Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-04
ANCIENT CEMETERIES Il.
East ReadfieId Has Several With IN
teresting Histories.
Many Former Well Known Men Bur;ed
There.

A Journal correspondent has pre-
pared the following interesting history
of the old cemeteries of Readfield:
There is a certain degree of interest
centering in an old cemetery and I
have thought a short sketch in relation
to those in East Readfield might be of
interest to some, at least, of the read
ers of the Journal There are MANY
persons who visit the one near the
Methodist church who are strangers to
most of the residents here, but who
have relatives and friends who were
buried here. There are persons scat
tered all over our country who can look
back to this cemetery where they have
buried father, mother, brother. sister,
child or friend, and when opportunity
offers they are sure to look once more
upon their last resting place. Family
names are recorded on these headstones
that are but a memory to the oldest in
habitant living; names of prominent
and influential families who once titled
these farms but who have long since
1t is SAID the first burials in this To-
cality were on the west shore of Garlic
ton pond, and the knoll is still pointed
out that was used for that purpose.
The church was built in 1895, and about
this date the ground was, doubtless
laid out for the cemetery, and the bod
les on the shore of Carleton Pond were
removed to this place. The first Bap-
fist church in this part of the state was
built in 1898, and was located little
more than mile east of where the
Methodist church stands, and a ceme-
terry was located in the lot on which the
church was built. In 1888 the Baptist
church was removed to what is now
Manchester, and the organizer, Rev.
Isaac Case, died at an advanced age
and is buried on the spot beneath where
his pulpit stood. There were many
burials in these two old cemeteries of
which there is no record; and only a
boulder at the head and feet of nearly
indistinct mounds shows that some
person is buried there.
We find recorded the name of Deacon
Joseph Johnson, who died in Oct. 1894
aged 81. His home was within a few
rods of the church. In 1898 the widow
Johnson entertained Bishop Asbury
in this house on the occasion of
the first session of the New England
Conference being held here. Bishop
Asbury estimated the number present
between ten and eighteen hundred
persons. We find several dates previ-
Gus to 1900 in this cemetery. Nathan
iel and Moses Whittier both died in
1898. A child of Samuel and Mary
Melvin died in 1899. The Whittiers
came to Readfield in 1865. A remark
able record is that of the Page family:
Robert Page came here in 1867. We
find that Robert Page, Esq, died in
1926, aged rs. Abigails his wife, died in
1886, aged IS. Samuel Page, Esq, son
of Robert and Abigail died Nov. q,
1904, aged 20. Abigail, his wife died in
1903. Sarah, daughter of Robert and
Abigail. died Jan. q, 1904, aged %.
Jonathan, son o. Robert and Abigail,
died Fob. lC, 10; ), aacd is.
Near by the Page lot we find that of
DR.. John Hubbard, who died, Apr. %,
1888, aged 10; also his wife, who died
Oct 20 1S47. Two children of the
above are also buried here; Velina, died
in 1904, aged 5, and Sarah. an infant.
in 1884, and settled on lot No. %, now
owned by d. f. Austin. He had three
sons. DR.. John, afterwards Governor,
Cyrus and Greenlief. DR.. Hubbard's
name is prominent in the early
history of the town. At the first
election he was chosen chairman
of the board of selectmen, and served
rine years in succession. The family
lot is pleasantly situated facing the
street and on the marble headstone is
chiseled an open book containing these
words: IAN honest man is the noblest
work of God"
In these old cemeteries one cannot
fail to notice the progressive change in
headstone and monumental work. We
find the boulder, marking the limits
of a grave; then comes the split stone
with no marking; and the next step is
native slate, from ledge near by.
There we find a better quality of slate,
with designs and lettering. The var-
Gus grades of marble are seen, and
lastly granite monumental work.
The Sanborn lot is perhaps the most
extensive and best situated in this GEM
terry. Peter Sanborn and wife came
from New Hampshire ana SeIlleu III
this town at an eaGiy date in It's his
tory. They had three children, two
sons and one daughter. Mr.. Sanborn
purchased a tannery in 1917 and did Il
large business. His sons Peter f.. and
Joseph A. in 1884 engaged in the bust
ness and later esta blished the oil carpet
business in 1915. For many years
these industries were run and large
number of men were employed. The
carpet business was sold finally TO Z.
Nj, Bailey'S sons and Co, and after the
steam shop was burned the rest were
removed to Winthrop. The Sanborns
always had a love for their native town
and were always foremost in support
of the church and all connected with it's
welfare Among other things they de-
cided to enlarge and beautify the ceme-
terry. They assumed half of the eX-
pense of buying a piece of land and the
town voted to add the remainder. 1t
was laid out in suitable lots and graded.
They enclosed their lot with granite
curbing-erected suitable family
monument-and here are buried all OF
the members of the Sanborn families,
now deceased, with the exception OF the
late F.. A. Sanborn, Esq, who with MS
wife and son is buried in the Halloween