Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-03

was II happy homes with cnlIdren u
bless and comfort, or sorrow and hard
ship with which they had to contend
A lonely life, an unknown grave!
Nor you. We proud. impute to these tn
If memory Ger their tomb no trophies
raise,
Where through the long-drawn aisle an'
fretted vault,
The pealing anthem swells the note o
praise.
Can stored urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the f1eetint
breath?
Can Honour's voice provoke the silen
dust,
Or fiattery soothe the dull. cold ear O
death?"
Other names are still as household
words in this community, their repre-
sentatives lighting the battle of life
with the same strength of purpose and
force of character as their ancestors
fought foreign foe.
They are still Minute men and Min
ute women, too. doing bravely the duty
that each day brings, and occupying
as did their forefathers, places OF
honor and responsibility in our city.
From these names we have selected a
few which will be most familiar to our
citizens, whose descendants are still
living in our midst.
COLONEL JOSEPH NORTH.
The first on our tablet is that of the
distinguished soldier, Joseph North.
The North family traces it's ancestors
as far back as 1881, at which time some
of its members were in high favor at
the court of England, being knighted
and receiving other royal honors. John
North. the ancestor of the Norths of
Augusta, came from the Irish branch
and emierated to this country about
1870, settling first in Portsmouth, N. H.
Two years later he removed to Pema-
quid where he built a house, the cellar
of which is still to be seen, set out
apple trees and cultivated a garden
ornamented with shrubs and flowers
The Ox-eyed daisy was spread from
that garden all over our farms.
Joseph North, his grandson. the
Revolutionary ancestor of the present
family, was born at ST. Georges river,
in 1888, and passed his youth with his
father in the troublous period of the
early French and Indian wars. being
for time in charge of the fort at
Pemaquid. Later he moved to the
kennebec, induced probab bly, by the in
terest he had, in right of his wife, in
the Plymouth Company lands. He
erected his house at what is now the
corner of Oak and Water streets
where the Granite bank building now
stands. making a clearing in the woods
for that purpose, before any road had
been laid out.
He inherited a remarkable taste for
agriculture in all it's branches and his
garden extended almost from Oak
street to Market square, to the site of
the old Franklin House. In this spot
he cultivated every flower which would
bloom in our climate. He represented
the plantation Of Gardinerstown in the
provincial Congress, in 1774-1775.
He was commissioned colonel of the
Second Regiment of the militia in Lin
coin county; was the first representa-
tive Of the town in General Court, I'M
der the State constitution, and held
many other important offices. He
died in 1925. at the age of IS years, and
was buried in the Burnt Hill cemetery.
later called Mount Vernon.
Madame North, his wife, was a Bos-
ton lady of the Old School. possessing a
cultivated mind. dignified and grace
full manners and was remarkable for
her powers of conversation. The
descendants of Colonel North now liv-
ing in Augusta are the children and
grandson of the late James North and
the children and grandchildren of Hon.
James Bridge.
CAPT. HENRY SEWALL.
The second name on our list is that
of Capt. Henry Sewall. The Sewalls
of Augusta trace their descent from
Henry Sewall of Manchester, England,
thing at Newbury, Mass.
One of the sons of this family gradu-
ated at Harvard in 1911, was appointed
judge of the Supreme court of Massa-
and was one of the commits
sion which tried and condemned
witches. Capt. Henry Sewall was
born at York, Me-. in 1882, and came to
the Fort Western settlement in 1875.
He entered the army at the conmclce-
ment of the Revolutionary war rs a
and continued to the end of
the contest rising through the various
grades to that of captain. He was in
the battle of HubbardstOn on the re-
treat from TicOnderoga, and in one of
the skirmishes previous to the surren-
der of BurgOyne. He Joined the main
army under General Washington at
White Marsh. near Philadelphia: Win
tered ct Valley Forge with those heroes
who suffered there such terrible priva-
tons, and served through the remain
der of the war in New Jersey and New
York. He held the commission Of
Division Inspector. Brigadier end MAJOR
General of the militia of Maine, resign |
ing his office to William King, the first |
governor of the State, on a new or
ganiZation of this military force. He
was a deacon in the South Pa. ish |
church and was always an advocate of |
the doctrine Of free and sovereign
grace.
When Lafayette. the nations guest, |
reached Portland. i'm 1925. General |
Sewall, who was well acquainted with |
HIM in the army, went on to see him, |
and warily approached him in the