The Republican journal., 1906-04-26
WHEN JEFF. DAVIS WAS IN MAINE,


"Reminiscences of Colonel Israel b. Norcross
Concerning the Geneaology OF the Crosby
Family of Maine.
Colonel Israel b. Norcross, native OF
Jackson, Waldo county, and now a resident
of MenOminee, Michigan, hale ana hearty
at the age of 81 years, saw recent write-up
of Capt. VIM. N. Crosby of Brooks and was
moved thereby to write the following letter
MENoM1NEE, MICHIGAN.
Capt. VIM. N. Crosby:
NV Dear Old Friend: This world is full
of surprises and you will surely be surprised
when you get this letter and find out who II
is FROM W II. | was born in jackson, III
the northwest part near where the old SHOE
maker William Edwards lived. l am the
oldest son of old Major Thomas ii. Nor,
cross My name is Israel b. Norcross and
am getting quite well along in years. Was
born April ~, 1917, and beat you about five
years.
You think you and A. S. Forbes, that must
be Almon S. Forbes if he had brother Rich
mond who married Mahala Edwards,a cdus-
in of NINE Now ask Almon II l nave got
tented and happiest people ever knew. l
want to tell you there is somebody else alive
besides YOU and A. S. Forbes who was on
the muster field at the Thorndike Farm in
1912. l was at that muster ana well remehl-
Der the rag-a-muffins that came up from
Brooks. That was the greatest sight OF my
life at that time. / am now living with +.
S. Norcross, clerk of the city OF Menominee,
Michigan.
AS you live in Brooks you may remember
that in 1853 there was big muster at Bel
fast, and was there as colonel of the Ban
gor Regiment. jeff. Davis was there and
reviewed the troops. Also Governor Nor
rill, Major General Cushman Of Bangor,
Major General Titcomb of Rockland, Major
General W. p. Smith of Portland; in fact,
nearly all the military dignitaries 81 Maine.
In the evening l was in my room and a
boy came up and said gentleman wanted
to see me. l said, "send him up." and it
was James S. nuxford of Brooks, after
wards captain in the army. After visiting
"a few minutes he said, 81 must go home, l
cannot find bed for love or money in Bel
fast" l said, "no, join me. l had cot bed
put into my room for some one and you snail
have it and be my guest while the encamp-
merit lasts"
So he staid with me. | never saw him
after that. My father was boss and built
the dam at the old Huxford mill.
Well, Capt Crosby, l should like a few
words from you. Tell Almon S. Forbes to
write to me-
If | ever hear from you will write again
of my visit to Brooks six years ago.
| think you will have to get some young
person to read this to you. My eyeSlght is
very good as | read and write this without
glasses.
Yours truly,
Col. ISRAEL B. NoRcRoss.
This letter was handed to our Brooks
correspondent, NJ. J. Dow, who then wrote
to Col Norcross asking for some blographl-
cal notes and "reminiscences of Waldo
county as he saw it in his boyhood. From
his reply the following extracts are made:
s'The muster at Belfast when Jeff. Davis
was there was in 1858. | was Colonel and
commanded, and jeff. Davis reviewed my
regiment lie stopped with Judge Alfred
johnson and asked the Judge what military
school | attended. The Judge said none.
jeff. said, well, he is the best officer i
ever saw that had not been to a military
school, SO much for me.
lent, but will get it as soon as can and
send it to you. | don't see any great hurry
1t will take some little time, but you must
wait / see that you were born pretty near
where | was, although you were little
behind me. | was born in 1917, and I'D 1S45
| was in Bangor keeping livery stable on
Exchange street | have seen good many
changes in my life.
"The muster at Belfast was the two last
days of August and two first days OF Sep
TENDER I commanded at all of the reviews;
We had Chambers Band of Portland and
they would do anything for me. L was
serenaded every evening.
swell, now, as soon as L can get my
things | will send them to you. Don't
hurry the world was not made in minute.
cit seems too curious to me that when
was in Brooks few years ago went over
to your store for nothing only to look
around. OF course | saw you Well, good
by. ISRAEL B. NORCRoss.
Colonel Norcross was born in Jackson
but a half mile from the Brooks line, in a
house standing on the road leading from the
Lewis Davis place to the Elphalet Pease
and David Bracket hill This was then
the main travelled road for all the country
for miles back of and around it to Belfast
and the coast Several of the relatives,
but none of the name, still live in this vi
cinity.
The following letter to Capt. Crosby may
be of interest to the CroSbys of Maine:
BINGHAM, MASS, Feb. -, 1906
Capt W. n. Crosby:
Dear Sir Seeing in the Herald last Sun
day your picture and a short story of your
life take the liberty to send you my PIC
ture in the hope that you will send me one
of yourself, better than that in the Herald.
l, too, was born in 1S22-Dec. 18th. My
ancestor, Simon Crosby, who came from
England with his family in 1886, was as far
as l can learn the ancestor OF an the
Crosbys in New England. He settled IN n
Cambridge, Mass, was contractor, and
took the contract to pull out the stumps in
the town. His children settled at the Cape
and in Quincy, Mass, and in New Hamp-
shire. The Gov. of Maine, and the Lieut..
Governor of Massachusetts, Isaiah Crosby,
were descendants Of the above Simon. l
can tell you more about the Crosby family
if you care to know. None OF them were
ever hanged that l know of, but one OF
them the British would have hanged II they
had caught him, for he was spy, in the
American army of the Revolution. l would
like to know something about your ances-
tors and your family, and would like pic
ture of your place if you have one to spare.
1 send you a picture Of my house in Hing,
ham and hope l may hear from you and
know that we both descended from Simon.
Yours truly,
S. T. CROSBY.
CA9To7IA.
U.-lu -L4