Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-09
A Fragment of My Late Visit.
FROM HARTFORD TO RUMFoRD FALLS

Mine ears attend the cry;
Ye living men come view the ground.
Where you must shortly lie"
That is the first verse of hymn they
used to sing on funeral occasions; and
although have complied with the in
vitation there given, and viewed good
many burying grounds, never yet visit
ed one that seemed particularly doleful,
with q single exception, and that was in
Lawrence, Mass, where the unknown
dead" were buried who persisted in the
ruins of the Pemberton Mill, many OF
whom fell victims to the flames, it being
impossible to extricate them in time to
save their lives. While standing there
and contemplating that melancholy
scene, it was indeed difficult to keep the
tears from falling.
After inserting the inscription on Miss
Lucas gravestone into my notebook,
some unseen power attracted me into the
cemetery and was surprised to find so
many persons lying there with whom /
was once acquainted, but on recalling
the fact that that time was near the
middle of the nineteenth century, while
now the twentieth is we'll advanced, the
mystery was at once revealed and made
plain to understand.
Nv first visit on reaching Canton was
with Ansel e. Staples, for whose father,
Capt. James Staples, I worked during
the seasons of 1S49 and 81. Mr.. Staples
and myself are about of the same age
and have kept in touch with each other
BY occasional correspondence through
all these years. He buried his wife
several years ago, leaving him with
three daughters, two of whom are mar
ried, while one remains single and is a
noted music teacher.
He now lives in the family with his
son-in-law, S. B. Ellis, whose brother
was recently killed in the tannery. Mr..
Staples taught several schools in early
manhood, has been in town Office much
of the time and has always been man
of strict integrity. Perhaps he thinks
have already said enough about him, but
/ must relate one pleasing incident with
which he was connected away back in
the early fifties.
At that time there was powerful re-
vival of religion in Canton under Rev.
Mr.. Wheeler's preaching, and when the
favored time came to join the church
Mr.. Staples was one of company OF
fifteen young men who were baptized at
the same time in what was then Whitney
Pond. The manner in which the rite
was conducted was so novel and pleas
ing as to be remembered by many to the
present day. On reaching the water the
company joined hands, then, following
the minister to the required depth, he
performed the rite in such manner as
to leave no doubt but what they had
been "buried with Christ by baptism. !"
Again joining hands they followed their
leader back to the shore, and after re-
ceiving the right hand of fellowship they
became members of the +. B. church, OF
which Mr.. Wheeler was then pastor. l
am happy to add that Mr.. Staples has
always remained q good working men,
Der in the church, and hope the same is
true in regard to all the others.
After stopping with him two nights,
over Sunday, and one night with my cous-
In, Oscar Hayford, started for Rumford
Falls on foot as usual, that being my
favorite mode of travelling, and the Falls
being the place had been aiming at
ever since leaving home. Arrived there
about noon and without much trouble
found the residence of Wilson Thomas,
who lives one and a half miles up the
river, and was soon eating dinner with
the family.
Mr.. Thomas had lived the most of bis
life In that vicinity, was acquainted with
nearly all the people, and they seemed to
be equally as well acquainted with him.
An hour later We were riding through
the principal streets Of the "embryo
city," he in the meantime pointing out
the most interesting places to me, in
Guiding the former residences of j. n.
Irish and Rev. G. B. Hannaford, then
over to Mexico, where we had very
pleasant interview with the venerable
postmaster, Mr.. Park.
The following night was spent with
Mr.. Thomas, and the next morning his
daughter-in-law, Miss Annie Morgan,
took me down town as far as the post
office, and then left me to make calls at
my leisure. The first place visited was
the Times printing Office, and on being
introduced to the editor by Mr.. johnson,
formerly OF Bryant's Pond, and learning
that had visited the place more than
forty years previous when B. G. Perry
and family were about the only persons
living there, he invited me to give a
sketch of the place as 1t was at that
time, which I did to the best Of my
ability, including of course the az fac
tory that Mr.. Perry had built there.
The article was published in the next
paper and was fairly correct, except that
the editor made one funny mistake by
writing it ar handle factory. How he
happened to commit such an error is a
mystery, since there was nothing said
about handle Of any kind.
After calling on two or three more
persons whom used to know, and view
ing the newly made town to my salts
faction, my next move was towards
home and on the first train going south.
L. D.
IT.. -. xxnA