Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-04-17
OLD MAINE SOCIETY.
,,pE IN EASTERN MAINE TWO
GENERATIONS AGO.
.uv srmpLg LIFE - People OFTEN
POOR IN POCKET BUT RIcH IN
HAPPINESS.
,aeorse E. aoosins in Bangor Commercial

,s...,s q. Goosins in Bangor Commercially
Eastern Maine life as II was Atty years
90 before the tide Of emigration had
-;ed Of, much Of it, best material, 10 an
;,tsrestinR study because Of it, direct
h..r;pe upon our national growth, and .
o..usl glimpse 1t It may lid the student
~ historian OF the future In reconstruct
;nr a society which was quite general in
ether parts Of New England prior to the
Civil war. The trials, hardships and
comforts Of those pioneers have become
tradition.
The people who settled the country be-
,v,en the Penobscct and 6t. Croix rivers
were mostly smigrsnts from Massachu-
setts and Casco bay. They came mp the
coaat in small vessels Just before or right
After the Rsvoluticn. Thsy settled about
the bays or, ascending rivers, founded set
tlements in the interior whore trade with
the Indians wss possible or timber plen-
tiful for numbering. They were not sd-
veuturers, but people Of good Anglo-saxon
blood who were looking for future homes
IN eastern Maine. These people -vsss
later followed by few French emigres
who settled about Frenchman's bay, near
Mt. Desert island. The early population
was composed Of farmers, fishermen, SEA-
tsrers, shipbuildsrs and smsll mechanics.
washington county, the most eastern
county in the United States, has ever been
a numbering section, and many Of her
sons in recent years have boon prominent
in the development Of the great timber
states of Oregon, Washington and Mime
sofa.
But the people who came after the Re-
yolution were not the pioneers Of the land.
As early as 1775 there was quite large
settlement at Mschias, for It was there
that jeremiah O'Brien and few follow
ets fought the first naval battle OF the
American Revolution, 1.-THE Lexington Of
the Seas" whom they captured the British
schooner Marguerite, June II, 1T5, Ave
days before toe battle Of Bunker Hill.
The early settlers found good farming
lands, and rivers and bays teeming with
all kinds Of fish, and vast stretches OF
timber lands bordering upon the sea.
ShipbuiIding had become q leading in
dustry Of eastern Maine Is early as 1912.
By the middle part Of the last century the
region could boast Of considerable popu-
lation, but with the discovery Of gold in
California and with the opening up of the
great empire beyond the Mississippi, emil
grafton to these lands began, and has
continued at intervals ever since that day.
The Civil war also aided in thinning the
population.
During the period OF which we write the
population consisted OF farmers, fisher
men, seafarers, lumbermen, shipbuilders,
and there were also many mechanics,
iacks-at-all-trades,a and common laborers.
About this time few tourists from New
York and other cities began to be at
tracted into the country by the pic
turesque scenery which abounds about
Frenchman's bay and other places on the
coast. When Jefferson Davis and party
camped upon the Epping plain in the
summer Of 1855 they found the country
abourding in blueberries-a region that
has since become famous.
Life among the people was simple and
unpretentious. II there was any distinc-
ton Of classes the people were hardly
conscious Of the fact, though some people
were regarded little better than others
and little better on In the worlds goods.
But as all men met ON an equality and
touched elbows freely ct all public func-
tions there was NO society that one could
call aristocracy. As one passes through
the country one can now see evidences Of
the old condition, either in architecture or
manners Of dress, which have survived the
Old days. This county, being the last to
be penetrated by railroad has preserved
much OF its former manners, customs and
traditions. In no part of New England is
the old town-meeting 80 well preserved
and so much revered - in eastern Maine.
The relations between public men and
their supporters are still very close and
intimate, and elections are hot.
The death recently OF William Freeman
removed from eastern Maine about the
last Of the distinguished men Of the old
regime. He was typical New England
gentlemen. \ sketch OF his life would be
most interesting and give the world a
truer idea of eastern Maine life before the
Civil war. Mr.. Freeman's father, William
freeman, senior, came from Massachu-
sets, while his mother was q Clifford, of
another old Massachusetts, family. Will
liam, senior, settled on the Narraguagus
az Cherryfield. He came up to Maine in
.he early part Of the last century, bring
ing with him the deeds of several valuable
townships which bore the seal of the
ueneral Court Of Massachusetts.
william, his son, was educated in the
boston Latin school and Dartmouth col
iege, and at ian early age became member
VI the Washington county bar, forming a
oo-partnership with his father. Some of
us early associates at the bar were Fred
s.ick A. Pike, Bion Bradbury, Archibald
'McNichol. John G. Talbot and John F.
, Aynch-names once familiar and distin-
soished in the State Of Maine.