Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-01
Interesting Life Story Of
the Late VIM. Ray.
Was Famous Teamster Of Old
Days on Kennebec.
Changing Fortune Brought Him to
A|mshouse Where He Died,

"iiuSiiouSe pl lne late William Ray,
removes, il is believed, the last of
those famous old timber toters who
flourished in the kennebec valley
more than a half century ago Mr. Ray
was one of eight young Irish lads who
left the same city in Ireland at nearly
the same time and came direct to
America in the old fashioned sailing
vessel With the others Ray landed
at Quebec and soon made his way
down the kennebec road, crossing the
border at what is known as "Hilton's."
The village of Moose river was then
but 4 string of settlers homes and
Jackman was but q name given to Il
township of Wild timber land. Any
body could stop over night or for
week with the settlers in those days
and Ray hung up at Moose river.
working his board and waiting for the
influx of timber cutters for the next
seasons operations. His first job was
that of teamstcr in the logging swamp.
He had never handled horses before
but he took to the work so naturally
that he deceived the older transfers
and when spring came he had the big
geSt landing on the Scene'tO his credit.
For several seasons Ray followed this
kind of work and then he discovered
that there must be good money in the
toting business.
He had saved sufficient money for
his several seasons in the woods. to
purchase four good strong Canadian
horses and these he put on the long
tote between Moose river and Show
hogan, then the nearest largest town
IN, 1icfa
is approximately 10 miles. In those
days the Glidden tourists would have
found more difficulty in getting record
days than they did on the recent trip
through that section. Four days were
often consumed in making the single
trip and the years that followed when
"Gilly the Toter'' piled between the
shretown and the Canadian border,
We're filled with hard tugs. break
downs, washouts, well soused outfits
and, as Uncle Gilly" himself has Oft
en- said: "A heap of New England
rum and no little swearing"
Ray was a frugal fellow and in
reasonable number Of years became
q prominent contractor IN stumpage.
Rays ups and downs came and went
with the lumber business and when
I.the final rap hit him he went down
andsout financially for good and all
| In his prime it was something to be
| cAked a man who is known from
Popham to the Canada line" and that
was often said of Billy Ray. He was
| famous Jas a teamster and was the
| only man, as far as is now known, who
| ever took a strong team from Moose
river to Portland returning with Load
| That was in 1856 and the round trip
| was made in % days.
| He came to WaterviIle more than
80 years ago and for years was janitor
in several large business places and
latterly at Coburn Classical Institute.
While janitor at Coburn he received an
injury to one leg which created. a bone
sore and this necessitated the removal
Of the foot. He was now irfcapacitated
from work at Coburn and for several
| wears supported himself as book
| agent
| There were and still are relatives
who would have taken him to their
homes but he was of the independent
| order and when finally he could sup
port himself no longer, he took up the
| voluntary trip to the poor house. Mr.
I Ray was q great reader and as the
aims house is supplied with the lead
ing daily papers, he kept posted on
| current events.
In the old days when the dugways
on the road between Carratunk and
The Forks were always dangerous and
at times more so tfian ordinarily. Gill
| w Ray was a fearless driver. 1t IS
told of him that on one occasion when
after II severe rain the dugways had
been badly awash. he sent his six
horse outfit in and out on the full run.
The OUTER edge Of the road usually
not more than two feet in point Of
space and usually supported by logs
laid along the edge, had crumpled anu
washed away so that but few in
chase of earth lay outside the regular
wheelpath and the Kennebec river
rolled swiftly on 100 feet below. But
Billy made the trip because he didn't
want to be stalled in Carratunk over