The sun., 1908-03-22
9IeRApUcps GosTMAsTERs.
A Maine once Held BY ono Family for =
Century and q Hair.

A Maine once Held BY Ono Family for =
Century and Hair.
BROoKBvItAE, Me-, March 1.-Four sue
oessive generations Of Walkers have held
the old Blgwaduoe post Office and dis
tributed letters for century and half
The ancient trading post Of Bigwaduce
was established by the French from Quebec
In 1910. Later. when Baron dc Castine
came over and married the daughter Of
MlnWocahdo, the local Indian chief, and
established the precedent for titled foreign
ers to marry American helresses, the settle
ment was named Castine.
After the capture Of Quebec by the Eng
liah In 1850 and the fall Of the French
power In Canada Major Groves Walker was
appointed Royal Commander OF Eastern
Maine, with power to scalp Indians, 10
impose Imprisonment and fines and 70 re-
celve. open and examine all mail matter
at the post.
Maine Vis under full control OF the British
troopt all through the Revolutionary war;
and Major Walker held the post offioe until
the Colonies had gained their liberty, when
the Walker family divided, the Major going
over TO New Brunswick 10 reside among the
expelled Tories, while his Son, Joseph
Walker, received custody Of all mails under
authority Of the United States Of America,
As soon a. post office department was
establlshed by Law he became the first post
master Of the village. The autograph OF
Samuel 0ssOod, the first Postmaster-Gen-
eral, Ia attached 70 the commission, which
is still In possession Of the family.
Deacon, afterward Colonel, Joseph Walker
held the offioe continuously from 1891
until 1St6, though he was obliged to gather
up his papers and fee far inland beyond
the reach Of the English warships during
the British occupancy Of Castine In the
War Of 1912. Il was owing 70 this war
that q temporary post Office was estab-
lshed at the outlet OF Walkers Pond.
When peace was restored Deacon Walker
was permitted TO have the name Of his
post ONCE changed from Castine TO Brooks
Vile. He continued 10 hold the place
and draw his salary until 1916, when no
was succeeded by his son, Deacon Joseph
Groves Walker. who saw letter postage
reduced from ninepenoe, or l215 cents, for
each half ounce to two cents,
The third Walker 10 hold the place was
a man Of importance and was counted
a leading member Of the Republican party
in his own county during the civil war. He
owned grist mills and saw mills and card
ing mills and lived TO see the surface OF
Walkers Pond denuded Of ice every winter,
the harvest being carried on chutes by
an endless chain directly from the pond
70 the holds Of schoonerS lying at anchor
down In Egsemoggn Reach, branch OF
Penobscot Bay.
On the death OF Deacon j. g. Walker in
the 'eOs the post Office went TO his younger
daughter, Miss Emma j. Walker, a former
school teacher, who came home 10 care
for her aged mother. But the direct line
Of Walkers Ia not extinct, because. Joseph
William Walker, the fourth In descent
from the old British Major, is owner Of
the old house. In room OF which the mails
have been received and sorted for more
than century, and though he Is in Govern
ment employ In Washington at present
he comes to his old home every summer
and Is making preparations to take up his
permanent residence in BrOoksville.
A son Of ]. W. Walker. Joseph Groves
Walker I'd, and the fifth In direct descent
from the British Major. spends much Of
his vacation time at the old home and is
fitting himself TO become the future post
master Of the village by helping his aunt.
Emma j. Walker, in sorting the mails.