Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-19
!, Mrs. Green's Historical Address.

b Mrs. Green's Historical Address.
| One of the most interesting features
of the day was the historical address
by Mrs. Jennie Whipple Green, who
said:
The Indian history of this valley CEN
tiers around the Norridgewock tribe at
Old Point where. for many years. a
contest was waged between the Indians
and the English The Indians looked to
1.-THE French to assume control of this
territory. but their hopes were des-
tined to be destroyed by the terrible
massacre of the Indians and their be-
lloved priest, Father Rasle. in August.
l1724. There can be no doubt but that
the various tribes of Indians frequent
led This locality, for game abounded
in the forests, and at Caratunk Falls,
salmon were unusually plentiful. Anoth-
err evidence is that even today one or
two hundred Indian petroglpyhs are to
be found on the lodges which jut out
into the river just below the ferry.
Following the Indian days the next
important event to take place in the
vicinity was the Inflated march of
Benedict Arnold up the Kennebec in
to Quebec. Benedict Arnold and his
company left Cambridge on the morn
ing OF Friday, Sept. Is, 1775. on this
memorable march through the wilder
ness to Quebec. Arnold upon his arriv-
al at our beautiful falls, gave them the
name of DEVILS falls The journal kept
by Col. Arnold, Major Ware and Major
Meigs claims them to be about 16
foot fall. They were three or four days
getting around them and speak Of the
carry being very difficult and the wa
ter frozen. Col. Enos arrived with the
last division Saturday. Oct Z. They
spent some time examining their bread
and found it wet and unfit for use.
Sunday, Oct. 5, they were all day car
rying their baggage around the falls.
They used two sleds with oxen, but
the height of the road, and its being
hare, and a storm of rain at night,
prevented their proceeding. Caratunk is
an Indian word meaning something
rough or broken. 1t was PA years ago
that the Old Point massacre occurred
and 1874 years ago when Benedict Ar
mold and his army arrived at Caratunk
Falls, and, as we refresh our minds
with "reminiscences of the past of this
vicinity and compare it with the pres
ent we can, in measure, realize the
wonderful changes that even 200 years
have wrought in this beautiful river
valley.
| The town of Scion was Incorporated
in 1909 under the act of the General
Court of Massa chusetts. It was origi-
| nally called Spaulding town in honor
Of arc who r.
1then a plantation and was No in
| the several ranges of the townships on
| the east side of the Kennebec river,
| north of the Plymouth claim in the
county of Kennebec. The first town
meeting was called by Jonas Head,
who was chosen by Richard Sawtelle,
justice of the peace of Norridgewock
The first town meeting, called togeth-
er by Mr., Head, was held in the dwell
ing house of Caleb Hobart on Monday.
9th day of March. 1909. Spaulding
town was included within the Sagada-
hoe territory but in 1851 it passed into
the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay.
When it was lotted out, the lots in the,
northern part contained twice as many
acres as the southern part of the town,
owing to the mistake of running the
Ines for the first settlers. The first set
tlcment was made in 1882 by William
Hilton, who came from Wiscasset to
Scion in the spring of 1892 and worked
g. part of the summer. He cleared sew
raj acres of land upon the banks of the
river and the island and fitted it for
crops the next season. He also built
log house upon the lot. This is the farm
a,,I tad ~
son Hilton, a grandson of William
Hilton. 1t would be interesting to any
one tc visit this old house, which he
built later 1t is said he made the first
brick in town and it must be true from
the appearance Of the mammoth old
chimney in this house. The frame of
this house is huge in proportion to the
houses Of today and the finish is of re-
narkably wide pine boards and every
where it's construction shows hand
work.
His two brothers Eben and John Hill
ton settled in Arson just north Of Pat
terson Bridge in 1916. William Hilton
and wife spent the winters of 1882 and
1888 with these brothers in Arson. Mr..
Hilton was born in Wiscasset in 1859
His wife. Catharine Mckinney, was
born in 17e4. They were married about
1880. They had Is children. The oldest
David, was born in Arson, Sept. 10,
1882, and Hannah the next child was
born in Scion in January, 1884. and is
said to be the first white child born
| in the town of Scion.
The next settler to come was William
Eunnewell and his wife. who settled
| on the adjoining farm north of William
Hilton, now owned by Zina Norton
James Jewett came from Pepperell,
Mass, soon after. He settled back
from the river about four miles.
This farm was where his grandson,
Sewell Jewett. lived later This farm
house is well worth a visit. It is a
large two-story house and the finish
| of the rooms shows very elaborate
hand carving and is said to have been
done with pen knife. There is also
very interesting hand decorations upon
its walls.
| Caleb Hobart of Pepperell Mass,
was the son of Rev. Peter Hobart the
first minister in bingham, Norfolk
county in England. Mr.. Hobart, hav-
I ing lost his wife took his four x,o,,po