The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-15
"AUNT" SUSAN COLCORD
remarkable Searsport Woman, Born in
1872, Tells an Interesting Story

When 1T comes to smart old ladies the folks
VI rark, In Searsport, are not slow in setting
I le the claims of Aunt Susan Colcord, ana
eaey insist that go where you may, IN all
I Maine you will not find one who is better en-
tiIleo TO be called smart than she.
Born in Searsport October II, 1872, she IS
now W years old but lives within sight OF the
modest little house in which she first drew the
breath of life. That does not tell the story OF
Aunt Susan
Aunt Susan was one of a family OF four chill
oren, whose parents were Joel and Sally Howe
OF Searsport and they lived in the little house
overlooking the waters of Long Cove, now &C.
cupied by John Averill. Her brothers and Sis
tiers are dead. With the other children OF this
vicinity she attended school in a little school,
mouse on the site of the present building, near
the postoffice.
In those days neither Searsport nor Park
were as they are today. Searsport was then
shipping center. The men of Searsport were
noted the world over sailors and to be known
as Searsport captain was certificate enough
tor any captain to sail any ship that hoated.
The ships of Searsport were famous mere
were none faster or more seaWorthy than
they, and Aunt Susan can sit for hours and
tell you of Maine men famous as daredevil
captains, and of the ships that made record
runs to Liverpool Hong Kong and other ports
of the world.
AT that time what is now Park was all a
wilderness, practically speaking. Few OF the
fields had been cleared, the houses were sparse
and the Indian was frequent visitor. 10 be
sure the redskins in those days who visited
the settlers were not so bloodthirsty as those
of a quarter of century before yet most OF
the people, Aunt Susan says, preferred they
keep their distance, for at that time white
folks were not absolutely sure that the red
skins were conquered and subdued.
December S, 1888, she was married to Capt
Jo n S. Colcord of Searsport, who was one of
the fauo1S SkjpperS Two plrlS and
two boys came to them, and are still living.
The Oldest, Amandy Susan, now rs years of
age married Edwin Cady in 1857 and they now
live in Wisconsin. Amelia Emma, now u
years old, married William Carbon of Searsport
in 1857 and now resides in Boston. Adelbert
Henry is now II years old, and Ademond is 68.
Aunt Susan has II grandchildren and l6 great
grandchildren, all living
Aunt Susan does not wear glasses, but can
see plainly and reads anything she cares to-.
On Christmas day, 1908, she went to Stockton
village, by team, with her grandson, Adelbert
Colcord, his wife and baby, taking dinner with
the parents of Mrs. Colcord, Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Closson. 1t is seldom that she rises later
than o'clock in the morning and she always
eats three hearty meals and usually retires
about O'Clock at night.
She remembers well when it was all woods,
with only bride paths, the people riding horse
back or travelling on foot carriages being I'M
known. In those days, after passing through
the woods AID over Long Cove stream, people
took off their shoes, and went barefoot to
save their shoes as they were priced very
highly and were also quite costly.
At the time she was attending school at the
Park there were between 70 and rs pupils,
many of whom came long distances for that
purpose In connection with this it is interest
ing to note that while Park is today much more
thickly settled than it was in those days, the
schoolhouse there has less than score of
pupils attending.