The independent-reporter., 1910-12-29

Arnold passed through the town on
that memorable campaign of the Eng
lish against the French in Canada
Few chapters in American history
surpass in horror or deprivation and
suffering that endured by Arnold and
his men on this remarkable cam
paign.
The army left Massachusetts on
September 13, 1775; 13 companies of
militia, all picked men, the very flow
er of Gen. Washingtons command,
most of whom were from Virginia and
Maryland. They reached Norridge-
wock October 4, where they re-
manned two days. At that time the
remains of Indian Village and Rasles'
grave were visible.
ARNOLD WAS THERE.
The town of Norridgewock which
formerly embraced the territory of
the present towns of Skowhegan and
/ Canaan had been explored for settle
ment about two years before Arnold's
| army marched through the town. 1t
was settled mainly by young men
from Massachusetts, from the towns
of Ashley, Concord, Pepperell and
! Townsend.
1t received its charter as a town
from the general court of Massachu-
setts in June, 1888 being the 54th
own in the state. The town derives
is NJ me from famous Indian chief
IoTridgwog. The name signifies in
/ the Abnaki tongue, smooth water be-
tween the rapids-showing how
beautiful were the names chosen by
the Indians for their places of settle
ment-the smooth water being be-
tween Skowhegan Falls, down the
! river, and Bombazee Rips, up the riv-
er, which also takes its name from
another Indian chief Bombazee. or
Bombazeen.
In the earlier times Nofridgewock
was one of the most prominent
towns in the state; it was the county
seat OF Somerset county and the sit
tipgs of the courts called to the
place some of the most eminent jur-
lists and lawyers in the, state. 1t
was town noted for the high moral
standard of it's people.
AS early as 1888 religious societies
were organized there and of the
leading divines in the state, Rev. Jo-
siah Peet held the pastorate of the
congregational church for a period of
forty years-one of the most re-
markable pastorates in point of dur
atlon that was ever recorded in the
state.
The leading families in Norridge-
"ocK society a generation or two
ago were noted for their wealth, in
teiilgence and culture. The names OF
Allen, Sawtelle, Townsend, Tenney
1lark. Selden, Hathaway, Adams
Danforth, Bixby and Sawyer were all
remarkable, being leading business
and professional men, while the wo.
men were leaders in the social circles
OF the leading towns of the state.
NORRIDGEWOCK's SONS.
Norridgewock has furnished to the
state and country at large a good
snare OF its eminent men and women
III mas given to Maine one attorney
general, John S. Abbott; to the Su-
preme court of Maine, one chief ius-
tice, John S. Tenney and one asso-
ciate justice, Charles Danforth and II
has given to the nation three repre-
sentatives to Congress: James Bates
Cullen Sawtelle and Stephen d. Lind
say.
Look at these literary stars: Caro-
line Fletcher Dole and her two sons
Charles Fletcher Dole of Jamaica
Plain, known to Bangor audiences by
his lectures in DR.. Fields courses
and his brother. Nathan Haskell Dole
OF Wellesley, one of the finest Rus
sian scholars in the United States and
the translator of Tolstoi's works
Henry W. Savage of Boston; Rebecca
5. Clark, known in literature as So
phie May; and her sister, Sarah r
Clark, known in literature as Penn
Shirley-authors known from one
side OF the continent to the other;
Mary Abbott Rand, author of many
books for young people; and Rev. Mi
not Savage, the eminent Unitarian
clergyman, assistant pastor of Rev
Dr. Collyer of New York himself the
author of more than so books, with
out mentioning others of lesser note
These are enough, surely, to give
nigh literary distinction to any town
md these are Norridgewock authors
How prettily does the last one
.nentioned-Dr. Savage, refer to the
beauties of the town and its lovely
situation along the banks of the Ken
nebec,
There, just below, shadowy band
The bridge hangs DER the flood,
BY which two villages clasp hand
In loving brotherhood.
Beyond he bridge know it we'll
The church which elms embOwer;
And now rings out the evening bell
Upon this perfect hour.
Sweet village! Thou to me dost seem
A picture free from care;
Thou art a lovely country dream,
And, like dream, most fair.
Norridgewock lost a great deal
when the county seat was removed to
Skowheg%, about 1873 Its loss
however, especially in business
sense, was more than made up by the
building of the Somerset railway
which brought new business into the
town and made an outlet for the
splendid granite at Dodlin Hill which
! has been used in the construction of
| arly'c EpicppnaI church and ith-