The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-26


time coaches that ran between Au-
/ gusta and Skowhegan. The driver al
ways had six horses and when he
refined up in front of the tavern there
was always a crowd to meet him. II
was the only distinctive event of the
day, as the horses usually came in on
the run. There was another stage
line from Canaan TO Skowhegan and
this one changed horses on the Gin
ton side. 1t was not as large an af-
fair as the other one. but the same
scenes were usually enacted when II
came in, and if anything It created
more excitement, as there was more
business and more population on the
Clinton side of the river. After the
coach had gone. the the men would
gather in the store to talk over the
news that the driver had brought.
zone of the big business men of
Pishon's Ferry at that time was
Daniel Wells. He was a famous cattle
dealer and drove his stock through
/ TO Brighton usually in person. He
was man of honor and although he
could drive sharp bargain in bust
and he took no unfair advantage He
vas more or less rough and profane
and when the minister undertook tc
correct him for swearing he told him
| hat
meaning anything by it than it was
to pray without meaning anything by
it, The minister never tried to dis
cipline him again. With all his pro
family he was a very generous MAJ.
and always gave literally to the poor
On one occasion the house of poo
of the good neighbors were standing
around plying the woman Wells
drew his wallet and gave her $50, re-
marking at the time that the none,
would do her more good than their
prayers!
Wells was a big drover and a
times had large herds of cattle at his
place. When the number was large
enough he would start them for
Brighton. He always went along with
them on horseback. He made money
and was considered a rich man fol
those days On the whole he was
good man and a great help to the
farmers as he could always pay casl
down for their cattle.
There We're other prominent fami-
lies at Pishon's Ferry in the old days
The Burrills, Spaudings and Kim
balls were all descendants of the
pioneers who had settled there in the
old Indian days. These people were
mostly on the Fairfield side of the
river, hut the families have now dis
appeared The store on this side was
kept by a man named Blackwell, and
the remnants of the old buildings are
still there. Then there was dance
hall in the tavern where amusements
of different kinds were held and with
in its walls could often be heard the
familiar strains of Fishers Horn
pipe" and "Old Zeb Coon"
4 Classmate of Sophie May.
oh, yes, l knew Sophie May we'll
and was a classmate of hers in the
old Norridgewock Academy She fire.
quently came here to the old tavern
as Mrs. Starbird was her aunt. ] al
ways found her to be very compan-
ionable as well as intelligent, al
though at that time she had not com
menced her literary career Her
mother was a sister of Dr. Bates of
this place, who was one of the ia
nous surgeons of his day in this
section. OF course you know that
Sophie May was merely a nom de
plume, as her name was Clark. She
was very talented woman and a
lovable one as well. | often think
OF the old days, and to recall the
scenes of my youth is always a pleas
ant pastime for one who is trying to
grow old gracefully"
Well. Mrs. Ellis is growing young
gracefully, and her charm of manner
indicates her culture and kindly ma
ture. The story that she has told us
is full of human interest and will be
delightful reading to one and all.
The TObey Farm.
And then the writer, in company
with Mrs Kate B. Ellis and another
lady very dear to him, took a little
ride around to see some of the fine
farms of Fairfield. The first place
visited was that of Charles L. Tobey.
a gentleman widely known over that
section. not only for his broad acres
but also for his large numbering in
terests. 1t is indeed a splendid farm
consisting of 300 highly cultivated
acres and with buildings to CORES
pond. This is emphatically a hay
farm and but few cattle are kept. Mr..
Tobey is a believer is commercial fer
tilizers and he finds no trouble in
raising and storing 165 tons of hay
in his 160-foot barn. Both he and his
wife are pillars of strength in tho