The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-02-02
JOHN D. BINGHAM
ACTIVE At 80
One of Canaan S Oldest
Citizens
Realtes Many Interesting Events of
His BOyhOOd Days.

JOlH II. BiuS1dlll vi canaan ID a
most remarkable man for one of his
ge. He is a man of extraordinary
vitality and springs from the most
hardy of oldtime stock. He was
born in Eastport 80 years ago, and
vas the son of Person and Maria
! Bingham, who were among the early
settlers of that town. The entire
family were noted for their longevity
and several of the blood had attained
an age of almost a full century. At
three years of age his parents re-
moved to the town of Clinton and
there he remained until early man
hood Later he purchased a farm in
Canaan where he has since resided.
Mr. Bingham married Miss Marga-
ret Church of Clinton and the couple
have three children. These are Wes-
ley Bingham of Auburn. Albert Bing
ham of Canaan. and one daughter,
Cora, who still lives with her parents.
The farm of Mr. Bingham is one
nile out of Canaan village and there
for many years he has toiled early
nd late. AS worker he has had
but few equals, and to this fact and
his regular and temperate habits he
ascribes his splendid health through
| life He loves the open country and
the lowing of COWS aQd bleating of
lambs are music to his ears. In re-
cent talk with a reporter, Mr. Bling
/ lam said:
Il am 80 years old but feel as well
and sprightly as | did forty years
ago My boyhood days were passed
III the town of Clinton and | can re-
member that village as it looked 50
years ago. In those days rum and
molasses was a favorite term and ey-
cry grocery store kept these on tap.
The old village tavern was kept by a
man named Reuben Kimball and ey-
enings the barroom would be full of
people and many of them would also
be full People looked upon such
things different then from what they
do today.
Driving cattle to the Brighton
market was a great industry when |
was a boy Great droyes of them
have passed our house many times,
and the men in charge Of them had
merry time in the old tavern at
night One of the great droYers of
that time was Daniel Mills, and he
would carry big droyes through to
that market and it was a profitable
/ business.
! When | was a boy every thing
about the farm was done by hand.
/ The women spun and woye the cloth
and yarn for our clothes, and these
were made by the light from an open
same out doors and every thing was
done by hand on the farm. The old
hand scythe, rake and pitchfork were
the only tools for haying and we saw
the sun rise and set in the field. They
do not work that way now, and even
their modern machinery does not do
the work in much less time This
year my farm was moved with a ma
chine and our haying was done in
three weeks. | have gone over the
same ground and put into the barn
the same amount of hay in exactly the
same time. or course | put in more
hours as ! frequently saw the stars
when began in the morning and
again when | left the field at night.
Il was a man grown when stoves
commenced to come into use for cook
ing. On the old crane in the fireplace
hung kettles to boil meat and yege
tables while the bread was baked in
front on tin baker The potatoes
were put under the hot ashes to bake
and they always tasted better to me
when cooked that way.
20, yes. We enjoyed ourselves in
those days. In spite of all the hard
work there were many pleasant
things In the fall we had our husk
ing and apple-paring bees and these
always brought the whole neighbor- |
hood together Then there were the
kitchen dances and the old-time fid
dler. That music sounded just as
good to us as opera sounds to the city
people today and I will venture to say
that we enjoyed it far better
of course we didn't have steam
heated homes in those days and our
sleeping rooms were always cold We
were not bothered much with sick
ness, either, and that would seem to
carry out the new-fangled idea about
sleeping out doors for consumption .
have always thought that hot house
plants were not as good or as frag-
rant as those that grow in the garden
and | guess it is the same with our
habits of eating and sleeping.
Wages were very low when | was
a boy and prices for all other things
were down far below what they are
today When | was a man grown /
worked out for $14 per month and
considered it good pay. The young
man wouldn't do that now. | worked