The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-08-22

unemOrdllNe Vi Tue lVVth dhnlNCAouA , Vi
Bingham's incorporation, the Sugar
toyn School association held its grand
reunion. About 300 men, women and
children were present from all parts
. Of the country.
/ II was an event that will long be re-
nembered by those especially who at
tended the school at one time, though
few now in number. This picnic and
reunion was held In grove about two
miles from Bingham, and is the place
where one of the first schoolhouses of
the town was located. 1t is near the
foot of a large hill, and now woods
have grown up SO that pretty grove
is the result.
This interesting history of Sugar
town was given at the reunion. Su-
gartown, a hill in Moscow, was set
tied by Bakers three brothers and a
nephew, Abner, Rueben and Brown,
and Charles. All settled around this
picnic spot, and probably built the first
schoolhouse, which was log one.
Little before noon, Thursday, flag
was hoisted on a spot where stood the
first schoolhouse, which was burned
81 years ago, and where the members
Of the association meet, each year. to
commemorate old school days.
General Isaac Dyer of Skowhegan,
now "a years old, taught school here
eS years ago, and had nearly every
year been a guest at the reunions, but
this year was not present.
The dinner consisted of beans baked
in the ground by Charles Jones, and
they we're eaten from tin plates, and
the crowd drank coffee from the tin
cups.
An interesting program was carried
out in the afternoon, and the guest of
honor was Sheriff John A. Mooers, who
was asked to speak on the situation
Of the county in the matter of sheriff
facts and the people applauded him
long and heartily. He said that some
of his Democratic opponents and 9TH
ers were saying: "Yes, the laws are
enforced but it is costing the county a
lot of money" Sheriff Mooers said:
Nov, | want to tell you good people
this, that if in my Judgment it ought
to cost more in order to enforce the
laws, | shall spend more"
The rest of the program consisted of
speeches from Merton Goodrich, Hon.
a. S. Burke, Rev. T. B. HIATT and Rev.
Miss Goldthwaite: reading, Don Nor
rison, Skowhegan and solo by Arlie
Dnsmore
Among those present at the reunion
who attended school at the Old Sugar
town school were: Anon Baker, Bing-
ham Lewis G. Baker, Moscow; w. G.
Baker, Bingham; II. o. Chase, Bing-
ham; A. F. Webster, Bingham; lsa-
dore Greenwood Fitzsimmons, Moscow
EVE Cummings Thompson, Skowhe-
gan; Milford Cummings, Lewiston;
James B. Messer, Moscow; Elmira
Maxim BARLEY, Pittsfield; Elyira Max
i'm Messer, Moscow; Alice Baker Dins-
more, Bingham.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year; President, II. o.
Chase; vice pres, A. f. Webster; Sec,
and treas, L. G. Baker; Elk. Com, G.
Webster, Anon Baker, Roland Baker,
Mrs Obed Pierce, E. F. Messer.
Friday was held the last outdoor
event of the festivities, this being the
occasion of the Goodrich Baker re-
unions at Bingham Heights. Several
hundred people were in attendance.
The address of welcome was given
by Ralph Goodrich, president of the
Reunion Association, and the baked
bean dinner was served The family
history was then given. by Merton
Goodrich, which was of special in
terest to everybody present. The Good
rch-Baker family originated more
than thousand years ago In England
The Saxon form of the name was
Godric. The first record of the family
vas SO A. D., when a Godric became
Abbot of Coryland. The Domesday
book shows many of the names Of the
andholders. He said our own lIle
Is traced directly back to John Good
rich, who was knight and baronet and
lived in Lincoln county, England, as
early as 1440. In tracing the line
down we come to William Goodrich,
Who came to this country in 1884.
and settled in Watertown, Mass, now
Included In the Mt. Vernon cemetery.
His son, Joseph, was bound out as an
apprentice at the age of six years
owing to the death of his father. Jo-
| sephs son Philip, was one of the first
settlers of Lunenburg, Mass, where
ne was prominent in town affairs.
Philips son, Joshua, lived in Lunen-
burg and was soldier in the Revo-
luton. This son, Joshua, Jr., served
With him and later came to Bingham.
From him the family of this town wac
descended.
Music was furnished by Bakers Or
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