The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-07-24
NORR|DGEWOCk IS TO
CELEBRATE
The elimination of Its 1875 Years of
Existence

Another Somerset County town is tc
celebrate and this time it is Norridge-
wock but not on its Tooth birthday but
its 125th instead. This town is one
of the most noted in Somerset, sur
rounded as it is with its history and
legends of the Red men. In fact the
story of the Indian in the region OF
the Kennebec is one full of interest
to every student of the history OF
Maine. Especially is the history OF
Norridgewock interesting, for here
came the tragic end of the famous
| Norridgewock tribe of Indians for
generations roamers of the wilds OF
this region from Merrymeeting Bay &c
Moosehead Lake. This sad end has
made Old Point a land mark in the
history of the Red man in New Eng
land. From the peculiar circumstan-
ces connected with this far famed
place, it is destined to become more
familiar than now.
The main points in the history OF
Norridgewock take in the coming OF
Father Druillete; then of Father Rasle
and the final destruction of the tribe
by the assassination of Rasle and his
followers at Norridgewock in 1924.
The arrival of Father Sabastin Rasle
in 1895 was the signal for the In
dams to continue resistance of the
advance of the white.
Rasle established his mission ar
Norridgewock and was pastor of the
tribe for 90 years. The thing which
was considered the climax of disturb.
ed relations between Indians and Eng
fish was the formal notice given by
the Indians to the English to vacate
certain lands.
Rasle was considered by the English
to be at the bottom of all the trouble
and a reward was offered for his cap
ture. The English declared war up
on the Indians and ascended the river
to Norridgewock, but found the vii
age deserted. The war continued with
frightful destruction. Men, women
and children were killed at all points
by the Indians. Whole settlements
were wiped out in single day or
night.
The English made another attempt
to slay Rasle, sending troops in whale
boats on the 18th of August, 1924. On
the oath the troops marched to Fort
Norridgewock. Before night the force
came upon a party of three persons,
near where the village of South Nor
ridgewock stands today. Two wo-
men were shot, the man, fieet-footed,
running through the forest to carry
warning to the village above. He
was overtaken by the bullets of his
pursuers, as he attempted to cross the
river at a fording place. This vic
tim was Bomaseen and the place is
known today as Bomaseen Rips.
The troops continued their march
upon the Indian village and Father
Rasle was riddled with bullets as he
issued from his cabin, and nearly all
of his Indian followers were killed
His death was the end of the mission
and the surviving Indians went to
Saint Francis.
Norridgewock' first settler was
Warren Ashby. He came in 1872. The
town was incorporated in 1888 and the
first town meeting was held on Au
gust 20 of this same year. At this
time the population of the town was
about 800, and the number of families
was 70. In 1909 Somerset county
was organized and Norridgewock was
made the shire town and remained
so until about "a years ago.
Though Norridgewocks Indian his
tory has a national interest, the civil
history has a peculiar interest. This
town has sent more men to Congress
than any town of it's size in Maine. In
1881 it sent James Bates physician;
in 1915 it sent Cullen Sawtell law
yer and he was reelected in 1919, and
in 1877, it sent Stephen d. Lindsay a
lawyer, and reelected him in 1879.
John S. Tenney from this town was
associate justice of the supreme court
from 1S41 to 1S45 and chief justice
from 1855 to 1862. John s. Abbott
was an attorney general of Maine in
1855.
Two women who have done much
to add to the already shining reputa-
ton of No1ridgewock are the Misses
Rebecca S. Clark and Sarah j. Clark.
The former is better known to the
reading world as Sophie May. She
is the author of Little Prudie" and
the "Dottie Dimple Stories" The lat
ter is known to the world as pen
Shirley" Miss Rebecca Clark died
few years ago. She gave the building,
formerly occupied by Hon. S. d. Lind
say as a law Office, for a permanent
home for a public library
Norridgewock stands out unique in
several other things, one being its
granite industry. Dodlin quarry has
furnished many of the federal build
ings of the country with building ma