Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-05-05
GREAT POND.
Brief History OF Settlement At Head
Waters OF Union River.

The little'town OF Great Pond. situated
near the headwaters OF Union river, will
hold its place in the memory of many .
hardy woodsman, but few, perhaps, know
the trials and hardships OF the early set
tiers
In about 1911 the township OF No. 81,
part OF the Bingham purchase, was
owned by Squire Tilden, Of Boston, who
offered brilliant Inducements with many
promises OF the good time to come, to
those who lad courage enough to brave
the danger Of pioneer life. A party from
Massachusetts,, among whom were Simeon
and Clark Williams, came through an un-
broken forest and landed at the foot Of
Great pond. Simeon felled the forest trees.
They commenced clearing about forty
rods from the pond, choosing the highest
land, erected log cabin or two, and went
back with favorable report Of this part
Of the Pine Tree State.
Clark Williams, and his father, Joshua.
. Revolutionary soldier from Rhode
Island, John Collar from China, Me-, Mr..
Dyke, q half brother OF Addison Dodge,
and few other families came here with
. view to settlement.
After few years Mr.. Tilden sold out TO
John Black. His promise OF roads, mills
and settlers proved failure. Dis
couraged, all went back to their native
lands except three families, Joshua Will
liams, his son Clark, and John Collar.
In 1872 Simeon Williams married Harriet
Kenney, Of Woodstock, n. B. In 1879, he
moved here with his family OF four
children. His father having grown in
firm from wound in the leg received in
tho army, drew pension until he died, ct
the age Of ninety four.
The method OF transportation was on
horseback, with only spotted line for =
road. The nearest - wmill, grist mill and
blacksmith shop was In Mariaville, dis
tance Of twenty miles.
Capt. Sol. Jordan and Eben Morrison
frst built Great Pond dam, and Ashel
Foster drove the hrst team across Brandy
pond. In those days Il was - customary
to take their barrel Of liquor - their four
in the woods with them, and when Mr..
Foster got halfway across the pond be
must celebrate the event by stresting the
crew. As NO dish was at hand an inven-
tive genius proposed cutting hole in the
ice and filling it with brandy, which they
did, and lay down and drank it; hence the
name OF Brandy pond.
Simeon williams and wife had family
Of ten children; six boys, James, Thomas,
Simeon, IT,, George, Asa and Joseph Til
A. 81 An~
Kenney, Harriet and Eliza Jane, who died
in infancy. They all settled nearby and the
place was rightfuily called Williams Set
Element.
James williams died Dec. IS, 1898, at
the age of eighty years and eight months.
His wife was Lucinda Jacques, OF Cherry
field. They had eight children.
George Williams married Louisa kich-
ardson, by whom he had a large family.
Asa married Direxa Esther Dunn, of
Cherryfield. They had ten children; one
boy who died at the age Of six; eight girls
who lived to marry and rear children, five
OF whom are now living Mrs. jackson, of
Mass; Mrs. McPhee, OF Fair
field; Mrs. Remission, OF Cleveland, Ohio;
Mrs. Mace, of Augusta, and Mrs. Crosby,
of Aurora. The sixth daughter was Mrs.
Nellie Haynes, Of Bangor.
In 1912 Thomas married Mary Ann
Lord, OF Greenfield. He died OF diph-
iberia at the age Of fifty. There were six
children; three sleep beside him. His
wife married again and is now the widow
oi..Joseph Smith, Of Mariaviile.
John Collar had = family Of six chill
dren; most of them died in early iife.
James and Thomas Williams, as boys,
had to take the responsibility OF men. At
one time the darkness overlook them
when returning from the mill, and they
tied their horse and lay down beside him
and spent the plight. They owned the
first wagon ever brought to Great Pond.
For many years, up to the time OF his
death at the age Of eighty years and eight
months, in 1893, James Williams was the
oldest resident OF the town. He was .
carpenter by trade and built many build
ings up and down Union river.
In 1853 . postoffice was established in
Great Pond, with Curtis Sabine ~ the first
postmaster. He kept the ONCE few
months and then Tobias Lord was APP
pointed in his place. He resigned his
Office in 1882, and J. r. Shuman was APP
pointed. Samuel Buchanan, of Ellsworth,
carried the mail the first four years, at
which time it came once q week.
In 1883 there were hfty-three scholars
attending school in . large schoolhouse,
where church services were also held.
There were also LIS inhabitants housed in
comfortable homes on well cultivated
farms.
The oldest resident Is Madame Colson,
now about eighty-five years Of age.
Edgar Williams, now seventy-three, son
Of James Williams, is spending his old age
with his younger brother, Ezra N. Will
liams, who has q fine home on the old
place. Ezra has two daughters, Mrs. w.
A. Estabrook, of Bangor, and Mrs. Seiwyn
Parker, of Livermore Falls, who was re-
Gently married in Bangor by Rev. e. r.