The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-09-07
SLATE UNDER STOVE
GRAYEST0NE

and wear an old-time charm, because
change has not obliterated then
Nonted appearance?
The carly settlers, confronted by
common hardships, inspired by com
mon purposes. and bound together
BY common sympathies worked 10
pcther for the common welfare. Bnf
This was the voluntary labor Of the
members of an unorganized commun
ity and there is no record of purposes
or results. The material for the
history of the town prior to its IN
corporation is, therefore of ira
dtonal character
Mr.. Williamson. in his history oil
Maine tells us, upon authority oil Il
manuscript letter from Mr.. Jacob
Hale. a former prominent and intelll-
gent citizen Of tins township that In
1904 and incorporated December H.
1916 by its present name given by
Mr. David Maloon ia honor OF Cen
eraI Elcazer " Ripley, a distinguish
ed officer in the war Of 1872 The
original grant of the town by the
State was September p, lso3 to
John S. Frasy, who conveyed tt 10
Charles Vaughan and John Merriek
Esqrs.. prominent early residents oil
Hallowell. Me The town was sur
yeyed in 1909 and again in 1873. The
postofTce was established in 1873
Traditional history relates that one
hundred and fifteen years ago Mr..
David Maloon and his wife Rhode
left their home in Epping, N. II. and
penetrated the wilderness to where
is now the town of Ripley, and made
the first clearing on the farm now
owned by Mr.. Nelson. They were
undoubtedly the first settlers, as 10
Mr.. Maloon was given the honor of
naming the town.
The following year Jacob Hale and
his wife came from Hopkinton, N.
II. and settled Oh the farm where
Mr. Lamont Films now lives. lie
bought an extensive tract of land
from the proprictors and acted as
their land agent, An old fashioned
sweep cider mill which he built is
still in existence.
Turnout his life he was a very in
tlucntial man in the community, com
monty referred to as Squire Hale
and acted as first incumbent of The
office of first selectman.
Josiah Page who settled where Al
bert Sawyer now lives came in tht
year 1906 in an OK team from Wake
field, ~ II. The same year Mr. Dan
iel Randall arrived on foot from
Tuftonborough. N II. Mr.. Randall
was one of the most famous bean
hunters in this section, hunting and
trapping thru all the region aIonl
Mainstream.
Another interesting earlier settler
, was Elder Tripp, who came here
: from Hanover, Me, and was the FIRST
Methodist minister to settle in this
section. He was very good man
and very truthful and blunt in his
expressions. At one time he was
present AT meeting where the
speaker was making Il strong TRADE
against the vanity OF wearing starch
ed shirt bosoms and tand-up collars.
and yet he himself was the only one
in church who had on one. At the
CLOSE Elder Trip arose and said
solcmnly: Our brother has given
us some very straight truths, but II
some of the chips haven't flown in
his own face. then I'm mistaken"
Elder Trip was the father OF
Bartlett Trip, who was sent rs
minister to Austria.
Other early settlers prior to in
corporation were John Jones and his
wife, Margaret, a well educated wo-
man, and both a lover and writer OF
poetry, coming from Wakefield, N
H.. in 1913; William Hoyt from
bradford, N, H., who cleared the land
where his grandson and Mr.. Frank
Felker now live; Joseph Butler from
! Pennington. Me; Moses Bane, who
cleared land on the farm now owned
by MIR. Ernest Bane. and whose house
stood In the old orchard above the
house where his grandson. Hiram c.
Dane now lives; Elisha Lord from
Berwick, Me; and Edw. Leavitt, who
settled at the Head of the Pond,
where Edw Skillings now resides
The town of Ripley was Incorporate
ed into the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts December II. 1916 The
first town meeting was held March 4,
1877, ut the home of Samuel Emery,
the warrant being issued by James
Leighton, justice of the peace. The
first marriage recorded was that of
Edmond Perry and Lydia Leavitt In
1877, The early schools were con-