The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-03-02
ROLAND y. PATTEN, SKOWHEGAN
II Telephones Phone;

gan his pastorate on March 6, 1859
and apparently with his wife and sis
ter, j. Frances Bryant, came here
from PASSPORT. as they united with
the Church by means of letters from
a church in that municipality. Abel
Homsted. father of Ivory Homsted,
now living at Malbon's Mills, was one
of the prominent workers of the
church at that period, as on August
6, 1859, he was made a second dea
con. Rev. Mr.. Bryant's passionate
had a sad ending. On December %.
1861, he preached two sermons, one
in the forenoon and one in the after
noon. The text from which he preach
ed at the latter service was And the
Angel said unto them: Fear not, for
l bring you good tidings of great joy
which shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day. in the city
of David, Savior, which is Christ the
Lord" This was his last sermon.
At that time he was suffering under
severe attack of diptheria, which
brought him down to death the
Thursday following; yet he spoke
/ with more than common sorrow, sol
emnity and earnestness, it was said,
in fact 50 much so, that some of his
hearers felt at that time, that he was
preaching his final sermon on earth.
INVESTIGATION UNTIL AFTER
CANDLE-LIGHTING TIME
Not until May %, 1862, did another
minister take up the work lain down
by the stricken servant of the Master,
according to the records. Rev, George
H. Eldridge commencing his labors
at that time as preacher and pastor.
During 1863 Reuel Weston and fam
lily removed from the community the
change causing evident regret among
the parishioners. Mr. Weston, it
seems had been clerk since the date
of the church's organization and upon
chosen clerk. Stephen Weston at a
meeting on February I, 1863 became
deacon of the church. The Society
continued apparently in much the
usual manner of the time for some
years, the Skowhegan Church again
acting as host to the Maine Central
1865. During that year rumors be-
came current about one of the men,
bers and his wife. consequently
committee was formed to make in
vestigations. Quoting from the time
worn records it says.
THE investigation commenced
at about 2 o'clock p. m. and con-
tinued till after candle-lighting
and until the accuser-- said
she had no further charges to
make"
Nothing impeaching the Christian
character was found however. al
though apparent errors and inconsist-
ences were found.
Oct. 6, 1866, the church met in con-
ference and C. Milton Lambert was
chosen clerk in place of Hiram N.
Withee, who with his family were to
leave the community. Mr.. Withee
was a distant connection of X A
Withee. who lives on Maple ST., of
this town, and went to Wisconsin new
er returning to take up his resi-
dence in this section Mr.. Withee's
home was in the Beech Hill neigh
borhood upon farm now owned and
occupied by George Smith. He was
the son of Zacheriah Withee, who
back May years ago, furnished a
source of amusement for the boys of
the Beech Hill district during a reli-
gious service which was held in the
schoolhouse. This gentlemen upon
tall fur hat on the stove. unmindful
Of the fire which was burning there
in until warned by the danger of his
headgear becoming ruined. Zacher-
iah had four sons of which Hiram
was one Nyron and Levi went west
and were reported to have accumulat-
ed property until they were each
worth a half million. Charles and
the other son was killed in the army
and none of the family are now
thought to be living December /,
1866. Joseph Smiley was made dea-