The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-08-31

One hundred years is not a great
space of time if measured by record
ed history; but if measured by the
tremendous events which have trans
pired since the first day of the CEN
fury, it is equal to many centuries
which have passed since man began
to make a record of his doings.
Every locality has its pages of un.
written history which, transcribed by
the pen of the lover of antiquarian
research, become of interest to every
reader.
Our forofathers who cleared the
way and conquered the wilderness,
were of that hardy Puritanical stock
which believed in right living and
good government; establishing as the
foundation thereof the church and
the school wherever they went,
whether TO the prairies of the far
West, or penetrating the rugged for
est of Maine. They overcame every
obstacle; and we should now remem-
Der their noble work and sacrificing
toll as we gather the fruit of their
imperishable harvest.
The original township of Madison
was once owned by three men, the
principal owner being named Bar
nard; and its plantation name was
"Barnardstown." After the pro-
prietors of the Kennebec Purchase
had laid out their northern tier of
towns, strip of land one and one
half miles wide was left between the
south line of this town and the north
line of Norridgewock Settlements
upon this mile and a half strip, so
called, and in the northwest corner
of Madison were made at about the
same time.
The Kennebec Company, having
disposed of nearly all it's land, offer
ed to give away tier of lots in the
location now called the Burns neigh
borhood in South Madison. The
settlers were nearly all soldiers who
served in the Revolutionary War and
came to this section after it's close
Among them was Major Joseph
Moore, and our townsman, Mr.. Web
ster Moore is his oldest descendant.
Others were John Burns, who in 1872
built the house now standing upon
the Joshua Burns farm. His oldest
living descendant is a granddaughter
Mrs. Mary Burns Smith of Norwood,
Mass aged 70.
The Samuel Burns farm was taken
up by Isaac Mckinney, ancestor Of
all our Madison families of that
name.
Jonathan Russell's early home was
the Fred Daggett place; Andrew
Russell lived on the farm occupied
by Perley Mckinney
The Harvey Russell farm was
cleared by Abel Nutting; while Jo-
siah Nutting's home is what is now
known as the Seth Aver place.
Magnus Becky settled in the Flet-
cher neighborhood. He is buried in
the old cemetery at Madison, and his
only living descendants in Madison
are John and Corydon Sawyer of
Lakewood. The farm place recently
occupied by E. A Weybrant was first
occupied by Cyrus Wellington, while
another early settler, Stephen Wes-
ton and his wife, Martha Gray of
Embden, had their early home on
the Moody Ward place. OF that
family, Mrs. Mary Gilman of Madi-
son is the Oldest member living.
David Danforth and David Young
came from Wiscasset in the spring
of 1776, settling on the east river
bank in the Northwestern part of
Madison. The nearest mill at that
time was at Gardiner, and the jour
ney had to be made In a canoe. Soon
after came Benjamin Thompson,
Jonathan Eames, who settled where
James Welch lived, and James Say
age, who cleared the intervale farm
lately owned by Hiram Moore and
B. f. Burns. Another to settle
along the river about this time was
Gone Moore, who occupied the home
of the late Gilman Moore.
The next settled portion of our
town to which we will direct our at
tention will be Blackwell Hill. The
pioneer settlers were twin brothers,
Herman and Nathaniel Blackwell,
whose first homo was a log cabin
standing along the road leading to
the cemetery. The location Of this
cabin can be plainly seen at the
present day. Later they built them
selves each a home; one the house
once owned by Dinsmore Cleveland,