Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-07-25

During the summers of 1884,. Capt
Wilson Was employed by the state In the
survey of wild lands In the county Of
Aroostook. In 1874, when more than
seventy years of age, he was en-
ployed late In autumn to re-trace and
remark the 45th parallel of north lati-
tude from its junction with the national
boundry at Hall Stream, VT, eastward
through the wilderness Of northern New
Hampshire to Maine; and here again be
was destined at his advanced age, to
contend with q disaffection akin to
munity, In his crew. Having subsisted
for nearly two weeks on the provisions
they took on their backs with them from
Canaan, Vt, and having nearly ex-
hausted the same, their purpose was to
obtain more (when they should arrive
there) of crew Of men who were build
ing dam on the Diamond River at a
point which lay directly on their course.
Day after day they watched and listened
for the longed-for stream, but only to be
disappointed:
A lurking suspicion now seized certain
of the crew that they had been led off
the course by variations OF the compass.
At length one fine afternoon they came
to the brink of very deep valley, and
one OF the men climbed tree to take
observations. he had been engaged 10
lum bering on the Diamond, only the
winter before, and was expected to rec
ognize the locality.
swell! what do ye think?" called out
one of the men from below, to him.
81 am satisfied" said be, "that this is
not the valley of the Diamond"
| "What the devil is 1t then?" excitedly
asked the man below.
swell, you've asked me too much,"
was the answer. "What's your opinion,
Cap'np" he asked, addressing the COM
pass man who was setting his instru
ment for another object.
81 don't know, was the careless reply,
II never was here before"
At this the two line men stared with
alarm. Their long pentup fears broke
forth. "We've gone on this way long
enough!" said one Of them. "We'd bet
ter use what little provisions we've got,
in getting where there's more, instead
of running till it's all gone and then
finding ourselves up at Parmachene
Lake or the Lord knows where! Let's
60 back on the line!
At this point the "Cap'n," who had
hitherto taken no notice of the crews
| fears or complaints, broke in sternly,
with-"Never!-I have begun this job,
and shall finish it! This is the valley
of the Diamond I've have provisions
enough yet for another day-aDd shall
reach more 10 that time!-sp0t that tree!
-further.r to the right;-further-r!"
No more was said. The line men
sprang to their places, plying their axes
with the energy of desperation, and be-
fore sunset, had struck last winters cut
tiugs on the Diamond, and a last win.
ter's logging camp, with stove, fuel,
and lamps all ready for use In 1t, where
they made themselves welcome and com.
Portable for the night, and the next day
at noon reached the works Of the dam
builders, from whence another days
survey brought them to the state OF
Maine, (about two miles north OF the
upper Magalloway settlemenf and to
the completion of the operation.
Capt. Wilson's last public service In
the line OF bis lifelong profession. was
the survey and re-marking, In the sum-
mer of 1877, of the boundaries Of the
Dartmouth College Grant, on the Dia-
mond Rivers; the labor OF which lin
volving two weeks of tracing lines over
steep mountains and through swamps OF
tangling underbrush wet all the time
with dew or rain), he was persuaded to
relipquish to his two sons, while he him.
self remained at the nearest settlement
to look after the work. he however
afterwards spent one winter scaling tim.
ber In the woods of the Nulhegau River,
Vermont, boarding and lodging at the
lumbermen's camp, when he was In his
eighty-second year.
In the days Of the old Whig party, Mr..
Wilson had mingled somewhat In the
turmoil of politics, and In the autumn OF
1913, In spite Of the almost solid Democ-
racy of his district, was chosen the first
and only representative ever sent from
the Magallowsy to the Maine General
Court, although at different times the
New Hampshire portion of the settle.
ments has been represented at Concord
by Leonard York, great-grandson OF the
fourth settler, Peter Bennett, grandson
of the third settler, and Ziba r. Durkee,
successor to Nathaniel Bean on the Isaac
York estate, and formerly Of Lebanon,
N. 81.
In 1885 Captain Wilson abandoned the
Magalloway country, and together With
his youngest son, purchased farm, and
built new residence, on the shore OF
the Connecticut, about five miles north
OF the Grand Trunk Railway at North
Stratford, N. b. Little apparent cause
bad he for regret, at thus bidding sdieu
to the scene of bis manifold disappoint.
m ments, trials and affections. He had
while there buried three dearly beloved
grown up sons, and his aged mother, bis
mills had been swept away by fire and
food, his neat stock killed by lightning,
and of all the fond hopes that had in
spired him in early manhood to exchange
bis native homo and cultured environ.
ment, for life of privation and hard
ship, in a far of wilderness country
not one had been realized. After resid.
ing for few years on the shore Of the
Connecticut, where he buried the ever
devoted companion of bis life, he re.
moved with bis SON to Old Orchard
Beach, where on the 18th OF September,
1884, he died of paralysis. worn out by
incessant toll, anxiety and disappoint.
ment, at the age of eighty-fiye.years and
eight months. He was buried In the old
family lot at Westbrook (now Deering)
beside his hero father, the interment be-
ing Witnessed from the very house
where he first saw the light,-the worn
aud weary pilgrim had at last returned
home.
Captain Wilson was the youngest son
of Major Natbanial Wilson of West
brook, q veteran of the Revolutionary
war, and OF Anna N. Wilson, daughter
of Col. Samuel March of Sosrboro,
Maine, who raised and drilled In his own
dooryard regiment. which he after
wards led on many bloody field Of the
great struggle for American liberty.
The son and grandson inherited many
of the military proclivities of his heroic
ancestors, and was wont to remark that
no amusement, diversion or recreation,
ever equalled to him the enjoyment OF
good militia training, In which exer-
cises he was an acknowledged expert,
and attained to the Captaincy Of his
company ct an early age.
Though small In stature, being hardly
more than five feet seven In height, and
though In bis daily walk one of the most
unassuming Of mon, yet whom aroused IN
any matter OF business, or BY any casual
emergency, his bearing WAS vigorous and
commanding, ~ that OF general on the
Geld OF battle. But in whatever circum-
stances, or on Whatever occasion, his