Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-07-18

John, the elder brother OF Peter, VIII,
lived on farm OF his own, some distanc
down tho river from his fathers place
was killed In the numbering woods II
1845, by falling tree. His eldest soi
Nahum, who claims to have been tn
first white child born on the Magallows!
waters, is now seventy.five years old, ant
not only superintends all, but performs
large share of the labor of his large ant
fertile farm about q mile from the forme
Bennett homestead.
OF the six sons of John, Sr., only three
Frederick, Peter and Gilman-lived X
old age. The father, like the msjorit!
Of the Magalloway's first settlers, re
turned to his native place to die, afte
age and infirmity had disqualified bin
for pioneer life.
Isaac York of Bethel, Maine, q veteran
of the Revolutionary war, numbers
fourth on the roll of Magalloway pio
neers. He settled on the east side OF tht
river near the great bend, where tbt
stream runs in exactly opposite direc
tions within the space of few rods, and
about six miles from its confluence witt
the Androscoggin. Mr.. York had years
before traversed the region in trade witt
the Indians for furs, bringing on hii
back, 1t Is said, at each trip from Bethel
ten-gallon keg of New England rum
which he exchanged with the "simple
natives" for the valuable furs with which
the wilderness then abounded. 1t may
be we'll to remark here that the traffic In
spirituous liquors was not then, as now,
looked upon as crime and disgrace to
humanity, but however public opinion
may regard this action of our old soldier
pioneer, we should remember that this
same lucrative traffic was one of the first
fruits of the so.called Christian civiliza-
tion introduced by United States bayo-
nets and firebraDds, into the Philippine
Islands In 1899, and whereas the judg.
ment of the United States Court was In.
voked to decide whether or not the con.
stitution should follow the flag to the
aforesaid Islands, the liquor traffic found
no trouble las it never does) In rushing
in where angels and constitutions fear to
tread.
Mr.. York selected for his new abiding
place what proved to be the most valua.
BILE farm on the river. It's broad and
level meadows have heen for many years
the field of extensive farming operations,
the Berlin Mills Lumber Company now
using 1t as base of supplies for the hun.
dreds. of horses employed by them In that
section. The old hero died on his own
fine estate in 1874, at the ripe age OF
ninety.f five years. His son.iu.law, Ma
thaniel Bean, succeeded him In the culti-
vation of bis many and beautiful acres
His posterity to the fifth generation now
reside near the scene of his herculean
toll.
The founder of the upper settlement
on the Msgalloway, the extreme north.
westerly settlement of Oxford County,
Maine, now known as Lincoln Plantation
(post Office, Wilson's Mills) was Richard
Lombard of Portland. Me-, who com.
mencsd there In 1925. With bis Eve sth.
letic sons, Lorenzo, Samuel, David,
Richard and Henry, be cleared up what
are now three of the best farms In the
township, built the first two-story house
on the river, and after some years OF
prosperous culture OF the soil. sold out
half of his estate to William Pickett and
sons of Cape Elizabeth, gave up the
management of the rem ainder to bis three
eldest sons, and devoted the balance OF
his days mostly to evangelistic work.
Richard was not traditional hero oi
the border,-uot typical pioneer of civ
ilIzation,-save In spiritual affairs, but
in these be was an enthusiast. Without
education or special gifts therefor, in any
notable degree, the absorbing ambition
of his life seemed to be the gospel min
istry, and the propagation of the faith OF
| the Methodist church. His home was
the rsllying point and rendezvous of re-
ligious effort for the whole community
while he remained within 1t, not only for
the white residents, but for the spirit.
ually inclined aborigines, many of whom
came from sfar to attend bis ministra.
tions Of the word, and to share the kindly
and generous atmosphere OF his hospita-
BILE abode.
The first school In the settlement was
kept in portion of his dwelling, and the
f1rst school. house, erected on land do
mated by his eldest SOD, In which school.
house the venerable elders last gospel
service on the Magslloway was performed
10 1853. He died at Great Chebeague
Island, near Portland, Me-, at the age OF
80 years. Two daughters, one In New
York, one In Portland, and q son Rich.
ard 2d) In Wilmington, Delaware, still
survive him, all at very advanced ages
bis name is commemorated by memo.
rial window In the first church edif1ce
ever erected on the Magalloway waters.
Lemuel Fickett, the second of the
"upper township" settlers. came from
Cape Elizabeth, Me-, In 1881 and located
on the west side of the river about q
mile below the great falls. His brother
William, also OF Cape Elizabeth, located
soon afterward directly opposite, on the
east side, on land purchased of Richard
Lombard as before stated. The two
brothers had been reared ''after the most
straightest sect" of the Friends or Quaker
religion, but William, tho elder Of the
two, had departed from the counsel and
creed of his youth, and become believ-
or and exhorter of the Methodist per.
suasion. Both were exemplary, indus
trious, and thrifty citizens. William was
conspicuous for bis eccentricity, bis
egotism, and bis Quaker "plsinness Joi
speech" which procured him enemies,
especially when indulged In on funeral
occasions, at which he was sometimes
called to officiate. He was especially
severe on the church In which he had
been reared, for Its "silent worship"
which Ill accorded with the lively dsm-
onstrativeness of bis newly adopted faith
and his own active temperament. Not
even his reverence for Sunday could
always keep his business-like spirit In
subjection. II have" said he. one fine
Sunday In July, "done the chores this
morning, read fifteen chapters In the
Bible, and opened forty tumbles OF
bay" This he related to neighbor as
pretty fair forenoon's work for 50 boy
81 years OF ago." % mono but the most
punctilious Sunday keeper will dispute:
As his age and accompanying III
health increased, 90 did his ambition,
enterprise and plans for larger farming
operations, and quite unpleasant he was
wont to make It for any one to express q
doubt as to bis ever realizing his fond
worldly hopes. Whom brought, however,
to deaths door, he submitted meekly to
his lot, acknowledged that bis work on
earth was done, and after kindly bidding
adieu to his family and neighbors, yield.
ed mp without struggle, his hopeful
and energetic spirit to the all.compassion.
ste God who gave II.
Lsmuel, the brother, WAS almost ~
different from William, ss though born
of another race. As free from the sus.
picion of demonstrativeness as bis
brother was Of retloence, his life was one
unvarisd career Of devotion to the stern