Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-08-08

the EARLY settlers Oh this Vicinity.
tBy Henry l. Moor,
The frst schools, or. might say, the
FIRST tsaching in Ellsworth, was 81 the
ssttlers' houses in the winter, keeping for
two or three weeks at one house and then
going To another. The lessons were pri-
mary, principally reading. As paper was
very scarce, birch bark was used for writ
ing and the first arithmetic lessons.
Some OF this pupils came three miles TO
attend the schools, few OF them coming
on snowshces and carrying their lunch
cons. The roads then were not much
better than spotted lines, travelled in
summer on horseback.
In sitter years we find some OF these
children OF the first settlers, without the
advantages Of getting even . common
school education, dependent on them
selves at the age OF fourteen or fifteen
years, becoming men OF note not only in
business but in legislative and ofiiciai life,
holding positions OF honor and trust.
They made the most Of the little oppor-
tunity they had, working by day aud
studying by night, and developing ca
pscity for business and public life.
At school at Reeds brook, the outlet {
Green lake, . bear came to the school one
day. A young woman, or spinstcr, who
was teaching In that place, and number
Of the young pupils started one morning
Tor school, which was kept in q small
dwelling house not occupied at that time.
As teacher and pupils came in sight OF
the school, dog with them ran back and
commenced barking excitcdly. Looking
back, they sa~ q large bear coming to-
ward them. They ran screaming to the
schoolhouse, the bear close behind them.
They got into the house and shut the door
just in time. The bear prowled about the
house for a while, then went on and
sat on his launches on . stump nearby.
AT noon teacher and pupils went up TO
the mill house, about halt q mile, and
stayed until afternoon. Then, concluding
that the bear must have left the vicinity,
they went back to the school. As they
neared the house, out Of the woods came
the bear. The dog faced him, backing
away as he approached, but keeping him
occupied, while the teacher and pupils ran
back to the mill house.
Mr. Moor, who was repairing the mill,
was at the house when the frightened
old revolutionary musket he went to the
front. The bear had scented trouble.
however, and had crossed the stream and
struck for the highlands.
The old Bangor road ran norihw west
from Ellsworth, passing to the east OF
Branch pond. AT that early period,
about 1878, il was = mere logging road,
running on spotted lines, travelled on
horseback or on foot in summer. There
wasa number Of settlers from the branch
to the upper part Of the pond. AT that
time . young spinster was teaching some
OF the children at one OF the settlers
houses for few weeks.
A girl, Rsbeccs Maddox, eleven years
old, was sent to this house, not . long
distance. II was the month Of September.
She ioitercd on the road, going into the
bushes from time to time to pick berries.
Turning from one OF these little trips.
to return to the road, she missed her
direction, and went farther into the
forest.
Hours passed. At noon, after resting,
she started ON, but could not find her wsy
out. Night came, and barefooted, clad
in light dress, she sank to the ground,
ureo OUT coia' neipiess, alone IN tnc
almost ooupuiess FOREST In sne morn
inR' WIN TORN DRESS ana o'csoins 'ses'
sne struggled desperately on reaching
the snore Oh nrancn pond IN tne amer
noon.
IN the set'iemep' Inc Alarm was soon
given, ana tne settlers turned OUT IN
search OF me ios' cn'iu. Two ihaiahs
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