Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-07

Mr.. and Mrs. y. I. AiioiA'f "a,
tor 81. will Wednesday observe the '-u
arniver-ary of their wedding DAY. II %
unusual that a town has so many eiuei
IL co11ples married the same year.
among them being Rev. and Mrs. .. r
Emerson, Mr.. and Mrs harrison "es
ton. Mr.. and Mrs. S. NJ. sawyer hf'
and Mrs. Frank Bckford and Mr.. ana
Mrs. F. NJ. Mills, while DR.. and Mrs. T.
Y Richards have been married 81 years
in June. All of the gentlemen named
are veterans of the~Civil war and mem
bers OF Russell Post, G. A. r. and their
wives are all members of Russell Relief
Corps.
Mr.. Thompson has had rather an ad-
venturour life especially during the carr
Ter part of his young manhood. He was
born in Bingham, So years ago and spent
his childhood and early life in that COM
munity, up to the age Of II years when
he came to Skowhegan. 1e occupied
various positions q trust after this
change and finally accepted work with
the late Joseph Malbon, s the driver
of a siX-horse truck team to Waterville
He was thus employed for about two
years but in 1856 was among those who
helped to build the present railroad into
, town. During the earlier years of his
life he also worked i'll the woods win
tiers and in the spring found employ
ment at river driving. In this variety
OF occupat atoms young Thompson was
engaged until 1853 when he went to Cali
fornia 10 work in the mines. While in
that distant state the Civil war broke
out ard j, obctienCe to his country
call on the 18TH day OF september, 1861
enlisted iE Co Of the 4th Infantry of
! California Volunteers. At the time of
enlistment il was thought the soldiers
would come directly east, but instead the
| compan', was sent to Fort Yam Hill in
, oregon r order that Phil Sheridan who
was then only a lieutenant might be re-
lieved Together with other members
/ of his family, the soldier youth was
kept at Fort Yam Hill for three years.
At the end of that time regiment
which had been raised in Washington
/ territory was sent to that locality with
/ the result that the Californians were
! discharged. This was in 1864 and the
war was so Learly over that Mr..
Thompson did not com east and enter
the service as he had planned to do, but
instead journeyed to some newly discov-
cred mines at the head waters of the
Saintan river in oregon and there once
more became deliver for mineral
wealth, which was then making the
! West famous. His stay was not with
So vi.
three months he was showed in and cut
| off from the outside world During the
early part of March he fashioned some
snow shoes out of boards and started
upon an B-mile journey over the
mountains. The trip was successful and
! when he reached the valley after his
descent found the green grass was
! growing, in marked contrast to the ce
and snow left behind him. From that
I time on Maine was his destination and
he arrived back home in A 0ril, 1866. He
went to Bingham and the Sth of May
! was married to Miss Eva A. Cummings
! to whom he had been engaged before
undertaking the journey TO the western
! lands. For about % years the couple
resided in Bingham, Mr.. Thompson set
Ting down as carpenter About y
ago the. came to Skowhegan and Mr.
Thompson built the house where they
now reside on Winter St He is a past
commander of Russell Post while Mrs.
Thompson for many years held an office
in the Relief Corps besides being affil-
lated with various other organizations.
They have no children
The Western Union is resumng de-
ferred cable service which will be Of
especial interest to those having rela-
tives or friends in military service over
seas.