Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-18

SOUTH PARIS
terms, and to give one or more lots,
neccesaary, and for the best interest o
the proprietors.
Whether Lemuel Jackson was no
ready to build the mills, or WAS waitinI
J for the price to rise, or he preferred &
have some one else 20 ahead is Q quea
tion; but be seemed TO have kept In 'th
background, for nothing Was done until
1888.
II At last on March 9Th 17sS. It was vot
cd to give Lemuel Jackson the four pro
prietors, lots containing 500 acres, ant
one hundred and fifty dollars In silver II
build the mills.
i The mills were built according Il
agreement In due course Of time, and th'
early settlers did not have to 60 to New
Gloucester for meal, and could get bosrdi
and timber, without hewing them from
the logs. The saw mill was located al
most directly back of the house In which
Mr.. j. A. Kenney now lives, just little
up the stream on Stony Brook. The girls
mill was q short distance down th'
brook.
Without doubt, the old up and dowr
saw must have been crude affair com
pared with the saw mills Of to-day, anG
the cost of saving the lumber more, com
pared with the value OF the logs, for the
early settlers had choice of leaving hall
the logs, as payment for saving the Other
half, or paying nine shillings and four
pence, for saving each thousand feet
board measure.
The records show that this mill wal
subjected to considerable criticism and
that the early settlers seemed to think
that they had paid too high price for
the benefits derived; but evidently the
matter was smoothed over In q satisfac-
tory way. A few years later, Lemuel
Jackson built another and larger saw
mill, on the west side OF the river, where
there has been saw mill in continual
operation from that time to this, on the
same location now occupied By the saw
mill Of Mr.. L. 8. Billings. he also built
another grist mill on the east side of the
river, which location has been occupied
nearly all of the time since as Q grist
MILL.
Mr.. Jackson also built the first bridge
across the river at this point between the
two mills.
He built the first frame house In
South Paris on the location Of the house
now occupied by Nelson Elder, southeast
of the "Brick School House,. he also
built the oldest house now standing on
Paris Hill, erected in 1850, which has
been known for many generations as the
"Old Carter House."
LEMUEL JACKSON AN ORIGINAL
POLITICIAN.
Mr.. jackson was evidently man OF
action, not words. There are few evil
dences OF his striving to sway his fellow
men by oratorical powers. What the
early pioneers needed were deeds not
words
In Mr.. Silas Maxim's book Of notes on
early days he says that Mr.. Jackson went
by the name of "Old Sorter" during the
last years of his life, and that the name
was given him on account OF short
and effective speech made In town meet
ing.
Elias Stowell and Capt. Seth Morse
were rival candidates for representative
to the General Court in Boston, and In
town meeting held to choose which man
should be sent, Mr.. jackson said:
"Gentlemen, we have two candidates
ESQUIRE Stowell Is q sorter reasonable
man. but Capt. Morse Is sorter fire
headed man, and think We bad better
vote for Squire Stowell."
Whether this burst Of eloquence infiu-
enced the voters or not 10 not known,
but Squire Stowell was sent to the Gen.
eral Court, and Lemuel jackson was
called "Old Sorter" from that day.
THE FIRST IRON MINED IN THE TOWN.
Those of the present day, who have
seen mining being done on the bill east
of Paris Hill, known now as Crocker Hill,
probably have been somewhat skeptical
as to the value of the minerals In the
earth; but as long ago as the days OF Mr..
Jackson there were evidences OF what
seemed to be iron ore, and Mr.. jackson
bonded of the owner, Mr.. Uriah Ripley,
the iron on his farm, which was next to
Croker Hill, II it did not include the hill
at that time. The consideration agreed
upon was two COWS. Mr.. jackson hired
q man to dig up some of the ore, on the
fat land Just east of the buildings OF
what is now known as the Capt. Ripley
place. The ore was carried to Boston,
and 1t was claimed to have yielded iron
to tho value of 90 per cent. Probably
this was exaggerated, as the value was
not sufficient to warrant further work
being done on the land, and the project
was dropped.
Mr.. Ripley never succeeded In getting
but one COW in payment for the iron on
his farm, and that COW was always called
"Old Sorter" In memory OF her former
owner.
Whatever the reason for the halt pay
ment of the bonded iron, am inclined
to think that he paid full value for 1t,
and presume that there were extenuating
circumstances regarding the non-pay-
ment, that may have been lost az the
story came down through the many gen.
erations from that time to this.
A DOG TRIED FOB HIS LIFE FOB
KILLING SHEEP.
| A search of records of legal action In
this town would probably not reveal the
folio wing trial, but 1t is written In an old
book in which Mr.. Maxim kept material
for his history: Lemuel Jackson's dog,
"Slugsr," was accused of killing sheep
belonging to the Widow Biscoe.
A court was convened by Mr.. Jackson,
counsel assigned, and jury empauellsd.
The culprit, "Slugar," was led into court
and formally tried for his life. Witnesses
were examined, evidence for and against
was heard, and 1t was plainly evident that
"Slugar" was guilty.
Counsel for the defense made lengthy
appeal urging bis former good teputa.
tion and mitigating circumstances, but
all to no purpose, as the evidence plainly
showed the prisoners guilt. He wai
sentenced to ''be hung BY the neck until
dead'.
IN Accordingly the moose was placed
round the dogs neck and he was put in
a cart and bauled under tree, the rops
attached to limb above, and the Judge
gave the prisoner last chance. "Now
I'Slugar', II you have anything to say, Civ
ing good reason why the stern sentence
of the law should not be executed, now
IL your last and only chance"
As the dog maintained dignifet
silence, the sentence Of the law was ful
filled. The cart was drawn away from
under the prisoner, and "Slugar" wa'
"bung by the neck until dead"