The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-04-08

Mr.. Lewis still journeys on foot from
his home to the business headquarters
of his son where he greets old friends
and occupies himself to quite an eN-
tent in doing chores about the family
residence
Mr.. Lewis parents were John and
Cordelia Lewis who were natives OF
England, one having been born IL
Worcestershire and the other in Glou-
cestershire, in that country. After
their marriage the couple came to
America. the date Of that important
event having been in about 1907 or
1908. The gentleman just now gam
ing such we'll merited recognition
was the youngest of five children all
! horn in this country. When he hau
attained the age of II years, his fath-
err was killed while engaged at MS
trade of stone cutting. At that time
tho not arrived at teen age, the boy
was thrown virtually on his own re
sources.
It is of noteworthy interest tha1
Mr.. Lewis is one of the few men now
living who participated in the Aroo8-
took War. He was about 10 years
old at the time of the draft and passed
the requirements for army service ac-
cording to the military examination
of that day. His name was not
among those drawn, however but SO
anxious was the young patriot that he
filled substitutes position in the
ranks.
Later on Mr.. Lewis returned to
Aroostook County and beginning at
Pressure Isle. which was then nam
let Of about one dozen houses, assist
ed in turnpking the first road from
Pressure Isle to Van Buren,, by way OF
Caribou. At that time northern
Aroostook was covered by an almost
unbroken forest, there being where
Caribou village now stands solitary
log house and a small barn only. II
was seventy years after he had as
sisted in building the road before he
again travelled over the original
route between Pressure Isle and Carl
hon. and. altho the entire distance the
landscape had been changed, he re
called every hill. curve and stream
along the way and explained how II
appeared when he was last there, but
most of the forest had disappeared
and in its place the fair Aroostook
valley smiled contentedly with its fer
tile farms and comfortable homes.
" on the record of Mr.. Lewis achieve
ments were such incidents as having
ridden on the first railroad train In
the state, that operating between Ban
gor and Oldtown, as we'll as trip on
the first steamship which have sailed
on the Kennebec river, while Of spe-
cial historic interest is the fact that
he helped to cut the first trees in the
clearing where now is located the vii
lage Of Blaine.
Mr.. Lewis first visit to Somerset
County was occasioned when he was
engaged in travelling thru the country
with threshing machine. In lhe
course of his journeyings he found ms
way into the Lucas neighborhood III
ST. Adams and while there became
acquainted with Miss Mary Jane
Lucas, a young school teacher VINO
was the first daughter born in the
family of Daniel Lucas after their re-
moval to st. Adams from Wolfboro'
n. H. AS a result. soon after the
thTsshing season Mr.. Lewis became
benedict and the st. Adams Schooi
teacher already referred to was MS
bride. The couple located in wayne
where the husband settled down TO
carpentering and building actiVltleS.
1t is believed that some of the Oldest
buildings now standing in Winthrop