The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-12-09

moved from Groton. Mass, to Nor
ridgewock, Maine, about the eyear of
1900. He was accompanied by his
mother, Rachael Holden, then a wi
dow. On the fourth day Of March,
1920. Capt. Samuel Holden with his
wife and family started from Arson,
Maine for the Moose River valley.
From the forks of the Kennebec to
Moose River, more than thirty miles,
there was not even trail, and they
found their way by the aid of spotted
trees. As the snow was very deep In
the woods at this time of the year, the
Journey was made on snow shoes,
Mrs. Holden carrying their youngest
child, Otis Holden, then one year OF
age on her back. His perilous under
taking can be better understood when
ii is known that the nearest settle
ment of any size, was Augusta, 10
miles away. Norridgewock and
Skowhegan then being little hamlets,
and it was in a dense forest for al
most 100 miles that this family pen
etrated to make their future home
Here Capt. Samuel Holden built log
cabin. covering it's roof with poles
and bark, and here they made their
home in the midst of the wilderness.
There were no other inhabitants for
miles around and had 1t not been for
the abundance of fish in the river and
game in the surrounding forests, they
could not have lived, but this, togeth-
or with the small amounts OF money
received from travellers who were
nassing back and forth from Canada,
as shown by the account books OF
Mr. Holden enabled them to obtain a
living. the first, second and third
wears. After the third they were able
IN raise crops sufficiently large 80 that
they had plenty. Capt. Samuel Hol-
den was the fourth child Of Capt. ia
beg and Rachael Farnsworth Holden,
of Groton, Mass. On Capt. Jabez Hol-
denis tombstone In the cemetery In
GrotOn, Mass, is the following inscrip-
ton. Sacred to the memory OF Capt.
Jabez Holden who departed this life,
August II, 1887 in the 53rd. year OF
his age" He married June IT, 1861,
Rachael Farnsworth. A willow and
plum tree throw their shade over ms
grave. His wife, Rachael Holden
moved to Moose River with son Capt.
Samuel Holden in 1921 where she died
Ian. %. 1929 at the advanced age or
81 years. She is buried in the Holden
Cemetery at Moose River. Capt. Sam
mel Holden's family consisted of eleV-
en- children all of whom with the eX-
ception of two daughters and one son
who were born in Groton, Mass.) were
born in Arson, Maine. Mrs. LUCINDA
Holden Campbell has in her posses
sion the following letter:
Moose River. Maine
June 5. 1920.
Dear Sister and Brother:
take this opportunity to Wrte 10
YOU and let you know OF our healtn'
which Is very good at present through
Almighty goodness and while ne Is NJ
ing up with one hand, he Is puiiine
down with the other. we inoVeu W
Moose River, last March fifty-three
miles from any inhabitant ana hFeu
very comfortably till the trst udy Vi
May when our house took hre anu "as
consumed with all its contents ana
left us destitute of provisions OF any
thing else. | lost all my beddihe anu
am obliged to lie on the ground IN a
very poor camp Now If you nave any
feeling of charity for a distressed Sis
ter. I wish you to send me something;
You and the rest OF my aunts and
cousins il they feel sympathy Please
send me some salt If nothing else
Send II to John Eveleth OF Augusta
and send me a letter directed to
Moose River to be left at the Arson
most office. The fire burned up ten
acres Of winter rye. Our loss is
about one thousand dollars l have
worked out of doors thirty-six days,
not having anything else to do This
from YOUR distressed sister and broth
er, ,,.,,
Address on letter:
To Amos Otis, Barnstable, Mass.
Postage IS "a cents
After this fire the family lived on
the potatoes which were kept in pit