The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-03-18

many trips down river were made by
way of the Kennebec.
Lemuel Williams Jr, whose full
name was Elemuel, was born in
BrookfeId, now Arson, in 1888. and
was one of the fifteen children Of
Lieut.. Elemue and Anna (Hilton1
Williams. He married Dolly Dins-
more, daughter of Thomas and Ann
CTrue) Dinsmore. Landlord Will
liams' family at the time he opened
the tavern consisted of his wife and
five children, Sabrina, Syrena Sarah,
Sumner T., and Otis Six other
children were born there whom they
named Richmond L., Lemuel O., Dol
ly Elizabeth, Charles G., and Hattie
A.. who was born in 1927, About
this time, Daniel Steward Jr, one of
the young man who lived in the vii
lage long enough to consider it q
good business venture, bought the
Athens. There another child was
born whom they called Erastus. Lee
muel Williams spent the remainder
Of his life at Athens where he died
in 1916.
Daniel Steward Jr., the new land.
lord was born in Canaan in 1888. the
son of Daniel and Rachel (Kemp)
Steward He moved to Arson from
Skowhegan in 1910 and that same year
married Olive Patten of Norridgewock
daughter of Samuel and Deborah
MOOR Patten. They had six child
rem; Emily O., who married Frank
lin Smith, trader of Arson ely
mena, who married Amos F. Parlin
of Bingham, Columbus, who married
Betsey Mantor, Gustayus A.. who mar
ried Nancy Hapgood, Marcellus, who
married Hannah Williams, Olive P.
who died at the age of fifteen. The
sons, Columbus, Gustavus and Mar
cellus resided here and were promi-
nent business men. Mr.. Steward re-
NAMED in the tavern about three
years and while proprietor wrote a
letter to his uncle Amherst Steward
and the following is an extract from
it; 81 continue the business the
same as when you were here. Bust
ness moves on the same regular chan
mel that it has for a number of years
past, except that our people are turn
ing their attention more to cutting
and running mill logs and timber from
Dead river and Moosehead Lake than
formerly, which fear will In the end
prove prejudicial to the permanent
prosperity Of the country. Generally
however much spectators In this
trade may individually advance their
own interests. The general tend
ency OF the numbering business as far
as my observation has ever extended
has been to improvish the country
where 1t is carried on and to enrich
the few who we're the favorites of for
tune at the expense Of the many who
bear the burdens and perform the la
bours." Mr. Steward was a very in
fluential man and held many town
Offices. He acquired a large proper
ty and died in Arson, May 7, 1858.
Cyrus Williams was Daniel Stew
ards successor in 1890 and moved
down from over the hill where he had
been keeping an inn in the house
which was later known as the old
Bronson house He was the son of
Jacob Williams of Embden and was
born April q, 1896. He married in
1923, Phidelia Perkins. They had
scarcely moved into Somerset tavern
when their little 7-months old daugh-
ter Cordelia died. She was buried
on Graveyard hill,--the hill up back
of the tavern which was used for a
public burial ground There was an
other little grave by the side Of Cor
delia's. and the old slate headstone
tells the pathetic story; katherine
p, daughter of Cyrus and Phidelia c.
Williams, died March 81, 1928, aged
! day"
In 1880 and 1881 Cyrus Williams
was licensed innholder He erect
ed tall sign post in front of the Ia
vern with a swinging signboard on
which was painted a picture OF Geo.
Washington on horseback. His tay-
ern stand in the valuation Of the town
in 1888 was valued at $500. He was
landlord for six years when he re-
moved to Waterville where he be-
came proprietor of the Williams
House. which bore his name 40 years
ago. He died there Sept. 16, 1864.
In 1886 Henry Stone came from
Waterford and bought the tavern of
Cyrus Williams. The new landlord
enlarged the house making 1t three
stories high with piazzas extending
along the front of the first and Sc
cond stories and a short piazza along
the third story of the main house.
The town was growing fast at that
time and new highways were being
laid out. The country north was
opening up 50 there was much travel
thru here for those times. Mr.. Stone
brought young man with him from
Waterford to be his hostler and clerk.
He was William II. Brown, a cousin
of Charles F. Browne, that far-famed
"Artemus Ward"
ITO be continued