The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-03-11
SETTLEMENT OF MOOSE RIVER A
CENTURY AGO

thirty miles away from Mr.. Holden &
cabin; this region at that time was
covered with unbroken forests. Nev-
ertheless, Mrs. Holden in her funny
way said L don't see why Mrs. So
and So had to settle right under nv
nose, for l am afraid her chickens
Will scratch up my garden. This
mother wit has not altogether de-
parted from the family after a flight
of one century but at times crops out
among the children and even down
to the fourth generation"
In connection with this article we
are publishing some of the letters
written by these first settlers:
Moofe River March % 1929
/ Dear Brother and Sitter. take nv
pen in hand to inform you of our
health which is very good through
the Divine eoodneff of God. and as
thefe lines leave us we hope they will
find You altho we live far distance in
the woods forty miles from neighbors.
We have a good road that leads from
Boston to Quebeck there is about one
/ hundred men agoing to work on the
road this summer. 1t has been very
severe the snow is five feet deeD.
Your grandmother died the 18th of
January aged 81 years. Melintus and
Almira is married Melintus has had
four children one is dead Almira
has had six two Is dead Altho we
live in the woods we have a great
deal of company. We have not had
letter from you thefe eight or ten
years, we live in comfortable cir
cumftances. I heard of the death of
my mother tranfiently. The children
sends their respects to you all, pleafe
to send me letter, send it to Moofe
River on the Canada road. We have
plenty of moofe meat at this seafon
of the year. This from your Brother
and Sitter, Samuel and Jane Holden.
Dear Uncle and Aunt, our refpects TO
you. we are all in good health |
would inform you of the death of your
Sitter. She died the 26 of January,
she died sitting in her chair. This
from your friends Samuel and Jane
Holden.
l forgot to tell you that Sally was
married and has one child. y. b.
To be left in Bingham poft Office Ad
dressed to Thomas Farnfworth, Gro
ton, Maffachusetts. (Postage1SM g .
Moofe River June 3 1920
Dear Sitter and Brother. l take this .
opportunity to write TO you to let you
know of our health which is very
good at preffent, through Almighty
goOdneff. and while he is lifting up
with one hand he if pulling down with
the other. We moved to Noofe Riv-
err laft March, fifty 3 miles from any
inhabitant, and lived very comforta-
bly, till the firft day of May. when our
houfe took fire and was continued
with all its contents and left us def
titute of proviions or anything elfe.
| lost all my beding and am obliged
to lie on the ground in a very poor
camp. Now il you have any feeling
of charity for a deftitute sitter, l
with YOU to fend me fomething, you
and the reft of my Aunts and eonfins.
If thy feel spirited, pleqfe to send me
rom laIt IL HOlllllb tllt. otHu II "
John Eyelth of Augufta to send me
A letter directed to Moofe River. to be
left at Arson poft office. The fire
burnt up ten acres Of winter rye. Our
loft is about one thoufand dollars. 1
have worked out doors Sc days, not
having any thing to do. This from ,
your distreffed Sitter and Brother. !
Samuel and Jane Holden ;
This letter was addressed to Amos ,
Otis, Barnstole, Mass. The postage for {
he letter cost 1871 cents. t,
Moose River, Dec 90, 1925. Dear
BROTHER and sisters it is with the |
satisfaction now sit down to I
write to you to inform You of our F,
ealth which is very good. have no +
ews to write; we have had very $
ry season. the winter is mild there I
5 no snow. l have had eleven chill ,
rem, two Is dead. The old lady is (
ct alive and lives with us. Almira f
nd Melintus are married. Almira !
as two children, Mclintus one Jane
) teaching school. We have moved to =
loose River on the Canada road that
eads from Boston to Quebeck. wish
} hear from you as l have not heard
rom you this six or seven years.
card from Greenville. l saw man It
lat came from there last April. He o