Oxford Democrat., 1921-07-26
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLow."
The Wilder Farm.

Upon the heights OF East Oxford, or
what is known as Robinson Hill, sits the
Wilder farm, as q crown on the summit
This 10 an old farm, and has been ir
the family for at least three generations
1t was taken up by Mrs. Wilder's grand
father, George Robinson, in his early
manhood and carried on by him until bis
death, which was at the advanced age 0l
81 years.
It 10 q slightly place. From 1t one can
look over the brow of the hill to the vii.
lagos OF Welchville and Oxford, or down
through long valley to Mechanic Falls,
or farther yet to the magnificent hotels
on Kicker and White Oak Hills. In the
valley on the west flows the Little An
droscoggin River, and in that on the east
the sluggish stream with the aesthetic
name of Bog Brook. Up the first valley
runs the Grand Trunk Railway, and up
the second the Rangeley Division OF the
Maine Central, both OF which can be seen
from the farm.
The original house on the farm, an old
colonial mansion, was burned several
years ago. 1t has been replaced BY
another attractive residence, which is
the summer home of Mr.. and Mrs.
George L. Wilder, who pass their win
ters in Cambridge, Mass.
In the old house, when burned, were
many pieces of antique furniture and i'm
plements and many documents of inter-
est relating to the early history of the
people living In them, for the Robinson
family has always been prominent In
town.
The original settler of the family,
great-grandiather of the present proprie.
tor, Capt. Samuel Robinson, who lived
on farm mile or 80 distant, was prom
iuent not only In agriculture, but In the
civil and military life of the community.
One of his sons, Prescott Robinson, was
one Of the first, If not the first, cadet to
be appointed to West Point from this
vicinity.
Some of the letters burned In the old
house were from Samuel Wright, q
neighbor, who tried the sea when there
was romance and adventure in the call
ing. They were written from the Ha-
waiian Islands when these dots in the
Pacific were fresh from the hands Of Cap
tain Cook.
George Robinson, who carried on the
farm for more than sixty years, was also
one of the prominent men Of the town.
In addition to tilling the soil he helped
develop the water power ut Welchville.
After his death the farm went into the
hands of his son, George Oliver Robin
son. retired lawyer, who had practiced
in the West, and was Q personal friend
of Abraham Lincoln.
After the death OF the younger Mr..
Robinson the farm passed into the hands
of his daughter, who is the wife OF
George L. Wilder, who lived across the
way from the Robinson homestead.
The soil of this farm is rich. 1t will
produce almost any kind of crop, but II
Is more especially the kind OF soil
adapted to apple culture. They almost
grow wild in East Oxford. At any rate
they will come up In field and pasture
without the help of man, 80 1t goes With
out saying, that the apple is a principal
crop on the farm.
There is another tree, or rather shrub,
which grew wild on this farm, and the
fruit of which has for many years been a
prominent crop. This crop is blueber.
ries. The berries which grow on this
farm are of the high bush variety, the
bushes many times growing as high as q
mans head, with the berries large.
In addition to the regular farm, which
came down from her grandfather, Mrs.
Wilder has purchased the farm directly
across the road, and the buildings thereon
have been fitted up for the use of the
superintendent. Altogether this is one OF
the pleasantest estates in Oxford County.