The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-08-04
Auburn NOnagenerlan Once Lived in
Somerset County

Somerset County
7 The following article taken from
the Magazine section OF The Lewiston
Journal relating to John F. Suther-
land will be read with interest by
es.dents of North Alison, New Port
land and Lexington. Mr.. Sutherland
sister, Mrs. Mary Boston lived In Emb-
den until her death some four OF fve
years ago. The subject of this sketch
is the sole survivor OF the twelve chill
dren of Alexander and Martha tlnnle
Sutherland.
One of the most wonderful men in
Maine today is John F. Sutherland
of Spring street, Auburn. Altho past
80 years of age, he is still in the har-
ness for active work, moving and max
ing lawns, and puts in not less than
ten hours of solid work every day AT
this time he is caring for fifteen lawns
besides doing all the work around the
Home for Aged Ladies and the room
ing house of Mary Carlson To say
that such a man is wonerful char
acter is putting it mildly TO say the
/ least
Mr.. Sutherland was born in the
town of Topsham in 1881 and when
but eight years of age went with his
parents to Lexington. HIS father
was Alexander Sutherland and his
mother was Martha Finnie They
were among the old settlers of Tops
ham, honest and Industrious people.
He remained with his father on farm
until he was II years old and then
went to Boston.
Young Sutherland was worker
j and fancy jobs were not plenty. In
those days so he took the first sit
uation that he could get and that was
in stable There he worked for
one year and then got a better job i'm
the old City Hotel, managed by Will
liam Tucker and George Gage There
he remained doing all sorts of work
for nearly a year when he WAS com
PEELED by sickness to return to h s
home in New Portland.
After recovering from his sickness
4e commenced working at farming in
lie section. In those Jays II Was
customary for young men to hire out
for six or eight months on a farm
each spring and then pick UP what
ever they could get to do in the win
ter. 1t goes without saying that a
man who works ten hours each day
at 80 could always find work when a
young man.
Farming continued to be his bust
ness IN that section until 80 years ago
when he came to Auburn and took up
the work of making and caring for
lawns. In that work he has been
very successful, some years having as
many as 40 lawns under his care. He
has never lacked for work and he Is
very faithful. He has made many of
the best lawns in Auburn and always
in the best possible manner.
At the Home for Aged Ladies he
does all the outside work and car ng
for the furnace He has shovelled
rs tons of coal during the past winter
besides keeping the walks clear of
snow. He built the lawn around the
home seven years ago when it was
first started and has cared for ii ever
since.
This lawn was finished the 10Th day
of June that year when the ground
was damp and weather very hot In
"a hours after it was seeded the clo-
yer had started and in three DAYS the
grass was well up. Mr. Sutherland
SAYS that he never before had lawn
start so quickly. And it has looked
finely ever since The old ladies' OF
the Home all think that Mr.. Suther-
land is absolutely ind spenslble tc
their comfort. The matron. Miss Fogg
has only words of praise for his faith
full work and only the other day
Judge Wing, president of the assocla-
ton. said to him: "You are the most
faithful man | have ever known.
That is the universal verdict of every
patron for whom he has ever worked.
Not only does Mr.. Sutherland care
for lawns and Landscape gardening
care of rose bushes and shrubbcry
also comes in his Inc and whatever
he does is certain to be we'll done. He
complains bitterly of the quality OF
coal. furnished the Home last winter
He says that he could hardly tell
whether it was intended 10 be GOA
rock, slate or Stag. He injured his
disposition trying to make it work in
the furnace.
MI. OuilItl ldllu maj l iii VI 10 '~''N''
Butler of New Portland and tive
daughters and one son were born t.
the union. None of these are now
/ living as the last one Mrs Eugeni;
Jones. died only a short time ago. 1t
is indeed a pathetic case that this re
i markable man should be deprived o.
his last child in his old age. II was
this daugher with whom he lived. Mr.
Sutherland, however, will probably
cont nue. to sleep In a room fitted foi
him in the basement of the Home and
care for the establishment as he has
been doing for several years.
The health of MIR. Sutherland is
remarkably good for one of his adj
vanced years. 1t is doubtful if ther
is another man in Auburn who car
run. a lawn mower in quicker time
than he or do cleaner job Again
wonderful man is John F. Suther-
land. L. {. Is.