The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-07
lD rssaAs paradise 81 NEW ENGLAND AND ALL AMERICA
EARLY HISTORY OF AN UP.RIvER
TOWN


We can hardly write the history OF
Jackman without touching on the his
tory of Moose River Plantation, for
here 1t was that the pioneer cleared
away the trees and built his cabin.
The first settlers Of Moose River,
Maine were Capt. Samuel Holden and
his wife, Jane Farnsworth Holden OF
Grafton, MassA Capt. Holden started
from Arson, Maine for Moose River
on March 4, 1919. The journey from
the forks OF the Kennebec River (now
known as The Forks to Moose River
was made on snow shoes. as the snow
was deep in the woods at this time of
year. Capt. Holden built log caDin
and covered It with bark and here
they made their home in the midst of
the wilderness, without an inhabitant
for miles and had it not been for the
abundance of fish and game, they
could not have lived for the first three
wears. but this together with the small
amounts received from travellers from
Canada, enabled them to live. By
| 1882. Capt. Holden had plenty and
lbefbre his death in 1859 quite a set
Element was found around him. AS
the first cabin built by Capt. Holden
was only about one and one-fourth
miles from the northern township lines
now known as Jackman, naturally the
settlers spread out and rested in this
town, but for a good many years it
was all known as Moose River. \
| The town of Jackman gets its name
from a man named Jim Jackman OF
Solon,' Maine, who cleared and settled
on what is known as the "Cld jack
man Field" ten miles south of Moose
River bridge. The date is unknown.
After Capt. Holden had brayed the
forest, and opened the way several
other families followed in the spring.
lone of them being Asa Churchill, who
built a house on the farm now owned
in Jackman village by A. Quay. Some
parts of the old house still exist in
different places in town The sec
ond house in Jackman was built by
Milintus Holden on the Ambrose Col
by farm. Early records show that
religious services date back with the
early settlers and Sunday school
was organized in 1S47. The Free
VIII Baptist Church was organized in
1875 in the Union Church at Moose
River with fourteen members. In
1890 the above named church united
with the Congregationalists and the
Moose River Congre & a ii o Ia s t S
Church of Jackman was organized and
in 1892 church was built In Jack
man just south of the town line of
Moose River. In 1892 the Rev. FIR.
JOS Forest of Montreal came here and
In the spring of 1893 built the st.
Anthony's Catholic Church, and in
1906, built a very fine convent The
parish is still in charge of Father
Forest.
About 1886 a post Office was es-
Established in the David Holden store
with his daughter Ellen Holden as
postmaster. Among the first planta-
ton officers we find the names of Seth
Moore, Isaac Newton, Sullivan New
ton and H. L. Colby.
Jackman has the Canadian Pacific
railroad running through the town.
| where it has depot, freight shed etc
Jackman has always been the trading
land business center for the planta
ton and settlements along the G. p.
r. line.
The vast forests of spruce end other
valuable, timber makes 1t a lumber
| ing center.
The beautiful and numerous lakes,
ponds and streams which empty into
Moose River, makes an ideal spot for
the vacationist. A large number of
tourists pass through the town every
summer over the international high
| way from Quebec City to Portland, Me.
| Jackman Lumber Co. owns and
operates a large saw mill with
| capacity of about 100000 feet per day
Of ten hours.
In the summer of 1921 Jackman
erected new school building. The