The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-07-17
/ l0|TCOME Of THRIVING INDUSTRY IN
I II1ERNESS BUT HERITAGE OF HONOR
Of Skowhegan Woman--Accomplishments
0f Esquire Lothrop--Pi Incidents

resentatiye to the legislature. He
died in 1882, seven days before he
reached his eightieth birthday. Mr..
Lothrop was supervisor of schools
and young lady applicant came to be
examined for a position as teacher
Mr.. Lothrop being away on business.
Mrs. Lothrop examined the young la
dy and gave her a certificate to teach
school. Among the other activities
which Mr.. Lothrop SO creditablv hand
led was his work as county commits
sloner, laying out new towns and
roads and also did his part in the
Civil War, enlisting soldiers and look
ing after their families. His Young
est son was among the enlisted men.
The three oldest sons died in Cali
fornia. the fourth son died at the age
of ~ and the only other son worked
in the treasury department at Wash
ington. ID. C., where he was married
and settled. He also died there.
The youngest son died in New Or
leans. The oldest daughter lived
and died in Wisconsin. while the
youngest living, Mrs Susan A. Bell
is now living in Oakland. Cal. The
other daughter is Mrs. BieeloW and
upon her perhaps, have the afflictions
fallen most heavily She and her
young son, lived with her father sey
en- years before he died and then
cared for her mother until after she
died.
Mr.. Lothrop thought he had left
enough property for his wife and
daughter, but year before his death.
he signed a note with Il fellow towns
man and the result was that he had
to pay the note. As he had not the
ready money to pay all, he borrowed
$500 and gave mortgage. on his
property. This resulted in the old
home place being sold a year before
the widow died, so that her daughter
Mrs. Bigelow had to find a home for
her to live in. A kind friend. Mrs
e. C. Knowles, now of Corinna let
the widow and her daughter have a
house to live in, mile away from
the old home and familiar surround
ings. Like tragedy was the sale
of the homestead, the new store, close
to the home which was moved away,
then another house and lot near the
schoolhouse some other lots in town
and lastly all other property from
the goodly heritage which the Squire
had earned for his family, were gone
Mrs. Bigelow's oldest son was mar
ried after her mother died and he
took her to his home to care for her
as her health was poor. Her young
est son went away to work and one
of her daughters died, so she has re-
mained with her oldest son and his
wife for more than twenty-six years.
Mrs. Bigelow speaks with much ap-
probation of their kindness to her.
all these years and paid real tri-
butte to her daughterin-law, when
she said, she had treated her "as she
would her own mother"
Mrs. Bgelow most interestingly re-
lates incidents of her grandparents
on her maternal side, James and Bet
sey Bigelow. This family lived in
Bigelow Hill They lived there until
Mr.. Bigelow died at the age of ninety
five. His wife, who was eleven years
younger went to live with her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Lothrop, where she remain
ed until she was ninety years old.
Mrs. Bigelow was a small woman but
she was smart and plucky One of
the incidents to which Mrs. Bigelow
referred in connection with her grand
mothers early life is as follows:
Her husband and oldest boys were
in distant field at work. She was
busy with her housework. Hearing
the hog in the orchard sqnealng
fearfully, she ran out to see what the
trouble was. There was q big bear
who had the hog down, trying to kill
it. She caught up a pole and went
for him, punching the bear and
whacking him with the pole, until she
drove the animal away snarling Aft
er she had started him off for the
woods near the orchard. she went in
and blew the horn for her husband
He came in hurry and when told
what had happened, he took his gun,
followed the bear and shot him
Mr.. and Mrs. Bigelow had four sons
and seven girls They all lived to
grow up and marry. The oldest son
settled in Norridgewock. The next
quilt himself house, married and
settled on the farm with his father.
where he lived and died His widow
sold the farm to the late Judson
Packard, the other two boys and five
settled in the town OF St.
Adams The youngest daughter
married and lived in Skowhegan, but
lived here less than a year when she
died. There are none left now.