Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-05

on their present farm which was
willed to him by his father as he was
the oldest son and for ~ years they
have lived there constantly excepting
the last two winters which they have
spent IN SOmerville, Mass, on &C
count of Mr.. Braggs health.
Mrs. Bragg who will be 60 next
August was formcrly. Cora Edith
Philbrook and was born in Water
vile August IS, 1885, the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Philbrook.
Three children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Bragg, two of whom are living.
Carroll Edward Bragg who is mar
ried and lives in SOmerVille, Mass.
and Mrs. Edith NJ. Weeks who also
lives in Somerville. They also have
two grandchildren. Dorothy NJ.
Weeks and Mrs. Edith q. Morse,
both of Somervillc
The original farm where Mr.. and
Mrs. Bragg started life together was
about 30,acres but several years ago
Mr.. Bragg purchased another 40 acre
farm near by and up to the time of
his illness about two years ago he
kept a large herd of cattle, hogs. sew
eral horses and some hens. Also he
raised large crops each year. But
been able to care for such a large
farm and now has only one horse
and one COW.
A more Contented couple than Mr..
and Mrs. Bragg would be hard to
find but Mr.. Bragg was emphatic in
advising young couples not to go
into farming when asked by the re-
porter, for he said that there was no
money in farming at the present time
and no prospect of any.
years ago." said Mr.. Bragg, "con-
ditions were somewhat better when
expenses were not SO great but now
adays it is difficult to break even"
He related an instance concerning
farmer who lives nearby and owns
a very large herd of fine registered
stock. This man is working hard
every day in the year," said Mr..
Bragg, but in spite of his fine herd
of cattle he is barely making a liv-
ing, One reason is because il costs
SO much to hire help. They demand
so much higher wages than were re-
quired years ago and want to work
shorter hours"
Mr.. Bragg spoke very sorrowfully
of the way in which the farms are
being deserted in Maine. He stated
IIldI ne CUulu Ntli IellGIDUSE wien
every farmhouse in East NassalbOro
was occupied by a family and the
community was a very thriving one.
"Now," he said, "the people are liv-
ing in the city and these farms are
going to ruin because the people can
not afford to stay here and work
them.
why" declared Mr. Bragg, for
many years we had a beautiful view
from the house of China lake and
now the land down there has grown
UP so that we can hardly see the wa
ter at all.
When the Journal reporter arrived,
Mrs. Bragg was busily engaged in
preparing the house for the celebra-
ton and Mr.. Bragg was hoeing in
his garden. Both of the old people
seemed very pleased to think that
their anniversary had been remem-
bered and they sat down in the front
room and entertainingly recalled in
stances in their lives that were very
interesting.
When Mr.. Bragg was a small boy
big four horse stage coach ran
daily between East Nassalboro viii
lage and China village and no such
thing as railroad or trolley line was
even thought of in that section. He
could we'll remember when the first
steam train came through to Water
Vile and it seemed but a short time
ago to him when the first trolley car
ran between Waterville and Augusta.
When asked when he saw the first
automobile in East Eassalboro Mr..
Bragg smiled and said that he could
not remember the year but he could
remember we'll that the horse that he
drove at that time was liable to go
almost anywhere when he met one OF
the first autos on the road.
Mrs. Bragg seemed contented to
have Mr.. Bragg talk with the report
er for she said that she was so nerv-
Gus because of the excitement Of the
approaching event that she could not
remember many Of the important in
stances Of their life as well as he.
Mr.. Bragg declared that there was
nothing that he liked as well as
farming and that his son would glad
~ come back and work with him on
the farm II there was adequate re-
turn.
The home of Mr.. and Mrs. Bragg
is on the main road to China village
about half a mile below the corners
at East Eassalboro. II rests on a
curve in the road and from the west