Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-05
Historic Link Is
Severed When Former
Lieut.. Gov. Dies

Lieut.. Gov. Dies
Pittsburg, N. H., Jan. 4-(AP)-
The death last week of Charles d.
Parker, former lieutenant governor
of Wisconsin, removed the last living
link with the one-time little republic
of Indian Stream Territory, now the
town of Pittsburg. His father, Luther
/ Parker, was one of the leaders in the
government of the territory.
Pittsburg, the largest town in New
England in area, is at the extreme
northern tip of New Hampshire.
where it juts into Canada. From its
western boundary with the province
of Quebec it extends eastward to the
Maine boundary, covering a territory
of more than $50 square miles.
| In this town are the Connecticut
Lakes, widely known to trout fisher
men, and the headwaters of the Con-
necticut River. A few hardy pioneers
| penetrated the forests here before
1924 village had been established
with IS families and a population of
| 2S5.
| ne SONSl Gig MY over d fdISS PAL
| of this region had been in dispute
since the Treaty of Paris in 1888
which fixed the boundary between
New Hampshire and Canada at this
point as the western-most branch of
| the Connecticut River, Canada
! claimed that this branch was the In
dian Stream while the United States
asserted it was Halls Stream, a par
allel river some four miles to the
westward. The King of the Neither
lands as arbitrator in 1927 recognized
! the British claim but the United
! States refused to accept the decision
| Matters came to a head when in
| 1881 and 1882 the United States be-
gan to collect duties on goods sent
| from Indian Stream Territory into es-
tablished parts of the United States
and the Canadian authorities asserted
! the right of government and of exact
ing military service of the inhabitants.
In June, 1882. the inhabitants appoint
ed a committee of which Luther
! Parker was a member to draft a
constitution for an independent gov
eminent. This constitution, in phras-
! eology closely resembling the consti-
| tutions of the United States and of
i New Hampshire was adopted on July
~ of that year.
The purpose of the movement was
defined by the constitution as being
ito exercise all the powers of free,
sovereign and Independent state" I'M
til such time as the boundary dispute
should be settled. Indian Stream Ter
ritory acknowledged the sovereignty
of the United States but not that Of
the, state of New Hampshire.
Government was by a council of
five men, of whom Luther Parker was
one, and an assembly composed IF all
male residents, including the five
councillors, who had resided in the
territory for at least three months.
All statutes originated with he coun-
Gil but had to be adopted by the as
sembly before becoming effective
The council also acted as a high
court of error" which had power to
interpret constitutional questions and
reverse the decision of justices of the
peace. The fee of a JUSTICE of tie
peace for each trial or Adjourned case
was one dollar. Sheriff's fees were
were to the councillors and their
clerk.
The council commanded the militia
consisting of all males between 81 and
so years of age, and had authority to
repel invaders and put down insur-
rections. The assembly appointed
civil officers and assessed taxes for
roads, bridges and schools. AT each
annual meeting the Speaker of the
assembly put the question whether
any change in the constitution was
desired. If a majority voted in favor
of changes the assembly chose a
committee to prepare amendments
which became effective when they re-
-. IL.
in a special meeting of the assembly.
There was no Jail but the sheriff
was empowered to confine arrested
persons in his own house or outbuild-
ings. 1t was easy for offenders to es-
cape across the boundaries of the ter
ritory. Tradition has had it that
many of the early inhabitants were
outlaws from other parts of the Uni
ted States and Canada who sought
refuge in this forest wilderness, but
historians have established the fact
that while there were few such in
stances the majority of the settlers
We're peeceable and law-abiding.
When the state of New Hampshire,
refusing to recognize the independence
of the territory, served writs on some
of its inhabitants an appeal for relief
was addressed to the attorney gen.
that if the territory was within United
States limits it was by virtue of being
part of New Hampshire. Thereupon
the inhabitants split into three fac
tions, one favoring Canadian SOW
ereignty. another that of New Hamp-
shire and a third complete independ-
ence.
The Canadian party petitioned Lord
Gosford, governor of Lower Canada, !
for protection against invasions from
New Hampshire Lord Gosford in
turn complained against Irregularities
by some inhabitants of the territory.
In 1885 New Hampshire sent Captain /
James Mooney and so militiamen to
the territory to preserve order. There
were numerous clashes on both sides
of the supposed boundary, but with
few casualties. In 1885 a New Hamp-i
shire commission visited the territory
and succeeded in persuading the set
tiers to acknowledge the sovereignty |
of the supposed boundary, but with
resolutions which were published in |
the two Concord newspapers.
This ended the republic. The troops |
were removed at once and in 1870 the
town of Pittsburg was incorporated.
The AShburton Treaty in 1912 estab-