Newspaper & Document Write ups about Carleton County People

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The Carleton Sentinel, The Dispatch and The Press Newspapers were published
in the Town of Woodstock, N.B.

Page 8

Dispatch Newspaper Wednesday, April 10, 1912.

Bedell Location
Early Settlers and present Owners of the Land-Methods Used by First Settlers in Clearing the Land-
A Comparison of the Past with the Present Regarding, the Use of Liquor in this place-
Industries- First Buildings, Schools, Church-Progress.
Made in this Section in the Way of Advancement Along the Different Lines.

By J. W. BENN

Bedell is a settlement on either side of the road that begins at the Houlton road, about three miles west of Woodstock, and running nearly in a south course, to where it connects with the Hodgdon road.

About l83O three sons of Joseph Bedell, sr., (who lived in the vicinity of Woodstock) came to this section,and made improvements on land owned by their father, which was a block of 400acres.
In 1943 Joseph Bedell,sr., and the rest of the family came and settled on what is now known as the Kirk farm, present owner, Wm. Kirk.

Joseph Bedell was the son of, John Bedell, a Loyalist, who came from New York.

One of his sons, named Walter settled on the farm that is now owned by Jas. Montgomery,Jr,
Another son, Edward, lived on the farm that is now owned by Geo Flemming.
The place takes its name from these three first settlers.

Benjamin Fairweather came soon after the Bedells and settled on the farm that is now owned by
Henry Montgomery, junior.
Sydney Gates came to this section about 1831 and settled on the lot of land lately owned by James Montgomery, sr.
This farm is now owned by Eddie Kilpatrick. In the spring of 1847, Gates sold his property to Henry Montgomery,sr. who came from Ireland that year with his family, excepting John, Henry and James, who came a few years before.

The next lot south of Wm. Montgomery was settled and is owned by the McDade Bros, Enoch and John.

The farm now owned by Wesley Slipp was first settled by Charles Bull of Loyalist descent.

Harvey Bull was the first settler on the lot north of Slipp, it is now owned by Robert Kirk.
Nicholas Cunliffe was first settler on the farm now owned by John Montgomery jr.
The next north of Montgomery was first owned by Oliver Peabody, present owner Geo.F.Vanwart.

The remaining part of the land from Vanwart's to Houlton Road is about 800 acres, which was taken up by two first settlers, each owning 400 acres. The names of these men were Samuel McKeen and Wm. Bull, they came here about 1810. They were of Loyalist descent. Joseph McKeen lives on part of his grandfather's property, the remaining part having been sold.
In like manner the Wm. Bull property has been sub-divided, and with the exception of John Bull, the remaining part has passed into other hands. The names of the persons who are living on these subdived sections of the land are Guy Hall, Frank Foster, Herbert Hall, Allison Hall.

In the meantime the Price property is occupied Jos. McKeen. The methods used by these early settlers in clearing the land was, a co-operative system of help. The felling of trees usually began about the latter part of June and first part of July.
When a settler wished to make a fallow, he would invite the neighbors to come on a day set, to help him fell all the trees that he would need to form space he wanted for next crop,nearly all the settlers followed the same plan. These gathering were then called "frolics." The custom then was to have plenty of liquor to treat the crew. Many disorderly scenes were witnessed at these gatherings. The burning of fallows generally began in the later part of August during the dry season. It was an exciting scene to witness these burnings, the flames and smoke arising from several of these fallows, on the same day, many at the same hour, were witnessed by the children especially with delight.
After the fallows were burned, when the settlers found a convenient time, they again invite the neighbors to come and help them to pile their fallows, these were called "rolling frolics."
Here again liquor was freely used.
While we regret to record these facts, in regard to the drink habit of these early days, we are glad that the scene has entirely changed, and that temperance principles are held to the front, as one great means of help in becoming good citizens, as well as in leading the Christian life.

The early settlers were occupied in the winter months, some by cutting cordwood and hauling it to Woodstock, and some by making birch timber and hauling to St. John river, where it was rafted and floated to Fredericton to market.
Pine and spruce were for the most part hauled to Woodstock where it was manufactured. Some hanled butternut and birch in Woodstock, generally ex-changing for furniture as trade and not cash was the order of these early days.
During the last forty years the lumbering business has been on the decline, and agriculture has been taking the lead as a paying industry. Hay and grain of the different kinds are grown in large quantities here, a large surplus every year is placed on the market.
The land is well adapted to potato raising, large quantities of which are grown here and sent to market. During the first part of Febuary, 1912, the selling price in Woodstock was $2.85 per 180 lbs.r
The first buildings some of them were built of logs, roofed with shingles, about two feet in length, split from cedar or pine and smoothed with a draw shave. The greater part of the houses were built of a frame, boarded, shindled and plastered. The barns were mostly frame.

Schools-The first school house was built at the Houlton road where the Bedell road connects with it, on the McKeen farm about 1842. Wm. Reid was the first teacher.

About 1846 Margaret Bedell taught school in Walter Bedell's house six months.
Margaret Clements followed her and taught school one year in the same house.

About l855 a log school house was built near the Hodgdon Road where it connects with the Bedell Road, which served for a few years to acomodate a part of Bedell and some of the adjoining places.
The first teacher was Patrick Donnelly.
About 1858 a school house was built at the mouth of the Beardsley Road where it connects with the Bedell Road, this was a frame building. The first teacher was Matilda Beardsley.
About two years later this school house was moved to the farm owned by John Montgomery, sr.
James Boyd taught here.
About 1861 a change was made in the location of school houses placing them about two miles apart.
The school house at the Houlton Road was moved about half a mile south, and a new one was built on the site of the old log school house near the Hodgdon Road where it connects with the Bedell Road.

About 1869 a Baptist Church was built on the west side of Bedell Road about half a mile south of the Houlton Road, a neat building having sheds near for accomodation of horses.

The progress that has been made in this section in the way of improvement is evident to all who pass this way.
The houses have an inviting appearance most of which are first class neat and commodious.
The farms too present the same tidy appearance, the fields are smooth and clear of stone, allowing the use of the different sorts of machinery with ease and comfort.

In view of the fact that less than 100 years have passed since this section was unbroken forest we are impressed with the thought that these pioneers did not shrink from bearing the burdens and heat of their day, and that those who followed them must have been possessed of much of the same aggressive spirit that made those early settlers so successful in their work.

Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Oct. 18, 1890

Married
At Woodstock, on the 11th inst., by Rev. C. T. Phillips,
George Boon and Sadie McAllum, both of Ashland, Carleton Co.

At Woodstock, on the 28th Sept., by C. T. Phillips,
Andrew Faulkner and Bessie Turner,
both of Carlisle, Carleton Co.

On the 8th inst., at Woodstock, by Rev. M. R. Knight,
Mr. James Gould, of Skiff Lake and Miss Annie Hamilton, of same place.

Died

At Williamstown, Carleton Co., of congestion of the lungs,
after 14 days of serve suffering,
Marion C., aged 2 years, 9 months,
only child of William and Florence Page.
She is gone but not forgotten,
Like the little flowers that fade,
Gone to blossom in the garden,
God has blessed our darling babe.

At Missoula, on the 10th inst., after a brief illness of typhoid fever,
Alice A. , beloved wife of Austin H. Hartley
and daughter of Samuel Jones of Upper Woodstock, N.B.,
in the 24th year of her age.

At Florenceville, N.B., Oct. 7th, of inflamation of lungs,
John McKilligan, aged 83 years, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Dec. 27, 1890
Married
At Houlton, Me., Nov. 30th, by Rev. Mr. Frohock,
Mr. Fred Logan, of Fredericton, to Miss Lizzie Stephenson, of Woodstock, N.B.

Died

In Fredericton, on the 13th inst., after a brief illness, Susan Q McMahon.

At Glassville, on the 27th ult., after a short illness,
Thomas R. Robinson, aged 30 years.

At Greenfield, C. C., Dec 17th, of consumption,
Margaret Taylor, daughter of Alexander and Abigail Shannon, aged 25 years.

On November 6th, at Union Corner, Richmond, of typhoid fever,
Emily, wife of David Carpenter, leaving a large family and connections to mourn their loss.

At his residence, Centreville, Dec. 11th, after 4 months of intense suffering,
borne with Christian resignation to divine will,
Charles A. West, aged 57 years, leaving a wife and 5 children to mourn their loss.
Deceased was widely known and highly respected.
His burial services were conducted by the Forresters, of which order he was a member.
And can it be dear father's gone,
The one we did so love;
Has he exchanged the scenes of earth
For brighter ones above.
And shall we see his face no more
Nor hear his gentle voice;
How gladly would we have kept him here
Could we have had our choice.
Go to that land of perfect bliss,
There dearest father's gone,
To join the ransomed of the earth
In our eternal home.

Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Aug. 2, 1890
Married
On the 16th inst. at the bride's residence by Rev. Samuel E.Sprague,
Mr Charles E Boone, of Ashland, to Miss Annie Hayden of Northhampton.

July 26th in Woodstock, at my house by Rev. Joseph Noble.
Mr John B Nixon to Miss Annie Kinney,
both of the parish of Brighton, Carleton Co.

Died
At 7th Tier, Jacksontown on the 17th ult., Mrs. John Guiou, aged 52 years and 8 months.

At Greenfield, C.Co. July 26th, of cancer of the stomach, Abigail, wife of Alexander Shannon, Sen,
aged 66 years. Her end was Peace.

On the 24th of July, at Waasis Station, Sunbury County,
George Grass Esq., died very suddenly, in the sixty-ninth year of his age,
He professed religion at 12 years of age, was baptised by Elder Cronk 48 years ago, and joined the F.C.B. church at Rusiagornish, of which he remained a consistent member until death.
He was buried beside wife, who proceeded him to the better land four and half years ago.
He leaves two sons,six daughters, twenty-five grandchildren, two great grandchildren, three brothers, three sisters, a widow, and a number of relatives both in Carleton and Charlotte Co.

Suddenly, at Lowell, Mass July 16th, Eugenie E., beloved wife of L. A.Wilmot Taylor,
and daughter of George and Elizabeth Gray, aged 26 years.
Her remains accompanied by the grief stricken husband and cousin, H. R. Nixon, arrived on the 18th ult., at her parents home,Hartland, N B.
Where the last sad services were efficiently conducted by, the Rev. Mr. McDonald before a large number of relatives and friends, and from thence were interred in the cemetery overlooking the valley of the St. John.
Mrs. Taylor was loved and respected by her many friends and acquaintances and by her happy death showed that she would await the coming of the loved husband and infant daughter.
"On the happy golden shore, were the faithful part no more."

Died
Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Nov.22, 1890

At South Richmond, on the 16th inst.,
Mr. Oliver Hemphill, in his 81st year of his age.

At Butte City, Montana, Nov. 4th, at the residence of his daughter Mrs. J. R. Ray,
James A Sproul, in the 67th year of age.

At the residence of Mrs. Wm. Blake, St. John Street, Woodstock
on the 14th inst., after a short and severe illness,
Mrs. Jane R. Rice, widow of the late Dr. C. D. Rice, in the 71st. year of age. The remains were taken to Eastport for interment by the side of her husband.

At her son's residence Windsor, on the 14th inst.,
Mrs. Catherine, beloved wife of Deacon Corneluis Connolly, in the 67th year of her age, and united with the Baptist Church. She was a faithful wife, devoted mother and an exemplary christian. Her sickness was severe and some what protracted. She was Divinely sustained. her funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Thos. Todd to a very large audience in the Baptist Church, Jacksontown.

At Pembroke, C.C., on 30th. Oct., after a lingering illness the effect of La Grippe,
Della Pearl, aged 2 years and 2 months, child of Wm. D. and Isabell Steeves.
A precious one from us is gone,
A voice we loved is stilled,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.

At Wicklow, Carleton Co., N.B., on the 17th of October, of consumption,
Laura J., the beloved wife of Eli S. Watters, daughter of David Tweedie, in the 30th year of age, leaving a sorrowful husband and one child to mourn their loss.
Tis hard to break the tender cords,
When love has bound the heart;
Tis hard, so hard, to speak the word,
We must forever part.

Dearest loved one we must lay thee
In thy peaceful grave's embrace,
But thy memory will be cherished
Till we see thy heavenly face.

At Lewiston, Maine, Nov. 10th., after an illness of 4 weeks with typhoid fever,
Agnes T., youngest daughter of Joseph and Susan Whitehouse of Knowlesville,
in the 31st year of age.

O, dearest Aggie thou hast gone,
And all the work on earth is done;
Thy labour ended, thou at rest,
In heavenly mansions with the blest.

Here never more thy voice we'll hear,
Thy words our drooping hearts to cheer.
Thou has gone, but thou hast left
Many a heart that feels bereft.

Thou gave thy life in childhoods day,
To him who washed thy sins away;
Then when He called to thee, come home,
Thy heart could say, "Thy will be done."

Though blooming youth and prospect bright,
With thee are burried out of sight,
Yet Christ our Lord deth all things well;
He's called thee home with him to dwell.

Then we'll not murmur or repine,
The hand that afficts us is divine;
But we will whisper " as God will, "
We know that He doth all things well.

Yes, darling Aggie, thou hast gone;
Gone to the grave, but will not be long,
Till our life's journey will be o'er,
And we shall meet to part no more.

In Memory of Mrs. Clara Colonny
Carleton Sentinel Saturday, August 2, 1890
Lines written on the death of Mrs. Clara Colomy,
who died at her residence at South Poland, Maine, May 18th.
She was the beloved wife of Mr. Walter Colomy
and second daughter of Mr. Robert Anderson
of Farmerston, Carleton County, N.B.

Dear Clara's sufferings are all o'er,
Her gentle voice is still;
A place is vacant in our hearts
That never can be filled.
The messenger of death has come
And bore her home to God;
We feel it hard to say " Thy will, "
And bow beneath the rod.
She knew the end was drawing near,
She knew she would happy be;
Her Saviour will meet her with a smile
Beyond the crystal sea.
Farewell then, our darling Clara,
????? the work of ???????'er,
Even we all shall meet together
Over on the golden shore.
______C.

Note: The newspaper typed, Clara Colonny & Clara Colomy.

Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Aug 30, 1890.
Married
On the 25th of August, at the Methodist parsonage, Woodstock, by Rev. W. Dobson,
Mr. Elija Bragdon, of Northampton, to Annie Thornton, of same place.

At the residence of officiating minister, Woodstock, on the 26th July, by Rev. Jos. Noble,
John B. Nixon and Annie McKinney, both of Brighton, Carleton County.

At the residence of officiating minister, Woodstock, by Rev. C. T. Phillips,
Mr. William G. Graham, and Miss Maria Jackson, both of Ashland, Carleton County.

At Grafton, on the 19th. inst., by Rev. C. T. Phillips,
J. Hermon Bragdon and Mary Bell, both of Grafton, Carleton, County.

At the residence of the bride's father on the 21st. inst., by Rev. C. T. Phillips,
Wm. Johnston, of Debec, Carleton County, and Ida E Moores, of Woodstock.

Carleton Sentinel Newspaper Aug 30, 1890.
Died
At Woodstock, on the 17th. inst.,
Harold, aged 3 months and 15 days, only child of Thomas Lindsay.

At West Glassville, on the 15th. inst., of consumption,
Agness, daughter of William and Elizabeth Lamoret, in 27th year of age.

At Oak Mountain, on the 19th. inst.,
Anthony Blackie, in the 86th year of his age, a native of Pictou, N.S., but for the past 60 years a resident of New Brunswick.
He leaves an aged partner, three sons, two daughters, thirty-eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren to mourn their loss.

At the residence of her nephew, Eli Sawyer, Upper Woodstock,
on the 25th. inst., Miss Sarah Watson, aged 85 years.

A Mining King
The Press Newspaper July 29,1907

Taken from the gold mine owned by his son and named after his dead wife, a nugget weighting several ounces was received by Rupert Elliott. St.John one day recently and the old gentleman has had it mounted on his watch chain and displays it proudly.
Mr. Elliott is 78 years of age and was born in Scotland. He came down to this country when a young man.
Fifteen years ago last March, William J one of his sons, went west and engaged in mining in British Columbia.
When the Klondyke boom began he was among the first to go and was successful enough to secure the controlling interest in a valuable gold mine.
He named it the Scottish Jessie, after his mother, and has spent much in developing it.
In May Mr. Elliott,sr., wrote to his son to send him some remembrance, as there was little hope of reunion.
In seven weeks time came a heavy parcel, which when opened by Mr. Elliott was found to contain a nugget, about the size of a walnut, chiefly composed of gold inlaid with quartz. Mr. Elliott first action upon receiving the nugget was to have it mounted.
He will leave for Glassville, Carleton County, where two of his sons, Fred and Robert J, live. George and John live in St. John; and Mrs. P Chisholm and Miss Margaret Elliott, of Rothesay, are the other brothers and sisters of the wealthy mine-owner.

The Press Newspaper Sept 4, 1923.

The Sharpe home at Benton Ridge was totally destroyed by fire on Friday morning.
Mr. W T Sharpe lost all his furniture, clothes, books and rifles.
There was $1000 insurance on the house.
It was in this house that Bennie Swim murdered Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Trenholm,
and was hanged for his crime on Oct. 6, 1922.

New Brunswick Man Killed
Dispatch Newspaper January 16, 1907

Word of the death of Harvey Laskie, formerly of Richmond(N.B.),
who was accidentaily killed on New Years day near Butte, Montana, has been received.
He was run over by a wagon. Mr. Laskie was driving a four horse team, heavily loaded, and as the day was cold, was standing swinging his arms to warm himself, when the horses started and threw him under the wheels, which passed over him. Mr. Laskie struggled to regain his feet and a woman in a house a little distance away, who saw the accident, gave the alarm, but before assistance could be rendered he had succumbed to his injuries.
Mr. Laskie, who had been in the west for several years, was the son of C. J. Laskie, of Avondale(N.B.), where besides his father and mother, a twin brother and sister reside.
Another brother and two sisters are in the States. His wife predeceased him and he leaves one daughter and four sons.

Death of Mrs. McKenzie
Carleton Sentinel Newspaper March 10, 1888

At McKenzie Corner, on Saturday morning, Feb 22d, Maria, relict of the late Captain McKenzie, in the 88th year of her age. Mrs. McKenzie, with her husband, came to Richmond 66 years ago, were among the first settlers, and the place bears their name.
Her long life was eminently unselfish and useful; as she had opportunity she did good to all. She was especially welcome and helpful in the abode of sickness; her good cheer and skill never failing to bring comfort.
"She hath done what she could."
She leaves six daughters, all like the mother, consistent members of the Presbyterian Church; all were present at the funeral.
Her end was peace.

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