Charles Foss  MOULTON

Letter written on February 27, 1909 at Portland, Maine, by Thorndike native Charles Foss Moulton, in response to a request for information on the Moulton family by Mrs. Percy Walter Crosby:

C. F. Moulton
Boots, Shoes and Rubbers
9 Hill Street
Portland, Maine
February 27, 1909

Mrs. Percy W. Crosby,

Dear Madam,
Your letter of the 24th received. I don't know that what I can write will help you any for sixty years is a very long time to look back. I will do the best I can. Elkanah Harding Moulton, son of Benjamin and Hannah Harding Moulton was born in Standish October 22. The family moved to Thorndike in 1825. The father who died in 1845 was a farmer. There was a pond near by with planks over it where the hides were drawn up nights and mornings to drain. One day in October, the water froze and the planks were very slippery. Harvey Moulton and I thought it would be fun to see my big brother floundering about, so we got him chasing us. We led him on to the ice, then turned. He being much heavier slipped into the pond and while he was taking his cold bath, we had plenty of time to get out of his way.

The same fall Ek bought a small pig of Eli Philbrick. It got out of the pen and Ek gave it chase, but could not catch it. For all I know, it is running still.

There was a man by the name of Kimball who lived in Jackson and wore a blue frock. Ek had one; his brother Marshall called him Kimball, a name by which he is still known among his old schoolmates.

He went to California in 1851 and returned in 1854. While there he worked in the gold mines. The change did him much good, and his health was assured, as his eighty six years can testify. As a young man he learned the shoemaker's trade. Upon his return from California, he settled on the Benjamin Hunt place and lived there until he occupied his present farm.

I called on your Uncle Freeman yesterday to see if I could learn anything of interest from him. I could not. His family all well. I will give you the names of the scholars that are living that went to school with your father and myself. Freeman and Nelson Gordon. Harriet and Parris Dyer. Adelaide and Lydia Philbrick. Harriet and Ellen Moulton. Edward and Alphonso Rand. Elkanah, Charles and Martha Moulton. I thought more of your father than any other boy in school. We were chums.

If you should come to Portland, please let me know it.

Kindly remember me to your mother and husband.

Yours very truly,
Charles F. Moulton

source: downeastmainegenealogy.ning.com