I was born in Dixfield village fifty-three years ago. My recollections of the occupants of the houses now remaining that were standing when first I began to roam around the village, I propose to state, hoping some may find satisfaction in reading them. If I do not fully state facts, or if I mis-state, I hope some one will make complete what I do not, and correct where correction is necessary.

     Commencing with the house where A. F. Wing now lives. The house, excepting that its length has been increased. is as I first remember it. Its first occupant was Laban Gardner-(so they spelled it-not Gardiner). Whence the Gardners came from I do not remember of learning. Laban had one brother with whom I was acquainted; I think his name was John. I bring to mind no place other than that where Jeff White now lives (in Mexico) where the family lived. What ever became of that Gardner family I cannot say. Laban died in Dixfield ; his widow married Jonathan Rundlett. Both lived to be aged and died in Dixfield. Of the sons and daughters of Laban Gardner I bring to mind: Amasa, Amos, Laban, Jr., Daniel, Polly, Electa (?).I feel sure I do not name all. Amos married and settled in Dixfield; was an axe maker. He built the small brick house formerly standing where the residence of the late Stephen Griffith now stands, and died in it one bright summer Sabbath morning with many friends and relatives in and around the house.  From the outside, through an open window, I saw him breath his last.Amasa and Laban became "sea captains," I think,  and since my knowledge of them began, only made Dixfield their home a few days or weeks at a time. Daniel spent more time at home after reaching his majority and has until recently been a frequent visitor at Dixfield. Polly married John Holland now a resident of the vicinity. Electa (?) married Alvin Howe and now, with husband, is living in Paris, or was a short time ago
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     The house occupied by Albert Smith is much larger than when I first remember it. The first family living there, so far as  I can bring to mind, was that of Wm. Stockbridge. He was a shoemaker, with nearly useless legs under him. One of the special things I remember of "Uncle Bill" is, that however early I had my foot measured for boots in the fall, he was always going to have them done "next week," until after the first snows came. His wife was a sister of Cyprus Eustis, and of Thomas Eustis who lived perhaps now lives in Jay. Their children were Granville, Joseph, Harriet, Azuba, Aurille, Hannah and Mary Jane. Granville went to Boston when young. He was a splendid singer, a mimic, and his frequent visits home were always gladly received - bringing with him the new songs, new sayings and funny things of those times. He was the life of the gatherings in which he was one. Since he married he has twice returned to Dixfield with his family and for a few years tarried there and there-about. He is now living in or near Boston, I am told. Early in life Joseph "went to sea." He died at sea, if I remember correctly, but was buried on an island far away from our shores. His effects were returned to his parents, and one afternoon they were shown to many of the village people. Among them, I remember, was alarge and varied lot of sea shells. Harriet married Eli Edmunds. I remember when her husband, with Amos Gardner, built the large building they occupied as a blacksmith shop and axe factory where the tooth pick mill now is. I think I remember when both Edmunds and Gardner worked in Samuel Morrill's blacksmith shop, which stood nearly on the spot where Ames' harness shop now stands. I witnessed the fire by which both the last mentioned buildings were destroyed - both in the night time-- the Morrill shop long before the axe factory. Mrs. Edmunds is still living and her children are well known to all recent residents of Dixfield - Joseph P., the "village  blacksmith," of today, and the wife of Eph. Reynolds being two of them- Azuba married Amos Griffith. Hannah married John Whittier. John came to Dixfield to work for Ephraim and S. S. Marble and left Dixfield for Lowell where he has lived, and now does (I think). Aurille married Nathaniel Mayberry who recently died in Turner. Mary Jane married ___(sic)Bacon, who, when I last knew them, lived in Boston.

     Much changed is the house now occupied by Charles Peck. My first remembrance of the house there was when occupied by Edward Fernald (we called it Funnel). He was known known to me first, last, and every time, as "Uncle Ned." I think his wife was a Wing - a sister to the wife of Lawson Marsh and also to the wife of Ezra Drowns, both of them former residents of Dixfield - I remember Daphney,  Electa, Stephen, Thomas (illegible)__errick Thadeus and Isaiah. Some of the family are, living, where I cannot say Stephen was in Washington one afternoon in 1864, with "Uncle John" Kidder, but did not come with Uncle John ...... ..(missing text).......... ...................................................
"drove stage many years : . from Dixfield to Augusta, and was a  good driver, a resolute mail carrier,  getting through on foot if he could not come otherwise. He went to California in 49' or 50', returned, and when I last saw was driving a truck tram in Boston. He is now dead. I cannot bring to mind the death of the heads of this family, nor the breaking up or removal of it, which fact leads me to think that I was in Boston when those events transpired.

     No other dwelling house stood on the west side of Weld street until long after I became familiar with Dixfield village until you reached the spot on which or close by  where the wdow Lovejoy now lives. There was a dwelling there occupied by Harrison  Mitchell. If not mistaken he married a Gould ; a sister to John Gould who once  lived in a house on the upper end of John Thompson's farm. near the entrance to the pasture on the Sanders farm, and later in the house now occupied by Nathan Cox,  near Leonard Brackett's, on the plains. Zabrina Gould was a sister also. She married John Griffith, and later Benj. F. Warren. "Harry" Mitchell was an 1812 soldier, and was hired by Enos Dillingham as a substitute (Enos was drafted) to go to the "Madawaska war." Gen. Winfield Scott, who knew Mitchell in the war of 1812, recognized him when in Aroostook county and sent for him to call on him at his quarter,. Uncle Harry's children, as I bring them to mind, were Hannah, Clarinda and Louise - one of which married a Hunt. I think both the others married and with their husbands settled in the eastern part of Maine. The only son was Silas. He , also went to Eastern Maine. After the Mitchells vacated this house I think Daniel Twombley lived in it for awhile. Mr. Twombley had one son that I bring to mind, John, now living in Rumford. He worked for Hosea Austin and others in the village. He had daughters, their names I have forgotten, but while at Farmington, N. H., some years ago, I called on one of them there and found Uncle Daniel living with her. Many others have since lived in that house  -James Glines' family,  Mark Beverly's, Mrs. J. N. Thompson's, and others.

     Next I reach the present home of that good woman, Lucy Barnard, widow of Silas Barnard. Never since my remembrance has it been out of the control of  that family. I have attended school in that house. Mahala Barnard, who married Harry Wheeler and lived only a short time after her marriage, kept a private school there. She also taught many terms of the village school, and was beloved  as a teacher, a girl, a woman. Pretty in form and feature, kindly in act and word, none knew her but to admire. Lucy Ann, another daughter, was a teacher, and a good one. She married George Dillingham, moved to Minnesota and died. Fred, now a frequent visitor, is her son. Delphina married a Root. Emily married Edwin R. Knight. Albion and George, the boys of the family, have found homes far from old Dixfield. Albion is a doctor in Minnesota. George I think is in California.   --H. W. P.

     H. W. Park is the author of the series of articles about Dixfield Village printed in "The Dixfield Citizen" newspaper.