156 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY Henry D.. Thoreau Mr. Liston P. Evans, editor of the Piscataquis Observer, has recently handed us a copy of that paper dated May 22, 1890, in which appears the article that follows, relative to that great American philosopher, writer and naturalist, Henry D. Thoreau, whose writ- ings gave the "Maine Woods" a world wide fame in literature, as well as with the people. This article was written, as Mr. Evans informs us, by the late Joseph Darling Brown, Esq., formerly of Foxcroft, Maine, a lawyer and also one of the able newspaper writers of Eastern Maine. A monument of Maine granite now marks the last resting place of Henry D. Thoreau, the distinguished naturalist, in the old graveyard on the hill overlooking the historic battlefield of Concord, Mass. For years no stone or tablet invited the attention of the pilgrim or stranger to the spot where repose the remains of one whose name was and still is familiar to all lovers of nature in her loftier or milder moods. Recently this memorial in stone has been set up by B. B. Thatcher,' Esq., of Bangor, a distant relation and sympathizing friend, and one other relative. The names of his father and mother interred there are inscribed upon the tablet. It was fitting that this tribute to his memory should be taken from the quarries of the State in whose deep forest shades he delighted to wander and meditate upon the sublime works of nature. In the wilderness, upon our mountain sides, paddling his light canoe over the bosom of our silver lakes, threading his way up our rivers and braving their cataracts to gratify a life passion that had taken possession of his inmost soul, he first made known to the outside world the grandeur and beauty of our scenery, the extent of wild domain, and the richness of our ornithology, vegetable and animal life. He was to Maine what Audobon was to the entire country. His first visit to the State was in 1846, when he made his way nearly to the summit of Mt. Katahdin, which but few white men had before ascended. Again in 1853, he penetrated as far as Chesuncook Lake. Later, in 1857, in the month of July, be made his last visit to the forests of Maine, going up over Moosehead, down the west branch, across the Chesuncook. up the Urnbazooksus stream, over the lake of the same name, Mud Pond Carry and Chamberlain Lake, thence down the Allegash to Heron Lake. From this point with his Indian canoe man, retracing his way to Chamber- lain Lake, and passing through the famous Telos Canal, and down the east branch of the great river to Bangor, he closed his last visit to the woods of Maine. His experiences and observations in these excursions were given to the public in a volume Of 328 pages, and at this late day, reads like a delightful epic. He was the author of several other books. (1) The late Honorable Benjamin B. Thatcher, of Bangor, Maine. He was for many years an extensive lumber dealer on Exchange street and one of the most prominent and lead- ing men in the Queen City. He served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives and Senate several sessions. HENRY D. THOREAU 157 Before his death in 1862, at the early age Of 45 years, he had builded for himself a desirable reputation as a naturalist and writer. Thoreau never married. He was in love with nature and worshipped at her shrine. One feature of his character was remarkable. In the collection of speci- mens of birds and wild animals, he never availed himself of the use of firearms. With him, life was sacred, though he never hesitated to avail himself of the knowledge afforded by the destructive acts of others, no', exercised by such scruples as his own. In our forests he studied the nature of its denizens from the moose to the muskrat, the noblest to the lowest. Birds were a specialty, and every variety known to the woodsman was ob- served and made an object lesson. The bald eagle, heron, loon, kingfisher and sparrows alike received his attention. As a botanist, he examined and took note of the flowers of Northern Maine as no man had done before him or since. Today he is the only authority extant upon the beautiful, sweet-scented flowerets that in their season lift their modest heads along our interior lakes and watercourses to greet the rising sun with opening petals. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.