In the year 1801, there was living among the hills of New Hampshire in the town of Salisbury, a family embracing the father, mother, and three children of tender age, the threads of whose subsequent history are closely interwoven with those of the early history of the town of Garland. It was Joseph Garland. The tide of emigration from various sections of New Hampshire was setting towards the region in the province of Maine which encircles the present city of Bangor. Moved by the tendencies of the times and encouraged by favorable representations of relatives and acquaintances who had visited the township now known as Garland, Mr. Garland selected it as the site of his future home. With two horses harnessed to an emigrantŐs wagon he started on his tedious journey "DOWN EAST" with his family and such household goods as he would first and most need.

This was in the autumn of 1801. Reaching the town of Bucksport, he remained at the place through the winter. His nearness now to the site of his future home enabled him to build a small cabin of logs and to make preparations for the reception of his family before he should again change base. In June, 1802, he resumed his journey with his family and reached Bangor at the end of the first day. The second dayŐs journey brought the family to the Wilkins place, now known as the Bacon place, in the southwest part of Charlestown, where they passed the night. This was the nearest point to their little cabin in the forest that could be reached by a team of horses. Their journey was completed by methods of a more primitive character. On the morning of the third day of the journey, Mrs. Garland was helped to the back of one of the hoses and the youngest child was placed in her arms. Mr. Garland mounted the second horse and took another of the children. Daniel Wilkins, afterwards a well known citizen of Charlestown, took charge of the third child. Thus organized, the party, accompanied by two or three other men, moved slowly but cheerfully through a dense forest, guided on their way by spotted trees. Crossing the east line of the township their route led them in a northwesterly direction near the sites of the present homes of Mrs. Leonard Skillin, Thos. B. Packard, Samuel O. Davis, James L. Rideout, A. Hanson and thence north of the meadow to the store of David E. Knight. From this point, following the line of the road that leads to the present home of David Dearborn, they reached the little cabin that rested in the "gloom of the forest" at the foot of the slope west of the present residence of Mr. Dearborn.

A number of men who were engaged in felling trees in different parts of the township, left their work and hurried to the point where the expected newcomers would cross the township line. On the approach of the party the old forest rang with cheers for the heroic woman, who was the first white woman to enter the new township. These men of rough exterior but warm hearts, escorted her to the little cabin by the brook that was to be her home for the first few years, gallantly removing the obstacles that lay in her pathway.

It is doubtful if any woman has been conducted into the town by so large and appreciative an escort.

Mrs. GarlandŐs ride into the township was not accomplished without an accident, which was fraught with some danger. In fording one of the streams that crossed her pathway the hose was frightened by a barking of a dog and she was jolted from her saddle, but the prompt assistance of a man who was walking by her side saved her from an involuntary bath.

Mr. Garland and his wife, with their three small children, were the first family to establish a home in the present town of Garland, and they had come to stay.

The date of their homecoming was June 22, 1802. To them belongs the honor of giving date to the settlement of the town--nor was it an empty honor coming to them by accident. On the contrary, it came as the result of an intelligent purpose to establish a home, where, by honest toil they could secure a comfortable living--a home which would be one of a community of homes where they could enjoy the social, educational and religious privileges, which are so highly prized by the descendants of a Puritan ancestry.

Mr. Garland and his family were now face to face with the privations and hardships of a life in the wilderness, when through the long winter which followed they were the sole residents of the township. Their rude cabin afforded very imperfect protection from wind, rain and snow. A large stone fire-place, surrounded with a smoke flue of sticks and clay, was made to do service for warming and cooking. Their furniture was of the most primitive character. In place of chairs they used blocks of wood of suitable size and height. Their cooking utensils were limited to indispensable articles. Their surroundings were in striking contrast with those they had left behind. But having deliberately determined to establish a home in the township of their choice, they cheerfully accepted the changes it involved and looked hopefully towards the "BETTER TIME COMING."