This writer transcribed the following from a 1942 article originally glued into a “Clough Family” scrapbook. Some sleuthing uncovered this Lewiston Evening Journal copy online at Google News Archives dated 17 Jan 1942. Note the article wasn’t laid out in logical order, but the transcription is.
Farmstead on Baldwin Hill, Fayette, 150 Years Old
By Laura R. Lee
On “Baldwin Hill,” Fayette, still stands the old Tuck homestead, built 160 odd years ago. Here are two sets of buildings, formerly owned by the late Tucks and their descendants. The old house was built many years ago by the great-grandfather of Augustus Abbott Clough who is now retired, a man of seventy-six years and nearly blind, and who is the last owner of the old Tuck estate. He, with his wife, carried on the two farms, until four years ago, when a serious illness compelled him to withdraw from active life. He and Mrs. Clough now live in Wayne.
It was in this old house that his grandmother, Anna Tuck, was born, Jan. 30, 1798. When but eighteen years of age, she married Merrill Clough, of the same town, and they started life together in Anna’s old home with her parents. To Anna and Merrill Clough were born eight children, all in this home, and records show that the family must have been politically inclined, for four of the boys were named for the first four presidents of the U. S. in succession, George Washington Clough was given the first: [cut off?] hem [sic] twins, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Clough: the next was James Madison Clough. The fifth son was given the name of Smith.
Helped Build House at 12 Years
John Adams Clough, a twin, married, as did his brother, and the boys desired to leave their father’s roof, so he set off a piece of land for each and built for each a house. At the time that John Adams built his home, nearly in his father’s dooryard, Augustus was twelve years of age, and he well remembers helping his father nail the laths, and assisting in many parts of the building which boys of that age would not be expected to be able to do in these days.
Both of these houses stand firm and straight to this day, altho the home of Augustus is more in need of repairs than the house over a hundred years old. This house, tho about sixty five years old, still carries its original wall paper in the spacious hall and it is a design that is worthy of being copied by collectors.
Stored away in the attic is an old spinning wheel, complete in every way, and excellently preserved. Mrs. Clough, who was formerly Cora Ada Norris, of Wayne, when asked if she would know how to use it, remarked, “I just wish I had a chance to prove to you that I can.”
Amongst other articles located in this last mentioned house, was Augustus Clough’s old doll which he fondled during his baby days. It seems strange for a man to keep and cherish, as does Mr. Clough, his old “Sukie,” as he called the plaything. The girl whom Augustus Clough married was pretty, intelligent and popular among the younger set in those days. She was her father’s daughter in every sense of the word, and even tho she had exchanged her paternal home for that of Mr. Clough, she never missed returning frequently to her father’s home, beyond what is now Morrison Heights but in her early days was called “Hardscrabble.”
If she could have a hitch to drive to her old home, she was pleased, but if the horses were being used and she was unable to have one of them, then she walked, a distance of eight miles, more or less, to the home of her father, Hiram Norris.
She tells of driving one time when the first snow was falling. She spent the day and started home. The roads were full and the horse couldn’t get thru. She saw an opening in the snow wall at one point, and started for it. She made it, for after driving around in the field for a while she came back into the road where she got to her destination, none the worse of her trouble.
Walked Eight Miles to Wedding
At the time of her second marriage, Cora had planned all the week to go to the wedding. When the morning arrived the three horses in the barn were engaged for the day. Mr. Clough explained to her that it would be out of the question for her to have one of them. “Well, I’m a-going, just the same,” she answered. It was early in the spring when mud was knee deep, but she did her housework, then started over the frozen road afoot and alone. She walked over the frozen slush and mud for about four miles until she reached Mr. Norris’ home in plenty of time for the wedding. “I didn’t thumb my rides, tho'” she commented.
The old house, contained a huge brick oven and fireplace when first built, but, a few years ago the huge chimney was struck by lightning and the whole thing was destroyed so that it was torn entirely away and a modern chimney built. The inside walls of the house remain as they were built, with but two or three plastered and the others boarded with wide pumpkin pine boards laid crossways.
Farm Large Enough for Three Families
The doors show skill in the handwork and all the building was put together with hand-made nails or wooden pegs. the farm itself was originally of many acres, and now, as the land lines, with three separate farms assessed on the town books, there is ample land for three families to thrive, altho only the two owned by Mr. Clough today, are tenanted, and the pastures are growing up into fair-sized timber and much hard wood, which is an asset at the present time. The third house, built for Mr. Clough’s twin brother, Thomas Jefferson, and the one built for Augustus’ father are now again occupied by brothers, John and Frank Smidt.
Mr. and Mrs. Clough celebrated their fiftieth or golden wedding anniversary in their home in Wayne, three years ago. They have spent three winters in Florida, and during one of their vacations, they purchased a Ford car, “to run around in,” while at Miami, but they did not drive back home with the machine. They wore it all out, and left it there when they started north in the spring.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Clough retain their membership in Starling grange, at North Fayette, tho unable to attend, and have filled the most of the offices in this grange. Mrs. Clough, however, is an interested attendant at Wayne grange and also the Community church at Wayne, altho she is of the Advent spiritual faith. She was a member of that church for many years and a member of the choir. She still has a sweet soprano voice. She is adept at quilting and crocheting and does her own housework, while Mr. Clough sits in his big cushioned chair.
“And what do you people find to do to pass the time, evenings?,” I asked. To this he answered, “O, Cora an’ me, we play solitaire’.”
“Can you see to play?”, I continued. “Oh, I know my cards,” he slowly said. And sure enough, there in the center of the living room, stood an old table, and on the bare table lay a worn pack of playing cards, a small rocker, and a large cushioned seat beside it, all ready for business.