USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Wales > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 25
USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Monmouth > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
"At the Conference of 1864, he was appointed to Pine Street Church, in Portland; he was the first pas- tor of that church, twenty years previously.
"On the morning of January 15, 1865, while on his way to Pine Street Church to conduct the services of
1
368
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
the day. he was seen to fall on the sidewalk; friends came to his relief but in a few minutes his earthly life was ended. 'Faithful unto death,' he went to receive his crown." *
Charles Phineas, the youngest of the children of Phineas Blake. jun., was born Sept. 22, 1820. In early life he developed in an eminent degree that vivacity and keen business instinct which marked the older members of the family. When a young man his am- bition led him to the then "far West." At Cincinnati. Ohio, he established himself in the pork-packing busi- ness, which he extended during the winter seasons to New Orleans. In the former city he formed the ac- quaintance of Mary J. Sampson. a native of Leeds. Maine, and a lady of singularly pure and noble charac- ter, whom he married. Returning to Maine he entered the employ of the North Wayne Edge Tool Company as general agent for the Western States, his brother Kibby having control of all the eastern territory in a similar capacity. While connected with this corpora- tion, he made North Wayne his home, but traveled in every State east of the Mississippi. Becoming wearied with this constant itinerancy, he returned to his native town and entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Charles S. Norris, who was then conducting general stores at Monmouth Center and East Monmouth. After the decease of Mr. Norris, he settled the estate, sold the business and turned his attention to the manufacture of men's boots at East Monmouth. In this enterprise his brother was interested. Under the firmn name of E. K. & C. P. Blake, the industry evolved, in the course of
From Allen's History of Methodism.
369
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
time, into the manufacture of moccasin boots for lum- bermen. They purchased their stock of tanners in Pawtucket, R. I., and sometimes employed as many as sixteen men at the bench.
In 1868 Mr. Blake removed to Bangor, where he entered a firm that was already engaged in the manu- facture of moccasin leather and boots. Here he re- mained until 1870, when he returned to Monmouth Center, and, taking to himself two partners, Hiram G. Judkins and William K. Dudley, erected a com- modious building for the manufacture of the same class of goods. In founding this industry, Mr. Blake tem- porarily saved Monmouth Center from sinking into the state of oblivion toward which it is now apparently tending. For nearly a quarter of a century this manu- factory and the one which was afterward erected near it have been the only substantial hope of the village. The superior quality of the goods manufactured by Mr. Blake and his associates brought large orders and con- sequent activity to the place.
Mr. Blake died Oct. 26, 1881, leaving two sons, Em- erson Kibby, who has for many years been a commer- cial traveler in the employ of Portland and Boston firms, and Herbert Burbank, who has recently estab- lished himself as a blacksmith at Monmouth Center.
Another 1804 settler was John Drake, who took up the place now owned by J. G. Smith, on the Neck. He was a short, chunky man, conspicuous everywhere by contrast with the remarkably tall horse that he al- ways rode. He was supposed to be quite wealthy. His gold and silver coin were always corroded, a fact that led his neighbors to believe that he kept a large
370
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
store of it buried. He sold the farm to George Norris and left town.
Abial Bedel, a Calvinist Baptist preacher well-known among the churches at Litchfield and Gardiner, took up a temporary residence in Monmouth, this year. He settled on the Dea. Daniel Whittier place, but did not purchase the land, holding only a so-called "squatter's claim."
Next to Phineas Blake and Daniel Prescott, the first tailor who became a resident of this town was one Simon Otis, whom John A. Torsey facetiously dubbed "Simon Magus." Tow frocks and trousers required little fitting, and our friend of the needle found it policy to give his attention to another branch of his versatile attainments-that of brick making. Where he first settled is not known. We first find him on the Torsey place, trying the double task of running a brick-yard and a family of sixteen children. He removed his brigade to Harmony, Me.
Calvin Hall came from the mouth of the Kennebec to Litchfield in 1790. He built the house that stands on the brow of the hill just beyond the town line, now owned and used as a summer residence by H. K. Morrill, Esq., of Gardiner, and known as "Tacoma." From Litchfield he moved to Monmouth, and settled near the "city," in 1804. He had seven sons and two daughters. Mr. Hall was in the expedition that went up the Chattanooga against the Indians. In the engage- ment in the woods, he came suddenly on a painted and feathered warrior, and both parties sprang behind trees for protection. In this position they remained for some time, neither daring to move from behind his cover,
371
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
and each watching for a movement on the part of the other that would expose him to the musket's muzzle. After waiting some time, Hall devised a stratagem. Placing his hat on the end of his musket, he cautiously moved it out as if he were peering from behind the tree. Crack! went the Indian's musket, and with a leap he came from his ambush and bounded toward the spot, flourishing his scalping-knife. Crack! went another musket, and this time the Indian leaped high into the air, uttered a piercing shriek, and fell at Hall's feet dead. Looking about for his company, Mr. Hall discovered that they had retreated and that he was alone. Guessing at their location, he made a dash through the thicket, and soon placed himself with them and out of danger.
Isaac Clark, jun., settled at East Monmouth in 1804. His ancestor was Hugh Clark, who settled in Water- town, Mass., as early as 1640, and removed to Roxbury in 1657. By his wife, Elizabeth, Hugh Clark had three children, one of whom was father to the wife of Dea. Elijah Livermore, the founder of Livermore, Maine, and great-grandfather to the father of the late Hon. Hannibal Hamlin. Another son, Uriah, born June 5, 1644, married Joanna Holbrook, of Braintree. His son. Uriah, jun., who was born Oct. 5, 1677, married, Nov. 21, 1700, Martha Pease of Cambridge. They had two children, one of whom, Dea. Pease Clark, moved to Maine in the spring of 1762, and was the first settler within the present limits of Hallowell. He came on a vessel laden with supplies for forts Western and Halifax, and was accompanied by his wife and son. Peter, and the latter's wife and child. At this time
372
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
Hallowell was an unbroken wilderness. They were set ashore near the spot where the hotel now stands. It was near night, and, having no time to construct a shelter, they crawled under a cart-body which they brought with them. The next day they built a rude camp of boughs, near the spot where the cotton factory stands, and commenced making a clearing. Their land embraced the part now covered by the business portion of the city. Peter Clark, the son, had visited the spot before, as lieutenant of one of the forces sent by Gov. Shirley for the erection of the fort. They built the first house in Hallowell. Dea. Clark was moderator of the first town meeting held in Hallowell, and was chairman of the first board of selectmen. He was "a pious man, just and honorable in all his deal- ings. He married, Nov. 2, 1727, Abigail Wedge, by whom he had eight children, the oldest of whom, Isaac, born Aug. 5, 1741, married Alice Philbrook, of Cum- berland. He settled in Augusta about the same time
.
his father settled in Hallowell. A few years later, he removed to the latter place, where he built the first two-story house in town. He held at one time the of- fice of selectman." He removed to Monmouth in 1805. In July, 1824, he died, leaving six children. Of these, Isaac jun., who came to Monmouth one year earlier than his father, was the fourth in order. He was born Sept. 5, 1780, and was married to Sabra Smith, daughter of Deacon Joshua Smith, Sept. 19, 1805, one year after his settlement in the town. She died, and he married for a second wife Asenath # Moody, daughter of Rev. Gilman Moody. Mr. Clark was a man of much spirit * Zenie is the name by which she was generally known.
373
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
and enterprise. He built mills at East Monmouth and started a plant which, but for his premature death, would undoubtedly have developed into a large manu- factory. He possessed almost unlimited business ca- pacity, and had a mind that leaned toward large commercial ventures. The large house just across the bridge from the mill, now owned by Mrs. Norris, was his mansion, and quite a pretentious one it was con- sidered in those days. After Mr. Clark's decease, his large property fell, through a questionable process, into the hands of a relative in Hallowell, and his son, the rightful owner, is now a town charge. Mrs. Clark married for a second husband Jesse S. Robinson. The frequent recurrence of the name Isaac in this record necessitates careful reading. Isaac Clark, jun., the now living member of the family, is third in the order of Isaacs.
Ebenezer King, who came to Monmouth in 1804, and settled on the farm on the Neck now owned by Wm. C. Tinkham, was the son of Benjamin King. the progenitor of the Monmouth and Winthrop branches of the King family. Benjamin King was a resident of New Ipswich, N. H. He entered the continental army during the war of the Revolution, and was prob- ably killed in battle, as he was never heard from after- ward. His wife, Susan Taylor, and six of her seven children removed to Maine. The oldest of these was Benjamin, jun., who settled in Ballstown (now White- field), Me., where he engaged in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits, and was killed by a falling beam. while raising a mill. The second, third, fourth and fifth children were girls. Sarah married and settled in
1
374
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
Mason, N. H .; Elizabeth married a Mr. Huse and removed to Hope, Me .; Silence married Peter Hop- kins, of Winthrop, and Mary, a Mr. Floyd, of the same place. Ebenezer, the sixth of Benjamin King's children, married Mehitable Robbins. He died in 1815, on the farm on Monmouth Neck to which, as has already been stated, he removed in 1804, leaving nine children. Of this large family, only one made Monmouth a perma- nent residence. Jason, the second son, was born July 10, 1792. At an early age he opened a general store at East Monmouth Mills. The building in which he traded stood east of the bridge, about half way between the latter point and the brow of the hill. It was after- ward remodeled into a blacksmith shop, and occupied as such by Henry Robie. Still later, it was moved to a point near the house now occupied by Mr. Rankins. where it serves as a shed, or carriage house.
After conducting this business about six years, Mr. King purchased of Abraham Brown the northern por- tion of the farm now owned by George E. Gilman. The house which stood on this farm was located about half-way between the corner and the house now owned by Mr. Perkins. In 1863, he erected the brick house in which Mr. Gilman lives. The farm that lay south of his land was then owned by James Nichols. Mr. King purchased this, and united it with the one he bought of Mr. Brown. He subsequently sold the east- ern portion to Harrison Sawyer. Not far from 1854, he removed to Monmouth Center, and purchased of Wm. Blondel the farm now owned by his son. S. O. King, Esq., where he remained until his decease, Sept. 3, 1871.
375
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
Mr. King was married three times; first to Pamelia, daughter of Samuel Marrow, of Winthrop, by whom he had five children. She died Aug. 13, 1840, and he married Mrs. Clarissa Shaw Allen, whose daughters, Delinda and Valina, had become the wives of Mr. King's sons, Samuel and Rufus. After her decease, he married Mrs. Sarah Currier Dailey, who survived him.
Mr. King's oldest brother, Amos, married Abigail Folsom, and removed to Phillips, and, later, to Read- field and Mt. Vernon, Me., where he engaged in the clothing and cloth dressing business. Of his other brothers, Bernard and Zenas removed to Hallowell. The former was a miller, the latter a wool merchant. Two others died in infancy. The three sisters will be mentioned in a later connection.
Jason King had four sons and one daughter. The latter, Pamelia M., married George S. Stevens, and died in Monmouth, in 1869. The oldest son, Lewis D., married Angeline W., daughter of Ard Macomber, and settled on the farm opposite the Strout place in Wales. This farm he exchanged with Wm. Wharff for the land which lies eastward from Oscar C. True's, in the Lyon district. The house in which he lived was moved by Wm. C. Nichols to the Foster place, near East Monmouth, many years ago. Albert L. King, the youngest son of Jason, died in Illinois, at the early age of twenty-six. The other sons, Samuel O. and Rufus G., are still residents of Monmouth. The former was born Jan. 30, 1821. At the age of twenty-two, he was united in marriage with Delinda A. Allen, daughter of Luther Allen, of East Monmouth. Prior to this, he had taught several terms of school in Maine and Rhode
376
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
Island. He now purchased a farm and devoted his at- tention to agriculture. The place on which he settled is the one now owned by Mr. Watts, near Davis Emer- son's. He moved from this farm to the B. Frank Jones place, in East Monmouth, which he purchased of Isaac Richards. Thence, about 1865, he removed to Mon- mouth Center, and purchased of George B. Leuzader the hotel which, before the great conflagration of 1888. stood on the corner of Main and Maple streets. A few months later, he purchased of Rev. Rishworth Aver the farm at North Monmouth now owned by Mrs. Bishop, where he lived until 1870, when he removed to his father's farm at Monmouth Center, where he still resides. About 1873, he purchased the hardware business of Simon Clough, and, later, added to his stock a line of general goods. But a mercantile career was not in keeping with his temperament and estab- lished course of life. With the exception of about sixteen years, during which he devoted a portion of his time to the manufacture of brick, and a few terms at the teacher's desk, his entire life had been spent in the fields, and he returned to his favorite employment af- ter a short time, although he held an interest in the business for several years.
Mr. King has served five consecutive years on the board of selectmen, one year as superintending school committee, and eight years as superintendent of the Sunday school of the M. E. church. He is a man of studious habits and an intelligent thinker, modest in his estimation of his own abilities, and always quiet and unassuming. He is a leading, though never offensive. spirit in third party politics, and has several times been
--
Residence of Samuel O. King, Monmouth.
377
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
run on the county ticket. His oldest son, Rev. Melvin E. King, is a member of the Maine General Conference of the M. E. church. Two other sons, George L. and Luther O., reside in Monmouth. The former married Ella M., daughter of Jesse Richardson, of North Mon- mouth; the latter, Lelia E. Mayo, of Carmel, Me. Both have been numbered among the traders of Mon- mouth Center.
Rufus G. King was born Oct. 30, 1823. Like his brother Samuel, his first venture on starting in life for himself was teaching. After spending several years in the schools of Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, he married and settled on his father's farm. The year following his marriage, he purchased of his brother Samuel, the place now owned by Mr. Watts, in the eastern part of the town. In 1854 he bought the house now owned by David Woodbury, at Monmouth Cen- ter. This building was erected for, and used as, a blacksmith shop by Charles Towle. It originally stood near the Lyon school-house, and was moved and par- tially remodeled by Mr. Towle. Mr. King sold this place to Capt. Jack, and moved to the place where Mr. Perry lives, on Main street. When a young man, he learned the shoe-maker's trade of Levi Greeley, of East Monmouth, and worked at the bench one year in Win- throp. Not far from 1862, he erected a shop on the corner of Main and Maple streets, which he extended five years later into the house he now occupies. In this shop he manufactured boots and shoes for the local trade, sometimes employing half-a-dozen hands. At about the same time he began the manufacture of ready- made clothing for Boston firms. Mr. King was the
378
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
pioneer of this industry in Monmouth. But little work was done in the shop, but for miles around every woman that could spare a moment from her housework was working on coats. Prices were then good, and a large amount of money was distributed in this and ad- joining towns through the industry. Coat making was then performed largely by hand, but Mr. King intro- duced the Grover and Baker sewing machine, for which he held the agency, into many homes, and a new era in the sewing line dawned upon Monmouth.
After a few years he sold his retail boot and shoe trade to C. L. Owen, and devoted his entire attention to the sale of sewing machines. With the exception of a brief period, during which he resumed the manu- facture of clothing in company with A. A. Luce, under the firm name of Luce & King, Mr. King has been re- tired from active business life for several years. He is a man of great ingenuity, methodical in his habits and inclined to scholastic attainments. He married. as has already been stated, Susan Valina Allen. daugh- ter of Luther Allen, of East Monmouth. They had two sons, Alfred A. and Alfred R., the former of whom died in childhood, the latter, in early manhood.
Samuel King was the youngest of Benjamin King's seven children. He was born March 1. 1763. The death of his father while serving his country has al- ready been noticed. Samuel must have been quite young at this time. He was not far from seventeen years of age when the family removed to Maine. In a previous chapter # it is stated that he was accompanied from New Hampshire by Benjamin Clough. Although
Page 147.
379
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
this statement is undoubtedly correct, it is probable that Mr. King settled in Winthrop at least three years prior to this event, and had returned to Epping for a visit. On his first journey to Maine he was accompanied by his widowed mother. They made the trip on horse- back, coming by way of Norris Hill. There was then no clearing in the western or northern part of the town, with the exception of the small one Bonney, the de- serter, had cut near the pond which bears his name. It was only a few months, however, before Capt. Peter Hopkins made his clearing near the Winthrop line. Mr. King married, Sept. 28, 1786, Susanna Brainerd, of Winthrop, and settled on the farm now owned by Amasa Dorillus King, in the edge of Winthrop. His death, which resulted from an accident received while un- loading rails, occurred June 25, 1816. His wife died April 22, 1814. They had ten children, three of whom died at an early age. Those who reached maturity were Samuel, Benjamin, Isaac, Amasa, Susanna, Mary and Sylvester. Amasa settled on the home place, Syl- vester married Cordelia Stanley and came to North Monmouth about 1850, and all the others married and settled in Winthrop, except Samuel, who, at the age of twenty-four, married Matilda Rice and came to Mon- mouth. He purchased of John Huse the greater part of the farm in the northern part of the town now owned by his son, Joseph R., and his grandson, Albertus R. King, and here he spent the remainder of his days.
Mr. King was a man of no ordinary calibre. His mind turned toward large business projects, and his ambition was supported by strong executive ability. In company with his son, William, who possessed
380
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
these traits coupled with great ingenuity, he erected the brick factory at North Monmouth and engaged in the manufacture of starch. He subsequently remodeled the mill and put in machinery for the manufacture of webbing, an industry which he conducted until 1850, when he sold the business to his son, Joseph R. King, Esq.
Mr. King died Feb. 15, 1873. His wife died April 9, 1859. They had six children, two of whom died in early life. Samuel R. King, the second son, married Susan E. Morrill and removed to Exeter, Me., and thence to South Corinth, where he now resides. George W. King, the next oldest son, was born Mar. 10, 1820. At the age of twenty-one, he married Mary E. Fogg, daughter of Royal Fogg, and settled on the home place, where he remained until 1862, when it was purchased by Jeremiah Gordon. He then opened a general store at North Monmouth, and continued in trade until within a year of his decease.
Mr. King was one of our most influential townsmen. He held the office of selectman from 1855 to 1860, that of town agent several years, and, prior to the political revolution of 1884, had served as postmaster a term of eighteen years. With one exception. he was, at the time of his decease, the oldest male native of North Monmouth. He died Sept. 25, 1890. Two of his children, Orin F. and Orianna M., live at North Mon- mouth. The latter married H. Weston Pettingill, and resides on the homestead. The former married Ann W. Sylvester. He is an expert painter, and at one time had charge of the interior painting at the Maine Insane Asylum. Rosette M. King, another of George
38I
A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT.
W. King's children, died in 1869 at the age of twenty- two; and a fourth, Olivette R., married Daniel W. Woodbury, formerly of Monmouth, now of Thomaston, Me.
William H. and Joseph R. King were the youngest of Samuel King's children. William H. was born June 4, 1824. He has already been mentioned, in con- nection with the industries founded by his father, as a man of marked ability. At the age of twenty-four, he was married to Jane Stearns of New Hampshire. He removed to Exeter, Me., and subsequently to New York, where he engaged in the plumbing business and gained considerable wealth. In recent years he has resided in California.
Joseph R. King was born Apr. 9, 1826. At the age of twenty he received his time and began to work for his father at sixty cents a day and board. He remained in his father's employ four years. Then the elements of character which have made the Kings of Monmouth a family of successful business men came to the sur- face. With no capital but pluck and energy, he purchased of his father the brick factory at North Monmouth, with its outfit of machinery for manufact- uring webbing, and began business for himself. Most men would have hesitated to acknowledge a weakness of financial base when trying to obtain credit in the commercial world; but, with characteristic honesty, he plainly stated to the firm from which he purchased his stock the fact that he was without resources, and was doing business on borrowed capital. His honesty and address procured him credit, and he launched out on a successful business career. But every man must wade
382
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
through difficulties before establishing himself on a firm basis, and Mr. King was not exempted. Unfortu- nately for him, he had friends; and for friendship's sake he could do no less than indorse paper which. when it matured, he was called upon to substantiate. It was a crushing blow to the young man, standing, as he was, just on the threshold of active life; but he as- sumed the burden bravely, and toiled early and late for years to make good a claim for which he received only twenty-five cents on a dollar.
Mr. King is now one of our wealthiest and most re- spected citizens. Quiet and unassuming in manner. conservative, and never aspiring to leadership in public affairs, he is, nevertheless, a leader by the power of his sound judgment and integrity. He has served two terms on our board of selectmen.
Mr. King was married Dec. 30, 1852, to Emeline T. Dexter, a native of Winthrop, but a resident, at the time of her marriage, of East Boston, Mass. They have had four children. one of whom died in infancy. Al- bertus R., the only son, succeeded his father in the webbing manufacturing business. . He married Miss Ella Ramsdell, and resides at North Monmouth. Eva A. married Charles Irving Bailey, son of Charles M. Bailey, of Winthrop, and Imogene C. is the wife of Edwin M. Stanton, the senior partner of the firm of Stanton & Glover, jewelers, 37 Hanover St., Boston.
In coming to the year 1805, the first thing that at- tracts attention is the formation of a new school dis- trict. Thus far, only four districts had been regularly supported-the north, south, east and west. As early as 1794, attempts were made to set off new districts.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.