History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 100

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730

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PHYSICIANS.

Samuel C. Knight, M.D., 1819 ; Samuel C. Knight, 1822; William Swett, 1824-35; J. A. Fellows, 1879; Samuel Swett, 1879.

MILITARY. THE WAR OF 1812.

This town responded nobly both in men and means for the war of 1812. A number of men were sent to Kittery and other points along the coast in that year. In 1814 the town voted to pay all men drafted enough to make up their wages to $14 a month.

THE REVOLUTION.

George Hooper and John Smith were committee to enlist soldiers in 1781.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. ELLIS B. USHER

was born in Medford, Mass., Nov. 7, 1785, the eldest ehild of Abijah and Mary ( Wells) Usher. His progenitor was Robert Usher, who, with his brother Hezekiah, came from England, the former settling in Stamford, Conn., the latter in Boston, Mass. The line of descent is as follows: Robert Usher married Elizabeth, widow of Jeremy Jagger. Their son Robert, of Dunstable, Mass., married Sarah, daughter of John Blanchard; their eldest son, John, born May 31, 1696, by his wife, Hannah, had nine children; Robert, born April 9, 1730, their second son, of Merrimack, N. H., married Sarah Stearns, of Bedford ; nine children; he died Oct. 13, 1793. Abijah, born Feb. 15, 1757, of Med- ford, Mass., was twice married ; by his first wife, Mary, he had three children, viz., Ellis B., Abijah, and Mary; by his second wife, Rebecca Kidder, he had five children, viz., Samuel, James Madison, Drusilla, James Madison (2d), and Robert S. The latter is the only one of the children living at this date (1879). At an early age Ellis B. lost his mother, and he lived for a number of years thereafter with his grandmother Wells in Medford. His father, failing in business, gave to each of his sons-Ellis B. and Abijah -a horse; and at the age of twelve and ten respectively they came on horseback to seek their fortunes in Hollis. Ellis B. worked by the month, at $5 per month, for Col. Isaac Lane and the Rev. Paul Coffin, sending half of his earn- ings to his father. At a later date he was elerk in the

store of Paul Coffin, son of Rev. Paul Coffin, at Buxton. Still later he was elerk in the office of the register of deeds, at Alfred. At about the age of nineteen, by savings from his earnings, he purchased a farm in North Hollis, and gave it to his father, which is still in possession of a de- seendant of the family. He also purchased an interest in a saw-mill, at Buxton, of Capt. Joseph Woodman, and in connection with that interest carried on a store. He was prospered in his enterprises, and continued to enlarge his business until the year 1814, when by a heavy flood in the Saeo River, besides carrying away his mills and dams, $5000 worth of logs not paid for were swept away, which left him to that extent worth less than nothing. But with that indomitable energy which was one of his promi- nent characteristics, backed by a eredit which had become well established, he went forward, and replaced, on a larger scale, his mills, and thereafter, to the time of his death, continued his lumbering and mercantile interests at Hollis, becoming, if not the largest, one of the heaviest, operators on the Saco River. He became largely interested in timber- lands, chiefly in Maine and New Hampshire. During the reverses of 1835 and '36, Mr. Usher became embarrassed in consequence of his connection with the " Eastern Land Speeulation." An extension of five years was granted him by a vote of his ereditors, and eventually, besides paying his own debts, dollar for dollar, also paid $80,000 of endorsed paper. At the time of his death, which oc- eurred May 21, 1855, he was possessed of a large estate. In his business career Mr. Usher furnished a marked example of what may be accomplished by hard work, coupled with an intelligent application of means to ends. With the exception of attendance at the common school in Medford, and possibly a term at an academy after coming to Hollis, Mr. Usher may be said to have "picked up" his education. He was always a great reader, and became familiar with the standard works of literature, well versed in the Saered Scriptures, and kept well posted in the current news of the day. He took an active interest in political ques- tions, but was so oceupied with the conduct of his business enterprises as not to seek or desire public office. He was, however, a member of the General Court of Massachusetts at the time of the separation of Maine from the common- wealth of that State. He was also at one time a member of the Maine Senate. In politics he was a Whig and a Re- publiean ; in religious sentiment, liberal. As a neighbor, he was sympathetic, kind-hearted, and liberal; in his family, genial and indulgent. He was especially fond of ehildren and young people.

Mr. Usher was twice married. His first wife was Re- becca Randall, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Randall, of Cape Elizabeth, to whom he was married Nov. 22, 1812. Mrs. Usher was born March 31, 1792. By her he had three children, viz., Henry E., born Feb. 14, 1814, died April 27, 1827; Benjamin J. R., born Dec. 25, 1815, died Dec. 23, 1816; and Sarah Ellen, born Oet. 20, 1817. The latter was twice married. Her first husband was Hor- ace Sands, to whom she was married Aug. 2, 1836. Mr. Sands died Jan 24, 1837. She was again married Oct. 6, 1841, to Dr. Elbridge Bacon, of Portland. Mrs. Usher died June 4, 1819. Mr. Usher married, Nov. 26, 1820,

E. B. Usher

367

TOWN OF SANFORD.

Hannah Lane, step-sister of his first wife, and daughter of Col. Isaac Lane, of Hollis. Her grandfather was Capt. Daniel Lane, who, with his brothers John and Jabez, were officers in the Revolutionary war, and were early settlers in the towns of Hollis and Buxton. John Lane was one of the party of " Indians" who threw overboard the tea in Boston harbor. Her father, Isaac Lane, ran away from home, and joined his father while in service in the war of the Revolu- tion. He was not sent back, but served during the war as servant of his father. He was a colonel in the war of 1812. The Lanes have not inaptly been called the military family of Buxton.

Mrs. Usher was born Jan. 1, 1795. Their children are Rebecca R., born Aug. 31, 1821 ; Martha Hooper, born May 1, 1823, married, Sept. 27, 1848, to Dr. Joseph G. Osgood (the latter died Feb. 28, 1849); Isaac Lane, born May 12, 1825, living in La Crosse, Wis. ; Jane Maria, born Dec. 1, 1828, died Aug. 5, 1832; Hannah, born Sept. 1, 1831, died Aug. 21, 1832; Mary, born July 21, 1833, died Aug. 8, 1833; Jane Maria, born Oct. 12, 1836, mar- ried Nathan Webb, of Portland, June 17, 1867.

With mind unimpaired, with scarcely a gray hair, taking a lively interest in all current events, surrounded with all the comforts of a well-furnished home, and receiving the loving attentions of devoted daughters, Mrs. Usher has just (Jan. 1, 1880) celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday.

HON. NATHANIEL J. MILLER

was born in the town of Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., Me., Nov. 5, 1801, the second child of four children of James and Rebecca (Jones) Miller. The father and mother were natives of Cape Elizabeth. His father was a sea-cap- tain by occupation, and died and was buried at sea at the

age of thirty-three. His mother was the daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Jones, who was a surgeon in the war of the Rev- olution, and died, while in the service, of fatigue.

Nathaniel J. Miller came, at an early period, to Bar Mills, town of Hollis, and at the age of twenty-one en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber, carrying on a mer- cantile business in connection therewith. He continued in business here up to the year 1853. He then moved to Portland, where, up to the time of his death, which oc- curred Nov. 5, 1869, he engaged in the lumber commission business. In politics he was identified with the Whig and Republican parties, and was a firm and active supporter of their principles. While living in Hollis he was representa- tive to the Legislature in 1838, 1839, and 1840. He also held a number of its town offices.

During his residence in Portland he was for several years a member of the city government, a representative to the Legislature in 1858, member of the Senate in 1861, and was appointed collector of internal revenue under President Lincoln for the First District of Maine, which position he held up to March 29, 1869, when he resigned on account of ill health. He was one of the first officers of the First National Bank of Portland. He was married, March 30, 1823, to Mary Woodman, daughter of Paul and Hannah Woodman. Mrs. Miller was born in Hollis, July 12, 1802. She survives him, and resides with two of her daughters at the old homestead in Hollis. They have had eight children, four of whom are living.

Prompt and energetic in the prosecution of all his busi- ness enterprises, conscientious and efficient in the discharge of his duties in all public positions to which he was called, thoroughly devoted to his family, a kind and obliging neigh- bor, a steadfast friend, Mr. Miller well deserved the respect and esteem in which he was held in the communities where he lived.

SANFORD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

THE town of Sanford contains an area of 17,920 acres, 16,000 of which are improved. It was incorporated in 1768 with 27,000 acres, and extended as far east as the western line of Lyman and to the Saco River. That part of the town remaining in 1794 to the east of Hayes Brook, was incorporated, February 4th of that year, under the name of Alfred, as a district, but was represented in town affairs until it became a separate town in 1808. Sanford is bounded on the north by Shapleigh, on the east by Alfred, on the south by Kennebunk, Wells, and North Berwick, and on the west by Lebanon. The surface is broken in the north; in the south it consists mostly of plains. The soil on the ridges is deep and fertile, producing good crops of

corn, oats, hay, and apples; that of the plains is sandy, open, and less fertile. There are within the town Deering, Curtis, Fish, Sand, Duck, Eel, and Old Ponds; and on the western boundary, Bonny Beag Pond. The location was formerly called by the Indians Monsam, which name still attaches to the main stream which flows through the town, affording seventeen fine mill powers.

The present town of Sanford is a part of the tract bought by Maj. William Phillips from the sagamore Fluellen in 1661. This tract of land, which was equal to eight miles square, was divided to form the towns of Sanford, Alfred, and Waterborough. One-half, known as "the nineteen thousand acres," Maj. Phillips divided in 1676 among the following persons: Samuel, his oldest, and William, his

368

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

youngest son; Mary Field, Martha Thurston, Rebecca Lord, Elizabeth Alden, and Sarah Turner, his daughters; Zachary Gillum, Robert Lord, of London, mariner, and Ephraim Turner, his sons-in-law ; Elephel Stratton, Peleg, John, and Elisha Sanford, his wife's children by a former marriage ; John Jolliffe, John Woodman, Elisha Hutchinson, Theo- dore Atkinson, and William Hudson, all of Boston ; to each 1000 acres. This portion of the Fluellen tract was de- signed by Maj. Phillips to be settled as a township by his children, but owing to the wars it was not taken up until the following century, when it was settled under the name of Phillipstown. The original body, which was covered by several quit-claim deeds from Capt. Sunday, Hobinowell, and Fluellen, Indian sagamores, extended from Salmon Falls, on the Saco River, to Berwick and Lebanon, and from the rear line of Wells, exclusive of Lyman, so far back as to embrace about four townships of the usual size. These are now Sanford, Alfred, Waterborough, and a part of Hollis and Limington. The purchase, with revised bounds, was confirmed in 1670 to the grantee or his son, Nathaniel Phillips, of Saco. Mrs. Phillips devised by will, Sept. 29, 1696, to Peleg Sanford what Maj. Phillips had given her, and this was included in the town of Sanford when incorporated in 1768 .*

The town of Sanford was formerly a great timber coun- try, and even now has some excellent pine and oak lumber. Many large masts used to be hauled from here to Ports- mouth, N. H. Masts to refit the French fleet were taken from this town. Nowhere in the State have larger trees grown than those cut on the lot west of Deering's Pond. Stumps of immense size are still to be seen. It was settled many years before the inhabitants attached any importance to the soil. The lands, though poor in the valleys, were covered with a dense growth of valuable white pine, which encouraged the first settlers to come and work in felling the trees or working them up into shingles and staves. The first settlers were extremely poor. Their cabins were rudely constructed of logs, the single room floored with split pun- cheons of short length, and roofed by laying pieces similar to light barrel-staves, two courses at a time, and then weighting them down with heavy poles laid upon the roof. Ilere they lived, and when needy made a few hunches of shingles, which were hauled to Kennebunk Landing, or sold and a team from there sent after them, for they had no teams. The only tools were an axe, a saw, an auger with- out any " tworl" to raise the chips, an iron wedge, a drawing- knife, and perhaps a crowbar. The main furniture consisted of a spinning-wheel, a large chest, a few iron pots, a brass kettle, and a crane to hang in the fireplace.

The town was surveyed in 1735, and settlement com- menced about 1740. It is reported, traditionally, that a Mr. Parsons, who located on Lyon Hill, was the first settler.

Samuel Willard was one of the first settlers. He bought a tract of pinc-timber land, and built a mill, where his de- scendants still live, near South Sanford. Four of those trees, remaining, were sold, not many years ago, for 81200 by his grandson.

In 1745, Capt. David Morrison, of Wells, bought the lot containing the two mill-privileges above Springvale, erected the first log house at Morrison Corner, and built a saw-mill. The heaviest piece of machinery was the iron crank. This he hired two negroes, named Cæsar and Sharp, slaves owned by Col. Wentworth, of Berwick, to haul to the mill, on a hand-sled, a distance of seventeen miles. There was an iron-works built in the vicinity afterwards to smelt ores found near by, but abandoned for want of success. With the building of mills, families came in to cut and handle the lumber.

Among the earliest records of settlement occur the follow- ing births, all within the town of Sanford, as then bounded: Tabitha, daughter of William Bennett, born Sept. 18, 1761 ; James, son of James Gave, born July 4, 1762; James, son of Sampson Johnson, born Ang. 25, 1762; and Olive, daughter of Edward Harmon, born March 21, 1762.

The first marriage recorded is that of John Giles to Hannah Russell, by Rev. Pelatiah Tingley, April 25, 1774.

Phinehas Thompson and Samuel Willard were here in 1765, Walter Powers in 1768, Nathaniel Bennett and Thomas Rogers in 1771, and previous to 1774, Rev. Pelatiah Tingley, John Linscott, Eliphalet Taylor, Stephen Gowen, Joel Moulton, William Tripe, Eleazer Chadbourne, Eleazer Hall, Stephen Coffin, Daniel Barston, Moses Pate, Elisha Smith, Caleb Emery, Enoch Hall.

In 1777 there were living within the town John White, Joseph Taylor, Benj. Norton, Samuel Friend, Jonathan Adams, James Work, Edward Stanley, Jeremiah Eastman, David Stevens, John Pugsley, Enoch Hall, and Thomas R. Willard.

A large number of the first settlers were connected by marriage previous to coming, so that by 1780 nearly all those who had been within the town fifteen years were in some way related.

Ezekiel Gowen, one of the earliest settlers, was a large landholder, and an early owner of the mill-power at San- ford Corner ; his residence was half a mile to the north. James, son of Stephen Gowen, died here in 1775. It is reasonable to believe that the first permanent settlers came about 1761, after the close of hostilities, which had driven out all the first occupants spoken of as being in the town in 1740. A lot 176 rods square, and occupying the site of Springvale, was surveyed for William Frost, by Robert Hussey, in 1787. Like most of the early surveys, with the allowance for slack of chain, water, or other defects of surface, it vastly overran the limits described. Acres were liberally dealt out from the first survey to the final lottings.

A pile of tow or unbeaten flax was a part of the visible effects of every mover. The bedstead stood upon one leg, and was framed of rough poles into the corner of the single room, or the pallet lay upon the floor of the loft, reached by use of foot-pieces attached to the wall. Wooden hooks, or broad antlers over the fireplace, held a gun and its accou- trements for each male adult, to secure game for the table or protect the occupants from the dangers of the forest. A great portion of the lower farming-lands were flooded by beaver-dams, and many ponds existed which have long since disappeared. Although beavers were so plenty, they were uncaught, and for many years a beaver-skiu would

" The heirs of William Phillips were assessed for tax on 20,000 weres of this land within the plantation of Little Falls in 1788.

Photo. by Conant, Portland.

WILLIAM EMERY

was born in Sanford, York Co., Me., in 1791. In early youth he had all the advantages of the common school of his time, and made the best use of his opportunities. Having a remarkable mem- ory, and an ardent thirst for knowledge, he became thoroughly versed in the history and biographies of ancient and modern times; and the habits of rea- soning and research, formed in youth, were continued to near the close of his life.

Between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one years, he made several voyages to sea as a common sailor, then as first mate, in which capacity he showed such knowledge of practical navigation that he was appointed captain of the ship for the next voyage. But the "embargo" of 1812 detained him on the land and changed all his plans and prospects for life. At this juncture, and as an inducement for his re- maining at home, he received from his grandfather, Col. Caleb Emery, a valuable farm in South San- ford, on which he lived several years, an industrious and successful farmer. During these years of active and often severe toil he engaged very little in public affairs, but he found leisure for much reading and general mental improvement.

recting the old boundary lines of his farm and woodlands, and in surveying his neighbor's fields, and in one emergency he accepted the office of school-master, and taught, with great success, a district school in Sanford, which other teachers had failed to govern.

For twelve years he was a deputy sheriff in the county of York, and then commenced trade at San- ford Corner and Springvale, and was for many years an active merchant. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and with a few others built the old Congregational meeting- house at San- ford Corner.

In politics he was a Whig and Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He died at Sanford Nov. 27, 1877. Six children survive him, viz. : Caleb, for thirty years principal of the high school at Charlestown, Mass., and still occu- pying that position ; Elizabeth, wife of Timothy Shaw, of Biddeford; William, attorney and coun- seller at law, and now (1879) county attorney of York County; Titus S., a merchant in Philadel- phia ; Edward H., a farmer in Kansas ; and Charles O., a deputy sheriff of York County, now living on

Occasionally he applied his nautical skill in cor- . the homestead at Sanford Corner.

369

TOWN OF SANFORD.

pay for a month's work. A scrubby breed of red cattle were reared in the woods and upon the natural meadows for their beef, which found a ready market in Boston. For their winter food, the coarse natural grass was cut and stacked near the dwelling, and when acorns were fallen the whole families would go to the woods and pick them up for their cattle and hogs. Roads were " made," but a made road in those days meant a passageway opened wide enough for a cart to pass through, and " recorded" for public pos- session. Holes were filled with limbs and rotten wood. A day's drive of ten miles with a load was a doubtful journey. Tea was enjoyed perhaps onee a month, on the return from the coast, but no family was so poor as not to have their daily rum.

INCORPORATION.

The town of Sanford was incorporated Feb. 23, 1768. The record of that year was lost years ago, with the first pages from the poorly-bound record-book.

The second annual town-meeting was held March 22, 1769. Benjamin Harmon, Esq., was elected moderator of the meeting; Samuel Willard, Town Clerk ; Jonathan Johnson, William Bennett, Samuel Willard, Seleetmen and Assessors ; James Gerry, Constable ; Benjamin Harmon, Tithingman ; Nathan Bennett, Surveyor of Highways in the town, and Simon Coffin in that part of the town called Massabesic ;* Moses Tibbetts, Fence-Viewer and Field- Driver ; John Thompson, Hog-Reeve; Michael Brown, Deer-Informer ; Joshua Hazleton, Sealer of Leather ; Daniel Gile, Nephtali Harmon, Wardens ; Samuel Willard, John Chadbourne, Surveyors of all kinds of Lumber. William Bennett was the first constable. It was voted at this election that " he deliver up the warrant and tax bill for 1768." It was also voted "that hogs go at large, except they do mischief." The meeting was then adjourned to the dwell- ing-house of Samuel Willard, Esq.

Fifty pounds were assessed for town charges. The next year it was voted to hire a minister to preach the gospel three months. William Bennett, Ephraim Low, and Jona- than Johnson were made a committee for that purpose.

A committee was appointed to fix the school-house com- fortable. William Bennett was chosen the first grand juror in 1773. Caleb Emery was the first justice of the peace. In 1773, £20 were voted for school and £10 for an ortho- dox minister. Non-resident lands were taxed to build a meeting-house.

A 50-ton vessel was built in the south part of the town by Paul Shackford, about 1770, and hauled to tide-water in the winter. Brig .- Gen. Jeremiah Moulton built the first bridge across the Mousam River, the first mill above the Morrison mill at Sanford village, and the iron-works between the two bridges south. He also planted the first 40 acres of corn in Sanford. The ore for this iron-works was ob- tained from Beaver Hill. Chadbourne's mill was first built by two young men, who built a hut, and lived nearly alone. Deacon Stephen Dorman found their mill-stones in an

abandoned cellar, about 1840; they were fitted into each other like two saucers, and could be turned by hand, by a wooden pin fixed in the upper stone, which was quite thin.

The Province mill was built on the site of the present grist-mill at Springvale, before the Morrison mill was built, and was the highest mill on the stream. Previous to the erection of the print-works Springvale was known as " Pro- vince Mill."

The following document shows the manner in which those carly mills were usually managed :

"This indenture witnesseth, that John Stanyon, Simon Hobbs, and Samuel Moody, of Sanford, in the county of York, and Thomas Morrill, of Berwick, in the above sd county, have settled all the ac- counts for a mill above Sanford, on the Province land, and the sd John Stanyon owns Eight Days in twenty-and-four days, or one-third part. Simon Hobbs owns seven Days in the twenty-four days, which is his part of sd mill ; and Samuel Moody owns one-eight part, which is three days in twenty-four days, which is his part of sd mill; and Thomas Morrill, above sd, owns six days in twenty-four Days, which is bis part of the above sd mill,-and, likewise, the above sd owners all being preseot this day, and settled all the accounts for sd mill, and balanced tbe same by a justing all our accounts.

" As witness our hands and seals this 30 day of January, 1774, in the Eleventh year of the Reign of King George the third, A. D. 1774.

" THOMAS MORRELL. [Seal]

" SIMON HOBBS. [Seal]

"SAMUEL MOODY. [Seal]

" JOHN STANYON. [Sea]]

"Signed,-sealed in presents of us :

" JOSEPH LEWIS. " THOMAS CHASE."

" Samuel Moody begins his turn in the above sd mill the 31 day of January, 1774, Thomas Morrill begins his turn the Eleventh day of February, 1774, Simon Hobbs begins his turn the twentieth day of February, 1774." (Signed by all, and dated Jan. 30, 1774.)

" Agreed toward fixing the mill at three shillings four pence pr. day and accoumpts to be settled every six months." (Again signed.)

Two town pounds were built in 1774. Moses Tibbetts donated the land, and offered to be ponnd-keeper of one; the other was built in that part of the town called Massa- besic, "by Moses Stevens' barn," in Waterborough.

In 1777 the main road was laid out from the " cart path" past Joshua Chadbourne's to the road leading to the iron- works, and northeast across the Mousam River past the farms of Joshua Batcheler, William Tripe, William Gowen, John Waterhouse, through the undivided land to the place of Ephraim Low, Jr. The lines were at that time so vague and indistinet that much annoyance was felt about the assessment and collection of taxes. A meeting was called to adjust disputes in the fall, and Joshua Stimpson and David Lowell, Esq., were chosen a committee on the part of this town "to endeavor to procure an appeal or discontinu- ance of the incorporation of Coxhall (Lyman) so far as it interferes with Sanford," by presenting the matter to the General Court. The first record of general election gives 14 votes in 1780,-all for Governor Hancock. The vote was 37 in 1795.

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History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 100

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 730

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730