History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 103

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

USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 103

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He selected Sanford as a suitable location, where he pur- chased the entire mill-privilege in the village, consisting of a saw-mill, woolen-mill, and grist-mill. In October, 1867, he moved to Sanford with his family, and at once enlarged the woolen-mill, built a new mill on the site of the grist- mill, and soon commenced the manufacture of lap-robes and plush goods.

Many difficulties were at first experienced, for their produc. tion required new and complicated machinery. The English manufacturers, of whom he formerly bought, hearing of

Thee Goodall

John More

377

TOWN OF SANFORD.

his project, tried in every manner to break him down, and by representing their goods as being made of such material as would entitle them to come in at a low rate of duty, placed them in the market at a price that would discourage any manufacturer, with the evident intention of driving him out of the business. But Mr. Goodall was not to be put down. By means of machinery of his own invention, and by superiority of design, color, and quality of his robes, he not only made strong competition, but succeeded in driv- ing nearly all the foreign robes from the market, by giving to the consumer a better article, at a lower price, than they could obtain elsewhere.

The village of Sanford, when Mr. Goodall settled there, was comparatively at a stand-still.

The woolen-mill was idle, and uo business of any amount carried on. Since his advent the village feels the impetus he has infused into his business, and has rapidly built up. The number of buildings has more than doubled in ten years, many of the residences being very handsome ones, and a new school-house has been built. Mr. Goodall's residence, one of the finest in the section, was built in 1871, on a tract of plains land that he has made bloom like a garden. The grounds are tastefully laid out, and a con- servatory built upon the same contains all kinds of tropical and other rare plants. The Mousam River Mills, now em- ploying many hands, were established in 1873, and are an outgrowth of Mr. Goodall's, his sons and others being in- terested, although he takes no active part in their manage- ment, his attention being given to the Sanford Mills, a corpo- ration of which he is president. Mr. Goodall has, in teu years, disbursed over a million dollars in this vicinity.

Nature has endowed him with one of the kindliest of dispositions, his generosity apparently having no bounds; his acts of charity being done unostentatiously, as many grateful hearts could testify.

JOHN STORER.

The Storers and Storys in this country are descended from two brothers by the name of Storer, who came over from England in the seventeenth century. One settled in Boston, Mass. ; the other in Wells, Me. In process of time the Boston branch of the family took the name of Story, while the Wells branch retained the original name of Storer. The celebrated Judge Story, of Massachusetts, is a de- scendant of the Bostou branch. The bravery and patriot- ism of Joseph Storer has been recorded. He was an ancestor of the Storers of Wells, and played a conspicuous part in the Indian wars of the seventeenth century.

Mr. John Storer, the subject of this sketch, and a direct descendant of this Joseph Storer, was the son of John and Hannah Storer, and was born at Wells, Jan. 18, 1796. He lost his father at an early age, and, although the youngest of a family of five children, the care and support of his widowed mother devolved upon bim. He received an education adapted to his subsequent business career, and began life some years before he attained his majority as a clerk in a store in Kennebunk, Me. At this early age he developed a sound business capacity, and by close application

and strict economy he saved enough to enable him to begin business for himself.

In 1820 he formed a partnership with Horace Porter and Benjamin Smith, of Kennebunk, and opened a store in Sanford, where they carried on a successful trade for eight years. In 1828 they dissolved partnership, and in 1830 Mr. Storer built a store in Springvale, where, with his brother-in-law, Joshua Hobbs, he carried on a mercantile business for six years. At the end of this time he disposed of his interest in the firm to his partner, and in 1840 went to Portland, and for two years was a member of the firm of Hall & Conant, wholesale grocers. In 1850 he bought the interest of Joshna Maxwell, and entered into partner- ship.with J. R. Coxey, with whom he continued during the remainder of his business career in Portland.

In 1852 he retired from business, and returned to his home in Sanford, where he resided until his death, which occurred Oct. 23, 1867.

In his quiet, retiring life, Mr. Storer was free from the disturbances of a professional or political career, but his clear, well-balanced mind was particularly suited to the business of his choice. He possessed a sound, discrimi- nating judgment, a shrewd ability, a full understanding, and a thorough management of his business. Ilis upright- ness and integrity, the mainspring in all his relations in life, were the secret of his success.

Mr. Storer was an upright Christian man in all walks of life. Singularly high-minded in his character, his warmth of heart and tenderness of feeling were felt by all who had the good fortune to know him.

He could turn no one empty-handed from his door. His generosity found ample means to indulge itself. With William Emery and Deacon John Frost he built the first Congregational church at Sanford. He also gave donations to several churches and benevolent societies in Portland, besides generously remembering missionary enterprises and friends.

Mr. Storer had always taken a deep interest in national affairs, and during the war of the Rebellion he was an active and earnest supporter of the Union cause. At the close of the war he realized the importance of educating the recently-emancipated negro race; and, with this end in view, be gave, in 1867, 810,000 towards the founding of a school for negroes at Harper's Ferry, Va. He afterwards increased his gift by an additional $1000 for the formation of a library, and just before his death he had the satisfac- tion of seeing the school well established. This institution was named after its founder, and Storer College is, and always will be, a monument to his liberality and humanity.

Another example of the generosity and public spirit of Mr. Storer is a monument erected by him at Wells in memory of the patriotism and bravery of those who fell in the Rebellion.

Mr. Storer married, in 1822, Meribah, daughter of Joseph and Abigail Hobbs, of Wells. His children living are Horace P. and Frederick Storer, of Portland, Me. ; George L. Storer, now residing in Madison, Wis .; and Olive M., widow of the late Moses M. Butler, an eminent lawyer of Portland. Two children are deceased,-George Lord and John Lewis Storer.

378

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

JOSEPH RIDLEY,

twelfth child and fifth son of Joseph and Phebe (Getchel) Ridley, was born in the town of Sanford, York Co., Me., Dec. 2, 1842.

At the age of fifteen he left home to go into the busy world and carve out a fortune for himself. His educational opportunities were those afforded by the common school, but he early learned habits of economy and industry, and that, perseverance, and judicious management in the end win financially.

He married, Jan. 2, 1870, Mary A., daughter of William

K. Lord, of Sanford. Their children are William T., John G., Lillian A., Mabel P., Mary E.

John Garey, the original proprietor of the farm now owned by Mr. Ridley, was born Oct. 25, 1798, and died Nov. 6, 1872. He was among the early settlers of Sanford. His father served in the Revolutionary war.

Mr. Garey was a farmer, and never sought political pre- ferment. He married Mary P. Hutchins, by whom he had six children, only one of whom is living,-Mary A., wife of Daniel Quimby, of Acton, Me. He was identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Ridley is a Republican.

DR. ALVAH DAM.

KENNEBUNKPORT.

FORMATION AND BOUNDARIES.

THIS town was formed from a portion of the patent granted to Sir Ferdinand Gorges. There is no distinctive grant from him to individuals in this town left on record, and it had no known definite limits till after its submission to Massachusetts in 1653. The western boundary was estab- lished by commissioners chosen from Wells and this town in 1660. Edmund Littlefield and William Hannar were the Wells commissioners, and Wm. Scadlock and Morgan Ilowell those of this town. The commissioners appointed by the General Court for running the line between this town and Biddeford consisted of Nicholas Shapleigh, Abra- ham Preble, and Edward Rishworth, and they established the present boundary in 1659. It is probable grants made prior to 1646 were from Gorges and his agents, and be-

tween that and the death of Rigby, 1651, by the agent of Rigby. Massachusetts assumed control in 1653, and granted incorporation in 1684. Those who signed the submission to Massachusetts were Morgan Howell, Christopher Spur- rell, Thomas Warner Griffin Montague, John Baker, Wm. Renalds, Stephen Batson, Gregory Jeffries, Peter Turbat, Jno. Cole, Simon Teft, and Ambrose Berry. President Danforth gave to John Barrett, Sr., Jobn Purinton, and John Batson, trustees in behalf of the town, a deed of the tract within the township according to the bounds before established.

SETTLEMENT AND EARLY HISTORY.

The first permanent settlement, as far as known, was made in the southeastern part of the town, near Little

HON. ENOCH COUSENS,

son of James and grandson of Samuel Cousens, was born in Kennebunk Nov. 9, 1818, and received his education at the Kennebunk Academy. In September, 1837, when in his twentieth year, he started a country atore at Kennebunk, lower vil- lage, being aided pecaniarily by IIon. Barnabaa Palmer. In 1842 he moved across the river to Kennebunkport, where he has conducted a suc- cessful business ever since.

While in his minority Mr. Cousens took a deep interest in public affairs, and has always been ardently attached to the Democratic party. When but twenty years of age he was commissioned captain of infantry, and four years later was chosen lieutenant-colonel of the lat Maine Regiment, but declined. June 5, 1842, he married Betsey B., daughter of Nathaniel Low, Esq., of Lyman, by whom there were born to him seven children, viz. : William Fiak, born July 28, 1844, died March 25, 1849; Maria Elizabeth, born Sept. 9, 1846, died Oct. 23, 1849; Wilbur Fisk, born July 31, 1848; Francia Howard, born April 9, 1851. The other daughters were Clara Elizabeth, Ella Florence, and Lucy Maria. His wife died Aug. 11, 1861 ; and Jan. 27, 1864, he married Mary E., daughter of Andrew Luques, Esq., of Kennebunkport. He made the education of his family a specialty. graduating hia aons, Wilbur Fisk and Francia Howard, at the Wesleyan University, and fitting hia daughtera for teaching.

In 1842 he was appointed postmaster of Kenne- bunkport, and held the office till 1849. In 1853 he was appointed deputy collector of customs, weigher, gauger and inspector of the district of

PHOTO BY MEKEENNEY

Omoch Cousens

Kennebunk, his brother Joho being collector o customs, and they held those offices during the administrationa of Pierce and Buchanan, onti 1861. In 1864 he received the Democratic nomi- nation for State senator, and was tendered the same the next year, but declined. In 1866 he was elected to the Legialature, running ahead of his ticket.

Before entering the Legislature he drew up the " Act for the Assumption by the State of the Mu- nicipal War Debta," a measure which he intro- duced in an able speech, which greatly facilitated its passage by the Legislature at the following session. He was elected to the Legislature again in 1869, and waa an active and efficient member of that body. In 1870 he was again elected rep- resentative. His speech, at the seaaion in the winter of 1871, in favor of the bill for the exten- sion of the Boston and Maine Railroad to Port- land, was noticed by one of the leading dailies aa one of the most effective speeches of the session.

Mr. Cousens has taken a prominent and active part in all local improvements, and particularly in the "Kennebunkport Sea Shore Company," which has for its object the establishment of a summer resort npon the beach, extending from Kennebunk to Cape Porpoise. He parchased for this company, in 1872, about seven hundred acres of land upon the sea shore; and aa its superin- tendent erected the Ocean Bluff Hotel in 1873, which waa enlarged by the addition of Music Hall, and other buildings, in 1874. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and class-leader, for more than forty years, and enjoys in the highest degree the esteem and confi- donce of his fellow-citizena.

RESIDENCE OF HON. ENOCH COUSENS , KENNEBUNKPORT. ME.

379

TOWN OF KENNEBUNKPORT.

River, by Wm. Scadlock and Morgan Howell, about 1630. For several years Mr. Scadlock acted with the settlers at Winter Harbor, but when the line between the two towns became established, his house was found to be on the west side. No doubt, for a course of years before, fishermen had visited the islands and harbor of Cape Porpoise during the summer months, and it is not improbable that a settle- ment was effected here a few years prior to that of Scad- lock's, but there are scarcely any records left of this early period. It is said to have been called Cape Porpoise first by Capt. John Smith, from the fact that a school of por- poises was seen by him off the cape in 1614.

The records of the courts from 1640 and down show names and some doings of the earliest settlers. In Sep- tember, 1640, Wm. Scadlock is presented by the grand in- quest for allowing Thomas Heard to get drunk at his house, and fined 20s., which, upon his petition, was remitted. He also appears in 1633 as complainant against one John Baker for " abusive and opprobious speeches against the minister and meeting, and for countenancing private meet- ings and prophesying to the hindrance of public assemblies." At the same court Griffin Montague was chosen constable ; Gregory Jeffries a grand juryman. Commissioners were appointed to take a census of the ratable polls and an estimate of taxable property, and Griffin Montague was one of the commissioners. The county tax at that time was £91 15s., of which Cape Porpoise paid £4, and in 1662 but £3.

Aug. 26, 1663, a town-meeting was called to settle con- flicting claims to the marshes in the eastern part of the town. The marsh was divided between the claimants, and their proceedings entered in the county records. The popu- lation of the town could not have been large at that time, as the following were the only persons that attended the meeting : Seth Fletcher, John Sanders, John Sanders, Jr., Francis Littlefield, Sr., John Bush, Peter Turbat, John Cirmihill, Griffin Montague, Wm. Kendall, Thomas Mus- sell, Wm. Renalds, and Wm. Renalds, Jr. Some of the earliest presentments against the town were for not laying out roads, living without an orthodox minister, and for not having the children taught the catechism and educated ac- cording to law. When Sir Edmund Andros was Governor in 1688, he annexed the town to Saco. At a legal town- meeting held for Saco and Cape Porpoise, John Miller and Nicholas Morey were elected selectmen, and Richard Ran- dall constable. This union lasted but a few months.

Eight months after this assumption there is a record of this town's action. Jan. 24, 1689, at a legal town-meeting were chosen Lieut. John Purinton, John Downing, John Miller, John Davis, and Richard Randall, Selectmen ; Immanuel Haynes, Constable ; Lieut. Purinton, Town Clerk ; Surveyors of Lots and Roads, Lieut. Purinton, Rich- ard Randall, John Sanders, John Miller, William Barton, and Jacob Wormwood. There are no other records of this town till 1719. The Indian troubles wholly depopulated the town for the most of that period. After the close of the wars the inhabitants returned, and with the proprietors, in 1716, asked for a restoration of town privileges. June, 1719, it was re-incorporated, and its name changed to Arun- del, in compliment to the Earl of Arundel. Its name was

changed to Kennebunkport by act of the Legislature, 1821. At their first meeting, held March 31, 1719, being warned by order of John Wheelwright, one of his majesty's justices of the peace, Jabez Dorman was chosen moderator ; James Mussy, Town Clerk ; Andrew Brown, Joseph Bai- ley, and Humphrey Deerings, Selectmen ; James Tyler and Allison Brown, Hay-Wards; Thomas Huff, Constable ; John Watson, Tithingman ; and Samuel Carr, Surveyor of Highways.

In 1719 measures were taken to settle land-titles, which had been much confused by the destruction of the town records. Those who could bring proper evidence, by deed or by witnesses, were confirmed in their claims. The first grant recorded on the new records was 100 acres to James Mussey, the town clerk.

Grants of 50 acres were offered by the town in 1719 to new settlers, and they began to flock in, attracted by such inducements, and soon the town became more flourishing and populous than it had ever been before. The ferry across the Kennebunk River was re-established, and the right of the town in it, with 50 acres of land, was granted to Stephen Harding, provided he and his heirs keep and maintain a good ferry-boat, and carry the inhabitants of the town to and fro without charge. Many other grants were made.

The first garrison in town is asserted to have been built by Thomas Huff, on the lot where Clement Huff's house now stands.

Peace with the Indians was secured in 1727. Its good effects were evidenced by action taken to build a meeting house and to liquidate the town debts. In 1728 occurred the fourth great earthquake experienced in this section since its settlement, and many were so frightened that a reformation resulted, and numbers joined the church in 1728, which hastened its completion, as the action taken in 1727 had not been successful in building the house. Thomas Perkins, Esq., agreed to build it for £170. It was erected on the spot where Daniel Grant's house stood, and, being a few feet larger than agreed upon, the propri- etors were induced to grant him a gore of land, which was represented to them as of small value, but which really was worth then more than the whole house, and now it is one of the most valuable timber-lots in town.

THE PROPRIETORS.

The increase of settlers, induced by the grants of land, very much enhanced the value of land not taken up, so that the older inhabitants who had inherited or purchased their lands of Gorges or Rigby, or who inhabited the town at the time President Danforth gave the trustee deed, or had in- herited or purchased of those who were inhabitants at that time, claimed all the common and individual lands in town. Their claims were acquiesced in by the more recently- settled inhabitants, and in February, 1726, they held a proprietors' meeting by virtue of a warrant from John Wheelright, of Wells. Jabez Dorman was chosen mod- erator, and Thomas Perkins clerk. At a meeting the next month the following were entered proprietors : John Watson and Jabez Dorman, in right of Morgan Howell ; Allison Brown, in right of Christopher Spurrell ; Thomas

380

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

Perkins and Stephen Harding, in right of William Run- nels ; James March, in right of Edward Barton; Benjamin Major, in that of John Davis ; Thomas Perkins, Jr., in that of John Barrett ; Thomas Huff, in right of his father, Ferdinando ; John Storer, in that of Stephen Batson ; ac- cording to the rights their predecessors had, and in no other way. It was also voted that every person possessing 50 acres of land in his own right, and an inhabitant of the town, should have half a vote, and 100 acres should en- title the possessor to one vote; 200 acres, two votes, and so on ; and it was further ordered that no person not an inhabitant of the town should have liberty to vote in a proprietors' meeting. By this vote Thomas Perkins, Sr., Thomas Huff, Sr., John Watson, Sr., Jabez Dorman, Alli- son Brown, Thomas Perkins, Jr., Humphrey Deering, Ben- jamin Major, Stephen Harding, Philip Durrell, Sr., Thomas Huff, Jr., Samuel Carr, Jesse Towne, Joshua Lassel, John Murphy, John Burbank, John Baxter, Samuel Averill, Philip Durrell, Jr., George March, Thomas Watson, Jere- miah Springer, and John Downing became proprietors. They refused to make Joseph Hill a proprietor, because an inhabitant of Wells. Others were admitted to rights of proprietors afterwards in the following order : In 1728, Benjamin Downing, Jacob Wildes, John Fairfield, Joseph Averill, Joshua Walker, Jacob Curtis, Thomas Perkins, Jr., of Kennebunk, Nathaniel Hendricks, Robert Smith, and John Perkins; in 1729, James March and Pendleton Fletcher ; in 1730, Thomas Prentice; in 1731, Thomas Bond, John Treeworgy, Samuel Robinson, Samuel Wildes, Jeremiah Folsom, Isaac Curtis, Samuel Hutchins, and Joshua Purinton ; in 1737, Robert Cleaves, Jonathan Stone, John Whitten, John Jellison, and John Morrill; in 1738, Benjamin Durrell, Shadrach Watson, Moses Foster, Ebenezer Watson, Abel Merrill, James Carr, Thomas Dem- sey, Jeremiah Miller, Samuel Hutchins, Jr., and Noah Bailey ; in 1763, Thomas Perkins, Esq., Gideon Merrill, Israel Stone, Joseph Averill, Charles Huff, William Smith, Humphrey Deering, Andrew Brown, Abner Perkins, Ben- jamin Burbank, Stephen Harding, Benjamin Downing, and Samuel Wildes; in 1783, Jabez Dorman, Asa Durrell, Samuel Robinson, Paul March, John Fairfield, Jacob Wildes, John Walker, Jacob Curtis, Dummer Mitchell, John Adams, Levi Hutchins, Benjamin Meeds Lord, Jon- athan Stone, and Tobias Lord. The last proprietors' meeting was held July 3, 1780, and the last entry made by their clerk was April 3, 1790.

The first settlement upon the Saco road in 1728 origi- nated in grants of land to Stephen Averill, Edward Mel- cher, John Staggpole, John Baxter, Ensign John Watson, John Whitten, James Deshon, Jabez Dorman, John Morg- ing, Samuel Perkins, John Merrill, John Alltimes, Samuel Morging, and Benjamin Haley, 100 aeres each from the proprietors, on condition they should settle and remain there ten years, unless some extraordinary thing should force them to remove or they should lose their lives ; they were also to build a good garrison on lot near Card Brook. For these lots they were to pay 10s., and draw for location. The proprietors also laid out to themselves 40 acres to every 100 acres they were in possession of by paying 20s. towards helping the first settlers build their garrison. These were

afterwards known as the draft lots. The garrison stood where Thomas Dorman lived. Jabez Dorman kept a public- house as early as 1738 on this road (as did also Robert Patten in 1750), near its intersection with the Port road. These grants of lots were the last made by the proprietors to induce strangers to settle in the town.

In 1731 parties laid claim to most of the land in town, on title acquired by Maj. Phillips from an Indian sagamore, Mogg Megone, of Saco, in 1664; but the claim was not pressed till several years after, and then it resulted disas- trously to the claimants, since which it has never been revived.

In a few preserved leaves of old records is found this entry : At a legal town-meeting, Feb. 14, 1678-79, John Batson, John Saunders, and John Purinton were chosen selectmen, Humphrey Scamman constable, and John Bar- ret, Sr., grand juryman.

Feb. 7, 1678, William Frost was granted the privilege of erecting a saw-mill at the falls on Goffe's Creek, and also 100 acres of upland and 20 of meadow in any place not granted.

April 9, 1680-81, granted to Joseph and Edmund Lit- tlefield 100 acres of upland on the east side of Kennebunk River, as near as may be to the upper falls, near the Indian planting-ground, for the purpose of building mills. Land was granted to different parties, and free liberty given to John Batson to build a saw-mill at the third falls on Middle or Batson River, and to John Purinton, Isaac Cole, and Samuel York to build mills on the same river, and to cut timber anywhere on the town commons.

On what is left of the old Cape Porpoise records there are found the following names : John Barrett, Humphrey Scamman, John Batson, John Saunders, William Frost, Joseph Littlefield, Edmund Littlefield, John Miller, John Miller, Jr., William Thomas, William Batson, Richard Ran- dall, Thomas Mussey, Isaac Cole, Samuel York, John Down- ing, John Davis, Immanuel Haynes, Jacob Wormwood, Nicholas Morey, John Runnells, John Loring, Richard Blanchet, Simon Cundey, Emanuel Davis, John Purinton, and John Purinton, Jr. Other persons dwelling in the town in the early period are taken from other sources. They were Ambrose Berry, John Baker, William Reynolds, William Reynolds, Jr., Stephen Batson, Peter Turbat, Peter Turbat, Jr., John Turbat, Nicholas Bartlett, Phanea Hall, Gilbert Endicott, William Roberts, Richard Hix, John Bush, Richard Young, Edward Jones, Henry Hatherly, Arthur Wormstall, John Ellson, Samuel Oakman, James Carry, . Andrew Alger, Jonas Clay, Morgan Howell, Stephen Bat- son (2d), Edward Clark, Gregory Jeffery, Edward Barton, Fernando Huff, Jonathan Springer, Christopher Spurrell, Thomas Warner, John Cole, Simon Teoft, Simon Bussy, - Jenkins, Thomas Perkins, Thomas Dorman, Thomas Boardman, Seth Fletcher, John Dayment, Thomas Merrill, John Sanders, Jr., Thomas Sanders, John . and Samuel Scadlock, John Jeffery, John Lux, Walter Penniwell, Robert Cook, - Barrow, Samuel Johnson, John Rose, John Webber, Francis Beggar, Anthony Littlefield, Francis Littlefield, Sr., John Cirmihill, William Kindall, Thomas Mussell, John Trott, William Norman, Richard Ball, Henry Singleman, and Roger Willine.

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History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 103

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