History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 118

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 118

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Some time previous to 1828 itinerant Methodist preach- ers hield meetings in this town, and some united with this denomination. In this year a meeting-house was built at Emery's Mills, and regular worship held. For a time the society was prosperous; but the business of the place de- clined, many removed, and their membership became so reduced that in 1844 they ceased to hold public meetings here, and their meeting-house was sold to the Free-Will Baptist Society. A second society exists at North Shap- leigh as a part of the Newfield charge.

SCHOOLS.

At a meeting of the proprietors, in 1778, it was voted that 150 acres of land be reserved for the support of com- mon schools in the town. This was afterwards sold for $1034.18, and forms the local school fund, the income of which is yearly expended in support of common schools. At the same meeting 300 acres were reserved for the bene- fit of Harvard College. The first school committee was Whitney Stevens, Reuben Buck, and William Trafton.

The first recorded action taken for schools by the town was in 1790, when it was voted to raise £40-or about $133-for the use of schools. In 1791 the town was di-

vided into two districts, and £50 raised. After that £60 were annually raised, on an average, up to 1802. Then, for about twelve years, $600 annually. From 1822 to the division, about $1000 were raised and expended annually. New districts were constituted from time to time to meet the wants of the people, till at the time of division of the town, in 1830, there were 21.

The town was then reorganized, with 11 districts. The following summary shows the school record of the town for 1871 : number of districts, 11 ; parts of districts, 3; num- ber of houses, 10; estimated value, $3500; number of children between ages of four and twenty-one, 421 ; average attendance, 202 ; average length of summer terms, 57 days ; average length of winter terms, 77 days ; teachers employed, 10; amount of money voted, $1273; amount raised per scholar, 82.95 ; male teachers in winter term, 6; average monthly wages, $27 ; female teachers in winter schools, 3; in summer schools, 10; average weekly wages, $3.

PROFESSIONAL.

PHYSICIANS.

The first resident physician was Dr. Charles Powers, of Greenwich, Mass., from 1791 to 1825. Dr. Benjamin Mace commenced practice at Emery's Mills in 1803 or 1804, but he remained only two or three years. Dr. Whit- ing Stevens succeeded him in 1807, and pursued his prac- tice half a century or more, rearing a large and respectable family.

Dr. L. O. Wood settled at Haley Corner in 1820, and continued untill his death, in 1827. Dr. Reuben Buck came in 1819. Dr. William Lewis commenced practice at the same place in 1825. Dr. Horace Webber, a native of the town, practices botanically. Several physicians have gone forth to practice their profession in different States, who were natives of the town. Among them may be mentioned Drs. James Emery, Levi J. Ham, Ezra Kimball, A. W. Stevens, Timothy Wilson, and William Lewis.

LAWYERS.

The Hon. J. P. Rogers, son of Andrew, a distinguished lawyer and public officer of the State, and afterwards a resident of Boston, was born in this town.

Hon. I. S. Kimball, of Sanford, Wm. A. Kimball, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y., Saul Kimball, Esq., of Illinois, Asa Low and Samuel Thing, Esqs., of Springvale, and Charles Lindsey, Esq., of Lebanon, were residents of Shapleigh, and all natives but I. S. Kimball and C. Lindsey.

John A. Burleigh practiced law at Emery's Mills in 1825 ; Hon. John Treat Paine, 1825 to 1836; Jonathan Clark, Esq., 1815 to 1818.

PROMINENT MEN. .

John Cook, Joshua Brackett, and William Rogers were leading citizens at the organization of the town. Hon. Jeremiah Emery was the first representative to the Massa- chusetts General Court in 1788.

Two members of the Senate were residents of this town, John Bodwell, in 1828 and 1829, and Elisha Bodwell, 1841 and 1842. William Trafton was thirteen years sec- retary of the Senate. In the civil affairs of the State and

Photos, by Conant, Portland.

II. R. THING.

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TOWN OF SHAPLEIGH.

town Shapleigh has in the main been well and ably repre- sented.

John Bodwell, Josiah P. Woodbury, Daniel Fox, Moscs Hemingway, Thomas Drew Marsh, Elder Wm. Goding, Andrew Rogers, and Aaron Hubbard were leading citizens.

Joseph Stacy, who was educated at Waterville College previous to 1847, has distinguished himself as an able geologist.

The Rev. George Webber, a distinguished Methodist minister, and Rev. Luther C. Stevens, son of Dr. Stevens, a minister and editor of the Baptist persuasion, were natives of the town.

REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Previous to 1811, each town was required to pay its own representative, and, therefore, if nothing important was needed, they often voted not to send one. The first repre- sentative from town was Jeremiah Emery, in 1788. After that none were sent till 1802, when John Leighton was elected. 1805, John Leighton and Josiah P. Woodbury ; 1807, John Leighton ; 1808, J. Emery and John Bodwell, Jr. ; 1809, Jeremiah Emery and John Leighton ; 1810, Josiah P. Woodbury ; 1811, John Bodwell, Jr., and Josiah P. Woodbury ; 1812 and 1813, Jeremiah Emery and John Bodwell ; 1814, voted not to send ; 1815 and 1816, Josiah P. Woodbury ; 1817 and 1818, voted not to send ; 1819 and 1820, John Bodwell.

MILITARY.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.

Samuel Patch, Jonathan Patch, Lieut. Nathaniel Coffin, George Ham, Stephen Pillsbury, Jonathan Ross, Linwell Trafton, who lost an arm, Capt. Joshua Trafton, Aaron Warren, Moses Hubbard.

WAR OF 1812.

Oct. 6, 1814, a meeting was held in the old Baptist meeting-house to supply those who could not supply them- selves with arms and ammunition, and to furnish three days' rations for soldiers leaving the town in obedience to the draft made from the militia companies to defend the coast. Among those who went were Zaccheus Trafton, Jacob Ricker, Tobias Pillsbury, who was killed on guard at a bridge on Lake Champlain, Arthur Bragdon, William Weber, Heard Brackett.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

HENRY ROSS THING

was born in Waterborough, York Co., Me., Sept. 15, 1816. His father, William Thing, born in the same town, Nov. 26, 1775, occupied a prominent position and exerted a very telling influence in the history of the town. He was a man of giant frame and intellect. Although his education was limited to a few days' schooling, he conducted an im- mense business and accumulated a large fortune for the time, always managing his own business and keeping his

own accounts. He provided each of his boys-seven in number-with a farm when married, and left a goodly sum for each of his children at his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-three.

Henry R. was the youngest, and was reared at home on the farm, receiving only the advantages of a district- school education. Was married at the age of twenty-three to Amanda, oldest daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel Co- nant, of Shapleigh, and commenced business for himself on a farm adjoining the old homestead, where he continued until 1851, when he secured the home-farm, partly by pur- chase and partly by gift, and moved on to it to take care of the old folks during their declining years. He lived there about seven years, and after the death of his mother sold the farm to Elijah, his oldest brother, and moved to Ross Corner. Here he built a fine residence, exchanged the store at Kennebunk Depot for one here, and with his son engaged in mercantile business under the firm-name of H. R. Thing & Son, continuing the same some two years. Shortly after selling out the business he came into pos- session of a small farm for debt near by, and has since given a portion of his time to farming.

In 1872 he was elected to the State Legislature as repre- sentative from the towns of Shapleigh, Acton, and New- field, serving on the committees " On Bills in the Third Reading" and "On Public Buildings." In 1878 he was elected, but refused to serve, as treasurer of the town of Shapleigh.

He is a man of sterling integrity and strictest honor, against whom the shafts of calumny were never even aimed.

RENSSELAER WORTH THING,

the only son of Henry R. and Amanda Thing, was born Sept. 14, 1839, in the town of Shapleigh, and shortly after returned with his parents to their house in Waterborough ; at the age of eleven was sent to Boston, where he remained at school about a year. Being a very apt scholar, and hav- ing been able to read when three years old, was well ad- vanced when he returned home, where he attended the district school, assisting his father on the farm during vacations until he was seventeen years old, when his father " set him up" in a merchandising business at Kennebunk Depot. He remained there but five months, when the store was exchanged for one at Ross Corner, where the firm of H. R. Thing & Son did a large business for two years. This was long enough for the son, whose restless nature began to chafe under the monotony of life in a country store, and he concluded to go to college. In pursu- ance of this resolve, he attended school at the Parsonsfield Seminary and Lebanon Academy, and then went to Bates College, at Lewiston, Me. While pursuing his studies at Lebanon he made the acquaintance of Celia Augusta Fisk, whom he married Dec. 25, 1862, and left school to enter the army; but, at the earnest entreaty of friends, changed his mind and engaged in school-teaching. He had in- herited a taste for music, and had improved opportunities to make himself proficient as a vocalist. His wife, the daughter of a professor of music, was a fine pianist, and they accepted situations as teachers in Cheshire Academy, Ohio, arriving there in February, 1863.

438

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

During the following summer Morgan made his famous raid through Indiana and Ohio, and Mr. Thing, being a member of the " 1st Regiment Ohio National Guards," went into the field with his command. After two weeks of rough campaigning, he assisted in capturing three thou- sand of Morgan's men at the battle of Coal Hill, within two miles of the town of Cheshire, where, in a vain effort to eross the river into Virginia, they had been overtaken. Morgan had ransacked the town, and Mrs. Thing had been compelled to eook and serve a fine diuner to Morgan and his staff.

The school had been broken up for that season, and he resolved to take his wife back home and join the army. On his arrival he applied to the Governor of Maine for a commission to recruit a company for the war ; but soon after he received the commission, President Lincoln called for " three hundred thousand more," and recruiting being słow, he immediately volunteered as a private in the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. Before being sent to his regiment, he was found to be a good serihe, and was detailed as a elerk in the adjutant-general's office at Camp Berry. Here he remained some three months, until the news of the Fort Pillow massacre of colored troops reached his ears, when he asked for and received permission to proceed to Washington to be examined for a commission in the eolored troops. While there he was subjected to a delay of three weeks on account of prior applications, and then, unwilling to wait longer, forced himself before the " board," received a hur- ried examination, and was appointed a second lieutenant, having refused the offer of influential recommendations which would have certainly given him a captaincy. He was then ordered to report for duty to Gen. Burbridge, at Lexington, Ky., when he was assigned to duty in the 12th United States Heavy Artillery (colored), with which regi- ment he was on duty about four months of guerrilla warfare in the State. Having been recommended for promotion over some seniors by his regimental and department eom- manders three separate times, and been refused because it was against the rules of the regular army, into which his regiment had been mustered, he was detached and placed on staff duty. Here he was promoted successively to post provost-marshal, post adjutant, acting commissary of sub- sistence, brigade provost-marshal, chief ordnance officer, department of Kentucky, superintendent of the Freedmen's Bureau, judge of the Freedmen's Court, and commandant of the southern district of Kentucky, with a lieutenant- colonel's command. llere he served with marked satisfae- tion for seven months, reporting direct to Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, commanding department of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, until honorably mustered out at the end of almost three years of service. Previous to his discharge he had passed an examination, " with special mention," before a " board" convened to examine officers for transfer into the regular army, and was placed on the roll for future eall.

At the close of his service in the army he went to Mis- souri with his family, and in the city of Macon, with Thomas Proctor, engaged in publishing a weekly Republi- can newspaper ealled the Macon Argus. While success- fully managing the paper he was elected city clerk, which

position he filled ereditably. Mr. Proetor died suddenly, and Mr. Thing decided to go South and start an agricul- tural newspaper. While in New England visiting he changed his mind, and went into the job-printing business in Boston. Through his ability and taste in doing fine work he obtained the fine specimen work of the Boston type-foundry at a very remunerative priee.

From boyhood he had given evidence of decided in- genuity, and while in the printing business it took form, and he invented successively an improved composing stick, a gauge-pin for job-presses, an improved mitering and rule- cutting machine, a supplementary horse-car seat, steamless stove-ware, and a mechanical steam apparatus for rendering oil and grease from refuse meat, bones, and dead animals without stench.

Having made some money, and broken down his health by too close application to business and negleet of natural laws, he was compelled to sell out his business and change elimate ; consequently, on the 1st day of July, 1872, he started with his family for Colorado.

His intention was to engage in sheep-raising, but on arriving at Colorado Springs, and making some inquiry, he found that during the previous winter the "sheep men" had experienced heavy losses on aeeount of severe weather, and when coupled with the fact that the purchasing price had nearly doubled, this discouraged him and he substituted the cattle-business, loeating a ranch about half a mile from the town. Here occurred a circumstance which showed a trait in his character that has always been prominent, and the only thing that has ever made him enemies, and that is never submitting to a wrong, no matter how small, without seeking redress of some sort. As a citizen of the United States he had as much right to appropriate the publie domain as any man, but he found that a few of the older settlers had clubbed together and were elaiming every foot of available land in the vicinity, aud driving off with threats and violence every one who attempted to interfere with them, and by perjuring themselves in turn for each other obtaining patents from the government without complying with the law. This completely shut out bona fide settlers from obtaining farms or valuable government lands, which Mr. Thing did not propose to submit to, consequently he selected an unoccupied quarter-seetion and proceeded to build him a house. The enraged claimant, who was living on other government land some two miles away, as soon as he made the discovery, interviewed the club, who, upon re- connoitering the premises and finding the oeeupant working with a double-barreled shot-gun in close proximity, coneluded that that part of their duty to each other had better be abandoned. It was supposed by many who were cognizant of the facts that he would be killed, but on discovering that it only needed pluek to get what they had a right to, many others followed his example, and soon outnumbered the old settlers and changed the programme entirely.

The Legislature passed a law in 1873 prohibiting the herding of more than twenty head of cattle within two miles of any town, which compelled him to change his base, and he traded his cattle for real estate in Colorado Springs. He then purchased a saw-mill and removed to the southern part of the State on the supposed line of a projected rail-

439

TOWN OF SHAPLEIGH.

road, where he engaged in manufacturing lumber and in mer- chandising until the railroad changed their line and gave him the go by, when he " pulled up stakes" and moved to Lake County. Here he located in a mining district, and becoming interested in some mining ventures about the time of the first discoveries of rich mineral at Leadville, moved there, purchased another mill, and with two steam- mills, running night and day, supplied the lumber with which Leadville was gotten well under way. He had now retrieved his losses caused by the shrinkage of value on real estate during the panic, and accepted a large offer for his business in Leadville, concluding to devote his entire time to mining pursuits.

The summer of 1878 was a very sickly season in Leadville, and the fear of losing his children with diphtheria caused him to remove to Canon City, where he remained until the summer of 1879, when he took his family to Silver Cliff, where he had by this time become extensively engaged in mining. In connection with a partner, who performed the labor while he furnished the expenses, the discovery of one

of the largest mines in Colorado was made near Silver Cliff. The mine was so valuable that some disreputable parties trumped up a conflicting claim and commenced a lawsuit for its possession. Pluck again came to his rescue, and after spending eighteen thousand dollars and risking his life in a personal encounter with pistols, in which he got a bullet through his sleeve, he came out of the contest as one- half owner of a mine which has since been capitalized in New York at ten million dollars. He is also half-owner of three other valuable mines near Ruby, Gunnison Co., Col., which are considered to have millions in them.

Mr. Thing is now resting at the old home at Ross' Corner, where he has located his family, and will remain until spring, returning to Colorado in the summer to prose- cute his mining enterprises.

The details of this sketch of a busy life will show that, notwithstanding the oft-repeated prophecy of his people, that he would never accumulate anything on account of his roving and restless disposition, the "rolling stone" does sometimes gather moss.

SUPPLEMENT.

THE following cut and items of letter-press were received by the publishers too late for insertion with their respective towns, and are given a place here :

FFF

N E. BARRY DEL

SERVANT SOON

OCEEN BLUFF HOTEL. CAPE ARUNDEL , KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE.

OCEAN BLUFF (or Cape Arundel) is situated on the southerly coast of Maine, adjoining the pleasant villages of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, about three hours' ride from Boston by rail via Boston and Maine or Eastern Rail- roads. The mountain and sea air combined make this one of the most healthful places anywhere to be found. Ocean Bluff, with its fine harbor, convenient wharves, and beauti- ful river, possesses facilities for yachting, boating, bathing. and fishing superior to any other resort. Abbott, in his " Ilistory of Maine," speaks of the " Blowing Cave" and the " Spouting Rock" at this place. In fact, no sea-shore resort in the New England States combines more natural ad-

vantages with so much variety and beauty of scenery. Good roads lead to Old Orchard Beach, Saco Pool, Goose Rocks, Wells and York Beaches, and the neighboring towns.

The hotel is finely situated on high grounds, with a fine ocean view.

The " Kennebunkport Sea Shore Company" owns the above hotel, several boarding-houses and cottages, and its lands comprise considerable desirable property upon a water front of more than five miles, embracing between six and seven hundred acres adjoining the village of Kennebunk- port. For further particulars address Enoch Cousens, Ken- nebunkport, Mainc.

WILLIAM M. MCARTHUR, of Limington, sends the fol- lowing names, as " not appearing in the Report of the Adjutant-General of our State," to be added to the history of Limington, viz. :

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Thomas J. Sawyer, 2d lieut., Co. G, 5th Maine Vols. : June 24, 1861 ; pro. to capt., Sept. 10, 1861 : resigned Dec. 3, 1861.

Sylvester Boothby, 2dl lieut., Coast Guard ; Oet. 28, 1861 ; must. out Sept. 13, 1862.

ENLISTED MEN.

Stephen E. Babb, enl. 1861 in N. H. Regiment; served three years. Robert M. Boody, served in Mass. Regiment.

William H. Estes, served in Mass. Regiment.

Robert Libby, 1st N. H. Regt.

Jobu McArthur, enl. August, 1861, in 26th Mass. Vols. : must. out August, 1864.

William Richardson, enl. 3d N. H. Vols. : must. ont September, 1864. John F. Small, served in Mass. Regiment.

Charles W. Stevens, N. H. Sharpshooters. Elbridge Libby, U. S. Navy.

441

442

SUPPLEMENT.

CHARLES F. SANBORN. [PARSONSFIELD. ]

Charles F. Sanborn, the son of Luther and Sarah San- born, was born in Parsonsfield, York Co., Me., on Sept. 12. 1835. His grandfather's name was also Luther. He set- tled at Parsonsfield in the year 1800, on the same spot that has been the site of the family homestead from that to the present time. A view of this honored spot, hallowed by the recollections of many years, and rendered sacred by the fond and tender memories of the past, appears in this work,-and over it can also be seen the portraits of the father and mother of our subject.

The earlier years of the latter were passed on the pa- ternal farm in the performance of the usual routine work of a farm. and in the attainment of an education. Later on, having enjoyed the benefits of a liberal education, he assumed the control of the home-farm, and tenderly cared for his parents until their death. He still occupies the old place, and fills a prominent and influential position in the community in which he resides. The peaceful pursuit of husbandry has not dimmed the æsthetic culture of the man, nor prevented his attaining to positions of honor and responsibility in the town. He has filled the various town offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his friends, and in the Legislature of the State has well and ably rep- resented the best interests of an intelligent constituency. He is Republican in politics, and bears a reputation for integrity and uprightness which many of his compeers may justly envy him.

In the year 1865, Mr. Sauborn was united in marriage to Miss Esther A. Wiggins, of Parsonsfield. Three chil- dren have resulted from the union. viz., Luther E., Alto M .. and Ida L., all of whom reside with their parents.

COL. JOHN SMITIL. [HOLLIS.]

Col. John Smith, one of the first settlers of Hollis, was born in Biddeford. of English parents, near what is now known as the Smith school-house in the northern part of the city. He came to this town when it was a wilderness, and Saco was the nearest settlement from which all sup- plies were obtained, and carried on horseback, a distance of fourteen miles, the only guide being blazed trees. Quite a large portion of the town along the Saco was taken up by him and cleared, and. as the demand for lumber was then small, the trees were thrown into the river. The town was then called Phillipsburg, and was comprised of what is now Hollis and Dayton. He settled here with his wife,

Betsy Banks, in a log house. To them were born four chil- dren,-Aaron, Elias, Mary, and Nicholas. They endured all the hardships incident to an unsettled country, and on one occasion, when Col. Smith had gone to the settlement, and was obliged to remain all night, his wife went out with her bahe, Aaron, in her arms to find the cow. While follow- ing the sound of the bell it grew too dark for her to find the way home, and coming upon an old camp, she went in and stayed during the night, with wolves howling outside. In the morning she found her home by the course of the sun. Three weeks after the birth of Nicholas the mother died, and a few years after, Col. Smith married her sister, Anna Banks. To them were born two children .- John and Elizabeth. He served during the war of the Revolution, volunteering when but sixteen years of age, and at the close of the war was paid in Continental money; conse- quently he was obliged to walk home and heg his food by the way .. He was a member of the Legislature for a num- ber of years, when Maine was a province of Massachusetts, and the Legislature for both assembled at Boston.

A brilliant conversationalist and a man of quick wit, his jokes and stories of himself are wide-spread, and have been handed down through successive generations. During life he was one of the leading men of his town, transacting much of its business. A very well educated man for his time, and for many years a justice of the peace, he was well known through a large section of country.

The family coat-of-arms, the rampant lion, which Col. Smith obtained from England, is still in the house which he built, the fourth generation occupying it, and in the possession of his descendants.

The three oldest sons married and settled on portions of' the original farm, while Mary married Abel Eaton, and settled in Buxton, but shortly after died. Aaron, the eldest son, had several children, three of whom served in the late war, one of them being Col. Charles H. Smith, of the 1st Maine Cavalry. and now of the regular army. Elias had nine children, one of whom only remains, Samuel D. Smith, now of Limerick, but for many years in business in Hollis. Nicholas had a large family, three of whom served in the late war; one of them died in a rebel hospital and another in battle. Elizabeth died at twenty years of age. John, the youngest son, married and lived on the homestead. Like his father, he had a lively sense of humor, and greatly enjoyed the society of young people, and although an in- valid for many years, he was always well informed, and took a keen interest in everything around him, and in the welfare of his country and fellow-men. He had three sons, the chest of whom died at thirty years of age; the second, George, is still living ; the youngest, Ether Shepley, suc- ceeded his father to the estate, but, at the age of thirty-four, his life, one of rare purity, was closed.

As the last sheets of this work are going through the press, the publishers receive the sad intelligence of the death of Aaron MeKenny, of Saco, one of the oldest citizens of York County. He died Friday, Feb. 6, 1880. [See personal sketch. and portrait, page 182.]

HECKMAN BINDERY INC.

DEC 87 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962

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History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 118

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