History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

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 50

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).

+ Date of his death.

# Died July 2. 1879.

Photo. by E. H. McKenney, Biddeford.

THOMAS QUINBY (Moses,3 Capt. John,2 Joseph1) is a descendant in the fourth generation from Joseph Quinby, who was born in Wales, Great Britain ; came to Portland, Me., prior to 1740, and in that year married Mary, daughter of Deacon Thomas Haskell, one of the early settlers.

Capt. John Quinby, son of Joseph, was born in Port- land, and was a merchant there. He married a daughter of John Freeman, of Cape Cod; removed to Strondwater just prior to the destruction of Falmouth by the British, in 1775.

Moses, son of Capt. John Quinby, born April 19, 1786, died April 2, 1875; he graduated in a class of six at Bowdoin College in 1806; was a member of the Cumber- land County bar, and during the earlier part of his life practiced law in Portland. He married Anne, daughter of Andrew Phillips Titcomb, a descendant of William Tit- comb, who came from Newbury, England, and settled in Newbury, Mass., in 1635.

Thomas Quinby, son of Moses, was born in Westbrook, Cumberland Co., Me., Dec. 15, 1813; married, in 1835, Jane E., daughter of Dexter Brewer, of Westbrook. She was born in Portland in 1818, and is a descendant on the maternal side from Nicholas Frost, who came to Piscataqua about the year 1636, and settled at Sturgeon Creek, near Eliot, Me., and died July 20, 1663, aged seventy-four. Her mother, Jane E. Brewer, was a daughter of Jane Frost, who was a daughter of Andrew Pepperell Frost, who was son of Charles Frost, third son of Hon. John Frost, who married Mary, sister of Sir William Pepperell.

Their children are: Lucretia Day, died at the age of twenty-one ; Henry B., M.D., a graduate of Bowdoin in the class of '69, and also of Columbian University, medical department, married Octavia M., daughter of B. J. Cole, of Lake Village, N. H. ; Fred. Quinby, M.D., a graduate of Detroit Medical College in the class of "75, married

Carrie I., daughter of Henry Ross, of Saco, Me. ; Thomas F. Quinby, M.D., a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in the class of '78, and sub- seqnently a student for one year at Heidelberg, Germany.

Mr. Quinby received his education in the common school and at Parsonsfield Academy, and for some four terms was a teacher. He learned civil engineering with the well-known James Hall, of Portland; was with that gentleman in reconnoitering the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad route, now the Grand Trunk ; in surveying for a canal from Moose Head Lake to the mouth of Sebasticook River; and in the preliminary survey of the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad, about 1840. He made a survey of Portland in 1840, for the purpose of making a plan of the city, and was engaged for some time near Temisconata Lake for a lumbering party.

In April, 1841, he came to Biddeford as engineer, book- keeper, and paymaster of the Saco Water-Power Company, which was incorporated in 1837, and in 1852 was elected agent of the company. He filled these several places until December, 1869, and in 1870 went to Portland to take charge of the Portland and Rochester Railroad as superin- tendent, and settled the land damages on that road from Alfred to Rochester. After performing the duties of this office for two years he returned to Biddeford, where he remains in 1879, having resumed his former position in connection with the Saco Water-Power Company.

Mr. Quinby was elected county commissioner in 1866, which position he resigned a short time prior to his super- intendency of the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad, in 1870. He was a director of the Biddeford Bank from its organization until 1870.

For many years he has been prominently connected with various local institutions ; is a member of Dunlap Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and of the York Royal Arch Chapter.

175

CITY OF SACO.

BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURE.

Mention should be made here of the boot and shoe in- terest of Biddeford, which is quite large. There are three firms engaged in the manufacture, viz., S. Newcomb & Co., No. 11 South Street ; C. P. Emery & Co., No. 227 Main Street ; Dearborn & Day, No. 184 Main Street.

Mr. Newcomb is the oldest boot and shoe manufacturer in the city, having begun on a capital of $28 in 1852, then disposing only of what he could make with his own hands of ladies' fine work. Ilis work gained a good re- putation, and he enlarged his facilities as his means in- creased, adding steam-power and machinery. In 1863 he erected his present building, which has been several times enlarged to meet the growing demands of trade. They have now the capacity for making 500 pairs per day when run to the full extent, and have made as high as 320 pairs, employing about 100 hands.

Mr. C. P. Emery started manufacturing in Buxton about 1865, and was for a time engaged with Mr. Newcomb. The firm of C. P. Emery & Co. employ steam-power and machinery, and manufacture about 250 pairs per day of ladies' fine boots and shoes. Messrs. Dearborn & Day do about the same amount of business in the same line of goods.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH.

That portion of Saco lying upon the bay, between the mouth of the river and Scarborough, is known as Old Or- chard Beach. This famous watering-place derives its name from an old orchard planted in the early days of the Saco Colony, by Thomas Rogers, who settled at the mouth of Goosefair Brook, as early as 1638. Goosefair Brook rises in the heath in the northern part of Saco and empties into the Atlantic Ocean (or Saco Bay, as this portion of it is appropriately called) about midway of the beach, which ex- tends in the form of a crescent along the curve of the bay a distance of about nine miles from the Saco River to Scar- borough. It is a shallow stream, and at low tide is easily crossed. Here was an ancient ford, or wading-place, and here, upon the marshes, it is said, flocked multitudes of wild geese, from which, probably, the stream derived its name .*

Thomas Rogers settled on the east side, near the ocean, where he had a noted farm or plantation, called by the early geographers " Rogers' Garden." He planted fruit-trees, and cultivated the grape-vine, which was brought from Wood Island, where an abundance of them grew when the country was first discovered. The lands now owned by the Old Orchard Association were a portion of this farm. During King Philip's war the house of Mr. Rogers was attacked by the Indians, and after a severe struggle, in which several of them were killed and wounded, they with- drew, mortified at their repulse, and taking to their canoes went to Scarborough, where, at Black Point, they burned several houses. Rogers immediately after this removed with his family to Kittery, leaving some goods in his

house. A party of young men was sent to take them away, when they were attacked by the Indians in ambush, and all slain. A son of Mr. Rogers was one of the num- ber. The house was burned by the Indians. The bodies of the young men were afterwards found upon the beach by the inhabitants and buried on the shore near where the house stood. Mr. Rogers never returned to his farm, but the apple-trees which he planted remained to mark the spot, and to give name to a place now famous among summer re- sorts. Some of these trees were standing in 1770, having, without doubt, stood for more than a hundred and twenty- five years.

At what time Old Orchard Beach first began to be a place of resort is uncertain. A tradition has it that the first settlers were in the habit of visiting it once every year on the 24th of June, St. John the Baptist's day, either in com- memoration of that day in sports upon the beautiful beach, or because the temperature of the sea had become suffi- ciently modified for bathing. About that time has usually been considered the opening of the season since it became a modern resort.

The first foreign visitors came to Old Orchard about 1840, and boarded with Mr. E. C. Staples, the present pro- prietor of the Old Orchard House. Mr. Staples then lived in a plain farm-house, the home of his ancestors,-a house which has since been remodeled into the Staples Cottage. It stood near where it now stands, and is more than a cen- tury old. The first boarders were charmed with the place, and the next year brought more than the house could ac- commodate.

Among the early patrons of Mr. Staples were gentlemen and their ladies from Montreal, who came the whole dis- tance in their own private carriages. The Portsmouth and Portland Railroad was opened in 1842, and the Grand Trunk from Montreal to Portland in 1852. These brought passengers to Saco Station, within four miles of the Beach, and from that time the demand for hotel accommodations increased with great rapidity. Mr. Staples commenced to build additions to his house, and from year to year contin- ued to enlarge it until the Old Orchard House, accommodat- ing 300 guests, had been erected. This was popular and prosperous until destroyed by fire, July 21, 1875. Board- ing-houses have been increasing and enlarging for several years, and now there are more than 25, with accommoda- tions for 4000 guests.

The Beach presents a fine view of the ocean, there being no islands within a considerable sweep to obstruct the pros- pect. The waves are seen rolling in from the very horizon, and breaking with a gentle or powerful surf according as they are impelled by moderate or strong winds. Usually there is a mild and delightful sea-breeze prevailing during the summer, and little roughness to interfere with the pleas- ure of surf-bathing. There are no dangerous undercur- rents, and at low tide the beach is a smooth, solid driving- course, upon which hundreds of carriages may pass and repass without interruption. During the pleasure season thousands here assemble to engage in sea-side sports ; nothing can exceed the gayety and joyousness of the scene. For miles gay equipages throng this wave-washed highway, and the surf is alive with jubilant bathers.

$ It may be that the early inhabitants came here to hold their goose- fairs. The country was well adapted to the raising of geese, and Vines made it obligatory upon the lessees to pay a portion of their annual rents in this squawking commodity .- (See Folsom, p. 36 ; also history of Biddeford in this work.)

176

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

We copy from J. S. Locke's " Peu and Pencil Sketches of Old Orchard" a few of the notable features, which have been written up with special care.

FERN PARK.

The ocean and the beach are not the only attractions at Old Orchard. There is an inland scenery of marsh, meadow, field, forest, and flourishing farms; and Fern Park, a short distance from the hotels, is a place of great natural beauty. It is a dense forest of hard wood and ever- green trees, through which walks and avenues have been laid out, and rustic arbors erected. This was done under the direction of Mr. Bull, one of the early patrons of the Old Orchard House,-a man of great taste and refinement, who spent much time in this charming place. The mottoes which he erected over the arbors and along the avenues remain memorials of his poetic genius and refinement.

In this natural park are found many of the wild-flowers of Maine, and the botanist here has facilities for pursuing his interesting studies. Those who gather flowers simply because they love them find here pleasure in hunting out and bringing to human admiration the little bright-eyed blossoms that in the dark depths of the forest were " born to blush unseen, and waste their sweetness on the desert air." Here, like a cluster of corals in an emerald setting, grows the bright bunch berry, and the partridge-vine and sweet tiny twin-flower twine the moss-covered logs. The modest violet, the delicate star-flower, and the fragrant checker-berry flourish here, and from the abundance of lichens and ferns the place is appropriately called Fern Park. It is about one mile from the beach, on the Saco road, directly opposite the grounds of the Camp-Meeting Association.

FERRY BEACH.

Its name is derived from the lower ferry at the mouth of the Saco River. It is that portion of Old Orchard west of Goosefair Brook. At the west end of this beach is what was early known as Bare-Knee Point ; the gradual curve of the sandy shore, having a fancied resemblance to a human limb, gave it this name. From this extends the Breakwater, which was completed by government in 1876, at a cost of $150,000. It is composed of huge granite blocks dropped in a continuous line for more than a mile, and was made for the purpose of extending the channel of the river so as to remove the sand-bar at its mouth, which at low tides obstructed shipping. The breakwater accom- plished the desired object, and large ships can now pass at lowest tides without grounding.

Back of this beach, at the west end, is a pine-forest of eight acres, which has recently been laid out in walks, ran- bles, streets, and avenues, and called Ferry Beach Park. This place offers many attractions for summer homes. It was originally a favorite resort for the Indian tribes. In winter they journeyed, on moose-hide snow-shoes, from their inland homes to feast upon the shell-fish and sea-birds so abundant on this shore.

The abundant shell-heaps in the vicinity are relics of the red man's residence.

" Here they built their tall bark wigwams;

Jlere they danced and sang their war-songs ;

Here they sat and, looking westward, Smoked the pipe of peace togetber, Sang aloud to the Great Spirit, Whose bright realms they would inherit, Far beyond the golden sunset. Him they saw in clouds and tempests, Heard him talking in the thunder, Felt he loved his brave red children, And would bring them all together Where the hunting-grounds were better, In that far-off bright Forever."

"SONG OF OLD ORCHARD. "BY EUGENE BATCHELDER. " AIR-My Maryland.

" Old Orchard Beach is broad and fair ; Happy, fair Old Orchard. Old Orchard Beach is free from care ; Happy, fair Old Orchard. When we feel our cares increase,

When we wish to be at peace, Then we fly where sorrows cease, To happy, fair Old Orchard .- Repeat.

" The wit and grace of all the land Resort to fair Old Orchard ; They roam along the yellow strand, At happy, fair Old Orchard. Here the world seems bright and gay, Here the hours fly swift away, On the shores of Saco Bay, At happy, fair Old Orchard.

" Here's a right good ringing cheer For happy, fair Old Orchard; Here's to friends, hoth far and near, We've met at fair Old Orchard. When we wander far away, Still we'll think of those who stay, And trust again to meet some day, At happy, fair Old Orchard ! " OLD ORCHARD HOUSE, August 7, 1862."

Pholo. by Dupee, Portland.

EBENEZER C. STAPLES

was born in Saco, March 8, 1808. He was the third son in a family of ten children of Elisha and Elizabeth (Cole) Staples. His grandfather, Elisha, settled the farm on

177

CITY OF SACO.

which he now resides, coming from Biddeford about 1790. His ancestors were of English birth, and first settled in Kittery on coming to this country. From eleven years of age to sixteen Ebenezer was on the sea. He then learned the shoe-making trade, which, with farming, he followed for thirty years. The remainder of his life has been spent in keeping a public-house at " Old Orchard" for the conveni- ence of pleasure-seekers during the summer season, a full description of which will be found in the history of Old Orchard.

He married, March 30, 1830, Eliza I., daughter of Israel and Mary Buker, of Biddeford, of which town she was a native. Of this union were born eight children, six of whom are living,-Mary, widow of John Marston, of Par- sonsfield; Franklin G., proprietor of the " Sea-View House," " Old Orchard Beach;" Henry W. and Charles F., con- nected with their father in the management of the " Old Orchard House," which accommodates five hundred guests ; Josephine, widow of Charles L. Moses, of Charleston, S. C .; and Helena A.

Mr. Staples has been an active, enterprising business man, known for his integrity in all his business relations, and his name is familiar among the tourists in every State of the Union as a hospitable and gentlemanly host.

CAMP-MEETING ASSOCIATION.

In July, 1873, an association was formed under this title, with Rev. I. Luce president, which purchased a tract of land, containing about 50 acres, within half a mile of the beach. A large portion of this was covered by a dense forest of oak, maple, and pine, in which was a valley form- ing a natural amphitheatre. In this the association erected commodious seats for the accommodation of 7000 worship- ers. At the centre of this stands the speaker's desk, and so remarkable are the acoustic properties of the place that throughout this vast auditorium the voice of an ordinary speaker can be distinctly heard. It seems as if nature de- signed this place especially for camp-meetings. Around this auditorium are erected tents and cottages. Many families spend the whole season there. The grounds of the associa- tion are regularly laid out in streets and avenues. On many of the cottage lots buildings are already erected, and others are inviting purchasers. There are no sea-side resorts that offer more social and religious advantages than Old Orchard. During 1879, from July 16th till Septem- ber 1st, there were held five camp-meetings, at which were present the best talent and highest culture of the country.

The officers of the association are, President, Rev. I. D. Munger ; Secretary, Rev. D. B. Randall ; Treasurer, J. M. Palmer, Esq. With these gentlemen any business of the Association may be transacted.

To accommodate the patrons of the camp-meetings, the Boston and Maine Railroad has erected a depot (Camp- Ground Station) a short distance from the ground, at which all passengers for the camp-meetings should leave the trains.

PORTLAND AND BOSTON STEAMERS.

For Bostonians and tourists passing through Boston, to or from Old Orchard, there is no conveyance more conve- 23

nient and comfortable than by these steamers. They leave India Wharf, Boston, for Portland, every evening, at seven o'clock, and returning, leave Portland for Boston at the same hour. Old Orchard is fifteen miles west of Portland, from which six trains daily pass it, the earliest leaving Portland at six A.M.

Passengers by this route can leave Boston at night ; thus they have a view of Boston harbor, sce islands and distant shores at sunset, avoid the heat, dust, and fatigue of rail- road travel, have a night's quiet slumber, pass the island, and picturesque scenery of Portland at sunrise, and with a railroad ride of only thirty minntes arrive at Old Orchard in time for early breakfast. By taking advantage of the generous excursion rates offered by the company, an inter- esting tour may be made at a trifling expense.

BOSTON AND MAINE RAILROAD.

In 1873 this road, which had previously extended only from Boston to South Berwick, on the west side of Maine, was opened through to Portland along the coast, through Wells, Kennebunk, Saco, and Scarborough. Thus the sea- side resorts were accommodated with railroad facilities, and Old Orchard, which previously could be reached only by a stage journey of four miles, was favored with two commo- dions depots on its shores. This brought increased patron- age, and each summer the Boston and Maine has been a popular thoroughfare for all guests of Old Orchard. Dur- ing the present year (1879) the depot has been enlarged to meet the demand of travel. Four trains daily pass between Boston and Portland, besides local trains between Kenne- bunk and Portland; hence the train accommodations on this road are all that can be desired.

HOTELS. THE BAY VIEW

is the only public-house at Ferry Beach. The proprietors, O. F. Page & Co., have recently put it in thorough order, and placed it under the management of E. E. Post, Esq. This house is nearly two miles from the thickly-settled portions of the beach. It can be reached by stage or private con- veyance from the Saco Station of the Boston and Maine or Eastern Railroads, and also from the Old Orchard station of the Boston and Maine at low tide. All that need to be said of this house is to quote from one of Boston's most popular preachers : " This place combines all the advan- tages of Old Orchard, with freedom from its crowds and confusion, and the inexorable burdens and demands of society. I regard it one of the best places for rest and recuperation I have ever found."*

PLEASANT HOUSE.

This house, in location, construction, and management, is all that the name implies. The owner and manager, Mrs. Sarah D. Moulton, by a careful and judicious control of her household, gives it the charm of a cheerful and pleasant home.

OCEAN HOUSE.

John Lindsey, for five years proprietor of the Fabyan House, White Mountains, assumed the management of this

* M. J. Savage.

178

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

house last year, and it acquired great popularity under his control. He is still the proprietor, and the house, which accommodates four hundred guests, is kept with great care and especial attention to the comfort of patrons.

LAWRENCE HOUSE.

This house stands upon the shore, within twenty feet of the water. Bathers can step directly from the piazza to the ocean. One hundred and fifty gnests here find cheerful rooms and satisfactory table supplies. E. W. Barton, the gentlemanly and efficient proprietor, was formerly of Law- rence, Mass., from which his house takes its name.

GORHAM HOUSE.

This is one of the oldest modern hotels at Old Orchard. It stands at the terminus of the Saco road, between the beach and the Boston and Maine depot. The proprietor, Charles E. Gorham, gives especial attention to the enter- tainment of pleasure-parties and transient company. Re- freshments are served at all hours, and pleasure facilities furnished. A good livery- aud boarding-stable is under the management of this house.

THE BLANCHARD HOUSE

has been remodeled and enlarged during the present year. Mrs. A. B. Blanchard, proprietress, has acquired great popu- larity in her past management. With increased facilities, which will add to the comfort of its guests, this house ranks among the best of sea-side hotels. Its situation is upon the border of the sea, and its rooms overlook the beach and the distant ocean.

THE OLD ORCHARD HOUSE.

This hotel, which was erected in 1876, stands upon the spot where once was the residence of Rev. John Fairfield, first minister of Saco. It is on an eminence commanding a full view of the whole beach and the surrounding country. It has accommodations for 500 guests, and is a perfect house in all its appointments. E. C. Staples, the pioncer in modern hotel business, is the proprietor.

CENTRAL HOUSE.

From its location this house takes its name. It stands on the beach, about half-way between Saco River and Scar- borough. Two hundred guests can be entertained here. The rooms on each side of the house command a full view of the ocean. Wesley G. Smith, the proprietor, manages this house with much satisfaction to his guests.

SEA-SHORE HOUSE.

This is new and attractive, with facilities for entertaining 150 guests. It stands upon the beach close to the ocean,- literally " upon the sand ;" but the proprietor, F. G. Sta- ples, with more wisdom than the foolish man in the parable, has made his "foundation sure." His numerous guests enjoy the grandeur of the situation, and bathe in the rolling breakers that come beating at the door. The rooms are all so located that from them there is a pleasing ocean prospect.

ST. CLOUD.

This house takes its name from the celebrated French palace built near Paris in the sixteenth century. During

the present year it has been enlarged to meet the demands of its numerous Canadian and American guests. The pro- prietress, Mrs. E. Manson, labors to give her patrons a cheerful home ; and should the popularity of this house increase in years to come as it has in the six years since it was opened, it will become as distinguished as the foreign château whose name it bears.

Besides the principal hotels which are here especially mentioned, there are more than twenty others worthy of public patronage, and those who seek rest and recreation at this beach can always find ample accommodations.

The mayor of the city of Saco, in his last inaugural ad- dress, says, " The large and continuous increase of population at Old Orchard has brought close at hand the time when we must consider it no longer as a scattered suburban set- tlement, but must recognize it as a densely-populated part of our city, having necessities similar to those of the city proper."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOSIAH CALEF

was born in Kingston, N. H., May 21, 1782. His father was Joseph, a Revolutionary soldier, and his grandfather was John, a Revolutionary officer. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Josiah Bartlett, of Kingston, one of the memorable signers of the Declaration of Independence ; President of New Hampshire, 1790 to 1793 ; Governor in 1793; associate justice of the Superior Court, New Hamp- shire, 1782 to 1788 ; and chief justice, 1788 to 1790.

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.

History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

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