USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 67
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SCHOOLS.
The town of Wells was tardy about extending the bene- fits of schools to Kennebunk, although the people of the latter paid their regular proportion of tax.
In 1728 the town voted to have school kept near the eentre, in the vieinity of the meeting-house, six or seven miles from Kennebunk, so that those living in the place were entirely eut off from its benefits. It was not till 1740, after Kennebunk had been settled twenty-five years, that the privilege was granted for a separate school, or that any material allowanee was made of the funds therefor, although the people had paid their part towards building two sehool- houses, and their proportion for the support of schools in the town.
In 1740 they determined to submit to this grievanee no longer, and, on petition, a special town-meeting was called, at which it was voted " that there be a schoolmaster for the remote parts of the town for the year ensuing," and four months were allowed to " Kennebunk and Mousam, two at Arrisicket, and four at Meriland." The next year four months and a half were allowed to Maryland, and four to Kennebunk, near James Wakefield's, who lived at the Land- ing.
238
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
In 1753 the town voted to have a grammar school, and also a morning school. But it does not appear that these schools were put in operation. For many years such schools as there were in the town were kept at private houses. The first building occupied for school purposes was con- structed of round logs, and stood just above the house of Mr. Storer. It was open at the gable-ends, through which the light came, in place of windows. Here the school was kept a number of years by one Jasper Ellis. It was sub- sequeutly kept in the shop of Edmund Currier. A con- venient place was then selected at the coruers in front of the house of Dr. Swett, and here the " Mousam School- House" was erected, in 1770. After the increase of popu- lation, it was moved up the " Country road," and placed a few rods cast of the church. Here it remained several years, when it was moved to a spot just below the grave- yard, near Daniel L. Hatch's house, where it was occupied by Mrs. Tabitha, widow of Samuel Hancock and James Hubbard. After her death it was sold to Mrs. Mary Nichols, and moved to a lot on the opposite side of the road ; after that it was sold to William Taylor, and moved to Brown Street, where it became the residence of Mr. Frank Fairfield.
The parish had exclusive jurisdiction over the schools within its territory till the close of the century, during which period several districts were set off, and supplied with teachers more or less of the time. Prior to 1805 there were five distriets in the town,-the Lower District, Lower Mousam, Middle, Alewife, and Upper Mousam. In 1805 the Alewife district was divided into two.
Paul Coffin, afterwards the settled master in Buxton, a graduate of Harvard College, taught the school near Hub- bard's in 1759. Afterwards it was kept for several years by Samuel Prentice, also a graduate of Harvard. Next to him was Samuel Hancock, who graduated at the same col- lege, and who lived permanently in Kennebunk. Among those who taught in the Alewife district were John Heard and Nathaniel Adams, also educated at Cambridge. Robert Swainson was a teacher in several districts, and continued to teach so many years in the town as to acquire the sobri- quet of " Old Master Swainson." John Donnie was also employed in different districts many years. The master iu those days received for his services from $5 to $8 or $9 per month, and " boarded 'round." Jonathan Ward, said to have been a superior teacher, taught in the village of Kennebunk in 1795, and received the liberal wages of $2 per week. This was the largest salary paid to any teacher, and enabled him to keep a horse. The first female teacher engaged in the schools was Polly Honcry, who taught at the Port in 1792, receiving $1.50 a week for her services. James Snow taught the school in the lower Mousam dis- triet in 1794-95 ; he was a sea-captain. Since the incor- poration of the town in 1820 ample provision has been made for schools within its limits.
The following is from the State superintendent's report for 1878 : Number of graded schools, 2; number of school districts, 11 ; school-houses, 14; estimated value of school property, $8500 ; male teachers in summer, 3; in winter, 6 ; female teachers in summer, 12; in winter, 14; average wages of male teachers per month, exclusive of board,
855; average wages of female teachers per week, exclusive of board, $4.80 ; amount of money voted in 1878, 82400 ; excess above the amount required by law, $316; school fund, $522.20; amount apportioned from State treasury, $1503.44 ; number of scholars, 841 ; registered, 582 ; per cent. of average attendance, 53.
HIGH SCHOOL.
For several years a respectable academy was maintained in Kennebunk ; but the interest of the curators, most of whom lived in other towns, declined, and the institution was abandoned. In its stead the schools in Districts Nos. 5 and 9 have been graded, and a high school and grammar schools of the best character substituted. In the high school of District No. 5, in the village, boys and girls may be fitted for any of the colleges of the country.
The high school is under the charge of E. J. Cram, A.M., a graduate of Bowdoin College in 1873, in which year he was chosen principal of the school. The village district ( No. 5) has two good school-houses, and employs five teachers,-two male and three female. T. W. Robin- son, a graduate of Harvard College, is principal of the grammar school; Miss Luella Jordan, intermediate ; Miss Mary Roberts, western primary ; Miss Emma Fairchild, eastern primary.
Committee, Daniel Remich, Frank Ross, M.D., and Rev. Edmund Worth.
The attendance in this district averages as follows : High school, 35; grammar school, 60; eastern primary, 30; westeru primary, 45; total, 170.
MANUFACTURE OF IRON.
Before the Revolution, and while the fears of the people were excited by the anticipation of the conflict, the thought occurred to some considerate minds that there might be a demand for iron which commerce could not supply, and they resolved on the experiment of its manufacture at Ken- nebunk. In 1774 a factory was erected on the Mousam River, at the island below the present village dams. The island was then a part of the eastern shore. The shop was a large one-story building, supplied with two forges. It was built by Joseph Hobbs, Ebenezer Rice, Benjamin Day, John Maddox, Jacob Blaisdell, Moses Blaisdell, and David Hutchings. The iron ore was obtained at different places, -at Saco, Maryland Ridge, Sanford, Arundel, and some ou the western side of the road between Wells and Kenne- bunk. Richard Gilpatrick afterwards built a factory on the western end of the present dam. The iron here manu- factured is said to have been very good for axes, plows, chains, etc., and many relics of it are yet found in the town. The most profitable part of the work was the man- ufacture of salt-pans, with which they supplied many towns in different parts of the province, at which salt was then made. The iron was made into bars of twenty-five pounds and upwards, and was sold at five and six cents a pound. These factories were continued in operation nearly twenty years, when, on account of cheaper production elsewhere, the business became unprofitable.
In 1785 a great freshet occurred in which the saw-mill, grist-mill, the lower iron works, the bridge, and nearly
Photo, by E. H. Mckenney, Biddeford.
JAMES G. COUSENS, ESQ.,
was born in Kennebunk July 13, 1816. His father's name was James, and his grandfather's name was Samuel, who married Abigail Deering as his second wife. His mother's name was Ifannah, the daughter of John Webber, of Kennebunk ; her brothers were Obadiah, Shapleigh, and John ; her sisters, Mary, who married Paul Huzzey, and Lydia, who married Joshua Taylor. The old homestead of his father, James Cousens, was a large and excellent farm of about two hundred acres, situated in Kennebunk, divided by the Mousam River, and located little ahove the Eastern Railroad Depot. The part on the west side of the river, including the homestead buildings, has been sold to Mr. Ephraim Allen, but the easterly part is owned by Samuel Cousens, a brother of James G.
John Cousens, the only surviving brother of James (the father of James G.), moved to Poland, Me., where he accumulated a large property and reared a numerous family. Ilis sons were: William, Col. Humphry, of Gorham, Me .; Thomas, and others. The children of James and Hannah Cousens were : Thomas, who married Patience Stevens, and after whose death, Mary York ; Samuel, who married Sarah Goodwin ; William, who married Mary Sawyer; Charles, who married Abigail Pindar, and after whose death, Caroline Downing : John, who married Sylvia Haley ; James G., Enoch, Hannah, Mary, Abigail, who married George Shackley, of Portsmouth, N. II. : Susan, Elizabeth, who married Benjamin A. Browne, of Cambridgeport, Mass .; Katharine, Lucy, and Marinla. Of the above fifteen chil- dren there were three pairs of twins, viz. : John and James G., Kath- arine and Elizabeth, Lucy and Marinda ; the latter pair died in in- fancy, the others are living. The family was never all together but once, then the father placed them in line in the order of their ages.
The father, James Consens, was hora Dec. 16, 1774; and died in 1834, aged forty-nine years; the mother, Hannah Cousens, was born Oct. 31, 1788, and died in 1845, aged fifty-six years. James G. Cousens was educated at the common and select schools in Kenne- bunk, and at the age of twenty-one years left his father's home to seek employment. After spending about two years in Massachusetts, engagel in various pursuits, and one year in Georgia, in the lumber- ing and milling business, finding none of these occupations congenial to his temperament, he returned to his native town in September, 1840 ; and baving chosen the mercantile business as his occupation for life, he formed at the lower village a copartnership with Bradford Oakes, under the firm-name of Oakes & Couseos. While the copartnership existed trade was prosperous, but as Mr. Cousens had peculiar views of his own, which he wished to apply to his business, and preferring to direct rather than to follow, at the expiration of two years he pur- chased his partner's interest in the concern, and assumed exclusive management. Possessed of energy, foresight, and self-reliance to a great degree, Mr. Cousens was unwilling to follow the well-worn ruts of trade, but commenced to open up new channels of traffic, and added to his establishment a well-equipped merchant-tailoring depart- ment, giving thereby employment to quite a number of hands. Be-
sides this, he was largely interested in vessels, and made a practice of purchasing quantities of lumber and wood annually, and shipping it to Boston and other ports. Mr. Cousens has had in his employ a number of young men as clerks, who, from the business tact and com- mercial knowlege they received while under his tuition, have become successful in business, and have taken respectable positions in society. In 1867 Mr. Consens formed a copartnership in trade with his son- in-law, Samuel Smith, Jr., who had been employed in his store for a number of years under the style of James G. Cousens & Co. This connection was dissolved in 1871, and Mr. Smith opened a dry-goods store in Biddeford, Me., where he is now commanding a flourishing trade. In early life Mr. Cousens was appointed by the Governor a justice of the peace and quorum, and has received a great deal of probate and justice business to transact, gaining in his community a commendable reputation for correctness and proficiency in the dis- charge of the duties which the office necessarily involves.
Notwithstanding the large claims that were constantly roadle upon his time hy increasing business, he always from early manhood found leisure for mental improvement; and as mathematics was a favorite study, he devotel himself to it with energy ; and became well quali- fied as a civil engineer and surveyor, having been employed in that capacity by his town for a number of years. Ile has always been ardently attached to the principles of the Democratic party, and has been an earnest and active worker. He has been prominent as a politician, not only in his town,-having been a candidate for about every municipal office,-but also in his county, receiving, in 1868, the Democratic nomination for county commissioner, and in 1871 the nomination for county treasurer. Ile is a prominent Mason and Odd- Fellow, being a member of the Coromaodery, Knights Templar, and having passed through the different degrees of Odd-Fellowship from the subordinate lodge to the grand lodge of Maine. April 13, 1842, at the age of twenty-six years, Mr. Cousens was married to Maria Littlefield, agel twenty-two years, daughter of David and Sarah Littlefield, of Kennebunk. He had no children of his own, but adopted two daughters,-Abia P., daughter of Elijah Littlefield, of Portland, aod Sarah P., daughter of David Littlefield, of Kennebunk. These two daughters were well educated : Abia was fitted for teaching, while Sarah graduated at the Westbrook Seminary, in the class of 1876, in the degree of Laureate of Science.
Oct. 19, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, Ahia was married to Samuel Smith, Jr., the son of Rufus Smith, of Kennebunk; Abia has one son, James G. Cousens Smith. Sarah was married, July 15, 1878, at the age of twenty years, to Albert M. Todd, son of Robert Todd, of Charlestown, Mass. The successful career of the subject of this sketch, won by strict application to business and unflinching integrity, and that force and energy so characteristic of the American people, is a worthy example for the imitation of all young men who must engage in the battles of life, with no resources except their own. aod the blessing Ileaven gives as the reward of all honest industry.
239
TOWN OF KENNEBUNK.
everything on the Mousam River was carried away. The saw-mill on the Kennebunk River was also swept off. The iron-works of Richard Gilpatrick remained, but were much damaged. The lower iron-works were afterwards rebuilt, and continued in operation many years. The dis- asters caused by this flood were a serious hindrance to the growth of Kennebunk village.
SHIP-BUILDING ON THE MOUSAM.
The first vessel which was built on the river was a small one by John Butland, for a gentleman in Newburyport. She was built a little below Sergt. Larrabee's fort. After this he built six or seven for men in Boston, Salem, and Newburyport. At some time during the Revolution he built a large ship, as she was called in those days, designed as a privateer, for Samuel Coffin, of Newburyport. She was about 240 tons, and pierced for 14 guns. Before this time vessels had been built up the stream, at the foot of the Falls. Men of ability had come into the town,-Joseph Storer, from Wells; Theodore Lyman, from York ; Joseph Churchill, Benjamin Brown, Tobias Lord, and Richard Gilpatrick. More than twenty vessels, brigs, schooners, and sloops were launched from the yards on both sides of the river from this period to the time when ship-building ceased on the Mousam River, in the early part of the present century.
In 1792, in order to facilitate the navigation of the Mousam River for larger vessels, a scheme was set on foot to straighten and deepen the channel by a more direct cut to the sea. A corporation was formed under the title of " The Proprietors of the Mousam Canal," consisting of Joseph Storer, Clement Storer, Benjamin Brown, William Jefferds, John Low, James Kimball, Richard Gilpatrick, Joseph Barnard, John Low, Jr., Nathaniel Conant, Henry Heart, John Butland, Nathaniel Spinney, Jesse Larrabee, and Michael Wise. The project was popular, and many shares were taken by men of other towns. The work was undertaken, and, after the expenditure of a large amount of money, proved in the end a failure. The new channel, or canal, was so unfortunately located that not more than seven or eight feet of water could be commanded for the passage of vessels, on account of a ledge extending nearly the whole distance of the required excavation. There were no funds to overcome the obstacle, and the work was abandoned.
Ship-building, however, still went on upon the river. While the project of the canal was yet pending, in prospect of its successful termination, John Butland built on the river a large ship for Clement and Joseph Storer, which was got to sea with great difficulty aud expense. They were obliged to build a dam and float her out by raising the fresh water in the river above. This perplexing and costly experiment put an end to all ship-building on the Mousam, though a few small vessels may have been built afterwards.
WATER-POWER AND MANUFACTURES.
The most valuable privileges are found on the Mousam River. This stream has its rise in Mousam, or Long Pond, in the town of Shapleigh, and is remarkable for its constant supply of water, and the numerous water-powers it fur-
nishes from its source to tide-water, a distance of 22} miles. The first power at head of tide has a fall of about 21 feet. The second, just below the bridge at the village, has a fall of about 9 feet, with sash- and blind-factory, machine-shop, saw- and shingle-mill upon it. The third, just above the bridge, has a fall of 17 feet, and is improved by the Ventilating Water-proof Shoe Company on the east bank. The estimated power is sufficient to drive 15,000 spindles 11 hours a day through the year. The greatest range of water from high to low, 33 feet. Brick and granite for building purposes within easy range. Outlet for products manufactured, the Boston and Maine Railroad, or by water from Kennebunkport village 23 miles.
Near Kennebunk Depot village are three valuable priv- ileges. The first has a fall of 11 feet, improved by R. W. Lord & Co.'s cotton-twine mill. The second, just above the railroad, has a fall of 7 feet or more, unimproved. Half a mile farther up is Varney's Falls, with a descent of 14 feet, and improved by Dane & Perkins' saw-mill and box-factory. The estimated power here is equal to drive 11,000 spindles 11 hours per day throughout the year.
Near the line of Alfred is located Great, or, as called in early times, Fluellen Falls, with a natural stone dam and fall of 45 feet. This is one of the best powers on the river, lies wholly unimproved, and has an estimated power sufficient to drive 40,000 spindles 11 hours per day through the year. The whole fall from Great Falls to tide-water is 150 feet, giving a gross horse-power in the distance of five miles of about 3600, or an equivalent of 144,000 spindles 11 hours per day through the year. Few towns are fa- vored with better powers, and, as they are improved, they will become sources of thrift to the villages and surround- ing country.
On the Kennebunk are two powers, used in the manu- facture of lumber, and a small saw-mill, power unimproved, on the outlet of Alewives Pond. At the " Branch," near Wells line, is a small power, employed in cutting lumber.
R. W. Lord & Co., manufacturers of fishing-twines and warp-yarns, were established in 1860, with a capital of $50,000. The mill is a wooden building 35 by 64 feet, three stories high, and an L, 25 by 26 feet, two stories, with basement under whole, filled with machinery. Raw material used, 180,000 pounds annually, turning out 150,000 pounds manufactured product. Number of operatives, 26.
The Union Lace Company, A. M. Read, agent, was es- tablished 1868. The buildings were built in 1868, and consisting of a main mill, 42 by 87, three stories high, with attic, a store-house and batting-room and a dye-house. They formerly did a large business in the manufacture of worsted braids and shoe-lacings, but have recently discon- tinued.
VENTILATING WATER-PROOF SHOE COMPANY.
The fine fall at the bridge on the east side of the river, in the village, is now occupied by the Ventilating Water- proof Shoe Company, of which Joseph Davis, Esq., of Lynn, Mass., is president, and William H. Wheeler, of Boston, treasurer. This branch of the company's works was formerly located at Mechanic Falls, Me., but removed here in November, 1877, upon the completion of the mill
240
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
by a joint-stock company of the citizens, termed the Ken- nebunk Mill Company. The building is a fine, substantial wooden structure, 160 by 35, four stories and basement. It was erected at a cost of 811,000 on the main dam of the Mousam. The company manufacture from 40 to 60 cases of 60 pairs to the case per day ; employ 300 hands, and are adding constantly to the number, as well as increasing the capacity of the works. The weekly pay-roll of the com- pany is about 822,000, and they pay about $78 per day for royalties on various machines used in this mill alone. The same company do a large business at Lynn, Mass., under the same name. And at Baltimore, Md., there is another branch, under the firm-name of Joseph Davis & Co. ; The capacity of these three establishments is not less than 110 cases per day, of 60 pairs to the case. The whole royalty paid by Mr. Davis on machines used in this busi- ness probably exceeds that paid by any other man in the United States.
MOUSAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was formed in 1876, for the manufacture of leather-board and stiffenings. S. B. Rogers, Homer Rogers, Stephen Moore, and E. Andrews, incorporators. The capital stock is $30,000. E. Andrews, President ; Stephen Moore, Treasurer. The main factory is 150 by 35 feet, 3 stories, and was erected in 1876, at a cost of about $5000. The other buildings are the office, stock-houses, and packing-houses. The establishment is situated on the lower water-power in the village, at the head of tide-water. They employ between 60 and 70 hands, and turn out about three tons of leather-board per day, the goods being dis- tributed from the company's office in Boston to all parts of New England.
These manufacturing establishments are valuable and im- portant adjuncts to the growth and prosperity of the vil- lage, and reflect credit upon the citizens who have liberally encouraged them as well as upon the enterprising members of the companies.
NEWSPAPERS. EASTERN STAR.
The early history of newspapers in Kennebunk will be found in the general chapter on the press of York County.
The Eastern Star is the only paper now published in town. This paper was started in Biddeford by W. Lester, in September, 1877, and removed the following January to Kennebunk. It is a weekly, independent in politics, and devoted to local interests ; W. Lester, proprietor; Marcus Watson, editor. The paper has a good circulation and a liberal advertising patronage.
PROMINENT EARLY MEN.
SAMUEL HANCOCK died in 1776. He came to Kenne- bunk in 1772, having graduated at Harvard College in 1767. He began life here by teaching school at the Land- ing. Ile occasionally occupied the pulpit in the absence of Rev. Mr. Little. After the death of his relative, Mr. Emerson, he purchased his stock of goods and engaged for a while in trade. At the time of his death he had partly finished a small vessel. Ile was married, in 1774, to Tabi- tha Champeny, of Cambridge, whom he left a widow, and
who married John Hubbard, by whom she had one son. She died Dec. 19, 1816, aged seventy-seven. Her son, John H. Hubbard, was a young man of bright prospects and sterling character. While a boy he was clerk in the store of Daniel Wise. In 1799 he went to sea, and died December 12th, aged twenty.
THEODORE LYMAN came to Kennebunk from York, and was clerk in the store of Waldo Emerson. After he became of age he built a store at Mrs. Nicholas E. Smart's place, where, on the 19th of April, 1775, the day of the memorable battle of Lexington, he set out the great elms now standing in front of the house. He married Sarah, daughter of Waldo Emerson, Nov. 21, 1776, whereby he came into the possession of the property of his father-in- law and subsequently became a man of great wealth, build- ing and employing many vessels in the West India trade. His wife died Jan. 21, 1784, at the age of twenty-one. They had two children, who died in infancy. He built a very fine house, which attracted by its magnificence many visitors (the present Kingsbury place). One distinguished visitor in his diary, under date July 27, 1785, says, " My wife and I went to Kennebunk to visit Mr. Theodore Ly- man and his sister Lucy, and to see his seat. It is fit for a nobleman, and I have seen nothing like it in this country, and scarcely anywhere." A very good cut of this house appears in Judge Bourne's " History of Wells and Kenne- bunk." On the 7th of February, 1786, he introduced to this elegant home his second wife, whom he married about that date. She was Miss Lydia Williams, of Salem, Mass. But life in the country or so far away from the centres of social fashion seemed not to please her, and Mr. Lyman, in 1790, removed to Boston, and thence to Waltham, where he provided himself with a residence still more magnificent, and where he continued to reside till the close of life. There he added to his business of navigation and entered largely into the East India trade. Many vessels were built for him by John Bourne ; the business which he set on foot in Kennebunk was carried forward by others and added much to the prosperity of the town.
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