USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 72
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
The North Society was formed June 2, 1825, and con- tinued under the pastoral charge of Mr. Flanders until 1829, when he retired from active work in the ministry. He died in Buxton, June 17, 1847, at the age of seventy years. The ten years succeeding his retirement there was no settled pastor, and the South Church, being also without a pastor, soon ceased to exist. The North Church was sup- plied by Rev. A. Wilson from 1830 to 1832, with an in- crease of 75 members; Rev. Samuel Robbins, supplied in 1834; Rev. William Bailey, ordained April 1, 1840, re- mained until 1844; Rev. H. B. Gomer, ordained July, 1848, was dismissed 1849; Rev. N. W. Williams was pastor of the church in 1850, and was succeeded by Ivory M. Thompson, 1852, ordained Jan. 12, 1853, and dismissed 1859 ; George E. Tucker, 1859 to 1862; H. B. Marshall, 1862 ; O. Richardson, 1865; J. M. Burt, 1871-76; L. E. Grant, 1877-78; Rev. David Hill, since April, 1879. The meeting-house was built in 1799-1800, and rebuilt after the division in 1831. Deacons: South, Samuel Woodson, Joseph Atkinson ; North, Isaac Hancock, Rufus Emery, Daniel Leavitt. Present officers : Joseph Davis, Clerk ; A. J. Lombard, Joseph Davis, Deacons. Membership about 140.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
After the visit of Rev. Jesse Lee, of Virginia, in 1793, Elder Elias Hall continued to preach once a year in the town. From this small beginning a class was formed in
257
TOWN OF BUXTON.
1799, with Hugh Moore leader. Richard Hubbard was pastor in 1802-3.
The society increased in 1802, and a meeting-house was built. Buxton became a station in 1847, and in 1848 the old church was torn down to build a larger one on the same ground. In 1870 there were 127 members, with a house of worship at Kimball's Corner. The society own a par- sonage near the church.
FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
The First Free-Will Baptist Church was formed as a branch of the Gorham Church, and about the year 1800 became a separate body. Among the early ministers were Elders MeCorrison, Jonathan Clay, and Rev. Mr. Hobson. The first meeting-house was built near Meadow Brook, in 1806. This was replaced by the present one at West Bux- ton, which was dedicated in June, 1834. This church contained the first bell in the town. In 1847 it was en- larged. The later ministers were Revs. A. Hobson, P. Staples, S. F. Chaney, J. L. Sinclair, J. M. Bailey, P. S. Burbank, J. M. L. Babcock, E. G. York, G. W. Howe, E. Manson, J. M. Bailey, J. Burnham Davis, 1872 to 1876, Frank K. Chase to 1879. Officers: George H. Hill, Clerk ; Joseph Decker, Ivory Hill, Deacons.
SECOND FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
As the result of a reformation conducted by Rev. Jona- than Clay and Rev. Joseph White, from 1830 to 1834, the church increased, so that it became expedient to form a second body in the east part of the town. This church was therefore organized April 8, 1834, by members of the church who joined by letter. These were Elder Jonathan Clay and his daughter, Harriet Clay, George Carll and wife, Elijah Owen and wife, Isaac Redlon, John Cresley, Eben- ezer Whitney, Reuben Murch, and Isaac Libby, Jr., who were made clerk and treasurer. A Sunday-school was opened in the school-house, where meetings were held until the erection of the meeting-house at Spruce Swamp in 1839. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. James Libby, of Poland, in the fall of that year. Elder Clay was pastor from the organization until his death, Feb. 20, 1849. He was succeeded by Elder Uriah Chase, in 1853; I. R. Cook, 1854; Josiah Keene, 1855; Charles Bean, 1861; I. M. Bedel, 1862; George W. Whitney, 1865 ; Oliver Butler, 1867 ; A. G. Hill, 1869; B. P. Parker, 1872; W. J. Twort, 1873; W. T. Smith, 1875 ; Thomas H. Millett, licentiate, 1878; Otis F. Russell, 1879.
The first deacons were Samuel Elden, who died Oct. 27, 1872, and Elijah Owen, died March 29, 1879; present, Samuel Merrill, Thomas H. Smith. There is a parsonage near the meeting-house, which is held by subscription to shares among the members. Present Clerk, William F. Carll; trustees of parish, W. F. Carll, Andrew Flood, L. H. Owen. Membership, 88.
SCHOOLS.
The first public school was opened Aug. 20, 1761, by Mr. Silas Moody, a graduate of Harvard College, who came in May of that year with Rev. Paul Coffin. He afterwards
became a minister, and was especially eminent for his genial qualities aud true piety. The first appropriation recorded for the maintenance of schools was that of £30 in 1777. School was kept in the house of Mr. Ebenezer Ridlon, in 1785, by Barnabas Sawyer, who received £25 4s. for teach- ing six months. In 1783, " Class (district) No. 1" was " connected with Class No. 2, as far as Beach Plains road ex- tends, and also Classes Nos. 3 and 4 are connected, includ- ing only those on the way from Haines' Meadow Bridge to Hovey's." There were at this time six classes or districts. Samuel Cutts taught school in 1787, and afterwards a Miss Sands, and Masters Huse, Bangs, Grace, Kinsley, and Mor- rissey to 1794, the last teaching for about fifteen years. Gen. Irish, of Gorham, taught several terms in the Water- man District.
In compliance with the law of 1789 establishing gram- mar schools, two grammar schools were opened in the north and south districts, and taught respectively by Zenas Payne and Charles Coffin.
Through Mr. Coffin's efforts the Buxton Academy was chartered iu 1830. This failed soon after from the near- ness of other academies.
In 1879 there were reported by Dr. A. K. P. Meserve, Horace Harmon, and John H. Harmon, Superintending School Committee, 750 scholars, 401 of whom attended school in summer and 519 in winter. There were $3968.23 available for schools in that year, of which $582.41 were for the two grammar schools, and the balance for the fifteen districts comprising the town. The town appropriation for schools was $2100. The grammar schools are under the management of Charles Moulton, agent for the north, and George Hanson, agent for the south, district.
ASSOCIATIONS.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.
Saco Valley Lodge, No. 43, organized June 9, 1875, with the following officers : J. B. Davis, Noble Grand ; A. H. Barnes, Vice-Grand; Thomas Bradbury, Jr., Secretary; F. H. Hill, Treasurer. Present membership, 91. Officers, J. H. Wilson, N. G .; Marshall P. Sawyer, V. G. ; Rev. G. W. Howe, Secretary ; J. H. Bradbury, Treasurer.
MASONS.
Buxton Lodge, No. 115, F. and A. M., chartered May 7, A.D. 1863, to take precedence from March 18, A.D. 1863. The charter members were Samuel Hill, Oliver Tracy, B. F. Harmon, J. C. Bean, Wm. Butler, Emerson Smith, D. A. Maddox, I. P. Higgins, Wm. Hobson, Peter Hill, H. Willard Briant. Officers : B. F. Harmon, W. M. ; Samuel Hill, S. W .; J. P. Higgins, J. W .; Emerson Smith, Treas. ; Wm. Butler, Sec .; Oliver Tracy, S. D .; D. A. Maddox, J. D .; J. C. Bean, Tyler. Present officers : Willis Crockett, W. M .; George H. Libby, S. W .; I. T. Brackett, J. W .; Geo. W. Howe, Treas. ; James Meserve, Sec .; O. D. Rand, S. D .; Charles H. Harmon, J. D .; B. F. Randall, S. S. ; Geo. A. Sprague, J. S. ; Abel G. Smith, Tyler; Wm. Pierce, Chaplain. Number of members in 1879, 98.
33
258
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
PROFESSIONAL.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Sanborn, who came in 1791, but remained only a short time, was the first physician of the town. His sue- cessor was Dr. Royal Brewster. Dr. Bacon, the third phy- sician, though quite deaf, continued to practice, by aid of an ear-trumpet, until his death, in 1848.
A. K. P. Meserve, M.D., a prominent citizen of Buxton.
LAWYERS.
Barker Curtis, Esq., the lawyer who first opened an office for practice in Buxton, remained but a short time, and was succeeded by J. Adams and Charles Coffin. Hon. Charles E. Weld was admitted to the bar in 1842, com- meneed practice in West Buxton in 1846, was elected to the Legislature in 1865, to the Senate in 1866 and 1867, and treasurer of York County in 1879.
Joel M. Marshall began practice in Buxton, became partner of Mr. Weld, in 1865, and removed to Bar Mills in 1871, where he is still in practice.
Caleb P. Brackett was admitted to the bar in 1875, and became law partner of Mr. Weld in 1874.
Many citizens of Buxton who have entered the profession of the law have become prominent outside their native town and State. Previous to 1846 there were located at Buxton, John Adams, S. P. S. Thatcher, Charles Coffin, Joseph Woodman, William T. Hillard, Samuel V. Loring, and Edwin W. Wedgwood.
Francis Bacon began practice in Buxton, held several positions of responsibility and trust in York County, and died in 1871.
Joel M. Marshall began practice here in 1866.
Hon. Cyrus Woodman, of Cambridge, Mass., son of and grandson of Rev. Paul Coffin.
Charles G. Came, editor, poet, politician.
Hon. Mark M. Duunell, of Minnesota.
LEADING CITIZENS.
Among the more prominent citizens of Buxton have been Jacoh Bradbury, Esq., who was elected the first rep- resentative of the town in the General Court of Massachu- setts in 1781, and re-elected for several years afterwards.
IIon. John Woodman, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, aud for a number of years senator in the General Court of Massachusetts, was a native of this town. Ile died in 1827.
MILITARY.
FRENCH AND ENGLISHI WAR OF 1755-59.
A company of militia, the first in the town, was organized previous to 1757, in which year two muster-rolls in the State archives at Boston, Mass., were signed by Joseph Woodman, captain. Samuel Merrill was lieutenant.
John Lane enlisted, was a lieutenant in the war, and on his father's death,* which occurred July 14, 1756, was promoted captain. He was twenty-two years of age at his
enlistment. He afterwards served as captain in the army of the Revolution.
Daniel Lane, his brother, enlisted at the age of sixteen, served with him through the war, and was at the capture of Quebec. He also was a captain in the Revolution.
FIRST MILITIA COMPANY.
Under the constitution of Massachusetts, Joseph Good- man, Jr., Samuel Merrill, Jr., and Gideon Elden were the first commissioned officers. When the militia of the town was divided into two companies, Capt. Hugh Moore, Mark Rounds, and John Smith were appointed in the second company, leaving Capt. Bradbury, who commanded the block-house, in charge of the south division.
It is related that on one occasion, when the men were all absent from the settlement for a day and night, an alarm was raised that the savages were approaching. Mrs. Elden, wife of the captain, equal to the occasion, arrayed herself in regimentals, and, taking a rusty sword, assumed the au- thority of her husband, bidding the other women to follow her example. Armed with old muskets and bayonets, she marshaled them around the premises, giving orders in as stentorian a voice as she could command, as if to officers and soldiers. With short intervals of rest, the parade was kept up through the night and into the succeeding day, till they were relieved by the appearance of their husbands and brothers, who were very much surprised to find their settlement a garrison of soldiers.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
At the breaking out of the war the patriotic young town of Buxton called a meeting, which assembled June 26, 1774, aud appointed Capt. John Elden, John Lane, Sam- uel Hovey, Samuel Merrill, and John Mason a committee to draw up resolves expressing their sense of the injustice of the British in blockading Boston Harbor, and of other acts which they deemed destructive to American liberty. When the conflict came, their quota of men, provisions, and clothing was furnished from time to time for the army, and £30 sterling were voted for the relief of the families of those who enlisted in 1778. Citizens of Buxton fought at Cambridge ; John Elden, Jr., and Roger Plaistead were in the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Plaistead was in the engagement between the " Boxer" and the "Enterprise." The first military officers in the town, John Elden, Samuel Merrill, and Thomas Bradbury, held their commissions under the authority of the king. These they resigned on the day of rejoicing for peace, in 1783.
Thirty men enlisted previous to Aug. 26, 1777.
In Capt. Jeremiah Hill's Biddeford company, in the 30th Regiment of foot, under Col. James Scamman, en- listed May 3, 1775, part of whom crossed the Delaware with Washington, and fought at Monmouth.
Lieutenant, Samuel Merrill.
Ensign, Daniel Hill.
Sergeants, Ward Eddy, Phineas Towle.
Corporals, John Elden, Matthias Redlon.
Privates, John Cole, Nathan Woodman, Samuel Merrill, Jr., Robert Brooks, William Andros, James Redlon, Eze- kiel Bragdon, John Sands, Michal Whitney, Jonathan
Ilis father was Capt. John Lane, who commanded the Biddeford company, in Col. Joseph Dwight's regiment, in which his three sons, John, Daniel, an l Jahez, a son between eleven and twelve years old, and marked on the rolls, in September, 1754, as " under age," ac- companied him.
AARON McKENNEY.
-A BOTTLE
RESIDENCE OF AARON M'KENNEY, BUXTON, MAINE.
259
TOWN OF BUXTON.
Fields, Joseph Goodwin, Samuel Woodsum, Nehemiah Goodwin.
Capt. Daniel Lane's company was in Col. Ichabod Allen's regiment, and afterwards in the 7th Regiment, under Col. Brooks. They were enlisted in 1777 ; were in the Ticon- deroga expedition with Gen. Schuyler, and afterwards with Gen. Gates, and participated in the campaign ending with the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, N. Y. Capt. Lane was a prisoner at the time of the surrender.
David Lane, captain, enlisted Nov. 14, 1776; discharged Jan. 1, 1780.
John Woodman, sergeant, enlisted June 19, 1777 ; dis- charged Oct. 10, 1779.
Isaac Lane, fifer (son of the captain), enlisted Jan. 18, 1777 ; discharged Jan. 18, 1780.
David Redlon, enlisted March 20, 1777; discharged Dec. 31, 1780.
Ebenezer Redlon, enlisted Feb. 28, 1777 ; died May 5, 1777.
John Wilson, enlisted March 5, 1777 ; killed May 3, 1778.
Nathan Woodman, corporal, enlisted Jan. 1, 1777; dis- charged Jan. 2, 1780.
Nathan Woodman, Jr., eulisted Jan. 20, 1777; dis- charged Dec. 31, 1779.
Samuel Cole, enlisted March 18, 1777 ; discharged Dec. 30, 1780.
Benjamin Elwell, enlisted Feb. 13, 1777; discharged Feb. 13, 1780.
John Elwell (son of Benjamin Elwell), enlisted March 20, 1777 ; discharged March 20, 1780; re-enlisted for the war.
John Edgerly, enlisted Jan. 20, 1777; transferred to invalid corps Dec. 30, 1779.
John Cole (2d), enlisted Feb. 9, 1777 ; discharged Dec. 31, 1779.
John Cole, Jr., enlisted Jan. 20, 1777; transferred to Capt. Derby's company, Dec. 31, 1779.
William Hancock, enlisted Jan. 20, 1777; discharged Feb. 20, 1780.
Samuel Woodsum, on pay-roll of October, 1778.
John Woodsum, on pay-roll of October, 1778; trans- ferred to commissary department.
John Smith, ensign, on pay-roll of October, 1778.
Capt. Jabez Lane's Company .- This company was in the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, under Col. Thomas Nixon, and was with the army at Boston, Cambridge, Long Island, and with the Northern Department at Ticonderoga and West Point, under Gen. McDougall. The following names are from a memorandum of clothing issued, kept by the captain ; the main items charged are " great cot's (coats), stokens, jaccots, shurts," and " lather briches." The dates are in March, 1776.
Names : Benjamin Woodman, Phineas Tole, John Cole, Lemuel Rounds, Robert Broox (probably Brooks), Elijah Bradbury, John Hancock, William Andros, Ebenezer Redlon, John Boynton, Daniel Boynton, Ephraim Sands, Dr. Moses Atkinson, James Woodman, Stephen Whitney, Richard Clay, Henry Flood, Prospect Hill, John Lane. Abiathar and Joshua Woodman, Isaac Boynton, Samuel
Brooks, and Benjamin Clay, whose names occur elsewhere, should be added to this list.
Capt. John Elden's Company .- In this company, raised Feb. 26, 1776, for two months, were James, Joseph, Ben- jamin, and Sergt. John Woodman. These were at Dor- chester Heights, March 4th, and fought at Bunker Hill. Samuel Woodman was one of Gen. Washington's life- guards.
Capt. John Lane's company, raised in 1775, were in Col. Foster's regiment eight months, stationed at Cape Ann, after which they joined Col. Varnum, on Long Island. They were at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777 -78. There were in this company, from Buxton, John Lane Hancock, Elijah Bradbury, Joshua Woodman, Samuel Woodman, and Thomas Harmon, afterwards members of Gen. Washington's life-guard, Abiathar Woodsum, and Samuel Woodsum.
Caleb Hopkinson was one of Gen. Gates' body-guard.
Michael Rand was under Gen. Stark at Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777 ; under Gen. Greene in the South, at the battles of Cowpens, Guilford Court-House, Eutaw Springs, and at the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, Va. He was dis- charged there, Oct. 19, 1781, after five years' service, and returned to his home in Buxton on foot.
Roger Plaisted, who was in the navy, was taken prisoner and confined in Mill Prison, England, whence he escaped to France with several others, by digging under the walls of the prison with an iron hoop. Phineas Towle and William Andros were especially commended for bravery.
Many of the Revolutionary soldiers sleep in unmarked graves in the town cemeteries.
In other or unknown commands .- Ephraim Alley, Elisha Andrews, Lieut. Thomas Bradbury, Winthrop Brad- bury, Jacob Bradbury, Daniel Coolbroth, James Coolbroth, William Davis, Thomas Davis, Gibeon Elden, John Elwell, Benjamin Emery, Daniel Emery, Thomas Emery, Daniel Fields, Elias Fogg, John Hanscomb, Joel Harmon, Peltiab Harmon, Nathaniel Hill, John Jose, John Lane, Jr., Abi- jal Lewis, Esdras Lewis, Joseph Leavitt, James Moody, Hugh Moore, John Owen, Ebenezer Redlon, Jeremiah Rolfe, James Rounds, Joseph Rounds, Samuel Rounds, Theodore Rounds, Asa Simpson, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Smith, John Smith, William Smith, Jonathan Whitney, Stephen Whitney, John Wentworth, Ephraim Woodman, Michael Woodsum.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
John Woodman, 1790-95; Jacob Bradbury, 1796; none, 1797; John Woodman, 1798-99; Jacob Bradbury, 1800; John Woodman, 1801-2; Maj. Samuel Merrill, 1803-4; John Woodman, 1805; Samnel Merrill, Jr., Nathan Elden, 1806; Capt. Jas. Woodman, Samuel Mer- rill, 1807 ; William Merrill, 1808; Lieut. William Merrill, Maj. Samuel Merrill, 1809; Maj. Samuel Merrill, Capt. James Woodman, 1810; Gibeon Elden, Brice Boothby, 1811 ; Gibeon Elden, William Merrill, Benjamin Leavitt, 1812; Benjamin Leavitt, 1813; none, 1814-15; Levi Hubbard, 1816; none, 1817; Benjamin Leavitt, 1818; Joseph Woodman, Samuel Merrill, Jr., William Merrill, 1819.
260
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
STEPHEN H. BERRY
was born in Buxton, York Co., Me., Dec. 22, 1811, the youngest child of Thomas and Mehitable (Harmon) Berry. His parents were natives of Buxton ; after marriage settled at Bar Mills, on the place now owned and occupied by Wm. Sawyer, and here their three children-Sarah, Arthur, and Stephen H .- were born. Sarah, wife of Joseph Garland, of Buxton, is deceased ; Arthur was drowned in the Saco River when about three years of age. His father died when Stephen H. was seven years old, and he lived with his mother until her death, which occurred in January, 1833. He received a common-school education, supple- mented by upwards of a year's attendance at the Alfred Academy. His father was part owner of a saw-mill at Bar Mills, Buxton, and thus Stephen H. became early em- ployed in the manufacture of lumber, which occupation he followed during his life, carrying on an extensive business in that line. He dealt largely in timber-lands, and at his death left a large property in them. In politics he was a life-long Democrat, but, though often solicited, uniformly declined to accept publie position. His time was fully de- voted to the prosecution of his business enterprises. He was prompt and honorable in all his dealings. His word was as good as his bond. He contributed his share of means towards the support of the churches and other be- nevolent enterprises of his neighborhood. Though not a member, he was a church-going man. He was married, Dec. 14. 1834, to Catharine Coffin, danghter of James and Jane Coffin. Mrs. Berry was born in Porter, Oxford Co., Me., Dec. 21, 1807. Her father was among the earliest settlers of Porter, was justice of the peace and selectman there many years, and ocenpied other offices of trust. Mrs. Berry was educated at the Fryeburg and Saco Academies. The children are as follows: Thomas H., born Sept. 2, 1835 ; married, June 30, 1869, Anna Woodman, daughter of Sewall Woodman, of Hollis; wife died Aug. 19, 1871. Martha H., born Sept. 24, 1839; wife of N. F. Lord, of Buxton; died Jan. 12, 1878. Abba C., born July 20, 1841; died March 28, 1847. Stephen E., born July 7, 1844; died Dec. 17, 1866. An- drew L., born Dec. 4, 1845 ; married, Feb. 6, 1878, Susan A. Came, daughter of Abraun L. Came, of Buxton. Addi- son P., born Nov. 3, 1847; died Sept. 21, 1849. Kate, born Dec. 25, 1849.
Mr. Berry died Sept. 25, 1877.
At the present time all the surviving members of the family are residing at the homestead, a representation of which, with the portrait of Mr. Berry, appears on another page of this work.
AARON McKENNEY
was born in the town of Saco, York Co., Me., April 4, 1806. His grandfather, John McKenney, was an early settler in the town of Scarborough, Cumberland Co., Me., and here his four sons-Samuel, Aaron, Philemon, and John-were born. He moved from Scarborough and settled in Saco, where bis sons became prominent and extensive farmers. The family has been noted for its longevity. John Mc- Kenney lived to be nearly one hundred years old, each of his sons upwards of ninety years, and Aaron McKenney, from whom the subject of our sketch received his name, is still living at the advanced age of one hundred and two. Samuel MeKeuney, the eldest of the four sons, and father of Aaron, was born in 1774 or 1775; married Mary Par- cher, by whom he had six children,-four sons and two daugh- ters,-viz., Alvin, Olive, Aaron, Asa, Mary Ann, and Samuel, all born in Saco. The daughters are deceased; the sons are all living. The father died at the age of ninety-six. It is said of him that he hoed one thousand hills of corn in a day when ninety-four years of age. Aaron MeKenney spent his minority at home on his father's farm, receiving only a common-school education. He was married in Saco, in 1828, to Lucy Milliken, daughter of Abram Milliken, of Buxton. In 1833 he moved to Buxton and settled on the farm where he still resides. For twenty-nine win- ters in succession he was in the woods getting out logs and drawing them to the river-bank, employing a large force of men and teams, and did, perhaps, as large a business in this line as any one on the Saco River. About the year 1849, in company with his son Charles W. McKenney, he pur- chased the saw-mills at Bar Mills, on the Hollis side of the Saco River, and has carried on for years an extensive business in the manufacture of lumber. In politics, Mr. MeKenney has been a life-long Democrat. He has filled a number of town-offices, and for the past four years has been chairman of the board of selectmen. In religious sentiment a Uni- versalist. By a life of untiring industry he has secured a handsome competency, but, what is by far better, through strict integrity and honorable dealing, has gained the confi- dence and esteem of the entire community in which he lives. Strictly temperate in his habits, of a genial, social disposition, an affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent parent, a good neighbor, Mr. McKenney deservedly ranks among Buxton's best citizens. His children in order of birth are as follows: Charles W., Maranda, Phoebe A., Mary, Martha, Abram, and Lucy Jane. Maranda, Martha, and Abram are deceased. Charles W. lives in Hollis; owns and carries on the mills at Bar Mills, doing an extensive Inmbering business. Phoebe A. is wife of J. P. Water- house, of Portland. Mary and Lucy Jane are living at home.
THOMAS EMERY.
MRS. THOMAS EMERY.
14, 14, 1
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE THOMAS EMERY, BUXTON CENTRE, MAINE, NOW THE PROPERTY OF MARK P. EMERY, PORTLAND, MAINE.
260}
TOWN OF BUXTON.
MARK P. EMERY.
The name of Emery is of Norman origin. Was intro- duced into England, 1066, by Gilbert D'Amory, of Tours, in Normandy, a follower of William the Conqueror, and with him at the battle of Hastings. In 1635, John, and son John, and Anthony, his brother, boru in Romsey, in Nantes, a small cathedral town, about eight miles northerly from Southampton, embarked from the latter place for America, in the ship " James," Captain Cooper, and landed in Boston, June 3d of that year. They at once proceeded to Newbury. John there settled, and died in 1683. The locality of his longest residence, at Oldtown Lower Green, is still known as " Emery's Field." From him sprang a numer- ous progeny, whose representatives are scattered far and wide. Anthony went to Kittery, where he settled, and from whom proceeded the other branch of this numerous family.
A family reunion of the Emerys was held at " Ould Newberrie," Sept. 3, 1879, some eighty persons being pres- ent from all parts of the country. Among them were Rev. Samuel Hopkins Emery, of Taunton, Mass .; George Emery, of Boston ; Rev. Rufus Emery, of Newburgh, N. Y. ; Rev. Dr. Emery, of West Newbury ; Representative Levi Emery, of Lawrence; Moses Jefferson Emery, of Haverhill; George Edwin Emery, of Lynn ; and Mark P. Emery, of Portland, Me.
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.