USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunk > Kennebunk history : not a history of Kennebunk but a few items in addition to and a sequel to "The village of Kennebunk, Maine" (revised to 1939) : a description of a few more old homes, a few biographical sketches > Part 13
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).
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Eclipsed is oft her glory now, By selfishness, deceit and fraud;
Cleanse Thou each heart, lead it to bow In penitence to Thee, O God.
Uphold our nation, Father, still, Her many trespasses forgive;
So may she all Thy law fulfill, That centuries hence she yet may live. 1
For all Thy favors, Lord, we bring Our thanks upon this natal day. With joy,-of mercies past,-we sing; For future blessings humbly pray. Kennebunk, July 4, 1876.
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FIRST BRICK BUILDING
The first brick building in Kennebunk was erected by Water- ston and Pray in 1806. It was on the site of the Ocean National Bank erected in 1929. They sold it in 1817 to John U. Parsons & Co. The inside was badly damaged by fire, Aug. 3, 1824. Soon after the fire it was sold to Isaac Lord of Effingham, N. H., who repaired the building. After being repaired it was known for a few years as the Phenix Building.
The eastern end, first story. was occupied by James and Isaac Lord, son of Isaac, succeeded by Edwin C. Frost and he by Nathan Dane, Jr. The western end was occupied by Major Bar- nabas Palmer. He also kept the post office. He was succeeded by the Misses L. K. and J. Wells, millinery. The second story was occupied by the law office of Edw. E. Bourne and William B. Sewell. When the Ocean Bank was organized, May 25, 1854, Mr. Sewell removed his office to his house and the bank occupied the west corner room, and an outside stairway was built for them. In the third story was Mousam Hall known at one time as Union Hall. In this hall Mousam Lodge, I. O. O. F. was insti- tuted, May 8, 1845. They remained there until 1858, after which the hall was again used for lectures and entertainments. Salus Lodge of Good Templars was instituted in this hall June 8, 1866. The block was owned at one time by Hon. Nathan Dane of Alfred.
An annex was built on the eastern end in 1825 by Daniel Wise, Jr. Brick on Main Street and the eastern end and rear built of wood. The third story of the annex was used a few years by the Masons. In 1835 the annex was sold to Jonathan Stone of Kennebunkport who opened it as the Mousam House (see Mr. Remich's History, page 442 for the orthography of the word Mousam). He was succeeded by Hinds & Whitten, who kept it a few years and sold to Hosea and B. Frank Goodwin. B. F kept it several years as a boarding house then as a hotel, the sign reading 1855. April 10, 1861, he removed to the Jef- ferds Tavern taking the sign with him and that has since been called the Mousam House and was known as such until 1937 when it was razed and an auto filling station erected in its place.
On the evening of Dec. 3, 1869 fire again swept through the walls of the Old Brick (as it used to be termed) and this time the walls crumbled. The Ocean National Bank built on the western end in 1870 and the Savings Bank annex about 1903, and the present handsome Bank building in 1929.
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CHAPTER XI
A few genealogical sketches of residents whose record is not all given in the preceding pages. The families of many of the early settlers are closely connected and a detailed record would take up too much room. As some of these names have been frequently referred to in the preceding pages only a short description will be given of them-Emery Andrews, W. E. Barry, Maj. Nathaniel Cousens, Capt. Henry F. Cur- tis, Saml. Clark, Chas. W. Goodnow, Maj. Wm. Jefferds, Capt. John C. Lord, Chas. H. Lucas, Albert W. Meserve, Nath. M. Towle, Ward Bros. (John T. and Edward).
EMERY ANDREWS
He was born in Ware, Mass., April 6, 1836; died in Kenne- bunk June 13, 1903, aged 67 years. He married Ellen S. Cham- berlain. They had four sons, Paul I., Henry, Ralph, Philip, and a daughter who died in infancy. Paul, Henry and Philip are dead. Ralph, born January 7, 1881, married August 20, 1906, Agnes Little of Kennebunkport. He is a lawyer and the present Register of Probate of York County. Mr. Andrews came to Ken- nebunk in 1876 as the resident manager of the Mousam Manf. Co. (Leatherboard). For a detailed description, see the "Village of Kennebunk" pages 53 to 58. He purchased the house corner of Swan and Day Streets where he resided until August 7, 1879, when he purchased the house built by Mr. Joseph Titcomb on Summer Street where he resided until his death.
WILLIAM EDWARD BARRY
Architect and historian, son of Capt. Charles E. Barry of Boston and Sarah (Cleaves) Barry, daughter of William Lord of Kennebunk, born May 15, 1846, died June 7, 1932, aged 86 years. Married September 27, 1875, Florence Wallingford Hooper. He resided for several years 'in the Wallingford house, York Street, and after the death of his mother, Mrs. Perkins, in the Williamson house, Summer Street. They had two children, who died in early life. He was a recognized authority on early Kennebunk history. He remodeled the Capt. Saml. Jefferds Tav-
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ern in Harrisicket (Pike's) and placed several bronze markers in different places in this town and Wells (one of them at the Lar- rabee garrison near the Mousam River).
MAJ. NATHANIEL COUSENS :
The town of Kennebunk voted at the annual meeting in 1938 to name the schoolhouse built on Day Street in 1934, the Nathan- iel Cousens School. A record of his birth, parents, marriage and death would be of interest but does not seem to be available. Judge Bourne says that he was the son of Ichabod Cousens and he gives a detailed record of Ichabod's children, but that does not include Nathaniel, although he says that Nathaniel was the son of Ichabod. The town records say that Nathaniel died Au- gust 13, 1832, aged 92 years. Judge Bourne says that he lived to the advanced age of 95 years. Mr. Remich says that his wife was Catherine, daughter of Joshua Lassell, Jr., of Arundel, date not given. He says that their daughter Catherine married Benj. Wentworth. (W. S. Thompson's Portland records say his daugh- ter Olive married Wentworth.) Both historians speak very highly of him, both of his military and civil service. He served with his father in the old French war and was longer in military service than any other inhabitant of Wells.
He was one of the Selectmen of Wells for the long period of twenty-five years. He was for many years clerk of the second parish in Wells. He was educated as a carpenter and devoted many years to framing buildings, afterwards to ship building and mill work. Mr. W. E. Barry gives an interesting sketch of him and his house in his book, "A Stroll Thro' the Past," but does not give dates. A description of the Cousens house may be found on another page.
CAPT. HENRY FULLER CURTIS
Son of Ralph and Susan (Walker) Curtis, born September 9, 1829, died March 11, 1919. Married Harriet Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Rev. Edmund Worth. They celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary, Jan. 3, 1909. They had four children. He was a mariner in early life, sailing with Kennebunk captains. He served in the United States Navy from May 25, 1864, to Nov. 15, 1865, during the Civil War.
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SAMUEL CLARK
He came from Cape Neddick about 1840, learned the car- penter trade of Oliver Littlefield. He built a house on High Street near the corner of Friend Street which he sold to Joseph Sargent in 1849. He then built another on the corner of Storer and Sayward Streets which he sold in 1851 to Porter Hall. His next one was on Brown Street, which he sold in 1866 to Wm. Downing. He then bought the house of Nathaniel Jefferds next to the Mousam House which he remodeled and where he lived until his death, April 11, 1881, aged 61 years. His wife was Betsy Littlefield, daughter of Joshua and Mary (Estes) Little- field. They had eight children. He also had a hardware store on the triangle, burned in the fire of 1858. He then built on the corner of Main and Water Street. Later he built on the triangle a store which he enlarged for the K. P. hall. He also operated the saw mill on Water Street and was a partner of J. H. Fer- guson in the sash and blind mill.
MAJ. WM. JEFFERDS
Son of Capt. Samuel Jefferds of Harrisicket. Born in Wells, January 19, 1753, died April 28, 1820. He married June 8, 1775, Olive, daughter of James Gillpatrick of Harrisicket. His father, Capt. Saml., was proprietor of the Tavern which was known later as Pike's, and also had a fulling mill there. (This Tavern was renovated by Mr. W. E. Barry.) Maj. William removed to Ken- nebunk in 1777 and built a fulling mill on the western side of the Mousam River just below the present entrance to Brown Street and a house nearby. He operated the mill until about 1791, when he bought the house of Dominicus Lord which was on the lot that he (Lord) had begun to clear April 19, 1775, and at once opened it as a public house and soon enlarged it. He was landlord until 1814 when he was succeeded by his son, Capt. George Jefferds. Maj. William had ten children and they had many descendants.
RICHARD GILLPATRICK
Son of James and Sarah (Boothby) Gillpatrick, born at Har- risicket, November 7, 1753. He died September 15, 1828. He had
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two wives, the first, married in 1776, was Mary, daughter of Capt. James Hubbard. His second was Dorothy Rose Moody of York, 1795. He learned the blacksmith trade of James Kimball, his brother-in-law, then built a shop near the entrance to Brown Street. Later he had a store with his son, Wm., on the triangle. He was interested in shipbuilding on the Mousam River and in the Iron works. He later owned nearly all of the mill property on the West side of the river which he sold in 1825 to the Ken- nebunk Manf. Co. and then built a house on Pleasant Street. He had four children by his first wife and five children by his second.
CHARLES WARREN GOODNOW
Son of John B. and Mary (Hunt) Goodnow, born in South Sudbury, Mass., February 15, 1860; died in Kennebunk Novem- ber 16, 1934. He married Frances M. Hastings of South Fram- ingham, Mass. They had two children, Mary, who married Lin- coln Morton, and Charles H., living in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He came to Kennebunk in 1876 as clerk for the Mousam Manf. Co. (Leatherboard), and was with that company and the Leath- eroid Company for many years. A trustee for 40 years of the Kennebunk Savings Bank and 30 years its president; also a di- rector of the Ocean National Bank. In 1889 he bought the house of George Parsons on Fletcher Street in which he resided until 1905 when he bought the Capt. Joseph Hatch house on Summer Street, which he razed and erected the present handsome residence where he resided until his death.
CAPT. JOHN CLEMENT LORD
Son of Capt. John and Sarah (Kimball) Lord, born Febru- ary 14, 1833. He died at Sailors' Snug Harbor, New Brighton, Staten Island, April 11, 1917. He was married, January 24, 1857, to Elizabeth Mitchell at St. Mary's, Islington, London, England. He was a master mariner; also served three years in the United State Navy from 1863 to 1867, as acting ensign, navigator and ordnance officer on U. S. Steamers Yantic, Gettysburg and New Hampshire. He participated in the assault on Fort Fisher, N. C., January 15, 1865. He was made a Mason November 24, 1855, in the Lodge of St. David's in the East, No. 371, of Scotland, at Calcutta, British India. Joined York Lodge, October 23, 1871,
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and was worshipful master 1891-92. His residence when in Kennebunk was in the old Kimball house now the site of the U. S. Post Office.
CHARLES HENRY LUCAS
Son of Gilman and Betsy (Clough) Lucas, was born in York, May 29, 1851. He died in Kennebunk December 5, 1922, aged 72 years. He was twice married, first to Ida E., daughter of A. F. Wormwood; his second wife was Marcia Frances, daughter of Hans P. Hobbs of Wells. He came to Kennebunk in 1872 as a marble worker for John E. Staples who had a shop on Fletcher Street, later he purchased the business. In 1882 he purchased the undertaking business of George H. Gilman. He bought the house on Grove Street built by B. F. Lunt, and removed the Marble Shop and Undertaking Establishment to that place. He also pur- chased the hearse, which before that time was owned by a com- pany, with a hearse house back of the Unitarian Church.
ALBERT WESLEY MESERVE
Born in Naples, Maine, October 31, 1862, son of Isaac G. Me- serve. He came to Kennebunk in 1900 as a druggist. He gradu- ated from Bowdoin college in 1888, was a school teacher eight years; town clerk of Kennebunk 33 years and until his death; treasurer of the Loan and Building Association and a trustee of the Water district. He married October 5, 1905, Jean S. Locke, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and November 24, 1934, Lena M. Sawyer of Kennebunk. He died January 5, 1937.
NATHANIEL M. TOWLE
He came to Kennebunk from Exeter, N. H., in the late 1820's, exact date uncertain but he was hotel keeper in 1824 and was landlord of Jefferds Tavern for more than ten years and through the busy years of the stage coach travel. He was mar- ried three times. His first wife was Sabina Fay of New Hamp- shire, his second, Hannah Gillpatrick, daughter of Nathaniel Jefferds; his third, a Miss Bacon. He later removed to Saco. He was State Senator in 1853, Collector of Customs and president of Insurance Co. He died March 14, 1865, from the effects of injuries received in a railroad accident at Brunswick, Maine.
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JOHN T. and EDWARD WARD
They came to Kennebunk about 1871 as contractors for build- ing a section of the Boston and Maine R. R. extension. They were natives of Ireland, coming to this country in early life. John T. born May 15, 1842, died July 13, 1923. Edward born August 1, 1844, died April 1, 1918. John T. married Anne Rice and Edward married Josephine Rice, sisters. John T. bought the Hubbard house, Summer Street; later the George Wise estate. Edward lived, first, in the John Clem Lord house (site of post office). He and his father-in-law, Mr. Rice, built in 1878 the double house on Elm Street in which he lived until his death. The firm built many railroads, and the large paper mills at Milli- nocket and Berlin, New Hampshire.
MUSTER ROLL OF THE REVOLUTION
The following is a copy of a paper which I found among my great grandfather's papers in 1859. I don't know where the men lived who are named in that Muster Roll. It may interest some future historian.
A Muster Roll of Capt. Joseph Pray's Company of Col. Na- thaniel Wads Regiment of the Massachusetts State Troops Now in Service of the United States Stationed in the State of Rhode Island to serve for the term of Six Months from July 1, 1778.
Commissioned Officers Appointed or Detached for Service
July 1, 1778: Joseph Pray, Captain; Charles Trafen, 1st Lieut .; John Gilpatrick, Jr., 2nd Lieut. (my great grandfather). Sargents, Time Detached July 1: John Kingbary, Ebenfred Ford, Paul Welch, George Means.
Corporals, Time Detached July 1: Moses Stevens, Isaiah Trafen, Joseph Night, Charls Trafen.
Privates, Time Detached, July 1: Will Sargent, Johah Mol- ten, Moses Ricker, Ebenez'r Trible, John Jose, Wil'm Sebastan, Reuben Littlefield. Joel Gillison, Wil'm Table, Robert Town, Lim Walker. John Evens, John Roys Wm. Carlile, Jon'n Sargent, Bonj. Worster, Richard Shean. David Clarke, John Dunell, Sam'll Shaw, John Trow, Win, Obediah Cousens, John Welch, Wm. Tudley, Landers Earl, Isaac Read, Ebenezar Welch.
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