The Clinton and Benton Register, 1904: 
INDUSTRIAL ACCOUNT & TANNERY
Compiled by Mitchell and Daggett
Kents Hill, Maine: 
Published by the H.E. Mitchell Publishing Company 1904
pages 7-9.

INDUSTRIAL ACCOUNT

About 1833 David Hunter, 1st, ("King David"), David 2d,, and James
his brother, built the first saw mills where the present mills now stand; 
and in 1834 David Hunter, 1st, David 2d, and Jonathan Brown erected
a grist mill on the site of that now in operation.  Cain and Webber's 
roller mill was established 16 years ago by Mr. Webber and others, 
Mr. Cain entering into the partnership about three years later. 
They have a store in connection and do about $15,000 worth 
of business annually. These me are also extensive lumber dealers, 
buying timber lots and clearing off the lumber.

On the island opposite the village was once, in 1836, 
a shingle machine owned primarily by E.G. Hodgdon, David Hunter, 
1st and others, but afterwards run by James Spaulding.  About 1850 
it was changed into a brush factory, the owners being tow Vermont men.  
After three or four years they sold it to Justin Brown, who
for a time manufactured staves in the building.  Brown sold to A.R.
Mitchell & Co., who erected a large building, for the manufacture of 
croquet sets and brush handles.  This firm failed, however, and the factory 
was set off to the creditors.  Shortly after this, about 1885, the factory was 
burned to the ground.  In 1884, Arthur McNally bought the land 
and the privilege.  Later he build the saw mill when he sold to 
Manly Morrison in 1898.  Fifteen men are employed
in this mill and a large amount of business done annually.

As early as 1840 a carding mill was built by Billings & Stinchfield,
near the old Hunter grist mill.  Billings afterwards 
bought out Stinchfield and conducted the business until he died.  
Jesse Dorman bought the plant and run it until 1890, when
he sold it to William Lamb.

Mr. Lamb run a saw mill until 1894, when it was totally
destroyed at the event of the second big fire.  A roller mill
was built by Will Richardson and Maurice Kendall, and
opened in the fall of 1899.  The following May Alpheus Richardson 
bought out Will Richardson, and afterward
assumed full control.

TANNERY

The tannery was built in 1890 by Jonathan B. Besse, 
and is now owned and operated by his son Frank L. Besse.  
The leather tanned is mostly sheepskin and is used for shoe
linings.  The tannery has a capacity for tanning 3000 
skins a day, employing about 20 men.  The average monthly 
payroll is $750.  One thousand cords of hemlock bark are 
used each year at the tannery.

Spaulding and Davis' Novelty business has developed into an 
important industry within the last few years.  They now 
make six different articles of household use, viz: Clothes 
dryers, ironing tables, wall racks, sleeve  oards, lace curtain 
stretchers, and the last one added, clothes tongs.  
Seven hands are employed.  Last year the company sold 21,027 pieces.

The famous Billings axes are made here by Geo. P. Billings, 
whose father established the business many years ago.  
A sawmill near Pishon's Ferry is in active operation, 
Geo. Ricker, proprietor.



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