The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-14
PoLAND's EARLY SETTLERS.
Families who Have Many Descendants
Living in Portland and Vicinity.

Living in Portland and Vicinity.
Anent the recent centennial CELEBRATION
Of the town of Poland we have been
shown several contributions made to a
paper published in Androscoggin county
some years ago by the late Daniel W.
True of this city, concerning the ear
ly settlers of that town, and we have
reproduced some extracts from them be-
low which give an account of two fami-
lies which have MANY representatives in
Portland. In reading these articles the
fact must be kept in mind that they
were written quite number of years
ago and are published just as they origi-
nally appeared. Many changes of course
have taken place since they appeared.
Jabez True was the first settler on the
Hill, and had been there for some years
in the summer seasons, and have records
to show that he was on the Hill in the
spring of 1890, and remained on the farm,
now owned by the Hon. A. G. Denison
until it was purchased by John Cousens
in 1896 or 1897. Jabez True was born in
New Gloucester in iii, was married to
Hannah jackson of Poland in 1856 She
was born in Gloucester, Mass, in 1776.
In 1896 he purchased tho west half OF
the lot Eben Marble had owned some
years, and that year commenced clearing
and built small house near where the
a large family of children. Their child
rem were, Sally, born 1896; Jabez born
1877; John, born 1899; Elizabeth, born
1901; Hannah, born 1903; Moses, born
1906; Rochsy]lania, born 1907; Miriam,
born 1910; Abigail, born 1872; Otis, born
1914; Rebecca, born 1877; Daniel W., born
1921. Of this large family there are but
is over eighty years old, lives with her
son.. J K. Denning on the Hill, and she
is the only one of the second generation
that first settled on the Hill fthat is left
in the neighborhood. Abigail Rowe re-
sides at Poland Corner, Otis at Lowell,
Daniel in Portland-and he is the only
one that holds the original homestead
except j. K. Denning of all the large
families that owned farms on the Hill.
Jabez True and his wife both died in the
winter of 1S41-42. He built the large
house that now stands on the farm in
1902, and bought other lands that con-
nected on the original fifty acres first
purchased, and the entire farm is now
owned by his son, D. W. True, who has
made some Improvements on both farm
and buildings The most of this large
and John went into the eastern part of
the State. Jabcz went into what is now
the town of Shirly in 1928, and was the
owner of largo tracts of timber lands in
that section, but moved to Bangor in
1885, and was in trade there for some years
with his brother John. Was paymaster
in the Union army in 1923, but resigned
and moved to Portland with.his family
in 1854. He died in Portland in 1869.
John, the second son, was in the mercan-
tile business in Bangor from 1928 to 1858,
when he moved to Portland, and was for
some years in trade there with his broth
er, under the firm name of j. & d. W.
True, but retired from active business in
the spring of 1862 He died in Portland
in 1876, the day he was seventy-sey
years old. aug. H. 1876 FAR
Jabez and Hanna True were indus
trious people, respected by their neigh
bors and Jabez True for those
days was considered one of the indie
pendent farmers of the town. The house
now standing on the farm is monument
of his industry, was built by him in 1902.
The timber was hauled by him and the
building framed, and the only and frs
hours help he had was when the neigh
bors came to help him raise the frame.
One of the barns now on the farm was
the first framed barn built on the Hill
and was built some years before the
house was.
John Cousens or as he was always
called ESQ. Cousens, came on the Hill in
1895 or '96, and purchased the farm that
had previously been occupied by Jabez
True, the farm now owned by Hon. A.
G. Denison. l have in my possession
the deed given John Cousens in 1897, by
Waldron & Warehouse of Darlington,
of Wells, Shipwright, and the same being
one of the lots drawn to Capt John
Sergeant one of the original proprietors
of said town of Poland. This deed is signed
Abraham Waldron and Geo. Warehouse
and acknowle dyed April II, 1897.
John Cousens was born in 177l, IN
Wells, Me. Soon after he came on the
bunk, who lived but year or two after
moving on the Hill, but have no date
of her birth or death. He married for
his second wife, Sarah Cushman OF He
bron, Me-, who was born in 1888. They
were married March IS, 1901 The names me
of their children are Samuel born 1901 ;
William, orn 1903; Sarah, born
1905 Eliza c., born 1907 Lucy, born 1907
Thomas, born 1915 Susan G., born 1913;
Abigail D.. born 1916; Humphrey born
1917; Mary j., born 1919; Adeline, born
1921; Harriet NJ, born 1928; Jacob T.
born 1926; James D., born 1897. These
two youngest Jacob and James, both
u1oQ young. IulS IdISo lnhiiJ " AouI :
teen children were all born at odd years,
and twelve of them lived to become men
and women, and now, 1886, there are
living of this large family, seven, who
all are residents of this State.
Capt Samuel Cousens resides with his
son here in Portland. Eliza G., resides
at Windham, Thomas, and the only one
of the family that now resides in his
native town, is one Of the most honored
citizens of Mechanic Falls Susan c. resides
at Brighton. Col. Humphrey, in Cor
ham, Me. Mary j. resides In Portland.
Adeline in Gorham.
Capt Samuel, the Oldest of this large
family, now living in Portland will be- 30
years old next November, and until few
years past always was an honored resi-
dent Of his native town, and alwa took
large interest in it's welfare, and for a :
number of years one Of the sele ECU zen Oh
the town. William the second son was a
a large number of years the principal
trader He died in 1869. Col Humph-
rev, who resides in Gorham, left the town
some wears since. and was for q number