Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-25
Daily Kennebec 3ournal.
100 YEARS OLD.
Continued from page ~

goes to bed in the latter part of the
afternoon, and at about O'Clock,
takes his supper in bed. which he eats
with good relish. Occasionally he Is
the first one up and will build the fire,
if allowed to.
He is usually very patient, seldom
complaining, and seems to still get
much enjoyment out of life. He Is
naturally reserved and habitually
keeps his troubles to himself. He Is a
general favorite in the town and one
in whom every one takes Il great IN
terest. not only on account of his great
age. but also on account of his other
noteworthy and excellent qualities.
He has always been opposed to haV-
ing his picture taken and there is no
late good likeness of him. ON one OF
his, trips down town, some time ago,
he was induced to sit for his picture
hy some of his friends. and this IS the
only likeness of him obtainable, eX-
ccpt some snap shots that were taken
by chance at various times. one of
these, which is considered about the
best BY his relatives, and the one from
which the cut in this sketch was made,
has an interesting history. Mr.. Ken
lstll ana MS SISTER NtIt SlibiiSn III tl''
yard one summer day when a camera
ficnd happened along ana asked per
mission to take a snap shot of them.
He succeeded in getting a very good
picture but only one was secured by
the family and all attempts to locate
the man who took the picture have
failed
The mysterious loss Of Mr.. Kcndalfs
son cast n shadow over his whole life
and pprchance the hope that the wan
derer might some day return has given
him the courage to bear the weight of
his many years uncomplainingly- one
of the most pathetic things of his ex-
trcme age is when he totters to the
drawer where few reminders of his
lost boy are cherished and taking them
out holds them lovingly in his trem-
bling hands and lives over again the
happy days when he was the proud
father of n staiWart son. The mystery
Of his sons disappearance will now
probably never be explained. but he
still cherishos the hope that he may
see him once more, and this hope
makes one of the brightest spots in his
life.
General William Kendall, father Of
George Kendall, the subject of this
sketch. came to what is now the town
of Fairfield. in 11S1, and purchased Of
Jonas Duntcn the rights and privil-
eyes in 4 dam across the kennebec and
mill which he was then engaged in
constructing. General Kendall. after
purchasing, completed the dam and
mill and added a grist mill. The dam
was the first one ever built across the
Kennebec and stood at a point near the
present location of the power station
of the Waterville & Fairfield Light &
Power Co This was the beginning of
the towns famous group Of mills at
that point, of which none are now in
| operation, that of \. Totman 6, Sons
| being the last to shut down, although
| it was far removed from the original
mills. The grist mill and saw mill
| built by General Kendall Were the
| original Kendalrs Mills, and gave the
town it's original name. The name. by
| the way was shouted on the trains at
| this station until within a very few
years in connection with the new name
| for the benefit Of the older passengers
who remembered the town by the old
name. Occasionally even now check
| can be seen on Il lTunh lldIhtu INtll-
dalrs Mills The original mills stood
until 1896, when they We're torn down
| to make room for three new ones built
| by Boston capitalists. The second
mills were destroyed by fire.
General Kendall also constructed q
store. where he conducted n large bust
ness in the good old-fashioned way,
selling anything from pins and calico
| 10 moIasses and hardware. 1t was one
| Of the original department stores
Some of the timbers of this store are
now said to be in one af the houses on
| the island.
Christmas day. 1852, General Kendall
came sailing down the Kennebcc in a
small rowboat with his bride, Miss Age
| bell Chase of PishOn's Ferry, and took
| her to Il small log cabin ON the bank of
the river 1t is said that the river has
been open at that season OF the year put
once since.
The generals business evidently pros
nercd. for a year after his wedding day
found him living in larger house on
what is now known as Newhall street,
npor where the house now occupied by
Joseph T. Murray stands. The third res
idpnce Of the general was the famous Old
brick house which stood. until within a
few wears on the site of the present resi-
dercG of "A. F. Gerald. The "old brick
bouse' = as it was known for many years.
was long n landmark of the town IT
| stood on the corner of NcWhall and
Fridge streets, facing the Maine Central
| denot and had a history that would de-
| light the heart OF any historian. 49,.