Families of Steuben, ME: This town forms the southwestern angle of Washington County. It was No. 4 of six second-class townships east of the Union River, granted in 1762 by Massachusetts to an association of petitioner; but these having failed to fulfill the conditions, it reverted to the state, and was in 1794 granted to Thomas Ruston. IT was first settled in 1760 and in 1795 was incorporated as a town, named in honor of Baron Steuben, the German officer who so nobly aided in our Revolutionary struggle. Baron Steuben's full name was Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus, Baron von Steuben. He was a major-general and a thorough drillmaster, who whipped our untrained, hungry and half-clad troops into a victorious army, while they were suffering at Valley Forge and Howe's army was enjoying a comfortable winter in Philadelphia. The early settlers were mostly from Cape Elizabeth and other towns to the west. Some of them were fisherman. Deacon Jonathan Stevens and his wife, Mary Tracy, were early residents of Steuben and settled near the head of the bay. Some time between 1766 and 1768, Alexander Campbell moved from Damariscotta to Steuben and built a mill at Tunk, later called Smithville, on the east side of the river. Later he built a dam and tide mill down below. Colonel Campbell, born at Georgetown, was of Scottish descent: he was a friend of Colonel John Allen, his adviser, aid and confidential correspondent, agent and envoy of the people. The Pinkhams who came from Gouldsborough settled at what was called Pinkham's Bay and built a tide mill on Pinkham's Mill Stream. Thomas Parritt, a Scotchman, came from Canada and settled at Steuben about 1770. The Parkers of Steuben arrived from Cumberland County, some time between 1766 and 1770. John Yeaton came about 1766 from the vicinity of Falmouth and settled in Steuben. Joseph Sawyer from Cape Elizabeth made his home at Dyer Bay in Steuben a little later than 1767. Samuel Wakefield came from Kennebunk in 1756 or 1757 and settled at the head of the bay on a lot now comprising a considerable part of Steuben Village. Among the very early settlers was Lemuel Baker from Roxbury, Massachusetts, who settled near the shore on what is known as Baker's Point. In early days of the Republic, at Dyer's Bay dwelt the businessmen of that say and generation: Dyers, Yeatons, Sawyers and Parkers, well-to-do people, energetic and enterprising men. Henry Dyer came from Cape Elizabeth in 1760, the father of shipbuilder Ebenezer Dyer, who, with his sons, were all prominent shipbuilders. Here also lived the Dunbars and the Leightons. The business part of town was here as late as 1830. Joseph Sawyer, considered the wealthiest man in the town, also lived at Dyer's Bay and built ships. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://home.netscape.com/webmail