About the year 1790, John Jennings built the first saw-mill, a small affair at West Leeds for the use of himself and his three sons near him, but accommodated his neighbors by sawing for them.  This was located near where Zachary Cary subsequently built a fulling-mill.  The second saw-mill was built in 1804, by Thomas Mitchell and Elias and Peter Lane.  Andrew Cushman who married Bathseba Jennings in 1789, and settled in Leeds, built the first grist-mill, in 1814, on the privilege at West Leeds now occupied by R. E. Swain. In 1817, he built a saw-mill on now occupied by R. E. Swain.  In 1817, he built a saw-mill on the same power.  At his death in 1844, Daniel Hinkley became the proprietor and built a new mill.  Stillman and Seth Howard later owned this property.  Orrin B. Taylor was the next owner; was succeeded in turn by E. E. Wheeler, Rodolphus Jennings and R. E. Swain.  Mr. Swain is the present proprietor of this water-power and has a manufactory of box boards and dowels, which furnishes employment to several persons.  Eben Mason built the second grist- mill in town in 1816, on the same stream, deriving power from an overshot wheel 16 feet in diameter.  Like most of the early mills this had a short existence.  This Eben Mason was the first blacksmith in Leeds.  His shop was at the corner near where R. S. Loring, M.D. now resides.  Oliver P. Frost was an early blacksmith in the town and had his shop at West Leeds.  Charles Bates was another early engaged in that business, and was located on Quaker Ridge, or Bates Hill, which takes its name from him.  At Leeds Center, Robert Crumett was the first blacksmith.  Stephen Welcome and Cyrus Sampson had "asheries," where they made potash.  The trades of tanning and shoemaking were early combined.  Samuel More, who served in the Navy in the War of 1812 and was made prisoner, came to Leeds in 1814, put up a small tannery at Leeds Center and was the town's first tanner.  He continued to tan leather and make shoes until 1849.  In 1881 he died.  Other tanners were James and Ira Lamb and Seth Cary.

MERCHANTS.

     The first merchant in town was Thomas Stinchfield, who had an extensive Indian trade.  Some of the early, wealthier settlers kept large stocks of necessities for their own use, and frequently

LEEDS CENTER, LOOKING FROM THE LAKE.

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accommodated their neighbors by sales or barter.  The first regular storekeepers, as we now use the term, were Solomon Lothrop, at the Center; Stephen Welcome, in the southwest part; William Turner, in the south part and Cyrus Sampson at South Leeds; while later, Stephen Day (1839), and Joshua Lane (at Dr. Lorings's Corner) had good stores.  Solomon Lothrop established at Leeds Center in 1820, and was in trade many years.  He was succeeded by Noah Sturtevant, of Winthrop, who continued in trade until the store was burned.  It was rebuilt by Mr. Lothrop who again engaged in trade.  He was succeeded by Barnabas Davee, who conducted in connection therewith a furniture shop, and for several years did a thriving business.  About 1822, Simeon Foss was in trade on the southeast corner at Leeds Center, and Nathan Randall near the town-house.  Mr. Davee's successor was a Mr. Fogg, who was in business but a short time when the store remained closed for several years.  It was again utilized by Mr. Lothrop and his son, Solomon L., but in 1846, they sold out to Thaddeus More, who in turn, sold in 1847 to Josiah Day.  From 1849 to 1853, the railroad contractors run a store at the Center.  In 1861, G. C. More, a brother of Thaddeus was in trade in the Lothrop store.  After him came Cyrus B. Lane.  In 1872, Charles H. Lane was there engaged in business.  His successor was W. L. Francis, who has made extensive repairs and annexes and since continued in trade at the old stand, carrying a large general stock of goods and doing a thriving and prosperous business.  He has long been postmaster and discharged the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the patrons.  At Keen's Corner a store was quite early established.  In 1824, John Keene, who then and for many years after run this store, was licensed to sell spirituous liquors.  With the coming of the railroad, stores were established at Curtis Corner and North Leeds.  With the improved advantages at West Leeds, a store was opened there in 1828, by Jonas P. Lee.  His successor was Zachary Cary who continued in business from 1830 to 1837, when he sold to Silas Morse, and in 1840 the store was converted into a blacksmith shop.  On the site where the buildings of H. W. Lincoln were recently burned, a store was built by Benjamin Millett, who, after a few years, sold to the late Stephen R. Deane.  He was engaged in trade there several years, fifteen of which, he held the office of postmaster.  His successors were Rhodolphus Jennings, R. E. Swain and C. H. Foster.  In a new store, Perry Grant has been several years in trade where he is now engaged.
     In 1852, T. Clarkson Foss built and opened a store at North Leeds.  He was an extensive buyer of wool, in which business he was successful and acquired a good property.  Since his decease, Robert Scott, Messrs. Chamberlain Bros., and W. C. Tribou have, in turn, done business there.  At present, the prop-

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erty is in the hands of A. W. Manter and his wife, who are engaged in trade.  A few years subsequent to the building of this store, Henry and Jason Woodman, brothers, erected a store a few rods westerly of the buildings of Mr. Foss and opened a general stock of goods.  They were a long time in business.  After the decease of Jason, Henry returned to the farm on which he was born and reared and continues his residence there still.  C. H. Whitehouse, a son-in-law of Jason is the present occupant of that store and does quite an extensive business in grain and feed.  Mr. Guy Foss, in another place at North Leeds was engaged in trade, who was succeeded by his mother, present occupant.  About 1850, Salmon and his son, Henry M. Brewster, erected and opened a general store at Curtis Corner.  Much of the time since it has been open, and until a recent date has been occupied by a member of the Brewster family.  Gustavus W. Lane established himself in mercantile business at the Center in 1883, and has been a heavy dealer in groceries, flour, grain, feed, etc.  In connection with his mercantile business, in 1889, he erected a steam grist-mill near his store and the railroad station, the capacity of which was 200 bushels per day.  His business was thereby increased from $5,000 to $50,000 annually.  He has also busy life.
     Previous to removing from Quaker Ridge to Curtis Corner, Salmon Brewster had been in trade there.  He was succeeded in 1851 by O. T. Wing, who was a short time engaged in business, but soon retired. In 1898, W. H. Brewster leased a part of his store at Curtis Corner to R. D. Rand & Co., dealers in groceries, grain and feed.  The present staff of merchants in town are: W. L. Francis, G. W. Lane, at Leeds Center; C. H. White house, Mrs. A. W. Manter and Mrs. Vesta P. Foss, at North Leeds; R. D. Rand & Co. , and H. M. Brewster, at Curtis Corner; Perry Grant, at West Leeds.

BAPTIST AND UNIVERSALIST CHURCHES, CHAPEL HILL, LEEDS