According to Leonard Morrison, the first mill of any kind ever built in town was Henry Campbell's saw mill that was built at Beaver Brook in West Windham around 1750. Morrison also wrote that, "the erection of saw mills was a very important event to the first residents, and it was encouraged by public favor, and often times by freeing such property from taxation. By their erection the whole settlement was greatly benefited, as the settlers could readily convert their lumber, of which there was an unlimited supply, into boards, plank, joist, timber, and all manner of building material, thus enabling them to displace their rude habitations of logs, and build substantial frame houses in their stead". When Morrison wrote of Windham's history in 1883 he concluded his terse entry of the town's early saw mills by noting, "few people of the present think of or appreciate the civilizing influence of a good saw mill in a new settlement". As such a sentiment likely holds true in the present day, it is necessary to tell the story of the mills that have been located at Beaver Brook.
A view of an early 20th century mill located on Beaver Brook
The mill that Henry Campbell built remained in the Campbell family for several generations. One of the owners of the mill was David Campbell who was born in Windham around 1757. He married Elizabeth Dickey and in 1784 purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in West Windham from Hugh and Mary Graham. Much of the lumber used in the construction of Windham's early homes was undoubtedly cut and prepared at his family's saw mill. David was one of the several men from Windham to serve in the Revolutionary War and he has the notable distinction of being "Windham's Last Soldier of the Revolution", a name given to him by Leonard Morrison. Morrison gives a short anecdote about Campbell and the Revolutionary War, which is as follows:
"The fall of Cornwallis, Oct. 19, 1781, was substantially the closing military act of the war. A few skirmishes alone indicated that the war was not at an end. But the Continental Congress very prudently kept the ranks of the regular army filled. Windham was short of one man to fill her quota on the last of July.
Then it was that one who had repeatedly enlisted, and served his country in many campaigns, been wounded in her service July 30, 1782, and received a bounty of £20. This was David Campbell, Windham's last soldier in the war of the Revolution."
David Campbell died on March 11, 1830, shortly after he sold half an interest in the saw mill at Beaver Brook to Francis Anderson for $250.
"The fall of Cornwallis, Oct. 19, 1781, was substantially the closing military act of the war. A few skirmishes alone indicated that the war was not at an end. But the Continental Congress very prudently kept the ranks of the regular army filled. Windham was short of one man to fill her quota on the last of July.
Then it was that one who had repeatedly enlisted, and served his country in many campaigns, been wounded in her service July 30, 1782, and received a bounty of £20. This was David Campbell, Windham's last soldier in the war of the Revolution."
David Campbell died on March 11, 1830, shortly after he sold half an interest in the saw mill at Beaver Brook to Francis Anderson for $250.
1830 document selling half of the saw mill at Beaver Brook to Francis Anderson
David Campbell III, referred to as such because even though he was only second in direct lineage with the name there was another related David Campbell in town at the time, was the son of the elder David Campbell. Born on August 24, 1796, he succeeded his father on the farm in West Windham. He married Mary Marden who passed away on February 3, 1837 at the age of 36. David married her sister, Mehitable, shortly after on September 14, 1837. Mehitable was widowed when David passed away from consumption on June 5, 1839. She went on to marry Enoch Johnson a few years later.
The purchaser of the half interest in the mill, Francis D Anderson, was born in Londonderry in 1807. He married Jane Davidson of Windham, who was recorded as having been a, "modest, gentle, and refined lady, who was greatly esteemed for excellent qualities of mind and heart". Francis was likewise admired and was noted as having, "possessed excellent judgement, strong common-sense, and good executive ability". He died on March 6, 1866, and his wife outlived him passing away on March 13, 1880.
The purchaser of the half interest in the mill, Francis D Anderson, was born in Londonderry in 1807. He married Jane Davidson of Windham, who was recorded as having been a, "modest, gentle, and refined lady, who was greatly esteemed for excellent qualities of mind and heart". Francis was likewise admired and was noted as having, "possessed excellent judgement, strong common-sense, and good executive ability". He died on March 6, 1866, and his wife outlived him passing away on March 13, 1880.
Mill pond at Beaver Brook
The story of Beaver Brook does not end when it leaves the ownership of the Campbell family. In 1836 John A and A R Burnham erected a three story, 60' x 40' factory on the site. It is recorded that, "they put in one set of machinery, and manufactured about 4,000 yards of satinet a month". The material produced would have been been finely woven fabric composed mostly, or completely, of wool and had a finish similar to that of silk. The depression of 1837 caused the business to fail and the machinery and real estate was sold. The building was purchased by an F G Stark. Morrison writes that, "in 1845, Ira Hersey, of Foxboro', Mass, bought this property and manufactured worsted yarn". However, his business also proved to be unsuccessful. The mill was then purchased by Judge Crosby of Lowell, MA and Edward Titcomb of Newburyport, MA. Titcomb ran the factory and produced cotton mattresses. In 1857 the mill was destroyed by fire, which also burned $600 worth of lumber that was nearby. The use of the water at Beaver Brook was left unused until the late 19th century when Walter Drucker made use of the mill, but the mill eventually fell out of use as time progressed.