THE SETTLERS

	I dedicate "The Settlers" to the McKenneys and Russells, as they celebrate their separate reunions this week-end the 3rd and 4th of July 1993.
	Mary Russell wife of Michael McKenney, and John Russell were the children of Michael and Pheobe Humans Russell.  As McKenneys gather here the Russells will be gathering in Unadila N.Y. at the home of Katie Russell Mehlenbacher.  These Russells are the third and fourth generation descendants of John Russell.

Doris Russell
1993


THE SETTLERS
Michael Russell, Fort Fairfield's first pioneer 
	came from faraway Ireland, and settled here.
We know very little of this early man, searching archives, 
	reading old newspapers, I'll share what I can.
Michael came first to New Brunswick, while there took a bride
	the family increased before their upriver ride.
The early eighteen hundreds saw these Russells arrive, 
	over a hundred years later the name still survives.
There's a road in the Fort, settled by Michael's clan,
It carries the name of this pioneer man.
It was three daughters of Michael's with their chosen men, 
	that would ford the river no bridge span then.
Sarah settled first a farm on the hill, 
	she married a LUNDY his first name Will.
Mary settled next of this Russell clan, 
	she's now  a McKenney, Mike is her man.
These families had increased by nearly a score,
	when the older boys left to serve in the Civil War.
When the boys came home and chose their spouses,
	they started clearing land and building houses.
Nick McKenney, the oldest went twice to the parson, 
	when his first wife died he married Mary Larson.
James, his brother, chose for his bride, 
	Miss Zipporah Day to work at his side.
Jane, their sister, married Theophilus Peters, 
	their farm was beyond Nick's just a few meters.
Page Two

John Russell Jr., he settled next, 
	he was a grandson of this Russell text.
John Jr.'s two a nephew of Sarah and Mary, 
	chose Betsy Keggan as the girl to marry.
John Jr.'s two brothers Charles and Mike
	one day took a ride down the RUSSELL PIKE.
Charles settled next to his brother John, 
	married Nancy McNamee before summer was gone.
Mike settled on the land up the road a piece,
	it was in Canada, I wonder, "did he buy or just lease?
Mike also a veteran and searching for a wife, 
	chose Isabelle Giggey as his mate in wedded life.
There is more - this narrative doesn't end just yet, 
	remember Martha?, she's the daughter you haven't met.
This third daughter is now Mrs. George Clark, 
	they looked to the Russell Road for a new start.
The Clarks settled next to Charles and Nancy, 
	and built a house - nothing - real fancy.
I hope now you're better acquainted with those who came,
	years ago and settled the Russell Road, in Fort Fairfield, Maine.

Doris L. Russell
1993



A FOLLOW UP OF THESE SETTLERS PROPERTIES AS OF 1993

	Sarah Russell and William Lundy's farm was farmed by their son Thomas who married Nettie Barker, after Thomas died Nettie married Fred Russell son of John Russell Jr. This farm was later taken over by Nettie and Fred's son Orin, who married Amy Spear of Limestone.  After Amy and Orin's death the family sold the house and land separately.
Mary Russell and Michael McKenney's son John farmed his parent's farm, and built a house across the road from George Peters, a grandson of Jane McKenney.  Peters bought this farm in the 1930's.  He remembers a basement for a house on the right side of the road.  John McKenney married Mary Clark whose father's farm was where the Aroostook Country Club is now situated.  After George's retirement he sold the house and land separately.
The James and Zipporah Day farm was divided between two sons Harris and James JR. who had married sisters Annie and Jennie McCarty.  The McKenney houses were destroyed by fire and new homes have been erected, the homes and land are owned independently.
Nick and Mary Larson McKenney's farm was later farmed by their son Steve, who had married Caroline Parker, when Steve retired he sold this farm to Jerome Peters.  The buildings are no longer standing and the land has been sold.
The Jane McKenney and Theophilus Peter's farm was later farmed by their son Archie, who married Katherine McLaughlin of Limestone.  Archie and Katherine's son Jerome farmed this farm until he retired and sold the land and house separately.
The John and Betsy Keegan Russell farm was sold to Thomas II.  Clark and later farmed by his son Cash.  After Cash's death in 1963 this farm was bought by Roy and Doris Lewis Russell, who later sold it to their son Charles S. and is still owned by him and wife Susan George Russell.  The buildings are gone.
Charles W. and Nancy McNamee Russell was next farmed by their son Charles E. who had married Jennie Reid. This farm now is owned and occupied by their son Roy and Doris Russell.
The Martha Russell and George Clark farm was bought by Charles W. Russell and later passed on to Charles E. their son, part of this farm is owned by Roy Russell and part by Clarence Clark, who would be a descendant of Martha and George Clark.

1993