Joshua Harris was born in Kennebunkport in 1837. He joined several of his sisters and brothers in the mills of Biddeford, Saco and Lewiston. Harris was not a typical mill worker.  He always wanted to be a writer, but was unsuccessful. Though a few of his stories were published in magazines, he earned his living as a mill worker and worked in factories his entire life.

Diary: Jan. 1, 1856

(In 1853 at age 16) I engaged myself at Biddeford to work in a cotton factory. I worked two weeks and was taken so unwell as to be obliged to return home where I remained till May when I again tried the cotton mill.

Letter: Oct. 15, 1857

Business was very dull here. The mills are two-thirds stopped and other trades not more flourishing. Help is plenty and those who work in the mills only work five days weekly (instead of six). Money is hard to be had. I understand all banks in the United States have suspended payment. A report is made that the cotton manufacturing companies will be unable to get money for paying their employees this month. The saw mill proprietors have not paid their help for three months and hands in the Machine Shop were not paid last month. Quite a number of traders have failed in the past few weeks and some others have closed their stores. However we hope the panic will not be lasting.

Letter: Oct. 16, 1857

I have been at work in the mill this summer – commenced February 3 and left August 20 on account of severe cough and other consumptive symptoms. I have now nearly recovered from the effects of the same – I have got rid of my cough entirely and am as well physically as I have been for some years. So I am now ready to go back to work as soon as I can get a job. 

Letter: Oct. 24, 1857

Hard times affect us considerably. The Mills – Saco and Biddeford – are each running about one third of their work. Biddeford operatives work only five days weekly and Saco work six from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., getting pay for only five days weekly. No. 1 York Mill (Factory Island) has been stopped all summer for repairs and I understand No. 2 Pepperell (Biddeford) stops frequently for the same purpose. 

It is very dull around town, there not being more than half as many here as there was a year ago. There is nothing going on for divertissement. Very few entertainments given and those but poorly patronized – in fact times are so bad that we can’t afford it.

– From “Mills and Mill Hands: Exploring the Industrial Heritage of Biddeford and Saco,” published in 1988 by York Institute Museum/Dyer Library