I am researching Chinese who settled in Maine. I have an extensive database of Portland, Maine, Chinese people back to 1858 & up to the present. I have a less extensive database of Chinese people in other parts of Maine from 1880s to various dates. Am willing to share & would like any info you have.

I am also curious about how the Chinese ended up in Maine. What attracted the Chinese? Fishing industry, lumber industry?

If you are writing a book, I would like to buy one from you.

Sincerely,
Wai Yue

The earliest Chinese to immigrate to Maine were a stow away from Amoy Island, Daniel Cough, who came in 1857; a cigar maker, Ar Tee Lam who opened the 1st Chinese restaurant in Portland in 1880; Ah Foo Fong who came in 1860 to work in a tea shop & opened his own tea shop by 1871. The 1st laundry opened in Portland in 1877. After that, most Chinese in Maine were laundrymen with some restaurant workers & owners. In the 2000 census there were 2,034 Chinese counted in Maine, many are in high tech, education & medicine. I do hope to do a book, but it's several years away.

From The Concord [MA] Enterprise, 16 January 1901 -

Portland, Me., Jan. 16.--Special Agent Miller arrived here last night with Sam Wah Kee of Boston and six Chinamen whom Sam is accused of having smuggled into this country, all the prisoners being caught at Dennysville.

See http://www.rootsweb.com/~mamidnws/1901/JAN.html#foot1 for more.