source: "History of York County, Maine" by Clayton, W. W., Published 1880, pages 178-179.

Josiah was born in Kingston, N. H., May 21, 1782. His father was Joseph, a Revolutionary soldier, and his grandfather was John, a Revolutionary officer. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Josiah Bartlett, of Kingston, one of the memorable signers of the Declaration of Independence ; President of New Hampshire, 1790 to 1793 ; Governor in 1793; associate justice of the Superior Court, New Hampshire, 1782 to 1788 ; and chief justice, 1788 to 1790.

Mr. Calef, educated at Exeter Academy, was afterwards a teacher, then a clerk, and, from 1803 to 1811, favorably known as a dry-goods merchant in Boston. While there, he became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He came to Saco in 1811, and erected on Indian Island the iron-works for making nails called the Saco Manufacturing Company. He was president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1832 to 1852; president of the Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution from 1836 to 1856 and held many other offices in Saco.

He married, in 1812, Susan Hussey, of Nantucket. She was born Jan. 4, 1793, and died May 10, 1822. The children of this marriage were :
1. Sarah (deceased), wife of Dr. Ezra Bartlett ;
2. Susan Ann, wife of Dr. Albert Bartlett (deceased), afterwards married Thomas Cutts ;
3. Mary, died in 1845, aged twenty-five ;
4. Josiah B., a merchant in Mobile.

He married, second, in 1827, Sarah P. Gale, of Haverhill, N. H., who died April 24, 1878, aged eighty-six. Of this union were born :
5. George F., an enterprising and active business man of Saco, who resides on the old homestead, and one of the founders and treasurer of the York Institute. He married, in June, 1866, Fannie, daughter of the late James B. Thornton, of Scarborough, and Annie B.,
wife of Col. C. C. G. Thornton.