USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > A biographical history of the county of Litchfield, Connecticut: comprising biographical sketches of distinguished natives and residents of the county; together with complete lists of the judges of the county court, justices of the quorum, county commissioners, judges of probate, sheriffs, senators, &c. from the organization of the county to the present time > Part 6
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On the 10th of April, he arrived at Tinmouth, the then cap- ital of Rutland county, Vermont-to which place his parents had previously removed. During this and the following year, several able lawyers became residents of the State, and the litigation growing out of the disputed land-titles gave them suf- ficient employment. Nathaniel Chipman immediately took a high stand at the bar, and was employed in nearly every impor- tant case that came before the courts of that State. In 1784 he was a member of the State Legislature, where he ren- dered himself useful in quieting the turbulent feelings existing in the minds of a majority of the members, growing out the pe- cuniary distress occasioned by the war. In 1786, he was elec- ted an Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court-an office which
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he accepted, but resigned the next year.
The reader of this volume will have seen, in the sketches of Allen and Warner, some particulars respecting the controver- sy between New York and Vermont. This controversy was far from being settled when Chipman removed into the latter State. On the 5th of July, 1789, the legislature of New York passed an act appointing Robert Yates, John Lansing, Gulian Verplanck, Simeon De Witt, Egbert Benson and Melancthon Smith, commissioners, with full power to acknowledge the sovreignty of Vermont, and to adjust all matters of controversy between the two states. And on the 23d of October follow- ing, the legislature of New York passed an act, appointing Nathaniel Chipman, Isaac Tickenor, Stephen R. Bradley, Ira Allen, Elijah Paine, Stephen Jacob and Israel Smith, commis- sioners on the part of Vermont, to treat with those of New York. The difficulties were all amicably adjusted ; and on the 6th of January, 1791, the State Convention met at Bennington to decide the question, whether Vermont should accede to the union, Of this convention Chipman was a member ; and, af- ter the question was decided affirmatively, he and Lewis R. Morris were appointed to attend congress and negociate for the admission of Vermont into the federal union.
In October, 1779, Nathaniel Chipman had been elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and continued in that office two years, when he was appointed Judge of the United States Court for the District of Vermont. There was very little bu- siness in this court, and he resigned in 1793, and returned to his practice at the bar. In October, 1796, he was re-elected Chief Justice. During the same year, he was appointed one of a committee to revise the code of statute laws ; and nearly all the acts known as the revised laws of 1797, were written by him.
In 1797, he was elected a Senator in Congress for six years from the 4th of March, 1798. In that body he was distinguish-
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ed for his talents, learning and independence, From 1806 to' to 1811, inclusive, he was a representative to the legislature. In March, 1813, he was chosen one of the council of censors -a council consisting of thirteen persons clected by a general ticket, at the expiration of every seven years, whose duty it is. to revise the constitution, suggest amendments, call conven- tions to consider such amendments, &c. 'In October, 1813, he was once more' elected Chief Justice, but two years afterwards® was displaced in consequence of the ascendency of another political party. At this time the judges were elected annually.
In 1816, Judge Chipman was appointed Professor of Law in Middlebury College, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re- signation of his brother, the Hon. Daniel Chipman. He had previously received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Dart- mouth College.
He published, in 1793, a work entitled, "Sketches of the Principles of Government," and a small volume entitled, " Re- ports and Dissertations."
During the last ten years of his life, he lived somewhat se- cluded, with few companions except his books, and occupied himself with their daily study until a short time before his death. He departed this life at Tinmouth, February 15th, 1843, in the 91st year of his age:
Nathaniel Chipman married Sarah Hill, of Tinmouth, and Aad five sons and two daughters, viz., Henry, Jeffrey, Edwin, Laura, Evelina, and two others.
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SAMUEL J, MILLS, SEN,
' Father Mills," (as he was familiarly called,) was born in the beautiful valley of the Housatonic, in the town of Kent, A. D. 1743, and graduated at Yale College in 1764. He stud- ied divinity with the celebrated Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlem, and was ordained pastor of the church in Torringford, in his native county, on the 29th of June, 1769. In this quiet and rural parish he spent the remainder of his days in the pastoral office, though in 1822, after a ministry of fifty-four years, he had a colleague who relieved him of most of his public duties.
So many anecdotes have gone abroad over the country, des signed to illustrate simply his eccentricities, that few of those who are familiar with his name, have any correct idea of his his real character as a man and a preacher. In person he was portly, very erect, and in height overtopped all his compeers ; he had a large, ruddy face and high forehead, more venerable and majestic for the white wig above. His voice and manner were unique. His deep reverence for God and the Bible-the shaking of his large frame with sudden and strong emotion --- his inimitable naturalness in stating facts-and the entire ease with which he could convulse those around him with laughter, and the next moment make them sober as the grave itself -- were peculiarities which caused him to stand out in bold relief among the men of his generation, and have contributed in giving his name to posterity. In the pulpit he was at home ; perfectly self-possessed, the master of his subject, and impress- ed himself with the importance of his theme, no man could more effectually chain the attention of his auditory. His meth-
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od of illustration was one of the principal things that gave to his preaching its peculiar cast of originality. Scriptural his- tory, and the history of the church in all ages, were made pro- fitably subservient to him in this respect. Nor did his obser- vant eye fail, with the same object in view, to notice current events. Whether he rode, or conversed, or read, he gleaned something that would be of use to him in the illustration and inculcation of truth. He lacked nothing in the compass of his voice to express what his mind conceived, or his heart felt. The tones, the cadence, and the emphasis which he used, the light of his eye, the expression of his countenance, and his ev- ery motion, indicated what seemed to be a perfect perception and discrimination, His appositeness, the singular associa- tions with which his mind teemed, and the vividness of the pic- ture which he presented to others, not unfrequently affected those not familiar with his manner, with levity. Of this he seemed to be unaware. While a smile was lighted up in the countenances of his auditors, his eyes were not unfrequently suffused with tears. Others may be regarded as examples for imitation, but much as there was found to admire in the man- ner of Mr. Mills, none could safely attempt to imitate it.
Those who saw him at a distance, would be ready to sup. pose that his habits of study were loose, and that he was not laborious in his investigations. He did, indeed, read less than some, but few thought more than he, or to better effect. He read, so far as was necessary to furnish materials for thought, and with these his active mind was ever busy. His sermons, though generally unwritten, were thoroughly studied, and ex- celled in logical arrangement and practical power. He was for many years one of the editors of the Connecticut Evangel- ical Magazine, and as a writer he displayed great tact, vigor, and correctness of style.
Mr. Mills was greatly esteemed and blessed in his ministry, both at home and abroad, and several powerful religious awą-
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kenings were among the fruits of his preaching. The interest which he took in the henevolent operations which distinguish- ed the latter period of his life, was peculiar for one of his age, His habits of feeling and acting were evidently formed under the influence of the spirit which produced this era. Hence he was prepared to hail its commencement, and his heart never ceased to glow in view of the wants which shed upon it such signal lustre. Apparently, it did not cost him a struggle to, give up a beloved son to the service of the American Board. When he learned the purpose of this excellent son, and sup- posed he was soon to go far hence to the Gentiles, he seemed ready so bless God for having imparted such grace, and to. deem the sacrifice required of liim a privilege. He contempla- ted with wonder and admiration, the enlargement of the Re: deemer's kingdom. This was a theme ever present on his mind and tongue. He lost, in his advanced age, his interest in other things, but in this it never abated. His recollection of persons and things failed, at length, but this subject was fresh with him to the last.
Under the title of " Old Father Morris," Mrs. Harriet Beech- er Stow, (a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, then of Litch- field,) gives us her recellections of Mr. Mills in her " May Flower"-from which we make the following extracts :
Of all the marvels that astonished my childhood, there is none I remember to this day with so much interest as the character of old Father Mills. When I knew him he was an aged clergyman, settled over an obscure village in New England. He had enjoyed the advan- tages of a liberal education, had a strong original power of thought, an omnipotent imagination, and much general information ; but so early and so deeply had the habits and associations of the plow, the farm, and country life, wrought themselves into his mind, that his after ac- quirements could only mingle with them, forming an unexampled amalgam, like unto nothing but itself. He was an ingrain New Eng- lander, and whatever might have been the source of his information, it came out in Yankee form, with the strong provinciality of Yankee dialect.
It is in vain to attempt to give a full picture of such a genuine unique ; but some slight and imperfect dashes may help the imagina- tion to a faint idea of what none can fully conceive but those who have seen and heard old Father Mills.
Suppose yourself one of half-a-dozen children, and you hear the cry, " Father Mills is coming !" You run to the window or door, and you see a tall, bulky old man, with a pair of saddle-bags on one arm, hitching his old horse with a fumbling carefulness, and then deliber- ately stumping towards the house. You notice his tranquil, florid, full-moon face, enlightened by a pair of great, round blue eyes, that roll with dreamy inattentiveness on all the objects around, and as he takes off his hat, you see the white curling wig that sets off his round head. He comes towards you, and as you stand staring with all the children around, he deliberately puts his great hand on your head, and with a deep, rumbling voice, inquires, " How d'ye do, my darter ? Is your daddy at home ?" "My darter" usually makes off as fast as possible in an unconquerable giggle. Father Mills goes into the house, and we watch him at every turn, as, with the most liberal simplicity, he makes himself at home, takes off his wig, wipes down his great face with a checked pocket-handkerchief, helps himself hither and thither to whatever he wants, and asks for such things as he cannot lay his hands on, with all the comfortable easiness of childhood.
I remember to this day how we used to peep through the crack of the door or hold it half ajar and peer in to watch his motions; and how mightily diverted we were with his deep, slow manner of speaking, his heavy, cumbrous walk, but, above all, with the wonderful facul- ty of hemming which he possessed. His deep, thundering, protracted a-hem-em was like nothing else that ever I heard ; and when once, as he was in the midst of one of these performances, the parlor door sud- denly happened to swing open, I heard one of my roguish brothers calling, in a suppressed tone, "Charles ! Charles ! Father Mills has hemmed the door open !" and then followed the signs of a long and desperate titter, in which I sincerely sympathized.
But the morrow is Sunday. The old man rises in the pulpit. He is not now in his own humble little parish, preaching simply to the hoers of corn and planters of potatoes, but there sits Governor W., and there is Judge R., and Counsellor P., and Judge G. In short, he is before a refined and literary audience. But Father Mills rises ; he thinks nothing of this-he cares nothing-he knows nothing, as he himself would say, but " Jesus Christ and him crucified." It was after this very sermon, that Governor Griswold, in passing out of the house, laid hold on the sleeve of his first acquaintance -- " Pray tell me," said he, " who is that minister ?"
" Why, it is old Father Mills."
" Well, he is an oddity -- and a genius too ! I declare ! he continued, I have been wondering all the morning how I could have read the Bible
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to so little purpose as not to sce all these particulars he has presented." I once heard him narrate in his picturesque way the story of Lazar- ús. The great bustling city of Jerusalem first rises to view, and you are told, with great simplicity, how the Lord Jesus " used to get tired of the noise ;" and how he was " tired of preaching again and again to people who would not mind a word he said ;" and how, " when it came evening, he used to go out and see his friends in Bethany." Then he told about the house of Martha and Mary : " a little white house among the trees," he said ; " you could just see it from Jerusalem." And there the Lord Jesus and his disciples used to go and sit in the evenings, with Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus. Then the narrator went on to tell how Lazarus died, describing with tears and a choking voice, the distress they were in, and how they sent a message to the Lord Jesus, and he did not come, and how they wondered and won- dered ; and thus on he went, winding up the interest by the graphic minutiæ of an eye-witness, till he woke you from the dream by his tri- umphant joy at the resurrection scene.
On another occasion, as he was sitting at a tea table unusually sup- plied with cakes and sweetmeats, he found an opportunity to make a practical allusion to the same familiar story. He spoke of Mary as quiet and humble, sitting at her Saviour's feet to hear his words ; but Martha thought more of what was to be got for tea. Martha could not find time to listen to Christ : no ; she was " cumbered with much serving"-"around the house, frying flitters, and making gingerbread."
At another time Father Mills gave the details of the annointing of David to be king. He told them how Samuel went to Bethlehem, to Jesse's house, and went in with a " How d'ye do, Jesse ?" and how, when Jesse asked him to take a chair, he said he could not stay a min- ute ; that the Lord had sent him to annoint one of his sons for a king ; and how, when Jesse called in the tallest and handsomest, Samuel said "he would not do ;" and how all the rest passed the same test ; and at last, how Samuel says, "Why, have not you any more sons, Jesse ?" and Jesse says, " Why, yes, there is little David down in the lot ;" and how as soon as ever Samuel saw David, "he slashed the oil right on him;" and how Jesse said " he never was so beat.in all his life !"
Father Mills sometimes used his illustrative talent to very good purpose in the way of rebuke. He had on his farm a fine orchard of peaches, from which some of the ten and twelve-year-old gentlemen helped themselves more liberally than even the old man's kindness thought expedient. Accordingly, he took occasion to introduce into his sermon one Sunday, in his little parish, an account of a journey he took ; and how he was very warm and very dry ; and how he saw a fine orchard of peaches that made his mouth water to look at them. " So,"" says he, " I came up to the fence and looked all around, for I would not have touched one of them without leave for the world. At last [ spied a man, and says I, ' Mister, won't you give me some of your
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peaches" So the man came and gave me nigh a hat full. And while I stood there eating, I said, 'Mister how do you manage to keep your peaches ?' ' Keep them !' said he, and he stared at me; ' what do you mean ?' ' Yes sir,' said I; ' don't the boys steal them ?' 'Boys steal them ?' said he ; ' no indeed !' ' Why, sir,' said I, ' I have a whole lot full of peaches, and I cannot get half of them' -- here the old man's voice grew tremulous -- because the boys in my parish steal them 80.' ' Why, sir,' said he, ' don't their parents teach them not to steal ?' And I grew all over in a cold sweat, and I told him, I was afeared they didn't ' 'Why how you talk !' says the man ; ' do tell me where you live ?' ' Then,' said Father Mills, the tears running over, ' I was obliged to tell him I lived in the town of T.' After this Father Mills kept his peaches.
Although the old man never seemed to be sensible of anything tending to the ludicrous in his own mode of expressing himself, yet he had considerable relish for humor, and some shrewdness of repartee: One time, as he was walking through a neighboring parish, famous for its profanity, he was stopped by a whole flock of the youthful repro- bates of the place :- ' Father Mills ! Father Mills ! the devil's dead !' ' Is he ?' said the old man, benignly laying his hand on the head of the nearest urchin, 'you poor fatherless children !'
But the sayings and doings of this good old man, as reported in the legends of the neighbourhood, are more than can be gathered or re- ported. He lived far beyond the common age of man, and continued when age had impaired his powers, to tell over and over again the same Bible stories that he had told so often before.
[Here end our extracts from Mrs. Stow. The following anecdote is from another source :]
Paul Peck, one of the first settlers of Litchfield, was the most fa- mous hunter and trapper in the county. In one of his sermons, Fa- ther Mills, wishing to illustrate the progress and certain doom of the sinner, compared him to a timid Berkshire fox, that set out on a trip to the Sound. "When he started, he was fearful and cautious-wari- ly shunning every appearance of evil, and trembling at the sound of a leaf ; but having passed the hunters of Salisbury, the hounds of Cornwall, and the snares of Goshen, he considers himself safe ; proud of his superior adroitness in thus escaping from predicted evils, he becomes more and more heedless and self-conceited ; he enters Fat Swamp at a jolly trot-head and tail up-looking defiance at the enemies he has left far behind him ! But oh, the dreadful reverse ! in the midst of his haughty reverie he is brought to a sudden and ev- erlasting stop, in one of Paul Peck's traps !"
Father Mills died in Torringford, in May, 1833, at the age of 90 years, and in the 64th year of his ministry.
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DANIEL CHIPMAN.
DANIEL CHIPMAN, LL .. D., (brother of Chief Justice Chipman,) was born at Salisbury, October 22, 1765. In1775, his father removed with his family to Tinmouth, in what was then called the New Hampshire Grants, in the present county of Rutland, Vermont. Daniel labored on the farm until No- vember 1783, when he commenced his studies preparatory to entering college. In the following year he entered Dart- mouth College, graduated in 1788, and immediately com- menced the study of the law with his brother above alluded to. He was admitted to the Bar in 1790, opened an office in Rutland, and soon had an extensive practice. In 1793, he represented the town of Rutland in the Convention held at Windsor for amending the Constitution.
Mr. Chipman removed to Middlebury, in the county of Ad- dison, in 1794, which town he frequently represented in the Legislature until 1808, when he was elected a member of the Council-in place of which the Senate has since been consti- tuted, In 1812, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Most of the time between 1809 and 1815 he represented Middlebury in the Legislature, and in 1813 and '14 he was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1815 he was elected to the Congress of the United States -- and attended the first session, but was confined at home by sick- ness during the second session. The following year his heatlh was so far restored that he resumed the practice of law ; and in the years 1818 and '21, he was elected to the Legislature:
In 1822 he published an Essay on the Law of Contracts for
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the Payment of Specific Articles-which was well received by the legal profession generally, and highly commended by Judge Story, Chancellor Kent, and other eminent jurists. In the Preface to this work, Mr. Chipman urged the importance of having the decisions of the Supreme Court reported ; and at the next session of the Legislature, an act was passed pro- viding for the appointment of a Reporter, and he was selected for that office. He published one volume of Reports, when ill health compelled him to relinquish his station.
In the Preface to his Reports, he suggested and urged the idea of elevating the Legislature, by constituting a Senate ; and in 1836 an amendment of the Constitution to that end was proposed, and a Convention called. In the mean time, the subject of this sketch had retired from public life, and taken up his residence in the secluded village of Ripton. Such, how- ever, was his desire to have the amendment adopted, that he yielded to the wishes of his fellow-townsmen, and represented them in the Convention. He was justly regarded as the champion of the Amendment in that body-which Amendment was, after three or four days' debate, adopted by a majority of three. It was universally admitted that the project would have failed had it not been for the vigorous and well-directed efforts made in its behalf by Mr, Chipman. A speech which he delivered on the occasion was published in a pamphlet form.
Since the death of his brother, Judge Chipman, he has pub- lished his biography, under the title of-" The Life of Nathan- iel Chipman, LL. D., formerly a member of the United States Senate, and Chief Justice of the State of Vermont ; with Se - lections from his Miscellaneous Papers." This work has also been highly extolled by Chancellor Kent, and others, whose capacity to judge of its merits none will question. Mr. C. has recently written and published the Life of Col. Seth Warner, a distinguished officer of the Revolution.
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In 1848, the subject of this brief memoir received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth College. This distinguish- ed honor in connection with those so often received from his fellow citizens, afford the most gratifying indications not only of his high attainments as a scholar, but of the general esteem, in which he has long been held by the people of his adopted State.
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STANLEY GRISWOLD.
STANLEY GRISWOLD was born in Torringford, Novem- ber 14, 1768. Like most farmers' sons at that period, his youth was passed alternately on the farm and at the district school, until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he was placed in an academy. At the age of nineteen, he en- tered the freshman class of Yale College, at which institution he graduated in September 1786. For about a year thereaf- ter, he taught a high school and then began the study of Di- vinity with the learned Rev. Dr. McClure, of East Windsor. He commenced preaching early in the year 1789, and soon after received an invitation to settle over the church in Lyme,. which he declined. On the 14th of June of the same year, he began to preach as a candidate in New Milford, and was there installed as a colleague of the Rev. Mr. Taylor, Janua- ry 20, 1790. About this time he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Samuel Flagg, of East Hartford.
At the time of his ordination, and for a period of years after, he was very popular with his people, and 'ndeed with all who heard him preach. He was a good writer, an easy and grace- ful speaker, and having the advantage of a good voice and a. fine personal appearance, few equalled and still fewer excelled him in pulpit oratory. In ordinary and private intercourse, he was familiar and pleasant, and seemed in all respects well cal- culated to gain and retain friends.
The principles of the Government seemed at that time to be in a state of chaos, and the great minds of the nation were al- most universally drawn into the vortex of politics. "Jefferso-
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nian Democracy," as it was termed, had risen into popularity in many sections of the country. In New England, however, (as is well known,) Jefferson was regarded by the clergy and by religious people generally, as but little better than an avowed Atheist-and his political adherents were consequently looked upon with suspicion and prejudice. To the young and ardent mind of Griswold, glowing with the fire of genius, aspiring to whatever was true and progressive in Freedom, and grasping after new thoughts and new theories, the political fabric of the great apostle of democracy was seized upon as the most perfect model of a republic which had been conceived. Unaccustom- ed to conceal his opinions on matters of general interest and importance, and conscious of the rectitude of his motives, he did not hesitate from the firstto declare his preferences in con- versation whenever he thought proper to do so. As a matter of course, it was soon noised abroad that Mr. Griswold was a " democrat." Still his popularity was not materially affected: thereby, so long as his sentiments were not publicly expressed. His talents and eloquence secured for him crowded audiences, and elicited the applause of his hearers, though very many mourned over what they regarded as his errors.
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