USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 44
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 44
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
It is interesting to note how the progress of the settle- ment moved back the slaughter houses. The next location was that of Gideon and Eli Thompson on the westerly side of North Washington avenue, not far from the present loca- tion of Mulloy's lane, from 1833 to 1843.
From this the same parties removed to what is now the Thompson farm, a little south of the toll-gate on the Hunting- ton turnpike, while Smith and Stratton, and their successors, and Captain Terry, located theirs on the Newtown turnpike about two miles out of town.
The heavy beef is now mostly dressed for this market in Chicago, Ill .; transported in refrigerator cars and distributed from refrigerator depots-two of them located on this same territory-to be dispensed in steaks and roasts from the re- frigerators of the local markets.
Saddle Boxes were made also on this territory. The shipment to markets in the South, of large quantities of sad-
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History of Stratford.
dles and harness, manufactured here from 1815 to 1860, re- quired many strong boxes of special form and size. Up to 1849, these were almost exclusively made without machinery, by Porter Sturges, whose shop and lumber yard were on Middle street at the present corner of Golden Hill street, occupied now by the Naugatuck Valley Ice Company. His assistant when needed, was the late David Wheeler, who lived on Arch street, and later on the Newtown turnpike near Beach street.
This work afforded reliable and steady employment for these men, and with the frugality for which they were both noted, laid the foundation of handsome estates for each one.
The increased quantity needed and the competition of machinery, diverted the source of supply to the shops of L. C. Shepard & Co., about 1850, then located at the site of the north end of the Atlantic Hotel, the Union House being a part ; and later to Lyon & Curtis, on Simon's wharf.
Comb Making, as a business, was established and con- ducted here for a while, by Moss K. Botsford, from Newtown, who purchased of Jesse Sterling, the house on the bank on the north side of Gold street, at the head of Water street. This business was very prosperous from about 1830 to 1835. Bethel and Newtown were largely engaged in it. Some manufacturers were successful for a time, but the fashions were extremely changeable, and the business fitful, which led to many failures; and hence it continued here but a short time. Mr. Abel Drew, from Derby, was the next owner of the above-mentioned house.
Cooperage. The commerce of the place, especially the West India trade, and for a number of years the whaling busi- ness, required a great many casks, and made a lively business for the coopers. Mr. Drew's shop was on the south shore of the point, where he employed a number of men, and he, see- ing, embraced his opportunity, and thus laid the foundation for his handsome estate.
The Housatonic Railroad was chartered in 1836, for a line from Bridgeport to the northern boundary of the state in the town of Canaan, Litchfield County. The company
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Bridgeport.
was organized, capital subscribed, and right of way secured to New Milford in 1838. Commencing at a point near the west approach to the Bridgeport bridge-Fairfield avenue- it extended northerly across the mud flats and over this Porter property, making quite a deep cut across it. The company not only purchased the usual right of way over this property for main tracks, but secured the entire point east of its main line, graded it down, using the material towards fill- ing the roadway across the adjacent mud flats, and then located their engine house, turn-tables and car-shop thereon. A wharf was constructed at the extreme point, and the Long Island skipper connected with Mr. Roswell Lewis' coal and wood yard, landed thereon the pine wood which was then used at this end of the line for fuel for the locomotives. Thus the beautiful bluff was invaded, and its glory departed before the march of modern utility and progress. The con- struction and opening of the railroad developed the need of a foundry and machine shops. This need was measurably supplied by the late David Wheeler of Park avenue, who was in 1843 joined by George and J. R. Young, and had their works in a wooden building on the same site as the present Bridgeport Iron Works, which is made land on the mud flats fronting this Porter property.
The First Center Bridge. When, in 1852, Hon. P. T. Barnum joined Gen. Wm. H. Noble for the development of East Bridgeport, they at once realized that they must have more direct and easier communication with the business por- tion of the city on the west side of the harbor. Hence they procured a charter for a bridge; the eastern terminus about identical with the present Center bridge, while the western end, spanning the Housatonic railroad track, landed upon the high bank of this Porter property, for which they made an appropriate purchase of Mrs. Ellen Porter, the widow of Samuel Porter, Jr., November 19, 1852. This was reached by a street which had been opened as a highway by Mr. Porter, and named by him Summer street, extending northerly from Gold street a little east of the line of Middle street extended. After the location of the bridge it was called Bridge street. By the kindness of General Noble the Historical society has
.
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History of Stratford.
a picture of this bridge on its walls, painted in water colors, showing a condition of the surroundings now most thor- oughly changed.
When the present Center bridge was constructed in 1869, the western terminus was changed to Congress street, crossing the railroad at grade. Middle street was soon after ex- tended thereto in a direct line and Bridge street was discon- tinued. In November, 1864, the city purchased this bridge and appurtenances with the other bridges across the harbor, and in the adjustment of property interests affected by these changes, and the extension of Middle street, the city obtained the site of the present No. 5 engine house.
Previous to the extension of Congress street for the west- ern terminus of the Center bridge, in 1869, the mud flats and low ground on the west side of the Housatonic railroad track from the Porter property to Lumber street, was flooded through a water way at the old mill located near the line of Lumber street and the face of the wharf at that point. The water was changed and purified each flood tide, but the gate in the water way retained enough to give at all times a depth of several feet in the southern portion near this property.
Previous to the introduction of the present water supply of the city, much dependence was placed upon the salt water of the harbor for extinguishing fires. This vicinity was practically shut off from the water front, especially at low tide, and to remedy this, Mrs. Ellen Porter deeded to the city an addition to the Bridge street highway, May 19, 1859, and opened a way to the water above described, where the city constructed a platform sufficient to accommodate one of the hand engines of that period and its company in actual service.
About 1846, the Housatonic Railroad Company removed their depot both for passengers and freight from near Fairfield avenue southerly, nearly to the present elevator. A few years afterwards, having filled and made solid ground of the mud flats still further south they put up there a round house, and other necessary shops and buildings. The old engine house and the long car house remained in their places on the Porter property many years; also a blacksmith business by several parties. The veteran blacksmith, Mr. Joseph C. Bar-
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Bridgeport.
num, had his shop there for many years until his decease, February 25, 1883, aged 80 years.
The Bridgeport Boiler Works commenced operations in 1869, on this (Porter's) point, utilizing some of the old build- ings, and erecting others. This company embraced the fol- lowing names : Humphrey, Watson, Farrel, and Chatfield.
In 1870, Farrel and Chatfield retired, and the business was continued by Humphrey and Watson, until 1872, when Mr. William Lowe took the place of Mr. Humphrey. Messrs. Lowe and Watson continued the making of steam boilers suc- cessfully for ten years, until they were burned out, April 24, 1882. As they were unable to obtain a lease of the premises for a term of years, they secured a location of Mr. William H. Perry, adjoining the Housatonic railroad track, farther north.
The late Mr. Hanford Lyon purchased the water front of a portion of this property, and improved it, in connection with that which he previously owned, adjoining it on the south. This has been occupied as a coal yard by C. M. Noble and Company, and by Courtland Kelsey, and is now a part of the extensive yards of Messrs. Miller and Strickland.
Mr. Julius Hawley purchased of the Burroughs family, the Edwards property, on the south side of Gold street, ex- tending to the channel of the harbor, which he has improved, and upon which is located the extensive lumber yards and steam saw-mill of the Bridgeport Lumber Company.
Messrs. Henry N. and Alonzo J. Beardsley purchased the water front of Mr. Abel Drew, which carried one-half of the width of Gold street from the east side of the tracks of the Consolidated railroads to the channel, which they are leis- urely filling, and which will become a very valuable property.
The Housatonic Railroad Company have here a fine property, partly mud flats, which they will no doubt fill to the harbor line at no distant day. This done, it will afford room for the return to this point of their engine houses, thus relieving the crowded condition in the present locality of their buildings, and facilitating the removal of the tracks of the Consolidated road from lower Water street, an object most earnestly to be desired.
33
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History of Stratford.
The whole plot, much of it forty years ago so quiet and so pleasant for family homes of the best sort, is now almost wholly given over to business.
The following list of names of householders, found on a separate sheet, with the date partly torn off, in the handwrit- ing of the Rev. Samuel Cooke, the second pastor of the Strat- field Church, was preserved by the late Isaac Sherman, Esqr., and pasted upon a leaf of the manuscript book of his " Rec- ollections." From the names found upon it, and others well known which are omitted, the date is known to have been 1733 or 1734. The list contains the names of heads of families then residing in the parish of Stratfield, and upon an estimate of five persons to each family there were about seven hundred persons in the parish.
"A List of the Householders in Stratfield Anno Domini, 17-, Disposed Alphabetically.
James Bennitt, Sen",
John Edwards, Sen', Thomas Edwards,
Richard Hubbell, Sent,
Isaac Bennitt,
William Bennitt,
John Edwards, Jun',
James Hubbell, John Hubbell,
James Bennitt, Jun',
Stephen Bennitt,
Sarah Fayerweather, John Fayerweather, Abigail Fayerweather, Deborah Fairchild, James Fairchild,
Stephen Hubbell, David Hubbell,
John Beardsle, Sent,
Joseph Hubbell,
Nathan Beardsle,
Samuel French's widow,
Ebenezer Hubbell,
William Beardsle, Jun,
Samuel French,
Zechariah Hubbell,
Ebenezer Beardsle, David Beardsle,
Samuel Gregory,
Andrew Hubbell,
John Beardsle, Jun',
Benjamin Gregory,
Nathan Hurd,
Obadiah Beardsle, Joseph Booth,
Ebenezer Gregory, Thaddeus Gregory,
John Jackson's widow,
John Burr, Sent,
Enock Gregory,
Gabriel Jackson,
John Burr, Jun',
Francis Hall, Sen',
John Jackson,
Charles Burrett,
John Hall,
David Jackson, Sen",
Stephen Burrows,
Samuel Hall,
David Jackson, Jun",
Samuel Cable,
Burgess Hall,
John Jones,
Israel Chauncey,
Francis Hall, Jun",
Edward Lacy,
Robert Chauncey,
Richard Hall,
Caleb Cole,
Elnathan Hall,
John Lacy, Ebenezer Lacy,
Daniel Comestock,
Ebenezer Hawley,
Zechariah Lawrence,
Samuel Cooke,
Matthew McHard,
Elijah Crane,
James Hawley, William Hodgden,
John Mallet, Sen',
Jonah Curtiss,
Matthew Horn,
David Mallet, Jun',
Daniel Hubbell,
William Beardsle, Sen', Daniel Beardsle,
Ebenezer French,
Richard Hubbell, Jun',
Moses Jackson,
503
John Man, Samuel Martin, Nicholas Masters, Zechariah Mead, John Middlebrook, Noah Morehouse, John Odell, Samuel Odell's widow, William Odell,
Hezekiah Odell,
Samuel Odell,
Samuel Patchen,
Thomas Stoddard,
Nathaniel Wakely,
Samuel Summer's widow, Jonathan Wakely, Jun',
Samuel Well's widow,
Samuel Wells,
John Wheeler, Timothy Wheeler. Isaac Wheeler,
Thomas Sanford, James Seelye's widow, Joseph Seelye,
David Sherman, Sen", David Sherman, Jun', Enos Sherman, John Sherwood,
Nathaniel Sherwood, Matthew Sherwood, William Smith, Sen', William Smith, Jun', John Smith's widow, Jacob Starling, Henry Stevens, Peter Stevens,
Zechariah Tredwell, Hezekiah Tredwell, Samuel Tredwell, Jacob Tredwell,
Samuel Trowbridge, Sen',
Samuel Trowbridge, Jun', Jonah Turny,
Robert Turny, Jonathan Wakely, Sen'.
Henry Wakely,
Joseph Wakely, Israel Wakely,
Benjamin Phippeny, John Porter, Valentine Rowell, Henry Rowland, Zechariah Sanford, Ezekiel Sanford,
Henry Summers, John Summers, David Summers,
Nathan Summers,
Edward Tredwell,
Deborah Tredwell,
Ebenezer Wheeler,
Benjamin Tredwell,
Richard Whitny."
Bridgeport.
CHAPTER XVIII.
STRATFIELD'S EARLY SETTLERS.
OCATING the homes of the early settlers is a work costing much time for research and study, and but for the manuscript book of Dea. Isaac Sherman, no attempt would have been made, either to provide the accom- panying map, or to prepare the following biographical sketches. But, since that book was in existence, largely by the forethought and perseverance of Dea. Rowland B. Lacey in fixing Deacon Sherman's attention to it, before he died, this list became possible, and has been completed with a considerable de- gree of accuracy, so far as it goes. It is not claimed that the list includes all the early settlers, nor all that could be said of 1 them, because Deacon Sherman gave only his recollections of what he had heard and known personally, and there could not be taken time sufficient to search the records so thoroughly as to perfect the work, although much that is given by Deacon Sherman has been confirmed by the town and society books.1
Recollections of Isaac Sherman.
1
The long life of Isaac Sherman in this community and his extensive personal acquaintance, his familiarity with the church and parish records, his respect for his own ancestry and his genealogical studies, his intercourse with and fondness for elderly people, his extensive business associations, his investigations for the estab- lishment of pension claims, his experience in connection with the settlement and distribution of estates, all contributed to furnish his observant and retentive mind with a fund of information in regard to the early settlement and history of Stratfield and Bridgeport. He could give the exact location of the old families and much about their descendants, the settlement of the Newfields-now the city of Bridge- port-the rise and progress of business, and business firms, how composed, where
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Bridgeport.
No. 1. Isaac Wheeler, son of Ephraim, one of the first settlers in Fairfield, in 1644, was a farmer and a large land- holder, for his mother in 1681, paid tax on 706 acres of land, Isaac having received his proportion before his father's death in 1670.
He was one of the nine male members of the first Strat- field Church at its organization under Rev. Charles Chauncey, June 13, 1695 ; which Church is now located in Bridgeport, called the First Congregational Church.
No. 2. Samuel Welles was a farmer with a good farm, Welles' Tongue being a small part of it. He was the son of John Welles, and grandson of Governor Thomas Welles, and this land or farm was first laid out to John Welles and given in his will to this son Samuel. He had one son, named David Wakeman Welles.
No. 3. John Mallett was a Frenchman and a farmer. Lewis Mallett who resided on the old place was a descendant. All the Malletts at Tashua are descendants of said John Mallett.
No. 4. Benjamin Hubbell was a farmer. He mar- ried a half sister of Doct. Stephen Middlebrook, of Trumbull. They had one son, John Hubbell, who married Betty, daugh- ter of Joseph Brothwell, and had five daughters : Betsey, who married Timothy Risley ; Polly, who married Howell Hough ; Anna, who married Zalmon Hawley. Zalmon Hawley had Maria, who married Capt. John Brooks, Jr .; Marietta, who married Capt. Burr Knapp; and one son John, who died young.
located, and whether successful or not. No one had attempted to cover the field, and no one living could do it as he could, and, unless by himself committed to paper, before his decease, it was certain that very much would be inevitably lost.
This consideration was frequently urged upon him for years without success. After his retirement from public business, his consent to enter upon the work was gained, the plan as laid out for him pursued, with success, and the result is mani- fest in these sketches, numbered in regular order for reference to the accompany- ing map.
To the labors of Esquire Sherman, Dea. Rowland B. Lacey has added about forty sketches, upon much careful enquiry and research, and the whole forms a valuable portion of the history of Bridgeport.
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History of Stratford.
No. 5. Benjamin Wheeler was a farmer, and was a grandson of Isaac Wheeler." Said Benjamin was the father of Timothy, and grandfather of Benjamin, Ezra and Hannah.
No. 6. Samuel Odell, a farmer, was justice of the peace, and an active member of the church and society. One of his daughters is now [1856] living, and is over 90 years of age. She is the widow of Samuel Wheeler. Her name is Julia Wheeler, and she draws a pension for the services of said Samuel in the Revolution. Samuel Odell had one son by the name of Maline Odell, who was lost at sea about the year 1800, in a clipper-built schooner, com- manded by Capt. Benjamin Wheeler, a descendant of Isaac, who with all his crew was lost in said schooner, for they were never heard from after they sailed from New York. Said Capt. Benjamin Wheeler left a wife and the following child- ren : Ira B .; Daniel Odell; Sally, who married Moses Platt ; Betsey, who married David Ufford, and Marrietta, who mar- ried Gideon Thompson.
No. 7. Capt. Abel Wakelee, a sailor, was lost at sea in the brig Julius Caesar on a voyage from the West Indies bound to Bridgeport with a load of salt. The crew and offi- cers were all saved in the long boat when the brig sunk, ex- cept Abel and a colored man named Ned, who was a slave to Capt. Amos Hubbell, the owner of the brig.
Capt. Abel Wakelee's descendants were Charles and Walker, who have died leaving no children. His widow's name was Grace.
No. 8. William Rose, a Frenchman, was one of the little colony of Frenchmen in Nova Scotia, at the time Canada was taken from the French by the English when the colony was broken up by the order of the English Government be- fore the Revolution, and distributed among the different thirteen states. Mr. Rose was landed in this parish and Dr. Fogg, also, was one of said neutral French who settled in Fairfield. Mr. Rose was a gardener, and he married Jennette Mann. His children were: Peter, Mabel, Charity and Polly.
2 This is doubtful. See Wheeler Genealogy.
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Bridgeport.
Doctor Fogg was settled in Fairfield and was an accept- able physician. He died since the Revolution.
William Rose used to fish at a fishweir in Bridgeport harbor, in a boat alone, accompanied by his faithful dog, Lyon. On one of the fishing days he had the misfortune to fall over- board and was near being drowned when the dog swam to him and he clasped the dog's tail and directed him to swim for the shore. When the dog had towed his master almost to the shore he turned about to swim off, when Mr. Rose in his broken French, called, "tudder way, Lyon," and, obeying his master, drew him to the shore. William Rose died April 21, 1812, aged 90 years.
No. 9. Hezekiah Wheeler, a tailor by trade, was em- ployed in making buckskin breeches, which were in his day the common wear for men and boys, and were used in some families as late as the year 1800. He had one son, a sailor, named Wilson, who was lost at sea. Hezekiah Wheeler, and his son now living in New York, are descendants of said Isaac Wheeler.
No. A. Bridgeport and Stratfield Burying Ground. From the earliest settlement up to 1812, the " Old Stratfield Burial Ground " was made the resting place of the dead in Stratfield Parish. At this period, even with the addition of 1772, the old ground had become too strait, and, upon petition of James E. Beach and others, to the October session of the General Assembly of 1811, showing that they had purchased a piece of land bounded north on Silas Sherman ; east on highway (Division street), south and west on Abijah Hawley's land, the said proprietors and their associates were duly incorporated to be known by the name of " The Bridgeport and Stratfield Burying Ground Associa- tion." Lambert Lockwood was named as the first clerk, and it was especially provided that "said burying ground shall forever remain and be used as and for a burying ground, and for that purpose only." Provision was made for its layout into lots and the proprietor of a lot became a legal member of the Corporation, and he, his heirs, successors, or assigns, entitled to one vote for every lot he or they possessed. A son of Mr. Ezra Wheeler was the first child and Mr. Elijah
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History of Stratford.
Burr was the first adult buried in this ground in 1812. Upon petition to the General Assembly at the May session, 1835, an addition was made at the west end.
Here nearly two generations were laid from 1812 to 1850, about 4,000 interments.
For some years the immediate vicinity had become so thickly settled that it had become an unsuitable place for a cemetery, and in 1849 Mountain Grove Cemetery was inau- gurated. About 1860, special efforts began to be made to get a vote in this association for removal to Mountain Grove or some other point, but met with most decided opposition, as did repeated efforts.
The agitation of the subject for a general removal made many proprietors timid in respect to the permanency of their tenure, and numerous voluntary removals were made to Mountain Grove and elsewhere. The vacated and unused lots were bought up by parties desiring removal until they held a majority, and under an Act or Resolution of the Gen- eral Assembly of May, 1873, the removal was consummated during the years 1873 and 1874, under commissioners named in said Act. Hon. P. T. Barnum became the purchaser of the entire territory through David W. Sherwood, his agent, and the removals were made largely under supervision of George Poole to the westerly side of the grounds in Moun- tain Grove Cemetery, numbering in all over three thousand. The site on the westerly side of Park avenue is now, in 1885, mostly covered by streets and cottages, and no vestige of its former use appears.
No. 10. William Hubbell was by occupation a house painter. His children were David, and Grizell, and other daughters.
Justin Smith,3 a native of Springfield, Mass., was a stone-cutter, specially skilled in working the brown stone of the Chatham, now Portland, quarries in Connecticut. In 1789, he embarked from that place with a vessel load of the Chatham stone, his family and household goods destined for Mill river at Fairfield, but his load was not consigned.
8 This name is not located on the map.
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In a stress of weather he ran his vessel into Bridgeport harbor, where, while weather bound, he made some acquaint- ance, through which some of the leading men learned who he was, what his cargo, and his skill as a stone-cutter, and per- suaded him to unload the vessel and establish himself and business here.
The many fine brown stone tablets and head-stones in the old Stratfield burying-ground and many others that were put up in the Division Street (Stratfield and Bridgeport) ceme- tery, and removed thence to Mountain Grove Cemetery, attest his skill and industry. His residence was on the site now occupied by the dwelling of Mr. F. W. Marsh, No. 240 Park avenue, and he was a most excellent Christian man. He died March 17, 1835, aged SI years. His wife was Mary Fox, of Chatham. She survived her husband fourteen years and died May 21, 1849, at the great age of 92 years.
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