USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 104
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Tradition tells of the time when the Indians rode over Ekonk Hill where the grass grew so luxuriantly that they could twine its tops together over their ponies' backs, as they talked of the hunt and the chase.
Then there are picturesque spots where the young people of today resort for picnics and outings, and where they take visitors to "point with pride" to these natural beauties-as at "Devil's Den" just over the line in Plainfield, and the "Pharisee Rock" on the farm of Alfred Gallup in Sterling. Never have the hills of old Sterling been more resplendent in natural beauty than with the wonderful flowering of fruit and foliage as following the severe winter of 1919-1920.
BEAUTY SPOTS OF WINDHAM
The favorite drive in and around Willimantic is to go down Windham Road to South Windham, turn through its short but beautifully shaded residential street, thence travel north through quiet old Windham Centre, with its wide street, well-kept lawns, tall shade trees and attractive homes; thence over to "Brick-top" and back to the city, pausing at the crest of Miller Hill to over- look the substantial modern mills of the great American Thread Company, at the left, and directly spread to the west and north the Prospect Hill residential section.
Then you may drive along until you come to Ash Street, thence around to Jackson and south to Prospect; then across Prospect Hill with its many beau- tiful homes, and all along the way you may overlook the prosperous city of the Willimantic Valley.
The wonderful panorama revealed from Hosmer Mountain, the most strik- ing eminence as you look across from the west end of Prospect Street, is vividly portrayed in the address "Historie Environment" as given in the opening pages of this volume. Not only may one there enjoy the historie inspiration, but the immediate view of the city and of "The Ridges" region is a beautiful picture.
On the Saturday night preceding the "Old School and Old Home Week" celebration, "Beacon Fires" were lighted on Hosmer Mountain and also on the commanding elevation southeast of the city, near Willimantic Camp Ground, and from this latter eminence one may see the larger part of the city, and
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realize its picturesque setting at the junction of the Natchaug and Willimantic valleys.
All of these high points may be reached by automobile. Crossing from Hosmer Mountain to the southeastern elevation one passes along Pleasant Street, whence more immediate view of the city, the fine residential section of Wind- ham Road, may be enjoyed.
Babcock Hill in South Windham is another eminence which commands a wonderful view of rolling hills.
NOTES OF INTEREST
THE TURNPIKES OF NEW ENGLAND"
The volume of Frederic J. Wood (Marshall Jones Company, Boston, pub- lishers) under above title states that the old turnpikes of Windham County were as follows:
The Windham and Mansfield Turnpike, crossing Windham. This turnpike passed Col. Thomas Dyer's house in Windham.
The Windham and Brooklyn Turnpike crossed Windham, Hampton and Brooklyn.
The Providence Turnpike crossed Brooklyn and Killingly.
The Windham Turnpike crossed Windham, Scotland, Canterbury and Plain- field. "Soon after 1699, when Major Fitch had established his home at Peags- combsuck in Canterbury, a road was cut out to that point from Windham." This road connected with a road running through Plainfield to Greenwich on Narragansett Bay. "These, offering the best route then available by which the Windham County colonists could reach Providence, became a road of im- portance which was later known as the 'Great Road.'" "The Windham Turnpike passed into history in 1852 when its corporation was dissolved." (Pages, 352 and 354.)
The New London and Windham County crossed Plainfield and Sterling, and existed prior to 1849.
The Norwich and Woodstock Turnpike ran between Canterbury and Plain- field, crossed Brooklyn, Pomfret and Woodstock.
The Boston Turnpike crossed Ashford, Eastford, Pomfret and Thompson. Along this road there were various taverns,-Jacob's Tavern in Thompson; Nichols' Tavern, two miles from Jacob's; Grosvenor's Tavern in Pomfret, seven miles from Nichols; Spring's Tavern, in Ashford, seven miles from Grosvenor's. Ashford had two other taverns, Perkins' and Clark's, "three and five miles respectively beyond Spring's."
The part of the Boston Turnpike in Pomfret was made free in 1845, in Eastford in 1850, and "by 1879 all rights to collect toll had ceased."
The Centre Turnpike crossed Ashford, Eastford, Woodstock and Thompson. The Connecticut and Rhode Island Turnpike crossed Pomfret and Killingly.
The Pomfret and Killingly Turnpike crossed Putnam and Thompson. "The Pomfret and Killingly Turnpike Company was created in May, 1802, but since the charter was revoked in 1819, the compiler of the special laws gave no de- tails of the act of incorporation, and access must be had to the spacious vault in the basement of the Hartford Capitol, where the manuscript records of the assembly are kept."
The Thompson Turnpike crossed Thompson.
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The Woodstock and Thompson Turnpike crossed Woodstock and Thompson. The Norwich and Woodstock Turnpike crossed Woodstock.
References used by Major Wood in connection with the above work, which may be of use: "Connecticut Historical Collections," J. W. Barber; Cornhill Magazine; "History of Windham County," Miss Ellen D. Larned.
MEMBERS OF CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1902
It is interesting to recall the list of Windham County members of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1902, one from each town. The revision of the State Constitution as proposed by this convention failed of adoption by the people : Ashford, Thomas K. Fitts; Brooklyn, Henry M. Evans; Canterbury, Levi N. Clark; Chaplin, William J. Groesbeck; Eastford, Monroe F. Latham; Hamp- ton, William H. Burnham; Killingly, A. P. Somes; Plainfield, Edwin Milner ; Pomfret, Thomas O. Elliot; Putnam, Byron D. Bugbee; Scotland, Gerald Waldo; Sterling, Claramon Hunt; Thompson, Randolph H. Chandler; Wind- ham, Eugene S. Boss; Woodstock, George Austin Bowen. George E. Hinman of Windham, now a judge of the Superior Court, was assistant clerk of the convention.
STATE MILITIA-1859
An interesting reminder of the old-time training days is found in the fol- lowing record of officers of the Seventh Regiment, State Militia, in 1859. Colonel, Amos Witter, Plainfield; lieutenant-colonel, Ephraim Keech, West Kil- lingly ; major, Alexander Warner, Woodstock; engineer, Edward L. Cundall. Killingly; adjutant, John Bard, West Killingly; quartermaster, James Webb, West Killingly ; paymaster, E. Y. Smith, Plainfield; chaplain, Isaac H. Coe, Killingly; surgeon, John McGregor, Thompson; sergeant major, Waldo Til- linghast, Plainfield; drum major, William A. Scott, Central Village; captain regiment band, Findlay M. Fox, Putnam; judge advocate, Elisha Carpenter, West Killingly ; captains : cavalry, Orville M. Capron, Danielsonville; artillery, Dwight M. Day, Dayville; C. Cleveland, Brooklyn; infantry, Charles H. Davi- son, Willimantic ; William I. Hyde, Moosup; Thomas K. Bates, Danielsonville ; Jabez L. Bowen, Killingly; rifle, William R. May, Putnam.
WINDHAM COUNTY IN PUBLIC LIFE
William H. Taylor ("Souvenir") calls attention in a recent article to the fact that Windham County has never yet furnished a senator of the United States. The late John M. Hall and the Hon. Charles E. Searls, present state's attorney, have been among those mentioned for the honor in recent years. Taylor also regrets that his native town of Putnam has never had a represen- tative in Congress, although here again it is quite well understood that Mr. Searls could undoubtedly have had that honor if he would have consented to the use of his name. In a recent newspaper article, "Souvenir" brings out the following interesting facts: "The only state officer Putnam has had in these hundreds of years was the lamented Deacon James W. Manning, who was comptroller in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1873, and our present popular and efficient state treasurer, Hon. G. Harold Gilpatric. Windham County has had eleven representatives in Congress since 1789, as follows: Zephaniah Swift, author of "Swifts Digest," Windham, 1793-97; Calvin Goddard, Plainfield. 1801-05: Ebenezer Stoddard, Woodstock, 1821-25; John Baldwin, Windham, 1825-29 ;
-
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Ebenezer Young, Killingly, 1829-35; Andrew T. Judson, Canterbury, 1835-37 ; George S. Catlin, Windham, 1843-45; Chauncey F. Cleveland, Hampton, 1849- 53; Sidney Dean, Thompson, 1855-59; Alfred A. Burnham, Windham, 1859-63; Charles A. Russell, Killingly, 1887-1902.
"The county has had two chief justices: Eliphalet Dyer, Windham, 1789- 93; Zephaniah Swift, Windham, 1815.
"The county has had six speakers of the House of Representatives of Con- necticut the past one hundred years: Ebenezer Young, Killingly, 1827 and 1828; Chauncey F. Cleveland, Hampton, 1835-36, and 1870; Alfred A. Burn- ham, Windham, 1858 and 1863; David Gallup, Plainfield, 1866; Edwin H. Bugbee, Killingly, 1871; John M. Hall, Windham, 1882.
The state officers from the county since 1839 were:
"Governor-Chauncey F. Cleveland, Hampton, 1842-44.
"Lieutenant-Governors-Ebenezer Stoddard, Woodstock, 1835-38; Thomas Backus, Killingly, 1849-50; William Field, Pomfret, 1855-56; Alfred A. Burn- ham, Windham, 1857-58; David Gallup, Plainfield, 1879-81.
"Secretaries of State-Daniel P. Tyler, Pomfret, 1844-46; Marvin H. Sanger, Canterbury, 1873-77; Charles E. Searls, Thompson, 1881-83; Charles A. Russell, Killingly, 1885-87; Huber Clark, Windham, 1899-1901.
"Treasurers-Frederick P. Coe, Killingly, 1856-57 ; Ezra Dean, Woodstock, 1861-62; Henry G. Taintor, Hampton, 1866-67; Edwin S. Moseley, Hampton, 1867-69; Edwin A. Buck, Windham, 1877-79; Marvin H. Sanger, Canterbury, 1893-95; Charles W. Grosvenor, Pomfret, 1897-99; G. Harold Gilpatric, Put- nam, 1919 to (as long as he wants the office, I hope).
"Comptrollers-William Field, Pomfret, 1836-38; Mason Cleveland, Hamp- ton, 1846-47; James W. Manning, Putnam, 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1873; Daniel P. Dunn, Windham, 1913-15.
"Attorney-Generals-William A. King, Windham, 1903-07; George E. Hin- man, Windham, 1915-19."
CHAPTER XXXI THE VENERABLE CLUB OF WINDHAM
THE VENERABLE CLUB OF WINDHAM-SOME OF WINDHAM COUNTY'S OLD PEOPLE- OCTOGENARIAN ACTIVITIES.
"As we near the end of life One day feel night encroaching, May we at life's last setting sun, See heavenly morn approaching." -Selected.
July 5, 1902, at the Hotel Hooker, Willimantic, a unique society was formed. It was known as the "Venerable Club of Windham." The now venerable S. C. Hooker was then landlord and owner of the Hotel Hooker, and to him must be given the credit of the final formation of this club, for it was he who conceived the notion of inviting all the men in the immediate vicinity of Willimantic, who had reached the three-score-and-ten milestone on life's jour- ney, to come to his hotel and spend the day in sort of a re-union affair. Fifty were present at the first meeting and enjoyed themselves immensely. The morning hours were pleasantly spent in the office, parlor and other rooms of the "Hooker," and at the noon hour the company was invited by the genial landlord to enter the dining-room, where three long tables had been set. The tables and walls were artistically decorated and adorned with flowers.
The daily paper wrote the affair up in "Chronicle" style, one paragraph of which read : "And when it was about the hour of twelve, came the keeper of the house and said with a loud voice, 'Come ye! My oxen and fatlings are killed and all things are ready. Come ye to the feast which I have prepared for you.' And they with one accord, said: 'Most worthy and honored host, we come.' And it was so, and they did all eat and were filled."
Fifty of those present made a total age of 3,841 years, with an average of seventy-seven years. A few were there just under seventy, and the oldest was eighty-five years. On the piaza of the hotel the "Venerables" had a fine large group-photograph taken, a copy of which is still hanging in the parlor of the hotel, and is reproduced with this article. After dinner speeches and songs were in order. Much was said and written about this gathering in the local press, but the most important thing in connection with it all was the making up of the roster of so many old gentlemen and the formation of a permanent club.
It was after the speeches of B. Frank Bennett and others that Origen Bennett of Chaplin suggested that an old men's club he organized, and this was carried out, and the first officers were: George W. Burnham, president ; Joel Fox, secretary. The next place of meeting was to be at the Hotel Hooker, July 4, 1903. These annual love-feasts of the pioneer men of this club were continued for about ten years, and until a few years after Mr. Hooker had retired, after which date the meetings did not seem to have the interest they had when "Unele
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Chauncey" conducted the house and spread his good cheer to all. The hun- dreds of incidents, comic and pathetic, that were narrated by these fifty and more old men at their gatherings concerning what they saw and experienced in their youth, young manhood and older years, if compiled into a volume would be "rich, rare and racy" indeed.
For a sketch of Mr. Hooker's life the reader is referred to the biographical section of this work. He is now aged about eighty-five years.
As the years come and go, it will not be without interest to the readers of this volume to peruse the following roster of membership of this club, which went out of existence in 1912-the names are given in the order found on the record they kept, all born in Connecticut, unless otherwise stated.
Charles E. Carpenter-Town of Windham, b. Attleboro, Mass., 1833.
Alonzo B. Green-Windham, b. Lisbon, 1826.
N. B. Williams-Windham, b. Lebanon, 1822.
George C. Martin-Windham, b. Chaplin, 1827.
B. F. Bennett-Windham, b. Stonington, 1826.
George W. Burnham-Windham, b. Milford, Ohio, 1818. Marvin Lincoln-Washington, D. C., b. Windham, 1813. William Martin-Chaplin, b. Chaplin, 1823. James Walden-Windham, b. Canterbury, 1826.
Jesse T. Leonard-Windham, b. Willington, 1824. Elizur F. Reed-Windham, b. Granby, 1828. George R. Farnham-Windham, b. Windham, 1831. Loren Lincoln-Windham, b. Windham, 1819.
Robert W. Hooper-Windham, b. Winchenden, Mass., 1817.
Orville B. Griswold-Windham, b. Vernon, 1832. E. D. Grant-Windham, b. Mansfield, 1823. Amos T. Fowler-Windham, b. Lebanon, 1832.
Charles Broadhurst-Windham, b. England, 1831.
Origen Bennett-Chaplin, b. Bedlam district, Chaplin, 1820. Joel Fox-Windham, b. Willimantic, 1818.
Ira P. Sweetland-Windham, b. Coventry, 1828. Charles L. Filmore-Windham, b. Sprague, 1830. Lafayette L. Jacobs-Windham, b. Mansfield, 1829. H. A. Franklin-Windham, b. Exeter, R. I., 1822. A. S. Chapman-Scotland, b. Scotland, 1819. Freeman D. Spencer-Windham, b. Windham, 1820. Henry Spafford-Windham, b. Hampton, 1819.
Robert Brown-Windham, b. Richmond, R. I., 1822.
Oliver Chappell-Windham, b. Maryland, N. Y., 1827.
A. W. Parkhurst-Scotland, b. Scotland, 1824. Giles H. Alford-Windham, b. Otis, Mass., 1827. John H. Moulton-Windham, b. Windham, 1828. Jeremiah C. Bill-Windham, b. Lebanon, 1827. Harden H. Fitch-Windham, b. Windham, 1817. Chas. B. Pomeroy-Windham, b. Somers, 1832. D. P. Ticknor-Windham, b. Columbia, 1835. John M. Palmer-Windham, b. Scotland, 1830. Henry Larrabee-Windham, b. Groton (now Ledyard), 1830. J. H. French-Windham, b. Waterbury, 1832.
THE VENERABLE CLUB
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Albert Harris-Windham, b. Windham, 1829.
Amos B. Adams-Windham, b. Readfield, Maine, 1822.
Jonathan Hatch-Windham, b. Lebanon, 1817. E. G. Sumner-Mansfield, b. Tolland, 1830. Orrin F. Lincoln-Eagleville, b. Chaplin, 1825. Edwin Bugbee-Windham, b. Ashford, 1825. J. Griffin Martin-Windham, b. Chaplin, 1832. James Macfarlane-Windham, b. Willington, 1834. Henry Howey-Windham, b. Hebron, 1838. John L. Hunter-Windham, b. Gardiner, Maine, 1834. John Bolles-Windham, b. Ashford, 1835. Samuel G. Adams-Windham, b. Windham, 1829.
To these charter members were added ten or a dozen more in later years.
SOME OF WINDHAM COUNTY'S OLD PEOPLE
From personal correspondence in recent years, the editor gleans certain information from some of the old people of Windham County, which is inter. esting as revealing something of the life and manner of living in earlier days.
To the younger generation the days of '60 seem very far away -- those soul- stirring times of slavery, and division of North and South-and there are very few children nowadays who can climb upon grandfather's knee and get him to tell of the things that happened to him, and the things that he saw in those by-gone days, as each year more of our Civil war veterans are passing on: The days of the stage coach are long since past; the old spinning wheel, with its worn treadle, is put away in the attic, if it is still in existence even. The hoop skirts of those days are brought back again at fancy dress dances, and then laid carefully away again in grandmother's trunk that holds great-grand- mother's cherished possessions. Those have become dim and romantic days, and how letters, such as these following, written by some of the oldest people in Windham County, or by some who have just gone on, shed light on their lives, and make them live again for us.
The following records are probably typical of many others. Certainly Wind- ham County has had a remarkable proportion of old people. It is noteworthy that most of those who speak here attribute their longevity to inherited strength.
Among the most interesting of records is that of the Whitaker family of Ashford. Mary Etta Whitaker Smith, eldest daughter of George and Mary Colgrove Whitaker, was born November 10, 1828, in the Pilshire district, in what is now the Town of Eastford, but was then a part of Ashford, and died about a year ago. About three years ago she wrote :
"Being the second child in a family of sixteen, my younger days were busy ones as mother's helper and caretaker of those younger than myself. We lived for short periods of time in Pomfret, Killingly and Hampton, returning to Ashford in 1848. In 1853 I went to Hartford where I remained three years as housekeeper for my brother George, and also worked as a tailoress for a large company on Main Street. The next few years I was an attendant at the Hartford Insane Retreat. I there attended the dedication of the South Baptist Church which but recently held its sixtieth anniversary.
"I was married to Andrew Smith of Westford, October 29, 1860, the cere- mony being performed in Rhode Island. Since that time a greater part of my life has been spent in Westford, a village in the north part of Ashford.
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One son was born to us, George Daniel, November 17, 1863, who, with the exception of one or two years, has remained at home and is now looking after my comfort in my declining years.
"It was a sad and trying time in my life when five brothers joined the ranks of the Union army in the Civil war. One, Daniel, was killed in action, Gen. Edward Whitaker of Washington, D. C., being now my only living brother. While I have four sisters, each over seventy years of age to represent the once large family. For many years I enjoyed the religious and social life of the Westford Baptist Church, as a member, but failing hearing has of late deprived me of that pleasure. After my marriage I did much nursing in the neighbor- hood, often being called out in the night and in severe storms. It has been a joy to me to alleviate suffering when it was in my power to do so. I have always had a passion for flowers, and although now unable to care for them alone, my son sees that they still bloom each summer in the beds that I have attended for fifty years. My longevity may be attributed to a strong constitution inherited from my mother's people, who were direct descendants of Roger Williams. My mother lived to be over ninety-one years of age. I have tried to meet the sorrows and disappointments of life with a calm born of my faith in my Maker and His assurance that all things work together for good to those who trust Him.
"I have been wonderfully free from sickness and disease, have always been fond of walking. When at the age of eighty I walked five miles one afternoon, and now at eighty-nine, I can walk a mile without great fatigue. I still do my housework with no help except that of my son."
Maria Bugbee Knowlton Upton, lineal descendant of Capt. Daniel Knowlton, a brother of Col. Thomas Knowlton, was born September 16, 1837, in Ashford, where she still resides with two of her daughters, Mrs. Calista Biscoe and Edith Upton. Another daughter, Ethel, resides near Warrenville, being the wife of Fred F. Fitts. Mrs. Upton has a full measure of the indomitable spirit and energy of the Knowlton patriots and has always taken keen interest in reform movements, especially the anti-slavery and anti-saloon movements. Her brother, Col. Marvin Knowlton, was for many years one of the leaders of the prohibition movement in Connecticut. She emphasizes the habit of early rising as one of the best assurances of getting your tasks done and then having some time for leisure when you can feel that you have really earned it and can enjoy yourself without the worry of work undone.
Mrs. Upton has in her home two valuable portraits, handsomely framed, of Col. Thomas Knowlton and Lieut. Daniel Knowlton respectively and pre- sented to her by her cousin, George H. Knowlton of Albany, N. Y .. to be retained in the family as long as possible and ultimately to be placed in some institution.
Mrs. Harriet Young Lanphear, who died at her home in Ashford, Sunday, July 18, 1920, in her ninety-third year, wrote as follows to the editor when she was just past ninety :
"In request to your letter I will give a short sketch of my life. I was born in the Town of Mansfield at Mt. Hope, January 27, 1828, the daughter of William C. and Mehetabel S. Young. I was the oldest of ten children. I always lived at home with my parents until I was seventeen years old, then I went to work in the silk mill in Atwood village; from there I went to the silk mills in Chaffeeville, where I worked until June 11, 1850. I was married to Jared Lanphear of Ashford and went with him to his home at his parents.
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The next year his father died and we bought out the heirs and kept the place. We there lived happily together, worked hard, as farmers do, I doing my housework for the family, making butter and cheese, doing the sewing, spin- ning my own yarn, knitting our own stockings. We had six children born to us-three sons and three daughters. We lived together forty-two years when my husband died, aged sixty-six years. I was then left alone with my youngest son. We remained on the farm awhile, then sold the place. I went to live with my children. I worked nearly six years with Mrs. Jared Went- worth, since which time I have been with my children. I had the misfortune to fall and break my arm, then had a spell of rheumatism, but aside from that I am feeling quite well; able to work around, attend church here in Warren- ville, of which I have been a member since April 16, 1848. I am now living with my youngest daughter and her husband, Wallace L. Durkee. This win- ter it has been very cold, but I have had good care. My birthday was January 27, 1918, when I was ninety years of age. My eyesight is very good, but I am rather hard of hearing."
About two years ago, Mrs. Ruby Williams (who passed away February 13, 1920, at age ninety) wrote a very interesting letter at the editor's request and gave the following facts from her life :
Ruby Gallup, daughter of David and Nancy (Jacques) Gallup, was born in Sterling, Conn., January 1, 1822. As Mrs. Williams herself said, "I was born on the highest point of land in Windham County and I guess the good fresh air on Sterling Hill helped to lengthen my days." Her mother died when she was quite young. After this sadness in her life she came to Brooklyn, Conn., making her home with her brother John. Her earlier education was attained at the old Brooklyn Academy. At sixteen years of age she attended a school for young ladies for one year in Norwich, but two years later she entered a select boarding school for young ladies in Hartford, making the week-end trips home in the old stage coach. Her narrative of these trips is exceedingly inter- - esting as Mrs. Williams ever had a keen wit to observe sights and sounds about her.
On September 5, 1850, she married Dr. Horace Burgess, of Plainfield, Conn., who was one of the best known physicians in Eastern Connecticut at that time. He died in 1854. In November, 1865, she again married. This time she came to Brooklyn to make her permanent home, having married Mr. Charles G. Williams, one of Brooklyn's most prosperous farmers. Until 1886 they made their home on what is now known as Terrace Farm and at present conducted by Nathaniel G. Williams, a son of Mr. Charles G. Williams by a former marriage. From the farm they moved to Brooklyn village. Mr. Wil- liams died in January, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were both affiliated with the Unitarian Church and Mrs. Williams, although not able for the past few years to attend services regularly, retained to the last a keen interest there as in fact, for all topics of the day. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about her life was the quiet, even tenor of its way. She was never seriously ill except once in the winter of 1916, when she suffered a severe attack of grippe. Shad- ows crossed her path, but with unshaken faith in the Father of all, she would see sunshine through every cloud; and up to her very last illness, she retained all her faculties except a slight failing of the eyesight, and was known as the brightest and cheeriest person upon whom one could call.
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