USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 28
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The relations between employer and employee were most fraternal. The industrial mischief makers had not arrived. There were no strikes, no Indus- trial Workers of the World, no incipient Bolshevism. The mill owner often had arisen from the farm. He lived simply and economically, superintended the mill, had no board of directors or buying or selling agent. He bought his cotton and sold his goods and was usually his own bookkeeper and accountant. He knew his little industry from A to Z. There were no sinecures in those days for favorite sons. There were no dummies on the payroll to eat up dividends. The employer was a resident of the community, fraternized. with his help, mingled with all the people, and was usually recognized as a leader in all pub- lic affairs. Being a resident, he was keenly alive to all public needs and was influential in all functions of church or state. As a deacon and church official he gave strong support to the church, and as "committee man" he supervised
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the educational interests of his school district. He was also somewhat of a home missionary. Workmen's compensation laws were then unknown, but many 'were the instances in which an employer extended the helping hand in time of need when some family had been overtaken by the pinch of poverty through sickness or misfortune.
The employees were entirely native, drawn mostly from the surrounding farms where large families were then the rule-often eight or ten boys and girls, all inured to hard work and "daylight saving" by arduous labor from sun to sun. Thus equipped they became valuable workers. They did not grumble nor complain at long hours or days. They asked for no Adamson Law. They said nothing of eight hours and overtime. They were glad of an opportunity to work and become self-supporting and thus to help ease the financial strain upon the farm, where, at times, it had been difficult to "make both ends meet" at the year's end. Those nearby walked to their work. Those just a little more remote were brought in by father and old Dobbin-there were no automobiles then. Those still more remote boarded near their work and, on Saturday nights went home to genuine old New England homes to greet father and mother and brothers and sisters, for all were home lovers, and to them the home was the "holy of holies," the restful sanctuary of their lives.
The modern homeless tramp employees had not then been evolved. None was very rich ; none were very poor. Pauperism, as at present, developed in these vaunted times of prosperity, was then unknown.
Often members of the family would alternate in mill work, thus affording to each, relaxation, recreation and educational opportunities.
Education in the district schools was not as varied as at present, but was more specific and intense. Now the tendency is to know a little of many things; then it was to be thorough in a few things.
The farms and mills were joint factors and parts of an harmonious whole, in which the interests of all were identical and an injury to one was an injury to all.
Yes, dear Doctor, those were indeed the "good old days," halcyon days, in glorious contrast with the present degenerate days of uneasy industrial unrest. and violence, in which the rights of one hundred millions of people to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are being trampled upon by a small per- centage of anarchistic labor agitators who threaten bloodshed and revolution, and the destruction of the very foundations of the republic which was founded by our fathers.
Blessed be the memory of those noble men and women-our ancestors, the pioneers of righteous industry. May we, as a nation, emulate their example, reestablish the golden rule, in industrial relations, and hand down to future generations our glorious republic, untarnished by the greed of capital or labor, a government "of the people, by the people and for the people."
THE PHYSICIANS OF KILLINGLY FIFTY YEARS AGO By Rienzi Robinson
Fifty years ago, the world was about to be blessed by a great revolution in the practice of medicine and surgery. Some years before, chloroform and ether had been discovered and accepted by the profession, giving us painless surgery and painless vivisection, under which physical processes in health and disease
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could be studied by sacrificing a few score of guinea pigs and rabbits that the millions of human beings might be saved. A few of the medical seers began to whisper that the use of chloroform and ether made a broad foundation upon which to build and develop the germ theory of disease, aseptic surgery and the antiseptic treatment of infected wounds. The day was coming when out of the mud and scum of empiricism was to develop rational and scientific medi- cine. As yet it had not been taught in our medical schools, and the five physi- cians ministering to the sick in Killingly could know nothing about the new doctrine. They were men of middle age and had received all the medical schools could give them, when as young men they began their medical career.
Killingly, pleasantly situated in the Quinnebaug Valley, is bordered on the east by a range of hills, at the south end of which was the parish of South Kill- ingly ; and on the north, East Killingly, or better known as Chestnut Hill. Dr. Daniel Hovey, somewhat beyond middle life, had located in South Parish as a young man and was spending his professional life in driving over its hilly roads, through the dust and heat of summer and the cold chilling blasts of win- ter, caring for a sparse population and eking out a precatious living from this rocky and sterile soil. Nothing could induce Doctor Hovey to change for a richer field, though well fitted and capable of doing so. He was a man who came of good stock, and had a brother, Judge Hovey of Norwich, considered one of the finest of legal advisers in Eastern Connecticut. At an advanced age Doctor Hovey laid down his work, but no young man could be induced to take the field and the people have been obliged since to depend upon physicians three to four miles distant.
At East Killingly we find Dr. Edwin A. Hill, a younger man by some years than Doctor Hovey. He had chosen East Killingly as a promising field and had built up a large country practice extending over into North Foster on the east and Chepalchit on the north. His territory was large and his rides long. He was a man of strong personality and 'his physical endurance almost beyond belief. He was an active member of the School Board and often elected as selectman from his part of the town. A single instance 'will illustrate his won- derful vitality. Meeting him on the road and stopping to pass the compliments of the day he asked the writer to look in his throat. Finding large diphtheria patches, he was advised to go home to bed and send for a doctor. Although shaking with chills and fever and a temperature of 103, he refused, saying he had two very sick patients with diphtheria some six miles to the north of us, that he must care for as they were old friends and patrons. He did care for them at same time attending his other patients, and seemingly none the worse for it. He was a late riser in the morning and would start out towards noon, driving until late at night, seeing many of his patients in the evening.
He was a familiar figure in town, doing much of his driving on a two- wheeled gig, with no protection for self or horse but a thin blanket. Many of his calls came on the road by people recognizing his peculiar rig in the distance and calling him as he was on the point of riding by. Attending him in his last illness, he assured the writer that in over forty-five years of practice he had not been in bed a day for illness.
His son, Dr. Charles E. Hill, associated with him during the last few years of his life, succeeded him and still holds the field.
Dayville, situated in the Quinnebaug Valley, was the most promising field in town for a physician, being within two miles of Williamsville (now Goodyear),
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Attawaugan, Ballouville, Killingly Center and Elmville. Dr. Justin Hammond near the sunset of life had been the resident physician since early manhood. He was a man of large frame, large heart, and a face beaming with sympathy and kindness for all humanity, sick or well. Beloved and trusted by all, he filled prominent positions in church and town, at one time representing the town in the State Legislature; was active until his final call, which came while visiting a patient. He left one son and two daughters; the son locating in Saratoga, one daughter in Boston, and one daughter in Hartford, all medical graduates.
Dr. A. E. Darling, a young man and native of Killingly, who was studying medicine with Doctor Hammond at the time of his death, took up the work of the older man and for forty years did good work. In fact he was a man of work and no play; never took a vacation and rarely attended medical conven- tions. He was more careful of his horses than of himself, taking the entire care of them until his last illness. He was prominent in church and school affairs and was a member of the School Board for many years.
Danielson, in the southwest corner of Killingly, included a part of East Brooklyn, at the time spoken of had two resident physicians, Dr. Samuel Hutchins and Dr. J. W. Martin. Doctor Hutchins, after graduating, had the California gold fever and with several other "forty-niners," as they were called, went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The hardships endured by these men is a matter of history. Not finding California the Eldorado hoped for, Doctor Hutchins came back to Danielson, locating at first on the Brooklyn side, but soon coming to the Danielson side of the borough, where he resided until his death. He was the leading surgeon of the town and did some fine work. One operation may be particularly mentioned, that of Caesarian section. It was an operation rare and this was the third time it had been performed in Connecticut. He was urged to report it to the medical society, but he would not, neither would he allow it to be done by his assistants. His aversion to having his name in print was strong. In town affairs he was prominent as selectman, as member of the School Board and an active member of the Congre- gational Church.
Doctor Martin, the rival of Doctor Hutchins, came from Worcester, Mass., and in ten years had made many friends and had built up a fine practice. He was immaculate in his dress and it was jokingly remarked that he never left his house without blacking his boots, or drove out of his barn without first dust- ing off horse and buggy. Methodical in his methods of doing things, he had carried it to such perfection that he could harness his horse in two minutes, and unharness, stable and blanket the same in one minute. Breaking down in health at the end of ten years of practice he sold out to Rienzi Robinson, then just graduated in medicine and who is still in practice, ranking with Dr. J. B. Kent of Putnam as the two oldest physicians in the county, both commeneing prac- tice in 1869.
Taking another man's practice gave Doctor Robinson a large field and long drives from the start, leading him incidentally to study the cost per mile for horse and buggy. This suggested the keeping a record of miles driven, which he did for thirty years, showing a mileage of 240,000, an average of 16,000 for horse and 15,000 for buggy. The average life of road work for a horse was four years, though some would fall short, while others would exceed the time
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and distance. The road life of two horses during these thirty years was ten years and the distance 30,000 miles for each horse.
Doctor Robinson was a member of the Windham County Medical Associa- tion, the Connecticut Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was elected president of the Connecticut Medical Society in 1896. He has to his credit several medical papers read before the county and state societies.
Outside of his professional work he was interested in the Free Public Library, being chairman of the building committee. He is still on the board of library directors of which he was secretary for many years.
As the population of the town increased and the mills began to employ for- eign help, there came the demand for a French physician. Dr. C. J. Leclaire came in response and for twenty years had a large practice, attending during that time over two thousand births. He was active in town affairs, taking great interest in politics and for several years was a member of the Board of Educa- tion. Overwork and loss of sleep undoubtedly caused his premature death.
Dr. J. N. Perreault succeeded Dr. Leclaire and though a young man, has already a fine practice.
Dr. Frank P. Ladd came into town twenty odd years ago in answer to a call for a homeopathic physician and has a fine practice.
Dr. W. H. Judson' practiced in Wauregan for some years, but moved to Danielson twenty-five years ago and has been health officer for past fifteen to twenty years.
Dr. Frank Coops was some years located in Danielson but sold out to Dr. George M. Burroughs, now one of our busiest of men, adding to the work of a general practice that of an oculist.
The men of fifty years ago residing in adjoining towns and who used to come as consultants or to treat patients independently and personally known to the writer, were Doctors Lewis and Burgess of Moosup, Doctor Whitcomb of Brooklyn, Doctor Williams of Pomfret and Doctor Holbrook of Thompson, all prominent physicians of the time.
The men now practicing in Killingly belong to a later generation than those of fifty years ago, yet nearly all are in middle life and approaching the age limit when they must perforce lay aside the active duties of the profession and become passive spectators of the world's progress. They have seen the horse- less carriage take the place of the famous "one hoss shay" of the old-time doctor, and are looking forward to the time when rising above the dust and noise of the street, the doctor will, through the pathless sky, find his way easily to his waiting patient.
They have seen the specialist gradually taking the place of the general prac- titioner, notwithstanding the early opposition and general protest against it. Dr. W. H. Draper, lecturing to us students back in the '60s, declared that the man who was not big enough to take the practice of medicine in its entirety was not competent to practice at all. He was a good illustration of his theory, being able to take the place of any of the professors unavoidably absent, and filling the bill to the enjoyment and satisfaction of the listening students. In spite of all protest, specialism is coming to be the order of the day and the general practitioner like the "one hoss shay" will be interesting, but ancient history.
The thousand and one mechanical appliances of the Swedish movement cure and its many aliases, will be consigned to the junk heap and the physician of
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the future, sitting in his office, will direct through wireless telegraphy the physical culture and development of the young.
With the advance of chemistry we have seen the small concentrated alkaloid tablet take the place of the crude drugs of earlier days. We have seen the adoption of the many serums by the use of which the human system is protected from disease. We have seen the success of the drugless and suggestive treat- ment of functional nervous diseases. What of the future and what has it in store for the physician of the future? When at the age limit the active physi- cian is set one side and occupies the easy chair in the chimney corner, it is then he becomes not only retrospective, but indulges in prophetic theories of the future. He wonders if the future can give us as great changes as the past, and often feels that he has been born two or three generations too soon. He longs to look into that future and would fain raise the veil that shrouds it. The poet has forcibly expressed this longing in the following :
"The heathen kneels so saith Kabir To wood and storm in heathenwise But in my brother's tone I hear My own unanswered agonies His gods are what the fates assign His prayers are all the world's and mine."
With this longing and prayer unanswered the physician, his life work ended, resignedly enters the long sleep waiting for what the answer may be on the morrow.
CHAPTER X TOWN OF ASHFORD
EARLY HISTORY OF ASHFORD-WESTFORD COMMUNITY-ASHFORD HOMES-ASHFORD SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS-ASHFORD WELFARE ASSOCIATION-ASHFORD IN PUBLIC LIFE.
Ashford was originally a part of the Wabbaquasset country conveyed to Major Fitch by Owaneco in 1684. This wild forest land, remote from civiliza- tion, was yet known to New England settlers, as it was in the direct route from Boston to Connecticut. The old Connecticut path crossed what is now Ashford Common. The first land laid out was a tract four miles square in what is now the south part of Eastford, having been transferred to Simeon Stoddard of Boston in satisfaction of a court judgment. The two principal owners were in no position to assume the settlement of this region as Major Fitch was in business difficulties at that time and Stoddard was a resident of another colony. The General Court took the matter in hand and appointed a committee to survey and lay out the township to lay out home lots, and "to order and man- age the affairs of the said town," and to pass upon the desirability of the pros- pective inhabitants. Upon learning of this enactment Major Fitch sold his share of the township. In 1707 a tract five miles long and three wide was bought and laid out west of the Stoddard tract, in the south part of what is now Ashford, and called the New Scituate Plantation. Capt. John Chandler soon bought a large part of the tract and became the chief proprietor of New Scituate. The whole of the remaining territory of old Ashford was sold by Major Fitch in 1708 to James Corbin of Woodstock. He in turn sold the land to fourteen others, still keeping his jurisdiction over the property. The tracts were surveyed and laid out rapidly in order that settlement might be made before the government could take possession. There was no attempt to obtain confirmation of this land by the General Court, and the proprietors evidently were doubtful of their title.
The first settlement was made in 1710 by John Mixer of Canterbury, who purchased 100 acres of land of Captain Chandler, on the site of the present Village of Warrenville. In case "said land should appear to be of no force or value," the money paid for it was to be returned. The Connecticut Road passed by or near his residence. The following April another settler took up his claim, near the present Town of Eastford. The General Court learning that settlement had already been started, while nothing had been done by them, ordered and appointed a committee to begin settlement of the tract, and to appoint town officers, the town to be called Ashford. However, great difficulty was experienced in taking possession, as the land was rough and rocky, a large part of it covered with dense forests, and wolves and bears abounded.
Sharp rivalry followed between the government of Connecticut and the dif- ferent purchasers, both sides appealing to the General Assembly. The Assem- bly desired the governor, with the advice of an appointed government commit-
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tee, to settle the question of rights. Before his could be done the claimants hastened to take possession of their property. The new settlers bought farms of James Corbin in 1711, establishing themselves north of the Stoddard tract. They built houses, broke land, and laid out a highway. The following year James Corbin again tried to have the grant confirmed, in the name of about twenty proprietors of three-fourths of Ashford. The court ordered any claim- ant to the land to appear before it and the right of Major Fitch was openly denied. Settlement still continued, however, more coming to the eastern colony, and others to New Scituate. A few bought land of the court committee, and established themselves in spite of opposition from the other settlers.
With the new land improvements could proceed-the minister's house was for further town privileges and the liberty of having town government. The petition was granted, right of settlement was established, and town organiza- tion carried out as promptly as possible. The two settlements were some dis- tance apart, the inhabitants few, and quite dependent on their own resources. The first town meeting was held in 1715. Land and highways were laid out in that year.
The next year a meeting house was started and a minister secured. Both meeting house and minister's house were delayed by continual conflict over the land, for many owners were non-residents, and before roads could be built or improvements made, their consent had to be obtained. The town decided to appoint a committee to pass upon all those making application for land, thereby securing ownership and jurisdiction. An appeal was made to the General Court in 1716. The court would gladly have put out the claimants of Ashford, but as they had complied with the terms of settlement this could not be done. One body of the Assembly opposed giving them the land and the townspeople also met with opposition to the possession of this territory from their own numbers who had bought their land of Corbin or Chandler. There was a dispute as to who were the lawful voters-non-residents claiming the right also. This caused division among the townspeople for a time, but was finally settled. The town proceeded to take possession of all territory with or without permission, and regardless of ownership. Land was surveyed, several grants were allowed, a committee was appointed to draw up a memorial to lay before the General Court. Grants originally owned by Corbin and Chandler were to be free to their inhabitants and all lands not laid out were distributed among the towns- people.
With the new land improvements could proceed-the minister's house was completed, a pound was built, and in 1717 a meeting house was started in the northern part of New Scituate. Meantime the claimants of Ashford land who had been ousted appealed to the Assembly for confirmation of their ownership. The townspeople of Ashford told their side of the story to the Assembly, and the General Court, thinking it time for the matter to be definitely settled, appointed a committee to go to Ashford and effect a settlement. The public hearing, held by the committee in 1719, lasted for several days and a compro- mise was effected, in which Chandler and Corbin reecived payment for a num- ber of acres of land yet remaining, settlers kept, their lands on moderate terms, and the town received enough for public use. Lines were established also. The Stoddard tract had been undisturbed, but some of it was soon sold and settled, the remainder was left unimproved for a long time. In 1719 there were two distinct settlements, an east and a west, and in these settlements there were
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some inhabitants who were not entirely desirable. Much of Ashford's land was yet wild and inhabited by wolves; there were no schools; roads were poor and bridges lacking.
In 1721-1722 serious trouble was caused when a school teacher, having just been procured, was prevented from teaching by an ignorant citizen and his followers, and it was not until 1723 that another school master was hired and school was kept half a year. A full military company was formed in 1722 and was exceedingly useful, for Indian alarms were frequent in those days. Settlers continued to come to Ashford. For four years the townspeople had been obliged to pay country taxes and in 1725 the court summoned them to make a list of polls and ratable estates. The town was unable to comply that year as a drought had spoiled the crops one season, and a frost the next, and there had been expenses caused by sickness. Much suffering was endured by the failure of the crops and relief was given the hungry people by the state. The land controversy claimed attention again in 1719, which was again settled, but which involved the town in lawsuits for generations to come and finally forced it to give up its remaining commons.
As Ashford was still hampered by internal affairs, further exemption from taxation was granted her after the famine which had been followed by droughts. Work was continued on the meeting house and the minister's house. Stocks were erected by the meeting house. Bridges were built where necessary. In 1729 "one mile in breadth to run cross on the west side of Ashford" was annexed to the Town of Wellington. By 1732 Ashford was able to pay her colony rates, and in that year she sent her first two representatives to the Assembly. School facil- ities improved during the next few years. For a time school was kept in three sections of the town by three "school-dames." The next year a schoolhouse was built on the meeting-house green and was taught by a schoolmaster. In 1739 it was voted "to divide the town into three parts about schooling, each of the three parts to have their own money raised." These parts or districts later became known as the societies of Eastford, Ashford and Westford. Soon after a schoolhouse was built in each section. The church later was divided, some having moderate views, others Calvinistic, but the Revival of 1741 had very little effect upon it. Some people became Separates, but many more became Bap- tists, and in 1743 the first Baptist Church in Windham County was formed in Ashford, which later became a part of the church of Brimfield. No Separate Church was formed. In 1751 the minister of the Congregational Church was dismissed, and not until 1757 was a minister obtained, so divided was the congregation between Calvinistic and moderate views. In 1753 the residents of the northwest section requested society privileges, but were refused.
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