A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 37

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Another, Dr. Samuel Dike, was well known in this country and Europe for

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his efforts to preserve the safety and purity of the home; while still another, the Hon. Isaac Newton Mills, sits today on the bench of the Supreme Court of New York and is quick to respond to any call from his native town and state.

The Baptist Meeting House across the way was filled also, and who can say that the influence of those days has not been for the betterment of the nation ?

Those were anti-slavery days and even when the war was over and slavery happily ended there still remained a strong feeling for and remembrance of the sufferings once endured by the colored people of the South.

One beautiful summer day the president of Brown University, Doctor Cas- well, was in Thompson and preached from the text, "He took upon him the form of a servant." He explained the text by saying the word "servant" if properly translated should be rendered "slave" and that our Lord was willing for our sake to be even the "slave" of all.

Scarce had he uttered the words when a tall old countryman sitting off up in the corner arose and said, "I will not have my Lord and Master called a Slave." Great was the excitement in the church and order was restored only by Doctor Caswell's explanation of the obnoxious word.

Thompson had its lawyers then as now and my grandfather, Simon Davis, was one and his brother-in-law, Squire George Larned, also. Mr. Davis was for many years an agent of the Government to pay the pensioners of the Revo- lutionary war. This took him often to Washington. He would start from Thompson in an old-fashioned chaise with one horse and with his two little girls tucked in beside him; he would drive to Washington and back. How long the journey lasted I do not know. I have in my possession his long and narrow carpet bag. It is literally a carpet bag, being made of that material. It has heavy brass rings on it and is fastened by a strap running through them and a padlock. In this he would deposit the gold for his pensioners and leisurely drive home and distribute it among them. He, too, like Squire Larned, Miss Ellen Larned's father, was a "man of parts," a graduate of Brown and a famous Greek scholar. His children were faithfully instructed by him in that language and had many a chapter in the Greek Testament at tongue's end.

Learning was as much thought of in those days as now and later on was fostered by the faithful teaching at the school founded by the Rev. Mr. Rawson. Here came many boys and girls to have their minds aroused by great thoughts and filled with knowledge.

Great enthusiasm for study was awakened by Mr. Parker, who was Mr. Rawson's son-in-law, and whose value as a classical teacher and scholar would be unsurpassed even now. Some of those who were pupils in the school remained in Thompson and became honored and useful citizens of the town. One of them, Mr. John Scott Lewis married Mr. Rawson's daughter and took her to his home in Pennsylvania from which they returned later to pass many years in the old town.

The Hon. Charles E. Searls, now the foremost citizen of Thompson, came from Pomfret and became a resident of Thompson on account of the educational advantages to be enjoyed there and was prepared at the school for Yale Col- lege. After studying law he became a prominent lawyer and today a leader at the bar, state's attorney for Windham and recently president of the State Bar Association. His beautiful home in Thompson is the center of cheer and hospitality and within its doors a kindly welcome is given to all.

Thompson was a town full of interest. Among other things there was a

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house of mystery, a beautiful square colonial house, full of good work and carvings that took a long year to make. It stood embowered in trees and far across the common, standing by itself in seclusion and solitude unbroken. In it lived two sisters and two brothers and they lived alone. They came not nor went and no one was ever asked to cross the threshold. Strange tales were told of them-of the beauty of the sisters and of the brothers also. No light was ever seen in their house, no smoke arose from their chimney, no friendly foot entered their doors. They died as they lived and left behind many treasures of rare old furnishings all of which were sold and are still cherished in many homes in Thompson today.

Thompson was noted in those far-off days as now for the open hands and kind hearts of its inhabitants. No one there need suffer. If poor, they were fed and clothed. If ill, they were cared for. There were two sisters living there whom I well remember. They came from I know not where, but there they were, and were sick and bedridden. Not infrequently in those days persons would become bed-ridden and lie there for years. These sisters did likewise and were cared for day and night by kind friends and neighbors. They lay in a front room on the ground floor and always looked neat and nice with white bedding and ruffled nightcaps; people wondered how they kept themselves so spotless. One night the neighbors peeped through the blinds and lo, there were the sisters out of bed, running around, cleaning and scrubbing, polishing and ironing. The next morning they were bedridden and helpless as usual and no one had the heart to tell them their little ruse had been detected, and they were cared for to the end.

Thompson was musical in those days, and not only were the bass viol and flute played in the choir, but many private "Musicales," as they were called, were held in the village. Proud was I when, arrayed in a pink muslin frock with a ruffled cape of the same, I was allowed to attend one of these festive evenings at the house of Lawyer Graves. After the music, refreshments were served and a bit of dancing indulged in, which was considered by some to be almost too worldly.

Mr. Graves was a public-spirited man and did much to beautify the town. Many of the fine trees on the Common and up and down West Street were planted by him and the Common also was made more sightly and attractive through his efforts.

In the trying days of the Civil war, Thompson did her share. A stand was erected on the "Heater Piece," as the little old-fashioned triangular park is still called, and volunteers were urged to come forward. One of the first to enlist was Dr. Lowell Holbrook, who served faithfully in the war and was given up for dead, having disappeared for many months-lost to his friends in a southern prison. Doctor McGregor also was in the army and returned in safety only to lose his life later in an accident in the streets of Providence.

The old hotel, "The Vernon Stiles," stood then as now on the ancient corner and was for years the favorite resort of the sons and daughters of Thompson, who, wandering away to make homes in other and larger places, yearly turned their feet back to the lovely spot from whence they came. The kindly host and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Crosby, did much to foster the spirit of home- coming and their memories are still alive in the hearts of those who for years gathered under their hospitable roof.

Life was simple in those days, but it was a noble and high-minded simplicity.

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Thompson has indeed reason to be proud of her sons, many of whom have gone forth into the world and acquired fame and riches, returning to make their homes in the old town, where their children and grandchildren may today be found. Owing to them, others have come and established homes here evolv- ing from the rocky hillsides and wild woodlands, walks, drives and lawns and gardens of great beauty. One of them, Mr. Norman B. Ream, has always thrown his place open to the public and in a rare manner made it free to every one. His kindly example is still continued by his family and his memory is ever cherished in Thompson.

Education is not neglected in the town and the village school has established and maintained a high standard of scholarship for many years. The former beautiful residence of Mr. John W. Doane is now a school for girls and has pupils from the Atlantic to the Pacific, keeping the high standing of learning and culture for which Thompson was always noted.

The meetings of the Grange (always an important factor in New England villages) are held in beautiful rooms provided for them by Mr. Randolph H. Chandler on his ancestral estate and he has done much to uphold this most uplifting institution.

I have been asked to write reminiscences of Thompson. Ah, would I could do more! A long line rises before me of kindly faces, men and women, young men and maidens; children once running these streets, now back in them in old age bearing always in their hearts the love of the ancient Common, and the green trees that shaded their youth.

There's a town we love and know On the hill we hold so dear, Where the summer breezes blow And the birds sing low and clear ; "Where the swallows homeward fly" And the flowers bloom bright and gay,

Where the days go swiftly by, Scattering gladness on the way.

There's a town where hearts ring true Bringing comfort, help and cheer To the many or the few When their lives are dark and drear. There are hands that promptly turn Aiding country, town and state, Where the home fires brightly burn And wide open stands the gate.

Grand old Thompson on the hill Gazing from her rocky height, On the meadows, green and still On the robins in their flight, Sounds a note of praise today For the memories of the past For the hearts that beat alway True and loyal to the last.

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On the hill she proudly stands, Thinking of the days gone by, Thinking of the noble bands Passed forever to the sky. High her head and strong her heart As she ponders o'er the past, When she proudly did her part True and loyal to the last.

THE THAYER FAMILY

Among the distinguished sons of Thompson is Hon. John M. Thayer of Norwich, long-time judge of the Superior and Supreme courts of Connecticut, and now retired by the age limit. John M. Thayer was born in Thompson, March 15, 1847, and lived there until he entered Yale College and immediately after graduation with the class of 1869 went to Norwich where he read law and was admitted to the bar and practiced there until he was nominated to the Superior Court bench by Governor Bulkeley in 1889, having been state's attor- ney for New London County for six years prior to his appointment as judge.

Judge Thayer's brother, Charles F. Thayer, was also born in Thompson, educated at Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., and entered upon the practice of law at Norwich in 1881. He was mayor of Norwich five terms, 1900-1908, and 1910-1912; served in State Senate in 1891 and in 1906 was democratic candidate for governor.

Another brother, David N. Thayer, was born December 10, 1844, was edu- cated at Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., and Eaton's Business College in Worcester and Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He also engaged for a few years in the boot and shoe business in New York City, but soon engaged in the printing business there, later published several trade jour- nals in New York and afterwards owned and published a daily newspaper at Rockland, Maine.

A sister, Arrilla R. Thayer, was born February 4, 1850, was educated at Nichols Academy and Woodstock Academy, married George Thurston Mur- dock in 1869, a woolen manufacturer in the Village of New Boston in Thompson, where she died in 1902. They had one daughter, Mabel, who married Judge George R. Stobbs of Worcester, Mass.

The birthplace of the Thayer children was on a farm near the Village of New Boston in the extreme northwest corner of Thompson, within a mile of the Massachusetts line, and a half-mile from the Woodstock line. They were closer to the Massachusetts towns of Webster, Dudley and Southbridge than to Connecticut centers of population. It was six miles by rough, hilly roads to Thompson Hill, and after finishing at the local district schools, the children attended Nichols Academy, at Dudley.

MEN AND EVENTS OF LATER DAYS

Events of particular interest in Thompson in later years have been the building or enlarging of the mills at North Grosvenordale, Grosvenordale, Mechanicsville, Wilson, and latterly at Fabyan, with the change of name from New Boston to Fabyan; the creation of the library about twenty-five years ago and later the erection of the library building; the presentation of the

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portrait of Miss Larned, the historian; Columbus celebration; the coming of the trolleys; the removal of the Thompson National Bank to Putnam; the Holiness movement in the Grosvenordales; the introduction of electric lights; the opening of the Tourtellotte Memorial School; new school buildings at West Thompson and Fabyan; new Catholic churches at West Thompson and Quinne- baug; building of state roads; rededication of the Congregational Church; East Thompson Cemetery gates; establishment of Howe-Marot School; the burning of the Baptist Church; Visiting Nurse Association formed in the Grosvenordales; raising Service Flag, 1918; Oscar Swanson Park at North Grosvenordale; "Welcome Home," October 11, 1919; unveiling of Soldiers' Monument, May 30, 1920.

Thompson, especially at its industrial centers, the Grosvenordales, has of course received large accessions of the so-called "foreign" population, but whose members and their children are already well in accord with American ways of living. Among these may be mentioned especially Irish, French- Canadians, the Swedes, Italians and Poles, Roumanians, Albanians, Turkish, Portuguese. Probably over 30 per cent of the population of Thompson is foreign born.

Among men who have been active and influential in the later days may be mentioned Charles E. Searls, Randolph H. Chandler, William N. Bates, Oscar Tourtellotte, Leon N. Walker, Edmund S. Backus, Dr. R. H. Paine, Judge George S. Crosby, Judge Fred Munyan, Robert H. Dunning, Marcus A. Covell, E. Herbert Corttis, Frank H. Richmond, Oscar Munyan, Fernando C. Ross, Laurence Keegan, Linus Logee, Thomas Ryan, Michael J. Kenney, William E. Wheelock, Charles J. Johnson, H. Chester Greenlaw, John F. Reardon, Philip Woisard, Claus A. Hagstrom, Dyer S. Elliott, Rev. John R. Miller, Rev. A. C. P. Huizinga, Asa M. Ross.

Among women especially active may be mentioned Mrs. Oscar Tourtellotte, Mrs. Charles E. Searls, Mrs. Emma Colcleugh, Miss Grace Granger, Miss Martha S. Knight, Miss Helen Cranska, Miss Dorothy Beebe, Miss Harriet S. Lewis, Miss Florence Wiley, Miss Edith D. Sheldon, Mrs. G. M. Carleton, Mrs. E. S. Fletcher, Mrs. Mary B. Nichols, Mrs. Grace Noyes, Mrs. F. C. Ross, Mrs. M. T. Dart, Mrs. Allan Babbitt, Miss M. L. Marot, Mrs. Chester B. Green, Mrs. R. H. Bellows, Mrs. F. E. Kutscher, Mrs. George Dresser, Mrs. George Bixby, Mrs. A. L. Bonin, Mrs. Josephine Law, Mrs. Frank Rich, Miss Thyra Walker, Mrs. Jane Robinson.

And among women who once were active in Thompson life: Miss Ellen D. Larned, Mrs. E. F. Thompson, Mrs. J. F. Tourtellotte, Miss Susan Evans, the former Mrs. John S. Lewis, Mrs. Charles Hosford, Mrs. Lowell Holbrook, Mrs. Andrew Dunning, Mrs. William H. Chandler, Miss Mary Dike, Miss Clarinda Knight, Mrs. Caroline M. Searls.

Among men whose lives have been especially influential in Thompson com- munity life probably none was more prominent than the late Talcot Crosby (1795-1870). In early life he taught school and then entered mercantile life. . He was judge of the probate court for about thirty-five years. He had two sons, Jerome and Joseph ; the former was town clerk and treasurer.

Foremost among the sons of Thompson who have attained national distinc- tion may be mentioned Gen. George W. Davis, now retired, who was judge- advocate-general during the Spanish War, and was also engineer in charge of the completion of the Washington Monument at the national capital.

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Judge Isaac Newton Mills, of the Supreme Court of New York State, is a native of Thompson. Fred D. Aldrich, graduate of Brown University, 1895, B. K., professor at Worcester Academy, author of "Aldrich and Foster French Grammar" and other text books, was born in Thompson. Vernon E. Carpenter is probably among the wealthiest of Thompson sons, and is now residing at West Newton, Mass.

The Hon. Jeremiah Olney (1816-1904) held many local offices of responsi- bility and was commissioner of the State school funds for many years.

George Flint was born in Thompson in 1832, educated in the town schools only and a farmer in 1874. He was elected judge of probate, which office he held until he outaged at seventy. While he was only a judge in a small district, he was often called into cases of much importance in other districts. He was said to be authority on probate law.

Hiram Arnold (1818-1900) was cashier of the bank for many years, also deacon of the Baptist Church; Oscar Tourtellotte, first selectman and justice of the peace; George H. Nichols, selectman and president of the National Bank; Stephen Crosby, hotel keeper and president of the Savings Bank; Cornelius V. Chapin, hotel keeper and representative (1835-1906) in the legislature; James N. Kingsbury, postmaster for sixteen years, town clerk and treasurer for twenty years or more; Lemuel K. Blackmar (1818-1898), postmaster under President Cleveland, also selectman and tax collector; Thomas Ryan, select- man, now living; Walter Bates (1817-1891), manufacturer of coffins and chairs, etc., also deputy sheriff and constable; Arad W. Elliott, wagon maker, select- man, and useful citizen; Valentine Ballard (1804-1898), farmer and devoted churchman, deacon of the Baptist Church for more than fifty years; George Flint, judge of probate for over thirty years; Otis A. Barto, stone mason; James Cruff, stone and brick mason, died 1883; Charles Baldwin, carried on carriage business for about fifty years; A. C. Morse, house painter, born 1846.

The late Prof. Joseph Klein, dean of Lehigh University, one of the foremost instructors of mechanical engineering and mathematics in this country, married a Thompson girl, Miss Ada Warner, who survives him. He was a graduate of Sheffield Scientific School at Yale, and taught at Lehigh for thirty years.

There have been several powerful revivals of religion in Thompson during the past half century. Probably, the most marked was that which occurred under the pastorate of the late Washington Munger of Waterford, Conn. There were also strong revivals during the respective pastorates of the late Charles H. Hickok, and of the Rev. O. W. Foye, who is now living in Dor- chester, Mass.

Several have been prominent in affairs of state and county from this town between the years 1860 and the present time. Charles E. Searls, from 1881-1883, Secretary of State; Charles E. Searls, 1904-1920, State's Attorney; in 1874 Lowell Holbrook was president of the Connecticut Medical Society.

The following have been officers of the Windham County Medical Society from 1860 to date; Lowell Holbrook was chairman of the society from 1871 to 1872, and again in 1877; in 1908 R. C. Paine was vice president and in 1909 president.

Thompson physicians, 1859 to date, have been as follows: 1859-1908, Lowell Holbrook; 1859-1866, John McGregor; 1863-1876, Charles Hosford ; 1872, W. H. Chick, eclectic ; 1876-1881, James C. Lathrop, North Grosvenordale; 1877- 1916, G. W. H. Williams, eclectic; 1879-1886, C. C. Sargent, North Grosvenor-

Vol. 1-20

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dale; 1880-1884, E. T. Morse; 1882-1887, A. A. Latour, North Grosvenordale ; 1883-1886, H. M. Bracken; 1886, L. P. Cansey; 1887-1914, J. F. McIntosh, North Grosvenordale; 1888, J. A. Lugase; 1892-1920, Emelien Roch, North Grosvenordale; 1896-1907, Charles S. Sargent; 1905-1920, Robert C. Paine. From 1882 to 1891 Jeremiah Olney was the head of the State School Fund Department.

Hon. E. H. Corttis has been county commissioner from 1897-1915, 1917-1921.

From the old Fourteenth District, John McGregor served as State Senator in 1866, and William H. Chandler in 1867; 1875, Lucius Briggs, and in 1876, Oscar Tourtellotte. In 1887 Ira D. Bates was a State Senator, and 1888, when Thompson was a part of District 16. In 1895 and 1896 Randolph H. Chandler was State Senator. With Thompson a part of District 28, Charles E. Searls was State Senator in 1909 and 1910.

Representatives to the General Assembly of Connecticut from Thompson, 1859 to date, are as follows : 1859, Welcome Bates, Marcus Child ; 1860, Ashbury Nichols, Japheth Corttis; 1861, Russell Green, Sylvester Elliott; 1862, D. A. Upham, Samuel H. Davis; 1863, Edward Aldrich, Isaac Sherman; 1864, Alanson Rawson, Monroe Nichols; 1865, Edward Aldrich, Oscar Tourtellotte; 1866, Thomas Tallman, Oscar Tourtellotte; 1867, Thomas Tallman, Lucius Briggs; 1868, George Dike, Timothy E. Hopkins; 1869, Eden Davis, Franklin H. Converse; 1870, Jerome Nichols, Allen T. Bixby ; 1871, Henry G. Ransom, Charles E. Searls; 1872, Joseph D. Jacobs, George E. Bixby; 1873, Stephen Ballard, Marcus F. Towne; 1874, Jeremiah Olney, Welcome B. Joslin; 1875, Jeremiah Olney, Parris H. Aldrich; 1876, Nathaniel J. Pinkham, Vernon S. Robbins; 1877, G. Thurston Murdock, Lawson Aldrich; 1878, Nathan Rawson, John D. Converse; 1879, Lowell Holbrook, Randolph H. Chandler; 1880, Randolph H. Chandler, Barton Jacobs; 1881, George H. Nichols, David Chase ; 1882, Edwin T. White, William H. Arnold; 1883, George H. Nichols, Thomas Wilbur; 1884, David Chase, Marcus Towne; 1885, George T. Murdock, Frank H. Converse; 1886, Charles E. Searls, Ira D. Bates; 1887-1888, Byron S. Thompson, Alonzo O. Woodard; 1889-1890, James N. Kingsbury, Arad U. Elliott; 1891-1892, Henry H. Dike, James N. Kingsbury; 1893-1894, Henry H. Dike, E. Herbert Corttis; 1895-1896, E. Herbert Corttis, George T. Bixby ; 1897-1898, George T. Bixby, Cornelius V. Chapin ; 1899-1900, O'Meara G. Chase, Edward F. Thompson; 1901-1902, Randolph H. Chandler, Marcus A. Covell; 1903-1904, Marcus A. Covell, 'David N. Porter; 1905-1906, David N. Porter, Luther M. Child; 1907-1908, John M. Perrin, Asa M. Ross; 1909-1910, John M. Perrin, Luther M. Child; 1911-1912, Charles J. Johnson, Frank S. Richmond ; 1913-1914, Charles J. Johnson, Frank S. Richmond; 1915-1916, Fernando C. Ross, Edmund S. Backus; 1917-1918, Edmund S. Backus, Joseph B. Bonin ; 1919-1920, Thomas Ryan, Claus A. Hegstrom.

Thompson judges of probate, 1859 to date, have been as follows: 1859, Alanson Rawson; 1871, Almond N. Paine; 1872, James H. Tallman ; 1873-1902, Talcott Crosby ; 1860, Caleb B. Crosby ; 1861-1864, Talcott Crosby ; 1865-1870, George Flint ; 1903-1913, George S. Crosby ; 1914-1920, Fred A. Munyan.

CHAPTER XIII TOWN OF BROOKLYN

EARLY HISTORY OF BROOKLYN-PRESIDENT LUTHER'S RECOLLECTIONS-BROOKLYN. AT THE TURNING OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY-DEACON BENJAMIN BROWN-THE THREE HISTORICAL AND FAMILY SOCIETIES, ETC .- OLD CHURCH STREET-BROOK- LYN IN PUBLIC LIFE.

In 1731 the land between Pomfret and Canterbury, made up of parts of those two towns, was made into a society. It was "bounded east by Quinebaug River, west with Windham line, north with the ancient and first bounds of the towns of Pomfret and Mortlake, and from thence extending south to a line run and described by Mr. Josiah Conant, surveyor, * * September 4, 1731, * * * east and west across the bounds of said Canterbury, and parallel with Canterbury south line; said line *

* to be the south bounds of said parish." If an orthodox minister, who should meet with the approval of the Association of Windham County, could be secured, then the south part of Mortlake, with two inhabitants of the southern part of Pomfret not already included within the bounds, should be added to the new parish. A minister was secured, and the following year the southern part of Mortlake, with the two inhabitants of Pomfret, was added to the society.

In 1733 the society began the erection of a meeting house, and the land used for that purpose is now a part of Brooklyn Green. A minister was ordained in 1735. As yet the society had no name. It was commonly known as Mortlake, and the church was called the Second Church of Pomfret. Schools did not receive very much attention, but the one school was kept by a schoolmaster three months of the year, and a schoolmistress taught the children of the other sections of the society for eight months each year. "Trainings" were held on the training field. For some time thereafter little progress was made in the new society in any way, as Pomfret and Canterbury did not seem to work well together for the best interests of the new society. Mortlake had never had town government, nor was it obliged to pay taxes, as it had always been a manorial estate. Under Sir John Blackwell, Mortlake had had town privileges, and again tried to have those privileges restored. Pomfret was anxious to have Mortlake made a part of the town, and sent a memorial to the Assembly to that effect in 1747. However, inhabitants of Mortlake appealed to the Assem- bly also, and asked to be made a distinct town, to include the northern part of Canterbury and the southern part of Pomfret. The following year the Assem- bly made Abington a parish, and refused to further reduce Pomfret. The petition for a township was refused, and the northern part of Mortlake was added to Pomfret as the first society of that town. The inhabitants of that section were satisfied, but Pomfret was not pleased with the arrangement, and petitioned to have the new parish removed. The inhabitants of the northern part of Canterbury and the southern part of Pomfret appealed to the Assembly

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 37

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930