A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 64

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 64

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).

The salary of the principal at that time was $1,300. As far as known no .minister in Willimantic received much more than half of that sum, at that time. The first term closed November 24, 1865. The acting school visitors during that first year were John G. Clark and Rev. S. G. Willard. Mr. Clark driving over from Windham with a white horse was a welcome visitor in Mr. Willard's home, where he often lunched when visiting schools. The younger children liked

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Mr. Clark because he was their father's friend; and they also liked his carriage through whose window in the back curtain they looked out through yellow glass upon a new world, while the horse ate his dinner in the barn. Many a mile they rode in Mr. Clark's motionless carriage.

In the high school department, 58 boys and 54 girls were enrolled. The winter term closed on March 23d; and the the third term on July 13, 1866. In this new school building the primary room was considered a very attractive place. Miss Delia A. Chipman, who was in charge of the youngest children, included fresh air among the requisites of the school room; and while the win- dows were open, The Child remembers that the pupils marched in single file up and down the aisles, getting exercise with the fresh air; a marked advance, surely, when one thinks of the years spent by little folks in the ungraded schools sitting on benches too high for them to reach their feet to the floor, and receiving frequent admonitions to "sit still."

On the last day of the school year there were contests for which prizes were offered for spelling and for the best declamation and reading. For the latter contest we have the following program of readings and recitations. Its length suggests the long series of moving-picture films nowadays. The date was July 13, 1866:

Wm. Alpaugh. Paul Revere's Ride

Susie Cushman. The Rain Drop

Emma Capron. The May Queen

Arthur A. Bill (Chaplin) . Bozarris

Delia Moulton. The Death of Lord Maxwell Gurley (Maggie Curley ?) . Childe Harold's Farewell Gustavus Tilden The Duel and Clay

Lawrence Rollinson

The Star Spangled Banner

Clinton Winchester An Order for a Picture

Ida Jacobs.

Priscilla Alden's Wedding

Elisha Glazier Webster's "Union"

Miss Snow (Chaplin)

Grace Darling

Andrew Kingsbury

Touch Not Slavery

Josie Dow.

Let the Pitcher Down

Cordelia Moulton. . . The Soldier Martyr, Nathan Hale, by M. N. Finch Mary Troye What Is the Use of It ?

Eugene Lincoln.

Spartacus to the Gladiators

Frank Noyes (Lebanon)

Spartacus to the Roman Envoys Mary Skinner

Maud Muller Horace Adams Horatius at the Bridge

Arthur Barrows

The Arab Steed

George Arnold.

The Good Ship Union

John Connor. Ritter Von Swasenvelt

Charles Capen. Launching of the Ship

Fanny Underwood. Lord Ullin's Daughter

Herman Albro

Selection

Master Holland.

Firing of the Minute-Gun

Miss Williams (Chaplin)

The Death Seer

Master Lincoln (probably A. B.)

Marco Bozarris (Byron)

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

TWO FOREMOST SCHOLARS

Ella M. Adams The Famous Duke of Brunswick

George Melony. The Black Regiment

Pastor Willard's comment : Pieces Well Committed. Criticism: Too Few Gestures.

The prizes were awarded to Mary Skinner and Charles Capen.

The district committee census of District No. 2, January 1, 1866, gives between four and sixteen years, 416. The list of teachers includes Mary Chappell, Mary A. Hewitt, Mary J. Robinson, Cornelia Lincoln, Mary Capen, Elvira H. Lincoln, Delia A. Chipman, Nettie Lincoln, Emily S. Robinson, Ella M. Adams. Some of the rooms seem to have enrolled scholars beyond the capacity of the room, indicating the rapid growth of the village.

In the First District John D. Wheeler was the principal and, in 1865, Miss Alathea Burnham was the assistant. The principal's salary was $900. The assistant received $9 per week. Later Miss Martha Chipman was the assistant. The people who know only the well kept building and the grounds of the First District model school today, may not appreciate the change which has been wrought in that locality in the fifty years. To "The Child" the lane leading up to it was longer than when one ran down the slope in returning home; the surroundings were unattractive, for the ground was loose and gravelly, and the outbuildings unpainted, although the fuel was abundant and the pupils well housed. For the most part the girls played around the corner of the school house, often outlining playhouses with stone borders, or playing "hop scotch" with pieces of rough white marble picked up near the monument yard, or skipping rope, while occasionally the fleet-footed boys and girls played horse together. Ball play had its place, and "tag" and "thorn-a-wary," with other games known to most groups of children. In some way there seemed to be room for all, but one wondered how it could be so.

Back of this First District school building, up the hill, was a fine oak grove. At least one community picnic was held there at the close of the school year. When the proper moment arrived, having been duly instructed beforehand, "The Child" was placed upon a tree stump and surrounded by a large group of easily pleased friends, delivered the "oration" of the day. The tables were loaded with golden-looking cake, with the whitest of frosting, and all sorts of good things for everybody. There may still be one or more of these fine oaks left on the hillside not far from the Normal School.

With the improvement of the schools during these years, the step from school to college became a shorter one. Mr. Willard constantly kept in mind the future of the young people. There might be a long list of the boys and girls who went away to school after the Willimantic opportunities were ex- hausted. Some of these kept on through college, although there was no college for women until Vassar College began its courses in 1865. Charlotte Bliven, Celia Spafford, Julia Loomer, William Bennett, Richard Lee, Clitus Witter, and the daughters of the late William Witter, M. D., were among them. Of these William Clitus Witter became a well-known patent lawyer in New York. Edwin B. Gager, of Scotland, is now Justice Gager of the Supreme Court; Arthur A. Barrows, M. D., of Mansfield Center, long an educator in New York City; and Dr. A. G. Wilkinson, still at the head of the patent office in Washington, D. C., after more than fifty years of service.

The years during the war were strenuous and full of work for the com-

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munity as well as for the state and nation. The Willimantic women prepared boxes for the soldiers. Mrs. Willard was one of those who secured money and wool for those who could knit socks. Connecticut's quota of men was more than reached, and the Town of Windham was always a leader in patriotism.

Then came than black day in April, 1865, when the "terrible news" of the assassination of President Lincoln and of his death reached every part of the country. Bells were tolled in the village; signs of mourning appeared every- where and even very young children have never forgotten the impression. These entries appear in the pastor's diary: Sunday, April 16, 1865, "Sad day. Flag at half-mast trimmed with black over the church; and over the pulpit; with President Lincoln's portrait in front. All of our churches hung in black, and sermons appropriate in the afternoon."

April 19, 1865, "Funeral of President Lincoln at 12 o'clock noon. By recommendation of Acting Assistant Hunter (State Department) the congre- gation met and appropriate services were held in the churches, generally. I was in Danielsonville. In Willimantic the meeting was at the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was addressed by Revs. Messrs. Brewster and Bentley. Very large assembly."

There was another day, earlier, when especial sorrow came to Windham and the neighboring towns as the news of the fall of their first officer, Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, of Eastford, was telegraphed. It was on August 11, 1861, that there came to the home friends the "sad news of the death of General Lyon near Springfield, Mo." On September 4 General Lyon's body reached Willimantic, attended by military companies from Hartford and with several United States officers and soldiers in attendance. A large company of people witnessed the arrival and departure for Eastford, among them Mr. and Mrs. Willard and their children, who shared with the two Cushman families their balcony (junction Main and Union streets). The hearse was drawn by four black horses, and a brass field piece was also carried in the procession. The burial took place the next day, September 5th. Mr. Willard was among those who were unable to find a way of getting to Eastford, as all the available horses and carriages were secured in advance, so that none were to be found by the day before the funeral. The streets of the village were, from eight A. M. to six P. M., more quiet that day than ever before. "Some 5,000 people and upwards were estimated to have been at Eastford that day."

The next year, when Mr. and Mrs. Willard attended the consociation meet- ing in Eastford, they visited General Lyon's grave, and there found wreaths, faded and withered, but no fresh flowers.

It is said of Lyon that "he won the first successes of the war, and his loss was greatly deplored by the army and the northern people. He was instantly killed at the battle of Wilson's Creek. He still further showed his patriotism by bequeathing nearly his entire possessions, about $30,000, to the government to be employed in forwarding the objects of the war."

Some of the children of those days kept the hero's name in remembrance through the possession of a sled bearing the name, "General Lyon." At least one of these sleds is in a good state of preservation today. The recent decision of the State Park Commission to include the birthplace of General Lyon among the State park reservations is very satisfactory to the dwellers in Eastern Connecticut.

On September 26, 1861, a national fast was held. Willimantic observed it with a day of meetings. At 10:30 A. M. a prayer meeting, attended by about

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

one hundred people was held in the Congregational lecture room, an interesting meeting; at two o'clock in the afternoon a union meeting was held in the Methodist Church for two hours, with Rev. William Keller as the speaker. "The day was observed as no fast has been for at least twelve years in this place."

September 19, 1861, David Robinson left to join the Eighth Regiment, C. V. In 1862 William Clitus Witter was one of the Brown University men (although later at Yale) who served for three months as a Union soldier in Company K of the Tenth Rhode Island Regiment under Col. Zenas R. Bliss of the regular army. As an illustration of the patriotism of the young men in the town of Windham, Clitus Witter had walked from Providence, R. I., to Rehoboth, Mass., on Sunday to obtain from a sister the necessary permission to enlist. He returned to his studies in the fall, after spending the summer in Virginia and in Maryland, without engaging in battle, although ordered once to the front. Then again, in the summer of 1863, he enlisted and served six weeks of the college vacation as a noncommissioned officer, and took up the junior year college work at Yale upon his return from service. To William Clitus Witter belongs the honor of having organized the first baseball nine in the village. [See story of this in Willimantic Chapter .- Editor. ]

Under date of December 4, 1861, is the record of having read President Lincoln's message, and the reports of the secretary of war and of the navy. "Step by step the North had been preparing for this issue, and many records show this. One step was taken on September 2, 1856, when the 'Freemont and Freedom flag' was hoisted-even if there had to be later the following statement : 'Freemont defeated; Pennsylvania lost; and New Jersey.''

In 1857, December 29, the following shows how closely the thinking people in Eastern Connecticut were sharing in the country's perils: "Constitution with slavery adopted in Kansas. But will it be the Constitution? If the Lord please, probably not." Even in the darkest days of the Civil war Mr. Willard had full faith that the Lord was still ruling this world, and that disunion could never be the result of this war which was being carried on in the interests of humanity. In 1861 prayer meetings were held at the homes of some of the congregation for the first time in eleven years, the first being held at the home of Mr. William L. Weaver. Early the next year the Sunday school teachers met regularly for prayer each week. In September of this year, 1861, the proclamation of General Mcclellan to respect the Sabbath was a cause of rejoicing and an indication that the Lord was guiding the affairs of the nation.

On the day of President Lincoln's second inaugural, March 4, 1865, there was a prayer meeting for half an hour that Saturday evening in the lecture room of the Congregational Church. That he was Windham's choice may be inferred from these notes a few years before this: "1860, November 6. Is Lincoln to be our next President ? Yes, if God please. Voted for presidential electors at four o'clock. Windham goes for Lincoln by a large majority, 170 over all."

December 7, 1860. "Read newspapers. Secession for South Carolina seems very certain ; probably of two or three other of the Gulf States."

Through these years the telegrams ticked off on narrow white paper ribbons, as today in the stock exchange, kept bringing the news, now encouraging, often heart-breaking. But the prayers of God's people did not cease. December 31, 1862. "Prayer meeting for the nation this evening, instead of the regular prayer lecture, as recommended by many. Our country has survived a year

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

of peril and, if God pleases, will outlive her enemies." During the summer there had been some evidence that the country was beginning to demand fair treatment for the loyal blacks.

July 25, 1862. "Is the government at Washington awake to the danger of the country ? Will it free the slaves openly-unconditionally ?" It was this same year of 1862, on September 23, that President Lincoln made the proclama- tion for which the nation had been waiting-the Emancipation Proclamation. Previously, August 8, the call had been sent out for 300,000 nine months' soldiers in addition to the 300,000 just called for three years' service. This attracted much attention, but did not seem to be displeasing.

In July, 1862, "postage stamps began to go for money."

On April 26, 1862, the news of Dr. Lathrop's death (father of H. Clinton Lathrop) reached Willimantic. ' And upon the return of his body from North Carolina, the burial took place in South Windham on Monday, April 28, Mr. Willard making an address, by request, at the grave. Rev. Mr. Backus also addressed the people and the benediction was pronounced by Dr. H. P. Arms, of Norwich Town.

After records of July 21, 1861. "The two armies are reported very near each other. Heavy-hearted a part of the day." And July 22: "Sorrow and dismay at evening for the defeat of the army," comes a record which is typical of the influence of Connecticut's war governor upon those who knew him in any way. Even failure was a help toward final victory. "July 23, off for Hartford and New Haven. Saw Governor Buckingham and lady at the cars. Governor Buckingham thinks that the disaster of Sunday and yesterday will arouse and intensify the action of the country."

The close of the war found the Willimantic churches full of activities, and their leaders anxious that there should be outward assurances of the heart-felt gratitude for returning peace. There was renewed earnestness among the various denominations which led to the desire to join with the surrounding towns in evangelistic services, and the church voted to cooperate with their leaders in carrying out this plan. The result was that Rev. J. D. Potter came for a part of the month of December, and the meetings were held with the different churches. Many young people and many of the older ones openly identified themselves with the movement, and later there were large additions to the churches. The method recently employed in some of our towns was used at that time, that of having prayer meetings appointed at several houses at the same hour of the morning. Ten such meetings were held on Tuesday, January 9, 1866, a day named for a church fast, and the other meetings of the day were largely attended. At the evening service, when Mr. Potter was present, the attendance was unusually large. The Spiritualists seemed by this time to have taken the place to a large extent of the early Universalist Church. [See account elsewhere .- Editor. ]

Earlier in the year over $50 were given within three weeks for a melodeon needed for the Sunday school. Nearly half of the amount was given by George H. Chase, a young man of the church, then in Buffalo, where the Chase family removed in September. Their Willimantic home stood where the town court- house now stands. In later years Mr. Chase gave the iron fence which sur- rounds Willimantic Cemetery on West Main Street. Miss Anna Chase, a sister of George H. Chase, has recently returned to Willimantic to live.

During August, 1865, the usual Methodist camp meeting was held. Mr. Wil-

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lard attended some of the services. In August, 1862, on his way to South Coventry Sunday morning he met as many as forty wagons, most of them coming to the camp ground. In 1865, August 31, as many as one hundred carriages were counted in twenty-two minutes between nine and ten o'clock A. M. on their way to the camp grounds. In 1866 there was a still larger attendance. The last record was for September 3, 1868. "Mr. Bidwell, of the Providence Conference, preached; three thousand to five thousand present." The camp meeting was started in 1860, and some still recall the tents used before so many cottages were built.

One direct way in which community work was carried on was through the weekly papers published in the village. Mr. Willard contributed frequently to these, as well as to other papers, among them The Examiner. In 1855 Mr. Simpson was editor of the Medium. Under date of October 8 he was introduced to Mr. Simpson, new editor of the Medium.

October 12. "Read papers. Mr. Simpson's first issue of the Medium."

October 15. "Glad to see a piece in the Examiner respecting ten-hour law, besides my own. * * ** Called at Simpson's Medium office." A year later the Willimantic Journal was being published every Saturday morning, with its office in the Franklin Building, upstairs, with Mr. E. S. Simpson as the editor and proprietor.

Other references to the ten-hour law were dated earlier. August 1, 1855, Wednesday: "The ten or eleven-hour law in force today. The boys glad. The companies dissatisfied."

August 2. "No work in the mills today, the companies not consenting to the eleven-hour plan, and the help not to the 11:30 or 12. Much interested in the result, for I feel that much of this people's future welfare depends on their working not to exceed eleven and by and by ten hours per day."

On January 11, 1860, the first number of the Journal was sent out by the new editor, Mr. William L. Weaver. From this time Mr. Willard was even more than ever a contributor to its columns.

The voting was done during those years over at Windham Centre. Some times Mr. Willard walked, some times he rode with friends. The record of 1856 reads: "Went to Windham with Messrs. Rollinson, Crosby (eighty-four years), and Huntington. Put in the first vote. Home at 10:30." In April, 1859, the republican ticket was elected in Windham, and the voting was done at Willimantic. In 1862 four hours were consumed in going to Windham and in returning, although Mr. Harris "kindly carried" him.

There is space for only the briefest of references to the many meetings which occupied Mr. Willard's time throughout the whole of his pastorate. One record reads: October 3, 1854. "Up at 4; off for North and East Woodstock at 7:30. Mr. H. H. Fitch going to drive, and finding horses. Reached Wood- stock at 12. To Thomas May's to dinner. To consociation in afternoon and * evening. Tea at Dr. Asa Witter's. * * Wednesday, October 4. Con- sociation in the A. M. till nearly 12. Dinner at Dr. Witter's. Off for home at

1:30. Called at Mr. Thaddeus Clark's. * *

* Pleasant, minus tiresome ride of five hours. Home safely." When a meeting was in Greenville often some of the ministers walked from the Norwich station. Such a company proceeding on foot in these days might suggest a "trolley strike."

Mr. Willard always had extra writing or clerical work on hand, besides the usual sermon preparation. He prepared his full share of the printed town

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school reports; completed the revision of the Digest of the Rules of the Wind- ham County Consociation, delayed for a while until the appearance of the State General Association rulings in printed form. His first printed sermon was the address given at the funeral of Rev. George I. Stearns, of Windham Centre, in 1862. Similar addresses were printed later, especially one prepared for the funeral of Rev. George Soule, father of Rev. Sherrod Soule, now secre- tary of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society. In 186- Mr. Willard brought out Church Manual, and again, in 1868, added an Appendix.

The library catalogue was largely his work and Mrs. Willard's. Mr. William L. Weaver gave a great deal of his time to historical research, preserving much valuable local history that would have been lost otherwise. And with their similar interests they were of service to each other in this work more often, and in many more ways than people in general realized.

Mr. Willard believed that a growing town should have a savings bank as a means of promoting thrift. And "The Child" recalls the first visit to the bank, gladly having the protection of the father as they ascended the long flight of stairs outside of the Windham Company's pillared white building to the second floor. One dollar in pennies constituted that first deposit.

Mr. Willard's father was a practicing physician in the one town of Wilton all his life, and was thoroughly interested in his work and beloved by all. His brother was a doctor also, surgeon-general on Governor Fenton's staff, and because of his residence in Albany and in New York for brief periods, familiar with modern methods, while he had given much time, and thought, and strength to securing an appropriation for a hospital for the "indigent" insane in New York State. As this passed the legislature about the time of Dr. S. D. Willard's death, the name of Willard was given to it, and so large a group of people were gathered there in time that the name of Willard was given this part of the town of Ovid. So it was very natural when Mr. Willard met the fact that there was no State hospital for the chronic or acute cases of insanity that he should be willing to appeal especially to the legislature of 1866, of which he was a member from Windham, for an appropriation sufficient to meet the expense of building such an institution. The opportunity had come to him unexpectedly the previous March, when Deacon Gates called to see if Mr. Wil- lard would consent to be a candidate for the legislature. The reply was: "Not if it is possible to find another that will do as well."

When the legislature of 1866 convened in New Haven, Mr. Willard was present. The legislative caucus was held Tuesday evening, May 1. David Gallup, Plainfield, was nominated as speaker; John M. Morris, New Haven, clerk. For a half hour each day at eight o'clock a prayer service was held in Centre Church. "Legislature at 10 o'clock. Appointed on committee on education. Burr, of Hartford Times, chairman."

May 8. "Back to New Haven, leaving at 6:15."

May 16. "Tea with Professor Gilman and part of the Board of Education, General Hawley included."

On the 20th of July, the appropriation having been secured for the new Hospital for the Insane and having been appointed a trustee, Mr. Willard met the other trustees in Hartford at the governor's room (Joseph R. Hawley, gov- ernor). Mr. Willard remained a trustee until his death, twenty-one years later. Windham County has had cause to be very thankful for this hospital many times since that day.

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When Mr. Willard began his ministry the names of those proposing to be married were published in church. The marriage and divorce laws were not all that could be desired, and it was often a cause of anxiety lest the law in some way might be broken, and the minister held responsible. Hence he was very willing to join with others in presenting a memorial to the legislature which was instrumental in bringing about a better condition of affairs. In June, 1865, Mr. Willard as a delegate from Eastern Connecticut attended the national council meetings held in Boston. Governor Buckingham was the moderator. The first session opened in the Old South Church. It was at that meeting that the members of the council had a picture taken standing on and around the real Plymouth Rock.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 64

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