USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 82
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In less than ten years, meetings began to be held in the old Universalist Church in Willimantic, the first meeting being held in 1857, many of the supporters being formerly connected with the Universalist Church and among the most substantial and prominent citizens of Willimantic and surrounding towns.
Whatever organization there was, was of purely a temporary character. As near as can be ascertained from the records, which are very incomplete, whatever organization there was, was made up of those who pledged sums of money for the support of meetings, this method being pursued until early in 1864, when a committee was appointed to draw up a plan for a permanent organization. On Sunday, March 6, 1864, this committee made their report, consisting of a preamble and constitution, which was unanimously adopted, the meetings then being held in what was known as Bassett's Hall. The requisite number with which to organize was made eighteen; more than that number at once signed the constitution and organized by the election of the
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
following officers : President, George W. Burnham; clerk, Lucian H. Clark, and an executive committee of sixteen.
As the Willimantic society was among the very first formed it might be of interest, as indicating the purposes of the early Spiritualists, to quote from the preamble and purposes first adopted :
PREAMBLE
"When, in the progress of humanity, new ideas are developed in human consciousness, they manifest their influence upon human culture and destiny either by modifying existing institutions, or by incarnating themselves in new and distinctive forms of social, governmental and religious order; and, as the present age has given birth to new and essentially reformatory ideas upon the subjects above named, which ideas are so radically and fundamentally unlike those predominant in the present popular methods as to render their incorpora- tion therein very difficult, if not impossible; it has become indispensably neces- sary that new associations should be formed for the application and practical illustration of the new principles.
GEORGE W. BURNHAM
"And, whereas, we recognize the brotherhood of the race-The Unity of Human Interests-The Future Life of Man-The Paramount Duty of Seeking the General Welfare of all Men; in accordance with our highest convictions of right."
Among the objects of the society were to "promote as far as possible the best methods of communication with the spheres of spirit life; to cultivate the social and brotherly elements of our natures by all feasible methods. In a word, to promote the well-being and progress of mankind."
For the next four or five years after the permanent organization was formed meetings were held for the most part in Bassett's Hall, the old Uni- versalist Church building having been sold; but the interest grew and the congregations so increased that. in 1868 the matter of having a church building of their own began to be considered. An impetus was given to this movement by the donation of a building site on Bank Street by Whiting Hayden; fol- lowed by a successful campaign for the raising of funds for the building, which
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resulted in the erection of the present building, which was named Excelsior Hall, and was dedicated in 1869, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Charles C. Burleigh.
It was the policy of the society to employ none but the best speakers that could be obtained, so that all the prominent advocates of the cause, from the early days to the present time, have been heard on the platform of Excelsior Hall.
Naturally in the early days of the movement there was a great demand for speakers and they refused to confine their work to any single society for more than a few weeks in any year; this naturally brought the best talent and a greater variety. The only permanent speaker or minister employed by the society was Dr. F. L. H. Willis.
Doctor Willis was a brilliant and forceful speaker and Mrs. Willis was an indefatigable worker in the Lyceum, or Sunday school. Among the other ministers, for the most part preceding Dr. Willis, were Dr. J. M. Peebles, Prof. William Denton, a scientist of considerable eminence; Charles C. Burleigh, Dr. George A. Fuller, Rev. F. A. Wiggins, Sidney Dean, Cephas B. Lynn, A. B. French, and in later years, Mrs. Mary S. Vanderbilt.
With the departure of Doctor Willis, in the late '70s, the society became less active; the older, and in many cases wealthy and influential members, having moved away or passed over, a considerable portion of the support was with- drawn. Many meetings were held, but with the exception of J. Frank Baxter, the speakers were of an indifferent type on account of the lack of funds to employ better ones.
J. Frank Baxter was about the first speaker that coupled message-giving with his lectures and his work created such a demand for messages from the platform that Excelsior Hall would always be packed whenever he was the speaker. His lectures were always attended by people from both the Protestant and Catholic churches and, from the effect of his work, hundreds were con- verted to a belief in a future and the fact of spirit return. But in the meantime the churches had become so liberalized that no objection was raised to their members holding the spiritualistic belief and remaining members of the church.
Space will not permit naming all who were prominent in the movement in Willimantic, but had it not been for such men as Whiting Hayden, and his . son, James E. Hayden, probably the most wealthy families in the city : Lucius J. and William C. Fuller, George W. Burnham, Dr. Calvin Hall, John S. Smith, William P. Gates, L'ucian H. Clark, Maxson G. Clark, Samuel Adams, Horatio U. Bill and Norman Melony, the church building would have been impossible and without the building the work of the society would have been seriously handicapped.
For a number of years, up to about 1908, the society was in a dormant condition, occasionally meetings were held, but the funds were not sufficient to employ speakers of the ability demanded. It was therefore decided to lease the hall and with the revenue derived from that, the church was repaired, new opera seats were installed and Rev. Mary S. Vanderbilt was secured to institute a revival of the old-time interest. She was eminently successful in her work, serving the society about ten Sundays each season, with speakers of lesser note serving on the other Sundays. Mrs. Vanderbilt passed over in April, 1919, an almost irreparable loss to the cause, not only in Willimantic, but in all New England.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Since Mrs. Vanderbilt's death meetings have been very regularly held and the congregations compare favorably with those of other churches.
*
As supplementary to Judge Lyman's article, the editor has gleaned from other sources information as to some of those who were active in the earlier days of the Spiritualist Society, including, besides those mentioned by Judge Lyman, Charles Huntington, Charles and John Bliven, Dr. Jeremiah King, Robert and John Hooper, Col. William L. Jillson and his brother, A. W. Jill- son, Samuel Davis, Maxson G. Clark, Charles Spafford, Joel R. Arnold, Wil- liam L. Tingley, Horatio N. Bill and his wife, Mrs. Julia Bill, Jeremiah C. Bill, James Hawkins, Eunice Ripley, Elizabeth Safford Loring, Julia and Fidelia Blanchard, Annette Robinson Clark, Emily Holt Frist and her sister, Mrs. Rachel Walcott, Anna Tingley, Mr. and Mrs. Maro V. Palmer, Mrs. Jen- nie Clark Robinson, Mrs. Evie Burnham Edgarton, daughter of George W. Burnham.
South Windham sent a goodly delegation in the Hatch brothers, Elijah Williams, William Young, William Gates from Windham, Amos Doubleday and Ripley Tracy from Columbia, the Kingsleys from Lebanon, Allen Jewett from Chaplin.
At a meeting held August 4th to 5th, 1866, a State Society was formed, with George W. Burnham president, Horatio N. Bill, secretary, William W. Perry, treasurer, and Mrs. Maxson G. Clark one of the trustees.
Among those active in promoting the new church building in 1868 were Dr. Calvin Hall, David B. Isham, John Smith, Asabel Tarbox, Joseph Daniels, Theodore H. Hunt, David Green, Mrs. C. F. Wallace, Mrs. Mary F. B. Clark, Elisha Clark, John Durham, Jubelle Caswell, James French, Mrs. J. A. Conant, Mrs. Abbie Cole, Miss H. A. Windsor, Mrs. Courtland Babcock, Bezaliel W. Taft.
Testimony on all sides agrees that very much of the credit for the upbuild- ing of the society belongs to Judge D. A. Lyman, who until recently as one of the three trustees was the moving spirit in later-day activities. Judge Lyman was for many years a leading citizen of Willimantic, and is now living in retire- ment at Columbia.
These names recall many who in their day were among the most active and influential among local residents. The Jillsons were prominent manufacturers ; Joel R. Arnold was a Willimantic lawyer.
Horatio and Jeremiah C. Bill were men of culture and scientific attain- ments. Horatio Bill (father of Arthur I. Bill of the present Hall and Bill Company), enjoyed far more than local fame as a geologist, and was honored by association with Professor James D. Dana, the eminent' geologist of Yale, who relied upon Mr. Bill for information as to earth formations in this part of Connecticut, and who would occasionally visit Willimantic to roam the fields and hills with Mr. Bill in search of "specimens." Mr. Bill acquired a remarkable geological collection which is now in the possession of Arthur I. Bill. Mrs. Julia Bill, widow of Horatio, survives today at age eighty-eight, a woman of remarkable intelligence and vigor, who has always been interested and active for community welfare.
George W. Burnham was in his day among the most substantial and influ- ential of citizens. He was public-spirited and an advocate of measures of real
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progress, and yet noted as a "watch-dog-of-the-treasury" in opposition to many schemes of doubtful public value. He was rarely absent from any town or city meeting.
Maro Palmer was for many years master mechanic for the Willimantic Thread Company, and his widow, Hattie Fuller Palmer, now residing on Pleas- ant Street, was in early life a teacher in the schools of the First District.
Mrs. Palmer holds in grateful recollection the "Lyceum," with its free platform for public discussion-a welcome innovation in those days when a strict orthodoxy was still holding back the progressive thought of regular church members; and especially does she remember the "Lyceum" program for children, "such a contrast to the solemn Sunday school. There we marched with flags and banners; had exercises with our hands; read from books which stimulated live thinking and put real joy into life. I feel sure that they were the first in Willimantic to observe Children's Day in June, preceding other churches by several years."
Mrs. Jennie C. Robinson, mother of Judge Otto B. Robinson of the Probate Court, with whom she now resides, was one of the pioneers of the Willimantic Woman's Club, for a time its president, and for many years a leader in the intellectual and social life of Willimantic.
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF WILLIMANTIC
The Christian Science Society of Willimantic was organized and held its first service October 1, 1916. Mrs. Ruth Wells Brewster is first reader, and Mr. Robert L. Newton, second reader. Regular Sunday morning service at 10:45 is held in the Woman's Club room at 803 Main Street; Wednesday evening, testimonial meeting at 8 o'clock.
There are no Christian Science services held in Putnam or Danielson or elsewhere in Windham County, although the "Christian Science Monitor" and Mrs. Eddy's book and other science publications are read in many homes.
CHAPTER XXI.
WORLD WAR RECORD.
LISTS OF THOSE FROM WINDHAM COUNTY TOWNS WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR, WITH INDICATION OF RANK AND PLACE AND NATURE OF SERVICE-ALSO SOME RECORD OF CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES-ABUNDANT EVIDENCE THAT WINDHAM COUNTY DID ITS FULL SHARE-AMERICA'S PART IN THE VICTORY-COMING CO-OPERATION FOR WORLD PEACE.
Because of devoted and painstaking cooperation on the part of those in each town who were connected with martial or civilian service in the World war, the "Modern History" is able to secure and presents herewith the World war record of each town in the county with a very gratifying degree of complete- ness. The names give graphic indication of the composite population of the Windham county of today.
When it is considered that war brings so many changes, that among those surviving many do not return to the town from which they entered the service, that some do not register on returning and soon leave for other parts, it is surprising that the record herewith presented is so nearly complete.
We wish to acknowledge the cordial co-operation of State Librarian George S. Godard and his assistants, and also of Mr. J. E. A. Knowlton, of Ashford; William H. Clewley and Mabel Dyer, of Brooklyn; Burton M. Welch, of Chaplin ; Levi N. Clark, Mrs. T. Edward Davies, and Mrs. H. H. Hawes, of Canterbury ; Mrs. A. M. Keith, of Eastford; Mrs. William Weeks, of Hampton ; Adjt. L. H. Dixon, of Killingly ; Hon. John E. Prior and Carrie W. Gardiner, of Plainfield; George Baker, of Putnam ; Mary Osgood, of Pomfret ; C. H. Perry and John B. Bacon, of Scotland; Earl W. Belknap, of Sterling; Hon. E. H. Corttis and Adjt. Philip L. Duhamel, of Thompson; Dr. W. P. S. Keating, of Windham ; Melancthon Riddick and Dr. Ernest R. Pike, of Woodstock.
From some towns a record of the civilian activities has not been received, but there is abundant evidence that "the folks at home" in each community were fully and efficiently responsive to the needs of those in the service.
The outstanding fact is the wonderful response of the young men and young women of Windham County, as from all over the Union, to the call for defense of country. When it is remembered that these young men and young women were reared in the ideals of peace, were taught at home and in church and school that war was practically a thing of the past, that the people of this day and generation were rapidly outgrowing its barbarism and were learning more and more to resort to "arbitration" in settling international disputes, the final response to the call of patriotism, amid all this bewildering disillusion- ment, by the actual imminence of the greatest war in history, was nothing less than marvelous. America did not "win the war," but the final arrival of her troops did help turn the tide. And that indomitable American spirit, facing every difficulty and hardship and even death with a smile, was a revelation to Europe. It should be prophetic of a better day.
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Whatever the outcome of the presidential election of 1920, it is certain that the people. of the United States will in some effective manner cooperate with the nations of Europe in plans for world peace. It would be supreme folly not to do so. The fact that the so-called civilized nations of the world are just now emerging from the greatest war in human history, with consequent devas- tation more widespread than ever before, is emphasizing the folly and delusion of war. It has given pause to the policy of increasing armaments. There was never a mighty mechanism for murder but what a more destructive one can be invented, and in that way surely lies the destruction of civilization.
There is a growing conviction that force is the enemy, not the ally, of Peace, and that there is more dynamic power in Good Will than in all the "Big Berthas," or "Superdreadnoughts," or "T. N. T." bombs ever invented. And however sincere the conviction as to the necessity of war, the most pathetic sight in human history is a flag of war in a Christian church-such a misinter- pretation of the real message of the Man of Nazareth!
Sincerely,
Hartford, Conn., October 20, 1920.
ASHFORD ROLL OF HONOR
Acorn, Arthur-Army, April, 1918-February, 1919; 77th Division Infantry; overseas; gassed; at hospital one month.
Balch, Robert M .- Army, September, 1917-May, 1919; overseas one year; 82nd Division, 327th Infantry; private 1st class; saw action on the Toule Sector June, 1918, Mai- bache Sector August, 1918, St. Mihiel Offensive September, 1918, Meuse-Argonne Offensive September, 1918.
Burrill, Elmer E .- Army, February, 1918-May, 1919; 308th Regiment Machine Gun Com- pany, 77th Division. Served in Flanders, Lorraine, Vosges Mts., Chateau Thierry, Meuse-Argonne.
Burrill, Herbert B .- Navy, July, 1917-June, 1919. Served in Hospital Corps as Hospital Apprentice 2nd class; sent to Brooklyn Navy Yard, then to Columbia University for special course; transferred to the U. S. Naval Hospital at Washington. Dis- charged as Pharmacist Mate 3rd class.
Burrill, Oscar H .- Navy, July, 1917-June, 1919. Served as hospital apprentice 2nd class at Newport, then New London, then Receiving Ship at New York; next U. S. S. Aeolus (formerly the "Grosser Kurfurst"); made eleven trips to France-five to Brest, five to St. Nazaire and one to Bordeaux. Transferred to machine gun duty June, 1919, as a Pharmacist Mate 1st class.
Carpenter, Samuel-Army, August, 1918-November, 1918. Served at Base Hospital 129, Camp Greenleaf, Ga., then Camp Shelby, Miss. Gained rank of Chief Cook. Coburn, Harvy-Army, 41st Heavy Artillery.
Curtis, Samuel K .- Army. Entered at Camp Devens, transferred to Camp Gordon, Ga., as truck driver. May 11, 1918, transferred to Camp Mills, L. I. Arrived over- seas May 30th. Arrived in France June 3, 1918. Served in action as Wagoner until November 11, 1918.
James, Earl E .- Army, S. A. T. C., October, 1919-December, 1919. Colby College, Water- ville, Me.
Knowlton, Edwin E .- Army, S. A. T. C., October, 1918-December, 1918; private, Clark College, Worcester, Mass.
Kocarnik, John-Army, February, 1918-June, 1919, 89th Division, Company C, Ammuni- tion Train,, Motor Battalion. Served in France and Germany; attained rank of wagoner; saw action in St. Mihiel, Verdun; received gas burns on hands and face. After armistice with Army of Occupation.
WORLD WAR MEMORIAL TABLET, HAMPTON
THEAIRE
"WELCOME HOME" AT WILLIMANTIC
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Korany, William-Private Headquarters Company, 42nd Regiment, 12th Division. Sta- tioned at Camp Devens and Camp Upton, July, 1918-January, 1919.
Lee, Clarence R .- Army, April, 1918-June, 1919; overseas; transferred to Base Hospital January, 1919.
Lee, Herbert E., Army, August, 1918-April, 1919, 53rd Company, 14th Battalion, then transferred to 309th Guard and Fire Company, Q. M. C. Taken with the "flu" at St. Agnes Hospital and later General Hospital No. 9, Lakewood, N. J. Dis- charged because of sickness.
Maceyka, Joseph-Army, May, 1917-September, 1919; 1st class private, qualifying as a marksman; 2nd Cavalry, Hawaiian Islands. Served with Troop A, 4th Cav- alry; transferred to Arizona and later Fort Ringgold, Tex .; in active service for nine months on the Mexican border.
Morse, Samuel A .- Army, March 1918-June, 1919; Company G, 326th Infantry, 82nd Division. Served on Toule Sector, Marbache Sector, St. Mihiel Offensive, Meuse- Argonne Offensive. Private as Gunner on Automatic Rifles.
Platt, John C .- Army, October, 1917-June, 1919; overseas; served twenty-one days in the trenches; transferred to Machine Gun Platoon; served at Argonne; gassed twice.
Poole, Ralph S .- Reported at Camp Upton, N. Y., April 26, 1918, to receive preliminary training. Transferred to Camp Devens. Served in Co. D. 302nd Infantry as a private. Transferred to Auxiliary Remount Depot No. 301 at Camp Devens. Honorably discharged Dec. 12, 1918.
Supina, Rudolph-Army, 1918-July, 1919, 19th Field Artillery, Battery B, 5th Division (previously member of the 1st Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Served on Texas border eleven months). Overseas; active service Vosges Mts., Toul, around St. Mihiel, Pouvenelle Woods; message runner during battle of Pagney.
Toros, Charles-Army, August, 1913-December, 1918. Stationed at Fort Jay, Governor's Island; assigned to Company G, 29th Infantry, 1st Division; sailed for Panama, landed at Colon. Made cook before had been a private; stationed at Toro Point on guard duty; made 1st class sergeant; ordered to United States as intructor . in the Cooks' and Bakers' School at Camp Dix.
Shurtleff, Dwight Knowlton-In regular Army. Stationed at Washington, D. C. Lieu- tenant-Colonel, Ordnance Department.
Some of the Ashford boys had interesting experiences as is shown by the following sketches:
Elmer Burrill writes: "On September 26 we took part in the famous Argonne Forest fight. It was here our battalion, better known as the 'Lost Battalion,' became surrounded. We had advanced too far and in darkness of night they surrounded us. For four days and nights we held them off although half starved; we would not surrender. Only about two hundred of seven hundred lived to tell the story."
Joseph S. Maceyka tells of his experiences as follows: "I enlisted May 29, 1917, at Springfield, Mass. I swore into service June 5, 1917, and went to Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. Served with the Second Cavalry. Took a trip across the country to the Hawaiian Islands and served there with Troop A, Fourth Cavalry, for a year and a half. I left the Hawaiian Islands October, 1918, and came to San Francisco. * *
* The thing which interested me especially was a visit to the volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. * * I was just on the way from Hawaii through the States to France when the war ended. Then, instead, I was sent to serve on the Mexican border. * * I also possess a collection of some wonderful souvenirs which I prize very much. I have a few from the Hawaiian Islands and also some from the border. I patrolled the border from Rio Grande City to Laredo, Texas. * * * I also went through the Dead Valley in California, which is 275 feet below the sea level."
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John C. Platt writes: "Did skirmish duty at the battle of Argonne. Of twelve of us comprising the platoon with four guns, I was the only one that returned. I never knew what became of my eleven comrades-probably killed."
Rudolph Supina supplies the following information concerning his services in France: "One night I was ordered to deliver a message to the First Battery, Nineteenth Field Artillery, H. D. Q., being located at Villers, about one mile east of my outfit. The night was pitch dark, cold and stormy, while the shell- torn ground, full of trenches and barb wire entanglements, was the only way by which I was capable of reaching my destination. I started out on my errand, and shortly after I thought my life wasn't worth a cent, for everywhere about there were shells flying and bursting which made me shudder. But this was not all; many a time I fell and received some painful blows, until I altered my course. This, however, did not prove satisfactory, so, being disgusted, I turned back to my former trail. And hardly had I gone one hundred yards when sud- denly I tripped on a wire spigot and was hurled, head first, into a trench about six feet in depth. This was a terrible fall, which resulted in a defective nose, causing headaches and difficulty in breathing. After receiving treatment I was ordered for action and escaped all other wounds."
CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES
The record of Ashford in the World war is highly creditable. No allotment was made here for the first and second Liberty Loans, but the third, fourth and fifth went well over the top. Great credit is due the late David Mathew- son. Red Cross activities showed something like five hundred garments made, nine hundred surgical dressings and three hundred and seventy-five knitted pieces. The people responded liberally to all the drives.
BROOKLYN ROLL OF HONOR
Baker, Elbra-Corporal, Field Artillery Regular Army, Battalion D; wounded from con- cussion from shell October, 1918.
Baker, Ethan E .- 151st Company, Depot Brigade; wounded March, 1919.
Balcom, Fred.
Bard, Robert, 13th Company, C. N. G., Coast Artillery.
Beeney, Frederick-Company B, 304th Regular Infantry.
Beeney, George, 17th Company, Ant. Replacement Division, Coast Artillery. Died in service, September, 1918, of pneumonia at Camp Merritt.
Bell, Cleon.
Bernier, Theophile, Jr.
Bernier, Mathias, Jr .- Engineer Medical Department, 3rd Company, 152nd Brigade.
Bernier, Wilfred.
Bessette, Peter-Medical Corps; served in France.
Blake, Charles-2nd Company, General Staff, France; Censorship Division.
Boiselle, John, Jr .- Medical Corps, Camp Greenleaf.
Boucher, Adelard-Camp Devens.
Bouthillier, Joseph-Battery D, 56th Artillery, C. A. C.
Browne, James-Sergeant, Medical Department, Regular Army.
Burton, Joseph F .- Mess Sergeant, 36th Company, C. A. C. Served at Fort Terry and Fort Wright, N. Y.
Caouette, Nelson-Private 1st class, Company C, 74th Regiment, U. S. Infantry, Camp Devens.
Casey, Bernard-Private, Company G, 304th Infantry, Claims Department. Served in France.
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