Annals and family records of Winchester, Conn.: with exercises of the centennial celebration, on the 16th and 17th days of August, 1871, Part 53

Author: Boyd, John
Publication date: 1873
Publisher: Hartford : Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard
Number of Pages: 724


USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winchester > Annals and family records of Winchester, Conn.: with exercises of the centennial celebration, on the 16th and 17th days of August, 1871 > Part 53


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We are sometimes disposed, and especially men who have reached my time of life, to look back and think that every thing that is past is preferable to any thing now in existence. There was a state of things just about that time, in reference to points of doctrine, that was exceedingly exciting. It was in the midst of one of the most bitter theological controversies that has existed in this state when I was settled. And after my settlement, when ministers met for the purpose of examining a candidate, the great point was to ascertain not how much he knew on subjects in general, but what were his particular ideas on special points which were then in discussion, and as Mr.


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Marsh comes in somewhat in that matter in a particular way that will strike you as an illustration of the state of feeling, I will relate an ancedote in regard to an event in which I took a part.


At that time it was not unfrequent that ministers had what they called Four Days Meetings, during which they invited the n ighboring clergymen to assist them, as the case might seem to require. One of the ministers in one of these churches had had such a series of meetings on a certain occasion, and invited me to come and preach a sermon. It was in the spring of the year, and the mud was very deep, and I was a little late in reaching the place. I was to be there to preach in the afternoon. When I reached the church, the exercises of a preliminary nature had been gone through with, and the clergyman was just about to give out the hymn before the sermon, so that I had only an opportunity of showing him what sermons I had, of mentioning their texts, and giving a sort of statement of the points in each of them. I asked him, knowing as he did the state of the congregation, to mention that which he thought would be most appropriate. Just at that time the door opened, and our reverend friend, Mr. Marsh, entered, and walked, in his meek, humble way up the aisle, and took his seat in one of the pews. Then the clergyman said to me, selecting a parti- cular sermon, "preach that ; that will ent up Brother Marsh." (Laughter). That man twisted up his Taylorism so strongly that it fairly kinked.


On another occasion-to show you to what extremes he had carried his views - I had been with him two days, preaching in a parish near by, and it so happened that he was to preach the final sermon. It was one of those parishes that did not entirely sympathise with him in his peculiar ideas on the subjects then in controversy. But the pastor of that church was a magnanimous man, and although he attached some importance to these points of difference, he still was willing to have his brethren around him supply his place occasionally. There was some feeling in the congrega- tion, as the result of the two days' service which we had previously had. My brother, who was my colleague, and was to preach the last sermon, chose for his text, "Make yourselves a new heart," and his doctrine was, the duty of man to regenerate himself, a result that could only be applied to those who are self-made. Though the thoughts presented were to a certain extent true, yet the idea of a man regenerating himself could apply only to the man who could make himself. I bring up these cases to show the extremes to which the feelings were carried at that time. Happily, I think, without any relinquishment of sound views on that and kindred topics, that state of feeling has passed away ; and although I have lived to see a great many generations of ministers all around me, and to regret the removal of those who have preceded me, by death or otherwise, yet I am delighted with the class of young ministers that now surround me. I love them; but while I love them well, I do not forget the old ministers. I do not forget Father Beach ; I do not forget Mr. Prentice, Mr. Perry, and Dr. Lathrop; I do not forget any of that class of men who have passed away. They were good men.


But we had great times in those days as to our incomes. I think, if I recollect right, my reverend friend (Mr. Marsh) during the whole of his ministry never received more than $430 per annum. Whatever he has done for this church, whatever he has done for this community, whatever he has done for the world, he has received as a pecuniary compensation for it, while he did receive anything, $430 per annum ! I hink my brother Beach, in that flourishing village, received $500. But one of my parishioners said they meant. to have me have a fat salary, and that should be $650, and it was that for a long series of years. So we had great times in those days as to tmaking money and getting rich !


But there is one thing that I ought to notice. A great deal has been said, and justly said, with which I entirely sympathise, in commendation of my venerable and


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long-tried friend, Mr. Marsh. His influence over his brethren, as one of them has already testified, has been silent, modest, not obtrusive; not so much that of great intellectual power as of sincerity, truth, self-sacrifice, and unfeigned devotion. No jealousy in his mind of his brethren if they had gifts ; no jealousy of their reputation if they acquired it ; no jealousy of their influence, but delighted by it, wherever it was manifesting itself.


One other thing I may notice, unless I exceed my time. It is said, and I do not know but it is true, for I never have had any experience of the kind myself, that an ex-minister, residing in the place where he has been a pastor, is likely to be-and often proves - one of the most uncomfortable of parishioners that it is possible to find. My venerable friend has been an ex-minister longer and sooner perhaps than he ought to have been, but I will not insist on that. But in all that time he has never in any instance exerted a disturbing influence on the congregation. He never has been otherwise than willing to become small and to retire, while his successor came forward and occupied the place that he had filled so long. I think this is a great test of character, for if we have had influence in a community it is with difficulty that we consent to relinquish our position.


But I fear if I proceed further on this theme I shall exceed my time and abuse your patience. I wish simply to say that I also feel that the influence of our venerable friend has been good over me, and I thank God that He has lengthened his days for this very purpose, that he might exhibit these beautiful traits as the fruits of that gospel which he has preached so long and so successfully. I love him, and he loves me, and we cheer each other ; but, as I said, I love all the young ministers too. I feel almost as though I was young, although they begin to tell me that I am old.


The choir then sang the hymn, " All hail the power of Jesus' name," &c.


MR. CORIDON A. ALVORD, of Hartford, was next introduced, and spoke as follows :-


MR. CHAIRMAN :- I did not expect this honor, and am therefore quite unprepared to respond satisfactorily ; and yet the occasion, the old friends I see before me, and the feeling of love for the dear old town, ever active in my mind, combine and impel me to say a few words. Forty years ago I was a Printer's Devil,-a harmless Imp, I trust, but still a Devil. While in that form, C. W. Everest, having some knowledge of the Typographic Art, labored a few hours every day in the regions where I was Imp, for the purpose of obtaining means wherewith to pay his board while obtaining an education, for verily, like every other genius, he was poor. C. W. E. was fond of musie, was a Poet, and a candidate for the ministry, and with all these inspirations in his soul, he often encouraged our " Quartette Club," which never existed except when "P. C." was out of the office, (" P. C." was our master,) to sing sentimental songs. Eventually our store became exhausted, and we produced the only one we had left, the air of which pleased him very much, but he was not satisfied with the words. The next morning he took from his pocket an original manuscript which he had composed the previous evening, and requested us to sing it to the old air he loved so well ; and as it seems so fitting to the present occasion, I will recite it, for we subsequently sang it to him so frequently that I shall never forget it.


72


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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,


The friends we loved in childhood, Oh whither have they fied ? Beneath the village church yard They slumber with the dead. In peace they rest beneath the sod, Their earthly labors o'er ; The friends we loved in early youth We meet on earth no more.


The friends we loved in childhood, When life was young and gay, How blithesome were their footsteps Throughout the joyous day ; And lightly tripped their merry feet Across the flowery plain, But the friends we loved in carly yonth We ne'er shall meet again.


The friends we loved in childhood, How fond their memory seems ; They haunt us in our slumbers, They whisper in our dreams ; And then we wake with saddened heart To find our bliss but vain, For the friends we loved in early yonth We ne'er shall meet again.


The friends we loved in childhood, Oh peaceful be their rest ; And green may be the willow That sighs above their breast, And when in death we lowly sleep, Secure from all onr pain, Oh the friends we loved in carly yonth May we meet in peace again.


Most good landscape paintings have their shades, shadows, and perspective, -their high lights, and their deep shadows. I have given you the shady part first. It may not be agreeable, but it is full of rich color, and is an excellent study. Now, look this way and see how beautifully the light breaks in upon it from beyond McAlpine's hill, and there we see several of those nice little girls who, not very long ago, tripped merrily with us " across the flowery plain," over the hills, and through the woods, in pursuit of blackberries, partridge berries, chestnuts, pleasure, and health, in all the simplicity of innocence and co fidence; studied the dreaded lessons with us at school, rode down the steep hills with us on our hand sleds, and husked corn with us at the evening gathering in the well filled old brown barn, and were not afraid to laugh when a red ear came to their hand, though they fully understood its tremendous conse- quences. They are here in goodly numbers ; a little more mature, indeed, but still essentially the same. And here again is a motley group of those barefooted, earnest looking little boys, fresh from the pasture, the field and the garden, who never liked to rake after the cart when father or the hired man wielded the pitchfork, especially if hurried by the approach of a shower, and somchow or other father always seemed to fancy that there was a shower coming up when we were getting in hay. But those


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boys did like to get their task finished and then go down to the brook, or over to the pond, and catch a good string of fish. The Sunday School is prominent here in the foreground, and just there to the left is the Singing School, with the Pitch Pipe in the hand of a very short, pleasant looking man, and a reasonable sized violoncello in front of a still pleasauter and younger man, who strikingly resembles a prominent musical one upon the present stage. It seems to me that I can see in that smoke a pleasant afternoon tea party of old ladies, with their bright knitting needles snapping away in an animated style, and we can almost hear them gossiping, but not really slandering anybody very much; and there is surely an accidental evening gathering of men at a neighbor's house, with the ever-present dish of apples and pitcher of cider upon the table, and we can imagine them discussing politics, breaking roads, and giving the Minister a " spell."


Far back in the dim distance we can discern men riding to meeting on horseback, cach with a woman behind him on a pillion, for wagons are scarce, the roads are rongh, and go straight from point to point over the tops of the highest hills, with thick for- ests on every hand, and occasionally a black bear and a brown Indian from the thicket glare at them as they pass quietly along, but do not molest them, for these are days of wonderful advancement and civilization as compared with the wilder ones immediately preceding. That is one hundred years ago, and a choice and cherished few present have been almost to the threshold of that enchanted castle, but not one can really say that he saw it, though he remembers many who resided within its walls; yet we all contribute ourselves and our lives to make up portions of this plain picture of the past.


And now turn we to the right, and just square before us opens another picture, more brilliant, more beautiful, and much more agrecable to contemplate, because so much of it is illumined with the high lights of the hopeful future. See how broad and even all the roads are, and with what graceful curves and easy grades they wind around those beautiful elevations, which in the other picture seemed such ugly hills, because presenting so sharp an obstacle to progress. See those open, airy, gorgeous carriages, each containing from six to ten persons, as elegantly dressed as their carriages are ornamented, and unconcernedly moving on over this once rough country, at the com- fortable rate of sixty miles an hour, impelled by that element once so much feared and so little understood, but now the faithful, powerful, humble servant of enlightened man, electricity. Those are all our own descendants, and I believe they are going to the renowned city of Winsted, to celebrate the bi-centennial of their native town, and re- hearse, with occasional touches of affectionate derision the stupid customs of their savage ancestors, when none but men made the laws, while women cooked the food and took special care of the young, and, absurd as it may seem, many will believe it.


I believe my time has expired, and I will take my seat.


Music by the band.


DEACON ABEL S. WETMORE then briefly related a few anecdotes illustrative of the character and habits of the people of the earlier days of the town, and began by a reference to two former deacons of the church, who were spoken of in the address of the morning as being very pious and godly men-namely, Deacon Seth Hills and Deacon Samnel Wetmore, who were said to occupy together the front seat before the pulpit, and to love each other very much. But on one occasion they had such a dis- pute about the sawing of some logs, at the mill of Deacon Wetmore, as to prove they still had a little human nature about them ; but after some sharp words they retired to a thicket near the mill, and doubtless became completely reconciled by mutual confes- sion and forgiveness, as they came out with shining faces, and never gare any oeca- sion in the future for doubt as to their genuine regard for each other.


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ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,


The real origin of the name of Blue street was from a sort of agreement made among the settlers in that street, amounting to a regular code of laws. One rule was that every man must have his wood pile cut out by such a day in Spring, and every man must have his grain threshed out by a certain date. One man by the name of Beach failed to come up in this respect to the rule, and one very dark night the rest of the neighbors got into the barn and took positions on the floor so that they would not beat each other, and began threshing the grain with all their might. They waked up the old gentleman and his wife, and after some hesitation the two started for the barn to see what was going on there. The old gentleman took his lantern, but the men in the barn being in the dark, when they saw the light shining through the cracks of the barn became still as mice, except to keep the threshing going. This so frightened the old man that he went back and told his wife he believed there was " some evil design if not evil spirits out there."


There was a man living in the centre by the name of Theodore Goodwin, a very benevolent man to all the poor, though not a professor of religion. Uncle Jed. Coe lived about three-fourths of a mile north. He was in moderate circumstances, and was preparing to move to Vermont. Mr. Goodwin took it into his head to collect some money to help neighbor Coe. He went down to Mr. Beach to get some money, and took another man to go in with him to see how he succeeded in getting a sub- scription. On going in Mr. Goodwin said, " How do you do, Mr. Beach ?" " Pretty well ; how do you do, Mr. Goodwin ?" Said he, " This gentleman and I have had a little discussion about a certain passage in Scripture. The passage is, 'Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days.' What does that mean ?" Says Uncle Joel (Mr. Beach) : " I am pretty ignorant, but I suppose it means that if you don't give when any body wants help you will be a covetous old hunk." Says Uncle Theodore Goodwin, 'I vow that's just as I thought, exactly. I am doing something for Mr. Coc, and I came in to see what you wonkl do for him !" Mr. Beach drew out a quarter of a dollar and said, " Mr. Goodwin, I wish you would be good enough to hand that to Mr. Coc."


REV. F. A. SPENCER, of Vernon, N. Y., was next called upon. He did not know why he was invited to speak, as he was not a native of the town. His father and mother moved away a little too quick. His grandfather, however, was buried here. He came to the town about ninety-nine years ago. His grave is by that of the Rev. Mr. Knapp, whose gravestone is in three pieces.


The Spencers came to this country about 245 years ago with old Parson Hooker of the First Church of Hartford, and I hold in my hand the cane that my grand- father walked through Winchester with a hundred years ago, and notwithstanding the changes of the fashion, it is still in the fashion of to-day. It is 250 years old at least. I have also another specimen that appertains to Winehester. It is my grandfather's account book. Here are the names of the old men whom Mr. Blake mentioned in his address this morning. These charges were made almost a century ago, in 1774-


In october 1774 Cap. Alvord Debter to horse


to torrington twice


00


02


00


0


to soling your shoes


00


1


2


0


to washing your shirt sundry times


00


3


to spining your wool


00


1


8 0


to nitten mitten


00


1


4 00


to nitten stokens,


00


1


6


My grandfather was a farmer, and he lived on the farm which Mr. Eggleston now owns. The old house, I am told, is torn down, but when I came here, eighteen


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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.


years ago, I went to see it, then standing, and found myself in the room where Uncle Jonathan Coe said all the courting was done, for there were seven or cight daughters.


In regard to the cane, my English ancestor gave it to his son Thomas, because he bore his name. It has upon it still the initials, T. S. My grandfather died before I was born. He loved his minister, and lies buried by his side. My parents were married by the Rev. Mr. Bogue.


MR. JOHN R. PITKIN was the next speaker, who said that though Colebrook was his native town he came to Winchester when fourteen years of age, and remained here for some time. He said he was at eight o'clock this morning in the city of New York, and he had made all possible haste to be present to attend this meeting. He then went on to relate some incidents that he was familiar with when a boy in that part of Winchester called Millbrook. One man lived there who always kept his word. He was in company at one time with six young ladies, and fell in love with the whole of them. He finally said he would marry the one that spoke first, agreeing to it. One accepted him at once, and they were married, and lived happily. That man was Reuben Hungerford. Mr. Hungerford was a farmer, and he measured his hay so that he knew exactly how much to give out every day of the year. He cut his pork into a certain number of pieces, so as to have a piece for each day. He had about an acre of grass cut down at one time, and nearly ready to be put in the barn, but he said to himself, " I will turn it ont onec more before I go to dinner." He commenced but there came up a heavy thunder shower while he was at work. I happened to stand in front of the field, and saw him keep on during the shower, turning nis hay, first one way and then another. After the shower he came up and laid his hand on the fence, and said, "I don't know but you think it odd to see mne turning hay in the rain, but I said I would do it, and I thought I would finish it."


Other incidents were related, showing the same characteristic trait in Mr. Hunger- ford, and the speaker then proceeded to tell of his own experiences : first in Torrington, where he taught a rather disorderly school, and brought it to a good condition without the use of the rod, so fashionable in those days; then going back, he spoke of his boyhood at Millbrook, and of his working there for Mr. Erastus Woodford for $5 a month, and closed by a short sketch of his future life.


The Benediction was then pronounced by Rev. Mr. Marsh, and the meeting was adjourned till 72 o'clock at the Second Congregational Church in Winsted.


EVENING MEETING AT THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WEST WINSTED.


B. B. ROCKWELL, PRESIDENT.


The meeting was promptly called to order at half past seven o'clock, at which time the church was filled to overflowing.


WELCOME BY THE PRESIDENT.


OLD FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES :- I have been thinking, since I sat here this evening, about the familiar scenes that used to transpire at our home, where father and mother sat around the fire, and the children began to come in from their play and


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the men from their work ; neighbors began to drop in and the circle widened all around the room, and there was a kind greeting for all. I believe that we who are the present residents of Winsted feel pretty much so when we see our friends come back as you have done on this occasion. We bid you welcome ; we are glad to see you. We have had to-day sermon and song and excellent entertainment at the other Society ; to-night we meet in a more informal manner. The names of several gentlemen have been handed me, and I shall, perhaps, call on some others whom I have met. There are many here whom we shall be glad to hear from.


The first gentleman called upon was JAMES MILLER, ESQ., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a native of Winsted.


He commenced by a reference to his profession, that of a lawyer, and thought it time that lawyers were oftener invited to participate in meetings of this character ; that clergymen should not enjoy all the front seats, as they have done since the land- ing of the Mayflower. His father was the first lawyer who settled in Winsted, and practiced here more than twenty-five years, having settled in town about 1806, and having acquired the name here, although he was a lawyer, of honest Jo. Miller.


Many things recollected by the speaker as having occurred here in his boyhood were recited. He was only eleven years old when his father's family removed to Michigan ; and it was in part because his father thought it not a good place in which to bring up his sons, that he removed West. In fact, the older boys had been drawn into some rude scenes that troubled their father's spirit, one of which was a sort of calithumpian concert on the occasion of the marriage of a spinster named Candace Scoville. On one occasion, his father, returning from Litchfield where he had been attending court, brought home some boys' hats that did not please the older brothers, for whom they were intended ; and so, to be rid of them, they put them on, one Independence day, and wore them to the place where the cannon was being fired, and as it was loaded, they clapped one hat into the other, and both over the muzzle of the gun, when, as the word fire was given by Joseph, the elder boy, the hats disappeared in the smoke; but two hatless boys had a flogging that evening as a part of the day's celebration. Sev- eral other reminiscences of his early days were recalled, bearing upon the habits of certain individuals then residing here, as they appeared to the eyes of a child ; among others, the names of his early teachers were mentioned, particularly that of Mr. Hunt- ington, teacher of the Academy, and those of his playmates. As one of the experi- ments in chemistry and physiology, Mr. Huntington had a trial of laughing gas. Among others who took this gas, was George Gaylord, who was not much affected by it at first, but after a time he " made a straight wake for a young lady by the name of Champion, and put his arms around her neck and kissed her, which, on her part, did not seem to be considered much out of the way."


" When I think of the changes," said he, " which have occurred in New England in the past forty years, when I see what I have seen during the past week or two in trav- eling through this section, and that it is a country of the most surpassing loveliness that ever met the eye of man ; and when I see how much man has done to beantify it, I wonder that my father ever emigrated to the West, and why those who have gone out on the prairies do not come back to this land of loveliness. New England, to-day, I believe to be the very centre of the planet, so far as it relates to everything that is worthy of human aspiration and human desire. I may not look upon it with impartial eyes, but it seems to me that here is a return to the rejuvenated paradise." (Applause.)




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