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 58
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THE PRESIDENT :- I am not instructed as to the manner in which the other exercises of the afternoon shall be conducted. There are many eminent gentlemen liere who, if called upon, will, I presume, address you. It hardly belongs to me to suggest.
REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE, D. D., of Norfolk, being called for, said :
I need not say that this call upon me for a brief address is entirely unexpected. I am gratified, however, with these commemorative occasions, because I think they spring from sentiments, and are calculated to strengthen sentiments that are fitted to connteract n very strong social tendency of our times. The tendency to which I refer is that of excessive individualism, where each person shall set out, caring for himself and seeking his own advancement, irrespective of social or even domestic feelings.
There are circumstances in our country that favor this tendency. The members of families do not, as in the last century, remain long enough near the old home; nor do the children settle around in the vicinity of each other. They are carly separated from their homes and scattered far and wide, becoming almost strangers to each other. And the consequences are a lack of local attachment and an almost dying out of family feeling. I therefore rejoice at every indication and every circumstance that operates to counteract this tendency to excessive individualism.
Among the circumstances that I think have this tendency to keep alive proper sen- timents, one is the disposition on the part of families to trace out their genealogy. This is now becoming more and more common ; and I think it is very desirable that as far as possible family pedigree should be traced out. Occasions of family gatherings of those of the same name and blood should be encouraged and become more frequent.
I know some men, especially in these days, who glory in being self-made men - un- fortunately, not very well made. I believe that most of those who have risen in the world and acquired distinction, if inquired of as to the principal cause to which they attribute their success, would ascribe it to what they had received of energy, intellect, and character from some devoted mother or some humble father. They do not feel themselves to be self made, although they may have made their fortunes.
Another circumstance that tends very much to counteract this tendency to excessive individualism is a commemorative occasion like this, when epochs in a town are marked and histories of its progress are written, such as we have listened to to-day with so much interest and so much profit. It is a low ambition to have a desire for the feeling of independence of the past, and of indifference to the future. These oc- easions awaken nobleness of thought and largeness of mind, leading us to feel that we are connected with the workers of the past and that we have responsibilities which reach on to the future ; that we are but one link in the great chain of agencies, and responsible for our part in the progress of events as they transpire. Such occasions as this are calculated to awaken and cherish these appropriate sentiments in our hearts, and therefore I rejoice in their oceurrenee, and especially in the great interest that this occasion has brought forth. (Applause.)
609
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The following telegram was here received and read by the President :
QUINCY, III., Aug. 16th, 1871.
To WINCHESTER CENTENNIAL : - In spirit I am with you. Business prevents personal attendance. I trust that our good works for the next one hundred years will surpass those of the last century.
Winsted's Son, W. B. ANDREWS.
REV. HORACE WINSLOW, of Willimantic, followed, in a humorous speech, giving something of the experience he passed through in Winsted, and especially as connected with his being taken on one occasion for a horse-thief; the horse and the thief having been traced to Winsted from east of the Connecticut river, and Mr. Winslow being somewhat of a stranger here, and answering the description of the supposed thief.
REV. LEONARD BACON, D. D., of New Haven, was the next speaker. He said :
I have been enjoying the occasion to-day as I rarely enjoy an occasion of the kind; for it has been in my thoughts all the time that I had nothing to do but to enjoy it. And now, what shall I say ? For I know not at what point to begin.
One thing has impressed my mind to-day as it has frequently of late. Looking at the changes which have been wrought within my own memory, in the character of the industry of Connecticut, in the employment of its people, in the distribution of its population, what is to be the destiny of Connecticut during the next hundred years ? The changes from 1870 to 1970 we may venture to predict will be as great as the changes have been between 1771 and 1871. A hundred years ago, when Connecticut was ready to enter into the great conflict of the Revolution, it was the food-producing state for the armies of the revolution ; while to-day Connecticut does not produce the food that supplies the wants of her own operative workmen. Within my memory Connec- ticut was a state exporting food to distant parts of the Union and to the West Indies. To-day the people of Connecticut would starve in less than two months, if it were not for food imported from abroad. The farms on these old hill sides and hill tops have been depreciating in value year by year, and the population which does not go away to California or the West or South, slides down from the hills into these valleys, where these mill sites are, where the rivers as they pass on their way lend their power to sup- plement the agencies and industry of man.
By and bye those who come after us will see a change. We begin to see indications of it now. The wealth produced and accumulated in the valleys will well up on the hill sides ; and the destiny of Connecticut at some future day will be to become one great hive of manufacturing industry. From the water power working to produce, and from accumulating wealth, the farms on the hill-sides will become the garden spots, as it were, of these cities and towns filled with resounding machinery and alive with industry. I look forward to that coming time with confidence. When I sce the forces that are at work to-day I am not disposed to be simply a praiser of the time that is past, but to be hopeful in regard to the future ; and I believe that another gen- eration after this, and another after that, will be more enlightened, more cultivated, more controlled by moral principles, more elevated by the principles of true and saving religion than any generation that has gone before; and so, as I look forward, I trust that this fair land of ours, this historic old state that has done so much heretofore for the good of hu.nanity, shall continue to be a model state for the Union, a state from
610
ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
which all the influences going forth shall ever be what they have been in the past- infinenees that have made a " wilderness to rejoice and be glad, and the desert to blos- som as the rose." ( Applause.)
REV. F. A. SPENCER, of Vernon, N. Y., followed, saying
That though he was not born in Winsted, his father and mother were born in the town. He had found it a pleasant place to visit as he had often been here ; but it was also a good place to go from. There are some noble men in central New York, who went from old Winchester. We have a county where old Winchester has planted its foot a great many times, and there is right behind me a blessed friend, Deacon Hills, who, nearly ninety years ago, opened his eyes upon Winchester hill, and went into the State of New York and succeeded his own father in the deaconship of the church. Forty years ago I used to look with reverence on his gray hairs, and he used to pat me on the head and tell me he hoped I would be a good boy. We have been friends always, and I persnaded him to come down here to see how Winchester looks.
About eighty years ago my grandfather, who lies buried on Winchester hill, said to my father, then twenty-one, "John, you have been a good boy, your time is now your own ; you must now go out and take care of yourself. I can do no more than provide for your sisters "- there were seven or cight of them. John went out and worked by the month; and what did he do the first year ? He came down here and bought the land on which Winsted now stands, the whole Higley farm, reaching from here away up to the old hemlock swamp. He worked every day as a farmer, and took it for his " stent" to make a pair of shoes every night, for he was a shoemaker as well as farmer. There was then no road and he finally persuaded the town authorities to make him a road. He bought the whole of Winsted for three dollars an acre.
I came down here just to look at my mother's and my grandfather's graves, one here, and one in the Old Society. I have enjoyed this occasion very much indeed.
Mr. Spencer closed by an allusion to some of the pleasing characteristics of his venerable uncle, Mr. Jonathan Coe, and made pleasant allusion to some other early residents.
REV. LEUMAS H. PEASE, of New Orleans, La., a native of Winsted, being on the platform, was called upon for some remarks, but declined on account of the already lengthy exercises of the occasion.
A brief address was made by MR. JOHN R. PITKIN, of Woodhaven, N. Y., who announced himself to have been a school teacher of the olden time who never used a whip, and who once worked on a farm in Win- chester for $4.50 a month, and saved half of it. A. M. Perkins, of Win- sted, volunteered a short poem.
Excellent music was furnished during the exercises by a volunteer chorus.
The exercises closed at 4 o'clock-all having passed off very pleasantly.
In the evening there was a social re-union at the residence of Normand Adams, Esq.
The returned children of Winchester were warm in praise of their cordial " welcome home."
611
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
COLLECTION OF ANTIQUITIES, &c.
A very interesting feature of the celebrations in both societies were the relies of old times, in the shape of portraits of citizens once resident here, old books, articles of furniture or of wearing apparel, ancient em- broidery and needle-work, &c., &c. The collection at Winchester Center was at Bronson's Hall. Among these articles were a board from the front of the gallery of the first meeting house, embellished with sundry cuts and carvings, and several dates, among them 1773, 1775, deeply sunken by jack-knives, showing that in the good old times, in spite of tithing men and blue laws, boy nature was much the same as now ; many of the joiner's tools used in framing the second church, erected in 1786- 1788 ; also a piece of the carved ornaments about the pulpit of this church, and some of the trimmings from the top of the old square pews; several pitch pipes, including the one used for many years by Major Andrews, as chorister ; several portraits, including those of Rev. Father Marsh and his lovely wife, Capt. Leyi Munsill and wife, Esq. Beebe and his son Robert, Widow Mercy Bronson, Rev. Dr. Abel McEwen, for more than fifty years pastor of the church in New London, a number of the members of the Blake family formerly so numerous and prominent in the town; a printed sermon (probably the only copy in existence) preached by Rev. Ammi R. Robbins, of Norfolk, at the ordination of Rev. Joshua Knapp as first pastor of the church ; an arm-chair, made by John McAlpine, Esq., from the timbers of the first meeting house, and occupied during the cen- tennial exercises by Rev. Mr. Marsh.
There were many household articles in common use half a century ago and earlier, such as the spinning-wheel, rolls, little wheel, reel, hatchel, cards, the tall clock made by " Riley Whiting, Winchester," splint-bottomed kitchen chairs, durable Windsor chairs, andirons, long-handled spider, toasting iron, lanterns without a bit of glass giving their light through the holes arranged in curious figures punched in the tin, tall iron candle- sticks, warming pans, and pewter tankards and platters, some of them polished to the last degree of brightness.
From the Starks family we had the old family cradle, and the bread tray of the first Deacon Wetmore, hollowed out of a log with a hatchet, " Granny Loveland's" family Bible, with other things.
The Loomis family exhibited a very ancient Bible, with a full family record ; many curious pieces of antique eurthen ware ; a wonderful woolen blanket or rug made in 1775 by IIannah Dolbeare, given to the For- eign Mission School at Cornwall, and bought by Deacon Loomis when steward of the institution.
The Wetmores brought sundry cumbrous and rough tools, used by suc- ce-sive generations of workers in wood; a strange old decanter, or demi-
612
ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
john ; Dr. Wetmore's spurs, used for years in his horseback rides over the hills, &c.
Col. Ozias Bronson's sword attracted much attention, as also his large dining table, where he lunched his company on training days.
The family Bible of the early McAlpines, with the covered blue wooden cradle, brought over the sea from the Scottish home, were worth much examination ; while a covered pitcher, somewhat broken, presented to Mrs. Marsh many years ago, by Miss Sarah Benedict, and proved to have come over in the Mayflower, aimed at the preeminence.
We looked wonderingly at the queer old round table that Widow Han- nah Everitt, the sturdy pioneer. spread before her guests when she kept tavern on the North road, where the latch string was always out, and we saw the veritable wooden latch, taken from her honse, (torn down several years since,) lying upon the table. The funny old wrapper, with a square collar, said to have belonged to the landlady, was in keeping with the large glass tumblers, ornamented with worderful figures, and in possession of the family more than a century.
Then we had Dr. Everitt's old square chair, his inkstand and account books, together with his spectacles with their huge round glasses and iron enough in the frames to make a small stove, while articles of crockery in common use by Mrs. Noble J. Everitt for more than fifty years, each with a different landscape painted upon it, and a quaint pepper-box with a cork in the bottom, completed the interesting collection from this family.
Mrs. Isaac Wade sent a large mug and bowl of strange pattern and great age, while the toddy tumbler of old Mr. Elijah Blake, always filled on Thanksgiving days and similar family occasions and passed around to the whole company, was exhibited by his granddaughter, and gave rise to endless jokes and mirth.
Some curious crockery from Henry Drake, a table-waiter used at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Marsh, a platter from Mrs. Harvey Andrews, tea cups from Mrs. Norris Coe, sundry tiles and some delicate old china from Mrs. Frank L. Whiting, with many old-fashioned household utensils from James L. Bragg, a linen table-cloth spun and woven by the wife of Dea. Eliphaz Alvord, with many towels and sheets of household manufacture in the early times, each received their share of examination.
The Munsill baby dress worn by six children of Capt. M , the youngest now about sixty years old, with a bedquilt pieced from the chintz wedding dress of the mother of Norris Coe, worn eighty years ago, and costing a dollar a yard, showed the durability of old-fashioned manufactures.
The collection at Winsted was arranged in the basement of the M. E. Church, from which the seats had been removed, two long tables receiving the various articles excepting such as were hung upon the walls or other-
613
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
wise disposed of. A prominent feature of this collection was the large number of portraits of natives or former residents, among which were those of Gideon Hall, Sr., Dr. Luman Wakefield and wife, Rev. James Beach and wife, Capt. Wheelock Thayer and wife, Col. Hosea Hinsdale and wife, Dea. James H. Alvord and wife, Jonathan Coe and wife, Moses Camp, Sr., and wife, Rev. Daniel Coe and wife, Solomon Rockwell and wife, Alpha Rockwell and wife, Mrs. Hepzibah Rockwell, mother of the brothers Alpha and Solomon, Lorrin Whiting and wife, Riley Whiting and wife; and of later residents, Seth L. Wilder, William H. Phelps, S. Ward Coe, Lucius Clarke, Nelson D. Coe, Elliot Beardsley, Gideon Hall, Jr., and wife, Luman Hubbell.
There was a large variety of ancient relics, some of which were local in character and associations, while others illustrated old times without special reference to Winchester. The first tavern sign ever put up in Winsted, used at the " Hall place," on the hill beyond the East Village, attracted much attention. There were pewter platters, two silver tea- spoons seventy-five years old, mugs, dishes, pans, spinning wheels, old chairs and tables, hatchels, cards, and all the paraphernalia of spinning and recling, many small mantel ornaments, antique and unique ; a piece of pottery from Mrs. R. L. Beecher that came over in the "Mayflower"; a child's shoe, handed down in the family of Mrs. Wm. C. Phelps, which was made for Mrs. Phelps's great-aunt, and known to be 140 years old ; curious and beautiful articles of needle-work made by the girls of 70 to 100 years ago, among which was specially to be noted a silk-embroidered landscape sent by Mrs. Ezekiel Woodford ; an old "Hussey"* or needle- case that belonged to the grand-mother of Mrs. Daniel Tuttle (herself 85 years old); a knitting sheath some six inches long, curiously carved in wood and made in 1732 ; some bed curtains with large, spreading figures, from 150 to 200 years old.
There was a bass-viol over 100 years old; a pitch-pipe, and a tuning- fork some six or eight inches long, the property of Jesse Williams, which were used to start the music in the first religious society in Winsted; a straw hat many years worn by "Uncle Jonny" Coe; a ponderous musket, used in the Revolutionary War, and a coat and vest, long and curious, 80 or 90 years of age, made here, and worn by a bridegroom exactly as it was shown.
Mrs. Caleb J. Camp furnished a capacious, old-time oaken chest, with carved front, a peculiar merit of which was, that it did not come over in the "Mayflower," although it was unquestionably aged when it came from England ; a round dining table, old but elaborate ; the first pulpit Bible of the first Congregational Church in Winsted; the private Bible of her father, the Rev. James Beach, having the texts he used marked, and bear-
* This word is supposed to be a corruption of " housewife."
78
614
ANNALS OF WINCHESTER.
ing evidence of faithful and long continued use; a newspaper published just after Washington's death, draped for him and containing his will; a pair of solid silver knee-buckles; a pair of linen stockings beautifully wrought by hand 60 to 75 years since, and two pairs of gloves whose gauntlets reached to the elbows.
J. J. Whiting brought a suit of child's clothes, made in the fashion of fifty years ago ; a large pewter platter and dishes, in which were served baked beans and pork, which formed a part of the dinner of Gov. Jewell and others.
Benjamin Lawrence brought a large masonic pitcher, covered with emblenis of all degrees of the order, and holding three or four quarts, for more than one hundred years in his family, and of foreign manufacture ; and an old masonic suit was shown by Orrin White.
Various ancient books were displayed, especially one by Edward Clarke, a hymn book of great antiquity and interest; old papers by S. B. Forbes, Mrs. Plumb, and others. And finally, a quantity of arrow heads and other Indian relics dug up within our borders.
The room was beautifully decorated with evergreens, and presented an attractive appearance.
Nor should mention be forgotten of the ancient springless wagon in the procession, with small wheels having large spokes and long, tapering hubs, and with high-backed kitchen chairs for the occupants, whose feet rested on an abundant sprinkling of straw. The driver, arrayed in as old cos- tume as could be found, plied his ox-whip faithfully, and was admirably supported by three ladies whose dress was equally representative in its character. And the riders on saddle and pillion gave an excellent exposi- tion of that style of locomotion so universally in vogue when the town was settled.
POSTSCRIPT.
The death of Theron Bronson, Esq., late presiding officer of the Win- chester church centennial exercises, occurring while these sheets are going through the press, we copy from the Winsted Herald the following obituary :
Died at Winchester Center, on the 20th of January, 1873, Theron Bronson, Esq., aged 63 years.
Mr. Bronson, by birth, ancestry, life-long residence, and active busi- ness, has been identified with all the interests of the town, and especially with those of the parish of his residence.
With activity, energy, and endurance, rarely equaled, he embarked in business at an early age, and prosecuted it in various forms, with increas- ing ardor, until the very close of his useful and exemplary life. As a farmer and stock dealer he became by far the largest land-owner in the town; while as a trader and produce dealer, he contributed largely to the prosperity of the community around him. His manly form and cheerful visage are indelibly impressed on the memory of a wide-spread circle of friends and acquaintances.
When to these characteristics are added a kind and generous heart and liberal hand, unquestioned integrity, large public spirit and private benev- olence, and a pure Christian life, we have a man whose memory will be gratefully cherished, and whose loss will be deplored long after his mortal remains shall have mingled with kindred dust.
APPENDIX.
TOWN, COUNTY, AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS.
SENATORS.
Beardsley, Elliott
1853
Coe, Samuel W. 1850
Beebe, James
1836 1837
Dudley, George 1863
Boyd, John
1854
Hall, Gideon, Jr.
1847
Clarke, Lucius
1846
REPRESENTATIVES.
[NOTE .- Previous to the adoption of the Constitution of 1818, two sessions of the Legislature were held each year -in May and October.]
Name.
First. Last. No.
Name.
First. Last. No.
Adams, Matthew
1818 1831 5
Fanning, John J.
1863
1
Normand
1851
1
Fyler, Florimond D. 1872
1
Alvord, Charles
1861
1
Gaylord, Nathaniel B.
1816 1818 2
Eliphaz
1787 1811 11
Gilbert, Alvin
1850
Andrews, Daniel
1833
1
William L.
1848 1868
1
Beardsley, Elliot
1863
1
Hall, Gideon, Jr.
1838 1860
4
Beebe, James
1819 1826
3
Beecher, Rollin L.
1846 1864 2
Benedict, Benjamin
1787 1817
7
1792 1794
4
Bidwell, John W.
1855
1
1781 1793 6
Bird, David
1852
1
Hinsdale, Bissell
1815 1815
2 I
Blake, Jonathan
1851
1
Theodore
1837
1
Boyd, James
1830 1835 2
3
Hubbard, Stephen A.
1855
1
Theron
1849
1
" Stephen
1856
I
Brown, Francis
1867
1
Loomis, Oliver
1834
1
Bull, Merrit
1817 1817
2
Marsh, Joseph M.
1871
1
Camp, John
1844
1
McCune, David
1791
1
« Moses
1865
1
Robert
1781 1797
9
Case, Lyman
1839
1 Miller, Joseph
1829
I
Chase, Dudley
1854
1
Miner, Phineas
1809 1816
6
Clarke, Thomas M.
1857
1
Moore, Ralph H.
1870
1
Cleveland, George B.
1867
I
Munsill, Marcus
1847
1
" James C.
1834
1 Nash, Alva
1829 1830
2
Coe, Jonathan, Jr.
1822 1828
4 Pettibone, Ira W.
1868
1
James R.
1845
1
Phelps, Daniel
1818 1828
2
" Norris
1838 1839
2
Warren
1862
1
Roger
1814 1815
3
Platt, Sylvester
1860
1
" William G.
1859 1865
2
Roberts, Harvey L.
1871
1
Cummings, J. T.
1809
1
Rockwell, Alpha
1807
1
Drake, Rufus
1836 1837
2
John T.
1869
1
Dudley, George
1847
1
Solomon
1820
1
6
Bronson, Isaac
Isaac A.
1866
1
Hurlbut, Samuel
1791 1810 17
1
William B.
1857
1
3 Jenkins, Benjamin
1803 1804
2
Brownson, Ozias
1783 1784
5 Hoadley, Samuel
1811
1
" John
Harvey
1858
1
Gilman, Elias E.
1866
Hatch, Washington
1844
1
Higley, Horace
1799 1806
7
Birdsall, James
1859
1
" Hosea
1821
1804 1819
Holmes, Joseph
1808 1814
1823 1832
Hills, Huet Seth
1835
618
ANNALS OF WINCHESTER,
Name.
First. Last. No.
Name.
First. Last. No.
Rowley, Artemas
1853
I
Wakefield, Luman
1826 1827 2
Russell, Giles
1810 1816 3 Watson, Thomas
1864
1
Nathaniel
1801
1 Welch, James
1852
1
Sheldon, Philo G.
1850
1 Wetmore, Abel S.
1848
1.
Smith, Asahel
1827 1831 2
John G.
1862
1
Elisha
1856
1
Seth
1799 1802
4
Zebina
1798 1802
2
Wheelock, Daniel B.
1849
1
Spencer, Grinnell
1824
1 Whiting, Riley
1818 1832
2
Strong, David
1872
1 Wilder, Seth L.
1858
1
Taylor, George
1853
1 Wilson, Abijah
1798 1802
2
Thayer, Wheelock
1833
1 Woodruff, Frederick
1870
1
Tolles, Amos
1812 1812
2 ! York, Charles J.
1869
1
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Adams, Normand
1848 1850 2
Howe, Jolın D.
1842
1
Alvord, Charles
1849
1
Holabird, William S.
1825 1855 28
Eliphaz
1779 1817 18
Hubbard, Stephen A.
1860
1
Baldwin, Ezra
1848 1854
3
Hubbell, Luman
1833 1835
2
Beach, Albert N.
1870
McPherson
1849 1851
2
Beebe, James
1817 1839 22
Humphrey, James Hurlbut, Samuel Jr.
1852 1854
2
Beecher, Rollin L.
1854
2
Samuel
1798 1819 21
Blake, Jonathan
1839 1858 14
William F.
1870
Boyd, John
1828 1858 27
Kelsey, William
1848 1851 3
Bronson, Isaac
1822 1839 17
Loomis, Frederick L.
1864 1866 2
1
Camp, Edward Moses
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