USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Bethany > Bethany and its hills > Part 2
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"'Twas oft so steep the foot was fain Assistance from the hand to gain, So tangled oft that bursting through. Each hawthorn shed its showers of dew."
Arriving at the summit, seven hundred feet high, lunch was spread. garnished with fragrant trailing arbutus, and winter- green with its crimson berries, which "boon nature scattered free and wild."
Refreshed and exhilarated, declamations followed, which, if they "chanced to fall below Demosthenes, or Cicero." they were not viewed with a critic's eye, but received applause which made the welkin ring, when
With songs and adieus They took their last views,
as the low descending sun hastened their departure.
There is a cross road at the base of the mountain, weird and solitary, which every lover of ferns, mosses and lycopo- diums of the cryptogaminous family should visit on a sunny morning of a summer's day.
Would it be a great stretch of imagination to fancy that a line of electric cars would run from Waterbury to New Haven through Bethany, within a decade, and a branch wind around the Beacon, to its summit, the "Capstone," where pleasure seekers with the aid of an "Eiffel tower" and a Lick telescope could see the great ships on the Atlantic ocean.
Or, if this sounds rather inflated, there is just as good foundation for a building aside the "Cap" as there was on Mt. Tom, or Mt. Holyoke, Mass., and with as good telescopes as they have, what more could be desired ?
Many persons say they have never been on the "Cap." but have seen it at a distance : now, if it is visible for miles around, and a guide to travelers by daylight, what would be the effect of a building illuminated at night ; would it not be a "Beacon of light" ( if not to mariners at sea) to all benighted travelers in that section of the country?
The above was written October 26, 1904, and October 27. the Morning Journal and Courier had an article of two columns. headed : Hill Climbing : Over the Alps by Motor Car : Impres- 3
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BETHANY AND ITS IHILLS.
sions and Incidents of a Long Mountain Trip. "The motor car has conquered the Alps."
November 1. 1004, was the following: "Baldwin's Air Ship makes Fine Flight: Remarkable Performance at the World's Fair.
St. Louis. Oct. 31 .- After circling in every direction at a height of 2,000 feet above the Cascades, in sight of thousands of cheering spectators on the World's fair grounds." What next ?
Near this crossroad was the residence of Timothy Lounsbury. one of the trio, with Alling Carrington, and Esquire John Thomas, who vied with each other in paying the largest town tax. Mr. Lounsbury must have been very enterprising to have had courage to build so fine a house with a large ball-room in such a lonely dell. between the Beacon and Lebanon Hill. He had several children .- Dr. John settled in Oxford and prac- ticed medicine until quite aged. One incident occurred which was characteristic of the family. One of his daughters having engaged to attend a ball at a distance. and her escort not arriv- ing at the appointed time, she seated herself on the horse-block at the gate, when a neighbor passing by, and seeing her attitude. expressed his surprise. She quickly retorted: "It is better to be ready and not go, than to go and not be ready." When her escort arrived astride a fleet horse she was ready to mount the pillion behind him without delay. It might have been Eunice. who married Vincent Brown. She lost her only daughter. Emnerett, when on the eve of marriage. She lived a widow several years, and would often remark that "there was as good fish in the sea as ever was caught," and late in life she married a Mr. Fisher and lived to be nearly a centenarian.
From this point can be seen the old residence of Russell Chatfield, high up on the road which leads across Lebanon Hill to the cemetery by the Carrington farm. He was a mason by trade. very thorough and efficient. He married -Terrell. Children : Mary, married Beri Beecher. She is still active and cheerful. Her ninetieth birthday will occur in May, 1905 : Ruth, married Alonzo Warner: Sarah Ann. married Guy Beecher : Pamela. married Samuel Todd of Hamden, and Amanda. married in 1852 Eli H. Wakelee of Ansonia. Wakelee Avenue received its name from the family.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
In 1871 the inhabitants of the west side of the town petitioned the Legislature for a separation, which included about a third of the town, and, although they met with most strenuous objections, they were successful, and that portion of the town was christened Beacon Falls.
It included prominent men, some large tax payers, Sheldon Clark. Noyes Wheeler, George Osborn, the Buckinghams.
THE TREAT CLARK HOUSE.
Andrew T. Hotchkiss, whose mother was a Buckingham, and Pulaski Chatfield, whose son John was a Colonel in the late Civil war, and died in the service : another son, Henry, married a sister of Franklin Farrel. the Ansonia millionaire. In that locality was Adonijah French, and others whom it is impos- sible to name. Mr. Dwight Clark, the noted cattle dealer, has a fine residence on the extreme west side and nearby was the Terrell homestead, now in ruins. Clark Hotchkiss. Daniel Rus- sell, Edwin Pardee. Abel Prince. Carrington's and Nettleton's. and others. Not being familiar with that side of the town
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS
must account for the brevity, although the records show that they were very worthy citizens.
After swinging around the circle, we arrive at the old road, once called the shunpike on account of shunning the toll gate at Sperry's farms.
The old Daniel Thomas house has disappeared, and the next was owned by Charles Thomas; a short distance north is the
MRS. SARAH ( SPERRY ) PECK.
Aged Q2.
house built for Judge Jason W. Bradley in 1836, by Grant Hitch- cock and Charles French, who built several houses about that date on the same plan: they were called a half house, which omitted one of the large square parlors on either side of the front door and hall.
Judge Bradley was quite a prominent man in the town. He married a sister of Col. Alvan Sperry: his only son lost his life in the Civil War. His daughter AAlthea married Dwight
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JUDGE CLARK HOUSE. Built by Peter Perkins in 1702.
Clark, a wealthy cattle dealer: their on has represented the town in the legislature.
The next house is Judge Clark -. The house -var built by Peter Perkins in 1762: bought by lade Clark 18%). H. married Jesther. daughter of Deacon Jo epk Treat, dementel
THEODORE HOTCHKISS.
from Robert Treat, who was Lieutenant Governor of the State of Connecticut seventeen years, and Governor fifteen years. Isaac Clark, son of Isaac of Milford, was a descendant of George Clark, whose name is among the founders we the Memorial Bridge at Milford. He held the office of selectman for eight years in succession. His soy Nathan was elected town clerk and treasurer of Bethany my 1855.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
and continued to hold these offices until 1881. He was elected probate judge in 1862. and continued to hold the office until his decease. He was also postmaster of Bethany for eight years. He married Sarah L. Lounsbury in 1843. Their chil- dren are: Emma S .. born 1844. and Edwin N., born 1851. Emma S. married Pearl P. Sperry. Their children are: Isidore S .. Belle E .. Pearl P. and Harold C. Edwin N. married Hannah Basham in 1874. Their children are: Eugene F., Walter F .. Lena B., Ruby B. and Frank J.
A.RS. LUCIA ( SPERRY ) HOTCHKISS.
Edwin N. succeeded his father as probate judge, town clerk and treasurer. and continues to the present date ( 1904).
Col. Alvan Sperry married Sarah Nettleton, daughter of Nathan. Children: 1John. "Sarah (married Frederick Peck ; one son. Burr: Mrs. Peck is ninety-two years of age and remarkably well preserved, with good memory and hearing. bright and interesting in conversation) : "Edson (married Rosalinda, widow of Dr. Whiting: one son. Foster, whose son
THE COL. ALVAN SPERRY HOMESTEAD.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
is a popular druggist in New Haven) : 'Nathan (married Lucretia Peck, daughter of George, Esq. ) : "Fowler ( married Jehersey Nettleton of Milford: their daughter married Sheriff Tomlinson ) : "Lucia (married Theodore Hotchkiss; their daughter Fanny married Frank Platt, a popular florist in New Haven; daughter. Kate, remains at the homestead ) ; Rebecca (married Cornelius Allen ) : ^Grace and " Gracie, twins (Grace married Claudius Allen : their son is a prominent druggist in New Haven ; Gracie married Capt. Bunce ) : 1ยบ Marian (mar- ried Edward Smith ).
Col. Sperry was a carpenter by trade. However, in 1839 he and his sons. Nathan and Fowler, established the malleable iron business in Straitsville and continued until 1845. when their factory was burned, and they removed their business to New Haven, where they followed it successfully for many years.
The Sperry families are anxiously waiting for the "Sperry Genealogy" to be published, which has been in progress of com- pilation several years. There seemed to be an affinity between the Sperry and Lines families since the first settlers, for they have joined heart and hand so often as to be quite noticeable. Capt. Chillian Sperry settled in the north part of the town and married Julia Lines, while her sister Sarah married Capt. Jesse Beecher, and their daughter Emeline married Noyes Sperry. Ezra Sperry located near the center, and his son Ezra S. married Louisa Terrell, whose mother was Hannah Lines. daughter of Eber Lines, who resided a little west of the center. He had a remarkable memory, and "what Uncle Eber couldn't tell you wasn't worth knowing." His son Calvin had a son. Henry, whose son, Rev. Edwin S. Lines. D.D., was Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, New Haven, several years, and is now Bishop of Newark, N. J. He married Mary Louise. the only child of Cornelius S. and Eliza ( Kimberly ) Morehouse. of the firm of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor of New Haven. His brother, Wales Lines, an extensive builder, is one of Meri- den's most influential and respected citizens.
The Lines-Sperry clan is scattered far and wide. One. a lawyer and judge in San Francisco, Cal .. writes: "My daughter. just 'graduated,' wishes to join the Colonial Dames. 1s she eligible?" Another resides in Johannesburg. South Africa:
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
seere are millionaires and others who are not are as good as gold chad make them.
Elizur H. Sperry, son of Marvin and Lavinia ( Gaylord) Sperry bi Bethany, learned the mason's trade of Theodore Hotelikiss of New Haven, where he became a master builder. which business he managed so skillfully that he has been able in travel abroad and enjoy the fruit of his labors. He
married! Children: Fannie, Mrs. Frederic Miner.
ELIUUR H. SPERRY
and Carviena D., who married James E. Cutler ( Ph.D. Yale 1031 08 Boulder, Colorado.
Lucius, son of Burton and Elizabeth (Perkins ) Sperry of Bethany, marriedl Miss Chatfield of Oxford. Children: two son- and daughter. Julia. He was also a popular mason builder in New Haven and highly esteemed by all that knew him for his genial ways and integrity.
Silney Sperry married a daughter of Ebenezer Platt and lived a little south of the churches. He had a blacksmith shop
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THE OLD DARLING TAVERN, WOODBRIDGE.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
opposite, now gone, and the old house is a ruin. His widow kept the postoffice several years. It is now near by, kept by Mrs. Hitchcock. There was a high school taught there in 1840 by Rev. Samuel Clark, assisted by his daughters.
On the road below the schoolhouse which turns to the left were several Sperry families, Alonzo, Mark, Garry, and Allen, all worthy citizens. Nearly all of their property is said to be owned by the New Haven Water Company and known as Lake Chamberlain, which leads south through the Sperry ravine and intersects with Dawson Lake.
By permission of the Journal and Courier extracts from an article published in that paper a few years ago are given :
"A party of New Haveners, among whom was Congressman N. D. Sperry and his brother, Knight Sperry, sallied forth for a drive on the aforesaid hills in a canopied carriage to the music of the rhythmic hoof beats of the latter named gentleman's fine pair of steppers. Their old home was in Woodbridge. There they were born and reared, there the remains of the old homestead are, and every nook and turn in the road, every old house, and every new one, every old landmark. the old familiar highways and byways, the lanes and hedges, the copses, the thicket. the stones and running brooks, all had to them a familiar and unfailing interest as they passed abandoned mill sites : it set the Congressman to musing. One would think the agricultural glories of New England had all but departed to read the dismal pictures given in the public prints on this subject, the fact that there yet remain many fine and model farms being temporarily overlooked. And now for a personal reminiscence. Now we come to Sperry's farm. My ancestor. Richard Sperry, bought this farm from the noted Stephen Goodyear, who was Deputy Governor of Connecticut, way back in 1640, or thereabouts. The deed for the farm gave all the land between the two mountain ridges, which you see on the right and left respectively, and extending on the south to the river running through Westville and extending as far north as the good land goeth. Under such a blanket deed as this we can claim to the Pacific coast. But let me here state that for the peace of mind of occupants of this land, we do not propose to press the claim under any circumstances. And here, on the left, is the lane through which the British redcoats marched
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
when in quest of the regicides Whalley and Goffe ; and Richard Sperry, who had many times fed and sheltered the regicides. saw the redcoats as they approached and Whalley and Goffe discreetly fled to the hill which you see over yonder. called Providence Hill.
And this turnpike we are riding over is the old Litchfield turnpike. It was a great highway once. The mails were car- ried over this road and the farmers, from up Waterbury way and beyond, brought their produce to market over this road. They stopped for the night either at Clark's hotel over there or Darling's, a little further on, both of which were very popular hostleries in their day. Now these hotels are no more. The railroads serve the farmers for transportation now if they have anything to transport at a distance. At the old Darling place Mr. Bishop now resides. It is yet a very fine place. Pardon a personal digression. You see lining the road that fine line of maples, and how thrifty they are; well, a few years ago I came up here and delivered a lecture before the Village Improve- ment Society. One thing I advocated was tree planting, and here, through the enterprise of the people, you see the result.
Over there was the home of Deacon French. He at one time set type for the Journal and Courier. The property is now owned by the New Haven Water Company. And there is the residence of Mr. Judge. Mrs. Judge has a camp-stool that did duty in Cromwell's army. Near this locality was a factory, where Mr. Peck, who was the father of the late Lawyer Lucius Peck of New Haven, made iron candlesticks. It is now no more.
Just in that hollow above the lake once stood a grist mill. It was a busy place in its day.
Ah! Here we pass the house of friend Doolittle, he of flying machine note. Some day he expects to fly through the air with the greatest of ease on the machine he has been so long at work on in his leisure hours.
Up there is the house where our esteemed and wealthy towns- man, Joel A. Sperry, was born. Up there to the right was once a factory where the grandfather of the late Nelson Hotchkiss made hoes and rakes. Now it is all deserted. The party here paused to take a look down the long sweep of valley which lies between the ridges, the view including the splendid new lake
THE RESIDENCE OF S. GILBERT DAVIDSON,
..
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
of the New Haven Water Company. Dawson Lake, named in honor of our esteemed deceased townsman. the late Henry S. Dawson. And now, concluded Mr. Sperry, we come to a model farm. one of the model farms of Connecticut. that of our friend S. G. Davidson, who is one of Bethany's most hon- ored and esteemed men. It is indeed a model of what thrift. good taste, enterprise, foresight and sagacity well employed can accomplish. With Mr. Davidson in charge. even a wilderness could be made to blossom like the rose.
Mr. Sperry and party were the guests of Mr. Davidson and of his estimable wife and son for an hour. after which the homeward journey was begun, returning through the route which passes the site of the Sperry homestead."
T. S. Gold, State Secretary of Agriculture, has said : "When agriculture asserts its demand for educated men. then we shall have an education for the farm equal in breadth to that of any other calling, and then will end the cry, 'Why do the boys leave the farm?' "
The prospects are that the work of the Yale Forestry School will be productive of reclaiming much waste land and its influence will be widespread.
The next generation may see in place of shrub oaks, white birches and alders. groves of nut trees of various kinds and sugar maples, the fine forests cleared of underbrush. so unsightly,-when a drive through Woodbridge and Bethany. the suburbs of the "City of Elms." will be as beautiful as a drive through East Rock Park is now ( 1904). Why not?
If every farmer would plant an acre of hickory nuts he would not be obliged to guard with a shot-gun one solitary tree which produced a choice nut with shell so thin that a child could crack it with its teeth, and meat so fat and nutty, delicious and nutritious.
The papers state that Mr. Frederick Shaff of Pennsylvania owns a chestnut orchard of three hundred acres, in which are planted seventy thousand chestnut trees.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
BARBER'S HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF CONNECTICUT, 1838.
On the night following the 14th of March, 1780, the house of Captain Ebenezer Dayton, then residing in this place, was broken into and robbed by seven men, who were Tories and headed by a British officer from Long Island. Mr. Dayton's was situated nearly opposite where the first meeting-house in Bethany was erected, about half a mile south of the present Congregational church and about ten miles northwest of New Haven. The particulars of this robbery were obtained from the Rev. Mr. Dayton. son of Captain Dayton above mentioned. Mr. Dayton, who belonged to Long Island, was, on account of his attach- ment to the American cause, obliged to leave the Island and bring his effects with him to Bethany. A number of men, some of his neighbors, were obliged to leave for the same cause, and brought a considerable quantity of money with them, and for a while resided in Mr. Dayton's house. With these facts the robbers appear to have become acquainted. At the time of the robbery Mr. Dayton was absent on business at Boston, and the men who had been staying in the house had left the day before, so that there was no one in the house but his wife. Mrs. Phoebe Dayton, three small children and two servants, colored chil- dren. About midnight, while they were all asleep, the window in the bedroom where Mrs. Dayton was sleeping was burst in ; seven armed men rushed in, passed through the room, and immediately rushed into the chambers, expecting to find the men who had left the day before. While they were upstairs Mrs. Dayton went to the front part of the house, raised the window, and endeavored to alarm the neighbors. Mr. Hawley, the minister of the parish, and Dr. Hooker, the physician of the place, both lived within twenty rods distance. Both had lights in their houses at the time, and both heard the alarm, but did not know from whence it proceeded. The robbers, hearing Mrs. Dayton, came down, and tearing a sheet into strips, tied her hands behind her, made her sit in a chair and placed her infant (six months old) in her lap, while one of the robbers, placing the muzzle of his gun near her head, kept her in this position for about two hours, while the house was thoroughly ransacked from top to bottom.
THE ELIHU SANFORD PLACE, Where the Dayton Robbery was committed in 1780.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
They found four hundred and fifty pounds in gold and silver which belonged to Mr. Dayton. besides other valuable articles. What they could not conveniently carry off they wantonly destroyed, breaking in pieces all the crockery. furniture. etc. The whole amount of property carried off and destroyed. includ- ing notes. bonds, etc .. amounted to five thousand dollars. The robbers left the house about two o'clock and went to a place in Middlebury called Gunntown, where they were secreted in a cellar by a family who were friendly to the British cause. While they were on their way to Gunntown they met a young man by the name of Chauncey Judd of Waterbury on a bridge, who had been to see a young lady home from a quilting party. Fearing he might discover them, they took him along with them. They were secreted in several different places. sometimes in houses and at others in a barn at Oxford. From thence to Stratford. where they took a whale boat and crossed over to Long Island. The people at Derby having received information of their passing through that place. two whale boats and crew's commanded by Captain William Clark and Captain James Harvey pursued them to the island, and were fortunate enough to catch all but one. just within the British lines. They were brought back. tried. condemned, and sent to Newgate. They. however, broke prison, and finally fled to Nova Scotia.
Extracts from the book published in 1874. "Chauncey Judd. or the Stolen Boy":
"Captain Dayton's residence was on the eastern side of the meeting-house Green. At a later period it became the abode of Colonel Elihu Sanford, the father of Elihu and Harvey San- ford. Esqs., long known as among the most respectable citizens of New Haven.
On the other sides of the Green were the houses of the pastor. Rev. Mr. Hawley, and the physician. Dr. Hezekiah Hooker."
As the historical part of the story has been recorded, we will only quote some incidents which Rev. Israel P. Warren. D.D .. the author, says are in all essential respects strictly true, having been many times told to him by a near relative ( his grandmother. Milly Judd), a sister of the "stolen boy." who had herself a personal knowledge of the facts, and died at the age of ninety- nine.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
"One of the most thrilling incidents occurred when the rob- bers had become nearly exhausted with carrying their booty. and realizing that their captive was a dangerous burden, they Jesided to put him out of the way." An open spot was found among the bushes near where the stream made a deep pool of dark water flecked with foam from the waters above. Chauncey was dragged to the brink and bidden to fall upon his knees, while Graham, with a loaded musket, withdrew a short distance from him. "Young man," he said. "you must pre- pare to die! Say your prayers as quick as you can. We have no time to waste, but will give you ten minutes to do it in." The poor lad tell on his knees to beg for his life. He turned to the young men, whom he had met at huskings and merrymak- ings, and entreated them to save him. All seemed in vain. Graham stood immovable, with his watch held forth in his open hand, counting off the minutes as they passed.
"Three, four, tive!" "God in heaven!" cried the boy franti- cally. "help me! Oh, mother, mother! Save me. save your boy!" "Seven, eight," said Graham, in unaltered tones. The agonising ery of the lad sank into a low moan of despair. "Vine, ten, time's up!" exclaimed the captain, returning the watch to his pocket and raising the musket to his shoulder.
At that instant Henry Wooster sprang forward and clapped his hand over the muzzle of the gun.
"No. captain," said he. "don't fire: it's too bad."
"Get out of the way!" thundered the ruffian. "or I'll blow your hand off."
Almost at the same moment both Cady and Scott interposed. rushing in between him and Chauncey. Wooster seized the gun and raised the muzzle into the air. "You shan't kill him! You've got to shoot me first!" "And me!" "And me too!" cried the others, and they planted themselves firmly as a screen before the kneeling figure of the youth.
Later on, while the fugitives were secreted in a cellar at the Wooster house in Derby, a well was discovered, and Graham Wrung a reluctant assent from his companions that Chauncey should be shot and put into the well. His pleading cry of dis- tress was heard by Mrs. Wooster overhead. She was a woman. nay, more. a mother. She hastened downstairs and threw her- self between the victim and his murderers, who were just pre-
THE DR. CASTLE HOUSE. On site of Rev. Stephen Hawley's.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
paring to execute their purpose. "For shame!" she cried. "Are you men, or wolves, to kill a poor boy in this way? I tell you it shan't be done,-not in this house ! Take your hands off him, captain!" The robbers submitted, but with an ill grace, cursing women that "couldn't mind their own business."
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