USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > Canton sesquicentennial, 1806-1956; a short illustrated history of Canton > Part 9
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One other story that has been handed down is of Ephraim Mills, Jr. and his brother Simeon when they were boys. They were up on the hill back of the house when a violent thunder storm came up. They started running down the hill and Simeon upset a hornets' nest in the bushes. They swarmed out, stinging him madly. Just at the same instant there was a terrific clap of thunder, and Simeon yelled, "Oh Eph, I'm struck, I'm struck !"
The house was built in 1775 with later changes made in 1806.
Hector Prud'homme - Albert E. Carey - Origen Lamphier - Samuel Shepard - Lewis Case - George Lamphier - (Stiles Case, Freeman Case) - Ehpraim Mills, Sr.
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Paul Johnson's house shows the Greek Revival style of architecture, but has had a large veranda added in place of the original one which was like the one at Mrs. Melzer's. The date of building was not found, but a deed from W. H. Hallock to Simeon Mills in 1827 might describe this lot. It is on the 1869 map.
Paul Johnson - Ethel B. Kenyon - . Ford - Martin Seger John Pike - George Lamphier, Jr. - Origen Lamphier - Mrs. Miles Case - A. Garrety.
The parsonage is the third house to stand on this site. Dea. Joseph Mills settled here in 1743 with his fifteen year old wife Hannah Adams. They had fourteen children, all of whom grew up and had children of their own before the death of their father. Mr. Mills was the first dea- con of the church in Canton Center. His son, Dea. Andrew Mills, was the next to live on the place, removing to Vermont in 1787. It then became the home of Rev. Jeremiah Hallock. Between 1787 and 1813 another house was built on the same site. Following Rev. Hallock's death in 1826 Rev. Jarius Burt bought the house and lot, Rev. Hallock's son, William Homan, keeping the farm, and building a house where Stuart Gillespie now lives.
In 1874 the Burt place came into the possession of the Ecclesiastical Society, being left by Mrs. Linda Hosford for a parsonage. The old house was torn down and the present one built in 1876. Rev. D. B. Hub- bard, who had lived a short time in the Goodhue house and in the Burt house, was the first minister to occupy the new parsonage - in 1877. The house has much the same appearance as when built, but has had many modern improvements inside. The old horse barn has made way for a garage, and a driven well replaces the water that used to be piped down under Cherry Brook from a spring up on the hill to the west. When not occupied by a minister, the parsonage was rented to several different families. The following is the list of ministers who have lived here and the Mills names.
Reverends Russell E. Angell - Alvin J. Beachy - Eugene A. Rose - Frank L. Sechrist - Walter Warner - Russell E. Rees - Warner Muir - Herman W. Reynolds - Eugene L. Richards - James W. Moulton - Christopher R. Hamlin - Arthur L. Golder - David B. Lord - Frederick Alvord - David B. Hubbard - (Rev. Jairus Burt) - Rev. Jeremiah Hallock - Dea. Andrew Mills - Dea. Joseph Mills.
The house of Stuart P. Gillespie is of the Greek Revival style, and was built by Rev. Jeremiah Hallock's son, William Homan Hallock, about 1844, on the site of his first house that was burned in 1838. He was town clerk at the time, and many of the town records were burned. Up until 1806 all records were recorded in Simsbury, and many of the ones burned were recorded again by Canton.
The house stands with the gable end to the street instead of the colonial style of the long ridgeboard parallel with the road. It has a
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beautifully panelled front door, with a double cross inside and raised panels on the outside. The house has had many alterations during the years.
Stuart P. Gillespie - Harold Edgerton - Ethelbert B. Gillette, Mortimer Bristol, and Gustave Ingraben-George Daggett-William G. Hallock - (William H. Hallock) .
Harold W. Humphrey's house was built by Gardner Mills, Sr. about 1810. It was on the site of an earlier house built by his father, Col. Amasa Mills, whose first house stood northeast of William Beckwith's. This is the colonial style. A large veranda across the front and south was removed some years ago. The "little bedroom" has had its parti- tion removed, thus enlarging the living room, and the pantry is now a bathroom. The kitchen has been improved, but otherwise the rooms are about the same as when built. The cat hole is still in the attic door, and two small heart shaped windows are in the upper part of the lower stair door. There are the three fireplaces around the stone chimney, with a brick oven in the living room.
Harold W. Humphrey - William G. Humphrey - Alfred F. Hum- phrey - Gardner Mills, Jr. - Gardner Mills, Sr. - Col. Amasa Mills.
THE STORY OF GRISWOLD'S SALVE
Mrs. Alfred Humphrey's father was Chauncey Griswold, maker of Griswold's Salve, and the last years of his life were spent here in Can- ton Center. He had built up quite a business making and selling the salve, and when he came to live with the Humphreys, Alfred helped him make it. After Mr. Griswold's death in 1864, Alfred kept on with the business, doing it on shares for Mrs. Griswold. The business was finally sold to the Sisson Drug Co. of Hartford, who continues to make this famous salve.
Here is the story of how C. G. Griswold came to make the salve. One Fourth of July one of his sons was terribly burned by some gunpowder that ignited in his pocket. Doctors were few and far between, but they heard of a man a few miles away that had a salve that was good for burns. They got some of it and were so pleased with its results that Mr. Griswold bought the recipe and started experimenting with it. It had only been made in small quantities when he bought it, and he had much difficulty in trying to make a large amount at one time. He finally suc- ceeded and began to sell it in different towns, carrying samples of the salve in a carpet bag. In the course of time the salve became well known, and orders came from many states. The following lines were sent him by a customer in 1847.
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STREET POETRY
The worst of all among our woes Are corns upon our little toes ; Oh that all who pull the end Would become our better friend,
And make us boots that we could wear, Then we should have no corns to pare. Try Griswold's Salve at any rate, It is the best in any state ;
For corns that ache, or flesh that's bruised, It is the best you ever used. Oh, that men would try it and see
How soon from pain they would be free.
With burns that smart I take no part, But cure them quick, It is no trick.
Why do men treat me as a knave When men from trouble I would save? The doctors say the salve is good, Of course by them it's understood.
Come buy a stick and take it home, Then you a wise man will become; Your wife will greet you at the door, Be sure of this, she'll love you more.
The Dennis Mahoney home was built about 1800 by Jesse Barber. The first house on this place was farther south, and was built in 1738 by Jonathan, one of the four Barber brothers who were among the first settlers. Jesse Barber had a small cobbler's shop north of his house and also a tannery with two large vats for tanning leather. For many years the water for the house came from a spring on the hill to the east, through logs split and grooved and laid with lapping ends.
The first settler here, Jonathan, lost his life in the siege of Louis- burg in 1745. His son Bildad inherited the place, but moved away in 1804. The farm was then divided, Gardner Mills buying land to the south, and Serg. Daniel Case to the north. The middle section became the property of Jesse. Since then it has had many owners, and when Mr. Mahoney bought it, it was in a very run down condition. He has rebuilt the ell part entirely, and put the front part into first class con- dition, preserving the old fireplaces, mantels, the front stairway, and other old time features, but adding modern heating, plumbing and lighting to make it a comfortable and beautiful home.
Dennis Mahoney - Ambrose Norman - Everett Jones - Eugene Case - Herbert S. Case - Joseph Rood - Sidney Case - (Corydon Barber) - Jesse Barber - Bildad Barber - Jonathan Barber.
The house belonging to William F. Elliott was built for Elam Case by his father Serg. Daniel Case. Elam was born in 1772, so the date of the house might have been about 1790. This is a very interesting old house and is being carefully restored by Mr. Elliott. Many of the origi- nal floors remain, there are Crusader doors, a gun cupboard, numerous fireplaces, the one upstairs having ELAM cut in the stone at the base. The living room walls are of pine sheathing which was covered for years with wall paper, but is now restored to its original appearance. There are numerous cat holes upstairs and down. Mr. Elliott has built a pool to replace a pond that was once south of the house. This is fed by a brook coming down from the hill through a pine grove that was set out by Benjamin F. Case, who was born in the Elliott house. He built the large house across the street in the eighteen nineties.
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William F. Elliott - Henry Jepsen - Lancel Foote - Clarence Snow - Mrs. Marion Case - (Franklin Case) Elam Case.
The S. D. Richardson house is built along colonial lines, but has an added extension on the south to accommodate another family. Samuel A. Richardson lives in this part, his mother, Mrs. S. D. Richardson and her son Danford in the main part. It is said that when the first cook stove was bought, it was set right in the fireplace so the smoke could go up the chimney that way.
Years ago rattlesnakes were sometimes seen in the settlement. Mrs. James Humphrey went up on the hill east of the house one day to get berries. She came home and said she had seen a rattlesnake on the hill. Her family did not believe her. The next time she went up she saw one, killed it, tied her garter around it and dragged it home. Leaving it on the doorstep she went in and asked her folks to come out and see it. They came, and much to their (and her) surprise, found not only the dead one but another which had followed it down to the house.
(North part) Samuel D. Richardson - Samuel Richardson (James Humphrey, Sr.). (South Part) Samuel A. Richardson - Leslie T. King - Clarence Snow - Edward Edgerton - James Gladwin - George Richardson.
The Selden Brown house burned about fifteen years ago. The pres- ent house was built by Gail M. Dodge in 1948.
Gail M. Dodge - Selden Brown - Walter Brown - Amos Hosford - (Benjamin De Lamoine) .
The Allerton C. Hickmott place was an old family home of the Footes, the first one here being the son of Capt. John Foote. John Foote, Jr. built this house about 1780. It was well built and has been well preserved.
The Footes were among the prominent families of the town, al- though the business interests of the later generations were elsewhere. Dea. Lancel Foote was very active in church work, being a deacon for twenty-five years, and he was the first superintendent of the Sunday School, which was organized in 1819. He also filled many town offices and went as representative to the State Legislature. His son, John Howard, loved music, and had a store in New York City where he sold musical instruments. He built a beautiful home across the road, naming it Bel-Air, and using it for a summer home. This house burned to the ground some years ago, and the house that stands there now has had several owners, the present one being Mrs. J. B. Whelan.
North of the Hickmott house and down the hill stood the Foote horse barn. This was sold and made over into a house some time ago, and has since been enlarged and improved by its present owner, George M. Douglass. Across the brook to the west there used to be a meadow,
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and in it there is still a small brown stone that marks the grave of one of Dea. Lancel Foote's horses. The inscription reads as follows :
"Billy - The faithful Horse of Dea. Lancel Foote Oct. 17, 1879 35 yrs."
Allerton C. Hickmott - Hubert Foote - Ellen Robinson - (Dea. Lancel Foote) John Foote, Jr.
The Lewellyn P. Forker place was built by John Brown about 1834. This house has had several changes and additions, and is now arranged for three families.
Lewellyn P. Forker - Ethelbert Gillette - (John Brown) .
The George Ingraben place was the original Foote home, Capt. John Foote settling here in 1753. His house was about twenty-five rods west of the present house. We do not have the date of the house, but Sherman Brown was born here in 1847. Recently the place has been restored and put into good condition.
Lucian E. Baldwin - Dr. G. Daniel Denton - George Ingraben - August Ingraben - Sherman E. Brown - (William Ely Brown).
The Roy L. Turner home has had some changes since it was built. The place was first settled by Hezekiah Adams in 1749. No one knows if this is the original house, but parts of it look very old. Recently Mr. Turner has removed the veranda on the south. The house runs at a right angle to the road making the rooms a different arrangement from the colonial.
Roy L. Turner - Albert L. Roberts - Capt. Charles Wakely - Albert F. Bidwell - Frederick A. Bidwell - (Albert F. Bidwell) - Hezekiah Adams.
Herbert E. Putnam's house is of colonial design, but has been re- modelled. The front veranda has been removed, and some of the giant old elms and maples have had to be taken down. The first name found is Thomas Sugden, in 1802.
Herbert E. Putnam, Jr .- William Millard-Capt. Charles Wakely McClellan - Webster Case - Lucian Case - Mason Case - (Marvin Case) Thomas Sugden.
The Leslie T. King place was first settled by Dr. Elisha Graham, who came from Wintonbury, now Bloomfield, in 1753. Mrs. King says that when her grandfather Watson Case came there about 1840 the house was very small. The room at the rear of the front room was called the soap room and had a dirt floor. The cooking was done in the fireplace. The house has been greatly enlarged with additions made at different times until now it is a large, comfortable, well equipped home.
Leslie T. King - Arthur W. Sweeton, Sr. - (Watson Case) - John Spring - Dr. Elisha Graham.
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The home of Vivian Guilford is known as Rusthall Kennels. The house has been restored in recent years. The building date is not known, but the first to settle here was Thomas Phelps in 1745. From the rec- ords it would seem that his brother Benjamin lived here also. Anson G. Phelps of New York was a grandson of Thomas.
Vivian Guilford - Bruce Lindsay - Clarence Godard - Robert Kerr-Jay Case-Howard Higley- (Richard Case) Thomas Phelps.
Fool's Paradise, the home of Frank J. Reilly, is just north of the North Canton Cemetery. John Moses, one of the earliest settlers, came to this place about 1745. The North burying ground was on his prem- ises, and his two year old daughter Eunice was the first one to be buried there, in 1754.
Frank J. Reilly - John Bravo - Frank Zemaitis - Fred Stoddard - Howard Case - N. Case - (Seymour Moses) - John Moses.
Mrs. Ruth Gracy's house was built by Neri Case. It is listed on the 1869 map as 'L. Case. This was Lucius Case, Neri's son-in-law. The North Canton post office has been here since 1937 when Mrs. Gracy became post mistress.
Ruth Vining Gracy - John Adams - Eugene Adams - Lev- anthal - Charles H. Vining - Sylvester Humes - Charles H. Vining - Edmund Case - Lucius Case - Neri Case.
The following verses were written by Mrs. Ruth Gracy, and de- scribe what happened at the wedding of Dorothy Bahre and Richard Wright on Christmas Eve, 1939, in the North Canton Methodist Church.
THAT NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas the night before Christmas in the old meeting house, All were eagerly waiting, e'en the tiny church mouse; The folks had been ushered to the pews with great care, In hopes that the bridegroom soon would be there.
There were young girls who should have been snug in their beds, But visions of bridal veils danced in their heads.
The organist pealed forth tune after tune,
Praying under his breath that the bride would come soon,
When at long last there came to each listening ear The wedding march in accents emphatic and clear.
The bridal folk entered in splendid array, The bride bashfully treading her flower-strewn way.
The colorful gowns and flowers and lace Making quaint, pretty picture with the groom in his place.
The parson stood eagerly waiting them there.
Handsome, resplendent - his first bridal pair.
The service he started, and then the sweet song, "I love you truly," brought a hush to the throng. When a noticeable whisper spread through the air From one to the other among the attendants up there. An usher departed with haste through the door,
Then another rushed out, causing wonder the more. The singer sang on, but anxiety
Came to preacher and all as nervously
The ushers returned and beckoned to men
Who hastily left with the ushers again.
Could someone be playing an untimely joke ?
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But no! The altar was fast filling with smoke! Old Timers well knew that the furnace held a grudge Toward all congregations, and would oft make a smudge; So with much more impatience than fear or alarm, They yielded to orders to scramble from harm. Some even grumbled for the service to resume, But e'en as they did so more smoke filled the room. Dismay came to all when they at last were outside, Gone were all thoughts of the groom and his bride, A nightmare to all seemed Christmas Eve then. A helpless moment, then calls for more men. No need to relate the details of the fight To rescue a church on fire in the night. The aid of the fire trucks and CCC men Restored peace and order and the church once again. The preacher then welcomed to the parsonage so near, All not too frozen the service to hear.
Long will be remembered that cold winter night When the wedding was routed, but not put to flight. When the parson is gray and very well versed,
He'll smile at the wedding so unlike that rehearsed; And the bride through the years must pause to admire The groom who for her went through water and fire.
Miss Alice Case's house, which she shared for many years with her sister Jennie, is colonial in type but has a large basement to accommo- date itself to a side hill. It was built by Ezra Adams who lived at first across the road to the west on the tract of land bought in 1743 of the Indians by his father Lieut. David Adams. Two house dates have been found, 1771 and 1795, the latter being the one given by Alice Case. The front door has a very interesting leaded thistle design, and the rooms have the wide floor boards. The nails used were made in Newgate Prison. An unusual decoration still shows on some of the walls and doors. Starting with a center spot, colored rings have been painted in widening circles until they meet those coming from other centers. Miss Case's father, Loren Case, had a saw and shingle mill on the brook south of the church, and also a grist mill. Wooden molds for buttons were made near this house, and a tannery was nearby.
Alice Case - Loren Case - Noah Case - (Averett Wilcox) - Decius Humphrey - Ezra Adams.
The Tilton House was built by Lieut. William Wilcox in 1750. According to the frame in the attic it looks as if it originally was a salt box house, facing west. When Ruggles Case lived here he built a black- smith shop a short distance south of the house near the road. Here he carried on his trade for over seventy years, making tools and pieces of hardware as well as shoeing horses and oxen. It was Ruggles Case who made the iron plow points for Chauncey Moses' wood plows, which were made in North Canton. An account of a party held on his eighty- sixth birthday in 1875 states : "He still works some at shoeing horses which are quite gentle and steady, but he is very much bowed over by age, and uses two staves in walking." His grandson, Clarence Vining, learned the trade of him, and after Mr. Case's death in 1881, continued there in the business until he moved down to Canton Center to the Pliny Case shop about 1900.
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C.R. VINING
HORSESHOEIS
...
FOR CASH ONLY
The North Canton Blacksmith Shop. Built by Ruggles Case about 1820. (Drawn from a photograph by Mrs. Alfred Priddey. )
Arthur V. R. Tilton - E. T. Tilton - Elbert Bond - Frank Wad- hams - Ernest Vincent - Henry Case - (Ruggles Case) - Jedidiah Wilcox - Lt. Wm. Wilcox.
The Harlan Reycroft place is the first house on the right on the North Canton to East Hartland road. It has been restored and greatly improved recently. Old wainscoting and sheathing have been uncovered by removing several layers of wall paper and many coats of paint.
Harlan Reycroft -Charles McCarthy - Raymond Pleasant - Gerald Beaudoin - Benjamin Johnson - Knudson - Hanford Meyer - Oliver Caton - John Case - Jared Case - (I. Watson Graham) .
The Ray Morris place was settled by Col. William Wilcox, son of Lieut. Wm. Wilcox, probably near the time of his marriage in 1779. Many changes in the buildings have occurred through the years, farm- ing has been given up, and the house greatly enlarged and improved.
Ray H. Morris - Charles M. Quick - Wilson Case - Chester Case - (Orville Wilcox) - Col. William Wilcox.
The Miles Messenger house is not only old, but very interesting, and has an authentic date. On a beam in the attic are cut the words :
RAISED 1785 JUNE 20 MONDAY
The stone chimney, twelve feet square at the base, and even larger at the first floor level, is brick from the attic floor up. On one side of the
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brick chimney is a very small smoke house with a wooden door and iron hooks fastened to a wooden beam at the top. The house is on the same general plan as other Early American houses, but has one feature not found in many in Canton. Two of the fireplace have bake ovens at the back, although one of them has been closed and a brick oven built at the side.
When a stage ran past the door, the house was used as an inn. The front room on the right was the bar room. The ceiling in this room has had the plaster removed, and at one side the joists have been cut back part way. Years ago when Eliphalet Case lived here, he used to walk to Hartford to take lessons on the pipe organ. He had one installed in this room, cutting back the joists to allow room for the pipes. The windows have the small six by eight panes, twelve over twelve. The east door is sheathed inside and panelled on the outside, while the front door has double Crusader crosses. All the doors have the original hinges and latches. Near the house there used to be a cider mill. Two of the huge vats are all that is left of an old time industry.
A white oak from this farm was given recently by Miles Messenger to help rebuild the steeple of the old North Church in Boston. The steeple blew down August 31, 1954 during hurricane Carol, and the new one was rebuilt in 1955.
The Joseph Lewis place is on the 1855 map under the name Wd. Case. It was a small house, but has been enlarged and restored by Mr. Lewis. From the Abiel Brown book, it says that Gamaliel and Simeon Ward settled in 1745 on this place, followed by James McNall, but they probably lived in an earlier house.
Joseph S. Lewis-Clifford Messenger-Louis Messenger-Ansel, Warren, and Julia Ann Case - (Widow Case) - James McNall - Gamaliel and Simeon Ward.
The James Augur place is of a later date than the colonial, the gable facing the road. This house has been remodelled into an attractive mod- ern home by the Augurs. It was built in 1829 by Ambrose Case.
James M. Augur - Gus Olson Streeter - Leventhal - Rochette - Birdsey Case - Emerson Case - (Ambrose Case) .
The Arthur Langer place, now occupied by his sons Oswald and Richard, has been kept as a farm throughout the years. A clipping from one of Levi Case's news items of 1878 reads thus : "The famous Anson Case farm in North Canton has been purchased by Merton Goddard for $3,000.00. 120 acres with good buildings. Quantities of apples. Situated on boundary lines, part being in Barkhamsted, Granby, and Canton." Benoni Moses settled on this farm in 1744. About a mile east of the Langer house are traces where a cabin and barn stood. Woods have grown up around the spot.
Arthur Langer - Kavelier, and Mayeroff - Homer de Lavanway - Merton Goddard - (Anson Case) - Darius Case - Benoni Moses.
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CASE STREET.
The Theodore Kyle place was known for years as the Matson place. It is on the 1869 map as J. Matson. This house has been restored to good condition and is the summer home of the Kyles.
Theodore C. Kyle - Elmer Warriner - George Matson - J. W. Matson.
The house now owned by Mrs. Harold J. House is colonial style. The corner posts are exposed, and there are cross beams in the ceiling. The brick oven has fine wrought iron hinges on the door. Chester Case lived here before going to the Ray Morris place. Daniel Graham settled here in 1756.
Mrs. H. J. House - Meyer Widam - .. King - Henry Ruick - Meyer - (Chester Case) - Daniel Graham.
THE EUGENE DIONNE HOUSE, BUILT IN 1748
The Eugene Dionne house has been remodelled but still retains its old time charm. Removal of partitions has made possible a large living room with windows facing east, west, and south. Josiah Clarke settled here about 1748.
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