USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 2
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Hon. Samuel Henry Woodruff was the son of Hon. Samuel Wood- ruff and Esther Sloper, and was born in Wallingford, Mar. 7th, A. D. 1787. He removed to Southington with his parents about 1802. He was a boy of fair promise, and was educated and studied law, under the supervision of Judge Woodruff, his father. On the 8th of March, 1812, at the age of twenty-five, he was married to Eliza M. Root, daugh- ter of Joel Root, Esq., a young lady of very superior qualities of mind and heart, as has been abundantly attested by her friends and neigh- bors, whom, I believe, still survive. By this his only marriage, he had seven children, some of whom are still living, and possibly may be with us to-day. I am told that he commenced the practice of law at his father's office in Southington about 1809, and that during his sojourn here, he resided in the same house where his father had lived before. He afterward removed to Tariffville, where he continued to reside till his decease, Apr. 11th, 1859. I very well remember his genial, jolly face, while sitting as a judge of the County Court, which office he held for some time and up to the time this Court was abolished, which was in 1855. He loved tobacco, and his generous quids, which seemed really to be a sort of judicial "quid pro quo" served no inconsiderable office in the expansion of what might other- wise have been an elongated judicial physiognomy. His most serious expressions of gravity, to me always seemed just ready to burst forth into mirth-provoking humor and fun. Notwithstanding, I believe he discharged his official duties with ability and fidelity. He possessed a genial social nature, had very many friends, and my recollections of the man are confined to his later life and are all very pleasant.
Hon. Romeo Lowrey was born at " Red Stone Hill " in Southington Society-though now a part of the town of Bristol-Oct. 8th, 1794. He graduated at Yale College 1818, and was admitted to the bar in Litch- field County in 1820, engaged in the practice of his profession at Southington soon after, where he continued to reside until his decease, Jan. 30th, 1856. On the 14th of May, 1828, he married Elizabeth A., daughter of Chester Whittlesey, Esq., a young lady of the most ami- able and loveable qualities, to whom he was devotedly attached. She deceased on the 23d day of July, 1840, leaving four young children.
On the first day of August, 1841, he married Laura A. Whittlesey, a sister of his first wife and a woman of great excellence. He was a man high in popular esteem, who held many offices of trust and honor,
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having served in both branches of the legislature, and as a judge of the County Court. Many here present remember him well. His record is excellent, and his descendants are with you.
Royal Ralph Hinman, son of General Ephraim and Sylvania (French) Hinman, born June 5, 1785, in Southington, Ct. Graduated in Yale College in 1805. Married Sept. 14, 1814, Lydia, daughter of General John Ashley, of Sheffield, Mass .. by whom he had five children. He was by profession a lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of New York; practiced law in Southington several years previous to 1835, and was sent several times to the legis- lature, was Secretary of State 1835-42, and in 1844 was appointed Collector of Customs at the port of New Haven. He was the author of "Historical Collection of Connecticut in the American Revolution:" " Catalogue of the first Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut:" " Official letters between the Kings and Queens of England, and the early Governors of Connecticut," also several volumes of genealogies. He resided in New York City for the last fourteen years of his life, where he died Oct. 16, 1868, aged 83 years. The last few years of his life were spent mostly in literary pursuit.
Hon. Henry R. Bradley was born May 3d, 1832, graduated at Yale College 1852, admitted to the bar 1854, and commenced the practice of his profession soon after, and continued till his decease which was July, 1870. He was a gentleman of the finest feelings, kind, affection- ate, and sympathizing to the last degree, and the most sensitively modest man I ever knew. Always a great sufferer, and patient beyond belief. His love of poetry and the fine arts was remarkable, and he was withal a man of singular moral courage. Never will be forgotten his noble defense of Ex-Gov. Thomas H. Seymour and Ex-Gov. Isaac Toucey, in the debate on the resolution to restore their portraits to their places in the Senate Chamber when he was Senator of the 1st District in 1863. It was, in my opinion, the grandest act of his life, and Southington was thereby honored, and for this noble act on that occasion should hold his name in grateful remembrance.
This town is the birth-place of Charles Robinson, Esq., a son of the late Rev. Wm. Robinson, and a prominent member of the New Haven bar, also of IIon. Charles Upson, a lawyer of considerable prominence in the State which has adopted him, Michigan, as well as a politician and member of Congress; also of Charles Lowrey, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., a son of Hon. Romeo Lowrey, also of Hon. Levi B. Bradley, who has for many years been Judge of Probate for the District of New Haven.
As I said at the outset the time allotted to me is too brief for any extended comments on the lawyers of Southington, but I will say that
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her lawyers have had no inconsiderable part in the making of this town what it is to-day, and the brilliant examples of some of her sages in this field illumine her history, and stand as lights of inspiration to the living of this profession here, and those who may come hereafter.
Now in conclusion, indulge me in a word with regard to the profes- sion itself. It is a noble profession and has had more to do in shaping and in preserving the institutions of civilized society, and in all ages where the profession has ever existed at all, than other professions. In the language of a great Statesman "It is as ancient as the magis- tracy, as noble as virtue, and as necessary as justice." And I will add that although the majority of its most busy workers quietly leave their reputations with their estates, and like the little coral insect are en- tombed in their work and forgotten in their tombs; yet their work is not lost to the world, for from its solid foundations rises the superstruc- ture of civilized states and communities, whence flow the myriad bless- ings of a refined civilization.
Mr. TIMLOW. After the lawyer the minister reappears, for as has just been hinted, the lawyer himself becomes entombed. And although we have just heard the chief place assigned to the legal profession, yet some of us may dissent. At any rate let each profession speak for itself.
Among the most energetic friends, and generous donors, for the building of this church edifice, was Dana J. Upson, Esq., who had re- turned to his native hills after a prosperous business career in Philadel- phia. To him and two or three others have been conceded the supreme influence in this work. To-day an honored son of Mr. Upson is with us-Rev. Anson J. Upson, D. D., Albany, N. Y .- he will now address you.
DR. UPSON'S ADDRESS.
You will not expect me to contribute much to the historical remini- scences of this delightful day. Only for a short time, in my young boyhood, did I live here. And the trifles I thought I remembered distinctly, I find that I cannot verify. I thought I remembered that the road which ran past my father's house, towards the south, passed over a very high hill. It seemed so, as I saw it then. But yesterday I found that, somehow, the high hill is almost a plain. The great mountain in the distant east, at the rear of the house, stands there still; and the mist was rolling over it, crowning it with beauty and glory, just as years ago. I can remember distinctly my father's house, where it stood. I knew that long ago it had been burned, but I did not expect to see, as I did yesterday, great trees growing in the old cellar.
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I am sure that cellar is not so large as it should be. I have stood by my father's grave, and the graves of his ancestry for many generations, as they lie at rest in your beautiful valley. To tell you the truth, I have often wanted to come here, and have resolved to do so, again and again; but half ashamed, I must confess that I was afraid to come, and be unrecognized, without a welcome. in the home of my fathers. But when I received the cordial invitation of your minister, as remarkable for his warmth of heart, as for his historical research and public spirit. my dread vanished. And to-day you have welcomed us all with such generous hospitality, that who can be a stranger here ? Where should an Upson be at home if not in the town of Southington, Conn .? I never heard of an Upson anywhere, who did not hail remotely at least from this township. Not every Southingtonian can be an Upson! But every Upson is sure to be a Southingtonian. I see that on the list of members of your venerable church there are fifty-three Up- sons, and fourteen Judds, excuse the egotism if "I claim kindred here and hope to have the claim allowed." It is to me not without significance, that this "founder's-day" of your church occurs in June. No changes in the calendar from old style to new, can get it out of this beautiful month. Why did not the founders organize this " ecclesiastical society " in winter ? Many would think it much more natural for the descendants of the pilgrims so to do. Could they have thought of their descendants-their convenience and enjoyment when they fixed the day? We should hardly have come together here, with such pleasure, and in such large numbers, in mid winter? Am I alto- gether fanciful in believing that our New England ancestry were not so utterly regardless of the beautiful in nature, as some would have us think, or as they themselves believed they ought to be. In counting our family jewels to-day, no wonder we all are proud of the name of Edward Robinson! I need not tell you that he was a very remarkable man. Of stalwart frame, he was as energetic, and industrious, and persevering, as he was physically strong. An indomitable traveler, he was a most determined searcher after geographical truth. His knowledge was extensive in all departments. In his youth at Hamilton College, N. Y., where he was graduated in 1816, he knew more than his instructors. In his subsequent attainments, he was as exact and minute as a German scholar. In all directions he had the Teutonic spirit. He received the highest literary honors not only from Yale and Dartmouth Colleges, but from the University of Halle. He was, I think, the first American upon whom that University conferred an honorary degree. After his death his library was presented to Hamil- ton College, and I became familiar with it. I thought it peculiar, and quite characteristic. There is hardly a volume there upon any other
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topic than oriental travel or Biblical exegesis. And the collection on the former subject is especially curious and valuable. In your minister's admirable historical discourse to-day, he tells us, strangely enough, that the exact location of the first meeting house erected in this town, is still in dispute. Three different places are designated by three differ- ent persons. One of them is by Edward Robinson. With great respect for those who differ from him, I cannot help saying that even here, in this hallowed place, I should be willing to swear-judicially, by the author of the Biblical Researches.
His name cannot be forgotten. It is identified with the Holy Land. No modern hi ory of the holy places can be written, which shall not mention his name. This Bible will perpetuate his fame. Those who shed light upon the Biblical record are sure to be remembered.
'vilege to know quite well one of your pastors. The Rov. David 1 .. Ogden was a dear friend of my father and mother. He ssw my father on his dying bed, and spoke kind words of conso- ' lation anos meral. And during his life, he never forgot the widow and the children of his friend. I simply follow the promptings of my beart, when I tell you how sincere and affectionate he was. I say nothing new to many who hear me when I speak of his conscientious- pess, his faithfulness, his devotional spirit. He was a man of trans- parent simplicity of character, an excellent minister. I have read his farewell sermon to this church; and as I read, I could not help think- ing that the minister he described as the one this people ought to have for his successor, would have many of his own traits. In his farewell words, he put common sense next to piety. He was himself a man of piety, and no less a man of common sense. This gave a balance to his character. President Dwight has said, that if a minister has common sense and studious habits, he is sure to succeed. The studious habits of Mr. Ogden are manifest in his printed productions. His course of sermons on the subject of Baptism might well be re- published. The volume is a clear, condensed, most effective discussion of a controverted topic. The long record of the pastorate of Mr. Ogden among this people, is a record of a faithful, and under God, a successful ministry.
We have heard, and we hear now, and there are some who do not like to hear so much about the influence of New England in this country. It can hardly be exaggerated. It must be recognized so long as this country lasts. God grant that we may never hear the last of it! It runs through the blood. It diffuses itself through the land. Your names by the score are transferred exactly, without change or modification, into many a township west of us. Hearing to-day the record of your lawyers and physicians and merchants and farmers,
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many of whose names are hallowed here, I could easily imagine myself to be in the town of Kirkland, Oneida County, N. Y., where I used to dwell. Your names are those of that township: Bronson, Bristol, Barnes, Curtis, Foot, Gridley, Hart, Merrill, Root, Woodruff, and many more. You cannot shut up the influence of New England within her hills. There is no stagnant orientalism here. Our Dutch neighbors, just across the Hudson, you remember, tried to keep us out. Strangely enough, they hated and feared the Yankees; hated because they feared, and feared because they hated them. Why should they fear such inoffensive people as we! But they could not keep our fathers out. The church to which I am permitted to minis- ter is a New England Church. Its founders were almost without ex- ception New England men. In those days they found 'emselves somewhat ostracized in that ancient Dutch Capital, they Light have yielded to the influences around them, and retired into sonic obscure ravine, many of which nature provides in that vicinity. But they did no such thing, they built a church, a large church for those days; they built their church of stone; they meant it should stand, and it does stand to this day; they built their church not on the river's bank but on a hill, after the manner of their ancestry-a high hill overlooking all the country round-they raised a lofty spire, and on the top of that spire, with marvelous ecclesiastical effrontery, they placed for the ball, a pumpkin, for the vane a cod fish, emblems of their own and our twin mothers, Connecticut and Massachusetts ! You cannot keep the Yankees out; they will make themselves felt; they will plant cities on the hills; they will not be hid. And you will let me add, that I believe our blood is not unimproved by mixture. Many transplantations have not degenerated the stock.
But we would not recall these reminiscences of local history to per- petuate the rivalries of race that are rapidly passing away; the sooner such rivalries cease to be serious, the better.
I thank God for the blessed gift of memory here to-day. How en- couraging, how uplifting, how sacred, are the associations which are here revived; these statistics which have been here collected with such industry, these historical figures and facts, are very significant, yet compared with the reality, how bare and dry they are ! They no more express the real influence of this church upon this community, than do the daily scientific records of the barometer, and psychrometer, and thermometer, convey to our minds a picture of the sunshine, the ver- dure, and the bloom, the flowers and the fruitage that cover our land. What a blessed home has this church been to yourselves, and to our fathers for many years ! One family, seen and unseen, we are gathered here to-day.
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One family we dwell in Him One church above, beneath, Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God, To His command we bow : Part of this host have crossed the flood, And part are crossing now.
MR. TIMLOW. The tender words of Dr. Upson have led us into the inner chamber of our home. His recollections and kindly defence of the Yankee character make us feel brotherly and sympathetic toward him, and awaken pity for him that he should be shut up in the Dutch metropony He has among others, spoken of Dr. Edward Robinson. There is seated at my side, and in a chair from the old Robinson homestead, a brother of Dr. Edward, and son of Rev. William Rob- inson, the third pastor of this church. It is said, he resembles very much the father, of whom no likeness or portrait has come down to us. Some of the old people tell me that I may trace the father's image in the face of the son.
I have now the pleasure of introducing to you Hon. Charles Robin- son of New Haven.
MR. ROBINSON. I feared greatly that I could not be with you to-day. I left the bedside of a sick wife this noon to be able to spend at least a little time in my native place, and among old friends. Under the circumstances in which I am placed, I know you will excuse me from lengthened remarks.
MR. TIMLOW .- The son of another of the pastors of this church has also returned to us to-day. He too is said to resemble, in face and speech, the father whom many of us never saw. I refer to Rev. David J. Ogden of New Haven, whom I now present to you.
MR. OGDEN'S ADDRESS.
It is with great diffidence, my friends, that I come before you to-day, as the son and representative of one of the deceased pastors of this church. Revering, as I must, my father's memory, I cannot but realize that he deserves a better representative than I. I should not appear, except at the special request of Rev. Mr. Timlow. What I have to say can be said in a few moments.
I cannot speak of personal recollections of Southington, for my father's residence here was before my birth. I have never been in Southington but once, previous to this time, and that was in my child-
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hood, and only for a few hours; however, the name is familiar enough to me, and many of the names and characters of prominent men and women. But even though I had personal recollections of Southington, it might not be as appropriate for me to speak of them on this occa- sion, as to mention a few things which I have heard my father say in regard to his connection with this church.
He was settled here nearly fifteen years; from 1821 to 1836. It was his first settlement, and he always regarded it as his first love. He used to say, that a minister could never feel towards any subsequent place as he did towards the one where he spent the first years of his ministry. The mention of Southington seemed always to touch a ten- der chord. He would drop his pen or his book, and speak very softly and tenderly of a place and a people that seemed always to awaken, in his mind, associations so many and so dear. Sometimes he; would say a few words, and then fall into silent thought, like one who is reminded of a loved one long since gone.
I have heard him speak of a Bible class numbering about one hund- red, which he taught for some months on a week day evening. In a revival which followed, this class especially, seemed to be the subjects of renewing grace, for nearly every member became a christian. This was one of many instances in his experience, which convinced him that other things being equal, those persons are the most likely to be con- verted who have the most thorough understanding of sound christian doctrine.
He was always hopeful of the unconverted when regular in their at- tendance on the weekly prayer-meeting. He said, he never knew an in- stance where such regular attendance on the prayer-meeting did not end in conversion. He used to look back with peculiar pleasure to those " times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," which this church enjoyed under his ministry. At one communion season, forty-five united with the church by profession of faith; at another thirty-seven; at another thirty-one; and at another seventy-three. He attributed the success which attended his preaching, in a large measure, to the prayers of his people. He considered himself peculiarly blessed while here, in having a praying people. I have heard him say, that during these sea- sons of revival, it was his practice to pray separately for the conver- sion of each individual, and that in every instance where he felt that he had the spirit of prayer, these individuals were converted. Perhaps there are some here to-day within the sound of my voice, who owe their conversion, under God, to his prayers. There were others in whose be- half he seemed unable to intercede at the throne of grace. He thought that in these cases, the Holy Spirit, " who persuades and enables us" to offer the prayer of faith, withheld from him that power ; and he came
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to the sad conclusion, that those men had sinned away their day of grace, and no subsequent indications of a change of heart in any of them ever gave him reason to alter his opinion. If Prof. Tyndall, our modern Goliah " who has defied the armies of the living God," had had in his own experience some such answers to prayer, would not his ob- jections to prayer vanish like darkness before the sun ? Is not the daily experience of even the humblest of Christ's true followers, suffi- cient to confute this " mighty man " of science ?
My father never regretted entering the ministry. He believed that he was "inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost" to take upon himself the sacred office ; that he had a call to it from God. He sometimes spoke of the trials and deprivations which fell to him in his ministerial life, but he thought them " not worthy to be compared", with the high privi- lege of preaching the glorious gospel of the grace of God. He used to say, that in reviewing his life he regretted nothing but sin.
He died in New Haven, October 31st, 1863, at the age of seventy-one, on the forty-second anniversary of his installation over this church.
MR. TIMLOW. You have heard the story of the attempt of Hon. Eras- tus Root of N. Y. and his friend Judge Branch, to try the wit of the eccentric Lorenzo Dow. They asked him to describe Heaven. The answer came quickly, that it was a place of great beauty, purity, &c., without a Root or Branch in it. The Roots were among the earliest set- tlers of this town, and some of them, in spite of Dow's wit, we love to speak of as in the Better Land. Fifty years ago, down at the "corner" as it was then called, a young man entered upon a clerkship in a store. At that time it was customary to sell liquor by the glass, in all stores. This young man engaged to serve there, upon the express condition that he was not thus to sell strong drink. We delight to do honor to such. The name is Joel Root, now of New Haven, but whose interest in Southington has never abated. He will now address you.
MR. ROOT'S ADDRESS.
It is now about sixty-five years since I first came to reside in South- ington, and although I remained but a few years, yet that brief period is attended with many interesting associations, I was then about nine- teen years of age, and was employed as clerk in the store located at what is now Plantsville and owned by Mr. Eli Barnes.
At my suggestion, and having the principal charge of the store, no intoxicating liquors were sold to be drank upon the premises during my clerkship of more than two years, and that laid the foundation of my theory and practice in after years in regard to the temperance cause; a cause to which I still adhere with unabated interest, and after a trial
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of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors as a beverage for more than half a century, I see no reason to change my views, either in the- ory or practice pertaining to the subject.
Having been accustomed to attend church I went to church the first Sabbath after my arrival, and heard a sermon from the Rev. William Robinson, who, as is well known, was the pastor then, and who was also well known as a clergyman of the most eminent talents.
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