USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 134
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This company commenced paying dividends in 1872, and up to January, 1880, had paid eighty-two per eent. upon its capital stock in dividends to the - stockholders.
E. A. Woodward, of South Norwalk, was first president of the company. Henry R. Treadwell, of Westport, was next, and W. S. Hanford has filled the presidential chair sinee July, 1872. The present directors are W. S. Hanford, F. W. Bruggerhof, H. R. Treadwell, L. Ingersoll, Tallmadge Baker, L. H. Biglow, John H. Knapp, H. E. Bowers, Alden Sol- mans, A. Bleakley, D. P. Ely, Winfield S. Moody, William W. Watson.
Present offieers : President, W. S. Hanford; Vice- President, Tallmadge Baker; Seeretary, H. R. Turner; Assistant Secretary, A. L. Frisby.
THE SOUTH NORWALK SENTINEL
was established Nov. 17, 1870, by E. A. Horton, who was also the founder of the Derby Transcript. The paper had run but a short time under Mr. Horton's sole proprietorship when a joint-stock company was organized under the firm-name of the "South Nor- walk Printing Company," with D. P. Ely for presi- dent, and Mr. Horton as manager and superintend- ent.
The paper was subsequently edited by C. V. Arnold, and later by H. E. Wing. He was sueeeeded by Rev. H. N. Durney, pastor of the Congregational Church, who contributed the editorials up to the time when the joint-stock company was dissolved and the con- eern purchased by E. A. Horton and James Golden, the latter from New York City.
Up to this time the paper had not paid its expenses, but had lost money, and was almost bankrupt. This change was made in February, 1873, and with it came a change in the fortunes of the paper. Horton & Golden ran it a little over a year, when Mr. Horton retired, and R. H. Golden, a brother of James, took his interest. The firm then became Golden Brothers, and its business was sueeessfully conducted by them till April, 1879, when another brother, John F. Gol- den, was added to the firm.
The office was at this time removed from its former loeation, opposite the railroad depot, to the building on Washington Street ereeted by Gen. Nelson Taylor, and known as the " Sentinel Building." At the same time the stationery and paper business was added to that of publishing, and has proved successful.
The paper is independent, published every Wednes- day, and devoted mainly to giving the local news and considering matters and topics of local interest. It ranks well up among the weekly papers of the county, and is among the suecessful business concerns in the city in which it is published, where it has a strong
547
NORWALK.
influence and is considered one of the leading insti- tutions of the place.
CIVIL HISTORY. CITY OF SOUTHI NORWALK.
The city of Norwalk was chartered at May session of 1870, and organized Aug. 18, 1870. The first election for city officers was held Aug. 17, 1870, as follows : Mayor, Dudley P. Ely ; Councilmen ; First Ward, Tall- madge Baker, Thomas Guyer, Leander G. Wilcox, Franklin B. Purdy ; Second Ward, John L. Richards, Robert H. Rowan, J. L. Hopkins, Winfield S. Han- ford; Third Ward, Henry H. Elwell, George Benedict, Hartz Z. Norton.
The officers since have been as follows :
1872 .- Mayor, Dudley P. Ely ; Councilmen : First Ward, Thomas Guyer, Lorenzo Dibble, William 1I. Wilcox, Henry W. Lester; Second Ward, John L. Richards, Robert I. Tolles, Samuel F. Peck, Ed- win A. Whitman.
1873 .- Mayor, Dudley P'. Ely ; Councilmen : First Ward, Thomas Guyer, Morris M. Norton, Henry W. Lester, Nelson J. Craw; Second Ward, Robert I. Tolles, John L. Richards, Georgo Nowell, Samuel F. Peck ; Third Ward, George W. Smith, Joseph R. Raymond, llenry II. Elwell, Francis II. North.
1874 .- Mayor, Walter C. Quintard; Councilmen: First Ward, Thomas Guyer, Monis M. Norton, Nelson J. Craw, llenry W. Lester ; Second Ward, Robert II. Rowan, John L. Richards, Robert I. Tolles, Chester F. Tolles ; Third Ward, Joseph R. Raymond, Ilenry H. Elwell, Henry Seymour, Charles E. Doty.
1875 .- Mayor, Walter C. Quintard; Councilmen : First Ward, Morris M. Norton, Thomas Guyer, Nelson J. Craw, Francis F. Byxbee ; Second Ward, Burr Nash, Thomas I. Raymond, James M. Lane, Winfield S. Ilanford; Third Ward, Jonah Jonathan Millard, Joseph R. Raymond, Hanford Wilcox, Charles E. Doty.
1876 .- Mayor, Walter C. Quintard ; Councilmen : First Ward, William II. Duncan, Charles W. Hoyt, Nelson J. Craw, Henry R. Fitch ; Second Ward, Thomas I. Raymond, David R. Sellick, Winfield S. Ilanford, James M. Lano; Third Ward, Charles E. Doty, Ilenry 11. Elwell, Joseph R. Raymond, Henry Seymour.
1877 .- Mayor, Dudley P. Ely; Councilmen: First Ward, William T. Craw, William S. Bouton, Henry R. Fitch, John P. Zeluff; Sec- ond Ward, D. R. Sellick, Thomas I. Raymond, Peter L. Cun- ningham, Charles W. Smith; Third Ward, Edwin Adams, John H. Ferris, James L. Russell, George W. Smith.
1878 .*- Mayor, Dudley P. Ely ; Councilmen, T. Baker, P. L. Cunning- ham, C. F. Ilallock, John 11. Knapp, W. T. Craw, D. R. Sollick. 1879 .- Mayor, Winfield S. Hanford ; Councilmen, C. F. Hallock, William T. Craw, P. L. Cunningham, John L. Richards, O. W. Weed, C. Swartz.
1880 .- Mayor, Walter C. Quintard; Councilmen, Andrew J. Crofut, Lo- renzo Dibble, Andrew Thompson, Charles M. Lawrence, Burr Knapp, Gould Hoyt.
1881 .- Mayor, Christian Swartz; Councilmen, Charles F. Ilallock, Eben- ezer 1Iill, Henry J. Smith, Honry R. Fitch, Jeromialı Donnovan, Jr., Ebenezer P. Ilarvey.
Walter T. Buckingham was elected city clerk Aug. 17, 1870, and served till April, 1872; Edwin Wilcox, 1872-75; John W. Craw, 1875 to Aug. 7, 1876; Ed- win Wilcox, Aug. 7, 1876, to present time.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1653 TO 1SS0.
1653-54, 1658-60, 1662-69, Richard Olmtsend; 1654-66, Mathew Camp- field ; 1654, Mathew Marvin ; 1656, Richard Webb; 1656-57, 1660, Samuel Hlules; 1656, Nathaniel Ely ; 1657, Isaac Moore; 1658, Na- thaniel Richards ; 1658-61, 1667-68, 1670-74, 1676, 1678, 1681, Walter Hoyt; 1659, 1662-63, 1665, 1667-71, 1674-75, 1677, 1678-81, 1695, John Gregory ; 1669, John Douglass; 1670, 1675, Thomas Benedict ; 1670,
1672, 1674-75,, 1677, 1679-80, 1683, D. Kellogg ; 1671, 1673, 1685, Johan Bonton; 1672, Nicholas lloyt ; 1672, 1676, 1678, 1694, Mark Semion ; 1673, Thomas Fitch ; 1678, 1680-86, 1691-92, 1694, John Platt ; 1658- 87, 1689, 1692-1703, Sammel Hayes ; 1686, 1689-90, Christopher Com- stock ; 1691, Samuel Smith ; 1691, Edward Messenger ; 1691, 1705, Jolm Belding; 1691-93, 1699, James Olmstead; 1692, 1691, 1704-5, 1707, Thomas Betts; 1693, 1710, Samuel Betts; 1694, 1697, Mathew Marvin ; 1695, Jakln Gregory; 1696, 1700-2, Andrew MIewenger; 1698, John Keeler; 1701, 1703-4, 1706, 1709, Sammel Keeler ; 1705-22, 1724-39, 1745-46, 1748-55, 1757-62, 1765-70 (fifty years), Joseph Platt ;+ 1705, 1707-8, 1711, 1714, 1717, 1719-20, 1722, 1733, 1735-37, Samnel Ilanford; 1706, 1716, 1718-19, John Copp; 1708-10, 1715-16, John Betts; 1711, 1714, 1720, 1723, 1725-30, Sammel Comstock ; 1712- 13, Mathew Seymour ; 1714, Samnel Kellogg : 1715, 1717, John Read ; 1716, Jolin Raymond; 1718, Jolm Bartlett; 1718, Samnel Marvin ; 1720, 1756-57, James Brown; 1721-24, 1726-27, 1729, 1732-33, 1735, 1738-40, 1742, 1746, 1748-49, 1751, Jantes Lockwood ; 1722, 1725, John Benedict : 1724, Eliphalet Lockwood ; 1724, Mathew Gregory ; 1726- 27, 1729-30, Thomas Fitch ;+ 1728, Benjamin Ilckox ; 1730-34, Joseph Birchard ; 1731, 1736, 1739, 1741-43, lohn Betts; 1734, 1738, John Marvin ; 1734, Daniel Hoit; 1736, 1741-54, 1760-61, Samuel Fitch ; 1737, 1740, 1744, Thomas Benedict ; 1738, James Comstock ; 1739-40, Samuel Cluckston; 1741, John Belding; 1747-48, Elna- than HIanford ; 1749, Nehemiah Mead ; 1751, David Lambert : 1753- 55, 1757, James Fitch ; 1753, Noah Taylor; 1754, Theophilus Fitch ; 1755, 1761-64, l'eter Lockwood; 1760, Joseph Betts; 1751, 1763-76, Thomas Fitch, Jr .; 1762, Nathaniel Benedict; 1767, Josephi Hall ; 1768, Asa Spaulding; 1768-75, 1787-89, 1793, Thomas Belding; 1722, Uriah Rogers; 1774-76, 1784-86, Dr. Thaddens Betts; 1777. Moses Comstock; 1777, Daniel Betts, Jr .; 1778-79, 1783, Clapp Raymond ; 1778, 1780-85, Steplien St. John ;# 1777, 1779-80, 1791-92, 1794, Samuel C. Silliman ; 1779-81, Mathew Mead ; 1779, 1782, James Richards ; 1781, 1786, 1790-91, 1794-96, Eliphalet Lockwood; 1786-88, Ileze- kiah Rogers ; 1790-22, Job Bartram ; 1792-93, 1795, Samuel Com- stock ; 1794-96, Taylor Sherman ; 1796-99, Matthew Marvin; 1797, John Cannou ; 1797, 1800-1, Joseph Silliman ; 1798, Roger SI. Sherman ; 1799, Isaac Richards ; 1800-4, 1809-10, William M. Betts : 1801-2, 1804, Phineas Miller; 1804-8, 1811-12, Jabez Gregory; 1805-6, Stephen St. John ; 1805, Jolm Ilanford ; 1805, 1807, George Raymond ; 1807, Stephen Lockwood ; 1808, 1818, 1820-21, 1823-24, 1827,2 Moses Greg- ory ; 1808, Jolm Taylor; 1809-10, 1814, Jacob Osborne; 1811, Samnel Bowton; 1812-13, 1825-26, Thomas Reed; 1813, 1815-20, 1822, 1824- 25, 1827-28, 1834, Benjamin Isaacs ; 1813-14, Moses W. Reed; 1814- 16, 1818, Jolm Eversley; 1814, Lewis Mallory; 1815, 1830, Thad- deus Betts; 1816, 1828, Samuel B. Warren; 1817-18, William J. Street; 1818, Dan Taylor; 1819, Andrew Hanford; 1821, James Quintard ; 1822-23, 1835-36, Noah Wilcox ; 1826, 1831, David Roberts; 1829, 1835, Charles W. Taylor; 1829, 1841, 1850, Clark Bissell; 1830- 31, 1848, Eli B. Bennett; 1832-33, John D. Loundsbury; 1832-33, 1837, 1843, 1846, Thomas B. Butler ; 1834, Samuel Comstock ; 1836- 38, Lewis Gregory ; 1838, Timothy T. Merwin ; 1830-40, 1844-45, 1850, Algernon E. Beard; 1839-40, Joseph W. Ilubbell ; 1841-42, Ilenry Sellick ; 1842-43, Matthew Wilcox ; 1844, Charles Thomas; 1845-46, William S. Lockwood; 1847, Samuel Jarvis; 1847, Asa Ilill ; 1848, Harvey Pennoyer ; 1849, Gould D. Jennings, William II. Bene- dict; 1851, Ebenezer 1lill, Ilenry M. Prowitt ; 1850, Clark Bissell, A. C. Beers; 1851, Ebenezer Ilill, Henry M. Prowitt; 1852, Thomas Robinson, Thomas Guyer; 1853, Ira Gregory, Eben. Wilson ; 1854, Stephen Raymond, Thomas Guyer; 1855, David Comstock, Jr., Burr Nash ; 1856, Asa Ilill, Daniel K. Nash ; 1857, Josiah MI. Carter, Wil- liam T. Craw ; 1858, Daniel K. Nash, A. Homer Byington ; 1859, A. Ilomer Byington, William T. Craw; 1860, William T. Craw, Samuel E. Olmstead; 1861, Josiah M. Carter, P. L. Cunningham ; 1862, Josiah M. Carter, Ebenezer Ilill; 1863, Wilham C. Street, Josephi II. Jen- nings ; 1864, William C. Street, Chester F. Tolles: 1865, Chester F. Tolles, F. St. John Lockwood; 1866, F. St. John Lock wood, Ebenezer Hill; 1867, Asa B. Woodward, D. Webb; 1868, George S. Bell. Reu- ben llodge; 1869, Asn Smith, Israel M. Bullock; 1870, Martin S. Craw, Tallmadgo Baker; 1871, Martin S. Craw, Lewis F. Beers; 1872, F. St. John Lockwood, Thomas Guyer ; 1873, Thomas Guyer, Moses Ilill : 1874, Edward P. Weed, Thomas Guyer ; 1875-76, James W. Ilyatt, Winfield S. Hanford ; 1877, Allen Betts, Tallmadge Baker; 1878, Allen Betts, Edward P. Weed; 1879, Robert II. Rowan, James G. Gregory ; 1880, Charles 1I. Street, Robert II. Rowan.
* Charter amended; number of councilmon reducod to six.
t Chosou assistant. # Died May 9, 1785.
§ Convention.
548
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
THE CITY OF SOUTH NORWALK.
This place has a population of about five thousand. It is situated on Norwalk River, one and a half miles from the head of navigation, and about two miles from Long Island Sound. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad runs through its centre. Its depot in the city is the terminus of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, and is only forty-two miles from the Grand Central depot in New York City, thirty from New Haven, and twenty-two miles to the Dan- bury depot. Its water-facilities are unsurpassed.
A large and commodious steamer leaves the dock at the foot of Washington Street every morning, ex- cept Sundays, for New York City, returning at six P. M. Two freight-steamers make tri-weekly trips between this city and New York. Within the city are ample dock accommodations for vessels drawing from ten to twelve feet of water, at which are con- stantly moored in the busy season sailing-crafts of every description discharging lumber, timber, and every kinds of building-materials, coal, and wood, and receiving cargoes of various sorts for other ports. Here the oyster-trade is a large factor of wealth. At certain seasons of the year the docks are crowded with vessels engaged in transporting oysters to New York City, Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, and to foreign countries. It is computed that at least two millions of dollars' worth of bivalves are planted in the waters of Norwalk, three-quarters of which are . owned by citizens of South and East Norwalk.
The city of South Norwalk is really the entrepot of nearly all the commerce of Norwalk, Wilton, Ridgefield, Bethel, Danbury, and the southwestern portion of Litchfield County, from whence it is car- ried by the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad.
This city is the centre of an extensive and lucrative hat-manufacturing interest, giving employment, prob- ably, to fifteen hundred operatives of both sexes, many of whom come from the surrounding towns by rail. For about seventy-five years South Norwalk has been noted throughout the country as one of the centres of this trade. The hats produced in this locality have found a ready market in all the States of the Union, Mexico, and the States of South Amer- ica, because of their superior texture and styles.
There are in the city ten extensive hat-establish- ments, two fur-cutting, and one hat-body forming company : Crofut & Knapp (two factories), Adams Brothers, Swift & Palmer, A. Solomons, Benedict Brothers, Brown & Co., F. Volk, Craw, Brother & Volk.
Two large iron-foundries in full blast, one boiler, pump, and engine-works, one lock-factory, the largest in the country, whose goods find a market throughout the civilized world.
Two steam saw-mills for cutting up lumber and furnishing sash, windows, blinds, and doors for build- ers in all the surrounding country : Burr Knapp, H. R. Fitch.
One paper box and two wooden box factories : R. H. Rowen, W. Fitch, C. T. Tolles.
One shoe- and boot-manufactory, doing a large and thriving business, and giving employment to about seventy-five hands of both sexes: Lounsbury Bros. & Rockwell. The company had, till Ely's Hotel was built, the most attractive building in the city.
One corset establishment, but recently erected : Goldsmith & Co. When in order will give cmploy- ment to three hundred hands.
One boat-building company and one marine rail- way company.
One factory for the manufacture of ink : J. Pennell.
Two carriage-cstablishments, which turn out the most stylish carriages to be found in the State : H. Tilly, C. A. Mulings.
Three cigar-factories and one cigar-box factory : C. Smarts, L. Lowder, Hoyt & Comstock.
One printing establishment,-the South Norwalk Printing Company,-doing a prosperous business un- der the management of the Golden Brothers.
SCHOOLS.
The schools of the South Norwalk Union School District rank among the best in the State.
CHURCHES.
Three live and prosperous churches exist within the bounds of the city, and in the outlying districts are two union chapels, occupied in turn by the pas- tors of the Congregational, Methodist, and Episcopal Churches. Combined, they have a membership of about twelve hundred.
CHAPTER LIV.
NORWALK (Continued).
MISCELLANEOUS.
Norwalk Savings Society-National Bank of Norwalk-Central National Bank-Old Advertisements-Steamboats-Masonic-St. John's Lodge -Washington Chapter-Clinton Commandery-Washington Council -Our Brothers' Lodge, I. O. O. F .- The Norwalk Insurance Company -Judges of Probate-The Borough of Norwalk-Organization-First Officers elected-The Fire Department-Water-Works-Horse Rail- road-Manufactures-The Press-The Norwalk Gazette-The Nor- walk Hour-The Democrat-The Schulte Murder-The Drawbridge Disaster-Hon. Clark Bissell.
NORWALK SAVINGS SOCIETY.
THIS institution was organized in September, 1849. The first board of trustees were Clark Bissell, Stiles Curtis, Joseph W. Hubbell, William S. Lockwood, Charles Isaacs, Thomas C. Hanford, William K. James, Jonathan Camp, Eli B. Bennett, A. E. Beard, Gould D. Jennings, Stephen Olmstead, Charles C. Betts, William C. Street, Asa E. Smithi, of Norwalk ; Charles Marvin, Samuel P. Randle, of Wilton; Eliph- alet Swift, John W. Gaylor, of Westport; Ira Sco- field, Holly Bell, of Darien ; Watts Comstock, Hezron L. Ayres, Caleb S. Benedict, Charles Raymond, of
549
NORWALK:
New Canaan. The first board of officers were: Pres- ident, Clark Bissell; Vice-Presidents, Stiles Curtis, Joseph W. Hubbell, William S. Lockwood; Secre- tary and Treasurer, Thomas Warner, Jr.
Clark Bissell continued as president until his death, in 1857. William S. Lockwood was elected June 16, 1858, and continued until July, 1871. He was fol- lowed by William C. Street, July 19, 1871, who held the office until July 27, 1878, when he was succeeded by Edward P. Weed, who continued in office until his death, April 18, 1880. T. Warner, Jr., remained secretary and treasurer until March 1, 1856, when Joseph W. Hubbell was elected, and continued until August, 1870. George E. Miller followed, and is the present incumbent.
The present board of directors are : William B. E. Lockwood, F. St. John Lockwood, George M. Holmes, Robert B. Craufurd, Samuel E. Olmstead, William C. Street, Asa Smith, George E. Miller.
The first deposit was made Oct. 9, 1849; amount, thirty dollars. Present amount of deposits, $1,620,000; present number of depositors, 4325.
THE NATIONAL BANK OF NORWALK.
This bank was organized in September, 1857. The first board of directors were Ebenezer Hill, Charles B. White, John A. Weed, Stiles Curtis, Jonathan Camp, Samuel Lynes, F. Belden. E. Hill was presi- dent from organization, in 1857, till his death, in 1875. Stiles Curtis has held the office from 1875 to date (May, 1880). Charles G. Rickard was cashier from September, 1857, till March, 1858, since which time R. B. Craufurd has been the incumbent. The bank was reorganized as a national bank in 1865. The capital from date of organization to 1879 was $300,000, when it was reduced to $240,000.
The present board of directors are Stiles Curtis, Ebenezer Hill, Edward Beard, E. K. Lockwood, E. J. Hill, W. Randel Smith, one vacancy.
The officers are : President, Stiles Curtis; Cashier, R. B. Craufurd.
THE CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK
was organized Sept. 15, 1876, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. The first board of directors were A. S. Hurlbutt, T. H. Morison, J. P. Beatty, H. F. Guthrie, G. M. Holmes, Charles Smith, P. L. Cunningham, W. R. Smith, S. Morehouse. The first officers were : A. S. Hurlbutt, President; T. H. Morison, Vice-President; William A. Curtis, Cashier. Present officers same.
The present board of directors are as follows: A. S. Hurlbutt, T. H. Morison, H. F. Guthrie, G. M. Holmes, Charles Smith, P. L. Cunningham, S. More- house, E. L. Boyer, G. S. Hutchinson.
Dividends semi-annual,-January and July.
OLD ADVERTISEMENTS.
In No. 1, Vol. I., of the Norwalk Gazette, under date of May 6, 1818, A. N. Beers advertises that he has for sale paints, oils, carpenters' tools, etc.
Asa Lockwood advertises Jamaica and St. Croix rum, mnaccaboy, Rappce, and Scotch snuff, etc.
June 10th, Betts & Cannon advertise black and colored Canton crapes, Jamaica rum, Italian lus- trings, French brandy, cambric dimities, Holland gin, etc. They advertise tabby and Manchester vel- vets, blue and yellow nankeens, black, blue, bottle- green, and "mixt" broadcloths ; and should the cus- tomer want Jamaica or St. Croix rum, American and French brandy, or Holland gin, he has only to make his wants known, for these are for sale in the same establishment.
Under date of July 29, 1818, William J. Street an- nounces that he "has just returned from New York, etc., and that he will sell fine 6-4 Cambric Dimity at 37 1-2 ets. per yd. ; 6-4 cambric muslin for 37 1-2 cts. per yard; good domestic shirting for 20 to 25 cents per yard ; 1 doz. super London made vests, $2.25 each ;" also "1 doz. ready-made Pantaloons (Jefferson sheeting), $1 per pair; 20 doz. pocket Hlıkfs., good size and quality, 6 cents cach ; 100 clegant fans from 2 to 3 cach."
The following advertisement also appears :
ACCOMMODATION PACKETS,
to sail
From EBENEZER D. HOYT's landing at Norwalk for Peck Slip, New York.
SLOOP ELIZA, PENNOYER MASTER,
Will commence sailing from the above landing on Tuesday, the 12th day of May next, and return on Saturday.
SLOOP MARY, BRYANT MASTER,
Will sail on Thursday and return on Tuesday. SLOOP UNION, BROWN MASTER,
Will sail on Saturday and return the Thursday following, each vessel performing their weekly trips through the season.
For freight or passage apply to the subscriber, or to either the cap- tains of their respective vessels. E. D. HOYT.
Norwalk, March 5, 1818.
STEAMBOATS.
In 1824 the first steamboat was put on the line from Norwalk to New York, called "John Marshall," in honor of the chief justice, and was about eighty feet long, with a capacity of thirty or forty passengers. Fare, one dollar. Three years later the late Com. Vanderbilt started an opposition boat called the "Nimrod," and the fare was reduced to one shilling, which continued about two years. The "Nimrod" was commanded by Capt. Brooks, of Bridgeport. The "John Marshall" was superseded by the "Fairfield," commanded by Capt. Peek. The steamer " Adelphi" now runs between Norwalk and New York.
ST. JOHN'S LODGE, NO. 6, F. AND A. M.
The original charter of this lodge was obtained from the Provincial Grand Lodge in New York, and bears the signature of R. W. George Harrison, Grand Master, dated May 23, 1765, appointing Benjamin Isaacs, Master, Stephen St. John, Senior Warden, and Jehiel Keteham, Junior Warden, of said lodge, "to be held at Norwalk only, and that until such time as a Grand Master shall be appointed for the Colony
1
550
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
of Connecticut." The records of the lodge previous to 1779 are supposed to have been destroyed when the town was burned, in July of that year. The records from Sept. 8, 1779, to the present are in regular order.
At the convention preliminary to forming the Grand Lodge, which was held in New Haven in 1783, this lodge was represented by David Lambert, but at the subsequent convention, when the constitu- tion was adopted and signed, the name of a delegate from this lodge does not appear on the minutes. Their present charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, Oct. 17, 1793.
The following is a list of the first one hundred and thirty-two members of the lodge: Benjamin Isaacs, 1st W. M .; Stephen St. John, 1st S. W .; Jehiel Ketcham, 1st J. W .; Ebenczer Whitney, Jesse Betts, Samuel Brooks, Hezekiah Belden, John Betts, Peter Betts, Samuel Burral, William S. Betts, Samuel Baker, Willis Cliff, Joshua Disbrow, Daniel Finch, Alvin Hyatt, Prentice Hosman, Thomas Hill, Stephen Lock- wood, David Lambert, Mathew Mallory, Aulcy Mc- Auley, Mathew Marvin, Nathan Pollock, John Ritch, Mathew Reed, William Rced, Eleazer Scott, Josiah Thatcher, 2d, Stephen Thatcher, Timothy Whitney, Zebulon Williams, James Whitney, John White, Joseph Allen Wright, Dunlap Coggesal, John Clarke, Stephen Betts, John S. Cannon, John Cannon, Jr., Aaron Hoyt, James Hurlburt, Shubal Gorham, James Hamlin, Ephraim Marvin, David. Crosby, Daniel Bull, Jacob Reed, Eli Crosby, Adonijah Stanesbor- ough, David Aiken, 3d, James Sackett, Nathan Gil- bert, Jeremiah Burgess, Thomas Scars, Samuel De Forrest, Samuel Middlebrook, Charles Jarvis, James Richards, Jr., Benjamin North, Lambert Lockwood, David Dunning, Nathan Paddock, Eben Olmstead, Timothy Foster, Jabez Gregory, John St. John, 3d, Peter Hendrick, Nathan Douglass, Stephen Jarvis, Henry Jarvis, Joseph Cable, Benjamin Keeler, Jon- athan Cass, William Beers, Joseph Bouton, Timothy Benedict, Zalmon Sanford, Samuel Dauchy, Joseph C. Fields, Benjamin Sanford, David Olmstead, 3d, Aaron Keeler, David Jackson, Jr., Nathan Dauchy, Jr., Josiah Thatcher, Jr., Ebenezer Lockwood, Jona- than Knight, Jesse Benedict, Jr., Isaac S. Isaacs, William Maltby Betts, Samuel Gibbs, Phincas Miller, Nehimiah Hanford, Henry Chichester, Jotham War- ring, John Smith, William A. Cannon, Rev. George Ogilvie, Alexander McNabb, Stephen Rockwell, Sam- uel Seely, Samuel Jarvis, Moses Gregory, Daniel Seymour, William Fancher, Taylor Sherman, William Pike, David Keeler, John C. Ketcham, Stephen Fields, Stephen Bishop, Hezekiah Hyatt, Stephen Belknap, Jacob Osborn, Benjamin Brooks, Clapp Raymond, Jr., Gould Hoyt, Jr., Hezekiah De Forrest, Seely Conklin, Joshua King, Wolcott Down, St. Louis De Fontaine, Benjamin Isaacs, Lemuel Brooks, Jr., Jesse Jarvis, David Olmstead, Philip Bradley, Sam- uel Howes, Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., Gabriel Allen, Eleazer Wood.
The following is a list of those who have held the office of W. Master from its organization until the present time: 1765-75, Benjamin Isaacs ; 1776-79, 1783 -84, Stephen St. John; 1780-82, Ebenezer Whitney ; 1785-87, David Lambert; 1788-92, Matthew Reed; 1793, Samuel Burrall; 1794, 1798, 1806, Jonathan Knight; 1795, Isaac S. Isaacs; 1796, 1810, Phineas Miller; 1797, Taylor Sherman; 1807-8, Josiah Thatcher; 1809, William M. Betts ; 1811, Moses Greg- ory ; 1812, Daniel Church; 1813-15, 1818, William J. Street; 1823-24, Stephen Smith; 1816-17, 1819, 1821- 22, Joseph Keeler; 1820, William G. Betts; 1825-26, Henry Selleck ; 1827-28, Philo Price ; 1829-30, 1841-42, Asa E. Smith; 1831-32, 1836-40, 1845-48, James Ste- vens ; 1833-35, 1843-44, Henry W. Smith; 1849, George F. Daskam; 1850, John A. McLean; 1851, Dimon Fan- ton; 1852, Eli K. Strect; 1853, William D. Camp ; 1854, 1869, Samuel Lynes: 1855, William W. Storey ; 1856, Thomas B. Butler; 1857, Asa Smith; 1858, F. St. John Lockwood; 1859, Edward P. Weed; 1860, Albert H. Wilcoxsen ; 1861, 1873-75, Alfred H. Camp; 1862, John H. Aiken ; 1863, Levi Warner, Jr .; 1864, Claude Guthrie ; 1865-66, 1868, James W. Sto- rey ; 1867, Theodore Wilcox ; 1870, Isaac Church, Jr. ; 1871, David Pollard; 1872, 1877-78, A. C. Golding ; 1876, Jesse Pollard; 1879, Mark Harris; 1880, G. Ward Selleck.
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