History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 208

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 208

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CHAPTER LXXXVII.

WILTON (Continued).

MISCELLANEOUS.

Prominent Men-List of College Graduates *-- Postmasters-Burying- Grounds-The Ladies' Home Missionary Association-Educational- The Wilton Academy-Wilton Division, S. of T .- Civil History-Se- leetmen from Organization to 1880-Representatives-Military Record -List of Sohliers.

JONATHAN STURGES and Thaddeus Burr were delegates to the convention which ratified the Consti- tution of the United States, held at Hartford on the first Thursday of January, 1788.

* This list appeared in a pamphlet called the Anniversary of the Con- gregationul Church, published several years ago. Since then some changes may have occurred which have not been noted.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The delegates to the convention which formed the State Constitution, held in Hartford in August in 1818, were David Hill and Gideon Tomlinson.

Aaron Burr was born in this town in 1714. He graduated at Yale in 1735, and in 1742 was settled as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Newark, N. J. In 1748 he became president of Princeton College, which position he occupied until his death, which occurred Sept. 24, 1757. He was an accomplished scholar and able divine. He married a daughter of Jonathan Edwards, and had two children,-a daugliter, who married Chief Justice Reeve, of Litch- field, and Aaron Burr, who became Vice-President of the United States.

Nathan Gold was a member of the Council for the first time in 1657, and held the office for forty-eight years. He was also chief justice of the Superior Court for ten years, and Deputy-Governor of Connec- ticut from 1708 to 1724. Unless there were two per- sons bearing the same name and residing in the same place, holding office continuously, the period of his official life extended over a period of sixty-seven years.

Ebenezer Silliman was born 1708, and graduated at Yale in 1727. He studied law, and soon after his admission to the bar was elected a representative from Fairfield, and at the October session, 1736, he was chosen Speaker of the House, and held the same position at the three succeeding sessions.

In 1739 he was chosen a member of the Council, or upper House of the Legislature, and was annually re-elected for twenty-seven years. At the end of that period he was again chosen a representative, and at the sessions in May and October, 1773, and in May, 1774, he was elevated to the Speaker's chair. Mr. Silliman was also annually elected a judge of the Superior Court for twenty-three years, besides being a judge of the Probate Court, judge of the County Court, colonial auditor, and a member of various im- portant committees. For a period of over forty-five years he was almost constantly in public life.

LIST OF COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC.

The following is a list of natives, and those who have resided in Wilton, who were college graduates, or entered one of the learned professions, or were authors, editors, or teachers.

A list is also appended of ladies who themselves or whose husbands belonged to one of these classes. The list may not be complete, but still is of great value :

David Lambert (Y. C., 1761).

Deacon Matthew Marvin (Y. C., 1785), died 1842. He was the son of Matthew Marvin, and the sixth in descent from Matthew Marvin, one of the first settlers of Norwalk.

Rev. David Belden (Y. C., 1785), died 1832. Took orders in the Episcopal Church. Afterwards engaged in farming, and resided in the upper part of Pimpe- waug.

Rev. Zachariah Lewis and Rev. Isaac Lewis, D.D. (twin sons of Rev. Isaac Lewis, D.D.), born Jan. 1, 1773, graduated at Yale, 1794; useful and honored in many ways. (See Sprague's " Annals," vol. i. p. 666.) Zachariah died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1840 ; Isaac died in New York, Sept. 23, 1854.

Prof. Moses Stuart (Y. C., 1799), died 1852. He was born in 1780, in the house now owned and occu- pied by Abijah M. Jones, the son of Isaac and Olive Stuart. He read books with eagerness when four years old, but remained a farmer's boy with no thought of college till, at fourteen, a thirst for knowl- edge was manifest which neither toil nor years could quench. He went to Norwalk, made rapid progress in the rudiments of Latin and French, and was fitted for the Sophomore class by Roger Minot Sherman, who had the preceding year been a tutor at Yale. He graduated with the highest honor in the class of 1799; afterwards he taught in what was North Fair- field, and in Danbury ; studied law, was admitted to the bar at Danbury in 1802; became tutor at Yale from 1802 to 1804. There and afterwards he showed almost unsurpassed skill in awakening the enthu- siasm of young men in their studies. But here the Spirit of the Lord met him and he heard the call which Paul heard,-to preach the gospel. He united with the College Church and studied theology with Dr. Dwight. His first and only settlement was as pastor of the First Church in New Haven. It was an era (those almost four years of his pastorate are yet remembered there) during which above one hundred and seventy (170) were added to the church by pro- fession. His successor, Rev. Dr. N. W. Taylor, forty years later, spoke in the highest terms of his power as a preacher, reckoning him second to none in this country. In 1810 he was wanted, as professor of He- brew and Greek, in the new Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass. "We cannot spare him," said onc of the Yale faculty to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Spring, of Newburyport, who had come to New Haven to get Mr. Stuart's assent to the plan. "We want no mall who can be spared," was Dr. Spring's reply.

He went to Andover, as he himself said, with small knowledge of Hebrew, and of Greek grammar less than many a student who this year enters college. In two years he had prepared a Hebrew grammar, and, as there was no printer who understood the business, he was obliged to set a part of the types with his own hands.

Rev. William Belden (Y. C., 1803), died 1861; born July 16, 1781; son. of Azor Belden. From 1812. to 1821 he was pastor at Greenfield, and teacher there and afterwards at Fairfield; also, in 1824 to 1843, in New York City. Resided in Brooklyn, 1858 to 1861.

Benjamin Belden, M.D., son of Azor Belden; phy- sician, New York City.

Lewis Belden, M.D. (Princeton, 1811) ; physician, New York City ; died 1831 ; son of Azor Belden.

Charles Belden, M.D. (Princeton, 1812) ; son of

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Azor Belden ; teacher ; died in New York about fifty years ago.

Ebenezer Seeley, son of Ebenezer (Y. C., 1814) ; born April 6, 1793; lawyer, many years in New Haven ; afterwards in New York, where he died, Jan. 23, 1866.

Hawley Olmstead, LL.D. (Y. C., 1816), died 1868. Isaac M. Sturges (Union, 1817), died 1850; son of Ezekiel Sturges; lived a fariner at Wilton, and died July 15, 1850, aged sixty-two years.

David Hull Belden, son of Rev. David Belden; lawyer at Newtown; State's attorney; died a few years since.

Deacon Charles Marvin (Y. C., 1823), son of Dea- con Matthew Marvin; farmer, banker, several times member of the Legislature, and bank commissioner.

Rev. Stephen Hubbell (Y. C., 1826), son of Nathan and Sarah Hubbell; ordained at Mount Carmel, May 18, 1830; dismissed 1836; installed at Wolcottville, Feb. 29, 1837; dismissed Sept. 29, 1839; pastor at East Avon, Dec. 31, 1849, to July 1, 1853; pastor at North Stonington, Aug. 17, 1853, to April 6, 1869; pastor at Long Ridge, 1869 to Oct. 28, 1873; resides at Mount Carmel, Conn.

Deacon Ira Gregory, M.D. (Yale Medical School, 1.829), son of Moses and Abigail Gregory ; born Jan. 31, 1804; practiced medicine at Moriches, Long Island, 1829-40, and at Norwalk, 1840-72; deacon in the First Church at Norwalk for many years; died Sept. 2, 1872.

Deacon James Betts.

David Lambert (Trinity, 1836); lawyer, editor; died 1849.

Isaac M. Sturges, son of Erastus Sturges; was a lawyer; deceased.

Rev. Samuel J. M. Merwin (Y. C., 1839).

William C. Betts, M.D. (Yale Med. School, 1843), son of David Betts; physician in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; died 1871.

Rev. Levi Wakeman, son of William ; not a native, but from early life a resident of Wilton; learned a trade with Alfred Mallory, at Norwalk; studied in New Haven; entered the ministry (Baptist) about thirty years ago; preached in Stepney, West Wood- stock, and New Hartford; is a resident of Stamford, Conn.

Lewis R. Hurlbutt, M.D. (Y. C., 1843), son of John and Elizabethi (Ogden) Hurlbutt; principal of Bacon Academy, Colchester, 1843-45; grammar-school, Hartford, 1845-47; tutor in Yale College, 1847-50; physician and surgeon.

Charles Jones (Y. C., 1843), son of Capt. Jolin Jones; teacher in Wilton Academy, 1843-44; mem- ber of Legislature of Connecticut, 1844; lawyer, New York City ; residence, Brooklyn.

Rev. John H. Betts (Trinity, 1844), son of Capt. Ira Betts; rector in the Episcopal Church in New Hartford and elsewhere.

Deacon Edward Olmstead (Y. C., 1845).

Rev. Samuel G. Willard (Y. C., 1846), son of Dr. David and Abby (Gregory) Willard; ordained pastor at Willimantic, Nov. 8, 1849; dismissed Sept. 8, 1868; installed pastor at Colchester, Sept. 23, 1868; mem- ber of Y. C. corporation, 1867.

Sylvester D. Willard, M. D. (Albany Med. College, 1847), son of Dr. David and Abby (Gregory ) Willard ; born June 19, 1825, secretary of the New York State Medical Society, 1857-65; practicing physician at Albany, N. Y .; surgeon-general, 1865; dicd April 2, 1865; aided to found the Willard Asylum for the In- sane at Ovid, N. Y., which was named from him.

Theodore Benjamin, son of George, grandson of Dr. Abram Chichester; born about 1825; removed to Rochester, N. Y., about 1832; reported to have entered the ministry.

Jolın A. Betts, M.D. (Yale Med. School, 1848), son of David Betts; brother of Deacon James Betts; practicing physician at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he now resides.

Roger S. Olmstead, M.D. (Yale Med. School, 1849), sou of Hon. Hawley Olmstead; entered Yale; studied medicine ; practiced in Brooklyn, N. Y .; resides now in Omaha, Neb.

N. Marvin Belden (Trinity, 1849), son of John A. Belden, grandson of Rev. David Belden and of Na- than Marvin ; tutor in Trinity.

Rev. Henry L. Hubbell (Y. C., 1854), eldest son of Deacon Wakeman and Julia Lynes Hubbell ; or- dained at Amherst, Mass., April 24, 1861; dismissed April 5, 1865.

Rev. James W. Hubbell (Y. C., 1857), son of Deacon W. and Julia L. Hubbell ; ordained at Milford, Sept. 21, 1864; dismissed June 1, 1868 ; installed June 10, 1868, College Street Church, New Haven.

Eugene Smithi (Y. C., 1859), son of Matthew and Mary A. (Davenport) Smith; born in New York City ; resided in Wilton most of the time until after graduation ; lawyer; resides in New York City.

Coley James entered Trinity, 1857 ; did not gradu- ate; received A.M. from Trinity, 1869.

Jolin Henry Hurlbutt entered Trinity in 1858, class of 1862, and left June, 1860.

Bela St. Jolın, M.D., son of Bela St. John, practiced dentistry several years in Danbury.

George Fillow, son of Seth Fillow, graduate of State Normal School ; teacher in Hartford several years.

Samuel T. Jones, son of John and Mary (Thorp) Jones, born Dec. 20, 1834; lawyer iu New York. 1855-1873; clerk of United States District Court ; United States commissioner ; died Dee. 24, 1873.

Samuel H. Olmstead, M.D. (Yale Medical School, 1861), son of Hawley Olmstead; in practice of medi- cine and surgery at Brooklyn, N. Y.

J. B. Hurlbutt, son of John Hurlbutt, Jr. : lawyer ; office in Norwalk ; acting school visitor in Wilton.

Rev. Jolin Gaylord Davenport (Williams, 1863), son of Charles A. and Sarah (Gaylord) Davenport ; pastor.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Rev. Lewis Gregory (Y. C., 1864), son of Charles and Harriet (Clark) Gregory, grandson of Moses; ordained Oct. 15, 1868; pastor, West Amesbury, Mass .; dismissed 1875, to go to Lincoln, Neb.

Clarenee L. Westeott (Y. C., 1864), son of George B. and Arethusa (Lineolu) Westcott; lawyer, New York City.

Charles F. Morgan, M.D. (Y. C. Medical School, 1866), son of Charles A. and Eleeta B. Morgan.

Samuel Keeler (Y. C., 1867), son of Legrand W. and Catharine (Loekwood) Keeler; lawyer, New York City.

Strong Comstoek (Y. C., 1867), son of Capt. James and Harrict (Betts) Comstock; teacher Walton, N. Y.

Gordon Hall, A.B. (Amherst, about 1869), son of Rev. Gordon Hall, D.D .; banker, Northampton, Mass.

Daniel Davenport (Y. C., 1873), son of Judge George A. and Mary (Sturgess) Davenport ; lawyer, Bridgeport.

Timothy Davenport (Y. C., 1875), brother of Daniel.

Benjamin Davenport, brother of preceding, and a member for a time of class of 1875, Y. C .; lawyer, Washington, D. C.

David R. Lambert, son of Samuel Lambert, and member for a time of elass of 1875, Y. C.

Samuel E. Morgan, M.D. (Yale College Medieal Sehool, 1875), son of Charles A. and Eleeta B. Mor- gan.

Charles Gilbert (W. C., 1876), son of Deaeon Bena- jah and Fanny (Keeler) Gilbert.

I. Chauncey Sturges (graduated at Berkley Divinity School, Middletown, 1876), son of J. Randall Sturges.

Frederie D. Benedict (two years at Y. C., in elass of 1867 ; Danville Theological Seminary, Kentucky ), son of I. Newton and Emily (Keeler) Benediet.

Susan Comstoek (Mrs. Requa), daughter of Strong ; missionary of Ameriean Board in 1822 to Osage In- dians ; married Rev. William C. Requa.

Ann Hubbell (Mrs. Dr. Nash), daughter of Nathan Hubbell, married Mr. Burr, of Fairfield, who died early. One son, George William Burr, member for a time of the class of 1846, Y. C .; afterwards a law- yer in New York, who died about 1860; married Dr. William B. Nash, Bridgeport, who died in 1873.

Jane Belden (Mrs. Booth), daughter of Rev. David Belden, married Reuben Booth (Y.C., 1816), lawyer; Lieutenant-Governor of Conneetieut ; resided in Dan- bury ; died 1844.

Abby Gregory (Mrs. Dr. Willard), daughter of Moses; born April 20, 1797 ; married Dr. David Wil- lard, Dee. 22, 1818; died Jan. 3, 1857.

Henrictta Belden (Mrs. Dr. Stone), daughter of Col. William and Mrs. Becca Belden ; married Dr. Stone and went South; both died early.

Maria Hubbell (Mrs. Dr. Lewis), daughter of Na- than Hubbell; married Dr. Lewis, of Brockport, N. Y.

Harriet Cannon (Mrs. Todd), daughter of George

Cannon ; married, about 1834, Rev. Charles Todd, rector of the Episcopal Church in Wilton ; she died in Huntington, Conn., 1849.

Esther M. Taylor, daughter of Levi Taylor; about 1838 married Dr. Ambrose L. White, surgeon U.S. A .; died 1876.

Louisa Jessup (Mrs. Gunning), daughter of Wil- liam and Naney (Odell) Jessup ; graduate of Rutgers Institute; teaeher in New York ; married, about 1844, Dr. Thomas B. Gunning, dental surgeon, New York.

Elizabeth Jessup (Mrs. Reed), daughter of Wil- liam ; married James Reed, editor of the Norwalk Gazette, and now, for many years, editor of the Ash- tabula Telegraph, Ohio.

Emily Jessup, daughter of William, graduate of Mount Holyoke; was several years assistant teacher there, and now oceupies the position of first assistant in the Western Female Seminary, Oxford, Ohio.

Charlotte Betts (Mrs. Barnum), sister Deaeon James Betts; teaeher; married Rev. Samuel W. Barnum (Y. C., 1841), who was ordained Jan. 25, 1853; pas- tor, Massachusetts, to 1862; editor "Abridgment Smith's Bible Dietionary," and other works.

Mary Randle (Mrs. Willard), daughter of Samuel P. and Sally (Hyatt) Randle; born June 8, 1821; studied at Wilton Academy and Utica (N. Y.) Fe- male Seminary ; married Rev. S. G. Willard, Nov. 14, 1849; dicd at Willimantic, May 15, 1853.

Clara A. Willard, daughter of Dr. David W .; born Feb. 4, 1823; studied in Wilton and Bridgeport; teacher of private and family sehool twenty years or more in Wilton ; author of " Nellie Greyson," "Fifty Years Ago," and other works; died at Norwalk, Feb. 15, 1876.

Elizabeth Willard (Mrs. L. J. Curtis), daughter of Dr. David W. ; married, April 2, 1850, James G. Row- land (Y. C., 1846), who opened a family school for boys in Kent, and died Aug. 20, 1853. Mrs. Rowland continued the school, and taught till 1864. Oct. 20, 1864, she married Lewis J. Curtis, of Norwalk.

Mary Willard (Mrs. Salmou C. Gillett), daughter of Dr. David W .; studied in New Haven ; teacher for years.

Susan Willard (Mrs. Mix), daughter of David W .; taught for a time; May 1, 1860, married Rev. El- bridge Mix (Williams College, 1854) ; he was assist- ant to the Rev. Dr. Hastings (New York), 1860-61; pastor in Burlington, Vt., 1862 to Aug. 20, 1867 ; pas- tor First Church in Orange, N. J., 1867.

Elizabeth Middlebrook (Mrs. Hill), daughter of Col. George M .; married, 1856, John Hill, M.D., for some years physician and surgeon in Brooklyn, N. Y.

Lueretia Middlebrook (Mrs. Brown), daughter of Col. George M .; married Augustus Brown, lawyer, Ballston, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Brown died early.

Gertrude Middlebrook (Mrs. Turner), daughter of Col. George M., married J. Edward Turner, M.D., the founder and first superintendent of the Bing- hampton Asylum for Inebriates.

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WILTON.

Harriet Fitch (Mrs. Gregory), daughter of J. Platt Fiteh .; married Rev. Abel Ogden (Trinity, 1842), some time rector of St. Matthew's Church, Wilton, who died 1854; marricd, second time, to Rev. Luther Gregory, reetor of St. Paul's Church, Huntington, who died about 1863.

Mary W. Gregory (Mrs. Hubbell), daughter of Charles ; married Rev. James W. Hubbell, A.D. 1861.

Alice Westcott (Mrs. J. G. Davenport), daughter of George B., married Rev. Jolın G. Davenport, Bridge- port.

Louisa Randle, daughter of George H. and Caro- line (Lounsbury) Randle ; lady principal seminary, Penn Yan, New York.

Helen Randle (Mrs. Barnum), daughter of George H., graduate of State Normal School; married Rev. Henry S. Barnum (Yale College, 1862), March 10, 1869. Mr. Barnum is in the service of the American Board; they are stationed at Van, Eastern Turkey.

Sarah Randle (Mrs. Steele), daughter of George H .; married, Aug. 2, 1865, to Rev. Jolin B. Steelc, who was ordained Aug. 16, 1865, preached several years in Western New York, and died Nov. 29, 1873, aged thirty-eight years, at Middlebury, Vt.

Janet Holmes (Mrs. Paine), daughter of George Holmes; married Levi L. Paine, D.D. (Y. C., 1856), Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Theological Semi- nary, Bangor, Me.

Mary A. Davenport (Mrs. White), daughter of George A .; married Dr. Charles B. White, surgeon U.S.A., son of Dr. Ambrose L. White, and grandson of Levi Taylor.

Martha Belden (Mrs. Warren), daughter of John A .; married, A.D. 1869, Dr. Warren, of Norwich, Conn., who died some years ago.

Clarina Sturges, daughter of Charles ; graduate of Mount Holyoke ; married.

Josephine Sturges, daughter of Charles ; graduate of Mount Holyoke; married O. A. G. Todd, lawyer, Danbury.

Artemesia Sturges, daughter of Charles ; student for a while at Mount Holyoke; teacher of music.

Jane D. Middlebrook (Mrs. Foote), daugliter of George B .; married Joseph F. Foote, lawyer, Nor- walk.

Elizabeth Middlebrook (Mrs. Barber), daughter of George B .; A.D. 1870, married James W. Barber, M.D., Norwalk.

Francesea Betts (Mrs. Nesbit), daughter of John C .; married Rev. Alexander Nesbit (graduate of N. Y. College), pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Tre- mont, N. Y., who died in 1875.

POSTMASTERS.

The postmasters of Wilton have been as follows : Origin P. Holcomb, Samuel F. Lambert, Joseph P. Fitch, Charles M. Jones, John R. Comstock, William A. Sturgis, Henry Walton, Edward L. Keeler, George K. Gilbert, Albert Seymour, Charles H. Betts.

BURYING-GROUNDS.

The oldest burying-ground is located near the resi- dence of Sherman Morehouse, in Kent.

The next oldest is what is known as Hillside Ceme- tery. It was dedicated to the Congregational Church in 1816, and still belongs to that society.

There is also a cemetery near St. Matthew's Church belonging to that parish. There is also one at Zion's Hill and at Bald Hill.

THIE LADIES' HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

This useful association was organized in 1836, and September 14th of that year held its first meeting at the house of Wakeman Hubbell, the following ladies being present : Mrs. William Belden, Mrs. Harriet (Charles) Gregory, Miss Susan Merwin (Mrs. George I. Wood), Miss Maria Randle (Mrs. William Ogden), Miss Mary Cole, Miss Jane Munroe, Miss Jane E. St. John (Mrs. Cyrus Raymond), Miss Susan Hoyt, Miss Susan Comstock, Miss Mary E. Comstock (Mrs. Lewis Keeler), Miss Mary Middlebrook (Mrs. Harris), Miss Louise Jessup (Mrs. Thomas B. Gunning).

The presidents of the association have been as fol- lows : Mrs. Mathew Marvin, Mrs. S. G. Willard, Mrs. Wakeman Hubbell, and Mrs. Merwin, the present president.

The first secretary and treasurer was Miss Clara M. Gregory, the present incumbent. Mrs. Helen Com- stock was secretary and treasurer many years.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first reference in the old records to schools appears under date of December, 1728, as follows: "A meeting of the society of Wilton parish, Dec. 9, 1728, the said society did agree, by a major vote, to get up a school in said parish.

" At the same meeting the society, by a major vote, made elvoice of Lieut. Ketelmum, Joseph Birchard, and Samuel Betts a committee for to look after and set up a school or schools in said parish."

" At a meeting of the said society of Wilton, on the 10th day of March, Anna Domini 1729, the said society did agree, by a major vote, that they hire the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon for to keep school in said parish for some time."

"March 2, 1730, the society of Wilton did agree, by a major vote, that Kent and Chestnut Hill should have one-third part of the colony money, they keep- ing a school so long as their part will come to."

There were frequent votes concerning the schools. In January, 1792, the parish was divided into nine school districts, as follows: No. 1, Nod; No. 2, Bald Hill; No. 3, Middlebrook Distriet ; No. 4, Drum Hill (Centre District) ; No. 6, Kent ; No. 7, Pimpewang ; No. 8, Chestnut Hill; No. 9, Harry's Ridge. The Kent school-house stood in the triangle east of the Danbury road and south of the old burying-ground (as was customary), near the meeting-house.

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THE WILTON ACADEMY.

The educational interests of Wilton from the begin- ning kept abreast with the rapid strides of progress, and the year 1816 witnessed an important era in the history of the town,-the founding of the Wilton Academy.

Hawley Olmstead, a man worthy to be held in lasting remembrance, graduated from Yale College the foremost scholar of the class of 1816 .* He de-) signed to study law, but a failure of his eyes in college induced him to open a school as an experiment. Dartmouth College had its origin in a small school- building yet standing in Columbia, Conn. The Wil- ton Academy was opened in 1816 in a small building, afterwards for many years used by the late Nathan Comstock as a store. It was soon seen that the young teacher had rare gifts for his office. Before entering college he had tauglit a district school, and, as assist- ant pupil, had aided Rev. William Belden,-himself a Wilton man,-at that time pastor in Greenfield and principal of its academy. An academy building was erected in 1820. The land upon which the academy was built was given "for the advancement of litera- ture and science, and especially for the good will I have and bear to the Presbyterian Society of Wilton," by Nathan Comstock, to " David Willard, Samuel Comstock (2d), and Lewis Gregory, committee of the Presbyterian Society of Wilton, for the time being, and to their successors in office forever." The land given was sixty-five feet front and seventy deep. The land was to be used only for the erection of a build- ing or buildings for "a school of higher order, and for religious and singing meetings," "which school, kept in said house, is to be under the direction of the clergyman of the Presbyterian Society, for the time being, and his successors in office, and the preceptor of the school; and in case of the society's being vacant or destitute of a clergyman, to be under the direction of the committee of said society." The date of the deed is March 25, 1820. Mention is made that the school at that time was in Mr. Comstock's store. The witnesses arc Sylvanus Haight and Mat- thew Marvin. The decd is acknowledged before Matthew Marvin, justice of the peace, and is evi- dently in his handwriting.

The academy building stood south of the road, between the present site of the town-house and the parsonage. About the year 1832 it was removed to a spot a little northeast of the present chapel. The old building was sold, about 1870, to William A. Sturges,

aud stands near the post-office. Mr. Haight, with his usual enthusiasm, aided to publish the excellencies of the teacher and to procure pupils from abroad. The two first pupils fitted here for college-Nathaniel Bou- ton and Jared B. Waterbury-have long been among the most honored and useful ministers of their genera- tion. Each received the degree of D.D. many years since. Dr. Bouton, for forty years pastor of the church iu Concord, N. H., is recognized as the historian of that State. The school so prospered that after four and a half years Mr. Olmstead was persuaded to re- move to Norwalk. His health became impaired, and three years later he returned to Wilton to rest and engage in agriculture. He also heard private pupils. At the end of two and a half years, in 1826, he again opened his school, at first in the academy, and when the town-hall was built, a few years after, in the upper room of that building. There he continued thirteen years, with no public examination, no private circulars, no advertisement, and yet uniformly a full attendance of pupils. When lie left Wilton, in 1839, to become rector of the Hopkins Grammar-School in New Haven,-an institution forty years older than the college,-he had had pupils from nearly, or quite, every State in the Union, and from several foreign countries. Some of the Christian young men, whose names are yet held in loving remembrance here, had made them- selves very useful in the Sabbath-school and in social religious meetings.t

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 208

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572