History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 213

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 213

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The Rev. Mr. Corson, besides teaching as principal of the academy, was also hired for the year to supply the desk and pulpit of Trinity church. Iu 1880, Mr. Corson was living in Michigan at a very advanced age.

In the spring of 1841 the Rev. Thomas T. Guion, who had previously graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, was called to the charge of the academy. The number of pupils was still further diminished, and yet the rooms were even now comfortably filled.

I should have sooner mentioned that during Mr. Foote's administration there was quite a number of students from several of the Southern States, particu- larly from Virginia ; and as many as fifteen of these remained during the year that Mr. Corson taught. But very few of these attended the school under Mr. Guion.

However, the school opened very pleasantly, and so continued for more than half of the year. In the summer of this year, I think in August, we lost one of our mates by death. Andrew J. Jarvis, with a number of others, had walked to Taunton Pond, now known as Fountain Lake, a distance of about a mile and a half, and while heated and perspiring went into the water to swim. The exposure resulted in an attack of acute erysipelas of the head, and after an illness of a few days his life closed, at the age of eighteen years. Poor Jarvis was kindly cared for, but he died far from home and kindred. He was buried in Newtown Cemetery.

In the following winter two opposing dancing- schools were opened, one at each of the hotels, at the north and south ends of Main Street. Mr. Guion did not think it proper or profitable that the atten- tion of his pupils should be distracted by such exer- cises and associations. He therefore notified the young people of the school and the parents of some of them that they could not continue pupils of the academy and attend either of the dancing-schools. But the spirit of old Adam was aroused. Probably half the students, perhaps more than half, decided to cultivate the graces of their heels rather than of their heads and their hearts. In consequence of this un- fortunate revolt the attendance was at onee reduced to a minimum, not more than thirty or thirty-five of us remaining. Small as it was, however, the little company of the faithful continued on through the term which closed the school year. Mr. Guion was an excellent and most lovable man. His health had

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SUPPLEMENT.

been impaired by a severe cold, and this unexpected and uncalled-for trouble laid him by sick for several days.

Mr. Guion preached a number of years in Danbury and Bethel, and was at length called as rector of St. John's Church, Brooklyn. While here he received the degree of doctor of divinity. He was an ener- getic man and a hard worker in the cause of his Di- vine Master. In the midst of his usefulness . he was disabled by sickness, and after lingering many months he, like Mr. Foote, one of his predecessors in the academy, died of ramollissement.

Succeeding Mr. Gnion in the spring of 1842, Mr. Charles W. Wooster, another graduate of Trinity College, took charge of the sehool. Mr. Wooster had recently taken a wife from a family in Waterbury. Mrs. Wooster was an educated and accomplished lady, and came to Newtown with her husband to take charge of the female department. Her health proved insufficient to the labor and care incumbent upon her as teacher, and Miss Caroline Tudor, of Hartford (now the wife of Dr. Platt, of Waterbury), was .cn- gaged in her place. Mrs. Wooster had been in feeble health for months before removing to Newtown, and she declined rapidly after leaving the school, and died in June of that year. Her remains were taken to Waterbury for interment, and a number of the older pupils from both departments of the school made up a portion of the funeral procession. The school was not so large as it had been in its earlier years, yet there were as many as eighty different students during the year.

With the opening of the next school year, in 1843, Mr. Wooster continued with the same staff of assist- ants as during the preceding. A few of the older pupils still continued, but most of the newcomers were of more tender years. Of the Southern scholars, only one was left. The material in Newtown had been pretty thoroughly used except from the younger class, and, in fact, the academy had ceased to be a new thing, had lost prestige abroad, and with the close of the academic year it was closed for some time.

The Rev. D. P. Sanford made an effort to revive an interest in the neighboring towns as well as in Newtown, but did not meet with the success he had hoped for, and gave over the attempt.

After a time a select school was opened in one of the rooms by Mr. Elizur Keeler, a resident of the village. He continued for a year or more, and since then others have taught with varying success for longer or shorter periods. But the glory of its carly days had departed for the time, and until it was taken in hand by Rev. J. P. Hoyt, of the Congrega- tional Church, a few years ago. Mr. Hoyt has the reputation of teaching an excellent school and employs several assistants. It seems now as if some of the old-time prosperity must return, although it is hardly probable that the building will ever accommo-

date such a company as it did during the first years of its existence.

The following is a list of the teachers and officers in 1843: Charles W. Wooster, A.B., Principal; S. J. B. Dibble, Assistant; Caroline Tudor, Preceptress; Lewis T. Downs, Teacher of Music; Trustees, David V. B. Baldwin, David H. Beklen, Josiah B. Fairchild, Charles Fairman, Charles Blakeslee ; Josiah Sanford, Chairman ; Charles Clarke, Secretary.

HIRAM LODGE, NO. 18, F. AND A. M.,

was organized by virtue of a charter derived from the Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut, dated Jan. 6, 1791. The lodge continued in good working order for a number of years, till np as far as 1832, when there appears to have been a decline in its pros- perity, which continued until the year 1848, when it ceased to work. It was a long time before Masonry revived in Newtown,-not until the years 1860-66, when a decided reaction took place. Perhaps one of the great incentives to this was the war which was about to be and was fought during these years. Two new lodges had been organized,-one at Bethel and one at Monroe, and to which numbers were added from Newtown, and from whom originated the idea of reviving the old lodge. A petition was presented to the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of Connec- ticut for a renewal of the old charter by the following- named brethren : From Eureka Lodge, No. 83, Bethel, Conn., Julius Sanford, Wmn. L. Horr, George Woffen- den, Scofield C. Lamb, Smith P. Glover, Wm. E. Akley, Aaron Sanford ; from Monroe Lodge, No. 93, Monroe, Conn., Augustus Warner, G. A. Hongh; from Montgomery Lodge, No. 13, Salisbury, Conn., James A. Wilson ; Win. C. Perkins, Roxbury, Mass., who rec- ommend Bro. Julius Sanford as first W. Master, Bro. Wm. L. Horr as first Senior Warden, and Bro. George Woffenden as first Junior Warden of said lodge. This petition was granted by the Grand Lodge at its an- nual communication, held in May, 1866, at New Haven.

The following officers were publicly installed June 25, 1866, by M. W. Chauncy M. Hatch, Deputy Grand Master: Julius Sanford, W. M .; Wm. L. Horr, S. W .; George Woffenden, J. W .; Smith P. Glover, Treas. ; James A. Wilson, Sec. ; Scofield C. Lamb, Chaplain ; Win. E. Akley, S. D .; G. A. Hongh, J. D.

The following are the Masters to date: 1867. Wm. L. Horr; 1868, George Woffenden; 1869, George Woffenden ; 1870, Clark H. Lockwood; 1871, Wm. I. Sanford ; 1872, Charles Webster ; 1873, Rev. Wm. N. Akley ; 1874, James A. Wilson ; 1875, James A. Wil- son ; 1876, John L. Sanford; 1877. Wm. I. Sanford; 1878, Win. I. Sanford ; 1879, Somers D. Croffiitt.

The present officers are as follows: Somers D. Crof- futt, W. M .; Daniel H. Botsford. S. W .; George Winton, J. W .; Wm. I. Sanford, Sec. ; James M. Blackman, Treas. ; Charles H. Payne, S. D. : Arthur S. Wells, J. D .; John L. Sanford, Tiler.

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878

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

HIRAM CHAPTER,

located at Newtown, was the first chartered body of Royal Arch Masons in the State. Its charter was granted by Washington Chapter, of New York City, and was dated April 29, A.D. 1791, signed by Josiah O. Hoffman, H. P. W. C. R. A. N .; George Author. H. P. W. C. R. A. N .; Martin Hoffman, S. P. W. C, R. A. N.

The first session was held at Newtown, Conn., the 29th of April, 1791, and the following officers were installed : Andrew Bcers, H. P. ; David Baldwin, K. ; Oliver Peek, S. Rceords are missing until Sept. 29, 1806, at which time the following are the three first officers : David Baldwin, H. P .; S. C. Blaekman, K .; Solomon Glover, S.

Election was held this eve, and the following officers were elected : David Baldwin, H. P .; Samuel C. Blaekman, K .; Luther Harris, S.

The present officers of the chapter are as follows : James M. Blaekman, H. P .; James A. Wilson, K .;

Phil. G. Niehols, S .; Wm. I. Sanford, C. H .; John L. Sanford, P. S .; George Woffenden, R. A. C .; S. D. Croffutt, M. 3d V .; Chas. Payne, M. 2d V .; Ammon Taylor, M. 1st V.

HIGH PRIESTS FROM 1807 TO 1880.

David Baldwin, 1807, 1809; Samuel C. Blaekman, 1810-15, 1817-18, 1827 ; Mareus Botsford, 1816; Tim- othy Shepard, 1819-22; Daniel Blaekman, 1823-24, 1829 ; John R. Wildman, 1825-26 ; Alex. Hall, 1828- 30, 1833-35 ; Chauneey M. Hatch, 1831; Geo. Woffen- den, 1870-71, 1877-78; Wm. I. Sanford, 1872, 1874, 1876 ; Henry L. Wheeler, 1873 ; James M. Blackman, 1875-79.

A session ofthe Grand Lodge was held in Newtown, Jan. 17, 1791.

In 1835 the chapter seems to have eeased to work, or at least the records are missing until May 10, 1870, when the Grand Chapter of Connecticut revised or constituted a new chapter known as Hiram No. 1.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 213

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