History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

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 57


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At the same meeting it was also voted "to have one committeeman in each School District to procure clothing for their quota of men in the Continental Army, viz., Major Taylor, Silas Hamilton, Justus Barnum, Elisha Dibble, Nathaniel Starr, Benjamin Dunning, Matthew Dilks, Nathaniel Gregory, Na- thaniel Benedict, Thomas Stevens, Theophilus Bene- dict, Daniel Wood, Andrew Comstock, Ephraim Barnum, and James Scely."


At said meeting it was also voted "that the Select- ' men draw money of the Collector to pay for the afore- said Articles and give him their obligation therefor."


Then "the meeting by vote adjourned to the 29th Day of December next at nine of the Clock in the morning. Test, Major Taylor, Clerk."


THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING AFTER THE BRITISH INVASION.


The first town-mecting held after the burning of the town at which town officers were chosen was on Dec. 15, 1777, when the following officers were elected :


Constables .- Comfort Hoyt, Jr., and to collect the county-rate, Thomas Taylor and Justus Barnum.


Grand Jurors .- Zadock Benedict, Eliphalet Bar- num, Andrew Comstock.


Seleetmen .- Major Taylor, David Hickok, David Boughton, Elijah Hoyt, Ezra Dibble, Jr., Capt. Con- fort Hoyt, Joseph Benedict.


Listers .- Benjamin Hickok, Oliver Benedict, David Wood, Daniel Comstock, Jonas Benedict, Nathaniel Starr, Paul Hamilton.


Tythingmen .- Joshua Knapp, Ebenezer Picket, Jr., Nathaniel Gregory, Joseph Elmorc, Ezra Dibble, Matthew Starr.


Surveyors of Highways .- Comfort Hoyt, Jr., Jo- seph Wildman, David Boughton, Jr., Eliakim Starr, Samucl Benedict (4th), Timothy Benedict, Ebenezer Hickok, Joseph Starr, John McLean, Alexander Stuart, Samuel Nichols, Samuel Stevens, Lemuel Linly, Eleazer Benedict, Eli Segar, B. Knapp, Thad-


227


DANBURY.


deus Brownson, Lemuel Wood, Jr., Benjamin Stevens, Jr., Samuel Sturdevant, and David Weed.


Fence- Viewers .- Daniel Hoyt, Thaddeus Barnum, Caleb Church, Josiah Vining, Nathaniel Hoyt, Matthew Barnum.


Sealer of Weights .- Jared Patchen.


Sealer of Leather .- Joseph Benedict.


Sealers of Measures .- Ezra Dibble, Thaddeus Brown- son.


Pound-Keeper .- Daniel Church.


THE BOROUGH OF DANBURY.


The charter of the borough of Danbury was granted upon the application of Moss White and others at the May session of the Legislature in 1822. The first borough-meeting was held at the court-house, Wed- nesday, June 26, 1822, when the following offieers were elected : Darius Starr, Clerk; Daniel B. Cook, Warden; Samuel Tweedy, Moss White, Elijah Greg- ory, David Foot, Samuel Wildman, Willan Patch, Burgesses; Alanson Hamlin, Treasurer ; Matthew Curtis, Bailiff.


At a meeting held July 5, 1822, S. P. Clark, Sam- uel C. Dibble, John Foot were appointed haywards.


At a special borough-meeting held May 8, 1823, Reuben Booth was appointed agent to oppose the pe- tition of Comfort Hoyt and others praying the Gen- eral Assembly to repeal the whole or in part the re- solve incorporating the borough of Danbury. .


The following is a list of the wardens and clerks from its incorporation to 1880:


WARDENS.


1822-23, 1826-31, D. B. Cooke; 1824-25, 1838-39, Samuel Wildman; 1832-35, Eli T. Hoyt; 1836-37, Chandler Smith ; 1840-41, Samuel Tweedy ; 1842-43, Edward Taylor; 1844-45, Elias S. Sanford; 1846-48, 1850, 1852, Samuel W. Jennings ; 1849, Oliver Stone ; 1851, 1854-55, Stephen A. Hurlburt; 1853, David B. Booth; 1856, Ezra P. Bennett; 1857, Samuel Mal- lory ; 1858-59, Wm. H. Tweedy ; 1860, Geo. E. Cow- perwait; 1861, Wm. T. Lacey ; 1862-65, J. Amsbury ; 1866-68, 1874, Edward S. Davis; 1869-73, 1878, Oli- ver P. Clark; 1875-77, 1879, James Fry ; 1880, Levi P. Treadwell.


CLERKS.


Rotation in office does not seem to have been the rule so far as the office of borough clerk is concerned, for there have been but five from the incorporation of the borough, in 1822, to the present time, viz. :


1822-38, Dana Starr; 1839-71, W. P. Comstoek ; 1871-74, 1876-77, A. B. Hull; 1875, 1880, A. C. Seeley ; 1878-79, W. T. St. John.


EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS, ETC. DANBURY.


The following is a copy of the title-page of an al- manac published here in 1792 :


THE FARMER'S DIARY; OR, THE


UNITED STATES ALMANACK For the Year of our Lord Christ


1792. Being Bissextile or Leap Year,


And 16th Year of American Independence till Ju'y 4 :


Calculated for the Meridian of DANBURY, in the STATE of CONNECTI- CUT, Lat. 41º 51' north, Lon. 72º 54' west ; but will serve indifferently for any of the adjacent States.


CONTAINING, besides all that is usual and necessary, many things which are unusual and not necessary,-things which were never before published and probably never will be again,-which, if not read within a year, will be nowhere to be found but in an old Almanack the last resort of superannuated rubbish.


BY JOSEPII LELAND, PHILOM.


Published in Danbury. By DOUGLASS & ELY; and sold Whole- sale and Retail at their Printing-Office.


In the Farmers' Journal, Jan. 18, 1791, Timothy Taylor announces the dissolution of the firm of Cooke & Taylor.


In the same issue, an advertisement of a "Scheme of a Lottery for the purpose of extending and im- proving the Woolen Manufactory in the city of Hart- ford."


Joseph Clark "informs his customers and others that he continues the business of clock- and watch- making at his shop in Danbury."


Eliakim Peck advertises an " ax-manufactory," and " warrants his axes to be as good as any ever made in this country."


Carrington & Mygatt state that they have " molasses for sale cheap;" John Dodd will give the "highest price for Continental Loan-Office Notes, etc. ; " and Eliakim Benedict, Jr., will pay the "highest price for all kinds of hatting-furs at his shop, a few rods from the church in Danbury."


The following advertisement also appears :


To be sold: Twenty years' time of a likely NEGRO Box, five years old. Inquire of the Printers.


Danbury, Dec. 21, 1790.


The "institution" of slavery was not unknown among the good people of Danbury, for under date March 1, 1791, appears the following notice :


TO BE SOLD. TWO NEGRO SERVANTS, VIZ .:


A man and woman. The man is an able and willing fellow, well ac- quainted with farming business, and is exceeding handy with a team. The wench, his wife, is neat, and understands all manner of house work. Any person desirous of purchasing the above-mentioned ser- vants may call on the Printers for further information.


March 1, 1791.


ADVERTISEMENTS OF 1792.


The following advertisements appeared in the Farmers' Journal of Dec. 22, 1792:


228


HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


The SUBSCRIBERS to the DANBURY LIBRARY,


RE requested to meet at the houfe of Mr. Fairchild White, on A Tuefday evening, the firft of January next, prepared to pay in the amount of their Subfcriptions, and tranfact the neceffary bufinefs of the Company.


TIMOTHY LANGDON, ) Com- NATHAN DOUGLAS, mit-


LAZARUS BEACH, tee.


Danbury, Dec. 1, 1792.


O. BURR, & Co.


Have juft received the following articles, which they will fell on the loweft terms for cafh or country produce, and all forts of yarn, rags, thrums, &c. paid in hand, as it is not their with to fell on credit : Twill'd and plain Coatings.


Ladies ditto.


St. Croix Rum, Brown and Loaf Sugar, Gin, by the cafe,


Scarlet &. other colored Cloths.


Wildbores, Camblets,


Boltea Tea,


Twill'd & plain Velvets,


Pepper, Alfpice,


Linnens,


Ginger, Allum,


Cambricks and Muffins, Callicoes and Chintfes,


Copperas,


Iod. 8d. & 4d. Nails,


Together with a variety of other articles of Dry Goods: Alfo an affort- ment of SADDLERY AND HARD WARE, and CAMEL's HAIR, FOR HATTERS. The higheft price given for MUSKRAT, CAT, & RABBIT SKINS. Danbury, Nov. 15, 1792. 4I


CARRINGTON and MYGATT, Have entered into partnerfhip with NAJAH TAYLOR, in the GOLD and SILVER-SMITH BUSINESS, Under the firm of Mygatt, Taylor, & Co.


W THERE may be had any work in that line, on the moft reafonable terms, and made in the neweft and moft approved fafhions and neateft manner.


CASH paid for Old Silver, Brafs and Copper.


Danbury, December 8, 1792. 44


N. B. A good workman at CLOCKS, will meet with good encour- agement at faid fhop.


NOAH HOYT, jun.


H AS a large and beautiful ftore of GOODS on hand. Said Hoyt wifhes to purchafe 1,000 runs of LINEN and TOW YARN, for which nine pence per run will be given for linen yarn, and fix pence per run for tow yarn.


1 All kinds of HATTING FUR will be received in payment for Goods.


Danbury, Nov. 24, 1792. 42


T HOSE perfons who are indebted to the Subfcribers on Note or Book (whofe accounts are become due by agreement) will do well to notice this advertifement, and call and fettle (or at leaft make fome pay) in order to prevent coft which will pofitively be made in cafe of neglect, without the trouble of writing 3 or 4 Dunning Letters upon the occafiion, All kinds of country produce received in payment at the full value, if not more.


HOG's-BRISTLES taken in at faid Store, and Twenty Shillings per hundred paid in Cafh for COTTON and LINEN RAGS in quantities not lefs than one hundred weight.


CARRINGTON & MYGATT. Who have for Sale, as ufual, An affortment of Goods, Drugs & Medicine, and Painter's and Dyer's Colours, On reafonable terms.


LELAND's ALMANACKS, FOR 1793, FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE.


LOST, laft Monday night, a red and white filk HANDKERCHIEF. Whoever will return it to the Printers, or to Mr. Major Taylor, will oblige a poor Woman, who has nothing but thanks to offer as a reward. Danbury, Dec. 15, 1792.


PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 15. PRICE OF STOCKS.


6 per cents, 20/3.


3 per cents, 12/.


Deferred do. 12/6.


Final fettlements, 20/.


Shares Bank of United States, 36


A LL perfons who owe STATE TAXES to the Subfcriber, are hereby notified, that unlefs they fettle with him within a week from this date, either by giving their notes of hand for the fame, or otherwife making full payment of the ballances due to him, muft depend upon paying him full travelling and levying fees; as he is determined his Rate bills fhall be fully clofed in a very fhort time.


JOSEPH M. WHITE.


Danbury, Dec. 15, 1792. 45 2


A WATCH LOST.


T. OST yefterday, between the top of Elwell's-hill, and the hill by Mr. Oliver Stone's, a filver Watch-maker's name George Clark, a fteel chain, with links and rings, the feal was loft out of its cafe- Whoever fhall find faid Watch, and will deliver it to the Printers hereof, or to Mr. Deforeft, at Elwill's hill, fhall be generoufly rewarded for their trouble.


ELIJAH HAWLEY.


Danbury, Dec. 8, 1792. 44 3


TAYLOR & COOKE,


A NXIOUS to make a fettlement with their cuftomers, without put- ting them to coft, they once more take this method to call upon all perfons indebted to them, either by note or book, whofe accounts have become due by agreement, to make a fettlement by the roth day of January next ; and as the prefent prices of produce cannot with pro- priety be pleaded as a delay of payment, thofe who neglect to make a fettlemert by the time mentioned, muft expect to be put to coft, without further notice. All kinds of merchantable produce will be received in payment, at its full value.


N. B. Cafh, and the higheft price, will be given by them for good WHEAT, PORK, &c. and a generous price for HOG's BRISTLES. Danbury, Dec. 15, 1792. 45


FOR SALE,


T


`HE STORE, formerly occupied by NICHOLS and


DIBBLE .- It ftands in Danbury, in Bethel fociety, about three miles S. E. from the town, on the public road to Fairfield-is an excel- lent ftand for bufiness, and is built convenient for HATTING and TRADING-will be fold with or without the Hatting Tools. For further particulars enquire of ZAR . DIBBLE.


N. B. All thofe indebted to the late partnerfhip of NICHOLS and DIBBLE, either by note or book, muft depend on fettling with them by the Ift day of January next, or their accounts will be put into an At torney's hand to collect, without further notice.


Dec. 10, 1792. 45 3


Eleazer Taylor,


P RESENTS his compliments to thofe gentlemen whom he has fup- plied with the Farmer's Journal, and informs them he is now ready to receive the ballance due him to the 5th inft .- and while he returns his thanks to those who have made payment according to agreement, he is under the painful neceffity of requiring of others an immediate fettlement-otherwife he fhall be forced to have recourfe to an expenfive mode of collecting his arrearages.


Danbury, Dec. 8, 1792. 44 Danbury, December 22, 1792.


229


DANBURY.


EAR-MARKS.


The following are specimens of ear-marks used in the early days to distinguish sheep :


"Justus Barnum's ear-mark is a erop in each ear and a nick under the near. Entered Angust 31, 1778."


"Abijah Barnum's ear-mark is Step undor the off ear, and half-penny foreside the same, and half-penny foreside tho near ear. Entered Decem" 5th, 1778."


"John Gregory, his ear-mark is a erop on the near car and two half- pennys under the same. Dec. 9, 1778."


"Eben" Gregory's ear-mark is a crop on the near ear, and a half-penny under the same. Dec. 9, 1778."


" Robert Benedict's ear-mark is a step under each car. Entered Dec. 28, 1778,"


"Andrew Comstock's ear-mark is a half-penny foreside the near ear, step under same. Dec. 28, 1778."


" Nathan Starr's ear-mark is a swallow fork on the near ear. Entered January 5, 1779."


"Eleazer Taylor's ear-mark is a half-penny under near ear, a erop on the off, and a nick under the off. Entered May 30, 1778."


"Ebenezer Whitlock's mark is a spade in the end of the right car. Entered Dec. 23, 1779."


ROADS.


At a regular town-meeting held in 1800 it was " voted that men's labor on the highway should be rated at seventy-five cents per day, and the same for a good and sufficient team, exeept from the 20th of September to the 20th of December, when it should be but fifty-eight cents per day." This provision was undoubtedly intended to save the towu from being cheated by the short days.


CHAPTER XXII. DANBURY (Continued).


MISCELLANEOUS-TIIE PRESS, ETC.


The Danbury Press-The Farmers' Journal-The Republican Journal- The Farmers' Chronicle-The Religious Monitor and Theological Seales-The Sun of Liberty-The Farmers' Journal and Columbian Ark-The New England Republican-The Danbury Recorder-The Herald of Freedom-The Herald of Freedom and Gospel Witness- The Connectieut Repository-The Danbury Gazette-The Danbury Chronicle and Fairfield County Democrat-The Danbury Times-The Hatters' Journal-The Junta-The Jeffersonian-The Danbury News -The Danburian-The Danbury Globe-The People-The Danbury Democrat-The Danbury Republican-The Gas-Light Company- Wooster Council, No. 28, R. and S. M .- Crusade Commandery-Eureka Chapter-Union Lodge-Washington Division, No. 1, S. of T .- Memo- rial Lodge, No. 191, 1. O. G. T .- Samaritan Lodge, No. 7, I. O. of O. F. -Agricultural Society-The National Pahquiogno Bank-Danbury National Bank-The Savings Bank of Danbury-The Union Sav- ings-Bank-The Fire Department-The Water-Works-The Kohanza Disaster-Elmwood Park-Wooster Cemetery-Population from 1756 to 1880-The Danbury Library.


THE DANBURY PRESS.


THE Farmers' Journal was established in March, 1790. The publishers were Edward Ely and Nathan Douglas. It was published in a building near the court-house. In January of 1793 the firm separated, and Mr. Douglas commenced a paper under the title of the Republican Journal. This venture does not seem to have proved altogether a profitable one to either party, for in December of the same year Mr. Douglas disposed of his paper to Mr. Ely, who then


consolidated the two papers and issued the result as The Farmers' Chronicle. How long he continued its publication is not known. Mr. Douglas, after dispos- ing of his paper, made a specialty of job-printing.


The Religious Monitor and Theological Scales, a monthly religious magazine, was started in 1797 by Douglas & Nichols, and was continued for several years. The copies extant show it to have been well edited, and it probably reached a large circulation.


The Sun of Liberty, a Republican paper, edited by Samuel Morse, Danbury, was established in July, 1800, and continued until October 8th, when it was removed to Norwalk.


The Farmers' Journal and Columbian Ark, an eight- page weekly paper, was started in February, 1803, by Stiles, Nichols & Co. This paper does not seem to have had a long run, as soon after we find that Mr. Nichols went to Bridgeport and published the Farmer of that place.


The New England Republican was established by John C. Gray in July, 1804. This paper was ex- ceedingly neat and good-looking, but there is no record of the length of time it was published, although it must have continued for several years, as the copy in the possession of the writer is No. 41 of Vol. III.


The Danbury Recorder was established in 1826 by Orrin Osborn ; it was in after-years published by W. & M. Yale in the building just south of the present Baptist church. It was a small paper, but handsomely gotten up and ably edited.


The Herald of Freedom was started in Betliel, then a part of Danbury, in October, 1831, by P. T. Barnum. We may note here that Mr. Barnum, for an alleged libel on a citizen of Bethel, was tried in October, 1832, found guilty, aud sentenced to imprisonment for sixty days and fined one hundred dollars. The sentence, so far as imprisonment was concerned, was immediately carried out, Mr. Barnum being confined in the jail, from whenee he continued to edit his paper. His release was made the occasion of a grand ovation by his friends. It is but fair to state here that the jury, in finding Mr. Barnum guilty, did so on mere technical grounds, believing that the utinost puuish- ment he would receive would be a small fine, and were as much astouished as was Mr. Barnum at the severity of the sentence. The fine of one hundred dollars was subsequently collected from Mr. Baruum by the State attorney, Mr. Ferris, of Stamford. In 1832 a theological department was added to the paper, un- der charge of Rev. L. F. W. Andrews, a Universalist clergyman, and the name changed to Herald of Free- dom and Gospel Witness. In 1833 the paper was moved to Danbury proper, and the religious department of the paper aud the latter portion of the name dropped. Its publication was continued here till November, 1834, when the paper was removed to Norwalk and published by other parties under a new name. The office of publication in Danbury was on the east side of Main Street, opposite the park.


230


HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.


The Connecticut Repository was established in 1832 by Alanson Taylor. It lived but a short time.


The Danbury Gazette was started in 1833 by Wilmot & Lobdall. This paper lived only three years.


In May, 1836, The Danbury Chronicle and Fairfield County Democrat was started by Edward Layden. In 1837 lie disposed of his paper to Mr. E. B. Osborne, who in July of the same year established The Danbury Times, its office being the same as that which had been occupied by the Recorder. Mr. Osborne continued its editor and proprietor till 1845, when he disposed of the paper to his brothers, Harvey and Levi, and re- moved to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he published The Daily Press and Weekly Telegraph.


The Hatters' Journal was started in 1855 by Gran- ville W. Morris, but it was continued only a few months.


The Junta, a small campaign sheet, was published here for a short time in 1846 by Edward Taylor.


The Jeffersonian was established in 1860 by a num- ber of gentlemen as a Republican paper, with W. A. Croffut as editor. The office was in Hull's brick block, near the Wooster House. In about a year Mr. Newtown obtained an interest in the paper, and the previous owners sold out to Mr. B. F. Ashley, who


took the editorial charge. He conducted the paper alone till December, 1865, when Mr. J. H. Swertfaeger purchased an interest. In 1866, Mr. Ashley retired, and Mr. Swertfaeger continued the paper alone till March, 1870, when he sold out to the publishers of The Times. The Jeffersonian was from the first a seven-column, twenty-four by thirty-eight, paper.


In March, 1870, The Danbury Jeffersonian was pur- chased by James M. Bailey and Timothy Donovan, the proprietors of The Danbury Times. The two pa- pers were consolidated and became The Danbury News, with Mr. Bailey as editor. The paragraphs which gave the paper its reputation originated in The Times a year or two before the consolidation. Mr. Bailey continued this style of writing in The News, but not to the extent he subsequently followed it. The News started with a circulation of nearly fifteen hundred copies, which on the 1st of January, 1873, had reached nineteen hundred,-all this being strictly of a local class. In the beginning of that year the paper was sought by outside parties, and in February found its way to city news-stands. In August, 1873, the circu- lation reached its highest figure,-thirty thousand. In October, 1873, the office was moved to a building erected for its uses, and a special edition for outside circulation was then begun, and continued until the close of the year 1879. In February, 1878, Mr. Bailey bought the interest of his partner, and became the proprietor of the business. The News is in a highly- prosperous condition, and has attained a national and almost world-wide reputation. As a paragrapher Mr. Bailey stands without a superior, and The Danbury News ranks with The Detroit Free Press, The Burling- ton Hawkeye, and other journals of its class in the


United States. As a local journal, also, it is unsur- passed.


The Danburian appeared in 1874, but its stay was of short duration.


In October, 1878, The People, a Greenback cam- paign organ, was started by T. Donovan, but was dis- continued after the November election.


The Danbury Globe was started by W. Frank Page, May 4, 1874, and was conducted by him until his death, in January, 1879. It is now edited by J. A. Wilcox. It was Republican in politics until July 13, 1880, when it became an independent paper. It is a good local journal, and justly merits its success.


The Danbury Democrat was started June 1, 1877, by Levi K. Wildman, who still conducts it. Mr. Wild- man set his first type in the office of The Herald of Freedom, a paper published in Bethel-which at that time was a part of Danbury-by P. T. Barnum. The Democrat is a local sheet of merit, and an advocate of Democratic principles.


. The Danbury Republican was established by W. B. Bartram, March 22, 1879, as an independent Republi- can journal. Much energy and good judgment must have been used during the first year of its existence, for it at once advanced to a prominent place in pro- vincial journalism, gaining a wide circulation and a large advertising patronage. Although a sheet of large proportions when started, it was a few months later considerably enlarged, and on Aug. 3, 1880, was changed to a semi-weekly. It is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and the able editorial management of Mr. Bartram has placed it in the front rank of the provincial press in the State.


GAS-LIGHT COMPANY.


The Danbury Gas-Light Company was organized in 1857 with Henry Benedict president, and gas was first used in Danbury in November of the same year.


SECRET SOCIETIES.


Wooster Council, No. 28, Royal and Select Masters, was chartered by the Grand Council of Connecticut, June 6, 1865, with the following charter members : Edmund Tweedy, Joseph Treadwell, Wm. F. Bar- num, L. K. Mansfield, John M. Hart, Charles W. Skiff, Abijah Abbott, Amos N. Stebbins, Charles Benedict, D. B. Booth. The present officers are as follows : James H. Welch, T. I. M .; C. H. Gunn, R. I. D. M .; F. R. Nash, I. P. C. of W .; E. D. Taylor, C. of G .; E. D. Ritton, Comp. Treas .; W. G. Ran- dall, Comp. Rec .; P. W. Ambler, Comp. Cond .; Milo Dickens, Comp. Sen.


Crusade Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, was chartered by the Grand Commandery of Connecticut in March, 1871. The present officers are as follows : James B. Wildman, E. C .; Charles H. Gunn, Gen .; P. W. Ambler, Capt .- Gen .; F. R. Nash, Prelate; F. S. Blackburn, Rec .; E. S. Davis, Treas .; O. H. Swift, Senior Warden; J. D. Stevens, Junior Warden; E.


231


DANBURY.


D. Ritton, Standard-Bearer; A. F. Clark, Sword- Bearer; E. D. Taylor, Warder; E. Eaton, 3d Guard; D. H. Miller, 2d Guard; James Coles, 1st Guard ; Milo Dickens, Sentinel.


Eureka Chapter, No. 23, R. A. M., wasdedicated June 14, 1857, with the following charter members: Miles Hoyt, Starr Perry, John Foot, John Gregory, Joel Taylor, George Seeley, D. P. Shepard, Matthew K. Gilbert, Alva Taylor, Frederick S. Wildman, Ebene- zer Nichols, Ira R. Wildman, Eleazer Taylor, Daniel Doble, Joseph Hitchcock, John Ferguson, Martin Mead, Charles Dart, James Beebe, Comfort Whitlock, Thomas P. White, Zar Taylor, Oliver Shepard.


Ebenezer Nichols was the first High Priest ; Oliver Shepard, first King ; and Ira R. Wildman, first Seribe. The present officers are as follows; C. H. Gunn, M. E. H. P .; F. R. Nash, K .; C. I. Allen, Scribe; E. C. Oakley, Capt. of Host; M. W. Scott, P. S .; E. D. Ritton, Sec. ; E. S. Davis, Treas. ; J. D. Stevens, R. A. C .; C. A. Crawford, Master 3d Veil; A. M. Steele, Master 2d Veil; S. S. Bedient, Master 1st Veil; P. W. Ambler, Sentinel.




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