History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 58

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 58

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Union Lodge, No. 4, F. and A. M., was organized during the troublous times of the Revolutionary struggle, its charter being issued March 23, 1780, upon application of twelve members, whose names are given in the same. They were Sallu Pell, William Joyce, James Clark, Lamberton Lockwood, John Berrien, F. Wainwright, Christopher A. Babcock, William B. Alger, Joseph Willsea, Christopher Duycknick, Thaddeus Benediet, and James Scou- gall.

The present officers are M. W. Scott, W. M .; A. B. Holley, S. W .; J. Y. Stetson, J. W .; J. H. Welch, See .; S. C. Holley, Treas. ; A. O. Knapp, Senior Dea- con ; J. Noble, Junior Deacon; T. Scofield, Senior Steward; S. M. Versory, Junior Steward; Robert Tappan, Tiler.

James E. Moore Post, No. 18, G. A. R .- The charter of the post was signed Sept. 27, 1867, by Edward Har- land, the present Adjutant-General of Connecticut, as Department Commander. It was first known as Post No. 4, District No. 4, Department of Connecticut. The name was afterwards changed to Steadman Post, No. 4, Department of Connecticut, and later to the present name. Seventeen members signed the appli- cation for a charter.

The first officers were: Commander, Capt. Samuel G. Bailey ; Senior Vice-Commander, Samuel M. Petit; Junior Vice-Commander, Grandison D. Foote; Adju- tant, J. Bradley Ridge; Quartermaster, E. K. Carley. The present officers are: Commander, Gen. James Ryder; Senior Vice-Commander, Col. Samuel Greg- ory ; Junior Vice-Commander, William Henry Hitel- coek ; Adjutant, Charles J. Bennett ; Quartermaster, William B. Sharp; Chaplain, George Roff; Surgeon, Albert A. Nash. The membership numbers one hun- dred and fifteen.

Capt. James E. Moore, after whom the post was

namcd, was killed July 1, 1863, at the battle of Get- tysburg.

Washington Division, No. 1, S. of T .- April 10, 1843, the Grand Division of the State of New York granted a charter for the first division of this order in the State of Connecticut, and April 25th the officers of the Grand Division of the State of New York instituted, at Danbury, Washington Division, No. 1, Sons of Tem- perance, with the following charter members: Wm. Adams, Elbert Birdsall, Juda P. Crosby, John T. Earl, Ira Hodges, John D. Raymond, John Scribner, Amos Bishop, Robert Browning, Joel Clark, Joseph P. Foote, Charles Meader, Hiram Sturdevant, Thur- man Trowbridge. May 11, 1844, the Grand Division of Connecticut was organized, and in 1845, by unani- mous vote, Washington Division surrendered to New York and was reorganized under the banner of Con- nectieut. Until Jan. 1, 1853, it continued in a most flourishing condition, when all traces of her records are missing until Aug. 8, 1864. Some time during this period she surrendered her charter, and on the 8th day of August was reorganized with the following charter members : Juda P. Crosby, Peter M. Holms, Samuel G. Raymond, Amos Purdy, Aaron Morehouse, Charles Burr, Charles Hinman, Rev. W. T. Hill, H. W. Hinnman, John Whittlesey, Elias B. Stevens, Joseph Robinson, William S. Crosby, Henry Hinnman, Silas Tyrell, Alfred Short, M. D. Smith, Rev. J. H. Shep- ard, Benj. C. Cables. From this time until the present she has continued harmonious and prosperous. From organization to date she has admitted 1761 members. The first Worthy Patriarch was Juda P. Crosby. The present (July, 1880) Worthy Patriarch is John Clapp.

Memorial Lodge, No. 191, I. O. of G. T., was insti- tuted Friday evening, March 22, 1878, by Mary F. Peck, State Deputy, assisted by W. W. Perkins, J. P. Blackman, C. B. Taylor, E. H. Bennett, and Ella Peck.

There were twenty-four charter members initiated. The charter members were Ira Wildman, James Hyatt, Joseph Brown, Robert Davis, Charles H. Moffet, Frederick A. Brush, Andrew J. Frazer, Vincent King, Henry Polley, Mrs. William Knowls, Mrs. John Smith, William Knowls, Edward Scofield, Frederick Bailey, Charles S. Bray, Frederick Hull, Samuel A. Clark, William Wildman, Charles Cables, Mrs. Ira Wildman, Mrs. James Hyatt, Mrs. Joseph Brown, Mrs. J. W. Corsie, Mrs. A. B. Hull, Miss Emma Squire, Miss Julia Hoag, Miss Nancy Russell. The Worthy Chief Templars since its organization are Ira Wildman, James Kelly, Joseph Brown, William Knowls, Fred- erick Bruslı, John Benton, and L. W. Godfrey.

Samaritan Lodge, No. 7, I. O. of O. F .- This lodge was organized April 14, 1842. It surrendered its charter in 1859, but was reorganized Sept. 1, 1873, with the following officers : D. B. Booth, N. G. ; S. G. Barley, V. G. ; Charles Bennett, Sec. ; John P. Abbott, Treas. The present officers are C. T. Anson, N. G .; William C. Hart, V. G .; H. E. Comes, Sec. ; John H. Cosier, Treas.

232

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Danbury Agricultural Society was organized in the summer of 1869, and has since held annual fairs for the exhibition of stock and farm-produce as well as articles of useful and ornamental industry. The society lias been very prosperous. It is free from debt, and receives annually from admission-fees and disburses for premiums a greater sum than any other similar organization in the State. More than sixteen thousand admission-tickets have been taken at the gates during the continuance of a single fair. The grounds are pleasantly located and supplied with all the necessary buildings. There is also an excellent half-mile track. Much credit is due the enterprising progenitors and those through whose influenee it has been sustained and prospered.

BANKS. NATIONAL PAHQUIOQUE BANK.

This bank was organized as the Pahquioque Bank, May 1, 1854, with the following board of directors : Aaron Seeley, William Montgomery, Charles Hull, Hiram L. Sturdevant, L. H. Boughton, W. F. Taylor, Oliver Stone, Frederick S. Wildman. Capital, $100,000. Aaron Seeley was the first president, and his son Augustus was the first eashier. It was voted that subscribers should pay fifty per eent. on subscrib- ing and ten per cent. every sixty days afterwards until paid. Oct. 25, 1854, the capital was increased to $200,- 000, and in 1857 to $250,000. Augustus Seeley resigned as cashier in January, 1857, when his brother, Wil- liam P. Seeley, succeeded him, and is the present in- cumbent. Aaron Seeley remained president of the bank until his death, in 1872. Barnabas Allen then became president, and continued in the office until January, 1879, when he was suceeeded by the present ineumbent, Barzillai B. Kellogg. It was reorganized as a national bank Mareh 25, 1865, with the follow- ing directors: Charles Hull, B. B. Kellogg, A. S. Pearce, James E. Hoyt, Aaron Seeley, W. F. Taylor, Barnabas Allen, W. F. Lacey, Nathaniel Selleck. The present board of directors are as follows: B. B. Kellogg, M. H. Griffing, Henry Crofut, S. C. Holley, B. A. Hough, C. F. Starr, Benjamin Selleck, Charles Hull, and Barnabas Allen.

DANBURY NATIONAL BANK.

The Fairfield County Branelı Bank, located at Dan- bury, was organized for business on the 24th day of August, 1824, by the election of Zalmon Wildman, Esq., as its first president, the several directors being elected by the mother-bank at Norwalk, Conn. The eleetion of eashier was delayed until Sept. 20, 1824, when Curtis Clark, Esq., was chosen and began his duties immediately. The business of the bank was conducted in the house of Dr. Daniel Comstoek, who then lived in the building now occupied by Mrs. Amos N. Stebbins. July 25, 1825, action was taken by the directors in regard to building a banking-house, and

Aug. 29, 1825, David Foot was appointed a committee to procure the necessary stone for the vault, hearth, steps, and underpinning, and on Nov. 17, 1825, he was appointed the agent to superintend the building of the banking-house, which was done, and is now the residence of Mrs. Charles E. Andrews, corner of Bank and Main Streets. May 20, 1826, Zalmon Wildman resigned the office of president, and June 22, 1826, Samuel Tweedy, Esq., was elected president, and was re-elected each year as president till July 7, 1834, when David Foot was elected and served that year, and June 20, 1835, Samuel Tweedy was again eleeted president, and was re-elected to the office each year until the Branch was merged into the Danbury Bank, July 1, 1844, and was re-elected as president of the Danbury Bank each year until June, 1864, when the infirmities of age required his declination as a direetor of the bank.

June 12, 1827, the following-named persons were elected direetors of the bank (the record of the elec- tion of directors previously being at Norwalk): Samuel Tweedy, Elijah Gregory, Elijah Sanford, Thomas T. Whittlesey, Samuel Wildman, Richard Randall, and Henry Beers. The following names appear as directors of the Branch Bank for a year or more: Abel B. Blackman, Reuben Booth, David N. B. Baldwin, . Friend Starr, John F. King, Isaae H. Seeley, Abner Gilbert, Starr Ferry, Samuel Stebbins, Starr Nichols, James Brush, William Hawley, Chandler Smith, Russel B. Botsford, Russel Hoyt, Eli T. Hoyt, Edgar S. Tweedy.

Curtis Clark remained as eashier until 1837. June 20, 1835, Geo. WV. Ives was appointed assistant cashier, and remained as such until 1837. Aaron Seeley, Esq., was then appointed cashier, and remained such until the Branch Bank was merged into the Danbury Bank, in 1844, and as cashier of that bank until June 1, 1854, when he organized the Pahquioque Bank. He was president of that bank until his death, in 1872.

On Dec. 12, 1842, it was unanimously resolved by the directors of the Branch Bank to appoint Starr Ferry, Esq., a committee and agent to do all the neces- sary business of obtaining signers to a petition to dissolve the Branchi Bank and attend to the ap- pointing of commissioners, and do everything neces- sary to effect and complete a separation of the Branch from the bank at Norwalk.

The above action was successful in the obtaining of a charter for the Danbury Bank at the session of the State Legislature in 1844, and the appointing of Nel- son Brewster bank commissioner, and E. B. Bennett and Harvey Smith committee to divide the stock and assets of the two banks.

The first board of directors of the Danbury Bank was as follows: Samuel Tweedy, President; Russel Hoyt, Isaac H. Seeley, Eli T. Hoyt, Starr Ferry, Samuel Stebbins, Edgar S. Tweedy. Hours of busi- ness, 9 to 12 A.M. and 1 to 4 P.M. Discount days, Monday and Thursday.

233

DANBURY.

The following names appear as directors, for one or more years, of the Danbury Bank until its reorgani- zation as a national bank, April 1, 1865: Samuel Tweedy, Isaac H. Seeley, Starr Ferry, Edgar S. Tweedy, Lucius P. Hoyt, Judge Brownson, Daniel N. B. Baldwin, Charles F. Starr, Lyman Kceler, Pierce A. Sutton, Russel Hoyt, Eli T. Hoyt, Samuel Stebbins, Reuben Booth, Abner Gilbert, Niram Wild- man, Smith Tweedy, William Wildman, Charles Hull, Henry Benedict, Frederick S. Wildman, Anzi Rogers, Samuel C. Wildman, Levi S. Benedict, George Starr, George Hull, Oliver Stone, Elias S. Sanford, W. R. White, Roger Averill, David P. Nichols.

Lucius P. Hoyt was elected vice-president of the bank Dec. 27, 1862, and continued as such until his election as president, June 18, 1864, and continued as such until the reorganization as a national bank, April, 1865, and has annually been re-elected as president to this date, July, 1880, the bank having had but four presidents since 1824, viz .: Zalmon Wildman, two years; Samuel Tweedy, thirty-seven years ; David Foot, one year; Lucius P'. Hoyt, six- teen years.

The bank has had but four cashiers in its history since 1824, viz. : Curtis Clark, thirteen years; Aaron Seeley, seventeen years ; Ephraim Gregory, one year ; Jabez Amsbury, twenty-five years. George W. Ives was assistant cashier, appointed June 20, 1835, and resigned 1837, and Augustus Seeley, Dec. 1, 1852, and continued as such until his appointment as cashier of the Pahquioque Bank, June 1, 1854.

The original capital of the bank was $75,000, of which amount but seventy per cent. was called in until June 20, 1836, when ten per cent. was called for, payable Aug. 1, 1836, ten per cent. Oct. 1, 1836, and ten per cent. March 1, 1850.

In 1851 it was voted to prosecute a petition for an addition to the capital stock of the bank at the next session of the Legislature of the State, which does not seem to have been granted; but in June, 1854, we find they successfully prosecuted the petition, and the capi- tal stock was made up to $200,000,-the Wooster Bank having been merged into the Danbury Bank at that time,-and in June, 1857, it was again increased $100,- 000, so that its chartered capital paid in at that time (1857) was $300,000, which, with the funds belonging to ecclesiastical societies, which all became stock in the Danbury National Bank in 1865, was $327,000, at which figure (July, 1880) it remains. The surplus of the bank is $73,000, thus making its capital and surplus $400,000, July, 1880.

The average dividend paid by the branch bank is not known, as all dividends were declared at Norwalk by the mother-bank. The average dividend declared by the Danbury Bank from 1844, when it was char- tered, to April, 1865, when it became a national bank, was 8Tog per cent. per annum and one extra dividend of 112 per cent., or, in all, 8,90's per year. From 1865, when it became a national bank, until July, 1880,

the average dividend has been 11138 per cent. per annum.

The first board of directors of the Danbury Na- tional Bank was: Lucius P. Hoyt, President; Oliver Stone, Lyman Keeler, Roger Averill, George Starr, George Hall, Samuel C. Wildman, Frederick S. Wild- man, David P. Nichols; Jabez Amsbury, Cashier; Robert Hoyt, Teller. Its present officers are Lucius P. Hoyt, President; Directors, Lucius P. Hoyt, Roger Averill, George Hull, Wm. R. White, George Starr, Samuel A. Rundle, David P. Nichols, Henry T. Hoyt, of Danbury, and Henry S. Peck, of Brookfield, Charles H. Merritt having also been a director for two years since its being a national bank; Jabez Amnsbury, Cashier ; George H. Williams, Teller.

The present banking-house was erected during the fall of the year 1855, and the business of the bank commenced to be done in the new bank Jan. 10, 1856. The building committee was Edgar S. Tweedy, Ly- man Keeler, and George Hull, and the structure was built from plans made by Mr. Austin, of New Haven, who had a short time before planned the building known as the Wooster House.

SAVINGS BANKS.

The Savings Bank of Danbury was incorporated June 25, 1849, and the following were the first officers and directors : Frederick S. Wildman, President; Eli T. Hoyt, John Irwin, Vice-Presidents; George W. Ives, David P. Nichols, Lucius P. Hoyt, Aaron Seeley, Mathew Seeley, Jr., Edgar J. Tweedy, Directors; Henry Benedict, George W. Ives, Secretary and Treasurer. William Jabine was elected secretary and treasurer March 30, 1861, and Henry C. Ryder, the present incumbent, Aug. 1, 1873. The first deposit was made by Reuben Booth Pearce, July 14, 1849, of $25. Present amount of deposits, $1,796,646.08.

The present officers and directors are as follows: Frederick S. Wildman, President (Mr. Wildman las been president of the bank since its organization) ; E. S. Tweedy, William R. White, Vice-Presidents ; Roger Averill, John W. Bacon, George Raymond, George Starr, William Jabine, Lyman D. Brewster, Henry C. Ryder, Directors; Henry C. Ryder, Secre- tary and Treasurer ; George B. Benjamin, Jr., Teller.

The Union Savings Bank of Danbury was incorpo- rated in June, 1866. The following is the list of the original incorporators : Jolin Slethar, Secretary ; Charles Hull, Martin H. Griffing, Samuel C. Holley, Almon Judd, Lucius H. Boughton. Elijalı Sturtevant, William H. Clark, Amos N. Stebbins, James Bald- win, William S. Peck, James S. Taylor, George C. White, Norman Hodge, Orrin Benedict, Alfred A. Heath, Francis H. Austin, William F. Taylor, Levi Osborn. James S. Taylor was elected president, and Charles Hull vice-president, but declined, and Mar- tin H. Griffing was elected instead. First trustces: William S. Peck, F. H. Austin, A. N. Stebbins, W. F. Taylor, John Shethar, Samuel C. Holley, Lucius H.

i e

234

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Boughton; W. F. Olmstead, Treasurer and Secre- tary.

W. F. Olmstead continued as secretary and treas- urer until 1873, when L. P. Treadwell was elected, and has been re-elected up to the present time. Sam- uel Stebbins was also re-elected president, and con- tinued to 1873, when S. C. Holley was elected, and is the present ineumbent.

The first deposit was made by Mrs. Margarct Pepper, of Sherman, on July 23, 1866, of $140. The deposits during the first ycar amounted to $32,200, and now aggregate about $435,000.

The present corporators are M. H. Griffing, F. H. Austin, Henry Crofut, Samuel C. Hollcy, A. A. Heath, Norman Hodge, William F. Taylor, William H. Clark, Almon Judd, James Baldwin, William G. Street, E. P. Bennett, M.D., William C. Bennett, M.D., Wil- liam J. Rider, George E. Ryder, F. A. Hull, C. H. Merritt, Luman L. Hubbell, A. T. Clason, M.D., James B. Wildman, D. G. Penfield, Ed. M. Baldwin, L. P. Treadwell.

Present officers : S. C. Holley, President; Henry Crofut, Vice-President; L. P. Treadwell, Secretary and Treasurer; Almon Judd, George E. Ryder, Wil- liam J. Rider, Luman L. Hubbell, F. H. Austin, Norman Hodge, David G. Penfield, Trustees.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The first reference to a fire department in Danbury we find in the Republican Journal, under date Nov. 11, 1793, being an advertisement, as follows :

FIRE ENGINE. V

A SUBSCRIPTION has been sct forward in this town for the purpose of procuring a FIRE ENGINE, and which has met with the warmest ap- probation of every gentleman to whom it has been presented. The En- gine proposed to be purchased will discharge 80 gallons per minute and throw it 100 feet in height.

As soon as three hundred dollars are subscribed for (about sixty of which are now wanting) a meeting of the subscribers will be held, and a committee appointed to purchase said engine, and for such other pur- poses as may be deemed necessary.

To suggest to the enlightened inhabitants of this town the usefulness of a Fire Engine, and to expatiate on the invention of a machine which under Providence has saved the lives and property of millions, would be justly deemed an insult to their understanding.

The subscription is still to be seen at the store of Messrs. Cunningham & Mygatt, where those who are desirous of subscribing are requested to call.

Danbury, Nov. 11, 1793.

At a borough-meeting at the court-house, Monday, July 14, 1823, a by-law was passed to appoint onc or more fire inspectors, to hold the office until the an- nual borough-meeting, and their duties were defined.

At the annual meeting, May 10, 1824, it was

" Voted, That Samnel Tweedy, Johnson Wildman, and Nirum Wildman be a committee to inquire into the probable expense of an engine or en- gines, and to devise the best method to procure one or more for the benefit of this borough, and report at a future meeting of the borough all the facts with their opinion thereou."

At the annual borough-meeting, May 8, 1826, Na- thaniel Bishop, Moss White, and Jesse Crofut were appointed fire inspectors.

At a borough-meeting Oet. 6, 1828, it was

"Voted, That Russel Hoyt and Samuel Tweedy be a committee to cor- respond with the proprietor of the engines built at Cauaan, for the pur- pose of ascertaining on what terms one or more can be purchased, and report at a future meeting."

The meeting was adjourned to December 1st, when it was

"Voted, That the warden and burgesses be directed to send to Canaan for one or more engines to be tried."

At a borough-meeting, Jan. 20, 1829, it was

" Voted, That a tax of two and a half cents on the dollar be laid on the polls and taxable property within the borough, on an assessment-list lately made out by direction of the borough, payable by tho 10th day of February next, to purchase two fire-engines.

" Voted, That Elias S. Sanford be aud is hereby appointed collector of the above tax at two per cent. premium, to be paid into the treasury by the 20th of March next.

" Voted, That the warden and burgesses be directed to make such regu- lations as to the locality of the engines, and also as to forming companies to take care of and manage the eugines, and also to lay out the surplus of the tax, if any after paying for the engiues.

At the session of the General Assembly held at Hartford in 1829, upon the petition of Daniel B. Cook, and warden, and burgesses, the borough was author- ized a second fire company, not to exceed sixteen men, and at a meeting of the warden and burgesses, July 13, 1829,

" Voted, That two fire companies be formed and organized within said borough, to be denominated Fire Company No. 1 and Fire Company No. 2.

" Also voted, That Company No. 2 shall consist of twenty-five men, in- cluding officers, and No. 1 of sixteen men, including officers."

At a meeting of the warden and burgesses held July 13, 1829, the following persons were appointed officers of Fire Company No. 2; Moss White, Foreman ; William Pateh, Assistant Foreman ; Eli T. Hoyt, Sec- retary. The following persons were appointed fire- men and attached to said Company No. 2, and to be deemed members of said company : John Foot, Daniel Anderson, Samuel Barber, Rory Starr, Thomas M. Gregory, Alfred Benediet, John F. Baird, Stan Nichols, Edward Tweedy, Enoch Moore, Sands Per- kins, Edward Holmes, Underhill Nelson, Stephen T. Gregory, David P. Abbott, Samuel J. Downing, Henry C. Lobdell.

The following persons were officers of Company No. 1: Elias S. Sanford, Foreman; John Fry, Assist- ant Forcman; Ephraim Gregory, Secretary. The following persons were appointed Firemen, attached to said Company No. 1, and to be deemed members thereof: Samuel Stebbens, Moses Yale, Lucius H. Boughton, Thomas F. Whittlesey, Timothy B. Hickock, Alfred Gregory, Samuel C. Wildman, Darius Starr, Nathaniel Wood, Gilead G. Taylor, Hubbell Wildman, Frederick S. Wildman, Benjamin Smith.

Aug. 22, 1829, the following persons were added to No. 2: Samuel G. Boughton, Henry Benediet, Darius Dikeman, Zar Stone, Russell Dobbs; and August 27th Charles A. Jump added to No. 1; Sept. 3, 1829, Emery Shadbolt to No. 2.

The present organization is as follows: Matthew

235

DANBURY.

W. Scott, Chief Engineer; George T. Oakley, First Assistant; Jesse W. Day, Second Assistant.

Washington Hook-and-Ladder Co .- Nathan Bene- diet, Foreman ; Frank E. Moore, Assistant; William H. Stott, Secretary ; G. Frank Bailey, Treasurer.

Kohanza Hose Co., No. 2 .- John Scott, Jr., Fore- man ; Thomas A. Hull, Assistant; Edward Lobdell, Secretary ; Lester Comes, Treasurer.

Humane IIose Co .- Thomas Deakin, Foreman ; Au- gustus Parsons, Assistant; Augustus Hurgin, Secre- tary ; William Small, Treasurer.

DANBURY WATER-WORKS.

The subject of introducing water into the borough for domestie and other uses early engaged the atten- tion of the eitizens, and in 1834 the Danbury Water- Works Company was inaugurated. In 1851 a com- mittee was appointed by the borough "to inquire into the expediency of supplying the borough with water for fire and other purposes, and report to a future meeting." This committee made an examination of "Mountain Pond," and reported the "source of sup- ply unreliable, and the project of bringing water therefrom entirely impracticable."

The first movement which accomplished any prac- tical results was begun in the spring of 1860, when a communication from J. W. Bacon was published in the Jeffersonian, calling attention to Kohanza Brook as a water-supply, and stating results of experiments made by him as to quantity of water, together with details of plan of proposed reservoir and systemn of pipes for introducing water from this source. Mainly through the exertions of Mr. Bacon, a charter was obtained from the Legislature early in the season of 1860, which was accepted by the borough on the 17th of May. Contracts for the entire works were signed on the 22d of May, and in the following December water was let into all the pipes, and the utility of the works for fire or other purposes fully shown to the satisfac- tion of all. Over nine miles of pipe were laid during the first year, and a supply-reservoir of about six acres constructed, the whole at a cost of about thirty- seven thousand five hundred dollars.

In 1866, the storage capacity of the small reservoir being found insufficient, a larger reservoir, flooding over thirty acres, was built farther up the stream at an expense of about seven thousand dollars. Both of these reservoirs were swept away on the evening of Jan. 31, 1869, causing a great destruction of property and loss of life. The reservoirs were rebuilt the same year.

The water-supply of Danbury is one of the best in the country, and to Mr. John W. Bacon is the credit due for its successful introduction.

THE KOHANZA DISASTER.

The following account of this terrible disaster is taken from the Danbury Times :

" At a quarter to seven o'clock, on Sunday evening, Jan. 31, 1869, the dam to the upper reservoir of the Kohanza Water gave way, and the vast

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 58

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