History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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 85

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Mr. Lyon has recently added a large sum to the original gift, and proves himself a benefactor to the literary world and to his native town.

The Mill Plain school also owns the " American Cyclopædia" complete (this is also in Greenfield and Fairfield libraries) ; 'so that, with the reference books in all the public libraries, the readers in Fairfield are well accommodated. But, this being a wealthy town, there is not that need of circulating libraries which there would be if so many private individuals had not such extensive ones of their own.

SCHOOLS.

The first reference to schools in the old town records is under date of Dec. 27, 1661, as follows :

" Whereas ye town hath formerly voted yt ye school-master shall have ten pounds towards his wages out of ye town-rate; and it is now ordered for ye fifteen pounds yt remains of his wages it shall be paid by ye master and parents of such Children as need teaching from six years old and upwards; and if any shall send their Children under six years old or girls they shall be esteemed payable scholars,"

From that time to the present a lively interest has ever been manifested in the educational training of the youth, and the schools of Fairfield have ever been ranked among the best in the State.

The old academy on Greenfield Hill was one of the leading educational institutions of the day. It was established by Timothy Dwight, D.D., and conducted by him about twelve years. In 1838 it was being conducted as a young ladies' seminary, but has long since been abandoned.

For present condition of the schools, sce General History.

THE SOUTHIPORT TIMES.#

The managing editor of this popular family news- paper is Henry A. Van Dalsem, and it is issued carly every Friday morning. It entered upon its third volume Nov. 1, 1880, and since its first issue has been twice enlarged to meet public demands; which tells its own story of successful growth.

Independent in principles, clean in its utterances, and representing the interests of Southport, Fairfield, Mill Plain, and Greenfield, it meets with a cordial welcome at pretty much all the family firesides in the town of Fairfield. Besides its managing editor, it has a corps of contributing editors, who, residing in the several villages which make up the township, not only write up the current news of their respective lo- calities regularly cach week, but also contribute orig- inal articles of pertinent interest. Its colunins are also enriched with frequent communications from the leading literary, agricultural, and commercial people of the vicinity, which makes the journal invaluable to many subscribers in various parts of the country who claim Fairfield as their native town, and who

through this pleasant medium are kept in regular correspondence with relatives and acquaintances.

While the Times presents each week a carefully- condensed digest of all that is going on in the world, and is breezy and gossipy, strict care is observed that its tone shall always be pure and wholesome. Abreast with the times as to topics and sentiment, conserva- tive in politics and religion, fresh and interesting in matter, it merits the success attained.

THE FAIRFIELD ACADEMY.

This was organized Nov. 4, 1802. The largest sub- scriber was Gershon Burr, who gave sixty dollars to the fund. The first charter granted was in 1804, and was given to Hon. Jonathan Sturges and Samuel Rowland, Esq., as they were appointed by the pro- prietors of the academy to receive the same. The original trustees were Jonathan Sturges, Andrew Eliot, David Judson, Nathan Beers, Jr., and Samuel Rowland.

The first teacher was William Stoddard, who studied medicine with Dr. David Hull. He taught three years; salary, five hundred dollars per annum. There is one person living who attended the academy the first day it was opened to the public, and she is Miss Eliza Hull.

In 1808, Matthew Rice Dutton, who was studying under Dr. Heman Humphrey for the ministry, taught here and occupied the position two years. He be- came professor of mathematies, natural philosophy, and astronomy in Yale College. He was ordained first over a church in Stratford. He died in New Haven.

1810 .- Samuel J. Hitchcock followed as preceptor for two years, with entire satisfaction. He received the title of LL.D., and became a professor of law in Yale College, and was judge of New Haven County Court. Died in New Haven about 1844 or 1845.

1811 .- Samuel Turney taught for a short time. He was a native of Fairfield. He died in 1823.

1812 .- Eliliu W. Baldwin taught for the ensuing two years. He was a most estimable man, beloved and respected by all. After a long and successful ministry he was called to preside over Wabash Col- lege, Crawfordsville, Ind.

1814 .- A Mr. Worthington followed for a short time, when Dr. Humphrey took charge temporarily till a permanent teacher could be found.

1815 .- Orrin Fowler followed. He was born in Lebanon, Conn., July 29, 1791; graduated at Yale, 1815; taught the Fairfield Academy one year; entered the Congregational ministry; became a missionary in the West; settled in 1819 as pastor at Plainfield, Conn .; was twenty years a minister at Fall River, Mass .; often in the State Legislature; in Congress 1848-52; distinguished as a temperance and anti- slavery orator; anthor of a treatise on Baptism (1835), Historical Sketch of Fall River (1841); died at Wash- ington, D. C., Sept. 3, 1852.

* By W. A. Beers.

344

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1816 .- George E. Pierce, D.D., born at Southbury, Conn., Sept. 9, 1794; graduated from Yale, 1816, and taught in Fairfield Academy two years. He gradu- ated from Andover Theological Seminary, 1821; was ordained pastor of a Congregational Church at Har- winton, Conn., 1822; president of Western Reserve College, 1834-55 ; died at Hudson, Ohio, May 27, 1871.

1818 .- Henry Dutton was preceptor for the ensuing two years. He was brother of the Mr. Dutton pre- viously mentioned. He was a jurist, born at Ply- mouth, Conn., Feb. 12, 1796, and graduated at Yale in 1818, was professor of law in Yale (1847-55), be- came Governor of Connecticut in 1854, and was a judge of the Superior Court and Court of Errors (1861-66). He prepared several digests, compilations of State statutes, etc. He died April 26, 1869 .*

1820 .- Rev. William Belden had the academy for two years. This school had a wide reputation until Mr. Belden had charge. There were many students who attended it from the South, as institutions of high rank were not numerous through the country. Mr. Belden had a large class of youths prepared for Yale College, but not one of them could pass examination ! From that date the glory of the academy began to depart. Mr. Belden was settled as pastor of Green- field Congregational Church from 1812 till 1821.

In 1821, "upon the petition of Gen. Gershom Burr, Samuel Rowland, and Roger M. Sherman, Esq., agents of the proprietors of Fairfield Academy," "at a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hartford, a new charter was granted, the former having by accident expired."

1824.1-H. Benedict was preceptor.

1825.1-C. Whittlesey occupied that position.

The trustees were men of considerable note in the world, and all at this period (1821-30) were of much local celebrity. They were the Rev. Messrs. Nathaniel Hewit, Edward Hooker, Andrew Eliot, Leonard Ba- con, Deacon David Judson, Hon. R. M. Sherman, and William B. Nash, M.D. But with all their learn- ing, charters, and account books, the first mention of a teacher in all the academy records is in 1828, when the building was leasedt to Rev. C. G. Lee, for which he paid no rent further than to keep it in repair. He taught this school in 1828, 1829, and 1830.

In 1832-33, A. A. Pettengill, the late editor of the Bridgeport Standard, acted as preceptor. The next mention in the records after Mr. Lee (1828) of a teacher is: " Voted, That Mr. Wallace be requested to continue his school for another year and that he have the use of the academy for that purpose."? This was April, 28, 1836. Hon. Thomas B. Osborne, lawyer, trustee, and secretary, records in 1838: " Voted, That Mr. Tufts, of the Senior Class of Yale

College, be contracted with to take the place of Mr. Carter, as instructor." !|

In 1839, Mr. James Tufts became the preceptor. He now is pastor of a charge in or near Rochester, N. Y. 1840, Deacon David Judson resigns. The Board " Resolved to tender to him their thanks for his great services and strict fidelity in promoting the interests of this Institution from its first establish- ment" (thirty-six years). Capt. John Gould was voted in as trustee in place of Deacon Judson resigned. T

1840-1850 .- Among the teachers of this decade were Daniel March, now D.D., with a pastorate near Boston, Mass.,-an excellent instructor ; - Marsh, who died recently while missionary to Turkey (with one of these men originated the famous " Iron Horse," his graduating poem at Yale) ; - Benton; Willis At- water, brother of Prof. Lyman Atwater, of Princeton, N. J.

In 1847 it is to be regretted that the boys were very destructive, so much so this entry is made in the rec- ords : "Voted, That while we desire the pupils of the school to enjoy themselves in all reasonable sports and recreations, we strongly disapprove and exhort them to refrain from the practice of throwing stones or other dangerous missiles."

The next meeting recorded is in 1853, and the next in 1866, making about two meetings in nearly twenty years ! !

In 1866 the rates for tuition were: For Greek, Latin, and higher mathematics, ten dollars per quar- ter per scholar.

Common and higher English branches, eight dol- lars.

Primary department, four dollars and seventy-five cents.

In 1867, E. E. Rankin, D.D., was elected a mem- ber of the board.

In the decades from 1840 to 1870 the academy was under the preceptorship of Mr. Morris W. Lyon, a native of Fairfield, a graduate of Yale; and since he taught in the academy he has established a col- legiate institute for boys in New York City, which he has continued for twenty-four years. He also founded the Fairfield Memorial Library in 1876, to which he has donated greatly since. This library occupies the lower floor of the academy. He also originated the "Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield, in 1779," which was very successful; Rev. Platt T. Holly, father of Mrs. L. N. Norton, M.D., of Bridgeport ; - Chamberlin ; Thomas H. Pease ; Lewis Beers, a lawyer, who was established later in Norwalk, and died, aged thirty-five; Dey ;

Moore; F. S. Lyon, editor of Connecticut Re- publican, Norwalk, Conn .; and Geo. F. Robinson, a graduate of Yale. In 1867, Geo. F. Robinson re- signed. While he taught here, Mr. Thomas Rowland,

* For the above, credit is due E. E. Rankin, D.D., of Hartford, and Mr. J. S. Burr, of Brooklyn.

+ See Deacon' Judson's Account Book.

{ See Academy Book, p. 14.

¿ Ibid., p. 19.

| Ibid., p. 20. T Ibid., p. 21.

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FAIRFIELD.

an inventor and builder of monitors, presented the academy with a quantity of various shaped blocks, which, when properly arranged, formed a perfect globe or ball. When nearly arranged the coins of the period, the prominent dailies, and all the names of the pupils at that time in attendance at the acad- emy were placed in this ball. It was then gilded and placed on top of the building, where it is daily seen by passers-by .*

In 1867,t after various conferences and Rev. L. B. Stimson's agitating the question of starting a private school, Mr. A. P. Somes, a native of Lebanon, N. II., and a graduate of Dartmouth, was employed, with his wife, to take charge of the school, $1000 a year guar- antced to them by Messrs. John H. Glover, O. B. Jennings, A. W. Sanford, H. T. Curtis, M. G. Betts,} and D. M. Bunker .¿ The tuition per quarter of 11 weeks was raised to $10 for English, $12 for Latin and Greek, and $6 for the primary. The sessions for school were to be from nine o'clock A.M. to two o'clock P.M., during which a half-hour's recess was to be given.

In 1868 the committee, Capt. D. M. Bunker, re- ported the board $25 in debt, and Mr. Somes reported the want of seats and stove, and suggests that a Web- ster's Unabridged Dietionary would be a valuable acquisition to the academy !!! The seats and stove were obtained ! ! !

In 1870, Mr. Oliver B. Jennings donated $100 to the academy for the purchase of apparatus.

In 1871 the income of the school was $1250, and a committee of Messrs. O. B. Jennings, Sainnel More- house, and Samuel Glover were appointed to increase the rates or guarantee a certain price. As blackboards were needed, a better mode of heating and repairs on the building necessary, the tuition rates were raised to $8, $12, and $14 per quarter.

In 1872 this entry is made : "Mr. A. P. Somes, who has taught the academy school for a number of years, resigned and left."¿

The statement is recorded " that so many children are sent away to school it was inexpedient to employ a male teacher,"| so a Mrs. M. E. Powers, from Mary- land, was employed, with a salary of $800 per annum guaranteed her. The pupils then numbered twenty.

In 1873, there being some dissatisfaction with Mrs. Powers, she resigned, and Mr. A. P. Somes returned and took the academy, to be conducted at his own risk, paying twenty-five cents per scholar for academy tax. School reopened September, 1874.

In 1875, Mr. Somes was to collect an academy tax of fifty cents per scholar for the use of the building. 1879 .- Mr. A. P. Somes resigned, and Miss Lily

HuntingtonT completed the scholastic year on the same terms as her predecesor.

An item worth mentioning is that during the time of Mr. Somes' connection with the academy, from 1867 to 1879, there was not a death occurred among his numerous pupils.

At an informal meeting of three, the trustees em- ployed Mr. Thomas E. Rochfort to take charge of the academy at his own risk. In 1880, Mr. Rochfort re- signed, and a vacancy ensued, which promises to be indefinite, owing to the high grade of studies and system adopted in our free public schools and the migratory habits of several of the wealthy families.

For more than two hundred years Fairfield was the queen of the county : the courts were held there till 1852, or thereabouts; its educational advantages for both males and females ranked very high ; and it was formerly a port of entry. It had for these various rea- sons an enviable reputation, but time has changed all these things, and Fairfield's future glory will be accorded from its being a town noted for its health- fulness and beauty, as the drift of publie spirit of late expends itself mostly on sanitary measures and æsthetie culture.

SAMP MORTAR ROCK.

About three and a half miles from the Sound, and near the centre of the township of Fairfield, is a won- derful natural curiosity, attractive not only for its grandeur, but for the tradition associated with it. In visiting Niagara one should obtain the first view by looking upward from the foot of the fall ; here one should take the first view from the top of the rock, looking down into the ravine below.

Theory asserts that the origin of Niagara was through the wearing away by the water of the brittle stone till it formed the stupendous cataract witnessed at this period ; it must assert that here was a modified glacier of diluvial structure, which has suffered greatly by some great natural convulsion.

Approaching this freak of nature from the direction of the Sound, there is not the least intimation of any- thing unusual till the visitor is brought suddenly upon it. Conveyances stop at the foot of a massive ledge of immense layers of stone, which appear to have been regularly broken, but through some great agency have been separated slightly. The impulse is to stop and examine the species of stone, to note the marked difference between the severed strata and the under surface of the layers as they project beyond their supports, the layers being as discernible as the component parts of pastry when they are improperly incorporated ; in fact, the face of the rock is decidedly streaked. The top, scen from above, bespeaks granite; the under layer seems semi-perforated by symmetrical indentures, as if sand-swallows had attempted to build their nests in reversed positions. In front of this ledge

* Thanks to E. Burr, Jr., for this information.

+ For applications to Rev. Ira Pettibone and Rev. L. B. Stimson, see Academy Book, pp. 28-32.

# Deceased.

¿ See Academy Book, p. 41.

| Ibid., p. 42.

Now Mrs. Wm, Burr, of Green's Farms.

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346

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

a cart-path begins, which leads up a gradual inclina- tion, across which are large stones which appear to bear grooves caused by much usage. The ascent is easy, and, the top once reached, a distance of a few rods brings one to the brink of a rocky precipice, over which he peers cautiously and passes on mindful of his steps, watchful that a proper margin is observed, so that, in case of a slip or a misstep, he shall not be instantly hurled into eternity.

After traversing a few rods the traditional mortar -a round hole in the rock capable of containing from twelve to sixteen quarts of corn-is found; also the footmarks worn in the rock by the person grinding- rather cracking-the corn are identified. This is said to be the place where the Indians were wont to carry their corn to be prepared for food.

At this point the descent to the ravine below has already begun. Another section of the ledge is at the left, and contains a cave accessible to an average- sized individual, where he may enjoy a dark retreat at his option. The contour of the rocks, trees grow- ing from the crevices, is worthy of observation.

The ravine gained, one is desirous of obtaining a glimpse of the great precipice over which he so care- fully looked a few minutes before. A few feet above. him is an overhanging rock ; several feet above this is another, of similar form, projecting still farther, and away above this is still another, from whose top a birch-tree a foot and a half in diameter at its root, with a uniform trunk of nearly a foot, rears itself as if proud of its situation and view, apparently as se- cure as in a forest on a level plain. At its root ferns of the polypod species furnish a bit of trimming for a border. Long rock-like shelves appear at intervals, upon which one would be secure from northwest storms. From various crevices good-sized trees are growing, where it would seem impracticable for plants to obtain a root hold.

The ravine is here blocked by a mass of large rocks, whose size is rendered insignificant from their prox- imity to those so much greater. These rocks are broken and detached, but if one is dextrous lie may pass through, over jagged edges, underneath a huge rock spanning the chasm, underneath which is a small cave, where some animals of rodent proclivities have reveled in their feasts, and which would furnish comfortable quarters for a hunter or a fugitive es- caping the law.

This blockade in the ravine has evidently been, ages ago, rock overhanging from the main ledge, and, falling, has broken into various immense fragments. The western portion, having an inward slope upward from the base, remains as when first formed and located.

CHAPTER XXXIII. FAIRFIELD (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The First Congregational Church-Congregational Church, Greenfield -- Congregational Church, Southport-Trinity Church, Southport-St. Paul's Church, Fairfield-Methodist Episcopal Church, Southport- Roman Catholic Church, Fairfield.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FAIRFIELD.#

THE foundation of this church was cocxistent with the settlement of the town, and the first pastor was Rev. John Jones, from 1639 to 1664.

"This first date is five years earlier than one which appears in a history of Concord, whence he came. He was one of the two elders of the church in that place, being associated with Peter Buckley, who had the title of teacher, while Mr. Jones was pastor. He was the son of William Jones, of Abergavenny, in Monmouth- shire. He entered Jesus College, Oxford, in 1624, at the age of seventeen. Coming to New England, Oct. 2, 1635, he was ordained at Concord, Mass., April 6, 1637, sustaining the relation of colleague minister at Concord for some eight years. On account of 'the poverty and meanness of Concord, together with the badness and wetness of the meadows,' a seventh or eighth part of the people of that place emigrated in 1644 to Fairfield, and Mr. Jones came with them. These Concord people, with the previous colony from Windsor and others from Watertown, formed the first community, the fathers and mothers of our church and village. Few traces are left of this, the earliest minister of this churcli. He bore, according to tra- dition, a most highly respectable character. His position and education in England gives lustre to the occasion of his emigration, for he came when few save those who were devoted to the cause of liberty were willing to encounter for its sake trials and pri- vations such as we can hardly estimate. At the age of seventy he fell asleep, leaving six children.

"A daughter was married to Thomas Bulkeley, f son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, and removed with her father to Fairfield, where he died in 1652.

"One son, Jolin, graduated at Harvard in 1643, and another, Eliphalet, was the first minister of Hunting- ton, L. I., where he died about one hundred years old. " A copy of the will of Mr. Jones may be seen at the Probate office, and is a document of interest.

"Rev. Samuel Wakeman succeeded Mr. Jones in the pastoral office, and his ministry continued from 1665 to 1692. He appears to have been a man of mark, and was one of five ministers appointed by the Legislature in 1668 to proceed to Saybrook and de- vise a way of uniting the churches in some general

* Compiled chiefly from a historical discourse delivered by Dr. E. E. Rankin, D.D., Nov. 24, 1870.

+ Bulkeley is considered as the correct orthography, though the com- mon method, Bulkley, has been commonly accepted.

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FAIRFIELD.

plan of communion and discipline. This was forty years previous to the adoption of the Saybrook Plat- form, and appears to have been the first step towards forming a religious constitution in the State.

"In 1694, Rev. Joseph Webb became pastor of the church, and with his ministry commences its earliest records now extant. The society records date no fur- ther back than 1694, owing to the fire of 1779.

" The first deacon of the church whose election is mentioned was Lothrop Lewis, chosen May 29, 1729, and when in June, 1733, Deaeon Lewis declined to serve longer, Capt. Moses Dimon was chosen to sue- ceed him. May 29, 1739, we have the record again of the choosing of Mr. Lothrop Lewis as deaeon. There is the name of another deaeon on the records of the same date, for 'the church appointed Mr. Lothrop Lewis and Mr. Samuel Rowland a committee to take an account of the chureli's stock which was in the hands of Deacon Hill, deceased, and is now to be delivered to Deacon Dimon.' So Deacon Hill's name probably stood in the destroyed records.

"In Mr. Webb's day some of the inner workings of the church and society are seen. Thus, at a church-meeting in May, 1729, it was voted that the worshipful John Gold should set and read the Psalm, and in case he be absent or indisposed, that his brother, Mr. Samuel Gold, should do it.

"The Psalm was set and read in this wise : After the minister had given out its number, this ehosen leader of song whose social position is clearly a high one, for he is called the worshipful, rose in his place and after reading the first line sung it with the aid of a tuning-fork, or perehance a violin, and then reading the second line went on with the musie, and so on to the end of the Psalm. The version used was proba- bly the quaint collection of Sternhold and Hopkins, for although Dr. Isaae Watts was a cotemporary with Mr. Webb, his version of Psalmns and hymns did not come into use until a later day.

" It was not until more than thirty years after the death of Mr. Webb, and late in the pastorate of Mr. Hobart, his successor, that the society voted and agreed 'that the rendering of Psalms line by line in ye established religious congregation in this society shall be omitted for the future.' Mr. Webb's minis- try seems to have been a pleasant and successful one, although it is evident from some hints in the records that late in its continuanee both he and the meeting- house in which he preached became sadly out of repair.

"The people showed their appreciation of his ser- vices by voting several years in succession an annual inerease to his salary, and in Mareh, 1732, the society voted to call some suitable person to assist him in the work of the ministry. Mr. Webb died at a place called Unity, on the 19th of September, 1732, and was brought home the next day and buried the day after. He was a Fellow of Yale College from the year 1700 until his death. Respeeting his family no

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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