History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 129

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 129

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"Revs. W. L. and Henry P. Strong, brothers, were born on Town Hill, and went abroad in early life to preach as Congregational clergymen. William L. died in 1859, and Henry P. in 1875.

"Rev. Edward Hollister and Rev. Edwin Holmes were sons of our soil, but I have been unable to trace their history.

" Rev. Edwin Janes, born in Sheffield, Mass., was educated among us, became a valuable member and preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in

" Of the living clergymen, born or educated here, I recall the names of the venerable and Rev. Isaac Bird, born in the west part of the town in 1794, who was for some fourteen years a missionary, residing at dif- ferent periods in Palestine, at Beirut, and Mount Lebanon, and subsequently became the principal of a flourishing school in Hartford. Mr. Bird is now a resident of Great Barrington, Mass., at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

" Rev. Edmund Janes, a prominent and much valued preacher in the Methodist denomination, was born in Sheffield, but came early to Salisbury, and secured his education while a resident here. He was elected bishop. The duties of his office required or induced him to travel extensively, both in this country and in Europe. His varied and extensive acquirements have rendered him an honored and much loved member of the clerical profession, irre- spective of denominational distinctions.

"Revs. Eliphalet and Elisha Whittlesey, sons of the late Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., were both born in the Whittlesey District. The former was a missionary for some ten years at the Sandwich Islands, from about 1844 to 1854. The latter is now a resident of North Canaan, and the rector of the Episcopal Church in that place.

" Rev. Joseph Pettee graduated at Yale College in 1833, studied with Dr. Lathrop, preached for a short time as a Congregational clergyman, and subsequently became a Swedenborgian minister. Mr. Pettee is

* Salisbury has given birth or education to several ministers of the gospel, among whom have been James Hutchinson, Samuel Camp, Chauncey Lee, D.D., William L. and Henry P. Strong, Horace Holley, D.D., Isaac Bird, Jonathan Lee (3d), George A. Calhoun, Edward Hollis- ter, Edwin Holmes, Josiah Turner, Joseph Pettee, Edmund and Edwin Janes.

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SALISBURY.

highly esteemed among his brethren, and is an excel- lent man.

" Revs. Peter M. and Alexander Bartlett, both born in the Whittlesey District, and both at present resi- dents of Tennessee. The former is president, and the latter professor, in Marysville College in that State.

" Rev. Albert Bushnel, son of the late Albert Bush- nel, was born in the Ore Hill District, and is now, I believe, preaching in a Congregational Church in Sterling, Ill.

"Of the living clergymen who have been rectors of the Episcopal Church at the Centre I am enabled to give the following names : Rev. Charles Devins was rector in 1841; William Warland's rectorship com- menced in 1842; George H. Nichols' in 1846; Ruel H. Tuttle's in 1855; Samuel Jarvis' in 1860; J. A. Wainwright's in 1865; William A. Johnson's in 1871. "Mr. Johnson is much esteemed not only for his

earnestness in preaching, but for his faithfulness in the discharge of his pastoral duties.

"The Episcopalians in town have recently acquired a new and beautiful church edifice at Lime Rock, of which Rev. Millidge Walker is rector.

"The requirements of itineracy in the Methodist Episcopal denomination have rendered it difficult for me to ascertain who, among those that have been stationed in town, are now among the living. The more recent incumbents have been Oscar Haviland, Q. J. Collins, Nathan Hubbell, Clark Wright, William S. Bowton, William Stevens. The latter was trans- ferred in April last, and John G. Oakley is his suc- cessor.

"The Congregational society worshiping in this village has been subjected to no change in its pulpit in- cumbent since 1841. Its present (1876) able and beloved pastor, Dr. Adam Reid,* is now in the fortieth year of his pastorate, and is probably the oldest clergyman having but a single settlement in the State. In 1836 he was engaged to preach for a single year, at the close of which he was settled as permanent pastor. Frequent efforts have been made to obtain his services in other localities, notably at Boston, Hartford, and Brooklyn. Dr. Reid delivered the centennial address of his church in 1844.

" Prominent among our medical practitioners who have deceased since 1841 was Luther Ticknor, who had an extensive practice in this town and vicinity. He was at one time president of the State Medical Society, before which he delivered the annual address in -. He also represented the town in the General Assembly, as its record shows.

" Henry Fish, born in New York City, married in Salisbury, came here to practice about 1820, remained about twenty-five years, removed to Lee, Mass., about 1845, and died there in 1850, aged sixty-two years. He was a graduate of Yale College, and was a sur- geon in the war of 1812.

* Dr. Reid died November 2, 1878.

" Asahel Humphrey came into town from Norfolk, was both physician and druggist, and died here in April, 1852.

" Ovid Plumb, born in Canaan, eame into this town in 1830 from Dutehess Co., N. Y., practiced exten- sively in the vicinity until 1856, when he died at his home near the Twin Lakes.

" Chauncey Reed was born in Salisbury, practiced in Sharon, was a much respected citizen there, as well as an intelligent physician. He died in Sharon in 1856.

" Professor Charles A. Lee was born in the Ticknor District, practiced some years in the city and vieinity of New York, but was more extensively known as a medical lecturer, having for several years lectured in five different States.

"Ferdinand F. Fish, son of the late Henry Fish, was born in New York City, but came to Salisbury when quite young, studied medicine, but did not prac- tice. He spent some years in New York and be- came quite an eminent ehemist. He removed to Wa- terbury, in this State, was twice elected mayor of that city, and died in Lee, Mass., in 1868.

" Benajah and Caleb Ticknor, brothers of Dr. Lu- ther, were both eminent practitioners, the former as surgeon in the United States navy, and the latter as a homeopathist in New York. Caleb wrote several medical works. He died in New York in 1840.

" William J. Barry came into town from Hartford, located in Lakeville in 1835, practiced there eleven years quite successfully, and then returned to Hart- ford, where he died in 1847, mueh lamented.

" William Worden came from Richmond, Mass., located at the Centre village, practiced here about seven years, and died in 1853. Dr. Worden had se- cured a strong hold upon the people here, and was in full practice up to the time of his death.

"Benjamin Welch, a native of Norfolk, Conn., commenced practice in Lakeville in 18-15, and re- mained here until his decease in 1874. He, too, was highly esteemed in his profession, and was much beloved, especially by the poor, whom he cheerfully attended.

"The preceding physicians are all dead.

" Adonijah Strong, son of the late Hon. Martin Strong, born in Salisbury, studied with the late Dr. Luther Ticknor, and is now in practice at Honesdale, Pa.

"J. O. Niles practiced in Salisbury about eight years, went into the army (for a few years) about 1861, returned to Salisbury, from whence he went to Schenectady, N. Y., and from thence to Chatham, N. Y.

"Samuel P. Church, son of Judge Samuel Church, was born in Salisbury, commenced practice in Derby in 1847, removed to Newburgh, N. Y., in 1857, where he is still actively engaged in his profession.

" Elisha W. Cleveland went from Lakeville to New York City in 1826, practiced there thirty years, and

538

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

returned to Lakeville in 1856, and still resides among us, at the age of seventy-eight.

"George Sterling, son of George W. Sterling, of Sharon, practiced in town a year or two about 1864.

"Dr. J. H. Blodgett practiced in town from 1866 to 1873.

"The venerable moderator, William H. Walton, first chosen to preside over this meeting, was once, I believe, a medical student.

" The medical gentlemen now in town are William Bissell and John L. Orton, located in Lakeville, and Bradford J. Thompson, at Salisbury Centre.

" Henry M. Knight* came into town from Stafford Springs, and commenced practice in 1851 with Dr. Benjamin Welch.

[The only physician in town not named in Gov- ernor Holley's address is Robert Phelps Knight, M.D., son and successor to the late lamented Henry M. Knight, M.D., the organizer and efficient head of the "Connecticut School for Imbeciles," at Lake- ville.]

"The political interests of the town have been rep- resented in the State senate at five different sessions since 1841, viz. : by Hon. John H. Hubbard, in 1847 and 1851; by Charles E. Botsford, in 1857; by George Coffing, in 1861 ; and by Pliny L. Barton, in 1873.

" Among gentlemen who have held honorable posi- tions in our own and other communities who have not already been alluded to in one or the other of the professions, and who had their birth in Salisbury, I may mention Prof. Albert E. Church, son of the late Hon. Samuel Church, who was educated at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he was graduated in 1828. In 1838 he was appointed pro- fessor of mathematics, which position he still holds after nearly forty years of service,-proof beyond ques- tion of the value of his services. Prof. Church has published four mathematical works. He still claims to be a citizen of Salisbury,-having from his major- ity been in the service of the government, he has gained no residence elsewhere.

"George W. Holley, educated in part at West Point, but unable to continue his duties there on account of his deafness, has been a member of the New York Legislature, is the author of a work on Niagara, and has written extensively for the public press. He is a resident of Niagara Falls, where he has resided for many years.

" Hon. W. H. Barnum, though not a professional gentleman, has not only represented the town in the General Assembly, but has also been a member of the House of Representatives in Congress for some nine years, and was a member of the United States Senate one term.

" The following gentlemen, natives of this town, have represented other towns in this State in the General Assembly since 1841 :

1850-58-62 .- George W. Peet, for Canaan.

1852 .- Chauncey Reed, for Sharon.

1857 and 1864 .- Fitch Landon, for Sharon.

1865 .- F. N. Holley, for Wolcottville.

1865 .- N. E. Wood, for North Canaan.

1866 .- N. M. Brown, for North Canaan.

1869,-E. J. Reed, for Sharon. -

1869 .- J. S. Wheeler, for Colebrook.

1866 and 1868 .- Egbert Bartlett, for Derby.

1870 .- Lyman Brewster, for Danbury, present senator.

"The list of town officers for a generation past is, of course, too numerous to record here. The magis- trates who have been most frequently called upon as trying justices, so called, have been Robert N. Fuller and John H. Russell, hoth deceased, and Lorenzo Tnpper, James Ensign, and Andrew J. Spurr.

"James Ensign has been county surveyor for some years past, and is still in office. Since 1841, John G. Mitchell, Robert N. Fuller, Albert Moore, and Silas Moore have each held the office of judge of probate in the order named; the latter still holds the office. Daniel Pratt has held the office of town clerk since 1863, and still acts in that capacity. His predeces- sors since 1841 have been Roger Averill, for five years; Robert N. Fuller, for one year; D. J. Warner, for .eight years; Newton L. Dexter, for four years ; Henry J. Reed, who died soon after his appointment, and D. J. Warner was appointed to fill his place. Henry Hubbard filled the office four years.

"The manufacture of iron in various forms has been one of the leading industries of the town from its earliest settlement, and without going back to the period of our Revolution, when cannon were cast here for the service of both the army and navy of the United States, and without referring again to iron- masters, who have been particularly alluded to in our Centennial history, I may and do refer with pride and pleasure to some of those who have given an impetus to our prosperity as a town in this department of in- dustry since that period. Of those who have passed from among us within the last generation I recall the names of John C. Coffing, Milo Barnnm, Lee Can- field, Leonard Richardson, Nathaniel Church, New- man Holley, Samuel C. Scoville, Robert Bostwick, George Coffing, Horatio Ames.

" Among those who are still living, but who have retired from this branch of business, the names of A. and S. Moore, William C. Sterling, and John H. Cof- fing occur to me. Mr. Albert Moore and Mr. Sterling have passed respectively the ages of seventy-eight and eighty-two, while our respected townsman, Hor- ace Landon, Esq., remains in active business at the ripe age of nearly eighty years.

"Others of our townsmen actively engaged in this industry in town and elsewhere are Hon. William H. Barnum, Samuel S. Robbins, George Landon, George Church, J. and C. Scoville, and Frederick Miles. Among their products are car-wheels. These, of a superior quality, are extensively manufactured by the Barnum Richardson Company, at Lime Rock. They are so extensively used in the country that there are

* See biography.

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SALISBURY.

but few of us who travel that do not find ourselves berne along over almost any part of our railway sys- tem on Salisbury car-wheels.

" Our iron-masters of the present day, however, are chiefly makers of pig iron.

" The manufacture of wrought iron in its various branches, once so important a business in town, has become, I believe, entirely extinct, or nearly so, with- in a comparatively few years. Anchors, chain-cables, and mnsket-iron, car and locomotive axles, heavy screws for cetten and other presses, and a great variety of merchant and machinery iron were mann- factured at Mount Riga, at the Centre, Lime Rock, and Falls Village. Very large and superior wrought- iron cannon were made at Ames' works at Falls Vil- lage during the late war, and were sold to the War Department. The great anchors that were furnished for the two war frigates built in New York for the Greeks, in their struggle for independence in their war of 1821, were made at Mount Riga. The musket- iron and railroad axles of various kinds, so extensively manufactured a few years since, have been nearly su- perseded by the use of Bessemer steel. The manufac- ture of this steel has been largely introduced into this country by a Salisbury engineer, who learned the process in England, and who has built some of the most extensive steel-works in this country .* He is now president of the American Association of Mining Engineers, and is still actively engaged in his pro- fession.

"The principal improvements that have been made in our manufactures within the period since 1841 have been the extension of the car-wheel business and the works of the Barnard Hardware Company, both lo- , cated at Lime Rock, the crection of cutlery-works by A. H. Holley in Lakeville in 1844, and now carried on by the Holley Manufacturing Company, and the manufacture of woolen and other fabrics by the Washinec Company, at the Centre. These establish- ments have all accomplished their purpose in pro- ducing excellent work, but they have not all been equally successful in a pecuniary point of view.

" Our agriculturists have not fallen behind the sur- rounding communities in their various occupations, and have contributed their efforts towards maintain- ing the reputation of the town as one of the best farming towns in the county, if not in the State.

" The committee appointed by the General Assem- bly in 1732 to examine 'the colony lands west of the Ousatonic River,' and lay out a township in the northern section thercof, reported six lakes estimated to contain two thousand acres, and a rough waste mountain in the northeast corner of said township estimated to contain four thousand acres, the re- mainder they thought would accommodate a sufficient number of inhabitants for a town.

" Our mining interests were greatly extended during

the war of the Rebellion, and were sources of wealth. But for the past few years they have experienced the depressing influences of previous excessive produc- tion, although they are still wrought to a very con- siderable extent.

"The Salisbury Savings Society, located at Lake- ville, is another of our institutions brought into ex- istence since our centennial history was written, and has proved to be as beneficial as it is popular. It was organized in 1848, and Walter R. Whittlesey was elected its first treasurer. He was succeeded in 1865 by Thomas L. Norton, who still helds the office.

" A banking firm has also been established at Lake- ville, under the name of Robbins, Burrall & Co., which has proved to be a source of great convenience to our business community.

"The Iron Bank,t which was chartered in May, 1847, is virtually a Salisbury institution, although it is located on the Canaan side of the Housatonic River.

" The first newspaper established in town, and which is still successfully conducted, was started by J. L. Pcase, who came into town from Lee, Mass. The first number of the paper, the Connecticut Western News, was issued July 14, 1871.#

" The construction of the Connecticut Western Rail- road, one of the most important contributions to the business interests, as well as to the facilities for com- munication ever established in this vicinity, not only for Salisbury but for all Northwestern Connecticut, is more indebted for its organization to Salisbury than to any other town on its line. We concede to other towns active and efficient aid in the procurement of its charter and in liberal subscriptions to its stock, but the efficient work of its organization began here. The contract for its construction was made in 1869, and the first train over the road (except construction trains) was an excursion to Poughkeepsie from Hart- ford, in December, 1871.

"Our educational interests have kept pace with those of surrounding communities, and are decidedly in advance of what they were five-and-thirty years ago; more pains have been taken to secure edu- cated and efficient teachers; greater facilities have been furnished for the acquirement of an education, and our public schools are not only free but attend- ance is compulsory. We have no institutions for ed- ucation higher than the common school, except two or three select schools, of which favorable reports are given. Our school-houses are a great improvement upon those of even a quarter of a century since, and are generally a credit to the town. On the whole, Mr. Moderator, I think that our children are better taught in the district schools than those adults are whom we endeavor annunlly to instruct in reading in our town-room.

* Alexander L. Holley.

t See history of town of Canaan.

* Now published at Cannan.

540

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

" The Roman Catholics in this vicinity have erected a beautiful and convenient church edifice at Lake- ville within the past eighteen months, which does credit to their taste, and which we hope and trust will have a healthful influence upon all who worship there. The temperance reform which they have instituted has already been productive of good.

"The order of 'Good Templars,' established at Lakeville, numbers about one hundred members, and is in a flourishing condition ; T. L. Norton, Esq., is the presiding officer. The object is the promotion of temperance .*

" The war of the Rebellion was not an institution of Salisbury origin. As it occurred, however, within the lifetime of the present generation, and as it was one of the most gigantic and causeless of modern times, and having been suppressed also by as brave and patriotic a people as ever drew the sword in defense of liberty and law, of home and country, it is proper that it should be referred to even here in our limited community. It demands a record indeed if for no other reason than to testify to posterity the efforts and sacrifices which were made on our part to trans- mit to them an nnimpaired Union. Salisbury did its full share in the accomplishment of this work, having sent to the army three hundred and fifty-three men, of whom fifty-three laid down their lives either on the battle-fields of Olustee, Petersburg, or Drury's Bluff, Port Hudson, Murfreesboro', Deep Bottom, and Cold Harbor, or died of wounds or disease contracted in the service. As far as this feeble effort of mine will avail, the names of these patriotic men shall be preserved in the archives of the town, and transmitted to coming generations, who will follow our example, and forever hold in grateful remembrance their deeds and their memories. Their names alone, however, do not constitute the entire roll of honor for our town, but they are the only persons whom we know that sacrificed their lives in the service; other noble men, equally patriotic and devoted, who escaped with their lives, merit and will receive equal honor with those who fell on the battle-fields. Their names already form a part of our recorded history.

"The following is a list of the dead referred to above :

Orin H. Knight, Charles Caul, P. Ostrender, James Ostrander, Adam Os- trander, Monroe Whiteman, Amos Woodin, Robert W. Bragg, Ed- mond Hickey, Ezra B. Morris, Walter C. Sparks, Renben R. Speed, Henry Volker, Jacob F. Rapp, Chester A. Johnson, John Lapham, G. W. Mansfield, Guerdon Davidson, Daniel Glaren, John W. Surner, IFenry S. Wheeler, Joseph Hooper, Barnard Woodhead, Aaron E. Babcock, S. W. Wolcott, H. Pitt Bostworth, A. E. Barnes, Peter Fin- kle, Orville D. Owen, Elisha Cleveland, Owen McNeil, Alfred De Bois, Joseph B. Bond, Egbert F. Nott, Ovid P. Shaw, Orville O. Blake, Andrew Bull, Andrew W. Durrall, Renslaer McArthur, Egbert Rowe, J. W. Speed, D. Owen, Eben P. Wolcott, Henry S. Wright, J. Melton Bishop, J. Harper Smith, Cornelius Turner, John Brant,

Peter Burns, John Donohue, Jourdan Brazee, Henry Surriner, John

S. Addison, Charles Brown.

"The following persons were elected or promoted to the offices named :

Rev. Samnel S. Jarvis, chaplain, First Regiment Ileavy Artillery. James Hubbard, brigadier-general by brevet, Second Heavy Artillery. Orin II. Knight, captain, Second Heavy Artillery.

William A. Bailey, cheplain, Twenty-eighth Regiment.

Milton Bradley and Wilfred Matison, quartermasters; Charles B. Lan-

don, captain ; Joseph Bostwick, first lieutenant; Warren C. Daily, second lieutenant.

E. Lewis Moore, adjutant, Seventh Regiment. Edward S. Hubbard, second lientenant, Nineteenth Regiment.

Joseph Slater, second lieutenant, Eleventh Regiment.

Admatha Bates, second lieutenant Co. L, Second Heavy Artillery.

" This reference to our late war reminds me of some facts regarding the French war of 1756-57, that were not referred to particularly by Judge Church in his address. As Salisbury has the credit of furnishing its full share of aid in all the wars that have occurred in our country since its settlement, the fact should be stated that at the early period of 1756, one hundred and twenty years ago, we had in this town two well- organized military companies, from which 'enlist- ments and impressments' were made from time to time, and requisitions were also made upon captains to hold their men in readiness to go into service at a moment's notice, who were called 'Minute-Men.' I have in my possession orders issued chiefly by Col. Marsh, of Litchfield, to Capts. Moore and Landon, ordering them from time to time to send men to the northern frontier. They did so not unfrequently, but I do not know in what numbers. The Capt. Moore referred to was grandfather of Messrs. Albert and Silas Moore, and Capt. Landon was the ancestor of Messrs. Horace and James Landon.

" There is abundant evidence, I believe, to establish the fact that several of the regiments surrendered by Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga, in our war of the Revo- lution, were quartered for several days in this town, a part of them at Lakeville, and a part of them on the farm of the Messrs. Moore. One of those soldiers (John Lotz) deserted from one of those regiments, and was for many years an inhabitant of Salisbury, and served as a miller for my grandfather and my father.

" Rev. Edmund S. Janes and his brother came from Sheffield with their parents in 1812. They attended the district schools of this town for a few years, and subsequently advanced their education, each of them, by teaching some six years. Edmund S. entered the Christian ministry in 1830. In 1840 he was elected financial secretary of the American Bible Society, and in 1844 was elected bishop of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In the course of his ministry he re- ceived the respective degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Law, and Divinity.

" David Lyman was born near the Centre, was ad- mitted to the bar of this county in 1841, practiced law some five years, and then entered the ministry of

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 129

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532