History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 56

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

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Oet. 13, 1868, he united in marriage with Sarah H., daughter of the late Elliot Beardsley. A son, Law- rence W., was born April 4, 1871. Mrs. Potter died May 2, 1871.

Sept. 15, 1875, Mr. Potter married Florence Breck- enridge, and they have a daughter, Louise E., born Feb. 17, 1877. Politically he is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN HATCH.

William Franklin Hatch, son of Capt. Moses Hatch of Revolutionary fame, was born March 4, 1801, at the south end of Long Lake. He received a common and academic school education, both at home and abroad. He had a decided musical talent, both vocal and instrumental. When quite a young man was the originator of the first band of music organized in town, consisting of seventeen pieces, he playing the most difficult instruments. Some twenty years

" Hlo boomed the big drum on training days And led the Sabbath song of praise."

He was also pupil in the first Sabbath-school organ- ized in town, and in after-years an earnest superin- tendent, who first carried it successfully through the winter season.

Mr. Hatch married, Sept. 20, 1832, Miss Emeline Baldwin, of Winsted, when he purchased and settled on a farm in Winchester Centre, where he remained a few years, then sold and purchased the "Little Lake Place," near Winsted, where under his system- atic and thorough cultivation he brought it to a con- dition to receive the first premium at the agricultural fair. He was long regarded a leading agriculturist of this region ; was for many years secretary nud treas- urer of the Greenwoods Agricultural Society. In the best and most numerous varieties of choice fruit he took the lead. Cheese was also a specialty. He was the first to introduce the manufacture of English cheese in this country, which took high rank in the markets, selling twenty-seven cents per pound; when common, only ten cents. In every department of agriculture he endeavored to excel, thus elevating the standard of agricultural science. Mr. Hatch was the founder of the ice business in Winsted, which he suc- cessfully conducted as a wholesale and retail dealer for nearly thirty years, and still has an interest in it.

In politics he is a staunch Republican; never seek- ing office, still, he has been chosen to fill many offices of trust, and has discharged these duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to all. Mr. Hatch has been associated with all temperance movements from his youth to the present time, and has never used tobacco in any form. Mr. Hatch is a consistent Christian, ever foremost in all movements tending to advance the moral and religious interest of the town. He has been a member of the Second Church of Winsted since its organization ; previously of the First Church. Married (2d) Miss Elizabeth Eells, of Clinton, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1871.

Kind and considerate in all his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, retiring in his disposition, punc- tual and accurate in all his dealings, possessed of a strong mind, mature judgment, and decided piety, these, combined with energy and great perseverance, gained for him a handsome competency, which now at even-tide, in the full enjoyment of all his faculties, blessed with the comforts of a happy home, where loving hands minister to him, and the universal esteem and respect by which he is held by the people of his native town, make his last days his best days.

TIMOTHY HULBERT.

Timothy Hulbert was born in Paulet, Vt., Nov. 2, 1817. Soon after his parents removed to Crown Point, N. Y., where they remained until young Hulbert was four years of age. From this time until he was fifteen years old he lived with an uncle, Mr. Benjamin Bate- man, a resident of Rutland, Vt., receiving the advan- tages of a common-school education only.

While yet a mere lad-at the age of fifteen-he commenced working in the forge of Allen Panfield, at Crown Point, where he remained three years, and then went to Sutherland Falls, Vt., where he stayed about one year in the forge owned by Mr. Slawson, of Rutland. He then located in South Lee, Mass., where he remained about ten years, and then came to New Hartford, in this county, and two years later to Win- sted, where he remained in active business until his death, which occurred June 15, 1873.

Upon his removal to Winsted he established himself in business in a forge standing on the present site of R. Cook & Sons'axle-works, and a year or two Inter in the forge now owned and operated by the Hulbert Iron Company.

In 1838, while residing at South Lee, he united in marriage with Ruth L. Kelley, of Brandon, Vt., and their family was as follows : Laura J., Sarah L., Lu- vinda S., Walter, and Robert S. Mr. Hulbert united with the Congregational Church in his eighteenth year, and remained a devoted member of the church until death. He was a man of serupulous integrity, and was a consistent Christian. Politically he was a Republican.

He always labored to advance the moral and re-

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ligious as well as the material interests of Winsted, and was one of the most active and earnest workers in the cause of temperance.

The following tribute to the memory of this worthy citizen appeared in the Winsted Herald: "Probably no man," says the Herald, "that ever lived in this town has commanded a larger or more justly deserved esteem than he whose death we are this week called on to record. A prominent business man among us for twenty years past, his name had come to be a syn- onym for honesty,-not that selfish honesty which contents itself with a mere compliance with human law, but that inward and real integrity which is en- joined by the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose disciple he professes to be. Active in the cause of temperance, contributing not only of his money, but also of his labors and example, in every good work, his life has been a continual blessing to his fellow- men, and his record is on high."

EDWARD MANCHESTER.

The subject of this sketch was born in Tolland, Mass., Jan. 30, 1831. He was reared on the paternal ' acres in Tolland, and was educated in his native town

EDWARD MANCHESTER.

and in Winsted. He was one of the first who at- tended the school in the basement of the Episcopal church, which was conducted by his uncle, the Rev. Jonathan Coe, then rector of the parish. This was a school of considerable celebrity at the time.

He was reared in the ennobling occupation of farm- ing, and in 1857 came to Winsted and engaged his

services to an aunt, Mrs. Col. N. D. Coe, who then occupied the home farm now owned by himself. In the following year, in company with his brother Elbert, he opened a grocery and meat market ou the site of the present store of Mr. Barnes. These brothers continued here about one year, when they purchased the farm mentioned above, then in possession of their aunt, and soon after Elbert sold his interest to Ed- ward, who has since remained there, gradually in- creasing his possessions, until now he is the owner of five hundred and forty acres of excellent land lying contiguous to the thriving village of Winsted. He became from the first a progressive agriculturist, and has kept abreast with the rapid strides made during the past twenty-five years in agricultural science. He makes a specialty of milk, and of the manufacture of a superior quality of butter.

Mr. Manchester has ever manifested a praiseworthy interest in all matters tending to elevate the religious, moral, and educational interests of the town, and all just measures for the advancement of the welfare of the people generally have found in him an earnest supporter. He is a leading member in the Methodist Church in Winsted, has been steward a long time, and is at present a trustee. A strong temperance man from youth, he has fought rum at every step. Politically he is a Republican.

March 16, 1859, he united in marriage with Mary Jennie Grant, a native of Norfolk, Conn., who was born July 1, 1839, and their family has consisted of four children, viz., Wilbur Grant, born July 29, 1860; George Elbert, born July 12, 1862; Harry Grant, born Jan. 21, 1868; Irving Edward, July 18, 1870; and Randall Coe, Oct. 7, 1876. He died Aug. 28, 1877.

PROSPECT HILL DAIRY AND CREAMERY FARM.

This celebrated farm includes five hundred and forty acres of land, and lies directly north of the vil- lage of West Winsted. It supports at present a herd of seventy-five milch-cows, besides horses and other stock. The cattle are chiefly Ayrshires, and it is the opinion of the proprietor, after a long and careful ex- perience, that the Ayrshire for dairy purposes is best adapted to the hilly lands of Northwestern Connecti- cut ; however, since the establishment of the creamery on the farm the number of Jerseys has been increas- ing. The soil is a rich gravelly loam, with clay sub- soil, and is adapted to fruits, grass, and cereals. The apple yield in 1880 was over three thousand bushels.

The proprietor of the Prospect Hill farm is Edward Manchester, whose ancestors first purchased it in 1783, so that it has been in the family for nearly a century.

Mr. Manchester is a gentleman who unites scien- tific agriculture to practical experience and hard labor.

The history of this farm is a large and interesting chapter of the history of Winsted. At the beginning of the century it was owned by the great-grandfather

" PROSPECT HILL FARM" RESIDENCE OF E. MANCHESTER, WEST WINSTED, CONN .

235

WINCHESTER.

of the present owner, Ensign Jonathan Coe, known as the father of " Methodism" in Winchester, a man noted for the sturdiness and integrity of his character. That he refused to pay "the priest tax," as it was called, for the support of the Congregational Church pastors, and had his cows sold at auction as a penalty, and that he lodged and fed forty guests at "Quarterly Meeting of the Methodists," were events typical not only of the man but of customs and laws long since passed away. His home was the hotel of Methodists, and especially of Methodist preachers, in those early days. On one occasion, when an aged man, he gath- ered about him his descendants to the number of seventy-two, and, after having sumptuously fed them at the farm-house, they marched, two and two, old and young, to the Methodist church, where a sermon was preached to them by the celebrated and eccentric Billy Hibbard.

Daniel Coe, son of Ensign Coc, was the next owner of the farm, to whom succeeded his son, Col. N. D. Coe. On June 6, 1859, it was purchased by its present owner, Edward Manchester, who is grandson of Dan- iel Coc, and one of whose chief pleasures is that the old homestead, now looking younger and finer than ever before, is still a resort for Methodists and Meth- odist preachers.

Daniel Coc was a local preacher in his denomina- tion, and was noted for the humor and pathos of his sermons and exhortations.

The Manchester family is of English origin, the surname being a local one, and derived from the city of Manchester, England. The first representative in this country was Thomas, who was an inhabitant of New Haven in 1639, the year following the " plant- ing" of the colony. Thomas afterwards, in 1643, settled in Portsmouth, R. I. (on the island of Rhode Island), where he raised a family of four boys and two girls. Of the former was William, born 1654, who, before the breaking out of King Philip's war, or about 1676, bad removed across the bay casterly into the present town of Tiverton, R. I., but at that time be- longing to Massachusetts, and being within the juris- diction of Plymouth Colony. In 1679-80 he was one of eight " proprietors" who purchased a tract of land containing some four hundred thousand acres of Plym- outh Colony. William was a man of considerable prominence, having filled positions of responsibility and trust of civil and religious natures. His descend- ants settled in Fall River and Taunton, Mass., and in Little Compton, R. I., which adjoins Tiverton on the south. At Little Compton, March 23, 1757, was born John, sixth in descent from Thomas. While a young man he removed to Tolland, Mass. In 1780 he mar- ried Phæbe Steadman, of Newport, R. I. She was the daughter of Samuel Steadman, whose brother, Thomas, married Mary Perry, daughter of Benj. Perry, who was great-grandfather of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, of Lake Erie renown. Wm. Manchester (5), father of John (6), born 1734, mar-

ried Mary Irish, of Little Compton. She was daughter of John Irish, who married a sister of Col. Benjamin Church, who was prominent in King Philip's war. John (6) raised a large family, boys and girls, and died at Tolland, 1838, aged eighty-one years. He was buried at Colebrook River, Conn., adjoining Tol- land. His second son, Shadrach, the seventh in de- scent from Thomas (1), was born at Tolland, 1798, and is the father of Edward, of Winsted. He mar- ried Clarissa Coe, born 1807; she was daughter of Rev. Daniel Coe, born 1783, and is the eighth in de- scent from Robert Coe, who was born in Norfolk, England, 1596. He emigrated to America at the age of thirty-eight, and settled in Watertown, Mass., and later was a resident of Stamford, Conn., having also lived at Wethersfield. The line from him to Clarissa, mother of Edward, is as follows: Robert (1), John (2), John (3), Robert (4), Jonathan (5), Oliver (6), Jonathan (7), Daniel (8), Clarissa (9), Edward (10). The Manchesters are of tough, hardy stock, many of them having lived to be upwards of eighty years of age, and Edward, born 1695, was one hundred and two at time of death; his wife, Anna Williston, ninety-five.

THERON BRONSON.

Theron Bronson was born March 20, 1809, in Win- chester, Conn., in the southwest part of the town, upon a farm which has belonged to the family for eighty years. His father, Isaac Bronson (still spoken of as " Esquire" Bronson by the older people), was a native of Winchester, and after a lifelong residence in the town died in 1849, in his seventy-fourth year. Ife was an influential citizen, and the largest land- owner in the town. After he was seventy years of age he made a publie profession of religion, and united with the Congregational Church. His grand- father, Col. Ozias Bronson (or Brownson, as then spelled), a native of Farmington, Conn., settled in this town in 1774, was eleven years seleetman, and for three years represented the town in the General Assembly. " He served as a lieutenant and captain of militia in several tours of duty during the Revolu- tion," and was often uppointed to attend to public business in various ways. After a life of industry, energy, and thrift, he died in 1810, aged sixty-eight years. He had been a member of the Congregational Church in Winchester for thirty-tive years, and it is worthy of remark that, of something over five hundred members of that church since he united with it, more than thirty have been his lineal descendants.

In politics Col. Bronson was a Federalist.

Mr. Bronson's maternal grandfather was Hewitt Hills, for more than twenty years a prominent farmer and trader in the community, and one of a family of peculiar excellence, specially valued in the early history of Winchester. Mr. Hills was an energetic

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

man, of fine appearance, of unusual ability and shrewd- ness, a little given to change, but generally successful in his undertakings, and never yielding to discourage- ments.

Sprung from such sturdy stock. Theron Bronson seemed to inherit and personify the best traits of both families, and was, in the true sense of the word, a representative man. His educational advantages were such as the common schools of his time afforded, yet he was a successful teacher for many years. He was large-hearted, clear-headed, frank, and hospi- table, a friend to be trusted, and an adviser to be de- pended on. Cheerful and sanguine always, it seemed to be a principle with him that if no way to success could be found one could be made, and he could make it.

In trade, in stock-dealing, and in the purchase and shipment of dairy products, he so managed as to benefit those who dealt with him as well as gain a competence for himself. In every work for the public good he was the first to enlist, and gave unsparingly of time and money for its accomplishment. To his energetic and judicious leadership was largely due the success of the Winchester centennial celebration in 1871.

In middle life he became personally interested in the subject of religion, and united with the Congre- gational Church in 1851. As was to be expected, he carried his whole-heartedness into his religion, was regularly at the prayer-meeting, consistent in his life, never aiming at publicity, and liberal in his benefac- tions, for many years paying one-fifth or more of the minister's salary in his own village. His religion bore the stamp of unswerving integrity.

He represented the town in the State Legislature in 1849, and was for twenty years a justice of the peace. With a mind of unusual acuteness and dis- crimination, and an early taste for the study of law, as well as from the experience gained in extensive and varied business operations, he became thoroughly versed in legal forms, and was in the habit of perform- ing gratuitously a large amount of such work in the community, and was always the friend and trusted adviser of those in trouble.

He was a Democrat until Lincoln's administration, at which time, believing that the interests of the country demanded it, he voted with the Republican party, and afterwards until his death, Jan. 20, 1873.

He was married July 7, 1841, to Maria R. Munsill, of Torrington, Conn. Their children are Edward H., born July 31, 1842; Henry T., born Jan. 1, 1845, died Nov. 25, 1866; Wilbur M., born June 9, 1848; Maria Louisa, born Jan. 31, 1853, died Feb. 28, 1856 ; Elliot B., born Aug. 7, 1858; Carrie M., born Jan. 17, 1863.

Wilbur M. married Susan S. Nash, June 9, 1880.

Business of sons : dealers in lumber, dairy produce, stock, etc.

We copy from the Winsted Herald the following :

"Died at Winchester Centre, on the 20th of January, 1873, Theron Bronson, Esq., aged sixty-three years.

"Mr. Bronson, by birth, ancestry, lifelong residence, and active business, has been identified with all the interests of the town, and especially with those of the parish of his residence.

"With activity, energy, and endurance rarely equaled, he embarked in business at an early age, and prosecuted it in various forms, with increasing ardor, until the very close of his useful and exemplary life. As a farmer and stock-dealer he became by far the largest land-owner in the town, while as a trader and produce-dealer he contributed largely to the pros- perity of the community around him. His manly form and cheerful visage are indelibly impressed on the memory of a wide-spread circle of friends and . acquaintances.

" When to these characteristics are added a kind and generous heart and liberal hand, unquestioned in- tegrity, large public spirit and private benevolence, and a pure Christian life, we. have a man whose mem- ory will be greatly cherished, and whose loss will be deplored long after his mortal remains shall have mingled with kindred dust."

HENRY HUNGERFORD DRAKE.

Henry Hungerford Drake was born Feb. 21, 1833. He studied medicine with Harvey B. Steele, M.D., of Winsted, in 1851, '52, and '53, attending lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854; was with Dr. Steele from July, 1854, to Octo- ber, 1858. Has been mail-messenger, assistant post- master, book-keeper for various manufactories, insur- ance agent, clerk and treasurer of the borough of Winsted since May, 1869, and water commissioner since May, 1872, and elected in May, 1881, for the fourth successive term of three years. Had the entire charge of the water-works for more than six successive years to June, 1879. Has held the office of registrar of voters since the office was created in 1860, and was re-elected school visitor October, 1880, for three years, besides various other local positions of trust. May 18, 1862, he married Mariam Roberts, who was born in Colebrook, Conn., Sept. 7, 1840. They have two children,-George F. and Anna B.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

William Lawrence, son of Grove Lawrence, formerly of Litchfield County, was born in Paris, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1801. His father died when he was four years old ; he was then adopted by an aunt, the wife of Joseph Battell, who lived at Norfolk, Conn., and was engaged in the mercantile business. His adopted father took him into the store when quite young, and he soon be- came a partner. On the 18th of August, 1830, Mr. Lawrence married Caroline Rockwell, of Winsted.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

RESIDENCE OF L.S.NASH , WINCHESTER, CONN.

237

BARKHAMSTED.

He continued in the store until 1848, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to give up his business, and removed to Northampton, Mass., where he remained until his death, which occurred Feb. 22, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence had brought into their family by adoption a nephew, William Lawrence Baker, aged one year, born at Amherst, Mass., Oct. 5, 1839. At a proper age he joined the regular army as second lieu- tenant, and soon became by promotion first lieutenant. He was in active service during the late war, and fell at the battle of Antietam, on the 17th of September, 1862.

CHAPTER BARKHAMSTED .*

EARLY HISTORY.

THE territory now embraced in Barkhamsted was included in the " Western grant," made by the colony of Connecticut in trust to the towns of Hartford and Windsor in 1686. After the division of these lands between the colony and the proprietors of Hartford and Windsor, in 1726, by a partition deed between the two towns, dated February, 1732, Barkhamsted, Tor- · rington, West Harwinton, and Colebrook fell to the share of the Windsor patentees. Barkhamsted, which contained by estimation twenty thousand five hundred and thirty-one acres, was divided among one hundred and eight tax-payers of Windsor on the list of 1720. The town was named Barkhamsted by an act of the General Assembly in May, 1732,t and in January, 1733, the proprietors held their first meeting at "ye old society meeting-house in Windsor," when 1Ienry Allyn was chosen proprietors' clerk.

During the summer of 1733 a committee of four was sent from Windsor to view the land, and to lay out the first division into home-lots. This division lay between the branches of the river, and eastward as far as Simsbury bounds, with one tier of lots west of the west branch of the river, the proprietors reserv- ing two fifty-acre lots near the centre of the town and Mast Swamp. These lots were drawn by the proprie- tors in July, 1733, in the proportion of one acre to the pound on each man's list. At the same time high- ways were laid out, one, ten rods wide, between the branches of the river, beginning at the line between Barkhamsted and New Hartford, about one hundred and twenty rods eastward of the West Branch, run- ning northward to the boundary of the township. From this highway several others were laid out east and west. There was also a highway four rods wide next to the Simsbury line, and reservations for high-

ways along the banks of the river branches.' The old North country road over Wallen's Hill was cleared through Barkhamsted in 1760, the Farmington River turnpike between 1780-90, and the Greenwoods turn- pike in 1800.

The new township was a source of expense and trouble, and but little revenne, to its proprietors for forty years. Lands found few purchasers, and the country was too rugged and barren to invite settlers. The principal matters taken up in proprietors' meet- ings during this interval were the prosecution of trespassers convicted of cutting, felling, disposing of, or carrying away wood or timber, and the defense of the border line against encroachments from Simsbury, in which Barkhamsted made common cause with New Hartford. The committees who attended to these matters were paid by sales of timber or undivided lands of the proprietors, and the highways were cleared by sales of the timber growing thereon, funds in the treasury being low.

In 1753 the remainder of the lands in the township were divided, exelusive of the convenient mill-priv- ileges, which were to be disposed of separately, and drawn by the original proprietors or their heirs, in the same proportion as the first division. Mast Swamp, and other spruce timber-land of equal value, was a division by itself, in which every proprietor had a share. The same year the proprietors appointed Stephen Chub agent to petition the General Assem- bly to annex Barkhamsted to Hartford County.

A tract of land remaining in the last division after every proprietor had drawn his proportion was divided into five lots of fifty aeres each, and sold or leased for nine hundred and ninety-nine years to pay the com- mittee and other charges.

In 1792 a committee was appointed to sell or lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, or a shorter term, all mill-places belonging to the proprietors, "after said sail hath been advertised in Hudson & Goodwin's newspaper three weeks."

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 56

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