History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 58

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 58

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It is n dense, fine-grained wood, and susceptible of a good finish. Brass, German silver, and ivory are used in the construction of rules.

The business is comparatively limited when com- pared with many branches of the hardware trade, and, in consequence of the introduction of so much labor- saving machinery, the market is frequently glutted and prices are low. Who would think that a well- made folding-rule, two feet long, one inch wide, and accurately graduated into inches and eighths and six- teenths, could be sold in quantities for ninety cents, and even less, per dozen ? When this firm began business, in 1854, the price paid for making this rule, not including the cost of material, was as much as it now brings, and yet the workmen make as good wages now as then. It is impossible to go into the details of rule manufacturing in a short article. Every rule undergoes thirty or forty operations in course of con- struction, and must when finished be exactly United States standard, and in this establishment all goods that do not come up to a certain standard of excel- lence are condemned. The goods made by this firm

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

are everywhere recognized as standard goods. They are sold in all parts of the country and Canada, and many are exported.

About the year 1827, Edwin Sturgiss, of Lee, Mass., came to the village and engaged in the marble-cutting business, which he carried on a number of years. The business has been continued by different ones in succession until the present time, Warren Alford being the present proprietor. In its best days this establishment has turned out as much as six thousand dollars in work per annum.

John Ward and his two sons came to Riverton in the year 1836 and built a large calico-print works. Although their factory was just over the Barkhamsted line in the town of Hartland, it was nevertheless within the village, and is identified with its interests. This concern manufactured from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand dollars worth of goods per year, and employed a large number of hands. In 1851 the firm dissolved, and the business of calico- printing ceased, the property passing into the hands of Michael Ward. From 1851 very little was done with the property until 1878, when the sons of Michael Ward, under the name of Ward Brothers, commenced here the manufacture of paper, making at first about one ton of fine manilla paper daily, but, with in- creased facilities, are now able to make double that quantity. They receive and ship about two thousand tons of raw and manufactured material yearly.

The scythe-shop in the southern end of the village was built by Williams & Burbank, of Winsted, in 1849. They failed in 1851, when the property was bought by Ezra Doolittle, Michael Ward, Hiram Good- win, and others. Soon after the purchase of the property a joint stock company was organized and called the "Eagle Company," the organization being perfected July 30, 1853, with a capital of fifteen thou- sand dollars, since increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. The capacity of the works in 1853 was two thousand dozen scythes annually. In 1869 the works were rebuilt and enlarged to their present capacity, which is eight thousand dozen scythes, corn-knives, hay-knives, and grass-hooks annually.

The officers of the company consist of a board of directors, viz., Hiram Goodwin, M. Ward, E. Bevins, J. Gould; Hon. Hiram Goodwin is president, and Lorin A. Cooke secretary, treasurer, and general agent. H. Goodwin and M. Ward have been in office con- tinuously since the organization of the Eagle Company in 1853. The products of this company are sold to the jobbing trade throughout the country. The goods manufactured are of an excellent quality. The power used is chiefly water from Still River, but to provide against contingencies a steam-engine of about fifty horse-power has been put in, which, with an American turbine-wheel forty-eight inches in diameter, drives the works. The stock used is of Norway iron and English cast steel, imported expressly for the Eagle Company. The shipping-point is Winsted, four miles

distant, and the annual tonnage of the company is about nine hundred tons.

The grist-mill directly opposite the Eagle Company's scythe-works was built by Whitfield G. Munsou.

It proved unprofitable to him, and the property, after passing through several hands, was purchased by Joseph Gould, the present owner, who has con- ducted it successfully for about fifteen years. It is said to be one of the best grist-mills in all this section.

After a saw-mill, the next thing to be thought of by a pioneer settlement is a grist-mill. The first intima- tion of a grist-mill in Barkhamsted is a reference in the old proprietors' records to a grist- and saw-mill owned by Pelatiah Allyn, which stood adjacent to land leased to him by Capt. Israel Jones and Henry Allen, a committee appointed for this purpose in 1772. It is recorded, previous to this, that a committee was ap- pointed to lease out fifty acres, upon which was lo- cated "a convenient mill-place." This was to be leased out to the highest bidder, who would give bond for one hundred pounds to oblige himself to set up a good grist-mill upon said lot within two years, providing " that if said mill shall not be kept in good repair for the space of one year at one time, the leased premises to revert back to the lessor again."

The latter offer does not appear to have been ac- cepted, but the former lease to Pelatiah Allyn for nine hundred and ninety-nine years seems to have remained in force, and the saw-mill and grist-mill kept up. This was located at the old privilege, about one hundred rods below William Tiffany's present mill, on Beaver Brook. The old mill is said to have been standing forty years ago and used as a turning- shop.

Tiffany's present mill was built in 1840. It was carried off by a freshet some twelve years ago, and immediately rebuilt. This is one of the leading saw- mills in the town ; to it is attached a grist-mill and a land plaster-mill.

One of the most important mill-places in the town is that on the East Branch, for many years known as " Munson's mill." Here a grist-mill was in operation for a long period, and connected with it a saw-mill. Its origin appears difficult to trace to a certainty, though in 1783, at a proprietors' meeting held in Wind- sor, Capt. Pelatiah Allyn, Capt. Israel Jones, and Henry Allyn were appointed a committee to lease out a mill-place on the East Branch of the river for a term not exceeding fifteen years. This was undoubtedly the Munson's mill site ; both grist- and saw-mill are still in successful operation.

Another saw-mill is still running on Morgan River, about half-way from New Hartford to Winsted, on the Albany turnpike. This mill was originally built about 1819, and has passed through several hands.

Some eighteen years ago a saw-mill was built in Riverton, near the Eagle Scythe-Works, which is still in operation and known as Hart's mill. Several other small saw-mills are running in the town.

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BARKHAMSTED.

At different times there have been in the town sev- eral tanneries in active operation. Mallory's tannery, on Albany turnpike, near the Winchester line, was sue- cessfully carried on for a series of years. There was at one time a tannery in North Hollow, another on Centre Hill.

Bricks have also in former years been manufactured in town, but these enterprises, like the many saw- mills, have gone to deeay.

In its early days Barkhamsted was heavily timbered with pine, spruce, oak, hemlock, maple, beech, and chestnut. Ship-builders came from Hartford, Wind- sor, and other port towns for masts for their vessels, and other ship timber. The many streams afforded abundant mill-privileges, and saw-mills were running night and day for years before the town was incorpo- rated. In this way the forests have been stripped from the lands, which could be more profitably de- voted to timber-raising than any other purpose. As the forests disappeared the saw-mills became useless, and, although there have been in the town some forty of these mills in active operation, but about half a dozen are now in existence.

CHAPTER XXII. BARKHAMSTED (Continued).

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND CHURCHES.

WHEN a colony of pioneer settlers have succeeded in building houses, or dwelling-places of any descrip- tion, they immediately set about organizing them- selves into a religious society, and make preparations to build a house in which to meet for divine worship. Exactly when the early settlers of Barkhamsted first held religious meetings seems uncertain, but in a letter written by Rev. Ozias Eells, the first settled pastor in the town, to Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, D.D., the historian, dated Dee. 30, 1805, Mr. Eells says, " The first church that was formed in the town was in Barkhamsted. That was April 20, 1781." Undoubt- edly religious meetings were held in the houses of the inhabitants earlier than this date; but how much earlier it seems Rev. Mr. Eells was unable, after care- ful inquiry, to find out.

This letter, just referred to, and which will be fre- quently quoted in the present sketch, was written by Rev. Mr. Eells at the request of Dr. Trumbull, who was then preparing his "History of Connecticut," and who, for information relative to the different towns of the State, wrote to clergymen and other intelligent citi- zens who would be likely to know and willing to give reliable information for the purpose. The original letter is now in Yale College library, among the Trum- bull papers, and was copied by the writer through the courtesy of Mr. Addison Van Name, librarian.

In 1783 the proprietors in Windsor votedl to give to

the society of Barkhamsted the use and improvement of the proprietors' lot lying on or near Centre Hill, on which the stake for the meeting-house is now set, to be used and improved in such a manner as the society shall see fit for the use and benefit of the first min- ister that shall settle in the work of the ministry in said society, and his successors in the ministry, except so much as may be necessary to build the meeting- house upon, and a place for a burying-yard and parade-ground.

There was some controversy about the location of the first church. The stake was first pitched on the corner opposite the house then owned and occupied by Col. Israel Jones, and in this place, now the garden of W. E. Howd, the first graves were made, thinking, of course, the meeting-house would be erected there. As late as 1846 the graves were plainly traced, but now the plow has obliterated all trace of them, and truly "the dead forgotten lie." The spot upon the billside west was, however, fixed upon, and the pro- prietors' lot donated in the vote already quoted was designated as the "meeting-house lot," and is so marked in the old chart of the town, now rapidly going to destruetion in the town clerk's office.

The inhabitants of the northeastern portion of the town were dissatisfied with this change in the loca- tion of the meeting-house and withdrew, and, as Rev. Mr. Eells states, " about a mile and a half or two miles square . was set off to East Hartland society."

In 1784 the work of building the meeting-house was commenced. It was an immense structure for so poor a town; there were not men enough in the society to raise it. Help came from Granby, Sims- bury, New Hartford, and other towns to lift the mas- sive timbers of white oak. As soon as it was covered, and for eight years thereafter, it was used in an unfin- ished condition for religious worship, loose boards placed upon rude benches being the only seats.

In 1792 a determined effort was made to complete the edifice, and to raise funds to accomplish this re- sult a subscription-paper was circulated. This sub- seription-list is still in existence, and is a curiosity in its way. We herewith subjoin it:

" Whereas our meeting-house in Barkhanisted society, not being at this present time as yet not comfortable to meet lu for Divino worship, and it being In the minds of some of the Inhabitants to forward the fur- therance towards the completion of the said house by subscription, Therefore we, whose onmes are hereunto set down, with the number, quantity, or monsuro of each particular specie annexed to his unmne,- wrather-boards, clap-boards, window-fromes, gloss, unlls, hinges. It Ls always to be understood the thunber to be taken from the minister's lot, we called, on which the house etandeth. And we, and ench of us, as our names are ørt down with the specie annexed, there lo do, upon the truth, Adellty, and trust of a faithful mind, promise to deliver the particular specie, I annexed to our unines, at the said meeting-house, to the matis- faction of the committee appointed for that purpose, by the first day of July next coming.

" Dated at Barkhamsted, Nov. 12, A.D. 1792.

" Israel Jones, Jr., 4 pound In shillings; Solomon Newell, 4 ponod 10 shillings; l'elatinh Allen, 2 pound 10 shillings (in boards) ; Ephraim Munson, 2 pound 10 shillings (in boards) ; Asa Jones, 2 pound ; Joslah 11. Hart, 2 pound 10 shillings (In sashes) : Joel Rexford, 2 penund 10

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

shillings (in boards) ; James Rexford, 2 pound (in boards); Benjamin Jones, 2 pound (in boards) ; Aaron Hart, 1 pound 10 shillings (in boards) ; Jolın Merrell, 2 pound (hooks, nails, etc.); Jonathan Wilder, I pound (in labor); Caleb Hough, 1 pound 10 shillings (in labor); Jehinl Wilcox, 10 shillings (labor); Richard Adams, 10 shillings (labor) ; Amos Allen, 4 pound 10 shillings (labor) ; John Rockwell, 6 shillings (labor); Wait Munson, 3 pound (in team-work) ; Nathaniel Collins, 1 pound (in labor) ; Charles Preston, 3 pound (in sawing) : Charles Tuttle, 1 pound (in labor) ; Jonathan Johnson, 1 pound (in labor) ; John Ives, 2 pound (in neat cattle) ; Levi Tiffany, 2 pound (in team-work); Ezra Case, 2 pound."

Then the house was completed, and finished in good shape. From the recollections of those who wor- shiped in the old meeting-house, the following de- scription has been obtained. The house was square and plain, though the worshipers seem to have had aspirations towards a steeple, as in 1828, and again in 1835, unsuccessful efforts were made to raise money by subscription to affix such an appendage. A chimney was built about 1835, as is indicated by a vote appointing a committee to "secure the stove- pipe." This innovation received much opposition from the older members of the society.

The meeting-house fronted the south, and stood within what is now the extreme southern portion of the burying-ground, which was enlarged after the house was removed. There were three sets of double doors, which led into the audience-room, one set each on the south, east, and west sides. There were on the south side nine windows, two on each side of the door and five above. On the east and west sides were five windows, one on each side of the door and three above. On the north or pulpit side were three win- dows, a large one in the centre and a small one on each side. The pulpit was large and high, and was reached by steps from the west side; a plain board seat was back of the desk for the minister's accom- modation. On each side of the pulpit were two pews; the one next the stairs was appropriated to the use of the minister's family. In front of the pulpit was the deacon's scat, with its hanging table. There were three aisles. On each side the broad aisle were six square pews, with seats on three sides. There were two pews on each side of the east and west doors, and two pews on each side of the south door. The stairs were in the southeast and southwest corners. Over each flight of stairs was a large square pew. These were appropriated to the use of colored worshipers. The galleries ran around three sides of the building. These were protected from the gaze of the congrega- tion below by a "breastwork," into which were driven nails for the singers to hang their hats and bonnets on. Front seats in these accommodated the singers, who were all moved into the front gallery in 1823. About this time a bass viol was introduced into the choir to lead the singing, which greatly scandalized some of the older members of the congregation, who plainly inveighed against " fiddlin' in meetin'." Seats and pews in the rear of the galleries were occupied by boys and girls old enough to sit away from their parents.

After 1816 the experiment of selling the pews was

several times tried, but the old custom of "seating the house according to age and property" was again adopted after each year's trial of the modern system, and the minister's salary was raised by levying taxes, which, judging from the church records, were ex- tremely hard to collect.

Jan. 24, 1787, Rev. Ozias Eells was ordained min- ister over the church. He remained in this pastorate until his death, which took place, according to the inscription on his tombstone in the old Centre bury- ing-ground, May 25, 1813, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, and twenty-ninth of his ministry.

Rev. Mr. Eells' successors were as follows: Rev. Elihu Mason, installed March 2, 1814, dismissed April 24, 1816; Rev. Saul Clark, installed Jan. 13, 1819, dismissed February, 1829; Rev. William R. Gould, installed Sept. 25, 1832; Rev. Reuben S. Hazen, installed May 17, 1843.

Very soon after the settlement of Rev. Mr. Hazen, the question of a new meeting-house began to be agitated, meetings were frequently called, and various resolutions were passed and rescinded. The society seemed to be divided into two factions, one in favor of repairing the old house or taking it down and re- building on the same spot, the other in favor of changing the location. The matter was hotly agi- tated for nearly two years. Subscriptions were circu- lated by both parties. Finally it was agreed that a committee from both parties should take two papers and circulate, allowing those interested to subscribe such amounts as they saw fit towards repairing the old house or rebuilding on the same ground, or to- wards building a new house upon the hill west of the old site. The latter scheme was the more successful, and finally it was agreed by certain members of the society that they would go forward and build a new meeting-house. This was done, and the present meeting-house on Centre Hill is the result. Those who were devoted to the old place, adjoining the ancient burial-place, resolved not to join in this move- ment, but continued to worship in the first meeting- house as long as it continued a shelter from the weather; but when the roof had gone to decay, and the entire house needed repairing, it was finally abandoned. Meetings were held for a while in the Universalist church in the Hollow, but the society, weak at best, could not keep up without the support of those who had seceded. The old edifice stood, a sacred landmark of the past, until October, 1865, when it was purchased by the agent of the Greenwoods Scythe Company, in New Hartford, taken down, and its old timbers now form the frame of the scythe-shop warehouse in that village, purchased for the purpose on account of their immense strength.

The new society was organized July 31, 1845, and named the " First Orthodox Congregational Society of Barkhamsted." Thirteen articles of association were adopted, and the roll consisted of thirty-three original members. The slips in the new meeting-

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house were first sold Aug. 22, 1845, until the follow- ing March 1st. The house had been commenced the fall hefore, and completed about this time. The Rev. Reuben S. Hazen, who had come from the old into the new church, remained until 1849, when he was dismissed.

No regular pastor was settled over the church after Rev. Mr. Hazen until March, 1861, when Rev. John Elliott was ordained; he remained until January, 1863. Rev. H. N. Gates, from April, 1863, to Dee. 11, 1866 ; Rev. John R. Freeman, from Sept. 16, 1868, to Sept. 12, 1871. From the last date the pulpit has been supplied by Revs. Henry Gidman, P. T. Holley, and A. B. Peffers, until May 4, 1881, when Rev. J. B. Clarke was ordained.

As early as 1787 there was an Episcopal society well established in Barkhamsted, for on Christmas Day of that year Rev. Jonathan Marsh, of New Hart- ford, delivered a sermon in Barkhamsted "before the Episcopal society and others convened on that solemn occasion," which sermon was published at the re- quest of his bearers. The society must have been in existence some time before that, probably as early as 1784.

The church in the Hollow, which is still in very good condition, was built by the Episcopalians about 1816. It was but partially finished at that time. The ground was deeded for the purpose by Robert Wil- cox to the society. The society was at that time feeble, and unable to finish the building, or to sup- port a minister ; in faet, no reetor was ever regularly settled over the church. The house being unfin- ished inside, the congregation for years sat on rude benches.

In 1834, by an agreement entered into at a meeting of the Episcopalians, the Universalists, of whom there were a considerable number in town, were per- mitted to repair and finish the church, and to own the building and property, in common with the Episcopal society, in proportion to the amount of expenses of repairs as compared with present valuation of church property, fixed upon by a committee of appraisal ap- pointed at said meeting. The property was appraised at two hundred and seventy-five dollars. The Uni- versalists added steeple, bell, and fitted the church into good shape for religious exercises.

The Episcopalians have continued to hold service in this building from time to time, but not regularly. The Universalists have held meetings more regularly, and have employed ministers, generally for a year at a time. Revs. R. O. Williams, James Shingley, W. A. Stickney, W. A. Loveland, and others have nt intervals aeted as pastors of the church.

The Episcopal Church at Riverton was founded March 2, 1829, with a membership of thirty. It was first ealled the " Union Church," which name was changed to "St. Paul's" in 1876. The first elergyman was Rev. Mr. Blaisdel, who remained four years. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. H. Frisbie, who remained until

1849. Since the latter date there were no regular serviees in the church until 1872, when Rev. Carlos Linsley took charge, and remained until 1880. At the present time the rector at Winsted officiates at one service every Sunday. July 4, 1879, being the fiftieth anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone of the church, a semi-centennial celebration was held. This church, the old church at the Hollow, and a small society at Pleasant Valley now constitute a mission eireuit, supported by the Litehfield areh- deaconry.

Aug. 27, 1834, there was a Methodist Episcopal class organized at Riverton, with seventeen members. A church was built in 1840, and the society continued prosperously until about 1869; the house was torn down ten years later.

The First Congregational Church of Riverton was organized April 19, 1842, with fifty-three members. A meeting-house was built the following summer, and the Rev. Luther H. Barber, of Canton, was ordained Oct. 23, 1843, the new church being dedicated the same day. Rev. Mr. Barber remained as pastor of the church until March 26, 1861, when his resigna- tion was accepted and he was dismissed. He was the only pastor ever regularly settled over the church. Several acting pastors have been employed by the society, among whom was Rev. Winthrop H. Phelps, of Monterey, Mass., who left the charge to accept the eliaplainey of the Second Connectieut Heavy Artil- lery during the war. The society has been self-sup- porting sinec the first few years of its existence, when it received aid from the Home Missionary Society. It now has about the same number of members as at its organization.

In 1845-46 a Baptist Church and ecclesiastieal so- eiety was organized in Pleasant Valley, and a neat house of worship was erected. Rev. George B. Atwell became settled pastor in December, 1846, and Hart Doolittle was elected dencon. The church at this time numbered twenty-six. In 1847 the church gained ae- cessions, and for several years continued to grow and prosper, although its membership never execeded sev- enty-five. In 1858, Rev. J. J. Bronson succeeded Elder Atwell as pastor. In 1859 the members who resided in New Hartford formed a separate organization, known as a "Branch of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church." The original church, although reduced in numbers and strength, still retained its vitality, and Rev. T. Wrinkle succeeded to the pastorate, and was ordained in June, 1861. He remained but a few months, and the church was left without a pastor until 1865-66, when the remaining members united with the New Hartford branch, the house of worship was removed to that place, and the Baptist Church of Pleasant Valley became merged in that of New Hartford.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 58

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