History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 65

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

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In February, 1845, he entered the Bridgeport Bank, at Bridgeport, Conn., às book-keeper and teller. Syl- vanus Sterling was president, and George Burroughs was cashier. Here Mr. Randall remained till August, 1849, when he came to Falls Village, Conn., and be- came the cashier of the Iron Bank. William H. Walton was president.

Mr. Randall remained till 1853, when he went to Meriden, Conn., and was there employed as cashier in the Meriden Bank till the fall of 1856, when he again engaged in the mercantile business at Meriden, having Harrison Curtis as partner, under the firm- name of Curtis & Randall. In February, 1857, he returned to Falls Village, and became cashier of the Iron Bank (now known as the National Iron Bank), and continued as such till Oct. 2, 1880, when he was elected its president. In politics he is a Republican.

He married Minerva C., daughter of Wait S. Northrop, of Brookfield, Conn., Jan. 26, 1845. Of this union three children have been born, viz., Carrie M., wife of George W. Hall, an enterprising merchant in Falls Village, Lucy C., and George A. Mrs. Randall was a lady much beloved by all, of remarkable mem- ory, and esteemed for her many excellent virtues. She died Oct. 17, 1878.

Mr. Randall is a member of the Episcopal Church at Brookfield, Conn., but an attendant at Lime Rock, Conn.

WIRITING G. KELLOGG.

Whiting G. Kellogg, son of Whiting G. and Fanny (Dean) Kellogg, was born in Canaan, Conn., Aug. 31, 1824. His father was a son of Asahel Kellogg, and was born in Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., and at twelve years of age settled in Canaan, Conn., with his parents, where some of the descendants of the family continue to reside.

Whiting G. Kellogg, Sr., was a farmer by occupa- tion, a man of no small means for one of his day, beloved and respected by all. He was twice married, first to Clarissa Belden, and had two children, Asa- hel and Betsy Ann. His second wife was Fanny, daughter of Roswell Dean, and to them were born two children, Emeline and Whiting G. Mr. Kellogg was a Whig and Republican in politics, He and his `wife were members of the Congregational Church at South Canaan, Conn. He died Oct. 10, 1865, and Mrs. Kellogg died Dec. 20, 1875, aged eighty-six years.

The immediate subject of our sketch received a common-school education. He was a successful far- mer till 1876, when he settled at Falls Village, where he has ever since resided.

church, and soon afterwards his father bought a farm adjoining, and to-day Mr. Kellogg owns an interest in both farms. In 1880, Mr. Kellogg was made agent for Hon. Walter A. Wood's Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosie Falls, N. Y.

In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Kel- logg are members of the Congregational Church at Falls Village. He takes a deep interest in the tem- perance movement, and in all matters pertaining to the moral interest of his town. He has one daughter, Abbie T., born June 1, 1856, adopted into the Kel- logg family, April 5, 1869.

CHARLES HUNT.

Among the prominent men of Litchfield Co., Conn., none are more justly entitled to a place on the pages of our history than he of whom we write. He was a son of Amos and Mary (Lowrey) Hunt, and was born at Huntsville, Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 19, 1803. He received a common-school and academic educa- tion. His father was an iron manufacturer at Hunts- ville, and young Charles was trained in all the details of the business. Early in life he began business for him- self, and by his strict attention to the same became one of the most snecessful business men in Canaan. He was in mercantile trade in Huntsville for many years, besides, he had extensive interests in various iron companies, among others that of Hunt's Ly- man Iron Co., at Huntsville, Conn .; also an interest in Washburn & Hunt's Iron Co., at Jersey City. He took a deep interest in the Housatonic Railroad, and had considerable stock in it. He was president of the same for nearly fifteen years, and resigned some two years before his death. In politics he was an uncompromising Republican, but never was an aspirant for political honors.

He was three times married, first to Lucy Beebe, and had two children, viz., George B. and Lucy C. His second wife was Pamela Sedgwick Bates, by whom he had one son, Charles Sedgwick. His third wife was Charlotte Russell, daughter of Ely Russell, of Canaan, Conn .; married Oct. 4, 1849, and to them was born one daughter, Mary.

Mr. Hunt died Jan. 15, 1869. A friend speaks of him thus:

"Generosity was a marked trait in his character. To this all his intimate personal friends bear testi- mony, and many of his relatives and friends have had abundant occasions to test it, and none ever found it to fail, and what he did was done cheer- fully, and without the least osteutation. He was a man of almost womanly tenderness of heart, of a generosity which cheerfully met the claims of all persons and causes which won his confidence, and often led him to do more than was consistent with his own proper interest, and, joined in singular contrast

On the 19th of August, 1850, he married Laura, daughter of Samuel Beckley, of North Canaan, Conn. In 1856 he purchased some land near South Canaan | with this, a carefulness in the management of public

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

trust such as few public men exercise in these days, and, above all else, of an humble, devont, and earnest consecration to the service of his Master."

NATHAN MILLARD.

Ensign Nathan Millard, father of Joel Millard, set- tled on Cream Hill, in Cornwall, Conn. Joel married Azubah Sherwood, and had the following children, viz., Ebenezer Sherwood ; Submit, married Henry Baldwin, and lived in Cornwall; Electa, married Ithamar Baldwin, and resided in Cornwall; Amanda, married - Kilbourn, or Kilborn, a hatter, and lived in Litchfield; Melissa ; John Walker, went to New Marlboro', Mass., and thence to Illinois; Azubah, married - Rood, of Sheffield. Mr. Millard's second wife was Mrs. Theodore Norton, and had two chil- dren, viz., Clarissa and Franklin.

He removed with his son, John Walker, to New Marlboro' about 1835, having sold his farm to E. D. Pratt.

Ebenezer Millard was born in Cornwall, Conn., on what is known as Cream Hill, June 6, 1791. His life was spent on the farm. He married Mary Brad- ford, daughter of James Bradford, of Cornwall, Oct. 14, 1813. Of this union ten children were born, viz., Mary Ann (deceased), Mary Azubah (deceased), Joel (deceased), William W., the subject of this sketch, Walker S., James F., Sarah M., Nathan W. (de- ceased), Emeline, and John B. (deceased), all born in the town of Canaan, Conn., except the first.

Ebenezer Millard settled in Canaan, on the under mountain road, southeast of Huntsville, soon after his marriage, and here he continued to reside till his death, April 22, 1873. He was considered one of the best farmers of his day, as his son, William Wallace, is now justly so considered. In politics he was a Whig. Mr. and Mrs. Millard were members of the Congre- gational Church of South Canaan, Conn. He was a man esteemed by all, and when he passed away Canaan lost one of her best citizens. Mrs. Millard is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, and retains her faculties remarkably well for one so old.

William Wallace was born in Canaan, Conn., Sept. 23, 1819. He had such advantages for an education as the common schools of his day afforded. He taught school several times, commencing when he was seventeen years of age.

He was reared on the farm, which business he has continued to follow successfully till the present time. He owns the old Millard homestead, in Canaan, where his father first settled, and another good farm besides. Oct. 13, 1846, he married Olive J., daughter of Lyman Howe, of Goshen, Conn., and to them have been born three children,-viz., Sherwood F., a resi- dent of Nichols, Iowa; Mary J., wife of William E. Marsh, and resides at Cleveland, Ohio; William L., married, and resides on the old homestead in Canaan.

In politics Mr. Millard is a staunch Republican, and as such has held the office of selectman. Mr. and Mrs. Millard are members of the Congregational Church of South Canaan, Conn., and he is one of its liberal supporters.

MILO HOLABIRD.

Milo Holabird was born, April 9, 1810, on the place where he now resides, in Canaan, Conn. His grand- father, Timothy Holabird, born in 1716, a native of Brimfield, Mass., married Abigail Charles. They had six children. At an early day he moved to Canaan with his family, and settled near the present site of Falls Village. He was a large man, of great physical strength, and had much influence in the community. He was a tanner as well as farmer, and Federalist in politics. He died in 1810, aged ninety-four years.

William Holabird was the sixth child of Timothy and Abigail Holabird, and was born Feb. 9, 1764, in Canaan. He remained with his father until he be- came of age, became a farmer, and married, at the age of twenty-five, Dorcas, daughter of Amos and Han- nah (Swift) Bird, of Salisbury. Their children were Amos B., William S., Julia M. (she married Chester Monson, and had three children), Harlow C., Horatio N., Harriet E. (she married Garrett Kellogg, of Corn- wall, and had two children), Milo, Sophia A., and Lucius H., who died in infancy. Milo and Sophia are the only ones now living. William Holabird was selectman, justice of the peace, assessor, and held other minor othces. He was a Democrat in politics, and was a staunch supporter of those principles. Soon after his marriage he moved to the farm where he made his home for life, and where he died, Dec. 14, 1850. His wife, born Nov. 10, 1771, died May 30, 1849

Milo was reared on the farm ; had such advantages for education as were given by the common schools of his youth, supplemented by two terms of academic instruction, at one of which he studied surveying. As he was the youngest son, he stayed with his father, and after his death purchased the interests of all the other heirs but his sister Sophia, who resides with him.

Mr. Holabird has always been a Democrat, and had much influence in Canaan before the division of the town, and was very prominent in local politics. He was selectman for seven years, member of the State Legislature for 1848-49, justice of the peace for several years, and assessor two years. He strongly opposed the division of the town, and since that was done has not taken so active a part in town matters. He is now hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-two years, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, and enjoys the confidence and high esteem of numerous friends.

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Milo Holabird

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CANAAN.

JONATHAN BATES.

Jonathan Bates, son of Jonathan Bates, was born in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 17, 1794. His father was a very successful Baptist minister, and was born in East Haddam, Conn .; married Mary Morse, and had eight children, of whom Jonathan, the subject of this sketch, was the second son. His father lived to be eighty-two years of age, and his mother was about ninety-three years of age.

Mr. Bates had very limited advantages for an edu- cation, but by close application to good books, papers, magazines, etc., has become one of the best-informed men in Canaan, Conn. Very early in life he was compelled to work out to aid in maintaining the family. At eighteen years of age he left home to seek his own fortune. He worked by the month on the farm, by the day, by the job laying stone wall,- any way, every way to earn an honest penny. May 9, 1821, he settled in Canaan, Conn., on the farm where he now (April, 1881) resides. When he settled in Canaan he kept public-house for some seventeen years, in connection with farming, since which time he has been a farmer. He has been a very large and successful farmer, and to-day, although so very old in years, sees to his own business. He has cared for more than six head of cattle himself the past winter, besides attending to many other farm duties.

In politics he was a Democrat, but of late years has been a Republican. He has held varions offices of his town. He is very methodical in whatever he does, and has kept a diary since 1838. His memory is remark- able for one so old, and it is a pleasure to talk with one so well informed. Besides being well posted on various subjects, he has taken a deep interest in the study of astronomy, and is considered quite well in- formed on that subject. He has been three times married, first to Pamela Sedgwick, by whom he had one daughter, Pamela, who married Charles IIunt, of Huntsville; they had one son, Charles S., who was educated by Mr. Bates, and who became a prominent literary gentleman, residing in New York City, and died there in early manhood. Mr. Bates' second wife was Eunice Dean, and his present wife is Maria, widow of William Pendleton, and daughter of Luther Emmons, of Cornwall, Conn. They were married March 8, 1869. While he is not a member of any church, he has ever been very liberal towards all char- itable institutions, and the poor have in him a good friend.

REV. PITKIN COWLES.

Pitkin Cowles was born at Farmington (now South- ington), Conn., on April 7, 1777. He was a direct descendant, in the seventh generation, of John Cowles, at one time a member of the General Court of Con- necticut, who came to Hartford from England in 1640. He was a man of much influence, and one of the largest land-holders of the colony. Pitkin Cowles

was gradnated at Yale College in the class of 1800. He had a strong bent towards the legal profession, hnt before taking any steps in that direction it was the earnest wish of his father that he should pursue a course of reading for one year, under the supervision of the noted Rev. Dr. Smalley. To this he deferenti- ally assented, and at the end of that period, after due consideration, decided to commence the study of theology, under the same reverend preceptor, as also partly under the Rev. Dr. Charles Backus.

Having accomplished the requisitions to that end, he was ordained pastor over the Second Congrega- tional Church of Canaan, Litchfield Co., in August, 1805, an office to which he devoted himself with all the ardor of his strong, devont, and reverent nature. To the end of his life no interruption occurred in his calling, with the exception of a short period during. the war of 1812, when he became chaplain of a bri- gade nnder Gen. Elisha Sterling, then stationed at New London.

While in New Haven, on a visit to his eldest son, then a student at Yale College, he was seized with alarming symptoms of illness, and, wending his weary way to his old home at Southington, surrounded bv several members of his family, who had been hur- riedly summoned to his bedside, he soon breathed his last in the room where he drew his first breath. IIis death took place on Sunday morning, at sunrise, on Feb. 8, 1833, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. Ilis remains repose in a secluded nook at the "Grove," the home to which he brought his bride in the month of May, 1808. It is not difficult to delincate his character : frank, open, crystal waters were not purer. His mind was vigorous and comprehensive. He pos- sessed remarkable personal and moral courage. Ilis sympathies were very tender, with a lofty sense of honor, true and faithful in his friendships, not seldom practically shown, and his hospitalities unbounded. His favorite studies were the classics, natural sciences, and history, in which last, few of his day were so thoroughly read. In person he was about six feet in height, of fine physique,-a noble presence ; in con- versation graceful, and, inclined to discussion, a strong debater in council. In manner he was dignified, and to all he was courteous. Perhaps no truer example of the representative New England pastor of the period could be named. The father of his people, the shepherd of his flock, under his spiritual guid ance rich and poor, young and old took upon them the impress of his instruction, and the spirit of his unpretentious picty.

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER XXIX .*

COLEBROOK.

Geographical-Topographical-Towns Patented to Hartford and Wind- sor-The Controversy-Survey of the Town-Ministerial and School Lots-Initial Events-Incorporation of the Town-First Town-Meet- ing-Ilighways-Early Settlers and their Locations-The First Death -The First Birth-The Church Controversy-Ecclesiastical History- Congregational Church-Representatives from 1796 to 1882-Military Record.

COLEBROOK is located in the northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Hartford County, on the south by Winchester, and on the west by Nor- folk. The surface of the town is hilly. The soil is generally fertile and well adapted to agriculture.

HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF COLE- BROOK.

The town of Colebrook is one of the seven towns patented to the towns of IIartford and Windsor by the colony of Connecticut in A.D. 1729. The means by which these seven townships came into the hands of the two towns of Hartford and Windsor may be known by examining Trumbull's "History of Con- necticut," vol. ii. p. 95. By this it appears that when, in the reign of James II., Sir Edmund Andruss was sent over by that tyrant to demand the charter of the several New England colonies, and Connecticut ex- pected to lose their charter, the General Assembly made a grant to the towns of Hartford and Windsor, in the words following :

"This Court Grant to the Plantations of Hartford and Windsor those Lands on the north of Woodbury aod Mattatuck, and on the west of Farmington and Siesbury to the Massachusetts line north, to run west to Husatooic or Stratford River. Provided it be not a part of it formerly granted to any particular person to make a Plantation or village on."

This grant was made Jan. 26, 1686. Hartford and Windsor subsequently claimed that this grant was good and valid, while the colony on their part re- garded the grant as nothing but a plan devised and adopted at the time to save the lands of the colony from the grasp of Sir Edmund Andruss, and prevent his enriching himself and his followers by the sale of them; that the grant was made in a hasty and incon- siderate manner, and at a time when the colony was threatened with the loss of its most valuable rights and privileges, and paid no regard to the claims of the towns of Hartford and Windsor. The controversy respecting these lands between the contending claim- ants was long and violent, continuing until 1729. In 1724, Governor Talcott, Matthew Allen, and Roger Wolcott prepared a petition to the Assembly pray- ing that the controversy might be amicably settled, and that a committee might be appointed by the As- sembly for that object. Upon this application, James Wadsworth, John Brainard, and Hezekiah Brainard were appointed a committee to examine the claims of

Hartford and Windsor, to receive such propositions as should be made to them, and report to the Assembly, that the difficulties might be settled. The committee, after laboring on the business for nearly two years, made their report, upon which the Assembly resolved that the lands in controversy should be divided be- tween thic colony and the two towns, the colony to retain the western and the two towns the eastern division. In pursuance of this resolve the Governor and company, on the 22d of May, 1729, gave a patent to the towns of Hartford and Windsor of one-half of said lands, and about three years after, in May, 1732, an act was passed empowering Matthew Allen, Roger Wolcott, Samuel Mather, and other inhabitants of Windsor to make a partition of the moiety of lands then patented to the said towns, bounded north on the line of Massachusetts, west partly on lands be- longing to the Governor and company and partly on the town of Litchfield, south partly on the town of Waterbury and partly on the town of Farmington, east partly on Farmington and partly on Simsbury and partly on lands belonging to the Governor and company. One-half of this tract was granted to Hart- ford. The proprietors of the towns of Hartford and Windsor made a partition by a deed executed Feb. 11, 1732, the townships granted to Hartford in the division being New Hartford, Hartland, Winchester, and the eastern half of Harwinton; to Windsor, Torrington, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, and the western half of Harwinton. On the 7th of April, 1732, the inhabitants of Windsor made a division of the three and a half towns among themselves to a certain num- her of patentees or proprietors, to have and to hold the same in severalty to them and their heirs forever. These preparatory measures having been adopted by the proprietors, the General Assembly passed an act of incorporation vesting them with all powers neces- sary for the disposing of said lands and securing them forever to those who should purchase. The first tract of land mentioned in the patent is Torrington, said to contain twenty thousand nine hundred and twenty- four acres, granted to Matthew Allen, Roger Wol- cott, Esqs., and to the rest of the proprietors of said Torrington. The second parcel of land is Barkham- sted, containing twenty thousand five hundred and thirty-one acres, to Capt. Thomas Moor, Lieut. Jona- than Elsworth, and the rest of the proprietors of Barkhamsted. Colebrook was granted to Capt. Samuel Wheeler, Mr. Henry Wolcott, and the rest of the proprietors of Colebrook, said to contain eighteen thousand one hundred and ninety-nine acres. The fourth parcel is the western half of Harwinton, con- taining nine thousand five hundred and sixty acres, granted to Samuel Allen, Daniel Berrill, and the rest of the proprietors of Harwinton. It is probable, though it does not appear on the proprietors' records, that the whole of the three and a half towns were divided to the inhabitants of Windsor on the same list, as the names of the original proprietors of the

* This chapter embraces the unpublished manuscript of the late Reu- ben Rockwell, contributed by his son, Reuben Rockwell, Esq.

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COLEBROOK.

different townships are not the same. The amount of the list on which the township was divided was £3987 48. 8d., the quantity of land divided eighteen thou- sand one hundred and ninety-nine acres, being about four and three-fourths acres on one pound, or twenty shillings on the list. The first meeting of the pro- prietors was held at the meeting-house in the first society in Windsor, Jan. 30, 1732. At this meeting Capt. Joseph Phelps, Roger Newberry, and Thomas Allen were appointed a committee to preambulate with the neighboring towns the town line of Cole- brook, to view and see the land lying in said Cole- brook and the form thereof; and it does not appear that another meeting of the proprietors was held until May 22, 1756, a period of twenty-four years. There was a meeting Feb. 22, 1743.

The township was surveyed and laid out in 1760 into twenty-nine rights, that being the number of the original proprietors. Sixty acres was laid out as a ministerial lot, to be the property of the first orthodox minister who should be settled or ordained in the town ; one hundred acres as a parsonage for the use of the ministry ; one hundred acres as a school-lot for the benefit of common schools, and ten acres as a par- cel to build a meeting-house on.

The township was laid out in three divisions and eight tiers. Each proprietor's number was drawn by lot, No. 1 beginning at the southwest corner of the town, then running northward on the first or west tier to the Massachusetts line,-No. 52 being the north lot on the first tier,-then turning eastward and begin- ning the next number at the north end of the second tier, and running down on said second tier, and pur- suing that course through the town, the tiers being two hundred and forty rods in width, except the east tier, which does not hold that width, especially at the south end. Ten-rod highways were laid between each tier, and a number of four-rod highways across the several tiers. The committee who laid out the town were Pelatiah Mills, Josiah Phelps (2d), James Rock- well, Ephraim Wolcott, and Nathaniel Tilley. The meeting at which this survey was accepted was held July 16, 1760.

The first settler in the town was Benjamin Horton, in December, 1765; Joseph Rockwell, from East Windsor, who arrived with his family Jan. 16, 1766; Joseph Simons, in February or March following; Nathan Bass, in April or May of the same year; and Samuel Rockwell, in February, 1767, the two latter also from East Windsor. After these, among the early settlers, were Gideon Horton, Francis and Aaron Griswold, David Viets, Samuel Mills, Joseph and Eleazar Bidwell, Hezekiah and William Simons, John Porter, and David Pinney.

As the inhabitants were not experienced in the most approved mode of clearing lands and bringing them into cultivation, and generally poor, and the whole town one entire forest covered with heavy tim- ber, its transformation into fruitful fields and well-

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 65

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