USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 76
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Noah Rogers4 was born in Cornwall, Oct. 13, 1766. He married Lydia, daughter of Rev. John Cornwell, for his first wife. Their children were Daniel Leete, Abigail, Lydia (Mrs. Chalker Pratt, married Nov. 19, 1815), Rhoda (Mrs. Julius Hart, married Jan. 7, 1819), John, Noah,5 Abigail (Mrs. E. M. Pratt, married Sept. 14, 1829). His second wife was Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Hon. John Wilson, of Perth, Scotland. Their children were Eliza (Mrs. Rev. Augustus T. Norton, married Nov. 12, 1834), Ambrose S., Amanda (Mrs. Rev. A. B. Pratt, married Aug. 11, 1841). ITis third wife was Mrs. Abigail Whedon, of Winchester. He died Sept. 28, 1839. He was known as Deacon Noah Rogers, and was a man of great enterprise, of wisdom, geod judgment, and prudence. He filled at different times the various offices of the town, represented Cornwall in the State Legislatures of 1813-15, and 1818. He was a man of sterling worth and true Christianity, and no man living in his day was more willing to help every good cause, and his plentiful means were used liberally to that end and the relief of the suffering. He paid a large share of the cost of erceting the church at North Cornwall, besides fur- nishing a large proportion of the timber and lumber, and always, when there was a lack of funds to pay the minister's salary, supplied the deficiency.
Mr. O. Rogers Burnham, in the addressabove alluded to, thus speaks of him : " We used to call him ' Unele Noah,' a man who went about doing good, especially among the poor. Unostentatious, his benevolence was proverbial. He was a patriot and a philanthropist. If there was a poor sick man, woman, or child in town, he was suro to be at their bedside, and he never went empty-handed. If he was seen on a cold winter morning jogging along with a bundle under his arm, the question was at once asked, 'Who is sick ?' I do
not hesitate to say that he has done more, directly er indirectly, fer this seciety than any other man that ever lived. Loek at your beautiful meeting-heuse ! Who headed the subscription-list with five hundred dellars cash? It was he. Who gave the grounds ? It was he. Whose greves were ransacked for the best sticks of timber to build it with? They were his. Leek at your beautiful burying-greund! Whe gave it, regardless of destroying two of the best building lots in town ? 'Twas he. Who fenced these grounds with trifling remuneration ? 'Twas he. I recollect that my father and he once represented the town to- gether in the Legislature. I told my father I didn't see that 'Uncle Noah' made many specches. 'No,' said he; 'but he made a good member. He worked hard for his constituents, and always voted right.'"'
Daniel Lecte Rogers was born in Cornwall, Feb. 13, 1791, and married Harriet, daughter of Miner and Mary Pratt, Oct. 1, 1816. Their children were Henry Leete, bern Feb. 4, 1819; Daniel Mallory, born Feb. 28, 1821; Egbert Maltbie, born Feb. 11, 1823, died Feb. 8, 1876; Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Thee- dore R. Ives), born Oct. 24, 1824; Miner Pratt, born Feb. 14, 1827, died Jan. 20, 1864; Harriet Cordelia, born Aug. 7, 1828, died July 10, 1831, and was the first one buried in Nerth Cornwall cemetery ; Dwight; Abbie, born Feb. 28, 1834, died Oct. 4, 1874; and Ilarriet, born June 13, 1838.
D. L. Rogers inherited his father's exceutive ability, and was frequently called to places of public trust ; he was selectman, ete. Ile was a medel farmer. He bought a farm which looked the poorest in the town, and made it, by his diligence, eare, and attention, one of the best. It is now occupied by his son Dwight. After the death of his father he became one of the chief supporters of the church, and was ever promi- nent in good works. In a letter to Hon. T. S. Gold, published in Gold's " History of Cornwall," Rev. Wm. B. Clarke, a former-pastor, has these pleasing words : "My first acquaintance was with the family of Mr. D. L. Rogers (' Uncle Leete,' as I became accustomed to hear him called), where I stayed during ensual visits that preceded my settlement. Later my home was with his brother, Mr. Noah Rogers,5 Highly as I valued those men at that time, my experience since has even enhanced my estimate of their worth. They were very free from small prejudices, and could be relied on to do their part liberally when any good cause re- quired. I remember well one instance, which will show how well they had maintained a generous spirit amid the enforced frugality of a farmer's life. A Mr. Smith, a man of small means, had a factory for tan- ning skins, which Mr. John Beers worked up into gloves and mittens. The tannery took fire one night and burned down. A company of us rode down the next morning to the scene of the disaster. After a few expressions of condolence, Mr. Beers drew up a subscription-paper, and headed it with one hundred dollars. This was quite proper, as Mr. Beers' own
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business was largely dependent on the factory. He ' born Dee. 17, 1864; William Smith, born Oct. 22, turned to 'Uncle Leete' with the question, ' What will 1867 ; Sarah Talcott, born Oct. 25, 1871. you do?' The answer came, in his deliberate, solid way, ' You may copy those figures for me.' Mr. Noah Rogers subscribed fifty dollars. A few moments se- cured the success of the movement, and Mr. Smith was comforted." D. L. Rogers died Aug. 11, 1869.
It is curious that the intermarriages of Pratts and Leetes with the Rogerses in the present generations have precedents away back in the early English days, where the same intermarriages are seen. Two of the children of D. L. Rogers having married with the Leetes of Guilford, it would seem not inappropriate to show the character of the family so intermingled with the Rogerses.
William Leete, of Midlow, Huntington Co., Eng- land, was bred to the law ; was a clerk in the Bishop's Court at Cambridge ; became a Puritan, gave up his office, and came to New England in May, 1639. He was one of the first settlers of Guilford, Conn. (and his son John is said to be the first white child born there) ; was one of the pillars of Mr. Whitefield's church ; received the highest honors which the colony of New Haven, and afterwards that of Connecticut, could give. From 1651 to 1658 he was magistrate of Guilford, and one of the court of magistrates of New Haven Colony for years. In 1658 he was chosen Deputy Governor, which office he held to 1661, when he was elected Governor. He held this position till 1664, when New Haven Colony was united with Connecticut. Upon this union he was elected magistrate, and from . 1669 to 1676 held the office of Deputy Governor, at which time he was elected Governor, which position he held till his death, April 16, 1683. "For forty years," says Dr. Trumbull, "he was magistrate, Deputy Governor, or Governor of one or other of the colonies. In both colonies he presided in times of the greatest difficulty, yet always conducted himself with integrity and wisdom." He secreted for sev- eral days the judges Whalley and Goffe. He left a numerous family, and his descendents have occu- pied the highest positions in various parts of the country.
Henry Leete Rogers married Nancy Clark, Feb. 16, 1842. Their child, William Leete, was born July 29, 1846. Mary E. Rogers married T. K. Ives, May 14, 1845. Their children were Roger Leete, born Jan. 23, 1852; Dwight Williams, born April 8, 1855; Theo- dore Bradley, born Nov. 18, 1856, died Dec. 8, 1856; Frederick, born Feb. 21, 1859, died Oct. 8, 1874; Mary Eliza, born July 4, 1868. Daniel M. Rogers married Philena Knapp, Jan. 7, 1851. Their children were Jared Leete, born Nov. 3, 1851, died Sept. 21, 1860; Daniel Owen, born Feb. 6, 1854; Mary Harriet, born Jan. 20, 1856; Noah Cornwell, born Feb. 13, 1859; Sarah Philena, born April 10, 1861; John, born No- vember, 1866, died 1867. Harriet Rogers married E. Walter Leete, Oct. 10, 1861. Their children are Abbie Louisa, born Oct. 20, 1862; Edward Rogers,
Dwight Rogers, born Aug. 3, 1832, married Lucy L. Leete, Dec. 16, 1863. She is seventh in line from Governor Win. Leete, the line of descent being Wmn. Leete and Anna -, John Leete and Mary Chitten- den, Pelatiah Leete and Abigail Fowler, Daniel Leete , and Rhoda Stone (these were parents of Rhoda Leete, who married Noah Rogers3), Ambrose Leete and Miranda Chittenden, Miner Leete and Lucinda Nor- ton, Edward L. Leete and Sylvia Fowler, who were parents of Mrs. Dwight Rogers. Their children are Dwight Leete, born Dec. 11, 1866; Nellie Lucretia, born Nov. 12, 1868; Harriet Fowler, born Jan. 22, 1872; Miner Pratt, born March 19, 1874; and Sylvia Abbie, born Nov. 11, 1877.
Mr. Dwight Rogers is truly a representative farmer. He owns one of the best farms in Cornwall, and his choice Devonshire cattle are a pleasure to the eyes of all beholders. By inheritance and his own industry he is in possession of a fine property. He is an active supporter of all good works, and worthy the name he bears. He is, as are nearly all the descendants of Noah Rogers, a believer in Christianity, and a member of the church at North Cornwall. He is thoroughly upright in character, prompt in meeting his business obligations, liberal to the full extent of his pecuniary ability, and receives, as he deserves, the esteem and confidence of the community.
Noah Rogers5 was born at Cornwall, May 12, 1803, and was the third son of Noah Rogers4 and Lydia Cornwell. He received the advantages of a common-school education. He declined the offer of a college course, which he felt would naturally have taken him into some profession. He enjoyed out-door life, and preferred to remain upon the homestead and follow the quiet avocation of farm-life. He was very fond of farm-life, and was never known to regret his choice. He seemed to have a special regard for each field through its associations. Previous to his death there were considerable forests upon his farm, which were his special delight. He seemed to have an ac- tual affection for the fine old trees, etc. He had great respect for his ancestors, and was anxious to honor them, and endeavored by precept and example to instill right principles upon his posterity. He was a man of integrity and large heart, great Christian charity and liberality. The last act of his life was one of charity to a neighbor. His hospitality was proverbial, and apparently boundless. He was never more happy than in entertaining his friends, and the humblest applicant was never turned from his door. He never sought office, but was selectman for two or more years ; was always found upon the side of right and the publie good. Physically he was a man of great endurance. He died very suddenly, on the even- ing of June 23, 1862, without ever having employed a physician or experienced a sick day in his life. He married, in 1829, Catharine Rebecca Clark, daughter
.. . ..
Doughty,"Photographer, Winsted, Coun.
Dwight Rogers
SYLVESTER H. BARNUM.
Sylvester H. Barnum was born April 3, 1803, in Kent, Litchfield Co., Conn. (This engraving represents him nt fifty years of age.) Ile was a son of David and Rachel (Iloyt) Barnum. His father was a son of David, one of the first settlers of Danbury, and who afterwards became one of the original three proprietors of Kent, moving thither in 1752.
David, Jr., was born in Danbury, Conn., and moved to Kent with his father, and became one of its early settlers. He had seven children,-Ebenezer, Delilah, Abigail, Lydia, Sylvester, David, and John, all born in Kent. In 1811 he removed to New York. Sylvester was at that time eight years of nge, and was bound out to a farmer of Kent to remain until he was of age. His life was a hard one; poorly fed, thinly elad, and worked like a brute, the young Ind twice sought refuge in flight; the first time he was overtaken and enrried back, and the last returned voluntarily and stood his hardships until released by operation of law. During the entire thirteen years he received but three months schooling. When he became of age he went to see his sister (Mrs. Martin Cole) at Cornwall. IlIs entire capital consisted at that time of the not-very-good suit of clothes on his back. Ile worked for Mr. Colo and his brother, on the farm and in the saw-mill, for two yenrs. There he beenme nequainted with Lucy Ann Stone, whom he married June 29, 1826. Her parents were Eli and Eunice (Crissey) Stone, formerly of Kent. Mrs. Barnum was born Nov. 22, 18044, in Cannan. Mr. Stone was born May 16, 1775, and died Oct. 9, 1845; Mrs. Stone was born May 22, 1776. For the first year after marriage this worthy young couple, commencing life with nothing, worked at different places by the week and month to gain suthcient money to provide for house- keeping. They did this and also earned enough to pur-
chase a small house and two acres of land in what is now West Cornwall, then Hart's Bridge. Still working hard, Mr. Barnum purchased forty acres of land, mostly woodland, on which he began to make charcoal and farm in a small way. These avocations he followed for nbout thirty years. He never kept a place long, but bought and sold rapidly, making something on each. At various times he was the owner of three places in Cornwall, five in Sharon, three in Washington, one in New Milford, und one in Canann. During fifty-one years of married life they moved twenty-fire times, and never but twice to places he did not own. He was careful, prudent, ceonomizing, and made money. He had an able, practical wife, who was a true helpmate for him, and for over half a century they worked together in harmony, and at their golden wedding, June 29, 1876, over three hundred guests participated.
Mr. Barnum would never accept public office ; shrank from making himself conspicuous, but had a generous heart and an open hand, and more than one young man now grown up received assistance for which they rever- ence his memory.
He was n member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sharon, and a liberal supporter of Christinn movements everywhere. Mrs. Barnum has been for years a member of the Congregational Church of North Cornwall.
They had six children,-Elizabeth, Lydia, Louisa .J., Eli, Delin, Lucy. Mr. Barnum died April 26, 1867, much respected. At his death but one child, Elizabeth, was living. Sho was born in Cornwall, Dec. 9, 1827 ; married, April 6, 1817, Lewis O'Canc, of Sharon. They now live in Cannan, and have four children,-Celia ( Mrs. Wallace Pierce), Lunnn ( Mrs. Chas, Keeler), Ette, and Lonisa J. Mrs. Pierce has one daughter, born in Pittstiold, Mass., in 1871.
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CORNWALL.
of William Clark, who survives him, and is a woman of strong, though unostentatious, character.
There were five children,-William Clark, Lydia Rebecca, Harriet Eliza, Catharine Amanda, and Noah6.
William C. Rogers was born June 2, 1830. He left his home at the age of eighteen, and went to Eliza- bethtown, N. J., where he taught school. From there he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and was principal of a public school until 1853. Then he returned home, and April 13, 1853, married Eliza M. Scoville, daughter of Jacob Scoville, and established a boarding-school for young ladies at North Cornwall, which proved very successful. In 1854 he was offered a position with the Cornwall Iron Company ; so he left the school in charge of his sisters and accepted the position of agent for the company. In 1856 he went into busi- ness with Pratt & Foster, West Cornwall, where he remained until 1864. Then he removed to Norwich, N. Y., and again engaged in the iron business. He was also interested in oil speculations in Kentucky, where he died, Sept. 26, 1867. He was a man of very genial nature, great popularity, and large executive ability ; was a man of Christian character ; was super- intendent of Sunday-school, etc .; stood high in the community. Had children,-Isabel M., born at West Cornwall, July 12, 1854, married Eugene Wickwire, Oct. 15, 1874; Kate Ingersoll, was born at West Cornwall, Sept. 21, 1857, married H. S. Andrews, Jan. 17, 1880; Hattie Beecher, born at West Corn- wall, Feb. 7, 1862, died in infancy ; Eliza Scoville, born at West Cornwall, April 13, 1863, died at West Cornwall, Sept. 27, 1875 ; William Noah, born at Nor- wich, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1864.
Lydia Rebecca Rogers, born Jan. 10, 1834, married George P. Bradley, of Stockbridge, Mass., April 14, 1859. Has. children,-Edward Ernest Bradley, born Feb. 8, 1862; George Irving, April 24, 1864; Mary Louise, Aug. 31, 1869. Mr. Bradley is a farmer, a inan of high standing in Stockbridge, where lie for- merly kept a select school for boys.
Harriet Eliza, born Jan. 8, 1839, married H. B. Crosby, of Paterson, N. J., Dec. 6, 1876. Children,- Henry Barrett Crosby, Florence Lyon Crosby. Mr. II. B. Crosby is a very prominent and wealthy mer- chant of Paterson, and a man of very marked charac- ter every way.
Catharine Amanda, youngest daughter of Noah Rogers, born at Cornwall, Aug. 6, 1843, married John B. Sedgwick, April 14, 1863. Had children,-Hattie Sedgwick, born at Cornwall, Ang. 31, 1866; Sarah Adam Sedgwick, born at Cornwall, Dec. 24, 1867.
John B. Sedgwick was a man of unusual promise, -a nephew and namesake of Gen. John Sedgwick. He died in New Jersey, Oct. 18, 1867, leaving the two little girls spoken of above. They were the special objects of love and pride for both the Rogers and Sedgwick branch of the family. Catharine A. Sedg- wiek married, July 11, 1878, L. R. Stelle, Esq., of
Saugnoit, N. Y., near Utica. He is a prominent silk manufacturer. Noah Rogers,6 born Jan. 25, 1845, married Ann Elizabeth Dudley, of Bath, N. Y., Sept. 21, 1865. Children .- Noah,7 born Jan. 26, 1872; David Clark, born June 12, 1877, died in infancy ; Harry Lloyd, born Feb. 7, 1879.
Noah Rogers6 retains the ancestral homestead, in which he takes great pride and delight, improving it from time to time, as opportunity offers, etc .; in season of 1880 built a new barn, in place of the old one, that is said to be the best in the town. In earlier years always had a desire for business life, but his father having died when he was only seventeen, and his brother William being away from home, Noah re- mained there until he was twenty-seven; then went with Pratt & Foster, and took charge of their pro- duce departments. He remained with them two years, and was then admitted a member of the firm, which was styled Pratt, Foster & Rogers. After one year he left them, went to Bridgeport, and established the first produce commission house in that city, in 1875. From very small beginning he has built up a large business, and is now among the heavy and leading merchants of Bridgeport. In the spring of 1881, Mr. George Morford joined him, and the firm became Rogers & Morford. A house like this was one of the needs of the town, because the surrounding coun- try is not very productive, and the bulk of the goods consumed here must come from abroad, hence their success. They endeavor to carry out in their busi- ness the good principles of their ancestors,-honesty, fair dealing, and integrity.
Mr. Rogers is of pleasing appearance, and has a magnetism that gains him hosts of friends. No one in Cornwall ranks higher than he in all the qualities of successful manhood, while in all that tends to ele- vate, improve, or benefit society he is a foremost worker. He may be justly called one of Cornwall's worthiest sons, carrying the family reputation with no tarnish from his conduct, and upholding by his character the good name his ancestors have always borne.
Noah? was appointed, at the semi-centennial, in 1876, of North Cornwall Church, one of a com- mittee to arrange for the proper celebration of its centennial day.
CHARLES N. SHEPARD.
Charles N. Shepard, son of Eliphalet and Mary Shepard, was born in Cornwall, Conn., April 27, 1820. His grandfather, Allen Shepard, came to Cornwall from Newtown in 1798, with his wife and children, of whom Eliphalet was one. He (Eliphalet) was born in Newtown in 1789, married Mary, daughter of Judah Kellogg, July 7, 1813, became a farmer, and died Ang. 12, 1865, leaving four children,-George II., Charles N., Elbert, and Harriet. He was a Method- dist; an earnest worker in that denomination ; a man
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
pure, peaceable, and much respected by his fellow- citizens. George H. moved to Brooklyn, N. Y., and married, June 3, 1840, Hannah Woolsey. They had one child, Phebe. Mrs. Shepard died June 20, 1841, and Mr. Shepard married again, Oct. 7, 1847, and had five children, Charles Edward, Jesse Woolsey, Eliza- beth Silliman, Mary Cynthia, and George Augustus. Elbert, born May 2, 1824, married, May 31, 1846, Cynthia L., daughter of George Wheaton, and has one son, George Wheaton, born Dec. 25, 1854. Elbert is a farmer at West Cornwall, has held many offices of trust, and in 1858 represented Cornwall in the State Legislature. He is a Methodist, but, while con- tributing to that denomination, is still liberal to others, and gave the site of the chapel in West Corn- wall, which, as Gold's "History of Cornwall" says, will ever remain as a testimonial to the liberal Chris- tian spirit of his family. Harriet married Morris Tuttle, Oct. 14, 1867. She still resides in Goshen. Charles N. received an academic education at South Cornwall, and remained on the farm until he was eighteen, when, preferring a mercantile life to agri- culture, he began his preparations for it by becoming a clerk in a store at Woodbury, remaining there three years, and familiarizing himself with the details of a business life. From Woodbury he went to New York City, and, after an experience of several years as clerk and book-keeper in a wholesale house, entered into partnership with Hudson Hoagland and established a wholesale provision store. This was successfully conducted, and in a few years' time passed entirely into Mr. Shepard's possession. He was an excellent business man ; was very successful, and accumulated a handsome fortune. The steady and absorbing at- tention he was forced to give to his business in pro- cess of time caused his health to fail to such an extent that he relinquished trade and returned to Cornwall, and made his home with Elbert. He never recovered his health, and died at West Cornwall, July 23, 1876. Mr. Shepard was a very exemplary man, a regular attendant of the Methodist Church, and, judging from entries in his diary, kept for years, he lived a Christian life. He was a Democrat in politics.
CHAPTER XXXII. GOSHEN.
Geographical-Topographical-The First Settlements-The Laying Out of the Town-New Bantam-Goshen-Trouble between the Town and the Colony-The Mob-Committee of Investigation-Settlement of the Controversy-The First Grant and Survey-The Surveyor-The College Farm-Division of the Town into Rights-First Proprietors' Meeting-The First Birth-The First Meeting-Ilouse-The Pioneer Minister-The Pioneer Taverns-Location of Early Settlers-Pioneer Merchants-The First Saw- and Grist-Mill, etc.
General Assembly in 1737. It is deemed advisable in this connection to reproduce the admirable address of the Rev. Grant Powers, A.M., delivered at Goshen, Sept. 28, 1838. It is the first printed history of the town, and is an invaluable production :
" These individuals claimed their right under the towns of Hartford and Windsor, which brought on a violent conflict between the colony and these towns. In October of 1722, while the Assembly were in ses- sion at Hartford, some of the trespassers were arrested, and imprisoned at Hartford, but a mob was raised, the jail broken open, and the delinquents were set at liberty ; and so violent was the opposition of these towns to the acts of the Assembly that the civil au- thority was unable to execute the laws of the land. Finally, the Assembly, feeling the disastrous conse- quences of a protracted warfare of this nature, did, in the autumn of 1724, appoint a committee to investi- gate all the claims, and report thereon, that the diffi- culty might be amicably settled. This committee spent nearly two years in the investigation, and then reported that a division of this territory be made, giving one-half to the towns of Hartford and Wind- sor, and one-half to the colony. Hartford and Wind- sor should have the eastern division, and the colony the western. In May, 1726, the Assembly adopted substantially the report of the committee, and subse- quently secured to these towns, Hartford and Wind- sor, by patent, all the disputed lands east of Litchfield, Goshen, and Norfolk, and retained the western sec- tion, viz., Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, and Salisbury ; and thus an affair was adjusted which had retarded the settlement of these towns and threat- ened the whole colony with disastrous consequences.
THE FIRST GRANT AND SURVEY.
" At the October session of the Assembly in 1726, a grant of three hundred acres of land in this town was made to James Wadsworth, Esq., of Durham, John Hall, Esq., of Wallingford, and Hezekiah Brainard, Esq., of Haddam. What the consideration was for this grant does not appear : probably it was for services rendered the colony. This survey was made by John Hitchcock, April 28, 1731. The northwest corner of this special grant was east of the road opposite the brick house of Capt. Jonathan Wadhams, and south of the school-house. The west line of the grant, run- ning south three hundred rods, intersected the north line of Litchfield thirteen rods west of the north and south road, that passes the house of Harvey Brooks, thence east on Litchfield line one hundred and sixty rods. Thence north three hundred rods, and then west one hundred and sixty rods to the northwest bound, already described, near Capt. Wadhams. This grant has always borne the appellation 'the Squires Farm' because the three gentlemen to whom the grant was made all had the title esquire attached to their names respectively. It is said that the house
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