History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 99

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 99

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Town Clerks .- The following have been elected town clerks for this town successively as the dates show:

Capt. George Gates, 1698; Joseph Arnold, 1703-15, 1720, 1727-39, 1741-43; Hezekiah Brainerd, 1716-19, - 1721-26, 1740, 1744-72; Nehemiah Brainerd, 1773-1802; Smith Clark, 1803-13; John Brainerd, 1813-37; Ezekiel S. Clark, 1838-55; John H. Russell, 1856-84.

HADDAM CENTRE.

This is the oldest settlement of the town. The village is pleasantly situated on the hill overlooking the river. The village street is nearly level for a mile or more, run- ning parallel with the river at an elevation of about 50 feet above it. Greenwood Cemetery occupies a bluff near the south end of the village. It belongs to a private company, who purchased the ground of David B. Ventres. The first grave made in it was that of Nehemiah Brain- erd, who died December 15th 1846. The oldest bury- ing ground in the town is that just east of the court house in the upper part of the village. It was dedi- cated to that use during the very early years of the settlement. The oldest headstone now to be found bearing a date is that at the grave of Daniel Brainerd, the progenitor of that numerous and prominent family in this town, who died April Ist 1715.

The old parsonage, once occupied by Dr. David Dud- ley Field, stands on the east side of the village street, nearly opposite but a little above the school house. This was the birthplace of the eminent counsellor, Hon.

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David Dudley Field. Dr. Field afterward built the house now occupied by Mr. Zachariah Brainerd, oppo- site the Methodist church, and in that house the now eminent jurist, Hon. Stephen J. Field, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was born.

In the year 1878, the four sons of Dr. Field, viz., David Dudley, Steven J., Cyrus W., and Henry M., pur- chased several parcels of land in this village, and sub- sequently had the land laid out and improved as two parks, one of which was called Meeting House Park, and the other Field Park. The former contains about two acres, and the latter a little more than 12 acres. By a deed bearing date November Ist 1880, these grounds were placed in the hands of the Haddam Park Asso- ciation, to be kept as a memorial of the Rev. David D. Field, and Submit Dickinson, his wife, parents of the grantors, and to be maintained as a public pleasure ground for the people of Haddam forever.

Brainerd Academy, a large three story stone building, was erected in 1839. It adjoins Field Park. Its found- ers were Nehemiah and John Brainerd. A deed, bear- ing date January 15th 1840, placed the property in the hands of a board of 12 trustees, who were invested with liberal discretionary powers in regard to the system of instruction to be followed in the institution. Vacancies in the board of trustees were to be filled by election by the board, which must always consist of eight members of the Frst Ecclesiastical Society, of Haddam, and four members of some other Congregational society or so- cieties, of Middlesex county. Further grants of land were afterward made to the institution by its generous founders. A flourishing and successful school was main - tained for several years, but it has been falling away of late, until it has but a comparatively feeble support.

The Superior Court is held alternately at Middletown and. Haddam. It sits here on the third Tuesday in April, and the fourth Tuesday of September. The re- moval of the county buildings from this town has been repeatedly under discussion for many years. The first court house was built in 1786. Its site had been oc- cupied by a town house or hall, and the town held the right to use the lower floor of the court house for its meetings. This building was 28 by 44 feet on the ground, and two stories high. The court room was above, and the town hall below. The building stood on nearly the identical site of the present court house. It was a wooden building, and had entrance doors on the east, south, and west sides. A flight of stairs led up in the northwest corner, and the judge's bench was on the east side of the court room. The jury sat on the north side of the bar, which was immediately in front of the judge, and a narrow room was partitioned off across the north end of the building, just behind the jury, for that body to retire in. The present court house was built in 1829. A jail was built at the same time as the first court house. It became untenable, and was condemned about 1812. Another was soon afterward erected on a site a few rods southeast of the site of the present work- house. It was a wooden building. The present hand-

some stone building was erected in 1845, at a cost of about $6,500, of which sum the town of Haddam gave $1,000 and the people of the town by individual sub- scriptions gave $3,000, one-half of the latter amount be- ing contributed by the Hon. Samuel Arnold. Addi- tions have since been made to the building.

From the church history published by Rev. E. E. Lewis, is taken the following paragraph in relation to the Methodist church of this village, which has been silent now for many years, the last preacher in charge having been the Rev. T. P. Marsh, who closed his service here in 1869, or about that time:

" The earliest class that was afterward connected with the Haddam Street Methodist Church was formed at Chapman's Ferry about 1815. Probably in 1829, Had- dam Street Class was formed, and the next year, 1830, the place was made a station, and Robert Travis was appointed to it by conference. After two years Na- thaniel Kellogg succeeded him, and in 1834 S. C. Davis became the preacher. In 1835, in connection with a religious quickening of the previous winter, a class was formed in Higganum, and the Maromas and Candlewood Hill classes were reorganized and transferred to Haddam station. Services were held in the court house till the meeting house was erected in 1837, at the dedication of which Rev. Dr. Fiske, of Wesleyan University, preached. This same year the first trustees of the church, Ephraim Pierson, Alva Kelsey, and D. M. Tyler, were elected. The church reported its largest membership, 80, in 1851, just previous to the formation of the church at Higga- num. Regular services have not been kept up for sev- eral years."

Columbia Lodge of Free Masons, which had been or- ganized at East Haddam, was moved here about 1825 to 1830, and remained here, meeting in the ball room on the second floor of the house then occupied by John Brainerd, now occupied by Albert Dickinson, next below the "stone store." The lodge remained here between five and ten years, during which time William Cook and David Ventres were masters of it. While here it re- ceived a number of members, and was afterward moved back to East Haddam several years before a lodge was instituted here.

Granite Lodge, No. 119, F. & A. M., was chartered January 5th 1879, with 26 charter members. Its wor- shipful masters have been: Albert H. West, Charles A. Dickinson, Richard E. May, and Ezra F. Brainerd. Its first officers were: A. H. West, W. M .; William E. Od- ber, S. W .; T. J. Clark, J. W .; E. P. Arnold, treasurer, and J. M. Ingersoll, secretary.

HIGGANUM.

A store was opened at the landing here in 1752, and about that time the locality began to build up and busi- ness increased until it became the most lively part of the town. Large quantities of cord-wood were shipped from here in the early years of the present century. In 1814, a clothier's works, a grist mill, and an oakum factory stood on the stream that flows into the Connecticut

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

River here. A brick yard was in operation about half a mile north of the landing. This was started in 1809 or 1810. It was formerly owned by Luther Freeman, and lastly by George A. and Orrin Freeman, until about 1850 when work in it was suspended. The clothier's works above referred to were run by Jonathan Usher, afterward by Roswell Reed, and probably closed about 1850. Wool was carded in the same shop until about 10 years since. The shop stood on the ground now occu- pied by the western end of the Higganuni Hardware Company's shop. The oakum factory was run by Sel- den Usher, El enezer Cook, Elijah Hubbard, and David Allen. It stcod just above the bridge, on the site after- ward occupied by the webbing mill which was carried away by the great October flood.

A grist mill once stood on the left bank of the stream, just above the present site of the Russell Manufac- turing Company's cotton mill, near the foot of the rocky falls. It was established in the early part of the last cen- tury, or perhaps earlier. Benjamin Bailey, in 1733, deeded one-half of it to his son Benjamin. A later mill stood on the same site, and was burned about the year 1835 or 1836. A saw mill stood on the right bank of the stream at about the same point. Benjamin Bailey settled in the western part of the village probably as early as the year 1700. Jabez Brainerd settled here somewhat later. John and Ephraim Bailey were also living here about 1712 to 1716. Of the two last mentioned, John lived where Hezekiah Scovil now does, and Ephraim lived where the Methodist church stands.

James Child came from Warren, Rhode Island, and commenced shipbuilding at Higganum in 1762 or 1763. He carried on the business until his death, in 1788, when he was succeded by his son, James Kelly Child. By the latter it was continued until 1837, his sons, Chauncey and Hezekiah, being associated with him during the latter years of that period. The sons kept up the business un- til 1854, since which time but little has been done here in shipbuilding. During the war of 1812, James Kelly Child built two gun boats for the Government, after a model furnished by the department. Matthew Hubbard built vessels here for a while during the early years of the century. Jonathan and Selden Huntington built ves- sels here as early as 1805, and for about 20 years after that date. John May, before 1832, commenced the busi- ness here, and continued it until 1835. George M. Clark built a schooner here in 1865, since which time nothing has been done in the line.

The birthplace of David Brainerd, the celebrated missionary, stood in a field sloping toward the river about two-thirds of a mile below the Congregational church in Higganum. The hole left by the cellar of the house marks its former site.

Higganum Cemetery occupies an elevated site near the busy portion of the village. The ground was opened for burial in 1741. The oldest stone in the ground is that which stands at the grave of Thomas Bevins, who died May 17th 1742. The ground covers about three acres, and contains among the numerous monumental tablets some handsome and even elegant monuments.

The following men from the neighborhood of Higga- num served in the French and Indian wars of the middle of the last century. Ezekiel Bailey, Simon Cone, - Bonfoey, Samuel Brainerd, Martin McNary, Richard Blake and Jonathan Arnold. In the American Revolu- tion this vicinity was represented in the service by the following: Christopher Bailey, Eliakim Bailey, Jacob Bailey, (killed at Stony Point, July 15th 1779) John Bai- ley, Lieut. Gideon Bailey, Sergt. Reuben Bailey, Ben- anuel Bonfoey, Lieut. Elijah Brainerd, Aaron Clark, Thomas Church, Noadiah Cone, Zachariah Brainerd, John Smith, Joseph Scovil, Lieut. John Smith, James Kelly Child, Thomas Child, William Clark, Jonathan Smith, Ezra Smith, and Col. Nehemiah Tyler. Jonathan and Ezra Smith died in the prison ship.

The Higganum Savings Bank was chartered in 1874. Its first officers were: E. P. Arnold, president; E. D. Gil- bert, secretary; Cornelius Brainerd, treasurer; and Isaac Arnold, Cornelius Brainerd, James C. Walkley, George M. Clark and E. P. Arnold, directors. Its present offi- cers are, George M. Clark, president; E. D. Gilbert, sec- retary and treasurer. Its present capital is $30,000.

THE GREAT OCTOBER FLOOD.

One of the most memorable and destructive events known to the annals of this town was the great flood of October 4th 1869. At this season of the year it is com- mon for the usual rains to swell the streams to a consid- erable degree, and sometimes so much so as to cause some damage. But on the occasion referred to the dam. age was unusually great. A heavy rain fell during Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the 2d, 3d, and 4th of October. The three streams that unite here to form Higganum River were greatly swollen, and at about noon on Monday a reservoir on one of the streams gave way, and its contents being precipitated upon the already vio- lent flood, its force suddenly became irresistible and terrific. The whole valley occupied now by stores and shops was inundated, and the roaring torrent, as it swept down the Candlewood Hill Brook tore out deep. gullies in the earth and carried large boulders down to the village center. The water rose nearly to the crown of the stone bridge at the foot of the hill that rises to the eastern part of the village, The webbing mill, a building 45 feet square and two stories high, with its machinery, valued at about $30,000, was lifted from its foundation and carried down over the falls by the cot- ton mill, where it tore away the corner of that building, and then went crashing to fragments at the foot of the falls. Barns and store houses went with it, and the debris was borne on the flood and scattered along the banks of the " Cove " and out upon the river. The mill had em- ployed from 50 to 100 hands, but fortunately, owing to the fact that it had been closed for repairs that day, there was no one in the building when it went down.

In the valley of the Candlewood Hill Brook lived Mrs. Hannah McIntosh, a widow, in a small house, alone. The neighbors, expecting to find the house swept away, as soon as the waters subsided repaired thither, but found

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that the house had been moved only 12 or 15 feet, and that its interior was undisturbed. Further search, how- ever, revealed its unfortunate occupant a lifeless corpse, lodged upon a little ridge about 25 rods below. She had evidently attempted to flee, and in doing so had been overwhelmed by the rushing wave.

The road that ran along by the side of this stream was undermined and cut down, so that for months it was impassible, and finally a new road was made on higher ground adjoining. The damage to roads and bridges was $10,000.

HIGGANUM MANUFACTURES.

About a mile up the Candlewood Hill Brook from the junction, there is a water privilege which was utilized first by Hiram Woodruff and Giles Brainerd for the manu- facture of edged tools. They started this enterprise in 1826. This was the first manufactory of this class of goods ever set up in this town. These men failed about 1837, and gave up the business. Friend Dickinson then established in the same place the manufacture of axes, chisels, and drawing knives. He continued the business here until 1848, when he built a shop on the stream be- low, where now the polishing shop of H. Scovil stands. He carried on the business until the autumn of 1851, when he died. For the following five years his son, Ly- man Brainerd, and Orren Freeman carried on the work, and afterward Noble Dickinson and T. D. Hayes con- tiuued it for two or three years. It afterward passed into the hands of Mr. Scovil, by whom it is now occupied.

A saw mill on the Shopboard Brook, one and a half miles north-northwest of the village, was owned by five brothers, sons of Ephraim Bailey, from some time before 1780 to about 1812 or 1815.

A saw mill was built by Braddock Strong, on the opposite side of the brook from the "Spar mill." The dam is 25 rods above, and water was led down through a canal. It was built in 1826, and kept in operation till about 1865.

The shop known as the "Spar mill " was built by Alfred Brainerd and Harris Cook, about the year 1866, for grinding feldspar and flint for making crockery. The rock was brought from a quarry about four miles above here, and after being reduced to a powder was shipped to potteries in New Jersey and elsewhere. The business was carried on about 12 years, after which the shop was sold to D. & H. Scovil, and has since been used in the manufacture of hoes.

A gin distillery was established in 1813, about a half mile below the village, on the east side of the turnpike. Water for the condenser was led through wooden pipes laid underground from a cool spring on the west side of the road near by. The establishment had a capacity for producing 250 hogsheads of gin annually. It was once burned and afterward rebuilt. For a time it was operated by Willard Smith, who gave it up about the year 1835.

The Scovil brothers, Hezekiah and Daniel, established the manufacture of plantation hoes in several shops on

the Candlewood Hill stream. What are known as the " brick shops " are located about half a mile above the village. The first was built about the year 1861. About 60 rods further up a dam was built in 1848, and a shop in the following year. An addition was afterward built. These " brick shops" are of considerable dimensions, and in them the principal part of the extensive business of their owner is carried on. The other shops, in which parts of the business are accommodated, have been already mentioned.

Hezekiah Scovil, the ancestor of the proprietor of the last mentioned works, was the son of Joseph Scovil, and grandson of William Scovil, one of the first settlers of Candlewood Hill. He was born January 29th 1788, and in his early manhood, having learned the trade of a blacksmith, set up a shop where he carried on that busi- ness. He afterward learned of Eli Whitney the art of welding gun barrels, and being employed by him in the exercise of that art he established a shop on the stream that ran near his blacksmith shop, and carried on the work. This was done previous to 1814, and the manu- facture of gun barrels increased to such an extent that his time was afterward given exclusively to it. He con- tinued the business until his death, which took place October 9th 1849. A saw mill now occupies the site of the gun barrel shop at Candlewood Hill.

The Higganum Manufacturing Company, was organ- ized in 1867, under the joint stock law of the State. Its capital stock was at first $13,000. The property was pur- chased in 1877 by the Higganum Manufacturing Corpora- tion which was at that time organized with a capital of $200,000, which was the amount paid for the plant. The new company was composed largely of the members of the former one. George M. Clark has been president of both companies from the organization of the first; Thomas J. Clark was vice-president, secretary, and treas- urer of the first company during the first five years of its existence; and Clinton B. Davis was secretary and treasurer during the remaining years of its existence, and has held the same position in the present company since its organization.

The business, which comprehends the manufacture of a great variety of agricultural implements, occupies ex- tensive buildings in the heart of the village, at the con- fluence of the three branches of Higganum River. Abundant water power is supplied by these streams. About $200,000 worth of goods are annually manufac- tured, two-thirds of which find market in foreign coun- tries. Among other implements, over 400 kinds and sizes of plows are made here. A fire destroyed the foundry of this company March 13th 1869, causing a loss of about $10,000, and the flood of 1868 damaged them to the amount of $1,000. The great flood of 1869, how- ever, passed them with but slight injury. A pattern house was burned March 9th 1883, by which the com- pany sustained a loss of $74,000, mostly in patterns. Another fire destroyed a store house full of manufac- tured goods and lumber, June Ist 1884. By this fire, a loss of $150,000 was sustained.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

The Stevens & Hubbard Manufacturing Company, some of the members of which had established the busi- ness in 1878, was organized in 1880. A grist mill and saw mill were converted to the present use at the date first mentioned, and after passing through several changes of name, fell into the hands of the Higganum Hardware Company, in January 1884. About $40,000 worth of goods are annually manufactured, the goods consisting of chandeliers, brackets, cutting nippers, pliers, wire cut- ters, etc.

A manufactory of wrenches and blind fastenings was started near the railroad station by Reed & Company, in school connected with the church numbers 104.

June 1880. Steam power was employed, and about 20 hands were engaged in the business. The building took fire December 25th 1883, and burned to the ground.

A large cotton mill, owned and operated by the Rus- sell Manufacturing Company, of Middletown, is situated on the Higganum River, below all the other mills.

HIGGANUM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

After several unsuccessful attempts had been made to secure a Congregational church organization distinct from that at Haddam, an effort in that direction suc- ceeded in 1844. The church was formed here May 14th of that year; 135 members withdrew from the Haddam church to constitute this; and Dr. David Dudley Field was made acting pastor of the new church. Services were held in a school house until the completion of the church building, which was dedicated July 23d 1845. An ad- dition was made to the rear of the church, which in- cluded a chapel, a church parlor, and a kitchen, in 1870. A new parsonage on the lot north of the church, was completed in August 1882, and was dedicated Novem- ber 15th following. The pastors of this church have been:

Rev. David Dudley Field, May 14th 1844 to spring of 1850; Rev. Stephen A. Loper, July 7th 1850 to July 7th 1856; Rev. Charles Nichols, November 1856 to Novem- ber 1864; Rev. John E. Elliot, May Ist 1865 to July 21st 1867; Rev. Sylvester Hine, July 12th 1868 to January 9th 1878; Rev. George Sterling, April 1878 to March 28th 1880; Rev. Dwight M. Pratt, December 16th 1880 to the present time.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HIGGANUM.

A Methodist church was organized here in 1853, with a membership of 18. A station had been occupied here as a branch of the old Ponset church, for some time previous to that date. A revival, which occurred in February 1850, gave a large number of conversions in this locality and no doubt prepared the way for the es- tablishment of the church. A class had existed here from 1835. A church edifice was erected about 1862, which enterprise was largely due to the efforts of Rev. Mr. Allen, a supply at that time: Mr. Malvin Tyler, a local preacher from Tylerville, was for many years a valuable helper in the work of this church, supplying the pulpit when occasion called him with generous prompt- ness and earnestness. The following ministers have

served this church since 1860: A. W. Allen, 1860-62; W. H. Adams 1863; B. A. Gilman, 1864; - Burns, 1865; A. B. Smart, 1866; - Bailey, 1867; Marsh and Smith, 1868; Smith and Blake, 1869; W. J. Smith, 1870; J. H. Pillsbury, 1871-2; W. A. Luce, 1873; W. A. Luce and H. D. Latham, 1874; H. D. Latham, 1875; D. J. Clark, 1876; J. P. Gordy, 1877; C. W. McCormick, 1878; Charles L. Man, 1879; N. Edwards, 1880; J. F. Cooper and A. S. Kavanagh, 1881; A. S. Kavanagh, 1882; Thompson and Talmadge, 1883; C. H. Talmadge, 1884. The present membership is nearly 100. The Sunday

PONSET METHODIST CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Ponset, or the western part of the town, was organized in the spring of 1793. A meeting house was erected in 1795. This was 30 by 40 feet in size and had galleries on three sides. It stood about one-fourth of a mile north of- the present one, just above where the road turns to Little City, the site lying between the lands now owned by Oliver Smith and Sylvester Burr. A new church, the present one, was built in 1842. At that time the Killingworth branch, which had belonged to this society, withdrew, and on its reorganization this church had 52 members. Its present membership is 101. The following preachers have been in charge at the dates given: John E. Searles, 1844; E. P. Ackerman, 1846; A. B. Pulling, 1848; George L. Ful- ler, 1852; D. Nash, 1854; R. D. Kirby, 1857; H. Scofield, 1860; I. Sanford, 1865; A. B. Smart, 1865; B. Redford, 1868; W. W. Elder, 1872-74; Edward C. Hoag, 1877; D. N. Griffin, 1880; Edward Curtis, 1881; Samuel O. Curtice, 1882, present time.

PONSET PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church is the outgrowth of a Sunday school started by William C. Knowles, at his own house, in the summer of 1861. He has since been ordained and is now pastor of the church. The membership is small. The chapel, which was begun in the latter part of 1871, was consecrated as St. James Chapel, by Bishop Wil- liams, November 10th 1877. Clerical services were ren- dered by neighboring ministers till the present incumbent was ordained in February 1875. Mr. Knowles also has charge of Emmanuel Church, Killingworth, where he resides.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 99

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818