USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 34
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He married first Sophronia M. Blakeslee, February 16th, 1842. Two children were born of this union: Isaac W., a dentist in New
Vo aac L' attiles
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Haven, and Frank L., associated with his father under the name of I. L. Stiles & Son. Mrs. Stiles died after a long and distressing sickness. November 17th, 1886. He married second, Mrs. Ellen ( Rich ) Dicker- man, October 23d, 1SSS.
Mr. Stiles is one of the foremost supporters of St. John's church. He has held the office of senior warden since 1883, besides serving on numberless special committees of various nature. For many years he was a valuable member of the church choir. He is rarely absent from church service, and his liberality has often assisted the eccle- siastical society in emergencies.
In politics he has always been a pronounced republican. In 1849 he was placed upon the town ticket for selectman, and to the surprise of the opposite party was elected, the first whig on the board for many years. He represented the town in general assembly in 1854, 1884 and 1885, and with such popularity that, in 1890. much against his wishes. he was prevailed upon to stand as senator for the Seventh district, but was beaten by local issues in the Naugatuck valley. This defeat was tempered, however, by the fact that he ran far in advance of his ticket, even exceeding the vote for governor in the district. His sound judgment, fairness and liberality, have made him sought for advice in a multitude of ways by his townsmen. It is the exercise of these same qualities in his business relations that has made his name hon- ored throughout a wide circle and brought financial success. From a few thousands of brick indifferently made half a century ago, he has seen the business grow to millions, and is now the oldest practical brick manufacturer in the town.
SHELDON BRAINERD THORPE, son of Dennis and Elmina ( Bassett) Thorpe, was born in North Haven, February 21st, 1838. He is in the eighth generation from William Thorpe, who came with the colony under Davenport to New Haven, in 1638. In English genealogy he traces his family line to the time of William the Conqueror, or about 1060. His ancestor, Nathaniel Thorpe, in the second generation from William the colonist, was one of the first settlers of North Haven, in 1670.
Mr. Thorpe received his education in the poor district schools of that period and attended a few terms the academy at North Haven, walking four miles daily for that privilege. At the age of sixteen he himself began to teach at Northford and " boarded around " among his patrons. The following winter he taught at Hamden Plains and later several years in his native town. August 9th, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, 15th Connecticut Infantry; was promoted to second sergeant; served until after the battle of Fredericksburg, December, 1862; was taken sick and discharged for disability May 1st, 1863.
In 1865 he entered the employ of the H. & N. H. Railroad Com- pany, at Windsor Locks, Conn., and was with that corporation a couple of years. Later he was four years in the service of the Adams Ex-
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press Company. December 25th, 1865. he married Isabel Jane Barnes, of North Haven, and they have two children-Gardiner Ellsworth and Arthur Barnes. In 1871 he returned to North Haven and built the fine home since occupied by him and his family.
Mr. Thorpe cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has since been an ardent republican. By that party he was hon- ored with an election to the state legislature for the session of 1881. He has also held various town offices and for the past twenty years has been on the board of education. In 1858 he united with the Congregational church, in whose welfare and that of the Sunday school he has been warmly interested, serving four years as superin- tendent of the latter and since 1873 has been clerk of the Ecclesiasti- cal Society, besides holding many other positions in the church and parish.
The life of Sheldon B. Thorpe is full of unceasing activity. He is a member of Trumbull Lodge, F. & A. M .; and of Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R. When the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution was formed, he was one of the charter members and the first two years managed that organization. He is a member of the New Haven Colony Historical Society and a writer of good repute on historical subjects. After years of patient toil and research he has nearly completed for publication a history of his native town and is also prosecuting his work upon the genealogy of his ancestor William Thorpe and his descendants. The foregoing sketch of the town of North Haven is also from his pen.
FRANCIS HAYDEN TODD .- The Todd family is one of the oldest and best known in the town. Its members are direct descendants of Christopher Todd and Grace Middlebrook,early settlers at New Haven. Near the close of the last century Joel Todd, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, married Mabel Mansfield, daughter of Titus Mansfield. of Hamden, and settled on the Todd homestead, below the village of North Haven. Part of the original house, built by them about 1795. still remains, and has been continuously occupied by three generations of the family. Joel Todd died in 1820, but his widow survived him until after 1850. Their family, consisting of five chil- dren. were Dennis, Orrin, George, Salome and Caleb. Of these Orrin was born February 26th, 1800, and was married October 30th, 1823, to Aurelia, daughter of Jesse and Patience (Todd) Clinton, of Walling- ford. He lived on this homestead until his death December 8th, 1889-one of the oldest men of the town. His widow still survives, at the same place. They reared as children Francis Hayden, Grace Angeline (wife of Samuel Hale, of California), Henry Dennis, also of North Haven, and Mary Aurelia, who deceased in November, 1886, as the wife of Eli I. Brockett.
Francis Hayden Todd was born on this homestead, August 8th, 1827, and has followed his grandfather and father in its occupancy.
DJ. Hayden Jode
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTV.
He attended the public and private schools of the town and like his ancestors adopted the life of a farmer, in which occupation he is en- terprising and progressive. He is a member of the North Haven Grange and a director of the successful Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Connecticut. Mr. Todd is not only a successful farmer but he has made an honorable record as a useful citizen in public affairs. Elected first as a grand juror in 1864, he has since, with the exception of two years, filled that office, and it has been to his efforts largely that the law and order of the town have been so well con- served. He is one of the oldest in that office in the county. In October. 1891, he was elected for the sixteenth time treasurer of North Haven and yearly disburses the several funds to the entire satisfaction of his fellow townsmen. In 1883 the republicans (of which party he has been a member since its organization ) elected hin as their representative in the state legislature and in that body he served with credit as a member of the committee on agriculture. He was also a selectman four terms and has held other public trusts which have made him one of the leading men of the town.
On the first of January, 1855, Mr. Todd married Miss Elizabeth M. Gill, daughter of John Henry and Louisa (Tuttle) Gill, of North Haven, and they have reared three sons: George Henry, born October 31st. 1861; John Hayden, born November 14th, 1866; William Handel, born March 5th, 1871. All are citizens of North Haven and the entire family are consistent members of the Congregational church.
Henry D. Todd, son of Orrin, and grandson of Joel Todd, was born in 1832, and is a farmer. He served from September, 1862, until July. 1863, in Company B, 27th Conn. Vol. He married Grace A., daughter of Bernard and Sarah A. (Bishop) Hartley, and granddaughter of Henry Hartley.
Edmund C. Warner, son of Rufus and Harriet (Dorman) Warner, and grandson of Isaac Warner, was born in 1840 in Hamden. He is a farmer, having moved to North Haven from Hamden in 1866. He has been selectman two terms. He married Vestina, daughter of Vinus Wooding. Their children are: Wilson H., Alice V., Herbert E., Elton V., L. Jane, and one daughter that died in infancy.
CHAPTER VI.
THE TOWN OF HAMDEN.
Location and Natural Features .- Early Agricultural Industries .- The Early Settlers and their Descendants .- Population .- Civil Organization .- Town Poor .- Town Hall .- Town Clerks .- Public Thoroughfares -Manufacturing Interests .- Hamlets, Post Offices, etc .- Masonic Lodge .- Schools .- Mt. Carmel Congregational Church. -Congregational Church in Whitneyville .- Grace Church (Protestant Episcopal) .- St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic) .- Hamden Plains Methodist Episcopal Church. -The New Lebanon Mission .- Cemeteries .- Water Works and Parks .- Biographi- cal Sketches.
T HE town of Hamden is centrally situated in the county, lying between the broad valley of the Quinnipiac river on the east, and the West Rock range on the west, which separates it from Woodbridge and Bethany. On the north are the towns of Cheshire and Wallingford; east lies the town of North Haven, and on the south are the city and the town of New Haven, from which Hamden was cut off in 1786. The town thus has an approximate area of 32 square miles, being about eight miles from south to north and from three to five miles in width. It is probable that the name was given in compli- ment to John Hampden, the English patriot, and in some of the early records and contemporary writings it so appears, instead of Hamden, which is more euphonious and more readily written.
The borders of the town are mountainous or hilly, partaking of the characteristics of the foregoing ranges, which are a succession of elevations, composed of trap rock and green stone formation, the latter affording a splendid building stone. At the south end of the town the West Rock range is 380 feet high, increasing in elevation to 600 feet, opposite the Blue hills, or Mt. Carmel, as this elevation is now most generally called. This varies from 600 to 800 feet in height, and overtops all the surrounding country. In one locality its contour resembles a huge man, in a recumbent position, hence it is also called the "Sleeping Giant." .The western descent of the main mountain is the most lofty and is almost precipitous, forming one of the most striking objects in the county. At its foot is a defile, separating it from the neighboring hill, which is called the "Steps," and through which the Mill river breaks its way, following in its general course the East Rock ranges. Of this elevation the southern bluff is 360 feet high and Whitney's Peak, in the rear, is 300 feet high. These outlying ranges have subordinate or projecting inward spurs, Mill
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Rock, 225 feet high, stretching westward from East Rock, and Pine Rock, 271 feet high, extending eastward from West Rock. The main ranges received their names from their relative position to New Haven and the others from local circumstances. Between the last named hills and extending toward Mt. Carmel, is a comparatively level stretch of land, called Hamden plains. It undulates gently toward tide water and is composed mainly of alluvial deposits, in many localities sand predominating. Environed as the town is by the foregoing hills, there is a most pleasing landscape, and in parts it is also picturesque.
Mill river, with its affluent brooks, drains the eastern and central parts of the town, flowing through its entire length and having a slope of about fifteen feet per mile. After filling Whitney lake, it passes into New Haven, between the East Park and Mill Rock. Wilmot brook drains the western part of Hamden, taking the waters of Cran- berry lake and flowing into the West river, in the town of New Haven. Its course is between the West Rock and Pine Rock hill. These streams take the waters of numerous brooks, flowing from constant springs, Hamden being well favored in that respect.
In the lower ranges of hills are fine quarries of building stone, of the green stone variety; and the trap rock has also been quarried for paving purposes. The more valuable minerals also abound to some extent, of which copper is the most abundant. It is probable that most of it was floated into the town during the glacial period. The finding of a large mass of copper, weighing about 90 pounds, in one of the Mt. Carmel hills by Josiah Todd while he was gathering wild fruit, soon after the revolution, encouraged the belief that the town had copper in large quantities and much time and means were spent in seeking for it. Many mining leases were executed and at the Tall- man mine, on Ridge hill, near the north line of the town, excavations of considerable extent were made. But in this, as in inany other cases, later than 1837 (about which time the first operations took place), there was not enough ore developed to pay the expenses of working. But little mining has been done since 1864.
The soil of the town is variable but is adapted to the production of the ordinary crops, and agriculture was for many years the principal pursuit. It can usually be advantageously fertilized, and it is claimed that the menhaden fertilizing works of William D. Hall,in 1856, were among the first of that nature in the Union. Its products were used with good effects in the town. In addition to the ordinary crops, attention has been paid to crops of special culture, tobacco being ex- tensively grown from 1854 to 1865; peaches prior to 1850 and on a limited scale since; cherries have been grown on an extensive scale and Cherry hill, on the West Rock range, derived its name from that fact. In that locality the peach was also very productive many years, but in later periods has suffered from the disease called "yellows."
18
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
In 1775 Benjamin Douglas,“ a lawyer of New Haven, planted an orchard of 64 cherry trees near East Rock, all being of the grafted variety, which yielded fine crops many years.
In the period of the Morus Multicaulus excitement many mulberry trees were planted in the town, there being in 1836, according to J. W. Barber, more than one hundred acres in the town set aside for this purpose, and native silk was reeled and spun from the cocoons raised in the town. But as a permanent industry it never took an important place and was soon abandoned, the people of Hamden sharing the experience of other towns in this matter. In more recent years dairying has become an important industry, and considerable atten- tion is paid to improved stock.
Hamden was settled by the colony of New Haven and was in- cluded in the Indian lands purchased for the colony by Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, November 24th, 1638. Many evidences have been found that this was favorite ground for the In- dians, but in their own affairs or relations to the whites nothing of importance appears to have transpired. The Indians were peaceable and the whites mingled among them as hunters or grazed their cattle here long before it was permanently occupied by the planters of the colony To Jonathan Ivest is given the credit of being one of the first white men to rear a home in the wilds of Central Hamden. In 1735 he first located on the bank of Mill river, not far from the locality called Ivesville, but afterward lived on the turnpike. When he came he was a single man but in 1837 married Thankful Cooper and of their eight chil- dren four were sons, one only of whom remained in the town-Jona- than, who remained on his father's place. This became known, in more recent times, as the Dickerman place. James Ives, who was born in Hamden, was the father of Elam Ives, also born in Hamnden, about 1762. The latter and his sons, Parsons, Jason, Elam, Henry and James, were among the foremost in developing the manufacturing in- terests of the town. The name is still honorably perpetuated in this and adjoining towns.
Stephen Goodyear, who came to New Haven in 1638 and was chosen magistrate and was deputy governor from 1641 until his death in London, in 1658, was one of the foremost men of the colony. From him, it is said, descended all the Goodyears in America, and he was thus the ancestor of the numerous Goodyear family in Hamden. Among these were Asa, one of the first selectmen; Theophilus and Stephen, who held that office later; Asa, Jr., Titus, Jared and Eli, all of whom were admitted freemen prior to 1796. Charles Goodyear, the discoverer of vulcanizing rubber, was a son of Amasa Goodyear, of this line of descent, but not of Hamden. William B. Goodyear and Watson A. Goodyear, both of whom became distinguised in their avocations, are natives of the town.
*Blake's Hamden, p. 90. +Blake's Hamden Centenary, p. 256.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Among the planters of the colony in 1639 were members of the Tuttle family, and one of the descendants, Nathaniel, born in 1676, settled at Tuttle's bridge, on the Quinnipiac. His fourth son, also Nathaniel, born in 1714, married Mary Todd in 1737, and settled in Hamden. They were the parents of Jesse Tuttle, born in 1759, who died in Hamden, in 1849, aged 90 years. He was the father of Am- brose, Jesse and Leverett Tuttle, all of them prominent in the town's affairs. The latter was the captain of the Hamden men in the war of 1812 and was the father of Judge Horace Tuttle, Lewis Tuttle. Henry Tuttle and Dennis Tuttle, some of whom attained more than ordinary distinction in the town, or in their new homes. This may also be said of earlier generations of Tuttles, having among them Lyman, Levi, Asa, Amasa, Eli, Julius and Jesse S.
The Todds were also early settlers and active in affairs, Christo- pher Todd owning the old colonial mill, at Mill Rock, many years. Asa Todd, born in 1723, was one of the Hamden soldiers killed when the British invaded New Haven, July 5th, 1779. His daughter Eliza- beth, who had married Captain Solomon Phipps in 1779, at this time fled to her ancestral home, on Cherry hill, taking with her in a chaise her young daughter Elizabeth, who married Captain Jonathan Mix in 1800, and she long resided at that place in an old fashioned farm house, which was taken down in 1845. The only child of Captain and Mrs. Mix, married Elihu Blake, who built a new mansion on Cherry hill, and, it is said, so named that locality. Captain Jonathan Mix also served in the revolution, as captain of marines, and was im- prisoned in the Jersey prison ship. After the war he turned his attention to inventions and patented so many different kinds of carriage springs that he may be regarded as the father of that industry in America. The other Mix families in the town descended from Thomas Mix, who moved to Hamden before its incorporation and had sons named Benjamin, Zina and Stephen. The former was the father of Norris Bennett Mix, who has been very active in the later affairs of the town.
In the southern part of the town settled Daniel Gilbert, a grandson of Deputy Governor Matthew Gilbert. He had five sons-Matthew. Solomon, Caleb, Michael and John. The latter two were killed at the invasion of New Haven, by the British, July 5th, 1779. John Gilbert was at that time the captain of the Up-town militia company and when he received word that the British were coming up on the west side of the West river, to cross at Thompson's bridge, he rallied as many of his men as he could to intercept them. In an engagement that day five of his men were killed outright and Captain Gilbert himself was wounded. "Upon being ordered to surrender by the British Captain Parker, whose troops confronted him, Captain Gilbert asked: Will you spare our lives?' 'No, you d-d rebel,' and ordered a soldier to shoot him. Captain Gilbert replied : 'We'll never surrender,' and
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
shot Captain Parker so that he fell wounded from his horse. Captain Gilbert was then pierced with bayonets and his skull was broken with the butt of a gun."# He was at that time nearly 48 years old and was the father of Jesse Gilbert, who was born in 1762 and died in 1833, leaving four sons who, with their descendants, were mainly the Gil- berts who figured in the affairs of Hamden.
The Bassetts were also early settlers, John Bassett being one of the first, leaving a son James, who reared a large family. Of these, two sons, James and Timothy, were soldiers under Captain John Gil- bert and were both wounded July 5th, 1779, Timothy being left for dead. + He afterward lived on Shepherd's brook and suffered much all his life from his wound. In 1819 he built what was considered at that time the best house in the town. The following year he died. His son, Jared, born in 1789, who afterward lived on this place, held many important town and state offices and was widely known as "Squire " Bassett. He died in 1855, most highly respected by all.
In the western part of the town lived the Allings, of whom Caleb and Abraham took a keen interest in public affairs. The latter was after- ward pastor of the Hamden Plains church. In the same locality and farther north were members of the Benham family, some of the descend- ants still remaining. The Bradleys were more numerous, coming prob- ably from North Haven, where Major William Bradley settled very early in the history of the New Haven colony. In Hamden were, before 1790, Alvan, Jabez, Amasa, Levi, Eli, Jabez, Jr., and Daniel, Jr., some of whom were frequently called to hold public office. Of the later mem- bers, David Bradley was ordained a Baptist clergyman in 1828, and frequently held meetings in the northwestern parts of the town.
The descendants of Deacon Isaac Dickerman, of the " First Society" of New Haven, were also early in the town, Samuel Dickerman, his son, being a large farmer in Hamden. He had sons Isaac, Samuel, James and Chauncey, some of whom became well-known. Another son of the Deacon Isaac, above noted, was Jonathan Dickerinan, who was also a large land holder. His children were Enos, Jonathan, Hezekiah, Joel, Amos and Rebecca. From these have descended a long line of worthy citizens, many of them being at this time residents of Hamden.
When the town was organized Simeon Bristol was one of the most active participants. He was a man of property and was a slave owner. The family became few in numbers and has passed away. So, also, the Ford family, in its day, was very influential. Thomas Leek, 2d, a grandson of Philip Leek, one of the early settlers of New Haven, made some early improvements in Hamden, probably being among the first to make a permanent home. Descendants remain. Russell Pierpont, born in 1763, succeeded Simeon Bristol as town clerk in 1801, and held the office until 1842. His ancestors were leading *From Hamden Centenary. p. 248. +Hamden Centenary, p. 234.
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men, the Reverend James Pierpont, pastor of the First New Haven church in 1685, being one of the founders of Yale College.
In the northwestern part of the town many members of the War- ner family lived, so that locality came to be called Warnertown. Others of Hamden's early citizens, whom the town delights to honor, have been the Putnams, Whitings, Whitneys and families represented by the names of the members of the Seventeenth Company or Train Band of the Second Regiment, which was maintained in the territory, now forming a part of Hamden, in 1770 and later. This list is compiled from Barber's "History of Connecticut," and some of the given names appear missing: Captain, Stephen Ford; lieutenant, John Gillis; ensign, Elisha Booth: clerk, Charles Alling; drumniers, Sam- uel Cooper, Hezekiah Tuttle; corporals, Caleb Alling, Moses Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, Moses Ford; privates, Zadock Alling, Amos Alling, Medad Atwater, Abraham Alling, Ebenezer Bassett,
Ball, - Bradley, -- Bassett, Timothy Cooper, Dan. Carrington, Hezekiah Dickerman, Jonathan Ford, Stephen Ford, Nathaniel Ford, Daniel Ford, Michael Gilbert, Gregson Gilbert, Lemuel Gilbert, Daniel Gilbert, Ebenezer M. Gilbert, John Gorham, Amos Gilbert, Sackett Gil- bert, Nathaniel Heaton, Jr., - Hemberton, John Munson, John Manser, Jabez Munson, John Munson, Jr., Job Potter, Abel Potter, Timothy Potter, Levi Potter, Stephen Potter. Amos Potter, John Roe, Abel Stockwell, Thos. Wm. Talmadge, Gordain Turner, Japhet Tuttle Josiah Talmadge, Israel Woodin, Silas Woodin.
On the 5th of July, 1779, this company was commanded by Captain John Gilbert and was engaged to repel the advance of the British upon New Haven, commanded by Major General Tryon, when six of its men were killed, namely. Captain John Gilbert, Michael Gilbert, Samuel Woodin, Silas Woodin, Joseph Dorman and Asa Todd. Most of them were cut off by a charge of grape shot, fired near the west end of Broadway, in the city of New Haven.
The names of other prominent settlers appear in the following pages. In 1790, when the first census of the town was taken, there was a population of 1,422. In the next two decades there was a slow increase, followed by a diminished population in the next two decades. In 1840 the inhabitants numbered 1,797 and since that time, each census shows a healthy increase. In 1880 the population was 3,408, and in 1890 3,882.
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