USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 79
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 79
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Where Robert Minor now resides Lemuel Hall kept tavern about the year 1820, and for several years afterward. This tavern was a noted resort for young people even 70 years ago. One morning Mr. Hall noticed a flag fastened to the chimney of his house and offered a certain young man who is now living a rum sling if he would climb up and take it down. This was quite a temptation in those days, and the offer was accepted and the flag taken down in triumph.
On the turnpike some two miles north of the center, which in recent years has been the residence of Deacon J. L. Baldwin, was a tavern kept by Andrew Hull and others some 50 or 60 years ago. This place was known as the Farmer's Home and has been so called by old people down to the present time.
It is stated that the turnpike between this tavern commonly known at that time as the Farmer's Home and the center of the village, was so straight, that from the chamber looking south from the hotel on Sunday, could be plainly seen, people coming out of the old (or Second Congregational) church, which stood full as far east of the present church as the main road. This indicated to the family the time to commence getting supper.
On the site of the present residence of Doctor E. T. Cornwall, the Reverend Samuel Hall settled about the year 1723. He was the first pastor of the Congregational church and served as such for 43 years. He died in the year 1776. Soon after his death his son, Jonathan Hall. kept a tavern in the old homestead for many years. He was followed by Doctor William L. Foot, who also kept a public house here for a few years. This was a noted resort for the town officials, who spent many an evening in this place, discussing matters of interest to the newly incorporated town.
In the building now the residence of Mrs. Martin Brennan, was
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some 100 years ago the leading public house of the place. It was erected by Abijah Beach, who here kept tavern for a number of years. Afterward Samuel Cook, Richard Gregory, Horatio Terrell, Jesse Nichols, Samuel Thompson and others were the managers. In the third story was a hall fitted up by Mr. Beach for public use. Here courts, balls, exhibitions, shows, singing schools and almost all kinds of public entertainments were held. There are those now living who remember attending dancing school in this hall.
The old hotel now a part of the Wallace House was built by Doctor Cornwall early in the present century and by him occupied as a resi- dence. Several years afterward Doctor Shelton purchased the property and resided here. About 50 years ago this property was purchased by William Horton, who here kept a hotel for several years. He was followed by Levi Munson, who was proprietor until the year 1780, at which time the property was purchased by F. L. Wallace, who moved back the old hotel, built on the extensive addition in front, and making many improvements, as the building and grounds in front now appear.
On the corner in front of the private residence of Reverend Doctor Horton, Deacon Israel Bunnell lived. He was a large landholder, and for many years a prominent official of the town. It was from him that Bunnell lane derived its name. He was sent to the legislature six dif- ferent sessions, and was also selectman for a number of years. Deacon Bunnell kept tavern in this place for several years, which was a very popular resort for the travelling public.
On the opposite corner, where now stands the fine brick building known as Horton Hall, was formerly a hotel built early in the present century by Doctor William L. Foot, who kept it for a short time. Af- terward Benjamin Dowd Doolittle kept a public house here for quite a number of years. At this hotel courts of justice were often held, at the time Esquire Andrew Hull was the trying justice.
In the year 1732 the small-pox broke out in the infant settlement, introduced there by an unknown hand. The disease broke out in the center of the village, generally believed to be at the house of Josiah Hotchkiss, a few rods from the meeting house, and near the present residence of Mrs. A. M. Beecher. This was then a house much fre- quented on all public occasions, and the disease being of an unusual kind, many opinions were expressed in reference to its nature. People went upon the Sabbath and other public days to see the sick, suppos- ing the disease to be the chicken-pox or swine-pox, or at least only an inflammation of the blood. After a time, however, when it began to spread, and many persons were sick with this disease, some were afraid it was really the small-pox. Persons were sent for to visit the sick who had had the disease, and they expressed the opinion it was not the small-pox, which only tended to make people more careless
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until Doctor Harpin, of Milford (being sent for), came and at once pronounced it the regular small-pox.
At this time 124 persons were afflicted with this dreadful scourge, out of a population of about 350, or over one-third of the inhabitants. Out of this number 17 died, a large portion of them being among the most useful and influential members of the parish.
The Reverend Samuel Hall. Cheshire's first pastor, was sick with the disease, after heroically devoting himself to the alleviation of the sufferings of his flock, losing an only son during the pestilence, and it is evident that many lives were spared through his personal exertions.
In a discourse delivered by the Reverend Mr. Hall, entitled, " Bitter Afflictions, Remembered and Improved," after recovering sufficiently from the disease, he said, in speaking of the losses sus- tained: "Our losses by this fatal disease are to us like breeches of the sea." So many were sick at one time that it was impossible to obtain nurses to care for the sick, or even help sufficient to properly bury the dead. The following persons fell as victims to this plague: (Died in April)-Ebenezer Johnson, Elizabeth Hotchkiss, Robert Hotchkiss, Mrs. Daniel Hotchkiss. (Died in May)-A child of Ebenezer Johnson, Captain John Hotchkiss, Ebenezer Johnson, Jr .. Ensign Nathaniel Bunnell, Eliphalat Johnson, a child of Matthias Hitchcock, Josiah Hotchkiss, Lieutenant Thomas Brooks, Mrs. Ephraim Tuttle, Na- thaniel Hitchcock, Mrs. Josiah Hotchkiss, a child of Josiah Hotchkiss, and a child of the Reverend Samuel Hall. The latter died May 17th, aged 5 months and 8 days.
After skilled physicians and experienced nurses were employed but few died with the disorder. The sympathies of the colonists at other points were aroused by the sad accounts of this dread pestilence, and at a meeting of the general assembly in session the same year £50 was appropriated for the benefit of the sufferers at New Cheshire.
The town of Wallingford was slow in heeding the petitions of the " West Farmers" when they prayed for parish privileges, and did not grant their oft-repeated request until April 30th, 1723. On that date the town "Voted that there shall be a village on the west side of the river, and their bounds shall be as follows: Beginning at the south- east of Samuel Cook, Jr., his farm, and thence running a south line to New Haven bounds, and from said corner northward, taking in said Cook's farm and Matthew Bellamy's farm; thence a straight line tak- ing in Joseph Thompson, his farm; from thence northward, taking Atwater's, Jr., Tiler's and Doctor Hull's, their farms. at Broad Swamp; thence to Thomas Matthews' farm, over Stony River; thence in the east line his, to Matthews', his farm, taking in Joseph Curtis, his farm, and William Hendrick, his farm, to the north line of the village; with this proviso, that whatsoever farm or lot being cut by said line run-
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ning across shall be to the town society or to the village, according to the owner's choice or habit."
Under this arrangement the Congregational church and the first schools were established and maintained. But the inhabitants of this district, parish or village early longed for and asked to be endowed with town privileges. December 1st, 1741, Colonel Benjamin Hall was appointed to petition the general assembly for that purpose, with- out avail. In 1769 and 1770 the petitions were urgently renewed, with no better success. December 16th, 1779, the consent of Walling- ford is asked, and April 18th, 1780, the assembly is once more besought to set the village aside as a separate town, and this time success attends the effort.
The first town meeting was held June 7th, 1780. Major Reuben Atwater was the moderator, and the officers elected were: Town clerk, Samuel Beach; selectmen, John Beach, Timothy Hall, John Peck; con- stables, Lucius Tuttle, Jonathan Hall, Reuben Rice; grand jurors, · Benjamin Hotchkiss, Jr., Matthew Bellamy, Ebenezer Doolittle, Benoni Hotchkiss, Benoni Plumb, Ephraim Smith; listers, Captain Richard Rice, Lieutenant Benjamin Doolittle, Josiah Talmage, John Bryan, Asa Brunson; tythingmen, Amasa Hail, Seth Johnson; surveyors of highways, Doctor Gold Gift Norton, Aaron Williams, Abijah Hull, Titus Moss, Titus Hitchcock, Israel Bunnell, Jonathan Hall, Jr., Ben- nett Rice. Dimon Barnes, Ebenezer Parker, Moses Atwater, Jr., Isaac Brooks, Jr., Moses Blakeslee.
As the town was organized in the troublous times of the revolution, much of its early action pertained to the struggle for independence. At the first meeting Major Reuben Atwater, Israel Bunnell and Jonah Hotchkiss were chosen a committee to supply the soldiers' families with provisions. The former and Samuel Beach, Esq., were also em- powered to ascertain the number of men from Cheshire at that time in the continental service, and to class the inhabitants of the town, agreeably to the act of the general assembly, authorizing such an enumeration. In November of the same year it was voted that the town should be divided into classes to fill up the continental army, and Captain Nathaniel Bunnell, Captain David Hitchcock, Captain Miles Hull, Captain Robert Martin and Captain Amos Hitchcock were appointed a committee to make such a division. It was also agreed to pay each enlisted man serving in the continental army 20 shillings per month in silver. No account of the enlistments thus made appear on the records of the town.
The following year a record was made showing that slaves were held by Benoni Hotchkiss, Jonathan Hall, Benjamin Atwater and Titus Atwater, and for many years records of births in the families of slaves were thus made.
While the care of the poor of the town was a matter for frequent consideration at the annual meetings, more than sixty years elapsed
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTV.
before a separate home for their maintenance was provided. January 3d. 1853. Julius Brooks, Ambrose E. Doolittle and Benajah Ives were appointed to purchase a suitable home for the indigent of the town. This purpose was not immediately realized, but in the course of a few years a poor farm was purchased, which, by a vote, November 5th, 1859, was constituted the " Town House of Correction." In 1884 the matter of selling the farm was agitated, but on being referred to the judgment of Bradley Miles, Julius Moss and Joseph P. Beach, they advised that new buildings be erected to make the farm serve its in- tended purposes. In 1889 the farm was valued at $4,700, and the per- sonal property on it at $2,718.15. The farm was maintained at an ex- pense of several thousand dollars per year, and more than $800 is ex- pended annually in aid for the outside poor.
For many years the town had no fixed place to hold its meetings, but on the 4th of February, 1867, it was voted to build a hall on the triangular green, in front of the Congregational meeting house. Ed- ward A. Cornwall, Ambrose E. Doolittle and Daniel Judd were ap- pointed a building committee, with instructions to use briek and have the house ready for use October 1st, 1867. But it was not fully com- pleted until later in that year, and January 6th, 1868, it was valued at $13,540. It is a roomy edifice, having offices in the first story, and a spacious hall, fitted for general gatherings, in the second. Efforts to build a new hall, made in recent years, have proved fruitless. But the old hall has been well repaired, and in 1889 was valued at $15,000.
The burial place of the Congregational church has been practi- eally under the care of the town since its organization, and has be- come the public cemetery. It is well located, and while convenient to the village is by reason of its topography sufficiently retired to be
peaceful. In the past ten years it has been much improved. an impetus in this direction having been given, in 1875, when Mrs. Daniel March donated $500 for that purpose. This fund was greatly increased by other donations, and some of it was used in extending the area of the cemetery. In 1889 it embraced about eight aeres and was em- bellished by many fine monuments. In this cemetery are interred a number of pioneers, whose graves are marked by old stones of sim- ple construction, one bearing the date 1737. The inscriptions on others have become altogether illegible. Another fund has been started for the erection of a substantial stone gateway, which will still further beautify the grounds.
The first centennial of the corporate establishment of the town was appropriately celebrated October 14th, 1880, when addresses were made upon the past, the present and the future of Cheshire, by E. R. Brown, Reverend Daniel March and others. By a vote of the town, January 2d, 1881, the proceedings were ordered to be published, but the measure failed of a successful realization.
'The judges in the probate district of Cheshire, which includes
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Prospect, have been, in the order named : Silas Hitchcock, William L. Foote, Elihu Yale, Asa J. Driggs, William T. Peters, William L. Hinman, Edward A. Cornwall, William T. Peters, William A. Wright, George R. Johnson, Bela E. Hotchkiss, Benjamin A. Jarvis, Myron C. Doolittle and Alonzo E. Smith.
Since the organization of the town the following were elected to the office of town clerk: 1780-9, James Beach; 1790-1, Elnathan Beach; 1792-1830, Rufus Hitchcock; 1831-3, Edward A. Cornwall; 1834-9, William L. Foote; 1840-4, Edward A. Cornwall; 1845-7, Charles Shel- ton; 1848-9, Silas Hitchcock; 1850-1, Edward A. Cornwall; 1852, Nehe- miah Banks; 1853-4, John D. Humiston; 1855, Benjamin H. Bradley; 1856-66, William L. Hinman; 1867, Asa J. Driggs; 1868-70, Thomas E. Cornwall; 1871, William T. Peters; 1872, Edward A. Cornwall; 1873-4. William T. Peters; 1875-7, Edward A. Cornwall; 1876-82, Milton C. Doolittle; 1883-4, Howard T. Moss; 1885-9, Milton C. Doolittle.
The following is a list of those who took the oath of freemen from the civil organization of the town, in 1780 until 1800: Warren Benham, Jason Hotchkiss, Ichabod Tuttle, Isaiah Hall, David Rice, Rufus Lines, John Peck, Jr., Obed Doolittle, James Upson, Stephen Parker, Asa Hitchcock, Moses Tuttle, Charles C. Hall, William Clark, Amasa Lewis, Thomas Umberfield, Rufus Hitchcock, Reuben Preston, Henry Brooks, Jr., Merriam Hotchkiss, Edmund Goodyear, Levi Parker, Alexander M. Kirgan, Joseph Ives, John Williams, John Beecher, Zachariah Ives, Benjamin Beecher, Henry Brooks, Samuel Clark, Elnathan Beach, Reuben Hotchkiss, Zenas Andrews, Simon Grannis, Abel Matthews, Jr., Samuel Tuttle, Urbi Benham, Barnabas Lewis, Ebenezer Tuttle, David Curtiss, Isaac B. Moss, Andrew Hull, Zealous Bristol, John Beach, Samuel Doolittle, Silas Doolittle, Asa Peck, Ly- man Hotchkiss, Nathaniel Brown, Jesse Atwater, George Hall, Josiah Talmage, Amasa Hitchcock, Jr., Elias Gaylord, Stephen Cook, Burrage Miles, Samuel Williams, Jesse Humiston, Reverend Reuben Ives, Asahel Moss, Edmund Tuttle, William Starks, Lyman Hall, Burrage Beach, Benjamin Doolittle, Jr., Emalach Moss, Josephus Hotchkiss, Amasa Andrews, Morrison Merriam, Jared Ives, Joel Moss, James Barnes, Samuel Atwater, Gideon Brooks, Israel Hotchkiss, Caleb Todd, Joseph Hitchcock, Samuel Andrew Law, Joel Johnson, William Clark, Jr., Ebenezer Hough, Jabez Parker, Joseph Twiss, Levi Peck, Jehiel Bunnell, Oliver Parker, Cornelius B. Cook, Benjamin Hoppen, Job Sperry, Brizilla Cook, E. Doolittle, Bildad Beach, Abner Newton, Ly- man Parker, Titus Ives, Eber Adkins, Asahel Chittenden, Jared Burr, Urbi Benham, Jr., Titus Atwater, Aaron Cook, Salmon Throw, Jesse Ford, Samuel Sperry, Roswell Smith, Jared Newton, David Hitch- cock, Jr., Nathan Ford Parks, Abijah Beach, Phineas Ives, John Bris- tol, Joshua Brooks, Moses Hotchkiss, Amos Harrison Ives, John Ford. Andrew Hull Tuttle, John Plymont, Thomas Parker, Amasa Doolittle, Amos Hall, Samuel Peck, Thomas Curtiss, Jesse Ives, James Niel, George Hull.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
From the settlement of the town the ordinary mills have been carried on, but until recent decades manufacturing has been given a secondary place in the occupations of the inhabitants. Half a century ago the manufacture of oyster kegs was an active industry in the southwestern part of the town, where were from four to six shops, in which a number of coopers were employed. Amasa Preston thus acquired large means. The products were carried to Fair Haven by boats on the canal. Near that waterway Thomas and Julius Brooks had cooperages and on the old Cheshire turnpike Benajah Ives had another shop.
Near the present hub works of Joel Moss, on Moss's Farms, nearly a century ago, Bethuel Flagg had carding, dressing and fulling works, and there made cloth of different kinds. He manufactured broadcloth of a fine quality, as well as that of a cheaper grade. Here were a grist mill and saw mill, as well as clothing works, and the place was at that time a flourishing settlement. About the same time, also, near the brass mill at Mixville, Amos Baldwin had fulling works, doing a busi- ness of 300 pounds a year. There also was a grist mill, and near by a tannery, where leather was manufactured quite extensively for those days. For many years a brisk business was done at the hub works by Joel and Lloyd Moss.
"About seventy years ago Norton Beach had clothing works near .the residence of Lauren Cook, which were afterward carried on by Enos Gaylord and Hiram Bradley. Large quantities of wool were consumed. The place has been vacated."
In the northern portion of the town, a short distance north of the residence of Levi Doolittle, in about the year 1815, Dutton Beecher made fanning mills, some of which are yet in existence. Mr. Beecher afterward built a steamboat with a screw propeller-an invention of his own-and said to be the first of the kind ever built in this country. He worked on this about one year, and when finished the boat was taken from the saw mill in the western part of the town, where it was built, on wheels drawn by oxen, and carried over to the canal at Beachport, and with several notables on board, among whom were Governor Foot, Doctor Cornwall and Doctor Foot, a trial trip was made down the canal as far as Hamden. But the thing did not seem to be a success, the passengers being obliged to return to Cheshire on foot, and pronounced the whole scheme a failure. New York parties, how- ever, took hold of the matter and the principle which Beecher's brain invented was, in the process of time, successfully utilized.
"On Cheshire street Seth De Wolf manufactured tin ware exten- sively sixty years ago, employing quite a number of hands and doing a prosperous business. There are those now living who remember of seeing thirteen tin peddlers' wagons loaded with tin ware from his manufactory, all starting out at the same time for a trip West and South. Several of these persons afterward became permanent settlers in the South."
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In the same locality Nathan Booth and others made threshing ma- chines, and subsequently wagon wheels were manufactured in that shop, which stood near the old Hull mill. That building, after stand- ing idle for some time, was occupied, in 1848, by Sherman Blakeslee and Bennet Jeralds, as millers and manufacturers of Britannia spoons, in which industry Blakeslee was a pioneer, having begun in 1839. This property was sold by Blakeslee to Walter Webb & Co., of South Meriden, for its water power privilege.
In the early part of the present century John Kensett painted pic- tures and manufactured maps in a shop which stood nearly opposite the residence of H. T. Holcomb. Mr. Kensett afterward became a very celebrated painter. For a time Kensett and Doctor Shelton had a shop in which pictures were made on a large scale, a number of young women being employed as assistants under the direction of Mr. Ken- sett. The art of printing in colors destroyed that industry.
Henry Merriman was a builder of the old time upright clocks, many of them being attractive as well as large, reaching from floor to ceiling, and they were much prized.
The Cheshire Manufacturing Company is the oldest and most suc- cessful corporation in the town. It was chartered May 17th, 1850, and has since that time maintained its business at West Cheshire station of the Northampton railroad. Charles Hurd, a practical mechanic, Arad Welton and Titus B. Ives were some of the principal originators of the enterprise. The latter is the only original stockholder surviv- ing in the town. James Tulley and Ralph Guilford were among the early employees whose skill contributed to the success of the com- pany. Arad Welton, a conscientious but shrewd business man, was the first president of the company, and also acted as superintendent. Under his management a large surplus was accumulated, in addition to the handsome dividends paid, amounting in war times to 80 per cent. He held the former position until his death, in 1870. N. T. Porter, of New York, succeeded him, and since 1882 Thomas Porter, of the same city, has been the president. The other officers of the company are: Titus B. Ives, treasurer and superintendent; and F. A. Ives, secretary. At this time the capital stock is $43,000. The en- larged buildings of the company present a main structure 30 by 150 feet, three stories high. Fifty hands find occupation in the man- ufacture of fancy metal and covered buttons and brass stamped goods, which are sold by Porter Brothers, of New York, who are also supply agents of this and
The Cheshire Brass Company, which was incorporated in Septem- ber, 1866, by the stockholders of the former company, with a capital of $40,000. A fine manufacturing site, on the Ten Mile river, at the lower part of Mixville, was secured, which was improved to meet the wants of the company. The buildings are of wood and the motor is water power. R. N.Welton is the superintendent of the twenty hands
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
employed, who manufacture annually a quarter of a million pounds of brass sheet and drawn brass wire goods.
At this place and on the same stream were also the works of the John Mix Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated April 7th, 1853. The head of the company, John Mix, was one of the pioneer manufacturers of the town. Some time about 1830 Edward A. Corn- wall had a small shop, supplied with water power from the canal, below the second lock, in which were manufactured coffee mills. After a few years John Mix leased the shop and began making Britannia spoons in a small way, increasing his output as the years went by until thirty hands were employed. Titus Mix, a brother, came from Mid- dletown, and associated himself with the former in the old business, and the manufacture of gimlets and auger bits was also taken up. This continued until the abandonment of the canal destroyed the power in 1846, when the latter went to Prospect and John Mix to the place on Ten Mile river, which afterward became Mixville. The power there had been improved to operate a small grist mill, but he increased it and built new shops in which he manufactured bits and gimlets, forming the stock company in 1853. This company was succeeded by Walter Mix and William Bailey, and they, in turn, by Peck, Stow & Wilcox, who transferred the manufacture of these articles to South- ington, and the shops at Mixville were left idle.
At West Cheshire, Samuel Hitchcock and others, as the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company, incorporated October 12th, 1853, began the manufacture of suspenders and web goods, soon having a flourishing business. A fine, four-story frame factory was erected and occupied until March, 1857, when the interest was sold to the Waterbury Sus- pender Company, and work in Cheshire was soon after discontinned. The shop after being unused some time, was occupied as a branch factory of the Danbury Hat Company. In 1868 Samuel Hitchcock and others occupied it as the American Braid Company, which con- tinued operations several years. Later vegetable ivory buttons were there made, which interest was soon given up. Since 1887 James Harry has occupied the building in the manufacture of light carriage wood work, employing steam power and giving work to a small num- ber of men.
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