USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 80
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 80
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The Cheshire Hardware Manufacturing Company was incorpor- ated March 2d. 1870, for the manufacture of axes, hatchets and other edge tools. Howard C. Ives was the president of the company and the moving spirit of the concern. Charles Rugg, a toolmaker of repute, was the superintendent, and as his name was stamped upon the tools, the concern was frequently called the " Rugg Company." Shops were erected at West Cheshire, where more than 50 men found profitable employment until part of the buildings were burned down. With enlarged buildings and increased capital operations were again resumed and continued some time, when E. P. Dunham and others
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became the lessees of the shops. Later they were occupied by Peck, Stow & Wilcox, who successfully operated several years, when they were again, in 1883, partially destroyed by fire, throwing a large num- ber of men out of work. Many of these followed the transfer of the works to Southington, and the remaining Cheshire shops were vacated and became the property of Doctor E. T. Cornwall.
Since 1888 the above buildings have been the factory of the D. A. A. Buck Company, which was organized in September of that year, with D. A. A. Buck, president; E. T. Cornwall, secretary and treas- urer; and since January, 1889, H. H. Rice has been associated with the company as a member. The capital stock is $15,000, and the company has become well established in the manufacture of toy and novelty specialties, many of them being the inventions of Mr. Buck. They give employment to more than fifty persons. The success at Cheshire encouraged, in the fall of 1889, the organization of the New Haven Novelty Company, as an offspring of this enterprise, for the purpose of manufacturing in that city a similar line of goods.
In the village of Cheshire George J. Capewell had a factory for several years, about 1880, for the manufacture of specialties in hard- ware, and produced several patents which increased his fame and for- tune as an inventor. In 1883 he was instrumental in the organization of the Cheshire Watch Company, which was incorporated November 16th of that year. with a capital of $100,000. Of this amount $50,000 was paid to Arthur Hitchcock for his patented watch, whose move- ments were supposed to be especially advantageous, on account of their simplicity, but which unfortunately did not stand the test of time, and the company in consequence was soon seriously einbar- rassed. The officers elected were: George J. Capewell, president ; E. R. Brown, secretary and treasurer; and D. A. A. Buck, superintendent. A fine factory site in the village of Cheshire was secured, upon which were erected brick buildings, which are reputed the best of the kind in the state. The main structure is two stories, and with the high, well lighted one-story wings, forms a structure about 30 by 200 feet, which is practically fire proof. In a separate building is the powerful steam motor which operates the fine machinery with which the fac- tory is supplied.
Since its organization the capital of the company has been in- creased and practically a new pattern watch has been adopted as the standard of manufacture. This was winning favor as a time keeper in 1889, at which period George J. Capewell was president of the company, and W. A. Riley secretary and treasurer. From 60 to 100 workmen were employed.
The Cheshire Clock Company was incorporated November 28th, 1884, with a capital of $25,000. Arthur Hitchcock was one of the leading promoters of this enterprise, which was destined to have a short and discouraging existence. A fine site for the factory was
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secured near the watch factory, upon which a long, two-story frame building was erected, in which the manufacture of a good, low priced clock was begun; but before it could secure a place in the markets of the country, financial difficulties caused a suspension of operations, and much of the machinery has been removed. On the 12th of March, 1888, the heavy winds prevailing at that time wrecked a part of the building. which has since been vacant.
The Extension Water Guage Company, incorporated September 15th, 1880, and a few other manufacturing projects, failed of organi- zation, to the extent of being able to operate successfully, and their privileges were relinquished.
The early settlers of old Wallingford were impressed with the belief that their numerous hills abounded with mineral wealth; and the evidences of the existence of the precious metals were especially abundant in what is now the southeastern part of Cheshire. Here fine specimens of copper appeared on the surface, which led to the discovery and opening of a mine, some time about 1710. Near the same time another copper mine was opened at Simsbury, and in 1712 the legislature of Connecticut enacted laws for the benefit and en- couragement of the owners of these two mines. At the latter place operations were carried on until the vein of copper was exhausted, and in the excavation thus formed was afterward constructed the cele- brated Newgate prison, which is said to have been of more practical benefit to the state than all the copper mined. The mine in Chesh- ire "was supposed to be the richest, but the miners were prevented from digging there on account of the great quantities of water which, after they had proceeded some depth, constantly flowed in upon them."*
So promising were the mines considered that the original proprie- tors of the lands in Wallingford petitioned the legislature for an in- terest in the same, which was granted in May, 1712, when it was enacted that the heirs of the original proprietors should have an equal share in the mine already worked, and in all other mines which should be discovered on said lands. In October, 1718, the legislature ap- pointed three commissioners for the mining company, one of whom was Captain John Hall, to serve two years; and at the end of that period another board of commissioners took charge of the affairs, with power to close up the concern if found necessary. About this time it appears that the mine was worked to a considerable extent, for in October, 1722, Matthew Bellamy petitioned the legislature for privi- lege to keep an inn at his house, "very near the place where the min- ers are at work, where there is many of them and especyally will be many now," who would find it difficult to secure entertainment except through the petitioner. It is probable that the commissioners soon after availed themselves of the privileges of their appointment, and
* Davis, p. 47.
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decreed that work should be discontinued, and so far as is known neither the miners nor the company obtained any great benefit from these operations. Associated with these mines are traditions, which appear to lack foundation, that gold in considerable quantities was also found, which these foreign miners appropriated to themselves; and that a ship the owners had laden with copper ore to be sent to Eng- land to be smelted was lost at sea. These discouraging circum- stances, it is said, had much to do with the abandonment of the mines.
In 1736-7 a new company was formed to work these mines, on the land of Timothy Roys, on "Milking Yard hill." Benjamin Roys acted as clerk of the proprietors, and from his accounts it appears that they expended £86 4s. 2d. in their operations, from November, 1736, until February, 1737. In April of the latter year nine persons associated themselves formally as the company, and called the mine the "Golden Parlour." They released Arthur Rexford from his contract to sink new shafts, but in July, 1737, they secured George Bell to sink twelve feet in the "deeper shaft, nearest to Doctor Hough's." The company's expenditures up to this date amounted to £132 13s. 1d. It is probable that the "Golden Parlour Mining Company" was no more successful in securing the hidden wealth than had been its predecessors, for one of the last minutes of the doings of the company pertained to an assessment of the stockholders to liquidate expenses. It is likely that work was suspended soon after 1737, and that the company found neither gold nor enough copper to encourage it to continue. In the course of years the mine holes or shafts became filled up, and some of them, while showing traces of their existence, have since remained undisturbed. But in 1854 A. Bellamy, a descendant of the old Mat- thew Bellamy family, reopened one of the shafts on "Milking Yard hill" (now Gaylord hill) with the expectation of finding copper. Re- moving the earth, upon which large trees had grown, he found, at the depth of 80 feet, miners' tools and other evidences to show that it might not have been the intention to abandon the mine permanently. But after some effort he, too, relinquished the work without being re- paid for his trouble.
About a mile north from this place is a locality which has been named "Copper Valley " by one of its citizens, George R. Johnson, who is a member of a family which has resided in that part of the town more than a century of years. Here the first improvements were made by the Parker, Bristol and Atwater families. One of the Parkers had a pioneer saw mill on a branch of the Broad brook, which rises in that section, and whose waters, it is claimed, were used to wash copper ore, mined in a small way, more than a century ago, and since that time. From the many Indian relics here found it is sup- posed that the Aborigines much frequented this place, probably to obtain the copper so readily found on the surface in many places. These indications caused many points to be prospected, and in several
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inines considerable work was done, never, however, with profitable re- sults. The operations of the New York Copper Mining Company, of which William King was the superintendent, in more recent years, employed modern machinery and aroused expectations, which, how- ever, were short lived, as it soon became apparent that the veins were not large or rich enough to pay for developing them, and work was suspended inside of a year.
The mining of barytes in Cheshire was attended with more profit- able results. Large deposits of this once valuable mineral were found in the southeastern and north western parts of the town, whose de- velopment at one time gave employment to hundreds of men, and in the course of operations brought nearly two millions of dollars into the town as wages. The Stamford Company alone, in the month of October, 1866, paid ont $22,000 as wages to its workmen.
One of the richest deposits of barytes was found by Professor Silli- man on the farm of Amos Bristol. This was mined about 1840, and later by N. H. Gaston, Joel Hunt and others, the output at first being small. In 1855 the Bristol mine was sold to the Stamford Mining & Manufacturing Company, which operated so extensively soon after the civil war that from sixty to seventy tons per day were shipped, . and the products found a ready sale. The affairs of the company in the town were managed by James Lanyon, an English miner, who came to Cheshire in 1844, assisted by his brothers, Joseph M. and Henry.# Several hundred Cornish miners were employed by the Stamford Company, and half a dozen shafts were sunk, the deepest being 600 feet. For some time the barytes sold at $60 per ton, but declined to $10 per ton. This fact and the increased cost of mining, after the main veins were worked, forced the company to discontinue work in that section. The mineral had been drawn to Barytes station, on the Northampton railroad, distant two miles, to which place sup. plies were also brought for use at Jennie's hill.+ which presented a most busy scene until about 1875.
In the meantime Captain Peck and others had developed the barytes deposits northwest of the village of Cheshire, to which place the Stam- ford Company, under the direction of James Lanyon, now transferred its operations. Here the mineral was found at a less depth, which per- mitted cheaper mining, several years. Four shafts were sunk, one being 300 feet deep, and quite a quantity of mineral was mined and loaded on the railroad, close at hand. Not much work was done at these mines after 1878, and after a few years more most of the miners removed, and what had once been the principal interest in the town was altogether suspended.
Cheshire Village is on a high ridge of land, a little south and west of the central part of the town, and is sometimes called Cheshire Cen-
*See sketch of life of James Lanyon in succeeding pages.
+Named for an old colored woman who formerly lived in that locality.
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ter. On either hand, east or west, the ground slopes gradually from Main street, which is elevated so as to overlook the greater part of the town, which appears bordered by West mountain, a rocky ledge, on the east, and the "Sleeping Giant " on the south. In the north the Hanging hills of Meriden may be plainly seen. The immediate en- vironments, consisting of orchards and fields, dotted with pleasant homes, aid to make this one of the most attractive villages in the state. The principal streets are well kept, and along some of them substantial walks have been built. Rows of stately elms line the main and other streets, and a neat green square, near the center, adds to the beauty of the scene. On the latter stands one of the finest soldiers' monuments in the United States, erected to the memory of the de- fenders of the Union. A systematic planting of elm trees was begun about 1850, under the direction of the Reverend D. S. Rodman, and since that time the village has been greatly beautified by that means.
Cheshire village contains Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist and Catholic churches, a flourishing Episcopal academy, a good town hall, a fine and commodious public house, several large factories and numerous attractive residences. Within its limits are several good specimens of the quaint architecture of the last century, but others of the old-time buildings have been modernized. The inhabitants are intelligent and thrifty, and number nearly one thousand. Here have lived some of the prominent families of the town, which have been those of Allen, Beach, Brooks, Bronson, Bristol, Baldwin, Cornwall, Doolittle, Driggs, Foote, Fields, Hull, Hall, Hinman, Hitchcock, Ives, Jarvis, Law, Paddock, Street, Stevens, Shelton, Welton, Vale and others.
Among those who discharged the duties of postmaster at Cheshire was Amasa Hitchcock, at his house north of the central part of the village. At another period Elihu Yale was the postmaster, keeping it in the southern part of the village. Alfred S. Baldwin was a later official. In 1862 E. R. Brown became the postmaster and continued until he was succeeded by Edward C. Andrews November 23d, 1885, who first fitted up the post office at Cheshire on an enlarged scale. He supplied furniture having 200 call and 14 lock boxes, and was instru- mental in having the number of mails increased from three to five per day. Since 1878, Cheshire has been a postal money order office.
For more than a hundred years stores have been kept in the vil- lage ; and some of the merchants of a more recent period have been Messrs. Upson, Allen, Hitchcock, Foot, Smith, E. R. Brown and George Keeler, several continuing in trade many years.
West Cheshire is a pleasantly located village on the Northampton railroad, a little more than fifteen miles from New Haven and about one mile west from Cheshire Center. It contains a hotel, several stores, shops and factories, a school house and about thirty other buildings. It first became a business point when the canal was com-
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pleted, in 1827, and for many years was known as Beachport. This name was given in compliment to Richard Beach, who owned a ware- house on the canal and was there engaged in business. The building he occupied was a low frame, projecting over the canal basin, and thus permitted the boats to load and unload inside the building. Before the building of the railroad in the Naugatuck valley, the shipping from this point was heavy, as large quantities of the freight for that section were here delivered and thence transported by trains. Richard Beach also had a store and in other ways was active in business. Be- coming embarrassed financially, warehousing was given up by Beach, and the store was kept by Edward A. Cornwall and Clement Peck.
In the period of the canal-1827 to 1846 -- several boats, owned by Cheshire parties, plied on that waterway. James V. Field had one for carrying barytes and Nathaniel Newell. running from Beachport, carried general freight. The last boat running from the latter place was in charge of W. H. Newell, and was built solely for freight pur- poses. Very few of the canal boats were supplied with cabins. When the Northampton railroad was built it followed, in a general way, the course of the canal, in many places using the towpath, hence, from those circumstances, it was long known as the "Canal railroad." Cheshire station was established on the site of Beachport, and the growth of the village then began. Up to this time there were but few residences in the locality, the principal ones being those occupied by the Welton, Thompson and Field families. W. H. Newell was one of the early station agents and was also the postmaster of the West Cheshire office, since the establishment of which the village has prop- erly had its present name. Warren Doolittle was an earlier postmas- ter. Howard C. Ives, E. P. Dunham and Miss Sarah Ellis have been later officials, the latter in 1889.
In the southwestern part of the town is the hamlet of Brooksvale. consisting of a few houses and the post office, of which Miss Ella Brooks is the mistress. In the administration of President Cleveland the office was removed to the house of Robert Cook and kept as the South Cheshire office, but it has lately been re-established with the original name and is again kept in its old locality. Here are also small saw, grist and cider mills ; and on Roaring brook are attractive waterfalls with fine surroundings, which have become a pleasant resort.
Mixville is a hamlet in the western part of the town, on the Ten Mile river, and was begun by the Mix brothers. Here are shops, a dozen residences, a fine school house and a chapel for religious meet- ings. The post office is West Cheshire, two miles distant.
In the northeastern part of the town, in the bend of the Quinnip- iac river, is the hamlet of Cheshire Street, containing a chapel erected by the Adventists, small mechanic shops. a store and a cluster of farm residences. Ever since the settlement of the town that locality has
43
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
been a point of local interest, the neighboring farmers being among the leading citizens of Cheshire ; but its location near Meriden has prevented its becoming much of a business place. There is a fine iron bridge across the river, built about ten years ago at a cost of $1,600.
South of the river is the Broad Brook neighborhood ; and still fur- ther south Johnson's Grove, on a hill 150 feet high, both being old localities. In the northwestern part are the Moss Farms and the Barnes neighborhood, which are also landmarks of note.
Besides the Northampton railroad running through the town, north and south, the Meriden & Waterbury railroad passes diagonally through the northwestern part of the town, having several flag sta- tions where it crosses the principal highways.
Temple Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., so far as now known, was the first Lodge of a secret order established in Cheshire. It was insti- tuted November 11th, 1790, at the house of Timothy Canfield, which was probably at the Center, its exact location being somewhat obscured by the lapse of so many years and the loss of early records. In Feb- ruary, 1791, the Lodge moved into a room fitted up for it in the tavern of Jonathan Hall, which stood on the site of the present residence of Doctor E. T. Cornwall. Next its place of meeting was over the store of Colonel Rufus Hitchcock, north of the church green. A still later home was found in one of the chambers of the public house of Abijah Beach, south of the green, where the Lodge surrendered its charter in 1838. This move was occasioned by the feeling against the order, consequent upon the disappearance of Morgan. The jewels were placed in the keeping of the Grand Lodge, and other property was taken in charge by Tyler Ebenezer Atwater. After the lapse of 25 years Temple Lodge was revived, through the efforts of Doctor Will- iam C. Williams and others, and some of the old property was re- stored, including the first Bible used, which is now in the possession of the Lodge.
After the restoration of the charter, in March, 1863, the Lodge be- gan holding its meetings in the hall of John A. Hitchcock (E. R. Brown's in 1889), and there continued until February 29th, 1872, when the present hall, in the building of H. C. Ives, at West Cheshire, was dedicated for its uses.
The Masons have always had among their numbers some of the leading citizens of the town-men who were active in its affairs and progressive in those matters which had a tendency to advance the welfare of the community. The first master, in 1790, was David Bad- ger, an exemplary member of the Episcopal church, living at the Cen- ter. The senior warden was Abraham Ives, also an Episcopalian, by occupation a farmer, living in the northern part of the town. The junior warden was a number of years a member of the same church. He was Moses Moss, of the Moss Farms, occupying the house now owned by L. D. Moss. The first secretary was Timothy Canfield.
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The other charter members were: Justice Bellamy, Samuel Clark, John Martin, Ebenezer Tuttle and James Benham. The latter was the first tyler.
Up to 1816 the Lodge had many additions to its membership from the leading families of this and adjoining towns, but after that year the accessions were less frequent, and six years later there was a de- cline of interest, from which the Lodge had not recovered when it yielded to the wave of anti-Masonry which swept so forcibly over the country that only a few of the strongest Lodges were able to withstand its shock. When it was discontinued, in 1838, 175 persons had been enrolled as members. Since the resumption of the meet- ings, in 1863, there have been about two hundred members, and, in December, 1889, there were 95 members on the rolls of the Lodge. .
A list of members who have served as masters of the Lodge in- cludes the names of David Badger, in 1790; Samuel Bellamy, in 1792; Doctor Elnathan Beach, in 1794; Selden Spencer, in 1796, eight years; Levi Douglass, in 1804; John Plymate, in 1805; Stephen Jarvis, Doctor Charles Shelton, James Beach and Charles A. Stanley. Noah Hotch- kiss was one of the early acting masters.
Of the revived Lodge Doctor William C. Williams was the first master, filling the chair several years. The successive masters since 1865 have been: George A. Brooks, Edwin R. Lawton, William Butler, Martin Catran, J. W. Mix (late grand master of the State Lodge), Franklin P. Bates, Henry C. Higgins, Noah B. Welton, Charles B. Fervell, Fred. Doolittle and Henry E. Fervell.
L. A. Thomas Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Cheshire village, July 23d, 188S, with 17 charter members, six having previously 'been connected with Hancock Lodge, of South Meriden, and eleven with the Plantsville Lodge. There were 24 initiates at the first meet- ing, and the principal officers elected were: William Fahl, N. G .; W. C. Daly, V. G .; George W. Keeler, S .; E. T. Cornwall, T. In 1889 Jesse Peck was the noble grand and George W. Keeler continued as secretary. Through his efforts, largely, the Lodge was established and has maintained itself so prosperously, having in December, 1889, 63 members. A fine Lodge room had been fitted up in the Center school house, at a cost of $500, and there was an accumulated fund of more than $700. This property was held in trust by A. S. Bennett, Emil Stineman and Augustus Hitchcock.
Edward A. Doolittle Post, No.5, G. A. R., was mustered April 16th. 1881, with 24 members, but few of whom had previously been con- nected with a Grand Army Post. Franklin A. Hotchkiss was chosen the first commander, and Arthur E. Hotchkiss the adjutant. About 40 persons have been connected with the Post as members, the num- ber belonging in 1889 being 39; and the principal officers were: Com- mander, Alonzo E. Smith; vice-commander, Timothy Guilford; adju-
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tant, Edward Atwater. Pleasant quarters have been provided at Brown's Hall, at the Center.
Meeting at the same place and elosely connected with the above is Admiral Foote Camp, No. 34, Sons of Veterans, which was instituted in August, 1888, with 16 members. Half a dozen more persons have since joined the Camp. The first board of officers was composed of : Captain, C. C. Lord; first lieutenant, William Andrews; second lieuten- ant, William Smith; adjutant, Whitney Smith.
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