History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 85

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 85
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The only surviving son of Benajah Ives, Titus B., was born Febru- ary 26th, 1828, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, but since the early years of his manhood has been engaged in manufac- turing in his native town. On the first of June, 1857, he married Ann Eliza, daughter of John and Mary (Thompson) Peck, and they reared one son and one daughter: Frederick A., born March 21st, 1860: and Mary C., born August 14th, 1863.

Mr. Ives was one of the original subscribers to the capital stock of the Cheshire Manufacturing Company and at its organization, in 1850, became one of the directors. He has since served in that capacity and since 1885 has also been the treasurer and superin- tendent. His son, Frederick A., is the secretary of the company, whose existence has been so long continued.

Mr. Ives being of honest, public-spirited lineage, has preserved in his nature the best characteristics of his ancestors. He became an active member of the Congregational church and has served the town when it would best advance its welfare. His disposition has made hini averse to public life, but he has been urged to fill a number of offices of trust and was elected by a republican con- stituency to the state legislature in 1870, 1876 and 1878.

George Keeler, born in Ridgefield, Conn., in 1831, is the third son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Smith) Keeler. At the age of 15 years he began to learn the tinner's trade and finished at the age of 20. He first worked at Brewster Station, N. Y., a short time, then went to Waterbury, where he remained about five years, work- ing at his trade. In 1858 he came to Cheshire, where he has since resided. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and served two and one-half years in the 20th Connecticut Volun- teers. In 1886 he added undertaking to his business and formed a partnership with his son, George W., under the firm style of George Keeler & Son. Mr. Keeler was married March 30th, 1858, to Sarah E. Ells, of Ansonia, Conn. They have three children: George W .. Edwin J. and Mary L. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler are members of the Congregational church of Cheshire.

JAMES LANYON was born in the parish of Ludgvan, County of Cornwall, in England, May 6th, 1817. He was a son of William and Mary Lanyon, who died in that parish, aged, respectively, 81 and ()

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years. They were members of the Lanyon family which, in Ludg- van, traces its lineage to a period as remote as the fifteenth century. Although poor, they were honored and respected members of that community. Force of circumstances caused the parents to limit the advantages of an education for their son, James, to a few years school- ing in his early youth. Like most Cornish boys, his labors were soon needed for the family support, and he early began to earn his own livelihood. At the age of 16 he began work in the tin mines of his native place, and in the seven years he continued that service he be. came a practical and skillful miner, and the knowledge he there ob- tained contributed to his future success.

In 1840, when he was 23 years old, he came to America under con- tract with a London company to work the Bristol, Conn., copper mines. After remaining in that employ two years he went to Eastern Penn- sylvania, where he was engaged six months in iron mining. At the solicitation of the owners of the Baryta mines in Cheshire-the Min- eral & Manufacturing Company, composed of N. H. Gaston, James E. P. Dean and others-he now came to this town to superintend their in- terests. He successfully managed the operations 16 years, when the company sold its business to the Stamford Manufacturing Company. of Stamford, Conn. That corporation retained Mr. Lanyon as its sole manager in the town, and he superintended the largely increased operations until the suspension of work in 1878. In this period he was a very busy man, the entire management of the many mines rest- ing upon him, and having in charge, after 1861, from 200 to 500 men employed by the company. In those years these operations were by far the most important industry in the town, and greatly increased its population .*

After 1878 Mr. Lanyon retired from the active duties of a business life, but remained a citizen of Cheshire until his death, January 22d, 1885, leaving surviving a widow and one son. He was married in 1844 to Lucretia A., daughter of Billious and Eveline Brooks, of Cheshire, and of three children born to them two died in infancy. Their son, Wesley A., born February 5th, 1848, married Harriet E. Allen, of Cheshire, in 1878. Their union has been blessed with one child, Edith L., born September 16th, 1880.

Soon after coming to Cheshire James Lanyon connected himself with the Methodist church and remained an earnest, consistent mem- ber of that body until his death. In politics he was allied to the Re- publican party, which frequently, against his inclinations, called upon him to serve in public capacity. He was a selectman and held other town offices. In 1876 he was one of the members from Cheshire in the Connecticut house of representatives.

Mr. Lanyon was a plain, modest, unassuming man, whose honesty in all his affairs was unquestioned, and was thoroughly devoted to the

* See account of mines in foregoing sketch of Cheshire.

Jaunes Canyon

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

interests of his employers. He had, moreover, the rare faculty of suc- cessfully managing large numbers of unorganized men, so as to hold their good will, and was by them, as well as by his townsmen, greatly esteemed.

Herbert J. Moss, born in Cheshire in 1856, is a son of Julius, and grandson of Joel, all natives of Cheshire. The family have been con- nected with the Episcopal church in Cheshire since 1760. Herbert J. was brought up a farmer and followed that business until he was 27 years old. He then engaged in the ice trade, and in 1884 he added the coal trade. His office is at the depot, West Cheshire. He handles about 1,000 tons of coal annually and 700 tons of ice. In 1879 he was married to Minnie A .. daughter of Merwin Hemingway, of North Haven. They have three children: Walter H .. Mildred H. and Beatrice G.

Levi Munson, born in Cheshire in 1814, is the eldest son of Levi Munson. He was educated at the common schools of Cheshire, and learned the wagon-maker's trade. He was clerk in the store of Wil- liam Horton about one year, after which he bought out the store and hotel where the Wallace House now stands. The Wallace House, now owned by Mr. Munson, was built by his son-in-law, F. L. Wallace. Mr. Munson has always been a successful business man, and has done much to build up the business of Cheshire. He has had five children, three of whom are now living: Tenna E., married to Frank L. Wallace: Irene D., married to J. C. Mathews, of New York; and Tilton D., who is married and has one son, Tilton L.

William H. Newell, born in 1823 in Tinmouth. Rutland county, Vt .. came to Cheshire with his father at the age of three years, and with the exception of four years has resided there since. He has been twice married; first to Amanda P. Blakeslee, who died in less than a year. His second wife was Orpha A. Buckmaster, of Shrewsbury, Vt. They were married in 1852 and have two daughters, Orpha and Mary. Mr. Newell has been engaged in blacksmithing most of his life. He was station agent two years. He has been justice of the peace and constable in the town of Cheshire. Both Mr. and Mrs. Newell are members of the Congregational church of Cheshire, and he has been a member nearly 50 years.

Joseph H. Rogers, born in Lyme, Conn., in 1804, is a son of James Rogers, who was a native of New London. Joseph was a self-edu- cated man. He began teaching school in his native town when 17 years old, and five years later he removed to New Haven, where he was engaged in teaching a boarding school fifteen years. In 1849 he took a voyage around Cape Horn, which he remembers with much pleasure, as he visited several points of interest in South America and the gold mines in California. He went to Oregon in 1852 and re- mained there 20 years teaching. He was offered the highest position in two of the Oregon colleges, and a similar one in California. In

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

1879 he returned to Cheshire, where he built the house he now occu pies. He married, in 1837, Julia Upson, of Cheshire. They have two children: Joseph A., of Washington, D. C .; and Julia C., who married Major G. W. Baird of the U. S. army.

Alonzo E. Smith, born in Cheshire in 1835, is a son of Orson and Lydia A. Smith. He was educated in the common schools and the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire. He commenced learning the car- penter's trade when 17 years old, and has followed it since, with the exception of seven years, during which he was engaged in the manu- facturing business in Yalesville and Middletown, Conn. He has held the office of assessor of taxes and first selectman, represented the town in the legislature of 1872, was elected judge of probate in 1883, and is still serving in that office. His district comprises the towns of Chesh- ire and Prospect. He enlisted as private in Co. A, 20th Regiment, in August, 1862, and participated in all the marches and engagements of · that regiment. He served to the close of the war, and was inustered out as sergeant. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettys- burgh with the army of the Potomac, and was transferred with his regiment to the army of the Cumberland, and was in the campaign of Chattanooga to Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea. He was twice married: first in 1859, to Cynthia Tolles, of Plymouth. She died in 1860. His second wife was Mary A. Simons, of Cheshire, whom he married in 1861. They have two sons and two daughters. His grand- father, Thomas Judd, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane. His great-grandfather, Stephen Judd, was a soldier in the revolutionary war.

Charles S. Spaulding, born in Norfolk, Conn., in 1837, is a son of Frederick A. Spaulding, a native of Massachusetts. Charles S.learned the trade of carpenter and builder when a young man, and worked at that business until October, 1861, when he enlisted in the war of the rebellion, in Company E, 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. His regiment was first assigned to Burnside's Coast Expedition. They were afterward detached and served some time in Peck's division, and were later transferred to the 18th Corps, and served in the department of Virginia. Mr. Spaulding was discharged June 1st, 1865, on account of a wound through the left side, received at the battle of Drury's Bluff. He took part in the battles of Newbern and Fredericksburg, and the siege of Suffolk; also in several skirmishes up the James river. After his discharge he was unable to work for four years, after which he again engaged in mechanical work in Thomaston. In December, 1885, he came to Cheshire, bought a farm, and has since resided here. He married Grace L. Merrill, of Thomaston, in 1875. They have three children: Jesse G., Anna M. and Ethel M.

Franklin Wallace, born in Prospect, Conn., in 1827, is a son of James and Urania Wallace. James was born in Massachusetts, married in Prospect and settled there. Franklin followed farming and team-

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

ing from Waterbury to Wallingford while he was in Prospect. James had nine children. The eldest, Robert, was a member of the firm of Wallace & Sons, manufacturers of silver ware in Wallingford. Frank- lin enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Company A, 20th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. After serving seven months he was dis- charged on account of disability. He moved to Cheshire in 1858. He married, in 1845, Fanny Hall, of Wallingford, and they have three children: Lucy H., married Edwin R. Lawton, of New Haven; Frank- lin L., married Tina, daughter of Levi Munson; and Kate U., married Walter Mix, of Cheshire.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE TOWN OF PROSPECT.

Geographical and Descriptive .- Civil Organization .- Town Officers .- The Roads .- Town Poor .- Business Interests .- Educational and Religious Interests -Biographical Sketches.

T HIS town was taken from Cheshire and Waterbury, and was in- corported in 1827. For a number of years previous to that time it was known as the parish of Columbia. The present name was given in consequence of the town's elevated position, the many points of highland affording a prospect view, excelled nowhere in the county. The general surface has a mountainous aspect, with an appearance of sterility. Huge boulders crop out on every hand, and although some of the lands have been tilled more than a hun- dred years, there are but a few fields which are free from stones. A limited area has productive soil, where some good crops are produced. Grazing and orchard products give occupation to many of the inhabi- tants of the town, whose population has steadily decreased. In 1880 there were 492 inhabitants, or only about one-half the number living in the town at the time of its organization; in 1890, 445.

Prospect is about five miles long, from north to south, and a little more than four miles wide. Its principal stream is the Ten Mile river, rising near the center and flowing east and north through Cheshire into the Quinnipiac. It drains the lands between the Prospect hills and Cheshire mountains, which form the eastern boundary. In the northeastern part of the town its course is precipitous, and a number of small water powers are afforded. West of the center hills Fulling Mill and Beacon Hill brooks receive the principal drainage, flowing thence into the Naugatuck river. Along these streams are the prin- cipal highways, which afford communication with the adjoining towns: Waterbury on the north, Cheshire on the east, and Naugatuck on the west. From the center it is five miles to the railway points in each of these towns. In 1888 the Meriden & Waterbury railroad was built through the northeastern part of Prospect, and a station having the name of the town, was there located. On the same road, near the Cheshire line, a pleasure resort for picnic purposes was also opened about the same time.

The early history of the town is intimately blended with that of Waterbury and Cheshire, to which the reader is referred. The

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names of pioneer settlers appear in those towns and in the history of the churches.

The May, 1827, general assembly, acting on the petition of the society of Columbia, filed the preceding month, granted corporate privileges, and created the town with the same bounds as those which the society had at that time. Samuel Peck was the moderator at the first election, held at the Congregational meeting house, June 11th, 1827, when the following were chosen: Town clerk, Edward Chitten- den; selectmen, Jared Burr, David Scott, Albert Hoppin; constables, Orrin Hotchkiss, Franklin D. Benham, Robert H. Bronson, Andrew Smith: grand jurors, Gideon M. Hotchkiss, Lauren Preston, Eldad Hotchkiss, Jr .; pound keepers, Joseph Payne, David Scott, Guy Per- kins; town agents, Samuel Peck, Joseph I. Doolittle; treasurer, David Scott; sealer of weights, Isaac Bradley; sealer of measures, Ephraim Nettleton; fence viewers, Joseph Beecher, Lyman Hitchcock; assessors, Joseph I. Doolittle, Benjamin Bronson, Benjamin Platt; surveyors of highways, Stephen Bradley, Samuel Williams, Jr., Gideon M. Hotch- kiss, Samuel Peck, Ransom R. Russell, Olcott H. Payne, Garrett Gil- lett, Joel Brooks. Jared Burr, Esq., was appointed agent to assist the selectmen in settling affairs with Waterbury and Cheshire.

Those elected to the office of town clerk since the organization of Prospect have been: 1828-30, Edward Chittenden: 1831, Franklin D. Benham; 1832-4, Ozra Collins; 1835-6, Aaron Austin; 1837-47, James Street; 1848-61, Samuel C. Bronson: 1862, Edwin R. Tyler; 1863-4. William M. Atwater; 1865, David Hawley; 1866-80, Richard Tyler; 1881, David B. Hotchkiss; 1882-9, David M. Plumb.

Among those who held the office of selectman have been: Joseph Payne, William Mix, Libbeus Sanford, Benjamin Platt, Isaac Bradley. George C. Platt, Joseph I. Doolittle, Benjamin Bronson, Lauren Pres- ton, David R. Wilmot, Gideon M. Hotchkiss, Ransom Russell, Aaron Austin, D. M. Hotchkiss, John Gillett, H. D. Russell, A. S. Plumb, G. F. Tyler. D. R. Williams, G. D. Fenn, John R. Platt, Benjamin Doo- little, Merritt Clark, Smith S. Clark, George Payne, H. A. Nettle- ton, Harris Platt, William E. Morris, David B. Hotchkiss, James Bottomley.

Thomas Wilmot moderated at many of the early town meetings.

The construction and improvement of the roads have engaged the attention of the town more than any other matter. The appropria- tions for this object have, considering the means of the town, been very liberal, and those in care of the roads have generally been the leading citizens. The supervisors in 1890 were: Alfred Brooks, George D. Fenn, Lourie Richardson, Lewis Wooding, H. N. Clark, James Bottomley, Frank Allen, A. S. Plumb, Edgar Wallace, Levi Sanford, John Cook, Reuben Perkins.

The care of the poor has required serious consideration. In 1832 and later the town appointed overseers to look after those who had

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

neglected their affairs, and who were through want, intemperance and idleness in danger of becoming town charges. This means sometimes proved effectual, but occasionally those supervised in that manner re- sented the care forced on them, and refused to submit to the authority of the overseers. The outlay for the town poor in 1889 was $225; and the expenditure for all purposes was about $2,000. There was a funded indebtedness of $1,492, and the rate of taxation was 9} mills, on a grand list of $162,652.

At present there is but little occupation aside from the pursuit of agriculture. But formerly there were a number of small industries in the town which quickened the life of Prospect. Most of these were located upon the brooks already named.

Among the more important ones were those on Ten Mile river (so- called), which is in Prospect nothing more than a smart brook. At the upper privilege on that stream William Mix had mills below a 24-foot fall, in which he also made Britannia ware. In that industry he was a pioneer, and was among the first in this country to bring to the aid of hand-work machinery which revolutionized old processes. He thus first employed a buffing wheel, operated by water power, to burnish the spoons and other ware he had cast. The novelty of the process- a wheel, so to speak, made of rags, putting on a better polish than hand rubbing -- caused this little valley to become known as " Rag Hollow," by which name it has been known more than sixty years. William Mix also made German silver spoons of superior finish, and later manufactured metal buttons. He operated until he was an aged man, and at one time employed more than a score of persons. In 1890 this power was but little used. The power next below was improved by Harris Smith and Sherman Blakeslee, in the fall of 1839, also for the manufacture of spoons, coffee and tea pots of Britannia metal. Smith soon withdrew, and Blakeslee alone manufactured, selling to David Hotchkiss and Robinson Williams. Later Bennet Jeralds and Eli Ives had that line of manufacture, from 1849 to 1854, and sold the business to Charles Parker, who transferred it to Yalesville. After that S. E. Jeralds manufactured a patent hoe ferrule, and associating E. R. Lawton with him, manufactured on an extensive scale various kinds of sewing machine needles. At one time that business gave employment to forty people. The last named firm was engaged in a small way, in 1890, in manufacturing patent knife handles for the Meriden Cutlery Company.

The power below this was used in the manufacture of matches by Wilcox, Tyler & Bronson, Ives & Bagley, and last by E. P. Dunham. The power is now but little used. Not far below the latter David R. Williams had a shop for the manufacture of suspender buckles and other notions, which he carried on several years. The property passed to Titus Mix, who had there small mills and shops.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Near the center of the town Harris Smith manufactured umbrella trimmings, employing a number of people, until the interest declined. A more successful enterprise in the village was the hoe shop of Eben Tuttle, whose business grew to such proportions that it was transferred to Naugatuck to take the benefit of water power at that place. At the center the hoes were hammered out by hand, and some of them were ground and polished by power at Straitsville. These goods had a great reputation, and their manufacture led to important results.

At and near the center match shops were owned and carried on by Richard Tyler, Samuel C. Bronson, Stephen H. Payne, John Bronson and others, all of which have long since been given up. Another abandoned industry is at Russell's pond, near the Naugatuck line, where H. D. Russell and others used the power to produce metal buttons, harness and carriage trimmings. With the decay and re- moval of these interests began the decline of the town, and there is now scarcely occupation for the ordinary mechanic pursuits.

Although the town had a much larger amount of general business than at present, its location has prevented it from having large stores, etc. Trade has been confined to small shops, and the public houses were never important. A post office bearing the name of the town is kept at the center, and has a daily mail from West Cheshire station. Among the postmasters have been: Samuel C. Bronson, Richard Tyler, David Hawley, Luther Morse, David B. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Stephen A. Talmadge. The town appropriates $52 annually for the support of the office.

At the post office is kept the Oxford Circulating Library, which was established mainly through the efforts of Mrs. William H. Phipps. It has been open several years, has 220 volumes and is well patronized.

Provision for schools was early made and the Society of Columbia maintained several in the more thickly settled parts of the parish. which were continued by the town. In more recent years but three schools have been kept up, each having instruction for thirty weeks in the fall and spring of the year.

Several creditable select schools have been kept in the town, one being at the residence of Captain David M. Hotchkiss; another by Seabury Scott, at the old Castle tavern stand. Both were well patron- ized.

The early religious history of the town is obscure. About the time of the revolution a number of people living on the west side of Chesh- ire mountain complained of the distance they were required to travel to attend public worship in Cheshire. Others living more remote from the meeting house in Waterbury joined them later in a demand for a place of worship more convenient to their homes. The old soci- eties failing to afford them relief, in 1778 a number separated them. selves from the Cheshire congregation and built a house of worship of their own on Cheshire mountain.' They secured as their minister

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Reverend John Lewis, who was succeded by Reverend Benjamin Beach; and a man named Chatterton preached later. The meeting house was rude and was never finished, because there was a lack of means and but few members. These were called Separatists, but pre- ferred to be known as Strict Congregationalists. This movement led to the formation of the Columbia Society and under its direction a more central place for a new meeting house was selected. Land on Prospect hill was purchased of Abraham Hotchkiss-one acre for a meeting house and a smaller quantity for a graveyard. It was deeded March 26th, 1795, in the presence of Ira Smith and Enos Tyler. A clause in the deed stipulated that if the major part of those using the house should be Congregationalists or Calvinists, they should own the land. At this time, however, the majority were not Calvinists. On the 3d of March, 1795, the congregation had voted that the meeting house should be for the use of the Strict Congregationalists. It was long known as the Separatist meeting house, and ministers of other denominations sometimes occupied it. The plainness and simplicity of this building, which stood on the green, where is now the sign post, was somewhat changed in 1801, when it was put into better shape and a steeple with bell added. Pews were also placed in the body of the house, in which the people of the society were seated according to their rates, as determined by the grand list.

There appears to have been a steady drift toward regular Congre- gationalism, and on the 14th day of May, 1798, was organized the Con- gregational Church of Prospect, which body has perpetuated its exist- istence to the present time. The sixteen constituent members were Ephraim Smith, Joseph Matthews, Abraham Hotchkiss, Ira Smith, Eben Hotchkiss, Asahel Hotchkiss, Thankful Smith, Lois Matthews, Hannah Hotchkiss, Phebe Hotchkiss, Esther Ford, Mehitable Bying- ton, Damaris Tuttle, Olly Byington, Hannah Doolittle and Jerusha Hotchkiss. The ministers in attendance on this occasion were the Reverends John Foote, of Cheshire; Abraham Fowler, of Salem (Nau- gatuck); Benjamin Beach and Oliver Hitchcock. The clerk chosen was Ira Smith.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 85

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 966

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966