USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 86
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 86
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Soon after this the old Separatist society was dissolved and many of the former members were added to the church. In 1799 the addi- tions by letter were Frederick Hotchkiss, Tabitha Hotchkiss, Mrs. Ira Smith, Mrs. Bildad Porter, Nehemiah Smith, Benjamin Hotchkiss, Elizabeth Beecher, Esther Beecher, Myrinda Sanford, Deacon Gideon Hotchkiss, Molly Terrell and Elizabeth Tyler. The same year a num- ber were added on profession of faith, among them being Lydia Beecher, Jonah Hotchkiss and his wife, Robert Hotchkiss, Mercy Hitchcock, Mary Tyler, Joel Hotchkiss, Wooster Tuttle and Freelove Tuttle. In the course of the next few years there were added, among other members, John Hotchkiss, Ezra Hotchkiss, Jesse Wilmot and Jared Sanford.
737
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The Reverend Benjamin Beach supplied the new church tempora- rily, but, June 5th, 1798, Reverend Oliver Hitchcock was given a call, which he accepted. He was installed September 19th, 1798, at a meet- ing called for this purpose at the house of Ira Smith, when Doctor Trumbull and other prominent ministers were present.
The church now entered upon its active work. In 1800 it adopted the Saybrook platform as part of its creed, to which it rigidly adhered. The private lives of the members were made to conform to a severe standard of morality and no frivolities of any kind were allowed. Mr. Hitchcock was the pastor of the church until January 12th, 1812, and it is said had to eke out his salary by laying up stone walls for some of the wealthier farmers, being very proficient at that work. It should be borne in mind that the parish was small and that not all those living in it contributed to the support of the minister. Many of the Separa- tists did not connect themselves with the church and declined to pay their rates, some preferring to worship with the Methodists and others claiming membership with the church at Cheshire. Hence they filed their certificates to show their intentions.
After the removal of Mr. Hitchcock to New York, the pulpit was- supplied by Reverend David Bacon (father of Leonard Bacon) in 1813; Abraham Fowler, one year; Gideon Burt, in 1815; and John Marsh, in 1816. The latter became a noted temperance worker after 1823.
In May, 1817, Reverend Samuel Rich became the second settled pastor. In that year the old parsonage was repaired and a ministerial fund of $2,000 raised. This has aided to support the Gospel, and a part of the fund is still available. Mr. Rich was a strong-headed but nevertheless a successful minister, and while he remained there were several revivals, which increased the membership. In 1821 about seventy persons were added to the church. He was dismissed in May. 1824, after an unpleasant controversy in regard to his salary, which, it appears, was not fully paid at the time his pastorate ceased. As'a consequence, there was no regular minister for several years, but only occasional preaching.
On the 16th of May, 1827, Reverend John E. Bray was installed, and it is said that the singing and other services on that occasion were unusually impressive. He was dismissed in 1832.
Again the pulpit was supplied by Reverend Peter Sampson, and in 1833 by Reverend James D. Chapman. The latter was here but a short time, when he became a believer in the doctrines of the Perfec- tionist, John H. Noyes, the founder of the Oneida community. Some of his members followed him in this belief, and when the Consociation revoked his license to preach and closed the pulpit against him, they went with him to a school house in the neighborhood, where they loyally stood by him. This had the effect of greatly weakening the church. Mr. Chapman lived in the town some time, and renouncing his Perfection ideas, his license was restored to him, and he preached in Wolcott in 1839 and in later years.
738
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
After Mr. Chapman, the ministers in Prospect were as follows : 1834-6, Reverend Sylvester Selden; 1836-7, Zephaniah Swift; 1837-9, Ammi Linsley; 1840-3, Edward Bull.
In this period the church was so poor that the aid of the mission- ary society was necessary in order to maintain these supplies. During the ministry of Reverend Edward Bull, a period of growth began which assured the further existence of the church. In 1841 the town and the society united in a purpose to build a new meeting house, as the old one had become unfit for use. The town built the basement and the society, aided freely by Mr. Bull, who was a man of means, built the superstructure of the present edifice. A parsonage had been begun about the same time, which was completed during the ministry of Mr. Torrey. In 1870 the meeting house was thoroughly repaired and made more attractive; and again, in 1883, the basement was con- verted into a vestry room and a town hall, the repairs involving an outlay of $1,000. The parsonage had been fully repaired in 1878. Both buildings nicely served their purposes in 1890.
In June, 1843, Reverend Reuben Torrey began a five years' pas- torate as the fourth settled minister, leaving in 1848. Then the pulpit was supplied by the following : 1848-9, Reverend John L. Ambler ; 1851-4, James Kilbourne: 1854-5, Asa M. Train; 1856-7, Joseph Payne; 1858-9, Asa M. Train, the second time.
In October, 1860, Reverend William W. Atwater was installed as the fifth settled pastor, and was dismissed January 31st, 1865. The following year Reverend Frederick Chapman began a ministry as acting pastor, which continued until 1871. Reverend Mr. Pyke suc- ceeded him from 1871 to 1874. In May of the latter year Reverend F. Countryman* became the pastor and continued until his resigna- tion, August 23d, 1877. The Reverend J. H. Beckwith preached a short time, and was followed, January 1st, 1878, by the present acting pastor, Reverend William H. Phipps, whose faithful service has been the means of preventing the dissolution of the church, when so many material interests in the town have gone to decay. In 1890 the church had 90 members, and there was a Sunday school of 100 members, which had deacon G. B. Hotchkiss as its superintendent.
The first deacon of the church was Gideon Hotchkiss, who served from 1799 until his death in 1807. He was born in Cheshire in 1716, and embraced religion in 1736. He soon after married and moved to Waterbury, living within the bounds of the Salem Society, from whose jurisdiction he was excepted. When the Columbia Society was formed he soon after became a member, and actively continued until his decease at the age of 91 years. His descendants were very num- erous and useful. He had 105 grandchildren and 155 great-grand- children in the fourth and fifth generations.
The second deacon, Ira Smith, was elected in 1807, but he was * Sketch compiled from a discourse by Reverend Frank Countryman.
739
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
before that time active in the church and had been a leading Separat- ist. His home being central, many councils were there held. Another leader in church matters was Frederick Hotchkiss, who was elected a deacon in 1818. After several years he removed to New York city, where he was drowned. Another member of the Hotchkiss family- Gideon Mills-became interested in church affairs about 1832. He was especially a strong and progressive Sunday school worker. The other deacons elected were: 1826, Samuel Peck; 1834, Joseph Platt; 1842, James Street; 1857, Whitney B. Dudley; 1864, Benjamin B. Brown; 1865, Gilbert B. Hotchkiss. The latter two have continued, being the deacons in 1890.
One Congregational minister was raised up by the church, viz., Rev- erend Henry Alanson Russell.
It has been stated that Bishop Asbury, of the Methodist Episcopal church, visited old Waterbury in 1796 and preached in the Columbia Separatist meeting house. On the dissolution of that society, about 1800, not all the Separatists joined the regular church, but some be- came Methodists. These were visited occasionally by itinerant min- isters, who held meetings in private houses, some of which were occa- sions of unusual interest. Amos Hotchkiss, who had been an active Separatist, warmly espoused Methodism and threw open the doors of his house, and some of the first meetings were held there. Later meetings were held at the house of Thomas Benham, one half mile north of the village green. Hotchkiss died in 1820, but three of his sons-Woodward, Avera and Amos H .- became Methodists. The former married Polly Castle, a pious and zealous Methodist, who died in 1870, aged 100 years. He died in 1861, aged 86 years. Amos H. presented a lot on the south side of the square for a meeting house site. Daniel Hitchcock, a very devout man, was another Methodist. He had a prayer meeting room in his house. Other Methodists were: Milly Sanford, whose son, Herschell, was a local preacher ; Mrs. Eunice Rowe, Abel Austin and wife, Warren Wilson and wife, Dimon Hitchcock and wife, Elisha Preston, Lauren Preston, a class leader, who moved to Cheshire; Ichabod Hitchcock, another class leader; and Jesse Beecher, a local preacher, who joined the Adventists. Others of the Methodists also embraced that faith.
The first public Methodist place of worship was the old Separatist meeting house, which was removed to a new site, on the south of the square. At that place Methodist meetings were held until 1858, when they were discontinued, and the organization was disbanded on account of the fewness of the members. Some of those who continued their residence in the town attended the churches in Bethany and Cheshire, while others became Adventists or found a spiritual home in the Congregational church.
The Adventist chapel, at the Center, which is a small but not un- attractive frame building, affords a place of worship for members of
740
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
that faith. It was built within the past six years. The meetings previous to that time were held in private houses, at "Rag Hollow" and other localities. Moses Chandler was one of the most active in the latter movement to give the denomination a permanent place in the town, and the meetings were for a time held at his house. Other members belong to the Tuttle, Tyler, Hotchkiss and Beecher families. In 1890 there were about a score of members, and Seth Woodruff was the minister.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Byron L. Morse was born in Prospect in 1859, and was educated in the common schools of that town. His parents were Harry and Sarah (Gillett) Morse. The former died in 1879. Byron L. was elected to the legislature in 1889 from the town of Prospect, and served on the committee of forfeited rights. He is engaged in farming. His parents had seven children: Byron L., George, John, Hattie, Walter (an electrician in Waterbury), Mary and Alice. Byron L. belongs to the Mad River Grange, P. of H. His brother, George, was a member of the legislature in 1885.
David B. Hotchkiss, born in Prospect in 1853, is a son of David M. and Hannah (Doolittle) Hotchkiss. The latter was first married to Henry Bristol, and had one son, Henry Bristol, now of New Haven. David and Hannah had two children: David B. and Julia E., who mar- ried F. A. Sanford .. David M. was twice married. By his first wife he had eight children: Emily B., married Benjamin B. Brown, of Pros- pect; Laura, married A. S. Plumb; Henry K. and Hervey D., twins; Frederick, died when 24 years old; Edwin H., lives in New York; Berk- ley S., of Waterbury; and Richard N., of New Jersey. David B. mar- ried Nellie Hupman, of Windsor, N. Y., in 1878. They have four children: Luella, Mabel, Ruth and Treat. Mr. Hotchkiss has held several town offices, including selectman and justice of the peace. He is independent in politics. He is a member of the Mad River Grange, No. 71, P. of H. David M. was a son of Frederick, he a son of David, he a son of Gideon, all natives of Prospect. The Hotchkiss family was one of the pioneer families of the town. David M. was noted in his time for being a strong abolitionist. He was instrumen- tal in forming the town and gave it the name of Prospect. He was first selectman during the war, and was twice sent to the legislature. He died in 1878.
Edwin T. Mix, born in Cheshire in 1843, is a son of Titus Mix, who came from Wallingford and settled in Prospect. He was engaged in making boxes for the Ives & Judd Match Company. His son, Edwin T., has a factory in Rag Hollow, where he manufactures wagons and does a general repair business. He has a fine water power and is doing a successful business.
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