USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 62
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 62
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Mr. Wallace married Miss Sarah Mills, of Birmingham, daughter of Thomas Mills, September 15th, 1849. A son and a daughter have been born to them: Eloise E. and William O.
THOMAS WALLACE was born in Manchester, England, February 7th, 1827. The great corporation of Wallace & Sons originally in- cluded three sons in the second part of the corporation title-John, William and Thomas. The first named was the outside manager of the great interests involved, but he died at the age of 39 years, and a readjustment of management was now essential; Thomas Wallace taking the financial responsibility of the corporation, while William Wallace, the president, kept charge, as before, of the machinery and manufacture and product of the entire plant. The reader is here re- ferred to the other sketches concerning the industry of Wallace & Sons for a complete picture of the corporation and the men who have made it what it is.
Both of the brothers, Thomas and William, are eminently mechan- ics by nature, but still of different turn of mind. If William Wallace was the practical manager and constructor for outside and factory work. Thomas Wallace was equally eminent for inside construction, having the financier's ability; hence, when at the death of his brother John, an officer of equal ability was needed for the position, Thomas Wallace was present to take up the work so imperatively laid down by his brother John. Thomas Wallace was made treasurer of Wallace & Sons, and has since held the position. Mr. Wallace is not only a
the Wallace
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financier, but a man of wide knowledge of the affairs of the world. He is a persistent reader of the best literature and has a vigorous memory; his library is stocked with many of the best books, with the writings of eminent men in various departments of learning, and his tables are laden with the best magazine literature, appearing month by month. And now often the lights may be seen in his library. burning late; Mr. Wallace is there absorbing a magazine article. or deeply exploring the contents of some volume from his library.
The allurements of pleasure and the demands of business have also inade him a traveler to a considerable extent. Associations and con- nections of men in industries similar to that of Wallace & Sons have called him here and there to different parts of the country, and in those gatherings his voice has carried the weight of both a great and thoroughly-informed manufacturer. Often the exigencies of trade have taken him far from home; several times he has gone to Russia, and while there interviewed the government authorities concerning contracts furnished them.
To a visitor the ease with which the great industry of Wallace & Sons runs is noticeable. There is no evidence of friction in any department. The large office runs as quietly as does one of the great engines in the factory, of 1,000 horse power; nor is the treas- urer confined at all to his duties. So perfect is the system and control of the finances that leisure is at the treasurer's command, and noth- ing pleases him more than to mingle with his family, while all seek pleasure in recreation or short journeys here and there.
Mr. Wallace is not only treasurer of Wallace & Sons, but has been president of the National Bank of Ansonia. He has served three terms in the legislature, the years 1877-79. His investments are scattered here and there.
Mr. Wallace is a Congregationalist, and is one of the leading parishioners of the Congregational church of Ansonia. His family share with him his deep interest in the growth of the church, and in the devoted honor he pays to the truths and ordinances of re- ligion.
He has been twice married-in 1853 to Miss Sarah Maria Slater, of Birmingham; but the union was broken by death when only two years had passed by. He was married again in December, 1856, to Miss Ellen Bryant, of Sheffield, Mass. Their children: are John B., Thomas H., Mrs. Elizabeth G. Waller, of Chicago, Frederick William, Elinor B., Ruth M., Lucy Bryant and Harold Sedgwick.
William R. Walton was born in London, England, in 1839. He re- sided in London until 13 years of age, then removed to Portsmouth and was apprenticed in the navy yard to the trade of coppersmith. He afterward went to Birmingham, England, and entered the employ of James Watt & Co., remaining in their employ seven years. He left them to take the management of the Birmingham Patent Tube
34
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Company, was with that company until its dissolution, then came to this country in 1881, entered the employ of the Ansonia Brass & Cop- per Company, where he still remains. He holds the position of super- intendent of their brass mills.
Joel M. Wheeler, born in Oxford, Conn., in 1836, is a son of Eras- tus and Lydia A. Wheeler, grandson of Joel, and great-grandson of Aden Wheeler. The Wheelers were among the earlier residents of Southbury, settling at a place called Dark Entry. The family came from England at an early date. On his grandmother's side, Mr. Wheeler is descended from the Candees. Both families produced many public men. One of them assisted in surveying and building the Erie canal, others the New York Central railroad. Several of them are now engaged in building railroads in different parts of the West. One of them obtained a grant from King George to build the first grist mill in Southbury. This grant is now in possession of the family. Joel M. Wheeler has been engaged the most of his life in civil and mechanical engineering. He was engaged in the war of the rebellion from 1862 until its close. He assisted in building the moni- tors which were engaged in the reduction of Forts Fisher and Sumter and at Mobile, New Orleans and Vicksburg. He assisted in the de- stoying of the " Albemarle " in 1864. After his return, he again en- gaged in civil and mechanical engineering. He came to Ansonia in 1877. He was burgess of Ansonia four years, and selectman and town agent two years. In 1888 he was elected warden of the borough, and has continued to hold that position to the present time. He was mar- ried, in 1868, to Mary A., daughter of John Smith, of Oxford. They have adopted Mr. Wheeler's brother's daughter, Grace A. Wheeler.
Joseph M. Whitlock was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield county, Conn., October 30th, 1832, and came to Ansonia in 1871. He has always been engaged in the railroad business; began with the New Haven & Derby railroad in 1871, and was connected with that road until it passed into the hands of the Housatonic Railroad Company in 1887. He estab- lished a coal business in Ansonia in 1876, and still continues it. He has been a member of the board of education of Derby 14 years, and was chief of the fire department of West Ansonia 13 years. He is a member of King Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., Solomon Chapter and Union Council, of Birmingham, of the New Haven Commandery, K. T., and of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the O. U. A. M., and senior ex-councilor of Ansonia Council.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TOWN OF OXFORD.
Description .- Purchase of Lands from the Indians .- Early Settlers and Their Descend- ants .- Civil Organization .- Town Officers .- Business Interests .- Oxford Village and Its Varions Interests .- Physicians .- Religious and Educational .- Sheldon Clark. -Burial Places .- Samuel Candee .- Militia .- Biographical Sketches.
T HIS is one of the hill towns in the western part of the Nauga- tuck valley, and bordering on the Housatonic on the south. It
. is about fifteen miles northwest of New Haven. The area of the original town, formed out of Derby in 1798, has been greatly diminished by the formation of Seymour on the east, in 1850, and Beacon Falls on the northeast, in 1871. The surface is very uneven, being diversified by many hills and valleys, in some of which are strong and fertile lands. The prevailing soil is gravelly loam, and agriculture has ever been the chief occupation of the inhabitants. In some parts of the town were formerly fine timber lands, most of which have been cleared for lumber and farming purposes. The principal streams are the Eight Mile brook, flowing south into the Housatonic a little west of the center, and the Little river, having a general southeastern flow into the Naugatuck from its source northwest of Oxford village. Their water power has been improved, and several of the principal highways are along their courses. The Oxford turnpike, chartered in 1795, was the second in the state, and it was for many years one of the principal thoroughfares of the county. In 1852 the Woodbury & Seymour Plank Road Company was incorporated to build such a road through Oxford, Southbury, etc., and until recently that highway was used as a toll road.
The lands in the original Oxford were purchased of the Indians in a number of tracts, more than a dozen deeds being given therefor from 1678 until 1710 .* In the former year Major Ebenezer Johnson, Ensign Samuel Riggs, Jeremiah Johnson and a few others purchased small tracts at Rock Rimmon, or near what is now called Pine's bridge, and on these the first permanent settlements in Oxford were made. Lower down the Naugatuck, and south of Major Johnson's land, Thomas and David Wooster purchased lands in 1692, and not many years later they and their descendants settled on the same. Ebenezer Riggs, a son of Ensign Samuel Riggs, settled here some time after * Orcutt's History of Derby.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
1708. In that year his father gave him 200 acres of land, with houses and other improvements thereon.
The Riggs family became very numerous in Oxford, and took a prominent part in its public affairs. A son of the above Ebenezer Riggs, John, reared a family of five sons and as many daughters, whom he settled on a road on which his own house stood, and from which circumstance Riggs street, in the northeastern part of the town, took its name.
A little later than the settlement on the Naugatuck, probably about 1700, settlements were made at what was then called and has since been known as Quaker's Farm,* on the Eight Mile brook, in the western central part of the town. Just when and for what reason the name was applied to that locality is uncertain. It appears in some treaty documents as early as 1683, and is repeated in 1687, when Jo- seph Hawley purchased a tract of land of the Indians at that place. The following year (1688) a tract of 170 acres was laid to Ebenezer Johnson "at the place commonly called the Quaker's Farm," &c. In 1692 Johnson deeded this land to Doctor John Butler, of Stratford, who occupied it several years later, and was probably the first perma- nent white settler. It is said that his house stood about 40 rods south of the old Quaker's Farm burial ground, on the west side of the brook, and under the hill. He appears to have been a hermit and to have subsisted chiefly by hunting. His death occurred before 1707, for in that year his administrators sold his lands in Oxford to William Raw- linson. It has been supposed by some that Doctor Butler was himself the Quaker, but this does not appear to be sustained by the facts. He (the Quaker) was probably a person of that faith who had here tem- porarily lived among the Indians, and had gone long before the settle- ment by the whites. From the records of Derby it appears that some time about 1711 much attention was directed to this place, and the latter year a committee was appointed to lay out all the lots on the pur- chase, and the recorder was " to mark them at each man's charge."
In 1722 Abraham Wooster, father of General David Wooster, pur- chased lands at Quaker's Farm and came on to live and improve the same. He erected a mansion house and also had a saw mill. In 1733 he sold this property to Samuel Wooster, Jr. Soon after the settlement of Abraham Wooster, the Griffin, Perry, Hawkins, Hyde, Nichols and other families settled there. In the Griffin family was born the first English child at Quaker's Farm in 1725, which grew to manhood and became known as Lieutenant John Griffin, who served in the French war and was with Wolfe at Quebec. He died at the advanced age of 96 years. The third birth at Quaker's Farm was in the Perry family, and the child became the well known Doctor Joseph Perry, of Woodbury. For many years the Perry family was numerous in the town, as were also the Hawkins and Nichols. The Woosters also be- * Also called Quaker Farms.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
came numerous, and although originally farmers, some of the younger members became noted in the professions. Joseph Wooster, who lived on Good hill, was the father of Russell Wooster and Reverend Henry Wooster, a Baptist minister of culture and influence. Russell Wooster was the father of the popular soldier and attorney, Colonel W. B. Wooster, of Birmingham. Among the older stock of Woosters was Jacob, a rich farmer, and who owned a deer park of several hundred acres, south of Quaker's Farm, which was protected by the laws of the state. This was the scene of many exciting hunts in early days. Another Wooster, Captain Nathaniel, was a blacksmith who attained an age but little short of 90 years.
About the close of the revolution David Tomlinson became a citi- zen of this part of the town. He was a son-in-law of Jabez Bacon, of Woodbury, and became an equally successful business man. At this place he began merchandising on a small scale, but extended his busi- ness until many lines of trade were embraced. He also became a large farmer, steadily increasing his estate until he owned 1,500 acres of land and was one of the most widely known men in the county. His farms were celebrated for their productiveness. He died in March, 1822, aged 60 years. His eldest son, Charles, lived more than 90 years. Samuel Meigs married into his family and merchandised at the Tomlinson stand, where his sons were afterward in trade. At one time Mr. Meigs was a county judge.
Another early business man of the town was Lieutenant Samuel Wheeler, and of his family Judge Abel Wheeler became as prominent as any citizen of the town. He died in 1830, aged 65 years. Caleb Candee* was the first of that name in Oxford, and came from West Haven. He reared nine sons, and they and their descendants were all noted for their longevity, several of them still living in the town at advanced ages. Captain Samuel Candee and Captain Job Candee both served in the revolution. The Johnson family furnished Timothy and Phineas, who served the patriot cause, and both were with General Anthony Wayne in his assault on Ticonderoga. Other settlers in the town who served in the revolution were David Peck, Edward Bassett, Isaac Chatfield and Jeremiah M. Kelley.
Captain John Davis was, among the citizens of Oxford, a military man of distinction, who afterward became colonel of the 2d Connecti- cut Regiment of Militia. He died at the age of 95 years. A son, Bur- ritt Davis, remains as one of Oxford's oldest citizens. Contemporary have been Thomas Clarke, Aurelius Buckingham, Josiah Nettleton and, later, Nathan J. Wilcoxson, Alfred Harger and Robert B. Lim- burner.
The third principal settlement in the town was made near the present Middlebury line, and from the number of families of that name living in that locality it was long known as Bristoltown. But few of the Bristols remained.
*Also spelled Cande.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The registered freemen in the town at the time of its incorporation in 1798 and the next ten years following were: Thomas Clarke, Esq., John Riggs, Esq., Samuel Wheeler, Captain Zachariah Hawkins, John Bassett, Nathan Buckingham, John Twitchell, Ebenezer Riggs, Eben Wooster, James Wheeler, Reverend David Bronson, John Wooster, Esq., Caleb Cande, James Perry, Zadock Sanford, Hosea Dutton, David Tomlinson, Gideon Perry, Joel Buckingham, Chester Smith, Ebenezer Twitchell, Roger Perkins, Joel Perry, Anson Smith, Jared Beardsley, John Bunnell, Caleb Tomlinson, John D. Wooster, Moses Sanford, Truman Bunnell, Cyrus Cande, John Fairchild, Elijah Trant, David Bunnell, Silas Hawkins, Peleg Griffin, Nathaniel Woos- ter, Levi Cande, David Wooden, Enoch Osborn, Isaiah Twitchell, Samuel Twitchell, Robert Twitchell, Josiah Washburn, Jr., James Wheeler, Jr., Daniel Finch, Simeon Gunn, Elias Clarke, Isaiah Riggs, David Beecher, John S. Hyde, Gideon Chatfield, Jonah Hine, Samuel Bartis, Jonathan Bellamy, Jared Munson, Truman Bassett, Abel Smith, Timothy Wheeler, John Smith, Jeremiah M. Kelley, James Perry, Jr., William Bunnell, Abel Waters, Joseph Clark, Andrew Wil- ton, James Wheeler, 3d, John Towner, Benjamin Loveland, Isaiah Nichols, Jr., Isaiah Smith, Elisha Oatman, Joseph Riggs, Andrew Smith, Lyman Nichols, Russell Nichols, John Hinman, David Mal- lory, Sylvester Higgins, Benajah Chatfield, Gilbert Twitchell, Cyrus Perry, David Dickerman, Miles Loveland, Samuel Mallory, John Twitchell, David Wheeler, Philo Sanford, Amos Clark, Ephraim An- drews, Samuel Heaton, Isaiah Cande, Ebenezer Bottsford, Lee Haw- kins, David Perry, Levi Riggs, Moses Wheeler, Joel Finch, Timothy Cande, David Tucker, Reuben Tucker, Isaiah Cable, Ezra Hubbell, James Wooster, Jr., Clement English, Eleazer Lewis, John Beardsley, Salmon Griffin, Arnold Loveland, Bildad Smith, John Hull, James Wooster, 3d, David Smith, Jr., David Johnson, Ambrose Osborne, Elijah Johnson, Josiah Garrett, Sheldon Clark, Ebenezer Smith, Sher- man Clark, Benjamin Cande, Amos Cande, Philander Sharp, George Bunnell, William Church, David Cande, Joseph Cone, Elijah Bennett, Truman Davis, Simeon Towner.
In that part of Oxford which formerly belonged to Southbury there lived, about 1800, taxables as follows: Isaac Burwell, Enos Benham, Philo R. Bristol, Justus Bristol, Enoch Bristol, Sheldon Bristol, Sam- uel Candee, Justus Candee, Gideon Camp, John Garrett, Jacob Hann, David Morris, Jehiel Peet, Daniel Perkins, Enoch Perkins, Moses Sperry, John Towner, David Towner, Rachael Towner, Mercy Towner, Walker Wilmot, Edward Riggs.
A petition for the setting apart of what is now Oxford as a separate parish was made to the general assembly in May, 1740, and the follow- ing year the prayer was granted ..
It appears that the inhabitants were satisfied with parish privileges until the latter part of 1789, when a move was made to secure its in-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
corporation as a town, and there was a committee appointed to consid- er the matter. No immediate action was taken, and other committees acted on the same subject. One of the most important reports was made to the Derby town meeting, February 4th, 1793, in which it ap- pears that Derby's objection to a new town arose from the fear that the burden for keeping bridges in repair would be too heavy if she should be shorn of so much territory. The matter was finally arranged on the joint report, made in April, 1798, of John Riggs, Caleb Candee and Charles Bunnell, on the part of Oxford, and James Lewis, David Hitchcock and Canfield Gillett, on the part of Derby, which imposed as one of the conditions of separation that Oxford should pay the old town £170 in three annual installments. Hence, at the October, 1798, session of the general assembly the parish was duly incorporated as a town, and the first election was held at the Congregational meeting house the following November. John Riggs, Esq., moderated, and those elected were: Clerk, John Riggs; selectmen, Captain Ebenezer Riggs, John Riggs, David Tomlinson, Caleb Candee and Charles Bun- nell; constables, Nathaniel Bangman, Nathan Buckingham, Charles Bunnell; grand jurors, Gideon Cande, Abijah Chatfield, Elihu Bates: surveyors of highways, Asahel Hyde, Benjamin Loveland, Elijah Harger, Moses Candee, Joel Buckingham, John Hawkins, Abel Waters, Josiah Washburn, Samuel Bates, Joseph Lines, Daniel Candee, David Smith, Jr., Nabeth Osborn, Job Candee, Hosea Dutton, William Church, John Fairchild, Philo Beecher, Isaac Riggs, Nathan Johnson.
Those who have served as town clerks of Oxford were elected to that office as follows: 1799, Ebenezer Wooster; 1800-2, Hosea Dutton; 1803, Captain Abel Wheeler; 1804, John Riggs; 1805-11, Captain Abel Wheeler; 1812-25, Hosea Dutton; 1826-8, Noah Stone; 1829, Thomas A. Dutton; 1830-1, Noah Stone; 1832-45, Nathan J. Wilcoxson; 1846- 58, Nathan B. Fairchild; 1859, Lewis Barnes; 1860-5, Nathan J. Wil- coxson; 1866, Burr J. Beecher; 1867, Doctor John Lounsbury; 1868- 90, Doctor Lewis Barnes.
Oxford became a separate probate district in 1842, and Nathan J. Wilcoxson was the first judge. Nathaniel Walker succeeded him, and since 1872 the judge has been Doctor Lewis Barnes.
Since the settlement of the town small saw and grist mills have been carried on, the streams usually supplying ample power. Many of these have passed away, but enough remain to do the required local work. In addition there were a number of small interests which were in their day quite important. On the Eight Mile brook, near its mouth, was a woolen mill where stockings were later woven. This was burned. Higher up the stream a man named Bidwell and others had a factory for making iron screws. At Quaker's Farm De Forest & Hine, among others, had a satinet factory, which employed a dozen hands. It was discontinued some time about 1850.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Along Little river were formerly more than a dozen industries. At Red City (so called from the color of many of the buildings at that time) daguerreotype cases were made by David Scott, who employed many young people, and occupied several buildings. One was burned in 1855. William Tucker next here made wheels, horse rakes, etc .; and another building was destroyed by fire in September, 1865. A third building, used in manufacturing, was removed to Seymour. Near this place was a saw mill, and, later, Elon Beardsley had a tan- nery, which has long since been discontinued.
Lower down the stream, below the village of Oxford, Joel Perry has an extensive lumber mill. Below, the French family had a grist mill, which later belonged to Eli Carley, and which is now owned by S. P. Sanford. The power operates a corn mill, and in connection with it a fruit distillery. At the power next lower, Norman A. Bid- well had a clothing shop and carding mill. A tannery by Cyrus Fenn was next on the site. In 1856 this passed to A. B. Hinman, but it has long since been abandoned. At the next power Sheldon Church built a saw mill, after 1852, which, in 1890, was the property of S. P. San- ford. A turning shop was at the next power. The next lower power was older. Here Samuel Wire and others manufactured satinets 70 years ago. Ormsby and others more recently manufactured stocking yarns. The buildings are in ruins. The Wooster saw mill, lower down, was extensively operated later by William and Sheldon Church. The owner in 1890 was Mark Lounsbury, and the lessee Edward F. Hoadley. The grist mill at the same power has been discontinued.
On Moose hill, in this locality, the Douglass Manufacturing Com- pany erected a large storage reservoir, whose banks gave way in June, 1867, and the flood caused much damage. The dam has been rebuilt, and in 1890 it was the property of James Swan, of Seymour, and was used supplementary to his water power on the Little river.
About 40 years ago the mannfacture of kegs and casks for the West Indies trade was an important industry in the town, and among others who had cooperages were Willis Smith, William Morris, Harvey Smith and John Limburner. These employed many men. Shoe shops were also numerous, and the small trades gave pleasant occupation to many people.
Oxford Village is near the center of the town, and is the principal place of business. It has an attractive location in the valley of the Little river. Its nearest railway station is Towantic, on the New England railroad, 2} miles distant. At that point the railway bends south into Oxford and for a few miles passes over its territory. The village of Oxford contains two stores, a hotel, shops and Congrega- tional and Episcopal churches. These stand on the sides of the vil- lage green, consisting of several acres, around which are also clustered the principal residences of the village. The upper part of the green was long known as the " meeting honse acre," and was set aside for
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
that purpose by John Chatfield; the lower end was added from the proprietors' land, and was secured by Charles Bunnell, a public spir- ited citizen, who lived on the hill south of the village. The honor of clearing the land and first improving it for public purpose is given by Judge Wilcoxson to Colonel John Davis, Lieutenant Samuel A. Buck- ingham and Ensign Ebenezer Fairchild. On the lower part military trainings were held, and it is said that these occasions attracted large crowds to Oxford.
In the first layout of the village the public road was east of the present school house, being what is now Back street, and on which was an old-time inn, kept by Gideon Tucker. When the turnpike was located, in 1795, these conditions were changed and the present street became the main highway. In that year part of the present Oxford House was built by Job and Daniel Candee, the latter becoming the inn- keeper and also the postmaster of the Oxford office, established about that time. David Candee was the next landlord and postmaster, con- tinuing in the former capacity about 40 years. As postmaster George N. Candee succeeded, keeping the office in his store. Nathan B. Fair- child was a later merchant. S. P. Sanford and C. H. Butler were in trade in 1890, the latter being the postmaster. A daily mail is sup- plied. Of the Zoar Bridge office Richard Herbert is the postmaster, and at that place is the mail supply for the southwestern part of the town.
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