USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 63
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 63
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As innkeepers the Lums followed the Candees, and remodelled the house. Another inn was kept by Daniel Tucker, who had a store and tavern in the upper part of the village. That building was destroyed by fire. He also had an inn at where is now Doctor Barnes' house.
The manufacture of hats was the main industry in the village for about 25 years, after 1828, giving occupation to more than 60 men. Seth Crosby had the principal shops and turned out large quantities of fur hats. His place was next occupied by the four partners: Garry Riggs, George Fuller, Charles Ransom and Agur Cable. They dis- continued about 1851, some of the members of the firm going to Cali- fornia. Henry Durham was the last principal hatter, and the build- ings have long since been converted to other uses. About the same time the hat trade flourished David M. Clark had a tailor shop, which made clothing for the southern trade. In this period of activity a flourishing Masonic Lodge, Morning Star, No. 47, built a hall in the village, where its meetings were held until 1844, when the removal of many members caused their suspension. In 1851 the Lodge was re- vived at Seymour, and has since been maintained at that place.
Doctor Hosea Dutton was probably the first located physician. He came from Southington about the time of the revolution, and re- mained here until his death in September, 1826. He was self-educated, but a man of ability and culture nevertheless, whose influence in the town secured him many positions of trust. He was withal eccentric
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
and bitterly opposed the settlement of another physician in the town, even when there was a demand for one by reason of the increased population. After his death his son, Doctor Thomas A.,* born in 1802, succeeded him, and was in practice until 1845, when he moved to Newtown, and later to Birmingham.
The second resident physician of the town was Doctor Noah Stone, who came from Guilford the latter part of 1810, and was here until his death in March, 1851, aged 69 years. He was a fine practitioner and a most exemplary man, whose memory is still cherished. He was the father of Reverend A. L. Stone and of David M. Stone, the editor of the New York Journal of Commerce. His daughter, Martha, married Reverend Stephen Hubbell, a Congregational minister, in 1832, and while residing in Oxford wrote the popular book, "Shady Side," whose influence on clerical life in New England was far-reaching and benefi- cent.
Contemporary with Doctor Stone in the last years of his practice was Doctor John Lounsbury, who still resides at Oxford, at an extreme age, and is no longer in active practice. For 50 years he has occupied the same home. Doctor Roswell Bronson, a native of Middlebury, located here about 1850, and died in December, 1855, aged 31 years.
The practitioner at Oxford in 1890 was Doctor Lewis Barnes. He was born at Southington in 1825, and was a son of Doctor Julius S. Barnes, who located at that place in 1818. After graduating from Yale in 1847, Doctor Lewis Barnes studied medicine in New York city, and with his uncle, Doctor Josiah Barnes, at Buffalo. In 1851 he grad- uated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of that city, and returning home, located at Meriden in 1854, and since 1856 has been in active practice in Oxford.
Stores were formerly kept at Quaker's Farm, but in more recent years that locality has been strictly a farming community.
Having been incorporated as a separate parish in May, 1741, the ecclesiastical society of Oxford held its first meeting at the house of Samuel Twitchell, June 30th, the same year. Isaac Knowles was chosen moderator and Isaac Trowbridge clerk of the society. Caleb Perry, John Lum, Ebenezer Riggs, John Towner and Samuel Wooster were appointed a prudential committee. The society and religious meetings were held at the house of Samuel Twitchell or at John Twit- chell's, but, October 6th, 1741, it was voted to build a meeting house and to ask for a legislative committee to locate a site. Captain Isaac Dickerman, James Talmadge and John Hitchcock were appointed such a committee, and they selected a spot on the south slope of the so- called Jack's hill, near the highway that runs on the east side of the Little river. The land designated belonged to Ephraim Washburn. The assembly approved the choice.
It appears that the meeting house was several years in building, * Named by his father Thomas Albert Bonaparte Jefferson.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
as the first record of its occupancy was June 21st, 1743. In the mean- time the society's meetings had been held in private houses, the notices for which had been posted at the houses of John Lum, Jonathan Grif- fin, Joseph Lewis, Isaac Knowles, Joseph Davis and Joseph Wood, whose places may be regarded as having been centers in the parish. Before this meeting the May, 1743, general assembly had been peti- tioned by Clerk Isaac Trowbridge and others for permission to "em- body into a church estate," "and to settle a minister according to the establishment of the churches in this government." The assembly granted the desired liberty, but the Congregational Church of Oxford was not formally organized by the parish until January 9th, 1746.
After the completion of the meeting house the society took steps to secure a regular minister, and in June, 1745, Mr. Jonathan Lyman was called on a four weeks' probation. He accepted and was regularly ordained October 4th, 1745. several months, it will be seen, before the church was organized. After a pastorate of 18 years, he was accident- ally killed in 1763 by falling from his horse while riding on a mission to visit a sick person in the western part of the parish. Mr. Lyman had graduated from Yale in 1742 and was a capable minister, who had won the esteein of the community. As tokens of their esteem Samuel Wheeler and John Lum, active members of the church, donated him several tracts of land near the church, in 1746 and 1747.
The Reverend David Bronson, of Milford, was next ordained to the pastorate, April 25th, 1764, the details of his settlement having been arranged by Deacon Ebenezer Riggs, John Twitchell, Thomas Clark, Captain Russell, Lieutenant Wheeler, Captain Hawkins and Joseph Osborn. His pastorate extended through more than 40 years, until his death in 1806. In his ministry the second and present meet- ing house of the Congregational church was built.
The vote to erect a new house was taken January 3d, 1793, and it was decided to place it on the meeting house acre, near the old build- ing, with dimensions 40 by 56 feet. December 23d, 1793, Timothy Candee entered into an agreement to build the meeting house for £675, and it was probably occupied in 1795. The records in regard to this house are vague, and it is said that Mr. Candee was not properly compensated for his work, which involved a greater outlay than he had anticipated. The house has several times been improved to give it modern appearances and more comfortable accommodations, the last being a work of renovation in the winter of 1888-9, when new furniture was also supplied.
Since the pastorate of Mr. Bronson there have been many changes in the ministerial service of the church, but few pastorates being long continued. From June, 1809, to September, 1814, the minister was Reverend Nathaniel Freeman, when for 16 years the pulpit was sup- plied. Among the ministers thus serving was Reverend Zephaniah Swift, who was highly respected .* June 2d, 1830, Reverend Abraham
* Judge N. J. Wilcoxson's account.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Brown began a pastorate which ended October 16th, 1838. The next regular minister was Reverend Stephen Topliff, who began April 21st, 1841, and remained until 1860. Since that time the ministers have been: Reverend Mr. Barton, one year; Strong (installed), two and one- half years; Chamberlain, two and one-half years; John Churchill, about eight years; who was followed by the Reverends Snow, Mohr and Cleveland. Since July, 1888, the acting pastor has been Reverend H. M. Hazeltine, who came to this place from the Monroe church.
In 1890 the parish was small, containing but 45 families and 50 communicant members. The deacons were: Ebenezer Buckinghamn, Robert B. Limburner and Amos Treat.
The Oxford church raised up the following Congregational minis- ters: Cyrus Beecher Bristol, Charles Fabrique, John Robinson Free- man, Thomas Riggs, Burritt Augustus Smith, Charles Leete Stone, D. D., and George Edward Stone.
St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church is also located in Oxford village. Among the early settlers of Oxford were some churchmen who, in 1764, were gathered together as the above church by Rever- end Richard Mansfield, the rector of the Derby church, who also preached here until about 1803. He was a minister of great force of character and ability, and through his efforts the church was fully established. Abel Gunn and William Bunnell appear to have been first wardens, and to them was conveyed, in 1766, for the use of the church, a tract of five acres of land. The same year the first house of worship was built on the hill near the Episcopal cemetery, which was used until the present church, on the south side of the green, was oc- cupied. This was built in 1834, and consecrated the following year by Bishop Brownell. It has since been placed in a good condition and well serves its purpose, being both attractive and comfortable. In the summer of 1888 a number of very fine memorial windows were placed in the church (each costing about $130) by some of the leading families of the parish. The church has 200 sittings. In 1890 the parish had 35 families and 53 registered communicants. Its wardens were: Elijah B. Treat and Albert Smith. The vestry was composed of Henry Williams, R. B. Hinman, A. B. Hinman, George Hubbell and Franklin Davis. C. H. Butler was the treasurer.
After Rector Mansfield no longer served St. Peter's in connection with the Derby church, there was no regular minister until 1807, when the Reverend Chauncey Prindle, a native of Oxford, became the first resident rector, and served the church until 1812. He afterward lived upon a farm in the northern part of the town, until his death, at an advanced age, about 1832. After him the successive ministers were the following: Reverend Aaron Humphrey, 1814 to 1820; W. A. Cur- tis, 1829 to 1830; Ashbel Baldwin, 1831 to 1834; Charles Smith, 1834 to 1836; Daniel Burnham, 1836 to 1841; Abel Nichols, 1844 to 1845; Henry Olmstead, 1845; George B. Eastman, 1846; David P. Sanford, 1847 to
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
1849; Charles J. Todd, 1850 to 1854; D. W. C. Loop, 1854; Edward P. Gray, 3 months, 1855; John N Marvin, 1855 to 1858; Sylvester Clarke, 1859 to 1861; A. R. Van Antwerp, 1861 to 1863; John T. Pearce, 1863 to 1865; John Anketell, 1872 to 1875; George Buck, 1875 to 1876; Wil- liam Walker, 1876 to 1877; Sheldon Davis, 1877; Walter C. Roberts (lay reader), 1877; George P. Torrence, 1878 to 1879; Howard T. Wid- demer, 1879 to 1880; William E. Potwine, 1881; Samuel R. Bailey, ISS2 to 1885; C. H. Proctor, 1885 to 1886; and since July 3d, 1887, the rector of St. Peter's, Christ Church at Quaker's Farm and the Southford Mis- sion has been the Reverend Lewis F. Morris.
Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal) is at Quaker's Farm, and was first known as a chapel of St. Peter's parish. The movement to build this chapel was begun in the fall of 1811 by the people of this locality, who desired a place of worship in their own midst. To that end they freely contributed labor and material, Cyrus Perry drawing the first stick of timber, which was 64 feet long, on the 11th of October. In the fall of 1812 the chapel was raised, the building committee being David Tomlinson, Nathaniel Wooster and Wells Judson. These and Russell Nichols were most active in promoting the work, so that the house was ready for occupancy some time in 1814; but it was not con- secrated until September 3d, 1817, Bishop Hobart officiating. A stove was first supplied in the ministry of the Reverend Ashbel Baldwin, 1828 to 1834, who presented it. A bell weighing 600 pounds was pro- cured in 1836. In 1876 the repairing of the church was begun and carried through several years by the efforts of Reverend Sheldon Davis and generous friends. In 1878 a fine chancel window was put in as a memorial to David Tomlinson and his wife, Laura, who were so active in founding the church, and the building was made attrac- tive throughout.
In 1826 Nathaniel Wooster and others succeeded in establishing the chapel as a separate parish, with the above name; and one-third of the St. Peter's church fund (at that time amounting to $660) was set aside for the use of Christ's church. In 1846 this was augmented by a legacy of $200 from the estate of Mrs. Ruth Tyrrell, and subse- quently by a legacy of $100 from the estate of Ira Hawkins. In Aug- ust, 1879, a new permanent fund was begun for the support of the minister in charge, and Reverend Sheldon Davis and Stephen S. Mal- lett each gave $1,000 to establish it. In 1880 the old fund above noted was raised to $1,000 by Mrs. Benjamin Nichols, Mrs. S. S. Mallett and others; and later Mrs. Marietta Davis added $500 to the fund, which now amounted to $3,500, and by this the support of a minister was made more possible, especially since the parish is served in connec- tion with St. Peter's.
The ministers of the church at Quaker's Farm have been as fol- lows: 1814, Reverend Aaron Humphrey; 1826, William A. Curtiss; 1832, Ashbel Baldwin; 1837-42, James Sunderland, Charles Smith,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Daniel Burnham; 1843, Abel Nichols: 1845, George B. Eastman; 1847, David P. Sanford; 1850, Charles Jarvis Todd; 1854, D. W. C. Loop; 1855-6, I. N. Marvin, George S. Foote, C. T. Woodruff, George R. Davis; 1858, Sylvester Clark; 1863, A. R. Van Antwerp; 1866, John T. Pearce; 1867, H. C. Stowell; 1869, Clayton Eddy; 1871, H. Alanson Walton; 1876, George Buck.
Since the latter date the ministers have been mainly those of the St. Peter's church, the two parishes being served in common. In 1890 the parish of Christ church contained 26 families, furnishing 32 regis- tered communicants. The wardens were C. C. Rider and George S. Skidman; and the vestrymen were S. S. Mallett, Charles Hawkins and Charles Davis. The present Sunday school was organized in 1876, and C. C. Rider has long been the superintendent.
At Quaker's Farm there was a Baptist meeting house as early as 1830, but the society using it did not keep up its organization more than a few years.
A more recent organization of a class of Methodists was effected at Zoar Bridge, and a meeting house was erected in that locality, which is still maintained. The membership is small, and the ministerial service is in connection with charges in Fairfield county.
The Oxford Circulating Library was projected December 5th, 1883, and established the following year by St. Peter's Guild. Not long after it passed under the management of W. W. Hughes, who volun- tarily serves as the librarian, and who has succeeded in making the library an object of public support. One hundred and fifty persons have been interested as members. The library contains 700 volumes, and is kept at the residence of Mr. Hughes.
Soon after the organization of Oxford parish several schools were established, and the number increased with the expansion of the set- tlements. Select schools were taught for short periods in different parts of the town. Under the public school system 13 districts were organized, only 11 of which maintained schools in 1890. In propor- tion to the population the attendance is good, and the expense of maintenance approximates $1,900 per year. A number of the natives of Oxford have been college graduates. Oscar and John Harger, of this town, became distinguished for their learning, the former becom- ing a professor at Yale.
In this connection a brief notice of Sheldon Clark appropriately follows. He was born in Oxford, January 31st, 1785, and died April 10th, 1840, from injuries received from falling from his hay mow. Being left an orphan in early life, his grandfather, Thomas Clark, adopted him, and with him he lived until his death, in 1811. Shel- don's earnest desire was to obtain a liberal education, but his grand- father looked upon that plan as a waste of money, and discouraged him. He, however, stored his mind as best he could by reading and studying at home, and in the fall and winter of 1811-12 attended the
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
lectures of Professor Silliman at Yale. He now became imbued with a purpose to advance the cause of liberal education, hoarding and most persistently striving to further that end. He never married, and in his life as a farmer he not only labored incessantly, but denied him- self the common comforts in order to increase his means. In 1822 he set aside $5,000 for a fund to create the Clark professorship in Yale College, and two years later gave $1,000 for the purpose of establish- ing a scholarship. In 1829 he presented the college a fine telescope, costing over $1,000, and by the terms of his will bequeathied that institu- tion nearly all his property, amounting in all to many thousand dollars. He thus became one of the most generous patrons of the college in that period, and his example worthily stimulated others to acts of generosity. The farms in Oxford he willed to Yale are still the property of that corporation.
There are several places of burial at the center, one at Zoar Bridge, another at Quaker's Farm, a fifth at Southford, and many of the in- habitants in the northeastern part were interred in the Pines Bridge Cemetery. In consequence of this diffusion some of the burial places have not received the care which should be given thiem. In the Southford yard are the graves of William Burr, Jesse Smith and Cap- tain Samuel Candee, all of them soldiers of the revolution. Respect- ing the latter the Department of the Interior at Washington furnished the following to John D. Candee, of Bridgeport, March 15th, 1882:
"Sir: In accordance with your request for information of the military services of your grandfather, Samuel Candee, in the Revolu- tionary war, the following statements are furnished from his declara- tion:
"He entered the service at Derby May 1st, 1775, in Lieut. Bradford Steel's company, in Colonel Wooster's Connecticut regiment; marched to Boston, and was immediately appointed sergeant, the warrant being signed by Col. Wooster, but is lost. He remained at the seige of that city during his 7 months term of enlistment, which ended January 1, 1776, but he was persuaded by his officers to remain 20 days longer. In July, 1776, he was a sergeant in a company of Woodbridge militia, then a part of New Haven, when the entire company was called out to go to New York city, and they left Woodbridge on the 23d of July. On their arrival they were ordered to Long Island, being attached to Col. Thompson's Connecticut regiment, where the company was en- gaged in several skirmishes with the enemy, followed by the retreat of the enemy to New York, and the evacuation of the city.
" While engaged in throwing up entrenchments, the British sailed up the East river, landed at Turtle Bay, and on Sunday, September 15, an engagement ensued, and the enemy retreated to New York. Col. Thompson's regiment was the last to retire from the occupation of the City, and he was killed in one of the battles that occurred soon after. Samuel Candee and his brother Job, who was in Capt. Beech-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
er's Company, and Col. Thompson's Regiment, were both standing near him when he was killed, and but a minute previously had been conversing with him.
"He volunteered as sergeant under Capt. John Riggs, of Oxford, where he was at the time, for service, which continued 6 weeks, when the British invaded New Haven, July 5th, 1779. and burned Fairfield about the 9th of the same month, but before their arrival at the latter town, the place was destroyed, and the British were on their retreat to their vessels, but they were stationed as a guard at Fairfield, Stratford and New Haven during the remainder of the time they were held to service, on account of the apprehensive danger of another approach of the enemy.
" He was born in Derby, December 15th, 1753, and his decease is on the records of this office as January 3d, 1841. His residence is al- leged by some of the witnesses as of Oxford, but when enlisting in 1775-6 he was living in Derby and Woodbridge, and in 1779 in Oxford, and was in the latter town in 1833, when the above statement was made. Since the war he has resided in Derby and Oxford. He was allowed a pension in 1833 of $57.50 per annum, to commence, in accordance with the act, March 4th, 1831.
"Very respectfully, "WM. W. DUDLEY, Commissioner."
Much interest was taken by the town in military matters, and the training days on the green were usually occasions for the general gathering of the people. The following were the captains of the 1st Company in Oxford: John Lum, Abel Gunn, Joseph Davis, 1754; Zach- ariah Hawkins, Joseph Osborn, John Wooster, Thomas Clark, Eben- ezer Buckingham, 1775; Abijah Hyde, John Riggs, Ebenezer Riggs, David Pierson, Samuel Candee, Jehiel Hine, Job Candee, Asahel Hyde, Colonel John Davis, Andrew Buckingham, Lemuel Beardsley, Philo Beecher, Gideon Riggs, Hiram Candee, Letson Osborn, 1821; William Osborn, Sherman Buckingham. Lewis Davis, John Beecher, Ebenezer Riggs, William Hinman, Moody M. Brown, 1835.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
James H. Bartlett, born in Dutchess county, N. Y., October 7th, 1829, is a son of Joseph Bartlett. He came to Oxford in 1867. He has been three times married; first to Phebe C. Beach. They had three children. Two daughters are living, and one son, James, died in 1865. For his second wife Mr. Bartlett married a sister of the first, Kate C. Beach, who bore him two children, twins, and died in 1867. For his third wife he married Frances J. Flagg, of Oxford, in 1869. They have one daughter, Annie L., born in 1870. James H. Bartlett was educated in the common schools of New York, and engaged in farming. He afterward went to the city of New York as clerk in a wholesale grocery, remaining there eight years. He then went to
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Illinois and was engaged in the same business six years. He was a commissary in the army during the war, and was engaged for a short time in business in Corinth, Miss., then went back to Illinois, and one year later removed to New York state. In 1867 he came to Oxford and engaged in manufacturing paper in Southbury about one year. He then bought the farm in Oxford near Quaker's Farm, where he now resides. He has been selectman of Oxford 15 or 16 years, and represented the town in the legislature in 1879 and 1882.
Glover W. Cable, born in Oxford in 1844, is a son of Rosewell and Hannah (Chatfield) Cable, and grandson of Abner Cable. Rose- well Cable was born in Monroe, Conn., and came to Oxford about 1818. He was a hatter by trade, and built a hat factory on the farm now owned by his son, Glover W. Rosewell married, in 1819, Hannah Chatfield, and had 11 children. Glover W. was the youngest. He is the only one of the name in Oxford. He was educated at the common schools and at the high school of Owego, N. Y. He learned the car- penter trade when young, and has followed it through life, though now engaged on his farm. He married Elizabeth Hatch, of Bridgeport, Conn., in 1873. She was the daughter of Chauncey M. and Minerva J. (Botsford) Hatch. They have eight children: Bessie M., born July 15th, 1875; Frederick A., April 3d, 1877; Henry R., January 17th, 1879; Julia G., September 17th, 1880; Nelson M., December 11th, 1882; Emma J., February 1st, 1885; Horace S., August 12th, 1886, and Lill- ian C., born September 17th, 1888. Mr. Cable was elected to the leg- islature in 1887 and 1888, and is a selectman and justice of the peace.
William H. Clark, born in New Hartford. Conn., in 1832, is a son of John Clark, a native of Oxford. William H. came to Oxford before the war of the rebellion. His grandfather was Abel Clark, also of Oxford. His mother was a Rogers, of New Hartford, Conn. William H. married Eliza Lum, of Oxford. They have an adopted daughter, Nellie Clark, who married Joseph Searles. Mr. Clark was elected to the legislature from Oxford in 1859.
Burritt Davis was born in 1806 in Oxford, on the farm where five generations of his family were born. His father, John (died aged 93) was a son of Joseph Davis. The family are of Welsh descent. Bur- ritt's mother was a Thomas, of Bethany. Burritt is the only surviving member of a family of 14 children. He married Sarah E. Osborn in 1828. They have three children living: B. J., Sarah E. and B. H. B. H. Davis lives in Oxford. Burritt Davis has a great-grandchild in New York state. Mr. Davis was a selectman nine years, and assessor about the same length of time. He was a member of the legislature in 1858. His wife died January 4th, 1890. He has always been en- gaged in farming.
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