History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 72

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 72
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 72

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).

Harvey Hotchkiss, born in Derby in 1822, is a son of Elipha, he a son of Levi, he a son of Eliphalet. Elipha, Levi and Eliphalet were joiners, and all residents of Derby. Elipha married Nancy Fulsom, of Stratford, Conn. Their children were: William, Albert, Mary A., Burr, Harriet, Eli, John, Phebe, Samuel, Jane, Amelia and Harvey. Harriet and Harvey are living. Harvey was in the butcher business in Ansonia for several years. For nearly 20 years he resided in the town of Seymour, and was engaged in farming. He held the office of selectman in that town one term during the war. Since 1880 he has resided in Ansonia. He married Augusta Kimberly, in 1849, and they had one daughter, Mary A., who married Lazarus G. Weaver.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE TOWN OF BEACON FALLS.

Location and Description .- Land Purchases .- Settlement and Settlers .- Civil Organiza- tion .- Town Officers .- Pines Bridge .- Cemetery .- Industrial Interests .- Societies .- Methodist Episcopal Church .- High Rock Grove .- Biographical Sketches.

B EACON FALLS is one of the smallest towns in the county, and next to Ansonia the youngest. It lies on both sides of the Nau- gatuck river, south of Beacon Hill brook, and from that locality the name was derived. Bounding it are the towns from which it was formed, in 1871, namely: Naugatuck on the north, Bethany on the east and southeast, Seymour on the south, and Oxford on the west. The greater part of the surface is mountainous, but along the brooks are some pleasantly located and fertile lands. On the east side is Hocka- num brook, flowing south into Lebanon brook, a mile east of the point where the latter empties into the Naugatuck, in the southeastern part of the town. On the opposite side of the river are Sherman's brook, in the northwest, and Hemp Swamp brook in the southwestern part of the town. These streams are small, but in a few localities afford lim- ited water power.

The principal elevations on the west side are Rimmon hill, in the southwest, and Toby's mountain in the northwest, one of whose spurs is High Rock. This approximates 500 feet in height. Opposite Rim- mon hill and separated from it by the river is a bold, craggy and al- most cone-shaped mound, more than 400 feet high, called Rimmon Rock. The name of the hill and the rock may have been derived from the fact that these bore, in olden times, relative to the country beyond, a resemblance to the scriptural Rimmon .* The plain beyond their northern bases was early called Lopus or Loper's, but for what reason' has not been clearly determined. The western and northern bounds of this plain are the rocks of Toby's mountain, so called from once having been the property of an Indian named Toby or Tobie, who for twelve years was a slave in the family of Captain Ebenezer John- son,t one of Derby's prominent men and the principal landholder in this town. He secured him in New London in 1676, when the Indian was but a boy, and freed him in 1688. In 1693, through the influence of Major Johnson and for a consideration of £10 and a barrel of cider, the Paugasuck Indians, who were the owners of this region, sold to

* See Judges, xx:45. +Afterward major, and still later colonel.

616

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Toby a large tract of land, mostly mountainous, lying in the northwest- ern part of the town. This was legally confirmed to him in 1713. Here he lived until his death in 1734, when, by the terms of his will, the land became the property of white men: Timothy Wooster, Peter Johnson, Ebenezer Johnson and Timothy Johnson, all but the first being sons of Colonel Johnson, his former master.

It appears singular that another Indian slave of Colonel Johnson should be connected with a land purchase in Beacon Falls, but such is the fact. One of his maid-servants wasa young squaw, Sarah, who was desired by an Indian for his wife, and she was sold to him in 1709. This dusky lover was named Chetrenasut, and he secured his bride for a consideration of £3, 10s. of money and all that tract of land "lying in a place called 'Nayumps,' bounded northerly with Beacon Hill river, easterly with Milford, westerly with the Naugatuck river, and south with Lebanon river." This region was afterward called "Ny- umps," and was the northwestern part of Bethany, set off to Beacon Falls when the town was formed. It includes the main part of the town, and on which are now its most costly improvements.

South of Toby's land and the Nyumph purchase, earlier purchases had been made by Captain Ebenezer Johnson, in 1678, the same being in three small parcels, at or near Rock Rimmon, running up to Leba- non brook. On the west side of the river, south of Toby's land and running down to lands in the present town of Seymour, purchased by David Wooster, in 1692, Major Ebenezer Johnson and Ensign Samuel Riggs purchased Indian lands in 1700; and eight years later they divided their interests. Ensign Riggs took the land on the west side of the Naugatuck, lying south of the brook at Pines Bridge, and Major Johnson took the lands north of the brook and those on the east side of the river. These lands at Pines Bridge Colonel Johnson divided between his sons, Charles and Timothy, in 1721, speaking of the same as "my farm at Rimmon." Before this time, in December, 1708, En- sign Samuel Riggs, of Derby, had given to his son, Ebenezer Riggs, 200 acres of the choicest lands " with houses and all appurtenances thereunto pertaining." On these lands Ebenezer Riggs settled soon after, but died in 1712, when but little more than 30 years of age.

It is supposed that some of the children of Colonel Ebenezer John- son settled on their father's land soon after the settlement of Ebene- zer Riggs, and that they lived west and southeast of Rock Rimmon. At a later day Timothy Johnson, who was married to Abigail Brew- ster, in 1725, settled on the Naugatuck a short distance below Pines Bridge. In the same locality lived their son, Alexander, who was born in 1730 and died in 1817, aged 87 years. This Captain Alexander Johnson had a son Elijah, who occupied the homestead until his death, in 1847, at the age of 75 years. Sharpe, in his "History of Sey- mour," states that Timothy Johnson was at first much annoyed "by wild animals, especially bears, which came from Rock Rimmon and

617

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

destroyed his crops." This locality, and in fact other parts of the town, particularly Nyumph, were also much troubled by snakes, which came ont from the crevices of the rocks and often crawled into the houses of the early settlers. The Johnsons were for many years numerous at Pines Bridge and around Rock Rimmon, in what is now Beacon Falls and Seymour. In the latter town Benajah Johnson last lived, until 1763, in the locality called Skokorat. A daughter, Zeviah, born in 1739, married Abiel Fairchild, who settled not quite a mile north- west from Pines Bridge. Fairchild was reputed a most excellent man, and was greatly esteemed by his neighbors.

Nearer Pines Bridge, on the Lopus Plains, the first settlers were Zadoc Sanford and Hezekiah Clark. The latter was the ancestor of Sheldon Clark, the benefactor of Yale College, and who left also a bequest for the maintenance of Pines Bridge.

In the Nyumph section Samuel Wheeler probably put up the first house. His brothers, Moses, David and James, settled in the same locality, but Simeon lived nearer Rimmon. They were the sons of Captain James Wheeler, who lived on Turkey hill, in Derby. Their descendants became numerous and prominent in Bethany and Oxford. In Nyumph also lived, as a pioneer, David French and other members of that family, Moses Clark settling there later. In the course of years the population decreased, and in 1880 all the inhabitants num- bered only 379.

The name of Beacon Falls first appeared in the acts of the assembly in 1864, when a joint school district with that title was formed out of Bethany and Oxford. Not long thereafter Beacon Falls was incorpo- rated by the May, 1871, assembly out of portions of the towns of Bethany, Naugatuck, Seyinour and Oxford, with the following bounds:

" Beginning at a point on the old highway known as Blackberry hill road, in the town of Bethany, which is intersected by a straight line, extending and running on and in the northern boundary line of the homestead farm of Norman Peck, in Seymour, and thence running northerly on said old highway to a point about 40 rods east of the dwelling house known as the Edward Buckingham house, then north 14° east 1812 rods to a heap of stones, on Perkins' land (so-called), thence north 33° east 422 rods, thence north 29° west to a point on Beacon hill brook, opposite the saw mill of Amos Hotchkiss, to a heap of stones, thence following said brook westerly to the Naugatuck river, thence following said river southerly to the mouth of Spruce brook, on the west bank of the same, thence following the town line northerly to a heap of stones which marks the boundary line between Oxford and Naugatuck, thence running southerly to a large oak stump known as Oak Tree Corner, about 80 rods north of the dwelling house of Stiles Fairchild, thence in a straight line southwest to Hemp Swamp bridge, so called, thence in a straight line to a heap of stones

618

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

on the east of Diamond rock, so called, which marks the boundary be- tween Seymour and Oxford, said last line being in the district line of the Rimmon district, thence easterly and northerly, following the Sey- mour and Oxford town line to a point on Rock Rimmon, in a line with the said northerly boundary line of the home farm of the said Norman Peck, thence following in said line, which runs a little south of east, in a straight line to the point of beginning."

The first town meeting was to be warned by Buel Buckingham, June 28th, 1871, and on the first Monday in July following the first town officers were elected, 86 votes being polled.

The following were chosen the first officers: Town clerk, Julius C. Coe: selectmen, Stiles Clark, James L. Wheeler, Noyes Wheeler; reg- istrars, H. B. Perry, Patrick Eagan; treasurer, J. C. Coe; assessors, Her- bert C. Baldwin, Lucius S. Osborne; board of relief, George A. Twit- chell, Eben F. Libby, Anson B. Bice; registrar of births, etc., Charles H. Lounsbury; auditors, John A. Coe, Buel Buckingham; grand jurors, John C. French, John Wolfe, Albert D. Carrington, Buel Buckingham: constables, H. B. Perry, R. H. Griffing, Harris F. Osborne, Andrew W. Culver. Almon L. Switzer; sealer of weights, J. E. Johnson; pound keepers, Noyes Wheeler, Stiles Clark, James L. Wheeler, Andrew W. Culver, Sidney Baldwin; fence viewers, George A. Twitchell, H. C. Baldwin, Stiles Clark, Ransom Lounsbury.

On the 7th of August, 1871, the town voted to levy a two mill tax for county purposes; to borrow money to pay current expenses; to in- sure the bridge at the railway depot, and to paint the same.

In October, 1871, settlement was made with the mother towns, and from the grand list of Naugatuck there was set to Beacon Falls $11,- 073; from the list of Seymour, $6,000; and from the list of Oxford, $53,319, making the taxable list of the new town $70,392.

Since the organization of Beacon Falls the town clerks have been: 1871-8, Julius C. Coe; 1879, John A. Coe; 1880-5, Julius A. Hart; 1886, Charles C. Tifft; 1887, Emerson J. Terrell; 1888, Julius A. Hart; 1889, Emery L. Terrell.

In the same period the selectmen have been: 1871-2, Stiles Clark, James L. Wheeler and Noyes Wheeler; 1873, Buel Buckingham, Wheeler and Herbert C. Baldwin; 1874-6, Buckingham, Baldwin and Ransom Lounsbury; 1877, Baldwin, Charles B. Clark and Andrew W. Culver; 1878, Baldwin, Ransom Lounsbury and Noyes Wheeler; 1879- 80, Baldwin, Lounsbury and David M. French; 1881, Baldwin, French and Noyes Wheeler; 1882-3, Baldwin. Wheeler and Andrew W. Cul- ver; 1884-5, Baldwin, Cornelius W. Munson and Ransom Lounsbury; 1886, Baldwin, Munson and Daniel J. Carrington; 1887, Baldwin, Car- rington and Homer D. Bronson; 1888, Baldwin, Ransom Lounsbury and Jerome Andrews; 1889, Baldwin, Emerson J. Terrell, and George T. Clark.

By the terms of the act of incorporation the Clark Pines Bridge

619

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Fund was placed under the control of Beacon Falls. This fund was bequeathed to the town of Oxford in 1827, by Sheldon Clark, for the purpose of building and maintaining a bridge at the locality on the Naugatuck called Pines Bridge. The amount of the bequest was £100. The principal is to be intact, and the interest could be used for the designated purpose after 12 years. From the avails of the fund an iron bridge was built at that place in 1888. At the village a fine cov- ered wooden bridge spans the Naugatuck.

The town cemetery is near Pines Bridge, and in 1883 it was voted to enlarge it. This was done under the direction of John W. Rogers, David T. Sanford and Clarence J. Bodfish. In the old part are the graves of many of the early settlers of this section. The new part has been platted into blocks, and many lots have been sold. Herbert C. Baldwin has for many years had the care of the cemetery. The site for this cemetery was chosen and given by Alexander Johnson, in 1800, and was the second burial place in that locality. The first was on the hill southwest and nearer Seymour. It was first used in 1768, and was abandoned when the Pines Bridge place was opened. It has long since been neglected, and is overgrown with bushes. Here were buried Benajah and Sarah Johnson, the earliest settlers in the Rock Rimmon locality.

The development of the town was slow and the industries were for many years limited. Farms were opened and several saw mills and tanneries were carried on. But about 1836 the possibility of improving the water power of the Naugatuck was considered, and with that pur- pose in view William De Forest secured the privilege at the natural falls, below Beacon hill. He soon after became financially embar- rassed, and nothing more was done for a dozen years. In 1850 the privilege passed to the American Hard Rubber Company, of which D. N. Ropes was the secretary. De Forest was also interested with, among others, G. D. and John S. C. Abbott. A good dam was built on the Naugatuck, below High Rock, and a raceway three quarters of a mile long dug to a site for the works. In 1853 the buildings of the company were completed for occupancy and operations began. Vul- canized rubber goods were manufactured, after the process of Henry B. Goodyear, and many experiments were made. Beacon Falls village was thus fairly begun when, in 1860, the rubber company removed to. College Point, Long Island. For three years the place was nearly de- serted, only the Coe tannery being carried on at this point.

In September, 1863, the Home Woolen Company purchased the plant, consisting of water power privileges, a factory three stories high and 160 feet long, about 30 houses and considerable land. The buildings were repaired under the direction of John Wolfe, and in the winter of 1863 gas works were erected. Eight sets of machinery were put in, and 40,000 yards of cloth were turned out per month. In 1864 the company increased its capacity and commenced the manufacture

620

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

of woolen shawls, of which large numbers were made. In 1867 the mills of the company were enlarged to double the former size and new machinery was supplied. In 1870 the main mill was 330 feet long, 60 and 64 feet wide, 33 stories high, and substantially built of brick. There were 5,640 spindles and 70 looms. Nearly 13,000 shawls per month were manufactured by skilled workmen, John Wolfe being the Beacon Falls agent of the Home Woolen Company, which was mainly a Hartford corporation. This prosperity continued until December, 1876, when work was suspended.

In 1879 John Wolfe became the owner of some of the machinery, 30 tenements and 200 acres of the land formerly owned by the corpo- ration. The following year the Home Woolen Company was reorgan- ized and again started the mills upon which, in. all, nearly half a mill- ion dollars had been expended. Eighteen sets of machinery were set in motion and 300 hands were employed on woolen goods. In 1884 John Wolfe retired as agent, and was succeeded by Clarence J. Bod- fish. The Home Company operated until July, 1887, when, for nearly two years, the mills were practically idle.

In July, 1889, the Beacon Falls Power & Mill Company, of Hart- ford, became the owner of this plant, which is reputed one of the finest and best appointed in the state, having an aggregate water power of about 300 horse. There is also good steam power. Many buildings are connected with the plant. About the same time the mills were leased to the Standard Woolen Company, composed of Henry I. But- try, Fred. Kitchen and Clarence J. Bodfish, who have since been op- erating it. Woolens are manufactured, and from 50 to 80 men are employed.

The first industry on the site of the woolen mills, at Beacon Falls village, was the tannery of John V. Coe, which was on the little brook in the rear of the large building. He also manufactured shoes. Sell- ing out to the rubber company, he moved to a new site on Lebanon brook, about half a mile below the old one. Here he began operations about 1856, and was succeeded by his sons, John A. and Julius C. These carried on rather extensively as tanners and manufacturers of leather belting and laces until some time about 1876, when they re- moved. In 1882 this plant, consisting of twelve acres of land and a number of buildings, became the property of John F. Bronson, who transferred to this place his brass novelty business, which had been established at Waterbury in 1839. In this business he was succeeded, in February, 1884, by the Homer D. Bronson Company, consisting of John F. Bronson and his three sons, all skillful workmen.

Since 1886 the company has been largely engaged in the manufac- ture of bronze piano panels and art goods in brass and other metals, producing many choice and artistic designs, which have given its work a fine reputation. The motor is water and steam, and about 15 men are employed.

621

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

The village of Beacon Falls owes its existence to the above inter- ests, and was mainly built after 1853. The beginning was on the east side of the river, along the Seymour turnpike, and about four miles north of that village. In 1867 the Home Woolen Company, through its agent, John Wolfe, laid out 90 lots on the west side of the river, but a small part only of these have been improved. The following year the Naugatuck Railroad Company opened a regular station, and since December 21st, 1868, Julius A. Hart has been the

agent. In the village are also several small shops, stores and the Beacon Falls post office, of which John Wolfe is the postmaster. Stores have been kept by V. Buckingham, C. W. Elkins & Co., Beecher & Percy, May & Isbell and E. J. Terrell & Co. At the latter's stand is kept the post office, which has several mails per day. Small stores were formerly kept at Pines Bridge. In 1872 Pat- rick Eagan was appointed a " taverner." Small public houses have since been kept.

In 1874 Good Will Lodge of Good Templars had a flourishing ex- istence at this place; and from 1869 to 1880 the meetings of Rock Rim- mon Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., were successfully maintained. At one time there were 60 members, and in 1874 a hall was formally dedi- cated. The suspension of work at the woolen mills caused the re- moval of many members, and those remaining connected themselves with other Lodges in neighboring towns.

In addition to the 60 or more residences and the school house in the village, there is also a neat frame Methodist Episcopal church, which is the only house of worship in the town. It was erected in 1871 and dedicated January 11th, 1872. The size is 35 by 60 feet, and the cost was about $8,000. There are 350 sittings. In 1890 the trus- tees in charge of the building were John Wolfe, George A. Twitchell, Julius A. Hart, David T. Sanford, Jerome Hubbell and John W. Rog- ers. The Home Woolen Company donated the lot on which the house stands, and also aided liberally in its erection.

The first Methodist church in the town was at Pines Bridge, and was built through the efforts of John Coe and others. It was small and plain, but was used until after 1850. The meetings were then transferred to another small house near Lebanon brook, built mainly by the Coe family. This was used until the present house was occu- pied, in 1872.

In what is now the town of Beacon Falls lived some of the first Methodists in the Naugatuck valley. Some of these were in the Ny- umph section and others were at the Pines Bridge. Among those re- membered in that connection were Philo Sanford, Moses, David, Adoni- jah and Miles French, Timothy Johnson and several other members of that family. Later the Coe family was active in supporting the cause of Methodism. The first meetings were held in private houses, and the ministers were the same as those at Seymour and Great Hill.

622

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Since being a separate charge the ministers at Beacon Falls have been the following: 1870-1. Reverend A. V. R. Abbott; 1872, D. L. Lounsbury: 1873, W. S. Morrison; 1881-2, W. R. Rogers; 1883, J. J. Moffitt; 1884-5, A. S. Hagarty; 1886, J. L. Valle; 1887, E. R. Foley; 1888-9, T. J. Chadeayne.

In connection with the church is a flourishing Sunday school of 85 members, which has David T. Sanford as its superintendent.

The rugged Naugatuck valley is nowhere more picturesque and at- tractive than in the town of Beacon Falls. Entering it from the south one is charmed by the impressive beauty of Rock Rimmon, whose height of 400 feet, jutting out into the valley, appears to bar further progress. On passing this hill there is a pleasant intervale, several miles in extent, when the valley is again narrowed into a defile wide enough only for the passage of the river and the roadways along its banks. About a mile above Beacon Falls station the hills on the west side of the river rise to the height of more than 400 feet, forming a promontory at that point and terminating in a well-defined elevation, which appropriately bears the name of High Rock. At its foot and on the bend of the river is a small tract of fine level woodland, which

has been further beautified as High Rock Grove. The improvement of this place for a pleasure resort was begun in 1876 by George W. Beach, superintendent of the Naugatuck Railroad Company, and under his direction it has been carried on, until the place possesses nearly every requisite of a complete day resort. Among the attractions are the opportunities for boating on the river, the dam of the Beacon Falls Company here affording a fine expanse of water. In High Rock Glen, formerly called Sherman's Gorge, are cool, secluded walks, cosy nooks and many turns, abounding with picturesque effects, which may be enjoyed to the music of gurgling waters, leaping over inoss-covered rocks, which vainly strive to confine them in their precipitous course. On High Rock is Lookout Point, where is disclosed a view of sublime beauty. Deep forests, stern, rock-covered hillsides and tilled fields, with every shape and form of verdure, may there be seen.

The railway has provided a station at High Rock Grove, and the place is much patronized by those seeking rest and enjoyment of syl- van retreats. It is also a favorite resort of picnic parties from all points in the valley.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Herbert C. Baldwin, born in that part of Oxford now Beacon Falls, in 1840, is a son of Lucian, and he a son of Matthew Baldwin, who was a resident of Naugatuck. Lucian married Aurelia Tolles, settled in Oxford and engaged in farming, and for many years taught school winters. Herbert C. Baldwin enlisted in September, 1861, in Company K, 13th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in November 7th of the same year. He was in the battles of Georgia

62:

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Landing, Irish Bend, Cane River, Mansuary Plains and the seige of Port Hudson. He was also through the Red River campaign. He was transferred to Virginia in 1864, and under Sheridan was in the battles of Berryville, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, where he was wounded. He was commissioned corporal December 12th, 1862; sergeant, Angust 27th, 1863; first sergeant, November 1st, 1864; second lieutenant, January 11th, 1865, and brevetted first lientenant to date from March 13th, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at Port Hudson. He is a member of Upson Post, G. A. R., No. 40, of Sey- mour. He was assessor for the first two years after Beacon Falls was formed; was elected selectman in 1873, and continually up to 1890 in- clusive, and chairman of the board with the exception of two years; represented the town in 1876, 1880, 1883 and 1891, as a republican. He was married in 1866, to Josephine H. Jones. Their children are: Lucian E., Alfred C., Hattie M., Herbert C., Jr., Harold T., Edward D. and William A. The last two named are deceased.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 72

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138