History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 73

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 73
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 73

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).

Clarence J. Bodfish, born in Chicopee, Mass., in 1854, is a son of Julius F. and Henrietta (Allen) Bodfish, and grandson of Simeon Bodfish. His parents removed to Ellington, Conn., when he was three years old, and to Rockville, Conn., when he was 15. He was bookkeeper for the Florence Mills Company of that place for nine years. In 1880 he came to Beacon Falls, and for five years was book- keeper for the Home Woolen Mills Company, and was then made agent and manager of the company, which position he held until 1887, going then to Lawrence, Mass., as assistant superintendent of the Washington Mills Company of that place. Returning to Beacon Falls, in company with H. I. Buttry and Frederick Kitchen, he or- ganized, in July, 1889, the Standard Woolen Company, with a capital of $18,000, with H. I. Buttry, president; Frederick Kitchen. vice-presi- dent, and C. J. Bodfish, secretary and treasurer. Leasing the mills of the Beacon Falls Manufacturing Company, they engaged in the man- ufacture of woolen goods (kerseys, cheviots and worsteds), employing from 80 to 125 hands. Mr. Bodfish was married in 1881, to Minnie S., daughter of Eli I. and Harriet M. Smith, of Rockville, Conn. They have two children: Clarence S. and Hattie G.

Albert D. Carrington, born in Bethany in 1826, is a son of Daniel and Rachael (Dorman) Carrington. The latter's father was Edmund Dorman, of Hamden. Albert D. Carrington's grandparents were David Carrington and Thankful Tolles. Daniel Carrington's children were; David, Eliza, Albert D., Abram E., Sarah and Emily. David married Elizabeth C. Robinson; Eliza married Smith Terrell; Emily married Howard Chatfield; Abram E. married for his first wife, Sara Pritchard, and the second Mary J. Patterson. Albert D. Carrington was married, in 1851, to Lucretia M. Wheeler. Their children were: Daniel J., married Nellie Hubbell, of Naugatuck; and Lyman W., married Flora Curtis, of Woodbury. Albert D. married for his sec-

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

ond wife, Sarah F. Buckingham, in 1872. They have three children: Lula, Jessie and Milton. Mr. Carrington settled in Oxford in 1852, in that portion set off to Bethany, and afterward to Beacon Falls. He held the office of selectman while a resident of Oxford.

George T. Clark, born in Bethany, is a son of Charles F. and Anna (Perkins) Clark. Sheldon Clark, his grandfather, was a farmer. George T. has been registrar of voters, assessor and school visitor, and was elected selectman in 1889. In 1886 he married Mary Reffelt. They have one son, Frank T.

Julius A. Hart, born in Hubbardton, Vt., April 4th, 1846, is a son of Luther Hart, who married Martha, daughter of Jesse Howard. Julius A. Hart came to Beacon Falls in 1867, and since 1868 has been station agent here. He was town clerk for the years 1880 to 1886, and again in 1889; treasurer in 1880, '81, '88 and 'S9; tax collector in 1882, '84, '86, '87 and '89; and register of vital statistics several years. He is a member of Centennial Lodge, No. 100, I. O. O. F., of Naugatuck, and the Odd Fellows' Mutual Aid Association. He was formerly a member of Rock Rimmon Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., of Beacon Falls. This Lodge was organized in 1869, and the charter was surrendered in 1880. He married, in 1869, Lucy I. Benham, and for his second wife, Sarah A. Mitchell, in 1876. Their children are: Sadie M., Fred L. and Clarence J.

Wales F. Sackett, born in that part of Oxford now included in Bea- con Falls, in 1843, is a son of Lucius, grandson of Lewis, and great- grandson of John Sackett. Lucius Sackett was born February 15th, 1821, married Emily C., daughter of James Sherman. She was born May 3d, 1821. James Sherman was a lumber dealer. He married Elizabeth Johnson, and had ten children: James J., Nancy E., Eliza- beth, Owen, Flora, Eliza, Harriet, Emily C., Charles and Delia. The children of Lucius and Emily C. Sackett were: Wales F., born 1843, and Charles S., born 1856, a brass moulder living in Waterbury. He married for his first wife, Sarah Northrop, of Woodbridge, and his sec- ond wife was Ida Tomlinson, of Waterbury. They have two children: Edna and Inez. Wales F. married Sarah J. Burnham, of Bethany, November 14th, 1869. They have one son, Sherman B. Sackett. Pre- vious to 1875 Wales F. was in the wood business, but since that date has been engaged in the florist business and market gardening. L11- cius Sackett enlisted in Company H, 20th Regiment, in August, 1861, and was discharged 14 months later on account of general disability. He died in 1884.

David T. Sanford, born in Bethany in 1844, is a son of John, and grandson of John, who married Anna French. Her paternal grand- mother was the granddaughter of Reverend Nathaniel Brewster, the grandson of Elder William Brewster, who came from England in the " Mayflower " in 1620. John Sanford, the second, was married to Eliza French in 1824. They had two sons: David T. and George. George

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

married Anna Johnson in 1852. David T. was married, in 1870, to Mrs. Sophia Vickery. Her maiden name was Wood. Their children are: Anna E., born 1873; Grace E., born 1877, died June 4th, 1879; and Carleton R., born 1878. Mr. Sanford is a member of Beacon Falls M. E. church, and superintendent of the Sabbath school. He has held the offices of assessor, grand juror and member of board of education. He represented the town of Beacon Falls in the legislature in 1881.

Emery L. Terrell, born in Colebrook, Conn., in 1866, is a son of Henry, and grandson of Josiah Terrell. In 1887 he engaged in the mercantile trade at Beacon Falls in partnership with Emmerson J. Terrell, who established the business in 1880. Emery L. Terrell was elected town clerk and treasurer in 1889. Emmerson J. Terrell is a son of Lewis, and grandson of Josiah Terrell. He represented the town in the state legislature in 1888, and in 1889 was elected first se- lectman. In 1887 he was appointed town clerk to fill a vacancy, and elected to the same office the ensuing year.

CHAPTER XV.

TOWN AND CITY OF WATERBURY.

Location and Description .- Settlement and Early Events .- Waterbury City .- Other Business Centers .- Civil Organization of the Town .- Probate District .- Courts .- Waterbury Borough .- First City Charter .- Charter of 1867 .- Mayors and Clerks .- City Hall .- Police Department .- Street Improvement .- Fire Department .- Water Works .- Gas and Electric Lighting .- Parks .- Statistics .- Manufacturing Enter- prises .- Banks .- Insurance Company .- Horse Railway Company .- The Periodical Press .- Post Office .- Public Houses .- Prominent Merchants .- Physicians and Law- yers .- Lodges and Societies .- Educational Matters .- Churches .- Hospital .- Ceme- teries .- Military Matters -Biographical Sketches.

W ATERBURY is New Haven's most northerly town in the Nau- gatuck valley, and borders on Litchfield county, touching the towns of Plymouth and Watertown. On the east are Wolcott and Cheshire; on the south Prospect and Naugatuck; and on the west Middlebury. All these towns were wholly or in part included in the Mattatuck purchase of Indian lands made by the Connecticut colony committee in 1674 to 1684, and which was in extent seventeen miles from north to south and about nine miles from cast to west, having an area of 85,000 acres. The name of Mattatuck, as applied to this ex- tensive tract, was retained until May 13th, 1686, when it was incorpo- rated as a town, with the name of Waterbury. Most of the present territory consists of hilly country, there being only sinall tracts of alluvial and sandy lands along the two principal streams, the Nauga- tuck and Mad rivers. The former flows through the town, from the north, west of the territorial center; the latter flows from Wolcott, on the east, and drops its waters into the Naugatuck at the city of Water- bury. Neither stream is large, but being fed by numerous springs the flow is quite constant; and as they drain large areas of hilly and mount- ainous lands they are subject to sudden and often to destructive fresh- ets. Nevertheless, these streams have been most important factors in the affairs of the town, their water powers having contributed a large proportion of the present wealth, and having made profitable residence here possible by giving opportunities for manufacturing when the cultivation of these elevated lands was no longer remunerative.

Waterbury was settled under the direction of the town of Farming- ton. As early as 1657 some of its inhabitants obtained an Indian deed for lands extending south of the settled parts of Farmington, and which embraced a range of hills in which it was thought was a deposit

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

of black lead, and which caused the desire for possession. Although they were disappointed in finding that mineral in paying quantities, it is possible that the search for it led ultimately to the occupation of this land. In the course of time some of these hunters or explorers from Farmington passed down the Naugatuck and discovered the flats or meadows at and below where is now the city of Waterbury. The situation pleased them, and they reported so favorably upon these lands that Farmington petitioned the general court, in 1673, for per- mission to plant a settlement in that locality. This privilege was promised them, provided the committee appointed by the court should, after investigation, recommend such a step. In due season the follow- ing report was made:

" April 6, 7, 8, 9, 1674.

" We whose names are underwritten (according to the desire and appointment of ye honoured court) have veiewed ye lands upon Mat- tatuck river in order to a plantation, we do apprehend that there is about six hundred acres of meadow and plowing land lying on both sides of ye river besides upland convenient for a towne plot, with a suitable out let into ye woods on ye west of ye river, and good feeding lands for cattell. The meadow and plowing land above written a con- siderable part of it lyeth in two peices near ye towne plot. ye rest in smaller parcels, ye farthest of which we judge not above four miles from ye towne plot: and our apprehensions are that it may accommo- date thirty families.

THOMAS BULL. NICHO: OLMSTEAD, ROBERT WEBSTER."

"' The two pcices near ye town plot,' alluded to in the above report, are probably the level river lands on the east side of the river, after- wards called Manhan, or Mohan. Meadow, near which a final settle- ment was afterwards made, and the tract of meadow on the west side of the river near Steele's brook. The most distant piece 'not above four miles' was most likely the tract which at a later period was called Judd's meadow, now a part of Naugatuck. These natural meadows were looked upon with much favor by the early settlers, and were re- garded not only as convenient but necessary to the existence of a new plantation. On them they depended for fodder for their . cattell ' during the long and severe winters."*

The committee having reported favorably upon the feasibility of settling Mattatuck, the general court, in May, 1674, appointed the following committee to order the settlement and manage its affairs: John Talcot, Robert Webster, Nicholas Olmstead, Samuel Steele and John Wadsworth. This colony committee thereupon immediately formulated a code of eight articles, which were required to be signed by all intending settlers, and which also provided, among other things, that every accepted inhabitant should have eight acres for a home lot;

* Reverend Elijah C. Baldwin.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

that meadow lands should be distributed on a basis of £100 allotment, which was the maximum; that houses of specified size should be built on the home lots, within a certain time, and be occupied for a certain period in order to properly qualify them as inhabitants of Mattatuck. The following 30 persons then signed the agreement to form the set- ment: Thomas Judd, Edmund Scott, John Welton, Abraham Andruss, Isaac Bronson, John Stanley, Samuel Hickox, Thomas Handcox, John Warner, Thomas Richardson, Joseph Hickox, John Bronson, Sr., Dan- iel Porter, John Carrington, Obadiah Richards, Thomas Newell, John Stanley, Sr., Daniel Warner, John Warner, Jr., John Judd, John Laughton, John Andrews, Richard Seymour, Abraham Bronson, John Porter, William Higason, Samuel Gridley, Thomas Gridley, Samuel Judd, William Judd.

The ten named last afterward declined to join the settlement, when the following were taken in their stead: John Scovill, Joseph Gaylord, Benjamin Barnes, John Hopkins, John Stanley, Jr., Timothy Stanley, Edmund Scott, Jr., Thomas Warner.

In the summer of 1674 the colony committee purchased of the native Indians some of the lands needed, which they held in trust for the settlement. This land bordered on both sides of the Naugatuck, about ten miles, and was about six miles wide. It included all of the present town.

" A site was secured for a village on elevated ground on the west side of the river. This has ever since been known as Old Town Plat, or Town Plot. Here, three quarters of a mile west of the present city, the roads were laid out; the one running north and south, sixteen rods wide. This was cut in the middle, by an east and west road, running down towards the river, south of Sled Hill brook, eight rods wide. The home lots, eight acres in each, according to the articles of settle- ment, were ranged along the north and south street, thirty-two in number, sixteen on each side, the east and west road, already referred to, dividing each 'teer" in the middle, leaving eight lots on either hand. So much was done in the summer and fall of 1674 towards the settlement of Mattatuck, when work for that year was suspended.""

The breaking out of King Philip's war, in 1675, and the uncertainty and distress connected with it not only prevented the settlers from going on to their lands that year, but also caused them to modify and change their plans for a "Town Plot." It was desirable that they should be in easy communication with Farmington, and also live as near their meadow lands as possible. Between them and the old town plot the Naugatuck intervened, and that stream was often difficult to ford and costly to bridge on account of its swollen waters.t Hence, in the spring of 1677, when the matter of settlement was again taken up, a new

* Reverend E. C. Baldwin.

t The first bridge across the Naugatuck, on the road to Woodbury, was not built until 1736.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

movement was made. The committee then changed the town center to the present location. It was low and swampy, but they seemed anxious to settle as near as possible to the lands from which they ex- pected to draw their chief sustenance.

They would also be put in better relation to Farmington, in case the settlers should be disturbed by the Indians. "A few temporary huts were therefore erected for the season, on the east bank of the Naugatuck, near 'Sled Hill,' and the following year (1678) streets were laid out and dwellings erected upon the present site, with a view to a permanent settlement. House lots of from one and a half to four acres were set off to each individual, according to eligibility of situa- tion and the extent of the proprietor's rights. In the latter part of the year some of the settlers moved their wives and families into their new habitations. In one of these humble homes, which stood on the site of the old Judd tavern, was born the first English child, April 27th, 1679, which received the name of Rebecca Richardson. The first male English child was Richard, son of John and Mary Welton, born Sep- tember 27th, 1679, in a house nearly opposite the above."*

The streets of the new town plat were laid out around Center square, or the green, very much as they are now, and on these, for the purpose of mutual defense, the first houses were built. The material was logs for the walls and split logs for the roofs and the floors. The need of saw and grist mills was much felt by the early settlers, and their only resource was to carry their corn to be ground to Farming- ton, twenty miles through a wilderness. What lumber they used was brought from the same place. The colony committee early sought to relieve them in this matter by recommending, in November, 1679, that a mill be built, and offered a grant of 30 acres of land to whoever would build it and keep it up. This offer was accepted in 1680 by Stephen Hopkins, of Hartford, who built a mill on Mad river "for grinding corn." It stood on the site used since that time, and which is now occupied by the rolling mill of the Scovill Manufacturing Com- pany.

The population increased slowly, and prior to 1688 there were 34 proprietors, who had become settlers. With the exception of four, all were from Farmington. Abraham Andruss, Sr., was from Fairfield, Joseph Gaylord from Windsor, John Hopkins from Hartford, and Benjamin Jones was from some other town whose name was not re- corded. They were all farmers, but in addition some had trades, and there were no wealthy people among them. Stephen Upson, Joseph Lewis, Jonathan Scott and Richard Porter were among the later set- tlers. Until after 1713, when there was peace with the French and In- dians, the dwellings of all the inhabitants were restricted to the town center, from which the men went into the meadows and places near by, in day time, to labor, returning to the town at night to seek the

* From Barber's Historical Collections.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

shelter of fortified buildings in case of alarm. Hence much of the cultivated lands were in the immediate vicinity of the present city.

In February, 1691, the small band of settlers were visited by a dire calamity in the shape of a severe flood,* which nearly ruined the allu- vial lands of the Naugatuck. The river, swollen by rains and melted snows, rose to a prodigious height, and washed away the soil or cov- ered it so completely with gravel from the neighboring hills that it was unfitted for future tillage. "Many were so much discouraged that they abandoned their possessions forever." In 1709 there were scarcely as many inhabitants as there were before the great floods. The condition of Waterbury in 1694, as described by Wadsworth, was " a small town, though very compact. It contained twenty-five fam- ilies."

The enfeebled settlement next suffered from the menacing atti- tude of the Indians, which kept it in an almost perpetual state of alarm from 1702 until after the peace of Utrecht. in 1713. In this en- tire period Waterbury, as a frontier town, with its large, exposed ter- ritory, was in constant danger. It was required to keep two men em- ployed as scouts "to discover the designs of the enemy and to give in- telligence should they make their appearance." This duty was per- formed in rotation. The sentinels, which the town also provided, were placed upon high points of land overlooking the village, where they might watch for the safety of the inhabitants. The town also, as early as April, 1700, voted to fortify several houses, and required the aid of all the men and boys in this work. In spite of these pre- cautions, the Indians made a descent upon the settlement in 1707, and captured Jonathan Scott and his two sons, who were at work in Han- cock's meadow. All three were taken to Canada, and to prevent Mr. Scott from offering resistance, they took off his right thumb. He and one of the sons were afterward ransomed and returned home, but the youngest son adopted the life of the savages and remained with them. The town now made greater preparations for defense than before, and was aided in 1708 by the colony of Connecticut, which gave Water- bury £15 toward the construction of three forts, one of which was built at the expense of the town. Accordingly, stockade forts were built around the houses of Lieutenant Timothy Stanley, John Hopkins and Reverend Southmayd. These defenses were, as we now look at such things, frail, but they gave a sense of security the settlement had not before felt. Another Indian incursion was made in 1710, when a man was killed in the southern part of the town.

Scarcely had the hope that the troubles with the Indians would soon be at an end cheered the hearts of the settlers, when another sore affliction fell upon Waterbury.

*Another severe flood occurred in 1709, which greatly discouraged the in- habitants. Since that time the town has suffered great loss from that cause. Of more recent freshets, those of November 13th, 1853, and April 13th, 1854, were especially destructive.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

"In October, 1712, the town was visited by a great and mortal sickness which raged without abatement until September, 1713. Dur- ing its prevalence the number of well persons was insufficient to provide for and attend the sick and bury the dead. About thirty in- dividuals died of the fever, and this out of a population of about two hundred." *

Through all these difficulties and adverse circumstances, dangers and misfortunes, most of the settlers persevered. But for many years there was a low condition in the affairs of the town. The value of property did not increase, and more people moved away than came in. Fearing too great a depopulation, the town took prompt measure to encourage the young men to remain by giving them farms. Up to that time, lands had been given only to accepted heads of families. This action and the allotment of fertile and choice lands in other parts of the town had the effect of stimulating the growth of the sev- eral settlements in the various parts of old Waterbury, which now again began to people.

The progress of the town can be seen from the following table of population: In 1688 there were about 180 inhabitants; in 1694, 165; in 1713, 180; in 1737, 900; in 1774, 3,536; in 1790+, 2,937; in 1800, 3,256; in 1820, 2,8224; in 1830, 3,070; in 1840, 3,668; in 1850, 5,137; in 1860, 10,- 004; in 1880, 20,269; in 1890, 33,202. In the city there were, in 1890, 28,646 inhabitants.

Nearly four-fifths of the wealth and population are now centered in the city of Waterbury, where was founded the first settlement. It is located in a valley a little more than a mile wide, the Naugatuck river washing it on the west, and the Mad river on the east. Beyond these streams and north of the main part of the city hills rise to con- siderable elevation, upon some of which the city has encroached. The general appearance of the landscape is much like an amphitheater, the center of the city forming the arena, to which several of the hills" gradually descend. In the center of the old part of the town is a large green, which has been finely improved for a public park. Wide streets run around this, and others radiate from it, as a central point, to the principal parts of the city. Some of these streets are finely shaded, and on them are found many handsome and costly residences. In other parts are less pretentious but exceedingly neat houses of hun- dreds of skilled artisans, whose labors have conduced to the prosperity of the several score of manufacturing establishments, located in the lower parts of the valley. These industries, in extent of buildings and variety of operations, rank among the foremost in the state. Their vast volume of business has practically been the means of build- ing up the city to its present wide and attractive proportions. Al-

* J. W. Barber.

+ Decreased by the formation of'new towns.

+ Decreased by immigration to the West.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

though the main business of the city is manufacturing, its trade is not as fluctuating as that of other centers. Most of its interests are based upon copper products, and that metal itself ranks as money, in intrin- sic value.

For a number of years Waterbury has been the greatest brass goods manufacturing center, not only of the East, but of the entire United States, furnishing seven-tenths of the brass produced in this country. Nearly all the general business houses and public buildings, which are numerous and costly, are located on the Center Square, or within a short distance of it. It is the most important station on the Naugatuck Valley railroad (completed to this place in 1849), 32 miles from Bridgeport, and about the same distance from Hartford, by the New York & New England railroad, built within the next ten years. The recently completed railway to Cromwell, on the Connecticut, via Meriden, also gives the city the benefit of communication by water.

The business prosperity of the city is very much promoted by the Waterbury Board of Trade, organized January 16th, 1889, and which has several hundred members, embracing the leading business and professional men, and manufacturers. In 1891 C. M. Upson was the president; N. R. Bronson the secretary, and G. S. Parsons the treas- urer of the board. Commodious rooms over the Manufacturers' Na- tional Bank are occupied.

At present a limited portion only of the town's area is under till- age, but there are fine and productive lands in the eastern or Mill Plain section. Here in late years an attractive suburb of the city has been built up, there being many fine cottages, a large school house, a Union chapel, and a spacious Grange Hall. In other parts of the town, as at Plattsville, Simonsville and Waterville, small manufactur- ing centers have been created.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 73

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