History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 90

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 90
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 90

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).

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Fenn has been selectman, was elected to the legislature of 1884, and was on the committee of joint rules.

Samuel S. Fenn, born in 1841 in Middlebury, is a son of David M. and Tabitha (Tuttle) Fenn. The father of David M. was Captain Samuel Fenn, born 1767, died 1852. David M. Fenn was born in 1799, and died in 1862. He had five children: Martha C., Mary E., David M., Samuel S. and Harry S. Samuel S. was married in 1868, to Sarah, daughter of Robert Camp, of this town. They have two children: Robert M., born 1870, and Addie J., born 1872. They lost one daugh- ter. Ida M., born May 30th, 1871, died August 1st, 1871. Samuel S. was educated at the high schools of Waterbury and Watertown, and was engaged in the drug business about four years. Since that time he has been a farmer. He lived on the old Fenn homestead 19 years after he was married; and in 1887 he came to the farm he now occu- pies, just north of Middlebury Center, known as the Julius Bronson farm.

Edmund B. Hoyt was born in Bethel, Conn., in 1831, and came to Middlebury in 1868. He married, in 1855, Betsey L., daughter of John Fenn, who was a native of Middlebury, and lived to be over 80 years old. The father of Edmund B. Hoyt, now 89 years old, is still living in Bethel. Edmund B. and Betsey L. Hoyt have two sons: Edmund F. and Starr B. Edmund F. lives on the farm with his father. They have a dairy farm, and are successful in this line, which is butter making, having made over 3,500 pounds in 1889, from 16 cows. Mr. Hoyt has been selectman of the town, and was in the legislature of 1885 and 1886.

Silas Tuttle, born in Middlebury June 26th, 1812, was the youngest but one of 11 children, all deceased, of Aaron and Rebecca Tuttle. The father of Aaron was Ezekiel, son of Ephraim, whose father, Na- thaniel, was a son of William, who came fromn England in the ship " Planter," and settled in Hartford in 1636. Ephraim came first to Woodbury, Conn., from New Haven. His son, Ezekiel, came to Mid- dlebury, and was among the earliest settlers of the town. Aaron Tuttle was born in 1760. Silas was educated in the district schools of the town, and married Susan Allen, of Woodbury, in 1833. They had four children ; Henry A., born in 1834 (Killed by oxen in 1836. He was buried the same day as his grandfather, Aaron Tuttle. This is spoken of as the largest funeral ever held in Middlebury); Julia, born in 1838 ; Emily A., born in 1841, has been an invalid for the past 22 years ; and Mary E., born in 1851. Silas Tuttle was appointed by the governor of the state to a lieutenancy in the 12th Regiment of Con- necticut Militia, and acted as captain of the company until the militia system was abolished. He served as justice of the peace 25 years, served in the legislature in 1875, and was first selectman of the town at the time of his death, which occurred May 10th, 1890.

William Tyler, born in Middlebury in 1823, is a son of Daniel,

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

whose father, Daniel, was a son of Daniel, who came from Branford to Middlebury, and settled near Quassepaug lake. He was one of the first settlers of the town. Daniel Tyler's family were all born in the Tyler district. He had five sons and two daughters. Three sons and one daughter are now living. William is the only member of the family now living in Middlebury. He moved to the place where he now resides in 1860. He has served as selectman and town treasurer. He married Mary A. Hine, of Middlebury, in 1859. They have four children : Alvin H., William P., James A. and Mary L.

George WV. Wallace, born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1861, is a son of Hiram J. Wallace, who came to this town, and was the founder of the present pleasure resort at Quassepaug lake. This resort was started by Hiram J. Wallace in 1874, and has been enlarged until it is one of the finest resorts in the county. Hiram J. came from Thomaston, Conn. He was born in Bennington, Vt. He died in September, 1888. Since this time his only son, George, has carried on the place alone, having previously been in company with his father. Mr. Wallace has a steam- boat with a capacity for carrying 36 persons, 22 row and sail boats, bil- liard room, bowling alley, etc. He is now building a hotel, and will commence the season of 1892 with three times the room of former years.

Roswell B. Wheaton was born in Susquehanna, Pa., January 31st, 1815, came with his father, Calvin Wheaton, to Connecticut in 1821, and settled in Washington. His grandfather, Roswell Wheaton, served seven years and six months in the revolutionary war, and his maternal grandfather, Nathan Phillips, also served in that war as lieutenant. Mr. Wheaton has the sword that Lieutenant Phillips car- ried through the war. In his younger days, Mr. Wheaton was a brick maker, and he followed the business for 42 years. Brick used in the culverts upon the Erie railroad between Binghamton and Great Bend, N. Y., as well as the Sterucca Valley viaduct, were made at his yard. He is still interested in a large yard near New Britain, Conn. Mr. Wheaton came to Middlebury in 1872. He was elected to the legisla- ture in 1876. Since residing in Middlebury, he has done much in the way of village improvement, laying out and building the fine park there. He married Leve Andrews, of Bristol, Conn. They had five children, only one of whom, Bessie (Mrs. Eli Bronson), is now living

Frank H. Wheeler, born in August, 1843, in Southbury, is a son of John L. Wheeler, of the saine town. Frank came to Middlebury in 1854, and lived with Henry S. Wheeler until he was 22 years old. He was educated in Middlebury common schools and at the Armenia Academy. He was for a time employed in a shop at Waterbury, from which place he came to Middlebury, and has since followed the busi- ness of farming. He owns about 200 acres of land. He married Sarah J., daughter of Lyman P. Smith, of Waterbury, formerly from Pros-

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pect, in April, 1866. They have two sons : Dwight L., born in 1867, and Arthur E., born in 1876. Frank H. Wheeler was in the legisla- ture in 1877.

Sylvester S. Wooster is a member of one of the oldest families in the town of Middlebury. Edward Wooster came to this country from England in 1650, and settled in Derby. General Wooster was one of his descendants. His grandson, David, came to Middlebury about 1740. He had three sons: David, Daniel and James D. Daniel was a Methodist minister. The farm of David was declared forfeited to the state on account of his friendly feelings toward the mother country during the revolutionary war, but was restored to James and Daniel, his sons, about 1798. The only family of this name now living in the town is that of Ebenezer, who traces his ancestry back to the first Ed- ward. Ebenezer was born in 1816, and married Abby M. Wheeler, of Huntington, January 20th, 1842. They have one son, Sylvester S. Wooster, who was married in 1881, to Mary L. Perkins, of Salisbury, Conn. They now live on a part of the old Wooster place that has been in the family 150 years ..

Charles T. Yale, born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1836, is a son of Charles Yale, who died when Charles T. was 10 years old. His father had nine children, Charles T. being the youngest son. He was educated at Norfolk and Canaan academies, and came to Middlebury in 1869. He married Harriett M. Curtiss, of Middlebury, and they have three children: Grace, Gertrude and Irving P., all born in Middle- bury. Mr. Yale is engaged in farming, and has the contract for car- rying the mail from Middlebury to Waterbury. He has been select- man, justice of the peace, assessor and grand juror.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE TOWN OF SOUTHBURY.

Location and Description .- The Pootatuck Indians .- The Early Settlers .- Civil Organ- ization .- Business Interests .- South Britain .- Southford and its Various Interests. -Physicians and Lawyers .- Religious Interests .- Cemeteries .- Military Affairs .- Biographical Sketches.

S OUTHBURY is the most extreme western town in the county. For many years it was a part of Litchfield county, lying south of Roxbury and Woodbury. On the southwest is the Housa- tonic river, which separates it from Fairfield county. East and south- east are Middlebury and Oxford, in New Haven county, separated in part by the Eight Mile brook. In extent from east to west Southbury is about eight miles, and about four miles wide. The surface is ele- vated and broken by hills, locally known as Bullet, Chestnut, Ragland, John Johnson's, George's, Pine, Flat, Tom's, Horse and East hills, nearly all of which are tillable on their summits. The sides usually have thin soil, covered with rocks and trees. The intervales formed by these hills and streams, of which the chief ones are the Pomperaug and Shepaug, with a number of affluent brooks, have fertile lands of a sandy loam nature. The largest tracts of tillable land are in the valley of the Pomperaug, where are some well cultivated farms. The lands on White Oak plains are especially finely located. Agriculture is the chief pursuit of the town, whose population has in consequence decreased, being attracted to manufacturing centers.

The hills and streams have caused a number of localities, to which specific names have been applied. Along the Housatonic are Union Bridge, Bennett's Bridge and the Indian Pootatuck village. For many generations this has been the property of the Mitchell family, George W. Mitchell being the owner in 1890. Along the Eight Mile brook are Strongtown and Southford, and southwest of the latter is Kettle town. On the Pomperaug are White Oak, Southbury Center and South Britain. North of the latter are Pierce Hollow, Mulberry Corners and Transylvania. Southeast from this is a range of hill lands, called Poverty, whose derivation is not so clear as some of the foregoing.

A little more than a mile southeast from the center is a locality called " Pork Hollow," which received its name from the fact that dur- ing the revolution, when Shadrach Osborn, of this town, was a commis- sary sergeant or quartermaster, he caused several hundred barrels of

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

pork to be stored there for safety, after the capture of Danbury. The provisions were under the guard of Captain Parsons and 50 men from Derby. About the same distance southwest from Southbury church, along the river, a large quantity of beef was stored until it could be moved elsewhere with safety.

In the town are found traces of minerals, coal being clearly shown in several localities. Along the Pomperaug, west of Southbury Cen- ter, a shaft was sunk some time about 1830, to develop that mineral, but after reaching a depth of 100 feet it was abandoned. In 1888 the work of boring for petroleum or natural gas was begun in the same locality by the Southbury Company, and a well, 1,500 feet deep, was sunk without reaching paying results, when work was suspended in 1889, but resumed in 1890. At South Britain a fine quality of red sandstone for building purposes can be quarried.

The original owners of the soil in the present town of Southbury were a clan of Indians, called Pootatucks or Potatucks. They were a quiet and peaceful people, inclined to cultivate friendship with the whites, whose settlement among them was not attended with any rup- ture; and it is said that they even looked with favor upon the ways of the whites, permitting some of their children to attend the schools of the early settlers .* In 1639 Pomperaug was the sachem of the Pootatucks, and from him the principal stream in the town took its name. The main seat or village of his tribe was on the Housatonic river, a short distance above Cockshure, later Hubbell's island. It occupied a plateau of land several hundred feet above the river, which afforded an extended and attractive view of the country south and west. At and near this village the Indians had made improvements of rather a substantial nature, having corn cribs and orchards of apple trees. One of the latter belonged to a chieftain called Tummasute, and was long preserved, a few trees remaining at the present time. At this place was a large burying ground, and some skeletons have been exhumed which were found in a sitting posture.

The Pootatucks had another village, in the present town of Wood- bury, at Nonnewaug, and a trail along the Pomperaug creek connected the two places. Along its course in the northern part of Southbury, on Stiles brook, was another burial ground and near this place was lo- cated the first cemetery of the whites. Pomperaug himself, it appears, was buried farther north, on a spot on a trail which was marked by a large mound of stones, each Indian in passing depositing one on the grave as a token of love and respect.

On the occupancy by the whites, in 1673, the Pootatucks in this region may have numbered several hundred individuals, but Presi- dent Stiles, of Yale College, estimated that there were no more than 40 in 1710, and their numbers gradually decreased, by removal or death, until but a few remained. One of these was Manquash, a sachem,

* Cothren's Woodbury, p. 85.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

and probably the last ruler, who died in 1758, and was buried under an old apple tree, a short distance from the Eleazer Mitchell house. In 1761 all the Indians had gone except one old man and a few mem- bers of broken families, who lingered as if they would gladly be laid near the graves of their fathers.

While the Pootatucks were willing that the whites should settle among them, they were reluctant to yield all their lands at once. Hence a number of purchases were made, from 1673, through a period of 70 years, several tracts being purchased twice and oftener of differ- ent Indians in order to preserve their friendly feeling. A part of Southbury and what is now Oxford was in the "Kettletown" pur- chase of 1679, paid in "corn and other goods," the second time, the consideration the first time time having been a brass kettle, from which the tract in question took its name. Other Indians claiming it, the tract was passed through the formality of a third purchase in 1705. A year later other lands were purchased in what is now Southbury, but in that tract was the "Pootatuck Reservation," which embraced a large part of what later became the South Britain parish. Three- fourths of the reservation were sold to the whites in 1733 and divided among the proprietors of Woodbury before 1742. The committee charged with this work, Noah Hinman, Captain Thomas Knowles, Captain Richard Brownson, Knell Mitchell and Cornelius Brownson, at this time decided to lay highways through the tract, "200 rods apart over hill and dale without regard to circumstances."

In May, 1759, the Pootatucks, through Shoran or Tom Sherman, one of their number, sold their last acre of land in the town, includ- ing the village site of Pootatuck, and soon after took up their abode elsewhere.

The settlement of Southbury was caused by a dissension in the church at Stratford, consequent upon the settlement of a new minister, the congregation dividing into adherents of Reverends Chansey and Walker. The latter party resolved to found a new plantation and re- ceiving permission, purchased Pootatuck Indian lands along the Hous- atonic for that purpose. In pursuance of this object, liberty was fur- ther granted, May 9th, 1672, to Mr. Samuel Sherman, Lieutenant Wil- liam Curtiss, Ensign Joseph Judson, John Miner and their associates to erect plantations on the Pomperaug. Early in the spring of the fol- lowing year, 15 male members of the Walker congregation started for the wilds of the Pomperaug country to locate their new homes. They had been directed to follow up the Pootatuck or Great river (Housa- tonic), until they should come to a large river flowing into it from the north, which they were to ascend eight miles, when they would find a fertile plain which had been tilled by the Indians, where new farms could readily be made. Through a mistake they passed on to the She- paug. They followed up this stream and soon were in the hilly lands of Roxbury. Realizing that they were too far west they turned

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their faces to the eastward, hoping there to find the desired plain lands. After a wearisome journey, over the rugged lands, they reached a high elevation, from the summit of which the plain in all its beauty can be seen. With grateful hearts they fall on their knees and the summit is ever thereafter "Good Hill" to them. The next day they descended into the valley, which they explored and eagerly found the lands they had sought. The following night they camped under a huge white oak tree, which stood about half a mile west of the pres- ent Southbury Main street, and 80 rods east of the Pomperaug river; and from that circumstance and the numerous trees of the same kind, near by, this locality became known as White Oak, which name has since been retained. The old white oak, after standing more than a century after the occupancy of the country by the whites, fell down, but several pieces were preserved as mementoes by the venerable Shadrach Osborn.

In this locality the first settlements in the town were made in April or May, 1673, by Israel and Joshua Curtiss, Samuel Stiles, Titus Hinman, Moses Johnson and a few others. The most of the explor- ing company of 15 and those who came soon after took up their abode in what is now Woodbury. This term was applied to the Pomper- aug section by the general court at Hartford May 14th, 1674; and for more than a century the affairs of Southbury were identified with those of Woodbury. In the first settlement it is said that the design was to live upon the river flats, but that a freshet soon demonstrated that the place was unsuitable and new locations were sought along the Indian trail, on the hillside east, and the brooks in that locality, where some of the land has ever since remained in the families of Stiles and Hinman, who had it direct from the Indians. The trail through South- bury, from the churches north to Woodbury line, was nearly the same as that of the Southbury Main street, whose course was laid out in 1675 by a committee appointed by the general court, consisting of Captain William Curtiss, Captain John Nash and Lieutenant Thomas Munson. The highway extended to Derby and at the latter place a ferry was that year authorized.

Along Southbury Main street the early settlers laid out their home lots with narrow fronts, and consisting of from two to five acres. In the rear were allotments for general farming purposes of four times the area of the home lots with which they were connected. The dis- tinction in rank was thus recognized, but no one was landless and there was a limit to the possessions of the richer class. There were, also, on the same basis, divisions or allotments of meadow lands, up- lands, wood lots, etc., in the different purchases until all the land was divided, the last allotment being made in 1782, or more than 100 years after the first selection was made. Besides those who were first as- signed lots there were, prior to 1682, among the land owners in South- bury, Matthew Mitchell, John Mitchell, Samuel Hinman, Thomas

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Drakely, Joseph Hicock, Benjamin Hicock, Benjamin Stiles, Isaac Curtiss, Edward Hinman, Jonathan Squires, John Pierce, the Strongs, the Smiths and others.

The settlements increased very rapidly, and many changes in the ownership of lands took place, in the course of years, so that it would be extremely difficult to trace the chain of succession of even the oldest homesteads.

The names of many early settlers of the town can be found in the following list of taxables in 1787. Those assessed in Southbury society were: Oliver Barrett, Azariah Bard, Joseph Benham, Thomas Brooks, Charles Baldwin, Hezekiah Baldwin, Park Brown, Anthony Burritt, John Bulford, Elijah Brownson, Abraham Brownson, Ebenezer Brown- son, Ebenezer Brownson, 2d, Noah Brownson, Marsh Brownson, Ste- phen Bateman, Elijah Booth, William Burr, Elias Bates, Nathan Cur- tiss, Abijah Curtiss, Aaron Curtiss, Reuben Curtiss, Joseph Curtiss, Dan- iel Curtiss, Wait Curtiss, Israel Curtiss, Israel Curtiss, 2d, Benjamin Curtiss, Stephen Curtiss, Oliver Chatfield, John Chilson, Andrew Coe, Amos Coe, Isaac Demming, John Demming, George Dudley, Samuel Drakely, Daniel Durkee, Bartimas Fabrique, David Fabrique, William French, Jacob Glazier, Jacob Glazier, 2d, Curtiss Graham, .Martha Graham, Ebenezer Guthrie, John Garrett, Wait Garrett, Edward Hin- man, Benjamin Hinman, Justus Hinman, Silas Hinman, David Hin- man, Sherman Hinman, Aaron Hinman, Joel Hinman, Agur Hinman, Jonas Hinman, Jonas Hinman, 2d, Adam Hinman, Truman Hinman, John Hinman, Michael Hann, Benedict Hann, Andrew Hurd, William Hurd, Elijah Hine, Amos Hicock, Benjamin Hicock, Joseph Hicock, Joseph Hicock, Jr., Ithiel Hicock, Silas Hicock, Joseph Holbrook, David Johnson, Asa Johnson, Hiram Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, Gideon Johnson, Justus Johnson, Timothy Johnson, Solomon Johnson, Abra- ham Lines, Jesse Lambert, Adam Lum, Abel Leavenworth, Gideon Leavenworth, Jonathan Mitchell, David Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell, Simeon Mitchell, Increase Mosely, Samuel Munn, Jedediah Munn, Asa Munn, Shadrach Osborn, Timothy Osborn, Barnum Osborn, Abijah Peck, Eliphalet Pardee, Stephen Peet, Elijah Perkins, Joseph Rich- ards, Jonah Summers, Benjamin Stiles, Benjamin Stiles, 2d, David Stiles, Ephraim Stiles. Truman Stiles, Nathan Stiles, Samuel Stiles, Sarah Stone, John Stone, Adin Strong, Charles Strong, Benjamin Strong, Ebenezer Strong, Samuel Strong, Selah Strong, Return Strong, Thomas Strong, John Squire, Joseph Sanford, Ebenezer Smith, Eph- raim Skeels, Nathaniel Tuttle, Edmund Tompkins, Esther Thompson, Joseph Trowbridge, John Wheeler, Obadiah Wheeler, Obadiah Wheeler, 2d, Adin Wheeler, Asa Wheeler, Bethiah Wheeler, Ebenezer Wheeler, Jesse Wheeler, Adam Wagner, David Wildman, Sylvester Wooster.

The taxables in South Britain parish were: Edward Allen, David Allen, Gideon Allen, Jonah Allen, Phineas Bowers, Jabez Barlow,

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Samuel Bottsford, Elijah Baldwin, Joseph Baldwin, Smith Booth, Lemuel Blackman, Abel Bennett, Nathaniel Cary Clark, Samuel Curtiss, Ebenezer Down, Ebenezer Down, 2d, Moses Down, Aaron Down, Benjamin Down, Truman Down, Nathan Down, Samuel Dan- iels, James Edmond, George Edmond, John Edmond, Abijah Fair- child, John Glover, Oliver Gibbs, Morris Gibbs, Francis Garrett, Daniel Gorham, Daniel Hinman, Jonathan Hinman, Asa Hinman, Francis Hinman, Wait Hinman, Samuel Hinman, Bethuel Hinman, Titus Hinman, Gideon Hawley, Milton Hawley, Richard Hawley, Gideon Hicock, Justus Hicock, Asa Hicock, John Hynes, Amos Johnson, John Johnson, John Johnson, 2d, Reuben Jennings, Thomas Kimberley, Thomas Kimberley, 2d, Eleazer Knowles, Stephen Mix Mitchell, Eleazer Mitchell, Simeon Mitchell, John Mallory, James Masters, Josiah Osborn, Simeon Osborn, Justus Pearce, Titus Pearce, Elijah Pearce, Abraham Pearce, Eunice Pearce, Samuel Pearce, Joseph Pearce, Benjamin Pearce, Joel Pearce, Nathan Pearce, John Parks, John Parks, 2d, James Parks, Stephen Platt, Stephen Platt, 2d, Joseph Post, Josiah Page, Benjamin Russell, Jared Smith, Ambrose Sperry, Abijah Squire, Stephen Squire, David Squire, Jonathan San- ford, Solomon Sanford, Solomon Seward, Daniel Sherman, John Skeels, James Stanclift, Cyrenus Stoddard, Zephaniah Smith, Bethuel Treat, Malock Ward, Zenas Ward, Noadiah Warner, Johnson Wheeler, Agur Wheeler, Asa Wheeler.

In that part which was afterward set off to Middlebury lived, in 1787: Japheth Benham, Miles Mallatt, Eliphalet Pardee, Ebenezer Smith, Ebenezer Smith, Jr., Daniel Smith, John Stone, Ezekiel Stone, Mansfield Stone, Samuel Scott, Ebenezer Scott, Jesse Wheeler.

In the Oxford Part there were at the same time (1787): Eliphalet Bristol, Riggs Bristol, Truman Bristol, Gad Bristol, Justus Bristol, Isaac Brisco, Thomas Bissell, David Candee, Samuel Candee, Timothy Candee, Jehiel Peet, Joseph Towner, Samuel Wheeler, Joanna Wil- mot and Isaac Munson.

In the Southbury Society the parish list amounted to £7,373, 14s. and 4d .; in the South Britain Society, £4,211, 14s. and 6d .; in the Mid- dlebury part, £606, 18s. and 6d .; and in the Oxford part, £684, 17s. and 9d. The whole number of resident taxables was more than 280.

Parish privileges were claimed by the inhabitants of the lower part of Woodbury as early as 1718, but by a compromise a division was postponed until 12 years later. A petition was presented to the May, 1730, assemby, by Titus Hinman, Sr., Benjamin Hicock and Andrew Hinman, "in behalf of the Rest" for a division and that the line be the same as that which divides the "Train Bands." The petition was answered the following year, when the Second Ecclesiastical Society in Woodbury was incorporated, May, 1731, as Southbury, the name being suggested by the geographical relation to the old society of the newly formed parish. Against this division by the lines of the "Train

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 90

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