USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 11
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THE HENDEY MACHINE COMPANY.
Henry J. Hendey and Arthur Hendey, brothers, commenced busi- ness in July, 1870, in a small shop, built by themselves on Litch- field street ; their motive power being a small rotary steam engine of three horse power. The engine was built by one of the brothers, about two years previous, at odd times, for amusement during winter evenings. This engine is now carefully preserved as a relic of an- cient days, a comparison being frequently made between the old and the new, or between ancient days and modern.
In this shop eighteen by twenty-four feet they commenced the work of making and repairing of iron machinery, and in a few months the work so increased that they employed one man and a boy. On the first of April, 1871, they removed to a a part of the factory known as the East Branch Spoon shop, where they continued their work in an unostentatious, but very successful manner. Very soon the atten- tion of business men was drawn toward the enterprise, who readily discovered the promise of success in this line of business, and after consultation, a proposition was accepted by the proprietors, to organize a joint stock company, and the Hendey Machine Company was es-
III
WOLCOTTVILLE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
tablished August 22d, 1874. A new steam power factory was built on a site a little south of the mills of the Coe Brass Company, and a new steam engine of twenty horse power was placed in it, and machinery, such as to greatly increase the business of the company. Here this enterprise has continued to the present time, and is now one of the most enterprising and successfully managed concerns of the kind in the country. New additions to the present building, which is thirty by seventy, two story, and crowded with machinery, will soon be needed, and erected. Twenty-five menare now employed, some of them first class, educated, and skilled in the art of iron work- manship ; and the annual product of goods amounts to $40.000. The company has agencies, or depots, established in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and has filled an order of goods for Europe.
The specialty is a patent metal planter and shaper, on which they have received a medal from the American Institute at New York. They also attend to the building of all kinds of machinery, from drawings, models and patterns ; and their machinery has already ac- quired a world-wide reputation.
THE HARDWARE COMPANY.
This company was organized January 1, 1864, with a capital of twelve thousand dollars, and the stock owners were George B. Turrell, Franklin Farrell, and Achille F. Migeon. They commenced work in the old lock shop in Torrington hollow, formerly occupied by Edmund Wooding, where they continued one year and a half, during which time they purchased land and water privileges half a mile down the Naugatuck and erected commodious buildings about one hundred and fifty feet long, and removed into them in the autumn of 1865. The leading work at this time was the making of skates of all sizes and various styles. In February, 1870, the capital stock was in- creased to fifty-two thousand dollars, and in October of the same year, they bought of George B. Turrell of New York, a patented beer cooler, and increased their capital to one hundred thousand dol- lars. The work of making this beer cooler, has constituted a con- siderable portion of the business of the company since that time, being one important branch of business.
On Feb. 13, 1872, they bought the skate manufacturing business of Frederick Stevens of New York, and increased the capital to
II2
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and erected a new three story building one hundred feet long by forty wide ; thus greatly increasing the manufacture of skates, and many other articles have been added to the goods produced of iron, wood and leather.
The company employ, in good times, about one hundred men, using both water and steam power, and their sales amount to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year.
Their buildings are located at the northwest corner of Wolcott- ville, and have been the occasion for the erection of a number of fine appearing dwellings in that part of the village.
The present officers are ; George B. Turrell of New York, pre- sident ; Achille F. Migeon, secretary, and J. F. Calhoun, treasurer.
WOLCOTTVILLE SAVINGS BANK.
This bank was organized in 1868 ; with Francis N. Holly, pre- sident ; Joseph F. Calhoun, vice president ; Frank L. Hungerford, secretary and treasurer.
No change has taken place in the officers except that Charles F. Church, was secretary and treasurer four years, and Isaac W. Brooks has filled that office since 1873.
The amount of deposits, July 1, 1877, was $174,218.89. The increase in the last four years has been $115,965.74. The number of depositors July 1, 1877, was eight hundred and thirty-four. These items speak in behalf of the prosperity of Wolcottville and the town, with very decided results.
The business office of this bank is in the granite block, in connec- tion with Brooks Brothers, bankers. The present trustees are : Francis N. Holly, Elisha A. Baldwin, Nelson Allyn, Isaac W. Brooks, Joseph F. Calhoun, Lyman W. Coe, and Bradley R. Agard.
BROOKS BROTHERS, BANKERS.
In June, 1872, John W. Brooks, and his brother Isaac W. Brooks, of Goshen, established a bank of discount and deposit, in Wolcottville, under the above title. This is the first institution of the kind ever started in this town. They occupy the southeast corner of the granite block, on Main street ; are doing a good busi- ness ; and have, as private bankers, the full confidence of the busi- ness community, and by such an institution are supplying a want which had been seriously felt for many years.
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M. E. CHURCH, WOLCOTTVILLE, ERECTED IN 1865.
CHAPTER XI.
THE CHURCHES IN WOLCOTTVILLE.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
M RS. Ann Taylor, widow of Joseph Taylor, made frequent statements in the hearing of her daughter, now living, to this effect, that a Mr. Bloodgood was the first Metho- dist minister that preached in Litchfield county, and that he was the first that preached in the vicinity of Wolcottville or the town of Torrington. This Mr. Bloodgood, called, invariably in those days, " Brother Bloodgood," preached in the house of Abijah Wilson about 1787-9;' and Abijah Wilson and his wife became Methodists to the great displeasure of his father, Noah Wilson. In after years, when Abijah Wilson departed this life, the Rev. Daniel Coe of Winsted preached the funeral sermon. In that sermon Mr. Coe, who was well acquainted with the history of Methodism in this region, confirmed the above statements concerning Mr. Bloodgood, and his preaching at Mr. Wilson's house, and the adhesion of several families in this community to Methodism, at that time. This is in harmony with certain other circumstances which favored the intro- duction of religious services by this denomination.2 It was when the troubles existed in the first church in Torrington, and as a conse- quence, preaching was held only a part of the time in the old meeting house on the south hill. The Baptists were organizing a church in Newfield, and the Methodists had held some services at Jonathan Coe's house near Newfield in Winchester. It would not have been like the Methodists, nor any body else, to have kept away under such
I The Methodist preachers first visited this county about the year 1787. - Litchfield Centennial.
2 The first minister sent into the New England states by a Methodist conference was Jesse Lee in 1789, but some of the Methodist ministers had preached in Connecticut pre- vious to this date.
In 1790, the appointments for New England were : Jesse Lee, presiding elder ; John Bloodgood at Fairfield ; John Lee, at New Haven; Nathaniel B. Mills at Hartford ; Jesse Lee and Daniel Smith at Boston. John Bloodgood joined the conference in 1788, and may have preached in Litchfield before this date, as a local preacher.
15
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HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
favoring circumstances. Then were the days when the Methodists were represented as " wolves in sheep's clothing," and they in turn spoke of the pastors of the standing order, as hireling ministers, and educated ministers, but " never converted." Both parties have learned better manners, and a larger Christian faith since that day, and though occasionally there may occur at the present day little spats, they like better trained children keep the matter in their own families, and do not proclaim them on the house top.
Elder Richard Leach, a Baptist minister living on Litchfield road, preached in the pine grove, on the eminence now enclosed in Valley park, before 1800 ; and it is very probable that the Methodist minis- ters held meetings there before that time, and they certainly did soon after, and then removed to the School house in the village and the grove on the eminence along Prospect street.
It is therefore very probable that there was a Methodist class in existence here not only as early as 1807,' but possibly twenty years before, in this immediate neighborhood ; for it is difficult to conceive of two or three such families as Abijah Wilson's and Capt. Frisbie's, living in a community, such as was in this vicinity, twenty- one or more years without a class meeting. Methodists were not of that kind in those days. It would have been as easy for old Paul Peck, if he had lived, to have entrapped an alligator in the Pine swamp as to have caught a Methodist living twenty years without a class meeting in those early days. It is therefore more than probable that class meetings were held at Abijah Wilson's, and Capt. Frisbie's and other places some years before 1800. Regular preaching by this denomination may have been established at the School house in the village in 1809 or 10, and from that time greater improvements in congregations and church enterprises may have been experienced. In 1808, a Methodist camp meeting was held in Canada in Goshen, which secured a more prominent influence to that denomination throughout this region.
The ministers who preached at Mr. Coe's, and afterwards at New- field, doubtless preached here also. A Mr. Sweet is mentioned as one of the early ones. Mr. Laban Clark, celebrated for more than fifty years in his denomination, preached here in 1810. Samuel D. Ferguson and Elbert Osborn were among the early ones, and two
I See a Memorial Sermon by Rev. T. D. Littlewood, in the Bridgeport Standard, May 17, 1872.
II5
THE CHURCHES IN WOLCOTTVILLE.
by the name of Hill, and Gad N. Smith, Mr. Canfield, Mr. Beach. Col. John H. Perry, a man of military education, became a minister, and preached here ; became a very influential minister in New York and Brooklyn ; went as a colonel of a regiment into the army against the late rebellion ; was promoted to a general's commission ; returned in safety to his home in Brooklyn. Rev. Ebenezer Washburn is also mentioned prominently in regard to the prosperity of this denomina- tion in this community.
The real pastors, however, of Methodist churches in early days, were the local preachers. The circuit ministers were preachers, traveling on tours that required their absence from each preaching place, two, three and four weeks ; and hence the real pastoral work, or care for the local churches, fell, in a great measure, on the local ministers and class leaders. Such men as Daniel Coe of Winsted, and David Miller of Torringford, were the men who preached many funeral sermons, visited the sick, supplied vacant places with preach- ing at no cost to any one but themselves ; attended many meetings, far and near ; helped in devising the plans and ways and moneys for building churches ; as unknown, and yet well known; and without whom many of their churches would never have been or when they were, would have been scattered to the four winds never again to be gathered.
Daniel Coe stood on the preacher's stand to exhort at the camp- meeting in Goshen in 1808, and his first words were : " Wake up, brethren, wake up." And this watchword has built many a church, and led scores and thousands of fainting soldiers to final triumph and victory.
A number of families came into Wolcottville soon after the woolen mill was started, and united with the Methodist congregation and church, who proved themselves true and faithful witnesses, and were of much value to the denomination and to the community in reli- gious things. But the progress of the enterprise of making woolen cloths was not an even course of prosperity, and therefore the for- ward movement in the church was impeded, for a number of years.
The first Methodist meeting house in Wolcottville was built in 1843, Rev. George Taylor being the pastor at the time. It was a commendable structure considering the money strength of the con- gregation, and was completed and finally paid for though it took years of anxiety and earnest effort.
I16
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
The ministers who had preached here to that time are mentioned in the following order :1
Laban Clark,
David Miller,
Robt. Codling,
James Coleman in 1810,
Julius Field,
Wm. B. Hoyt,
Arnold Scoville,
Daniel Brayton,
S. C. Keeler,
Benjamin Griffin,
Elbert Osborn,
C. T. Mallory,
William Swayne,
Eli Barnett,
Otis Saxton,
Gad Smith,
John Lovejoy,
A. V. R. Abbott,
Samuel Cochrane,
Bradley Silleck,
Benj. Redford,
Cyrus Culver,
Milo Chamberlain,
C. W. Powell,
E. P. Jacobs,
David Stocking,
B. T. Abbott,
J. J. Matthias,
John Lucky,
J. Vinton,
Datus Ensign,
Richard Hayter,
L. W. Abbott,
Ezekiel Canfield,
Morris Hill,
S. H. Bray,
Nathan Emery,
David Osborn,
T. D. Littlewood,
Smith Dayton,
S. W. Law,
H. L. Judd,
Ebenezer Washburn,
George Taylor,
S. K. Smith.
John Nixon,
John M. Reid,
James M. Smith,
Geo. A. Hubbell,
From 1843, for twenty-two years the prosperity of this church was steady and prophetic of good. The ministers during this time were : G. A. Hubbell, Robert Codling, William B. Hoyt, S. C. Keeler, C. T. Mallory, A. V. R. Abbott, C. W. Powell, B. T. Abbott and Joseph Vinton. At that time, 1855, the population of the village had so increased, through the coming into it of manufac- turing enterprises, it was deemed important to enlarge the old Church or build a new edifice. After a thorough discussion of this subject and looking about for money to meet the expenses, it was decided to build a new house. Plans and specifications were prepared by an architect and accepted, and a building committee of the following persons appointed : Luther Bronson, Letsom T. Wooster, James Wooding, Derick N. Goff and Michael Bronson. The house was to be eighty feet in length, and fifty feet in width and built of brick. The corner stone was laid on the 25th day of May, 1865. The house was built and dedicated, and after summing up all expenses it was found to have cost twenty-four thousand dollars, and to meet this, from all sources, was obtained one-half the sum, leaving a debt of twelve thousand dollars. When this enterprise began some mem- bers of the congregation were in prosperity in business enterprises, and had this continued there would have been little trouble, though the edifice cost twice the amount estimated, but a change came, and
I Mr. Littlewood's sermon.
II7
THE CHURCHES IN WOLCOTTVILLE.
that change brought such a weight of debt as nearly crushed all hope. But there was a way out, and that way this struggling church found. Led on at last by the Rev. T. D. Littlewood, the debt was proclaimed as provided for, and a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving held, on the 7th day of April, 1872. The house makes a fine ap- pearance and is an honor to the self-sacrificing spirit of all who have aided in making it what it is, and in not suffering it to be sold, even when there seemed no other way to be pursued.
In the effort to pay the debt as stated, there was an unfortunate misunderstanding in regard to three thousand dollars obtained of the M. E. Church Building Fund, which nearly ended in disaster. It was supposed by the congregation that this money was a donation, and when it was learned that it was to be refunded, the surprise was almost a gulf of despair.
It is true to history to mention also, that when it was proposed to build a new church the older members were satisfied with repairing the Old Meeting house, while those who had lately come into the community and who proposed to contribute considerable money, were in favor of a new house and succeeded in having their way. When these last three thousand dollars were to be paid, there was scarcely one left in the place, of those who were forward in voting for the new building. Hence is seen the fidelity and nobleness of heart of those who continued to struggle to pay a debt, they all had voted against making ; and that, too, after they had once supposed the entire debt cancelled. The Rev. H. Q. Judd was pastor during this last struggle, and like an old sea captain he steadily sailed to victory and an open sea, in the year 1875.
The following sketches of a few of the ministers of this denomi- nation who have been stationed at Wolcottville are secured through the favor of Rev. Sidney K. Smith, the present pastor of this church.
REV. LABAN CLARK, D.D.
Rev. Laban Clark, who preached the first sermon as a Methodist minister in Wolcottville, in 1810, being then stationed at Litchfield, was born in Haverhill, N. H., July 19, 1778. His early education was limited. His parents were rigid Congregationalists and extremely Calvinistic, and young Clark coming in contact with some earnest Wesleyans, while quite young, imbibed their views, and joyfully ac- cepted the personal hope of salvation among this people, and ever afterward was, in theology and church polity, a Methodist. He joined
I18
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
the New York conference in 1801, having rode on horseback, three hundred and forty miles, in order to be present at the session of the conference.
He labored as pastor, or presiding elder, fifty years with marked success. His preaching was clear and forcible, presenting more con- stantly, the gospel side, rather than the law side of the great question of personal salvation. He was constant and untiring in pastoral work and ever exhibiting a consecration and devotion to his calling, worthy of a minister of the gospel. In 1848, he made his residence at Middletown, Connecticut, where he lived respected and venerated, by all who knew him, until his decease.
He was the principal mover in starting and establishing the Wes- leyan university at Middletown, Ct., an institution which became one of the dearest objects of his life work, and over which he watched with the solicitude of a parent for his most endearing child. He clung to it with all his characteristic tenacity to the end of his life. There was, however, no important interest of his denomination which did not share his sympathy and cooperation. He was active in its early academic and educational schemes and benevolent plans. He was one of the founders of the missionary society of his denomina- tion, which was organized at his suggestion, while he was pastor in New York, in 1819. His influence in the general conference of his church was very important for many years. He was an influential member, and died a patriarch of the New York east conference. After a long, laborious and successful life career, he died at his home in Middletown, November 28, 1868, in the ninety-first year of his age ; a venerable and beloved hero of American Methodism.
Such was the man who, so far as is known, preached the first Me- thodist sermon in the immediate village of Wolcottville.
REV. J. MORRISON REID, D.D.
He was a native of New York city, born May 30, 1820 ; and was the son of John and Jane Morrison Reid. He is now, and has been a number of years, the secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society of the M. E. church, located at New York, which is one of the most responsible positions in that denomination. His personal re- ligious experience began while he was in his fifteenth year. He graduated with much honor at the New York university, when in his nineteenth year, and five years after, or in 1844, when he was twenty-four years of age, he united with the New York conference ;
119
THE CHURCHES IN WOLCOTTVILLE.
was stationed at Wolcottville, as his first charge, and entered upon his life work as a minister.
Dr. Ried has occupied, as pastor, some of the most important churches within the bounds of his conference, with great satisfaction to the people and success to the cause. In 1858, he was elected president of the Genesee college, in the western part of New York state, and while holding that position was elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate, in 1864. Four years afterwards he was elected editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, at Chicago. In 1872, he was elected to the high position, which he still holds, as missionary secretary. Dr. Reid in all departments of labor, pastoral, educational, editorial and missionary, has had distinguished success, but especially in the office he now holds, has he shown his eminent qualifications for the confidence reposed in him by the vast constituency he serves.
He is a constant, earnest, toiling minister and worker. He is pos- sessed of a manly presence, a fine voice ; and has an earnest, im- pressive manner, and therefore has been a very successful advocate of the great missionary cause, which he now represents.
Dr. Reid in writing to Rev. S. H. Smith in 1877, says of his labors in Wolcottville : " It was my first charge. I went to it from the principalship of Mechanics Institute school of New York city. The first Church had just then been built, and the grading around it, and the blinds and lamps were attended to and obtained by me. The church was new and not strong in its membership and efficiency, but after all it was a memorable time for dissipating prejudices which abounded towards Methodism. I have always thanked God for sending me there, and I would like to see it now after all these years that are past. I must some time."
REV. HORACE Q. JUDD.
Rev. Horace Q. Judd was born Feb. 21, 1841, in Bethel, Conn., and fitted for college at the Hudson River institute, and enlisted in the 17th Conn. volunteers April, 1862 ; and served three years, being in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and received an honorable discharge. He united with the New York east con- ference of the M. E. church in the spring of 1870, and was stationed at Cornwall Bridge, Ct., and in 1872 was appointed to the M. E. church in Wolcottville, where he labored with success and honor three years. He was very much liked in the community generally,
120
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
and did a special work in behalf of the church, in his persevering efforts by which the last end of a long and wearisome debt was re- moved from the church property.
He is now preaching at Watertown, Ct., with the same steady onward success which has marked his life heretofore.
REV. SIDNEY KETCHAM SMITH, A.M.
Rev. Mr. Smith is now pastor of the M. E. church, in his third year, in Wolcottville. He was born Mar. 14, 1838, at Huntington, Long Island, and was the son of Solomon and Abigail Ketcham Smith, who were farmers and members of the Presbyterian church. When seventeen years of age he was employed, as clerk, in a silk importing house in New York city. He was converted and joined the old York street M. E. church of Brooklyn, under the labors of Rev. George W. Woodruff, D.D. He soon felt a deep conviction to preach the gospel, and whatever his work or engagements this was the thought of greatest import to him.
In preparing for the ministry he studied at the Wesleyan academy, Wilbraham, Mass., Wesleyan university, Middletown, Ct., and the Biblical institute, Concord, N. H., taking the course, however, in an inverted order. Through the advice of enthusiastic friends he en- tered at once with slight academic preparation the Biblical institute, intending to take only a theological course, but during the first term, in view of youth and want of mental training, he determined to take also a thorough collegiate course. In seeking advice from the pro- fessors, one said ; " Leave at once and go to college, we don't want you here." The other quietly replied, "better remain, now you are here, brother ; get established in your religious life and theological views, then go to college and make it your parish. This latter ad- vice became the controlling rule of his life for the next eight years. He was graduated at the Biblical institute in 1859; preached one year as supply at Southampton, L. I., and entered the Wesleyan university in 1861, and was graduated in 1865.
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