USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 46
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MRS. SALLY (HODGES) GILLETT,
Daughter of Dr. Elkanah and Rebecca (Whiting) Hodges, was born March 29, 1787, and married Rev. Timothy P. Gillett Nov. 29, 1808. Her husband was pastor at Branford, Ct., over fifty-eight years, during which she was his faithful and cheerful companion, winning for herself as well as her husband great esteem, and Christian love and respect. Her husband departed this life in 1866 ; she still survives, making her home with her nephew Willard Hodges of Rochester N. Y., and is in her ninety-first year. (See Biog. of Rev. T. P. Gillett.)
JOHN GILLETT,
Son of John and Abigail (Catlin) Gillett, married Mary daughter of Dr. Samuel Woodward Feb. 2, 1824, or when he was forty-eight years of age. He was a farmer in Torringford street. He lived a very quiet life for one who had as much to do with public matters as he, and always seemed to prefer the company of his books, and news- paper, of which he always had quite a number, to that of outside society. He was clerk and treasurer of the town many years, and also represented the town in the state legislature. His duties as town clerk compelled him to be present at the election meeting and this always grated his feelings terribly, as he thought he ought not to be present when he was being voted for as a representative. In these days such modesty seems a little singular and affected, but it was very genuine and honest, for so many were taught in those days. If a man is now called upon to be a standard bearer we cannot see why he should hide his face as if ashamed.
Early in his life his father and himself were owners of wild lands
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in Ohio, on the Western Reserve and he acted for the owners of lands there who were living in Connecticut. This led him to make a trip to Ohio nearly every year, and in those days the only means of travel was on horseback, the entire distance. The only road west of Buffalo was simply marked trees through the woods.
Mr. Gillett possessed the entire confidence of every one who knew him, particularly his neighbors who sought his advice and council on all occasions, and his nearest neighbors, those who knew him best, judged him to be a most upright and good man. In such a life he was greatly assisted by his noble wife, who although not a member of any church, was an unselfish Christian woman.
REV. EPAPHRAS GOODMANI
Was born in West Hartford in 1790; was graduated at Dartmouth college in 1816; studied theology with the Rev. Nathan Perkins, D.D., and studied at Yale Divinity seminary. He was licensed by Hartford North Association in 1820 ; his doctrinal opinions were in harmony with those taught at Yale Taylor school. After making a missionary excursion of a few months during which he was ordained as an evangelist Jan. 3, 1821, in Charlestown, S. C., he was invited in 1821, to Torringford, to preach as a candidate for a colleague pastorate with Rev. Samuel J. Mills, and was installed as such March 6, 1822.
He had a name significant of his internal man ; he was a good man ; of which his life was a living epistle to his fellow men. He was an industrious analytical student, always seeking after the why and where- fore of theories and practices. His perceptions were large and active. He was logical and rigidily conscientious, and practical in his ap- plication of every precept. His preaching, though not eloquent and exciting, was educating, edifying and inspiring, and conducive to thought, and the establishing of permanent character ; and thereby well calculated to build up and mould society into wise and graceful proportions. He was instrumental in gaining for Torringford society a name, a life, an intellectual, and a moral influence above that of any other in all that region. Having good executive ability, he was very consistent in his every day walk and conversation ; very eco- nomical ; studiously so, in order that he might practice the larger benevolence. He was a living epistle of good judgment and fidelity to the gospel he preached.
I Manuscript of Dr. E. D. Hudson of New York.
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Soon after his ordination, he married Harriet Whitman of West Hartford ; an estimable lady, possessing an amiable disposition, and superior intellectual, moral and spiritual culture ; who culminated into an invaluable helpmate to him in all of his counsels and works. Soon after the commencement of his labors in 1822, he leased a large room which had been used for a store house ; fitted it for, and opened a select school, for advanced pupils, boys and girls. This enterprise was so enthusiastically sustained by the Torringford people, that he was induced to continue it, and to employ a talented sister, Mrs. Faxon, to relieve him somewhat, and to allow him liberty to attend to his pastoral duties at any time. The impetus given to education by his movement was marvellous, and redounded very much to his credit. The society became thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the enter- prise, and erected a brick building, long known as the Torringtord Academy. In this building he employed students and graduates from Yale and other colleges for some years. The academy became ex- tensively famous, and young men and women of the society, and from distant parts were there trained for teachers, for entering college, for scientific studies and professional pursuits. Mr. Goodman was the living and abiding animus of this noted enterprise, for with his dismissal and departure Ichabod was written upon its door posts.
Every moral reform found a cordial response in his moral and spiritual perceptions, wisdom and goodness, and received his uncom- promising advocacy and support, for the welfare of society, the prosperity of the church, and the elevation of moral and Christian character. Protracted meetings, conventions of churches, and reli- gious revivals were zealously and laboriously encouraged and sus- tained by him, and the fruits were abundant. His interest in the cause of missions was manifested in decided and energetic activities. He invited his parishioners to set apart, for mission support, agricul- tural fields in different parts of the parish, to be cultivated by gra- tuitous labors and the fruits to be sold and the avails cast into the treasury of the Lord. These gathered items frequently amounted to no inconsiderable sum.
Extensive orchards were set out by the early settlers of this parish, which were very productive of fruit ; the consequence thereof was, that enormous quantities of cider and cider brandy were manufac- tured and stored in the large cellars, made capacious for such pur- pose. During the revolutionary war there was a patriotic call for the precious fluids, but subsequently they were extensively made,
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sold and used for home consumption. Drinking and drunkenness (not besottingly) was common to all classes, occupations, and pro- fessions ; doctors, lawyers and clergymen.1 The spirit of the can- teen and cider brandy barrel, was the inspiring one in every community in the land. Alarm began to be felt by individual philanthropists.2 Mr. Goodman resolutely entered into the warfare, and " lifted up his voice like a trumpet," against the besotting evil, which was undermining and threatening to destroy every thing of good report. As intemperance like a flood had seriously invaded the pulpits and the churches, as also the healthfulness and prosperity of the people, it was a joyful thing to him that his church and society made a general response to his appeals, and rallied to the reform. The church voted to dispense with fermented wines at its commun- ion, and substituted the unfermented juice of the " fruit of the vine." There were some members of both church and society ; men of property, military honors, and politicians, greatly wedded to their cups and customs, who took great umbrage at such an innovation upon their appetites and social enjoyments. Mr. Goodman was often importuned by members of other churches and societies to negotiate exchanges with the neighboring ministers, who were timid or indisposed to meddle with the subject of reform, and after the regular services, to deliver a lecture. Thus his influence extended beyond his own parish.
The advocacy of Moral Reform, in New York, and generally, as directed by the ladies and the Rev. Mr. Dowell, received the countenance and hearty support of Mr. Goodman and his wife. The cause of African colonization, having been clothed in the " livery of heaven," and having been unwittingly sustained by the philanthropic missionary, Samuel J. Mills, enlisted for a season, the sympathies of Mr. Goodman, until the trumpet voice of William Loyd Garrison, exposing American slavery and its organized aider and abettor the American Colonization Society3 and its auxiliaries, opened his eyes and alarmed his conscience. Then he immediately set his face against the colonization scheme, and became an apostle to the anti-
I See an account given by Dr. Ebenezer Porter of Washington, Conn., in 1806. Sermon. 2 Dr. Lyman Beecher had preached his six sermons against the evils of intemperance.
3 This society was supported at the time by the South, as the best method of removing free colored people, and thereby strengthening the bonds of slavery. But the Colonization Society has now become the greatest friend to the colored man.
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slavery cause, in which he was zealously affected, although he did not survive to see the day of the abolition of American slavery.
In 1833, he and Dr. E. D. Hudson (who at that time had settled in Torringford as the physician) associated to open and estab- lish an educational, moral, physical training, and hygienic insti- tution, a Family School for boys. This school was zealously patronized by the most eminent men of Hartford, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, and other parts of the northern and southern states.
Thus he continued his labors and spared not, in Torringford, until 1836, when the church and society became financially weakened by disaffected conservative, anti-reform members, somewhat dis- heartened concerning a location for a new meeting house, when he · felt constrained to offer a resignation of his charge, which was sorrow- fully accepted by the church and society. With his departure, educational, moral, religious, and general enterprise went into a decline, and the spirits that sustained the good man, have fled forever.
He was settled two years in Dracut, Mass., and was remembered there as an earnest, faithful, and beloved pastor. The year after his dismissal there, he resided in Andover, Mass., and was employed as an agent of the American Protestant Society. In 1840, he went to Cincinnati, bought the Watchman of the Valley, and published, and edited it until 1850. About 1847, he assisted in forming the first Congregational Association in southwestern Ohio. Very soon after, he assisted in forming the Western Reform Book and Tract Society. In 1851, he went to Chicago, and during one year had the editoral charge of the Christian Era, and during most of that year supplied the pulpit of the first Congregational church. During the next two or three years, he was the western secretary of the American Missionary Association, and disbursed its home missionary funds. He subsequently edited a short time the Free West, a weekly anti-slavery paper, published in that city.
He died at Chicago, June 12, 1862, aged 72 years.
DANIEL GRANT,
Son of William Grant, was born Dec. 28, 1743, and lived on his father's homestead with his brother Matthew until his death. He was a man of careful and diligent industry, but took no promi- nence in the town until the commencement of the revolutionary
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war. Soon after the beginning of those troubled times, he was elected collector of town taxes on the west side, in which position he manifested such skill and business tact, both in collecting the taxes, and also in favoring the people, that he was appointed collector for the town, and was continued in this office through the war. During the war, he was practically the banker of the town, taking grains and cattle and exchanging them in such a way as to meet the demands of the general government, and of the state, and thus keeping up the credit of the town, and greatly aiding the nation to obtain its freedom (see chapter on the Revolution).
It is probable that there have been but few men in this town who have possessed greater financial ability than this man, and very likely but few who possessed such ability ever used it to more honor to them- selves and the town. He was a man of decided character and reso- lution, and yet to all appearance was governed by a decided sense of justice and right, and beyond that he could not be moved. He and his brother Matthew living in the same house, had some differences of judgment, and the result was that all friendly communication ceased between them; they did not speak to each other. There was no words ; no perpetual disturbance ; each thought the other wrong and there the matter ended. Daniel was tax collector ; he would put his brother's tax bill through the key hole in the door into Matthew's room, and Matthew would return the money by the same " Express."
In the collection of taxes he was obliged to levy on property and sell it, as there was no other way. Mr. Grant took such property and sold it, and very often bought it himself, and would then take a note for it of the family and leave it to be redeemed. When he sold cows, as was the case often, he would take a note for the cow, for three years, at the end of which time he was to receive the cow and the first calf. This was the usual method of letting cows, in those days, as several account books clearly show.
It is said that when Daniel Grant died, he required of his executors that such of these notes as he then held should be burnt ; but that the collectable ones were not burned. It is further said that these notes amounted to a bushel basket full.
No complaint is heard as having been expressed concerning any severity of Mr. Grant as tax collector, but all reports give him great credit of honor and fidelity to the people, as well as to the law.
In his last will, he gave to the town a farm in New Hartford, for the benefit of schools, and this remains yet as the Daniel Grant fund.
He died in 1787.
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MATTHEW GRANT, JR.,
Son of Matthew and Phebe (Foster) Grant, married Rosannah Lee, Sept. 29, 1795, a girl brought up by John Cook of Torrington. He lived on the old Grant homestead and was an energetic farmer, of the very highest reputation for integrity and uprightness of charac- ter. His word was not only as good as law, but was implicitly relied on by all the people ; so much so that he is said to have frequently took money from the bank without giving any note or using any check, or other paper. The common remark was that " no man's word was worth as much as Matthew Grant's." He was a great friend to Parson Gillett, and the parson thought every thing of him as a man of the highest moral integrity. He was a man of kindly feelings and benevolent disposition towards those who had less money than he had, and this trait of character, more than any thing else, nearly proved his ruin financially. Persons who went to him for help in time of need have heard him say many times : " I have not the money, but I can get it for you," and in a few days they received the money. He built the large and very substantial house now the residence of Dea. F. P. Hills, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, and the report has obtained currency that this house nearly ruined him, as to money, but this eight thousand was but an item compared with other losses. He signed papers with Esq. Holmes a relative, for a farm in Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y., the farm being worth fifteen thousand, a large portion of which he had to pay and finally to take the farm. On this farm he placed his son Gerry, who conducted it with energy, having at one time one hun- dred cows as his dairy ; but he signed paper for his brother in California for some thousands of dollars, and sent the money ; the brother did not get the money and soon died and Gerry lost the whole. This farm finally fell into the hands of Alpheus Hodges, who had lent money on a second or third mortgage. Mr. Grant lent money, and signed paper for other parties in large sums as well as small, many of which were a total loss, and which helped to bring him to straitened circumstances in the later part of his life, though he did not come to want. He was a drovier, and being a large stout man, of heavy voice, he could be heard at a great distance in driving cattle. His son said he could always tell when his father crossed the North river with a drove of cattle, for as soon as he had crossed the river he could begin to hear him halloo to the cattle. In buying cattle he would ask the price and if too high would go on without
59
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making an offer for them. Many persons have followed him miles to persuade him to make an offer.
He bought the ministry lot giving some $2,200, which still con- stitutes a fund in the First Society. His father bought the school lot in 1774, giving £94, which constituted a school fund.
Matthew Grant Jr., was a man of great value to the town and the First Society, and when he departed this life was greatly missed.
ELDER MILES GRANT
Was born in Torrington, Conn., December 13, 1819. Until twenty-one years of age he spent most of his time in hard farm labor, excepting winters, when at school. At eighteen he commenced teaching school in Winchester centre ; the next winter he taught in Wolcottville ; and afterward in Winsted of the same state, for several years, where he was very successful. In the Annals of Winchester, published by the Hon. John Boyd, the following is stated of him :
" Elder Miles Giant, for some four or five years taught the west village dis- trict school, with an ability and success never excelled in our annals. To the sincere regret of parents and scholars, and of the whole community, a sense of duty constrained him to leave a calling for which he was eminently fitted, and to devote himself to the Master's service in another sphere of labor. Highly esteemed and loved as a minister of the gospel, he has no more cordial friends than his Winsted pupils, now in the active stage of life, who owe to him a training far beyond what is ordinarily secured in a district school."
He was also employed for some time as a teacher at Amenia seminary, and at Jonesville academy, N. Y.
His father, Ira Grant, was a noted hunter, and in early days his son, Miles, was quite well educated in hunting and fishing ; but at twenty-one years of age he became convinced that these were cruel sports, and quit them entirely - and for more than thirty years has not used a gun or a fishing-rod.
In early life he had some religious impressions, but drove them off and became a skeptic. As such in December, 1842, he went to hear H. A. Chittendon lecture on the Prophecies of Daniel, in the Methodist church in Winsted. Those lectures convinced Mr. Grant of the truth of the Bible. He was happily converted, and became very active in Christian exercises. He continued in the business of teaching until the spring of 1850, when he felt it his duty to commence preaching the gospel of Christ. This he did and has
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continued to do until the present time. His ministerial labors have been richly blest. He has been the instrument of persuading many to become Christians. He is a firm believer and advocate of the doctrine of Bible holiness. During his ministry he has been an evangelist, excepting the interval between 1855 and 1858, when he was pastor of a church in Boston. In 1855 he was elected editor of the World's Crisis, a religious weekly, published in Boston, and with the exception of a few months has held that office to the pre- sent time.
The Elder has some peculiarities which should be noticed in this sketch of his life.
I. He was converted into the belief that the second coming of Christ is an event near at hand. This he still firmly believes and preaches earnestly.
2. Soon after his conversion he became satisfied that the Bible did not teach that the finally impenitent would be tormented eter- nally, but, after their resurrection and judgment, they would die " the second death," and never live again ; and that only the right- eous would have. eternal life.
3. About the same time he was also convinced that the Scriptures do not teach the natural immortality of man, but that he lies in a dreamless sleep, unconscious, between death and the resurrection ; and that " if the dead rise not, then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished."
4. He also believes the Bible teaches that the future home of the saints will be on the "New earth," which is to be the present one purified and restored to its original state, as it was before the first man sinned. These views led him to take a decided stand against Spiritualism and its leading defenders, with whom he has held some seventy or eighty public discussions. He has also written and pub- lished much against the system, and is well known as its fearless opponent.
5. His habits of life. Another peculiarity of Elder Grant, which is worthy of special note, is his mode of living, perfect health, and remarkable power of endurance. He is often heard to say that if he accomplishes no other good in the world, he hopes to be able to demonstrate that these qualities depend very largely upon the treat- ment of our stomachs. He does not claim that all should do as he does, but thinks a large amount of sickness, pain, sorrow, remorse,
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and misery would be removed from the human family, if his mode of living were universally adopted.
For over twenty years he has been a rigid vegetarian -using no meat, butter, tea, coffee, tobacco or any intoxicating drink. In early life he used tobacco, cider and brandy freely, tea and coffee and rich food. Then he had frequent headaches, and hardly a day passed without more or less indisposition and ill-feeling ; now these ailments are all gone. He has not had a sick headache for upward of twenty years.
For more than twelve years, he has eaten but two meals a day. His hours of eating are eight and half-past two o'clock. He eats no pies and cake, or pastry of any kind ; uses no salt, sugar, or any other seasoning on any food, excepting a little milk or cream. He enjoys his food exceedingly, but is never faint or hungry between meals. The following is his complete list of articles of food : Un- leavened bread, oatmeal pudding, beans stewed till soft, baked or raw apples (sweet preferred), other fruits in their season, raw eggs, pop- corn, sometimes dates, figs, raisins, and nuts, squash, the sweet and common potato. He says he feels the best, and can do the greatest amount of work, when he confines himself to the unleavened bread, oatmeal pudding, beans, sweet apples, eggs and milk. He does not allow himself to eat a meal in less time than half an hour. He for- merly ate in five or ten minutes. He uses no drink with his food. He never eats anything between meals.
He always sleeps with an open window, takes a sponge bath every morning ; retires as soon as convenient after nine o'clock, and aims to be in bed about seven hours.
As a result of this mode of living, Elder Grant is able to perform a great amount of business without fatigue. He can preach fifteen times a week, do all his work as editor, and feel as fresh at the close of each day's labor as at the beginning. He travels from ten to fif- teen thousand miles a year in his ministerial labors through the East- ern, Middle, and Western States, but never seems tired. He claims it is because of his plain diet, accompanied by the blessing of the Lord. He has not eaten a meal for several years without his un- leavened bread. He thinks no one is getting through the world more pleasantly, or with less friction than himself. He says he is a "happy man ;" and from long acquaintance, we have no reason to doubt his saying. His pursuit certainly, is a cheerful one. He is most thoroughly convinced that his mode of living adds largely
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to his enjoyment, and that should he live as most do, he would soon lose his health, vigor, power of endurance, and much of his present sweet enjoyment. He never has any " blue Monday," though he may preach three times on the Sabbath, attend as many prayer- meetings, baptize, administer the sacrament, and converse most of the intervening time during the day. When everybody else is tired he appears still in vigorous condition,1
HON. STANLEY GRISWOLD,
Son of Capt. Shubael and Abigail (Stanley) Griswold, was born No- vember 14, 1763, and was graduated at Yale college in 1786. For a time he was a lieutenant, under his father as captain, in the war of the Revolution. Having completed his theological studies he was ordained pastor at New Milford in 1790, where he remained twelve years. During this time he preached several discourses which were published. One delivered at New Milford in 1800; a discourse occasioned by the death of the Rev. Nathaniel Taylor, 1800; on the subject, overcome evil with good, preached at Wallingford before a numerous collection of the friends of the constitution, Thomas Jefferson president and Aaron Burr vice president of the United States in 1801 ; and one on the subject " The good land we live in," preached at Sheffield in 1802.
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