USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 58
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In a region sparsely populated, like that containing the village in which was his parental home, and in which were centred many dear associations, it could not be expected that he should find many friends or associates. Yet here were a few valuable friends, and one in particular who was able to give moral and religious counsel, such as would be suited to encourage a young man to withstand the difficulties in his pathway of duty. Of this friend, a revered officer in the church, long since gone to his rest, he has often thought both in his sleeping and waking moments, and trusts that the influence of his example and precepts will not soon be eradicated from his memory.
From 1808 to 1811 he devoted his studies to improving his know- ledge of mathematics and English grammar, and also to the acquire- ment of the Greek and Latin languages. With the study of grammar
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and the languages he was highly gratified. At that period (1811) Dr. Elijah Lyman was the only physician in Torrington proper. He was a well-educated, scientific practitioner, possessing in com- parison with his fellow physicians around him, a library large and well-selected. His locality was at the foot of the hill, and between it and the little stream crossing the road that leads from the church to Wolcottville. Here were assembled some five or six young gentlemen, pursuing the study of medicine, full of hilarity and strangers to the cares and anxieties of mature life. Among them James Otis entered his name and commenced the study of that profession, which for more than sixty toilsome years, has been the object of his pursuit.
These young men, although diligent students, were pleasant com- panions, and would relax with great good nature and facility from the ` rigors of study to thoughtlessness and amusement, as though they were the chief objects of pursuit. They boarded with various families in the vicinity and assembled at the doctor's office in the morning. One of their number, a little more pedantic than his associates, was accustomed to enter the courtyard with the salutation,- "Es ne in salutem, hodie, Domine ?" or with some phrase of equal elegance and gravity. But he and his preceptor are now gone, and all that company, a single one excepted, with the years beyond the flood.
The natural result of reflection on the loss of friends is to cast a sombre shade over the affections, were it not compensated with the hope that they have gone to "a better country, even a heavenly."
After Mr. Pond had been a student in the office of Dr. Lyman about two and a half years, he accepted an invitation to teach a select school for two or three months ending in the spring of 1814, in Canton, after which he returned to the office of Dr. Lyman, and continued his studies till the subsequent autumn, when he entered the Medical institution of Yale college. Two of his fellow students in the office of Dr. Lyman matriculated at the same time with himself. The annals of that period inform us, that it was expected each room of the medical department would furnish closets and other accomodations for four students, but the arrangement of a portion of the building was such that three rooms could be most conveniently occupied con- jointly. Here, therefore, instead of twelve, eight young medics initiated their occupancy for the term. They consisted of the three friends from the office of Dr. Lyman, and five strangers ; but pleasant acquaintance soon resulted and continued, as circumstances favored, for many subsequent years. Indeed, the entire period spent in this
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institution was, on many accounts, the happiest portion of his life. His application to study and lectures was devoted and his intercourse with the professors and many of the students, very pleasant and profitable. The reminiscence of these experiences impresses the mind vividly and in many of their details they contrast strongly with the events of mature life.
The examination which followed the termination of the course occupied several days, and was manifestly not wholly unattended with forebodings of disappointment, as the rejoicings at its close clearly showed. Supplied, at length, with a parchment initiating him into the fraternity, claiming the right to be called doctor, and well furnished with professional dignity and hope of future professional distinction, on the 5th of April, 1815, he left his Alma Mater for his parental home.
Here was a circle in which he was affectionately welcomed and most cordially congratulated ; but it was not the field in which to display that professional knowledge which had cost him so much time and study to acquire. It behooved him therefore, to use his diligence to obtain a situation, where, with industry, he might reasonably expect employment and remuneration for service rendered.
But such a situation, at that time, it was by no means easy to find. Many reasons combining, however, to urge him forth in quest of one, mounted on horse-back, then the most common mode of locomotion for a single individual, he set forth and made his way by the river towns and villages, into the interior of New York. His peregrinations and investigations embraced nearly every prominent village of the interior, and occupied a space of several weeks. The receptions and courtesies with which he was everywhere greeted, were cordial and pleasant, yet at no point were the prospects sufficient to induce him to make a trial to obtain practice. It was a happy relief, in his discouragement and destitution, to know that in his father's family he could receive asylum and sympathy, and he therefore re- turned to Torrington and was informed that in Granby was an eligible location for a physician. Thither, therefore, with little delay, he made his appearance, and after investigation, selected the pleasant village of Salmon Brook, in Granby, as a situation where he made effort to obtain professional business.
He was fortunate in forming a few influential personal acquaintances especially of an intelligent married gentleman without children, a merchant retired on account of ill health. In this family he was
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fortunate in obtaining board. Both the gentleman and lady exerted a salutary influence in his favor, and he soon began to receive pro- fessional calls, which rendered him buoyant and cheerful.
Here, more than at any other point, were concentrated the life and intelligence of the town ; here was an academy or select school ; here the rising generation was much more numerous, and here, also, were held the communications of a masonic lodge, with many of whose members he formed acquaintance, and by whose eulogy of the order he was induced to join fellowship with the institution.
And now, after a residence of some six months, and at a period when his prospects began to brighten and give promise of ultimate success, he received a delegation of three, the most prominent gen- tlemen from the neighboring parish of East Granby, four miles from Salmon Brook, with a cordial and respectful invitation to remove to their village and enterprise a trial under better auspices than were afforded here. This was not only intrinsically a surprise, but particu- larly so, as he had, before taking station at Salmon Brook, visited and examined its facilities and advantages for a young physician, and would have made trial for success, had he not been received with coldness and discouragement by the inhabitants. But now a respect- able delegation appearing before him, presenting a unanimous invitation from the parish to become their physician, placed the case in a more favorable aspect, and he felt almost sure that his interest required him to return a favorable answer. He informed the delegation, that although he was inclined to think favorably of the proposition, yet as it involved interests vital to himself, he hoped they would allow a few days in which to consider the case more maturely before returning a decided answer.
This being conceded, he lost no time in informing his friends, and in making arrangements for removal to his projected new location.
Now, fully prepared to call on the delegation with an answer of acceptance, he was received with hearty congratulation and welcome. The next object, a place to board, was readily obtained in the family of his predecessor, Dr. Potter, who, a few months previous, had died of consumption. The family consisted of the widow and her four children, situated on the cross street connecting the two parallel streets before described. This having been the location of a former physician, well known to the inhabitants, was as eligible and promi- nent as the village afforded. He removed his effects from the family in Salmon Brook, where he had been so pleasantly domiciled, with feelings of regret. A mutual friendship and attachment were ever after maintained.
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Dr. Pond now considered himself fairly initiated into the com- mencement of a respectable practice. Though not at first lucrative, it gradually became sustaining. But, withal, he felt much need of friendly encouragement, and an atmosphere of cheerfulness. One, depending on the favor and patronage of the public for support, is placed in an eligible position for observing the developments of human nature, and will often need a commendable share of forbearance and charity to sustain his equanimity.
Having formed the acquaintance of a number of intelligent young gentlemen who were freemasons, Dr. Pond became a member of St. Mark's Lodge, and in process of a few months, by unanimous request delivered an oration before the masonic body, on their celebration of the anniversary of St. John the Baptist, 24th June, 1819, at Salmon Brook, and on the following election of the lodge, he was chosen Master, and was reelected three consecutive years.
The meetings were monthly and tended to enlarge the circle of acquaintance and friendship.
The tone of religious interest in the community at that period, was not very high and scarcely up to the standard of the adjacent churches. A limited number were members of the Congregational church, but they were the best and most reputable part of the community and were sometimes called to withstand the aggressive movements of Universalism and infidelity.
Dr. Pond presented his letter from the church in Torrington to the church in Turkey Hills, and immediately identified himself with its interests. A weekly prayer and conference meeting was generally sustained and sometimes with considerable interest, but ordinarily supineness and indifference countervailed its religious influence. The circle of the doctor's professional acquaintance enlarged, until he could number among them, as special and reliable friends, Everest of Canton, Todd, of Farmington, Bestor, of Simsbury, Pierson, of Windsor, Pease, of Suffield and Sumner, of Hartford. Besides meeting with these gentlemen in professional consultation, he was accustomed to see them and many others in the county medical so- ciety. He was also repeatedly sent a delegate to the medical con- vention of the state, where the facility was still enlarged for professional improvement.
The financial and commissariat affairs of the state prison were entrusted to three commissioners called "overseers." Dr. Pond became acquainted with these gentlemen, and from his own, and the
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influence of friends, he obtained the appointment of physician to the prison. This was an event of no small importance to him, confer- ring as it did, distinction and affording remuneration, though small, then very acceptable. His business gradually extended around, until it reached in many instances, the adjoining villages of Rainbow, Scotland, The Falls and Salmon Brook, and he was at length prompted to gratify his long deferred desire of entering into family relationship. He therefore consummated his engagement with Miss Pluma Merrell, daughter of Daniel Merrell, of Canton, and removed her to his home in Turkey Hills.
She was a woman of superior mind and of religious proclivities, ever ready to enter into schemes of active benevolence, and particu- larly prominent in the society formed for the reformation of erring females in New York and in efforts in the Sabbath school. Mrs. Pond became the mother of two children, a daughter (the mother of two sons and a daughter in New York city), and a son in business, with a family of two daughters and a son, in New Jersey.
In 1825, Dr. Pond was elected to the state legislature with a con- siderable degree of unanimity.
Politics was a subject which did not primarily occupy the attention of Dr. Pond. As a candidate of this election he was not consulted ; he did not, however, deny that his vanity was somewhat stirred in the result.
Much of the business of the ensuing session of the legislature being entrusted to committees, the doctor was appointed upon four, of two of which he was chairman. The consideration of many of these subjects occupied considerable time, and often elicited much in- terest in the investigation.
The session was a pleasant one, comprising among the members many former acquaintances, especially a young personal friend, re- presentative from Waterbury, since a member of the senate. Allu- sion is made to Hon. Israel Coe, many years an enterprising manufacturer in Connecticut, whose business called him to a resi- dence of some few years in Europe, but who is now, in the vale of years, retired to Bloomfield, N. J., where he exercises the office of a magistrate. Through all these years their friendship has been un- suspended, and it is fain believed it will not cease in that better land.
Among the prisoners at Newgate was one of the few remaining aborigines of New England, a taciturn, inoffensive fellow, assigned to the shoe-making department. His crime was manslaughter, and
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his sentence, imprisonment for life. He had already been incar- cerated many years ; his forlorn, imploring look could not fail to ex- cite sympathy and commiseration. On learning his history since his imprisonment, which was one of uniform submission and obedi- ence, it became a question whether the demands of justice, or the law of humanity should be sustained. The keeper and the guard, with a number of individuals acquainted with this case, united in a petition to the legislature for his release. Dr. Pond submitted this petition to the house, and advocated its favorable consideration, and the petition was granted.
On the announcement of the news to the simple hearted Indian, that he was once more free, and could again breathe the free air of heaven, his joy and gratitude knew no bounds, and he wept like a very child. Dr. Pond could scarcely repress the swelling of his own heart in sympathy. If we are sometimes permitted to witness such occcur- rences in the midst of depravity, can we wonder that there should be joy in heaven over a sinner that repents?
The physicians of Connecticut of sixty years ago, were a social, friendly body, accustomed to hold meetings for mutual improvement and amusement. The county meetings were periodical, and, in Hartford county, attended with a good degree of punctuality. Members resorted to them as a relaxation from the toil and anxieties of professional occupation and a retreat, where the responsibilities, inseparable from a country practice, could be temporarily thrown off and where the genial countenance of a fellow physician gave assur- ance of readiness to rejoice at the narration of success in an im- portant operation, or the favorable issue of a dangerous case of epidemic, or as readily condole in professional trouble and in a certain sense, obey the apostolic injunction to bear one another's burdens. Reading one or more papers on some medical or kindred subject was not an unfrequent occurrence and occasionally elicited consi- derable interest and discussion.
Formerly it was the practice to hold semi-annual meetings of the state medical convention, at which the graver interests of the pro- fession were considered. This body consisted of three to five de- legates elected from each county according to size. Of this body it was justly considered an honor to be chosen a member. Their sessions continued from two to three days and were held alternately at Hartford and New Haven.
Early on a May morning 1827, reading the news of the day, Dr.
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Pond cast his eyes on the transactions of the state medical conven- tion and was surprised to see his own name announced as a candidate for the honorary degree of doctor of medicine, at the ensuing com- mencement of Yale college in Sept. This to a physician would be considered an announcement of interest, applied to any individual of his acquaintance, but applied to himself, it would be likely to stir his feelings of gratitude and literary ambition and especially when it is considered that such men as Todd, Peters, Woodward, Sumner, Nathan Smith and other distinguished men, constituted the body conferring the honor. What individuals assumed the initiative in this compliment to Dr. Pond is unknown to him to this day.
The relatives of Dr. Pond were numerous, but none of them so situated in contiguity to him as to be of the least available benefit. The same was true with nearly all those of Mrs. Pond. But there were intelligent friends of the latter residing in New York, with whom was sustained a friendly intercourse, both by visits and cor- respondence. These friends often expressed a desire that the doctor would take residence in the city. This expression so entirely ac- corded with the desire both of Doctor and Mrs. Pond, that they at length subjected its feasibility to a deliberate and careful investiga- tion, the result of which was a fair probability of successful issue. Arriving at such a conclusion, they began so to shape their affairs as to secure its consummation.
The intimate friends of Dr. Pond in Turkey Hills were not nu- merous but they were intelligent and valuable. On becoming ac- quainted with the doctor's intention to remove to New York, they manifested more feeling than was expected which stirred in response, a deeper feeling in his own heart, than he was before aware existed there. Particularly was this the case with the young, pious, intelli- gent pastor of the little church of the parish. It was discovered that he had placed more confidence in his physician as an influential friend than wisdom would dictate, since, however well inclined to subserve his interest, unforseen change of circumstances may destroy his power to do so.
Having arrived at a conclusion to remove to New York in the spring of 1827, Mrs. Pond with her two little children, accepted the invitation of her parents to take temporary residence with them, until the doctor could prepare for them in the city. He hired an office in the immediate neighborhood, where on the 6th avenue, he subsequently occupied a house many years. Having arranged his
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office, erected his sign and rendered himself generally conspicuous, he assumed a position of readiness to prescribe for the real or imagi- nary ills of citizen or denizen. Few, however, gave him opportunity to exercise his skill in restoring health to body or soundness to limb. For many consecutive months, he had at his disposal, more leisure than occupation. The doctor, however, did not pass his time in idleness. In the intervals of reading, he formed a number of valu- able acquaintances.
After a few weeks' residence in the city, he was casually introduced to a young gentleman, a merchant in Maiden lane, a resident of Hudson street. This gentleman had received a polished education and his demeanor was very courteous and affable.
In the course of conversation it was stated that a small Presbyterian church had recently been organized and was worshiping in the base- ment of one of the public school buildings. He gave the doctor a warm invitation to visit them at their place of worship, on the ap- proaching Sabbath. He accepted the invitation and found a small congregation, assembled on plain seats, with an extemporized desk for the preacher. The entire service of this little Christian body, made a favorable impression on the mind of Dr. Pond. Following its close were mutual recognitions which seemed very cordial.
The gentleman by whose invitation the doctor attended the service, was prompt to introduce him to the pastor and many members of the church, and with an easy frankness that banished constraint, and made one feel the freedom of his own domicil. Thus pleasantly introduced, though to a weak and infant church, Dr. Pond continued to worship with them for a number of weeks, until he felt identified with the congregation. In the meantime he was elected to the eldership, which was urged upon his acceptance with a degree of pertinacity, he did not feel warranted to resist. He therefore pre- sented his letter from the country and embarked in their enterprise.
The pastor was a married gentleman of perhaps thirty-five years of age. He had conciliated the affections of his church, and indeed, harmony and Christian love appeared to pervade the entire congre- gation.
They were destitute of a suitable place of worship. The trustees held many meetings to devise the way by which they could build a house. While this was in progress, a Presbyterian church in Pro- vost street, destitute of a pastor, pecuniarily and numerically feeble, but possessing a very convenient church building and a fine organ, communicated a cordial invitation to the little church to unite with
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them and amalgamate into one body. The inception of the measure appeared like a providential interposition, and was received with unan- imous approval. Arrangements of union having been adopted with favorable auspices, on the morning of the following Sabbath, the united body assembled at their house of worship, desirous to acknowledge, with gratitude, that " hitherto had the Lord helped them," and that His hand had led them - and for the encouraging attitude in which they were placed, to indulge the hopes of prosperity for the future.
Soon it became obvious to those who were critical in their obser- vation, that the pastor was becoming less spiritually minded, less deeply interested in the prosperity of the church, and ere long this condition became too obvious to the most charitable to be denied.
In the early part of the seventeenth century, Simon Fraser, a na- tive of the highlands of Scotland, of classical education, but corrupt and reckless principles, was installed thirteenth Lord Lovat. For numerous acts of treason against the reigning dynasty of England, he was after long concealment apprehended, transported to London and after a trial of ten days in the house of lords, was convicted, at- tainted and decapitated on Tower Hill at eighty years of age. For some reason, not explained, about 1827-8, the title of nobility, it was said, was restored and advertisements inserted in various papers for the appearance of the heir. This development stirred up the enquiry of their pastor, who ascertained from records in his own possession that himself was the legal heir to the lordship of Lovat. This discovery completely addled his brain and secularized his affec- tions, entirely disqualifying him for the discharge of all clerical duties. Yet in this condition he did not submit his resignation, nor request the church to unite with him in petition to the presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation, but requested leave of absence for six months, in which to prosecute his investigations in England. This request was granted, though with misgivings of propriety.
A substitute was procured who discharged his duties nobly ; but the attraction of cohesion was weakened, and the energies they exerted were heartless and devoid of that vigor which hope inspires. The material composing the church, however, was excellent, and full of those Christian principles which distinguishes the followers of Christ from other men ; but their dawning hopes were being tried from a source so unexpected, that it was feared, instead of increase, an unavoidable disintegration would commence before the return of their pastor.
The motto of their church seal was " Nil desperandum, Christo
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duce," and they still expressed confidence in this sentiment ; but they could not necessarily discover the foot-prints of Christ in a course necessary to sustain this church in all the difficulties in which it was now involved. Notwithstanding discouragement, their number re- mained nearly intact till the return of the pastor from England. His report to the church was that the title of nobility of which he claimed to be the legal heir, was restored, but that it was involved in litiga- tion, and that the estates formerly belonging to the title, were not yet restored.
In this condition, he presented his resignation of the pastorate, and united with the church in a petition to the presbytery for a dissolution of the pastoral relation. The process is unpleasant, and not unlike a case of divorce.
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