USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut, Volume II, 1760-1880 > Part 56
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The Observer was superseded in 1826 by The Windham County Advertiser, published by John Gray, who gave place in a year to Mr. J. Holbrook. This paper attained the greatest age and most general circulation as a County organ of any published in Brooklyn. It was followed in 1835 by The Windham County Gazette, published by Messrs. Carter and Foster, which was maintained for several years. Public exigencies and rising reforms called out several short-lived newspapers, viz: The People's Press, devoted to the advancement of Anti-masonry ; the misnomered Unionist, an Anti-slavery journal, edited by C. C. Burleigh and supported by Arthur Tappan ; The Windham County Whig, The Harrisonian, a campaign paper, pub-
480
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
lished by Edwin B. Carter, in 1840, and one or two others whose names have perished with them. Mr. Joel Davison of Killingly served as news-carrier during the latter days of these papers, taking them and other periodicals all over his route in baskets and bundles suspended from his stalwart shoulders.
A High School was maintained intermittently during all these years, and in 1829 an academy was formally incorporated-Benjamin E. Palmer, Vine Robinson, Philip Scarborough, Daniel P. Tyler, William Hutchins, proprietors. A suitable building was procured, and con- siderable pains taken to build up a flourishing school. Scholars came freely from surrounding towns, but were apparently more impressed by the Court sessions and social attractions of the village than by the in- struction administered. The standard of scholarship was higher than that of teachership, if we may judge by the success and accomplish- ments of those same ungrateful pupils who make disparaging reports of their alma-mater. Ex-Governor Gaston of Massachusetts, Hon. Abraham Payne of Providence, William S. Scarborough of Cincinnati, Brigadier General Tyler of Montgomery, Alabama, and very many other notabilities abroad and at home, may owe something of their fame to their training in Brooklyn Academy. Brooklyn's youth con- tinned to go out in the world to fill places of credit and usefulness. Much enterprise was manifested by those who remained in the home field. New stores were opened by Sam'l H. Webb, Charles W. Jenkins and William Storrs. Edwin Newbury accepted an agency for the sale of fruit and ornamental trees and bulbs. Dr. James B. Whit- comb engaged in medical practice after the death of Dr. Waldo Hutchins.
II.
TEMPERANCE WORK IN WINDHAM COUNTY. ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. EFFORTS AND RESULTS.
THE temperance movement initiated by Mr. May in Brooklyn was followed or perhaps accompanied by similar agitation in other Windham County towns. As in corresponding popular movements it is difficult to assign priority to any one section; it seemed rather to burst ont spontaneously and almost simultaneously in various quarters. The fact of the excessive use and evil effects of liquor-drinking had been long admitted. Drunkenness was condemned with greater se- verity than at the present day. A common drunkard was the butt of derision, ostracized by society, and cast ont from the churches. The
481
TEMPERANCE WORK IN WINDHAM COUNTY.
Pomfret Moral Society, ministers and philanthropists, expended an im- mense amount of logic and eloquence in urging men not to drink too much. Men denounced drunkenness and kept on drinking. The Windham County Association passed temperance resolutions-"talked well, talked right, but spoiled it all by taking their grog afterward." The temperance of those days was much like that of an old toper in Thompson whose reformation was attempted by a good landlady. Moved by his misery and destitution, she promised to find him work and keeping if he would restrict himself to two glasses of rum a day, which she would furnish. Old Darius accepted the terms and the work was assigned. " But now," he hiccoughed, " I must have a glass to begin with." A temperance reform begun with a glass was very sure to end with one.
It was not till after many years of apparently useless effort and experiment that the friends of temperance awoke to the conviction that the only cure for drunkenness was to quit drinking. A series of articles was published in The Connecticut Observer by Rev. Calvin Chapin, in 1826, entitled " Entire Abstinence the only Infallible Anti- dote," which had great effect, and in that same memorable year, aus- piciously opening the second half-century of the Republic, Lyman Beecher delivered his famous "Six Sermons " at Litchfield, and the American Temperance Society was formed at Boston. The new watchword and pledge to keep it, served as a rallying cry to unite the temperance sentiment of the land into a mighty force and onward aggressive movement. Temperance societies sprang up as if by magic in every community and in a marvellously short time a revolution had been effected. Mr. May was perhaps the first to openly advocate Total Abstinence in Windham County, yet there were others who soon engaged in temperance work. The first pledge offered in Killingly was drawn up by Mr. William H. Fisher, superintendent at Howe's Factory. His three little boys attended the public school and not returning home at the usual hour he went to look for them, and found that the master had been treating the scholars with liquor as was customary in that district on the last day of the term, and that many of them were under its influence. His two older boys were partially intoxicated and the youngest one too far gone to speak-"the breath of life was in him and that was all." They took him home at once and used every means to restore him but he gave no signs of con- sciousness for many hours and was alarmingly ill for several days. The indignation excited by this occurrence put an end to the custom of "last day treats" in that district. The death of one of their em- ployés, a promising young man prematurely cut off by liquor-drink- ing, strengthened Mr. Fisher in his temperance sentiments, and he
61
482
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
declined to conduct the funeral unless liquor was banished from it. As soon as he heard of the invention of the temperance pledge he drew one up, and called upon Mr. Atkins and a number of his parish- ioners for advice and co-operation. Mr. Atkins at first refused to give his name, thinking his health required the daily use of liquor, but one of the deacons and another church member fell in with Mr. Fisher's views, and aided in calling a meeting and organizing a society.
It does not appear that temperance societies were formed in any of the towns till 1828. The older ministers, Messrs. Atkins, Lyman, Dow, and perhaps others, looked with some suspicion upon the move- ment as arrogating a power that ought to be controlled by the churches. Mr. Fowler of Plainfield, Mr. Edson, and young ministers generally, entered into the work with great zeal, but probably no man in Windham County exerted so much influence as Daniel Frost, Jun., of Canterbury. Unsuspected by himself he was on the very verge of ruin. The warnings of faithful friends, the expositions and arguments of Mr. May, with concurrent domestic influences, led him to abandon the use of liquor, and come out boldly on the side of temperance. Church-goers, who on Sunday noon had been hitherto regaled with rum, gin and brandy from his well-furnished sideboard, were now treated with cold water and exhortations to total abstinence. IIe became so engrossed in the subject, so convinced of its overwhelming importance, as to renounce his legal practice and devote himself entirely to temper- ance work. Through his influence a temperance society was organized in the meeting-house on Canterbury Green, August 25, 1828. The following constitution was presented :-
" Resolved, That this meeting do cordially approve of the principles and objects of the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, and that we will cheerfully co-operate with them and all other associations whose object is the suppression of Intemperance.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting there is abundant evidence that ardent spirits are not necessary as a refreshment or support to the strength during labor ; but on the contrary absolutely injurious to health, and that to the general moderate use of them is to be chiefly attributed the prova- lent habit of Intemperance, that an entire abstinence from them except when prescribed by a physician as a medicine, is the only sure remedy against this alarming evil.
Therefore, Resolved, that we will entirely abstain from the use of ardent spirits, except as an article of medicine, that we will not furnish them for persons in our employment, or provide them for our friends as an article of refreshment, and that in all suitable and proper ways we will discountenance their use in the community.
Voted, That any person may become a member of this society by signing the foregoing Constitution."
This constitution was immediately signed by thirty-two* of the lead- ing citizens of Canterbury, men whose position and character guaran-
* Names of constituent members. Thomas Coit, Daniel Frost, Jun., John Barstow, James R. Wheelock, Israel G. Rose, Anson S. Cobb, Samuel L.
483
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, ETC.
teed the success of any movement. Daniel Frost, Esquire, was chosen president ; Samuel L. Hough, vice-president ; Isaac Clark, secretary ; Stephen Coit, treasurer. By-laws were then passed, and William Dyer, Isaac Backus, Anson S. Cobb and S. L. Hough appointed to circulate a copy of the Constitution, persons signing the same to be considered in the same standing as if they signed the original. A large number of signatures was obtained in all parts of the town and the work went on with much spirit. A special meeting was held in the meeting-house, November 12, when neighboring clergy and citizens from other towns were present, and listened to a most effective address from the president, which was published by request of the society and widely circulated. A public meeting was held as often as onee a month rotating among the different societies and school-houses. Three or four members of the society were appointed to deliver addresses or read dissertations on these occasions. Much local talent was thus elicited and a great variety gained. Ministers and physicians, lawyers and merchants, farmers and mechanics, gave in their testimony against the common enemy. Aged deacons and youthful students were among the speakers and equally engaged in helping forward the work. Dr. Clarke's addresses showing the physical effects of alcohol were very instructive and valuable. Rev. George S. White, who had recently removed his residence to Canterbury, proved a most efficient aid, entering into temperance work with much ardor and speaking with great eloquence and power. A Woman's Temperance Associa- tion was organized during this winter, which secured the names and sympathy of nearly every woman in the town. This too had its officers, and business meetings, and exchanged sympathetic and congratulatory addresses with the parent society.
In August, 1828, a temperanee society was also formed in North Woodstock with thirty male members. Brooklyn followed in October. In December, " a few individuals in Abington started the plan to form a temperance society in the town, and proposed to meet those of the First Society who would unite with them at the school-house. Mr. Porter gave notice from the desk. About forty were present but none of Mr. Porter's church except Mr. John Williams." A committee was appointed to prepare a constitution, and a town society was organized early in January, 1829. Darins Matthewson, Esq., " who seemed to be more interested about it than others," was appointed
Hough, Isaac Morgan. Allen G. Clark. Stephen Coit, Isaac Backus, Chauncey Brown, William R. Morgan, Elijah Die Jon Isque P. Morgan. Daniel Morgan, Enoch W. Wald . William D . S. G. 16bus. Isaac Clark, O. Hudson Butts, Daniel C. Frost, Sylvanu- Sh pard, Job Rood, Andrew Harris, Nathan Adams, Joseph Bond, John Brown, Harvey R. Dyer, George L. White, John D. Clark, Asa F. Clark.
484
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
president. Charles P. Grosvenor, an early member of the defunet " Moral Society," was much interested in the new organization and by his personal persuasion induced one or more of the village store- keepers to abandon the sale of liquor. Societies were organized in other towns, and on April 20, 1829, a convention was holden at the Court-house in Brooklyn, to consider the expedieney of forming a county temperanee society. Delegates were present from Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Hampton, Killingly, Pomfret, North and West Woodstock. After preliminary exercises the following resolution was adopted :-
" Resolved, That in our opinion the question whether intemperance is to be suppressed is no longer problematical, and that the time when it will be sup- pressed is rapidly approximating. That it is expedient for the various tem- peranee societies in this county to concentrate their forces by uniting in a County Society."
Daniel Frost, Esq., John Holbrook, Esq., and Dr. Darius Hutchins, were appointed a committee to report a constitution, and after delibe ration their report was accepted. The constitution adopted closely resembled that of Canterbury. The society then proceeded to make choice of officers, to retain their position till July 4, 1830, viz :- Darius Matthewson, president : Daniel Frost, George Benson, Hon. Ebenezer Stoddard, viee-presidents ; Rev. Ambrose Edson, secretary ; Edwin Newbury, treasurer ; Rev. Samuel J. May, Thomas Hough, Uriel Fuller, Esq., John Holbrook, Esq., Major Asa May, executive committee. The society# held its first annual meeting the following fourth of July in Brooklyn. Much interest was manifested. A large number of delegates assembled at Mather's tavern, now transformed into a temperanee "coffee-house," and at 11 o'clock, formed a procession and marehed with much ceremony to the Unitarian meeting-house. Devotional exereises were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Dennis of Massa- chusetts, and Whitmore of Killingly. An appropriate and impressive
* Societies represented at the organization of the County Society :-
Male Members.
Female Members.
Canterbury
70
90
Brooklyn
40
22
Pomfret
70
42
Killingly
22
20
Hampton
8
14
Chaplin
33
North Woodstock
30
.
West Woodstock .
14
.
-
287
188
Number of members .
475
At the July meeting, four additional societies were represented, viz :- Ash- ford, Eastford, North Killingly, Plainfield; bringing in some three hundred members.
485
EFFORTS AND RESULTS, ETC.
address was delivered by Mr. Frost. Messrs. Parish, Whitmore and Fuller were then appointed to express to Mr. Frost their thanks for his address, and request a copy for publication. It was also voted that Mr. Frost be appointed agent for the society to visit the towns and bring the subject of temperance more fully before the public. Also, that the society should hold quarterly meetings in the several towns. The society then adjourned "to partake of an excellent dinner " at Mather's coffee-house, and rejoice over the approaching triumph of temperance and peace. A Fourth of July celebration transformed into a Temperance ovation seemed indeed the harbinger of an immediate millennium. Inspired by such prospects the members cheerfully submitted to close their exercises "by taking up a collection for the Colonization Society."
Thus efficiently organized, the temperance reform swept onward. Wherever he went Mr. Frost found a ready welcome and thoughtful hearing. The first phase of the movement was comparatively simple. It was only administering a remedy to those who felt the need of it. The thriftlessness, poverty, crime, disease and death caused by intem- perance, were manifest in every community. Every neighborhood had its death-roll of victims; its shocking casualties-drunken men and women frozen and burnt to death ; children starved, women beaten and murdered, promising young men brutalized and lost. Nor were the evil effects of what was called moderate drinking less obvious upon closer examination. The great mass of sober-minded conscien- tious men and women needed little persuasion or argument. Espe- cially did the wives and mothers, who had borne such unspeakable burdens, welcome with full hearts the new gospel of temperance, while the economic side of the question appealed with great force to the shrewd sense and pockets of their more worldly minded husbands. The folly of furnishing drink to workingmen, paying out good money for that which only made them less efficient, was quickly recognized by the Yankee mind. It was true that many said that men would not and could not work without the accustomed stimulant, but that point was quickly tested by successful experiment. Mr. Matthewson, the Grosvenors, and temperance men generally, promul- gated the law that no liquor was to be furnished to hired help, and a single summer's work settled the question forever. Equally prompt and summary was its banishment from the household cirele. The time-honored custom of treating visitors to a friendly glass disappeared as if by magie. A woman with her mind fully made up can indeed almost work miracles. She can at least set aside social laws and customs. The tempting array of decanters vanished from the side- board, the offering of liquor became as disreputable as its previous
486
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
omission, and its use was interdicted in thousands of families. So radical a social revolution has probably never been effected as that achieved in an incredibly short period by the temperance reform.
Such results could not be accomplished without exciting opposition. Sellers and drinkers stared aghast at this temperance onset and scoffed at the proposition to sign away their liberties. Stage-drivers refused to bring newspapers that advocated temperance. Organized opposi- tion once confronted Mr. White in Canterbury. Having appointed a lecture in the old Red Meeting-house he found a company of hard- looking men, sitting around a table spread with rum and glasses. The quick-witted Englishman saw and met the sitnation. Walking straight to the desk he instantly began :-- " It is said that we ought not to engage in any act upon which we cannot ask the blessing of God-O Lord, thon knowest that thy servant has been in all parts of the world, among Indians, Cannibals, Jews and Turks, but never has he seen such miserable, God-forsaken wretches as those now before him "-and went on praying for them with a zeal proportioned to their needs-and the cowed bullies dared not lift a finger, and heard perforce all that he had to say to them. There was opposition also from men who professed to favor temperance. There were doubters and croakers who questioned the hygienic effects of total abstin- ence and the expediency of pledge and society. Reports from the different societies gradually satisfied honest objectors. All testified that labor was performed with much more care and effi- ciency without liquor. One man reported a very laborious task of wall-laying, drilling and rock-blasting most successfully and safely carried through " with no drink at all but pure cold water." Others had found that they "could even wash their sheep much quicker and cleaner without rum." Nobody found any difficulty in getting in their hay and grain without spirit, and it was solemnly asserted after repeated experiment " that death is never the result of the strictest tem- perance." The moral influence quickly perceptible, the greater quiet, the disappearance of loafers and loungers from stores and taverns, and above all the change wrought in men who had been induced to give up drinking, brought over those good ministers and church members who at first distrusted the movement. Mr. Lyman thought it absurd if he could not keep from drinking without signing a paper, but when he heard that one of his most prominent men who drank more than was good for him had promised scoffingly to sign when his pastor did-he at once called for a pledge and signed it, and was rewarded by the total reformation of a much-valued citizen, and the rapid spread of temperance sentiments in the town. Finding that the temperance societies were actually doing what the churches had failed to accom-
487
EFFORTS AND RESULTS, ETC.
plish, Mr. Dow gave up his opposition, and accepted the presidency of the society formed in Thompson. The first lecture in this town was given by Mr. Frost. The people who had expected something in the " spread-eagle " style of the ordinary Fourth of July oration, heard in- stead a plain statement of facts to which their own experience fur- nished abundant testimony. A week before they had attended the funeral of a once respected citizen who had died of rum-consumption. Another victim lay at the point of death in the village. The earnest words of the lecturer, enforced by such examples, had great weight. Many signed the pledge, and a strong society was organized. A very hopeful work was carried on in the factory villages. Owners and agents were mostly temperance men. Mr. William Fisher was very active in temperance effort, allowing no liquor sold at hs new village, Fisherville, urging his employés to sign the pledge, and maintaining interesting meetings. Mr. Smith Wilkinson gave his strong influence to temperance, aiding and encouraging the society and discounte- mancing in every way the use and sale of liquor. Similar efforts were made in most of the factory villages. The Canterbury society extended its labors to Packerville. At the first meeting they gained forty- nine signatures. Daniel Packer and the young Baptist minister, Elder Kneeland, were very efficient workers. Messrs. Fowler and Burleigh labored with much energy in Plainfield, where they gained a large membership. From the new village of Willimantic and the young towns, Chaplin and Sterling, from ancient Windham, Voluntown and Killingly came alike cheering reports. Stores and taverns did not sell one-half the quantity of spirits. No person had been known to contract a relish for drink after joining the societies, and very few had broken their pledge. Improvement in order, industry and thriftiness was reported from every town. Brooklyn continued its labors with much zeal, reinforced by such speakers as Mr. Tillotson, Mr. Vine Rob- inson and Dr. Hutchins. The proposed public quarterly meetings were held at Ashford, Pomfret, Woodstock and Canterbury. The meeting at Pomfret was especially memorable from the delivery of Dr. John Marsh's celebrated lecture-"Putnam and the Wolf, or the Monster destroyed," which was immediately published and very widely circulated. Dr. Hewitt spoke with much effect at the Ashford meet- ing. A spice of opposition gave zest to the work in that town. The Eastford people were called to take their old meeting-house down a steep hill-side-a very difficult and delicate operation. A great crowd gathered, and with three strings of oxen, thirty-three in a line, had fairly launched the building on its perilous descent when a chain broke. The leader of the day demanded treat according to the usual custom, which Esquire Bosworth, the purchaser of the house, as a temperance
488
HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
man, promptly declined. High words and threats had no influence, and, getting their temper up, men and oxen forthwith decamped, leav- ing the meeting-house suspended. But there were too many good temperance men then in the ranks to allow a brother to suffer loss in such a cause. President Matthewson with a corps of sturdy Abington men came to the rescue, and completed the removal without a single drop of liquor. Their spirit and efficiency cheered the hearts of their Ashford brethren, and brought many of the wavering and desponding to take a firmer stand.
The Windham County Temperance society kept its second anni- versary, July 4, 1830, with even more animation than on the preceding year. Rev. Daniel Dow was the orator of the day. The third anni- versary was held in Pomfret, where a most stirring and eloquent ad- dress was made by Dr. Wilbur Fisk of the Wesleyan University, which made a very deep impression upon all who heard it.
With unabated spirit the work went on for several years. The great religions revivals of 1830-31, in which a large number of young men were brought into the churches, added strength to the temperance ranks. A converted young man was sure to be a temperance man. "Coburn's store " on Thompson Hill had continued to furnish liquor, but the morning after his son's conversion not another drop was to be had there. The quarterly temperance meetings in the different towns continued to be well conducted and attended. No town carried on its specific work with more regularity and interest than Canterbury. George S. White succeeded Mr. Frost as president ; Daniel Packer, vice-president ; Stephen Coit, treasurer; Abijah Dewing, Rufus L. Dimmick, Benjamin Delop, executive committee. Meetings were held alternately at the different school-houses, and were always addressed by one or more competent and interesting speakers. Temperance publications were scattered through the town, committees were from time to time appointed to circulate the constitution in each school dis- trict. In 1834, a membership of 635 was reported and it was further resolved that :-
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