History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 100

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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In March, 1764, the inhabitants of the town of Ashford voted to divide the town into three ecclesiastical societies, as nearly of equal size as possible, for the better accommodation of the peo- ple in their religious privileges. When religious worship was maintained in the Eastford and Westford societies, they were to be relieved from the tax in support of the minister in the center. A bill passed the general assembly to this effect. Eastford did not use this privilege until October, 1777, when arrangements were made to have a settled ministry and a church in said society. In almost every interest, except holding town meetings, all

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proceeded much as though it was a separate town. In sharing town offices and sending representatives to the general assembly it was expected that Eastford would have her due proportion. The management of the schools, the appointment of school vis- itors and most of the local interests were under her supervision as much as desired. Ephraim Lyon, David Bolles, Stephen Keyes, John Paine, Anthony Stoddard, Captain John Stevens and many other prominent inhabitants of Eastford were among the early settlers in the town of Ashford.

While most of the inhabitants of Eastford have from its ear- liest history been engaged in agriculture, they have also been quite largely employed in manufacturing. While it is a hilly town it has running through its central portion streams furnish- ing excellent water privileges. The Bigelow river forms a junction with the Natchaug near Phoenixville. This comes from the northwest, furnishing an excellent water privilege for the Snow mills. In the olden time a carding mill and clothiers' works were here located, and Eliezer Snow did a thriving busi- ness, when the good house-wife spun and wove the cloth for the male portion of the family and sent it when finished to be dressed at Snow's clothing works. A grist mill still does busi- ness at this place.

In Phoenixville, in the south part of Eastford, there was a carding machine at an earlier date than that of Snow's, located where the Stone Factory now stands. When the Phoenixville Manufacturing Company was organized a stone cotton mill was built in 1831, consisting of three floors above the basement, 35 by 70 feet in size. The Phoenix Company also purchased the cotton mill which had been built by George and Rufus Sprague about 1812. This building was three floors above the basement, 36 by 50 feet. The original Phoenix Company consisted of Sam- uel Moseley, Smith Snow, Josiah Savage, James H. Preston, John Brown and Seth H. Tuthill. Both mills were well furnished with the best of machinery, and furnished employment for a large number of operatives. For many years a large amount of business was done by this company. In time the mills passed into the hands of Mr. Clifford Thomas, who carried on manu- facturing with much energy and success. When he left the mills the business began to decline, the stone mill became a twine mill for a time, passed with the other property into the hands of the late Joseph B. Latham, and is now in the hands

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of his sons. But little business is now transacted by what was once the celebrated Phoenix Manufacturing Company.

At a little distance below the Phoenix Company's mills was the Burnham silk mill. This did a considerable business for a time, having an excellent water privilege. This property passed into the hands of Mr. Alfred Potter, who used the buildings for a saw mill, grist mill, blacksmith shop and an iron foundry. Stoves and plow castings were here made, and a good business carried on. Since the death of Mr. Potter little business has been done by this establishment.

Near the Potter mill, lived a Mr. Swinnington, who was so con- fident that a rich mine of gold and silver was located there, that he built a dam, to turn the water through the gulch in which he supposed the precious treasure was deposited, expecting to wash out immense treasures, but all his expectations failed and he felt that his labor was lost.

In 1880 M. F. and J. E. Latham built a twine mill a little north of the Phoenix cotton mills, 30 by 50 feet, two floors above the basement, where they had ten feet of water on a 40 inch Leffel wheel. This mill is now doing successful work. All the dams of the several mills in Phoenixville are in good condition and ought to be in full use. Latham's saw mill, grist mill, and shingle mill, are doing a large and successful business, and use the water privilege of the upper Phoenix mill to good advantage. The stone dam here bids fair to stand for ages, from its excellent construction.

Smith Snow was a son of Bilarky Snow, who owned a large tract of land in Eastford. Smith Snow married Sally Hyde. He was a decided business man, and gave but little time to the social conventionalities of life. The story is handed down of him that when he wedded his wife he returned from the wedding, which is supposed to have taken place at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. William Sherman, in the westein part cf Pomfret, changed his clothes and went to work in his mill, completing his day's work. Having done so he returned home at evening and found his house filled with guests met to properly celebrate the occasion. But he was not be thrown out of his usual habit even by such an innovation. When his usual bed-time came, which was early in the night, he disrobed in the kitchen and tucked himself away in the bed, telling his new wife that she could come when she got ready and take the back side, as he should take the front side of the bed himself.

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The Phoenix Manufacturing Company, which succeeded Mr. Snow in the ownership of this mill, sold the Snow saw mill to Joseph B. Latham, who removed hither from Johnstown, R. I., when he was twenty-one years of age. He married Percy Bul- lard, a daughter of Zuinglius Bullard. Mr. Latham was a promi- nent man in Eastford, and represented the town in the legisla- ture two or three times. He died April 21st, 1872, being seventy years of age. The mill is now owned by his son M. F. Latham, and it is occupied in grist grinding and sawing.

In the center of Eastford, there are also excellent water priv- ileges. The Crystal lake, in the north part of the town, about half its contents in Woodstock, the rest in Eastford, is not only a beautiful place for excursions from the surrounding country, a favorite resort for fishermen, but its waters have been raised by a dam at its outlet, so that it is an excellent reservoir for all the mills on the stream below it. Early in its history, Eastford vil- lage had clothing works, doing a good business. These were burnt in 1837, and soon after, within the same year, Captain Jonathan Skinner built the cotton factory still standing. It was 36 by 60 feet on the ground, two floors above the basement, and employed some twenty hands. Cassimeres and jeans were man- ufactured. After the death of Captain Skinner, this mill passed into the hands of M. and James Keith, and has been used as a cotton mill, in the manufacture of woolen yarn, making of wood- en wares and as a grist mill. It is now owned by James M. Keith and is used in the manufacture of woolen yarn and as a grist mill. Five or six hands are kept employed. Its business is said to be successful. A few rods north of this mill stood the Red Woolen mill. There Mr. Mumford, early in the history of the village, built and ran the mill, doing a good business in the manufacture of woolen cloths. Afterward it passed into the

hands of Mr. Ormsby, who continued the business for many years, when the Arnold Brothers came into possession, built a large addition, and engaged in the making of cart and wagon wheels, and other wooden manufacturing, and the carriage manufacturing business. They did an extensive business for many years, but since they gave up the business but little has been done with the mills. The firm of Skinner & Hewett built a substantial stone cotton mill a short distance above the Mum- ford mill, 35 by 80 feet, two stories above the basement, em- ploying some twenty operatives, and doing a good business. This mill was burnt in 1850 and has not been rebuilt.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

A large tannery has also been in operation in the village for more than half a century. Mr. Dodge did business here for sev- eral years, when the stand passed into the hands of Deacon Jo- seph Barrows. He enlarged the establishment, increased the amount of business, and for more than forty years has done a large business. A few years since he took his son, Clark Bar- rows, into the firm, a steam engine of twenty-five horse power was procured for use in the building, and the leather of the Bar- rows Company stood high in the market, and still commands the best of prices. A large boot and shoe manufactory, employing a large number of hands, either in the establishment or in shoe binding at their homes, did for many years a thriving business. Mr. Hiram Burnham was at the head of this establishment. Near the close of his life the manufactory was burned, contain- ing a large store of shoes and other goods, and the business was never resumed except in a small way, and at Mr. Burnham's death the business ceased.

For about half a century the carriage and blacksmith shop of William E. Cheney did a good business. In the last years of his life he added an undertaker's office, and kept an assortment of coffins, with a hearse, much for the convenience of the com- munity. At his death in 1884, the establishment ceased to do business.

Usually one or two stores and a post office have existed in Phoenixville, some three or four stores and a post office in East- ford Center, and a store and post office in the section still called North Ashford. Several blacksmith shops have usually done business, and one in the Center was used for several years as an axe and hatchet factory. Captain Jairus Chapman did quite a thriving business in this factory, a fine trip-hammer being run by water power. In the olden time there was an axe factory in the northwest part of Eastford, and that section of the town still bears the name of the Axe Factory. Captain Jairus Chapman had carried on the same business before he sold his shop and removed to Eastford Center. His business was located in the west part of the town, where he manufactured scythes, broad axes, axes and hatchets. This business proved quite profitable, and the goods manufactured had a high reputation in the mar- ket. This shop was sold to Hon. Edwin A. Buck, now of Willi- mantic, and Hon. John Dean, who used the water privilege in preparing plow beams, plow handles, etc. Large quantities of

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oak timber, growing extensively in the vicinity, thus brought good profit to the farmers of the neighborhood. This business closed when the timber was used up. Mr. L. M. Whitney is now running a bobbin factory in Eastford Center, making about 1,000 bobbins a day, which are sold to the manufactories in the region. A ten horse power steam engine is used in this fac- tory.

The town of Eastford was incorporated in May, 1847, being taken from Ashford ; population, 855: principal industry, agri- culture. It is reached by stage from North Windham on the New York & New England railroad, from Putnam on the same road, and the Norwich & Worcester division of the same, daily. A Masonic lodge was established early in the present cen- tury, meeting for many years in a room in the mansion of the late Benjamin Bosworth, Esq. It is now united with the lodge in Putnam, where the meetings are now held. A grange of some sixty members, called the Crystal Lake Grange, has been established here. Ashford and a part of Woodstock unite with Eastford in sustaining this organization. A temperance society exists and holds regular meetings in the place. Distinguished men have been born in Eastford. Judge Andrew Judson, mem- ber of congress and district judge of the U. S. court; Hon. Eli- sha Carpenter, judge of the supreme court of errors in Connecti- cut ; Hon. Jairus Carpenter, judge in Madison, Wis., lecturer on law and dean for the faculty in the State University of Wiscon- sin ; Hon. Alvan Preston, for many years a partner and man- ager of the glass works in Ellenville, N. Y., and many others. General Nathaniel Lyon, who fell in the battle at Springfield, Mo., is buried in Eastford, by the side of his parents. His bur- ial was attended with military honors, and was the largest as- sembly probably ever gathered in Windham county. Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, and Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, with other distinguished men in military and civil office, were present to honor the memory of one who probably saved the state of Missouri from joining the secessionists in the late rebellion. The mother of General Lyon was a niece of Colonel Knowlton, who took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill, and who is reputed to be the prominent figure in the picture of that battle. It was his plan in the novel breastwork-two rows of rail fence parallel to each other, with the packing of fresh mown hay between-which probably made that battle an essential vic-

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tory to the Americans. Lieutenant Daniel Knowlton, an elder brother of this Colonel Knowlton, was General Lyon's grand- father. The father of General Lyon was a mathematician, his mother had the energy of the Knowltons. An amusing anec- dote is related of her. When a girl, she attended an evening party with her affianced lover. When the hostler of the tavern brought the sleigh to the door, the young man who waited upon her had become too much intoxicated to lift his foot over the side of the sleigh, and she saw her mates giggling at the position she was in. Quick as thought, she sprang into the sleigh, seized his collar with both hands, drew him into the sleigh, set him down with a firm hand, took the reins from the hostler's hands, and drove rapidly homeward. He became more and more help- less, but she drove directly to his father's house, opened the door, pulled him into the entry, aroused the family, said the young man had a fit or something, jumped into the sleigh, drove to her father's house, and sent her brother back with the horse and sleigh. When he came back with promises to reform, she wisely considered the prospect too forbidding, and waited for a better offer.

Franklin Sibley is a successful physician in one of our West- ern states, and two of his brothers were in good practice, but died in early life. Andrew J. Bowen is a lawyer in good prac- tice in Willimantic, one of his brothers is a physician in the West, and Stephen Bowen, another brother, has been sheriff of the county, and is a large dealer in horses, bringing hither sev- eral car loads of western horses every year. Preston B. Sibley has filled the office of sheriff for several years, and is now quite a popular and successful keeper of the county jail in Brooklyn. Godfrey Works for several years was a manufacturer and a suc- cessful business man after his removal to Providence, R. I. Benjamin Bosworth was a large landholder, a merchant and a liberal contributor to objects of benevolence and charity. Ben- jamin Green, a successful manufacturer in the state of Maine, who paid half the price of the pipe organ in the Congregational church in Eastford, was also a native of the town.

The selectmen of the town are Munroe Latham, Charles War- ren and George Lyon; Doctor Elisha Robbins is judge of pro- bate, and Frank Bowen, collector.

Reverend Solomon Spaulding was born in Eastford, educated at Dartmouth College, preached in western New York, and

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when out of health, for diversion, wrote a legendary story of the Indians, which is supposed to have furnished the basis of the Book of Mormon. His brother Josiah, who was with him when he wrote the legendary tale, and heard him read his manuscript, said they were so similar, that when he read the Mormon Bible, he usually knew what was to come before he read the pages. Rigdon, an elder, afterward high in office, borrowed the manu- script of the widow under the alleged purpose of using it to re- fute Mormonism, but would never return it to the owner.

Captain Joseph B. Latham should be named among the prom- inent business men of wealth in Eastford, also his son Eugene, a master machinist, recently killed instantly in Windsor Locks by being caught in the machinery in a mill. A few years since the firm of Smith, Winchester & Co., commisioned him to go to Egypt to put up machines in that distant country. Master John Griggs was a famous school teacher." When 75 years of age, he was still pursuing his favorite vocation. He taught over fifty terms in his own and neighboring towns, and is said to have had altogether more than three thousand pupils under his care. He wrote excellent poetry, as did his son Lucian, born in East- ford, remarkable for his memory. It is said that when he at- tempted it, he could repeat a lengthy speech or sermon nearly word for word, or a poem after once carefully reading it. An amusing anecdote is told of him in his days of early manhood. A schoolmate of his received proposals from a young gentle- man, wishing to cultivate an acquaintance with matrimonial views. With a blushing hesitancy and apology, she said to Lucian, after stating the proposal, "You are well acquainted with him and I am not, what is it best for me to do? If he is an estimable man, I might like a further acquaintance." Lucian paused for a little, and then said, " He and I have always been good friends and I do not wish to say anything to his injury. . I will give you a couplet in poetry, and you can draw your own inference. Trust not in any man, trust not in any brother; so girls, if you must love, love one another." She understood his advice and followed it. Lucian Griggs bid fair to become an eminent lawyer, practiced for a few years in Indiana, where he died, greatly lamented by his friends and the community.

The Congregational church in Eastford was organized Sep- tember 23d, 1778; present at the organization, Reverends Stephen Williams, John Storrs and Elisha Hutchinson. The original

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members were: Andrew Judson, Benjamin Sumner and wife, Jonathan Chapman and wife, Samuel Snow, Elisha Wales, Simeon Dean and wife. In May it was voted to hire Mr. Andrew Judson of Stratford, with the view of a settlement as pastor. At the same time it was voted to build a meeting house. In June it was voted that the county court committee set the stake on Lieutenant John Russel's land. A subscription was started, the society agreeing "that those that subscribe towards building a meeting house have liberty to build it of equal bigness with Woodstock's West Society meeting house," i. e., 45 by 35 feet. The council met December 1st, 1778, to examine the candidate and arrange for his ordination and installation. December 2d Mr. Judson was set over the church as pastor. His salary was 70 pounds a year, and 500 pounds for settlement. Mr. Judson died in office, November 15th, 1804. During the last years of his life he was feeble in health, greatly depressed in spirits, and unable to preach, but his son John and others supplied his pul- pit. In addition to the nine original members, ninety-nine were added to the church. Mr. Judson's ministry continued twenty- six years. Reverend Hollis Samson, having ministered before in his connection with the Methodist denomination, affirmed that he was now, and really always had been of the doctrinal belief of the Congregational church, preached much to the ac- ceptance of the people, and in a church meeting called for the purpose, solemnly affirmed that he was in harmony with the church in faith and church polity, received a unanimous call to settle with them as their pastor. He was ordained by a council which met December 5th and 6th, 1809.

Mr. Samson remained pastor a little over six years, when he was reported as intemperate, and as having embraced the doc- trine of the Universalists. He was dismissed without recom- mendation, May 27th, 1816. But few united with the church under his ministry, and the church did not prosper. At one time only about twenty members, and only six of these males, were found on the records. Reverend Asahel Nettleton, the noted evangelist, labored with this church with great success. The reviving was almost like a resurrection from the dead. Large numbers were gathered into the church. Sixty-three united with the church from the time of Mr. Samson's dismis- sion to the installation of his successor, which took place May 31st, 1820, the new pastor being Reverend Reuben Torrey. His

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salary was to be four hundred and fifty dollars, and twenty cords of wood annually, to be delivered at his door. Mr. Torrey continued pastor twenty years. He was dismissed April 28th, 1840. One hundred and twenty-eight members united with the church under his pastorate.

Reverend Francis Williams was ordained and installed Sep- tember 22d, 1841. He remained ten years, and was dismissed November 12th, 1851. Seventy-two persons united with the church during his pastorate. Reverend Charles Chamberlain was installed April 14th, 1858. Fourteen had united with the church since the dismission of Mr. Williams. The following churches were invited to appear by pastor and delegate at the council: Ashford, Chaplin, Hampton, Willimantic, Windham, West Killingly, Abington, West Woodstock, North Woodstock, East Woodstock. This pastorate continued nine years and sixty-eight members were added to the church during this time. He was dismissed March 14th, 1867. Reverend Clinton M. Jones was installed May 8th, 1872. A very interesting centen- nial of this church was observed September 23d, 1878. A his- torical discourse by the pastor, reminiscences by Reverend F. Williams, Moses Torrey, Esq., son of a former pastor and others, and letters from those who could not be present, made this an occasion long to be remembered. This pastorate contin- ued sixteen years. Sixty-five persons united with the church during this ministry. Reverend C. M. Jones was dismissed June 22d, 1888. The church is at present without a pastor. Five hundred and forty-five have united with the church from its organization. Benjamin Sumner was chosen deacon Febru- ary 21st, 1779; Jonathan Chapman, February 28th, 1781; Noah Paine, January 1st, 1790; Samuel Sumner, August 15th, 1799; Elijah Deans, May 23d, 1817; Elisha Trowbridge, May 23d, 1817; Dyer Carpenter, August 31st, 1820; Allen Bosworth, July 1825; Earl C. Preston and Henry Work, September 21st, 1834 ; Harvey Lummis, December 31st, 1842; Joseph D. Barrows, April 26th, 1844; George S. Deans, March 20th, 1873. In all thirteen deacons have served this church, only three of which are now living-Deacons Preston, Barrows and Deans; and only two pas- tors-Reverend Francis Williams and C. M. Jones. The present membership of the church is eighty-three.

The present meeting house was erected in 1829. It was dedi- cated December 23d of the same year. Esquire Bosworth pur-

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chased the old meeting house, removed it from the common and made it into a dwelling house. The day for the removal was fixed, men were invited with their teams, and all was ready for the start, when a delegation came to Esquire Bosworth, say- ing the oxen would not draw unless the teamsters were treated. Esquire Bosworth had recently identified himself with the tem- perance cause, and the "rummies " hoped to bring him to terms, but they mistook their man. The words of his pastor at his funeral, " He was one of the firmest oaks that ever grew upon Mt. Zion," were well spoken. Instantly the reply came, "It will rot down where it is, first." Enough teams were unhitched to prevent the moving that day, but immediately an offer came from neighboring towns to furnish teams that would draw though the teamsters were not treated. Esquire Bosworth left a legacy of a thousand dollars, the interest to be applied to help support a settled orthodox minister, and for the support of no other.

A series of conference meetings held in North Ashford result- ed in the formation of a society and a vote to build a meeting house in 1793. It was voted that the house be forty feet long and thirty feet wide, with a porch to furnish a better way to go into the gallery. Timothy Allen gave two acres of land on which to build the church and parsonage. The church was or- ganized November 5th, 1794, recognized as in fellowship by a council. Original members were : Ephraim Hayward, Ebenezer Curtis, Jonathan Carpenter, Jesse Bugbee, Marcus Bugbee, Ezra Hayward, John Hayward and Abigail Hayward. The present membership is seventy-five.

A new meeting house was built in 1843. It was 48 feet long, with a projection of 5 feet for entrance, and 36 feet wide. El- der Bennet, then their minister, preached the dedication ser- mon. The pastors have been: Daniel Bolton, 1796; Ledoit Noah, 1811; Buckley Waters, 1814; Stephen Haskel, 1819; Leon- ard Gage, 1829 ; Alvan Bennet, Alfred Trum, 1842; Rensselaer Putney, 1844; George Mixter, 1846; Tubal Wakefield, 1852; Gil- man Stow, 1858; Erastus Andrews, 1865; C. B. Rockwell, 1873; Percival Mathewson, 1878; A. A. Robinson, 1885; Asa Rand- lett, 1887; sixteen pastors in all. The deacons have been : Eph- raim Howard, Joseph Burley, Benjamin Corbin, Jairus Chap- man, John Burley, Oliver M. Angel and Frederick Davidson.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 100

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506