History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 46

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

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" At Kennedy City, a short distance down the river, are situ. ated small mills owned by Henry Cutler and Mr. Tourtellotte. Cutler's mill is occupied by Mr. Sheldon, but beyond the flood- ing of the lower part of the building the loss is slight. The flume was destroyed, and also the trench to the grist mill, mak- ing a loss of $500 at least. Tourtellotte's mill was run by George

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Tripp. The flood came with such force that a new bulkhead was torn away, destroying the flume and saw mill. Mr. Tour- tellotte's loss cannot be less than $1,000. The mill caught fire from old waste belonging to Mr. Tripp. His loss is nearly $100.

" Moosup is in a bad shape on account of the freshet. The bridges are most all gone, and the roads in that section, many of them, are useless. The first bridge to go was the one about three miles above the village, then followed the David Hall bridge (abutments and all), the Morgan bridge at Almyville near the Blodgett House, the Kishwaukee bridge by Floyd Cranska's. The Carey bridge, it is thought, can be saved, though Sunday it was under water. A tenement house owned by Aldrich & Gray was carried off with the flood, giving the occupants barely time to get out, they losing all their furniture. Large numbers were at work on all the dams, but it seemed at one time as if all their efforts would be in vain. The ice started Friday night and came with such a force that it moved the cap stone at Aldrich & Milner's. The roadway of this firm was washed in two places. Floyd Cranska's race-way is damaged, and the dam at one time was in danger of going."

The four main bridges of the town were swept away. To re- place them the town hired $20,000 and built substantial iron bridges. The damage to corporate property of the town amounted to about $25,000.

Plainfield Junction for many years was nothing but a railroad crossing, but now carries on foundry works and steam saw mills, and is building up into a village.

Old Plainfield Village has perhaps the finest avenue of trees in Windham county, and many handsome residences. Plainfield, like many similar towns, suffers from a multiplicity of interests, its villages being practically independent organizations. The senior village, however, occupies a nominal head-ship, and has still been able to retain the administration of the probate court. Its charge was held for twenty-three years by Hon. David Gal- lup, who removed his residence to Plainfield at an early age, and became very active in town and public affairs.

James B. Kilborn Post, No. 77, Department of Connecticut, G. A. R., was organized March 4th, 1886. Its charter members were John Allen, George A. Rouse, Stephen Aldrich, Henry F. Walker, Willis D. Rouse, Horace S. Swan, Henry C. Torrey, George Torrey, Daniel Champlin, Nathaniel P. Thompson, Wil-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

liam H. Johnson, Henry F. Newton, Charles H. Rogers, Charles B. Wheatley, Joseph D. Lewis, George R. Bliven, James P. Pel- lett, Minor Spicer, John W. Fisk, William Dean, Elijah Green, James Whelan, Austin Fitzgerald, Jeremiah H. Pierce, Michael Fitzpatrick, Isaac Whitaker, William Gill, James McCaffrey, Robert Scholes, James F. Knight, Charles C. Card and John Ran- kin. Its meetings have always been held in Central Village. It has a nice hall in Barbour's building. Its first officers were: Post commander, George R. Bliven; S. V. C., Daniel Champlin; J. V. C., Charles B. Wheatley; Q. M., N. P. Thompson; surgeon, Charles H. Rogers; chaplain, Henry C. Torrey; officer of the day, Horace S. Swan; officer of the guard, John Rankin; adju- tant, Henry F. Walker. The post commander for the years 1887 and 1888 was Charles B. Wheatley.

On May 6th, 1887, the post was presented with a most elegant silk double flag, with stars and stripes on one side and post flag on the reverse, a present from Hon. Joseph Hutchins, Mr. Ed- win Milner, Mr. J. Arthur Atwood and Comrade Charles B. Wheatley. The flag is probably second to none owned by any post in the state. The post has now 82 members. The officers elected for the year 1889 are: Commander, George Torrey; S. V. C., James P. Pellett; J. V. C., William I. Hyde; surgeon, Charles H. Rogers; chaplain, Henry C. Torrey; Q. M., George R. Bliven; O. D., William Dean: O. G., Stephen Aldrich.

Moosup Lodge, No. 113, F. & A. M., was chartered June 4th, 1872. Its location, as its name implies, is in the village of Moosup, where it regularly meets. The first W. M. of the Lodge was George H. Lovegrove. The present incumbent of that office is Charles N. Allen. Other officers are: Charles Bragg, S. W .; Orrin W. Bates, J. W .; George R. Bliven, treasurer ; William H. Sargent, secretary ; Reverend John McVey, chaplain. The Lodge has always met at Moosup. It owns no property except its regalia.

Protection Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., was organized in Moosup in August, 1888, with 26 charter members. The first officers were: C. B. Wheatley, N. G .; Thomas Hurst, V. G .; F. T. John- son, secretary ; W. C. Bates, treasurer; John Westcott, perma- nent secretary. The Lodge at present numbers thirty-seven members. The present officers are: Thomas Hurst, N. G .; Henry N. Wood, Jr., V. G .; F. T. Johnson, secretary ; Charles A. Wood, treasurer.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Quinebaug Lodge, No. 22, A. O. U. W., of the town of Plain- field, was organized July 9th, 1883. Its charter members were : Charles B. Wheatley, Amos Kendall, George W. Shepard, Albert F. Shepardson, Oscar F. Farland, William L. Green, George P. Dorrance, Thomas E. Main, George E. Tillinghast, George R. Fowler, Henry R. Brown, Charles W. Lillibridge, Sessions L. Adams, Edward H. Lillibridge, and James P. Pellett. The first officers were: Amos Kendall, P. M. W .; Charles B. Wheatley, M. W .; George R. Fowler, foreman; C. W. Lillibridge, overseer; George E. Tillinghast, recorder ; George P. Dorrance, financier ; S. L. Adams, receiver ; O. W. Farland, guide; A. F. Shepardson, I. W .; W. L. Green, O. W. The successive master workmen from that time to the present have been : Charles B. Wheatley, 1884; George E. Tillinghast, 1885; A. H. Gulliver, 1886; James P. Pellett, 1887; Charles B. Wheatley, 1888; Thomas Hurst, 1889. The present officers are: George R. Bliven, foreman ; Joseph Dawson, overseer ; Henry R. Brown, recorder ; Frank B. Wilson, financier ; S. L. Adams, receiver ; Henry N. Wood, Jr., guide ; George Shepard, I. W .; George R. Fowler, O. W. The Lodge now has forty-seven members.

Two hundred and fifty-two men enlisted from Plainfield in Connecticut regiments, during the late war for the suppression of the rebellion.

Among the esteemed men of a former generation may well be mentioned the following: Deacon Caleb Bennett, who was elected deacon of the Baptist church in 1817, and held that office here 40 years, and on removing to New Britain he was again chosen to fill the same station, in which he remained till he died, November 13th, 1882, aged about 81 years. Andrew Young came from Rhode Island about 70 years ago, and was superintendent of the Union Mill 13 years. He reared two children, one of them, Sophia, is the wife of Mr. Charles A. Tillinghast, of Moosup; the other, now deceased, was the wife of Mr. Jason Potter, now of Sterling. Jonathan Goff was justice of the peace for a con- siderable time ; he once represented the town in the legislature, and was clerk of the Baptist church fifty years. John Dunlap was judge of probate, justice of the peace and postmaster. Sam- uel D. Millett was one of the highly esteemed citizens of the town ; was representative, justice of the peace, and filled many other offices of trust. In the Methodist church he was very use- ful, filling the important offices of trustee and steward many

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

years, and always ready to help in every good work. He died De- cember 2d, 1884. Stephen Hall, Esq., commenced a private school for classical studies and the higher branches of English, in 1847, which he continued for about fifteen years. Among the hundreds of scholars trained by him, now scattered from Maine to California, may be mentioned Hon. Daniel Spalding, of the interior department ; Alfred Fairbanks, a millionaire of Califor- nia ; Mr. Tillinghast, a prominent lawyer of Providence; and Reverend Jeremiah Aldrich, now of the state of Massachusetts.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DAVID L. ALDRICH .- Noah Aldrich, a revolutionary soldier and a resident of Scituate, Rhode Island, married Huldah Whittaker, who died in her one hundredth year. They raised a large family of sons and daughters, among whom was David, born in 1770, in Scituate, where his life was spent as a farmer. A public-spirited and influential citizen, he was for many years a member of the town council, director of the Citizens' Union Bank, since extinct, and a liberal contributor to the Smithville Seminary, now the Lapham Institute, of Scituate. He married Hope Law, of Kil- lingly, Conn., whose children were: George, William, John and David L. The death of Mr. Aldrich occurred in 1853.

His son, David L., was born April 27th, 1822, in Scituate, and was educated at the Smithville Seminary, from which he gradu- ated in 1845. Removing to Providence, he entered upon a mer- cantile career as a member of the firm of Aldrich & Bean, con- tinuing this business relation until 1851, the date of his removal to Hopkinton, Rhode Island, where in company with Barber Reynolds, he leased the Godfrey Arnold cotton mill and two years later purchased the property. At the expiration of the seventh year of this partnership the firm was dissolved, Mr. Al- drich continuing the business. In 1863 he erected a woolen mill at Plainville (now Richmond Switch), R. I., which was in 1880 sold to William A. Walton, its present owner. Mr. Aldrich, in company with Edwin Milner, then purchased the Moosup Mill, at Moosup, Conn., which they devote to the manufacture of fancy cassimeres. In 1865 he became the owner of the mills at Arcadia, in which print cloths are manufactured.

Mr. Aldrich was one of the projectors of the Richmond Bank, afterward merged in the First National Bank of Hopkinton, of which he is a director. He was also prominently identified with

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

the construction of the Wood River Branch railroad, of which he is president. A republican and a strong protectionist in his political sentiments, he was a delegate to the national republican convention held in Chicago in 1880, but has not aspired to higher political honors.

Mr. Aldrich has been twice married. He was united May 12th, 1846, to Susan W., daughter of Hon. Joseph Sheldon, of Crans- ton, R. I. Their children were: Joseph S., who died in 1874, at the age of twenty-four; Laura, who died in 1856, at the age of five; and David L., Jr., whose death occurred in 1883, in his twenty-fourth year. Mrs. Aldrich died in 1870, and he was again married June 5th, 1872, to Mary M. Gray, widow of Ephraim Carpenter, of Providence. Mrs. Aldrich died in 1886, leaving two children, a son, William S., and a daughter, Mary A., aged respectively, fifteen and thirteen.

JAMES S. ATWOOD was born in Scituate, R. I., March 17th, 1832. He was the son of John and Julia A. Batty Atwood, and grandson of Kimball and Selinda Colgrove Atwood. He was educated at the Smithville Seminary in Scituate, and at the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut. At an early age he entered his father's cotton mill in Williamsville, in the town of Killingly, Conn., and there mastered every detail of cotton manufacture, from bobbin boy to general manager. He was perfectly famil- iar with the construction and working of every machine in a mill.

September 17th, 1855, he married Julia A. M. Haskell, of Cum- berland, R. I. He had three children: William Hamilton, born November 8th, 1859; James Arthur and John Walter, born May 18th, 1865. William H. died January 18th, 1862, and the twins, who survive him, have taken his place as managers of the mills in Wauregan, where most of his active business life was passed and where he lived. He died there February 20th, 1885, in his 54th year.

When the first building for manufacturing purposes was erected in this place in 1853, he was appointed superintendent, and was soon advanced to the position of agent. Every machine in these mills, whose capacity has more than quadrupled since his connection with them, was put in its place according to his plan and under his direct supervision. The financial success of this great industry and the enviable reputation of the place are largely due to his wise oversight. He took a laudable pride in

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the larger concern known as the Ponemah Mills, in Taftville, in the town of Norwich, which were built after his plan and under his eye. The phenomenal success of these mills on a class of fine goods, which were an experiment in this country, was largely owing to his good judgment, careful oversight and abil- ity to adapt means to the desired ends. Of these mills he was agent from their beginning till his death. He was not one to risk the money of the corporations he managed in any foolish experiments. During one of the changes that are liable to occur in business enterprises in this country it became necessary to assume control of the mills in Williamsville, in which he and his brother William were largely interested, and his financial credit and wise judgment carried them through difficulties that might have proved disastrous in less careful hands.

Few men have the ability wisely to direct so many large and separate interests. Everything in the beautiful manufacturing village of Wauregan, in which most of his active business life was passed, bears the impress of his moulding hand. While acknowledged to be the peer of practical manufacturers, and possessed of ample means, he was a man of simple tastes, with- out the shadow of a desire for display, always hiding his ability under a modesty which was as rare as it was commend- able. While he despised shams and hollow pretense, he was kindly in judgment, tolerant of the imperfections of others, ready to overlook mistakes, and saw in every man a friend and brother: He bore upon his countenance the stamp of true worth, and no one feared to trust him implicitly. The poor- est and humblest could always approach him with the assur- ance that he would listen to them with the same respect as though possessing great wealth or occupying high positions. His heart throbbed in sympathy with the sorrowing and suffer- ing, and his hand was ever open in relief. Irreproachable in character, gentlemanly in bearing toward every individual, it was no wonder that every one with whom he came in contact said: "He is my friend."

He represented the town in the legislature in 1868, and was an elector in the presidential campaign of 1884. Even when not a professed disciple of Christ, he took the deepest interest in all that pertained to the moral and religious welfare of the community, and was foremost in sustaining the institutions of the gospel at home and abroad. He was instrumental in secur-

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OKAtwood

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William J. Babcock

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

ing the erection of the church in Wauregan, which is a gem of architectural beauty, a fitting memorial of one who sought not his own but others' welfare and happiness. In his ripe man- hood, with the simplicity and faith of a little child, he laid all his varied endowments, his honors, his possessions, at the feet of the Savior of mankind, and putting his hand into that of his Divine Leader, said: "I will follow thee wherever thou goest;" and in his master's work he found his joy. In Janu- ary, 1878, he came into the church by an open confession of his faith, and from that time to the end he gave to its spirit- ual interests his thoughtful sympathy and unstinted help. Such a life, so pure, so genial, so intensely loyal to truth and duty, is a benediction everywhere, and the world is the poorer when it departs.

WILLIAM STUART BABCOCK .- Three brothers of the Babcock family came from England in colonial days-probably James, Jesse and Nathaniel-and settled in Newport, Rhode Island. Nathaniel afterward located in Stonington, Connecticut, and be- came the progenitor of the branch of the family represented by the subject of this biography. His descendant, Nathaniel, the grandfather of William Stuart Babcock, had two sons, Jonas and Stephen, and one daughter, Mary. Jonas served under Washington in the war of the revolution, and lost his life in the battle of White Plains in 1776. Stephen, born June 15th, 1765, was thrice married. The first wife, Mercy Hinckley, left four children-Eunice, Stephen, Samuel and Henry. Elizabeth Stuart, his second wife, left one daughter, Elizabeth. By a third union, with Mercy Davis, were born children : Charles D., Nathaniel S., Mercy A., John D., Jonas L. and William S.

The youngest of this number, and the eleventh child, Wil- liam Stuart, was born March 20th, 1822, in North Stonington, Connecticut. The district and select schools of the neighbor- hood afforded him an elementary education, after which the summers were spent in work on the farm and the winters in · teaching. He had been accustomed from boyhood to labor and naturally preferred the healthful employments of a farmer to a more sedentary life. In 1865, having previously purchased a productive farm in Plainfield, he removed from Stonington to that town, where he has since been numbered among its most industrious and enterprising citizens.

Mr. Babcock possesses an inventive genius. He has secured five

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

patents for improvements on wagons, plows and farm imple ments, that, owing to the reluctance with which new machines are adopted, have not proved remunerative. He was for some years treasurer and a director of the Robinson & Fowler Foun- dry Company, and is now president of the Plainfield Cemetery Association. He has given some attention to matters of a pub- lic nature, and served as selectman, member of the board of re- lief, justice of the peace, and representative in the Connecticut legislature. His services are also much in demand as trustee, arbitrator, and in similar offices of trust. In religion he is lib- eral in his views, as in contradistinction to orthodoxy. He early joined the state militia, was at the age of nineteen made a lieutenant, and later promoted to the rank of captain.

Mr. Babcock on the 4th of October, 1859, married Miss Frances E. (born June 15th, 1840), daughter of Richard H. Main, of North Stonington, Connecticut. They have three sons and three daughters, as follows: William P., born February 5th, 1862; Nella F., July 28th, 1865; Anna E., January 16th, 1867; Stephen R., February 6th, 1870; Callia M., November 16th, 1871; and Telley E., October 22d, 1876.

Mr. Babcock has always sought for light, his object being to find a reason, a fact on which to build. He has the manhood and courage to investigate and to express his honest convictions, following the light of his own investigations and the impulse of his heart, and not building his character on the opinions of others.

FLOYD CRANSKA .- James Cranska, the father of Floyd Cranska, a native of Portland, in the state of Maine, removed to Provi- dence when a boy, and at a later date made Thompson, in Wind- ham county, his home. Here he embarked in the shoe busi- ness, continuing in the same for nearly thirty years, and was for twenty years station agent at Grosvenor Dale, as also postmaster of the village. He married Asenath, daughter of Calvin Ran- dall, manager and proprietor of mills in the eastern part of Thompson, Windham county. Their children were five sons. and three daughters, of whom Floyd Cranska was born Septem- ber 16th, 1849, in Thompson, his home until the age of nineteen. He was educated at the public schools, and during the summer assisted in farm work. On removing to Grosvenor Dale he be- came assistant station agent and postmaster of the village. Soon after, he was offered and accepted a position with the Grosvenor

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Floyd Granska_

Albert & Greene

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT,

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Dale Manufacturing Company, as head clerk and paymaster in their mills. After a faithful service of ten years he severed his connection with this company, and in January, 1880, on pur- chasing the cotton mill at Moosup, formerly known as the Glad- ding mill, began the manufacture of cotton yarns for the weav- ing trade. Mr. Cranska made many improvements in this mill, and introduced machinery for the manufacture of a high grade of fine thread yarns. The superior quality of the productions of the mill created a steady demand for its goods, which were of a higher class than ever before made, and warranted the build- ing of a stone addition in 1886, thus doubling its capacity. The market for its products is found chiefly in New England.

Mr. Cranska is a republican in his political faith, and while interested in local issues and public measures, cannot be diverted from his absorbing business interests to enter the arena of pol- itics. He was, when a resident of Thompson, a director of the Thompson Savings Bank. He is a supporter of the Baptist church of Moosup, and treasurer and clerk of the society. Mr. Cranska was on the 3d of October, 1877, married to Evelyn C., daughter of Lucius Briggs, then agent of the Grosvenor Dale Manufacturing Company. Their children are: Annie Louise, Lucius Briggs, Harriet Atwood and Evelyn Clara. A daughter, Caroline Matilda, is deceased.

ALBERT C. GREENE .- Abel Greene, the grandfather of Albert C. Greene, resided in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. Jeremiah Greene, a son of the former, also a resident for years of West Greenwich, where he engaged in the milling business, and was also a skillful carpenter, married Freelove Hopkins, of the same town. Their children were five sons and seven daughters, the youngest with one exception being Albert C. Greene, who was born in West Greenwich, February 21st, 1823, and in infancy removed with his parents to Plainfield. His education was such as the common schools afforded, and very limited. His father's death during his son's infancy threw the lad largely upon his own resources, and at the age of eight years he entered a factory where the long day of service extended from daylight until dark. Subsequently working on a farm and attending the win- ter term of the public school, at the age of twenty-three he en- tered a sash and blind factory and spent five years at that trade.

Mr. Greene next engaged in hewing ship timber and finally

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established himself as a house carpenter, which occupation he followed for many years. Preferring an agricultural life, he in 1868 purchased the farm on which he resides in Plainfield, and cultivated the land until 1884, when he was succeeded by his son. He has since practically abandoned active business, though occasionally resuming his trade for a brief period.

He was in 1849 married to Miss Louisa, daughter of Rufus and Eunice Brown, of Charlton, Massachusetts, who died in 1860. Their children are : Turner E., Daniel F., and Rosa L., wife of Frederick Douglas. Turner E. is married to Carrie Richmond, and the wife of Daniel F. was Mary Phillips. Mr. Greene as a dem- ocrat represented his constituents in the state legislature in 1876 and has filled such local offices as constable, collector, etc. He is a member of Moosup Lodge, No. 113, of Free and Accepted Masons.

JOSEPH HUTCHINS .- Nicholas Hutchins emigrated from Eng- land about the year 1670, in the reign of Charles the Second, and settled in Groton, Massachusetts. His two children were John and Joseph, the former of whom-was born in Groton in the year 1678, and married a Miss Whitney. Their five chil- dren were: Joshua, John, Benjamin, Sarah and Abigail. Hav- ing lost his wife he removed to Plainfield, Connecticut, and married a Mrs. Pierce (formerly a Miss Weyman), whose chil- dren by this union were: Joseph, Weyman, Ezra, Silas, Anna, Keziah, Ruth and Mary. Joseph Hutchins was born in 1711, and married Sarah Levins, whose children were: Sarah, Rachel, Mahitable, John, Amasa, Judith, Sophia and Eunice. Amasa Hutchins was born in 1748, and in 1788 married Hannah Lef- fingwell, whose five children were: Joseph, Jeremiah, Samuel, Eunice and Marvin W. Joseph, of this number, whose birth occurred February 23d, 1789, in Killingly, removed to Plainfield and was married in 1817 to Nancy Bacon. Their children were : Mary, Joseph, Horace, Hannah and Nancy.

The eldest son, Joseph Hutchins, the subject of this biogra- phy, was born March 4th, 1820, in the town of Plainfield, with which he has during his whole life been identified both as a public man and a private citizen. The public schools and the Plainfield Academy afforded the opportunity for acquiring a thorough knowledge of the elementary branches of study, after which for four years the summers were devoted to the work of the farm, and the winters to teaching. He was on the

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 46

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