USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut > Part 60
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The lack of a suitable place for holding town meetings was an annoyance and mortification to the leading men of the town, publishing to the world their lamentable destitution of that most essential accommodation-a public meeting house. Congre- gationalists in the south part of the town were included in the North society of Voluntown, and now engaged in building a new meeting house upon the boundary line between the town-
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ships; those in the North or Bethesda society united with the South church of Killingly. The Baptists in the west part of the town were connected with the church in Plainfield; the east side Baptists joined in worship and church fellowship with their Rhode Island neighbors. As no religious society was ready to lead, its public-spirited citizens hastened to supply the defic- iency by erecting a house of worship upon their own expense and responsibility. Sterling hill, as it is now called, was vir- tually the head and heart of the town, the center of business, the residence of the most influential citizens, and the members of the Sterling Hill Meeting House Association could not think of erecting the projected edifice in any other locality.
The subscribers to the building of the Sterling hill meeting house were as follows: Francis Smith, Levi Kinney, David Gal- lup, Joshua Frink, Isaac Gallup, William Gallup, George Madi- son, Charles Winsor, Nathan Burlingame, Philip Potter, Archi- bald, Lemuel, James and John Dorrance, Stephen Olney, Pierce Smith, Robert and Thomas Dixon, Joshua Webb, Benjamin Tuckerman, Reuben Thayer, David Field, Caleb Cushing, An- drew Knox, Titus Bailey, Joseph Wylie, Reuben Parke, Moses Gibson, Azael Montgomery, Dixon Hall, Archibald Gordon, Thomas Gordon, William Vaughan, Captain Gaston, Andrew and Samuel Douglas, Thomas and Samuel Cole, John Kenyon, Sr. and Jr., George Hopkins, Asa Whitford, Benjamin Bennet.
The subscribers, through a committee, obtained a deed from the heirs of Samuel Dorrance for a building lot on the east side of the Great Lane, now called the Green, "for the purpose of setting a meeting house and that only, and the convenience of a green." The meeting house was soon completed and in the autumn of 1797 the town meeting occupied it instead of the house of Robert Dixon, which had previously been used for that pur- pose. Other public meetings were held in it, and occasional reli- gious services, but no regular worship was maintained for several years. In this way matters stood till about the year 1812, when the Baptists, having grown stronger, were able to maintain stated worship, and its occupancy was given up to them.
About 1818 a post office was established here, with Benjamin Tuckerman postmaster, which position he held for many years. The public library, which had been promised for the honor of naming the town but failed in its fulfilment, had been estab- lished years before, and was maintained at that time. Pierce
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Smith succeeded Asa Montgomery as town clerk. John Wylie, Thomas Backus, Dyer Ames, Richard Burlingame, Dixon Hall, Jeremiah Young, John Gallup and Calvin Hibbard served as justices. Other town offices were filled by Lemuel Dorrance, Obadiah Brown, Asa Whitford, Jonah Young, Archibald Dor- rance, John Hill, John and Azel Cole, Elias Frink, Amos Per- kins, Joseph Gallup, John Keigwin and Artemas Baker. Half of the town meetings were held in the house of Azel Cole, and at a later date at the house of William Fairman, "on the new road near the American Cotton Factory."
From its location and surroundings the territory of Sterling is not subject to such violent disturbances by flood of swelling streams as some of its neighbor towns. Being smaller in terri- tory, and its shape rather favorable thereto, it has been spared the burdens of road making and bridge building, which have been to some towns a serious drawback in their early experience.
After organization as a town, one of their first duties was to examine the circumstances of that stage road "that leads from Plainfield to Providence by Captain Robert Dixon's." The Turn- pike Society, then recently constituted, was about to lay out a large sum of money in alterations and improvements, and the selectmen of Sterling were cited to do their part. "Taking into consideration the circumstances and liabilities of the town, and the consequences that might follow any failure or neglect," they proceeded to notify the inhabitants and make the proposed alter- ations, viz., from Archibald Dorrance's fence through Kenyon's field and so on to old post road; also, another piece near the burying-ground and Captain Colgrove's. A bridge was built over Moosup river near Smith's Mill-Lemuel Dorrance, John Gaston and John Douglas, committee. A turnpike gate was erected near the western line of the town. To facilitate its fish- ing interest, it was ordered that obstructions should be removed from the river. .
School matters, like most all other public enterprises, suffered delay in the early years of this town, while it was part of Volun- town. In December, 1732, it was voted "That there shall be a surkelating school kep and a school-master hired at ye town's charge." In March, 1735, it was further ordered, "That the school be kept in four places, three months in a place, six months in ye north end and six months in ye south end, dividing ye town by a line from Alexander Gordon's to Ebenezer Dow's
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house-and that the master, John Dunlap, should have thirty pounds money, and sufficient meat, drink, washing and lodging, for keeping school eleven months and eighteen days, and in ye night, when convenient." The first school house in the town was built in 1737, " four rods from ye northwest corner of ye meeting house," and a rate of twopence allowed for the same.
In 1762, John Gordon was chosen grand school committee, "to take into his hands the school bonds belonging to the town, and to collect the interest on bonds, and to receive the proportion of money granted by Government to the town out of the Colony's rate, and to dispose of the same, and all other money coming from Plainfield, &c., and town's proportion of the sale of Nor- folk." In 1766, David Eames, John Cole, Joseph Parke, Thomas Douglas, John Gaston, John Gordon and John Wylie were appointed to set out school districts throughout the town. Thir- teen districts were specified, each of which thenceforward man- aged its own school under the supervision of a "grand-school- committee-man," appointed by the town.
June 9th, 1794, John Douglas, Jr., was chosen grand school committee man, and a committee of one for each of the seven school districts, viz: 1. Jencks Mason; 2. Noah Cole; 3. Elisha Perkins; 4. Lemuel Dorrance; 5. Asa Whitford; 6. Nathan Dow; 7. Nathan Burlingame.
After the organization of the town of Sterling improvements in schools were gradually effected. Ten school districts, accom- modated with good, convenient schools, were reported in a few years. Efforts were made to establish an academy, a company formed, and a suitable building erected, “ standing near our new meeting-house, nearly in the centre of the town," where a "man- school was maintained throughout the year, teaching reading, writing, mathematics and grammar." With these public build- ings, Robert Dixon's well-known tavern stand, and several large, substantial houses built by the Dorrances and other thrifty resi- dents, Sterling hill presented a fine appearance, and received especial commendation from Doctor Dwight. After noting the lean soil and imperfect civilization of Western Rhode Island, he proceeds :
" At Sterling we were pleasantly advised that we had come to Connecticut by sight of a village with decent church and school-house and better houses. A beautiful prospect from Sterling Hill."
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
Reverend Mr. Dorrance remained pastor of the town ecclesi- astic of Voluntown until March 5th, 1771, when, on account of his great age and infirmity, he was relieved. About 1772 an ec- clesiastical society was chartered in the south part of Voluntown, and the same year, as we have already seen, a society was also chartered in the north part. The mother church, thus crippled, was unable to settle a pastor, and could with difficulty maintain regular worship. June 30th, 1779, the ancient First Church of Voluntown was reorganized as a Congregational church accord- ing to Cambridge Platform, its membership including ten males and sixteen females. The pastoral services of Reverend Mr. Gilmore were then secured, and religious worship was regularly maintained. Near the close of the century, and after the organ- ization of Sterling, the remnant of this ancient church built a house of worship on the line between the towns, so that while the speaker stands upon the platform, one foot may be in Ster- ling and the other foot in Voluntown. In the last year of the century Reverend Micaiah Porter, who had been pastor of this church for nineteen years, removed and left the people without a shepherd. The weakened congregation now turned to the Baptists, who were strong in the neighborhood, and Elder Amos Crandall, an open communion Baptist, occupied the Line meet- ing house on alternate Sabbaths for several years, preaching to a small congregation. Still the church was not entirely dis- banded. Reverend Elijah Welles, after his dismission from Scotland, labored with it for a year, but without marked success. Worship was kept up in an intermittent fashion for several years by a few brethren. In 1817 an appeal for aid was presented to the Domestic Missionary Society for Connecticut, and this was favorably answered for a time. After nearly thirty years of un- certain existence, this church secured the services of a stated pastor, and Reverend Otis Lane was installed over it October 29th, 1828. Infirm health compelled his removal after a few years, but he was quickly succeeded by Reverend Jacob Allen, installed in October, 1837, who with a brief intermission re- mained in charge for nearly twenty years. A new meeting house on this site was erected in 1858. At the dedication of this the new pastor, Reverend Charles L. Ayer, was ordained. This dedication of house and ordination of pastor took place January 6th, 1859. A new parsonage was obtained, largely through his efforts. He was dismissed October 27th, 1863. Reverend Wil-
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liam M. Birchard was installed May 4th, 1864, and dismissed March 25th, 1868. Reverend Joseph Ayer, father of Charles L., came here in November, 1868, and after acting some time as stated supply, was installed May 11th, 1870. He was dismissed May 19th, 1875, on his 82d birthday. Reverend Stephen B. Car- ter served the church as pastor from January 1st, 1876, to De- cember 31st, 1880. John Elderkin, the present pastor, began his labors here in April, 1881. The present house of worship on Ekonk hill was dedicated January 6th, 1859. The house before it occupied the same site, built in 1795 to 1800. A burying ground still marks the spot where the first house of worship stood, about two miles northeast from the present one, on the west side of the road leading from Voluntown to Sterling hill and Oneco. In January, 1889, the church had 33 members.
The meeting house on Sterling hill, which had been erected for general religious and town meetings, by the " Meeting House Association," was used by different societies until about the year 1812. At that time the Baptists were rising in importance and increasing in numbers, and the regular stated occupancy of this meeting house was accorded to them. This new religious inter- est had been developed under the preaching and labors of Elder Amos Welles, previously of Woodstock. Baptists in Coventry and Sterling united in a new church organization February 13th, 1813, and its pastoral charge was assumed by Elder Welles. Pub- lic worship was held alternately at Coventry and Sterling hill. Asa Montgomery was chosen deacon in 1816, and Philip Keig- win assistant. Nearly fifty were added to the church during the ministry of Elder Welles, which continued till his death in 1819. The Plainfield Baptist church and a neighboring church in Rhode Island united with this church in forming the Sterling Hill Association, which held a general meeting once a year, ex- citing a large attendance and much interest.
After this, the church enjoyed for five years the ministry of Reverend George Appleton. In April, 1829, Peleg Peckham be- came its pastor, continuing in charge for many years. Great re- vivals soon following brought in more than fifty to the member- ship of the church. The connection with Coventry was dis- solved, and the church assumed the title of the First Baptist church of Sterling. John Gallup succeeded Thomas Douglas as clerk. Ira Crandall was chosen deacon upon the death of Dea- con Asa Montgomery. Philip Keigwin was also a deacon. Dur-
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ing the year 1829 a branch was established in Voluntown, which became independent of this church in about ten years. The meeting house was thoroughly reconstructed in 1860-61, the former proprietors relinquishing their claims to a new " Asso- ciation " and the Baptist church which had so long occupied it.
Elder Peleg M. Peckham took charge, as we have said, in 1829, and continued until September, 1850. After that no stated preaching was had for some time. Services were conducted by temporary supplies. The old house stood where the present one does. Some of the timber of the old was worked over into the new. Elder Peckham died May 29th, 1872, at his home in Sterling hill, now occupied by his grandson, Samuel P. Green. While the old church was in a dilapidated condition, Elder Bid- dle preached to the congregation in the school house for a year, about 1857. After that, Elder Peckham, who had given up the ministry on account of throat troubles, resumed the work for another year-1858. Elder Terry came in 1861, and served the church till 1865. Elder Thomas Dowling came in January, 1866, remaining three years. Fenner B. Dickerson ministered to this people from 1870, about four years. Elder W. D. Phillips was ordained here June 24th, 1874, but only staid about three months. Temporary supplies followed. L. Smith Brown was ordained May 16th, 1877, and remained till 1881. C. W. Potter began pastoral labors June 1st, 1882, and continued till April 1st, 1885. Elder E. S. Hill began his work here August 1st, 1885, and still remains in charge. The church at present num- bers 97 members.
At Oneco Methodist services have for some time been con- ducted, in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church of Moosup. At the present time (1889) a house of worship is being erected here by that denomination.
At North Sterling, in the northeast part of the town, a Union Free Will Baptist church has been started. This settlement is on the Rhode Island line, and the meeting house stands beyond the line in that state. A number of the inhabitants in this town are connected with it.
The uprising of the manufacturing interest gave Sterling a fresh impetus in growth and prosperity, Asa Ames, Isaac Pit- man and Samuel Dorrance and Dixon Hall, of Sterling, in 1808, as the Sterling Manufacturing Company, buying land "at a ledge of rocks, called the 'Devil's Den Chimney;' thence west
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by and down a small brook to Moosup River." The Sterling Manufactory was ready for work in 1809. Sterling's manufac- turing facilities were well improved during the early part of the present century. Its first factory, built by Dorrance, Hall and others, was destroyed by fire soon after its completion, but its site was soon occupied by a larger building under the more exclusive management of Samuel Ames of Providence, which was described in 1818 as "one of the largest manufacturing establishments in the State, running sixteen hundred spindles." The buildings for the accommodation of the workmen were built of stone, taken from the ledge of rocks included in the company's purchase. This "Devil's Den Chimney," as it was previously called, possessed, according to Niles' Gazetteer, " very singular and curious features," viz:
" It is situated within a ledge of rocks, and has a circular area of about 100 feet in diameter. The rock is cleft in two places, forming at each a chasm or fissure of about 50 feet deep, through one of which there runs a small stream of water; the other com- municates with a room of about twelve feet square, at the inter- ior part of which there is a fireplace and a chimney extending through the rock above, forming an aperture of about three feet square. In another part of the rock there is a natural stair- case winding around it from the bottom to the top. In the cold season of the year a large mass of ice is formed in the room above described by the dashing of water through the chimney, which continues there through nearly the whole of the warm months, the sun being almost excluded from this subterraneous recess."
The American Factory upon the Quanduck, and a small cot- ton factory upon the Moosup were also carried on. Three grain mills, one carding machine, one fulling mill and clothiery works, two tanneries, four mercantile stores and two taverns were reported in 1818.
For many years the cotton factories continued in operation, furnishing employment to male and female operatives, and a ready market for farmers. The Sterling Company manifested much enterprise, and was one of the first in the country to whiten their cloth by the use of chlorine instead of sun bath. Mr. William Pike effected this invention, and also experimented in wood distillation, extracting for the use of the dyer the first pyroligneous acid made in the country. His success encouraged
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.
him to further enterprise. Brandy and gin distilleries had fallen into disrepute, but the transformation of wood into various chemical agencies met with nothing but favor. Three of these "sap works " were in time established-two in Sterling, one in Voluntown-requiring some five or six thousand cords of wood annually, and at least a score of men to prepare the wood and aid in the working. Pyroligneous and citric acids, sugar of lead, tincture of iron, naphtha and fine charcoal were among the products of distillation. Mr. Pike had his residence on Sterling hill, in one of the fine old Dorrance houses, and was much re- spected as one of the leading men of the town. He was the first to introduce one horse wagons into use, paying for them in cotton yarn. Charcoal making was carried on quite exten- sively in Sterling.
Jeremiah W. Boswell was born in Foster, R. I., and came to Sterling, Conn., in 1876. He learned the trade of stone cutter and commenced quarrying granite about one-fourth of a mile east of Sterling Dye Works in 1887. He employs about twenty- five men. The stone is of superior quality for building pur- poses, and finds a ready market in Providence, Norwich and other places.
The village of Oneco, in the central part of the town, was founded by Henry Sabin, of Plainfield, who built a small cotton factory here about the year 1830. Successive owners gave it their names till it was finally re-christened by the Norwich pro- prietors, who now utilize its granite, working its fine quarries to good advantage. Indications of yet more valuable ore have been found in the vicinity. Among these are specimens of plumbago and dendrite, and such large and glittering quartz crystals, that their chief depository is known as "the Diamond Ledge." The famous "Devil's Den Chimney " was blown up to make way for the railroad when that was building.
About 1860 Smith & Williams commenced quarrying granite at what is now known as Garvey Brothers' quarry. They were succeeded by A. & W. Sprague, and in 1884 by Garvey Brothers, of Providence, who employ at the quarry and in connection with it about 120 men. The granite quarried here is used for paving, building and monumental purposes in Providence, New York, Chicago and many other places, and is also sent to England. Their facilities for handling stone are not surpassed, a railroad run- ning direct to the ledge. Mr. John Garvey, who, since the death
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of his brother Michael, in 1887, has been sole manager, came to this country in 1869 with about five dollars in his pocket. He learned the trade of stone cutter, became a contractor and builder, and, by his industry, has built up a large and increasing busi- ness.
Oscar F. Gibson, son of Allen Gibson, was born in Sterling in 1835. In 1886 he commenced quarrying granite about one mile west of Oneco village. He employs about 20 men. The stone are chiefly used for building, and find a ready market. Mr. Gibson represented Sterling in the legislature of 1880. He married Ellen, daughter of Arnold Dixon, and has two sons, Allen M. and Merrill A.
The cotton manufacturing interests of the town have declined. Factories burned down have not been replaced. Its natural re- sources now furnish its chief reliance. The "sap works" of Mr. James Pike continue to resolve the forests into their component elements, consuming annually some two or three thousand cords of hard wood, employing a number of workmen, and extracting and combining a variety of useful products. A specialty of this unique establishment is the dissolution of refuse tin and iron, battered tin pans, rusty stove pipes and the like, by which these heretofore indestructible nuisances are made subservient to the will and use of man. Stimulated by the enterprises, Oneco bids fair to become a place of business importance, has a new public hall and public-spirited residents.
A Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was recently organized here by Mr. Bowen, the state lecturer of that order. It had thirty-six charter members. The location of the Grange is at the "Line meeting house," where it was organized, and only a part of its membership belong to this county. Its first officers were as follows : John E. Tanner, M .; E. Byron Gallup, O .; A. A. Stanton, L .; G. A. Youngs, S .; Silas Barber, A. S .; Mrs. Na- thaniel Gallup, L. A. S .; Reverend John Elderkin, C .; Benjamin G. Stanton, secretary ; J. Cyrus Tanner, treasurer ; Miss Minnie Elderkin, P .; Addie E. Gallup, F .; Mrs. J. E. Fenner, C .; Ezra A. Gallup, G. K.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
AMBROSE H. BATES .- William Bates, who resided in Coventry, Rhode Island, married Mary Hopkins. To this union were born twelve children, of whom Ambrose H. is the subject of this
Att Buted
ARIOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.
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sketch. His birth occurred February 21st, 1832, in Coventry, where he resided until his eighteenth year. He enjoyed but lim- ited opportunities for acquiring an education, but in later years by careful and intelligent reading of the best literature, in a measure made amends for the want of early advantages, and thus possessed a well-stored and disciplined mind.
At the age of eighteen he entered the whaling service and for twenty years followed a seafaring life, cruising in various parts of the world on extended voyages. On abandoning his vocation he settled in Oneco, in the town of Sterling, and began a mer- cantile career as the proprietor of a country store. Mr. Bates continued thus employed for five years, and after an interval of of leisure again engaged in business as an undertaker, estab- lishing a large and increasing patronage, which was maintained until his death on the 21st of February, 1885, in his fifty-third year. He enjoyed an extended acquaintance among public men throughout the state, was a man of progressive ideas, and active in the promotion of various useful enterprises. A democrat in his political views, he filled a number of local offices and in 1877 represented his town in the Connecticut legislature. Mr. Bates was also identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he oc- cupied a leading position.
He was, August 12th, 1861, married to Diana E., daughter of Orren Kenyon, of Coventry, Rhode Island. He was a man of strong personality, an indomitable will and rare natural gifts, and had he been possessed of the advantages of early education would have risen to a high position in the state. Mr. Bates dur- ing his life traveled over the greater part of the world. He spent several seasons in the Arctic regions, many times "rounded Cape Horn," and at various times lived in the Hawaian Islands. Entering the whaling service, as he did, in 1850, at the time when it was most lucrative, as well as the most dangerous, his life was an extended series of adventure and peril. From the very bottom of the ladder he rose in a few years to the highest po- sition in the service, that of owner and master of a vessel-a thing which rarely occurred.
JAMES PIKE .- John Pike, the common ancestor of the branch of the Pike family residing in Connecticut, settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1664. He was the progenitor of Jonas Pike, of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, who married a descendant of Peri- grine White, the first white child born in New England. Their
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