History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 68

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

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

the souls of the children as well as the work that could be gotten out of them. The hard times of 1815-18 told heavily upon Brick Factory, and the death of some of the founders led to en- tire reconstruction. In 1821, the interest was sold to William Reed, Esq., a native of Attleborough, Mass., one of the constitu- ent members of the Danielsonville Manufacturing Company of Killingly, and for many years its resident manager. Walter Paine, of Providence, joined with him the following year and continued a partner till 1829, when Mr. Reed purchased the whole establishment. George Larned, 2d, who had married the only daughter of Esquire Reed, carried on the store.

Under this administration the Brick Factory pursued its way prosperously for many years. The high character of the propri- etors and their excellent wives gave tone to the village. The tem- perance movement found willing advocates and a deep religious spirit pervaded the community. One of its most esteemed citi- zens, Mr. Faxon Nichols, served as first postmaster. Reverend Hezekiah Ramsdell, an early resident, did good service in vil- lage and town by his interest in public education, and also in the culture of flowers and choice fruit. Brick Factory, or Reed- ville, or West Thompson Village, as it was variously called, was particularly flourishing just after the opening of the Norwich & Worcester railroad, when residents of the future Putnam at- tended church at its meeting house and received their mail mat- ter at its post office. Prosperity was checked by the burning of the factory in 1849, and as Esquire Reed was now advanced in years, he sold the manufacturing privilege to his son, Mr. Ezra C. Reed, of New Haven, Conn., who retained it but a few years, and after needful repairs and refitting conveyed the whole inter- est to Messrs. Henry Sharpe and Walker. Esquire Reed and his estimable wife passed their declining years with their son in New Haven, living to extreme old age.

West Thompson village has made little or no advance since the latter change. Various attempts have been made to revive the former interest or develop new industries. In 1881 Mr. Os- car F. Chase, who had succeeded Sharpe and Walker in owner- ship, sold his interest to Messrs. Sayles and Washburn, of Me- chanicsville, who have reconstructed the privilege and changed the course of the Quinebaug. The village remains as ever, a pleasant place of residence, the home of substantial families, and doubtless in time will be revivified and farther built up by the thriving interest on its borders.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Mechanicsville dates back to 1827, when a privilege upon the French river, just above its junction with the Quinebaug, was secured by a number of enterprising men, viz., Erastus Buck, Augusus Howe, Thomas and James Dike, Jude Sabin, John Chol- · lar, Jacob Leavens and James Cunningham, who associated to- gether as "The Mechanics' Company" for the manufacture of woolen goods, and put up a three-story wooden mill, a saw mill and an eight-tenement block for operatives. All members of the company were expected to help carry forward the work per- sonally. Mr. Howe served as agent; the Messrs. Dike and Cun- ningham carried on the machine shop; Mr. Buck drove the mules; and Mr. Leavens superintended the weavers. A work- shop bought with the land was transformed into a school house. For some unassigned reason, perhaps because one level head is a better motor than half a dozen, the co-operative experiment failed of success, and in about three years the company dissolved, and in 1835 the whole property was sold at auction to William Rhodes and Thomas Truesdell, who run the mill intermittently till it was purchased by Mr. Smith Wilkinson in 1838. For five years it struggled on under different lessees, till destroyed by fire in 1843.

In 1858 Messrs. Sabin and Harris Sayles and Mowry Ross made arrangements with Mr. Edmond Wilkinson, under which they built a small brick mill and engaged in the manu- facture of fancy cassimere. In 1865 Messrs. Thomas D. Sayles and Warren Harris became partners with the Messrs. Sayles in the Mechanicsville Company, purchasing the previous establishment and adjacent territory. A new and beautiful brick building was speedily erected, 250 By 42 feet, four stories high, and fitted up with the best machinery and every modern appointment. A large number of operatives were straightway imported, new houses built, and great improvements made in the village. The dingy old workshop which had done duty for a school room was replaced by a neat brick building. Since the assumption of Mechanicsville by the present proprietors, Messrs. Thomas D. Sayles and B. S. Washburn, in 1879, very great changes have been wrought. Purchasing the West Thompson privilege, the Ellis farm, and other needful territory, the firm entered upon a work of demolition and reconstruction, costing some years of labor and half a million of money. A new and very superior dam was built, the channel of the Quinebaug deep-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

ened and in some places turned, roads straightened and new ones constructed, hills leveled and valleys filled up, resulting in an entire transformation. The drive to West Thompson over the smooth, level road, with its iron bridges, with the sparkling blue lake on one side, and the picturesque verdant park, reclaimed from marsh land, on the other, is indeed "a thing of beauty " and a perpetual joy. The same good taste has transformed and beautified the village. The factory building, with its green lawn in front, occupies one of the finest locations in New Eng- land, and everything about premises and village are in perfect keeping, emblematic, it is said, of the unusual harmony in the relations between employers and employed. The present number of operatives is three hundred and fifty-Canadian French, German, Irish, Swede. A Catholic house of worship was built in 1880-" The Church of the Sacred Heart"-Mr. Thomas D. Sayles giving land and $500 for that purpose.

A new iron bridge now spans the Quinebaug near West Thompson station. The old Thompson burying ground, opened soon after 1720, is now in excellent condition. An ample ad- dition on the north, provided by Mr. George H. Nichols, pre- cludes the anticipated need of a modern cemetery. Descendants of Captain Jonathan Nichols, viz., Elder John Nichols, Esquire Jonathan Nichols, Messrs Faxon and Captain George Nichols, have been very prominent in town, filling many public offices with credit and usefulness. The latter is now represented by his sons, Jerome and George H. Nichols, who also serve the town in many public capacities. A third son, the late lamented Lieutenant Colonel Munroe Nichols, gave a life of much prom- ise to the service of his country in the late war. The family of Mr. James Cunningham, one of the original proprietors of Me- chanics' Factory, still reside in the vicinity. The venerable Mr. Winthrop H. Ballard and his son, Mr. Stephen Ballard, are re- spected residents.

The Five Mile or Assawaga river, in the east of the town, has propelled but one small factory in Thompson, though helping run several larger establishments in towns below. Grist and saw mills have been kept at work since the first settlement of the town. In 1813 a number of gentlemen from Providence, viz., Emor Angell, Nehemiah Knight, Thomas Burgess, John Mackie, associated with Stephen Matthewson, of Johnston, R. I., and Josiah Sessions and Joseph Waterman, of Thompson, as the

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Quadic Manufacturing Company, and bought land and water privilege in the little hamlet of Quadic, of a well-known resident, Deacon Jonathan Converse. They soon erected a small build- ing and engaged in the manufacture of woolen hats. The close of the war brought untimely end to this enterprise, which was soon replaced by the inevitable cotton factory, set in motion by Mr. John Mason and a new company. A larger factory was now built, and a number of dwelling houses between 1820-'22.

In 1822 Mr. Mason, for $1,900 sold "one-third interest in the Quadic Manufacturing Company, set off as one-half of the late hat manufactory," to Messrs. Sessions and Waterman, who for a number of years continued in charge, manufacturing "Quadic sheeting." Calvin Randall and Stephen B. Winsor had also rights in the mill. Nelson S. Eddy purchased the establishment in 1835, and resided a number of years in the village, employing from fifty to seventy-five men, women and children. Quadic village, with its factory, daily stage-coach passing through it, and constant teaming to and from Providence, was then a brisk little settlement, its convenient store in pre-temperance days furnishing spirituous refreshment to many a weary traveller. After the decease of Mr. Eddy the factory was leased for a time to Card & Stone. In 1848 Mr. Lemuel K. Blackmar assumed the charge of the saw and grist mills, and a little later fitted up the old "red hat factory," for the manufacture of twine. Mr. David Warner, who purchased rights of the children of Mr. Eddy, also carried on twine manufacture. The privilege of deepening the channel of the Assawaga, and constructing a reservoir for sup- plying Dayville and Attawagan factories with water, was obtained by the Messrs. Sayles and Blackstone, resulting in the formation of a full, deep lake, setting backward to near the north bound of the town. Mowry Ross, a veteran mill owner, pur- chased the Quadic privilege in 1873. His sons, Mowry and Isaac Ross, built a tasteful new mill on the south side of the road, which fell into possession of Mr. A. W. Thurber, of Putnam. Its destruction by fire has apparently put an end to Quadic cot- ton manufacture. The old saw and grist mills also rest from their labors. A few of the former residents still linger in the picturesque little village. Sabbath schools have been kept up for many years in the Quadic school house, by earnest Baptist brethren, viz., Deacons Stephen Crosby and Welcome Bates, Mr. Newton Ballard and others.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

When Brandy hill first assumed its inspiriting name is beyond the memory of descendants of the oldest inhabitant. Tradition refers it to the bursting of a brandy hogshead upon the hill, and it may be inferred that the great outflow of liquor at Starr's tav- ern during the days of turnpike opening, helped to make it per- manent. Succeeding stage taverns were famous for the concoc- tion of flip, the poker being kept red hot in the glowing coals for that purpose from morn till eve. Before the much-needed temperance reform it was the custom of honored fathers of Thompson hill to take their wives and daughters, after a special- ly hard day's work at house cleaning or the like, to this famous tavern, to be cheered if not inebriated by foaming flip. Brandy hill at that date boasted a special military company and train- ings, with a flourishing store, and at one time secured a vote to hold town meetings part of the time at the Baptist meeting house. It was also famous for singing schools and occasional balls. A stately row of poplars was set out about 1800 by Cap- tain Isaac Davis. The meeting house and taverns were said to have built up Brandy hill village, and with the decay of the lat- ter the village declined. It has furnished a pleasant home for many residents, particularly the descendants of the faithful town clerk, Mr. Nathaniel Mills, whose sons, Nathaniel, Colonel Isaac, Ashley and Corbin Mills, have had homes in the village or in its vicinity. The old church still holds its own as has been noticed elsewhere, and the venerable row of poplars stands as a familiar land-mark.

The northeast part of the town was sparsely settled for many years, the descendants of Nathaniel Jacobs and Israel Joslin oc- cupying many of its farms and homesteads. Turnpike travel increased the number of residents, and the " Jacobs District " became quite populous. The Methodist church and projected railroad helped to centralize this population, but it was not till the Boston & Erie railroad was fairly opened that East Thomp- son village entered upon existence. Its importance was in- creased by the junction with the Southbridge Branch. A num- ber of families connected in various ways with the railroad in- terest now occupy the village. Shoe manufacture was carried on for a time by the Reverend Isaac Sherman, a useful and re- spected citizen. The store established by him is now conducted by Mr. George H. Wilber, the present postmaster. A store is also kept by R. J. Steins. The family which gave its name to

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

this district is much less numerous than in former years-sev- eral branches failing from extinction or emigration. One of its oldest representatives, Mr. Joseph D. Jacobs, has recently re- moved from a family homestead to Thompson hill. Two of his seven sons gave their lives to their country; the survivors are en- gaged in business in various parts of the land,

The present Wilsonville occupies the site of the "Child's Mills " of former generations. Elijah Converse came into pos- session about 1796, and conveyed them to his son, Mr. Riel Con- verse, who ran grist and saw mills. In 1822 he sold mills and privilege, with nine acres of land, to Mr. Zirah Preston, for $2,- 700. Mr. Preston in the following year sold land to Mr. Laban T. Wilson, with privilege to run a wheel for the purpose of man- ufacturing woolen goods. Mr. Wilson soon put up and set in motion a small establishment, engaging in the manufacture of satinet. In 1824 he leased the grist and saw mills, and gave his name to the growing village. After ten years of doubtful suc- cess, he gave place to a succession of owners-John Farnam, Wheeler Barrett, Riel Converse, Archelaus Upham, the Messrs. Capron, E. A. Wheelock, Oscar Chase, who carried on the mills in intermittent fashion with varying success till the inevitable fire consumed the old building. The present proprietor, Mr. Reegan, has built a small mill and engaged in woolen manufac- ture. Many of the residents of this village are descended from old families. Mr. Diah Upham, who has filled many town offices, carried on mercantile business for fifteen years. Mr. Samuel Adams has kept the Wilsonville store for twenty years. The Wilsonville burying ground shows that many residents of this vicinity lived to advanced age. Mr. Riel Converse exceeded ninety-two years. Mrs. Nathaniel (Whitford) Child, who died at Wilsonville, May 21st, 1877, aged one hundred years and thirty- six days, attained the greatest age of any Thompson woman on record. Her son, Hon. Marcus Child, a very respectable citizen, twice representing the town at the legislature, died suddenly within a few years.

New Boston site was occupied at a very early date. Among its old time celebrities were Mr. Samuel Morris and Mr. William Chandler, the latter a son of Hon. John Chandler of Woodstock, whose wife, Jemima Bradbury, boasted the bluest blood in Mas- sachusetts. Their large house, near the west line of the town, was for half a century the most aristocratic establishment in the

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

vicinity, kept up in true colonial style, with negro and Indian servants, stately furniture, books and pictures. Captain Chand- ler was, like his father, a skillful surveyor, and was the only man in town bold enough to ask to have a road laid out to accommo- date his business, as well as "travel to Thompson meeting house."

The Morris-Holbrook farm fell finally into the hands of Cap- tain Goodell, a noted military man, whose wife was a daughter of John Holbrook. Residents in this vicinity who had purchased old Dudley land were involved in the famous lawsuit brought by Paul Dudley for the recovery of these farms, on the ground that, as entailed property, the sale was unlawful. The final trial of this case before the supreme court at Washington was the great event of the generation, with Daniel Webster pleading for the defendants, and the distinguished orator, William Pinkney, stricken with fatal disease while arguing against them.

The northwest corner of Thompson received a new impulse from the opening of the Providence & Southbridge turnpike, with its travel and taverns. The Barnes and Chaffee tavern stands became noted places of resort. The old Morris farm on the Quinebaug was now held mainly by heirs of John Hol- brook, who purchased it from Benjamin Wilkinson. His son, Thomas, gave the valley the now familiar name, New Boston. The widow of Thomas Holbrook married for her second hus- band in 1802, Colonel Joseph Chapin, whose name is still pre- served in the neighborhood. His sisters, married to Ephraim and Sylvanus Houghton and Captain Amos Goodell, also occu- pied Morris homesteads. Jason Phipps bought land of Benjamin Morris as early as 1760. Other settlers in the vicinity were: William Copeland, Thomas Ormsbee, William Jordan, who, with other substantial families, made a pleasant neighborly society.

Ebenezer Phelps of Sutton, bought land and water privilege of the Houghtons in 1804, and set up saw and grist mills. Part of this privilege was soon made over to Rufus Coburn and Alpheus Corbin, who introduced a fulling mill and carding machine. The present "Phelps House " was completed in 1808. William Jor- dan and William Lamson also bought land of Phelps and Hough- ton, building substantial houses in the growing village. A burial lot for the use of the neighborhood was given by Mrs. Chapin, and enclosed and made ready for occupation by the

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adjacent residents. The first interment was that of Lucy Rob- bins, in 1813.

The clothiery works were purchased by John Barber in 1815, who built the house now owned by Mr. William Copeland. He was succeeded for a short interval by Otis Nichols. Mr. Par- ley Jordan engaged in the manufacture of axes and other edged tools in 1821. William Jordan, Sr., built a fine new tavern house on the street in 1828, with a large hall, which was opened by a ball and appropriate exercises. Manufacturing enterprise had now sought out New Boston. Edward Howard, an Englishman, secured water privilege and surrounding land in 1829, and soon erected a small brick mill for the manufacture of satinets. Marry- ing a resident, Miss Lucy Houghton, he expected to spend his life in this pleasant resting place, but adverse fate pursued him, and he was lost at sea on his voyage homeward from England. His widow survived him but a few months. A "New Boston Manufacturing Company" essayed to carry on the mill, but met various misadventures. Company after company was formed, began work, and made assignments. It was said that the Devil, alert to seize the opportunity, "had been let into the wheel-pit" at the beginning of the enterprise, and that was the cause of all the calamities.

A store was kept up and some shoemaking and minor busi- ness essayed. Mr. Parley Jordan's trip-hammer did good ser- vice for many years. Messrs. William Billings and Upham came into possession of the factory in 1853, and remained in charge' twelve years. A Social Circle and Library were established during this period, through the agency of Mrs. Billings and Mrs. Upham. Still greater improvements have been effected during the administration of the present proprietors-the Messrs. Mur- dock. They found mill and tenement buildings greatly dilapi- dated, morality at a low ebb, rum sold at several places. The process of renovation was slow and difficult. Flood and fire made havoc with the ancient dam and factory buildings, but ap- parently drove out the original enemy, and with new dam and buildings prosperity dawned upon the New Boston Manufactur- ing Company. Continued additions have been made and new machinery introduced. About eighty hands are now employed, half of them Americans. In thrift and morality there have been great advances, and New Boston now compares favorably with other manufacturing villages. Religious services are held

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statedly in the hall, and the comfort and well-being of the oper- atives made a special care. The energy and public spirit of the Messrs. Murdock and their assistant, Mr. Ira N. Bates, have added much to the standing and influence of this section of the town. Mr. Bates has served as selectman and town representative. The spirit of improvement has permeated the village. The abun- dance of flowers and neat appearance of the houses have long been remarked. The "Ladies' Union Circle," established in 1855, has aided much in promoting good feeling and social intercourse, and its library has proved an incalcuable benefit. Mr. Jerome Jordan served first as librarian ; Miss Jane Ormsbee succeeded, but since 1857 Miss Mary P. Jordan has administered the offices of librarian, secretary and treasurer with much fidelity and acceptance. Some seven hundred volumes are now included in the library.

New Boston village is particularly noted for its cordial hospi- tality and enjoyable social entertainments, its ancient and mod- ern elements most happily uniting on such occasions. The in- stitution of a branch railroad in place of the former turnpike is a great convenience, and a new Quinebaug village is growing up around the station. While some of the early New Boston families are still represented, others have passed away. Mr. Edward Aldrich, the last representative of the several sons of Mr. Esek Aldrich, died some years since. An eccentric resident, stranded in New Boston after the shipwreck of Dorr's experi- ment in Rhode Island-Aaron White, Esq .- died in 1886. Fuller details of his character and career will be found in another section. The late Jesse Ormsbee and Harvey Lamson, Esquires, Messrs. William and Parley Jordan will long be remembered as among the honored citizens of the town.

Nothing worthy of the name of village existed in Thompson during the last century. Four or five houses and a blacksmith shop had been built upon Thompson hill, in the vicinity of the meeting house ; the meeting house, as in many hill towns, building up a village instead of the village building the meeting house. But when it was found that two lines of turnpike were to inter- sect upon the hill, new life sprang up. The Joseph Watson house, Wickham's store and Keith's tavern were built before 1800, and soon after that date several houses were erected, espe- cially upon the east side of the Providence turnpike. Building was, however, impeded by the scarcity of building lots, the north

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part of the hill being included in the Watson estate, which was not thrown into market till after the death of Widow Samuel Watson in 1813. The north end of the hill was then purchased by George Larned, Esq., and laid out in building lots, he him- self occupying the Watson house (now Judge Rawson's) as a dwelling house and law office. On the opposite site a house was speedily built by Hezekiah Olney. Mr. Noadiah Comins built the house adjoining southward, and Doctor James Webb a third house (now occupied by Mrs. Tallman). The site below was soon filled by the old meeting house transformed into a town house, and the nucleus of the present tavern was put up on the corner by Stephen E. Tefft. Doctor Webb left town before complet- ing his house, and was followed by Doctor Horatio Holbrook, who built on the north side of the street, adjoining Esquire Larned's.

A handsome brick house on the corner had been previously built by John Nichols, and a large house with brick ends was built on another corner northward by Noadiah Russel, Esq. Captain Joel Taylor built several houses east of the tavern, on the Providence turnpike, the first of which was long occupied by Obadiah Stone. A small house nearly opposite was put together by Simon Davis, Esq. All this building, together with the team- ing and stage coaches, made the hill very lively. Many of the new residents engaged in business. Mr. Olney manufactured hats; Mr. Comins, harness ; Mr. Stone, shoes; Nichols and Tefft carried on various stores; Esquire Davis practiced law; Mr. Theodore Dwight made a most acceptable landlord in the new turnpike tavern ; Mr. Rufus Coburn entered upon trade. Rum was sold without restriction in all the stores and taverns. A house-warming frolic, in which all these business men and lead- ing citizens indulged in great excesses, called out Mr. Dow's first temperance sermon. Fixing his eye upon the offenders with most scathing rebuke, he thundered out the scriptural queries- " Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine." But the fact that the next day the pas- tor himself took a glass of wine at the house of a parishioner marred the practical effect of the sermon. All classes were greatly benefitted by the rise of the temperance reform, banish- ing liquor from common household use, social entertainments and the better class of stores.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 68

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