History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 85

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.

His valuable services during the war of the revolution were everywhere recognized. Woodstock's native military spirit was greatly stimulated by his presence and example, and her two commons were noted for a brilliant succession of military train- ing. These gala days were exceedingly popular, bringing together a great concourse of people, and were marked by the customary hilarity and carousings. General Mcclellan and his revolutionary war horse were especial features of these occa- sions. John, son of General Mcclellan, was early promoted to the rank of brigade major. After studying law with Hon. Charles H. Chandler, he entered upon practice at Woodstock hill, and was very active in establishing Woodstock Academy and other public enterprises.

Turnpike schemes awakened much interest in Woodstock. The road from Boston to Hartford was laid out through Thomp- son to her great disappointment, but she secured the Norwich and Worcester turnpike, with a branch diverging to Sturbridge, and also a direct road from General McClellan's corner to Provi- dence. This latter road was afterward continued to Somers. Middlesex Gore on the north, left outside of town bounds by the reconstruction of the state boundary, was claimed by Woodstock in 1793, but she did not succeed in retaining possession. In 1797 an attempt was made by a number of western residents- divested, as they claimed, "in great measure of the privilege of free and legal inhabitants of the town of Woodstock, and a par- ticipation in the election of town officers, owing to their remote distance," to obtain independent town privileges. Some encour- agement was given by the other societies, but a majority of voters "would not consent to new town." Relief was obtained in time by holding town meetings alternately in the three so- cieties.

At the town meeting in 1807, John McClellan, Esq., served as moderator. Jedidiah Morse still retained the position of town clerk and treasurer ; selectmen, John McClellan, Captains Luther Baldwin, William May and Jedidiah Kimball, and Deacon Ste- phen Johnson ; constables, David Frizzell, Parker Morse, Amasa Lyon ; grand jurors, Henry Welles, Thomas Corbin, Captain Asa Child, Darius Barlow; listers, David Frizzell, William Lyon, Darius Barlow, Doctor Haviland Morris, Captains Carpenter Bradford, Aaron Child and Judah Lyon ; pound keepers, Wil- liam Flynn, Roswell Ledoyt, Chester May; tavern keepers, Wil-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

liam Bowen, Jonathan Day, Daniel Lyon, Charles W. Noyes, Chester May, John Child, Sanford Holmes, Perley Lyon, Earl Clapp and Lemuel Perry ; Colonel David Holmes, Captain Wil- liam May, Jedidiah Kimball, committee to wait upon turnpike commissioners.

The multiplication of taverns testified to the increase in travel and teaming. It was a day of emigration, when all the main roads were thronged with wagons and teams, transporting fam- ilies westward. Manufacturing was also coming in vogue, stim- ulating business intercourse. As yet Woodstock farms sufficed mainly for the maintenance of its population, with such business as was demanded by the daily needs of its inhabitants. The town was thrifty and healthy, standing high among the towns of the county, exceeding in 1810 all others in population. Again in 1820, it stood at the head with 3,017 inhabitants, the first town in the county to enter the thirties.

During the war of 1812 she had shown her usual spirit, though a majority of her citizens opposed the course of the president, and manifested their disapproval in denunciatory resolutions. The summons to the relief of New London in June, 1813, awakened much enthusiasm. James Lyon was sent out to warn the militia, and returning from his mission before sunrise, found two com- panies already mustered on the common, under charge of Ad- jutant Flynn, ready to march to the scene of action. Bowen's tavern, under the poplars at Woodstock hill, was a place of much resort during this busy period, and was once the scene of a re- markable conjunction between two government cannon, ordered from different establishments by the secretaries of war and navy, which met before the tavern door at the same moment,

In the succeeding battles for a new state constitution and county seat Woodstock bore her part bravely, enrolling her vote against the constitution, and persistently refusing to pay any share of the expense of the removal of the courts to Brooklyn. This was the more unreasonable in view of the radical tendencies of the town, and its uncommon addiction to excessive litigation. A number of protracted and troublesome lawsuits were carried on during this period, and the three lawyers, Esquires McClel- lan, Ebenezer Stoddard and John F. Williams, found abundant practice. The pugnacity of Woodstock's citizens made politics lively. The anti-Masonic controversy raged with much fierce- ness, breaking down old party lines and inciting new comhi- nations.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Hon. Ebenezer Stoddard, who had served as representative in congress from 1821 to 1825, was elected lieutenant-governor of Connecticut in 1835. Temperance and slavery agitation called out much interest, and were soon introduced into politics. A large number of taverns had been maintained during the days of heavy teaming and hard drinking. In 1828 the licensed tavern keepers were George Bowen, William K. Greene, Rhodes Arnold, Aaron Corbin, Judah Lyon, Chauncey Kibbe, Thomas L. Truman, Hezekiah Bugbee. With the progress of temperance reformation the number gradually diminished. In 1833 Chaun- cey Kibbe, William Healy, George Bowen, Amasa Carpenter and Rhodes Arnold were nominated. Two years later and only Rhodes Arnold and James Lamson were allowed the privilege. Five persons were refused nomination, and the petition of George Bowen, Danforth Child and Rhodes Arnold for license to retail wine and spirituous liquors was rejected. In 1836 Lyman and William Hiscox, George Bowen, Pelatiah and Zenas D. Wight and Danforth Child were approbated to be retailers of wines and dis- tilled spirituous liquors at the several stores.

After the Washingtonian temperance movement of 1840 a special town meeting was called, January 6th, "to see if the town will grant liberty as the statute law directs to any person or per- sons to sell wine or spirituous liquors in the town the year en- suing." A decided refusal was given. Even the discreet appli- cation of Mr. George Bowen to sell such articles "for medicinal purposes only and no other " was decided in the negative. And as tavern keeping was quite superfluous apart from liquor sell- ing, the application of Mr. Amasa Carpenter to keep a house of public entertainment met the same fate. For fifty years no liquor selling has been licensed by the town of Woodstock, save for medicinal and chemical purposes. Trainings and taverns were also simultaneously abandoned, or transformed into a mere shadow of former greatness.

The movement for the abolition of slavery aroused immediate interest in Woodstock. Its citizens aided in the formation of the early "Liberty Party." In 1843 Doctor Samuel Bowen of Thompson, received 116 Woodstock votes as the congressional candidate of the abolitionists. So powerful was the party that for three years it obstructed the choice of town representatives. In 1847 a compromise was effected between the whigs and liberty party men, and Leonard M. Deane and Stephen Hopkins elected.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

The latter is starred on the roll of representatives as the first " Abolitionist " in the state legislature. Woodstock's abolition vote was much larger than that of any other town. So strong was this element that in 1856, when the republican party came into prominence, 478 votes were cast for " Fremont and Free- dom."

In population Woodstock has suffered gradual loss, numbering some hundreds less than in 1820. Constant emigration and the lack of manufacturing interests have caused this shrinkage, yet there are indications that the lowest point has been reached and renewed immigration set in. Many respected citizens have car- ried on the affairs of the town these seventy years. In 1830, October 4th, John Paine, Esq., served as moderator; John Fox was chosen treasurer and town clerk; Oliver Morse, William Lyon, 2d, Laban Underwood, Simon Barrett, Chauncey Kibbe, selectmen ; Perley Lyon, Rhodes Arnold, Rodney Martin, as- sessors ; John Chandler, 2d, Christopher Arnold, Otis Perry, board of relief ; Silas H. Cutler, John Child, Oliver Saunders, consta- bles and collectors of taxes ; Charles Child, Jr., Elisha C. Walker, Spaulding Barstow, Simon Barrett, Elisha Paine, Alexander Dor- rance, grand jurors; P. Skinner, Cyrus Davenport, Cyprian Chandler, John W. Wells, Amos Paine, Jr., Benajah Bugbee, 2d, Alexander Dorrance, Charles Skinner, Charles Crawford, Eben- ezer Paine, John Chamberlin, Penuel Corbin, Jr., William Child, Alfred Walker, tithing men ; George Bowen, sealer of weights and measures; Charles Smith, Asa Lyman, John Fowler, 2d, fence viewers; Aaron Corbin, Charles Smith, James Lyon, com- mittee on alteration of highway districts. The rate list of 1820 amounting in value to about $36,000, comprised 363 dwelling houses, 16 mills, 399 horses and mules, 3,009 neat cattle, 27 rid- ing carriages, 13 other carriages, 169 clocks, watches and time? pieces. One academy building, 18 school houses and 5 churches (houses of worship) were reported.

Town offices in 1861, at the breaking out of the war of the re- bellion, were: Ezra C. May, clerk, registrar and treasurer ; Sam- uel M. Fenner, Asa Goodell, Hezekiah Bishop, selectmen ; George N. Lyman, S. W. Bugbee, collectors; Nathan E. Morse, consta- ble ; R. S. Mathewson, H. S. Perry, Oliver Marcy, Elias Child, 2d, Baldwin Vinton, Carlo May, grand jurors; Simon Bartholo- mew, George Bugbee, Albert Morse, assessors ; F. W. Flynn, L. D. Underwood, C. C. Potter, board of relief ; William Lester,

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Otis Perrin, land surveyors; George Bugbee, George A. Paine, J. W. Sessions, S. M. Fenner, Alexander Warner, M. Bradford, John White, board of education ; Stephen L. Potter, school treas- urer. Very heavy burthens were brought upon the town during this period, in bounties, supplies for soldiers and care of their families. Woodstock maintained its ancient reputation in meet- ing promptly all public demands, and in the character and ser- vice of those who went to the battle. Soon after the close of the war efforts were made to reduce the debt that had been con- tracted. At the annual town meeting in 1868, Mr. Henry C. Bowen offered to give $5,000, a thousand a year, if the town would cancel the debt in five years. This generous offer was received with general favor, and immediate measures taken for raising the town's proportion. By levying an additional tax each year the needful amount was secured, and the town freed from this encumbrance. The great American flag used at the monster mass meeting of 1868 was also presented to the town by Mr. Bowen.

The republican party was largely in ascendency during the years of the war. In 1872 democrats and liberals united on a ticket for town officers, "composed of good men," but did not succeed in breaking the ranks of the republicans. Ezra C. May still served as town clerk and treasurer ; selectmen, George W. Clarke, Stephen D. Skinner, Nathan E. Morse ; assessors, Martin Paine, Joseph R. Barber, Joseph M. Morse; board of relief, Amos A. Carrol, William H. Church, John A. Mason ; grand jurors, Erastus H. Wells, Henry T. Child, Abiel Fox, Arthur Stetson, Ezra C. Child, Ebenezer Bishop ; constables, P. Skinner, Jeremiah Church, John H. Child; John Paine, agent ; John A. Mason, treasurer of town deposit fund; registrars of voters, Dis. 1. Lewis J. Wells, William H. Pearson ; Dis. 2. George Bugbee, Albert Kenyon; Dis. 3. John Paine, George A. Penniman ; school visitors, George S. F. Stoddard, Sylvester Barrows, Eben- ezer Bishop, Monroe W. Ide, George Bugbee. George A. Paine served faithfully for several terms in the important office of school fund commissioner.

In 1880 the population of Woodstock numbered 2,639; child- ren between 4 and 16 years of age, 556; grand list, $943,536 ; dwelling houses, 607; mills, stores, distilleries, manufactories, 49 ; horses, asses, mules, 647; neat cattle, 2,929; carriages and pleasure wagons, 87. Herbert M. Gifford had then succeeded to

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

the office of town clerk and treasurer, retaining it till 1888; he was succeeded by Mr. Newton D. Skinner. The present select- men are Charles H. May, Stephen D. Skinner and Reed Tour- tellotte.

Woodstock as a Connecticut town was first included in Pom- fret probate district. Its first clerk. was Penuel Bowen, of Woodstock, under whose administration the records were lost in the destruction of his house by fire. Woodstock's specific pro- bate court was constituted in 1831, John Paine, judge, George Bowen, clerk. Political jealousies made this office very transi- tory and migratory for many years, transferring it from parish to parish. John F. Williams, Theophilus B. Chandler, Daniel Lyman, Ezra Child, George A. Paine, G. S. F. Stoddard, T. D. Holmes and Stephen Potter, were among the many who served as judge of probate. A new departure was effected under the administration of Judge Oscar Fisher, who continued in service from July 4th, 1867, to January, 1881, when the present incum- bent, Judge Oliver Perry, entered upon service. The wisdom of the civil service reform in this department is conceded by all parties.

Parish divisions in Woodstock are unusually pronounced and definite. After a serious contest the west half of the town was set off as a distinct parish or religious society in 1743, and still remains nearly or quite intact, as the Second or West parish. The First or East parish was again divided after the church controversy of 1850-60. The villages of Woodstock hill, South Woodstock and Quasset are included in the First society. West Woodstock parish includes the villages of West Woodstock and Woodstock Valley. The Third or Northeast society includes East Woodstock village, formerly called Muddy Brook, and North Woodstock village, first known as Village Corners. Town meetings are held alternately in each of the three parishes, and representatives are sent alternately, each sending a repre- sentative for two successive years, while one is without a repre- sentative every year.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE TOWN OF WOODSTOCK-(Concluded).

Early Industries .- Manufacturing .- Decline of Manufacturing .- Agriculture .- Woodstock Agricultural Society .- Senexet Grange .- Theft Detecting Soci- ety .- Woodstock Academy .- Church on Woodstock Hill .- The Second Church .- Baptist Churches .- East Woodstock Church .- Methodism .- Uni- versalist Church .- Advent Christian Church .- Present Condition .- Public Celebrations .- Biographical Sketches.

T HE industries of Woodstock during its first half century were restricted to the inevitable farming, and such simple arts and trades as are needful to support existence. The first experiment in wider fields was an attempt to utilize the bog iron deposit in West parish. Benjamin Marcy and other resi- dents established a furnace or forge and carried on the works some years previous to 1764, when Marcy sold his right to Heze- kiah Smith. Smith and Asahel Marcy continued the business for a number of years, probably until the emigration of the former, and during the revolutionary period the furnace became extinct, but the ore for many years was carried to Stafford for smelting. The first Woodstock brick yard, saw and grist mills were carried on by Ebenezer Lyon, who owned much land in the vicinity of Black pond. A dam still standing at the outlet of the pond, was built by his slaves-the only existing speci- men of Woodstock's slave labor. Mr. Lyon was one of the first settlers of Woodstock, a man of wealth for that day and influ- ence. Saw and grist mills were also early established in Wood- stock Valley and at South Woodstock and Muddy Brook.

An unique industry was undertaken by Peregrine White, who purchased "a shop on the road from Nathaniel Child to Stur- bridge " (a little west of Muddy Brook village) "with all manner of tools and implements " for working on metals, in 1774. This early silversmith shop developed into an institution for the man- ufacture of tall clocks with full moons and elaborate appurten- ances, highly esteemed and patronized for many years by all the

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

surrounding country. Southward, at Quasset, were found the pottery works of Mr. Thomas Bugbee, established in 1793. The original clay deposit, so useful in constructing chimneys and mason work, was here worked up into all manner of jars, jugs, mugs, inkstands, milk pans and pudding pots. A foreign arti- san was employed by the establishment to oversee the various processes of grinding, mixing, kneading and sizing. Each sep- arate piece was fashioned into shape by hand and turning wheel. As many as six kiln-bakings were needed every summer, and some five thousand pieces turned out. This pottery ware was carried far and wide in Mr. Bugbee's familiar pottery cart, and found a market in every household. At least two thousand milk- pans were demanded every season. The bridal outfit of the day included a goodly collection of this fashionable Woodstock pot- tery ware.

The manufacture of potash was carried on by various parties, especially by Colonel Russel, of Muddy Brook, who had a large and complete establishment, comprising the newest outfit and pro- cesses. Coopering, tanning and shoemaking were among the in- dispensable industries of the town, giving employment to a num- ber of willing workmen. The first fulling mill in West Woodstock was built by Deacon Henry Bowen in 1791, below Lyon's slave dam, with the privilege of use of stream and setting up tenter- bars for drying cloth. This mill was afterward moved down stream and sold to Daniel Mashcraft, who set up a carding ma- chine and continued the business of carding and cloth fulling until woolen manufactories came into vogue. This establish- ment had a high reputation, farmers' wives from many miles distance bringing to it their wool and domestic cloth for carding and finishing. A carding machine was also set up at Black pond by "Mason and Sumner" in 1803. Grist and saw mills in this vicinity were carried on by Andrew Williams for a number of years. In 1820 James Arnold built and operated a fulling mill on Sawmill brook. A little later, Rhodes Arnold built a saw and shingle mill, and a cider-brandy distillery was also carried on by the brothers. The Hosmer grist mill in the southeast corner of the town was an established institution, dating back to the first settlement of the town.

The rage for cotton spinning reached Woodstock somewhat late for its own benefit. In 1814 Moses Arnold, purchaser of the old Chandler homestead at South Woodstock, united with Wil-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

liam Bowen, Thomas Hubbard and Benjamin Duick, of Pomfret, as the " Arnold Manufacturing Company in Woodstock," and as soon as possible put up a wooden building and engaged in cot- ton spinning. At nearly the same date, Jonathan and William May, John Paine and William Lyon, of Woodstock, with Walter and Royal Paine, of Providence, and Job Williams, of Pomfret, were incorporated as "The Muddy Brook Cotton Manufacturing Company." A factory building was erected a little north of the village, and works set in motion. Chester. Willard and Rensse- laer Child, Amasa and Judah Lyon, were incorporated as "The Woodstock Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manu- facturing cloths and other fabrics of wool and cotton," in 1815. A small building and other accommodations in the north of the town were soon provided by this company.

The great depression caused by the return of peace and influx of English goods seriously affected all these companies. The Arnold Company was reconstructed, passing mainly into the hands of the Arnolds. The factories of North Woodstock were reported in the Gazetteer of 1819 as upon " a large scale " and do- ing business extensively. The Woodstock Company now man- ufactured woolen goods exclusively. In addition to hard times, it suffered from the treachery of an English overseer, who cut the warp in the looms before absconding. This mischief was repaired by the skill and ingenuity of Charles Walker, a youth in their employ, who saved the company from ruin and laid the foundation for personal prosperity and usefulness. In addition to this factory, Judah Lyon carried on the blacksmith's trade and the manufacture of the first patent iron ploughs, supersed- ing the clumsy wooden implements then in use-an innovation which met at first the customary ridicule and opposition.

The Mashcraft establishment in West Woodstock passed into the hands of Joseph Hollinsworth, an Englishman, who manu- factured woolen cloth for a number of years. The old Holmes privilege at South Woodstock was purchased about 1840 by Dan- iel Warner, who engaged in the manufacture of cotton batting. In a few years he built a brick factory building for the manu- facture of twine. Leonard Cocking established a woolen mill at Quasset, building a new stone mill in 1844, and utilizing the old Baptist meeting house for a second building. In 1842 Mr. John Lake set in motion "the first, last and only tub and pail shop " in this part of Connecticut. Six thousand tubs and

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY. 879

pails were reported as the annual product, the tubs finding mar- ket in Boston, the pails in Norwich. In 1852 he purchased the " old oil mill privilege " of Mr. Rufus Mathewson and engaged successfully in the manufacture of window sash and blinds. The Hosmer mills passed into the hands of Captain Edward B. Harris about 1830. A new building was soon erected and de- voted to the manufacture of cotton machinery, which was car- ried on quite extensively, supplying workmen and factories.

Enterprise was stimulated at the growing center, Village Cor- ners, by the opening of the Central turnpike from Boston to Hartford, replacing the former route through Thompson. The manufacture of wagons and carriages by L. M. Deane & Co. was here initiated about 1835. The excellent character of the work soon won a wide popularity, and the business was carried on successfully for many years. With these many lines of business now carried forward, shoe making stood at the head. Peletiah and Zenas Wight, sons of a veteran tanner and currier in Wood- stock Valley, succeeded to the business of their father and add- ed to it as early as 1828 the manufacture of the first sale shoes in Connecticut. Men and women, boys and girls hastened to take advantage of the golden opportunity thus offered, and soon a large business was built up. Other manufacturers hastened to follow this example, and sale shoe-making became a leading business interest, especially notable for the vast number of hands that could be employed in it. In Woodstock and for miles surrounding nearly every dwelling house had a room fit- ted up or appended for a shoe-making shop. The Wights mak- ing a specialty of the shoe called stoggy, the name was applied to the valley, which was known many years by the nickname, "Stoggy Hollow." A. & O. Hiscox and L. & M. Hiscox engaged in the shoe business in this locality, employing about twenty hands each.

Shoe business was begun in West Woodstock village about 1833 by John P. Chamberlin and John O. Fox. In spite of fre- quent failures and disasters, it continued briskly under a Me- chanics' Association and various private shoe dealers, and greatly facilitated the building up and improvement of the village. Ly- man Sessions was a prominent shoe manufacturer, engaged also in trade and various enterprises. Village Corners enjoyed an ·extensive boom in connection with the shoe business of Amasa Carpenter, who also kept the tavern, built new houses and en-

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gaged in trade. So extensively was shoe manufacturing pushed forward that in 1845, 5,651,580 pairs of shoes were accredited to Woodstock, and fifty bushels of shoe pegs. Employment was given to 4,918 males, 4,907 women and girls.

The tannery of Mr. Elias Mason, near Muddy Brook village, flourished greatly during this period, furnishing a large supply of leather to these various establishments. But this manufac- turing activity was of comparatively short continuance. Flood, fire and financial panic were inimical to Woodstock enterprise. The first serious disaster occurred in 1834, when a new dam con- structed at Muddy brook, by Colonel Jonathan May, was carried away by a freshet, involving in its loss the mill and blacksmith shop of Captain Judah Lyon, and much other property. The damage accruing was so heavy that the Muddy Brook Manufac- turing Company never regained its footing. The commercial collapse of 1837 brought down several prominent shoe operators ; the failure and death of Mr. Elias Mason depressed business and carried distress and straitness to many households. Factories, north, south, east and west were destroyed by fire. Much loss and havoc were wrought by the heavy freshet, February 13th, 1866. The several privileges at South Woodstock had been bought up by Mr. Daniel Warner, who constructed a new reser- voir and dam, intended to carry forward large manufacturing operations. Dam and factory were washed away, together with Lake's sash and blind shop, a blacksmith's shop and other build- ings, part of Mr. S. M. Fenner's store, and three bridges belong- ing to the town. Later factory buildings at Quasset and Wood- stock Valley, and even the mills on the old Bartholomew site of 1686, were all consumed by fire.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 85

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