History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 95

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

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut > Part 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Quinebaug Grist Mill is located at the junction of the Five Mile river with the Quinebaug. It was established by the Quinebaug Company in 1879, is run by water, and has a storage capacity of 15,000 bushels. It is supplied with improved ma- chinery for the manufacture of buckwheat flour. During the season about 1,000 bushels of this grain a week are ground up.

In 1852 Eleazar Baker came to this town from Massachusetts, and began the manufacture of reeds at Dayville. In 1854 he moved the business to Danielsonville. In 1858 he sold the busi- ness to William S. Short, who ran the same till his death in 1865.

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Mr. Baker then re-purchased the business and continued in it until November, 1870, when he sold it to R. S. Lathrop. The latter in 1881 built a brick mill on the east bank of the Five Mile river, near the railroad station, where the business has been con- tinued since that time. It is still owned by Mr. Lathrop's heirs, and is now managed by his son, H. V. Lathrop.

The Danielsonville Cotton Company's works are situated be- tween the Quinebaug and the Five Mile rivers. They consist of three mills proper, and are a continuation of the Danielsonville Company, founded over seventy years ago. One of the mills, called the old one, is a frame building, erected in 1816, and is still used for various purposes. The stone structure about sev- enty feet distant from the first named, and on the same side of the street, was built later, while the large brick mill opposite was constructed in 1868. This mill is 219 by 78 feet, four stories and a basement. The picker room is 63 by 43 feet, two stories. The boiler house adjoining is 40 by 40 feet, and the engine room 18 by 52 feet. The office is 31 by 42 feet, two stories and base- ment. The motive power is furnished by water, the facilities hav- ing a capacity available to the extent of 350 horse power. Steam engines are also in reserve in case of need. The present com- pany was organized in 1880, and they have a capital of $175,000. The officers are : B. B. Knight, president ; Jeffrey Hazard, treas- urer, and A. J. Gardiner, superintendent. In these mills are 17,024 spindles and 384 looms. They manufacture prints, sheet- ings and shirtings. About 4,500,000 yards are turned out annu- ally. About 300 hands are employed. The establishment in general indicates the presence and direction of a master hand, and such we find in the business qualifications and courteous manners of its superintendent.

The Assawaga Mill of E. Pilling & Co. is on School street, nearly across the block, in rear of the Attawaugan House. It is now called the Aspinock Knitting Company. It employs about forty hands in the manufacture of seamless half hose and other knit goods, cotton and woolen. It is furnished with 50 knitting ma- chines. The business was started in the spring of 1883. The mill is well supplied with the most improved kinds of machinery, and the reputation of the work is built upon a careful and hon- est foundation.

Near the last mentioned are the works of Messrs. E. H. Jacobs & Co., manufacturers of loom harness, belting and hose. The

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

works were a few years since removed to this place from Paw- tucket, R. I. The mill has an area of 5,000 square feet of floor surface. Making and repairing leather belting, loom strapping, pickers and mill supplies in general, are among the branches of work done. The "Challenge " hose carriage, a very popular ap- paratus all over New England, is manufactured here. About one hundred sets per day of finished loom harness are also man- ufacttired here.

The Quinebaug Brick Company hail from Danielsonville, though their works are about two miles from the village center, in the town of Brooklyn. They make some four million bricks annually, which are shipped from Danielsonville by railroad to points in southern New England. The bricks are reckoned as first quality in all respects, as the fact that they are used in some of the largest manufacturing and storage buildings and other important structures, abundantly testifies. Sabin L. Sayles is president of the company ; Hon. Charles A. Russell, treasurer ; Charles R. Palmer, resident agent, and George Benjamin, over- seer.

The principal hotel of this village is the Attawaugan, a house of liberal proportions and well furnished appointments. It was built in 1856. The first manager was Henry Peckham, who ran it a few months. Since that time it has been run by the present proprietor, Lewis Worden. The house has forty-one large and well lighted lodging rooms, and its arrangements in general are excellent and commodious.

Moriah Lodge, No. 15, is the lineal descendant of the old Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons which we have already noticed in connection with Canterbury, where its principal early headquar- ters were. The lodge had the honor of being Number 1, that is, the first lodge instituted in the state of Connecticut. It was in- stituted in 1790. At first it had what was called a roving charter, which allowed it to move about and hold meetings in different towns to accommodate circumstances. In its early membership it embraced some of the leading men of the county, which are more particularly mentioned in connection with Canterbury. At the time of the Morgan excitement, a remarkable era in Masonic history, the charter was given up and action of the lodge sus- pended for a few years. Afterward it was revived, but the hon- orable number was lost, and the lodge was numbered 15. Its home for many years has been in Danielsonville, where it now 62

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

meets in a room in the Exchange Building. The present officers are: M. A. Shumway, W. M .; George R. Warner, S. W .; A. P. Somes, J. W .; F. T. Preston, treasurer; Anthony Ames, secre- tary; E. W. Hayward, S. D .; John W. Day, J. D .; Hosea E. Green, S. S .; George C. Foote, J. S .; E. L. Palmer, chaplain; H. F. Clark, marshall; E. S. Carpenter, tyler; J. F. Seamans, O. W. Bowen and F. W. Franklin, auditors.

Growing out of this lodge are Warren Chapter, No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, and a council of R. & S. Masters. The chapter was chartered in 1812. Its present officers are: M. A. Shumway, M. E. H. P .; George R. Warner, E. K .; Henry F. Clark, E. S .; F. T. Preston, treasurer; J. F. Seamans, secretary; H. H. Green, C. of H .; C. E. Hill, P. S .; F. A. Shumway, R. A. C .; Jarvis Wallen, 3d veil; C. H. Frisbie, 2d veil; E. W. Scott, Jr., 1st veil; E. S. Carpenter, tyler; H. H. Green, C. H. Keach, H. F. Clark, auditors. Montgomery Council, No. 2, Royal and Select Masters, was char- tered in 1818. Their present officers are: H. H. Green, T. I. M .; C. E. Hill, I. D. M .; M. A. Shumway, I. P. C .; F. T. Preston, treas- urer; J. F. Seamans, R .; H. F. Clark, C. of G .; F. A. Shumway, C. of C .; C. H. Keach, steward; Reverend George R. Warner, chaplain; E. S. Carpenter, sentinel; W. E. Hyde, H. F. Clark, E. L. Palmer, auditors.

McGregor Post, No. 27, G. A. R., was organized at Danielson- ville, July 1st, 1868. Its charter members were: Frank Bur- roughs, S. C. Chamberlin, H. O. Bemis, D. S. Simmons, P. G. Brown, A. F. Bacon, C. W. James, Charles Burton, H. B. Fuller, H. K. Gould. The first officers were as follows: Frank Burroughs, C .; S. C. Chamberlin, S. V. C .; S. M. Howard, J. V. C .; H. B. Ful- ler, adjutant; G. W. Bartlett, Q. M .; E. M. Eldridge, chaplain. The office of commander has been held by the following persons: Frank Burroughs, David'M. Colvin, U. B. Schofield, William E. Hyde, D. S. Simmons, E. J. Mathewson, William E. Hyde, Frank Burroughs, E. S. Nash, H. F. Clark, B. E. Rapp, S. M. Woodward, Charles Burton, J. W. Randall, H. F. Clark. The post has a com- modious room in Music Hall building. Its present membership is sixty-four. The present officers are: H. F. Clark, C .; Nathan Şeaver, S. V. C .; T. H. Stearns, J. V. C .; S. M. Woodward, adju- tant; U. B. Scofield, Q. M .; L. B. Arnold, surgeon; Reverend James Dingwell, chaplain.

Quinebaug Lodge, No. 34, I. O.O. F., was instituted at Daniel- sonville, February 13th, 1889. The charter members were:

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Newton Phillips, Walter F. Bliven, John B. Hopkins, C. F. Chap- man, Reuben Pilling, Jr., A. A. Boswell, A. W. Dean, John H. Perry, James P. Carver, Henry E. Baker, John E. Bassett, Frank A. Prince and Edward Fairman. The lodge meets on Tuesday nights, in Knights of Pythias Hall, in the Savings Bank building. The officers elected for this, the first year, were: Newton Phil- lips, N. G .; Frank Prince, V. G .; Walter Bliven, secretary; John E. Bassett, treasurer; A. W. Dean, R. S. N. G .; John Perry, L. S. N. G .; Henry Baker, R. S. V. G .; James B. Carver, L. S. V. G .; Reuben Pilling, Jr., W .; A. A. Boswell, C .; Charles Chapman, R. S. S .; W. DeLoss Wood, L. S. S .; J. B. Hopkins, I. G .; Frank Willard, O. G.

Orient Lodge, No. 37, Knights of Pythias, was instituted here December 19th, 1877. The charter members were: E. L. Pal- mer, T. W. Greenslit, C. H. Bacon, N. W. James, W. N. Thomas, F. A. Jacobs, H. F. Logee, F. P. Warren, C. E. Woodis, O. L. Jenkins, A. J. Ladd, S. L. Adams and C. L. Fillmore. The first officers were: E. L. Palmer, P. C .; T. W. Greenslit, C. C .; C. H. Bacon, V. C .; N. W. James, P .; A. J. Roberts, M. of E .; W. N. Thomas, M. of F .; F. A. Jacobs, K. of R. & S .; H. F. Logee, M. at A .; F. P. Warren, I. G .; C. E. Woodis, O. G. The present membership is about fifty. The numbers have been depleted by the formation of John Lyon Lodge, at Dayville, in 1888, their membership withdrawing from this lodge. The trustees are : F. A. Jacobs, C. H. Bacon and N. W. James. The lodge meets on Thursday evenings, at their hall in Savings Bank building.

Ætna Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W., was instituted here June 21st, 1883, with sixteen charter members. The first officers were: A. P. Somes, P. M. W .; A. G. Bill, M. W .; C. E. Woodis, foreman; C. A. Potter, overseer; E. Pilling, recorder; B. L. Bailey, finan- cier; F. B. Brooks, receiver; C. M. Adams, guide; A. F. Wood, I. W .; F. G. Bailey, O. W. The following have successively held the office of M. W .: A. G. Bill, balance of 1883; C. E. Woodis, 1884; C. M. Adams, 1885; R. A. Bailey, 1886; A. P. Somes, 1887; C. H. Bacon, 1888; Irving Hawkins, 1889. The following have been successive recorders: E. Pilling, to January 1st, 1885; F. B. Brooks, 1885 and 1886; C. H. Bacon, 1887; A. P. Somes, 1888; F. U. Scofield, 1889. The lodge now numbers fifty-three. It has lost but one member since its organization-Hosea Green, who died March 5th, 1889. The lodge meets the first and

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third Wednesday nights of each month, in Knights of Pythias Hall.

Lockwood Council, No. 33, O. U. A. M., was organized here May 9th, 1889. It was named in honor of A. D. Lockwood, formerly of this village, chief owner and founder of the Quinebaug Mills. The council was organized with thirty charter members. It gives sickness and death benefits to its members. The member- ship has been already increased to forty. The first officers were: Charles E. Woodis, C .; Walter E. Heath, V. C .; Walter E. Kies, J. Ex. C .; William H. Hamilton, S. Ex. C .; Charles D. Stone, R. S .; George R. Baker, A. S .; Albert Burrows, F. S .; Edward S. Carpenter, treasurer; Adelbert Perkins, inductor; E. G. Baker, examiner; J. J. Rynolds, I. P .; R. J. Coon, O. P .; U. B. Scofield, C. C. Franklin and W. E. Heath, trustees.

Quinebaug Assembly, No. 209, Royal Society of Good Fellows, an insurance order, was instituted February 4th, 1889, by Albert Leavens, supreme deputy of Boston. The first officers were: William H. Wilcox, ruler; Doctor W. H. Judson, past ruler; John E. Westcott, instructor; Charles A. Wood, councillor; Charles D. Stone, secretary; E. C. Babson, F. S .; Frank S. Downer, treas- urer; Charles C. Franklin, prelate; Henry A. Brown, director; W. F. Oates, guard; Frederick G. Oates, sentry; W. H. Leavens, John T. Smith and Doctor W. H. Judson, trustees. The society had twenty-two charter members, and this number has increased to over thirty, a part of which are from Wauregan. Funds to meet insurance are provided by assessments. The headquarters of the order are in Boston. It has many very prominent men among its membership. Doctor W. H. Judson, in May, 1889, received a commission as supreme deputy over this jurisdiction,' which comprehends Windham county.

The first newspaper in this village was called the New England Arena, and was started by Edwin B. Carter in 1844. He had al- ready made some attempts at newspaper publishing in Brooklyn, which he now abandoned for this field. But this enterprise was doomed to early dissolution. In 1848 the Windham County Tele- graph was started here. The True Democrat and the Windham County Gazette were also started here about the same time, but they were short lived. After a fluctuating existence of some ten years, under the successive, if not successful, management of . Francis E. Jaques, its founder, Fred. Peck, F. E. Harrison, J. A. Spalding and C. J. Little, it was sold to J. Q. A. Stone, in 1858.

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Mr. Stone, by hard labor, careful management and unfaltering perseverance, has brought the paper up from a list of four hun- dred circulation to a position of influence and usefulness second to none in the county. It has been the earnest exponent of the great progressive movements in which the welfare of society has been concerned, and in its advocacy of the right it has not made obeisance to questions of personal profit or advancement. It is a neatly printed, nine column folio, issued every Wednes- day evening. A paper called the Herald lived a few years, and was succeeded by the Sentinel, a democratic newspaper, which, after a few years, suspended. The New England Fancier is the title of a neat monthly publication, in pamphlet form, 24 pages, which was started in 1885. It is devoted to poultry. It circu- lates in every state and territory, and in France and England. From the same office is issued a neat four column, quarto paper, devoted to both poultry and dogs, which is called Hamilton's Weekly, started in 1889. The Kennel Department of this is edited by A. R. Crowell of Mattapan, Mass. Both these papers are published by William H. Hamilton. The job printing office with which they are connected has an extensive patronage of poultry and association printing from all parts of the country, and employs from six to ten hands. Mr. Hamilton is an hon- orary member of the Massachusetts Poultry Association, which is largely composed of business and professional men of Boston and vicinity. He is also an active member of the American Poultry Association, and one of the originators and vice-presi- dent of the American Langshan Club, which has its head- quarters in Bellows Falls, Vt., and officers in different parts of the Union.

The Wauregan Brick Company has its post office address in Danielsonville, though its works are mainly on the southern border of the town of Killingly, or over the line in the town of Plainfield. Work was commenced there in 1886. The company was organized under the general joint stock law, in 1886. The works are located on the line of railroad, so that no carting is required. The machinery is run by steam. About 3,000,000 bricks are annually made, about 35 hands being employed in the work. The officers of the company are: George H. Nichols, president; Milton A. Shumway, secretary; John Elliott, treas- urer.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM A. ATWOOD .- Mr. Atwood was one of the most prominent figures in the industrial interests of Killingly. His grandparents were Kimball and Selinda Colgrove Atwood. His father was John Atwood, who married Julia A. Battey. Their son, William Allen, was born August 4th, 1833, in Williamsville, in the town of Killingly, and received more than an elementary education. First entering the Danielsonville High School, he continued his studies at the Scituate Seminary in Rhode Island, and at Wilbraham, Mass., completing his academic education at Middleboro, Mass. He early entered the Williamsville mills, then under the superintendence of his father, and having made himself familiar with their practical workings, soon bore a con- spicuous part in the management of the business. The failing health of his father threw much of the responsibility upon his son, and on the death of the former in 1865, the entire direction of this important manufacturing interest was placed in his hands. Under his watchful eye the business made rapid ad- vancement, and at the date of his death, on the 26th of June, 1881, in New York city, had attained a high degree of prosperity.

Mr. Atwood was married October 4th, 1855, to Caroline A., daughter of Robert K. and Helen Brown Hargraves. Their four children are: Henry Clinton; Bradford Allen, who died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, wife of G. W. Lynn, and William Edwin. Both the sons are interested in the Williams- ville Manufacturing Company, Henry Clinton being the super- intendent, assistant treasurer and secretary. Mr. Atwood was also a stockholder in the large mills at Taftville, and a director of the First National Bank of Killingly. He enjoyed not only the esteem of the community, but the affectionate regard of his employés. This was accomplished by a genial intercourse and a liberal and thoughtful management of his varied interests. In disposition he was retiring and unassuming, doing many kindly acts with such a quiet grace as to make them known only to the recipients of his favor. It has been justly said that he belonged to that class of men who

«* * do good by stealth, And blush to find it fame."

The profound mourning his death occasioned was a just tribute to his usefulness and worth.

W.W.Preston &CENY.

William A Above

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

EDWIN H. BUGBEE .- The subject of this sketch was born in Thompson, April 26th, 1820. His father was James Bugbee, who was born at Woodstock April 11th, 1788, a descendant, through Hezekiah, James, Samuel and Joseph, from Edward Bugby, who came over in the " Francis " from Ipswich, England, in 1634, and settled in Roxbury, Mass. His mother was Eliza- beth Dorrance, a descendant of George Dorrance, who came from the North of Ireland with that large Scotch emigration about the year 1715. He received his education in the public schools of his native town, and was early a clerk in his father's store, de- voting his leisure hours to reading and study. In 1839 he was engaged by a manufacturing firm, located at the Lyman village, North Providence, R. I., as clerk and bookkeeper. The year proving a disastrous one for cotton manufacturers, the firm felt obliged to suspend operations before its close. In the spring of 1840, operations were again resumed at the mill by its owner, Gov- ernor Lemuel H. Arnold, and Mr. Bugbee was continued as clerk. . At the close of 1842 business was again suspended by the failure of Governor Arnold. The summer following, Mr. Bugbee ob- tained a lease of the factory property, and associating with him Mr. Henry Weaver, a practical operator, and receiving abundant financial aid from his friends, the well known firm of S. & W. Foster, of Providence, commenced business on his own account. Although at the commencement the outlook was not flattering, by an unprecedented advance in the price of print cloths, to- gether with prudent management, the business showed at the expiration of the lease gratifying and substantial returns. At the close of the lease, the factory having been sold in the mean- time, Mr. Bugbee returned to his native town, having, during the year, purchased a farm in Thompson; but not finding the business of farming at all congenial to his taste, sold it, and in the summer of 1849 entered the employ of the Williamsville Manufacturing Company, of Killingly, S. & W. Foster the Prov- idence agents, with whom he remained thirty years, retiring in 1879.

Mr. Bugbee seems to have early won the esteem of the citizens of Killingly, they conferring various town offices upon him, and in 1857 elected him as one of their representatives to the general assembly, he serving at this session on the judiciary committee. Although a new member and without legislative experience, he at once took a prominent part in the debates of the session, al-

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ways commanding the close attention of the house, receiving commendation at the close of the session from political papers of both parties. In 1859 he was again returned to the house and appointed chairman of the committee on education. In 1861, the war year, he was elected to the house for the third time, and was again chairman of the committee on education. This session was one of the most important in the history of the state, the inauguration year of the great rebellion; and had en- rolled among the members of either house some of its ablest men. At its commencement the marshaling of troops had al- ready begun, the sound of war everywhere heard, and the ways and means for furnishing material aid and support to the fed- eral government were the engrossing subjects of discussion. At this session the subject of our sketch again took a prominent part on the floor of the house. Aside from war questions at this session, the most exciting subject was that of the Flowage Bill. This bill was ably discussed pro and con, Mr. Bugbee making a lengthy speech in its favor, which was highly commended. In 1863 he was again elected, serving as chairman of the committee on state prison. In 1865 he was elected state senator from the 14th district by the large majority of 1,223 votes. On the floor of the senate as in the house he proved an active member. At this session he was chairman of the committee on banks, and one of the eulogists in the senate on the death of President Lincoln. In 1868 he was elected senator for the second time and chosen president pro tem. of that body, serving as chairman of the com- mittee on military affairs. In 1869 he was in the house and again chairman of the committee on education. He was elected to the house in 1871 and chosen speaker, in which capacity he won especial favor and commendation. In 1873 he was a mem- ber of the house and chairman of the committee on new towns and probate districts. He was elected for the eighth time to the house in 1879, receiving the major vote of both political parties of Killingly, and was chairman of the committee on cities and boroughs.

The partiality of the voters of his adopted town in having elected him eight times their representative-something unusual in Connecticut towns, we think-and on two occasions giving him large majorities for senator, must have been exceedingly gratifying to the subject of our sketch. Mr. Bugbee, though an earnest republican, has never been a violent partisan; and by his

W.W. Preston & C. N.Y.

E. H. Ohneber

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

non-partisan action when a member of the legislature, has re- ceived more or less democratic support. Through all the years of his legislative career he was ever attentive to his duties, sel- dom failing to answer to roll calls, participating in most of the important debates, always listened to with attention, receiving credit in either house as among their most eloquent speakers.

He married, in 1865, Selenda Howard, daughter of Howard Griswold, Esq., of Randolph, Vt. She deceased in July of the following year. He has retired from active business and at pres- ent resides in Putnam, Conn. He is a life member of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, and its vice-president for Connecticut, and is much interested in genealogical investiga- tion. He has been one of the directors of the First National Bank of Putnam since the first year of its existence. He is rep- resented as being heartily in favor of tariff and civil service re- form, and condemns as unpatriotic the policy so often pursued by the political party that is out of power of opposing on purely partisan grounds and for party purposes the measures proposed by the party in power, which very measures if they, the minor- ity, were in power they themselves would recommend and ad- vocate.

HENRY N. CLEMONS, cashier of the First National Bank of Killingly, was born in Granby, Conn., son of Allen and Catharine Clemons. He was educated in the district school, the Granby Academy, the Suffield Literary Institution and the Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. He began teaching at sixteen years of age, and taught in Hartland, Granby and Hartford, Conn., and Woonsocket and Central Falls, R.I. He was for a while in the office of the commissioner of the school fund in Hartford, Conn. In 1844 he commenced railroading on the New Haven & Northampton road, with the engineer corps. He served as sta- tion agent at Farmington and Collinsville, Conn., and was assist- ant postmaster at the latter place; then ticket agent of the Providence & Worcester road at Providence. In 1855 he com- menced banking, as clerk in the Arcade Bank, at Providence, and in 1856 became teller of the Merchants' Bank, then the re- deeming bank for Rhode Island, in the old Suffolk system. In June, 1864, he was elected cashier of the First National Bank of Killingly, Conn., then just organized, which office he now holds, after more than twenty-five years' service, a period longer than any other cashier in eastern Connecticut. The capital of the

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 95

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