History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 99

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

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croach on any road." June 14th, 1770, a meeting was held in the meeting house to hear the report of the pew committee. Each pew was to be occupied by two families. Forty inhabi- tants, highest on the list, were to draw said pews according to their lists; build the pews and ceil the gallery girths. This re- port was accepted and the pews were distributed as follows: 1. Benjamin Walker, Elijah Whiton; 2. Ebenezer Dimmock, Icha- bod Ward; 3. Thomas Chapman, Ebenezer Walker; 4. Joseph Woodward, Zaccheus Hill; 5. Ezra Smith, Ebenezer Walker; 6. David Chaffee, William Thompson; 7. David Robbins, George Smith; 8. Adonijah Baker, Josiah Chaffee; 9. John Warren, Josiah Rogers; 10. Ezekiel Tiffany, Benjamin Chaffee; 11. Jedi- diah Blanchard, Benjamin Walker, Jr .; 12. William Henfield, James Whiton; 13. Samuel Eastman, Henry Works; 14. James Averill, Job Tyler; 15. Ezekiel Holt, David Chaffee; 16. James Ould, Stephen Coye; 17. Abijah Brooks, Simon Smith; 18. Eph- raim Walker, Jonathan Abbe; 19. Jacob Fuller, William Preston. Probably the 20th seat was for the minister's family.

Among newly arrived families, bringing them additional strength, was that of Stephen Nott, the father of sons of great promise, and Doctor Thomas Huntington of Lebanon, who proved a most valuable acquisition to both the society and the town.

In. March, 1778, Reverend Elisha Hutchinson was ordained the second minister in Westford. His ministry seems to have been quite brief for these early times. Reverend William Storrs, the third pastor, was a native of Mansfield; ordained in Westford, November 10th, 1790. His was a long and successful ministry. He died while pastor in Westford, greatly loved and lamented by his people. Reverend Luke Wood of Waterbury, the fourth pastor in Westford, was installed December 13th, 1826. He seems to have been a good minister, useful in his work, but after a few years he left for other fields of labor. After he left Reverend Alvan Underwood labored for several years as acting pastor, withcut installation. His labors were quite successful, and he was highly esteemed by his ministerial brethren, and among the churches. For brief periods Reverend Mr. Hurd, who afterward labored in the West, and Mr. Langdon were acting pastors. Reverend Charles S. Adams, the fifth and last installed pastor in Westford, of Roxbury, Mass., was in- stalled January 7th, 1846, Reverend Richard S. Storrs, D.D., of

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Braintree, a relative of a former pastor, preaching the sermon of installation. At the same time the new meeting house was dedicated, Reverend Roswell Whitmore of West Killingly, a native of Westford, preaching the sermon of dedication. At the laying of the corner stone Reverend Charles Hyde of Ashford, and Reverend Francis Williams of Chaplin, assisted Mr. Adams in the public services of the occasion. Mr. Adams commenced his labors in Westford, September 15th, 1844, but was not in- stalled until the new meeting house was built. This delay was deemed best by him and his people, as the old meeting house was in a dilapidated condition, and they fully intended to build, but could not at once unite upon the location of the new house of worship. Mr. Adams taught a select school during a part of his ministry in Westford, affording superior facilities for the education of his own children and of other young people in the vicinity. After laboring with this people for fourteen years he was dismissed, and commenced laboring soon after in Strongs- ville, O. He afterward labored in Michigan, but failing health compelled him to retire from the active labors of the ministry. As he neared the close of life, his wife, worn with taking care of her husband, was taken with disease which soon terminated in her death, a few hours before his own. He knew she was too ill to watch at his bedside, but in his low state it was not thought best to inform him of her departure. He expressed bright hopes for his own home above, but said his only anxiety was for his poor wife, whom he must leave not so well provided for in the things of this world as he could wish. How glad must have been his surprise to find her ready to welcome him to the new home, having reached it a few hours before his arrival. One funeral service, and the husband and wife who had long walked life's journey together, were laid to rest in one common grave. Neither sadly mourned the departure of the other.

Thus every pastor who has been settled over the people in Westford has closed his labors upon earth. Since the labors of Mr. Adams closed in Westford the pulpit has been supplied by acting pastors, whose labors have continued only for a few years each with this people, Reverend Messrs. Griswold, Kinney, Be- man, White, Allen and John R. Freeman, who died while in service, and is buried in the beautiful cemetery in Westford. Reverend Oscar Bissell has been acting pastor for several years and is still doing good service as the minister in Westford.

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The deacons have been, Elijah Whiton, Thomas Chapman, Amos Kendall, William Walker, Abner Chaffee, Nathan Barker, Benjamin Chapman, Allan Bosworth, Ebenezer Chaffee, Nathan Huntington, Chauncey Whiton, Charles W. Brett, now acting deacon, all who preceded him, it is thought, have entered the higher service above.

During the great revival which occurred about the year 1740, and the commotion of the Separatist or New Light factions, a part of the people of Ashford were inclined toward Baptist ideas. The severe agitation in the church of the standing order strengthened the volume of those holding Baptist sentiments. So rapidly did the Baptists increase in numbers that in the sum- mer of 1743 they were organized as a distinct church. This was the first Baptist church formed in Windham county. Thomas Denison, of New London, a recent convert to Baptist principles, became its pastor. His ordination took place in November, 1743, the "laying on of hands " being by Elder Moulton, of Brimfield, who had himself been ordained by Elder John Callendar, of Newport, and other noted Baptist fathers. The church thus organized had but a brief existence. Mr. Denison soon declared himself mistaken, renounced his Baptist principles, fell into a rambling itineracy, and left his church disheartened and disor- ganized, to fall to pieces. After some years of weakness and struggles the members of this church were incorporated into the church of Brimfield.

Westford is the native place of men of eminence and useful- ness in the country: Reverend Enoch Huntington, Reverend Roswell Whitmore, Reverend William Chaffee and Reverend Homer Sears, Baptists; Reverend Samuel Whiton, missionary in Africa, who wrote an excellent volume on the Dark Conti- nent, and when his failing health admonished him that he must return to his native land, reluctantly closed his labors there, to resume them again as soon as renewed vigor permitted his re- turn. When his health gave way the second time he bade fare- well to the land of his adoption, and came back to the land of his birth. In improved but broken health he renewed his loved work at the West and the South, until the voice of providence clearly admonished him that his life upon earth must soon close.

Reverend Elijah Robbins, who has also for more than thirty years labored under the direction of the American Board in Western Africa with much faithfulness and success, an early

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school-mate of Samuel Whiton, had his early home in Westford. Reverend Theron Brown, Baptist, also a school-mate of Whiton and Robbins, has a high standing in the ministry, in the circle of American poets and as an editor of the Youth's Companion. A small hill town parish, raising up ministers and missionaries like this, may well be commended. We may almost apply the words of the wise man: "Many daughters have done virtuously but thou excellest them all." It is not in raising up ministers alone that Westford is to be praised. Men of eminence have entered other walks of usefulness. Judge George Lincoln fills a high station in the legal profession in the state of New York. Ezra White, Esq., was a successful merchant in New York city, and his benefactions for the support of the gospel in his native place and in enlarging and enclosing the beautiful cemetery, where rest the mortal remains of his ancestors, is a worthy ex- ample for successful sons who leave our hill towns for the busi- ness centers of our republic. Doctor Melancthon Storrs, grand- son of Reverend William Storrs, a surgeon in the army during the rebellion, and eminent among the physicians of Hartford and in the state, also his brother, William Storrs, Esq., for many years superintendent of the coal mines in Scranton, Pa., lib- eral in doing for his native place. Many others fill stations of usefulness as teachers, wives of eminent men, citizens, temper- ate, industrious, respected and useful.

The Baptist church in Westford was formed in 1780, through the instrumentality to a great degree of Mr. John Rathburn, who had removed from Stonington, and was ordained as its pas- tor, March 15th, 1781. A membership of fifty-four was reported in 1795. Elder Rathburn with his family friends possessed a goodly amount of property, contributed largely in preparing a place for public worship, and gave the land for the cemetery of the village, thus showing that it is not always to the advantage of a church to have the minister poor and dependent upon his people for his support. Under this ministry the church was quite united and prosperous. Among his successors were Elder Amos Babcock and Reverend Ezekiel Skinner, M. D., under whose labors the church grew strong and prosperous. He was a man of varied abilities, with an executive ability unusual. He was efficient in ministerial labors, giving lectures on sub- jects of much interest at the time, and having a medical prac- tice which would have been considered sufficient for most men

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in the profession. He lectured on the prophecies, on slavery and the live topics of the age. After he closed his labors with the church in Westford Reverends Dexter Monger, Washington Monger, Amos Snell and others for longer or shorter periods labored with this church.

This church has had a varied history. A large, wealthy, and influential portion of the community cherished what are called the Christian Baptist doctrines. They did not admit that Christ was in Divinity equal with the Father. They had a decidedly separate interest from the strict Baptists, and the latter could not candidly fellowship them. There was also a portion of the Baptists who did not hold restricted communion. These at length united with the Christians, and in 1862 they re-organ- ized into a Free Will Baptist church. Reverend G. W. Cortis commenced his labors in 1862. He served them for about two years, and when he left in 1864, Reverend P. B. Hopkins com- menced his labors with the church. He labored for about nine years, and was succeeded in 1873 by Reverend D. C. Wheeler, and in 1877 Reverend L. P. Bickford commenced his labors and continued until 1881. Two deacons served this Free Will Bap- tist church, Royal Chapman and Lemuel Willis.

At this period, the Strict Communion Baptists had come into the ascendency and under the lead of the state missionary the church was reorganized as a regular Baptist church. In 1884 Reverend L. S. Brown was ordained as their minister, and he was followed by Rev. J. H. Bidwell, who was succeeded by Rev- erend A. J. Culver and he by Reverend Oscar Bissell. The present pastor is Reverend Samuel Thatcher, who ministers to this church and that in Warrenville. This church has two deacons, Nehemiah Clapp and Captain Jacob Walls. From this parish originated Reverend Amos Snell, Reverend Henry Coe, and also Reverend Frederick Coe, Andrew Richmond, a gradu- ate of Yale College, a successful teacher, afterward in mercantile life in New York, and Charles Dean, a member of the glass com- pany, and now president of the National Bank at Stafford Springs, also Hon. Edwin Busk of Willimantic. He still owns a saw and grist mill in Westford, doing a large business, prin- cipally at present in preparing car timber.

In the olden time the Richmond and Sons company did a profitable business in manufacturing what were called the Richmond Socks. They made an overshoe from cloth webbing

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such as was used in trimming carriages, and before the India rubber came into use, they had an extensive sale, and the com- pany became wealthy. Here the glass works were located. The Richmonds, Busk and Dean, did a large business and accumulated wealth in the manufactory. But this business has ceased, and the " Richmond village" is not doing the business for which it was formerly celebrated. The present meeting house in which the people of the village meet for worship was built in 1840.

John Warren, Esq., manifested much anxiety to have a Baptist church organized in the western part of Ashford, in a village on the turnpike from Hartford to Boston and Providence. The First, or as it was often called, the Knowlton meeting house, was not considered so central, nor easy of access as many thought desirable. But the people in the vicinity of the old church were greatly opposed to giving up worship in their sanc- tuary, and continued for a time to worship there after another congregation was formed in "Pompey Hollow," as the place was then called. Mr. Warren offered a fund to support worship in the Hollow, and the name of the village was changed to War- renville. A church was organized January 22d, 1848, with eight members, viz., Nathaniel Sheffield and his wife Polly Sheffield, Celia A. Coates, Sophia Hammond, John Church, James Kent, Hiram Cady and his wife Miriam Cady. The min- isters employed have been : Washington Monger, 1848; Percival Mathewson, 1850; J. B. Maryott, 1854; Tubal Wakefield, 1858 ; Elder Fulton, Lucien Burleigh, 1864; C. B. Rockwell, 1863; David Avery, 1871; E. P. Mathewson, 1878; J. J. Bronson, 1880; C. N. Nichols, 1881; L. S. Brown, 1886; N. Kingsbury, 1887; L. Thatcher, 1889, present pastor. The deacons have been, Hiram Cady, John Church, Jared Lanphear, and Stephen C. Robbins, serving at the present time. Present membership of the church, 86; non-resident 36. The meeting house was built in 1848. Permanent funds for the support of the minister were given by Nathaniel Sheffield $1,000, John Warren $300, Eben- ezer James $1,000.

In the olden time, the Collins brothers built a carpet factory here, and a good business was carried on, also there was a machine for carding wool, and a hat factory. There has also been a bone mill where fertilizers are prepared. Lombard and Mathewson have a grist mill and saw mill, in which a large lum-

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bering business is done. Carriage spokes are here prepared in large quantities. Several stores and mechanic shops give a business-like air to this settlement.

The town of Ashford has furnished men eminent and useful in church and state. Doctor Samuel Nott, for more than half a century pastor in Franklin, and his brother Eliphalet, the dis- tinguished president of Union College; Reverend Daniel Dow, D.D., who spent a long and useful life in Thompson, a corporate member of the American Board, a trustee and one of the found- ers of the Theological Institute at East Windsor Hill; also his brother, Reverend Hendric Dow, a scholar who bid fair to reach eminence, but died in early manhood ; Reverend William Gay- lord; Reverend Samuel Gaylord, a successful teacher most of his life; three Doctor Palmers of eminence, father, son and grandson, and Doctor John Simmons. But in the military rec- ords of the town Ashford holds a high place. Supplies were promptly sent to Boston when the port was closed by the Brit- ish power. When the news came of the battle of Lexington, seventy-eight men under Captain Thomas Knowlton marched from the town for the scene of conflict. Only eight towns in the state furnished more men at that time than Ashford. Two months after the battle of Lexington one hundred men from this town were in the battle of Bunker Hill, under Captain Knowlton. Colonel Knowlton was one of the most brilliant of our revolutionary officers, highly valued by Washington, and prevented from rising to the highest military honors only by his early death in the battle of Harlem Heights. In the late civil war Ashford furnished her full quota of brave men. Dea- con James G. Gaylord died a starved prisoner in Andersonville. It is said that when he felt the hand of death upon him, he re- quested a comrade, if he survived, to write to his family, sent tender messages, took a photograph of his wife from his bosom, looked upon it until his eyes grew dim in death, and his hand still grasped the picture, when death could not unclasp the lov- ing grasp. Also Deacon John Brown, with others, did good ser- vice for the country.

The Babcock Library, of which the people of this town are justly proud, is the result of a generous bequest of one of the sons of Ashford, who had achieved success in other fields, but did not forget his native town. The following is a copy of that clause of the will of Archibald Babcock, a former resident of the

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town of Ashford, but late deceased in the city of Charlestown, Mass., which clause of said will, with the bequest therein con- tained, laid the foundation of the Babcock Library :-

" I also give and bequeath to the inhabitants of the said town of Ashford, the further sum of THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, to be held in trust forever, by said inhabitants, or by Trustees to be appointed or elected by said inhabitants, and the income thereof, only, to be applied and expended towards establishing and maintaining a Free Public Library in said town, for the use of the inhabitants of said town ; and I direct that all the income for and during the first fifteen years, shall be annually expended in the purchase of books."

(11 Oct. 1862.)

The library was opened about 1866, in the Warrenville store. It had then about one hundred volumes. There was at first no librarian appointed for it, but about 1873 the town appointed Peter Platt librarian, at a salary of $10 for the first year. He has filled that office ever since that date. The library now con- tains 2,200 volumes of history, biography, travel, science and fiction, both standard and current. In selecting books for the library, its patrons are requested to send in lists of what to them are desirable books, and from all such recommendations the committee nake choice. Mr. Platt in 1885 built an addition to his house for a room to accommodate the library. The room thus prepared for it is 14 by 18 feet in size, and will accommo- date five to six thousand volumes.

Archibald Babcock, a former resident of Ashford, went to Charlestown, Mass., and became a wealthy brewer. He left $6,000, the annual income of which was to be expended in Ash- ford, one-half in the manner described, and the other half in promoting band music in the town. In case no band should be organized or maintained, the income was to be expended in hir- ing some band from outside the town to come in and play where the townspeople could hear it. Under the encouragement of this bequest, a band has been organized and is ably maintained.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

DANFORD KNOWLTON was born at Ashford, Windham county, Conn., May 5th, 1811. His father and mother were Daniel and Hannah Knowlton, both of the same name, and from families remotely connected. The records of the families are too imper- fect to admit of genealogy with accuracy. On the paternal side

Sanford Knowlton

ARTOTYPE, & BIERSTADT N. V

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they were farmers in comfortable circumstances, having influence in the community, and filling places of trust and responsibility. On the maternal side they were also farmers, the grandfather of the subject of the present sketch, Daniel Knowlton, and Thomas Knowlton, his brother, being conspicuous while quite young in the war against the French and Indians, serving with General Putnam, and in the early struggles for national independence, in which Colonel Thomas Knowlton fell at the battle of Harlem, and Daniel served through the war, being nearly two years a prisoner in the hands of the British. Colonel Knowlton was among the first to respond to the call for troops, and raised a company in Ashford, joining the colonial forces near Boston, where he became conspicuous in the fortification and defense of Bunker Hill. It was much to be regretted that one so highly esteemed should be lost to the country in its early struggle for national independence, and not unlike the loss it afterward sus- tained in the death of his grandnephew, General Nathaniel Lyon, of Ashford, who fell while leading a charge upon the con- federate forces at Wilson's Creek, Mo., August 10th, 1861.

In the autumn of 1832 the subject of this biography left a happy paternal home with a desire to find some occupation more congenial to his taste than farming. On April 10th, 1833, he entered into an existing firm doing a wholesale grocery business in Hartford, Conn. Continuing the same class of business until December, 1843, he removed to New York, looking for a wider field of operations. With some changes of partners, the whole- sale grocery business was continued until 1852, when he visited the island of Cuba and united the importation of its products with the existing enterprise. This mixed class of business was continued until 1861, when all but that of importation was abandoned, and the interest with partners ceased. Importations from the West Indies were continued, with the addition of com- merce with South America until 1885, when it was brought to a close, thus completing fifty-two years of mercantile life with the varied success incident to such ventures, having met all obliga- tions in full at maturity.

During the continuance of the importing business a good deal of controversy arose between importers and refiners of sugar respecting the proper duty to be placed upon various classes of sugar, the latter desiring so to discriminate against the better classes suitable for consumption as to prevent their importation.

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These controversies led to various appeals to congress, in which the importers generally found the champagne and good dinners of the refiners more effective than the solid arguments and cold water of the importers. Thus that "infant industry " was so protected as to lead to colossal fortunes among the refiners of sugar, at the expense of the consumers, resulting in the ex- clusion from the country of all sugars except such as are re- quired for refining. In those controversies Mr. Knowlton took a prominent part, appearing before committees of congress and contributing many articles on the subject to the press, and other- wise reaching the attention of the members of congress.

In his matrimonial experience Mr. Knowlton was one of the most fortunate of men. Married to Miss Miranda H. Rockwell, the daughter of Park and Esther Rockwell of Stafford, Conn., September 26th, 1837, he passed almost forty-nine years of a most happy union with one whose amiable character rendered her beloved by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. Four children were born to them: Maria R., D. Henry, Miner R. and Gertrude M., the former dying at an early age. Pre- vious to retirement from business, Mr. Knowlton built a fine country residence in Stafford, at the birthplace of his wife, with a view of spending at least his summers in that delightful lo- cality.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE TOWN OF EASTFORD.

Location and Description .- Organized as an Ecclesiastical Society .- Cotton Mills. -Search for Gold .- Latham Twine Mill .- Smith Snow .- Crystal Lake .- Factories of Eastford Village .- Cotton and Woolen, Wagon Wheels, Leather, Boots and Shoes, Axes and Hatchets, Carriages, Scythes, Plow Handles and Beams, Bobbins .- Town Incorporation .- Communication .- Honored Sons .- Congregational Church .- The Society of North Ashford .- The Methodist Church .- Ministers and Teachers .- The "Church of Bacchus." -- Creamery. -Biographical Sketch.

T' HE town of Eastford, lying in the northwest part of Wind- ham county, is about nine miles in length from north to south, and has an average width of about three miles. Its area would thus approximate twenty-seven square miles. It is a well watered town, the Natchaug river running through the length of it, and receiving within its bounds several tributaries, the largest of which are Bigelow river from the west and Bun- gee brook from the east. It has no railroad track within its borders. Farming and manufacturing are the chief occupations of the people. The town was formerly included in the territory of Ashford, which joins it on the west. Other boundaries of the town are Union on the north, Woodstock on the north and east, making an offset of about three miles square upon the northeast corner, Pomfret on the east and Hampton and Chaplin on the south. The population in 1870 was 984, and in 1880, SS5.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 99

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