USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 19
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He was acting school visitor twenty years, between 1841- 75, and a member of the school board until 1893. He repre- sented the town in the Legislature in 1852. He was appointed county surveyor, by the County Court, in 1841, and after the death of Judge Burrall he was appointed, by the Surveyor- general, deputy State Surveyor for Litchfield County. He practiced surveying until a few years before his death, when
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failing health compelled him to relinquish the work. He has probably run the lines and established the boundaries of more farms in the county than any other man.
He was greatly interested in astronomy and geology. He read the heavens, so far as visible with the naked eye, with the facility with which he read a page of print, and was greatly pleased to have been the one in the county to find first with the naked eye the planets Mercury and Uranus. He first called the attention of the people in the county, through his newspaper correspondence, to the wonderful marks made on the rocks by the glaciers in the early ages, which are now so plainly seen on the tops of our mountains.
His wife was Delia Beach of Goshen, a noble woman, in- telligent, studious, and making home attractive, and interest- ing herself in everything that could add to the good of the community. Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Moses Cook were faithful workers for the comfort of the soldiers during the Rebellion, and it is remembered of them that they were the first to deco- rate the graves of the soldiers with flowers, before such an in- stitution as Memorial Day was thought of. (See Norton and Beach Gen.)
John Marsh Wadhams (see Wadhams' Gen.) was asso- ciated with many interests in the town of Goshen during the entire period, from the time when he was eighteen years of age, until two years previous to his death. He naturally pos- sessed a strong intellect, was a man of excellent judgment, shrewd but strictly honest in his business transactions, a man of strong convictions and the courage to state and maintain them. Such a man would, in the very nature of things, find a place at the front, and that was the position to which he was constantly being called by his fellow citizens.
He was left without a father when he was three years of age, and his mother, four years later, married her first hus- band's brother. In a pleasant home,- but where, as he once said, "I found my play in changing work," - he spent his
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summers in work on the farm, and winters at school, until he had made such progress that he became a teacher during the winter months. He grew up to a strong and stalwart manhood. He took an interest in town and public affairs from the time of his majority, early identified himself with the Whig party, and for a little with the American party, of which he was a loyal member and ardent supporter until the birth of the Republican party, with its more definite principles and wider interests, which claimed and received his allegiance, from which he never swerved until the day of his death.
He was an office-holder,- as stated in the history of Litch- field County - for almost fifty years, and with a single excep- tion, filled every position of trust or profit within the gift of his fellow townsmen. During and after the war, he was for sev- eral years collector of internal revenue for the district includ- ing Goshen and adjoining towns. He served fifteen years as selectman and most of the time as chairman of the board, and to him must be largely credited the signal ability with which Goshen was carried through the drafts, enlistments, bounties, and extra expenses of the War of the Rebellion, without a debt or an obligation unpaid.
He was a representative in the State Legislature, in 1844, and served on the committee on the sale of lands; again in 1845, and was chairman of the committee on claims; in 1880, and was chairman of the committee of forfeited rights. He was Senator from the Seventeenth District in 1858, and chair- man of the committee on the state prison. Although the representative of a small town, he had marked influence in legislation, and it was said of him in the New Haven Register, of February 29, 1880, "He is one of the most popular men in the House, and has a host of friends."
Mr. Wadhams possessed a very kind heart, and is remem- bered by the many whom he has helped with money or by other means as the " friend indeed." He was not a man of
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lavish generosity, but a real need never was met by him with denial.
Never connected with any church, he was always inter- ested in the affairs of the First Ecclesiastical Society, and was frequently chairman of its executive committee.
He was compelled, by the infirmities of his advancing years, to relinquish all business for some three years before his death. In the commodious home which he had made, and where he had spent so many active years, he rested, patiently waiting for the call to depart. He seemed to have no disease, and, until near the very last days of life, was in possession of his mental powers, and often would enliven the visit of some friend by a quaint witticism or a gentle sarcasm, the familiar sparkle of his eyes telling that he was the same man as in the days of active life.
His faithful service for those whose estates he adminis- tered, his care as guardian for minors, his faithful administra- tion and accounting of trusts which he held, his wisdom as an adviser, his unswerving fidelity as a friend will cause him to be remembered long after the present generations shall have passed away.
Honorable Frederick Miles was born in Goshen, Decem- beer 19, 1815. His early training was in this town, in one of its homes, in its district schools, and its Academy. His ancestors were of that sturdy stock who made New England what it is, and whose sons and daughters form the best elements in the newer communities which stud the country between the two oceans.
He possessed marked ability as a merchant and business man, and as the junior of the firm of A. Miles & Son he not only did much in building up the large business of the firm. but so won the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact that he was recognized as possessing the qualifications which it honors the people to honor. In 1857, he removed to Salisbury, and there he added to the comfortable
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fortune that he already possessed, engaging in the business of manufacturing iron, which he enlarged from time to time, to his own profit, and the good of the place where the business was carried on.
He was honored with office at the hands of his fellow citi- zens, having been elected a State Senator, and later he served three terms as a member of Congress. His well-balanced mind, his integrity and general knowledge of public affairs, and faith- fulness to the interests of his constituents, not only gave him influence in the legislative halls, but made him popular with those whose suffrages placed him in office.
Towards the close of his life he confessed his faith in Christ, and left this world at peace with all his fellows and with his God.
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CHAPTER XV.
Mails and Post-offices; War of 1812; Foreign Missionary So- ciety; The Moral Society; Ordination of Missionaries; Connecticut Historical Collections.
MAILS AND POST-OFFICES.
Goshen, Litchfield, and other towns in this county received their letters, if they had any, from the post-office in Hartford as late as 1766. We have no idea how the letters reached that office, nor how they were obtained from there. In that year a post-rider was engaged between Hartford and Litchfield, but his trips must have been infrequent at first. . Most of the com- municating in those days was by means of personal visits to the relatives and friends that were left behind when the early settlers removed to the " Western Lands." In 1789 a post- route was established between New Haven and Lenox, Mass., and the rider passed through Goshen. In 1793 a post-office was established in Litchfield, and the Goshen people received their papers and letters at that office until 1805, when an office was established at Goshen, and Erastus Lyman was appointed the post-master. The mail was received but once a week until 1817, when there were two mails weekly and four years later a daily mail, which has continued from that date. At that date a stage route was established between New York and Albany, the route passing through Goshen. A branch route was es- tablished to Norfolk, a weekly stage between Hartford and Sharon also passed through the town, and the daily trips of the Concord coaches, and frequently several extras, gave life to the town and patronage to several taverns, which the thirsty passengers would never allow the coach to pass without a stop. There was a post-office on East street from 1819 to 1838, one at
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Nortlı Goshen for six years from 1832, and an office estab- lished at West Goshen in 1849. This office with the one at the Center are the only offices in the town at the present time, the residents at North Goshen receiving their mail at South Norfolk. The mail at the Centre is larger to-day than in 1830, when the population of the town was nearly double what it is at the present time.
THE WAR OF 1812.
After the most diligent search possible in the town and Norton records, I fail to find any evidence of enlistment or service in the army of any resident of Goshen, with the fol- lowing exception, which is taken from Vol. II, Norton records, page 620:
" Hiram Stanley was born at Goshen, February 19, 1794. He was a young man much beloved and concerning whom his friends were called to grievous mournings. In the battle at Buffalo, in the three-years war, he was among the American militia, hastily called out. He was never seen after the battle, nor is it known with certainty what became of him. It is sup- posed, however, that he was wounded and carried into a barn with others, which barn was burned by the British.
FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
In order to interest the churches in the work of Foreign Missions, and to secure funds for the carrying on of the work, societies auxiliary to the A. B. C. F. M. were formed, and among the first, if not the first, in the state, was the society organized in Litchfield County.
A circular, of which the following is a copy, was sent to the pastors of all the churches in the county.
" April 3d, 1812.
" Reverend Sir;
" At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of Litchfield, and of other gentlemen from different parts of the County on Friday evening, 3d instant, for the purpose of considering the propriety
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of attempting the establishment of an auxiliary foreign mission society for the County, the following votes were passed.
"1st. Voted that it is expedient and highly important that an attempt be made to form a society in the county to aid in the trans- lation and spread of the Bible - and in the support of foreign mis- sions.
" 2d. Voted - that a committee be appointed to prepare a con- stitution to be submitted to the consideration of those who may here- after assemble to associate for the purposes above specified, and to invite the friends of missions of all denominations to unite in the benevolent design of translating the Bible into all languages and spreading the Gospel among all people.
"3d. Voted - That the contemplated meeting be held in Litch- field, on the first Tuesday of May next, at 2 o'clock, afternoon.
" The following gentlemen are chosen a committee to form the constitution. The Rev. Amos Chase, Rev. Lyman Beecher, Hon. Tapping Reeve and Uriel Holmes, Esq.
" Sir -The Committee request you to make such use of the above, as your own discretion shall dictate. It is however con- ceived to be important that people in the different towns should understand the object of the appointed meeting early - and that, the Clergy and as many beside as can attend should be present.
" Tapping Reeve, in behalf of the Committee."
The first meeting was held the fifth of May, at which meet- ing a constitution was adopted and Hon. John Cotton Smith was elected president, and re-elected to this office from year to year until 1836.
Rev. Joseph Harvey and several others were present from Goshen, and Mr. Harvey contributed $10. Agents were ap- pointed to make collections in the different towns in the county, Mr. Abraham Norton and Mr. Elisha Baldwin for Goshen. At the next meeting it was found that $1,287.51 had been raised in the county, of which amount Goshen had con- tributed $164.93, with but a single exception, the largest sum received from any town in the county.
The last meeting was held in 1878, and the succeeding year the Society was dissolved by the action of a committee ap- pointed with power. After the first year, Deacon Lewis M. Norton held the position of collector in Goshen until the end.
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From the Memorial Volume, A. B. C. F. M., 1861, the following extract is made:
" A description of one of these collectors, a fine specimen of his class, has been furnished by Dr. A. C. Thompson :- Deacon Lewis M. Norton, of Goshen, Conn., commenced act- ing as a collector the second year after the formation of the Litchfield County Auxiliary, and continued in the service more than thirty years. He performed this entire work for the town alone, and every year, with one exception when he was sick. His son then acted for him. He commenced his work in season, at least one week before the county anniver- sary, and was always ready to report in full at the general meeting. His private affairs required great activity on his part, yet he devoted an entire week annually to this business. His visits to families were always pleasant, and he laid out his routes in such a way as would enable him to dine where he ex- pected to get no money. His subscription lists, receipted by the treasurer of the Auxiliary, are all still on file among his papers. The treasurer was for many years the venerable Colonel Talmadge of Litchfield, at whose house the collectors and their wives were expected to dine on the day of the anni- versary. My impression is, that that Auxiliary was, at least in its earlier years, one of the most successful of the kind; and that, in proportion to property and population, more was contributed in Goshen than in any other town in the county or state. I have at least heard that affirmed, but have no data for substantiating the same."
The impression noted above is confirmed by the figures, and the benevolence was not confined to the Foreign Mis- sionary work, but to Home Missions as well. This will be apparent to all by the figures found under the head of Congre- gational Church Benevolences.
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THE MORAL SOCIETY.
In an old record book where other matters are recorded, which have no reference to what follows, I find the following:
" At a meeting of the Members from the several branch Moral Societies of Litchfield, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Sharon, Salisbury, South Farms, Warren, and Torrington, convened at Goshen, on Friday, the 30th day of May at 10 o'clock A.M., 1815, pursuant to a circular Letter for the pur- pose of concerting measures for the more effectual execution of the Laws respecting breaches of the Sabbath. That by a union of sentiment, the friends of order may be able more effectu- ally to raise and support the standard of public morals.
" Julius Deming, Esq., chosen Chairman.
" James Morris, Clerk.
" The meeting was opened by prayer by the Rev. David L. Perry.
"Voted to appoint a committee of one from each town pres- ent to form some resolutions to be laid before this meeting. The following Gentlemen were appointed: Revd. Lyman Beecher, Mr. Abraham Norton, Genl. John Sedgwick, John Talmadge, Esq., Samuel Lee, Esq., Revd. Charles Prentice and the Revd. David L. Perry.
" The committee made the following report, viz .:
" Whereas, the suppression of Vice and the promotion of Morals, and particularly the rescuing the Sabbath from pro- fanation are of vital importance to the peace and happiness of our country; and whereas much may be done by concert and union of efforts, which cannot be effected by individuals, Therefore, resolved,
" I. That there shall be a Convention of Moral Societies in this vicinity annually so long as may be thot expedient, in the several towns by rotation - on the fourth Tuesday of June - and that each Moral Society in this Connexion be invited to send not less than six delegates to such meeting, and that each member generally be invited to attend.
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" II. Resolved, That at each Annual Meeting a sermon shall be delivered by some person previously appointed.
"III. We consider it highly important to prevent all unneces- sary travelling on the Sabbath, and in our several places as officers and as private citizens, we will take all suitable measures to cause the laws, which relate to the Sabbath to be respected, and that we will strengthen and support each other in accomplishing this object.
"IV. That public notice be given in some suitable manner, that there is a general agreement and determination in the towns of this vicinity to prevent travelling and unnecessary labour on the Sabbath and that a committee be appointed for this purpose.
" V. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to those informing officers and magistrates who have been active and faithful in promoting a reformation in morals, by a prompt execu- tion of the Laws.
" VI. We will unite to execute the Laws respecting the retail- ing of ardent spirits and to suppress intemperance and profanity.
" VII. Resolved, That a committee of arrangements be ap- pointed annually, and to continue in office till others are appointed, to make the necessary appointments and superintend the business of the Convention generally when not in session.
" VIII. Resolved, That the Committee of arrangements be di- rected to publish an address to the public on the subject of pro- moting virtue and good morals, with the resolutions of the Con- vention and that such advice as experience may have suggested relative to duty, and to the execution of the Laws of this State, and containing such information generally on the subject of Morals as may be deemed useful."
" At two o'clock P. M. the Revd. Lyman Beecher preached an appropriate sermon from Matthew the first ten verses, to a large audience. The meeting was interesting, de- vout and solemn.
" Voted to appoint a Committee of Arrangements.
" The persons appointed were the following, viz. : Litchfield, Revd. Lyman Beecher and Uriel Holmes, Esq. Canaan N. Soc., Revd. Pitkin Cowles ( ? ) Doct. Thos. Hunt- ington.
Canaan South Soc., Revd. Charles Prentice.
Cornwall, Revd. Timothy Stone, Gen. John Sedgwick. Goshen, Revd. Joseph Harvey & Moses Lyman, Esq.
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Kent, Julius Caswell, Esq.
Sharon, Revd. David L. Perry, Cyrus Swan, Esq.
Salisbury, Mr. Gideon Smith, Jr.
South Farms, James Morris, Esq. & Mr. Hezekiah Murray. Torrington, Dea. Abel Hinsdale.
Warren, Revd. Peter Starr & John Tallmadge, Esq.
" Moses Lyman, Esq., Lewis M. Norton & Mr. Erastus Ly- man were appointed a committee to carry the 4th resolution into effect.
" The next annual meeting to be holden at Canaan, South Society, on the fourth Tuesday of June 1816. The Revd. Joseph Harvey to preach the sermon.
" Adjourned sine die.
" Test James Marvin, Clerk."
ORDINATION OF THE MISSIONARIES.
The account which follows is taken from the Commemora- tive Address, delivered September 28, 1869, in Goshen, at the semi-centenary of the ordination of the first missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, by Rev. A. C. Thompson, D.D., pastor of the Eliot Church, Boston, Mass.
Dr. Thompson says: " Of the Sandwich Islands' mission, Goshen may not improperly be said to be the birthplace. Be- fore the death of Obookiah, Dr. Harvey was one of those who became instrumental in giving form to the idea and purpose. The Executive Committee of the agency, having in charge the Cornwall school, requested him to prepare a petition to the American Board, that they would send out a mission to the islands in question. Such a petition having been written ac- cordingly, and signed by the committee, was duly presented. In process of time the undertaking was resolved upon, and the Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M., having ap- pointed two young men as missionaries, requested the North Consociation of Litchfield County to perform the service of their ordination. Rev. David L. Perry of Sharon, who after-
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wards had a son in the foreign field, was chosen Moderator; Rev. James Beach of Winsted, Scribe, and Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, Assistant Scribe.
" Father Gillett (Rev. Alexander of Torrington) con- ducted the examination. The candidates, Hiram Bingham and Asa Thurston, who had pursued the usual three-years course of study at the Theological Seminary in Andover, were examined and approved. Other preliminaries to the public service received attention. Then came the day (September 29th), to which so many had been looking forward with eager interest. It had been the theme of conversation in the house and by the way. Old and young were on the qui vive. Town pride was stirred in the matter of entertainment. Many were the friendly contests for favorite guests. Doors were thrown wide open - doors of the Baldwins, the Bartholomews, the Beaches, the Beechers, the Brookses, the Buels, the Collinses, the Gaylords, the Griswolds, the Hales, the Harts, the Hen- dersons, the Iveses, the Lucases, the Lymans, the Mileses, the Nortons, the Parmelees, the Stanleys, the Starrs, the Streets, the Thompsons, the Towners, the Wadhams, and I know not how many others. 'Nor ought we to forget,' wrote Mr. Evarts afterwards, 'the unbounded hospitality of the people, to which the great number of clergymen and others from a distance afforded opportunity.' A large choir of singers had with great pains been rehearsing the pieces to be sung. More thoughtful and serious-minded persons had been praying and longing that spiritual benefits might be reaped by the church and community; and that helped to give an elevated tone to the occasion.
" Providence smiled noticeably in all circumstances of the ordination. The day was singularly clear, and the air un- usually exhilarating. Never did the sun look down more brilliantly on our ample woodlands and our little lakes. The very brooks seemed to leap and foam in special excitement. Mohawk and Ivy Mountains, retouched with autumnal splen-
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dors, rose more majestic than ever. The hills elapped their hands. A larger assembly than had ever congregated here thronged the old meeting-house. There were many outside who could find no accommodation within. Nearly all the Foreign Mission School were present; as also several students from the Andover Seminary, who afterwards became mission- aries. Strangers, too, from a distance were here, the honored and the excellent. There was Governor Treadwell, president of the American Board, firm and dignified. There was Doct. Samuel Worcester, the first Corresponding Secretary of the Board. Far-seeing, of sound judgment, and sound theological views, he was accounted one of the giants. There was Jere- miah Evarts, treasurer of the American Board, and afterwards secretary; sagacious, statesmanly, earnest, Pauline in person and with the pen. The Prudential Committee of the Board also came on from Boston - quite a different journey then from what it is now.
" The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Heman Hum- phrey, who had been a theological pupil of Mr. Hooker in this place, and was afterwards President of Amherst College, from the words: 'And there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.' (Joshua xiii: 1.) It was quite in advance of the general spirit and sentiment of the times.
" Rev. Mr. Perry gave the charge in a manner peculiarly impressive, holding out the large pulpit Bible, and enjoining upon the young missionaries faithfully to follow the instruc- tions of that book. Rev. Dr. Porter of Farmington gave the right hand of fellowship. That saintly man, Jeremiah Hallock of Canton, offered the consecrating prayer. Father Mills led in the opening devotional exercise, and Dr. Worces- ter in the closing.
" Of the pieces sung on that occasion one was 'Jesus shall Reign,' one that will not become obsolete or distasteful till the predictions of Psalm seventy-second are fulfilled. But the tide of rising interest culminated at the close of the service.
17
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Without previous intimation the two consecrated young men stepped into the broad aisle, and with clear, strong, ringing voices - Thurston, tenor; Bingham, base; sung Melton Mow- bray. Head of the church triumphant, We joyfully adore thee: Till thou appear, Thy members here, Shall sing like those in glory:
We lift our hearts and voices,
In blest anticipation, And cry aloud, And give to God The praise of our salvation.
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