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 28
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In a letter before me, written by a man born in Goshen in 1794, and who remembers hearing the Rev. Asahel Hooker preach, he writes: "Early in this century the town of Goshen was studded all over with farmers, owning their homes, and mostly with large families. Nearly all had large dairies and making cheese was their principal occupation. Some pork was fatted and some sheep were kept. There were two stores at the Centre and two on East Street,
CENTRE STREET - LOOKING SOUTH.
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all doing a large business. They bought the products of the farmers and furnished them with supplies at a great profit. They pur- chased their goods in New York, aud what cost them eight shillings, New York currency ($1.00), they sold for eight shillings, New Eng- land currency ($1.33). Their dealings with the farmers were un- equal, and this, perhaps, was the occasion of some leaving Goshen."
THE CHEESE TRADE.
In the autumn of the year 1792, Alexander Norton was ad- vised to spend a winter at the South on account of his feeble health. This he did, and preparatory to his going he pur- chased a few thousand pounds of cheese, with a view to its sale in the section where he was to spend the winter. His venture was so successful that he determined to continue the business.
The practice of boxing cheese or putting it in casks was then unknown, and he was compelled to make use of boards or shelves in the transportation. After two or three years, during which he used these early methods, he had timber sawed in the proper shape and had casks made for his cheese, similar to those that came into general use a few years later. It is claimed by him, and is probably true, that these were the first ever used for this purpose. Not long after this he pro- cured of Ebenezer Norton some round boxes, similar to those now in use, the rims being bent in the same way as the rims of the half-bushel measure. These, also, are supposed to have been the first cheese boxes; at any rate, they were the first ever seen in Goshen.
The first annatto ever used in the town, for giving color to cheese, was procured by Timothy Collins from Albany; and was first used by the wife of Alexander Norton, while he lived on the hill southeast from the meeting-house. At first it was used by rubbing it through a cloth into the milk; the present mode of dissolving it not being known. After this, as Mr. Norton continued to trade in cheese, it was his prac- tice to purchase the annatto, and furnish it to those whose
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dairies he had contracted. For several years he continued to sell his " painted cheese " for fifteen cents a pound, while the white cheese would not bring over ten cents a pound in the market, the quality being otherwise identical. The idea seemed to prevail that the painted cheese were of English man- ufacture. He continued his trade at the South for fifteen or twenty years.
The same business was soon taken up and prosecuted largely by the firm of Lewis & Norton, and for many years all the merchants in the town were engaged in it to a greater or less extent.
The cheese manufactured and marketed in the town in 1801 and for many years later amounted to 270,000 pounds and brought an income to the farmers of at least $25,000.
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CHAPTER XXI.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS, ETC.
It has been found impossible to find dates that could be relied upon when the different manufacturing operations have been carried on, but of their variety there can be no question.
The first sawmill in the town was built by Captain Samuel Pettibone, probably in 1740 or '41. It was erected on the outlet of Dog Pond, on the east side of Town Hill, a few rods south of the east and west road, and west of the residence of Hiram Griswold.
There was also a sawmill on the same stream, a little south of the town line and owned by the Goshen Buels. From these two mills must have been obtained the lumber for the first houses erected in the town.
On the old account book of Nathanael Stanley there is a charge made for himself and ox team to bring boards and plank from the sawmill, in December, 1742. This was proba- bly from the sawmill west of Hiram Griswold's, as there was no road at that time from Middle street to Canada.
Benjamin Frisbie, for his third division, chose 50 acres at the mouth of Marshapaug Pond, and from said pond ex- tending on both sides of the stream southerly about 160 rods. The survey of this lot was dated April 20, 1739. The south line of this lot passes between the house and barn formerly owned by Miles Thompson, a little south of the site of the woolen factory. He built a house upon this lot, to which there is good reason to believe he removed in the year 1739 or '40.
On September 2, 1740, he sold to Timothy Gaylord of Wallingford " the one-half of the privilege of one certain stream that runs out of Marshuepoge pond in said Goshen, to
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set a mill or mills on said stream, except a grist mill: also liberty to dam or pond said stream, lay logs and boards on the adjacent land &c." "and it is to be understood whereas I, the said Benjamin Frisbie a grist mill on said stream; that the said Gaylord shall not by any liberty granted to him, have any part to hinder or damnify me the said Frisbie, concerning said grist mill " etc., etc.
From this it appears that Benjamin Frisbie at that time, September 2, 1740, had built, or commenced to build, or in- tended to build, a grist mill on the stream in Canada.
Timothy Gaylord deeded back to Frisbie, November 1, 1742, the privilege conveyed to him in 1740, " also all that I have done towards building a sawmill on said stream," etc. This indicates that the sawmill in Canada was not finished before the summer of 1743. This was the second sawmill built in the town.
It is certain that Frisbie built a gristmill in Canada near the spot where later the tannery stood; and a sawmill at the place afterwards occupied as a woolen factory. After the sawmill a forge occupied the ground for many years, using ore brought from Salisbury. The woolen factory was built in the summer of 1813 by David Wadhams, David Thomp- son, Alfred Walter, and Nathan Cobb. (For some account of this, see biography of Lewis M. Norton.)
There was a gristmill at an early date built upon the out- let of Dog Pond. It was tended by Gideon Hurlbut. In December, 1788, or January, 1789, he told his wife as he was leaving home in the morning, " I am going to fix my mill, and if you hear any strange noise shut the gate." She heard a strange noise and shut the gate. Going to the mill she found that his body was drawn into the cogs, but was not much man- . gled. She called two or three men, who were not far off, who released him from his position and carried him from below to the room in which the family lived, after which he gasped two or three times and life was extinct.
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There was also a gristmill on the east side, called " Beach's Mill." It was built about ten rods north of the road leading from East street to Middle street over Pie Hill on the stream formed by the junction of the east and west branches. William Alvord was the first miller. The house built for him stood in the road leading westward over Pie Hill, on the north side of the path, about ten rods east from the bridge over the stream. After him the house was occupied by John Royce, from Wallingford. The house then went to decay. The next miller was John Doud. He built and owned the second house - long since gone. He sold this house to Cle- ment Squire, who was the next miller. He sold to Oliver Norton, who tended the mill about ten years. There is evi- dence that a sawmill was built at just about this time, in which shares were owned by Oliver and Ebenezer Norton. Chaun- cey Beach was the miller before and after the year 1800. He was succeeded by Gershom Gibbs, from Milton, who stayed two or three years, and was followed by his brother, Lemuel, from Litchfield, South Farms. He came about 1806, and con- tinued a number of years. In 1841 the mills were entirely gone.
Near the road a little south of the residence of George Johnson and connecting East street with Middle street, a mill was built upon the stream, and was used for a gristmill. Near the place was a clock factory. Who owned this mill or fac- tory we have not been able to ascertain. Clocks and cutlery were also manufactured at one time in Canada village, and clocks at Hart Hollow by Henry Hart .*
* Copied from a clock in Bethany, Conn. (made in Hart Hollow): " Patent clocks made and sold by Northrop & Smith, Goshen Ct. Warrented as follows; If this clock does not keep time with proper management it will be received at the factory and another given in exchange for the same, if returned within one year from the sale by the manufacturers.
H. Adams printer Litchfield."
Face 91/2 x 91/2 inches.
Picture below 91/2 x 71/2. Gilt border, figures of church, house, trees, etc, with a small diamond-shaped clear space in the center. 24
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There were several tanneries in the town at different times. The first was owned and operated by Nathanael Stanley, who came to the town in June, 1742. In his account book is the following memorandum: " At the County Court holden at Hartford, November 1, 1748, I obtained license for tanning by Lieutenant Pettibone. Court fees 10-6 money old tenor. Nathl. Stanley."
His knowledge of tanning seems to have been obtained as he could get it and without any apprenticeship. In his book there is much written on this subject and several times he men- tions particulars about which he had " learned by experience."
Jesse Wadhams built a house on the west side of the turn- pike, about eighty rods south of the south end of Long Swamp. Here he worked at his trade, which was that of a potter. He manufactured the red earthen ware from the common clay. This was between 1790 and 1810. The same business was carried on later by another person.
Walter, Cobb & Co. commenced the manufacture of woolen cloths in Canada village in the year 1814. They did a large business for the times and built up the little village, by giving employment to several families. In 1826 their failure, brought about by large losses, compelled them to go out of business.
Benoni Hills came from Durham to Goshen in 1740 or '41. He was a gunsmith by trade, to which he added the making of tools of various kinds. John Doud came to Goshen when a boy and was apprenticed to Hills, to learn the gunsmith's trade, and what other things Hills could teach him. After learning the trade he had a place on the west side of East street, near the corner where the Sharon turnpike comes into East street from the west.
While he lived here he formed a partnership with Eben- ezer Norton, Jr., for the manufacture of muskets. They con- tinued in this business during the War of the Revolution and
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until 1783. Their shop stood near the present residence of Deacon Edward Norton, at the south end of Deacon Lewis M. Norton's garden, facing the south. It had two rooms, the west room for forging the iron work, and the east room for filing and for stocking the guns. Mr. Doud made good gun- locks and barrels, and Mr. Norton's business was to stock them. Lewis M. Norton says, " I well remember an old oak stump standing on the knoll east of my house, which was fired at by Mr. Doud to try his guns. The stump was much cut to pieces to save the bullets."
The business must have been quite large. It is said that there were 28 blacksmiths in the town during the war, and many of them must have been employed in the forging of the gun barrels and locks. The farmers' tools were all home made, or the work of resident mechanics, in those times.
The muskets, when made, were received by Colonel Medad Hills, who resided on the west side of Whist Pond, and who had a contract with the government. In the Colonial Records for 1776 we are informed that Edmund Beach was made in- spector of firearms. He was re-appointed in '77, and at the same time Miles Beach was also appointed. At the May ses- sion, 1777, Colonel Ebenezer Norton was one of the com- mittee for procuring firearms.
About fifty years ago, at West Goshen, Wing & Gilbert operated a sash and blind factory; Crandall, a grist and saw mill; Fred M. Foster, a tannery; at Hall Meadow, Simeon Loomis had a chair factory; at Hart Hollow, there were two sawmills; a turning shop, where bedsteads were made; a dressing mill, for dressing wool; a cheese box factory; where several thousand were made every year; in the southwest part of the town, Beach's sawmill; and at the center, Scoville's wagon and carriage factory employed a large number of hands and turned out a great variety and a large number of vehicles annually.
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CHAPTER XXII.
GOSHEN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
When the news of the fall of Sumter reached the people of Goshen, they were not so much aroused as shocked and grieved. The quota of the state, under the first call of the President for three-months men had been filled so quickly that no thought or opportunity of enlistment had been sug- gested. The fires of patriotism were soon kindled, however, and May 15, 1861, Charles J. Porter, Albert Sperry, Fred- erick A. Cook, Patrick McElhone, and Francis J. Bentley, enlisted for three years, in the 4th Connecticut Regiment Volunteers, and were mustered into the service of the United States the twenty-third of the month. This was the first regiment of volunteers mustered into the service of the United States for the war. The enlistment of these young men awakened the people to the fact that there was a war in which they had personal interest and personal responsibilities, and through the long and painful years that followed their loyalty was constant, their patriotism unwavering.
It will be remembered that, when the threats of rebellion were changed to the whistle of ballets and the screech of shot and shell, some Northern democrats, not realizing the serious- ness of the times nor the principles involved, were disposed to regard it as a continuation of the political campaign that had ended in the election and inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. These men denounced the election of Mr. Lincoln as an inva- sion of the rights of the South. There was much talk of a " fire in the rear," and when the news of the fall of Sumter came to their knowledge, they were not slow in manifesting their exultation. There were a few such men in Goshen.
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The first party of volunteers had just left the town, the glow of patriotism had given place to its burning flames, when, on the afternoon of Sunday, June 23, 1861, the people gath- ered for worship at the Center were startled by the announce- ment that a rebel flag was floating on the premises of Andrew Palmer, a resident on East street. A large number of per- sons assembled near the church, and the most intense excite- ment prevailed. A meeting was organized, and a committee of five appointed to confer with Palmer, and urge him to re- move the offensive flag, and report as soon as possible.
The committee proceeded to Palmer's and, after remon- strating and pleading with him for a long time, were met only with abuse and insult. The flag was lowered, however, by one of his workmen, but Palmer swore that he would raise it when he had a mind to and defend it at all hazards.
The committee reported back to the meeting the result of their conference. It was then unanimously " Resolved that no Secesh flag should be allowed to float over the soil of Go- shen; " and in a committee of the whole, it was agreed to execute the vote, and the meeting dissolved.
About ten o'clock the next morning, the flag was again seen floating to the breeze, the people began to assemble, some bringing firearms, a warrant was issued and placed in the hands of the deputy sheriff. By two P. M., more than a hundred persons were assembled near the church, where they were sum- moned as a posse and proceeded towards Palmer's. The flag had been hauled down before they got there. Palmer was requested to produce the flag, but refused, and the sheriff arrested him. A rescue was attempted by Palmer's men, and, in the melee, a gun was discharged by accident and one of his men was wounded. He was brought before a justice of the peace, but on his signing a paper that he would not raise any more secesh flags, but would sustain a Union flag on his prem- ises, and in all respects conduct himself as a good and loyal
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citizen, he was released. The flag was found where it had been hidden and delivered up, and is still in existence.
A letter from a clergyman, now residing in Honolulu, who was supplying the pulpit of the Congregational church at the time, refers to this episode as follows :- " But the one in- cident that stands out most clearly photographed in my mem- ory, is the raising of a secession flag on some new frame that carpenters were putting up about two miles from the center. I well remember the general indignation that was aroused at the thought of sending off brothers and sons to fight against secession, and the disgrace of having the emblem of that in- iquitous attempt to break up the Union of States flaunted in the faces of the descendants of Revolutionary sires. I can see the long procession, headed by the sheriff, wending its way over the hills, the doctor and myself bringing up the rear of the procession. News of the calling out of the posse had preceded us, and the 'stars and bars ' had been hidden in a skunk's hole. In the squabbling that occurred before the affair was settled, a musket was dropped, and, as it struck the bottom of the cellar, the gun was discharged and the ball pierced the leg of one of the carpenters. He was tendered the services of the surgeon or the chaplain, but declared he would let his leg rot off before the doctor should touch it. An impromptu court was held in the basement room of the church in the evening, and the offending party held on the charge of misdemeanor. A committee was sent to the Legislature, then in session, and a law enacted making it a criminal offense to raise a secession flag in the state of Connecticut."
Mr. Sperry has acceded to my request, so far as to give a short account of his service, during the period of his enlist- ment. He says :- " We left Hartford for the front, June 10th, and joined the army of the Upper Potomac, then under General Patterson at Hagerstown, Md .; and were the only three-ycars regiment in that army at the time. Cook and
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Bentley were soon discharged; the other three of us were with the regiment for three years. Our first summer we were doing provost duty and similar work in Hagerstown, Williamsport, and Frederick, under General Banks. The following winter we were transferred to McClellan's army, then in front of Washington. While there, the regiment was changed to ar- tillery and was the First Regiment Connecticut Artillery. Our second summer was mostly spent in the Peninsula, and we were in nearly all the engagements, from the siege of Yorktown to the battle of Malvern Hills. While at Yorktown our battery was near the old line of works used in the War of the Revolu- tion, the lines of which could be easily traced. At the battle of Gaines' Mill, on June 27th, I was made a prisoner and taken to Libby prison. I was released and returned to the battery, July 21st,- one of the five of the fifteen taken who lived to get back. After the Peninsula Cam- paign we returned to the defenses of Washington, and our third summer was mostly spent in Fort Scott, on Arlington Heights. In the spring of '64 we joined the army of the James, at Bermuda Hundred, and participated in the battles there and in the siege of Petersburg, and at the taking of Fort Fisher, in North Carolina. During a part of the time, while in front of Petersburg, we manned the 'Petersburg Express,' the 13-inch siege mortar, which is to be placed on the top of the monument of the First Connecticut Artillery, to be erected on the grounds of the Capitol at Hartford."
There being no call for recruits, there were no enlist- ments from May until the next September, when Henry Fritz, Charles A. Barnum, Robert T. Becker, Daniel Kimberly, Uriah Nickerson, Garrett Reinders, and Joseph N. Wooster joined the 7th Regiment.
In October, Edward N. Fanning joined the 8th Regiment, and John Fanning, joined the 9th or Irish Regiment. Peter McCabe, William N. Ford, and Henry C. Ford enlisted in the 11th the same month.
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In November, George D. Bentley, Lyman A. Adams, and Nelson H. Way enlisted in the First Connecticut Cav- alry, and in the latter part of the same month, George W. Sperry, Henry E. Merwin, George W. Butler, George C. Downs, James Hicks, and Benjamin H. Prindle joined Com- pany C,- Charles D. Blinn, captain,- of the 13th Regi- ment. In December, Michael Morris, Frank E. Wadhams, and Joseph Brady joined the same company.
In January, 1862, Henry Mayo, Edward S. Richmond, James E. Robinson, and Fred. L. Wadhams joined Company I of the same Regiment, under Lieutenant Frank Wells of Litchfield.
Up to this time no bounties had been promised or paid, except $7.50, to buy a pair of boots for each of those who en- listed in the 4th Regiment.
In the fall of 1861, the Sanitary Commission, fearing that the soldiers in the field would suffer for want of sufficient clothing and bedding, issued a call for contributions, to which the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society responded with two boxes, the contents of which were valued at $404.99.
In the autumn of 1863, it was reported that the soldiers at Hilton Head were in want of vegetables, and, as there were many Connecticut soldiers among them, it was pro- posed to charter a vessel and load it for them. This was ac- cordingly done. A vessel was loaded at Bridgeport, in season to reach the men before Christmas. There were sent from Go- shen, 32 barrels, 10 boxes and one tub, filled with vegetables, butter and cheese, valued at $178.50. In January, 1863, the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society sent to the 19th Regiment a box, the contents valued at $55.40, and to the Sanitary Com- mission a box valued at $66.
After this date, the Ladies' Society devoted themselves to the making of articles furnished by the State Society. When the Christian Commission commenced its work, the young
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ladies raised $429.39 for that organization, by means of tab- leaux, concerts, and collections at monthly prayer-meetings.
Woman's record in this war has never been written, can never be written. Eloquent lips and facile pens have often attempted a fitting tribute, but those who have known the most and realized best what service was rendered by her hands, what inspiration came from her tongue and pen, what the incitement of her smiles, the chrism of her tears, the bur- dens resting upon her heart, what the lonely hours of waiting brought her of untold agony, have been the most conscious of failure and been most filled with dissatisfaction as they have tried to tell the story of something more than Spartan bravery, of something very much like a Christlike sacrifice.
The Legislature, at the session, June, 1862, had passed a law offering a State bounty of $50 to every volunteer, and also authorizing towns to pay bounties, and levy taxes or issue bonds to raise money for this purpose.
At a town meeting held in July, the town voted to pay a bounty of $100 to every volunteer - except those who should be commissioned - that enlisted between July 10th and Au- gust 20, 1862. A tax was levied and $4,600 collected within 60 days and paid to the soldiers.
At this time, Mr. James Q. Rice, who had been the Prin- cipal of Goshen Academy for eleven years, received enlisting orders and engaged vigorously in obtaining volunteers. In this he was very successful, and by August 15th he had en- listed forty-five men, a considerable proportion of them hav- ing been his former pupils. These were united with Torring- ton recruits, to make a company of 102 men. They went to Camp Dutton, Litchfield, the 21st of August, where they re- mained until September 23, 1862, when they left for "the front."
The regiment had been organized as the 19th Connecticut Infantry, and while at Camp Dutton Mr. Rice was chosen cap-
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tain of Company C, William McK. Rice, 1st sergeant, James P. McCabe, 3d sergeant, Homer W. Griswold, George W. Newcomb, Frederick A. Lucas, corporals, and George D. Bent- ley, wagoner. Frederick A. Cook, who had recruited a num- ber of men in adjoining towns, was chosen first lieutenant of Company B, and Moses Cook, Jr., sergeant.
The President had called upon the states up to, and includ- ing, July, 1862, for 1,175,000 men. The total quota for Con- necticut was 28,127 men. Divided according to population, the town of Goshen had furnished men in excess of her pro- portion, but under the regulations adopted by the National government, this excess did not avail on any later calls that might be made.
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