USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, Connecticut : with an account of the centennial celebration May 14 and 15, 1895 : also a sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled by local families > Part 27
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
318
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHL.
Residence of Wm. W. Bull.
Quiet House, Plymouth.
319
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
GEORGE LANGDON.
John Langdon, one of the early settlers of Farmington, was one of the proprietors of Waterbury. His name appears first on the list of the subscribers to the articles of association and has set to it the sum of one hundred pounds. He had a house lot on Willow street in Waterbury and other allotments of land, but did not remain long in Waterbury, and his allotments were sold. He died in Farmington in 1689.
Joel Langdon, the fifth in line of descent from John, came to Plymouth in 1794, and purchased the home represented here. In this house he kept a country store and lived there after his marriage in 1796. He had Solomon and Zenas Cowles of Farmington for his partners for three or four years. In a very few years he built the store now used as a post office. He was tax collector in 1798, and served as constable, administering the punishment of whipping at the post the last man thus sentenced in Plymouth. He married Mary Gridley, of Farmington, in 1796. He was an active, energetic business man, transporting his goods from New York by sailing vessels to New Haven, and from New Haven by team. He was a man of genial disposition, public-spirited and benevolent. He gave a helping hand to the men who in Plymouth were the pioneers in manufacturing and were struggling hard to make a start. He joined the Congrega- tional Church in 1821, and died in 1838, being buried the same day that the steeple of the old church was pulled down. He had two sons, Edward and George. George was as a young man a great favorite with all classes. He was a classmate and room- mate in Yale College of Horace Bushnell, D. D. He died in Boston in 1826, before graduation. A large number of people joined in procession to meet the body on its way from Hartford.
Edward was first clerk and afterwards partner with his father, later carrying on the business himself. When a young man he went to Litchfield with Dr. Buell and learned the art of compounding drugs and putting up prescriptions. When he came back that business was added to the other. Perhaps it was the first drug store in town. Edward was a public-spirited man, energetic and active, much interested in the establishment of an academy, and in starting an infant school which had many kindergarten features. He held the offices of treasurer of the School Society, of the Town, of the Fund of the Congregational Society. He joined the church in 1821, was married to Prudence Emeline Gates of East Haddam, in 1825, and died in 1866, having lived forty years in the house he built before marriage. He was a strong Anti-Mason, a Henry Clay Whig. and a Republican. He became a farmer in 1833, and introduced the first cultivator, horse rake, subsoil plow and mowing machine. His character was a positive one-spoke his opinion freely without fear or favor, joined heartily in first temperance and total abstinence reform, and gave freely of his time and money to public service. He had one son, George, and two daughters, Ellen M .. who married Lucius P. Porter, in 1851, and died in 1861 ; also Sarah H., who died in 1858, aged eleven.
320
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Edward Langdon.
-
Birthplace of Edward Langdon.
321
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
George was fitted for college at Farmington, graduated at Yale College in 1848, went into business in Colchester in 1849 with L. P. Porter. While in Colchester he was elected one of the board of school visitors, justice of the peace, and in 1853 was sent to the legislature. In 1851 he married Elizabeth A. Chap- man, of Colchester. In 1854, he with four others started the Novelty Rubber Company, which in 1855 located in New Brunswick, N. J. This was his place of residence until 1857, when he returned to Plymouth. In 1869 he was one of the directors of the Plymouth Woolen Company. While in Ply- mouth he has held the various offices of selectman for ten years, one of the board of school visitors, acting school visitor, town treasurer, justice of the peace, and grand juror. In church, the offices of clerk, deacon, Sunday School superintendent. In society, of committee and fund committee. During the war he was appointed by Governor Buckingham one of the commis- sioners to enlist colored men in Connecticut regiments. The office of trustee of the Reform School was given him by Governor Jewell and afterwards by the State, during the superintendency of Dr. Hatch. His principal public work has been in connec- tion with Connecticut Sunday School Association from its formation in 1859 to date, having held the positions of county secretary, member of executive committee, and chairman. In the prosecution of this work he has visited 116 towns of the State, some of them many times, taking part in organizing new Sunday Schools and caring for them, preparing for and assisting in various conventions held. His present position is that of honorary member for life of the executive committee.
His family consists of three sons, Edward in New York, Lucius and Joseph in Bridgeport, a daughter, Ellen, at home. The grandson, who has the same surname as the emigrant ancestor George, is the tenth in direct line in this country, running back for more than two and a half centuries.
TIMOTHY ATWATER, SR. AND JR.
One of the early settlers of Plymouth was Timothy Atwater, who was born May 6, 1756, and was married to Lydia Humis- ton, who was born June 5, 1756, and died in June, 1843. Mr. Atwater died May 6, 1830. He owned the old red house which stood on Town Hill, surrounded by seventy-four acres of land. His three sons, named respectively Elam, Wyllys and Timothy, Jr., were born in Plymouth Center. The latter came into pos- session of the farm and bought additional land until he finally became owner of 300 acres, all cleared except a little wood lot. He furnished Plymouth Hill, Terryville, Thomaston and Bristol with meat for many years. Woodchuck Allen drove one of his meat wagons to supply Bristol trade. and three or four other carts were in service to supply the other villages. Mr. Atwater was a man of unusual strength, and it is related of him that he could throw a good sized beef creature on to its side by taking hold of its horns, and that when milking a kicking cow he would
322
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI.
Residence owned by Mrs George langdon.
George Langdon.
323
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
milk with one hand while with the other he would hold the cow's leg out at arm's length until he had finished. He went into the tackhammer business in Allentown about the year 1845, but this proved a disastrous venture for him, for he was burned out and lost about $5,000. He did not invest any further in manufacturing enterprises.
Mr. Atwater was born October 16, 1799, and was married to Eunice P. Ives December 2, 1829. He died February 14, 1853, leaving a widow and two sons, Elbert and Stephen. The) latter now resides in Fennville, Mich , and his mother, who was ninety-five years old March 9, this year, lives with him.
WYLLYS ATWATER.
Wyllys Atwater was born October 6, 1790, in Plymouth Center on South street where he lived until nine years old, when his father, Timothy Atwater, moved on to a large farm on Town Hill. At the age of eighteen years he bought his time of his father and went to New Jersey where he peddled tinware. He was married twice-to Fanny Purdy, February 26, 1813, who died in 1843, and to Julia Curtiss ( widow of Eli Curtiss ) in 1844. He was the father of twelve children. He owned a farm below Thomaston in early life but disposed of it, and removed to the farm which he sold to and is now owned by Henry S. Minor. Mr. Atwater was first selectman for several years, and was one of the prominent men of his day. He died April IS, 1873, aged eighty-two years and six months.
HENRY ATWATER.
Henry Atwater, son of Wyllys, was born in 1815 and died in 1865, aged fifty years. He was a stone mason by trade, but in his advanced years he became the village "squire." His opinion was sought on legal points, he was the justice in all local cases, united people in bonds of matrimony, executed wills, and was regarded as a man of even and exact justness. He had an enterprising spirit, and in company with Howell Cowles, was the first to manufacture cooking stoves in or near Plymouth. This was fifty years ago, and it was as hard then to introduce a stove into a house as later it was to put on lightning rods. It was customary to drive around with a stove until a customer was found, when it could be unloaded and put up. Mr. Atwater was interested in other business ventures, the making of cast iron skates, automatic apple pickers, and also as a maker of brick. He married Catherine Fenn in 1836, who died in 1863. Eight children survived them.
BARNABAS W. ROOT,
Barnabas W. Root was a native of the old town of Wood- bury, where he lived with his parents, David Root and Margaret Mallory, both natives of Woodbury, until he was twelve years
324
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Mrs Timothy Atwater, Jr.
Wyllys Atwater.
325
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
old. His home was then with his uncle, Deacon Francis Mal- lory, in Southbury. When a young man he learned the trade of tailor, with Isaac Johnson. He had as a fellow apprentice, Israel P. Warren, who afterwards became his pastor in Plymouth. In 1829 he married Caroline P. Hinman of Waterbury, daughter of Hon. Curtiss Hinman. In the great revival of 1831 he was con- verted and joined the Congregational Church in Southbury. In 1832 he removed to Plymouth where he conducted a tailoring business. For a short time before 1840 he and Henry L. Har- rington engaged in the manufacture of various kinds of stocks then used for men's neckwear. These were made with a bristle frame and covered with silk, satin or other nice material. They were neither handsome to look at nor comfortable to wear. His occupation until within a few years of his death was, with the above exception, that of tailor. In the church he held the office of deacon from IS53 to his death. He was also for some years superintendent of the Sunday School and one of the standing committee. In 1845 he was elected representative to the General Assembly, served some years as town treasurer and judge of pro- bate, as well as holding other town offices. In politics he was an ardent Whig, and naturally became an earnest Republican. His marked characteristics were positive and intelligent convic- tions as to right and wrong, a quiet and sensible judgment of principles and men. Such a man having positiveness without rudeness inspired a confidence such as few men enjoy. He was very self denying, helping others when he could ill afford to. With a sober face and quiet expression he would often convulse the bystanders with bursts of genuine humor, all unexpected.
He had three sons, Charles, Howard, who died at the age of six years, and Edward C., who is a worthy representative of the family, residing in Thomaston, and who is one of the execu- tive committee of the Connecticut Sunday School Association, deacon and superintendent of the Sunday School. The name of Barnabas W. Root was given to a native African boy, who was for some time cared for by the Plymonth Sunday School, came to this country to be educated, graduated at Knox College, Illi- nois, with honors, studied for the ministry at Chicago Theologi- cal Seminary, was ordained at the Broadway Tabernacle Church, New York City, and returned to Africa, where he died.
JONATHAN POND.
The subject of this sketch, a resident of the town of Plymouth at the date of its organization, was the second son of Phineas and Martha Pond of Branford, Conn., where he was born in 1739. He was of a family of seven boys and three girls. In 1764 he purchased of Benjamin Cook of Farmington (Bristol was then in the town of Farmington), fifty-one acres of land, and the same year he also purchased land of Eliphalet Eaton of Goshen. This land was situated in that part of the town of Bristol since, and perhaps then, known as Chippenv or Chippin's Hill. His sister Martha, who afterwards married Isaac Curtis of Plymouth, probably came with him or soon afterwards.
326
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHL.
Henry Atwater.
Barnabas W. Root.
327
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
While living on the Chippin's Hill farm, probably soon after coming into possession of it, he married Susannah Hungerford of Bristol. They had but one child, Phineas, 2d. He died October 28, 1818, and was buried at East Plymouth. He was fifty-two years of age at the time of his death. Susannah did not long survive the birth of her son. Soon after her death Jonathan disposed of his Chippins Hill farm and settled in the town of Plymouth in 1770. He was then thirty-one years of age. His. Plymouth farm consisted of about 200 acres, situated partly in Bristol and partly in Plymouth. This farm remained in the possession of Jonathan and his descendants until 1864, a period of ninety-four years. The Pond homestead now standing near the southeast corner of the town was built by him. The exact date of its erection cannot be ascertained, yet from the best information obtainable. the writer of this sketch believes it to have been built either during or near to the year 1795. The impression that the house now standing much antedates this period is erroneous, for his son Philip, born in 1778, drew a portion of the timber for the frame from the town of Harwinton. When he first took possession of the farm he doubtless lived in the "old house," which then stood near where the present centennarian stands.
The second wife of Jonathan Pond was Jerusha Jerome of Bristol, an aunt of the late Chauncey Jerome of New Haven, formerly of Plymouth. To them nine children, five sons and four daughters, were born. They, the children, received their education, "readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic," at the district school on Fall mountain. Mr. Pond was a blacksmith as well as a farmer. The commercial and religious center of this section of the country in those early days was Bristol. He united with the Congregational Church there July 31, 1774. Not only he, but both of his wives, two sons and a daughter, and later a grand- daughter were members of this church. On the 16th of Decem- ber, 1817, he departed this life, aged 78 years. Eleven years later, to wit, in 1828, there came another day of mourning at the old homestead, for mother and grandmother had passed away, gone to join her husband beyond the river. She was seventy-seven at the time of her death. The death of Jerusha, widow of Jonathan Pond, was not the second death occurring in the old house now standing. It was probably the third, possi- bly the fourth, as Nancy, the youngest child of Jonathan, died at the age of sixteen, and the event may have occurred soon after the family took possession of the then new house. The second, or, if Nancy died there, the third to occur was tragic and sad indeed. At the date of which we write, 1826, Philip, the fourth child of Jonathan, resided with his family of eight children at the old homestead. Jerusha, his mother, resided with him. On Sunday, July 30, while the whole family, with the exception of a daughter, twenty-two years of age, and two infant children, aged two years and nine months and three months old respect- ivelv, were at church in Bristol, Anna, the wife of Philip, sud- denly dropped dead upon the floor. The grown up daughter
328
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Jonathan Pond's Homestead.
Alexander Pond.
329
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ran to the house of her uncle Jonathan, whose wife was her mother's sister, a near neighbor residing upon a part of the old farm, and notified them of the event. Alexander, her double cousin, hastened with all possible dispatch to inform the family. It is said that her husband ran his horse most of the way from the church to his home. That the event produced a shock not only to the family but throughout the neighborhood goes without the saying. She was buried in Bristol in the old South burying ground. Jonathan and Jerusha ! What old fashioned names ! For four successive generations this pioneer couple have had descendants born within the limits of the town. For three generations the old homestead was in the family and the birth rate was pretty steadily maintained.
Upon the death of Jonathan Pond part of the farm was taken by his second son, Jonathan, Jr., the balance, with the home- stead, going to his fourth son, Philip, who in turn became the head of a large family. Of his children, Philip and Jonathan W. are now living at New Haven, Conn., Harriet became the wife of Eli Terry, while the second son, Willard E., went west and aided materially in populating that sparsely settled country. Major J. B. Pond of New York is his son. Alexander Pond, son of Jonathan Pond. Jr., and Betsey Adams Pond, born March 9, ISII, married Lydia Gaylord of Bristol, Conn., became the owner of the home of his grandfather in 1835, making it his home until by sale it passed out of the Pond name in 1864. A peculiar feature of their occupancy is that each owner raised a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. The children of Alexander now living are: Caroline A., wife of N. D. Granniss, Waterbury; Sarah A., wife of S. A. Clark, New Haven ; Martin A., Waterbury ; Eliza A., wife of J. W. Clark, Terryville, and Edgar L., Terryville.
A. STOUGHTON.
Andrew Stoughton was born in Plymouth, November 16, 1796, and died April 7, 1850, his whole life having been spent in his native town. He was the son of Captain Oliver Stough- ton, who was a prominent man in his day, and was captain of the militia at the close of the Revolutionary war. Deacon Stoughton lived a quiet life as a farmer, yet by his earnest and consistent Christian character he won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was elected to the office of deacon of the First Congregational Church at the age of thirty, which office he held until his death. He left two daughters and four sons. Three of the latter have been deacons in the churches of Plymouth and Terryville. His wife was Julia Hooker, a daugli- ter of Deacon Ira Hooker, of Red-Stone Hill, Plainville, and was a direct descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker of Hartford.
JOHN M. WARDWELL.
John M. Wardwell was born in Sharon, Conn., and died in Plymouth, February 20, 1895. Mr. Wardwell came to the town
330
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
E. L. Pond's Residence.
Andrew Stoughton.
331
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
when a young man, from Salisbury, and was engaged as clerk by Talmadge & Curtiss. After leaving here he was for some years in the employ of H. M. Welch, who was a merchant in what is now Plainville, but at that time called the Basin. After that he went to Waterbury and engaged in manufacturing cotton gins, and later went to Florence, Mass., and afterwards became New York agent for the Williston & Knight Company, who were manufacturers of buttons. In 1869 he came to Thomaston (then Plymouth) and was the treasurer and general manager of the Plymouth Woolen Company. Here he had a severe illness, from which he never recovered.
He traveled much in this country and in Europe, seeking for health and spending his winters in a warm climate and his summers in Plymouth. Mr. Wardwell was a very active, ener- getic and thorough business man, sparing no pains to do every- thing he had in hand in the best possible way. He was also courageous, hopeful, thoroughly honest, and had strong convic- tions as to truth and justice. He had been for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, of which Dr. Cuyler was for so many years pastor. His benevolent gifts were many, and his giving was systematic, hearty and intelligent. His many good qualities endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and his example served as an inspiration to them. The world is better for having such men in it.
W. G. BARTON.
W. G. Barton was born in Litchfield, Conn., and came to Plymouth a number of years ago. For five years he was engaged in the grocery business on Plymouth Hill, where the firm was known as Barton & Beach. For the last seven years he has been in the same line of business in the village of Terry- ville, and has won the respect and confidence of all by his thoroughly accommodating ways in serving his customers The present business is carried on in the store and buildings owned by E. M. Daily of Bristol. His line of goods consists of every- thing that may be called for or wanted, and his prices, like his goods, are seldom criticised. Mr. Barton was sent to the legislature in 1883 and has since served as first selectman, and has in many other ways been honored by his fellow citizens.
JOSEPH C. BARTHE.
Joseph C. Barthe came to Terryville from Thomaston in June, IS92, where he had resided for fifteen years, and where he was employed for nine years in the rolling mill. He was in Westfield, Mass., when the late war broke out, and enlisted from there and served faithfully until his discharge in July, 1864. For over two years he was landlord of the Terryville Hotel, and has become well known here and elsewhere by his pleasant man- ner in catering to the wants of all who have had occasion to dine and rest under his roof. When the hotel property was sold he
332
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
John M. Wardwell.
Residence of W. G. Barton.
333
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
moved into the house owned by Dr. Swett, and where he now resides and accommodates both regular and transient boarders. Mr Barthe is a mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, He is also a member of the United Workmen, and was one of the charter members of the Thomas- ton lodge.
ALFRED B. RENFREE.
Alfred B. Renfree was born in Monon, County of Cornwall, England, in 1815. His parents' names were John and Mary. He began early to provide for himself, at ten years going to live with a farmer and a few years later employed as a clerk in a grocery store in the town of Falmouth. Here in 1839 he married Maria Gay. After living six years in Falmouth he removed to Truro, where he was employed by a wholesale grocery firm. The Rev. William Gay, a brother of Mrs. Ren- free and father of Rev. William Gay of Terryville, having come to America and sending back good accounts of the country, Mr. Renfree decided to come over. After a passage of six weeks the family of six landed in New York about the middle of October, 1849. After spending the winter in Haddam, where Mrs. Ren- free's brother lived, he went to farming in Middlebury. From there in 1852 he went to Plymouth Hollow in the employ of Henry Terry, woolen manufacturer. From Mr. Terry he pur- chased a farm on which he lived until he removed to Plymouth Center, where he died in 18So at the age of sixty-five. Mrs. Renfree outlived him for a few years. His family consisted of four sons, John, William B., James H., Philip ; two daughters, Amelia, who married Edward C. Root, and died March 18, 1895, and Marietta. Mr. Renfree was very fond of his family and enjoyed his home life. He was generous and kind hearted. During a revival in 1873 he became a changed man. The change was very marked, not only in his daily life, but in his many expressions of delight in the service of his new master, the Lord Jesus Christ. His heart and life seemed to overflow with Christian joy and peace.
A. H. TAYLOR.
Algelon H. Taylor, who died in Plymouth, July 6, 1894, had been in the sewing machine and musical trade for seventeen years in Thomaston. He also had a jewelry business, all of which was conducted in the large store in the north end of Brad- street's block. He had a branch store in Waterbury and several agents on the road at the time of his death. He was born in Cornwall and lived to be forty-one years and five months old. In September, ISSI, he married Miss Jessie Richards, an adopted daughter of E. L. Richards of West Goshen, Conn., and for nine years previous to Mr. Taylor's death they made Ply- mouth their home. Mrs. Taylor, a daughter and two sons survive.
334
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Joseph C. Barthe.
Alfred B. Renfree
335
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
C. M. MINOR.
C. M. Minor, now of Bridgeport, who was born in Woodbury in 1817, came to Plymouth in 1833, to learn the tailor's trade of Deacon B. W. Root. He well remembers the Rev. Luther Hart, and saw the old church torn down and the new one built. He married Rev. H. D Hitchel's sister. Mr. Minor recalls the fact that in 1839 he saw the last slave ship, the Amistad, which ever entered the waters of Long Island Sound. The cargo con- sisted of forty-two negroes which had been illegally bought in Havana, Cuba. They were taken to the New Haven jail and held until it was decided to return them to Africa.
DR. W. W. WELLINGTON.
William Winthrop Wellington was born in Milford, Mass., and was prepared for college at the Milford schools and by W. H. Dale, M. D., of Boston, Mass. He graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont at Burlington. Dr. Wellington came to Terryville nearly six years ago when Terryville was without a doctor, and when the la grippe epi- demic was at its height. He came from Hopkinton, Mass., and now occupies the house owned by Henry Fuller, opposite the Terryville Park. He has taken special and private instructions and courses in all branches of his profession. He is a member of the Litchfield County Medical Society. He was appointed coroner's medical examiner in 1894, and also elected town health officer. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges. He was married to Mrs. Hattie M. Davis, of Boston, Mass., in October, 1883.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.