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 33
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WILBERT N. AUSTIN.
Wilbert N. Austin who is well known throughout this sec- tion as the proprietor of the Thomaston and Plymouth stage line, his well equipped livery, sale and exchange stables in Thomaston and Plymouth, came to this place about eighteen years ago, and for seven years drove the stage for his father, when Mr. Austin bought his father out and entered into partner- ship with Mr. Gregory; Austin & Gregory running the business for about five years, at which time Mr. Austin became the sole proprietor, and has since conducted the business successfully, and to his patrons' entire satisfaction ever since.
In addition to the above business he has the carrying of the mails to and between four post-offices and two railroads. He also has charge of the delivery of express from the New England and the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroads. But few families are moved, or pianos moved in the town, until after Mr. Austin has been called upon.
He married on December 20, 1SS2, Minnie I., daughter of Chas. H. Mattoon of Plymouth ; they reside in the large and pretty house owned by Mrs. Geo. Langdon, and directly oppo- site the house bought by Mr. Austin from Mr. Dewell sometime ago. Their children are : Elsworth Welles, Arline and Roland Mattoon.
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416
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH
A. S. Kelsey.
Andrew Fenn.
417
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A. S. KELSEY.
Asa Strong Kelsey was born June 15, 1823, in Southbury, Conn. His early life was passed in Milford, Conn. He has resided in Plymouth since 1845, a period of fifty years. He married in August, 1850, Julia S. Gates, daughter of Christopher C. Gates, of East Haddam, and granddaughter of Captain Jeremiah Smith, who served in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Kelsey has been a prominent business man of the town, his special line being merchant tailoring, in which he did a large business before the days of ready-made clothing. He has held many town offices and taken an active interest in the town. His children are Julia S. Kelsey, wife of Marshall W. Leach, Emma S. Kelsey, Frank G. Kelsey and Joseph S. Kelsey.
ANDREW FENN.
Andrew Fenn was born in the old house which is now oc- cupied by Erastus Fenn, near the upper lock factory. This house was built by Jacob Fenn in 1781, and the land in that section (now covered with houses) was farmed by both Jacob and An- drew Fenn. Mr. Fenn followed farming for a great many years. but during the latter part of his life he was engaged in making boxes for the Eagle Lock Company. He married Miss Rhoda Warner of Plymouth in 1817, by whom he had the following sons : Hiram, born July, 1918; Apollos, born 1820, died in Hartford in 1893; Stephen, born 1823 ; Erastus, born 1829. Andrew Fenn died December 15, 1867, aged seventy years.
CAPTAIN AARON FENN.
Captain Aaron Fenn, born in Milford, a great grandson of Benjamin Fe .. n, one of the first settlers of Milford in 1639, came to Northbury Society about the year 1767, and settled on a tract of land, about one mile north of the meeting house, willed to him by his grandfather James, who was one of the early proprie- tors of Waterbury lands. A portion of this tract is now owned and cultivated by his descendents, Aaron Peck Fenn, and the heirs of William B. Fenn. Captain Aaron married Mary Bradley of Woodbridge. They have seven children, Lyman, Sally, Aaron, Jr., Erastus, Polly, David and Jeremiah.
Lyman married Lydia Baldwin. They had seven children, Aaron, Thaddeus, Timothy, Albert, Polly, Thankful and Persis. Sally married Deacon David Dunbar. They had two chil- dren, Deacon Ferrand and Eliza.
Aaron, Jr., married Sabra Fenn, daughter of Isaac. They had six children, Isaac, Burr, Abijah, Rosetta, Nancy Rexford and William Bennett.
Erastus married Amanda Goodwin. They had six chil- dren, Mary, Polly, Elizur, Julia, John Lester and Emily. Polly died unmarried.
David married Persis, daughter of Lake Potter. They had five children, Julius, Elam Potter, Miranda, Juliette and Mary.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. .
Andrew Fenn Homestead
Mrs. Benjamin K. Fenn.
419
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Jeremiah married Polly Peck of Woodbridge. They had three children, Aaron Peck, Stephen and Horace.
The only grandchildren of Captain Aaron Fenn who are now living are, Elizur and John Lester Fenn, and Mrs. Emily (Lyman D.) Baldwin, all children of Erastus; Abijah, son of Aaron, Jr. ; Elam Potter Fenn, Mrs, Mary Paine, children of David; Aaron Peck and Horace Fenn, children of Jeremiah.
SAMUEL FENN.
Samuel Fenn, a brother of Captain Aaron, came to North- bury Society about the year 1767 and settled on another portion of land willed to him by his grandfather, James, located on the hill east of Jericho Falls on the Naugatuck river, now in the limits of Thomaston and owned by Roderick Canfield. Samuel married Irene Sanford, and there were four generations of Sam- uel to Samuel 5th. A remnant of this family are supposed to be living in Michigan.
Major Samuel Fenn, another lineal descendant of Ben- jamin Fenn, came from Milford to Plymonth in 1806 or 1807, with his two sons, Captain Samuel and Benjamin, and one daughter, Cordelia. He purchased farms in the eastern part of the town, lately owned and occupied by Mr. Winslow and Elias Smith. The writer could not ascertain that any lineal descend- ant of Major Samuel is now living in Plymouth. Of the chil- dren of Benjamin Fenn there are two living, Mrs. Amzi Warner of Cheshire and Mrs. Charles Hayes of New Haven. The
three sons, Benjamin, Lot and Lyman, are dead, and with them have also passed away the two sons of Lyman, leaving no descendants to perpetuate this branch of the Fenn family. Two other daughters were Catherine and Julia, the former being married to Henry Atwater, and the latter to Newton P. Whit- tlesey, all of whom are dead.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
L. H. Ploucquet, Master, Plymouth Grange
General Sedgwick.
CHAPTER XIV.
-
SOCIETIES.
Plymouth Grange, No. 72, Patrons of Husbandry, Organized December 7, 1877- Sedgwick Council, No. 21, 0. U. A. M., Instituted March 16, 1887-Court Nut- meg, No. 1404, Chartered October 20. 1893-The Terryville Cemetery, with Views from Several Points.
PLYMOUTH Grange, No. 72, is one of the subordinate organi- zations of the great order of Patrons of Husbandry, and was organized in Plymouth Center, December 7, 1887, with twenty- three charter members, the first meeting being held in the lecture room. Wallace E. Dayton was chosen master, Mrs. B. H. Sut- liff, lecturer, and Ard Welton, secretary. The grange was instituted for the express purpose of educating and elevating those engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is, therefore, a farm- ers' organization, composed of farmers, their wives, and children over fourteen years old, although there are some exceptions to the rule ; doctors, ministers and school teachers are also eligible. From this beginning the grange has had a steady growth until it now numbers 106 members, including nearly all the leading farmers of the town. L. H. Ploucquet is the recognized head of the grange, at present, he having been elected master at the be- ginning of the year. His picture accompanies this sketch. The grange now own the building on Main street next to the post office, in Plymouth Center, and have a well furnished hall where meetings are held every alternate Wednesday evening. One prominent feature at each meeting is the "lecturer's hour." This is composed of select readings, essays, and discussions on farm topics, recitations, music and debates. In fact, anything that pertains to the household or the farm. This gives the farm- er and his family an opportunity for social intercourse and intel- lectual improvement, which, owing to their isolated vocation, were it not for the grange, they would be deprived of. "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity," is one of the underlying principles of the order.
SEDGWICK COUNCIL, O. U. A. M.
Sedgwick Council, No. 21, O. U. A. M., was instituted in Terryville by the State Council, March 16, 1887, with the fol-
422
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
L. W. Belden, Chief Ranger.
Terryville Cemetery-View from Southeast Corner.
423
SOCIETIES.
lowing charter members: John R. Andrew, David H. Scrim- geour, Richard Baldwin, A. B. Clark, F. G. Bryan, R. S. Blakeslee, J. Alexander Russell, G. A. Scott, A. B. Beach, F. W. Rossetter, W. Bemis, A. W. Ingraham, James P. Davis, Edgar L. Pond, Charles W. Judson, Henry A. Randall, J. M. Gilbert, R. J. Plumb, A. C. Wedge, J. A. Bradshaw, E. C. Goodwin, H. T. Wheeler, G. N. Waterbury, Jr., W. B. Ells, Charles J. Lang, F. B. Rising, W. L. Norton, George N. Waterbury, J. K. Eggleston, W. T. Goodwin, A. C. Holcomb, Daniel Kelley, J. H. Haase, W. P. Swett, M. D., W. E. Judd, G. Howard Hamilton, George Von Tobel.
This council was the first organized in Litchfield county. It was also the first to present the public schools with American flags. The present membership numbers about sixty, one of the charter members, E. L. Pond, having served as state councilor. The council meets every Wednesday evening in a room, which has been fitted up for it, in the Lewis & Gaylord shop, which is the same room that one of its charter members, Major Ells, was working in when he was called upon to serve his country in the late war. The present officers are: D. W. Eggleston, coun- cilor; F. A. Bunnell, vice-councilor; E. Clayton Goodwin, recording secretary; Isaac B. Clark, assistant recording secre- tary ; A. B. Beach, treasurer ; C. E. Chapman, ir.ductor; A. F. Peck, examiner: George F. Hart, inside protector: Albert Bates, outside protector ; William C. Bates, junior ex-councilor ; Platt R. Jacquays, senior ex-councilor; E. L. Pond, William L. Norton, A. C. Bunnell, trustees.
THE FORESTERS.
The Independent Order of Foresters is of American origin, was reorganized in Canada, and now returns to its native soil in concord, benevolence and liberty. Court Nutmeg, No. 1404, was instituted in Plymouth, Conn., from the supreme court by Dr. A. P. Forbes Gammack acting as court deputy supreme chief ranger, and is the premier court of the order in Connecti- cut. The charter, dated October 20, 1893, was granted by the supreme court to these, officers, their associates and their succes- sors in office : M. W. Leach, court deputy high chief ranger ; W. C. Dayton, chief ranger; B. D. Holt, vice chief ranger ; J. W. Gammack, financial secretary; Rev. Dr. J. Gammack, chaplain ; L. W. Belden, senior woodward; J. C. Smith, senior beadle ; A. Welton, past chief ranger; Joseph Williams, recording secretary ; W. B. Tuttle, treasurer ; J. W. Johnson, M. D., physician ; F. C. Brazee, junior woodward, and G. H. Chapman, junior beadle. The object before the Independent Foresters is to promote the social, intellectual and moral welfare of the members, and to secure by small payments, the funds required for sick and funeral benefits, and also for payment of insurance at death or at the earlier expectation of life. The present chief ranger of the court is L. W. Belden.
424
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Soldiers' Monument.
View from Northeast Corner.
New Addition to Westward.
425
SOCIETIES.
HILLSIDE CEMETERY, TERRYVILLE.
In March, 1863, there were two and three-fourths acres of land bought from Mrs. Mary W. Lewis, situated on North Main street, to be laid out and used for a new cemetery, and, at that time, it was voted that a special standing committee of three persons be appointed to make a survey and plan for the new burial ground of Terryville, and to lay the same in lots of suit- able size for family plots, and to have full power to sell and to execute proper deeds of conveyance of the same to the purchasers thereof, and that the proceeds of sale be appropriated by said committee to the improvement and embellishment of said ground, provided that only two-thirds of the whole number of said lots be sold ; also that said committee shall have the general super- vision and direction of that portion of the ground which may remain unsold ; and it is further voted, that the signature of one of said committee only be necessary for the conveyance of the aforesaid lots. The committee chosen at that time was J. H. Adams, James Terry and E. L. Gaylord. An addition was made to the site May 10, 1890, by purchasing four acres from George Plumb, and the strip of land donated by Richard Bald- win, which straightened out the road running east and west. The present committee are : E. S. Beach, president and man- ager; Jonathan Starr, secretary and treasurer, and Edgar L. Pond.
View of Center of Cemetery.
SKETCH
-OF-
PLYMOUTH, OHIO.
Originally Settled by Families
FROM PLYMOUTH, CONN.
Re-union of Descendants, now Numbering about 400, June 25, 1895.
WHO THE PIONEERS WERE.
CHAPTER XV.
PLYMOUTH, OHIO.
Offshoot of Its Namesake in Connecticut and the First Episcopal Parish in the State of Ohio-Descendants of These Early Settlers, Numbering Four Hun- dred or More, Organize Themselves as the "Mann, Blakeslee and Seymour Re-union Association."
A GLANCE at the map of Ohio, will convince any one, that the early settlers of that state were an unusally loyal, patriotic body of men. The larger number of counties are named directly after the heroes of the Revolution, in grateful remembrance of their noble self-sacrificing labors. The first settlement in Ohio was named Washington, and the county seat called Mariette, in honor of Marie Antoinette, the beautiful Queen of France. Among the prominent counties are Jefferson, Madi- son, Hamilton, Fayette, Carroll, Hancock, Jackson, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Wayne, Stark, Adams, Warren, Henry, and others, all names recorded in history, and held in sincere regard by every lover of his country.
The Western Reserve, comprising about 325,000,000 acres, was sold by the State of Connecticut, to a syndicate of her sons, for a sum about equal to the cost of building the viaduct across the Cuyahoga River at Cleveland. The early settlers of New Connecticut, as the Reserve was called, were nearly all New England men and women, bred to labor, economical, frugal, industrious, patient, intelligent, God fearing, believ- ing in schools, colleges, churches, and liberty protected by law. The growth of the Reserve was slow, until after the war of 1812, when it became the homes of tens of thousands of emigrants. The character of the early settlers gave promise of a secure future for the new colony, which time has fully redeemed. It is probably true, beyond question, that at this moment, the Western Reserve, for its extent and population, is not surpassed in any country, for the thrift, general prosperity, public and private morality, and high standard of education of its people. In 1806, the Reserve contained about six thousand souls, and was divided into two counties. In 1895, it had ten counties, and nearly a million inhabitants.
In 1811-12, several families went from Plymouth, Conn., and settled in South Ashtabula. The name of the township was soon after changed to Plymouth, in compliance with the wishes of the original settlers. Nearly all the early emigrants were Episcopalians, and their first wor-
430
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
ship was by lay-reading, led by Zadoc Mann, who presided, until the arrival of Rev. Roger Searle, their former minister in Plymouth, who held service in the house of Hal Smith first, on February 19, 1817, and immediately followed the organization of " The Parish of St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula," the first Episcopal denomination in the State of Ohio. Mr. Searle named the parish after the one he had formerly pre- sided over in Plymouth.
As near as can be learned, at this late date, the families that went from Plymouth, Conn., were those of Zadoc Mann, Warner Mann, John Blakeslee, Asher Blakeslee, Lynus Hall, Titus Seymour, Dr. David Warner and Elias Cook Upson. There were, doubtless, others.
Originally, Plymouth Township was included in the limits of Ash- tabula, and it was not until January 7, 1838, that the territory was, by order of the County Commissioners, detached from that township, and created a new one, to be known as Township No. 12, of the third range.
St. Matthew's Church.
On July 4, 1838, the township was regularly organized and these officers elected: Samuel Burnet, Andrew Wiley and William Stewart, trustees; Levi P. Blakeslee, township clerk; Bennet Seymour, treasurer ; Elias Cook Upson and William Foster, overseers of poor; Joseph Mann, James Hall and Solomon A. Simons, fence viewers; Bennet Seymour, Solomon A. Simons, Elias C. Upson and Merritt M. Mann, supervisors. The first Justice of the Peace, was Warner Mann, who was elected on the 9th day of November, 1838, his commission bearing date November 26, 1838. This election was held at the house of the justice elect. Warner Mann was succeeded by Josiah Allen, and he, by Wells Blakes- lee. Previous to the expiration of Warner Mann's commission, how- ever, a second justice was ordered for the township, and Daniel Hub- bard was the first to fill the office. Levi P. Blakeslee succeeded him, and was in turn succeeded by Samuel Burnet.
The township was originally owned by Nehemiah Hubbard, of Middletown, Middlesex County, Conn., Hon. Matthew Hubbard, who located in Ashtabula in 1804, being agent for the proprietor.
431
PLYMOUTH, OHIO.
The first settlement, within the present limits of the township, were as follows: In 1804 or 1805, Wm. Thompson and Thomas Mc- Gahhe, with their families, located on lot number five. In the spring of 1806, Samuel White began improvements on two hundred acres, upon the north line of the township. Fitz's woolen factory was subsequently established on this lot, which was later owned by Ezra Bunnell, David Burnet settled on lot number twelve, also in the spring of 1806. This lot was afterwards owned by Wells Blakeslee; then Oliver Gary became occupant. Both White and Burnet came from Hubbard, Trumbull County. In 1807, Thomas Gordon purchased two hundred and forty acres, in lot number six, and in the spring of 1808, took possession of the same with his family. William Foster, of Sacket's Harbor, New York, arrived in the township in 1810, locating on lot number ten. His mode of transit was by a small boat to Ashtabula ; at Niagara Falls, he hired a team to haul his boat some seven miles around the falls. Cap- tain Moses Hall emigrated from Connecticut in 1811, and began the life of a pioneer on the northwest corner lot.
The first log house was erected in 1804 or 1805, on lot number five, by William Thompson, the oldest inhabitant, who removed from the township in 1807. The first orchard was planted by Samuel White, in the spring of 1807. It was located on his farm, near the pond, and consisted of forty trees. They first bore fruit in 1811, which was, with- out doubt, the first produced within the territory composing the town- ships of Plymouth and Ashtabula. Capt. Moses Hall was the owner of the orchard at this time, and it is said he distributed nearly the entire yield of the orchard, among the sick of the township.
Upon the first settlement of the Plymouth pioneers, the only road was the "girdled" one, laid out by the Connecticut Land Company, running from Kelloggsville, via Sheffield, through Plymouth, and west through Saybrook, Austinburg, etc., terminating at or near Cleveland. The first road authorized by the county commissioners, after Plymouth became a separate township, was in June, 1842, which began on the Jefferson and Ashtabula road, at William Willard's northwest corner, thence east on lot lines to Denmark road. March, 1844, another road was surveyed, running from William Stewart's, northeast and north, to the road south of Amos Moses, in Kingsville. March, 1850, the last one was established from the southwest corner of the township, north to the turnpike, and from the west line of the township, at the northwest corner of lot number eighty, easterly to the plank road.
Much of the western portion of the township is of high rolling ground, while in the southern part extensive marshes prevail, the larg- est of which is some three miles in length, and averaging, perhaps, three-quarters of a mile in width; its waters, flowing westerly, are dis- charged into Grand River, in Austinburg. South of the "big marsh," lie two smaller ones, which are separated by a natural roadway, over which the mail was carried to Jefferson, until the opening of the Frank- lin division of the Lake Shore Railroad. The waters of these two marshes flow, one easterly, into Ashtabula Creek, the other westerly, into Grand River.
The streams, aside from Ashtabula Creek, which forms a portion of the northern boundary of the township, are Hubbard's Run, which
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
rises principally from springs in Saybrook, and forms another part of the northern boundary, uniting with Ashtabula Creek, about one mile southeast of the village of Ashtabula (known as the West Gulf). Smith Creek, which heads in the southern part of the township, runs easterly, uniting with the waters of "Little Marsh," and finally reaches Ashta- bula Creek in Sheffield.
The first marriage occurred in 1810, at the residence of Captain Manoah Hubbard, the contracting parties being his daughter, Miss Julia, and Walker Richmond, of New York. The first white child born in Plymouth, was a son to David Burnet, in 1807, and the first death was, without doubt, a widow lady named Hanan, who died in the spring of 1807. The first school house was built in the summer of 1810. It was of logs, and stood in the "hollow," a short distance south of the present cemetery, on the farm formerly owned by Asher Blakes- lee, and the first school taught therein, was in the succeeding winter.
St. Matthew's Church Parsonage.
by Warner Mann. There were twelve scholars in attendance, the par- ents paying each his share of the teacher's salary, which was, un- doubtedly, a trifling sum. The first saw mill was erected in 1809, by Thomas Gordon, on the site where, afterwards, was located a woolen mill. In the spring of 1831, Emmerson Gibbs put in operation, a card- ing machine, and in the fall of the same year, cloth-dressing machinery. The next season, a mill for grinding corn, was placed in the same building. In 1839 this site was purchased by Messrs. Hubbel and Ken- ney, and a woolen factory, of one hundred and eighty spindles, estab- lished. This was destroyed by fire on the night of December 24, 1847. The first frame house was built by Captain Moses Hall, on the north- west corner lot, and the first frame school house was erected in the spring of 1817, by subscription ; its location was some three quarters of a mile north of the Center (known as the Chapel).
The first church organization, was that of the Episcopal denomina- tion. However, services were held by all denominations, from the time
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PLYMOUTH, OHIO.
of the first settlements, at the houses of the settlers, and at the frame school house, or chapel, mentioned above. There are now two fine church edifices in the township: St. Mathew's Episcopal, which is located some half mile east of the Center, erected in 1841, and the Methodist at the Center, which was not finished till, perhaps, 1874. The first post office, and, in fact, the only one in the township, was estab- lished June 16, 1846. William Warner Mann was the first postmaster, serving twelve years. The first store was established in 1849, by Wil- liam W. Mann, in a building, then standing between the school house and the residence of Charles Wright. Mr. Mann continued in business some ten years in Plymouth, removing first to East Ashtabula, where he engaged in the mercantile business, for two years more, and then moved to the corner of Center and Park streets, Ashtabula. In 1824, and for the five years subsequently, he was engaged as mail-boy for the "Recorder," published in Ashtabula, which paper was, probably, the first one published in Ashtabula county. Peter LaGrange also con- ducted a store in Plymouth for some years. Plymouth has been largely devoted to the manufacture of butter and cheese, principally by indiv- iduals.
During the Rebellion, Plymouth sent many of her brave sons to the front in support of the flag and defense of the integrity of the nation, having representatives in the "Glorious old Twenty-ninth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry," the "One Hundred and Fifth," the "One Hundred and Twenty-fifth," "Eleventh New York Battery," and other organizations. They gave to their State and the Union, their bravest efforts, and much of their best blood.
Much of the above information has been copied from the History of Ashtabula County, and the author is also greatly indebted to Mrs. Ellen S. Lockwood for other facts presented in this sketch. Of her own family Mrs. Lockwood writes as follows:
" In Plymouth, Ohio, is a house, the frame of which was raised May 18, 1819, the day on which my father was born, the stakes for the corners being set by moonlight by the north star, so that it might be "square with the world." It was built by Warner Mann, my grand- father, who moved his family into it the same fall. My father, Beilby Porteus Mann, was born in a log house opposite to it. Warner Mann lived in this house about thirteen years, when Elias Cook Upson took possession of it. Mr. Upson was my mother's father. My mother was born in Plymouth, Conn., March 3, 1825, and here I was born, October 17, 1845. My grandmother died July 21, 1860, and my grandfather in March, 1879. The old house is still owned by my parents and is in a good state of preservation, the frame apparently as good as ever. My parents celebrated their golden wedding May 19, 1892."
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