USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Wolcott > History of the town of Wolcott (Connecticut) from 1731 to 1874, with an account of the centenary meeting, September 10th and 11th, 1873 and with the genealogies of the families of the town > Part 29
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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 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
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and her splendid military band,-the nucleus of the celebrated drum band still existing in spirit to the present time. The day was unusually fine, the display grand and without accident, an honor to the town and its intelligent people; the only drawback . being for those spectators condemned to foot their return after the fatigues of the day.
The second time I saw Wolcott was in the year 1813, at the installation of the Rev. Mr. Keys, the successor of the Rev. Mr. Woodward, though on a very different occasion, but which brought together a concourse of people filling the church to its utmost capacity, and the town with strangers. The leading min- ister on that occasion was the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Litch- field (father of Henry Ward), then in his prime, who preached the sermon, in the course of which he paid a warm eulogium upon the life and character of the deceased pastor as an impressive preach- er, a kindly and able instructor of youth, and one of the most useful and enterprising of citizens, - a great loss to the church and its people by his death. The deceased was one of the most popular of men; by his amiable manners, his fine sociable quali- ties, and a great favorite with young people; and particularly at weddings, parish gatherings for religious and benevolent purposes. The singing by the Wolcott choir received the highest praise from those present. After the exercises in the church were concluded, the writer dined at the village tavern then kept by Gates Upson, our old teacher, who provided an excellent enter- tainment for all who were present.
And now, in conclusion, at the time of the installation of Mr. Keys, in the autumn of 1813, Wolcott had evidently reached its maximum, in points of population, business, and prosperity. The census of 1810, as published by authority, gave Wolcott a popu- lation of 952 souls,- at that time a flourishing town, supporting two well stocked stores with a large home trade, and three public houses,- one in the center, one at Shrub Oak, and the other known as Lewis', on the mountain, all apparently doing a fair business. A wonderful change, indeed, as we contrast the popu- lation of 1810 with that of 1873, as follows, viz .: 1810, 952; 1830, 843 ; 1850, 603 ; 1860, 574, and in 1870, 491 - a decline of fifty per cent. in the last sixty years. These figures exhibit
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the two extremes of 1810 and 1870, showing the instability and vicissitudes of human calculation, which governs the times and its people. This decline, however, must not be attributed to any fault or deficiency on their part, as lacking in industry or enterprise over circumstances beyond their control, while such an impu- tation would be wrong and unjust. The reasons are manifold ; and first the western emigration fever entered Wolcott early in the present century, sowing the seeds of discontent, and bearing off some of her best and most enterprising citizens, giving up their farms and moving to the new Eldorado,-many of whom would afterwards gladly have returned had they the adequate means. But the greatest obstacle to its increase has been the establishment and multiplication of manufactories in the neigh- boring towns, by drawing off the young men as they became of age, to enter the factories, induced by the offer of higher wa- ges, they leaving the old homesteads to take care of themselves, and their fathers in their old age. This is the solution which ex- plains itself. But Wolcott has reached bottom at last, the real hard pan, and must rise again, and with her present staid popu- lation, with her renewed energies, by putting the shoulder to the wheel in earnest, must show to those of the next century, that her sons have not degenerated, or we are no prophet.
Thus we have known Wolcott and its people for sixty years, as industrious, intelligent, and upright a community as is to be found in the State; as we have met them at their fireside, their fairs, cattle shows, and other public gatherings, where a welcome hospi- tality was always extended, as the editor of the American is ready to testify, a large number of whom have been its steady patrons for nearly thirty years, to whom we tender our most hearty com- pliments, hoping they may live to see Wolcott what she was in her most prosperous days, before the next century expires.
Another paper, containing an account of the district and select schools of Wolcott was read, and was followed by remarks by Hon. B. G. Northrop, Secretary of the State Board of Education. He said he did not appear as a native, but as a visitor. He presented words of con- gratulation to the people on the joyfulness of this meet- ing, and the honor reflected from the past, as exhibited 26
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in the papers read, but urged upon the people the pro- priety of considering the defects as well as the glory of the past. He noticed that, according to the statistics, the present state of education was defective, and should receive the earnest attention of the people. He pro- ceeded to show that all of our country towns were suf- fering, and traced the causes by referring to the effect of the want of education in some of the European na- tions. The absorption of capital in the railroads, and in the cities, was depopulating the rural districts. These districts should be beautified and magnified as the best place for the training of the young. The youth rush to the city to find employment and entertainment, but he would have them cultivate industries that they can pursue in the country. He proposed a town library, to be commenced at this time, the setting of trees along the streets, and other improvements. His remarks were received with pleasure, and were very appropriate and encouraging.
He was followed by Mr. A. Bronson. Alcott, on the subject of a town library, and he proposed a present of the books of the Concord authors to start the enterprise.
Remarks by Rev. William H. Moore, Secretary of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society :
The public worship of God has been a central idea in our Connecticut towns from the first. In the early days the general court would not incorporate a community as a town until the peo- ple showed their ability and readiness to support a minister ; and not unfrequently one of the first votes passed after the organi- zation of the town, was to provide for the preaching of the gos- pel. It was in this spirit that twenty-one men and twenty women, accustomed to go from five to seven miles to worship with the churches of which they were members, took letters, and were constituted the church in Farmingbury, November 18th, 1773; the parish lying then partly in the town of Farmington, and partly in the town of Waterbury; and the church being the third of the nine springing from the Waterbury First,-formed in 1687;
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and the eighth of the twenty-two springing from the Farmington First,-formed in 1652. Southington, the south parish in Farm- ington, became a town in 1779, and the parish of Farmingbury became the town of Wolcott in 1796. The church has had seven pastors, averaging ten years each, and five stated preachers, averaging three years each, and has been no long time without a minister. Its ministers have been good men, in doctrine and in life. The discipline of the church has been conducted with firm- ness and wisdom. There have been eight years of spiritual re- freshing, in which the church has received the following numbers on profession : 1774, 13 ; 1784, 18 ; 1815, 10; 1816, 10; 1828, 30; 1843, 10; 1858, 37; 1867, 33,-in all, 161. It reported in 1840, 116 members, probably the largest number it has ever at- tained ; in 1852, 66; and in January, 1873, 93.
A noticeable fact in the history of this place, is the steady de- cline of the population. The town first appeared in the census in 1800, when the population was 948. In 1810, it was 952. Since 1810 it has gone down with every census, and in 1870 was only 491. It lost in 1810 to 1820, 9; in 1820 to 1830, 100; in 1830 to 1840, 210; in 1840 to 1850, 30; in 1850 to 1860, 18; in 1860 to 1870, 94. The only other town in the State which has declined at each census from 1810 to 1870 is Hart- land, which, in this period, has lost 39 per cent. But Wolcott has in this time lost 48 per cent. In 1870, only two towns in Con- necticut had fewer inhabitants than Wolcott, namely : Marl- borough, 476, and Andover, 461.
This fact is, naturally enough, discouraging. But what can be said for your comfort ? You have reason to be proud of the mi- gration which has gone forth from you, even as the old folks lingering at the hearth-stone where they have trained a family now scattered by the ways of Providence to bless the world. Your case is not desperate. Your estates, tenements, and families, have an aspect of thrift. You are not poor. The tax list of 1872 was $252,789, or an average of $512 for each person, and $2,022 for each of the one hundred and twenty-five families reported in 1870,- in which respect you are better off than many of us min- isters. Your young people, as they grow up, move away; but you are not past fruitfulness, nor blighted with barrenness, and
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had in January, 1873, 100 school children, and an average of $2,348 of taxable property for each of these children, while Waterbury had only $2,067, and Southington only $1,817 for each school child. In this comparison only fifty towns in the State are above you, and 113 are below you. In this order, Wol- cott is numbered 51; Waterbury, 87 ; and Southington, 114.
Religion has not waned among you. The spiritual condition of the place is certainly better than in 1800, and better than in 1850. The ratio of the members of this church to the popu- lation (nineteen per cent.) is larger now than then. Probably no equal period in the history of the church has been more fruit- ful than the last fifteen years,- 1857 to 1872. In this time you have raised up two ministers of the gospel,- the only two ever raised here. In this time, while 94 have been removed from the church-a number larger than it now contains - namely : 3 by discipline, 40 by death, and 51 by letter, you have added 115, namely : 24 by letter, and 91 by profession, including the fruits of the two most extensive revivals ever enjoyed here. These ad- ditions by profession have averaged one for each communion sea- son in the whole fifteen years. You have a good Meeting house and parsonage, and the Society is free from debt. You have a fine choir, a flourishing Sabbath school, embracing all ages, and a stable and intelligent congregation, attending church all day. You have made a commendable advance in the salary of the minister,- from $500 in 1861, to $950 in 1873. In addition to the local support of the gospel, you have given in the last four- teen years, for charities, $2,066.25,-or an average of about $150 a year. You have the aid of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society, which has voted you in 1832 to 1873, $3,335, and will not fail to stand by you so long as you are needy and worthy of its assistance. You are not the weakest, nor the most irresolute of the aided churches. Only three of those assisted this year have more taxable property than you. In January, 1873, the resident members of this church had $49,691 of taxable property, on which they pledged for the expenses of the year $575, or a per centage of .01157, and an average of $17.42 for each of the thirty-three male members of the church.
And while the town stands so well in property as compared
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with other towns, it is to be noted and remembered that we have seventy-six Congregational churches in this State,-or more than one-quarter of our whole number,-which are smaller than this church.
In this condition of things you have reason to respect your history, your church, and yourselves, and to be hopeful. With a right spirit in yourselves, you have a right to expect the aid, if need be, of prosperous sons who have gone out from you, the help of the abler churches, and the blessing of God securing you an eligible future for the life that now is, and for that which is to come.
Rev. J. Wickliffe Beach followed in remarks explana- tory of the statistical representation of the town, as contrasted with former years.
Another paper was read containing a sketch of the formation of the Episcopal Society and church in Wolcott.
Remarks by Simeon H. Norton, Esq., of Plantsville :
MR. CHAIRMAN: - It is always pleasant to be kindly greeted by friends, but to-day I am extremely happy to meet you and these my fellow citizens in this great meeting. The associations are delightful, and I feel their magnetic influence in every fibre of my system, while standing in my old native town surrounded by the friends of my youth. You may not attach any great impor- tance to anything I shall say, since you have a large amount of speaking talent here. to-day; yet while they build the substantial superstructure I may fill in the chinking. Now, ladies and gentle- men, being a native Wolcott man, I beg your patient consider- ation for a short time while I indulge in some personal reminis- censes. The scenes of my childhood and youth are vividly brought to my mind this day. My rambles over these hills, and through these valleys,-my early admiration of the vast extent and unfathomable depth of the mill pond in yonder hollow,- all recur to me with great clearness. In my early youth I looked with amazement at the magnificent machinery of Norton's carding machine and grist mill, and wondered where all the money came from to build such enormously great works. Having been to the mill one day, upon returning home, I asked my mother if there
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was another mill in the world as large as Uncle John's grist mill. Benham and Tuttle's store I considered the greatest emporium of trade in the universe, and doubted if there were any other men in the world rich enough to buy as many fine things as they exhibited in their store. And, oh ! how my mouth did water for the candies in their jars,-but alas! I had no money with which to buy them. On one training day I had five cents, and only five, for spending money, and with this I intended to buy at least two rolls of candy, and a few peanuts. As soon as I arrived upon the ground Mr. Manly Upson tempted me to give the whole of my money for a little foolish picture book. Presently the boys came around me eating their candies, and asked me why I did not buy some. Then my joy and courage all fled, and bursting into tears said : "I have paid all my money for a darned, little, foolish, picture book." At that time a very kind hearted but eccentric man came along, whose name was Richard Hopkins, alias Dick Brady. Perhaps it may be interesting to our South- ington friends who are here, to be informed that this man was a brother of Mrs. Elihu Carter, who was the mother of our re- spected townsmen, Messrs. Hopkins and Asahel Carter. Well, Uncle Dick asked me what was the matter. I told him I had paid Mr. Manly Upson all my money for a darned little picture book, and had none to buy candy with. He said he would go with me to Mr. Upson, and get him to take the book and give me the money ; but this Mr. Upson peremptorily declined, and was inexorable. Upon this Uncle Dick gave me five cents from his own pocket, after talking rather harshly to the man who sold me the book. Oh, what a sense of thankfulness filled my young heart towards that kind man. I thought Uncle Dick would surely go to heaven, and that the other man would as surely go in the opposite direction. Since arriving to the years of manhood, I have received many favors from distinguished men, but they all dwindle into insignificance compared with that of my kind old Uncle, Dick Brady.
Now, my friends, that was a great lesson to me, and may be to my young friends present. Whenever I am tempted to buy any- thing I do not really need, I think of the little, darned, foolish picture book. The moral of the lesson is, that when we see a
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poor, destitute, crying boy among many happy children, we may accomplish a great good by helping such a boy.
Another remembrance is peculiarly pleasant to me, - it is that of the singing I used to hear in Wolcott. I thought there was no tenor vocalist in the world equal to Stephen Harrison; and in all candor I must say that I never heard a sweeter or more natural voice for singing tenor than his.
My early school teachers, too,-Mr. Bartholomew, Capt. Gates Upson, Mr. Isaac Bronson, and others, - I regarded as the very embodiment of learning. I used to sit on the little slab bench with four legs and eagerly imbibe their marvelous teachings. And our school committee I considered the most august body in the world. I had no idea that any other body of men could be found who could be half as dignified, half as consequential, half as magnanimous, as they were.
Another item. I never felt as rich in my life, or so much like a millionaire, as when I received twenty-five cents from Mr. Ira Hough, for two long days' work, gathering apples.
The first clergyman of whom I have any recollection was the Rev. John Keys. Oh, how dignified, how holy, how awfully sub- lime, he appeared to me. I regarded him as belonging to a su- perior order of beings. I was afraid of him. His name was Keys, and I had the superstitious notion that he held in his hands the keys of the bottomless pit into which he would put all naughty boys. Many a time, when I saw him coming in the dis- tance, I have run back or turned into the fields to avoid meeting him.
On Saturday afternoons, in the public schools, we always recited the Westminster Catechism, all through, from "What is the chief end of man?" to "What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?" After the recitation the teacher would talk to us on religious subjects, and then allow the school to ask ques- tions .. I was very diffident, but on one occasion I mustered cour- age to ask the question : "Mr. Bartholomew, who made God?" The teacher smiled, and asked me what I thought of the ques- tion. I could not tell. Upon which one boy in the school, by the name of Ezra S. Hough, jumped up and said, "I know who made God." The teacher gave him liberty to tell, when he said,
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"I don't know certain, but I guess Mr. Keys did." In those days it was considered very impious to smile when the Catechism was under consideration, but on this occasion Mr. Bartholomew laughed outright, and said to the little boy, "You had better go and ask Mr. Keys."
In the old church, on one occasion, when we had a long prosy sermon, a young man, by the name of Timothy Hotchkiss, who occupied one of the old-fashioned pews alone, lay down on the seat, and fell asleep. The meeting ended, the congregation retired, the house was closed, and the young man left asleep. After sleeping about two hours, he awoke and succeeded in creeping out of one of the windows. Upon arriving home, his mother said, "Timothy, why are you so late from meeting?" He replied, "I tell you what it is, mother, we had a long-winded preacher to-day."
While on reminiscences I must not omit to say that three of the most important, interesting, and solemn scenes of my life were enacted on this very ground. The old Meeting house was used for the conveniences of town meetings, as well as religious services, and in it I took the Freeman's oath, and solemnly swore to be true and faithful to my State and to my country, and always to cast my vote as should conduce to the best good of the same, according to the dictates of my own conscience; and, allow me to add, that every freeman should have this oath written upon the tablets of his heart, and be governed by it in all his political actions.
In yonder little church. I took the vows of God upon me, and before God, angels, and men, solemnly promised, that by God's help, I would obediently keep His holy commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.
In that same church I stood before the altar, on the 16th day of October, 1836, and held one by the hand, whom I promised to love, comfort, honor and keep, in sickness and in health, so long as we both should live.
My friends, this town is the place of my birth, the home of my early years, and though in the providence of God I have been absent from it most of my years, yet I have always cherished a lively remembrance of it, and have always had great respect for
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the general character of my native townsmen, and whenever I hear anything said of them derogatory, it stirs within me a feeling of resentment. Wherever my residence has been, it has been in the midst of Wolcott men, and I have seen them greatly respected and occupying places of trust and responsibility. After leaving Wolcott my residence, for different periods of time, was in the following places : Meriden, Bristol, Plainville, and Plymouth. In 1844 I alighted in the town of Southington, where I now reside. I first struck on the banks of the "raging canal," when there was no railroad in Southington. The first two men who greeted me were Mr. Isaac Burritt, who will speak to you at this meeting, and his brother, the world-renowned Elihu Burritt, who will also address you. I found then in Southington a population of fifteen hundred, it has increased to five thousand. I am much attached to my adopted town, and desire gratefully to acknowledge that the people of the town have bestowed upon your poor, diffident Wolcott boy a large amount of patronage and confidence.
One word to my Episcopal brethren and friends. Allow me to earnestly advise you to unite with the Congregationalists, here, and help support their organization. And, although you will miss some of the solemn, impressive, and distinctive features of our church service, yet we all have the same holy bible for the foundation of our faith and practice. During the last illness of my dear wife, the Rev. Mr. Eastman frequently called on her, and it was her dying request that he should attend her funeral with an Episcopalian clergyman, and it has always been my practice to worship with Christians of other denominations in the absence of the service of the church of my choice.
In looking around me to-day the sad reflection involuntarily comes to my mind that many of my former friends and acquaint- ances are not here. Where are they? Some have gone to distant lands; others have passed that bourne from whence no traveler returns. My father and mother, and sisters Jennette and Justina, lie in yonder grave yard. My sister Hannah Higgins lies in the yard in the south part of this town. My sister Julina Bail lies in one of the cemeteries in New Haven. My brothers, Levi and Samuel, remain with me in the land of the living -the former in Plantsville, the latter in Sacramento, Cal.
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Many of the companions of my earlier years are gone. Where is Colonel Tuttle? Where is Ezra S. Hough, and where are many, many others? We call them, but they answer not! A messenger has taken them hence and they come not again nor answer the call of their friends. And it is the impression of this hour that whither they have gone we are all rapidly hastening.
Now, my friends, one reminiscence of a more modern date and I shall have done. The last time that I had the pleasure of addressing a public meeting in this town was on the Fourth of July, 1863. At that time a dark cloud, like a pall, hung over our beloved country. But two months previous my only son had fallen in the terrible battle of Chancellorville. The storm of civil war was upon us; its lightnings were flashing and its thunders roaring! At that meeting you passed a resolution by acclamation that the rebellion must be crushed at whatever hazard or cost. It was a dark day for our country. At that meeting the people of this town assembled en masse, in yonder grove, re- enforced by many from the adjacent towns, and over all floated our national flag. I notice that the same flag now waves over this bower.
My fellow citizens, there is to my mind overwhelming inspira- tion in the "Old Flag of our Union," which now floats triumph- antly over all the people of this great nation. But a few years ago that sacred emblem of national honor was insulted, torn down and trampled in the dust by those who had sworn to protect it. The people of the loyal states solemnly resolved to raise and protect it to their utmost, and it is now the flag of all the people. Republicans and Democrats; old line Whigs and Abolitionists ; Christians and sinners; all, with rare exceptions, rushed to the support of the flag. For it the people sacrificed their sons and brothers, their fathers and husbands, upon the altar of their country. When our good old ship of state was on the breakers; when the ยท storm of civil war was periling all our cherished hopes, then these brave kindred went out to the rescue, and, blessed be God, they saved the old ship! And now the glorious constellated banner of the United States floats over all this vast expanse of country,-from Maine to the Rio Grande, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Our national sun does not seem destined to set in
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