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 30
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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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the dark night of chaos, but bids fair to culminate in the meridian sky.
Rev. Mr. Hillard, of Plymouth, followed in remarks in the highest style of anecdote and illustration, which greatly animated the audience, and prepared them to come up to the second day's meeting with the greater intellectual appetite for what might be in store. Thus ended the first day of the great meeting at Wolcott.
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THE CENTENARY MEETING.
SECOND DAY.
The morning opened cloudy, but about ten o'clock brightened up, with a soft south wind, and most delight- ful weather. The audience was nearly the same as the day before,- about one thousand,-and but for the threat- ening of the weather in the morning, would have been much larger. The memorial meeting of the morning opened with affecting remembrances of the past, and passed into inspiring hopes of the future. The first pa- per read contained the names of the inhabitants who settled in Wolcott before the year 1770, as fully as had been obtained. The second paper contained the names and ages of persons who had lived to be over seventy years of age, as follows :
John Alcott, first settler, aged 71; his widow Deborah, 77; Obed Alcox, 71 ; his widow Anna, 87 ; Eldad Alcox, 71; Capt. John Alcox, 77; his wife Mary, 71; James Alcox, Ist, 74; his widow Hannah, 92; James Alcott, 2d, 87 ; his wife Esther, 85 ; Jesse Alcox, 74; his widow Patience, 97; David Alcox, 81 ; John B. Alcox, 73; his widow Lois, 70; Mark Alcott, 74; widow Lydia Alcott, 82 ; Jedediah G. Alcott, 79; widow Elizabeth Al- cott, 84 ; Thomas Alcott, 73; Anna Bronson Alcott, widow of Joseph C., 91; Joseph Atkins, sen., 71 ; his widow Abigail, 80; Luther Atkins, 71; Esther Atkins, 74; Levi Atkins, sen., 81; his widow Eunice, 91; Abel Beecher, 74; Capt. Joseph Beecher, 90; his wife Esther, 75 ; John Beecher, 74; Luther Andrews, 77 ; widow Martha Andrews, 89; Israel Baldwin, 87; his wife, 80; Deacon James Bailey, 78; widow Thede Bailey, 91 ; Benjamin
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Bement, 88 ; Jonathan Bement, 72 ; Zealous Blakeslee, 73 ; his wife Sarah, 72-both died on the same day; Hezekiah Bradley, 82; widow Anna Bradley, 79 ; Moses Bradley, 71 ; Titus Brack- ett, 77; Sarah, wife of Titus Brackett, 71; Zuar Brackett, 87 ; his wife Eunice, 81 ; widow Semantha Brooks, 84; Daniel Bying- ton, jr., 86 ; his widow Elizabeth, 87; John Bronson, 103 ; his wife Hannah, 72; John Bronson, jr., 91 ; Deacon Isaac Bronson, 84; his widow Thankful, 93 ; Hannah Bronson, 88; Clark Bron- son, 82 ; his wife Experience, 72; Samuel Downes, 73; Obed Doolittle, 90; Stephen Carter, 88; widow Lucy S. Carter, 76; Mary Chatterton, 95; widow Sarah Churchill, 92 ; widow Sarah Finch, 85; widow Ruth Finch, 86; Adah Finch, 77; Eleazer Finch, 83 ; his wife Hannah, 76; Jerusha Finch, 77; Judah Fris- bie, 73 ; his widow Hannah, 83 ; John Frisbie, 84 ; Reuben Fris- bie, 78 ; Elijah Frisbie, 82 ; David Frost, 83 ; Mr. Gridley, 91 ; widow Naomi Guernsey, 87 ; Asa Hall, 76 ; Capt. Heman Hall, 73; Capt. Levi Hall, 80; Lydia, widow of Heman Hall, 79; widow Betsey A. Hall, 86; Mary, wife of Ephraim Hall, 70 ; Nancy, wife of Orrin Hall, 74; Deacon Aaron Harrison, 93 ; his widow Jerusha, 92 ; widow Lydia Harrison, 76; Samuel Hor- ton, 84; Elisha Horton, 81 ; Mary, wife of Ira Hough, 83; Bet- sey, wife of Lyman Higgins, 74; Timothy Higgins, 75; his widow, 75 ; Isaac Hopkins, 96; Harvey Hopkins, 76; Titus Hotchkiss, 81 ; Timothy Hotchkiss, 77; Isaac Hotchkiss, 83; Milo G. Hotchkiss, 75; his wife Abigail, 73; Major Luther Hotchkiss, 84; his widow Anna, 83 ; Abner Hotchkiss, 75; his widow Mary, 72; widow Patience Hitchcock, 97 ; John J. Ke- nea, 76 ; his widow Obedience, 88; Levi Johnson, 72 ; his widow Ruth, 80; Nathaniel Lane, 76 ; widow Melicent Lane, 88 ; Dan- iel Lane, 86 ; his widow Keziah, 87; Royce Lewis, 73; Lud Lindsley, 75 ; Nathaniel Lewis, 90; Lois, widow of Appleton Lewis, 83; Joseph Minor, 89 ; his wife Mary, 82 ; Joshua Minor, 83 ; Marcus Minor, 80; Elihu Moulthrop, 75; Mrs. Mills, 74; David Norton, 71 ; Ozias Norton, 87 ; widow Hannah Norton, 87 ; widow Viah Norton, 73; widow Abigail Norton, 73; Samuel Nichols, 95; Joseph M. Parker, 77 ; Eldad Parker, 85; his wife Sylvia, 74; Mary Parker, 99 ; David Pardee, 84; Elizabeth Par- dee, 77 ; Deacon Justus Peck, 75 ; Col. Moses Pond, 87 ; Solo-
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mon Plumb, 79 ; his wife Lydia, 76; widow Mary Rowe, 83 ; wid ow Phebe Rich, 85 ; Orrin Plumb, 75; Samuel Plumb, 74; widow Lucmetia Plumb, 85 ; Willard Plumb, 70; William C. Pluymert, 74; widow Pluymert, 83 ; Amos Roberts, 76; widow Eunice Smith, 83 ; David Scarritt, 81 ; his wife Hannah, 73 : Joseph N. Sperry, 71 ; Josiah Thomas, 73 ; his widow Mary, 88 ; Martha, widow of James Thomas, 79; widow Jemima Thomas, 85 ; John Thomas, 75 ; Jerry Todd, 73; widow Amy Todd, 98; Capt. Lucius Tuttle, 97 ; widow Rebecca Tuttle, 86; widow Amy Tuttle, 76; Lucius Tuttle, 89 ; Abraham Tuttle, 89 ; widow Eunice Tyler, 84; widow Sarah Truesdell, 94; Rhoda, widow of Washington Upson, 72; Capt. Samuel Upson, 79 ; his wife Ruth, 70; Gates Upson, 72 ; Selah Upson, 78 ; his widow Martha, 83 ; Deacon Harvey Upson, 88 ; his wife Rachel, 76 ; Ashbel Upson, 71 : Martin Upson, 77 ; his wife Phebe, 73; widow Margaret Warner, 84 ; Eliakim Welton, Ist, 79; Eliakim Welton, 2d, 95 ; his wife Amy, 87 ; Vodicia Welton, 73 ; widow Julia A. Welton, 71 : widow Hannah Welton, 88; Bronson Welton, 79; Elias Welton, 77 ; Aaron Wiard, 74; Olive Wiard, 77 ; Philomela, widow of Jared Welton, 85 ; Joseph Smith, 75.
In all, 177 who lived over 70 years. Of these, 97 lived over 80 years, 24 lived to be over 90 years old, and IO lived to be over 95 years old. John Bronson lived to be 103 years old. When he was one hundred years old a a centenary meeting was held in Wolcott to celebrate his one hundredth anniversary, at which time a sermon was preached and a pleasant time enjoyed.
The Mother of David Norton lived in Wolcott several years, and returned to Guilford, Conn., when she was 105 years old, and she lived to be 110 years old.
Remarks were made by the acting pastor, appreciative of the great service the clerks of the church and society had rendered in keeping the records so fully and carefully. But for want of time in preparing it, a list of these offi- cers would have been read on this occasion. A list of the deacons of the church was then read, and some re- marks made by the present minister in regard to them,
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and particularly Deacon Aaron Harrison, and Deacon Isaac Bronson. Of Deacon Harrison, it was said he was the first deacon of the church, the first captain of the first military company in Wolcott, and made the first prayer in the first Meeting house. At his burial the military were in review, and marched to the grave, fol- lowing the corpse, the band playing with muffled drums a funeral dirge. This dirge was performed by the band present, and gave great satisfaction to all, and was so peculiarly appropriate that it was called for again in the afternoon. Following this was a funeral hymn : -
" Why do we mourn departing friends, Or shake at death's alarms ?"
sung to the tune China, C. M., in the old style,-slow and pathetic. This was followed by remarks memorial, by Rev. A. C. Beach, who remembered with great satis- faction Deacon Isaac Bronson. Mr. Isaac Bronson, son of Deacon Irad Bronson, of Bristol, and grandson of Isaac, made some appropriate remarks, and to these were added remarks by Mr. A. B. Alcott, in the same cheerful yet kindly remembrances of the good man now gone.
THE CENTENARY POEM.
Inscribed to the Congregational Church and Society of Wolcott, Conn.
BY WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING.
The Ages pass, their heroes live and fade, And mythic pens prose to a future shade ; Again the Trojan plains refresh our sight, The flashing plumes Astyanax delight, Again to us,- again his Sabine farm That Roman Horace sends us with a charm,
And silver Virgil slowly tunes his lay,- Time was and is, - let us implore to-day !
In these plain fields, upon old Spindle Hill, Not vainly Wolcott looks nor turns its mill, Mad River,- child of the deep and moss-clad swamp, Around whose spruce our wandering thoughts encamp ;
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
For sweet renew the fading dreams of old, When the fleet Indian here was hunting bold ; Not merely savage, but possessed with sense, Social and kind, shrewd in his eloquence. No mere. destructive, formed to mash and slay, He loved to see the softening light delay On Wolcott's height and touch her shadowy vales ; Child of mysterious thought and Nature's ails. His altar was the sunshine on the hills, The bird's quick song, the woodland or the rills, And where to-day we greet the Hundred Years, Since first this church allayed uncivil fears, Tolled on dark centuries a moldering knell, Trees were their pillars, winds were all the bell.
To us, this hundred years more than a line Of tawny sachems comes, a thought divine ; It, in our human nature has its dates, And more to us, than outward things relates. The Father's home, Wolcott the dear, the good ; The hills, the vales a crowning multitude, Eyeing afar the steeples where they shine ; From Spindle Hill we touch the blue sea brine, And Farmingbury names the simple truth, As now, so in the pastime of her youth, They ploughed the shining glebe, they stocked the mill, Rising from homelier attributes to skill. Our virtuous Fathers, strong and steady folk, Slow in their motion, not divest of joke ; On "proxing day " they voted for the best, To guide the impulse of the busy nest.
They brewed the vintage oft from mellow grain,
Saw rich Pomona load the joyous wain,
Bearing great tributes from the orchards fair, In sparkling cups desiderable cheer. Pleased with sobriety our yoemen held Feasts of the farming genius, not impelled By thoughtless fashion's quite unfeeling sway, A spendthrift worm that eats its web away. The husking frolic made the barn aloud, The ruddy corn sent laughter through the crowd, While the coy virgin held the blackened ear, Half mischief bent, she still reserved its fear ; And gay Philander marching chose his love,- His choice forever, let us hope to prove. No word profane then sullied house or street ;
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The time was innocent, its moral sweet.
So lived the Fathers ; natural men were they, Whate'er they held, the youth should swift obey. They did not spare the law, the child to spoil ; They cherished industry, nor thought it toil. Duly each Sabbath to this church they came, Devoutly pious in salvation's flame ; Good counsels got, that brought the week in view ; Here might one think, and here his thought renew.
An English race, an English tint may prize ; The Saxon blonde that shines from friendly eyes. Light waves the tress across yon Parian brow ; Blue are those tender orbs as violets grow,- Those pleasant glances of the English maid, Stealing along the barnside, by the glade. Such blood shows temperate, such in virtue grows ; Loves the old homestead, where the sires repose ; The modest field along the gentle height ; They rest from all their labors, from the fight. The silent hermits of the peaceful cell, " After life's fitful fever they sleep well." So sang a poet once, and yet this race, After life's earnest action, seek for grace. Softly that watchful sky bends patient down, And winds and waters smooth their burial-town.
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And must we ask for monuments more high Than these plain stones, and should this church defy, With pillared arches or o'er-fretting spire, Time's deepest dents or the last judgment-fire ? A glittering abbey but a sty of monks, Dull contributions piled o'er filthy trunks ? Our people are the church, its virtues shine Of theirs, in eminence, the work divine ; If they control their thoughts, their passion stay, Seek generous acts, and truth and love obey,- Strive for unhappy souls, who strewn about, Need home and friends, wrecked on the rabble rout ; The pallid widow left her mate to mourn,- The narrow orphan by remonstrance shorn.
We build this church of justice, carve the right Along her battlements, whose heaven-born flight Defies the patience of the loftiest tower, Spurns history and dates from Virtue's hour ;
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
Something that never feels the chill of death, No moth, no rust, that draws its lovely breath From groves of Palm, by Rivers of the Cross, Deliverance from alarm, beyond all loss. Such are our altars, these our flamens wear Across their hearts : Be good and true, be fair !- Like some cold fountain to a traveler's taste, In his hot summer toil across the waste.
Nor all unknown, for from this mount may flow Pure streams of thought, such as the gods allow. The youthful pilgrim with his pack unslung, From far Virginia's vales, unbind his tongue, And prove how love and beauty yet are clear In Wolcott's skies as to the Athenian year. And many a mirthful child shall eager hold The cheerful sermons from this pulpit rolled ; Tales that in all the households of the land Call up their " Little Women " to be grand. Let us believe, yea, may we oft declare, That round us lies a scene as rich, as fair, As that Boccacio dreamt, and Milton caught, When on its wings upsprung the verduous thought Of Paradise ; rare, because innocent, Fair, because · true,- pledge of a people bent To make their problem clear,- self-government. No gilded King betrays his hollow fate, The tattered symbol of a treacherous date ; No tax-built church compels us here to sign Thirty-six articles, or life resign. Here every man be, to himself, a state,- His own prerogative, his own debate. This land is ours, those heavens are our own, The race here blossoms more maturely grown ; We may not seek to live a down-trod life, Bring back mad Rome, or whet Napoleon's knife. Enough the grassy fields that round us lie, Enough the cheerful hill, dear Wolcott's eye, That by its lifting purifies the air, And shows us blither to both sun and star.
Child of the ancient Race ! who sailed with fate, Across cold ocean's vault not desolate,- Child of the blue-eyed Saxon ! here thy sire Built his warm hearth-stone, here lit up its fire. Never let us forget from whence we came,-
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THE CENTENARY MEETING.
From Shakespeare's fields, fanned by an English flame ;
United by the past, yet one to-day,
Fused in humanity's o'ermastering ray. Then may the people lift the song of praise, And ask the Lord to grant them length of days,
To screen our church from madness and deceit,
In virtue's strength each virtuous soul entreat. And in those future hours, when future years
Build up, by hundreds, o'er our smiles and tears,
Must never sin nor stain pollute this soil, Of peace the faithfulest, of love the oil !
When, in reading, Mr. Alcott came to the passage about Philander, he recited the old-fashioned ditty, "Come, Philander, let's be marching," to the great glee of the audience, many of whom had never heard it. There was great regret that Miss Alcott could not be present on such an interesting occasion, which was enjoyed to the utmost by those who participated in it.
Names of persons who removed from Wolcott to Meriden, Conn., prepared by Mr. L. C. Hotchkiss.
John Sutliff, in 1819. Lucas C. Hotchkiss, in 1828. James H. Williams, in 1844. Junius Norton, Phineas Bradley, Abigail Hall, Levia Davidson, Esther E., wife of James Hough, in 1860. Anson Sutliff, in 1817 ; removed in 1857, and died in Minnesota, aged 59. Isaac Hotchkiss, in 1810; died in Bristol, aged 83, and was buried in Wolcott. Mary Hotchkiss, died in 1840, and was buried in Wolcott. Olive Ann Webb, in 1825; died in No- vember, 1855, aged 84. Emily Welton, in 1824; died in 1825 ; buried in Wolcott. Rufina Hotchkiss, in 1831; died September, 1850, aged 40. Lucy Hough, married T. T. Hubbard, in 1846, and died February 9th, 1855. Cornelia Hough, died 1856. Caroline Hough, married George Parker, and died in 1864. Statira Williams, in 1835; died August 18th, 1870, aged 73. Richmond Hall, jr., in 1840; died 1848, aged 45. Thomas Hotchkiss, in 1832; died in 1866, aged 56. Albert R. Potter, in 1830. Anson Williams, in 1842. Newell Minor, died 1861. Leonora Downs, in 1864; died in 1870, aged 65 ; buried in Wolcott. Mary Ann Norton, in 1833 ; married Joel T. Butler in 1835 ; died in Alabama in 1837.
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
After recess, the meeting again assembled at two o'clock, and after opening exercises, Mr. Isaac Burritt, of Plants- ville, was introduced, and spoke as follows concerning the inhabitants of Southington who were natives of Wolcott :
There was a handful of corn planted on the top of Wolcott Mountain, which after a brief growth was transplanted upon the sands of Southington. Of that seed and its fruitage I am to speak on this occasion. A man's birth-place, with all its ineradi- cable impressions upon both mind and heart, is an essential ele- ment in his history and character, and is recognized as such by the Lord, who says that " He shall count when he writeth up the people that this and that man was born there." The history of the world shows that the average man grows better upon the hills than the plains, and better still upon the mountains than the hills. As the springs gush out of the mountains and hillsides, with their pure and health-giving waters, to find their way down to the valleys, so there are continuous streams of people, with their pure morals, systematic economy, thrift, and well developed physical constitutions, flowing from the mountainous and hill countries to the cities to recover from corruption and degenera- tion the cities, without which "they would become like Sodom and be made like unto Gomorrah."
The mountains have been in all ages the refuge and strong- hold of liberty and religion among men. The temple of the Lord, and the city of His chosen people, were builded upon a mountain, while the metropolis of sin and Satan was upon the plains. And in the future, as in the past, it is divinely declared, " The mountain of the Lord's house (the concentration of holy influences) shall be established upon the top of the mountains, and all people shall flow unto it." This (Wolcott) undoubtedly is the place, for it answers the description. There is also confirma- tory evidence as strong as holy writ, for it is written, "The last shall be first ;" and as Wolcott is the last town in the State, or will be, if emigration goes on, this must be the place so far as Connecticut is concerned. This being the case, it ought to in- crease the value of real estate here.
The first name on the roll of honor, of grateful remembrance
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and obligation of the town of Southington to Wolcott, is that of Addin Lewis, who gave fifteen thousand dollars to found the Lewis Academy in that town, which has been a high school to a large part of its youth, including seven young men of the place now in the ministry.
Statira Alcott, widow of Amos Shepherd, and three other young women of the age of nineteen, were married, removed to South- ington, and each had a son during the same year. Their hus- bands were accused, humorously, of stealing sheep in Wolcott,- and taking their pick, at that .* The progeny of these lambs are here to-day in large numbers, and I do not think they will "go back on" their fathers for that. Samuel Shepherd, Statira's son, is the owner of the extensive greenhouse and grounds at Plantsville; furnishing Southington and neighboring towns with flowers, plants, and shrubbery. Amos Shepherd, her son also, has fine mechanical genius, and is superintendent of the Peck, Stow, and Wilcox Company. James Shepherd, of Bristol, a third son, is an expert solicitor of patents at Washington.
Rev. Henry E. Barnes, son of Ida Alcott, wife of Selah Barnes, an eloquent and able minister, and pastor of the Congregational church at Moline, Illinois.
Romantha Carter, of gigantic frame, at present an invalid, but formerly of great physical power, "lifting up his axe against the thick trees." Theda Carter, wife of Salmon F. Clark, of large personal power and executive ability ; distinguished and valued for uniting puritanical convictions of religious duty with great geniality of spirit and manner, and for moulding her sons in the same like- ness. James Clark, her son, has demonstrated the possession of mechanical talents of a superior order. His massive machines reverse the Yankee maxim of thrift; instead of "strike while the iron is hot," make it hot by striking. Delight Carter, wife of Deacon Edward Twitchell, in Jewish fashion, named by a forecast
*It was stated by the author of this book, at the Hitchcock picnic, in 1873, that it was not certain that the character of the young men of Southington was above reproach, for some of them did carry away; by night visits, some of the finest lambs of the Rev. Israel B. Woodward's flock, i. e., some of the young ladies of his parish, in about the year 1800. And the Rev. Mr. Keys, and other ministers, in after years, suffered in like manner.
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
of her spirit and character, and of sweet and precious memory to all who knew her. ·
Eleazor Finch, his present countenance so indicative of suffering long endured. His bent form, and shrunken limbs, show but little of that athletic power which distinguished him in prime of life. Thirty-nine years he was in the Peck Smith Manufacturing Company. Dennis B. Finch, his son, has long been deputy sheriff of Hartford County. Annie Finch, his daughter, has greatly distinguished herself by rare gifts and culture as a vocalist and " sweet singer in Israel." At present she is in the West Meriden choir, at a salary of eight hundred dollars a year.
Sylvester Frost. - Herrick Frost, his son, is an attractive and successful wholesale merchant in New Haven, of the firm of Ty- ler & Frost. Henry Frost is a rising merchant of Plainville. Patty Frost, widow of Herrick Payne, genial and sensible in her old age. She writes of Wolcot : "I attended Sabbath school, the first known in my childhood, at the old church, fifty-six years ago, -i. e. in 1817,-under Mr. Keys. I walked two miles, and when near the church, I took off my stockings,- if they had be- come soiled,- and put on a clean pair, which I carried for that purpose, hiding the soiled ones by the roadside until my return. We had no question or library books, but learned a chapter from the Bible during the week, and recited it on the Sabbath. We had no fire or warmth but our clothing, from our starting until our return home. There were square pews in the old church ; the young people sat up in the gallery, the boys on one side, the girls on the other ; but we could see each other. There was a tything man to keep us staid."
Levi B. Frost established himself in what is now called Marion, as a blacksmith ; his sole capital being his brawny hands, stout heart, and resolute will, with unmitigated application to labor, striking when his iron was hot, sixteen hours a day in the shoeing season. He built up a large estate as a farmer and manufac- turer, and put up buildings for his sons. He was long a pillar in the Baptist church, of public spirit and usefulness, member of the legislature, and selectman of the town.
Widow of Ira Frost, daughter of Col. Pond, was possessed of a spirit and countenance that never grew sharp under the greatest
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provocations. Her husband and children all gone, "she looks like patience on a monument, smiling at grief."
Deacon Timothy Higgins, when a young man, went down Wolcott mountain to Southington, with his worldly effects tied up in a cotton handkerchief, to work for Asa Barnes. He stipulated to have steady work, as he wanted no "nick days," and to have fifty cents a day when not on job work. Of quick perception, great executive ability, and systematic economy ; working in his tanyard fifteen hours a day. By these forces, with the Divine favor, he was greatly successful, as to this world's goods, until 1833, when his life was turned from Mammon unto God. Since that time, in the language of Oak Ames, but not in its spirit, he has put his money "where it would do the most good." Since which period, also, he has filled a large place in the religious labors of church and society. His right hand knows what his left does not, for he is a man who gives fifteen hundred dollars a year in charities, out of an income of twenty-five hundred. His son, Lucius Higgins, is a useful minister in Sanark, Ill.
Susan Hall, wife of Lewis Woodruff, and deaconess in the Baptist church; of excellent judgment, executive ability, and taste ; the principal milliner in the town for the godly women. What she says is fit and proper for them, they wear, asking no questions for fashion sake.
Lucy Hall, widow of Judge Merriman. Her son, Mansfield Merriman, has exhibited from childhood the possession of talents and scholarship superior to any native of the town. When a small boy, he milked his father's cows with one hand, and studied Latin out of a book held with the other, and did the churning in · the kitchen in a similar manner. He carried his books to the field to get snatches of study while at work; earned and put into the bank four hundred dollars, and ran away to college in his teens ; took the second prize of Yale College in his Freshman year ; received the offer of the presidency of a college in Tennessee during his third term, by the recommendation of the faculty; received the highest commendation from the general government for his report of the survey of the Delaware River. He has lately returned from Germany with the colloquial poetry of the language fully his own.
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