USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour, past and present > Part 16
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II. A. Rider, addition to Davis' block for barber shop.
. 1883
Oct. Edmund Day, residence, North st. April. Ilonse, George Burroughs, corner Grand and Pearl streets.
Rebuild and improve, Rev. H. D. Nor- throp's house, Church street.
George Bartlett, Clifton. Charles Kelsey, Clifton.
E. B. Bradley, Derby avenue.
House, R. Pierson, Clifton.
House, R. Evans, So. Main street. 1884.
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House, C. A. Wooster, Bank street.
House, Wm. H. Whittemore, Church street, north of Booth house.
Store building, Thos. James, Sykes' store. October. Chapel, Woodbridge.
October. House, John Bowen, Grand st. October, J. T. Forsey, Church st.
1885.
C. W. Storrs, house, Franklin street. Mill, 32x140, Seymour Mfg. Co., Frank- lin street.
February, Foot Bridge, Bank strect, for town.
W. C. Sharpe, house, corner of Maple and Union streets, now . Otto. Rebuild house for Wm. Pulfor.1. Tower on mill Tingue Mfg Co
1886. House, Richard Evans, South Main street.
House, C. A. Wooster, Bank st.
House, J. Kenworthy, North Main st.
House, C. L. Lockwood, West street.
Residence of A. Y. Beach, Bank street. June. House, Daniel Clark, Derby ave. October. House, Mrs. Booth, Church st. Joseph Whiteley, Franklin street.
Tingue Mfg. Co., rebuilding factory, $3,200, Factory sireet.
High School building, occupied in fall of Ellen Fitzgibbons, honse So. Main st 1886.
D. Williams, North Main street.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
RESIDENCE OF A. Y BEACH.
HI. A. Radford, house, Pearl street. 1887.
Residence of Sharon D. Beach, Washing- ton avenue.
July. S. H. Canfield, postoffice and store, Main street.
George Smith, Bank street.
George Smith, house, Bank street.
Office building of New Haven Copper Co., Main street.
F. Reiman, house, Music Hill.
B Thayer, Derby avenue.
G. F. Robinson, West street, next west of his home.
William C. Sharpe, Maple street.
Andrew Barr, West street.
1888.
F. Kempf, house, Third street.
C. L. Lockwood, West street.
Mrs. Alice Lanyon, South Main street. Thomas Gilyard, house, Gilyard street. Davis block, addition.
1889.
C. II. Storrs, house, Franklin street.
T. L. James, improvements on house. January. G. A. James, residence, W. Church street.
1890. February. Beach's block, Bank street, S. Y. Beach.
W. S. Cooper, rebuilt and addition, Church street.
C. L. Lockwood, house, West street.
Mrs. M. L. Storrs, house, Franklin street. Thomas Williams, Culver street.
C. C. Reynolds, house. Cedar street.
R. Emery-Mrs. R. Evans house-Hum- phrey street.
Otis Hawley, house, Skokorat.
Electric Light building. A. G. Day. 1891.
The number of new houses built during the year exceeds that of any previous . year, the largest number having been 25, in 1888. The list is as follows: -
NEW HOUSES.
Mrs. Julia A. Canfield, West Church st. Eugene Conroy, Meadow street.
S. HTart Culver, Culver street.
23I
DATES OF HOUSES, RESIDENCES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
RESIDENCE OF C. E. FAIRCHILD.
Jared Derbv. Derby Hill.
W. W. Dibble, Culver street.
Edward French, Grand street. Grant Hubbell, Clifton. D. C. Hull, near Maple street. Thomas Jones, corner Nichols and Garden John King, North street. Mrs. A. A. Lockwood, Humphrey street. Frederick Losee, Maple street.
Mark Lounsbury, Broad street. G. E. Ma thies, West street. Jesse Maynard, Clifton. Charles Nichols, Third avenue. Mrs. H. D. Northrop, West Church st. John ()'Neil, Sanford street.
Nov. H. S. Parsons, house Elm st. Walter S. Peck, Pearl street. Edward Pritchard, West Church street E. C. Sharpe, Union street. St. Augustine's rectory, Washington ave. C. H. Storrs, Franklin street. B. B Thayer, Pine street. Gotlob Theurer, Spruce street. A. Trounson, Maple street. Geo. Wakelee, Bank street.
Benjamin Williams, South Main st. - 29 OTHER NEW BUILDINGS.
M. E. Church.
HIumphreys block, corner Main and Bank.
Brick barn, Mrs A. G. Day, Day street.
Barn, S. P Camp, First avenue.
Barn, C. Fisher, Pine street.
Barn, Otis D Hawley, Skokorat.
Barn, H. A. Rider, Bungay. Car iage shop. George Wakeley.
1892.
William Blossauer, Garden st. W. H. Briggs, Kinneytown.
Michael Collins, Meadow street.
Thomas Curry. Third avenue Christopher Fischer, Pine st.
R. T. French, Washington avenue, re -- idence finished 1893. T. F. Gilyard, Gilyard st., 2.
Ilorace Higgins, Cedar st.
G. W. Homan, Meadow street. Thomas Jones, Meadow street.
T. W. Maloney, Second avenue. Walter Reid, now Peter Ward, Clifton.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
W. C. Sharpe, Washington avenue. James Swan, Bank street.
George Wakeley, Bank street.
Engine house.
L. T. Wooster, extension on residence. 1893.
Thomas Gilyard, house, Music Hill and Farrel street.
Mrs. C. P. Swan, house, Church street.
('. H. Storrs, residence Derby avenue and Vine street, improvements and tower. Alex. Drogula, Third avenue.
W. A. Baldwin, Maple st.
T. C. Girard, Elm st.
T. F. Gilyard, French st.
William Harris, Union st.
Charles Kempf, North st.
Patrick Ryan, Cedar st., 2 houses.
Fred Schultz, Third Avenue.
Edwin Smith, near Elm.
George Weislogel, Spruce st.
Kossuth Wilbur. Gilyard st. OTHER NEW BUILDINGS.
Chas. Kempf, carpenter shop, Meadow st. E. C. Sharpe, carpenter shop, Main st. James Swan, brick office, Bank st. The Tingue Mfg. Co., addition to mill.
1894.
The Arethusa Spring Water Co., first building; the storehouse, 1897.
(. HI. Lounsbury, verandas, Maple st. Mar. 23. A. H. Botsford, res. Church st. Mar. 12. Smith Holbrook, Skokorat. Windsor Hotel, rebuilt after fire, 2nd st. T. L. James, barn, James st.
F. A. Rugg, residence, Washington ave. Evangelical Lutheran church. Falls hill.
Dr. F. A. Benedict, residence, Washing- ton ave.
1895.
A. Y. Beach, store enlarged, Main street. R. N. Smith, addition, Elm street.
W. H. H. Wooster, residence, 13 large rooms and hall, corner of North and Gilyard streets. Work begun Aug 31.
G. A. Becker, Grand street. Herman Grzywacz.
Michael Doll. Pearl st., old Rugg house 1896.
Harriet Canfield, house enlarged, Was ington avenue.
L. T. Wooster, verandas, roofs, etc Pearl street.
C. H. Lounsbury, old Dr. Stoddard hous rebuilt, corner South Main and Pearl st. Tower of engine house rebuilt, struck h lightning.
1897. The Arethusa Spring Water Co., store house.
1898.
Oct. 15. Railway station opened.
March 19. N. Twitchel, house, Grea Hill region.
Sept. Joseph Riegel, remodel house, First st.
Dec. 6. James Swan Co., addition. 1899.
Jan. Allert Carrington, Rimmon Hill house burned in early winter.
Mar. Matthews Mfg. Co., rebui ding af ter fire.
May. E. A. Klatt, foundry building Bank st.
Sept. E. A. Klatt, office building.
Aug. B. Grinfelder, house, Garden st. Nov. 14. Rimmon Mfg. Co., repairing Smith papera. ill.
1900.
Yale-Beach block, erected by Beach Bros. G. W. Weaver, house, So. Main.
John Scofield, Derby avenue, 2nd, north of cemetery.
Edward K. Tomlinson, house, 35 Maple st. June. Mis. Elizabeth Taylor, house, Music hill.
July. F. H. Beecher, dam, at mill. 1901.
James W. Adams, house, Derby ave., op. U. cemetery
Robert G. Cornforth, res , Elm st.
Mrs. Ellen McCarthy, Maple Street.
CHAPTER VIII. BIOGRAPHIES AND LISTS OF TOWN OFFICERS, ETC. BY W. C SHARPE.
GEN DAVID HUMPHREYS.
Born in Derby in July, 1752, he was educated at Yale college, nd entered the army at the beginning of the Revolutionary War nd was commissioned captain Jan. 1, 1777 ; was appointed brig- dier major to Gen. Parsons in March, accompanied Col. Meigs in he Sag Harbor expedition in May, was with Gen. Putnam on the Hudson during the Burgoyne campaign, was with Washington's rmy at White Plains, was appointed aid-de-camp to Gen. Putnam Dec. 18, 1778; joined Gen. Greene's staff in May, 1780; was in the attle of Springfield, N. J., June 23, 1780, and the same day was ppointed aid-de-camp to Washington, continuing with him to the nd of the war.
233
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
He was present at the siege of Yorktown, and was assigned b Washington to bear the captured standards to Congress, and on th 12th Nov., 1782, he received from Congress the staff rank of Liet tenant Colonel, to date from June 23, 1780. He was present at th evacuation of New York city, Nov. 25, 1783, and accompanie Washington to Annapolis.
He resided more than a year with Washington after his retire ment to Virginia, and again in 1778. He accompanied Jefferson t Europe as secretary of legation in 1784, and was elected to the leg islature of Connecticut in 1786. He was soon after associated with Lemuel Hopkins, John Trumbull and Joel Barlow in the composi tion of the "Anarchiad," a a series of poems which appeared in the "New Haven Gazette " and the "Connecticut Magazine."
Gen. Humphreys was minister to Lisbon from 1791 to 1797 and afterwards minister to Spain till 1802, and on his return im ported from Spain 100 merino sheep, and engaged in the manufac. ture of woolens in what is now Seymour, but was for nearly half a century called Humphreysville in honor of the poet, warrior, states. man and manufacturer. In establishing the manufacture of woolen cloth he was eminently successful, making fine broadcloth of such quality that he had the reputation of making the best in America, and in November, 1808, President Jefferson sent for some of the cloth from which to make a suit for his New Year's Day appear- ance at the White House.
He held command of two Connecticut regiments in the war of 1812, and was appointed Brigadier General of the State Militia, June 1, 1813, and he is therefore best known as Gen. Humphreys, instead of Colonel, as before that date.
His principal poems are an "Address to the Armies of the United States" (1782); a "Poem on the Happiness of America ; " a trag -. edy, entitled "The Widow of Malabar," translated from the French of LeMierre ; and a poem on agriculture. His "Miscellaneous Works" ( New York, 1790 and 1804) contain besides his poems a biography of Gen. Putnam and several orations and other prose compositions. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens writes of him near the close of his life as follows : "I remember him in a blue coat with large gold buttons, a buff vest, and laced ruffles around his wrists and in his bosom. His complexion was soft and blooming like a child, and his gray hair, swept back from his forehead, was gathered in a cue behind and tied with a black or red ribbon." He died in New Haven, Feb. 21, 1818.
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BIOGRAPHY.
JOHN H. DEFOREST.
John H. DeForest, one of the early manufacturers of the Naug- atuck Valley, came of a Huguenot refugee family which left Eu- rope December 23, 1623, for Guina, in South America, and settled on New York island thirteen years later. Born in Hudtington, Conn., April 10, 1876, he married in Watertown, December 5th, 1811, Dotha Woodward of that place, and died in Seymour Febru- ary 12th, 1839.
At the age of about 21, in company with his elder brother Da- vid, he began a mercantile business in Bridgeport, which soon end- ed disastrously in consequence of a fire and burglary. A little later he became chief clerk in a shipping house in New Haven, and with- in six yerrs accumulated capital of $2,700-no contemptible sum in those days. Now followed a mercantile partnership with his jun- ior brother Benjamin, in Watertown, Conn. This interior town, twenty-eight miles from salt water, became a sort of seaport. The pork and beef and cider of the neighboring farmers were shipped to New York by way of Derby, the Housatonic river and Long
236
SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Island sound. There were ventures across the ocean in which John H. DeForest acted as supercargo, Various New England pro ductions were transported to the West Indies, Guiana, France Spain, Portugal and Morocco. One trip was to Tarragona for me rino sheep, with an interlude of barilla bark to England.
Eventually a voyage to Bordeaux was interrupted by an Eng lish cruiser acting under some newly issued "orders in council, which forbade neutrals to trade with the enemies of Great Britain The American was fired upon, the helsman killed, the vessel and cargo confiscated, and the people confined in Dartmoor prison Mr. DeForest spent his abundant leisure in studying French unde the instructions of a French officer. A correspondence which he held with the Admiralty ultimately resulted in the liberation of the personnel, but without payment for the vessel and cargo. This mis adventure, and the war of 1812-14 between England and the United States, put an end to his seafaring enterprises.
In June, 1818 (acting under the advice of his brother David, John H. DeForest settled in New York city as a broker and com mission merchant. One of his chief correspondents was the house of Lynch, Zimmerman & Co., of Buenos Ayres, which had beer founded several years earlier by David DeForest, and still counted him as partner. South American productions, such as cattle hides, horse hides, "horse oil" and "Patagonian ostrich feathers" were disposed of in New York or shipped to Europe or to the West In- dies. Money was loaned also, and sometimes more than was re- paid: At that time a disastrous depression of business affected Eu- rope and all the civilized region of the American continent. Ir May, 1821, weary of struggling against the widespread bankruptcy. Mr. DeForest gave up his New York experiment, glad to escape with a loss of one-tenth of his capital.
But now came a still bolder adventure. Although he knew nothing of manufacturing, he decided to become a manufacturer o cotton. In company with Waln and Leaming of Philadelphia he bought the water privilege and mills at "The Falls" in Derby, af- terwards called Humphreysville, and now Seymour. The paper- mill, gristmill and sawmill were promptly set agoing, and the woolen mill was refurnished with a view to producing cotton sheet- ings. Here Mr. DeForest labored eighteen years, one of the minor founders of cotton manufacturing in the United States, and not without profit therein, although he suffered during the great "cri-
ları
237
BIOGRAPHY.
sis" of 1837, and seldom had the encouragement of a protective tariff. Though he cared little for politics, he was repeatedly elect- ed to the state legislature, and he was for years the principal try- ing justice of the district.
His greatest pleasure was reading, especially in the English classics. His library contained many notable authors, including Shakespeare, Milton's Paradise Lost, Cowper, Young's Night Thoughts, Bunyan, Hume's England, Gibbons' Rome, Franklin's works, Hamilton's works, and Trumbull's Mr. Fingal, with transla- tions of Botta's "American War," Rollin, Plutarch, Xenophon, Pope's Hliad, Dryden's Virgil, Don Quixote, "Scott's Bible" and Sale's Koran. Such were the guests who most frequently entertained him when the day's work was over and he might seat himself by the fireside, a lighted candle in one hand and a choice volume in the other. The eyes were gray, the spectacles silver, the nose aqui- line, the complexion swarthy. The coat was swallow-tailed and dark blue in color, with gilt buttons. The silk vest opened to show a ruffled shirt bosom. The cane, when he walked out, was never missing. The gig, when he drove, was weighty, durable, and of a canary yellow. A gentleman of other days! The squire!
His wife was the youngest daughter of Elijah Woodward of Watertown, who marched with one of the earliest Connecticut com- panies to respond to the "Lexington Alarm." His children were .George Frederick, Yale graduate, manufacturer in Seymour and banker in Freeport, Illinois; Henry Alfred, Yale graduate, physi- cian, missionary to Syria, deceased at forty; Andrew W., lumber merchant, vice president of the Tradesmen's Bank, and president of the New Haven Gas Light Company; John W., captain and bre- vet major of volunteers during the civil war, and author of various volumes in prose and verse.
CAPT. EBENEZER DAYTON.
Capt. Ebenezer Dayton was one of the brave privateersmen of the Sound, who annoyed the transports and boats of the Tories and the British admiral offered a large bounty for his head and that of Caleb Brewster, his cousin. Fearing to leave his family at their home in Brookhaven, L. I., he brought them across the Sound to Milford. After remaining there a while, as a further precaution, he removed them to Bethany. The robbery of the house occupied by Mrs. Dayton at that place by a British company and a band of
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Tories is well described at length by Rev. Israel Warren in the boo} entitled "Chauncey Judd."
Soon after the Revolution, Capt. Dayton removed to Chuse town, now Seymour, and lived in the house at the southeast angle of the western terminus of Pearl street, where he kept an inn which was for a time the home of Gen. Humphreys. Capt Dayton was as energetic in peace as in war, and it was largely due to his effort: that a road was opened direct to New Haven, and another to Water bury by way of the "Dug Road." Some years later he removed to Louisiana.
WALTER FRENCH.
Walter French, born Jan, 5. 1781, came to this place in 1806 and was the pioneer in the man. ufacture of screw auger bits. He was an artisan of great in- genuity and skill and by his own enterprise as well as by instruct- ing others, was largely instru- mental in establishing what has for nearly a century been one of the leading industries of the place. He was a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and in 1815 was licensed as a local preacher, officiating. on Sundays and applying him- self to business on weekdays. He had a good memory and a ready utterance and often spoke- with great power and success. He died May 26, 1865, aged eightyfour years.
CAPT. BRADFORD STEELE.
Capt. Bradford Steele was a soldier of the Revolution, serving then as Lieut. ) with those who marched for the relief of Boston in the Lexington alarm in April, 1775; was Lieut. in the 3rd Com-
Af ter
Was
Esse
Jack san
BINOPAPHS
-39
pany. Ist Regt .. May fito Dec (, 1775 and wal afterward Captain in the Second Regiment He was several times appointed ou Mar- ious duties in and of the war securing enlistments and supplies. After the close of the war he was promment in local industrial en- terprises for many years He died April 1H. 1804
RAYVI ATO FRENCH
One of the pioneers of manufacturing industries lo Seyn. ur was Raymond French, who for nearly half a century was widely known as one of the most active and energetic manufacturers of the Naugatuck valley He was descended from William French ur Essex. England, who came to America in the ship Defence in 103: and settled at Billerica, Mass one of whose sons came to Milford ind was the ancestor of the Connecticut branch of the family-
Mr. French in his mouth acquired a thorough knowledge of blacksmith and machine work and after a few Years went with- sland of Trinidad where he spent six years and was a part of that ime in the employ of the English government Returning to this place. he became interested in the manufacture of allgers uns.
240
SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
chisels, and other tools, and went to England to study the processes of manufacture there. On his return he built a mill where the Kerite Cable works now are and gave his personal attention largely to the manufacture of mechanics' tools, though from time to time becoming largely interested in other manufacturing industries, and was long the leader in the majority of the local industrial enterprises as well as in organizing a bank, a high school association, and a library association.
The Rimmon and Kinneytown dams were built, and the center dam rebuilt, under his direction, the power from the Kinneytown dam being the nucleus from which the city of Ansonia has grown. He was also the superintendent and the principal stockholder of the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company. He was never ambitious for public office, but was ever ready to lend a helping hand to meri- torious enterprises. He died Feb. 19, 1886, aged 81 years.
ABIEL CANFIELD,
A soldier of the Revolution, was born April 6th, 1753. He en- listed Dec. 13th, 1776, for three years, in Capt. Wright's company, 5th Regiment. He married Mary Barlow, of Stratford, Dec. 23d, 1779, and lived on West street. He had a shop in the rear, where he manufactured brass and pewter buttons, buckles, sleigh bells, metal tags, etc. He employed an English engraver to cut the dies used in making the figures upon the buttons for military and other uses. He afterward purchased of Bradford Steele the house east of the Episcopal church and built a shop near by. He died Dec. 6th, 1812, aged 59 years and 7 months.
LIEUT. JABEZ PRITCHARD.
Jabez Pritchard, whose home was on what is now called the Mountain Road, enlisted under the first call to arms in April, 1775, at the time of the Lexington Alarm, and from May 7th until Dec. 10th he served as sergeant in the 3d company of the Ist Regiment. On Jan. 2d, 1777, he is recorded as Ensign, and on June 18th, 1777, as 2d Lieutenant. He was in command of the guard at Horseneck, and afterward under the command of Major Humphreys near Fort Independence. In the conflict which occurred there Lieut. Pritch- ard, with others, was taken prisoner and confined, first at King's Bridge, then in New York, and afterward on a prison ship in the North river. His commission was taken from him, and in conse- quence he was not allowed the consideration accorded to other offi-
241
BIOGRAPHY.
cers, and was so ill treated that, like most of the other prisoners on that infamous ship, he survived but a short time.
His generous character may be inferred from the fact that he night have escaped being taken prisoner but that he would not abandon a wounded comrade, and that he afterward divided his funds with a fellow prisoner, to which act of liberality Bradford Steel ascribed his own survival by means of the provisions which he was thus enabled to purchase.
DEA. BRADFORD STEELE.
Bradford Steele, son of Capt. Bradford Steele, enlisted about July 10, 1777, in the regiment commanded by Col. Enos, being then not quite sixteen years of age. He was taken prisoner at the battle lear Fort Independence, Aug. 22, 1777, and confined at first in the "Sugar House" and later on a prison ship in New York harbor. He was exchanged Aug. 16th, 1778, and soon after reached home and after some months recovered his health. He was in later years argely engaged in local manufacturing industries. On the reor- ganization of the Congregational church in 1817 he was chosen a deacon and so continued until about a year before his death, which occurred in 1841.
SAMUEL WIRE
Was born at Greenfield Hills, Fairfield, Feb. 8th, 1789. He came to Humphreysville when thirteen years of age to learn the clothing business under General Humphreys. At the age of twenty- three he married the sister of the late General Clark Wooster, who lied a few years later. Mr. Wire soon afterwards commenced the manufacture of satinet warps in a factory which he built on Little River, about two miles from its mouth, above the Oxford line. He represented that town at several sessions of the General Assembly and held other important offices of trust. He died May 3rd, 1874, aged 85 years.
THOMAS GILYARD
Was born in Leeds, England, Mar. 20, 1786, and came to America in 1807 to assist in the establishment of the woolen indus- try here, was a man of great skill and industry in his chosen avoca- tion, independent in his opinions, and a zealour member of the Methodist church. He was one of the eight trustees of the M. E. church in 1817, and continued to fill that office about thirty years. He died Nov. 12, 1853. In his will he gave three acres of land near his home on Skokorat for the benefit of the M. E. church.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
HIRAM UPSON,
A descendant of Thomas Upson, who was a resident of Hart- ford in 1638, was in 1852 associated with Horace A. Radford and Lucius Tuttle in the manufacture of augers and bits, under the firm name of the Upson Manufacturing Company, whose works were at the mouth of Little River. He enlisted April 23, 1861, in Co. H. 2d C. V., for three months. At the end of his term he re-enlisted in Co. F, 7th C. V., as sergeant. He was wounded at James Island June 16, 1862, and died June 18. Upson Post, G. A. R., is named in honor of Sergt. Hiram Upson.
MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS,
The gifted writer, was the daughter of John Winterbottom, junior partner of T. Vose & Co., successors to Gen. Humphreys in the manufacture of broadcloth, in Humphreysville, now Seymour, where her childhood years were spent. She wrote her first com- position-an epigram upon a boy in her father's employ-at the age of seven. In 1832 she married Mr. Edward Stephens of Ply- mouth, Mass., and in 1834 published the "Polish Boy." Two years later she started a literary magazine in Portland, Maine, and in it wrote her first story and published "The Tradesman's Daughter." In 1833 she became editress of the Ladies' Companion, in New York, and published "Mary Derwent," "The Deluded" and other serials. Later she was with George R. Graham and Edgar A. Poe on Graham's Magazine in Philadelphia, at the same time acting as co-editress with Charles J. Peterson of Peterson's Magazine. Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Peterson were associated in literary work for over thirty years. About 1859 Mrs. Stephens published the origi- nal of "Fashion and Famine" in Peterson's Magazine, which was afterwards printed in book form, being the first book she ever pub- lished. Her published works now include about thirty novels, a. "History of the War," in two volumes, and two humorous works. The opening scenes of "Bertha's Engagement" and the story of "Malvina Gray" are laid in Seymour. Another volume of local in- terest is "The Gold Brick," in which localities in Seymour are de- scribed and some characters of the book were chosen from among the people who had sometime lived within the borders of Hum- phreysville. Mrs. Stephens died Aug. 20, 1886, in Newport, R. I., aged 76.
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