USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour, past and present > Part 9
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Looking once more upon the old "hive" surrounded with fences, giving it a shut-in appearance, the great maple and the rock by the roadside, one beholds another picture where the swarming has ceased with the great family here, and a new but sad period of history has already begun.
It was John Holbrook who gave the land for the cemetery which was located on the corner of his farm not far eastward from his dwelling, a beautiful place on a low-lying hill of a dozen feet or so, and with the many white stones is the most conspicuous ob- ject from the encircling hills. More by far are buried here than there are living in the region round about. The first to be buried here was Joseph Canfield. The full inscription is as follows :
"Here lies the body of Joseph Canfield, the first deacon of the church at the Great Hill in Derby, and the first person buried in this yard. Died July 14, A. D. 1784, in the Faith and Hope of the Gospel, aged 65 years.
Also Sarah Canfield.
"In memory of Sarah Canfield, relict of Deacon Joseph Can- field, who departed this life January 25th, 1793, in the 67th year of her age. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."-Sharpe's Hist., vol. 2, p. 91.
Again going north on the old Hell Lane road for a considerable
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
distance, one will come to another corner, said to have been called in the olden time, "Tite's Corners." Titus was a slave belonging to John Holbrook, and desired to enter the Revolutionary war to fight for the independence of the colonies. As all the sons of John were in the army, Titus was persuaded to remain and help his master until the war was over, and then receive his freedom and a tract of land. This he did. And in due time it is said that Titus built a little house eastward from the corners, which for a long time was known as "Tite's Corners," and the lane known as Titus' lane. This is in the north part of the valley. From these corners, what is now known as the Hell Lane road begins and extends westward to Quaker Farms. Somewhere near the north corner of these roads, there stood the old brandy mill already re- ferred to.
Many years ago an Episcopal clergyman frequently visited his parishioners, who were located in this Hell Lane region, and on one occasion when he returned after making parish calls, said that the region was rightly named.
THE GUNN-NETTLETON PLACE.
Northwest from "Tite's Corners," and also in the north part of the valley referred to, very near the Four Mile Brook and at the base of a great hill rising to the north, there stands the old red house known as the Capt. Net- tleton place. Though the builder was forgotten, his name was Capt. Abel Gunn who lived here as early as
1740. His name is mentioned when the new society at Oxford was being planned, the south boundary being at the "brook and bridge between the dwelling houses of Abel Gunn and John Holbrook."
Agnes Gunn, the daughter of Abel Gunn, married Josiah Nettleton in 1761. Among the seven children there was a son who became Capt. Josiah Nettleton, who lived on the old homestead for more than eighty years. He was captain of the militia. Dur- ing the following years, John Riggs, and still later Abraham Scran- ton lived here, and several others.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
The house is located on a knoll west of "Tite's Corners" and the brook, facing the south. In all the region about, there is not a house like it in shape, or architectural design. The overreaching roofs give it the appearance, on the end, of the shape of an Indian arrow head or spear head, The extended roof, without any up- right supports, form a veranda on both sides of the house.
It is a large one story and a half house, there being room for two windows in the second story, and two smaller windows in the attic.
THE WEST END OF THE GUNN-NETTLETON-SCRANTON HOUSE.
There are two large chimneys, eight fireplaces, a wide hal running through the house from south to north, with double "dutch" doors, that is the upper and lower parts opening separate- ly. There is another such door in the house. At the east and front side of the basement there was a large, high kitchen, having a fireplace on the north side sufficiently large to receive an eight foot log in the back. The door to this kitchen is at the east end, near the front corner.
IIG
OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
On the west end of the house there is a large ell which contains the kitchen and other rooms, also a smoke-house built in the chim- ney. Over the kitchen was a little room where for many years lived the slave known as old old " Black Sim." Sim was a faithful slave, and when he received his freedom, he had no desire to leave his old master, so he served well, remaining here as long as he lived. Very few remember old "Black Sim."
In the west room up stairs, there was an old loom where weav- ing was an industry for many years, and together with the other wheels about the house, there was little need of a shopping day.
As one now looks upon this strange red house shingled on its broad east end, and see the long window of the basement kitchen and the broad porch without the usual supports, and the well near the west front corner, there appears the very picture of one and a half centuries ago, but all who dwelt there are gone.
On Hell Lane just west of the Nettleton place is a red house of two stories where lived, among others, Capt'n Jim Beardsley, who, like many others, had a local reputation and his home became the center for the gathering of the spiritualists of the mystical or- der. It is not stated as to their communication with the spirits of darkness, or with the spirits of light. If every old house has an occupant or more of the spirit nature, doubtless they are present on their old camping ground. Great Hill reminds one of Vermont, having representatives of all known religious sects.
Beyond this place is still another, standing as a landmark of former activities ; and some distance beyond out on a cross road southward is another brandy mill, that belonged to the English broth- ers, which has left the trail of the serpent in that vicinity. Notwith- standing this extreme of life, Great Hill has been noted from its early history for men of patriotismn and faith.
So many noted places recorded in history were near, and so many noted battles have been fought upon the border of some peach orchard, that we will not leave these old landmarks without mentioning another noted peach orchard upon the very border of the region that has been described, a region once noted for its prosperity and distinguished familes, a region rich in soil and bean- tiful for situation, a region which now causes the long absent son and daughter to shed a tear over the marks made by death and time upon those homes made sacred by early associations.
From every point of the valley and encircling hills, looking
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
northward, there rises gracefully that large, round hill, covered with a peach orchard of more than eighty acres and near 20,000 trees. In springtime this was a hill of flowers, in summer a hill of the richest fruit.
Close at hand, there is another chapter of history, known only to the oldest residents living, to the hunters and woodsmen. The region north and northeast of the peach orchards is now dotted over with cellar-holes, overgrown with trees and bushes, marking the former homes of many families, long ONE OF THE OLDEST TREES IN SEYMOUR. since departed. The wilderness has claimed them, hiding those old landmarks so effect- ually. that neither path nor road can be found lending to them. The hunter alone disturbs those solitudes of the wilderness.
THE JOHN STORRS HOUSE.
While riding along the old turnpikes, there is now and then pointed out a gate-house, against which in olden times the road- gate swung. Many of the houses are now being forgotten. How- ever, there is one old gate-house still standing on the east side of Rimmon pond, the first north of the iron watering tank, between the pond and the road.
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
Just below the watering tank, on the east side of the road, there stands a house conspicuous because of its architecture, a low lying, ancient looking structure. It was built by John Storrs on the sandbank southward, but as there was no water to be had there, it was moved to its present location and is now the home of the Hummell family.
Our search after old landmarks now ends and we return to The Falls. The waters here rose on the first of March, 1900, to the height of near 17 feet until all the rocks were covered, the river banks more than full, dashing and foaming in the mad race to-
THE ROCKS AND FALLS.
wards the sea. But only a few hours passed, when the river re- turned to its natural and common place. So is the flight of time, the making of history. the experience of our lives, at the greatest height at one time, but mostly in the natural and common level.
The old homes are but landmarks along the river of time, and while we have considered these as the humble and more spacious dwellings of men, our history is not complete without a look at one who has been a builder of home and church and state, the "old man."
The "old man" has more than passed the span of life, four score years. He still lives upon the southern slope of his ancestral
1
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
lands, where in graceful curves the fields extend toward the river and woodlands. He looks eastward across the valley upon the real pictures of nature, growing more beautiful with his years.
His dwelling is not of the ancient type, rather it is octagonal in shape, two stories, always receiving the light from the morning to the evening. Encircling his grounds at his very door runs the swift brook, adding both music and a charm to his quiet home.
NAUGATUCK RIVER OPPOSITE UNION CEMETERY.
The roadway winds from afar along the hillside, by the side of a great rock covered with a grapevine, and nearer still the long arbor shades the path to his quarters. To many, he would appear lone- some and alone ; but he is not alone. The enlarged house makes room for a son and children. Their happy faces drive away the care of years. Yet he is alone. The companion of many years has fallen asleep, now resting in the narrow home of waiting.
In the bright March sunlight, the trees about his dwelling shine with a shimmering light, intensifying the natural beauty and giving a new warmth as often seen before the springing forth of life.
Here lived the aged man, a little man, who is the last of all his schoolmates and youthful companions. But he remains peace-
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
ful amid all these changes. His locks are white with age, his eyes a little dim, his hearing a little dull. But his voice is still sweet and clear, as he tells of his ancestral people and the days long since gone, of those events that have made history what it is. There is a nobleness about his countenance and a neatness about his appearance, his clothes well worn and well cared for. Like the strength of mind his spirit is strong, and thus the more willing to wait the coming of the reaping angel.
His room of waiting is one of simple comfort, full of light and cheer. The old wood stove, the cushioned chairs, a place to recline, add to the comfort of his surroundings. After his day's work is done, and while the sun is still high, he sits by the window, and draws near to him, not a table, nor a stand, but a little frame made strong to hold the great Book upright with its large clear letters that reveal the light and truth of the other world. He again lis- tens to the Sweet Singer of Israel ; he walks by the side of the Man of Galilee ; he waits by the sea shore ; he goes into the moun- tain to pray ; he again hears the invitation "Follow me." In company with John he beholds visions of strange and beautiful things. Though in the evening of life, he does not look down into the valley of the shadow of death to fear, but rather, his look is upward, looking the way that angels and spirits go. He is not like the bud, nor the flower ; he is the ripened grain, clad in righteous- ness, ready and waiting for the breath from heaven, to drive the little chaff away, thereby freeing the spirit, that it may fly upward and away.
O
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
TO ROCK RIMMON, BY ARTHUR FREMONT RIDER.
To thee Rock Rimmon with thy rocky height, A sheer expanse of grey and in between The clump of bushes ; 'tis to thee I write ; Thy crown which towers above the valley green. Calmly the river flows around thy base, Broadening below thy image to reflect ; But thou so silent stand, thy scarred face Seems cold and harsh, all sunshine to reject. Erect thou standest, as if keeping guard And silent watch upon the vale below. All things around thee thou dost disregard, Above them all though winds around thee blow; Unchanged thou dost remain to mortal eye, Unchanged and silent as the years go by.
PART II. THE CHURCHES, INDUSTRIES, SCHOOLS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, EARLY SETTLERS, ETC.
CHAPTER I.
THE CHURCHES OF SEYMOUR.
BY W. C. SHARPE.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
HE oldest existing religious organization in Seymour is the Congregational society, which was formed Nov. 3d, 1789, as appears by an old manuscript preserved in the records of the town of Derby, which reads as follows :
DERBY, November 3d, A. D., 1789.
This may sertify all whom it may concern, that the subscribers have joined and paid towards the support of the Gospel at the Congregational Society, in Derby, near Bladen Brook, and mean for the future to support the Gospel there :
Capt. Timothy Baldwin,
Truman Loveland,
Asahel Johnson,
Ebenezer Warner,
Gideon Johnson,
Leveret Pritchard,
Capt. Bradford Steel,
Levi Tomlinson,
Elisha Steel,
John Coe,
Isaac Baldwin,
Eben. Beacher Johnson,
Ebr. Turel Whitmore,
Nathan Wheeler,
Bezalel Peck,
Amos Hine, Bradford Steel, Jr ..
Frances Forque.
Medad Keney,
Joseph Loines,
Hezekiah Wodin,
Moses Clark,
John Adye,
Philo Hinman,
Ashbel Loveland, Sertifyed by me,
Thomas Hotchkiss.
LEVI TOMLINSON, Society Clerk.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Rev. Benjamin Beach was the first pastor and appears to have been here before the formation of the society, as he had the par- sonage built in 1789. The church, which is represented on page 47, was built in 1791, on the ground where the M. E. church now stands. Rev. Mr. Beach was the pastor of the society for fifteen years. Capt. Timothy Baldwin and Levi Tomlinson were appointed deacons in 1789. Beyond this and a few sermons by Mr. Beach, which have been preserved, with the date of delivery, scarcely any record has been preserved of the first twentyeight years of the history of the church.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE
In 1817 the church, or as it was then called, the meetinghouse, was sold to the Methodists and a new church was built on the plateau south of the Whittemore tavern. This church was begun in 1818 and was built in more modern church style than the original structure, the spire, however, not being added until 1829.
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THE CHURCHES.
The growth of the village in succeeding years was in such di- rection as to make the location of this second church seem alto- gether too much to one side of the center of population and in 1846 a third church was begun, the church now standing. This church was dedicated April 20, 1847, and has been in use fifty-four years. In 1890 the church was enlarged by an addition on the south end, with interior changes at a cost of about $5,000, and a new pipe organ was secured at a cost of $2, 500.
The pastors of the church, so far as appears on record, have been as follows .
Rev. Benjamin Beach, 1789- 1805.
Rev Zephaniah Swift, 1817 1825.
Rev. Ephraim G. Swift, 1825 -1827.
Rev. Charles Thompson, 1828-1833.
Rev. Rollin S. Stone, June, 1833-August, 1834.
Rev. John E. Bray, 1834-1842.
Rev. William B. Curtiss, 1843-1849.
Rev. E. B. Chamberlain, 1850 ---. 1852.
Rev. J. E. Willard, 1852-1855.
Rev. Henry D. Northrop, 1857 -1858.
Rev. Elijah C. Baldwin, 1859-1860.
Rev. Sylvester Hine, 1860-1861.
Rev. John L. Mills, 1862-1864. Rev. George A. Dickerman, 1864-1865.
Rev. Abram J. Quick, 1865 -1867.
Rev. Allen G. Clark, 1868=1869.
Rev. H. P. Collin, 1869-1870. Rev. J. W. Fitch, 1871-1872.
Rev. W. J. Thompson, 1872-1874.
Rev. S. C. Leonard, 1874-1879.
Rev. F. Stanley Root, 1879-November 18, 1884.
Rev. Francis J. Fairbanks, April 30, 1885-March 4, 1886.
Rev. Thomas E. Davies, October 24, 1886-March 31, 1891. Rev. Hollis A. Campbell, January 1, 1892, to date.
The deacons of the church have been as follows :
Capt. Timothy Baldwin, 1789.
Levi Tomlinson, 1789. Bradford Steele, 1817 to 1840. Nehemiah Botsford, 1817 to 1840. Sheldon Kinney, Sept 6, 1840 to 1844.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Alfred Hull, Sept. 6, 1840. Andrew W. DeForest, 1844. William Kinney, 1853. Miles Culver, 1853. James L. Spencer, 1853. Wallace M. Tuttle, 1858. Charles Bradley, - to October, 1868. David Johnson, 1865.
Levi Lounsbury, 1865.
Joshua Kendall, October, 1868, to April, 1888.
Wilfred I. Warren, April, 1880, to April, 1888.
Edwin A. Lum, Apr., 1888, to Apr., 1889. Apr., 1890, to date. Thomas Thomas, April, 1888, to April, 1890.
Robert Hungerford, April, 1888, to September, 1888.
George E. O'Meara, April, 1888, to date.
Edward R. Davis, Apr., 1889, to Apr., 1891, and 1896, to 1900. Thomas Williams, April, 1890, to 1900.
Wm. B. Nichols, April, 1891, to 1894. George W. French, 1899.
Charles Maybury, 1901.
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INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH.
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THE CHURCHES.
Superintendents of the Sundayschool.
Joel White, 1828.
George E. Lester.
George F. DeForest.
Sharon Y. Beach.
Andrew W DeForest.
Robert C. Bell.
Wallace M. Tuttle.
Andrew Y. Beach.
Philo B. Buckingham.
James Swan, November, 1872, to April, 1883, and April, 1885, to April, 1888.
William H. H. Wooster, April, 1883, to April, 1885.
Wilfred I. Warren, April, 1886, to April, 1888.
Clifford J. Atwater, April, 1888, to date.
Among those who have been most efficient in advancing the interests of the church in the earlier years was John H. De Forest, known as Squire DeForest, who was a member of the society's committee from 1825 to 1830; Hiram Upson, Andrew W. DeForest, Daniel White, Albert J. Steele and Lemnel Bliss.
The parsonage was built in 1873-4, the expense being mostly defrayed by a gift from Deacon Sheldon Kinney. The church was incorporated in 1890 as the "Seymour Congregational Church."
The church has an excellent parish library of several hundred volumes, which was donated by Hon. James Swan in 1883, for the use of adults, and to which he has since made large additions, be- side the Sundayschool library of several hundred volumes.
The church is in a prosperous condition, with a membership of 260. The present pastorate has already exceeded in length all ex- cept that of the first pastor of the society, Rev. Benjamin Beach. During the present pastorate 150 persons have been received into membership and the number of members has increased from 193 to 260. The Sundayschool numbers 329.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Fi EV. Jesse Lee, the New England apostle of Methodism, first came to Derby in 1791 and from a Methodist society formed there came those who constituted the first Methodist organi- zation in what is now Seymour. This, according to evidence recorded by one of the early veterans, was Feb. 7, 1797, with Daniel Rowe as leader. The original members were Jesse Johnson, Isaac Johnson, Ester Baldwin, Sarah Baldwin and Eunice Baldwin. George Clark, Lucy Hitchcock, Silas Johnson and Olive Johnson were soon added to the number.
At first the meetings were held in private houses and in schoolhouses, and in the assembly rooms of the Dayton, Whitte- more and Moulthrop taverns, and it is recorded that as early as 1803 they were allowed to hold meetings in the old Congregational meetinghouse, represented on page 47, and that in that year the first Methodist quarterly meeting held in this place was held there.
In 1817 the Methodists purchased this church and raised it a story, increasing the seating capacity by putting in side galleries. The trustees at this time were Stiles Johnson, Bezaleel Peck, Rob- ert Lees, Thomas Gilyard and Timothy Hitchcock, and Newel Johnson was the secretary.
Stiles Johnson died Oct. 4, 1818, aged 36 years, leaving by will to the Methodist Society the ground on which the church stands, with the green in front, and $334 in money. The building was soon after enlarged and galleries built on the sides, but no paint was used either within or without. In 1819 there were three classes of which the leaders were Robert Lee, Timothy Hitchcock and Orrin Peck, the latter living in Woodbridge and having his class there. The early ministers were circuit preachers, going the rounds over large districts, and it was not until the church was fa- vored with a resident pastor that any could be considered exclu- sively as pastor of the local church. The first parsonage, at the corner of Pearl and Grand streets, was built in 1830 and since then the church has had a resident pastor, the list of those during the term of the church second building being as follows .
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THE CHURCHES.
1830, Rev. Robert Travis.
1837-8, Rev. David Miller.
1831, Rev. Daniel Smith. 1839, Rev. J. B. Beach.
1832, Rev. C. W. Turner. 1840-41, Rev. Thomas Sparks.
1833, Rev. Thos Bainbridge. 1842-3, Rev. Ezra Jagger. 1834, Rev. Humphrey Humphries. 1844, Rev. Moses Blydenburgh. 1835-6, Rev. Josiah Bowen.
1845-6, Rev. George L. Fuller.
The original church, pictured on page 47, had served its pur- pose for more than half a century. Its walls had echoed with the eloquence of men mighty in faith and zeal, its pews had been oc- cupied by men and women who had helped to lay deep and strong the foundations of our governmental and social institutions. But the feeling was growing that a better building should be erected and that the society was able to do it. Many precious memories clus- tered about fhe old building, with its antique arrangements. A central aisle ran between two rows of long seats reaching to the sides of the building. Galleries on the north and south sides and across the west end, supported by large wooden pillars, were reach- ed by a narrow stairway in the northwest corner. The building had never been painted or plastered. The swallows built their nests against the roof, and flew in and out of crevices under the eaves during the services. At the east end of the church was a platform raised one step, surrounded by a railing, and in front of this was an open space where for a few years had stood a "box" stove, though the foot stoves, or tin boxes filled with live coals, were still in use. In the center of the space within the railing was the quaint old pulpit, with a door or gateway about three feet in height. The pulpit was somewhat elevated, but not nearly so much as was common in those days.
During the pastorate of Rev. George L. Fuller, in the fall of 1846, a subscription was opened for a new church edifice and in the spring of 1847 Rev. Charles Stearns was appointed pastor and pushed along the new enterprise. The old meetinghouse was sold for a hundred dollars and was torn down, and the corner stone of the new church was laid June 19, 1847. The church was Gothic in design, 40 by 60 feet, with a basement mostly above ground, contain- ing a commodious lecture-rooms and two classrooms and had an excellent toned bell of 1, 150 pounds weight. The slips, the ceiling, the altar and the galleries were grained and the walls were frescoed. The front windows were of stained glass. The cost of the build- ing, bell and furniture was $5,800.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Thomas Gilyard, who died Nov. 12, 1853, left a will by which he gave to the church about three acres of land on Skokorat. from which the church has since had an annual income.
SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1884-1891.
Mrs. Harriet Kirtland, who died Oct. 20, 1865, left a will by which, after giving to her husband the use of her property during his lifetime and providing for the payment of certain legacies, she gave the residue of her property "to the Methodist Episcopal church of Seymour, for the use and benefit of said church." The property was sold in 1876.
The pastors of the church since 1847 have been as follows: 1847-8, Rev. Charles Stearns. 1855-6, Rev. Wm. T. Hill.
1849-50, Rev. Seneca Howland. 1857-8, Rev. Thomas Stevenson.
1851-2, Rev. David Osborn. 1859-60, Rev. L. P. Perry. 1853-4, Rev. Rufus K. Reynolds. 1861, Rev. Albert Booth.
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THE CHURCHES.
THE PRESENT CHURCH EDIFICE, BUILT IN 1891.
1862-3, Rev. Geo. Lansing Taylor. 1880-82, Rev. Charles W. Lyon. 1864-5, Rev. A. B. Pulling. 1883-4, Rev. Horace Q. Judd. 1866, Rev. Sylvester Smith. 1885-8, Rev. Arthur McNicholl.
Rev. C. S. Williams.
1867-8, Rev. Joseph Pullman. 1888, 1869-70, Rev. Bennett T. Abbott. 1889-90, Rev. Geo. B. Dusinberre. 1871-3, Rev. Joseph Smith, 1891-3, Rev. James E. Holmes. 1874, Rev. Wm. R. Webster. 1894, Rev. Jas. A. MacMillan. 1875, Rev. E. H. Dutcher. 1895-6, Rev. C. Elmore Barto.
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