USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
Dr. CHARLES WOODWARD, now of Middletown, and Dr. GRAHAM LEE, afterwards of California, practiced for some years in Windsor.
WILLIAM S. PIERSON, M.D., a descendant of the Rev. Abraham Pierson, the first Reetor of Yale College ( 1701-1707), was born at Kil- lingworth, Conn., 17 Nov., 1787; graduated at Yale College, 1808; graduated M.D. from Dartmouth College. 1813. He practiced a few years at his native place, and then removed to Durham, Conn., whence. after four years, he removed to Windsor. Here, after a long and emi- nently successful professional career, he died 16 July. 1860, widely esteemed and Jamented. His residence, on Palisado Green, afterwards the home of his son, the late Gen. William S. Pierson, whose widow now occupies it, still keeps alive the memory of " the beloved physician" in many Windsor hearts.
ALBERT MORRISON, M.D., born at Hebron, Conn., 13 March, 1826: graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, 1847 ; enjoyed a large practice in Windsor and vicinity : was areidentally killed on the railroad at Windsor, 18 July, 1873, and " was buried from the church which he so dearly loved. The attending crowd bore witness to the honor and respect in which he was held."
SAMUEL A. WILSON, M.D., born at Windsor, 9 Sept., 1828; gradua- ted from the Yale Medical School, 1853 : practiced for many years in Windsor; but has now mostly retired from active professional work. Ilis residence is on the Palisado Green.
The present practicing physicians of Windsor are NEWTON S. BELL, M. D., and ADOLF SCHLOSSER.
Dr. J. N. DICKSON is at present practicing in Poquonock.
460
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
The list of Windsor men who have represented the Town in the UNITED STATES and STATE GOVERNMENT will be found in Appendix F.
The Old Cemetery of Windsor. on the high bank at the northwest corner of the old Palisado Green, overlooking the "Little Rivulet " (Farmington River), is certainly one of the most beautifully located and historically interesting burial places in New England. Its area, within the past twenty-five years, has been considerably enlarged ; and the quaint dignity of its old-time tables and headstones is sharply con- trasted by the loftier and more elaborate monumental glories of the " new portion."
Gen. FREDERICK ELLSWORTH MATHER of New York city, whose in- terest in the old burial place is evineed by the three handsome monu- ments which he has erected to his Mather and Wolcott grandfathers. etc., seenred the passage by the State Legislature of an act, dated Jan- mary, 1889, authorizing " the First School Society of the Town of Windsor to receive Donations for the Care and Preservation of its Cemetery and Burial Lots."
But the Windsor Cemetery Trust Fund does not accumulate very rapidly, and the intentions of its far-seeing and generous projector bid fair to be thwarted by the apathy and jealousies of others, who should be equally interested in its welfare. Such provision is greatly needed, for the benefit, especially, of those non-resident families which have no living representative residing in Windsor, to take care of their interests in this respect.
------ 1 1
Commander of the Connecticut forces in the Pequot fight, 1637.
1. Samuel MeanThatel Capt.
Killed in the attack on the Narragansett fort. 1675.
Capt. Roger-Newberry Died in the Havana Expe- dition of 1741.
Preten Strony Lt .- Gov. Loyer Wolcott
Served in the Hlavana Expedition, 1741.
Major-General, second in com- mand of the Lewisburg Expedition, 1744.
Dathe Hayden Served in the French and Revolu- tionary wars.
" The Spy,"- Revolutionary war.
Sant Boifels Cm
Served in the Rev-
Bavil Bar bun Capolutionary wil.
Served from the Lex ington Alarm of '75 to 1782 ; retired as a half. pay Lieutenant.
Martin Amstow 6min
Gen. Proger Ona
Colonel in the Connecticut, and Brigadier-General in the Vermont Revolutionary ser- vice.
Facsimile AUTOGRAPHS OF SOME OF WINDSOR'S "VALIANT MEN OF WAR."
CHAPTER XXI. WINDSOR, 1800-1891
A NCIENT WINDSOR covered formerly an area of some 46 square miles ; but, by separation of several towns from its limits, has been greatly shorn of its fair proportions, and is now bounded north by Windsor Locks, east by the Connectiont River, south by Hartford and Bloomfield, and west by Bloomfield and East Granby. Its surface may be considered as divided into three planes, or levels; the first, rich, broad meadow-land, skirted by the river; west of this a higher level, on which the village is mainly built, and west of this a still higher elevation. covered with woodlands, etc., extending back towards the bounds of Bloomfield and East Granby. The soil is variable, but all of it good. New England contains no pleasanter town or society than Old Windsor.
The official description of Modern Windsor in the Connecticut State Register for 1889 is as follows: Population, 1880, 3,058: children be- tween 4 and 16 years of age, Jan., 1881, 787; Jan., 1888, 594. Grand list, 81,429,953. Indebtedness, $25,683.93. Rate of taxation, 11 mills. Principal industry, agriculture. Is reached by the N. Y., N. H. & Hart- ford Railroad ; station at Windsor, with flag stations at Wilson's and Hayden's: by stage daily from Hartford. Post-offices, Windsor, Po- quonock, and Rainbow.
The history of Windsor, since the year 1800, has been simply that of a quiet agricultural town, and unmarked by any event more startling than an occasional flood. The town has lived and grown, but of the process of its growth there are bnt few traces left.
Windsor was somewhat agitated by the political events which led to the War of 1812; and, from an Orderly Book belonging to the late Daniel Pinney, we learn the names of those who volunteered from this town to go to the defense of New London. In this list we have also included some names (designated by an asterisk ) found on a list of privates, in the possession of H. H. Barbour, Esq., of Hartford.
462
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
"Fort Trumbull, February 13, 1813. above date to March 1st.
Capt. Blanchard
Lieut. Jas. R. Halsey
Samuel White
Ensign Jos. Smith
II. Rawdon
Sargt. Abel Strong
Cyrus Bissel [Corpor'l under Moses Goodman, Jr., 18 Aug. to 24 Oct., 1814.]
Eliphalet G. Allyn
Levi Markham
Morris Gillespie
Pyramus Holcomb
John Smith 2d
Ethan Merril
Samuel Stiles
Sgt. Charles P. Hempstead [under Gco. Roberts, 26 Aug., 1814.]
Sgt. Calvin Adams
Corp'l Richard Allyn
Augustus Hoskins
Timothy Wilson
J. F. Phelps
Amasa Bailey [en], under Hez. Webster, Sept .- Nov. 1, 1813]
Avery Parsons
Wm. Thrall
Henry Clark (named as drummer on HI. H. Barbour's List)
Chauncey Alford [served Aug. 3-16, Sept. 1813]
Samuel Hathaway
Alfred Sikes
Nathaniel Snow
Joel Loomis
Daniel Marshall
Fredus Griswold, 3d, [enl. 4 April, 1813, in 25th Inf .; d. 19 Nov., 1819]
Provisions drawing for 60 men, from the
Jonathan Kent
Roswell Cook [enl. under llez. Webster, 13 Sept. to 1 Nov., 1813]
Chester Soper
Wait Hieox
Thos. W. Stephens
Philip Barnes
Augustus (Gustavus ?) Stebbins
Austin Hall [en]. under Ed. Wolcott, 3 Aug. to 16 Sept., 1813]
Roswell Brooks
Oliver Roberts
Stephen L. Wilson
Aaron Smith, 1st
Zenas Clark
Jasper Peck
Luther Lewis
Harlow Case [Sgt. under Isaac Phelps, 18 Aug. to 25 Oct., 1814]
Richard Allen
Zenas Sikes, 2d
Horaee Sikes
Samuel Huntington
Joseph Dilson
Timothy B. Strickland
Samuel Tucker
Cyrus How Apollos Owen Win. Porter
Wareham Griswold. 2d
*Hezekiah Griswold *Wm. Allyn, 3d
*Ethan Barker, Jr. *Elihu Newberry, of Wintonbury, fifer. *Timothy Townsend."
From other sources we glean the names of
David Pinney, of Pine Meadow - Orderly Sgt.
Reuben Cook, at New London, under Paul Hervey, 1 to 16 .June, 1813 Shnbael Cook
Frederic Chapman (afterwards the Baptist preacher) Grove Ellsworth
Maj. Martin Ellsworth, under Lt .- Col. E. Sanford, 10 Sept .- 1 Nov., 1813, - at New London, Ct.
Maj. William Howard, in U. S. Army; mustered in 12 Meh., 1812, 25th Inf .; Lt. Col. 1st Inf. 2 Oct., 1814; disbanded 15 June, 1815 Philip Halsey Increase Mather Oliver Mitchell
Graves decorated on " Decoration Day "-as Wm Mack Chauncey Porter J "Soldiers of 1812 " Harvey Stoughton [served under Moses Goodman 18 Aug .- 24 Oct., 1814.]
-- 1
463
WINDSOR'S SHARE IN THE WAR OF 1812.
When New London was threatened, 1813, a draft was made from the militia com- pany at Wintonbury parish, which made ready to go out, under Captain James Lord, but ultimately their services were not required. - L. A. Roberts,
The following are credited to Windsor, in the U. S. War Depart- ment, as having served in the War of 1812 in the Regular Army. Some were probably from East Windsor and from Wintonbury parish.
Austin, Elijah, enl. 12 Aug., '12, under Thomas S. Seymour, 25 Inf .; dropped from rolls 30 June, '15.
Barnard, Erastus, enl. 2 Jan., '15, under Maj. Dan. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; dise. 23 Mch., 15. Barnard, Harlow, enl. 13 Feb., '15, under Maj. Dan. Ketchum, 25 Inf. : present 19 Mch., 15. Bartlett, John, enl. 24 Dec., '14, under Maj. Dan. Ketchum, 25 Int .; disc. 23 Mch., '15. Beit, Charles, enl. 12 Dec., '14, under D. Crawford, 11 Inf .; present 16 Feb., '15. Billings, Elkanalı, enl. 11 Feb., '15, 25 Inf .; on rolls '15 in Feb.
Bradshaw. Stephen, enl. 2 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; disc. 24 Mch., 15. Brownson, Win. A., enl. 18 Jan., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; disc. 24 Mch., 15. Burland, Aaron, end. 6 Aug., '12, under Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; dis. 31 Jan., '16.
Burr, Allen, enl. 13 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; dis. 23 Mch., '15.
Butler, William, enl. 27 Mch. '13, under John Smith, 4 Inf .; transf. to 5 Inf .; dise. 1 June, 1815.
Cadwell, John S., enl. 17 Aug., '12, under John B. Murdock, 25 Inf .; disc. from 6 Inf. 17 Aug., '17.
Chaffin, Lyman, enl. 22 Jan., '13, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; disc. 21 July, '14.
Chatham, William, enI. 14 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; tranf. to 6 Inf. '15. Des. 31 Oct., '15.
Clark, Penucl, enl. 10 Mch., '14, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; dis. 17 May, '15; tm. exp.
Coburn, Jonathan, ent. 1 Mch., '13, under Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; died 17 June, '13.
Combs, Sylvester, enl. 18 Jan., '13, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; dise. 17 May, '15, from Capt. Thomas S. Seymour's Co .; tm. exp.
Cook, Aaron, enl. 2 Mch., '14. under D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; d. 23 Sept., '14.
Cook, Nathaniel, Jr .. enl. 20 Jan., '15, under D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; disc. 24 Mch., '15; tm. exp.
Day, Squire S. (Wby.), en]. 18 Sept. '12, under John B. Murdock, 25 Inf .; dise. 18 Sept., '17; tm. exp.
Dexter, Jacob, enl. Mch., '14, under D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; wd. 5 July, '14, at Chippewa, U. ( .; disc. 28 Mch., '15
Dewitt, Charles, ent. 1 Nov., '14, under D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; name on rolls 19 Mch., '15. Drake, Elijah, enl. 14 Feb. '15, under D. Ketchum, 25 Inf ; dis. 24 Mch., '15; tm. exp. Ellsworth, James, enl. 22 May, '12, under Maj. Geo, Howard, 25 Inf .: d. 8 Dec. 12. Fitch, Charles, enl. 21 Jan., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; name on rolls 19 Mch., '15.
Fox, Charles, enl. 15 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf. ; name on rolls. 19 Mch., '15.
Frisbie, Nathan, enl. 9 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .: dise. 24 Mch., 15; im exp.
Fuller, Joseph, enl. 17 Jan., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf; dis. 24 Mch., '15. G:0.e. JJacob. enl. 23 Mch., '13, under Ed. White, 25 Inf .; dise. 17 May, 1815; tm. exp. Ilowe, Urial, enl. with Maj. Dan'l Ketchum, 25 Inf .; absent in arrest, 19 Mch .. '15.
llills, Ezekiel, enl., 28 Jan., '15, with Maj. Daniel Ketchum, 25 Inf .; dise. 25 Mch., '15, tm. exp.
464
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Hills, Daniel, Jr., enl. 8 Jan., '15, with Maj. Daniel Ketchum, 25 Inf. ; name on rolls 19 Mch., '15.
Griswold, Fredus (30). enl. 4 Apt., '13, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; d. 19 Nov., 13.
Lancion, Horace. enl. 4 Feb., '15, under Maj. Dan. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; transf. to 6 Inf .; dise. 20 Jan., 221; tm. exp.
Lewis, Samuel T., enl. 22 Feb., '13, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; wd. 11 Nov., 13. Chrystler's Field, U. C .: transf. to Capt. Ed. White's Co .; dise. 17 May. '15; im. exp. Littlefield, John, ent., 30 Dee., '12, under Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; wd. and capt. 26 June, '13, Stony Creek, U. C .; exch. 15 Apl., '14; disc. 25 Meb., '15; tm. exp.
Lucas, John, enl. 1 Mch., '13, Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; transf. to Capt. D. Ketchum's Co .; dise. IT May, '15; tmn. exp.
Marsh, Azel, enl. 19 Mch., '13, under Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; d. 17 July, '13.
Mason, Joseph D. enl. 2 Feb., '15, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; name on rolls, 9 Mch .. 15.
Mathews, Daniel, enl., 9 Meh., 13, under Maj. D. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; wd. and capt. 6 June, '13, Stony Creek, U. C .; exch. 15 Apl., '14; dise. 28 Mch., '15; tm. exp.
Merrill, Ethan, enl. 10 Mch., '14, under Maj. Daniel Ketchum, 25 Inf ; d. 10 May, '14. Moore, Orson, enl. 30 Jan., '15, under Maj. Benj. Watson, 25 Inf .; disc. 22 Mcb., '15; tm. exp.
Norton, John, enl. 13 Mch., '13, under Joseph Kinney, 25 Inf .; killed 11 Nov., '13, Chrystler's Field, U. C. .
Parmeter, Nathaniel (Sgt.), enl. 21 Dec., '12, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; dise. 23 Mch., 15, from Capt. Thomas S. Seymour's Co.
Patterson, John, enl. 1 Aug., 1812, with Geo. Howard, 25 Inf .; wd. - '14: disc. 17 May. '15. From Capt. Ed. White's Co.
Peck. John, enl. 24 Feb., '13, under Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; disc. 17 May, '15, from Capt. Ed. White's Co.
Perkins, Hector, enl. 9 .Jan., '13, under Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; wd. - date and action not given; dise. 17 May, '15, from Capt. Ed. White's Co.
Pierce, Luther, enl. 14 Aug., '12, with Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; dise. dis. 24 July, 15. from Capt. Thomas S. Seymour's Co., 6 Inf.
Robbins, Daniel, enl. 14 Feb., '15, under Maj. Benj. Watson, 25 Inf .; on rolls 19 Mch., '15.
Roberts, Oliver, enl. 24 Feb., 11, under Maj. Dan. Ketchum, 25 Inf .; d. 22 Dec., '11. Squires, Sherman (Sgt.), enl. 13 Feb., 15, under Maj. Benj. Watson, 25 Inf .: must. Priv .: prom. Sgt .: name on rolls 19 Mch., '13.
Stephens, George, enl. 6 Mch., '14, with Daniel Ketchum, 25 Inf .; dis. 17 May, '15, from Capt. Jesse Beach's Co .; tm. exp.
Tasker, John (., enl. 11 Feb., 1813, with Peter Bradley, 25 Inf .; dise. 17 May, 1815. tmt. exp., from Capt. Edw'd White's Co.
Tasker, Jonathan, enl. 15 Feb., 1813, with Edw'd White, 25 Inf .; killed 25 July, 1814, Bridgewater, U. C.
Tennant, Eli, enl. 18 Mch., 13, with Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; dise. 17 May, '15, im. exp. Tennant, Rufus, enl. 6 Mch., '13, with Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; d. 15 May, 1813.
Whiting, Caleb, enl. 9 Jan., 15, with Maj. Benj. Watson, 25 Inf .; name on rolls 19 Mch .. '15.
Wiggins, Josiah, enl. 9 Mch .. '13, with Festus Cone, 25 Inf .; d. 16 May, 1813.
Winchell, Shaylor, enl. 2 Mch., '14. Daniel Ketchum, 25 Inf ; d. 27 Sept., '14
In the Mexican War the following citizens of Windsor volunteered in the U. S. service :
Chapman, Edw'd D., must. 18 Aug., '48, Co. A, 2d Dragoons; dise, 19 June, 48 (sic. ? )
1 1
465
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT WINDSOR.
Fillen, Timothy, must. Apl. 6, 47. Cos. A and G, 16 Inf .; dise. 5 Aug .. 48; tm. exp. Halsey, Christopher H., must. 6 Mch., '48, Co. E, 11 Inf .; disc. 14 Aug., 48; tm. exp. Scott, Chas. W., must. 5 Nov., '46, Cos. A and D, 4 Inf .; disc. 5 Nov., '51; tm. exp.
In the " Centennial Year," 1876, Windsor celebrated the Fourth of July in a manner highly creditable to the oldest town in the State of Connecticut, by a grand Centennial Pienie on Broad Street Green. The programme of the day's exercises was as follows : A National Salute of thirteen guns on Plymouth Meadow, under direction of Col. E. N. Phelps : Music, "Hail Columbia "; Invocation, by Rev. B. Judkins, rector of Grace Church ; Music, " Old Hundred ": Reading of the Declaration of Independence, by II. L. Soper, Esq., of Poquonock : Music, " Yankee Doodle"; Historical Address, Jabez H. Hayden, Esq., of Windsor Locks : Music : C'entennial Odle, by Rev. R. H. Tuttle ; Music, and DINNER. This was served, and well served, on tables more than 2,000 feet long, besides side-tables, set upon the Green, " and the multi- tude were filled." The exercises were then resumed by a Blessing, invoked by Rev. G. C. Wilson : Music ; the Orator of the Day, Lieuten- ant-Governor George G. Sill, a native of Windsor : Address, by Hon. T. C. Coogan of Windsor: Reading of Letters and Short Speeches, by invited guests and citizens of Windsor. A fine display of fireworks on the Green in the evening concluded a day which had been made thoroughly enjoyable to all by the unanimity with which all portions of the town united in its arrangements, and by the complete manner in which every detail was carried out by the marshal of the day, Mr. E. S. Clapp, and his numerous aids. The Report of the Centennial Celebration of the Anniversary of our Independence at Windsor, Conn., July 4, 1876 (8", 48 pp.), printed " By Authority of the Committee of Arrange- ments," at the press of The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company of Hartford, 1876, preserves all the details of this most interesting ocea- sion.
On the 30th of March. 1880, the First Church of Windsor cele- brated the Quarter-Millenial AAnniversary of its organization in Plymouth, England. A full account of this was published, and has been referred to in its appropriate place in Chapter XVIII, page 386.
When the citizens of the State of Connecticut held a Quarter- Centennial of the State Constitution at Hartford, January 24, 1889, the Town of Windsor sent the following representatives of the town's first deputies, viz .:
Horace Bowers (descendant of Deacon William Gaylord ).
Hon. H. Sidney Hayden (descendant of Thomas Ford ).
Vol. 1. - 59
466
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
John A. Stoughton (descendant of Mr. Stoughton).
Jabez HI. Hayden (descendant of Mr. Henry Wolcott, Sr.).
And (on a general tieket with Hartford and Wethersfield) the follow- ing representatives of the early governors and magistrates :
Timothy S. Phelps, representing Mr. William Phelps.
Thomas W. Loomis, representing Mr. Roger Endlow, who had no descendant.
Windsor continues to be mostly an agricultural comumity, though there are several residents who do business in Hartford. Within a comparatively recent period streets and avenues have been laid out, and between thirty and forty new buildings erected. The Hon. II. Sidney Hayden has sneceeded in the enterprise of supplying the village (south of the Rivulet) with the purest of water from the Crystal Springs, which are on a high elevation west of the center, with a running capacity of 15,000 gallons a day, and which has never failed during the severest drought. He has also laid large pipes from the large factory-pond, which is abundant for manufacturing purposes, and furnishes an unfailing supply in case of conflagrations. This individual enterprise resulting successfully in so great a publie benefit, and paying but a low rate of interest to the projector, is duly appreciated. Ice-houses have been erected near the pond, and consumers are furnished daily by the ice- man. Windsor is but twelve minutes' ride by railroad from Hartford, and there are fourteen or sixteen trains stopping here each day.
The churches, schools, ete., of Windsor have been described else- where.
Manufactures. The SEQUASSON WOOLEN COMPANY was started in the spring and summer of 1853, under the name of the " Windsor Knitting and Manufacturing Company." intending the production of stockinet ; but, owing to private difficulties, the property was assigned and sold before any goods were made. The present company was then formed in the spring of 1853, with a capital of $26,000, owned by twelve individ- uals : William S. Pierson. M.D., President ; E. N. Phelps, Secretary ; F. M. Brown, Treasurer ; William A. Lovell, Agent. Its first goods were sent to market December 6, 1:55. The mill was a substantial edifice of brick, four stories high, located a little northeast of the present railroad depot, and contained three sets of machinery, driven by steam. The annual production was about $75,000 ; annual quantity of wool used about 80,000 lbs., and abont forty-five to fifty hands employed. This mill was destroyed by fire in March, 1873. Its site is at present occu- pied by a new building, 200 x 50 feet in size, of the SPENCER ARMS COM- PANY, manufacturing the noted Spencer guns. There is also the BEST
467
POQUONOCK AND RAINBOW MANUFACTURES.
MANUFACTURING COMPANY, engaged in the making of cigars and tobacco ; and the large plant of the EDDY ELECTRIC Co. In the whole town, in- eluding Poquonock and Rainbow, there are two Town Halls, two grist and saw-mills, three blacksmith shops, ten stores, seven churches, twelve school buildings, and two hotels.
Town Halls. Windsor has two Town Halls. That at Windsor. erected in 1878, of brick, is 40 . 50 feet in size, two stories high ; contains the Town Clerk's office, and that of the Judge of Probate, an upper and lower hall : and cost $8,000. The Town Clock in this building was presented by Mrs. Abby Loomis Hayden. That in Poquonock. erected in 1883, is of brick, and is 45 80 feet in size, two stories high, con- tains an upper and lower hall, and cost $9,000. Both are handsome structures.
Poquonock, or Second Society, situated on the Farmington (Wind- sor, Tunxis, Rivulet, or Little River), is a pleasant corner of the old town. The river was formerly navigable to this point, and now affords abundance of good water power. Much of the land about Poquonock is what is termed plain land - sandy, partly covered with wood : when new good for raising rye : well supplied with muck-holes (i. e., upper crust, twelve to fifteen inches deep, pulverized by the action of frosts and rains) : and needs only energy to cart the mnek on to the sandy parts to make them capable of bearing good crops - since chemical analysis, as well as the experience of some Poquonoek farmers, proves this muck to be equal to good barnyard manure.
At Poquonock, in 1859, were the FRANKLIN PAPER WORKS, consist- ing of two mills - one then owned by Buckland & Co., and containing seven engines, and one 62-inch Fourdrinier machine ; the other then recently sold to E. S. Goodrich of Hartford and A. C. Goodman of New York, having six engines, and one 84-inch Fourdrinier machine.
At the same date (1859) A. M. Hathaway & Co. had here a cotton mill, making cotton warps for carpets: Alexander Clapp a grist mill for custom work : and Harris & Co. a cotton mill, with about thirty looms, manufacturing printing cloths.
Rainbow is the name given to that portion of Poquonock where the river makes its most graceful curve ; and here, in 1803, Roger Griswold conceived the idea of building in the bend of the stream what he named the Rainbow Mills. The scheme, which seems to have been a family enterprise, was strenuously opposed by his brother. the late eminent Bishop Griswold, but at last his consent wis obtained. Roger, who possessed much mechanical ability, as well as a sanguine temperament. commenced the enterprise : but hardly had the mill, dam, etc .. been
468
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
erected before a heavy freshet swept away the embankment, carried off a large quantity of kiln-dried grain, and proved a serious financial disaster to the Griswolds.
At this place, in 1859. Charles Denslow had a wire-work mill, employing about twenty hands; lodge & Co., two paper mills, eight engines and two machines, employing about thirty hands : Denslow & Chase, a machine shop, principally employed in millwright and paper machinery.
There are at Rainbow two paper mills, the CONGRESS MILLS, two two-story buildings, 45 x200 feet on the ground ; erected about 1859, rebuilt 1866 by Mr. D. Buck, and afterwards purchased by the present THE SPRINGFIELD PAPER COMPANY, which manufactures white and colored printing papers, and special goods of that description : having a work- ing capacity of 3,000 pounds per day, and handling abont 2,000 tons weight of material a year.
The mills of the HARTFORD PAPER COMPANY are at Rainbow and Poquonock : capital stock, $150,000; manufacture various kinds of paper, with an average capacity of 9,000 pounds a day. The Rainbow mills were erected about thirty years ago, and that at Poquonock in 1870-71; cost. = 180,000.
In 1873 Austin Dunham & Sons of Hartford began the manufacture of worsted yarns in the old stone mill called the Tunris Mill at Poquonock, to which, in 1875. they added a much larger building : and again, in 1880, their business had so increased that they took on the Poquonock Mill, erected 1856, and up to this time used as a woolen mill. The TUNXIS WORSTED COMPANY, which to-day comprises these interests, was formed July 1, 1880, with a capital of $162,000: and manufactures all kinds of worsted yarns, and prepares and sells combed wool for worsted spinners. Their production in 1881 was 291,295 pounds of worsted yarns : combed wool sold, 148,749 pounds.
Fish-raising. Here are located the works of the Fenton Trout Breeding Company, and the hatcheries of the State Fish Commission, of which Henry J. Fenton is superintendent.
The early ecclesiastical history of Poquonoek has been previously given. See Chapter XV.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.