USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Redding > The history of Redding, Conn., from its first settlement to the present time : with notes on the Adams, Banks Stow families > Part 10
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This committee reported to an adjourned meeting, held December 14th, in favor of a change of name, and by a unanimous vote the name of the church was changed from Methodist Protestant to Congrega- tional. It was also voted to petition the next legis- lature to change the name of the society in accord-
136
HITSTORY OF REDDING.
ance with the above vote, and to secure to the Con- gregational Society the property now held by the Methodist Protestant Society. The committee ap- pointed for this purpose were Messrs. David E. Smith, Hiram St. John, and E. G. Bennett. From October, 1865, to May, 1875, the church was sup- plied by Rev. Samuel St. John, of Georgetown. He was succeeded by Rev. Albert H. Thompson, of Yale Theological Seminary, who supplied the pulpit until November, 1876. Mr. Thompson's suc- cessor was Rev. C. B. Strong, of Hartford Seminary, who remained until the close of 1877. The present pastor, Rev. C. A. Northrop, began his labors with the church January 6th, 1878, and was ordained and installed as pastor October 2d, 1878.
The present membership of the church is 79. Males, 30 ; females, 49.
The records of the Methodist Protestant Church give no data of the settlement or dismissal of pas- tors. From old members of the church, however, I gain the following names of those who served the church in this capacity. The list is probably com- plete, though the names are not given in the order of succession. They were: William M. Stillwell, Stephen Treadwell, Abram Glasgow, Stephen Rem- ington, -- Shemeall, -- Vredenburgh, James Summerbell, Aaron G. Brewer, Richard K. Diossy, James Rolliston, William Mccutcheon, William H. Bosely, William Cliff, Samuel M. Henderson, Jacob Timberman, -- Wade, Elizur W. Griswold, Merwin Lent, William H. Johnson, John L. Ambler, Joseph J. Smith, Joshua Hudson, Thomas K. Witsel, John H. Painter, M. E. Rude, William C. Clarke.
HISTORY OF REDDING. . 137
CHAPTER X.
HISTORY OF SCHOOLS.
WE have before spoken of the care of our Puritan ancestors to provide for the church and the ministry in their infant settlements. They were equally care- ful to furnish them with the school and the teacher. If piety was one of the pillars of Democracy, so also was intelligence ; and church and school were alike deemed indispensable to the growth and security of the state : hence we find the pioneers of Redding making early provision for the establish- ment of schools among them. The first recorded movement of the parish in the matter was in 1737, when, at a parish meeting held December 26th, 1737, it was voted to have a parish school, and to maintain said school by a parish rate. John Read, Joseph Lee, Joseph Sanford, John Hull, Nathan Lion, Ste- phen Morehouse, and Daniel Lion were the first school committee. The meeting also voted : " that said school be divided into three parts, that is to say, five months in that quarter called the Ridge, and five months on the west side of the parish near the mill, and two months at Lonetown, understand- ing that the centre of division is the meeting-house, and that Stephen Burr belongs to the west side."
These were the original school districts of the town : in them the first rude school-houses were erected, and from the one to the other went the peripatetic school-master as his duties called him. These school-houses were built of logs : their furni-
138
HISTORY OF REDDING.
ture was of the most meagre description, consisting of a sloping desk of boards affixed to the wall and extending around three sides of the building, benches of rough-hewn plank, and a planed pine board whereon the student " figgered " with bits of charcoal. Nor was the curriculum of the schools much more extensive. Reading, writing, and arith- metic were all that was then thought necessary for the country boy to know ; further knowledge was to be acquired in schools of a higher grade.
As years passed on, and new families moved into the place, the districts became strong enough each to support its own school.
Hence we find a parish meeting held December 10th, 1742, voting : " that the interest of the school money belonging to the parish shall be divided into three equal parts for the year ensuing, for the main- taining of three separate schools (each to be kept by a master,) one third part of the money for that part of the Parish east of Little River, one third part for that part of the Parish between Little River and the Saugatuck River, and one third for that part west of the Saugatuck. Provided, that each part of the Parish as above divided, keep a school as abovesaid three months in the year ensuing, but if any part of the Parish fail in keeping a school as abovesaid, the other two parts that keep said school, shall equally divide the said money between them, and if two parts of the Parish fail in keeping a school as above- said, that part of the Parish that shall keep said school the three months, shall draw the whole of the school money." The same districts are defined in the appropriation of the school money in 1743 as
130
HISTORY OF REDDING.
being " the school on the West side of Aspetuck River, the school by Mill River (Saugatuck) and the school by the Church."
In 1745 the appropriation was made to the same districts, with the provision that each should " keep a school with a school master sufficiently capable to learn children to Wright and Reade."
There seems to have been no change in this re- spect until 1764, when it was voted: "that the school money should be subdivided according to the lists within such subdivisions." In 1768 the bounds of the districts were first set out by a com- mittee appointed at town meeting for the purpose. This first committee consisted of Stephen Mead, Daniel Hill, and Daniel Sanford. The school com- mittee for this year, appointed at town meeting, con- sisted of seven, and it is probable that each repre- sented a district --- which would give us seven dis- tricts in the town at that time.
December 19th, 1792, the following important vote was taken : " that the School money shall be lodged with the Treasurer, and he to collect the interest arising on the School bonds annually by the first day of April, the Interest already arisen and unpaid to be collected forthwith, and in failure of pay- ment of back interest, he to send the bond, or bonds, and collect principal and interest, and to con- duct in the same manner on neglect of annual pay- ment of interest on said Bonds, and to pay said In- terest and School Money to the School Committee as it may be appropriated by the committee of the Districts annually."
140
HISTORY OF REDDING.
As to the source or origin of these school bonds. or by whom taken, I am unable to give a positive answer. The town of Redding has a school fund of $400, distinct from the State fund, and which dates back to a period beyond the reach of memory or tradition ; it is more than probable, however, that it was the sum realized from the sale of lands in Litch- field County in 1733, called western lands, and which was divided among the several towns in pro- portion to their poll list and ratable estate for that year and to be secured and forever improved for the use of the schools kept in said towns according to law. Redding, unlike most of her sister towns, has preserved this fund inviolate, and still uses its pro- ceeds in support of her schools. In 1795 came the sale of the Western Reserve, and Connecticut's mu- nificent grant to her common schools, which has put them in the front rank of educational forces, and contributed so much to the material prosperity of the State. In October of that year the inhabitants of Redding met, and formed themselves into a school society, in order that they "might have the advantage of the monies arising from the sale of western lands." Peter Sanford, James Rogers, and Simeon Munger were the first committee chosen by this society. Prior to 1870, the cost of supporting the schools above that derived from the school funds was borne by the parents or guardians of the scholars, but in that year the legislature passed a law compelling the towns to maintain free schools, and this plan has since been pursued. The town appropriation for schools this year, 1879, is $2500 ;
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
before 1879, it was $3000. The income from the School Fund is $936.40.
There are at present ten school districts in the town, and three half districts, named and numbered as follows :
Name.
No. of Children enu- merated in 1879.
District No. 1 ..... Centre.
30
2 ..... Ridge.
48
66
3. . ... Couch's Hill. 15
4 .. . Diamond Hill.
17
5. . . . . Boston
54
6 .. Hull.
20
7. . . . Umpawaug.
51
8. . . . Lonetown ..
29
9 .. . . Pickett's Ridge
9
. . 10 .. . Foundry ...
23
11 .. . half district, Georgetown.
40
12 ..
Florida. 46
13 ..
Rock House 5
The total number of children enumerated was 387. The whole number who attended school was 406.
Messrs. Arthur Hill, William R. Duncomb, and Rev. X. A. Welton comprise the present Board of Education for the town. William E. Duncomb and Rev. X. A. Welton are the acting School Vis- itors.
From an early period Redding has been favora- bly known for the number and excellence of her select schools ; some of these were conducted by the pastors of the different churches, and others by pro- fessional teachers. One of the earliest of these schools was that kept by S. Samuel Smith, Esq., in the centre. The Rev. Jonathan Bartlett opened a school for boys and young men about 1795, that at-
142
HISTORY OF REDDING.
tained a high reputation and flourished for a term of years ; his school was kept in his dwelling- house-now the residence of Mr. Lemuel Sanford. The first boarding-school in town was opened by Mr. Walker Bates about 1825. Mr. Bates was a pupil of Mr. Bartlett's, and a very successful teacher. A few years after, Mr. Eli Gilbert opened a select school at the centre, which continued in successful operation for a term of years; and in 1836 two schools were established on Redding Ridge-one by Mr. John Osborne, the other by Mr. Aaron B. Wilson.
One of the most noteworthy schools of the town was the Redding Institute, founded by Daniel San- ford, A.M., in the fall of 1847. Mr. Sanford, after receiving a thorough education, and spending some years as a teacher at White Plains, N. Y., returned to Redding and built the large and well-appointed school-house adjoining his dwelling. His school from a small and feeble beginning grew to be large and flourishing, containing at one time forty schol- ars, most of them sons of prominent New York and Brooklyn families. In 1851 he secured the services of Mr. Edward P. Shaw, a graduate of Wesleyan University, who continued with him as a teacher un- til 1867, when Mr. Sanford retired, and Mr. Shaw became principal and conducted the school success- fully until 1873, when, owing to a family bereave- ment, he was obliged to discontinue it.
The boarding-school opened by Mr. Burton Brad- ley about 1850, and Miss Polly Sellick's boarding- school for young ladies, founded in 1844, were suc-
143
HISTORY OF REDDING.
cessful and well-conducted institutions. The only select school at present existing in the town is the Misses Sanford's school for young children.
In 1878 Rev. Aaron S. Sanford, of New Haven, donated the sum of five thousand dollars for the en- dowment of a High School. This munificent gift was accepted by the people of the town, and the Hill Academy was incorporated under the laws of the State. The trustees of the institution are seven in number, viz., Francis A. Sanford, Aaron Tread- well, John Todd, X. Alanson Welton, Stephen Sanford, Thaddeus M. Abbott, and Arthur B. Hill.
The officers of the corporation are : President, Francis A. Sanford ; Vice-President, T. M. Abbott ; Secretary, Arthur B. Hill ; Treasurer, Aaron Tread- well ; Auditor, Stephen Sanford. The first princi- pal of the academy was Mr. T. M. W. George, of Hartford, who closed his first year's labor July 1st, 1879.
CHAPTER XI.
MANUFACTURES.
IN 1793, under a State law, a specific tax was laid on the various trades and professions, and from the grand list of that year we may gather accurate knowledge of the number of tradesmen, artisans, and professional men in the town at that time.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
The following table is prepared from this list :
TRADE OR PROFESSION.
TAX.
TRADE OR PROFESSION.
TAX.
BLACKSMITHS.
Aaron Barlow.
$5
Thaddeus Benedict.
$60
Thaddeus Abbott
5
S. Sam. Smith
50
Enoch Merchant.
5
PHYSICIANS.
WEAVERS.
Thomas Davies.
10
Thomas Peck.
10
TRADERS.
James Rogers 25
Benj. Sanford & Co.
25
TANNERS AND SHOEMAKERS.
Stephen Betts & Co.
25
William Heron ..
25
Asahel Salmon
5
Ezekiel Jackson & Co 25
25
TAVERN-KEEPERS.
TAILORS.
Stephen Betts
15
Ezekiel Sanford.
15
Justus Whitlow
5
Joel Byington.
5
Abel Burr.
15
CLOTIIIER.
GRIST-MILLS.
Elisha Bradley.
5
Ephraim Wheeler.
3
Stephen Burr and Daniel
Perry.
6
WHEELWRIGHT.
Seth Meeker & Co.
4
Joel Gray
5
Crawford & Sanford.
5
COOPER.
Stephen Gray ..
5
Stephen & John Fairchild.
4
Oliver Sanford
4
Barlow & Sanford.
6
JOINERS.
Enos & Seth Wheeler. 4
Eli Lyon.
CI Or CT
IRON-WORKS.
Stephen Lyon.
Daniel Perry.
Oliver Sanford.
10
Chauncey Merchant,
5
SADDLER.
Edward Starr 5
Abijah Parsons.
Ezekiel Jackson. 15
SAW-MILLS.
From this date down to 1850 the town made a
ATTORNEYS.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
very creditable advance in manufactures. The iron smelting works of Oliver Sanford in Sanfordtown were one of its earliest and most prominent indus- tries. Ore was brought from Brookfield and Rox- bury in great wagons and smelted at the mills, and after smelting was conveyed in the same manner to Westport or Norwalk, and shipped to various points. This enterprise was the pioneer of its kind in America, and proved quite profitable to its pro- jector. The works were entirely destroyed in the great freshet of 1805, and never afterward rebuilt, the business being removed to Valley Forge. Full- ing-mills were early erected, the first, probably, by Abraham Fairchild about 1742. near Nobb's Crook. on the Saugatuck River. The first wool- len-mill was erected in 1812, near the site of the old fulling-mill, by Comstock, Foster & Co. It did a prosperous business through the war and for some years afterward. It was later bought by Mr. Joel Foster, one of the members of the old company, who continued the business until the burning of the factory in 1843, or 1844. Carriages began to be built in Sanfordtown as early as 1800, and the busi- ness soon became one of the leading industries of the town. Ephraim Sanford built the first carriage factory in the rear of the house on the corner now owned by Mr. Bradley Treadwell. He was succeeded in 1820 by his two sons David and Enoch A. San- ford. David Sanford died in 1834, and the business was continued by Enoch A. Sanford, the surviving partner. A few years after, Daniel Sanford was ad- mitted a partner, and the firm entered largely into the Southern trade. In this they proved unfortu-
11
.
140
HISTORY OF REDDING.
nate, and failed. Subsequently Mr. E. A. Sanford formed a partnership with Charles Duncomb, and later with G. A. Sanford, by whom the business was conducted with varying success. In its palmiest days this firm did a large business, employing from twenty-five to thirty men, and maintaining a depot for their goods in New York. Mr. Aaron Bartram built a carriage factory in 1840 (now standing), and in company with Mr. Eben Wilson did a large busi- ness for a term of years. Mr. Bradley Sanford be- gan the manufacture of carriage axles in Sanford- town in 1833, and continued it until 1838, when he was succeeded by Mr. G. A. Sanford.
Hat-making was at one time a prominent indus- try in Redding. To Mr. Billy Comstock is due the credit of erecting the first hat manufactory, which stood near his house in the Boston district. Mr. Daniel Gould had a large hat shop in Lonetown, and later Mr. Jesse Banks carried on the business some- what extensively in Sanfordtown. He employed at one time from twenty-five to thirty men, and sup- plied the Southern and West India market. Mr. Milo Lee also carried on the business for a number of years, first with Mr. Banks, and afterward in a fac- tory near his house. Bricks were made at one time by Mr. Alanson Lyon, on Redding Ridge ; and in the same district a large shirt manufactory was once in successful operation, under the management of Mr. Curtis Fanton, and his son, Henry Fanton. In 1856 the Redding Manufacturing Company was organized in Sanfordtown for the manufacture of pins, and other small articles in brass. The large building in Sanfordtown still known as the pin factory was
147
HISTORY OF REDDING.
built by this company ; for a time its prospects for a successful career were excellent, but owing to some mismanagement on the part of the directors, it soon proved a failure.
The Hill Limekiln in Lonetown is perhaps the oldest lime-burning establishment in the State. It was probably opened at an early day by Colonel John Read, who was the owner of the tract of land in which the quarry is situated.
In 1810 it came into the possession of John R. Hill, a grandson of Colonel Read, who conducted an extensive business and acquired a fortune. Mr. Hill retired in 1823, and was succeeded at different period by his sons Aaron S. Hill, Moses Hill, Wil- liam Hill, and John L. Hill. These gentlemen con- ducted the business with the same energy and suc- cess that had characterized their father's manage- ment. Since Mr. John L. Hill's retirement, the bus- iness has been conducted, successively, by Messrs. Ames & Osborne, Barnes, Smith, and Philo Wood.
In 1842 Squire James Sanford built a foundry on the Aspetuck River in the Foundry district, and en- tered largely into the manufacture of agricultural implements. He had before invented an improved hay-cutting machine, in which the cutting was done by revolving cylinders furnished with knives, which he manufactured here, and which had an extensive sale throughout the country. This foundry is al- most the only one of the old-time industries of Red- ding that remains in successful operation to this day.
The Aspetuck River, dashing through a gorge in this district, furnishes abundant water-power, and this the skill and energy of the Sanford brothers has
148
HISTORY OF REDDING.
utilized in the manufacture of buttons. Their three button factories have a capacity of between three and four hundred gross of buttons per day, employ twenty-eight hands, and have made this district one of the busiest and most prosperous localities in the town.
The pleasant village of Georgetown, in the western part of Redding, owes its existence largely to the establishment in its midst of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company's works. This firm is largely engaged in the manufacture of sieves, iron wire, wire cloth, galvanized wire netting, ash sieves, and cheese and meat safes. They have a warehouse in New York, and at present employ a force of one hundred men. Until 1877 they were also engaged in the manufacture of glue and curled hair, but at that time this part of their business was purchased by the J. P. Gage Manufacturing Company, of New York, who still continue the business, having added to it the manufacture of sand paper. The origin of the Gilbert & Bennett Manf. Co. dates from the year 1818, when Benjamin Gilbert commenced the manu- facture of sieves and curled hair. Afterward, his sons, Sturges Bennett, and E. O. Hurlbut formed a co-partnership under the name of Gilbert, Bennett & Co., for the manufacture of the above-named arti- cles, including glue. In 1874 a fire destroyed the main factory, together with a large amount of manu- factured stock and machinery, causing a loss of over $100,000.
After the fire the concern was incorporated under the name of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Co., with Sturges Bennett as president, David H.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
Miller, secretary, and W. W. Beers as treasurer. The works before the fire employed a force of 125 men, and its manufactured products amounted to $500,000 annually.
CHAPTER XII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A FAVORITE dish with the Latin nations is the olla podrida-a thing of shreds and patches, com- posed of odds and ends of the larder that could be utilized in no other way. This chapter is intended as a sort of mental olla podrida, and we have no doubt will prove as varied, if not as savory, as the dish above described. For our first ingredients we insert some quaint and curious extracts from the town records as follows :
January 2d, 1778. It was voted, "that the selectmen provide a Spade, Pick Axe, and Hoe to be kept for the use of digging graves." August 11, 1783, " Voted, that the town will set up a singing meeting. Voted to lay a tax of 1d. on a pound to pay the Singing Master." March 13, 1787, " Voted not to admit Small Pox by innoculation : Voted to admit Small Pox by Innoculation next fall." Octo- ber 19th, 1795 : " Voted that the select men prosecute those persons that cut timber on the highways." September 19th, 1798: " Voted that the district to which Silas Merchant belongs, shall pay him $2 for his dragg." In 1801 the town voted to relin-
150
HISTORY OF REDDING.
quish to Enoch Merchant the fine imposed on him by William Heron, Esq., for "admitting pup- pet shows into his house contrary to law." De- cember 20th, 1802, John Read, Jr., was "ex- cused " for admitting puppet shows into his house, "on said Read's paying the costs." In 1804 it was voted, " that this town will not remit to Ebenezer Robinson of Danbury, the fine imposed on him by William Heron Esq. for breaking the Sabbath, which fine is now uncollected." The same year Aaron Read was appointed "Keeper of the Key to the Town House." In 1807, it was voted to remit the fines-$1.67 in amount-of Peter Bradley, and Nancy his wife, for Sabbath-breaking : also voted, that William Heron Esq. be paid $11.08, amount of costs in defending a suit brought by William P. Jones against him, for a fine collected and paid into the treasury of the town. In 1808, voted that the town will remit the fines of all those persons who labored on the Sabbath the 31st of July last past, in this town, on payment of costs. In 1817, Daniel Sanford and Aaron Burr were appointed a com- mittee to procure the fish called pike, and put in Umpawaug Pond. In 1840 it was voted, that if any non-resident should kill birds within the limits of the town he should be fined and if he killed rob- ins, except in case of sickness, he should be fined $5.
In the records of a town meeting held December 8th, 1806, occurs the following curious entry : " Voted, that S. Samuel Smith, Lemuel Sanford, and Benjamin Meeker be a committee to write to Wil- liam Crawford requesting him to name the person
151
HISTORY OF REDDING.
belonging to Redding to whom he delivered Mrs. Sarah Fleming's letter in May last, notifying him that in case of refusal, the Inhabitants of this town, will feel themselves authorized to declare to the world, that he never did deliver such a letter to any person belonging to Redding."
Conversing with an aged citizen of Redding on the generous and confiding nature of our towns-peo- ple, he substantiated the fact by a list of the public enterprises which they had aided at different times, with the amount contributed to each, as follows :
Eagle Bank, New Haven $6,000
Virginia Land Company.
8,000
Michigan Land Company . 20,000
Bethel Bank. . 40,000
Midland Railroad.
20,000
Making a total of.
$94,000
The above in round numbers. He is quite sure that there have been enough minor enterprises aided to swell the grand total to $100,000.
Isaac Hilliard was a poet of considerable local ce- lebrity whom Redding had the honor of producing, but at this late day I am able to collect but few facts and anecdotes concerning him, and most of these are gathered from the Federal journals, who were his traducers, owing to the fact that Mr. Hil- liard, like a true poet, had espoused the cause of the people and was a Whig. The New England Repub- lican of August 29th, 1804, has this to say concern- ing hỉm :
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
" FORLORN HOPE.
"ISAAC HILLIARD, a wretched vagabond, originally of Reading, in Fairfield County, has lately published a large pamphlet, in which he warmly advocates the cause of democracy. To criticise such a work, one must sink himself to a level with the author ; that is, he must become an idiot, or a lunatic, or a brute. The composition is just about on a level with Péter St. John's poetry. The pitiable but wrong-headed writer is now busied in hawking his pamphlets about the streets. He presents them to every man whom he is not afraid to insult, and tells those to whom he delivers them, to pay him twenty-five cents each, if they like the work ; otherwise to return it. Never was a man better fitted to any cause than Hil- liard to democracy ; and never was a cause better adapted to the man engaged in it than democracy to Hilliard."
The pamphlet referred to above, entitled the " Rights of Suffrage," and also Mr. Hilliard's chief poem, "The Federal Pye," the writer has been so fortunate as to procure. They are included in a pamphlet of some seventy pages, printed at Dan- bury in 1804.
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