USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. II > Part 23
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Dr. Asahel Thomson says of Dr. Todd : -
" Dr. Eli Todd, the son of Michael Todd, an enterprising merchant of New Haven, Conn., and Mrs. Mary Todd, a lady much and deservedly respected for her intelligence and piety, was born in that city in 1770. At an early age he entered Yale College, where he graduated in 1787. Subsequently, after spending some time in the West Indies, he pursued a course of medical study under the direction of Dr. Beardsley, an eminent physician of New Haven, and came to Farmington to enter upon the practice of medicine in September, 1790. He continued to reside in Farmington till October, 1819, when he removed to Hartford. On the establishment in that city of the Retreat for the Insane, an object which he had long contemplated with high interest, and to which he contributed largely by his influence and exertions, he was selected, as if by general consent, to carry into effect the benevolent plan of its founders, as its physician and superintendent. This situation he retained from the period of his appointment at its first organization, in 1824, till his decease in the autumn of 1833.
" Dr. Todd was a man of rare mental endowments. He possessed in a high degree the various characteristics of superior genius. His intellect was strong and vigorous, capable of readily comprehending, mastering, and illustrating any subject to which his attention was directed ; his judgment was profound, clear, and discriminating, his apprehension remarkably quick, his memory strongly retentive, his imagination and fancy brilliant and ever awake, and his taste deli- cate and refined, the source of much enjoyment to himself and the means of much pleasure to others. His conversational powers were uncommon. Though unusually affable, and often inclined to sprightliness and gayety in his intercourse with others, yet his mind was naturally of a highly philosophical and speculative turn. On other occasions, when the subject required or admitted of it, he would give utterance to his sentiments and feelings in a style vivid, bold, and figurative, abounding in striking imagery, interesting and picturesque description or narra- tive, and lively sallies of wit and humor. No one on such occasions could be long in his presence without being sensible of, or paying homage to, the vigor of his understanding and the brilliancy of his imagination.
" But while his rare intellectual powers inspired sentiments of respect and admiration, his moral and social qualities, the attributes of the heart, secured to him the strongest attachment. Many who were his patients or patrons can
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testify to his kind-hearted sympathy in the sick-room, to the unwearied assiduity with which he watched at the bedside of the sick, to his anxious solicitude to devise and adopt, as well as his ready ingenuity in contriving, every possible measure for their relief, and to the affectionate language and manner with which he aimed to allay their sense of distress, when it could not be at once removed. They can also bear testimony to his frequent outpourings of heartfelt delight on seeing them relieved and restored again to the enjoyment of health.
" As a practitioner he long and extensively enjoyed the confidence of the community in an enviable degree ; perhaps none of his contemporaries in the State attained a higher rank. He evinced uncommon sagacity in investigating the causes, seats, and nature of diseases, and was usually remarkably accurate in his predictions of the changes they would undergo, and of their terminations. In his intercourse with society, his manners and general deportment were unusually courteous and gentlemanly ; he was ever frank, open-hearted, and sincere, exhib- ited a high sense of honor, always despised what was mean and disingenuous, and was ever attentive to all the decorums of time, place, and character. Though affable and condescending to individuals in all situations in life, and though he aimed, and with almost uniform success, to avoid giving offence, yet he was fear- less and independent in expressing his sentiments and pursuing the line of conduct he chose to follow.
" In physical conformation Dr. Todd was of medium size, well-made and muscular. In carly life he possessed great bodily strength and agility, and de- lighted in all those exercises which called them into action. Dr. Todd was twice married, but left no children.
" No biographical notice of Dr. Todd should be concluded without some reference to his religious character. Though born of pious parents, yet till late in life the Bible and the Christian religion are believed to have occupied little of his attention, and he was generally reputed a sceptic. In 1825 his first wife died in the triumphs of faith, and on her death-bed urged and entreated him to attend to and investigate the subject of religion, expressing her undoubt- ing conviction that if he would do so in the same thorough and impartial manner in which he examined other topics, the result would be most happy. In compli- ance with her dying request, he commenced the study of the Bible; and by the blessing of God the effect proved as Mrs. Todd had anticipated. All the doubts, difficulties, and prejudices which had so long stood in the way of his embracing the Christian faith were dissipated ; and Dr. Todd became a firm believer in the great doctrines of revelation, and a sincere and ardent disciple of Christ ; and through the remainder of his life, and particularly during his last long and dis- tressing illness, enjoyed in a high degree the peculiar supports and consolations of the gospel."
The following additional list of men distinguished in the history of the town, including its parishes, has been gathered from its records and other sources : John Steele, Thomas Judd, Stephen Hart, Wil- liam Lewis, Anthony Howkins, John Hart, Dr. Daniel Porter, John Wadsworth, John Lee, Deacon Thomas Bull, Captain Thomas Hart, John Hooker, Captain William Wadsworth, William Judd, Colonel Fisher Gay, Colonel Noadiah Hooker, Chauncey Deming, Edward Hooker, Governor John Treadwell, the Hon. Timothy Pitkin (M.C.), Lemuel Whitman (M.C.), Jared Griswold, Samuel Richards, John Mix, Horace Cowles, Solomon Cowles, and Zenas Cowles (brothers), Jonathan, Elijah, Seth, Gad, and Martin Cowles (brothers), James Cowles, John T. Norton, Asahel Thomson, M.D., Simeon Hart, Samuel Hooker Cowles, Elnathan Gridley, John Richards, D.D., the Rev. Amos A. Phelps, Professor John Pitkin Norton.
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For several years after its settlement the town was dependent on Hartford for a physician. In 1652 the General Court authorized Dr. Thomas Lord to charge for a visit " to any house in Farmington, six shillings." The resident physicians have been : -
Samuel Porter, born Oct. 24, 1665 ; died March 25, 1736. Thomas Thomson, born June 3, 1674 ; died July 17, 1748. Ebenezer Lee. Sammuel Richards, born Oct. 22, 1726 ; died Nov. 10, 1793. Thomas Mather, born Sept. 7, 1741 ; died Ang. 10, 1766. Asa Johnson. Timothy Hosmer, born August, 1745. Theodore Wadsworth, born Oct. 5, 1752 ; died June 2, 1808. John Hart, born March 11, 1753 ; died Oct. 3, 1798. Adna Stanley, born Jan. 28, 1763 ; died Dec. 30, 1725. Eli Todd, born July 22, 1769 ; died Nov. 17, 1833. Harry Wadsworth, born May 23, 1780 ; died April 25, 1813. Asahel Yale. Asahel Thomson, born April 16, 1790 ; died May 2, 1866. Zephaniah Swift (practised from 1815 to 1830). Chauncey Brown, born March 14, 1802 ; died Aug. 9, 1879. Edwin Wells Carrington, born July 8, 1805 ; died Feb. 8, 1852.
There are now practising in Farmington village Drs. Franklin Wheeler and Charles Carrington ; and in the village of Unionville, Drs. Everett A. Towne, W. W. Horton, E. C. King, and E. M. Ripley.
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UNIONVILLE.
UNIONVILLE.
BY JAMES L. COWLES.
LONG before the birth of the modern village of Unionville, the tumbling waters of the river and of the brooks in the neighborhood had been in a measure utilized by the settlers for their rude manu- factures. On the left bank of the river, a short distance from the old Perry's bridge, and located on Zack's Brook, was Hammond's gun- factory, where firelocks were made for the soldiers of the Revolution and of the War of 1812. Some of the large grindstones there used were of red sandstone, and were quarried in Scott's Swamp. It was at Hammond's factory that Mr. Colton - one of the early superintendents of the Springfield Armory - learned his trade.
Twelve to fifteen tenements stood in the neighborhood, to give shelter to the operatives ; but with the peaceful era that followed the War of 1812 the demand for weapons of war diminished, and before 1832 the business was entirely abandoned. Some of the old tenements, however, still remain, silent witnesses of the industry which brought them into being. The business must have been quite brisk, for it seems to have been beyond the capabilities of Zack's Brook to furnish sufficient power ; and a part of the works was run in connection with the grist and saw mill which stood farther to the north and is now known as Richards's Mill. In 1832 George Richards bought this prop- erty of Thomas and Joshua Youngs. It is probable that this mill, or one on the same site, has been in existence for more than a century.
In the Farmington town records there is to be found the following instrument connected with the name of Joshua Youngs, which will hardly fail to be of interest, reminding us as it does of the brevity of the period since slavery was one of the institutions even of Connecticut. The record reads as follows : -
" On Application of Capt. Joshua Youngs of Farmington, in Hartford County, made to us, one of the civil authority and two of the Selectmen of said Farmington, we have examined into the health and age of Titus, a black man, now or late a slave of said Youngs, and we do find upon such examination that said Titus is in good health and is not of greater age than forty-five years, nor of less age than twenty-five years, and upon actual examination of said Titus we are convinced that he is desirous of being made free.
"Certified this 10th day of January, A.D. 1816, by us, "JOHN MIX, Just Pacis. SAMUEL RICHARDS, ยท Selectmen." EZEKIEL COWLES,
" Whereas, on application made by me, Joshua Youngs, of Farmington, in the county of Hartford, to one of the civil authority and two of the selectmen of said Farmington, they have signed a certificate that Titus, a black man, now or late my slave, is in good health and is not of greater age than forty-five years, nor of less age than twenty-five years, and upon examination of said Titus they are convinced that he is desirous of being made free.
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" Therefore be it known to all whom it may concern, that I have and hereby do completely emancipate and set at liberty the said Titus, so that neither I nor any claiming under me shall hereafter have any right whatever to his services in virtue of his being my slave.
" Done at Farmington this 10th day of January, A.D. 1816.
"JOSHUA YOUNGS.
" In presence of John Mix, Samuel Cowls.
"JOHN MIX, Register."
On Roaring Brook, upon the site of Sanford's wood-shop, stood formerly a clothier's establishment, where the wool of the farmers in the vicinity was carded, spun, and woven. The old weaving-room is still standing, and is occupied as a tenement ; but this business, too, had been abandoned before 1830. At the mouth of the brook stood Langdon's grist and saw mill, well known the country around for good work, and in full tide of successful operation.
It is probable, however, that, when the Farmington Canal was built, the inhabitants of Union District were fewer in number than earlier in the century. The building of the canal placed Unionville at the head of the canal navigation on the Farmington River, and to that circumstance the modern village owes its birth. Mr. Henry Farnam, the engineer of the Farmington Canal, had taken the levels of the river, when the project of continuing the feeder canal to New Hartford was under consideration. It was very likely owing to his suggestion that Thomas and Joshua Youngs, John T. Norton, and Abner Bidwell joined with Messrs. James and Augustus Cowles in building the dam and canal, which were designed to furnish power for the manufacture of cotton, wool, and iron. These gentlemen applied to the General Assembly for a charter, and in May, 1831, the Farmington River Water-Power Company was chartered, - the capital stock not to exceed $200,000. The Youngs, however, soon sold out their interest, and the early leases were made in the name of Norton, Cowles, & Bidwell. The first dam and canal cost about $9,000, and were completed in 1831 or 1832. About that time Messrs. James & Augustus Cowles built the store near the new bridge which is now occupied by H. K. Vosburgh and owned by the Cowles Paper Company. A wharf was built on the river, back of the store, for the convenient loading and unloading of canal-boats. In 1832 Messrs. Cowles & Co. completed the Patent Wood-Screw Factory for Messrs. Sherman Pierpont & Elisha Tolles, of Litchfield. Mr. Pierpont was brother to the Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston. This building is still standing, and is occupied by the Ripley Manufacturing Company. The screw business was abandoned after about three years. During the half-century that has intervened, the old factory has been used for many different purposes : for the manu- facture of clocks, rivets, and spoons, oyster-tongs, axe-helves, mouse- traps, and gunstocks. To-day mouse-traps are still made on the premises ; but the Ripley Manufacturing Company (organized in 1872) has added a fine brick structure to the old building, and is also ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of a heavy paper for binders' boards.
The spoon business, which was begun in the old screw-factory, is now carried on by Mr. Howard Humphrey in a small shop run by steam, and built within the past year. As long ago as October 13,
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1832, Frederick J. Stanley, Seth J. North, and Horace Cowles met at the tavern of Noah L. Phelps, in Farmington, to act as arbiters in settling a difficulty which had arisen between the proprietors of the water-power and Messrs. Pierpont & Tolles, with reference to damages occasioned by an alleged short supply of water. Notwithstanding the fact, however, that the first establishment on the water-power had been troubled for lack of water, Messrs. Rufus Stone & E. K. Hamilton, on the 8th of July, 1837, leased land and power for a paper-mill. The firm afterward became Stone & Carrington, and continued in operation until 1848, when it sold out to William Platner and Samuel Q. Porter, under whose management the business was for many years very successful. In 1853 and 1855 these gentlemen leased additional power, and not long after built a second mill. The new mill and tenements erected by Messrs. Platner & Porter were models of neat- ness and good taste. These gentlemen gave a tone and character to the village which up to that time had been wanting. In 1860 the Platner & Porter Manufacturing Company was organized, with a capi- tal of $85,000, and with varied fortunes the company has continued manufacturing writing and book papers. As early as 1844 the manu- facture of furniture was begun by Lambert Hitchcock in the factory near the new river bridge. Up to the period of the war it was carried on with fair success. After that time the business gradually declined, and a few years ago the old factory was bought by what is now known as the Upson Nut Company.
About 1835 - perhaps a year or two earlier - Mr. L. R. Groves began the manufacture of saws, and Messrs. Seymour, Williams, & Porter entered into the business of making clocks, on Roaring Brook, on the site of the factory lately occupied by the Cowles Hardware Company. A capital of some $30,000 was then invested, but a de- structive fire in 1836 or 1837 seriously interrupted both enterprises. The clock business never seems to have flourished in Unionville after the fire, although it was carried on in the screw-factory after the aban- donment of the screw business by Pierpont & Co.
Mr. David A. Keyes finally obtained possession of the site occupied by Groves and others, and there, he says, made the first mincing-knives manufactured in America. He was also among the first Americans to make screw-drivers. This business continued on the same ground for over forty years, and has only within a few months removed to Bridge- port. In Bridgeport the company has erected a factory that will give employment to one hundred hands.
The saw business managed by Mr. Groves was continued by other parties, and in 1854 Mr. Albert Hills and Mr. Frederick W. Crum built a small factory on the Cowles Canal. The business continued until the rise of the great saw-factories in Pennsylvania, during the war period, made competition too severe for small concerns. They sold out their factory to the Union Nut Company.
A new dam was built by Mr. James Cowles about the year 1856, and a few years later an immense reservoir was made at the head of the river, most of the different owners of water-power on the stream sharing in the expense.
In 1869 the head gates and canal were enlarged by James L. Cowles, who in 1877 sold out the entire water-power to the different manufac-
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
turers holding leases thereon. These gentlemen, under the name of the Union Water-Power Company, have raised the dam, and, owing to various improvements, the power, which in 1835 could hardly be depended upon to furnish water for a single small shop, now runs the wheels of five paper-mills, besides the extensive works of the Upson Nut Company and the large factory used by the Standard Rule Com- pany and the Upson & Hart Cutlery Company.
Dwight Langdon began the manufacture of nuts and bolts in Unionville in 1857. On his death, a few years later, the business fell into the hands of Andrew S. Upson and George Dunham. These gentlemen obtained possession of an invention for the manufacture of nuts. In 1864 the Union Nut Company (of late changed to the Upson Nut Company ) was formed, with Andrew S. Upson as president. The ownership of this patent, and the able management of Mr. Upson and his associates, have served to make this company the most successful of all the concerns in the town. It has stores in New York and Chicago, besides extensive manufacturing interests in Cleveland.
The Cowles Paper Company began the manufacture of wrapping- paper in 1866. In 1870 the Delaney & Munson Manufacturing Com- pany was located in the village, and began the manufacture of collar and book paper. This company bought out the factory of Ditson, Pond, & Co., who in 1866 had begun the manufacture of flutes.
In 1864 the new turning-shop was built by the estate of James Cowles, for John N. Bunnell. Mr. Bunnell did not succeed in the enterprise, and in 1872 the Standard Rule Company was organized for the manufacture of rules and levels, and occupied the turning-shop.
In 1880 the Meach & Hart Cutlery Company was formed for the manufacture of cutlery. The business had already been undertaken by private parties. This concern was changed to the Upson & Hart Cutlery Company, who bought the turning-shop and very much en- larged it. It manufactures solid steel knives and forks, silver-plating a large part of its production on the premises. The Rule Company occupies the second story of the building. The oldest merchants in Unionville are the firm of Tryon & Sanford ; they have been estab- lished about thirty-two years ; they now occupy a very handsome brick building, and do a flourishing business. There are now in the place, besides this old firm, three or four new stores devoted to general busi- ness, besides two drug-stores and two hardware-stores. After the abandonment of the Farmington Canal the village suffered for some time for lack of facilities of transportation ; but in 1850 a branch of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad was constructed from Farm- ington station through Unionville to Collinsville. Under the able man- agement of Mr. Ycamans, the president of the road, this branch has become of great importance to the main line of the Canal Road, while it has given value to property which, without railroad facilities, must have long since gone to decay.
Previous to 1841 the inhabitants of Unionville, or Union District, attended church services in the Old Church in Farmington or in the Congregational Church in West Avon. The Farmington Canal was then in operation, and during the navigable season it was customary to use a yawl to take the people to church. Starting from the wharf at
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UNIONVILLE.
the store of James and Augustus Cowles, they rowed down to the head of the canal. Here they passed through the head gates, horses were attached to the boat, and the company enjoyed a pleasant ride to the mother settlement.
The Congregational Church was organized March 30, 1841, and has enjoyed the services of the following ministers and deacons. Pastors : Rev's Richard Woodruff,1 installed June 30, 1842, dismissed May 13, 1846; Jairus C. Searle,1 installed Sept. 6, 1848, dismissed April 15, 1851; Giles M. Porter, installed Oct. 14, 1852, dismissed Oct. 29, 1856; Hiram Slauson, installed Dec. 9, 1857, dismissed Dec. 7, 1858 ; Charles Brooks,1 installed Dec. 21, 1864, died June 11, 1866 ; T. E. Davies, in- stalled May 12, 1869, dismissed Jan. 14, 1883. Stated preachers : J. R. Keep, through whose instrumentality the church was gathered and organized; James A. Smith, from January, 1859, to May, 1863; B. A. Smith, during the years 1863-1864; Henry L. Hubbell, from the spring of 1866 to the spring of 1868. Deacons : Edward K. Hamilton,1 chosen in 1841, resigned in 1859; Cornelius R. Williams, chosen 1841, dismissed December, 1849; Walter H. Cowles, chosen Nov. 24, 1851, dismissed May, 1859; William Platner, chosen 1859, dismissed Septem- ber, 1864; Eber N. Gibbs, chosen November, 1859 ; Seymour D. Moses, chosen September, 1864. Present pastor : C. S. Lane, installed May 27,1884.
The Rev. Noah Porter gave the charge at the installation of the first pastor ; George Richards, Eber N. Gibbs, Edward K. Hamilton, Eli D. Preston, William Bradley, and David B. Johnson constituted the church. Twelve other persons were soon after admitted. E. K. Hamilton and R. Williams were appointed deacons. The first church edifice was erected on the Park, but was removed to its present site and enlarged in 1852. The congregation has now outgrown the old edifice, and a very handsome stone structure is in process of erection adjacent to the residence of Mr. Samuel Q. Porter. The membership now numbers two hundred and fourteen, - seventy-two males and one hundred and forty-two females.
The parish of Christ Church (Episcopal) at Unionville was organ- ized 1845. Occasional services were held in various places until June 29, 1871, when the corner-stone of the church now standing was laid ; the edifice was completed in the December following. On August 12, 1880, all indebtedness having been removed, the church was con- secrated by Bishop John Williams. Since 1868 there has been a rector settled over the church : E. K. Brown from 1868 to 1878; William Lusk from 1878 to 1879; and A. E. Beeman from 1879 to 1885.
The Methodist church in Unionville was built about nineteen years ago. It has a congregation of about one hundred and fifty, and a membership of seventy ; the pastor is the Rev. Nelson Edwards.
The Rev. Luke Daly inaugurated the first Roman Catholic services in the village in 1854. He continued to serve the people until 1856, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer. The Rev. John Fagan came next in 1861, and remained until 1868. Then came the Rev. Lawrence Walsh, who was succeeded in 1870 by the Rev. B. O'R. Sheridan, the present incumbent. A large and attractive church was
1 Deceased.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
built under his direction, at a cost of from $25,000 to $30,000. It was dedicated in 1876. The Roman Catholic population is from five hundred to six hundred.
According to the last enumeration, there are in Union District four hundred and sixty-five children of school age.
The first bridge across the river on the road now leading to the depot was built in 1846. The new covered bridge in the same place was built in 1860. The first bridge at Richards's Mill appears to have been built in 1837 or 1838.
James & bowls
XIII.
GLASTONBURY.
BY WILLIAM S. GOSLEE.
O N the 8th of May, 1690, the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut, on the petition of Ephraim Goodrich, Joseph Smith, John Harrington, Thomas Brewer, Ebenezer Hale, John Strick- land, John Hale, William House, Samuel Hale, Sr., Patrick Stearne, Richard Treat, Sr., Thomas Treat, Richard Smith, John Hollister, Jonathan Smith, Samuel Hale, Jr., Samuel Smith, John Hubbard, Joseph Hills, John Kilbourn, Samuel Welles, Thomas Hale, Richard Treat, Jr., and William Wickham, residents of Wethersfield, and own- ers of land belonging to that town, on the east side of Connecticut River, by consent of that town, given the preceding December, granted them an act of incorporation, " that they may be a township of themselves, and have liberty to provide themselves a minister." In granting their petition the General Court advised them " to be cautious how they improve it," and stipulated that until they should have a good orthodox minister settled among them, " they should pay their full proportion to all public charge to Wethersfield."
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