USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume II > Part 3
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WATERBURY CENTRE IN 1837 .*
one of the kind that has been found in the state. If the petition had been granted, it would have been impossible to pass any by-
* This view of Waterbury from the southeast is copied from Barber's "Connecticut Historical Collec- tions," p 261. The street which is visible is that now known as South Main street. The various buildings have been identified by Mr. F. J. Kingsbury, as follows: Of the three churches, that on the left is St. John's, that on the right the Congregational, afterward Gothic hall, that at the centre the Baptist. (At a later date the tower of the Baptist church stood at the west end of it, on Bank street). The building with a small cupola seen in the rear of the Baptist church is the academy. The building in the immediate fore- ground, opposite the foot of Meadow street, is the dwelling-house of Julius Morris, occupied at an earlier date as the button factory of Abel Porter & Co. The other three houses on the nearer side of South Main street are the dwellings of Mrs. Aurelia Clark, John W. Bronson and William H. Adams-the last named and northernmost being on the corner of Union street. The houses on the further side of South Main street, beginning at the left, are Deacon P. W. Carter's (formerly the Rev. Joel R. Arnold's), Edward Scovill's (formerly Asahel Coe's), and Israel W. Russell's (removed from the corner of North and East Main streets, formerly James Scovill's). The house seen immediately above Deacon Carter's roof is Elizur E. Prichard's, on the west side of Canal street. There are other buildings that can be identified, but not easily described to the reader without resort to figures.
I7
THE BOROUGH AND WATERVILLE.
laws, especially on that favorite subject, the restraining of neat cattle."* The borough voted to employ Joel Hinman, Esq., to oppose the petition; but no trace of it is found in the state records, and it is probable that it was abandoned when it was seen that the borough was prepared to oppose it.
Amidst a steadily increasing prosperity in manufacturing affairs, things went on at the centre of the town in a quiet way. The freemen of the borough met from time to time, adopting by-laws chiefly in relation to neat cattle, and then amending or repealing them. But a conviction grew up among thoughtful citizens that the borough organization ought to be exchanged "for something more powerful and of a wider scope. The large increase of the population had developed new and greater corporate wants." At a meeting in February, 1852, a committee of six prominent citizens was appointed to revise the borough charter, and in November following the sum of fifty dollars was voted to defray the expenses of the revision, but no report seems to have been presented. The time had come for something better. At a meeting of citizens held at Gothic hall, April 14, 1853, it was unanimously voted to adopt a charter with city powers, and the Hon. Green Kendrick was engaged to draw up the same-to be presented at a future meeting.t In the act incorporating the city of Waterbury, passed in May, 1853, a clause was included repealing the borough charter after the second Monday of July in that year.
A careful examination of the records fails to bring to light any thing of great importance accomplished by the borough in its corporate capacity during the twenty-eight years of its existence. At a meeting in October, 1825, it equipped itself for its work by the appointment of street inspectors, haywards and a pound-keeper, and it may be presumed that these officers fulfilled their proper functions from year to year, and were not without something to do. But throughout most of its history the action of the borough itself took the form of votes or by-laws relating to street nuisances and especially to the restraining of neat cattle within proper limits. At the meeting just referred to, a by-law was adopted concerning nuisances in the streets, which decreed that the streets must not be occupied by "any stones, trees, timber, wood, rubbish, cart, carriage, sled, shingles," or anything else likely to obstruct or incumber them. But the exceptions were such as greatly limited its scope, and we are informed on good authority that "very little attention was paid to it."} It shows us to how large an extent Waterbury still remained in its " colonial " condition, to read in this
*"Connecticut Boroughs," p. 71. + Waterbury American, April 15, 1853. #C. H. Carter's paper, p. 169.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
by-law that "such of the inhabitants as have no room within their inclosures where they can conveniently deposit and cut their wood may place it on the highway for the purpose of cutting for the space of forty-eight hours, if the quantity does not exceed one and one-half cords ; if more than that quantity, then three days and no longer." At a meeting in May, 1840, it was ordained that if any person "shall ride or drive any horse or horses and wagon, or drive any cattle upon any of the sidewalks," he shall be subject to a fine of three dollars. The penalty was severe, compared with others imposed by the borough, and indicates that the practice aimed at was very prevalent-a natural result, Mr. Carter suggests, of the bad condition of the roads at certain seasons of the year. Six years later-in June, 1846-the borough sought to suppress another nuisance by its by-law against public noises. It was ordained that if any person should "fire any field-piece, musket or pistol, or cause any fire-balls, crackers or artificial fireworks of any kind to be exploded on the public square or any of the public streets within a quarter of a mile of the centre," except by written permission of the warden and burgesses, he would be liable to a fine of seven dollars ; and no exception seems to have been made in favor of the fourth of July. It may be mentioned in this connection that in the same year, 1846, the Hotchkiss & Merriman Manufacturing com- pany sought permission to erect hay-scales on the public square, in front of their store. The warden and burgesses voted not to grant their request, but at a subsequent borough meeting this decision was overruled.
The very first action taken by the borough subsequent to its organization-that is, on October 11, 1825-was the passing of an elaborate by-law (it fills more than four closely-written pages of the folio volume containing the records) in relation to " restraining horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine and geese from going at large" on any of the streets, highways, public walks or uninclosed grounds within borough limits. This enactment was the first of a series extending through a period of twenty-five years, in relation to this difficult and delicate subject. The effect of this was largely neutralized by the provision that each head of a family who kept a cow might permit it to run at large from May to December, pro- vided he had lodged with the clerk a description of the cow's natural and artificial marks. But even with this exception the law was considered too stringent, and so far as it related to neat cattle was repealed a few months later. Mr. Carter thinks-not without reason-that the borough was considerably agitated over the cattle question, and that it entered largely into the election of 1827. Up
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THE BOROUGH AND WATERVILLE.
to this time the borough officers had been selected from among the most influential citizens, but now "a complete change was made in the personnel of the government. The newly elected officers," Mr. Carter adds, "were not of the class from which persons are usually elected to important offices." At all events, the new administration was not long in bringing forward a new law. It provided that neat cattle might go at large in highways and commons, from sunrise to eight o'clock in the evening, from May to December, provided that two dollars a year were paid for each beast going at large by the owner thereof. And from this time onward the subject of "neat cattle running at large" appears in the records with amusing frequency. In May, 1828, the warden and burgesses were author- ized to procure shepherds to take charge of cattle on the commons, but there is no account of their employment. A new by-law was passed in 1830, another in 1833, another in 1840, another in 1844, another in 1849, and another apparently in 1852, although this last is not referred to in the borough records. By this time the centre of the town was much more densely populated than in the earlier period, and the number of persons who kept cows had relatively decreased. The amount of pasturage in the highways diminished as they were improved, and the privilege so eagerly claimed in former years because less valuable. The feeling against cattle running at large had now opportunity to assert itself, and the law of 1849 was a sweeping one ; it ordained " that no neat cattle should be allowed to go at large." That the law of 1852 was of the same purport may be inferred from a notice published on June 4, of that year :
From and after this day, the borough law for restraining cattle, horses, etc., passed on the 18th of May, takes effect, having been published three times. Owners of cows, horses, etc., in the borough will therefore do well to take the hint, as it is the determination of the haywards to clear the streets of all the cattle and horse-kind, whether with or without straps. Therefore let all govern themselves accordingly .*
It would be a mistake to suppose that all the acts of the borough during the twenty-eight years of its existence were prohibitory rather than progressive. It fell to its lot, in the development of events, to establish a fire department for Waterbury, and the task was zealously undertaken, and not without tangible results. An organization numbering at first sixteen men, and ultimately sixty, known as the Mattatuck Fire Engine company, was established in
* In 1853 a by-law restraining neat cattle was passed by the town. In 1882 a state law was enacted, making it a criminal offense for any person " entitled to the custody " of such animals as have been referred to above, to permit them to be at large in any highway or common.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
1830, and an engine house built at a cost of thirty dollars. In 1849 the company as then existing was regarded as inefficient, and was disbanded, and a new company organized, to consist of a hundred men in two divisions. But the details in relation to the fire system of the borough may be found in the history of the fire department, and need not be given here.
Almost from the first, the borough supplied itself with street inspectors, but the expenditure for street improvements seems to have been very slight. In May, 1832, the sum of five dollars was appropriated "to repair the sidewalk "-and this seems to be the first mention of sidewalks in the history of Waterbury-"from the house of Mrs. Alathea Scovill eastward to the bridge near Joseph Fairclough's blacksmith shop; " also ten dollars-"should there be that amount in the treasury"-"to repair the street at Cooper's pond near the house of Reuben L. Judd." In May, 1838, a tax of one cent on the dollar was levied, to defray the expense of improving the streets, and the following appropriations were made: Twenty- five dollars to be laid out on the south side of the street "from Dr. Jesse Porter's store" (corner of West Main street and Exchange place) "to Captain Sperry's;" ten dollars on the north side "from Captain Sperry's to Scovill's store" (corner of West Main and North Main streets); ten dollars "to be laid out from the corner of Dr. Jesse Porter's store to Aaron Benedict;" fifteen dollars "to be laid out from William H. Scovill's corner" (North Main and East Main streets) "to Dr. Jesse Porter's house " (at the junction of East Main and Cole streets); fifteen dollars "on the street from Scovill's store," up North Main street, "to Mark Leavenworth;" and (subsequently) ten dollars "on the sidewalk from Scovill's store to Anson Sperry." The only other action in the line of street improvements was taken in the summer of 1846, when it was ordained that certain sidewalks should "be and remain as public sidewalks for public convenience, to be supported and kept in repair at the expense of individuals and owners of lands adjoining them." One of these was the walk "commencing at the north line of the turnpike near the dwelling of William H. Scovill, and running on the east side of the highway to the bridge a little northerly of Willard Spencer's"-that is, from East Main street up North Main to Kingsbury street; "thence crossing to the west side of the said highway "-that is, North Main street-"and continuing on the west side of the same, terminating five rods north of the dwelling of Joshua Guilford." This sidewalk was to be at least six feet wide; and besides this there was to be a walk four feet wide " on each side of the highway commencing near the dwelling of Edward Robin-
2I
THIE BOROUGHI AND WATERVILLE.
son," on Cherry street, "and extending easterly five rods beyond the dwelling of Anson Bronson."*
So far as the record shows, nothing else was enacted in the way of street improvements, unless we include the vote at the annual meeting of 1852, by which Julius Hotchkiss, afterwards mayor of the city "was appointed agent to take charge of Centre square and flag- staff." But there were other improve- ments to which the borough did not close its eyes. In 1849 a committee was appointed to apply for a charter "to form a water company for fur- nishing a full supply of water," and in 1852 another committee was directed to report on the expediency of bring- ing water "into the village" for use in cases of fire. In February of this CENTRE SQUARE AND FLAG-STAFF.+ year (1852) a special meeting was called to consider "the propriety of granting to Thomas G. Baxter, of New York, the exclusive priv- ilege of laying gas pipes through the streets, for supplying the inhabitants with gas light." Permission was granted, and the con- tract to furnish Waterbury with gas was given to Mr. Baxter.į At the last borough meeting of which there is record (November 13, 1852), an appropriation of $125 was made "for erecting and sus- taining gas lights from Centre square to the railroad station."
There are no minutes of any meeting between June and Novem- ber, 1852; but in the Waterbury American of September 24 of that year, we find the following: "The decision of the citizens of this borough on Saturday afternoon, adverse to laying a small tax for the purpose of clearing the borough from past claims, purchasing and repairing hose, etc., was somewhat unexpected to many."
During the twenty-eight years of the borough, the following fourteen persons held the office of warden. The list gives the dates of their election (the year beginning in May). As has been stated, there was no election of officers in 1837 or 1842.
John Kingsbury, 1825, 1826, also 1831.
Moses Hall, 1830. Mark Leavenworth, 1832.
Ard Warner, 1827. Lemuel Harrison, 1828, 1829.
William H. Scovill, 1833 to 1836. Silas Grilley, 1838.
* It will be a surprise to readers of the present day to learn that sidewalks were established on High street so many years ago.
+ From a painting by Jared D. Thompson, in possession of Mrs, Mary Hayden Bancroft, of Hartford,
¿ See the Waterbury American of April 16, 1852,
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Green Kendrick, 1839.
Edward Chittenden, 1840, 1841.
George W. Benedict, 1843 to I845.
David S. Law, 1846 to 1849. Willard Spencer, 1850. David B. Hurd, 1851. Edward B. Cooke, 1852 .*
CAPTAIN LEMUEL HARRISON.
Lemuel Harrison, third warden of the borough of Waterbury. was born in Litchfield, November 17, 1765.t His father, Lemuel Harrison, was an ensign in the Seventeenth Connecticut regiment. Young Lemuel accompanied him as a private aide, and afterwards enlisted in his own name. He came to Waterbury before 1790, and subsequently, with his brother James, engaged in the manufacture of wooden clocks. In 1811 he entered into partnership with Daniel Clark, Zenas Cook and William Porter, for carrying on the same business, and later, in partnership with his son James, he engaged in the business of turning shoe lasts. He was one of the early members of the Masonic fraternity in Waterbury, and in 1811 was worshipful master of Harmony lodge. On March 4, 1790, he mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Thomas Clark of Town Plot, by whom he had four sons and two daughters (Vol. I, Ap. p. 61). For many years he lived on the south side of Union square, but about 1831 built a brick house on the site of the Clark tavern, a property which his wife had inherited from her father. He died in this home on November 25, 1857. His daughter Maria remained in the house until 1868, when the place was sold to the city as a site for the City hall.
Garry Harrison, the second son, went from Waterbury in 1819, to Tallmadge, in the Western reserve. There, besides working at the trade of a tailor, he entered actively into missionary service, going from town to town in the sparsely settled country, and also into lower Michigan, exhorting and teaching. He died at the age of twenty-eight, of a fever contracted in Michigan. His wife, Catherine, daughter of Deacon Enoch Snow, survived him two years, and left one son, Stephen Edwin Harrison (page 463).
CAPTAIN MOSES HALL.
Moses Hall was a son of Curtiss and Rachel (Beecher) Hall, and the fifth in descent from John Hall, who came to this country be-
* The charter of the borough of Waterbury is printed in the "Private Laws of Connecticut," Vol. I, pp. 221 et seq., p. 225. The manuscript records of the borough are contained in a folio volume of 182 pages, entitled " Record Book of the Borough of Waterbury." They extend from p. I to p. 139, with the excep- tion of an occasional blank page. Pages 140-179 are vacant, and pp. 180 and 182 contain lists of firemen enrolled and excused.
+ For genealogy, see Bronson's History, pp. 495, 496,
23
THE BOROUGH AND WATERVILLE.
fore 1660. He was born in that part of Waterbury which is now Wolcott, March 19, 1777, and removed to the centre on his twenty- first birthday. He was a farmer, but during the early years of clock-making travelled through western New York selling clocks, going as far west as Canandaigua with his own team. In October, 1804, he was commissioned by Governor Trumbull "captain of the first company in the Twenty-sixth regiment of militia, to take rank from September 7, 1804." In his youth he was an athlete of con- siderable local repute. Of powerful frame, six feet two inches in height, he was the champion of the town. On February 26, 1803, he married Olive, daughter of Dr. Timothy Porter, by whom he had five children (Vol. I, Ap. pp. 60, 107). He died January 29, 1857.
EDWARD CHITTENDEN.
Edward Chittenden was born in that part of Waterbury which is now Prospect, February 8, 1801. He removed to Waterbury centre in 1839 and became proprietor of the Mansion House (page 224). Some years later he removed to New York, but after awhile returned to Waterbury and engaged in the manufacture of small articles in brass. He subsequently removed to New Haven, but again returned to Waterbury and erected a brick block on the site of his former home on South Main street. On April 3, 1828, he married Emeline, daughter of Samuel Castle of Prospect; she died May 17, 1871. Their children are Mrs. Emma Ives and Mrs. Ellen Ives. Late in life he married Mrs. Caroline Bailey. He died May 3, 1893.
GEORGE W. BENEDICT.
George William Benedict, eldest son of Aaron and Charlotte (Porter) Benedict (page 299), was born in Waterbury, November 26, 1814. From his youth he was interested in the manufacturing departments of the companies originated by his father. He was warden of the borough from 1843 to 1846, was a selectman in 1851 and 1859, a member of the Common Council in 1859 and 1860, mayor of the city from June, 1855, to June, 1856, and was in the legisla- ture in 1857. On February 7, 1838, he married Caroline R., daughter of Austin Steele, by whom he had the following children: Mary Caroline, married to Louis D. Griggs, October 13, 1863; Frances Jennette, married to Edward J. Rice, February 28, 1863, died Sep- tember 27, 1892, leaving a daughter, Charlotte Benedict; George Henry, born May 18, 1844, died October 5, 1888; Aaron Austin, born October 5, 1849; and Clara Louise, who died in her tenth year. Mr. Benedict died April 12, 1862. He was "a man of integrity
24
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
and honesty, a man of action rather than of words; interested in everything relating to the prosperity of the town; reserved, but possessed of a generous heart."
WILLARD SPENCER.
Willard Spencer, son of Ansel and Lowly (Benham) Spencer, was born in that part of Waterbury which is now Prospect, May 14, 1801. (See Vol. I, Ap. pp. 31, 129, 130.) In 1826 he removed to Waterbury centre and became a merchant. In 1833 he entered the firm of Leavenworth & Kendrick, and in 1836 became engaged with others in the manufacture of gilt buttons, under the firm name of Leavenworth, Spencer & Sperry, and in 1839 with Dr. Ambrose Ives. He served the town in various capacities. In 1834 he was in the legislature; in 1837-39 was town clerk. He was selectman and and agent for the town for nearly twenty years. In 1846 he was judge of probate, in 1850 warden of the borough, and in 1857 state senator. He was an alderman and a councilman, and frequently served on the school board. He was a director in the Citizens' bank, president of the Waterbury Savings bank, and president of the board of agents of the Bronson library. On June 27, 1830, he mar- ried Marcia, daughter of Joseph Burton (page 231). Their children were Susan, Frederick Albert, Joseph Burton, William Ansel, and Mary Elizabeth, who died January 18, 1873. Mrs. Spencer died February 28, 1887; Mr. Spencer survived her until May 2, 1890.
The length of his term of service as selectman and town agent, as well as the large number of offices to which he was called by his fellow citizens, affords evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Spencer was held. For more than sixty years he lived in full view of a watchful and critical community, without incurring reproach or suspicion; and not only so, he became known in the meantime as a man of ability, of expert knowledge in matters of local con- cern, and of excellent judgment. Although of a retiring disposi- tion and reticent in speech, those who knew him weil recognized him as a man of varied knowledge and liberal views, in some respects far in advance of his associates in the business world. He became a member of the First church in May, 1843, at the same time with more than forty others, fruits of a "revival" under the ministry of the Rev. David Root. There was little, however, in his life to encourage the belief that his conception of religion was chiefly emotional; he was on the contrary a calm thinker, subject- ing prevalent doctrines and practices to the test of reason, and at the same time exhibiting the broadest charity toward those who differed from him. The closing years of his life were passed in the
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sod bone try, a man of hetion nelles Men of words: interested in uverything relating to the pirate ai fire town; reserved, but possesecd of u porevropy heart"
willard onder, Four of Ausil est Lowly (Binhain) Spencer, Waters is that pus of Waterlosy bian is now Prospect, May 14. par cae Vol. I. Ap up at Too well In ciso he removed to Waterbury purfre and becaines me tum. in city be entered the Gon ot Leavenworth & Kendrick, Aoil in 18to beeste umenged with Others in the manufacture ie gill Buttons, under The arro game of Leavenworth, Speuoir & Sorry, tad in 1830 with Dr. Ambrose Iver Ite and The lawn io vation - carne gies. In jest he was in Le fagy Ikbury, 13 1537-39 995 town clerk. He was selecttion and and serdi for the povin for hourly twenty years. In 1846 he was Ige i proate, in 1850 warden of the borough, and in 1857 state wrote He was an hiderman and a councilomn, and frequently arsed on the school board. Hewas i director in the Citizens bank, poctigot y( the Waterhors Savings bank, and president of the word of agents of the Pronsor library. On juus at, 1836, he mar- ried Marola, daughter of Joseph Burton (pe ) Their children werd Susan, Predeuck Albert, joseph Burton, Wilmane Ane !, and Mary Elisabeth, who died Janvary 18, 1873. Mrs. Spencer died February 28, 18 7; Mr. Spencer survived her until May 2, 1800.
The length of his terupof service as selectman and town agent, as well as the large number of offices to which he was called by his tellow citizens, affords evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. openber was held. For more than sixty peury he lived in full view Ca watchful and critical community, with not incurring reproach io wypro -: 40 5 only so, he besome kwwwn in the meantime a man of allles of expert knowledge in matters of frodl con
(hnm and reticent in web, those who knew him well recognized of as a miatt of vara Ennpledge and liberal Ties, in some respects Far lo adsamie of ma associatelin the business world. He become a member of the first church in May, 1843. of the same Ume with numre than forty others, fruits of a "revival under the ministry of the Rov. David Root. There was Btlle, however, in his life to encourage the belief that his conception of religion was chiefly emoliowal; he was on the contrary a calny thinker, subject- ing prevalent doctrines and practices to the rest of reason, and at the same time exhibiting the broadest charity toward those who differed from him. The closing years of his life were passed in the
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