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 III > Part 8
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THE FIRST CHURCH SINCE 1865.
receiver of the United States Land office, first at Kickapoo and afterwards at Atchison. In January, 1864, he was made register of the United States Land office at Topeka,-a responsible situation which he held until the summer of 1873. In 1876 he became inter- ested in the development of the San Juan country in southwestern Colorado, but retained his residence in Topeka, to which he returned in 1880, and where he died, April 18, 1883. He was one of the founders of Washburn college in Topeka, and among its most generous benefactors. On February 26, 1846, he married Sarah J., daughter of William Bartholomew, of Wolcott. They had one son, who is a graduate of the Kansas state university.
GEORGE ANDREW BRYAN, son of Andrew and Roxanna (Peck) Bryan, was born in Waterbury, December 15, 1819. He received his early education at the academy here, and at the Bacon academy in Colchester. He united with the First church May 5, 1839, and entering Yale college soon after, graduated from there in 1843.
In June, 1849, he became pastor of the Congregational church in Cromwell and remained there until October, 1857. The following September he became pastor of the Congregational church in West Haven, and was there until 1869. From 1869 to 1876 he was "acting pastor " of the church in Westbrook, and afterward held a similar relation to churches in Preston, Wapping and Scotland. He retired from the active ministry in 1890 and removed to Norwich, where he now resides.
In May, 1852, Mr. Bryan married Mary Edwards Robbins. She died in 1857, and in 1877 he married Elizabeth Hull Browning. There are no children.
The Rev. Mr. Bryan's father was a resident of Waterbury for about forty years, and during a large part of that time was an active member of the First church. He was the eldest of the seven children of Thaddeus and Esther (Andrew) Bryan, and was born in the north parish of Milford (now Orange) in 1790. When he was fourteen years of age the family removed to the northern part of Watertown. His wife was the daughter of Ward Peck, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Bryan on settling in Waterbury opened a shoe shop on North Main street. He also established a tannery and carried it on simultaneously with the shoe business. He became a member of the First church in 1817, during the revival under the ministry of Dr. Nettleton. In 1830 he was elected a deacon, but declined the office. In 1845 he removed to New Haven, and for twelve years had charge of the county jail. The children were: Lucius Peck, who was born March 6, 1817, and died November 2. 1880, leaving a widow and two daughters; George Andrew: Charles,
624
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
who was born November 10, 1822, and died February 25, 1856; Edward, and Henry. Mr. Bryan died in 1870.
EDWARD BRYAN, the fourth son of Andrew Bryan, was born in Waterbury, September 20, 1825. He attended the district school and academy until seventeen years of age. He was a teacher for a time in Waterbury and afterwards assistant principal in the academy at Stonington. In 1845 he removed to New Haven and for twelve years assisted his father at the county jail. In 1859 he entered the employ of Stout, Yale & Co., as bookkeeper, and the next year became a partner in the firm. In 1861 he purchased a half interest in the business and the name of the firm was changed to Yale & Bryan. It so continued until 1892, since which time other partners have been admitted, and the business is now carried on under the firm name of Bryan, Miner & Read.
While in Waterbury Mr. Bryan belonged to the state militia, being a member of Captain Lucius Curtis's company. In New Haven he was one of the selectmen at the breaking out of the civil war. He has also been a member of the board of fire commis- sioners and of the board of aldermen of New Haven.
In 1849 he married Martha Hilliard Ritter of New Haven, who died in 1894. Their four children are: Martha Elizabeth, wife of Robert R. Stannard (see page 410); Mary Anna, wife of Charles A. Colley (see elsewhere); Edward Ritter, and William Andrew, both of Boston, Mass.
FREDERIC ELKANAH SNOW, son of Dr. Elbridge Gerry and Eunice (Woodruff) Snow, was born in Waterbury March 10, 1851. He became a member of the First church May 3, 1868. He prepared for college at Williston seminary, Easthampton, Mass., graduated from Yale in 1875, and from the Yale Divinity school in 1878. He began preaching in Oxford in October, 1878, and was ordained and installed there April 21, 1880. In September, 1883, he accepted a call to the church in South Windsor, and remained there until December, 1888. He was pastor of the church in Harwinton from December, 1888, to March, 1891, when he became pastor of the First church in Guilford.
Mr. Snow has come to be known in the Congregational churches as a faithful pastor, an able and painstaking preacher, and a man of refined and scholarly tastes. He has published occasional poems, displaying depth of feeling and skill in expression, and at one time edited for the Christian Union some newly discovered letters of Horace Greeley's.
On November 17, 1880, he married Emily Virginia Buckingham of Oxford.
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THE FIRST CHURCH SINCE 1865.
Mr. Snow has two brothers older than himself, who are widely known in the business world. Elbridge Gerry Snow, Jr., was born in Pleasant Valley, January 22, 1841. He entered the Home Insur- ance company of New York city in 1861, and is now a vice-president and a director of the company. Lewis Eben Snow was born in Pleasant Valley, December 30, 1842. He served in the war for the Union in the Twenty-third Connecticut regiment. He removed to St. Louis in 1867, and became a prominent member and officer of the Pilgrim church in that city. He was associated in the insur- ance business first with General Clinton B. Fisk and afterward with Wallace Delafield.
DEACONS OF THE FIRST CHURCH, AND THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE.
Thomas Judd, 1691-1747.
Aaron Benedict, 1832-1873.
Thomas Hickox, 1724-1728.
Horace Hotchkiss, 1832-1838.
Thomas Clark, 1728-1765.
Bennet Bronson, 1838-1843.
Samuel Brown 1731-1736.
Nelson Hall, 1846-1852.
Thomas Richards, "deacon" in 1737. Joseph Lewis, 1738-1749.
P. W. Carter, 1849-1859. Leonard Bronson, 1852-1857.
Thomas Bronson, 1751-1777.
Thomas Bronson, Jr., 1756-1759.
Joseph Beach, "deacon" in 1761. Samuel Lewis, 1762-178 -.
Andrew Bronson, 1770-1799.
Timothy Porter, "deacon " in 1765 and 1770.
Joseph Hopkins, 178- - 1801.
Timothy Clark,# 1796-1797.
Stephen Bronson,+ 1797-1809.
Daniel Bronson, + 1801-1824.
Silas B. Terry, 1883-1889.
Joseph Bartholomew, 1801-1804.
Gideon Platt, 1809-1818.
Edmund O. Hovey, 1889-1895.
Stephen Hotchkiss,# 1809-1826.
Lemuel Porter, 1811-1818.
Elijah Hotchkiss, 1817-1833.
James Brown, 1818-1848.
Alexander Dallas, 1892 -.
Daniel Upson, 1818-1832.
Loomis G. Day, 1992-1504.5
JOHN MILES STOCKING, son of Anson Stocking of Torrington, was born in Goshen, March 16, 1811. He removed to Waterbury in carly
* After a year and a half Mr. Clark " informed the church that he declined serving theet is that office"
+ Horace Hotchkiss says : "I recall among the early deacons ; wo worthy brothers, Stephen and Dejel Bronson. When there was no clergymen they conducted the services, calling on sand and to mail a se mon." They were the sons of Thomas Bronson, Esq, and Deacon Stephen Brunson was the father at Deacon (and Judge) Bennet Bronson.
* There is no record of Stephen Hotchkiss having declined the office, but for is scattered after a. in the records as " Mr." rather than " Deacon.''
# See p. 575 and note.
Robert Crane, 1859-1861.
John M. Stocking, 1859-1873. Jonathan R. Crampton, 1867-1874.
Gershom C. H. Gilbert, 1867-1871.
Anson G. Stocking, 1873-1884.
Eben Hoadley, 1873-1894. George W. Beach, 1873 -.
William H. Bush, 1883 -.
Frederic B. Hoadley, 1889 -.
Alexander C. Mintie, 1890 -. Robert A. Cairns, 1892 -.
Lester M. Camp, 1892 -.
Josiah A. Blake, 1852-1857.
Edward L. Bronson, 1857-1890.
626
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
boyhood and continued to reside here until his death. During a large part of his adult life he worked at the trade of burnishing, which in the early days of the button business commanded very high wages. For three or four years, between 1850 and 1860, he was in company with Merrit Nichols in the iron foundry business at Hope- ville. After that he engaged in the manufacture of matches at " Woodtick " in Wolcott, and invented a machine for splitting out matches in the block before dipping; but the business did not prove to be profitable, and he soon returned to his trade.
Mr. Stocking became a member of the First church in his twenty-first year. Notwithstanding an unusually quiet and retir- ing manner, he was in 1859 elected to the office of deacon. He accepted the position with great diffidence, but devoted himself to it with his customary fidelity and earnestness. He was one of the advance guard in the temperance and anti-slavery movements. He was a member of the first lodge of Sons of Temperance ever organized in Waterbury, and when the weakening of the Whig leaders before the demands of the slaveholding South led him to bid farewell to the party of Clay and Webster, he became a Free- Soiler. He was always deeply interested in national affairs and kept himself well informed on the prominent questions of the day. He found time in a busy life for thought and reading. His tastes turned largely to history and theology. For three or four years he was occupied with the six ponderous volumes of "Scott's Bible," and followed it with Barnes's " Notes" and portions of Olshausen's "Commentary."
In middle life Deacon Stocking was severe and forbidding in manner, and very reserved in the expression of sentiment or affec- tion; but the mellowing influence of advancing years and a lively Christian faith brought out, as he grew older, the humane and tender side of his character. He was always earnest in purpose and pure in speech and act. One of his prevailing characteristics is best set forth in the inscription on his tombstone : "Blessed are the pure in heart."
On September 3, 1834, he married Emeline Newell of Southing- ton. Their children are Harriet Newell (now Mrs. Harriet N. Lathrop), Gilbert Miles and William (for whom see elsewhere). Mr. Stocking died February 22, 1873.
ANSON GILBERT STOCKING, a younger brother of John, was born March 30, 1814. He united with the First church in November, 1831, at the same time with his brother. He was elected a deacon in March, 1859, but declined to serve. Fourteen years afterward he was elected again, and reluctantly accepted the office. In his later
627
THE FIRST CHURCH SINCE 1865.
life he had a summer home in Goshen, and spent a considerable part of his time there. In 1884 he removed with his wife to Wal- lingford, whither his son, George A. Stocking, had preceded him, and died there March 18, 1890. Mr. Stocking in many respects resembled his brother, but was less reserved and more affable. He was a genial companion, a loving husband and father, a devoted adherent of the church and a patriotic citizen.
On November 10, 1839, he married Sarah A., daughter of Stephen C. Frost, by whom he had three sons, Henry M., George A. and Charles L., and a daughter Sarah.
JONATHAN R. CRAMPTON was born in Madison, October 22, 1809. His relations to the business life of Waterbury, or rather of Water- ville, are indicated on pages 29 and 444. He became a member of the First church in 1856, and was made a deacon November 1, 1867. In 1867 and 1868 he was superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a man of positive but enlightened opinions, of earnestness and simplicity of character,-a philanthropist at heart and useful alike in the church and in the community at large. He died December 15, 1874, leaving a widow and several sons.
EBEN HOADLEY, son of Hiel and Sena (Benham) Hoadley, was born in Naugatuck, February 8, 1822. He learned the tanner's trade, but did not follow it, preferring to engage in farming. On reaching manhood he came to Waterbury and resided here for ten or twelve years. In 1853 he removed to Cheshire with his family. and was there at the breaking out of the war for the Union. On August 9, 1862, he enlisted as a corporal in the Twentieth regiment of Connecticut volunteers. In July, 1863, he was transferred to the Third regiment of the Veteran Reserve corps, and was not discharged from service until July 6, 1865. As his strength did not allow his going to the front, he spent much of his time in hospital service. After the war he returned from Cheshire to Waterbury, and became connected with the lumber business of A. L. Peck & Co., in whose employ he continued to the end of his life.
Mr. Hoadley became a member of the church while residing in Naugatuck. On returning to Waterbury in 1865, he and his wife brought letters of dismission from the church in Cheshire to the First church. He was elected a deacon April 4. 1873. and on the death of Edward L. Bronson in 1890, was made treasurer of the church funds.
On May 28, 1843, he married Sarah Lavinia, daughter of Isaac R. W. Brooks, by whom he had two sons: Frederick Eben, born in Bethany in July, 1844, and Charles Henry, born in Waterbury in
628
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
May, 1851. Frederick E. Hoadley enlisted in the same company with his father, and died of wounds received in battle at Goldsbor- ough, N. C., March 26, 1865.
On Sunday evening, May 28, 1893, the "golden wedding" of Dea- con and Mrs. Hoadley was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies at a public service of the First church. Addresses of congratula- tion were made and a handsome gift in gold coin was presented, after which the bride and bridegroom of fifty years before wel- comed the friends who crowded around them. Deacon Hoadley died, greatly lamented, August 29, 1894.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AN OFFSHOOT FROM THE FIRST- FRIENDLY COLONIZATION-SOCIETY ORGANIZED IN 1851; CHURCH IN 1852-A HOUSE OF WORSHIP ON NORTH MAIN STREET-FALL OF THE SPIRE-PLANS AFTER FORTY YEARS FOR A NEW EDIFICE- CORNER-STONE LAID-MEMORIAL TOWER-DEDICATION IN 1895- SUCCESSION OF PASTORS AND DEACONS-CHURCHLY ACTIVITIES AND GROWTH-DR. MAGILL, MR. WHITTLESEY, DR. BECKWITH, DR. DAV- ENPORT-CONGREGATIONALISM IN THE BROOKLYN DISTRICT- REA- SONS FOR ESTABLISHING A CHURCH-OFFER OF LAND IN 1891-THE FIELD INVESTIGATED-ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDED BY THE FIRST AND SECOND CHURCHES-A CHURCH BUILDING-A SHORT CREED- RECOGNITION BY COUNCIL-THE REV. F. P. WATERS.
T HE Second Congregational church, a cherished daughter of the old First church, came into existence for the avowed purpose of advancing the Congregational polity and through it the kingdom of Christ in Waterbury. In the short space of forty years it has made for itself an interesting history and a phenomenal growth. Taking an active and prominent part in all the moral and religious movements in this prosperous and growing city, it has become the largest church of its denomination in the state.
A special meeting of the First Ecclesiastical society was held February 10, 1851, to take into consideration, in connection with other business, the organization of a Second Congregational society. The population of the place was then about 5000, and the member- ship of the church nearly 400. Waterbury was already noted for its manufactures and for its enterprising business men, many of whom were prominent in the Congregational society. Among them were Aaron Benedict, P. W. Carter, the Hon. Green Kendrick, the brothers Philo and William Brown, and Edward Scovill, men of broad views in regard to the moral and religious wants of the com- munity. They foresaw the growth of Waterbury and recognized the fact that while there was no dissension in the church and it was not so large as to make parish duties burdensome to the pastor, it would be good policy to make fuller provision for the moral and religious instruction of the community and for church fellowship. At the meeting the following votes were passed :
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
"That this society deems it expedient and necessary, for the interests of Congre- gationalism and also of our own society, that a new Congregational church be formed in this place; and that Messrs Nelson Hall, Gideon L. Platt, Charles Bene- dict, Newton Hine, Jr., and Dyer Ames, Jr., be a committee to procure subscrip- tions for a new house of worship, said subscriptions not to be binding on any one unless $15,000 are pledged."
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1857. FROM A DRAWING BY C. U. C. BURTON.
This action shows the gen- erous and unselfish spirit which brought the new church into existence.
Several adjourned meet- ings were held to hear re- ports from the soliciting commitee and keep up the interest in the project. The committee at times felt quite discouraged and found it necessary to have their numbers increased ; but at the eighth adjourned meet- ing, October 25, they re- ported that the full amount was subscribed. The same evening the record book of the new society was opened and ten names were entered in the following order: Charles Benedict, J. M. Burrall, D. F. Maltby, A. S. Chase, A. M. Blakeslee, J.W. White, E. A. Lum, Charles Partree, Nelson Hall and N. J. Buel. On November 10, the ecclesiastical society was organized and the fol- lowing officers elected:
Society's committee : Charles Benedict, Nelson Hall, D. F. Maltby.
Treasurer, A. S. Chase. Collector, Israel Holmes. Clerk, Charles Partree.
On November 22, Dr. Gideon L. Platt, Charles Benedict, Nelson Hall and D. F. Maltby were appointed a committee to procure a
631
THE SECOND AND THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
site for the erection of a house of worship. On December 20, the society's committee reported that they had negotiated with W. H. Scovill for the renting of Gothic hall on the following terms:
Four dollars for each Sunday (evenings included) during cold weather, and $3.50 when fires were not required; lights and fuel to be furnished by Mr. Scovill, the fuel to be placed in the room ready for use, and the lamps filled and trimmed ready for lighting, the room to be swept and put in order ready for use.
The report was accepted and it was voted "to occupy the hall until such time as the society shall have suitable accommodations of its
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND ADJOINING BUILDINGS, JANUARY 19, 1857.
own." On January 31, 1852, a proposal was received from Mr. Scovill that the society should purchase Gothic hall, with the lot on which it stood, for $8000. This proposal was accepted, and in the summer of 1853 work was commenced on a new house of worship. which was to have a seating capacity of one thousand. The com- pleted structure was dedicated April 18, 1855.
During a severe gale and driving snow storm in the early morn- ing of January 19, 1857, the slender spire of this church, which towered 203 feet above the foundation, yielded to the force of the wind and fell, carrying with it in its fall the south-west corner of the church edifice. In his naive "History of the American Clock Business," published in 1860, Chauncey Jerome gives an account of
632
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
this accident (pages 118, 119), which brings it vividly before us. He says :
I had to move to Waterbury in my old age, and there commence again to try to get a living. I moved in the fall of 1856, and as bad luck would have it, rented a house not two rods from a large church with a very large steeple attached to it, which had been built but a short time before. In one of the most terrific hurri- canes and snow storms that I ever knew in my life, at four o'clock in the morning of January 19, 1857, this large steeple fell on the top of our house, which was a three story brick building. It broke through the roof and smashed in all the upper tier of rooms, the brick and mortar falling to the lower floor. We were in the second story, and some of the bricks came into our room, breaking the glass and furniture, and the heaviest part of the whole lay directly on our house. It was the opinion of all who saw the ruins that we did not stand one chance in ten thousand of not being killed in a moment One man, in the other part of the house, was so frightened that he was crazy for a long time. Timbers in this steeple, ten inches square, broke in two directly over my bed, and their weight was tremendous. I began to think my troubles were coming in a different form, but it seems I was not to die in that way.
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 1857-1894.
During the winter of 1878-79, the congregation having out- grown the capacity of its house of worship, the question of build- ing a new one or remodeling the old was often agitated. The society went so far as to have plans drawn for the enlarging of the audience room and making provisions for a parlor, dining room,
633
THE SECOND AND THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
kitchen, cloak room and toilet rooms. But as it was the opinion of many that some other location would be preferable, and that even if the building then in use were remodelled it would after all be unsatisfactory, the project was abandoned.
The idea of securing a house of worship that would better accommodate an increasing congregation and a larger Sunday school was still cherished, but several years elapsed before any definite action was taken. At a meeting of the society on May 9, 1890, it was voted to purchase of Israel Holmes the lot on the corner of West Main street and Holmes avenue. On May 26, 1892, it was voted to sell the present church property for $32,000 and give possession to the purchasers two years later. On June 6, a building committee was appointed, consisting of John Woodward. W. B. Brooks, B. G. Bryan, A. J. Smith, H. L. Wade, G. E. Judd and L. J. Atwood. Satisfactory plans having been adopted, the first stone for the foundation was placed in position May 22, 1893. On Sunday afternoon, July 16, the corner stone was laid in the pres- ence of a large assembly. Franklin Carter, LL. D., president of Williams college, delivered the address, and prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Anderson .* The pastor on that occasion announced that the massive tower which was to rise high above the corner stone just laid, was to be a memorial of Deacon Charles Benedict, through the generosity of his sister, Mrs. Mary L. Mitchell, who had already made a large contribution toward building the edifice. It was very fitting that Mr. Benedict should have such a memorial. His name stands first in the records of the society, and second in the chronological list of deacons. He was a teacher in the Sunday school from its formation until death ended his labors, and through the dark days of the carly history of the church he was a tower of physical and spiritual strength, never wavering. His sister, unable to take part in the activities of the church because of declining health, sought with characteristic generosity, after her brother's death, to fill his place in the ministrations of benevolence.
The last service in the old meeting-house was held July 1. 1894. For the four months following, the Second Church people were the guests of the other churches. On November 4, they met for the first time in the Sunday school rooms of the new building, where they continued to hold services until the completion of the sane. tuary. This was dedicated with appropriate services on June 26, 1895, the Rev. R. R. Meredith, D. D., preaching the sermon. In the
* Among the articles deposited in the corner stone was a Waterbury watch, destined to tak its base tick in the darkness and solitude of its scaled home.
634
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
evening an interdenominational service was held, in which eleven of the city pastors, representing six denominations, participated.
On December 9, 1851, G. W. Cooke was requested, by a vote of the Second Congregational society, to confer with the Rev. S. W.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FROM THE ARCHITECT'S DRAWING, 1893.
Magill, with a view to ascertaining whether the society could en- gage him for six months as their preacher, Mr. Magill to reside in Waterbury during that time. The arrangement thus indicated was made on December 27. On March 13, 1852, although a church had
635
THE SECOND AND THIRD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
not yet been organized, it was voted to invite Mr. Magill to become pastor at a salary of $1000 a year. The church was organized April 4, and on May 19 Mr. Magill was installed as pastor of the Second Congregational church and society-a position which he held for eleven years and a half.
At its organization, the church numbered fifty members, thirty- five of whom were received from the First church and fifteen from twelve other churches.
Mr. Magill resigned November 27, 1863. He was formally dis- missed a year later by the council which was called to install his successor, the Rev. Elisha Whittlesey. Mr. Whittlesey served as pastor until July 7, 1870, and on July 12, 1871, was succeeded by the Rev. E. G. Beckwith, who held the position for nearly ten years. Dr. Beckwith's pastorate was terminated May 23, 1881, and he was succeeded, November 9, by the Rev. J. G. Davenport.
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