USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 18
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Rev. Lyman Atwater, pastor of the First Church of Christ preached on the subject one Sunday. A few quotes from that sermon:
.. Temptations incident to the sudden loss of . property-to a general state of chaotic commercial revolution-to a period of universal extravagance and luxury and rash enterprise, and delirious specu- lation, and imaginary wealth succeeded by unpar- alleled depression, impoverishment and bankruptcy I counsel you, then
1. To lay these things deeply to heart
2. To the most solemn and faithful self-searching
3. To extraordinary watchfulness, circumspection and prayer.
Owe no man one thing which you cannot readily liquidate. Pay to all their righteous dues . . . Be just before you are indulgent to yourselves, or your households, or generous to others. Be not ensnared by the cares of the world, or the deceitfulness of riches. Prepare yourselves for the worst, be thank- ful for the least. Make your wants few, and do not even think of an engagement which you cannot ful- fill, unless prevented by some dispensation beyond the ordinary cause of Providence, which could not reasonably have been anticipated. While you stick fast in your integrity, harass not yourselves with anxieties about the future. Let the morrow take care of itself. Trust in God and his infallible word. In all things, by prayer and supplication, make known your requests unto God; and he who hears the ra- ven's cry will not see the righteous forsaken, or their seed begging bread. So shall you be as Mount Zion that can never be moved.
1 Daniel Webster failed to be a passenger on the steamer that day only because he could not get a stateroom.
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About this time there was a United States Marine Hospital in Fairfield for the care of sick and disabled seamen. I found one bill for "61 days at 5ยข a day" for the care of a disabled sea- man, dated March 31, 1843.
The Temperance Society too was becoming active about now. William Wheeler notes on Dec. 30, that 35 had joined-and the next Feb. 10 that 101 had joined. The Religious Revival con- tinued too. There was a Camp Meeting at Step- ney on the Railroad on Sept. 1, 1843.
There was a petition presented to build a bridge across Southport Harbor and the Town voted to urge the Legislators to grant this liberty. An Assessor was chosen for each parish-Jesse Alvord for Fairfield, Timothy Burr for Green- field and Jessup Banks for Stratfield.
The Black Rock Turnpike Co. requested that it discontinue the company's road-a toll road, and the town decided not to oppose the move but two years later it was voted to add Black Rock Turnpike to the appropriate district in the Town's highways for future care. That had been a Toll Road run by a small private company with a Toll gate just north of Hemlock Road-near where the Reservoir is currently.
Jonathan Bulkley entered in his diary on Fri- day, Jan. 10, 1845 "Professor Twining and W. Farnham were along this day for the purpose of getting the terms of individuals through whose land the Railroad is contemplated".
P. T. Barnum was very active in town affairs at that time. On December 4, 1848 he was sel- ected a Hayward and he held other posts from time to time. There are many stories about this great showman. Clyde Buckingham remembered one that his Grandfather, John Sherwood, told about Barnum. Mr. Barnum came over to Mill Hill seeking a cherry colored cat. Mr. Sherwood replied that there were no such animals as red cats. Whereupon Mr. Barnum promptly retorted "well there are black cherries".
On April 27, 1875 Frank Sherwood said "Went to Bridgeport with David Gould, Took a job moving buildings for P. T. Barnum".
I have included reports of other tales of this man who often sat on the fence or a front porch of the folk of Fairfield and passed the time of day.
And-
Taken from-The Bridgeport Standard June 5, 1849
Late from Barnum-The Philadelphia papers tell the following "good one" of Barnum:
The vicinity of the new museum was a source of much attraction during Monday as well as yesterday, and many a passerby had his attention arrested by the immense sign suspended across the street, paint- ed in all imaginable sorts of colors and letters. There is an ordinance, we believe, against this species of signs occupying too much room, and this immense sheet of canvass had not long been displayed, before the enterprising manager was reported to the Mayor by 'Somebody,' as a violator of the city ordinances, and in due course of time was politely requested by one of the police to take down his colors, or if refus- ing he would be subjected to the usual penalty. Barnum knew well that his sign would create an ex- citement-it was exactly what it was made for-and willing to pay his way wherever he goes, he at once enquired how much the penalty was for each day. 'Two dollars,' replied the officer. 'Then,' said Bar- num, 'I'll take a hundred dollars worth.' and running his hands into his pockets with the air of a man who had just concluded a highly advantageous bar- gain, he cooly walked away, while the police officer stood stupified and completely nonplussed. 'Well,' said he at length, all unconsciously speaking aloud as the manager disappeared, 'Well, that's Barnum, is it ?- Cool man! He is some pumpkins! Why, he will be exhibiting ME next!'-and the nonplussed officer started for the Mayor's office at no very ordinary speed, while Barnum's banner floated in the breeze.
From the Annual Address delivered before the Fairfield County Agricultural Society at Bridgeport, Conn. Oct. 10, 1849
By P. T. Barnum, Esq. President of the Society
. .. My practical experience in farming has been so limited that I can give you the whole benefit of it in very few words. And, unfortunately for myself, in relating this experience, I must do it in the style of a 'confession', the contemplation of which, I trust, my hearers will improve, not by following, but by avoiding my plan of conducting Agricultural pur- suits. My whole experience, then, practically and personally, in the farming business, consists of two important facts only. In the fall of 1848, my head gardener reported that I had 80 bushels of potatoes to spare. I thereupon directed him to barrel them up and ship them to New York for sale. He did so, and received $2.00 per barrel, or about 67 cents per bushel. But unfortunately, after the potatoes had been shipped, I found that my gardener had selected all of the "largest" for market, and left my family nothing but "small potatoes" to live on during the winter. But the worst is still to come. My potatoes were all gone before March, and I was obliged to buy during the Spring, over 80 bushels of potatoes at $1.25 per bushel.
I trust that in as much as I missed a figure or two in this operation, my friends will profit by my ignorance, and never be in a hurry to sell their pro- ductions, until they have discovered that they have more on hand than will be required for family use.
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My next experiment, which was in the Horticul- tural line, will not I fear, redound more to my credit than the potato operation. Last spring I ob- served my gardener cutting off from our young maple trees, all the small limbs and shoots which had started out from the body from two to six or eight feet from the ground. I inquired the object of this, and he informed me that these shoots were not only useless to the trees, but were, in fact, an injury, inasmuch as they absorbed the sap, which was need- ed in the upper branches. I immediately saw the philosophy of this, and feeling that, as-"President of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society", it was my duty to have some practical experience in farming matters, I soon proceeded to the house, and having selected a large and very sharp carving knife, went at once on to my grounds, with the full determination of destroying every worthless limb, sprout and "sucker" which came my way.
I soon found myself between a couple of rows of thrifty looking young cherry trees, but strange to say, their bodies were covered with "sprouts". Here was a sad neglect of my gardener, but I held in my hand a weapon capable of neutralizing the results of his forgetfulness, and at it I went, right and left. The carving knife, in my determined hand, worked wonders, and in less than an hour, I had trimmed every cherry tree nearly as high as I could reach, and looked with pleasure upon their symetrical and much improved appearance. While thus beholding the fruit of my labor, and feeling a conscious pride over this, my first grand achievement in farming, my gardener came up, and with a feeling of satis- faction that I shall never forget, I pointed to the quantities of cherry sprouts which I had brought to the ground. The gardener started suddenly, gave a look of surprise, which instantly changed to dispair, and clasping his hands, as if in deepest agony he exclaimed-'My God! you have cut off all the grafts!'
This was a sad blow to my farming aspirations! It has caused me, not exactly to abandon the busi- ness in dispair, but rather to be cautious about using the pruning knife, until I know a sprout from a graft! I am convinced, from the foregoing experi- ments, that my education in the Agricultural line, was sadly neglected!
I hope, however, to improve rapidly under teach- ers like those who bring the results of their experi- ence and labour to the annual Fairs of this county. Here is an opportunity for all to obtain knowledge. Here all farmers and mechanics meet in honourable and friendly competition, and the spirit of emula- tion engenders results highly beneficial to all who take an interest in these truly important branches of our national prosperity.
The town continued to hold its check on the Railroad. It was voted in 1848 to empower "the Selectmen to see if the New York, New Haven, Hartford Railroad left the highway in such con- dition as their chart requires". The same order was issued to the Selectmen the following year.
On Dec. 23, 1848 Mr. Jonathan Bulkley en-
tered in his diary: "Yesterday Mr .... and Mr. . . . as a Committee to call on the people on the track of the New Haven and New York Railroad for their subscription to the Capital Stock. They only received subscriptions to the amount of 110 shares in Southport ... ". Then on Dec. 27 " . a train of cars four in number passed toward N. Y. at 12 o'clock ... " and on Dec. 29 66 the cars came in from New York about 12 o'clock in about 3 hours having been detained by the snow and other matters. They had four passenger cars and all full".
In 1849 the Railroad was completed and it would seem that Fairfield folk were immediately "going places". On Jan. 3, 1849 Mr. Bulkley recorded: " " ... went to New York today in the morning train-the New Haven & New York Railroad is underway & it is said that over 1000 passengers pass over it daily". Then on Jan. 6 66 . . people coming and going in the cars at all times. Mrs. ... and ... came up today in the afternoon cars". Again on July 24th " .. . pleas- ant. J. B. took the cars at 10 o'clock for Stam- ford. Dined with Richard Bulkley-took the cars at half past 3 (express train) for Bridgeport and returned to Southport at 5 P.M. All very well except the dust". August 11 " ... the prin- cipal business is going and coming on the Rail- road".
In 1850 the General Assembly was petitioned again to move the Court House to Bridgeport and Norwalk. Two years later the same issue came up again and it was opposed once more by the Town of Fairfield.
On Jan. 12, 1853 a meeting was held "to take action in relation to the County buildings". Also at this meeting it was decided to call a County meeting for the purpose of laying a county tax to rebuild the gaol. The County Commissioners were then "empowered to call a meeting or rep- resentatives to lay a tax to build a new gaol at Fairfield". They continued their opposition to the changing of the County seat to Bridgeport and finally employed Counsel to represent the Town about the Court House removal. That ques- tion had been before the General Assembly five times within the past 19 years. But not with- standing all this, Bridgeport was successful that year-1853-in securing the County Seat. The Jail was moved at the same time.
Southport had been incorporated by the Gen- eral Assembly in May 1831 and the charter was relinquished on Dec. 31, 1854 and it ceased to be a Borough. Jonathan Bulkley told of the
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annual Borough meeting in 1845. Dec. 22, 1845 "The annual Borough Meeting was held in the Academy this evening. Capt. Jonathan Godfrey was chosen Warden. Jessup Alvord, M. A. Sher- wood and four others were chosen Burgesses. A vote was also passed instructing the Warden and Court of Burgesses to lay out a road leading from W. N. B. Alvord through the land of Moses Bulkley, George Buckley, Austin Perry, Gurdon Perry, Widow Hubble down past Edwin Sher- wood's, & Wm. Bulkley's to the shore. My own opinion is that the public interest does not call for it at this time and therefore it is not inex- pedient".
In March 1855 "St. Paul's Episcopal Society was granted liberty to use ground lately occu- pied as a jail site for the purpose of erecting a church edifice thereon and to hold the same so long as they may use it for that purpose but whenever said Society shall cease to use it as a St. Paul's Society then and in that case the same shall revert back again to said town".
In 1857 the annual Town Meeting was changed from the first Monday in December to the first Monday in October and telegraph poles were erected although not to the satisfaction of the townspeople for they voted "that the present lo- cation of the telegraph poles along the principal streets is improper and unsightly and dangerous and that said poles ought to be erected along the line of the Railroad". The County Commission- ers were then requested to have them changed.
Many of the vessels owned in Southport were fitted to carry passengers. The Ganges, the Mer- chant, the Fairfield and the Emily were a few. The Fairfield was said to be handsomely finished in mahogany. The Emily was the last passenger
boat and among her last passengers to New York were Alva D. Wood, Capt. William Bulkley, Andrew Bulkley the tailor, and Samuel Pike. Her last passengers from New York to South- port were in prophetic vindication of the 19th Amendment in 1856-Louise Toby and Abby Furness. The railroad had made transportation more convenient.
That year also brought the change in the gen- eral management of the schools. There were to be 6 school visitors and they were:
Dr. I. T. Dennison Rev. I. S. Purdy Rev. William I. Jennings Rev. T. B. Sturges
School visitors for 3 years
School visitors for 2 years
Rev. C. S. Leffingwell Sherwood Sterling
School visitors for 1 year
It was also voted that "Frances D. Perry be the agent to sell burial lots in the West Burial Ground. George Ogden to be Superintendent of the West Burial Ground. Charles Bennett be su- perintendent of the Old and East Burial Ground for the purpose of keeping the ground clear from weeds and to keep the fences in order. Samuel A. Nichols to be agent to sell and give deed of the burial lots in the East Burial Ground. Jessup Banks be agent to take care of the old Stratfield Burial Ground. Samuel Betts be the agent to take care of the Greenfield Burial Ground. That the Committee appointed by the School Society for the purpose of enlarging the West Burial Ground be continued .
"The grounds to be mowed three times during the summer-about the middle of June, July and August".
Thus closed the first sixty years of the nine- teenth century.
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CHAPTER 8
1860-1900
Fairfield like the other towns in Connecticut had been too busy with trade and strengthening her own community interests to hear the rumb- lings or warnings which led to the Civil War. Even though John Brown, a farmer and preacher, had been a native of Connecticut-from Torring- ton and over the years Fairfield had had her share of slaves, there was little thought of trouble. There were no militia companies that could be alerted promptly as there had been for the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. The state at that time showed 50,000 able bodied men on the militia rolls, however, no trainbands drilled regularly on the Place of Parade in the several parishes. An air of serenity and industry had enveloped these folk. When the call came to Fairfield for enlistments in the summer of 1862 there was much work to be done. Some 300,000 men were needed because of reverses and Con- necticut's quota was 7,145. Connecticut's Gov- ernor William A. Buckingham had said to the people of his state "Close your factories and workshops, turn aside from your farms and busi- nesses, leave for awhile your families and your homes, and meet face to face the enemy of your liberties".
Fairfield set about doing just that. At a Town Meeting held on July 19, 1862 the following vote was taken:
Resolved-that the Town of Fairfield authorize the Selectmen to pay to each man who shall enlist in the Town in the United States Service before the 20th day of August next the sum of twenty-five dol- lars of that they shall provide a fund not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars from which to pay their quota of any necessary expense attendant upon re- cruiting in this Town and County. It was further voted-That the selectmen be authorized to borrow such amounts as may be necessary to provide for the above resolution.
Both of these votes were rescinded at the next meeting on August 5th and the new votes passed at that meeting were:
Resolved-that the Town of Fairfield will give a bounty of one hundred twenty-five dollars to each
man who has already enlisted or who shall enlist in the company now recruiting in this Town called Fairfield's Rough and Ready Guard when examined and mustered into Service of the United States. Provided such enlistment shall be had before draft shall be made on this town for her quota of men under the call for three hundred thousand more vol- unteers for War. Be it further Resolved-that the Town of Fairfield will appropriate to the expenses of recruiting in said Company a fund not to exceed one thousand dollars, said expenses incurred and to be incurred, to be determined by the discretion of one or more of the Selectmen of the Town; and Resolved -that the Selectmen are hereby authorized to bor- row on account of the Town any sum or sums of money necessary to carry out the above resolutions.
Additional inducements were offered just ten days later at a meeting legally called. Warning
Notice is hereby given to the inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield that there will be a meeting of the voters in said Town at the Town house on Friday, August 15th at 3 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of extending the war bounty to all the residents of the Town who may enlist in any Company in said Town or elsewhere.
Fairfield August 11, 1862 W. O. Murwin A. D. Wood } Selectmen
the above is a true copy of the original notice. Attest: Samuel A. Nichols Town Clerk
Agreeable to the foregoing notice a Town Meeting of the Voters of the Town of Fairfield was held at the Town House in Fairfield at 3 o'clock P.M. on the 15th day of August 1862. John Gould Esq. was chosen Moderator of the meeting. On motion the fol- lowing Resolutions were passed by said meeting. Re- solved that the War bounty of this Town of one hundred twenty-five dollars shall be extended to any resident of this town who has or shall enlist under the two last calls of the President in any company in this state whether in or out of the Town of Fairfield provided that this town shall be credited with such enlistment on its quota in case of a draft and pro- vided further if any such recruit shall receive the bounty of any other town the difference only shall be made up to him by this town.
Resolved -
That the Bounty voted by this Town shall after
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the 20th inst. so far as Citizens of other Towns are concerned unless such other Towns shall refund the bounty paid by their respective towns.
Resolved -
That the Selectmen of the Town be instructed to confer with the Selectmen of the Town of Bridge- port or any other Town in this State and arrange the matter of bounty. paid or that may be paid by either Town to residents of their respective Towns. On Motion it was Voted -
That the Selectmen of the Town of Fairfield cause to be published in pamphlet form all certificates of exemption from military duty five hundred numbers 20 days to be sold.
The above and foregoing
was truly taken and Recorded
by Samuel A. Nichols
Town Clerk.
and at another meeting just a month later. Warning -
A meeting of the legal Voters of the Town of Fairfield will be held at the Town House in said Town on Monday the 15th Inst. at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of considering the expedi- ency of offering bounties to the drafted men and volunteers for the nine months service. Fairfield Sept. 11, 1862.
The foregoing is a true copy
of the original warning.
Attest: Samuel A. Nichols
Town Clerk.
W. O. Murwin A. D. Wood } Selectmen
At a Town Meeting held at Fairfield on the 15th day of September 1862 by virtue of the foregoing notice R. C. Wetmore chosen Moderator of said Meeting on motion the following Resolution was passed Viz:
Resolved that this Town hereby authorize the Selectmen of this Town to pay to each man who has heretofore, or shall hereafter be drafted and be ac- cepted and sworn into the service of the United States by person or substitute for the purpose of pro- curing a Volunteer the sum of $200; and all who shall hereafter volunteer this present war and be credited to the quota of this Town the sum of $300. The foregoing is truly taken and
Recorded by Samuel A. Nichols, Registrar
The Townspeople were extremely anxious to do their part. Feelings were running high and it is a fact that these patriotic people were not ready to accept criticism from any source and thus set about to correct a mis-statement against their endeavors. On the 20th of October the rec- ords show:
At a Town Meeting legally warned and held on the 20th day of October 1862 at the Town House in Fairfield in accordance with the notice thereof, John Gould Esq. was appointed Moderator of the meet- ing. After the reading of an article in a newspaper printed in New Haven it was Voted that a Commit- tee be appointed to refute the stand therein made
against the Town of Fairfield, and that O. H. Perry, Benjamin Pomeroy, Sherwood Sterling and Edward I. Alvord be the Committee for that purpose.
Voted that the said Committee be instructed to inquire into any alleged in the matter of drafting in the town of Fairfield and report to a subsequent town meeting.
Resolved -
That a Bounty of two hundred dollars be paid by this Town to every man who shall volunteer to fill up the quota under the last order of the adjutant General of the State, when accepted and sworn into the service of the United States. Passed in the af- firmative.
Resolved -
That the Selectmen are hereby authorized and di- rected to incur and pay such expenses as they shall seem proper in order to secure the number of Vol- unteers required. Passed in the affirmative.
Resolved -
That the Selectmen are hereby authorized and di- rected as agents of the Town to borrow any Sum or Sums of money that may be needed to pay the bounty offered by the town and the expenses in- curred by them; authorized at this meeting. Passed in the affirmative.
Resolved -
That when this meeting adjourn it adjourn to Tuesday next at 1 o'clock p.m. and thence to Mon- day next at the same hour unless otherwise ordered. Passed in the affirmative.
Voted -
That this meeting be adjourned to Thursday next at 1 o'clock afternoon.
The above and foregoing
was truly taken and
recorded by Samuel A. Nichols Registrar.
These initial efforts were apparently not as fruitful as had been hoped and the adjourned meeting was held on the 23rd of October where the bounty for enlistment was increased. It had been difficult to arouse people fast enough.
At a. Town Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield held by adjournment this 23rd day of October, 1862 the former Moderator not be- ing present Robert C. Wetmore was appointed Mod- erator pro tem. Whereupon the following Resolu- tion was proposed and carried unanimously, viz- Resolved -
That the bounty already offered by the Town be increased to two hundred and seventy-five dollars. Voted -
That this meeting be adjourned to Monday at 1 o'clock p.m.
The above was truly taken and recorded by
Samuel A. Nichols,
Registrar.
Those like their forebears were people of de- termination, and as one sees the meeting ad- journed until the following Monday when note could be taken of their progress in recruiting.
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However not only did they have this major prob- lem of filling their quota of recruits at the next meeting but also the Town Hall was burned on the morning of October 26, 1862 and this added to their worries.
At a Town Meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield held by adjournment at the Town House on the 27th day of October 1862 Robert C. Wet- more acting as Moderator it was Resolved:
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