USA > Connecticut > Windham County > Eastford > Town of Eastford : Centennial 1847-1947 > Part 4
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Automobiles and trucks had made the town accessible to the out- side world. Crystal Pond became Crystal Lake and a vacation spot during the summer months. Some summer visitors became permanent residents as the years went on.
In 1926 the old Methodist church building was acquired as a Town Hall with office room for the Town Clerk and, eventually, a room for the Town Library. In 1934 a committee's report on a Soldier's Memo- rial was accepted and the result is the bronze tablets on the stone block which was brought from the site of General Lyon's birthplace and now stands in front of the Town Hall.
A present day committee is considering a memorial to the boys who served in World War II which again stirred the town to patriotic endeavors. Bond and Red Cross drives which "went over the top", First Aid classes, organized defense with sirens and "blackouts" made this war more real than its predecessor.
Of especial satisfaction to all Eastford's citizens was the final pay- ing off of the Town Debt which was accomplished in 1944 after being in existance since the days of the Civil War. Released from this obli- gation, we can look forward to a new goal. A fund has been esta- blished for the erection of a modern school building which, it is hoped, will also house the Library.
At the Town Meeting held on Oct. 7, 1946, the minutes record "The matter of exercise to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the in- corporation of the Town of Eastford in May 1947 was discussed. It was voted that Mrs. M. D. Lewis be appointed chairman and select the committee of seven". To the three villages, Phoenixville, Eastford and North Ashford, of the Town of Eastford, we offer congratulations on their Centennial Year of 1947.
CATHERINE T. FRENCH.
45
JOHN PERRY
John Perry, the "Post", seems to have been a special messenger for Governor Andros and John Allyn in 1687. His fidelity to his em- ployers is mentioned as outstanding. He rode the Boston to Hartford post once a month in the winter and once in three weeks in the sum- mer.
Eventually he purchased land in Eastford and became her first settler. He continued to render able assistance to colonial Connecticut as a surveyer, arbitrator, and locator of church sites receiving these assignments from the General Court.
In 1777, the General Assembly confirmed John Perry to be Captain of the company or trainband in the town of Ashford, and he was com- missioned accordingly.
He was a Deputy from Ashford to the General Assembly each Spring and Fall Session from 1732-1735.
Our first settler died in 1746 and his burial place is marked with a simple gray stone near the entrance of the "Old Cemetery."
Recent research has definitely established his home site to have been on the Hartford or Country road a little south of the house now owned and occupied by Florence W. Latham and is indicated in the description of this highway as relaid out by a committee in 1734 of which John Perry was a member. In this description the road extends easterly from Bigelow bridge to Captain Perry's house thence north in his lane by the house of John Perry, Jr.
FROM WINDHAM COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY 1861
Acres of improved land
9671
Acres of unimproved land
3395
Cash value of farms
$230,850
Number of horses
155
COWS
385
oxen
222
sheep
453
swine
259
Value of livestock
$65,386
Bushels of wheat
35
rye
474
corn
7360
oats
7055
potatoes
8575
buckwheat
2145
Orchard produce
$750
butter
27290 pounds
cheese
7675 pounds
hay
1972 tons
46
A CENSUS OF EASTFORD
Date
Population
Property Valuation
1860
1,006
265,573
1870
984
265,047
1880
855
235,913
1890
561
186,333
1900
523
155,984
1910
513
186,163
1920
496
245,899
1930
529
396,889
1940
496
612,100
1947, area 18,269 acres, Indebtedness-None; Rate of taxation, 20 Mills; Valuation of propetty $612,929.
PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE RESIDED IN EASTFORD
1852 John F. Simmons, M.D.
1858 David B. Dean, M.D.
Elisha K. Robbins, M.D.
1865
T. O. Bennett, M.D.
1872
Lewis Williams, M.D.
1873
I. L. Bradley, M.D.
1892
H. H. Converse, M.D.
1935
Edwin H. Basden, M.D.
INDIAN ROCK
A mile east of Eastford village there is a dancing little brook crossing the road to join the Bungay River. A short distance up this stream, and in a spot densely shaded with hemlocks and birches, there is a covelike formation topped by a projecting stone known as In- dian Rock. It is in a steep declivity of the rugged hillside, and tradi- tion tells us that once the place was an Indian camping site. There are evidences still to be seen of a primitive fireplace and other signs of human habitation, which reminds us of the time when only the children of the forest dwelt in the region of what is now the rural township of Eastford.
47
EASTFORD PART IN THE WARS
During the last hundred years, the United State of America, hav- ing become embroiled in a Civil War to assure the people of this country the right to "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," " also successfully fought three other wars to maintain these freedoms and the "American way of life" for posterity.
It is to be supposed that for these four major wars Eastford would be called upon to contribute men, money, time and effort; to sacrifice even as the country sacrificed, and to measure up even as the country measured up. This she did, and did most magnificently.
It is to be regretted that since this book is to be an official record, in some measure at least, that apparently no complete and authentic information is available of the names of those Eastford men who served in the Civil War of 1861-65, or of those who served in the Spanish American War of 1898. That there were many Eastford Veterans of these two wars, we know. Town records speak of General Nathaniel Lyon and 89 comrades of the Civil War. That they, and the town's people, made the same sacrifices that were made in the Two World Wars, we are fully aware. No doubt these veterans could, and did, tell of the same gruelling marches, the same everlasting mud, the same kind of hunger, the same bloodshed and injury, that are told of today by newer and younger veterans. And so to these veterans of the Civil War, and of the Spanish American War, we, without being able to name names, pay our humble respects for their courage and gallantry, and for their devotion to the call of duty.
In 1917 Eastford's men again answered the Call to Arms when the United States entered World War I. The war was not a long one, but as any other, made the same well known demands upon our men. Our War Memorial indicates that 19 Eastford men served their country during this war, and for their valiant service, we salute the following named men of World War I.
Charles P. Barrington
James P. Jackson
Clifford S. Bowen
Alexander Kaletchitz
Donald Collins Clarence Dew
Merrill R. Keith
Clifford French George Glawso
Lt. Oliver H. Latham
Edwin C. Lewis
Howard Glawso John Glawso
Henry O. May
Ralph D. Green
Henry Vallient.
Emner W. Howlett
Stanley S. Syzmanski
World War II, 1941-5, differed from other wars only in being more modern. It too demanded men, money, toil and sacrifice. Eastford men served on the sea, in the air, and in all branches of the ground forces. They served in all parts of the world; in the lonesome fastness of Attu, in the Pacific, in the Asiatic Pacific, in tropical jungles, in the "D" Day landings in France, in the Battle of the Bulge, in the libera-
48
John Kaletchitz
tion of the Philippines, and in the assaults of the Japanese and German strongholds wherever they occured.
One life was lost to enemy action even before the United States entered the war-that of Ralph French who became a casualty when his ship was sunk by German Submarines in October of 1941.
The Town's people of Eastford take this opportunity to express their appreciation and respect for the courage and devotion of all the fol- lowing named men in answering the fourth major call to arms in 100 years:
MM 2c William B. Anderson Jr.
Pvt. Fred King Sgt. Joseph King
Cpl. Irving I. Andert
Ensign Solomon Andert
Ffc. Clarence LaFleur
Pvt. David Baker
Cpl. Wm. Henry Latham
PhM2 Clement S. Barlow
T-4 M. Keith Lewis
Cpl. Herman E. Barlow
Pvt. Elmer E. Lyon
Pvt. Kenneth E. Bates
Cox James MacFarlane
T-5 Raymond H. Bates Pvt. Edward A. Bellerieve
Sgt. Robert A. Merrill Albert Mustis
GM1c Lewis Slater Black T-5 Charles S. Bowen T-4 Spencer L. Bowen CM3c Robert G. Buell
F. Stanley Naklicki
T-5 Victor Naklicki
T-4 Reino Nieminen
Pvt. Arthur Newth
Pvt. Franklin Penny T-5 Carroll S. Piecyk CPO Frank P. Piecyk Lt. Col. Walter Reese SM2c Thomas A. Shea
BM2c William Shisko Pfc. Alexander Smoolca Cpl. Paul Smoolca
Pvt. Francis E. Sumner
Pvt. Stewart M. Tatem
Slc Richard W. Tripp
S1c Charles Vaida
Lt. Emil Vaida
Cpl. James Vaida
Sgt. Mitchell Vaida
Pvt. Alex S. Voorhis
S1c Clifford R. Walker
MM3c R. Joseph Green CM3c Merton Green George Howlett
Pfc. Walter J. Warchol
Pfc. George Willis
Two of the above, James MacFarlane and Joseph King, lost their lives while in the service of their country.
Several men, while not residents of Eastford, are Carried on the Eastford Honor Roll as follows:
H. B. Cunningham Kenneth Kennedy
Paul Sadler James O. Woods Jr.
49
Pvt. Max Robert Bullerjahn Pvt. Astrid J. Bunnell FCO2c Wayne J. Bunnell Pfc. Alfred J. Carpenter S Sgt. Anthony Chilkott Cpl. Harvey N. Colburn Pfc. Lester Ellsworth Day Pvt. Stanley Dominick FC3c Charles C. Downing T-5 Frank W. Downing WO Carl Erickson
Pfc. Kenneth Erickson
T-5 Alexander Fabion
S Sgt. William Floeting Pfc. Milton Kenneth French
CCS Ralph French
Sgt. John H. Goodhall
And the following are now residents of Eastford but do not appear on the Honor Roll:
Sgt. Charles J. Sanga
Capt. Franklin Wetherell
NAO2c Roland Jack Sanga
Surely common sense would dictate that four major wars in 100 years are catastrophies not to be repeated unless all other means of preserving the American Freedoms, and maintaining the God given dignity of free men, are exhausted. Should such be the case, however, and our United States of America call again upon Eastford-Eastford will respond as before-Most Magnificently.
WALTER REESE.
COMPARISON OF PRICES OF GOODS-EASTFORD.
100 Years Ago
May 1, 1947.
Potatoes per Bushel
.50
$2.25
Tobacco per Hand
.03
.12
Tobacco per Paper
.02
.10 -. 15
Shovel
$1.00
1.75
Soap per Bar
.08
12 -. 15 -. 21
Lantern
.50
2.25
Nuts per Pound
.10
.49
Black Tea per Pound
.45
.90-$1.00
Nails per Pound
.52
.08 and higher
Eggs per Dozen
.12
.62
Beer per Bottle
.04
Not sold here
Molasses per Gallon
.32
1.40
Matches 3 Bunches
.02
?
Candy per Pound
.07
1.25
Coffee per Pound
.09
.45 -. 53
Veal per Pound
.04
.40 -. 60
Codfish per Pound
.04
.51
Overalls per Pair
.58
2.75-2.98
Shot per Pound
.08
Not sold here
Scythe Snath
.92
2.25
Cheese per Pound
.08
.59 -. 69
Jack Knife
.23
.75-1.25
Butter per Pound
.15
.65 -. 70
Fish Line
.04
.50
Oats per Peck
.11
.34
Cotton Sheeting per Yard
.62 1/2
Not sold here
EDITH WHEATON SMITH.
50
GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON
Nathaniel Lyon was born in Ashford, in what is now Eastford, July 14, 1818 the seventh child and fourth son of Amasa and Kezia Knowlton Lyon, and was blessed with a worthy, brave and patriotic ancestry. His grandfather, Ephraim Lyon served in the War of In- dependence, afterwards becoming a successful farmer and lawyer in
--
young but
MMLyon
GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON
that part of Ashford that is now Eastford. The father of Nathaniel Lyon was a farmer and took great interest in politics entering zealous- ly, in the contest which elected Thomas Jefferson as President. In the
51
maternal line of Lyon the family acted a conspicuous and highly honor- able part in the Revolutionary War, and we can picture Nathaniel's parents giving him daily lessons in patriotism and the value of liberty.
Nathaniel Lyon attended the little brown school near his home, several of the teachers who instructed him, reported he gave promise even in youth of success, was a student of Mathematics, and was in- terested in selecting patriotic essays and enjoyed declaiming them. Even at an early age it was his ambition to attend West Point. After being graduated from his native school, he attended for a few months the Academy at Brooklyn, Conn. A story is told when Lyon first went to the Academy several of the older students being of boisterous natures were given to initiate new comers, by practical jokes, into the mysteries of student life at the Academy. Previous to this time Lyon who was kind and considerate, had spurned whatever had the ap- pearance of cruelty and was averse to quarrelling or taking part in rude demonstrations, and these students believed him the type to hector and they began in earnest. For a day or two Lyon apparently did not notice the annoyances of these bullies, finally however they ventured beyond the point where forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and soon two or three of his annoyers found themselves prostrate with a pair of fists vigorously at work in the proximity of their bodies. It is needless to say that further efforts to annoy Lyon were dispensed with and they in return treated him as he had previously treated them with courtesy. Lyon possessed physical strength and agility and he de- manded and received respect from those with whom he associated.
General Holt then a member of Congress from the third district of Connecticut procured appointment for young Lyon as a cadet at West Point and he entered the Military Academy in the autumn of 1837. He was distrustful of his own abilities but determined to utilize the opportunities presented and make the most of his talents, ever faithful to whatever task was before him. Lyon was graduated at West Point, June 30, 1841, and commissioned Second Lieutenant, in the Second Regiment of Infantry, July 1, 1841. Lyon returned home for the rest of the summer, but in November of that year he returned to his Regiment which was engaged in the war against the Seminole In- dians in Florida. He was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, and was promoted to a First Lieutenant while on a march to Mexico, and com- manded his company throughout the war with Mexico. In the early months of 1861, Lyon was promoted a Captain in the regular Army.
The State Government of Missouri was for Secession, the people by a large majority were supporters of the Union, and soon Missouri was plunged into Civil War of its own. In April 1861 Lyon was sent to St. Louis to have entire charge of the arsenal, arms and stores. On the 17th of May 1861, he was appointed as Brigadier General.
The battle of Wilson's Creek was a crucial point in the Missouri Campaign. During the engagement Lyon was wounded, his friends urged him to withdraw and have his wounds attended to, but he turn- ed a deaf ear to their appeal, even though weak from the loss of blood. After his horse had been shot from under him, he mounted another waving his hat to rally his troops to victory, at that time he was again
52
shot through the breast expiring almost instantly, August 10, 1861. Thus fell the brave General Nathaniel Lyon, the first General killed on the Union Side in the Civil War.
News of General Nathaniel Lyon's death reached Eastford by telegraph being received in the 'Telegraph House' which stood about a quarter of a mile west from the Bigelow river on the road to Ashford. Daniel Knowlton Esq. of New York City, a cousin of the deceased telegraphed General Freemont requesting him to have General Lyon's body secured in a sealed coffin, that his remains might be brought East. John B. Hasler, of Webster, Mass. brother-in-law of General Lyon joined Mr. Knowlton and they started for Missouri, for the purpose of bringing to its native home the General's body. It had been Lyon's request that he be buried beside his father and mother in Phoenixville.
On the route from St. Louis, Missouri to Connecticut, throngs of people gathered at every village and city to pay him tribute, and in several large cities, the body lay in State surrounded with all the Mili- tary Honors of General Lyon's rank. From Hartford, Connecticut accompanied by several companies and a large number of citizens, the special train conveyed the remains to Willimantic, and from there to Eastford, sixteen miles distant. The corpse was deposited in the Con- gregational church in charge of the City Guard of Hartford, while strangers found entertainment in the hospitable homes of the inhabi- tants, for the night. The next day, Thursday, September 5, 1861, com- mencing at 10 a.m. the last funeral rites were performed over the body of General Lyon. Upon the coffin were placed the hat which he had waved in ralling his troops on the fields of Wilson's Creek, and the sword which had become scarred and weather beaten from the long hard service of its owner. Flowers were strewn upon the lid of the casket and the banner which he had so devotedly followed, was gracefully thrown over the head of the sleeping warrior. In front of the church, on the slope of the hill, a temporary platform had been erected for the accommodation of the speakers and distinguished guests, with benches near by for the relatives.
Rev. Mr. Williams former pastor of the Congregational Church offered an impressive prayer. Hon. Elisha Carpenter, Judge of the Superior Court, of Connecticut, a native of Eastford, delivered an elaborate historical address, Hon. Galusha Grow, of Pennsylvania, also a native of Eastford, Speaker of the National House of Representatives, in lengthy oration eloquently enforced the lessons of the hour. There were other speeches by Gov. Buckingham of Connecticut; Gov. Spra- gue, of Rhode Island, and many others. It was estimated 15,000 people attended the funeral. At 4 p.m. the body was borne to its final resting place, the final report of minute guns announced the approach of the procession to Phoenixville. The hearse was drawn by four magnificent black horses, the Methodist Episcopal Service was read by Rev. C. C. Adams, Maj. Conant and Capt Edgar, of the St. Louis escort, partially filled the grave, and the City Guard of Hartford, fired three volleys over the grave, while the band performed a dirge.
1
The monument over the grave of General Lyon is a pretty marble shaft which including the base stands 12 feet high. On the face to-
53
GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON'S MONUMENT
ward the street or east, is cut an equestrian figure of General Lyon, and a shield, and on the top is a dove in the act of taking flight. The inscription on the north is as follows :- Born July 14, 1818; Killed in the Battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10, 1861. On the east face is the name; General Nathaniel Lyon, U. S. A., and on the base the word "Lyon". The south face contains the battles in which General Lyon was engaged in the Mexican War, as follows; Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino Del Ray, Chapultepec, City of Mexico.
On the west face are the engagements in which he took part, aside from Wilson's Creek, during the Civil War, as follows: Capture of Camp Jackson, May 10, 1861; Boonsville, June 16, 1861,; Dug Springs August 1, 1861.
In 1907 the Connecticut General Assembly appointed three com- missioners, for the purpose of expending the sum of $500, for "the care, maintenance and improvement of the burial place and monument of General Nathaniel Lyon in the Town of Eastford." On inspection of the place, the commission found the Lyon lot very small, being only 12 by 24 feet, and this lot was entirely occupied by graves, members of the Lyon family, the monument of the General being in the extreme northwest corner of the lot directly over his grave. The lot was en- closed by a chain fence supported by six heavy stone posts. This chain had been placed around the lot by the General himself. Also lying in a mass of weeds on the west side of the lot were three cannon, also at the east and south of the lot was a grove of pine trees, varying in size from one foot to three feet in diameter, the ground covered with pine
54
needles, also the shade from these trees precluding the possibility of maintaining a grass lawn.
The commission first held a conference with the Phoenixville Cemetery Association and with such relatives as could be reached. There was sufficient available ground surrounding the small Lyon lot, some of which had been used for the burial of the late members of the family, which if added to the Lyon lot would make a lot about 38 feet square and thus bring General Lyon's monument practically in the center of the enlarged lot. An agreement was finally reached permit- ting the commission to take the land. The relatives somewhat reluct- ently gave their consent for the removal of the family head and foot stones, nearly all varying in size, material and construction, the com- mission to substitute in their places granite grave markers, all of the same pattern and size, and to bear on the top the name and years of the birth and death of the person buried. The Cemetery Association agreed to have the pine grove removed and to assist in enlarging the lot. The commission carried out the plan in accordance with the agree- ment. Nearly the entire cemetery is on a side hill and especially the part where the General is buried, and it was necessary for the commis- sion to build a bank wall to make the larger lot presentable. This wall was built with a cobblestone face laid in cement, the top of the wall being built in parapet form with the same material. The three cannon were placed one each at the northeast and southeast corners of the lot set in the ground with the muzzle down, the third cannon was mounted on a native boulder directly in front of the General Lyon monument with the muzzle slightly elevated and pointed to the east.
The site of the birthplace of General Nathaniel Lyon about two miles from the Phoenixville Cemetery is now part of the Natchaug State Forest, and this site as well as the General Lyon lot at the ceme- tery is now excellently cared for by Connecticut Park commission, the grass on the lawn of the lot regularly mowed, the growing shrubs kept trimmed and neat. This service is at least recognition by his native State of Connecticut for the distinguished service rendered his Country by General Nathaniel Lyon.
EDITH WHEATON SMITH.
DREAM IN SEPTEMBER
Dream in September: this is summer still! Green-yellow grass, late flowers in full bloom And crickets voices, though they be too shrill And lack the comfort of the June bee's "zoom". The sun is melting-warm at bright mid-day- It bathes the blue cat kneeling on the floor With scents of fattened mice which she must slay And fruits we have not had a year or more. Yet waning hours dispel what we desire, Our shoulders feel a chill of something lost, We draw a chair to hearth and light the fire And cover up the melons for the frost.
Catherine T. French.
55
CENTER SCHOOL
CENTER SCHOOL
One hundred years ago Eastford had eight schools with an enroll- ment of 395 pupils. Today, 53 pupils (Elementary and High) are enumerated. This school building is nearby 100 years old. It has been of real service to the village, the upper room having been used as a hall, for town meetings, for church meetings, a library; and for a dancing school before being remodeled for the use of the Grammar School.
Its usefulness completed, plans are developing for a new con- solidated school in the near future.
There was a Griggs family on the "Morton" farm with 16 children. They attended church at North Ashford. The mother and the younger children rode on the horses' back while the rest walked.
*
MR. BUELL
During the War of 1812 the rumble of the cannon could be heard in Eastford. It was known that one of the Preston boys was stationed at Fort Trumbull. After the battle, another brother, Reuben was sent by his mother on a horse to see if his brother was safe.
56
BIGELOW RIVER INDUSTRIES-100 YEARS AGO
The district in the northwest corner of Eastford is known as the Axe Factory District. No records have been found that definitely state this fact, but it seems likely that it derived its name from the follow- ing quotation: "Capt. Jairus Chapman manufactured high grade scythes, broad axes, axes and hatchets in the west part of the town. He eventually sold out and moved into Eastford village".
Coming down the Bigelow River, we find ruins of a dam and a well defined sluiceway north of the bridge on the Eastford and West- ford road. Here a saw mill was operated 75 years ago by John Chism, owner, who had bought it from Buck and Dean. The saw mill had the two-saw set-up. One above the other, which could saw the larger logs.
Continuing down the river to the foot of Clifford Walker's hill, we may see the ruins of a dam and a mill stone. Here excellent power was furnished for a silk mill, as well as a carding mill and clothier's works. Eliezer Snow did a thriving business when the housewife spun and wove cloth at home and sent it to be "dreased" at the clothing works. Later, Mansfield Sly did a good business with his saw and grist mill at this place. Old timers remember the Asa Cheney Mill here, which was a saw mill and much custom sawing was done. The building burned about fifty years ago.
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