Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century, Part 4

Author: Sherman, Andrew Magoun, 1844-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : Howard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 576


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century > Part 4


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31


Southard, Solomon, 88.


Spear, Ensign, 309.


Spears, Lieut. Edward, 34I.


Spenser, Daniel, 437.


Spenser, Mrs., 273.


Stagg, Paymaster John, 341, 349. Stagg, Peter, 54.


Stark, Aaron, Jr., 88.


Stark, Gen. John, 283, 287, 311.


Stark, John, 88.


Stark, Molly, 283,


Starr, Col., 340. Steele, Isaac, 79. Steele, Capt. John, 366, 368.


Steele, Rachel Carr, 366. Steele, Capt. William, 366. Stephenson (& Canfield), 265.


Steuben, Baron, 357. Stevens, John, 121. Stevenson, Thomas, 29. Stewart, John, 194, 265. Stiles, Chilion, 439. Stiles, Comfort, 54.


Stiles, Ebenezer, 393.


Stiles, Jacob, 439.


Stiles, Jonathan, Esq., 11, 110, 152, 156, 161, 164, 169, 184, 194, 255. Stiles, Jonathan, Jr., 154, 155. Stiles, Joseph, 54, 66, 108, 194. Stiles, Silas, 176, 194. Stiles, -, 8. Still, John, 437. Stirling, Lord, 120, 130, 131, 309, 311, 345, 349, 367. Stites, John, Esq., 81. Stryker, Gen. William, 397. Suerd, Eliacam, 54. Sullivan, Gen., 277.


Summers, Lieut. Peter, 341. Sutton, Daniel, 79. Sutton, Jeremiah, 83.


Sutton, John, 79. Sutton, Samuel, 66.


Sweasy, Samuel, 54, 64. Sweasy, Susanna, 54. Swift, Col., 340. Symmes, Anna, 396, 398, 400, 401. Symmes, Hon. John Cleves, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 401.


T


Templeton, William, 194.


Ten Eyck, Capt, Henry, 341.


Tennent, Rev. Gilbert, 43.


Tharp, William, 67.


Thatcher, Dr., 320, 325, 371.


Thompson, David, 164.


Thompson, James, 349.


Thompson, Mrs., 317, 318.


Thompson, Stephen, 438.


Thoss, Ezekiel, 194.


Throp, John, 265.


Tichenor, Caleb, 54, 67.


Tichenor, John, 176.


Tichenor, Joseph, 58.


Tichenor, Susannah, 54.


Tighlman, Maj. Tench, 317, 349.


Titus, Samuel, 258. Tompkins, Rev. Ichabod, 86.


Tomson, Thomas, 67. Totten, J. C., 413.


Totten, Jesper, 67.


Totten, Jesper, Jr., 67.


Totten, Sylvenus, 67.


Tourge, Judge, 322.


Tripp, H. D., 194.


Trobridge, David, 67.


Trowbridge, David, 437.


Trowbridge, James, 437.


Troop, John, 246, 247, 263.


Troop, Esther, 260.


Tucker, George, 438. Tuttle, Rev. Joseph F., D. D., LL.D., 3, 4, 5, 9, 21, 22, 30, 133, 134, 138, 294, 296, 298, 299, 349, 396.


Tuttle, Joseph, Esq., 8, 119. Tuttle, 8. Tuttle, Ensign David, 186.


Tuttle, Daniel, 395, 399.


Tuttle, Miss, 395.


Tuttle, Mrs., 395, 399.


Tuttle, Samuel, Esq., 110, III, 112, 114, 115, 130, 131, 156, 255, 261, 441.


Tuttle, Rev. Samuel L., 4, 9. Tuttle, Silas, 183. Tuttle, Sylvanus, 437.


Tuttle, Theodorus, 438.


Tuttle, Timothy, 64.


liii


INDEX OF PERSONS


Tuttle, Capt. William, 321, 350. Tyson, Matthew, 67.


V


Van Cortlandt, Philip, 152, 157, 265.


Van Court, John, 264.


Van Dine, Matthia, 60.


Vanhorn, Chaplain, 85.


Van Horne, Rev. William, 416.


Van Renselear, Lieut. Jeremiah, 341.


Van Sant, Capt. Nathaniel, 341.


Vanwinker, John, 170.


Vreeland, Nicholas, 265.


Vose, Col., 202.


W


Wade, John, 67.


Walker, Isaac, 437.


Walling, Daniel, 67, 79.


Ward, David, Jr., 194.


Warren, Gen. Joseph, 163.


Warner, Capt. Robert, 338, 340.


Washington, 84, 85, 86, 147, 155, 198, 201, 202, 206, 209, 212, 213, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 223, 224, 225, 227, 229, 232, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 244, 245, 246, 253, 278, 279, 283, 285, 286, 304, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 324, 328, 329, 334, 335, 336, 337, 349, 355, 356, 357, 358, 360, 363, 364, 367, 370, 410.


Wasington, Mrs., 218, 325, 367.


Watrous, Dr. John R., 338, 340.


Wayne, Gen. Anthony, 276, 277, 313, 355, 372, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 380, 382. Webb, Col. Samuel B., 340.


Wetmore, Paymaster-Gen., kiah, 341.


Heze-


Wheeler, David, 63.


Wheeler, David G., 437.


White, Gen. Anthony W., 34I. Whitfield, Rev. Henry, 9.


Whitehead, Isaac,


Whitehead, Isaac, Jr.,


Whitehead, Samuel, Whiting, 340.


Wick, Maj. Henry, 273, 274, 291, 331, 380.


Wick, Mrs. Henry, 271, 272, 273, 380


Wick, Henry, 67, 194.


Wick, John B., 291.


Wick, John, 179,


Wick, Moses, 179.


Wick, Polly, 273.


Wick, "Tempe," 273, 331, 380, 381. 332, 333,


Wick, William, 179.


Wiens, Luis, 67.


Wiggins, Sarah, 79.


Wigton, Samuel, 176.


Wilkinson, Gen., 401.


Williams, Gen. Otho, 34I.


Wills, John, 28.


Wilson, 340.


Winds, Gen. William, 149, 152, 156, 161, 164, 165, 166, 186, 242, 261.


Winger, Joseph, 194.


Wingit, Joseph, 67.


Wingit, Ruben, 67.


Witenac, Bliker, 67.


Witherspoon, Dr. John, 320.


Wolfe, Dr. Theodore F., 14. Wood, Bethiah, 54.


Wood, James, 439.


Wood, Jonathan, 67, 88, 194.


Wood, Joseph, 67, 110.


Wood, Phebe, 110.


Woods, John, 415.


Woodford, Thomas, 349.


Woodhull, Nathaniel, 194.


Woodruff, Francis E., 380, 381.


Woodruff, John, 437, 439.


Woodward, Lieut. Peter, 341.


Woodward, Israel, 264.


Woolley, Isaac, 437.


Wooster, Gen., 328.


Worth, Alexander, 250.


Worthington, 340, 349.


Wyllie, Col. S., 338, 340.


Y


Young, David, 412, 413. Young, Robert, 194.


liv


Books of Andrew M. Sherman


Morristown in the Spanish-American War,


Large 8 mo. 200 pp. 75 illustrations. Cloth $1.50. Half Morocco $2.00. Postpage Prepaid.


"An accurate and reliable account of the part borne by his- toric Morristown, New Jersey, in the Spanish-American War."


"A timely and important contribution to local history."


Life of Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, Machias, Me.


COMMANDER OF THE FIRST NAVAL SQUADRON OF THE REVOLUTION. Introduction by Hon. John D. Long, Ex-Secretary of the Navy.


8 mo. 250 pp. 30 Illustrations. Cloth $2.00 net. Postage 16 cents.


"The heroic subject has been treated in a marvelously intert- esting manner, resulting in a book of rare intrinsic merit and is a notable addition to the literature of the period."-Providence Telegram.


"Fully as interesting as a novel."-Chicago Tribune.


It is a thrilling story of an American sailor as typical and as original as Paul Jones or Decatur."-St. Paul Dispatch.


Mr. Sherman displays rare skill in the treatment of his sub- ject. He has gone to original sources for his facts and possesses the true historical instinct. Without any doubt, the present work will run through several editions .- THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY, Boston, Mass.


"It is the most important contribution to the local history of Maine that has appeared for some time and should be in every public library in the State, while collectors and historical stu- dents will at once add the volume to their shelves."-Bangor (Me.) Commercial.


Phil Carver; a Romance of the War of 1812.


8 mo. 300 pp. Picture of author. Cloth $1.25. Postage Prepaid. "If action be not omnipresent its lack is compensated in en- tertaining descriptions of community life in New England during


1v


BOOKS OF ANDREW M. SHERMAN


the early part of the past century. The diction of the book is faultless."-Chicago Tribune.


"The scene of the story is in old Machias, Me., a town of great historic interest. Among the characters introduced is Cap- tain (and subsequently, Colonel) Jeremiah O'Brien."-New York Herald.


"It is well written and interesting. * * * The story of the school conducted by Master Arthur, a graduate of Dublin Uni- versity, is a capital sketch."-Boston Transcript.


"The plot of the story is laid in New England in the early part of the last century, and from tradition and personal obser- vation the writer is enabled to set forth the life of the people of that period in a graphic manner."-Newark (N. J.) Evening News.


Memorials of the Hon. Joshua S. Salmon.


LATE REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM NEW JERSEY. Large 8 mo. 200 pp. Two-thirds length portrait. Cloth $2.50. Postage Prepaid.


This book contains an authentic biography of the deceased Congressman, with specimens of his speeches, and the eulogies pronounced upon him in Congress, and has the endorsement of the family of the late Congressman.


Historic Morristown, New Jersey : The Story of its First Century.


Large 8 mo. Wide margin. 500 pages. Profusely illustrated. Cloth $3.50. Buckram $3.50. Half Morocco $4.50. Full Morocco $5.00. Gilt edges. Postage 25 cents additional.


Any of the above sent on receipt of price and postage by


The Howard Publishing Company Morristown, New Jersey, U. S. A.


SPECIAL OFFER


The "Life of Captain Jeremiah O'Brien" and "Phil Carvey" (companion volumes) will be sent, postage prepaid, on receipt of $3.00.


lvi


CHAPTER I.


"Our forest life was rough and rude, And dangers closed us round, But here amid the green old wood, Freedom was sought and found."


M


ORRISTOWN, New Jersey, was originally settled by a few persons from what is now Whippany, a man- ufacturing village in the present township of Hanover, situated about four miles to the eastward of the beautiful county seat of Morris


County.


Before proceeding, however, to relate the circum- stances under which Morristown was first settled by the whites, it seems desirable, particularly for the pur- pose of establishing, approximately at least, certain dates in connection therewith; and of ascertaining al- so, as nearly as is now practicable, the character of the early settlers, that the reader be made acquainted with the circumstances attending the settlement of Whip-


I


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


pany by the whites, since the two occurrences, as will be seen, are intimately related.


A careful and unbiased examination by the writer of this history of all available sources of information bearing directly and indirectly upon the subject, has resulted in the conclusion that before the close of the seventeenth century-as early probably as about the year 1685-the whites had found their way into the re- gion now known as Morris County, New Jersey. In corroboration of the above mentioned conclusion the following extract from the "Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey," by Messrs. John W. Barber and Henry Howe, published in the year 1844 is pre- sented: "The township (Whippany) was first settled about 1685, soon after the settlement of Newark, and is supposed to have been the earliest settlement within the limits of what is now Morris and Sussex Coun- ties." As nearest the bubbling spring on the hillside may be found the purest and most refreshing water, so, the writer ventures to say, in closest proximity to the event, the date of whose occurrence it is desirable to establish, may be found (in the conceded absence of clear evidence to the contrary) the most reliable and satisfactory information bearing upon the matter un- der consideration. The extract above quoted, the reader will notice, is from a history written sixty-one years nearer the date of the settlement of Whippany than the present fifth year of the twentieth century and is, therefore, presumptively, at least, more likely to


2


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


represent the facts in the case than more recent ex- pressions of opinion.


Whatever may have been the object of their com- ing, or whatever may have been the length of their stay in this region, the pioneers of 1685 can, however, be regarded as little else than adventurers. Indeed, one of the most reliable writers of local history says of these early pioneers : "My conjecture is that the orig- inal settlers (of Whippanong, now Whippany) may have been squatters, making iron from Succasunna iron ore, with the boundless forests in the region which they converted into coal." Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Tuttle, LL. D., from whom the extract just quoted is taken, and who, it may be incidentally remarked, has been justly termed "the father" of Morris County his- tory, was a direct descendant of one of the early set- tlers of Whippanong. Of his direct paternal ancestor it has recently been said by a Morris County pastor (Rev. Edwin R. Murgatroyd, of the Presbyterian Church of New Vernon), in connection with com- memorative dedicatory services in his own church: "It was here (at Whippany) that the grandfather of Rev. Dr. Joseph Tuttle, LL.D., president of Wabash Col- lege, hammered out a living at the forge." It is practi- cally certain that one who was only two generations removed from the settlement of Whippanong, was in close touch with the early history and tradition of the village of which his paternal ancestor was an import- ant factor in connection with its settlement and subse- quent development. Add to this circumstance the fact


3


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


that from the year 1847, till the year 1862-a period of fifteen years-Dr. Tuttle was identified, either as col- league or as pastor, with the Presbyterian Church at Rockaway, in the county of Morris, and that during that period he made an exhaustive study of county his- tory, the results of which still abide to enrich the pres- ent and coming generations, and it must be conceded that Dr. Tuttle is deserving of no small measure of confidence when he speaks concerning the history of Morris County.


For about the same length of time, and during about the same period of Dr. Joseph F. Tuttle's Rock- away pastorate, his brother, Rev. Samuel L. Tuttle, was pastor of the Madison, New Jersey, Presbyterian Church; and it is a fact of no little significance that in an historical sermon delivered by the latter about the year 1850, he unqualifiedly stated that white settlers were in Morris County as early as the year 1685.


The impulse is irresistible to quote, in the present connection, the following, from a comparatively recent writer of local history, (Rev. Robert Aikman, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church, of Madison, New Jersey) in confirmation of the reliability of the broth- ers Tuttle, as chroniclers of Morris County history: "To both these gentlemen (now deceased) every one who gains much knowledge of the early history of this portion of New Jersey, will have to confess indebted- ness. Both were settled pastors in Morris County, and with genuine antiquarian enthusiasm improved their opportunities to gain information, while yet there


4


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


remained among the living, aged men and women who remembered old historic scenes, or could repeat the recollections of their fathers or mothers."


It is highly probable, almost certain, indeed, that the early white explorers (or "squatters," as Dr. Jo- seph F. Tuttle aptly termed them) of what is now Morris County, carried back with them to the settle- ments whence they had come, information concerning the region explored by them, which led to its perma- nent settlement a few years later.


That the first permanent settlement by the whites of the region adjacent to what is now Morristown, was made not later than the early part of the eighteenth century, there can be, and is, in the minds of those conversant with the facts, no question; and that this permanent settlement was made in what is now the busy manufacturing village of Whippany is equally in- disputable. In confirmation of the first statement it may be said, that on the opening pages of a book, now extant, used by the Rev. Jacob Green, the third pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church of Hanover, for the recording of baptisms, marriages and other parish data, there occur the following words, in the handwrit- ing of "Parson Green."


"About the year 1710 a few families removed from New- ark and Elizabeth Town and settled on the west side of the Pessaick River, in that which is now Morris County. Not long after the settlers erected an house for the public worship of God on the bank of Whippenung River (about three miles west of Pessaick River), about 100 rods below the forge,


5


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


which is and has long been known by the name of the old iron works. There was a church gathered and in the year 17- Nathaniel Hubbell was ordained and settled there by the Presbytery of New York. About this time (1718 or 1719) the place obtained the name of Hanover and became a township, but the place was most commonly known by the Indian name Whippenung."


The entry above given, a facsimile of the original of which in the handwriting of "Parson Green" appears in connection with this history, it is important to bear in mind, was made in the year 1767, after the Rev. Jacob Green had been the pastor of the Hanover Pres- byterian Church for the period of about twenty-one years; he having been settled over said church, accord- ing to his own statement, in the year 1746.


In the absence of more definite evidence with regard to the date of the permanent settlement of what is now Whippany-and the writer of this history has searched diligently, but in vain, to discover such evidence-the entry in the book above mentioned must be accepted as the only reliable and satisfactory starting point in the study of the early history of Morris County; so far, at least, as its permanent settlement by the English is concerned.


It may, however, be casually remarked, that about the year 1700, the Dutch from Bergen and New York, and from the early settlements at Kingston and Al- bany, on the Hudson River, made a permanent settle- ment in the northeastern portion of what is now Mor- ris County, at or near what is now Pompton Plains.


6


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


It is said that the purchase, and subsequent perma- nent settlement of what is now Hanover Township, came about as follows: The first purchase of land from the Indians by the early settlers of Newark (or New Worke, as it was at first spelled) extended to the Pas- saic River on the east, and on the west, to the base of Wachung Mountain. In the year 1678 the western limits of the Newark purchase were extended to the top of Wachung Mountain, the consideration given the two Indians who deeded the extension to the whites, being: "Two guns, three coats and thirteen kans (cans) of rum." One of the more adventurous of the English settlers living on the east side of the Pas- saic River, climbed to the summit of Wachung Moun- tain, the height of which varies from 300 to 650 feet, and he was so delighted with the view of the Passaic Valley which greeted his eyes, that, returning to New- ark, he reported in glowing language the result of his


solitary survey. His description of the beauty of the valley upon which his eyes had feasted, and of the evi- dent fertility of the soil, so impressed his fellow towns- men in public meeting assembled, that it was readily voted to purchase the goodly land from the Indians, which was subsequently accomplished; and its perma- nent settlement soon followed.


Whippanong-spelled also Whippenung, Whippo- nong and occasionally Whippening-is said to signify in the Indian language "the arrow." Along the banks of the winding river bearing the name from which the region first received its designation, there grew, and


7


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


still grow, the graceful willows from whose smooth and slender sticks the aborigines made their arrows for hunting purposes, before the incoming of the "pale faces," with their guns and powder and shot, and de- structive "fire water."


The settlers of Whippanong came from New Eng- land and Old England, by way of Long Island (then considered a part of New England), and from Eliza- beth Town and Newark, the two latter places having been settled in the years 1665 and 1666, respectively.


That the pioneers of Whippanong were chiefly Eng- lish, or of English descent, is clearly evident from the names borne by them, among which may be found those of Ball, Baldwin, Bowlesby, Cobb, Howell, Kitchell, Lindsley, Stiles, Thomas and Tuttle; all, as the reader will readily perceive, of Anglo-Saxon deriv- ation. If further proof of the nationality, as above suggested, of these early pioneers were required, it might be added that a reliable chronicler of local his- tory explicitly states that "Samuel and Joseph Tuttle were from the north of England, near the river Tweed, and that Joseph and Abraham Kitchell, brothers, and Francis Lindsley were all from England;" and these Englishmen just named, be itremembered, were among the early white settlers of Whippanong. It is afact of no small significance in this connection that in Elizabeth and Newark the same names as those of the early pioneers of Whippanong, just mentioned, may still be found.


Another authority on local history says :


8


1


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


"The Tuttles, Kitchells and Lindsleys came from England, first to the New Haven and Connecticut colony, and mi- grated thence to New Jersey. * * Robert Kitchell left England in the first ship that ever anchored in New Haven (then Quinnipiac) Bay. He and his son Samuel were two of the forty-one associates from Milford, Conn., who signed the 'fundamental (unchangeable) agreement' in 1667, which document the twenty-three associates from Branford, Conn., had signed the year previous. They each received their home lots in the town of Newark."


From an apparently reliable authority it is learned that the exact date of Robert Kitchell's departure from England, was April 26, in the year 1639. He is said to have accompanied a party of Puritan refugees, who were led by the Rev. Henry Whitfield. In the year 1666, Robert Kitchell, and his son, Samuel, and a few friends, removed to Newark, New Jersey. It was Samuel Kitchell's son, Abraham, who was among the early settlers of what is now Whippany. Rev. H. D. Kitchell, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, published a few years since, a book, entitled: "Robert Kitchell, and his Descendants." From this book, whose statements bear the marks of authenticity, the present writer gleans sev- eral facts of special interest, among which are the fol- lowing: The author states, in confirmation, as will be noticed, of the opinion of the Revs. Joseph and Sam- uel Tuttle (already quoted), that before the year 1710, a few pioneers from Newark, including Abraham Kitchell, settled on the banks of the Whippanong Riv- er west of the great Watchung, now Orange Moun- tain. The original settlement was made, in what is


9


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


now the village of Whippany. The log house built by Abraham Kitchell was erected not far from the pres- ent (1905) residence of Charles M. Kitchell, in Whippany. From Abraham Kitchell to the present generation, one line of descent, is David Kitchell, Uzall Kitchell, Zenas Kitchell, Charles M. Kitchell, C. Ross Kitchell. Abraham Kitchell was a Lieutenant of mili- tia in the year 1722, and a Justice of the Peace in the year 1725. He was a deacon of the Whippany church.


In Old England the early settlers of Whippanong- such of them, at least, as had come directly from the old country-may have become familiar with the iron industry; some of them, indeed may have been identi- fied, either as employer or employe, with this branch of industry; and if such were the case, they were therefore, very naturally attracted to this portion of the New Jersey province by the reports which had presumably reached them from previous white explor- ers, during their temporary sojourn at Elizabeth Town and Newark, of the presence of vast quantities of iron ore embedded in the hills of this region. From the same sources they may also have learned of the abund- ance of forest trees, from which charcoal for smelting purposes could be advantageously made. The excel- lent water privileges afforded by the Whippanong River, and its confluents, were doubtless among the in- ducements, if, indeed, they were not the chief induce- ment to these early pioneers to settle in the particular locality chosen by them.


To those who came into this region after the iron


10


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


industry had been established, and the forests had been partially cleared for the manufacture of charcoal, the fertile soil, the genial climate, and the abundance of fish in the streams, and game in the surrounding coun- try, were attractions of scarcely secondary importance. All kinds of game, as we are told, were abundant at that early period-geese, wild ducks and pigeons being particularly abundant along the streams where now a fin or a feather can scarcely be found.


"Passing the extensive Troy meadows, then no doubt a dense swamp covered with a growth of orig- inal forest timber, they (these early pioneers who had entered the region by way of Caldwell and Living- stone) were attracted by the high land of Hanover and Whippany"-such is the statement of a local historian (Hon. Edmund D. Halsey, deceased); from which an- other inducement to the settlers of the region adjacent to what is now Morristown may be easily inferred- the high lands of Hanover and Whippany.


It was not long after the arrival of the sturdy Eng- lish pioneers in Whippanong, that some of the more enterprising of them erected there an iron forge, and in due course of time began the smelting of iron ore, and its manufacture into bars of iron for the market. Some of the company, however, as it is safe to infer, devoted themselves to the cultivation of the soil, which, owing to its rare fertility responded generously to their efforts. It is almost certain that, as in other portions of the American colonies, from the Indians then inhabiting this region the English settlers of


II


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


Whippanong learned the art of cultivating "maize," or "Indian corn," as it is known to the present day, and this "maize" was doubtless for some time their chief article of diet. In this connection it may be said that the "maize" which our fathers found so almost indis- pensable as an article of diet, was discovered by some Indian tribe in Central America, where it grew as a wild grass, and by the Indians it was brought to this portion of the continent and developed into form suit- able for food. It is a circumstance worthy of mention, that at first the Indians of Whippanong furnished the early English settlers with game, skins and furs.




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