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THOMAS M. WALLER, GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORICAL, 
 
 • • • • • • 
 
 * * • • 
 
 Statistical and Industrial Review 
 
 OP THE 
 
 State of Connecticut. 
 
 IP .A. TRs T XX. 
 
 " "isfiw i» *vo ot-ftat {cuvb fvfve t&ee, 
 
 9Xo beater- a&ore, 
 'isfvou a-t-t tJW sfveftet of tfve free ; 
 "©IVc- ftowte, t&e pott of ti&ettvj. 
 'Sfiovt- ft-ast feee-n- a-tvb »fvo>ft eoet fee, 
 
 "T^lff time t» o'er-." 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 THIS ISSUE IS COMPLETE IN ITSELF AND IS A PORTION OF A LARGE VOLUME NOW IN 
 PROGRESS, REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRIES OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 PRICE, ONE DOLLAR. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 W. S. WEBB & CO., PUBLISHERS, 49 & 51 PARK PLACE, 
 
 1 SS4. 
 
Entered according to Act of Concrete, in tho year 18S<8, b? 
 W. S. WEBB & CO., 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following pages, which represent the constant labor of a corps of reporters, writers, editors, 
 and printers for several months, is presented to the public. 
 
 The general idea of a history is a large expensive volume, bound in heavy board covers, 
 associated with a library and accessible only with more or less trouble. That of the publishers is to 
 furnish a History of Connecticut and its representative industries at a low price and in such a portable 
 shape that "he who runs may read." In order to do this at a profit, large editions are printed, 
 enabling the publishers to furnish each part at a price so low that all who wish can possess it. 
 
 It has been the aim to mention representative mercantile houses and manufacturing establish- 
 ments in the cities and villages of which this part especially treats, that would be of interest to 
 present and future generations. 
 
 Not a line within the covers of this work has been paid for as an advertisement and no 
 expense has been spared in its typographical execution — facts which will go far toward its 
 favorable reception by the general public and those residing in this and foreign countries to 
 whom it will be sent, informing them of the great prosperity of Connecticut. Acknowledg- 
 ments are especially due to the proprietors of the Hartford Evening Post for permission to use 
 illustrations of the State Capitol and the Governor, together with biographical sketches of 
 the general State officers, which will be found in the first pages of this work ; to Messrs. 
 Crocker & Co., publishers of the Popular History of New England, a work which has 
 generally been consulted and that portion relating to Connecticut largely reprinted, when 
 occasion required. 
 
 Among authorities consulted have been Mansfield's History and Description of New England, 
 Hayward's Gazetteer of New England, and Webb's New England Kailway and Manufacturers' 
 Statistical Gazetteer. With sincere thanks to those who have received the representatives of 
 this work in a spirit of courtesy, to the public for its generous support, to the press for its wise 
 discrimination that induced its hearty aid and the expression of a hope that this work will 
 be received favorably and its usefulness felt generally, 
 
 The public's obedient servants, 
 
 THE PUBLISHEBS. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Biographical Sketches 9 
 
 Connecticut. A Poem, by Fitz-Greene 
 
 Halleck 8 
 
 Fairfield County 75 
 
 Hartford County 85 
 
 History of Connecticut 65 
 
 Index 267 
 
 Litchfield County 99 
 
 Middlesex County 109 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 New Haven County 119 
 
 New London County 128 
 
 State Government 13 
 
 Tolland County 137 
 
 Windham County 147 
 
 A detailed description of Cities and Villages, 
 with Mercantile Houses and Manufactur- 
 ing Establishments follows 156 
 
 244902 
 
CONNECTICUT. 
 
 BY PITZ-OREENE HALLECK. 
 
 " The woods in which wc had dwelt pleasantly rustled their green leaves in tho song, and our streams were there with the 
 sound of all their waters."— Monthosk. 
 
 L 
 
 still her gray rooks tower above the sea 
 
 That crouches at their feet, a conquered wave ; 
 
 'Tis a rough land of earth, and stone, and tree, 
 Where breathes no castled lord or cabined slave ; 
 
 Where thoughts, and tongues and hands are bold and 
 free, 
 
 And friends will find a welcome, foes a grave ; 
 And where none kneel, save when to heaven they pray, 
 Nor even then, unless in their own way. 
 
 n. 
 
 Theirs is a pure republic, wild, yet strong, 
 A " fierce democracie," where all are true 
 
 To what themselves have voted — right or wrong — 
 And to their laws denominated blue ; 
 
 (If red, they might to Draco's code belong.) 
 A vestal state, which power could not subdue, 
 
 Nor promise win — like her own eagle's nest, 
 
 Sacred — the San Marino of the West. 
 
 III. 
 
 A justice of the peace, for the time being, 
 They bow to, but may turn him out next year ; 
 
 f hey reverence their priest, but disagreeing 
 In price or creed, dismiss him without fear; 
 
 They have a natural talent for foreseeing 
 And knowing all things ; and should Park appear 
 
 From his long tour in Africa, to show 
 
 The Niger's source, they'd meet him with— we know 
 
 IV. 
 
 They love their land, because it is their own, 
 And scorn to give aught other reason why ; 
 
 Would shake hands with a king upon his throne, 
 And think it kindness to his majesty ; 
 
 A stubborn race, fearing and flattering none. 
 Such are they nurtured, such they live and die : 
 
 All — but a few apostates, who are meddling 
 
 With merchandise, pounds, shillings, pence, and 
 peddling ; 
 
 V. 
 
 Or wandering through the southern conntries.teaching 
 The ABC from Webster's spelling-book ; 
 
 Gallant and godly, making love and preaching, 
 And gaining by what they call " hook and crook," 
 
 And what the moralists call over-reaching, 
 A decent living. The Virginians look 
 
 Upon them with as favorable eyes 
 
 As Gabriel on the devil in paradise. 
 
 VI. 
 
 But these are but their outcasts. View them near 
 At home, where all their worth and pride is placed; 
 
 And there their hospitable fires burn clear, 
 
 And there the lowliest farmhouse hearth is graced 
 
 With manly hearts, in piety sincere, 
 
 Faithful in love, in honor stern and chaste, 
 
 In friendship warm and true, in danger brave. 
 
 Beloved in life, and sainted in the grave. 
 
 VII. 
 
 And minds have there been nurtured, whose con- 
 trol 
 
 Is felt even in their nation's destiny; 
 Men who swayed Benates with a statesman's soul, 
 
 And looked on armies with a leader's eye; 
 Names that adorn and dignify the scroll, 
 
 Whose leaves contain their country's history, 
 And tales of love and war — listen to one 
 Of the Green-Munntaineer — the Stark of Bennington. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 When on that field his band the Hessians fought. 
 Briefly he spoke before the fight began : 
 
 " Soldiers I those German gentlemen are bought 
 For four pounds eight and sevenpence per man, 
 
 By England's king ; a bargain, as is thought. 
 
 Are we worth more ? Let's prove it now we can ; 
 
 For we must beat them, boys, ere set of sun, 
 
 Or Mary Stark's a Widow." It was done. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Her clear, warm heaven at noon— the mist that shrouds 
 Her twilight hills — her cool and starry eves, 
 
 The glorious splendor of her sunset clouds, 
 The rainbow beauty of her forest leaves, 
 
 Come o'er the eye, in solitude and crowds, 
 Where'er his web of song her poet weaves; 
 
 And his mind's brightest vision but displays 
 
 The autumn scenery of his boyhood's days. 
 
 X. 
 
 And when you dream of woman, and her love ; 
 
 Her truth, her tenderness, her gentle power ; 
 The maiden listening in the moonlight grove, 
 
 The mother smiling in her infant's bower ; 
 Forms, features, worshipped while we breathe or move, 
 
 Be by some spirit of your dreaming hour 
 Borne, like Loretto's chapel, through the air 
 To the green land I sing, then wake, you'll find them 
 there. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKEffiSSflSS. 
 
 THOMAS M. WALLER, 
 
 Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 The career of the present Governor of this State 
 is not an uncommon one, in a country which affords 
 ample opportunities for men of natural genius and 
 honorable ambition to push their way in spite of 
 many obstacles; but in the case of Thomas M. 
 Waller, there is something more of romance than 
 is ordinarily furnished in the lives of many men 
 who have attained merited distinction in public 
 and business affairs. It is a matter of note that a 
 majority of the Governors of this commonwealth 
 have been the architects of their own fortunes. They 
 have been " poor boys," and have encountered hard 
 rows in the struggle which finally gave them 
 personal and financial success. 
 
 Gov Waller, now forty-three years of age, was 
 born in New York. His parents were Thomas 
 Christopher and Mary Armstrong. Both his mother 
 and his father and his only brother, who was his 
 junior, died before he was nine years old, and he 
 found himself alone in a great city. Obtaining 
 some assistance he was able to buy newspapers, to 
 begin the life of a newsboy. His life from that 
 time has been filled with work, and every step of 
 his way toward his exalted position has been won 
 by his own devotion to duty and cheerful submis- 
 sion to the law of labor. Of his occupation then 
 the History of New London County, which contains 
 sketches of the distinguished residents of that 
 section, says: "For some months he carried papers 
 in the lower parts of the city, finding his best 
 customers, in the Tammany Hall of those days, and 
 more than one night, while he was following this 
 life, he pillowed his head on the steps of the old 
 Tribune building." In a speech, made during the 
 last campaign in this State, Gov. Waller himself, 
 said that anybody who knows him, will justify 
 him in saying : " Since I was a newsboy in New 
 York many years ago — ever since I was selling, 
 ihe "Herald," the "Tribune," the "Sun" and 
 "Morning Star" — up to the moment I accepted 
 the nomination of Governor of the great Democratic 
 party of this Commonwealth, I have been endeavor- 
 ing in an honest way, by skilled labor and careful 
 thought, to build for myself a reputation that I 
 should not be ashamed of, and that five boys of 
 mine should not be ashamed of either." 
 
 He gave up selling papers to go to sea, and was 
 employed on several fishing vessels, as cabin-boy 
 and cook's mate, until in 1849 he had made 
 arrangements to ship to California, on the "Mount 
 Vernon," from New London. It was at this time 
 that the late Eobert K. Waller, of New London, 
 found the lad, and becoming interested in him 
 adopted him, and thereafter he assumed the name 
 of Waller. He was treated with all the considera- 
 
 tion of an own son, and in after years was able to 
 show a son's kindness, to those who had protected 
 him He attended the public schools of New 
 London, and was graduated at the Bartlctt High 
 School, with honors. In 1861, he was admitted to 
 the bar, and very soon after, entered as a private in 
 the Second Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and 
 was chosen fourth sergeant of Company E. He 
 went to the front witli the regiment, but was com- 
 pelled, owing to a painful affliction of the eyes, to 
 leave the service. His spirit-stirring addresses in 
 behalf of the Government during the dark days of 
 he war, did much to promote loyalty and strength- 
 en the power of the government. 
 
 Upon his return he entered actively into the 
 practice of his profession, and from that day has 
 successively filled honorable public positions, 
 and continually become more and more favora- 
 bly known to the people of the State. In 1867, 
 1868, 1872, and 1876 he was elected to the lower 
 branch of the Legislature from New London, and 
 in the latter year was Speaker of the House, a po- 
 sition he filled with distinguished ability. In 
 1870 he was chosen Secretary of State on the Dem- 
 ocratic ticket, headed by Gov. English, and in 
 thatservice made an honorable record. In 1873 he 
 was elected Mayor of New London, and filled 
 that office in a business-like and most acceptable 
 manner for six years. In 1875 he was chosen by 
 the Judges of the Supreme and Superior Courts 
 to be State's Attorney for New London County, 
 and up to the time of his election as Governor he 
 held that position. 
 
 Gov. Waller has been consistently a Democrat 
 in politics, but has never possessed the least 
 bigotry as a politician. He has been frankly in- 
 dependent on many occasions in conventions of 
 his party, and in other places of partisan debate. 
 As an orator he is impressive to a degree which, 
 on occasions of party strife in important gather- 
 ings, has given him a magnetic hold of men, and 
 no man of his party in the State has so often car- 
 ried convictions by the power of eloquence or 
 any other influence. In personal manner Gov. 
 Waller is a gentleman of many attractions. 
 Pleasant and fluent in conversation, easy of ap- 
 proach, strong in his friendships, he is greatly 
 loved by his friends, of whom he has multitudes 
 in all political parties and among all classes. 
 
 GEORGE G. SUMNER, 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 The family of the Lieutenant-Governor of 
 Connecticut lived at the time of his birth, Janu- 
 ary 14, 1841, in the north part of the society of 
 Gilead, in the town of Hebron. He was named 
 after his mother's father, George Gleason, who 
 
io;.\ ••• •• 
 
 a •••••• 
 
 : : •: : : 
 
 llv6dMto.tRc:M4nVliepfc>V. \iiSe in Glastonbury. 
 HSs gj-apdfatihcB on 'Jiis' father 's side was Henry 
 Peterson Sujnner,. a . Methodist preacher in 
 Gileacl.y tWh/u hfl Vtfejabgut six years of age, his 
 father'jJo-hjiMV.. .'SViraneiy inoved to Collinsville, 
 where the latter was superintendent in the axe 
 factory established by the Collinses, whose en- 
 terprise has resulted in the building up of a 
 great manufacturing industry. In 1852 the 
 family moved to Bolton and has lived there 
 since. George, the son, attended the district 
 school, and when about fourteen years of age 
 was sent to the Bartlett High School, at New 
 London, where he studied for a vear and a half, 
 and there met for the first time Thomas M. Wal- 
 ler, who was in the same school, laying founda- 
 tions for the professional and public life which 
 both he and Mr. Sumner subsequently entered. 
 Before reaching the age of sixteen Mr. Sumner 
 became the teacher of a district school in 
 Andover, which he successfully conducted, and 
 then went to Williston Seminary, at East Hamp- 
 ton, Mass. , and fitted for college ; but his pur- 
 pose of obtaining a university education was de- 
 feated by impaired health, and with the good 
 mental equipment which he had obtained he re- 
 turned to the farm in Bolton, working in the 
 summer time and teaching winters for about four 
 years. During this period he was Town Clerk 
 for three years, Probate Clerk, and Acting 
 School Visitor. The kindness and favors of the 
 people of Bolton in those years have often been 
 the subject of Mr. Sumner's conversation with 
 his friends, and he frequently expresses his 
 pleasure in renewing old associations there upon 
 his repeated visits to his home. In 1864 he be- 
 gan the study of law with Hon. David M. Cal- 
 houn, the present Judge of the Hartford County 
 Court of Common Pleas, then living in Manches- 
 ter, and afterwards came to Hartford and entered 
 the law office of Waldo & Hyde, and in 1866 was 
 admitted to the bar. In 1867 he was elected a 
 Bepresentative in the Legislature from Bolton, 
 and in the same year Mr. Waller was for the first 
 time a member of the House. He was chiefly 
 instrumental that year in securing the passage 
 of the bill for a public act which gives the ac- 
 cused in a criminal trial the right to testify in 
 his own behalf. In the same year Mr. Sumner 
 established his residence in Hartford, and in 
 1868 was elected to the Board of Aldermen from 
 the Fifth Ward, and served four years. He was 
 City Attorney for one term, Associate Judge of 
 the City Court, and Police Commissioner for 
 threo years, and Becorder of the City Court for 
 four years. In these positions he served the 
 public with zeal and fidelity, and there was a 
 manifest appreciation of his worth as a public 
 servant when, in the third year of his member- 
 ship, a Republican Common Council refused to 
 accept his resignation, and increased the salary 
 of his office as an inducement for him to remain. 
 
 Mr. Sumner had been prominently named for 
 the Democratic nomination for Governor at the 
 last election, but he encouraged no active move- 
 ment in his behalf, and cordially concurred in 
 the nomination of Mr. Waller. By common con- 
 sent he was named for tho second place. The 
 high school boys in New Lan Ion in 1855, and 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 the young legislators in 1867 had come together 
 again, each in the pursuit of an honorable ambi- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Sumner is one of the rising men in his 
 party and in the State. He has in every place of 
 public trust so justified the confidence of the 
 people that his place in public affairs is the hon- 
 orable reward of faithful service. Besides the 
 integrity of his character, he is a man of most 
 kindly disposition, of generous impulses, a true 
 and manly friend, broad in his sympathies, and 
 fair in his judgment. While consistently a party 
 man, yet he ia so broad in his views, and so tol- 
 erant of the convictions of those who entertain 
 opposing opinions, that party lines furnish no 
 measure of the esteem in which he is popularlv 
 held. 3 
 
 D. WARD NORTHROP, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 Hon. D. Ward Northrop, of Middletown, Sec- 
 retary of State, was born in the town of Sher- 
 man, Conn., February 19, 1844, and is of Scotch 
 descent, the family being among the best citizens 
 in the western part of the State. On his mater- 
 nal side he is a descendant from the Rogers 
 family, straight down from the first martyr, 
 John Rogers, in Queen Mary's reign. His grand- 
 mother, Lucrecia Rogers, was an own cousin of 
 the late Gideon Welles. Judge Northrop spent 
 his early life on a farm, and attended the district 
 school. He prepared for college at Amenia 
 Seminary, in Duchess County, N. Y. After fin- 
 ishing his academic education he entered Wes- 
 leyan University, in tho class of '68, graduating 
 with honors in that year. For a year after grad- 
 uating, Judge Northrop taught languages in the 
 Fort Edward Institute, N. Y., at the same time 
 reading law. . He then entered the Albanv Law 
 School and completed the course there in 1870. 
 In the fall of 1870 he was admitted to the bar of 
 this State in Middlesex County, settled in Mid- 
 dletown and has remained there since. In 1873 
 Judge Northrop was elected Judge of Probate 
 for the district of Middletown, and served in that 
 position faithfully and honorably until 1881, re- 
 ceiving at each re-election a considerable number 
 of Republican votes. In 1881 ho declined to be 
 a candidate for re-election. In 1871 Judge 
 Northrop was elected to the General Assembly, 
 and was Chairman of the School Fund Com- 
 mittee. He was again elected in 1881, and was 
 a member of the Judiciary Committee, also of 
 the committees on Engrossed Hills and State 
 House Grounds. He was a member in 1882, 
 served on the Judiciary Committee, and was also 
 Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills. 
 On the floor of the house Judge Northrop was 
 the recognized leader on the part of the Dem- 
 ocrats and well earned the title. Locally, Judge 
 Northrop has been many times honored. He 
 has been a member of the Common Council, 
 member and Secretary of the Board of Educa- 
 tion of the City School District, Assistant Clerk 
 of Courts for ton vears, member of the Board of 
 Trustees of Wesleyan University and of its Exe- 
 cutive Committee, and in other minor positions. 
 H ; was for a number of years a member of the 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 11 
 
 Democratic State Central Committee. Is a mem- 
 ber of the Psi Upsilon Chapter located in Mid- 
 dletown, and has continued his interest in the 
 fraternity since he left college, rendering much 
 assistance in the erection and maintenance of the 
 elegant chapter house on Broad street. 
 
 Judge Northrop's grandfather, David North- 
 rop, represented the town of Sherman in 1810 as 
 a member of the House of Bepresentatives, and 
 his father, David Northrop, served in the same 
 capacity in 1835, thus he is the third in the line 
 of succession as member of the General Assem- 
 bly. 
 
 Judge Northrop's family have always been 
 among the best and most honored citizens of 
 Sherman and the western part of the State. 
 
 Judge Northrop's advancement to office since 
 he graduated from college in 1868 has been 
 rapid, and shows a rare estimation of his abili- 
 ties and the esteem in which ho is held among 
 all classes of citizens in the community where he 
 resides. 
 
 ALFRED R. GOODRICH, 
 
 State Treasurer. 
 
 Hon. Alfred B. Goodrich, State Treasurer, is a 
 direct descendant of Ensign William Goodrich, 
 who, with his brother, John Goodrich, settled in 
 Wethersfield about the year 1 636. His grandfather, 
 George Goodrich, served in the Revolutionary war, 
 and after its close removed to the town of Gill, 
 Mass., where he died at the advanced age of ninety- 
 two year?. A large family of children survived 
 him, but his wife, Lucinda Wells, died in 1814. 
 Alfred Goodrich, the father of Alfred R. Goodrich, 
 was born in Gill in 1787, and occupied the old 
 homestead, where he also reared a large family of 
 children. He died in 1866 at the age of seventy- 
 nine. His wife was Abigail Howland, daughter of 
 Solomon Howland, of Greenfield, Mass. She died 
 in 1821, leaving three sons, of whom the subject of 
 the present sketch was the youngest. He was born 
 at Gill in 1818. At the age of nine years he was 
 installed in the family of a near relative at Vernon, 
 and has since resided there. Mr. Goodrich was 
 educated at the Deerfiuld Academy. Subsequently 
 he became an associate teacher and principal in the 
 institution. In 1843 he commenced the study of 
 medicine under the instruction of the late Alden 
 Skinner, and graduated in 1846 with distinction 
 from the Berkshire Medical College. He practiced 
 for some time in New York City, and remained 
 there during the terrible epidemic of ship fevi-r. 
 Dr. Goodrich was himself prostrated by the disor- 
 der, but finally recovered from the attack. After 
 his restoration to health he returned to Vernon, and 
 has since been engaged in his profession there, en- 
 tering also into mercantile and manufacturing 
 interests. In 1870 Dr. Goodrich was elected as the 
 first Democratic Representative from his town, 
 receiving, as he has invariably done when a candi- 
 date for public office, a very flattering vote from 
 his political opponents. In 1871 he was the Demo- 
 cratic nominee for Congress in the first district, and 
 came very near securing his election. Dr. Good- 
 rich was elected State Comptroller in 1873, and 
 was re elected for the three succeeding terms, dis- 
 charging the duties of the office with fidelity and 
 
 honor. He was successful in largely reducing the 
 expenses of the State. Since 1874 he has been 
 President of the Mutual Benefit Life Company of 
 Hartford. Previous to 1874 he was Vice-president 
 of the Company. In 1879 Dr. Goodrich was elected 
 President of the Connecticut State Medical Society, 
 but he declined a re-election. He is also a member 
 of the State Board of Agriculture. He is a director 
 in the Rockville Savings Bank, and in the Hartford 
 Spring and Axle Company. In addition to his 
 business associations, he is still engaged in the 
 practice of his profession. Dr. Goodrich married 
 Charlotte Dobson, daughter of the late Hon. Peter 
 Dobson, the founder of cotton manufacturing 
 interests in Vernon. In politics Dr. Goodrich is a 
 Democrat. 
 
 FRANK D. SLOAT, 
 
 State Comptroller. 
 
 General Frank D. Sloat, of New Haven, State 
 Comptroller, was born at Fishkill, New York, Sep- 
 tember 28, 1835. His ancestry were Hollanders, 
 and his mother's English. After a few years of 
 clerkship, the latter portion of the time in New 
 York City, he became identified with the New York 
 Steam Heating Company as salesman. He con- 
 tinued in this position two years, and was then in- 
 vited, in 1859, to become the manager of the com- 
 pany's manufactory, located at New Haven, Conn. 
 In 1862 he enlisted in a company then recruiting 
 for the Fifteenth Begiment C. V. Being too late 
 to enter that regiment, his company was assigned to 
 the Twenty-seventh Begiment C. V. At the elec- 
 tion of company officers, General Sloat was made 
 Second Lieutenant, and before having the post 
 rendezvous for the seat of war lie was appointed 
 First Lieutenant. The term of service of the 
 regiment having expired, it returned to New Haven, 
 where General Sloat was offered the position of 
 bookkeeper and confidential secretary for Mr. C. S. 
 Bushnell. He was also while thus employed Presi- 
 dent of the Steam Heating Company. 
 
 General Sloat, when absent from home in 1864, 
 was nominated for the important office of Town 
 Clerk of the Town of New Haven by the Bepubli- 
 cans, and was elected. 
 
 From 1867 to 1870 he resided in Wisconsin, and 
 later was an officer of a manufacturing company in 
 Middletown, Conn. With the exception of a year 
 or two, General Sloat has resided in New Haven. 
 The exception was a residence in Middletown, 
 where he was elected a member of the Common 
 Council of that city by a flattering majority. 
 
 General Sloat is a veteran Mason for one of his 
 age, having been a member since his majority. He 
 is a member of the Knights of Honor, and has' been 
 Grand Dictator of the Grand Lodge, etc., etc 
 
 He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of 
 the Bepublic, and there is no society of which he 
 is a member that has a warmer place in his heart. 
 
 A Republican in principle, he is in no sense a 
 partisan. No man can bo more sensitive and care- 
 ful than he that politics shall not cloud his friend- 
 ships and social ties. Many of General Sloat's 
 warmest friends are Democrats, and it would cause 
 him great unpleasantness to know that political 
 differences had lost him a friend. 
 
< 
 
The State Government, 1883. 
 
 Governor — Thomas M. Waller, New London. 
 Lieutenant-Governor — George G. Sumner, 
 Hartford. 
 
 Secretary of State — D. Ward Northrop, Mid- 
 dletown. 
 
 Treasurer — A. B. Goodrich, Vernon. 
 Comptroller— Frank D. Sloat, New Haven. 
 
 SENATE. 
 
 Alsop, Joseph W. 
 Baker, Tallmadge 
 Barnes, Chester W. 
 Barrows, Clark E. 
 Boss, Eugene S. 
 Clark, William J. 
 Coit, Bobert 
 Cooke, Lorrin B. 
 De Forest, Bobert E. 
 Dennis, Ebenezer C. 
 Elton James S. 
 Gilbert Balph P. 
 Gunn, George M. 
 Hills, John B. 
 King, Owen 15. 
 Northrop, William N. 
 Plunkett, Joseph D. 
 Bichardson r Milo B. 
 Scofield, Edwin L. 
 Spencer, Bichard P. 
 Strickland, Bial 
 Sturtevant, Charles P. 
 Welch, ElishaN. 
 Yale, Charles D. 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- 
 TIVES. 
 
 Abell, Charles J., Lebanon. 
 Alenander, Pardon M., Groton. 
 Allen, Charles N. , Putnam. 
 Amadon, William Perry, Stafford. 
 Andrews, Charles H., Darien. 
 Andrews, Charles 8. , New Britain. 
 Arnold, Titus E., Chatham. 
 Ayer, E. Eugene, Franklin. 
 Babbitt, Isaac, Bridgewater. 
 Bailey, EzraB., Windsor Locks. 
 Baker, George H. , Ashford. 
 Baldwin, Herbert C, Beacon Falls. 
 Bancroft, Horace M., East Windsor. 
 Bantle, Jacob, Glastonbury. 
 Barrows, Royal R., Hebron. 
 Bartlett, Prescott, Putnam. 
 Barton, Merrick, Chaplin. 
 Bass, Waterman C, Scotland 
 
 Beard, James H., Huntington. 
 
 Beebe, William H., Lyme. 
 
 Bell, Charles W.,Norwalk. 
 
 Benedict, Abel, Sharon. 
 
 Bennett, Charles, Canterbury. 
 
 Bentley, John S., North Stonington. 
 
 Bentley, William H., Col., New London. 
 
 Bindhammcr, Henry, Vernon. 
 
 Blackman, Samuel A., Newtown. 
 
 Blackwell, John, Bloomfield. 
 
 Bliss, John F., New Canaan. 
 
 Bowman, George A., Rev., South Windsor. 
 
 Bradley, Edward E., Gen'l., Orange. 
 
 Branch, Levi J., Sprague. 
 
 Bristol, Freeman, Cheshire. 
 
 Bronson, Ely, Middlebury. 
 
 Brown, Frank T., Norwich. 
 
 Brown, Frederick J., Waterbury, 
 
 Brown, Wm. J., Ledyard. 
 
 Bulkley, Stephen, Wethersfield. 
 
 Bunnell, Norris W. , Burlington. 
 
 Burnham, James A., Hampton. 
 
 Burr, Myron St. Clare, Killingworth. 
 
 Butler Horace B. , Middletown. 
 
 Carlisle, Elihu, Goshen. 
 
 Carrier, Ralph T., Colchester. 
 
 Carroll, Patrick, Newtown. 
 
 Carter, Calvin EL, Waterbury. 
 
 Carter, Henry B., Wolcott. 
 
 Carter, Ruel, Warren. 
 
 Case, Fred us M., Windsor. 
 
 Catlin Lyman S. , Stratford. 
 
 Cheney, Frank M., Manchester. 
 
 Child, John, Saybrook. 
 
 Clark, Thos. G., Canterbury. 
 
 Clark, Wm. II., Jr., Chester. 
 
 Cleveland, Edward S., Hartford. 
 
 Coleman, Marvin P., Coventry. 
 
 Cook, James N., Voluntown. 
 
 Cook, Marcus E., Wallingford. 
 
 Cook, Reuben T., Meriden. 
 
 Couch, E. P., Stonington. 
 
 Cowdery, Oliver P., Hartland. 
 
 Cowles, Geo. R., Norwalk. 
 
 Cowles, Horace, Morris. 
 
 Cressey, R. I., Norfolk. 
 
 Cundall, Edward L., Brooklyn. 
 
 Curtiss, Wallace K., Harwinton. 
 
 Daggett, S. Henry, Andover. 
 
 Davis, Clinton B., Haddam. 
 
 Davis, Noah Chapin, Stafford. 
 
 Delano, Thos. H., Greenwich. 
 
 De Wolfe, Roger W., Old Lyme. 
 
 Downes, William E., Derby. 
 
 Doyle, William H., Litchfield. 
 
 Drake, Samuel D., Windsor. 
 
 Durand, George G., Bethel. 
 
14 
 
 THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Durand, Wm. Cecil, Milford. 
 
 Eaton, Arthur W. , East Hartford. 
 
 Edwards, Geo. W., M. D., Granby. 
 
 Eldredge, Geo., Groton. 
 
 Eno, Luman B., Somers. 
 
 Essex, Charles C., Willingtoa. 
 
 Fitts, Thos. K., Ashford. 
 
 Fleischer, Hermann, New Britain. 
 
 Fonda, John E. , Cole brook. 
 
 Foote, Charles, North Branford. 
 
 Forbes, Alex. W. , East Haven. 
 
 Fowler, Amos T., Windham. 
 
 French, Wm. G., Watertown. 
 
 Gardner, Washington K., Waterford. 
 
 Gates, Wm. F., Lebanon. 
 
 Gay, Erastus, Farmington. 
 
 Geib, Henry P., Stamford. 
 
 Gillette, Rufus M., Prospect. 
 
 Gilman, Ashbel, East Hartford. 
 
 Gladwin, Richard H., East Haddam. 
 
 Gorham, Frank, M. D., Weston. 
 
 Griswold, Edward, Guilford. 
 
 Griswold, Rufus W., Rocky Hill. 
 
 Grover, Lester K., Somers. 
 
 Grover, Wm. B., Fairfield. 
 
 Hart, Lewis D., Winchester. 
 
 Henry, E. Stevens, Vernon. 
 
 Hilliard, Elisha C, Manchester. 
 
 Hitchcock, Roland Judge, Winchester. 
 
 Horace, M. Bancroft, East Windsor. 
 
 Howe, Andrew J., Bozrah. 
 
 Hoyt, Albert B., Danbury. 
 
 Hubbell, James T., Wilton. 
 Humphrey, Lucius C, Farmington. 
 Hungerford, L. Beach, Sherman. 
 Hurd, Samuel S., Monroe. 
 Hurlbut, Hiram H., Bristol. 
 Husted, Nehemiah 11., Greenwich. 
 Hyde, Fred'k, Pomfret. 
 Jackson, Alfred, Durham. 
 James, Coley, Torrington. 
 Johnson, John P., Clinton. 
 Jones, Flavel, Marlborough. 
 Kellogg, Henry A., New Hartford. 
 Kirtland, Ozias H, Old Saybrook. 
 Law, Geo. H, Killingly. 
 Law, Wm. H., New Haven. 
 Lockwood, David B., Bridgeport. 
 Loomis, Geo. H., Columbia. 
 Lucas, Aaron, Preston. 
 Luther, Linus A. , Lyme. 
 Lyman, Charles P., Washington. 
 Lyon, George N., Eastport. 
 Mahan, Bryan F. , New London. 
 Main, Charles H., North Stonington. 
 Mann, Bela A. , Hamden. 
 Markham, H. P., Chatham. 
 McCarty, Thomas, Lisbon. 
 McLean, George P., Simsbury. 
 McNamara, Timothy B., Plymouth. 
 Mead, Henry J., North Canaan. 
 Merrill, Henry C, New Hartford, 
 Merwin, Nathan P., Milford. 
 Middleton, John, Enfield. 
 Miller, Edward D., Glastonbury. 
 Miller, James E., Bedding. 
 Mills, Gustavus D., East Granby. 
 Miner, Edward S., Torrington. 
 Miner, William C, Madison. 
 
 Minor, Chas. William, Stamford. 
 
 Mitchell, Nelson W., Southbury. 
 
 Mix, John W. , Cheshire. 
 
 Mooney, Patrick, Wallingford. 
 
 Morehouse, Chas. B., Jr., Ilidgefield. 
 
 Morgan, Daniel N. , Bridgeport. 
 
 Morse, John, Meridon. 
 
 Morse, Nathan C, Woodstock. 
 
 Morton, Arthur J., Tolland. 
 
 Munger, Elisha, East Lyme. 
 
 Neal, Elisha J., Southington. 
 
 Newcomb, Loren, Tolland. 
 
 Newton, William C, Durham. 
 
 Nichols, Geo, II., Thompson, 
 
 Nickerson, Leonard J., Cornwall. 
 
 North, Geo. P. Thomaston. 
 
 Odell, Wm. T., Washington. 
 
 Osborn, Newton, Newington. 
 
 Osborn, Orlando O., Oxford. 
 
 Palmer, Alex. S., Jr., Stonington. 
 
 Pease, Lorin II., Enfield. 
 
 Perkins Charles C, Bethany. 
 
 Perkins. John S., Salisbury. 
 
 Perkins, Orlando, Cornwall. 
 
 Perry, Wilbert Warren, Hartford. 
 
 Pine, Charles H. (Speaker of the House, Session of 
 
 1883), Derby. 
 Pomeroy, Newton S., Suffield. 
 Porter, Charles, Redding. 
 Post, John A., Westbrook. 
 Rathbone, George B., Colchester. 
 Richmond, Henry A., Preston. 
 Rindge, Thomas, Union. 
 Robbins, Edward Denmore, Wethersfield. 
 Rogers, Frank L., Fairfield. 
 Rogers, J. Randolph, Montville. 
 Rosebrooks, Geo. L., Mansfield. 
 Rossiter, Henry M., Guilford. 
 Rouse, Willis D., Plainfield. 
 Ruggles, Sidney B., Southington. 
 Russell, Charles A., Col., Killingly. 
 Russel, Charles T., Harwinton. 
 Ryder, James, Gen'l, Danbury. 
 Savage, Geo. P., Cromwell. 
 Sedgwick, Timothy, West Hartford. 
 Sevin, N. Douglass, Norwich. 
 Shailer, Orrin, Haddam. 
 Sherwood, Moses, Westport. 
 Simonds, William E. , Canton. 
 Sisson, Wm. M., East Haddam. 
 Smith, Guilford, Windham. 
 Snow, O. M., Norfolk. 
 Southworth, Jabez, Saybrook. 
 Spencer, Thomas B. , Colebrook. 
 Sperry, Norman, Seymour. 
 Sprague, Albert B., Plainfield. 
 Squires, Aaron H. , New Milford. 
 Starkey, Horace W. , Essex. 
 Starr, E. Ratchford, Litchfield. 
 Stevens, Daniel K. , Killingworth. 
 Still, James S. , Willington. 
 St. John, Edward F. , Simsbury. 
 Street, Gilbert S., Salisbury. 
 Strong, Newton B., Portland. 
 Sumner, Edwin G. ( Mansfield. 
 Taylor, Charles, New Milford. 
 Terrill, Moses W., Middlefield. 
 Thomas, Albert N., Ridgefield. 
 Thompson, Joseph Abbott, Ellington. 
 
THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 15 
 
 Tiffany, Stephen, Griswold. 
 Tiffany, Timothy C, Barkhamsted. 
 Todd, F. Hayden, North Haven. 
 Tolles, Fremont W. , Naugatuck. 
 Towne, Edward S., Kev., Plainville. 
 Towne, Eli M., Woodbury. 
 Troup, Alexander, New Haven. 
 Vieto, Henry G. , Granby. 
 Wadhams, Wilbur II., Goshen. 
 Waite, Silas A.., Sterling. 
 Wales, Andrew J., Union. 
 Walker, Charles T., Woodbridge. 
 Walker, Fred'k A., Woodbury. 
 Walsh, John T., Middletown. 
 Ward, .Tames J. , Easton. 
 Ward, John E., Bristol. 
 Ward, William M. W., Hartland. 
 Warner, Cliarles C, Suffield. 
 Warner, Elihu S., Berlin. 
 Wells, Lewis G., Woodstock. 
 Wells, Philip W., Boxbury. 
 Wheeler, John B., Coventry. 
 White, Jabez Lee, Bolton. 
 Whitehead, James S., New Fairfield. 
 Wilbur, Thomas, Thompson. 
 Williams, Amos L., Brookfield. ' 
 Williams Charles G., Pomfret. 
 
 Williams, Joseph Hanford, Trumbull. 
 Williams, Nelson N., Salem. 
 Wilson, James Martin, Avon. 
 Winchester, Edwin M., Sharon. 
 Winegar, Linus B., Kent. 
 Wolcott, Charles E., Canaan. 
 Wood, Jonathan Nichols, Hebron. 
 Wootten, Jonathan, Bethlehem. 
 Wright, William Alvin, Branford. 
 Youngs, Wilfred D., Barkhamsted. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Orville H. Piatt, term expires 1885. 
 Joseph B. Hawley, term expires 1887. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES IN 
 CONGRESS. 
 
 Term began March 4, 1883. 
 Win. W. Eaton, First District. 
 Cliarles L. Mitchell, Second District. 
 John T. Wait, Third District. 
 Edward W. Seymour, Fourtli District 
 
STATE CAPITOL, HARTFORD, CONN. 
 
CONNECTICUT. 
 
 THE State of Connecticut .derives its name from 
 its most beautiful natural feature, the chief 
 river of New England, which, entering its north- 
 ern borders from Massachusetts, divides the State, 
 east and west, into two unequal portions, and 
 empties into Long Island Sound between the towns 
 of Old Lyme and Saybrook. The river's name, in 
 the original Indian tongue, was Quinnituk, which, 
 as has been ascertained by that Connecticut 
 scholar, Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, who is the 
 foremost authority in this country on Indian lan- 
 guage, signified, "The long, tidal river." /This 
 river is at this day navigable for steamboats only 
 as far as Hartford, its capital, some fifty miles 
 from its mouth, and it was only to a point a short 
 distance above Hartford that- the first white 
 explorers of the river attained. 
 
 It was in 1014 that this first exploring expedition 
 was made, under command of Capt. Adrian Block, 
 commander of an Amsterdam ship, one of five 
 vessels sent out from the New Netherlands, who, 
 having entered Long Island Sound from the east- 
 ward, coasted along until he found the river, up 
 which he sailed, as stated. Block Island, near the 
 entrance of the Sound, still preserves the name of 
 this discoverer, upon whose voyage, most glowingly 
 reported at home, the Dutch laid their claim to the 
 territory now known as Connecticut. 
 
 The English claim to this same land was based 
 primarily upon a patent granted, in 1031, to Lord 
 Say and Seal, Lord Brooke, Sir Richard Saltonstall 
 and their associates, by Kobert, Earl of Warwick, 
 who derived his title from the patent of New Eng- 
 land granted by James I. in 1020. 
 
 In 1033, the rival claimants each made their first 
 lodgments on the soil of the State, the Dutch 
 building a fort on the river at Hartford, and one 
 William Holmes, of Plymouth Colony, a house at 
 AVindsor, some seven miles north. For a few years 
 there was contention between the two nationalities, 
 but ere long the Dutch yielded, sold out to the 
 English, and retired. 
 
 In 1035 and 1030, Rev. Thomas Hooker, who 
 had won a reputation in England and Holland as 
 one of the ablest of the non-conforming clergy, 
 emigrated, with nearly his whole congregation, 
 from Cambridge, Mass., where he had been settled, 
 and founded the towns of Hartford, Wethersfleld 
 and AVindsor. 
 
 The motive for the wholesale emigration of Mr. 
 Hooker and his church, including his associate 
 teacher, Samuel Stone, and, a little later, John 
 Haynes, who in 1035, was governor of Massachu- 
 setts, has been a matter of some speculation. 
 
 In 1035, also, John Winthrop the younger, son 
 of the Massachusetts governor, built a fort at Say- 
 brook under direct commission from the English 
 proprietaries. 
 
 It is a satisfaction to record that Hartford, then 
 a tract of six square miles, was honorably purchased 
 of the Indian tribes who inhabited it. 
 
 In 1030, the first General Court was held at 
 Hartford 
 
 In 1637, the new Colony found itself, in its very 
 beginnings, involved in war witli the powerful 
 Pequod Indians — a war which threatened its very 
 existence, but which ended in 1037 with the virtual 
 extermination of the tribe, consequent upon two 
 crushing defeats inflicted upon them by colonial 
 troops led by Capt. John Mason. 
 
 New Haven was settled in 1038 from Boston by 
 English settlers, headed by Thcophilus Eaton and 
 Bev. John Davenport. These adopted a constitu- 
 tion of their own, without warrant or sanction 
 from England, and, purchasing the land from the 
 Indians, proceeded to lay out the beautiful Elm 
 City in regular squares, upon a plain as level as 
 Runnymede, with a fine harbor opening into the 
 Sound. The site was chosen with reference to its 
 facilities for trade and commerce, avocations in 
 which the settlers had been engaged in England. 
 The inhabitants of this Colony were greatly annoyed 
 at the consolidation with Connecticut Colony by 
 order of the crown in 1005, especially as in New 
 Haven, suffrage had been restricted to church- 
 members, a restriction that did not prevail in Con- 
 necticut. From 1701 to 1872, the legislature met 
 alternately in Hartford and New Haven ; but, in 
 1872, the people of the State voted that Hartford 
 should be the single capital, and a very large and 
 handsome State capitol building was completed 
 in 1879, and occupied in that city. It is built 
 of marble, and cost, site included, more than 
 $3,000,000. 
 
 In 1039, the people of the State adopted their 
 first constitution,' of which that ripestudent of New 
 England history, Dr. Leonard Bacon, of New 
 Haven, has said that " It is the earliest precedent 
 of a written constitution proceeding from a people, 
 and in their name, establishing and defining 
 a government." 
 
 The first governor chosen under the constitution 
 was John Haynes, who alternated in the office with 
 Edward Hopkins for many years; for until 1059, 
 it was not the custom to allow a governor to serve 
 two consecutive years, although in the alternate 
 years he might be, and generally was, elected 
 "deputy governor," an office equivalent to that of 
 our modern lieutenant-governor. 
 
 In 1013, Connecticut joined the New England 
 Confederation — a creation, in the main, of Haynes 
 and Hooker, for the purpose of combining the 
 strength of the Colonies against Indian wars and 
 Dutch aggression. 
 
 In 1057, ex-Governor Hopkins died in England, 
 leaving handsome legacies to executors in the 
 
66 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Colonies " for the breeding up of hopeful youths 
 botli at the grammar school and college, for the 
 public service of the country in future times." 
 These funds were the foundation of the present 
 Hopkins grammar school, of New Haven, and the 
 Hartford high school. In 1057, John Winthrop 
 was elected governor of Connecticut, a position to 
 which, after the year 1058, he was annually 
 re-elected until his death in 1676. Few names in 
 the New England annals are comparable to that of 
 this gentlemen, scholar, traveler, and physician of 
 note, whose name is preserved in many parts of the 
 State, notably in New London, which he founded 
 in 1646. 
 
 In 1662, Governor Winthrop made a visit to 
 England in the interests of the Colony. He found 
 in Lord Say and Seal, the only survivor of the 
 original patentees, a warm friend, through whose 
 influence he was enabled to gain audience with 
 Charles II. At this interview, Winthrop, with his 
 wonted tact, first presented the king a ring that 
 had been given by Charles I. to his grandfather, 
 and then presented a petition from the Colony of 
 Connecticut for a royal charter. This charter, freely 
 granted by the king, can still be seen in the office 
 of the secretary of state at Hartford, framed witli 
 wood from the Charter Oak. Based, as this instru- 
 ment was, upon the colonial constitution of 1639, 
 it was indeed a royal gift, and proved of great 
 value to the young Colony, as evidenced by the 
 many subsequent attempts to revoke it on the part 
 of the successors of Charles II. 
 
 Upon the death of Gov. Winthrop, in 1676, 
 William Leete — who had served a term of six years 
 as governor of New Haven Colony — was chosen his 
 successor, Connecticut thus showing that the union 
 with New Haven was complete and cordial. In 
 1683, Maj. Robert Treat succeeded to the guberna- 
 torial chair on the death of Gov. Leete. He was a 
 son of one of the original patentees of the Colony, 
 and at the time of his election a resident of 
 Milford. He was one of the few men in that sec- 
 tion who dared to favor the union of New Haven 
 with Connecticut, in face of the opposition of 
 Davenport, and was instrumental, with Winthrop, 
 in bringing about that union. Like his predecessor, 
 Gov. Leete, he was one of those who helped to 
 harbor, conceal, and assist the regicides, Goffe and 
 Whalley, during their concealment in New Haven 
 Colony. He won his military rank during King 
 Philip's war in 1675-6, in course of which he 
 distinguished himself in command of the Connecti- 
 cut troops serving in Massachusetts. 
 
 In 1687, during the administration of Gov. Treat, 
 came the usurpation of Sir Edmund Andros, who, 
 having been appointed governor of New England 
 by James II., assumed sway over the Colonies until 
 the news of the fall of his royal master reached 
 America in 1689. The tale of Andros' futile ef- 
 forts to get the charter of Connecticut, and of how 
 it disappeared, to reappear after his downfall, has 
 made the name and fame of the Charter Oak 
 synonymous with that of the State. 
 
 In 1690, and again in 1093, the State furnished 
 its quota of troops for the war against the French 
 and Indians. 
 
 In 1 693, Gov. Fletcher, of the New York Col- 
 ony, demanded of Connecticut that its militia 
 should be put under his orders, under powers con- 
 
 ferred upon him by William and Mary. The as- 
 sembly and the people declined to accede to this 
 demand, and sent Fitz John Winthrop— son of the 
 late governor — to England to remonstrate. He was 
 successful in procuring a revocation of the order, 
 and was rewarded therefor by the assembly with a 
 present of three hundred pounds sterling, and in 
 1697, was chosen governor. 
 
 In 1701, the college was founded at Saybrook, 
 that, seventeen years later, was removed to New 
 Haven, and christened Yale College in honor of its 
 first private benefactor, Elihu Yale. 
 
 During the reign of Queen Anne (1703-14), an- 
 other futile attempt was made in England to force 
 Connecticut to give up its charter, the failure of 
 which was due, as in prior cases, to the cool- 
 headed obstinacy of the colonists. 
 
 In 1707, Fitz John Winthrop died while gover- 
 nor. He was succeeded by Rev. Gurdon Sal ton- 
 stall, a gentleman of marked nobility of carriage 
 and character, who left the ministry to become 
 governor — an office to which he was re-elected for 
 seventeen years. During his administration, " elec- 
 tion sermons were inaugurated, it being enacted by 
 the legislature that, on the day appointed bylaw for 
 choosing rulers, the ministers of the gospel should 
 preach to the freemen a sermon proper for their 
 direction in the work before them." This custom 
 was observed, almost without intermission, until 
 1 830, when it was finally abandoned. A compan- 
 ion custom of baking "election cake" for the same 
 ceremony, whose origin is venerable, but unknown, 
 lasted until the abandonment of spring elections in 
 1876. 
 
 In 1708, the "Saybrook Platform" was adopted 
 by the clergy of the State assembled in council at 
 the College Commencement. This furnished a 
 uniform standard or confession of faith for the 
 churches of the State, and a guide for the instruc- 
 tion of the college which was then designed chiefly 
 for the education of the young men for the minis- 
 try. As all the churches first formed were Congre- 
 gational, this platform was a matter of such im- 
 portance that, when the churches had ratified it, 
 the Assembly passed a vote expressing its gratifica- 
 tion thereat. 
 
 In 1710, the Saybrook Platform was published 
 in book form by Thomas Short — the first book 
 printed in Connecticut. Short soon died and was 
 succeeded by Timothy Greene, who settled in New 
 London as State printer — a position held by him- 
 self and heirs till after the Revolution. The first 
 newspaper in the State was the " Connecticut Ga- 
 zette," published in New Haven in 1755; the 
 second, the " New London Summary," was started 
 by Greene in 1758, and the third, the "Connec- 
 ticut Courant," begun in Hartford in 1764, has 
 been continuously published there ever since, its 
 principal editors at this date being Gen. Joseph R. 
 Hawley, and the equally well-known Charles Dud- 
 ley Warner. 
 
 In 1734, Gov. Saltonstall died, and was succeeded 
 by Joseph Talcott, who, like his predecessor, was 
 elected every year until his death in 1741. A touch- 
 ing incident of his gubernatorial career was the 
 sudden death of his wife during the legislative 
 session of 1738. Custom then required the pres- 
 ence of governor, or deputy governor, at all ses- 
 sions of the assembly, and as the latter was absent 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 SCENE AT HIGH ROCK GROVE, A SUMMER RESORT ON THE NAUGATUCK RAILROAD 
 
68 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 from the city, and his wife had died after the 
 morning session, Gov. Talcott was compelled to 
 leaveher dead body to preside overthe afternoon ses- 
 sion, which was, of course, made as short as pos- 
 sible. His conduct on this occasion is spoken of 
 in an address of condolence made by the assembly, 
 as betokening "greatness and presence of mind." 
 
 In 1750, the towns of Enfield, Suffield, Wood- 
 stock and Somers, which since 1713 had been gov- 
 erned by Massachusetts, were returned to Connec- 
 cut. It is owing to a confusion that then occurred 
 as to the correct boundaries of the town of Suffield 
 that a tract of land of two miles square on the 
 west of that town, and east of Granby belongs to 
 Massachusetts, making that queer jut that appears 
 on the northern boundary of Connecticut. As the 
 Southwick ponds, projecting well into Massachu- 
 setts, cover most of this space no recent attempts 
 have been made to rectify the line. 
 
 In 1751, Gen. Roger Wolcott, who had won his 
 rank in the French war, became governor. A. scion 
 of a family that had held office in the Colony from 
 its first settlement, he was the first to attain the 
 chief magistracy, an honor afterwards held by his 
 son, Oliver, in 1790 and 1797, and grandson, Oliver 
 2d, from 1818 to 1827 ; while his daughter, Ursula, 
 who married Gov. Matthew Griswold (1784), and 
 was the mother of Gov. Roger Griswold (1811), 
 was related and connected with twelve governors 
 and thirty-two judges, as shown by an interesting 
 paper prepared by Prof. E. E. Salisbury, of New 
 Haven, for the "New England Genealogical Reg- 
 ister." 
 
 In 1756, Connecticut furnished 2,000 men for 
 operations against Canada in the English war 
 against the French, and 5,000 more after the dis- 
 aster at Fort William Henry. It was in this war 
 that Israel Putnam and Benedict Arnold won their 
 first laurels as Connecticut soldiers. 
 
 In 1703, a small band of Connecticut emigrants 
 settled the beautiful Wyoming Valley in Pennsyl- 
 vania — a section of country over which Connecticut 
 claimed jurisdiction under its original patents — a 
 claim disputed, however, by Pennsylvania. The 
 settlers suffered much annoyance from the disputed 
 proprietorship, but maintained their position in the 
 valley, although in 1778, during the Revolution, a 
 band of 400 British and 700 Indians overran the 
 valley, the latter putting to the torture so many 
 of its inhabitants, that the " Massacre of Wyom- 
 ing" has passed into history and legend as an ex- 
 ample of barbaric cruelty. The title to the land 
 was finally awarded Pennsylvania, to whose govern- 
 ment the Connecticut coloivsts then submitted. 
 
 When in 1765, the " Stamp Act " went into force, 
 all Connecticut was ablaze with indignation, and 
 Jared Ingersoll of New Haven, the stamp-master 
 appointed by the crown, was forced to resign the 
 post, in peril of his life, by a body of so.me 500 
 farmers, all bearing staves, who overhauled him in 
 the streets of old Wetliersfield, as he was on his 
 way to Hartford to put himself in communication 
 with Gov. Fitch (himself of Tory proclivities), and 
 the assembly. The clergy of the State, headed by 
 that earnest patriot, Rev. Stephen Johnson of Lyme, 
 were active in inciting the people to opposition, 
 and when in OctolwrGov. Fitch, despite the earnest 
 remonstrance of two-thirds of his council, took 
 the oath to enforce the Stamp Act, seven of the 
 
 eleven councilors — among whom were two of hi* 
 successors in the executive chair — Jonathan Trum- 
 bull and Matthew Griswold. left the room rather 
 than witness the humiliating spectacle. The as- 
 sembly and people indorsed this protest and, in 
 the ensuing election in 1706, replaced Pitch, the 
 Tory, with William Pitkin, the patriot, with Trum- 
 bull as deputy governor. 
 
 In 1769, Jonathan Trumbull, who was the famed 
 " Brother Jonathan" of the Revolution, was pro- 
 moted to be governor, u post to which he was 
 annually re-elected till 1784, when, at tho age of 
 seventy-three, he refused further service, after 
 having held one public office and another in the 
 State for fifty-one years. The friend and counsellor 
 of Washington, who bestowed upon him that name, 
 " Brother Jonathan," that has since come to be ap- 
 plied to the United States as a nation, the honor of 
 having been the great war governor of the Revolu- 
 tion belongs to Trumbull, as did a similar honor to 
 Ills townsman Win. A. Buckingham, in the war of 
 the Rebellion. As in the case of Wolcott, a son and 
 grandson of Trumbull became governors of the 
 State. 
 
 In 1774, Connecticut prepared for hostilities, 
 ordering New London fortified, and the towns to 
 lay in ammunition. 
 
 In 1775, the assembly commissioned David 
 Wooster a major-general, and Israel Putnam, a 
 brigadier. With the first news of Lexington, Put- 
 nam rode post-haste to Cambridge, whither he had 
 ordered his troops to join him. In the words of 
 Bancroft, who is no partisan of Putnam, "He 
 brought to the service of his country, courage 
 which during the war was never questioned, and a 
 heart than which none throbbed more honestly or 
 warmly for American freedom." From all over 
 Connecticut volunteers were pushing for the seat of 
 war, when the assembly voted to raise six regiments 
 of 1,000 each. The total number of men raised by 
 the State during the whole war was 31,959, out of 
 a population of 238,141, a larger number than were 
 enlisted in any other State except Massachusetts, 
 although Connecticut was but seventh in population 
 of the Old Thirteen. At Bunker Hill Gen. Put- 
 nam was certainly present, and useful, however the 
 question of who held command may be settled. 
 
 At the disastrous repulse of the Revolutionary 
 troops at Quebec, Arnold, who had been in service 
 from the outbreak of the war, was in command, 
 with Montgomery, and had his leg shattered. 
 
 In June, 1776, the assembly instructed its repre- 
 sentatives in Congress to "give their assent to a 
 Declaration of Independence." The Connecticut 
 signers of the great document of July 4th, 1776, 
 were Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William 
 Williams and Oliver Wolcott, two of whom, 
 Huntington and Wolcott, were afterwards gov- 
 ernors of the State. 
 
 In August, 1776, Putnam commanded the 
 Americans in the battle of Long Island, a defeat 
 for which the latest and most careful writers on the 
 subject acquit him of the responsibility. 
 
 It was soon after this that Nathan Hale, a gallant 
 young officer of a Connecticut regiment, a native 
 of Coventry, but twenty-one years old at this time, 
 met the sad fate of a spy, owing to his capture by 
 the British, while returning from their camp on 
 Long Island, whither he had been sent by Wash- 
 
HE VIEW OF TIIE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 89 
 
 ington to procure intelligence and plans of the burned thirteen British vessels, captured ninety 
 ■enemy's works, in which he had entirely succeeded, prisoners, and returned scatheless. 
 The story of his brutal execution, denied botli a This year Arnold was made a major-general, and 
 Bible and clergy and of these memorable words of did splendid service at the battle of Saratoga, 
 his, " I only regret that I have but one life to lose In February, 1779, Tryon made another raid over 
 for my country," has enrolled his name among the border. Putnam tried to stop him, at Green- 
 heroes as the young martyr of the American Revo- wich, with a few old field-pieces and sixty men, 
 lution. but seeing that his position could be easily flanked, 
 In April, 1777, Gov. Tryon, Tory Governor of galloped off to Stamford for reinforcements, taking 
 New York, raided into Connecticut, burned a por- the famous ride down the rugged hill of Horse- 
 
 SCENE AT HIGH ROCK GROVE, A SUMMER RESORT ON THE NAUGATUCK RAILROAD. 
 
 •tion of Danbury, and, when his troops were at- 
 tacked on their retreat by Gen. Wooster witli a 
 flmall force, repulsed their assaults. Gen. Wooster 
 being shot and killed. Arnold, who commanded 
 -another detachment of Americans, narrowly 
 escaped a similar fate, his horse bcinsi shot under 
 film; yet lie succeeded in harrassing Tryon's retreat 
 *to such an extent that the latter lost one hundred 
 and seventy of his men, killed and wounded. 
 
 May 21st, Col. Meigs, with 200 men, retaliated 
 :for Tryon's visit by a raid in boats from New 
 Haven to Sag Harbor, Long Island, where they 
 
 neck, the centennial anniversary of which has but 
 lately been appropriately celebrated at Greenwich. 
 
 July 5th, 1799, a British fleet landed 3,000 troops 
 at the entrance of New Haven harbor, who after a 
 stern resistance from the few patriots that could 
 hastily be gathered, burned a number of stores and 
 private houses, pillaged others, murdered several 
 prisoners, and insulted and stabbed Rev. Dr. Dag- 
 gett, president of Yale College, who was only 
 spared at the intercession of a Tory guide of the 
 British, who had been an old pupil of the Doctor, 
 who, for his part, told his captors that he should 
 
70 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 take arms against them ■whenever opportunity 
 offered. The British embarked on the 6th, but on 
 the 8th lauded at Fairfield, where they plundered 
 and burned the village to ashes, inflicting the same 
 fate on Norwalk on the 11th. 
 
 In 1780, Benedict Arnold turned traitor to his 
 country, and in September, 1781, appeared off 
 New London with a British fleet of twenty-four 
 ships. Capturing the city and Fort Trumbull, 
 on the 6th of September, with little difficulty, a 
 portion of his force attacked Fort Griswold, on 
 the Groton bank of the Thames river, which was 
 most bravely defended by Colonel Ledyard and 
 tlie Americans under his command. Overpow- 
 ered at last by the greatly superior number of 
 the enemy, who were pouring into the fort, 
 Ledyard surrendered, but was brutally murdered 
 with his own sword by the British officer to 
 whom he gave it up. Eighty-five Americans 
 were killed in the assault, whose bravery is com- 
 memorated by a handsome granite monument 
 one hundred and twenty-seven feet high, which 
 was erected close by the fort in 1830. In New 
 Loudon, sixty-five dwellings and eighty other 
 buildings were destroyed by fire, and damage 
 done to the extent of $500,000. 
 
 A native of Norwich, which is but fourteen 
 miles from Now London, it is not to be won- 
 dered at that Arnold has ever been especially 
 execrated in Connecticut, that once had high 
 hopes of him. 
 
 This was the last act of the Revolution on 
 Connecticut soil, and the State eagerly welcomed 
 the honorable peace and independence that fol- 
 lowed the surrender of Coruwallis in October, 
 1781. 
 
 Connecticut camo out of the Revolutionary 
 war with an untarnished reputation, and, as 
 appears from the Silas Deane correspondence, in 
 the files of the State Historical Society, and 
 other sources, with the reputation of having a 
 model governor, and a constitution that was 
 "superior to any other," and which served a 
 high purpose in furnishing a pattern for that 
 soon adopted for the nation. 
 
 At the convention that formed the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, in 1787, the Connecti- 
 cut delegates were Roger Sherman, Oliver Ells- 
 worth (later Chief Justice of the United States), 
 and William S. Johnson. Originally a poor 
 shoemaker, Roger Sherman won such a reputa- 
 ' tion as a statesman, that it is his statue, with that 
 of Jonathan Trumbull, that Connecticut has put 
 up in tho National Capitol, "as the two of her 
 deceased citizens illustrious for their historic 
 renown, or for distinguished civil or military 
 services." So successful were Sherman and 
 Ellsworth in their efforts at harmonizing and 
 compromising tho varied and dissonting ele- 
 ments in the convention that adopted the 
 Constitution, that no less an authority than John 
 C. Calhoun has said that it is to these two men 
 and Judge Patterson of New Jersey that "we 
 are indebted for the National Government." 
 Connecticut ratified the Constitution in January, 
 1788. 
 
 Gov. Trumbull, who retired in 1784 and died in 
 1785, was succeeded as chief magistrate by Mat- 
 thew Griswold, who had bjen lieutenant-governor 
 
 for fifteen years. He in turn was succeeded in 
 1786 by Samuel Huntington, one of the signers of 
 the Declaration, who governed until 1796. It was 
 during these administrations that national parties 
 began to take fixed shape throughout the country,, 
 the masses of Connecticut folk and the governors 
 being stanch Federalists. 
 
 In 1796, Oliver Wolcott, Sr., became governor, 
 to be succeeded in 1798 by Jonathan Trumbull, a 
 son of Brother Jonathan," who continued to be 
 chosen till his death in August, 1809. Early in 
 that year President Jefferson called upon Gov. 
 Trumbull to designate special officers of militia, 
 upon whom the United States customs collectors 
 could rely for aid in carrying out the Enforcing 
 Act, which was designed to put in force the cele- 
 brated " Embargo," of Jefferson's administration. 
 The governor declined to comply, on the ground 
 that Congress had overstepped its authority, and 
 called a session of the Legislature, which adopted 
 a protest to Congress against the embargo, which 
 contributed greatly to the repeal thereof in Feb- 
 ruary, 1809. 
 
 In 1813, Roger Griswold, a son of the first Gov. 
 Griswold, who was then governor, adopted a sim- 
 ilar course when called upon to furnish detach- 
 ments of the State militia to Maj. Gen. Dearborn 
 for service in the war just declared against Great 
 Britain. He based his non-compliance with the 
 President's request upon the grounds that the con- 
 stitutional contingency in which the militia of the 
 State could be called into the Federal service did 
 not exist, and, moreover, that the militia could not 
 be constrained to serve under other than their own 
 officers, except under the President of the United 
 States personally in the field. Gov. Griswold's 
 position was sustained by his council, and by the 
 large Federal majority in the State. 
 
 fa 1813, Commodore Stephen Decatur, with his 
 little fleet of American vessels, was blockaded in 
 New London Harbor and the river Thames, and so 
 closely watched by the British that, in his vexation 
 at being unable to get out at sea, the commodore 
 charged that " blue lights" had been burned by 
 the Federalists on the shores of the harbor to advise 
 the enemy when he sought to run the blockade, 
 compelling him to abandon the project. This 
 story was long used to stigmatize the anti-war 
 party as "Connecticut blue-light Federalists"; 
 but neither the gallant, but hasty sailor, nor any 
 one since his day, has been able to substantiate the 
 charge. 
 
 April 7, 1814, a detachment of two hundred 
 sailors and marines from the British fleet off New 
 London, made an expedition up the Connecticut 
 River to Essex, where they burned some twenty- 
 five vessels, destroying some $200,000 of property. 
 
 On the 9th of August, Capt. Hardy of the block- 
 ading fleet, with five of his vessels, began a bom- 
 bardment of Stonington, which continued some 
 forty-eight hours, but was so bravely resisted by a 
 small force of militia, gathered behind a little 
 battery of three guns, that he finally retired with 
 damaged ships, and a loss of seventy-five men killed 
 and wounded, while the Americans had none 
 killed, and only six wounded. 
 
 Dec. 15, 1814, the New England discontent with 
 the war came to a focus in the " Hartford Conven- 
 tion," whereat twenty-six delegates, appointed by 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 71 
 
 the New England legislatures, assembled together. 
 After a session of twenty days, the convention ad- 
 journed, having adopted a report making a respect- 
 ful protest against certain acts of Congress in origi- 
 nating and carrying on the war. This protest was 
 adopted by the legislatures of Connecticut and 
 
 favor of a constitutional convention, which was 
 speedily called, met in August, and formed a con- 
 stitution, which was ratified by the people in Octo- 
 ber. Under this constitution, with but few amend- 
 ments, the State is still governed. It is no light 
 tribute to the value of the charter obtained by John 
 
 SCENE AT HIGH ROCK GROVE, A SUMMER RESORT ON THE NAUGATUCK RAILROAD. 
 
 Massachusetts, but was rendered useless by the con- 
 clusion of peace Feb. 17, 1815. 
 
 The return of peace not only put an end to the 
 dissatisfaction with the war, but, in a short time, 
 to the old Federal party that had held continuous 
 sway in the State; and in 1817 Oliver Wolcott, 2d, 
 son of the last Gov. Wolcott, was elected governor 
 by a combination of the opposition elements. In 
 1818 the same combination elected a legislature in 
 
 Winthrop, that the Colony and State had needed 
 no other constitution for 150 years, and that the 
 present constitution is based in the main upon that 
 old charter, but few changes being necessary even 
 in the direction of wider religious toleration and 
 suffrage. 
 
 The most important of recent amendments to the 
 constitution of 1818, beside such as conform to 
 changes in the Federal Constitution, is that of 1875, 
 
7~ 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 extending the governor's term to two years. Another 
 amendment recently submitted to the people pro- 
 viding for biennial sessions of the legislature was 
 defeated. 
 
 In 1824 Trinity College was started at Hartford, 
 under control of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 In 1872 the college grounds were sold to the State 
 for $600,000, as a site for the new Capitol building, 
 and a new location, a mile south, purchased for the 
 college, where fine buildings of Portland freestone 
 have been erected for its use. 
 
 In 1831, Wesleyan University, the oldest and best 
 known American college under control of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized at 
 Middlctown, where it now occupies a number of 
 handsome buildings on a commanding knoll. 
 
 In 1847, Connecticut furnished a company for the 
 New England regiment in the Mexican war, a regi- 
 ment of which Thomas EL Seymour, of Hartford, 
 returned as colonel, having distinguished himself 
 in the war. He was subsequently (1850-54) gov- 
 ernor of the State. 
 
 Connecticut continued greatly to increase and pros- 
 per until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion 
 in 1861. This event found in the governor's chair 
 William A. Buckingham of Norwich, who, like his 
 great prototype, Trumbull, was a native of Lebanon. 
 Fortunate it was for the State that this courtly, 
 Christian gentlemen, of devoted patriotism, unde- 
 viating integrity, great generosity, and large wealth 
 was at its helm. It was in great measure owing to 
 him that Connecticut was among the first to get her 
 troops to the front, that her regiments were, as a rule, 
 admirably officered, that her soldiers never lacked 
 attention from the State during his term of office, 
 as the writer can testify from personal experience. 
 The total number of men credited to the State dur- 
 ing the whole war was 54,882, which, reduced to a 
 three years' standing (the terms of enlistment vary- 
 ing a little), equals 48,181, an excess of 7,000 over 
 its quota, of whom but 263 were drafted men. As 
 Trumbull was the friend of Washington, so Buck- 
 ingham was a tried and trusted friend of President 
 Lincoln. 
 
 The Connecticut troops raised during the war of 
 the Rebellion consisted of twenty-eight regiments 
 of infantry (two colored), two of heavy artillery, 
 a regiment and squadron of cavalry, and three 
 light batteries. These were so distributed among 
 the different Union armies, that there was hardly 
 a battle of moment during the war in which 
 Connecticut troops were not engaged, and some of 
 the infantry regiments, notably the 7th, 8th, 10th, 
 11th, 14th, 16th and 21st, had a list of battles to 
 show at its close rarely ever equaled in the same 
 space of time. To enumerate these battles, or to 
 specify instances where Connecticut men distin- 
 guished themselves therein, would be to write a 
 history of the war, for which we have no space. 
 In the navy, too, which was presided over during 
 the whole coutest by a Connecticut man, Gideon 
 Welles, who was throughout Mr. Lincoln's adminis- 
 tration Secretary of the Navy, Connecticut won new 
 glory and renown. 
 
 A few of the more prominent officers of the army 
 and navy who were sons of Connecticut, who lost 
 their lives in the contest, were Generals Lyon, 
 Sedgwick and Mansfield, Admiral Foote and Cap- 
 tain AVard. The following-named attained dis- 
 
 tinction and the rank of general officers in the 
 volunteer service, in nearly every instance winning 
 their rank by hard and gallant field service: H. G. 
 Wright, J. A. Mower, A. H. Terry, R. O. Tyler, 
 H. W. Birge, EL W. Benham, J. R. Hawley, R. S. 
 Mackenzie, H. L. Abbot, Alex. Shailer, A. S. Wil- 
 liams, J. W. Ripley, Daniel Tyler, W. S. Ketchum, 
 O. S. Ferry, EL W. Wessells, EL 1). Terry, Edward 
 Harland, H. B. Carrington, A. C. Harding and L. 
 P. Bradley. 
 
 At home the State nobly sustained its grand and 
 good governor, and its legislators never faltered In 
 voting men and money in response to every call he 
 made upon them. 
 
 In May, 1866, Governor Buckingham's last term 
 expired, he refusing longer service now that the 
 war had ended. He was succeeded as Governor by 
 General Joseph R. Hawley, who had won his way 
 up from captain to general in the volunteer service, 
 and has, since the war, won a reputation as one of 
 the leading Republican statesmen of his day, and 
 as president of the Centennial Commission of 1876, 
 and lately as United States Senator. Governor 
 Buckingham was elected a United States Senator 
 from Connecticut in 1868, and died while holding 
 that office in 1875. Governor Hawley's successors 
 in office have been James E. English, Marshall 
 Jewell, Charles R. Ingersoll, Richard I). Hubbard, 
 Charles B. Andrews, Hobart B. Bigelow and 
 Thomas M. Waller, the present incumbent. To 
 Governor Hubbard, confessedly one of the first 
 statesmen and lawyers, as he is one of the first 
 orators in the country, is due the credit of many 
 reforms in the legislative and legal practice of the 
 State, all in the line of retrenchment, reform and 
 simplification of methods. As he served but a 
 single term of two years, much of the work that he 
 began fell upon his successor, who, though of ano- 
 ther political party, showed such zeal and judg- 
 ment in the same direction, that it is clearly evident 
 that in Governor Andrews the State added another 
 to its long list of distinguished and able governors. 
 
 Connecticut has an area of 4,750 square miles. 
 Its population in 1880 was 622,683. It is bounded 
 on the east by Rhode Island, north by Massachusetts, 
 west by New York, south by Long Island Sound. 
 Its climate is changeable but healthful; its soil, 
 especially in the valley ot the Connecticut River, 
 good, but, as a whole, best adapted for grass grow- 
 ing. Its woods are abundant and valuable, while 
 its fruits are excellent and plentiful. Tobacco is 
 extensively raised, especially in Hartford County, 
 along the Connecticut river, and has in years past 
 been a most profitable crop, though at the low 
 prices which have prevailed since 1873, it has been 
 much less so than of old. 
 
 The mineral resources of the Stato are varied 
 and extensive, the most valuable quarries being 
 those of red sandstone or freestone, found in 
 abundance at Portland on the Connecticut. At 
 Canaan is found the white marble of which the 
 new State House is built ; at Bolton, a micaceous 
 slate, useful for flagging ; while at Salisbury and 
 Kont iron ore is found in such abundance that 
 iron production has become the chief interest of 
 that section of the State. Granite and lime- 
 stone are also abundant in various sections, and 
 of excellent quality ; while cobalt, feldspar and 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 73 
 
 copper are found in lesser quantity, with clay in 
 abundance for bricks. 
 
 But it is in manufacturing that the State is 
 pre-eminent, the proverbial ingenuity of the 
 Connecticut Yankee, which has been satirized in 
 -the mythical wooden nutmeg, winning most of its 
 triumphs in this sphere of action. The reports of 
 the patent office shows the proportion of patents 
 granted to Connecticut to be in excess of those 
 of any other State, being one to every 829 inhab- 
 itants. Clocks, India-rubber goods, carriages, 
 cotton and woolen goods, hardware, britannia 
 and nickel-plate ware, table silver, cutlery, 
 machinery, sewing silk, cotton warps and shoddy 
 are among the principal productions. Insurance 
 and banking employ much of the capital of tho 
 State, Hartford being especially interested 
 therein, and famed all over the world for the 
 number and strength of its life and fire insurance 
 companies of large assets. 
 
 The common-school system of the State has 
 been perfected in recent years to such an extent 
 that 95 per cent, of the children of the school 
 age are school attendants. 
 
 The State possesses a "school fund" of $2,- 
 021,346, the principal of the fund being derived 
 from the sale of the so-called " Connecticut Be- 
 serve" in the northern portion of Ohio, in 1786, 
 for $1,200,000. This "Beserve" consisted of 
 3,300,000 acres of land, received by Connecticut 
 at the time of its cession to the general govern- 
 ment of its share of vacant lands in the unoccu- 
 pied territory of the West. The State granted 
 500,000 acres of this reserve to snch of the citi- 
 zens of New London, Groton, Fairfield, Norwalk 
 and Danbury as had suffered from British depre- 
 dations during the war, and sold the remainder. 
 The high schools of most of the larger towns and 
 cities fit pupils for college or business life, while 
 the universities within its borders send forth 
 graduates all over the world. 
 
 In literature, theology and science the State 
 has always maintained a high reputation, giving 
 to the world, or claiming as residents, such poets 
 as Trumbull, Percival, Brainard, Halleck and 
 Stedman ; such philologists as Noah Webster 
 and J. Hammond Trumbull ; such theologians 
 as Horace Bushnell, Leonard Bacon and Noah 
 
 Porter ; such antiquarian students and historians 
 as C. J. Hoadley ; such writers on educational 
 topics as Henry Barnard ; such political econ- 
 omists as Theodore Woolsey, D. A. Wells and 
 W. G. Sumner ; such writers of fiction and 
 essayists as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dud- 
 ley Warner, Donald G. Mitchell, Samuel L. 
 Clemens (Mark Twain), and many others ; and 
 in science, the elder Silliman, Clarence King, 
 and many more. 
 
 In legal circles such names as Ellsworth, 
 Waito (the present chief justice is of Connec- 
 ticut birth), Gould, Goddard, Storrs, Seymour, 
 Waldo, and many others have been famous ; 
 while at the bar, a very long array of men of 
 talent could be named. Of living members of 
 the profession who have attained more than local 
 fame are Hubbard and Bobinson of Hartford, 
 Harrison and Ingersoll of New Haven, Seymour 
 of Litchfield, and Halsey of Norwich. 
 
 Of orators there is also a long arrav, including 
 such names as Sherman, Griswold, Baldwin, 
 Doming, Stuart, Harrison and Hubbard. 
 
 In art, Col. John Trumbull of Connecticut 
 was the finest painter of the Bevolutionary era, 
 and Fred. E. Church ranks among the first to- 
 day. 
 
 The early settlers of Connecticut were men of 
 education and enterprise, as well as of character 
 and piety. Hooker at Hartford, and Davenport 
 at New Haven, meant to implant free common- 
 wealths of God-serving people. The seed they 
 planted brought forth such fruit that tho dis- 
 tinguishing name of the State has long been 
 " Land of Steady Habits." 
 
 Its State seal, which has been in use with but 
 slight modification since 1656, bears, "Argent, 
 three vines supported and fruited ; with the 
 legend, " Qui transtulit sustinet" — "He who 
 transplanted will sustain." In this faith the 
 citizens of the State have seen their grand old 
 Commonwealth increase and prosper year by 
 vear ; in this faith they fought French and 
 Indians, Mother England herself, and treason 
 against the ynion. So long as loyalty to this 
 motto inspires her people, so long may they 
 hope for iirosperity. 
 
FAIRFIELD COUNTY. 
 
 It was six years before the lauding of the Pil- 
 grims at Plymouth Rock, nineteen years before the 
 first frame house was erected at Windsor in Con- 
 necticut, and about twenty-three years before we 
 nave any knowledge of Europeans setting foot on 
 the soil of the State west of the Housatonic River 
 in what is now Fairfield county, that the adven- 
 turous Adrian Block, a Dutch explorer, sailed into 
 Long Island Sound, from the little settlement of 
 his own countrymen on Manhattan Island, compris- 
 ing only about four houses, in his ship of state, 
 the "Restless," and made the discovery of the 
 shores of Fairfield county; first observing the 
 Norwalk Islands, which he named the Archipela- 
 goes, and then sailing to the mouth of the Housa- 
 tonic River, its eastern boundary, which ho named 
 the river of the Red Mountain; and thus, as early 
 as the year 1014, this county and the Connecticut 
 River, and the entire coast of the State, for the first 
 tira^; became known to a race of beings different 
 from the aborigines. The first knowledge of the 
 desirable situation and great natural advantages of 
 this county for future settlements, was obtained by 
 the English colonists while pursuing the retreating 
 Pequot Indians westward to the "great swamp" 
 in the present town of Fairfield, where, July 13, 
 
 1637, a decisive battle was fought. In a short 
 time thereafter the formation of settlements and 
 towns commenced. 
 
 In 1 G39, Mr. Ludlow, a distinguished lawyer, of 
 Windsor, who was at the Indian swamp fight about 
 two years before, when he became most favorably 
 impressed with the locality, commenced a -settle- 
 ment at Fairfield, called by the natives Unquowa. 
 He brought about ten families witli him, and 
 settlers joined them from Watertown and Concord, 
 Mass. The territory was generally purchased of 
 the natives ; and the settlers soon formed a town- 
 ship, and came under the jurisdiction of the Con- 
 necticut Colony. The same year Mr. Fairchild 
 came from England and purchased a plantation at 
 Stratford, comprising Pequonnock and Cupheag, 
 as they were known by the Indians, situated be- 
 tween Fairfield and the Housatonic River; and 
 settlements were commenced immediately, although 
 William .Tudson is said to liave settled here in 
 
 1638, and to have erected a stone house. John and 
 William Eustice and Samuel Hawley came from 
 Roxbury, and Joseph Judson and Timothy Wil- 
 coxson from Concord, Mass. A few years later 
 Samuel Wells came from Wcthersfield, and some 
 others from Boston. The first clergyman at this 
 place was Adam Blackman, an eminent and greatly 
 beloved preacher, formerly of the Church of Eng- 
 land, who came directly from Derbyshire. Many 
 of his admirers followed him to these shores, de- 
 claring that "thv people shall be our people and 
 thy God our God." 
 
 On this early settled territory, and within a com- 
 paratively recent period, Bridgeport, the third city 
 in size and importance in the State, has sprung 
 into existence. The exact date of the commence- 
 ment of the settlement in this latter locality seems 
 to be in doubt; but, in 1650, it is evident that a 
 few families were residing in this section of Toil- 
 some Hill, where Capt. David Sherman, a leader 
 in matters of church and state, was born and re- 
 sided ; and that, although the population has 
 changed in locality, this was the germ of the 
 future city. In 1694 a parish was formed named 
 Fairfield Village. In 1701 Fairfield Village was 
 named Stratfield by the General Court ; and, after 
 a period of seventy-five years contained only about 
 1,000 inhabitants. With the gradual increase in. 
 population, the business began to centre at the head 
 of tide-water, and down the harbor or river east of 
 Golden Hill, and near the east side of Pequonnock 
 River, in the town of Stratford, when it was named 
 Newfield. In 1765 the present Main street of the 
 city was merely a cart-path, and there was a small 
 ferry to the point on the cast side of the harbor. 
 In 1820 Newfield proper contained only about 800 
 inhabitants. This place became an incorporated 
 borough in the year 1800, and was then named 
 Bridgeport, although, as a town, it had no legal 
 existence until 1821, when a tract of territory of 
 about ten square miles on the harbor and river was 
 organized as a town, then containing not far from 
 1,700 inhabitants. The borough was organized 
 under a city charter in 1836, with a population of 
 about 3,400. 
 
 The next section of the county occupied by 
 whites, after the territory covered by Fairfield and 
 Stratford, was Stamford, the Indian name of 
 which was Rippowams. Cajit. Nathaniel Turner 
 made the purchase of the place of the Indians for 
 the New Haven Colony, for the consideration 
 generally of a dozen each of coats, hoes, hatchets, 
 and knives, two kettles and four fathom of white 
 wampum. In the latter part of 1641 about thirty- 
 five families had made this their place of residence ; 
 and the next year, John Whitmore and Mr. Mitchel 
 were admitted members of the General Court of the 
 New Haven Colony, from the new plantation, when 
 it received its present name. The first minister at 
 this place was Richard Denton. 
 
 The town of Greenwich was purchased of the 
 natives in the year 1640 by Robert Feaks and 
 Daniel Patrick, with the expectation that it would 
 adhere to the New Haven Colony ; but New Am- 
 sterdam, in the New Netherlands Colony, was so 
 near, and its influence so potent, that the pur- 
 chasers betrayed the confidence of the Colony, and 
 commenced the settlement under the Dutch govern- 
 ment, in which course the inhabitants seem to have 
 acquiesced. The unfriendly relations between the 
 
TO 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Indians in these parts, and the Dutch, and their 
 intrusions upon the settlers, whose lands were their 
 frequent and bloody battle-fields, were undoubted- 
 ly the chief reasons why, in the year 1057, they 
 freely yielded to the jurisdiction of the New Haven 
 Colony. The dividing line between the States of 
 New York and Connecticut, as fixed in 1664, 
 brought the plantation of Rye into the Colony of 
 Connecticut, and that town was admitted to the 
 jurisdiction in 1665 : but in 1683, the dividing line 
 between the two colonies at Greenwich was so 
 changed at to leave it nearly as it is at present. 
 
 The first authentic settlement of Norwalk was 
 in the year 1651, although it is probable that 
 there were some scattering inhabitants here the 
 year before, and perhaps some in 1640, after 
 Mr. Roger Ludlow of Fairfield purchased the 
 eastern part of the place from the Norwalk 
 Indians on the 26th of February of that year, as 
 worded in the deed, " from the sea a day's walk 
 into the country." In April Captain Patrick 
 purchased two islands and the meadows and up- 
 lands on the west side of the Norwalk River "as 
 far up in the country as an Indian can go in a day 
 from sun rising to sun setting." In June, 1650, 
 Nathan Ely, Richard Olmsted and others, secured 
 permission from the Connecticut Colony to com- 
 mence a plantation at Norwalk, and obtained a 
 deed of the territory from the Indians, February 
 15, 1651 ; and in September, 1651, the General 
 Court organized it into a town. Thomas Han- 
 ford was the first minister at this place. The 
 name of the town was derived from the Nor- 
 walk River, although there is a common tradition 
 that it was taken from the day's "North-walk " 
 which fixed the northern boundary in the Indian 
 deeds. The surnames of Benedict, Raymond, Fitch, 
 Lockwood, Betts and some others of the first set- 
 tlers are quite common in the city and town at the 
 present day. Norwalk was made a borough in 
 1836, and the village of Old Well, named from an 
 ancient well where vessels were supplied with 
 water, was incorporated as a city in 1868, and 
 named South Norwalk two years afterward. 
 
 In 1684, a scttlementat Danbury called Pahquio- 
 que by the Indians, or Paquiage in the Colony re- 
 cords, was commenced. The pioneer settlers were 
 Thomas Taylor, Francis Bushnell, Thomas Barnum 
 and others, who were mostly from Norwalk. Dr. 
 Wood and Josiah Starr came from Long Island, 
 and Joseph Mygatt came soon after from Hartford ; 
 and men of the name of Picket, Knapp and 
 Wildman were among the earliest settlers, of whose 
 names are a number still common in the town. 
 The settlement was called Danbury, from a village 
 in Essex, Eng., and it was laid out six miles square. 
 The town patent, from the General Court, was 
 given in 1702, and it was made a borough in 1822. 
 The Rev. Seth Shove, probably ordained in 1696, 
 was the first minister. 
 
 The next section occupied by the English settlers 
 ■was at Pootatuck, the Indian name of Newtown. 
 In May, 1708, several persons petitioned the Gene- 
 ral Court, or Assembly, as it began to be called, for 
 a committee to survey the land and consider what 
 number of inhabitants the tract would accommo- 
 date, and determine where the settlement should 
 bo ; and in 1711, the town was incorporated. 
 
 The town of Ridgefield was purchased of the 
 
 Indians in 1708 by John Baldwin and others, and 
 a second purchase was made of the natives in 
 1715. In October, 1709, Mat Peter Burr of Fair- 
 field, John Copp of Norwalk, and Josiah Starr of 
 Danbury reported a survey of the tract to the 
 General Assembly, and the grant of the town was 
 then made ; but the patent was not signed till the 
 year 1714. After the Assembly, in 1714, gave the 
 inhabitants of the town the right to settle an 
 orthodox minister, it is probable that the Rev. 
 Thos. Hawley became the first settled minister at 
 this place. 
 
 Several inhabitants of Fairfield secured a grant 
 of the present town of New Fairfield in 1707. The 
 territory was purchased of the natives in 1729, but 
 it does not appear to have been settled until the 
 next year. It was organized as a town in 1740. 
 The boundary line between New York and Connec- 
 ticut on the western limit of this town was settled 
 in 1731, when, for lands on the Sound, the section 
 known as Oblong was granted to New York. The 
 first minister was the Rev. Benejah Case, ordained 
 in 1742. 
 
 In 1761, a township which is said to have been 
 named Reading, after Col. John Read, one of the 
 early settlers, was incorporated and taken princi- 
 pally from the old town of Fairfield. 
 
 Weston, originally a parish in the town of Fair- 
 field, was granted town privileges in 1787, about 
 fifty years after the locality was first settled. 
 
 Brookfield, originally a part of New Milford, 
 Danbury, and Newtown, and known as the society 
 of Newbury, was incorporated as a town in 1788. 
 It is said to have been named after its first minister, 
 the Rev. Thomas Brooks, who was ordained Sept. 
 28, 1758, when the church was formed. 
 
 Huntington, comprising the parishes of Ripton 
 and New Stratford in Stratford, was created a town 
 in 1789. The Rev. Jedediah Mills, ordained in 
 1724, was probably the first clergyman. 
 
 Trumbull, a part of the old town of Stratford, 
 was organized in the year 1798. 
 
 New Canaan was formerly Canaan parish in Nor- 
 walk and Stamford, and was made a separate town 
 in 1801. The parish had existed since 1731, when 
 the Rev. John Eells of Milford became the first 
 minister. 
 
 Sherman was made a town in 1802, and was 
 formed from the north part of New Fairfield ; and 
 Wilton was als^ incorporated the same year, having 
 formerly been a society in Norwalk from the year 
 1720. 
 
 The year before Bridgeport was given town 
 privileges, Darien, in the year 1820, was taken 
 from Stamford and made a town, having before 
 been known as the Middlesex parish. 
 
 Monroe, formerly the parish of New Stratford in 
 Huntington, was formed into a town in 1823. 
 
 Wcstport, on the Saugatuck River, was formerly 
 a part of Fairfield, Norwalk and Weston, and was 
 granted town powers in 1835. 
 
 Easton, formerly a parish with Weston in the 
 town of Fairfield, was taken from the eastern part 
 of Weston, and made a town in 1845; and Bethel, 
 the 23d and the last town formed in the county, 
 was incorporated in 1855, having been a portion of 
 Danbury. 
 
 The county was constituted in the year 1066, and 
 Fairfield was made the shire town. Bridgeport, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 however, was given that honor about the year 1854. 
 Danbury was created a half shire town in May, 
 1784. 
 
 The Indian history of the county, though not as 
 thriling, perhaps, as the history of the great savage 
 tribes living to the cast and north, is interesting, 
 however, as showing the complaints, struggles, and 
 gradual extinction of the race of red men here. At 
 the time of the settlement of the county, the 
 principal tribes within its borders were the Pau- 
 gussetts, who inhabited Stratford, Huntington, and 
 the adjoining towns, and the Norwalk tribe, which 
 was nearly a clan; but there were some consider- 
 able clans at Newton, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, 
 Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, and Bridgeport. 
 They were more numerous, however, along the sea- 
 coast, at the mouths of the rivers and along their 
 courses ; and the inland tribes visited those on the 
 coast and were treated to oysters, clams, and other 
 sea food, the entertainers returning these civilities, 
 to secure lamprey-eels and the privilege of indulg- 
 ing in better hunting. In 105!), eighty acres of 
 land at Golden Hill, Bridgeport, were made a 
 reservation by the General Court for the Pequon- 
 nock Indians; and it was ordered that when they 
 deseit their land it shall revert to Stratford planta- 
 tion, which shall pay Fairfield one-half of the 
 consideration received. All the Indians residing 
 within the limits of this county were, with the excep- 
 tion perhaps of those living at Greenwich and Stam- 
 ford, friendly to the early settlers, who always made 
 honorable purchases of their lands before attempt 
 ing to take possession ; but the natives and first 
 settlers were greatly harrassed by the fierce and very 
 powerful Iroquois or Mohawks, the mere rumor of 
 whose appearance created the wildest alarm. Com- 
 ing annually to collect tribute of the natives, their 
 natural ferocity was exercised in killing and 
 destroying on every hand, if their demands were 
 refused. They were defeated, however, eventually 
 (1047) by the Paugussetts in one battle, while 
 attempting to take the fortress, near the mouth of 
 the Housa tonic River. The war with the Pcquots 
 closed with the fight at Sasco Swamp, near the sea 
 shore, in the town of Fairfield, about two years 
 before the county was permanently settled, when 
 700 warriors were killed and captured ; and as this 
 tribe then became broken and discouraged, they 
 were not a source of danger to the early inhabitants. 
 
 The Fairfield County Indians participated in a 
 war which sprung from selling intoxicating liquors 
 to an Indian by some Dutch traders of New 
 Amsterdam in 1042. The Indian, while intoxicated, 
 killed two whites; and, in retaliation, by consent 
 of the Dutch governor, some eighty natives were 
 slain. Several tribes on the Hudson River having 
 been defeated by the Mohawks, the remnant fled to 
 New Amsterdam for protection, but the governor 
 again had his revenge, and about one hundred of 
 them were killed. In 1043, the Indians on Long 
 Island, on the Hudson and in Connecticut, arose to 
 avenge their wrongs, and the territory of Green- 
 wich and Stamford was the theatre of many bloody 
 conflicts. 
 
 A united body of more than 1,500 warriors had their 
 encampment on this territory, and the tomahawk 
 did its work of massacring women and children as 
 well as men. Even animals were driven into 
 buildings and destroyed by fire. In February, 
 
 1044, a battle was fought at Strickland's Plain, 
 in this county, between the Dutch and Indians. 
 After a tedious march, the former came upon the 
 Indian village in the light of a brilliant full moon, 
 after a heavy snow-storm, when, after a fierce con- 
 flict of an hour, a victory was achieved, and the 
 blood of one hundred and eighty warriors crim- 
 soned the snow. This put an end to the war, and 
 in April, the Indians consented to a peace: but 
 there were some murders of settlers in Greenwich 
 and Stamford after this time. 
 
 This county has sustained its share of the loss 
 of life and treasure in the colonial wars as well 
 as in those of later times. 
 
 There were said to be twenty-five wigwams on 
 Golden Hill, Bridgeport, in 1710 ; and only three 
 women and four men remained in 1765. They 
 were ejected from their reservation in 1760, and 
 after it was restored to them, they gave it all up 
 for thirty bushels of corn, blankets worth £3, 
 twelve acres of land on the west bank of the 
 Pequonnock River, and eight acres of woodland 
 on Rock Hill. About the year 1810 their lands 
 were sold ; and the fund secured, in 1842, 
 amounted to SI, 175, of which sum $500 was 
 used ty purchase a house and twenty acres of 
 land in Trumbull. In 1850 there were two 
 squaws and six half-breeds living. Their family 
 name was Sherman. 
 
 In 1774 there were thirty-five Indians in Strat- 
 ford, Monroe, Huntington, Trumbull and Bridge- 
 port, only eight in Greenwich, nine in Norwalk 
 and Stamford. It is quite probable that the 
 Pootatuck clan in Newtown, had many years be- 
 fore joined the tribe in Southbury, and after- 
 wards the Weantinogues at the Great Falls on 
 the Housatonic River in New Milford. 
 
 With the early settlers the train-band of inde- 
 pendent military companies was as much of 
 a necessary institution in each town as the 
 church, and was compelled to be on the watch 
 at all times, and to train ono day in the first 
 week of March, April, May, September, October 
 and November. 
 
 In 1709, the militia was made more effective, 
 and a committee of war for Fairfield County was 
 appointed to provide for the defense of the 
 frontier towns in the county. In the French 
 and Indian wars this county furnished about 
 3,000 men to maintain the honor of the mother 
 country. Tho war of the Revolution, however, 
 called forth all the patriotic ardor of its people, 
 and although not having the war-spirit at the 
 Lexington alarm in April, 1775, as had the 
 counties nearer Boston, on account of its near- 
 ness to New York, with which was its principal 
 trade, yet fifty men marched from Fairfield and 
 fifty-eight from Greenwich for the relief of Bos- 
 ton at that time, and thirtv-three also went from 
 Stamford to defend New York. 
 / There were three regiments formed from this 
 county in 1770, and its quota was kept up during 
 the war. Lying on Long Island Sound, the county 
 was particularly exposed to the incursions of the 
 enemy. On Sunday, the 27th of April, 1777, a 
 force of more than two thousand of the enemy, 
 under command of Gov. Tryon of New York, 
 arrived in De.nbury for the purpose of destroying 
 the large quantity of military supplies st >red there. 
 
78 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 The few American troops in the place being forced 
 to withdraw, the supplies, and all the dwellings 
 and buildings belonging to the patriot inhabitants 
 but one or two, were destroyed by Are. The indi- 
 vidual losses were estimated at more than £16,000. 
 The town records were burned, but the probate 
 records were saved by being taken to New Fairfield. 
 Gen. David Wooster took command of the few 
 American troops at his disposal, and followed the 
 enemy to Ridgefield, where he was mortally 
 wounded. Gen. Arnold took immediate command, 
 and followed them to the mouth of the river, where 
 they re-embarked. The only real fight was where 
 the gallant Wooster was fatally shot ; and. on the 
 evidence of an eye witness, sixteen British and eight 
 Americans were killed and several wounded. Sev- 
 eral dwellings, and other houses at Ridgefield, 
 were burned and plundered. 
 
 July 8 and 9, 1779, Gov. Tryon's troops plun- 
 dered and burned two hundred and twelve houses, 
 barns and stores, three churches, and two school- 
 houses. The court-houses at Fairfield, and Green's 
 Farms were also consumed. The Rev. Dr. Daggett 
 was one of the wounded. The loss of the British 
 was about eighty. Tryon landed at Norwalk in the 
 evening of July 11, and destroyed the vessels in the 
 harbor, magazines, and stores, with the whole vil- 
 lage of one hundred and ninety dwellings. Gen. 
 Putnam was stationed with his army at Reading in 
 1779, to support the garrison at West Point if 
 attacked, and also cover the Sound, and while here 
 quieted a discontent in his army by a short, sharp 
 speech. Greenwich became famous as the town 
 where he made his celebrated plunge down a steep 
 precipice at " Horseneck " to save his life, one shot 
 of the many going through his hat. On Sunday, 
 July 22, 1782, at Darien, the British troops, made 
 up of Tories mostly, residing in this neighborhood, 
 took Moses Mather, D. D., and his congregation, 
 prisoners. Thus this county, from its situation, 
 suffered heavily during the war, but was amply 
 compensated for its losses pecuniarily by the State, 
 which, in 1792, granted to those in this and New 
 London County, whose property was destroyed by 
 the invasions of the British, in addition to what 
 they had already received, 500,000 acres of land of 
 the western part of the reserve in Ohio, known as 
 the Fire Lands. 
 
 During the war of 1812, the county furnished its 
 full proportion of troops to defend the State, and a 
 small fort erected at Black Rock Harbor, Fairfield, 
 was manned by a small force of militia, to protect 
 the coasting trade of the Sound, which was almost 
 entirely suspended by the partial blockade of the 
 ports. A British privateer captured the sloops 
 "Minerva," Capt. Baldwin, and "Victriss," Oapt. 
 Pennoyer, both of Bridgeport, packets plying 
 between this port and New York. Whale-boats of 
 light draft were used in the trade between New 
 York and Bridgeport. Commodore Isaac Chauncey 
 of Black Rock commanded our forces on Lake 
 Ontario; and the privateer "Scourge" of Stratford, 
 commanded by Capt. Nichols, took so many prizes 
 in the North and Baltic seas that two English 
 frigates attempted to capture her, but unsuccess- 
 fully. One afternoon, towards the close of the 
 war, Bridgeport was startled by the appearance of 
 two British men-of-war coming to anchor in the 
 harbor, with port-holes open, and great activity on 
 
 board, as if intending to immediately shell the 
 town. The inhabitants remembered the burning 
 of neighboring towns in the Revolutionary war, 
 and there was no sleep that night. The church bells 
 were rung, valuables and the money in the bank 
 were removed to a place of safety ; the militia were 
 called out, and messengers sent for re-enforcements, 
 and the wildest alarm prevailed ; but long breaths 
 were taken in the morning when it was known that 
 the war-ships had disappeared. 
 
 During the war of 1861, this county furnished 
 about 8,000 men. 
 
 The first church of Bridgeport was formally 
 organized in 1695, and Rev. Charles Chauncey, a 
 grandson of the president of Harvard College, 
 became the first minister. In 1706, the Rev. 
 George Murison, an Episcopal missionary in the 
 town of Rye, and the Hon. Caleb Heathcotc nade 
 a tour from Greenwich to Stratford, where about 
 twenty-four persons were baptized. The next year 
 they were organized into a parish. The first 
 Episcopal church edifice in the Colony was erected 
 here, and opened for diviue service on Christmas 
 Day, 1724. From this beginning Episcopacy soon 
 spread to Fairfield and other towns. The Rev. 
 Samuel Seabury, consecrated in 1784, in Scotland, 
 the first bishop of Connecticut, formerly under the 
 jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, made his 
 first visit to the church at Stratford. There are 
 now thirty-four Episcopal parishes in the county. 
 
 Stratford is also the parent of Methodism, not 
 only in this county but in the State. It was here 
 that, in September, 1789, the first society was 
 organized; the second one was established at 
 Reading. At the town of Weston, in this county, 
 "Lee's Chapel" was the first house of worship 
 erected by this denomination in New England. 
 This building stood until 1813. There are now 
 nearly fifty Methodist churches in the county, 
 within the jurisdiction of the New York East 
 Conference. 
 
 The first Baptist church in the county was 
 constituted at Stratfield, now Bridgeport, in the 
 year 1751. There are at present fifteen churches 
 of this denomination in the county. 
 
 From about 1830 to 1840, the Roman Catholic 
 Church commenced organizing in the county, 
 and, in 1838, the first service was held at Dan- 
 bury. From these beginnings it has increased 
 till there are ten churches in the most central 
 places in the county. A Sandemanian church 
 was formed at Danbury in 1765, by Robert San- 
 deman, a native of Scotland, who was buried at 
 this placo in 1771, and in 1798 there were three 
 of these churches in the town. 
 
 The early settlers seemed to be as desirous of 
 promoting the cause of education, as of estab- 
 lishing the church, and it may be said that the 
 school and state were as united, nearly, as church 
 and state. In many of the petitions of the 
 settlers in this county for church privileges, 
 their needs of a school were also set forth. A 
 little more than thirty -three years after the first 
 settlement of the county, six hundred acres of 
 land were granted by the General Court to Fair- 
 field County, as well as the others, for a gram- 
 mar school, to be established at the county town 
 forever, which should be maintained so as to fit 
 young men for college, which, it is believed, was 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 79 
 
 accepted by this county ; so that, in those early 
 -times, the people had not only the advantages of 
 the common schools in the county, but of a 
 grammar or Latin school also. There are now 
 two hundred and forty common and forty-seven 
 graded schools in the county. 
 
 In 1819 the Brookfteld Union Library Associa- 
 tion was organized, and since that time there 
 have been ten of these institutions formed in the 
 county. William Augustus White of Brooklyn, 
 N. Y., who died in 1868, left $10,000 by will, in 
 trust, for a public library at Danbury, and after- 
 wards the old White homestead was deeded by 
 Alexander M. and Granville White for the same 
 purpose. In 1876 they made a gift of about 
 825,000 for the erection of a library building, 
 which was commenced in 1877. 
 
 There was an academy established by Presi- 
 dent Dwight of Yale College at Fairfield, which 
 sustained a very high reputation, and was sub- 
 sequently a seminary for young ladies. After- 
 wards, such institutions were established at 
 several other towns in the county, but they have 
 been on the decline since our admirably per- 
 fected common-school system has become so 
 popular. 
 
 For the promotion of agriculture, manufactures 
 and commerce, perhaps this county was more favor- 
 ably situated than some other portions of the 
 Colony, because of its nearness to New York. Near 
 the beginning of the present century, the Fairfield 
 County farmers commenced improving their lands 
 by systematic drainage, when hundreds of acres of 
 swamp lands, in the towns of Greenwich, Danbury, 
 Westport, Ridgcfield, and other towns were 
 reclaimed and were made vastly more productive 
 than before. 
 
 The farmers, having become awake to the bene- 
 fits of agricultural societies, four have been organ- 
 ized in the county, the oldest of which, the County 
 Society at Norwalk, was organized about forty-five 
 years ago. In 1869 the first cattle show and fair of 
 the Danbury Agricultural Society was held. 
 
 Since the days of railroads, most of the grain 
 comes from the West, and the only grain elevator 
 on the sea-coast between New York and Boston was 
 erected by Messrs. Crane& Hurd in 1871, at Bridge- 
 port. The grain is transported by rail or water, 
 and 1,500,000 bushels have been landed in it in a 
 year. 
 
 The manufacturing industries of the county have 
 grown up mainly since the Revolution. Hats were 
 first manufactured at Danbury in 1780 by Zadoc 
 Benedict, who, with one journeyman and two 
 apprentices, made about three in a day. About 
 1790, Messrs. Burr & White built the first hat fac- 
 tory in the town, employing thirty hands and pro- 
 ducing fifteen dozen per week. There were pro- 
 duced in 1800, at this place, 20,000, fur hats mostly, 
 surpassing any other town in the United States in 
 the annual manufacture. About forty years ago 
 there were fifty seven hat factories here, making 
 about 270,000 annually, with a capital of about 
 $200,000. There were eleven hat factories in Nor- 
 walk forty-five years ago, making about 30,000 hats 
 annually. Besides these, there were numerous facto- 
 ries in other towns of the county. This county 
 stands first in this branch of business, having manu- 
 factured nearly twice as many hats as all the other 
 
 counties of the State. Machinery of all kinds, 
 steam-engines and boilers were first made in the 
 county at Bridgeport more than fifty years ago. In 
 1792 a paper-mill was carried into successful opera- 
 tion at Danbury, which produced about 1,500 reams 
 annually; fifty years afterwards Fairchild's Mill at 
 Bridgeport was the only one in the county. Car- 
 riages were manufactured extensively at Bridgeport 
 at an early day by Mott & Burr. Fifty years ago 
 there were fourteen tin factories in the county, em- 
 ploying a capital of over $40,000. Combs were 
 largely manufactured in Newtown in 1834 ; and in 
 1845, there were nineteen factories engaged in this 
 business in the county. In the early part of the 
 present century the boot and shoe business gave 
 employment to many men, and the most extensive 
 business in this branch of manufacture in the county 
 has been done at Norwalk. About 1830 there was 
 over $20,000 capital employed in the manufacture 
 of felt-cloth at Norwalk, and the business has been 
 largely prosecuted since that time. Forsome twenty 
 years the manufacture of rubber-belting has been 
 carried on at Newtown on an extensive scale. In the 
 early growtli of Bridgeport the manufacture of 
 saddles and harnesses was an important industry. 
 
 Among the more recent manufacturing industries 
 of the county has been that of patent leather. In 
 1845, Mr. S. .1. Patterson commenced this business 
 at Bridgeport, and soon after the Bridgeport Patent 
 Leather Company was formed, which has done 
 a heavy business. The first practicable machine for 
 sewing was patented by Elias Howe, Jr., in 1846, 
 and consisted, generally, of a needle with the eye 
 in the point, and a shuttle to unite two edges in a 
 seam, forming the stitch by interlocking two 
 threads. In 1862, he established his business at 
 Bridgeport, and erected a large factory, where the 
 Secor Company also have their works. In 1857 
 the world-renowned Wheeler and Wilson Sewing- 
 Machinc Company established their works at Bridge- 
 port. One of the heaviest and most successful 
 industries of Bridgeport has been the steel works, 
 from which the Union Car-Spring Company of 
 Jersey City, N. J., were supplied with bar steel ; 
 but, about 1874, this company removed their works 
 to Bridgeport, and botli are now under one man- 
 agement in the making of car-springs not only for 
 their own, but for foreign markets. The manufac- 
 ture of cartridges of all kinds was commenced at 
 Bridgeport in 1860. The makers of the celebrated 
 Sharp's rifle located their armory here in 1875. 
 
 In 1680, when there were but twenty-six towns 
 in the Colony, the little commerce of this county 
 was managed at Fairfield, where ships of about 300 
 tons burden could come into the harbor of Black 
 Rock. The principal centre for the trade of the 
 county for a long period prior to the rise of Bridge- 
 port, was at Norwalk, from which place regular 
 lines of passenger and freight sloops sailed to New 
 York. The first incorporated steamboat company 
 in the county was formed at Norwalk in 1824 ; and 
 soon after the first regular line of steamboats made 
 trips to the metropolis; and, about 1825, com- 
 menced to run from Stamford. It was not, however, 
 till 1832, that the first steamboat connection was 
 made witli Bridgeport and New York, and about 
 thirteen years since with Port Jefferson on Long 
 Islan d. For t he past forty years Bridgeport has taken 
 the lead as a commercial centre, and the commerce 
 
80 
 
 TJU-J HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTlilAL 
 
 has been confined mostly to the coasting trade, as the 
 export trade is still in its infancy. This place was a 
 grain mart up to 1832; and extensive commerce 
 was carried on from here willi eastern and southern 
 ports. Prior to 1840, the West Indian trade was 
 very considerable, and made good business for mil- 
 lers and coopers. Three ships were at one time 
 engaged in the v, hale-fisheries from here, and a 
 company pursued cod-fishing on the banks of New- 
 foundland ; and, for the last few years, a large 
 trade in ice has been developed. There are six light- 
 houses on the coast of this county. The Pentield 
 Reef light-house at Black Rock harbor, erected in 
 1873, has a flashing red light, with a fog-bell. The 
 Bridgeport light-house, completed in 1871, has a 
 fixed red light. 
 
 The first board of trade formed in the county 
 was organized at Bridgeport in 1875, for the pur- 
 pose of giving every possible impetus to commer- 
 cial and manufacturing enterprises. 
 
 In 1087, roads leading from one plantation to 
 another were first designated as king's highways 
 or country roads. The first road of this character 
 in the county was laid out from Stratford over 
 Golden Hill at Pequonnock, for horses and carts, 
 which afterwards became a section of the regular 
 stage-road and post-route through the county from 
 New York to Boston. 
 
 At the commencement of the present century, it 
 took tiiirty hours to travel by the mail-stage on 
 the route from Hartford through Danbury, the 
 half-way place, to New York, not including the 
 time required to stop over-night at Danbury ; and 
 the stage- faro alone was $0.90, with fourteen 
 pounds of baggage, and a single fare extra, if it 
 weighed over one hundred pounds. In place of 
 the old king's highway, the New York and New 
 Haven Railroad Company, incorporated in 1844, 
 and consolidated with the New Haven and Hart- 
 ford Company in 1872, but which commenced bus- 
 iness in this county in 1839, was a great stimulus to 
 all kinds of industry in the towns along the sea- 
 coast. The Housatonic Railroad, incorporated in 
 1830, running through the western part of Con- 
 necticut, and fully opened for business in 1842— 
 the result of the great perseverance and energy of 
 Alfred Bishop — placed Bridgeport in as favorable 
 a position as any other seaport town in New Eng- 
 land in its railway connections with the West; and 
 was the germ of the rapid growth of the manufac- 
 tures and commerce of that city. Hardly less im- 
 portant, however, has been the effect of theNauga- 
 tuck Railroad upon this part of the county, which, 
 incorporated in 1845, to run from Winsted to Bridge- 
 port, and not fully operated till 1849, has opened 
 up to this county, and to Bridgeport in particular, 
 the advantages that flow from the extensive manu- 
 facturing interests in the Naugatuck Valley. From 
 the time of the opening of the Danbury and Nor- 
 walk Railroad in 1852, Danbury has grown rapidly 
 in population and business activity. The New 
 York and Housatonic Northern Company, char- 
 tered in 1803, since 1870 has been run from Brook- 
 field to Danbury by the Housatonic Company. 
 The New Canaan Railroad commenced operations 
 in 1808, and runs to Stamford. The New York 
 and New England Railroad Company runs through 
 Danbury from the west to Boston, and has become 
 a grand trunk line through the county, making 
 
 more direct communication with New England and 
 the West. 
 
 The first savings bank was organized at Bridge- 
 port in 1842, from which time there have been 
 seventeen monetary institutions of this kind formed 
 in the county, witli deposits amounting to nearly 
 $14,000,000. 
 
 The first newspaper published in the county was 
 the " Fairfield Gazette," ninety-six years ago, at 
 the county scat. The oldest newspaper published 
 in the county is the " Republican Fanner," still a 
 flourishing paper, with a large circulation. The 
 " Farmer's Journal " was established at Danbury 
 the same year (1790). The "Norwalk Gazette" 
 was first brought out in 1818, and still maintains 
 its leading position in the southwestern part of the 
 county. 
 
 In 1829 the "Stamford Advocate" was first 
 published. The " Republican Standard " of Bridge- 
 port first made its appearance in 1842. The 
 "Evening Standard" was the first daily paper 
 published in the county; its initial number was 
 issued in 1854. The next daily paper successfully 
 established was the "Evening Farmer," also of 
 Bridgeport. The " South Norwalk Sentinel " was 
 issued in 1870. The world-renowned " Danbury 
 News " was established in 1870, having grown out 
 of the consolidation of the " Danbury Times " and 
 the " Jeffersonian." The centennial issue of the 
 " News," printed in blue ink, gave a graphic ac- 
 count of the great celebration in Danbury July 5, 
 1870, when the people rejoiced for the final victory 
 which was achieved over the torch of Gov. Tryon. 
 
 The other papers are the "Greenwich Graphic," 
 "Stamford Herald," "New Canaan Messenger," 
 " Soutli Norwalk Republican," " Norwalk Hour," 
 " Westport Westporter," "Bridgeport News,"' 
 " Bridgeport Leader," " Ridgefield Press," " New- 
 town Bee," " Danbury Democrat," " Danbury 
 Republican," and "Danbury Item." 
 
 The population of Fairfield County has increased, 
 next to New Haven and Hartford counties, with 
 greater rapidity than any other in the State. In 1609 
 there were only about 165 freemen in the county, 
 which then comprised the four plantations of Strat- 
 ford, Fairfield, Norwalk, and Stamford, not includ- 
 ing that of Rye. In the year 1756, the population 
 was 19,849; in 1870, 95,370; and in 1880 the 
 county had a population of 112,044. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Bridgeport, most favorably situated on Long- 
 Island Sound, fifty-eight miles from New York, has 
 a population of about 30,000. This thriving city 
 is in first-class railroad communication with New 
 York and Boston, with the West from Albany, and 
 with the Naugatuck Valley ; and there are seventy 
 arrivals and departures of trains daily at this point. 
 Its facilities for commerce are unsurpassed, having 
 within its limits the Bridgeport, and one-half of the 
 Black Rock, harbors. That part of the city known 
 as East Bridgeport is connected witli the other part 
 by four free public bridges across the Pequonnock 
 river ; and there is an ample foot-bridge on the 
 New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad 
 bridge. 
 
 A large portion of the population are skilled 
 artisans, who are employed in a great variety of 
 manufacturing ; and among the long list of pro- 
 
UK VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 81 
 
 (tactions, which may 1)0 named to show the extent 
 of this industry, arc machinery, steam-engines, 
 boilers, and castings of all descriptions; cast-stcel 
 and car-springs, springs, perches and axles, brass 
 ware, pumps, locks, hardware, cutlery, Sharp's 
 rifles and sporting guns, bits and braces, silver- 
 plated goods rfor carriages, saddlery and horse 
 trimmings, and electro-plating in gold, silver and 
 nickel ; and sewing machines, for which the 
 Wheeler and Wilson Company occupies four entire 
 blocks, with a capital stock of §1,000,000, employ- 
 ing 1,400 hands, with a monthly pay-roll of 
 $100,000 and producing about 000 machines per 
 day ; while the Howe Company, with a capital of 
 $1,000,000 also, and having a branch house in 
 Glasgow, Scot., is doing an enormous business. 
 There are here two patent-leather companies of 
 $100,000 each, of which the Patent Leather Com- 
 pany handles and finishes about 30,000 hides per 
 annum, and the John 8. Way & Company produce* 
 russet grain leather to the amount of 85,000 sides 
 annually; and besides annually dresses 9,000 
 buffalo robes, running two factories and employing 
 about eighty men. Cartridges arc also manufac- 
 tured hero, with $300,000 capital, and a working 
 force of 450 men ; also percussion caps, and paper 
 and metallic shells, paper and paper boxes, carria- 
 ges and coaches, coach-lace and coach-lamps, hats, 
 furniture, shirts (employecsnumbering about 300, 
 with about 400 who take work outside the factory), 
 ornamental wood, wood-finishing goods, novel- 
 ties and toys (employing several hundred hands), 
 saddles and harnesses, cement, sewer and drain 
 pipes, having branches in many places in western 
 Connecticut; silk, ribbon, varnish of a superior 
 quality, soap, water-motors, jewelry of a cheap 
 grade, boots, shoes, etc. 
 
 The commerce of the city is mostly in the coast- 
 ing trade. The business of the Custom-house for 
 the Fairfield district is located here. The Bridge- 
 port Steamboat Company dispatches two first class 
 steamers, the "Bridgeport" and the "Laura,"to 
 New York daily. The monetary institutions consist 
 of five national and three savings banks and a 
 mutual fire insurance company. There are seven- 
 teen most attractive public school buildings, one 
 of which will accommodate over 1,000 pupils, a 
 high school, a young ladies' seminary, and numer- 
 ous private schools. The Bridgeport Library 
 contains over 9,000 volumes. 
 
 The city has three daily, two weekly, and three 
 semi-weekly newspapers. Its water supply is am- 
 ple. The streets and avenues are kept in a cleanly 
 condition; are well curbed and thoroughly lighted 
 with gas; the walks are mostly of stone and con- 
 crete, and the system of drainage is effected by over 
 eighteen miles of sewer pipes. A well-equipped 
 horse railroad and its branches accommodate the 
 people from the centre to the suburbs of East 
 Bridgeport and Fairfield, and to the cemetery and 
 the parks. Mountain Grove Cemetery, on the ex- 
 treme western limits of the city, covers about eighty 
 acres. It is laid out with most exquisite taste, and 
 is adorned with massive and costly monuments. 
 This city cannot be surpassed for its favorite drives 
 and popular pleasure grounds. Seaside Park is a 
 most charming place for recreation and pleasure. 
 Here, in this most appropriate spot, has been erected 
 an imposing and costly granite monument, adorned 
 
 with marble statues and bronze medallions, to the 
 memory of the soldiers and sailors who fell in the 
 late war. Washington Park, in East Bridgeport) 
 containing a fine grove of old forests, is also an 
 attractive place. 
 
 The city is not deficient in fine blocks of build- 
 ings and public edifices. Some of those that attract 
 attention are the Bridgeport and People's Savings 
 Bank buildings, the City National Bank ; the Court- 
 house, built of freestone at a cost of $75,000; 
 Wheeler's Block, which contains the Public Library ; 
 the Standard Association Building, and two opera- 
 houses, one of which is a fine structure. 
 
 The churches of the city are twenty-nine in num- 
 ber. St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church is a 
 massive Gothic edifice, built of granite at a cost of 
 about $150,000. St. Mary's Catholic Church, in 
 East Bridgeport, is of a striking architectural 
 design. St. John's Episcopal Church is of handsome 
 Gothic design, and cost about $100,000. 
 
 The First Presbyterian Church edifico is of a 
 peculiarly novel design throughout. It is of 
 undressed blue stone, trimmed with light granite, 
 with a tower about 150 feet in height. 
 
 Nathaniel Hewit, D. D., an eminent pulpit 
 orator and reformer, was born at New London, 
 Conn. , in 1788. He graduated at Yale College, 
 and studied law, which he abandoned for the 
 ministry. He was installed over the Second Con- 
 gregational Church at Bridgeport in 1830, and 
 over the First Presbyterian Church in 1853. He 
 died in February, 1867. 
 
 Hon. William D. Bishop, a native of Bridge- 
 port, has been a member of Congress and Com- 
 missioner of Patents. He was a long time Pres- 
 ident of the New York, New Haven and Hart- 
 ford Railroad Company. 
 
 Hon. P. T. Barnum, born in Bethel, Conn., in 
 1810, is not only the greatest showman of the 
 ago, but a good* lecturer and a popular temper- 
 ance advocate. He has also been mayor of 
 Bridgeport. 
 
 The city of South Norwalk, and the borough 
 and town of Norwalk. — The city, situated on 
 the west side of Norwalk harbor, is one of the 
 most important stations on the line of the New 
 York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. It has 
 an estimated population of about 6,000. The 
 manufacturing interests at this point are quite 
 extensive ; its nearness to the great metropolis, 
 and its first-class water and railway communica- 
 tions rendering it one of the most desirable loca- 
 tions for carrying on the great industries. 
 Among some of the most important manufactures 
 are locks, knobs and bronze ware ; steam-engines 
 and the celebrated Earl's steam-pump at the Nor- 
 walk Iron Works ; fine hats by several different 
 companies, also straw hats ; boots and shoes on 
 an extensive scale, and paper boxes. There aro 
 also two large planing-mill companies doing a 
 heavy business. Attention is also largely given 
 to shipbuilding and the cultivation of the oyster. 
 
 The situation of the city renders its commerce 
 of groat importance to its growth. Besides the 
 large number of vessels built and owned here, 
 and others, engaged in the coasting trade, the 
 transportation linos of steamers are continually 
 engaged in a profitable business. Twenty pas- 
 senger trains arrive from and depart for New 
 
83 
 
 TEB HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 York daily, and five to and from Danbury daily. 
 A lino of freight propellers runs regularly to and 
 from New York, and large and commodious 
 passenger steamers make daily trips all the year 
 round, conveying passengers at the low fare of 
 thirty-five cents a distance of forty-five miles, or 
 the trip to New York and return, ninety miles, 
 for fifty cents. The sail is delightful, and con- 
 nections are made with the New York and New 
 Haven and Danbury trains. Vessels drawing 
 twelve feet of water discharge their cargoes at 
 the wharves. Boats are also run by tho Steam 
 Freighting Company. 
 
 The city is growing rapidly, having about 
 doubled its population during the last decade. 
 It has some fine blocks of buildings and church 
 edifices, and a handsome opera-house. Tho 
 school facilities are excellent. The religious 
 interests are represented by five churches. Tho 
 water works are among the most complete in 
 New England. 
 
 Tho borough of Norwalk is situated in the 
 centre of the town, on the river, nearly one and 
 a half miles north of the city. It contains about 
 7,500inhabitants, and has five banks, six churches, 
 and several manufacturing establishments. There 
 are two academies in the borough, and four 
 newspaper offices. 
 
 The town of Norwalk contains about twenty 
 square miles of territory, and had a population 
 of 13,956 in 1880. There are five national, two 
 savings banks and ten churches. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Fitch was born about 1697 ; was 
 deputy -governor of the Colony for four years 
 from 1750 ; governor for twelve consecutive 
 years from 1754. He was a lawyer, distinguished 
 for great abilities and large acquirements. He 
 diet! July 18, 1774. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Belden Butler was born August 
 22, 1800 ; graduated at the Yale Medical School, 
 and settled at Norwalk in 1829, as a physician, 
 but on account of his nervous temperament 
 abandoned that profession, studied law, and was 
 admitted to the bar in 1837. He was a member 
 of Congress one term ; was elected a judge of 
 the Superior Court in 1855 ; of the Supreme 
 Court in 1861, and was made chief justice in 
 1870. He resigned this office in 1873, because 
 of ill health. He was tho author of an elaborate 
 work on tho atmosijheric system ; an inventor, 
 and obtained several patents, and took an active 
 interest in agriculture. He died June 8, 1873. 
 
 Clark Bissell, LL.D., was governor of the 
 State, and a judge of the Supreme Court of 
 Errors from 1829 to 1839. 
 
 Hon. Orris S. Ferry was born at Bethel, Conn., 
 August 15, 1823 ; graduated at Yale College, and 
 settled at Norwalk in the practice of law. He 
 was a member of Congress one term, and colonel 
 and brigadior-general of volunteers in the late 
 war. He took his seat as United States senator 
 in 1867, and was re-elected in 1872 for a six years' 
 term. Ho died in 1876. 
 
 Danbury, the northern terminus of tho Dan- 
 bury and Norwalk Railroad, had a population in 
 1880 of 11,669. No town in the State manifests a 
 more lively interest in education, and the ample 
 school buildings and grounds are made most 
 attractive. 
 
 Although tho central part of the town is not 
 yet a city, it is an incorporated borough, con- 
 taining a population of about 9,000, and is one 
 of tho most attractive, as it is also one of the 
 most enterprising places in New England. 
 
 The religious denominations are represented 
 by eight churches. Tho newspapers, besides 
 the "News," are the "Democrat," "Republi- 
 can" and "Item," which are ably -conducted 
 journals. The borough contains two national 
 banks. 
 
 One of tho places of interest is Deer Hill, the 
 location of beautiful residences. Thero ore two 
 delightful lakes, Nevorsink and Kenosha, the 
 last of which is a fashionable resort for picnic 
 and excursion parties, about two miles west of 
 the centre, and is the sourco of Still River, which 
 runs through the borough, and affords a good 
 water power. Tho Wooster Cemetery, embrac- 
 ing an inclosure of about 100 acres, with its 
 evergreens, tastefully laid out mounds, walks 
 and drives, its artificial lake, and costly and at- 
 tractive monuments, is a fit and handsome place 
 of sepulture. Near the entrance, on a sightly 
 elevation, stands tho monument erected to the 
 memory of Maj. Gen. David Wooster. It is of 
 freestone, and about forty feet high. The coat 
 of arms of Connecticut is carved on one side of 
 the shaft ; his deeds of valor are recorded on 
 another ; and on the third tho fact of his having 
 organized the first lodge of Freemasons in Con- 
 necticut at New Haven. 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer Baldwin, born July 3, 1745, 
 and a graduate of Yale College, was ordained at 
 Danbury in October, 177n. He was a chaplain 
 in tho Revolutionary army at New York in 1770, 
 and, amid the liardships of tho camp in attend- 
 ing the sick and suffering, contracted the disease 
 of which ho died. He was a man of great tolonts 
 and culture. He died October 1, 1776. 
 
 Stamford had in 1880 a population of 11,298. 
 Tho borough is situated on Mill River. Tho 
 commerce is principally with New York. Steam- 
 ers make daily trips to and from New York, and 
 tho freight of tho transportatiom companies is 
 heavy. 
 
 Tho manufacturing interests are somewhat 
 varied, and among them may be noticed the pro- 
 duction of iron, brass and copper ware. A largo 
 business is carried on in the manufacture of 
 stoves, hollow ware, hot-air and cooking ranges 
 and castings. There aro also camphor refineries, 
 and dyewoods of all kinds are quite extensively 
 manufactured, as are boots and shoes, edge tools 
 and wire, locks, carriages, woollen goods, bil- 
 liard-tables, fire-brick, drain-pipes, marble, gran- 
 ite and flagging-stone. 
 
 This is one of the most popular localities for 
 residences of tho business men of New York, and 
 thoso who wish to retiro to live in wealth and 
 luxury ; and the town is believed to have more 
 elegant private residences than any other of its 
 size in the State. About twenty passenger 
 trains leave here on tho N. Y., N. H. and II. 
 R. R., and as many arrive daily from Now York. 
 Tho town is one school district, having seven- 
 teen common and several private schools. Thero 
 aro also four graded schools and two academies. 
 The religious interests are maintained by twelve 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 83 
 
 •churches. Somo of the church edifices are 
 models of architecture. 
 
 The town hall, of hrick and Ohio stone, with 
 a tower 100 feet high, was built at a cost of 
 -8140, 000. 
 
 Woodland Cemetery is an attractive spot. The 
 ■drives in the vicinity of Stamford are charming, 
 and the views of the Sound and the surrounding 
 •country from the adjoining hills are magnificent. 
 
 Abraham Davenport, grandson of the Rev. John 
 Davenport, the founder of the New Haven Colony, 
 was a resident of Stamford. His true Christian in- 
 tegrity, vigor and uncommon firmness of mind, 
 were prominent traits of character. In the legis- 
 lature of Connecticut, May 18, 1780, on the famous 
 dark day, which was thought to be the judgment 
 <lay, on a motion to adjourn, he said: "1 am 
 against an adjournment. The day of judgment is 
 approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no 
 •cause of adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found 
 doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that candles 
 may be brought." While sitting as chief justice 
 of the Court of Common Pleas at D anbury, after 
 being struck with death) he heard a portion of a 
 trial, charged the jury, and retired for the night to 
 be found with life extinct soon afterwards. 
 
 Charles Hawley, born June 15, 1792, graduated 
 with honor at Yale in 1813, and opened a law 
 olfi te in Stamford about 1816. He left an estate 
 probably larger than any lawyer has accumulated 
 from his profession alone in the State, and stood 
 in the first rank of the profession. He was lieu- 
 tenant-governor from 1838 to 1842, and died Feb. 
 27, 1860. 
 
 The remaining towns of Fairfield County are 
 Greenwich (population, 8,000), having several busi- 
 ness centres, whose local newspaper needs are 
 served by the "Greenwich Graphic"; and is noted 
 principally for its fine villas and residences of men 
 doing business in New York. On the eastern limit 
 of the town is the hill noted as the place of the 
 daring feat of Gen. Putnam in the Revolutionary 
 war. Fairfield (4,000), embracing, in its extreme 
 southwestern part, at the mouth of Mill river, 
 Southport, which, like Greenwich, is a most charm- 
 ing suburb of New York, and has a small though 
 deep and commodious harbor. In the western and 
 upper part of the town is Greenfield Hill, one of 
 the most sightly elevations of the region. From 
 the church steeple here twenty-eight church spires 
 in Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Heading and 
 other places can be seen, also about half a dozen 
 light-houses from Stratford Point to the Norwalk 
 Islands. A public avenue now runs over the cele- 
 brated "Sasco Swamp" of earliest Indian warfare 
 fame, near Southport. Newtown (4,000), an agri- 
 cultural town, yet favored with the business of the 
 New York Belting and Packing Company, the old- 
 est manufacturers of vulcanized rubber fabrics in 
 the country; as also with the manufacture of car- 
 springs, solid emery vulcanite wheels, antiseptic 
 linen hose, rubber-lined linen hose, etc. Strat- 
 ford (4,500 situated on Long Island Sound, at 
 the mouth of the Housatonic river, a level town- 
 ship for the most part, whose meadows at the 
 mouth of the river are of very rich alluvial forma- 
 tion; and its village is characterized by one long, 
 fine street, pleasantly lined with elegant residences, 
 and well shaded with a variety of ornamental trees. 
 
 Westport (3,500), a town noted, like several of the 
 foregoing, for its beautiful residences of those still 
 in business in New York city, as also of those who 
 have retired from active life. 
 
 On a bend of the river, at a point near the Sound, 
 is the elevation known in Revolutionary history as 
 Compo. 
 
 New Canaan (2,800), a mountainous, yet growing 
 town at the terminus of the New Canaan Railroad, 
 whose manufacturing interests are in boots and 
 shoes, and whose local paper is the well-esteemed 
 ' ' New Canaan Messenger." Bethel, an incorporated 
 borough of 2,800 inhabitants; a growing, prosper- 
 ous place, whose leading industry is the manu- 
 facture of hats, and whose admirably constructed 
 water-works are justly the pride of the town. 
 Ridgefield (2,000), lying in the western part of the 
 county bordering on New York, the principal street 
 of whose village, with its lawns, walks and shade 
 trees, imparts to the place a wonderful home-like 
 appearance, and whose newspaper, the " Ridgefield 
 Press," has deservedly an excellent circulation. 
 
 Some parts of this township are so elevated that 
 a view can be had of Long Island Sound at a 
 distance of fourteen miles, and of East and West 
 Rock at New Haven, and of the Highlands of the 
 Hudson. 
 
 Darien (2,000), a small township situated on 
 Long Island Sound, a favorite resort for purposes 
 of residence of New York business men, and withal 
 of gentlemen of leisure. "Wilton, an agricultural 
 town of 1,900 inhabitants. Reading, a sparsely 
 settled, strictly agricultural township, with a popu- 
 lation of about 1,600. Huntington (2,500), having 
 quite extensive manufactures of silver-ware ana 
 paper, and a growing place. Trumbull (1,300), its 
 people being largely given to husbandry, though 
 shirts are quite extensively manufactured here ; as 
 also paper, at Beers' Mills. Monroe (1,200), an 
 agricultural township, with an uneven surface, 
 though quite productive soil. 
 
 Tasb.ua Hill, in this town, is a signal-station of 
 the United States Coast Survey, and is the first land 
 visible when approaching this coast. 
 
 Easton (1,200), an irregular township lying north 
 of Fairfield; a farming and eminently "well-to- 
 do " community. Brookfield (1,200), a farming 
 town, though giving some attention to the manu- 
 facture of lime, hats, etc. Weston (1,000), which 
 has an iron foundry and machine-shop at Valley 
 Forge ; a plough and hay-cutter manufactory, and 
 a (lour and plaster mill at Lyon's Plains. New 
 Fairfield (800), an agricultural town lying adjacent 
 to the New York State line. Sherman (800), the 
 most northern town in the county, wedged in 
 between Litchfield County and the State of New 
 York, and whose people are nearly all farmers. 
 
 All these towns have the usual complement of 
 churches, quite all being of the so-called Evangeli- 
 cal order, the Congregationalist and Methodist, 
 perhaps, predominating ; and of schools. 
 
 Ray. Isaac Lewis, D. D., born Jan. 21, 1746; 
 Yale College, 1765; settled at Greenwich Oct. 18, 
 1786; was a fervent Revolutionary patriot, and at 
 one time a regimental chaplain. In the only house 
 left standing at the burning of Norwalk, he preach- 
 ed an appropriate sermon from Isa. lxiv. 11-12, 
 the inhabitants having assembled on the occasion 
 
84 
 
 ItEVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 for tlio purpose of fasting and prayer. He died 
 Aug. 27, 1840. 
 
 Joel Lindsley, D. D., (1793-1808), was long the 
 esteemed pastor of the Greenwich Congregational 
 church. 
 
 Hon. Gold Selleck Silliman, born at Fairtield in 
 1732; Yale College, 1752 ; a distinguished lawyer, 
 and a brigadier-general of militia in the Revolu- 
 tion ; was the father of the late Benjamin Silliman, 
 LL.D., of Yale College. His death occurred 
 July 12, 1790. 
 
 Philo Shelton, A. M., former rector of Trinity 
 Church of Fairfield (1754-1825; Yale College, 
 1778), is believed to have been the first Episcopal 
 clergyman ordained in the United States. 
 
 Roger Minott Sherman, LL.D., a native of Fair- 
 field, one of the most eminent lawyers of his day, 
 and son of Roger Sherman, one of the signers of 
 the Declaration, was one of the judges of the 
 Supreme Court of Errors of this State from 1839 
 to 1842. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Johnson, D. D., one of the 
 founders of Episcopacy in Connecticut (1090-1772; 
 Yale College, 1714), an author of note, a man of 
 great talents and personal dignity, was settled at 
 one time over the church in Stratford. 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Daniel Wooster, a native of Stratford 
 (1711-1771; Yale College, 1738), having entered 
 the military service, was captain of a company in 
 the expedition against Louisburgh in 1745. He 
 was a general in the Frencli wars ; commander of 
 the troops sent to guard New York in 1775 ; went 
 to Canada, and was chief in command after the 
 death of Gen. Montgomery. He was appointed 
 major-general of the State militia about 1770 ; and, 
 in 1777, learning that the British had landed at 
 Compo, pursued them to Danbury, and was mortally 
 wounded at Ridgefield, April 27, 1777. 
 
 Hon. David Plant, a native and life-long resident 
 of Stratford, a graduate of Yale in 1804, was a 
 member of Congress from 1827 to 1829, and died 
 Oct. 18, 1851. 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll, installed pastor of 
 the Ridgefield church Aug. 8, 1739, was a chaplin 
 
 in the Colonial army on Lake Champlain. Died 
 Oct. 2, 1778, in the 05th year of his age, and the 
 40th of his ministry. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Goodrich, father of the re- 
 nowned Peter Parley, was, for upwards of twenty- 
 five years, the faithful pastor of the Ridgefield 
 church. 
 
 The Rev. David Ely, D. D., settled at Hunting- 
 ton, Oct. 27, 1773 (1749-1810; Yale College, 1709), 
 was so zealous in the patriot cause during the Rev- 
 olutionary war, that the Tories in this section 
 threatened to hang him, when the rebellion should 
 have been crushed, on an oak tree in the public 
 square. 
 
 The Rev. James Beebe, pastor of the Congrega- 
 tional church at Trumbull for thirty-eight years, 
 took an active part in the capture of Ticonderoga 
 during the French and Indian wars, and was very 
 instrumental in stirring up the enthusiasm of the 
 people during the Revolutionary war. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Staples, a noted man of his time, 
 founded the celebrated academy in Easton, by giv- 
 ing a fund which made it a free school, and a 
 number of acres of land for the benefit of the 
 school. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Sherwood (1730-1783; Yale Col- 
 lege, 1749), was ordained at Weston Aug 17, 1757. 
 Espousing the colonial cause in the Revolutionary 
 war with such zeal as to become obnoxious to the 
 British and Tories, it was not deemed safe for him 
 at one time to sleep in his own house. A published 
 Fast-day sermon, delivered by him in 1774, was 
 some years ago deposited in the library of Yalo 
 College. 
 
 Rev. Maltby Gelston (1700-1850 ; Yalo College, 
 1791), was installed pastor of the church in Sher- 
 man April 20, 1797, at a salary of £100, and a few 
 cords of wood. Ho was proverbial for his wisdom, 
 elevated piety, industry and punctuality. After 
 an active ministry of forty-five years in this town, 
 where he always resided after his installation, he 
 died at the advanced age of ninety years. 
 
HARTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 At the time of discovery, the Connecticut River 
 Valley was inhabited by several small tribes of 
 Indians, allied to the Narragansetts and the 
 Nehantics, and, like them, subject to the constant 
 attacks of the more powerful and warlike Pequots. 
 They were also in a condition of enforced vassalage 
 to the mighty Iroquois or Mohawk confederation, 
 which bounded them on the west, and whose 
 warriors levied arbitrary tribute upon the Connecti- 
 cut tribes, and in case of resistance devastated their 
 villages. Many of the river Indians had been 
 driven from their original homes and had migrated 
 to eastern Massachusetts, where they were found by 
 the Plymouth settlers. Within the limits of Hart- 
 ford County were several fortified villages, where 
 the remnants of these tribes were intrenched as a 
 protection against their numerous enemies. At 
 Pyquag, now Wethersfield, Capt. Block held an 
 interview with " Sequin," sachem of a tribe resident 
 there ; and he also makes mention of a village a few 
 miles farther north, inhabited by the "Nawaas" 
 tribe. Upon the Tunxis River was located the 
 tribe of that name, and the Podunks occupied the 
 eastern shore of the Connecticut, opposite Hartford. 
 Suckiage, the location of Hartford, had probably 
 been seized by the Pequots, as the Dutch, who were 
 first to make a purchase of land at this place, 
 treated with a Pequot sachem. 
 
 In the spring of 1 63 1 Wahquimacut, a sachem of 
 one of the river tribes, evidently impressed with 
 the idea that the English would prove powerful 
 allies against his relentless foes, the Pequots and 
 Mohawks, visited the Massachusetts settlements 
 and invited emigration to his country, extolling its 
 natural advantages and guaranteeing reasonable 
 terms for the land and bounties to actual settlers. 
 Gov. Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay seems not to 
 have been favorably impressed by the proposition, 
 and took no action, but Gov. Winslowof Plymouth 
 deemed the matter of sufficient importance to 
 warrant a journey to the Connecticut. He was soon 
 followed by other explorers, and projects for 
 emigration were warmly discussed by the Massa- 
 chusetts colonists. As the ea r ly settlers were 
 anxious to remain near navigable water, the 
 towns in the vicinity of Boston were already com- 
 plaining of overcrowding, and the Connecticut Val- 
 ley was regarded with longing eyes, although the 
 government of Massachusetts Bay continued to dis- 
 courage the proposed migration. But advocates 
 of the measure were continually arriving from 
 England, and the government soon found itself in 
 the minority. 
 
 In June, 1633, Jacob Van Curter, an agent of 
 the Dutch West India Company, purchased about 
 twenty acres of land at what is still known as 
 Dutch Point in Hartford, and erected thereon a 
 fort and trading-houso, which he named the "House 
 
 of Good Hope." In October, 1633, Plymouth 
 Colony, having in vain endeavored to secure the 
 co-operation of Massachusetts Bay, dispatched a 
 vessel to the Connecticut River, under command of 
 William Holmes, who established, near the mouth 
 of the Tunxis River, on the site of the present town 
 of Windsor, a trading-post. 
 
 During the summer of 1634, a company from 
 Watertown settled at Wethersfield. It seems cer- 
 tain that a portion of this company remained 
 through the winter, thus constituting this the first 
 actual settlement of Hartford County. June, 1635, 
 the church at Dorchester, of which the Rev. John 
 Wareham was minister, located at Windsor, near 
 the trading-post established by Holmes. The Ply- 
 mouth government regarded this as an invasion of 
 their rights, but. took no active measures to dis- 
 possess the Dorchester people. The matter was 
 compromised several years later by a grant of land 
 and the payment of a stipulated sum of money. 
 Among the Dorchester emigrants was Roger Lud- 
 low, lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts Bay, and 
 several other men of distinction. Duringthis sum- 
 mer the colony at Wethersfield was greatly strength- 
 ened by new arrivals. After erecting the necessary 
 buildings, the Windsor settlers returned to Mas- 
 sachusetts for their families. October 15, a party 
 of about sixty started from Dorchester to travel 
 overland to their new home. Winter closed in 
 unusually early, and the journey was accomplished 
 with great difficulty, a portion of their live stock 
 perishing on the way. Before they reached their 
 destination snow fell to a great depth, and the 
 Connecticut River was covered with thin ice, render- 
 ing crossing extremely difficult. They had taken 
 but a limited stock of provisions, their winter's 
 supply, together with their household goods, 
 having been shipped by water. Many of the 
 vessels were wrecked, while others were com- 
 pelled to return to Boston. The situation of the 
 little band of colonists was truly deplorable. 
 The severity of the weather frustrated all at- 
 tempts to obtain provisions, and they were des- 
 titute of the blankets, etc., necessary as a pro- 
 tection against the intense cold. Many of the 
 settlers, after suffering incredible hardships, 
 found their way through the wilderness back to 
 Massachusetts, while those who remained in 
 many instances were forced to subsist on nuts 
 and acorns. But spring opened early, and with 
 the return of mild weather matters improved 
 very rapidly. Those who had been driven away 
 by cold and starvation returned, bringing with 
 them large reinforcements. A fort was erected 
 at the mouth of the river to prevent the en- 
 croachments of the Dutch, and the permanency 
 of the Colony seemed assured. A third settle- 
 ment was commenced at Suckiage, and was named 
 
so 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Newtown, the colonics at Wethersfield and Wind- 
 sor, respectively, taking the names of Watertown 
 and Dorchester. April 26, 1636, the first court 
 was held at Newtown, Mr. Ludlow presiding. 
 The present names of the towns were given by 
 the General Court in February, 1637. The 
 name of Hartford is taken from that of Hertford, 
 Eng. 
 
 During the spring of 1636 the Eev. Thomas 
 Hooker and his assistant, the Rev. Samuel Stone, 
 pastors of the church at Newtown, now Cam- 
 bridge, Mass., headed a party of about 100 per- 
 sons, including women and children, in an over- 
 land journey to the valley of the Connecticut, 
 and laid the foundation of the city of Hartford. 
 At the close of the year 1636 the total popula- 
 tion of the three settlements was about eight 
 hundred. 
 
 The Pequots early manifested symptoms of 
 hostility against those who had wrested from 
 them their possessions on the river, and had 
 either restored these lands to their rightful 
 owners, or had purchased them from such 
 owners. They viewed with alarm the rapid in- 
 crease of the Colonies, and conceived the plan 
 of uniting all the tribes in a common war upon 
 the English. Fortunately they were but par- 
 tially successful in this. During the winter of 
 1636-7, a number of the settlers were murdered 
 by the Pequots, and in April, 1637. a large body of 
 savages descended upon the outskirts of Wethers- 
 field, killed nine persons, and carried two girls 
 into captivity. The captives were subsequently 
 redeemed by the Dutch and returned to their 
 former homes. At the General Court in May 
 it was determined to wage a war of extermi- 
 nation against the Pequots, as the only means 
 of self-preservation. A force of ninety men 
 was raised, of which Hartford furnished forty-two, 
 Windsor thirty, and Wethersfield eighteen. The 
 command of the expedition was given to Capt. 
 Mason, an experienced soldier, and the Rev. Mr. 
 Stone was appointed chaplain. The force was ac- 
 companied by seventy friendly Indians, under the 
 famous sachem Uncas, and sailed from Hartford 
 May 10. The movement was entirely successful, 
 resulting in the total rout of the Pequot tribe, with 
 scarcely any loss to the colonial forces. 
 
 The bravery of Capt. Mason and his companions 
 had saved the infant Colony, but its future pros- 
 pects were far from flattering. The campaign had 
 entailed a large debt, which it was but poorly pre- 
 pared to meet, and had greatly augmented the 
 effects of the prevailing scarcity of provisions. It 
 had been found impossible to get the ground pre- 
 pared the previous year in season to raise a suffi- 
 cient supply of corn, as the colonists were almost 
 entirely without ploughs or other agricultural im- 
 plements. Many cattle had perished during the 
 winter, and, the war having taken away a large 
 share of the able-bodied men during planting 
 time, a famine seemed imminent. A supply of 
 corn was fortunately obtained from tho Indians 
 farther up the river, and the subsequent winter was 
 passed in comparative comfort, although the In- 
 dians continued troublesome, rendering necessary 
 the utmost vigilance. The "train-baud " of Hart- 
 ford organized in 1638, still exists as the Gover- 
 nor's Foot Guard. 
 
 Up to this time the colonists upon the Con- 
 necticut had continued to submit to the authority 
 of the Massachusetts governments, but, finding 
 that they were outside the limits of those patents, 
 it was determined to form an independent govern- 
 ment. A convention of delegates from the three 
 settlements assembled at Hartford, and on Jan. 4, 
 1039, adopted a preamble and constitution for the 
 government of the Colony of Connecticut. For 
 nearly two centuries this constitution remained un- 
 altered, a monument to the wisdom and sagacity 
 of its framers, and with the exception of a tew 
 months, when a royal governor claimed authority 
 under protest, Connecticut has always been ruled by 
 officers chosen by the ballots of her freemen. 
 John Haynes was the first governor under the con- 
 stitution. At the spring session of the General 
 Court the towns were vested with authority to con- 
 duct their own affairs. 
 
 In the autumn of 1039, Gen. Mason conducted 
 a second successful expedition against the In- 
 dians. Subsequent to this it does not appear that 
 Hartford County suffered to any extent from the 
 depredations of the savages, although for many 
 years the inhabitants dwelt in continual terror, and 
 maintained a vigilant guard day and night. Hav- 
 ing in all cases paid the formerowners liberally for 
 tlie land taken, they secured, if not the friendship 
 of the local tribes of Indians, at least a passive- 
 acquiescence in the rapid growth of the Colonies. 
 During the later bloody Indian wars, many of the 
 members of the river tribes disappeared, probably 
 allying themselves with the various hostile tribes, 
 with whom they perished. For a long period, 
 however, the settlers in the western part of the 
 Colony were harrassed by occasional raids, and the 
 territory east of the Connecticut River was not 
 deemed safe until about 1670. In the last men- 
 tioned year the Simsbury settlers became so alarmed 
 that they abandoned the settlement, and fled to 
 Windsor. Their buildings were burned, and when 
 they returned, six years later, they were unable to 
 find the precise location of their former dwellings. 
 The towns in Hartford County furnished a large 
 number of men during King Philip's war, but 
 were fortunately spared the horrors of savage war- 
 fare in their own midst. Numbers of friendly 
 Indians remained in the county for many years. 
 The sachem Uncas was a powerful ally of the colo- 
 nists, and greatly assisted them in subduing the 
 Pequots. 
 
 The members from Hartford County of the New 
 England Confederation, formed in 1043, were men 
 of great ability and influence. 
 
 A settlement on the Tunxis River, in the western 
 part of Windsor, was incorporated an a town in 
 1645, under the name of Farmington, which name 
 was thenceforth also applied to the river. 
 
 In 1654, England being at war with Holland, 
 the Dutch property in this section was formally 
 sequestrated by the colonial authorities, thus ending 
 the occupation of this region by the Dutch." 
 
 In 1662, Gov. Winthrop, who had gone to Eng- 
 land for the purpose, obtained from King Churles- 
 II. a charter for the Colony of Connecticut, con- 
 veying ample privileges. By the terms of this 
 charter, Connecticut extended from the Narragan- 
 sett river on the east to the sea on the west, and 
 under this grant the Colony subsequently laid 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 87 
 
 claim to portions of New York and Pennsylvania, tion of Wethcrsfield, lying east of the river was 
 
 giving rise to protracted and bitter discussions, incorporated in 1690, under the name of Qlaston- 
 
 Although this charter included New Haven Colony bury. 
 
 within the limits of Connecticut, it was not until In October, 1687, Sir Edmund Andros appeared 
 
 1605 that the former would consent to the union. at Hartford, where the General Court was in ses- 
 
 THE " COURANT 
 
 Hartford County was constituted in 1005, its sion, declared that assembly dissolved, and de- 
 original limits including all of Tolland County, manded the surrender of the charter of the Colony, 
 and portions of the counties of Litchfield and Possibly to meet an exigency like this, a duplicate 
 New London. Simsbury, the northwestern part of of the charter had been prepared, which was finally 
 Windsor, was incorporated in 1570, the Indian produced. The colonial governor protested against 
 name of the settlement being Massacoe. The por- theauthortity of Andros, and a debate ensued, which 
 
88 
 
 TEB HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 was prolonged until dark. Candles were called for 
 and upon their arrival it was discovered that the 
 copy of the charter had disappeared. It had been 
 taken by Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, who conveyed 
 it to the south part of the city, and concealed it in 
 the hollow trunk of a large oak, in front of the 
 residence of Hon. Samuel Wyllys, where it remained 
 until less troublous times. The tree which was 
 pointed out as having been the depository of the 
 precious document was one of the chief attractions 
 of Hartford until Aug. 20, 1856, when it was 
 destroyed by a furious storm, while its name is 
 perpetuated in various ways, Hartford itself being 
 called, by common consent, the Charter Oak City. 
 
 Until 1701, Hartford had been the sole capital of 
 the united Colony, but in that year New Haven was 
 made a semi-capital, and from that time until 1873, 
 the sessions of the General Court were held alter- 
 nately in the two cities. 
 
 During the almost continual wars with the French 
 and Indians from 1689 to 1763, Hartford County, 
 being on the frontier so far as its western towns 
 were concerned, was in a conti nual state of uneasi ness 
 owing to the atrocities committed in New York and 
 Pennsylvania. Fortified houses were erected at va- 
 rious exposed points, including four in Hartford, 
 while the ferries at that place and at Windsor were 
 placed in a condition of defense. In 1704 the 
 General Court resolved that thefrontiertowns must 
 be held, as a measure of public safety, and that the 
 inhabitants of these towns must remain, under 
 penalty of forfeiture of their lands. This county 
 had her full proportion of men in the military ser- 
 vice, and during the 100 years next preceding the 
 war of the Revolution, many of her citizens were 
 either killed in battle, or died of disease contracted 
 in camp. In the successful expedition against 
 Louisburg, in 1745, Koger Wolcott of Windsor, 
 lieutenant-governor of the Colony, commanded a 
 brigade of Connecticut troops. The principal 
 officers under Wolcott were from Hartford County. 
 During the war, which began in 1755 and ended 
 with the treaty of Ryswick in 1763, Hartford 
 County had at various times from 500 to 2,000 men 
 in active service. 
 
 The first code of laws for the Colony was com- 
 piled in 1650, and was composed almost entirely 
 of extracts and adaptations from the Mosaic code. 
 The odium of the so-called "Blue Laws " — if, 
 indeed, there be any ground for such odium — rests 
 rather with the New Haven Colony than with the 
 Hartford. 
 
 The early history of Hartford County, like that 
 of all the New England Colonies, must neces- 
 sarily bo somewhat ecclesiastical in character. 
 The settlements at Hartford and Windsor were 
 made under the guidance of the same faithful 
 shepherds who had led their flocks across the 
 sea in search of religious liberty, and a list of 
 the early settlers of these towns is, in each case, 
 an almost complete roster of the membership of 
 some Massachusetts church. It is claimed that 
 the First Church at Windsor is the oldest re- 
 ligious organization in New England. At first, 
 under the ministrations of Rev. John Wareham, 
 assisted by Ephraim Heuet as teacher, there was 
 great harmony and prosperity in the church ; 
 but Mr. Heuet died in 1644, and as Mr. Wareham 
 was advanced in years he felt unable to perform 
 
 the pastoral labor without a colleague, over the 
 appointment of whom arose an exceedingly bitter 
 and protracted controversy. Appeal was finally 
 made to the General Court, which ordered that 
 an election of assistant pastor should bS held. 
 This was done, but the minority refused to 
 acquiesce in the result, so that nothing was accom- 
 plished. Mr. Wareham died April 1, 1670, and 
 for many years there was no settled pastor. 
 Rev. Samuel Mather was settled in 1682, and 
 remained until his death in 1726. The dissen- 
 sions culminated in 1694 in the organization of 
 the Second Church, with Rev. Timothy Edwards 
 as pastor, an office which ho retained for the 
 remarkable term of sixty-four years. 
 
 The church at Hartford, upon the death of 
 Mr. Hooker, in 1647, remained under tho guid- 
 ance of Mr. Stone, but ho found it impossible 
 to control a dissatisfied and controversial feeling 
 which had sprung up in tho church, and which 
 rapidly increased. Several councils of the 
 neighboring churches were called, but to no 
 purpose ; and several general councils, in which 
 the New Haven and Massachusetts churches 
 united, also failed to effect a reconciliation. But 
 many of the disaffected members moved to other 
 places, and comparative peace was at length 
 restored. Mr. Stone died July 20, 1663, and 
 was succeeded by Joseph Haynes. A division 
 of the church took place in February, 1670, 
 Samuel Whiting taking the pastoral care of the 
 Second Church. 
 
 The Watortown people were not accompanied 
 by their pastor in their migration to Wethers- 
 field, but Rev. Henry Smith was settled soon 
 after their arrival in their new home. This 
 church, like its neighbors, soon became involved 
 in disputes, and very early in its history sent 
 out a colony to Milford. Upon the death of Mr. 
 Smith, in 1648, the Rev. Jonathan Russell sue-, 
 ceoded to the charge. Various disagreements 
 finally led to an open rupture, and Mr. Russell 
 removed to Hadley, Mass., taking with him a 
 large number of the congregation. This seems 
 to have ended the troubles in this church. 
 
 A church was gathered at Farmington Oct. 13, 
 1652, with Rev. Roger Newton as pastor. Rev. 
 Timothy Stephens was installed at Glastonbury in 
 October, 1693. The first minister at Simsbury 
 was Rev. Dudlev Woodbridge, settled March 3, 
 1696. 
 
 With the exception of a few Quakers, who were 
 promptly banished, no dissenting sect made its 
 appearance in Hartford County until more than 100 
 years after the first settlement. This county sent 
 its due proportion of delegates to the convention 
 which, in September, 1708, adopted the religious 
 constitution known as the Saybrook Platform, 
 which, by sul>sequent legislative confirmation, 
 became the rule of faith for the entire Colony. Under 
 strict repressive measures the growth of so-called 
 "Separatist" churches was but slow until after 
 the Revolution ; and to-day Congregationalism is 
 still the leading form of belief in Hartford County, 
 although it has been much modified since the days 
 of Hooker and Wareham. 
 
 When in 1715 to 1718 the proposed removal of 
 Yale College from Saybrook was under considera- 
 tion, Messrs. Woodbridge and Buckingham, the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 89 
 
 Hartford County members of the board of trustees, 
 warmly urged its location at Wethersfield, and so 
 dissatisfied were they with the action establishing 
 it at New Haven, that at the time of the first com- 
 mencement after the removal, they held indepen- 
 dent graduating exercises at Wethersfield, and 
 ■conferred degrees upon several undergraduates. 
 Subsequently, however, these gentlemen became 
 
 for refusing to satisfy a judgment against 
 him. On the day mentioned, an armed party of 
 about sixty from Coventry and vicinity visited 
 Hartford, forcibly entered the jail and liberated 
 the captain. The party were pursued by Sheriff 
 Whiting and a posse, but made their escape, after 
 severelv beating the sheriff and his assistants. The 
 ringleaders were subsequently fined £20 each. In 
 
 BUILDING OF THE PHCEN1X 
 
 reconciled to the localion of the college, and took 
 part in its management. 
 
 In consideration of the distinguished services of 
 Oen. Mason and his soldiers the General Court 
 made extensive grants of land to them. The loca- 
 tion of these grants gave rise to heated contro- 
 versies, resulting, in some cases, in actual conflict. 
 Out of these land troubles arose the riot of Oct. 
 22, 1722, at Hartford. Capt. Fitch, a resident of 
 Coventry, had been committed to Hartford jail, 
 
 INSURANCE CO, HARTFORD. 
 
 1761 the town of Hartland, then in Litchfield 
 County, having been adjudged to be the property 
 of Windsor, was annexed to Hartford County. 
 
 During the first years of the eighteenth century 
 the limits of Hartford County, as defined by act of 
 the General Court in 16G5, were enlarged by annex- 
 in" several towns which had been organized in the 
 outlying districts. The portion of Windsor lving 
 east of the Connecticut River was incorporated in 
 1768 as the town of East Windsor. At the com- 
 
90 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 mencement of the Revolution there were fifteen 
 towns in the county, but its present territory was 
 included within the limits of ten towns ; namely, 
 Hartford, Windsor, East Windsor, Wethersfield, 
 Glastonbury, Farmington, Simsbury, Enfield, Suf- 
 field and Hartland. 
 
 The inhabitants of Hartford County were firm in 
 their resistance to the oppressive measures of the 
 British Government, and when, in May, 1700, the 
 news of the repeal of the Stamp Act was received 
 at Hartford, the General Court, then in session 
 there, appointed a day of general rejoicing. 
 Although this county was spared the actual hor- 
 * rors of war in her midst during the Revolutionary 
 struggle, her citizens bore a prominent part in that 
 conflict. Owing to the inland location of the 
 county, on a navigable stream, and having an 
 abundance of water power, it became an important 
 depot of supplies and prisoners, while arms, equip- 
 ments and ammunition were manufactured in large 
 quantities. Major Clarke's Farmington company, 
 which passed through Hartford July 30, 1775, was 
 entirely equipped by local industry. Farmington 
 appears to have been thoroughly imbued witli the 
 patriotic fever, the Boston Port Bill being publicly 
 burned in 1774, by the common hangman "in the 
 presence of a large number of respectable citizens." 
 
 E irly in the summer of 1774 the several towns 
 held meetings and passed resolutions condemnatory 
 of the action of the British Government, and pledg- 
 ing a hearty support to the sister Colonies. The 
 militia was immediately reorganized, every person 
 capable of bearing arms being enrolled, and during 
 the winter frequent drills were held. September 
 15, 1774, a county convention was held at Hartford, 
 which adopted an agreement for the non-consump- 
 tion of British goods, and appointed a committee 
 of inspection. 
 
 The expedition for the capture of Ticonderoga, 
 in May, 1775, had its origin in this county, and 
 seems to have been first suggested by General 
 Samuel H. Parsons. April 26, Captains Noah and 
 Elislia Phelps of Simsbury, and Epaphras Bull, 
 William Nichols, Elijah Babcock, John Bigelow 
 and Bernard Romans of Hartford, started for Ver- 
 mont, where they met Ethan Allen. The party was 
 subsequently joined by Captain Edward Mott of 
 Preston, to whom the importance and feasibility of 
 this movement had also occurred. The successful 
 result of the expedition was largely due to the saga- 
 city and shrewdness of Captain Noah Phelps. 
 
 When the news of the battle of Lexington was 
 received in Hartford County, ten companies, num- 
 bering some four hundred men, were immediately 
 raised and put in motion for the scene of action ; 
 but their services were not immediately required. 
 Five regiments of militia were located in this 
 county. 
 
 The county jail was soon filled with Tory pris- 
 oners, and many avowed sympathizers with the 
 British were kept under close surveillance at their 
 homes. Prisoners of war were also continually 
 arriving, and it became necessary to provide a 
 more commodious and secure place of confinement. 
 This led to the use of the " Newgate of Connec- 
 ticut," as the prison at East Granby has always 
 been termed, which was an abandoned copper-mine, 
 first discovered about 1707. The first use of the 
 excavation as a prison appears to have been in 1773. 
 
 In 1775 the mouth of the mine was inclosed in a 
 palisade, and a block-house was erected, while the 
 interior to some extent, was partitioned into cells, 
 a place of confinement suggesting the famed Bas- 
 tille and the castle dungeons of feudal times. 
 
 To more thoroughly disgrace the prominent 
 Tories, the county committee of inspection, in 
 April, 1770, adopted the plan of publishing their 
 names in large capitals upon the first page of the 
 Connecticut "Courant," as "enemies of their 
 country." 
 
 During the Revolution there were five military 
 executions in Hartford. March 19, 1777, Moses 
 Dunbar was executed for high treason, in the pres- 
 ence of a "prodigious concourse of people," to 
 whom the Rev. Nathan Strong delivered a lengthy 
 and solemn discourse, which was afterwards pub- 
 lished in pamphlet form. It docs not appear that 
 the other executions were thus solemnized. 
 
 March 21, 1781, Alexander McDowell, adjutant 
 of Col. Welles's Connecticut regiment, having 
 been found guilty of desertion, by a court-martial, 
 was executed in the jail-yard, Gen. Washington, 
 then in Hartford, having signed the death-warrant 
 on the preceding day. 
 
 The defense of Hartford was not neglected, as 
 the records show that on July 29, 1777, the select- 
 men ordered a cannon to be mounted, although it 
 does not appear that it was ever used. Troops- 
 were occasionally quartered in the county during 
 the war. In 1779 Gen. Gate's division was located 
 in East Hartford for a time, and in November, 
 1782, the French allies occupied the same camping- 
 ground. 
 
 When Count Rochambcau landed at Newport in 
 September, 1780, he proceeded directly to Hart- 
 ford, where ho met Washington and other promi- 
 nent American officers. September 20, the dis- 
 tinguished visitors were received with due honors. 
 And thus Hartford, where was conceived the at- 
 tack on Ticonderoga, at the very opening of the 
 war, was also the scene of the formation of the 
 final plans which carried the contest to a successful 
 termination. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the war, Hartford 
 County was reduced to nearly its present limits by 
 the formation of Middlesex County on the south, 
 and Tolland County on the east. Southington had 
 been set off from Farmington in 1779. In 1784 
 that part of Hartford lying east of the Connecticut 
 was incorporated as East Hartford, and May 29 of 
 the same year, the city of Hartford received its 
 charter, the population within the city limits at 
 that time being about 3,000. In 1785 the south- 
 westerly parish of Farmington was incorporated as 
 Bristol, and a new town, named Berlin, was formed 
 from portions of Farmington, Wethersfield and 
 Middletown. This town included the parish of 
 Kensington, which has retained that designation to 
 the present time. Granby was formed from Sims- 
 bury in 1786. Marlborough, incorporated in 1803, 
 included the southeastern part of Glastonbury, and 
 portions of New London and Windham counties. 
 The northern part of Bristol was incorporated as 
 Burlington in 1806, and the same year Canton was 
 formed from portions of Simsbury and of Litch- 
 field County: 
 
 After the close of the war of the Revolution, 
 Hartford County enjoyed a season of quiet, and her 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 91 
 
 citizens devoted themselves to the development of 
 her interna] resources. June 28, 1784, the first city 
 election was held in Hartford, Thomas Seymour 
 being chosen mayor. 
 
 In common with the rest of New England, Hart- 
 ford County was firmly opposed to the war of 1812. 
 This county, however, was brought into especial 
 prominence in connection with the war by the fa- 
 mous " Hartford Convention, " which assembled in 
 that city Dec. 15, 1814. 
 
 The first fair in the county was held at Wethers- 
 field, Oct. 22, 1784, and was repeated several suc- 
 ceeding years. The first exhibition of the Hartford 
 County Agricultural Association was held at Hart- 
 ford in 1817. 
 
 To Hartford belongs the credit of sustaining one 
 of the oldest newspapers in the country, "The 
 Connecticut Courant," which was first issued Oct. 
 29, 1704, by Thomas Green, and has appeared reg- 
 ularly every week since that time, with the excep- 
 tion of four issues in December, 1775, and January, 
 
 tied at Berlin in 1740, and who peddled his ware 
 from house to house in a basket. A powder-mill 
 was built in East Hartford in 1775, believed to 
 be the first in the couutry, and was a most im- 
 portant establishment during the Revolution. 
 The first cotton-mill in Connecticut was erected 
 at Manchester in 1794. In 1797, or thereabouts, 
 a steam locomotive was invented by Dr. Kinsley, 
 and appeared on the streets of Hartford. A 
 patent for a lever printing-press was issued to 
 John I. Wells of Hartford in 1819. 
 
 As early as 1787, there were lines of packets, 
 chiefly sloops, between Hartford and New York, 
 but there was little certainty or regularity in 
 their trips. In November, 1818, the first steam- 
 boat constructed on the Connecticut was 
 launched at Dutch Point in Hartford. It was a 
 small propeller, intended for towing purposes, 
 and was named the ' ' Enterprise. " The Connec- 
 ticut River Steamboat Company was incorpo- 
 rated in 1824, and soon after purchased the 
 
 COLT'S ARMORY, HARTFORD. 
 
 1776, which was omitted on account of the failure 
 of the supply of paper. This want of paper led to 
 the development of an important branch of indus- 
 try in East Hartford, where Mr. Green, in connec- 
 tion with other parties, established a paper-mill. 
 There was great difficuly in procuring the quantity 
 of rags necessary to keep the mill in operation, and 
 the early files of the " Courant" abound in urgent 
 appeals to the ladies to furnish the necessary ma- 
 terial. 
 
 A mill for the manufacture of woolen cloth 
 was established in Hartford soon after the close 
 of the Revolutionary war, and when Gen . Wash- 
 ington visited the city, in October, 1789, he 
 inspected its operations. At his first inaugura- 
 tion as president, he was dressed in an entire 
 suit of Hartford manufacture. This mill was not 
 the first established in the county, however, as 
 one had been erected at Windsor Locks in 1768. 
 In 1788 a bell-foundry was established at Hart- 
 ford by Doolittle & Goodyear. It is supposed 
 that the first manufacture of tin ware in the 
 United States was by a Mr. Patterson, who set- 
 
 steamer " Oliver Ellsworth," which arrived at 
 Hartford on her first trip from New York, May 7, 
 1824. The "Experiment" had plied between 
 Hartford and New London during the summer 
 of 1823, and was probably the pioneer in steam 
 navigation of the Connecticut. During the year 
 1824, work was commenced on the canal between 
 New Haven and Farmington, and water was first 
 let in in June, 1828. This canal was subse- 
 quently extended to Northampton, Mass. 
 
 The navigation of the upper Connecticut, 
 prior to the construction of railroads, was re- 
 garded as a measure of great importance to the 
 citizens of this county, and large sums were ex- 
 pended upon various projects for the improve- 
 ment of the channel of the river. November 26, 
 1826, the little steamer "Barnet" left Hartford, 
 and succeeded in going as far north as Bellows* 
 Falls, Vt., returning the following week. The 
 falls at Enfield were found to be a serious im- 
 pediment to navigation, and in 1828 a company 
 was formed in Hartford, which dug a navigable 
 canal, some five miles in length, avoiding the 
 
92 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 falls, and furnishing the valuable water-power at 
 Windsor Locks. Steamers continued to ply be- 
 tween Hartford and Springfield until the com- 
 pletion of the railroad, and Charles Dickens, in 
 his " American Notes," gives a graphic descrip- 
 tion of this short voyage. 
 
 Shipbuilding was carried on for many years at 
 Hartford and Glastonbury, and in 1833 a packet of 
 000 tons burden was launched at the former place. 
 
 In May, 1835, the legislature granted cluirtcrs for 
 railroads from Hartford to New Haven, and also to 
 Worcester. The following year, the construction 
 of the New Haven road was commenced, and it was 
 opened for travel in December, 1839. 
 
 The New Haven and Northampton Railroad, 
 which follows the route of the old canal, was 
 opened for travel in 1848. The New York and 
 New England Railroad Company, in December, 
 1878, took possession of the Hartford, Providence 
 and Fishkill line, which crosses the county from 
 east to west, and was completed in 1853. In 1871, 
 the Connecticut Western, running northwest from 
 Hartford and the Connecticut Valley, following the 
 river south from Hartford, were opened for travel. 
 In 187(1, the Connecticut Central, from East Hart- 
 ford to Springfield, was completed. In addition 
 to the foregoing lines, there are branches of the 
 New Haven road from Berlin to New Britain and 
 Middletown, and from Windsor Locks to Suflield. 
 The line from Manchester to South Manchester is 
 leased to the New York and New England Com- 
 pany. 
 
 March 2, 1854, occurred the most fatal accident 
 with which Hartford County has ever been visited. 
 Shortly after noon on that day, the boiler in the 
 car-manufactory of Pales & Gray, where some four 
 hundred men were employed, exploded with terrific 
 force, nearly demolishing one of the large shops. 
 Nineteen were killed, many of them heads of fami- 
 lies, and about forty others were injured. 
 
 The breaking out of the civil war in 1801 found 
 the inhabitants of this county engaged in the vigor- 
 ous development of the manufacturing industries 
 which have given to ftiany of its towns a world-wide 
 fame. The news of the attack on Fort Sumter 
 summoned the busy workmen to the defense of 
 their country, and, as in the olden time, Hartford 
 County was prompt in sustaining the government. 
 
 April 10, Gov. Buckingham issued his proclama- 
 tion, callingfor a regimentof volunteers. The next 
 morning, .Joseph R. Hawlcy, editor of the Hartford 
 " Press," All>ert W. Drake, and Joseph Perkins, met 
 in theofliceof the "Press," and signed their names to 
 an enlistment paper, as members of a rifle company 
 for the first regiment. Many names were added 
 during the day, and the company was completely 
 filled up at an enthusiastic meeting held in the 
 evening. George EL Burnhani was chosen captain, 
 and Mr.IIawley first lieutenant. The Hartford Light 
 Guard, Capt. J. C. Comstock, also promptly volun- 
 teered, and a third company was also recruited 
 under Capt. Ira Wright. In the first regiment, 
 which rendezvoused at New Haven, in addition to 
 the companies already mentioned, was a company 
 from New Britain, under Capt. F. W. Hart, and a 
 company composed of men from Windsor Locks, 
 Enfield and Simsbury, under command of Levi N. 
 Hillman, of Windsor Locks. The regiment left 
 New Haven May 9, on the steamer " Bienville," 
 
 and proceeded directly to Washington, arriving 
 there on the 13th, and going into camp at Glen- 
 wood, two miles north of the Capitol. 
 
 In addition to the various Connecticut organiza- 
 tions, Hartford County was represented in many 
 regiments from other States, and also in the navy, 
 Capt. Ward of Hartford being the first victim of 
 the war in that branch of the service. Among the 
 distinguished leaders of the army, this county had 
 many notable sons. The names of Gens. Joseph 
 R. Hawley, Theodore G. Ellis, Griffin A. Stedman, 
 and Robert 0. Tyler of Hartford, John Loomis 
 and William O. Pierson of Windsor, and John L. 
 Otis of Manchester, attest the honorable part taken 
 by this county; and Gideon Welles of Hartford, 
 as secretary of the navy, was one of the President's 
 most trusted counselors. About 800 citizens of 
 the county were killed in battle, or died in the 
 service. And those who served their country at 
 home during the long conflict with signal ability — 
 perhaps even more than if they had gone to the 
 front — must not be forgotten. Prominent among 
 these was J. Hammond Trumbull of Hartford, 
 who, as secretary of state, was a most efficient 
 assistant to Connecticut's noble war governor, 
 William A. Buckingham. Many private citizens 
 consecrated their wealth and their best energies to 
 the equipment of the soldiers and the maintenance 
 of their families. David Clark of Hartford con- 
 tributed to these objects not less than $00,000, and 
 his name is held in grateful remembrance by nu- 
 merous widows and orphans. 
 
 The series of religious meetings held in January, 
 February, and March, 1878, by the evangelists, 
 Moody and Sankey, and Pentecost and Stebbins, 
 were without a parallel in the history of Hartford. 
 They were held in the skating-rink, which has a 
 seating capacity of over three thousand, and which 
 was filled twice every day for many weeks. These 
 meetings resulted in large accessions to the churches, 
 and their influence was felt throughout the county. 
 The religious interest was undoubtedly deepened 
 by the sad accident of January 15. On that day, 
 a large number of excursionists from the towns 
 along the line of the Connecticut Western Railroad 
 had visited Hartford to attend the meetings. The 
 returning train, consisting of nine cars, and drawn 
 by two engines, had reached the bridge over the 
 Farmington river, just west of the Tariffville sta- 
 tion, when the entire western span of the bridge 
 gave way, precipitating four cars into the river. 
 Fourteen persons lost their lives, and many were 
 badly injured. 
 
 In addition to the towns already mentioned, 
 others have been formed, as follows : — In 1823, the 
 eastern part of East Hartford was incorporated as 
 Manchester. Avon was set off from the north end 
 of Farmington in 1830. The parish of Wintonbury, 
 in Windsor, became the town of Bloomfield in 
 1835. Rocky Hill parish, in Wethersfield, was 
 made an independent town in 1843. South Wind- 
 sor was incorporated in 1845. In 1850, New 
 Britain was incorporated as a town, and in 1870 
 received a city charter. West Hartford became a 
 separate town in 1854, and in 1857 the northern part 
 of Windsor was incorporated as Windsor Locks. 
 East Granby was set off in 1858. Newington 
 parish, in Wethersfield, was made a town in 1871, 
 and I'l&inville in 1809, having been part of Farm- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 93 
 
 ington. The territory included in Hartford County, 
 which, at the close of the Revolution, was com- 
 prised within the limits of ten towns, is now 
 divided into twenty-seven towns and two cities. 
 
 TOWNS. 
 Haktfokd, see page 98. 
 New Britain, see page 98. 
 
 Enfield, population 7,000, lies in the north- 
 east corner of the county. The Connecticut 
 River forms the western boundary, and the 
 Scantic crosses the southern part of the town. 
 
 dred buildings, covering an area over a mile 
 long and half a mile broad, and is capable of 
 producing upwards of $1,000,000 worth of pow- 
 der annually. During the Crimean war it had 
 an extensive contract with the British govern- 
 ment, and furnished some 10,000 barrels, while 
 during the civil war in this country the works 
 were taxed to their utmost capacity. Several of 
 the buildings have names suggested by the late 
 war, as "Harper's Ferry," "Bull Run," and 
 "Fortress Monroe." 
 
 A tract of about 1,200 acres in the north- 
 eastern corner of the town is occupied by the 
 
 BUILDING OF THE HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE CO. 
 
 A bridge over the Connecticut, 1,000 feet long, 
 connects the town with Suffield. This bridge 
 was originally erected in 1808, and was the first 
 bridge across the river within the limits of this 
 State. The principal village is Thompsonville, 
 located in the north-western corner of the town. 
 This thriving village has grown up around the 
 works of the Hartford Carpet Company, which 
 employ about 1,400 hands, and have an annual 
 capacity of about 3,000,000 yards of different 
 grades of carpeting. This village has four 
 churches, and contains many elegant residences. 
 At Hazard ville are the works of the Hazard Pow- 
 der Company, among tho most extensive in tho 
 couutry. This company occupies over one hun- 
 
 Shaker community, founded here in 1787. The 
 society is divided into six families, forming 
 nearly a circle, with the central or church family 
 as a radiating point. Their lands are in a high 
 stato of cultivation, and their buildings present 
 the neat and thrifty appearance common to this 
 sect. They are largely engaged in tho cultiva- 
 tion of garden seeds, and also produce agricul- 
 tural implements, etc., to some extent. 
 
 The New York, New Haven and Hartford and 
 Connecticut Central Railroads pass through the 
 town. 
 
 James Dixon, United States senator from Con- 
 necticut from 1857 to 1869, was born in this 
 town in 1814. 
 
THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Southington in an important manufacturing 
 township in the south-western corner of Hart- 
 ford County. The Quinnipiac River runs nearly 
 through the centre of the town, from north to 
 south, the New Haven and Northampton Kail- 
 road following its course. The two villages of 
 Southington and Plantsville are located on this 
 river. Among the most important of the manu- 
 facturing industries here carried on are tinmen's 
 tools and general hardware, machine-forged nuts, 
 carriage hardware, screw bolts of every descrip- 
 tion, tinsmiths' machines, sausage-fillers, paper 
 bags and cutlery. There are seven churches, 
 representing all the leading denominations, and 
 an academy. At Hitchcock's Station and at 
 Marion, in the southern part of the town, are 
 manufactories of bolts and of jewelry. Popula- 
 tion about 5,000. 
 
 Dr. Edward Robinson, the distinguished biblical 
 scholar, Col. Cliarles Whittelsey, a gallant soldier 
 of the civil war, and Rev. Levi Hart, for sixty-nine 
 years minister at Preston, Conn., were born in this 
 town. 
 
 Bristol is in the south-western part of the county, 
 eighteen miles from Hartford. Good water-power 
 is furnished by the Pequabuc River and branches, 
 -which has been well improved. The principal or 
 centre village is divided into two portions, the north 
 and south villages. About two miles north of the 
 north village is Polkville, and about the same dis- 
 tance to the east is Forestville. There are in all 
 seven churches and twelve school-houses. Two of 
 the schools are graded. Bristol has a national, and 
 a savings bank. The most prominent industry is 
 the manufacture of brass clocks. Other manufac- 
 tures arc bran in all its varieties, spoons for plat- 
 ing, gray iron castings, trunk hardware, furniture 
 knobs, augur bits and stockinet fabrics. The popu- 
 lation is about 5,000, of which over 1,100 arc 
 employed in the various manufactories. The town 
 is traversed from east to west by the New York and 
 New England Railroad. 
 
 Manchester, an important manufacturing town, 
 lies next cast of East Hartford. The New York 
 and New England Railroad crosses the northern 
 part of the town, and is connected with South 
 Manchester by a branch, about two miles long. 
 Union Village, or North Manchester, is located at 
 the railroad station on the main line. There are 
 nine school-houses, including an excellent graded 
 school at South Manchester, and seven churches. 
 The silk manufactory of Cheney Bros, at South 
 Manchester (Cheneyville), employs nearly 1,000 
 hands, producing dress silks fully equal to those of 
 foreign manufacture. In fact, this company has 
 revolutionized the silk trade in this country. The 
 village of Cheneyville is a model of neatness and 
 good taste, and in summer, with its abundant 
 shade and spacious lawns unbroken by fences, is a 
 most attractive place of residence. The Union 
 Manufacturing Company, at North Manchester, 
 produces an excellent quality of ginghams. Paper 
 is manufactured in large quantities in this town. 
 The population is about 0,500. 
 
 Glastonbury is the largest town in the county, 
 being nine miles long, from cast to west, and six 
 miles broad. An excellent water-power is furnished 
 by Roaring Brook, which rises in the northeast 
 •corner of the town, and empties into the Connecti- 
 
 cut a little north of South Glastonbury village. 
 Good mill-privileges are also located on Salmon 
 Brook, in the northern part of the town. Granite 
 of excellent quality is quarried in the town. This 
 granite abounds in feldspar, and there are two mills 
 for grinding this article for potters' use. There are 
 eighteen schools, a private academy, and, in the 
 various villages, eight churches. Perhaps the most 
 widely known industry of the town is the manu- 
 facture of soap, by J. B. Williams & Co., whose 
 works arc located east of Glastonbury village. 
 Near these works is Brodhead's tannery, one of the 
 oldest in this region. On Salmon Brook are located 
 the satinet mill of the Eagle Manufacturing Co., 
 and also the Glastonbury Knitting Co., manufac- 
 turers of underwear. At Buckingham village is a 
 manufactory of horse hoes and cultivators. On 
 Roaring Brook arc the paper mills of Case & Co., 
 and the Roaring Brook Paper Co., Pratt & Post's 
 anchor forge, Hollister & Glazier's woolen mill, 
 Greene Bros.' cotton mill, and a twine factory. 
 Population of the township, !i,800. 
 
 Glastonbury has acquired a national reputation 
 through the determined resistance of the Smith sis- 
 ters, Julia and Abby, to the payment of taxes, they 
 holding that taxation should carry with it the right 
 of suffrage. They ha* r e refused to pay their taxes 
 for many years past, compelling the town authori- 
 ties to seize upon and sell personal property belong- 
 ing to them. They have annually appeared before 
 the legislature as petitioners for redress, and have 
 been regular attendants upon woman's rights meet- 
 ings. Miss Abby Smith died in December, 1878, 
 leaving her sister to fight the battle single-handed. 
 
 Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, was born 
 in this town (see Hartford). Alonzo B. Chapin, 
 D. D., a distinguished clergyman of the Episcopal 
 Church, was rector of St. Luke's Church from 1850 
 to 1855, and was the author of a bi-centennial 
 address in 1853, a valuable contribution to the 
 history of the town. 
 
 Sufiield is eminently an agricultural town, the 
 only branch of manufactures ever pursued to any 
 extent being that of cigars and tobacco, for 
 which the town at ono time had an extended 
 reputation. Here is located the Connecticut 
 Literary Institute, founded in 1835 under the 
 auspices of the Baptist Education Society. This 
 institution occupies three large brick buildings, 
 located on rising ground just north of the centre 
 of the village, the mostmodern of which was com- 
 pleted in 1876. The present average number of 
 students is about 100. Sufiield village lies in 
 the eastern part of the town, along a broad 
 street, on elevated ground, affording fine sites 
 for residences. There aro three churches in 
 this village. The canal around Enfield Falls is 
 mostly located in this town. At the west viUago 
 are two churches. The estimated population is 
 3,000. 
 
 Phineas Lyman, a native of Durham, Conn., 
 and a celebrated officer in the Krench and Indian 
 war, was long a resident of this town. 
 
 Among the natives of SufBeld who have 
 achieved distinction maybe mentioned Gideon 
 Granger, member of Congress from Now York, 
 and postmaster general ; Sylvester Graham, 
 vegetarian, and founder of the celebrated "Gra- 
 hamite " system ; Timothy Swan, musical com- 
 
REVIEW OF THIC STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 nr. 
 
 poser, author of the favorite church tune, 
 "China ;" and George Tod, a distinguished law- 
 yer and jurist of Ohio. This town has produced 
 several clergymen of note, among them Rev. S. 
 Dry den Phelps, D. D., now editor of the " Chris- 
 tian Secretary;" Rev. David N. Sheldon, who 
 was excommunicated from the Baptist denomi- 
 nation for heresy, and afterwards became a Uni- 
 tarian preacher ; and Rev. Cotton M. Smith, 
 who was settled at Sharon, Conn. , from 1755 to 
 1806. 
 
 East Hartford is a valuable agricultural town- 
 ship on the east side of the Connecticut River, 
 opposite Hartford. It contains some of the 
 finest river meadows in the State. The Hocka- 
 num river passes through the central part of the 
 town. Tho manufacture of paper is carried on 
 at Burnside, and the Hazard Powder Company 
 have a branch mill near the eastern boundary of 
 the town. The New York and New England 
 Railroad crosses the northern part, having two 
 stations. Large quantities of tobacco are raised 
 The town contains six churches and a population 
 of about 3,800. 
 
 East Hartford has furnished two distinguished 
 professors to Yale College, Denison Olmsted, 
 the astronomer, and Anthony D. Stanloy, the 
 mathematician. William Pitkin was one of the 
 first settlers of this town. He held many im- 
 j>ortant offices, and was governor of the State 
 from 1766 until his death in 1769. 
 
 East Windsor is a rectangular township, 
 bounded on tho west by the Connecticut River. 
 Tho Scantic River crosses the town from north 
 to south, and, with a tributary, Broad Brook, 
 furnishes good water-power. Although the sur- 
 face of the township is somewhat broken, the 
 soil is generally productive and well improved. 
 The town contains several woolen manufactories, 
 seven churches and twelve school districts. 
 Population about 3,000. The Connecticut Cen- 
 tral Railroad passes through the eastern part of 
 the town. 
 
 John Fitch was born in East Windsor, January 
 21, 1743. He married unhappily, and separating 
 from his wife, went to New Jersey, where, dur- 
 ing the Revolutionary war, he pursued various 
 avocations. In 1786 ho successfully comploted 
 a small steamboat, which attained a speed of 
 eight miles an hour. Ho was unable to secure 
 funds to carry out his projects, government 
 lands in Kentucky which he had pro-empted, 
 were taken by squatters, and he died in Bards- 
 town, Ky., July 2, 1798, in circumstances of pov- 
 erty, leaving the advantages of his important 
 invention to be reaped by others. 
 
 Thomas Robbins, a noted Congregational 
 divine and historian, who was born in Norfolk, 
 Conn., August 11, 1777, was pastor of a church 
 in this town from 1809 to 182?. During the 
 later years of his life ho resided in Hartford ; 
 was one of the founders of tho Connecticut His- 
 torical Society, and for many years its librarian. 
 Although his income was limited, he accumu- 
 lated an exceedingly valuable library, which lie 
 bequeathed to the Historical Society. A well- 
 authenticated anecdote of Dr. Robbins is to the 
 effect that when a young man he began the ac- 
 cumulation of his iibrary, when the question of 
 
 marriage was brought to his serious considera- 
 tion. His incomo was so small that he thought 
 it would be impossible to support a wife and at 
 tho same time indulge his passion for books. 
 Ho decided the question by the very simple 
 method of tossing up a penny, and remained a 
 bachelor ! Ho died in Hartford Sept. 13, 1856. 
 His library is particularly rich in early editions 
 of tho Bible 
 
 Other natives of East Windsor were Oliver 
 Wolcott, one of the signers of tho Declaration of 
 Independence ; John \V. Barber, author of many 
 historical works ; and Danforth Marble, the 
 comedian, celebrated for his delineations of 
 Yankee character. 
 
 Windsor, or "Old Windsor," as it is com- 
 monly called, is an irregularly- shaped town- 
 ship, lying on both sides of the Farmington 
 River, and bordered on the east by the 
 Connecticut. The river meadows are large 
 and productive, and tho town also contains 
 many valuablo tracts of upland. At Poquon- 
 nock and Rainbow villagos, in the northwest 
 part of the town, are falls in the Farming- 
 ton River, which have been extensively im- 
 proved for manufacturing purposes. The main 
 village is situated near the mouth of Farmington 
 River, and runs along the Connecticut Valley for 
 some distance, forming what is known as "Wind- 
 sor street," which is broad and well-shaded. 
 There are many substantial residences, some of 
 these, like the Ellsworth mansion, dating back 
 to tho Revolutionary period. Like many of tho 
 towns in the county, it is largely interested in 
 tho growth of tobacco. The Hartford Paper 
 Company has mills at Poquonnock and Rainbow. 
 There are two mills at Poquonnock, producing 
 cassimeres and fancy cloths. At Rainbow are 
 located the paper-mills of tho Springfield Paper 
 Company, Hodge & Son, and House & Co. ; 
 Hodge & Son making a specialty of tissue papers, 
 and House & Co. of press-boards. Population 
 about 3,000. The New York, New Haven and 
 Hartford Railroad passes through the eastern 
 part of the town. 
 
 Oliver Ellsworth was born in Windsor April 
 29, 1745, and graduated at the Collego of New 
 Jersey in 1766. Ho was a representative in Con- 
 gress from 1777 to 1780 ; a member of the Coun- 
 cil in 1780, and judge of the Superior Court in 
 1784 ; was a delegate to tho convention for 
 framing a constitution, and United States sena- 
 tor from 1789 to 1795. In March, 1796, he was 
 appointed chief justice of the United States 
 Supreme Court. In 1799 he was one of the en- 
 voys sent to France to adjust the differences 
 between that government and the United States. 
 In 1802 he again entered the Council, and in 
 1807 was elected chief justice of the State, an 
 honor which he however declined. He died 
 November 26, 1807. 
 
 William W. Ellsworth, son of the preceding, 
 was born at Windsor, November 10, 1791, and 
 graduated at Yale in 1810 ; studied law, and was 
 professor of law in Trinity College over forty 
 years ; member of Congrass from 1829 to 1833 ; 
 governor of the State from 1838 to 1842, and 
 judge of tho Superior Court from 1847 to 1861. 
 Ho twice declined an election to the United 
 
96 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 States Senate. He died at Hartford January 15, 
 1868. 
 
 Henry L. Ellsworth, twin-brother of "William 
 W., graduated at the same time ; studied law at 
 Litchfield, and practiced for several years in 
 Windsor and Hartford ; was appointed resident 
 commissioner to the Indian tribes of Arkansas, 
 and was commissioner of patents from 1836 to 
 1845. He devoted himself especially to the de- 
 velopment of the agricultural interests of the 
 country. On his retirement from office, he set- 
 tled in Indiana, and engaged in real estate busi- 
 ness. He died December 27, 1858. 
 
 Henry \V. Ellsworth, son of Henry L., was born 
 at Windsor in 1814 ; studied law, and was counsel 
 for S. F. B. Morse in telegraph suits; removed to 
 Indiana, and published a book, entitled " Sketches 
 of the Upper Wabash Valley,' - and was a contrib- 
 utor to various periodicals. He died at New 
 Haven in August, 1864. 
 
 The ancestors of ex-President Grant, and of ex- 
 President Hayes, at one time resided in Windsor. 
 John S. Newberry, the geologist; John M. Nilcs, 
 Postmaster General; Oliver Phelps, the enterprising 
 purchaser of the Western Reserve; and the Rev. 
 Henry A. Rowland, the author, were natives of this 
 town. 
 
 Wethersfield lies on the west side of the Connecti- 
 cut River, next south of Hartford. Since Newington 
 parish was made a separate town, in 1871, the area 
 of Wethersfield is much contracted, and it now 
 contains only about eleven square miles. The vil- 
 lage which lies in the northeastern part of the town, 
 near the river, resembles most of the villages in the 
 Connecticut Valley in having broad streets, lined 
 with large shade trees. There are four churches, 
 one of which, the Congregational, was erected 
 in 1761, and is one of the most ancient church 
 edifices in New England. The town supports six 
 district schools, and an excellent high school. The 
 state prison, removed here from Granby in 1827, is 
 located at the north end of the village. The main 
 buildings and wall of the prison are of Portland 
 brownstone, and were, some years ago, improved at 
 large expense, making this the equal of any penal 
 institution in the country for convenient arrange- 
 ment and thorough ventilation. 
 
 The leading industry of Wethersfield is raising 
 and putting up garden-seeds for market. This 
 business has been pursued for nearly a century. The 
 onion crop, for which this town lias always been 
 noted, is much less than formerly, the farmers hav- 
 ing turned their attention to tobacco and other 
 crops. The Hopson & Brainard Manufacturing 
 Company manufactures iron brackets and other 
 light castings. Their works were destroyed by fire 
 in November, 1878, but have l)een rebuilt. 
 
 At Griswoldvillc, a small village in the south- 
 western part of the town, is a Congregational 
 church, and a factory which has l>een used for the 
 manufacture of edge-tools. The Connecticut Val- 
 ley Railroad passes through the eastern part of the 
 town, and there is a steamboat landing near the 
 village. Population, about 2,000. 
 
 Silas Deane, a native of Groton, Conn., and one 
 of the ambassadors to France in 1776, was for some 
 years a merchant in Wethersfield. 
 
 Calvin Chapin, D. D., born in Springfield, Mass., 
 in 1763, was settled over the Congregational church 
 in Wethersfield from 1704 to 1847. ' 
 
 Among the natives of Wethersfield who havo 
 attained distinction may be mentioned John Chester, 
 an officer of the Revolution; Stephen M. Mitchell, 
 U. S. senator; Elizur Goodrich, the astronomer; 
 Harvey D. Little, western editor and poet; Ashur 
 Robbins, U. S. senator from Rhode Island ; Royal 
 Robbins, the historian; and Gen. Samuel B. Webb, 
 a distinguished hero of the Revolution. 
 
 Canton is a large township in the western part of 
 the county. The Fannington River flows through 
 the southwestern part of the town. The principal 
 village, Collinsville, is situated on this river, and 
 was formerly partly within the limits of Burling- 
 ton. This village is named from the Collins 
 Company, whose extensive manufactory of edge- 
 tools was established here in 1826, and gives 
 employment to several hundred men. The axes 
 produced by this company have a world-wide 
 reputation for superior quality and finish. A 
 branch connects Collinsville with the Canal Rail- 
 road at Fannington, and it is also a station on the 
 Connecticut Western Railroad. Canton village, 
 about one and a half miles northeast from Collins- 
 ville, was the location of the first settlement within 
 the limits of the town. The town contains five 
 churches and a population of about 2,500. 
 
 Rev. Heinan Humphrey, D. D., president of 
 Amherst College from 1823 to 1845, and Rev. 
 Hector Humphreys, president of St. John's College, 
 Annapolis, from 1831 to 1857, were natives of 
 Canton. 
 
 Fannington occupies a comparatively level valley, 
 about four miles wide, and lies north of Plainville 
 and west of West Hartford. There is much excel- 
 lent farming land in the town. Fannington River 
 enters the township near the northwest corner, flows 
 southeast to the centre, and then makes an abrupt 
 turn to the north. At Unionville, where the river 
 enters the town, there is an excellent water- power, 
 which has been well improved. The principal 
 manufacturers are the Union Nut Company, the 
 Platner <fc Porter Paper Manufacturing Company, 
 and the Cowles Paper Company. This village is 
 very neatly laid out, and contains several elegant 
 residences. The main village is situated on an 
 elevated plain, about seventy-five feet above the 
 river. The soil in its immediate vicinity is very 
 fertile, and flowers and vegetables are grown in 
 profusion. Before the completion of railroads 
 Fannington was an important trading point, it 
 being on the favorite route from Vermont and 
 eastern New York to the seaboard ; and its trado 
 in West India goods at one time exceeded 
 that of Hartford. The village is substantially 
 built, and contains many comfortable and attractive 
 houses. The Congregational Church was built in 
 1771, and is still in a good state of preservation, 
 being, next to that at Wethersfield, the oldest 
 church in the county. The American Board of 
 Commissioners for Foreign Missions was organized 
 here, and held its first meeting in the Congrega- 
 tional parsonage, September 5, 1810. Population, 
 3,000. The New Haven and Northampton Railroad 
 passes through the central part of the town. 
 
 John Treadwell, governor of the State, and the 
 first president of the American Board of Commis- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 97 
 
 sioners for Foreign Missions ; James Kilbourne, a 
 member of Congress; Rev. Philip Milledoler, D- 
 D., the distinguished Dutch Reformed clergyman ; 
 Rev. Asahel S. Norton, D. D., one of the founders 
 of Hamilton College, at Clinton, N. Y. ; Rev. 
 Noah Porter, D. D., president of Yale College; 
 Rev. John Richards, D. D., a noted Congregation- 
 alist clergyman and editor; and Timothy Pitkin, a 
 leading Federalist politician — were natives of 
 Farmington. 
 
 Berlin lies in the southern tier of townships in 
 Hartford County. The Mattabeset River rises in 
 the southwestern corner, flows north and east, and 
 then turning south forms the eastern boundary. 
 The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad 
 runs through the centre of the town. Berlin village 
 is about one and a half miles southeast from this 
 station. Here are located several churches and an 
 academy. Kensington village is a short distance to 
 the west of the station. The works of the Hart 
 Manufacturing Company, makers of coacli and 
 general hardware, are in this village. East Berlin 
 village has a station on the Middletown branch. 
 Here are manufactories of corrugated iron and tin- 
 men's tools. Population of the township about 
 2,500. 
 
 Jonathan Hart (or Heart, as the name was orig- 
 inally spelled), a graduate of Yale in 1768, a 
 gallant soldier of the Revolution and in the regular 
 army, killed in a severe battle with the Indians; 
 John Kilbourne, western author and publisher ; the 
 Rev. John Eliot, for thirty years settled at East 
 Hampton, Conn. ; James G. Percival, the poet ; 
 and Mrs. Emma C. Willard, the celebrated teacher 
 and authoress — were natives of Berlin. 
 
 Windsor Locks is a small township, lying about 
 three miles along the Connecticut River. The vil- 
 lage is situated on the river in the northeast part of 
 the town, at the locks by which the canal around 
 Enfield Falls descends to the Connecticut, hence the 
 name of the town. The surface is generally hilly and 
 broken, most of the population being concentrated 
 in the village, and employed in the various manufac- 
 tories. There are four churches and two public 
 schools. The town has a variety of manufactures, 
 including paper, school furniture, spool silk, etc. ; 
 and a population of 2,500. The New York, New 
 Haven and Hartford Railroad passes through the 
 eastern portion of the town, crossing the Connecti- 
 cut River on a substantial iron bridge, one mile 
 north of the village. 
 
 Simsbury is an irregularly shaped township, con- 
 taining about twenty-eight square miles, and is in- 
 tersected by a spur of the Taconic mountain range. 
 The Farmington River runs northerly through a 
 portion of the town, and is bordered by spacious 
 meadows; but, making an abrupt turn to the 
 southeast, it breaks through the range of hills, and 
 its course where it leaves the town is almost exactly 
 the opposite of the first direction. Simsbury vil- 
 
 lage is situated in the broadest portion of the val- 
 ley, near the centre of the township. It contains 
 two churches, and a safety-fuse manufactory. At 
 Tariffville, in the southeast part of the town, and 
 at one time an active manufacturing point, are 
 three churches. The Canal Railroad crosses the 
 Connecticut Western Railroad at Simsbury village. 
 Population about 2,000. 
 
 Alexander V. Griswold, presiding bishop of the 
 Episcopal Church; Hon. Greene C. Bronson, chief 
 justice of New York ; and Anson G. Phelps, were 
 natives of Simsbury. 
 
 West Hartford is relatively one of the wealthiest 
 towns in the State. The surface of the town is 
 gently undulating or level, except in the western 
 portion, where it rises to a considerable elevation, 
 known as Talcott Mountain, separating it from 
 Avon. There are three churches and eight school- 
 houses. The New York and New England, and 
 the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads 
 pass through the southeastern corner of the town. 
 The manufacture of pottery is carried on at this 
 point. Population about 1,800. Assessed valua- 
 tion $2, 11 7, 000. The average valuation of the 
 real estate is nearly $68 per acre. 
 
 Nathan Perkins, D. D., a native of Lisbon, 
 Conn., was settled over the Congregational 
 Church in West Hartford from October, 1772. to 
 his death in January,. 1838. Among the emi- 
 nent men born in West Hartford were Theodore 
 Sedgwick, judge the Massachusetts Supreme 
 Court ; Harry Crosswell, politician, editor and 
 clergyman ; Noah Webster, the lexicographer ; 
 and Lemuel Haynes, the celebrated colored 
 preacher. 
 
 The remaining towns of the countv are South 
 Windsor (population 1,900), Granby (1,400), 
 Bloomfield (1,400), Plainville (1,900), Burlington 
 Q,200), Rocky Hill (1,100), Avon (1,000), East 
 Granby (750), Newington (950), Hartland (650), 
 and Marlborough (400). Most of these towns 
 are agricultural, but Newington, Granby, Plain- 
 ville and South Windsor have some manufac- 
 tures. Avon contains Talcott Mountain, upon 
 whose summit, some 900 feet above the ordinary 
 level of the Connecticut River, is a lake of great 
 depth. Near this lake is a stone tower fifty -five 
 feet high, from the summit of which an exten- 
 sive view is obtained. 
 
 A part of Massachusetts about two miles square 
 projects into the town of Granby ; this territory 
 was long in dispute, but was finally ceded to 
 Massachusetts in 1804. 
 
 South Windsor is noted as the birth-place of 
 the great metaphysician, Jonathan Edwards, who 
 was born in a house on the river road, about one 
 mile north of South Windsor village. 
 
 Leonidas L. Hamline, a celebrated Methodist 
 bishop, was born in Burlington. Walter For- 
 ward, secretary of the U. S. Treasury from 1841 
 to 1843, was a native of East Granby. 
 
98 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Hartford, a port of entry, the capital of Con- 
 necticut and of Hartford County, is situated on the 
 west bank of the Connecticut River, at the head of 
 sloop navigation, fifty miles from its mouth. It is 
 built for the most part on elevated ground, and its 
 site is eminently picturesque and healthful. It was 
 settled in 1635, by people directly from what is 
 low Cambridge, Mass., and indirectly from Essex, 
 England. It was first named Newtown, but in 
 1636 it was changed to Hartford. The latitude is 
 41 deg. 45 min. 59 sec. ; longitude, 72 deg. 40 min. 
 45 sec. from Greenwich. The distance to Boston 
 by rail is 124 miles, to New York, 110 miles; 26 
 miles to Springfield, 110 to the Hudson River, and 
 90 to Providence. The city was incorporated in 
 1784. Bushnell Park, containing forty acres, lies 
 in the central part of the city. 
 
 The new capitol, unquestionably one of the most 
 satisfactory public buildings in the country, occu- 
 pies an elevated site in Bushnell Park, in full view 
 of passengers arriving in the city by railroad. 
 
 The building, which was completed in 1879, at 
 an expense, including the site, of more than 
 $3,000,000, is in the modern secular Gothic style, 
 at once massive and ornate, and is constructed of 
 white marble quarried at East Canaan, Conn. In 
 the centre of the building is a twelve-sided tower, 
 surmounted by a dome, on which stands a colossal 
 ideal figure in bronze, representing the Genius of 
 Connecticut. The total height from the ground to 
 the top of the crowning figure is 257 feet. The 
 legislative halls are very elaborately finished in gold 
 and colors, and the various offices are replete with 
 every elegance and convenience. 
 
 In Bushnell Park are bronze statutes of Israel 
 Putnam, by J. Q. A. Ward, and of Dr. Horace 
 "Wells, by T. H. Bartlett. The new buildings of 
 Trinity College are situated about one mile south 
 of the former location. The college grounds con- 
 tain about eighty acres. Trinity College was 
 founded in 1826, and was originally known as 
 Washington College. The faculty is composed of 
 fifteen members, the Rev. Thomas R. Pynchon, 
 D. D., being president. 
 
 The public schools of Hartford arc unexcelled 
 by any in the country. The high school, which 
 has acquired an excellent reputation, will occupy 
 an imposing brick building, costing $250,000. 
 
 There are thirty-six churches in the city, many 
 of them models of tasteful architecture. 
 
 Hartford is a centre of the insurance business of 
 the country. The assets of the various insurance 
 companies — fire, marine, life, accident, and steam- 
 boiler, arc in the rough, $150,000,000. The capi- 
 tal, properly speaking, cannot be even roughly 
 approximated, because most of them are mutuals, 
 with no capital at all except the accumulations 
 from business; the stock companies are a small 
 minority, and their nominal capital bears little 
 relation to their business. There are twelve banks 
 with a capital of $11,000,000; and also eight sav- 
 ings banks and trust companies, with deposits 
 of $15,000,000. Sixty-four manufacturing com- 
 panies, representing a capital of $20,000,000, have 
 the ; r principal offices in this city, although many 
 of their works are located elsewhere. Hartford 
 haa some of the largest manufacturing establish- 
 ments in America, their productions finding a mar- 
 ket in all parts of the world. 
 
 The main water supply of the city is from four 
 reservoirs in West Hartford, which are fed from 
 small streams and springs, having a total capacity 
 of 1,200,000,000 gallons. There is also apump- 
 ing-engine on the river which supplies the lower 
 part of the city in times of drouth. The city has a 
 paid fire department, a fire-alarm telegraph, tele- 
 phone company, and electric lights. Its railroad 
 facilities are ample, it being on the through line 
 from New York to Boston, and about midway be- 
 tween the two cities. The New York and New 
 England Railroad has been completed to the Hud- 
 son River, giving Hartford a new route to the 
 West. By its connections at Millerton and Canaan, 
 the Connecticut Western line affords a convenient 
 route to western Massachusetts and Albany, while 
 the Connecticut Valley brings the seashore within 
 easy reach. The Connecticut Central furnishes a 
 route to Springfield. The New York, New Haven 
 and Hartford line has extensive construction and 
 repair shops at this point. During the season there 
 is a daily line of steamers to New York. 
 
 The Opera House is one of the most commodious 
 and best-appointed places of amusement in New 
 England, its seating capacity being equal to that of 
 the largest metropolitan theatres. There are also 
 several large halls, well adapted for lectures, con- 
 certs, etc. 
 
 The population of Hartford in 1880 was 42,551 . 
 Assessed valuation, $46,992,000. Probably a fair 
 estimate of the total wealth of the city, invested 
 here or elsewhere, would be $175,000,000. 
 
 It has the reputation of being the wealthiest city 
 according to its size of any in America. 
 
 New Britain. — This growing manufacturing 
 centre is situated about ten miles southwesterly from 
 Hartford on the line of the New York and New 
 England Railroad. It has been a city since 1870, 
 and a borough since 1850. In the latter year it 
 contained a population of 3,029. In 1880,13,978. 
 The present population is about 17,000. There are 
 excellent water works owned by the people. Gas 
 is $2.50 per thousand. There are over 1,800 dwell- 
 ing houses and numerous large manufacturing 
 establishments of world-wide reputation. The real 
 estate is assessed at $5,000,000. Macadamized 
 streets are a feature of the city. The State Normal 
 School is located here ; an illustration of the new 
 building will be found on another page. 
 
 There are two national and one savings banks, 
 three hotels, four newspapers, including a daily, 
 an opera house, said to be the most beautiful of 
 any in New England, outside the larger cities, and 
 having superior acoustic properties. There are also 
 a complete telegraph, telephone, and electric fire- 
 alarm systems. A branch of the New York, New 
 Haven and Hartford Railroad connects with the 
 main line two miles away at Berlin. The city is 
 about 130 feet higher than the track of the New- 
 York, New naven and Hartford Railroad, and 
 occupies a natural amphitheatre among the sur- 
 rounding hills, a situation beautiful in the extreme. 
 New Britain can be justly classed among the 
 prosperous and pleasant places with which Con- 
 necticut abounds. 
 
LITCHFIELD COUNTY. 
 
 The first white settlers of Litchfield County in 
 the State of Connecticut, came from Stratford, on 
 Long Island Sound, in the spring of 1673, and took 
 possession of the fertile valley of the Pomperaug 
 River, named after a chief of the Pootatuck tribe 
 of Indians. Their emigration to this place resulted 
 from ecclesiastical controversies between the Rev. 
 Israel Cliauncy and the Rev. Zechariah Walker, 
 ministers of Stratford. At length Gov. Winthrop 
 advised Mr. Walker and his church and people to 
 remove to a tract of land which should be allotted 
 to them for the settlement of a new town. In the 
 spring of 1072, accordingly, the General Court 
 having granted to Mr. Samuel Sherman, William 
 Curtiss and others, liberty to erect a plantation at 
 Pomperaug, subsequently named Woodbury, some 
 of Mr. Walker's church-members came to the new 
 town in the wilderness, and he, with most of his 
 followers, removed there the next year. Following 
 the Ousatonic River, formerly called the Pootatuck, 
 till they came to a large river flowing into it from 
 the north, they finally reached a sightly elevation 
 overlooking the beautiful valley of their search. 
 
 The increase of population at the new settlement 
 was rapid, and a few years after it commenced, in 
 1080, the town was incorporated by the General 
 •Court, the first in the county. The new town was 
 represented in the General Court for the first time, 
 in 1084, by Capt. John Minor and Lieut. Joseph 
 Judson ; while the first meeting-house built in the 
 county was ejected here in 1681. 
 
 Col. Robert Treat, Thomas Clark, Jonathan Bald- 
 win, and 110 others, chiefly of Milford, Conn., by 
 authority of the General Court at the October 
 session in 1703, purchased of the Colony, at a cost 
 of about $484, a tract of 84 square miles of laud, 
 called by the Indians Weantinogue, and situated in 
 the southwestern part of the present county on the 
 Housatonic River, which was at that time named 
 New Milford by the General Court. 
 
 The first white person who came to this place, 
 not a proprietor, was John Noble, in 1707, from 
 Westfield. Mass. The town was incorporated in 
 1712, with a population of about seventy persons, 
 the first minister settled here being the Rev. Daniel 
 Boardman of Wethersfield, the same having been 
 ordained over the Congregational Church and so- 
 ciety in 1710. The second meeting-house built in 
 the county was erected here in 1719. Col. John 
 Read had studied for the ministry in his youth, and 
 the first sermon the settlers heard here was preached 
 by him. This town was first represented in the 
 General Court, in 1725, by John Bostwick and 
 Capt. Stephen Noble ; and it may be remarked that 
 the first bridge built across the Housatonic River 
 was erected here in 1737. 
 
 When the first white people came to this county 
 in 1072, the Indian tribes occupied the valley of 
 
 the Housatonic River chiefly. Here they found 
 congenial places for their wigwams and villages, 
 and good opportunities for fishing, and for the cul- 
 ture of maize and beans, their chief vegetable food. 
 At this time the Pootatucks were the most power- 
 ful tribe in the western part of the Colony, with 
 clans in the present county at Nonnewaug, Bantam, 
 Weantinogue, and on the Pomperaug River. Their 
 principal seat, however, was on the northeast side 
 of the Housatonic, just below the present line of 
 this county, at Southbury, in New Haven County, 
 with a central point at Woodbury. But this tribe 
 soon commenced to migrate to the north and west, 
 either to escape their enemies, or to find better fish- 
 ing and hunting grounds, until they became ab- 
 sorbed in other tribes, and finally utterly disap- 
 peared. The chief Pomperaug was buried in 
 Woodbury, as was his brother, a powwow, and the 
 places are designated by heaps of stones. The last 
 chief of the tribe was Mauquash, who died about 
 the year 1758, and was buried in Woodbury. 
 
 About the year 1 735, Weraumaug, or Raumaug, 
 a Pootatuck chief, and a great councillor at the 
 principal council-fires of his people, was visited, 
 during his last sickness, by the Rev. Mr. Boardman, 
 who took great pains to instruct him in the doc- 
 trines and principles of the Christian religion. The 
 great sachem died shortly after, and was buried in 
 the Indian ground a short distance from his resi- 
 dence. His grave is now plainly distinguishable. 
 His tribe has entirely passed away, and the only 
 traces of its existence are the arrow-heads, pipes, 
 and other relics that are very often unearthed by 
 the ploughshare, as is the case in other parts of the 
 county where the Indians once lived. 
 
 This chief had his wigwam on a high bluff near 
 the Great Falls on the Housatonic River, near the 
 present village of New Milford. The abrupt bluff 
 at these falls is now known as Lover's Leap. The 
 most authentic tradition of the origin of the name 
 is, that the lovely daughter of the chief had given 
 her affections to a white settler, while her father 
 had, with great care, selected a brave warrior to 
 receive her hand, whom she, however, did not love. 
 One fine day, the lovers remained on this cliff till 
 long after sunset, and she successfully besought 
 her father to allow her suitor to lodge at the palace 
 that night, which so excited the jealousy of the 
 warrior that, in the morning, he told her he would 
 have the scalp of his rival before nightfall. The 
 two lovers met again at the same romantic place, 
 where they were found by the enraged warrior, and, 
 to make a sure escape, with clasped hands they 
 leaped from the giddy height into the surging 
 waters. 
 
 A tribe of Schaghticoke Indians, occupying an 
 interval on the west side of the Housatonic River, 
 came under the influence of the Moravian mission- 
 
100 
 
 TIIE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 arics about the year 1742, and Gideon, their chief, 
 waa the first convert, and was baptized in 174:!, as 
 were 1 50 others very soon afterwards, and many 
 hundred! still later. 
 
 There are now about fifty who are considered as 
 belonging to this tribe, scattered around in differ- 
 ent towns, and are the only remnants of the red-men 
 left in this county. Eunice, a grand-daughter of 
 their renowned chief, died in 1800, at the great age 
 of 103 years. They now possess about 300 acres of 
 land situated on the Schaghticoke Mountain, and a 
 fund of $5,000; and are under the charge of an 
 overseer appointed annually by the District Court 
 in the county. 
 
 At the time of the first settlement of Salisbury 
 there was an Indian village at Weatog, the Indian 
 name of the town, consisting of about seventy 
 wigwams. Their trail through Cornwall to the 
 Bantam clan at Litchfield was well known 
 
 Chaugum, the last man of a small tribe in New 
 Hartford, lived till near the close of the last cen- 
 tury ; and his decendants in the female line kept 
 Dp the council-fires till quite recently. The descend- 
 ants of his married daughter are the only represen- 
 tatives of the race in Winchester and Barkham- 
 stead. 
 
 The lands of this county were generally pur- 
 chased of the Indians by the settlers, together with 
 the Colony title, as appears by the names of the chiefs 
 appended to deeds on the records of many, if not 
 all, of the earlier settled towns. The Indians were 
 friendly to the first settlers, and supplied them 
 with provisions in many instances, and defended 
 them f rom iiostile attacks. 
 
 The next settlement by whites in the dense west- 
 ern woods of the county was at Bantam in 1720, 
 by a grant from the Colony to John Marsh of Hart- 
 ford, and John Buel of Lebanon, and fifty-seven 
 associates, of a tract of land ten miles square, and 
 named Litchfield by the General Court in 1719, 
 and incorporated a town in 1724. None of this 
 tract appears to have been purchased of the Indians, 
 and, in consequence, the early settlers had some 
 experience of the ferocious native character of the 
 red man. 
 
 Captain John Griswold, in 1722, was suddenly 
 rushed upon, pinioned, and carried far away into 
 the thick woods. While his enemies were usleep 
 around a fire, however, he disengaged himself, and 
 seized their guns, his arms still pinioned, and 
 made his escape safely to his home. That same 
 year, Joseph Harris, while at work in the woods, 
 was attacked and shot by the Indians. There was 
 a monument erected to his memory in 1830, in the 
 town, not only to perpetuate his name as a 
 martyred citizen, but to record the first death 
 among the early settlers. 
 
 Rev. Timothy Collins was ordained the first 
 minister of the people here in 1 723, and the first 
 house of worship, the third in the county, was 
 finished in 1720. 
 
 About the time that Litchfield was settled, three 
 families — one English, and the other two Dutch — 
 settled at Weatog, or Salisbury, in 1720. In 1740, 
 eleven English and five Dutch families settled in 
 different parts of the town. In 1732, most of the 
 township was surveyed. It was sold by the Colony 
 at Hartford in 1737, and the charter was given in 
 
 1 745. The town took its name from a man named 
 Salisbury, who lived in about the centre of the 
 purchase. The Bev. Mr. Lee was their first settled 
 minister, and a meeting-house was built about 
 1748. In this house there were two watch-towers, 
 with sentries placed in them on Sundays, to guard 
 against the Indians. These first settlers came from 
 the manor of Livingston, in the Colony of New 
 York. 
 
 Harwinton, which derived its name from Hart- 
 ford, Windsor and Farmington, was settled in 
 1731, was named a town in 1732, and was incor- 
 porated by the General Court in 1737. Their first 
 minister was the Bev. Andrew Bartholomew, who 
 was ordained about 1730. John Watson and 
 others came from Hartford in 1733, and settled at 
 New Hartford, which was named and incorporated 
 a town that year. The Bev. Jonathan Marsh, their 
 first minister, was ordained in 1739. It was an 
 evergreen region, where there were extensive 
 forests, called the "Green Woods." One of the 
 seven companies of the inhabitants of Windsor 
 that bought townships in 1732 was the Torrington 
 Company named after a hamlet in Devonshire, Eng- 
 land. The patentees were Matthew Allyn, Boger 
 AVolcott and Samuel Mather, Esqrs. A survey of 
 the town was made in 1734, and there were three 
 divisions of land. The last one was completed in 
 1 750, in which two hundred and twenty acres were 
 appropriated for schools. Ebenezer Lyman, Jr. y 
 was the first permanent settler of the town, and 
 came from Durham about the year 1737. Torring- 
 ton was made a town in 1740; and, becoming an 
 ecclesiastical society, the Bev. Nathaniel Boberts 
 was ordained in 1741, when there were but fourteen 
 families in the place. Wolcottville may be said to 
 have been commenced in 1751, when Amos Wilson 
 purchased of the town the mill privilege on the 
 west branch of the Xaugatuck Biver. Its great 
 business prosperity may be said to date from about 
 1813, when manufacturing first began. 
 
 A considerable area of territory on the Housa- 
 tonic Biver was sold at auction at New London in 
 1738, and settled by John Franklin and others. 
 The town was named Canaan by the General Court 
 that year, and incorporated in 1739. Their first 
 clergyman was the Bev. Elisha Webster, ordained 
 in 1740. The tract of land known as Kent was 
 sold in 1738, and settled that year by Mr. Piatt and 
 others from Colchester, Mr. Comstock from Frank- 
 lin, and Mr. Slausen and others from Norwalk. 
 The town was named in 1738, and incorporated the 
 following year. The first minister was the Bev. 
 Cyrus Marsh. Goshen was settled, named and incor- 
 porated in 1738. The Bev. Stephen Heaton was their 
 first minister. The territory of Sharon was pur- 
 chased in 1738, and settled and incorporated the 
 following year. The first settler was Daniel Jack- 
 son, from NewMilford. In 1740, thirteen families 
 moved into Cornwall from Massachusetts, and from 
 Colchester and Litchfield in this State. It was 
 named in 1738, and incorporated two years after- 
 ward. The Bev. Solomon Palmer was their first 
 minister. Settlers from Windsor came to Norfolk 
 in 1744. When incorporated, in 1758, thero were 
 thirty-seven families within its limits. The Rev. 
 Animi R. Bobbins was their first pastor. The first 
 settler in the present town of Barkhamstcd came in 
 1740, and was the sole inhabitant for more than ten 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 101 
 
 years. The town was incorporated 1 779. The Rev. 
 Ozias Eels was their first minister. 
 
 Winchester was incorporated in 1771, and the 
 next year the Rev. Joshua Knapp was ordained 
 minister. Ebenczer and Joseph Preston, and 
 Adam Mott, from Windsor, were the first settlers. 
 In 1799, there were only about twenty families 
 within the present limits of Winsted. In 1832, the 
 west village was incorporated as the borough of 
 Clifton. In 1858, the two sections of Winsted 
 became united, and the place has since been known 
 as Winsted. 
 
 The first settlers of Colcbrook came there in 
 1765, and others soon followed. The town was 
 •organized in 1786, and the Rev. Jonathan Ed- 
 wards, son of the renowned minister of that name, 
 was their first pastor. 
 
 The ecclesiastical society of Northbury was or- 
 ganized in Waterbury, New Haven County, in 1739, 
 and was organized a town by the assembly in 1795, 
 named Plymouth, and annexed to this county. The 
 first settlement in Plymouth was made in the centre 
 of the new town of Thomaston. In 1728, Henry 
 Cook came there with a family and settled. The 
 first child born in Plymouth was Samuel How. 
 
 The first settlement in Waterbury was in Wooster 
 Swamp, as Thomaston and the western part of Ply- 
 mouth were called. Many settlers preferring to 
 locate on higher land up the river, above the 
 fogs and malaria of the swamp west of the 
 river, the Northbury community was established. 
 Roxbury was created a town in 1801, and taken 
 from Woodbury ; and Bridgewater Society was 
 taken from New Milford and made a town in 1856. 
 Two years later, North Canaan was separated from 
 Canaan. Morris, from the town of Litchfield, 
 was incorporated in 1859; and the twenty-sixth 
 and last town in the county was taken from Ply- 
 mouth, made a town, and named Thomaston, in 
 1875. 
 
 The increase of population and rapid coloniza- 
 tion were such that in the year 1751, after about 
 ten years of agitation in town meetings and in the 
 assembly, a new county was created and named 
 Litchfield, with Litchfield as the shire town. The 
 territorial area was the same as at present, with 
 the exception of the towns of Ilartland and South- 
 bury, and a portion of Brookfield, all of which 
 then belonged to the county . Watcrtown and Ply- 
 mouth, with Thomaston, have since been annexed. 
 William Preston, Esq., of Woodbury, was the first 
 chief justice; Isaac Baldwin, Esq., first clerk. 
 Samuel Pettibone, Esq., of Goshen, was chosen 
 king's attorney, and Oliver, Walcott, Esq., sheriff. 
 For nine years from 1774, the valley of Wyoming, 
 Pa., belonged to this county. 
 
 It was declared by a convention held in this 
 county February 11, 1776, and represented by most 
 of the towns, that the Stamp Act was unconstitu- 
 tional, null and void, and that business should go 
 on as usual ; and town meetings were held quite 
 frequently to consider the public safety. When the 
 war cloud burst, Litchfield County was thoroughly 
 aroused for any emergency. At the time of the 
 Boston alarm, September 3, 1774, quite a number 
 of soldiers went from Woodbury, where there was 
 the most population, and joined companies from 
 other towns. Col. Ethan Allen, claimed to have 
 been born in three towns in the county, and at all 
 
 events to have been a native of this county, and 
 Col. Seth Warner, a native of Roxbury, with 
 nearly 100 volunteers, assisted in the capture of 
 Fort Ticonderoga May 10, 1775. Col. Hinman, of 
 Woodbury, commanded 1,000 men sent to garrison 
 this fort and Crown Point. After the Lexington 
 alarm a full company was sent from Woodbury. 
 The thirteenth regiment of militia was formed 
 from that town, New Milford and Kent, at the 
 commencement of the war. By an order of June 
 10, 1776, a draft was ordered, which, with former 
 calls, had made such a drain upon the laborers that 
 there was hardly sufficient provision to supply the 
 people during the winter. Upon a sudden call for 
 troops at Danbury in April, 1777, the militia of this 
 county marched to the scene of conflict. Soldiers 
 from this county participated in the battle of 
 Bennington in 1777, under Col. Seth Warner, and 
 others fought at Saratoga and White Plains. 
 Woodbury being the oldest and largest town in the 
 county, with a population of 5,313 in 1774, was 
 represented on all the battle-fields of 1777. There 
 were eight companies of militia in the town ready 
 to rally at a moment's warning. New Milford fur- 
 nished the next largest quota of men for the war. 
 The old Indian warrior, Tom Warrups, a Schaghti- 
 coke, and a resident of Cornwall in his early life, 
 participated in the battle of Long Island. Gen. 
 John Sedgwick, of Cornwall, Cols. Canfield and 
 Starr, of New Milford, Tallmadge, of Litchfield, 
 and many others, were brave officers in the war. 
 
 There were, however, some Tories within the 
 borders of the county ; and committees of inspec- 
 tion were formed, who summoned before them 
 those who were suspected of disloyalty to the cause 
 of liberty. The Rev. John R. Marshal, of Wood- 
 bury, was one of these, and was put on the limits. 
 The riflemen, pawing through the county, took a 
 man in New Milford, made him walk before them 
 twenty miles, and carry one of his geese; they then 
 made him pluck his goose, and, after tarring and 
 feathering him, drummed him out of the company, 
 and required him to kneel and thank them for their 
 lenity. 
 
 Party spirit ran so high in this county during the 
 war of 1812, and the administration at Washington 
 met with such opposition from the State-rights or 
 Federalist party, that enlistments into the regular 
 army were greatly discouraged; and the conflict 
 between the national and State governments, as to 
 which should have the command of the drafted 
 militia, caused riots in some places in the county, 
 where efforts were made to fling the State flag to 
 the breeze, and to cut down the liberty poles 
 flying the stars and stripes. This opposition 
 caused Congress to refuse the necessary appro- 
 priations and supplies for the maintenance of 
 the militia of Massachusetts and Connecticut for 
 the year 1814, thus forcing these States to defend 
 their own coasts from invasion, which resulted 
 in the Hartford Convention of December, 1814, 
 of which the Hon. Nathaniel Smith, of Wood- 
 bury, and others, of the most distinguished and 
 upright characters were members. The whole 
 number of men who served in the war from this 
 county was about 2,000. 
 
 At the commencement of the late Rebellion 
 volunteer companies were immediately formed 
 at Winsted and the other large towns in the 
 
102 
 
 THE MS TOXICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 county, which soon rendezvoused at New Haven. 
 During the war the county furnished nearly 
 4,000 men. The nineteenth regiment, enlisted 
 principally in this county, and reorganized into 
 tho second heavy artillery in November, 1863, 
 experienced some very severe service in the Army 
 of the Potomac ; and it was at tho head of the 
 assault at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864, that 
 its gallant commander, Col. Elisha S. Kellogg, 
 lost his life. 
 
 A short timo after the close of the Revolution- 
 ary war in 1784, the first law school of any note 
 in tho United States was founded in the town 
 of Litchfield. Its projector was Tapping Reeve, 
 of Long Island, a brother-in-law of Aaron Burr. 
 There were then no professors of law connected 
 with any American college, nor was the science 
 treated as a liberal one. Judge Reeve, after 
 having conducted the school from the commence- 
 ment until his appointment to the bench of the 
 Supreme Court of the State in 1798, then invited 
 James Gould, Esq. , a graduate of Yale College, 
 who was in the practice of law at Litchfield, to 
 take part in the instruction of the school. These 
 gentlemen carried it on together, as partners, 
 for a period of twenty-two years, when, on ac- 
 count of advanced age, Judge Reeve retired. 
 Judge Gould continued the school until a few 
 years before his death, when he associated with 
 himself Jabez W. Huntington, afterwards a 
 United States senator and Judge of the Supreme 
 Court of the State. Prior to 1833 there had 
 been educated at this school men from all parts 
 of the county, more than one thousand in all, 
 and as many as one hundred and eighty-three 
 from the Southern States. They numbered fif- 
 teen United States senators, five cabinet officers, 
 ten governors of States, fifty members of Con- 
 gress, forty judges of the highest State courts, 
 and two judges of the Supreme Court of the 
 United States. This long list embraced the 
 names of John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, 
 John M. Clayton, of Delaware, John Y. Mason, 
 of Virginia, Judge Levi Woodbury, Marcus 
 Morton, and many others of national renown. 
 Tho school was discontinued in 1833. 
 
 As soon as the first settlement of towns in the 
 county commenced, and a minister had been 
 settled, attention was turned to the common 
 schools. The ancient school-house in this county 
 was a very rude affair, consisting of but one room, 
 with but little furniture. Tne writing-desks 
 fronted inward from the sides of the house, and 
 there was a large shelf in one corner for the use 
 of the scholars. The teacher's table was made 
 of rough boards. The seats for the larger schol- 
 ars were made of slabs supported with three or 
 four legs of round wood. 
 
 Schools were carried on in the earlier times 
 entirely under the district system. Afterwards 
 for very many years they were managed under 
 the jurisdiction of school societies, formed from 
 towns and parts of towns. In 1869 the schools 
 wero made free by a general law, and since that 
 time, in this county, the attendance and appro- 
 priations have greatly increased. There has 
 been more uniformity of text-books ; better 
 school-houses havo been erected ; the terms have 
 been lengthened ; all pay their share of the 
 
 taxes ; while the improvements in tho schools 
 over the old method havo been very great. There 
 are now in this county 277 districts, and 275 
 schools, employing 625 teachers. Among tho 
 first of the academies established in the county 
 was one in the town of Morris — then Litchfield 
 — in 1790, by James Morris. Afterwards two 
 were opened in the town of Sharon ; and there 
 have been many others since those early times. 
 The first female seminary established at Litch- 
 field, in 1792, was the resort of young ladies 
 from all parts of the country for more than forty 
 years. The first foreign mission school in this 
 country was established in the county, at Corn- 
 wall, in 1817, to educate foreign youtli to become 
 missionaries, schoolmasters, interpreters and 
 physicians among heathen nations. A farm was 
 purchased and suitable buildings were erectod ; 
 but the school was abandoned in 1827, because, 
 after this time, the heathen could be educated at 
 home, and also because of local opposition 
 caused by two Cherokee Indians marrying re- 
 spectable white girls of the town. 
 
 The Connecticut School for Imbeciles, located 
 iu Salisbury, was incorporated in 1861. 
 
 For nearly seventy years after the first settle- 
 ment of the county, the only churches within 
 its limits were of the Congregational order, tho 
 result of an ecclesiastical statute of the Colony 
 that no church administration should be set up 
 contrary to the order already established ; but 
 finally, in 1708, and afterwards, acts of tolera- 
 tion were passed, till all religious denominations 
 were put upon the same common ground of 
 equality, although all wero for some time taxed 
 to support the regular order. The oldest church 
 in the county of tho established order is in 
 Woodbury, and was organized in 1670, at Strat- 
 ford; and the next oldest one is in New Milford, 
 and was organized in 1716. The church at 
 Litchfield was organized in 1721 ; the church at 
 Bethlehem in 1739 ; and the churches at Corn- 
 wall, Goshen and Sharon in 1740 ; and there are 
 now forty-one churches of this order in the 
 county. 
 
 The first Episcopal parish in tho county was 
 organized by tho Rev. Mr. Beach of Newton, in 
 1740. There are now twenty-five parishes. 
 
 Tho first of the Baptist churches in the county 
 were in New Milford and Colebrook, about tho 
 year 1788, when a church was organized in the 
 first-named town. There are very few churches, 
 of this denomination in the county at the 
 present time. 
 
 In 1790 a circuit of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church was formed at Litchfield, which then 
 probably comprised the whole county and more, 
 and Jesse Lee was appointed elder by tho New 
 England Conference. The circuit was traveled 
 at this timo by Samuel Wigton, Henry Christie 
 and Freeborn Garritson. There was but little 
 sympathy, however, between the Congregational 
 and Mothodist denominations in the county in 
 these early days. The circuit preacher dis- 
 coursed against pitch-pipes, steeples, ribbons 
 and all gay equipages, to sav nothing of tho 
 " five points " of Calvinism. The denomination 
 during the nearly ninety years of its existenco in. 
 
HE VIEW OF TIIE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 103 
 
 the county, has, in number and membership, 
 increased with great rapidity. 
 
 The first Koman Catholic church in the 
 county is believed to have been erected at Corn- 
 wall about the year 1850, though there is no 
 church there now. Public worship was insti- 
 tuted in Winsted in 1851 by the Rev. James 
 Lynch ; and in 1852, the Rev. Thomas Quinn 
 commenced the erection of St. Joseph's Catholic 
 Church, and entered on his pastoral duties. 
 The Rev. Thomas Hendricken, since bishop of 
 Rhode Island, came here in 1854 ; and there are 
 now five churches in the county. 
 
 This county is the only section of the State in 
 which rich and productive iron mines are found. 
 The ore is found in vast beds, principally in 
 connection with mica slate, and exists in the 
 towns of Sharon, Salisbury and Kent. The 
 oldest iron mine is the Old Ore Hill in the town 
 of Salisbury, and it has been worked over 150 
 years, and since the year 1732. The site of this 
 mine was purchased by a man named Bissell, 
 several years before the town was incorporated. 
 When this mine was first opened, Thomas Lamb 
 bought fifty acres of land in the southeast part 
 of the town, at Lime Rock on Salmon River, and 
 erected the first forge in the county at that place 
 as early as the year 1734. In 1702 Col. Ethan 
 Allen, of Ticonderoga fame, Samuel Forbes and 
 others, built the first blast-furnace in the county. 
 During the Revolutionary war this property was 
 taken possession of by the State ; and Col. 
 Joshua Porter having been appointed agent, 
 large quantities of cannon, cannon balls, shot 
 and shells were manufactured for the govern- 
 ment. John Jay and Gouverneur Morris, agents 
 of Congress, came here frequently at this time 
 to oversee the casting and proofs of the cannon. 
 The war ships " Constitution " and "Old Iron- 
 sides " and the New York Battery were armed 
 with the Salisbury cannon ; and this iron has 
 been used since the war in the manufacture of 
 guns and anchors for the navy, and chain cables, 
 and has also furnished material for the uses of 
 the government armories. 
 
 The never-failing resources of the mine, the 
 facilities and means of smelting the ore, with its 
 rich quality of forty per cent, of pig iron, have 
 brought it into general demand for manufactur- 
 ing purposes. Forty years ago there were in 
 Salisbury four blast-furnaces, five forges, two 
 puddling establishments, one anchor-shop and 
 two cupolas for castings. This mine covers an 
 area of several acres, and there are six principal 
 pits. For the first forty years of this century 
 the average amount of ore taken from this bed 
 annually was 5,000 tons ; and its bottom has not 
 been reached. There are also important iron 
 mines in Sharon and Kent. Salisbury iron was 
 first used in 1840 for railroad purposes. Its 
 great tensile strength, with its superior chilling 
 properties, soon led to the manufacture of car- 
 wheels at Salisbury, which are now in general 
 use, not only in the United States, but in most 
 civilized nations. 
 
 Spathic iron-ore, commonly known as silver 
 steel, is found in this county at Mine Hill in 
 Roxbury, on the eastern line of New Milford, in 
 a mountain about 350 feet high, at the base of 
 
 which runs the Shepaug River ; and it is the 
 most remarkable deposit of the kind in the 
 United States. The mine, however, has never 
 been profitably worked. 
 
 The first mill in the county was built in Wood- 
 bury in 1674, for grinding flour, the mortar and 
 pestle having been used for pounding the grain 
 prior to this time. Fifty years since there were 
 thirty-four flour mills in the county. The first 
 wheelwright was Samuel Munn, who built a cart 
 and cart-wheels for the Rev. Mr. Walker of Wood- 
 bury, in 1688 ; and the business of making coaches 
 and wagons was carried on in the county after their 
 invention, till there were as many as forty of these 
 establishments. In 1700, forty-four inhabitants of 
 Woodbury gave Abraham Fulf ord ten acres of and 
 to come there and comb wool, and weave and full 
 cloth, and he accepted the offer. At this early 
 period some of the outer clothing of the people was 
 made of skins of deer and other animals ; and in 
 1677, very large wooden shoes were made and used 
 by the settlers. The first blacksmith came to this 
 county in 1706, and he was given ten acres of land 
 to remain and carry on the business. The tan- 
 nery was one of the earliest .ndustrial establish- 
 ments of the county. Long since there have been 
 as many as fifty of these, almost every town having 
 its place for tanning leather. Boots and shoes were 
 made by the shoemaker, who, " whipping the cat, " 
 went around to the houses with his own ools and 
 wax, depending upon his customers for leather, 
 shoe-thread, and pegs. The saw and shingle mill 
 were a very early necessity to the settlers, and there 
 were as many as nineteen in the county at one time ; 
 but they have begun to disappear somewhat since 
 the days of railroads. Over 2,300,000 bricks were 
 made annually in the county thirty-seven years ago ; 
 and there were seventeen hat factories and as many 
 furniture establishments. Sixty years ago there 
 were a very large number of manufactories of dis- 
 tilled spirits ; 169 in the county, and twenty-six in 
 New Milford alone. Soon after the commencement 
 of this century a discovery was made in the latter 
 place of porcelain clay by a goldsmith. The bed 
 covers an area of about ten acres. Mr. Lyman 
 lline commenced the making of the common por- 
 celain furnace and fire brick about the year 1828 ; 
 and these articles for stoves, furnace-linings in 
 brass-kettle establishments, and puddling furnaces, 
 enjoyed a deservedly high reputation. From an 
 early date, magnesian lime has been burnt from 
 quarries in the county. 
 
 In 1792, Jenks & Boyd erected the first establish- 
 ment at Winsted, for welding, drawing, and plating 
 the scythe by water-power under trip-hammers, and 
 grinding it on geared stones ; which before had 
 been made by hand, wrought in smiths' shops, and 
 ground on stones turned by hand. Before the year 
 1800, the first cementing steel-furnace in the county 
 was built at Colebrook by the Rockwell Brothers. 
 
 The making of axes as a distinct trade was first 
 commenced in 1804; and about the year 1828, a 
 factory was established at Winsted. The business 
 of clockmaking commenced in a very small way at 
 Thoinaston, about the time Plymouth was annexed 
 to the county. Eli Terry established himself at 
 Plymouth, and commenced making the old hang-up 
 wood clock with a foot-lathe, knife, and other 
 
104 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 hand-tools, and peddled them himself on horse- 
 back. In 1803, he had a shop with water-power ; 
 and he started a shop at Hoadlcyville, and made 
 4,000 clocks in two years. In 1807, Riley Whiting 
 commenced making wood clocks at Winsted, and 
 made numerous improvements in them and in clock- 
 cases. The manufacture of cutlery was commenced 
 at Salisbury, and in 1852, at Winsted. The pro- 
 duction of pins first began in the county at Win- 
 sted in 1853, and of plated-ware, coffin trimmings, 
 and carriage-springs, within the past fifteen years. 
 The manufacture of vegetable-ivory buttons, with 
 new and greatly improved machinery for mottling 
 and coloring, commenced in the county at New 
 Milford about twelve years ago. In 1834, the first 
 effort to make brass kettles in America, by the bat- 
 tery process, began at Wolcottville. The rolling 
 process succeeded this in 1842. Meantime, witli 
 these new and greatly increased developments of 
 manufacturing on the lines mentioned, there has 
 been a corresponding decline in certain other 
 branches ; notably in the manufacture of leather, 
 and of woollen goods. 
 
 From the time of the first settlement of the 
 county when it was a dense forest of white oak. 
 chestnut, and hickory, the general occupation of 
 the people has been that of agriculture. The nature 
 of the soil is such as to be quite well adapted to 
 this, and particularly to the growth of Indian 
 corn, wheat, rye, and oats. Turnips, beans and 
 pumpkins were the principal vegetables; and, for 
 the first hundred years, potatoes were compara- 
 tively unknown. The cattle were generally small, 
 brindle and brown colors being favorites, and the 
 sheep were long-legged and hardy, with thin, 
 coarse wool. The wood plow, wooden-tooth 
 harrow, and forks too heavy almost for men to 
 lift, were samples of the farming tools of those 
 early times, and the kitchen stove was unknown 
 for vears. Noxious weeds, like the Canada 
 thistle, had not been heard of, and most of tho 
 insect pests of the present day were unknown, 
 although as late as 1791 and the year after the 
 orchards in some parts of the county, on all 
 kinds of light, dry soil, were ravaged by the 
 canker-worm. The early settlers were for many 
 years greatly harassed by the depredations of 
 wild beasts, ravaging their crops and flocks and 
 putting themselves sometimes .in personal peril. 
 Wolves abounded as late as 1786 and wolf-hunts 
 were very common sports in the Indian-summer 
 days. Bears and panthers were common also in 
 those early times, and were not unfrequently 
 shot by the settlers. 
 
 The activities of agriculture, as well as of 
 every other kind of business, were at one time 
 materially impeded by the serious difficulties in 
 the way of intercourse with the market towns — the 
 roads being generally over steep hills and along 
 miry and untrodden bottoms, and where the 
 snow, in the winter, lay deep and drifted, 
 while the means of communication were of the 
 most primitive and incommodious character. 
 The farmer saw but little money in those days, 
 taking their farm products annually to the 
 trader at the distant village and being supplied, 
 in return, with whatever their necessities de- 
 manded. 
 
 Farming continued to be carried on in this 
 primitive way, to a great extent, for more than 
 150 years after the settlement of the county — 
 indeed until the railroad penetrated our borders, 
 and the era of labor-saving tools and machines 
 was introduced, and the people began to organ- 
 ize societies and clubs for the diffusion of agri- 
 cultural and horticultural knowledge. These 
 symbols of a more progressive civilization have, 
 meanwhile, almost if not quite revolutionized 
 the principles of farming. In 1846 T. L. Hart 
 and six others met and organized the farmers' 
 club in Cornwall. Meetings were held quite 
 often, addresses delivered, and the public mind 
 thus became better informed on the science of 
 farming, and other organizations of the kind 
 have since been formed in the county. In 1851, 
 tho Litchfield County Agricultural Association 
 was incorporated. Fairs have been held since 
 that time annually at the county seat. In 1859 
 the Union Agricultural Society was organized at 
 Canaan, and the next year societies were incor- 
 porated at New Milford and Woodbury ; and i 
 like society has been formed in Torrington. 
 
 In 1840, it is believed, the first crop of tobacco 
 was raised in tho county to any extent for the 
 market. At present it is grown quite exten- 
 sively, and there is probably an annual average 
 production of 1,800,000 pounds. 
 
 In 1784 the first newspaper was established 
 in the county. This paper, the ' ' Weekly 
 Monitor," was published at Litchfield by 
 Thos. Collins for many years. In 1824 tho 
 "Litchfield Enquirer" was established; and 
 for about thirty years it was the prin- 
 cipal paper in the country. The "Winsted 
 Herald," established in 1853, has held a leading 
 position among the influential papers of the State. 
 
 There are now nine newspapers of first-class 
 character published in the county : " Winsted 
 Press," "Herald," "Argus," and "Advocate" 
 (the latter monthly), " Torrington Register," 
 " Thomoston Express," " Connecticut Western 
 (Canaan) News," "New Hartford Tribune," and 
 " Litchfield Enquirer." 
 
 As early as 1789, thirty-six persons signed a 
 temperance pledge in the county, agreeing to dis- 
 card the use of distilled liquors ; and among the 
 number were Ephraim Kirby, Moses Seymour and 
 Tapping Reeve. It is believed that the first mod- 
 ern temperance society was formed in the county 
 at Salisbury, among the iron laborers. The Rev. 
 Dr. Porter delivered temperance lectures in Wash- 
 ington in 1806, and Dr. Lyman Heecher delivered 
 discourses and lectures on the same subject about 
 1812, and probably earlier, at Litchfield. Since 
 then, societies to promote the cause of temperance 
 have been very generally formed in the county ; 
 and a society was organized at Torrington as early 
 as 1837. 
 
 August 13 and 14, 1851, the one hundredth 
 anniversary of the organization of the county, was 
 observed at Litchfield with appropriate ceremonies. 
 An oration by the Hon. Samuel Church, LL.D., Chief 
 Justice of the Supreme Court; a poem by the Rev. 
 John Pierpont, LL.D., of Medford, Mass.; a ser- 
 mon by Rev. Horace Rushnell, D. D., of Hartford; 
 and speeches by Hon. D. S. Dickinson, of New 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 105 
 
 Tork, and many others, were among the interesting 
 features of the occasion. 
 
 Towards the close of the last century, the legis- 
 lature authorized the construction of turnpike roads, 
 with power to erect gates at fixed distances, and to 
 collect tolls from travelers for the maintenance of 
 the road, some of which yielded very good divi- 
 dends. From the year 1797, for a period of about 
 forty years, there were some twenty-three charters 
 ■of this character granted by the legislature for these 
 roads ; and no portion of the State was more im- 
 proved by them than this county. 
 
 The Housatonic Railroad Company, incorporated 
 in 1830, built the first railroad that was operated 
 in the couuty. It was completed to New Milford 
 in the spring of 1840, and the first train of cars 
 ran into that place in February of that year. The 
 track was made of wood and ties laid upon sleepers, 
 •with thick strap-iron, spiked down, upon which the 
 ■wheels ran ; and many fatal accidents occurred by 
 the ends of the iron becoming loose and springing 
 up and shooting over the wheels, when in motion, 
 through the floor of the cars, when they were called 
 "snake heads." The Naugatuck Railroad, run- 
 ning from Bridgeport to Winsted, was the second 
 built in the county, and was incorporated in 1845. 
 Within twelve years a branch road has been built 
 from Waterbury to Watertown. The new impetus 
 this road gave to manufactures in Winsted, Wolcott- 
 ville, Thomaston and Plymouth was very marked. 
 The Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad 
 Company was first incorporated in 1849. The 
 Connecticut Western Railroad Company was char- 
 tered in 1800. The first passenger train passed over 
 the road from Hartfoid to Millerton, on the Har- 
 lem road in New York, Dec. 21, 1871. In 1800, 
 the Shepaug Valley Railroad Company was incor- 
 porated, to run from Litchfield to some point on 
 the Housatonic road ; and in December, 1872, trains 
 were making regular trips over the whole line. 
 
 Until the beginning of the present century, the 
 people of the county had carried on their business 
 transactions without the aid of any banking insti- 
 tution; but, upon the incorporation of the Phcenix 
 Bank of Hartford, in 1814, and within six months 
 after it commenced to discount, a branch bank was 
 started at Litchfield for the purpose of discount 
 and deposit. The Iron Bank was established at 
 Canaan in 1847, and was the first regular chartered 
 bank in the county. All the banks in the county 
 went into business under the national banking law 
 during the late war, and have since been eminently 
 prosperous. 
 
 The courts in the county have generally remained 
 unchanged in the general organization, the Superior 
 and Supreme courts sitting at stated times at the 
 county town. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Winchester and the Borough of Winsted. — The 
 interval lands along the streams of this town are 
 shut in by high hills and mountain ridges. The 
 highest elevation is in the old Winchester parish, 
 where mountains in Massachusetts and New York 
 can be seen. The town is situated in the green- 
 woods district of the county, thirty-five miles by 
 rail from Hartford. Long Lake, extending from 
 the Torrington line northerly about three and one- 
 
 half miles, is the largest body of water. Its sur- 
 face is 150 feet above the centre of Winsted village 
 near by. Still and Mad rivers are the principal 
 streams. Lake Stream, running from the lake 
 through a wild and narrow ravine into Mad River, 
 furnishes a vater-supply for many factories. 
 
 Winsted, situated on Lake Stream, Mad and Still 
 rivers, is the largest place in population, and in the 
 extent of its industrial interests, in the county, and 
 contains about5,500 inhabitants. These three streams 
 afford a great supply of water-power, which is 
 used extensively for manufacturing purposes; there 
 being, on Mad River, one dam to about every 
 twenty rods in its course through the borough. A 
 very large variety of establishments are in success- 
 ful operation, using both steam and water power. 
 Among the manufactures are scythes and agri- 
 cultural implements, brass clocks and cases, car- 
 riages, springs, undertaker's hardware and furnish- 
 ing goods, bar-iron, railroad axles, pocket cutlery, 
 pins, hardware and carpenter's tools, spool silk, 
 machine screws, castings, mill gearing and pulleys, 
 leather, etc. There are five churches, a Catholic 
 literary and theological seminary, and a Catholic 
 academy for young ladies, with a parochial school 
 and convent. The town has three national banking 
 institutions and two savings banks. Music Hall, a 
 capacious brick and iron structure, contains a fine 
 public hall. Another hall, lately constructed, is 
 used for town and borough purposes. Water for 
 extinguishing fires, and for domestic purposes, is 
 obtained from Long Lake. Park place, a beautiful 
 green, is adorned with evergreens, maples, and 
 elms. 
 
 James Boyd, a man of indomitable energy and 
 perfect integrity — who, with his partner and 
 brother-in-law, Benjamin Jenkins, was the pioneer 
 manufacturer of the place — died February 1, 1849, 
 aged seventy-eight. Solomon Rockwell, Esq., one 
 of the founders of Winsted, and an active promoter 
 of its business interests, died August 1, 1888, in the 
 seventy-fifth year of his age. Wm. S. Holabird, a 
 lawyer by profession, was U. S. district attorney 
 for four years, and lieutenant-governor in 1842 and 
 1844. He died May 22, 1855, at the age of sixty-one. 
 Other prominent natives are Gideon Hall (1808-07,) 
 a judge of the Superior Court; John Boyd ( 1799-), 
 for three years secretary of state ; George Dudley, 
 Roland Hitchcock, and F. D. Fyler. 
 
 New* Milford, one of the most important towns 
 in the county in the diversity of its industrial 
 interests, is situated in the south-western part 
 of the county, ninety miles by rail from Hartford. 
 It has a population of about 4,000, and is the 
 largest town in the county. The township is moun- 
 tainous, and its agricultural interests predominate 
 largely in the production of milk and tobacco. 
 
 The principal centres of intercourse outside of 
 the village are at North ville on the Aspetuck River, 
 Gaylordsville and Merwinsville in the north part 
 of the town on the Housatonic, and Lanesville in 
 the south part on Still River, were there is the best 
 water-power in the town. 
 
 The town has nine religious organizations, eigh- 
 teen public schools and one academy. One national 
 and one savings bank accommodate the business of 
 the locality. 
 
 The Housatonic Agricultural Society occupies fine 
 grounds near the village. Agriculture is not the 
 
108 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 entile occupation of the inhabitants, there being centres are the Hollow, Newfield, Torringford, 
 
 important manufactures of manila and wrapping Wrightville, Burrvillc, Daytonville, and Torring- 
 
 paper, vegetable-ivory buttons, plough castings, ton, formerly Wolcottville, in the extreme southern 
 
 iron fences and castings, refrigerators, cigars and part of the town. The latter is a place of about 
 
 fire-brick. 2,200 inhabitants, and one of the most important 
 
 The village is ono of the most beautiful and manufacturing centres in the county. The mium- 
 thriving in New England, having most of the con- facturing industries are varied, and among tho 
 veniences of a city organization. There are two goods produced are hardware, notions, American 
 weekly newspapers published here. There are also scissors, upholsterers' brass and iron goods ; 
 a number of tobacco warehouses in tho village, black doeskins; ribbed and diagonal goods are 
 with several outside, employing about four hundred also produced. Rolled and sheet brass and cop- 
 men in the season of assorting and [jacking. There per, for cartridges especially, brass, copper, and 
 is an elevator in the village, and the business of German-silver ware are extensively manufac- 
 supplying the surrounding towns with all kinds of tured. Tho last-mentioned manufactures are 
 grain," flour and feed, shipped from the West, is carried on in buildings covering not less than 
 extensively carried on. The Housatonic R R. runs three acres. Two hundred and fifty men are 
 through the town. More business is done from this employed here, and the annual aggregate of the 
 point than at any other in the county on the road, business amounts to about $1,250,000. 
 The village is supplied witli water from a reservoir Sewing-machine needles for tho Wheeler and 
 on Cross Brook. Concrete walks, some of them Wilson Company are also made. Skates, leather 
 eight feet wide, have been laid in the village, goods, iron and brass ferrules, employ about one 
 There are some fine buildings and residences in the hundred men. Carriage and Furniture estab- 
 placc, including the two bank buildings and the lishments are in successful operation. There 
 town hall, the latter standing on the spot where are seven churches in the town, a savings bank 
 Roger Sherman once resided, and being a fine brick and a weekly newspaper. A beautiful granite 
 building, with high red sandstone basement, erected Congregational church edifice has been erected 
 ut a cost of about 845,000. at Torrington ata cost of 832,000. Tho Naugatuck 
 
 Rev. Nathaniel Taylor, born Aug 27, 1722, and Railroad runs through the town. This place is 
 a graduate of Yale, was ordained second pastor of supplied with water from Mino Brook. The 
 tho New Milford Church in June, 1748. During reservoir has an area of five and one-half acres of 
 his ministry he prepared many young men for col- surface, capable of holding 16,000,000 gallons of 
 lege. He died here Dec. 9, 1800, after having been water. The whole population of the town, in- 
 ordained fifty-two years. He was chaplain of a eluding Torrington, is about 3,500. 
 Connecticut regiment at Ticonderoga and Crown Prominent among the notable characters con- 
 Point in 1759. noctod with Torrington in times past may be 
 
 Elijah Boardman, a successful merchant, was a mentioned General Russel C. Abernethy, mer- 
 
 Unitcd States Senator at tho time of his death, chant, manufacturer and general of State militia; 
 
 August 18, 1823. His brother, Hon. David S. Mr. Owen Brown, a tanner, and the father of 
 
 Boardman, a graduate of Yale in 1793, and chief John Brown of Kansas and Harper's Ferry (Va.) 
 
 justice of tho county court, died December 2, 1804, fame, who was also born in Torrington in 1800; 
 
 in tho ninety-sixth year of his ago. Dr. Samuel Wodward (November 8, 1750 — Janu- 
 
 Rogcr Sherman, signer of tho Declaration of In- ary 26, 1835), a beloved physician, and an excep- 
 
 dependencc, came to New Milford on foot from tionally noble man; Rev. Samuel J. Mills (May 17, 
 
 Massachusetts, with his shoemaking tools on his 1754 — May 11, 1833), pastor of the Torringford 
 
 back, in 1743, when he was twenty -two years of church for fifty years, and who to rare humor and 
 
 age. He was clerk of the first ecclesiastical society, deep sensibility united great strength of intellect 
 
 and a deacon of the church for several years. He and originality of mind; William Batelle, Esq., an 
 
 was admitted to tho bar in 1754, and removed to old-time successful merchant, and Israel Coe, 
 
 New Haven in 1761. who established the battery manufacture of 
 
 Orange Merwin, one of the most influential men brass kettles at Wolcottville, the first of the kind 
 
 of the town, and at one time member of Congress, in the county, and who was justice of the peace 
 
 died September 4, 1853. after ho was eighty years old. Hon. Lyman W. 
 
 Perry Smith, a United States Senator during the Coe is actively identified with the interests of 
 
 administrations of Jackson and Van Buren, died the town. 
 
 in 1852, at the age of sixty-nino years. Salisbury is of importance as being the local- 
 David C. Sandford, a native of the town, born ity of the celebrated iron of that name, and is 
 in 1798, and at the time of his death in 1864, a also one of the best agricultural towns in the 
 judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, was long a county. Tho northwestern town in tho State, 
 prominent and influential man. having the Housatonic River as its eastern 
 George Taylor, M. D., Rev. Charles G. Acly, a boundary, it has an area of about fifty -eight 
 retired Episcopal clergyman, and Hon. A. B. square miles. The population is about 3,700. 
 Mygatt, United States bank examiner for Rhode It has five churches, three graded and several 
 Island and Connecticut, are among the distinguished district schools. At Lakeville is a well-managed 
 and honored residents of the town. school for imbeciles. Lakes Washining and 
 Torrington, one of the most regularly laid-out Washinee are the largest and most beautiful 
 townships in tho county, with a hilly surface and sheets of water in the town. The business cen- 
 fertilc soil, is forty-five miles from Hartford. The tres are at Sabsbury, Lakeville, Lime Rock and 
 water-power is princi pally on the cast and west Falls Village ; tho latter on the Housatonic River, 
 branches of tho Naugatuck River. The business where the extensive building and repair shops of 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 107 
 
 the Housatonic Railroad Company are located. 
 The business of manufacturing cast-iron car- 
 wheels is carried on here extensively. The 
 foundry is at Limo Rock, and about 10,000 rail- 
 road wheels are produced annually. There are 
 about six hundred men employed at the furnaces 
 and the wheel factory. There are extensive 
 grounds at Falls Village, used for agricultural 
 fairs. The Connecticut Western Railroad runs 
 through the town. 
 
 Among tho notables of Salisbury have been 
 William Ray, a naval officer and author ; Samuel 
 Church, LL.D. (1785 — 1854), an eminent jurist ; 
 Rev. Jonathan Lee (1718-88). pastor in tho town 
 for forty -fivo years ; Gen. Elisha Sterling, a dis- 
 tinguished lawyer ; and Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 
 a Revolutionary officer. 
 
 Litchfield, the shire town of the county, is 
 fifty-eight miles from Hartford, by rail, and has 
 a population of about 3,500. Tho township is on 
 high land, with strong soil. Bantam Lake, the 
 largest body of water in the county, is situated 
 partly in this town. Tho village commands a 
 beautiful and extensive prospect, and has a fine 
 park in tho centre, in which stands a monument 
 to commemorate the lives of those who fell in 
 the late war. The prominent buildings are the 
 old Court-house, with its turret and bell ; the 
 jail, and a Congregational church edifice costing 
 about §30,000. With its beautiful shade trees, 
 tho village, at present, is a most delightful resort 
 for those in quest of pleasure and recreation. 
 Tho city of New York, distant about one hun- 
 dred and fifteen miles by rail, is reached by 
 the Norwalk, Housatonic, Shepaug and Nauga- 
 tuck railroads. The churches in the town are six 
 in number; and there are two banks, one news- 
 paper, and twenty public schools. Manufacturing 
 is carried on to a greater or less extent at East 
 Litchfield, Bantam Falls, Milton and Northfield. 
 
 Among the eminent men of Litchfield have been 
 Oliver Wolcott(l?20-97), the commander of a com- 
 pany in the French war, first sheriff of the county, 
 delegate to Congress in 1775, and signer of the 
 Declaration of Independence, and governor of the 
 State at the time of his death ; Benjamin Tallmadgo 
 (1754-1835), a colonel in the Revolutionary war, 
 serving with distinction in many battles, several 
 times a representative in Congress, and instrumental 
 in causing the capture of Maj. Andre ; Gen. Uriah 
 Tracy (1755-1807), congressman and TJ. S. senator; 
 Hon. O. S. Seymour, LL.D., former member of 
 Congress and chief justice of the State ; George C. 
 Woodruff, formerly a member of Congress ; Gideon 
 H. Hollister, author of a standard history of Con- 
 necticut ; and Charles B. Andrews, late governor 
 of the State. 
 
 New Hartford is a thriving mountainous town, 
 containing about 3,500 inhabitants, and having five 
 churches. There are in the place several saw-mills, 
 while heavy duck and cotton goods, brass, and iron 
 casters, furniture casters, paper, carriages, coaches 
 and sleighs, and carpenters' tools are manufactured 
 here. 
 
 Among the more prominent citizens of this place, 
 past and present, may be named : Hon. William 
 G. Williams, an eloquent advocate, and connected 
 with the distinguished Williams family of Massa- 
 chusetts (his father being a nephew of Col. Ephraim 
 
 Williams, the founder of Williams College) ; Roger 
 Mills, Esq., a lawyer of note; Hon. Jared B. 
 Foster ; John Richards, Esq. ; and Hon. Edward 
 M. Chapin. 
 
 Sharon, situated on the west side of the Housa- 
 tonic River, is seventy-one miles from Hartford, 
 and contains about 2,800 inhabitants. The eastern 
 part of the township is mountainous, while tho 
 western section is part of a large and beautiful 
 valley. The soil is fertile, and agriculture is the 
 principal occupation of the people ; the chief pro- 
 ductions being grain, tobacco, and milk for the 
 New York market. The three most thickly settled 
 places are Sharon Valley, Sharon Village, and 
 Hitchcock's Corner, all on the New York State 
 line, and Ellsworth, in the south-eastern part of the 
 town. The churches are five in number. There 
 is a furnace for smelting the Salisbury ore at 
 Sharon Valley. 
 
 Noted men : John Williams, town clerk for 
 forty years ; Rev.Cotton Mather Smith (1731-1806), 
 pastor of the Sharon church for fifty-two years ; 
 John Cotton Smith, LL.D., son of the foregoing, 
 member of Congress, judge of the Supreme Court 
 of the State, and governor from 1813 to 1817; 
 John Cotton Smith, son of the governor, a popular 
 orator and author; Anson Sterling, at one time a 
 member of Congress ; and Gen. Charles F. Sedg- 
 wick, an able lawyer. 
 
 Woodbury, forty-five miles from Hartford, has a 
 population of a little more than 2,000. The village 
 is surrounded by high hills. The main street, run- 
 ning lengthwise of a charming and fertile valley, 
 extends into Hotehkissville, so that the places aro 
 now really one. The localities of interest in the 
 town arc Weekeepeemce, Flanders, Nonnewaug 
 Falls, of more than 100 feet descent; Castle Rock, 
 one of the Indian guarding heights; Orenaug 
 Rocks, near the lightning's play-ground ; Deer 
 Rocks, Middle Quarter, and some others that still 
 retain the old Indian names. Shot-bags, belts, cassi- 
 meres, shears and cutlery are made in this town. The 
 Masonic Hall, with pillars around it, built on a 
 bluff of trap rock, about thirty feet above the 
 street, is the best in the county, and is a prominent 
 object of admiration upon entering the village. 
 
 Eminent men : Jabez Bacon (1731-1800), a native 
 of Middletown, and a very successful merchant ; 
 Dr. Daniel Munn (1684-1761), probably the first 
 native physician of the county; Russel Abernethy, 
 M. D. (1774-1851), a celebrated physician; Judge 
 Noah B. Benedict (1771-1831) ; Judge Nathaniel 
 Smith (1762-1822), congressman and judge of tho 
 Supreme Court of the State ; and Judge Charles B. 
 Phelps (1788-1858), an eminent jurist. 
 
 The remaining towns of the county, mostly 
 devoted to agriculture, with their respective 
 populations, are Plymouth (2,500); Thcmaston 
 (2,500), so called for Beth Thomas, the founder 
 of the • extensive mauufactoy at that place of 
 the clocks known by his name, who was born 
 about 1817, and came from Wolcott about 
 1808 to Hoadleyville for the purpose of making 
 clocks, and moved to Plymouth Hollow in 1812, 
 where he began the clock-making business on a 
 large scale. From this beginning a new era in the 
 history of tho town, which now bears his name, 
 may be dated. 
 
108 
 
 REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Water-town (1,900), a favorite summer resort; 
 Washington (1,600), in the southern part of which 
 is a wild and rugged chasm, about six hundred feet 
 high, where a wonderful echo is formed. On the 
 eastern side of Lake Waramang is a pinnacle sup- 
 posed to be the highest point in the State. The 
 lake just mentioned, romantically situated among 
 the hills, is much frequented, during the heated 
 term, by tourists and plcasu re-seekers. 
 
 Canaan (1,200). The Housatonic Falls, at this 
 place, are sixty feet high. The whole descent, 
 including the rapids, above and below the falls, is 
 one hundred and sixty feet. 
 
 North Canaan (1,600) ; Cornwall (1,600) ; Kent 
 (1,700); Norfolk (1,500) ; Barkhamsted (1,300); 
 Goshen, (1,100), where in one of the streets the 
 rain-fall on the front roof of thehousesis said to run 
 into the Housatonic River, to the west, while that 
 on the back roof of the same houses, finds its way 
 into the Naugatuck. 
 
 Colebrook (1,200), a mountain town; Roxbury 
 (1,000), famous as having been the birth-place of 
 <3ol. Seth Warner, who was born in 1743, and with 
 only a common-school education of the times, early 
 became distinguished for his energy and persever- 
 ance. He was the commander during the contest 
 of the Colony with New York, and although rewards 
 were offered by the governor of New York for his 
 arrest, he always evaded their vigilance. He was in 
 •command of the party that took Crown Point, and 
 was in several engagements in the war of the Revo- 
 lution, but had to be relieved on account of sick- 
 ness. He was more than six feet tall, well propor- 
 tioned, and was a gallant officer. He died Dec. 27, 
 1784. 
 
 Harwinton (1,000) ; Bridgewater (800) ; Bethle- 
 hem (700), like Bridgewater an agricultural hill- 
 town ; Morris (650) ; and Warren (600). 
 
 Rev. John Trumbull, an eminent divine, after 
 
 a ministry of forty-eight years at Watertown, died 
 Dec. 13, 1787. 
 
 John Trumbull, son of the foregoing, born April 
 24, 1750, educated at Yale, admitted to the bar in 
 1773, was the author of McFingal. He died at 
 Detroit, Mich., in 1831. 
 
 Gen. John Sedgwick, an officer of the war of the 
 Revolution, and born in 1742, was a man of frankj 
 familiar, and most estimable qualities. He died 
 Aug. 18, 1820, aged seventy -seven years. His 
 remains repose in the Cornwall Hollow Cemetery. 
 
 Major Gen. John Sedgwick was a native of the 
 town of Cornwall, born Sept. 13, 1813, and gradu- 
 ated at West Point Military Academy with nonor 
 in 1837. He was engaged in the Seminole war in 
 Florida ; was employed under Gen. Scott to remove 
 the Cherokees to their western reservation ; fought 
 in Mexico under Generals Worth, Scott, and Tay- 
 lor ; called to the Army of the Potomac, he fought 
 at Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the 
 battles of the Wilderness ; was killed near Spott- 
 sylvania C. H., Va., May 9, 1864, and was buried 
 in the Cornwall Hollow Cemetery. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., the settled minister 
 of Norfolk for over forty years, died in 1876, at 
 about seventy years of age. 
 
 William W. Welch, M. D., an eminent physician 
 of Norfolk, has been a member of Congress. 
 
 Hon. Truman Smith, born in Roxbury, graduate 
 of Yale, was an eminent lawyer, also U. S. senator, 
 and argued a case in court in his eighty-sixth year. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Bellamy, D. D., born in Cheshire in 
 1719, graduated at Yale in 1735, was ordained in 
 1740, and continued to serve as pastor of the Beth- 
 lehem Church for fifty years. He was greatly dis- 
 tinguished as a theological instructor, and as an 
 educator of young men. He held high rank also 
 both as a preacher and as a writer on theological 
 subjects. 
 
MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 
 
 TnE legislature of Connecticut in May, 1785, 
 formed the county of Middlesex by taking the 
 towns of Middletown, Chatham, Haddam, and East 
 Haddam from the county of Hartford, and the 
 towns of Saybrook and Killingworth from the 
 county of New London. In May, 1790, Durham, 
 from the county of New Haven, was annexed to 
 Middlesex. An English settlement was commenced 
 in Saybrook in 1035, in Middletown in 1050, and in 
 Haddam in 1002, all on the west side of the Con- 
 necticut River. From these, in due time, proceeded 
 the towns on the opposite side of the Connecticut. 
 The settlement in Killingworth began in 1003, and 
 that in Durham in 1098. 
 
 The settlers, in some instances, came direct from 
 England, but the greater number from older settle- 
 ments in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 
 
 This region was, in general, a wild, irregular 
 tract of country, mountainous, and covered with 
 forests, the alluvial soil being found on the banks 
 of the river and on the shores of Long Island 
 Sound. Some parts afforded comfortable means of 
 settlement ; the rest afforded the Indian a place of 
 retreat after he had sold his patrimony to the white 
 man. 
 
 The glory of the county is its noble stream. 
 The granite formation begins just below the city of 
 Middletown, at a place called the Straits, where 
 the river, hemmed in by bold hills, is only thirty- 
 five rods wide, and runs nearly to the mouth at 
 Saybrook. The scenery in this part is positively 
 beautiful, green with wealth of trees in summer, 
 and literally reveling in brilliant colors in the fall. 
 This charming region is classic ground. During the 
 profligate and unlicensed reign of Charles I., several 
 gentlemen of distinction contemplated a removal 
 to America. They obtained from the Earl of 
 Warwick, March 19, 1631, a patent of all that 
 territory " which lies west from Narragansett 
 River, a hundred and twenty miles on the sea 
 coast ; and from thence in latitude and breadth 
 aforesaid to tho South Sea." John Winthrop, 
 son of the governor of Massachusetts, who 
 was then in London, was appointed their 
 agent, and was instructed to build a fort at the 
 mouth of the Connecticut, and to erect houses 
 for himself and his men, and for the reception 
 of persons of quality. To enable Winthrop to 
 carry out their designs, they constituted him 
 governor of Connecticut River, and of the harbor 
 and places adjoining, for one year after his ar- 
 rival. Thus commissioned and furnished with men 
 and supplies he arrived in Boston on October 8, 
 1031, where he discovered that some people had 
 just left Massachusetts and settled upon the Con- 
 necticut river within the patent granted by the Earl 
 of Warwick. Being assured by the governor of 
 the Colony and the magistrates that the settlers 
 
 should remove or satisfy the patentees, he dispatched 
 his men to the mouth of the Connecticut and super- 
 intended their labors until the expiration of his 
 commission. The level tract of ground west of 
 the river known as Saybrook Point was the place 
 of the new settlement. On this several streets were 
 laid out with some pretensions to a town, and the 
 fortification was intrusted to the care of Mr. David 
 Gardiner, an engineer whom the patentees had pro- 
 cured for tho purpose in England. The whole was 
 secured by a palisade stretching across the land- 
 ward side of the point. "In 1639 Col. George 
 Fenwick, one of the patentees, arrived from Eng- 
 land, and gave to the tract about the mouth of the 
 river the name of Saybrook, in honor of Lord Say 
 and Seal, and Lord Brooke, his principal associates.'' 
 He governed the inhabitants until 1644, and then dis- 
 posed of his jurisdiction to the Colony of Connecti- 
 cut, as his associates in the patent had abandoned the 
 idea of seeking a home in the wilds of America on ac- 
 count of the trouble to be apprehended from the 
 Indians and the opposition in high quarters to 
 their leaving England. Owing to this disaffec- 
 tion, the little colony was driven back on its 
 original resources. These were strengthened by 
 a few more arrivals from Hartford, and thus tho 
 nucleus of a river population was formed under 
 the protection of the friendly fortification. The 
 settlement at Saybrook was intended as the 
 residence of Oliver Cromwell, Pym, Hampden 
 and Hasselrigg, four of the great Commoners of 
 the day, and it is said that they actually em- 
 barked' in the Thames. They remained at home 
 to do a greater work than the narrow field of 
 Saybrook afforded, but it would be well to ask : 
 were not the early settlers of this county men 
 of the Cromwell stamp ? They were simply 
 battling for the same cause under different con- 
 ditions. 
 
 These early sottlers did not escape tho fero- 
 cities of the Indians. It was not long before the 
 utility of the fort at Saybrook was demonstrated. 
 The Indians who roamed the territory in tho 
 vicinity of the fort were subject to a warlike and 
 powerful nation, known as the Pequots, who 
 inhabited the region of the mouth of the Thames. 
 They wore inveterate in their malignity against 
 the English, and influenced other tribes against 
 them. In 1634 they murdered Captains Stone 
 and Norton with their crew, consisting of eight 
 men, just above Saybrook Point, plundered tho 
 vessel, burnt and sunk her. Yet they held a 
 treaty with Winthrop, and conceded to tho Eng- 
 lish their right to Connecticut River and the ad- 
 jacent country. This was merely a cunning 
 expedient to secure confidence, for all the while 
 they meditated treachery ; for early in October, 
 1636, a band of Pequots concealed in the grass 
 
110 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 at Calves' Island, four miles north of the fort, 
 surprised rive men who went there to get the 
 hay, caught one of them named Butterfield and 
 put him to death by torture. The place was 
 named from this circumstance Butterfleld's Mea- 
 dow. The rest escaped to their boat, one of 
 them being wounded with five arrows. A few 
 days after Joseph Tilly, master of a bark, an- 
 chored off the island, and taking one man with 
 him, went on shore for the purpose of fowling. 
 A large number of Pequots, concealed as before, 
 waited until he had discharged his piece, killed 
 his companion, and captured him. They bar- 
 barously cut off his hands and his feet. In this 
 tortured state he lived three days, exciting the 
 admiration of his inhuman captors by his stoical 
 endurance, not allowing a groan to escape him. 
 This singlo but horriblo incident demonstrates but 
 too clearly the moral and physical courage of the 
 settlers. The place has ever since been called 
 Tilly's Point. The enemy still maintained his sys- 
 tem of surprises. Within a fortnight a force of 100 
 strong, suddenly attacked a house erected two 
 miles from the fort, and held by six of the garri- 
 son. Three of them were fowling near the 
 house, although the lietitenant had strictly for- 
 bidden the practice. Two of these were taken ; 
 the third cut his way through them, wounded 
 with two arrows, but not mortally. During the 
 ensuing winter, the fort was in a constant state 
 of siege, all their outlying property was de- 
 stroyed, and no one could leave the fort without 
 hazard. The Pequots, emboldened by their suc- 
 cesses, becamo more troublesome as the spring 
 advanced. In the month of March, 1637, Lieut. 
 Gardiner, with a dozen men, went out to burn 
 ♦he marshes. Just as they had got clear of the 
 palisades the enemy killed three, and wounded a 
 fourth, who died in the fort next day. Gardiner 
 ivas slightly wounded, but was enabled to retire 
 with the rest of his men. The Indians then sur- 
 rounded the fort, till the guns, loaded with 
 grape-shot, caused them to retreat. Their next 
 exjjloit in their design of extermination was to 
 attack a shallop with three men on board. They 
 shot one of them through the head with an ar- 
 row, who fell overboard ; they ripped the other 
 two completely open, split their backs, and then 
 suspended them on trees. One of the Indians 
 concerned in this barbarity named Nepanpuck, a 
 famous Pequot, for this and similar atrocities, 
 was beheaded at New Haven in 1039. The Colony 
 of Connecticut became very apprehensive for 
 the safety of the little band of settlers in the fort. 
 The fort commanded the river. It had already 
 beaten off a Dutch war-sloop, and so far had 
 checked the ravages of the Indians, but the Pe- 
 quots were not only warlike, but numerous, and 
 swayed the neighboring tribes. Unless they could 
 be subdued, it was quite evident that the set- 
 tlement must succumb and the general safety be 
 endangered. Capt. John Mason (a great colo- 
 nial celebrity) was sent from the Hartford settle- 
 ment with twenty men to re-enforce the garri- 
 son. Ho was strengthened by twenty men under 
 the command of Capt. John Underbill, sent by 
 the Colony of Massachusetts. On the 1st of 
 May, the General Court of Connecticut Colony, 
 seriously alarmed at the hostile attitude of the 
 
 Pequots, resolved upon immediate and vigorous 
 war. Massachusetts and Plymouth Colonies, 
 alive to the necessities of the occasion, resolved 
 to aid the sister Colony. Capt. John Mason was 
 appointed commander of the Connecticut troops, 
 ninety men in all, the whole number that Hart- 
 ford, Wethersfield and Windsor could furnish. 
 Uncas, sachem of Mohegan, his ally, contributed 
 seventy men. The whole force embarked at Hart- 
 ford, in three small vessels, and fell down the river 
 for Say brook fort. Arrived at what is now Chester, 
 the Indians left the boats and proceeded on foot. 
 They fell in with forty of the enemy, killed six, 
 and took one prisoner, whom they murdered. 
 
 In five days from their departure they reached 
 Saybrook fort, having been delayed several times 
 by one or other of the vessels getting aground. 
 Captain Underbill, with nineteen men belonging to 
 the garrison, joined the expedition, and twenty of 
 Mason's men were sent back to protect their friends 
 up the river. An account of the expedition to the 
 Pequot fort, and the subsequent extermination of 
 the tribe, is elsewhere given. 
 
 With the close of these hostilities, the impor- 
 tance of the fort began to decline. Lieutenant 
 Gardiner, who commanded the garrison, removed 
 in 1G39 to Manchanoc, now Gardiner's Island, and 
 became the first English settler in the State of New 
 York. His descendants reside on the Island to 
 this day, the patent being granted by the crown. 
 His son David was born at Saybrook, April 29, 
 1030, and is supposed to have been the first white 
 child born in the territory which now comprises 
 Middlesex County. In the year before George 
 Fenwick sold the jurisdiction of Saybrook, his 
 wife, Lady Anne Butler, commonly called Lady 
 Fenwick, died. The tomb, an ungainly structure 
 of brown stone, without inscription, isolated and 
 neglected, remained until very recently. Captain 
 John Mason, at the request of the settlers, took up 
 his abode at Saybrook in 1 G47, and was appointed 
 to the command of the fort, ne resided there for 
 thirteen years, and then removed to assist in the 
 settlement of Norwich. The country to the west 
 of Saybrook became known to the colonists by 
 means of the pursuit of Sassacus in that direction ; 
 it opened up fine sites on the Sound, and these 
 were speedily occupied. Other settlements were 
 formed up the river in a few years, but Saybrook 
 must be considered the parent town of Middlesex 
 County, and its historical fort the preservation of 
 all the country within its influence. 
 
 The first inhabitants of Saybrook, who endured 
 the trials peculiar to the early settlers, sat under 
 the ministrations of the Rev. John Iligginson, 
 whose teachings were "suitable, seasonable and 
 profitable, according to the then present dispensa- 
 tion of Providence." He arrived in this country 
 from England in 1029. After three or four years' 
 ministry in Saybrook, he removed to Guilford. 
 The first church was established there in 1643. 
 He remained there until 1 000, and then removed to 
 Salem, and died on December 9, 1708, in the 
 ninety-third year of his age. The first church in 
 Saybrook was organized in 1646. Among the 
 early inhabitants distinguished for learning and 
 piety, or for some excellence, may be mentioned the 
 Hon. Robert Chapman, ancestor of the Chapmans 
 in Saybrook, East Haddam, and other parts of the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 State. He arrived there in 1 030, and was a partic- 
 ular friend of George Fen wick while he remained 
 in the country. He died in October, 1087. Mr. 
 John Tulley came into the town a lad ; ho was 
 possessed with a mind original and ingenious ; be- 
 came a teacher of arithmetic, navigation and astron- 
 omy, and published the almanacs of New England 
 from 1681 to 1702. Mr. David Bushnell, another 
 genius, was the inventor of several machines des- 
 tined to annoy the British shipping in the Revolu- 
 tionary war. He served during the war as a cap- 
 tain in a company of sappers and miners. 
 
 The first building in the county designed as a 
 collegiate school was erected here, since named 
 Yale College. It was of one story, eighty feet long. 
 Fifteen commencements were held here, and more 
 than sixty young men graduated from it. Here, 
 also, a confession of faith was instituted, upon the 
 principles of which the college was to be con- 
 ducted. This was the origin of tho famous Say- 
 brook Platform in 1708. The college was removed 
 from this place to New Haven. 
 
 Encouraged by the security in which Saybrook 
 seemed established, and by the Constitution of 
 1039, which was superseded by the more liberal 
 charter of Charles II., a committee was appointed 
 to explore the lands in the Indian territory of Mat- 
 tabeset. Sowheag, its great sachem, who appears 
 to have been a peaceable man for an Indian, ruled 
 the tribes who dwelt within a considerable circuit 
 on both sides of the river. His stronghold was a 
 hill about one mile west of the river — a position 
 dominating .the surrounding country. Before any 
 settlement had commenced, Sowheag negotiated 
 witli Gov. Haynes for the sale of his territory. The 
 Indian title did not, however, become extinct until 
 about twelve years after, when certain chiefs, aware 
 of the deed of Sowheag, for a further and full 
 consideration disposed of all that land " to run 
 from the great river the whole breadth cast six 
 miles, and from the great river west as far as the 
 General Court of Connecticut had granted the 
 bounds should extend ; " reserving a tract on the 
 west side of the river for Sawsean forever, and 
 three .hundred acres for the heirs of Sowheag and 
 Mattabeset Indians on the east side. 
 
 On Oct. 30, 1640, the General Court appointed a 
 Mr. Phelps to join a committee for the planting of 
 Mattabeset. Few settlers came at lirst, but more 
 towards the close of 1051 ; for in September of 
 that year the General Court ordered that Mattabeset 
 should be a town. In 1052, the town was repre- 
 sented in the General Court, and in November, 
 1653, the General Court further approved "that 
 the name of the plantation commonly called 
 Mattabe*ec£ should, for time to come, be called 
 Middletown." The name was probably given 
 to it on account of its lying between the towns 
 up tho river and Saybrook at its mouth. It has 
 been considered that the name was taken from a 
 place in England endeared to some of tho set- 
 tlers. This we consider as not very probable. 
 Who the first sottlers_ were we have not tho 
 means of ascertaining ; the first few pages in the 
 town records are lost, and others are nearly ob- 
 literated. Tho number of taxable persons in 
 1654 was thirty-one, and sixteen years after they 
 had only increased to fifty-two. The planters — 
 as they were called in colonial phrase — came 
 
 from tho mother country, Hartford and Wethers- 
 field, and a few from Massachusetts. A large 
 number of tho inhabitants of Middletown, at 
 this day, are direct descendants from these 
 planters. It may truly be said, that in a popu- 
 lation of 12,000 persons, their names largely 
 predominate. 
 
 The occupation of these settlers was in fact 
 that of planters ; they had no other source of 
 living but the products of the soil ; thoy manu- 
 factured their garments for the family very im- 
 perfectly, owing to their deficient means ; they 
 were scantily supplied with farming implements, 
 and had but few mechanics in tho community. 
 They reserved a lot worth one hundred pounds 
 as a temptation for a blacksmith to cast his lot 
 among them. In September, 1661, one appeared, 
 who agreed to do the necessary smithing for the 
 town for four years. Tho conditions of their 
 lives never reached ordinary comfort for half a 
 century. Trade was carried on by barter. In 
 1680, they only owned one small vessel of seventy 
 tons ; only ono other was owned on the river, 
 and that at Hartford, of ninety tons. Haifa cen- 
 tury later, two vessels only were owned here ; their 
 united tonnage, 105 tons. There was only one 
 merchant hero in 1680, and only twenty-four in 
 the entire Connecticut Colony. They are men- 
 tioned in Gov. Leete's Report to the Board of 
 Trade and Plantations in England, as doing but 
 little business. Their condition must have been 
 hard and difficult indeed, but they were neither 
 better nor worse than the colonists of New Eng- 
 land in general. Tho settlement was divided 
 into two parts, with the Little River, a narrow 
 stream falling into tho Connecticut, between 
 them. That portion to the north of the stream 
 was called The Upper Houses ; that to the 
 south, The Lower Houses. The Upper Houses 
 of those days is now the town of Cromwell. 
 On February 2d, 1652, it was voted by the town 
 that a meeting-house should bo built ; it was 
 only " twenty feet square, ten from sill to plate, 
 and was inclosed by palisades. In May, 1680, 
 the second meeting-house was erected, " thirty- 
 two feet square, and fifteen feet between joints." 
 
 The population of the Upper Houses increased so 
 much that in January, 1703, "tho town agreed 
 they might settle a minister and build a meeting- 
 house, provided they settled a minister within six, 
 or at most twelve months from that time. " In 
 May of the same year, the Upper Houses were in- 
 corporated as a parish. By slow degrees, the in- 
 habitants began to spread out over the neighboring 
 country ; a settlement was begun in Middleficld in 
 1700, and in Westficld in 1720. The former did 
 not become a parish until 1744, and Westfield not 
 untd 1766. On the east side of the Connecticut, 
 now tho site of Portland, no parish was formed 
 until May, 1714, although the land was of good 
 quality. It was then called East Middletown. 
 Middle Iladdam, in tho southeastern part of the 
 township, was not formed into a parish until May, 
 1749. It was mostly settled by people from East 
 Middletown. East Hampton, another settlement 
 in the southeast corner of the township, was in- 
 corporated in May, 1746. 
 
 The next township in the order of date, and that 
 a very interesting one, is Iladdam, settled in 1002. 
 
112 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 It covered that tract of country lying between the 
 confines of Middletown to the north, and Saybrook 
 to the south. Some individuals contemplated this 
 settlement two years before. The legislature ap- 
 pointed a committee to purchase the tract from the 
 Indians. This was completed in 1662 for the con- 
 sideration of thirty coats, probably worth Si 00, 
 the Indians reserving Thirty-mile Island, so called 
 from being that distance from the mouth of the 
 Connecticut, as the river runs, and forty acres at 
 Pattaquonk, now Chester meadows ; also the right 
 of fishing and hunting where they pleased, pro- 
 vided they did not injure the settlers. Twenty- 
 eight young men settled upon these lands : but 
 they soon discovered that they were interfered with 
 by their northern line encroaching upon the terri- 
 tory confirmed to Middletown, and a considerable 
 tract to the south encroached on that claimed by 
 Saybrook, owing, no doubt, to the loose manner in 
 which the Indians held their original right. The 
 legislature settled the difficulty, in 1608, by ad- 
 vising the contestants to divide the disputed ter- 
 ritory equally, and the division was made accord- 
 ingly. The settlers do not seem to have been fully 
 satisfied by this reduction of their purchase, for 
 the legislature, in 1673, granted them as compen- 
 sation all that tract of land on the east side of the 
 river, now the township of East Haddam. They 
 came from Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, 
 and the descendants of most of them are in the 
 town or its vicinity to this day. 
 
 Town privileges were accorded them in 1668, 
 and the settlement was called Haddam, after a 
 place in England. Shortly after this, Richard 
 Walkley from Hartford, John Bates, William Sco- 
 vill and others joined the settlement. On February 
 11, 1686, a patent was granted to the town by the 
 Assembly, confirming the settlers and their heirs 
 forever in the possession of all the lands, appur- 
 tenances and privileges previously granted. The 
 growth of population was exceedingly slow ; for 
 forty years the inhabitants were confined to the 
 western bank of the river. 
 
 The ancestors of the families of Dickinson, Hub- 
 bard and Kay settled here about the commencement 
 of the last century ; and at later periods, those of 
 the families of Lewis, Hazleton, Tyler, Higgins, 
 Thomas, Knowles and Burr. The Indians appear 
 to have had no specific name for the township at 
 large; the northern part they called " Higganom- 
 pos," since changed to Higganum. The western 
 part they called " Cockaponset," since changed to 
 Punset. They remained on their reservation at 
 Pattaquonk and Thirty-Mile Isiand for many years ; 
 a few had a place of resort in a hollow on Haddam 
 Neck, within the township on the east side of the 
 river. Some were in existence within the memory 
 of people who were living in the early part of the 
 present century. With that due regard for the 
 maintenance of public worship, which ever distin- 
 guished the early colonists, the proprietors reserved 
 one right for whoever should be their first minister, 
 and another right for the support of the ministry 
 forever. David Brainerd, the missionary, direct 
 descendant of Daniel Brainerd, one of the original 
 settlers, was born in this town in 1716. His efforts 
 to Christianize the Indians in different parts of 
 North America have been highly praised. In 
 
 Great Britain he was considered a model mis- 
 sionary. 
 
 In October, 1 663, it was resolved by the legis- 
 lature that the tract of ground to the west of Say- 
 brook, known by the name of Hammonasset, should 
 be formed into a township. Twelve planters moved 
 into it the same month ; in two or three years they 
 were joined by sixteen others, and the town was 
 divided into thirty rights, viz. : one each for the 
 settlers, one for the first minister who should be 
 settled there, and the last for the support of the 
 ministry forever. 
 
 In 1667, the new township was called Kenilworth, 
 after the celebrated Kenilworth in England; ac- 
 cording to tradition, the first settlers emigrated 
 from there. The name is so written in the early- 
 records of the town and Colony. By corrupt spell- 
 ing, or worse pronunciation the romantic Kenil- 
 worth has been changed into the unmeaning Killing- 
 worth. 
 
 The Indians were very numerous in the southern 
 part of this township : they dwelt on the shores of 
 the Sound, and on the banks of the small streams, 
 immense masses of shells now indicating their 
 places of resort. While Col. Fenwick lived at Say- 
 brook he bought up most of their lands. On Nov. 
 20, 1669, Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, disposed 
 of the remainder of his lands in the township to 
 the settlers, reserving six acres on the east side of 
 the harbor, and the usual liberty of hunting and 
 fishing. They lived here in great numbers to* 
 1730 or 1740. 
 
 "On the 26th of January, 1686, the. Assembly 
 granted to the inhabitants of this town the lands 
 north of their bounds, and of the bounds of 
 Guilford, and west of Haddam up to Cochincaug 
 swamps ; which, by agreement, were surren- 
 dered to the township of Durham in 1708." 
 
 Durham being an outlying section was very- 
 difficult of settlement. The lands were pur- 
 chased from the Indians by Samuel Wyllys and 
 others on January 24, 1672. 
 
 The colonists do not appear to have been very 
 expert surveyors ; the grants from the legislature 
 when measured in some cases encroached upon 
 others, and in the case of Durham the grant was 
 not sufficient — a large tract being left out. The 
 legislature granted many lots or farms in it to 
 persons who had rendered distinguished services 
 to the Colony, and in this way 5,000 acres be- 
 came the property of people who were not 
 resident there. The difficulty was ultimately 
 adjusted by the patent granted by the legislature 
 in May, 1708. 
 
 The colonists soon manifested their maritime 
 inclinations. It has already been said that in 
 1730 only two vessels of small tonnage were 
 owned on the river. Shipbuilding began on the 
 eastern side of the stream in the neighborhood 
 of Middletown and tho settlement of Haddam. 
 ' ' The first vessel built in Chatham parish was 
 launched in October, 1741 ; this was a schooner 
 of ninety tons," supposed to have been built at 
 Lewis' vard, where many vessels have since been 
 built. 
 
 Shipbuilding was begun at Churchel's yard in 
 1795. From tho beginning of 1806 to the close 
 of 1816, 12,500 tons of shipping were built here. 
 In this parish were built, during the Revolution, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 113 
 
 the "Trumbull" of 700 tons, thirty-six guns, 
 and the "Bourbon" of 900 tons. Other war 
 vessels of large capacity were subsequently 
 built. 
 
 In the yards at Middle Haddam eighteen ships, 
 nine brigs, eleven schooners and one sloop were 
 built from 1805 to 1815, amounting to 9,200 tons. 
 Shipbuilding appears to have been done on the 
 west shore of the river — at Middletown, Hig- 
 gamim and Haddam. Out of this shipbuilding 
 enterprise grew the West India trade. Prior 
 to the Revolutionary war the shipping was 
 mostly employed in West Indian adventure. 
 Several merchants at Middletown embarked in 
 the trade, exporting mules, cattle, corn and meal, 
 and importing, in turn, molasses, sugar and 
 rum. This trade not only enriched the firms who 
 were engaged in it but stimulated commerce in the 
 county generally. By this time the best parts of 
 the lands had been gotten under cultivation, the 
 necessary stock could be raised for exportation, and 
 the growth of cereals was more than the inhabi- 
 tants could consume. Everything favored the West 
 Indian trade. Articles of the most useful descrip- 
 tion were brought to the doors of the colonists. 
 Large numbers of families were maintained by the 
 necessary labor to pursue the trade — the county 
 alone did not present a field large enough to con- 
 sume the valuable imports, so by opening up the 
 roads they carried the cargoes across the mountains 
 to distant places in New England; the merchants 
 became their own carriers, and an ordinarily quiet 
 agricultural community soon became transformed 
 into enterprising merchant adventurers. They 
 were on the highway to wealth, and many attained, 
 it. 
 
 The Revolutionary war suspended but did not 
 destroy this trade. It was resumed with great vigor 
 after the war, and did not finally decline till 1812. 
 Small as the population of Middletown, Haddam 
 and the other towns must have been at the break- 
 ing out of the war of independence, yet they ap- 
 pear to have contributed their full quota of men 
 and means, and to have borne a most distinguished 
 part in the military achievements in which they 
 were engaged. The passage of the Boston Port 
 Bill by the British Parliament, and the arrival of 
 Gen. Gage in May, 1774, to enforce it by stopping 
 the trade of the town, caused the patriots of this 
 county to rise in righteous indignation. On the 
 15th of June of the same year, five hundred inhabi- 
 tantsof the township of Middletown assembled and 
 passed ringing and patriotic resolutions. 
 
 It is not known whether the other towns passed 
 such resolves, but the evidence is sufficient that 
 they shared the same sentiments, and were faith- 
 ful in sustaining them. The delegates from Massa- 
 chusetts on their way to the first Continental Con- 
 gress, stopped at Middletown. Dr. Rawson, Mr. 
 Alsop, Mr. Mortimer, Mr. Henshaw and others, 
 called upon them to pay their respects. They 
 assured the delegates that they would abide by the 
 decision of the Congress " even to a total stoppage 
 of trade to Europe and the West Indies." Nothing 
 could he more patriotic, as the gentlemen who 
 made the assertion were very deeply interested 
 in the West India trade. Whatever laws were 
 passed by the Colonial Assembly for the safety or 
 governance of the people, committees were immedi- 
 
 ately formed to ascertain if they were attend- 
 ed to or to see their provisions carried in- 
 to effect. One thing they iiarticularly did ; 
 to see that the inhabitants took the oath of 
 fidelity to the State, and the records of the 
 towns of Middletown and Chatham, year after 
 year, abound with such subscriptions. It was 
 discovered, early in the war, that Washington 
 required regular soldiers and not militia, and 
 Continental battalions were ordered by the 
 State. The towns of this county filled up their 
 quota cheerfully ; they did much for the support 
 of the families of the solditrs by assigning them 
 to the care of committees or of individuals. 
 Chatham and Middletown, in 1777, voted that 
 the selectmen distribute to the officers' and sol- 
 diers' families the salt belonging to the town as 
 they should think it needed. In 1779, Middle- 
 town voted that every man in the town that, has a 
 team be desired to furnish the light dragoons 
 with wood. 
 
 Return Jonathan Meigs raised a company of 
 light infantry in Middletown in 1774, and in 
 1775 he was appointed captain. Immediately 
 after the news of Lexington he marched his com- 
 pany, "completely uniformed and equipped," 
 to the environs of Boston. Captain Sage was 
 there with his troop, and Captain Silas Dunham 
 with a military company from Chatham. At 
 this time the militia companies in Middletown 
 and Chatham were formed into a regiment. In 
 May, 1776, "large detachments of militia were 
 ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march 
 at the shortest notice for the defense of any por- 
 tion of Connecticut or other adjoining Colonies." 
 In June, seven regiments were ordered to join 
 the army in New York ; James Wadsworth, Jr., 
 of Durham, was appointed brigadier-general, 
 and among the seven colonels then appointed 
 was Comfort Sage, of Middletown, who went with 
 his troop to Boston the year before. Middlesex 
 County not being the theatre of war, her inhabi- 
 tants never ceased in their efforts, military or 
 commissaiy, to contribute their utmost to the 
 common cause. The drafts of militia ordered 
 to New York in August included the militia of 
 Middletown and Chatham. The brigades were 
 commanded by Major General Joseph Spencer, 
 of East Haddam, by Brigadier General James 
 Wadsworth, of Durham, and Samuel H. Parsons, 
 of Middletown. " They signalized themselves 
 in all the achievements, "and were distinguished 
 as well for their sufferings as their valor. So 
 great was the strain upon the resources of the 
 country in 1776 that no less than five drafts were 
 made upon the militia of the State. If we begin 
 with the inquiry : who went to the war from the 
 towns in Middlesex County ? we would end by 
 iuquiring : who did not go ? 
 
 The towns of this county endured also their 
 share of privation and captivity, and suffered 
 their proportion of loss in killed and wounded. 
 The prisoners who were kept on board the hor- 
 rible prison ships in New York were largely from 
 these towns. Many living on the Connecticut 
 River embarked in the tempting but hazardous 
 businessof privateering. The sloop-of-war, "Samp- 
 son," built at Higganum, was commissioned for 
 this purpose. She was captured, and the officers 
 
114 
 
 THE HIS T Olit GAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 and crew, one hundred in all, were consigned to the 
 old prison-ship "Jersey." The commander, Capt. 
 David Brooks, Lieut Shubacl Brainerd, and several 
 men died there. 
 
 Middlesex County produced a distinguished 
 soldier, Gen. Return Jonathan Meigs, born in Mid- 
 dlctown. In 1775, he accompanied Arnold's expe- 
 dition up the Kennebec to Quebec, and has left 
 the best account of that perilous and ill-starred 
 undertaking. He was taken prisoner, and on being 
 exchanged in 1777, was appointed lieutenant- 
 colonel, with power to raise a regiment. He was 
 then selected to undertake what proved to be one 
 of the many dashing minor exploits of the war, no 
 less than the surprisal and capture of a body of 
 the enemy stationed at Sag Harbor, L. I. He 
 crossed the Sound with 230 men in thirteen whale- 
 boats, and arrived within three miles of Sag Har- 
 bor at one o'clock at night. 
 
 They attacked tho enemy at five different places. 
 Having come within twenty rods of them in the 
 greatest silence and order, they rushed upon them 
 with fixed bayonets and captured the whole ; 
 another company meanwhile securing the wharf 
 and the shipping. Six of the enemy were killed, 
 ninety taken prisoners, twelve vessels destroyed 
 and a large amount of forage and provisions. Col. 
 Meigs rccrossed the Sound with his prisoners, and 
 arrived at Guilford in twenty-five hours from the 
 time he left it, without the loss of a man. Con- 
 gress presented the brave commander with an ele- 
 gant sword. He afterwards commanded one of 
 the regiments whicli assisted in capturing Stony 
 Point. It is worthy of mention, showing the spirit 
 in which non-combatants supported the war, that 
 the people of Durham sent two oxen to Gen. Wash- 
 ington at Valley Forge. They were driven through 
 a country almost exhausted by the war, yet one of 
 them weighed 2,270 pounds, after a journey of 
 nearly 500 miles. After the war the county greatly 
 suffered from the depreciation and finally the total 
 collapse of the Continental script or paper money. 
 The mercantile portion of the population returned 
 to their West Indian trade, which flourished as 
 vigorously as ever until the war of 1812. 
 
 Ship-building was carried on energetically, and 
 the fisheries were extended ; farms began to multi- 
 ply, and the population soon repaired the waste of 
 war. The numerous streams running into the Con- 
 necticut and the Sound were utilized as means of 
 manufacture, and another interest destined in the 
 future to assume large proportions was coming 
 steadily into favor, viz. : the Portland quar- 
 ries. The towns we have been describing were 
 taken to form the county in 1785, just after the 
 close of the war, Durham being added in 1799. 
 
 Of the naval force employed by the United 
 States in the war of 1812, the citizens of the river 
 towns of Middlesex County contributed largely 
 in men and material, and although the Connec- 
 ticut was not within the field of general opera- 
 tions, it was the scene of a foray by vessels from 
 the enemy's fleet then blockading New London. 
 On the 7th of April, 1814, two of these anchored 
 off Saybrook bar in the evening, and dispatched 
 two launches, each carrying nine or twelve- 
 pound carronades and fifty to sixty men, and 
 four barges with twenty-five men each. They were 
 seen to enter the mouth of the river at eleven 
 
 o'clock, and many of their men entered the old 
 fort, which was altogether abandoned and 
 neglected. They rowed between five and six 
 miles, and arrived at their destination, Pauta- 
 pong Point, at four o'clock in the morning, when 
 the work of conflagration was immediately 
 begun. Pickets of the enemy searched the 
 houses for arms and ammunition, while the main 
 force was busy setting fire to the vessels in the 
 river and those on the stocks. At ten o'clock, 
 Friday the 8th, they retreated, taking with them 
 a brig, a schooner and two sloops. The wind 
 shifting directly contrary, they set fire to the 
 brig and tho sloops, and anchored the schooner 
 a mile and a quarter from where they had taken 
 her. Twenty-two vessels and other property, 
 computed in all at 8160,000, were destroyed. 
 Tho British were all day in the river, and did 
 not succeed in gaining their shipping until ten 
 o'clock at night. 
 
 With the close of this war, the last remnants 
 of the West India trade, which had been carried 
 on so long and so prosperously, died out. The 
 merchants principally engaged in the business at 
 different periods of its rise and decline were, 
 Richard Alsop, George Phillips, Matthew Talcot, 
 Elijah and Nehemiah Hubbard, Lemuel Storrs, 
 George and Thompson Phillips, Gen. Comfort 
 Sage, of Revolutionary renown, and Joseph W. 
 Alsop, all of Middletown. The growth of the 
 county from this period partakes of the growth 
 of the age. Quarrying and carrying the brown 
 stone of the celebrated Portland quarries became 
 an immense business, quite u large fleet until 
 very recently being employed in it. Quarrying 
 another kind of stone at Hacldam, largely increased 
 the industry of the river. Small steamboats began 
 to ply between Hartford and Saybrook, and a line 
 of first-class Sound steamboats now maintains the 
 traffic between Hartford and New York. The 
 southern part of the county is cut by the Shore 
 Line Railroad between New Haven and New Lon- 
 don, crossing the Connecticut between Saybrook 
 and Lyme, by a magnificent bridge with a large 
 draw in the centre. The Valley Railroad skirts 
 the western shore of the river from Hartford to 
 Saybrook Point. The direct Air Line Railroad 
 from New Haven to Willimantic crosses the river 
 at Middletown over a magnificent structure con- 
 structed with a draw. 
 
 Churches, colleges, schools, agriculture and man- 
 ufactures flourish equal to the requirements of the 
 day. The population of the county at the last 
 census of 1880, was 35,587. Middlesex is but a 
 small county in a small State, which has nobly 
 answered to the calls of duty in all cases of na- 
 tional exigency, and especially in the late civil 
 war. The several towns sent their hundreds to the 
 field of honor, where they ever distinguished them- 
 selves whether in moments of victory or in periods 
 of disaster. They contributed their utmost in ma- 
 terial as well as in men, and were never behind the 
 larger cities in their efforts to promote the welfare 
 of the national cause. Direct descendants of the 
 early settlers have laid their lives on the altar of 
 liberty in 1770, 1812 and 1861 ; they have assisted 
 in creating and sustaining other Territories and 
 States in the far West, true to the motto of Con- 
 necticut, that " he who transplants still sustains." 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 115 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Middletown, a half-sliire town of Middlesex 
 County, and a port of entry, is one of the most 
 beautiful of New England cities. It stands on a 
 largo bend of the Connecticut, on its western shore, 
 and runs backward to the hill-tops for the distance 
 of a mile. The traveler can see but little of the 
 city from any of its approaches by land or water, 
 so completely is it embosomed in the foliage of the 
 maple and the elm, which has given to it the 
 well -merited name of "The Forest City" of 
 New England. The population of the town is 
 11,731. It was incorporated as a city in 1784. 
 Its colleges and schools, its numerous spires, 
 its enterprising industries and numerous banks, all 
 tell the story of the collected wealth of two cen- 
 turies. High street, 180 feet abovo the river, is 
 built up of costly and elegant residences, set in the 
 most cultivated horticultural grounds. The arch- 
 ing sweep of the elms forms a superb vista of en- 
 chanting foliage. The view from this street is sur- 
 passingly beautiful. The Wesleyan University 
 fronts on High street. The buildings which com- 
 prise it stand a little distance from the street, and 
 in a straight line ; the intermediate space of lawn, 
 trees and gravel walks forming a fine campus. The 
 buildings are chiefly of brownstone from the adja- 
 cent quarries at Portland. The most modern of 
 these, erected at tha expense of Orange J mid, Esq., 
 is the Orange Judd Hall of Science. Its museum 
 of natural history and ethnology is very extensive 
 and remarkably well arranged under the super- 
 vision of Prof. W. N. Rice. The Scientilic Asso- 
 ciation of Middletown holds its meetings here once 
 a month. The library contains about 30.000 vol- 
 umes, and is endowed with a fund for its continued 
 increase. The Memorial Chapel is enriched with a 
 graceful spire, which makes quite a landmark for 
 miles around. The observatory is furnished with a 
 splendid telescope by Clark. There are about 200 
 students and a large body of professors. Rev. John 
 Wesley Beach, D. D., LL.D., is the efficient pres- 
 ident. 
 
 The Berkeley Divinity School, on Main street, is 
 designed for the training of young men for the min- 
 istry of the Episcopalian Church. The Right Rev. 
 John Williams, D. D., bishop of Connecticut, is 
 the president and dean. Attached to the school is 
 a beautiful Gothic chapel, the gift of Mrs. Thomas 
 D. Mutter, as a memorial of her husband, in which 
 services are held daily. 
 
 Middletown has long been famous for her schools. 
 The high school draws a large number of scholars 
 from all parts of the county, and every year grad- 
 uates a large class. The building is most conven- 
 ient and substantial, built of - brick with brownstone 
 facings, and having two wings. The Catholics 
 maintain a good parish school, which is well at- 
 tended, and a most excellent convent school, under 
 the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The private 
 schools of Middletown contribute their share to the 
 educational reputation of the city. 
 
 The churches compare well with those of larger 
 cities. The first church was established in 1001, 
 and for a century the people wero chiefly Congre- 
 gationalists. Other denominations gradually crept 
 in, and at the present day, the leading religious 
 orders are well represented. The town is improved 
 
 by four church edifices of considerable archi- 
 tectural pretensions ; one of them, the most mod- 
 ern, the First Con-^regational Church — known 
 as the North Church — is as graceful and as 
 imposing a church edifice as any in the State. Its 
 spire, reaching to a great height, is beautiful in its 
 proportions. The South Congregational, the Epis- 
 copal and the Roman Catholic churches are also of 
 fine architectural design. 
 
 Middletown is the centre of the monetary insti- 
 tutions of the county, and contains seven banking 
 institutions and two flourishing insurance com- 
 panies. 
 
 On a commanding eminence in the southeast part 
 of the town, overlooking the river and city, and 
 embracing a wide and varied prospect, stands the 
 State hospital for the insane. No site could be 
 more appropriate or better adapted for the humane 
 purposes of such an institution. The building, of y 
 Portland brownstone, is a most imposing one, and 
 a conspicuous feature in the landscape for many 
 miles. 
 
 On an eminence in the western part of the town 
 is another State institution; the Industrial School 
 for Girls, established in 1870, designed for the 
 care and education of homeless and neglected girls 
 from eight to twenty-one years of age. 
 
 The educational facilities of Middletown are con- 
 siderably enhanced by the Free Russell Library, the 
 generous gift of Mrs. Samuel Russell, in memory 
 of her husband. 
 
 Middletown has several cemeteries and old bury- 
 ing grounds. In an old ccmetry in the south part 
 of the town the grave-stone can be seen of Capt. 
 Return Jonathan Meigs and his family. In another 
 is the tomb of Commodore McDonough, the hero 
 of Lake Champlain. The principal cemetery, and 
 one of the most beautiful in the State, is situated 
 on Indian Hill. The prospect from the summer- 
 house on the crest commands the amphitheatre of 
 hills which surround it at a distance of four miles. 
 Above these can be seen the ranges of the more 
 distant hills until they gradually lose themselves in 
 the dim forms of Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke 
 in Massachusetts. A wide sweep of the river is in 
 full view in the midst of a most charming pastoral 
 country. The smoke of distant cities may be seen, 
 and although Middletown lies at its feet, nothing 
 more than the spires are in sight, on account of the 
 trees. The cemetery is beautifully laid out in 
 gravel walks ; the monuments are elegant, and 
 many of them very costly, several being made of 
 the polished Scotch granite. There is a fine monu- 
 ment in memory of Maj. Gen. Mansfield, U. S. A., 
 who fell leading his brigade at Antietam. A 
 brownstone chapel, Gothic in design, which all 
 denominations can use, is another of the gifts of 
 the benevolent Mrs. Samuel Russell. 
 
 Middletown has extensive and varied manufac- 
 tures. Among the leading establishments may be 
 mentioned the Russell Manufacturing Company, 
 which makes heavy cotton belting and hose for 
 mill purposes, suspenders and webbing ; Messrs. 
 W. & B. Douglas, the oldest and largest pump- 
 makers in the word ; the Middletown Plate, Co., 
 and the Stiles & Parker Press companies. Besido 
 these there are manufactures of silk, hardware, 
 saddlery and harness trimmings, articles from bono 
 and ivory, etc. 
 
110 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AM) INDUS'! I! I A I, 
 
 The city is a central point for railroad communi- 
 cation, and has considerable coasting trade in coal, 
 iron and other heavy materials. Straddle Hill, an 
 outlying district of Middletown, contains the largest 
 waterfall in the county, and several factories. 
 
 Chatham, so called, from its shipbuilding, after 
 Chatham in England, embraces the villages of Mid- 
 dle Haddam, Cobalt and East Hampton. It has a 
 population of about 2,000. Cobalt takes its name 
 from a mineral discovered there in 1702. East 
 Hampton is the great seat of industry of Chatham 
 township. In this small place, nestled among the 
 bold and rugged hills of the granite formation, is 
 made nearly every sleigh-bell which now tinkles 
 throughout North America. Those made in other 
 places are manufactured by men from East Hamp- 
 ton. It was not until 1741! that East Hampton was 
 settled, the great attraction being the beautiful 
 sheet of water known as Pocotopogue Lake, one of 
 the prettiest in the State. In the same year a forge 
 was established at the outlet of the lake. 
 
 Iron was in great demand at this time for ship- 
 building apd for other purposes, and for the first 
 forty years the business done at this forge was con- 
 siderable. The village owes its importance, how- 
 ever, to the fact that William Barton moved here in 
 1808, and introduced the manufacture of sleigh 
 and hand bells. He had worked with his father in 
 the armory at Springfield during the Revolutionary 
 war, and had acquired considerable experience in 
 tho casting of metals, to which he added great 
 mechanical skill. Tho business ho introduced ex- 
 panded; others shared the benefit of his industry, 
 and thus the founder gave to East Hampton its 
 peculiarly distinctive character. He died in East 
 Hampton July 15, 1849. It may be taken for 
 granted that almost every house and hand bell and 
 gong bell in uso comes from this village. Toy 
 bells are also made on a large scale. 
 
 Pocotopogue Lake is resorted to in the summer 
 months by many tourists, attracted by the fishing 
 for which this sheet of water is famous. The 
 landscape is grandly set off by a beautiful island 
 in tho centre of the lake, covered with a crown of 
 foliage, and once a great resort of the aborigine, 
 as shown by the numerous Indian relics which have 
 been discovered there. 
 
 Middle Haddam, a place of landing on the river, 
 is a highly respectable village, once the busy scene 
 of a large shipbuilding industry. It formerly sent 
 great quantites of cordwood to New York. 
 
 Portland, with a population of 4,150, so called 
 after Portland, Eng., on account of its famous 
 quarries of brown sandstone, is invested with 
 national interest. The township is mostly agricul- 
 tural. Shipbuilding is carried on at Qildersleeve's 
 Landing on the Connecticut, where many vessels 
 of large tonnage have been constructed. Its world- 
 renowned and unrivaled quarries are situated on 
 the banks of the river, occupying a frontage of 
 nearly two miles. They yield a hard and durable 
 brown sandstone, similar in grain and color to the 
 stone quarried at Portland, Eng. There are three 
 companies, whose property is contiguous. These 
 Quarries have been in operation for two centuries. 
 The excavations, reaching in many instances to a 
 depth of 150 feet from the original surface, cover 
 forty acres. It was ascertained by means of the 
 diamond drill that at a depth of 313 feet below the 
 
 deepest point of excavation, the stone still ran 
 downwards. In seasons of ordinary trade, the 
 three companies employ 1,500 men, work 250 cat- 
 tle and 100 horses, and, with their own and char- 
 tered vessels, make quite a fleet, which conveys 
 the stone to all the principal cities on the Atlantic 
 seaboard. The gravestones of the early settlers for 
 miles round the country, and even on Long Island, 
 were made of stono from these quarries. The old- 
 est stone we know in the old burying-ground of 
 Middletown bears the date 1098, as clear and 
 legible as when it left the hand of the mason. Port- 
 land stone resists tho effects of atmosphere and firo 
 better than any other building-stone. This was 
 proved by the great fires of Chicago and Boston. 
 
 Portland maintains very good schools and 
 churches of the different denominations. Tho 
 Episcopalian church, built of the quarry stone, is 
 one of the most complete and handsome in the 
 State. 
 
 John Stancliff was the first white man who lived 
 among the Indians on the Portland side of tho 
 river. He took up his residence here in 1G90. 
 
 Haddam, population, 2,500, is the other lmlf- 
 shiro town of Middlesex County. It pos- 
 sesses a very fine granite quarry, which has 
 been in operation for several years. The land- 
 scape is rugged and mountainous, but the 
 wealthy growth of trees which covers the 
 surface, ovon to the mountain ridges, gives it a, 
 most romantic and charming aspect. The gran- 
 ite is quarried from the hill-tops, just a littlo 
 below the surface, and, in busy seasons, is tho 
 principal source of wealth of many families. It 
 is harder than the brown sandstone of Portland, 
 and not so well adapted to the finer operations 
 of the chisel. It is in great demand for pave- 
 ments and curbing, also for steps and other por- 
 tions of buildings. Vessels in connection with 
 tho quarry convey tho stone to tho different At- 
 lantic ports. 
 
 Haddam lias long been noted for its academy, 
 founded by one of the many Brainerds. It is a 
 fine structure of gray stone, and has done great 
 service to tho community in its time. 
 
 Higganum, quite a large village in tho town- 
 ship, enjoys great manufacturing facilities on 
 account of the stream of the same name which 
 falls into the Connecticut. Here are mado the 
 ploughs by the Higganum Manufacturing Cor- 
 poration, which have contributed so much to tho 
 fame of American agricultural implements at 
 home and abroad. The Russell Manufacturing 
 Company has quite an extensive mill here, and 
 Scoville Brothers make a hoe which has acquired 
 some celebrity. Haildam Neck, a mountainous 
 strip of land across the Connecticut, also belongs 
 to this township. It was organized in 1740. 
 
 East Haddam is a township of about 3,000 in- 
 habitants, on the east side of tho Connecticut, 
 embracing the villages of East Haddam, Moodus, 
 Leesville, Millington and Johusonville. It is 
 built on a high bank of tho river, dense with fo- 
 liage, and tho village is consequently hid from 
 the traveler on the river It has two landing- 
 places ; tho upper landing to the north and 
 GoodBpeed's Landing to tho south. The latter 
 takes its name from a gentleman of most active 
 business enterprise, who materially enlarged tho 
 
HE VIE W OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 117 
 
 influence of the town by Ms spirited undertak- 
 ings. He was a principal proprietor in the line 
 of steamboats running between Hartford and 
 New York, maintained by three handsome and 
 powerful Long Island Sound boats, Goodspeed's 
 (in local parlance) being their headquarters. Mr. 
 Goodspeed erected a palatial-looking structure 
 on the landing. The surface of the township is 
 rocky, hilly and romantic, being in the very- 
 heart of the granite formation. Tobacco is 
 grown in large quantities. Luther Boardman & 
 Son conduct a plated-spoon manufacture on a 
 large scale, which furnishes employment to a 
 great many hands. The vicinity of the land- 
 ings is the central point for all the business of 
 the town, the products of the interior being 
 brought here for shipment. The Maplewood 
 Seminary has attained a great and well-deserved 
 degree of celebrity. Students from all parts of 
 the Union come here to receive a thorough mu- 
 sical education. . In connection with the Semi- 
 nary is an extensive opera-house. 
 
 Moodus is quite a thriving manufacturing village, 
 and noted for its cotton-mills. Any sketch of this 
 village would be considered incomplete without 
 some reference to the loud noises proceeding from 
 some, as yet, unexplained natural causes. They 
 appear to issue from a mountain near the village, 
 and. have been heard more or less frequently from 
 the time of the early settlers. The Indians called 
 the place Mackimoodus, meaning the place of 
 noises. Mr. Hosmer, the first minister of the town, 
 says in a letter to Mr. Prince of Boston, dated Aug. 
 13, 1729 : " I have myself heard eight or ten sounds 
 successively, and imitating small arms, in the space 
 of five minutes." He states further that he has 
 heard them by several hundreds within twenty 
 years, some more or less terrible; that they first 
 imitate slow thunder, come nearer, and then explod- 
 ing with a noise like cannon shot, "shake houses 
 and all that is in them." 
 
 Ordinary grumblings they called Moodus noises ; 
 the heavier explosions of sound they called earth- 
 quakes. They were terriffic in 1791, and since then 
 appear to have gradually subsided. 
 
 Old Saybrook, the parent of the county, with a 
 population of only 1,300, is the headquarters of the 
 shad-fishery, the home of the retired sea-captains 
 and private families, and' a great resort of excur- 
 sionists and tourists in the summer. Its principal 
 street is broad, and the houses indicate respectable 
 and wealthy owners, which give the place a very 
 retired, but very aristocratic air. The tomb of 
 Lady Fenwick, which has stood for two centuries 
 on the point of Saybrook, in the vicinity of the old 
 fort, and which was visible from the river, has at 
 last disappeared. It was removed, we believe, to 
 make room for the railroad from Hartford, which 
 has its terminus here, and a handsome modern 
 monument was erected on another spot in lieu 
 thereof. A company has built a very fine hotel on 
 the point, called the Fenwick Hotel. 
 
 A light-house is close to the mouth of the river, 
 the bar which forms just outside being dangerous 
 to vessels of heavy draught. The bar was a great 
 source of danger and discouragement in the times 
 of the early settlers. 
 
 Essex, a riverside town, with 1,855 inhabitants, 
 "was formerly a parish of Saybrook. It enjoys con- 
 
 siderable commerce, and lias every convenience for 
 coasting vessels and fishing craft laying up for the 
 winter, by means of two large coves connected with 
 the river. The strip of land between the coves is 
 known as Pautopoug Point, the scene of the 
 destruction committed by the British in the war of 
 1812. The spires of the churches built close 
 together on the hill-top, which commands the town, 
 are well-known objects to travelers on the Con- 
 necticut. The granite formation begins to lose 
 itself here, and the scenery to change ; the wooded 
 heights giving place to a more level landscape. 
 
 Centre Brook, or Ivoryton, a village in the town- 
 ship, two miles inland, boasts a national reputation 
 on account of its extensive and exclusive business 
 in the manufacture of articles in ivory. Cheney, 
 Comstock & Co. employ a very large capital in the 
 enterprise. The machinery used for cutting and 
 preparing the ivory for work, and for executing the 
 delicate processes of manufacture of which ivory is 
 capable, is of the most costly and ingenious descrip- 
 tion. The glass sheds, with their roofs sloping to 
 the south, would extend the length of an ordinary 
 city street. In these, the thin strips of ivory are 
 placed for the purpose of bleaching in the sun. 
 Both faces are bleached and also the sides ; this 
 process alone is a work of time. The ivory is 
 received direct from Africa by the importer in New 
 York, and every tusk finds its way into this dis- 
 trict. Cheney, Comstock & Co. run two extensive 
 establishments, one for the manufacture of combs, 
 and other small articles, such as billiard balls, fans, 
 paper-cutters, rules, and such fancy ornaments as 
 fashion may demand ; the other exclusively for the 
 manufacture of keys of pianos and organs, and 
 also for the keyboard complete. 
 
 Cromwell, a small town of nearly 1,700 inhabi- 
 tants, lies to the north of Middletown, and was 
 known as Upper Middletown until it was made a 
 separate township in 1851. The strata of the Port- 
 land quarries, on the opposite side of the Connec- 
 ticut, run under the bed. of the river and crop out 
 again in the centre of the village, where a large 
 brownstone quarry has been excavated, and has 
 materially enhanced its interests. Toys and other 
 hardware, and lamps are manufactured here on a 
 large scale. A private asylum for the insane has 
 recently been established in this town. The first 
 cotton goods ever shipped to China were made here 
 by Henry G. Bowers, about the time of the second 
 war with England. 
 
 Middlefield, a parish of Middletown, but recently 
 formed into a separate township, contains a popu- 
 lation of about 1,000. It is a very fertile part of 
 the county, containing large level and undulating 
 pasture-lands. Some of the best cattle in the State 
 are bred here. 
 
 In the most elevated parts of the town a large 
 reservoir, secured by a dam of powerful construc- 
 tion, has been constructed to supply the city of 
 Middletown with pure water. Clothes-wringers 
 and other articles of wooden ware have been made 
 here for years The settlement of this part of 
 Middletown began in 1700 by three settlers from 
 the first or parent society. The late David Lyman 
 of this town, was one of the earliest and most 
 energetic projectors of the Boston and New York 
 Air Line Railroad. 
 
118 
 
 REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Durham, adjoining Middlefield, has a popula- 
 tion of 1,000. It maintains a good academy and 
 several churches. A very respectable tin-ware 
 manufactory furnishes employment to many; but 
 the pursuits of the community are mainly agricul- 
 tural. The scenery is very pastoral, exhibiting 
 long stretches of land under the most careful cul- 
 tivation, and bears in many respects a similarity to 
 the best husbandry in Old England. 
 
 Killingworth, Chester, Deep River, Westbrook, 
 and Clinton, the remaining towns of the county, 
 have a respective population of 800, 1,100, 1,200, 
 900, and 1,400. At Deep River is the piano key 
 and ivory works of Pratt, Read & Co., John H. 
 Edmonds, Superintendent, the largest and oldest 
 of its class in America. The oyster fisheries of 
 Clinton have risen into importance. The town con- 
 tains a fine high school, founded and liberally en- 
 dowed by Mr. Morgan, a native. 
 
NEW HAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 New Haven County has special interest for its was instituted, and installed. A meeting was called 
 
 colonial history. It was the youngest of the June 4th (commonly known as the meeting in Mr. 
 
 four Colonies that formed the New England Newman's bam) "to consult about settling civil 
 
 Confederation. The men who came hither acted government according to God, and about nomi- 
 
 under no commission and had no connection nating persons that might be found of all fittest for 
 
 with any chartered company or commercial the foundation work of a church." The result of 
 
 association in England or elsewhere. They felt that meeting, one of the most remarkable ever held 
 
 at liberty to form for themselves such govern- in a barn, surely, is thus stated : First, the free 
 
 ment as should, in their opinion, be best suited planters without a dissenting vote, after a free dis- 
 
 to the ends they had in view when they came to cussion, adopted this " Fundamental Agreement: " 
 
 this country. The original Colony, or jurisdic- "that church members only shall be free burgesses 
 
 tion, embraced colonies beyond the present — and they only shall choose among themselves 
 
 limit3 of the county, and indeed of the State, magistrates and officers to have the power of trans- 
 
 The Colony of New Haven was composed of six acting all public, civil affairs of this plantation, of 
 
 plantations, — New Haven, Milford, Guilford, making and repealing laws, dividing inheritances, 
 
 Stamford, Southold (L. I.) and Branford. Of deciding of differences that may arise, and doing 
 
 these the first three, and Branford, lie within all things and business of like nature." Secondly, 
 
 the limits of New Haven County and come under twelve men were chosen to designate among them- 
 
 the notice of this narrative. selves, or from others whom they should publicly 
 
 The first three of these were the fruit of a nominate as candidates for that trust, the seven 
 
 simultaneous exodus from three contiguous founders of the Church and of the State. These 
 
 counties in England,— Yorkshire, Hertfordshire seven, by this act of founding the church, became 
 
 and Kent. The Yorkshire men came to New free burgesses of the commonwealth, the nucleus of 
 
 Haven, the Hertfordshire men to Milford, the the civil organization. They were to choose other 
 
 Kent County men to Guilford. They came first free burgesses " out of like estate of church fellow- 
 
 to Boston in two ships ; thence to New Haven ship." 
 
 in April, 1638. Here they remained some fifteen On the 25th of the following October, these 
 
 months before they made any formal civil or seven men, "who were in the foundation of the 
 
 ecclesiastical organization. These months were church," viz., Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, 
 
 by no means dormant. They selected their lands Rob't Newman, Math. Gilbert, Theo. Fugill, John 
 
 and made purchase of them from the Indians. Punderson and Jeremy Dixon, assembled to form 
 
 Each company acted for itself, although they the new government. This was to be permanent, 
 
 remained together. The Indian deed of New and to supplant all former contracts. The term 
 
 Haven, at first called Quinnipiac, was made to "Court" is applied to this body— these " Septem- 
 
 Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport and others, vires," as the old Romans would name them. Once 
 
 November 24, 1638 ; that of Milford to William organized, after most solemn prayer to God, they 
 
 Fowler, Edmund Tapp, Zechariah "Whitman and proceeded to ordain : 
 
 others, February 12, 1639 ; that of Guilford to 1st. "All former power, or trust, for manag- 
 
 Henry Whitefield, Robert Kitchell, William ing any public affairs in this plantation, into 
 
 Leete and others, September 29, 1639. Bran- whose hands soever formerly committed, is now 
 
 ford was not organized as a civil community abrogated, and is henceforward utterly to cease." 
 
 until much later, in 1644. 2d. "All those who have been received into the 
 
 The New Haven Colony was the first to take pos- fellowship of this church since the first gather- 
 session of its purchase and organize its political ing of it, or who, being members of other ap- 
 and ecclesiastical government. There seems to have proved churches, offered themselves, were ad- 
 been some sort of agreement entered into by those mitted as members of this court. " That is, 
 forming the Colony before coming to New Haven, became citizens of this commonwealth. Sixteen 
 This compact appears to have been entered into members were thus admitted. As these new 
 either before leaving England, or while tarrying at members came in they took the oath of alle- 
 Boston. It is hardly supposable that men of such giance "to the civil government here settled. " 
 character and intelligence would have risked such They owned no allegiance as due to the king of 
 an amount of capital, £36,000, and their own England, or any other government on the foot- 
 safety and welfare, without some articles of agree- stool. This is worth remembering, 
 ment binding them together. This compact they They then proceed— after Mr. Davenport ex- 
 call the "Planters' Covenant." pounded to them two texts— Deut. i. 13, Ex. 
 
 Whatever it may have been, they seem to have xviii. 21 : "Take ye wise men, and understand- 
 ing in no haste to be rid of it, for it was not until ing, and known among your tribes, and I will 
 the 25th of October, 1039, that a civil government make them rulers over ybu ; " " Moreover, thou 
 
120 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 shalt provide out of all the people able men, 
 such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetous- 
 ness, and place such over men," — to nominato 
 and elect officers. Mr. Theophilus Eaton — the 
 chief man of the Colony, one answering tho 
 above description — was chosen magistrate for 
 ono year. Four deputies were chosen. Each 
 received a solemn charge on being inducted into 
 office. 
 
 Thus the commonwealth was launched. Their 
 laws were all summed up in tho simple enact- 
 ment, " That the word of God shall be the only 
 rule to be attended to in ordering tho affairs of 
 government in this plantation." This is further 
 explained later in their records, "as the judi- 
 cial law of God, given by Moses, and expounded 
 in other parts of the Scripture, so far as it is a 
 hedge and fence to the moral law, and is neither 
 ceremonial nor typical, nor had any reference to 
 Canaan ; this hath an everlasting equity in it, 
 and should be the rule of their proceedings." 
 All other systems of jurisprudence, civil or 
 canon law, were excluded from this Colony. On 
 this unique and model foundation they built 
 their civil state. 
 
 This "Fundamental Agreement," as it was 
 called, contin ued, with small modifications, to bo 
 the organic law of the colonies, which, on Octo- 
 ber 23, 1643, were united under one jurisdiction. 
 After the combination, the name magistrate dis- 
 appears, and that of governor is substituted. 
 The colonies of Milford, Guilford, Stamford, 
 Bran ford and Southold sent delegates to tho 
 General Court at New Haven. Besides this, 
 they had their own magistrates and magistrates' 
 courts. They had also a planters' court, corres- 
 ponding to our police and justices' courts. 
 
 This same year also, 1643, a combination was 
 formed between the four colonics of Massa- 
 chusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, 
 called the United Colonies of New England." 
 This combination was entered into for purposes 
 of mutual defense, and was of great value to tho 
 several Colonies, especially in King Phillip's 
 war, which threatened at one time to wipo out 
 in blood and carnage all the English settlements. 
 
 Under this simple government, built upon 
 the word of God, administered by wise, gener- 
 ous, good men, without charter or patent from 
 any king or any body corporate under heaven, 
 they continued to thrive. As the two colonies 
 of Connecticut and New Haven, being contig- 
 uous and having so many interests in common, 
 grew, it became, to wise men in both of them, 
 more and more apparent that their union under 
 ono government was desirable. Governor Win- 
 throp, of the Connecticut Colony, went to Eng- 
 land to procure a royal charter for this and other 
 purposes. The charter was secured in 1662. The 
 Connecticut Colony claimed that this charter 
 covered Hew Haven jurisdiction, and they, 
 nolens nolens, were part of Connecticut. This 
 was stoutly resisted as absurd, as it was. No 
 one had any authority to bargain them away, or 
 put them under tho control of anybody, against 
 their will. After a few years it was clearly seen 
 and felt, on all hands, to bo best that tho union 
 should be consummated. This was done January 
 5, 1665. The government of the Colonies was so 
 
 modified ns to fit this new relation. The modi 
 fication was merely technical, touching in no 
 essential particular the "Fundamental Agree- 
 ment " of the earlier colonists. The story of this 
 charter, and its preservation when Andros came 
 to Hartford to securo and destroy it, is told 
 elsewhere. 
 
 Would space admit, we should speak with real 
 enthusiasm of the government of New Haven Col- 
 ony. So much ignorant aspersion lias been cast 
 upon it, that when the writer began this examina- 
 tion, he did so with much prejudice, expecting to 
 find those blue laws that have haunted so many 
 persons' brains. He found instead, laws that 
 would seem somewhat strange to us, printed on 
 blue paper, and so called "blue laws"; but the 
 laws themselves were generous, and just adapted to 
 the ends and times they were made to serve. One 
 constantly marvels that a government so simple, so 
 democratic, so equitable, so efficient, and, on the 
 whole, so humane and kind, should have been 
 framed here in the wilderness, without a precedent 
 to go by, or any guide but the Word of God. We 
 read the record of their courts, on which every- 
 thing is spread out, and marvel at the scrupulous 
 fairness, and painstaking candor, and gentle firm- 
 ness which which their laws were administered. 
 True, there were things punished as crimes which 
 we should not think of punishing now. But we 
 must not compare their times and legislation with 
 our own, but with the times and governments that 
 preceded them. We shall then find occasion to 
 admire. 
 
 No witches were hanged or burned here ; no man 
 suffered persecution or punishment for his religious 
 faith, if he kept the peace, and did not disturb the 
 "settled order of things." They purchased all 
 their lands, paying a fair equivalent. They pro- 
 tected the Indians from the violence and rapacity 
 of the settlers, and lived in peace with them all 
 their days — more than our government now does. 
 No house was burned, no life taken by the red-men 
 of the forests. They limited, it is true, the right 
 of suffrage, but only so far as to secure the ends 
 for which they exiled themselves from their homes 
 in the Old World. They fled from persecution, and 
 meant only to secure and protect themselves against 
 its repetition. It remains yet to be seen which com- 
 mitted the greatest folly, they by narrowing, or we 
 by extending, the right of suffrage. 
 
 When the struggle for our independence from Eng- 
 land came on, the New Haven Colonies were found 
 among the foremost and bravest. They furnished 
 their full quota of men and means, and suffered all 
 the privations and losses sustained by any of the 
 thirteen Colonies. This has been eminently true of 
 them ever since. Wo have been called upon to 
 bear no strain, or to endure any loss or privation, 
 that New Haven County has not stood nobly in her 
 lot Bud place. 
 
 This historical sketch would not be complete 
 without some mention of the churches, which were 
 the real nucleus of the commonwealth. The church 
 was the first care of all the New England colonists. 
 In some few instances, the church, as an organiza- 
 tion, came along with them across the waters. 
 Where this was not the case, one of their first cares 
 was to found one, that the foundations of civil 
 and social order might be laid upon God's truth. 
 
11EVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 121 
 
 They were godly men, seed-corn sifted from the 
 very best. They came for liberty to worship and 
 serve God as they pleased. They kept this end in 
 view at every step. 
 
 The churches at New Haven and Milford are 
 supposed to have been formed on the same day. 
 The method was the same in all the colonics con- 
 stituting the New Haven jurisdiction. After some 
 discussion between Mr. Davenport and Mr. Samuel 
 Eaton, his colleague, on the nature of a " civil 
 government in a New Plantation, whose design is 
 religion," it was determined, on the 14th of June, 
 as we now reckon (on the 2d of June, old style), 
 to hold a public meeting of " all the free planters" 
 " for the purpose of laying with due solemnities 
 the foundations " both of church and state. This 
 meeting was held in Mr. Newman's barn. The first 
 church in this wilderness bind, like its head, 
 was born in a manger. The result of their 
 deliberation and voting was to select twelve of 
 their best and most approved men, who were to 
 confer and consult together and select from their 
 own number, or elsewhere, seven men who were 
 " fit for the foundation-work of the church. " The 
 seven hewn pillars chosen were the same seven who 
 laid the foundation of the state — Eaton, Daven- 
 port, Newman, Gilbert, Fugill, Punderson and 
 Dixon. These seven persons first covenanted to- 
 gether, and then received others into their fellow- 
 ship. Thus the first church of New Haven was 
 founded on the 22d of August, 1G39. 
 
 It is in place to say here, that although church 
 and state are twin-children of the same womb, and 
 have the same parents, they are entirely distinct. 
 It was never the purpose of these men, who had 
 fled into the wilderness from a state church and 
 hierarchy, that the church should govern the state. 
 They never allowed that the church, as such, had 
 any power to choose civil magistrates. Indeed, 
 church officers were ineligible to civil office. There 
 was no confusion of church and state, arid no pur- 
 pose that the one should transact the business of 
 the other. "Many could debate and vote in 
 church-meeting who could have no vote at all in 
 the government of the civil state." They affirmed 
 and insisted that ecclesiastical and civil order must 
 have different laws, different officers, and different 
 powers. Though they may have the same ultimate 
 end, they have different proximate ends, one the 
 "preservation of human society," the other " the 
 conversion, edification and salvation of souls." 
 Although the right of suffrage was limited to 
 church-members, and none could be freemen and 
 eligible to office who were n6t members of some 
 acknowledged church, there was no blending or 
 confusion of the two. For this we have every 
 reason to be grateful. 
 
 Mr. Davenport, whose strong and marked impress 
 is seen in all the ecclesiastical and civil framework 
 and management of both church and state, a man 
 to whose clear head and sound heart, and broad 
 views and Christian firmness, we owe so much 
 for the cast and character of our government, our 
 New England type of civilization, was the first 
 pastor of this wilderness church. He continued to 
 serve both it and the state, when occasion called 
 for it, until the Colony he had so much to do in 
 planting and training became a part of the Com- 
 monwealth of Connecticut, much to his grief. 
 
 He was followed in this office by a succession of 
 men, who were distinguished alike for their scholar- 
 ship and virtues— Pierpont, Whittlesey, and Dana. 
 
 One thing demands especial notice. Much denun- 
 ciation has been lavished upon the New England 
 fathers for the compulsory support of their churches, 
 levying taxes to pay the salaries of their ministers 
 and other current expenses. The New Haven 
 Colony, to its honor, is an exception to this evil rule. 
 It should be remembered, to their credit, that for 
 many years after the settlement of their Colony, 
 the church was supported by voluntary contri- 
 butions, which were made on every Lord's day at 
 the close of service. Not as now, by passing the 
 contribution-box, but every one came up to the 
 deacon's seat and deposited his own contribution, 
 returning quietly to his place. It was not until a 
 much later day, when perhaps men had become 
 less godly and conscientious, that it was thought 
 necessary to compel men, by assessing them, to 
 support an institution so obviously for the public 
 weal. 
 
 It must seem strange to u§ in our quiet, tranquil 
 times, to recall the fact, that in all those early years 
 the people never met for public worship without a 
 complete military guard. We find in 1040 this 
 order upon their records: "Every man that is ap- 
 pointed to watch, whether masters or servants, shall 
 come every Lord's day to the meeting completely 
 armed; and all others also arc to bring their 
 swords, no man exempted save Mr. Eaton, our 
 Pastor, Mr. James, Mr. Samuel Eaton, and the two 
 deacons." Seats were placed on each side of the 
 front door for the soldiers. A sentinel was sta- 
 tioned in the turret. Armed watchmen patrolled 
 the streets. Twice before each service the drum 
 beat from the turret and along the main streets. 
 When the congregation came together they re- 
 sembled more a garrison than a congregation of 
 worshippers. 
 
 Yet how peaceful and sacred these Sabbaths. 
 From evening to evening no noise, no business, 
 the whole population in church. Thus tho years 
 went on with changes, trials, sorrows, death, 
 until tho fathers slept and others rose in their 
 stead, upon whom their mantles fell and who 
 stood in their places. 
 
 The New Haven colonists were intense lovers 
 of learning. Here the free school found a wel- 
 come and rose to prominence. For many years 
 the people contributed annually to the support 
 of Harvard College, sending up their wheat and 
 wampum to keep it alive, and sending their sons 
 to enjoy its privileges and bear away its honors. 
 This, however, did not satisfy Mr. Davenport, 
 who, during his latter years, urged again and 
 again upon the Connecticut Colonies the impor- 
 tance of founding a college of their own. He 
 was a scholar and student himself, and early saw 
 the necessity of education of every grade to the 
 life and perpetuity of the commonwealth, as 
 well as tho Christian religion. Although he did 
 not live to see a college founded, he certainly 
 was father of the thought. Tho seed he sowed 
 sprang up in later years, and bore fruit in the 
 noble institution, without a rival, if not without 
 a peer in our land. 
 
 The Hopkins Grammar School, to-day one of 
 the best preparatory schools in the country, is 
 
122 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the oldest school in the State. The literary 
 atmosphere of New Haven, its fine culture and 
 excellent schools are no new things, but they 
 have been true of it from the beginning. May 
 it never cease to be the home of learning, refine- 
 ment, and real Christian worth and excellence. 
 
 A few words of biography need to be appended 
 to this sketch of colonial times. 
 
 Foremost among the great names of the colo- 
 nists is Theophilus Eaton. He was born at 
 Stratford, England, 1591, and was the son of a 
 clergyman. He came to this country, first to 
 Boston in 1637, then to New Haven in 1638. He 
 was chosen first governor of New Haven Colony, 
 and remained in office tintil his death, January 
 7, 1658. Mather calls him "the Moses of New 
 Haven." "He carried in his very countenance 
 a majesty which cannot be described. " He was 
 a magistrate of strict impartiality and inflexible 
 honor. He had clear views of civil government 
 far in advance of his times ; he had a singular 
 love of justice, and very decided opinions of the 
 divine nature of human government as built on 
 the Word of God. To him the New Haven 
 Colony owed its existence, and to him and Mr. 
 Davenport all those features which distinguish 
 it from the other Colonies, its zeal for education, 
 its impartial administration of justice, its free- 
 dom from frivolous and extravagant legislation. 
 He was wont to say : ' ' Some count it a great 
 matter to die well, but I am sure it is a greater 
 matter to live well." This is the key to his char- 
 acter, than which there is not a nobler in all our 
 colonial history. 
 
 John Davenport, one of the two chief men in 
 founding New Haven Colony, was born in Cov- 
 entry, Eng., 3597. He was educated at Oxford ; 
 became vicar of St. Stephen's Church, Coleman 
 street, London ; soon became a non-conformist ; 
 resigned his benefice and fled to Holland, to 
 escape the warrant that was out against him : 
 preached to the English Church at Amsterdam 
 for a season ; became involved in difficulties 
 about the indiscriminate baptisms of children, 
 and resigned, when he emigrated to New Eng- 
 land, reaching Boston on the 26th of June, 1637. 
 The following spring he came with his company 
 to New Haven. He and Mr. Eaton built their 
 houses opposite each other on the same street, 
 and became the leading spirits in the Colony. 
 
 He continued pastor of the church, as well as 
 a directing and controlling power in the state, 
 until near the close of his life. He lost hope 
 somewhat when, against his decided opinion, the 
 New Haven jurisdiction united with the Connec- 
 ticut Colony. Ho saw a growing disposition on 
 the part of the state to get control of the churches, 
 a most serious evil, from which Connecticut suf- 
 fered for many long years. Just at this time 
 came a call from Boston. He made up his mind 
 that "Christ's interests in New Haven Colony 
 were miserably lost." His roots were loosened, 
 and he was ready to leave his home and the child 
 ho had done so much to rear. Besides this, the 
 action of the synod in establishing what was 
 called " the half-way covenant, " he opposed with 
 all the vigor and ardor of his bouI. The battle 
 was to bo fought in Boston. He wanted to be in 
 the thickest of the fight. These considerations 
 
 determined his removal to that city in 1668, 
 thirty years after his settlement in New Haven, 
 when he was more than seventy years old. 
 The "deadline" was not quite so near in 
 those days. The church in Boston was divided. 
 The odious and mischievous "half-way cov- 
 enant" prevailed. He died on the 11th day 
 of March, 1670. A fine scholar, an able preacher, 
 a clear-headed, far-seeing man, his views and 
 opinions found an ample vindication in subse- 
 quent experience. The measures he maintained 
 were just ; those he opposed proved disastrous 
 in the extreme. 
 
 Stephen Goodyeare, from the organization of 
 the government until his death, was associated 
 almost uniformly with Gov. Eaton, as Lieutenant- 
 Governor. He was a fine business man and of 
 great service to the Colony. 
 
 Thomas Greyson was another of the leading men, 
 and was intrusted with much important public 
 business. 
 
 Francis Newman, whose barn figures so largely 
 in the early records of the Colony, deserves mention. 
 He succeeded Gov. Eaton in office, the Joshua who 
 came after Moses. 
 
 Thomas Fugill, secretary of state, John Punder- 
 son and Jeremy Dixon were among the seven 
 pillars, both of church and state. Master Ezekiel 
 Cheever, the father of New England schoolmasters, 
 shines in the Colonial records. The boys had good 
 reason to remember him. 
 
 Thomas Leete of Guilford, lieutenant-governor 
 under Francis Newman, and first governor of the 
 united Colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, 
 was a man of wisdom and executive ability. 
 
 Goffe and Whalley, commonly known as the 
 regicides, from their participation in the execution 
 of Charles the First, found a retreat and an asylum 
 in New Haven. On the accession of Charles the 
 Second, they were compelled to flee the country. 
 They came to Boston July 27, 1G60, first, and 
 resided for sometime openly in Cambridge. Their 
 situation there becoming too exposed, they fled to 
 New Haven March 7, 1001, and were concealed for 
 awhile in Mr. Davenport's house. A royal procla- 
 mation was issued for their arrest. They were 
 sought for by officers in New Haven, but could not 
 be found. Fearing lest they should bring trouble 
 upon their friend, Mr. Davenport, and others, they 
 offered to surrender themselves to Lieut. -Gov. Leete. 
 He was in no haste, however, to arrest them. After 
 showing themselves openly in the streets of New 
 Haven, so as to clear their friends from any com- 
 plicity with their concealment, they fled to a 
 cave near the summit of "West Rock, known as now 
 Judges' Cave, where they remained for awhile. 
 They occupied another place near by, called the 
 Lodge. They left New Haven and went (August 
 19) to Milford, and in 1004 to Hadley, where they 
 remained until they died, It is believed that their 
 bodies were brought to New Haven and buried by 
 Dixwell, their companion in exile. 
 
 John Dixwell, the other regicide, came to New 
 Haven in 1072, under the name of James Davids. 
 Ho lived here in quiet security for seventeen years. 
 The last years of his life he became very intimate 
 with Mr. Pierpont, the minister. There seemed to. 
 be a strange and wonderful friendship between 
 them. At his death he revealed his true character, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 123 
 
 and requested that a plain stone should mark his 
 grave, with the initials J. D., Esq., inscribed on it, 
 This was done as he wished. 
 
 Three avenues in the northwestern part of the 
 city perpetuate the names and memory of the 
 regicides. 
 
 Yale College was founded in 1700, and, tradition- 
 ally, in this wise : ten eminent clergymen, roused 
 to the importance of providing some means for a 
 more liberal and thorough education for their sons, 
 and others who were to become leaders in church 
 and state, met at New Haven to consult concerning 
 a collegiate school. At a subsequent meeting in 
 Branford, these men brought forty folio volumes, 
 and laid them down on a table with these words: 
 " I give these books for the founding of a college 
 in tliis Colony." This body of men, acting for the 
 churches and ministry of the Colony of Connecti- 
 cut, by this act founded the institution now known 
 as Yale College. 
 
 In October of the following year, a charter was 
 obtained from the legislature. In November, the 
 trustees met for the first time in Saybrook, and 
 passed this order: "That there shall be, and 
 hereby is, erected and founded a collegiate school, 
 wherein shall be taught the liberal arts and lan- 
 guages, in such place or places in Connecticut as 
 tlic said trustees shall from time to time see cause 
 to order." 
 
 Why found another college so near Harvard? It 
 has been affirmed that a distrust of the theological 
 soundness of this college was the real root-causo of 
 the founding of Yale. But when you recall that 
 tlio number of the Connecticut colonists was now 
 20,000, and also that the territory was an almost 
 unbroken wilderness, the distance to Cambridge, 
 and inconvenience and expense of travel were so 
 serious, you will find the real reasons which moved 
 these good men to found a college in their own 
 Colony. This, and not bigotry, is the seed-thought 
 of this noble university. The plan differed in some 
 very essential particulars from that of Harvard. It 
 was more unique and original having less of the 
 European type. It was more indigenous, and more 
 in accord with the spirit of the times. It was 
 homogeneous, having all its board ministers ; though 
 this last is a doubtful advantage, and gave rise to 
 disaffection in later years. 
 
 After a protracted and somewhat heated contro- 
 versy, the new college was finally located in New 
 Haven in 1717. » 
 
 In 1718, came the great benefaction of Gov. 
 Elihu Yale, a donation of books and other goods 
 to the amount of £800. As a compliment to him 
 the new building, recently erected, was named for 
 him, This name passed by degrees from the 
 building to the whole institution in 1745. The 
 college passed through colonial times with various 
 and alternating success. It came near extinction, 
 however, during the Revolution. Its students 
 and officers were dispersed, and its functions in a 
 measure, suspended. The irregularities of the 
 times, financial embarrassment, difficulties of sub- 
 sistence, and the actual occupation, at one time, of 
 New Haven by English troops, reduced the college 
 to the lowest point. 
 
 In 1792 a change took place in the charter, 
 which gave it a new lease of life, and brought it 
 
 more closely into sympathy with the popular heart. 
 Its prosperity was now assured. 
 
 Great changes have transpired in college customs 
 since those early provincial days. It was no uncom- 
 mon thing for derelict youths then to have their 
 ears soundly boxed in the presence of the faculty 
 and students. The formality and respect at that 
 time demanded on the part of president and 
 faculty, seems to us almost ludicrous. The fresh- 
 men, in those earlier times, held an almost menial 
 position, being nere errand-boys for tho upjier 
 classes. With the incoming of more democratic 
 ideas, however, these old country notions and 
 customs have long since naturally and happily 
 disappeared. 
 
 From these small and adverse beginnings, Yale 
 College has grown to its present commanding posi- 
 tion. Its power in every department, in church 
 and state, science and art, in literature and philos- 
 ophy, has been wide and beneficent. Its graduates 
 are everywhere. They nobly sustain and fulfil her 
 proud yet modest motto — "Lux et Veritas.'" 
 
 The first president, or reetor, of Yale College was 
 Abraham Pierson, son of Rev. Mr. Pierson, one of 
 the first settlers and first minister of Branford. He 
 graduated from Harvard College in 1668. He was 
 a good student, an able divine, a wise, judicious 
 man. He instructed and governed the infant col- 
 legiate school, with general acceptance, from 1701 
 until 1707. 
 
 The subsequent presidents of Yale have been 
 Rev. Timothy Cutter, S. T. D., chosen 1719; Rev. 
 Elisha Williams, 1726; Rev. Thomas Clap, 1739; 
 Rev. Naphthali Daggett, 8. T. D.,1766; Rev. Ezra 
 Stiles, S. T. D., LL.D., 1777 ; Rev. Timothy Dwight, 
 D. D., LL.D., 1795; Rev. Jeremiah Day, D. D., 
 LL.D., 1822; Rev. Theodore D. Wooleey, D. D., 
 LL.D., 1846; Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., LL.D., 
 1871. 
 
 Presidents Stiles and Clap were men of excep- 
 tionally great learning ; while Dr. Dwight, a grand- 
 son of Jonathan Edwards, was one whose powers 
 as a thinker, gifts as a poet, and eloquence as a 
 preacher were surpassed only by the fervor of his 
 piety and the urbanity of his conversation and 
 manners. 
 
 The present incumbent of the presidential chair, 
 Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., LL.D., was borninFarm- 
 ington, Dec. 14, 1811, and is considered to be one 
 of the ablest of American metaphysicians. 
 
 Besides the presidents there have been professors 
 of world-wide fame and splendid and varied acqui- 
 sitions ; Dana, Fitch, Goodrich, Marsh, Silliman, 
 Packard, Hadley, and many others, have adorned 
 their departments and added to the power and fame 
 of the college. Many of its graduates have filled 
 the highest offices of trust and honor. No institu- 
 tion has exerted a wider and more positive influence 
 upon the culture and political character of the 
 country. 
 
 The buildings arc many, and some of them of 
 great excellence. Battell Chapel is one of the 
 finest buildings in design, materials, and solid 
 elegance in the land, for that purpose. The Art 
 School building, on the south-west corner of 
 College Square, is one of considerable pretension 
 and is admirable for its purpose. The Pcabody 
 Museum, named in honor of George Peabody, of 
 London, its most liberal benefactor, one wing of 
 
124 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTIl 1 ,1 A 
 
 •which is completed, stands on the corner of High 
 and Elm streets, just across the street from the 
 C.illege Square. It is an imposing building. The 
 various cabinets and specimens are among the best, 
 as far as they go. 
 
 The East and West Divinity halls, with Mar- 
 quand Chapel between them, a gem in its line, the 
 gift of the gentleman whose name it bears, are 
 substantial and elegant buildings, affording fine 
 accommodations for this department of the univer- 
 sity. The Sheffield Scientific School, an institution 
 of great merit and thoroughness, founded by 
 Joseph Sheffield, Esq., constitutes another depart- 
 ment of the university, and has substantial and 
 commodious buildings at some distance from the 
 College Campus, on the homestead of Mr. Shef- 
 field. The departments of law and medicine have 
 accommodations in other sections of the city. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 New Haven, the chief scat of the New Haven 
 jurisdiction, is situated on a plain lying between 
 two ranges of hills, on the east and on the west, 
 and is limited, partly, on the northern side, by two 
 mountains, called East and West rocks, which 
 terminate abruptly at this point and form a marked 
 feature of the scenery. It is at the head of a 
 shallow harbor, between West and Mill Rivers, 
 including also the neck between Mill River and the 
 Quinnipiac, where a part of the town called Fair 
 Haven is situated. 
 
 The town was originally laid out in nine squares. 
 The central one is open and is styled the Green, 
 the upper half of which is a beautiful slope, and 
 was formerly a burying-ground ; but, in 1831, the 
 monuments were removed and the ground leveled, 
 The lower, or level half, is surrounded by stately 
 elms. It is divided in the centre by Temple Street, 
 on which the churches are situated. Magnificent 
 elms on cither side of this broad street form a 
 perfect arch, and make it one of the grandest in 
 the world. There are three churches and the Old 
 State House on the Green. Altogether it is ong of 
 the finest spots in the United States or Europe. 
 The original squares, which cluster about the 
 central square or Green, are divided each into 
 four squares by streets running from northwest 
 to southeast, and from northeast to southwest. 
 The same general features have been measurably 
 preserved in the extension of the modern city. 
 
 The city and town have distinct organizations 
 and separate officers, a feature which has come 
 down from colonial times, a sort of two-headed 
 concern, not at all satisfactory or equitable in 
 its representation in tho legislature. The ad- 
 ministration of justice is in the hands of a city 
 court, while other courts, both of the State and 
 the United States, hold sessions in the city. 
 
 The city is well supplied with schools of a 
 high order. Many of the school-houses are com- 
 modious and elegant. The Hillhouse Higli 
 School is one of great excellence. There are 
 various private schools, which, together with 
 Hopkins Grammar School, the oldest in the 
 State, and Yale College, in its various depart- 
 ments, furnish the highest educational advan- 
 tages. 
 
 New Haven is a port of entry, and has consid- 
 erable coastwise and some foreign commerce. 
 
 Manufactures are the principal source of its 
 prosperity, and carriages, guns, builders' hard- 
 ware, rubber goods, articles from iron, clocks, 
 etc., are made. 
 
 There ore many fine public buildings. Among 
 these are several church edifices, college and 
 seminary buildings, and elegant city hall and 
 court-house, a commodious and well-managed 
 Stato hospital, insurance building, music hall 
 and opera houses. There are about forty churches 
 of all denominations. 
 
 Many fine streets and handsome residences 
 adorn tho city. Hillhouse Avenue, Whitney 
 Avenue, Prospect, Orange and Chapel streets 
 are among tho finest. The new, or lower Green, 
 is a gem of beauty, surrounded with elegant 
 houses. Tho old cemetery, on Grove Street, 
 contains the ashes of Eaton, Clap, Stiles, Hum- 
 phreys, D wight, Eli Whitney, and many others 
 of world-wide and national fame. Evergreen 
 Cemetery, on tho banks of the West River, is one 
 of more modern pretension, and is an ornament 
 and honor to the city. 
 
 Six daily and as many weekly papers keep the 
 people well posted on current events. There are 
 also several college papers as well as ponderous 
 quarterlies. 
 
 New Haven is the largest city in tho State, 
 and the third in New England. Few cities in 
 location, in historical interest, in educational 
 institutions, in wealth, beauty or culture surpass 
 it. 
 
 Among the most distinguished residents here 
 is Leonard Bacon, D.D., for fifty years pastor of 
 the First Church, and now professor in the theo- 
 logical department of Yale College, a man of 
 great culture, an able preacher, a fine debater, 
 and thoroughly versed in the colonial and eccle- 
 siastical history of New England. Ex-Governors 
 English, Ingersol and Bigelow also have their 
 homes here. Mr. Sheffield, tho founder of Shef- 
 field Scientific School, is among tho most hou- 
 nored citizens. 
 
 Waterbury was viewed by a colony from Far- 
 mington witli reference to a settlement in 1673. 
 August 21, 1674, land was purchased, on both 
 sides of tho Naugatuck, of tho Indians "for d£39, 
 and divers other good causes." King Philip's war 
 put a check upon its immediate settlement ; but 
 after peace was established tho settlers returned 
 to their purchase and commenced work in 
 earnest. *In 1684 they mado a new purchase of 
 land from tho Indians, making in all a territory 
 eighteen miles in length and ten miles in width, 
 containing the present towns of Waterbury, 
 Watertown and Plymouth, together with most 
 of Middlebury, half of Wolcott, and a small part 
 of Oxford and Prospect. This large, fine terri- 
 tory was gravely reported to the General Assem- 
 bly "as capable of supporting thirty families." 
 One wonders at tho size of the families of those 
 days, since the sanio territory now supports more 
 than 20,000 persons, and is not half occupied. 
 
 The orignal town was located on an eminence 
 on the western banks of tho river, about a mile 
 from tho present location of the city. 
 
 For ten years the settlers were without a 
 minister and the regular ordinances of religion. 
 In 1689 Jeremiah Peck was settled among them, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 125 
 
 and remained until his death in 1699. Their 
 first houso of worship had no glass until 1716, a 
 dark placo in which to preach a gospel of light 
 and life. 
 
 Watorbury is located on the Naugatnck (which 
 runs its entiro length) and the Mad Rivers, both 
 of which furnish fine water-power. Hills rise 
 on either side, forming an amphitheatre, in 
 which the present city is mainly located, al- 
 though many fine residences are creeping up the 
 slopes of the hills. It has extensive and widely 
 celebrated manufactories, with a capital of more 
 than $6,000,000, seven churches, some of them 
 among the finest in the State, two national 
 banks, besides other banking institutions, a fine 
 city hall, a hall for public amusements that seats 
 1,400 people, and is altogether one of the thrift- 
 iest and most energetic communities in the 
 State. The Bronson Library contains 18,000 
 volumes, the gift of Cyrus Bronson of New York. 
 Tho water-works are among the best in New 
 England. It lias a handsome park and fino 
 cemetery. There are also several schools of con- 
 siderable note located here. St. Margaret's 
 Diocesan School for young ladies, the Academy 
 of Notre Damo (Convent School), and Watorbury 
 English and Classical School for boys. It has 
 one daily and two weekly newspapers. To such 
 a goodly city, the fifth in the State, has tho wil- 
 derness settlement grown. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D., of such wide fame 
 and remarkable powers, was a native of this town. 
 He began life as a farmer's boy. At the age of 
 fifteen he commenced his studies in Woodbury, 
 lie entered Yale College at the age of sixteen, and 
 graduated in 1741. After graduating he went 
 immediately to Northampton, Mass., where he 
 studied theology with Jonathan Edwards. After 
 he was licensed to preach, in 1042, he remained 
 still at Northampton, pursuing his studies and 
 occasionally preaching. He was settled in several 
 small towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 
 April, 1770, he went to Newport, R. I., where he 
 remained until the war of the Revolution interrupted 
 his labors. In December, 1776, when tho British 
 took possession of Newport, he retired to Great 
 Harrington. In 1780, lie returned to Newport, 
 only to find his old church and congregation too 
 much diminished to provide for his support. He, 
 however, continued to preach for them for what 
 they could collect by a weekly contribution and the 
 aid of generous friends, until he died, Dec. 20, 
 1803. Few men more influenced the religious 
 thinking of his age. His writings were numerous, 
 bold and forcible. He wa3 author of a system of 
 divinity, that bears his name and perpetuates his 
 memory. 
 
 Lemuel Hopkins, M. D., was also another of 
 Waterbury's great sons. He was as renowned in 
 medicine as Samuel in divinity. Ho was founder 
 of the Connecticut Medical Society, and also the 
 author of several poems of considerable note. 
 
 Guilford was one of the colonies constituting 
 the New Haven judisdiction. The first settlement 
 was commenced in 1639, tho next year after New 
 Haven. The first settlors were Mr. Henry White- 
 field, and several members of his church and con- 
 gregation in England, to the number of about 
 forty persons. They were drawn to this spot from 
 
 tho resemblance it bore to the homes they left behind 
 them in England. They secured the land by peace- 
 ful purchase from the Indians. As a place for the 
 security of all, a stone house was built, and is now 
 standing, probably the oldest house in the United 
 States. The first marriage in this town was 
 solemnized in this building. The sumptuous 
 marriago feast consisted of pork and peas. The 
 government was first administered by four leading 
 planters. When a Congregational church was 
 formedinl643, allpowerandauthority was formally 
 passed over to it, and the church, as in so many New 
 England towns, became the nucleusand germ of the 
 town. The government was in nearly all respects 
 similar to New Haven, church -members alone being 
 freemen and allowed to vote. 
 
 Guilford is situated (population about 3,000) 
 fifteen miles east of New Haven, on Long Island 
 Sound, and on the Shore Line Railroad. Farming 
 and fishing are the principal pursuits. There are 
 five churches and a fine stone school-house. Sachem's 
 Head, a picturesque point of land, reaching out 
 into the Sound, is a favorite summer resort, as are 
 many other places in this noble old town. Off the 
 coast is Lecte's Island, named from Gov. Leete, 
 one of the most distinguished men of colonial 
 times, and the first governor of Connecticut. His 
 house on this island was set on fire during the 
 Revolution. This place was also the home of the 
 famous Chittenden family. 
 
 Derby is situated (population about 12,000) nine 
 miles northwest of New Haven, at the confluence 
 of the Naugatuck and Housatonic rivers. About 
 the year 1653, Lieut.-Gov. Goodyeare and others, 
 of New Haven, purchased the land, and the year 
 ensuing some few settlements were made. 
 
 It was incorporated in 1675, and tho name changed 
 from Paugassett into Derby. Derby Landing is at 
 tho head of navigation on the Housatonic River. 
 Humphreysville, four miles above Derby Landing, 
 is famous as the home of Gen. David Humphreys, 
 who established here a large woollen factory, one 
 of the first in the United States. He was a warm 
 personal friend of Gen. Washington, one of his 
 aids, ambassador to France under Jefferson, and 
 afterwards to the court of Portugal. The modern 
 township is divided into Derby Village, Birming- 
 ham, and Ansonia, named from Hon. Anson G. 
 Phelps, of Phelps, Dodge & Co., who have large 
 iron -works here. 
 
 North Haven (1,800) on the N. Y., N. H. and 
 Hartford R. R, was formerly a part of Now Haven. 
 It lies on both sides of the Quinnipiac Hiver. The 
 gardens of North Haven are celebrated for early * 
 vegetables and fine small-fruits. The extensive 
 salt-meadows produce immense quantities of grass. 
 
 The first settler of North Haven is believed to 
 have been William Bradley, who had been an 
 officer in Cromwell's army. Ho lived hero soon 
 after 1660, on land owned by Govornor Eaton. 
 The settlement was slow, and for nearly forty 
 years tho people attended church and buried 
 their dead at New Haven. The women usually 
 wont on foot, attended two long services and re- 
 turned, model pedestrians as well as model 
 Christians. Tho Indians woro numerous, but 
 harmless, serving only to frighten women and 
 children, never to injure them. Tho fine fishing 
 and hunting grounds about the rivers drew them 
 
126 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 into this region. They swarmed, at times along 
 these streams, holding their " powwows," much to 
 the terror and disgust of the people. 
 
 North Haven is the birthplace of Rev. Ezra 
 Stiles, one of the most celebrated of Connecticut's 
 great men, and for more than half a century the 
 home of Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, the historian of 
 •Connecticut. He was born in Hebron in 1735; 
 graduated at Tale in 1757; settled in North Haven 
 in 1760, where he remained nearly sixty years. He 
 wrote 4,000 sermons, published able essays on the 
 inspiration of the Scriptures, wrote a history of 
 Connecticut, and also of the United States. He 
 received high honors from his alma mater, and 
 was widely known and esteemed as an able divine 
 and accurate historian. 
 
 Milford (3,500) was one of the settlements of 
 -the original New Haven Colony. Tiie purchase of 
 land was made from the Indians about the same 
 time as those of New Haven, and settled in 1039, 
 purchase price being six coats, ten blankets and 
 one kettle, together with a number of hoes, knives, 
 hatchets and glasses. The Indians, however, made 
 
 reservation of about twenty acres, which was 
 subsequently bought in 1651, for six coats, two 
 blankets and two pairs of breeches. 
 
 The original settlers were from the counties of 
 Essex and York, and came over with Messrs. Eaton 
 and Davenport's company, and remained with them 
 one year before making a permanent settlement. 
 They located themselves on either side of Mill 
 River and West-end Brook, for convenience of 
 themselves and cattle. The town was named Mil- 
 ford in commemoration of their native town in 
 England. 
 
 A court of five judges was directed to set out a 
 meeting-house lot in such manner as they should 
 judge most convenient for public good. The site 
 was the one occupied by the present meeting-house 
 of the First Society, where it stood until 1727. 
 
 The first settlers being godly men and women, 
 they formed themselves at once into a church, ac- 
 cording to their peculiar views. It was formed in 
 New Haven on the second of August, 1639. Peter 
 Pruden was the first minister. In 1741, forty-seven 
 persons, being dissatisfied with Mr. Whittlesey's 
 moderate opinions, declared their dissent from the 
 established church, professing themselves to be 
 Presbyterians, according to the Church of Scotland. 
 They were stoutly opposed by the First Church, 
 having, in this respect, a common experience with 
 all new churches in both the River and Sound col- 
 onies, and a protracted and bitter opposition, some- 
 times persecution even, followed. They were not 
 invested with their full legal rights for nineteen 
 years. 
 
 In 1648 a famous battle was fought near the 
 town between the Mohawk and Milford Indians, 
 resulting in the utter defeat of the former. In all 
 . the wars in which the county has been engaged, 
 Milford has furnished her full quota of brave men. 
 
 There is a quarry of beautiful serpentine marble 
 in the eastern section of the town. The harbor, 
 never deep, has been gradually filling up since the 
 first settlement. Milford Island, containing ten 
 acres, is about three-fourths «of a mile from the 
 shore. Milford Point, at the southwest extremity 
 of the town, is a place of some note, and also a 
 .summer resort. 
 
 There are fivo houses of worship, three Congre- 
 gational, two Episcopal. The first church was 
 organized in 1727, under Rev. Jonathan Merrick. 
 The general intelligence of the people is evi- 
 deaced from the fact that it has furnished more 
 young men, who have been liberally educated, 
 than any other town of its population in the 
 State. 
 
 Wallingford formerly belonged to the original 
 purchase made by Gov. Eaton and John Daven- 
 port, in 1638. The settlement was projected in 
 1669, and called New Haven Village. The first 
 minister was the Rev. Samuel Street. The 
 houses were fortified during King Philip's war, 
 and much anxiety felt for the safetv of the peo- 
 ple. It is watered by the Quinnipiac River, and 
 lies on the N. Y., N. H. and Hartford Railroad, 
 twelve miles from New Haven. It contains nine 
 churches, five schools, one hotel, extensive man- 
 ufactories of hritannia and silverware, one news- 
 paper, boot manufactories, and machine shops. 
 
 The Wallingford Community, a brunch of 
 Oneida Community, was founded here in 1850, 
 by John H. Noyes and Henry Allen. It com- 
 prises 340 acres, 150 of which is covered by a 
 valuable water-power belonging to the Commu- 
 nity. Their business is agriculture, horticulture, 
 job-printing, and book -making in all forms. 
 
 Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declar- 
 ation of Independence, was a native of this town. 
 He graduated at Yale in 1747, and first studied 
 theology, but afterwards medicine. He subse- 
 quently removed to Georgia, and was a delegate 
 to the general Congress in 1775, and afterwards 
 became governor of Georgia. 
 
 One of the most remarkable tornadoes ever 
 known visited Wallingford August 9, 1878. A 
 large number of houses were caught up and 
 whirled from their foundations, and crushed into 
 fragments. One church was demolished, the 
 upper story torn from the fine new high school 
 house, the large trees were twisted and uprooted 
 along the track of the whirlwind. Several per- 
 sons were killed, others maimed for life, and 
 much property destroyed. The scars of tho ter- 
 rible tornado still remain. It will not soon pass 
 from the minds of those who witnessed its power 
 or looked upon its desolation. It awakened 
 much interest in scientific circles, and a careful 
 study of this strange and unusual phenomenon. 
 
 The remaining towns of New Haven County 
 are Bethany, originally a parish in the town of 
 Woodbridge, and famous for being the scene of 
 the celebrated Dayton Robbery, committed by a 
 company of Tories from Long Island ; Branford, 
 which owes its final settlement to religious con- 
 troversy and dissension at Wethersfield, beauti- 
 fully situated on Lake Saltonstall, much frequent- 
 ed as a place of summer resort, and off the sea 
 coast of which is a fine cluster of islands in the 
 Sound called Thimblo Islands, among which is 
 Money Island, where Capt. Eidd is said to have 
 concealed large sums of money. In this town 
 also was once the home of Montowise, an early 
 Indian chief. The place is the summer residence 
 of several wealthy gentlemen. 
 
 Cheshire, originally a part of Wallingford, the 
 seat of an Episcopal academy, founded in 1801 ; 
 East Haven, incorporated and taken from New 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 127 
 
 Haven in 1735, and noted as being a favorite place 
 of resort of the Indians, as also on account of 
 the first iron-works in Connecticut having been 
 established here in 1G55 ; Hamden, also origi- 
 nally a part of New Haven, embracing several 
 manufacturing villages, among them Whitneyville, 
 so named from Hon. Eli "Whitney, the inventor of 
 the cotton gin, ■where is located Mount Carmel, one 
 of the most elevated eminences in the State ; Madi- 
 son, formerly a part of Guilford, and sharing in all 
 the colonial glory of that old town — a favorite 
 summer resort. The famous regicides, Goffe and 
 Whalley are said to have stopped in their wander- 
 ings on the banks of the stream west of the 
 churches, and gave it the name of Pilgrim's Harbor 
 — a name it still bears. 
 
 Middlebury, in which town is Break -Neck Hill, 
 on whose summit the army of Gen. Lafayette, 
 while on their way to the Hudson, is said to have 
 encamped ; North Branford, and Orange (so 
 called for William, Prince of Orange, King of 
 England), noted as the place where the British 
 landed when they invaded New Haven in 1779; 
 Orford, famous for its mineral spring, called the 
 Pool, whose waters are said to heal salt-rheum and 
 other kindred complaints, and which are reported, 
 moreover, never to freeze, even in the coldest 
 weather, nor even to fail in times of the severest 
 drought ; Southbury ; Woodbridge named for the 
 first minister, Benj. Woodbridge, settled here in 
 1742 ; Prospect and Wolcott. Some of the most 
 charming scenery in Connecticut is found in the 
 valley of the Naugatuck at a celebrated pleasure 
 resort called High Rock Grove, owned by the 
 Naugatuck Railroad Co. , and visited annually by 
 thousands. Hlustrations of the same are given in 
 this work. 
 
 Merjden — This city occupies a natural amphi- 
 theatre among the surrounding hills, midway 
 between the cities oi Hartford and New Haven, 
 eighteen miles distant on the New York, New 
 Haven & Hartford Railroad. No place in Con- 
 necticut has sprung into existence so quickly as 
 a manufacturing centre. The ground on which 
 the city now stands was, twenty years ago, a 
 farm. The comparison to-day is bewildering, 
 and a transformation scene is enjoyed. 
 
 The refinements of civilization and the resist- 
 less tide of manufacture have taken possession, 
 and the result is churches, schools, immense 
 manufacturing establishments, elegant private 
 residences, and a city of twenty thousand people. 
 In 1870, Meriden had a population of 10,495. 
 To-day it is one of the most enterprising cities 
 
 of New England, with public water-works, gas, 
 electric lights, telephones, banks, insurance com- 
 panies, daily and weekly papers, modern built 
 hotels, and all the requirements to meet the de- 
 mands of modern civilization. Silver and plated 
 ware, lamps and lamp trimmings, house furnish- 
 ing hardware, agricultural implements, ma- 
 chinery, hand-bells, spectacles, hammers, vises, 
 butts, lanterns, coffee mills, spoons, faucets, 
 scissors, shears, breech-loading guns, dies, hard- 
 ware and sheet metal goods, forks, coffin trim- 
 mings, punching-presses, pewterer's machinery, 
 glassware, paper boxes, lathes, furniture casters, 
 piano stools, japanned and tinware, brass screws, 
 butcher and shoe knives, fine cutlery, door locks 
 and knobs, door bells, corsets, etc.,* are made in 
 Meriden. 
 
 The growth of this city and the success of its 
 manufacturing establishments is a commentary 
 on the skill, financial ability and enterprise of 
 her jjeople. 
 
 Orville H. Piatt, United States Senator. Among 
 the list of Connecticut's public men, the name 
 of Orville H. Piatt stands foremost as a Christian 
 and philanthropic statesman. He was born in 
 Washington, Litchfield County, Conn., July 19, 
 1827. His father, Daniel G. Piatt, was a farmer 
 and the son learned his first lessons in life on the 
 farm and at the district school until he was nearly 
 twenty-one years of age. Later he studied law and 
 was admitted to the bar in his native county in 
 1849. For a time he was a resident of Towanda, 
 Bradford County, Pa., associated with Hon. Ulysses 
 Mercer, now Judge of the Supreme Court of Penn- 
 sylvania. In 1851 he returned to his native State 
 and located in the then village of Meriden, in 
 which he saw great possibilities. Here he entered 
 into the practice of law, and has since been identi- 
 fied with its interests and prosperity. His first 
 public office ip connection with the State Govern- 
 ment was clerk of the Senate in 1855-0. Iu 1857 
 he was Secretary of State. He was a member of 
 the Senate in 1801-2, and a member of the House 
 in 1804 and 1809, in the latter year serving as 
 Speaker. From 1877 to 1879 he was State Attorney 
 for New Haven County, which office he held until 
 he was elected in the latter year United States Sen- 
 ator to succeed Hon. William H. Barnum. 
 
 Mr. Piatt is tall in person, and has a genial, pop- 
 ular but commanding presence. He is an able law- 
 yer, making a specialty of patent cases. In private 
 life he is known as a Christian statesman, interested 
 in all the movements for the general good of society. 
 Hi a term will expire March 3, 1885. 
 
NEW LONDON COUNTY. 
 
 New London County, as originally constituted 
 by the General Court in 1666, embraced territory 
 extending from Pawkatuck River on the east, to 
 the western bounds of Homonascet Plantation 
 on the west, and from the interior settlements 
 on the north, to Long Island Sound on the south. 
 As now constituted, New London County is 
 bounded north by Tolland and Windham coun- 
 ties, on the east by Windham County and Khode 
 Island, on the south by Long Island Sound, and 
 by the Connecticut River and Middlesex County 
 on the west. Its average length from east to 
 west is twenty-six miles, and it has a medium 
 breadth of twenty miles. 
 
 The face of the country is diversified by hill 
 and dale, and is well supplied with streams of 
 water. The soil is of varied fertility, but gen- 
 erally adapted to grazing and fruit growing, and 
 moderately to general agriculture. Its navigable 
 waters are extensive, and unsurpassed, for mari- 
 time purposes, by those of any section of equal 
 extent upon the coast. 
 
 Notwithstanding these natural advantages, 
 which rendered it an inviting locality for the early 
 English settlers to improve, more than one- 
 fourth of a century elapsed after the planting of 
 a Colony at Plymouth before an attempt was 
 made by the emigrants to settle upon any por- 
 tion of this domain. A principal cause of this 
 delay was doubtless the fact that the territory 
 was pre-occupied by the Pequots, a tribe of In- 
 dians belonging to the widespread Algonquin 
 race. This powerful tribe of savages had, by 
 their cruelty, become the dread of the whites, 
 far and near. It had, in fact, grown into a set- 
 tled conviction on the part of the colonists, that 
 it was only by their complete overthrow that 
 eastern Connecticut could bo colonized. This 
 tribe inhabited a broad extent of territory, but 
 their central seat was between the Thames and 
 Mystic rivers in the eastern part of the present 
 town of Groton. Their principal hamlets were 
 overlooked and guarded by two fortifications, 
 the one on Pequot Hill, and the other on Port 
 Hill. The Colony of Massachusetts had already 
 failed in her attempt at their subjugation. At 
 this juncture a company of ninety men was 
 raised in the vicinity of Hartford, and placed 
 under the command of Maj. John Mason, to 
 chastise and subjugate the offending tribe. He 
 was accompanied by Uncas, the Mohegan chief, 
 and friend of the white man, at the head of sev- 
 enty warriors. After a circuitous and well- 
 planned march, Capt. Mason reached their for- 
 tress on Pequot Hill on the morning of June 5, 
 1637, undiscovered by the Indians till too lato 
 to make a successful defense. The English won 
 a decisive victory over their savage foes. Their 
 fort was destroyed, their dwellings consumed, 
 
 and half the entire nation slain. By this single 
 contest, in the overthrow and annihilation of the 
 Pequot nation, the fate of eastern Connecticut and 
 the adjoining country was decided. Unlike what 
 till then had taken place elsewhere, eastern Con- 
 necticut was obtained by conquest. 
 
 New London County was the arena ot military 
 events scarcely less exciting during the Revolution- 
 ary period. On the 6th of September, 1781, a large 
 part of the town of New London was laid in ashes 
 by that infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold. The 
 British troops burnt sixty-five dwellings, containing 
 ninety-seven families, thirty-one stores, eighteen 
 shops, twenty barns, and nine publicedifices, includ- 
 ing the court-house and several churches. 
 
 Fort Griswold on Groton Heights, after an obsti- 
 nate resistance, surrendered to the enemy. The 
 valiant Col. Ledyard was, after the surrender, slain 
 with his own sword. Seventy officers and privates 
 were also murdered. 
 
 During the war of 1812, the southern portion of 
 the county was again menaced by the enemy. At 
 this time the attack was made upon Stonington. 
 On the 9th of August, 1814, Sir Thomas Hardy, in 
 command of the British squadron, approached 
 Stonington and bombarded the place vigorously 
 for several hours. The attack was renewed each 
 day till the 12th, and then as all their efforts to burn 
 the town had proved abortive, the enemy withdrew. 
 
 In possession of rare maritime advantages and 
 railroad facilities, the county of New London has, 
 during the past half century, greatly prospered, its 
 population having increased from 35,943 in 1820- 
 to 73,137 in 1880. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 New London, as originally organized, included 
 all the territory extending four miles on each side 
 of the " Mohegan Biver," reaching north six miles 
 from the sea. The Indian name of the prospective 
 township was Pequot. A settlement was com- 
 menced here in 1046. The place was then known 
 as Nameaug. In March, 1048, the General Court 
 recommended that the town from that date should 
 be called New London, and the river named Thames. 
 New Loudon was constituted a town in 1049. 
 
 The names of John Winthrop, Jr., Esq., Rev. 
 Richard Blinman, Samuel Lathrop and Robert 
 Allen were prominent among the early settlers. 
 
 The town is situated on the west bank of the 
 Thames, three miles from Long Island Sound. It 
 is four miles in length from north to south, and 
 has an average breadth of three-fourths of a mile 
 New London was constituted a city in 1 784. By 
 the act of incorporation the entire township is in- 
 cluded within the city limits. New London is also 
 a half-shire town and a port of entry. Owing to 
 the unevenncss of the site, the city is, for the most 
 part, irregularly laid out. Yet it contains many 
 
EE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 129 
 
 handsome public and private structures. Possess- 
 ing as it does, one of the finest and most capacious 
 harbors on the coast, it occupies a prominent rank 
 among the commercial cities of New England. 
 
 The maritime surroundings of New London have 
 had a marked influence in developing the business 
 of the place. The whale and seal fisheries have at 
 times constituted an important branch of commerce. 
 
 The place is defended by Fort Trumbull, which 
 stands upon the west side of the Thames, about one 
 mile below the city. 
 
 Richard Law, LL.D. , son of Gov. Jonathan Law, 
 was born at Milford, March 17, 1733; graduated 
 at Yale 1751 ; was admitted to the bar, and 
 settled in New London, where he died Jan. 26, 
 1806. He held successively the offices of represen- 
 tative, member of the council, judge, and chief 
 justice of the superior court, member of the Con- 
 tinental Congress, judge of the district court, and 
 mayor of New London. This last municipal office 
 he held twenty-two years. 
 
 Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, son of Col. Nathan, and 
 grandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, was born at 
 Haverhill, Mass., March 27, 1666, graduated at Har- 
 vard in 1684, and was ordained, Nov. 25, 1691, 
 minister at New London, where he continued to 
 discharge the duties of his sacred office in a most 
 satisfactory manner till elected governor of the 
 Colony in 1708, which office ho held until his death 
 in 1724. 
 
 John Winthrop, P. R. S., son of Gov. Winthrop 
 of Massachusetts, was born in Groton, Eng., Feb. 
 12, 1605. His fine genius was improved by a 
 liberal education at the universities of Cambridge 
 and Dublin, and by travel on the Continent. He 
 first came to New England in 1631, but three years 
 later returned to Europe. While there he was em- 
 powered by Lords Say and Brook to make a settle- 
 ment upon Connecticut River, and was commis- 
 sioned as governor of the plantation. On his 
 return to the New World in 1635, he did not press 
 his claim to the chief magistracy, but caused a fort 
 to be built at Saybrook, and otherwise gave aid to 
 the settlers. New London is the home of Gov- 
 ernor Waller. 
 
 The first settlers of Stonington.in 1646 began 
 their plantation under the direction of the 
 younger Winthrop. He continued to reside at 
 New London, and was identified with the public 
 affairs of the town until elected governor of the 
 Colony in 1657. Subsequently he resided in 
 Hartford. He held the office of governor of 
 Connecticut and of the united Colonies to the 
 time of his death in 1676. 
 
 Fitz John Winthrop, son of the preceding, was 
 born March 14, 1639. In 1689, he was, with the 
 rank of major-general, commander of the army 
 sent to operate againt Canada. Subsequently he 
 was an agent of the Colony to Great Britain, and 
 rendered such service that the legislature pre- 
 sented him with £500 sterling. In 1698 ho was 
 elected governor of Connecticut, and was an- 
 nually re-elected to the office till the time of his 
 death, November 27, 1717. 
 
 Norwich — The domain lying between the Yantic 
 and Shetucket rivers was by the Indians termed 
 "Mohegan." In May, 1659, the General Court 
 authorized the planting of a colony in the Mo- 
 
 hegan country, and in the next month Uncas 
 and his brother Wawequn, for the consideration 
 of £70, ceded to the English a portion of their 
 territory nine miles square, including within its 
 limits the present towns of Norwich, Franklin, 
 Bozrah, Lisbon and Sprague, with portions of 
 other towns. In the spring of 1660 thirty -five 
 proprietors, under the guidance of Maj. John 
 Mason and Rev. James Fitch, removed from Say- 
 brook hither, and established themselves in the 
 locality now known as Norwich Town. The 
 name Norwich was given to the settlement in 
 1662, in honor of Norwich in England. In the 
 old Saxon language it signifies North Castle, and 
 the towering rocks found here might easily sug- 
 gest the idea of battlements. 
 
 The township has an average length from north 
 to south of seven miles, and a medium breadth 
 of three miles. The surface is diversified by 
 hills and plains, which give to the place a pic- 
 turesque appearance. The prevailing soil is 
 dark-colored loam, which is generally fertile. 
 Norwich is favored with excellent water-priv- 
 ileges. The Shetucket from the northeast, and 
 the Yantic from the northwest (after dashing 
 over high rocks at Norwich Falls, and rushing 
 through a narrow, winding chasm in the cove 
 below), unite, and in their union become the 
 Thames. The entire length of the Thames, thus 
 constituted, to Long Island Sound, is fourteen 
 miles. 
 
 Norwich Town is situated about two miles 
 above the navigable waters of the Thames. This 
 place for two-thirds of a century was the prin- 
 cipal centre of business in the town. It was also 
 the seat of the courts till comparatively a late 
 date. The buildings, though not modern in 
 style, are quite respectable in appearance. The 
 location had good natural advantages for the 
 planting of a town at that date. Norwich City 
 was incorporated as such in 1784. At an early 
 day it was known as Chelsea or the Landing, 
 being situated at the head of the Thames. Al- 
 though the locality possessed rare maritime and 
 other advantages, they remained unimproved till 
 about 1726. At first it required great labor to 
 remove the rocks and ledges, and reclaim the 
 low, swampy grounds before eligible sites for 
 the streets and for their dwellings could be 
 secured. But by unremitting effort these obsta- 
 cles have been overcome, and now a pleasant, 
 romantic city crowns these rugged hillsides. 
 The public buildings include the court-house 
 and jail, the free academy, and several elegant 
 churches. Almost the entire distance from the 
 town plot to the city is studded with elegant 
 and substantial residences. 
 
 The vast water-power of Norwich has, to a 
 large extent, been brought into use. The She- 
 tucket has been dammed at Greenville, at Taft- 
 villo, and at Occum, and large mills have been 
 erected at each of these villages for manufactur- 
 ing purposes. Greenville is particularly dis- 
 tinguished for its mammoth paper mills. The 
 waters of the Yantic River have been utilized at 
 the Falls, and at other villages higher up the 
 stream. 
 
 The Yantic Cemetery, on the east bank of the 
 Yantic River, was consecrated in 1844. It includes 
 
130 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 an extensive area of ground, agreeably diversified, 
 in a romantic section, and already contains many 
 elegant and costly monuments. 
 
 The ancient Indian cemetery was located at the 
 head of the cove. It contains a granite obelisk 
 that commemorates the name of Uncas. The corner- 
 stone of this monument was laid by President Jack- 
 son in 1833. The history of Norwich from its first 
 settlement to the present time has been characterized 
 by steady improvement. The population of the 
 town and city in 1880 was 21,141. 
 
 Samuel Huntington, LL.D., born in Windham 
 in 1731, was admitted to the bar, and settled in 
 Norwich, where he soon rose to the front rank in 
 his profession. In 1775, having previously held 
 the office of judge of the Supreme Court, he was 
 chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress, and, 
 on the 4th of July, 1776, he appended his name to 
 the Declaration of Independence. In 1779 he was 
 chosen president of Congress, and was re-elected to 
 the same office in 1780. In 1783 he was re-elected 
 to Congress, and during the following year he was 
 appointed chief justice of the Superior Court. In 
 May, 1780, he was elected governor of the State, 
 and was annually re-elected until his death in 1796. 
 
 Gov. Huntington, though not a graduate, had 
 received honorary degrees from Dartmouth and 
 Yale. 
 
 Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, D. D., was born in 
 1710, graduated at Harvard in 1730, and was in- 
 stalled as the first minister of Chelsea, in Norwich, 
 in 1761. As Mr. Whitaker was a man of fine 
 talents and of prepossessing appearance, and had 
 also manifested a deep interest in the welfare of 
 the Mohegan Indians, he was, in 1 760, selected to 
 accompany Occum in his mission to England and 
 Scotland. The selection proved to be judicious, 
 for the collections from this source amounted to 
 more than £10,000. His publications were quite 
 numerous, consisting of sermons, tracts, etc. He 
 died in Virginia in i795. 
 
 Rev. James Fitch was born an Boking, Eng., in 
 1622, and came to New England 1638. He was 
 for seven years in Hartford under the instruction of 
 Messrs. Hooker and Stone. In 1646 he was 
 ordained over a church at Saybrook, where he 
 remained until 1660, when he removed, with the 
 bulk of his people, to Norwich, and in that town 
 passed the remaining active days of his life. When 
 the infirmities of old age obliged him to cease from 
 his public labors, he retired to the home of his 
 children in Lebanon, where he died November 18, 
 1702. He became acquainted with the language 
 spoken by the Mohegan Indians in the neighbor- 
 hood of Norwich, and often preached to them in 
 their native tongue. For his second wife he mar- 
 ried Priscilla, daughter of Major John Mason, by 
 whom he had seven sons and one daughter. 
 
 Benjamin Huntington, LL.B., was born in 
 Norwich, in 1736, graduated at Yale in 1761, and, 
 being admitted to the bar, settled in his native 
 town, and soon rose to eminence in his profession. 
 He was a member of the Continental Congress 
 from 1780 to 1784, and from 1787 to 1788, and a 
 representative to Congress from 1789 to 1791. He 
 was a judge of the Superior Court from 1793 to 
 1797. On the incorporation of Norwich City in 
 1784, he was chosen its first mayor, in which office 
 he served until 1796. He died "in 1800. 
 
 Maj. John Mason, the military leader of the early 
 settlers of the Colony of Connecticut, was born in 
 England about the year 1600, and was bred to arms 
 in the Netherlands under Sir Thomas Fairfax. 
 During the civil disturbances in England in Crom- 
 well's time, Fairfax requested him to join his 
 standard, and assist those who were contending for 
 the liberties of the people, but he did not comply 
 with the request. 
 
 Mason arrived at Dorchester, Mass., in 1630, in 
 company with the Rev. John Wareham and others, 
 and in 1635, he removed to Windsor, Conn., and 
 assisted in laying the foundation of a new Colony. 
 The history of the part he acted in the Pequot war 
 in 1637 is given in detail elsewhere. He removed 
 from Windsor to Saybrook in 1647, and from 
 thence to Norwich in 1660, where he died in 1672. 
 He was successively commander-in-chief of the 
 militia of Connecticut, a magistrate from 1642 to 
 1660, and deputy governor of the Colony until he 
 retired from public life in 1670. He was wise and 
 prompt in planning and energetic in executing 
 whatever he deemed best for the general good. At 
 the request of the General Court, he drew and pub- 
 lished a brief history of the Pequot war which has 
 since been reprinted. 
 
 Benedict Arnold descended from an honorable 
 Rhode Island family, where one of his ancestors, 
 bearing the same name, held the office of governor 
 for fifteen years. Two brothers of this family — 
 Benedict and Oliver — removed from Newport to 
 Norwich in 1730. The elder Benedict, the father 
 of the traitor, soon became engaged in business, 
 and not long after his arrival in Norwich, married 
 Mrs. Hannah King, whose maiden name was 
 Lathrop. Benedict was born in Norwich January 
 3, 1741. Early in life he was apprenticed to Dr. 
 Lathrop, a druggist in Norwich, with whom ho 
 remained during his minorty. He subsequently 
 embarked in the same business in New Haven, and 
 while there became captain of a company of militia. 
 After the battle at Lexington he made a hasty 
 march to Cambridge at the head of his company, 
 and volunteered bis services to the Massachusetts 
 Committee of Safety. With the rank of colonel in 
 the Continental army he joined Ethan Allen and 
 assisted in the taking of Ticonderoga. Having 
 been wounded at Quebec and at Saratoga, and so 
 rendered unfit for active field service, he was placed 
 in command at Philadelphia, after that place had 
 been evacuated by Carleton, in 1778. He was at 
 this time a major-general in the Continental army. 
 While in Philadelphia, Arnold married the 
 daughter of Judge Shippen, a Tory. At bis own 
 earnest solicitation he was, in August, 1780, 
 appointed by Washington to the command of West 
 Point. His eternally infamous act of treachery 
 soon followed. Arnold-received from the British 
 government the stipulated reward of his perfidy. 
 He was made a brigadier-genaral in the British 
 service, which rank he held throughout the war. 
 In childhood Arnold was quarrelsome, untruthful, 
 and disobedient ; and in manhood was ambitious, 
 perfidious, dishonest, and revengeful. He died in 
 disgrace at Gloucester Place, London, in June, 
 1801. 
 
 Stonington. — Southerton, or Stonington, was 
 for a time claimed by Massachusetts by virtue 
 of assistance rendered to Connecticut in the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 131 
 
 conquest of the Pequots. And further, this 
 place was supposed to be included in a grant to 
 them by the Earl of Warwick and Council for 
 British America, December 10, 1643, and was 
 settled by persons who went thither under John 
 Winthrop, Jr., in 1646. It was assigned to Con- 
 necticut by commissioners of the United Colo- 
 nies July 26, 1647. This order being revoked, 
 the settlers at Southerton petitioned to Massa- 
 chusetts that they might be a township, which 
 was granted October 25, 1658, and they were 
 united with Suffolk County. They continued 
 to sustain this relation, and entered into a vol- 
 untary compact on the 30th of June to govern 
 themselves and conduct their own affairs. But 
 after Connecticut obtained the Koyal Charter in 
 1662, the town, being included in the grant, 
 was re-annexed to Connecticut. 
 
 In October, 1665, the General Court gave to 
 the settlement the name of Mystic. In May, 
 1666, the name was changed to Stonington. The 
 Indian name was Pawcatuck. 
 
 The water-privileges of the town, including 
 the Mystic Kiver on the west, and the Pawca- 
 tuck on the east, with the several intermediate 
 streams known as Copp's Brook, Stony Brook 
 and Anguilla Brook, are of great value. All 
 these streams discharge their waters into the 
 Sound, thus affording excellent manufacturing 
 and maritime privileges. Add to these natural 
 advantages the " Point," with its harbor, break- 
 water and railroad, and. it will be made clear 
 how so many largo and self-sustaining villages 
 have grown up within the township. These are 
 the Borough, on Fisher's Island Sound, which 
 was incorporated as such in 1801 ; Mystic Bridge, 
 Greenmanville and Mystic on Mystic Biver ; and 
 Stillmanville and Pawcatuck Bridge, on the 
 Pawcatuck Biver. These have in the past been 
 largely dependent upon shipbuilding and other 
 maritime interests for their prosperity, and have 
 in turn been efficient nurseries for the produc- 
 tion of an able body of seamen. The popula- 
 tion in 1880 was 7,353. 
 
 Capt. Thomas Miner, born in England in 1608, 
 came to New England in 1630, and was one of 
 the original settlers at New London, being asso- 
 ciated with Winthrop, in 1647. In 1053 he removed 
 to Stonington and made that place his future home. 
 He was for a long period engaged in civil affairs, 
 and during King Philip's war rendered efficient ser- 
 vico as a military leader. He died at Stonington 
 Oct. 23, 1690. 
 
 Thomas Stanton, "The Indian Interpreter," came 
 to tliis country in 1636, and with almost unparal- 
 leled facility, acquired the mastery of the dialects 
 spoken by the aborigines in Now England. In 
 1638 he was appointed to the office of interpreter by 
 the General Court of Connecticut. He also received 
 the appointment of interpreter-general from the 
 commissioners of the United Colonies. His peculiar 
 qualifications as an interpreter rendered his services 
 quite indispensable throughout New England. 
 He was one of the early settlers of Stonington. 
 His long-established residence was on the Connecti- 
 cut side of the Pawcatuck Iliver, where he died in 
 1678. 
 
 William Cheeseborough, the first permanent set- 
 tler of Stonington, was born in Boston, Eng., in 
 
 1594. He oame to New England with Gov. Win- 
 throp and first settled in Boston. In 1649 he settled 
 in Stonington. He held the office of first selectman 
 of that town for a succession of years till his death 
 in 1G67. 
 
 Capt. George Denison, bom in 1018, came to New 
 England in 1031, in company with the Rev. John 
 Eliot, and settled first in Roxbury, Mass. In 1051 
 he became a resident of New London and there rc- 
 mained till 1054, when he removed to Stonington, 
 where he became permanently established. From 
 1071 to 1094, he represented Stonington in the Gen- 
 eral Court. As a military leader he became distin- 
 guished. He parti cipated in the Narragansett 
 Swamp fight in 1675, where he rendered important 
 service. In March, 1070, he, with others, made an 
 incursion into the Narragansett country and made 
 Canonchet, the chief sachem, a prisoner. The sav- 
 age, when offered his life on condition of living in 
 peace, said, " he chose to die before his heart grew 
 soft." The prisoner was shot at Stonington by 
 Oncco, son of Uncas. During the year 1070, Capt. 
 Denison and his volunteers killed and took as pris- 
 oners two hundred and thirty of the enemy. He 
 died at Hartford in 1094, while attending a session 
 of the General Court. 
 
 Groton was constituted an ecclesiastical society 
 in 1703, from the section of Pequot country lying 
 east of the Thames Iliver. It was incorporated as 
 a town in 1705, from territory which originally be- 
 longed to New London. It was named in honor 
 of Groton, Suffolk County, Eng., the birthplace of 
 John Winthrop, Jr., the first governor of Connec- 
 ticut after the union. The township is uneven, 
 being hilly and abounding in rocks. A narrow 
 tract extending along the Sound, and another ex- 
 tending up the Thames to a considerable distance 
 from its mouth, are pleasant and fertile, but the 
 remainder is difficult of cultivation. The town is 
 watered by the Mystic and Poquonoc rivers, which 
 discharge their waters into the Sound. 
 
 Tliere are five villages in the township, in each 
 of which is a post-office — Groton Centre on the 
 north, Mystic River on the east, Noank and Po- 
 quonoc on the south, and Groton Bank on the west. 
 
 Mystic River is navigable for vessels of 400 tons 
 burden to Mystic Bridge. Shipbuilding has been 
 carried on to some extent at the head of Mystic. 
 
 A monument has been erected on Groton Heights 
 in memory of those who were slain in Fort Gris- 
 wold in 1781. Its foundation stone is 130 feet 
 above tide- water, and the monument itself rises 127 
 feet above its base. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 5,127. 
 
 John Ledyard, the distinguished traveler, was 
 born in Groton in 1751. He sailed with Capt. 
 Cook on his third voyage of discovery, and wit- 
 nessed the tragical end of the great circumnavi- 
 gator at Owyhee. After extensive travel in the 
 sparsely inhabited provinces of Europe and Asia, 
 he was finally employed by the African Association, 
 which had been organized under the direction of 
 Sir Joseph Banks, to make a thorough exploration 
 of the interior portions of the African continent. 
 He engaged in the service of this company with 
 great enthusiasm and sailed from London on his 
 tour of discovery June 30, 1788. After repeated 
 delays at Cairo, he died at that place, greatly 
 lamented, Jan. 17, 1789. 
 
133 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Col. William Ledyard, brother of the above, was 
 also a native of Groton. In 1781 he was military 
 commander of the district which included Fort 
 Griswold on Groton Heights. The fortress was 
 not strong nor sufficiently manned to resist a 
 largo force. When a detachment of British 
 troops, numbering about 900 men, under the 
 command of Col. Eyre were advancing toward 
 the heights, tho bravo Ledyard remarked : "If 
 I must lose to-day honor or life, those who know 
 me best can toll which it will be." With only 
 one hundred and fifty men he made a brave but 
 ineffectual resistance, for, overpowered by num- 
 bers, tho fort was carried by assault with the 
 bayonet. Col. Eyre and Maj. Montgomery, hav- 
 ing been slain, the command devolved upon 
 Maj. Bloomfield, who inquired who commanded. 
 Ledyard replied, "I did command, sir, but yon 
 do now ; " and presented to him his sword. Tho 
 ferocious officer instantly ran him through with 
 his own sword. All the Americans in the fort, 
 numbering about seventy, were brutally slain 
 after they had surrendered. 
 
 Silas Deano was born in Groton, graduated at 
 Yale in 1758, and became a resident of Wethers- 
 field. In 1774 he was chosen a member of the 
 Continental Congress, and while acting in that 
 capacity was appointed as an agent from his own 
 government to tho Court of France to enlist tho 
 sympathies and secure the co-operation of the 
 French people in our struggle for independence. 
 He arrived in Paris in July, 1776. Through his 
 influence Lafayette, Rochambeau and others 
 were induced to aid the patriot cause. With 
 Dr. Franklin and Arthur Leo, ho was commis- 
 sioner for negotiating treaties with foreign pow- 
 ers. He died at Deal, in England, in 1789. 
 
 Sprague was incorporated as a township in 
 1861, from the territory of Franklin and Lisbon. 
 It is well supplied with streams of water, which 
 afford extensive manufacturing privileges. It is 
 washed by the Shetucket the entire extent of its 
 territory from the northwest to the southeast 
 boundary. Little River waters tho eastern sec- 
 tion of the town, and Beaver Brook the western. 
 Sprague was organized principally as a manu- 
 facturing town. In tho village of Baltic, in the 
 central part of the town, upon the Shetucket 
 River, is located a mammoth cotton mill. In 
 tho same village are two woolen mills on Beaver 
 Brook, which there unites with the Shetucket. 
 At the village of Hanover, two miles northeast 
 of Baltic, is located a woolen mill, on Little 
 River ; and at the village of Versailles, two miles 
 southeast of Baltic, is another woolen mill on the 
 same stream. The population in 1880 was 3,207. 
 
 Colchoster. — The General Court, in Octo- 
 ber, 1698, enacted that a township should be 
 organized at or near the place called Jere- 
 miah's Farm, on tho road to Now London. 
 This locality was then in Hartford County. 
 In October, 1699, it was called Colchester, and an- 
 nexed to New London County. Some of the names 
 prominent among the original planters were those 
 of the Hev. John Bulkley, Samuel Gilbert, Michael 
 Taintor and Joseph Pomcroy. The face of the 
 township is uneven. The soil is a gravelly loam, of 
 medium fertility, The borough of Colchester was 
 incorporated in 1824. 
 
 The borough contains a pleasant village, centrally 
 situated upon elevated ground, of perhaps fifty or 
 sixty Q0U8C6. Bacon Academy is located in this 
 village ; also a Congregational church. The exten- 
 sive works of the Hayward Rubber Company are 
 located a short distance cast of the village. The 
 population of the town in 1880 was 2,974. 
 
 Rev. John Bulkley, first minister in Colchester, 
 was a son of Kev. Gershom Bulkley, who had been 
 • pastor of the churches in New London and Wethers- 
 field. His mother was a daughter of President 
 Chauncy of Harvard College. He graduated at 
 Cambridge in 1699, was ordained in 1703, and died 
 in June, 1731. He was regarded as one of the 
 most profound and learned men in New England. 
 He was thoroughly versed in theology, law, medi- 
 cine, and science in general. Griswold was con- 
 stituted the North Society in Preston in October, 
 1716. It was incorporated as a town in 1815, and 
 received the name of Griswold. The Indian name 
 of the settlement was Pachuug. The surface of the 
 township is uneven. The prevailing soil is a 
 gravelly loam, of medium fertility. Jewett City is 
 the principal village in the town. It is located on 
 the east side of the Quinebaug River, and contains 
 about 1,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Hopeville is a small manufacturing village, situ- 
 ated on the Pachaug liiver, about 2+ miles east of 
 Jewett City. 
 
 Doaneville and Glasko are two manufacturing 
 villages located quite on the eastern border of the 
 town. Glasko contains the Griswold paper-mill. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 2,745. 
 
 Montville was constituted the North Parish in 
 New London in May, 1714. It was incorporated 
 as a town in 1786 from territory which originally 
 belonged to New London, and received the name 
 of Montville. 
 
 Montville was originally the royal seat of Uncus, 
 the Mohcgan sagamore, and continued to be tho 
 residence of tho royal family till it became extinct. 
 In the eastern part of the town was located a large 
 Indian reservation, which was held by the Indians 
 in common till 1790, when it was divided among 
 the families by the legislature of Connecticut. 
 Since that period they have been under the care of 
 guardians. Their interests have been carefully 
 guarded, and much lias been done to improve their 
 condition. Still, the tribe is wasting, and but a 
 remnant now remains. This reservation has for 
 some years been favored with a convenient church 
 edifice. Though agriculture is tho principal busi- 
 ness of the inhabitants, there are yet two manu- 
 facturing villages on the Oxoboxo Biver, in the 
 southern part of the town. These are Uncasville 
 and Montville, and each has a post-office. 
 
 Tho population in 1880 was 2,666. 
 
 William Hillhouso was the son of the Rov. 
 James Hillhouso of New London, now Montville, 
 where ho was born August 25, 1728. Ho was for 
 more than fifty years a member of tho legisla- 
 ture, and for forty years a Judge of the Court of 
 Common Pleas. From 1783 to 1786 ho was a 
 member of tho Continental Congress. In 1792 
 he received tho honorary degree of A. M. from 
 Yale College. Ho died January 12, 1816. 
 
 James Hillouse, LL.D., son of the above, was 
 born in Montville, October 21, 1754, and gradu- 
 ated at Yalo in 1773. Ho was an officer in tho 
 
REVIEW OF THE STA 
 
 war of the Revolution ; in 1791 was chosen a 
 member of Congress ; from 1796 to 1810 was a 
 member of the United States Senate ; from 1810 
 to 1825 was Commissioner of the School Fund 
 of the State ; and from 1782 to 1832 was Treasurer 
 of Yale College. He died at New Haven, Decem- 
 ber 29, 1832. 
 
 Eev. Sampson Occnm, an Indian preacher of 
 the Mohegan tribe, was born in the present town 
 of Montville in 1723, and received his education 
 from the Rev. Dr. Wheelock, the founder and 
 first President of Dartmouth College. From a 
 roving savage he became a humble Christian, and 
 for about ten years was employed as a teacher 
 among the natives of Long Island. In August, 
 1759, he was ordained by the Suffolk Presbytery. 
 In 1766 he was sent on a mission to England by 
 Mr. Wheelock to promote the interests of Moor's 
 Indian charity school. From February, 1766, 
 to July, 1767, he preached nearly four hundred 
 sermons in various parts of England and Scot- 
 laud, and everywhere immense throngs of people 
 nocked to his meetings. Large contributions 
 wore made to the school, which was soon trans- 
 planted to New Hampshire, and formed the 
 germ of Dartmouth College. He was often em- 
 ployed as a missionary among the different tribes 
 of Indians. He died near Utica, N. Y., in July, 
 1792. 
 
 Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan Indians, was a 
 Pequot by birth, and of royal descent. To the 
 English he was uniformly friendly from the first 
 settlement of the country. The triumph of 
 Major Mason over the Pequot Indians in 1637 
 was largely due to the support of Uncas and his 
 warriors, and to the information which he im- 
 parted, lie was shrewd to plan and brave to 
 execute, and generally the victor. After a lapse 
 of forty years from the victory on Pequot Hill, 
 and at a time when all the Indian tribes in New 
 England were banded together under the leader- 
 saip of King Philip for the utter extermination 
 of the whites, Uncas, at the head of two hundred 
 warriors, accompanied Major Talcott to western 
 Massachusetts, and rendered important service 
 to the settlers. He died in 1683, probably not 
 less than eighty years of age, and was buried in 
 the royal Indian burying-ground in Norwich. 
 
 Lebanon. — It was ordered by the General 
 Court in October, 1697, that the now plantation 
 situated west of Norwich be called Lebanon. 
 Lebanon was originally constituted of four dis- 
 tinct proprieties, known as the five-mile purchase, 
 the one-mile purchase, the Clark and Dewey 
 purchase, and the Whiting purchase. These 
 different tracts were united by agreement, and 
 in their union obtained an act of incorporation as 
 a township in 1700. Windham County, con- 
 stituted in 1726, included Lebanon within its 
 jurisdiction. It was annexed to New London 
 County in 1824. Agriculture is the principal 
 business of the inhabitants. The town has throe 
 flourishing parishes, known as Lebanon Proper, 
 Goshen and Exeter. These have church edifices 
 of the Congregational order, and high schools. 
 
 This historic town has given birth to six dis- 
 tinguished individuals, each of whom has risen 
 to the rank of chief magistrate of a State in our 
 Republic. Of these, five became governors of 
 
 TE OF CONNECTICUT. 133 
 
 our own State, and the sixth of a State in the far 
 West, as will appear from the annexed biographi- 
 cal sketches. The population in 1880, 1,815. 
 
 Jonathan Trumbull, son of Captain Joseph 
 Trumbull, was born in Lebanon in 1710, and 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1727. Early in 
 life he consecrated himself to the ministry, but 
 the exigencies of the times called him to a differ- 
 . ent if not a higher sphere of public exertion, 
 and consequently he served as Governor of the 
 Colony and State for fifteen years, commencing 
 in 1769. He was the only governor of a Colony 
 that remained true to his people during the war 
 of the Revolution. In Revolutionary times he 
 was almost universally known as "Brother Jona- 
 than," having been so called by Washington in 
 token of his filial regard and confidence. He 
 died August 17, 1785. 
 
 Jonathan Trumbull, son of the preceding, was 
 born in Lebanon, March 26, 1740, graduated at 
 Harvard College in 1 750, and settled in his native 
 town. From 1775 to the close of the campaign of 
 1778, he was paymaster to the army in the northern 
 department. In 1780 he was appointed secretary 
 and first aid to Washington, in whose family ho 
 remained till the close of the war. In 1789 he 
 became a member of Congress, and two years later 
 was elected speaker of the House of Representa- 
 tives. In 1794 he was elevated to a seat in the 
 Senate of the United States, and in 1798 became 
 governor of Connecticut, which position he con- 
 tinued to hold for eleven years. He died August 
 7, 1809. 
 
 Joseph Trumbull, LL.D., grandson of the senior 
 Gov. Trumbull, was born In Lebanon, December 7, 
 1782, graduated at Yale in 1801, was admitted to 
 the bar in 1802, and 1804 removed to Hartford, 
 where he became permanently established. He was 
 a member of Congress from 1839 to 1843, and in 
 1849 was elected governor of Connecticut. He 
 died in Hartford August 4, 1861. 
 
 Clark Bissell, LL.D., was born in Lebanon in 
 1784, graduated at Yale in 1806, was subsequently 
 admitted to the bar and became established atNor- 
 walk, where he soon rose to eminence. Ho was a 
 judge of the Superior Court, from 1829 to 1839; 
 governor of the State for the years 1847 and 1848. 
 and professor of jurisprudence in Yale College, 
 from 1847 to 1855. He died in 1857. 
 
 William A. Buckingham, LL.D., was born in 
 Lebanon in 1804. Early in life he became success- 
 fully engaged in business in Norwich, represented 
 that town in the State legislature, was for a long 
 period mayor of the city of Norwich, and from 
 1859 to 1866 was governor of the State. From 
 1869 to the time of his death in 1875, he was a 
 member of the United States Senate. He was hon- 
 orably known as the " War Governor of Connec- 
 ticut." 
 
 Nelson Dewey, son of John Woodward Dewey, 
 was born in Lebanon early in the present century. 
 Removing to the AVest, lie became a resident of 
 Lancaster, Wis., and, during the years 1849 and 
 1850, served as governor of his adopted State. 
 
 William Williams, son of the Hev. Solomon 
 Williams, D. D., was born in Lebanon, April 8, 
 1731, and graduated at Harvard in 1751. In 1755 
 he participated in the battle of Lake George, being 
 then a member of the staff of Col. Ephraim \Vil- 
 
134 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND IND US Till A L 
 
 liams. After protracted service in the legislature 
 of his own State, he was, during the years 1776 and 
 1777, a member of the Continental Congress, and 
 as such signed the Declaration of Independence. 
 He made great sacrifices for the cause of his country. 
 He married a daughter of the elder Gov. Trumbull. 
 Mr. Williams died at Lebanon, August 2, 1811. 
 
 Preston. — Permission was granted to Thomas 
 Parke, Sr., and others, by the General Court in 
 January, 1686-7, to make a plantation east of 
 Norwich bounds. In October, 1687, it was by the 
 same court named Preston. Preston was incor- 
 porated as a town in 1786, just a century after its 
 first settlement. The Indian name of the locality 
 was Poquetannock. 
 
 There are three villages in the township. Poque- 
 tannock is situated at the head of a cove of the 
 same name about two miles east of the Thames. It 
 contains about forty dwellings and several stores. 
 Preston City is a village located in the eastern part 
 of the town, which contains about thirty dwelling- 
 houses and two churches. The other village is 
 situated upon the south bank of the Shetucket, 
 opposite to the city of Norwich. Laurel Hill, 
 situated near the junction of the Shetucket and 
 Thames rivers, was, till recently, included within 
 the Preston limits. It now constitutes an inviting 
 section in Norwich city. 
 
 The population of Preston in 1880 was 2,519. 
 
 Lyme. — The General Court authorized the divi- 
 sion of Saybrook in May, 1649, the section east of 
 Connecticut River to be known as East Saybrook. 
 It was first settled in 1663, and was incorporated 
 as a distinct township with the name of Lyme in 
 1667. The Indian name of the locality was 
 Nehuntic. The surface of the township is rocky, 
 and parts of it hilly and mountainous. The soil is 
 hard, and docs not admit of a general cultivation 
 of crops, but affords tolerable grazing. Farming 
 is the principal business of the inhabitants. 
 
 The principal villages in the town are at Ham- 
 burgh and North Lyme. Both are situated upon 
 Eight-mile River. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 1,025. 
 
 Matthew Griswold, LL.D., was born in Lyme, 
 March 25, 1714. After serving as a representative, 
 member of the council, chief judge of the Superior 
 Court, and lieutenant-governor, he was from 1784 
 to 1786, governor of the State. In 1788 he was 
 chosen president of the convention which adopted 
 the Constitution of the United States. He died 
 April 28, 1799. His mansion was located at Black 
 Hall, near the mouth of the Connecticut River. 
 
 Roger Griswold, LL.D., son of the above, was 
 born in Lyme, May 21, 1762. He graduated at 
 Yale in 1780, and being admitted to the bar, located 
 in Norwich, and soon rose to eminence as an 
 advocate. In 1811 he was elected governor of the 
 State, having previously held the offices of judge 
 of the Superior Court and lieutenant-governor of 
 the State. lie remained in office until his death, in 
 October, 1812. 
 
 East Lyme was constituted the East Parish in 
 Lyme in October, 1721. The Indian name of the 
 locality was Neanticut. A moiety of the territory 
 now constituting East Lyme was an Indian reser- 
 vation for the Western Nehantics, when the towns 
 of New London and Lyme were incorporated. 
 This reservation was afterwards claimed by each 
 
 town, but by mutual agreement the ownership was 
 decided by a pugilistic contest between two com- 
 batants from each town in the field. Lyme became 
 the winner, and the territory was annexed to that 
 town. The surface of the township is diversified. 
 Hills and rocks prevail in the northern portion, 
 while on the Sound the grounds are low and 
 marshy. The village of Flanders is located at the 
 head of Niantic River, while Niantic Village is 
 seated at the mouth of the same river on the Sound. 
 Population in 1880, 1,731. 
 
 Old Lyme was re-incorporated as a township in 
 1855, wholly from the territory of Lyme. At first 
 the new town was called Soutli Lyme. This name 
 was subsequently changed to Old Lyme. The 
 settlement of East Saybrook, at the mouth of the 
 Connecticut River, primarily led to the early incor- 
 poration of the town of Lyme. Agriculture gives 
 employment mainly to the inhabitants. 
 
 Lyme Village is situated about twelve miles 
 from the Sound, and ono mile east of Connecticut 
 River. The main street runs parallel with the river, 
 and contains a Congregational church edifice and 
 the Lyme post-office. Black Hall, the ancient seat 
 of the Griswold family, lies directly upon the 
 Sound, near the mouth of the Connecticut River. 
 The population of Old Lyme in 1880 was 1,387. 
 
 Franklin was originally included in the territory 
 of Norwich. It was constituted the Second Eccle- 
 siastical Society in Norwich in October, 1716, with 
 the title of West Farms. Its settlement was almost 
 coeval with that of the present township. In 1063 
 measures were taken to apportion the territory 
 within the present town limits to the original pro- 
 prietors then residing at Norwich town. Soon 
 thereafter settlements actually commenced on the 
 hillsides and up and down the streams, and shortly 
 a thriving community occupied the most desirable 
 portions of the new settlement. Among the early 
 settlers are names that still honor the town, as 
 Ayer, Huntington, Kingsbury, Mason and Tracy. 
 It was incorporated as a town in 1786, and received 
 the name of Franklin. Its population in 1880 was 
 686. The face of the township is diversified by 
 hills and valleys. The soil is a loam, well adapted 
 to grazing, grain-growing and fruit-culture. 
 
 There is no village within the limits of the town, 
 and but one church edifice, and that a Congrega- 
 tional. Agriculture has been the principal pursuit 
 of the inhabitants, which has been successfully 
 conducted, but not to the neglect of more impor- 
 tant interests. The common school has ever had 
 the watchful, fostering care of the inhabitants, and 
 to the credit of the community it may be said that, 
 with a limited poulation, more than forty of her 
 sons have graduated with honor at the different 
 colleges in our country. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Nott, D. D., was born in Saybrook, 
 January 23, 1754. He graduated at Yale in 1780, 
 and was settled in the ministry at Norwich, now 
 Franklin, May 13, 1782, where he remained until 
 the close of his long and useful life. His ministry 
 covered a period of more than seventy veal's. His 
 death occurred May 26, 1852, from the effects of a 
 burn. He published a large number of sermons. 
 
 Hon. Uriah Tracy, born in Franklin, February 
 2, 1755, graduated at Yale in 1778, read law with 
 Judge Reeves of Litchfield, and settled in that town 
 in the practice of his profession. He often repre- 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 135 
 
 scnted Litchfield in the legislature, and in 1793 was 
 sj)eaker of the House. From 1793 to 1790 he was 
 a representative in Congress, and from 1796 to 
 1807 was a member of the Senate, and in 1800 was 
 president pro tern, of that body. He rose to the 
 rank of major-general of militia. Gen. Tracy was 
 a leader of the Federal party, and an intimate 
 friend of Hamilton, Ames, Morris, and their asso- 
 ciates. He died at Washington, July 19, 1807, and 
 was the first person interred in the congressional 
 burying-ground. 
 
 North Stonington was constituted the North Par- 
 ish in Stonington, in October, 1720, and was by 
 the General Court named North Stonington in May, 
 1724. The Indian name of this locality was 
 Wequetequock. It was incorporated as a town in 
 1807, from territory which was originally a part of 
 Stonington. It is an agricultural town, and is 
 watered by the Shanock and Pawcatuck rivers, 
 which afford sites for mills. 
 
 The only village in the town is now known by 
 the name of North Stonington. This place was 
 anciently called Milltown. It contains about 
 thirty dwelling-houses, half a dozen stores and two 
 churches. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 1,769. 
 
 Ledyard was made the North Parish of Groton 
 by the General Court in October, 1 725. It was 
 then known as North Groton. It was incorporated 
 as a town in 1836, and named from the hero of 
 Groton Heights. Agriculture is the principal bus- 
 iness of the inhabitants. A small remnant of the 
 Pequot tribe of Indians still remains in the north- 
 eastern section of the town. The principal village 
 in the town of Ledyard is at Gale's Ferry, on the 
 east bank of the Thames, which consists of about 
 thirty dwelling-houses. 
 
 The population in 1880 was 1,373. 
 
 Salem. — In May, 1728, a parish was consti- 
 tuted from sections of the towns of Colchester 
 and Lyme, to which the name of New Salem 
 was given. This was incorporated as a town in 
 May, 1819, and received the name of Salem. 
 There is no village in the township of magni- 
 
 tude. There are three houses of public wor- 
 ship — Congregational, Methodist and Episcopal. 
 Agriculture is the principal business of the in- 
 habitants. The population in 1880 was 574. 
 
 Bozrah. — Bozrah was constituted a society 
 within the limits of Norwich in May, 1737, with 
 the name of New Concord. It was incorporated 
 a town in 1786, with the name of Bozrah. 
 Among the early settlers the names of Water- 
 man and Hough and Fox were prominent ; 
 names not uncommon at this date. The face of 
 the township is generally uneven, consisting of 
 hills and valleys ; its geological character is 
 granitic ; the soil is gravelly loam, moderately 
 fertile. 
 
 Fitchville, located near the centre of the town, 
 and Bozrahville, two miles above, are both man- 
 ufacturing villages, and both situated upon tho 
 Yantic River. The central part of the town is 
 fourteen miles from New London and thirty- 
 three from Hartford. The population in 1880 
 was 1,155. 
 
 Lisbon was originally included within the 
 limits of Norwich. It was constituted the north- 
 east parish of the parent township in May, 1718, 
 and received the name of Newent in October, 
 1722. It was incorporated as a town in 1788, 
 and given its present name. The Indian name 
 of the locality was Shetucket. 
 
 Agriculture is the leading business of the in- 
 habitants. The population is consequently scat- 
 tered. The number of inhabitants in 1880 was 
 630. 
 
 Waterford was incorporated as a township in 
 1801, including all the remaining territory of 
 Now London except the city. The Indian name 
 was Tawawaug. A valuable quarry of granite is 
 extensively worked in the southwestern section 
 of the town. A small village, to whieh the 
 name of Graniteville has been given, is located 
 near the quarry. Agriculture is the principal 
 business of tho inhabitants. The population in 
 1880 was 2,701. 
 
TOLLAND COUNTY. 
 
 Tolland County, the youngest and the least in 
 area, except one, of the Connecticut counties, was 
 incorporated by the General Court, at New Haven, 
 in October, 1785, and included Tolland, Stafford, 
 Bolton, Somers, Hebron, Willington, Union and 
 Ellington. The act establishing the county was 
 conditioned upon the building of a suitable court- 
 house and jail in the town of Tolland. In May, 
 1786, the General Court re-enacted the act of 1785, 
 and added Coventry to the lists of towns. This 
 number of towns has been increased to thirteen by 
 the creation of Vernon out of Bolton in 1808 ; by 
 the transfer of Mansfield and Columbia from Wind- 
 ham County in 1827, and by the organization of 
 Andover out of Coventry and Hebron in 1848. All 
 of the towns were settled long before the county 
 was organized, and most of them were incorporated 
 before its organization. 
 
 About one-quarter of this county was bought of 
 Indians — Joshua, a Mohegan sachem, and others. 
 Some of it was sold by the Colony. The county 
 lies, a small part of it, at the base, and a larger 
 part among the hills which rise out of the Connec- 
 ticut Valley about twelve miles east of Hartford, 
 and extend beyond the eastern border of the county. 
 
 Many of the early settlers came from Norwich 
 and vicinity, and from the Connecticut Valley, as 
 those regions became more thickly populated. 
 Among the earliest were many from eastern Massa- 
 chusetts. The original settlers were of the Pilgrim 
 and Puritan stock, and brought with them the pur- 
 pose to make their settlements religious commu- 
 nities. Their first care, after finding habitations 
 for themselves, was to establish the regular weekly 
 worship of God, and to provide a house for this 
 worship. The next public care was to open a 
 school. 
 
 The earliest industries of the county were princi- 
 pally farming — clearing tracts of land and getting 
 the soil in proper condition to raise produce for the 
 maintenance of the family — and the manufacture, 
 in each home, of hand-spun and hand-woven 
 woolen and linen cloth for the wear of the family. 
 
 The streams of this county give numerous facili- 
 ties for manufacturing, and, in later years, they 
 have utilized, and have furnished water-power for 
 factories which have drawn to themselves that 
 domestic manufacture which before was scattered 
 over the hills, and gave activity to every household. 
 It may be said of this county, as a whole, that it 
 has well improved its manufacturing facilities. In 
 1870 there were only two counties — Windham and 
 New Haven — that had a larger ratio than Tolland 
 County of capital invested in manufacturing, in 
 proportion to the total valuation of property, 
 
 The brooks and rivers of the county gather a 
 portion of the waters that unite at Norwich to form 
 the river Thames. Tlie Willimantic is the princi- 
 
 pal river in the county, and has contributed much 
 to the support of the inhabitants. In early times 
 shad and salmon were caught in large quantities up 
 as far as Tolland, and probably higher. 
 
 Large tracts of heavy woodlands remained in this 
 county thirty years ago, especially in the eastern 
 part of it. It is estimated that full one-half of the 
 forest trees then standing have been since cut off. 
 
 The New York and New England, and the New 
 London Northern are the principal railroads in the 
 county. The Boston and New York Air Line runs 
 into the borders of two of the southern towns, and 
 there are besides two or three short branch roads. 
 
 The people of Tolland County have always been 
 law-abiding and orderly. There have been less 
 crimes and fewer criminal trials than in any other 
 county in the State. Only one person has ever been 
 executed for murder in the county, and only four 
 capital trials have occurred from its organization to 
 the present time. The first of these occurred about 
 thirty-eight years after its incorporation. The 
 criminal was convicted of murder, and publicly 
 hung in the presence of a vast concourse of people, 
 who had come from every town in the county to 
 witness so unusual a spectacle. The execution took 
 place on an eminence near the county jail. 
 
 The county in Connecticut has no legislative 
 functions. It is empowered to establish roads, and 
 to prosecute offenses against the laws. Asa county 
 it has no representative in the General Assembly, 
 and has no political life. The town is the unit, 
 and it is not county-wise but town-wise that the 
 people act as citizens of the Commonwealth of Con- 
 necticut. The history of the county is therefore to 
 be found in the town records, and we turn to the 
 towns for the history of the civil and religious life 
 of the county. These were so much one in the 
 colonial period, that any history of Connecticut 
 would be partial and incomplete which should 
 attempt to separate the civil from the religious 
 history, and give one without the other. Indeed, 
 the dominating religious purpose of the Colonies 
 necessarily makes any faithful history largely a 
 religious history. 
 
 The population of the county in 1790 was 13,100, 
 and in 1880, 24,112. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 Mansfield was originally a part of Windham. 
 Settlements began to be made as early as 1690, 
 several years earlier than any other town in the 
 county. From that time the inhabitants gradually 
 increased in numbers until they began to petition 
 the General Court of the Connecticut Colony to make 
 them a distinct town, on account of the great diffi- 
 culties and hazards to which they were exposed by 
 reason of the "deep and dangerous river " between 
 
138 
 
 THE HI8T0RI0A L, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTJUAL 
 
 them and the mceting-liouse in Windham. In Hay, 
 1703, the Court granted the jjetition, and the town 
 was incorporated. 
 
 Among the original grantees are the names of 
 Shubael Dimmock, Joseph Hall, Samuel Storrs, 
 Kobert Fenton, Peter Cross, John Boyce and Peter 
 Crane, nearly all of whom have lineal descendants 
 in the place at this time. 
 
 Mansfield was incorporated on condition the 
 petitioners should settle over them an "able and 
 orthodox " minister of the gospel. Worship was 
 regularly held and a pastor sought continuously 
 until, in 1710, Mr. Eleazer Williams, son of Rev. 
 John Williams of Deerfield, Mass., accepted a call 
 to settle. The church was organized and the pastor 
 ordained the same day. The second pastor was Dr. 
 Richard Salter, whose ministry extended into and 
 through the war of '70, and who helped to give 
 the tone of patriotism which distinguished eastern 
 Connecticut in the early days of that conflict. 
 
 Mansfield was divided into two parishes — the 
 north and south — in 1737; and in the same year 
 that Mr. Salter was ordained over the first church, 
 Mr. William Throop was ordained the first pastor 
 of the second church, Sept. l'J, 1744. It is note- 
 worthy that the second and third pastors of the 
 second church were father and son — Daniel Welch 
 and Moses Cook Welch — whose united ministry 
 covered seventy years. It is an interesting fact 
 that another member of the Welch family — Moses 
 Cook Welch — a grandson and namesake of the 
 second Mr. Welch, has been in recent years a 
 pastor of the same church. He served as chaplain 
 during the civil war. 
 
 About the time that Mr. Salter and Mr. Throop 
 were ordained Mansfield had its experience of 
 troubles produced by the Separatist movement. 
 This peculiar religious movement was the natural 
 outcome of several causes, some which lay far 
 back in the history of the Colony. There had first 
 been brought into the churches, gradually, through 
 the half-way covenant, an element which loosened 
 the discipline and led to decline in the piety of 
 the churches. Along with this, and perhaps a 
 result of this, there grew a demand for a closer 
 union of the churches, and some judicial authority 
 outside of the individual church. This desire 
 found expression in the Saybrook Platform, which 
 organized the Consociation. This was a court of 
 judicature over Congregational churches. The 
 General Court was in sympathy with this feeling 
 and made the Platform the rule of the churches. 
 Then came, in 1735, '41 and '42, powerful revivals, 
 which awakened an earnest spirit of active piety 
 mingled with self-confident enthusiasm. New 
 proofs of being in a state of grace were demanded, 
 and censorious judgments were pronounced upon 
 such church-members as were notin sympathy with 
 the revival. Churches were divided into parties. 
 The "New Lights," or promoters of the revival 
 were disciplined. Laws were enacted restraining 
 liberty of worship outside of the "established 
 order." Many of the " New Lights " paid no regard 
 to these laws, but withdrew from the established 
 churches and organized churches of their own. 
 
 A Separatist church was organized in Mansfield 
 consisting in large part of members of the two 
 established churches in town ; but as it was the 
 first church of the kind in that section of the State, 
 
 seceders from the established churches in adjoining 
 towns united with them, and Mansfield gained a 
 certain notoriety as being the headquarters of the 
 Separatists in that vicinity. This church called 
 itself Congregational. It was not in any sense an 
 active protest against Congregationalism ; it was 
 a protest against the want of tolerance in the 
 colonial laws and in the spirit of the churches. 
 But the protest, as is usual in such cases, was urged 
 with an intolerance which emulated the intolerance 
 of which they complained. This Separatist Church 
 maintained its organization an uncertain number of 
 years, and was disbanded sometime before the end 
 of the century. 
 
 As early as 1793 there began to be Methodist 
 services in town, and a Methodist meeting-house was 
 built in 1797, in the eastern partof the north pariah. 
 
 A Baptist society was organized in this town in 
 1808, and the society erected a meeting-house in 
 the centre of the town the same year. 
 
 Tolland County, together with the rest of eastern 
 Connecticut, was profoundly stirred by the arbi- 
 trary proceedings of the British Parliament in the 
 Boston Port Bill and the Quebec Bill, and pre- 
 viously in the Stamp Act. In town meeting, Octo- 
 ber, 1774, the citizens of Mansfield expressed their 
 affliction at the oppressive measures which threat- 
 ened the inhabitants with total loss of liberty, and 
 declared it to be their duty to oppose cruel and 
 unjust measures, and to maintain freedom ; and 
 resolved that they would be faithful subjects of 
 King George the Third, so long as the crown 
 maintained inviolate the stipulated rights of the 
 people; and that they would defend with their 
 lives and their fortunes their national and consti- 
 tutional rights. 
 
 As early as February, 1775, Mansfield directed 
 her representatives to move in General Court that 
 a proper number of men be levied and equipped 
 for the defense of the Colony; and in October 
 they were directed to move the Court to dispose of 
 lands belonging to persons inimical to the cause of 
 liberty. 
 
 Mansfield has been from a very early period a 
 manufacturing town. There is record of a fulling- 
 mill in 1731, and of a spinning-mill in 1734. The 
 early raising of silk-worms, principally by women 
 and girls, and the manufacture of silk by hand, 
 gave distinction to the town. In 1788, thirty-two per- 
 sons of this town petitioned the General Court to be 
 incorporated for the manufacture of silk. The re- 
 quest of the petitioners was allowed, and silk-cul- 
 ture gradually became a leading industry in Mans- 
 field. Nearly every farmer raised mulberry trees, 
 and his wife and daughters fed the silk-worms, and 
 spun the silk. 
 
 The introduction of machinery run by water- 
 power, for spinning silk, made a revolution in do- 
 mestic silk manufacture. The first experiments in 
 this new method were made by Rodney Hanks, and 
 his nephew, Horatio Hanks, in 1810, with machin- 
 ery invented by themselves, and made with their 
 own hands. The Hanks family, in several genera- 
 tions, has been noted for its inventive genius, which 
 has, from time to time, produced various new 
 machines and implements for facilitating labor in 
 different branches of industry. It was several 
 years, however, after the Messrs. Hanks l>egan to 
 spin silk by water-power, before a silk-factory of 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 139 
 
 considerable dimensions was built in the town. 
 Before that time, two - cotton-spinning factories 
 were erected in the western part of Mansfield, on 
 the Willimantic River, and the women in the town 
 were employed to take home the factory-spun yarn, 
 and weave it into shirting and sheeting in hand- 
 looms. After the use of water-power had become 
 successfully established for weaving as well as 
 spinning, the household manufacture of sewing- 
 silk, and of woolen and linen doth, gradually 
 declined, and many of the girls left their lathers' 
 houses, and worked in the mills. Then began a 
 great change in the social life of the town ; the 
 girls began to leave the hillsides for the manufactur- 
 ing villages, the young men and boys also sought 
 business away from their homes, and few besides 
 the elderly people remained by the old firesides. 
 Farms were less widely cultivated ; agriculture 
 declined ; the long-established churches diminished 
 in numbers and wealth, and the inherited customs 
 and old New England habits were so changed as to 
 forever separate the modern from the old New 
 England life. 
 
 The oldest burying-ground in Tolland County was 
 laid out in 1 09(5, in what was then called the Ponde- 
 place — now the first parish of Mansfield — seven 
 years before Mansfield was made a distinct town. 
 Here was buried Samuel Storrs, who came from 
 England, and who was one of the original propri- 
 etors of the town — the great ancestor, not only of 
 the families of Storrs in Mansfield, but of Rev. Mr. 
 Storrs, of Longmeadow, Mass. ; ' of Dr. Kichard 
 Salter Storrs, of Braintree, Mass. ; and Dr. R. S. 
 Storrs, of Brooklyn, N. Y. In fact, he is the com- 
 mon ancestor of nearly all of the numerous families 
 of Storrs in the United States. 
 
 The second parish of Mansfield, through the mu- 
 nificence of Mr. Charles Storrs, of Brooklyn, N. Y., 
 has an unusually large and beautiful cemetery, in- 
 closed by a substantial stone wall. From the rear 
 of this cemetery, which is the highest ground in 
 Mansfield, a view is obtained sucli as few inland 
 towns furnish. 
 
 In 1804, Mr. Storrs became desirous that a school 
 should be established in Mansfield of a higher grade 
 than the district school. By his earnest solicita- 
 tions and liberal aid, Mr. Edwin Whitney, of the 
 Reform School in Providence, was induced to open 
 a boarding and day school in the north parish in 
 1865. Mr. Whitney was well adapted for the work, 
 and the school started with every prospect of suc- 
 cess, but before the close of the first term it was 
 broken up by a fire, which destroyed the principal's 
 dwelling. Mr. Whitney built anew, but before the 
 house was ready to be opened for scholars he offered 
 it, with the farm, to the State, for use as a soldiers' 
 orphans' home. Mr. Whitney had been prevented 
 by physical disqualification from volunteering, and 
 said that, as he could not offer himself to his coun- 
 try, he must do something that should be of service 
 to the common cause. The State accepted the gift, 
 and so the Connecticut Soldiers' Orphans' Home 
 was established in Mansfield. 
 
 The population of the town is 2,154. 
 
 Vernon, incorporated in 1808. was first settled by 
 sons from East Windsor and Bolton. The east- 
 ern part of the township is crossed by a range of 
 mountains, forming the eastern boundary of the 
 
 Connecticut Valley. The considerable streams 
 are the Hockanum and the Tancanhoosen, which, 
 supply water to many mills and factories. Rock- 
 ville, the principal manufacturing village, ob- 
 tains its water-power from the Hockanum. It 
 contains nin'e woolen mills, three cotton mills, a 
 silk factory, machine shops, and various other 
 industrial establishments. 
 
 A cotton factory was in operation in this town 
 shortly before the year 1800. In 1811, Peter 
 Dobson erected machinery for spinning cotton 
 in Vernon. He conducted the business of cottoD 
 manufacturing for fifty years, and in connaotion 
 with his family for nearly seventy years. The 
 business is still continued in the vicinity. 
 
 The war of 1812 created a necessity for making 
 cloth for soldiers. Our ports were blockaded, 
 and all trade outside the States cut off. A 
 piece of cloth lrom a tailor's bench was 
 shown Mr. Dobson. Closely examining it, he 
 found the warp cotton and the filling woolen 
 yarn. He then made a jack and jenny for spin- 
 ning wool, having seen similar machines in Eng- 
 land. In a short time the facilities for spinning 
 wool for filling, and cotton yarn for warps, pro- 
 duced a cloth called satinet. This cloth was 
 blue mixed for soldiers' wear, and was made in 
 a variety of colors. Satinets were made in Ver- 
 non from the first until 1841. The first cassi- 
 meres in Rockville were made in the New Eng- 
 land mill, burned soon after its construction, 
 and rebuilt in 1841-2. 
 
 The population of Vernon is about 7,000. 
 
 Stafford, on the Massachusetts line, and incor- 
 porated in 1808, was settled in 1719 by Robert 
 White and Matthew Thompson from England, 
 Samuel and John Warner from Hadley, Mass., 
 David and Josiah Blodget from Wobnrn, Daniel 
 Colburn from Dedham, and others from towns 
 in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The first 
 minister, Mr. Graham, was settled in 1723. 
 There are several minerals in the town, of which 
 iron ore is the most important. The ore which 
 is principally used is the bog ore, and is of an 
 excellent quality. In 1779, John Phelps and 
 others built a blast furnace on a large scale. 
 Hollow-ware, cannon, cannot-shot, and a great 
 variety of patterns for manufactures and descrip- 
 tion of machinery were cast. In 1796 another 
 large furnace was erected, and from that time 
 until 1820 an immense business was carried 
 on.. Since the latter date the demand has been 
 too great to be supplied from the ore-beds, and 
 pig-iron has been used for machinery castings 
 everywhere. The locality of the old furnace was 
 called Furnace Hollow, and it is the post-office 
 name to-day. But the blast furnace is gone, and 
 also the business of former years. Stafford Springs 
 and Foxville contain six large factories, and several 
 of lesser importance. The mineral springs in 
 Stafford in former years acquired considerable 
 celebrity. The Indians made the white settlers 
 acquainted with the virtues of these springs, when, 
 in 1719, this region was first settled. It had been 
 their practice from time immemorial, to resort to 
 the springs in warm weather, and plant their wig- 
 wams around them. It is said that in 1766 the 
 springs were carefully examined by Dr. Joseph 
 Warren, who then had thoughts of purchasing the 
 
140 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDlSTi: I M. 
 
 land on which they rise, with a view of establish- 
 ing himself upon it. Subsequent events trans- 
 formed the physician into the soldier, and Dr. 
 Warren fell in tho first great struggle of the Revo- 
 lution—the battle of Bunker Hill. Dr. Willard 
 afterwards put the plan of Dr. Warren into opera- 
 tion, by erecting a large hotel for the accommoda- 
 tion of patients and others. 
 
 Stafford Springs contains four churches and sev- 
 eral banks. The New London and Northern Kail- 
 road passes through the place. Total number of 
 churches in the town, eleven. About five years 
 since a large reservoir in the northern part of the 
 town gave way. Dams and mills were destroyed, 
 and at the Springs, six largo dwellings, a church, 
 factories, stores, a bank, etc., were swept away, 
 and two men, standing on the steps of the church, 
 were drowned. Staffordville, Hydeville, and West 
 Stafford, have important manufactures. The en- 
 tire town has a population of about 4,500. 
 
 Coventry was first settled about the year 1700, by 
 Nathaniel Rust and others. In the spring of 1709, 
 a number of persons, principally from Northamp- 
 ton and Hartford, moved here, and two years later 
 the town was incorporated. The township was 
 given by Joshua, sachem of the Mohegans, to a 
 number of legatees in Hartford. These conveyed 
 their right to William Pitkin. Joseph Talcott, Wil- 
 liam Whiting and Richard Lord, to be a committee 
 to lay out the township and make settlements 
 therein. 
 
 A stream called the Skungamug runs through 
 the town, and, uniting with other streams, forms 
 the Hop River. Lake Wangomlx>g, two miles in 
 length, is an important feature of the landscape. 
 
 Coventry will ever be remembered as the birth- 
 place of Capt. Nathan Hale, the patriot and mar- 
 tyr, lie was the son of Richard and Elizabeth 
 Hale, and was born JuneO, 1755, being the third in 
 descent from Rev. John Hale, the first minister of 
 Beverly, Mass. Nathan Hale graduated at Yale in 
 in 1773, with high honor, and for a brief period 
 taught school at East Haddam and New London, 
 with great success. His parents intended him for 
 the ministry, but, on the Lexington alarm in 1 775, 
 he wrote to his father, saying that sense of duty 
 urged him to sacrifice everything for his country, 
 and soon after entered the army as lieutenant, but 
 was soon promoted to l>c captain. He served with 
 credit in the vicinity of Boston, and in September, 
 1776, when in New York, he with an associate, 
 planned and effected the capture of a B-itish sloop, 
 laden with provisions, taking her at night from 
 under the guns of a man-of-war. After tho retreat 
 of the army from Long Island, when it was import- 
 ant to understand the plans of the enemy, Capt. 
 Hale answered Gen. Washington's application for 
 a discreet and faithful officer to enter the enemy's 
 lines and obtain intelligence. Passing in disguise 
 to the British camp, he made full drawings and 
 memoranda of all the desired information, but on 
 his leturn was apprehended and taken before Gen. 
 Howe, by whom he was ordered for execution the 
 next morning. He was denied a Bible and the aid 
 of a clergyman ; the letters he had written to his 
 father and sisters were destroyed, and lie was 
 hanged, saying with his last breath : " 1 only 
 regret that I have but one life to lose for my 
 eountry." 
 
 In November, 1887, an association was formed 
 for the purpose of erecting a cenotaph that should 
 fitly commemorate the life and services of Hale. 
 The day on which it was formed was the anniver- 
 sary of the evacuation of New York, and twenty 
 Revolutionary soldiers were present. It was not, 
 however, until 1840, that the monument was 
 completed. It is of Quincy granite, and l>ears for 
 one of its inscriptions the dying words of the youth- 
 ful hero. 
 
 A romantic and tender interest attaches to the 
 last utterances of Alice Adams, to whom Hale was 
 betrothed. She married William Lawrence of 
 Hartford, and for many years had in her possession 
 a minature of Hale, besides numerous letters and 
 his camp book. She died Sept, 4, 1845, at the age 
 of eighty-eight. The last words of Mrs. Lawrence 
 were "Write to Nathan." 
 
 Coventry has produced many men of eminence. 
 Among them may be mentioned Harlan Page. It 
 has a population of 2,043. 
 
 Hebron began to be settled in 1704. Among the 
 earliest settlers were Samuel Curtiss, Timothy 
 Phelps, Stephen Post, Jacob Root, William Ship- 
 man and Benoni Trumbull, who came from towns 
 on the Connecticut River. 
 
 Hebron was made a distinct town in 1707. The 
 earliest church was organized in 1717. The first 
 pastor was the Rev. John Bliss, who became the 
 occasion of the establishment of an Episcopal 
 church in Hebron, by his own conversion to Episco- 
 pacy in 1734. 
 
 The second pastor of the Congregational church 
 was the Rev. Benjamin Pomeroy who, like many 
 of the best ministers of the Colony in that day, was 
 one of the "New Lights," or promoters of the 
 revivals that spread through Connecticut in the 
 years immediately following his settlement in 1735. 
 
 The notorious Rev. Samuel Peters, of Connecti- 
 cut " Blue Laws" fame, was a native of this town 
 and a Tory. A mob of about 300 assembled in 
 August and again in September, and made- known 
 their determination to obtain from him satisfaction 
 for his published slanders, and the acknowledg- 
 ment of his errors. He met them arrayed in official 
 robes for protection. But the exasperated mob 
 had as little respect for these as for the wearer, 
 and seizing him violently, to the damage of his 
 garments, they carried him to the Green where 
 he was forced to make a confession previously 
 prepared for him, and then he was set at lib- 
 erty. After this he went to Boston, from whence 
 he wrote to his mother, in a letter that was inter- 
 cepted, that six regiments were now coming from 
 England, and sundry men-of-war. "So soon as 
 they come, hanging work will go on and destruc- 
 tion will first attend the sea-port towns ; the lintel 
 sprinkled and the side posts will protect the faith- 
 ful." A few days later he sailed for England, 
 where he published the famous history of Connec- 
 ticut, which has served by its Munchausen stories 
 to preserve the name of the author from oblivion. 
 
 A second ecclesiastical society was incorporated 
 in 1748, and called Gilead. It was stated to the 
 first pastor of the Gilead church, as an encourage- 
 ment to settle there, that there was not a drunkard 
 in the parish, and not a prayerless family, the 
 result of revivals under the ministry of Dr. Pome- 
 roy. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 141 
 
 John S. Peters, M. D., LL.D., governor of Con- 
 necticut in 1831 and 1832, was a native of Hebron. 
 Ami so was William A. Palmer, at one time gov- 
 enor of Vermont ; and also Erastus ltoot, who was 
 once lieutenant-governor of Kew York. 
 
 Inasmuch as Hebron gave birth to the author of 
 Peters' "History of Connecticut," it was fitting 
 that the historical balance should be restored by the 
 production of another history of Connecticut by 
 Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, D. D., another son of 
 Hebron, and one of her most honored children. 
 
 At the commencement of the present century, 
 Hebron was probably at the height of its prosperity. 
 The population of Hebron in 1880 was 1,243. 
 
 Somers, situated in the northwest corner of the 
 county, was originally a part of Enfield, and both 
 were comprehended within the limits of the ancient 
 town of Springfield. The first settlers of Enfield 
 were from Springfield. In May, 1683, these first 
 settlers petitioned the General Court of Massachu- 
 setts for a new township, asking that the limits of 
 the town extend ten miles east from the Connecticut 
 River. The grant inclosed the present town of 
 Somers. These parties respected the Indian title, 
 and paid the Indians £25 for the land covered by 
 the grant. The Indian chief Totatuck alienated all 
 right except that of hunting and fishing. This 
 purchase was in 1688. 
 
 The first settler of Somers was one Benjamin 
 Jones, of Welsh descent. He adopted the Indian 
 fashion of making Somers a summer residence, 
 returning into Enfield to spend the winters. But 
 for five years he was alone, and singular in this way 
 of living. In 1713, others began to come in from 
 Enfield to make a permanent settlement. Among 
 these first settlers were men bearing the names of 
 Kibbe, Pease, Sexton, Root, Chapin, Parsons and 
 Woods, nearly all of whom have lineal descendants 
 in Somers. Of those who were in Somers in 1730 
 most were from Enfield. The remainder were from 
 Springfield, Northampton. Longmeadow, Pomfret, 
 and Wallingford. In 1734 the General Court of 
 Massachusetts incorporated the town by the name 
 of Somers. It is said that Gov. Belcher asked that 
 the town receive this name in honor of Lord 
 Somers. It continued under the jurisdiction of 
 Massachusetts until 1749, the year in which the 
 Connecticut court passed the resolution, declaring 
 that the towns south of the Massachusetts line were 
 entitled to the privileges of the Connecticut 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 Eight of the first settlers of the town were con- 
 stituted a church, the 15th of March, 1727, and on 
 the same day the Rev. Samuel Allis was settled as 
 pastor. Four years after a meeting-house was 
 built, where all the inhabitants of the town could 
 sit at once on the sills. 
 
 The third pastor of this church was Mr. Charles 
 Backus, who was ordained and settled in a pas- 
 torate which became distinguished, and was ter- 
 minated by his death in 1803. Dr. Backus was, 
 according to the testimony of Prof. Woods of 
 Andover, who studied theology with him, one 
 of the ablest extemporaneous preachers of his 
 day. He became noted as an instructor in theol- 
 ogy, and nearly fifty young men sought his in- 
 struction. Among them were Leonard Woods 
 and Dudley Field. 
 
 Somers was prompt, like all eastern Connec- 
 ticut, to respond to the alarm of war in 1775. 
 News of the battle of Lexington, Juno 19, 
 reached the town the day following. A Mr., 
 afterwards Captain Chapin of Somers, wrote in 
 his diary that very day :'" When the news of the 
 fight reached Somers, the militia were ordered 
 to meet at the meeting-house, and about fifty 
 enlisted for the relief of their brethren in and 
 near Boston. Emory Pease was chosen captain. 
 Friday the 21st, at about nine o'clock, we set 
 out on our marcli to Boston by way of Wilbra- 
 ham and Palmer. " Captain Pease's alarm com- 
 pany reached Cambridge and paraded on Mon- 
 day at 4 p, m. 
 
 Somers is mainly a farming community. The 
 town lies for the most part at the base of the 
 hills of Tolland County, and in the more level 
 and fertile region of the Connecticut Valley. 
 
 There has also been manufacturing of different 
 kinds in the town. About 1830, Mr. Ebenezer 
 Clark commenced the manufacture of straw bon- 
 nets. It is said that it was the first establish- 
 ment of the kiud in the State. The braiding of 
 the straw and the sowing of the braid into bon- 
 nets gave employment not only to many of the 
 women and girls of Somers, but to many in 
 adjoining towns. Not far from this time another 
 firm began to make straw bonnets and palm-leaf 
 Shaker bonnets. The palm-leaf was put out 
 into private families all over Tolland County, 
 where it was woven into sheets. These sheets 
 were returned to Somers, where they were cut 
 up and made into Shaker bonnets, which were 
 worn extensively in New England, and were sent 
 in largo quantities to the South. 
 
 There was in 1825 a small establishment for 
 making satinet in Somers. About 1836 a satinet 
 factory was built in Somersville. 
 
 L. E. Pease, a native of this town, and a de- 
 scendent of one of the original settlers, was 
 secretary of state for Connecticut for several 
 years. 
 
 The population of Somers in 1880 was 1,242. 
 
 Tolland lias been the county-seat of the county 
 of Tolland from its organization. In 1715, a peti- 
 tion of some inhabitants of Windsor to the General 
 Court to make a town of what is now Tolland, 
 states that "several families arc already there." 
 The petition was granted, and a town called Tol- 
 land incorporated the same year. > 
 
 The historian of Tolland — Hon. Loren P. W 7 aldo 
 — says that this region was the summer resort of 
 Indians whose home was nearer the sea-coast. 
 Snipsic Lake contains in its name a memorial of 
 the Indians. 
 
 The names of Joseph Benton and Joseph Baker 
 occur among the first settlers, and also of Nathaniel 
 Grant, Joshua Loomis, Joseph Mather, Hezekiah 
 Porter, Shubael Stearns, Joshua Willes, Henry 
 Wolcott, William Eaton, Joseph Slafter and Thomas 
 Stoughton. 
 
 The war for Independence was generously sup- 
 ported. Like other towns of eastern Connecticut, 
 Tolland began to enlist a company the same day 
 that news came of the beginning of hostilities in 
 1775 at Lexington. A company of ninety-eight 
 was formed, which served near Boston. Judge 
 Waldo, in his history of Tolland, says : " Several 
 
142 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL A.YD rXDVSTUIAl, 
 
 times almost the entire active male population was 
 absent in the army, and ordinary work on the 
 farms was done by female hands. I heard a vener- 
 able lady, daughter of one of the Revolutionary 
 officers of Tolland, relate that she and her younger 
 sisters frequently yoked the oxen, and harvested 
 the crops with their own hands." 
 
 The first church of Tolland was organized, it is 
 supposed, and the first minister ordained, in June, 
 1723. This minister was Hev. Stephen Steel, who 
 continued pastor until 1758. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Williams, grandson of Rev. John 
 Williams of Deerfield memory, was second pastor 
 of this church. lie was its sole pastor for nearly 
 fifty-three years. 
 
 The fourth pastor of this church was Rev. Abram 
 Marsh. He was Installed in 1813 and continued in 
 the pastorate until 1 808. So for a period of one 
 hundred and forty-five years the Congregational 
 Church of Tolland had had but four settled minis- 
 ters, and during all those years there had been but 
 fourteen months' vacation in the office. 
 
 In 1791 the Methodists succeeded in establishing 
 a church in Tolland, and in 1794 they built a house 
 for public worship. 
 
 In 1807 a Baptist church was organized. 
 
 Satinet, cotton-batting, cotton-yam and thread 
 have formerly been to some extent manufactured in 
 Tolland. 
 
 The business of tanning and currying leather 
 had been carried on near the village for many 
 years before 1840. About that time Mr. Moses 
 Underwood purchased the property and continued 
 the business successfully for several years, when 
 he and one of his sons engaged in manufacturing 
 belts in connection with the business of tanning 
 leather. The Underwood Belting Company, formed 
 in 1875, have increased this business and have 
 erected more commodious and extensive buildings, 
 furnished with expensive machinery. 
 
 From about 1830 to 1845, the manufacture of 
 silver spoons and the frames of silver-bowed spec- 
 tacles was successfully carried on in Tolland. 
 
 Loren P. Waldo was born in Canterbury, Wind- 
 ham County, Feb. 2, 1802. ' Mr. Waldo was 
 educated in the common schools of his native 
 town, and commenced teaching in a common school 
 before he was fifteen years of age. He was ad- 
 mitted to practice in Tolland County in September, 
 1825. He was State's attorney twelve years; 
 represented the first congressional district in Con- 
 necticut in the thirty-first Congress of the United 
 (States; two and one-half years was commissioner 
 of pensions at Washington city ; and eight years a 
 judge of the Superior Court of the State of Con- 
 necticut. It is doubtful if any other lawyer has 
 ever resided in the town of Tolland who will live 
 longer rn the memory of its sons and daughters and 
 be held in more grateful affection by them than 
 Judge Waldo, by reason of the deep interest he 
 has always manifested in their welfare, and because 
 of his faithful " Karly History of Tolland," on 
 which he spent much time and careful research. 
 Mr. Waldo's home was in Tolland from 1830 to 
 1803. 
 
 William Wallace Eaton, who was a member of 
 the United States Senate, was born and reared in 
 the town of Tolland, and is a lineal descendant of 
 
 William Eaton, one of the pioneer settlers of the 
 town. 
 
 Tolland was at its zenith of prosperity in the 
 early part of the present century. Judge Waldo 
 says: "These principal mail routes have been 
 turned from Tolland in consequnce of the building 
 of the railroads, so that while other places have 
 been benefited by those improvements, this town 
 has been a sufferer." Its population in 1880 was 
 1,109. 
 
 Willington. — Early in 1720 a company of 
 eight men from different town's in western Con- 
 necticut purchased a tract of land containing 
 10,000 acres of the colonial governor for £'150. 
 This tract was called Wellington. 
 
 A Congregational church was organized, proba- 
 bly some time in 1728, for on Sept. 11, 1728, 
 Mr. Daniel Fuller was "ordained pastor of ye 
 Church of Christ in Wellington. It is quite prob- 
 able that the church was organized the same day. 
 They had no meeting-house at that time, and the 
 ordination services were held at the house of Mr. 
 John Merrick, one- of the original settlers. 
 
 Mr. Fuller died of small-pox in the thirty-first 
 year of his ministry and sixtieth year of his age. 
 He was interred in the old burying-ground on Wil- 
 lington Hill, which he himself gave to the town. 
 
 Willington was not backward in doing its part 
 for the defense and welfare of the Colonies during 
 the Revolutionary period. Thirty men went at 
 once from Willington on hearing of the Lexington 
 battle. And early in the Revolutionary war a. com- 
 pany of fifty men went from the town under the 
 command of Capt. John Parker. 
 
 There were brave women as well as brave men in 
 those days in Willington. One fall, during the 
 war, several soldiers returned to their homes to see 
 about provisions for their families, and to cut and 
 get up wood for the winter. A Mr. Sanger came 
 home with two of his sons for this purpose, but his 
 patriotic wife urged him to return at once with his 
 boys to the army, and leave the care of the family 
 to her. He complied with her request ; and she 
 and her daughters husked the corn, threshed the rye, 
 felled trees in the woods, yoked the oxen, and 
 hauled to the door the winter's supply of fuel for the 
 fire. Mrs. Sanger was not an exceptional woman ; 
 there were other wives and mothers in Willington 
 as energetic and patriotic as she. 
 
 An eleven-year old boy, son of Rev. Gideon Noble, 
 the second minister of the Congregational Church, 
 went as tifer in one of the military companies from 
 this town. It was thought that Ik; would want to 
 return home by the time he had reached New York, 
 and his friends expected that he would return ; but 
 he continued with the company throughout the 
 war. He was the pet of the soldiers, and he was 
 so small that they often carried him on their 
 shoulders while inarching. 
 
 Abraham Weston, another Willington boy, went 
 as drummer in the same company. He was only 
 fourteen years old. 
 
 For many years after its settlement the business 
 of the town was almost entirely farming, and has 
 been mainly that always. About sixty years ago a 
 glass-factory was built in the western part of the 
 town, which was for a number of years a prominent 
 industry. 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 143 
 
 About forty years ago Messrs. Dale & Co. erected 
 a silk-mill on Fenton river, in the southeast part of 
 Willington, and a little village soon grew up around 
 the mill, which went and still goes by the name of 
 Daleville. For a few years a large business was 
 done there, but changes occurred and the enterprise 
 ceased. For a number of years that neighborhood 
 was so nearly deserted that it strongly reminded 
 one of " Goldsmith's Deserted Villages." Within 
 a few years this property has been purchased by 
 another company who are now manufacturing 
 beaver cloth in the old silk-mill, and the village 
 again has the appearance of activity. 
 
 Not far from Ihe time that the silk factory was 
 established at Daleville, Messrs. Elisha Johnson, 
 Origen Hall, Otis Dimmick and others formed a 
 company for the manufacture of cotton spool- 
 thread, in the southwest part of the town. It was 
 one of the first establishments of the kind in the 
 United States. For a number of years the works 
 had lain idle, when, at the commencement of the 
 late war, Gardiner Hall, Jr., & Co. purchased the 
 property and commenced manufacturing thread 
 again in the old mill. This part of Willington has 
 been greatly changed and improved within a few 
 years. This village goes by the name of "South 
 Willington," and it is now altogether the most 
 flourishing part of the town. 
 
 For many years after the organization of the town 
 the Congregational church was the only one in 
 Willington. But during the latter part of the 
 second minister's pastorate, a Baptist church was 
 organized in the north part of the town, and a 
 meeting-house was erected. 
 
 Several years later another Baptish church was 
 organized on Willington Hill. After the fourth 
 pastor of the Congregational church — Bev. Hubbel 
 Loomis — had filled the pastorate to the acceptance 
 of his people twenty-four years, his doctrinal views 
 underwent a change, and Ik; became a Baptist. 
 Mr. Loomis was a man of education, talent and 
 strong influence, and was greatly beloved by his 
 people, and soon brought nearly one-half of the 
 church and society over to his views ; and so the 
 Baptist church was formed on the hill, and a meet- 
 ing-house was soon erected near the Congregational 
 church. The Baptists in the north part of the town 
 united with this church, and worship in the old 
 Baptist house was abandoned. In 1878, this church 
 celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its orgnaiza- 
 tion. 
 
 There has also been for many years a Methodist 
 church in the northeast part of the town. 
 
 The Congregational church established a Sunday 
 school in 1815, which, it is said, is the oldest Sun- 
 day school in Tolland County. 
 
 Willington claims as one of its most distinguished 
 sons, Bev. Jared Sparks, a Unitarian clergyman, a 
 voluminous historical and biographical writer, and 
 president of Harvard College from 1849 to 1852. 
 He was born Mav 10, 1781), and died at Cambridge 
 March 14, I860. 
 
 Klias Loomis, professor of natural philosophy 
 and astronomy in Yale College, and author of sev- 
 eral valuable text-books, is a native of Willington, 
 and son of Rev. Hubbel Loomis. 
 
 The population of Willington in 1880 was 1,080. 
 
 Columbia lies above- the valley of Hop Biver, 
 which forms its northern boundary. It is by con- 
 
 siderable climbing that one mounts from this valley 
 to the broad, level tract on which the village is 
 situated. This is a very pleasant street and pre- 
 sents an agreeable picture of what the centre of an 
 ancient farming-town becomes, where the chief 
 and only business is farming, and there has come 
 to be a cluster or street of farmers' houses more 
 closely together than in other parts of the town, 
 with the meeting-house, the house for the enter- 
 tainment of travelers, the store, the parsonage, and 
 the doctor's office nestled among the white-painted, 
 green blinded, and sometimes vine-embowered 
 dwelling-houses. 
 
 For eighty -eight years after its separate organiza- 
 tion as an ecclesiastical society, Columbia was a 
 part of Lebanon, and was called the Second Eccle- 
 siastical Society of Lebanon. This part of Lebanon 
 went by the name of Lebanon Crank. This eccle- 
 siastical society was constituted in \7W>, and con- 
 tinued the second society in Lebanon until 1804, 
 when Columbia became a distinct town. Although 
 it remained in its minority, so to speak, through 
 the eighteenth century, it nevertheless became 
 widely known as an ecclesiastical society, and its 
 independent history really dates back far beyond 
 the time of its organization as a town. For, be- 
 sides its due quota of fathers and sons and brothers 
 given to the cause of national independence, the 
 events of which Dr. Wheelock was the central 
 figure and moving spirit, have given to Columbia 
 an eminent name among the towns of Tolland 
 County. 
 
 In the Bevolutionary war it counted only as a 
 part of Lebanon in all its relations to the common- 
 wealth of Connecticut. At least sixty-four persons 
 went into active service from this parish. And of 
 these, fourteen were killed or died in the army. 
 Tlie soldierly spirit was not exhausted in this gen- 
 eration. During the war of 1812 the people of the 
 town of Columbia were quick to respond to the 
 call for the defense of New London. There is an 
 accredited tradition, the Rev. F. D. Avery, of 
 Columbia, tells us, that as soon as the news of the 
 burning of New London reached the place, at the 
 hour of some religious service, Mr. Brockway, the 
 pastor of the church, started off with his long gun 
 and deacons and parishioners to assist in doing 
 battle with the enemy. 
 
 In the civil war eight of this town's soldiers 
 died in the service. 
 
 The Congregational Church, which has been 
 from the first to this day the only church in 
 Columbia, was organized in 1720, and on the 
 same dav Samuel Smith was ordained pastor. 
 
 The third pastor was Eleazer Wheelock, emi- 
 nent for his activity and his sympathy with the 
 Groat Awakening of 1742 and the following 
 years, and for his. interest in tho education of 
 Indian youth. 
 
 This interest was awakened by the coming to 
 him ouo day in December, 1743, a young Indian 
 sachem named Samson Occum, soliciting in- 
 struction. Occum proved so apt a scholar that 
 Mr. Wheelock took up tho project of training 
 Indian youth to become missionaries among 
 their own people. To encourage this enterprise 
 Mr. Joshua Moor, of Mansfield, gave a lot of 
 land near the centre of the parish. A school- 
 house was built, tho frame of which is still pre- 
 
lit 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INVWTHIAL 
 
 served in tho frame of the present school-house 
 on the green. 
 
 Tho school was fairly started in 1754. Indian 
 youth from tho Delawares, Mohawks, and other 
 tribes, resorted hither to obtain an education. 
 White students wore idso received into the 
 school in numbers about equal to the Indians. 
 Sometimes there were more than twenty in the 
 school. Many of the Indians became teachers 
 in their tribes. Occum only became an ordained 
 minister. But several of tho white students 
 went to college and became missionaries among 
 the Indians. And hero in Lebanon Crank, says 
 Mr. Avery in his centennial sermon, wore or- 
 dained first in Connecticut, missionaries to tho 
 heathen. 
 
 Mr. Wheelock's school was sustained and the 
 missionaries were supported by appropriations 
 from tho General Courts in Connecticut and 
 Massachusetts, and by funds from England to 
 the amount of £7,000, of which tho king gave 
 £200, and from tho Scottish Society for prop- 
 agating Christian knowledge. In acknowledg- 
 ment of Mr. Moor's generous donation, Mr. 
 Wheelock called the school "Moor's Indian 
 Charity School." 
 
 Out of Samson Occum's application to Mr. 
 Wheelock for instruction grew Dartmouth Col- 
 lege ; for tho government of New Hanipshiro 
 invited Mr. Wheelock to remove to Hanover to 
 establish a college in that place. He consented 
 to do so, and in 1770 took his family and school 
 to Hanover. The funds contributed in England 
 to the Indian school were intrusted to a Board, 
 of which the Earl of Dartmouth was the presi- 
 dent. And from this circumstance, although 
 the earl himself was opposed to tho removal of 
 the school from Columbia, the new institution 
 was called Dartmouth College. 
 
 Tho situation of Columbia 1ms made it for the 
 most part a farming town. There has been, how- 
 ever, for over forty years, a cotton-mill at Hop 
 Kivcr, which has grown in recent years under the 
 proprietorship of W. Curtis Jillson, into its present 
 thriving condition. It now goes by the name of 
 the "Hop Kivcr Warp Manufacturing Company." 
 It has been for several years the chief manufactur- 
 ing industry of tho town. Previous to this there 
 was a carding-mill near that place. 
 
 There was also in former years considerable busi- 
 ness in the town in the manufacture of cheap 
 woolen hats. Fur hats were also made here at 
 one time, on a small scale. 
 
 Hon. Dwight Loomis of Rockville, who was 
 elected representative to Congress from the first 
 congressional district of Connecticut, in 1859, and 
 re-elected in 1861, was bom and reared in Columbia. 
 
 The population of the town is about 800. 
 
 Union. — The first settlement was made in 1727 
 by William McNall, John Lawson and James 
 Shearer from Ireland. The town was incorporated 
 in 1734. 
 
 In 1738 the first meeting-house was erected in the 
 town, and the s one year the Congregational church 
 was constituted, andithe Rev. Ebenezcr Wyman was 
 ordained pastor. The ordination services were held 
 in a private dwelling, as the meeting-house was not 
 sufficiently complete at that time for this purpose. 
 It appears that the Puritan element was, almost 
 
 from tho first, well represented by settlers who 
 came from some of the oldest Puritan towns of 
 New England, notwithstanding Union's pioneer 
 settlers were Scotch-Irish from the north of Ireland, 
 and were probably Scotch Presbyterians of the John 
 Knox and Covenanters' stamp. 
 
 Union ranks among the smallest towns, both in 
 area and population in the county — in fact in the 
 State; but its history shows that it has contributed 
 its full (piota to tho advancement and prosperity of 
 the republic ; 146 persons from this town served in 
 the war of the Revolution ; and in 1774 the total 
 population of Union was only 514. 
 
 Union is chiefly a farming community, but tho 
 soil is hard to till and unproductive, compared 
 with some portions of the county. The thriftiest 
 of pine and hemlock trees grow here. They are 
 indigenous, and formerly they were to be found in 
 every part of the town. It is said that Union has 
 produced more pine and hemlock lumber than all 
 of the rest of Tolland County. The lumber business 
 has been, and still is an important industry of the 
 town. Thirty years ago, or more, the domestic 
 manufacture of boots and shoes was carried on to 
 a limited extent. 
 
 Mashapaug Pond, covering 800 acres, with itsclear 
 waters overshadoived with evergreen trees, is an 
 attractive feature. 
 
 The nearest railroad station to Union is at Staf- 
 ford Springs, about six miles from the centre of 
 town. 
 
 Among some of tho distinguished men who orig- 
 inated in Union was Jesse Olney (1708-1872), at 
 one time a popular school-teacher in Hartford, the 
 author of a number of valuable school-books, and 
 for several years comptroller of the State, and Kev. 
 Charles Hammond, LL.D., widely known as tho 
 principal of Monson Academy, Mass. Mr. Ham- 
 mond was born June 15, 1813, and died November 
 7, 1878. 
 
 Iu 1880 the population of Union was 539. 
 
 Bolton is situated on the western brow of the 
 hills of Tolland County. The scenery from some 
 of the hills is exceedingly beautiful. 
 
 Settlements began to be made in Bolton about 
 the year 1717, by two or three different partial, 
 coming from Windsor, Wcthersfleld, and Hartford. 
 It was made a distinct town in 1720. As was tho 
 universal custom in the towns of the Colonies, im- 
 mediately after settlement, Bolton's first care was to 
 establish the regular public worship of God. There 
 is a record that Jonathan Edwards preached there 
 in 1722, and received a call to settle. In November, 
 1723, the following record is entered, in his hand- 
 writing, upon the town records: "Upon the terms 
 that are here recorded I do consent to bo the settled 
 pastor of the town of Bolton. Jonathan Edwards." 
 Mr. Edwards' appointment to a tutorship in Yalo 
 College seems to have broken up this arrangement. 
 
 Mr. Thomas White, tho first settled pastor of 
 this people, was ordained and installed in 1725, 
 and the church was probably organized at tho same 
 time. 
 
 Rev. George Colton, the second pastor of this 
 church, was installed in 1703. Ho died in 1812. 
 Mr. Colton was distinguished for his eccentricity 
 and piety. He is said to have been six feet and seven 
 inches in height, and he was familiarly called the 
 
ItEVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 145 
 
 high priest of Bolton. It is said that he published in 
 rhyme, from his pulpit, his own marriage banns. 
 
 Two companies went from Bolton on the Lexing- 
 ton alarm in 1775 — one of thirty-five men, and one 
 of twenty-eight. 
 
 When Dr. Samuel Peters, rector of the Episcopal 
 church in Hebron, was mobbed for being so out- 
 spoken in defense of the arbitrary acts of Parlia- 
 ment, and for his false representations, a large 
 number of Bolton men were present and took part 
 in forcing a recantation from him. 
 
 From an early period in the present century, the 
 principal occupation of the town, aside from farm- 
 ing, has been the quarrying of flag-stone. The 
 stone is a bright, light gray, a species of slate, and 
 is very strong and enduring. More stones for flag- 
 ging purposes have been sent out from these quar- 
 ries than from any other in the State. About 1812 
 this stone was used considerably for gravestones. 
 
 Fifty years ago, Mr. Duthon Avery of this place 
 carried on the cabinet-making business quite 
 largely for a country town, and people from all 
 the towns in the vicinity used to go there for house- 
 hold furniture, coffins, etc Mr. Avery took in 
 farmers' produce in exchange for his goods. 
 
 The following copy, from one of Mr. Avery's 
 old day-books, exhibits the manner of trafficking 
 in those days, and some of the old-time prices : 
 
 Phineas Carver, Dr. 
 
 To a Coffin for your Child 67 
 
 " " " m Mother 4 50 
 
 " " Wife 4 50 
 
 io Cambric for Shroud 50 
 
 Credit. 
 
 By a Saddle. 
 
 " Mending wagon harness. 
 
 " } day's work mowing. 
 
 " forty-five and a half pounds of beef at 6a 
 
 V Eight pounds & six ounces cheese at 4c. 
 
 " Making two wagon harnesses. 
 
 The late Hon. Julius L. Strong, a member of 
 Congress in 1869, was a native of Bolton. 
 The population of the town in 1880 was 512. 
 Andoveris the youngest town in Tolland County. 
 As a distinct parish, however, it is much older than 
 the county, having been incorporated as a second 
 ecclesiastical society in May, 1747. The territory 
 of the new parish was taken from the three towns 
 of Hebron, Coventry and Lebanon. This parish, 
 
 Dr. Spraguc thinks, was called Andover because 
 the original settlers were from Andover, Mass. It 
 consisted of sixty-eight members, called "house- 
 holders." 
 
 At an early date it was voted that a committee 
 of four "go forthwith and see out for a preacher 
 to preach the gospel in this society. " Mr. Samuel 
 Lockwood was ordained and installed as pastor of 
 the church, Feb. 25, 1749. 
 
 His ministry continued till his death in 1791, and 
 during the whole of this period the parish seems to 
 have been in a state of great and growing prosper- 
 ity. In 1790, the degree of Doctor of Divinity 
 was conferred upon him by his alma mater, Yale 
 College. This Congregational church of Andover 
 had the common experience of long pastorates in 
 the early period of Connecticut Congregationalism. 
 When its one hundredth anniversary came, its 
 fourth pastor was then serving the twentieth year 
 of his pastorate. 
 
 Andover was not incorporated as a town until 
 1848. Its civil history previous to this year is 
 therefore in part that of Hebron. 
 
 The chief manufacturing industry has been the 
 making of paper. The business is now entirely 
 farming. 
 
 Among the sons of Andover was William B. 
 Sprague, D. D., a distinguished minister, and an 
 author of various works. 
 
 The population of the town in 1880 was 428. 
 
 Ellington was originally a part of the township 
 of East Windsor, called the Great Marsh. It was 
 not until about seventy-five years after the settle- 
 ment began on the east side of the Connecticut 
 River, that any settlers located themselves in the 
 part now called Ellington. The present town in- 
 cludes what was formerly known as " Equivalent 
 Lands." This tract of 7,250 acres was granted by 
 the General Court, in 1710, to the town of Wind- 
 sor, as a recompense for a loss by that town of some 
 7,000 acres of land in the adjustment of the bound- 
 ary line between Connecticut and Massachusetts. 
 
 Rev. John McKinstry, the first minister of Elling- 
 ton, was educated in Scotland, and settled here in 
 1733. The principal settlers came from Scotland 
 and the north of Ireland. Ellington is largely a 
 farming town, and tobacco is raised to a consider- 
 able extent. The western section is well supplied 
 with water-power. The Windermere factory pro- 
 duces cassimeres and broadcloths. 
 
 The population of the town in 1880 was 1,569. 
 
WINDHAM COUNTY. 
 
 In 1720, ten towns in the northeast corner of 
 Connecticut, previously included in the counties of 
 Hartford and New London, were erected into the 
 county of Windham. Union and Woodstock were 
 subsequently added ; Mansfield, Coventry, Lebanon, 
 Union and Columbia taken away; and several of 
 the original towns divided. Sixteen towns — 
 Woodstock, Thompson, Putnam, Pom fret, Brook- 
 lyn, Killingly, Sterling, Plainficld, Canterbury, East- 
 ford, Ashford, Chaplin, Hampton, Windham, Scot- 
 land and Voluntown — -form the present Windham 
 County. Its average length is about twenty-six 
 miles and its breadth nearly nineteen miles. Its 
 area comprises a little less than 55:5 square miles. 
 
 The greater part of this tract of country prior to 
 English settlement was included in Nipnet — the 
 Fresh-water country — the inland region between the 
 Atlantic coast and the Connecticut River. It was 
 sparsely occupied by the scattered tribelets or 
 families of Nipmucks or Nipnets, although the 
 land cast of the Quinebaug was also claimed by 
 Narragansets. The northern part of this contested 
 strip was Mahmunsqung — the Whetstone country. 
 Land now included in the towns of Sterling, Plain- 
 field, and Canterbury was the Quinebaug country, 
 and its residents were known as Quinebaugs. The 
 tract west of the Quinebaug River, and north of 
 the Quinebaug country, was Wabbaquasset — the 
 mat-producing country. 
 
 Acquittimaug of Wabbaquasset is the first Wind- 
 ham County inhabitant of whom we have record. 
 In the winter of 1630-31, news came to this people 
 that a company of Englishmen had come to the 
 Ray who were in great wunt of corn, and would 
 pay a good price for it. The fertile hills and valleys 
 of the future Woodstock were already noted for 
 their large production of this aboriginal staple. 
 With each a bushel or more of corn upon their 
 backs, Acquittimaug and other Indians toiled 
 through the wilderness to the infant settlement at 
 Boston, and were joyfully welcomed by the needy 
 colonists. Acquittimaug lived about ninety-five 
 years after this incident, and when, in extreme old 
 age, he visited Roston, he was welcomed and gen- 
 erously entertained by some of the chief dignitaries 
 of the Massachusetts Colony. . 
 
 The Windham County territory became known to 
 the English with the first settlement of Connecticut. 
 It lay directly in the route from Roston to Hart- 
 ford, a part of that " hideous and trackless wilder- 
 ness" traversed by the first colonists. A rude 
 track, called the Connecticut Path, obliquely cross- 
 ing what is now Thompson, Woodstock, Eastford 
 and Ashford, became the main thoroughfare of 
 travel between the Massachusetts and Connecticut 
 colonies. Yet for fifty years no settlement was 
 effected within the limits of the county, and the 
 aborigines remained in undisputed possession of 
 
 the territory. They were subject clans of little 
 spirit or distinctive character. Their number was 
 small. A few families occupied the favorable local- 
 ities, while large sections were left vacant and des- 
 olate. Large tracts were burned over every year 
 and kept open, to furnish pasture for deer. Game 
 and fish abounded in wood, lake and river. The 
 principal rivers, lakes and hills bore the names that 
 still distinguish them. An Indian trail, known as 
 Nipmuck Path, ran south from Wabbaquasset to 
 the sea-shore. The Greenwich Path crossed east- 
 ward from the Quinebaug to Narraganset. A few 
 rude forts were built and maintained in various 
 localities. 
 
 As the Mohegans increased in power, they laid 
 claim, under various pretexts, to the greater part of 
 this territory. The timid and peace-loving Wabba- 
 quassets readily acknowledged allegiance to Uncas, 
 and "paid him homage and obligations and yearly 
 tribute of white deer-skins, bear-skins and black 
 wolf-skins." With the Quinebaugs Uncus was less 
 successful. His right to their allegiance was dis- 
 puted by the Narragansets. Pessacus, alias Moosup, 
 brother and successor to Miantonomo, asserted his 
 right to the Quinebaug country, affixing his name 
 to the largest branch of the Quinebaug. For many 
 years the land was in contention, the distracted in- 
 habitants yielding homage to whichever chieftain 
 chanced to be in the ascendency. Tradition tells 
 of various bloody rencontres and one distinct battle 
 between the natives. 
 
 While the Indians cast of the Quinebaug were 
 thus contending, those on the west were yielding to 
 better influences. The most noteworthy incidents 
 of Windham's aboriginal history were connected 
 with the ministry of the great Indian apostle, John 
 Eliot. Young Indians, trained by him at Natick, 
 went out as missionaries into the Nipmuck wilder- 
 ness. The simple and tractable Wabbaquassets 
 hearkened willingly unto the Gospel thus presented 
 and many were persuaded to unite in church estate, 
 and assume some of the habits of civilization. 
 They observed the Sabbath, gathered into villages, 
 and built wigwams, the like of which were seen 
 nowhere else in New England. Thirty families 
 were gathered at what was called Wabbaquasset 
 Village, now in the south part of Woodstock ; 
 twenty families at Myanexet, on the Quinebaug, in 
 or near the north part of Woodstock ; and twenty 
 families of Nipmucks at Quinnatisset, now Thomp- 
 son Hill. These villages and churches were under 
 the care and guidance of Sampson, a hopeful, pious 
 and active young man. In 1074 he was encouraged 
 and strengthened by a visit from Mr. Eliot, who, 
 with Maj. Daniel Gookin, magistrate over the 
 Praying Indians, came to confirm the churches, 
 settle teachers over them, and establish civil govern- 
 ment. They found peace, order and a friendly 
 
148 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 welcome in MCb of the praying villages. Mr. 
 Eliot preached in Myanexet, and gave them John 
 Moqua for their teacher. "A sober and pious 
 young man of Natick, called Daniel," was appointed 
 minister for Quinnatisset. At Wabbaqunsset, where 
 lie passed the night, Eliot was warmly welcomed 
 by the teacher, Sampson, and entertained in the 
 spacious wigwam of the sasjainore. On the follow- 
 ing morning, Sept. 16, 1674, a great meeting was 
 held in Wabbaquasset Village. All the Praying 
 Indians from the different villages were there, and 
 many others. An opening religious service was 
 conducted by Mr. Eliot, and then a "court" was 
 held by Maj." Gooki'n, establishing civil government 
 among the natives. The teacher Sampson was 
 approved as their minister, and Black James of 
 Chaubongagum installed over them as constable. 
 Having thus settled religious and civil institutions, 
 Mr. Eliot and his friends bade adieu and journeyed 
 homewards, greatly pleased with the progress of 
 Christianity and civilization among this tractable 
 and friendly people, Seventy families had been 
 reclaimed from heathenism. 
 
 These hopeful prospects were soon blighted. 
 The Narraganset war swept away the results of 
 years of missionary labor. The villages were 
 destroyed, the churches broken up, and the 
 Praying Indians relapsed into savages. The 
 Nipmucks east of the Quinebaug joined the Nar- 
 ragansets ; the terrified Wabbaquassets left their 
 pleasant homes and planting fields and threw 
 themselves under the protection of TJncas at 
 Mohegan. No battle or skirmish occurred dur- 
 ing tho war within Windham County territory, 
 but it was repeatedly traversed and ravaged by 
 scouting and foraging parties. Great quantities 
 of corn and beans, stately wigwams, the like of 
 which had not been seen, and the several forts 
 were all demolished. The close of the war 
 found tho Nipmucks almost annihilated. Those 
 that were left sought refuge with distant tribes. 
 The Wabbaquassets remained for a time at Mo- 
 hegan. The aboriginal inhabitants of the future 
 Windham were scattered or destroyed, and their 
 territory left to English occupation. 
 
 The first English proprietor within Windham 
 County territory was Governor John Winthrop, 
 of New London, who, in 1653, secured from 
 Hyems and Massasshowett a grant of the Quine- 
 baug country. The validity of this conveyance 
 was extremely doubtful. The grantors were 
 renegade Narragansets, exercising a delegated 
 authority, with no legal title to the land con- 
 veyed. The General Court of Connecticut, how- 
 ever, "allowed the governor his Indian purchase 
 at Quinebaug, and gave him liberty to erect 
 thereon a plantation ; " but tho Indian troubles 
 prevented settlement. After the restoration of 
 peace, the Massachusetts government opened 
 negotiations with the remaining Nipmucks, and 
 February 10, 1682, secured a deed of the whole 
 Nipmuck country, allowing to the Indians a five- 
 mile reservation. A t'ull half of this reservation 
 was immediately made over by them to Gover- 
 nors Joseph Dudley and William Stoughton, 
 who had served as commissioners in the transac- 
 tion. Dudley's fine farm was laid out in the 
 Quinebaug Valley, and was afterwards included 
 in the towns of Thompson and Dudley. Five 
 
 thousand acres at Quinnatisset, embracing what 
 is now Thompson Hill and its vicinity, wore 
 conveyed to Stoughton, laid out in farms, and 
 sold tho following year to Robert Thompson 
 and Thomas Freak, of England. Tracts of land 
 in Quinnatisset were also granted by the Massa- 
 chusetts government to other proprietors. 
 
 Connecticut's share of Windham County terri- 
 tory was mostly appropriated by Uncas and his 
 representatives. To his son Owaneco was as- 
 signed the whole Wabbaquasset country and 
 rights in the Quinebaug country. This chief- 
 tain was a drunken, worthless fellow, of no sta- 
 bility or force of character. Swarms of greedy 
 land hunters now gathered around him, eager to 
 obtain possession of his land upon any pretext. 
 Conscious of his own inability to manage his 
 great possessions, Owaneco yielded to tho per- 
 suasions of his friends and accepted the younger 
 James Fitch of Norwich as his guardian. 
 
 The whole Wabbaqunsset country was formally 
 conveyed to him in 1089. The landed interests of 
 Windham County were thus to a great degree vest- 
 ed in the hands of one individual, destined to play 
 an important part in its settlement and develop- 
 ment. 
 
 Towns. 
 
 The first white inhabitant of the present town of 
 Windham (population 8,000), was one John Gates, 
 an English refugee, hiding, according to tradi- 
 tional report, from the spies of Andres. In the 
 autumn of 1688, hefound his way into this desolate 
 wilderness, and passed the winter in a cave or cel- 
 lar, dug out by the hands of his faithful negro. 
 With the restoration of peace and charter govern- 
 ment in 1689, Cates came out of his hiding-place, 
 and purchased a tract of land. The second re- 
 ported settler was Jonathan Ginnings. He was 
 soon followed by Joshua ami Jeremiah Hipley of 
 Hingham, Mass., May 12, 1692, the plantation 
 was granted the liberty of a township, to be called 
 Windham, and June 12, a town government was 
 organised. Only fifteen citizens were then repoi ted, 
 but their number increased rapidly. The great 
 size of the town occasioned its first serious diffi- 
 culty. A controversy ensuing in regard to the 
 location of the church, resulted in a division of the 
 town in May, 1703. the north part of Windham 
 being formally erected into the town of Mansfield. 
 A church had previously been formed, December 
 10, 1700, and Mr. Samuel Whiting ordained as its 
 pastor. A meeting-house, in Windham Green was 
 completed in 1703. 
 
 The first settler in the northeast section, now 
 Hampton, was David Canada, a reputed Welshman. 
 Many sterling Massachusetts families settled in this 
 vicinity on Appaquage Hill and River. The diffi- 
 culty of attending public worship at Windham 
 Green led these northern settlers to ask for society 
 privileges, and in 1717 a religious society was there 
 organized. This section was known as Canada 
 Parish, and also as Windham Village, and a church 
 was gathered thero in 1723. A third religious 
 society was set off in 1732, in the southeast section 
 of the town, known as Scotland Parish, and a 
 church organized in 1735. 
 
 Windham Green continued to increase in influence 
 and importance as the seat of town government and 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 149 
 
 business centre of a large section. A Court of Pro- 
 bate was established herein 1719, Capt. John Fitch, 
 judge. In 1720 Windham was made the shire town 
 of the newly constituted Windham County. The 
 first Court of Common Pleas was held June 26. 
 Timothy Pierce of Plainfleld was appointed judge. 
 A jail and state house were soon erected, and the 
 town soon received a fresh impetus. Iron works 
 were now established at Willimantic Falls, and other 
 manufactures. The First Church of Windham was 
 particularly flourishing at this time. A very remark- 
 able religious awakening had been enjoyed during 
 the last years of Mr. Whiting's ministry. His suc- 
 cessor, Mr. Thomas Clap of Scituate, was a young 
 man of uncommon administrative ability, who 
 brought the whole population under stringent 
 watch and discipline. Every head of a household 
 was connected with the church, either by profession 
 of faith or owning the covenant. Family prayer 
 was observed in every household, and every child 
 consecrated by baptism. Profane swearing was but 
 little known, and open violation of the Sabbath 
 very rare. In 1739 Windham was compelled to re- 
 sign her distinguished minister to the presidency of 
 Yale College. He was succeeded by Mr. Stephen 
 White, a young man of very dissimilar character. 
 
 It was about this time that Windham's famous 
 "Frog Panic," more widely known than any event 
 in its early history, occurred. War between Eng- 
 land and France was imminent. Indians were alert 
 and turbulent, ready to join in the first outbreak. 
 One night the residents of Windham Green were 
 aroused from their slumbers by the most appalling 
 and unearthly sounds — an indescribable hubbub and 
 tumult, that seemed to fill the heavens and shake 
 the earth. Some thought it an earthquake ; some 
 thought the Day of Judgment was at hand. Others 
 seized upon the more natural, but hardly less ap- 
 palling, explanation that an army of French and 
 Indians was marching upon them. Consternation 
 and terror fell upon all, and the night was passed 
 in anxious suspense, not to say frantic lamentation. 
 The morning dawned at length, and brought a 
 ludicrous solution of the mystery. The unearthly 
 clamor and uproar had been produced by a chorus 
 of frogs, excited in some mysterious way to a pre- 
 ternatural activity. This story of Windham's tragic 
 alarm flew all over the country, with innumerable 
 additions and exaggerations. It was sung in song ; 
 it was related in history ; it served as a standing 
 joke upon every native of Windham. A letter to 
 President Stiles fixes the date of this incident as 
 prior to July 9, 1754. 
 
 The military spirit for which Windham was 
 always noted found ample exercise during the 
 French and Indian war. Many of its citizens 
 served with distinction in numerous bloody cam- 
 paigns. Public affairs and political issues engrossed 
 more and more of their attention. No people were 
 filled with more patriotic fervor, and move ready to 
 engage in the great struggle for American liberties. 
 They responded to the first summons frcm Boston 
 by renouncing the use of all imported articles not 
 absolutely essential. At a fashionable wedding 
 in 17G8, bride and guests wore home-spun, and 
 all the refreshments were home-made. As agi- 
 tation went on, the Windham boys were foremost 
 in opposition to imposts and Tories. When the 
 port of Boston was closed, Windham's instant 
 
 offering of a small flock of 258 sheep was 
 the first succor received by the distressed 
 Bostouians. Throughout the long Revolutionary 
 struggle she was equaUy ready and faithful. 
 Dyer, Elderkin and Wales served day and night 
 in Connecticut's Committee of Safety. Gray 
 and Elderkin make powder in their mills at WiL 
 limantic. Huntington made the first gun turned 
 out of an American workshop, and repaired the 
 wretched firearms carried by the common sol- 
 diers. Hundreds of brave men periled their 
 lives in camp and battle, sustained and encour- 
 aged by the prayers and sympathy of thousands 
 of Windham women, as patriotic and devoted as 
 themselves. 
 
 With the establishment of independence, 
 Windham entered upon a new era of growth and 
 prosperity, her citizens engaging with such 
 spirit in various business enterprises that she 
 was reported " to exceed any inland town in the 
 State in trade and merchandise. " A vast amount 
 of produce was raised and sent to market. Spe- 
 cial industries were developed in different neigh- 
 borhoods. Experiments were made in silk rais- 
 ing and manufacture. In 1791 Windham issued its 
 first newspaper, "ThePhenix," or "Windham 
 Herald," printed by John Byrne, which attained 
 extensive circulation throughout the country. 
 Before 1800 the first post-office was opened, John 
 Byrne postmaster. An academy had also been 
 opened. The venerable Stephen White died in 
 1793, after a ministry of fifty-two years. He was 
 succeeded by Rev. Elijah Waterman, a young 
 man of great energy, active in promoting new 
 measures and public interests. Foremost among 
 Windham's public men of this generation was 
 Zepaniah Swift, one of the ablest lawyers in 
 Connecticut. 
 
 In 1819, n bill was passed, transferring the 
 courts of Windham County to the town of 
 Brooklyn. Windham had previously lost more 
 than half her original territory by the formation 
 of new towns. To the loss of prestige and posi- 
 tion was now added a transference of business 
 interests from the Green to the Willimantic — 
 the younger settlement attaining leadership. 
 
 Plainfleld (4,000)— The settlement of this town 
 was contemporaneous with that of Windham. 
 The beautiful valley of the Quinebaug, with its 
 open hill-slopes and bountiful yield of corn.offered 
 great attraction to settlers, especially as its 
 Indian inhabitants, though very numerous, were 
 most tractable and friendly. 
 
 Timothy and Thomas Pierce, Thomas Wil- 
 liams, Edward, Joseph and Benjamin Spalding 
 were among the east-side settlers. Major Fitch, 
 Samuel Adams, Elisha Paine and others settled 
 on the west side. In 1669 the Quinebaug Plan- 
 tation was invested with town privileges. The 
 Governor, Fitz John Winthrop, gave the new 
 town the name of Plainfleld. The first care of 
 the town was to call a minister, Mr. Joseph Coit, 
 of Norwich, who held religious services statedly 
 in private houses. 
 
 In consequence of the difficulty of crossing 
 the Quinebaug River in winter and during high 
 water, for the purpose of attending meeting, the 
 town, in October, 1703, was divided, the territory 
 
150 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 west of the river being erected into the township 
 of Canterbury. 
 
 The tranquility of Plainfleld was most griev- 
 ously disturbed by controversies growing out of 
 the great awakening of 1740. A pleasing feature 
 of the revival was its effect upon the surviving 
 Quinebaugs, who were "not only filled with 
 knowledge of ye way of Salvation," but reformed 
 in their ways of living and abstained from drink- 
 ing. Dissenting from some of the doctrines and 
 practices of the established church, and especial- 
 ly from the payment of the minister by rate or 
 tax, the new converts, after a time, organized as 
 a separate church. Mr. Coit was now old and 
 infirm. A majority of the town refused longer 
 to pay their assessments for his support. The 
 settlement of his successor was followed by a 
 most bitter and protracted contest, demoralizing 
 churches and town, and "separating very friends 
 and brothers." After a generation of strife and 
 contention, the churches finally happily united 
 in the choice of Rev. John Fuller, of Norwich, 
 all parties agreeing that the ministry should 
 thenceforth be supported by voluntary contribu- 
 tion, without tax or coercion. This same con- 
 troversy prevailed nearly throughout the county, 
 distracting and prostrating many of even the 
 most prosperous churches on the territory. 
 
 Throughout the Revolutionary period Plain- 
 field was active and prominent. 
 
 Plainfleld Academy was established during 
 this period. In 1778 Ebenezer Pemberton, of 
 Newport, was secured as its rector. Scholars 
 came in large numbers from Providence, New 
 York, New London and other places. For many 
 years this academy enjoyed a high reputation 
 under such distinguished teachers as Dr. Pem- 
 berton, John Adams, Benjamin Allen, Zechariah 
 Eddy, Timothy Pitkin, Calvin Goddard, Elipha- 
 let Nott, Rinaldo Burleigh, and many others. 
 Dr. Joel Benedict, who succeeded Mr. Fuller in 
 the pastorate at Plainfleld, a man of high char- 
 acter and uncommon attainments, and Dr. Elislia 
 Perkins, one of the most noted physicians and 
 surgeons of his generation, were among the dis- 
 tinguished citizens of this town. 
 
 Plainfleld embraces within its limits the flourish- 
 ing manufacturing villages of Central Village, 
 Moosum and Wauregan. 
 
 Canterbury (1,300) — The western part of the 
 Quinebaug Plantation, when endowed with town 
 privileges 1703, had but few inhabitants, but these 
 were men of character and position, well fitted to 
 manage the affairs of the town. Maj. Fitch was 
 long "the great man" of all the surrounding 
 country, and his Peagscommek homestead, a very 
 noted establishment, a rendezvous for land specu- 
 lators, civil and military officials, and hordes of 
 idle Indians. Here courts were held, military 
 expeditions organized, and whole townships of 
 land bartered away. Maj. Fitch was for a time 
 one of the most prominent men in Connecticut, and 
 had great personal and political influence; but his 
 immense land operations, and his own violence and 
 lack of judgment, involved him in very serious 
 complications and quarrels. The claims of Fitch 
 and other large land-owners delayed the growth of 
 the town. " All the good land upon the Quine- 
 baug" had been monopolized by these voracious 
 
 " land-grabbers," and for a considerable period but 
 few persons succeeded in establishing settlements. 
 Town records are lacking till 1717. Previous to 
 this date a meeting-house had been built, a church 
 organized, and Mr. Samuel Estabrook ordained as 
 minister. Mr. Estabrook remained in charge of 
 the Canterbury church till his deatli in 1727. 
 
 Canterbury was the scene of a remarkable 
 ecclesiastical controversy, growing out of the mem- 
 orable great awakening, to which reference has 
 already been made. A majority of the church had 
 become what were termed New Lights — opponents 
 of the established or "standing order" church. 
 The Rev. James Cogswell, a candidate for settle- 
 ment over the Canterbury church, was strenuously 
 opposed to the new measures. The civil and ecclesias- 
 tical authorities, professing to have become alarmed 
 at the ungovernable fanaticism of the revivalists, 
 determined upon the revolutionary, unconstitu- 
 tional, uncongregational, and hence utterly unau- 
 thorized measure of settling the candidate of the 
 minority. This flagrant violation of the rights of 
 the majority not unnaturally excited widespread 
 indignation, while the bold and persistent cham- 
 pionship on the part of the latter of the rights of 
 the majority and of pure Congregationalism, in 
 opposition to the arbitrary measures and assump- 
 tions of the authorities, elicited much admiration 
 and sympathy, and was the occasion of the organi- 
 zation of many societies on an entirely independ- 
 ent basis. 
 
 The persecution visited upon this new movement 
 significantly indicates the temper of the times. 
 Elisha and Solomon Paine, the acknowledged 
 leaders of the revival party in Canterbury, were 
 fined and imprisoned; their nephews, from Yale 
 College, for presuming, while at home in vacation, 
 to attend the religious services conducted by their 
 uncles were expelled. One Obadiah Johnson, an 
 old and respected citizen, when chosen a represen- 
 tative of the town to the General Court by a fair 
 majority, was expelled from his seat in the House 
 for being a member and officer of one of these 
 separate or independent organizations. 
 
 After the lapse of many years, and the discon- 
 tinuance of this exciting and distracting contro- 
 versy, these "separate" societies either became 
 extinct, or were finally resolved into regular Con- 
 gregational churches. 
 
 Mr. Cogswell remained in charge of tlio Canter- 
 bury church till 1771. Among many pupils re- 
 ceived into his family were Naphtali Daggett, 
 afterwards president of Yale College, and Benedict 
 Arnold. The western part of Canterbury was in- 
 corporated as Westminster Society in 1770, and a 
 church organized the same year. Kev. John Staples 
 was ordained as its pastor in 1772, and continued 
 in charge till his death in 1807. 
 
 The most noted citizen of Canterbury during the 
 Revolutionary period was Moses, son of Capt. 
 Aaron Cleveland, who entered early upon the prac- 
 tice of law, and also engaged in extensive business 
 enterprises. He was agent for the Connecticut 
 Land Company, that settled the Western Reserve, 
 Ohio, and selected the site of the city of Cleveland, 
 which was named in his honor. 
 
 " Master John Adams," a very successful teacher, 
 principal for many years of Phillips Academy, 
 Andover, was another noted son of Canterbury, and 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 151 
 
 won his first laurels in his native town, where he 
 opened a high school in 1796. Among many Can- 
 terbury youth, distinguished in after life, who were 
 pupils of Master Adams, was John Hough, pro- 
 fessor at Middlebury College. Ebenezer Fitch, 
 first president of Williams College, was also a 
 native of this town. 
 
 In 1833, Canterbury was brought very promi- 
 nently into notice in connection with the colored 
 school opened by Miss Prudence Crandall. Under 
 the patronage of leading men of the town. Miss 
 Crandall had previously established a young 
 ladies' school, which had been handsomely sus- 
 tained. The introduction of a young colored girl 
 gave great offense to the parents of her other 
 pupils, who threatened to withdraw their daughters. 
 Finding that she could not instruct both white and 
 colored together, Miss Crandall decided in favor of 
 the latter, and, after counseling with friends in 
 regard to the matter, threw open her school "for 
 young ladies and little misses of color." Indignant 
 at what they deemed a breach of good faith, the 
 former patrons of Miss Crandall made use of 
 "every argumentative effort to convince her of the 
 injustice and impropriety of the proposed measure." 
 But having decided upon it from supreme conviction 
 of duty, nothing could change her resolution. 
 Personal insults and violence and legal injunctions 
 wero alike ineffectual. At length a vehement 
 petition from Canterbury procured the enactment 
 of the celebrated " Black Law," by which all per- 
 sons were forbidden to establish a school for the 
 instruction of the colored persons not inhabitants of 
 the State, or teach in any school, or harbor or board 
 any colored person attending such school, under 
 very heavy penalties. Undismayed by this opposi- 
 tion and persecution in most annoying forms, Miss 
 Crandall went calmly on with her school, supported 
 by her own indomitable spirit, and the smypathy 
 and material aid of prominent Abolitionists. 
 Arrested upon charge of breaking the newly 
 enacted law, Miss Crandall suffered herself to be 
 carried to jail for a night, to awaken public 
 sympathy and indignation. A final trial was held 
 before the Court of Errors, July, 1834, when the 
 court reserved its decision, and the suit was quashed 
 for alleged defects of information. During all this 
 time the greatest excitement raged in Canterbury 
 and the adjoining towns. Failing in their efforts 
 to break up the school by legal process, the oppo- 
 nents of Miss Crandall resorted to more systematic 
 violence, and, after an ineffectual attempt to set the 
 house on fire, broke in the windows with iron bars, 
 and so seriously damaged it that repairs wero 
 deemed impolitic, if not impracticable. 
 
 Woodstock (2,700).— The first settlement within 
 the limits of the present Windham County was made 
 in Woodstock. By a mistake in the southern bound- 
 ary line of the Bay Colony, the territory now included 
 in Woodstock and Thompson was long held by 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 The first settlers of the town were emigrants from 
 Koxbury, Mass., and hence its original name of 
 New Koxbury. Among the settlers at Plain Hill 
 were Thomas and Joseph Bacon, James Corbin, 
 Benjamin Sabin, and Henry Bowen. 
 
 When the French settlement at Oxford was de- 
 stroyed by marauding Mohawks, its fugitives found 
 refuge in the New Koxbury plantation. Great 
 
 apprehensions were felt at other times of a rising of 
 the Wabbaquassets. During these days of trial, the 
 women and children might have been seen gathered 
 into garrisons with but a single man to guard them 
 and "hold the fort," while the other men under 
 arms tried to carry on their out-door labor. In 
 1090 the colony was accorded town privileges, and 
 granted the name of Woodstock, and during the 
 same year Mr. Josiah Dwight, of Dedham, engaged 
 in the work of the ministry. A meeting-house was 
 completed in 1694, and a church soon afterwards 
 organized though the date cannot be ascertained. 
 From an isolated frontier town, Woodstock devel- 
 oped into a flourishing business centre. The most 
 prominent citizen during this period was Captain 
 John Chandler. All important commissions and 
 negotiations were intrusted to him. He was the 
 first and long the only representative sent to General 
 Court, and was superintendent of the Wabbaquasset 
 Indians. No man was more concerned in the settle- 
 ment of Windham County. He owned large tracts 
 of land in Killingly, Pomf ret and Ashford. Nearly 
 every town in Windham County was laid out by 
 him, and he was held in high repute by the Con- 
 necticut Government. When Massachusetts' south 
 boundary line was rectified in 1713, it was agreed 
 that she should retain jurisdiction over the towns 
 she had settled, an arrangement which for a time 
 gave entire satisfaction; but after the death of 
 Colonel Chandler and other town fathers, the new 
 generation were led to desire transference to the 
 government of Connecticut, where taxes would be 
 lighter and greater privileges accorded. The 
 change was subsequently made and the first town 
 meeting under the jurisdiction of Connecticut was 
 held on Woodstock Hill, July 28, 1749. 
 
 During the Revolution, Charles C. Chandler, a 
 rising lawyer, was very active on the Committee of 
 Correspondence; Samuel McClellan was much en- 
 gaged in civil and military affairs, serving in the 
 northern army, leading out the militia again and 
 again, and [laying them from his own purse when 
 the treasury was empty. After the close of the war 
 he was made general of the fifth brigade. 
 
 At the special request of Washington and Putnam, 
 the church at Woodstock Hill yielded their beloved 
 pastor, Rev. Abie! Leonard, LL.D., to officiate 
 as chaplain of Putnam's own regiment. His elo- 
 quence and patriotism made him a great favorite in 
 the army, and ho continued to serve with much 
 fidelity and acceptance until his most untimely and 
 lamented decease in August, 1777. Another dis- 
 tinguished son of Woodstock, Gen. William Eaton, 
 the conqueror of Tripoli, began his military career 
 during the Revolutionary war in the company of 
 Capt; Dana of Ashford. 
 
 With the restoration of peace and prosperity, 
 Woodstock felt the need of greater educational 
 privileges, and through the active instrumentality 
 of Rev. Eliphalet Lyman, successor of Mr. Leonard, 
 an academy was established at Woodstock Hill in 
 1802. Its first preceptor was Thomas Williams of 
 Pomfret. He was succeeded by an array of teachers 
 more or less celebrated, under whom the Academy 
 maintained a good reputation. 
 
 Woodstock is becoming famous as a summer re- 
 sort, vicing with Brooklyn and Thompson in this 
 regard. Elmwood Hall and Woodstock Common 
 are widely noted. Their publicity is mainly due to 
 
162 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the enterprise and public spirit of Mr. Henry C. 
 Bowen, publisher of the New York "Independent," 
 who, being a native of Woodstock, made it his 
 summer home, and who has done much for its im- 
 provement and adornment. Through his efforts 
 and liberality, and the generous co-operation of his 
 fellow-citizens, the old Woodstock Academy is 
 placed on an assured basis, with an elegant new 
 academy building, and an ample endowment. His 
 last and perhaps greatest achievement is the open- 
 ing to the public of Boseland Park, a beautiful 
 pleasure-ground on the border of Woodstock Lake. 
 The old military and election parades, and other 
 rollicking festivites of the olden time that form- 
 erly furnished the chief diversion of the populace, 
 have been outgrown. Mr. Bowen has proposed to 
 meet the higher and varied demands of the present 
 generation by creating this delightful park, which, 
 with its musical concerts and many provisions for 
 innocent recreation, promises to be a place of great 
 public resort. Woodstock has already suprised the 
 world with its monster mass-meetings and unique 
 Fourth of July celebrations, bringing together, on 
 these occasions, some of the foremost men of the 
 nation. 
 
 Pomfret (1,500) — The settlement of this town was 
 closely connected with that of Woodstock. On 
 May 1, 1686, 15,100 acres of wilderness land were 
 conveyed to several gentlemen from Boxbury, 
 Mass. The first settler was John Sabin (June 22, 
 1691). This sturdy pioneer, during the Indian 
 wars, rendered most important service by "standing 
 his ground," protecting the frontier, and engaging 
 the surrounding Indians as allies of the English. 
 After the restoration of peace, settlement began in 
 earnest. Mrs. Esther Grosvenor took possession of 
 her allotment in 1700. Philemon Chandler, of 
 Andover entered soon after upon a right purchased 
 of Buggies. Dea. Benjamin Sabin of Woodstock, 
 with six sons, removed to the Mashamoquet settle- 
 ment in 1705. These settlers experienced compara- 
 tively few hardships. The soil was good and easily 
 subdued. Smooth hills, mostly bare of trees, 
 yielded a coarse rank grass, so that cattle could 
 forage for themselves through the winter. Wood- 
 stock afforded them mills, market, and religious 
 privileges, men, women, and children toiling over 
 the rough ways every Sunday to " Mr. D wight's 
 meeting-house." A grist-mill was set up on Bark- 
 Meadow Brook by James Sawyer in 1709. A mil- 
 itary company was organized in 1710. In May, 
 1713, town privileges were accorded, and it was 
 also ordered " that the said Massamuggct shall be 
 called Pomfret. " 
 
 A church was organized October 26, 1715, and 
 Mr. Ebenezer Williams of Boxbury was ordained 
 its pastor. 
 
 The most conspicuous event of Pomfret's early 
 history was the destruction of that "old she-wolf," 
 so famous in legendary story. Other Windham 
 county wolves had succumbed to the prowess of 
 hunters, but this "pernicious animal" found re- 
 fuge in an almost inaccessible ledge of rock and 
 forest in the south part of Pomfret, and feasted at 
 pleasure upon the richest flocks and herds of the 
 county. Combination and private effort failed to 
 effect her capture. Wary and wise she outwitted 
 all her pursuers, and continued for many years an 
 intolerable nuisance. A slight snow-fall in the 
 
 winter of 1743 enabled some hunters to trace her 
 to the vicinity of her lair, and a dog belonging to 
 Mr. John Sharpe tracked her into a den or cave, 
 tunneling between the rocks down into the depths 
 of the earth, and engaged with her in fierce combat. 
 A young son of Mr. Sharpe followed on and gave 
 the alarm. People gathered from all the farms 
 around and used every possible means to rout the 
 wolf from her hiding-place. Her first assailant 
 was withdrawn from the cave badly disabled, and 
 no other dogs would enter. Late at night it was 
 remembered that a young farmer in Mortlake, one 
 Israel Putnam, had a bloodhound of superior 
 strength and courage, and the dog and his master 
 were called to the rescue. His coming brought 
 matters to immediate crisis. The obscure young 
 farmer of 1743 was very like the brave " Old Put" 
 of '76. Not a moment was wasted. The wolf 
 must be mastered at any hazard If she would not 
 come out to them they must go in to her. Dog and 
 negro refused to go, but Putnam was ready for the 
 onset. With a rope fastened round his body and 
 a blazing torch in his hand, Putnam crawled down 
 the black icy passage until he could see the glaring 
 eye-balls of his adversary, and with one dexterous 
 shot dispatched Pomfret's last wolf, and made 
 himself famous. 
 
 The west part of Pomfret was incorporated as 
 Abington Society in 1749. A church was herein 
 organized, January 31, 1753, and David Bipley of 
 Windham was ordained as its minister. A meeting- 
 house was completed the same year. Pomfret was 
 distinguished during this period for intelligence 
 and intellectual activity, eleven young men from 
 this town being contemporary collegiates in 1757-59. 
 Not only a most distinguished general, but many 
 brave officers and men represented Pomfret in the 
 Bevolutionary struggle. Lieut. Thomas Grosvenor 
 and a picked company of Pomfret boys were among 
 the defenders of Bunker Hill. 
 
 Pomfret maintained a leading position in the 
 county for many years. Dr. Waldo gained here a 
 high reputation for medical skill. Dying suddenly 
 in 1794, he was succeeded in practice by a young 
 pupil and fellow townsman, Thomas Hubbard, who 
 achieved even greater distinction than his master 
 ere he was called by Yale College to occupy a high 
 place in her surgical department. His contem- 
 porary, Dr. Jonathan Hall, was also very noted and 
 popular, and his sons and daughters were shining 
 ornaments of that polite and cultivated society 
 which distinguished Pomfret above her sister 
 towns, and made her a favorite resort for Newport 
 and Providence families. 
 
 Richard Adams was the first white settler within 
 the limits of the present town. Isaac Allen and 
 Edward Spalding soon followed. These settlers 
 were left for some years unrelated to any town, a 
 few isolated families surrounded by a wilderness. 
 In 1724, Richard Adams granted a parcel of land 
 for the setting up of a school-house, and Daniel 
 Cady granted another tract for "a convenient place 
 to bury ye bodies of the dead among us." In 1731, 
 parish privileges were accorded, and a society 
 erected out of parts of Pomfret, Canterbury and 
 Mortlake. 
 
 The Mortlake Society, as it was commonly called, 
 organized a church and built a house of worship, 
 and on September 24, 1735, ordained Ephraim 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 153 
 
 Avery of Truro, for its minister. The Rev. Mr. 
 Avery was succeeded in the pastorate of the church 
 by Josiah Whitney of Plainfield, who was ordained 
 February 4, 1756. The widow of Mr. Avery, after 
 a second marriage and widowhood, became the 
 second wife of Col. Israel Putnam. In 1767, 
 Putnam removed from the Whiteshire farm-house 
 to Brooklyn Green, and opened a house of public 
 entertainment. Through all the Stamp Act agita- 
 tion, and other pre-revolutionary movements, he 
 was the popular leader ; and this Brooklyn tavern 
 became one of the most noted rendezvous in eastern 
 Connecticut. As a private citizen he was equally 
 alert and active, ever ready to serve town, church 
 and parish in any capacity. 
 
 During the whole Revolutionary period, Brook- 
 lyn was conspicuously prominent. Putnam was 
 a host in himself. The opening of hostilities at 
 Lexington called him from the plough to the 
 saddle, and, until disabled by paralysis, he gave 
 his whole time and energies to the patriot cause. 
 The town and parish sustained him by constant co- 
 operation and sympathy. 
 
 Brooklyn (2,300) was incorporated as a town in 
 May, 1686. Various improvements were now set 
 on foot, and the town took a leading position in 
 all public affairs. The most important event oc- 
 curring for many years during this period, was a 
 controversy concerning the nature and persons 
 of the Trinity, which resulted in church and 
 society division, and the organization of the first 
 Unitarian church in Connecticut. Dr. Whitney 
 remained in charge of the Orthodox church, 
 aided by colleagues, till his death in 1824, aged 
 ninety -three years. The secular energies of the 
 town during this period were mainly devoted to 
 the struggle for a change of county-seat. After 
 many years of sectional agitation, the civil ad- 
 ministration of Windham County was transferred 
 to Brooklyn Green, near the geographical centre 
 of the county. 
 
 The first bank in Windham County was estab- 
 lished in Brooklyn in 1822. In various reforms 
 and aggressive movements, Brooklyn now took 
 the lead. Samuel J. May, the well-known philan- 
 thropist and reformer, pastor of the Unitarian 
 church, was active in all reformatory movements, 
 The Windham County Agricultural Society, 
 formed in 1820, now held its annual fair at 
 Brooklyn. In 1830, Brooklyn Academy was 
 incorporated and enjoyed for many years a large 
 share of patronage. After 1840, newspapers and 
 some other business interests were transferred to 
 Danielsonville ; but, though a little aside from 
 railroads, Brooklyn has maintained her energy 
 and vitality, and gains in wealth and population. 
 
 Thompson (2,300). — This town was not incorpo- 
 rated till 1785, but its record begins more than a 
 century before that date, when twenty families 
 of " Praying Indians " gathered on Quinnatisset 
 hill-top and received a Christian teacher from 
 Mr. Eliot. The first known white settler here 
 was Richard Dresser of Rowley. Sampson Howe 
 of Roxbury followed the next year. Samuel Con- 
 verse of Woburn, with five sons, purchased land 
 south of Quinnatisset Hill in 1710. 
 
 The first society meeting was held on Thomp- 
 son Hill, July 9, 1728. A church was organized 
 January 28, 1730, and Marston Cabot of Salem 
 
 was soon after ordained its pastor. A Baptist 
 church was organized in 1773, and a meeting- 
 house built on what is now called Brandy Hill. 
 The town was incorporated in May, 1785. 
 
 The transference of travel from turnpike to rail- 
 road, greatly affected Thompson, with other hill- 
 top villages, and carried business away to other 
 centres; but the town in general has maintained its 
 early standing, and has ever been distinguished by 
 thrift, order and public spirit. The old Congrega- 
 tional Church has been especially noted for the 
 permanence of its ministry. The Rev. Daniel Dow, 
 ordained April 20, 1796, celebrated the fiftieth 
 anniversary of his settlement in 1 846, and continued 
 to officiate till the day of his death, in August, 
 1849. 
 
 Killingly (7,000).— The first white settler within 
 the limits of the future town was Richard Evans, of 
 Rehoboth, who, in 1693, made a home in the wilder- 
 ness, three miles east from Woodstock. Peter 
 Aspinwall, sent by Woodstock to cut through the 
 cedar swamps to make a way to Providence, settled 
 east of the Quinebaug about 1700. James and 
 Joseph Leavens, of Woodstock, gathered turpentine 
 for Woodstock traders in this section, and soon 
 after joined the settlement, the latter marrying the 
 daughter of Capt. John Sabin, of Pomfret, she 
 receiving a beautiful valley farm for her marriage 
 portion. These early settlers were favored by 
 government oversight and protection, and in 1708 
 were allowed town privileges. 
 
 Though emigrants now came in more rapidly, 
 money was scarce. The border position of the 
 town made it particularly accessible to tramps, 
 vagabonds and roving Indians. The large number 
 of roads made requisite by the size of the town was 
 very burdensome, especially as population was so 
 scattered that nearly every household had to have 
 a way of its own. Meantime those difficulties of 
 travel, in roundabout ways, over rocks, and through 
 swamps "to mill and to meeting," often became 
 the occasion of society division. Hence the build- 
 ing of the meeting-house on Killingly Hill in 1746, 
 the South Society occupying the house on Break- 
 neck. 
 
 Killingly Hill, after the building of the meeting- 
 house in 1746, was recognized more and more as the 
 head and heart of the large township, the place for 
 town meetings, trainings and public gatherings. 
 Among its early residents were Rev. Aaron Brown, 
 Noah, son of Justice Joseph Leavens, and Dr. 
 Thomas Moffat, the first known physician of the 
 town. John Felshaw, father and son, maintained 
 a popular house of entertainment at the northern 
 extremity of the hill for more than half a century. 
 During the revolutionary troubles many substantial 
 families from seaboard towns found refuge in 
 Killingly, and were numbered among its most 
 valued citizens. 
 
 A church was formed in West Killingly in 1801, 
 and Westfield Parish organized. A thriving village 
 grew up in this vicinity, which became a noted 
 social and business centre. Its first physician was 
 Dr. Hutchins. Rev. Roswell Whittemore succeeded 
 Rev. Gordon Johnson in the pastorate of the church 
 in 1813, and retained the office for thirty years. 
 Other villages grew up on Five-Mile River and 
 Whetstone Brook, which furnished many manufac- 
 turing privileges. Though it declined somewhat 
 
154 
 
 THE HIS TOUIGA L, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 in importance after the removal of the town centre, 
 Killingly Hill still furnishes a pleasant place of 
 residence. Rev. Elisha Atkins served as pastor of 
 the church from 1784 to 1839, and was greatly 
 esteemed. In 1855 the north part of Killingly was 
 incorporated into the new town of Putnam. 
 
 Among the most brilliant and promising of the 
 sons of Killingly were the Rev. Joseph Howe, and 
 Manasseh Cutler, one of the founders of the Ohio 
 Company, very active and prominent in the opening 
 and settlement of the Northwest Territory. Through 
 his influence some of the best of Killingly youth 
 joined in the first emigration to the distant territory, 
 and many substantial families sought homes in the 
 far West. 
 
 Voluntown. — The old town of /oluntown, 
 which for many years embraced what is now Ster- 
 ling, was, with Killingly, part of the Whetstone 
 country, and was granted about 1700 by the General 
 Court of Connecticut to volunteers in New London 
 County who had served during King Philip's war. 
 The roughness and barrenness of the land discour- 
 aged settlement, and it was long feared that the 
 scattered inhabitants would never be able to estab- 
 lish religious worship. Several families of Scotch- 
 Irish Presbyterians, however, purchased volunteer's 
 rights in 1721-22, and aided greatly in building up 
 the town and establishing religious institutions. 
 Town government was organized June 20, 1721. 
 A meeting-house was erected near the centre of the 
 long, narrow township; and October 15, 1723, a 
 church was organized. Rev. Samuel Dorrance a 
 graduate of Glasgow University, licensed to preach 
 by the Presbytery of Dumbarton, received a unani- 
 mous call to the pastorate, and after a strong oppo- 
 sition from dissenting inhabitants, who feared that 
 Presbyterianisra was a cloak for Popery and heresy, 
 he was formally ordained minister of the Volun- 
 town church and township. 
 
 Mr. Dorrance remained in cnarge of the Volun- 
 town church till 1770, though suffering much from 
 the disaffection of his people and the difficulty of 
 obtaining a comfortable support. He died Novem- 
 ber, 1775, aged ninety years. The church was 
 greatly weakened not only by dissension, but by 
 emigration. Presbyterianism finally declining, a 
 Congregational church was organized in 1779. 
 
 Several cotton-manufactories have been put in 
 operation in the southwest part of Voluntown, 
 greatly stimulating its development and improve- 
 ment. 
 
 Ashford (1,000), so called on account of the 
 great number of its ash-trees, was first settled in 
 1710. John Mixer, the first emigrant to these parts, 
 settled on Mount Hope River, on the site of the 
 present Warrenville. The road from Boston to 
 Providence passed near his residence. John Parry 
 of Marlborough settled soon after near the site of 
 the present Eastport Village. A town organization 
 was effected in 1715. About this time William 
 Ward sent in search of a minister, to serve for a 
 quarter of a year, and was so fortunate as to secure 
 one for a quarter of a century — Rev. James Hale 
 of Swansea, a most faithful and worthy man. 
 
 At this date Ashford contained about forty 
 families. A church was organized Nov. 26, 1718. 
 The First Baptist church in Windham County, now 
 extinct, was formed in this town in 1743, and 
 Thomas Denison ordained its pastor. 
 
 Ashford's position on a great public thorough- 
 fare of travel brought her prominence and pros- 
 perity, especially during the Revolutionary days, 
 when soldiers and even armies traversed her high- 
 ways. " Clarke's tavern" still bears the name of 
 many an illustrious guest upon its ancient windows. 
 Washington spent at least one Sabbath here. Many 
 of her own sons distinguished themselves greatly 
 during the war. Thomas Knowlton and his 
 brother Daniel, after gaining valuable experience 
 in the French war, took the field at once in favor 
 of American liberties. The regiment sent by 
 Windham County upon the Lexington alarm, was 
 placed under command of Thomas Knowlton. 
 The services rendered by Knowlton at Bunker Hill, 
 Boston, Long Island and Harlem, where his valu- 
 able life was offered up in sacrifice, will never be 
 forgotten by American patriots. Daniel Knowlton 
 was equally brave and devoted, serving throughout 
 the war. Capt. James Dana, second under Knowlton 
 at Bunker Hill, was almost equally forward and 
 meritorious. John Keyes, Daniel Marcy — indeed, 
 the thirty Ashford boys who fought at Bunker 
 Hill, and saved the retreating provincials from 
 destruction — deserve perpetual gratitude and com- 
 memoration. 
 
 The opening of the Boston and Hartford Turn- 
 pike in 1798 increased business and travel through 
 Ashford. and contributed to its growth and import- 
 ance. These prosperous days have been succeeded 
 by isolation and decay. The opening of railroads 
 left the old town far from business centres and 
 markets, with no great farming or manufacturing 
 facilities. 
 
 Eastford (900) — The incorporation of the eastern 
 section of Ashford was delayed till 1777, when, not- 
 withstanding the scarcity of men and means, society 
 and church organization was initiated. Andrew 
 Judson, pastor elect, Benjamin Sumner and others, 
 united in church fellowship Sept. 23, 1778. Capt. 
 Benjamin Sumner was long one of its most promi- 
 nent citizens. The present Congregational house 
 was erected in 1829, Benjamin Bosworth, Esq., 
 purchasing the former building. In removing the 
 old house from the hill-site, a chain snapped off, 
 whereupon the workmen demanded " treat," which 
 was refused by Esquire Bosworth, who had just 
 joined the new Temperance Society. Men and oxen 
 at once "struck "and left the old meeting-house 
 suspended, till Mr. Darius Matthewson of Pomfret, 
 president of the County Temperance Society, came 
 to the rescue with a band of good temperance men 
 from Abington, and accomplished its descent with- 
 out a single drop of liquor. 
 
 A woolen-manufactory was established rn East- 
 ford Village about the year 1816. In 1847 Eastford 
 was made a town. 
 
 Nathaniel Lyon was born at Ashford July 14, 
 1819, graduated at West Point in 1841, and served 
 in the Florida and Mexican wars. At the outbreak 
 of the civil war he was in command of the arsenal 
 at St. Louis, and broke up a camp of secessionists 
 established by the governor, C. F. Jackson. Jack- 
 son then assembled a force at Boonesville, where lie 
 was routed (June 17,1861) by Lyon. In the battle 
 of Wilson's Creek, while attempting to hold his 
 position against the united forces of McCulloch and 
 Price, after having been twice wounded, as he was 
 leading into action a regiment whose colonel had 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 155 
 
 just fallen, he was himself shot in the breast and 
 killed on the spot, Aug. 10, 1861. His funeral at 
 Eastford, where, by his own request, his remains 
 were buried beside his honored parents, was the 
 most remarkable ceremonial ever witnessed in 
 Windham County. Gen. Lyon bequeathed $30,000, 
 nearly all his property, to the government, to aid in 
 the prosecution of the war. 
 
 Putnam (6,000) is pre-eminently the modern town 
 of Windham County. Its central site and great 
 water-privilege have indeed long been occupied. 
 For one hundred and fifty years the Great Fall of 
 Quinebaug has run its grist-mills, and carried on 
 malting and dyeing. In the days of old Capt. 
 Cargil (1760-98) these mills were very celebrated, 
 and residents of the four adjacent towns resorted to 
 them on needful occasions. When Rhode Island 
 capitalists began to look outside their little State 
 for cotton-factory locations, a keen eye marked this 
 spot, and active hands soon reared and put in 
 operation the first successful cotton manufactory 
 in Connecticut. 
 
 It was at the opening of the Norwich and Wor- 
 cester Railroad in 1839, that this place started on 
 a new career of progress. The fine geographical 
 position and great manufacturing facilities of the 
 location were at once recognized, and people from 
 all the surrounding towns hastened to take advan- 
 tage of them. Great factories, stores, churches, 
 and dwelling-houses, sprung up as if by magic, 
 and soon the gathering population felt the need of 
 town organization. 
 
 In 1849 they asked for a distinct township, tak- 
 ing parts of Thompson, Killingly, Pomfret and 
 Woodstock. Against great and determined oppo- 
 sition, the incorporation of Putnam township was 
 secured in July, 1 855. In less than a quarter of a 
 century, the place has far outstripped some of her 
 more venerable elders, and won a place among the 
 leading towns of Connecticut. With the spirit 
 and resolution of her heroic namesake, she has 
 grappled with every obstacle. The great fire of 
 1877 swept out her business centre, but the burnt 
 district was long since filled up with more substan- 
 tial buildings, and business is flowing on with re- 
 doubled briskness and energy. The junction of 
 the two railroads passing through the county, and 
 convenient access from all the neighboring towns, 
 make Putnam the railroad aud business centre for 
 a large section of country. New stores and ware- 
 houses are continually opening to meet the increas- 
 ing demand. Very many branches of manufacture 
 are now carried on, besides the mammoth cotton- 
 factories that are ever in motion. The population 
 of the village increases at a rapid rate. 
 
 Putnam has been remarkably fortunate in the 
 high character and public spirit of her leading 
 business men, who have ever been ready to aid in 
 needful improvement, and labor earnestly for the 
 best good of the town. Five school buildingshave 
 been erected, and an admirable high school is in 
 successful operation. "The Putnam Patriot," an 
 enterprising weekly journal, was established in 
 1872. The religious interests of Putnam have been 
 carefully guarded. Baptist, Congregational and 
 Methodist churches, formed at an early day, are 
 accommodated with convenient and even elegant 
 houses of worship. 
 
 Willimantic. — The village of Willimantic owes 
 its development to the establishment of cotton 
 manufactories. Soon after 1820 several manufac- 
 turing companies were formed, and eligible privi- 
 leges secured by Rhode Island capitalists and 
 residents of the vicinity. Half a dozen well-con- 
 ducted cotton-factories were soon in operation, and 
 population quickly gathered around them. Th6 
 site, like that of Putnam, formed the natural centre 
 for a number of prosperous towns, and business 
 flowed to it from a wide extent of country. Bap- 
 tist and Congregational churches were organized 
 and provided with houses of worship before 1830. 
 In 1833, the west side of Windham, on both sides 
 of the Willimantic, was incorporated as a borough. 
 Its steady, healthy growth has been greatly quick- 
 ened by the opening of the New London Northern 
 and Hartford and Providence railroads, and still 
 farther stimulated by the completion of the Air 
 Line route, making it a place of much business and 
 importance. Maintaining its connection with Wind- 
 ham, but reversing previous relations, it became in 
 time the head of the mother town, administering 
 the town government and probate office, and ab- 
 sorbing much of its business vitality. Its popu- 
 lation has been drawn largely from its immediate 
 vicinity. The energy and public-spirit of the 
 citizens of Willimantic are attested by its conven- 
 ient town building for the accommodation of 
 public offices, its substantial school-houses, its 
 numerous and handsome church edifices, its finely 
 graded streets and costly bridges, its tasteful 
 private residences, and general aspect of thrift and 
 prosperity. Its various manufactories are carried 
 ou with much spirit. Its cotton, woolen and linen 
 goods are well known in market, and Willimantic 
 thread is sold throughout the civilized world. 
 "The Willimantic Journal," established in 1848 
 by John Evans, has been sustained for over thirty 
 years, and has greatly aided the improvement of 
 the village. 
 
 Danielsonville also owes its origin to manufac- 
 tures. The Danielsonville Manufacturing Company 
 was the second formed in Windham County, and 
 the village dates back to 1810. For many years its 
 growth was limited to the demands of the factory, 
 until the opening of the Norwich and Worcester 
 Railroad brought quickening growth and expan- 
 sion. From river to depot, and onward to West- 
 field village, and east, west, and south into the 
 surrounding country, it was soon built up with 
 houses, stores, and public buildings. The three 
 villages, of Westfield, Danielsonville, and East 
 Brooklyn were united in 1850 in the borough of 
 Danielsonville, and instituted local government. 
 It has gained steadily in business and population, 
 and is now a wide-awake and flourishing village, 
 its central position in the county giving it addi- 
 tional influence and importance. "The Windham 
 County Transcript," established in 1848 under the 
 management of J. Q. A. Stone, has done much in 
 awakening county feeling, improving public morals, 
 and stimulating growth and improvement in every 
 direction. 
 
 The remaining towns of Windham County are 
 Chaplin (600), so called from its first settler, Ben- 
 jamin Chaplin, Jr., incorporated in 1822; Sterling 
 (1,000), named for Dr. John Sterling, who pre- 
 sented a public library to the town; Hampton 
 
156 
 
 REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 (800), incorporated in 1786, and Scotland (600), married the daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Devo- 
 
 whose first town meeting was held July 4, 1857. tion, long the respected pastor of the Scotland 
 
 The most remarkable family reared in Scotland church ; retained through life his affection for his 
 
 was that of Nathaniel Huntington. His sons, early home, and left a bequest to the Scotland 
 
 Enoch and Joseph, received collegiate education, Society. 
 
 and became distinguished ministers. Jonathan, Another noted son of Scotland was James L. 
 without scholastic education, filled an honorable Kingsley, who filled for many years a professor- 
 position as physician and preacher. Samuel, dur- ship at Yale College. 
 
 ing his apprenticeship at coopering, studied law, Hon. Chauncey F. Cleaveland of Hampton, an 
 
 and became an eminent lawyer, a signer of the able jurist and statesman, has been very active and 
 
 Declaration of Independence, president of the Con- influential in public life, and was for four years 
 
 tinental Congress, and governor of the State. He governor of the State. 
 
g 
 
 HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, ERECTED 1882-83. 
 
MIDDLETOWN. 
 
 Middletown is on the line of the Hartford and 
 Connecticut Valley Railroad and on the Air 
 Line Division of the New York, New Haven and 
 Hartford Railroad ; sixteen miles south of Hart- 
 ford, and twenty-four miles northeast from New 
 Haven. A branch railroad connects with the main 
 through line from New York to Roston, at 
 Rcrlin. Middletown is a half-shiro town of 
 Middlesex County, and a port of entry, is one of 
 the most beautiful of New England cities. It 
 stands on a large bend of the Connecticut, on its 
 western shore, and runs backwards to the hill- 
 tops for the distance of a mile. The traveler can 
 see but little of the city from any of its 
 approaches by land or water, so completely is it 
 embosomed in the foliage of the maple aiid the 
 elm, which has given to it the well-merited 
 name of "The Forest City" of Now England. 
 The population of the town is 11,731. It was 
 incorporated as a city in 1784 Its colleges and 
 schools, its numerous spires, its enterprising 
 industries and numerous banks, all tell the story 
 of the collocted wealth of two centuries. High 
 street, 180 feet above the river, is built up of 
 costly and elegant residences, set in the most 
 cultivated horticultural grounds. The arching 
 swoep of the elms forms a superb vista of en- 
 chanting foliage. The view from this street is 
 surpassingly beautiful. The Wesleyan Univer- 
 sity fronts on High street. The buildings 
 which comprise it stand a little distance from 
 the street, and in a straight line ; the inter- 
 mediate space of lawn, trees and gravel walks 
 forming a fine campus. The buildings are 
 chiefly of brown-stone from the adjacent quarries 
 at Portland. The most modern of these, erected 
 at the expense of Orange Judd, Esq., is the 
 Orange Judd Hall of Science. Its museum of 
 natural history and ethnology is very extensive 
 and remarkably well arranged under the super- 
 vision of Prof. W. N. Rice. The Scientific 
 Association of Middletown holds its meetings 
 here once a month. The Library contains about 
 30,000 volumes, and is endowed with a fund for 
 its continued increase. The Memorial Chapel is 
 enriched with a graceful spire, which makes 
 quite a landmark for miles around. The ob- 
 servatory is furnished with a splendid telescope 
 by Clark. There are about 200 students and a 
 large body of professors. Rev. John Wesley 
 Reach, D. D., LL.D., ia the efficient president. 
 
 The Berkeley Divinity School, on Main street, is 
 designed for the training of young men for the min- 
 istry of the Episcopalian Church. The Right Rev. 
 John Williams, 1). I)., bishop of Connecticut, is 
 the president and dean. Attached to the school is 
 a beautiful Gothic chapel, the gift of Mrs. Thomas 
 
 D. Mutter, as a memorial of her husband, in which 
 services are held daily. 
 
 Middletown has long been famous for her schools. 
 The high school draws a large number of scholars 
 from all parts of the county, and every year grad- 
 uates a large class. The building is most conven- 
 ientand substantial, built of brick, with brown-stone 
 facings, and having two wings. The Catholics 
 maintain a good parish school, which is well at- 
 tended, and a most excellent convent school, under 
 the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. The private 
 schools of Middletown contribute their share to the 
 educational reputation of the city. 
 
 The churches compare well with those of larger 
 cities. The first church was established in 1601, 
 and for a century the people were chiefly Congre- 
 gationalists. Other denominations gradually crept 
 in, and at the present day, the leading religious 
 orders are well represented. The town is improved 
 by four church edifices of considerable archi- 
 tectural pretensions ; one of them, the most mod- 
 ern, the First Congregational Cliurch — known as 
 the North Church — is as graceful and as imposing 
 a church edifice as any in the State. Its spire, 
 reaching to a great height, is beautiful in its pro- 
 portions. The South Congregational, the Episco- 
 pal and the Roman Catholic churches are also of 
 fine architectural design. 
 
 Middletown is the centre of the monetary insti- 
 tutions of the county, and contains seven banking 
 institutions and two nourishing insurance com- 
 panies. 
 
 On a commanding eminence in the southeast part 
 of the town, overlooking the river and city, and 
 embracing a wide and varied prospect, stands the 
 State hospital for the insane. No site could be 
 more appropriate or better adapted for the humane 
 purposes of such an institution. The building, of 
 Portland brown-stone, is a most imposing one, and 
 a conspicuous feature in the landscape for many 
 miles. 
 
 On an eminence in the western part of the town 
 is another State institution ; the Industrial School 
 for Girls, established in 1870, designed for the care 
 and education of homeless and neglected girls from 
 eight to twenty-one years of age. 
 
 The educational facilities of Middletown are con- 
 siderably enhanced by the Free Russell Library, the 
 generous gift of Mrs. Samuel Russell, in memory 
 of her husband. 
 
 Middletown has several cemeteries and old bury- 
 ing grounds. In an old cemetery in the south part 
 of the town the grave-stone can be seen of Capt. 
 Return Jonathan Meigs and his family. In another 
 is the tomb of Commodore McDonough, the hero 
 of Lake Champlain. The principal cemetery, and 
 one of the most beautiful in the State, is situated 
 on Indian Hill. The prospect from the summer- 
 
270 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 house on the crest commands the amphitheatre of 
 hills which surround it at a distance of four miles. 
 Above these can be seen the ranges of the more 
 distant hills until they gradually lose themselves in 
 the dim forms of Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke 
 in Massachusetts. A wide sweep of the river is in 
 full view in the midst of a most charming pastoral 
 country. The smoke of distant cities may be seen, 
 and although Middletown lies at its feet, nothing 
 more than the spires are in sight, on account of the 
 trees. The cemetery is beautifully laid out in 
 gravel walks ; the monuments are elegant, and 
 many of them very costly, several being made of 
 the polished Scotch granite. There is a fine monu- 
 ment in memory of Maj. Gen. Mansfield, IT. S. A., 
 who fell leading his brigade at Antietam. A 
 brown-stone chapel, Gothic in design, which all 
 denominations can use, is another of the gifts of 
 the benevolent Mrs. Samuel Russell. 
 
 Middletown has extensive and varied manufac- 
 tures. Among the leading establishments, other 
 than those mentioned below, is the Middletown 
 Plate Co. 
 
 W. & B.Douglas, Manufacturers of Pumps' 
 — Near the center of the city, just off of Main 
 street, is the large and world-wide known pump 
 manufactory of W. & B. Douglas. This now im- 
 mense establishment was started in 18:i2, in a small 
 way, beginning the manufacture of an improved 
 pump of their own invention, and in time they per- 
 fected it to such a degree that no better one for 
 domestic purposes has ever been brought out. 
 Owning the patent, and controlling the manufac- 
 ture, the business grew with the growth of the 
 country, until to-day the pump works of W. & B. 
 Douglas are the largest in the world, and the arti- 
 cles manufactured therein find a market in all parts 
 of the globe. In 1858, Mr. William Douglas died, 
 and the firm was then incorporated, and now has a 
 capital of $600,000, the stock being held by the 
 Douglas family, half of which is in the hands 
 of the heirs of William Douglas. Mr. Benja- 
 min Douglas, brother of William Douglas, and 
 partner in the original firm, is the President 
 of the corporation, and owns the other half 
 of the capital stock ; Mr. John M. Douglas is 
 the Secretary and Treasurer ; Mr. Edward Douglas 
 is Assistant Treasurer, and Mr. Joseph W. Douglas 
 is the mechanical superintendent, and B. Douglas, 
 Jr., paymaster of workmen. In 1861, Mr. Benj. 
 Douglas was elected lieutenant-governor of Con- 
 necticut. He is president of the First National 
 Bank, and of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings 
 Bank. He was born in 1810 at Northford, Con- 
 necticut, but has lived for the most of his days in 
 this city. Mr. John M. Douglas was born in Nor- 
 wich in 1839. He represented his State in the na- 
 tional conventions at Chicago which nominated 
 Hayes and Garfield, also held seats in the State 
 Senate and House of Representatives several years. 
 The manufactory consists of a large number of 
 brick machine shops, foundries, office, etc., which 
 cover some three acres of ground, and give employ- 
 ment to 275 men. Two engines of 150 horse-power 
 are used, and over 1,000 styles and sizes of pumps 
 are made, as well as hydraulic rams, garden en- 
 gines, hydrants, street washers, and hydraulic ma- 
 chinery generally. The superiority of these goods 
 
 are acknowledged all over the world, and at all 
 the universal expositions, in competition with other 
 manufacturers of similar goods, the highest pre- 
 miums at Paris, Philadelphia, Vienna, Melbourne, 
 and every part of the globe have been awarded. 
 The business having been established over half a 
 century, those conducting it have embodied in 
 their productions the best improvements which ex- 
 perience and a careful study of the wants of the 
 trade have demanded. Branch warehouses have 
 been established at 85 and 87 John street, New 
 York, and 197 Lake street, Chicago. 
 
 The Russell Manufacturing - Company, 
 
 Manufacturers of Suspenders, Saddlery Goods, 
 Cotton Belting, Linen Hose, Elastic Webs, Cot- 
 ton Yarns, etc. — On page 115, mention is made 
 of The Russell Manufacturing Co. as one of the 
 leading manufacturing establishments of Middle- 
 town ; the writer might have added that it is the 
 largest of its class in the world. In reviewing 
 the various establishments of an industrial nature 
 for which Connecticut is so noted, one is sur- 
 prised at the extent of their operations and the 
 long term of years that has elapsed since not a 
 few of them began their successful career. The 
 extensive enterprise conducted by the Russell 
 Manufacturing Co. presents an instance of steady 
 growth, which marks the high character of the 
 goods produced, as well as the enterprise and 
 ability displayed in the management of the busi- 
 ness. 
 
 The year 1884 will mark the fiftieth year of 
 the incorporated existence of this company. It 
 has a capital of $600,000, and -the following 
 named officers : 
 
 President, Mr. Henry G. Hubbard ; Vice-Presi- 
 dent, Mr. Samuel Russell ; Secretary, Mr. E . H. 
 Burr ; Treasurer, Mr. Ernest Deming. 
 
 The goods manufactured consist of suspenders, 
 saddlery goods, cotton belting for machine pur- 
 poses, linen hose, cotton-back banding, elastic 
 webs, tapes, bindings, cotton yarns, etc. There 
 are threo separate mills grouped together at 
 South Farms, a surburb of Middletown, and 
 about one and one-half miles from the post-office. 
 Communication is had by stage every hour, fare 
 ten cents. In addition to the main establish- 
 ment, the company have a mill at Higganum, a 
 few miles south on the Connecticut river, devoted 
 to the production of cotton yarns, also one at 
 Rock Falls, near Middletown, devoted to the 
 same specialty, and one at Staddle Hill, near by, 
 devoted to weaving. The waterfall at this 
 privilege is the largest in the cotinty. 
 
 In all these mills about one thousand persons 
 are employed. While every attention is paid to 
 the improvement and perfecting of each article 
 made, probably the manufacture of cotton belt- 
 ing and linen hose is made as much a specialty 
 as any. 
 
 Mr! Henry G. Hubbard, the president of the 
 Russell Manufacturing Co., like all of its officers, 
 resides in Middletown, and has the reputation of 
 being the richest man in that wealthy city. The 
 store of the company, whore the suspenders are 
 sold, is at Nos. 74 & 76 Worth street, New York ; 
 the rest of the goods are sold at the homo office 
 in this town. Quite a business is done exporting. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 271 
 
 From year to year, additions to the original plant 1871 joined interests with the latter.jforming an 
 
 have been made, till now the home mills cover a incorporated company witli a capital of $90,000, 
 
 large area. A new office, a model of its class, is and the following-named officers : 
 
 now in progress. President, Mr. D. A. Stiles; Treasurer, Mr. N. C. 
 
 The Bussell Manufacturing Co. is one of the Stiles ; Secretary, Mr. H. R. Clark, 
 
 few which has pursued the even tenor of its way In 1878 the business was moved to its present 
 
 for fifty years and preserved its financial standing location, where are grouped several brick buildings, 
 
 untarnished, adding, in the meantime, to its the largest of which is 270 x 35 feet, two and three 
 
 magnitude and capacity. stories, with French roof. 
 
 The foundry is 50 x 100 feet, and the blacksmith 
 
 The Stiles & Parker Press Co., Manu- shop 75x35 feet. There is probably no more com- 
 facturers of Drop Hammers, Power, Foot and Screw plete establishment of its class in America. *" 
 Punching, Cutting, Forming and Stamping Presses, The specialty of the works is the manufacture of 
 etc. — The ingenious mechanism which lias been drop hammers, and Stiles' Fowler adjustable in- 
 devised to perform the work of human hands, cline, arch, double pitman, sheet metal drawing, 
 and the rapidity and force attained in the opera- double action, perforating, open back and boiler 
 tiou of such machinery, is a constant matter of power presses, power shears, sprue cutting presses, 
 surprise. foot, screw and lever presses. 
 
 c — ■ " ■ ' — 1 n 
 
 THE STILES & PARKER PRESS CO., MIDDLETOWN. 
 
 The patent punching and drop presses, power 
 shearing machines and other tools for the manu- 
 facture of sheet metal goods, drop forgings, etc., 
 made by the Stiles & Parker Press Co., of Middle- 
 town, are so perfect and uniform in their operations 
 and results, that human skill cannot rival them. 
 They have assisted very materially in completely 
 revolutionizing manufacturing in many branches, 
 and instead of robbing the mechanic or operative, 
 have materially improved his condition and in- 
 creased his opportunities of earning a competency. 
 This establishment, now under review, grew out of 
 the efforts of Mr. N. C. Stiles and Mr. Charles 
 Parker. 
 
 The former was in a similar business in Meriden, 
 in 1857, while the latter was established in 1854. 
 The former moved to Middletown in 18G7, and in 
 
 Spinning lathes, dies, tools and special ma- 
 chinery to order. 
 
 A large export trade is done, their machines going 
 to every civilized country on the globe, while the 
 great West is supplied generally. The services of 
 from seventy-five to one hundred skilled artisans 
 are required. 
 
 Mr. Doras A. Stiles, the president, is a native~of 
 Feeding Hills, Mass., and was sixty-eight years'of 
 age. June 17,1883. He has been a resident _of 
 Middletown since 1878. 
 
 Mr. Norman C. Stiles is also a native of Feeding 
 nills, and was forty-eight years of age June 18, 1883. 
 He has resided in Middletown since 1867, and is a 
 practical machinist, learning his trade at the 
 American Machine Works, in Springfield, Mass. 
 He has been honored with a seat in the city coun- 
 
272 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AM) IMH STIUM. 
 
 cil and board of aldermen of liis adopted city, 
 and was appointed by the U. 8. Government as 
 Commissioner to Vienna, but the demands of his 
 business would not allow him to accept. 
 
 Mr. Howell H. Clark, the secretary, was born in 
 Hartford, August 12, 1855, and has been con- 
 nected with this company since lie left school. 
 
 As above noted, this establishment is one of the 
 largest of its class in America, and its productions 
 find a market in all parts of the civilized world. 
 
 I. E. Palmer, Manufacturer of Canopies, 
 Mosquito Nettings, Screen Cloth, Sheer Finished 
 Linings, 'Hammocks, etc. — Arrowwanna Mills. — 
 It is a matter of no little congratulation that among 
 the manufacturers of Middletown are several who 
 enjoy a national reputation as the largest producers 
 of the finest products in their respective lines 
 which are known to the trade. 
 ! *Thc name of Mr. L E. Palmer has been long 
 identified with the manufacture of canopy fix- 
 tures, canopies, mosquito Dettings, self-adjusting 
 pulleys, picture and curtain cords, etc., and of 
 late with the manufacture of window screen 
 cloth, crinoline linings, hammocks, etc., all of 
 which have been produced by hand at the " Arrow- 
 wanna Mills," located about one mile from the 
 business center on the Arrowwanna river, a tribu- 
 tary of the Connecticut. 
 
 It is about twenty-five years since this industry 
 was started by him, whose first improvement was 
 the patent self-adjusting or stop pulley for cano- 
 pies, but now universally known and used for 
 almost all purposes of a pulley. This led to im- 
 provements in canopy fixtures, canopy nettings, 
 machinery for finishing fabrics, machinery for 
 weaving and covering cords, etc. The productions 
 of the mills were originally sold by and the busi- 
 ness conducted under the name of the " Howe 
 Spring Bed Co.," of New York City, witli Mr. 
 Palmer as partner in this particular industry. There 
 has been several changes of ownership since, as 
 follows: Mellen & Wilcox, Palmer & Kendall, 
 Palmer & Allicn. and in the fall of 1881, Mr. I. E. 
 Palmer, who has since been sole proprietor. 
 
 January 1, 1803, a mill was started in Nor- 
 wich, Conn., with Mr. Palmer's improvements in 
 machinery, for the manufacture of picture cords. 
 In 1879 this business was incorporated under the 
 name of the " Ossawan Mills Co.," with Mr. Pal- 
 mer as president, and so continues, while the busi- 
 ness in Middletown is conducted as above men- 
 tioned under the name of I. E. Palmer, Arrow- 
 wanna Mills. 
 
 These mills consist of a number of wooden build- 
 ings, wherein are employed about one hundred 
 people ; the motive power being both water and 
 steam. The goods manufactured here have a 
 world-wide reputation under the name of Palmer's 
 patent cinopy fixtures, canopies, canopy net- 
 tings, self-adjusting pulleys, crinoline linings, 
 window screen cloths, hammocks, etc. 
 
 The majority of these productions are almost 
 too well known to require comment. His system 
 of finishing mosquito nettings and light weight 
 fabrics is held to be the most successful at present 
 known. In 1876, he organized the Palmer Tent- 
 ering Machine Company, for the introduction of 
 this system in Europe, where it is now being suc- 
 
 cessfully used. Nearly all the mosquito nettings 
 made in this country are finished by it. 
 
 The crinoline linings, oi sheer goods arc taking 
 their place at the head, through peculiar merits 
 that are apparent to a casual observer, and must 
 eventually supersede the imported. 
 
 His recent introduction of a suitable fabric pre- 
 pared and decorated for window and door or 
 other screens is fast becoming popular and will 
 eventua ly take the place of wire and German 
 gauze on account of its durability, ornamentation 
 and cheapness, having all of these requisites at 
 about one-half the cost. 
 
 His very latest offerings in the way of articles 
 for public approval and comfort are hammocks. 
 They are known in styles as the " Arrowwanna. 1 
 the " Royal," and the " Royal Social." 
 
 The Arrowwanna is suitable for a single person of 
 any weight, and perfectly practical. The Royal 
 is an extra large single. The Royal Social is 
 adapted to two persons, and can be used by two 
 without interference and perfectly practical. 
 
 He has obtained five patents (containing twenty- 
 five claims) within the present year on hammocks. 
 They are made upon a principle that gives the 
 greatest possible strength and endurance propor- 
 tionate to the amount of fibre used, whatever that 
 fibre may b_'. They have a pillow attached and 
 are more convenient and comfortable to use, with 
 as little danger of falling out as the best spring 
 bed or lounge. They are made " without a tied 
 knot and are suspended and adjusted without a 
 knot or tie in the rope. The custom of using ham- 
 mocks out of doors is gradudly being adapted for 
 indoors as well. These are perfectly suited to either 
 use and must become almost a necessity to every 
 one eventually. 
 
 Mr. I. K. Palmer, the founder of this business, 
 was born at Montville, New London County, in 
 1830, and has always been a manufacturer. Ho 
 has taken out between thirty and forty patents in 
 connection with his enterprises, and has probably 
 done more towards the perfection of his class of 
 goods than any other man in the business. Mr. 
 Palmer inherited much of his progressive ability 
 from his father, Mr. Gideon Palmer, who invented 
 the cotton seed oil press and obtained a patent 
 signed by President Andrew Jackson, which was 
 universally used for a long period, and was about 
 the first manufacturer of the power cotton gin 
 and of oils from the cotton seed. 
 
 Mr. I. E. Palmer has established a business 
 which adds largely to the manufacturing impor- 
 tance of Middletown, and has secured an enviable 
 reputation as the foremost manufacturer of his 
 class of goods in America. 
 
 W. H. Chapman & Co., Manufacturers of 
 Saddlery Hardware. — The business of manufac- 
 turing fine saddlery hardware was begun in a 
 small way, in 1856, at Pamecha, by W. H. 
 Chapman <fe Co. The quality of the goods they 
 made, with their superior workmanship, soon 
 gained for them an extensive sale, and necessi- 
 tated the erection of a larger factory. Buildings 
 were put up in the southeastern part of the city, 
 and now consist of a shop 170x-ltJ, throe stories 
 high; a second building, 50x25; a brass foundry 
 and japanning shop. From sixty to sixty-fivo 
 
II E VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 273 
 
 hands are employed, and the articles made, which 
 are either nickel, electro, gold and close silver- 
 plated, or of solid oroide or brass, consist of terrets 
 in numerous patterns, bolt hooks, post hooks, C 
 pad hooks, fly terrets ; fly, post and bolt hooks ; 
 trace and harness buckles, crunching rings, gag 
 swivels and chains, express mountings, har- 
 ness mountings, bits, solid white nickel hames, 
 and many other things. This house also 
 makes a large variety of Russian and 
 Swiss chime sleigh bells, shaft chimes, and 
 horse hair plumes of all colors. The firm con- 
 sists of W. H. Chapman and Col. Geo. D. Chap- 
 man. Col. Chapman is a native of Middletowu, 
 but after an absence of thirty years has concluded 
 to make this city his home. During the war he 
 went into the field as Major of the Fifth Connecti- 
 cut Infantry, and before the war closed had been 
 promoted to be its Colonel. At the outbreak of 
 the war he was engaged with the Colt Firearms 
 Manufacturing Company, at Hartford. 
 
 "Wilcox, Crittenden & Co., Manufac- 
 turerers of Ship-Chandlers', Sail-Makers and Boat- 
 Builders' Supplies. — The large ship-chandlery man- 
 ufactory of Wilcox, Crittenden & Co., at the old 
 Pamecha bridge, in this city, owes its existence 
 largely to the labors and inventive genius of Mr. 
 W. VV. Wilcox, the senior member of the firm, and 
 manufacturer of the first grommets made in the 
 United States. A metallic grommet in sail making 
 is a modern innovation, nothing of the kind having 
 been used until within about thirty-five years. For- 
 merly the grommet of a sail was a hole worked by 
 hand. The new metallic grommet consists of a brass 
 eyelet, having a projecting rim or lip at one end. A 
 washer is slipped on and carried down against the 
 rim ; the tube end of the eyelet is put through the 
 hole punched in the sail and another washer added 
 on the other side of the canvas. A setting die is 
 placed in the open end of the eyelet, when a blow 
 turns down the eyelet with a rim on both sides, 
 and firmly holds it in place on the canvas. The 
 business which has now grown to such large pro- 
 portions, w y as started in this city in 1849 by E. EL 
 & I. K. Penfield, in East William street. Foot 
 presses were used, and three men and two boys 
 were employed. The annual product was $0,000, 
 and about this time E. H. Penfield sold Iris interest 
 and Mr. Wilcox who had previously been in the 
 employ of the company, took a small interest in 
 the business under the firm name of Penfield & 
 Wilcox. In 1854 they removed to larger quarters 
 and continued the business for five years when its 
 rapid increase compelled another change of situa- 
 tion, and the Power Company Building, at the cor- 
 ner of Church and Hamlin streets was occupied for 
 several years. In 1859 the firm became Wilcox & 
 Hall, by the admission of Mr. Joseph Hall, Jr., 
 and the old factory at the northen end of Pamecha 
 bridge was taken, and the manufacture of the new 
 and improved grommet, of which Mr. Wilcox was 
 the inventor and patentee, was manufactured upon 
 a large scale. Business increased rapidly during 
 the next ten years, when Mr. Hall retired, and a 
 new company was formed, under the firm name of 
 Wilcox, Crittenden & Co., consisting of Messrs. W. 
 W. Wilcox, II. Churchill, E. B. Chaffee, and A. 
 R. Crittenden. To the original business the firm 
 
 have added sail-makers' tools, awning-makers' 
 hardware, ship chandlery, marine hardware, etc. 
 Their price list forms a book of over 100 pages, a 
 very extended catalogue of articles, including 
 anchors, fog horns, hooks, belaying pins, ship 
 scrapers, mast hoops, tackle blocks, galvanized 
 iron rings, thimbles, jib heads, marlin spikes, sail 
 needles, screw eye pullies, wrought iron staples, 
 calking irons, patent swivel row locks, rudder 
 braces, oyster tongs, clothes line hooks, galvanized 
 tacks, nails and spikes. They galvanize and tin 
 iron work of every description. This house con- 
 trols several patents upon marine hardware, mak- 
 ing galvanized ship work a specialty, while mallea- 
 ble and gray iron castings are furnished to order. 
 Connected with the establishment is one of the 
 finest and most thoroughly appointed galvanizing 
 and tinning shops in the country. A large brass 
 and iron foundry is also connected with the con- 
 cern. Their works consist of ten brick and wooden 
 buildings, where are employed nearly 150 hands, 
 the main one being used for a storehouse, packing 
 rooms, and the large and handsome offices on the 
 second floor, where, on one of the walls, is dis- 
 played samples of all the articles made, arranged 
 in an artistic manner. An engine of thirty-horse 
 power is used at times, but most of the power is 
 water which here has a fall of twenty-five feet, and is 
 utilized by a Leffel patent water wheel. The dam at 
 this point across the Pymeacha river was built 110 
 years ago, and used for a grist mill. This house 
 made a fine exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition, 
 and received a diploma for the highest merit with 
 a'medal of honor. At the International Fish Exhi- 
 bition held at Berlin a diploma and silver medal 
 were awarded Wilcox, Crittenden & Co. This 
 house completed and forwarded to Washington 
 two new and very interesting articles which were 
 taken to the Great International Fishery Exhibi- 
 tion in London. One of these is a patent fog 
 alarm, and the other an improved adjustable 
 marine drag, the inventions of Capt. J. W. Collins, 
 of theU. S. Fish Commission. These are designed 
 chiefly for the use of fishing schooners, but will 
 doubtless be adopted by all classes of vessels. The 
 fog alarm is on an entirely new principle, and 
 consists of an upright bellows surmounted by a 
 horn more than four feet long. The bellows is 
 worked by means of a lever, and when in operation 
 the horn produces a sound which can be heard 
 from five to seven miles. The contrivance is very 
 simple, with little chance to get out of repair. The 
 marine drag is for the purpose of insuring greater 
 safety to vessels during violent gales. It is 
 fastened to a hawser or chain and paid out from the 
 hold of a vessel which, with the drag out, will lay 
 nearly head to the wind. It consists of a strong 
 iron hoop jointed and braced so that it can be 
 folded and stowed away in small compass when not 
 in use. To this is attached, by interlocking hooks, 
 a heavy canvas bag, which will fill with water 
 when thrown overboard and hold the vessel steady 
 with a moderate lee-way. The drag is to be 
 secured to the hawser by a chain bridle, and can be 
 suspended at any depth of water that may be re- 
 quired by means of a buoy. A line is attached to 
 the bottom of the bag so that it can be tipped and 
 easily hauled in when its use is no longer necessary. 
 Messrs. Wilcox, Crittenden & Co., also sent to 
 
274 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Washington for exhibition at London, a very fine 
 and exhaustive series of fishing vessels and boat 
 fittings which they manufacture. This collection 
 will eventually be placed in the National Museum 
 at Washington. The superior quality of the goods 
 made by this firm is recognized by the Government 
 and the trade throughout the country. The hon- 
 orable success which this house has achieved is 
 owing largely to the personal attention to its busi- 
 ness of its senior partner, Mr. W.W.Wilcox. The 
 different members of the firm are practical busi- 
 ness men. They have all grown up with the busi- 
 ness, and worked hard to bring it to its present 
 prosperous condition. 
 
 The Middletown Hardware Co. .Manufac- 
 turers of Patent Drawer Pulls, Furniture Hardware, 
 etc. — Among the manufacturers of specialties which 
 deserve more than a passing notice at our hands, is 
 the Middletown Hardware Co., located at South 
 Farms, on the outskirts of this city. The company 
 was incorporated in 1880, with a capital of -10,- 
 000, and has the following-named oilieers: Presi- 
 dent. Mr. Elmore Penfield ; Secretary and Treasurer, 
 Mr. William E. Nulbert. The premises consist of 
 a brick building 30x80 feet in area and two stories 
 in height, together with a separate building for an 
 office. The articles produced are patented special- 
 ties for the furniture trade, such as drawer pulls, 
 and furniture hardware generally. Most of the pro- 
 ductions of this company are sold in the West 
 where salesmen are continually traveling among the 
 manufacturers of furniture to that end. Twenty 
 people are employed, and the business is prosper- 
 ous. 
 
 Mr. Elmore Penfield, the president, is a native of 
 Portland, Conn., and forty-five years of age. Mr. W. 
 E. Hulbert, the secretary and treasurer, was born in 
 Middletown forty-eight years ago. Both gentlemen 
 have always been identified with Middletown, and 
 this industrial establishment reflects credit on them 
 and the company which they represent. 
 
 Ii. 1>. Brown & Son, Sewing Silk Manu- 
 facturers — It is a curious fact that nearly all the 
 silk manufacture in Connecticut, at the present 
 day, has its origin in the circumstance that 
 miiny years ago the farmers of Mansfield, Con- 
 necticut, began to grow silk. The old Kodnoy 
 Hanks silk mill at Mansfield was the first one 
 established in Connecticut, and from it have 
 82>rung the present large and important manu- 
 factories. The silk mill of L. D. Brown & Son, 
 at Middletown, traces its origin back to Mans- 
 field. Mr. Brown, Jr.'s mother was one of the 
 two girls who worked in the first silk mill set in 
 operation, and his grandfather used to raise from 
 fifty to eighty pounds of raw silk a year. Mr. 
 L. D. Brown started the present concern in a 
 small way at Gruleyville, Conn., in 1850, the 
 old Hanks mill at Mansfield having been 
 destroyed by fire. Ho removed to Middletown 
 in 1862, and now has a handsome brick structure, 
 forty-five by one hundred feet, three stories 
 high, with dye houses, etc., attached, which 
 gives employment to one hundred and fifty 
 hands, and consumes from six to eight hundred 
 pounds of raw silk per week. This house con- 
 
 fines itself to the manufacture of sewing silk 
 and machine twist of all kinds and colors, of a 
 superior quality, and has built up a good trade 
 throughout the country. The salesrooms are 
 at No. 27 Lincoln street, Boston, and No. 480 
 Broadway, New York. Mr. L. D. Brown, the 
 founder of the mill, is sixty-eight years of age, 
 and was born in Coventry. His son, Mr. H. L 
 Brown, who is the junior partner, is thoroughly 
 conversant with the business, and gives the fac- 
 tory his personal supervision. He was born in 
 Mansfield about forty years ago, and devotes his 
 entire attention to the business. 
 
 T. C. Canfleld, Monumental Works, No. 263 
 Main Street. — The business of cutting stone and 
 turning out monuments of rare beauty, forms an 
 important feature of the business conducted in Mid- 
 dletown. Mr.T.C. Cantield, whose works are located 
 at No. 263 Main street, commenced the business of 
 furnishing monuments in 1847, and has been con- 
 tinuously pursuing the business on the same site 
 since that time — a period of thirty-seven years. In 
 addition to monuments he furnishes every descrip- 
 tion of American and foreign granite, marble and 
 freestone at the lowest rates. His workshop is 
 situated on the main thoroughfare of the city and 
 
 T. C. CANFIELD'S MONUMENTAL WORKS, MIDDLETOWN. 
 
 consists of an octagon-shaped building built of 
 brick, which together with the office and exhibition 
 yard stands on a lot 75x170 feet in size. The busi- 
 ness in the most prosperous seasons necessitates the 
 employment of numerous workmen. Most build- 
 ings of note in Middletown and neighboring towns 
 have been furnished with stone by Mr. Canfleld. 
 The rich library of the Wesleyan University, and 
 the more expensive churches, show evidences of 
 Mr. Canfield's skill and handiwork. The large 
 number of monuments which are seen in the neigh- 
 boring cemeteries were produced at this establish- 
 ment, among them the monument erected to the 
 memory of General Mansfield. Mr. Canfleld is a 
 native of Newark, N. J., born in 1817. He learned 
 his trade in his native city and has been connected 
 with Middletown since 1814. During his citizen- 
 ship here he has been identified with the material 
 interests of his adopted city and town, serving at 
 various times as alderman, selectman and member 
 of the city council. 
 
 Mr. Canfield's extensive experience renders him 
 fully competent to undertake any work in the 
 building or monumental line, and the well-known 
 character of his work, with his superior facilities 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 275 
 
 for performing it, make his establishment an im- 
 portant one in summing up the resources of Mid- 
 dletown. 
 
 F. 15. Nonrse & Co., Clothing, No. 92 Main 
 Street. — -Ten years ago Messrs. F. E. Nourse & Co., 
 who have a store in Holyoke, Mass., opened a ready 
 made clothing store in Mitchell's block, at No. 92 
 Main street, with Mr. Sherman for manager. This 
 is one of the houses known as the New England 
 Combination Stores, projected some years ago by 
 Mr. John H. Foster, who has his office in Boston, 
 and is at the head of the New England Clothing 
 Company. There are now twenty retail stores in 
 the combination, for all of which Mr. Foster does 
 the buying. With his headquarters at Boston and 
 making a study of the trade, and buying goods in 
 large quantities, he is able to get a better quality, 
 at more reasonable rates than would otherwise be 
 possible. The goods are all plainly marked at one 
 price, the best quality is kept, and as a result the 
 house has a good steady trade. The store is one 
 hundred by sixteen feet and three clerks are em- 
 ployed. The art of making clothes for the million 
 has now arrived at such a state of perfection, a 
 ready-made garment is often as well fitting and 
 stylish as a custom made one, and much cheaper. 
 A walk through the large establishment reveals long 
 counters piled with heaps of men's, youths', boys' 
 and children's clothing, also hats, caps, and fur- 
 nishing goods for gentlemen in great variety. 
 
 Henry Ward, Boots and Shoes, No. 135 Main 
 Street — One half of the ground floor of the new 
 
 HENRY WARD'S BOOT AND SHOE STORE, MIDDLETOWN. 
 
 and handsome Bank Block, atNos. 135 and 137 Main 
 street, erected in 1880, (see illustration) is occupied 
 by Mr. Henry Ward's large shoe store. He began 
 this b ashless a quarter of a century ago, on the 
 opposite side of Main street, and has been in 
 
 his present commodious quarters something over 
 a year. The store is eighty-five feet deep and 
 twenty-six wide, and has fine large windows at 
 both ends, making it one of the best lighted and 
 most pleasant shops in the city. The flood of light 
 enables customers to see exactly what they are pur- 
 chasing in any part of the room. Mr. Ward keeps 
 a large and well selected stock of ladies' and gent's 
 fine boots, shoes and slippers, of which he makes a 
 specialty. He also has a fine assortment of gentle- 
 men's furnishing goods, fashionable hats and 
 caps, umbrellas, rubber coats, trunks, bags and 
 satchels. No better stock can be found in the city, 
 and the situation is very cential, being but three 
 doors from the Post-office, and close to the City 
 Hall. . Mr. Ward is a native of Middletown, as 
 were his ancestors for generations before him. He 
 was brought up on a farm, but when a young man 
 established this shoe store, which is now one of the 
 oldest and largest in the city. He employs three 
 men in his business, and is himself very devoted to 
 the store, and close in his attention to its interests. 
 His goods are carefully selected and of the best 
 quality, and his patrons are universally satisfied. 
 
 M. Greaves & Co., Paper-hangings, No. 178 
 Main Street. — The house of M. Greaves & Co. ; 
 Alexander Greaves— at No. 178 Main Street, the 
 first store south of the Kilbourn House, was estab- 
 lished two years ago, and has already won a good 
 share of the trade in the special line for which it 
 caters. The salesroom is fifteen by sixty feet, and 
 is well filled with a choice stock of paper-hangings, 
 shades, curtain fringes, picture cord and shade fix- 
 tures, glass, paints, oils, varnishes, gilt mouldings 
 and similar articles. This house furnishes painters 
 and paper-hangers to order, and executes work in 
 the neatest style. 
 
 The Messrs. Greaves have been in this country 
 almost tliirty years, being natives of London. 
 They have had business experience in New York 
 and Brooklyn, and came to this city in 1856, where 
 they have been most of the time since, establishing 
 their house and receiving a liberal patronage from 
 the public. 
 
 I). W. Clarke, Boots and Shoes, No. 104 
 Main Street, Middletown. — Since October, 1879, 
 Mr. D. W. Clarke has carried on the boot and shoe 
 business at No. 104 Main Street. For five years 
 previously he was in business at South Farms. He 
 was born in the town of Haddam, in 1847, but 
 while quite a young man came to this city, where 
 he has since been engaged in successful business 
 ventures. His store is eighty by twenty-four feet, 
 light, pleasant, and handsomely fitted up. He 
 carries a large stock of all kinds of boots and shoes, 
 mostly purchased in the Eastern market, where the 
 best goods of this line are manufactured. His 
 store is also well supplied with trunks, traveling 
 bags, grip sacks, and all the articles needed by 
 those who go upon the road. It is now well estab- 
 lished, and has a liberal patronage, the result of 
 close attention to business, a well-selected stock of 
 goods, and fair dealing. 
 
 Sentinel & "Witness, Office, Main Street, 
 opposite Town Hall. — The American Sentinel 
 
270 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUS'! 1! I AL 
 
 was established in January, 1823, by Win. D. 
 Starr and Wm. H. Niles, the firm being known 
 as Starr & Niles. Mr. Niles retiring in 1827, 
 Mr. Starr became the sole proprietor. In Jan- 
 uary, 1832, Mr. H. W. Green established the 
 Witness which was united with the Sentinel on 
 the 14th of August, in the same year, and since 
 that date the paper has been known as the 
 Sentinel and Witness. On the 25th of March, 
 1851, Mr. Starr took his son, Wm. J. Starr, into 
 partnership, The paper was then published by 
 W. D. Starr & Co. Some seven years ago the 
 paper was bought by Mr. Ernest King and Son, 
 practical printers and editors, who continue to 
 own and edit it. Ernest King, Sr., was born 
 in England, in the Valley of the Thames, in 
 1826, and was for a long time on the staff of 
 English papers. He came to America in 1807, 
 and for six years ho was city editor of the old 
 True American, published in Trenton, N.J. He 
 joined tho Daily Sentinel staff in 1870, but it was 
 abandoned, as the size of the city does not war- 
 rant a daily paper. The office of the Sentinel 
 and Witness is very pleasantly situated on tho 
 second floor of a building at the corner Main and 
 Centre streets. It is a large, handsome sheet, 
 issued every Saturday, and is, in tone and poli- 
 tics, thoroughly Democratic. The press and en- 
 gine room is in the basement of the building, 
 where also is kept on hand a large stock of 
 paper. The press is a beautiful machine, and 
 was built for the Centennial Exposition, by Pot- 
 ter, of New York, where it attracted Mr. King's 
 attention, and he determined to purchase it. 
 Tho paper is well filled with local news and in- 
 teresting matter ; it is outspoken, sensible, and 
 independent. Mr. King is a practical man, who 
 wishes to see every man have a trade, and earn 
 an honest living. The paper is prosperous, 
 with a good share of advertising patronage, and 
 the office is fitted with every modern conveni- 
 ence. Ernest King & Son have, for a number of 
 years published the " Middletown Directory," 
 a largo and handsome volume, and have all the 
 material for doing book and job work in the 
 highest state of the typographical art. 
 
 Geo. W. Hennigar, Photographer, No. 136 
 Main Street.— The extensive photographic estab- 
 lishment, and handsome parlors of Geo. W. Hen- 
 nigar, are up one flight of stairs, near the office 
 of the Sentinel and Witness, at No. 136 Main 
 street. Mr. Hennigar first established his busi- 
 ness in 1861 at the corner of Court and Main 
 streets. He has been in his present position for 
 eleven years, and has established a reputation for 
 artistic excellence which is known throughout 
 tho city and surrounding country. He is a native 
 of New York State, and learned his profession 
 in tho metropolis. Ho takes from 8,000 to 10,000 
 photographs a year, by both the dry and wet 
 process, and always produces a good and artistic 
 picture. An inspection of a large number of 
 Hennigar photographs demonstrates that the 
 artist understands the art of posing, the arrange- 
 ment of drapery and accessories, so as to produce 
 a pleasing picture. His work is soft in quality, 
 clear and good in color, and delicate in finish. 
 Two assistants are constantly employed. The 
 
 rooms are 20x100 feet, and handsomely and con- 
 veniently fitted up for the business. All who 
 wish to see or obtain a good photograph should 
 visit Mr. Hennigar's establishment. 
 
 "The Constitution."— This old and well- 
 known paper, published at Middletown, was 
 founded in 1837, by Abner Newton. In 1871 ho 
 was succeeded by his son, and in 1877 by his 
 son-in-law, Mr. Charles W. Church, who has a 
 job-printing office in connection with his news- 
 paper establishment, and occupies part of a two- 
 story building, 30x50 feet. The founder of the 
 paper was born in Durham ; his sou is a nativo 
 of Middletown, while Mr. Church was born in 
 Waterbury. Tho amount invested in the busi- 
 ness is :£>, 000, and the annual business amounts 
 to the same sum. An engine of two-horse power 
 is used to run tho printing presses, and the 
 weekly pay-roll amounts to $30. 
 
 J. S. Bailey & Son, Stoves and Ranges, No. 
 97 Main Street. — The large house of J. S. Bailey 
 & Son, manufacturers of tin, copper and sheet 
 iron ware, at No. 97 Main street, was established 
 in 1847 by Mr. J. S. Bailey. 
 
 In addition to tho manufacture of all kinds of 
 tin, copper and sheet- iron ware, he does a very 
 largo trade in stoves, ranges, steam, gas and 
 water-pipings, together with drain and sewer- 
 pipe. It is at this establishment that the cele- 
 brated New Model Range is sold (of which thero 
 are over twenty different styles), so long and 
 favorably known as the best cooking range in 
 the world. It also received the first premium 
 and only silver medal at the New England Fair, 
 September, 1881, over twelve competitors. It 
 has been thoroughly tried and not found want- 
 ing, by a large number of our best citizens. We 
 would not forget to notice the " Garland " base- 
 burner, a first-class parlor stove. Last year its 
 sales exceeded those of any other stove of its 
 class. Also tho Century Squaro stove, of the 
 " High Art and Low Fe?d " patterns, which has 
 given the best satisfaction of any stove of its 
 class. 
 
 The Standard portable furnace, as sold by him 
 for the last five years, has given entire satisfac- 
 tion. Many novelties may be seen in going 
 through the above establishment, of which time 
 and space forbid our mentioning. The leading 
 position of this house in the trade has been fairly 
 aud honestly earned, and held in the face of 
 severest competition. Every department is a 
 model one, and is conducted by that systematic 
 and thorough management which is so necessary 
 to success. No better house can be found in 
 Middletown or vicinity. 
 
 From the first the store has occupied its pres- 
 ent position, and in the spring of 1882, Mr. 
 Bailey enlarged and very much improved the 
 store by the addition of a three-story building in 
 the rear, making tho present size of the storo 
 twenty feet wide and nearly one hundred feet 
 deep ; other additions were made by putting in 
 a new front, with large show-windows, and many 
 other improvements were made inside of store. 
 
 The office has telephonic communication with 
 all parts of tho State, by which business is 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 277 
 
 greatly facilitated. Both father and son are 
 natives of Middlotown, and their business has 
 grown up with the wants of the people. In 
 July, 1882, Mr. J. W. Bailey was admitted into 
 partnership. 
 
 Liiicius R. Hazen, Book Storo, No. 118 
 Main Street. — The oldest and most successful 
 book store in the city was established in 1850 by 
 A. Putnam, the present collector of the port, in 
 the building at the corner of Main and Court 
 streets, now occupied by Mr. P. Brewer as a 
 dry goods store. Five years later the storo was 
 removed to tho building now occupied by Mr. 
 F. J. Chaffee, on the opposite side of Main street. 
 It remained there for five years and then removed 
 to its present position at No. 118 Main street. 
 Late in 1805 Mr. Putnam sold out to Bradley & 
 Tread well. In time Mr. Treadwell sold his in- 
 terest to Mr. A.Campbell, who in turn sold to Mr. 
 Bradley. Mr. Bradley sold to Mr. George G. 
 McLean, who took his brother-in-law into com- 
 pany with him. About ten years ago ono of 
 them dying, he purckaftcd the interest of the 
 other, and a year or two later sold out to Sumner 
 k llazen. In the spring of 1878 Sumner was 
 bought out by his partner, L. R. Hazon, the 
 present proprietor. The store is a large and 
 handsome one, nicely fitted up, and fitted with 
 a com])lcte assortment of standard books, both 
 English and American, historical works, the 
 standard novels, poems, and all the latest works 
 as fast as they are issued from the press ; college 
 and school books, children's books, Bibles and 
 prayer books, magazines, papers and stationery 
 are also kept. This store is a favorite resort for 
 the students of the place, as well as the citizens, 
 and nil are made welcome. 
 
 E. Rockwell, Book Store, No. 155 Main Street. 
 — The book and stationery business conducted by 
 Mr. E. Rockwell, was begun in 1851, on the east 
 side of Main street, opposite the present location 
 in the McDonough House, at No. 155 Main street, 
 where it lias been since 1856. The store is iJ8 x 10 
 feet, witli tine, large windows in front, and com- 
 municates with the lobby of tho hotel. It is the 
 oldest store of its kind in the city, and is well 
 stocked with tho standard works, the latest Amer- 
 ican books, school and college books, the freshest 
 magazines, the city story papers, the dailies from 
 New York, Springfield and Hartford, the Seaside 
 Library, and a profusion of Prang's cards. Mr. 
 Rockwell also deals in musical instruments, such 
 as pianos, parlor organs, guitars, violins, accord- 
 ions, sheet music and musical merchandise in vari- 
 ety, picture frames and chromos, albums, station- 
 ery, and many other articles. He was born in this 
 city in 1814, and from the age of sixteen years, 
 until 1851, followed his trade as a hot! Be- builder. 
 Mr.Bockwell is a careful, attentive man, prompt 
 In business, and a favorite with all of his cus- 
 tomers. 
 
 A. G. & R. A. Pease, Groceries and Hard- 
 ware, Main Street. — This is ono of the very old 
 houses of the city, since it was established in 1812, 
 the year the war was on with England, by A. & R. 
 Pease. In a few years a dissolution took place, 
 
 and the firm becamo Pease & Fowler, who did a 
 large grocery and dry goods business. Mr. Fowler 
 dying, the firm of Pease & Cam)) was formed, and 
 continued some years. A dissolution took place, 
 and the dry goods part of the business was discon- 
 tinued. Mr. Aaron Pease then continued tho 
 business as a grocery, hardware, iron and steel 
 store. In 1840, Mr. A. Pease retired from business, 
 and the present firm of A. G. & R. A. Pease was 
 formed, sons of the founder, all born in the city, 
 and who have continued the business from that 
 date to this, at the old stand. Tho house now 
 occupied by tho firm was built in 1827, and has 
 served its purpose over since. The stock consists 
 of groceries, fertilizers, agricultural implements, 
 general hardware, iron and steel, grindstones and 
 tire brick, canned goods, teas, coffees, tropical 
 fruits of all kinds, twine, brushes, brooms, dried 
 fruit, jellies, butter, etc. It is related of this 
 house, that at the time it was established, Connecti- 
 cut bank bills could bo bought for 50 cents on tho 
 dollar for gold or silver; and the founder of the 
 house had to lock the front doors to keep the 
 crowd out. It being rumored that he had several 
 thousand dollars in silver, the people rushed in, 
 being anxious to exchange their bills for goods or 
 silver. 
 
 And strange as it may seem, tho custom has 
 been kept up ever since, to a greater or less degree. 
 
 HIGGANUM. 
 
 This is a thriving manufacturing village, situ- 
 ated on the line of the Hartford and Connecticut 
 Valley Railroad and on the Connecticut river, 23i 
 miles south of Hartford, and 7i miles south of 
 Middletown. In addition to the other manufac- 
 turing establishments is one mill, belonging to 
 the Russell Manufacturing Company, of Middle- 
 town, whoro cotton yarns are made. See Middle- 
 town for a sketch of that company. 
 
 The Higgitii um Manufacturing Cor- 
 poration. — In the year 1807, Messrs. .lames C. 
 Walkley, Henry ELBratnard, Tliomas J. , Georgo 
 M., and Henry L. Clark formed an association 
 known as the Higganum Manufacturing Co., for 
 the manufacture of agricultural implements, Mr. 
 Georgo M. Clark being chosen President, and Mr. 
 Thomas J. Clark Vice-President and Secretary, 
 those two gentlemen acting for several years as 
 managers of the business, the capital stock of which 
 was, in the beginning, but STtf.OOO. In 1878, tho 
 company was incorporated under the Joint Stock 
 laws of the State, and its capital Btock placed at 
 $200,000. At this time the original members of 
 the company, with the exceptions of Messrs. George 
 M. and Thomas J. Clark, had retired, and the new 
 corporation was formed by those gentlemen in com- 
 pany witli Mr. Clinton B. Davis, who now holds 
 the ofiico of Secretary and Treasurer, while Mr. 
 George M. Clark is President and Superintendent, 
 and Mr. Thomas J. Clark is Vice-President. This 
 company manufactures more than one thousand 
 kinds and sizes of agricultural implements, the an- 
 nual production amounting to about $250,000. 
 Among tho specialties of manufacture may be men- 
 tioned the Silver Eagle, the Southbury pattern, the 
 Doe pattern, the Martin, the Eagle, the patent 
 
278 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTIC AL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 cylinder, the Centennial and Prouty and Hears 
 plows, with an almost endless variety of cultiva- 
 tors, horse hoes and rakes, potato diggers, garden 
 rollers, dirt scrapers, harrows, seed-sowers, churns, 
 cornshellers and mills, vegetable cutters, meat cut- 
 ters and fillers, cider and wine mills, presses, fod- 
 der cutters, jack screws, whiflletrees, lawn settees, 
 ox yokes and hows, windmills, grindstone frames, 
 ■wheelbarrows, trucks, carts, wire rope, clamps, and 
 other articles too numerous for detailed mention. 
 These goods are shipped to every part of the civil- 
 ized world, a very large share of the business being 
 located in Soutli America, South Africa, Australia, 
 anil New Zealand. Ten large buildings are re- 
 quired for the needs of the business, the most no- 
 ticeable being the machine and blacksmith shop, 
 40x105 feet in size, with a wing 40x85; the foun- 
 dry and wood-working shop, 304x40, with two 
 wings, each 25x40; the rake shop, 150x50; and 
 the storehouse, 110 feet square. Besides these there 
 are others used for blacksmith shop, iron house, 
 sand house, blacking shop, and office, all of re- 
 spectable size, and covering in the aggregate more 
 ground than is usual even with very large estab- 
 lishments. The power is derived from two water- 
 wheels, one of which is a 20-inch National turbine, 
 driven by a 117-foot head ; the other a back-action 
 wheel, 16x22 feet in size, with a 18| foot fall, 
 both furnishing about 150-horsc power. One hun- 
 dred and soventy men are given employment, and 
 the works are in constant operation. 
 
 Mr. George M. Clark, president of tho~corpora- 
 tion and superintendent of the works, is a native 
 of Haddam, born in 1833. For many years he, in 
 company with his brother, pursued the business of 
 contracting for the construction of bridges, vessels, 
 machinery, mills, water-powers, or anything re- 
 quiring engineering skill, the various contracts tak- 
 ing him from Maine to Louisiana, and through a 
 diversity of businesses and over u large area of 
 territory. In 1807 he returned to his native place, 
 and since that time has been the head and front of 
 the business he now superintends, as well as one of 
 the founders and president of the local Savings 
 Bank. Mr. Thomas J. Clark, the vice-president 
 of the corporation, js also a native of Haddam, and 
 was born in 1830. As detailed before, he was en- 
 gaged with his brother in the contracting business, 
 and relinquished it on the formation of the com- 
 pany, the secretaryship and joint management of 
 which he held until 1872. He was also prominent 
 in the foundation of the Savings Bank, and has al- 
 ways been a trustee and director therein. 
 
 Mr. Clinton B. Davis, secretary and treasurer of 
 the company, is a native of Hartford, about 40 
 years of age. Prior to his connection with the cor- 
 poration, he was for eleven years in the hardware 
 trade at Ha.tford, Conn., at the head of the firm of 
 Davis, Tracy & Co. He is a son-in-law of Mr. 
 James C. Walkley, one of the originators of the 
 concern, and is an equal owner with the Messrs. 
 Clark in its capital stock. In politics he is quite 
 prominent, and is one of the representatives of the 
 town of Haddam in the legislature of 1883. Mr. 
 Davis, like his partners, is a trustee in the Savings 
 Bank, and is otherwise prominently identified with 
 the business interests of the section. 
 
 The Higganum Manufacturing Corporation en- 
 joys the proud distinction of being among the first 
 
 of its kind in the country, and of being the suc- 
 cessful outcome of the personal worth and energy 
 of its progenitors. 
 
 Reed & Co. (Albert O. Reed and Gilbert S. 
 Gladwin), Manufacturers of Builders' Hardware, 
 Blind Trimmings, Wrenches, Squares, Bevels, Ice 
 Tongs, etc., — The business of manufacturing 
 builders' hardware, now carried on by the firm whose 
 title heads this article, was established in 1879, 
 by Chase, Heed & Co., and continued in that style 
 for about six months, when Mr. Chase withdrew 
 from the firm and the present designation was 
 adopted. The goods manufactured here include 
 many varieties of builders' hardware as well as 
 several specialties in tools, among which may be 
 mentioned the Remington adjustable socket wrench, 
 Hayden's patent screw wrench; Hayden's family 
 ice tongs; Hayden's combination wardrobe hook 
 and the glaziers' hammer. In addition to these are 
 the full lines of try-squares, bevels, rules, machin- 
 ists' scales, etc., formerly manufactured by the 
 Star Tool Co., of Middletown, whose entire manu- 
 facturing outfit was purchased by this firm. The 
 main building, occupied by Reed & Co., is situated 
 on the line of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, 
 within a few rods of the station at Higganum, and 
 is 30 x 00 feet in size and two stories in height. A 
 wing 20x45 feet contains the engine and boiler, each 
 of about thirty-horse power. A quarter of a mile 
 southeasterly from the main factory is located the 
 graduating shop, where squares, bevels, rules, etc., 
 receive the finishing marks, a process so delicate 
 that it must be removed from the jar of the ma- 
 chinery in the main factory, and must bo accom- 
 plished by the aid of a machine costing $12,000, the 
 construction of which is a secret with the firm, who 
 also control the right to use it and are the proprie- 
 tors of the only one of its kind in the country. 
 Employment is at present given to about thirty-five 
 people and the annual output is estimated at 
 $100,000. These figures, however, will be largely 
 increased in the near future, the growth of the 
 business demanding extensive enlargements of 
 space and working force. 
 
 Mr. Albert O. Reed is a native of Haddam, 
 born in 1844, and, with the exception of four years, 
 has passed his life in his native town. For a 
 number of years he was interested, with his present 
 partner, in a (lour and feed mill, the firm being 
 known as Gladwin & Reed. During the war he 
 volunteered in the Twenty-sixth Connecticut In- 
 fantry and served his term with credit. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert S. Gladwin is also a native of Had- 
 dam and is about sixty-three years of age. He is a 
 prominent man in iiis town and has been identified 
 with its commercial interests formany years, as pro- 
 prietor of the general store and of an extensive 
 Hour and feed business. 
 
 Both gentlemen are highly respected in business 
 as well as in social life. 
 
 GOODSPEED'S LANDING. 
 About thirty miles south of Hartford, situated 
 in the town of East Haddam and directly on the 
 banks of the Connecticut river, is this romantic 
 and thrifty village. It took its name from Mr. 
 Joseph Goodspeed, who settled here more than 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 279 
 
 eighty years ago. It has a national hank, a 
 hotel, the Gelston House, a fine opera house, 
 churches, etc. The scenery is romantic, and in 
 summer it is quite a fashionable resort, one sum- 
 mer hotel being kept to accommodate guests. 
 A steam ferry-boat connects with the trains on 
 the opposite side of the river. New York and 
 Hartford steamers laud here daily, and the place 
 is a general shipping point for the merchants 
 and manufacturers tributary in the near-by vil- 
 lages. 
 
 Luther Boardman & Son (Norman S. 
 Boardman), Manufacturers and Electro-Platers 
 of Nickel, Silver, Flat Tableware, Spoons, Forks, 
 Butter Knives, etc. — Among the foremost manu- 
 facturers of nickel, silver and silver-plated flat 
 goods, is the firm of Luther Boardman & Son of 
 East Haddam. Mr. Boardman. Sr., had practi- 
 cal experience in overcoming the prejudices of 
 dealers against American-made ware, and it is 
 
 William D. Clark, of Chester. Several attempts 
 had been made by manufacturers to produce a 
 machine-buffed spoon, and one William Mix of 
 Cheshire, Conn., was the first to produce the 
 desired article, Mr. Boardman being the second, 
 beginning their manufacture in 1840, under let- 
 ters patent secured by him. Tea and table spoons 
 were the only articles made, and much difficulty 
 was experienced in introducing them to the 
 trade, as large importations were annually being 
 made, and dealers were suspicious of the Ameri- 
 can goods ; in fact, opposed to home industry. 
 By hard labor and unceasing diligence, Mr. 
 Boardman succeeded in disposing of his wares, 
 and on the 3d of May, 1842, the works were 
 moved to East lladdam, and Mr. Boardman took 
 possession of the ground ho now occupies. The 
 business prospects were brightening ; the im- 
 porters were beginning to look with favor on the 
 home productions and Mr. Boardman 'h business 
 was growing with a steady and healthy growth. In 
 
 LUTHER BOARDMAN & SON'S WORKS, EAST HADDAM, CONN. 
 
 largely due to his energy and perseverance that 
 they are to-day so eagerly sought after. Since 
 he was only sixteen years of age, Mr. Boardmnn 
 has followed the business of making and plating 
 flat tableware, spoons, etc. , and there is probably 
 no man in the United States whose familiarity 
 with every branch and process of such manufac- 
 ture is greater than his. In 1834 Mr. Boardman 
 commenced the manufacture of hollow-ware, on 
 contract, for Mr. Burrage Yale, of South Reading 
 (now Wakefield), Mass. , continuing there about 
 three years, and returning to the employ of Mr. 
 Ashbel Griswold of Meriden, Conn., with whom 
 he had served an apprenticeship of five years, in 
 the manufacture of britannia hollow-ware. Here 
 Mr. Boardman remained about two years, when 
 he removed to Chester, Conn., and with Russell 
 & Beach of that town engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of britannia hollow-ware. Seeing a larger 
 field of operation and being desirous to start on 
 his own account, he severed his connection with 
 Russell & Beach, and in the spring of 1840 be- 
 gan the manufacture of britannia spoons in a 
 small building where now stands the shop of 
 
 the summer of 1844, the water-power being found 
 to be insufficient .to perform the necessary work 
 at the shop, Mr. Boardman rented what is now 
 known as " the dam-house " in Moodus, and in 
 1847 still farther increased his working space by 
 the addition of the lower floor of Brownell & 
 Co.'s mill, where the finishing of the goods was 
 done, the casting, packing, etc., being still done 
 at the East Haddam shop. During the summer 
 of 1845, horse-power, after the style used in 
 brick-yards, was introduced and answered the 
 purpose until 1850, when Mr. Boardman built a 
 new reservoir and introduced a new eighteen- 
 feet breast wheel and a sixteen-horse power 
 engine. The operations at Moodus were now 
 discontinued. In 1865 t he new shop, a command- 
 ing structure 140x40 feet in size, was built, the 
 power being supplied by a Kilbourn & Lincoln 
 turbine wheel and a thirty-horse power steam 
 engine. The plating of britannia goods com- 
 menced in 1857, and the manufacture of nickel- 
 silver goods in 1865. The designs are all pro- 
 duced at the works and embrace very many ele- 
 gant and elaborate patterns. The moulds are 
 
280 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL- AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 also made here by experienced and artistic work- 
 men, and for the first fifteen years were all made 
 by Mr. Boardman himself. The visitor at these 
 works will be astonished at the endless variety 
 of electro-plated flat goods which are here pro- 
 duced ; the great multiplicity of patterns of 
 spoons and forks, from the plain, tipped and 
 threaded, oval, Brunswick, beaded, olive, medal- 
 lion and Persian ; the pie, butter, fish, crumb, 
 cake, pickle, oyster and table knives ; every 
 known style of ladle, berry shells, sugar shells, 
 and tongs for sugar, ice, sardines and asparagus. 
 The nickel-tinned goods embraces the same large 
 and tasteful assortment. All of the electro- 
 plated goods bear the stamp : "L. Boardman 
 & Son, Al," and are warranted made from 
 eighteen per cent, nickel and plated with full 
 weight of silver. These goods are carefully 
 packed in boxes containing one dozen each, ren- 
 dering them convenient for the retail trade. The 
 variety of britannia spoons is large and of very 
 tasteful and elegant designs, from the round and 
 oval tipped handles to the elaborate "American," 
 " Bismarck," " Medallion " and " Grecian" pat- 
 terns, all of which are made from first quality 
 imported metals, containing no lead, and for 
 quality, strength and finish are second to no 
 other make in the United States. This estab- 
 lishment gives employment to sixty operatives 
 with a monthly pay-roll amounting to about 
 84,000. 
 
 Mr. Luther Boardman, the projector of this 
 industry and senior partner in the firm, was 
 born in Bocky Hill, Conn., December 26, 1812, 
 and as before recorded, entered his apprentice- 
 ship at the age of sixteen years. All of his use- 
 ful life lias been devoted to the building up of 
 the business of which he is the head, and his 
 straightforward business course, marked integ- 
 rity and perseverance lias won for him a well- 
 deserved reward. He represented the town of 
 East Haddam in the general assembly in 1804-5, 
 was also one of the presidential electors of 1868 
 — has ever been a warm and consistent advocate 
 of every internal and public improvement. 
 
 Mr. Norman S. Boardman, the junior partner, 
 is a son of Mr. Luther Boardman, and is a nativo 
 of East Haddam, born August 5, 1840. After 
 receiving all the advantages of an academic edu- 
 cation, lie was admitted to partnership with his 
 father on January 1, 1864, since which time 
 most of the active work of conducting the busi- 
 ness has fallen upon his shoulders, with such 
 pleasant results as are hereinbefore noted. Like 
 his father, he has pursued a business course 
 characterized by integrity and energy, and like 
 him stands high in public esteem. 
 
 The National Bank of New England, 
 
 Goodspeed's handing. — This hank was established 
 as a State bank in 1 853, and was known as the Bank 
 of New England. In 18G5 it became a national 
 bank, Mr. W. H. Goodspeed being president and 
 Mr. Thomas Gross, Jr., the incumbent of the presi- 
 dency, being the cashier. The bank occupies pleas- 
 ant and commodious quarters in one end of the 
 Gelston House building, and is the headquarters of 
 most of the financial transactions in the vicinity. 
 The capital is $130,000; surplus, §40,000, and un- 
 
 divided earnings from January 1st, 1883, to March 
 10th of the same year, $4,050.01. This bunk, the 
 only one of its kind in the town of East Haddam, 
 and one of the very few in the Valley of the Con- 
 necticut, has had an unusually prosperous career, 
 having never failed to declare dividends in January 
 and July of each year since its incorporation. The 
 present active officers are : Mi'. Thomas Gross, Jr., 
 President; Mr. Arthur II. Dayton, Cashier. 
 
 Mr. Gross is a native of Westfield. Mass.. aged 
 about 52 years, and has been a resident of East 
 Haddam since 1850, having Veen connected with 
 the bank during the whole of the intervening time. 
 He was also prominent in steamboat matters, as 
 secretary and treasurer and director in the old Hart- 
 ford and Long Island Steamboat Co. , which went 
 out of existence on the completion of the Connec- 
 ticut Valley railroad in 1871. Mr. Gross is inter- 
 ested in various business enterprises and is a partner 
 in the U. S. Broom and Brush Co.; secretary and 
 treasurer, and director in the Williams Duck Co., 
 manufacturers of cotton and seine twine at Moodus, 
 and auditor of the Moodus Savings hank. In pol- 
 itical life, Mr. Gross has been important enough to 
 represent his town in the legislature for two terms, 
 and to hold for a long time, and up to the present, 
 the office of town treasurer, as well as that of treas- 
 urer of the Town Deposit Fund, for school pur- 
 poses. Mr. A. II. Dayton, the cashier, was born in 
 Waterbury, Conn., on November 24, 1855. He ha3 
 resided in East Haddam eighteen years, thirteen of 
 which has been passed in the service of the bank. 
 He commenced as clerk and held that position until 
 January, 1882, when he was made cashier. Like 
 his superior officer, Mr. Dayton has the thorough 
 respect of the community, and like him enjoys the 
 distinction of being active in the affaire of one of 
 the most reliable financial institutions in Connecti- 
 cut. 
 
 AV. R. Goodspeed, General Merchandise, 
 Goodspeed's Landing. — -The passenger up the 
 Connecticut river will be struck with the appear- 
 ance at Goodspeed's Landing, on the right bank, 
 of an imposing four-story building erected on a 
 massive stone foundation and presenting its 
 white walls as one of the most striking and 
 attractive objects to bo found on the journey. 
 This is the building, erected in 1876, that con- 
 tains the extensive general merchandise business 
 carried on by Mr. \V. B. Goodspeed, as well as 
 the very tastefully furnished and commodious 
 opera-house which takes its name from the family 
 of whom this is a sketch, and bears the reputa- 
 tion of being the most pleasant of its class in the 
 State. This business was established in 1804 by 
 Mr. Joseph Goodspeed, grandfather to the pres- 
 ent proprietor, who originally established him- 
 self in a small store at Tylerville, removing 
 thence to a house built by himself some four 
 years after his start, and in 1815 he removed 
 across the river and opened a store in a building 
 now standing in the old ship yard. Some years 
 afterwards he, with the aid of a Mr. Hayden, built 
 the large store which was removed in 1874 to 
 give place to the present elegant structure, 
 which cost in the neighborhood of $110,000. On 
 Christmas Day, 1848, Mr. Goodspeed died in his 
 office, and was succeeded in business by his sons, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 281 
 
 Oeorge K. and William II., who had been for 
 some years acting as clerks and salesmen, and 
 who, thereafter, until 1862, conducted the busi- 
 ness of the store, as well as that of ship-building, 
 under the firm name of (I™. E. & Win. H. Good- 
 speed. In L863 the elder brother died, ami the 
 entire business passed into the hands of Mr. Win. 
 II. Goodspeed, who continued it until January 1, 
 1882, when he, too, passed away, leaving the pro- 
 prietorship to his ouly son, Mr. W. K. Good- 
 speed. The store is very thoroughly stocked 
 with complete lines of general merchandise 
 amounting in value to about 312,0(10. from which 
 there are annual sales aggregating $50,000. It is 
 the resort of the residents of the surrounding 
 country and is the largest mercantile establish- 
 ment on the Connecticut river from its mouth 
 to Middletown. Mr. W. E. Goodspeed is a 
 native of East Uaddam, born in 1850, and entered 
 the service of his father in 1872, after haviug 
 acquired a liberal education in the schools and 
 academies in the vicinity of his home. He is a 
 director in the National Uank of New England, 
 at Goodspeed 's, an institution founded by his 
 family and of which his uncle was the first presi- 
 dent and his father the succeeding one. Mr. 
 Goodspeed has already won a reputation as a 
 pushing and reliable business man, and is con- 
 sidered one of the leading men in the section 
 .where he resides. 
 
 Wilbur J. Squire, Manufacturer of Ma- 
 chine Gill Netting, Goodspeed's Landing. — One of 
 the most curious and interesting industries carried 
 on in Connecticut is that of making gill netting by 
 machinery, as pursued by Mr. Squire, the subject 
 of this sketch. The business was established in 
 1871 by Mr. Squire, and has grown from a very 
 small beginning to such proportions that the rate 
 of product in the early part of 188!! amounted to 
 an annual average of $125,000 worth of gill net- 
 ting, with a certainty of a large and steady increase. 
 The complicated and expensive machines used in 
 the manufacture of gill netting by this process are 
 the inventions of Mr. Squire, and although pro- 
 tected by patents, their workings are in secret, it 
 being considered unwise to expose any part of 
 the operation to the public or the sight-seer. The 
 nets made here are precisely the same in con- 
 struction as the hand-made nets, and are manufac- 
 tured from linen thread impoited from Scotland 
 and sent to the factory by the jobbers in New York, 
 Chicago, St. Louis and the Southern States. The 
 factory consists of a main building thirty by sixty- 
 five feet in size, two stories in height, with an L 
 containing the boiler and engine room. In the fac- 
 tory is a machine shop where are built the knitting 
 machines used, four of which are in operation and 
 four in process of construction, each having a ca- 
 pacity to tie 1,000 knots in a minute. About twenty- 
 five men and girls are given employment, the force 
 being divided into two detachments, one of which 
 conducts operations throughout the day while the 
 other works during the night. 
 
 Mr. Squire is a native of East Haddam, and was 
 born in October, 1842. He has been a resident of 
 his native place all his life save three years spent in 
 the war as a member of the First Connecticut Artil- 
 lery. He is highly esteemed in the community 
 
 where he lives and is looked upon as a successful 
 business man and a rising manufacturer. 
 
 MOODUS. 
 
 This village is situated in the town of East Had- 
 dam, about four miles from Goodspeed's Landing, 
 which is on the Connecticut river. Moodus river 
 furnishes the motive power for the several manufac- 
 turing establishments for which the village is noted, 
 and is the outlet of Bathan Lake two miles cast, 
 This lake, a natural reservoir, together with two 
 artificial ones, hold in store the water which con- 
 tributes toward making Moodus river one of the 
 best for manufacturing purposes in the State. The 
 village has three churches (Methodist, Baptist and 
 Roman Catholic), a savings bank, seven stores, 
 a drug store, a telegraph office, a telephone ex- 
 change and a newspaper, The Connecticut Valley 
 Advertiser, Captain Joseph E. Seldcn, editor, 
 one of the best country weeklies in the United 
 States. The rapid advancement in the manu- 
 facture of seine twine, threads, cotton duck 
 and yarns in Moodus since its inauguration by 
 Mr. Ebcnezer Nichols and his son, Mr. William E. 
 Nichols, in 1820, is a subject of interesting study 
 and congratulation. In each of these specialties 
 the products of the Moodus manufactories stand 
 unrivaled in the markets of the world. From .100 
 pounds per week in 182(i, the estimated production 
 of the manufacturers here has increased to 30,000 
 pounds per week in 1883. Any sketch of this vil- 
 lage would be incomplete without some reference to 
 the loud noises proceeding from some, as yet, unex- 
 plained natural causes. They appear to issue from 
 a mountain near the village, and have been heard 
 more or less frequently from the time of the early 
 settlers. The Indians called the place Mackimoodus, 
 meaning the place of noises. Mr. llosiner, the first 
 minister of the town, says, in a letter to Mr. Prince 
 of Boston, dated August 13, 1729: "I have, my- 
 self, heard eight or ten sounds successively, and 
 imitating fire-arms, in the space of five minutes." 
 lie states further that he has heard them by several 
 hundreds within twenty years, some more or less 
 terrible; that they first imitate slow thunder, come 
 nearer, and then exploding with a noise like can- 
 non shot, shake houses and all that is in them. 
 Ordinary grumblings they called moodus noises ; the 
 heavier explosions of sound they called earthquakes. 
 They were terrific in 1791, and since then appear to 
 have gradually subsided. 
 
 The Connecticut Valley Advertiser. — 
 
 The Connecticut Valley Advertiser, one of the most 
 prosperous weeklies published in Connecticut, 
 was established in 1869 by Mr. E. Emory John- 
 son, who continued as its proprietor and editor 
 for four years, being succeeded by its present 
 conductor, Captain Joseph E. Selden. From its 
 inception The Advertiser has met with gratifying 
 and unusual success, and so great has been the 
 pecuniary retHru that it is now published in a 
 fine two-story brick building on Main street, 
 which is. the property of Captain Selden, and 
 which, together with the finest printing office in 
 the State, outside the larger cities, was purchased 
 with the earnings of the paper. In politics, the 
 
282 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Advertise/- is independent, taking no side but 
 that it deems right, irrespective of party issues. 
 The circulation reaches the very satisfactory 
 figure of 2,500 weekly, and is throughout the 
 Connecticut Valley, as well as to a lesser extent 
 in other parts of the State. The proprietor and 
 editor, Capt. Selden, is an old resident, and a 
 thorough newspaper man, who brings education, 
 brains, and energy to the conduct of what may 
 be justly termed one of the best newspapers in 
 the State. 
 
 Neptune Twine Mills, Emory Johnson, Pro- 
 prietor, Johnsonville. — In the spring of 1800, Mr. 
 Emory Johnson purchased from the firm of Card 
 & Co., of which he had been some ears a member, 
 the " privilege " where now stands his "Upper 
 Mill." A substantial stone dam was constructed 
 and a building eighty feet long by forty feet wide 
 was finished in time to be in full operation in the 
 spring of 1862, from which time it has been in 
 continuous operation, having been the only mill in 
 the town not suspended during the civil war. 
 After the death of Mr. Card, of the firm of Card & 
 Co., the "Lower Mill " formerly run by that con- 
 cern came into the possession of Mr. Johnson, and 
 was soon after by him put in excellent condition 
 by expensive repairs and the introduction of new 
 machinery, and has since been operated in connec- 
 tion with the new mill in the manufacture of 
 cotton seine twines. The use of cotton twines had 
 now become firmly established, and they may 
 almost be classed with the staple articles of manu- 
 facture. The " Lower Mill " is ninety feet long by 
 thirty-six feet wide and three stories high. Cot- 
 ton seine twine, welting cord, carpet warp, and 
 knitting cotton are the articles made, and these 
 goods are put up in bundles weighing from sixteen 
 to twenty pounds, twelve of which constitute a 
 bale. These goods have acquired an enviable repu- 
 tation, and are sold to the principal dealers 
 throughout the United States and Canada. 
 
 A brief description of the "Upper Mill" may 
 here properly be given, showing the process of 
 manufacture, which is the same as in all other 
 mills making this class of goods. The rear end of 
 this mill is three stories high, and in the basement 
 is a Jillson & Palmer " Opener " where the cotton 
 is received and "picked" it is then carried, by 
 means of a double apron, to the " lapper " room 
 above, where it is converted into "laps." The 
 laps are received by ten Whiting cards which pre- 
 pare the cotton for the drawing frame speeder. 
 
 The "roving" from the speeder is taken to 
 the next floor by means of an elevator, where by 
 eight dead spindle (Lowell) frames, it is spun into 
 yarn of any desired weight. Number twelve yarn 
 is principally used. The yarn, after being spooled 
 is twisted by two processes of twisting into any 
 desired number of threads from the four-ply cable 
 cord to twines and cords containing four hundred 
 threads. The third floor is used for packing and 
 the storage of goods. There are employed in these 
 mills thirty operatives whose monthly pay-roll 
 amounts to about nine hundred and fifty dollars. 
 Five thousand four hundred pounds of cotton are 
 consumed each week, producing about five 
 thousand one hundred pounds of goods. Thu 
 " Upper Mill " is operated by a thirty-six inch tur- 
 
 bine wheel, and the lower mill by a thirty-six inch 
 Cushman wheel. Gas is used for lighting the 
 "Upper Mill," and the visitor here will notice the 
 order and system which in every department pre- 
 vails. 
 
 Mr. Emory Johnson, the proprietor of these 
 mills, was born in the town of Chatham, Conn., 
 August 11, 1817, and at an early age entered the 
 employ of the Central Manufacturing Company 
 and subsequently becoming a member of the firm 
 of Card & Co., where he had a long and valuable 
 experience. His experience in public life consisted 
 in representing his town in General Assembly in 
 1861, serving with ability and with satisfaction to 
 his constituents. By strict and careful attention to 
 business he has succeeded in placing his manu- 
 factory in the first rank as to the quality of goods 
 produced. In 1864 the name " Neptune " was 
 adopted. The first premium medal and diploma 
 were awarded these mills at the Centennial Exhi- 
 bition. 
 
 Mr. E. Emory Johnson, son of the proprietor and 
 secretary of the mills, was born May 23, 1841, 
 and was educated at Wilbraham Academy and 
 Union College. He was in active service one year 
 during the war, attached to the Medical Department 
 under General Barnes. He studied law with 
 Judge William T. Elmer of Middletown and was 
 admitted to the Bar in 1878. He was a member of 
 the General Assembly in 1878 and 1879 and has 
 been otherwise prominent in public affairs. He 
 practices law in East Haddam and is the agent for 
 several European Steamship Companies in whose 
 interests he has thrice made the trans- Atlantic 
 voyage. 
 
 The New York Net and Twine Co., 
 
 Eugene W. Chaffee, Supt.— The New York Net 
 and Twine Company is the outgrowth of and the 
 legitimate successor to the oldest cotton twine 
 manufacturers in America. The company was es- 
 tablished in 1865, for the manufacture of Seine 
 Twine and Netting, the latter being a specialty. 
 The proprietors at that time were Messrs. W. E. 
 Nichols, the founder of the twine business, D. M. 
 Demarest, N. EL Joralemon and Z. E. Chaffee. 
 Mr. Nichols had commenced the manufacture of 
 Seine Twine as early as 1826, and in 1869 the whole 
 business was consolidated under the present style. 
 
 The firm have, however, retained the name W. E. 
 Nichols & Co., and in this name continue to sell 
 their twine. 
 
 The capacity of the mills is about 9,000 lbs. per 
 week, and 75 peisons are employed in the works. 
 Mr. Chaffee died in 1877, followed by Mr. Nichols 
 in 1878. 
 
 The present proprietors are the heirs of Messrs. 
 Nichols and Chaffee, together with Messrs. Dema- 
 rest and Joralemon, who are the agents for the sale 
 of the netting of the company, at 103 Barclay street, 
 New York. 
 
 Mr. Eugene W. Chaffee, a son of Mr. Z. E. 
 Chaffee, is superintendent of the mills, and has 
 control of the business. Although the company 
 has agents in New York, as above stated, all 
 the twines are sold at the mills here. 
 
 Mr. Chaffee is treasurer of the Moodus Savings 
 Bank, and otherwise identified witli the institutions 
 of the village. From this site, where originated 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 283 
 
 the first success in the manufacture of cotton seine 
 twine in America, has gone out impressions and 
 results, the full benefit of which will never be fully 
 known. 
 
 The Moodus Savings Bank The Moodus 
 
 Savings Bank was organized and chartered in 
 May, 1870, and was founded by Mr. E . Emory 
 Johnson. The deposits on January 1, 1883, 
 amounted to about $105,000, and its surplus at 
 the same time to $4,800. The business done by 
 the bank is chiefly with the operatives in the 
 cotton mills and other manufacturing establish- 
 ments in Moodus, and its influence has been 
 productive of great good among that class. As 
 will be seen by the statement, $150,000 of their 
 earnings have already found a safe-keeping place, 
 and the indications are favorable towards a very 
 material enhancement of that sum in the pres- 
 ent year. The officers of the bank are Charles 
 E. Brownell, President ; Amasa Day, Vice-Presi- 
 dent ; Eugene W. Chaffee, Treasurer. All these 
 gentlemen are old residents of Moodus and of 
 such character as to render the affairs of any 
 financial institution to which their names are 
 attached a matter of absolute safety. 
 
 Harper Boies, Manufacturer of Seine 
 Twines. — It is a matter of some surprise and no 
 little gratification that among the seine twine, yarn 
 and cotton duck manufacturers of Moodus are 
 many who enjoy a national reputation as producers 
 of the finest goods in their respective lines which 
 are known to the trade. This reputation could 
 only have been secured, and certainly can only be 
 retained, by the most careful selection of stock, the 
 use of the most improved machinery, and an un- 
 tiring vigilance in guarding all the details of 
 manufacture, thus maintaining a superior standard 
 of excellence. The establishment of Mr. Harper 
 Boies goes to bear out these assertions, not more so 
 perhaps, than others of Moodus, but equally with 
 them, particularly in the production of fine cotton 
 yarns. The business was established about sixty 
 years ago by Mr. VV. B. Smith, Mr. Boies succeed- 
 ing. The capacity of the mill is obout 4,000 
 pounds of seine twine and from 2,500 to 5,000 
 pounds of cotton yarn per week, and the number 
 of people employed is twenty. Mr. Boies is a 
 native of Blandford, Mass., forty -nine years of 
 age. He, like all of the manufacturers of Moodus 
 in his line, sells his own goods, and is regarded as 
 one of the representative manufacturers of Moodus. 
 
 A. E. Purple, proprietor Undine Twine Mills, 
 anufacturer of Cotton Seine Twine and Hard 
 and Soft Laid Cord. — The business now conducted 
 by Mr. A. E. Purple was established more than 
 twenty years ago by Mr. S. S. Card, who was suc- 
 ceeded by the firm of Card & Purple, who in turn 
 gave way some fifteen years ago to the present 
 proprietor. At first the manufacture of cotton 
 seine twine monopolized their whole attention, but 
 later the manufacture of botli hard and soft laid 
 cord was added. The brand which is so favorably 
 known to the trade is The Undine Twine Mills. 
 The establishment has a capacity of turning out 
 3,000 pounds of twine per week, the production 
 having increased to twice the amount it was fifteen 
 
 years ago. About six years since Mr. Purple bought 
 what is known as the East mill of the New York 
 Net and Twine Co., which has about the same 
 capacity as the mill first mentioned and which 
 turns out the same class of goods. About forty 
 people are employed in both mills. In addition to 
 his own mills he finds time to act as Superintendent 
 of the Atlantic Duck Co.'s mill which is situated 
 about half a mile east of the village Post-office, 
 and where is turned out about 6,000 pounds of 
 cotton duck per week and necessitating the em- 
 ployment of thirty-five people. Mr. A. E. Purple 
 like most of the successful manufacturers in 
 Moodus, was born in that town and is about forty 
 years of age. He, like his father, Mr. Elijah B. 
 Purple, has always been a manufacturer. He is a 
 member of the firm of Messrs. D. S. & A. E. Purple, 
 who conduct a large country store here, and is a 
 director in the Moodus Savings Bank. Besides 
 minor offices bestowed upon him by his fellow 
 townsmen he represented them in the Connecticut 
 Legislature during the session of 1875. He is a 
 man of rare executive ability and a good financier, 
 as is shown by the prosperous career of the Undine 
 Twine Mills of which as above noted he is proprie- 
 tor, the Atlantic Duck Co., of which he is Super- 
 intendent, and other institutions with which he is 
 prominently identified. 
 
 The Moodns Yarn Co., Manufacturers of 
 Threads, Twines and Yarns. — One of the oldest and 
 largest manufacturing establishments in Moodus is 
 The Moodus Yarn Co., which was incorporated in 
 1877, with a capital of $20,000 and the following 
 named officers: President, M. C. Morrill; Treas- 
 urer, Mr. A. B. Chace ; Agent, Mr. W. C. Greene. 
 The company are successors to the Moodus Manu- 
 facturing Co., while the business was established 
 by Messrs. Sweet & Wetherell in 1836. The 
 capacity of the mill is 7,500 pounds of threads, 
 twines and yarns per week, and the number of 
 employees is seventy. Mr. A. Chase, the president 
 and treasurer, is a resident of Valley Palls, R. I., 
 near Providence, and is treasurer of the Valley 
 Falls Co. there, one of the oldest of its class in that 
 State. Mr. W. C. Greene, the agent, is, by accident 
 of birth, a native of Georgia, but reared and edu- 
 cated in Rhode Island, to which ancient and honor- 
 able family of Greenes he belongs. He is a graduate 
 of Brown University, Class of '75, and has been 
 identified with Moodus and this company since 
 1876. He is the selling agent as well as general 
 manager of the business here. The success of the 
 company is a matter of congratulation, and their 
 mills are, in every respect a credit to Moodus. 
 
 Brownell & Co., Manufacturers of Hard or 
 Patent Laid Seine Twine, Soft Seine Twine, and 
 Table Cord.— In 1884 it will be forty years since 
 Mr. E. P. Brown, father of the present proprietor, 
 established the business now conducted under the 
 firm name of Brownell & Co. In 1875 Mr. E. P. 
 Brown, the founder, died and Mr. Chas. E. Brow- 
 nell, the son, succeeded in the manufacture of seine 
 twine, cords, etc. The capacity of the mill is 
 2,500 pounds per week. Mr. Brownell is a native of 
 Moodus, born in 1827. He graduated at Yale in 
 1850 and since that time has been identified witli 
 this business. He is president of the Moodus 
 
284 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AM) l.XDUSTlitA I, 
 
 Savings Bank and lias been honored with a seat in 
 the Connecticut Legislature. About fifteen people 
 are employed. Since his connection with the busi- 
 ness the production has increased from 600 to 
 2,500 pounds per week, and in 1884 will be still 
 further increased to 3,000 pounds. Mr. Iirownell's 
 son, George L. Brownell, is the patentee and in- 
 ventor of an improved twisting machine for seine 
 twine, which he is now manufacturing witli great 
 success in Worcester, Mass. He is a graduate of 
 the Vale Scientific School in the class of '75, which 
 advantages he has turned to good account as above 
 mentioned. 
 
 The Brownelll have long been identified with the 
 improvement and manufacture of seine twine and 
 the younger members of the family are adding to 
 that well-earned reputation. 
 
 The business they are conducting is a monument 
 to its founder, the enterprise of his son and grand- 
 sons, and is an important factor in this important 
 manufacturing centre. 
 
 CHESTER. 
 
 This manufacturing village of 1,300 inhabitants 
 is situated about one mile west of Chester Depot, 
 on the Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad, 
 about thirty-three miles south of Hartford. It con- 
 tains three churches (Congregational, Baptist and 
 Homan Catholic), one savings bank, one hotel, sev- 
 eral stores and manufactories. A carriage connects 
 with every train at the depot. Two streams run 
 through the village on which are situated the fac- 
 tories. They are called the Patoconk or West 
 Stream, and the Deep Hollow Stream. There is a 
 race-course here called the Chester Park, and the 
 scenery is romantic. Chester has an extended rep- 
 utation as the centre of the auger and bit industry 
 which was inaugurated here many years ago by 
 Joshua and Ezra L'llommedieu, who made ship 
 augers exclusively. The L'Hoinmedieu auger is 
 well-known to the trade. The next prominent 
 manufacturers of augers and bits were the Gris- 
 wolds, who commenced here in 1851, and in 
 1805 Mr. Jennings, who made his patent extension 
 lip auger-bit. 
 
 N. C. Perry, Manufacturer of Bright Wire 
 Goods. — The proprietor of this establishment en- 
 joys the distinction of being the oldest continuous 
 manufacturer in Chester, having commenced in 
 1844, and the manufacture of bright-wire goods in 
 1849. There are other manufacturing establish- 
 ments in the town of Chester as old, but none have 
 continued uninterruptedly for nearly forty years 
 with the same man at its head. He claims to hold all 
 the patents for the goods he makes, and has the 
 very best facilities for manufacturing. The prem- 
 ises occupied consists of a building 24 x44 feet in 
 area and three stories in height, situated about two 
 miles from the village of Chester and three miles 
 from the depot. About fifteen people are regu- 
 larly employed, the pay-roll amounting to $350 
 per month, and the production about $20,000 per 
 year. The goods from this factory are sold in 
 ■every State in the Union, and have a reputation 
 among the best in the market. Mr. Perry is one of 
 the "old line manufacturers." He has lived to 
 sec the rise and fall of rival establishments, con- 
 
 tent to improve the quality of his products and 
 increase by " making haste slowly." He has been 
 honored by several offices in the gift of the people, 
 is a director in the Chester Savings Hank, and is 
 regarded as one of Chester's most influential and 
 reliable citi/.ens. 
 
 The Connecticut Valley Hardware 
 Company. — Near the depot is situated the estab- 
 lishment of the Connecticut Hardware Company, 
 which was incorporated in 1871, with a capital of 
 $20,000, all of which is paid in. Augers and 
 auger-bits only are made, engaging the attention of 
 forty-five employees. 
 
 The main building is 110 x 30 feet in area, built 
 of wood, and two stories in height. Mr. George 
 F. Stearns, the manager, is about forty years of age, 
 and a native of Middletown. He has been a resi- 
 dent of Chester for about five years. This establish- 
 ment is another industry which adds to the reputa- 
 tion of Chester as a centre for the manufacture of 
 bits and augers. 
 
 George A. Bogart & Co., Carpenters 
 Builders and Saw Mill. — The most extensive estab- 
 lishment of its class in Chester, is that conducted 
 by Messrs. Geo. A. Bogart & Co., whose business 
 was established fifteen years since, by Mr. George A. 
 Bogart, the senior member of the present firm, and 
 who has always retained his position from the first. 
 
 The firm as now constituted consists of Mr. Geo. 
 A. Bogart, Mr. George Arthur Bogart, his son, Mr. 
 Pred. E. Hammond, and was founded April 1, 1883. 
 The shop occupied is 22 x 50 feet in area and two 
 stories in height. Here, most of the indoor work is 
 done, the architectural plans drawn and the books 
 kept. They also have a saw mill, 20 x CO feet, two 
 stories in height, which is run in connection with the 
 business, and situated about three-quarters of a mile 
 west from the post-office, on the west stream, 
 where is run an upright and circular saw, and is 
 kept, a full supply of lumber. Mr. George A. 
 Bogart, the senior member, is a native of Hampden, 
 Maine; born in 1830, and has been a prominent 
 carpenter, builder, door, sash and blind manufac- 
 turer in Chester for thirty years. 
 
 Mr. Geo. Arthur Bogart, a son, was born in 
 Chester twenty-two years ago, and is a practical 
 builder, having learned his trade with his father. 
 
 Mr. Fred. E. Hammond, is a native of Marble- 
 head, Mass. ; born in 1800. He keeps the books 
 for the firm, and is considered one of the best at 
 that difficult profession in the State. This firm 
 have contributed largely towards the architectural 
 beauty of the homes of Chester and surrounding 
 country, having built most of the fine residences 
 and manufacturing establishments which have been 
 erected during the last few years in Chester, Deep 
 River and adjacent towns. This firm is composed 
 of men of character and ability, thoroughly under- 
 stand their business, and in every way qualified and 
 prepared to conduct it. It is one of the institu- 
 tions of Chester well worthy of mention. 
 
 DEEP RIVER. 
 
 Situated about one-quarter of a mile back from 
 the Connecticut river is this beautiful village. 
 The depot of the Hartford & Connecticut Valley 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 285 
 
 Railroad is situated directly on the banks of the 
 river, and is thirty-three and one-half miles south 
 of Hartford. The N. Y. & Hartford steamers 
 land here daily. The village, as is usual with most 
 New England villages, has a main street richly 
 shaded with tall trees. There are several stores 
 and churches, a national and savings bank, and 
 prosperous manufacturing establishments, the most 
 prominent of which is the new and imposing brick 
 structure of Pratt, Head & Co. 
 
 Pratt, Read & Co., Manufacturers of Piano 
 and Organ Key-Boards, and Standard Ivory 
 Goods. — -About the year 1808, there resided in 
 the village of Deep River and its vicinity a few 
 men of limited means, who were engaged in a 
 small way in the manufacture of wood and ivory 
 combs. Satisfied that with a little financial aid 
 they could make the business profitable, they 
 induced Mr. Thomas Howard of Providence, R. 
 I., to form a copartnership with them, he fur- 
 nishing the capital. From that small beginning 
 has grown the present large and prosperous cor- 
 poration known as Pratt, Read & Co., manufac- 
 turing ivory goods of every description as. well 
 as key-boards for musical instruments, the busi- 
 ness in the latter branch being the largest of its 
 kind in the United States. It is not generally 
 known that but few of the piano-makers in the 
 world make their own keys. Yet such is the 
 fact, and tho establishment of which this is a 
 sketch is an adjunct in that respect to a large 
 majority of the piano and organ manufacturers 
 in this country, as well as to some in other parts 
 of the world. For many years the business was 
 subject to the vicissitudes usually attending 
 enterprises whose conductors possess more me- 
 chanical skill than business capability, and when, 
 in 1803, the present company was incorporated, 
 affairs were not altogether in a satisfactory con- 
 dition. From 1803 to 1870 matters wont on in a 
 desultory way, harmony among tho stockholders 
 being lacking, and in the latter year a consoli- 
 dation of a large portion of the stock was effected 
 and a new and more vigorous management placed 
 in charge. From that time the affairs of the 
 company took on a new shape and continued to 
 improve, until, on July 31, 1881, the main factory 
 was destroyed by fire. After a thorough cauvass 
 among the stockholders it was decided to 
 rebuild at Deep River, and work was begun at 
 once on the elegant brick structure now occu- 
 pied. On the 8th of May, 1882, the first goods 
 were turned out from the new factory, and the 
 steady increase of the business since that time 
 has thoroughly demonstrated the wisdom of the 
 company and the efficiency of the later manage- 
 ment. The buildings used in the prosecution of 
 this industry are eighteen in number, covering 
 about an acre and a half of ground. The main 
 building, or key-board factory,* is situated on 
 Main street, about a mile from the railroad 
 station, while the ivory shop is located three- 
 quarters of a mile farther west. Tho main build- 
 ing of the key-board factory is 154 feet front by 
 CO feet deep and is four stories in height. An 
 L 38 x 100 feet extends westerly, while numerous 
 detached buildings are used as assorting 
 houses, drying sheds, storehouses, etc. The 
 
 power for driving the machinery in both facto- 
 ries is derived from three steam engines, aggrega- 
 ting 100-horse power and two water-wheels which 
 give an additional power of one-third that of 
 the engines. Four boilers, of a total capacity 
 of 175-horse power, furnish the steam. The 
 machinery used is, for the most part, special in 
 its character and is of the most delicate construc- 
 tion. The greater portion of it is manufactured 
 by the company in a very thoroughly equipped 
 machine shop on the premises. In the ivory 
 shop that material is sawed in strips and pieces 
 for piano and organ keys, sorted into various 
 grades and sent to the main factory. In addition 
 to this work, ivory is manufactured into billiard 
 balls, combs and stationers' goods of every 
 variety. One hundred and forty men and women 
 find employment in the key -board factory, while 
 the ivory shop gives work to thirty additional 
 employes, the majority being men, as is the ease 
 in the key-board factory. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin R. Arnold, president of the 
 company, is a native of Warwick, R. L, sixty 
 years of* age, and is the senior member of the 
 firm of Arnold, Hines & Co., importers of 
 African goods, at No. 158 Water street, New 
 York City, which firm imports a large portion of 
 the ivory used in the factory. 
 
 Mr. John G. Edmonds, treasurer of the com- 
 pany and manager and superintendent of the 
 factories, is a native of Providence, R. L, born 
 July 6, 1847. His education was begun in the 
 public schools of his native city and finished in 
 Brown University, in which institution of learn- 
 ing he passed two years. His introduction to 
 business life was in the year 1805, when he 
 entered the service of the largest wholesale shoe 
 and leather house in Providence, winning his 
 way from one post of responsibility to another 
 until he attained the very highest position in the 
 gift of the firm. For eleven years Mr. Edmonds 
 remained with this house, resigning his position 
 in 1870, to accept the one he now holds. Since 
 his entrance upon the duties of manager for 
 Pratt, Read & Co., the business has largely 
 increased in extent, and its details have been 
 administered in such a w r ay as to prove him 
 possessed of rare executive ability and unusually 
 energetic business methods. In politics Mr. 
 Edmonds is prominent and influential, and is a 
 meml>er of the Republican State Central Com- 
 mittee, representing the Twenty-first District. 
 In closing this sketch it is perhaps not too much 
 to say that the company is largely indebted to 
 Mr. Edmonds' energy and sagacity for its present 
 success. 
 
 The "New Era."— The Deep River New Erais 
 a nine-column weekly. 28 x 44 in size, published 
 every Friday by Francis Sheldon. The paper was 
 started in Chester, as a monthly, in July, 1874, Mr. 
 Sheldon writing and setting type in the evenings, 
 while his days were spent as an employe in Jen- 
 nings' bit factory. In April, 187G, the New Era 
 first appeared as a weekly, and in July it was re- 
 moved to Deep River. Its present circulation is in 
 the neighborhood of 1,500 — an unusually large 
 circulation for a paper of its class. It is inde- 
 pendent in politics and circulates throughout the 
 
280 
 
 THE HIBTOBICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTHIAI 
 
 country surrounding its plnce of publication to a 
 greater extent than any paper published in the 
 State. In connection with the paper there is a job- 
 printing office containing a Campbell cylinder 
 press, a Universal job press, paper cutter, all run 
 by steam power, and a very full assortment of 
 newspaper and job type. 
 
 Mr. Sheldon is a native of Kent, Litchfield Co., 
 Conn., born in 1841. He moved to Chester in 1873, 
 and one year later founded his paper. He has 
 been a resident of Deep River since 1879, and has 
 done much with his journal towards the prosperity 
 of the village. 
 
 Deep Kiver Lumber Co., Manufacturers 
 and Dealers in Ship, House, Bridge, Railway and 
 Car Timber. — The Deep River Lumber Company, 
 formed in May, 1807, now carries on a business the 
 establishment of which was so far in the dim past 
 as to be beyond the knowledge of even that usually 
 veracious chronicler " the oldest inhabitant." Their 
 immediate predecessors were Stephen Starkey & 
 Co., they having succeeded Southworth & Co., the 
 successors of William Southworth, whose proprietor- 
 ship of the business dates back to more than half a 
 century ago. The business of this company is the 
 manufacture of ship, house, bridge, railway and car 
 timber and the dealing in all other kinds of lumber, 
 at wholesale and retail. The timber manufactured 
 here is cut within a radius of twenty miles from the 
 mill and is rafted on the Connecticut river and up 
 the stream upon which the mill is located about a 
 quarter of a mile from the main stream. The 
 company is incorporated under the general laws of 
 Connecticut with a capital of $25,000. There are 
 two mills, one upright and one circular, employ- 
 ing from sixteen to twenty meD, and running from 
 nine to ten months each year. The capacity is from 
 9,000 to 10,000 feet per day, and this quantity, to- 
 gether with other lumber, laths, shingles, etc., 
 manufactured elsewhere and sold here, produce an 
 annual return of from $44 000 to $50,000. 
 
 Mr. Ansel Jones, president of the company, is a 
 native of Chester, Conn., and has been engaged in 
 the lumber business since the organization of the 
 company. In early life he learned the trade of 
 joiner and was engaged in New York for twenty- 
 one years and in Illinois for six years, prior to his 
 settlement in Deep River. He is president of the 
 Excelsior Oil and Guano Company, a corporation 
 formed in Deep River for the manufacture of oil, 
 etc., from menhaden, and having its works at 
 Promised Land, Long Island, and South Bristol, 
 Me. He is otherwise prominently interested in 
 business enterprises and is regarded as one of the 
 leading citizens in the section. 
 
 Mr. James A. Jones, secretary, is the son of the 
 president. He was born in Tremont, Illinois, in 
 1845. He has resided here all the time, with the ex- 
 ception of four years passed in Clinton, and has 
 been secretary of the company from the start. In 
 the affairs of his adopted town he has been especially 
 prominent, having occupied at different times the 
 office of selectman, town agent and registrar. 
 He is also connected with the Oil and Guano Com- 
 pany in the capacity of secretary. Roth gentlemen 
 occupy leading positions in the business and social 
 world and enjoy the respect and esteem of the en- 
 tire community. 
 
 Denison Brothers (Felix A. and Horace P. 
 Denison) Manufacturers of Straight, and Beveled- 
 faced Organ Stop Knobs. In 1877 the business of 
 Felix A. Denison and Horace P. Denison, associated 
 with Ulysses Pratt (their uncle, and since deceased) 
 was established for the manufacture of stop-knobs 
 for organs. The sole business of the house is the 
 manufacture of stop-knobs for the various organ 
 builders in the United States, both the straight 
 and beveled-fac'ed being made. The firm is the 
 owner of a patent on beveled-faced knobs and is 
 the only concern in the country having the right 
 to manufacture them. The object of the beveling 
 is to bring the face of the knob on a direct line 
 with the performer's eye, thus rendering the adjust- 
 ment of the stops a matter of greater ease and 
 certainty. In 1882 the building now occupied as a 
 factory was built, and since that time the business 
 has increased to such proportions that the services of 
 twelve people are necessary to fill the demand for 
 the productions of the firm. The building is 04 x 26 
 feet in size, two stories in height, and contains a 
 full assortment of lathes, saws, polishing whirls, 
 presses and other machinery driven by a powerful 
 steam engine. The products of the factory are 
 shipped to all parts of the country where organs 
 are manufactured, the demand being fully equal 
 to the supply. 
 
 Mr. Felix A. Denison is a native of Deep River, 
 and was born in 1829. He has passed all his life 
 in his native place, and was for a number of years 
 a foreman in the piano-key factory of Pratt, Read 
 & Co., one of which firm was Mr. Pratt, before 
 mentioned. He represented the town of Saybrook, 
 (in which Deep River is located) in the legislature 
 in 1880 and 1881, and has been otherwise promi- 
 nent in the affairs of the town, being at this writing 
 a member of the board of relief. 
 
 Mr. Horace P. Denison is also a native of Deep 
 River, and was born in 1840. Like his brother he 
 has always resided here, and was also in the em- 
 ploy of Pratt, Road & Co., prior to embarking in 
 his present business. He is chairman of the local 
 school board, and has for a long time been promi- 
 nently identified with educational interests. He is 
 a trustee of the Deep River Savings Rank, and holds 
 an important place in the financial and social affairs 
 of the village. The firm is entitled to a place 
 among the reliable business houses of the State. 
 
 The .1. A. Smith Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, Manufacturers of Small Wares and Patented 
 Novelties for the Notion and Fancy Goods Trade. — 
 The economy of making any line of goods in large 
 quantities, and confining the entire attention to the 
 production of a few specialties is attracting the 
 attention of manufacturers in all lines of produc- 
 tion. The intelligent application of these principles 
 has resulted in so greatly reducing the cost of many 
 articles, and at the same time materially improving 
 their quality, that they are rapidly coming into 
 use. An illustration of this fact may be found in 
 the works of the J. A. Smith Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, where the entire attention of the workmen is 
 bestowed on the manufacture of goods from steel 
 wire, such as crochet needles, macrame lace or rug 
 hooks, cork screws, nut picks, shoe buttoners, 
 glove hooks, hair crimpers, key rings, button fast- 
 eners, button needles, patent shoe lift and hook, 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF GOXNEGTIGUT. 
 
 287 
 
 tape measures, and a large number of patented 
 articles. This business was established in 1870 by 
 Mr. Joseph A. Smith, now Secretary, Treasurer and 
 Manager of the present company, and was contin- 
 ued by him until 1880, when the company was in- 
 corporated with a capital of fc5,000. The original 
 building, situated on the banks of the Connecticut 
 River, and within a few rods of the railroad station, 
 was 75 x 40 feet and throe stories in height. In 
 1880 an addition of twenty-five feet in length was 
 built, making the present size of the building 100 
 x 40 feet. Anengineof twenty-horsepower, fed by 
 a boiler of like capacity, runs the machinery of the 
 establishment, prominent among which is a machine 
 turning out sixty button hooks a minute, put in at 
 an expense of nearly $5,000. The workings of 
 this machine, the only one of its kind in use, arc 
 carefully guarded from view, the process being a 
 secret to everybody except those interested. About 
 thirty people are given constant employment, the 
 products of the factory averaging in value $00,000 
 annually, with a steady and large increase. 
 
 Mr. Joseph A. Smith, the controlling spirit of 
 the concern, is a native of Deep River, about fifty 
 years of age and has resided in his native village 
 all his life. He has been identified with some 
 branch of the small hardware business since his 
 majority, and is thoroughly practical in all its de- 
 tails. He is a prominent and respected citizen and 
 his company is among the solid manufacturing 
 associations of the State. 
 
 ESSEX. 
 
 Essex is a town bordering on the Connecticut 
 river. It contains the villages of Essex, Center 
 Brook, and Ivoryton, which are also U. S. Post- 
 ollices. The name of the railroad station, which is 
 situated on the Hartford & Connecticut Valley 
 Railroad, is also Essex, It is 34J miles south from 
 Hartford, and about 10 miles from the mouth of 
 the Connecticut river at Fenwick. The village of 
 Essex is situated about one mile east of the station, 
 and directly on the river, with which communica- 
 tion is had by stage at every train. Essex has one 
 national and one savings bank. 
 
 Elegantly appointed steamers leave here every 
 night, Sundays excepted, for Hartford and New 
 York, and on alternate days for Qreenport and Sag 
 Harbor, Long Island, via Niantic, Osprey Beach 
 and New London, starting from Hartford. The 
 village of Essex has four churches, two hotels, five 
 daily mails, a brass band containing nineteen pieces 
 and several manufacturing establishments. The 
 main street is lined on either side with shade trees, 
 and the houses and many of the stores are of old 
 style. Brass door-knockers and heavy green doors 
 indicate the age of the dwellings, which were built 
 when Essex was a great shipbuilding center. Some 
 of the largest ships ever built in the State were 
 launched here, but this interest has long since gone 
 to decay. A large trade is done with the surround- 
 ing towns, more business being conducted here 
 than at any other place on the Connecticut river, 
 south of Hartford, with the exception of Middle- 
 town. Ivoryton and Center Brook are small manu- 
 facturing villages, situated not more than one mile 
 west of the depot. 
 
 All of the villages are connected with each other 
 by telephone, and a telegraph office is at the depot- 
 Population, about 2,000. 
 
 31. B. Hall, Watchmaker and Jeweler, 
 Dealer in Pianos and Organs, Sewing Machines, 
 Etc. — Having presented to our readers a review 
 of the industries of Essex, whose products are 
 designed to meet the practical requirements of 
 every-day life — the real rather than the ideal — 
 we now come to speak of an establishment which 
 deals not only in necessities, but in the luxuries 
 which go to make life pleasant, and intended to 
 satisfy our more refined and luxurious tastes. 
 To Mr. M. B. Hall is acceded tho fact that he is 
 the most enterprising merchant in Essex. The 
 history of his business career is an incentive to 
 every young man who is endeavoring to achieve 
 an honorable success, for true success is synony- 
 mous with honor and probity. Those who have 
 watched the career of Mr. Hall during the last 
 seventeen years, commencing as he did in a little 
 7x9 room, situated in his dwelling, growing legit- 
 imately and as a result surely, with a thorough 
 knowledge of his business, adding departments 
 from time to time, he has long since arrived at 
 that period when he could maintain the assertion 
 which none disputes, that he is the largest and 
 most successful dealer in watches, jewelry, sil- 
 verware, pianos, organs, and sewing machines in 
 the county. Since his modest opening in the 
 year I860 his trade has increased and multiplied, 
 necessitating his removal twice to more spacious 
 quarters, the last time to his present location, in 
 what is known as Whittemora's Bkck, situated 
 in the most central and conspicuous part of the 
 village. The store is triangular in shape, and 
 is 34 x 18 feet in front and side, and 25 feet in 
 the rear, three stories in height. The main 
 floor is devoted to the display of a large stock of 
 watches, jewelry, diamonds, and silverware, 
 arranged in large show cases, which dazzle the 
 beauty-loving eye, surfeited as it is with the 
 ensemble of rosewood and plate-glass, of jewels 
 rare and metals bright, and an extensive collec- 
 tion of expensive objects of art, selected by the 
 proprietor, whose labor is a work of love. 
 
 The second floor is reached by a passenger 
 elevator, where are stored numerous pianos, or- 
 gans, and sewing machines. The large stock of 
 the Messrs. Decker Bros, and Hazelton Bros, 
 pianos, the " Geo. Wood's " organs, and the 
 " New Home" sewing machines, for which he is 
 exclusive agent in the county, exceeds that 
 carried by some dealers in largo cities. The 
 extent of territory which he covers necessitates a 
 large number of instruments and machines to be 
 kept constantly on hand — a great accommodation 
 to the buyer. ' Ho keeps two men on the road 
 with teams selling and delivering instruments 
 and machines, thus exhibiting an enterprise 
 which is generally commented on by his fellow 
 citizens. The store is ornamented with expen- 
 sive plate-glass windows, has high ceilings, and 
 is in striking contrast with some of the stores in 
 the village which were built a half a century or 
 more ago. Mr. Hall is a native of Rochester, 
 N. Y. , and was born in 184?. He has bean a resi- 
 dent of Essex for the past 17 years, jirevious to 
 
2^s 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 ■which he learned the watchmaker's trade with 
 Mr. W. J. Goodsell in Hartford. The history of 
 the rise and progress of Mr. Hall, from his mod- 
 est start, without capital, save native energy, 
 honesty of purpose, and a thorough knowledge 
 of his business, is not only interesting in itself, 
 but serves to point a moral, and as an inciting 
 example to the struggling youth who believes 
 that honest effort, as in the case of Mr. Hall, is 
 sure to win success. 
 
 H. W. Starkey & Co., Dealers in Groceries, 
 Provisions, Etc. — This business-stand is one of the 
 oldest in the town of Essex. Its founder was 
 Col. Joseph Hill, who was a prominent and influ- 
 ential citizen here sixty years ago. His successor was 
 Mr. Joseph Hayden, who was succeeded by the 
 firm of E. W. Pratt & Co., with Mr. Joseph Hayden, 
 Jr., as the company. They in turn were succeeded 
 by Messrs. Hayden & Pratt, the Hayden mentioned 
 being Mr. Gideon A. Hayden, Sr. , who, with' Mr. 
 Ezra Pratt, son ol Mr. E. W. Pratt, above men- 
 tioned, composed the firm. 
 
 They conducted as usual a successful business for 
 a time, when it was concluded to dissolve the 
 partnership and close the store. 
 
 It was soon after opened by a Mr. Albert Pratt, 
 nephew of Mr. E. W. Pratt, who was succeeded by 
 Messrs. A. Pratt & Co., with Mr. H. W. Starkey 
 as the company. At the deatli of Mr. Albert Pratt, 
 the firm became Messrs. H. W. Starkey & Co., with 
 Mr. Ezra Pratt, a former proprietor, as the 
 company. 
 
 This firm has been in successful operation for 
 thirteen years. The store is 40 x 30 feet in area, 
 built of wood, and two stories in height, with a 
 large storehouse adjoining. 
 
 The stock carried consists of groceries, provisions, 
 hardware, crockery, glassware, wooden and willow 
 ware, paints, oils, varnishes, paint brushes, window 
 glass, notions, etc., the trade extending to the 
 adjoining towns. When the star of Essex was in 
 the ascendency as a ship building centre, this house 
 did much in that direction, owning and building 
 ships and carrying on a trade incidental thereto. 
 
 Mr. Horace W. Starkey is a native of Essex, and 
 forty-eight years of age. He resides in Whitehall, 
 Greene Co., 111., with which placebo has been identi- 
 fied since May, 1883. He is a machinist by trade, and 
 during his residence in Connecticut was a member 
 of the legislature in the session of 1883. He lias 
 held the position of director in the Saybrook 
 National Bank, and also director and president of 
 the Essex Savings Bank, of which he is still trus- 
 tee. As a machinist, he finished his technical 
 education in the establishment of the Urbana 
 Machine Co., Urbana, O. He served his country 
 during the rebellion, first as a private enlisting at 
 Carrollton, Greene Co., Illinois, August 4, 1861, and 
 soon after was made fourth sergeant ; as the quota 
 for the State was full, the services of the company 
 were offered to and accepted by the Governor of 
 Missouri, and designated Co. G, of the Ninth Regt., 
 M. V. I. In February, 1862, the name of the regi- 
 ment was changed to the Fifty-ninth Illinois, by 
 order of the War Department. Sergt. Starkey was 
 commissioned second lieutenant, December 1 2, 1 801 ; 
 first lieutenant, June 12, 1802, and captain, March 
 7, 1803. 
 
 In September, 1863, he resigned on account of 
 disability, and returned to his native town, to en- 
 gage in commercial pursuits, with which place he 
 has been identified up to May, 1883, when he re- 
 turned to Illinois, retaining his interest in the 
 present firm. 
 
 Mr. Ezra Pratt is also a native of Essex, and forty- 
 five years of age. He is a son of Mr. E. W. Pratt, 
 above mentioned, who died in 1800. The father 
 was a prominent business man here, and at one 
 time president of the then Saybrook Bank, now 
 the Saybrook National Bank. This house is one of 
 the old and well-known business institutions of 
 Essex. Its founders and members have always 
 been its representative business men and honest 
 citizens. 
 
 George W. Hayden, Dealer in Dry and 
 Fancy Goods. — There is in every community one 
 store which is by common consent a popular resort 
 for the people. There are various reasons which 
 bring tilts order of things about, and contribute to 
 this result. 
 
 In one place it is' because the proprietors are 
 shrewd and persistent advertisers, in another 
 because of the peculiar situation of the store, but 
 in the case of Mr. Geo. W. Hayden, the subject of 
 this sketch, it is because of his being descended 
 from an ancestry of this town, which has long 
 been known for years of probity, for his personal 
 endeavors of thirty years in the mercantile com- 
 munity here and for his suatiter in rnodo for which 
 he has always been noted. All these combine to 
 make this establishment the most popular and 
 largest of its class in Essex. The store is situated 
 near the post-office and banks on the principal 
 street. It is 60 x 28 feet in area and contains the 
 largest stock of dry and fancy goods, millinery 
 goods, etc., to be found in this part of the State. 
 For many years his store was located in another 
 part of the business centre, but since November, 
 1882, he has occupied his present location, where 
 he employs several young lady clerks, to wait upon 
 his numerous customers. Mr. Hayden is a descend- 
 ant of that ancient family by the same name, who 
 were the original settlers of the town of Essex, 
 which was formerly a parish of the town of Say- 
 brook. His father, Mr. Horace Hayden, was a 
 prominent ship-builder and owner, and the grand- 
 father was Mr. Nehemiah Hayden, equally well 
 known in his day as a respected citizen. Horace, 
 the father of Geo. W., was, as above mentioned, not 
 only a ship-builder and owner but a merchant at 
 East Haddam, Conn., a few miles up the river 
 from Essex, where the subject of our sketch was 
 born in 1824. He died in 1840, leaving behind him 
 as a legacy to his children a record of success 
 gained by honest methods and superior attainments, 
 of which his children and grandchildren may well 
 be proud. Geo. W., the son, lias been identified 
 with Essex for thirty-two years. In his youth lie 
 worked in the ship yard of his father, thoroughly 
 mastering its details ; but later, when the business of 
 ship-building declined, he engaged, like his father, 
 in mercantile pursuits, which he has conducted for 
 thirty years. He is one of the few in communities 
 who continue in one pursuit uninterruptedly for a 
 third of a century, content with sure and steady 
 gains which give ease and contentment. The Hay- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE <>F COXNEf TIEUT. 
 
 289 
 
 <len family arc one of the first families of this 
 ancient town and the subject of our sketch by the 
 precepts of his life has ably represented and upheld 
 the good name for which the Hayden family has 
 always been noted. 
 
 H. C. AVooster, Lumber and Coal. — In 
 
 every community there are business houses and 
 institutions, which by their age command the re- 
 spect and patronage of the public. The house of 
 Woostcr is one whoso name has long been identi- 
 fied with the fortunes of Essex, both in a business 
 and social way. 
 
 It is thirty-three years since Messrs. Gladwin, 
 Woostcr & Co. established the lumber and coal busi- 
 ness with Capt. II. L. Champlin as the Co., who died 
 in 1802. He was a well-known sea captain and 
 commanded vessels which were built in Essex. Mr. 
 Jeremiah Gladwin, the senior member of the firm, 
 died in 1857. In 1805, Mr. Wooster became sole 
 proprietor and has so continued to the present 
 day. The premises front directly on the Connecti- 
 cut river and afford facilities for the loading and 
 unloading of lumber and coal at the wharves. He 
 sells about 2,500 tons of coal and about $15,000 
 worth of lumber yearly. This is the only lumber 
 yafd in Essex, and it supplies the trade in this and 
 adjoining towns. Mr. Wooster is a native of Lyme, 
 Conn., and is fifty-eight years of age. He has been 
 identified with Essex for thirty-five years, and has al- 
 ways been watchful of its welfare. He was one of the 
 incorporators of the Essex Savings Bank, and has 
 been honored with the offices of selectman and 
 assessor for several years in the town government, 
 and as member of the State legislature during the 
 years 1859 and 1800. He is the father of seven 
 sons, six of whom are now living and prominent 
 citizens. Two are bank officers in Hartford, one 
 in the same business in Essex and one a successful 
 wholesale jeweler in Minneapolis, Minn. The 
 father is enjoying the fruits of a life well spent, 
 and of a reputation well known and long estab- 
 lished. 
 
 Comstock, Cheney & Co., Manufacturers 
 of Piano Keys, Ivory Goods, etc., Ivory ton. — On 
 page 117of this work mention is made of Ivoryton 
 and this establishment, which is spoken of as hav- 
 ing "a national reputation on account of its 
 extensive business in the manufacture of 
 articles in ivory." Here the extensive house of 
 Messrs. Comstock, Cheney & Co. employ a large 
 capital in the enterprise. The business was 
 established by Mr. Samuel M. Comstock, and 
 is a representative of its class in America. From a 
 comparatively insignificant business it has grown 
 
 to be one of immense proportions, and this cor- 
 poration is now, with the exception of one other, 
 nearly almost the sole producer of their import- 
 ant line of goods, consisting of piano keys and 
 organ keys, combs, fancy goods, billiard balls, 
 fans, paper cutters, rules and such fancy orna- 
 ments as fashion demands. This company runs 
 two extensive establishments, situated about one- 
 tpiarter of a mile from each other. The company 
 was incorporated in 187: >, and ' has a capital of 
 8250,000, and the following-named officers : 
 President, Mr. Geo. A. Cheney (who is also 
 president of the Connecticut Valley Manufac- 
 turing Company, near by) ; Secretary, Mr. E. 
 B. Comstock (a son of the founder) ; Treasurer, 
 Mr. J. E. Northrop ; Superintendents, Mr. C. 
 H. Hose, of ivory factory, and Mr. L. D. Web- 
 ber, of key factory. The number of skilled 
 employees is 200. The machinery used for 
 cutting and preparing the ivory for work and for 
 executing the delicate processes of manufacture 
 of which ivory is eapable.is of the most costly and 
 ingenious description. The glass sheds, with 
 their roofs sloping to tho south, like so many 
 hot houses, would extend the length of an ordi- 
 nary city street. In these, the thin strips of 
 ivory are placed for the purpose of bleaching in 
 the sun. Both faces aro bleached and also the 
 sides ; this process alone is a work of months. 
 The ivory is receivod direct from Africa, and 
 every tusk finds its way to this and ono other 
 establishment in this district. The prosecution 
 of this business in a quiet district in Connecti- 
 cut, several miles from the ocean, and until a 
 few years since accessible only by stage, is a 
 study for tho curious. Humor records it that 
 the ivory business grow out of tho manufacture 
 of horn combs which, fifty years ago was the main 
 manufacturing industry in the town. This sug- 
 gested the manufacture of ivory combs, which was 
 a success, and from this beginning has grown the 
 present company. Ivory was first obtained at 
 Salem, Mass., but as the demands of the business 
 grew it was imported direct from Zanzibar, Africa. 
 The productions of this establishment are found in 
 all tlie first-class piano-forto and organ manufac- 
 tories, fancy goods and jewelry establishments in 
 the Union, and its reputation of nearly a half cen- 
 tury of time is a sufficient guarantee of its financial 
 standing. Its officers are tho representative citizens 
 of the town where they have long resided and been 
 closely identified with its interests. Their elegant 
 residences adorn the principal street of tlie town, 
 where also reside the contented and prosperous 
 employees in happy homes. The traveler through 
 the valley of the Connecticut should not omit a 
 visit to this peculiarly successful establishment. 
 
NEW LONDON. 
 
 Tins picturesque city, on the Thames, celebrated gational, St. James' Episcopal, and St. Mary's Star 
 as a summer resort, was settled by the English in of the Sea, Woman Catholic. The banks, all of 
 10-10. Two years later there were forty families in which have substantial buildings, are the Savings 
 the town. The original Indian name of the place Wank of New London, the Mariner's Savings Bank, 
 was Pequot, which is perpetuated at this day in the National Wank of Commerce, the Union Wank 
 Pequot avenue and the famous summer hotel known of New London, the National Whaling Wank, tin- 
 as the Pequot House. In 1058 the name of the New London City National Bank, and the Equit- 
 town was changed to New London after old Lon- able Trust Company, which has a capital of a mil- 
 don in England, and the river, the Indian name of lion and a half of dollars. Besides these institu- 
 which was Mohegan, was called the Thames. In tions the city has a system of graded schools; aiire 
 extent of territory New London is one of the small- department, with two steam fire engines ; gas and 
 est towns in the State, being four miles long by water works, a police department, five Masonic 
 three-fourths of a mile wide. It stretches along the lodges, two Odd Fellows lodges, five temperance 
 west bank of the river, three miles from the Sound, societies, a ladies' seamen's friend society, an his- 
 and faces one of the best haibors in the United torical society, a telephone exchange, two bands of 
 States, which has live fathoms of water and open- music, and a beautiful cemetery, called "Cedar 
 ing to the Hound ; is very seldom obstructed by ice. Grove," as well as three old burial grounds ; and a 
 The city is forty-two miles southeast of Hartford, tliir- ferry which makes half hourly trips to Groton. 
 teen miles south of Norwich, and fifty-three miles east Three papers are published in the city, The Day, a 
 of New Haven. Two railways connect the place morning daily, John A. Tibbits, editor ; The Tele- 
 with the outer world — the shore line of the Hartford (/ram, every afternoon, John G. Crump, editor, and 
 and New Haven, and the New London and Northern, the Weekly Gazette, which appears every Friday. 
 There is a daily line of steamboats running to the The Third Regiment, C. V., Col. Win. II. Tubbs, 
 city of New York, while another line connects with has its headquarters in New London. During the 
 Norwich by way of the Thames. The town suffered civil war the Twenty-sixth regiment was recruited 
 much during the Revolution. September 0, 1781, almost exclusively in New London County. In 
 it was burned by the traitor, Benedict Arnold, and September, 1802, it numbered 810 men. In Dcccm- 
 141! houses were destroyed. In 1708 the place was ber of the same year this regiment went to New Or- 
 ravaged by yellow fever. The town is defended by leans and joined the main army of General Banks, 
 two forts, Trumbull and Griswold, which command which was investing Port Hudson. In the battles 
 the bay. Two or three miles up the Thames river, which followed the regiment lost 107 men in killed 
 beyond tho city, there is a small navy yard. The and wounded, and by next June it had been re- 
 growth in population has been slow but steady. In duced to 235 officers and men. During the nine 
 1850 it had a population of 8,991. In 1880 there months of service the regiment had forty-nva days of 
 were 10.529 souls in tho town. The population fighting. New London is admirably situated for a 
 in 1883 is estimated at 12,000 or over. The town manufacturing town, but has permitted itself to bo 
 was incorporated as a city in 1784. In 1837 the city outstripped by many younger inland towns not 
 had thirty ships and 900 men engaged in the whale possessing half its advantages. Recently a couple 
 fishery. Tliis has long since passed away. Occa- of silk mills have been established in the city, which 
 sionally a ship is fitted out for tho seal fishery, but also possesses a large concern for the manufacture 
 most of the business of the port consists in coal, of cotton gins, printing presses and machines to 
 lumber, domestic fish and produce. The town has order; a woolen mill, a cracker bakery and a nia- 
 an abundant supply of granite for building mate- chine shop for marine work and stationery engines, 
 rial, and many of the residences, churches and pub- Considerable business is done in coal, granite, fish 
 lie buildings are made of granite. The streets are and oysters. The city is chiefly noted as a summer 
 broad, well laid out, for the most part paved or resort, from four to five hundred people passing the 
 macadamized, and shaded with magnificent elm heated term at the Pequot I louse near the mouth of 
 and maple trees. Among the public buildings are the Thames, and in the adjacent cottages. Osprey 
 the city hall on State street, corner of Union ; the Beach, near by, is a popular resort for excursions 
 court-house on Court square ; the custom-house, a from tlie surrounding country, and the harbor is a 
 square granite building at 04 Bank street; the favorite rendezvous for yachts. The surroundings 
 county jail ; the post-office in the Crocker House, are very beautiful, and the town itself is quaint, in- 
 and the New London reading rooms and Young teresting and picturesque. It is the residence of 
 Men's Christian Association rooms at 77} State Gov. Thos. M. Waller, and is the resting place of 
 street. The churches arc very fine buildings, and Jedediah Huntington, a general of the revolutionary 
 include the Bethel or Methodist Wesleyan; first army; of Hon. Jeremiah G. Brainard, a judge of 
 church of Christ, first Baptist, M. E. church on the superior court; of John G. C. Brainard, the 
 Huntington street; second Baptist, second Congre- poet, and of Bishop Samuel Seabury. The first 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 291 
 
 printing press set up in Connecticut was established 
 in this city in 1709. Altogether New London is a 
 very desirable place of residence, with many at- 
 tractions, and is a well-built, handsome city. 
 
 C. D. Boss& Sou, Manufacturersof American 
 Crackers and English Biscuits. — This firm was 
 started in a small way as far back as 1831, by C. D. 
 Boss, and from the very beginning was noted for 
 the excellent quality of the goods. In 1803 Mr. 
 Boss associated with him his son, and the firm then 
 assumed its present name. About four years ago 
 Mr. Boss, Sr., retired and was succeeded by Mr. 
 Robert R. Congdon. 
 
 This great concern, which started from such small 
 beginnings, now does a very large business, export- 
 ing some of their goods to the West Indies. 
 
 Much, if not the most, of the labor that used to 
 be done by hand, is now performed by machinery. 
 A sixty-horse power engine is used to drive the 
 machinery. Fifty hands are employed. 
 
 The trade is mostly in New England, but large 
 orders are sent to all parts of the country. The 
 business is conducted under a partnership. All 
 kinds of crackers and biscuits are made and in the 
 office can be seen eighty-eight varieties. About 100 
 varieties are usually made, although they exhibited 
 at the State fair 135 different kinds of crackers. 
 They took premiums at the State fair at Meriden 
 and numerous diplomas at the county fairs. Some 
 idea of the amount of business done will be seen 
 when it is stated that over 050 tierces of lard alone 
 have been used in the last seven months. Three 
 reel ovens are run with a capacity of 100 barrels 
 and turning out 500 barrels of crackers per day. 
 
 Mr. Boss, Sr., w r as born in Newport, R. L, in 
 1812. 
 
 He is an excellent citizen and his name and 
 reputation for business integrity is second to none. 
 
 Mr. Boss, Jr., was in the navy during the first 
 two years of the war. He devotes his permanent 
 attention to this great enterprise and well repre- 
 sents his father in the virtues that make up the good 
 citizen and business man. 
 
 Mr. Congdon was born in Newport, but was in 
 the South during part of the war. Mr. C, is very 
 courteous and a pleasant gentleman, agreeable in 
 conversation and with keen business penetration. 
 He served in the New London council in 1875. 
 
 These two gentlemen, Messrs. Boss and Congdon, 
 are a credit to any community. They conduct a 
 legitimate business in a thorough, honest manner, 
 and the high reputation their goods have acquired 
 is thoroughly deserved. 
 
 Hislop, Porteous & Mitchell, Dry and 
 
 Fancy Goods, No. 60 State Street. — There is al- 
 ways to be found, in every city in the Union, 
 one house and firm that holds the lead in its 
 line, towering far above its competitors, both in 
 enterprise and amount of business transacted. 
 This enviable position in the mercantile career 
 of most houses is generally not reached until the 
 fifth or sixth decade of the firm's existence. Not 
 so, however, is it with the firm of which this ar- 
 ticle treats. True, they commenced on a com- 
 paratively small scale, only employing seven, 
 clerks, but their growth reminds one of the tale 
 of Aladdin and his wonderful lamp in the Ara- 
 
 bian Nights. The firm is composed of three 
 sturdy, energetic and enterprising young Scotch- 
 men, all of whom were, less than eleven years 
 ago, clerks in the large dry-goods establishment 
 of Brown, Thompson & Co., of Hartford. A 
 little more than ten years ago they concluded to 
 embark in business for themselves, and fixed 
 upon Norwich, Conn., as a promising field for 
 their enterprise. Their success was marvelous, 
 and in less than a year more shelf room was 
 found necessary for their large stock. In two 
 years and a half they more than doubled the size 
 of their store by leasing two rooms on the floor 
 beneath them and opened a jobbing department. 
 Their business has continued to grow with great 
 rapidity, and now their stores in Norwich cover 
 a floor space equal to one-fourth of an acre, and 
 forty-five clerks are employed, and their em- 
 ployees would be greater in number were it not 
 for the automatic cash system which they em- 
 ploy, which does away with a large number of 
 cast boys. The New London store was opened 
 in 1876, and is the most capacious in the city, 
 being 145 feet long and twenty-four feet in width. 
 A force of twenty-five to thirty clerks are em- 
 ployed, and the stock carried embraces every- 
 thing that the fair sex could wish for or hope to 
 find in any oi the dry goods and fancy goods 
 stores of the metropolis. It is safe to say that 
 not a business house in eastern Connecticut ex- 
 cels them in growth, credit, and volumo of busi- 
 ness done, and their success, due to industry, a- 
 full knowledge of the business in which they are 
 engaged and the wants of the public in their 
 line, speaks volumes for them, and sets an exam- 
 ple which may well be emulated by the youth of 
 America. 
 
 Nichols & Harris, Wholesale Druggists, No. 
 55 State Street. — The oldest and largest wholesale 
 and retail drug house in New London is that of 
 Nichols & Harris, which is located at No. 55 State 
 street. The business was originally started by 
 Wm. Steam, on Bank street, and conducted by him 
 for fifteen years, when Mr. Francis Nichols was 
 admitted a partner. This partnership was dis- 
 solved after two or three years, Mr. Steam with- 
 drawing. Mr. H. D. Harris, who had long been a 
 clerk in the store, was then admitted into part- 
 nership, and the business has continued under 
 the firm name of Nichols k Harris. Mr. Fran- 
 cis Nichols died in June, 1879, and the following 
 February, Mr. John Nichols, his brother, suc- 
 ceeded him, the firm name remaining un- 
 changed. The building is three-story, with a 
 capacious cellar, the cellar and first story being 
 60 x 18 feet. The second and third stories, 50 x 18. 
 The stock carried by this enterprising firm is 
 large and very complete, and comprises every 
 article known to the drag and proprietary medi- 
 cine trade, besides oils, varnishes and the fancy 
 goods usually to be found in a well-appointed 
 drug store. Their trade extends over a large 
 area of country, and their business has increased 
 largely in volume each succeeding year. In the 
 early part of the war Mr. John Nichols entered 
 the "service as a private in the First Connecticut 
 Volunteers, but just after the battle of Bull Run 
 was physically incapacitated from psrforming 
 
292 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 active service, but served the State as a recruit- 
 ing officer for two years. Mr. Hams has been 
 connected with the store as clerk and subse- 
 quently one of the members of the firm for the 
 past twenty-seven years. Mr. Horace H. Daboll, 
 formerly with E.V. Stoddard & Co., was admitted 
 as a partner October 18, 1883. Mr. Daboll is a 
 thorough business man, of excellent character, 
 and will add materially to the well-earned repu- 
 tation of this excellent house. 
 
 All the members of the firm are first-class 
 pharmacists, and by their liberal and fair deal- 
 ing have built up for themselves a handsome 
 trade and are one of the representative business 
 firms of New London, of which their townsmen 
 may feel proud. 
 
 C. B. Ware & Co., Clothiers and Hatters, 
 Nos. 20 to 24 State Street.— The large clothing 
 house of C. B. Ware & Co., at Nos. 20 to 24 State 
 street, was opened on the 30th of March, 1872. 
 For the past thirty-five years it has been known as 
 a clothing store or, at least, one-half of the present 
 premises, No. 20, while No. 22 was formerly a dry 
 goods store. Since Mr. Ware has taken possession 
 he has united the two stores, and now has two sales- 
 rooms, giving a front on State street of sixty feet, 
 with a depth of seventy-five feet. This large store 
 is filled with a full line of men's and boy's ready- 
 made clothing ; with hats, caps, and furnishing 
 goods, and has in addition a custom department. 
 Goods are sold at wholesale and retail, and the 
 house enjoys an extensive patronage, and has a high 
 reputation throughout the city and surrounding 
 country. Mr. Ware makes a specialty of hammock 
 chairs, Mexican hammocks, bathing suits, trunks, 
 bags, waiters' jackets, tourists' outfits, etc. 
 
 Mr. 0. B. Ware is a native of Worcester, Mass. 
 He was formerly in Norwich, but finally came to 
 this city and opened a clothing-house with Mr. F. 
 A. Wells. After a partnership of three years, he 
 bought Mr. Wells' interest, and lias since stood at 
 the head of the business. He has been a member 
 of the common council of the city, and occupies a 
 high position in the social and business community. 
 
 Henfleld, Chappell & Starr, Dry Goods, 
 No. 20 State Street. — The large dry goods estab- 
 lishment of Henfleld, Chappell & Starr occupies 
 the store at No. 20 State street, which is known 
 throughout the city as an old dry goods stand. 
 The present firm was organized in 1870, and began 
 operations in January of that year. It is composed 
 of Messrs. J. H. Henfleld, H. F. Chappell, and J. 
 Starr. The store occupied by them belongs to the 
 estate of the late M. K. Cady, is twenty-eight feet 
 wide, and has a depth of one hundred feet, with 
 three floors. The house carries a full line of dry 
 goods, including carpets. There is a well-selected 
 stock of silks, housekeepers' goods, hosiery, linens, 
 underwear, gloves, ribbons, laces, flannels, etc. 
 The members of the firm are all natives of New 
 London, are young men, and at one time were 
 clerks in the dry goods house of their predecessor, 
 Mr. Cady, of whom they learned the business. 
 They have given strict attention to business, and 
 have succeeded in establishing a large house and 
 securing a fine trade. It is young blood which in- 
 
 fuses new life into a business, and revolutionizes 
 the old methods of procedure. This is what Hen- 
 field, Chappell & Starr have done, and their efforts 
 have been crowned with success. Mr. Chappell 
 served during the war in the Twelfth Connecticut. 
 Messrs. Henfleld and Chappell were in business to- 
 gether before the firm was formed which admitted 
 Mr. Starr to a partnership. 
 
 Geo. Williams & Son, Bakers, Green and 
 Golden Streets. — One block west of State street, on 
 Green, stands the large and new brick bakery be- 
 longing to Messrs. George Williams & Son, which 
 is a splendid monument to their industry, enter- 
 prise and success. This is a handsome brick build- 
 ing, three stories high, 100 x 33 feet. The main 
 salesroom is some thirty-three feet square, and is 
 richly fitted up in solid cherry, Eastlakc style, 
 with marble shelves and backs for bread, and hand- 
 some glass cases for cakes and fancy articles. The 
 floor is laid in tiles, and the room, for the purposes 
 intended, is one of the handsomest in the country. 
 The office is in the rear of this room, and back of 
 it are handsome designs in ground glass. The tops 
 of the counters are white marble, and the utmost 
 neatness is everywhere seen. From the main sales- 
 room opens the wholesale and shipping department, 
 from the street-doors of which the wagons which 
 serve the routes are supplied. Three delivery 
 wagons are kept running in the city, and two in 
 country, while larger quantities of soft bread and 
 cakes are sent to the surrounding towns and cities 
 by train and boat, and also to some of the large 
 summer resort hotels in the vicinity. The bakery 
 is a large, well-lighted, convenient room, on the 
 first floor, with three ovens, which are heated by coal. 
 Twenty-one hands are employed, and twenty bar- 
 rels of flour are consumed each day. Mr. George 
 Williams has been a resident of the city for thirty- 
 eight years. He is a native of Leamington, England, 
 where he learned his trade as a baker. He came to 
 America in 1837, and worked for many years as a 
 journeyman baker in the city of New York, being 
 employed at one time at the bakery of John Howe, 
 at Eighth avenue and Seventeenth street. He came 
 to New London in 1845, with no capital but his 
 hands. He began business in a small way, opening 
 the first cake shop in the city, when his daily 
 receipts averaged hardly more than 37} cents a day. 
 At that time New London was a small place, and 
 everyone did their own baking. Mr. Williams has 
 been a hard worker, and has given close and strict 
 attention to business, with the results which aro 
 to-day so apparent. He has also taken an active 
 part in the public duties of a citizen, having served 
 one year in the State legislature, sixteen years in 
 the common council of the city, several years as 
 alderman, and lias been chairman of the committee 
 on fire and police, and several years chief of the fire 
 department. A couple of years ago lie was urged 
 to accept the nomination for mayor of the city, but 
 declined, as he was fully engaged in building his 
 new bakery, of which lie was the architect as well. 
 Mr. Williams owns a handsome house on Golden 
 street, which connects with the bakery. He is a 
 genial, upright, prosperous gentleman, a thoroughly 
 self-made man, who has reason to be contented with 
 his success, and the example of thrift and industry 
 which he has set before the world. 
 
Ill-: VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 29 S 
 
 N. D. Smith & Son, Music Store, No. 214 
 Bank Street. — The largest and handsomest music 
 store in the city, was established in 1858, at No. 
 21 } Bank street, by Mr. N. I). Smith. Previous 
 to that time he had been, for some years, a manu- 
 facturer of mclodeons, in a shop on the water 
 front, just off of Bank street, near the place where 
 the music store now stands. The piano and organ 
 having superseded the melodeon, the manufacture 
 of the former was suspended, that of organ build- 
 ing taking its place. 
 
 The store was opened twenty-five years ago on 
 the first floor of the large building which it now 
 occupies ; since then it has been moved to the 
 floor above; and now requires two rooms, 25x80 
 and 25 x 00 feet, respectively. One of these is a 
 stock-room for pianos, and for the New England, 
 Estey and Wilcox & White. The other room is 
 filled with cases containing a large assortment of 
 violins, rtccordions, cornets, and instruments for 
 brass bands; also sheet music, music books, and 
 the other articles usually found in a music store. 
 Mr. Smith was born in Groton, but has resided in 
 this city for fifty or sixty years. He has been 
 prominently identified with the place and its 
 interests, having been a selectman during the im- 
 portant period of the civil war, a member of the 
 common council, and for seven years "first select- 
 man." He lias been a careful and successful business 
 man, and is widely popular throughout, the town, 
 and among his business acquaintances. His son, Mr. 
 Fred. M. Smith, is associated with him, and is 
 naturally and deeply interested in music, like his 
 father. 
 
 T. AV. Potter, Groceries, No. 32 State Street — 
 The house now occupied by Mr. T. W. Potter, at 
 No. 32 State street, was many years ago a drug store, 
 in which at one time the celebrated Asa Otis served 
 as a clerk. The store was then about one-third of 
 its present size. Mr. Otis afterward became a 
 man of great wealth, and at his death left a million 
 of dollars for foreign missions. The grocery business 
 was established by Mr. Thomas Potter, grand- 
 father of the present proprietor. The salesroom is 
 now about 80x25 feet, and is filled with a full line 
 of general and family groceries, as well as fruits in 
 their season, vegetables, canned goods, teas, coffees, 
 sugars and other articles. Two or three clerks are 
 employed, and delivery wagons are sent over the 
 city. Mr. T. W. Potter is a young man thoroughly 
 versed in the grocery business, which he learned 
 from his grandfather. Entering the store as a boy, 
 he in time purchased the business, and is the sole 
 proprietor. He is a genial, popular man, who 
 gives all his attention to business, and is content 
 to the see times prosperous. Like most Connecti- 
 cut business men he eschewed politics, and is in 
 daily attendance at his popular and well-patronized 
 store. 
 
 J. AV. Egjrleston & Co., China and Glass- 
 ware, No. 30 State Street. — One of the oldest estab- 
 lished houses in the city is the china and glassware 
 store of J. W. Eggleston & Co., which has occupied 
 the same quarters, No. 30 State street, for thirty- 
 seven years. The business was begun some forty 
 years ago, by Mr. Eggleston, in the store now 
 occupied by Mr. Benjamin as a dry goods house. 
 
 The salesroom is about 21 x 80 feet, and is stocked 
 with a great variety of goods, including American, 
 English, and French china ware, earthenware of all 
 kinds, glassware, lamps and decorated shades, 
 fancy goods in bisque and porcelain, statuettes, and 
 the thousand and one useful and ornamental articles 
 found in a modern china store. The show windows 
 of this concern are very attractive, filled with beau- 
 tiful objects of art, while the inside is like a 
 museum. Mr. J. W. Eggleston, the senior partner, 
 is sixty years of age, and has withdrawn from 
 active business. He was born in Guilford, Che- 
 nango County, New York, and besides establishing 
 this large and prosperous business, held the position, 
 of postmaster for over four years, under Abraham 
 Lincoln. He has taken an active part in politics, 
 being a prominent Republican ; was on town com- 
 mittee over twelve years. Mr. J. S. Bishop, the 
 genial, intelligent, and gentlemanly junior partner, 
 who has active charge of the business, is forty-one 
 years of age, and a native of the city. He went 
 into the business at sixteen years of age, and lias 
 followed it ever since — for the last twenty years he 
 has been a partner in the house. Mr. Bishop has 
 given his entire attention to business, never entering 
 politics, and in so doing he has placed himself upon 
 a solid financial foundation, and thus is independ- 
 ent of the dispensers of patronage. 
 
 A. H. Chappell, No. 69 State Street, General 
 Agent for Steinway, Weber, Gabler Pianofortes, 
 and the Smith American Organs. — Four years ago 
 Mr. A. H. Chappell opened the music store, now 
 occupied by him, at No. 69 State street, and 
 which is headquarters in this section for pianos, 
 organs, sheet music and musical merchandise 
 generally. Among the pianos kept in stock 
 are the Steinway, Weber, Chickering, Haines, 
 Fischer and Gabler, and in organs the Mason & 
 Hamlin, Smith American and Shoringer. Dur- 
 ing the summer months nearly one hundred 
 pianos of the different makes are rented to 
 the " cottagers," who, unable to bring their 
 "grands " with them, And that they need not be 
 without as fine instruments in their summer 
 cottages as they have in their palatial city resi- 
 dences. Mr. Chappell has also built up a fine 
 trade in musical instruments in the surrounding 
 towns, and his stock of sheet music embraces 
 all the latest vocal and instrumental pieces pub- 
 lished. 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Chappell opened a branch store 
 at No. 125 Main street, Norwich, which has 
 proved successful from the start, and the busi- 
 ness done at the two stores is the largest in the 
 musical line in Eastern Connecticut. Mr. Chap- 
 pell is an energetic, thorough-going business 
 man, and is highly esteemed by the reidents of 
 his own and neighboring towns. 
 
 Hamilton, Powers & Co,, Wholesale and 
 Retail dealers in Fish, foot of State Street. — 
 Prominent among the industries of New London, 
 and from which source much of its wealth has 
 been derived, are its fishing interests. In 1834, the 
 whale fishery and sealing business was an important 
 branch of commerce, about a million dollars, 
 upwards of thirty vessels and nine hundred men- 
 and boys being employed in its prosecution. 
 
294 
 
 Tir/i HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Since the discovery of petroleum the business has 
 ceased to he as profitable as formerly, and nearly 
 all the vessels employed in it have been withdrawn, 
 and whaling has long since ceased to be a source of 
 revenue to New Londoners. Hivcr and sound 
 fishing has always and will continue to be one of 
 the industries of the city, and many thousands of 
 pounds of fresh fish arc annually shipped from this 
 port to dealers all over the country. The oldest 
 and largest establishment engaged in this line of 
 business is that of Hamilton, Powers & Co., the 
 proprietor of which is Mr. George EL Powers, a 
 son of one of the original founders of tin; busi- 
 ness, which was conducted by William Hamilton 
 and Charles Minor and Charles Harris, long before 
 the year 1808, which is as far back as its owner- 
 ship can be traced, although in reality it is the 
 offspring of the old fish market destroyed by the 
 British when New London was burned. Hamilton 
 & Minor conducted the business until 1851, when 
 Mr. E. P. Powers purchased the interest of Charles 
 Minor. Hamilton & Powers continued the busi- 
 ness until about nineteen years ago, when Mr., 
 Powers' deatli occurred. Mr. William Smith then 
 became a member of the firm, but eleven years ago 
 disposed of his interest to the present proprietor. 
 Mr. Hamilton continuing in the business until 
 eight years ago, when Mr. Powers purchased his 
 interest, and became sole owner. The market is 
 very favorably situated both for receiving and 
 shipping fish, being just in the rear of the Union 
 depot, and between the two ferry landings. The 
 facilities for keeping fish fresh and ready for 
 market are unexcelled. The firm own several 
 Smacks, besides purchasing largely from other 
 fishermen to meet the demands of their large 
 trade, which is continually on the increase. 
 
 Mr. Powers has never sought political honors, 
 but is content to know that he is head of the lead- 
 ing establishment in his line, and has the esteem 
 and respect of all who are connected with him, 
 cither in business or social circles. 
 
 " The Day," Nos. 16 and 18 Main Street.— 
 This enterprising sprightly and able daily was 
 started July 2, 1881, as a three-cent paper, by 
 John A. Tibbits & Co. 
 
 On the 1st of December of that year the 
 " Day " Company was formed and published the 
 paper for about one month, still as a three-cent 
 daily ; but on the 3d January, 1882, the price 
 was lowered to one cent, which price was 
 retained until July, 1883. 
 
 During the latter period The Day reached 
 in its circulation every city, town and hamlet in 
 the State. Two editions were printed, the first 
 one sent out at 2.15 a. m. and was distributed up 
 the Connecticut river and in the Naugatuck val- 
 ley. 
 
 The second edition was more particularly for 
 home circulation. The average number of copies 
 sold was 11,500. 
 
 In July, 1883, it was 'thought best to raise the 
 price of the paper to two cents, for it was found 
 that so many persons had to be employed to take 
 care of its interests in the great number of 
 towns that it penetrated that the low price of 
 one cent was not sufficiently profitable. 
 
 The paper at two cents has fallen off in circu- 
 lation at the present writing to about 0,500, but 
 it has touched bottom at that and is now on the 
 upward bound. In October, 1881, they com- 
 menced a weekly paper called Tlie Week, first 
 at 91 per year, then reduced to fifty cents, its 
 present price. 
 
 On December 12, 1881, the Penny Press 
 an evening paper, was issued, but discontinued 
 on May 20, 1882. 
 
 This publishing company have the first type 
 perfecting web press ever used in New England, 
 and the third one over built. It has a capacity 
 of 10,000 per hour perfect sheets, both sides 
 printed, cut and laid flat. They pay more for 
 associated press news than any other paper in 
 the State, except the Hartford Courant, and as 
 much as is paid by that paper. About two tons 
 of paper are used per week. This company have 
 had great obstacles to overcome, but now are 
 well secured as to the future. They publish a 
 newspaper good in every respect. The editor, 
 Mr. John A. Tibbits, was born in Connecticut in 
 1843. He is now serving his second term as 
 collector of the port of New London, and is a 
 lawyer by profession. Mr. Tibbits is a man of 
 great energy and ability, and well fitted for his 
 position on this able sheet. The company is 
 fortunate in having the services of so able a man 
 for business manager as Mr. John McGinley, 
 with his excellent business qualifications, who is 
 attractive in person and agreeable in his man- 
 ners. They do a largo jobbing business, which 
 is on the increase — in fact, the whole establish- 
 ment reflects great credit upon its founders and 
 its patrons. 
 
 F. H. Chappell, Dealer in Coal, Main and 
 Water Streets. — The largest and oldest coal yard 
 in the city is now owned by P. IL Chappell, who 
 is the successor of the old house of F. H. &. W. S. 
 Chappell, one of the oldest and best-known firms in 
 the city. A retail branch of the house is situated 
 at No. 94 Bank street for the accommodation of 
 city custom, where from ten to twelve thousand 
 tons are annually disposed of. The main office and 
 yards of this house are in the northwestern part of 
 the city, and are so situated as to lie convenient to 
 the river and the New London and Northern Kail- 
 way. Mr. Chappell owns barges, which brings the 
 coal directly to the dock. It is taken from Hobo- 
 ken, Newburgh, and ports on the Hudson, and 
 brought by water to New London. Mr. Chappell 
 supplies the Northern Railway with coal, and has 
 customers all through the country in the vicinity 
 of New London. The amount handled annually 
 is in the vicinity of 100,000 tons. Mr. Chappell 
 is also treasurer of the Tow Boat Company. He 
 is a native of New London, and from his early days 
 has been engaged in the coal business, until now it 
 is the largest in the city. 
 
 W. II. Saxton, Fine Watches and Jewelry, 
 No. 75 State Street. — This gentleman has been 
 established at his present location since 1874, and 
 has one of the neatest representative establishments 
 in his line of business in New London. The store 
 is located at No. 95 State street, and is fifteen by 
 forty feet. The stock held is of a superior and 
 
I! FA' HCW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 295 
 
 •valuable quality of goods, consisting of watches, 
 clocks, jewelry, fine silver table ware, and a great 
 variety of gold and silver ornaments, chains, 
 charms, lockets, etc. Mr. Saxton is the only jew- 
 eler in the 'State, excepting the City of New 
 Haven, who has the standard time of the State from 
 the Yale College Observatory brought into his 
 establishment. Mr. Saxton is, at present, a member 
 of the common council, and is a highly respected 
 citizen and a prosperous merchant. 
 
 Hustace & Anderson, Watches and Jew- 
 elry, No. 25 Bank Street. — The house of Hustaco 
 & Anderson has been established over half a cen- 
 tury, and is the oldest house of the kind in the 
 city. The business was begun by Messrs. 
 Spencer & Hempsted. Mr. Spencer was the in- 
 ventor of the celebrated geometrical lathe, and 
 retired from the business after a few years, to 
 visit England. Mr. Hempsted subsequently 
 took in his sou as partner, when the house was 
 known as D. B. Hempsted & Son. Aftorwards 
 it became D. B. Hempsted, Jr., who sold out in 
 1881 to the present proprietors. The salesroom is 
 soino thirty feet square, and is lined from floor to 
 ceiling with show cases, with handsome counters 
 on three sides, filled with a largo variety of rich 
 and costly goods, such as fine watches, of Swiss, 
 English, and American make, chronometors, a 
 large assortment of clocks, jewelry, nautical in- 
 struments, charts, compasses, solid silver and 
 plated ware, the last of the well-known Kogers 
 & Smith make of Meriden. Experienced work- 
 men are employed to do all kinds of repairing. 
 Mr. A. F. Anderson, the partner of Mr. Hustace, 
 is a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and is a prac- 
 tical watchmaker. He superintends the repair- 
 ing department. Mr. J. L. Hustace is a grand- 
 sou of D. B. Hempsted, the founder of the 
 house, and comes legitimately by the business. 
 He was born in New York, but has been a resi- 
 dent of the city for many years, where he is uni- 
 versally known and respected. 
 
 Charles F. Stoll, Marble and Granite Yard, 
 Bank Street. — The largest marble and granite yard, 
 for monumental and building purposes, in the city, 
 is Charles F. Stoll's, just off of Bank street, and 
 extending to the river's edge. It covers a large 
 space of ground, and has occupied its present 
 position for a number of years. Between thirty- 
 four sind forty men arc employed, and the art 
 monumental work produced is shipped to all parts 
 of the country — Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin 
 and New York. The beautiful tomb erected in 
 , Greenwood cemetery, Brooklyn, for Mr.Whelan. the 
 contractor, was made by Mr. Stoll ; also the family 
 monument for Mr. J. N. Harris, in Cedar Grove 
 cemetery, New London, representing a heroic figure 
 of the angel Gabriel, cut in granite. 
 
 Mr. Stoll's establishment consists of an office and 
 modeling room, which is also used for fine stone 
 cutting ; a room devoted to steam polishing, where 
 also there is a steam lathe for turning granite 
 columns ; a blacksmith shop where men are con- 
 stantly kept at work repairing tools, and covered 
 yards for the stone cutters. A pier extends from 
 the rear of the works into the Thames river, to 
 which the granite is brought by ships from the 
 
 quarries in Groton, which are owned by Air. Stoll. 
 This granite is light in color, and remarkable for 
 its quality, which makes it eminently lit for monu- 
 mental and artistic purposes, but too costly for 
 building material. The grain is very fine, and it 
 is susceptible of a high polish. It is also used for 
 decorating buildings and the interior of churches. 
 The New Haven and New London railway crosses 
 Mr. Stoll's yards, enabling him to ship heavy work 
 to any part of the country directly from the yards. 
 Eight men arc constantly employed in the Groton 
 quarry getting out the rough granite. Mr. Stoll is 
 a native of Wurtcniberg, Germany. He came to 
 America in 1852, and for the greater part of the 
 time since has lived in New London, where he has 
 established a large and thriving business. He fre- 
 quently visits Europe, and keeps well informed in 
 all matters pertaining to monumental art work. 
 
 W. P. Benjamin & Co., Dry Goods, No. 80 
 State Street. — The large dry goods house of W. P. 
 Benjamin & Co. was established fifty years ago by 
 Mr. W. P. Benjamin, and may properly be con- 
 sidered the father of the dry-goods trade in this 
 city, since nearly all the men now engaged in that 
 business have served as clerks in this house. The 
 Hon. Geo. Gorham, clerk of the United States Sen- 
 ate, was once a clerk in this house. The present 
 partnership consists of his son, C. A. Benjamin, and 
 I*. B. Crocker, who were formerly clerks in the 
 same establishment. The store as it exists to day 
 is 110 feet deep by thirty feet wide, and is filled with 
 a general line of dry-goods and carpetings, includ- 
 ing silks, satins, dress goods, cottons, linens, 
 thread, buttons, repellants, rubber clothes, ladies' 
 and children's fine hosiery, Victoria lawns, dotted 
 muslins, underwear, parasols, sun umbrellas, rib- 
 bons, etc. This store is largely patronized by the 
 best trade in tho city. Mr. W. P. Benjamin was 
 born in Norwich, and was twenty years of age when 
 he came to this city. He has been in the business 
 ever since, and has a thorough knowledge of it in 
 all its branches. Besides holding a high and envi- 
 able position in the business world, he has served 
 in the lower house of the State legislature; has 
 been a member of the common council of the city, 
 has also held office of selectman, assessor, board of 
 relief, at different times, and for twenty years has 
 been a trustee of the State Reform School at Meri- 
 den. 
 
 F. II. Farinclee, Paints, Glass, Paper Hang- 
 ings, etc., No. 84 State Street. — The business now 
 conducted by Mr. F II. Parmelee, was established in 
 1850, by Carroll & Parmelee, and carried on by them 
 for a period of ten years, when Mr. Carroll with- 
 drew, and a copartnership was formed under the firm 
 name of F. II. & II.. A. Parmelee, which existed 
 for four years, Mr. II. A. Parmelee removing to 
 Meriden to take :i position tendered linn by the 
 Wilcox Silver Plating Co. For the past thirteen 
 years, Mr. Parmelee has labored arduously in 
 building up his business, and his efforts have not 
 been in vain. He occupies one of the finest stores 
 in the city, under the Crocker House, and carries a 
 large and fine slock of paints, glass, paper hang- 
 ings, fancy goods, chromos, engravings, artists' 
 materials, window shades and fixtures, cornices, 
 varnishes, brushes, looking glasses, sheet music 
 
296 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 and instruments, etc., and manufactures picture, 
 portrait, and looking glass frames, also has a corps 
 of men who attend to house and sign painting, and 
 paper hanging. 
 , He is also ticket agent for the Boston and 
 Albany, Pennsylvania, Erie and N. Y. Central rail- 
 roads, Levi ifc Alden's, and E. M. Jenkins' excursion 
 tourists' routes, and coast line and European steam- 
 ship companies, in which business he has been very 
 successful. Mr. Parmelee, although an active 
 business man, has found time to devote to the 
 advancement of the interests of his townsmen, and 
 is at present a member of the common council. 
 He is also strongly identified with the masonic 
 fraternity, having passed through all the degrees, 
 and is now Past Grand Commander of the State. 
 He is one of the representative business men of 
 New London, highly respected and esteemed in 
 both business and social circles. 
 
 Ralph S. Smith, Furniture Dealer, No. 29 
 State Street. — In 1854, the business now carried on 
 by Mr. Ralph S. Smith, was established on Bank 
 street by Messrs. Comstock & Smith. In 1865, the 
 firm moved to the present location. No. 29 State 
 street ; Mr. Comstock withdrew from the business 
 in 1868, since which time Mr. Smith has conducted 
 it alone with great ability, and the general appear- 
 ance of this extensive establishment is indicative of 
 the success which lias rewarded his efforts. The 
 neat three-story building is 24^ x 142 feet in size. 
 Every conceivable kind of furniture to suit the taste 
 and purse of rich or poor, in black walnut, cherry, 
 oak and pine, for parlor, chamber, library or 
 dining-room can be found in their warerooms. 
 Whether a purchaser or not, the visitor to this 
 establishment meets with courteous treatment by 
 the proprietor and his gentlemanly assistants, and 
 carries away with him a pleasant recollection of his 
 call. Mr. Smith's standing in the mercantile 
 world is the best, and he enjoys the esteem and 
 hearty good will of all who know him. 
 
 Frederick Stein, Bookseller, State Street. — 
 The old and well-known book store of Mr. Fred- 
 erick fitein was originally on Bank street, and lias 
 been established since 1858. It was started by Mr. 
 Simeon Smith, who sold out to Mr. Stein. The 
 store is one of the oldest and best known in 
 the city, and occupies a room 70x90 feet, 
 which is filled with shelves, book-cases and 
 counters, and is literally packed with avast variety 
 of books, stationery, fancy articles, and games. 
 Mr. Stein is also a blank book manufacturer and 
 bookbinder, and he keeps a large stock of school 
 books, which are sold as low as any in the city. 
 Mr. Stein is a native of Prussia, but came to this 
 country when quite young. .He was for many years 
 with Warden & Co., in Pittsfield, Mass., where he 
 became thoroughly well informed in everything 
 pertaining to books. Since coming to this city he 
 has given his whole attention to business, and has 
 built up a line trade and extended reputation. 
 
 " The New London Telegram."— A sketch 
 of this paper was not received in time for pub- 
 lication in this place. It is an evening paper, 
 has a good circulation, and is the oldest daily in 
 the city. 
 
 W. L. Williams & Co., Boot and Shoe 
 Store, No. 3 Bank Street — For twenty years past 
 the " Old Town Corner," on State and Bank streets, 
 has contained a shoe store, under various firm 
 names, until to day it is widely known throughout 
 the city, and is a resort for the fashionable people 
 who in such large numbers make New London a 
 fashionable summer resort. The store was started 
 by Messrs. Frink & Ely, who were succeeded by 
 Ely & Stanton, after which the house was conducted 
 alone by Mr. Henry Stanton, until about a year 
 ago, when he sold out to Messrs. W. L. Williams 
 & Co. The salesroom is 40 x 20 feet, and stocked 
 with a choice line of boots and shoes, a specialty 
 being made of tine boots and shoes for gentlemen. 
 Work by the best manufacturers is kept on hand, 
 as well as brushes, blacking, and all those things 
 usually found in a shoe store. A full line of base 
 ball and croquet canvas shoes is kept. Mr. W. L. 
 Williams was born in Groton, thirty-eight years 
 ago. For five years he was in the United States 
 Army, a member of the Seventh Cavalry, under 
 Gen. Custer. He resigned from the service in 
 1875, having seen much of life on the plains, and 
 in fighting the Indians. Since this time he has 
 devoted himself to business, aud has built up a trade 
 on his own account, as well as continued the reputa- 
 tion of the house. 
 
 MYSTIC. 
 
 The collection of villages here is known to the 
 outside world collectively as Mystic. The name of 
 the depot at Mystic Bridge is Mystic. The Mystic 
 river flows through and divides the twin villages — 
 the post-village of Mystic River, in the town of 
 Groton, from the post-village of Mystic Bridge, in 
 the town of Stonington. The river is also the 
 boundary line between the towns of Groton and 
 Stonington. About two miles north is the orig- 
 inal and older village of Mystic, or sometimes still 
 so-called "Head of the River," or "Upper Mys- 
 tic," to distinguish it from the villages of Mystic 
 River and Mystic Bridge. The railroad station, as 
 above mentioned, which is called Mystic, is nine 
 and one-half miles east from New London, Conn., 
 fifty-two and three-quarters miles west from Provi- 
 dence, R. I., sixty-one and one-fourth miles east from 
 New Haven, and one hundred and fifty-five miles 
 from New York city. The United States census of 
 1880 gave the population of the above-named vil- 
 lages as follows: Mystic, 384 ; Mystic Bridge, 
 910; Mystic River, 1,169. A suburb of Mystic 
 River is West Mystic, which has a depot by 
 that name, situated about a quarter of a mile 
 west from Mystic station. A suburb of Mystic 
 Bridge is Greenniairville, established by the Green- 
 man Brothers, a Sabbatarian community, with one 
 woolen mill. Up to within a few years these vil- 
 lages were largely dependent upon ship-building 
 and other maritime interests for their prosperity, 
 and have been efficient nurseries for the production 
 of shipowners and an able body of seamen. ■ A 
 score or more of ex-sea captains reside here, who 
 have commanded vessels sailing to all quarters of 
 the globe. The Mallory family are natives of Mys- 
 tic Bridge, the father of whom, Mr. Charles Mal- 
 lory, was a pioneer in ship building here, and did 
 much, with others, to establish a reputation for 
 
REVIEW OF TIIE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 297 
 
 Mystic as a ship building port, and, with his son, situated on one of the great through lines of rail- 
 
 OharleB Henry Mallory, founded the popular road, and on the hanks of a tidal river, navigable 
 
 " Mallory Line" of steamers from New York to Ity the largest vessels, and only three miles from the 
 
 Texas and Florida. Mr. Charles Mallory died in Sound, thus affording facilities for transportation 
 
 the year 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-six of coal, iron and heavy freight by water. A num- 
 
 years. In Mystic Bridge is a small square, called her of new business projects are already talked of, 
 
 Mallory Square, the land donated to the town by and one is to be started next season — a large fac- 
 
 Mr. Charles Mallory, in the centre of which is a tory for the manufacture of fish ing seines and like 
 
 soldiers' monument, which was erected at the ex- work. 
 
 pense of Mrs. Chas. EL Mallory, and presented to The Mystic Presx by L. Jr. Guernsey, Esq., is the 
 
 the town forever, to perpetuate the memory of the only newspaper printed and published in the Mys- 
 
 brave sons of Mystic who offered their lives tic villages. A publisher in a neighboring village 
 
 for their country in the war of the Rebellion sends a part of his edition here headed the Mystic 
 
 1801-05. It is of granite, with suitable inscriptions, Journal. 
 
 surmounted by a statue of a soldier at parade rest, Among the manufacturing establishments arc the 
 
 the whole inclosed by a granite curbing with iron Standard Machinery Company, the woolen mills 
 
 railing, (see engraving loaned the publishers by of the Greenman Manufacturing Company and 
 
 proprietor of Mystic I'resn). The monument was Rawitser Bros. 
 
 dedicated June 18, 1883, in presence of the donor For a description of most of the representative 
 
 and family; Senator Joseph H. Ilawley who was industrial and mercantile establishments the reader 
 
 the orator of the day; Gov. Thos. M. Waller, Chap- is referred to the following list : 
 
 lain; Fred'k Denison poet; other distinguished Mystic Valley Institute, Captain John K. 
 
 gentlemen, and a large concourso of grateful citi- Bucklyn, Prop.— The growth of this excellent in- 
 
 stitution of learning has been sure and steady since 
 its commencement, fifteen years ago. At that timo 
 one room was considered sufficient for the demands 
 of the school. At the present time it occupies the 
 most part of a square, in which is delightfully 
 situated a large house, surrounded by beautiful 
 grounds, with ample room and facilities for the 
 education of fifty students. This is not only a 
 boarding but a day school, scholars attending who 
 reside in New London, Stonington and other towns 
 nearby, going and coming on the cars, the depot 
 of which is 300 yards away. The school was char- 
 tered by the legislature of Connecticut in 1881. A 
 specialty is made of the education of those persons 
 who have outgrown the graded or public schools. 
 Encouragement is given to those who have not the 
 means to pay for an education by offering them 
 employment in the house and grounds, and on the 
 farm connected with the school. Capt. J. K. Buck- 
 
 THE soldiers' monument, mystic, conn. lyn was born near Providence, H. I., forty-nine years 
 
 ago. He graduated from Brown University in the 
 
 zens. Mystic Bridge and Mystic River have each a class of '01, and during the war was in command 
 
 national bank, and the hitter a savings bank, of Battery E., Rhode Island light artillery, also on 
 
 Mystic Bridge has three churches, Congregational the artillery staff of the sixth corps, Army of the 
 
 Methodist and Roman Catholic. Greenmanville, Potomac. He was wounded at Gettysburg by a 
 
 one Seventh-day Baptist or Sabbatarian. Mystic spherical case-shot through the body ; he was also 
 
 River has a Baptist and an Episcopal church. Each wounded at Fredericksburg in the head. He is a 
 
 village has a graded school. "Mystic" the upper member of the Union Baptist church, where he has 
 
 village, has a woolen mill, a national bank, several been a superintendent of the Sunday school for 
 
 stores and two churches, Baptist and Methodist, many years. Although not an ordained minister 
 
 The streets of these villages are lined with shade he preaches in more than one-half of the pulpits on 
 
 trees and the homes of the people are picturesquely sabbaths for neighboring churches, and is a gospel 
 
 situated. temperance worker of prominence. The Neio lon- 
 
 Of late years it has become quite a noted summer don Telegram in a notice of this school and its 
 
 resort, being only a short distance from Fisher's founder, says : 
 
 Island Sound, and of easy access to the traveling "In 1808, J. K. Bucklyn, a graduate of Brown 
 
 public. University and an ex-artillery captain in our late 
 
 The drives and scenery hereabouts arc romantic war, founded the Mystic Valley Institute in Mystic 
 in the extreme, gaining for this locality the appclla- Bridge, Conn. His purpose was to build up a good 
 tion of the "Gem of New England." When the school, not necessarily a large one. Many years of 
 attractions of this favored spot are generally known, labor in the schools of this and other States had 
 it will be a noted summer resort. Strangers should given him experience in the profession, and be- 
 not fail to visit Elm Grove Cemetery, naturally lieving that a school of a high order was needed in 
 one of the most romantic in New England. this valley, he attempted to supply theneed. Thesuc- 
 
 The Mystic villages also offer desirable openings cess of the Mystic Valley Institute warrants the con- 
 
 for almost any kind of business enterprise, being elusion that his plans were well formed, and that his 
 
398 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 labors were appreciated. Believing that the great 
 mass of students must be educated in the public 
 school he thought that certain special classes re- 
 quired other advantages, viz : The dull student 
 who could not keep up with his class and was 
 ready to give up in despair; the bright student 
 who could not profitably wait for the slow mill of 
 our good graded schools; the young men and 
 women whose early education had been neglected ; 
 boys and girls whose parents wished to keep them 
 continually under the teacher's care ; teachers who 
 wish to take a brief review of their books in order 
 to enter upon their work with reasonable hope of 
 success ; and finally all who desired special train- 
 ing in any study. That these classes of students 
 have been greatly aided by this school is shown by 
 the flattering testimonials from those who have 
 saved one or two years in their college preparation, 
 or who have mastered studies which they had given 
 up as unconquerable. The patronage of the Insti- 
 tute has steadily increased, and many students re- 
 turning after years of absence say they feel that 
 they are returning home. About eight hundred 
 students have gone out of this school and now 
 occupy leading positions in the learned professions 
 and in business firms." 
 
 Evidently the work of Capt. Bucklyn is a labor 
 of love rather than of great pecuniary reward, and 
 he has lived to see his school grow from a small 
 beginning to one of the most important educational 
 institutions in the State, the influence of which can 
 never be fully estimated. At the last meeting of 
 the corporation an endowment fund was com- 
 menced, which has been invested in the savings 
 banks of Connecticut. Three excellent teachers 
 are now employed. 
 
 The school house is situated one-eighth of a mile 
 from the house on the shore where are kept boats 
 and bathing houses for the accommodation of the 
 school. Graduates of this Institute are now 
 studying in Yale College, Brown University, Boston 
 University and other colleges. 
 
 First Nat tonal Bank of Mystic Bridge. 
 
 — The financial condition of the banks of a village 
 or city represent the true status in a financial way 
 of its citizens. Their officers and directors are sup- 
 posed to be the solid men of the community and 
 watchful of its welfare. This bank is the only one 
 in Mystic Bridge, and was started by Mr. Charles 
 Mallory and his four sons, Charles II. Mallory, 
 David D. Mallory, George W. Mallory, and Benj. 
 E. Mallory, who constituted the original directors 
 and stockholders, and was incorporated in Feb- 
 ruary, 1864, with a capital of $100,000, which was 
 increased immediately after commencement of 
 business to $150,000, theadditional amount of stock 
 taken by other business men of the place. 
 
 The present officers are. President, Thos. 8. 
 Greenman ; Cashier, Elias P. Randall ; Directors, 
 Thos. S. Greenman, Elias P. Randall, John E. 
 Williams, Gordon Gates and Geo. W. Mallory. 
 The bank is situated in Mallory's block, and the 
 present capital is $150,000. It is one of the sound 
 business institutions of the State. 
 
 D. 1>. Mallory, Proprietor Lantern Hill Silex 
 Works.— To the inexperienced or casual observer 
 the name sand mill, as the natives call it, excites 
 the curiosity, but when one goes farther, and ascer- 
 
 tains that in this case the word sand means silex, 
 a world of information is opened of which silex is 
 the text. Of the thousands who pass Mystic on the 
 cars, but a few know that the Lantern Hill Silex 
 Works, and the only decomposed silex quarry in 
 America, are situated near here — tho first within 
 sight, near the track, on the right going towards 
 New London ; the other about six miles north, in 
 the town of North Stonington ; both owned and 
 controlled by Mr. David D. Mallory, a native resi- 
 dent of Mystic Bridge. While American ingenuity 
 and resources have led the world in the develop- 
 ment of the manufacturing arts, and have produced 
 some of the most startling results, the skill and en- 
 terprise of our manufacturers has also enabled them 
 to compete With the world in trades which were old 
 when this continent was unknown. This state- 
 ment holds true with regard to almost every class 
 of goods which we wore formerly obliged to im- 
 port from Europe, and in no class of manufactures 
 is it more noticeable than in the manufacture of 
 porcelain and white granite ware, in which the use 
 of pure silex is a very important factor. Nature, 
 from her virgin recesses, gives up the valuable ele- 
 ments — the component parts which go to produce 
 these results. Nowhere is this fact more strikingly 
 illustrated than in North Stonington, six miles 
 north of Mystic, where is located the Lantern Hill 
 Silex Quarry above mentioned. This quarry is one 
 and one-eighth miles in length, one quarter of a 
 mile wide, and three hundred feet high. It is esti- 
 mated to contain forty million tons of pure decom- 
 posed silex, the only quarry of the kind in this 
 country. The quartz is quarried like gravel, and is 
 taken by teams to the mills, which are situated as 
 above mentioned, near the Mystic depot. This 
 business has been conducted about ten years, the 
 last five by the present proprietor. The mills have 
 nine arastas, and a capacity of four thousand tons 
 of pure pulverized silex per annum, which is used 
 in the manufacture of porcelain, white granite 
 ware, paints, mineral soaps, wood filling, etc. 
 This silex has a decided advantage over others, as 
 they have to quarry with the use of powder, then 
 calcine, and reduce it in Chilian mills to bring it to 
 the necessary consistency for the final pulverizing. 
 The silex of this establishment is taken directly 
 from the quarry without calcining or crushing it. 
 Nature has been doing the work for centuries, and 
 in a much better way, which man, with other silex 
 quarries, attempts to do in a few days ; and as it is 
 a well known axiom that nature never makes a mis- 
 take, it must be true with the production of silex at 
 this quarry. The works.cover about one and one- 
 half acres of ground, and embrace several build- 
 ings, the two largest being 40 x 80 and 50 x 100 feet 
 respectively. They are situated on the water front, 
 where vessels of large capacity can come directly to 
 the wharves. The number of people employed is 
 about thirty. One of the special uses for which 
 this silex is used, is for filling the grain of wood 
 preparatory to being varnished. The analysis given 
 this silex by Prof. E. L. Seymour is as follows : 
 
 Silica 948.00 
 
 Potash 23.32 
 
 Soda 10.51 
 
 Water 
 
 And Prof. W. M. Habershaw, analyst to the chemical 
 trade of New York, says it is " free from carbonate 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 and sulphate of lime, and in the proper physical 
 condition for the various purposes for which it is 
 employed in the Arts." 
 
 Mr. D. 1). Mallory, the proprietor, is a native of 
 Mystic Bridge, and sixty-one years of age. lie is 
 a son of Mr. Charles Mallory, who was in his day 
 a noted shipbuilder here, largely identified with 
 the interests of Mystic Bridge and Mystic River, 
 and was the founder of the Mallory line of steamers 
 sailing from New York for Texas and Florida. Ho 
 died in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty six 
 years. The son, Mr. D. D. Mallory, was educated 
 at Colchester Academy, and previous to being 
 manager and proprietor of this business, was a well- 
 known merchant in his native town. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Church, and has been a mem- 
 ber of the Connecticut legislature. 
 
 Mystic Twine Co., Proprietors, L. Barber 
 & Co. — Of the manufacturing establishments 
 which go to make up Mystic's reputation for 
 producing reliable goods, the Mystic Twine Co. 
 ranks among the first. The buildings of the 
 company are romantically situated on the river 
 bank just above Greenmanvillo, a suburb of 
 Mystic Bridge. The business was established 
 by Mr. Leander Barber in 1879, and so continued 
 till January 1, 1883, when the style was changed to 
 L. Barber & Co. The main building is 50 x 22 
 feet, two stories in height, with an addition 24 x 
 20, also two stories. In the rear is a rope walk, 
 500 feet long,and twenty feet wide, which will soon 
 bo made thirty-three feet wide. The goods made 
 consist of hard, medium, and soft-laid cord cotton 
 seine twines, cotton and linen fishing lines, cot- 
 ton trot lines, and staging, cotton rope, cod lines, 
 clothes lines and sash cords, also macraine lace 
 twine, etc. The lines and twines made here are 
 known as the " superior brand." The machines 
 for hanking and winding are marvels in their 
 way, and by their use tho proprietors are enabled 
 to wind and hank as well as manufacture about 
 twelve times as much as would otherwise be done 
 by hand. The outfit of machinery in this mill is 
 first-class in every particular. Mr. Barber was 
 born in Westerly in 1844, and has resided in 
 Mystic Bridge three years. He was formerly a 
 machinist and worked at that trade for sixteen 
 years. The Mystic Twine Co. has a reputation 
 with the trade for turning out first-class lines and 
 twines, which rank among the best wherever sold. 
 
 Denison & Williams, Dealers in Boots, 
 Shoes, Hats, etc., Exchange Building. — This estab- 
 lishment dates back to the time whet) a Mrs. 
 George conducted business on this the most promi- 
 nent business corner in town. Colby & Williams 
 succeeded Mrs. George, and fifteen years ago the 
 present firm of Denison it Williams took possession. 
 The store is 25 x 30 feet in area, and is heavily 
 stocked with boots, shoes, hats, caps and gent's 
 furnishing goods, a specialty being made of ladies', 
 misses' and children's fine shoes. This firm do a 
 large trade with this and the surrounding villages. 
 Mr. Denison was born in Warren, Bradford Co., 
 Pa., but has lived in this community since a boy. 
 He is fifty-three years of age, and in early life was 
 a sailor and ship owner. Of late years he has been 
 in the mercantile business. He is a Mason, a mem- 
 
 ber of the Union Baptist church, and a valuable 
 citizen. 
 
 Mr. Ebcn A. Williams is a native of Groton, 
 Conn., and forty years of age. He was educated 
 at a school in Providence, H. L, and later learned 
 the machinist trade. He is a II. A. mason and a 
 good citizen. 
 
 The house of Denison & Williams ranks among 
 the first in Mystic Bridge, and its number of patrons 
 is not exceeded by any house in this place. 
 
 H. Ii. Noyes & Co., Druggists, Mallory's 
 Block.— This drug store, the only one in Mystic 
 Bridge, was established about twenty-five years 
 ago by Messrs. Potter & Champlin, who were 
 also druggists in Westerly, K. I. 
 
 After a few years, the business was sold to the 
 present proprietors, Messrs. II. B. Noyes & P. M. 
 Manning, under the present firm name, who have 
 continued as such since November, 1805. 
 
 The store is 25 x 40 feet in area, and is situated 
 in Mallory's block, diagonally across from tho 
 Hoxie House. It is and has been in charge of 
 Mr. James W. Waterman, for seventeen years. Ho 
 is a thorough pharmacist, and successful business 
 manager for the firm. Mr. II. B. Noyes belongs to 
 the well-known family of that name, and is cashier 
 of the Mystic River National Bank. Mr. F. M. 
 Manning, the other partner, is president of tho 
 same bank. Both manager and proprietors are 
 among the first in social and business circles in 
 Mystic Bridge and Mystic River. 
 
 William 15. Wheeler, Jr., Dealer in Flour, 
 Grain, Groceries, Dry Goods, etc., Water Street. 
 — The Wheeler family have long been prominent 
 in the mercantile circles of Mystic Kiver. The 
 business of which we write was established in 
 1867 by Messrs. W. E. Wheeler & Son, which 
 was continued till 1876, when the father retired, 
 and the son, Mr. William E. Wheeler, Jr., suc- 
 ceeded to tho business. 
 
 The store is 30 x 50 feet in area and two stories 
 in height. In addition to this he has store- 
 houses for flour and grain, in which he does a 
 very large business. He was born in Mystic 
 Kiver forty-one years ago, and was educated at 
 the Mystic Academy, and has always been in 
 this business, first as a clerk, then partner, and 
 now proprietor. He is a Mason, and was a mem- 
 ber of the Twentv-first Connecticut Regiment 
 during the war. Earnest and enterprising, with 
 ample capital, ho is one of the successful men of 
 Mystic River. 
 
 Chester \Y. K el ley, Watches and Jewelry, 
 Mallory's Block. — The stranger in Mystic Bridge 
 and Mystic River is attracted by the numerous 
 stores which line its principal street, and is sur- 
 prised at their number and metropolitan apjjear- 
 ance. The store of Mr. Chester W. Kelley does 
 much towards forming these impressions. It is 
 situated in the Mallory block, diagonally across 
 from the Hoxie house' in Mystic Bridge, and is 
 the principal jewelry store in the village. It is 
 stocked with watches, jewelry, silver and plated 
 ware, and was established by the present pro- 
 prietor in 1879. The central office of the South- 
 
300 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 ern New England Telegraph Company, Mystic 
 Division, is in this store, and Mr. Kelley acts as 
 manager for the same. He was born in Port- 
 chester, New York, twenty-six years ago, and 
 has been in Mystic Bridge four years. He 
 learned his business from his father Mr. W. T. 
 Kelley, who is a prominent jeweler in that en- 
 terprising place. Mr. Kelley, Jr., is a member 
 of the Episcopal Church, and a young man of 
 rare promise and successful business methods. 
 
 Isaac 1). Holmes, Coal Dealer.— The only 
 coal dealer in Mystic Bridge is Mr. Isaac T. Holmes, 
 ■whose business was established l>y him about forty 
 years ago. Tne capacity of his sheds, which are 
 situated directly on the river front, is about 1,500 
 tons. About 300 feet of wharves extend along the 
 river, which are controlled by Mr. Holmes. Ho 
 ■was born in Mystic Bridge about seventy years ago, 
 and in early life went to sea, after which he returned 
 to his native place and established this business. 
 He is one of the oldest residents of the village, a 
 director in the Mystic River National Bank, and 
 has built up a life-long reputation for honesty and 
 probity which the young business man would do 
 well to emulate. 
 
 Samuel S. Brown, Hardware, Groceries, 
 ■Crockery and Ship Chandlery, Exchange Building. 
 — One of the best known business men in Mystic 
 Bridge is Mr. Samuel S. Brown, whose business 
 •was established by Messrs. C. A. Jones & Co., many 
 years ago. The successors to C. A. Jones & Co. 
 were Hoxie & Brown in 1868, and S. S. Brown in 
 1871. The store is 30 x 65 feet in area and three 
 ■clerks are employed. Mr. Brown is a native of 
 North Stonington, Conn., and about forty-two 
 years of age. He was educated at Greenwich, R. I., 
 and was a farmer's boy. A large stock of hard- 
 ware, groceries, ship chandlery, etc., is kept on 
 hand to supply one of the largest trades in this 
 vicinity. In addition to this business he is largely 
 interested in the manufacture of fish oil, which is 
 one of the important industries here. He is a 
 Mason, a member of the Congregational Church, 
 and in public life has been a selectman in the town 
 government. Possessed of sound judgment and 
 good business qualities, he is a successful merchant 
 ■and a desirable acquisition to the social and busi- 
 ness circles of the village. 
 
 Thomas W. Noyes, Meat Market, Main St., 
 opposite Hoxie House. — This meat market is one 
 of the oldest in Mystic Bridge. It is about thirty 
 feet square and is situated in the business centre of 
 Mystic Bridge, directly opposite the Hoxie House. 
 All kinds of meat, poultry and game is supplied 
 here. One meat wagon and two people arc kept 
 employed. Mr. Noyes belongs to the well-known 
 family by that name, and was born in the town of 
 Stonington about fifty-eight years ago. In early 
 life he was a carpenter by trade, but for the past 
 twenty-five years has been a prominent market man 
 in this village. He represented the town of Groton 
 In the State legislature, sessions of 1877 and 1878, 
 and lias acted as selectman of the town for six years. 
 
 He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Con- 
 gregational church, and is a prominent business man. 
 
 E. Jackson, Merchant Tailor and Clothier. — 
 The oldest merchant tailor, clothier, and gent's 
 furnisher in Mystic Bridge and vicinity, is the gen- 
 tleman whose name heads the title line of this 
 sketch, whose store is situated in the Hoxie 
 House Block, and on the most prominent business 
 corner in the village, where he has enjoyed an un- 
 interrupted career of success for twenty-two or 
 more years. 
 
 The store is stocked with a large assortment of 
 men's, boys', youths' and children's ready-made 
 clothing and gent's furnishing goods. In addition 
 to the above, Mr. Jackson carries a tine selection of 
 piece goods, both domestic and imported, which lie 
 makes up into fashionable garments for the sterner 
 sex. Contrary to many clothiers, Mr. Jackson is a 
 practical cutter, and enjoys the distinction of being 
 one of the best in the State. He learned his trade 
 of his father, Mr. Isaac Jackson, in Prussia, where 
 he was born in 1 824. The more congenial atmos- 
 phere of this country enticed him to America in 
 1847, where he was a cutter, first in New York, and 
 next in Norwich, after which he established him- 
 self in business on this site thirty-four years ago. 
 
 At that time, the building which stood where the 
 Hoxie House now stands, was known as Andrews' 
 Hotel, and in it Mr. Jackson had his store for some 
 years. He then moved across the bridge to Mystic 
 River, where he did business for six years in what 
 was known as Wolf's building, and returned to his 
 first love after the Hoxie House was built, as above 
 mentioned, about twenty-two years ago, where he 
 has been a " fixture" ever since, amassing a compe- 
 tency and building up a trade the largest of its 
 class in this vicinity. 
 
 When he embarked in business, Mr. D. D. Mal- 
 lory and Mr. Asa Tifft were identified with the 
 clothing trade; the latter is deceased, and the for- 
 mer is in other business. Mr. Jackson alone re- 
 mains the oldest in his line. He is a member of 
 the chapter and council in the Masonic fraternity, 
 and is one of the town's most respected citizens. 
 During his long business career it is something re- 
 markable and exceptional to relate that lie never 
 was on the witness stand, never sued a person or 
 was sued, facts of which he well may be justly 
 proud, and are factors which go far towards mak- 
 ing his reputation as one of the oldest and most 
 respected citizens in the community. 
 
 The Hoxie House, Ira C. Hoxie Prop. — 
 Hotels, like newspapers, very generally accurately 
 represent the community in which they are located. 
 The best business men arc generally called to con- 
 duct them, and in the language of the street, "He 
 knows how to keep a hotel " has a forcible and 
 practical meaning. The same expression can truth- 
 fully be applied to Mr. Ira C. Hoxie, the proprie- 
 tor of the Hoxie House in Mystic Bridge. This 
 hotel was erected about twenty-one years ago, by 
 Mr. Benj. F. Hoxie, the father of the proprietor, 
 after whom it was named. The building is built of 
 wood, is tastefully painted with different shades of 
 olive green, is three stories in height, and contains 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 301 
 
 thirty rooms. The location is particularly dcsir- office, also issues domestic and foreign money orders, 
 able for a hotel, being in the immediate centre of and is situated on the east side of the Mystic river 
 business. An air of comfort surrounds the house, in the town of Stonington, Mystic river on the west 
 which attracts the best class of travelers. The side in the town of Groton. The post-office of 
 post-office is situated in the building as well as a Mystic Bridge, which it is called, is located in the 
 hairdresser, while in the yard is a first-class livery lloxie House and as is customary with post offices, 
 stable. Mr. Ira C. lloxie is a native of Mystic it is in the centre of business and easy of access to 
 Bridge, where he was born in 1840. He was the general public. The business of stationer was 
 educated at the (Junker College in Providence, R. established nineteen years ago when Mr. Rathbun 
 I., and like many of the young men of the village, became postmaster. He was born in Mystic River 
 w»s a rover of the seas. He has kept the lloxie forty-three years ago and in early life was a fisher- 
 house for six years, and is one of the most popular man and during the war was a member of the 
 hosts in New England. His father, Mr. Benj. F. Second and Eighth Connecticut Regiments, serving 
 Hoxie, still lives, an old resident of the village, in the latter as first lieutenant. He was twice 
 seventy-five years of age. He is one of the principal wounded in front of Richmond, is a member of the 
 real estate owners, and during his long and event- Union Baptist Church, a Mason, a very popular 
 ful life has been largely identified with the busi- man, and particularly appreciated for his uniform 
 ncss interests of Mystic Bridge, a position which is courtesy in his official position as well as in private 
 now being occupied by his son. life. 
 
 THE HOXIE HOUSE, MY 
 
 H. C. Bridgham, Watchmaker and Jeweler, 
 Mallory's Block (up stairs). — This house was estab- 
 lished in Norwich, Conn., forty-five years ago as 
 Bridgham & Huntington. Later Mr. Bridgham 
 moved to New London, Conn. Mr. Bridgham 
 established the first jewelry store in Mystic Bridge 
 over twenty years ago. In 1804 he was burned out 
 and in 1880 the fire fiend again destroyed his business 
 place and he was obliged to move up stairs and has 
 not since located on the ground floor. 
 
 He was born in Middletown, Conn., in 1811, and 
 is therefore about seventy-two years of age. Few 
 men of his age are in active business to-day, par- 
 ticularly as a watchmaker, and few of his genera- 
 tion are left who are his patrons. The world 
 changes, and no better is this illustrated than with 
 the original customers of Mr. Bridgham. They are 
 mostly dead, but the children and grandchildren 
 follow in their footsteps as his patrons and the 
 result is a large share of the public patronage, which 
 he richly deserves. 
 
 J. Aldcn Rntlthmi, Postmaster and Stationer. 
 — In this community there arc three post offices. 
 Mystic, Mystic Bridge and Mystic River. The lat- 
 ter two are " within a stone's throw of each other. " 
 The Mystic Bridge post-office is a third class 
 
 Thomas E. Packer, Insurance and Real Es- 
 tate, Mallory's Block. — This insurance and real 
 estate agency is the oldest of its class in this 
 vicinity. It was established many years ago by 
 Mr. C. H. Denison, then Denison & Packer con- 
 ducted it, which linn gave way to Denison, Packer 
 & Co. by the admission of Mr. W. H. Potter. 
 Twelve years since Mr. Thos. E. Packer became 
 sole proprietor, and has so continued to the present 
 year. He represents the iEtna, Phoenix, and Ori- 
 ent, of Hartford : the Home, of New York ; North 
 American, of Philadelphia ; Royal, of Liverpool; 
 Fire Association, of Philadelphia ; City, of Lon- 
 don; Franklin, of Philadelphia; Howard, of New 
 York ; Providence Washington, of Providence ; 
 People's, of Middletown; Springfield Fire and 
 Marine, North British and Mercantile, of England ; 
 State of Pennsylvania, of Philadelphia ; Travelers, 
 of Hartford ; John Hancock Life, of Boston, and 
 others. 
 
 Mr. Packer was born in Mystic River, April 11, 
 1827. He was for several years a teacher, part of 
 the time in Brandon College, Brandon, Miss. He 
 is a Mason, a member of the Baptist Church, and 
 one of the representative men of this community. 
 
 Thomas Brooks, dealer in Dry Goods, Car- 
 pets, Paper hangings, etc., Mallory's Block. — Prob- 
 
302 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 ably the oldest dry goods and carpet house in either 
 Mystic Bridge or Mystic River is the one now under 
 review. It was established about forty years ago 
 by Mr. D. D. Mallory, who was succeeded by 
 Brooks & Holmes in 1865. and they were succeeded 
 in 187G by Mr. Brooks. The store is 25 x 05 feet in 
 area, and is filled with dry goods, carpets, paper 
 hangings, etc. Mr. Brooks was born in 1830 
 in Mystic Bridge and in early life was a sail maker 
 by trade, later a clerk for Mr. D. D. Mallory, and 
 has been either a clerk or proprietor here for many 
 years. In a long and busy career in business life a 
 man like Mr. Brooks has a large following as a dry 
 goods merchant. His trade extends to the sur- 
 rounding towns and to distant villages. 
 
 He is a Mason, a member of the Union Baptist 
 Church and is regarded as one of the most solid 
 merchants here, and is universally respected. 
 
 John Forsyth, Dealer in Groceries, Pro- 
 visions, Fruits, etc., Mallory's Block. — The 
 grocery store of Mr. Forsyth is one of the most 
 central in the village. Situated directly oppo- 
 site the Hoxie House, and near the junction of 
 two streets, it commands a position which no 
 other grocery store in the village does. He 
 deals in groceries, provisions, fruits, confection- 
 ery, and is one of the prominent grocers here, 
 where he has been established several years. He 
 at one time was a ship builder in this place. He 
 was also engaged during the late civil war as 
 assistant superintendent in the construction of 
 two iron monitors for the Government at Cincin- 
 nati, viz., the "Catawba" and " Oneota, which 
 were subsequently sold to the Peruvian Govern- 
 ment. The store he occupies is 18 x 60 feet 
 in area. 
 
 Mr. Forsyth was born in Mystic Bridge forty- 
 seven years ago, and in early life learned the 
 trade of a ship carpenter. In 1874 Mr. Forsyth 
 represented the town of Stonington in the State 
 legislature. He was also one of the selectmen of 
 the town in 1877 and 1878. 
 
 I. W. Denison & Co. (Frederick Denison), 
 Hardware, Groceries, Agricultural Implements, 
 Etc. — This old and reliable house dates as far 
 back as 1848, when Messrs. I. W. Denison, 
 Joseph Cottrell & Geo. W. Ashbey commenced 
 business at Mystic Bridge. In 1862 they re- 
 moved to the present building, under the firm 
 name of I. W. Denison & Co. Of the trio only 
 Mr. Denison remains alive. His next partner was 
 a brother, Mr. Daniel W. Denison, who so contin- 
 ued till his death in 1877, when Frederick, a son 
 of I. W., became a partner, and has so remained. 
 During all these yearsthe firm name has continued 
 as originally started thirty -five years ago. The 
 store is situated on West Main street, is 30 x 70 
 feet in area and two and a half stories in height, 
 with a fine cellar. Two large storehouses and a 
 powder house are also required for the demands 
 of the business. Hardware, groceries, provis- 
 ions, agricultural implements, cutlery, fertil- 
 izers, are kept on sale in great variety, and in 
 large quantities. 
 
 Mr. Isaac W. Denison is a native of Mystic 
 River, and was born in 1817. He learned in 
 early life the carpenter trade, and was, previous 
 
 to embarking in the mercantile trade, a well- 
 known and successful contractor. He is one of 
 the original incorporators of the Groton Savings 
 Bank, is a director in the Mystic River National 
 Bank, a member of the Union Baptist Church, 
 and in every way one of Mystic River's solid 
 men and influential citizens. His son and part- 
 ner, Mr. Frederick Denison, was born in Mystic 
 River in 1856, and educated at the high school 
 here. He served as a machinist for four years, 
 previous to being a partner in this house. The 
 house of I. W. Denison is well known, long 
 established, and its name and credit is good for 
 whatever responsibility it sees fit to assume. 
 
 William II. Potter, Insurance Agent. — The 
 business of Mr. Potter is situated in Buckley's 
 Block, on West Main street, Mystic River, where- 
 he has been in business since I860. Previous to that 
 date he was a member of the insurance firm of 
 Denison, Packer & Co., of Mystic Bridge, and T. 
 E. Packer & Co., Mystic River. He represents the 
 following well-known and reliable companies : 
 The Hartford Fire, National of Hartford, Niagara 
 of New York, Commercial Union, German Ameri- 
 can, Lancashire and Continental, The Meridcn Fire, 
 Security of New Haven, Agricultural of New York, 
 Hartford Mutual, State Mutual of Hartford, and 
 New London County Mutual. 
 
 Mr. Potter is a native of Westerly, R.I., where he 
 was born at Potter Hill village in 1810, and has 
 been a resident of Mystic River and Mystic Bridge 
 for forty-three years. He prepared for Yale at the 
 well-known and long established Bacon Academy, 
 which has been made famous in having for its stu- 
 dents some of the notable men of America. Chief 
 Justice Waite, and Judge Lyman Trumbull, who 
 was United States senator from Illinois, and others 
 were Mr. Potter's schoolmates at Bacon. Mr. Pot- 
 ter was of the Yale class of 1840, and has long been 
 identified with the educational interests of Connec- 
 ticut, and the country generally. He has served 
 twenty-eight years of his life as a teacher, part of 
 the time as president of Brandon College at Bran- 
 don, Miss., where he resided for four years, from 
 1851 to 1855. He was a trustee of the Suffield 
 Literary Institute, at Suffield, Conn., in which in- 
 stitution he was for a time examiner. For eight 
 years he was a member of the State board of edu- 
 cation under four governors, and for the same 
 length of time was a trustee of the State normal 
 school at New Britain. He is said to have been 
 the only practical school teacher ever in the State 
 board of education, and was complimented by 
 more than one governor for his interest and practi- 
 cal suggestions. For forty years he has been a 
 school visitor and examiner in the town of Groton, 
 and has been connected in a public way with the 
 educational institutions of Connecticut for a 
 long period. He has been for thirty-six years a 
 deacon in the Union Baptist Church, the largest in 
 point of membership in the State east of the Con- 
 necticut river. It celebrated its centennial in 1 865. 
 He is one of the senior justices of the peace, lias 
 been judge of probate for six years, State repre- 
 sentative and State senator. 
 
 Few men in the State have taken as active a part 
 in educational matters as he. Beloved and respect- 
 ed, especially by the young, he goes in and out 
 
RFVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 303 
 
 among the people an old school gentleman, and in 
 
 the language of Benton, the poet : 
 
 "Touched with some charm the gods impart, 
 Time writes no wrinkle on hie heart." 
 
 Col. Warren W. Packer, Postmaster, Sta- 
 tioner, News Dealer, etc., Central Hall Block. — 
 Col. Packer has been postmaster for fourteen years, 
 but the stationery business has been in existence 
 since 1851, when Mr. Amos Watrous, who is now 
 clerk for Messrs. L W. Denison & Co. of this 
 place, established it. He gave way to Watrous & 
 Bidwell, then it was Fred S. Bidwell, and then 
 Col. Packer. He has occupied his new store since 
 1881, which is stocked with everything appertain- 
 ing to the stationery, news and fancy goods busi- 
 ness. He was born in the town of Gioton and is 
 about forty-eight years of age. He served his 
 country as a member of the Fifth Connecticut; 
 first as captain, then major, then colonel. The 
 regiment was a part of the First Division, Twelfth 
 Army Corps — Army of the Potomac. After which 
 they consolidated under Hooker in the West and 
 were a part of the Twentieth army corps. For a 
 long time he had command of a brigade as Acting 
 Brigadier-General. He was wounded at the battle 
 of Cedar Mountain, Va. For fourteen years he has 
 been a popular postmaster and a successful merchant. 
 
 Benedict W. Morgan, Prop. Morgan's 
 Meat Market, and dealer in Sewing Machines, 
 Morgan's Block. — -Mr. Morgan is one of the old 
 residents of Mystic River: He has been in the 
 meat business for fourteen years on this site, and in 
 his own block which is situated on West Main 
 street in Mystic Kiver. It contains two stories, each 
 22 x 00 feet in area, one of which is occupied for 
 the business of a market, the other for sewing ma- 
 chines. In his meat business he employs three 
 people, three horses and runs two carts for the 
 convenience of the public. In the sewing machine 
 business he makes a specialty of the Domestic and 
 Household machines, but deals in all kinds. He is 
 a native of Upper Mystic, and fifty-three years of 
 age. In early life he was a ship joiner and during 
 the war was a member of the Twenty-first Regi- 
 ment, Connecticut Volunteers. Mr. Morgan built 
 his block eighteen years ago, and it is one of the 
 most conspicuous in the business centre of Mystic 
 Kiver. He does a large and profitable business, 
 and is a representative man in the community 
 where he resides. 
 
 Randal] I{rowne,Jr.,Tce Cream and Oysters, 
 Confectionery and Tobacco, West Main Street. — 
 In every community there are business houses which 
 are accepted by the public as au fait in every par- 
 ticular. The oyster and ice cream saloon of Mr. 
 Randall Browne, Jr., is the leading one of its class 
 in this place. It is situated on the western end of 
 the bridge adjoining the river, over which a portion 
 of it projects. Besides oysters and ice cream in 
 their seasons, he is a large dealer in confectionery 
 and tobacco. The business was established in 1875 
 by himself and it has grown steadily to the present. 
 A popular feature of this house is a veranda which 
 is built out over the "swiftly running tide" where 
 is served during the heated term cooling drinks 
 and ice cream to the many visitors from the larger 
 
 cities who summer here. From this attractive spot 
 is enjoyed a romantic view, grand in the extreme. 
 The distant hills, the salt water richly laden witli 
 the perfume of the sea, intervening the rich foliage, 
 all combined with the soft mellow light of a sum- 
 mer evening or the rays of the moon later in the 
 night form a scene which is thoroughly appreciated. 
 The store, without this annex above mentioned, is 
 18 x 50 feet in area and is attractive in appearance. 
 Mr. Browne is a native of Stonington, and thirty- 
 two years of age. Formerly he was a clerk in the 
 dry goods business. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, also foreman of the Mystic 
 Kiver Hook and Ladder Truck Company, and a 
 well known business man. 
 
 William H. Weems, Dealer in Dry and 
 Fancy Goods, Buckley's Block. — Of all business 
 in which the ladies are most interested, dry goods 
 perhaps take the lead. The taste displayed, and 
 the facilities which the proprietors of these estab- 
 lishments command are quickly appreciated by 
 the great army of shoppers who swarm the repre- 
 sentative dry goods houses of our cities and 
 villages, in search for the new and novel in style 
 and texture. Perhaps in no dry goods store in 
 Mystic River or vicinity, is all the above recog- 
 nized more than in the store of Mr. William EL 
 Weems, which is located in Buckley's Block, on 
 West Main street, Mystic River. 
 
 It is stocked with every variety of dry and fancy 
 goods, and commands a large share of trade in the 
 village and surrounding country. The store is 
 20 x 50 feet in area, and two clerks are in attend- 
 ance. The business was established in 1877, by 
 the present proprietor, who came here from Spring- 
 field, Mass., in which city he had for several years 
 been identified with the dry goods trade. He was 
 born in Mystic Bridge, Conn., and is thirty-three 
 years of age. He is a member of the Methodist 
 Church, of which sabbath school ho is superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 He is an active worker for the good of the com- 
 munity, and a popular business man. 
 
 Parincnas Avery, Stoves, Furnaces and 
 Ranges, etc.. West Main Street.— The representa- 
 tive stove and tin store in Mystic River is that be- 
 longing to Mr. Parmenas Avery, situated on West 
 Main street. It has been known in this connection for 
 about thirty years, when it was established by Mr. 
 Wm. P. Bugbee, who continued for two years, and 
 then sold out to Bugbee & Avery. In 1869, Mr. 
 Avery bought out his partner, and has so continued. 
 The store is 24 x 50 feet in area, and is stocked 
 with stoves and ranges, making a specialty of Bar- 
 stow's & Richmond's ranges. In addition, Mr. 
 Avery attends to plumbing for houses and vessels, 
 in which he does quite a business. He employs fivo 
 people through the busy season. He was born in 
 Stonington forty-one years ago, and learned his trade 
 of his former partner, Mr. Bugbee. He is a member 
 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, wasa mem- 
 ber of Company C, Twenty-first Connecticut Regi- 
 ment during the war, and belongs to Williams' 
 Post, G. A. R. Mr. Avery is a thorough, practical 
 business man, a good employer and a popular citi- 
 zen of Mystic River, where he has long resided. 
 
304 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Horace N. Wheeler, Druggist, West Main 
 Street. — The business of a druggist is one of the 
 oldest in the list of trades or professions. In the 
 time of Noah we read of the ancients using the 
 gifts of nature to cure all ills which flesh is heir to. 
 Since those days there have been great improve- 
 ments in the druggist's art. Even in this gen- 
 eration the discoveries made by manufacturing 
 chemists are wonderful. The arrangement and 
 furnishing of drug stores is also made a specialty, 
 and the improvements are such that there is no com- 
 parison between the drug store of this and the last 
 generation. These remarks are suggested by the 
 visitor to Mr. Wheeler's Pharmacy on West Main 
 street, which is the largest and finest of any in 
 Mystic River, as it is the oldest. 
 
 The store is 22 x 40 feet in area, and is neatly 
 furnished, making it one of the most conspicuous 
 on the street. A prescription trade is transacted, 
 and is one of the specialties of the business. On 
 the left are arranged in an attractive manner the 
 bottles holding the valuable liquids and mysterious 
 compounds found in drug stores. On the right is a 
 large assortment of patent medicines, and in the ele- 
 gant show cases are displayed an elegant selection of 
 fancy articles. A fancy soda fountain ornaments the 
 rear part of the store, where are dispensed every 
 variety of choice syrups. Mr. Wheeler is a native 
 of Mystic Kiver, and is thirty-three years of age. 
 He learned his profession of Mr. F. N. Manning, a 
 former druggist here, who established this business 
 in 1846. Mr. Wheeler is his legitimate successor, 
 and now carries on the largest business of its class 
 in the village. For eighteen years he has pursued 
 the even tenor of his way in this business and in 
 this village, and has secured a trade complimentary 
 to his ability as a business man and an experienced 
 druggist. 
 
 Everett A. Scholfield, Photographer, West 
 Main Street.- — The Scholfield family have been 
 known in this vicinity for a number of years as excel- 
 lent photographers. The father is and has been for 
 a long time a well known photographer in Westerly, 
 R. L, a few miles distant. The present gentleman, 
 his son, Mr. E. A. Scholfield, has been a photog- 
 rapher in Mystic River for eighteen years, where 
 he has built up a large and increasing business. 
 He learned his trade of his father, Mr. Edwin A. 
 Scholfield. His brother has a widespread reputa- 
 tion as a photographer at Watch Hill during the 
 summer seasons. Mr. Everett A Scholfield is a na- 
 tive of Lowell, Mass., where he was born December 
 8, 1843. He is a Mason and a member of the 
 United Workmen. His pictures are classed among 
 the best in eastern Connecticut. He has an artistic 
 taste ; is skilled in posing and produces the best 
 effect with wonderful fidelity. A large part of his 
 trade is with summer visitors and strangers, who, 
 admiring his work, order from him — a compliment 
 rarely paid to photographers in a place the size of 
 Mystic River. By his own effort he has built up a 
 good business, and has no competitor in his spe- 
 cialty. 
 
 Edwin U.Noyes, Dry Goods and Fancy Goods, 
 No. 4 Central Block. — Among the representative dry 
 goods establishments in this village, is the one now 
 under notice. It was started by the present pro- 
 
 prietor in 1872 and has always maintained the 
 standard it now has. Dry goods, fancy goods, 
 notions, and all the kindred articles for the con- 
 venience of the ladies are found here in all seasons. 
 Two attentive clerks are employed. The store is 
 18 x54 feet in area, and is situated in the business 
 centre of Mystic River. 
 
 Mr. Noyes is a native of Upper Mystic and thirty- 
 three years of age. From early manhood he has 
 been identified with the dry goods trade. He is a 
 member of the Congregational Church and other- 
 wise interested in the institutions of the village. He 
 is a son of Mr. George W. Noyes, a well-known 
 citizen here, who died in February, 1805. 
 
 For many years Mr. E. B. Noyes was a clerk for 
 Mr. E. D. Evans, with whom he learned the dry 
 goods trade, and he now ranks as one of the most 
 industrious and enterprising merchants in Mystic 
 River. 
 
 Charles H. Johnson, Carriage Manufac- 
 turer, Clift Street. — Forty years ago. Forty years 
 of change. Forty years of progress. Forty years 
 ago Mystic River had its reputation yet to make as 
 a ship-building centre. No railway connected the 
 outside world with Mystic River. Steam had not 
 destroyed its business interests by having driven 
 away the building of sailing vessels. At that time, 
 Mr. Charles Johnson commenced the manufacture 
 of carriages here. In 1877, his son, Charles H., 
 succeeded to the business, in which he does a 
 flourishing trade. His manufactory is 22x68 feet 
 in area, with three floors. He was born thirty-six 
 years ago in this town, and learned his trade of 
 the father. His specialty is the manufacture of 
 Rockaways and beach wagons. The custom of the 
 people is, in summer time, to go to the beache 
 near by, and the demand for beach wagons is ver 
 general, and in this specialty Mr. Johnson has a 
 excellent reputation. He is a MetuodiBt and 
 reliable business man. 
 
 John T. Batty, General Store. — This is one 
 of the oldest business houses in the place. It was 
 established by Simeon Fish in 1824. He died 
 about twenty years ago, leaving behind him a 
 name for honesty and probity to be emulated. He 
 was succeeded in the business by Nathan and 
 Jedcdiah Fish, two sons, and later by N. G. Fish 
 & Co., who, in connection with the general store, 
 carried on the coal business, which is now con- 
 ducted by Capt. Burrows. Yarrington & Fish 
 succeeded N. G. Fish & Co., and following came 
 Burrows & Fish, and in 1870, the present proprie- 
 tor, Mr. John T. Batty. The store is 20 x 40 feet 
 in area, with a large storeroom in the rear, and a 
 large and profitable business is conducted. Mr. 
 Batty, the proprietor, was born in 1847, in the 
 town of Groton. He was educated at that 
 thorough institution of learning, the "Quaker 
 School," at Providence, R. I., after which he was 
 a bookkeeper, and later a large butter and cheese 
 dealer in Washington Market, New York City, 
 returning to his native town in 1870. He is a very 
 popular man in the community, is a Knight 
 Templar, and has been justice of the peace, 
 assessor and register of voters. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 305 
 
 Thos. B. Hazard, Harness Maker, and Dealer 
 in Horse Goods, Whips, Etc. — Among the mer- 
 chants who have by a system of fair and honest 
 dealing established a lucrative and flourishing 
 trade, may appropriately be mentioned in this 
 connection the establishment of Mr. Thomas B. 
 Hazard, which is located inNoyes' Block, on West 
 Main street, Mystic River. The business was 
 started by Mr. Charles Williams about 20 years 
 ago, in Central Hall Block. After his death, the 
 business succeeded to E. W. Payne, and then K. W. 
 Shannon, who was the immediate predecessor of 
 Mr. Hazard. In 1874, the business was removed 
 to its present location, where it has since continued. 
 Besides making all kinds of harnesses, a well 
 selected stock of horse goods, whips, lap robes, 
 etc., is kept on hand. The store is 20 x 40 feet in 
 area, the rear part being used for a workshop, 
 where two workmen are kept employed during the 
 busy season. The oldest employee is Mr. Chas. B. 
 Heydecker, who has worked here at the bench for 
 seven years. Mr. Hazard is a native of Peacedale, 
 R. L, and 37 years of age. He belongs to that 
 ancient and honorable family, who were lords of 
 the soil in that little State a century ago, and who 
 still maintain the prestige as one of the first 
 families in the State. Mr. Hazard has been identi- 
 fied with Mystic River since a boy. He is master 
 of a Masonic lodge, and otherwise identified with 
 the institutions here, where he is highly esteemed 
 as an excellent citizen. 
 
 S. H. Buckley, Meat and Provision Market. 
 Buckley's Block. — The history of this business 
 house is one of enterprise, thrift, economy and suc- 
 cess. It is over a quarter of a century, or, to be ex- 
 plicit, in the year 1858, since Mr. Samuel II. Buck- 
 ley embarked in the meat business in Mystic River. 
 His first venture was in a building nearly opposite 
 to his present location. Soon after, having out- 
 grown his original quarters, he was obliged to 
 move across the street to his present site, where lie' 
 bought the land. About five years ago he moved 
 the old shop back, and erected a fine business 
 structure, known as Buckley's Block, which is situ- 
 ated on West Main street. It is built of wood, is 
 seventy-six feet front by fifty-five feet deep, and 
 two stories high. The upper part is used for 
 offices, and contains a music hall, which is used for 
 lodges and secret societies. The lower or ground 
 floor contains four stores, one of which is occupied 
 by Mr. Buckley for his large and increasing busi- 
 ness. Mr. Buckley is a self-made man, the archi- 
 tect of his own fortune. He was born in England 
 about fifty years ago, and has been in America 
 since 1853. He learned his trade of " Uncle Charles 
 Williams," long since dead, and with him began a 
 business career which he still continues with suc- 
 cess. In Mr. John G. Packer he has a valuable 
 assistant, who has been in his employ for ten years. 
 Mr. Buckley enjoys the distinction of being the 
 only man in the meat business, conducting it under 
 one name continuously in Mystic Bridge or Mystic 
 River for nearly twenty-seven years. His record is 
 one worthy of emulation by the youth of the pres- 
 ent generation, as it affords another example that 
 honest effort is sure to win success. 
 
 Albert Williams, Dealer in Millinery and 
 Fancy Goods, West Main Street — For over twenty 
 
 years this enterprising gentleman has been con- 
 ducting the above-minud business in which he 
 enjoys a large and lucrative trade. 
 
 The building is 25 x 44 feet in area and is used 
 as a residence and for business purposes. He wa3 
 born in Mystic River, in 1839, and previous to 
 being in the millinery business was a grocer. His 
 trade extends to the surrounding villages, the peo- 
 ple of which look to him in a great measure for 
 the styles in their season. He is well known here 
 and is a gentleman of integrity, a successful mer- 
 chant and good citizen. 
 
 Ij. A. Morgan & Co., Dealers in Groceries, 
 Provisions, Etc. — One of the representative houses 
 in Mystic River is that of Messrs. L. A. Morgan ifc 
 Co., dealers in groceries, provisions, teas, coffees, 
 spices, canned fruit, flour, meal, feed, crockery, 
 wooden ware, etc., whose store is situated at No. 3 
 Central Hall Block, West Main street, Mystic River. 
 The business was established in 1871, and the store 
 is 55 x 20 feet in area. Mr. Luther A. Morgan 
 was born in Ledyard, in the year 1830. He was 
 educated in the public schools and has been a resi- 
 dent here for thirty years. He is well known in 
 this line of business, having been a merchant for 
 twelve years and a clerk for Mr. D. N. Prentice 
 previously. He is a respected member of the com- 
 munity, an enterprising business man, and a mem- 
 ber of the Congregational church. The company 
 is Capt. John E. Williams, and the estate of Mr. 
 G. S. Allen, the latter named person having died 
 in 1876. 
 
 Captain Williams resides in Mystic River and 
 was born in England sixty-three years ago. He has 
 been identified with Mystic and her maritime inter- 
 ests for forty years, and for a long time "followed 
 the sea, " as captain of some of the most famous 
 ships. He was captain of the fast ship Andrew 
 Jackson, which was built by Irons & Grinnell, ship 
 builders at the time in Mystic. This ship was the 
 fastest ship of its day. Captain Williams wears a 
 gold watch and chain which were presented to him 
 for making the fastest time between San Franeiseo 
 and New York. He is a member of the Methodist 
 Church, a Mason, and has been a member of the 
 legislature. Mr. Allen was about sixty years of 
 age when he died, was a Mason and a member of 
 the Union Baptist Church. The firm enjoys high 
 rank as merchants of high standing and integrity. 
 
 Edward 1*. Hawkins, Carriage Manufac- 
 turer, Pearl Street. — This well-known carriage- 
 manufacturing business was established many years 
 ago by Mr. Elisha Denison. For the past six years 
 it has been conducted by the present proprietor, Mr. 
 Edward P. Hawkins, who is considered one of the 
 largest and most enterprising carriage-manufac- 
 turers in this vicinity, The main building, which 
 was recently erected, is 28 x 70 feet in area, with 
 three floors and an L. 22 x 40 feet. Eight people are 
 employed in the manufacture of all kinds of car- 
 riages. The main building was erected in 1878. 
 The increase in business necessitated an L. to be 
 added last year. 
 
 Mr. Hawkins was born in Wiltshire, England, 
 thirty-five years ago. He has been in America fif- 
 teen years, and in Mystic River twelve years, where 
 he has built up and maintained a reputation for 
 
300 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 honesty and sobriety. He is a prominent member 
 of the Masonic fraternity, and stands at the head 
 in this village as a prominent carriage manufac- 
 turer. 
 
 Iloswcll Brown, Livery Stable, Water Street. 
 — For nearly half a century Mr. Brown has kept a 
 livery stable in Mystic River, and on the same site. 
 Few, if any, merchants are in active business now 
 who were forty-two years ago, the date of his com- 
 mencement here. His stable occupies a large and 
 conspicuous building on Water street, which is 
 57 x53 feet in area, with barns and sheds adjoining. 
 He has fifteen first-class driving horses to let con- 
 stantly, and his stock of carriages run all the way 
 fr«)m a buggy to barouches and picnic wagons. lie 
 was born in North Stonington sixty-two years ago, 
 and worked on his father's farm, after which he ran 
 away and went to sea for a year, and was ship- 
 wrecked on the southern coast of Florida. This ex- 
 perience was enougli for him as a seaman, and he 
 returned home, opened a livery stable, and has so 
 continued to this day. During his long business 
 life and residence hero he has held many important 
 trusts. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and has 
 held every office in the latter order. He has been 
 a warden in the St. Mark's Episcopal Church since 
 its organization, at which time it met in a room 
 12 x 14, and had only one family. It increased in 
 numbers, met in a hall, and now has a building of 
 its own and one hundred communicants. Mr. 
 Brown has held the office of deputy sheriff twelve 
 years, justice of the peace three years, and consta- 
 ble seven years. Mr. Brown is a man of sterling 
 worth, a good judge of men, and is highly respect- 
 ed for the honor and integrity he has always main- 
 tained in his daily life. 
 
 The Mystic River National Bank.— The 
 
 number of banks and the amount of capital in the 
 community show the amount of business done by 
 the business men in that community. There are 
 two national banks in this immediate community, 
 one at Mystic Bridge the other at Mystic River. 
 The Mystic River National Bank is located at the 
 latter place and was incorporated as a State bank 
 in 1851. The capital is 8100,000 with a surplus of 
 $50,000, and the names of the officers are as fol- 
 lows : Francis M. Manning, President ; Henry B. 
 Noyes, Cashier. Directors : Isaac \V. Denison, Geo. 
 Greenman, P. E. Rowland, F. M. Manning, John 
 O. Fish, Henry B. Noyes, Isaac D. Holmes. The 
 original directors were, Charles Mallory, Nathan G. 
 Fish, Clark Greenman, Geo. W. Ashbey and Albert 
 G.Stark. The first officers were : Charles Mallory, 
 president; Geo. W. Noyes, cashier. This bank, 
 together with the Groton Savings Bank, occupy a 
 building which was built for that purpose in 1851 
 and '52. It contains two rooms; has the latest 
 patented safes and time locks ; is ornamented in 
 front with four Corinthian columns, and is an im- 
 posing structure. These banks have passed through 
 all the panics, and aie in every way staunch and 
 reliable institutions, having the entire confidence of 
 the public. 
 
 The Groton Savings Bank It is nearly 
 
 thirty years since this bank was incorporated. Its 
 
 original incorporators represented all the wealth, 
 enterprise and culture of the community. When 
 one reads their names and reflects that within thirty 
 years they have all, save five, passed away, it im- 
 presses with the flight of time and the uncertainty 
 of existence. The then officers are all dead and 
 their places filled by others. Following we give 
 a list of the incorporators as they answered to their 
 names at the first meeting in 1854. Those names 
 marked with a star are dead : * Jeremiah Wilbur, 
 
 * Charles Mallory, * William Clift, * Asa Fish, 
 
 * Geo. W. Ashby, * Simeon Fish, * Deter Irons, 
 
 * Isaac Dandall, * Joseph Cottrell, * Nathan G. 
 Fish, Titos. S. Greenman, Isaac W. Denison, * Ho- 
 ratio N. Fish, * Geo. W. Noyes, * James Gallup, 
 
 * Sanford Stark, Silas B. Randall, Charles H. 
 Mallory, Elias P. Randall, * Benj. F. Palmer, 
 
 * Denison Burrows, * Win. P. Smith. Five out of 
 twenty-two are still alive. The original officers 
 were : Nathan G. Fish, president ; William Clift, 
 vice-president; Geo. W. Noyes, secretary and 
 treasurer. Trustees: Nathan G. Fish, William 
 Clift, Geo. W. Noyes, Horatio N. Fish, Jeremiah 
 Wilbur, Denison Burrows, Simeon Fish. 
 
 The present officers are : Henry B. Noyes, Presi- 
 dent (a son of George W. Noyes) ; Wm. H. Potter, 
 Vice-President ; Abel II. Simmons, Secretary and 
 Treasurer. Trustees : Henry B. Noyes, Win. H. 
 Potter, Thos. S. Greenman, Lemuel Clift, A. H. 
 Simmons, John O. Fish and Isaac D Clift. 
 
 The deposits are over $600,000, and the bank is 
 in the same building and occupies the same rooms 
 as the Mystic River National Bank in Mystic River. 
 
 "The Mystic Press," Lucius M. Guernsey, 
 Editor and Proprietor. — This paper, the only one 
 printed in the Mystic villages, was established by 
 Mr. Guernsey, February 7, 1873, as an independent 
 local weekly, devoted to the interests of the Mystic 
 valley. He also conducts a book and job printing 
 business, in which he is assisted by his son, George 
 M. His pleasant office is on the river bank, com- 
 manding a view of the entire river and part of 
 Fisher's Island Sound. Mr. Guernsey was born in 
 East Hartford, February, 1824. He learned the 
 printer's trade in Northampton and Springfield, 
 Mass., and commenced business for himself in the 
 latter city, removing thence to New Britain in this 
 State in 1854, when he established the first news- 
 paper in that place, the North and South, Elihu 
 Burritt, the "Learned Blacksmith," being its 
 editor, and through its columns advocating his 
 scheme for the abolition of slavery by " compen- 
 sated emancipation," the government to pay for 
 the slaves when set free by enactment of the State. 
 Mr. Guernsey afterwards published the True 
 Citizen at the same place, the present Record being 
 its successor. He removed from that place sixteen 
 years ago, establishing the Press, as first stated, at 
 Mystic River, and has now become firmly identified 
 with the interests of the place and people. He is 
 one of the oldest printers and editors of the State, 
 with a respectable record in both capacities ; is an 
 active temperance worker, a member of the Temple 
 of Honor and other organizations. For more than 
 forty years connected with the Baptist denomina- 
 tion ; he is now a member of the Union Baptist 
 Church in the village of his residence. 
 
BE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 307 
 
 Charles C. Burrows, Meat Market, West 
 Main Street. — Fifteen years ago Mr. Burrows estab- 
 lished himself here as a meat dealer. His market 
 is situated on West Main street, to which he moved 
 about one year ago, and is known as the Central 
 Market. Originally he was in business on the 
 other side of the street, at the northwest corner of 
 the bridge, where he succeeded Mr. D. E. Hurrows. 
 He sold out the property there and moved here. 
 He was born in Mystic in. 1827, March 13. At the 
 age of fifteen ho went to Washington Market, 
 where he remained for fifteen years in the meat 
 business. Later he was proprietor of the Everett 
 House, 100 Vesey street, New York, which lie sold 
 about eighteen years ago. He is a member of the 
 Union Baptist Church, a Mason and one of the old 
 membersof the community, where he enjoys a largo 
 acquaintance and the confidence of his fellow citi- 
 zens. 
 
 Charles L. Heine, Boot and Shoe Maker and 
 Dealer, Buckley's Block. — Mr. Heine is one of the 
 recent coiners to Mystic Hiver, where lie opened, in 
 1881, a boot and shoe store in Buckley's Block, on 
 West Main street. The store is on the busy side of 
 the street and is 20 x 60 feet in area. He keeps a 
 well-selected stock of men's, women's, boys' and 
 girls' boots and shoes, and in addition has one 
 skilled workman engaged on custom work. He 
 was born in the vicinity of Frankfort Center, Ger- 
 many, and has been in America since 1860. For 
 the past five years he has been a resident of Mystic 
 Hiver, embarking in business as above stated, two 
 years ago. He learned his trade of a boot maker 
 in Germany, and previous to settling here was a 
 merchant in New York City. Everybody knows 
 that some of the best workman in wood and leather 
 came from Germany. Mr. Heine is no exception ; 
 he is a finished workman, as many citizens of 
 Mystic River will attest. He is a member of the 
 I. O. of O. F., and a good citizen. 
 
 Allen Avery, Furniture Dealer and Under- 
 taker. — There are in every community business 
 iiouses that are well known and long established ; 
 houses to which the public naturally gravitate as a 
 place for reliable merchandise, a place where their 
 fathers before them traded. In reviewing the sub- 
 stantial business houses of Mystic River, the one 
 now under notice has the above attributes, and 
 the entire confidence of its customers. It has been 
 established about seventeen years and is the largest 
 and oldest furniture store in the village. The main 
 building is 23 x 60 feet in area, and three stories 
 in height, with a one-story fifty feet extension. He 
 occupies the upper floor of the main building, one- 
 half of the second floor, and the whole of the first 
 story. In another building, adjoining, which is 23 
 x 50 feet in area, he has the upper floor, and one- 
 
 third of the second. All kinds of parlor and bed- 
 room suites are kept on hand to select from, a con- 
 venience which is generally appreciated by the public 
 as it saves them going to the larger cities for goods. 
 In addition to the furniture business Mr. Avery is 
 a popular undertaker ; his trade extending to the 
 surrounding towns. He was born in Stonington, 
 Conn., about forty years ago, and has been identi- 
 fied with this community since a boy. He is a 
 Master Mason, a member of a Baptist Church, a 
 loading member of the Mystic hook and ladder 
 truck, and highly respected as a thorough-going 
 business man and a valuable citizen. 
 
 W. E. F. Landers & Co., Dealers in House 
 Furnishing Goods, Carpets, Wall Papers, etc. — 
 The latest accession to the ranks of business 
 men in the house furnishing, carpet and wall- 
 paper line in Mystic River is the house of 
 Messrs. W. E. F. Landers & Co., whose store is 
 situated in the business centre of the village, 
 and in the Central Hall building. The business 
 was established by Mr. W. E. F. Landers, in the 
 year 1878, who at that time began dealing in 
 paints, oil, glass, etc., besides attending to or- 
 ders for house and sign painting. In 1880 Mr. 
 Amos R. Chapman became a partner and the 
 firm was called by its present name. 
 
 Two stores, each 18 x55 feet, are occupied, one 
 devoted to fancy goods, wall paper, paints, 
 crockery, glassware, etc., the other to carpets 
 and oil cloths. 
 
 Few places the size of Mystic River are fa- 
 vored with such an establishment as this, where 
 one may select all grades of carpets without re- 
 sorting to large cities; and that the enterprise of 
 the firm is appreciated is shown bv the great in- 
 crease in their business during tlie pust year. 
 Mr. Landers was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., thirty- 
 six years ago, but has been in this community 
 since a boy. He is a painter by trade. In mili- 
 tary circles he is well known as ex-major of the 
 Third Regiment, C. N. G. He is a consistent 
 member of the Union Baptist Church and ac- 
 tively engaged in promoting the interests of the 
 Masonic fraternity, in which he has served as 
 master of a lodge, high priest, and at present is 
 T. I. G. M. of Mystic Council No. 29 of this 
 place. Mr. Chapman is of the same age as his 
 partner, and a native of Mystic. He was edu- 
 cated at the public schools and served at the 
 trade of ship joiner and contractor, in which 
 business he now employs several men. He is 
 also a past master of a Masonic lodge, and is a 
 well-known citizen and industrious and self- 
 made man. The house of W. E. F. Landers & 
 Co. is a credit to tho village, and its members 
 are among the representative men in Mystic 
 River. 
 
NORWICH. 
 
 This city is distant from New London lii miles 
 by the New London and Northern Railroad. The 
 Norwicli and Worcester Division of the New York 
 and New England Railroad runs from this city to 
 Worcester, Mass., distant 59 miles. The Nor- 
 wich Morning Bulletin, which has an extended 
 reputation and wide circulation, is the only daily 
 paper. The domain lying between the Yantic 
 and Shetucket rivcis, was by the Indians termed 
 "Mohegan." In May, 1059, the General Court 
 authorized the planting of a colony in the Mohegan 
 country, and in the next month Uncas and his 
 brother Wawequn, for the consideration of £70, 
 ceded to the English a portion of their territory 
 nine miles square, including within its limits the 
 present towns of Norwich, Franklin, Bozrah, Lis- 
 bon and Spraguc, with portion of other towns. In 
 the spring of 1000, thirty-five proprietors, under the 
 guidanco of Maj. John Mason and Rev. James 
 Fitch, removed from Saybrook hither, and estab- 
 lished themselves in the locnlity now known as 
 Norwich Town. The name Norwich was given to 
 the settlement in 1002, in honor of Norwich in 
 England. In the old Saxon language it signifies 
 North Castle, and the towering rocks found here 
 might easily suggest the idea of battlements. 
 
 The township has an average length from north 
 to south of seven miles, and a medium breadth of 
 three miles. The surface is diversified by hills and 
 plains, which give to the place a picturesque ap- 
 pearance. The prevailing soil is dark-colored loam, 
 which is generally fertile. Norwich is favored with 
 excellent water-privileges. The Shetucket from the 
 northeast, and the Yantic from the northwest (after 
 dashing over high rocks at Norwich Falls, and 
 rushing through a narrow, winding chasm in the 
 cove below), unite, and in their union become the 
 Thames. The entire length of the Thames, thus 
 constituted, to Long Island Sound, is fourteen miles. 
 
 About a mile before the Yantic meets the 
 Shetucket, while flowing south, it suddenly 
 sweeps round in an easterly direction, and, com- 
 ing upon a bed of rocks, plunges over a ledge of 
 twenty-five to thirty feet in height, and still de- 
 scending, works it way among the heaped up 
 rockv masses, through a narrow chasm, the per- 
 pendicular sides of which rise to a height of one 
 hundred feet, to the level basin below, where 
 the enraged and agitated element assumes its 
 usual smoothness and placidity. The rock form- 
 ing the bed of the river at the bottom of the 
 perpendicular falls is curiously excavated, some 
 of the cavities being five or six feet deep, from 
 the constant pouring of the water for successive 
 ages. Formerly this water-fall was regarded as 
 one of the most interesting natural curiosities in 
 this part of the country. So much of the stream 
 has been diverted from its original headlong 
 course over the parapet of rocks, however, that 
 'tis only at the spring floods, when the swollen 
 river comes roaring through the chasm, that we 
 
 realize the old grandeur of tho scene. It then 
 becomes easy for the imagination to repeople 
 the landscape with savage contestants, and hear 
 the distant echoes of the war-whoop. The per- 
 pendicular cliff that walls the chasm suggests 
 tho tradition, and the Indian tragedy seems 
 again acted before us. The panting Narragan- 
 sctts, with their chief Miantonomoh, come sud- 
 denly amid the thick woods upon the edge of tho 
 precipice, and plnngo, or are driven by their 
 victorious pursuers, Uncas and his followers, 
 over the battlements upon the pointed rocks 
 below. 'Tis said that so many of the Narragan- 
 setts went over, as to fill the gorge, and Mianto- 
 nomoh, jumping on their bodies, ran across, and 
 thus escaped capture and death. The Plain is a 
 very beautiful part of Norwich. Hero is the Free 
 Acadomv, a magnificent building planted in the 
 midst of ample space, with romantic woodland 
 for its background — the broad and open park — 
 the Uncas monument, overshadowed with almost 
 sepulchral gloom — a small, but very handsome 
 church, many elegant private mansions, grace- 
 fully varied in age, stvlo and position, and every- 
 where, groups and columns of towering interlac- 
 ing trees. It is on this plain that we may with 
 some degree of probability fix the seat of an 
 Indian sachem and a village of wigwams, prior to 
 the coming of the English. The Yantic Cove 
 below, wo may assume, was their canoe place, 
 for, like other savages, they would naturally 
 congregate at tho foot of a water-fall. Near at 
 hand is the ravine by which they ascended to 
 the plain, and where is now the royal burying 
 ground of the Uncases. In the eastern part 
 of Norwich is a place called Sachem's Plain. 
 The spot is rendered memorable by the bat- 
 tle between Uncas and Miantonomoh, the 
 sachem of the Narragansetts. The army of 
 Miantonomoh was routed, ho taken prisoner, 
 and afterwards executed and buried here. 
 He was buried on the spot where he was 
 slain. The wandering Indians, according to the 
 custom of their country, and as a melancholy 
 mark of love the Narragansetts had for their 
 fallen chief, had thrown stones upon the grave 
 till they became a in no wise despicable monu- 
 ment. A few years ago, a few citizens of Nor- 
 wich erected a monument to his memory. It 
 bears the simple inscription : 
 
 Miantonomoh, 1643. 
 
 The place where it stands has long been known 
 as Sachem's Plain ; a small stream which here 
 flows into tho Shetucket is Sachem's brook ; a 
 living spring near by is Sachem's spring. In 
 fact, the whole neighborhood is ovor-shadowed 
 and engraven with the name and fame of the 
 great Narragansett chief." 
 
 Norwich Town is situated about two miles 
 above tho navigable waters of the Thames. This 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 309 
 
 place for two-thirds of a century was the prin- 
 cipal centre of business in the town. It was also 
 the seat of the courts till comparatively a late 
 date. The buildings, though not modern in 
 style, are quite respectable in appearance. The 
 location had good natural advantages for the 
 planting of a town at that date. Norwich City 
 was incorporated as such in 1784. At an early 
 day it was known as Chelsea or the Landing, 
 being situated at the head of the Thames. Al- 
 though the locality possessed rare maritime and 
 other advantages, they remained unimproved till 
 about 1726. This part of the town retains its 
 original outline, with but little variation from its 
 first laying out. The streets, the house lots, the 
 garden plots, are the same as two hundred years 
 ago, and in many places the first built walls and 
 fences still remain. Near the centre is an open 
 square or plain, which was the centre of busi- 
 ness ; the county jail stood on the north side at 
 the foot of the hill ; the court-house (the present 
 school-house) was in an open area ; the post- 
 office was near the meeting-house ; printing 
 offices, taverns, schools and shops alternating 
 with private dwellings around the border. The 
 first meeting-house was built upon the summit 
 of the hill at the foot of which the present one 
 stands. From its position it commanded an ex- 
 tensive view, could be seen at once by all the 
 inhabitants, and, having a barrier of perpendic- 
 ular rocks on one side, and stony declivities on 
 every other, it was a good place from which to 
 hurl destructive missiles on an approaching foe, 
 the most dreaded, when it was built, being the 
 Indian tribes, which were in the habit of making 
 predatory excursions against everything civilized 
 and against each other. Near to and leading 
 from the green is the old burying ground, bear- 
 ing but few tablets to mark the resting place of 
 those whose ashes have long since mingled with 
 the earth. There are, however, a few slabs, each 
 with a broad winged face, graven on the top and 
 overshadowing the inscription, which is surely 
 quaint and original. The inscriptions are nearly 
 illegible, but those which can be traced show 
 the peculiarity of marking in those days. Here 
 are a few : 
 
 " Here lies ye body 
 of Capt. Obadiah 
 Smith, Who died 
 May 1—1727— and 
 In ye 50 Year of His Age. 
 Now between 
 these carved stons 
 Rich trcsver lies 
 Deer Smith, His bons." 
 
 " Here lyes yc Body of 
 That Worthy Vartuous 
 
 and Most injeneous 
 Jenteel Woman, Mrs. 
 Sara Leffingwell, wife 
 To Cap john Leffingwell 
 
 Who dyed May ye 
 19th, 1730, ageed 39 yr." 
 
 " Here is Buried Mr. Simeon 
 Waterman's Wife & Child, 
 Who Died May 30th, 1764. in 
 
 ye 21d year of her age. 
 Altho Deatli Desolved ye uni- 
 on Between them, nipt hhn in 
 the Topmust Bow in the height 
 of his Felisity, yet Comfort Re- 
 mains in ye foloing Epitaph: 
 Silent She lies Here in this Place 
 and so to Rest Till CHRIST Shall 
 Come to Raise her Dust & Crown 
 that Grace ; Which in her 
 Life so Nobly shone." 
 
 Another announces that a woman, whose name is 
 not clear, "died of twins," and another "Like a 
 Flower Shoe Bloomed But O How Nipt." 
 
 The vast water-power of Norwich has, to a 
 large extent, been brought into use. The She- 
 tucket has been dammed at Greenville, at Taft- 
 ville, and at Occum, and large mills have been 
 erected at each of these villages for manufacturing 
 purposes, Greenville is particularly distinguished 
 for its mammoth paper mills. The waters of the 
 Yantic River have been utilized at the Falls, and at 
 other villages higher up the stream. 
 
 The Yantic Cemetery, on the east bank of the 
 Yantic river, was consecrated in 1844. It includes 
 an extensive area of ground, agreeably diversified, 
 in a romantic section, and already contains many 
 elegant and costly monuments. 
 
 The history of Norwich from its first settlement 
 to the present time has been characterized by steady 
 improvement. The population of the town and 
 city in 1880 was 21,141. 
 
 The Richmond Stove Company, South 
 Thames street. — The famous Richmond Stove Com- 
 pany, so popular and widely known throughout 
 the country, has an enormous establishment on 
 Thames street, close by the Thames river and the 
 New London and Northern Railway, which enables 
 the house to ship goods to any part of the land. A 
 branch track runs to the doors of the storage room, 
 from which a car can be packed with stoves at 
 leisure. The company takes its name from Mr. 
 Apollas Richmond, who, many years ago, was asso- 
 ciated in Providence, It. I., with Mr. Amos C. 
 Burton, an iron founder. Mr. Richmond was a 
 practical man, and his house gained a great reputa- 
 tion for fine castings. He has since retired from 
 business. The Richmond Stove Company is a joint 
 stock, with a capital of 8150,000. The president 
 is Mr. John Mitchell, an Englishman by birth, who 
 is connected with the rolling mills at Thamesville, 
 below the stove works. Mr. A. J. Haminott is the 
 treasurer, and Mr. W. C. Higgins the agent, who 
 is also the resident manager, and has the works in 
 charge. The company was organized in 1867, and 
 located in this city the same year. The buildings 
 consist of an immense foundry 300x75 feet, built of 
 brick, high, and well lighted, looking out upon the 
 beautiful Thames river; and a warehouse, four 
 stories high, also of brick, 200 feet long and 
 seventy feet wide. From 145 to 155 men are em- 
 ployed ; 2,000 tons of stoves are produced annually. 
 The iron, sand, coal, etc., consumed by this great 
 
310 
 
 TIIE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 foundry is brought to the dock, which has a 
 front of GOO feet on the river, by propellers. An 
 engine of seventy-five-horse power is required to 
 drive the machinery. The celebrated stoves made 
 by this great house are known as the base burners, 
 for parlors, halls, sitting rooms, etc., the new and 
 much sought after square base burners, which are 
 highly ornamental and have tiles set around the 
 top, with a bronze horse,,or other figure piece to set 
 (hem off; also the cooking stoves, such as the 
 "cottage," "triumph," " floral " and "Thames," 
 all of which are varieties of the " Richmond ;" also 
 the famous ranges, furnaces, patent sink, etc. A 
 line of sheet iron stoves is made. A large supply 
 of kitchen utensils is kept. A valuable oil stove 
 has recently been perfected and placed in the 
 market, which is cheap, simple, and all that can be 
 wished. Farmer's boilers, roasters, etc., are made, 
 but the chief industry is the manufacture of the 
 Richmond stove, in all its variety. Many of the 
 parlor stoves are now highly ornamented with 
 nickel plating. This house spends §25,000 a year 
 just for ornaments for stoves. An inspection of the 
 establishment shows that everything is conducted 
 witli system and that a stove goes through several 
 stages from being cast in the foundry to being in- 
 spected and tested before it is shipped. After the 
 day's work in the foundry the castings are collected 
 and sent to a room to be cleaned. Thence they go 
 to a shop to be ground and fitted. A vast store- 
 room contains compartments filled with separate 
 pieces of castings which are kept in stock, ready to 
 be pat together when called for. The construction 
 room is a large one, where men are constantly 
 building stoves out of the castings. When a stove 
 has been put up it passes into the hands of skillful 
 men, who give it a thorough inspection. It is then 
 ready for shipping. In the show rooms of this 
 house can be seen samples of the various stoves 
 made. These go to all the great cities of the West. 
 
 Hewitt & Setchel, Wholesale Grocers, 51 
 Water Street. — The comparatively young, but 
 vigorous and prosperous wholesale grocery 
 house of Hewitt & Setchel, was founded in 1876 
 by Gallup & Hewitt, which changed on the 1st 
 of February, 1883, to Hewitt & Setchel. This 
 house, in the few years of its existence, has 
 reached a high position among the wholesale 
 houses of the city, and does a largo business. 
 There is an extensive country about Norwich, 
 which makes that city its centre from winch to 
 draw its supplies ; and Hewitt & Setchel are one 
 of the sources depended upon for any demands 
 that may be made in the line of wholesale gro- 
 ceries. The store is 110 feet deep, by thirty in 
 width, and lias three floors, which are filled with 
 a large stock of goods, sucli as butter, Vermont 
 and other cheese, pork, lard, fish, starch, to- 
 bacco, soap, raisins, wooden ware, etc., in fact 
 everything needed with which to stock a country 
 grocery store. Mr. G. L. Hewitt was born in 
 AVindham, Ct., and has been a resident of the 
 city for nineteen years. For twelve years he was 
 with Morton Brothers, with whom* he learned 
 the business. Mr. C. J. Setchel was born in the 
 city, and lias resided there ever since. He has a 
 practical knowledge of the grocery trade, and 
 
 together the two stand as one of the best houses 
 in the city. 
 
 N. Doufflas Sevin, Wholesale and Retail 
 Druggist, 141 Main street. — As one of the most 
 important branches of commerce in every commu- 
 nity, tin; drug trade may appropriately take a high 
 rank among its contemporaries, and claim promi- 
 nent recognition in a review of the commercial and 
 industrial enterprises of the day. Among the oldest 
 established and most favorably known pharmacies 
 of the beautiful city of Norwich, that of Mr. N. 
 Douglas Sevin, who has been identified with this 
 branch of trade since 1859, at which time he 
 entered the employ of Mr. Wm. S. Tyler, the 
 pioneer druggist of Norwich, the establishment of 
 whose business dates back to 1784. In 1865, Mr. 
 Sevin formed a partnership with Mr. Wm. C. 
 Lauman, and the extensive trade now carried on by 
 him, is the outgrowth of the business then estab- 
 lished under the firm name of Lauman & Sevin. 
 In 1879, Mr. Sevin purchased the interest of his 
 partner, and has since that time conducted the 
 business alone. The pharmacy is located at 141 
 Main street, and the large four-story building is all 
 in use by Mr. Sevin, in the prosecution of the 
 thriving business which he conducts. Each floor 
 is about 80 x 20 feet in area, and the stock carried 
 is very complete and exhaustive in every depart- 
 ment, embracing a full lino of drugs, chemicals, 
 proprietary medicines, druggists' sundries, toilet 
 and all other articles to be found in a well arranged 
 drug store. A large wholesale as well as retail 
 business is done. 
 
 Mr. Sevin was born in Bozrah, Conn., but came 
 to this city at the age of seventeen, and has since 
 that time been identified with its interests. During 
 the recent war, he served as hospital steward of the 
 Twenty-sixth C. V. L, and spent a year with 
 Banks' expedition to Port Hudson. 
 
 He has long been identified with the Masonic 
 order, is past commando 1- of Columbian Command- 
 cry, Knights Templar, and has obtained the thirty- 
 second degree (Scottish rite). In the G. A. R. he 
 holds the rank of surgeon in Sedgwick Post, No. 1, 
 the first grand army post established in the State, 
 and is also chairman of the relief committee. In 
 pharmaceutical circles he takes high rank, is a 
 member of the State pharmaceutical association, 
 and a delegate to the national association at 
 Washington. He has been for many years a vestry- 
 man in Trinity church. Although never having 
 sought political preferment, he was selected by his 
 constituents, making the ticket on which he was 
 elected one of the strongest, as illustrated by the 
 election held in 1882, which resulted in the defeat 
 of his opponent, and the seating of Mr. Sevin in 
 the legislative halls at Hartford, he being the first 
 democratic member of the legislature from Norwich 
 since 1859, which is convincing proof of the high 
 standing he holds among the inhabitants of "the 
 rose of New England." Possessed of rare execu- 
 tive ability, excellent business qualifications, the 
 highest esteem and respect of his fellow-men, 
 happy in his domestic relations, the possessor of 
 one of the finest businesses in his line, in eastern 
 Connecticut, the architect of his own fortune, he 
 may well refer with pride to the position which he 
 holds in the mercantile world aud the social circle. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 311 
 
 ( '. 1i. Rogers & Co., Manufacturers of Wood- 
 Working Machinery, Thames Street. — One of the 
 largest and most important manufacturing concerns 
 in this beautiful and thriving city, is that known 
 under the old firm name of C. B. Rogers & Co. 
 The factory is an extensive brick structure, situated 
 a little south of Main street, close by the water's 
 edge, on Thames street. Ships can come to the 
 very doors of the concern, to receive or discharge 
 goods ; and the New London and Northern Rail- 
 way runs in the rear, thus enabling the house to 
 send machines to any part of the United States, or 
 world, directly from the manufactory, and without 
 carting. The wareroom for this house is at 109 
 Liberty street, New York city. The firm is a joint- 
 stock corporation, with a capital of itteoo.ooo. Mr. 
 Lyman Gould is the President, and Mr. W. V. 
 Gould Secretary. The business was first started in 
 Keen, N. EL, forty-five years ago. Later a branch 
 shop was opened in Worcester, Mass. Finally it 
 •was decided to concentrate all the interests in 
 one place, nearer the seaboard, and buildings 
 were erected in 18(>0 in Norwich, Conn. The busi- 
 ness was originated by J. Kay & Co. Mr. Fay was 
 the inventor of many wood-working machines, and 
 the present firm manufactures all the original ma- 
 chines, known as the Fay. Some of these were in- 
 vented as long ago as 1837. Mr. Fay died in 1852, 
 but his name lives in the useful inventions he gave 
 to mankind. The new shops in Norwich are very 
 extensive, and consist of a main building, in brick, 
 four stories high, 155 feet long by 44 in width; a 
 wing of the same height, 60 by 35 feet, and what 
 is known as the north wing, three stories high. 60 
 by 25 feet. The cupola will melt eight tons of 
 iron at one firing. One hundred hands are em- 
 ployed, twenty-five of whom are in the foundry. 
 Two engines, each of forty-horse power, are used. 
 The works are admirably arranged, and conducted 
 in a perfectly systematic manner. There are three 
 large machine rooms, each 125 by 44 feet. The 
 heaviest plant is on the ground floor, and the 
 lightest on the upper. Another room is devoted to 
 working in wood, painting, and starting, or testing 
 the machines. Every machine, before it leaves the 
 manufactory, is put in operation and thoroughly 
 tested for the work it was intended to accomplish, 
 so that, when it reaches its ultimate destination, it 
 is ready for use and can be depended upon. Other 
 rooms consist of a forge-shop, some thirty feet 
 square; a steel-room, where a large quantity of fine 
 steel is kept in stock ; a finishing-room, and three 
 large storage-rooms. In one small room there 
 are kept at work half-a-dozen ingenious machines, 
 making patent blind-staples, used for fastening 
 the slats of blinds to the thumb-piece by which 
 they are opened and closed. One of these ma- 
 chines, fed with copper-plated wire, will turn out 
 125 pounds of staples each day. These are 
 packed in small kegs and sent all over the coun- 
 try, to sash and bland manufacturers. During 
 the year from fifty to sixty tons of metal are con- 
 sumed in this manufacture alone. The line of 
 wood-working machines made by this house is 
 something like 200, which includes all the differ- 
 ent sizes. These are intended for car-building 
 and wood-working generally. Their machines 
 have been exhibited at Paris, London, Vienna, 
 Sidney, Philadelphia, Boston, Louisville, and 
 
 many other places, and have uniformly taken the 
 highest prizes, as the walls of the office, which 
 are lined with diplomas, will testify. Thev find 
 a market all over the United States," South Amer- 
 ica, Mexico and Australia. Mr. Lyman Gould, 
 the president and treasurer of this great and im- 
 portant manufactory, came from Keene, N. H., 
 some thirty years ago. He began the business 
 of manufacturing machinery in 1818, and may be 
 said to have devoted his whole life and energy to 
 this specialty. Ho is a practical as well as an 
 enthusiastic machinist, and constantly strives to 
 keep abreast of the times, inventing, perfecting, 
 and bringing out new machines, which will ac- 
 complish better, and a larger variety of work 
 than any others. With the progress of art in 
 America, and the new uses to which wood is con- 
 stantly being put, new machines are needed, and 
 Mr. Gould makes it a study to supply them as 
 fast as they are wanted. His brother, George W. 
 Gould, who is now one of the directors in this 
 company, but has retired from business, began 
 the work of making wood-working machinery, 
 many years ago, with but two hands. With close 
 attention to business, and an exercise of the in- 
 ventive faculty, the brothers Gould have built up 
 an establishment of world-wide fame, which 
 builds the best machines of its kind in the land, 
 and supplies the worker in wood with whatever 
 ho may need to carry out his designs. The fac- 
 tory is one of the important institutions of the 
 city, and under the intelligent management of 
 Mr. Lyman Gould, will long shed lustre and 
 fame upon the town. 
 
 The Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing 
 Co., Manufacturers of Firearms. — When we 
 look back to the Cresars, those mighty conjurors 
 of a mighty world, when we realize with what 
 rude, and, in a measure, ineffective weapons, the 
 old Homeric battles were lost and won, the mind 
 finds itself hardly able to cope with, or justly 
 appreciate, the gigantic strides which in this 
 branch alone (that of utensils of war and self- 
 preservation) has been made by tho earnest, un-. 
 tiring thinkers of the tireless delvers, who, in 
 uniting the abstract with the material, who in 
 searching and experimenting, who, both by 
 theory and practice, have attained such un- 
 paralleled results, and by revolutionizing old 
 ideas, placed themselves and the era they repre- 
 sent in the very topmost niche of fame. In no 
 direction has the triumph of the new over the 
 old been more conspicuously illustratod than in 
 the manufacture of firearms." Who can doubt that 
 Waterloo would have gone down to history with 
 a very different finale had the soldiers of Napo- 
 leon been armed with breech-loaders? Would 
 not the daring colonists and sons of Connec- 
 ticut, in their glorious and successful struggle 
 for independence, have shared another fate than 
 victory had the English and the Hessian foe re- 
 turned their fire with Hopkins & Allen's auto- 
 matic, double-action, 44-calibre army revolvers ? 
 The question is a needless one, as " all who run 
 can read" that the immense and ever-increasing 
 success of the Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing 
 Co. is one due entirely to their untiring and 
 ceaseless perseverance to attain all that is newest 
 
312 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND IXDUSTMAI 
 
 and most complete in their particular branch of 
 science. The Hopkins and Allen Manufacturing 
 Co. has been established in its present fine build- 
 ing for the past five years, previous to which 
 time it was located at what are known as the 
 "Falls." The President is Mr. H. A. Briggs; 
 Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Chas. W. Hopkins; 
 Directors, H. A. Briggs, C. W. Hopkins, Samuel 
 S. Hopkins, C. H. Allen, Jno. E. Warner, Milan 
 Hurlburt, Wm. Hurlburt, and Superintendent 
 Mr. Samuel S. Hopkins, each and all of whom 
 have had an experience of years, added to great 
 natural ability. The Hopkins <fe Allen Co. are 
 the largest manufacturers of firearms in Norwich. 
 Their factory takes in an entire block, and is 
 bounded by Franklin street on the east, Willow 
 street on the south, and Chestnut street on the 
 west, the street on the north side not being cut 
 through as yet. The buildings were erected in 
 the years 1860 and 1862, and cover a plot of 
 ground equal to two hundred feet square, or six- 
 teen lots, in the heart of the city, having streets 
 on three sides. The main building is of brick, 
 three stories, basement, and aUic, 220 x 60, with 
 an L on north side 100 x 35, having slate roof 
 and brick cornice. The floors are very heavily 
 timbered. The windows are 4x8 feet and 5 
 feet apart, there being handsome dormer win- 
 dows in the roof, the whole being surmounted by 
 a tasteful cupola, having an attractive slate roof. 
 The wing on Chestnut street is three stories 
 high, being built of brick 100 x 35 feet, and lias 
 a gravel roof with wooden cornice. The second 
 story of the wing is level with the ground on the 
 west side. Connected witli the first story are six 
 large brick vaults. The boiler and engine 
 houses are each one story, built of brick, and 
 having gravel roofs and woodeu cornices. There 
 are also large sheds, used for storage, etc. The 
 power consists of a Corliss' upright tubular 
 boiler, rated at 140-horse power, and certified to 
 100 pounds pressure. The engine was built by 
 Cranston & Bates, having a cylinder of eighteen 
 inches, and stroke five feet, with speed of forty- 
 seven revolutions. Connected are the usual 
 pumps, a Water's heater and Judson governor. 
 The heating is done by exhaust throughout, with 
 the usual facilities for live steam. The fire 
 apparatus is particularly well appointed, and 
 consists of three-inch vortical pipes on north 
 side and west end of tho main building, both 
 with 2J-inch hydrant, and platforms at each 
 story, and iron-ladders reaching to tho roof, 
 supplied from the city reservoir witli ninety feet 
 pressure, added to which aro about six hundred 
 feet of linen hose. Aside from its varied me- 
 chanical perfections, the building has a history, 
 having been occupied as tho " Norwich Armory" 
 during tho war of secession. The Hopkins & 
 Allen Company turn out on an average twelve 
 thousand perfect arms monthly, and to the 
 casual or critical visitor a portion of a day spent 
 at their manufactory cannot fail to be both in- 
 structive and highly gratifying. The Company 
 employ on an average two hundred men, which 
 number is of course increased at their busy 
 season. They have a nominal cash capital of 
 8125,000, and the annual business done will 
 exceed $200,000. Mr. Chas. W. Hopkins, the 
 
 genial secretary and treasurer, is as cordial and 
 affablo in his manner as he is straightforward 
 and competent in his business, a gentleman, 
 still in tho prime of life, at the head of the largest 
 establishment of its kind in his native city, he is 
 everywhere both respected and admired. Hav- 
 ing served as selectman, and being a prominent 
 member of the brotherhood of Free Masons, he 
 is also conspicuous in his identity with the 
 Sachem Street Methodist Church, in which for 
 years he has manifested a live and devoted in- 
 terest, and in which he now fills tho post of 
 secretary and treasurer. Mr. S. S. Hopkins, his 
 brother, is also a gentleman closely identified 
 with all that is pure and high-miuded in his 
 native city, serving with satisfaction and dis- 
 tinction for three years as a member of the 
 common council, and an ardent and interested 
 member of the Park Congregational Church, 
 where he is one of the society committee. A 
 Freemason of years stauding, it would bo diffi- 
 cult to find two gentlemen in any community 
 who, by thoir positions both social and mercan- 
 tile, by the example of their lives, and the pre- 
 cept of their oode, more gonuinoly deserve, not 
 only the respect and esteem, but also the encomi- 
 ums and acclamation of their compeers and 
 fellow-citizens, than the brothers Hopkins. Mr. 
 Briggs, tho president of the company, is a 
 gentleman of wide business experience, and a 
 clever financier. Although not a native of Nor- 
 wich ho has long been identified with her 
 interests, and as an example of the confidence 
 which is felt in him by his party he is now one 
 of tho city's board of aldermen. As president of 
 the Hopkins & Allen Company his deep insight 
 and knowledge of financial matters is of vast 
 benefit, and his influence is felt in many ways 
 for good. Socially, politically, and in a business 
 way, Mr. Briggs can claim the hearty supiiort 
 and suffrage of all his fellow citizens, and ono 
 may search far and long ere they find a corpora- 
 tion so ably administered, and so gracefully 
 officered, as the Hopkins & Allen Company. 
 
 Geo. Lippitl & Co., Wholesale Grocers, Nos. 
 23 and 25 Water Street.— One of the oldest and 
 quaintost buildings in the city — a large pea-green 
 structure with an enormous roof, and a " cock loft," 
 is the wholesale grocery store of George Lippitt & 
 Co., Nos. 23 and 25 Water street. Itis three stories 
 high, some thirty by ninety feet, with the gable 
 end towards the street, and the rear facing tho 
 dock and railway, thus making the store convenient 
 for receiving and shipping goods. The house is 
 called the old Backus & Norton building, and is 
 also known as the " Old Backus store." It is the 
 oldest wholesale grocery house in the city, and was 
 founded by Backus & Norton. This firm was suc- 
 ceeded by Cady <fc Hammond, who wore in business 
 some six years, the firm name changing in 1801 to 
 Hammond & Huntington. Six years later it be- 
 came Hammond & Co., and in four or five years 
 more was changed to Lippitt <fc Hammond. This 
 last firm continued in business for nine ycars.whon 
 it was succeeded in 1881 by George Lippitt & Co., 
 the junior partner being Mr. B. P. Bishop, a young 
 gentleman born in Norwich. This long-known 
 and reliable house deals largely in groceries, provis- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 313 
 
 ions, fish, salt, woodenwarc, etc., which are sold 
 exclusively at wholesale. Having a large trade it 
 handles annually immense quantities of these goods, 
 and supplies a large region of country in Connec- 
 ticut. Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Mr. Geo. 
 Lippitt, the senior partner, is a gentleman of mid- 
 dle life, a native of Killingly, Conn., hut for a num- 
 ber Of yean a resident of Webster, Mass., where he 
 was also in the grocery business. He came to this 
 city in 18(>0, where he has resided eversince, attend- 
 ing strictly to business, and winning a wide per- 
 sonal popularity as well as a business success. 
 
 Hislop, Portions «V : Mitchell, Drv Goods 
 Merchants, Nos. 168-174 Main Street, 50-54 Water 
 Street. — The greatest business success which has ever 
 been known in Norwich, one which has revolution- 
 ized the dry goods trade in that city, has been 
 accomplished during the past ten years by the 
 young and enterprising house of Hislop, Porteous 
 «fc Mitchell. In April, 1873, these three young 
 Scotch gentlemen came to the city from Hartford, 
 and opened a small store at No. 170 Main street. 
 They came to this country about fourteen years 
 ago, from Scotland, and were clerks with Brown, 
 Thompson & Co., in Hartford, where they gained 
 their first experience. 
 
 With a small capital, a determination to succeed, 
 and the ability to do so, they began business in 
 Norwich with the motto, "one price to all — quick 
 sales and small profits." The field was well occu- 
 pied in the city, and the public was apparently 
 satisfied with the way the dry goods business was 
 conducted. In an old town, like Norwich, business 
 gets into a rut, and an innovation is seldom thought 
 of. To-day this new house is at the head of 
 business in eastern Connecticut, and has branch 
 houses in New London, Ct., and Auburn, N. Y. 
 Several young men who have graduated from this 
 house, have established business for themselves at 
 Wilkesbarre, Pa., Binghamton, N. Y., Youngstown, 
 Ohio, and Lafayette and Fort Wayne, Indiana, all 
 of whom are doing a successful business. And the 
 young men who began ten years ago, standing at 
 the head of a large, established and ever increasing 
 business. They now purchase the bulk of their 
 domestic goods at first hands, taking them directly 
 from the manufacturers, while they import from 
 Europe their own silks, dress goods, shawls, black 
 cashmeres, Irish linens, Nottingham laces, Ham- 
 burgs, fancy buttons, and other lines of goods, 
 which they sell as low as any other house in the 
 country. The public soon discovered where the 
 best goods and the greatest bargains could be 
 obtained, and before a year had passed, more shelf 
 room was needed for the increasing stock of the 
 house. In two years and a half, their room had 
 been doubled by leasing two rooms on the floor 
 beneath, and adding a jobbing department to their 
 retailing business. In 1879, the house leased a 
 large store and room in the Bulletin building 
 adjoining, which they connected by cutting an 
 archway through the walls. 
 
 In March, 1883, this prosperous and progressive 
 house was again obliged to enlarge its quarters, 
 and leased the spacious store in Rockwell's build- 
 ing, formerly occupied by N. & L. S. Winslow. 
 The store now consists of six large rooms, occupy- 
 ing three buildings, and covering a floor space of 
 
 one-fourth of an acre, and extending from 108-174 
 Main street, and from 50-54 Water street. The 
 store is now divided into the following depart- 
 ments : No. 168 Main street is devoted to silks, black 
 goods, colored dress goods, gloves, handkerchiefs, 
 and dress linings. No. 170 Main street contains a 
 line of hosiery, underwear, gentlemen's furnishing 
 goods, Hamburgs, ribbons, parasols, umbrellas, 
 laces, trimmings, corsets, Yankee notions, etc. 
 Room 172 Main street, down stairs, is filled with 
 prints, ginghams, cretonnes, shawls, cloaks, ladies' 
 underwear, calico wrappers, etc. Boom 174 Main 
 street, down stairs, is occupied with flannels, sheet- 
 ings, linens, towels, bedspreads, Nottingham laces, 
 cloakings, table oil cloths, cassimeres, Kentucky 
 jeans, etc. The rooms at 50 and 54 Water street, 
 contain the entire stock of the various departments 
 in duplicate, and are devoted to the jobbing trade. 
 Here buyers from the Bait and the West can be 
 found, the same as in the large New York houses. 
 It is not an unusual thing for this house to ship 
 goods to points west of the Bocky mountains. 
 The Norwich store, which began with seven clerks, 
 now lias a force of forty-five, as well as the auto- 
 matic cash system, which dispenses with cash boys. 
 The New London store and the establishment at 
 Auburn, New York, have each upward of thirty 
 clerks. 
 
 The old-time clerks of this establishment, who 
 have entered business for themselves, buy largely 
 from the house in Norwich, where they gained the 
 experience which has fitted them for the success 
 which they are all meeting with. 
 
 This store now keeps from eight to twelve times 
 the amount of goods originally kept in stock, and 
 the volume of business has increased seven fold in 
 the short space of ten years. The history of this 
 firm shows an unequaled business triumph, while 
 it has completely revolutionized the dry goods 
 trade in Norwich. Mr. James Hislop resides in 
 New London, and manages the store in that city. 
 
 Mr. John Porteous buys the goods, and has the 
 reputation of being one of the shrewdest buyers in 
 the market. Mr. Archibald Mitchell looks after 
 the running of the Norwich store, and is popular 
 with its home patrons. Mr. W. B. Hislop has 
 charge of the Auburn store. Thus at the end of 
 ten years, this firm finds itself the proprietor of 
 three large houses, employing upward of one hun- 
 dred clerks, and doing a constantly increasing 
 business. Not a dry goods house that was doing 
 business in Norwich in 1873, when this house 
 opened its doors, is in the field to-day. 
 
 " Cooley's Weekly."— This large and hand- 
 some paper, of thirty-two columns, was started July 
 15, 1876, by the veteran printer and publisher, 
 John E. Cooley. Ho gave it his whole attention, 
 and soon made it a success. It takes front rank 
 among the leading journals of the State. Since 
 1800 it lias been conducted by John E. Cooley, Jr. 
 Mr. David S. Adams is the editor. 
 
 Goodwin «V Parker, Manufacturers of Ma- 
 chine-Cut Corks. — Looking back over a period of 
 time which covers a decade and a quarter, we find 
 that in the year 1868 Messrs. Richard Goodwin 
 and Guilford Parker first established their manu- 
 factory for machine-cut corks, in Greenville, which 
 
314 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 is now a part of the city of Norwich. Their efforts 
 in furthering this important manufacture being 
 successful, they removed, after a number of years, 
 to the city proper, and after Mr. Goodwin's death, 
 in the year 1880, his son, Richard F. Goodwin, be- 
 came a member of the firm. Mr. R. F. Goodwin 
 not only inherited his father's prudence and fore- 
 sight, but also his interest in the business, which is 
 now continued under the firm name of Goodwin & 
 Parker, who carry on the manufacture of every 
 variety of corks at their present, well-appointed 
 factory, in the rear of No. 27 Main street. Occu- 
 pying a space, as they do, exceeding 2,000 square 
 feet, with every facility and appliance in the way 
 of the latest and most approved machinery, their 
 past and present successes are simply a matter of 
 course. 
 
 Messrs. Goodwin & Parker constantly employ 
 ten workmen, and in their busy season the force is 
 proportionately increased. When one considers to 
 what varied and multifarious uses corks are now 
 put, some little idea may be had of the business 
 which makes their manufacture a specialty. In 
 the house of Messrs. Goodwin & Parker are to be 
 found constantly on hand corks for all bottling 
 purposes, as well as granulated corks, corking 
 machines, and seine corks, which are such an im- 
 portant accessory to the successful hauls of large 
 nets. At a low estimate the annual business done 
 by this firm will average fifteen thousand dollars, 
 and is rapidly increasing each year. Mr. Richard 
 F. Goodwin, although a very young man, is full of 
 energy and ambition, and is thoroughly at home 
 in the business which he so ably administers, hav- 
 ing gained his knowledge from his earlier associa- 
 tion with li is father in Greenville. Being a native 
 of Norwich, and universally respected, he is sure 
 of reaching the "top of the ladder," for which so 
 many strive in vain. 
 
 His partner and able coadjutor, Mr. Guilford Par- 
 ker, although born in Mansfield, Conn., lias passed 
 most of his life in the city of his adoption, and has 
 become so identified with both as a representative 
 business man, and socially as to enjoy the confi- 
 dence and esteem of all with whom he is asso- 
 ciated. 
 
 Lester & Wasley, Manufacturers of Patent 
 Self-Gumming Kn velope Machinery, Franklin street. 
 — That Norwich industries are steadily and pros- 
 perously progressing the complete establishment of 
 Messrs. Lester & Wasley is a living and potent 
 illustration. In the firm mentioned we have the 
 example of what a steady purpose united with 
 business energy, and a sterling honesty may effect. 
 Messrs. Lester & Wasley are gentlemen yet in the 
 " noon of life," who by combining all those 
 elements of character and disposition which go tc 
 make a perfect whole, have realized as their re- 
 ward the "Summer Arcanum," which is the dream 
 of all whose motto is Progress. Before entering 
 on a business career these gentlemen learned prac- 
 tically, and in all its branches and ramifications the 
 particular industry which conjointly they now so 
 worthily represent. For years they were among 
 the most skillful machinists in the employ of the 
 Allen Manufacturing Company, upon the dissolu- 
 tion of which, in the year 1874, they stepped to the 
 front, and have together, for the past nine years, 
 
 clearly proved to their friends and the world at 
 large, that the experience previously gained was 
 not simply of a mechanical nature, but was also 
 largely composed of a sound and general business- 
 knowledge, which forcibly demonstrated in the 
 rapid and ever increasing proportions which their 
 business has assumed. Messrs. Lester & Wasley 
 are the leading manufacturers in the United States 
 of Patent Self-Gumming Envelope Machinery, a 
 branch of mechanical science which has been al- 
 most entirely developed during the past quarter of 
 the century, and whose importance even to the 
 superficial observer of the march of progress cannot 
 fail to produce a very decided impression. They 
 occupy a very complete and commodious establish- 
 ment, located at No. 48 Franklin street, and cm- 
 ploy on a short average fifteen skilled mechanics, 
 turning out annually thirty perfected machines, the 
 price of which varies from twelve to fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars each, and which are sent not only 
 through the United States but to foreign countries. 
 Mr. Lester is a native of Norwich, and has passed 
 his life in perfecting his knowledge of mechanics, 
 and it is no empty compliment to say that in his 
 especial branch both theoretically and practically 
 lie has mastered them. He is a prominent Free- 
 mason, having taken the thirty-second degree, and 
 in all affairs, both business and social, he is looked 
 upon as a rising and useful member of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 Mr. Wasley is a native of London, England, and 
 has the advantage of combining the dogged perse- 
 verance of the Anglo-Saxon race with the more 
 volatile and at the same time progressive energy of 
 the native American. Coming out here at a very 
 early age he has, as a matter of course, formed all 
 his most lasting and permanent impressions by the 
 examples of imperishable achievement, of which 
 the present age has been so magnificently prolific. 
 Like his partner, Mr. Lester, he developed at an 
 early age his love for machinery, the intricacies of 
 which he has perseveringly studied until his labors 
 have attained the present gratifying results. Mr. 
 Wasley is a prominent Freemason, and is also a 
 devout and active member of the Episcopal Church, 
 where he gracefully and efficiently fills the office 
 of vestryman. As the cycles of time sweep on, 
 and men whose lives have been devoted to honest 
 industry and useful endeavors, are remembered by 
 their descendants, and held aloft as an example to 
 be copied and revered, none of the citizens of 
 Norwich can more justly anticipate such posthu- 
 mous remembrance than can the respective mem- 
 bers of the firm of Lester & Wasley, who, by an 
 unblemished record and an unimpeachable veracity, 
 proved the triteness of the old saw, that " honesty 
 and industry are the best policy." 
 
 AV 11 lard Trowhridge, Contractor, Carpen- 
 ter and Builder, No. 21 Franklin Street. — The 
 large number of elegant and noticeable buildings, 
 both public and private, which are such an import- 
 ant feature of the City of Norwich, bear ample 
 evidence of the skill and efficiency of her contrac- 
 tors and builders. Occupying a position of honor 
 and esteem among his contemporaries stands Mr. 
 Willard Trowbridge, who has been engaged in his 
 business of contractor and builder for the past five 
 years, occupying his present commodious quarters 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 315 
 
 at No. 21 Franklin street, the area of which is 
 seventy by thirty feet, and employing thirty skilled 
 mechanics. Although not as long in the field as 
 some of his compeers, Mr. Trowbridge is, by close 
 attention to business and an intimate knowledge of 
 all the requirement! necessary to gain success, grad- 
 ually and surely building a reputation for careful 
 and capable endeavors well performed, giving a 
 satisfaction which is positive of plating him in the 
 front rank of his calling ere many years have 
 elapsed. The annual business done, on a short 
 estimate, now amounts to the very gratifying sum 
 of $20,000, and at the present rate of increase will 
 soon be mentioned as double that sum. Previous 
 to engaging in business for himself Mr. Trowbridge 
 learned practically the rudiments of his occupa- 
 tion, having served his time as a journeyman car- 
 penter, and thoroughly mastering all its difficul- 
 ties. The old saying that "One must first learn to 
 obey before he is fitted to command," being uni- 
 versally admitted a true one, would apply in many 
 ways to the object of this sketch. Mr. Trowbridge 
 having learned obedience himself is all the better 
 prepared to successfully inculcate it in his em- 
 ployees. Being only thirty-two years of age, he 
 lias a long life before him in which to realize the 
 reward and fruits of a career so successfully begun. 
 Mr. Trowbridge is a native of Eastford, and before 
 learning his trade was engaged with his father in 
 tilling the paternal acres. lie has lived in Norwich 
 during tlie past thirteen years, and lias always borne 
 a character which has been beyond reproach. In 
 1874 he was a member of Company C of the Nor- 
 wich militia, and at present is closely identified 
 with the Kitemaug Social Club, whose fine club 
 house on the Thames is frequently the scene of 
 much wholesome and social enjoyment. 
 
 Hilton & Bidwell, Carriage Manufacturers, 
 Nos. !)and 11 Bath Street.— In the year 1845 the 
 firm of Messrs. Hilton & Bidwell first commenced 
 business as carriage manufacturers in Norwich, 
 and since that time, a period covering thirty-eight 
 years, they have successfully, honorably, and unin- 
 terruptedly plied their vocation, constantly improv- 
 ing in their productions, until at the present time 
 they have reached a position and earned the repu- 
 tation for building any vehicle in their line of man- 
 ufacture which is second to no other establishment 
 in Norwich. They occupy the premises situate at 
 Nos. 9 and 11 Bath street, where they have every 
 convenience and improvement for the most ad- 
 vanced production of all kinds of carriages, road 
 wagons, and, in fact, vehicles of every class and de- 
 scription. In the rear of the factory are large and 
 commodious store-rooms for completed work, an 
 inspection of which bears ample testimony to their 
 thorough and complete modes of construction. The 
 firm's capital stock is valued at $20,000, and they 
 do an annual business amounting to $10,000 to 
 812,000, employing eight experienced and skillful 
 workmen. 
 
 Mr. Hilton, the pioneer and senior member of the 
 firm, was born at Norwich in the year 1817, and at 
 the age of sixteen learned the trade of carriage- 
 maker, which gives him an experience extending 
 through half a century. Although never actively en- 
 gaging himself in public affairs he has always occu- 
 
 pied a high position in the respect and regard of 
 his fellow-citizens. 
 
 Mr. Bidwell is an old and prominent member of 
 the Second Congregational Church, in whose wel- 
 fare he has long been interested. He is a gentleman 
 who employs his entire time to the improvement and 
 efficient conduct of his business. A native of Man- 
 chester, Connecticut, he came, at an early age, to 
 Norwich, and has lived to become one of her rep- 
 resentative citizens. 
 
 hoc & Osgood, Wholesale ami Betail Drug- 
 gists, Nos. 146 and 148 Main Street. — The large 
 and important drug house of Lee & Osgood was 
 founded something like 100 years ago by Dr. 
 Ripley on the very spot where it now stands. 
 It has* grown with the population of the country 
 and its needs, until now it is the largest in the 
 city, and ranks with similar houses in Boston 
 and New York. It is obliged to carry a larger 
 stock of goods than the great city houses, since 
 it must be a complete establishment within it- 
 self, able to supply all demands. 
 
 After Dr. Ripley gave up the business it was 
 carried on for many years by his sons, who in 
 time were succeeded by Levings & Huntington. 
 In 1842 this firm was bought out by Lee & 
 Osgood, which firm name is still continued, al- 
 though Hon. Hugh H. Osgood is now the solo 
 proprietor. 
 
 The store is a brick building, sixty feet front 
 on Main street, and oxtending back 105 feet to 
 Water street. When the rebuilding of the prem- 
 ises is completed, the process now (1883) going 
 on, it will be five stories high, and altogether 
 the largest and handsomest store of its kind in 
 the city. It is divided into a wholesale and 
 retail department, with a prescription room, and 
 large rooms for stock. The house handles an 
 immense amount of kerosene oil, which is not 
 brought to the store, but is shipped in largo 
 quantities to customers in other towns and cities. 
 
 The house also keeps a supply of chemicals, 
 acids, paints, oils, varnishes, window glass, 
 brushes, popular patent medicines, including 
 Lee's pills, a pure line of drugs and mineral 
 spring waters. This house has a large country 
 to supply, including the northeastern portion of 
 the State and a section of Massachusetts. 
 
 Mr. Osgood, or Major Osgood, as ho is known, 
 was born in Warwick some sixty years ago, and 
 has always resided in the city. Ho learned the 
 trade of druggist when a young man, and has 
 always kept at it. He has held the office of 
 mayor of Norwich for seven or eight years, and 
 is the present mayor, 1883. 
 
 This house, during the century of its existence, 
 has gained a reputation for the purity of its ar- 
 ticles and its honorable dealing, which enables 
 it to hold the trade against all competition from 
 whatever quarter it may come. 
 
 Weldon, stark & Galleher, Wholesale and 
 Retail Dealers in Dry and Fancy Goods, 5 She- 
 tucket Street. — The leading dry goods houses of 
 every community are justly entitled to considera- 
 tion and recognition as among the most important 
 of the various branches of commercial industry 
 which eDgage the capital and occupy the attention 
 
31C 
 
 TEE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 ■of our merchants. Appealing as it dots to every 
 household in the land for support, this branch of 
 trade cannot be ignored in a review of the in- 
 dustrial and commercial interests of the beautiful 
 city of Norwich, nor can a brief deseriptivc sketch 
 of the representative establishment of Messrs. 
 Wcldon, Stark & Galleher be omitted without in- 
 justice to one of the most worthy and favorably 
 known business houses of this city. The present 
 firm succeeded Messrs. C. B. Piatt & Co. in 1882, 
 the latter firm having occupied the store for the 
 past eighteen years. Two stories of the building 
 at No. 5 Shctucket street are used by them. The 
 first floor, which is sixty feet deep by thirty in 
 width, is devoted to hosiery, kid gloves, sun um- 
 brellas, parasols, ladies' muslin underwear, corsets, 
 handkerchiefs, laces, ties, Hamburgs, notions of 
 every description, and white goods of all kinds. 
 The second floor, twenty by twenty-five, is devoted 
 to silks and dress goods, of which the (inn make a 
 specialty. In connection with this department is a 
 large and conveniently-arranged waiting room, 
 which is a great convenience to out of town patrons. 
 The firm does a business amounting to §75,000 a 
 year, which is constantly increasing, and at present 
 necessitates the employment of sixteen persons. 
 Messrs. Weldon and Stark are both natives of Nor- 
 wich, and up to the time of entering business were 
 employed as clerks in the Boston Store, with ex- 
 ception of two years, during which Mr. Weldon 
 conducted the hat business. Mr. Galleher is a 
 native of Palmer, Mass. Measrs. Weldon and Gal- 
 leher are both members of the Young Men's So- 
 dality and Literary Society. The combined ages 
 of the three partners is less than seventy-five years, 
 but their extensive acquaintance, excellent knowl- 
 edge of business, push and enterprise have already 
 placed them in a high position in the mercantile 
 world, while society accords them one and all a 
 prominent position in its ranks. 
 
 J. 0. "Worth & Co., Wholesale Dealers in 
 Tropical Fruits, Nos. 17-21 Market Street.— On the 
 1st of May, 1883, the long-established fruit house of 
 -J. C. Worth became a wholesale house, and moved 
 into the large brick building which is now occupied 
 by J. C. Worth & Co., on the east side of Market 
 atreet. Mr. C. L. Offenhciser was admitted to the 
 firm at the opening of the present store. For the 
 past ten years Mr. Worth had occupied a house on 
 the west side, but as the growing business demanded 
 « larger space, new premises were taken. The 
 room now occupied is a double store, 40 x 00 feet, 
 with two floors. This is the only house in the city 
 that makes a specialty of tropical, foreign and 
 domestic fruits. Everything in that line is dealt 
 in, the same as by a similar New York house. 
 Mr. Worth, the senior partner, was born in the 
 Azores. When seven years of age he came to 
 America; for six year she lived in Boston, where he 
 was educated, and later spent a year in Providence. 
 He came to Norwich in 1860, and has been engaged 
 in his present business for the last ten years. His 
 partner, Mr. C. L. Offenheiser, was born in Albany. 
 His father runs a fruit store at 92 Barclay street, 
 New York. It was there that Mr. Offenheiser 
 learned the business, before joining Mr. Worth in 
 this city. Botli gentlemen have a practical knowl- 
 
 edge of the business, and have secured a largo 
 trade with the surrounding country. 
 
 Henry Allen & Sons, Undcrtakers,No.l59 Main 
 Street. — While at times this branch of industry may 
 not furnish a cheerful subject for contemplation it 
 is still gratifying to know that when the hour of 
 bereavement comes, (as come it must) there are to be 
 found competent and efficient parties, who thorough- 
 ly comprehend the situation and can assume the 
 management of the last, sad rites in accordance with 
 the rules of strict decorum and propriety, thus 
 relieving the immediate friends of the deceased from 
 responsibility in the hour of trial. The leading, 
 oldest and most extensive establishment of this class 
 in the city of Norwich is that of Messrs. Henry 
 Allen & Sons, at No. 159 Main street, up-stairs. 
 This house was founded in 1802, by Mr. Henry 
 Allen, who in 1871 associated with him in the 
 business his son Amos 1). Allen, and during the 
 present year a younger son, Mr. William H. Allen 
 lias been taken into the firm. Their facilities for 
 the expeditious and satisfactory conduct of the 
 business are unrivaled by those of any contempo- 
 raneous establishment, having extensive warerooms, 
 and workshops, four line hearses (one of which cost 
 the large sum of $1,600, and for beauty of finish 
 and elegance in trimmings is unsurpassed if equaled 
 by any similar establishment in the State). The 
 stock of this extensive business house is large and 
 all the modern improvements that have been found 
 practical in conducting the business have been 
 added from time to time, until the establishment is 
 now as strongly equipped as any in its line in this 
 section of the State. Mr. Henry Allen was born in 
 Windham, Conn., in 1807, and though nearly 
 seventy-six years of age is remarkably well pre- 
 served and enjoys that blessing of inestimable value, 
 good health. He came to Norwich when seventeen 
 years of age, and has since that time been closely 
 identified with its business and social interests, and 
 is an active and prominent member (as are the other 
 members of his family) of the Second Congregation- 
 al Church, which he joined at an early age. Starting 
 at the bottom round of the ladder, meeting with 
 innumerable obstacles, he has continued to perse- 
 vere and press forward in the battle of life and has 
 fairly won, by exertions under which many men 
 would have succumbed, not only a competency of 
 this world's goods, but an enviable reputation in 
 the business world and society which ho can hand 
 down with just pride to the generations that are 
 to follow him. M. Amos 1). Allen is a native of 
 Norwich, and has been associated in business with 
 his father for the past twelve years. He is fully 
 qualified by his ample experience, and those quali- 
 ties of mind and heart so essential to success in his 
 profession, to follow in the footsteps of his sire and 
 to retain for the business that privilege which is the 
 result of many hard years of toil, untiring energy, 
 and rectitude of character, which have placed it 
 among the leading houses in its line in this section 
 of (he State, while the high esteem and respect in 
 which his younger brother is held by a large circle 
 of friends and acquaintances will give additional 
 luster to the already bright record of the house. 
 
 George W. Kies,Hoots, Shoes and Rubbers, No. 
 109 Main Street. — One of the best and most favor- 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 317 
 
 ably known hoot and shoe stores in Norwich, is the 
 establishment of Mr. George W. Kies, wlio started 
 in business at this location in 1860. The store is 
 situated directly opposite the post-ollice, and is one 
 of the most centrally located in the city. The sales- 
 room is 70 x 20 feet in area, and is filled with a large 
 and carefully selected stock of all the latest styles 
 of boots, shoes and rubbers. The annual sale of 
 this well and favorably known house reach the 
 handsome figure of $30,000, and are increasing 
 year by year. Mr. Kies was born in Daniel- 
 sonville. Conn., and is fifty-five years of age. He 
 has been identified with the business interests of 
 Norwich for thirty years, and has built up a fine 
 business and gained an enviable and prominent 
 position, both in business and social circles, by a 
 straightforward, conscientious life, and a strict 
 adherence to the golden rule. At the early age of 
 fourteen he became a member of the Congregational 
 Church, in which he has since remained, and by an 
 earnest and sincere Christian life has endeared him- 
 self to every member of the society, and by always 
 being ready to extend a helping hand to alleviate 
 the suffering and distress of his fellow-man, has 
 placed himself unostentatiously among the most 
 highly respected and esteemed citizens of Norwich. 
 
 J. P. Collins & Co., Turbine Water Wheels, 
 Thames Street. — One of the important manufactur- 
 ing establishments on Thames street, close by the river 
 and the railway, is the Turbine Water Wheel 
 factory of J. P. Collins & Co. The manufacture 
 of these wheels was begun in Troy, N. Y., some 
 thirty-three years ago. The business was removed 
 to this city thirteen or fourteen years ago. The 
 main shop, where the ctstings are fitted and the 
 wheels put together, is aline structure, 100x45 feet; 
 while across the street are long buildings almost 
 entirely filled with patterns. Every turbine wheel 
 is made to order, for which special patterns have to 
 be provided. The castings arc not made on the 
 premises. Wheels are manufactured from twelve 
 inches to twelve feet in diameter. They are sent 
 to all parts of the United States and Mexico, and 
 have a high reputation as the Collins-Jouval Tur- 
 bine Water Wheel. Twenty-five hands are em- 
 ployed, and the wheels produced give entire satis- 
 faction. 
 
 Li. W. Carroll & Son, Manufacturers' Sup- 
 plies, Wool, Cotton, Etc., Nos.9-13 Water Street- 
 One of the largest and most substantial buildings 
 on Water street is the double fire-proof store at Nos. 
 9, 11 and 13, extending to the dock in the rear, 
 whereit issix stories high, the street front being four 
 stories high. It is at least 120 feet deep, by 40 wide, 
 and is divided into cellars, rooms and lofts, each de- 
 voted to MOM specialty of the house. This store 
 belongs to L. W. Carroll, and was built for its 
 present use in 1803, by Mr. L. W. Carroll, who 
 founded the house in 1843. In 1876 the firm be- 
 came L. W. Carroll & Son, Mr. A. P. Carroll 
 having been admitted to partnership. This house 
 deals largely in cotton and wool, handling annually 
 some 10,001) bales of the former, and from half a 
 million to one million pounds of the latter. It is 
 the only cotton commission house in the city. The 
 cotton is sold by sample, and shipped from the 
 South to the mills in the East. Mr. L. W. Carroll 
 
 is the owner of the Griswold cotton mill, near the 
 city, which runs 9,500 spindles and 238 looms, pro- 
 ducing something like 50,000 yards of print cloth 
 each week. The wool dealt in by this house is 
 purchased in Texas, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and 
 Connecticut, and is as fine as any that can be had 
 in the United States. A good deal of Texas wool 
 is received on consignment. Besides dealing in 
 cotton and wool this house carries a full line of 
 manufacturers' supplies, also a full line of dress 
 stuffs, and chemicals used in manufacturing, paints, 
 glass, oils of all kinds, and it also deals heavily in 
 kerosene oil, having a largo oil cellar besides the 
 cellar in the Water street store. Mr. L. W. Carroll 
 was born in Thompson, Conn., but came to Norwich 
 when a young man, and began his business in a 
 small way. His wife was a daughter of Mr. J. A. 
 Pope, now eighty-six years of age, who was one of 
 the first spinners of cotton in this country. Mr. 
 Carroll has prospered in business, and become a 
 man of wealth, noted for his liberality. He is a 
 prominent memberof the Baptist Church, and gives 
 bountifully towards its support. . He is the presi- 
 dent of the First National Bank of Norwich, and 
 first vice-president of the old Norwich Savings 
 Bank. Mr. A. P. Carroll, the junior member of 
 the firm was born in Norwich about thirty years 
 ago, and was educated at Brown University in 
 Providence, II. I. He has a practical knowledge 
 of the business, learned under the instruction of his 
 father, and is a gentleman of intelligence and cul- 
 ture. 
 
 James Dawson, Jr., Dealer in Meats, 
 Poultry and Game, No. 43 East Main Street— 
 Centrally located on the main street, is the commo- 
 dious market of James Dawson, Jr., whose busi- 
 ness in the line of meats, poultry and game, is 
 unsurpassed by any similar establishment in 
 Norwich, occupying as it does a conspicuous site 
 on the chief business thoroughfare of the city. 
 The present market has been occupied by Mr. 
 Dawson for the past three years, previous to which 
 he was engaged in the same business in Market 
 street, and prior to that he received his earliest 
 experience and training in that ancient and honor- 
 able institution, with its almost historical record, 
 and known to thousands of housewives and 
 caterers as Washington Market, New York City. 
 
 It is hardly surprising that a man being the 
 graduate of such a school of experience in his 
 especial avocation should successfully defeat all 
 obstacles, and meet with the success which comes 
 to all who honestly and patiently temper their 
 efforts with true industry and the energy and vim 
 which is the out-growth of the nineteenth century, 
 and of which the numerous sons of Connecticut, who 
 have met the world and conquered it, are such 
 shining examples. 
 
 Mr. Dawson's present market is much larger 
 than is ordinarily devoted to the distinctive sale of 
 meat, being 75 x 35 in area, and amply provided 
 with all the accessories in the way of ice boxes 
 and refrigerators, thus rendering the absolute 
 preservation of his meat a certainty. Socially, he 
 is prominently identified with the order of the 
 Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the 
 " Teutonia Coterie," a thriving social club of the 
 city. He has also a connection, existing for 
 
318 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 years, with the Wauregan Hook and Ladder 
 Company, which has on many memorable occa- 
 sions proved itself so efficient in subduing the 
 fiery element. A native of Norwich, and a young 
 man, having not yet reached his 30th year, Mr. 
 Dawson can scarcely fail to realize in his 
 life time, that, dream of all true sons of America, 
 in perpetuating of success even to the third and 
 fourth generation, and gaining that alpha and 
 omega of every loyal citizen, which is found in 
 the satisfaction which comes with an honest record 
 and success won by one's own efforts. 
 
 Edward Chappcll & Co., Coal and Lum- 
 ber Dealers, Main Street — The largest and oldest 
 coal and lumber house in the city is that of 
 Edward Chappell & Co., established in 1840. It 
 is situated south of Main street, on the banks of 
 the Thames, and covers some five acres of 
 ground, which are used for enormous coal-sheds, 
 lumber yards, etc. The coal is delivered into 
 the sheds directly from the vessels which have 
 brought it from the shipping ports, while the 
 lumber is also unloaded upon the dock. The 
 many manufactories in Norwich, as well as the 
 citizens and the surrounding country draw their 
 coal and lumber from this yard. Mr. Chappell 
 is a native of New London, and came to this 
 city in 1837. He is one of the leading citizens 
 of Norwich in all good works, Uberal in his gifts 
 for all good causes, and unostentatious in his 
 daily life. He has associated with him Mr. E. 
 F. Chapman, who has lived in the city the past 
 thirty-five years, and Mr. A. H. Brewer, both 
 practical business men, who devote their time and 
 energy to the success of the firm. 
 
 A. W. Prentice & Co., Hardware, No. 27 
 Commerce Street — The old and extensive hard- 
 ware store of A. W. Prentice & Co. was estab- 
 lished by Mr. John Breed, in 1830, at No. 27 
 Commerce street, where the business is still 
 carried on. In 1840 the firm became John 
 Breed & Co., and in 1866 Mr. A. W. Prentice 
 succeeded to the business. Mr. Breed, the founder 
 of the house, was at one time mayor of the city. 
 The store has a front of thirty feet and a 
 depth of sixty feet, with a dock and railwav in 
 the rear. It contains four floors, and is filled 
 with every variety of hardware, including 
 Hoyt's belting, Howe's scales, plane twits drills, 
 Brown & Sharpe's machinists' tools, Johnson's 
 hand-cut files, Dupont's gunpowder, fishing 
 tackle of all kinds, sporting goods, agricultural 
 implements, etc. Mr. Amos W. Prentice has 
 lived for sixty years in this city, fifty of which 
 have been spent in connection with this store. 
 He came to Norwich to live when but six 
 years of age. About twenty-five years ago he 
 was mayor of the city, and during the 
 war he took an active part in raising troops 
 to defend the national cause, being on the 
 committee for that purpose, and chairman 
 of the patriotic fund committee. He is one of 
 the four vice-presidents of the old Norwich 
 Savings Bank, and has often represented the 
 city in the State senate and house of repre- 
 sentatives. Mr. Prentice is loved and respected 
 
 by all who know him and is justly regarded as 
 one of the foremost citizens of tho town. Mr. 
 Wm. M. Williams, who is one of tho partners, 
 has been chief engineer of the city and one of 
 the water commissioners. Mr. Luther 8. Eaton, 
 a young man of business energy and high moral 
 worth, is the junior partner. 
 
 E. K. Reynolds, China and Glassware, No. 
 128 Main Street. — A. cozy and well-fitted store, 
 much sought after by the cultured and art-loving 
 people of the city, is the china and glassware house 
 of E. K. Reynolds, at No. 128 Main street, a 
 good and central location for business. This shop 
 is a veritable museum of fancy, useful and orna- 
 mental articles, containing specimens of all that is 
 novel and pretty in china, glass, crockery, silver- 
 ware, and articles suitable for wedding presents. 
 Mr. Reynolds is assisted in the conduct of the store 
 by his wife, and both have excellent taste in the 
 selection of goods, bringing to the city the best 
 which the New York and Boston markets afford. 
 All that is pretty and beautiful in the fictile arts, 
 from China, Japan, France, England and America; 
 house furnishing goods of all kinds, the celebrated 
 Meriden granite ware, lamps, globes and shades, 
 etc., can be found in this cheerful shop. The 
 house was established six years ago, and at once 
 took its place among the institutions of the city. 
 Mr. E. K. Reynolds is a native of Cecil County, 
 Maryland, and was formerly a resident of Port 
 Deposit. Mrs. Reynolds is a native of New Hamp- 
 shire, and possesses all the vivacity and energy 
 requisite for a business success. Three hands are 
 employed in the store, which is a favorite resort 
 with the citizens of Norwich. 
 
 J. F. Cosgrove & Co., Dealers in Boots, 
 Shoes and Rubbers, No. 77 Main street, Franklin 
 Square. — Under the firm name of J. F. Cosgrove 
 & Co., Mr. J. F. Cosgrove and Mr. Daniel W. Cos- 
 grove are equal partners in one of the most promi- 
 nent boot and shoe houses in Norwich. Brothel's, 
 and from early age have been closely identified 
 with their line of business, their present tine store 
 is a standing monument of their mutual business 
 skill, and of their untiring industry in producing 
 the results which need only to be seen to be ap- 
 preciated. Their present premises, which they have 
 occupied as dual proprietors for the past four years, 
 presents, with its handsome show cases, a very at- 
 tractive appearance even to the casual passer-by, 
 and consists of two floors 60 x 25 feet in area, one 
 of which is the store proper or salesroom, and the 
 other the storeroom, in which a stock valued at 
 $13,000 is annually carried over. Prior to March, 
 1878, Mr. J. F. Cosgrove was the sole owner, hav- 
 ing bought the stock and fixtures formerly owned 
 by F. B. Page & Co. Since that time and during 
 his business association with his brother, the busi- 
 ness has been Steadily increasing until it reached in 
 1882 the sum of $42,000. Mr. Daniel W. Cosgrove 
 is also the proprietor of one the largest stores of 
 the kind in Marlborough, Mass., the business done 
 being greater and the dimensions of the store more 
 extensive than tho one he is joint-partner in here. 
 As another example of Mr. D. W. Cosgrove's pros- 
 perity and business capacity he is also a large 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 :si'.» 
 
 owner in the fine boot and shoe house which is 
 located on the corner of Church and Crown streets, 
 New Haven, Conn., (he having for partners two 
 other brothers) the area of which is 110 x 35 feet, 
 and which does an annual business amounting to 
 nearly $100,000. In the brothers Cosgrove all who 
 know anything of their lives and characters will 
 most unqualifiedly agree as to their industry and 
 their well merited success. Born in Dublin, 
 Ireland, but at the early age of eight years coming 
 to this country and at once becoming identified not 
 only with the land to which they now so cordially 
 give their allegiance, but also with the business in 
 which they still remain, they have by their un- 
 flinching resolve and fundamental honesty both 
 earned the success which is theirs, also the respect 
 of the society of which they are so justly orna- 
 ments. 
 
 The Automatic Pen Co., Patentees and 
 Sole Manufacturers of the celebrated " Nutmeg 
 Reservoir Pen," No. 16 Shetucket Street — This 
 prosperous concern, although of comparatively re- 
 cent origin, has already acquired a prominence 
 among the manufacturing interests of Norwich 
 which makes it pertinent to assume that at no dis- 
 tant date it will be found in the front rank of our 
 American industries. The Automatic Pen Co. was 
 organized in December, 1882. The patent for the 
 article manufactured was granted February 13, 
 1883, to Messrs. L. 8. Lewis and Jas. T. Goodrich, 
 who comprised the original company, and are the 
 inventors as well as patentees of the " Pen." 
 
 In March, 1883, Mr. Goodrich purchased the 
 full interest, right of patent, etc., of his partner, 
 and has since conducted the business, assisted by 
 Mr. D. L. Bailey. 
 
 The business is located in convenient apartments 
 at No. 10 Shetucket street, in the second story of 
 an imposing brick structure, known as " Bill's 
 Block." 
 
 Primarily the company manufactured a pen 
 •called "The Lewis Automatic- feed," named in 
 honor of the inventor, Mr. L. S. Lewis. This pen, 
 although conceded to be the best extant at the time 
 bad not yet reached the standard of excellence 
 desired by the manufacturers, who continued to 
 experiment and make improvements, until at last 
 through the energy and inventive genius of Mr. 
 ■Goodrich, a degree of excellence was attained, pre- 
 senting so many advantages over the original 
 " Lewis " pen that it was decided to change the 
 title to "The Nutmeg Heservoir Pen," which cog- 
 nomen, taken from the facetious title of the State, 
 it has since retained. 
 
 The "Nutmeg "is a reservoir pen, provided with a 
 perfect automatic feed, regulated by the bending of 
 the pen-points in the act of writing, which places the 
 flow of ink entirely under the control of the writer. 
 Any character, from a hair line to the heaviest 
 shade can be produced in the ordinary manner of writ- 
 ing.and no ink (lows from tho reservoir unless brought 
 from it by the action of the pen — a result not pre- 
 viously accomplished by inventors of reservoir pens. 
 A commendable feature of this pen is that it does 
 not confine the writer to an arbitrary pen ; any 
 ordinary one which will fit the holder may be used, 
 thus preserving the writer's individual hand. The 
 holder is made of hard rubber and the feeder parts 
 
 of fourteen karat gold; the entire interior of the 
 holder is utilized as a reservoir, with an ink capac- 
 ity sufficient for ten to twelve hours' continuous 
 writing. The pen is also of fourteen karat gold, 
 and fully warranted as to iridium points, writing 
 qualities, etc. 
 
 The Nutmeg Reservoir Pen Company are doing 
 a business which stretches to the utmost their fa- 
 cilities for manufacture; this penis already used 
 by all the eminent stenographers, from most of 
 whom letters of congratulation have been received. 
 It is highly commended by principals of writing 
 and stenographic schools and eminent writers of 
 the day, and in its popularity is fast superseding 
 the old style stylographic pen. 
 
 Mr. Goodrich, to whose indomitable persever- 
 ance is mainly due tho standard of excellence of the 
 " Nutmeg," is a native of Hartford. He camo to 
 Norwich in 1875, and for three years worked as a 
 contractor in the factory of the Hood Fire Arms 
 Company; in the latter part of 1882, he became 
 connected with his present business, being associated 
 with Mr. Lewis, as above stated. Having purchased 
 Mr. Lewis' interest, he now conducts the business 
 with the assistance of Mr. Bailey, a native of Rock- 
 ville, and a gentleman of eminent business and 
 social qualities. The company has foreign agents 
 at Sidney, Australia, and at Frankfort, Germany. 
 The Nutmeg Reservoir Pen was invented in Con- 
 necticut, is and has always been manufactured in 
 Connecticut, and inventors and manufacturers are 
 Connecticut men. Apropos of the above, it may be 
 said to be typical of the proverbial Yankee inven- 
 tions. 
 
 J. O. Durgan, Photographic Artist, No. 100 
 Main Street. — Nature has dealt very bountifully 
 toward Norwich. Probably no city of its size in 
 the United States can lay a just claim to such 
 diversity and beauty of scenery. It is also the 
 possessor of wealth ($8,000,000 now lying in its 
 savings banks), refinement, and culture. It also 
 has several fine photographic galleries, but only 
 one Durgan, and his fame and reputation as an 
 artist has extended throughout all portions of the 
 State until it has become to be considered not 
 "good form " to exhibit a photograph to your 
 friends that does not bear the name of " Durgan, 
 Artist," upon it. Mr. Durgan came to Norwich 
 four years ago, and succeeded Mr. W. II. Jennings 
 in the business conducted by that gentleman for 
 over thirty years. The gallery of Mr. Durgan 
 occupies a large portion of two floors in the fine 
 building at No. 100 Main street. The operating, 
 chemical and work rooms are about 54 x 90 feet 
 in dimensions, while the reception room is the 
 finest of its kind in the city, presenting a beautiful 
 view of Laurel Hill and the Shetucket river, and 
 being about 18 x 30 feet in area. A specialty is 
 made of landscape photography, and a larger and 
 finer collection cannot be found in tho city than 
 that on exhibition at this gallery. "The instan- 
 taneous process " is also successfully used, which 
 requires artistic skill and a thorough knowledge of 
 chemicals, not possessed by the ordinary photog- 
 rapher ; but Mr. Durgan is a thorough master of 
 the situation, is alive to the necessities of his pro- 
 fession, and is always upon the alert to grasp any 
 improvements that will aid him to give the public 
 satisfaction, no matter what the trouble and 
 
320 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 expense incurred may be. Mr. Durgan was born at 
 Topsham, Me., in 1834, but spent most of his boy- 
 hood at Brunswick, under the classic shades of 
 Bowdoin College. At an early age he "went 
 abroad " visiting the principal cities and points of 
 interest to be found in the old world. At nineteen 
 he entered the profession which lie lias since so 
 successfully followed, and received his first "im- 
 pressions " from Prof. Upton, of Bath, Me., one 
 of the pioneers of the dagucrreian art in this 
 country. Although but four years a resident of 
 Norwich, few men possess a larger number of 
 friends in business or social circles, and the 
 superiority of his workmanship is known and 
 appreciated for miles in every direction. 
 
 Norwich Iron Foundry, A. II. Vaughn & 
 Sons, Manufacturers of Castings of every descrip- 
 tion, No. 8 Ferry Street. — One of the oldest in- 
 dustrial establishments of this city is the Norwich 
 Iron Foundry, which was established in 1854 by A. 
 H. Vaughn, Peleg Rose, and James E. Hill, at its 
 present location, No. 8 Ferry street, and then known 
 as the Norwich Foundry Company. 
 
 The firm was dissolved in 1801, and Mr. Vaughn 
 has continued the business up to the present time, 
 the firm name now being A. EL Vaughn & Sons. 
 Mr. A. N. II. Vaughn being admitted into the firm 
 in 1874, and Mr. C. W. Vaughn in 1881. The 
 foundry buildings cover nearly an acre of ground, 
 and employment is given to fifty men. The firm 
 manufacture water and steam pipes, gas-light posts, 
 columns for buildings, and castings of every 
 description. They also make patterns to order. 
 Mr. A. II. Vaughn, the senior member of the firm, 
 was born in Providence, B. I., in 1828. He came 
 to Norwicli in 1844 and was for ten years in the 
 foundry business in the employ of Mr. A. T. Pearce, 
 subsequently establishing his present business as 
 above stated. 
 
 By strict personal attention to business, the firm 
 have built up an extensive trade and secured a de- 
 sirable business reputation. 
 
 Hayward Rubber Co., Manufacturers of 
 Rubber Boots, Shoes and Arctics. Factory, Col- 
 chester, Conn. Office, Norwich. — One of the 
 most important manufacturing establishments 
 in this Bection is the Hayward Rubber Co., 
 whose factory is located at Colchester, Conn. , 
 with offices in Norwich, Conn. , at No. 1 Bank 
 block, Shetucket street. The company was in- 
 corporated April 0, 1847, with a capital of $70,- 
 000, which has been increased until at present it 
 reaches 8400,000. The officers are L. Black- 
 stone, President ; Wm. A. Buckingham, Treas- 
 urer and Secretary; Jas.Baingan,Qenoral Agent. 
 The grounds of the company extend over a 
 Bpace of ten to twelve acres, and employment is 
 given to between 650 and 700 persons. The mo- 
 tive power is furnished by two large engines, 
 one of 225 and the other 500 horse power, the 
 fly wheel of the latter being twenty-three feet 
 in diameter and weighing 45,000 pounds. The 
 capacity of the factory is 10,000 pairs of rubber 
 shoes and 200 cases of boots per day. The man- 
 ufacture of rubber goods is one of the leading 
 industrial interests of the country and several 
 million dollars capital is employed. The Hay- 
 ward Rubber Co. rank fifth in size and impor- 
 
 tance, and their goods have gained a reputation 
 for excellence in the markets of the world second 
 to none. Mr. L. Blackstone, the president of 
 the company, was born in Branford, Conn., but 
 for many years has been identified with the busi- 
 ness interests of Norwich, of which city ho was 
 mayor from 186U to 1870. He also represented 
 the inhabitants of the eighth congressional dis- 
 trict in the year 1878. Although not seeking 
 public office, he has always faithfully and effi- 
 ciently filled the positions to which he has been 
 chosen by his constituents. Mr. Wm. A. Buck- 
 ingham, the treasurer and secretary, is a native 
 of Norwich, and has been for a number of years 
 an officer of the company, retiring from the 
 presidency two and a half years ago, upon the 
 death of Mr. Joseph S. Carew, to fill the position 
 he now holds, and for which his thorough knowl- 
 edge of the business affairs of the company so 
 eminently qualify him. He is in possession of a 
 large circle of friends, both in business and so- 
 cial circles, at home and abroad. Mr. Jos. Ban- 
 igan, the general agent of the company, is a 
 prominent and highly respected citizen of Prov- 
 idence, R. I. The Hayward Rubber Co. is one 
 of those well known and long established busi- 
 ness associations which has maintained its 
 credit, not only in a financial sense, but in the 
 class of goods turned out during the long period 
 of thirty-six years, and the enterprising methods 
 pursued by its efficient officers have placed it in 
 the foremost rank of the manufacturing interests 
 of " the land of steady habits." 
 
 F. A. Wells & Co., Clothing and Gents' Fur- 
 nishing Goods, No. 167 Main Street— Among the 
 reliable and solid mercantile houses of Norwich, 
 which has for a period of sixteen years been favor- 
 ably known to the residents of New London Coun- 
 ty may be mentioned in this work that of Messrs. 
 P. A. Wells & Co., the combination clothiers, 
 located at 167 Main street. The premises occu- 
 pied by this firm are eligibly located ; the stock 
 carried is very large and invariably of the best 
 and most reliable goods, which they are enabled 
 to offer on the most advantageous terms. The 
 present firm established the business here six- 
 teen years ago, and have becomo well and favor- 
 ably known to all residents of New London 
 County who trade in Norwich. The store occu- 
 pies 80 x 30 feet on the first floor, and 30 x 40 on 
 the second, and a business of $35,000 to $40,000 
 is done annually. Mr. F. A. Wells was born in 
 Waterbury, Vt., and is thirty -seven years of age. 
 Previous to entering into business in Norwich he 
 was engaged in the same line for five years at 
 Clinton, Mass. Ho is an active member of the 
 Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, and 
 having taken the thirty-second degree (Scottish 
 rite), is a member of the Kittamareg association, 
 Royal Arcanum (a mutual insurance and social 
 club), and vice-president of the New London 
 County Agricultural Society. An enterprising 
 and reliable merchant, a public-spirited citizen, 
 he enjovs the acquaintance of an extensive circle 
 of friends in Norwich and the surrounding coun- 
 try ; is looKed upon us one of the representative 
 business men of the city, and esteemed and 
 respected accordingly. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 321 
 
 The Allen Spool and Printing Com- 
 pany, Norwich Falls. — In investigating the exten- 
 sive manufacturing and commercial resources of the 
 beautiful city of Norwich, we find the company 
 above noted conducting a business that demands a 
 portion of our space, and is entitled to most favor- 
 able mention. The company is a joint stock con- 
 cern, with a capital of 815,000, incorporated in 
 1879, with Mr. Edwin Allen, President, and Mr. 
 J. Henry Morrison, Secretary. The building occu- 
 pied, located at " the Falls," is 80 x 40 feet, three 
 stories and attic. Two large water wheels of sixty- 
 horse power each, and an engine of thirty-horse 
 power furnish the motive power of the establish- 
 ment The number of employees in the busy season 
 is thirty. The firm manufacture spools, braid-rolls, 
 wood business cards and novelties, and print di- 
 rectly upon the wood in as many colors as desired. 
 Special machinery is used, all of which is patented 
 by the company and invented by members of the 
 same. The wood used in manufacturing is birch, 
 and conies from Maine and New Hampshire. Com- 
 mencing four years ago, the company have devoted 
 themselves to inventing, patenting, and perfecting 
 their machinery, and are at present enabled to turn 
 out three times the amount of stuck that they were 
 at the start Mr. Edward Allen, the president, is a 
 native of Windham, Conn., and is seventy-two 
 years of age, during thirty of which he has been 
 identified with the business interests of Norwich. 
 The long, busy years of Mr. Allen's life have been 
 devoted to invention, and he has given to the world 
 the result of many hours of brain effort which have 
 lessened the mechanic's toil and proved a boon to 
 humanity at large. To give a detailed description 
 of the numerous devices for lessening labor pat- 
 ented by him would occupy more space than we 
 have at our command. Suffice it to say that helms 
 made many blades of grass to grow where only one 
 grew before, and can look back through the vista 
 of years, and feel a just pride in the part he has 
 played in the battle of life, knowing that the deeds 
 of good men live after them. Mr. Morrison, the 
 secretary and treasurer of the company, is thirty-five 
 years of age, and a native of Willington, Tolland 
 Co. He came to Norwich four years ago, from 
 Willimantic, where he was one of the founders of 
 the large machine shop of the W. G. & A. H. Mor- 
 rison Co., to accept his present position. A young, 
 enterprising, and ingenious man, with a thorough 
 knowledge of the business in which he is engaged, 
 he is worthy of and receives the respect and esteem 
 of the community in which he resides. 
 
 The " Wauregan House," corner Main and 
 Union Streets, D. Doolittle, Proprietor. — The 
 "Wauregan House " may l>e properly designated as 
 one of the finest hotels in New England. It was built 
 in 1853, by a stock company, composed of Norwich 
 parties, and is a five story structure of brick with 
 brown stone trimmings, having a frontage on 
 Union street of 120 feet and on Main seventy-five, 
 and is located in the centre of the business portion of 
 the city. There are entrances from both streets, the 
 principal one being on Main, from which one en- 
 ters a spacious, handsome corridor with a marble 
 tile floor, which contains a finely appointed office, 
 adjacent to which are found reading rooms, bath 
 rooms, barber shop and closets. The basement con- 
 
 tains the billiard room, in which are four excel- 
 lent tables. Upon the second floor are located 
 reception rooms, parlors, and a large well venti- 
 lated dining-room with a seating capacity of 150. 
 The remaining stories are devoted to the sleeping 
 apartments, single and en suite, of which there are 
 ninety-four, and the house can readily accommodate 
 150 guests. The house, elegantly furnished through- 
 out, is equipped in the latest modern style, with 
 passenger elevator, gas, steam-heat, hot and cold 
 water in rooms, and bath rooms and closets on 
 every floor. 
 
 Mr. D. Doolittle, the proprietor, who is a native 
 of Vermont, has kept the " Wauregan" for the past 
 eight years, which fact is sufficient to demonstrate 
 his popularity. He is a gentleman of middle age, 
 courteous and pleasant to all and possesses all the 
 attributes which make an excellent landlord. 
 
 Norwich Belt Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, 12 Water Street. — One of the large concerns 
 on Water street is the Norwich Belt Manufacturing 
 Company, which was established in 1845, but 
 passed into its present hands in 1873. The 
 house is 110 feet deep, by twenty feet wide, and 
 extends through from Water street to the dock. 
 It is three stories high, and is filled with a fine stock 
 of oak leather belting, tanned and raw hide lace- 
 leather, raw hides, pelts and skins. The tannery 
 for this establishment is situated at Greenville. 
 The gentlemen conducting the business are Mr. H. 
 II. Gallup, a native of Preston Conn., and Mr. Frank 
 Ulmer, who was born in Germany, and is a practi- 
 cal tanner by profession. These gentlemen are 
 young men who have entered upon their business 
 career with enthusiasm, and are making a success 
 of it, since they produce only the very best quality 
 of goods. Besides leather belts, this house deals 
 in rubber and cotton belting, copper rivets and 
 burs, leather railway aprons, harness, saddlery 
 hardware and saddlery goods, a full line of which 
 is kept on hand. 
 
 The record of the Norwich Belt Manufacturing 
 Company in the business world is of the best, and 
 it can point with pride to an existence under this 
 name of nearly forty years. 
 
 The Union Square Hotel, Union Square, 
 C. M. Gordon, Proprietor — One of the most popular 
 hotels in this section is the Union Square, located 
 pleasantly and advantageously upon the plaza from 
 which its name is derived. 
 
 The original building, which constitutes the 
 nucleus of the present structure, was built for a 
 private dwelling fully 10b years ago and is said to 
 have been at one time the finest residence in Nor- 
 wich. It subsequently became a private boarding- 
 house and was so used until three years since, when 
 it was entirely remodeled and converted into a first- 
 class hotel. In its present status the hotel is a 
 large three-story wooden structure with a mansard 
 roof and basement utilized for commercial sample 
 rooms. 
 
 The first-story contains a wide hall, dividing the 
 office and smoking-room and billiard-room and 
 leading to a large and airy room seating forty 
 guests. The second-story contains a large parlor 
 and a series of well-appointed sleeping rooms, the 
 
322 
 
 THE HIS TO RICA L, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 latter comprising the third-story as well. There 
 are twenty rooms, with accommodations for double 
 the number of guests. The hotel is well furnished 
 and equipped with the modern conveniences, in- 
 cluding steam, heat, gas, bath-rooms, closets, etc., 
 and is exceedingly popular with the traveling 
 public generally. 
 
 Mr. Gordon, the young and popular proprietor, 
 is a native of this State and for twenty-one years 
 has resided in Norwich. He has had an extensive 
 experience in the hotel business in this State and 
 New York. For several years prior to starting the 
 "Union Square" he was in the American House, 
 this city. He is well and favorably known among 
 the traveling public with whom he enjoys a well- 
 merited popularity. 
 
 Charles A. Itathbone, Dealer in Hats, Caps 
 and Gents' Furnishing Goods, No. 173 Main 
 Street. — This neat and attractive establishment is 
 located near the centre of the business quarter, at 
 No. 173 Main street. The business occupies a 
 large and conveniently arranged apartment, 18 x 40 
 feet in area, with large plate-glass windows in front 
 utilized for the display of goods. Upon the 
 counters and shelves and in the show-cases is ar- 
 ranged the large and well-selected stock, compris- 
 ing hats and caps of all grades and sizes, and 
 gents' furnishing goods of every description. The 
 capital invested aggregates $4,000, and the annual 
 business amounts to between $20,000 and $25,000. 
 The store is very popular and enjoys a large patron- 
 age. 
 
 Mr. Rathbone, the gentlemanly proprietor, is a 
 native of Colchester, Conn., where he served an 
 apprenticeship in the business. He came to Nor- 
 wich in 1872, and in 1870 established his present 
 business. His efforts to please customers and a 
 judicious and tasty selection of goods have com- 
 bined to make the store one of the most popular in 
 the city. 
 
 Arnold & Hiscox, Carpenters and Builders, 
 No. 21 Franklin Street. — This prosperous concern 
 is located in the large building No. 21 Franklyn 
 street, where are occupied two large floors, with an 
 area of about 4,000 square feet. The establish- 
 ment is replete witli every appurtenance and con- 
 venience for the business, including the latest im- 
 proved machinery for wood working. Doors, 
 sashes, blinds, and in short every article of wood 
 used in the finishing of buildings are manufactured 
 and the firm also contract for the entire construc- 
 tion of all kinds of buildings. In the fifteen years 
 of its existence Messrs. Arnold & Hiscox have by 
 thrift and energy greatly increased their business 
 and it now amounts to the goodly sum of $30,000 
 per annum, and gives employment to a large corps 
 of mechanics. The firm have occupied their 
 present quarters since 1878, at which time they suc- 
 ceeded Messrs. McQuirk & Bacon in the same line 
 of trade. 
 
 Mr. Arnold, the senior member of the firm, is a 
 native of New York, but lias been identified for a 
 goodly portion of Lis life with Norwich, both in a 
 public and private way. For six years he was a 
 member of the common council. He is a promi- 
 nent and influential member of the Central Baptist 
 
 Church and takes an active interest in its affairs, 
 and possesses the attributes of a good citizen and a 
 Christian gentleman. In speaking of the junior 
 
 Eartner, Mr. Hiscox, the same words of eulogy may 
 e appropripately used. He holds the post of 
 deacon and is a member of the same church as his- 
 partner and like him highly esteemed in the com- 
 munity. 
 
 B. A. Herrick, "Wauregan Houso Pharmacy, 
 corner Main and Union Streets. — Among the va- 
 rious branches of commerce and industry, no single 
 one is of more importance in a community than a 
 well-regulated properly conducted drug and pre- 
 scription store, where the citizens may be assured 
 of receiving fresh and reliable medicines, com- 
 pounded by competent pharmacists. Such an 
 establishment is that of Mr. B. A. Herrick, in the 
 Waurcgan House Block, known as the Wauregan- 
 House Pharmacy. The business was established 
 by Mr. Herrick on April 1st, 1883. The store is 
 fitted up in the most approved metropolitan style, 
 with elegant fixtures and appurtenances, and the 
 best of facilities for the transaction of business. 
 The stock embraces, besides the freshest drugs and 
 chemicals, a desirable and reliable line of proprie- 
 tary medicines, and an elegant assortment of 
 novelties in toilet articles and druggists' sundries, 
 and the establishment is conceded to be one of the 
 most complete and attractive of its kind in this 
 city. Mr. Herrick, although but twenty-eight 
 years of age, has been identified with the business 
 interests of Norwich since boyhood, having spent 
 about ten years in the employ of Messrs. Lauman & 
 Bevins previous to entering into business for him- 
 self. He is a member of the Arcanum Club, and 
 has a large circle of friends and acquaintances, 
 among whom he is highly esteemed. 
 
 A. W. Dickey & Co., Furniture, Nos. 20 and 
 22 Union Street. — Among the various industries of 
 Norwich, mostly of especial consideration, may be 
 mentioned the extensive furniture warerooms of 
 Messrs. A. W. Dickey & Co., located at Nos. 20 and 
 22 Union street. The concern was founded over 
 twenty years ago, and has been in successful opera- 
 tion ever since. The present proprietors, consisting 
 of Messrs. A. W. Dickey and George Kamp, pur- 
 chased the business in 18(>8. The building occupied 
 is four stories in height, the first floor being 32 x 75 
 feet, and the three upper floors 32 x 85 feet in area. 
 The first three floors are used for salesrooms, 
 and the upper floors for manufacturing and stor- 
 age purposes. The firm purchasing direct from 
 the leading manufacturers of the Union, both 
 east and west, are enabled to offer extraordinary 
 inducements to purchasers in both extent and 
 variety of assortment and in prices quoted. Tbe 
 stock is complete in every department, from the 
 most elegant drawing-room and parlor sets to the 
 ordinary articles for kitchen use, and comprises 
 all articles pertaining to a first-class furniture estab- 
 lishment. Mr. Dickey is a native of Elba, New 
 York, but lias been identified with the business 
 interests of this city for nearly twenty years. Mr. 
 Kamp is a native of Germany, but has been in this 
 Country the larger part of his life, and for twenty 
 years at the store of which he is now one of th e 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 
 
 323 
 
 proprietors. The firm has an excellent standing in 
 the mercantile world, and its members enjoy the 
 hearty esteem of their fellow-citizens. 
 
 The William W. Page Wood Type Co., 
 
 Nos. 106-110 Franklin street.— The firm of Wm. 
 H. Page & Co. was established in the year 1850, a 
 period when wood type manufacturing was in its 
 infancy. The business proved quite successful, 
 and in 1876 the firm become a joint stock com- 
 pany, under its present title, witli the following 
 board of officers, viz. : President, Mr. G. C. 
 Setchell, ; Treasurer, Wm. H. Page, and Secretary, 
 Wm. E. Page, and a nominal cash capital of 
 ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The business is 
 located in the building extending from No. 106 to 
 116 Franklin street, where an area of floor room is 
 occupied embracing 40 x 60 feet, four stories high 
 in the main building, and 20x30 feet, four stories 
 high in the wing. The business employs forty 
 hands on an average, and the manufactured pro- 
 duct comprises wood type and all kinds of prin- 
 ters' supplies. The company also deal extensively 
 in box wood for engravers' use, and the annual 
 business aggregates $60,000. A largo printing 
 room in connection with the establishment is used 
 for printing specimens of type of their manufac- 
 ture. The trade extends over the globe and is very 
 extensive in Australia. Of the four concerns in 
 their line at present existing the above company 
 is the largest, doing fully three-quarters of the 
 entire business. 
 
 Mr. Setchell, the president, is a native of Nor- 
 wich, with whose business and social interests he 
 has long been prominently connected. During the 
 late war he served with distinction as lieutenant of 
 the Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteers, and was 
 for a time a prisoner in Libby Prison. He is still 
 young, has a large circle of friends, and enjoys 
 the confidence and respect of all with whom he is 
 associated. 
 
 The treasurer, Mr. Wm. H. Page, was born in 
 New Hampshire, but for twenty-five years or more 
 has resided in Norwich, where lie has been actively 
 connected with prominent interests. He pursued 
 his trade of printer for twelve years before entering 
 upon the manufacture of wood type, of which 
 business he is the pioneer in this city. He is an 
 able financier, still in the prime of life and much 
 respected by all who know him. In his son, the 
 secretary of the company, he has an efficient assist- 
 ant in the conduct of his prosperous business. 
 
 Hall Brothers, Manufacturers and Dealers 
 in Wool, Nos. 13 and 15 Commerce Street. — The 
 wool house of Hall Brothers, on Commerce 
 street, has been established for the last twenty 
 years, and from small beginnings has grown to 
 be a large concern. The house is 80 x 40 feet, 
 four stories high, and is filled with a large stock 
 of wool, most of which comes from Texas and 
 California. The house handles from six to seven 
 thousand bales a year. Two storehouses aro 
 employed to carry the stock, as well as the cen- 
 tral house, where the offices are situated. The 
 Hall Brothers, Joseph, Benjamin, and George, 
 are of English descent, but have long been res- 
 idents of Norwich. They are the inventors of 
 
 Hall's Patent Wool Scouring Machine, and have 
 an establishment where much wool is scoured, 
 at Hallville, near the city. They are also the 
 owners of a large factory in Preston, Conn. , 
 where dress and other goods are manufactured. 
 This establishment employs 200 hands, and 
 makes flannels for shirtings, yacht cloths, dress 
 goods, etc., which are consigned to the house of 
 Deering, Milliken & Co., Leonard street, Now 
 York. The house of Hall Brothers is known to 
 all dealers in wool, to manufacturers of woolen 
 goods, and to the trade generally. Their 
 machines are considered a part of all first-class 
 mills, and are indispensable to manufacturers of 
 the better class of woolen goods. 
 
 Brewster & Burnett, Stoves and Hard- 
 ware, Nos. 5 and 7 Water Street. — One of the 
 finest, largest and best conducted stove and 
 hardware houses of the city is that of Brewster 
 & Burnett, at Nos. 5 and 7 Water street, which 
 was opened under its present firm name in July, 
 1881. Before that time the business had been 
 conducted by Anson Clark. This house is an 
 immense establishment, being 100 x 40 feet, 
 five floors, with a workshop in the rear. It 
 fronts Water street, while the rear overlooks the 
 docks at the junction of the Nantic and Thames 
 rivers. This house carries a very large stock, 
 and is fitted with a full line of stoves, ranges, 
 household hardware of every description, tin- 
 ware, refrigorators, kitchen utensils, dairy and 
 agricultural implements, etc. A large shop is 
 connected with this house for manufacturing 
 purposes. Mr. E. M. Brewster, the senior part- 
 ner, has been for thirty years in this business, 
 and won practical knowledge of it from the very 
 beginning. 
 
 Mr. Wm. H. Burnett is the accountant of the 
 concern, and looks after the finances. He was 
 born in Scotland, Conn., and has been for many 
 years bookkeeper with the Norwich and New 
 York Transportation Company. Together these 
 gentlemen make a firm wHich is doing the busi- 
 ness of many an older house, and which has the 
 respect and confidence of the community. 
 
 Battin & Taylor, Successors to C. A. Burn- 
 ham, Wholesale and Betail Books, Stationery, and 
 Wall Papers, Blank Book Manufacturers, No. 174 
 Main Street, next door to post-office. — Located in 
 the handsome Bulletin building, adjacent and 
 opening into the post-office, is the large and at- 
 tractive bookstore of Messrs. Battin & Taylor, who 
 succeeded the late Charles Burnham, Esq. The 
 business was originally started by Mr. Edwards, at 
 Np. 146 Main street. His successor, Mr. Burnhani, 
 had one of the finest stores in the city and did a 
 fine business up to the time of his deatli (July 4, 
 1883). On the 24th of September, 1883, the 
 business was purchased by the present proprietors, 
 who have made extensive improvements in the ar- 
 rangement of the store and now have a spacious and 
 attractive room 80 x 30 feet in size, with offices in 
 the rear and well lighted throughout, making it the 
 finest establishment of its kind in the city. 
 
 The firm carry a large and well assorted stock, 
 including school books, the modern popular 
 
324 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 libraries, standard and miscellaneous works, all 
 kinds of periodicals and newspapers, blank books, 
 stationery of all kinds, and a great variety of fancy 
 articles. Their wall paper department is the most 
 complete of any in the city, and their blank book 
 manufactory and book binding are important fea- 
 tures of their extensive business. The location of 
 the store is exceptionally fine, the stock is well 
 selected and fitted to the wants of all, and the pro- 
 prietors, with their gentlemanly clerks, are always 
 found in polite attendance. 
 
 Boston and Norwich Clothing Com- 
 pany, No. 180 Main Street. — In the large Beck- 
 with Building, which was erected some ten years 
 ago, in the central portion of the city, at No. 180 
 Main street, is the attractive and popular store of 
 the Boston and Norwich Clothing Company. This 
 is one branch out of some thirty similar stores 
 founded by Chamberlin & Currier, of Boston, who 
 have opened them in prominent cities throughout 
 New England. The Norwich branch has been in 
 existence about five years, and was at first under 
 the management of Mr. Geo. E. Larkum, since de- 
 ceased. The salesroom, having a frontage of 
 twenty-eight feet and a depth of sixty-five, is 
 handsomely fitted up with tables and counters, and 
 dressing-rooms for customers. The stock com- 
 
 E rises a full line of ready-made clothing, men's, 
 oys' and children's sizes, of the best quality and 
 make, which the superior facilities offered by the 
 central organization which purchases and manu- 
 factures all goods, enable them to place on the 
 market at a lower rate than would otherwise be 
 possible. The present manager of the house is Mr. 
 W. L. Stearns, who has been in charge for the past 
 four years. He was born in Winchcndon, Mass., 
 twenty-seven years ago, and is the son of Mr. C. T. 
 Stearns, who has a clothing house in that town, and 
 with whom he learned the trade. Having a thor- 
 ough knowledge of the business, and giving it his 
 entire attention, he has made it a marked success. 
 Mr. Stearns selects his otvn goods, and is thus bet- 
 ter able to meet the wishes of the Norwich public. 
 
 Li. A. Gallup, Groceries and Fruits, No. 17 
 Water Street. — One of the large and substantial 
 wholesale grocery houses on Water street, is that of 
 Capt. L. A. Gallup, at No. 17. This large store 
 is very conveniently situated for the receiving 
 and shipping of goods, since close in the rear 
 there is a dock for vessels and a railway. The 
 house was founded in 1870 by Gallup & Hewitt, 
 and continued under this firm name until Feb- 
 ruary, 1883, when Capt. L. A. Gallup became 
 the sole proprietor. The store has a frontage of 
 twenty feet on Water street, and runs back for<v 
 depth of 100 feet, being thirty-five feet wide in 
 the rear. Two floors are used for the grocery 
 and commission business, in which Mr. Gallup 
 is engaged. This house deals in the finest grade 
 of dairy products, flour, all kinds of staple and 
 fancy groceries, and, in short, everv article 
 found in a first-class establishment. The store 
 is well arranged, has an established reputation, 
 and does a large business. Capt. Gallup, the 
 proprietor, is a native of Groton, but came to 
 Norwich in 1859, and served in the war as cap- 
 tain of Company F, Twenty-sixth Connecticut 
 
 Volunteers. He was subsequently for ten years 
 and a half a partner in the firm of L. W. Caswell 
 & Co., Nos. 9 and 13 Water street, in which con- 
 nection he became thoroughly familiar with 
 trade and business, and upon withdrawing from 
 the house established one of his own, which has 
 since taken rank among the business houses of 
 this city. 
 
 C. J. King', Flour and Grain, No. 7 Commerce 
 Street. — Perhaps the oldest and largest (lour and 
 grain house in the city is at No. 7 Commerce street, 
 extending through to the dock bordering on the 
 the Thames. It was founded many years ago by 
 Chapman, Hyde & Co., after whom the firm 
 became Cottercll, Dyer & Co., the late Win. J. N. 
 Buckingham being the third partner. Twelve 
 years ago this firm was dissolved, and Mr. C. J. 
 King succeeded to the business. The store is a 
 brick building, 120 feet long by forty feet wide, 
 three floors, and is filled with an immense stock of 
 flour and grain, most of which is brought to the 
 very doors of the house by rail from the distant 
 West. Norwich is so situated, as regards water 
 and rail communication, that it can supply a 
 large section of country in Connecticut and the 
 adjoining States with such products as may be 
 needed. The flour and meal house of Mr. C. J. 
 King reaches a large section of territory, and ships 
 goods to order in any quantities wished. Mr. 
 King is a native of Greene County, New York. He 
 first came to Norwich in 1858, and subsequently 
 lived for a number of years in Vermont. He 
 returned to this city a dozen years ago, and lias 
 carried on a large and prosperous business ever 
 since. 
 
 Norwich " Morning Bulletin," Bulletin 
 Building, Main Street. — The only daily paper now 
 published in the city, and the most important one 
 in the eastern part of the State, is the Morning 
 Bulletin, which was established December 15, 1858, 
 by an association consisting of W. D. Manning, 
 James N. Perry, L H. Bromley, and Homer Bliss. 
 In December, 1803, what was called the Bulletin 
 Association was formed, the Weekly Courier and the 
 Morning Bulletin having l«en united in December, 
 1800, at which time the Daily Courier was discon- 
 tinued. This arrangement existed until 1870, 
 when the papers were purchased by VV. II . W.Camp- 
 bell, William Fitch and Charles Spaulding. March 
 1, 1873, the Bulletin Company was formed. 
 
 Mr. I. EL Bromley was the first editor. In 1802 
 he enlisted as a captain of the Eighteenth Regi- 
 ment, Connecticut Volunteers. In 1805, he re- 
 sumed his place as editor. In February, 1868, he 
 was succeeded as editor by W. H. W. Campbell, 
 who has since been succeeded by A. S. Bollcs and 
 E. J. Edwards. The present editor is A. P. Hitch- 
 cock, and the business manager is Mr. A. H. 
 Harris. The Bulletin was formerly edited in 
 Chapman's Block, Franklin Square. In August, 
 1806, the large brick Bulletin Building on Main 
 street, a portion of which is used for the post- 
 office, was completed. August 8, 1868, the paper 
 was enlarged to twenty-eight columns, and ex- 
 tended three inches in length. The paper is hand- 
 somely printed, has a wide circulation, and is 
 Republican in politics. It is a live newspaper, 
 
REVIEW OF TIIE STATE OF' CONNECTICUT. 
 
 325 
 
 giving all the general and local news; while its 
 editorials are short, pointed, practical, and decisive. 
 Mr. Harris, its business manager, is an active, 
 agreeable, popular man, who pleases every one, 
 and has secured a large advertising patronage. 
 The Bulletin is a representative New England 
 journal and is known throughout the length and 
 breadth of the land. 
 
 DANIELSONVILLE. 
 
 This thriving village, on the Norwich and Wor- 
 cester Railway, is in the old town of Killingly, 
 thirty-four ,milea south of Worcester and twenty- 
 five miles north of Norwich. It is named after 
 the first settler, a Mr. Danielson, who built a 
 grist mill at this point many years ago. It is 
 only about fifty years since the place contained 
 any houses, and the present village is the growth 
 of half a century. Most of its business houses 
 are steady and substantial ; its streets are hand- 
 some ; its public buildings fine, and its residences 
 neat and inviting. Upon the completion of the 
 Norwich and Worcester Railway, the depot was 
 the nucleus for the village. Business and manu- 
 facturing began on the opposite side of the 
 river, in Brooklyn, but came over to the railway 
 station, where now there are a large number of 
 stores, churches, hotels, one national, one 
 savings bank, etc. The place was incorporated 
 as a borough in 1850. The Methodist church 
 was organized in 1842; the Congregational in 1801 ; 
 the Baptist in 1875. There is also an Episcopal 
 church in the place, and the Adventists hold 
 worship. The public music hall in this place 
 is one of the finest in the State. There is a large 
 and beautiful high school, which was opened on 
 the 6th of December, 1871. The town has a graded 
 school system, to which it is much indebted to 
 the exertions of J. Q. A. Stone, the able editor of 
 the Windham Covnty Transcript. In 1859, Mr. 
 Stone purchased the Telegraph and changed the 
 name to the Transcript. He has made this the 
 leading paper in the northeastern section of the 
 State, has raised its tone and character, and now 
 gives the people a fearless, independent, bright and 
 well-edited journal. There has been great ad- 
 vance in culture and public spirit in the town dur- 
 ing the past generation. The clergymen are men 
 of ability ; the news depot supplies all the leading 
 publications ; only first-class entertainments are al- 
 lowed in the music hall. A feature of each winter 
 season is a lecture and amusement course under the 
 management of Mr. William K.Logee, who also sup- 
 plies the same demand in Norwich. In the Fall of 
 188:1 an art exhibition was held for the first time. 
 Among the residents of this place is Mr. Isaac T. 
 Hutchins, who was born February 15. 1706, and 
 who traces his pedigree to Francis Cook of the "May 
 Flower." He has lived under all the Presidents, 
 and remembers Jefferson's Inaugural. He has been 
 a prominent merchant in the place, but retired from 
 business at sixty years of age. Among other well- 
 known men, who were born or have lived in Daniel- 
 sonvilleand Killingly, are, Geo. W. Danielson, editor 
 of the Providence Journal, who is now fifty-two 
 years of age ; Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, of 
 Rhode Island; S. S. Sprague; Daniel Day; Hiram 
 
 Aylsworth ; Parley Matthewson ; Abraham Payne, 
 of Providence ; and others. The leading hotel of 
 the place is the Attawaugan House, which is well 
 kept. The population in 1880 was 4,000. 
 
 Florenus K. Clark, Dealer in Stoves, Fur- 
 naces, Ranges, Etc. , No. 198 Main Street— The in- 
 ception of this business dates back about twenty 
 years, when Mr. E. P. Rathbun started the stove 
 business in this village. He continued the busi- 
 ness up to the year 1879, in the meantime enlarg- 
 ing it to more than double its original dimen- 
 sions. At this time the firm was Messrs. E. P. 
 Rathbun & Co., the company being Mr. Dwight 
 Neff, a son-in-law of the founder. Mr. Rathbun 
 died the same year the business was sold to 
 Messrs. Clark & Richmond, his ill-health being 
 the cause of his discontinuing business. He was 
 a very popular man in the community, in which 
 he was held with the highest esteem as a repre- 
 sentative merchant and citizen. 
 
 The present business was conducted under the 
 firm name of Messrs. Clark & Richmond until 
 the year 1881, when Mr. Geo. A. Richmond with- 
 drew, and the business has since been conducted 
 by Mr. Florenus E. Clark, Mr. Richmond taking 
 a position as employee in the tin-shop connected 
 with the business. The premises are about 29 x 
 80 feet in area and contain a well-stocked store 
 and a workshop where three people are em- 
 ployed. Besides carrying a large stock of stoves, 
 furnaces, ranges, tin-ware, pumps, lead pipe, and 
 drain-pipe, roofing and mill-work is attended to, 
 in which latter branch a specialty is made. In 
 volume of business done, this house compares 
 favorably with any other to be found in Putnam 
 or Danielsonville. Mr. Clark is a native of 
 Thompson, Conn., a neighboring town, and was 
 born in 1851. He was educated at the celebrated 
 Woodstock Academy, and then learned the trade 
 of cutting shoe uppers at Putnam, Conn., with 
 Messrs. Corbin & Fourtellotte of that place, who 
 were, at that time, shoe manufacturers. Leav- 
 ing that employment, he served for a time as 
 clerk in the stove store of his father, Mr. N. P. 
 Clark, in the same village, continuing till his 
 advent in the village of Danielsonville in 1879. 
 Since his residence here he has identified him- 
 self with the institutions of the place, and is 
 looked upon as a rising and successful business 
 man. 
 
 Sherman & Kecch, Dry Goods.— The trav- 
 eler, when wandering through the business por- 
 tion of this town and scanning with a critical 
 eve the various business houses, is arrested with 
 .the air of thrift and enterprise that exists in this 
 establishment. This firm commenced the busi- 
 ness of selling dry goods in this place in 1877. 
 In their present " store, whose dimensions are 
 20x40 feet in area and is called the " Boston 
 Store," is found a choice collection of every 
 variety of goods usually sold in their line. Their 
 business is increasing so rapidly that their pres- 
 ent quarters will not meet their wants much 
 longer. They carry a large and fine stock of 
 goods, and selling, as they do, as low-, if not 
 lower, than any in the county, they must perforce 
 increase their accommodations. The partners 
 
326 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 are both young men of great energy and intelli- 
 gence. Mr. Palmer C. Sherman was born in 
 Grafton, Mass. , in 1853, and has been in Daniel- 
 sonville since the formation of the firm. He was, 
 in youth, an employee in the mills, but at a com- 
 paratively early age became a clerk in the dry 
 goods trade. 
 
 Mr. James E. Keech was born in Newport, B. 
 I., and is thirty-two years of age. He is a 
 graduate of the public schools, and was a clerk 
 previous to entering into business here. This 
 firm employ four competent assistants, who are 
 courteous and alive to the interests of their 
 employers. 
 
 Prompt, reliable, and honorable in all their 
 dealings, this house is especially commended to 
 the favorable consideration of the people of this 
 county. 
 
 K. K. James, Groceries, Grain, Flour, Feed, 
 Glassware, Etc., No. 22 Eailroad Square. — The 
 largest and best arranged grocery store in the 
 place, as well as among the oldest, is that now 
 owned by Mr. B. K. James, situated in what is 
 known as the James Block, at No. 22 Bailroad 
 square. The building has a front of thirty feet, 
 and a depth of eighty, and is three stories high, 
 the upper floor being used as a hall. Originally 
 this building was used as a hardware store, but 
 Mr. James has had it remodeled to suit his ideas of 
 what a modern store should be. All the heavy 
 groceries, such as sugar, molasses, produce, etc., 
 together with butter, cheese, oil, flour and feed, 
 are kept in a back room, which is separated from 
 the front room by a wire screen, thus insuring 
 ventilation. The main salesroom is divided into 
 two sections by a glass partition. In one of these 
 rooms is kept the crockery, china, and glass- 
 ware. It forms a separate department, and is 
 kept free from dust. The result is a very neat 
 and attractive store, with separate departments, 
 and everything in order. Mr. James keeps also 
 canned goods, dried beef, coffee, tea, lemons, 
 biscuit, baskets, stone-ware, fruit ; in short, 
 everything which one can expect to find in a 
 modern country store. This business was origi- 
 nally begun by the James Brothers, who started 
 on the 1st of July, 1867. For five years they 
 occupied a store in Union Hall block. Moving 
 from there before the fire, they occupied for five 
 years and a half the store of Christopher Cran- 
 dall, whom they bought out. Afterward they 
 bought the building now occupied by Mr. J. 
 D. Bates. Mr. B. B. Jones was born in Cranston, 
 R. I., but has lived in Danielsonville for the past 
 twenty-eight years. He was for many years 
 associated with his brother, who now has one 
 of the leading grocery stores in Putnam. The 
 partnership was dissolved in April, 1883, since 
 which the brothers have conducted separate 
 stores. Mr. James is among the trustees of the 
 Windham County Savings Bank, and is a direc- 
 tor in the National Bank of Danielsonville. He 
 holds a leading position in the town, socially and 
 financially, and has a reputation for integrity 
 and business ability second to none. 
 
 Edwin Li. Palmer, Insurance and Real Estate 
 Agent, Room No. 4, Exchange Block. — The largein- 
 
 surance and real estate business of Mr. Edwin L. 
 Palmer of this village has grown out of the consoli- 
 dation of agencies. In 1875 Mr. Palmer established 
 himself in the business of insurance and real estate, 
 and in 1879 purchased the insurance business of J. 
 C. Palmer of Brooklyn, and connected it with his 
 own. In April, 1882, a partnership was formed 
 with Mr. C. A. Preston, of Scituate, R. I., and the 
 insurance business of the late O. P. Jacobs was also 
 added by purchase, and under the firm name of 
 Palmer and Preston was continued the largest in- 
 surance agency in Windham county. Mr. Preston 
 retired from the firm at the end of one year, Mr. 
 Palmer assuming his interest and continuing the 
 business, employing a skillful clerk as assistant. 
 The business has gone on increasing from its in- 
 ception and was never more prosperous than at the 
 present time. In addition to insurance and real 
 estate Mr. Palmer sells Western and Southern 
 tickets, having been appointed agent of the Boston 
 and Albany Railroad in 1879. 
 
 He is an extensive advertiser and in addition to 
 the use of regular newspapers issues a semi-annual 
 paper called " The Farmer's Index." 
 
 His office is located on the second floor of the 
 Exchange Block, in the business centre of the vil- 
 lage, and is fitted up in an attractive manner with 
 desks, tables, safes and other conveniences of busi- 
 ness, the whole atmosphere suggesting a method- 
 ical and successful business. 
 
 Edwin L. Palmer was born in Griswold, New 
 London county, Connecticut, on the 17th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1847, and is the youngest of a family of six- 
 teen children. 
 
 His boyhood life was spent on the farms of his 
 native county and his knowledge of books obtained 
 in the country school-houses. 
 
 In 1865 he came to Danielsonville and com- 
 menced his business life as a clerk, retaining his 
 first position for seven years, when he became a 
 merchant in Putnam, Connecticut, but soon sold 
 out and returned to Danielsonville, where he has 
 since remained. 
 
 He is a member of the Congregational Church, 
 the Chapter of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights 
 of Pythias, Temple of Honor, and other social 
 orders. 
 
 In public life he has been borough clerk and 
 treasurer for three years and was borough bailiff 
 in 1877. 
 
 Sir. Palmer represents some twenty-five of the 
 leading fire companies of this country and Europe, 
 and life and accident companies. 
 
 Few insurance agents in a village the size of 
 Danielsonville do as large a business or are more 
 favorably known in the community where they 
 reside than Mr. Edwin L. Palmer. 
 
 Cundall & Bill, Edward L. Cundall, Ar- 
 thur G. Bill, Law, Collection and Insurance, 
 Main Street. — Hon. Elisha Carpenter, now a 
 judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Con- 
 necticut, was the founder of this well-known 
 and successful business. In 1851, Mr. Edward 
 L. Cundall was admitted as a partner, the asso- 
 ciation continuing till 1861, when Mr. Carpenter 
 was elected judge. In 1877, Mr. Arthur G. Bill 
 entered the office with Mr. Cundall and in 1882 
 became a member of the firm of Cundall & BiU, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 327 
 
 for the transaction of a general insurance busi- 
 ness. They have an extensive law, collection 
 and insurance business, extending throughout 
 the county and to other parts of the State. 
 The iEtna, Hartford, Phoenix. German American, 
 Springfield Fire & Marine, Hanover, Liverpool 
 & London & Globe, Royal & Queen Companies 
 are represented by them. Their office is cen- 
 trally located in the business centre of the vil- 
 lage, has been recently refitted and furnished, 
 and is one of the finest for the purpose in the 
 State. Hon. Edward L. Cundall is a native of 
 Killingly, Conn., born March 9, 1831. He was 
 educated in that excellent institution of learn- 
 ing, Hopkins Academy, in Massachusetts, from 
 which he graduated. Soon after he studied law 
 in the office of the Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, 
 at Norwich, and was admitted to the bar of 
 Windham County in 1851, at the age of twenty 
 years, and formed a partnership with Judge 
 Carpenter as above stated. From I860 to 1872, 
 Mr. Cundall was State attorney for Windham 
 county and in the latter year was chosen clerk 
 of courts, which position he now holds. He 
 has three times been a member of the house of 
 representatives and once State senator from 
 the thirteenth district. Mr. Arthur G. Bill 
 was born in Chaplin, Conn., May 29, 1856, and 
 is therefore twenty-seven years of age. He 
 graduated from the Danielsonville High School 
 in 1875, and from the Yale Law School in 1877, 
 and at the same time he was admitted to the New 
 Haven bar. Since that time he has been asso- 
 ciated with Mr. Cundall. The record of the 
 members of this firm, individually and collect- 
 ively, needs no additional statements of the 
 writer to establish them as one of the most sub- 
 stantial in the State. 
 
 The Quinebaug Brick Company.— 
 
 The yards of this company are in Brooklyn, 
 Conn. They make some 4,000,000 bricks annu- 
 ally, which find market in southern New Eng- 
 land. The bricks are reckoned as first quality 
 in all respects, and their general acceptance as 
 desirable for building purposes is evidenced by 
 the large and new mills of the Social Company 
 at Woousocket, R. L, B. B. & R. Knights at 
 Nantick, R. L, and The Sabin L. Sayles Com- 
 pany of Killingly, Conn. , all built of the Quine- 
 baug stock, together with the large store-house 
 of The Wauregan Company at Brooklyn, Conn., 
 the new and modern tenement houses of the 
 Quinebaug Company at Brooklyn, Conn., the 
 large and elegant block of stores of Irons at 
 Olneyville, and many smaller structures in 
 Providence, Norwich, and other places in south- 
 ern New England. Sabin L. Sayles is President 
 of the Company ; Charles A. Russell, Treasurer ; 
 Charles R. Palmer, Resident Agent ; and George 
 Benjamin, Overseer. The shipping and post- 
 office address of the Company is Danielsonville . 
 
 T. E. Hopkins, Manufacturer of Fancy Cassi- 
 mcrcs, at Elmville, near Danielsonville.— This thriv- 
 ing establishment is located at Elmville, a small man- 
 ufacturing hamlet, distance some two and one-half 
 miles from the flourishing village of Danielsonville. 
 It is a large three-story wooden structure, 150 x 40 
 
 feet in area, using both steam and water power, 
 and equipped with the best improved machinery 
 for manufacturing. Five sets of machines are run, 
 giving employment to 1 25 hands. 
 
 The product comprises sundry grades of fancy 
 cassimeres and woolen goods, and the annual 
 business amounts to $250,000. All goods are sold 
 through a New York commission house, and the 
 trade extends over a wide territory. The business 
 was founded in 1868, by Mr. H. C. Sayles. Mr. Hop- 
 kins, the preseut proprietor, lias been in possession 
 some four years, and has met with good success, 
 which bids fair to increase in the future. He is a 
 native of Rhode Island, and has had a large experi- 
 ence in his line of business, which manifests itself 
 in the thrifty and prosperous aspect of his Elmville 
 factory. 
 
 J. D. Bigelow, Boots, Shoes, Furnishing 
 Goods, Etc. , Nos. 182-1 84 Main st. —The largest store 
 of its kind on South Main street is that of Mr. J. 
 D. Bigelow, which occupies two numbers, at 182 
 and 184. The store has a front of thirty feet, and 
 a depth of fifty-six feet. The first room is devoted 
 to hats, caps, of all kinds; fura for women and 
 children ; a full line of trunks, traveling bags, 
 umbrellas, and furnishing goods, such as shirts, 
 neck-wear, underwear, handkerchiefs, suspenders, 
 gloves, etc. The second room is used for boots and 
 shoes, of which there is a large assortment for men, 
 women and children, including rubber boots, con- 
 gress and buckle arctics, light and heavy overshoes, 
 etc. Mr. Bigelow also keeps a large assort- 
 ment of slippers, and the English Douga kid but- 
 ton boot, which is so soft to the foot. This store 
 is the oldest one in town, having been established 
 some thirty-eight years. Mr. Bigelow is a native 
 of Worcester County, Mass., but has lived most of 
 his days in Danielsonville. In his store he makes 
 it a point to combine four considerations — a large 
 assortment of goods, with elegance of style, dura- 
 bility and cheapness. This he has succeeded in 
 doing so long that his place of business has a well- 
 established reputation. Mr. Bigelow is the presi- 
 dent of the Windham County Savings Bunk, and 
 stands at the head of the financial and business men 
 of the place. He is a careful and prudent business 
 man, and has the entire confidence of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 M. P. Dowc & Sons, Books, Stationery 
 Worsteds, Yarns, and Fancy Goods, No.132 Main st. 
 — There is no more popular store in the village 
 than that of M. P. Dowe & Son«,No. 132 Main street, 
 which is filled with a large variety of attractive 
 articles. This business was established in 1856, a 
 few blocks down on Main street. In 1873, Mr. 
 Dowe bought his present store, and his business 
 has steadily grown to its present proportions. Only 
 a short time ago he was forced to enlarge his 
 quarters by adding considerable room to the rear 
 of his store. The salesroom now lias a front of 
 twenty-five feet, and a depth of fifty. It is literally 
 filled with a large stock of goods, consisting of 
 fancy goods of all kinds, such as worsteds, yarns, 
 artists' materials, ribbons, laces, a full line of Bal- 
 briggan, Lisle and silk hose, trimmings in all the 
 new shades, stationery, blank books, school sup- 
 plies, periodicals, silks, thread, canvas for embroid- 
 
328 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 ery, and many other things, all of the very best, 
 well selected, and sold at reasonable prices. Mr. 
 Dowe was born in Providence, It. I., but has lived 
 in Danielsonville since 1845. He is one of the 
 leading men of the place, interested in art, religion 
 and politics, and esteemed by all who know him 
 for his politeness, and business integrity. On July 
 1, 1882, his two sons wi re associated with him in 
 business. Since then he has given up the manage- 
 ment of the store to them, and devotes his time to 
 managing, the central office of the So. New Eng- 
 land Telephone Co. which is connected with the 
 store. 
 
 E. Pilling & Co.— Manufacturers and Deal- 
 ers in Seamless Half Hose. — This young and enter- 
 prising house established themselves in business 
 here in Danielsonville, Conn., in the spring of the 
 present year, and they are fast gaining a prominence 
 in the trade which entitles them to our favorable 
 ■consideration. They devote themselves wholly to 
 the manufacture of seamless half hose in solid and 
 mixed colors. They produce a fine line of goods 
 which are not excelled in quality by any manufac- 
 turers of similar goods in the country. Their fac- 
 tory contains machines of the latest and most 
 approved make, which, with the best of help, 
 enables them to place these goods and invite the 
 most critical examination of close buyers to the 
 ■quality and price of their productions. The 
 members of this firm, although having recently 
 started business, have had a sufficient experience in 
 the business to enable them to manufacture these 
 goods so that they shall, at all times, be uniform, 
 which is only secured by the great care and atten- 
 tion exercised in the performance of every opera- 
 tion. On such a reputation this firm intend to 
 build up their trade, knowing that a high standard 
 of superiority and reliability of their productions 
 is the only safe road to increase and sustain their 
 business. They have already secured a good trade 
 among jobbers and dealers in these goods, which is 
 better evidence of the energy and ability they have 
 displayed in its management than any extended 
 comment by us could be. 
 
 James Perkins.— Dealer in Dry Goods, Car- 
 pets, Clothing, Gents' Furnishing Goods, etc., Nos. 
 192 and 194 Main street. — This business is one of the 
 oldest in the town, the inception of it dating back 
 to about the year 1830, when Messrs. Edwin Ely 
 and Jessie S. Ely began under the firm name of 
 Ely & Co. After the venture had become a success 
 Mr. Jesse 8. Ely started a branch in Norwich, 
 which was also conducted under the name of Ely 
 <fc Co., which was continued till about twelve years 
 ago, when it was sold to other parties. After the 
 death of Mr. Jesse S. Ely the brother conducted 
 the business under the original name — Ely & Co. 
 — having several partners at different times, the last 
 one lieing Mr. James Perkins, the subject of this 
 sketch, who, on the death of Mr. Edwin Ely 
 succeeded to and conducts the business under his 
 own name. The premises arc 30 x 100 feet in area 
 at Nos. 192 and 194 Main street, in Ely & Hyde's 
 well-known block. The stock consists of dry and 
 fancy goods, carpets, clothing, gents' furnishing 
 goods, etc., and the business necessitates the employ- 
 ment in the busy season of five or six clerks. 
 
 Mr. Perkins is a native of Harwinton, Litchfield 
 County, Conn., born in 1885. He was a farmer till 
 twenty-five years of age, and then was connected 
 with this liousc, first as a clerk for three years and 
 later as partner. He is a member of the Episcopal 
 Church, a Mason, and is one of those men in com- 
 munities who give them a moral stamina and a rep- 
 utation for correct living so generally found, like 
 Danielsonville, with a representative New England 
 village. 
 
 Albert Dewing, Dealer in Groceries, etc., 
 Main street, near the Railroad. The history of Mr. 
 Dewing's career is not an eventful one, neither 
 is it full of surprises like some lives, but it is a 
 shining examplo to those young men just begin- 
 ning life which, if followed, will be largely to 
 their advantage. It is about five years since 
 Mr. Dewing began his business career in this 
 store ; previous to that he was a clerk in the old 
 Quinebaug store, which, when it was closed, ho 
 left and was engaged as clerk in the meat busi- 
 ness for nearly two years ; after which he began 
 in a small way the sale of groceries, going from 
 house to house with samples of the same. Soon 
 he was able to purchase a horse and wagon and 
 carried a larger stock. He sold reliable goods 
 at small profits ; he made large sales in the ag- 
 gregate, and through these facts, together with a 
 reputation he made for honesty, sobriety and 
 perseverance, he has been able to command a 
 trade as large, if not larger, than any grocer in 
 Danielsonville. His store is located on Main 
 street, near the railroad, and although not as 
 large, imposing and spacious as some others, it 
 possesses that indefinable business air of success 
 which is so noticeable by the generable public. 
 
 Mr. Dewing is a native of Tolland, Conn., and 
 is forty years of age. He is a member of the Con- 
 gregational Church and is held in high regard 
 for his modest worth and his persevering efforts 
 by his fellow-citizens, and has the satisfaction of 
 knowing that there is nothing so successful as 
 success. 
 
 E. Dexter, Furniture and Undertaker, Dex- 
 ter's Block, Main street. — The second hand- 
 somest and largest block in the town, standing 
 by the side of the Music Hall on Main 
 street, is known as Dexter's block and 
 was built by Mr. E. Dexter in 1881. It 
 is a large brick building, 56 x 85 feet, two 
 stories high, with a steep roof, which gives 
 a large attic. Mr. Dexter occupies for his main 
 salesroom a store 25 x 85, while lie uses the top 
 floor for storerooms. He carries a full lino of 
 furniture, including parlor, chamber and kitchen 
 sets, tables, chairs, the Wakefield willow work 
 furniture, beds, curtains and fixtures, fancy 
 baskets, household hardware, and a large stock 
 of paper hangings, the finest in the place. A 
 specialty is made of refrigerators. One corner 
 of the front store is occupied by Mr. E. O.Ward, 
 who carries a stock of Chickering pianos, square 
 and upright ; Mason and Hamlin organs, now 
 Davis sewing machines, small musical instru- 
 ments and sheet music. Mr. Dexter is also an un- 
 dertaker, and has a full supply of caskets. He em- 
 ploys two men. He is a native of this town, and 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 329 
 
 for thirty-seven years worked on a farm. Later 
 he concluded to go into business, and in 1871 
 began in a small way near the depot. For five 
 years he occupied a store in Music Hall block. 
 In 1881 he built the larger block which now 
 bears his name. This of itself tells a stronger 
 story of his business success and energy than 
 can be put in words. Of course he is one of the 
 best-known and leading citizens of the place. 
 
 J. W. Stone, Harness Manufacturer, No. 141 
 Main Street. — No store is better known among 
 farmers, and those owning horses, than the harness 
 shop of Mr. J. W. Stone, at No. 141 Main street. It 
 was started twelve years ago, and has a wide repu- 
 tation for the excellence of its harnesses. None 
 better are made in the State. Mr. Stone produces 
 all kinds, from the finely ornamented carriage 
 harness to the strong harness for draught horses. 
 From two to three hands are employed, and any- 
 thing wanted is made to order. 
 
 Mr. Stone also keeps in his shop all descriptions 
 of horse equipments, such as blankets, whips, curry- 
 combs, brushes, etc., also axle and harness oils. 
 Mr. Stone was born in Chatham, Mass., but has 
 lived for many years in Danielsonville. He was 
 for nearly twenty years manager in charge of the 
 harness department connected with L. M. Dean's 
 carriage manufactory in Woodstock, Conn. He is 
 a deacon in the Congregational Church, and justice 
 of the peace for Killingly, and is very highly 
 thought of by all who know him. 
 
 W. O. Jacobs & Co., Hardware, Franklin 
 Block, Main Street. — The large and well appointed 
 hardware store now conducted by W. O. Jacobs 
 & Co. was originally started in 1869, under the 
 firm name of O. P. Jacobs, but for the last two 
 years it has been under its present name. The 
 store is 25 x 60 feet, and is the northern room in 
 the Franklin block. It contains a fuli line of 
 builders' hardware, nails, agricultural tools, far- 
 mers' supplies, pumps, blacksmiths' supplies, rubber 
 bucket pumps, lamps for mills, hanging lamps, 
 carpenters' tools, sporting goods, paint, marbleized 
 slate shelves for mantels, barb wire, and many 
 other things. Mr. Jacobs also manufactures a 
 simple and efficient patent wagon jack, which 
 weighs but eight pounds, and is capable of lifting 
 a wagon weighing 1,200 pounds. These are sold 
 to jobbers in New York and Boston, in large 
 quantities, as they are very popular. 
 
 Mr. Jacobs is a native of Danielsonville, is a 
 young man of energy and business sagacity, and 
 has built up a large house and a fine trade. He is 
 one of the leading young men of the place, and 
 has an enviable reputation among all who know 
 him, for intelligence, and his genial manners. 
 
 Geo. Jencks & Co., Stoves and Hardware, 
 Dexter's New Block, Main Street. — The finest stove 
 and hardware store in the place is in the new and 
 handsome Dexter block, and is owned by Geo. 
 Jencks and Mr. Nathaniel D. Neff . It was started 
 four years ago, and has proved a great success. It 
 occupies one of the two handsome stores in this new 
 block, and has a front of some twenty-five feet, with 
 
 a depth of at least eighty feet. It is already one 
 of the leading houses of the place. This house 
 makes a specialty of factory work and factory re- 
 pairs, and lias a large. shop in the rear of the store, 
 where all kinds of work is executed to order. This 
 house also keeps a full line of stoves, ranges, and 
 furnaces. It makes a specialty of the New Hub 
 Range, with reflex grate. Here can also be found a 
 full line of tin and wooden ware, builders' hard- 
 ware, barbed fences, firearms, cutlery, lead pipe, car- 
 penters' tools, granite ware, national paints, Douglas 
 pumps, farmers' implements, etc. Tin eave-troughs 
 and conductors are put up to order. Mr. Jencks, 
 and his partner, Mr. Neff, are both young men, who 
 have lived all their days in Killingly. For a num- 
 ber of years Mr. Jencks was an accountant at the 
 Sayles Manufacturing Company. After leaving that 
 position, he opened the store which has grown to 
 such handsome proportions. Five men are employed 
 in the business, and a large basement is used as a 
 store-room for stoves and other stock. Mr. Jencks 
 is full of life, and deals fairly and squarely witli his 
 customers, and has thus won a large measure of 
 success. 
 
 Mr. Nathan D. Neff is a practical tinman, and has 
 had some fifteen years' experience in both the tin- 
 working and heating business, and is well known in 
 all the manu facturing places in eastern Connecticut. 
 
 Windham County " Transcript," J. Q. 
 
 A. Stone, editor, Transcript Building, Main Street. 
 — The Windham County Transcript, which is the 
 largest, handsomest, and best known paper in east- 
 ern Connecticut, has been established for thirty-five 
 years, twenty-five of which it has been owned and 
 edited by Mr. J. Q. A. Stone. It is a large, four- 
 page paper, published every Thursday, handsome 
 in appearance, independent in politics, and high in 
 its moral tone. It has a large advertising patron- 
 age, and circulates widely in the section of country 
 where it is published. Mr. Stone, the gentlemanly 
 and genial editor, was born in Exeter, N. H. For 
 fourteen years he lived in Newburyport, Mass., and 
 was one of the proprietors of the Herald of that 
 city for several years; for the past twenty-five 
 years he has been a resident of this town. He was 
 one of the supervisors of the last census, the can- 
 didate for secretary of state on the Republican 
 ticket in 1875, and is a gentlemanly, intelligent, 
 public-spirited citizen, foremost in all that interests 
 the place or its citizens. He has a well-appointed 
 printing office for all kinds of work, and pleasant 
 editorial rooms. He is a member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church, and highly respected. 
 
 Edward H. Jacobs & Co., Manufacturers' 
 Supplies, Franklin Block, Main Street. — The 
 widely-known and enterprising house of E. H. 
 Jacobs & Co. was organized in 1869. The firm 
 consists of E. H. and F. A. Jacobs, and is one of 
 the leading and most prosperous in the town. 
 
 Their store has a frontage of twenty-five feet, 
 and a depth of sixty. Three floors are used, which 
 are filled with goods known as " manufacturers' 
 supplies," such as rollerc othesand skins, band- 
 ings, copper tubes, fire pails, heddles, reeds, shut- 
 tles, twines, cotton hose, bobbins, card clothing, 
 temples, wire g^ols, burlaps, harness frames, 
 travelers' baskets, clearer cloth, rubber belting, 
 
330 
 
 THE IUSTORIGAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 linen hose, etc. In fact all articles that are used 
 in cotton, woolen and silk mills. 
 
 Messrs. E. H. Jacobs & Co. have recently 
 removed their largo belt manufactory from Paw- 
 tucket to this village, occupying for the purpose 
 the building in tho rear of their store, which 
 furnishes an area of 5,000 square feet of space, 
 every inch of which is well utilized. Manufac- 
 turing and repairing leather belting with all 
 that pertains to that important and growing 
 business, is carried on in their large and busy 
 workshop. Loom strapping, pickers and mill 
 supplies in general, being made a specialty. 
 
 This house is also the manufacturer of the 
 "Challenge" hose carriage, which holds from 
 500 to 800 feet of two and one-half inch linen 
 hose, empties the water out and preserves the 
 hose. It is light and easily handled, and is just 
 the thing for factories and largo establishments 
 of all kinds. This carriage is popular all over 
 New England, and is much used in Fall River, 
 Lowell, Boston and other manufacturing towns. 
 E. H. Jacobs & Co. are also tho organizers of 
 tho Danielsonville Loom Harness Company, and 
 
 mounting, which diffuses light to all the depart- 
 ments, producing a fine effect. 
 
 In the roar tho building is two and one-half 
 stories in height, which is used as a dwelling. 
 Tho business has all the modern appliances for 
 the execution of all work appertaining to the pho- 
 tographic art. Copying, coloring, crayoning is 
 executed with fidelity. Mr. Davis is agent for 
 Spraguo & Hathaway's copying house in Boston, 
 and is a physician as well as artist. He was born 
 in Norwich, Conn. , fifty-two years ago, and is 
 one of the oldest photographers in the State. 
 
 In 1846 ho was located in Jewett City, Conn. , 
 making old-style chemical pictures. He traveled 
 for twenty years through New England, finally 
 locating here about the year 1863, doing business 
 in a photographer's car for two years, or until 
 1865, when he erected the present building. 
 His reception-room contains a cabinet of rare 
 curiosities, valued at 315,000. His photographic 
 specimens are an artistic success, rarely to bo 
 found outside of large cities. Danielsonville 
 may well be proud of such photographic facili- 
 ties as are afforded by Dr. Davis, and that they 
 
 E. H. JACOBS & CO., 
 
 produco 100 sets per day of finished loom har- 
 ness for cotton weaving. 
 
 This house keeps four men on the road, who 
 travel in the New England and Middle States. 
 Tho Messrs. Jacobs are young men, natives of 
 the place, where they have always lived, and 
 where they are reported as the most worthy and 
 enterprising and prosperous citizens of the 
 town. They are leading citizens of Danielson- 
 ville, and respected by every one. 
 
 S. P. Davis, Artist Photographer, Nos. 6 and 
 8 Furnace Street. — The stranger in Danielson- 
 ville is attracted towards a unique looking struc- 
 ture, situated parallel with the railroad track and 
 near the business centre, which was built by S. 
 P. Davis, the artistic photographer of Windham 
 County, especially for his business. The build- 
 ing is thirteen feet wide in front, ninety-four 
 feet long and twenty-three feet in the rear, with 
 a raised roof for ventilation, similar to a draw- 
 ing-room car, which it closely resembles. The 
 building is divided into reception-room, operat- 
 ing-room, studio, and over all a cone-light sur- 
 
 DANIELSONVILLE, CONN. 
 
 freely appreciate them is shown by the contin- 
 ued success which he has enjoyed in this com- 
 munity during the past twenty years. 
 
 Joel "Witter, Dealer in Coal and Wood, Fur- 
 nace, corner Cottage Street. — The business of this 
 house is conveniently located on Furnace street, 
 corner Cottage street, where a large business is 
 done in coal and wood, which extends throughout 
 the village and suburbs. The premises embrace a 
 convenient office with large yards in the rear. Two 
 teams are kept constantly employed in the delivery 
 department. The proprietor also manufactures by 
 horse-power various kinds of fire and kindling 
 wood, a business he was in when the coal business 
 was added a little over a year ago. He has been 
 successful in building up a large trade. Mr. Witter 
 is a native of Canterbury and is about thirty-fivo 
 years of age. He came to this village in 1868 and 
 was for three years a clerk for Waldo & Co., and 
 then a partner of Waldo Brothers & Co. for nine 
 years. Selling out his interest there he embarked 
 in tho wood and coal business as above stated, 
 which he continues with the same success that has 
 always followed him. Mr. Witter it may well bo 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 331 
 
 said is a self-made man. Realizing that there is no mills proper, and are a continuation or succession 
 royal road to success he has won his way, step by of the Danielsonville Company, which was founded 
 step, in this community from an unknown clerk to over sixty-five years ago. One of the mills, called 
 a prominent business man. In every true success the old one, is a frame building, built in 1816, and 
 -there must be an element of moral stamina. The is still used for various purposes. The stone 
 fact that Mr. Witter is an advocate of temperance, structure about seventy feet distant from the first- 
 wing neither tobacco nor liquors, is, no one will named, and on the same side of the street, was 
 deny, an element in his success and goes far to built later, while the large brick mill opposite, and 
 pointing a moral to all young men who desire to which is a noble pile, was constructed in 1808. 
 achieve substantial prosperity. This latter mill is 219 feet long inside, 78 feet 
 
 wide, built of brick, and is four stories with a base- 
 ment. The picker room is 63 x 43 feet, two stories. 
 
 Charles P. Card, Groceries and Dry Goods, The boiler-house adjoining is 40 x 40 feet, and the 
 
 No. 202 Main Street. — The business of this attract- engine room, 18 x 52. The office is 31 x 42 feet in 
 
 ive establishment was started by Messrs Evans & area, two stories' in height, with a basement. The 
 
 Cleveland in 1878, who were succeeded by Mr. C. motive power is water, 350-horse power, but steam 
 
 P. Card in the present year. engines are also present as an auxiliary. The 
 
 The store is located in the Evans block, which present company was organized in 1880, and they 
 
 substantial structure was built in 1878, by Thomas have a capital of $175,000. The President is B. 
 
 J. Evans, Esq., who holds the honored position of B. Knight; the Treasurer, Jeffery Hazard, and the 
 
 judge of probate in the town of Killingly. This Superintendent is Mr. A. J. Gardiner. The latter 
 
 building or block was constructed for the sum of gentleman is a Connecticut man, and was born 
 
 ATTAWAUGAN HOUSE, L. WORDEN, PROPRIETOR. 
 
 $16,000, but this sum gives no idea of its real in Windham County about forty-nine years 
 
 value at the present day, for during the time of its ago. In these mills are 17,024 spindles and 384 
 
 ■erection labor and materials were very low, and it looms, and they manufacture prints, sheetings and 
 
 represents nearly if not quite double the original shirtings; but the company are open to contract 
 
 •cost. for any article in their line. About 4,500,000 
 
 Mr. Cleveland, one of the original partners, yards per year are turned out, of uniform fine 
 
 moved to Northampton, Mass. Mr. Card the grades. They employ 275 hands, who are of both 
 
 present proprietor, was born in the southeastern sexes. Everything about their work indicates the 
 
 part of Killingly, Conn., in 1826. He has been a presence of system and good management. The 
 
 farmer, also has visited South America, from where superintendent, Mr. Gardiner, is a man of fine ap- 
 
 he returned to enter into trade in his native town, pearance, dignified, yet courteous in manner, and 
 
 He lived in Dayville about ten years, where he was is manifestly a thorough-going business gentleman. 
 
 a successful merchant. The store is about twenty- 
 
 six by thirty feet in area, and is filled with an 
 
 excellent assortment of groceries and dry goods, Attawaugan House, L. Wordeu, Proprietor, 
 
 "which are sold at reasonable prices and are of ex- Main Street. — The most prominent and homelike 
 
 cellent quality. Mr. Card is an energetic and building on the main street of Danielsonville, close 
 
 active business man with a sharp lookout on the by the railway, is the Attawaugan House, a largo 
 
 markets, and understands when to buy and how to wooden structure, surrounded by piazzas, and with 
 
 sell. He treats his customers liberally and his a very extensive livery stable in the rear. This 
 
 house is a desirable one with which to form busi- hotel was built in 1855, or twenty-eight years ago, 
 
 Bess relations. by Mr. Elisha Chamberlin. The first manager was 
 
 Mr. Henry Peckham, who ran the hotel for about 
 
 Danielsonville Cotton Company.— Beau- nine months, when he was succeeded by its present 
 
 tifully situated between the Quinebaug five-mile proprietor, Mr. L. Worden, who has been the niana- 
 
 river in the centre of the borough are located the ger ever since, with the exception of two years, 
 
 mills of this Company. They consist of three when it was run by Mr. E. Spencer. The Atta- 
 
332 
 
 THE HISTORIC AL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 waugan House stands upon the site of the old Dan- 
 ielsouville Tavern, which was destroyed by fire 
 many years ago. The house has fifty rooms, and 
 can accommodate 100 guests. There is a fine large 
 office and reading room, an extensive dining room, 
 a ladies' parlor, etc. All the chambers are well- 
 furnished, carefully looked after, and have the best 
 of spring beds. The table is abundantly supplied 
 with well-cooked food, and the dining-room service 
 is excellent. In February, the 28th, 1878, the livery 
 stable was destroyed by fire, with a loss of eleven 
 horses, all the hay and grain, and thirty sets of 
 harness, and nearly all the carriages and wagons. Mr. 
 Worden at once built a new carriage house and stable, 
 with all the modern improvements, and bought 
 a new supply of horses, harness, etc. Mr. Lewis 
 Worden was born in Charleston, R. I., September 
 3, 1818, where he lived until he was about fifteen 
 years of age, when he moved to Brooklyn, Conn. He 
 afterwards ran a hotel for a year in that town, and 
 later was manager of a hotel in Moosup. For a 
 couple of years he had charge of the old York 
 Home in Danielsonville, but since that time until 
 the present, has had charge of the Attawaugan 
 House. This is now the leading hotel, and has an 
 extended reputation, as well as a very large pat- 
 ronage, especially among commercial men, theatri- 
 cal people, etc, as well as the general public. 
 
 William K. Logee, Amusement Manager. — 
 In every business or profession there is always one 
 who stands head and shoulders above his constitu- 
 ents, and is recognized as a leader in whatever he 
 undertakes. The history of the gentleman now in 
 review bears out this assertion. Mr. Logee, a na- 
 tive of this village, was born July 14, 1846. After 
 finishing his education in the public schools, he 
 learned the printer's trade in the Windham County 
 Transcript office in Danielsonville. Leaving home 
 a thorough master-printer he worked on the Post 
 in Hartford, Herald in New York, and other me- 
 tropolitan dailies, on the Advertiser and Bulletin 
 in Norwich, Conn., up to 1869, when he settled in 
 Providence, R. I., where he carried on the printing 
 and stationery business. 
 
 Leaving that city he returned to his native town 
 and became proprietor of The Windham County 
 Press, a paper devoted to local interests, which he 
 managed with signal ability. Retiring from this 
 enterprise he was for a brief time assistant financial 
 secretary of the New York State Temperance Soci- 
 ety, traveling through that State in its interest, 
 and delivering stirring addresses to large audiences 
 wherever he went. Nature has gifted him with 
 an unusually captivating and forcible manner, 
 which he has always used in a public and private 
 way to the great benefit of his fellowTman in advo- 
 cating the cause of humanity. Retiring from this 
 work he engaged to represent the large biscuit firm 
 of Parks & Savage, Hartford, Conn., who through 
 Mr. Logee has built up a very large and successful 
 business during the past five years in this section of 
 the State, which has been conducted on the estab- 
 lished principles of that well-known firm — honesty 
 and business integrity. It is safe to say that this 
 result lias been brought about by the industry and 
 untiring energy of Mr. Logee, who has proven 
 himself to be the right man in the right place. 
 
 Aside from this occupation he has for seven years 
 been amusement manager of lecture courses and en- 
 tertainments in Danielsonville and Norwich, where 
 he has the entire confidence of the great public 
 The same elements that have been factors in his 
 career have been the means of his overwhelming 
 success in this. Previous to his entering this field 
 various attempts had been made with poor success 
 to establish this business on a firm basis, and to- 
 carry it on to a successful issue, but it remained 
 for Mr. Logee to bring order out of chaos, and 
 make a name and a place for himself in this diffi- 
 cult and responsible position. That he has done 
 this, the great public with one voice award him the 
 praise. Nothing is too good for his patrons, and 
 right here is one of the secrets of his success. 
 Keeping faith with the public by engaging the best 
 talent at any price, Mr. Logee shirks no responsi- 
 bility, as is shown by his always introducing to his 
 most intelligent audiences the artists of the eve- 
 ning, prominent among which may be mentioned 
 John B. Gough, Wendell Phillips, Mrs. Mary A. 
 Livermore, T. De WittTalmage, Alvin W. Tourgee, 
 Will. Carlton, Robert Burdette, Olive Logan, and 
 such musical artists as Remenyi, Camilla Urso, 
 Adelaide Phillips, M. W. Whitney, H. C. Barnabee 
 and many others. In private life he is a teacher 
 in the Sabbath -school of the Congregational 
 Church, of which he is an active member. 
 
 Of an active temperament, honest in his im- 
 pulses, shrewd in business, comprehensive in his 
 ideas, cosmopolitan in his tastes, he is a represent- 
 ative of that Yankee which Carlysle describes as 
 having a perseverance that never languishes. Speak- 
 ing of this class he says: "Shut their industry 
 out of one career and it will force itself into an- 
 other, dry up twenty sources of their prosperity 
 and they will open twenty more, and when they say 
 ' I'll try,' the thing is done." 
 
 A. & W. Potter, Manufacturers of Fancy Cas- 
 simeres. — A large and handsome brick factory, en- 
 gaged in the production of fancy cassimeres, is 
 situated at Elmville, in the town of Killingly, 
 about two miles from Danielsonville, and is run by 
 Messrs. A. & W. Potter. A wooden building which 
 formerly occupied the site was burned in 1874, and 
 the present modern brick structure was begun im- 
 mediately after and completed early in 1875. Tlie 
 factory is 150 feet long, fifty feet wide, three stories 
 high, and has four sets of cards, giving employ- 
 ment to about 100 Hands. It is run by both steam 
 and water power. The goods produced, cassimeres 
 (medium grade), find a ready market The Messrs. 
 Potter are natives of Rhode Island, but have re- 
 sided for about twenty-four years in this locality, 
 seventeen of which they have been engaged in the 
 present business. Mr. W. Potter occupies an ele- 
 gant residence in Danielsonville about two miles 
 from the factory, his brother residing upon his fine 
 farm near the mill. The Messrs. P. are noted for 
 their generous hospitality, and are prominent mem- 
 bers of society. During the various vicissitudes of 
 the past ten years, as regards the manufacturing 
 interests, the Messrs. Potter have kept their mill in 
 successful operation, an item of considerable im- 
 portance to the employees dependent upon their 
 work for a livelihood. He is a very popular gen- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 333 
 
 tleman, a lover of horse flesh and the owner of 
 several fine animals, and is esteemed as one of the 
 leading citizens of the town. 
 
 The Quinebaug Company, Danielsonville, 
 Conn. — These vast works deserve more than a pass- 
 ing notice. They are delightfully situated on the 
 right bank of the beautiful Quinebaug river on 
 elevated ground, and are surrounded by nearly two 
 hundred well-constructed and nice-looking brick 
 tenement houses. Their grounds cover more than 90 
 acres, and from the windows of the various build- 
 ings the view is enchanting. The mills proper are 
 designated as No. 1 and No. 2. No. 1, or the old- 
 est mill, was built by Mr. Tiffany, the father of the 
 celebrated New York jeweler, over a half century 
 ago. It has lately, however, been entirely recon- 
 structed, with new machinery throughout. This 
 mill is of wood, and is the first one approached 
 from the town. No. 2 is of stone, is a massive 
 structure, and with its great wings and extensions 
 covers a large amount of ground. It would require 
 a large amount of space to describe all the inter- 
 esting details — wc will have to generalize. The 
 dimensions of the latter named mill are as follows: 
 main building, 343 x48 feet ; south wing, 100 x 53 
 feet; picker house, 93 x 41 feet; west addition, 122 
 x48 feet; north wing, 152x48 feet; roller shop, 
 124 x 20; weave shed, 450 x 102. No. 1 mill is 200 
 x30 feet in area, and has a power of 100 horses, 
 while No. 2 has that of 900 horses. These works 
 are run by water power, but steam engines of equal 
 power as named for water are on hand in case of 
 necessity. There are 54,736 spindles and 1,400 
 looms, and the number of employees is about 800. 
 the pay-rolls of whom amount to over 819,000 
 every four weeks. The number of yards manufac- 
 tured per year is over 3,000,000, and consists of 
 sheetings of different widths and weights. 
 
 This company was incorporated in 1851, and the 
 present officers are R. C. Taft, President ; John W. 
 Danielson, Treasurer; B. A. Bailey, Agent. The 
 nominal capital is $500,000, and the stock is mostly 
 owned in Providence. Mill No. 2 was built over 
 twenty-five years ago. This company own a large 
 store which has for its customers others beside the 
 operatives. The operatives are all paid in cash, 
 and there are but about one-third who avail them- 
 selves of the discount, for all are at liberty to trade 
 where they will. This company also owns one of 
 the finest grist mills in eastern Connecticut. This 
 mill is in close proximity to their other works, and 
 was built about five years ago. Its capacity is 
 about 500 bushels per day, and the trade extends 
 throughout the county. Last year they produced 
 1,700 barrels of buckwheat and granulated meal. 
 About three quarters of the operatives of this great 
 corporation — the Quinebaug Company — are French 
 Canadians, one-eighth are Irish, and the balance 
 scattering. They all seemed contented and happy, 
 and we learned from the residents of the town that 
 they are an orderly and thrifty class. 
 
 We are often led to reflect, after visiting many 
 of these giant companies, whether those in whoso 
 control they are are not better calculated to man- 
 age them with greater skill than those who cry out 
 so loudly against them. That is our belief in 
 regard to this company, and we have no doubt 
 it would be that of all who visited them. 
 
 DAYVILLE. 
 
 (P. O. ADDRESS, KILUNGI/T.) 
 
 This picturesque manufacturing village is 
 located in the town of Killingly on the line of the 
 Norwich and Worcester Railroad, six miles south 
 of Putnam, and about midway between the cities 
 of Worcester, Mass., and Norwich, Conn., being 
 thirty-one and one-fourth miles from the former 
 city. It is the freight centre for such surrounding 
 hamlets as Elmville, Chestnut Hill, Williamsville, 
 Attawaugan and Ballouville. The woolen goods 
 manufactory of the Sabin L. Sayles Co. furnishes 
 the principal employment. Several stores, a Cath- 
 olic and Congregational Church, a good hotel 
 and a fine school building, together with the 
 new brick mill, the neat houses and well kept 
 streets, evidence the intelligence and thrift of the 
 people. They have a band, several secret societies 
 and a race track near by, and is altogether a live, 
 wide awake, thrifty Yankee village. It is built 
 mostly on one street upon which are a number of 
 fine residences having well-kept grounds. The 
 business portion is on Railroad Square near the 
 depot. The land in this section is good for agri- 
 cultural purposes. 
 
 Dayville has a well-appointed amusement hall, 
 called Sayles' Hall, which seats about three hundred 
 people. The population of the village is 1,200. 
 
 The Sabin Jj. Sayles Company, Manu- 
 facturers of Fancy Cassimeres, Killingly. — It is 
 twenty-five years since Sabin L. and Harris C. 
 Sayles, of Pascoag, R. I., came to the village of 
 Dayville, in the town of Killingly Conn., and began 
 the manufacture of woolens on the Five Mile river. 
 They began with two small mills, of two sets each, 
 on Chestnut Hill stream, and enlarged the business 
 in 1850, only to see the mill destroyed by fire in 
 1858. Sixty days after the fire a new mill of four 
 sets of machinery was built in Dayville, and ready 
 to start. This mill, which started a quarter of a 
 century ago, has been enlarged and increased to 
 thirteen sets of woolen machinery. The growth of 
 the business required additional manufacturing 
 facilities, which has taken the form of a new six- 
 teen set mill, which was opened in March, 1883. 
 This is a modern mill building, with model appli- 
 ances for manufacturing. During all this period 
 of change and growth, Sabin L. Sayles has been 
 the general manager of the business. The old firm 
 of S. & II. Sayles, which dissolved in 1879, by the 
 retirement of Harris C. Sayles, took, in 1882, the 
 name of Sabin L. Sayles & Co., by the admission 
 into the business of Charles A. Russell. In the 
 session of the Connecticut Legislature in January, 
 1883, a special act of incorporation was given The 
 Sabin L. Sayles Company, of Dayville, Killingly, 
 with a capital stock of 8200,000. The property 
 and business of Sabin L. Sales & Co. was, in Octo- 
 ber, 1883, transferred to this new corporation, 
 which organized with Sabin L. Sayles as President, 
 Charles A. Russell as Treasurer and Benjamin Cogs- 
 well as Superintendent. The water power for the 
 Sayles mills consists of a reservoir of thirteen hun- 
 dred acres, with a fall of seventeen feet, and a 
 Risdon water wheel of 190-horse power. The 
 steam power of the mills is a Wheelock engine of 
 1 75-horse power. 
 
834 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND 
 
 INDUSTRIAL 
 
 The first stone for the new mill was placed May 
 1st, 1882, and the main building and picker 
 building were closed on November 22d. Tlie main 
 mill is of brick", 200 x 50 feet, with a rear tower 
 14x13 feet, and a front tower 24 x32 feet and 
 eighty-six and a half feet high. The building is 
 fifty-four feet high. The steep roof makes the 
 fifth story and large room for spinning. The mill 
 is protected against lire with a 4,000 gallon tank in 
 the tower, a system of Grinnell sprinklers, a rotary 
 and steam pump, stand pipes, fire escapes and hy- 
 drants. The mill is heated by steam. The 
 picking, dressing and storage of lots, is in 
 a separate building. This is 64 x 40 feet, two 
 stories high. Boiler, engine and dye houses will 
 be erected. A new and modern plant of tenement 
 houses has been started west of the mill. At first 
 tho Dayville mills made satinets, then army blues, 
 but for the last fifteen years, under Mr. Benjamin 
 Coggswell, tho mills have made cheviot suitings, 
 
 date double that number of guests. Tho transient 
 trade is very large, the hotel enjoying a desirable 
 popularity with traveling men. A well-appointed 
 livery stable is connected with the house, which is 
 a great convenience to those visiting this section. 
 A large hall is located in a wing of tho hotel, ex- 
 tending to the stable office, which, together with 
 the cluster of buildings on opposite sides, forms 
 a court or square beneath. An excellent and spa- 
 cious horse-shed is another feature of this complete 
 establishment. 
 
 Mr. Kennedy, tho popular proprietor, is a gen- 
 tleman about fifty-five years of age. He is a native 
 of Foster, R I., and has been in the hotel business 
 about twenty-two years. Ho has kept hotels in 
 Pomfret, Voluntown, Danielsonville, and has been 
 at his present location for over seventeen years. 
 At first the house was 28 x 32 feet, but has since been 
 enlarged to its present size. The main building is 
 22 x 00 feet in area, witli largo wing about 22 x 00 
 
 DAYVILLL HOTEL, DAYVILLE, CONN. 
 
 overcoatings [and fancy caSsimeres. Worsted and feet. The barn has also been enlarged from a ca- 
 silk effects have been successfully produced, also parity of six horses to accommodate fifty. Mr. Ken- 
 plaid back overcoatings. The goods made are all nedy is very popular among his townsmen and tho 
 wool. The raw material is grown in this country, traveling public. He has held the office of select- 
 Borne two hundred and fifty persons are employed, man for a number of years. His son is editor and 
 and the average annual product is 360,000 yards, owner of The Windham County Sunbeam, a popu- 
 The agents are Low, Harriman & Co., 65 and 67 lar weekly, published at Putnam, while two others 
 Worth street, New York. Tho new mill will in- are well-known and successful merchants in Day- 
 crease the abovo figures one-third. Mr. Sabin L. ville. 
 
 Sayles is tho most prominent man in the place, and 
 
 is widely known as an able politician. He is a F.Lyman, Jeweler, Sewing Machines," 1 etc., 
 leading republican, and takes a deep interest in all No 59 Main gt re et.— In a building wholly devoted 
 that concerns the welfare of his town, ond the to the purpo se, the only one of tho kind at Day- 
 progress of his party. The treasurer of the new villC) at No 59 Main 8trcet) is the j ewe i ry 8t0 re of 
 company, Mr. Russell, last year represented Kil- p L yman> a yoU ng and very enterprising man, who 
 lingly in the legislature. does not confine himself to one branch of the busi- 
 ness, but adds others, as necessity may require, or 
 The Dayville Hotel, Kennedy, Proprietor, the wants of the community demand. Mr. Lyman 
 — This hotel, being the only ono in tho village, has lias a lifjht, well arranged room, some 20 x 40 
 a monopoly of the business. It is a commodious feet, which is filled with an attractive assort- 
 two and one-half story wooden structure, with front ment of clocks, watches and jewelry. He also keeps 
 and side balcony on second story. It is well fur- Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines, and has a 
 nished, lias an unexceptional table, twenty light horse and wagon for delivery to order. A specialty 
 and airy aleeping-rooms, and can readily accommo- is also made of pens, ink, pencils and stationery. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 335 
 
 Daily and weekly newspapers are kept on hand, 
 and every publication is furnished at publisher's 
 rates. Fine watch repairing is done to order. Mr. 
 Lyman is still under thirty years of age. He was 
 born in Bozrah. He began life as a clerk in a 
 grocery store. He has been in business in this place 
 for the past two years, and has established a fine 
 store and earned a high reputation. 
 
 Geo. L. Field, Drugs and Groceries, Rail- 
 road Square. — In what is known as Webster Block, 
 is the large and inviting store of Mr. Geo. L. Field, 
 which is also a family store, dispensing drugs, 
 selling groceries, teas, coffees, spices, oils, molasses, 
 flour and canned goods or dealing in confectionery. 
 The grocery and confectionery store is some 39 x 30 
 feet while the room devoted to drugs is smaller, 
 being 15 x 20 feet. Mr. Field was born in Kil- 
 lingly, about fifty-eight years ago. He has always 
 stuck to business and has lived in his present position 
 for the past twenty years. He is assisted by his amia- 
 ble wife in the management of the store. Together 
 Mr. and Mrs. Field make this one of the most 
 popular shops in the village. 
 
 M. & A. Wood, Dry Goods and Groceries, No. 
 4 Railroad Square, Sayles' Block. — The oldest and 
 largest dry goods and grocery store combined, in 
 the place, is situated in the handsome building 
 known as the Sayles' Block, and run by M. & A. 
 Wood. It is thirty feet wide and sixty feet deep. 
 The front room is devoted to dry goods, hats, caps, 
 boots and shoes, gents' furnishing goods, patent 
 medicines, crockery, glassware, house furnishing 
 goods, etc. ; the icar to a full line of groceries. 
 One corner of the dry goods store is used for the 
 village post-office. It will be seen that this is pre- 
 eminently the grocery and dry goods store of the 
 village. The brothers Wood were born in 
 Killingly, and have been in their present business for 
 sixteen years. They succeeded E. R. Burlingame. 
 One of them has been postmaster for a number of 
 years. Both gentlemen rank as the foremost men 
 of the place, socially, and in business. They take 
 a'deep interest in promoting the welfare of the 
 place, and are liberal in their support of its institu- 
 tions. 
 
 W. P. Kelly, Grocer, No. 58 Main Street.— 
 The large brick building on Main street, north 
 side, near the railway track, has long been known 
 as a grocery and general family store. Originally 
 it was a " mill store," run by the Sayles Manufac- 
 turing Company. Later it was conducted by C. 
 P. Card, who was succeeded in 1882 by Mr. W. P. 
 Kelly, the present proprietor. The building is a 
 long two-story brick structure; the main sales- 
 room is 20 x 50 feet. It is a perfect representation 
 of a country store, where it is necessary to concen- 
 trate everything beneath one roof, and sell goods 
 to all the people in town. Here wo find a section 
 of the store devoted to drugs and medicines, which 
 Mr. Kelly dispenses as called for ; to an extensive 
 line of dry-goods; to boots and shoes; to produce 
 of all kinds ; to family groceries, and the numer- 
 ous other things wanted by country people. Four 
 men are employed to attend to customers. Mr. 
 Kelly is a native of Killingly, and has always re- 
 
 sided in the vicinity of his place of business. He is 
 a polite, intelligent gentleman, and highly respected 
 in the community where he lives. 
 
 PUTNAM. 
 
 The pleasant village of Putnam lies in the valley 
 of the Quinebaug river, surrounded by gentle hills 
 and rolling lands of sufficient diversity to afford 
 good drainage, and give the town a picturesque 
 aspect. It is situated midway between the four 
 cities of Boston, Hartford, Worcester and Norwich, 
 at the junction of the Norwich & Worcester and 
 New York & New England railways. It is well 
 laid out, with good streets, many of which are 
 shaded with elm and maple trees. It is the seat of 
 a largo manufacturing industry, such as cotton, 
 wool, and silk mills and shoe manufactories; has 
 three good hotels, two weekly papers, the Patriot 
 and the Sunbeam, and six churches, viz. : Congrc- 
 gationalist, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Advent, 
 and Roman Catholic. The other buildings of note 
 are the new high-school house, the convent, the 
 Bugbee House, and such business blocks as the 
 Union, Wagner's, Arcade, etc. In the first men- 
 tioned there is the po8t-ollice and opera-house, seating 
 1,000 people. The First National Bank with a cap- 
 ital of $150,000, and the Putnam Savings Bank, 
 occupy the same brick building. The town has 
 gas and water works, a fire department, and a good 
 number of dry goods, grocery, drug, hardware, 
 jewelry, boot and shoe, and flour and feed stores, as 
 well as a grist mill, a wood working shop, coal yard, 
 harness shop, music store, furniture store, market, 
 etc. The town is pretty, peaceful and prosperous, 
 in the midst of a rich farming district, which it 
 supplies with articles in trade. The first successful 
 cotton manufactory in Connecticut was put into 
 operation here. The town was incorporated in 
 1855, and has a population of about 6,000. Other 
 prominent manufacturing concerns, not given in 
 list below are — "The Putnam Manufacturing Co.'' 
 producing light sheetings, "The Monohansett 
 Manufacturing Co.," plain cotton sheetings, "The 
 Putnam Woolen Co.," cassimeres, and " The Morso 
 Mills," cotton goods. 
 
 Putnam Manufacturing Co., Provi- 
 dence Street. — In the northern suburb of the 
 village of Putnam, on the bank of the Quine- 
 baug river, stands a largo stono mill, with central 
 tower and two wings, known as the Putnam Manu- 
 facturing Company. It was built in . 1848 by 
 Hosea Ballou, of Woonsocket, a brother of Geo. 
 Ballou, a prominent manufacturer of that town. 
 This mill is the oldest one in town. The main 
 building is sixty feet wide, 250 feet deep, and five 
 stories high. There are also two wings, each 
 60 x 70 feet. The mill has both steam and water 
 power. It runs 22,000 spindles, 402 looms, and 
 employs 400 hands. The product consists of light 
 shootings, forty inches wide, and the selling agent 
 is Mr. Wm. P. Vaughan, of Providence, a prominent 
 business man in that city. The mill is capable of 
 producing 324,000 yards a month. This large 
 mill is owned by the Rays, of Franklin, Mass. 
 Mr. James P. Ray is the President of the com- 
 pany, and Mr. Edward K. Ray is the Treasurer. 
 
336 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 These gentlemen are representative men in Frank- 
 lin. Mr. D. J. Champlin, a native of Putnam, 
 has been the superintendent for many years. The 
 capital of the company is $300,000. 
 
 Connected with the mill is a general grocery 
 store. Mr. Lindon Tucker, the proprietor, was 
 born forty-eight years ago, in Rhode Island, but 
 came to this state when quite young, where he has 
 since resided. He has resided in Putnam for the 
 last thirty years, and has been for three years one of 
 the selectmen. He is a prominent temperance 
 man and Christian, and takes a deep interest in the 
 welfare of the town. 
 
 Hammond & Knowlton, Manufacturers of 
 Silk. — The silk manufacturing establishment of 
 Messrs. Hammond & Knowlton is located on Biver 
 street, near the centre of the cluster of mills which 
 border the banks of the Quinebaug river. It 
 comprises a main building 100 x 50 in area, two 
 stories high, with boiler and engine-house attached, 
 and a dye-house 25 x 50. The buildings are all of 
 wood, and together they form a compact and at- 
 tractive establishment. The mill is well lighted 
 and conveniently arranged ; it contains the latest 
 improved machinery, employs from 75 to 100 
 hands, and consumes an average of 2,500 lbs. of raw 
 silk per month. 
 
 The manufactured product comprises all the best 
 grades of sewing silk, machine and button-hole 
 twists, which find a ready market among clothiers, 
 tailors and shoe manufacturers. The firm consists 
 of Mr. G. A. Hammond, the resident partner, and 
 Mr. C. C. Knowlton, who has charge of the New 
 York office, and looks after the trade interests. 
 The firm is also represented in Boston by Messrs. 
 Cummer, Jones & Co., at 83 Summer street. The 
 mill has been in operation for about five years, and 
 is the only one of its kind in the town. 
 
 Mr. Hammond is a native of Hampton, Conn., 
 from which town he enlisted, in 1802, as a mem- 
 ber of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut Volunteers. 
 Subsequently he removed to Mansfield, Conn., where 
 he was engaged in the silk business for ten years. 
 He represented that town in the legislature in 
 1870, and came to Putnam in the early part of 
 1878, where he is regarded as a representative man. 
 
 Mr. Knowlton was born in Oakford, Conn., and 
 was engaged in the silk business in Boston for 
 eight years previous to "the great fire," since 
 which time he has been in New York as above 
 motioned. The firm of Hammond & Knowlton 
 are well known as reliable manufacturers, and their 
 establishment is an honor to Putnam. 
 
 Geo. E. Slum & Co., Jewelers— This pros- 
 perous establishment is pre-eminently the leading 
 house in its line of business in Windham County. 
 The store is very advantageously located in a cor- 
 ner of the new Union Block, having a frontage on 
 Main and Union streets, witli an entrance from each. 
 The entire front, formed by four large plate-glass 
 windows, is utilized as a massive show-case. The 
 main apartment contains three straight and one cir- 
 cular counters, each nine feet in length by three 
 feet in breadth, with crystal-glass cases extending 
 overall — the same being arranged in a manner which 
 enables customers to walk around them, thus afford- 
 
 ing a view of the goods without removing same from 
 the cases. Upright show-cases of the Queen Anno 
 design, finished in ash, highly polished, and hav- 
 ing centre pieces of Chelsea tiling, with handsomely 
 carved centres, are placed against the walls on 
 three sides of the room. These cases are used for 
 the display of silver plated ware, and the effect 
 thus produced, together with the brilliant display 
 of diamonds, watches, etc., in the other cases, 
 forms a very attractive feature of the establish- 
 ment The workroom is divided from the main 
 apartment by means of two partierres, with orna- 
 mental drapery, between which stands one of the 
 upright cases, with an alcove in the centre for the 
 display of statuary, etc. The stock, comprising a 
 full line of fine watches and clocks, diamonds, 
 jewelry, statuary, cutlery and silver-plated ware 
 from all the leading manufacturers, is the 
 largest to be found in Windham county, and, in- 
 deed, rarely equaled in the large cities. This 
 large business was first established by the late Mr. 
 Edward Show, in the village of Thompson, about 
 the year 1830, when he secured a wide celebrity in 
 the business. In 1804, following the tide of busi- 
 ness from the hilltops into the valley, Ire removed 
 to Putnam, locating in a small way in the rear of 
 an apartment in the old "Brick Block." The 
 business increased rapidly, and, in 1868, it was 
 found necessary to occupy the entire store, and to 
 subsequently make two additional removals. The 
 death of Mr. Show, in 1876, left the management 
 of the business to his widow and nephew, Mr. 
 George E. Show, who have since conducted it 
 under the firm name as above. The store was 
 burned out in the large fire -of 1877, also on May 
 30, 1882. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the 
 business has been remarkably successful, as is ably 
 illustrated in the present prosperous establishment. 
 Mr. Show, although a young man, is highly es- 
 teemed among his townspeople for his business 
 talent and high moral and social qualities. 
 
 N. W. James, Boston Branch Grocery Store, 
 Arcade Block. — The largest, leading, and most at- 
 tractive grocery store in the' place is undoubtedly 
 the handsome " Boston Branch Store" in the " Ar- 
 cade Block." — It has a front of twenty-five feet, 
 and a length of sixty-five, and is stocked with a 
 choice line of groceries, provisions, canned goods, 
 spices, sugars, rice, flour and meal of all kinds, 
 dried fruits and berries, nuts in great variety, 
 crackers, butter, eggs, lard, etc. A line of house- 
 hold implements is also kept, such as crockery, 
 stoneware, brooms, etc. All the goods in this store 
 are marked and displayed according to the Boston 
 fashion. A large number of fancy tin display tubs 
 in the centre of the store, and arranged in front of 
 some of the counters, are filled with the samples of 
 the nuts, farinacious foods, etc., offered for sale, and 
 make a most tempting display. The canned and 
 other goods are neatly arranged on the shelves, and, 
 as with all other goods, with the prices attached 
 in large figures. By this arrangement the cus- 
 tomer can see samples of the goods, and learn the 
 prices, without asking a question, a plan which 
 saves a vast amount of talking. The trade of this 
 store is not confined to Putnam village, but extends 
 to the surrounding country, and wagons are en- 
 gaged in the delivery of goods at all hours of the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 837 
 
 day. This store was first started by B. & E. Guy, 
 of Southbridge, Mass., who were succeeded by Mr. 
 Walter Guy of Fitchburgh, Mass. In March, 1883, 
 Mr. N. W. James bought out the store, and has 
 continued to run it on the old and successful plan 
 adopted by his predecessors. He has lived in 
 Killingly since he was eighteen years of age, and 
 has been in the grocery business since that time. 
 Mr. James employs several hands, and finds his 
 business constantly increasing. He is a thorough 
 business man, a leading and respected citizen, with 
 pleasing manners which win all who meet him, and 
 is a merchant with whom it is a pleasure to deal. 
 
 Edward Fly, Putnam Cash Grocery, Wagners' 
 Block. — One of the most enterprising and indus- 
 trious men in the business community of this place 
 is Mr. Edward Fly, proprietor of the Putnam Cash 
 Grocery and the steam grist mill. He carries a 
 very large stock of goods, and sells both at whole- 
 sale and retail. His grocery store, some 20 x Go feet, 
 is filled with a full line of groceries, including 
 canned goods, teas, coffees, spices, sugars, do- 
 mestic and tropical fruits, etc., also lamps, 
 crockery, wooden ware, etc. Mr. Fly also deals 
 largely in corn meal, cotton and meat, St. Louis 
 bran, fine feed, heavy white oats, Washburn and 
 Crosby's best Haxall Hour, and calla lily St. Louis 
 flour. In connection witli his store he has a large 
 grist mill, elevator and warehouse, located at No. 
 1 Front street. This building is 50 feet wide, 100 
 feet long, and three stories high. It is situated 
 beside the tracks of the Norwich & Worcester 
 and New York & New England railroads, and grain 
 can be elevated from the cars, by steam power, into 
 the bins, from which it is taken automatically into 
 the hoppers of the mills, where many bushels of corn 
 are ground fresh each day. The grain which comes 
 to this mill from the far West, in large shipments, 
 passes from the car to the condition of meal in the 
 bags, without handling other than by steam power. 
 It is then ready to be carted to its destination, and is 
 delivered to the trade and distributed over the 
 surrounding country. A competent corps of hands 
 are employed. Mr. Fly does a cash business, and 
 has the largest trade of any individual firm in this 
 section. He is a native of Canada, but came to the 
 States when at the age of two years. He has re- 
 sided for the past eighteen years in Putnam. For 
 eight years he was teller of the First National Bank 
 of Putnam, and his thorough knowledge of banking 
 has been of great advantage to him in conducting 
 his present extensive business. He was subsequently 
 extensively engaged in the real estate business. Six 
 years ago he went into the grocery, flour and feed 
 trade, and has made a splendid success, overcom- 
 ing all opposition, and literally carving his way in 
 what seemed an unpromising field. Mr. Fly is 
 highly esteemed in Putnam in social, financial and 
 business circles. He is an active, courteous, genial 
 and intelligent gentleman, and wins friends and 
 customers among all who meet him. Mr. Fly, by 
 special appointment from the Governor, has held 
 the office of notary public for three years, and is 
 also Junior Vice-Commander of the A. G. Warren 
 G. A. K. Post in Putnam, his services in the army 
 during the war entitling him to be a member of 
 that organization. 
 
 The Monohansett Manufacturing Co. — 
 
 The Monohansett Company occupies a large four- 
 story brick building 184 x 54 feet in area, advan- 
 tageously located on the bank of the Quinebaug 
 river, from which is derived its motive power. The 
 factory is equipped with the latest improved 
 machinery, runs 14,000 spindles, and employs 100 
 hands. The product is plain cotton sheetings, of 
 which 3,000,000 yards are manufactured annually. 
 The business was established in 1872, and ten 
 years later was incorporated as a joint stock com- 
 pany. The present officers are Messrs. Estus Lamb, 
 President ; A. F. Lamb, Treasurer ; George W. 
 Holt, Jr., Secretary and Superintendent, and George 
 W. Holt, Sr., Agent. The capital stock is $100,000, 
 and the company do an annual business of $250,000. 
 The officers are, one and all, men of large experi- 
 ence in cotton manufacture, and are thoroughly 
 conversant with this business in all its details. The 
 goods produced rank high in the market, and com- 
 mand an extensive trade. 
 
 Putnam Marble Works, John Nuttall, 
 Central Block. — The Putnam Marble & Granite 
 Works of Mr. John Nuttall were established by 
 that gentleman in the spring of 1870 in the suburbs, 
 and were burned out during the big fire of that 
 year. For a year after he was located in the rear 
 of his present quarters, after which he removed to 
 Central block, where he has since remained, doing 
 a prosperous business. His establishment is the 
 only one of its kind in the town. He carries a 
 large stock and does an excellent annual business. 
 The premises are large, prominently situated, and 
 well adapted to the purpose! for which they are 
 used. They consist of a large room, or shed, for 
 the cutters, and a showroom filled with beautiful 
 specimens of the monumental art. Mr. Nuttall 
 deals in Vermont marble principally, which is 
 valued for its beauty, being of different shades and 
 colors. He does all kinds of marble and granite 
 work, Italian marble, brown stone and Scotch 
 granite; indoor work for houses, such as mantels, 
 piers for glasses, and ornaments for halls, table- 
 tops, etc. The crosses, columns, obelisks, urns, 
 grave stones, tablets and other monumental designs 
 displayed at these works are as fine as those seen 
 in much larger cities. Inclosures of cemetery lots 
 are also made. Mr. Nuttall employs three compe- 
 tent and skilled workmen, and does an extensive 
 business both in this and adjoining towns, the 
 trade increasing yearly. When a young man he 
 worked in marble yards in Providence, R. L, and 
 in Stonington, Conn., where he became a thor- 
 oughly practical and competent man at his trade. 
 For some years lie was in business in Danielson- 
 ville, the firm being Nuttall & Butts. Full of life 
 and energy, keeping well posted in all that per- 
 tained to his profession, Mr. Nuttall deserves the 
 large patronage which he now enjoys, as well as 
 the high esteem in which he is held in Putnam. 
 
 W. H. Mansfield, Grocer, Poinfret Street. — 
 There is an air of solid substantiality, thrift, and 
 business prosperity about the grocery store of 
 Mr.W. II. Mansfield, on Pom fret street, which is not 
 seen in all such establishments. In the first place, 
 
338 
 
 THE IH8T0HICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the store is centrally and conveniently situated ; 
 next it is spacious, being 22 x 75 feet, and it has a 
 long and well-established reputation, having been 
 in operation for the past three years. The store is 
 stocked with all the supplies needed by a family 
 for the larder or kitchen, such as canned goods of 
 every kind, farm and garden produce, flour, but- 
 ter, cheese, lard, fish, sugar, crackers, tea, coffee, 
 jellies, and everything needed for housekeeping. 
 Mr. Mansfield employs four hands to attend to his 
 numerous customers ; and keeps delivery wagons 
 running to all parts of the town. The proprietor 
 is a native of Webster, Mass., where he resided up- 
 wards of forty years, and came to this village in 1874. 
 He is a polite, sociable, and dignified citizen, and 
 takes a prominent part in the social, religious, and 
 reform interests of the town, and is very popular 
 in the community. 
 
 Mr. Olney the house has become a paying invest- 
 ment, its patronage has greatly increased, and is 
 considered, by a large class of travelers, as t/te hotel 
 of Futnam, if not of Windham county. Mr. Olney 
 may be said to be one of the few who " know 
 how to keep a hotel." He has had an exten- 
 sive experience in the business, and his success here 
 and elsewhere is sufficient evidence of his fitness for 
 the calling. Prior to his coming to Putnam ho 
 conducted for several years the Commercial House 
 in Springfield, Mass., where his efforts in behalf of 
 his patrons won the hearty encomiums of all. A 
 hearty greeting, an excellent table, comfortable 
 beds, polite attention, and " Bon voyage," are the 
 necessary adjuncts of a first-class hotel and all 
 these, and more, may be said to characterize the 
 Bugbce House and its hearty and genial host Mr. 
 D. K. Olney. 
 
 THE BUGBEE HOUSE. 
 
 Tlie Itugbee House.— Conspicuous among 
 the several imposing structures here is the Bugbee 
 House, a fine building erected in 1878 upon the 
 site formerly occupied by a wooden building. 
 
 It is of brick, two stories high, a mansard roof 
 and central tower, the latter adding materially to 
 its architectural beauty. The interior of the hotel 
 is very conveniently arranged. Upon the ground- 
 floor a spacious hall separates the large well-lighted 
 dining-room from the office and smoking-room 
 combined; also of ample dimensions. A wide 
 stair-case leads to the second story in which are 
 located the parlors and ante rooms. The balance 
 of this and the entire third story are devoted to the 
 bcdchamliers, of which there are fifty-five. The 
 house is elegantly and substantially furnished 
 throughout and the excellence of its " cuisine" is 
 proverbial among its numerous patrons, which in- 
 cludes a large portion of the transient trade. The 
 house was opened by a Mr. Caswell, who managed 
 it for two years, when he was succeeded by a Mr. 
 Gowan, who ran it for one year, when Mr. D. K. 
 Olney, the present proprietor, took control. With 
 
 O. E. Blacks) one, Wagner's Block, Photog- 
 rapher. — Up a couple of flights of stairs, in Wag- 
 ner's block, one comes to the studio and operating 
 rooms of Mr. O. E. Blackstone, who began business 
 in this place on the 10th of February, 1883. Ho 
 succeeded to the business of the late Mr. J. T. 
 Sharpu, and has on hand all the negatives, made by 
 that gentleman, of the people in Putnam and 
 vicinity. He is well versed in all the different 
 branches of photography, including the dry pro- 
 cess, for children. Mr. Blackstone makes a specialty 
 of ferrotypes and photographs. He attends to all 
 his customers himself, and having an educated, 
 artistic eye, knows how to pose and secure the best 
 effects. Mr. Blackstone is a native of Bristol, N. 
 EL, where he learned his profession. Since coming 
 to Putnam he has had all he can do. As he speaks 
 French and German as well as English, he is able 
 to supply the wants of the large foreign population 
 residing in the town, and he invariably gives them 
 satisfaction. His prices arc moderate and within 
 the reach of all. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 339 
 
 li. 13. Smith, Furniture Dealer and Under- 
 taker, Arcade Block. — It may well be doubted if 
 any store in town requires more space to carry its 
 large stock tban that of Mr. L. E. Smith's furniture 
 establishment in the Arcade block. The main sales- 
 room is some twenty-two feet wide by sixty-five in 
 depth, while two upper floors are used for the 
 stock, each of which is 105 feet long by sixty-five 
 in width, or the whole size of the block. This 
 store lias been in its present position for two years, 
 or since the completion of the Arcade block. The 
 stock consists in part of chamber, parlor and 
 dining-room sets, kitchen and miscellaneous furni- 
 ture of all kinds, quilts, curtains, etc., etc. Mr. 
 Smith also carries on the business of undertaking, 
 and has a variety of caskets, to meet the wishes of 
 all classes of people. Ho employs three men and 
 three horses, is a native of Canterbury, Conn., and 
 for four years before coining to this place was in 
 business in Rockville. Mr. Smith is a gentleman 
 in middle life, easy and dignified in manners, suc- 
 cessful in business, and popular witli all his towns- 
 people, who give him their confidence, patronage 
 and respect. 
 
 A. M. Parker, Boots and Shoes, Wagner's 
 Block. — At the sign of the big shoe, at Wagner's 
 block, which is one of the land-marks of the place, 
 is the conspicuous and centrally located store of A. 
 M. Parker, the only one in the place wholly de- 
 voted to boots and shoes. A stock of 88,000 in 
 value is carried, and the variety in shoes is larger 
 than in many city stores. The stock embraces 
 everything in the way of foot-wear, from the tiny 
 infant's slipper to the heaviest brogan, including 
 wooden soled shoes for use in dye houses. In ad- 
 dition are kept blacking, brushes, shoe laces and 
 similar articles. The store is triangular in shape, 
 having a long front on Pomfret street. It was 
 started many years ago by Haughton & Crandall, 
 of New London, but was purchased six years since 
 by Mr. A. M. Parker, who has given the house a 
 fine reputation, and secured the major portion of 
 the shoe trade of the surrounding country. Mr. 
 Parker is well known in the village, and occupies 
 a high social position, as well as the front rank 
 among the business men of the place. 
 
 Commercial House, A. W. Britton, Pro- 
 prietor. — The first hotel the commercial traveler or 
 weary tourist sees on reaching Putnam is the invit- 
 ing Commercial House, which stands just west of 
 the depot. Like all the hotels in this place, it is a 
 long, three-story structure, with a tower in the 
 middle of the facade — an arrangement which pre- 
 cludes the necessity of climbing numerous flights 
 of stairs, docs away with the necessity of an eleva- 
 tor, and is a means of safety in case of a fire. The 
 building is of brick and wood, modern style in 
 architecture, and of a dark gray or drab color, 
 with a hint of Queen Anne in appearance. It is 
 three stories high, with a slated mansard roof. The 
 hotel was built in 1877, was partially destroyed by 
 fire in 1882, and rebuilt in the same year. The 
 house contains fifty-four rooms, all light and spa- 
 cious, and furnished in the best manner. It will 
 readily accommodate 100 guests, and is in high 
 favor with commercial travelers, theatrical people 
 
 and the" traveling public generally. The beds in 
 this house are all of the best make, the table is un- 
 exceptional, and the corps of attendants arc polite 
 and attentive. Mr. William II. Taylor, the clerk, 
 is a favorite with all who know him. Mr. A. W. 
 Britton, the social landlord and proprietor, makes 
 an excellent host. He was for many years in the 
 railway business, has always lived in a hotel, and, 
 being familiar with the wants of the traveling pub- 
 lic, he makes a first-class landlord. Mr. Britton is 
 a native of Massachusetts, fifty-four years of age. 
 He took charge of the Commercial on the 1st of 
 September, 1881, and has had the satisfaction of 
 seeing his house well filled ever since. 
 
 A. B. Cole & Company, Manufacturers of 
 Extension Cases. — The manufacture of portable ex- 
 tension cases, has within the past few years as- 
 sumed and developed into an importance which is 
 easily accounted for in their great utility. The 
 great desideratum to be obtained by the traveler is, 
 the economy of space combined with the capa- 
 city of accommodating the greatest bulk in the 
 most convenient and at the same time compact re- 
 ceptacle. In this respect the firm of A. R. Cole 
 & Co. have accomplished and filled a want in their 
 portable extension cases, long felt by the traveling 
 public in general and particularly by those gentle- 
 men who are engaged in commercial pursuits. In 
 visiting the differerft towns and communities on their 
 route tliey find it a matter of importance to provide 
 themselves with a satchel or traveling-bag, in which 
 to convey their samples and necessary clothing, 
 which will be both small and compact. Messrs. 
 A. R. Cole & Co. are the pioneers in their specialty, 
 doing business in Putnam, and although having had 
 but a short business experience here, they are rapidly 
 winning their way in thefavorof all who oblige them 
 with a visit. They employ eight hands, and oc- 
 cupy a fine store 24 x 00 on South Main street. 
 They are both young men, Mr. Cole being a native 
 of Maine, and Mr. F. E. Knight, of Worcester, 
 Mass. Together the firm possess those qualities 
 which are recognized as fundamental principles 
 of all business success. 
 
 William H. Letters, Dealer in Pianos, Or- 
 gans, and Sewing Machines, Music Block. — Mr. 
 William II. Letters is a native of Warren, Mass., 
 and came to Putnam about fourteen year since. 
 In the following year he established his present 
 business. From the year 1870 it has steadily in- 
 creased, and as a result, Mr. Letters is occupying 
 his own store, has two wagons "on the road," 
 who annually visit tho most remote nooks and 
 corners of the State. It may bo appropriately 
 said that a man like Mr. Letters in making it 
 .convenient and within the reach or the hum- 
 blest household to procure for themselves a piano, 
 organ or sewing machine, and so thereby furnish 
 much of luxury and enlightenment at so small a 
 price is really a public benefactor. The store 
 which he has occupied during the past three 
 years is of pleasing exterior, and in size, is 20 x 75, 
 having a basement of the same dimensions, in 
 which are stored a large supply of sewing machines 
 of the most improved patterns and workmanship. 
 
340 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 In his stock of musical instrument!! Mr. Letters has 
 no competitors worthy of mention in Putnam. A 
 young man, being but thirty-nine years, with a 
 promising future before him, his success if meas- 
 ured by the past, must in time become one of the 
 most pronounced business achievements of this 
 community. 
 
 L. M. Williams, Druggist, Cheesebros' 
 Block. — No drug store stands in higher repute 
 with the physicians of Putnam or the public gen- 
 erally than that conducted by Mr. L. M. Williams 
 in Chesebros' block. The store is fitted up in the 
 modern style, with large show windows and hand- 
 some cases and counters. A fine soda-water foun- 
 tain adds to the attractions. A full line of pure 
 drugs is kept, and Mr. Williams gives careful at- 
 tention to the compounding of medicines. He has 
 a wide reputation and extensive custom among the 
 city families who pass the summer in the north- 
 eastern portion of this State. All the regular pro- 
 prietary and patent medicines are kept, as well as 
 toilet articles, perfumes, combs and brushes, 
 sponges, etc. A drug store has existed on this 
 spot for the past fifteen years. It was first started 
 by Lyon & Miller, who were succeeded by Sabin & 
 Miller. Five years ago Mr. Williams bought out 
 the place, and has since conducted it with great 
 success. The store has a widtli of seventeen feet 
 and a deptli of forty, and is kept in a very neat 
 and attractive condition. Mr. Williams is a native 
 of Enfield, N. H. He first became practically 
 familiar with the profession of a druggist in the 
 West. Later he had a store in Holyoke, Mass., 
 from which place he came to Putnam. He is a 
 genial, courteous gentleman, well calculated to win 
 friends and hold them, as well as to secure the 
 confidence of the community. 
 
 E. O. Hersey, Druggist and Apothecary, 51 
 Union Street. — In the very heart of the city, close 
 by the depot, located in the Commercial block, a 
 new two-story wood and brick building, with a 
 mansard roof, is the drug store of Mr. E. O. Her- 
 sey. Mr. Hersey began business in this place on 
 the 10th of May, 1879. The store is 20 x 50 feet, 
 and is well filled with a line of pure drugs, medi- 
 cines of all kinds, chemicals, herbs, fancy goods, 
 toys, blank books, perfumes, stationery, confec- 
 tionery, cigars and smokers' articles generally. 
 Mr. Hersey is also the proprietor of a number of 
 excellent patented compounds, including protoxide 
 of iron compound, " Golden Penctrator " toothache 
 drops, "Crine's" dressing for the hair and Her- 
 sey's dentifrice, which are highly recommended by 
 all who have used them. The stock also includes 
 a long list of miscellaneous articles, and a com- 
 plete line of homn>opathic remedies. Wright's per- 
 fume in bulk is made a specialty, and prescriptions 
 are compounded with great care by Mr. Hersey, 
 who is a practical druggist. Mr. Hersey was edu- 
 cated in Boston, where lie has had a long exper- 
 ience. His office is connected by telephone with 
 the principal houses in the village as well as the 
 principal northeastern cities, so that orders can be 
 attended to at once. With his thorough knowledge 
 of the business, his pleasing and popular manners, 
 Mr. Hersey has alrady secured a wide patronage, 
 
 and is building up a fine and lucrative trade. He 
 is noted as an extensive advertiser. 
 
 A. Viau, Family Grocery, Arcade Block. — 
 As an illustration of what may be accomplished by 
 a gentleman of foreign birth in an American vil- 
 lage, we point with pride to the success achieved 
 by Mr. A. Viau, who now has a large, well-stocked 
 family grocery store in the handsome Arcade block. 
 The dimensions of the store are 60 x 25 feet, and in 
 it is displayed a large and well-assorted stock of 
 china, glass, stone and wooden ware, canned goods 
 of all kinds, tea, coffee, sugar, flour, and, in short, 
 everything to be found in a first-class grocery. Mr. 
 Viau also deals in farm produce, and keeps a well- 
 selected line of smokers' articles. Mr. Viau is by 
 birth a French-Canadian, and lias lived in the 
 United States for the past nineteen years, speaking 
 both French and English, which are factors in 
 keeping the large trade which he enjoys with his 
 own people. He has been in business in this town 
 for the past eight years, and was located in the old 
 Arcade block when it was burned. Subsequently 
 he opened a store further up Elm street, where he 
 remained until the completion of the new Arcade 
 block, three years since, when he moved into his 
 present quarters in one of the finest blocks of the 
 city. Mr. Viau has all the politeness of the French, 
 and is so well thought of by his neighbors, and so 
 accommodating, that he secures a fine trade. 
 
 Prescott Bartlett, Ready Made Clothing 
 and Gentlemen's Furnishing Goods, 1 Hathaway 
 Block. — Among the clothing and gentlemen's 
 furnishing goods' stores of this town, there are 
 none whose general appearance and method of 
 conducting business surpass that of Mr. Prescott 
 Bartlett. This popular establishment is one of the 
 most complete of its kind in Windham county. 
 The business was established in 1880, upon the 
 completion of the large and handsome Hathaway 
 block, located upon the site of the Brown block, 
 which was destroyed by fire in 1878. It is a corner 
 store, remarkably well situated, light, roomy and 
 attractive. The interior is admirably arranged for 
 the display of the stock, which comprises a full 
 line of clothing, hats, caps and furnishing goods. 
 Mr. Bartlett is also the manufacturer of women's 
 slippers, turning out some 350 pairs a day, and 
 giving employment to from six to eight hands. 
 These slippers find a ready sale, and command a 
 wide market. Mr. Bartlett is a descendant of an 
 old and honorable family of Killingly, Conn., 
 which town he represented in the legislature in 
 1883. He has resided in Putnam for about four 
 years, and is regarded as one of its representative 
 business men. The store at the corner of Union 
 and Main streets, is in one of the best and most 
 central positions in town. Employed in the store 
 is Mr. Hiram N. Brown, who was born in 1812, 
 and has been a resident of Putnam for over twenty- 
 nine years. He has been in the clothing business 
 for upwards of fifty years, forty-seven of which he 
 has been for himself. He learned the trade in New 
 London in 1830-34, has held many town offiees, and 
 for two years was a member of the legislature. 
 Customers at this store have the benefit of the wide 
 experience of Mr. Brown, and at the same time 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 
 
 841 
 
 liave the pleasure of an interview with one of the 
 town's best known, most agreeable, and highly 
 respected citizens. 
 
 P. O'Leary, Dry Goods and Groceries, Elm 
 Street. — In a building devoted wholly to the pur- 
 pose, centrally located near the Congregational 
 ■Church on Elm street, is the well-known grocery 
 and drygoods store of Mr. P. O'Leary. The build- 
 ing is two stories high, twenty-three feet front, 
 ■with a depth of seventy-five feet, and standing as 
 it does detached from other buildings, it is well 
 lighted. Mr. O'Leary is a popular grocer, his 
 stock comprising, basidc a full line of staple gro- 
 ceries, provisions, farm produce, etc., a well se- 
 lected line of domestic dry goods, the whole form- 
 ing a genuine country store, a most convenient in- 
 stitution fast b fcoming obsolete. The proprietor 
 Mr. O'Leary, although born in Ireland, has been 
 an American since he was eight years of age. He 
 served in the war as a member of the Eighth Con- 
 necticut Volunteers, and did good service from 
 April 18th, 1861, to the time of the surrender of 
 Lee in 1805. For the post sixteen years he has been 
 a resident of Putnam, where he began the grocery 
 business in 1873, and has been at his present loca- 
 tion since 1878. He is noted among his townsmen 
 as a genial, courteous gentleman, and ever ready to 
 promote the welfare of its people. He knows how 
 to succeed in business, and win the respect of all 
 who deal With him. Intelligent, affable, courteous ; 
 lie is one of Putnam's representative business men, 
 and a most estimable citizen. 
 
 The "Windham County Sunbeam."— 
 
 The Windluim County Sunbeam is an enterprising, 
 newsy sheet, published weekly at Elm street, by 
 Mr. Nathan VV. Kennedy, who is proprietor and 
 editor, with Mr. William EL Taylor, assistant 
 editor and business manager. The career of the 
 Sunbeam began in the village of Dayville, where it 
 first appeared on the 30th of May, 1882, edited and 
 managed by the present proprietor, whose indomit- 
 able energy and zeal, assisted by a wide-spread 
 popularity and consequent liberal patronage, soon 
 placed it in the front rank among papers of its 
 class. The success of the enterprise having be- 
 come firmly established, the paper was removed to 
 Putnam, where it has since been published. Spicy 
 and interesting home news, interspersed with ju- 
 dicious selections from the standard issues of the 
 day, and a general neat and attractive appearance 
 are its leading characteristics. Originally of dim- 
 inutive size, it has been enlarged from time to time 
 to meet the demands for space, and at present ap- 
 pears as a thirty-six-column sheet, 27 x 43 inches 
 in rise, containing twenty-three columns of adver- 
 tisements, with a conspicuous absence of unsightly 
 "foreign ads.," and thirteen columns of excellent 
 reading matter, in which particular attention is 
 given to the production of the latest local news. 
 It has a circulation of 2,500 copies, a liberal ad- 
 vertising patronage, and a popularity which has 
 gained for it the distinction of one of the leading 
 papers of the county. 
 
 Mr. Nathan W. Kennedy, the young and enter- 
 prising editor and proprietor, has from early child- 
 hood displayed a natural taste for journalistic 
 work. When quite young he began his journalistic 
 
 career as a general utility man on the Danieltontille 
 Sentinel, and paragraphist under the nom de-plume 
 of " Nat Ural " for several standard papers. This 
 and his subsequent experience, in all branches of 
 the profession, on several prominent journals, have 
 eminently fitted him for the editorship of the Sun- 
 beam. Mr. Taylor, the assistant editor and busi- 
 ness manager, although a young man, possesses the 
 requisite amount of energy and push for the po- 
 sition he occupies. Emboldened by the success of 
 the Sunbeam, its proprietors will soon start a daily 
 issue. 
 
 G. D. Post & Co., Clothiers, Central Block. 
 — A large and handsome 'store in Central Block, 
 some 20 x GO feet, is occupied by Messrs. G. D. 
 Post & Co., who arc known through the town and 
 the surrounding country as the " Combination 
 Clothiers." The store is a fine, large, and well- 
 lighted room, handsomely fitted up in chestnut, 
 with glass and silver-plated cases, and tables for 
 the display of goods. This firm carries a large 
 stock of fine ready-made clothing for men, youths, 
 boys, and children ; also, a large line of gents' fine 
 furnishings, including the celebrated "crown" 
 collars and cuffs and " monarch" shirt. This busi- 
 ness was established in March. 1877, and has grown 
 rapidly in public favor. Col. G. I). Post has resided 
 here for a number of years. He is a member of 
 the New England Combination Clothiers, the same 
 having twenty-eight stores scattered throughout 
 New England. Col. Post is an aid de camp on the 
 staff of Gov. Walker, and is also prominently 
 connected with the fire and police departments of 
 his town. 
 
 The "Putnam Patriot," Editor and Pro- 
 prietor, A. W. MaoDimald. — The town of Putnam, 
 in the county of Windham, taking precedence of 
 its neighboring villages in the amount of business 
 annually done, and in the number of its popula- 
 tion, liberally supports two weekly journals. It is 
 but justice in this connection to state that the 
 Putnam Patriot takes a leading place in State 
 journalism. It was established in the year 1872, 
 and has maintained a prominent position during 
 the eleven years of its existence in influencing the 
 opinions, both political and social, of a large por- 
 tion of the community. Mr. A. W. MacDonald, 
 the present editor of the Patriot, has managed 
 the paper since 1882, and is its sole owner. Under 
 his clever administration of affairs the sheet has 
 vastly improved, and there are few provincial jour- 
 nals in which the opinions editorially expressed are 
 as conspicuous for wide intelligence, close reading, 
 and a general and intimate knowledge of foreign 
 and domestic affairs as is the rule rather than the 
 exception with those found in the editorial columns 
 of the Putnam Patriot. The paper is a large 
 double sheet, and is issued on Friday of each week, 
 and it is printed on full, round type, and is in 
 every respect a credit both to the community and 
 its talented proprietor. 
 
 Mr. MacDonald is a gentleman of Scotch ances- 
 try, who, coming to America, settled in Quebec, 
 Canada, where their son was born. He first liecamc 
 identified with journalism in New York city. In 
 the Patriot is weekly found in an elaborate degree 
 all of the county and town news, which possesses 
 such a fund of interest for the suburban residents. 
 
342 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL A YD TNDUSTRIA L 
 
 WILLIMANTIC. 
 
 The village of Willimantic owes its develop- 
 ment to the establishment of cotton manufac- 
 tories. Soon after 1820 several manufacturing 
 companies were formed, and eligible privileges 
 secured by Rhode Island capitalists and resi- 
 dents of the vicinity. Half a dozen well-con- 
 ducted cotton-factories were soon in operation, 
 and population quickly gathered around them. 
 The site, like that of Putnam, formed the 
 natural contre for a number of prosperous towns, 
 and business flowed to it from a wide extent of 
 country. Baptist and Congregational Churches 
 were organized and provided with houses of wor- 
 ship before 1830. In 1833, the west side of 
 Windham, on both sides of the Willimantic, was 
 incorporated as a borough. Its steady, healthy 
 growth has been greatly quickened by the open- 
 ing of the New London, Northern and Hartford 
 and Providence railroads, and still farther stimu- 
 lated by the completion of the Air Line route, 
 making it a place of much business and import- 
 ance. Maintaining its connection with Windham, 
 but reversing previous relations, it became in 
 time the head of the mother town, administering 
 the town government and probate office, and 
 absorbing much of its business vitality. Its 
 population has been drawn largely from its im- 
 mediate vicinity. The energy and public spirit 
 of the citizens of Willimantic are attested by its 
 convenient town building for the accommodation 
 of public offices, its substantial school-houses, 
 its numerous and handsome church edifices, its 
 finely graded streets and costly bridges, its 
 tasteful private residences, and general aspect 
 of thrift and prosperity. Its various manufac- 
 tories are carried on with much spirit. Its 
 cotton, woolen and linen goods are well known 
 in market, and Willimantic thread is sold 
 throughout the civilized world. Willimantic is 
 58J miles from Providence, 85J miles from Bos- 
 ton, 24 i miles from Putnam, 31 i miles from 
 Hartford, 29J miles from New London, 16i from 
 Norwich, and 54 from New Haven. The popu- 
 lation has increased from 4,000 to 8,500 in 
 1880, with a proportionate increase since. It 
 boasts of fine churches, an excellent opera-house, 
 a court-house, two newspapers, and several 
 hotels. The first manufacturing establishment 
 in importance is the Willimantic Linen Company, 
 established here in 1854, engaged exclusively in 
 the manufacture of sewing thread. - The concern 
 is probably the largest of the kind in the world, 
 500 men and 1,600 women finding constant em- 
 ployment, to whom is paid in wages the sum of 
 $40,000 per month. 
 
 In the manufacture of cotton thread this 
 company uses annually 6,000 bales of Sea 
 Island cotton, from which they turn 
 out 6,000,000 dozen spools of thread, or 
 72,000,000 S2>ools in a year. A new mill is con- 
 nected witli the others on the west bank of the 
 river by an iron bridge which spans the river. 
 The freight is transported to and from by means 
 of a narrow guage railroad which crosses the 
 bridge and runs to all the mills. 
 
 Holland Manufacturing: Company, 
 
 Manufacturers of Sewing Silk and Machine Twist 
 
 by process patented Aprils, 1864— Mills at 
 Willimantic ; main office, 435 Broadway, New 
 York City ; offices also at 19 High Street, Bos- 
 ton, and 17 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia. 
 Their trade marks are Holland, Willimantic 
 Mill "Peerless," " Prime." 
 
 The magnitude of many of the manufacturing 
 enterprises which are conducted in Willimantic 
 is an evidence of superior ability on the part of 
 their managers, and also a proof that this town 
 possesses advantage of location and shipping 
 facilities, and is a natural distributing point for 
 an extensive trade, as well as a convenient point 
 for procuring raw materials. These claims are 
 worthy of the attention of capitalists who are 
 seeking a favorable location for investment. It 
 is to this idea rather than the lauding any indi- 
 vidual enterprise that this work is devoted, and 
 we find no better method of impressing this 
 fact upon our readers than by calling their 
 attention to the character, extent and prosper- 
 ous condition of the several lines of business 
 now so successfully prosecuted here. The silk 
 trade has been for a long time one of the leading 
 industries of Connecticut, and her products in 
 this line are known in all sections of the country, 
 and her trade has extended into the most remote 
 portions of the United States and of this Con- 
 tinent. One of the largest and most important 
 enterprises in this line is the Holland Manufac- 
 turing Company. This business belongs to 
 Mrs. Holland, and a business is done amounting 
 to $300,000 per year. They started first in 1866 
 in the mill opposite the main office in Williman- 
 tic, under the firm name of J. H. & G. Holland. 
 They were brothers of Mr. Holland, of literary 
 fame. Both the originators are dead. Mr. J. 
 H. Holland died in 1868, and O. Holland in 
 1870. Mr. J. H. Holland had been in the busi- 
 ness most all his life, and his brother for a 
 number of years with J. H. H. & Co., at Con- 
 antville, near Willimantic. The mills are now 
 under the general management of Mr. Ira Dim- 
 mock, a brother of Mrs. Holland. Mr. Dimmock 
 is a practical silk man, was born in Willington, 
 Conn., and is about fifty years of age. He 
 resides in Hartford. The superintendent resi- 
 dent is Mr. S. L. Burlingham, a native of Wind- 
 ham County, thirty-eight years of age. There 
 are two mills, 100 x 42 feet each, run with steam 
 power, having engines in each mill twenty and 
 forty horse power respectively. They employ 
 150 operatives, mostly girls. The pay roll is 
 about $4,500 per month. They manufacture a 
 very fine quality of machine twist and sewing 
 silk, and their trade reaches to all parts of the 
 country. The most approved machinery is used. 
 The East Mill was started in 1866 ; the west one 
 in 1873. Mr. G. Holland was the inventor of 
 the stretcher, and it was patented in his name. 
 These machines are manufactured here. 
 
 The wonderful smoothness with which the 
 business runs, and the large and increasing 
 sales, is largely due to the firm business tact and 
 experience of Mr. Dimmock, who has associated 
 with him a skilled and intelligent superintendent 
 and competent overseers. 
 
 Throughout the entire establishment a degree 
 of system and order prevails, which also explains 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 343 
 
 in a great measure their success, both in the 
 quality and quantity of the work they turn out. 
 In the profitable employment they afford to 
 their numerous operatives, the wages disbursed 
 and the great addition they make to the com- 
 mercial importance of the town, they fully de- 
 serve great individual credit. 
 
 Keigwin & Clark, Wholesale and Retail 
 Dealers in Stoves, Ranges, Furnaces, Pumps, Lead 
 Pipe, Crockery, Glass, Tin, and Hollow Ware, 
 Kerosene Goods, Marble Mantles, &c. — This excel- 
 lent store is one of the leading establishments in 
 Willimantic. It is large, light, and well arranged 
 and particularly adapted for this line of business. 
 
 The proprietors are painstaking and energetic 
 men, and every variety of stoves, ranges, furnaces, 
 pumps, etc., are found here, and of the best quality. 
 The long experience of the proprietors eminently 
 fits them to cater to the wants of the general pub- 
 lic. They are exceedingly well informed as to the 
 intricate subject of healthy heating apparatus, and 
 their judgment can be relied upon. 
 
 Particular attention is given to roofing, and all 
 work ordered of them receives prompt attention. 
 This busy town can boast of many excellent business 
 men, btit none stand higher anywhere than they, in 
 the general knowledge of the business. It is no 
 wonder, therefore, that their trade is constantly 
 increasing and spreading beyond the limits of their 
 own county. 
 
 N. A. Stearns & Son, Card's Block, Main 
 Street, Dealers in everything in the Harness and 
 Saddlery line, and every description of Stable, Turf 
 and Horse Furnishing Goods — The saddle and 
 harness making establishment of N. A. Stearns & 
 Son is located in the business part of Willimantic, 
 and was established by Mr. Stearns thirty-five years 
 ago. He has been in his present location since 
 1880. The store is 25 x 60 feet in size, well 
 arranged, and adapted for this kind of business. 
 Everything can be found in the line of double and 
 single harness, saddles, bridles, blankets, halters, 
 etc. They make everything of the above nature in 
 the best manner and at short notice. The firm 
 employ three hands, thoroughly experienced, and 
 the trade extends through the town and country. 
 Mr. Stearns was born in Exeter, N. H., and 
 learned his trade in Holliston, Mass. All the work 
 coming from this store is reliable. The business is 
 constantly increasing, and bids fair to rank with 
 the great establishments of the county. 
 
 George C. Elliott, Dealer in Ladies' and 
 Gents' Fine Boots, Shoes and Rubbers, 154 Main 
 Street, Sign of the Golden Boot. — This excellent 
 store is about 25 x 60 feet in area, is remarkably 
 well lighted, arranged, and attractively fitted up. 
 It has handsome windows, which show off to great 
 advantage the excellent stock, which consists of a 
 full supply of all articles for the foot wear of men, 
 women and children. Mr. Elliott, who styles him- 
 self the "Main Street Shoeist," is a fine, portly 
 man, about forty-two years of age. He was born 
 of English parents, in East Haddam, and has fol- 
 lowed this line of business for twenty-six years. 
 He is one of the burgesses of this borough and a 
 
 representative citizen. He now conducts an exten- 
 sive and profitable business, and enjoys an enviable 
 reputation as an energetic and representative busi- 
 ness man, who has worked his way up by industry 
 and untiring energy. Competent assistants are 
 employed, and great care and attention is bestowed 
 upon his customers. 
 
 "Willimant ic Chronicle," McDonald & Saf- 
 ford, Publishers. — This is an able and large eight- 
 page newspsper, and is published every Wednes- 
 day afternoon. It is filled with interesting matter, 
 and has a large local circulation. It is Democratic 
 in politics, and the editorials are pointed and 
 sharp. Jeffersonian principles are strongly advo- 
 cated, and the paper has great influence among the 
 masses that compose the inhabitants of this burg 
 town. The publishers are enterprising men, and 
 furnish a newspaper that interests the general 
 reader, irrespective of politics. Job printing is 
 done at this office in all its branches, and poster 
 printing is a specialty. The office is in II. C. 
 Hall's block, and the terms of subscription are 
 $1.50 per year. 
 
 Boston and Willimantic Clothing Co., 
 
 Hayden's Block, W. R. Stetson, Manager. — This 
 clothing house is a branch of a Boston concern, who 
 have about forty stores of a similar nature scattered 
 all throughout New England. They opened the 
 store at Willimantic in 1882, and they have already 
 done so large a share of the business as to warrant 
 tliem in saying that they intend to have the cream 
 of the trade of this community. The store is a 
 model one for light and proportions, it is about 
 seventy feet deep and twenty feet wide and contains 
 a very fine assortment of the best class of goods 
 manufactured. Their expenses are light, and being 
 manufacturers, offer an excellent article at a very 
 low price. In fact, one is surprised to find such 
 low prices on such really fine goods. Mr. Stetson, 
 the manager of the Willimantic Branch is but thirty- 
 three years of age, but he carries in his manner 
 every evidence of the successful man. He was born 
 in Norwich, and is a perfect typo of that class of 
 business men for which Connecticut is becoming so 
 famous. The average person has but little idea how 
 well the most fastidious person can now be suited 
 in wearing apparel, and it is a stiange shape indeed 
 that cannot l>e fitted at one of these first class cloth- 
 ing stores, like the Boston and Willimantic Clothing 
 Company, then, again, the character of the goods 
 manufactured by them will stand close scrutiny. 
 
 Carpenter & Fowler, Dealers in Hardware, 
 Table and Pocket Cutlery, Iron, etc., cor. Main and 
 Railroad Streets. — The old established and well and 
 favorably known hardware house of Carpenter & 
 Fowler is one of the most prominent among the 
 business firms of Willimantic. The house was 
 started in 1869, and has kept pace with the wants 
 of this growing town. They carry a very large 
 stock of hardware of all kinds. The trade is both 
 wholesale and retail and the stock embraces a full 
 supply of table and pocket cutlery, fishing tackle, 
 builders' and manufacturers' supplies, carriage hard- 
 ware, iron and steel, carriage materials, eta The 
 store is a very large one, if not the largest in Willi- 
 
344 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTHIM. 
 
 mantic — it certainly is of its line, being 25 x 100 
 feet in area. Messrs Carpenter and Fowler are 
 both Connecticut men and are energetic in all their 
 actions. They have very competent assistants, who 
 add materially to the interests of their employers by 
 their courteous manner to stranger or citizen. This 
 house would be a representative one in any city — 
 everything is so orderly and well conducted — and 
 the rarest articles as well as the newest in their line 
 can lie at all times found there. The firm are both 
 excellent citizens and take great interest in their en- 
 terprising town and stand high with all their 
 neighbors. 
 
 James F. Clunc, Boots and Shoes, No. 160 
 Main Street.- — The boot and shoe house of Mr. James 
 F.Clune is located atNo.100 Main street. This place 
 has been a shoe store for over fifteen years, and 
 maintains its reputation for its excellent assortment 
 of boots, shoes, gaiters, slippers, rubbers and all 
 kinds of goods usually found in a first-class store of 
 this line. The store is large, well arranged and 
 light. Mr. Clune is a young man but is particularly 
 adapted for his business, and enjoys a large share 
 of public patronage. He is a native of Connecticut 
 and has all the energy that belong to the natives of 
 this State. The trade extends throughout the town 
 and country and is rapidly increasing. 
 
 Ansel Arnold & Co., Commission Merchants, 
 "Wholesale Dealers in Flour, Grain, Meal, Feed and 
 Grass Seeds; telephone connection. — The old es- 
 tablished and reliable grain, flour and feed establish- 
 ment of Messrs. Arnold & Co. was established some 
 twelve years since. They are wholesale and retail 
 dealers in grain of every kind, the various brands 
 of flour, feed of every description, hay, straw, etc. 
 Their premises are 25 x 75 feet, and a storehouse 
 seventy feet square running to the railroad track, 
 conveniently divided into various departments. 
 They do an annual trade amounting to §150,000. 
 Their greatest sales are in flour of which they keep 
 a large assortment of all brands, but chiefly the 
 Washburn & Crosby and the J. A. Christian & Co. 
 They supply a large section of the country with 
 their goods and sell also by the car-load. Mr. 
 Arnold was born in Connecticut and is about sixty- 
 eight years of age, he has represented his town in 
 the legislature two sessions, been selectman two 
 terms, is the vice-president and a director in the 
 savings bank and director in the Kockville National 
 and Continental Life Insurance Company of Hart- 
 ford, and is generally identified with the interests 
 of Willimantic. Mr. 11. M. Chapman, the other 
 member of the firm, is about sixty-five years of age 
 and was also born in Connecticut. Both of these 
 gentlemen are thorough business men and give their 
 personal attention to their constantly increasing 
 business. Their reputation for integrity is well 
 earned and maintained. 
 
 Henry H. Flint, Wholesale and Retail 
 Druggist, No. 174 Main Street. -The wholesale and 
 retail drug house which is located at No. 174 Main 
 street, is the outgrowth of the drug business 
 established at corner of Walnut and Main 
 streets, in 1850, by Mr. Horace Hall, the uncle 
 
 of the present proprietor. Mr. Hall conducted 
 the business for about twenty-five years, when 
 he was succeeded by H. H. Flint & Co., who 
 after about five years removed to the present 
 stand. It came into the possession of Mr. Flint 
 in 1882. The stock embraces a large variety of 
 drugs and medicines, dye stuffs, acids, chemi- 
 cals, lead, oils, brushes, artists' materials, in fact 
 everything that may be found in a well-appointed 
 drug warehouse. 
 
 Mr. Flint is the pioneer of this section of the 
 country in the manufacture and grinding of 
 sumac, and he makes a specialty of its produc- 
 tion. The material is collected within a radius 
 of twenty miles, and is used for tanning and 
 mordant in dyeing. The manufacture of this 
 article was commenced about five years ago, and 
 the demand for it is rapidly increasing. The 
 mill is at Mount Hope, about nine miles north- 
 east of Willimantic. The sales-rooms are about 
 25 x 50 feet in area, with a storehouse in the 
 rear, of two stories and a basement. The sumac 
 is largely gathered by farmers, dried in the sun, 
 and cured the same as hay : it is then trans- 
 ported to the mill in bags. The Reaves and leaf 
 stems are the most valuable. The miller is Mr. 
 Elisha Shu m way. 
 
 Mr. Flint was born in Windham Courity, in 
 1845. He was borough clerk and treasurer in 
 1874-5, and is one of the representative men in 
 Willimantic. He is careful and conscientious in 
 administering his business affairs, and furnishes 
 the best quality of drugs, both in his sales and 
 in his proscriptions. His store is filled with a 
 large assortment of first-class goods, and his 
 clerks are intelligent and competent assistants. 
 This business, under the present management, 
 bids fair to tako rank among the leading indus- 
 tries of Windham County. 
 
 "Willimantic Journal," Office No. 10 
 Railroad Street, Second and Third Floors. — This 
 excellont newspaper has the largest circulation 
 and is the oldest paper in the county of Wind- 
 ham. It is a live local and family newspaper, 
 independent in politics, and its leaders are able 
 productions. The editor, Mr. Henry L. Hall, 
 possesses a well-stored mind and is alive to all 
 the issues of the day. The paper is well printed 
 and ably edited and has much influence in 
 moulding the current of thought throughout the 
 country. It is an excellent medium for adver- 
 tising on account of its extetisive circulation. 
 The price is $1.50 per year, and it is sent free of 
 postage. Connected with it is a steam job print- 
 ing office, Hall & Hill, proprietors. They have 
 four steam-power presses and the largest and 
 best equipped office in the county. They do all 
 kinds of job, book, commercial and fancy print- 
 ing, in the best manner and at the lowest prices. 
 Estimates are furnished on application. They 
 put up all commercial work, without extra 
 charge, in Hadder's Patent Blotter tablets, of 
 which they own the exclusive right for Windham 
 and Tolland counties. 
 
 Commercial Hotel, A. A. Burnham, Pro- 
 prietor. — This excellent house has a good name 
 amongst all the commercial fraternity. The prices 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 are moderate, the rooms are good, and the table is 
 excellent. This is striccly a temperance house, but 
 so excellent are the accommodations that many of 
 its patrons, though not total abstainers, prefer it 
 above all others in the town. The landlord, Mr. 
 Burnham, is a genial and companionable gentle- 
 man, and does everything in his power for the com-* 
 fort of his guests. 
 
 Mr. B. was for many years connected with the 
 tobacco house of Lorillard & Co. There are about 
 fifty rooms, with good beds and attendance. It is 
 situated in the business part of the town, and every 
 facility is afforded for the commercial traveler to 
 attend to his affairs and compare notes with his 
 fellows. Mr. Burnham enjoys a high reputation 
 among the citizens of Windham County for his ex- 
 emplary life and sterling qualities as a man. This 
 house bids fair to take high rank among the many 
 pleasant hostelries to be found in New England. 
 
 Brainard House, S. C. Hooker, Proprietor. — 
 This excellent hostelry is located off the railroad 
 depot on Main street, in the centre of the business 
 portion of the town, and is widely and favorably 
 known throughout New England. It is a large five- 
 story wooden structure, containing a spacious office, 
 billiard, cloak, and dining rooms on the first floor, 
 with parlors and sleeping rooms on second floor, 
 and the remaining portion devoted to sleeping 
 rooms, of which there are forty, with accommoda- 
 tion for eighty guests. The honse is well furnished 
 and fitted in modern style, with gas, furnace heat, 
 etc. It is very popular among traveling men, and 
 has an extensive transient trade, the arrivals aver- 
 aging thirty to forty per day. 
 
 Mr. Hooker, the genial proprietor, is a native of 
 Massachusetts, but has resided for twenty-three 
 years in this State, and is esteemed for his readi- 
 ness in promoting the town interests. 
 
 James Walden, Books and Stationery, Main 
 Street. — The leading and reliable stationery house 
 of James Walden was established in 1855. The 
 main salesroom occupies an area of 25 x 80 feet, 
 and contains a large stock of standard works — 
 dictionaries, histories, novels, and, in short, pub- 
 lications of every kind, description, or sort, to- 
 gether with a full line of paper-hangings, etc. The 
 exhibition of goods, such as inkstands, paper-cut- 
 ters, pens and ornaments, is particularly fine. A 
 bookstore is always an interesting place to visit — 
 there is so much to engage the eye and please the 
 mind — and one is always sure to meet there the best 
 element of society in whatever locality they may bo. 
 Mr. Walden's establishment is particularly inter- 
 esting. This store is a pleasing one to enter. An 
 air of orderly quiet prevails, notwithstanding the 
 large amount of business done, and one lingers 
 with pleasure over the beautiful show cases, filled 
 with enticing and useful articles. Mr. Walden is 
 a quiet and pleasant gentleman, born in Connecti- 
 cut, and seems to bo particularly fitted for this 
 special industry. He is a thoroughgoing business 
 man, and carries in his appearance the manner of 
 an intelligent and courtly man. 
 
 Thomas J. Kelley, Grocer and Bottler, At- 
 wood Block, Main Street. — This well-known gro- 
 cery and bottling establishment has been estab- 
 lished for a number of years, but came into pos- 
 
 session of Mr. Kelley in 1880. The stock con- 
 sists of a complete line of choice groceries, pro- 
 visions, canned goods, dried fruit, and spices. 
 The store is both convenient and commodious, kept 
 in the most neat and orderly manner. Since 1880 
 Mr. K. has infused new vigor and life into every 
 department of his business. He is an energetic, 
 enterprising young man, and is rising rapidly into 
 popularity as a reliable and responsible business 
 man. Mr. Kelley is but twenty-nine years of age, 
 but has been brought up to this occupation, hav- 
 ing worked at it since he was fourteen years of age. 
 The most complete arrangements for bottling are 
 here found, and a large business is done in this 
 line. Mr. Kelley, the proprietor, is an excellent 
 type of the well-bred merchant, zealously attached 
 to his business and generally esteemed by his 
 townsmen. 
 
 S. Thaliiiger, Opera House Hair Works, 
 Opera House Block. — Mr. Thalinger has a beauti- 
 ful showroom for his hairwork, and, in addition, 
 has first-class (in every respect) hair-dressing 
 rooms. The latter, especially, are a credit to any 
 city. Thorough artists are employed to assist him, 
 and the whole place has the air of a well-conducted 
 business. We find in this place a large assortment 
 of human hair goods, switches, curls, braids, Pina- 
 fore waves and frizzes — in fact, the largest assort- 
 ment in the State; and, from long experience in 
 the business, Mr. Thalinger safely defies compe- 
 tition. Everything appertaining to the hair trade 
 is made to order — ladies' and gents' wigs; side, 
 back, and centre curls ; Chatelaine braids, frizzets, 
 puffs, waves, wigs, hair flowers and hair jewelry ; 
 also, all kinds of ventilated work. Those who send 
 them a sample of their hair, with the name of the 
 article desired, will be attended to as well as if per- 
 sonally present. Mr. Thalinger is a man of fine 
 appearance, and is noted for gentlemanly tact and 
 good breeding. One is surprised, after looking 
 over the large stock of hair goods here seen, to 
 learn what a large market there is for this kind of 
 ware. The work is really l>eautiful and so skill- 
 fully imitated that the wearer of it can defy detec- 
 tion. Mr. Thalinger is a painstaking, reliablo 
 manufacturer, and his goods arc equal to any 
 made. This fact is recognized by the trade, and 
 his reputation enables him to take a front rank 
 among the dealers in this line of goods. 
 
 Geo. K. Nason, Lumber, Coal, Lime, Ce- 
 ment, Doors, Windows, Blinds, Builders' Ma- 
 terial, etc. ; office and yards, corner of Church 
 and Valley Streets ; connected by telephone. — 
 Among the many branches of trade carried on 
 in this enterprising town none is more justly 
 entitled to our consideration than t hat conducted 
 in lumber and coal by Mr. Geo. K. Nason at the 
 corner of Church "and Valley streets. The 
 business was started by Kiugsley & Loomer in 
 1861 with successful results. About ten years 
 ago Mr. Loomer retired from the firm, and the 
 business was conducted by Mr. Kingsley until 
 May, 1883, when he retired in favor of the 
 present proprietor. 
 
 Mr. Nason was born in Khode Island, and is 
 now about thirty-eight years of age. Ho was 
 
340 
 
 the historical, statistical and industrial 
 
 for four years connected with the police depart- 
 ment of Providence, and subsequently for thir- 
 teen years was engaged in the woolen manufac- 
 turing business in this State and Massachusetts. 
 He has met with unvarying success in all busi- 
 ness pursuits, and is respected in the town as a 
 thorough man of business. His present busi- 
 ness occupies a large yard two hundred feet 
 square, well stocked with all kinds of lumber, 
 and embracing a full line of builders' materials. 
 He also does a large coal business, dealing ex- 
 tensively in Pittston, Lackawanna, Cumberland 
 and Frankly n coals. Eight men and a number 
 of teams are employed in transacting the busi- 
 ness. A shod, 110 x 50 feet, located opposite 
 the main yard, is also used for storing the fine 
 and perishable grades of lumber, etc. The coal 
 is stored in convenient sheds, which are kept in 
 excellent order. Mr. Nason does the largest 
 trade of any concern in the vicinity in his line, 
 and, although a new comer, he infuses into his 
 business an energy which is destined to increase 
 the popularity gained by the old firm . 
 
 O. S. Chaffee & Son, Silk Manufacturers, 
 Mills at Mansfield Centre. — This fine establish- 
 ment dates back as far as 1838, and therefore 
 ranks with the oldest manufacturers of silk in 
 this country. The senior Mr. Chaffee was a son- 
 in-law of Captain Joseph Conant (now deceased), 
 who was one of the pioneers of the silk interests 
 of Connecticut. 
 
 Mr. Chaffee, senior, is one of the oldest of silk 
 manufacturers actively engaged in the business. 
 The present firm, as it now exists, is under the 
 supervision of the junior partner, Mr. J. Dwight 
 Chaffee, who became connected with the busi- 
 ness in 1870, and under whose management the 
 firm have made extensive advancement and im- 
 provement. This latter named gentlemen was 
 born in Connecticut, and is about thirty-seven 
 years of age. He has always identified himself 
 closely with his father's interests, under whose 
 schooling he acquired a thorough knowledge of 
 the business. Mr. J. D. Chaffee is alive to all new 
 improvements in machinery, and unhesitatingly 
 adopts all approved advanced methods. In addi- 
 tion to works at Mansfield Centre,,they purchased, 
 in 1874, the well-known Paisley silk mill at Willi- 
 mantic, which enables them to turn out fifteen 
 hundred pounds of silk per week, doubling 
 their former capacity. This firm devotes itself 
 exclusively to making sewing silk and machine 
 twist, which is sold in New York and Boston, and 
 has been celebrated for years for its strength 
 and finish. The motive power of their works is 
 steam, and they employ about 175 hands, mostly 
 girls. 
 
 The company are doing an extensive business, 
 and bid fair to sustain the high rank they have 
 attained among the silk manufacturers of the 
 world. 
 
 W. M. Gorry, Willimantic Iron and Brass 
 Foundry. — This important industry deserves more 
 than a passing notice, but it is impossible in a re- 
 view of this nature to do full justice to any and 
 all of the great industries that centre in Williman- 
 tic. We will, however, give a brief description of 
 
 these works. The land on which the works are 
 situated was given to the foundry company by Mr. 
 Albert Barr, with the condition that it should be 
 used for five consecutive years for foundry pur- 
 poses. The works were started about eleven years 
 ago by Mr. Bennett, who hails from Canterbury, 
 Connecticut, and who in turn was succeeded by 
 Mr. Gorry. Mr. Gorry was born in Lowell, Mass., 
 but has lived the greater part of his life in Con- 
 necticut. The buildings are 58 x 135 feet in area; 
 also, an engine room. In the latter is a fine new 
 Swiss engine, the first that was used, and which 
 was running at the American Institute Fair, New 
 York City. The boiler is also a new one. In fact, 
 almost every part of the interior has been renewed 
 within the last year in the best manner. New cu- 
 pola, crane, fans, a large oven for baking cores, a 
 Sturtevant blower from Boston, etc. They make 
 some of the best castings that are produced any 
 where in the country, and great care is exercised by 
 skillful workman in all the departments. The eye 
 of the proprietor is everywhere about the establish- 
 ment. They make the castings of the Merriman 
 bolt cutter for EL B. Brown & Co., East Hampton, 
 also retorts for gas houses. They own the patent 
 for an iron fence, which bids fair to become a large 
 element in their trade. This fence is so constructed 
 and is so simple that the services of a machinist are 
 not needed to replace any of the pickets that may 
 be broken by accident or design. There are many 
 varieties of patterns for the pickets, some of them 
 particularly pleasing in their effects. These fences 
 can be put in the market almost as cheap as wood, 
 and be not only as beautiful hut infinitely more 
 durable. Mr. Gorry has a great variety of the very 
 best made patterns for all the different kinds of 
 his work. These patterns, except what are in im- 
 mediate use, are stored in a building removed from 
 the foundry a short distance, and are shown with 
 proper pride to the writer. 
 
 At this establishment are manufactured the Hill 
 grate bars, which were patented May, 1883, by the 
 Chief Engineer of the WillimanticSenior Company. 
 They are of all sizes; so constructed that they will 
 not warp, and have been used with great success as 
 a shaking grate, requiring very little effort and ef- 
 fecting a great saving. Clinkers are easily de- 
 tected and removed. They are herring bone in 
 shape, and must not only make a great revolution 
 in the grate line, but be, from their utility, a great 
 source of revenue to the owners of the patent. 
 Mr. Gorry is a practical and thorough workingman, 
 strictly attentive to his affairs, and bids fair to be- 
 come one of the leading men in his line in the 
 United States. 
 
 SOUTH COVENTRY. 
 
 A village on the New London and Northern 
 railroad, thirty-five miles from New London and 
 five miles from Willimantic. The village proper 
 is about one mile and a half west from the depot 
 with which it is connected by stage and tele- 
 phone. Coventry is noted especially for being 
 the birthplace of two eminent men, each eminent 
 in his own sphere, but whose spheres were widely 
 different. 
 
 Nathan Hale, the martyr spy of the revolution, 
 was born here on the sixth of June, 1755. He 
 
REVIEW OF TIllS STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 347 
 
 ■was a son of Deacon Richard Hale, a farmer. 
 Designed for the ministry he was sent to Yale 
 College where he graduated with honors. After 
 his graduation he spent a couple of years teaching 
 school, being engaged in that avocation in New 
 London when the revolutionary war broke out. 
 In September, 1776, he was sent by Gen. Wash- 
 ington on a secret mission to the enemy's camp 
 on Long Isand, where he was discovered, cap-, 
 turod and sent to New York, at which place, on 
 September 22, 1776, he was executed. His last 
 words will go down to posterity as a bright and 
 shining light among the dying words of great 
 men : — " I only regret that I have but one life to 
 lose for my country." A monument has been 
 erected here to his memory. 
 
 The other eminent man born here to whom I 
 shall refer, was Lorenzo Dow, the famous eccen- 
 tric itinerant Methodist preacher. He was born 
 on the fifteenth of October, 1777, his boyhood 
 being passed on a farm, where he was raised 
 without much education. Having a feeling early 
 in life that he was destined for the service of 
 God, he started out in pursuit of his avocation. 
 He traveled on foot, preaching as he went, all 
 over this continent, and made a couple of trips 
 to England and Ireland, where he preached to 
 great crowds. He lived for some years on the 
 banks of the Oxoboxo river at Montville, but as 
 he was possessed of a roving disposition he 
 wandered on, his steps bringing him at last to 
 Baltimore, Md., where he died at an advanced 
 age. 
 
 One of the most chaimiug little lakes to be 
 found anywhere is nestled down here surrounded 
 by handsome picnic grounds. Its name is Wan- 
 gombog. 
 
 T. H. Wood, Silk Mill— One of the first 
 mills on the stream that furnishes power to so 
 many enterprises is that of Mr. T. H. Wood. 1 It 
 is pleasantly situated on elevated ground with 
 pleasing rural surroundings, and its proprietor 
 evidently takes great pride in his property, 
 judging from the air of neatness and system that 
 prevails. This mill was formerly used for the 
 manufacture of shoddy which operation was con- 
 tinued for a time, when it changed hands and was 
 transformed into a bed-quilt factory, but almost 
 two years ago the present proprietor changed it to 
 a silk mill, and as such it now exists. The silk 
 is received here in almost a natural state, having 
 been previously reeled from the cocoons in Japan 
 or China. It is soaked, placed in the machines 
 and wound into machine-twist, and then shipped 
 to some of the larger factories where it is dyed 
 and made into spool-silk. There is manufac- 
 tured about 6,000 pounds a year in this establish- 
 ment and most of the product is consumed or 
 taken by Belden & Co., at Roekville. Great 
 care is taken at this mill with the work, and 
 ready sale is found for the full capacity. Mr. 
 Wood is nearly forty years of age, and was born 
 in England. He has, however, been so long in 
 this country, that his nationality would be deter- 
 mined with difficulty ; but like a true Briton he 
 loves his mother land. The power used for the 
 machinery is both steam and water ; the latter 
 has up to the present time been deemed sufficient, 
 
 but the long continued drought of the present 
 season has determined Mr. Wood to add steam, 
 which has been done in an effectual manner. 
 Mr. Wood bears the reputation in this pleasant 
 town of being a straightforward, honorable man. 
 He devotes himself closely to the interest in 
 which he is engaged, and his twenty years' resi- 
 dence is marked by a record of usefulness and 
 integrity. 
 
 Eugene Tracy, Extract Works.— On the site 
 where these works stands, was once a cotton mill, 
 which was burned some years since, and a build- 
 ing for the manufacture of shoddy was erected. 
 These latter works were run for a time making 
 shoddy goods, until the advent of Mr. Tracy, who 
 came from Rhode Island, and who began the 
 manufacture of extracts, which continues to be the 
 product of this mill. Extract is the result of sep- 
 aration of woolen from cotton rags, which here is 
 so thoroughly done that a fine article of woolen 
 stock is produced. The average force employed is 
 five men, and the mill is run during the winter, 
 days and nights. 
 
 They put through about one thousand pounds 
 per day, running with water power when the 
 stream is sufficient, but like the other establish- 
 ments on this privilege, this summer they have had 
 to use steam. 
 
 Mr. Tracy brings great experience to bear upon 
 his business. His goods are sent to all parts of the 
 country, and they are noted for their excellence. 
 Mr. Tracy has been identified with the school com- 
 mittee of the town, but takes no active interest in 
 politics. He is a man of fine executiveability, and 
 thoroughly understands his business. His reputa- 
 tion as a good citizen is second to none, and he 
 carefully watches his business, which he has done 
 so much, or all, towards bringing up to its present 
 high standard. The stone mill was erected last fall, 
 and the other main building has been constructed 
 since he has been here. 
 
 South Coventry is a pleasant and intelligent 
 locality, and owes much of its social interest to 
 such citizens as Mr. Tracy. 
 
 Hull & Sweet, Groceries, Dry Goods, etc. — 
 Messrs. Hull & Sweet, the proprietors of this fine 
 store, are both young men. They succeeded Sweet 
 Brothers, and the present name was assumed this 
 year. The store is an exceptionally good one, is 
 centrally located, large, light, and well arranged. 
 The stock is well selected, and embraces all the 
 newest patterns in dry goods, with all the best 
 qualities of groceries, etc. They also deal in 
 grain, feed, boots, shoes, drugs, medicines, paints 
 and oils. They have a fine lino of crockery and 
 woodenware, in fact, it would be difficult to enum- 
 erate in detail all the articles found in their 
 establishment. They probably carry the largest 
 stock of goods and have the largest trade of any 
 one in the town. This is an old business stand, 
 and has been in existence as such for over forty 
 years. Both the gentlemen composing the present 
 firm are New England men. Mr. Hull was born 
 in Lebanon, and Mr. Sweet, though born in Cov- 
 entry, R. L, has been here since he was two years 
 of age. These two young men would seem 
 to have a promising future of success before them. 
 
348 
 
 THE mSTOIUCAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 They both have energy and activity, are intelligent 
 and obliging, and have apparently abundance of 
 health. 
 
 Huntington Silk Mill, Sweet & Weblcr.— 
 This is the last or next to the last one on the 
 privilege before we arrive at the railway, and is 
 romantically situated in this beautiful valley. 
 The proprietors are both young men who started 
 last spring. They bring into the business intelli- 
 gence, activity and energy. Mr. Sweet is a native 
 of Rhode Island, and Mr. Weblcr of Connecticut. 
 In their works everything in the line of silk thread 
 is done. Within the last few weeks they have 
 added another feature to their business, that of 
 dyeing silk, making their goods ready for the 
 trade. They make a very fine grade of goods, and 
 employ twenty operatives, besides themselves, for 
 they take a very active part in the business. Mr. 
 Webler, if any distinction can l>e made, may be 
 consided the practical man. Mr. Sweet was a 
 member of the State legislature two years ago, and 
 is a very popular man. Mr. Webler is the present 
 town clerk and judge of probate. This firm bids 
 fair to rank with the first in the country. This 
 mill has always been used for silk manufacture. 
 The present proprietors seem to have imbued the 
 works with a large portion of their own excellent 
 qualities. We have stated before in our history of 
 Soutli Coventry industries and people that a larger 
 number than usual of good citizens prevail here, and 
 it cannot be wondered at, when its business affaire 
 are conducted by men of the character of this film. 
 
 J. H. Carman, Dealer in Groceries, etc. — 
 Directly opposite the mill of Mr. I. H. Wood we 
 find the spacious and inviting store of Mr. J. B. 
 Carman. This establishment is filled with goods 
 suitable for a general country trade. The stock of 
 groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, crockery, 
 etc., is a large and very well selected one. The 
 store is about 27 x 37 feet in area, and is admira- 
 bly arranged for the present business. The pro- 
 prietor, Mr. Carman, is a fine-looking gentleman 
 with a countenance beaming with intelligence, 
 health and good nature. Mr. C. was born in 
 Hartford about forty years ago, and has had a 
 variety of changes in his comparatively young life. 
 When fourteen years of age he went in the store 
 with I). M. Bad! ; he stayed there about two 
 years when he went to Hebron with E. P. & C. G. 
 Buell, there he remained about three years ; from 
 there he went to Springfield and worked in the 
 armory two and one-half years; then he engaged 
 with E. II. Waite, grocer, in Springfield, staying 
 with him about one year; then he went with Harri- 
 son & Elmer where he remained two years ; then 
 returning to E. II. Waite with whom he remained 
 one and one-half years. He then engaged himself 
 in the harness business for three years ; from this 
 latter business he went to Montville and started a 
 bed quilt mill which he run for three seasons, when 
 he finally entered his present business in which he 
 has been about eight years. Mr. Carman is a man 
 of great energy and is evidently making a success 
 of his business. He ranks with the best people of 
 the country, as to integrity and usefulness. 
 
 Albert li. IJottum, Successor to Morgan & 
 Bottum, Silk Manufacturers. — Wandering along the 
 water privilege that flows from Lake Waugumbaug 
 we pass various mills, some devoted to extracts, 
 some to cotton goods, and others devoted to silk 
 manufacture. Chief among those devoted to the 
 latter product are the fine works of Messrs. Morgan 
 & Bottum. This mill lias been in operation for 
 the manufacture of machine twist for seventeen 
 years; and, like some of the other establishments 
 of similar nature in this vicinity, they do not dye 
 or spool the silk, but send their products to facto- 
 ries especially fitted for the latter purposes. 
 
 There are about twenty operatives employed, 
 many of them females. The proprietors are both 
 Connecticut men, and have been connected as a 
 firm for about four years. Mr. Bottum had been 
 In the business for eight years at Mansfield, and 
 has been here with Mr. Morgan about four years. 
 Mr. Morgan started in this line over fifteen years 
 ago, and is a practical silk worker, a thorough 
 mechanic, aud devotes the closest attention to his 
 occupation. This mill had been formerly run by 
 Mr. M. as a box factory. 
 
 The power generally used is water, but a steam 
 engine does the work when the water is low. They 
 receive more of the Japanese silk than any other 
 kind, and turn out a very fine article, which is read- 
 ily sold to various works throughout the country. 
 Mr. Morgan has represented his county in the State 
 legislature, and has the confidence and esteem of 
 all his constituents and neighbors. Both these 
 gentlemen are earnest, energetic men, and would 
 do honor to any locality. 
 
 J. M. Wood, Woolen Mill.— The water priv- 
 ilege that furnishes power to so many establish- 
 ments is used with gratifying results by this gentle- 
 man, who manufactures a very fine grade of cassi- 
 mer goods. The products of this mill are noted 
 for their excellent quality and finish. Mr. Wood 
 employs about twenty-five operatives (one- third of 
 whom are females), and he gives the closest of 
 practical attention to his interests. This, combined 
 with good judgment, accounts for the fine results 
 obtained. 
 
 Mr. Wood was born in England, but has been in 
 this country since early childhood, and, while 
 proud of his native land, is thoroughly identified 
 with the prosperity of his adopted country. He 
 has owned this mill for twelve years, and has run 
 it as a woolen mill for that time, with the exception 
 of two years. Part of the establishment is very 
 old, and was originally a cotton mill, owned by 
 Dunham & Buck. Then it was changed into a silk 
 mill after that, and, during the war, it was a 
 shoddy mill; then a grist mill, run by Mr. Brad- 
 bury, then by the present proprietor, who is a young 
 man yet. 
 
 In the neighborhood are tenement-houses over 
 seventy-five years old, but still in a good state of 
 preservation. The mill produces about 30,000 
 yards per year of six-quarter goods. The parents 
 of Mr. Wood were manufacturers in England, and 
 have imparted to their sons a thorough knowledge 
 of their business. Mr. Wood is a gentleman of very 
 pleasing address and manners, and his appearance 
 does not belie the excellent reports of his neighbors 
 as to business integrity and energy. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 349 
 
 A sketch of this establishment would be incom- 
 plete did we not mention the capable superintend- 
 ent, Mr. William F. Wood, who is a man of rare 
 executive ability, and is also manager of the busi- 
 ness. 
 
 A. Kingsbury & Son, Manufacturers of 
 Paper Boxes of all descriptions, Double and Single 
 End Shipping Tags, Cards, etc., etc., South Cov- 
 entry, Conn., Northampton, Mass., Rockville, 
 Conn. — This business was started on a very limited 
 scale about fifteen years ago by Mr. Addison Kings- 
 bury, and has now grown to be one of the chief 
 industries of this section of the country. This firm 
 manufactures all kinds of boxes for silk mills, also 
 for cartridges and pistol cases. The work pro- 
 duced is of the best description, and will bear the 
 closest scrutiny. Thirty- five operatives are em- 
 ployed here at South Coventry, and steam power is 
 used for printing the labels, etc. 
 
 The buildings have been added to at various 
 times when more room was required. This firm 
 have shops at Northampton and Rockville used for 
 this same kind of work. Mr. K. is a very busy 
 man. 
 
 A new feature in this business is a unique process 
 for cutting and making boxes, (lie machine for 
 which was invented by Mr. Kingsbury, and has a 
 capacity of 40,000 boxes per day. They turn out 
 about 500,000 per month. 
 
 The business doubled itself last year, and is pro- 
 gressing rapidly to great proportions. Both Mr. 
 Kingsbury and his son are practical men, thoroughly 
 devoted to their occupation, but at the same time 
 are interested in the affairs of their town. The 
 firm have a high reputation for integrity and fair 
 dealing, both with their customers and their em- 
 ployees. The visitor can spend a pleasant hour in 
 their busy establishment, watching the skillful 
 manipulations of the operatives, and will be sur- 
 prised at the beautiful results. One can well be- 
 lieve the saying of the physician, "Work is the 
 panacea of all ills, 1 ' when he looks into the faces of 
 the people that he meets with here, for they all beam 
 with health and intelligence. It is a pleasure for 
 the reviewer to meet with industries conducted as 
 these are, and feel proud that the country still holds 
 so many like the Kingsburys, who fill their places 
 in life with quietness and usefulness. 
 
 G. L. Phillips Drug Store. — This is one of 
 most attractive places in town, in fact, a drug 
 store is to most people invitingly attractive from 
 the fine arrangement of gilt and glass, and from 
 the generally handsome show-cases filled 
 with beautiful articles for the toilet, com- 
 plexion, etc. In this establishment is located 
 one of the neatest post-offices in the country, 
 presided over by the father-in-law of Mr. 
 Phillips. In it will be found also a telegraph 
 offioe, whose line of wire to the depot, about 
 two miles, is owned by Messrs. Isham & Phillips. 
 There is also telephone communication with the 
 country at large. 
 
 Mr. Phillips is about thirty-six years of age, 
 and was born in Connecticut. He was a member 
 of the State legislature in 1870, and is altogether 
 a representative citizen. His associate in the 
 
 telegraph business, Mr. Isham, was born in New 
 London, Conn. , and was a member of the Con- 
 necticut legislature in 1871. Mr. Isham is 
 stationed at the depot, acting as agent for the 
 railroad. He will be found a very gentlemanly 
 and entertaining person. 
 
 Mr. Phillips can well be proud of the appear- 
 ance of his store, for as the traveler saunters 
 along the pretty street, his eye is attracted not 
 only by the fine windows, but by the 
 general tasty architecture of the building. 
 We understand that Mr. Phillips is a mem- 
 ber of the Pharmaceutical Association. He 
 has a fine assortment of pure drugs and medi- 
 cines, besides a good variety of fancy articles. 
 Mr. Phillips is a gentleman of pleasing manners, 
 is intelligent and popular with the citizens at 
 large. He takes an active part in everything 
 that relates to the advancement of the interests 
 of South Coventry. 
 
 STAFFORD SPRINGS. 
 
 This village is situated on the line of the New 
 London & Northern Railroad, fifteen miles from 
 Palmer, Mass. , twenty and one-half miles north 
 of Willimantic, and fifty miles from New Lon- 
 don. There are one national and two savings 
 banks and four churches. Two streams unite 
 in the village, forming the Willimantic river. 
 The town of Stafford, Tolland County, borders 
 on the Massachusetts line, and was incorporated 
 in 1808, and settled in 1719. There are several 
 minerals in the town, of which iron ore is the 
 most important, called bog ore, and is of an 
 excellent quality, but the mines of late have not 
 been worked. The first blast furnace was built 
 in 1779 by John Phelps, at what is called Fur- 
 nace Hollow, about three miles north of Stafford 
 Springs. Here hollow ware, cannon and machin- 
 ery were cast. On the stream leading from the 
 village are various industries, among which may 
 be noticed the Glen Mill, T. C. Pimney, Treas. ; 
 cotton warps, Jacob Basch & Sons, woolen 
 goods and others, which are given in detail fol- 
 lowing : In the village there is the office of 
 Rawitser Bros., who run two woolen mills, 
 having a capacity of sixteen sets, one mill is in the 
 village, the other at Stafifordville . They also 
 have mills in other sections of the State. The 
 Warren Woolen Company is also another 
 industry here, running eight sets of machinery 
 in the manufacture of worsted goods. A new mill 
 is in process of erection by this company. At Fox- 
 ville, a suburb of Stafford Springs, there is a mill 
 manufacturing worsted goods, run by C. Fox 
 & Co. Three miles from the depot is the West 
 Stafford Tape Company, manufacturers of cotton 
 tape. D. E. Whitton, West Stafford, manufac- 
 tures machinists' tools. The Washburn Machine 
 Company, at same place, makes machinists' 
 tools, and C. W. Beckwith, at Stafford Hollow, 
 makes hand cards. The village of Stafford 
 Springs takes its name from a couple of famous 
 mineral springs located near the depot and near 
 the Mineral Springs House. 
 
 The Press is the only newspaper published in 
 the town, of which Mr . James McLaughlin is the 
 
350 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUS'! I! I A L 
 
 editor and proprietor. The population of the 
 town of Stafford is about 4,500, of Stafford 
 Springs, 2,000. 
 
 Mineral Springs Manufacturing Co., 
 
 Stafford Springs, Conn., Julius Converse, President 
 and Manager. — This corporation is deserving of 
 especial mention in a work of this kind from the 
 fact tiiat their history is so closely identified with 
 that of Stafford Springs, and that their age dates 
 back to the early growth of this place — also from 
 the fart that the projectors of this enterprise and 
 its present manager have always entered largely 
 into the interests of this beautiful village. This 
 mill was organized and began to manufacture sat- 
 inets as far back as 1840, under the corporate laws 
 of the State, with a capital of $24,000. There 
 were about twenty stockholders, none of whom held 
 over $:l,000 worth of stock. The mill was one of two 
 sets, 40x80 feet in dimensions, with a stone base- 
 ment, and three stories in height, of wood. After 
 running about eight years this mill was burned, 
 but it was soon afterward rebuilt by Solva C. 
 and Parley Converse, who had at that time be- 
 come the sole owners of the corporation. This 
 latter mill was of the same material as the for- 
 mer, with the exception of the dimensions which 
 now were 30 x 125 feet, and the building was 
 arranged for three sets. After four years of 
 this management, Solva Converse bought out 
 his brother Parley. The latter then built the 
 works, which were called the Converseville Co. 
 In the moantimo the original Company con- 
 tinued to make satinet until 1802. At that 
 time an addition was built of. stone, 30 x 125 feet 
 in dimensions, and with a slate roof. Three 
 sets of machinery were added and the manufac- 
 turing changed from satinet to all-wool three- 
 quarters goods. The main building then was 
 30 x 125 feet north and south, also 30 x 125 
 feet east and west. They continued on the 
 manufacture of three-quarters goods till the 
 fall of 1882-3, when another set of machinery 
 was added and a change made to broad machin- 
 ery and the manufacture of broad goods was 
 mado. Those works are operated by steam and 
 water. There are employed sixty men and fifty 
 women, and they turn out annually (400,000) four 
 hundred thousand yards of fancy cassimeres, 
 having used in this manufacture (000,000) six 
 hundred thousand pounds of wool. It is hardly 
 necessary here to repeat the fact that the quality 
 and character of goods produced at these works 
 are unsurpassed. The present manager and 
 proprietor, Julius Converse, is worthy of special 
 mention. He entered these works at a very 
 early age, and almost at the very start assumed 
 direction and control. He has ever since exer- 
 cised a wise and watchful care over every detail 
 of the business. He is an untiring worker, and 
 a gentleman of far-seeing intelligence. Mr. 
 Converse has done much to beautify the town. 
 Out of a section where it was difficult for a 
 rabbit to run, on account of the wild and 
 unchecked undergrowth, he has created beauti- 
 ful grounds which, at great expense, he has laid 
 out with good taste and excellent judgment. 
 " Woodlawn Terrace," his elegant mansion, is 
 one of the attractive features in the beautiful 
 
 landscapo of this charming valley. Mr. Converse 
 is decidedly of and one of the people. He is a 
 representative man, pleasant in manners, cour- 
 teous to the stranger, and hospitable to his 
 friends. He has enjoyed the good will of his 
 fellow citizens, having represented them in the 
 house of representatives, and been their popular 
 State senator. He was one of the Grant elect- 
 ors in 1872. The senator identifies himself 
 thoroughly with everything that is to the inter- 
 est of his native place. He is public spirited 
 in every sense of that term. Although of 
 middle age, ho has the look of a young man. 
 He is active and energetic in manner, with a 
 presence that attracts the stranger. We have 
 spoken more freely of this gentleman than may 
 please him, but our apology is the courteous 
 treatment we received at his hands, ond the sat- 
 isfaction of knowing that wo have written 
 nothing but the truth. 
 
 Stafford Springs House, Win. A. Segar, 
 Proprietor (late of the Dixon House).— Although 
 this hotel has been constructed nearly one hun- 
 dred years it will compare favorably with many 
 modern houses. It is delightfully situated on 
 an elevated plane, with a fine lawn in front 
 stretching to the river. In the background is a 
 range of hills with beautiful valleys between, 
 affording fine drives and pleasant walks. In its 
 immediate vicinity are the residences of the lead- 
 ing citizens of this borough, notable among 
 which are the fine grounds and beautiful man- 
 sion of Senator Converse. This hotel overlooks 
 the railway and the village, and while in close 
 proximity to all tho places of business, post- 
 office, bank, etc., still is far enough removed 
 not to be disturbed by the noise of the passing 
 train or the hum of machinery. The rooms are 
 largo and comfortable, the table is excellent, and 
 the attention is all that could be desired. There 
 is an air of home about this house seldom found 
 in hotels of its size and accommodations. 
 
 The Proprietor, Mr. Segar, although a com- 
 paratively young man, is an old hotel landlord 
 and fully understands his business. Ho pos- 
 sesses, also, to an eminent degree, the ability to 
 impart full and interesting information in regard 
 to the affairs of the town, his whole tone would 
 convey the idea that his neighbors are all excel- 
 lent people, and that Stafford Springs is ono of 
 the most enterprising places in Connecticut. 
 After a stay of some days at his excellent house 
 we find ourselves compelled to agree with him, 
 for nowhere have we beon more courteously 
 treated and our questions more intelligently 
 answered. 
 
 Belonging to the house, and near at hand, is an 
 excellent mineral spring, containing iron held in 
 solution by carbonic acid or fixed air, nntim or 
 native alkali, marine salt, iodine, soda and mag- 
 nesia, and some other earthy substances. This 
 spring is famed for its cures of salt rheum, ob- 
 stinate ulcers of every descrijjtion, loss of appe- 
 tite, indigestion, dropsies in first stages, general 
 debility, nervous headache, weakness of the 
 eyes, female complaints, also wherever iron is 
 needed in the system. The waters operate as a 
 diuretic, they excel in cancerous tumors, and 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 351 
 
 are a permanent tonic. All this is claiming a 
 grout deal, but we have learned in our short 
 visit of some wondrous beneficial effects in salt 
 rheum cases, also in kidney complaints. We 
 ourselves experienced great benefit, and felt that 
 our lot as interviewer had fallen in a pleasant 
 place. 
 
 This house is very accessible, from New York 
 by steamboat to New London, then via New 
 London and Northern Railway, fifty miles ; also 
 from Boston, via Palmer and Hartford, via New 
 York, New England and Willimantic, thenco a few 
 miles by the New London and Northern. With 
 its fine piazza, broad lawn and beautiful scenery 
 it is and should bo an attractive place to the 
 traveler who may be either in search of health or 
 pleasure. 
 
 Granite Mills Company. — -A few hours 
 passed at these works are well spent, first on 
 account of the interest that almost every one 
 has in visiting a well-regulated establishment of 
 this nature, and secondly from the pleasure de- 
 rived from meeting in these days of selfishness 
 and discourtesy the well bred and courtly 
 President, Mr. George M. Ives, and wo recall 
 with enthusiasm the memory of our interview 
 with this estimable gentleman ; but wo will fitst 
 speak of the mills under his charge. They were 
 founded in 1843, and with various lapses of time, 
 caused principally by the lack of raw material, 
 have continued with increasing prosperity to the 
 present date, and bid fair to last many years to 
 come. 
 
 The main building is of stone 120 x 40 feet in 
 area. The picker room 50 x 28, and the old 
 picker building, now used for a spinning room, 
 50 x 28, besides there is a large boiler-house, a 
 good office, and a number of tenemont-housos 
 belonging to the property. There are 134 looms 
 and 5,300 spindles, about 100 operatives, two- 
 thirds of whom are women. The power is 
 mostly water, but auxiliary engines of steam 
 are used in extreme cases. The goods manufac- 
 tured are 4-4 and 7-8 widths cotton cloth, and 
 are fully up to the grade of the best make. The 
 business is conducted in an orderly and system- 
 atic manner ; able assistants are employed, and 
 over all is the watchful oye and careful attention 
 of tho esteemed president. Few people, unless 
 long in the trado, are aware of the wonderful 
 fluctuation in this kind of manufactures. They 
 now sell at five cents per yard for the P>s, anil 
 five and and one-half cents for tho C. Cs, the 
 same once sold for forty-eight and fifty-four 
 cents respectively. 
 
 These works suffered loss by a disastrous 
 froshot some years ago, sweeping away a number 
 of their tenement-houses, and destroying much 
 of tho machinery, etc., in the lower story of 
 their mill proper. Among the losses that was 
 swept away by tho flood pouring through the 
 office was that of a war relic that was found and 
 hung there ; it was two bills, reading as follows : 
 
 New York, Sept. 14, 1864. 
 
 Granite Mills Co. 
 
 Bought of Sawyer, Wallace & Co. 
 1 bale of cotton, 601 lbs. at 81.80 81,081 80 
 
 New York, Sept. 14, 1864. 
 
 Granite Mills Co. 
 
 Bought of Wm. M. Grier <fe Co. 
 1 bale of cotton, 578 lbs. at 81.80 8950 40 
 
 These two bales were bought to even up some 
 work after it had been decided to shut down 
 because of scarcity of cotton. The same cotton 
 is now worth ten and one-half cents per pound. 
 
 Mr. R. S. Hicks, the secretary, is a Connec- 
 ticut man, about thirty-five years of age, and is 
 the cashier of the Stafford National Bank. He 
 is a gentleman of fino character and manners, 
 and has tho confidence and esteem of the entire 
 business community. 
 
 The President, .Mr. Ives, carries his sixty-six 
 years with ease. He was born in Wuterbury, 
 Conn., and has been connected with these works 
 sinco their formation. Mr. Ives has the great 
 honor of having voted at tho Baltimore Conven- 
 tion fifty-four timos for the nomination of Henry 
 Clay, and he is a worthy representative of that 
 class of men who were leaders of the great Whig 
 party. Ho has kopt aloof from politics almost 
 ever since those days, but during the war was 
 requested by Gov. Buckingham to become one of 
 tho Drafting Commissioners. This heat first de- 
 clined accepting, but being pressed by the great 
 war governor of this State he finally accepted 
 the position, and a disagreeable one it was, for 
 the anti-war people were full of assertions that 
 favoritism was used, but which Mr. Ives put a 
 stop to by insisting on outside parties being 
 present at all meetings. Mr. Ives shows in his 
 manner that he is a high-toned and noblo gentle- 
 man, one in whom we may all be proud, but 
 whose numbers are now so few. 
 
 Ellis, Converse & Co., Woolen Manufac- 
 turers, Orcuttville. — The works of this excellent 
 establishment are beautifully situated at Orcutt- 
 ville, two miles from the Stafford Springs Station. 
 The mill is a two set one, and they manufacture 
 annually about 150,000 yards of cassimere, using 
 220,000 pounds of wool. Good attention is paid to 
 detail at this establishment, and tlie quality of 
 goods produced is unsurpassed anywhere. All the 
 best appliances for the attainment of excellence in 
 quality are used, the machinery being of the best 
 description. They have a very tine water power, 
 which is almost unfailing, and like other works of 
 a similar character are prepared for dry turns by 
 other power. The present name of the firm has 
 been the same for considerable time, although the 
 elder Ellis, D. W. Ellis, sold out some time since 
 to the younger, Mr. J. J. Ellis. They employ 
 about forty operators, and the business is exceed- 
 ingly well managed. Mr. Converse, one of the 
 owners, is the 8enator Converse, of whom mention 
 has been made in Connecticut with the Mineral 
 Springs Woolen Company. Mr. J. J. Ellis is the 
 Treasurer and Manager of this company, and gives his 
 undivided time to its affairs. He is, comparatively, 
 a young man of very pleasant and courteous man- 
 ners, with every indication in his countenance of 
 decision and executive ability. Mr. Ellis, like Mr. 
 Converse, is a very pleasant gentleman to meet 
 with, whether socially or otherwise, and is a thor- 
 ough cosmopolitan in his manners. He is one of 
 
852 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the representative citizens of this pleasant commu- 
 nity, and though delicate looking as to his physique 
 is to the practiced observer a possessor of a 
 wiry frame and enduring constitution. We are 
 personally under obligations to him for the pleas- 
 ant interview we had with him. 
 
 J. M. Leach, Clothing and Gents' Furnishing 
 Goods, Slain Street. — This fine establishment was 
 up to July last under the tirm name of Denham & 
 Lead), but at the time mentioned above, Mr. Leach 
 bought out Mr. Denham and added largely to his 
 already full stock, which embraces a line of excel- 
 lent articles for men's general wear. 
 
 The store is pleasantly located just a few steps 
 from the post-office and the depot. It is well 
 lighted and methodically arranged. 
 
 Mr. Leach is about twenty-live years of age, and 
 before going in with Mr. Denham was a clerk at 
 the Blue Front Clothing Store in Stafford. Pre- 
 vious to the latter occupation he was engaged in 
 the carriage works at Stafford Hollow. He is a 
 young man of much energy and character, and 
 enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. 
 His store is well patronized, and his trade is con- 
 stantly increasing. He has a fine assortment of 
 hats and caps, and is well prepared for all the 
 different changes of the seasons — keeping a close 
 watch upon the fashions and the changes in the 
 market 
 
 Stafford Springs is fortunate in and remarkable 
 for the excellent class of citizens within its limits. 
 Few towns have so small a number of irresponsible 
 men, and it gives us great pleasure to mention Mr. 
 Leach as belonging to the former-named class. 
 
 H. S. Ahel, Blue Front Clothing House.— This 
 establishment, situated at the upper end of Main 
 street, has been used for a clothing house for over 
 ten years and was kept as such by Mr. L. K. Lord. 
 Tlie present proprietor, Mr. H. S. Abel, succeeded 
 Mr. Lord, February 1, 1882, and since that time 
 has made extensive additions to the stock and fix- 
 tures. The stock embraces not only fine garments, 
 but every tiling in that line. There is also a fine 
 assortment of hats, caps, and gents' funishing 
 goods. Mr. Abel is a careful buyer, using excel- 
 lent judgment in his selections and is fully prepared 
 to meet the demands of all varieties of custom- 
 ers. The store is 35 x 35 feet and is a handsome 
 one and well adapted for its uses, being well ar- 
 ranged, roomy, and above all well lighted front 
 and rear, and this place has always been, since its 
 beginning, the store of the town. Mr. Abel is but 
 twenty-six years of age, but looks as if he had had 
 the experience of a much older man. He is of a 
 very tine appearance and agreeable in his manners. 
 His goods are mostly purchased in Boston, and ho 
 enjoys both a town and country trade. He has an 
 intelligent and able assistant, who is polite and affa- 
 ble to all who may come, buy or not. We see no 
 reason why this concern should not attain great 
 prosperity, for the winning manners of the proprie- 
 tor, combined with a thorough knowledge of his 
 business, are pretty sure indications of prosperity. 
 Mr. Abel is, as we find so many others in the com- 
 munity engaged in business, a Connecticut man 
 having been born in Bozrah, Conn., and he has 
 
 been in this line of business since 1872. We cor- 
 dially recommend to those in need of his line of 
 goods a visit to his establishment 
 
 Mr. K. Puller, Dealer in Boots and Shoes. — 
 There are boot makers and boot makers ; this expres- 
 sion might seem to some without sense and without 
 meaning, but to the man who by experience has 
 learned the vast difference that exists in the vari- 
 ous followers of this respectable and ancient call- 
 ing, the words will assume an added significance 
 and the phrase clothe itself with an importance 
 which at first may not bo apparent. To the skill- 
 ful maker of a comfortable and at the same time 
 appropriate foot-covering, a credit is due, which is 
 often withheld. In his way he is as much a bene- 
 factor, as the man who, from his superfluity of 
 riches, dedicates some part of his largess to suf- 
 fering, impoverished humanity. We have only to 
 reflect on the discomforts both physical and men- 
 tal of an ill made shoe or boot, to be persuaded of 
 the correctness of this theory. To Mr. Puffer, of 
 Stafford Springs, belongs the enviable distinction 
 of filling in no small degree all these requirements, 
 and the prosperity and success which arc the out- 
 come of all these conditions fulfilled, are but the 
 natural sequence of all properly directed efforts. 
 Mr. Puffer, more than a decade since, was the 
 trusted foreman of the Granite Mill Company. He 
 had learned the trade which ho now follows, when 
 very young, but his health failing for a time he 
 was unable to follow it. During the past twelve 
 years, however, he has resumed the calling that he 
 learned in his boyhood, and has followed it with 
 ever increasing popularity. His pleasant store is 
 located in what is known as the Central Hall build- 
 ing, and his stock of fine boots and shoes is second 
 to none in the town. Mr. Puffer has also a large 
 custom trade, in which ho invariably gives the 
 satisfaction desired. He is a native of Monson 
 Mass., and is in the prime of his vigor and his 
 manhood, a stanch member of the Methodist 
 Church where ho is looked upon as a man worthy 
 of every confidence, quiet and unassuming in his 
 manners. He is typical of the proverb which justly 
 says, " unruffled minds enjoy a sweet repose." 
 
 Dwight H. Parsons, News-dealer and Sta- 
 tioner, opposite depot — We passed a pleasant hour 
 in the unique and attractive store occupied by Mr. 
 Parsons. We were pleased with the excellent taste 
 displayed in tho arrangement of the multitudinous 
 articles there exhibited for sale, but wo were more 
 particularly entertained by his modest but graphic 
 description of his experiences as a soldier during 
 the great rebellion. Mr. Parsons was born in 
 Massachusetts in 1841, but he has been in Stafford 
 for more than a quarter of a century. During tho 
 war he was a member of the famous Thirty-seventh 
 Massachusetts Regiment, attached to Sedgwick's 
 Corps and of the Army of the Potomac. He served 
 three severe years, and was in the memorable march 
 made by his gallant regiment at Gettysburg, and 
 he retains vivid and marked remembrances of it, 
 for on that occasion in the hurry and turmoil inci- 
 dent to a night march his horse was crowded from 
 the bank and fell with force upon one of his legs. 
 Still this did not at the time detain him, for lie 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 353 
 
 soon again moved with the column. Mr. Parsons 
 has a frank and manly face, beaming with good 
 nature and intelligence, and he is deservedly popu- 
 lar. His store is a square, with the cases around 
 the four sides — one part devoted to cutlery and 
 fancy goods, another to the news department, a 
 third to all articles in the stationery line, and the 
 fourth to a fine display of cigars and smokers' 
 articles. In the centre of the capacious room is a 
 column with a neat circular counter, on which is 
 found a variety of fancy goods. It woiddnot only 
 be quite a task to enumerate all the various things 
 to be found in this establishment, but our space 
 will not permit of it. Mr. Parsons is a thoroughly 
 live man and keeps pace with the times. The im- 
 portant daily papers of New York, Boston, Hart- 
 ford, Springfield and New London are found here, 
 together with a large assortment of all the leading 
 magazines. This is the only store of the kind in 
 the place, but amply meets the wants of the people. 
 
 K. A. Buck & Co., Hardware, Doors, Sash, 
 Blinds, Paints, Oils, etc. — The house of Messrs. E. 
 A. Huck <fc Co. is composed of Mr. E. A. Ruck and 
 his son.Mr. Geo. E. Buck, both natives of Ashford, 
 Conn., and was established in Stafford Springs in 
 the year 1878. Mr. Buck, senior, is interested in 
 several other business enterprises, the most promi- 
 nent of which is the well-known grocery house of 
 Messrs. Buck, Durkee & Stiles at Willimantic, and 
 the lumber firm of Messrs. Buck & Dawley, in the 
 same village. Mr. E. A. Buck, previous to his 
 being identified with Stafford Springs, was a glass- 
 ware merchant in Boston. The firm of Messrs. E. 
 A. Buck & Co. occupy two fine stores on Hay- 
 market Square, and do the largest business of their 
 class in Stafford. Their stock constantly on hand 
 comprises every variety of hardware from a door to 
 a plough. Under their stores are fine cellars of the 
 same size which they use for storing goods. The 
 space occupied in their two salesrooms is 50 x 25 
 feet, and is full to its utmost limits with the best 
 goods in their line. The management of the house 
 largely falls to the son and partner, Mr. Geo. E. 
 Buck, the demand of other enterprises requiring 
 much of the father's time. The firm, through the 
 efforts of the son, have entered largely into the 
 trade of kerosene oil, paints, oils, and painters' 
 supplies, a storehouse being required for that pur- 
 pose at Palmer, Mass. They also deal largely in 
 doors, sash and blinds, a storehouse for the same 
 being required, situated a short distance from the 
 main stores, where are also kept a large stock of 
 blacksmith's iron, brass and horse-shoes. Alto- 
 gether, this establishment is more far-reaching in 
 the variety of articles sold and the trade more ex- 
 tensive than is generally found outside of the 
 larger cities. That the firm have been and are suc- 
 cessful is simply the result of a policy which has 
 always been founded on sound and just principles. 
 They employ three intelligent assistants, who are 
 proverbial in their attentive politeness to custom- 
 ers, and a visit to this establishment is at all times 
 productive of pleasure. Mr. E. Buck, the head of 
 the house, as above indicated, is a man of many 
 enterprises, and of necessity jwssesscs an active 
 temperament. Although he is a highly esteemed 
 citizen of this village, his interests in several in- 
 stances are away from it, particularly in Williman- 
 
 tic. Like his son and partner, however, he is a 
 part of the society and financial world of Stafford 
 Springs. Mr. Geo. E. Buck, the junior member, is 
 about thirty years of age and deservedly popular. 
 The firm of Messrs. E. A. Buck & Co. give character 
 to the mercantile community, are in every way re- 
 presentative, and command all the resources and 
 prestige that capital and experience gives. 
 
 A. N. Nichols, Variety Store, Dry Goods, Gro- 
 ceries, Crockery, etc. — The proprietor of this excel- 
 lent store was born in Massachusetts, but has lived 
 in Connecticut since he was twenty-two years of 
 age. He, like many others that we find here, 
 served his country during the great rebellion, 
 having been a member of the Sixteenth Connecti- 
 cut, serving with the Army of the Potomac for six 
 months of the two years and ten months that he 
 was in the army. He was taken prisoner, if we 
 mistake not, in North Carolina, at the time that 
 nine companies were captured by the enemy. In 
 1877 he started in business in Stafford Springs, a 
 few doors below his present location. On August 
 18th, 1881, he succeeded F. A. Harwood, who had 
 been in the same business for over thirty years. 
 The store is large, well arranged, and the dimen- 
 sions are 50 x 30 feet. It is well situated on the 
 upper end of Main street, just opposite the exten- 
 sive works of Senator Converse. We find a large 
 and well selected stock of dry goods, groceries, 
 crockery, boots and shoes, and everthing usually 
 found in a store of this kind. Mr. Nichols was 
 originally a stone-mason, but has followed the 
 notion trade for a number of years. He is appar- 
 ently a very amiable man, and one whose counte- 
 nance beams with good-will to his fellow-man. He 
 is a very careful buyer, both buying and selling 
 low. His trade is very extensive, and reaches be- 
 yond the limits of the town. This place, as we 
 have said before, is made up of many excellent 
 citizens, but we know of none who should be held 
 in higher esteem than Mr. Nichols, both as a con- 
 scientious tradesman and public spirited citizen. 
 
 Smith & Cooley, Manufacturers of Flocks 
 and Shoddy. — As you enter Stafford Springs by 
 the train are seen the collection of buildings be- 
 longing to Messrs. Smith & Cooley, manufacturers 
 of flocks and shoddy. They arc four in number; 
 the largest a handsome four-story brick structure, 
 one of the finest manufacturing buildings in the 
 place. The business was originally established in 
 the year 1850 by William Smith, father of one of 
 the gentlemen who compose this firm. In 1881 the 
 name was changed to Smith <& Cooley, and has 
 continued to N prosperously carry on the business up 
 to the present time. An average of thirty " hands" 
 are employed in their several buildings, which 
 cover an average of more than seven thousand feet. 
 Mr. Smith, the junior partner, is a courteous gen- 
 tleman, still in the prime of life, and is generally 
 respected in this community, of which he is a 
 native. Naturally quiet in his tastes, he has an eye 
 for a fine specimen of horse flesh, and his knowl- 
 edge and discrimination in all mutters relating to 
 business is beyond criticism. 
 
 Mr. Cooley, the senior partner, came to Stafford 
 in 18G3, and has been connected with the firm until 
 
354 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the present time, and in every way shares the 
 esteem in which the firm is universally held. 
 
 In their business the firm employ entirely steam, 
 using a Corliss engine of seventy-five horse-power, 
 which amply fills all needs. The ways of the 
 world are various, and no man's mission is the 
 same; but in this case the words of the old " saw" 
 will aptly apply: "The hand of the diligent 
 maketh rich." 
 
 J. F. Chamberlain, Boots & Shoes, Main 
 Street. — This establishment is the largest of those 
 engaged in the boot and shoe trade in this town. 
 Mr. Chamberlain carries a very heavy stock of this 
 class of goods, and his large store area is always 
 filled with goods that meet the wants of a manu- 
 facturing town. Mr. Chamberlain is a middle- 
 aged man about forty-five years old, and has had 
 experience in various lines of business. He was in 
 the dry goods business in Hartford, from there he 
 went in the loom manufacture, where the present 
 shoddy mill now stands; there he was burned out, 
 when he engaged in selling dry goods about the 
 country ; from that he went into the insurance busi- 
 ness and then into his present occupation. He is a 
 very energetic man and in no wise discouraged on 
 account of the many obstacles that he has found it 
 necessary to overcome. The present business prom- 
 ises to be a lasting one, for Mr. Chamberlain puts 
 into it a large amount of energy and intelligence. 
 He buys some in Boston but mostly in Springfield 
 and Hartford, and his trade extends throughout 
 the town and county. In addition to his other busi- 
 ness he is largely interested in Western farms, mort- 
 gage andschool bonds, doing business with Kansas, 
 Iowa and Dakota. Mr. Chamberlain is well liked 
 as a citizen, and is much interested in the property 
 of Stafford. 
 
 W. A. Comins, Carriage Builder, Machine For- 
 ger and Horse-shoer. — Prominently situated near 
 the railway depot, and in the vicinity of the bank 
 and post-office, we find the fine establishment of 
 Mr. W. A. Comins. These works are devoted to 
 the building of carriages, sleighs and machine forg- 
 ing. There is also connected with the business a 
 large and complete blacksmith and horseshoeing 
 shop. Mr. Comins is the present warden of the 
 borough and is a busy man. The character of the 
 work that he turns out at his spacious establish- 
 ment is unexcelled in the county, good materials are 
 used, and the work is performed by ten skillful 
 workmen. Mr. Comins is a practical mechanic, and 
 the business that he now manages may be said to 
 be of his own creation, for although he succeeded 
 Mr. Eaton some fifteen years ago it was then quite 
 a small affair. He is fortv-five years of age and 
 we believe was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. 
 He takes a lively interest In the affairs of the town, 
 and, though modest in manner, is a man of some 
 judgment. Mr. Cumins is not a politician only in 
 the best sense of the term, having the interest of 
 the commonwealth at heart, and his honors were 
 unsought. He enjoys the reputation of being a 
 sagacious and honorable man, and his word is as 
 good as his bond. All kinds of light forging is 
 done here in the best manner, and this latter work, 
 connected with his carriage and blacksmith busi- 
 
 ness, makes (as we said above) Mr. Comins a very 
 busy man. Stafford may well feel proud of such 
 a citizen. 
 
 " The Press." — If advancement is typical 
 of greatness, then can no profession lay claims to 
 it with more justice in their demand than can 
 journalism. The past quarter of a century has seen 
 the most startling developements in this rank, and 
 men no longer talk about the freedom of the 
 press, but rather of its power. And truly it 
 is a power in most countries greater by much than 
 that wielded by kings or kaisers. It is not the 
 business of this article to discuss the propriety of 
 all this; it simply states a fact as it is, and with 
 its righteousness or sinfulness it has nothing in 
 common. In the year 1858, The Press was started 
 as a branch edition of the Palmer (Mass.) Journal. 
 Mr. McLaughlin, the present editor, was employed 
 in the Palmer Journal at the time, and at the ex- 
 piration of his apprenticeship took a half interest 
 in its affairs, which he sold in 1860, when he took 
 the Stafford edition and removed to Stafford 
 Springs. For four years after his removal here 
 his brother, Mr. H. C. McLaughlin, was associated 
 with him in the publication of the paper, to which 
 was given the title of the Stafford News Letter, 
 which has since continued with gratifying success. 
 At the time of the removal there was no other 
 paper printed in Tolland County ; several had been 
 established, but they all succumbed to the fate which 
 yawns for most ventures of this nature. The Press 
 had formerly been called the Tolland County Press, 
 but as several other sheets had affixed that appella- 
 tion to their heading, Mr. McLaughlin decided to 
 re-christen his offspring with the simple title of 
 The Press. It is a large four-page paper, printed 
 in full, round type, and teems with all news of 
 interest to the town and county. Its political 
 principles are never very pronounced in its columns, 
 but the sentiments which actuate its manager and 
 editor are decidedly Republican. Mr. McLaughlin 
 is an able writer and a careful scholar, a gentleman 
 who is held in high esteem by his townsmen, and 
 whose life has been meritorious in its struggle 
 against odds. Still in his prime, the editor of The 
 Press has doubtless many years of happy usefulness 
 left him. In a measure guardian of the thought of 
 his village he has much that is prominent in his 
 position, but his unspotted career has inspired that 
 confidence which to its fortunate possessor is beyond 
 value and without price. 
 
 A. W. Walker & Co., Dry and Fancy Goods, 
 Main Street. — A visit to this fine store reveals the 
 fact that Stafford Spings can boast of a dry and 
 fancy goods establishment that meets the wants of 
 the most fastidious customer. The proprietors are 
 Mr. A. W. Walker and E. N. Thompson, both 
 Massachusetts men. The store is 20 x 4U feet in 
 size, and is tilled with a fine stock of goods, com- 
 prising, besides dry goods, fine worsteds, and a 
 large assortment of Buttrick's patterns. This is 
 the dry goods store of the town, and its customers 
 consist of all classes of citizens, for the articles 
 offered for sale are not only very attractive, being 
 well selected, but very reasonable in price, not 
 differing in the latter from what is asked for the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 ;ir>5 
 
 same goods in larger places. Mr. Walker is but 
 thirty-one years of age, but has had a long experi- 
 ence in this line in the towns of Orleans and Ware- 
 ham, Mass. His partner, Mr. E. N. Thompson, is 
 an old dry goods man in Wareliam, Mass., having 
 been in this business for over twenty-two years in 
 Wareham. They have a fine trade both in Stafford 
 and in the county. Mr. Walker is very engaging 
 in his manners, and receives all who come with 
 politeness and attention. He is well fitted for his 
 business, therefore, on account of the above-named 
 fact, and from his long experience. Although com- 
 paratively a new-comer in the town, he has made 
 many friends and is looked upon as an addition to 
 the social circles of this pleasant place. 
 
 J. J. Gallivan & Co., Stoves, Ranges and 
 Tinware. —The attention of the passer-by is arrested 
 by the neat and beautiful appearance of this store. 
 Tho interior is still more attractive. The eye rests 
 upon beautiful articles of plated ware, orna- 
 mented lamps and fine specimens of cutlery and 
 fancy goods. The ranges and stoves that are in 
 appropriate places are neatly ornamental in design 
 and artistic in finish. . The store is about 20x40 
 feet in area on the main floor with a basement 
 below, divided into two parts, show room and 
 work shop, for all manner of repairs of tin and 
 sheet-iron ware. The proprietors arc J. J. Gallivan 
 and Daniel Gallivan, brothers. The present firm 
 succeeded Adams & Gallivan who had been in 
 this business eight years, when the elder Gallivan 
 bought out Adams, and after running the establish- 
 ment for a few months alone took in his brother as 
 partner. Their stock, which is a large one, embraces 
 stoves, ranges, tinware, crockery, china, glass, 
 silver plated ware, and fancy goods, cutlery, 
 wooden and stone ware and steam fittings. They 
 havo a neat and substantial elevator in the rear of 
 the store for moving heavy goods from below to 
 the main floor. In addition to the goods men- 
 tioned above they keep a large supply of plumbers' 
 and mill supplies. Both of the Gallivaus are 
 young men — the elder, or senior partner, is thirty 
 years of age, while tho younger is twenty-seven. 
 They are both energetic and capable men and fully 
 understand their business, and certainly offer very 
 fine goods to their customers at very reasonable 
 rates. They have been in this State over twenty 
 years and have earned a reputation of fair dealing, 
 good work, and stand among the best for integrity 
 of character and good citizenship. 
 
 Bidwell & Company, Meat and Vegetable 
 Market, Main Street. — This really fine and large 
 market would be a credit to any large city. Tiio 
 store is conveniently located on Main street and is 
 well managed in every respect for the purposes 
 that it is used for. Spacious ice-boxes, cleau racks 
 and general neatness, combined with a great variety 
 and good quality of goods offered are features of 
 this establishment. The firm consists of Mr. Wesley 
 P. Bidwell, William H. Webster and Herbert D. 
 Royce. They arc all Connecticut men and have 
 been associated for about two years. They bought 
 out Dimock & Brothers, who formerly owned the 
 stand. Mr. Bidwell is about fifty-four years of 
 age, is a clear headed aud able business man. Mr. 
 
 Webster is a younger man and formerly worked in 
 Southbridge, in spectacles, etc. Mr. Royce is also 
 a young man, and learned the trade in Northamp- 
 ton, Mass., he then worked for Dimook Bros, and 
 joined with his two partners in buying out Dimock 
 Bros. Everyone speaks well of their goods and the 
 manner of serving them. They are all industrious, 
 intelligent, and attentive to their own affairs, which 
 they manage with great credit to themselves, and 
 they are held in high esteem as citizens of this 
 thriving borough. 
 
 The Riverside Woolen Co., Stafford Hol- 
 low. — In the spring of the year 1881 tho corpo- 
 ration known as the Riverside Woolen Co. con- 
 tracted with Mr. P.B.Johnson, of Palmer, Mass., 
 to build for them tho woolen mill, situated on 
 the upper waters of the Willimantio rivor. Tho 
 mill is built entirely of brick (with the excep- 
 tion of the finishing room, which is of granite). 
 It is a handsome four-story and attic structure, 
 and is surmounted by an imposing bell tower, 
 which is seen from a long distance throughout 
 the surrounding country. 
 
 The spinning room is furnished with six auto- 
 matic jacks, four of which have 312 spindles 
 apiece and each of the others 288. The cloth 
 is all dried by the " Winsor dryer" and pressed 
 by the "Miller rotary steam press." A very 
 distinguishing feature of tho Riverside mill is its 
 facilities to guard against and extinguish fires. 
 In the cupola of the main building is a tank con- 
 taining 1,200 gallons of water. From this tank 
 inch water pipes run to the ceilings of the spin- 
 ning, carding, drying and picking rooms, con- 
 necting these with 163 patent firo extinguishers 
 called the " Gunnell sprinklers," a new and 
 novel means of putting out tires, which is said 
 to bo very effective. Besides these sprinklers 
 the company have hydrants outside tho factory 
 connecting with steam and friction pumps, either 
 of which will throw a stream of water entirely 
 over tho mill. The company have in contem- 
 plation the speedy erection of a new building, 
 which is to be of two stories, 18 x 20, the lower 
 floor of which is to be used for dyes and chem- 
 icals and the upper floors for carpentering and 
 general repairing. Tho Riverside Woolen Co. 
 has for its President and General Manager Mr. 
 Cyril Johnson, and its Secretary and Treasurer 
 Mr. Richard G. Beebe. They are at present 
 running Ave sets of cards and have the room and 
 are soon to put in another set. They employ 
 twenty hands and are rapidly increasing their 
 number. The mill of the Riverside Woolen Co 
 occupies the site of what was years ago a primi- 
 tive grist mill, which gave place in time to a 
 blast furnace, where the first stoves manufac- 
 tured in the State wore made. It is very pleas- 
 antly situated in the village of Stafford Hollow 
 and on a branch of tho upper waters of the Wil- 
 limantic river. The company ship most of their 
 goods direct to Harding, Colby & Co., New York. 
 Across the river from ths mill is the company's 
 boarding-house for its operatives. It is a base- 
 ment structure of two stories and built of wood, 
 becomingly painted. The house will com fortably 
 accommodate thirty boarders. It is well lighted 
 and ventilated and tho internal arrangements are 
 of chiracter in keeping with tho use to which it is 
 
356 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 devoted. The grounds outside have been pleas- 
 ingly ornamented and in every respect is the 
 building a credit to the company it represents. 
 The fact'is very generally admitted that the ad- 
 vent of the factory has materially affected the 
 prosperity of the community of Stafford Hollow 
 and added an impetus to the valuation of prop- 
 erty, which is said to bo worth one-fourth more 
 than three years since. Tenements which used 
 to rent for $5 monthly now bring $7, and cottage 
 rent lias also risen in the same ratio. Mr. Cyril 
 Johnson, the president, general manager and 
 founder of the company, is a native of Stafford 
 Hollow and has spent his entire life here. He is 
 a man still in the prime of life, affable in man- 
 ner, consistent in his dealings and a thorough 
 business man. He enjoys the good-will and re- 
 spect of all his fellow townsmen, in which Mr. 
 Richard G. Beebe, the treasurer and secretary, 
 is always included. Mr. Beebe is a young man 
 and one full of energy and ambition, combined 
 with an astute knowledge of business. In the 
 village of Stafford Hollow these gentlemen may 
 truly be said to be the representative men of the 
 place. 
 
 A. H. Weaver, Knitting Mill, Stafford Hol- 
 low. — In the year 1881 there was begun by Mr. A. 
 H. Weaver, in an upper room of the building 
 known as the " J. C. Cross " store, the business of 
 knitting by machinery. His beginning was small, 
 and daring the first year of the enterprise only 
 three machines were set up ; but so industriously 
 did he pursue his calling, and so satisfactory were 
 the results, that in 1882 he added six more 
 machines and of course increased his number of 
 employees proportionately; and now, at the time 
 this article is written, Mr. Weaver has eleven 
 machines running constantly, and his monthly pay- 
 roll will exceed $300,000. His business now occu- 
 pies the entire building, where he began only two 
 years since with only one or two rooms, and is so 
 rapidly increasing that a larger establishment is 
 urgently needed, the addition of which will be 
 simply a question of a short time. In the manu- 
 facture of mittens, etc., as Mr. Weaver conducts 
 it, only females are employed, but the process is so 
 simple that the youngest and least experienced 
 girl soon becomes an adept at it, managing one of 
 the knitting machines with rare skill and effi- 
 ciency. The modus operandi of making mittens by 
 hand machinery is briefly told. The yarn comes 
 in skeins, which are rolled off in "bobbins." and 
 then the thread is passed to the machine which is 
 operated by the person in charge, and the article 
 desired is knitted. The machines used here are 
 what are known as the "Lamb Knitter," and are 
 worked entirely by hand, and the perfection of the 
 work accomplished depends entirely upon the skill 
 of the operative and the carefulness displayed by 
 them in their work. Mittens are here manufac- 
 tured in twenty-two different designs, all but three 
 of which are the creations of Mr. Weaver, and the 
 goods have given such universal and widespread 
 satisfaction that the much larger per cent, of the 
 orders received are unsolicited and unsought, a 
 fact which will speak for itself, and which is often 
 less apparent with more pretentious concerns. The 
 cost of the goods depends entirely on the elaborate 
 
 nature of the design and the weight of the yarn 
 used in their knitting, and varies with the color, 
 length on wrist, etc. Mr. Weaver keeps constantly 
 on hand yarn in process of manufacture valued at 
 more than $500. His yarn used is in twelve dif- 
 ferent colors, the popularity of which changes 
 with the fashions of the day — last season, for 
 example, it was olive green, while this one has 
 already demonstrated a preference for " cardinal " 
 in the first place, and " wine color" second. Last 
 year were sold 48,000 pairs of mittens, valued at 
 88,000, and this year will see a large increase. 
 Mr. Weaver is a popular, industrious and rising 
 man in his community, and is the happy possessor 
 of the respect and esteem of all his fellow-towns- 
 men. He is still in the prime of life, and his 
 accomplishments will only be measured by his 
 ambition. 
 
 S. Ii. Amadou, Machine Shop and Foundry, 
 Staffordville — Thirteen years since S. B. Amadou 
 established his machine shop and foundry at its 
 present site, and succeeding Howe & Converse, 
 who had in their turn replaced J. M. Waters, who 
 was the inventor of the first machines for making 
 pins with a solid head. Pins with a hollow head 
 had been made four years before, but it was 
 reserved fortius little town of Staffordville, on the 
 head of the Willimantic, to lead all other jdaces 
 in this important invention and manufacture. 
 
 Mr. S. B. Amadou is a native of Massachusetts, 
 but for forty years an active and industrious mem- 
 ber of the community of Staffordville. At his 
 fine foundry and machine shop he employs con- 
 stantly from twenty to forty men, and manufac- 
 tures machines of different kinds with rare skill 
 and perfect workmanship. Mr. Amadon is an 
 urbane and cultivated gentleman, whose life has 
 been a continuous record of good deeds coupled 
 witli their rewards. In his business he is ably sec- 
 onded by his brother Mr. W. P. Amadon, who 
 fills the office of superintendent. Mr. W. P. 
 Amadon was a member of the Sixteenth Regiment 
 of Connecticut Volunteers, and was present at most 
 of the battles fought in Virginia and South Caro- 
 lina, escaping without a wound of any kind. 
 The Brothers Amadon are gentlemen in the fullest 
 meaning of the term, and a desirable addition to 
 any community. 
 
 The Phoenix Woolen Co., Staffordville.— 
 The Phoenix Woolen Company was established in 
 Hydeville Village in the year 1808, having as offi- 
 cers Mr. Charles Holt, President and Treasurer, 
 and C. Holt, Secretary. The company run five 
 sets of cards and employ fifty hands. The mill is 
 a fine looking structure of four stories, and is fitted 
 with every modern improvement in the way of 
 machinery, etc. It is situated in the little community 
 of Hydeville Village on the two streams which 
 form at Stafford Springs the Willimantic river. 
 The surroundings are beautiful in the extreme, and 
 seen at the time this article was written, with the 
 mill framed in its setting of gorgeous autumnal 
 foliage, with the swift flowing stream in the fore- 
 ground, made a picture which was full of charm 
 to the eye. Mr. Charles Holt, the courteous presi- 
 dent and treasurer, is a gentleman in the region of 
 fifty years old, and in every way fitted to fill the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 357 
 
 responsible position lie does. He is a native of 
 Wellington, Conn., and came to Hydcville Village 
 thirty years since, during which time he has been 
 always an active and respected townsman and a 
 kind and sympathetic neighbor. The Phoenix 
 mills under his management have been exceedingly 
 successful, and manufacture a quality of goods 
 (cassi meres) which it would be difficult to surpass. 
 The business is entirely in Mr. Holt's family, and 
 which may account for all its workings being of 
 such a harmonious character. About this little 
 nest, set in the green hills of Connecticut, every- 
 thing seems smiling, peaceful and happy. There is 
 an air of activity but it is not the blinding roar of 
 other places where every other feature in life 
 seems lost to the grinding demands of labor. The 
 Phoenix Woolen Company have now in the course 
 of erection a handsome building for their new 
 Harris-Corliss engine which will soon be com- 
 pleted, and which will materially increase their 
 business facilities, which has for some time been 
 felt to be necessary. An establishment conducted 
 on the principle! which are practiced by the Phoe- 
 nix Woolen Company, is as sure of success as is 
 the night to follow the day, and the future suc- 
 ceed tlie present. 
 
 WINDSOR LOCKS. 
 
 This village is situated in the northeastern part 
 of a town by the same name, directly on the Con- 
 necticut river, and on the line of the New York, 
 New Haven & Hartford Railroad, fourteen miles 
 south of Springfield, Mass., and twelve miles north 
 of Hartford. It takes its name from the locks in 
 the canal around Enfield Falls on the river here. 
 The village has the following-named manufactur- 
 ing establishments: Seymour Paper Co., book 
 and envelope paper ; C. H. Dexter & Sons. Ma- 
 nila and tissue paper; F. H. Whittlesey, Manila 
 and tissue paper; Wm. English, book board 
 paper; Windsor Locks Machine Company, paper 
 and mill machinery; A. W. Converse & Co., iron 
 foundry; E. Horton, Son & Co., Horton's lathe 
 chuck; J. R. Montgomery & Co., fancy cotton 
 Warp; Dwight, Skinner & Co., wool scouring; 
 George P. Clark, patent rubber rolls and casters ; 
 Medlicott Company, ladies' and gents' fine under- 
 wear ; Dwight Allen, silk manufacturer ; Windsor 
 Locks Steel Co., manufacturers of rolled, ham- 
 mered and cast steel ; C. W. Bolbrook, globes and 
 school apparatus generally. There are six dry goods 
 and grocery stores, one grocery store, three milli- 
 nery stores, two jewelry stores, two drug stores, 
 one stove store, three boot and shoe stores, one 
 furnishing store, four churches, one savings bank 
 and a union school with nine teachers. Popula- 
 tion about 2,400. 
 
 The Medlicott Co., Manufacturers of Full 
 Fashioned Underwear. — The main building of tho 
 No. 1 mill of tile Medlicott Co., was erected in 
 1864, under the direction of Mr. Chas. E. Chaffee. 
 The foundation was laid upon solid rock and 
 throughout it was built in the most substantial 
 manner. Many additions having since been made, it 
 is now five stories high and 200 feet long, present- 
 ing an attractive appearance. 
 
 The buildings are furnished throughout with 
 the most approved apparatus for extinguishing 
 fires, large pipes connecting the fire pumps with 
 both river and canal, giving an abundant supply 
 of water. 
 
 The canal furnishes ample water power but they 
 have also an engine for use in case of need. Justsouth 
 of the mill is their dye-house, machine shops, office 
 buildings, carpenter shop and other buildings used 
 for storage purposes, and a few rods further to 
 the south stands their No. 2 mill, with storehouse, 
 and fireproof building for pickers, etc. 
 
 Both mills are equipped with the latest and most 
 approved machinery for the manufacture of knit 
 goods. Much of this machinery was purchased by 
 them in England, and they have also built consid- 
 erable in their own machine shops which are fitted 
 up especially for this purpose. 
 
 Full fashioned wool underwear for men, women 
 and children is the particular production of these 
 mills, and is widely known for thoroughness of 
 manufacture and excellence of finish. 
 
 A great variety of goods are made in manifold 
 styles and colors, white, grey, scarlet and other 
 colors from the heaviest four-thread Scotcli wool, 
 adequate for an arctic winter, to the lightest sum- 
 mer fabric. 
 
 The officers of the Medlicott Co. are Charles E. 
 Chaffee, President and Treasurer ; N. S. Cooley, 
 Superintendent and Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Chas. E. Chaffee, president and treasurer 
 of the Company, is a veteran in woolen manufac- 
 turing, having been engaged in this business for 
 over thirty-five years, and is thoroughly acquainted 
 with all its branches; his sterling integrity, good 
 judgment, and keen business sagacity are recog- 
 nized by the community in which he lives as well 
 as by his business associates. 
 
 Mr. N. 8. Cooley, the superintendent and secre- 
 tary, has baen connected with this company for 
 thirteen years, where his training and experience 
 have made him valuable in conducting the detaiLs 
 of a large establishment. 
 
 Mr. .lames C. Cooley, of New York, who has 
 been selling agent for the Medlicott Company for 
 sixteen years, is a native of Massachusetts ; he was 
 educated at the Chandler Scientific School, D irt- 
 mouth College, and served with distinction in the 
 war. His pleasing address and popular manners 
 render him a favorite with the trade, while his 
 experience and energy are generally recognized. 
 
 Dwight Allen, Successor to J. H. Haydcn & 
 Son, late Haskell & Haydcn, Silk Mill, Manufac- 
 turer of Machine Twist, Sewing Silk, Fringes, 
 Floss, Embroideries, etc. — This is claimed to be 
 the oldest or one of the oldest silk mills in this 
 country. Mr. J. II. Hayden, one of the original 
 proprietors, was in the employ of the Connecticut 
 Silk Manufacturing Company in 1835, 183(i, and 
 1837. This last-named mill was in operation but 
 a few years and Mr. Haydcn commenced manu- 
 facturing sewing silk at Windsor Locks in 1838 
 with Herlehigh Haskell " firm Haskell & Hayden." 
 In 1848 Harris Haskell was associated with them. 
 After his (the latter's) death in 1840, his son Thos. 
 R. joined the firm. 
 
 Herlehigh Haskell died in 1858. Thos. R, in 
 
358 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 1863. From 1863 to 1876 J. H. Ilayden was alone, 
 but from 1876 to 1881 the firm name was J. H. 
 Hayden & Son. In 1881 the mill was leased to 
 Dwight Allen, the present lessee. 
 
 Mr. Hayden was born at Hayden, two and one- 
 half miles from Windsor Locks, in 1811. Mr. 
 Haskell, the original capitalist, was born in Wind- 
 sor Locks in 1780 and died in 1858. 
 
 The business was at first confined to the manu- 
 facture of sewing silk, for which they received from' 
 the American Institute Fair in 1838 the gold medal 
 as first premium. They afterward received several 
 first premiums and never exhibited where they 
 received other than the first premium. 
 
 The award from the Centennial Exposition, 1876, 
 was for "slack and medium twist sewing silk of 
 great brilliancy, strength and regularity." Before 
 1860 machine twist was added to theirmanufacture. 
 About 1876 they added various manufactures of 
 fringes, etc. 
 
 Manufacturing has been kept up continuously, ex- 
 cept during the great Chinese war 1810, when stock 
 could not be procured. The raw silk was obtained 
 mostly from China and Japan. First silk from 
 Bengal, then Canton, then Smyrna, but mostly from 
 China. 
 
 Haskell & Hayden at first employed about a 
 dozen hands, mostly girls ; their wages at first 
 averaged $2.50 per week. Great trouble was ex- 
 perienced at first from lack of skilled laborers. 
 
 Mr. Hayden was so far successful that he never 
 failed to meet his liabilities, not even in 1857. The 
 reporter was shown by Mr. Hayden the town records 
 as far back as 1640, entries in which by Matthew 
 Grant recorder, an ancestor of Gen. U. S. Grant, 
 were seen of the date of 1640. This business has 
 changed materially since its first inception. Raw 
 silk winders could not average to wind over half a 
 pound a day when Mr. Hayden began business, 
 when he retired in 1881, the average was at least 
 tenfold that amount. 
 
 Much of this is due to Mr. Allen the present 
 lessee, who was born in Springfield, Mass., and 
 came from there to this place. He has l>ceu but a 
 few years in the silk business, but now turns out 
 four hundred pounds per week, when in olden 
 times fifty pounds was considered the limit. Every- 
 thing about this mill betokens thrift and industry, 
 reflecting great credit upon the present employer, 
 and it bids fair to remain a lasting monument to 
 the business intelligence and integrity of Mr. 
 Hayden. 
 
 THOMPSON VILLE. 
 
 The principal village in the town of Enfield is 
 Thompsonville. It has grown up around the Hart- 
 ford Carpet Company, which employs 1,850 hands 
 and turns out millions of yards of carpeting per 
 year. The village has six churches and the follow- 
 ing-named manufacturing establishments : The 
 Hartford Carpet Company, New England Burial 
 Case Company, The S. Pease & Sons Company. 
 
 The village is situated on the Connecticut river 
 and on the line of the New York, New Haven and 
 Hartford Railroad, eight miles south of Springfield, 
 Mass., eighteen miles north of Hartford. Popula- 
 tion, 4,000. 
 
 New England BnrialCase Co., Manufac- 
 turers of Burial Cases, and General Foundry Work. 
 —This business started July, 1881. It now is a 
 joint stock company with $100,000 capital. Presi- 
 dent, Miles Pease; Vice President, William Ililditch; 
 Secretary, E. W. Lundsley; Treasurer and Manager, 
 William Calderwood They employ about fifty-six 
 men, and four ladies. The latter in the robe 
 department. They manufacture glass metallic and 
 full metallic, wooden cloth-covered burial cases, 
 robes and linings. Steam is used, for motive power 
 with two thirty-horse power boilers. When first 
 started they manufactured only glass metallic cases, 
 but now have changed, making everything in the 
 burial-case line. Theirgoods are sent to all parts of 
 this country, as well as to South America. There 
 are large burial-case factories that make a specialty 
 of this kind of goods in wood work, but none so 
 large that make all varieties. Their business is in- 
 creasing rapidly, and all the details of casket 
 making are carefully attended to. This company 
 have in use one double-cylinder sandpaper machine, 
 the only one of the kind in use in Connecticut. 
 They can sandpaper with it 150 cases per day. The 
 great quality of their metallic caskets is lightness. 
 These caskets weigh about 175 pounds to the adult 
 size, while those made elsewhere of iron weigh 400 
 to 450 pounds. In no other establishment is found 
 such a machine as is used here, for striking up the 
 covers, in galvanized iron. About forty-live me- 
 tallic and one hundred wooden caskets are made 
 per week. The president of this company was born 
 in Enfield and is forty-five years of age. He is a 
 man of fine character, excellent executive ability, 
 and a representative citizen. The vice-president is 
 from the North of Ireland, about fifty years of age, 
 and possesses all the sterling qualities that belong 
 to the inhabitants of that section of the country 
 from which he comes. The secretary was born in 
 Vermont, and like his associates is a man of char- 
 acter. The treasurer and manager was born in 
 Scotland, and is forty-three years of age. He is a 
 person of great intelligence, of untiring energy and 
 his whole thoughts are centred in the business. He 
 is ever watchful, both as to economy and excellence 
 in results. He speaks with proper pride of obstacles 
 overcome and of the proud position this corporation 
 already occupies in the business world. This en- 
 terprising establishment, although comparatively 
 young, has already taken a long step towards the 
 front, as one of the leading industries in a State 
 already so full of mammoth and thriving business 
 enterprises. This successful progress is entirely due 
 to the intelligence and sagacity of the competent 
 officers of this company. Perfect system and order 
 prevails, and a rapid and healthy growth is every- 
 where apparent. There can be no doubt as to their 
 successful future. 
 
 SUFFIELD. 
 
 Suffield lies in the eastern part of a town by the 
 same name, reached by a branch of the New York, 
 New Haven & Hartford railroad. One fine, broad 
 street, ornamented with numerous large shade 
 trees, runs through the centre. Here is located the 
 Connecticut Literary Institute, a Baptist institution 
 of learning, which occupies several large and impos- 
 ing buildings on rising ground just north of the 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 359 
 
 centre of the village, which has an extensive repu 
 tation as an educational centre. 
 
 Connecticut Literary Institution — The 
 
 Connecticut Literary Institution was founded 1833, 
 and is located at Suffield, Conn., only a few 
 minutes' walk from the depot of the Suffield branch 
 of New Haven, Hartford & Springfield Railroad. 
 Suffield is one of the most beautiful of New Eng- 
 land villages, and is noted for its healthf ulness and 
 quiet. It is sixteen miles from Hartford, Conn., 
 ten miles from Springfield, Mass., and in one of 
 the most delightful portions of the Connecticut 
 valley. 
 
 While distant from the noise and temptation of 
 the cities, it is easily accessible from all parts of the 
 country. There are three courses of study, College, 
 Classical and Scientific. The college course is de- 
 signed to prepare students for college in the most 
 thorough manner. Tiie classical course is designed 
 especially for young ladies and such young gentle- 
 men as inclination or circumstances will not permit 
 to attend college. It differs from the college 
 course in substituting classical, English, and 
 scientific studies for Greek. 
 
 The scientific course is designed to impart a 
 practical knowledge of the higher branches of an 
 English education, and to fit young men to enter 
 the best scientific schools. Especial attention is 
 given to bookkeeping, and the forms of business — to 
 illustration with the apparatus, and in the labora- 
 tory — to field-work in surveying and civil engineer- 
 ing. The special object of this course is to impart 
 sucli instruction as shall give a thorough knowl- 
 edge of those things which go to make up an in- 
 telligent, accomplished, and well finished man of 
 affairs, whether merchant, mechanic, manufacturer, 
 or farmer. Chemistry is taught theoretically in the 
 class room, and practically by analysis in the 
 laboratory. The large cabinet, the magnificent 
 gift of the Rev. S. C. Chandler, gives abundant 
 means for illustrating mineralogy and geology. 
 There is an ample philosophical apparatus. Sur- 
 veying and trigonometry are applied to actual work 
 in the field, and excellent theodolets and surveying 
 instruments are provided for that purpose. 
 
 The principal is Martin H. Smith, A. M. Mr. 
 Smith was bom in Suffield in 1883, was graduated 
 at Williams College, in 1857. He was principal of 
 Maysville Literary Institute for twenty-one years. 
 He had previously taught mathematics for two 
 years in the Connecticut Literary Institute. The 
 professors are all proficient in their specialties, and 
 have been selected not only for their thorough 
 capabilities, but for the peculiar adaption to the 
 calling of a tutor. Their names are as follows : 
 Preceptress, Anna E. Hayward, English litera- 
 ture and modern languages ; Carrie L. Spencer, 
 music ; James P. Kelly, A. M., latin ; Allen H. 
 Willett, Greek and history ; Mattie E. Harris, math- 
 emathics ; A. Walter Elder, painting; Mary C. 
 King, penmanship; James P. Kelly, A. M., li- 
 brarian ; Mrs. Emily G. Cochrane, matron. 
 
 The business as well as the educational direction 
 of this old institution of learning, is under the 
 charge of the principal, Mr. Smith, who was born 
 as above noted, the year this institution was 
 founded, fifty years ago. He is a man well calcu- 
 lated for the responsible position, combining those 
 
 qualities of a far-seeing business man with the 
 classical manner of an educated gentleman. The 
 buildings are large and imposing, supplying every 
 requisite for a thorough education. During the 
 fifty years of existence this institution has sent out 
 to the world thousands of her students, exerting an 
 influence which cannot be estimated. Some of the 
 brightest names in the history of the country are 
 found on the records of the Connecticut Literary In- 
 stitute. 
 
 WETHERSPIELD. 
 
 A village and town on the west side of the 
 Connecticut river, about three miles from Hart- 
 ford. The Hartford and Connecticut Valley 
 Railroad runs through the town, and the village 
 is connected with Hartford by horse cars. The 
 main street is lined on either side with massive 
 trees, underneath the shade of which are the 
 ancient homes of long ago. There are several 
 churches, the oldest being the Congregational, 
 which was erected in 1761. The State Prison is 
 located here, which is said to be one of the 
 most thorough in government and ventilation in 
 America. The leading industry of the town is 
 the raising of and dealing in garden seeds. The 
 population of the town is about 2,000. A his- 
 tory of the representative seed houses here is 
 herewith appended. 
 
 Johnson, Robbins & Co., Seed Grow- 
 ers and Dealers. — Wethersfield has the dis- 
 tinction of having grown the first seeds for 
 market. History records that Mr. James L. 
 Belden commenced on a small scale the seed 
 business, mostly for the Southern market. Bel- 
 den gave way to Judge Comstock about the 
 year 1838, and associated with him his son, Mr. 
 W. G. Comstock, and son-in-law, Mr. Butler U. 
 Strong. A few years later the firm divided, 
 Mr. Strong, Mr. S. W. Robbins and Mr. E. G. 
 Robbin8 forming a company under the name of 
 Messrs. B. N. Strong & Co. The Comstocks, 
 with Mr. Henry Ferre, also formed a firm known 
 as Comstock, Ferre & Co. In 1854, Mr. R. A. 
 Robbins bought the interest of Mr. Butler U. 
 Strong, and with the two other Robbins and 
 Capt. Elisha Johnson formed an incorporated 
 company, with a capital at that time of $10,000, 
 known as Johnson, Robbins & Co. The presi- 
 dent is Mr. S. W. Robbins ; secretary and 
 treasurer, Mr. R. A. Robbins. At this time, 
 1854, the sale of seeds was at most wholly con- 
 fined to products of their own raising in Wethers- 
 field. At the present time different varieties of 
 their seeds are grown for them in different 
 parts of the country, and also in some of the 
 countries of Europe. Soil and climate are fac- 
 tors in the successful prosecution of this busi- 
 ness, as with most other agricultural affairs. 
 Canada, it has been found, is the home of seed 
 peas. The pioneers in ascertaining this fact 
 were Johnson, Robbins & Co., and from this 
 source alone they get 5,000 bushels of peas 
 annually. New York State, it has been dis- 
 covered, is, with some otker sections, the home 
 of the bean ; and so this State and that as far as 
 California, are drawn upon to furnish whatever 
 they produce the best. 
 
360 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Prussia, France, England and Scotland, are 
 also found to produce well certain seeds, which 
 are accordingly grown there for the company 
 and exported. Tho best radish seeds, for ex- 
 ample, being brought from France. 
 
 The prices of seed fluctuate as much as the 
 price of stocks, prices in some cases running 
 from 35 cents to $3.50 per pound. 
 
 Mr. Silas W. Bobbins, the president of the 
 company, is a native of Wethersfield, and sixty 
 years of age. The secretary and treasurer, 
 Mr. Richard A. Robbins, is also a native, and 
 to the manor born, 56 years of age. Mr. Ed- 
 ward O. Robbins, a former member of the com- 
 pany, died in May, 1883. Richard A. Robbins 
 is now tho president of the Association of Amer- 
 ican Seed Growers, having been chosen their 
 first president by tho convention recently held 
 in New York, in recognition of his veteran ex- 
 perience, and of tho esteem in which he is held 
 throughout the country. He has occupied for 
 many years a leading position in his town, and 
 has been a valuable member of the legislature, 
 in which he now gives way to his son, Mr. Ed- 
 ward D. Robbins, a gentleman twenty -nine 
 years of age, who is a graduate of Yale and now 
 an attorney in Hartford, where he represents the 
 N. Y. & N. E. Railroad. He is also a member 
 of the legislature, and served during the last 
 session as chairman of the judiciary committee 
 of that body. He, soon after leaving Yale, re- 
 turned there as tutor, and later traveled exten- 
 sively in Europe, visiting all the different 
 countries there, through many of which he 
 traveled on foot, thus acquiring a knowledge of 
 the people and their customs seldom obtained 
 by Americans, from Spain, Italy and Greece on 
 the south, to Sweden and Norway on the north. 
 
 Mr. S. W. Robbins is also largely connected 
 with the business interests of Hartford. In that 
 city he is a partner in the art store of the A. D. 
 Voice Co., and for nearly thirty years has been 
 a director in the American National Bank. At 
 Wethersfield he has a large fancy stock farm, 
 with expensive barns, where are to bo found the 
 largest and most valnable herd of imported 
 cattle in New England. Johnson, Bobbins & 
 Co. at one time ran a farm in Southern Ohio, 
 which was used for experimental purposes, also 
 an estate near Prince Edwards Co., Canada 
 West. In the South particularly, seed looses its 
 identity in one year. It is aiso a well-estab- 
 lished fact that the best seeds can be raised 
 from tho land the longest cultivated. New soil 
 cannot produce as good a quality as that long 
 under cultivation — facts which compel the 
 South and West to come East for their seeds. 
 The magnitude of the seed business done in 
 Wethersfield can be better appreciated when it 
 is stated that more seeds are sold here in one 
 year than could bo grown on G,000 acres of the 
 best and most highly cultivated land. One 
 town in the State alone raised in one season 
 30,000 pounds of turnip seed, which were 
 handled by this company, while in some sea- 
 sons the company has sold as high as 00,000 
 pounds of that seed alone. The profits of the 
 seed business several years ago are said to have 
 been enormous. From 6J acres were produced 
 onion seed to the amount of 816,000 ; but such 
 
 stories are not told in these days. London and 
 Paris are good markets for onion seed, thousands 
 of pounds being shipped there annually. In 
 the busy seasons, fifty tons of seed are shipped 
 weekly from Wethersfield to all parts of the 
 world. Every farmer's boy is familiar with the 
 name of Johnson, Bobbins & Co. Their fame as 
 seed growers extends the world over. Travelers 
 are kept out all over the country selling seeds 
 at the various stores, many Wethersfield boys 
 getting a start in life by being salesmen. 
 
 The house of Johnson, Bobbins & Co. is among 
 the oldest and largest concerns of its class in 
 the world, and their name is a synonym for 
 probity, financial success, and substantial pros- 
 perity. 
 
 William Meggnt, Seedsman. — Husbandry is 
 the oldest and noblest occupation of man. and he 
 who makes two blades of grass to grow where one 
 grew before is truly a benefactor to the human 
 race. 
 
 The seedsman can well be placed in this cate- 
 gory. 
 
 He rises above the simple cultivators of the 
 soil, for he brings to bear upon his business all 
 the knowledge acquired by generations of man- 
 kind. 
 
 Old Wethersfield town has long had the honor 
 of taking a prominent part and position in seed- 
 culture, and from its earliest settlement tho country 
 at large has had the benefit of the intelligence and 
 earnest labor expended upon this useful line of 
 business. Among those who now occupy an 
 important position in this industry looms up the 
 name of Wm. Meggat. 
 
 Mr. Meggat was born in Dumfries, Scotland, 
 in 1835, and served as gardener on the estate of the 
 Duke of Buoclengh, Dramlanrig Cas'.lc. 
 
 The flower garden then was fifty acres in extent. 
 
 Mr. M. came to America in 1859, first going to 
 Canada, then to New York City, where he was 
 employed by a florist in Fourteenth street. In 1 800 
 he was engaged to come to Wethersfield, connect- 
 ing himself with Comstock, Ferre & Co. Mr. 
 Comstock, the elder, took a great interest in young 
 Meggat. and taught him many useful lessons in 
 seed-culture, and which were not forgotten by the 
 pupil, who was an attentive listener and diligent 
 workman, and now says "that Mr. W. G. Corn- 
 stock was the best seedsman I ever knew." 
 
 In the year I860 he entered into business for 
 himself, since which time he has made great strides 
 in seed cultivation. In 1875 he built the magnifi- 
 cent seed warehouse that is so prominent a feature 
 on the level landscape of Wethersfield. The build- 
 ing referred to is 100 x 50 in area, and four stories 
 in height ; of wood, with a slate roof, very notice- 
 able, from the fact of the prominence of the 
 name of Meggat worked in different colored 
 slate. There is a fine cellar underneath the whole 
 building. A fine cupola surmounts the roof. This 
 building is devoted to heavy seeds, on the first 
 floor ; on the second are finer seeds, cabbage, let- 
 tuce, root seeds, etc. The third floor is reserved 
 for California goods. 
 
 The trial-experimental grounds cover six acres, 
 and are laid out with great taste and skill. No 
 flower-seeds are raised, and the business is entirely 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 361 
 
 wholesale in character. The trade extends all over 
 the United States and the Canadas, and the busy 
 season is from November 1st to April 1st. 
 
 Mr. Meggat lias 250 acres at San Jose, Cali- 
 fornia, all devoted to seed cultivation. In this 250 
 acres there is one field of fifty acres devoted to 
 onion-seed. 
 
 At Wethersfield, on the trial and experimental 
 grounds, is a driven well, forcing water up in the 
 cupola, furnishing an unfailing supply for irriga- 
 tion. Hydrants are placed at such intervals that 
 every part of the grounds can be reached with 
 water. Water is also forced in the storehouse and 
 other buildings. Just near the house, on these 
 same above-named grounds, there is a silver maple 
 tree, eighty feet high and of extraordinary diame- 
 ter of trunk. This tree is about 1150 years old, and 
 its shade is over 100 feet in diameter. The tree is 
 almost perfect in shape, healthy, and now growing 
 faster than ever. 
 
 seed to procure a vigorous stock. As an example : 
 when a vegetable has been acclimated and perfected 
 it lias to stay there and be reproduced there; for 
 instance, Nantucket turnip, Boston market celery, 
 Danver's carrot and onion, Wethersfield large red 
 onion, etc. 
 
 We now repeat what we have said above, that 
 Mr. Meggat and his grounds are well worthy 
 a visit ; for the grounds furnish great pleasure to 
 the eye, and one cannot leave the owner without 
 being impressed that lie has learned much of seed 
 culture, busides being a thoroughly whole-souled 
 and representative business man. 
 
 Mr. Meggat has associated with him, who are 
 also interested in the business, two cousins and one 
 son. 
 
 One of the former resides at San Jose, Califor- 
 nia, and manages that part of the business. The 
 others reside in Wethersfield, and devote their 
 whole time to handling seeds, growing specialties 
 
 WM. MEGGAT, WETHERSFIELD, CONN. 
 
 Much attention is paid by Mr. Meggat to fruit, 
 but only for recreation. lie has the largest and 
 finest collection of hardy grapes in Connecticut, 
 and his grounds are well worthy a visit if for no 
 other purpose than c uriosity. 
 
 Mr. Meggat is a very intelligent gentleman, and 
 explains in a thoroughly genial manner and with 
 wonderful clearness, all the minutire of his busi- 
 ness. One of the lessons learned from a visit is 
 that a seedsman, above all others, must be reliable, 
 as the public soon desert those whose every state- 
 ment is not trustworthy. 
 
 It is announced by Mr. M., and other prominent 
 seedsmen, that there is a principle in seeds — that 
 if you take them away from their native place and 
 cultivate them they lose, after a few crops, their 
 identity, and one has to return to the home of the 
 
 and testing new and old varieties of vegetables 
 on the trial grounds, which, altogether, makes one 
 of the strongest business teams it has ever been our 
 lot to meet. 
 
 Comstock, Ferre & Co., Growers and 
 Dealers in Seed. — This is one of the oldest, if 
 not the very oldest seed house in America. It 
 is a stock company, with 340,000 nominal capi- 
 tal. The president is Dr. Roswell Fox, the 
 treasurer, Martin S. Oriswold, and the secretary, 
 E. D. Adams. Their warehouse is pleasantly 
 located in the main street, and near the centro of 
 Wethersfield. The company own over one hun- 
 dred and fifty acres of fine land, devoted to the 
 culture of seeds. Their goods are sold in all 
 parts of tho country . Much of their products, 
 
302 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 if not the greater part, used to be delivered by 
 teams, but this is nearly all done away with now, 
 and they employ but three, the bulk of their 
 export being moved by rail. The president. Dr. 
 Fox, was born in New London, and is about sixty- 
 five years of age. He is a graduate of a medical 
 college, and has practic ed medicine in Wethers- 
 field for more than a quarter of a century . Mr . 
 Griswold was born in Wethersfield, is fifty years 
 of age, and has been in the seed business over 
 twenty years. He is also a large market gar- 
 dener outside. 
 
 E . B . Adams, was also born in Wethersfield, and 
 is about thirty-seven years of age . He has devoted 
 the greater part of his life to the seed business. 
 This firm or company needs no recommendation 
 as to character or to the quality of their pro- 
 ductions from us or any similar work, for their 
 reputation is long established, and the latter 
 fact alone, the long establishment, is the best of 
 diplomas, especially in the seed business. The 
 fact exists in this pursuit, that if the most per- 
 fect integrity does not exist the business will 
 soon fall to the ground. Deception cannot be 
 kept up but for a short time. All the officers of 
 this company, outside of their occupation, are 
 men highly respected, and are prominent leaders 
 in all the town affairs. There is no doubt also 
 as to the futuro of their business, for, as noted 
 above, there is no limit to the duration, after the 
 ordeal of the first years are passed. 
 
 Thomas Griswold & Co., Seed Growers 
 and Wholesale Dealers (South Wethersfield) . — 
 As far as the seed business is concerned, South 
 Wethersfield is, as it were, a kind of overflow 
 from Wethersfield. In the latter place there are 
 several large seed houses, which control much, 
 if not all, of the land suitable for the seed 
 business. As the traveler journeys south on the 
 Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad he 
 sees on the right several large and imposing 
 buildings belonging to the firm of Thomas 
 Griswold & Co., who announce themselves as 
 
 f rowers of genuine Wethersfield garden seeds, 
 'he business was established by Mr. Thomas 
 Griswold many years ago, and in a limited way. 
 At that time the annual business was scarcely 
 more than $1,000, while the increase is shown in 
 the last vear's business, which amounted to 
 about 840', 000. 
 
 They have three separate farms, well stocked 
 with tools, agricultural implements and all 
 modern appliances necessary for the successful 
 prosecution of the business . The warehouse is 
 a three-story building, 30 x 50 feet in area, which, 
 together with seven large barns and smaller 
 buildings, all devoted to storing and curing, and 
 all painted in the most artistic style, form an 
 industrial village in appearance. The firm of 
 Thomas Griswold & Co. is formed of Thomas 
 N. Griswold, Charles F. Griswold and Robert S. 
 Griswold, all sons of the founder, Thomas Gris- 
 wold, who died in 1878, aged 79 years. The 
 business of this firm extends to nearly every 
 State in the Union and through the Canadas. 
 The senior member of the firm, Thomas N., 
 was born in 1833, Charles F., in 1835, and R. S., 
 in 1849, and they are all natives of and always 
 
 resided in Wethersfield and South Wethersfield . 
 The house of Thomas Griswold & Co. has a 
 reputation for reliability, and, as they announce 
 on their card, so they do business, believing that 
 " The best are the cheapest." 
 
 WINSTED. 
 
 This borough is situated in the town of Win- 
 chester, at the northern terminus of the Naugatuck 
 Kailroad, 61 J miles from Bridgeport, and on the 
 line of the Hartford and Connecticut Western Kail- 
 road, thirty-five miles from Hartford. 
 
 The interval lands alomr the streams of this town 
 are shut in by high hills and mountain ridges. 
 The highest elevation is in the old Winchester 
 parish, where mountains in Massachusetts anil New 
 York can be seen. The town is situated in the 
 greenwoods district of the county, thirty-five miles 
 by rail from Hartford. Long Lake, extending 
 from the Torrington line northerly about three and 
 one-half miles, is the largest body of water. Its 
 surface is 150 feet above the centre of Winsted 
 village near by. Still and Mad rivers are the prin- 
 cipal streams. Lake Stream, running from the 
 lake through a wild and narrow ravine into Mad 
 River, furnishes a water-supply for many factories. 
 
 Winsted, situated on Lake Stream, Mad and Still 
 rivers, is the largest place in population and in the 
 extent of its industrial interests in the county, and 
 contains about 5,500 inhabitants. These three 
 streams afford a great supply of water-power, 
 which is used extensively for manufacturing pur- 
 poses; there being, on Mad River, one dam to 
 about every twenty rods in its course through the 
 borough. A very large variety of establishments 
 are in successful operation, using both steam and 
 water power. 
 
 There are five churches, a Catholic literary and 
 theological seminary, a monastery, and a Catholic 
 academy for young ladies, with a parochial school 
 and convent. The town has three national banking 
 institutions and two savings banks. Music Hall, a 
 capacious brick and iron structure, contains a fine 
 public hall. Another hall, lately constructed, is 
 used for town and borough purposes. Water for 
 extinguishing fires, and for domestic purposes, is 
 obtained from Long Lake. Park place, a beautiful 
 green, is adorned with evergreens, maples, and 
 elms. 
 
 Winsted has four fire and hook and ladder com- 
 panies, four Masonic bodies, one lodge of Odd 
 Fellows, one lodge Knights of Pythias, a public 
 library, two bands, three hotels, and three railway 
 depots. There are besides a private post-office at 
 what is known as The Flat, a post-office called 
 West Winsted in the western part of the borough, 
 and a post-office called Winsted at the eastern part. 
 Besides the manufacturing establishments men- 
 tioned below, there are manufactories of leather, 
 bright wire goods, silk, undertakers' trimmings, 
 bolts, clocks, etc. 
 
 The New England Pin Company, 
 
 Manufacturers of Brass, Steel, Iron and Pyramid 
 Pins, Winsted. — For a place the size of Winsted 
 its manufactured products are numerous in kind. 
 They embrace axles, clocks, undergarments for 
 men's wear, undertakers' trimmings, scythes, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 363 
 
 knives, scissors, leather, hardware, silk, silver 
 plated ware, and, last, but not least, pins. 
 About onee in so often an inquiry is made in 
 the papers, where do all the pins go to ? If the 
 reader would visit Winsted he would find where 
 millions of them come from, by a call at the New 
 England Pin Company, which is situated directly 
 opposite the depots of the Naugntuek Railroad 
 and the Hartford & Connecticut Western. The 
 first authentic account of the use of pins dates 
 prior to the early part of the Sixteenth century, 
 at which period they were imported into Britain 
 from France. They were at first made of iron 
 wire, but about the year 1540 brass was used, 
 and mention is made of their importation by the 
 Queen of Henry the Eighth. The first machine 
 for the manufacture of pins was invented by Mr. 
 Samuel Willman Wright, an American, in 1824, 
 the process being crude and not unlike that of 
 nail making. To show the great improvement 
 and wonderful development which has charac- 
 terized this important industry since the above 
 date, the most adequate conception is obtained 
 from the history of the New England Pin Com- 
 pany of Winsted, which commenced business in 
 1854, with a few old-style machines, under the 
 management of Mr. John G. Wetmore, the Pres- 
 ident of the company. At that time tho manu- 
 facture of pins in this country was monopolized 
 by the American and Howe companies, who had 
 patents for sticking the pins on paper. Mr. Wet- 
 more saw the absolute necessity of a machine en- 
 tirely original in conception in order to compete 
 in tho market. To that end he experimented for 
 two years and at an expense of $20,000, and suc- 
 ceeded, despite the opposition of the above- 
 named companies, in perfecting a machine with 
 eight or ten times the capacity of those already 
 in use. From this moment the success of the 
 New England Pin Company was assured, the 
 business made rapid strides, and many new and 
 improved machines have been added from time 
 to time. During these years several companies 
 have started in opposition, which have been 
 merged into this company. The business neces- 
 sitates the use of two large buildings, one of 
 wood, 140 x 35 feet in area and four stories in 
 height, the other of brick, 102 x 24 feet, three 
 stories high. One hundred machines are run, 
 one hundred hands employed, and from one to 
 two tons of wire, producing 10,000,000 pins, or 
 34,440 papers, are turned out daily. The motive 
 power is both water and steam. The capital of 
 the company is $100,000, and the names of the 
 officers as follows : President and Treasurer, Mr. 
 John G. Wetmore ; Secretary, Mr. J. E. Spauld- 
 ing. The company was originally formed in 
 1854. On July 1, 1883, a new charter was 
 obtained which granted greater privileges. Mr. 
 John G. Wetmore, the president, was born in 
 Winsted, April 27, 1827, and was educated in the 
 public schools. For several years he was a mer- 
 chant on the site where the Clarke House now 
 stands. Later he was a manufacturer of woolen 
 goods, and later a manufacturer of pins, organ- 
 izing this company. In 1872, he built Music 
 Hall Block, which contains the opera house, 
 seating 1,200 people. This block is by all odds 
 the finest business structure in the "borough. 
 Mr. Wetniore has been selectman in the town 
 
 government, warden of the borough for four 
 years, and "member of the legislature. He organ- 
 ized tho Winsted National Bank in 1878, of 
 which he is ex-president, and is one of the 
 original incorporators of the Winsted Savings 
 Bank, a record of which will be found elsewhere. 
 He was prominent in organizing the borough 
 government, is president of the Henry Spring 
 Company, and for many years director in the 
 Naugatuck Railroad Company. He is the largest 
 owner of real estate in the town and interested 
 in all efforts to promote industry and the general 
 wolfare of the community. The New England 
 Pin Company own a large silk mill, which is 
 fully equipped for that business, and adjoins 
 the pin factory. It is built of brick, is four 
 stories in height, 190 x 3(5 feet in area, with 
 engine-house and spacious office, complete in 
 every particular. The secretary of the New Eng- 
 land Pin Company, Mr. J. E. Spaulding, is a 
 native of New York. He came to Winsted fifteen 
 years ago and engaged in the hardware business 
 with Messrs. J. J. Whitney & Co., subsequently 
 ho was connected with a bank in the West. He 
 has been in his present business about ton years, 
 and is one of Winsted's promising young men. 
 The history of this company and its great suc- 
 cess is a fitting commentary on the energy, in- 
 ventive genius and executive ability of Mr. Wet- 
 more, who now enjoys the proud distinction of 
 being the founder and president of the largest 
 pin manufactory in the world. 
 
 Winsted Manufacturing Company, 
 
 Manufacturers of Scythes, Hay and Corn Knives. 
 — This company is one ef the oldest in Winsted. 
 It was incorporated in 1835, and has a capital of 
 $25,000. The officers are,: President, Mr. John 
 T. Rockwell ; Agent and Treasurer, Mr. J. H. 
 Norton ; Secretary, Mr. A. H. Norton. Tho 
 first board of directors were Mr. Theron Rock- 
 well, President ; Mr. Lyman Case, Treasurer ; 
 Mr. John Camp, Secretary ; Mr. E. Groove Law- 
 rence, Mr. Luman Wakefield, Mr. Jonathan E. 
 Hoyt, Mr. William S. Holabird. They are all 
 dead except Mr. E. G. Lawrence. In 1835, 
 scythes as now were made, and later axes. The 
 productions now are grass, grain, brush, weed, 
 and lawn scythes, as well as hay and corn knives. 
 The factory is situated on Still river, about one- 
 half of a mile from the East Green in Winsted. 
 Thirty-five people are employed and the office is 
 in Norton's Block at Winsted. The president, 
 Mr. John T. Rockwell, up to within two years, 
 has been an old resident of the town, but now 
 resides in New York city. Mr. Joseph H. Nor- 
 ton, the agent and treasurer, was born in Tol- 
 land, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and is a 
 member of the firm of L. R. Norton & Co., a 
 sketch of which appears in this work, where a 
 more detailed account of Mr. Norton will be 
 found. The Secretary of the Winsted Manufac- 
 turing Company, is Mr. Allen H. Norton, a son 
 of the agent and treasurer. He was born in New 
 Boston, in 1849, educated in the public schools, 
 and learned the duties of his present business of 
 his father. He is a director in tho First National 
 Bank, and The Winsted Hosiery Company. Tho 
 Winsted Manufacturing Company are careful to 
 
364 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 sustain a reputation it has earned during the 
 past forty-eight years in using the best iron and 
 steel, and with the skill of workmen, some of 
 whom have been with them for a quarter of a 
 century. They produce scythes and knives 
 which stand at the head in the markets of the 
 world. Although the original officers and direc- 
 tors, save one, have passed away, still the policy 
 of the company in producing the best or none 
 has always been maintained. No comments of 
 the writer can add to the already extended repu- 
 tation of this carefid, conservative, yet enter- 
 prising company. 
 
 R. Cook & Sous, Manufacturers of Carriage 
 and Wagon Axles. — This manufacture of carriage 
 and wagon axles in Winsted, like most great en- 
 terprises, grew out of a small beginning, and, it 
 might be said, was the result of necessity. The 
 motto " Necessity is the mother of invention" 
 would be a very appropriate one for this establish- 
 ment, for the necessity that prompted Reuben Cook 
 and his associates to utilize the iron which was not 
 suitable for gun barrels, but nevertheless was 
 superior in quality and especially adapted for 
 axles, in 1811 and make them successfully is the 
 cause of this old and reliable establishment. 
 Reuben Cook with his two associates, Charles 
 Seymour and Russell Bunce, of Hartford, were the 
 pioneers here, making refined iron in 1811. The 
 premises to-day consist of a building 15 x 35 feet 
 in area and two and one-half stories in height, two 
 trip hammer shops 80 x 35 and 50 x 30 feet respect- 
 ively. Forty people are employed turning out a 
 variety of axles, which are claimed to be the best 
 in the market. The sole owner of these works is 
 Mr. Charles Cook, who was born October 15th, 
 1815. He, with his brother John R., who is now 
 dead, were in business with the father, commencing 
 in 1839 on this same site, under the same style 
 which he now conducts it — R. Cook & Sons. 
 Charles learned the trade of his father, and with 
 the brother conducted the business till 1876. This 
 establishment is one of the oldest in Winsted, and 
 the oldest axle manufactory which has been in con- 
 tinuous business since 1811 in the United States. 
 Mr. Cook is one of the representative men of the 
 town. He has been a member of the board of 
 burgesses for ten years and Warden for three and 
 a half years. He is the legitimate successor of his 
 father, whose name he honors and which he will 
 hand down to his sons with credit. Mr. Cook 
 stands without a peer in his particular line of manu- 
 facture in the United States, and truthfully it may 
 be said that he is the architect of his own fortune. 
 
 The "Winsted Hosiery Company, Manu- 
 facturers of full regular made Shirts and Drawers. — 
 The latest accession to the manufacturing industries 
 of Winsted is the Winsted Hosiery Company, whose 
 factory is situated on the east side of the Still River 
 in Winsted. The company was incorporated in 
 1882 and has a capital of 800,000 invested in the 
 business. The officers are : President, Wm. L. 
 Gilbert; Secretary and Treasurer, L. W. Tiffany; 
 Agent, W. F. Taylor. The factory has been re- 
 cently built of wood, is two stories in height and 
 100 x 48 feet in area, with a basement, to which is 
 
 added a brick boiler-house 20 x 30 feet, and a new 
 picker house 30 x 32 feet, two stories. Fifty-five 
 hands are employed of the most skilled in the busi- 
 ness. The production of this mill is equal to any 
 goods imported if not superior to Outright & 
 Warner's shirts and drawers. They are finely gus- 
 seted, shaped and trimmed in the most complete 
 way, and the quality of wool and the shades with 
 which it is worked are of the finest. The president 
 of the company is Mr. William L. Gilbert, who is 
 also president of the clock company in Winsted 
 which bears his name, the sketch of which appears 
 on another page, together with an account of Mr. 
 Gilbert's life. The secretary and treasurer of the 
 company, Mr. Leverette W. Tiffany, is a native of 
 the town of Barkhamsted, where he was born 
 thirty-two years ago. Previous to his being identi- 
 fied with this company he was in business with the 
 present agent of the company, Mr. W. F. Taylor, 
 at New Hartford, Conn., for twelve years, where 
 they kept a country store, doing a large and succes- 
 ful business. Mr. Wm. F. Taylor was born in 
 Williamsburg, N.Y., thirty-five years ago and came 
 to Winsted with Mr. Tiffany when this company 
 was started. The practical and experienced man 
 in this specialty of manufacturing shirts and draw- 
 ers is Mr. Joseph S. Watson, the Superintendent, 
 who is thoroughly versed in all the mysteries ap- 
 pertaining to this business, having made it a life 
 study. He is also a stockholder in the company. 
 He was born in Norfolk, Conn., in 1837, and has 
 resided in Winsted since the formation of the com- 
 pany. He was a schoolmate of the inventor of the 
 Kilbourn knitting machine, so valuable in the pro- 
 duction of fine goods. The officers and stock- 
 holders of this company are among the representa- 
 tive men of Winsted, and they acknowledge no 
 superior either in Europe or America for producing 
 the finest goods that can be made. 
 
 «J. F. Lincoln, Carriage Manufacturer and 
 Repository, Elm Street, corner of Centre. — This is 
 the oldest and largest carriage manufactury in Win- 
 sted or vicinity. It was established about forty 
 years ago by a Mr. Waters. Walter Stickney was the 
 next proprietor, who, in turn gave way to J. Lin- 
 coln & Co. in 1872. The senior partner of J. Lin- 
 coln & Co. was Franklin Lincoln, who died in 
 1879. He was succeeded at that time by his son and 
 former partner and the present proprietor Mr. J. 
 F. Lincoln. His father, Franklin Lincoln, was, in 
 his day, a prominent carriage manufacturer in this 
 section of the State. In early life he was a resident 
 of Canton, Conn., and also of Brattleboro, Vt. He 
 died at the ripe age of three score years and ten. 
 The premises as now occupied consist of a three- 
 story wooden building, 60 x 60 feet in area, and the 
 work turned out consists of wagons, in the manu- 
 facture of which twelve people are employed. The 
 aim of the proprietor is to make first-class work, 
 which he can warrant. This idea has prevailed so 
 generally, that the name of Lincoln is synonymous 
 with strength and artistic finish. Mr. Lincoln sends 
 some of his carriages to Waterbury and New York, 
 where they are sought for by those requiring a 
 vehicle that can be relied on. Mr. Lincoln was 
 born in Canton, Conn., in 1840, where he learned 
 the business of his father, who, at that time, was a 
 carriage manufacturer there, he was educated at 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 365 
 
 Sheffield, Conn., and during the war was a member 
 of the Twenty-fifth, Conn., Regiment. He is a 
 member of the chapter and council of the Masonic 
 fraternity and is one of the popular business men 
 of Winsted. 
 
 The Wyoming Pin Company, Tlieron S. 
 Carroll, Proprietor, Main Street. — Among the in- 
 dustrial establishments of Winsted, worthy of men- 
 tion, is that of the Wyoming Pin Company, situated 
 on Main street, of which Mr. Theron S. Carroll is 
 proprietor. The pin business was established in 
 1879. From 1873 to 1879 he made machine screws. 
 
 The building is 58 x 30 feet in area and three 
 stories in height. Twelve people are employed and 
 145 pounds of Bessemer steel is daily manufactured 
 into 850,000 adamantine pins. Mr. Carroll, the 
 proprietor, was born November 3, 1837, in Pough- 
 keepsie, N. Y., and for eighteen years was a clock 
 trimmer. He has resided in Winsted for thirteen 
 years. He enjoys the distinction of being the first 
 manufacturer of champagne taps in this country, 
 an industry which he still continues in a limited 
 way, in connection with the manufacture of pins. 
 The Wyoming Pin Co. is one of the important in- 
 dustries of Winsted. 
 
 S. W. Pine & Son, Marble and Granite 
 Workers, No. 121 Main street. — The only workers of 
 marble and granite in Winsted is the firm of S. W. 
 Pine & Son, whose works are located at 121 Main 
 street, midway between Winsted and West Winsted. 
 The business was established in 1858 by Mr. Samuel 
 W. Pine, the senior member of the present firm, 
 who continued the business up to 1874, when his 
 son, Mr. John W. Pine, was taken into partnership. 
 The specialty of this house is the manufacture of 
 monuments and headstones, large numbers of which 
 ornament the cemeteries both in Winsted and the 
 surrounding country. The premises consist of a 
 building 20 x 30, used as an office and wareroom, 
 and a workshop 70 feet long. From three to seven 
 people are kept constantly employed. Mr. Samuel 
 W. Pine was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 
 1814, and was bred in Chenango County in the same 
 State. He has been a resident of Winsted and 
 vicinity since 1833. In early life he was apprenticed 
 to a machinist, but has spent most of his business 
 career in his present occupation. During the past 
 forty years he has been at one time and another a 
 selectman, tax collector, assessor, and represented 
 his town in the State legislature in the year 1847. 
 Mr. John E. Pine, the son and partner, was born in 
 Riverton, Conn., which is near by Winsted, forty- 
 two years ago. He is a thorough master of the 
 business, having served an apprenticeship in the es- 
 tablishment of his father. He is a member of the 
 Episcopal Church, and has served as water com- 
 missioner and also in other minor offices of the 
 borough. The house of S. W. Pine & Son is one of 
 the oldest and most reliable in this section of the 
 State. 
 
 "Wm. M. Donaldson & Brother, Manu- 
 facturers of Doors, Sash and Blinds, 40 Holabird 
 Avenue. — This business was established by Wm. M. 
 Donaldson on Greenwood Avenue about three years 
 ago, and removed to its present location in the 
 Spring of '82. The firm of Wm. M. Donaldson & 
 
 Brother was formed in April, 1883. The building 
 is 32 x 52 feet in area and has three floors with an 
 L 16 x 24 feet. Eight people are employed in the 
 planing mill, manufacturing doors, sash, blinds, 
 mouldings, etc. Mr. William M. Donaldson was 
 born m Rochester, New York, in the year 
 1843. He has been in Winsted ten years, and learned 
 the trade of a carpenter, joiner and millwright in 
 Ellenville, Ulster County, N. Y., and was a builder 
 in Kingston, N. Y. , previous to settling here. Ho 
 is a member of the A. O. U. W., and an earnest 
 worker. Mr. John Donaldson is a native of Ulster 
 County, N. Y., born in 1850.- He has resided in 
 Winsted three years, and originally was a stone- 
 cutter and dealer in flagging and stone at Ellenville, 
 Ulster County, N. Y., and Liberty, Sullivan County, 
 N. Y. He is an Odd Fellow and a well-known 
 resident here. In addition to the door, sash and 
 blind business this firm do a wholesale and retail 
 business in paints, oils and glass, and are agents for 
 Pierce's Prepared Paints. The success of this firm 
 since they have removed to their new location and 
 doubled the capacity of their works is commented 
 upon and that they are deserving of it goes without 
 saying. 
 
 Empire Knife Company, James R. Alvord 
 &Co., West Winsted. — The cutlery works of the 
 Empire Knife Company, known all over the United 
 States, are situated on the outskirts of the village, 
 by the side of the beautiful stream which runs 
 through the town. The main building is some 100 
 x 30 feet, and is furnished with its motive power 
 by a water wheel. A number of outbuildings are 
 attached to the establishment, the whole forming a 
 picturesque cluster. Some sixty hands are em- 
 ployed, who make fine pocket cutlery and patent 
 solid steel-blade shears and scissors, which are 
 nickel plated and japanned. These goods are sold 
 directly to customers from the factory, and find 
 their way into all the towns and cities of the land. 
 They are carefully made by men who have been 
 brought up to the business, many of them having 
 worked in the cutlery factories of England. The 
 business of making cutlery was started in West 
 Winsted about 1853 by two Englishmen, Thomp- 
 son & Gascoigne, who carried on a small pocket 
 cutlery business in the factory of the Eagle Com- 
 pany, which was, in 1856, taken up by Bcardsley 
 & Alvord, and enlarged and made profitable. In 
 1880 the factory was moved to its present site. It 
 ran under the name of Bcardsley & Alvord for 
 twenty years, when Mr. Elliott Beardsley died, and 
 Mr. James R. Alvord and Mr. Eugene Potter suc- 
 ceeded to the business. Recently, Mr. Charles L. 
 Alvord and Mr. Seymour Landon Alvord, sons of 
 Mr. James R. Alvord, have taken an interest in 
 the active management of the company, the father, 
 Mr. James R. Alvord, and Mr. Eugene Potter re- 
 taining their former interests. Mr. Alvord, Sr., is 
 a native of Winsted, where he was born some 
 sixty years ago. He is one of the trustees of the 
 Winsted Savings Bank, and is also a trustee of tho 
 Beardsley Public Library, which was founded by 
 the munificence of the wife of his former partner. 
 Mr. Alvord is a quiet, genial, dignified man, who 
 looks closely after business and the welfare of 
 those in his employ. He is one of the best- known 
 and most highly-respected citizens of the town. 
 
800 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Mr. Eugene Potter is president of the Winsted Silk 
 Company, interested in the Beardsley Scythe Com- 
 pany, and a representative man in the community. 
 The Empire Knife Company adds one more to the 
 list of successful establishments to be found in 
 Winsted. 
 
 The Beardsley Scythe Co., Manufactur- 
 ers of Grain, Lawn, Bush, Weed and Grass 
 Scythes, Hay and Corn Knives, at West Winsted. — 
 Tho Beardsley Scythe Co. occupies a series of com- 
 modious wood and stone structures, centrally and 
 advantageously located, on Lake street, West Win- 
 sted. The business was founded in 1812 by Mer- 
 ritt Bull, Esq., who was an early apprentice of the 
 noted firm of Jenkins & Boyd. Mr. Bull died in 
 1824, and the business was subsequently carried on 
 by S. & M. Rockwell. Rockwell & Hinsdale, Hins- 
 dale & Beardsley, and Elliott Beardsley, the latter 
 conducting the business until the formation of the 
 present company in 1851. The present company 
 was organized with a capital of $20,000, and the 
 following board of officeis, viz : President, Philo 
 G. Sheldon ; Agent, Secretary and Treasurer, E. P. 
 Wilcox ; and Superintendent, Charles W. Perkins. 
 The mills are equipped with the best improved 
 machinery, and are run by both steam and water. 
 Thirty-five to forty hands are employed. Two 
 hundred tons of steel and iron are consumed, and 
 14,000 dozen scythes and knives produced each 
 year. Since the foundation of the scythe business, 
 there has been a remarkable improvement made in 
 the manner of manufacturing these articles. The 
 scythe, from being originally a hand-made tool, 
 hammered out in smith shops and forges and 
 ground on a stone turned by hand, is now, in its 
 progress from a plain bar of iron to the highly- 
 finished scythe or knife, entirely the work of ma- 
 chinery. The Beardsley Scythe Co. were the 
 first to make practical use of the " rolls " for flat- 
 tening and shaping a tapered scythe rod, and are 
 ever ready to accept any improvement in machinery 
 or apput tcnances of value. Their goods are 
 counted among the best manufactured, and com- 
 mand a wide market, reaching even to foreign 
 countries. Mr. Sheldon, the president, is a native 
 of New York, but has resided in Winsted and been 
 connected with the business for fifty years. He is 
 a practical workman, a thorough business man, 
 and commands the admiration and respect of the 
 community. Mr. Wilcox, the secretary, treasurer 
 and agent, has resided for many years in Winsted, 
 and is well and favorably known throughout this 
 section as an able manager of rare business tact. 
 He has been connected with the company for about 
 eleven years, and is highly esteemed in the town. 
 Mr. Perkins, the superintendent, is a practical 
 workman, having learned the trade from his father, 
 who was formerly in the scythe business. Such a 
 combination of practical knowledge and business 
 energy in its officers leaves nothing to apprehend 
 for the future of the company. 
 
 Winsted Foundry and Machine Com- 
 pany, Main Street, West Winsted. — Among the 
 largest and most notable buildings on Main street 
 are those of the Winsted Foundry and Machine 
 Company. This establishment was started in 1851, 
 and it now employs about thirty-five hands. The 
 
 machine shop is one hundred and fifteen feet by 
 forty, two stories high, and is filled with a fine and 
 costly plant of machinery for the manufacture of 
 mill gearing, pulleys, hangers, shafting, and ma- 
 chinery of all descriptions. Machine jobbing and 
 repairing is also done promptly to order. The 
 foundry .is 78x40 feet, light, and well arranged. 
 The cupola has a capacity of four tons. Here cast- 
 ings of every variety are made, and also patterns 
 to order. This shop runs by water power. Tho 
 company is now engaged largely in making nut 
 machines, bolt benders, and machinery for bolts. 
 It has built looms, lathes, machines for cutlery, 
 and shafting. In March, 188i(, the foundry was 
 burned, but was at once rebuilt. The President 
 of the company is Mr. Henry G. Colt, a native of 
 Toriington, but a gentleman who has lived most 
 of his days in Winsted. The Secretary and Treas- 
 urer is Mr. J. It. Griswold, also born in Tori ington, 
 but a resident of this place since he was twenty- 
 one years of age. He is a genial, intelligent gen- 
 tleman, practically familiar with all the work tho 
 company undertakes to do, and giving it his per- 
 sonal attention. 
 
 Thayer Scythe Company, Manufacturer 
 of all kinds of Scythes, Hay and Corn Knives, 
 West Winsted. — The Thayer Scythe Company is 
 centrally located on the banks of the Mad river, on 
 the south side of the stream, while the business 
 office is on the north side, directly opposite, and on 
 the chief thoroughfare of the borough. This com- 
 pany is a personal copartnership organized in 1807, 
 while the business was founded by Mr. Wheelock 
 Thayer about a half a century ago. The product 
 of the company consists of all kinds of scythes, 
 hay and corn knives, of which 3,;>00 dozen is pro- 
 duced each year. The business occupies a series of 
 brick and wood structures fully equipped with best 
 improved machinery, with office as above stated, 
 and large storeroom adjoining. While the trade of 
 this company extends over a wide range of terri- 
 tory, most of it is in New England and Middle 
 States. The quality of the products will compare 
 favorably with the best, as in this age of competi- 
 tion superiority is the standard, so with the scythes 
 and knives produced here. 
 
 Mr. W. T. Batcheller, the manager of and legiti- 
 mate successor to this business, is a native of Win- 
 sted. Mr. Wheelock Thayer, above mentioned, 
 was his grandfather, from whom he learned the 
 mechanical and clerical details of the business, 
 factors which have contributed much to his career 
 as a well-known and successful business man. 
 With the exception of a few years, which were spent 
 in the army as a lieutenant, captain, and lieutenant- 
 colonel, Mr. Batcheller has been identified with this 
 concern since boyhood. He is President of tho 
 George Dudley & Son Company, well-known and 
 long-established manufacturers of leather for book- 
 binders' use, which is one of Winstcd's most solid 
 enterprises. He is one of the prominent citizens of 
 the town, and active in promoting its best interests. 
 
 Howe Brothers & Hulhert, Manufac- 
 turers of Solid Steel Scissors, West Winsted. — 
 For a place the size of Winsted it has a variety 
 of industries, among which the establishment of 
 Messrs. Howe Brothers & Hulbert is conspicuous. 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 367 
 
 It was started about fifteen years ago by Mr. Geo. 
 Howe, the senior member of the present firm. 
 Soon after it was conducted by Howe Brothers, a 
 brother Alfred having joined hands with George 
 under the above-named title. In 1880 the firm 
 was again changed to Howe Brothers & Hulbert, 
 by the admission of Mr. R. S. Hulbert. As above 
 mentioned, the brothers Howe originally were and 
 still remain practical cutlers. Fifteen years ago 
 they first commenced manufacturing knife handles, 
 subsequently they increased their products by 
 making pencil knives and knife cork screws, 
 scissors, etc., the business in the meantime increas- 
 ing to its present prosperous proportions. The 
 productions to-day comprise a large variety of 
 solid steel goods, including cork screws, scissors, 
 Parker's patent joint shears, specialties, drop forg- 
 ings, etc. From fifteen to twenty people are 
 employed and the goods arc sold direct to the 
 trade. 
 
 George and Alfred Howe are both natives of 
 Sheffield, England, and practical cutlers and 
 machinists, learning their trades in their native 
 
 -city- 
 
 Mr. Robert 8. Hulbert is a native of Winsted, 
 is a civil engineer by profession, and a graduate of 
 the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale, and sec- 
 retary and treasurer of the Hulbert Iron Co., 
 ■whose office is in the same building with Howe 
 Bros. & Hulbert. 
 
 The productions of this establishment rank high 
 with the trade and are favorably known to con- 
 sumers. 
 
 The Henry Spring; Company, Sole Man 
 ufacturers of the Henry Single-Leaf Carriage- 
 Spring, West Winsted. — In the year 1870 the 
 Henry Spring Co. was incorporated with a capital 
 of $50,000. The 'present officers : Pres., Mr. John 
 G. Wetmore; Treas., Mr. T. W. Alvord ; Sec., 
 Mr. George W. Phelps. This company manufac- 
 ture the Henry Single-leaf Carriage Spring, in all 
 shapes and styles ; elliptics, side, body-cross, side 
 bar, wagon, platform, etc., in capacity carrying 
 from fifty to 2,500 pounds a set. This company 
 are sole manufacturers of this popular spring, which 
 they claim is lighter, stronger and has a lower 
 percentage of breakage than any other style or 
 make. The goods are sold direct to the trade and 
 they are found in all parts of America, as well as 
 many foreign countries. The president, Mr. J. G. 
 Wetmore. is about sixty-six years of age, was born 
 in Winsted, where hehas the reputation of being the 
 richest man in the community. He owns a major 
 portion of stock of the New England Pin Co., a 
 stockholder in Winsted Silk Co., director in the 
 Naugatuck Railroad Co., and ex-president of the 
 Winsted National Bank. Theodore W. Alvord, 
 the treasurer, was born in Winsted in 1848, and 
 was at one time a bookkeeper in the old Winsted 
 Bank, a clerk for Gilbert and Gay, bankers, and 
 associated later with his father, Mr. Chas. Alvord, 
 in the foundry and machine business in Winsted. 
 He has been with this company since its organiza- 
 tion. Mr. Phelps, the secretary, was formerly 
 cashier of the Winsted National Bank, and is 
 otherwise interested in the industrial establishments 
 of Winsted. The building occupied by the com- 
 
 pany is 120 x 50 feet in area and particularly 
 adapted to the business. 
 
 The Winsted Norway Bolt Company, 
 
 Lake Street, West Winsted. — This establishment, 
 located adjacent to the Henry Spring Manufactur- 
 ing Co., was incorporated in August of the present 
 year (1883), with a capital of $20,000, and the 
 following board of directors, viz. : Henry Gay, 
 Theodore Alvord, John Woodford, Rollin Thomp- 
 son and H. C. Brown. Mr. Henry Gay is the 
 President, and Mr. II. C. Brown the Business 
 Manager, holding the offices of Secretary, Treasurer 
 and Agent. The business occupies a large wooden 
 structure, 132 x 36 feet in area, and several small 
 auxiliary buildings, also of wood. The manufac- 
 tured product comprises all kinds and sizes of 
 carriage bolts, made entirely of Norway iron. The 
 company succeed the firm of Slacker & Co., whose 
 factory, occupying same site, was destroyed by tiro 
 last spring. The business, barely started as yet, is 
 in the hands of competent managers, and it will, 
 undoubtedly, soon assume flattering proportions. 
 The officers are all well-known business men and 
 prominent citizens in the community where they 
 have resided for years. Mr. Brown, the agent, 
 besides being a thorough man of business, has a 
 practical knowledge of the general hardware 
 manufacturing, acquired by years of experience, a 
 combination of qualities eminently fitting him for 
 the management of the business, and well calcu- 
 lated to insure its future prosperity. 
 
 The Hulbert Iron Company, Manufacturer 
 of Wrought Iron Forgings, West Winsted. — The 
 business of this company was established some 
 thirty years ago, by Mr. Timothy Hulbert, who 
 was a practical forger. At his death, in 1873, the 
 present company was incorporated, with a capital of 
 $25,000 ; the present officers are : President, R. L. 
 Hulbert; Secretary and Treasurer, R. S. Hulbert. 
 The company employs twelve people, turning out 
 wrought iron forgings. The secretary and treas- 
 urer of the company is also of the firm of Howe 
 Brothers & Hulbert, manufacturers of solid steel 
 scissors, cork screws, shears, etc., whose office is in 
 the same building with The Hulbert Iron Co. The 
 Hulbert family have long been identified with the 
 industrial interests of Winsted, and the present 
 generation bids fair to add to the already extended 
 reputation of the Hulbeits in an industrial way. 
 
 Ii. R. Norton & Co., General Store, Main 
 Street, corner North Main — This house, the 
 largest of its class in this part of the town, was 
 established by the present firm in 18(57. At that 
 time there was, and had been for several years, 
 a hardware store on the site where the business 
 now is, kept by Mr. Hiram Perkins. Buying 
 him out at that time, they added to this well 
 established hardware business a general assort- 
 ment, and in 1880 built the fine business block 
 known as Norton's Block, which is a great credit 
 to and adds very materially to the architectural 
 beauty of the business centre of Winsted. It is 
 55 x 58 feet in area, throo stories in height, and 
 built of wood and brick. The firm occupy all 
 the ground floor of the building, with tho 
 
3G8 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 exception of a fruit store and the post-office, 
 ■which have each a store. The firm is composed 
 of L. R. Norton, J. H. Norton and J. E. Larkin, 
 Mr. Larkin becoming a member in 1880. The 
 demands of the business necessitates the 
 employment of three clerks and one bookkeeper. 
 The trade not only extends throughout the vil- 
 lage, but to adjoining towns. 
 
 Mr. Lyman It. Norton is a native of Otis, 
 Berkshire county, and was born in 1827. He 
 has been in Winsted since 1867, previous to 
 ■which ho was a lumber dealer and tanner in 
 Blandford, Mass. During his residence there 
 ho was second selectman and assessor, honors 
 •which were thrust upon him, as his business 
 necessitates his constant and undivided atten- 
 tion. Since his residence in Winsted ho has 
 identified himself with the institutions here. 
 He is president of the Mechanics' Savings Bank 
 and director in the First National Bank, and has 
 served as first selectman and assessor. 
 
 Mr. Joseph H. Norton was born in Otis, Berk- 
 shire Co., Mass., and is sixty-nine years of age. 
 He has been a resident of Winsted for twenty- 
 ono years. In Otis he commenced life as a 
 farmer. Later he was in the silverware and 
 jewelry business, and then in the mercantile line 
 in New Boston, Mass., after which he came to 
 Winsted. He is president of the Winsted Real 
 Estate Exchange, a director in the Hartford 
 National Hank, agent and treasurer of the Win- 
 sted Manufacturing Company, and was a mem- 
 ber of the legislature in 1882. 
 
 Air. James E. Larkin was born in Sand Lake, 
 New York, is thirty-eight years of age, and has 
 resided in Winsted during the past fourteen 
 years. He is an energetic and conservative bus- 
 iness man, controlling a large personal trade. 
 The firm of L. R. Norton & Co. rank among the 
 first in Winsted, is reliable in every particular, 
 and its members are largely identified witli the 
 social and financial world of this part of the 
 State. 
 
 J. F. Peek & Co., Hardware, etc., No. 3 
 Park Place. — The only exclusively hardware 
 store in Winsted proper is that belonging to 
 Messrs. J. F. Peck & Co., whose husiness was 
 established in 1881. The store is 23 x 66 feet in 
 area, and is well stocked with hardware and 
 agricultural implements. Mr. Peck is a native 
 of Colebrook, Conn., born March 12, 1831. He 
 was educated at the State Normal School, and 
 on graduating, adopted the profession of a 
 teacher, which he followed for twenty-five years. 
 He is the founder and originator of the present 
 system of graded schools in West Winsted, which 
 was carried into successful operation in 1864. 
 In 1870 he did the same with the public schools 
 in Winsted. He is now acting as school visitor, 
 deeming the matter a life work, and is like 
 Deacon Potter, of Mystic river, a veteran in the 
 cause of education. Mr. Peck is a member of 
 the Congregational Church, a Knight Templar, 
 and otherwise prominent in the social and busi- 
 ness life of Winsted. His record from the time 
 he was a boy on his father's farm, through his 
 school days, business and professional career, 
 has been one of activity which is not only show- 
 
 ing results in this generation, but will increase 
 and inultii>ly as the years go by. Education and 
 liberty go hand in hand, are the bulwarks of 
 the people, and Mr. Peck has been instrumental 
 in perfecting the educational facilities of Win- 
 sted perhaps more than any other person in this 
 generation. 
 
 Winsted House, E. M. Munson, Proprietor. 
 — Hotels are a representative of our advanced 
 civilization. The more cultured, the better edu- 
 cated a community, the better are the hotels. 
 Situated opposite tho East park in Winsted is 
 the Winsted House, white with new paint and 
 surrounded with spacious piazzas, which orna- 
 ment the first and second stories. It was built 
 about fourteen years ago on the site of an old 
 hotel, which had stood there a great many years, 
 as it is the oldest hotel stand in Winsted. Fifty 
 or more years ago cattle shows and general train- 
 ings were held on the green fronting the hotel 
 and the old tavern which stood where the new 
 hotel now stands was the scene of many a merry 
 party when Medford rum was tho universal drink 
 and the popular dance was the "Money Musk." 
 But swiftly passing years have brought a change 
 and tho people who knew these scenes know 
 them no more. The hotel contains thirty-five 
 rooms and it is kept in a first-class manner. No 
 badly worn carpets, patched with the remnants 
 of others ; no old fashioned furniture, musty 
 with age ; but everything has an air of neatness, 
 comfort and hospitality. The dining room re- 
 minds one of a fashionable restaurant in a largo 
 city and is radiant with tho reflection of silver- 
 ware and polished furniture . Mr. Munson was 
 born in Barkhamsted in 1834, and in early life 
 learned the trade of a miller. Later he was a 
 dealer in furniture, flour and grain in this place. 
 The rate at this hotel is 82, with reduction to 
 those who tarry for a few days or permanently. 
 A livery stable is connected with the house, 
 which is like the hotel, complete in every par- 
 ticular. Tourists or commercial travelers will 
 do well to leave the cars at the first station in 
 Winsted and register at this hotel, which is in 
 every way kept for the convenience of the public. 
 
 Baird & Renouff, Druggists, No. 66 Main 
 Street. — The drug business is one of the oldest 
 in history. In no department of science has 
 there been more progress than in the drug busi- 
 ness. Each year brings to light some important 
 discovery, which has heretofore been hidden 
 within the virgin recesses of nature's stronghold. 
 The drug establishment of Messrs. Baird & Re- 
 nouff, which is located at No. (ill Main street in 
 this village, was established about thirty-five 
 years ago by a Mr. Vibberts. Mr. T. Baird suc- 
 ceeded him fully twenty-seven years since, and 
 in 1872 the firm became Baird & Renouff. The 
 store is 22 x 50 feet in area, and is particularly 
 noted for the preparation of physicians' prescrip- 
 tions. It is one of the most attractive and thor- 
 oughly equipped pharmacies in the community, 
 and the stock comprises a general line of drugs, 
 medicines, chemicals, pure wines and liquors for 
 medicinal purposes, toilet articles, perfumery, 
 soaps, and all the standard proprietary medi- 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 369 
 
 ■cines of acknowledged merit. Theophilus Baird, 
 who is a thoroughly educated pharmacist, was 
 born in Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y., 
 about fifty-six years ago. In early life he was a 
 tanner by trade, but left that stern pursuit for 
 the lighter and more pleasing duties of a drug- 
 gist, in which profession he eminently excels. 
 He has been in Winsted about twenty-seven 
 years and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
 The present store was built twelve years ago and 
 is superbly furnished throughout. James T. 
 Benouff, the partner, is a native of Oolebrook 
 and was born in 1849. He learned the drug 
 business in Apothecaries' Hall, at West Winsted, 
 in 1866, and became a partner here as above 
 stated. He is a thorough pharmacist, a member 
 of the State and Amsrican Pharmaceutical As- 
 sociations, the Congregational church, the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, and takes a 
 great interest in educational matters, being at 
 
 E. E. Oilman, L B. Woodruff and George S. Burn- 
 ham. The bank has a capital of $100,000, with 
 a surplus and undivided profits of $9,125, was 
 incorporated in 1878, and is a sound financial insti- 
 tution. 
 
 Edward C. Buck, Dealer in Millinery and 
 Fancy Goods, Gl Main Street. — The largest and 
 most complete establishment of this kind in Winsted 
 proper is the house of Mr. Edward C. Buck, which 
 was established by him in Danielsonville, in the 
 year 1867, and removed to Winsted, March, 1883. 
 The store is new and 23 x 67 foot in area. Four 
 clerks and milliners are employed and the stock is 
 one of the largest and most complete in this section. 
 Mr. Buck was born in Pomfret, Conn., in 1844, 
 and educated at Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass. 
 When the war broke out he enlisted in the 18th 
 Connecticut Volunteers, and served three years. He 
 
 WINSTED HOUSE, WINSTED, CONN. 
 
 the present time a member of the school com- 
 mittee. The house of Baird & Benouff ranks 
 among the most accomplished and responsible 
 druggists in the state. 
 
 First National Bank of Winsted. — Long 
 after the following-named gentlemen have passed 
 away the reader will peruse these papers with 
 interest to know who were the representative finan- 
 cial men of the business world of Winsted in 1883, 
 and who were the original officers and directors of 
 the above-named bank. For the benefit of coming 
 generations we append a list of those who in 1878 
 were so identified with the above-named bank : 
 President, E. E. Oilman; Cashier, Frank D. Hallett; 
 Directors, E. E. Oilman, David Strong, Francis 
 Brown, C. B Hallett, Lyman R. Norton, Franklin 
 Moore and I. B. Woodruff. The present officers 
 are : President, D.ivid Strong; Vice-President, Lyman 
 B. Norton; Cashier, Frank D. Hallett; Directors, 
 D.ivid Strong, Francis Brown, C. B. Hallett, Lyman 
 K. Norton, Allen H. Norton, Harvey L. Roberts, 
 
 was on detached duty part of that time in the 
 medical department of the army. He was also a 
 prisoner in Libby and Bjlle Isle. He is a member 
 of the Episcopal Church, a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and a good citizen. 
 
 The Mechanics' Savings Bank. — In the 
 banking rooms with the First National B:ink of 
 Winsted is located the Mechanics' Savings Bank, 
 which was incorporated in 1875, with the following- 
 named officers and trustees : President, Norman 
 Adams; Vice-President, Tlios. M. Clarke ; Treas- 
 urer, Elias E. Oilman ; Trustees, Norman Adams, 
 Wm. L. Gilbert, Harvey B. Steele, Thomas M. 
 Clarke, Chas. B. Hallett, Joseph EL Norton, Harvey 
 L. Roberts. The present officers are: President, 
 Lyman R. Horton; Vice-President, Harvey B. 
 Steele; Treasurer, Elias E. Oilman ; Trustees, 
 Lyman R. Norton. EL B. Steele, C. B. Hallett, Jos. 
 II. Norton, Harvey L. Roberts, Luman C. Colt, T. 
 Baird. The deposits amount to $425,000. 
 
370 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 Lewis Li. Camp, Dealer in General Merchan- 
 dise. — Situated on the opposite side of the river 
 from the William L. Gilbert Clock Company is 
 the store of Mr. Lewis L. Camp, whose business 
 was established in 1873 by Mr. II. L. Kinney. He 
 keeps a general assortment of dry goods, groceries, 
 boots, shoes, etc. The store is 30 x 50 feet in area 
 and in addition is a storeroom of the same size. 
 Most of his trade is with the families of the Clock 
 Company, which live contiguous to the store. Mr. 
 Camp was born in Wins ted in 1855. He was edu- 
 cated in the public schools, is a member of the Con- 
 gregational Church, the Odd Fellows and the 
 Masonic fraternity. Honest and enterprising, he 
 lias built up a trade which is complimentary to his 
 ability as a business man. 
 
 Lucien J. Johnson, Undertaker, Main, cor. 
 Rowley street. — This business is one of the oldest 
 in the undertaking line in Winsted. It was estab- 
 lished by A. L. Weirs over twenty-five years ago. 
 Forbes & Strong conducted it in the year 1860. 
 In 1870, Messrs. Oatman & Johnson. In that year 
 Mr. Oatman died, and the business was conducted 
 under the firm name, his widow retaining her in- 
 terest till 1873, when the present proprietor became 
 sole owner. The neat white building occupied for 
 the business is situated directly opposite the post 
 office, and is 24 x 35 feet in area, with an L, the 
 main building being two stories in height. Mr. 
 Johnson is a native of the town of Barkhamsted, 
 and was born in 1841. He has resided in Winsted 
 since he was a boy, learning the business of a car- 
 riage-maker. Later he was a clerk at the Clarke 
 House for four years, when he was about twenty- 
 two years of age. He is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and of the Knights of Pythias, and is a 
 popular undertaker. Mr. Johnson has earned and 
 enjoys the entire respect of his business associates 
 and patrons, as well as the cordial liking of a large 
 circle of personal friends. 
 
 O. D. Hunt & Company, General Store, 
 Music Hall Block. — This large and nourishing 
 business was established by Mr. O. D. Hunt, the 
 senior partner of the present firm. Previous to 
 this he was a member of the firm of Norton & Hunt, 
 selling out his interest to start anew. From this 
 circumstance grew the firm of O. I). Hunt & Co., 
 which, as above mentioned, was founded by the 
 senior proprietor twenty-five years ago. For sev- 
 eral years they were located on the corner of Main 
 and Bridge streets, but in 1874, Mr. Edward Per- 
 sons and Mr. G. L. Hart became partners, and the 
 business removed to their present, spacious stores, 
 which are located in Music Hall Block, running 
 through from Main to Elm. The front store en- 
 trance from Main street is 22 x 85 feet in area, which 
 is stocked with a large and valuable assortment of 
 dry goods, fancy goods, etc. An annex, 22 x 35 
 feet in area, is used as a carpet hall exclusively. 
 The grocery and provision department has an en- 
 trance from Elm street, and joins the rear part of 
 the dry goods department. This store is 22 x 40 
 feet in area. Some idea of the business can be had 
 when it is mentioned that eight people are required 
 as salesmen to meet the constant demands of the 
 public. The members of the firm are well-known 
 
 and long-established citizens, and rank, individu- 
 ally and collectively, among the substantial men of 
 Winsted. 
 
 The Clarke House, C. B. Andrews, Pro- 
 prietor. — Located promiuently on the main business 
 thoroughfare of Winsted, opposite Music Hall, 
 and within two minutes' walk of the Union Djpot, 
 stands the Clarke House. It is a large wooden 
 structure, four stories in height, with an L, three 
 stories, and contains seventy-five rooms, with ac- 
 commodations for 100 guests. It was named in 
 honor of Mr. Lucius Clarke, the builder, and an 
 old resident of the town. The front story is orna- 
 mented by a wide piazza, extending the whole 
 length of the building, while from the halls of the 
 second and third lead porticos, from which 
 observations can be made of the surroundings. 
 The first floor contains double parlors and a spacious 
 dining-room leading off at the left from a wide 
 hall. On the right is a spacious office, in which 
 are fouud the daily paper* from New York, Phila- 
 delphia, New Haven, Hartford nnd Springfield, 
 also a telephone, etc. In the rear of the office and 
 leading from it is a toilet room, with running 
 water, marble bowls, mirrors, etc., whilestill farther 
 back is a quiet room for correspondence, the latter 
 of which is also reached from the main hall. Be- 
 yond these is a fine suite of apartments consisting 
 of a parlor, two bed-chambers, private bath room 
 and water-closet elegantly furnished and supplied 
 with hot and cold water, affording that quiet and 
 seclusion to families traveling, so much in demand. 
 These, with other rooms necessary for the conduct- 
 ing of a hotel, sample-room for commercial 
 travelers, etc., complete the numbar to be found on 
 the first floor. Leading up from the left of the 
 main hall is a stairway to the second story, where 
 are found parlors, suites of rooms, etc. In the 
 basement is a billiard-room, etc. In the rear is a 
 livery stable, which is also conducted by the pro- 
 prietor of the hotel. The Clarke House was 
 opened about twenty years ago, and the first pro- 
 prietor was Mr. William Forbes, a gentleman from 
 Massachusetts ; next it was under the management 
 of Mr. I). W. Stevens, Mr. It. I). Hicks, Messrs. 
 Botsford & Forrester, Mr. John It. Forrester and 
 Mr. E. Y. Morehouse, respectively. During the 
 past four years the house has been run by Mr. C. 
 B. Andrews, the p-esent proprietor, who was born 
 in Winsted, where he is a well-known and popular 
 citizen. Prior to being in his present business he 
 was a commercial traveler for fifteen years, and 
 knows the wants, the hopes, the fears, the disap- 
 pointments and achievements, the habits and the 
 tastes of that large body of "missionaries" who 
 make his house their home on arrival here. For 
 four years he was proprietor of the Beardsley 
 House in this place, and later he ran both that and 
 his present hotel, when he disposed of the first and 
 now pays sole attention to the Clarke House, which 
 averages thirty arrivals daily. Mr. Andrews is 
 one of the burgesses of Winsted, and otherwise 
 materially interested in its success. With an ex- 
 cellent cuisine and attention in office, chamber and 
 dining-room, the Clarke House offers every induce- 
 ment desired to the weary traveler, and at the 
 popular price of two dollars per day. 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 371 
 
 Ft K. Andrews, Druggist, Bookseller, Sta- 
 tioner, etc., No. 21 6 Main Street. — It was several years 
 since, when Mr. F. L. Pond established this busi- 
 ness across the street from its present location. He 
 was succeeded by Watson & Catlin, and he by 
 James W. Cone, and in 1880, the present proprietor 
 became identified with it. About ton years since, 
 the business was moved to its present location, 
 which is one of the best for the purpose intended. 
 The store is 25 x CO feet in area, and is stocked 
 with pure drugs, chemicals, fancy and toilet articles, 
 books, stationery, periodicals, etc., a specialty 
 being made of a large assortment of holiday goods, 
 celluloid goods and toys, forming a complete bazar 
 for the astonishment of his customers and by far 
 the largest in town. Mr. Andrews was born 
 in Winsted thirty-nine years ago, and learned the 
 profession of a druggist in Hartford, and lias had 
 twenty-throe years' continued experience as clerk 
 and principal. It is the largest drug store in Win- 
 sted, and does the largest Imsiness. The tickets 
 and reserved scats for the Opera House, which is in 
 the same building, are sold here. A large and 
 expensive soda fountain is part of the appoint- 
 ments of this store. Mr. Andrews has built up a trade 
 and reputation second to none in his line here. 
 
 Geo. H. Alford, Furniture and Hardware 
 Dealer, Nos. 211 and 213 Main Street.— One of the 
 largest furniture and hard ware establishments in Win- 
 sted is that of Mr. Geo. H. Alford, which is situated 
 at 211 and 213 Main Street, opposite Music Hall. 
 The Imsiness is the union of the hardware business of 
 the present proprietor and the furniture business of 
 Mr. E. M. Mnnson. In the latter business Munson 
 was succeeded by Edward Clarke, and Mr. Alford 
 succeeded Clarke in 1881. The furniture business 
 was originally on the same side of the street, about 
 twenty-live rods west of the present location. The 
 hardware store was located about ten rods east. 
 Since 1881, as above stated, the business as consoli- 
 dated requires two stores located as above stated. 
 These stores in the aggregate are sixty-six feet front 
 and three stories In height, containing about 0,000 
 square feet. Three salesmen are constantly em- 
 ployed and the business extends throughout Winsted 
 and the surrounding country. In addition to the 
 hardware and furniture Imsiness, Mr. Alford deals 
 largely in fertilizers, supplying the farmers. He 
 was born in Harkhamsted. Conn., in 1850. and was 
 educated at Wilbrahain, Mass., where he graduated. 
 He has been here in Winsted since he left school, 
 where he has proven himself a successful business 
 man. He is a member of the Second Congregational 
 Church, was Town Clerk for four years, and has 
 been actively identified with the interestsof Winsted, 
 where he is regarded as an upright man and a rep- 
 resentative citizen. 
 
 The Winsted National Iiank, Wetmore 
 Block. — The original officers and directors of this 
 bank) which was incorporated in 1879 with a capital 
 of $50,000, were: President, John G. Wetmore ; 
 Cashier, Henry C. Young ; Directors, John G. Wet- 
 more, Thos. M. Clarke. Orlow D. Hunt, Lyman W. 
 Case Geo. W.' Beach, Henry C. Young, Augustus 
 H. Fenn, Charles Alvord and Geo. H. Alford. The 
 present officers and directors are: President, Thos. 
 M. Clarke ; Cashier, Henry C. Young ; Directors, 
 
 Thos. M. Clarke, Geo. W. Beach, Solomon Sockctt, 
 Henry C. Young, Jay E. Spalding. The bank is 
 one of the most substantial in the State and its 
 officers and directors are among the solid financial 
 men in Winsted. 
 
 Ij. F. Granger, Agricultural Implements, 235 
 Main Street. — The only store in the place devoted 
 to the sale of agricultural implements, was opened 
 the first of March, 1883, at 235 Main street, by Mr. 
 L. F. Granger. The rooms are commodious and in 
 them may bo found Victor mowing machines, Vic- 
 tor horse rakes, float spring tooth harrows, thirty, 
 forty and sixty tooth harrows, adjustable wing- 
 shovel plows, five-tooth expanding cultivators 
 and chilled plows for land or side hill. He also deals 
 in wagons, carriages and sleighs. Mr. Granger was 
 born in Tolland Mass., where he was for some time 
 a farmer. He bin lived in this place the past eleven 
 years, and his new business is prospering. 
 
 " The Press," an independent newspaper, office 
 on Union Street, Lucien V. Pinney, Editor. — Ten 
 years ago Mr. Lnoien V. Pinney started a handsome 
 weekly paper called Trie. Press. He had a partner, 
 Mr. Bills, whom he soon bought out. The paper 
 was first Democratic in politics, then Greenback. 
 It is now Labor Reform and Independent, and 
 is also largely devoted to local news. Mr. Pinney 
 is very plain with his pen and does not hesitate to 
 attack any question of the day, whether it touches 
 morals, temperance, polities or Christianity. He has 
 built a neat and commodious office on Union street 
 where are the editorial and composing rooms. He 
 was born thirty-one years ago in Coldbrook, and 
 learned his trade in the Herald office in this place. 
 He makes a readable paper whether one agrees with 
 his sentiments or not. The sheet is well printed 
 and has a good circulation as well as a fine adver- 
 tising patronage. 
 
 .Tames P. Davidson, Dry Goods, No. 232 
 Main Street. — In the new brick block close by the 
 Clarke House is the new "Boston Store" of James 
 P. Davidson, which was opened in the autumn of 
 1883, for the sale of dry goods. The room is a 
 handsome one, eighty-five feet deep by twenty in 
 width, and is filled with a new and well-selected 
 stock of all kinds of dry goods, including silks, 
 woolens, dress goods, linens, ribbons, hosiery, 
 gloves, Hamburg edgings, ruchings, underwear, 
 small wares and notions, in fact, everything usu- 
 ally found in a first-class dry goods store. Five 
 clerks are employed, and the prices at which goods 
 are sold in this house cannot be equaled at any 
 other house in the town. Mr. Davidson is a man 
 in the prime of life, lie was born in Scotland, 
 but has been in this country some sixteen years. He 
 began his career in Boston, as a clerk, and after- 
 wards was a traveling salesman. At one time he 
 was of the firm of Davidson & Rich in Westerly, 
 R. L, which had a branch store in Stonington. Mr. 
 Davidson is a member of the famous Scotch Syn- 
 dicate, which now controls some three hundred dry 
 goods stores, imports its own goods from Europe, 
 and keeps its own buyers in the American markets. 
 As it has no dealings with American houses, or 
 middle men, it gives its goods to customers at first 
 price, and thus is able to successfully compete with 
 
372 
 
 TIIE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 the ordinary dry goods home. This store is no ex- 
 periment, since all interested in the Scotc'i Syndi- 
 cate are bound to succeed. 
 
 " The Winsted ArgUS," Collins & Cash, 
 Proprietors, No. 199 Main Street. — The Winsted 
 Argus is an eight-page, weekly, independent 
 paper, which was first issued July 15, 1882, as suc- 
 cessor to the Times and News, which started from 
 the News, founded in 1875. The editor of the 
 Argus is Mr. Edwin H. Collins, who was born May 
 4, 1853, in Newark, N. J. He spent most of his 
 boyhood on his father's farm at Springfield, N. J. 
 When fourteen years of age he returned to Newark, 
 where he devoted himself to studying surgery, 
 law and electricity, and part of the time was a 
 teacher — Professor of Electricity. When the rebel- 
 lion in Cuba broke out he took part with the insur- 
 gents, was captured, sentenced to be shot, and es- 
 caped the night previous to the morning that he 
 was to have been executed, and made his way to the 
 coast and on a Yankee schooner sailed for New 
 York, where he devoted himself to journalism, and 
 to a beautiful lady, when ho was shot by a jealous 
 rival, recovered and left for the West, where he 
 was taken for a cattle thief, lynched and led out 
 with a rope around his neck to be hanged, but 
 again escaped death. Coming East he left for Aus- 
 tralia, stopping en route at Mexico and Yucatan, 
 whore he explored the ancient ruins of those coun- 
 tries. He returned from Australia via Java, 
 Sumatra and India, and settled in Newark, N. J., 
 where he conducted the printing business. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1882, he, with Mr. John II. Cash, bought the 
 Times and News of W. II. McArthur. Mr. Collins 
 is the Winsted correspondent of the Hartford Daily 
 Times, and a regular contributor to a New York 
 paper. 
 
 Mr. John H. Cash is a native of St. Louis, born 
 in 1861, educated at the public schools, and is a 
 printer by trade. 
 
 The Argus is a forty-column paper and the sub- 
 scription price $1 per year. 
 
 Henry U. Arlkins, Harnessmaker and Deal- 
 er, Music Hall Block, Elm Street. — There are not 
 many men who continue in one business for a quar- 
 ter of a century, but Mr. Henry It. Adkins is an 
 exception. For twenty-five years he has been a 
 prominent harness maker and dealer in Winsted, 
 and during the last eleven years in his present 
 location. The store is 25 x 50 feet in area, and is 
 well stocked with harness goods, robes, whips, 
 etc. He has three skillful workmen constantly 
 employed, Mr. Adkin was born in Plymouth, Conn., 
 in 1815, on January 30. He has been in Win- 
 sted since 1857, and learned his trade in Torrington, 
 Conn. He is a member of the first Congregational 
 church, and one of those citizens who give charac- 
 ter to any community. 
 
 Chauncey E. Messenger, Grocer and Seeds- 
 man, No. 203 Main Street— The grocery of Mr. 
 Messenger was established in 1863, at Birmingham, 
 Conn. ; later on he carried on the same business in 
 Bridgeport. In 1874, he added the seed branch 
 and removed to Winsted in 1880. In Bridgeport, 
 
 as in Winsted, the seed business was quite an im- 
 portant factor. His store is 20 x 45 feet in area, 
 with additional storage room in the vicinity, and 
 is situated on the main street, in the business centre 
 of what is known as "The Flats." He was born in 
 new Hartford, Conn., fifty years ago, and previous 
 to being in this business was a farmer and lumber 
 dealer. 
 
 "The Winsted Herald," No. 1 Lake 
 Street. Mr. J. H. Vaill, Editor, West Winsted— 
 The Winsted Herald, the leading paper of the 
 town, was established May 14, 1853, by Thomas 
 M.Clarke and Stephen II. Hubbard. In February, 
 1854, Mr. Clarke withdrew, and Mr. Edmund C. 
 Stedman, since the poet banker, took the editorship. 
 For fourteen months the paper was published by 
 Hubbard and Stedman, at the end of which time 
 Mr. Clarke returned, and until the following July, 
 the name of the firm was Hubbard and Clarke. 
 Mr. Hubbard became the managing editor of the 
 Hartford Gourant. Up to November, 186"), Mr. 
 Clarke was sole editor and proprietor. He then 
 sold the establishment to the Winsted Printing 
 Company, which was a joint stock concern. Mr. 
 Theodore F. Vaill, of Litchfield, who was for three 
 years in the war as Adjutant of the Second Conn., 
 Heavy Artillery, became editor. Mr. Vaill pre- 
 sided ten years, until he died in February, 1875. 
 He was succeeded by his brother, Mr. J. II. Vaill, 
 who has conducted the paper since with equal 
 ability. Since 1868, helms had charge of the busi- 
 ness department of the Herald. In 1876, Mr. F. 
 II. Gidding became assistant editor, a position he 
 held for ten years. The Herald started as a six- 
 column folio. In 1874, it was made a nine-column 
 folio. In 1875, it became an eight-page paper of 
 six-columns to a page. In April, 1880, it became 
 an eight-column folio, which form it now retains, 
 Like all good papers published in the country, it 
 is largely devoted to local news. In politics it is 
 Republican. The tone of the paper is pure, digni- 
 fied and elevated. Mr. Vaill is a man who loves 
 his work, and keeps well posted on all subjects of 
 interest to his readers. He is the son of a Congre- 
 gational clergyman, and was born in Torringford. 
 The Vaill homestead is in Litchfield. Mr. Vaill is 
 one of the founders and chief promoters of the 
 Press Association of Connecticut. He is a genial, 
 intelligent, pleasant man, about forty years of age, 
 and has a delightful residence on Main street, in 
 the heart of the town. 
 
 H. S. Frary, Music Store, No. 385 Main 
 Street, West Winsted. — Tho largest, oldest and 
 most popular music emporium in Litchfield 
 County is, by all odds, "Frary's,"at No. 385 
 Main street, which is "the" musical headquar- 
 ters for northwestern Connecticut. The princi- 
 pal store is 25 x 50 feet in area, and is situated in 
 one of the most conspicuous aud modern busi- 
 ness blocks here. A large stock of Chickering, 
 Steinwjyand Fischer pianos, the Wilcox & White, 
 Mason & Hamlin, Estey and New England or- 
 gans, violins, smaller musical instruments, mu- 
 sic books, sheet music, etc., are kept constantly 
 on hand. Of the latter, a larger stock is kept 
 than in any other house in the State outside of 
 
REVIEW OK THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 373 
 
 Hartford and New Haven. A large and expen- 
 sive cabinet, containing 120 drawers, ornaments 
 one side of the store for the keeping of sheet 
 music, which they sell to teachers as well as 
 students. Being a teacher himself, Mr. Frary 
 knows the requirements of his customers, and 
 supplies them with a class of music most in 
 demand. Mr. Frary has another store a few 
 doors above his main store, the front part being 
 occupied for the storage of instruments, the 
 rear for a repairing department, which is in 
 charge of a competent workman. The show 
 rooms at No. 385 Main stroet have a telephone 
 and district telegraph, and everything which 
 contributes to a business success is maintained 
 by Mr. Frary. As will be seen, ho is a live busi- 
 ness man ; he has branch stores at Jones' Block, 
 New Hartford, Conn., C. E. Riddiford, man- 
 ager, and at Andrews' Block, Thomaston, Mr. 
 A. II. Taylor, manager. 
 
 Mr. Frary has been a dealer in pianos and 
 organs in this county for about twonty years, 
 and in Winsted some ten years, three of which 
 he has been at his preseut location, or since 
 January 1, 1881. He is a practical musician, 
 and lias made music the profession of his life. 
 By nature and education he is one of the most 
 proficient musical critics in the State. When at 
 eight years of age he was an organist, and be- 
 gan teaching at twelve, which ho continued up 
 to the time he went into business. With the 
 exception of a few months he has been organist 
 and musical director at the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church in West Winsted. As a composer 
 and arranger of music lie has made for himself 
 quite a reputation, his latest success being an 
 Easter anthem, which had a large sale. The 
 success of Mr. Frary is ii commentary on the 
 musical taste of the people of Winsted and 
 Litchfield county, which is of the highest stand- 
 ard, which lie has been largely instrumental in 
 educating and maintaining. 
 
 B. W. Jones & Co., Furniture Dealers, 
 City Hall Block, Lake Street, West Winsted.— 
 Just across tho bridge, from Main street, on 
 Lake street, there is a large and handsome build- 
 ing, put up in 1876, known as the City Hall 
 Block. It is three stories high in front and four 
 in the rear, and 50 x 80 feet. Here, occupying a 
 double store and some eight rooms in all, cover- 
 ing from six to seven thousand square feet, is 
 the furniture store of E. W. Jones & Co., by 
 far the largest establishment of its kind in Win- 
 sted. The stock kept on hand consists of ele- 
 gant black walnut suits, ash and painted suits in 
 large variety, dining-room and kitchen furni- 
 ture, and a choice assortment of parlor furnish- 
 ings. At this store the purchaser can select 
 frames and have tliem made up to order in any 
 stylo and covered by experienced workmen. 
 This house also has sideboards, chiffoniers, 
 secretaries, tables, desks, etc., and all kinds of 
 ordinary goods. Bedding and mattresses are 
 also kept, and mattresses made over as good us 
 new. Mr. Jones was born in Barkhampsted, 
 and has been in Winsted the past seven years. 
 He has occupied his present store, at Nos. 3 and 
 5 Lake street, for five years, during which time 
 
 the stock carried and business done has doubled 
 in aniouut. His house succeeded the old estab- 
 lished concern of S. B. Forbes, which had a 
 good and extended reputation, which has been 
 more than maintained by the present house. 
 Mr. Jones is a young man, hardly more than 
 twenty-seven years of age, full of life and energy, 
 well posted in -his business, and exceedingly 
 popular with all who know him. 
 
 J. K. Benjamin, Watches and Jewelry, No. 
 379 Main street, West Winsted. — There is no 
 moro attractive store, on general principles, to 
 the average man or woman of taste and culture, 
 than a jewelry store. There one may see ex- 
 quisito works of art made from the procious 
 metals, intended for ornamental as well as use- 
 ful 2>urposes. The polish of tho gold and silver, 
 the glitter and flash of the diamond or some 
 other precious stone, is always fascinating. 
 There is no exception to the rule in the hand- 
 some and well filled jewelry store, in tho Beards- 
 ley block, at No. 379 Main street. Here is a room 
 ninety feet long by thirty foot wide, filled with 
 cases and closets, in which is displayed a large 
 and flue assortment of solid and silver plated 
 ware, watches of all makes and at all prices ; vest 
 and guard chains, chains for ladies, jewels of all 
 kinds, especially rings and sleeve buttons, 
 bracelets, pins, etc. A specialty is made of 
 Waltham watches. Mr. Benjamin established his 
 business in 1861. He began in what is known 
 as tho "flat," but moved to his present place in 
 1864. In 1870 he added the music business and 
 dealing in pianos and organs to his jewelry busi- 
 ness and so continued up to 1872 when he formed 
 a partnership with Mr. R. S. Frary, in the musi- 
 cal department, the firm name being Benjamin 
 & Frary. At this time the store was the one 
 now occupied by the First National Bank. In 
 this departure they did a large retail and whole- 
 sale business, tho sales amounting in 1872 to 
 870,000. Teams were run to all the sur- 
 rounding towns. The firm continued till 1875, 
 when it was dissolved, Mr. Benjamin continuing 
 both the musical and jewelry business alone till 
 1882, when he sold out his musical branch and 
 has sinco continued as ho has always done the 
 jewelry business on his own account. Mr. Ben- 
 jamin has a branch store at Norfolk, Conn., and 
 an agency at Reynolds' Bridge, near Thomaston, 
 Conn. He was born in Lisbon, and has for 
 many years been a watchmaker by trade, lie is 
 fond of mechanisms and does all sorts of watch 
 repairing. Mr. Benjamin devotes his whole 
 attention to business, which for these many years 
 has been the leading one of its kind in the place. 
 
 Col. Wilbur P. Coe, Groceries and Crock- 
 ery, Beardsley Block, West Winsted. — In what is 
 known as the Beardsley Block, No. 383 Main 
 street, is the grocery and crockery store of Colonel 
 Wilbur F. Coe, who has succeeded to one of tho 
 longest established houses in the town. The store 
 is a large, well managed, attractive room, tilled 
 with a full line of well selected family groceries, 
 including, also, crockery, woodenware, cigars, and 
 confectionery. Colonel Coe is a gentleman by 
 birth, and those who deal with him will find him 
 
374 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 honest and straightforward, and will be sure to 
 meet with gentlemanly and attentive treatment. 
 Goods are warranted as represented, and are 
 promptly delivered to any part of the town. Col. 
 Coe has been in the grocery business for eleven 
 years. He was born in Winsted, and is the son of 
 the late S. W. Coe, who kept a grocery store for 
 fifty years. He was a long time with his fatber in 
 business, and lias a thorough knowledge of it. 
 The Coe family is of English descent, the founders 
 of it coming from Suffolkshire, England, as long 
 ago as 1634. Colonel Wilbur E. Coe has been 
 warden of Winsted for three years; he is a prom- 
 inent Freemason, belonging to the lodge, chapter, 
 and council. In 1876 and 1877 he was Master of 
 St. Andrew's Lodge. He is also prominent in mil- 
 itary matters, and for two years was aid-de-camp 
 on the staff of Governor Andrews. It will be seen 
 that he is one of the most prominent men of the 
 town, a gentleman . of unusual experience and abil- 
 ity. It is a pleasure to meet such gentlemen either 
 socially or in a business capacity. 
 
 Hurlburt National Bank, Main Street, 
 West Winsted. — This bank was organized on the 
 twenty-third of March, 1854. The original direct- 
 ors were : William II. Phelps, Samuel Hurlburt, 
 C. J. Camp, John 0. Tracy, William Kelsey. Of 
 these Messrs. Phelps and Hurlburt have since died. 
 The first president was William II. Phelps, who 
 held the office until he died, July 27th,- 1864. He 
 was succeeded by Rufus E. Holmes, who filled the 
 position until January 19th, 1874, when he was 
 succeeded by William L. Gilbert, who is still in 
 the office. The cashiers have been George Alvord, 
 Rufus E. Holmes, George W. Phelps, Warren 
 Phelps Charles B. Holmes, and Henry Gay. The 
 present directors are: Wm. L. Gilbert, Edward 
 Camp, H. B. Steele, A. M. Beach, J. II. Norton, C. 
 B. Hallett, and R. E. Holmes. The original capi- 
 tal was $130,000, which on September 15th, 1857, 
 was increased to $'200,000. In July, 18G5, it be- 
 came a National bank. The surplus, October 1, 
 1883, was Si 12.000. The present officers of the 
 bank are : President, Wm. L. Gilbert; Vice Pres- 
 ident, Rufus E. Holmes; Cashier, Henry Gay; 
 Assistant Cashier, Charles B. Holmes. 
 
 Difkerinan & .Jopp, General Hardware! 
 Main Street, West Winsted. — The largest hard- 
 ware store north of Waterbury, and east of Hart" 
 ford, is that of Dickerman & Jopp, in this place. 
 The business was established some twenty-three 
 years or more ago, by Mr. J. J. Whiting. The 
 present firm was organized ten years ago, and suc- 
 ceeded the old house, afterwards known as J. J. 
 Whiting & Co., of which Mr. Dickerman was a 
 member, entering it in 1868. The store is twenty- 
 five feet front, with a depth of seventy feet, and is 
 completely tilled with a full line of general hard- 
 ware, wagon makers' supplies, builders' hardware, 
 agricultural implements, cutlery, sporting goods, 
 nails, steel and iron, etc. A large basement and 
 store-room are used for the stock, as well as the 
 main store. Carpenters' tools, belting, saws, 
 whips, brushes, dusters, etc., form a part of the 
 stock. The store is a long, fine room- a perfect 
 exposition of what is made at the present time in 
 
 the hardware line. The firm is composed of Mr. 
 S. F. Dickerman and Mr. Charles S. Jopp. Mr. 
 Dickerman is a native of New York State, but has 
 lieen a resident of this town for the past fifteen 
 years. He attends the Second Congregational 
 Church, where he is superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school. Mr. Jopp is a native of Winsted, and a 
 member of the First Congregational Church. Both 
 gentlemen are active, prominent, and highly re- 
 spected citizens. 
 
 James A. Henderson, Boots, Shoes, and 
 Trunks, etc., Dudley Block, No. 399 Main street, 
 West Winsted, Conn. — The attractive and widely- 
 known shoe store of Mr. James A. Henderson is 
 known as an old stand — the oldest in its line in 
 the town, it having been established for over 
 twenty years. It is in the Dudley Block, at No. 399 s 
 Main street, and is u room well adapted for the 
 sale and display of goods. It is well fitted up with 
 shelves and cases, and contains a full line of all 
 kinds of boots and shoes for men, women and 
 children, from the light house, full dress, or ladies' 
 shoe, to heavy shoes for walking, and boots for 
 winter wear. Repairing is done to order, and a 
 full line of trunks, hand-bags, etc., is kept. This 
 store was first started by Hanford & Marshall, but 
 has been in the hands of its present proprietor for 
 the past seven years. He was born in New Hart- 
 ford, and as a journeyman "as brought up to the 
 business. He worked for five years with Mr. Phil- 
 lips, and the end, brought him out succeeding to 
 the business. Mr. Henderson is one of the most 
 genial and gentlemanly men in the trade, and has 
 a large patronage among the best people of the 
 town and surrounding country. 
 
 Clark Halstead, The Dollar Fancy Store, No. 
 387 Main Street, West Winsted.— The "largest and 
 best stocked fancy store in the town is that of Mr. 
 Clark Halstead, which has been for two years at 
 No. 387 Main street. Here one can find an endless 
 variety of toys, sure to please children of all ages 
 and growths, fancy goods so delightful to the 
 hearts of the young men and women, picture frames 
 and brackets, silver-plated ware in large variety 
 from the best manufactories, ladies' and gentle- 
 men's traveling-bags, confectionery, albums, pho- 
 tographs, placques, dusters, lamps, baskets, carved 
 work, vases, china ware, fans, and a thousand other 
 things, all of beauty as well as use. Mr. Halstead 
 is a young man of about thirty-seven years of age, 
 and a native of Falls Village. He has been in busi- 
 ness in Winsted some ten years altogether, and at 
 one time had a store opposite h:s present place of 
 business. He knows the trade thoroughly, and is 
 well-posted in the wants of his customers. Alive, 
 energetic man. he has built up a tine business, to 
 which he is wholly devoted. 
 
 E. V. Norton, Millinery and Fancy Goods, 
 No. 335 Main Street, West Winsted.— The house 
 of E. V. Norton has been established for sixteen 
 years, and is widely known to all the ladies of the 
 vicinity as an excellent place to do shopping. It 
 occupies a large store at No. 335 Main street, with 
 a front of twenty feet and a depth of fifty. Here 
 one can find hats, caps, ribbons, laces, ostrich tips, 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 375 
 
 trimming silks, and all the other things -which con- 
 stitute millinery; also a line of white goods, wool- 
 ens, fancy goods, etc. 
 
 Mr. Norton has long been identified with the 
 business, and knows well the wants of his cus- 
 tomers. He is a close buyer, and always gives his 
 customers bargains. Besides being a prominent 
 citizen of the place, he is a member of the council 
 of the Royal Arcanum. 
 
 E. Lustig, Millinery and Fancy Goods, 
 Woodford's Block, No. 389 Main Street, West 
 Winsted. — Next door to Mr. Cohn's well-known 
 store is the new and popular house of E. Lustig, 
 which has now been in operation for a year and 
 a half. The salesroom has a front of twenty- 
 seven feet, and a depth of fifty. It is light, 
 roomy and well fitted up for the business. Mr. 
 Lustig carries a good stock of bonnets and hats 
 for ladies, ribbons, ostrich tips, laces, velvets, 
 etc. , in short everything a woman needs to com- 
 plete her toilet. There is also a fine stock of 
 fancy goods in all their endless variety. Mr. 
 Lustig was in New Britain for five years, where 
 he carried on the same line of business. He is 
 well posted in all its branches, and is assisted by 
 his wife, a woman of great taste in such matters. 
 They have already won a place in the business 
 circle of the town, and have a large and con- 
 stantly growing patronage. 
 
 J. C. Mather, Dry Goods, No. 372 Main 
 Street, West Winsted. — One of the no west and 
 best dry goods stores in the place is that of J. 
 C. Mather, which occupies what is known as the 
 old corner store — in its day a famous grocery 
 store. The building is a handsome • one, stands 
 by itself, and has a piazza. The salesroom is 
 thirty feet front, with a depth of seventy feet, is 
 high, light and well arranged, and filled with a 
 fine assortment of well selected goods, in all the 
 lines usually found in a dry goods store. Mr. 
 Mather keeps only the best class of goods, a 
 fact the ladies of the vicinity have not been 
 slow in discovering. The stock consists in part 
 of silks, domestics, table linens, all kinds of 
 dress goods, hosiery, buttons, laces, dress trim- 
 mings, woolens, fancy goods, and all the staple 
 goods of foreign or domestic manufacture. Mr. 
 Mather has had long experience in the business, 
 and gives it his psrsonal attention. He employs 
 three or four clerks to wait upon his customers. 
 The store has now been in successful operation 
 for two years, and Mr. Mather is very popular 
 with all who know him. He came to this place 
 from Darien, where for many years he kept the 
 loading dry goods store with his brother, Mr. M. 
 S. Mather. Mr. J. C. Mather is an intelligent, 
 polite, gentlemanly man, well suited to his busi- 
 ness, and one who holds a high social position 
 in the town. 
 
 Winsted Savings Bank. Main Street, West 
 Winsted. — The Winsted Savings Bank occupies 
 a pretty brick building on Main street. It was 
 incorporated in .June, 1860. Of the original in- 
 corporators the following have since died : 
 George Dudley, William H. Phelps, Elliot 
 
 Beardsley, Warren Phelps, Moses Camp, E. S. 
 Woodford, John Boyd, Lucius Clark, Lyman 
 Case, N. Adams, Gideon Hall, George D. Wad- 
 hams, Willard Gavlord and Theron Bunson. 
 The following, 1883, are still living : C. J. 
 Camp, John G. Wetmore, T. M. Clark, Wm. L. 
 Gilbert, Roland Hitchcock, Edward A. Phelps, 
 Dwight E. Williams and E. Grove Lawrence. 
 The first officers of the bank were Warren Phelps, 
 President ; Moses Cainp, Vice-President ; Ly- 
 man Baldwin, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. 
 Phelps was President until July, 1862 ; Mr. Moses 
 Camp was President until 1874 ; Mr. John T. 
 Rockwell until 1878, when he was succeeded by 
 Mr. John Hinsdale, who is still the President. 
 The Secretaries and Treasurers have been Ly- 
 man Baldwin, Lorenzo M. Blake and George 8. 
 Rowe. The bank has on deposit 8892,000, and 
 the surplus fund amounts to $60,000. 
 
 Geo. W. Lee, Drugs and Medicines, No. 361 
 Main Street, West Winsted. — The great drug 
 house of Geo. W. Leo was established in 1840, 
 and grew and prospered so well that a new 
 store, built for the purpose, with all tho modern 
 improvements, was finished and occupied in 
 February, 1883. It is 23 x 70 feet in area and 
 known as Apothecary's Hall. It is elegantly 
 fitted up inside, after the manner of drug stores, 
 and contains besides a large line of pure drugs, 
 patent medicines, etc., such other articles as 
 acid, alcohol, naval stores, white lead, linseed, 
 coal and lard oil, paints, varnishes, toilet arti- 
 cles, confectionery, lamp goods, etc. Mr. Lee 
 was born in East Lyme, and succeeded the house 
 of Welsh Brothers. He is a prominent Free- 
 mason, being a member of the lodge, chapter 
 and council. He is an active, popular and pro- 
 gressive man, taking an interest in all that con- 
 cerns the welfare of the town, and energetic in 
 business. 
 
 TORRINGTON. 
 
 This ancient and handsome town was origi- 
 nally settled about 1732, by people who came from 
 Windsor, Ct. The first proprietors of the land 
 were 136 in number, to whom the State Lsgis- 
 lature allotted the land. The town received its 
 name in May, 1732. It is six miles square, 
 and well watered by the Naugatuck river. It 
 is .twenty-six miles from Hartford, and forty 
 from New Haven. It was made a town in 
 Octobar, 1740. The flwt Congregatianal Church 
 was organized in Octobsr, 1741 ; the Baptist 
 Church in 1803 ; the Methodist Church in 1816, 
 which was rebuilt in 1865, and is now a large and 
 handsom > brick structure. The Congregational 
 Church is a fine granite structure, costing 
 832,000. The Walcottville Savings Bank was 
 organized in 1868. The Walcottvillo Congrega- 
 tional Church was organized in 1829. The 
 Episcopal Church was organized in 1843, and 
 completed in 1844. The Roman Catholic 
 Church was completed in 1860. Tho Seneca 
 Lodge of Free-masons was established in 1817. 
 The Walcottville Band was organized in 1878. 
 The town has fine schools, a library and reading 
 room, good hotels, etc. It is a largo manufac- 
 
370 
 
 THE 1HSTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND .NDU8TRIAL 
 
 tuxing place. This town stands on the line of the 
 Naugatuck Railroad, which was completed in 
 September, 1849, and was the cause of the erec- 
 tion of many buildings and factories at this 
 place. It is noted as the birth-place and home 
 of John Brown, who was born here May 9, 
 1800. The town has a finished, neat and well- 
 kept appearance, not common with younger 
 places, and is an attractive place, as well as the 
 centre of a large industry. During the last four 
 years Torrington lias been increasing very fast 
 in population and importance. The water 
 works are amply sufficient for a place four 
 times the size. The water comes through an 
 aqueduct two and seven miles away, and has 
 been analyzed by Professor Silliman, of Yale 
 College, who pronounces it the purest aqueduct 
 water in the State. The largo supply to draw 
 from causes the citizens to lavish it without 
 stint on their lawns, and it is a subject of re- 
 mark by strangers that the grounds surrounding 
 the private residences of the citizens are among 
 the finest in the State. The place is thrifty 
 and enterprising. From fifty to sixty houses 
 are built yearly, and the demand for them is 
 more than the supply. The health of the 
 people is remarkable. Torrington has grown 
 from a population of 3,327 in 1880 to over 4,000 
 in 1883. 
 
 Coo Brass Manufacturing Company. — 
 
 Among the large manufacturing industries of 
 Torrington one of the foremost is known as 
 the Coe Brass Manufacturing Company. It 
 was started as long ago as 1834, when Mr. 
 Israel Coe, with Israel Holmes, Anson G. 
 Phelps and John Hungerford, began the manu- 
 facture of brass kettles by what was known as 
 the battery process. Torrington was then 
 called Walcottville. The enterprise also in- 
 cluded the rolling of brass, and some thirtv- 
 eight men, women and children were brought 
 from England to engage in the manufacture of 
 kettles. By the invention of Hiram Hayden 
 the old method of making kettles was super- 
 seded. In 1841 a joint stock company was 
 formed, called tho Walcottville Brass Company. 
 In 1844 Mr. Israel Coe retired from the business. 
 In 1863 Mr. L. W. Coe purchased the property 
 and formed a new company, called the Coe Brass 
 Manufacturing Company. Business had been 
 depressed during the war, but under its new 
 management the establishment soon took a 
 position in the front ranks of the industries of 
 Connecticut. The manufacture of brass wire 
 and German silver was added to the business. 
 A specialty was also made of brass for small 
 arms and cartridges, the company dealing ex- 
 tensively with foreign governments. Now sheet 
 brass and wire is mostly made and sold to the 
 manufacturers. The buildings, which are of 
 stone and brick and very substantial, cover 
 three acres of ground, the whole real estate con- 
 sisting of 19$ acres. An extension of forty feet 
 was added to the wire mill in 1883. The capital 
 employed is 8600,000. Four engines are used, 
 giving 400-horse power, while 150-horse power is 
 obtained from water. The company has also a fif- 
 teen-horse power engine for electric lighting. 
 
 Prom 200 to 250 hands are employed, and the 
 annual product is about Si, 000,001); 2,000 cords 
 of wood, 15,000 bushels of charcoal, and 2,000 
 tons of coal are consumed each year. In con- 
 nection with the mills there is a very handsome 
 stone office, forty feet square, two stories high, 
 and elegantly fitted up. The officers of the 
 company are L. W. Coe, president ; Elisha 
 Turner, vice-president ; Charles F. Brooker, 
 secretary ; and Edward T. Coe, treasurer. 
 
 The Union Manufacturing Company, 
 
 Manufacturers of Black Doeskins and Fancy Cassi- 
 mercs. — The oldest incorporated company in Tor- 
 rington is the Union Manufacturing Company, 
 which dates its existence back to 1845, when the 
 sole owners and stockholders were John Hunger- 
 ford, President ; Francis N. Holley, Agent, Secre- 
 tary and Treasurer, and William R. Slade, 
 Superintendent. The capital at that time was 
 $10,000, which on March 12th, 18)9, was increased 
 to 350,000. In 1849 and again in 1856 the mills 
 were destroyed by fire. January 5th, 1849, John 
 Hungerford retired and James Stokes, of New 
 York, took his place as director. May 17th of the 
 same year Mr. Anson G. Phelps was made Presi- 
 dent. In 1859 Jesse B. Rose, Samuel Workman, 
 and Ransom Holley were added to the list of stock- 
 holders. In 1805 Albert Tuttle became stock- 
 holder, and in 1866 James Iredale and Geo. D. 
 Workman. On June 5th, 1873, Francis NT. Holley 
 and Ransom Holley sold their stock to the remain- 
 ing stockholders, and on the same day Jesse B. 
 Rose was made President and Geo. D. Workman 
 Secretary, Treasurer and Agent. On February 15th, 
 1878, Samuel Workman, the principal stockholder 
 in the company, died, and his interest is now the 
 interest of his family. On February 6th, 1883, 
 Geo. D. Workman was made President, Treasurer 
 and Agent and James S. Workman Secretary, both 
 of whom are sons of Samuel Workman above men- 
 tioned. The main building is 122 x 40 feet, six 
 stories with an L 35 x 40, three stories. There is 
 also a wing 85 x 30 feet. The drying-house is 138 
 feet long and two stories high. There is a third 
 building 80 x 35 feet, three stories, also storerooms 
 and a handsome office. Water power is used and a 
 steam engine of 100-horse power. The goods 
 manufactured consist of black doeskins and fancy 
 cassimeres, in both three and six quarter widths. 
 Seventy-five hands are employed and 500 yards per 
 day made. Geo. D. Workman, the President, 
 Treasurer and Agent, was born in Gloucestershire, 
 West of England, July 20th, 1835, and came to 
 America and Torrington in 1836. Here he spent 
 his boyhood, was educated in the public schools, 
 learned the trade of a wool-sorter with this com- 
 pany, was wool buyer, passing through all the 
 different positions connected with the business to 
 that of agent, secretary, treasurer and president. 
 He is a director in the Excelsior Knife Company, 
 the Turner. & Seymour Manufacturing Company, 
 and interested in the general welfare of the village 
 where he has spent so many years. His brother 
 James S. Workman is a native of Torrington, 
 where he was born January 1st, 1840. He was 
 educated in the village schools, was for seven years 
 a clerk in Hartford, and a merchant here up to the 
 death of his father, when he became identified 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 377 
 
 ■with tin's company. The Union Manufacturing 
 Company, like most old establishments, has passed 
 through tires and panics, but have always main- 
 tained their credit and an untarnished reputation. 
 
 W. S. Lewis, Dealer in Dry Goods, Lewis's 
 Block, 35 and 37 Main street. — The largest and 
 handsomest store in the county is the new building 
 known as Lewis's Clock, forty-five feet front and 
 seventy-five feet deep, built of brick and two stories 
 high, at 35 and 37 Main street, just completed and 
 occupied by Mr. \V. S. Lewis. The salesrooms 
 occupy the whole of the two lloors, arc very high, 
 elegantly fitted up, heated by hot air, and light 
 and well ventilated. Nearly the whole front of 
 the store consists of large plate-glass windows. 
 Marble steps lead to the doors. A large horse shoe 
 counter in the centre is flanked on either side with 
 counters seventy-five feet long. The interior pre- 
 sents a metropolitan aspect. The stock is divided 
 into various departments, like a large store in a 
 city. At the right are the various lines of dry 
 goods; in the centre arc the hosiery, gloves, rib- 
 bons, laces, buttons and fancy articles; at the left 
 are the groceries ; in the rear are the crockery and 
 glassware ; up stairs is the ready-made clothing 
 and carpet room. Everything one wishes, fresh 
 from the New York market, can be found in this 
 superb store, consisting of a full line of carpets, 
 men's, youths' and boys' ready-made clothing, 
 ladies' and gentlemen's furnishing goods, hats and 
 caps, boots and shoes, crockery and glassware, a 
 full line of staple and fancy groceries, and every 
 form of dry goods, including silks, dress goods, 
 linens, repellants, flannels, Hamburg edgings, 
 underwear, cloaks, domestics, etc. A handsome 
 staircase runs from the centre of the store to the 
 floor above, and in the rear there are storerooms for 
 stock, stables and sheds for delivery wagons. From 
 six to ten clerks are employed, and three wagons 
 are kept running. This line establishment was 
 opened to the public the middle of August, 1883. 
 As might be expected, it absorbs the major portion 
 of the trade of the town. Mr. Lewis, the genial, 
 gentlemanly, and successful proprietor of this fine 
 establishment, was born in New Haven, July, 1833, 
 came to Torrington December, 1849, which makes 
 him now fifty years old. lie came to Torrington 
 when but seventeen years of age, as a clerk, which 
 occupation he continued for five years. For a while 
 he was keeping store in what is known as the 
 "Granite Building" as the successor of Geo. D. 
 Wadhams. In time the firm became Wooding & 
 Lewis. Altogether, Mr. Lewis was in this building 
 for ten yean. He then took a small store of his 
 own, and on a capital of $3,500 cleared the first 
 year $5,000 ; where he remained twelve years, then 
 he returned again to the Granite Building, where 
 he remained for five years, or until his new store 
 was completed. Mr. Lewis is now one of the most 
 substantial and respected citizens of the place. He 
 has a beautiful residence on Migcon Avenue, where 
 he has a fine park, with deer, etc. He owns nine 
 tenement-houses in this and other parts of the vil- 
 lage. He is a stockholder and director in the 
 Needle Company, a stockholder in the Union Hard- 
 ware Company, and also in the Water Company. 
 He attends the Congregational church, and is re- 
 garded as a live, representative man of the town. 
 
 Workman & ; Weeks, Country Store, Dry 
 Goods, Groceries, etc., Main Street. — A thorough- 
 going country store, of the old style, is always an 
 interesting place. Such is the establishment of 
 Workman & Weeks, which was founded seventeen 
 years ago by Workman Brothers (James and John). 
 Two lloors arc occupied, each 25 x 50 feet, the- 
 upper one being devoted to clothing. A new room 
 has recently been added as a store-room for grocer- 
 ies. This makes the establishment very complete. 
 In this store a full line of dry goods, groceries and 
 clothing is kept ; everything which is needed to 
 clothe tlie outer, or feed the inner man. To give a 
 list of the articles would be but to catalogue those 
 things with which the public is familiar. Mr. 
 John Workman is a native of Torrington, and was 
 one of the linn of Workman Brothers, when they 
 commenced business seventeen years ago. He is a 
 stockholder in the Union Manufacturing Company. 
 Mr. G. S. Weeks was for nine years a clerk for W. 
 S. Lewis before going into business with his present 
 partner. Both gentlemen are prominent citizens of 
 the place, identified with its interests, and are prac- 
 tical business men. 
 
 A. H. Wall, Groceries and Provisions, No. 21 
 Main Street. — The new grocery store opened March 
 15, 1883, by A. II. Wall, a young and enterprising 
 gentleman, is the successor of the old store of C. W. 
 Scoville, founded sixteen years ago. Mr. Wall 
 bought out F. H. Scoville and F. R bought out C. 
 W. Scoville. The building occupied is at No. 21 
 Main Street, and the store is a large and handsomo 
 room. Its well filled shelves contain a large assort- 
 ment of choice groceries, provisions of all kinds, 
 fruits and vegetables in their season. Here can bo 
 found every kind of canned goods, teas, coffee, 
 flour, crockery, glassware, apples, vegetables, and 
 country produce. Mr. Wall is a thorough and 
 driving business man. He was born in Springfield, 
 Mass., and has lived in New York, Washington and 
 New Jersey. He was for awhile with Theodore 
 Blackmail, in New Haven, and for three years was 
 with Workman & Weeks in this place. His store is 
 the most popular in its line in the town, and has a 
 growing business. 
 
 Charles McNeil, Drugs and Medicines, Post- 
 office Building, Main Street. — This is the oldest 
 store in town, and has seen no change for thirty- 
 three years. It is twenty-five feet front, with a 
 depth of sixty feet, and is a well-arranged drug 
 store, with all the drugs and medicines and fancy 
 articles usually found in a village drug store. It 
 also contains a full line of toys, school books, 
 stationery, fancy goods, etc. Charles McNeil, the 
 proprietor, was born in Litchfield, Conn. He came 
 to Torrington in 1850, or thirty-three years ago, 
 and has since resided here. lie employs three 
 men. He was assistant postmaster for thirty years, 
 and owns the building in which the post-office and 
 his store are situated. It is 40 x 00, three stories, 
 wood. He has represented the town in the Stato 
 Legislature for three sessions. A telegraph oflico 
 is situated in one side of the store, a branch of the 
 Western Union, which Mr. McNeil also has charge 
 of, being a practical telegraph operator, having oc- 
 cupied that position from the first, or about twenty- 
 
878 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 five years. He is one of tlio most prominent citi- 
 zens of tlic place, identified with all of its interests. 
 
 Allen House, Frank Conley, Proprietor, Main 
 Street, Torrington. — The most centrally located 
 hotel in Torrington, and one deservedly popular 
 both with citizens and strangers, is the Allen House, 
 of which Mr. Frank Conley is the proprietor. The 
 most conspicuous building in the village is the 
 Allen, situated, as it is, on the corner of two prin- 
 cipal streets, with an architecture which suggests 
 its use. It is built of wood, and was erected six- 
 teen years ago on the old hotel site of the town. A 
 part of the hotel, three-quarters of a century old, is 
 still used in the departments necessary, but the 
 new part is devoted to the hotel business proper. 
 To give a list of the landlords who have from time 
 to time presided over this caravansary would re- 
 quire weeks of research, and, after all, it would, 
 perhaps, be incomplete, as most of them have long 
 since patted way, leaving no record of their ex- 
 perience, as historians were not so plenty then as 
 now. The present proprietor has presided for two 
 years, coming here from Goodspeed's Landing, 
 where, for a time, lie was proprietor of the Gelston 
 House. The house has thirty-seven bedchambers, 
 an attractive office, a billiard room containing three 
 billiard tables, spacious parlors, an unusually at- 
 tractive dining room, ornamented with nicely- 
 framed steel engravings; the floor is waxed, and 
 the table furnishings are complete in every par- 
 ticular. The ware is ornamented in gilt letters 
 with the name " Conley." A man with a mous- 
 tache drinks hit coffee from a richly-ornamented 
 " moustache cup," a thoughtful luxury introduced 
 by Mr. Conley. Well-furnished bedchambers, ex- 
 cellent beds and unsurpassed cleanliness are the 
 marked characteristics of everything appertaining 
 to the house. Mr. Conley is a native of Ireland, 
 and forty-five years of age. Ho is a born hotel- 
 man, and one of representative hotel proprietors of 
 Connecticut. The impression a stranger gets of a 
 city or village is often that made by a hotel, and 
 the traveler who comes to Torrington and to this 
 hotel cannot but carry away with him a pleasant 
 impression of the place. Commercial travelers re- 
 mark that there is, at least, one hotel in Connecti- 
 cut that is as a home to them, and that hotel is the 
 Allen House, Torrington, and the popular pro- 
 prietor is Mr. Frank Conley. 
 
 It. C. Doming-, Drugs and Medicines, No. 17 
 Main Street. — It is ten years last March since the 
 drug store now run by Mr. It. C. Doming was 
 started by Vibbert A: Deming. It is situated at No. 
 17 Main Street, and is a tine room, some twenty- 
 three feet wide by forty-five in depth, and hand- 
 somely fitted up. It contains a full line of drugs, 
 patent medicines, toilet articles, tobacco and smo- 
 kers' goods, confectionery, and the many other 
 things which help to fill a modern drug store, The 
 prescriptionVlepartnicnt is carefully attended to, 
 and customers can rely upon the purest drugs and 
 the best compounds. Mr. It. C. Deming was born 
 in Winsted, where he learned the drug business of 
 D. & W. 1$. Phelps and has lived for many years in 
 this place or since 1873, and is thoroughly conver- 
 sant with the business. He gives it his whole at- 
 tention, and in this way has made it a success. 
 
 McCarty& Morton, Stoves and Hardware, 
 Eist Main Street.— -The most prominent establish- 
 ment on East Main Street is the stove and hard- 
 ware store and repair shop of McCarty & Morton. 
 It occupies a building by itself, and has a front of 
 twenty-four feet, and a depth of sixty. Here can 
 be found a full line of stoves, for the parlor, cham- 
 ber or kitchen; all kinds of hardware and tinware, for 
 household use; and everything pertaining to steam 
 and gas fitting. There is a large repair shop in the 
 rear, where Messrs. McCarty <fc Morton, who are 
 practical workmen, and not afraid to be seen at the 
 bench, do all soits of jobs to order. The store 
 has been established a number of years, and is re- 
 garded as a leader in its line. Mr. A. D. McCarty 
 is of Scotch descent, and was born in Tolland, 
 Hampden Co., Mass. He has resided in Torrington 
 for fifteen years. Mr. C. E. Morton was born in 
 Coventry, Conn., and learned his trade in Middle- 
 town, Conn. Both gentlemen are energetic, and full 
 of business. They have a good trade with the best 
 people in Torrington, and some of the surrounding 
 towns. 
 
 Henry J. Ashley, Undertaker and Dealer in 
 Picture Frames, Brady's Block. — About twenty- 
 five years ago this business was established by 
 Messrs. C. Hotchkiss & Son. For seventeen years 
 Mr. Ashley was an employee of their's, and ulti- 
 mately succeeded to the business. The store is 
 situated in Brady's Block, next to the American 
 House, and is 20 x BO feet in area. A stock of 
 caskets is carried suitable for his trade. He has 
 also an elegant house. Ho deals largely in picture 
 frames, mouldings, cornices, etc. 
 
 Mr. Ashley was born in Sheffield, Mass., May 27, 
 1832, and has been in Torrington during the hist 
 nineteen years. By trade he is an organ case 
 maker as well as a sash maker. He is a Mason, a 
 member of the Methodist Church and was a mem- 
 ber of the Forty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment 
 during the war of the rebellion. Since his resi- 
 dence here he has built up a business the largest of 
 its class in the village. 
 
 Talcott & AlVOrd, Dealers in Flour, Feed 
 and Urain. — This well-known house was estab- 
 lished about ten years ago by Mr. O. F. Hopson, 
 who also kept a grocery store on the same site 
 where the present business now is. Ultimately, 
 Mr. Geo. W. Vail took the flour and feed department, 
 and about four years ago he formed a partnership 
 with Mr. Stephen Crippen, who, under the firm 
 name of Vail & Crippen continued the business. 
 They made several improvements, put in an engine 
 and boiler and feed mill. One year last March the 
 present firm purchased the business, and have con- 
 ducted it successfully since' then. The building 
 occupied is 25 x 40 feet in area, built of wood and 
 two stories in height. They also have a store- 
 house in addition to accommodate the demands of 
 the business, which is increasing. 
 
 Mr. E. Horatio Talcott, the senior member of 
 the firm was born near Rochester, N. Y., about 
 thirty-five years ago, and has been a resident of 
 Torrington since the formation of this firm. For 
 a time he was employed as a merchant in Talcott- 
 villc, a village on the lice of the New York & New 
 
REVIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 370 
 
 England Railroad, now owned by members of his 
 family. Later lie was a flour and feed dealer in 
 Colchester, after which lie became Identified with 
 this village as above stated. He is a member of 
 the Congregational Church. "J--! 
 
 Mr. Charles H. Alvord is a native of Bolton, 
 Conn., twenty-two years of age, and nephew of 
 Mr. Charles Alvord, Secretary and Treasurer of the 
 Excelsior Needle Company. lie is an usher in the 
 Congregational Church, and is looked upon by the 
 ■older and more experienced busincts men as a 
 promising young man of good habit*. 
 
 The firm of Talcott & Alvord are the largest 
 dealers of flour, grain and feed in Torrington, 
 where their credit is of the best. 
 
 H. Pulver & Son, Carriage Manufacturer. 
 Migeon Avenue. — The largest carriage and sleigh 
 manufactory in Torrington is that of Messrs. II. 
 Pulver & Son, which was established by Mr. Hiram 
 Pulver in 1855. Twenty years later, in 1875, his 
 son, Mr. Albert II. Pulver, was made partner and 
 the Arm name changed to II. Pulver & Son. The 
 building now occupied is 80 x 20 feet in area, two 
 stories high, and was built of wood in 1877. It 
 has an L, 00 x 20 feet. About five men are em- 
 ployed on an average through the year. The firm 
 makes no specialty, but manufacture all kinds of 
 carriages and sleighs which have a market in this 
 and the near-by towns. 
 
 Mr. Hiram Pulver, the father and senior member, 
 was born in Columbia County, New York, fifty- 
 eight years ago, and lias been a resident here for 
 thirty-live years. His son, Albert II., is a native 
 of Torrington, bora December 22, 1852, and learned 
 his trade of the father. The house of H. Pulver 
 & Son has a reputation for producing good work 
 and do an extensive business in their line for a place 
 the size of Torrington. 
 
 Henry S. Patterson, Contractor, Builder 
 and dealer in Lumber and Builders' Supplies. — One 
 of the largest builders in Litchfield County is Mr. 
 Henry S. Patterson, whose establishment is situated 
 on Summer street, near the railroad track. The 
 building is HO x 60 feet in area and has four floors. 
 It was built in 1875, and is one of the most con- 
 spicuous business buildings in the village. Mr. 
 Patterson commenced his business as a builder in 
 this village in 1873. In 1875 he built the above- 
 named building, and added the business of dealing 
 in lumber and lumber supplies, in which he has 
 been eminently successful. He employs twenty- 
 live carpenters and twenty masons and laborers. 
 He builds most, if not all the foundations, of the 
 houses he contracts for, which number about twenty 
 each year. In the aggregate his business will 
 amount to about 8100,000 per year. He was born 
 in Cornwall, Conn., in 1842, and has been a resi- 
 dent of Torrington since 1800, where he is a mem- 
 ber of the Congregational Church, the Masonic 
 fraternity, and has done much to build up his 
 adopted village. 
 
 Hotchkiss Brothers, Carpenters and Build- 
 ers, Dealers in Lumber and Shingles, manufacturers 
 of Doors, Sash and Blinds. — This prosperous_busi- 
 
 ness was established bv Messrs. Charles Hotchkiss 
 & Son in 1857. In "1808 Mr. Henry C. Hotch- 
 kiss was admitted, the firm becoming C. Hotchkiss 
 & Sons. In January, 1883, the fhther retired, and 
 the firm has since been known by its present appel- 
 lation, Hotchkiss Brothers, which is composed of 
 Mr. Edward C. Hotchkiss, one of the origiml firm, 
 and Mr. Henry E, Hotchkiss. The premises are 
 situated on Water street a short distance from the 
 depot, comprise five buildings and entensive 
 grounds, the whole covering an area of two acres, 
 the largest building which is used for door, sash 
 and blind manufactory, together with a planing mill 
 is 10 x 80 feet in area, with two stories and base- 
 ment. The power is derived from the water of tho 
 Naugatuek river, on which the premises border, 
 and the number of feet force is fourteen, a steam 
 engine is also used when the water supply is short. 
 The other buildings are devoted to the uses of office, 
 storage, etc. To give some idea of the amount of 
 business done here we quote the amount of lumber 
 handled in one year as 1,259,000 feet and the num- 
 ber of shingles at 1,000,000. Mr. Edward C. 
 Hotchkiss, the si nior member of the linn, is fifty 
 years of age, having been born November 5, 1833. 
 He learned the business of a builder of his father, 
 Mr. Charles Hotchkiss, who still resides in Torring- 
 ton, a well-known and respected citizen. Edward 
 C, the son, was foreman in charge of the building 
 of the Granite Block when only nineteen years of 
 age. He is a member of the Masonic connnandery 
 and was a member of the legislature in 1871 and 
 1874. Mr. Henry E. Hotchkiss was born in Tor- 
 rington, February 5, 1842, and served as a door, 
 sash and blind maker in the establishment before 
 he became a partner. He is also a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and served in the band of the 
 First Connecticut Heavy Artillery during the war. 
 This house has built many of the nice residences of 
 Torrington and vicinity, as well as several of its 
 business blocks and manufacturing establishments, 
 and is the largest of its class in Litchfield County. 
 
 "The Torrington Register," Mr. Henry 
 M. White, Editor. — The linjister is now in its tenth 
 volume, and the price is 81.50 per year. It is pub- 
 lished by tho Register Printing Co., and has a cir- 
 culation of about 600 copies, which is increasing. 
 With the exception of an amateur sheet, called tho 
 Torrinijton Advertiser, it is the only paper publish- 
 ed in the village It is edited, printed and published 
 in a building of its own, situated near the depot. 
 A Campbell cylinder press and two jobbers, coin- 
 pose tho presses. An air of neatness and order is 
 apparent with everything connected with the estab- 
 lishment. Mr White the editor, was born in Elba, 
 Genesee Co., N. Y., and is thirty-six years of age. 
 Ho was educated, and spent most of his boyhood in 
 Shelburne Falls, afterwards in Northampton, Mass. , 
 and previous to locating here, was a commercial 
 traveler in the hardware trade, representing a New 
 York house. The Register is independent, with 
 Republican proclivities, and doos much for the 
 village which it represents. It has grown with tho 
 village and is a live, well-established sheet. 
 
 Clarke Prince, Dealer in Coal, Wood, Flour, 
 Grain and Feed, opposite Depot. — Situated directly 
 
380 
 
 THE HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
 
 across the street from the railroad depot is the 
 office, store and yard of Mr. Prince, who deals in the 
 above-named products, including hay and straw. 
 The building which he occupies is 2(i x 150 feet in 
 area and two stories in height. The business was 
 established in June, 1882, by Messrs. J. W. 
 Shanley & Co., of which Mr. Prince was the 
 company. Since July first, 1883,, he has been the 
 sole proprietor. The close proxmity of the railroad 
 to this establishment allows of the unloading of 
 grain and flour directly from the cars, the same 
 may be said of the coal yard, the sheds of which 
 holds about 000 tons. Mr. Prince was born in 
 Milford, Conn., about forty years ago. For twenty 
 years he has been a popular conductor on the 
 Naugatuck Railroad and lias a largo acquaintance 
 in the Naugatuck valley. 
 
 John Davy, Hoot and Shoe Maker and Dealer. 
 — The business of Mr. Davy was established in 1807 
 and in this village. At that time he was simply a 
 cobbler, in which occupation he excelled, as he was 
 by trade a thorough shoemaker. Seven years ago 
 he removed to his new store, which is in the centre 
 of business. It is 25 x fiO feet in area, and well 
 stocked with men's, women's and children's boots 
 and shoes. Situated in the rear of his store proper 
 is his manufacturing department, whereare employed 
 workmen making boots and shoes to order, in which 
 specialty he has a largo trade. Mr. Davy was born 
 in Devonshire, England, January 24, 1830. Ho 
 learned his trade in Bristol, England, and came to 
 America and to Torrington in 1807. lie is a 
 member of the Episcopal Church, a Mason, a 
 Knight of Pythias, and an earnest, substantial, 
 reliable citizen and busimss man. 
 
 The Excelsior Needle Co., Manufacturers 
 of Sewing-Machinc Needles, Church Street, near 
 the Depot. — This company was incorporated in 1800, 
 and has a capital of §75,000. The President is Mr. 
 A. P. Mlgeon; Secretary and Treasurer, Charles Al- 
 vord. The building is 100 x 28 feet in area, three 
 stories in height, with two L's 45 x 25 and 30 x 30, 
 respectively. Another building adjoining is 25 I 40 
 feet, with L 10 x 20. About 180 people are cm- 
 ployed in the manufacture of needles for all kinds 
 of sewing machines. For their production this 
 company claim a superior quality, the process being 
 the cold swaging process for which they have ex- 
 clusive control, and owning a patent on a machine 
 as well as the needle itself. They also claim supe- 
 rior stock, uniformity in size, and smoothness in 
 finish. With one exception this is the largest sew- 
 ing-machine needle factory in the United States, 
 and the largest when exclusive production is taken 
 into account. Mr. Migcon, the president, has lived 
 most of his life in Torrington. He is of French 
 descent. He is largely interested in the industries 
 of Torrington. Mr. Charles Alvord is a native of 
 Bolton, Conn., and is about fifty-seven years of age. 
 Previous to being interested in manufacturing, he 
 was a successful merchant in this village and New 
 Hartford. He is the active man of this company, 
 spending his whole time and energies in its busi- 
 ness. It is safe to say that the Excelsior Needle 
 Company is one of the most successful in Connecti- 
 cut. 
 
 THOMASTON. 
 
 This town is situated In the southeastern part of 
 Litchfield county, and is the youngest town 
 In the State. It is bounded on the north by 
 Litchfield and Harrington, east by Plymouth, 
 south by Watertown and Litchfield. The surface 
 of the town is level and the soil is generally fertile. 
 The section occupied by Thomaston village was 
 originally known as Plymouth Hollow, and fifty- 
 five years ago consisted of thirteen dwellings. 
 This quiet little hamlet, of less than a score of 
 buildings, has grown to be one of the loveliest 
 manufacturing towns of Connecticut, and this 
 is due chiefly to the enterprise of one family — 
 Beth Thomas and Sons. The town was incorpo- 
 rated July 6, 1875; the first town meeting July 19, 
 1875, Miles Moore, moderator. 
 
 The Methodist Church started in a very primi- 
 tive manner in 1818; the Congregational 1837, and 
 Trinity Parish was organized 1809. 
 
 Hie Thomaston Express was started by three 
 young men April 1, 1880, with a joint stock capital 
 of $5,000. It run a few months and the company 
 became embarrassed, and sold the property to C. 
 James, who had a few months before sold the 
 Watcottcille Reporter to its present owner. Mr. 
 James took possession October 12, 1880, and is the 
 present editor and proprietor. The paper is an 
 eight column folio, and is only excelled i n circula- 
 tion in the county by two papers. 
 
 The Thomaston Weekly Newt is a spirited sheet, 
 well printed and edited, and was founded 1881 by 
 C. H. Smith & Co. 
 
 Thomaston is situated on the Naugatuck River, 
 and on the line of the Naugatuck Railroad, ten 
 miles north of Watcrbury. The population is 
 about 3,000. 
 
 Tlioniastoii House, Win. B. Phillips, Pro- 
 prietor. — This hotel has been open for about a year, 
 under the most favorable auspices, by Mr. Phillips. 
 This gentleman is a thorough man of the world, 
 and fully comprehends the wants of the traveling 
 public. Excessively neat in his own person, he 
 has carried out this quality throughout all his 
 establishment. The interviewer can testify as to all 
 this by personal inspection. Ho found, as stated 
 by Mr. Phillips, that on every bedstead, from 
 guests to servants' quarters, was tho 35 to 40 lb. 
 hair mattress, with a Hartford woven wire spring 
 mattress beneath. The appointments of this house 
 show good taste throughout. The carpets are of 
 pleasing colors. Tho walls neatly papered, and 
 the furniture of good quality. There are about 40 
 sleeping rooms, and the prices to commercial men 
 are §2.00 per day, which is an exceedingly low 
 price for tho comforts furnished. The dining- 
 room will seat from 75 to 100 people. There are 
 thirty-five regular boarders. Adjoining the hotel 
 proper is a building called "the annex," which tho 
 proprietor has found necessary to fit up for extra 
 sleeping rooms. The appliances for cooking, and 
 steam-heating of the dishes, are of the most ay- 
 proved kind. Tho table is first-class and much 
 better than one would anticipate from tho low 
 rates charged. The attendance is all that could 
 bo desired. Connected with and belonging to tho 
 hotel is a fine livery stable, with a supply of good 
 
HE VIEW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 881 
 
 horses and carriages, intended more particularly 
 for the guests of the hotel. An interesting feature 
 In this (table was a handsome horse owned by 
 Mr. Phillips, also one especially used by big 
 wife. The writer was also shown a hunting 
 wagon (devised by Mr. Phillips), a combination 
 of backboard and buggy, possessing all the 
 good qualities of both. This wagon impressed 
 him as being the most perfect thing of its kind. 
 Mr, Phillips came here from Winsted, where he 
 had been connected with the Connecticut Western 
 Railroad, for tlwee years as paymaster. He has also 
 been in the banking-house of Gilbert & Gray, at 
 Winsted. He is still a young man, full of energy 
 and confidence in his powers, and well merits the 
 large patronage he is receiving. 
 
 John G. .Taokle, Boots and Shoes, etc., East 
 Main Street. — This pleasant-faced gentleman lias 
 occupied those premises for a boot and shoe store 
 for the last six years. He has a good stock of 
 boots, shoes, and rubbers, adapted to the wants of 
 all classes that make up the population of a manu- 
 facturing village. He also does a large amount of 
 foot-gear repairing, which is done in the very best 
 manner. His prices aro remarkably low consider- 
 ing the quality of the goods sold. The premises 
 are 20 x it5 feet in dimensions, and the store is 
 cheerful and attractive. Mr. Jackie was born in 
 Wiu temburgh, Germany, in 1843. He has been in 
 this country seventeen years, most of this time has 
 been passed in Thomaston. He worked for some 
 years in the clock factory before entering in this pres- 
 ent business. He came here from New York 8tate. 
 Mr. Jackie belongs to the order of Odd Fellows, 
 and is a Lutheran in religion ; he is a member of 
 the German Singing Society, also of the Leidcr- 
 krantz. His trade is mostly confined to the village, 
 but he does some country business. He is very 
 popular, not only with his countrymen, but with 
 the citizens generally, in Thomaston ; his trade 
 has received a deservedly large increase since his 
 commencement ; he is no exception to the general 
 reliable character of the Germans as adopted citi- 
 zens. 
 
 Annie T. Fanning, .Millinery and Fancy 
 Goods, Foster's Block ; Maria A. Fanning, Dress- 
 maker, Foster's Block— These two ladies occupy 
 premises 12 x 25 feet in dimensions, especially fit- 
 
 ted for the business and for the comfort and con- 
 venience of customers. The millinery and fancy 
 goods department is carried on by Miss Annie T. 
 Fanning, and she carriesa good stock of trimmed and 
 untrimmed hats and bonnets, flowers, ribbons, laces, 
 feathers and trimmings of all kinds. Experienced 
 hands are employed and the best class of trade is 
 enjoyed. Great taste is displayed, which is of first 
 importance. Miss Maria A. Fanning is an experi- 
 enced dressmaker, and never fails to give satisfac- 
 tion in this branch of the business. Miss Maria 
 learned her trade in Utica, New York State. The 
 sisters were born in Connecticut, and are favorably 
 known to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 They are pleasing in manners, and attractive in 
 person. Their store is very pleasantly located in 
 the centre of the village, and on one of the leading 
 throughfares. They seem to possess their share of 
 the business, and are deserving of much credit for 
 their energy >nd enterprise, and will probably keep 
 pace with the growing wants of this thriving and 
 beautiful manufacturing village. 
 
 It. T. Andrews, Carpets, Oil Cloths, Frames, 
 Undertaker, etc., Main Street. — Mr. R. T. An- 
 drews has been carrying on his establishment 
 for four years. Ho succeeded Cadwell & Root, 
 who conducted the business for ten years. The 
 store is 100 x 40 feet, and occupies two floors 
 over tlio whole building. A line of carpets, oil 
 cloths, picture frames, etc., is kept, and the 
 undertaking business is carried on. Four men 
 are employed. Mr. E. C. Root is tho manager 
 of the business. Mr. Andrews is a nativo of 
 Thomaston, and has built up a good business. 
 
 Mrs. M. E. Allen, Fancy Goods, Bradstreet's 
 Block, No. 55 Main Street. — The large fancy goods 
 store kept by Mrs. M. E. Allen is one of the in- 
 stitutions of the place. It is in the handsome and 
 large brick block, known as Bradstreet's, and has 
 a front of twenty -two feet, and a depth of fifty-one 
 feet. In this large room can be found a full lino 
 of fancy goods, dry goods and millinery, domestics, 
 ribbons, velvets, hats, skirts, ostrich tips, flowers, 
 dress goods, uuderwear, thread, counterpanes, etc. 
 Mrs. Allen lias lived for seven years in Thomaston, 
 and is a native of Morris. She gives her whole 
 time to the business, purchases her own goods, 
 and is sure to please, as she knows her customers' 
 wants. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Paoe. 
 
 Middletown 269 Putnam 
 
 Chester 284 South Coventry 
 
 Danielsonville 325 Stafford Springs 
 
 Dayvillc 838 Suffield 
 
 Deep River 284 Thomaston 
 
 Essex 287 Thonipsonville 
 
 Goodspeed's Landing 278 Torrington 
 
 Iligganum 277 Wetherefield . 
 
 HoodtU 281 Willimantic 
 
 Mystic 290 Windsor Locks 
 
 New London 290 Winsted 
 
 Norwich 308 
 
For Fall Information, Through Bills of Lading and Rates of Freight and Passage, with Maps and Printed Matter, 
 
 apply to any of the following agents. 
 
 FLEET 
 
 8.8. Lampasas (New) . 
 " Alamo 
 " Guadalupe " 
 " San Maroos " 
 " Colorado 
 
 3,000 Tons 
 3,000 « 
 3,840 " 
 2,840 « 
 2,746 " 
 
 B.S. Hlo Grande . 
 " State of Texas 
 " City of 8an Antonio 
 " Carondelet 
 " Western Texas . 
 
 2,666 Tons 
 1,686 " 
 1,662 " 
 1,608 " 
 1.210 " 
 
 Steamers leave Wednesdays and Saturdays for GALVESTON, Texas, 
 touching at KEY WEST, Fla. 
 
 This is the only Steamship Line running between JVew 'York and any 
 TemtK Seaport, and the only line of Steamers running to K r y West, Fla. 
 
 All Steamers have elegant First-Class Passenger Accommodation and super, 
 lor accommodations for Emigrants. 
 
 Connection is made at Galveston with all the Railroads in the State, and 
 with Steamship Lines to 
 
 WESTERN TEXAS AND MEXICAN PORTS, 
 
 AKT> WITH RAILROADS TO 
 
 MEXICO, HEW MEXICO, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA P0INT8. 
 
 Insurance effected under our open policy at one-half of one per cent, be- 
 tween New York and Galveston. 
 
 <- M&Xlory^s Florida Sixa© 4* 
 
 ONLY DIRECT LINE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Steamers of this First-Class Line leave Pier 21 East River every Friday at S 
 o'clock p. M. for Fernandina, Fla., connecting there with Railroads for every 
 part of the State, and at Jacksonville with St. Johns River Steamboat Lines for 
 all points on the various rivers of tin State. 
 
 The Mallory Line Steamers touch at Port Royal, S. C, and Brunsnlck, Oa.. 
 en route, connecting at those ports with Railroads for principal points in 
 Georgia and Soatk Carolina. 
 
 C XX. MA TiTiORT «*> CO., General ^.(erxta, 
 
 I»ler so East River, Now York. 
 
<3 
 
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 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
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