Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....New Milford Village - Continued 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 30, 2005, 12:00 am Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER XXVI. NEW MILFORD VILLAGE.—CONTINUED. WHATEVER the enterprise and prosperity of a community, it is found that in the United States, the comparative standing of a locality may be known by the support of, and interest taken in the Churches and Public Schools; and the historical and ancestral respect is exhibited by the appearance of the Cemeteries. In New Milford the Church edifices have always been first class, when compared with the other buildings in the town. As far as has been learned, the first framed house in the town was the dwelling of the minister, the Rev. Daniel Boardman, and the second was the first meeting-house that was built in the town. The Church organizations, in their memberships, and the labor and cost of conducting their activities, have always held the first place in the minds of the people, and the schools have been second only to the Churches. For these reasons so large a space has been given in this book to these institutions, and a further brief record is added. Further Notice of the Congregational Church and Society. The record heretofore given in these pages continued, and made some reference to Mr. Elliot's labors here. Rev. Andrew Elliot, son of Rev. Andrew Elliot of Fairfield, was ordained pastor of this Church and Society Feb. 24, 1808, and labored here successfully until his death, May 9, 1829. He rearranged the church records, the first work of the kind that had been done here, and entered upon and continued a thorough work of organization and pastoral labor. He found according to his record when corrected 73 members in full standing in the church, and all the halfway covenant members were dropped without ceremony, and he adopted the system of doctrines and church government, called New Light in 1750, but now become popular and prevailing through Dr. Bellamy and other of his associates. This made it unnecessary for the Separates' Church to continue longer, and through the advice of their minister, the Rev. Daniel Hine, they disbanded about 1812, and some of the members united with Mr. Elliot's Church. Bridgewater had become a separate society, and Mr. Elliot devoted more time than had been done before, to the people at Gaylord's Bridge, holding week day services there, and the result was that a large attendance was secured from that place to the Sunday services in New Milford. During the time of many years, the regular Sunday delegation from that community was a very noticeable proportion of Mr. Elliot's congregation. Having a large parish in territory and in numbers, his labors were very constant, and he must have had a strong physical constitution to continue as long as he did. He seems to have labored with two objects particularly in view; one to do the work of a faithful minister in preaching and in pastoral duties, and next to organize a working and an exemplary church, and in both he was eminently successful, although he had some weighty influences against him. When the church dropped all the halfway covenant members, it lost for the time being a large influence in the community. At the same time the Democratic party with its protests against Church and State government in Connecticut, was on the ascending scale and culminated in a majority vote in 1817, and the revision of the State .Constitution in 1818. During this period Elijah Boardman, who stood the fifteenth in wealth in the Congregational Society in 1809, and the second in 1821, began to take an active part in politics, and after a tune fully identified himself with the Democratic party. He did not withdraw from the support of the Congregational Church, for his name stands second on the list in 1821, but he gave his personal influence and enlarged benevolent contributions to the Episcopal Church. He and Orange Merwin were the two most influential men in the town, through political party associations, and uprightness of character, for about ten years from 1812, and it was Mr. Boardman's influence, largely, that made the Episcopal Church self-sustaining at that time. During Mr. Elliot's ministry of twenty years he admitted to the church 339 persons, or 17 per year. Mr. Rood in his pastorate of five years admitted 153, or 30 per year; Mr. E. W. Andrews supplied the pulpit a little over one year and admitted 63. Rev. Heman Rood was pastor here from 1830 to 1835, during which time, in 1833, the present Congregational meeting-house was built, and the old one removed from the green. Rev. Noah Porter was ordained here April 27, 1836, and resigned Dec. 31, 1842. He admitted 119 persons to the church, and general prosperity continued in the congregation, parish was large, and he desired a smaller field, and went to a new Church in Springfield, Mass. Rev. John Greenwood came from England and was installed here April 24, 1844, after supplying the pulpit one year, and resigned May 19, 1849. Rev. David Murdoch from Scotland was ordained pastor here Sept. 18, 1850, and remained until Sept. 28, 1869, when he resigned and settled in New Haven. He served here during the late war and maintained the cause of the Union with great ability. Rev. James B. Bonar was installed pastor of this church June 30, 1870, and still continues efficient and successful in this pastorate. A chapel was built by individuals with permission of the society in 1838-9. The meeting-houses were not heated until about 1824, when two box-stoves were put into the one then standing on the green. In November, 1833, the society voted to obtain "two of Dr. Nott's stoves and one ton of anthracite coal for the winter." Furnaces were put into the present edifice in 1860, when the house was improved at a cost of $5,225, and land for the convenience of horse-sheds procured. The organ was obtained in 1860 at a cost of $1,200. A parsonage was bought in August, 1870, at a cost of $6,000. The clock which hung in the steeple of the second meetinghouse was purchased and placed there about 1780. The Sunday-school in this church was commenced in 1812 or 14 by Rev. Mr. Elliot, who for some time was the only teacher. The present membership of this school is 312. The infant class meeting in the chapel was begun by its present teacher, Miss Isabella Wilson in 1872. The Benevolent Library of the congregation originated in the gifts of Dea. D. W. McMahon, Col. Samuel Canfield, and Philo N. Heacock, Esq., and consists of about 600 volumes of standard works, kept in an appropriate case in the audience room of the meeting house. The record of the benevolent contributions of this Church and Society, with other statistical items and interesting details, are contained in the Rev. Mr. Bonar's centennial sermon, published in 1876, and from which much of the above record is taken. The following is a list of the Deacons of this Church from its commencement, and the date of their election to this office: Samuel Brownson, 1716 James Prime, 1725 John Bostwick, 1733 Job Terrill, 1738 Samuel Canfield, 1742 Bushnell Bostwick, 1751 Roger Sherman, 1755 Benjamin Gaylord, 1761 Sherman'Boardman, 1779 Elizur Warner, 1792 Joseph Merwin, 1808 Dobson W. McMahon, 1809 John Beecher, 1822 Nicanor Stilson, 1823 George W. Whittlesey, 1831 Gerardus Roberts, 1831 Seymour B. Green, 1839 William Hine, 1853 John J. Conklin, 1859 Ithiel S. Green, 1859 Henry Ives 1879 The Church membership at present, on a carefully revised record, numbers 336; and the Sunday-school numbers 312. There are 234 families in the parish; and the benevolent contributions for objects outside of the congregation, in 1881, were $1663.99, while the yearly average of such contributions for the last twelve years is $1700. The Methodist Episcopal Church in New Milford. Permanent preaching was established at Capt. John Warner's old homestead about a mile below Lanesville, in 1822, Laban Clark and Eli Barnet being the preachers. Preaching .by the Methodist ministers of Redding Circuit, and possibly by Jesse Lee, was held probably before 1800, and certainly as early as 1804, in Brookfield and the southern part of Bridgewater, and classes were formed in both these places (see page 420). In 1813, Gad Smith from the Goshen Circuit preached at Bull's Bridge, near Gaylordsville. In 1815, Elijah Hebard from the Stratford Circuit preached at John Warner's, and the next year Cook and Pierce from Burlington Circuit found their way to Northville, in this town. Cyrus Syliman from the Amenia Circuit, N. Y., held regular services in Gaylordsville and Washington in 1823-4, and a revival occurred in which over one hundred conversions were reported. A Methodist meeting-house was built at the corners, at the old Capt. John Warner place, in 1828-9, under the labors of John Lovejoy, at a cost of $3,000, where preaching was continued regularly about twenty years. The church in New Milford village was built in 1849, at a cost of $3,000, and was dedicated in 1850 by Bishop Janes; and some years later the church on the plains was discontinued, and the building removed. In 1869, the church in the village was repaired under the supervision of Rev. W. R. Webster at a cost of about $2,000. In 1855, the parsonage was built, costing $1,200. The ministers stationed in New Miiford while the meetinghouse was on the plains, and also in New Milford village, have been: 1823—Laban Clark, John Nixon. 1824—Eli Dennis, William S. Pease. 1825—Eli Dennis, Julius Field; who is still living at Durham, Ct. 1826—S. D. Ferguson, W. V Buck, J. Luckey. 1827—Eli Barnet, Valentine Buck. 1828—John Lovejoy, J. H. Romer, O. Sykes. 1830—H. Bartlett, Charles Sherman. 1832—S. Martindale, L. C. Cheeney. 1833—Reuben Harris. (At this time the name New Milford first appears in the minutes.) 1834—Left to be supplied. 1835—Charles Stearns, J. O. Elsworth. 1836—Charles Stearns, F. Donelly. 1837—A. F. Sillick, F. Donelly. 1838—A. F. Sillick, Samuel Weeks. 1839—Nathan Rice, Joseph Henson. 1840—Nathan Rice, M. Blydenburgh. 1841—Z. Davenport, N. Robinson. 1842—Z. Davenport, G. S. Gilbert. 1843—W. H. Bangs, G. S. Gilbert. 1844—W. H. Bangs, E. Gilbert. 1845—S. Weeks, E. Gilbert. 1846—F. W. Sizer, S. Weeks. 1847—E. P. Nickerman, One to be supplied. 1848—S. W. Schofield, J. O. Worth. 1851—W. McAlister. 1853—A. B. Bulling. 1855—W. H. Russell. 1857—Ira Abbott. 1859—S. J. Stebbins. 1861—Wm. Sylvester. 1863—Wm. Ross. 1865—G. W. Allen. 1869—Wm. R. Webster. 1871—A. Booth. 1874—E. L. Bray. 1877—J. H. Crofut. 1880—J. H. Lightbourn. 1881—L. P. Perry. The present officers in the M. E. Church in New Milford are: Stewards of the Church. Orange Pepper, William Green, M. L. Delavan, William Marsh, H. O. Mallett, A. S. Parcelles, Charles A. Way. Trustees of the Church Property. Orange Pepper, Henry Hartwell, M. L. Delavan, Charles Emmons, John Dodd, D. D. Marsh, E. D. Orsborn, Charles Way. Further Account of the Episcopal Church. The record of this church was brought down to the close of the Rev. Benjamin Benham's labors in 1827. Rev. Enoch Huntington took charge of this church on Trinity Sunday, in 1827, under circumstances which allowed much labor and work of organization. He is said to have been the first clergyman who kept a record of his parish work; and the Rev. Mr. Acley says, in his historical sermon: "He did much for the parish, raising it to a condition of comparative prosperity." From 1835 his labors for three years were divided between the New Preston Church and this; but still the work of progress went on. In 1832, an organ was put into the church at a cost of $600, and in 1837 a new church edifice was erected on the east side of the green, and the old one in the middle of the green was taken down. The new one was consecrated in the autumn of 1837, and in the following May 41 persons were confirmed, it being the largest number that had been confirmed at one time up to that date. Mr. Huntington continued to labor here until Easter, 1848, when, after a service of nearly twenty-one years, he retired from the care of this church, to take charge of a school in New York City. Rev. Cyrus Munson took charge of this parish in June, 1848, and in the following August he departed this life. He was a promising young man, and much esteemed, and was to have been married in Meriden on the day his funeral was attended there. Rev. William H. Rees was employed from January, 1849, to Easter, 1850, and seventeen persons were confirmed by Bishop Brownell. Rev. G. B. Hayden officiated in the pastorate here from 1850 until the following Easter, when Bishop Brownell confirmed 31 persons. Rev. D. P. Sanford accepted the pastorate here on Sept. 12, 1851, and continued about two years with success, when he accepted a call to a parish in Brooklyn, N. Y. Rev. John W. Hoffman began his pastoral labors here in February, 1854, and continued until 1856, when he resigned. Rev. Charles Gardiner Acly entered upon the pastoral work in this parish in August, 1856, and in the autumn of that year a parsonage was purchased at a cost of $2,000. In 1858, repairs were made on the church edifice, and in the summer of 1860 it was enlarged at an expense of $2,500, and reopened with appropriate services October 16, 1860, by Bishop Williams. Mr. Acly's resignation took effect March 1, 1876. He died in New Milford in 1880. During Mr. Acly's rectorship, an organ costing $2,400 was purchased and placed in the church, and the bell was re-cast in 1868 by Jones & Co., of Troy, and weighed nearly 2,000 pounds. The first bell was placed in this church in 1815, it being procured by Samuel Lockwood, and not being large enough to be heard at a distance in the winter, it was called " Samuel Lockwood's Summer bell." It was exchanged after about ten years' use, and another procured, which was used until 1868. A bequest was given to this church by J. G. Noble in 1870, which was used as a fund until it was recently added to the contributions for building the new church edifice. Rev. Alfred S. Clark became rector of this church May 1, 1876, and resigned Oct. 27, 1879. He was transferred from the Diocese of Louisiana, and returned to the same to accept the rectorship of Calvary Church in New Orleans. During his rectorship here, the church interior was repainted and carpets were procured, and a fund was started for the building of a new rectory. Rev. E. L. Wells, D. D., was minister in charge of this church from November, 1879, until his death in August, 1880. Rev. George C. Griswold was minister in charge from the decease of Dr. Wells until November, 1880. Rev. Edward R. Brown commenced his services here as rector of the church on November 28, 1880; just before which the contract had been made for building the new church, which work has received his constant attention as well as that of the building committee, in addition to the pastoral work of a large parish. The new church edifice marks an era in the history of the Episcopal church in New Milford. It will be just 140 years on the 17th of March, 1883, since the Church people were first recognized by a town vote, giving them the liberty to erect their first house of worship at the south end of Main street, and since that time three church edifices have been erected, and this is the fourth, but the times and circumstances have greatly changed; and this change is forcibly exhibited in the contrast of the two edifices,—the first and the last. The first was a very plain wooden structure, probably, about thirty feet square, having at first unplaned board seats; the last is built with granite, with limestone trimmings, 108 feet in length and 50 feet in width on the inside, and finished inside and outside in the most modern style of Gothic art and architecture; and it is said that the whole expense is covered by $50,000. The first one cost, probably, above the work done on it without charge, £30, or one hundred dollars, the last five hundred times as much. This we think is a definite illustration of the change of the times and circumstances within 140 years. It is expected that before the 140 years have expired this new edifice will be completed, consecrated, and occupied for public worship. Immediately after Dr. Wells commenced his labors in this Church, in the autumn of 1879, he began to urge upon his people the importance of building a new church edifice, but the difficulties seemed many, and that of obtaining a satisfactory site was very great. After much inquiry during several months a location was found that appeared to give general satisfaction. This Miss Cornelia E. Boardman purchased at a cost of $10,000 and gave it to St. John's Church, and a little later she pledged $5,000 more on condition that a stone church costing $25,000 should be built. An effort was then made to raise the money, and the sum was nearly secured by pledge, when, on the 14th of May, 1880, Miss Boardman departed this life after only a few days illness. During this time a plan of the present church edifice was obtained by Dr. Wells, and adopted by the proper authorities, and the parish began to feel assured of having a new house of worship, and some further progress was made, when Dr. Wells was taken ill, and after a short time he departed to his reward on the 7th of August, 1880. The offer of Miss Boardman, having in it so much aid as to cause the parish to see it practicable to erect an edifice suitable and appropriate to the modern enterprises of the times, was accepted, and the work commenced in the autumn of 1880. The entire cost of the site and the church will be about $50,000, a sum in advance of what was at first estimated, but such is the fine appearance of the edifice that the wonder is that any committee could do the work for that sum. It is evident also from this large amount, that not only one, but every member of the parish must have done what he or she could, or this edifice could not have been built. All Saints Memorial Church. In 1880, a number of communicants, having withdrawn from the St. John's Episcopal Church, organized a society according to State law for religious purposes, and in the spring of 1881 established regular services, according to the rites and usages of the Episcopal Church, which have been continued since that time. To this society Mr. William D. Black offered a beautiful site, and upon it Mrs. Judge Sanford offered to build a stone church, as a memorial of her late husband, Judge D. C. Sanford. These offers were accepted by the society, and the work of building the house was commenced in the spring of 1882. It is built of New Milford marble, taken from a quarry on Mrs. Sanford's land adjoining the village, and it will be a most beautiful church edifice. It is located on the southern declivity of Aspetuck Hill, west side of the street, about fifteen rods north of the site of the first dwelling house erected by John Noble, Sen., the first settler in New Milford township. The Catholic Church in New Milford. Father Linneyhall, of Newtown, was the first priest who held regular services in this place, and under his labors the land was purchased where the Church and parsonage house now stand about the year 1860; the land being occupied then as a lumberyard. The building then standing on it, which had been used as a steam saw-mill, was purchased of Mr. Merritt Beach and Mr. Alanson N. Canfield, then lumber dealers at that place, and fitted up in its present commodious style. The parsonage was built, about 1877 or'78, the property being now valuable and commodious. No resident priest was appointed here until 1872. Rev. Father James J. Gleeson is the present incumbent. More about Schools in New Milford. From 1752 the care of the public schools was wholly with the First ecclesiastical society of the town until 1796, and in the annual meeting of the town in December, 1806, they "voted that the Visiting Committee of Schools in the several school districts in this town be entitled to receive out of the town treasury, the sum of seventy-five cents for visiting two schools per day, and that no charge for any one school exceed $1.50, and that each school be visited twice the ensuing year." Therefore, under this law, if each school should be visited twice a year, but the visitor make a visit to but one school a day, he would receive $30 each year for twenty schools; but if he visited two schools a day, and each of the twenty twice, he would receive only $15. The choice being given, more work in a day and less pay is not the rule of most men. This law stood two years, and, although the good, honest school committees who were to carefully observe how the young ideas did shoot, took no advantage of this one school-a-day clause, yet they found a way for double pay, and were brought to account all suddenly in December, 1808, by the following: "Voted that the committee for visiting schools be paid out of the town treasury as directed, with this alteration, viz.: that the summer and winter schools be considered as one school, so that they be entitled to pay for but two visits a year." There were two "terms " or sessions in a year, and they had visited each term twice. If we only had the names of those committees who knew enough to know that the summer school was a school, and the winter school was a school, we would put them in emblazoned characters, as being a little ahead of some other committee visitors in the world. But the spirit of a stinted economy in education (now being outgrown) has been generally a thrifty failing in America, and this town made still better terms for itself than previously in 1821, when, supposing it had been too liberal with its school visitors, it voted to pay them "in lieu of 75 cents for visiting two schools per day, the sum shall in future be that of 68 cents per day;" and at this rate of expenditure they continued about thirty years, when again they added the seven cents, making the sum for two schools, or one day's work, 75 cents. But aside from any pleasantry over a little thing of this kind, the spirit of the town has been broad and thorough in regard to its district schools, which have numbered between seventeen and twenty-five for more than one hundred years, and the results have been very satisfactory. The large number of teachers who have been mostly, and many of them wholly educated in these schools, reflect great credit upon the town and the State. If, for one hundred years, seventeen districts have furnished one teacher a year, there have been 1,700 teachers sent forth on educational missions, who could not have failed to develop, in the aggregate, an immense amount of benefit to the public, and the nation. Not only on the district schools have the people of the town bestowed much attention and great sums of money, but hundreds of children have been sent abroad into other towns and cities for the purposes of education, besides the support given to private schools in the town which have been continued about 130 years unto the present time. The entire expense of the district schools for the year 1881, was $6,800; and the list of teachers for the term ending in July, 1881, is as follows, the figures denoting the number of the district, those of 18 and 19 having been discontinued or merged into other districts: 1. Mr. M. H. Pierce, A. B. 1. Miss Mary E. Bennitt, 1. Miss Mary A. Blinn, 1. Miss Lillie Marsh; 2. Miss Minnie E. Pratt, 3. Miss Nellie Wanzer, 4. Miss Julia Couch, 5. Miss Alice I. Haskell, 6. Miss Anna L. Richmond, 7. Miss Hattie Hill, 8. Miss Huldah C. Hill, 9. Miss Alice E. Jackson, 10. Miss Bertha M. Wood, 11. Miss Jennie T. Gregory, 12. Miss Lottie Buckingham, 13. Miss Maggie A. Glennon, 14. Miss Minnie Sullivan, 15. Miss Susie F. Nettleton, 16. Miss Fannie E. Morris, 19. Miss H. Alice Waite, 20. Miss Myra A. Cable. The number of scholars in the town of New Milford, June 1, 1882, was 837, of whom 747 had been in school during the year. The Board of Education for the town, for 1882, consisted of the following persons: Cyrus A. Todd, Acting Visitor, Albert N. Baldwin, George Northrop, Charles N. Hall, Edward F. Morehouse, Starr Scott Buckingham, Amos H. Bowers, George W. Richmond, Ethiel S. Green. The new public school building on East street was completed in 1876, and the school is organized as a graded school, having four teachers, modern conveniences, a library of 600 volumes, and is an institution in which the people of the village take much satisfaction. The Housatonic Institute. In 1849 a number of persons organized themselves into a company, and appointed a Board of Trustees, who erected a two story building for the purposes of an academy school. They continued a school regularly for three years, until 1852, when Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Stone accepted the responsibility of taking charge of the school; Mrs. Stone becoming the Principal of the school. They afterwards purchased the school building. Before coming to New Milford village Mrs. Stone had taught a successful private school in her own house thirteen years in Lower Merryall. The Institute was made a boarding and day school, and studies were pursued to the extent of fitting young men for college. Six teachers were employed, and for about fifteen years there were much of the time 150 scholars a year in attendance, and some years the number was still greater; and for a number of years the boarding scholars numbered 50, and at times still higher. About 1870 a part of the classical course was discontinued, and the school became smaller. Winter classes have been continued to the present time. The Adelphic Institute. This institution was opened by Mr. Ambrose S. Rogers, in 1847, at North Cornwall, as an English and Classical school for boys, where he continued it with success until 1860, when he removed to New Milford, where he had purchased about twenty acres of land a little out of the village, southeast, and built upon it a commodious house and school building. Here he continued this school for boys sixteen years, having a good degree of success; receiving pupils from all parts of the United States, the West Indies, and South America. During the continuance of the school in Cornwall and New Milford, a period of twenty-nine years, there were in attendance over five hundred different pupils, not one of whom died while connected with the institution. The locality is healthful, picturesque, and appropriate for such an institution, and should be thus continued for many years to come. During the late war it took the form of a military school, having accomplished teachers for the military drill, and the result was that several of its pupils became officers in the United States army. The grounds about the building were ample for military exercises and sports; and a short pedestrian journey to the eastward of the institution brought the young learners to a magnificent view of the surrounding country, such as to drive away all melancholy and inspire all proper youthful energy and zeal. In 1876 Mr. Rogers and his family deemed it expedient, as a matter of release from anxiety, care, and toil, to close the Institute, and when the last pupil had taken his departure, the family joined in a general parade of waving of white handkerchiefs, throwing up hats and shouting for a vacation that meant freedom with a broad margin of rest. Ambrose S. Rogers, A.M., son of Noah Rogers, was born in Cornwall, Conn., and was graduated at Union College, N. Y., under the Presidency of Dr. Eliphalet Nott, in 1840. After he graduated he commenced the study of theology, but a serious illness caused him to change his purpose and devote himself to teaching as his vocation in life, which resulted in the twenty-nine successful years of the Adelphic Institute. Not long after Mr. Rogers settled in New Milford, his wife, whose health had not been strong for some years, departed this life, and in 1870 he married Miss Ellen T., daughter of the Hon. N. F. Thompson of New Haven, Conn. Miss Lottie Thompson, a twin sister of Mrs. Rogers, became a member of the family before the school was discontinued, and thus continued until her decease in June, 1880. Mr. Rogers died in 1882. The Temperance Reform. The first temperance movement in the United States, of which we have any record, began in Litchfield and is as follows: "So many are the avenues leading to human misery, that it is impossible to guard them all. Such evils as are produced by our own folly and weakness are within our power to avoid. The immoderate use which the people of this State make of distilled spirits, is undoubtedly an evil of this kind. It is obvious to every person of the smallest observation that from this pernicious practice follows a train of evils difficult to be enumerated. The morals are corrupted, property is exhausted, and health destroyed, and it is most sincerely to be regretted that from a mistaken idea that distilled spirits are necessary to laboring men, to counteract the influence of heat, and give relief from severe fatigue, that a most valuable class of citizens have been led to contract a habit of such dangerous tendency. Hence arises the inability to pay public taxes, to discharge private debts, and to support and educate families. "Seriously considering this subject, and the frowns of Divine Providence in denying many families in this part of the country the means of a comfortable subsistence the past year, by failure of the principal crops of the earth, we think it peculiarly the duty of every good citizen to unite his efforts to reform a practice which leads so many to poverty, distress, and ruin. Whereupon we do hereby associate, and mutually agree, that hereafter we will carry on our business without the use of distilled spirits as an article of refreshment, either for ourselves, or those whom we employ, and that instead thereof, we will serve our workmen with wholesome food, and common, simple drinks of our own production: Ephraim Kirby, Timothy Skinner, David Buel, Julius Deming, Benjamin Tallmadge, Uriah Tracy, Ebenezer Marsh, Moses Seymour, Samuel Marsh, James Stone, Samuel Seymour, Daniel Sheldon, Ozias Lewis, Lawrence Wessells, Elijah Wadsworth, Alexander Catlin, Reuben Smith, Lynde Lord, Archibald McNiel, Abraham Bradley, I. Baldwin, Jr., T. Reeve, Collier and Adam, Tobias Cleaver, Amos Galpin, Thomas Trowbridge, S. Shethar, Solomon Buel, Bryant Stoddard, Abraham Peck, Frederick Wolcott, Nathaniel Smith, 2d, John Allen, John Welch, Arthur Emmons, J. Strong. "LITCHFIELD, 9th May, 1789." [1] [1] G. C. Woodruff's Hist, of the town of Litchfield. The next stir made in Litchfield County was by a sermon preached by the Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D. D., pastor at Washington, Conn., in 1806, which considerably astonished the people, and created much discussion. In April, 1808, a society was established at Moreau, county of Saratoga, N. Y., consisting of forty-three members, one rule of which was: "Art. 4. No member shall drink rum, gin, whisky, wine, or any distilled spirits, or compositions of the same, or any of them, except by the advice of a physician, or in case of actual disease (also excepting at public dinners), under the penalty of twenty-five cents, provided that this article shall not infringe on any religious rite." This society continued during fourteen years. In 1812, Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., preached six sermons at Litchfield on the subject of temperance, which had a very great effect to arouse the public mind to this subject throughout the country. The American Temperance Society was started at Boston, in February, 1826, "to restrain and prevent the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors," and in 1827, a society was organized in Torringford, in the town of Torrington, Ct., headed by the Rev. Epaphras Goodman, which was the result, in part, at least, of the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher's six sermons on temperance preached at Litchfield in 1812. In 1829, the New York State Temperance Society was organized, and before the close of the year 1,000 local societies, with 100,000 members, were in existence, and a periodical, entitled The Journal of Humanity, established to promote the new movement. Soon after this a temperance society for Litchfield County, Ct., was organized, and the subject became a general movement throughout the State. A meeting of this society was held in New Milford in 1834, when an advance step was taken, as is indicated in the following record: "At a meeting of the Litchfield County Temperance Society, held at New Milford, the fourth Tuesday of September, 1834, the following address was delivered by the Rev. Hart Talcott of Warren. In the judgment of the meeting it is an original, sound, and well conducted argument, going to prove that the Temperance pledge ought to be extended to all intoxicating drinks, as well as alcoholic liquors. We, the undersigned, were appointed a committee by the meeting to request a copy of the address, and, if granted, to superintend its publication. REV. HEMAN ROOD, WILLIAM BLACKNEY, ROYAL I. CANFIELD, Committee The address was published as a pamphlet, and used as a temperance document, a copy being preserved by Judge D. S. Boardman, the above statement is obtained, and we are by it informed of the early discussion as to abstinence from "all intoxicating drinks." The first pledge generally circulated through the country allowed the use of wines and malt liquors as a beverage, but the second excluded "all intoxicating drinks " in such use, but no movement was made, directly, to lessen the production of such liquors. We see, then, that the "total abstinence" question was publicly discussed and adopted in 1834, in Litchfield county. The Litchfield County Society continued its active work a number of years, securing a great reform throughout its territory. A report of this society for 1839 is still preserved, containing a report from the keeper of the county jail, A. Sedgwick, and of the clerk of the Superior Court, Frederick Wolcott. The following is the jailor's report, which is quite a contrast with the present times: Whole number imprisoned within one year on criminal charges, 31 Temperate, 0 Doubtful, 3 Intemperate, 28 The New Milford Washingtonian Temperance Benevolent Society was organized in October, 1841, and during the years 1841 and 1842 there were recorded over 900 names of persons as members of this society, but this movement soon began to lose interest, and but very little was done beyond the year 1842. The last record made by this society being in 1847. In 1874, upon reports of the "Woman's Temperance Crusade" in Ohio and the West, some of the women of New Milford secured the calling of a meeting, which was held March 17, 1874, and other meetings soon followed. At the time the town had refused to grant licenses, but liquors were sold quite freely and under no disguise, in several places in the village and in the town. The women visited the saloon-keepers, and urged them to stop selling liquors. Soon the liquor dealers secured the calling of a town meeting and asked the town to give them license, and while the voting was proceeding the women held a prayer-meeting. The result of the voting was sixty-seven majority against license. The liquor dealers stopped selling for a time and then secured another town vote, with a like result—no license. An appeal was made to the County Commissioners, but this also failed. Parties continuing to sell liquors without license, the voters took up the matter and prosecuted and convicted all the parties, but soon after or at the next election the town voted license. Again in 1876 the town voted no license, under which prosecutions were made by hired detectives, who feigned the distressing need of liquors for violent diseases, and when it was obtained under such circumstances, they turned informers and prosecutors. This created in the final result great defection of temperance people from the support of the no license law, and thereafter the town voted license. In 1876, a young peoples' meeting was organized and the society or meeting was for a time quite prosperous, and a Colored People's Temperance Union was formed which soon numbered eighty members, and a Band of Hope with sixty-two members was established. A Citizen's Club sprung up spontaneously and many who were considered almost past reform joined it, and a Reading-room with books, papers, and some pleasant furnishings was established and $150 provided, to aid the work. Again, in 1877, the town voted license and thus it has continued to do until the present time. An organization was formed, April 3, 1878, called the New Milford Christian Temperance Union, and officers elected: George C. Wells, President; Rev. J. B. Bonar, and Rev. J. H. Crofut, Vice-Presidents; Charles O. Hoyt, Secretary; and B. B. Cogswell, Treasurer; and a Board of Managers. A constitution was adopted, and for two years much temperance work was done and good effected, but a large proportion of the hundreds who joined this army at that time ceased to do active public work in this cause. For the past two years a temperance prayer-meeting has been maintained much of the time on Sunday afternoon. The Colored People's Temperance Union of New Milford is a living working organization, that does great credit to that people. They hold regular meetings the year round, and an annual temperance festival at New Year's. The officers now serving in this Union are: President, George W. Thatcher; Vice-President, George Van Blake; Recording Secretary, Stephen Heacock; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. George Van Blake; Treasurer, William F. Youson. The Press in New Milford. The first newspaper established in this village was the New Milford Rep2iblican, in- 1845, by J. K. Averill, who continued it until in the following year, when it was removed to Litchfield. The Housatonic Ray. In 1872, Messrs. Bailey and Donovan, publishers of the Danbury News, deeming New Milford one of the best localities in Connecticut for the establishment of a rural newspaper, began the publication of the New Milford Journal. They sent one of their workmen, named E. W. Addis, to this village to secure local items, and supplied him with sufficient type to set up the matter thus obtained, and the owners at Danbury supplied the rest and printed the paper. At the end of about one year they sold it to J. R. Johnson, who put the whole inside in type and carried the forms every week to Danbury, where the original owners did the printing of the inside, the outside of the paper being "patent" and supplied by a New York firm. After Mr. Johnson had published it about one year, it passed into the hands of the present proprietor and editor, Mr. M. L. Delavan, who changed its name to that of The Housatonic Ray, under which title it still diffuses its "Rays" of light to an increasing patronage, having already met with a degree of success quite unexpected at the outset by its editor. The Ray aims to be independent in the expression of its opinions, in which aim it has succeeded as well as many other papers with like good intentions, yet it is well known that many of the human race have failed to reach the high point at which they aimed. It has a feature,— that of questions and answers,^which is wholly unknown to the other papers of the state. It is an industrious, enterprising, and energetic paper. The office of the Ray is at the corner of Bank and Railroad streets, second floor, and the appearance of the sheet itself is much more benevolent and gracious than the two crowded rooms where its four pages with an often accompanying Supplement are made up and printed every week. The New Milford Gazette. This paper was started by Gee & Hale in January, 1877, and continued to be published under their management until August, 1877, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Robert Erwin, who has been its editor and publisher to the present time. It is said to be Democratic in its politics, but is much more generally known in the true democratic sense, in the diffusion of the knowledge of transpiring public events of the day, than for its discussions of political views. Its commodious office and printing-room is in the east end of the basement of the Town Hall, a room that is delightfully cool in a hot summer day, which fact has been suggested, may have something to do in giving character to the paper the "year round," if we add the words, "and spicy." The Circulating Library. The Union Library of New Milford was established February 18, 1796. The first meeting of the proprietors was held at the dwelling-house of William Clark, and the following are the names of the original subscribers: Sherman Boardman, Elijah Boardman, David S. Boardman, Mathew Brownson, Nathan B. Buckingham, Samuel B. Buck, Clark Blackney, Benjamin Bostwick, Elijah Bostwick, Samuel Bostwick, Reuben Booth, Gerardus Booth, Asa Brownson, Daniel Camp, William Camp, Samuel Bostwick, Ithamar Canfield, Herman Canfield, William Clark, Stephen Chittenden, Jr., William Doan, Daniel A. Pickett, Joseph Ruggles, John Roberts, Philo Ruggles, John Speary, Benoni S. Sanford, William Taylor, Thomas Wells, Daniel Everitt, Stanley Griswold, Ebenezer Gaylord, William Gaylord, Daniel Gaylord, Nathan Gaylord, Abner Gunn, Epenetus Gunn, Abel Mine, Noble Hine, Beebe Hine, Solomon Hill, Abraham Hayes, C. Lowrey, J. Lockwood, Daniel Lines, Truman Marsh, N. S. Masters, Stephen Miles, John Miles, Stephen Merwin, Noahdiah Mygatt, David Noble, Jeremiah Platt, Isaac Stone, Eli Starr, Nathaniel Taylor, Nathaniel Taylor, Jr., Gideon Treat, Philip Wells. St. Peter's Lodge, Nor. 21, F. and A. M. The first Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the New England Colonies was opened in Boston in 1733, and after the Revolutionary War Grand Lodges were organized in all the States. A charter was granted, and Hiram Lodge was established in New Haven, Connecticut, upon the petition of Captain (afterwards General) David Wooster, in 1750, which was the first lodge in Connecticut. The next in the same State was at New London in 1753, and the next at Middletown in 1754. At a convention of the lodges of the State of Connecticut, held at New Haven, July 8, A. L. 5789, A. D. 1789, the Grand Lodge of Connecticut was organized, and a constitution adopted. St. Peter's Lodge of New Milford was represented in the May session of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in 1791, but how long it had been then organized has not been ascertained. At the half-yearly communication of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in October, 1795, Elisha Bostwick, J. W., represented St. Peter's Lodge of New Milford. From that time until 1828, it was regularly represented in the Grand Lodge of the State; at which time the officers were: Jehiel Williams, W. M., Oliver W. Pickett, S. W., Franklin Stedman, J. W. The following names of delegates from St. Peter's Lodge of. New Milford are found in the records of the Grand Lodge of the State: 1796, Philo Ruggles; in 1797 and 1798, Elisha Bostwick and Philo Ruggles; in 1799, Joseph Ruggles, M., Reuben Brownson. S. W., and Philo Ruggles, J. W.; 1800, Elisha Bostwick and Abner Gunn. Of the additional names as delegates from St. Peter's—which was Lodge No. 21—we find the following: In 1802, Benjamin Platt, M.; in 1804, Benjamin Clapp, M.; in 1805, Eli Todd, M.; in 1806, Beebe Hine, who was the delegate regularly three years, and many times thereafter; in 1810, Reuben Warner; 1811, Levi Hubbell; in 1814, Jehiel Williams; in 1815, Daniel Pickett; in 1816, Seelye Richmond; in 1817, Ezra Noble; in 1818, Gerardus Booth; in 1819, Philo S. Hicox and William Prime; 1821, Clark Hine and Edward Hunt; in 1822, Samuel Canfield. These persons were delegates with others many more times than here noted, for these are the new names as they are recorded from year to year. The officers of St. Peter's, as reported from 1821, are as follows: 1821—Ezra Noble, W. M., Clark Hine, S. W., Edward Hunt, J. W. 1822-Ezra Noble, W. M., Clark Hine, S. W., Edward Hunt, J. W: 1823—Clark Hine, W. M., Edward Hunt, S. W., E Mygatt, J. W. 1824—Clark Hine, W. M., Edward Hunt, S. W., Chas. A. Randall, J. W. 1825—Edward Hunt, W. M., Chas. A. Randall, S. W., Oliver W. Pickett, J. W. 1826—Oliver W. Pickett, S. W., Ezra Noble, J. W. 1827—Jehiel Williams, W. M., Oliver W. Pickett, S. W., Franklin Stedman, J. W. 1828—Jehiel Williams, W. M., Oliver W. Pickett, S. W., Franklin Stedman, J. W. The report of the officers of St. Peters Lodge for 1828 is the last recorded, and it is believed that soon after it the charter was surrendered and the lodge given up. At this time the lodges numbered 75 in the State, but upon the Morgan excitement which soon followed, quite a number of the charters were surrendered. An account book of St. Peter's Lodge is still preserved, the cover and some of the pages having been lost. The record as now seen begins in 1809, and continues until January, 1828, when the book stood nearly balanced. It is probable that the charter was at this time surrendered. From this treasurer's book, we learn that the following persons were members of the lodge, or became so, during the years from 1809 to 1828; but most of the dates denote the time of initiation: 1810 Ashbel Bostwick, Jonathan Mygatt, William Watson, Abel Hine, 2d, John Briggs, Homer Gaylord, Calvin Hatch, Daniel Copley, Isaac H. Bartram, Daniel Copley, Jr., Horace Warner, Stephen Chittenden, Amasa Ferriss, 1811 Levi Hubbell, Wilmot Sperry, Abel B. Turrell, Marshall Bostwick, Aaron H. Stewart, Gilbert Buckingham, Everett Russell, Stephen Edwards, Seth G. Briggs, Samuel Canfield, 1812 Israel Graves, Harvey Bartram, Philo N. Heacock, Benjamin Wadhams, 1814 Holmes Hubbell, Eli Mygatt, Benjamin Smith, Oviatt Clark, Oliver Evetts, Abijah Peet Clark Hine, Sheldon Lockwood, William Hine, Stephen M. Ingersoll, Briggs Ingersoll, Thomas Weller, Philo Noble, Cyrenus Ruggles, Gerardus Booth, Orsemus Brownson, Lewis Curtiss, Jehiel Williams, James B. Turrell, Stephen Treat, William Prime, Homer Treat, Nathan Kingsley. Benjamin Benham, Sylvanus Noble, Jeremiah Platt, Herman Crane, Truman Richmond, Eli C. Northrop, Charles A. Randall, 1821 Z. D. Wheeler, Joel Morehouse, Hebron Tucker, Pierce Maehar, William A. Blackney, 1824 Stephen Miles, Franklin Stedman, Grant Northrop, Beebe Hine, 1826 Solomon E. Bostwick. The Treasurers of the Lodge from 1810, were: Stephen Chittenden, Philo Noble, Philo N. Heacock, Israel Graves, James Webb, Briggs Ingersoll, Ezra Noble. The Charter for St. Peter's Lodge was renewed Nov. 23, 1863, when a number of the fraternity met at Lewis Allen's hotel, in New Milford, on the evening of that day, and Jarvis Polly was appointed chairman and F. Richmond, Jr., secretary. The brethren then proceeded to the election of officers with the following result: Jarvis Polly, W. M.; F. Richmond, Jr., S. W.; F. N. Allen, J. W.; George Lockwood, Treas.; H. Hertz, Sec. The lodge-room was first located in the post-office building, on Bank street, and on their first regular communication, Jan. 4, 1864, the remaining officers were chosen. Charles M. Booth, S. D.; Oliver S. Hartwell, J. D. It was voted to hold the regular communications on the first and third Tuesday evenings in each month. The charter members were; Jarvis Polly, F. Richmond, Jr., L. N. Jennings, F. N. Allen, Frederic Percy, Robert Townsend, Lewis Allen, Isaac Newman, Charles M. Booth, Oliver S. Hartwell, H. Hertz. The following are the Worthy Masters in regular succession, since the renewal of the charter: Albert S. Hill, Dec. 19, 1865; Charles M. Booth, Dec. 15, 1868; Henry O. Warner, Dec. 20, 1870; A. H. McMahon, Dec. 15, 1874; S. C. Landon, Dec. 18, 1877; T. M. Trowbridge, Dec. 17, 1878. Albert Turrill has held the position as Tyler since the reorganization of the lodge, with the exception of one year, during which time he has not been absent from his post but three or four times. At the dedication of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, April 25, 1873, the lodge sent Charles M. Booth to witness the ceremony and report to the lodge. On his return Mr. Booth gave the lodge an interesting account of the dedication, with a description of the building, and also presented to the lodge photographs of the Temple. On Jan. 1, 1870, the lodge place of meeting was removed to Schroverling's Building, on Railroad street, near the Station, and on October 1, 1879, it was again removed to its present rooms on Bank street. The present membership numbers ninety-four. Ousatonic Chapter, No. 33, R. A. M. This chapter was organized as Weantinaug Chapter, March 3, 1870. On May 19, 1870, it was legally constituted as Ousatonic Chapter under warrant of John H. Barlow, G. H. P. The Chapter members were Jarvis Polly, G. W. Anthony, T. T. Marsh, Charles D. Blinn, D. W. Knowles, A. H. McMahon, A. H. Knapp, Eli Hamlin, Ira Keeler, and John Knowles. The first officers elected were Jarvis Polly, M. E. H. P.; D. E. Knowles, E. K.; A. H. McMahon, E. S.; M. L. Frost, C. H.; S. C. Landon, R. A. C.; H. O. Warner, P. S.; T. T. Marsh, Treas.; George W. Anthony, Sec.; Wm. Schoverling, G. M. 3d V.; John E. Knowles, G. M. 2d V.; Oliver S. Hartwell, G. M. 1st V.; Albert Turrill, Tyler. The following is a list of succeeding M. E. H. Priests: A. S. Hill, Dec. 28, 1871; S. C. Landon, Dec. 28, 1876; A. S. Hill, Dec. 27, 1877. The present officers are: A. S. Hill, M. E. H. P.; T. M. Trowbridge, E. K.; S. C. Landon, E. S.; T. T. Marsh, Treas.; G. W. Anthony, Sec.; W. F. Bennett, C. H.; J. G. Foster, P. S.; G. S. Beers, R. A. C.; Alex. Levy, G. M. 3d V.; F. A, Bennett, G. M. 2d V.; J. A. Northrop, G. M. ist V.; Albert Turrill, Tyler. The Chapter held its meetings at first in the Masonic Hall, on Railroad street, but removed with St. Peter's Lodge of F. and A. M., to its present rooms on Bank street. The present membership numbers forty-five. The Good Shepherd's Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F. This Lodge was instituted July 2, 1877, with the following charter members: John F. Williams, Nathaniel A. Williams, John B. Boughton, Thomas D. Barlow, George S. Beers, and James R. Ferriss. The officers were: Thomas D. Barlow, N. G.; John B. Boughton, V. G.; James R. Ferriss, Sec.; John F. Williams, Treas. The place of meeting was Beach's Hall, corner of West and Bridge streets. On July 1, 1878, it was removed to Masonic Hall, on Railroad street, near the depot. On Oct. 1, 1879, it was again removed to the new Masonic Hall on Bank street, where it remains. The Noble Grands have been: John B. Boughton, January, 1878; Nathaniel A. Williams, July, 1878; Charles B. Botsford, January, 1879; George E. Eddy, July, 1879; George S. Beers, January, 1880. The present officers are: Lewis W. Mosher, N. G.; Charles Planz, V, G.; T. M. Trowbridge, Sec.; John B. Sharp, Treas. On Nov. 13, 1877, Schuyler Colfax delivered a lecture under the auspices of the lodge, to a large audience, from which the lodge realized a profit, a part of which was donated to the yellow fever sufferers in Memphis, Tenn. Since its organization the lodge has lost but two members by death. The present membership is forty-six, with an average attendance of sixteen. The Fire Department. The first fire company in this town was organized May 8, 1830. This company was disbanded in February, 1863, and the Water Witch Engine Company, No. 2, was organized. The following persons have been foremen: Frederick Boardman, L. N. Jennings, S. L. Erwin, and Nicholas Staub. The Water Witch Hose Company was organized May 1, 1876. The present officers are: Nicholas Staub, Foreman; Charles Edwards, First Assistant; Philip Planz, Second Assistant; T. M. Trowbridge, Secretary; R. B. Noble, Treasurer; H. E. Bost-wick, Chief Engineer; A. H. McMahon, First Assistant; S. L. Erwin, Second Assistant.. The following is a list of the present members of this company. George Robertson, Henry Cady, Thomas Bray, Standing Committee. Silas L. Erwin, Charles Edwards, Edward Doherty, Finance Committee. Noble Bennitt, Charles B. Botsford, Curtis E. Colepaugh, John Colepaugh, Charles A. Cromer, John Cromer, William Donnelly, William J. Dodd, George E. Eddy, Milo Erwin, Laurin Evitts, Charles W. Hine, John Hannon, Jesse L. James, Frederic Kirsch, James H. McMahon, John Murphy, Ralph B. Morgan, Lewis W. Mosher, William Oviatt, Fred Osborn, George F. Pixley, Philip Planz, Charles Planz, Frederic Raifstranger, Eli Roberts, William Reily, Oliver W. Smith, Albert Turrill, George Toussaint, Jacob Toussaint, Joseph C. Wiley, John H. Ward, William Whitlock. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882, BY SAMUEL ORCUTT AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF TORRINGTON, WOLCOTT, AND DERBY, AND THE INDIANS OF THE HOUSATONIC AND NAUGATUCK VALLEYS, CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN.: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD AND BRAINARD COMPANY. File at -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/ct/litchfield/history/1882/historyo/newmilfo58gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ctfiles/ File size: 54.8 Kb