CHAPTER XXVI: THE TOWN OF STERLING, CT Submitter: Anonymous Date Submitted: 3 May 1997 Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Co CT *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** Geographical Description - The Volunteers' Land - Settlement as Voluntown - Division of the Land - Town Privileges - Presbyterial Church Organized - Lands Laid Out - Sterling Town Organized - Meeting House Erected - General Progress - Public Highways - School Matters - The Voluntown and Sterling Church - Line Meeting House - Sterling Hill Baptist Church - Other Churches - Manufacturing - Rocks and Quarries - Oneco - Decline of Manufactures - The Grange - Biographical Sketches The township of Sterling occupies the southeast corner of the county, being bounded on the north by Killingly, east by Rhode Island, south by Voluntown (formerly a town of Windham county, but recently transferred to New London county), and west by Plainfield. The town is nine miles long from north to south, and has an average width of three miles. It is centrally distant from Hartford 49 miles and from new Haven 73 miles. Itcontains an area of twenty-seven square miles. Much of the land is hilly or swampy. The town is well drained by the Quanduck and Cedar Swamp branches of Moosup river. It contains valuable building stones, which are quarried to some extent. Sterling hill, in the western part, is the original settlement, and occupies an eminence, furnishing a delightful view of the surrounding country. The town is crossed near the center by the Providence Divisin of the N.Y. & N. E. railroad. Large quantities of railroad ties are cut from the woods of the town. Farming and manufacturing form the industrial interests of the town. Its population at different periods has been: In 1800, 908; in 1840, 1,099; 1870, 1,022; 1880, 957. The grand list of the town in 1800 was $20,873; in 1847, $11,791; in 1857, $13,447; and 1887, $259,263. The number of children between the ages of four and sixteen in 1858 was 280; in 1881, 227; and in 1887, 197. The post offices of Sterling, Oneco, Ekonk, and North Sterling are in this town. In October, 1696, Lieutenant Thomas Leffingwell, of Norwich, and Sergeant John Frink, of Stonington, moved the general court, "that they, with the rest of the English volunteers in former wars, might have a plantatin granted to them." A tract of land six miles square was granted in answer to this request, "to be taken up out of some of the conquered land," its bounds to be prescribed and settlement regulated by persons appointed by the court. The volunteers sent "out upon the doscovery" of a suitable trct, found their choice very limited. Major Fitch, the Winthrops and others had already appropriated the greater part of the conquered lands,and the only available tract remaining within Connecticut limits was a strip bordering on Rhode Island, a few miles east of Norwich, and upon reorting this "discovery" to the general court, "Captain Samuel Mason, Mr. John Gallup, and Lieutenant James Aver were appointed a committee to view the said tract, and to consider whether it be suitable for entertainment of a body of people that may be able comfortably to carry on plantation work, or what addition of land may be necessary to accomodate a body of people for comfortable subsistence in a plantation way." After taking three years for viewing and considering, the committee reported favorably, and in October, 1700, Lieutenant Leffingwell, Richard Bushnell, Isaac Wheeler, Caleb Fobes, Samuel Bliss, Joseph Morgan and Manasseh Minor moved for its confirmation to the volunteers, which was granted, "so far as it concur with the former act of the General Assembly, provided it bring not the Colony into any inconvenience" or, as afterward expressed, "do not prejudice any former grant of the court." A large part of the tract thus granted is now comprised in the town of Voluntown. Its original bounds were nearly identical with those of the present township, save that eastward it extended to Pawcatuck river. Little now can be learned of the primitive condition of this region. It was a waste, barren frontier, overrun by various tribes of Indians, and after the Narragansett war, claimed by the Mohegans,. Massashowitt, sachem of Quinebaug, also claimed rights to it. No Indians are beleived to have occupied it after the war, nor were any white inhabitants found on it when made over to the volunteers. Some years passed before the division was completed. After the disputed Mohegan claim was settled a survey of the land was made in 1705. This land extended from the north bounds of Stonington northward to the Whetstone country, being a tract some twenty miles long, and from three to six miles in width. Its original quantity was diminished somewhat by the encroachment of the Rhode Island line, but after that had been established the tract was substantially the same as tha now occupied by the towns of Voluntown and Sterling. One hundred and sixty persons had enrolled themselves as desirous of sharing in the benefit of this grant, and the land was distributed among them by a drawing made April 6th, 1706. These drawers of lots were residents of New London, Norwich, Stonington, Windham, Plainfield and other neighboring towns. The list comprised not only officers and soldiers, but ministers, chaplains and many who had served the colony in civilcapacity as well as military, during the war. Samuel Fish was probably the first settler on this tract, but at what point his settlement had been made (it being already there), we are not informed. Very few of the "volunteers" took personal possession of their allotments. Some of the proprietors sold out their rights at an early date, receiving five, six, eight, eleven and twelve pounds for an allotment. Others retained their shares and rented out farms on them whenever practicable. These first divisions were made in the southern part of the tract surveyed and most, if not all of the first land divisions and operations were probably within the limits of the present town of Voluntown. Northward lay the vacant land of Plainfield. This land was petitioned for both by Plainfield and Voluntown. Some few had already obtained possession of lands here and had made improvements upon them. Reverand Mr. Coit, of Plainfield, had received a grant of three hundred acres north of Egunk hill, and he conveyed it to Francis Smith and Miles Jordan. Smith soon put up a mill and opened his house for the accommodation of travelers. Smith and Jordan, in 1714, erected a bridge over the river there, and received in payment 150 acres of land on the Providence road. This convient road and pleasent locality soon attracted other settlers - John Smith, Ebenezer and Thomas Dow, Robert and John Parke, Robert Williams, Nathaniel French and others. In May, 1719, this vacant country was annexed to Voluntown, by act of the assembly, a strip one mile in width across the north end being reserved as public land. The settlers who were established in the vacant land had their purchases confirmed to them by the assembly, in October, 1719, on condition that each should "have a tenantable house and settle themselves within the space of three years and continue to live there three years after such settlement, upon the forfeiture of said purchase." In May, 1721, the people inhabiting this territory were invested with town privileges, in the exercise of which they proceeded to lay taxes for the support of a minister and building a meeting house. The town government of Voluntown was organized June 20th, 1721. Thirty- seven persons were then admitted inhabitants. The town was thus eighteen or twenty miles long and three or four miles wide. The question of location of a meeting house was a perplexing one, but it was finally deceided by actual measurement, and placeing it in the geographical center of the town, or about a quarter of a mile therefrom, the central point falling on an inconvenient spot. The first pastor settled by the town was Reverand Samuel Dorrance, a Scotch Presbyterian lately arrived from Ireland, who was installed December 12th, 1723. A church had been organized October 15th, 1723. This church adopted the Westminister Confession of Faith and was the first and for a long time the only Presbyterian church in Connecticut. The first members of the church were Samuel Dorrance, Robert Gordon, Thomas Cole, John Cassson, John Campbell, Robert Campbell, Samuel Campbell, John Gordon, Alexander Gordon, Ebenezer Dow, John Keigwin, William Hamilton, Robert Hopkins, John Smith, Daniel Dill, Thomas Welch, Jacob Bacon, Daniel Cass, John Dorrance, Jr., Nathaniel Deane, Vincent Patterson, Robert Miller, Patrick Parke, Samuel Church, Adam Kasson, William Dasson, David Hopkins, Charles Campbell, Nathaniel French, John Gibson, James Hopkins, John and Robert Parke, William Rogers, and John Gallup. In 1724 John Gallup had liberty to build a dam and saw mill "where he hath begun on ye stream that runs out of Monhungonnuck Pond," and Robert Parke was allowed a similar privilege on the Moosup. The landed interests of the town were still managed by the proprietors, and their meetings were held at New London, Norwich, and Stonington. This subjected the resident proprietors to much inconvenience and was afterward corrected by allowing a part at least of the business concerning lands to be done in the town. In May, 1726, Voluntown organized its first military company, with John Gallup, for captain; Robert Parke for lieutenant; and Francis Deane, for ensign. The progress of the town had been greatly retarded, and at that date it was much behind its contemporaries, having no schools nor even a meeting house, and but few roads laid out. A long continued and obstinate contest over the site of the meeting house disturbed the town and prevented the erection of the building. Then again, boundry contests with the adjoining towns disturbed the peace of the town. Added to these disturbing forces from without and within was the fact that its population, though quite large, was motley and disprderly, made up of substantial settlers from adjacent townships, sturdy Scotch Presbyterians and lawless Rhode Island borderers. So great was the popular agitation and discontent that at one time the town voted "that it desired that the patent granted to Voluntown might be un-acted and made void, and that the town be divided by an east and west line into north and south ends, and each end to make and maintain their own bridges and highways." Attempts to go on with the building of the meeting house in this disturbed conditin of affairs were quite suspended. A frame had been set up on Egunk, now Sterling hill, the site chosen and contended for by a large faction, and there it stood for years without covering. In 1729, however, the agitation was so far subsided that a meeting house was begun upon the site originally designated by the town, and this was completed in the course of two or three years. In 1740 a committee was appointed to lay out the undivided lands belonging to the proprietors. In 1739 the strip of public land which had been reserved, a mile in width, at the north end of the town, was annexed to this town by an act of the assembly. Up to this time no freemen had yet been sworn, no "country taxes" paid, and no representatives sent to the general assembly. The town now settled down to a more complete fulfillment of the privileges and responsibilities of corporate existence. But the division of land ordered in 1740 was delayed till 1747, when all previous committees being dismissed, Humphrey Avery, Charles Campbell, Robert Dixon, Samuel Gordon and John Wylie, Jr., were appointed to divide the common lots to each proprietor or his heirs, remeasure and rebound old lots, and lay out cedar swamps, which were satisfactorily accomplished. The cedar and pine swamps, said to be the best in the county, were laid out and divided. The lot on which the meeting house stood, and the burial place adjoining, were sequestered for the use of the inhabitants of the town and their successors. Several of the original lots had not been taken up by those to whom they had been granted. In this condition Voluntown remained for many years, a greater part of the inhabitants averse to the established church and yet compelled to pay rates for the support of its ministry. Attempts were made by residents of each end of the town to procure district society privileges. A petition presented to the asseembly in 1762 sets forth the situatin in the following language: "That there was but one society in Voluntown, twenty miles long and four or five miles wide; list in 1761, L10,786; inhabitants settled at each end and dispersed in almost every part, about one hundred and eighty families, some dewlling seven, some nine and ten miles from meeting house; trouble of transporting ourselves and families very great and heavy; town conveniently situated for division; such burden of travel hardly to be found in any other town - and prayed for division." In 1772 fifty-four person north of Moosup river, including John, James, and George Dorrance, Robert, Thomas, and James Dixon, Robert Montgomery, John Coles, John Gaston, Mark and David Eames, some of them six, seven, eight and nine miles from Voluntown meeting house, and greatly impeded by bad roads and traveling, received liberty from the assembly to organize as a distinct society or jin in worship with Killingly. A number of these northern residents consequently united with the church in South Killingly, and after some years organized as a distinct society. Sterling obtained town privileges without the customary struggle. The inconvenience arising from the peculiar wlongation of ancient Voluntown was abundantly manifest, and a proposition, April 25th, 1793, to divide into two towns met immediate acceptance. The resolve incorporating the new town was passed May, 1794, as follows: "Resolved by this Assembly, that all that part of the ancient town of Voluntown, within the following bounds, beginning at the northwest corner of said ancient town of Voluntown, at the south line of Killingly; thence running southerly on the east side of Plainfield until it comes to the southeast corner of Plainfield; thence east ten degrees south to the division line between this state and the state of Rhode Island; thence by said state line to the southeast corner of Killingly; thence westerly on the line of Killingly to the first mentioned bounds, be, and the same is hereby, incorporated into a distinct town by the name of 'Sterling,' and shall be, and remain in, and of the County of Windham." The first town meeting was held at the house of Robert Dixon, Esq., on Sterling hill, June 9th, 1794. Benjamin Dow was elected town clerk and treasurer; Captain John Wylie and Asa Montgomery, George Matteson, Anthony Brown and Lemuel Dorrance, selectmen; Captain Thomas Gordon, constable and collector; Noah Cole, James Dorrance, Jr., Nathaniel Gallup, Dixon Hall, fence viewers; Nathaniel Gallup, grand juryman; John Hill, Nathaniel Burlinggame, Matthias Frink, tithingmen. Benjamin Dow, Lemuel Dorrance and John Wylie were appointed a committee to make division of all the corporate property that did belong to Voluntown; also, to settle the line with Voluntown gentlemen and make division of the the poor. Sheep and swine were allowed liberty "to go on the common." The dwelling house of Robert Dixon was selected as the place for holding town meetings until the town saw cause to make other arrangements. Nearly a hundred inhabitants were soon admitted as freemen. The original Voluntown families - Dixon, Dorrance, Dow, Douglas, Cole, Smith, Gaston, Gordon, Gallup, French, Frink, Montgomery, Wylie - were still representated. Patten, Perkins, Vaughan, Young, Bailey, Burgess, Burlingame, Hall, Mason, and other later residents, appeared among the inhabitants. The name of the town was given by a temporary resident, Docton John Sterling, who promised a public library in return for the honor. Sterling entered upon its new duties with the usual spirit and energy. Its population was about nine hundred. Though much of its soil was poor, and its shape inconvient, it had some peculiar advantages. It had fine water privileges, an excellent stone quarry, agreat post road running through its center, and sterling men of good Scotch stock to administer public affairs. The lack of a suitable place for holding town meetings was an annoyance and mortification to the leading men of the town, publishing to the world their lamentable destitution of that most essential accommodation - a public meeting house. Congregationalists in the south part of the town were included in the North society of Voluntown, and now engaged in building a new meeting house upon the boundry line between the townships; those in the North or Bethesda society united with the South church of Killingly. The Baptists in the west part of the town were connected with the church in Plainfield; the east side Baptists joined in worship and church fellowship with their Rhode Island neighbors. As no religious society was ready to lead, its public- spirited citizens hastened to supply the deficiency by erecting a house of worship upon their own expense and responsibility. Sterling hill, as it is now called, was virtually the head and heart of the town, the center of business, the residence of the most influential citizens, and the members of the Sterling Hill Meeting Huse Association could not think of erecting the projected edifice in any other locality. The subscribers to the building of the Sterling hill meeting house were as follows: Francis Smith, Levi Kinney, David Gallup, Joshua Frink, Isaac Gallup, William Gallup, George Madison, Charles Winsor, Nathan Burlingame, Phillip Potter, Archibald Lemuel, James, and John Dorrance, Stephen Olney, Pierce Smith, Robert and Thomas Dixon, Joshua Webb, Benjamin Tuckerman, Reuben Thayer, David Field, Caleb Cushing, Andrew Knox, Titus Bailey, Joseph Wylie, Reuben Parke, Moses Gibson, Azael Montgomery, Dixon Hall, Archibald Gordon, Thomas Gordon, William Vaughan, Captain Gaston, Andrew and Samuel Douglas, Thomas and Samuel Cole, John Kenyon, Sr. and Jr., George Hopkins, Asa Whitford, Benjamin Bennet. The subscribers, through a committee, obtained a deed from the heirs of Samuel Dorrance for a building lot on the east side of the Great Lane, now called the Green, "for the purpose of setting a meeting house and that only, and the convenience of a green." The meeting house was soon completed and in the autumn of 1797 the town meeting occupied it instead of the house of Robert Dixon, which had previously been used for that purpose. Other public meetings were held in it, and occasiolal religious services, but no regular worship was maintained for several years. In this way matters stood till about the year 1812, when the Baptists, having grown stronger, were able to maintain stated worship, and its occupancy was given up to them. About 1818 a post office was established here, with Benjamin Tuckerman postmaster, which positin he held for many years. The public library, which had been promised for the honor of naming the town but failed in its fullfilment, had been established years before, and was maintained at that time. Pierce Smith succeeded Asa Montgomery as town clerk. John Wylie, Thomas Backus, Dyer Ames, Richard Burlingame, Dixon Hall, Jeremiah Young, John Gallup and Calvin Hibbard served as justices. Other town offices were filled by Lemuel Dorrance, Obadiah Brown, Asa Whitford, Jonah Young, Archibald Dorrance, John Hill, John and Azel Cole, Elias Frink, Amos Perkins, Joseph Gallup, John Keigwin and Artemas Baker. Half of the town meetings were held in the house of Azel Cole, and at a later date at the house of William Fairman, "on the new road near the American Cotton Factory." From its location and surroundings the territory of Sterling is not subject to such violent disturbances by flood of swelling streams as some of its neighbor towns. Being smaller in territory, and its shape rather favorable thereto, it has been spared the burdens of road making and bridge building, which have been to some towns a serious drawback in their early experiences. After organizatin as a town, one ot their first duties was to examine circumstances fo that stage road "that leads from Plainfield to Providence by Captain Robert Dixon's." The Turnpike Society, then recently constituted, was about to lay out a large sum of money in alterations and improvements, and the selectmen of Sterling were cited to do their part. "Taking into consideration the circumstances and liabilities of the town, and the consequences that might follow any failure or neglect," they proceeded to notify the inhabitants and make the proposed alterations, viz., from Archibald Dorrance's fence through Kenyon's field and so on to old post road; also, another piece near the burying-ground and Captain Colgrove's. A bridge was built over Moosup river near Smith's Mill - Lemuel Dorrance, John Gaston and John Douglas committee. A turnpike gate was erected near the western line of the town. To facilitate its fishing interest, it was ordered that obstructins should be removed from the river. School matters, like most all other public enterprises, suffered delay in the early years of this town, while it was part of Voluntown. In December, 1732, it was voted "That there shall be a surkelating school kept and a school-master hired at ye town's charge." In March, 1735, it was further ordered, "That the school be kept in four places, three months in a place, six months in ye north end and six months in ye south end, dividing ye town by a line from Alexanders Gordon's to Ebenezer Dow's house - and that the master, John Dunlap, should have thirty pounds money, and sufficient meat, drink, washing and lodging, for keeping school eleven months and eighteen days, and in ye night, when convenient." The first school house in the town was built in 1737, "four rods from ye northwest corner of ye meeting house," and a rate of twopence allowed for the same. In 1762, John Gordon was chosen grand school committee, "to take into his hands the school bonds, and to receive the proportion of money granted by Government to the town out of the Colony's rate, and to dispose of the same, and all other money coming from Plainfield, &c., and town's proportion of the sale of Norfolk." In 1766, David Eames, John Cole, Joseph Parke, Thomas Douglas, John Gaston, John Gordon and John Wylie were appointed to set out school districts throughout the town. Thirteen districts were specified, each of which thenceforward managed its own school under the supervision of a "grand-school committee-man," appointed by the town. June 9th, 1794, John Douglas, Jr., was chosen grand school committee man, and a committee of one for each of the seven school districts, viz: 1. Jencks Mason; 2. Noah Coles; 3. Elisha Perkins; 4. Lemuel Dorrance; 5. Asa Whitford; 6. Nathan Dow; 7. Nathan Burlingame. After the organization of the town of Sterling improvements in schools were gradually effected. Ten school districts, accommodated with good, convenient schools, were reported in a few years. Efforts were made to establish an academy, a company formed, and a suitable building erected, "standing near our new meetin-house, nearly in the centre of the town," where a "man school was maintained throughout the year, teaching reading, writing, mathematics and grammer." With these public buildings, Robert Dixon's well known tavern stand, and several large substantial houses built by the Dorrances and other thrifty residents, Sterling hill presented a fine appearance, and received especial commendation from Doctor Dwight.. After noting the lean soil and imperfect civilization of Western Rhode Island, he proceeds: "At Sterling we were pleasantly advised that we had come to Connecticut by sight of a village with decent church and school-house and better houses. A beautiful prospect from Sterling Hill." Reverend Mr. Dorrance remained pastor of the town ecclesiastic of Voluntown until March 5th, 1771, when, on account of his great age and infirmity, he was releived. About 1772 and ecclesiastical society was chartered in the south part of Voluntown, and the same year, as we have already seen, a society was also chartered in the north part. The mother church, thus cripples, was unable to settle a pastor, and could with difficulty maintain regular worship. June 30th, 1779; the ancient First Church of Voluntown was reorganized as a Congregational church according to Cambridge Platform, its membership including ten males and sixteen females. The pastoral services of Reverand Mr. Gilmore were then secured, and the religious worship was regularly maintained. Near the close of the century, and after the organization of Sterling, the remnant of this ancient church built a house of worship on the line between the towns, so that while the speaker stands upon the platform, one foot may be in Sterling and the other foot in Voluntown. In the last year of the century Reverand Micaiah Porter, who had been pastor of this church for nineteen years, removed and left the people without a shephard. The weakened congregation now turned to the Baptists who were strong in the neighborhood, and Elder Amos Crandall, an open communion Baptist, occupied the Line meeting house on alternate Sabbaths for several years, preaching to a small congregation. Still the church was not entirely disbanded. Reverand Elijah Welles, after his dismission from Scotland, labored with it for a year, but without marked success. Worship was kept up in an intermittent fashion for several years by a few brethren. In 1817 an appeal for aid was presented to the Domestic Missionary Society for Connecticut, and this was favorably answered for a time. After nearly thirty years of uncertain existence, this church secured the services of a stated pastor, and Reverend Otis Lane was installed over it October 29th, 1828. Infirm health compelled his removal after a few years, but he was quickly succeedeed by Reverend Jacob Allen, installed in October, 1837, who with a brief intermission remained in charge for nearly twenty years. A new meeting house on this site was erected in 1858. At the dedication of this the new pastor, Reverend Charles L. Ayer, was ordained. This dedication of house and ordinatin of pastor took place January 6th, 1859. A new parsonage was obtained, largely through his efforts. He was dismissed October 27th, 1863. Reverend William M. Birchard was installed May 4th, 1864, and dismissed March 25th, 1868. Reverand Joseph Ayer, father of Charles L., came here in November, 1868, and after acting some time as stated supply, was instaleld May 11th, 1870. He was dismissed May 19th, 1875, on his 82nd birthday. Reverand Stephen B. Carter served the church as pastor from January 1st, 1876, to December 31st, 1880. John Elderkin, the present pastor, began his labors here in April, 1881. The present house of worship on Ekonk hill was dedicated January 6th, 1859. The house before it occupied the same site, built in 1795 to 1800. A burying ground still marks the spot where the first house of worship stood, about two miles northeast from the present one, on the west side of the road leading from Voluntown to Sterling hill and Oneco. In January, 1889, the church had 33 members. The meeting house on Sterling hill, which had been erected for general religious and town meetings, by the "Meeting Huse Associatin," was used by different societies until about the year 1812. At that time the Baptists were rising in importance an increasing in numbers, and the regular stated occupancy of this meeting house was accorded them. This new religious interest had been developed under the preaching and labors of Elder Amos Welles, previously of Woodstock. Baptists in Coventry and Sterling united in a new church organizatin February 13th, 1813, and its pastoral charge was assumed by Elder Welles. Public worship was held alternately at Coventry and Sterling hill. Asa Montgomery was chosen deacon in 1816, and Philip Keigwin assistant. Nearly fifty were added to the church during the ministry of Elder Welles, which continued till his death in 1819. The Plainfield Baptist church and a neighboring church in Rhode Island united with this church in forming the Sterling Hill Association, which held a general meeting once a year, exciting a large attendance and much interest. After this, the church enjoyed for five years the ministry of Reverand George Appleton. In April, 1829, Peleg Peckham became its pastor, continuing in charge for many years. Great revivals soon following brought in more than fifty to the membership of the church. The connection with Coventry was dissolved, and the church assumed the title of the First Baptist church of Sterling. John Gallup succeeded Thomas Douglas as clerk. Ira Crandall was chosen deacon upon the death of Deacon Asa Montgomery. Philip Keigwin was also a deacon. During the year 1829 a branch was established in Voluntown, which became independent of this church in about twn years. The meeting house was throughly reconstructed in 1860-61, the former proprietors relinquishing their claims to a new "Associatin" and the Baptist church which had so long occupied it. Elder Peleg M. Peckham took charge, as we have said, in 1829, and continued until September, 1850. After that no stated preaching was had for some time. Services were conducted by temporary supplies. The old house stood where the present one does. Some of the timber of the old was worked over into the new. Elder Peckham died May 29th, 1872, at his home in Sterling hill, now occupied by his grandson, Samuel P. Green. While the old church was in a dilapidated condition, Elder Biddle preached to the congregation in the school house for a year, about 1857. After that, Elder Peckham, who had given up the ministry on account of throat troubles, resumed the work for another year - 1858. Elder Terry came in 1861, and served the church till 1865. Elder Thomas Dowling came in January, 1866, remaining three years. Fenner B. Dickerson ministered to this people from 1870, about four years. Elder W.D. Phillips was ordained here June 24th, 1874, but only staid about three months. Temporary supplies followed. L. Smith Brown was ordained May 16th, 1877, and remained till 1881. C.W. Potter began pastoral labors June 1st, 1882, and continued till April 1st, 1885. Elder E.S. Hill began his work here August 1st, 1885, and still remains in charge. The church at present numbers 97 members. At Oneco Methodist services have for some time been conducted, in connectin with the Methodist Episcopal church of Moosup. At the present time (1889) a house of worship is being erected here by that denominatin. At North Sterling, in the northeast part of the town, a Union Free Will Baptist church has been started. This settlement is on the Rhode Island line, and the meeting house stands beyond the line in that state. A number of the inhabitants in this town are connected to it. The uprising of the manufacturing interest gave Sterling a fresh impetus in growth and prosperity, Asa Ames, Isaac Pitman and Samuel Dorrance and Dixon Hall, of Sterling, in 1808, as the Sterling Manufacturing Company, buying land "at a ledge of rocks, called the 'Devil's Den Chimney:' thence west by and down a small brook to Moosup River." The Sterling Manufactory was ready for work in 1809. Sterling's manufacturing facilities were well improved during the early part of the present century. Its first factory, built by Dorrance, Hall and others, was destroyed by fire soon after its completion, but its site was soon occupied by a larger building under the more exclusive management of Samuel Ames of Providence, which was described in 1818 as "one of the largest manufacturing establishments in the State, wunning sixteen hundred spindles." The buildings for the accommodation of the workmen were built of stone, taken from the ledge of rocks included in the company's purchase. This "Devil's Den Chimney," as it was previously called, possesses, according to Niles Gazetteer, "very singular and curious features," viz: "It is situated within a ledge of rocks, and has a circular area of about 100 feet in diameter. The rock is cleft in two places, forming at each a chasm or fissure of about 50 feet deep, through one of which runs a small stream of water; the other communicates with a room of about twelve feet swuare, at the interior part of which there is a fireplace and a chimney extending through the rock above, forming an aperture of about three feet square. In another part of the rock there is a natural staircase winding around it from the bottom to top. In the cold season of the year a large mass of ice is formed in the room above described by the dashing of water through the chimney, which continues there through nearly the whole of the warm months, the sun being excluded from this subterraneous recess." The American Factory upon the Quanduck, and a small cotton factory upon the Moosup were also carried on. Three grain mills, one carding machine, one fulling mill and clothiery works, two tanneries, four mercantile stores and two taverns were reported in 1818. For many years the cotton factories continued in operation, furnishing employment to male and female operatives, and a ready market for farmers. The Sterling Company manifested much enterprise, and was one of the first in the country to whiten their cloth by the use of chlorine instead of sun bath. Mr. William Pike effected this invention, and also experimented in wood distillation, extracting for the use of the dyer the first pyroligneous acid made in the country. His success encouraged him to further enterprise. Brandy and gin distilleries had fallen into disrepute, but the transformation of wood into various chemical agencies met with nothing but favor. Three of these "sap works" were in time established - two in Sterling, one in Voluntown - requiring some five of six hundred cords of wood annually, and at least a score ofmen to prepare the wood and aid in the working. Pyroligneous and citric acids, sugar of lead, tincture of iron, naphtha and fine charcoal were among the products of distillation. Mr. Pike had his residence on Sterling hill, in one of the fine old Dorrance houses, and was much respected as one of the leading men of the town. He was the first to introduce one horse wagons into use, paying for them in cotton yarn. Charcoal making was carried on quite extensively in Sterling. Jeremiah W. Boswell was born in Foster , R. I., and came to Sterling , Conn., in 1876. He learned the trade of stone cutter and commenced quarrying granite about one-fourth of a mile east of Sterling Dye Works in 1887. He employs about twenty-five men. The stone is of superior quality for building purposes, and finds a ready market in Providence, Norwich and other places. The village of Oneco, in the central part of the town, was founded by Henry Sabin, of Plainfield, who built a small cotton factory here about the year 1830. Successivee owners gave it their names till it was finally re-christened by the Norwich proprietors, who now utilize its granite, working its fine quarries to good advantage. Indications of yet more valuable ore have been found in the vicinity. Among these are specimens of plumbago and dendrite, and such large and glittering quartz crystals, that their chief depository is known as "the Diamond Ledge." The famous "Devil's Den Chimney" was blown up to make way for the railroad when that was building. About 1860 Smith & Williams commenced quarrying granite at what is now known as Garvey Brothers' quarry. They were succeeded by A. & W. Sprague, and in 1884 by Garvey Brothers, of Providence, who employ at the quarry and in connection with it about 120 men. The granite quarried here is used for paving, building and monumental purposes in Providence, New York, Chicago and many other places, and is also sent to England. Their facilities for handling stone are not surpassed, a railroad running direct to the ledge. Mr. John Garvey, who, since the death of his brother Michael, in 1887, has been sole manager, came to this country in 1869 with about five dollars in his pocket. He learned the trade of stone-cutter, became a contractor and builder, and, by his industry, has built up a large and increasing business. Oscar F. Gibson, son of Allen Gibson, was born in Sterling in 1835. In 1886 he commenced quarrying granite about one mile west of Oneco village. He employs about 20 men. The stone are chiefly used for building, and a ready market. Mr. Gibson represented Sterling in the legislature of 1880. He married Ellen, daughter of Arnold Dixon, and has two sons, Allen M. and Merrill A. The cotton manufacturing interests of the town have declined. Factories burned down have not been replaced. Its natural resources now furnish its chief reliance. The "sap works" of Mr. James Pike continue to resolve the forests into their component elements, consuming annually some two or three hundred cords of hard wood, employing a number of workmen, and extracting and combining a variety of useful products. A specialty of this unique establishment is the dissolutin of refuse tin and iron, battered tin pans, rusty stove pipes and the like, by which these heretofore indestructible nuisances are made subservient to the will and use of man. Stimulated by the enterprises, Oneco bids fair to become a place of business importance, has a new public hall and public-sporoted residents. A Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was recently organized here by Mr. Bowen, the state lecturer of that order. It had thirty-six charter members. The location of the Grange is the "Line meeting house," where it was orgnized, and only a part of its membership belong to this county. Its first officers were as follows: John E. Tanner, M.;E. Byron Gallup, O.; A. A. Stanton, L.; G. A. Youngs, S.; Silas Barber, A. S.; Mrs. Nathaniel Gallup, L. A. S.; Reverand John Elderkin, C.; Benjamin G. Stanton, secretary; J. Cyrus Tanner, treasurer; Miss Minnie Elderkin, P.; Addie E. Gallup, F.; Mrs. J. E. Fenner, C.; Ezra A. Gallup, G. K.