History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

On another rise of ground is a long stone on which is engraved "The Prophets;" on another is "Watch and Pray." At the base of the undulation is the key to Christian progress, written in stone : " To do justly, love mercy, and walk humljly with thy frod." This section is called Carmcl, and not far from here is the dedication of the ground: "To Tkutii : A Student's Otfering," and is on the central grou]) or ledge of rocks. This rock bears also the monogram adopted l)y Dr. Osgood, in wliicli P is combined with X; the? signifying Cti'i and the X r/io, so that the two sig- nifications are blended in C/ilr/io, a (Jreek word mean- ing " Christ." The P also denotes pur, Latin for " peace ;" so the motto of his adoption is " Christ and Peace," or " Peace in Christ." Another nook is devoted to the faiiuly, where, on the various rocks, arc engraved the initials of each member of the iiunily, and on the return of each birthday a Horal decoration of the corresponding stone is the order of the celebration. A large vase is the centre-piece. Not far distant one is renuudcd, from the long stone un<lerlying a bank on which is engraved in excellent lettering, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow," of the Sermon on the Mount. On another slope is a circular opening, formed by rock and trees, dedicated to sentiment. < )n one stone is the word "Psyche," on another rock is " f^trong Song of God, Immortal Love," the first line of Ten- nyson's " In Memoriam." Near the street is the patriotic group of rocks, o:i which are noble names of history, "Alfred," "Lin- coln, 1S(>.')," and "Washington." On a huge rock close by the street a fairy -like structure, called "Union Tower," composed of cedar, has a com- manding view. On this rock is cut " God and our Countrv. 18(J2." 332 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. Dr. Osgood was born at Charlestown, Mass., in 1812. He graduated from Harv.ard in 1S32, having been prepared by Dr. Willard Parker; completed his theological course at the Cambridge Divinity School in 1835; preached in the West and Soutli about two years; took clvarge of llic Unitarian school in Nitshua, N. H., in 1837 ; was called to tlie Wcstiuinster Churcli in Providence, K. I., in 1842, and in 1849 went to the Church of the Messiali, New York, as the successor of Dr. Dewey, where he remained twenty years. After this he took orders in the Episcopal Church, but, owing to various and extensive literary duties, did not take the entire charge of a parish. Dr. Osgood wa.s a delegate to the International Peace Congress ; was a member of the New England Society, the Historical Society, the Century Club, and the Union League Club ; president of the Fairfield Improvement Society, and of the Memorial Library. He was also president of the Fairfield Centennial Commemoration. He compiled the record of that day, which is a valuable contribution to the centennial histories of the countrj'. Fairfield was to him the loveliest of earthly paradises. In its praise he was unceasing, in acts for its welfare persistent, enthusi- astic, and lavish. He was a voluminous writer, both for periodicals and of books. He died April 14, 1880, at his New York residence, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were brought to Fairfield and interred in the Oak Lawn Cemetery, in a retired spot which he selected a few years since, and corresponds with his own home for thirty years. Mill River ripples at its ba.se, and the native trees sough above him. Last year he had a large stone conveyed thither, upon the top of which a Maltese cross was erected. The pedestal, a native rock, bears this inscription: "God is our Rock. 1879." This stone, his home, and his literary works arc his undying monuments.* He intended to reside permanently in Fairfield when he retired from public life, and have a common interest with the people. His home is a lasting memento of his great intel- lect. 7. The Home of Frederic Branson. — This was orig- inally the place where Dr. Dwight lived and wrote the poem of " (ireciifield Hill," published in 17!I4. When Ur. Dwight loft his charming home for New Haven, Dr. Oliver Bronson purchased it. His son Frederic heircd this property, the other sons being settled elsewhere. * Hla tjmlMtoDcfl nn of grnnito. His heiulstonc contains ; '• Sannicl rtngoiMl Doctor in Divinity, Born in Churlntowii, Miiss., Aug. 30, 1812, Died Xi-w York til)- April Htli, IKHO. " ' I'eoco I loftvo Willi you.' " This U hcailcd liy Uic nionogmni bcfuro rcrorrod to, Rignif^ing " Peaco inClitlit." « On llif fiKjtstono U the Mttltc«D crufis, under wliizli is " Sursutn Cordji," wliicli, Interpreted, means " Lift up your hearts." I'ndcr this ore the ^UUj^ls "S. 0." In monogram. About ten years since the old part, built for Dr. Dwight, was removed, and a new addition was made to the other portion of the house. On the eastern slope of Greenfield Hill, in a roman- tic locality, lies an estate of some two liundrcd and fifty acres, owned by Mr. Frederic Bronson, which has been in the Bronson family for nearly a century. This is one of the finest country-seats in the State. 8. The Residence of the Late Governor Gideon Tom- linson. — This house is exceedingly plain and unpre- tentious. It was erected by Sturges Lewis, of Fair- field, about 1780. He married a daughter of Samuel Bradley, Esq. ; neither of them lived but a short time. It was then occupied by Dudley Baldwin, a promi- nent lawyer, who married a sister of Mrs. Lewis, a widow of Hanford Wakeman. The spotted fever was raging in New Haven in 1794. Dudley Baldwin went there to see his sister, who was prostrate with it. He took the fever, and died in three days. A monument in the Greenfield ground contains this to his memory and to that of others of the family : " Saoroil to the repose of the dead A the meditation of the living. Dudley Baldwin, an eminent Counselor, nn iinlent patriot, a faithful friend, died2'Jtli Manh, 1794, Aged 11. Sarah Baldwin, his wife, whose virtues endeared lior to the Ijcst uf husbands, died 3 Dec, 1735, Aged 37. Abralmm Baldwin lie.** buried nt Wuslilngton. His memory needs no marble. Ilia country is his monument, her constitution his greatest work. lie died a Senator In Congrcjw, 4 March, 1S07, Aged 02." After Mrs. Baldwin's death the house reverted to AValtcr Bradley, who rented it to Hev. Mr. .'^aiiiuel Blatcliford in 1790; he preached in this parish a year or so, then went to Pcquonnock. It was sold to Samuel Broom, of New York, and repurchased again, and' was rented to Rev. Mr. Horace Holly, who kept the academy and preached here from 180.5 to 1808, and was then settled in Boston. Mr. Holly brought with him the first piano ever seen in (ireenfield. The house was afterwards rented for several years, until it was purchased by Gideon Tomlinson, LL.D. (born at Stratford, Conn., Dec. 31, 1780), a lawyer, who married a daughter of Walter Bradley. " He graduated from Yale 1802; became eminent as a law- yer at Fairfield ; was a member of Congress 1818- 1827; Governor of Connecticut 1827-1831; and United FAIRFIELD. 333 States senator from IS.'il to 1837."* Ho died Oct. S, 1854. He is described as l)eing a very correct man, also slow and sure. Mrs. Tomlinson survived liim till ISSO, when the house was sold to Miss A<rnes JIurray. The remains of both Mr. and Mrs. Tmulinson were interred in Stratford. 9. The Habitation of Burr Slirrvood. — Tins was a perfect museum, — not of animals, but of dirt and cu- riosities. Mr. Burr Sherwood was really an eccentric man, and as long- as his larire monument in Oak Lawn remains it will be pointed out for generations, and his story told to listening ears. He was born in 179-, and was colonel in the home militia. He was a fine- looking young man, and rode a milk-white steed the envy of many. As the changes occurred in the family, such as is the lot of all families, in which all parties are removed by death or marriage, it happeued that he lived en- tirely alone. He dwelt in the house built by his father, Abel, from whom he also inherited consider- able property. He did his own cooking and his own housework, hut one thing was evident: he never did any sweeping. His furniture and crockery indicated that the family had been in good circumstances, but the most motley collection of articles ever gathered was there. When away from home he always had his hands full homeward bound ; if nothing more, a stone in each hand, or a ribbon, a string, a paper, or a bit of iron. One room was devoted to papers of all sorts, which probably were sent to him on account of his connection with the Southport Chronicle. These papers were heaped high in one corner of the room. He had considerable of a farm, which grew up to cedars. All the old iron or wheels or chains, and things apparently worthless, he readily purchased. Why he took a fanc)' to live thus tjr spend his money so strangely, nobody seems al)le to account for. He was well educated, and had quite a library, which seemed to be devoted to law, love, and piety, with some mis- cellaneous works. He also owned a house in South- port, not far from the dejxit. He, however, lived on Mill Hill till a tragedy occurred there which rather intimidated him. One evening he heard a knock at the door, to which he responded by opening to the applicant, when two men seized and gagged him. He was about eighty years old at this time. They injured him greatly, breaking out his teeth, etc. He, however, managed to escape from the Iiurglars, who came to rob him. After that he resided in Southport till he died, in March, 1879. He probably then fell down stairs and broke his neck, as he was found doubled up at the foot of the stairs, as if he liad missed his footing or lost his equilibrium. People missed him, so they per- suaded the authorities to investigate his mysterious disappearance, and they found him as described above. He died as he lived, — alone. He was eccen- * See Johnson's Cyclopa.'dia. trie in his wardrobe as well as in other ways, yet he was never known to be discourteous, as h(> was a gen- tleman of the old school even to the last.