History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Daniel S. Mead, Jr., held from July 4, 1874, to July 4, 1875; July 4, 1876, to Jan. 3, 1877; Jan. 9, 1879. He is the present incumbent. GRAND LI.«T, 1S79. List of polls and taxable property in the town of Greenwich ratable by law on the 1st day of October, 1879. I'ropurtv. YrIuo. 1447dnclliiig-li.".us<-8 S1.''3I.;K"><X1 :i(;,12S acres of luiiil l,412,l«a (HJ Willfl, Htort'n, iimiiiifuctoricii, etc H:i.Of'0.00 10;f7 horses, asses, uial inllles 4^,07S.(K> 380.'> ncaKallle 07,"7i.OO Slieep, swliit", and i>i)ultr.v, over cxeinptiou W20.00 ralTiages, etc 22,21.jJX) FarniiiiK utensils, niectinuics* tuole, over exemption (i,92i"i.OO CltHrks, watches, time-pieces, jewelry 6,415.(10 I'lnno-Cortes, inn^ical iiislnunents, etc 12,Ol."».IIO Ilouselinlil Inrnitnre anil libraries 19,98.5.00 Qnnrries. tlslieiies, and mines 17,.SOO.O0 llridtres, turnpike, ]>lank-road, and ferry stock 3,000.01) linnk, insurance, and nninnractnting stock 42,t<7l.OO State, canal, and all other stocks (except United States And niilr»)a<lsiu this Stale) 3,finOO0 Itnilroad, cily, and other corporation bonds 2.5,50000 Amount employed in nier-liamllsin); nnil trade 40,:i75.O0 Investment in mecbaidial and marnifacliiiiii^ operations. (>2,975.0l) Investment in veawls, sleanilioats, and coninierco 21..'ifl(l.tK) Monev at interest in tliis and other States 45,055 011^ Money lUi band ccceediuRSSO 2.%rt!1.0il All oilier laxalde property ].5,.5IK)00 10 per cent, additional for not handing in list 21,459.20 Total value S:),O30,259.2O Poll tnx S.57:i.0O Military tax. 1,188.00 The principal luanufacturers in the town are Rus- sell, liurdsall <V Ward, screws, bolts, etc.; the Ha- thorne Woolen Mills; Josiah Wilcox, turners' tools; and the Greenwich Iron- Works. THE GREENWICH ACADEMY.f The Greenwich Academy divides with the Congre- gational church an elevation of land which is not only the most prominent in the village, but the most commanding on the cotist between Maine and Florida. It overlooks ii landscape of great variety and beauty. The two buildings, by their bold situation and con- tiguity, fitly symbolize the two forcc-< of religion and education wiiich have been nio.st potent in the devel- opment of New England, ami through which she has impressed her thought upon a large part of the con- tinent. The academy was incorporated by a resolution of « * Ket Bmount after deducting 922,M2 fur Indobtmlaoai. + CoDtillulcd 1-y Mr. Frank 8he|iard. the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut in the year 1827, Dr. Darius Mead and Mr. Alvin Mead being its most energetic promoters. At the fir.^t meeting for organization the stockholders elected Dr. Darius Mead, Jlr. Joseph IJrush, and Mr. Alvin Mead trustees, and in the same year the present site was selected, a part of the present building erected, and the school put into practical operation, the Rev. 5Iason Grosvenor being the first principal. The academy speedily became a flourishing one, drawing pupils from a large section of adjacent country and attaining excellent rank in point of scholarship. From 1827 to 18S3 the school changed principals seven times, passing under the charge suc- cessively of the Rev. Mtison Grosvenor, the Rev. ■\Villiam Bushnell, the Rev. William B. Sherwood, the Rev. Elain Clarke, the Bcv. Jlr. Pearson, Mr. Alexander Reynolds, Mr. Jeremiah Spencer, Mr. Philander Button, Mr. Gilbert Sticking, and Mr. William D. Penfield. It may be said, without mtiking any invidious dis- tinction, that of tho^e teachers Mr. Philander Button was the most successful and loft the most lasting in- fluence upon the community. A graduate of Yale College, he united with fine scholarly attainments a rare business faculty and a strength and vigor of character which early won and always held the respect of the school and the neighborhood. From 1863 to 1880, with the exception of a period of about three years, Mr. Frank Shepard was prin- cipal of the academy. He graduated from Williams College in the class of 1856, and under his manage- ment, for a number of year.^, the school was greatly prospered, the number of pupils exceeding that of any previous period of its history, and the efficiency displayed in all departments being attested by long- continued patronage. In 1870, under Mr. Shei)ard's supervision and as the result of his energetic efl'orts, the academy build- ing was enlarged so as to accommodate more than double the number i)rovideil for in the original struc- ture, and is now well atlapted for the |)Urposes of a high school. It has the great and permanent advan- tage of a beautift\l situation, with free aect^s on all sides to sunshine and fresh air. The course of instruction comprises those branches which are commonly recognized as preparatory for either business life or a college education, and it i.i the )>uri)ose of trustees and teachers to secure and maintain a high standard of scholarship. The schol- astic year commences the second Monday in Septem- ber and continues for forty weeks. For more than half a centurj- the academy has been the educational centre of Greenwich, training two generations for the duties and work of life, and preparing not a few for the responsibilities of a liberal education. At home and abroad, wherever its graduates have gone, its in- fluence has been felt in the interests of intelligence and cl'.aracter. GREENWICH. 293 SCHOOLS. For prc^^cnt coiiilitioii of .-ichools, soo General His- tory. IXSl'RANCE. The Greenwich Mutnal Insuranee ('i>in]iany was eliartered at tlie May session of tlie Legislature in LS.")."), and eomnieneed business July 28, 1S5'). The objeet of the company is self-protection, and its busi- ness is confined to tl.e town of Greenwich. The ]iresent president is Col. Thonuis A. Mead. ACACIA LODGE. NO. 85, F. A. M.» The lodge was organized .Tune 27, 18o7. The char- ter was granted Jlay 12, 18."iS, with the following members: Samuel Close, William L. Lyon, Daniel Lyon, Frederick Lockwood, Titus ]\Iead, Daniel M. Mead, Lewis A. Reed, Charles Wilson, Xeliemiah Peek, Benjamin Husted, Bartow I''. White, Abraham H. Close, Luke A. Lockwood, Isaac .1. ].,ockwood, Edward B. Hewes, .Josejih Jloriic, Lewis Howe, Francis Douchy, Ezra Keeler, Denoni rainier. The Masters from 1857 to 1880 have been Luke A. Lockwood, 18.'>7-.58, 18Gl-(;2, 18(1:!, ISdC, 18(iS-(;9, 1878-711; Joseph Home, LS.^'.MIO; Edward B. Hewes, lS(i4; .lolm N. Lewis, 1805; George M. Lockwood, 18(;7; Benjamin P. Smith, 1870; Joseph R. Jlerritt, 1871; Silas S. Downes, 1872-73, 1877; Robert T. Merritt, 1874-75; Edward Greenwood, 187(). The present (1880) officers are as follows: Oscar Peck, W. M.; Elias S. Peck, S. W. ; George (i. Mc- Nall, J. W.; Robert Wellstootl, Sec; Isaac L. Mead, Treas.; Fred A. Hubbard, S. D.; Samuel Guion, J. D. ; Luke A. Lockwood, Chap. ; Benjamin L. Lock- wood, Solomon Reynolds, Stewards ; John Riehl, Tiler. The number of members on tlie roll is one hundred and eighty-eight. THE (lUEEXWirn WATER COJIl'ANV. This company was incorporated by the Legislature of 188(1, and has a cai)ital of sixty thousand dollars, with i)ermission to increase to one liundred thousand dollars. The reservoir comprises sixty-five acres, with a capacity of three hundred million gallons. The charter covers Greenwich and vicinity, and the coni- l)any have now under consideration the subject of supplying Portchester, N. Y., a large and growing village adjoining this town, in New York State. As far as (ircenwich is concerned, the coni]iany will give a fidl supi)ly of water. The lake from which the water is taken is at an elev.ation of two hundred and eighty-five feet above tide-water and finely located, being a sort of natural basin inclosed by hills. Across the southerly end the coni])any have built a dam four hundred and eighty- five feet long, composed of an earth endjankment built on both sides of a strong stone wall. The ex- treme width of the dam at its base is one liundred and six feet, and at the top twenty feet. 26 '- Contributed t>y George G. McNuIl. The water will pass through a large filterer before entering pipes. The filtering-chamlier is divided into three sections: in the first section the water enters from the lake and filters through charcoal into a second chamber filled with spongt's, and from this second chamber to a third, from which the mains start. Tliere will be one hundred and thirty-four feet tn the highest pi>int in village, and at the lowest about two hundred and eighty-five feet, the water-level. There will be a jiressure of from sixty to one liundred and twenty jiounds to the square inch in tlie village, according to situation. The jiresent officers are : President, A. Foster Hig- gins ; Vice-President and Treasurer, E. Cornelius Benedict; Secretary, George G. McXall ; r)ircctois, A. Foster Higgins, Jeremiah Milbaiik, William Rockefeller, Luke A. Lockwood, and E. C. Benedict. MILITARY RECORD. The following record of those wdio enlisted in the war of the Rebellion from this town is taken from the " Catalogue of Connecticut A'olunteer Organizations," which was prepared from the records in the office of the adjutant-general at ILirtfurd. FIItST c.w.M.nv. Cniiqiaiii/ F. James riimiiiif^'lmni. piil, Jan. 'Jit. 1S(;4. P. l.yiieh, eiil. Jan. 'j.'.*, 1SG;1. James Sullivan, enl. Jan. till. 1SG4. J'eter Burke, enl. Dec. 12, Isi;:). James Custellu, enl. Sept. (1, 1S('4. I'atriek (Jc.j-le, enl. Dec. 2;), 1S(H. J. Kilwanls, enl. Dee. 14, 1»(H. T. (ireelitielil, enl. Dec. j, lsi;4. II. Unglies, enl. Dec. 5, lSi-4. D. Ilenilerson, enl. Dec. 2;i, 1804. Charles Jolinsun, enl. Dec. :l, ls(54. Francis Kelley.enl. Sept. R, 1.SG4. James Jlott, enl. Dec. 30, 1SI14. J. Mnluiney, Sept. 0. 1804. R. JleGieger, enl. Dec. ;i, 1804. .lames Jlitchell, enl. Dec. Ill, 1804. Frank Nagle, eiil. Dec. 12, 1804. H. V. Null, enl. Dec. :)1, 1804. James o'Hrien, enl. .Ian. 211, 1804. V. Ilcjake, enl. Dec. 1(1, 18G4. D. Ilu.licel, enl. Dec. 21, lsi;4. SECOND LIGHT BATTERY. .lames Dnjwn, enl. Feb. 22, 1804 ; nnist. imt Aug. II, 180.i. Jolin t.'ain, enl. Feb. 22, 1844; muat. nut Aug. II, 1800. Chailes Feley, enl. Feb. 18, 1SC4. Dennis Ryan, enl. Feb. 22, 1SG4 t (lied April 20, 1SC4. FIRST ARTILLERY. Comptiiiij B. S. A. McKenzie, enl. Sept. S, ISGl. SECOND AKTILLEUV. Compiniii L.