History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Ebenezer Blacknian, /.era IJIackman, and r.cnj'aniin Wheeler, Silas E. Fairchild, Jslias S. Sanford, B. B. Curtiss, .Fr. They entered at once upon the work of I C'urtiss, Trustees, building a church edilice, wliifli was dcdii-iteil bv A\"illiani Dvkiman in Ix.'il, situated mi Newtown OTHER ClItrRCIIF.s:, Etc. Street, s(]Uth of Dick's Hotel. '"'"' 'Hsintegration (as we may term it i cd'the Con- Here follow a list of preachers who have lalHUcd in rregational Church must ha\c enconraL''cd tin' Metli- the circuit from 1S(.|,-) to 1X.-,(I: I'etcr Monarty. Sam- '"'''*' '"cthren to form a separate church organization, uel Mcrvine, 18()o ; Nathan Fehh, Oliver Svkes. for we are informed that their first class met in 18(l(l, ISOtl; .1. M. Smith, /alnian Eyoii, 1X(I7; N. W. 'In' first prea<'hing services being held in the house of Thomas, Jonathan Lyon, ]8(IX; I!illy Hubbard, I.saac -^'''"'- I'll"''"' I'^i^'k, .just above the village, ami after- : Candor, ISOil ; Nathan Emery, .Icdi'n Ru.ssell, 181(1; , wards in the old town-house. Their first mceting- I A. Hunt, O. Sykes, J. lieynolds, 1X1 1 ; Seth ( h-nville, I '"""*^' '^^'""^ '"-''"' ^^^"^^ Briscoe's residence. Since that i G. Lyon, S. Beach, lx|2; .\, Hunt, II. Eaines, IXl.'!; ' time there have been eighty-six ministers of that de- E. Washburn, R. Harris, 1814; Elijah Bobbins, Ben- '("iiiination who have .supplied the pulpit, .•ith.a- in jamin English, 1815 ; R. Harris, bSIfi ; K. Harris, E. ''"' "''' -'^''■tl""li'*t church at Newtown (which was Canfiehl, 1817; Samuel Bushnell, .\. Pierce, 1818; dedicatd in 18;!l ) or in the iirescnt cluiivh I'dilice in BeardsleyNorthrup, David :\Iillcr. ixp.l; Bela Smith', ^-""h' l'""'^. wliicdi was built in lx.-,(i. David Miller, 1820; Bela Smith, .lames ('(deman, -^ Fniveisalist Society, (jiganizcd early in the ccii- \ 1821 ; Labem Clark, Eli Bennett, 1X22; l.abcm ( 'lark, *'"'.^'' ''"''' •' connm>dioiis house of worship in the ; John Nixon, 1823; E. Dcnniston, .loliii S. Pierce, '''■"^''■1' part of the villag.-, but afterwards sold it to 1824; E. Denni.ston, Julius Field, 1X2.'); S. (). Fergu- ""' ''alliolie Society, and now hold no sepanite ser- son, W. V. Buck, and Lucky lsu|iplv), 182(i; ^■''■'■■'- ''''■''' churcdi cilificc, with tlu' small P.aptist Eli Bennett, W. V. l!in-k, 1Xl'7 ; .lohii Lovcjoy, J. H. '''n"'''!' in '^''>'"' and the Fnion chapel in 'I'anntou. Ronier, (). Sykes (supply), 1828; Jchn Lovcjoy, .1. '•(''■'■''■'I ''.^ H"' .generosity of .\Ls. Polly Beers in j H. Rome;-, 182i); Horace Bartlct, Charles Sluiinan, ''^''■'^' ''"ii'l'li't''^ tin- 'i-^t "'' ehuiche-, St. James' 1 1830; John Lovejoy, 1831 ; Luther Meade, (). Sykes ^'I'apid, which once crowned /,,ar Hill, having years ' (supi-'.v), 1832; J. Flunt, J. B. Beach, 1833;'j. Bower, •^^" '"'''" abandoned. \ J- H. Beach, 1834; H. Humphrey, John Davis, is;i-,; _ . „ ^T7 • . , n . 77 V T I TV . . 1 . J 5 1 « piiMii- tliy vein- Ib.jO the societi* l>uilt a narsuiiuKc at a cost of eigh- , John Dyknuan, lS3(j; C. Silliman, 18:17; .bdin D. i,.,.„ i,..„.i,«i >iuiims. 470 IIISTOllV OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. The Catholic Church is now so strong that a change George Pearce, Samuel Pearce, Emma Hoyt, Lillie to the phiin near the depot and the erection of a larger Cook, Harry Cook, George Hoyt, Bertha Cook, Mag- huilding and series of buildings is in contemplation. : gie Ilininsliuid, .lulia Kininshmd. MASONIC. For liistory of Jliram Lodge, No. 18, F. and A. il., and Hiram Chapter, see Appendix. GRA.VITE LODGE, NO. 122, I. 0. (1. T. This lodge was instituted May r>, 1800, with fifty- seven members, as follows : Kev. F. W. Lockwood, Mrs. 0. P. Gately, Mrs. M. A. Tomlinson, W. AV. Perkins, Silas N. Beers, Martha A. Akley, Sarah N. Beers, George R. Couch, Charles M. Parsons, Ezra J. Hall, Cornelia M. Tucker, Sarah Woflenden, Mary C. Tenant, Ella C. Gateley, M. Ella Coucli, .Julia S. Gibson, .\nnic Wliitc, Mary C. WoH'endon, Mary K. Beers, Mary F. Peck, Grace Nichols, Emily Sandford, Augustus Allen, Eliza Crofut, Mrs. N. R. Couch, Sarah E. Northup, Eva E. Jlay, Ann E. Sanford, Arthur 1). Allen, Ann (tillett, Mrs. Sarah Wheeler, Abel F. Gillett, Mrs. Z. S. Peck, N. R. Couch, Annie B. Northup, Mrs. M. C. Perkins, I-'annie E. Hurlbut, Julia H. Towlc, Charles E. .Tones, Frederick Beehler, Chester Hard, lOmily A. J5ennett, Robert M. Prindle, Charles Hurlbut, Mary E. Hougii, Annie E. Booth, John J. Haight, William Brewer, .James E. Pareons, Sarah E. Haight, P. H.Skidmore, H. B.Smith, John ]). Bolan, Annie M. Sherman, Reba J. Lockwood, Bella Judson, Sylvester Beers. The first regular meeting was held May 14, 18G9, with the following officers: W. W. Perkins, W. C. T. ; Julia H. Towle, W. V. T. ; Rev. F. W. Lockwood, W. Chap. ; Charles M. Parsons, W. Sec. ; Mrs. O. P. Crately, W. A. S. ; Silas N. ]?eers, W. T. S. ; Sarah N. Beers, W. T. ; Ezra J. Hall, W. M. ; Julia S. Gibson, W. 1). JL ; Eva E. May, W. I. G. ; George R. Couch, W. O. G. ; Emily a! Sanford, W. R. H. S. ; Cornelia M. Tucker, W. L. H. S. ; Charles E. Jones, P. W. C. T. Since the lodge wius instituted two hundred and fifty members have been enrolled. Among the fruits of its cftbrts are three lodges of juvenile Temples, — Ali)ha, No. 1, being the first lodge of juvenile templars instituted in the State, and located at Sandy Hook ; Olive Branch, No. 14, at Newtown, South Centre District, and Myrtle, No. 2(5, at Newtown, North Centre District. Aljilin Juieiiile Tciii/i/e, Xo. 1, w:us instituted March 0, 1S71. The charter members were Curtis P. Gately, Ada J. Leiand, William H. Perkins, Julia H. Gibson, Olive P. (lately, Sadie D. Gately. Olive Branch Temple, Ao. 14, was instituted ^lay, 1874, with following charter members: Chas. John- son, Lee Johnson, Annie Henderson, Susie Beers, Willie Partridge, Willie .lohnscm, Freddie .Johnson, Julia Henderson, Jtobert Tomlinson, .lolm Tondiii- son, Clarence Minor, Pusie I. and Edith J. Wason. Myrtle Temple, Ko. 2(i, was instituted Jan. 1, 1879. Charter members: Wallace Hoyt, Willie Hoyt, SCHOOLS. The first reference in the old records to schools ap- pears under date " Sept. 13, 1727," when it wa-s ** Agreed and Voted, That tlierp sliall Ite School-liouse erected between y Dftto above ff* and December next ensuing >" «■' Date, and y Changes riHtng in building b"^ schuol-house Sliall be Det'i-ayed by y town Ratea of y Inhabitants of 8^ town, "Tcot: Jos. Peck, " Cttrk." For present condition of .schools, see General His- tory. THE BOHOIGU OF NEWTOWN. The borough of Newtown was incorporated in -May, 1824, and on the 2d of the following month the first officers were chosen. These were : Clerk, Charles Chapman ; AVarden, Asa Chai)man ; Senior Burgess, Benjamin F. Shelton ; Junior Burgesses, Eli Bennett. Oscar Glover, Thomas Blackman, Squire Dibble, and David B. Botsford ; Treasurer, Henry Beers ; Baililf. Theophilus Nichols; Haywards, Thomas Seely, John Rogere, and Harry Sherman ; Pound-keeper, Squire Dibble ; Street Inspectoi-s, MePherson Sherman and Elijah Botsford; F'ire Inspectors, Arcillus Hamlin. Philo Whitney, and Oscar Keelcr ; Collector of Taxes, .Jolin .rolinson. There hsxs been no meeting held in the borough to elect officers for some time. NEAVTOWN SAVINGS BANK. This institution was organized July 1, 18.55. The first board of trustees were Walter Clarke, Henry Beers Glover, David B. Beers, Theoidiilus Nichols, Jerome Judson, Henry Baldwin, Alva B. Beecher. Henry Sanford, Moses Parsons, Zerah Fairnian, Samuel Curtis, James B. Blakslec, Sailer P. Barnum, Monroe Judson, Charles ¥. Blak.slee, William Beard, Henry Baldwin. The first ofliccrs were: President, Henry Beers; Vice-Presidents, David H. Johnson, Edward Starr, Samuel B. Peck ; Secretary and Trea- surer, Henry Beers ( Mover. The present board of trustees is as follows : Charles C. Warner, Simeon B. Peck, Hezekiah Peck, Pliilo Clarke, Henry Sanford, William L. Terrill, .Varoii ."^aiiford, Monroe .ludson. John Juilson, William N. Nortbnqi, \\w\ Stilson, E. M. Peck, C. B.Sherman, H. B. Northroi). D. G. Beers, William Botsford. The first ileposif in this bank was made by Henry Beers Glover, in trust for JIary Gover; amount, $2. on. Present amount of deposits, $344,1 21. .'57. NEWSPAPERS. Thr Xnr/oini Her was established by .\. A. liensel, June 27, 1877, with John T, Pearce as editor and manager. It was continueil by Mr. lU'iisel until .Vpril, 1878, when Mr. Pearce became .sole owner. In Sep- tember, lS7it, it was purcha-sed by .\, II, llawkiiis, ^ ■ ,111 11 1 , 11 u n iL^^ _ ..'jjaa JiMiD Pi^ssiUifla i3£)5i»JiP^\Kiy-5 4«7vc;}ixs, ?ji2WT®wiia, ©©jh^j. NEWTOWN. 471 wild conducU'd it until February, 1880, wlieii Mr. I'rarcf resumed its ownershiii and editorial iiianag'e- iiient. Mareli l.'i, 1880, it was pureliased by H. A. Van Dalseni, wbo piililisbed it a ti'W moutbs, wbeii Mr. Pearce again assunieil enntnd, and is its ]iresent editor and iiroprietor. The Bee is a lively loeal journal, and is in a pros- jierous eondition, baving a g<Mjd eireulation and ad- vertising patronage. The Nciiioicii ('/tronick was establislieil ^larcb L'7, 1880, by J. A. Maddigan, and is now eoudiicted by liini. THE NEW YORK BELTIN(i .-VND PACKING COM- PANY. This is the largest institution ot its kind in tbc world. "The making of vuleanizeil rubber fabrics adapted to meebanieal purposes," says the Si-ieii/i/ir American, "is here earried on in a wav wliieli indi-