^j^ ^ ■pic* r -v. ^, . ^■- , ii^ ^J afe 1 'M'^i^^S \^^^^^^S^^^S m n ^^ fc-*>. ''^^S^^^M ^1 ^^j^g^SWH m^ O ^^1 ^HK|^^r^*<»-<.k^ Frederiel^'A.4iubbard Class ,V\f)Af _ Book A^5\ \^ Copyright N^ COPYRIGHT DEPOStn OTHER DAYS IN GREENWICH LIMITED EDITION THIS EDITION IS LIMITED TO ONE THOUSAND NUMBERED COPIES OF WHICH THIS IS NUMBER: 01^ i -^ OTHER DAYS IN GREENWICH OR TALES AND REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD NEW ENGLAND TOWN 15 Y FREUERICK A. HUBBARD NEW YORK J. F. TAPLEY COMPANY 1913 Copyright, 1913 By FREDERICK A. HUBBARD J. F. TAPLEY CO. NEW TORK )CI.A346753 In my days of boyhood and youth, a running mate, as we called him, belonged to every one. There was always some congenial spirit, who shared confidences, excursions and social events, who, in school and out. was a recog- nized companion. TO MY OLD Rt'XXIXc; .MATK E. BELCHER MEAD THIS VOLrMF. IS AFFECTIOXATEL,V DEDICATED "T NEVKR learned the tconder of thai Jane, Drenched )vifJi the Summer rain, Where through nil/ boyisli feci were 7cont to pass, Until I left it for the passionate toxcn. Marble and iron and brass, Filled with all laiii>lit('r; i/ea, and filled, alas. With life's immortal pain!" Charles Hanson Towne FREDERICK A. HUBBARD The Author Photo by E. Starr Sanford CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE ILiLUSTUATIONS Xlll Introduction xvu I The Village 1 II Commercial Greenwich 17 III The Town 25 IV The White Bridge 54 V Banksville and Stanwich 61 VI The Davis Dock 68 VII ROCKRIDGE AND DeARFIELD 73 VIII Theodore H. Mead Farm 86 IX The Titus Mead Farm 92 X The Second Congregational Church . 100 XI The Story of a Street — Greenwich Ave- nue 117 XII War Times 125 XIII Rev. William H. H. Murray . . . .141 XIV Along Putnam Avenue 153 XV The Days of Boss Tweed 161 XVI William M. Tweed in Greenwich . . .180 XVII LiNwooD — THE John Romer .... 202 XVIII The Tweed Family 217 XIX The Escape of William M. Tweed . . 225 XX The Old Town Hall 233 XXI The Lewis and Mason Families . . . 244 XXII The Old Black Walnut Tree . . . 250 [xi] COMEXTS CHAl'TKH XXIII K()( KV Xk( K IIIK SiLI.KCK IiOTSF. XXI\ Hailuoads IX Tin: Kaiu.v Days . XX^' HivKusiDK AND Sorxi) Hkacii XXA'I The Octagon House XX\"II The Old Mile at Stoxvhkookh XX\'III The Old Mill at Davis Laxdixg . XXIX The Axciext Highways XXX Belle Havex IXDEX 256 266 280 286 291 299 306 322 331 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Banks vi lie Stage Frontispiece PAGE P'rederick A. Hubbard ix Daniel S. Mead '^ D. Smith Mead Driving Cows to Pasture 5 S. Merwin Mead Homestead 6 S. ]\Ierwin Mead 7 Alvan Mead 8 Luther Prescott Hubbai-d 9 L. P. Hubbard Homestead 11 Stephen A. Stoothoff I'i Zaccheus Mead Lane 13 Deep Hole l.*! Post Office, 1859 18 Post Office, 1861 19 Joseph E. Brush 20 John Dayton 21 First Business Building Erected on Greenwich Avenue. IS.Vi- ^^ Abraham Reynolds 26 Captain Caleb Holmes 26 Augustus X. Reynolds 27 Stephen L. Radford 28 Jonas Mead Homestead 29 Milo Mead ."() Deacon Jonas Mead '51 Windsor Chair used by Deacon Jonas Mead '52 John R. Grigg 33 Judge Augustus ^lead 31 Homestead of Augustus Mead in 1859 35 Squire Samuel Close 36 Oliver Mead Homestead 39 Miss Sally Mead H Oliver Mead 12 Pottery made by Deacon Abraham Mead, 1790 .... 13 The White Bridge, 1861 55 Church at Banksville 62 The Stanwich Church, Shubel Brush Homestead . . . . QS William Brush Homestead 64 Old Inn at Stanwich 67 [xiii] LIST OF ILLL STKATIONS 1'ac;e "Dcarfifld's" TIios. A. .Mc.ul I [i»in(sttaieut. W. L. Savage Serg. Xorvel Green Cor))oral Willis H. A\'ile()\' James H. Hovt, M.D 137 fxiv] 127 131 135 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Charles H. Seaman I'^T Lieut. Benjamin Wright 138 Colonel Otis 1.^9 Serg. William Long 1 1" Amos Mead Lvon IK' Rev. W. H. H". Murray 1^2 Thomas Ritch 1 4« Mrs. W. H. H. Murray 1 19 Residence of Beale N. Lewis ISt Dr. Wm. G. Peck IT^e William M. Tweed 163 Tweed's Island, 1871 182 Captain BrinckerhofF 1 8 t Americus Club House 18;) The Tweed Bath House 189 Daniel S. Mead. Jr 190 H. W. R. Hovt, 1869 190 Judge Heusted W. R. Hoyt 191 H. W. R. Hoy t at age of 20 19.S Philander Button 191. Dr. L. P. Jones 195 Joseph G. Merritt 196 T. F. Secor 206 Ca])tain Thoinas Mayo 207 Sanford Mead 208 Stephen G. White 209 Frank Shepard 220 James Elphick 230 Town Hall 234 George J. Smith 235 Town Hall in 1878 236 Robert M. Bruce 237 Amos M. Brush 241 Miss Sarah Lewis 247 Dr. Darius Mead 248 Sackett Homestead 251 Reserved Lot in 1876, Ephraim Read Homestead and MarbU' House 261 Jolm G. Wellstood 264 Locomotive No. 27 267 Moses Cristy 268 New York Terminals of the New Haven and Harlem Rail- roads in 1848 and 1871 271 Greenwich R. R. Station. 1859 273 William H. Wallace at age of 16 275 LIST OF ILIJ STUATIONS Charles H. Wrii-lit at 'J 1 . William H. \\'allaci' as Assistant Supi-rintt K. H Looking down the Harl:or in 1859 Luke A. Lockwood .... Amasa A. iSLarks .... Tiic Octagon House .... Brusli Kna])|) The Old Mill at Stonybrooke Inset: Edmund iNIead 1st Edmund Mead 2nd Lower Falls. Stonybrooke . Sna]isliots at Stonybrooke . The Old :Mill at Davis Landing. 1868 A^'oodse}' Road Round Hill Woodshed .... Isaac Howe Mead Charles Mead Edward Mead Edward ^lead Homestead . Joseph Brush Joseph Brush Homestead Hollv Inn, Cos Cob Falls near the Old Rolling :\Iill . Elkanah Mead Homestead . Elkanah Mead Church at North Greenwich Odle C. Knapp Nelson Bush Nelson Bush Homestead t New H,- PAGE 276 277 279 282 28.'3 287 289 293 295 297 301 307 308 309 310 311 311 312 313 31 i 315 316 317 319 320 323 329 |x.i] INTRODUCTION This volume is not a liistory. It is a collection of personal reminiscences and a few stories of local in- terest, told to the author years ago. They all relate to the Town of Greenwich. Connecticut, wliere the author has resided since 18.59. He came to that town at the age of seven. All the impressive scenes of the war of '61 -'65 are firmly fixed in his memory. A hoy of that age is every- where; he sees and hears everything and he never forgets. The records of the town have always ])een a de- light: those quaint old hooks that contain so many suggestions of other days. And when, years ago, the old men told stories of local events long past, thxy were treasured and often verified with particu- lar dates and names. Names and dates herein contained are believed to be correct. Certainly the dates are, as in no instance has a date been given until accuracy was first assured. The book is intensely personal. In some respects it may be deemed to be trivial. If it were a history — staid and dignified — that criticism might be just. But Daniel JNIerritt Mead and Spencer P. INIead are the local historians and they have done their work well. The province of this volume is to deal with families [xvii] INTRODUCTION and their home farms. Great farms that raised so many potatoes, years ago, that the towi; eontrolled tlie New York market afterwards beeame residence parks. Their improvement bronght great wealth; new streets were laid out and from a quiet rural coni- munitj^ Greenwich became a lively city suburb. How tliis liap])ened and when is told Iiei'ein. The photographs are included because it is believed tliey will be of interest. No payment for their in- sertion has been exacted, except the actual cost of the plate. ]\Iany dollars would have been paid for others could they have been obtained. It has taken twenty-two years to gather the material for this book and now that the work is done the task is laid aside only with a feeling of regret. It has been pleasant to read and talk of the other days; to imagine how some of the characters looked; of what their home life consisted; how conscientious and careful they were and to realize that in many cases, notwithstanding their restricted environment, they ])uilded ])etter than they knew. Greenwich, May 1, 1913. [xviii] OTHER DAYS IN GREENWICH CHAPTER I THE TILLAGE 'l^T HAT is now the Borough, with a fringe of out- ▼ ▼ lying territory, consisted in 1859 of farms. The Thomas A. ^Nlead and Zaccheus :\read farms, comprising over three hundred acres, lay to the west and northwest of the village center. Abraham B. Davis' farm lay to the southwest and the farms of D. Smith :Mead, Silas JNIerwin Mead and Dr. Theo- dore L. ]Mason were in the center, while the Phil- ander Button, Theodore H. Mead and Titus :Mead farms lay to the northeast and east. These farms were profitable and were managed with all the skill which had been handed down from generation to generation of practical farmers. Per- haps ^Ir. Button and Dr. ]\Iason should be excepted as their occupations were teaching and the practice of medicine, farming being merely an incident. But the others were in every sense of the word farmers and they were good farmers, devoting their energy and judgment to tilling their productive acres to [1] OTllKli DAYS IX CaiEKNWICH the best advantage. It is less tlian tliirty years ago that CoK Mead's faiiii hai'iis stood where Judge James F. ^^^alsh^s house now stands at 111 AVest Putnani Avenue. C'oL Thomas, as he was ealled for sliort, owned a famous lierd of veHow eows and his ox barn eon- tained several yoke of sleek oxen. The farm was known as Dearfields to whieh 1 have devoted another eha])ter. The Abraham B. Davis farm adjoined C'ol. Mead's farm on the south. lie was eommonly ealled Benson Davis. He was a native of the town, his birthplace being at Davis I^^anding where the old tide mill was operated so many years and with his brother. Silas, went to Xew York \vhere he made a fortune in the flour ])usiness. In. the eighteenth eentury tiie farm had belonged to AYilliam Bush. He came to (Treenwieh from New York about 1750. He was a young man of wealth, the only son of a retired shipping merchant. It is said that his sh(^e buckles were of the finest wrought silver and his small clothes were of the chs^icest silk. He had the swiftest horses, the finest oxen and the greatest lierd of sheep and his acres were broad and fertile. The house he built was the talk of the town and u]}on his death, January 8. ISO'i, his will disposed of a large estate. He left an only daughter, Bel ecca, wIk) became the wife of John. R. Cozine, from whom she obtained a divorce en- abling her to convey her land as a single woman. [2] s^'c^M.!^^-^ ^?-^5^^^t^ THE VILLAGE She sold the farm to the Davises and on ^lay T. 18.58, Abraham B. acquired from the others a complete title to the thirty acres. I recall an antiquated colonial farmhouse that stood west of the present so-called Green Court Inn, I I ! 1^ D. SMITH MEAD During the last years of his life he daily drove his cows to pasture in the manner shown which had been the homestead of William Bush be- fore and during the war of the Revolution, As Abraham B, Davis grew rich he desired a bet- ter house and about 1869, under the supervision of Samuel Adams, the old house was removed and the present one, known as the Green Court Inn, erected. [5] OTHER DAYS IX C^RKEXWICII Here lie lived siniinier and winter ^"oin**' to Xew York daily until his death Fehruary 4. 1871). After the death of the widow. Eleanor H. Davis, ^^•ll() had aeciuii'ed the farm hy a will that was stnb- hoi'nly eontested for many months hy Mr. Davis' hrotheis and sisters. Henry B. ^larshall purchased the farm. The farm of Daniel Smith Mead was ])i'etty much S. .\li:i{\\L\ MEAD H().M1-:STKAD Built 1809 all ill the village. It consisted of about one hundred and sixty acres including eleven acres now occupied hy the Havemeyer School. It extended east to Davis Avenue, then called I^ove Eane and south to the railroad. It was a jjortion of a great tract of land that in the middle of the eighteenth century had l)elon«>e(l to Daniel Smith, the father-in.-law of Daniel Smith Mead and foi- whom his son was named. D. Smith ^Nlead. the grandson, lived in a house huilt manv vears ago hut in 1870. when the de- THE VILLAGE sire for tlie ^Mansard or French roof appeared its colonial form was wiped out. The house still stands at Xo. 359 Greenwich Ave- nue and is owned hy the family. The otlier part be- longed to Silas jNlerwin INIead, a l)rother of 1). Smith ]Mead, the second. Merwin JNIead, as he was generally called, lived in the house at No. 263 Greenwich Avenue now owned by Dr. AVilliam Burke. This liouse was built in 1809. The Mer- win IMead farm extended nortli from his brother's farm along Greenwich Avenue and across to Da- vis Avenue. It was ]Mer- win 3Iead wlio laid out s. merwin mead Elm Street and about the year 18.38 planted the elm trees that afterward suggested the name it bears. He was one of the most public spirited of the older generation. The streets tliat were laid out through his farm represented liis contribution to the public improvement and h.e never asked for land damages. The tract north, of Ehn Street belonoed to Edwin ^lead, a brother, wdio with Aaron AVoolsey, of Bed- ford, X. Y., as a partner, divided the land into half acre plots then considered small and disposed of them to William Tiers, Isaac Weed and others. Mr. [7] OTHER DAVS IX (iUKKXWKH Tiers lived where the Cramer huildiiii'' now stands and INIr. AVeed lived where tlie library is loeated. What is now Roekefeller Park belon' l^i'ook i'a?i full before numerous drains bad cut off' its su})i)ly and tbe muskrat and an occasional mink contributed to my somewhat limited supply of pocket money. In winter the snow often drifted over the stone walls makino- it j^ossible to coast on the crust over much of this extended territory. Early in the sixties, Henry jM. Benedict, in the interest of his children and incidentally in his boys' playmates, flooded a portion of his land for a skatino pond. Occasionally I walk alono' the streets that have cut the Benedict place in pieces and en- deavor to locate some of the old haunts so familiar in other days. Re- cently in the backyard of one of the newly erected houses I found a remnant of the old dam and a little further south 1 identified the old buttonwood tree that grew near it. jNIr. Benedict was devoted to his boys and his dauohter. Belle, now ^Irs. William C. Horn, and their wants were seldom denied. After the skating ])ond was established it was thought necessary to build a small house which was warmed bv a wood stove, thus enabling the eliildren [12] STEPHEN A. STOOTHOFF 18:^9-1911 THE VILLAGE to put on their skates in comfort. This building which was erected by Stephen A. Stoothoff, who did all ^Ir. Benedict's work, stood a few rods east of the ZACCHEUS MEAD LANE ISCO rear line of Frank V. R. Reynolds' house on ]Mason Street. The chapter on the Octagon house tells of Brush Knapp who owned the orchard south of the Benedict land. Lincoln Avenue now runs directly through it. There are several prominent trees on this one [13] OTHER DAYS TX GKKEXWrCTT liimdi-t'd and fifty acre tract which still live. Xear what is now called Putnam Terrace stood an ash tree whose trunk was twelve feet in circumference. Tt was considered a detriment to the Sound view many years ago and was cut down, hut near the home of Miss Amelia Knapp may he seen small trees of this variety which have sprung from the roots of the par- ent tree. Two or three huttonball trees graced the landscape but they are all gone exee])t the remains of the one near tlie old dam. The great oak tree now- on the front lawn of 15. Frank Finney, on INIason Street, was a ])o])ular shelter for the cows that were pastured in that field and the triplet-trunk silver maple on the corner of Mason Street and Lexington Avenue looks just as it did fifty years ago. When the autumn days came all the l)()ys were in- terested in nut gathering. The JNIason farm had sev- eral fine hickory trees, one of which still stands on the front lawn of Frank V. R. Reynolds' place. An- other stands in the rear of Dr. J. A. Clark's ])lace on INIason Street and the remains of one that was on the jNIerwin INIead farm still stands on the corner of JNIa- son and Elm Streets. Dr. Mason was engaged in the active practice of his profession in Brooklyn and his farm was man- ao-ed bv Georoe Wellner, whose name I learned years afterwards; a good hearted (xerman who nmst have emigrated to this country late in life as he spoke very broken English. We called him Dutch [14] THE VILLAGE George, having lieard others call him by that name, and he never resented it. He was inclined to tease us sometimes but always acceded to our request for the ])rivilei>e of gather- i)i:i:i' iioLK is()() ing nuts on the ^Nlason farm. I^onger excursions for nuts took us down Zaccheus Mead's lane and to the chestnut trees near "Sheep Pen" on the Thomas A. ]Mead farm. It will therefore appear that the one hundred and fifty acre parcel I have descril)ed did not include all the playground of the boys of those times. It was our immediate reservation but frequently we made excursions to the east across what is now ^lilbank to [1.5] OTHER DAYS IX (iKKEWVICH Theodore H. JSIead's hi-ook (called the hrook "Brothers"), for a swim. Then the notion wonld take ii.s in the otiier direc- tion across Col. Mead's farm to "Slice]) Pen," a fa- mous s\vimmin<4' hole loilii' ayo filled up with sand hecause there were no more sheep to wash. Some- times we enjoyed a picnic, perched on the rocky sides of Deep Hole, a rustic spot that is pi-actically im- chan<>ed. Occasionally we walked down liOve I^ane, now Davis Avenue, to the old tide mill and under its j)rotectint>' shadow undressed and dove from the rocks still visihle north of the causeway. In those days there was no road across the dam. What is now Bruce Park was the Isaac Howe Mead farm and hehind a great ledge of rocks, on the west- erly side of the pond, long since removed, we felt that hathing clothes were quite superfluous. The Davis ])ond was always popular as a hathing place hecause no account need he taken of the tide. At low water the gate was down and the pond was full. [16] CHAPTER II COMMERCIAL GREENWICH THE preceding chapter has dealt with some of the rural parts of Greenwich, hut no allusion has heen made to its commercial interests. These interests were so insignificant that they are mentioned only to make the story of Greenwich com- plete. Before and during the war of 1861, it is my impression that Newman t^ Hewes of ^lianus, in their general store did more business than all others combined. The Upper Landing, as ^Nlianus is still called, was a busy place and from thence most of our farm products were shipped. Joseph Brush, at Cos Cob also did a large business. The village of Greenwich was not without stores and although they were called general stores they were not conducted like the general store in prosper- ous communities at the present time. Remote places in New England have such stores to-day as we had fifty years ago. Putnam Avenue was then called Main Street, the successor of the main country road, a name that had been used for manv generations. At the corner of [17] in' oTiiKK I)A^'s i\ (;ree\wich Fiiiiiam A\ciiiK' and Shci-wood Place, then called ^Mechanic Sti'cel. was the hiisiness ceiitei- I'oi" a mimlier of years. I 'nder President .James Buchanan the post office had })een located in what is now known as Dr. Frank ^1. Holly's cottage and S([uii-e Samuel Close was postmaster. J5ut when President Lincoln was roST OFFICE 18.5!) elected the office of postmaster went to .Joseph K. Brush and the office, about six feet scpiare, was opened In the liuildin*^' now owned and occupied hy Frederick Denson. Mr. Inrush and later l?rush c^ Wright, I^enjamin Wri',s and k-ctiiix's (liii-iiiL»' the time of tile wai'. In wluit is now the front door yard of Dr. \^ir<4il C. I'iatti's residence, close to the street line, stood a small one-story l)uildin<>', used as a meat market hy John Henderson. It stood on land leased of Dr. ^Nlason and was not removed till ahout 1870. Ahram Acker kejit a o'rocery store in a two-story frame huilding that stood where the eastern end of the Lenox House now stands. The old huildinf^ ^vas removed to the rear of the present structure in 1873 and was converted into servants' quarters for the liotel. It still stands there. JOSEPH E. BRL'SH 181T-188() Wartime Postmaster Peter Acker, a brother of Abram Acker, for many years conducted a grocery store in a frame building', standing where Isaac li. ^Mead's buikling is now located, on the corner of Putnam and Greenwich Avenues. A piazza ran across the south side of this building from which was a fine view of Long Island wSouncl. It was reached by a long flight of steps which aft'orded a comfortable roosting ])lace for a lot of genial fellows, who would occasionally crawl down the stairs and through a cellar door that was always [20] COMMERCIAL GREENWICH invitingly open. Expensive bars were then un- known hereabouts, and a draught of Xew England ^H-vvn ^r^^^^Y^^ rum did not come amiss, although served across the head of a barrel. Matthew ]Mead kept a cobbler's shop nearly oppo- site the John A. Bullard garage. Benjamin Peck, and later Frank Holmes, con- [21] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH ducted a (lry-<^()()(ls store in a lar^-e frame l)iiil(liii' its liead above a ni<><»e(l k'(l<4'e in wliicli its roots are fas- tened an aneient eedar tree may l)e oeeasionally seen., a relic of the wild and artistic ii'rowtli tliat finally at- STEPHEX I.. KADEURD 1SJS-19()7 tracted such pnrchasers as William J. Tingue and Charles and Henry K. Mallory. The soil between the out cropping rocks was extremely fertile and those patient, plodding farmers wrested what they consid- ered a fortune from tlie land which later produced to [28] THE TOWN their descendants sudden and marvelous wealth in the quick turning of real estate deals. iNIilo ^Nlead has been called the Sage of New Leb- anon, his name for East Port Chester. His father, Deacon Jonas Mead, died August 2, 1871. His estate consisted of about seven thousand dol- .-n~ J?!?'^^^-"- :^5r^?^. JONAS MEAD HOMESTEAD Torn down 1911 lars in personal property and one hundred and forty- two and one-half acres of land appraised at -$4(),()0(). This land went to his two sons, JNIark and JNIilo, but remained undivided until January, 1879, when all the shore front consisting of thirty acres and much land besides was set off to Mark ^Nlead while his brother, [29] OTIIKK DAYS IX (;KKEXWTC TI .Milo. had to coiitt'iit liimsc'lf uitli inland |)r()))t'rtv, although eiglit acres liad a h-()iita<^c on the Kyram Ki\er. wliere the Xew Lcbaiion docks were al'tei-wards built. Upon acquirin^i^' this hmd. Mih) Mead had it sur- i iViyi .'ffV(VIHIB3i>4 klMHk MILO MEAD 1904 veyed and divided into lots fifty feet wide, naming the whole jNIeadville. Subsequently this name was abandoned and the name X^ew Lebanon adopted and persistently adhered to down to the day of his death, August 2, 19()(>. Once when asked the significance of the name, he stated that the cedars reminded him of those in Lebanon of 15ible history. However, the name was never popular. The mer- chants preferred Kast Port Chester and William J. THE TOWN Tingue favored Hawthorne, after his woolen mills at Glenville. For a short time the post office bore this latter name. The school district was called New Lebanon in consideration of a gift of valuable land for school purposes. Henry A. ^Nlerritt could purchase the river front only upon condition tliat the dock lie contemplated building should l)e called the New I.,ebanon dock, which name it still retains. The Opera House, the Danish club house and the town dock, located on land given by ]Mr. ^Nlead, and a few places of business, still bear the name. dkacox joxas mead The Danish club house is ^Ir. ^Mead's best monu- ment. He gave the land and furnished tlie mt)ney for its construction. In front of the building, which is of brick, with stone trimmings, is a bronze has re- lief of JNIr. INIead and beneath it the inscription "The Sage of New Lebanon." It is a work of art and a very correct likeness, though so high in the wall that it is seldom noticed. The artist w^as Carla Christensen, a young lady of Copenhagen. There is a large population of Danes in East Port [81] OTHER DAYS TX GREENWICH Cliester, and they held ^Nlr. Mead in liigh esteem, primarily beeause he was williii<4' to (hspose of his land to them at reasonable priees when he mi_i>ht have sold to mueh better advanta<»e to the wealthy for large estates. The thirty-aere traet of Sound Shore front set oft' to 3Jark ^Nlead was quickly sold and is now occu])ied by such ])laces as those of Joseph Mil- bank, John H. Hanan, Charles Mallory and Ed- gar L, ^Nlarston, president of the Farmers' I^oan and Trust Co. Farther west was the farm of John R. Grigg, somewhat remote because what is now Flamilton. x4venue with a trolley line was but a right of way with gates now and then. But his broad fields were none the less productive and all his life he devoted himself to their cultiva- tion. The old white farmhouse, still standing, was then a landmark all by itself, commanding a broad view of Eong Island Sound. Rut it has been dwarfed and rendered insignificant by great three- story Italian apartment houses and by numerous mod- [32] WINDSOR CHAIR I'sfil by Drac-oii Jonas Mead anc his son Milo. Xow the prop ertv of the Autlior THE TOWX ern cottages in the near-by Jaynes Park, a portion of the original farm. Just across the valley, on the next ridge to the east, was the farm of Augustus JNIead. The old homestead moved liack a few rods from the street and enlarged is now known as Homestead Hall, a popular summer hotel. Open the town records of fifty years ago and almost every page reveals liis name. He was a careful, methodical, and thrifty farmer of ample means and possessing the charac- teristics of wisdom and moderation. He was a man of deliberate judg- ment and those who had no claims upon him, ex- cept that they were his townsmen went to him for advice and counsel. I do not intend to imply that he was not ])rogres- sive; onJy that always before he made a move he was sure of his ground. Those who were his contem])o- raries say tliat he was a close reader of scientific pub- lications and tliat he gave careful attention to the products of tlie patent office. Any new devices in farming implements particularly interested him and in his outbuildings were many examples of oddly con- structed ])l()ws and harrows with which he had ex- perimented. He was a thorough believer in any [33] .lOHX U. GlilGG OTIIKK DAYS IX GKKKXWKII clian<»"e of methods suggestive of progress. lie was the first man to build an ice house in town. lie held various offices of trust including the initial judgeship of the Court of Probate. I recall exactly Ji'Dcii-: ArcisTi's .mead About lS(iO how he looked as he drove along in a s(|uare box wagon and tied his brown horse. Dandy, to a stone post standing under a great elm tree, whose branches still liang over the little building that held the Pro- bate Court and the Post Office. His name has been perpetuated in his son, Augustus I. jNIead, and his grandson, Augustus, son of X^elson B. JNIead. [34] THE TOWX I can not refrain at this point from diinal name of tlie AillaL>e. Horse Xcck, was derived. Ill the latter part of the ei^liteeiitli eeiitiii'v Abraham jNIead eoiuhieted a |)ottery where the Held House now stands. lie Iiad two sons, Isaae and Z()])liar. The hitter settled on the lower ])oi-ti()n of Fiekl Point and was tlie father of Oliver. Isaae settled on the nortliern portion and was the father of Augustus ^lead. It was the uiiderstandinf)' between the sons that their father should (li\ ide his time be- tween them. When the old plaee at Indian Harbor was given up Abraham ]Mead went to live with his son Isaac, dying before the first year of his residence with liim had expired. .Vbi-aham ^lead was a devout and influential mem- ber of the Second Congregational C hui'eh and to dis- tinguish him from some of the other Pleads with tlie same given name, he was called Deacon Potter from his occupation. But to return to the soutlierly portion of Field Point where Oliver ^Slead was born and died. When I was a boy he was a man of inferior physical strength, living in the old homestead, a bachelor, hut surrounded with all the comforts that his life re- (|uired. He moved about the farm slowly and ])ain- fully, leaning u])on a cane and giving to his men in- telligent directions for their work. He was noted for his fine oxen of which he had several yoke, as a ])air was called. He freciuently loaned to his neigh- l)ors his oxen, but it was said that he ^^as so solicitous [38] ''N'-^'rWIIf^m' THE TOWN for their welfare that he sent a double team or two pair when but one pair was requested. Every por- tion of Field Point was under the most careful culti- vation. The old oak trees still standing along the easterly shore, now owned ])y George F. Dominick and perhaps some others, and one or two on the extreme point now owned by Sey- mour J. Hyde, were his pride. On one occasion he spoke of them as sliad- ing his cultivated land to its damage, but added that he could well afford the diminished crops, the trees were so grand. JNIr. JNIead never took any active part in public affairs. He was a mem- ber of the Second Congre- gational Church and a liberal giver to every worthy benevolent cause died March 19, 1887, at the age of 87 years. In addition to Field Point he owned Roimd Island and considerable other land. The inventory of his estate shows 166 acres of land valued at $64,300 and $108,076.22 of personalty. For years the eves of wealthy men had been on [4,1] MISS SALLY .ML AD For many vears in the family of Oliver Mead He OTIIKK DAYS I\ (;KKK\WI(TI Field Point, with its tine sliore front, iiiorf than a mile in extent. Oeeusionally it was reported that jNIr. Mead had heen offered large snnis to part with this land, some of which he had l)onL>]it, hut most of OLIVER MEAD which was ancestral estate, l^ut the old man, feeble as he was, outlived many who had coveted those broad acres. When he died his last will, dated December 1, 1882, was filed for probate and at once a most in- teresting discussion arose among both lawvers and [42] THE TOWN laymen as to what disposition he had made of the land. His cousin, Oliver D. jNIead, now president of the Greenwich National Bank, had lived with Oliver ^lead for several years before his death and the old man had enjoyed, during that time, the comfort and solace of the younger man's wife and daughters. But some of the lawyers said that Oliver D. JNIead had only a life estate in this fine property and was not able to convey a perfect fee title. Others took ^ ^ l^urTERY MADE BY DEACON ABRAHAM MEAD 1700 the opposite view and while the discussion was rife no one cared to purchase, whatever his own opinion of the matter might be. The cause of contention was the seventeenth clause of the will which I venture to quote in full. "I give, devise and bequeath all my real estate, "wheresoever situated including my burial plot, all my "stock and farming utensils on said real estate, all "my household furniture of every description and all "my wearing apparel to Oliver D. ^Mead to him and "to his heirs forever. If the said Oliver D. ^lead [43] ()TIIK1{ 1)A^ S IN (iUKKXWKII "should (lie without leaving- any heirs, then and in "that event I ' aiul "tliat lie has two children. That Olivei- Mead de- prived his title from his father, Zophar Mead, hy will "in 1844 and that Z()i)hai' Mead derixed title to a "portion of the farm fi'om his fathei- Abraham Mead, "in 18-J7. l^pon the death of Oliver Mead. Oliver "I), and his family were in possession of the farm, "liaving been living there some time in the control "and management of the property, l^otli the father "and mother of Angnstus 1. ^lead were first cousins "of Oliver ]Mead. Oliver ^Mead's nearest relations "were first cousins. He was never married." Under the 17th section of the will, previously (juoted, Samuel Fessenden of Stamford, arguing for the defendant, claimed that Oliver D. ^Nlead took an absolute title and that the provision regarding the death of Oliver D. "without leaving any heirs" was intended only to provide for tlie contingency of Oliver D. dying before the death of Oliver. That the intent must govern unless it is contrary to law. He claimed that the 17th seetion of the will in con- nection with the 19th seetion and surrounding cir- cumstances clearly indicated that it was the intention of the testator to create an absolute estate. The 19th section of the will reads as follows: "If "there should not be enough estate outside of what 1 "have given to Oliver D. ^Nlead to pay all the legacies "($8(),()()()) then and in that event I order and direct "the executor hereinafter appointed to pay each ])ro "rata. If anv of the legatees should die befoi-e my [4.(i] THE TOWN "decease, then and in that event, the legacy I have "given to such legatee or legatees, I give and devise "to the heirs of such deceased legatee or legatees." Taking the two sections oNIr. Fessenden argued that it was the intention of Oliver JNIead to leave the real estate to Oliver D., provided he outlived him. If he died before the testator, leaving heirs, he intended that they should inherit the estate absolutely. If Oliver D. died before Oliver, leaving no heirs, then it was intended that Augustus I. JNIead should take the land absolutely. A legatee is one who takes per- sonal property under a will and a devisee is one w4io takes land. The counsel argued that these tw^o words had been employed by the testator without distinguishing any difference in their meaning. Hence, he claimed that the 19th section included the devise to Oliver D. INIead, when he provided that the children of such legatees should take, if the legatee died before the death of the testator, showing that the second half of the 17th section of the will was only to provide against a lapse of the devise. He reasoned that the provision in the 19th section that "If there should not be enough outside of what he had given Oliver D. to pay all the legacies they were to be paid pro rata" showed conclusively that Oliver intended Oliver D. to take the farm unincumbered and untrammeled by any burden whatsoever. In reply, John E. Keeler, of Stamford, argued that Oliver D. Mead did not acquire an absolute title to the land devised to him under the will. He said: [47] OTHER DAYS IN (JHKEXWICH ■"To sii|)i)()i-t tlu' \ it'W that ()li\c'i' 1). Mt-ad ht-caiue possessed of an ahsoliitc titlf. it is iicccssarN' to claim one of two things, either that all of the 17th section. after tlie fii-st sentence is to be rejected as repugnant and of no meaning; or tliat the words 'die without leaving any heirs' refer to Oliver 1). Mead's deatl) before the deatli of the testator, Oliver Mead. "It cannot be seriously contended that all of the "second sentence is to be set aside as luning no meaii- "ing. Evidently the testator had two methods of "dis])osition in mind as relating to his I'cal estate, ^'turning upon the time of the death of Oliver 13. "Mead. "If the latter died before him he desired the "])ropei-ty to go immediately to his h.eirs in fee: these "heirs were children of Oliver D. Mead in being at "the time of the making of the will; lint if Oliver 1). "iNIead died after Oliver Mead leaving no children "then an entirely difi'erent disposition takes ])lace and "Augustus I. INIead succeeds to the proj)erty." ^Ir. John C. Chamberlain, of ]5ridge]jort, i-epi-e- senting Augustus I. ^lead and his children, argued that Oliver D. INIead had an estate tail in the land, relying largely upon a case decided l)y the same Court in June, 181)(), entitled Chestro vs. Palmer, .58 Conn. lie])orts, page 207, in which the construction oF a will was sought, the will reading (juite like tin- will of Oliver Mead. "In that case the Court de- "cided that the estate created by the will was onlv an [48] THE TOWN "estate tail and that the whole situation was so sim- "ilar to that found in Chestro vs. Palmer that it is "apparently impossible to construe this estate in "Oliver D. JNIead to be anything more than a fee tail, "without overruling all the law of the State upon the "subject." ^Ir. Chamberlain's contention concerning the rights of Augustus I. JNIead in the property was much wider than the claim made by "Sir. Keeler. While 3Ir. Keeler recognized the possible accession to tlie land by the children and grandchildren of Oliver D. ]Mead, "Sir. Chamberlain argued that the "remainder," after the death of Oliver D. 3Iead, would go to Augustus I. ]Mead and that the descend- ants of Oliver D. Mead would have no interest after the death of their father. Answering JNlr. Fessen- den with relation to a provision of the testator in the 19th section whereby the legacies were to be paid pro rata if there should not be money enough, ^Ir. Chamberlain said that the clause was not in.consistent with his claim. "Oliver ^Nlead had entailed the land "and it was to go to future generations, hence it "could not be sold to pay legacies but must be kept "intact." Nor did he think that possession and occupation of the premises by Oliver U. ^Nlead before the death of Oliver Mead was inconsistent with the theory that Oliver Mead intended his cousin to occupy the place for life. [49] OTIIEl{ DAYS i\ (;kki:xwi('tt "The property was i)artly ancestral estate and if "there had been no will Augustus 1. Mead and his "brother. Xelson H. Mead, would have taken the land "to the exelusion of ()li\er 1). Mead, and it is not "strange that the old man desii'ed it to remain in the "same hi'aneh of the family from whence it had come "to him." Chief Justice Andrews wrote the opinion in which he pursued much the same method of reasoning as did ^Ir. Fessenden in his argument. 1 (piote from the opinion. "The hmguage in the 17th paragraph, in its first "clause, creates in Oliver D. ^Nlead an absolute es- "tate in fee simple, in the huids in question. This "Coiu't in a very recent case, ^Mansfield vs. Shelton. "67 Conn. Reports, page 300, and after an exam- "ination of the prior cases, held that an express gift "in fee simple will not be reduced to a life estate by "mere implication from a subsequent gift over, but "may be by subsequent language clearly indicating "intent and equivalent to a ])ositive provision. "The words of the second clause of the 17th para- "graph. which are supposed to have the effect of re- "ducing the fee simple title created in Oliver 1). "Mead to a lesser estate are: Tf the said Oliver 1). "Mead should die without leaving any heir, then, "&c.' Read literally these words mean nothing. "Xo man can die without leaving any lieii's. The "law ])resumes. until the contrary is shown, that "everv deceased person leaves heirs. It is argued [.>0] THE TOWN tliat the word heirs ouglit to be read as meaning chil- dren. In a suitable case the Court might possibly adopt such a reading. But in the present case, where the effect of the changed reading would be to defeat the very clearly exjjressed general intent of the tes- tator, as well as to reduce an express gift in fee simple to a lesser estate, the Court would hardly feel authorized to do so. . . . There is another rule of construction which has been followed many times by this Court, and which is decisive of this case. It is, that when in a will an estate in fee is followed by an apparently inconsistent limitation, the whole should be reconciled by reading the latter disposition as applying exclusively to the event of the prior devisee in fee dying in the lifetime of the testator. The intention of tlie testator being, it is considered, to provide a substituted devisee in a case of a lapse. This construction gives effect to all the words of the will and makes all its parts consistent. The reference in the 19th clause to the estate 'given to Oliver D. INIead' was evidently intended to cover whatever was disposed of by the 17th clause. Part of that — the personal estate — was unquestionably an absolute gift. It is therefore reasonable to sup- pose that as the testator in this reference made no discrimination, he had intended none, between the real and personal property, and understood tliat he had given an absolute estate in both. [51] OTHER DAYS IX (iUKKWVK'II "It is also to l)e considered tliat if the j)i-()\ isioii "for Oliver's death without leaving' any heirs were "read as one as to his death without leavini*' any sur- "vivint'. without rool' and j)aintc(l black, the '"white bi-i(l^c'"' after tlie one tliat really was white. About the old white brid<>e more tales eluster than I eould tell in a day. Tales of ball i^anies in the Lyman Mead meadow neai' by. wow fenced in as a part of Milbank: tales of love and tales of <>ree(l. ]\Iany of my readers will remember that summer ni<^ht in 187() when the old bridge was filled with boulders and cross ties into which the shore line ex- press ran ^\•ith terrible force. That no blood was shed that ni<>ht was the will of a kind Pro^ idence, which protected the unconscious occupants of the \ou()] B CHAPTER V EAXKSVILLP^. AND STANWK H AXKSVIIiLE lies at tlie extreme nortlierJi edge of tlie town. It has a eliurch of (luaint construction. The post office is in a village store, located a few feet over the line, in the State of Xew York. The outlook of the village is towards tlie norlh where the wooded hills of North Castle and :\liddle Patent are in full sight. The water courses all run to the north and eventually join the waters of the JNIianus. JNIany years ago — perliaps seventy — when shoe- making was all done hy hand, the village of Hanks- ville was largely engaged in that industrv. For thirty years or more it kept in touch with (xreenwich through the Eanksville stage, which carried mail and jnissengers. Silas Derby, the owner of the line, was a quaint old character who passed away some years ago hut who was well-known hy the older generation. His mode of dress, the trim of his whiskers and his cheery "Yap" to his steeds will be readily recalled. Several years ago a busy South Street merchant enquired whether Der])y was still driving the Eanks- ville stage and being answered in the affirmative lie went on to say: "\Vhen I was a voung lad mv grandmother, wjio [61] OTIIKH 1)A\ S IX (;kkk\\vicii lived on tlie west road, Stainvicli, would send me out to meet the stage for the mail as it made its daily ti-ip. Often through the summer. I made the tri]) to the steamboat dock, fished all day and eame haek with Derby at night. Recently I had occasion to again visit (Greenwich, after an absence of twenty years, and there was dear old Derby, the only familiar 1)1)] ect. driving exactly the same rig he had in the early sixties." Of course the man's im- pression of the rig was in- correct, although, tile style and color of the turnout never changed; Once I inter\'iewed the old gentleman. It was near the close of his life. Among other things he told me the following incidents: ''Along in the late fifties Miss Ann Purdy came from Syracuse to I^anksville. She bought the house opposite the post office, consideral^ly enlarged it and established a boai-ding school for girls and boys. ]Much to the surprise of everyone in 15anksville sh.e soon had a houseful and roomed a few outside. "At that time there was no regular communication with the village and she induced me to stai't the l^anksviile and Greenwich stage line. Slie lent me one hundred dollars and 1 made mv first trip June [02] ( Mi IK I 1 \ I i; \N N i;,i,i-: BAXKSVILLE AXD STANWICH 23, 1861. For many years I cari-ied ten passengers daily. The pnpils and teachers patronized me freely and even after the school was abandoned, way down into the seventies, the business was pretty good. THE STANWICH CHUKCH. SHTBEL BRUSH HOME- STEAD IX THE BACKGROUND Photo In- J. C. Bonnett "jNIy line was a feeder to the steamer John Homer and the president, Sanford ^Nlead, always passed me to New York and back, but I seldom went. In those days the members of the Americas Club often hired me to drive them to Rye Beach or Stamford and many times I had Boss Tweed with me on the front seat. "I left Banksville at six o'clock, caught the Rower [63] OTHER DAYS TX GKKKXWK IT at seven and left my railioad |)asseii_L>eis for tlu' 7.-1 train. This <^ave nie all day in. the \ illa^'e. as I did not leave on tlie retnrn trip nntii the arri\al of the steamer at abont six o'eloek. "j^nt business is?)"t what it onee was and sometimes WILLIAM HUrSH HOMRSTP^AI) Stjiiiwicli Photo by ,1. C. Hoiuu'tt on tlie uj) trip the hills seem steeper and longer than they once did and tlie horses seem to j)ull with a greater effort. Then it is that I realize that the whole rig from the driver down is getting old and that the best of life lies far, far behind." South of Banksville lies Stanwieh. even more quaint than its sister village. It had a country store that was closed when the rural free delivery drove [64] BAXKSVILLE AND STAXWICH out the postoffice, but there still remaius au okl inn, now used as a dwelling and a beautiful country church, built in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Its graceful white spire first comes in view as one drives north by Rockwood Lake. The wide shingles that cover it are hand wrought and its large windows are glazed with diminutive panes. \Vhat a crime it would be to supplant those ancient lights with modern stained glass windows! A beautiful stained glass window is a joy forever, provided it is correctly placed. Such a window in a country church, which nestles among trees, or is shadowed by mountains, or commands a broad pros- pect of hill and dale, is an intrusion. But in a city church among brick walls, the beauty of stained glass takes the place of nature's decoration, and helps the worshiper to forget the sordid world about him. In this connection I must quote from the Right Rev. AVilliam I^awrence, the Bishop of jNIassa- chusetts. Recently he spoke of the rededication of the old North Church in Boston — the ancient house of worship from whose belfry the lanterns are said to have shone forth which guided Paul Revere on his famous ride: "Fortunately no stained glass has ever desecrated these windows. No painted glass can give greater beauty than the sky and the swinging branches of the trees seen through the transparent panes of a Colonial church." [65] OTIIKH DAYS IN (;KKK\\\ ICII Evervtiiiiio- about tlu- chnrclK inside ami out. is consistent witli its a<^e. It rests peacefully under the shadow of oreat trees that have afforded comfort and delight to several ^"enerations. In other days much of this territory helonycd to Charles, William and Shubel Brush, with the Inger- sols also appearing as land owners. JMany of the Stanwich ])eo])le were interested in tanning, Shubel Brush being the last to engage in it. He lived on the corner, hack of the church in an ancient house, which since his death has been much changed architectin-ally. His brother, AVilliam, lived on the cross road in an antique mansion now included within, the bounds of Semloli farm. Reverse the spelling and you have the o\\ner's name. The little village of Stanwich is suggestive of by- gone days, when the stagecoach to Bedford made a stop at the old Inn. Tliat l)uilding is now owned by jNlrs. A. Leta Bonnett, of New Haven, and Ilar- riette L. I^ockwood, granddaughters of Shubel Brush. It })resents a story of the long ago in its sweeping roof and quaint windows. Within, its wide fireplaces, in each room, and its bi'ick o\en suggest the near-by forest, with its ample supply of wood. The second floor was designed for a ball room and as occasion re(|uired, the partitions were hooked to the ceiling and the young ])eo])le, with their friends from Bedford, and North Castle, made merrv all the night long. [00] BAXKSVILLE AND STAXWICH Stories are told of a floiirishiii"- bovs' })oar(liii<>- school on the west road kept by Theodore June. There were debating clubs in the olden days of whicli there are many traditions and a few stray records. Sometimes I have heard this hamlet called East Stanwich. The old records give the name of Stan- wich to all the territory below Banksville, extending east as far as "the Farms" in Stamford To^vnship. The direct road from the B()rou"h to Bedford through Stanwich has always been known as ""the west street." There seems to be no reason for applying the name of East Stanwich to what is now and has always been the center of Stanwich. (il.I) IXX AT STANWICH Photo liv J. C. Boniiett [67] CHAPTKH VI THE DAVIS DOCK JUST at tliis point 1 nuist write of tlic Davis' Dock, over which there has heeii niiicli Hti<>'a- tion. and tlie ownership of which is still misunder- stood. At a town meeting held in Greenwich, June 1.5, 171(^ the following resolution was ado})ted. It has generallv heen kn(nvn as the Justus l^nsh <»rant and 1 give it exactly as it appears in the Common place book in our Land Records. "The Towne by vot do give t!^ grant unto ^Ir. "Justice Bush of New Vork tlie privilege of the "stream of horseneck brook below the country road to "build a grist mill or mills upon ' place/' [r-'] R CHAPTER VII KOC'KKIDGE AND DEAKFIEIJ) ECl'RRIXG again to the centrally-located farms as outlined in the beginning of Chapter I, I desire herein to include in one description the farms of Thomas A. 3Iead and Zaccheus INIead. These two farms, divided by the Glenville road, comprising three or four hundred acres, stretched away from the Post Road, in valley and hill to the north and west, ending in woodland. The Thomas A. Mead homestead was built in 171)0 by Richard ^lead and is known as Dcarfield. The name is not misspelled but has a significant meaning. Various stories are told of its derivation: the one most likely to be true is as follows: One of Richard ^lead's family, in writing to a friend, de- scribed the fields of waving grain through the valleys, along the knolls and ridges to the "Hemlock Woods"; all visible from the windows of the house and char- acterizes them as "dear fields." Dearfield Drive takes its name from the same inci- dent. The Thomas A. ^lead farm is now known as Edge- wood Park, and the Zaccheus iNIead farm as Rock Ridge. [73] OTllKU DAYS 1\ CiRKKXWICII Fifty years ago lookino- north from the Post Road at all that great acreage, the two farms seemed one. Tliere were plowed fields, waving grain and I'oek- ribbed hills, while to the west the beautiful Hemlock Woods ah\ays look the last rays of the setting snn. Tile Zaeehens Mead homestead, latelv the home of '•|)Jv\l{|- IKI.DS" Thos. A. Mead Hoinestead Built irf)9 Charles B. Read, deceased, stood out all alone, prominent against the northern sky. In all that gi'eat stretch from the Post Road to the woods at the north and west, there was scarcely a tree, exce})ting two or three apple orchards and the small wood lot near the residence of Judge Charles D. Rurnes on Brookside Drive. Farmers always were solicitons for their lands [74] ROCKRIDGE AND DEARIIELD under cultivation and a shaded field was usually un- productive. But I recall how desolate that old Zaccheus jNIead homestead looked standing all alone against the steely gray winter sky. From the same point of view it is now lost in a THOMAS A. MKAD jungle of shade trees or hy the ohstriiction of inter- vening buildings. This great territory was divided hy ancient stone walls, thick and straight and frequently intersected by other similar walls. These walls were made of [75] OTIIKU DAYS IX GREENWICH boulders tluit could he drawn only by foin- ])air of oxen and lifted to their ])lace by a derrick. Walls were thus fre(juent because of the su])])lv of stone duo' from the earth, to make the cultivated tields. Not far from the Edoewood Inn, wliich, with the Park of the same uame, occupies a small poi-tion of the Thomas A. oNlead farm, one may still see a few examples of the wall-building skill of the generation that lived before and just after the Revolution. There are still remaining sliort })ieces of old walls, covered with moss and vines, so wide that a horse and buggy could be driven along tlie toj). Rut most of the old walls have been broken to pieces and are occupying their place in modern house construction. The old homestead at Rock Ridge was owned and occupied by two men of the same name — Zaccheus Mead. The tirst was tlie grandfather of the second, but I have no knowledge of the generation between, except that Job and Elsie were the parents of Zaccheus. However, the old homestead and its one hundred and fifty acres went, by will, from grandfather to grandson of the same name. Opposite the "Roulders'' now the home of E. R. Close, the rock caverns of that jagged granite pile, rising more than fifty feet in height, afforded a safe hiding ])lace, when the Rritish red coats made life unc()mf()rtal)le for the Greenwich patriots. There was no road neai" there when 1 was a boy, buf one (lav, going through those woods in companv with my [7 MKAU iiO.MK.-,! I. A h In 1S.3C) were not agreeable to my nerves and I never go through there without recalling the incident. The brook is the same and so are the trees and rocks but the human habitations have taken away all the som- ber mystery of my first visit. It is possible that the old homestead still standing supplanted one earlier built, but I am inclined to be- [TT] OTTTKU DAVS TX CxKEKXAVTCTT hvw that the first oir', an old sweep-hack, was pi-ol)- ahly enhiroed and iin])roved, thus creatino- tlie present huihling. Hnt wliether so or not the ])i-esent lionse is the oldest in Uoek Kidi»X'. Inside I heheve it is aj)|)i'()priately furnished in anti(jue and certainly with much nioi'e luxur\' than ^vas en.joyed l)y either of its foi-uier ()eeii])ants. The first Zaeelieus was an ohl man when lie died, October 27. 184(>. Having lived all his life in the old place lie had (gathered abont him a few Windsor chairs, as well as some straio-ht back rnsh bottoms, and on a winter night, when the great o})en fire])lace was the only means of heating the living room, the big high-backed settle was the most comfortable spot in which to crack nuts, eat a])])les or drink cider be- fore the cheerfnl fire. If some of the Rock Ridge folks could see the house as it was then, how they would wax enthusi- astic over the ancient high-posted and canopied })eds, the mahogany ta})les and brass warming pans; the blue dishes in the corner cu])boards and all those qnaint and lowly things that made the Colonial honse- keeper contented and haj)py. He had all these things because they and many more articles are enumerated in the inventory of his estate. Reyond these simple articles of personal })roperty he had nothing lint the wagon, the pung and the chaise. Zaccheus made his will on the 1.5th day of April, 18;33,- — thirteen years before his death. And thereby the old farm went to the gi-andson. Zaccheus, subject [7H] ROCKRIDGE AND DEARFIELD to the life use of one-tliird by tlie widow. Her name w^as Deborah and she continued to enjoy her hfe estate until September 8, 1853. The old man gave Deborah only tlie use of one- ZACCHKL'S -MEAD Jnd 1T9S-18T:2 third of the farm and the buildings and he must have strained a point in his conception of the law of dower when he gave her the unrestricted use of all his house- hold furniture "except the clock and birch bedstead and bed and bedding and warming pan." The clock was a tall one that stood in the living room while the [79] OTHER DAYS IX (iRKPLXWICIT banjo c'lofk tliat liiiiiii' in \hv hall was called the time- piece. AVhat has become of* all those interesting- old I'elics^ 'I'hey must have remained in the homestead many years, but I imat>ine that finally when the clock ajid the time])iece, in the days of a later generation re- fused to go, tliey were discarded for modern ones on the theory th.at they were old and all worn out. 1 tlnnk the second Zaccheus must have kept them, be- cause as I recall him, during war times, he was just such an old-fashioned man as would hold on to the goods of his ancestors. He was accustomed to drive along the dusty road every Sunday in his antique wagon drawn by a fat and logy gr^iy horse, headed for the Second Congregational Church, where he stayed till the close of tlie afternoon service at three o'clock. His wife and his only child, Hannah R. Mead, were always with him. Many are still living who recall with interest the members of this quaint family. Hannah came into possession of the farm in the spring of 187'i and there she and her mother lived, honored and respected by all who knew them. Hannah died in 1882 and her mother. Laura ^lead, contimied to live in the old homestead until January l.*3, 189.5. AUhough she outlived her daugh- ter so many years she was kindly cared for by Nathaniel Witherell who supplied her with every comfort in her last days. Why Nathaniel Witherell? [80] y^?2^. ^/ ,^^1^^ isn-i!)()() ROCKRIDGE AXD DEARFTKT D Hannah R, Mead was a very ...^ - " In her last will ?he -^i^e lezscv -i^ztr .-_ beneTolent socie: — .- . _ VVhUe she reserved to her r v " " was practically nothing left oui lie and the farm. The old lady could M::ircr-' :- :::x- pected to get a livirj :^' i pay her taxes ir- p: -''"e sale of produce. T had rasped. As I look over Rock Ridsie e its l-r villas. : IS and productive _ - to reaiize liiai less than twenty-tive vcitrs a^jo ii=e whole place was solemnly :". ' - - sand dollars. And what :- - that appraisal is three th-^iisai . ~ — : was after the death - st Zaccheus in 1846. I am not criticizing the appraisers ! ing out the fact that two generations a^i had a greater value than they ' _ ^ . because the value was estimate.. .- :.. .. . ...iive- ness. In 1846 they were making their ^wneT^ rich. Did you ever notice the old potato ce. :\ Island and on many of the way b: In 187- all this was changed. The s^icat west had used up the eastern farmer and farms were ' " • - salable. Xow that is all changed again. Tl„ „ .: mobile has made the distant farm available and the fruit-grower has discovered that the Xew England apple is the best of all. Tlie farm being in the market, Mr. Withertrii bought it with the widow's life estate remaining. [8.3] oTiiKK DAYS IX (;i{p:fa \\ IC II This is how lie j^ot it. Kvcryhody, cspcciully, a iiiis- sioiiarv society or a struo'<>"hn<>' eolle<^'e, is lookini^' for the present I'ather tliaii the future dolhir. And a long list of (juit-claini deeds from all the heneficiaries under Hannah K. Mead's will sliows how tlie title ]:)assed. It was an uneertainty how \ou-e he- longed to Theodore H. JNIead, Philander But- ton and Titus Mead. The Titus Mead farm will he considered later and an allusion to the Button farm is included in one of the chapters devoted to AVilliam U. Tweed. The Theodore H. ^Nlead farm consisted of sixty- five acres, according to the record, hut was actually ahout eighty acres in extent. It included the ancient house at the foot of Putnam Hill, now owned hy John ]Maher. It was from the front porch of this house, in the early morning of Fehruary 20, 1770, that Gen. Ebenezer ]Mead saw Gen. Putnam make liis famous escape from the British dragoons. It was the General's grandson, Theodore, who owned and occupied the house when I first saw it. It is difficult now to realize that in 1859 Theodore H. jNIead was only thirty-seven years old and that when he died, January 18, 1876, he was hut fifty-four years old. He always seemed an elderly man. owing perhaps to the fact that my eyes were youthful and also to the ])eculiar mode of dress ad()])te(l hy Mr. ]Mead. He alwavs wore a slouch hat, a shirt that [86] THE THEODORE H. MEAD FARM was decidedly negligee and trousers thrust into the tops of boots that were never blacked. He rarely wore a coat. He had the habit of riding to the vil- lage for his mail, without a saddle and often without a bridle. There was nothing about the man or about his farm suggestive of tidiness. The bars were generally down and his cattle out. And yet, notwithstanding these defects, he was a man well born and well schooled. He was proud of his ancestry and of th.e fact that he was born in the old homestead at the foot of Putnam Hill that had housed his warrior grandsire. His wife was the daughter of Rev. William Cooper ^lead, D.D., LL.D., of Norwalk, an eminent divine well known throughout New England. His father married twice and he was the youngest of eleven children. He had a half-brother, Rev. Ebenezer Mead, who was a Congregational minister. He often expressed the regret that his father was not able to afford him a liberal and professional edu- cation. He died in the same room in which he was born. He had converted the ten acre meadow into a pond, since known as "Ten Acres," splendid for skating but used for the purpose of gathering ice and for many years he alone dealt in it. Just east of the home- stead was a mill site, still extant, which afforded ex- cellent water power by which a saw mill and cider mill were in commission all the year round. It is only a few vears ago that the mill was removed but [87] OTHER DAYS IX GKEEXW R II the ])on(I remains an ornament to the Milton C Nichols })laee, recently erected near it. Givint^' attention to the mill and ice crop e\|)lained in part why the fai'm was not more carefully culti- vated. Eurthermore his sixty-five aci'cs included considerahle woodland fi'om which wood was carted to various peo})le ahout the villa<4e and in Cos C'oh. The halance, devoted to cultivation, was prohahly no more than enouoh to maintain his oxen, a few cows, slice]) and a ])air of horses. Another reason for the lack of attention <>iven to the farm and mill was Mr. Mead's growing- passion for speculation. He was always in a hurry to get rich and followed tlie o-old market with a vigilant eye. During tlie war of 18()1 and up to 1870 gold was at a ])remium over currency which necessitated its ])urchase in the open market when re(|uired for mercantile pur])oses or the payment of customs duties. The gold hoard in Xew York city, as the exchange was called, was opened to trade in gold coin, just as stocks are in the regular exchange. Frequently gold fluctuated ra])i(lly and many countrymen, like Mr. ^lead, were interested in hny- ing and selling for a (juick profit. He was therefore always a horrower and constantly in trouhle with small local creditors. A large numher of attach- ments were filed against his farm and sometimes judgments were entered against him. This condi- tion of aff'aii-s arose from his inattention to husiness [88] THE THEODORE H. MEAD FARM and not because he desired to ignore the demands of crecHtors. Wlienever he was sued he took it as a matter of course, paid the costs, treated the sheriff to a glass of cider and repeated the operation two or three times within the next week. Volume 39 of the land records devoted to real estate attachments tells the full story of Theodore's trou])les, though perhaps I ought not to characterize them thus for JMr. JNIead rarely was troubled with anything. He liked children, perhaps because he had none of his own. When the Cos Cob l)oys, students at tlie Academy, came up the hill by tlie mill — a very steep hill that long ago disappeared under modern grading and road making — he would often call them in and removing tlie bung of a barrel filled with sweet cider supply them witli the necessary straws. If the cider w^as running through the spout from the press he would hand them a tin cup with which to drink their fill. In winter these same boys and many others hel])ed to tloat the ice cakes down to the slide. On one occasion ]Mr. Mead was invited to attend the annual dinner of tlie New England Society in the City of New York and promptly accepted. He went with my father and I then realized that Theodore H. Mead, dressed in dark clothes, with polished boots and a silk hat, was a very handsome man. Once riding along on a bay nag that seemed too frail to carry him, he drew up in front of the Academv, then on the corner where Dr. F. C. Hvde's [89] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH house stands, Aviiilc tlie boys were enjoying tlie noon recess. Calling us around him he told the story of Putnanrs ride giving it to us just as he had heard it from the lips of his grandfather, an eye witness. AVhen Mr. Mead died his creditors \\ ere numerous and eventually his estate was settled as an insolvent estate. Col. Thomas A. ^Nlead had loaned him ten thou- sand dollars made up of various small sums and his appeal from the commissioners on Theodore's estate furnishes some law, still uiu'evoked. It is only neces- sary for me to refer to the 46 Vol. of Conn. Reports, page 417, and to suggest that if the details of a financial wreck are interesting they may there he found. I started to tell about the farm but luive devoted most of the chapter to its eccentric owner. The estate being insolvent all of the farm was sold at auction by order of the Court of Probate. It was a rainy morning in the spring of 1881, and yet there was a good deal of money in the crowd that gathered about the auctioneer, in front of the old homestead. The sixty-five acres, with ice house, nu'll right, barns and the grand old Colonial house, brought only $5,400, less than $100 an acre. The widow, Cornelia J. Mead, was then living and as the ])ro])erty M'as sold subject to her dower it had an influence to de- press the price. Subsequently, Solomon JNIead, John Dayton and Allen H. Close, as distributors appointed by the [90] THE THEODORE H. MEAD FARM court, set out to her the use for hfe of the house and about four acres of land. She died on the 26th day of October. 1881. The property went to Henry Wel)b and afterwards to John ]Maher and much of their fortune may be traced to that fortunate purchase on that rainy spring morn- ino- in 1881. If vou ask the genial ice and coal dealer, John :Maher, how much he has made out of U 11 I'.lt.MIl.K I A 1,1. > Photo by I. L. Metid the farm lie will respond with a jolly laugh and noth- ing more. Tlie small parcel recently sold is said to have brought 5i<2(),00(). The farm included a large tract on the south side of the road now included in ]Milbank and the famous and romantic Buttermilk Falls tract on the north. Here are the homes of E. Belcher ^Nlead and J. ^I. JNIenendez, with rustic ledges, beautiful trees, the ever murmuring brook and tlie view of Long Island Sound. [91] E CHAPTKK IX thp: TITUS :sn:Ai) iak.^i \ KliV one knows Titus Mead's hill, it is one of the ohl names tliat still remain. It is appro- ])riate. for at its erest. for many years lived a farmei- of that name. The line of splendid maple trees alon^' the road side was planted hy him nearly ninety years ago. He died .Mareh '2(k !«()<). at the age of sixty-five years. By him were l)uilt some of the stone walls that divide the fields and many of tlie (h'ains that have made the land so fertile. He was })r()minent in town affairs, when 1 was a hoy. and for many years was Town Treasurer. His wife was I.ney ]Mnmford ^Nlead, daughter of Andrew ^lead, who died April 21, 1821, "a patriot of the Revolution," according to his epitaph. Titus ^Nlead was one of the wealthy men of his time. He had a large and profitable farm, with a short haul to the market sloops. The inven.tory of his estate reveals only the choicest securities and a long list of local mortgages. He was a liberal man. As the treasurer of a cer- tain lodge, in the village it was said tliat he alwavs [92] THE TITUS MEAD FAK.Al \)'cU(\ tlie })ill.s althougli thfv wei'e I'ai in excts.s of the rteeipls for wliich lie was always imaiiiiiiously I'e- elected. He wrote his own will, using' a [ji'inted blank in whieh it was necessary only to insert tlie name of liis wife as sole legatee and devisee. He executed it July 9, 18(52. which fact would apjjcai- of no moment excejjt that the names of the subscrihing TITLS .mi:ai) ho.mkstkad In is.ji) witnesses bring back to me a vivid recollection of an old wheelwright's shop shaded by a mammoth bntton- ball tree which stood where the First Presbyterian Church now^ stands. Joseph E. Russell ran the shop and George S. Ray worked for him. Samuel Close, the Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, had his office near-by. This office is fully descril)ed in Chaj)- ter III of this volume. These three men witnessed the execution of the will and we can readily imagine Squire Close calling the other two to come across to his little office, while the [93] OTHKR DAYS IX GREEXWICTI slu)]) was lei't alone, witlioiit danger of anyone eall- Jng- (luring those (lull days. Titus ^Mead's widow outlived liini twenty-two years and many of her personal friends survive her. She was a delightful lady of the old school and it always gave me the greatest pleasure to call upon her. The year after her hus})an(rs death, in 1870. she built the house on lower X'orth Street since veiy much enlarged by the late H. P. Wliit taker, and now belonging to his es- tate. He called the place Prescourt. Eiving in the village was much more to her taste, than living in the old farmhouse at the top of the hill, aftei- her hus- h'cuu] had gone. But she thought a great deal of the place and although she had many offers she would not part with it. She did, however, sell many acres of her farm, including Crest View to Henry C. Boswell, and the William H. Teed and Thomas Young tracts. "The Chimneys" and "Athelcroft" were built by Clarence ]M. Hyde and his late brother on a jjortion of iNIrs. Mead's farm. It became the good fortune later of ^Irs. ^Nlary E. Andrews to purchase from the I^ucy ]M. ^lead estate the valuable tract u])on wliich stands the fine house built by her and since her decease '[94] MRS. LUCY Ml MFORD MEAD 1810-1891 THE TITUS MEAD FARM owned by her dauohter, Mrs. F. Kissam Brown. She also owns the old Titus Mead homestead and she and her husband have shown their wisdom and good taste in retaining- the old house much as it appeared, in the days that followed the Revolution wlien it was one of the mansions of the town. Adjoining the Titus JNIead farm on the south lies 1f 'l^S^ f- .'■is* r PUTXAM COTTAGE 'Ihe home for iierly a ceiitury of Hezekiah and John J. Trac-v, fatlicr and son territory Ihat h.as an interesting Revolutionary his- tory. In 177.5 Israel Knapp lived in what is now known as Putnam cottage. He also owned many acres in the neighborhood of "Great Hill" as it was called be- fore Putnam's exploit. Dying without a will his land descended to his widow and heirs who subse- quently sold it to Reuben Holmes. He was a man of character, education, and standing; by profession a teacher, by trade a shoemaker. He had a large [93] OTHER DAYS IX (iUKEXWICII family and their support taxed his abilities to the ut- most. In his school by day, he sat on his bencli at night and was not satisfied if he failed to finish half a dozen pair of shoes weekly. But finally he abandoned the struggle, sold his real estate August 1(). 182.3, and moved to wliat was then the far west, Geneva, Cayuga County, New York. ]Mrs. Hannah ]Mead bought tlie property consisting of thirty-two acres, for $3,500. She was the widow of Joshua ^lead who died early in life leaving an only child, Solomon, so well known to thi- {)resent generation. This parcel of land extended north and included land now owned by tlte Parmelee J. ^IcFad- den estate. One of the daughters of Israel Knapp was Amy K. Thompson, who appears to have retained an in- terest in her father's land and upon her decease her four children, Harriet, Cornelia, James and Caroline, conveyed it to Solomon jNIead's motlier. ^Iy. ^lead always spoke of his mother with great admiration and affection and all her transactions indi- cate that she was a woman of unusual ability. She died March 14, 1844. at the age of 79, leaving Solo- mon as her sole heir at law. Solomon JNIead was a prominent man in (rreenwich all his life and at his decease June 14, 1898, it was found th.at he was worth more than any other native of the town who had i)assed his days here. He was an intelligent, practical and painstaking man. \Vhile his mother owned the little farm of THE TITUS MEAD FARM thirty-one acres, M^iich she never enennil)ered, he made many imi^rovements upon the property. The l)hn(l ditches he laid for drainage purposes still re- IS()S-1S!)S main to attest his skillful, scientific handlino- of the property. Its present appearance, due to clianoe in fence lines, opening of highways, demolition of old huild- ings, the erection of new ones, and the nlantino- of [97] OTHER DAYS IX (;RKEXWICH fruit and ornamental trees — is very different from its api)earanee eiglity years a<>'o. Long before my remembrance an old hon.se and a barn stood near tlie highway between the present AVhittaker and ^IcFadden places. Not many years ago I found the old well near the present line of high- way in front of the old cellar hole. These old build- ings are immortalized in Daniel JNIerritt ]\Iead's his- tory of Greenwich, jDages 156, 157 and 158. After the tenancy of tlie Holmes family in the Put- nam cottage it was owned and occupied by Hezekiah and John Jay Tracy, father and son. for nearly a century. They were both men of attainments and they each occupied the office of Town Clerk for many years. John Jay was secretary of the Tammany So- ciety in Xew York. The public records kept by these men are models of penmanship at a time wlien a quill pen only was used. For many years the street running near the Put- nam cottage througli land of A. Foster Higgins was appropriately called Tracy Street. Its present name of Park Avenue has no particular significance. Prior to 1858 Solomon ^Nlead lived in an old fash- ioned swee])-back, standing just inside the gateway leading to the stone mansion erected by him in 1854- 1858. The house is known as X^o. 48 INIaple Avenue and has recently been occupied by the family of William Cooney. After the completion of the new residence, in 1859, the old one was removed. It was a prototvpe of the old Jared ]Mead house, described [98] THE TITUS MEAD FARM in Chapter XIV. Under its front windows were bunches of phlox and some marigolds were nodding in the summer breeze when I first saw it. It had a comfortable "sit down" appearance, characteristic of all the old gray shingle, low studded sweep-backs of the eighteenth century. Xear its north end was the well house in which an empty bucket hung over the curb. It was overshadowed by the great stone house which was then completed, and it was only a short time afterward that it disappeared and the old cellar hole was filled. ]Mr. JNIead began to build the present stone house in 1854 and completed it in 18.58. The method of thorough construction adopted by its owner attracted wide attention. The walls were hollow to prevent dampness and the stones were laid up in shell lime. Mr. JNIead has often told me that in those days, from his front piazza, he enjoyed an unobstructed view of Long Island Sound as far east as the Nor- walk Islands. But in late years the shade trees growing tall and rank have destroyed much of the summer view. [90] C HAPTKR X THE SKC'ONl) C()X(iKK(JA'l'I()XAI, (Ill'UCir OX November 0, IDKI, will oeeiir the two liuii- (Iredth anniversary of the establishment of the Second ContJ-regational Church. The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary was held in 18(K) and was one of the most important that ever occurred in Greenwich. A similar occasion in these days would cause less interest outside the church memhershi]). because the |)()])ulation is lai'ger, more varied in I'e- ligious faith, and perhaps more secular in disposition. But the celebration in 1860 was largely attended and created among the members of all religious sects a general interest. The present stone church, a creation of Leopold Eidlitz, one of the most famous church architects of the Nineteenth century, arouses the admiration of every resident of (xreenwich, whatever his creed or nationality. It was built in 18,5() under somewhat peculiar cir- cmnstances. Its predecessors had been compai'a- tively cheap, wooden aff'aii's and when the building of a new church was agitated Mr. Robert Williams Mead led the minoi'ity in advocating the construction [100] SECOND c()xgkk(;atioxal church of the present building-. Not only plans Init a per- fect model in plaster were shown, displaying tlie splendid proportions and lines of the proposed church. '4M0 KOBHKT W. .MKAI) 1S14 1875 The proposition was strongly opposed on the ground of expense, but finally when Mr. Mead de- clared it could be built for thirty thousand dollars someone at the cliurch meeting expressed a doubt as to his ability to find a contractor to undertake the M'ork at that price. It is not unlikely that Mr. Mead [101] OTHER DAYS IX CiUEEXWK II realized this, for he promptly replied tliat lie would take the contraet himself. He was not a eoiitraetor and nevei" had l)een one, hut he built the ehureh and when the thirty thousand dollar appropriation was exhausted he sold his own seeurities to continue and complete the huildino-. His monument stands near the church and hears the same inscription that is cut in the toml) of Sir Christopher Wren in St. Pauls, London, ''Si iiioiin- mentum quarae circumspice" — "If you would see his monument look about." I fear that Robert AVilliams JNIead never received half the credit that should have been his for buildino- the handsomest church spire in Xew En.gland. He was a son of Dr. Darius ^lead, whose home was on the crest of Putnam Hill. He had made a fortune in mercantile pursuits in Xew ^"ork City. When he built the church he resided in the liouse now owned and occupied by his nephew, Frederick ]Mead. On April 11, 1804, he sold this property to D. Jack- son Steward, who held it till April 15, 1868, when he sold it to Edward Slosson, a retired X"ew Vork lawyer. jNIrs. Annie Turnbull Slosson, his widow, a well-known writer, now resides in X"ew York. After the death of ^Ir. Slosson, by a deed dated ^lay 28, 1872, the property went to Frederick ^lead, the father of its present owner. The interior of the chuivh was remodeled in li)()(). at an expense of about thii'ty thousand dollars. Those who had the matter in hand ))i-ohablv acted [102] 2si) tOXCUKCATIOXAL C'Hl'KCII IN Is)!* (No cIiH-k at tliat time) Pastors: Hev. Dr. Joel H. Linsley. Kev. Dr. Frederick G. C'lai Rev. Dr. George A. CJordon SECOND COXGRKCxATIOXAL CHURCH for tlie best interests of the cliureh. However, such a radical change was a great disappointment to me. Tliere is one incident in connection witli the build- ing of this churcli that should not })e omitted. When it was fully completed with the outside scatf'olding still surrounding the spire several ladies, members of the church, climbed on open ladders, from scaf- fold to scaft'old, till they reached the circular caj) stone, eight feet in diameter, around which they sat and ate their supper, undisturbed by the fact that they were two hundred and twelve feet above the ground. 3Irs. Julia A. Button, ]Miss Clarissa ^Nlead and "Sirs. Edward ^Nlead were among the mimber. Rut to recur to the celebration of 18()(j. It comes back to me like an occurrence of yesterday. Per- ha]Ls its most remarkable feature was the historical address by Rev. Joel H. Einsley. D.I)., which was his last public effort. He had been the pastor of the church for nineteen years and was then the honorary hut retired pastor. His address, finished and schol- arly, was re])lete with matters of local history and startling in its proi)hetic 2)ortrayal of the speaker's vision of the future, in these words. "This town will not for many years, if ever, be a place distinguished for business or rapid advance in population. On this very account it is all the better for a place of (juiet homes, and as a seat for the best educational institutions." The committee of arrangements consisted of Dea- con Philander Rutton. Deacon Jonas ^lead. Dr. T. [105] OTHER DAYS IX GRKKXWICH S. Pimieo. William A. Howe and Edward P. Holly. They were appointed at a meeting of the ehureh held in March, 18G6. 13in-ing the summer the work of arranging details became so onerous that the committee was enlarged by adding the following men: Isaac E. Mead, Alex- ander Mead, Z()j)har Mead, Shadrach M. Brush, Ben- jamin W^right, Arthur D. ^lead, (xcorge H. Mills, Gideon Reynolds and the following ladies: ]Mrs. Ed- ward Mead, ^Nlrs. Philander Button, Mrs. T. S. Pinneo, ^Irs. Joseph Brush, Mrs. xVugustus X. Reynolds, "Sirs. Benjamin Wright, ]Mrs. Elizabeth S. Hoyt, ^Nlrs. Stephen Holly, ^Irs. Moses Cristy, ]Mrs. X'ehemiah Howe, JNlrs. Daniel JNIerritt ^Nlead, INIrs. Charles H. Seaman, JNIrs. William B. Sher- wood, Mrs, Thomas Ritch, JVIrs. Lockwood P. Clark, ]Mrs. Caleb Holmes, ^Nlrs. Alfred Bell, Mrs. Isaac Peck, ]Mrs. Jabez ^Nlead, ]Mrs. Stephen G. White, Mrs. Henry M. Bailey, ]Mrs. William T. Reynolds, JNIrs. Eewis A. ^lerritt, 3Iiss Hannah ^I. ^Nlead, ^liss Eliza J. Scofield, JNIrs. Joseph E. Russell, Miss Louisa Mead. As I write these names their owners' faces all come back to me. Of the committee of men four survive and but one of the committee of women is liv- ing. The day w^as one of the finest of the season. It was one of those glorious autumn days for which Greenwich has always been so famous and when (loul t often arises whether there is more beauty in [KHI] SECOND COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH the blue waters of the Sound or in the wealth of forest trees, flaming with scarlet and orange. The church was decorated with festoons and wreaths of evergreen, tastefully interwoven with au- tumn flowers. Upon the wall over the speakers' platform, in the rear of where the organ now stands was the following inscription: IX THE PLACE OF THE FATHERS ARE THE CHILDREN 1716 OUR father's god is our god The printed programme, a copy of which lies he- fore me, announced the following order of exercises. 1. Invocation, REv. platt t. holly 2. Beading the Scriptures rev. f. g. clark, d.d. 3. Anthem — "O, How Lovely is Zion." 4. Praner rev. joel 3i anx .5. Historical Discourse rev. j. h. lixsley, d.d. 6. Praifcr REv. samuel howe 7. Anthem — "Praise Ye the Lord." 8. Benediction Rev. stephex hudbell Recess For Collatiox p. M. 9. Anthem. 10. Welcoming Address rev. w. h. h. :murray 11. Historical Paper william a. howe 12. Anthem 13. History Stillson Benevolent Society DR. T. S. PIXXEO Would it be possible in this generation to hold an audience on such an occasion all day long? [107] OTHER DAYS IX GKEEXW ICH Thu historical address, as I liave stated, was tlie crowning- effort of Dr. l^insley's busy life. lie died Marcli 22. 18('»S. It may not be amiss to quote here the peroi'ation of that discourse. "This is. my hearers, of all the days since Feaks and Patrick cut tlie waves of the Sound with their light boat, fastened her to Elizabeth Xeck. and by peaceful pvu'chase took possession of these fair fields for civilized man. the best and brightest, the one in which it is the greatest i)rivilege to live. "That our children and children's children are to see a still brighter one, 1 liope, nay, I believe. "And when we scatter at the close of this auspicious occasion from this beloved hill of Zion, let us retire with gratitude for what our fath.ers bequeathed to us from the past; with rejoicing in the present, tliat the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and with full purpose of heart, that, Cxod helping us. we will transmit a still richer inheritance to those who sh.all come after us. even to the latest generations." The afternoon session opened with an address of welcome by Rev. W. H. H. IMurray which seemed to be ])ai'ticulai-ly directed to the ministers present who had formerly been pastors of the church. ]Mr, ^lurray was at tliat time a young man of twenty-six years and acting ])ast()r of the church. To most of the guests he was unknown, but the ad- dress of welcome thrilled every soul and left such an impression that tlie memory of Murray was never dimmed. [108] SECOND COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH I recall distinctly, how in the midst of his address, he ran his fingers through his thick, raven locks and, turning his massive figure towards Rev. Joel ^^lann, the oldest ex-pastor, said: "But more especially do we rejoice that you, tlie most aged of this group, whose sun, though glowing and bright, is near the border of the horizon, should once more be with us, to behold and be made happy at the sight of our prosperity, before the shadows deepen farther, and you, passing through them, be lost to our eyes. "It is well, too, that tliose of us in this coneTegation whose heads, in the passage of years, have whitened with yours, should see once more the familiar faces, the countenances of former an.d still beloved pastors, before that hand, which, smites the cloud for all, smites it asunder for us, and our eyes close on ter- restrial objects forever." I think the most touching incident of the day oc- curred at its close, when Mr. INIurray rose and said : "There is one man, my good friends, who did you a service to-day which ^ve cannot too highly appreciate. The graces have been alluded to, and it is well they should be: but before ^^■e go out let us rememl)er the cradles. There are ears too young to hear our speech to-night, and eyes not yet instructed in vision, so that they may read the motto above our heads ; and there is one man sitting here before you w^ho has done a service for this class that I can not overrate. A hand has been reached into the past; into the dark past of tradition, and out of it fetched something more vahi- [109] OTHER DAYS IX GREEXWICH able than <>()1(1; and it is more pleasant for nie to think of it, because that hand is aged, and whether it reaches backward or forward, it will reach not many years again. The man who has done you a service you can never repay is Rev. Dr. Linsley, We cannot consen^t to separate until tliis aged man, wlio has long })een your teacher, and who has done you such service, shall have received a public expres- sion of your respect by this audience rising in his honor." I shall never forget the tlirill that went tlu-ough that great audience, as rising to their feet, ^Ir. ^Nlur- ray said: "Receive, my aged friend, this mark of a peoples' respect. The thanks of men are common, but the thanks of the multitude are few." For more than forty-six years have I carried in my memory the burning incidents of that day. Xo one ])resent has lived to forget and again and again has the story been told to the new generation, tliose who now stand in tlie place of the fathers. I cannot conclude this chapter without referring to George A. Crordon, D.D., pastor of the old South Cliurcli. Boston. He came to Greenwich, as the pas- tor of the Second Congregational Church, when he was on the sunny side of tliirty. He was ):()i-n in Scotland. He has often told of his first job in America, when as a gi-eenhorn he hired out to a blacksmith, who never paid him. After that he took care of the Rev. Mr. Angier's furnace in Cambridge who saw that the l)()v had bi-ains and [110] SECOXD COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH educated him. Tliis same ^Nlr. Angier afterwards supplied the pulpit of the Second Congregational Church to which Mr. Gordon was subsequently called. Before these two men met Mr. Gordon had but one given name — George, but afterwards Angier was in- serted as the middle name. iNIr. Angier preaching at Greenwich suggested young Gordon for the pastorate and he accepted al- though (jualified for a larger field. To a man of his ability and resources the Greenwich church was as restricted and confining as a flying cage to a skylark. And yet when the summons came from the old South Church he hesitated. He loved Greenwich and his people and they loved him. The town was more rural thirty years ago and he loved the country. Round Island, Field Point and all the territory near were open to his saimterings. His parishioners be- sought him not to leave and for two years he heeded them and refused to go. On the 23d of October, 1912, he came back to Greenwich to take part in his old church in the in- stallation of Rev. Charles F. Taylor. He was the same Gordon, refined and matured. He spoke feel- ingly of the other days but nothing he said had more pathos and love in it than his allusion to a roll of pa- per among his revered treasures. Tied with a blue ribbon, the paper once white, but now yellow with time, contained six hundred and fifty simia- tin-es of those who thus asked him to remain their [111] orilKK 1)A^'S I\ (;UKK\\VK II pastoi". Sonic wvw cliildrtMi. now active iiu-ii aiul woiiRii and many w tic old men who have (>()ne to tlie hereafter. ^Vnd th.en tnrnin<> to the new pastor lie said: "There is the same fonntain of loyalty and love here as there Nvas thii'ty years ago." There have heen fonr Congregational ehurehes in the village, all occupying nearly the same location. Of the first house of worship, in which the Rev. .Mr. jNIorgan preached, little is known, except that it was 32x26 and like the one in "Old Town" (now Sound Beach) . The second was erected in 1730 and was a plain barn-like structure, 50x3.5. surmounted by a tower which was taken down in 1749. There was a door at each end and one in the side. Twenty square pews were located about the sides of the house and there were five in the south gallery. This structure gave way to the third house in 1798. It was in this building that stoves were introduced in 1818, in the face of great opposition. On the first Sunday of their appearance the congregation was almost overcome by the heat, but it was learned after the service that the stoves contained no tires and that the intense heat was but the force of imagination. AVhen the foundation for the present building was laid, it became necessary to move the old church about one hundred feet south. Here it was continued in use till December 5, 1858, when Rev. Dr. I^insley de- livered in it the last sermon, which was in the form of a commemorative discoin'se. [112] ' •^' *.^ f5^^j^tj^flWrt***9S^'.jjfrijWhj|!g5wiR^Jl' ^r*' " n f ?^ p I I 1 ^ KAKl.V CHURCH lU 11. DINGS Insert — Hev. Joel Manii SECOXD COXGREGATIOXAL CHURCH The following year the buildino- was sold to Thomas A. ^lead and Amos ^I. Brush, who subse- quently moved it to the corner of Putnam Avenue and Sherwood Place, tlien :Mechanic Street. But before moving it. the steeple was cut down. The column.s at the belfry were first sawed nearly off, Stephen Sillick and Henry ^Varing Howard, then apprentices to Stephen Sherwood, doing the work. A long rope h.ad first l^een attached to the top of the spire and carried down beyond the Town House and tied to an ox cart belonging to Joseph Brush. Mr. Brush drove a sturdy pair of cattle, that he claimed were equal to pulhng the moon, if he could get a line to it. Everything being made fast the cattle were started. The line grew taut: the steeple bent, then vibrated under the increased tension, while tlie ox cart went up in the air. and falling back to its place the steeple snapped cart and oxen more than fifty feet up the road and landed them in one promiscuous heap. The steeple was finally con- quered by loading the cart with heavy stones. This building, after its removal, has been spoken of in Chapter II. Here Dr. Sylvester :Mead first ap- peared as the successor of Dr. Aiken in the drug busi- ness, and George E. Scofield began to learn the art of prescription filling. On the afternoon of July 3. 1866. a small boy thoughtlessly tossed a lighted fire cracker upon the roof of the old church and at sun-set it was a smokino- ruin. [115] OTIIKK 1)A\ S IX (iUKKXW ICH Hut the pi'C'stiit clMirch l)iiil(iiii,L>' vwvy one knows, or Leopold Kidlit/. an ai-ehiteet of fame, it lias been said that of all h.is snecesst'nl designs, none is more o-i-ac-erul than that heantil'nl si)ii-e. WHiere ean yon HOC'KKKKLI.KK PARK IX ISOO The large elm at the left now shades the home of Charles A. Taylor on Connecticut Avenue drive in (rreenwich and lose sight of it ^ ^'ou see it as you ascend every liill. The gleam of its weather vane reaches every valley. Between the delicate lines of its open columns the setting sun will often pierce till it looks as though it were a ])art of the aziu'e blue, without a foundation upon earth, resting in the clouds. [IK!] CHAPTER XI THE STORY OF A STREET GREENWICH AAT^XUE EIGHTY years ago, the road to Piping Point, was eighteen feet wide, dusty in summer and muddy in winter and yet it was a much, traveled way. Did it not lead all Stanwich and Banksville to the home of the humble clam, and what Round Hill man has not traveled it in search of the hardy black fish? How many hundred thousand bushels of potatoes have been hauled over it to find their way from Daniel Merritt's dock to the city of New York? When the crop was ready for the diggers the farmers often worked all night under a bright October moon and in the early morning their teams Avaited their turn to vinload at the dock. What is now Arch Street was then the only con- tinuation of our present Greenwich Avenue. Beyond was the farm of Daniel S. Mead, the grandfather of Oliver D. ^Nlead and south of the present railway line, on Rocky Xeck, was a forest of great trees, beneath which the underbrush grew rank and tangled. The road to Piping Point, as the old records term it, deflected to the southwest from a point near the present Police Headquarters, Xo. 270 Greenwich Avenue, and ran over the top of a knoll that oc- [117] OTIIKK DAYS IX (iUKKXWICH cupicd what is now the front hiwn of the Iluvenicyer school. On the ei-est of this knoll, at least twenty feet hin'li, stood, within niv reeolleetion. a snnu' httle eottaa'e. Xear the front door on the south side of the house a long well sweep pointed to the north star and the wa- ter that came up in the oaken hucket was eool and sweet. How many teamsters have sto])])ed for the eoolino' draught and to gossip a moment, with the little old lady who lived there! X"ot a house then save one from that hill to the head of the creek and no trees to shade the cultivated fields. Can you imagine the view the little house had from its vine emhowered porch? Further north on the east side of this same way was a never failing spring much thought of hy those same teamsters. It huhhled up at the top of a knoll on the spot where now stands the Prescott huilding at 105 Greenwich Avenue, and when that building was erected in 1891 the spring was uncovered and at con- siderable expense turned into the sewer. It had been covered up many years before, when Dr. Lewis owned the farm and it was sorely missed. It had come to be considered common property and the foot path that led to it was worn deep by the passage of many feet. It was a cozy nook, too, for the bushes grew high above it and kept the sun from its lim])id waters. To what degradation has it fallen that it should be buried beneath a brick l)uilding and emp- tied into a sewer! [118] THE STORY OF A STREET But as early as 18.54 the road had lost much of its rural aspect. The railroad, then in operation five years, had brought the town nearer to Xew York. HENRY M. BENEDICT President Gold Exchange Bank, N. Y. Warden, Borough of Greenwich 18:;?4-1896 Outsiders had discovered the natural beauties of the place and had begun to settle here. Among those who came about 18.50 was Henry INI. Benedict, a man of great ability, of magnificent [119] OriTKK DAYS IX (iKKKXWICH fi<>iir(.' and lai^yc wealth. lie resided on Putnam Avenue till 187'3. \\lien he removed to Bi'ooklyn. He died in ISUC. at Sunset Tark. X. \. Mr. Henediet did not like the I'oad to the (le])ot and he set ahout to ha\e it widt-ned. A])|)lieation was made to the seleetmeu but there was a general op])osition to the scheme. Eighteen feet was deemed (juite wide enough, because it had answered the ])ur- pose for generations. The selectmen ])erhaps were of the same opinion, for nothing was done. Mr. Benedict then employed Julius B. Curtis, a young lawyer of Greenwich, subsequently located until his death in Stamford. He brought an action to the County Court, then having jurisdiction, and after some time accomplished his purpose and opened the road, which then received the name of Greenwich Avenue. With the widening of the street real estate began to look up. It was considered a side street, Putnam Avenue, then called JNIain Street, claiming all the pre- tensions of a ])usiness thoroughfare. As a residence street Greenwich Avenue was considered attractive. Any ])art of it commanded a fine Sound view and there was no obstruction to the refreshing soutlnvest breeze. Edwin ^lead, a brother of Daniel S. ^lead, now residing in California, at the age of ninety-three, came into 2)ossessi()n, by inheritance, of a number of acres north of Elm Sti-cet. He had his land surveyed and divided into thi'ee-(inarter-acre ])lots. off'ei'ing [120] THE STORY OF A STREET them at six liiiiulred dollars each. In tliose days such a plot was considered very small and the price asked quite extravagant. William ]M. Tiers liought the corner lot, where afterwards, for so many years resided Dr. T. S. Pinneo. Isaac Weed bought the plot now occu- pied by the library and Shadrach M. Brush se- cured the plot still owned by his sons, S. Augustus and Henry L. Brush. Most of these sales were made in the spring and summer of 1855. I have avenue in Chapter II, and told something of this there is very little left to say concerning its progress except what is known to this generation, and that is not the province of this volume. The old town building, now occupied by INIayer H. Cohen, is still the property of the town. Its story is told in Chapter XX. From the head of the avenue was once a steep hill; rustic old stone walls were on portions of either side and young men and boys found it a convenient place to coast in winter, as late as thirt}^ years ago. Hanford JNIead had a tannery where Benjamin Lockwood's restaurant is located and later, on Sep- [121] SHADRACH M. BRUSH 1818-19(« In earl\' days did a large business at Mianus. Subsequently con- ducted Imnber business at Rocky Neck. OTHER DAYS IX (;KEKXW1C II tt'inhfi- 4, 18.54. llciirv Held opened a market in a Ixiildin^' he liad erected near the tan vats. He was then the ownei' of all the land on the west side of the avenue from IV-ter ^\eker\s to C'a})t. Lyon's, where the Trust C\)mj)any's huildiuL*- is loeated. A Port Cliester newspaper came out with the an- nouncement that "Sir. Held was ahout to l)uihl "a new, elegant, imposing and commodious market building." This was an innovation that was nn- looked for and besides it was the ])eginning of a "side street" and a street, too, that did not ])ossess popular favor. When the newspa})er later came out with a description of the building "to be filled with brick and surmounted by a lialloon frame," it was the gen- eral opinion about the village that anything in the n.ature of a balloon, was decidedly unstable, was likely to be disastrously affected by air currents, and on a windy day would be a menace to those who haj)- pened along that way. In I'eter Acker's store the sul)ject of the balloon frame was discussed night after night and many a hot word was passed over the subject. Xo one dis- puted the undesirableness of such a structure — it was not that: they were all opposed to the bal- loon frame, and they couldn't agree as to how such a thing could be framed. Solomon S. (ransey said he believed they had been used some in other parts — "in mild climates where the wind blew easy" — but they had generally been set up where they were ])r()teeted by forest trees. He thought he could [122] THE STORY OF A STREET frame one, and he bad a theory of construction which most of the others failed to favor and hence the heated argument over Held's ])alloon frame. But the building went up, and as the first building in town to be framed after the balloon method, it at- tracted wide l(K*al attention. For those days it was really fine. Inside, the marble top counters, against the wall, meat hooks of the latest device, the pictures of fat cattle and the polished horns that stood out from the wall, with streaming red and blue ribbons at their tips, made an impressive appearance. JNIr. Held was po])ular with all his customers. Xo more honest or conscientious man ever lived. He had many opportunities to invest in Wall Street and to buy Greenwich real estate, but he availed himself of Wall Street opportunities not at all and his local real estate holdings were never large. One morning Capt. Wm. L. Lyon, who then owned the Voorhis property, tried to sell him all the land south of the market, now No. 74 Greenwich Ave- nue to where the Greenwich drug store stands, for eleven hundred dollars "and trade it out in meat." It is not surprising that Mr. Held promptly de- clined to pay what was then a large price for land he did not require. [123] CAPT. W. L. lA'OX 1808-1858 OTHER DAVS I\ (iUKKXWICH Tlic old man was raitlil'iil lo his iiiai'kct pati'oiis t'oi" many years and at last one al'tcrnoon down at Indian Ilai'hoi'. liis life went out \\itli the ehhin^' tide tl'at (lowed undei- his window, a man honored and respeeted hy all nn ho knew him. [124.] CHAPTER XII WAR TIMES DURIXG the last days of President Buchanan's administration, and up to the time that Fort Sumter was fired on, poHtics in Greenwich were so warm that they sometimes became bitter. The South liad many sympathizers, called Cop- perheads, while those who favored the abolition of slavery, at whatever cost, were called Black Republi- cans. From this it must not be inferred that no mem- ber of the Democratic party favored the abolition of slavery, for there were many among them known as War Democrats, who agreed on that point with members of the other party, sometimes termed Radi- cals. The shooting of young Col. Ellsworth, the first blood shed in the ^^a.Y — it was really a murder — created great excitement, as it probably did all over the country. His photograph encircled with a broad band of black, w^as on sale at the local stores and many in the village displayed the picture on their front mantels. Long sj^ecial trains of cars often went through, the bands playing and the car platforms filled with soldiers. In some instances flags were displayed [125] ELNATHAX HUSTED Co. T 10th C. V. Died ill service, lS(i4 OTIIKU DAYS IX CiUKEXW RH aloiio- tlu' sides of tlie cars and l)cn(.'ath tlie folds of the Ha,i>' a])|)t'arc(l tlic nanif and luunhei' of the reginu'iil and coinpanv. 'Vhv hoys al)out th,c vil- hi<»e fonnd a _L>!'cat deal of interest in watching these trains and discuss- in l'" anioni)' themselves the places from whence the soldiers hailed, all of them coming from JNlaine and other eastern States. Be- ing too young to enlist, they declared that they regretted it and one or two made application for the ])osition of drummer hoy, but with what success I do not recall. A fine, tall iiag pole was erected at the foot of Lafayette Place through the efforts of William Scofield, and a few years ago, when the watering- trough was ])ut there, the decayed remains of the old pole were taken out of the ground. The pole remained there and was in use as late as 1872, wdien it had so far decayed tliat it was removed. [12I1 in battle before Richmond Oct. 13, 1864, aged 2-2, while in command Co. I 10th C. V. JOHN BUSH MATTHEWS Co. I 10th C. V. Served 3 vrs. WAR TIINIES This pole, when it was first contemplated, was a subject of great delight _ and anticipation. For sev- eral months it lay along the side of Lafayette Place, while the car- penters and painters smoothed and polished its surface. Lying prostrate it looked very short and when it was finally raised and a topmast added, it exceeded the expectations of all. A magnificent flag, purchased by sub- scription, floated from the mast head e^ery day. Standing where Oscar Tuthill and his brother conduct the Round Hill Farms Dairy, was a small frame two-storv buildino-, which subsequently was used by the tow^n for public offices and in 1874 was hired by Henry B. ^Marshall, who therein established the beginning of the 231'esent ^Marshall's Market. During the early davs of the war this building was used as an enlisting [129] JAMES GERALD Co. I 10th C. V. En. 1861. Died in service OTIIKU DAYS IX (iKKKXW K II station. Billv Acker with bis drum and William Johnson with iiis life were constantly at woi-k drum- min<>' enthusiasm into possible recruits. It \\ as an attractive fi'ont dooi' for Ihe hoys who hunL>- around while tlie recruiting officer measured the iipphcants and took their descriptions be- fore including- them in tlie list of raw re- cruits. Com])any I of the Tenth Conn. Volun- teers was the first to o-o to the seat of war and included some of the finest young men in town. Daniel JNIer- ritt Mead, after- wards Major, was the captain of this company and for some weeks before they left he was about the streets in his bright new uniform; on drill days with his sword at his side. We thought him a grand and im]]osing figure, as indeed he was, and he received the admiration- of all the boys, without, probably, realizing it. My brotlier, L. P. Hubbard. Jr.. had enlisted for three years in a Manchester, New Hampshire, Regi- [130] MA.IOP. D. -M. MHAD Who wi-iit out as C"ai)tain I.T. THOMAS R. MEAD En. 1861. Died in service Caj)t. of Co. G 10th C. V. LT. DAVID W. MEAD En. Co. I 10th C. V. 18();?. Re- signed lS(j.'3 WIIJ.TAM MORRISON' En. 18()3 Co. I 10th C. V. Discharged c"h)se of war HKM<^- H. MEAD Co. I ]()th C. \'. Died in service Apr. ;JOth, lS(i;J, at age of -21 SILAS E. MEAD Born 1844.. En. 1861 Co. I 10th C. ^'. Discharged close of war WAR TIMES ment and this gave me a good standing with the other boys of my own age, whose elder brothers and fa- thers had enhsted. Subsequently when my brother made us a visit on furlough I w'as very proud to walk l)y his side as he went about tlie village in his uniform. Finally on a beautiful Autumn day in 1861 — September 25 — came the departure of Company I. The soldier boys, for they were generally about t^^'enty-one years of age, gathered in the old Town Hall which stood where the Soldiers' monument so appropriately stands. I (juote from the diary of Capt. Daniel oNIerritt Mead : "On the morning of the "25th of September we "found ourselves ready to leave, with about fifty-five "men for rendezvous. "Our friends, at home, by thousands escorted us to "the depot, having procured a brass band from New "Rochelle. We marched to Putnam Hill to meet an "expected escort from JNIianus which failed to come. "Then we returned to the Congregational Church "where prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Linsley and [133] L. P. HUBBARD, .hi. Served S Years, Wdunded Battle of Bull Hull orilKK I)A^S IN (iUKKXWlCIT ''a sword j)resci'tc(l to the C'a|)lain. 'I'lif |)i'tsc'iita- '"tion spc'fC'li was iiiadf l)y .Iiilitis H. C'lii'tis in lu'liall' "of tile donors, who were Slcplicii (i. W'liitr. \\ il- "liam Smith. Lyman Mead, and C'hai'lcs H. Seaman. ■'An affectionate lea\ e-takini*' Irom I'l'iends was ■'then had, wlieii we took up onr line of March to the "(lejjot. On our way cheers and tears wei"e alternat- ''ini^-. At th.e depot a s})eech was made l)y Dr. WILLIAM SMITH 1798-1 ST ;2 LVMAN ML AD is.n-isi):) "James II. Iloyt and rej)ned to l)y tlie Captain, when leave-takin_<>' was renewed and continued until "tlie arrival of the train, when we left in the last car "for Hartford." JNIanv of the soldiers were memhers of Dr. Lins- ley's church and wliile I was too youni'' to aj)pi-eciate his ])rayer, it was said to have been, very fervent. I recall ho^^ liis hands ti-eml)le(l as he extended them in his final benediction. All the villaL>e boys followed the soldiers and min- [i:u] CAPT. SELLECK L. WHITE Co. I 10th C. V. Died in service Aii"-. ISfil SERG. NORYEL GREEX En. 1861 LT. W. 1.. SAVAGE Co. ! lOtli C. ^'. En. ISfil. Dis. 18()4 C'). I 10th C. V Re-en listed 1864 A CURT. Al.l.XAXDER FERRIS Color bearer Co. I 10th C. V. Killed at Drurv's Bluff, 186-1. 1 Jk CORP. Wli.i.l^ H. WILCOX En. 1861. Served 3 yrs. Co. I 10th C. V." WAR TI31ES .lAMES H. HOYT. .M.D. 18:29-1875 Surgeon General State of Connecticut gled ill the crowd tliat filled the walk on either side of the dusty road. Until five years ago a black miilherry tree grew on the east side of Green- wich Avenue just below the row of new brick stores. As I reached the mulberry tree there was a slight pause in the ranks. Lieutenant Ben- jamin Wrigh.t and Ser- geant William Long, marching side by side, dre^^' near. 1 noticed the dust across the shoulders of their new uniforms, and then came to me the impression that one of them would never come '**^'^^^ ])ack. And so it was — • ',/ I^ong was one of tlie first to lay down his life. Company I w^as re- markable in the fact that its ranks included no less than twelve pair of broth- ers. They were Erastus and James Burns, David and Jared Finch; John and Holly Hubbard; Wil- liam and Drake ^larshall ; Charles and John 31cCann ; [137] CHARLES H. SEAMAN 1819-1899 OTHKU DAYS JX (iKKKXW R II AN'illiaiii and (ieorn'e Jcrinaii: StcplR-n and Ilcni-y Brady: (icoi-of and William R()l)l)in.s; Louis and Jolin Sella irc'i-i Hfin-y and Wai'i-cn Scott; ^Varon and John SlR-rwood. and John and Thomas W^ilson. In addition to this tliei'e were tliree in- stances wliere father and son stood side by side, and in the ranks of the Com})any were three brotliers-in-law. After the soldiers had departed they were constantly in mind and after every engagement the pa- pers were carefully scanned for news of boys at the front. T^etters came often. LIEUT. BKX.IAMIX W Kill r the envelopes covered with spirited pictures of war scenes. Indeed, plain white envelopes were seldom seen in those days, a Hag in colors usually occupying the left liand corner. The Sanitary Commission had a branch here, made up of ladies who sewed for the well soldiers and put up bandages and lint for the sick and wounded. [138] WAR Ti:^IES Boxes were sent out by the families of soldiers filled with such simple things as corn meal, onions, salt and pepper ; essential, but often difficult to get at the front. Quite frequently the great flag hung at half mast and then the boys would won- der who had gone and whether by shot, shell or disease. There were mil- itary funerals of which I recall that of AVilliam Donohue and later the more imposing funerals of Sergeant "William Long, Thomas R. INIead, Henrj^ JNIead. and Caleb M. Holmes, all of Com- pany I, also that of Oliver D. Benson of another regiment. When jNlajor Daniel Merritt Mead was brought home in a dying condition the sympathy of all was aroused, and as he lay sick for two weeks in the old homestead on the Post Road many a prayer was of- fered for his recovery. But he passed away on the [139] COL. OTIS Of the 10th Reg. Conn. Volunteers. Not a Greenwich man but lieloved by every member of Co. I OTHER DAYS IX (;KEEXWICH IDth (lay of Sc'ptciiil)C'r. 18(>"2. at the early a<^-e of tweiity-eiglit. His funeral was held in the Second Congrega- tional Church and I recall that his military hat and sword rested njjon the coffin. Tile church was crowded to such an extent that the support under the west gallery snapped SEHG. WILLIAM Loxc like the report of a pistol En. 1801 Co. I 10th C. V. Died ^^.j^j^ ^j^^ ^^-^^^ ^^. ^j^^ Morris Island. 186;} ^ people. Few realized the cause of the peculiar noise. It was a sad morning in April, 18(>.5. when the news of the assassination of President Lincoln reached Greenwich. ]Mem- bers of both political par- ties bo^ved their heads in sorrow and the emblems of mourning were univer- sal. The following chapter contains an account of ,,w.o ^,.. m^ tx/^x- A-MUh AIJjAU LiU.N the sermon preached by .Master's Mate r. s. x., isgi-isgj. R-rTT-'ii- -pj- TT Last year on staff of Adnir. eV. VV llliam ±1. ±1. Porter. In several important enfragements including Fort Fisher Murray on this occasion. [140] CHAPTER XIII KEY. WILLIAM H. H. MURRAY REV. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON .MURRAY was born in Guilford, Conn., April 26, IS^O. He was graduated from Yale and from a school of Theology, becoming acting pastor of the Second Congregational Church at the age of twenty-four. He remained as long as the church could keep him, but in 1866 the First Congregational Church of ^Nleriden offered him a liberal salar}' and he left. When he came to Greenwich he was, in years, scarcely more than a boy, yet he had the poise and dignity of a mature man. He stood over six feet in height, was straight as an arrow, and of massiYC physique. His large, well-shaped liead was covered with abundant black hair. His eyes fairly glittered with life and animation. He had an unbroken colt that he kept at Col. Thomas A. JNIead's, also a row boat on the Sound. In almost every Congregational home were dis- played, in conspicuous places, the photographs of Mr. and Mrs. ]Miu-ray. All of the old generation remember him distinctly. The younger generation has little knowledge of him, because he disappeared [141] OTIIKK DAYS IX (;HEKX\VICH from jnihlic life many yeai-.s ago and the old ])lioto- <>Ta])]is liave been liidden away or desti'oyed. He was clever, handsome and ma<>iietie and fearless in W. H. 11. .MLHHAY At tlu- age of 2i his preaehino-. His orii>inality was unique, nsually pleasing and often startling. In speaking of himself in the latter years of his life he once said: ''I was horn of pooi- parents, as the majoi'ity of X^ew Kngland boys were in my day- There had never been a rich raseal in our familv. nor [142] REV. WILLIAM H. H. MURRAY did I come of literary stock. Xo college-bred dunce had ever handicapped us with his incapable respect- ability. I had, therefore, a fair start. The Con- necticut ^lurrays were not afraid to tell the truth to any man and could swear heartily at hypocritical meanness — at least my father could. At the age of seven I began to earn my own living, as every boy should. At fourteen I read all the ])ooks I could lay my hands on. At sixteen I began to prepare for college. I had no help, no encouragement. My father opposed me in my efforts and my mother said nothing. ]My old neighbors in their ignorance said: 'I wonder wliat Bill ^lurray thinks he can make of himself?' But I persevered. I was sensitive to ridicule. I had an impediment in my speech, but I had taken hold of the rope of knowledge with a good grip and I held on. "I started for Yale with four dollars and sixty- eight cents in my i30cket and two small carpet bags in my hands — one for my few books, the other for my few clothes. While at the university I was urged by family and friends, more than once, to give it up. One winter I lived for four weeks on a diet that cost fifty-six cents a week: Indian meal and water — not over much meal and a good deal too much water. I went through the entii"e course — I don't remember that I lost a week. I was graduated crammed full of the knowledge of books from enormous reading, seasoned with a fair proficiency in the studies of the curriculum, but not over seasoned. Then without [143] OTIIKU DAYS I\ (;KKKX\V1CH pause 1 went to Kast ^^'in(l.s()I•. where they take yoiin*^" men as Christians and make them over into Calvinists, and studied old world theology." While at (rreenwieh Mr. Murray made his first ex- cursion into the Adirondack wilderness. It was then almost an unknown territory. AVhile at ^leriden he passed his summer vacations in the Adirondacks and wrote to the Meriden Becorder a series of letters that were afterwards incorporated into a hook entitled "Adventures in the Wilderness," wliich made him a literary celebrity and gave him a name that always stuck — "Adirondack ^Inrray." About the same time appeared in the Atlantic jMonthhi a story entitled "A Ride with a ^Nlad Horse in a Freight Car," which was said to contain the best description of a horse in action that was ever written. Before coming to Greenwich, ]Mr. jNIurray had married the daughter of Sheldon Hull, a pros])erous farmer of Essex, Conn. Her sister, Ida Hull, lived with them while in Greenwich and attended the Academy. The news of the assassination of President IJn- coln reached Greenwich on Saturday morning at eight o'clock. Before noon a meeting of the pastor and deacons of the Second Congregational Church was held and it was voted to drape the interior of the church in black. Mr. Murray agreed to ])reach an appropi'iate sei'inon the following morning. A number of the active young men and women, as- sisted by Mr. Alui-ray. had eom])leted the decorations [144] REV. WILLIAM H. H. :MURRAY by sunset. They covered the front of the galleries, twisted the black muslin about the posts, looped it around the pulpit and strung it above the organ, till the great edifice looked heavy with the folds of black, from which were visible, here and there, the bright colors of the stars and stripes. After it was all finished, JNIurray said: "I'll take a little outdoor exercise after supper and when I re- turn I'll prepare the special sermon for to-morrow." Late that night there was a light in his study in the church. He had a window open and he could hear the voices of the peepers in the distance. His heavy black hair hung like a great shock over his brow. His thoughts, at times, came too fast for his fingers; but at the weird hour when the night begins to change to another day, he laid down his pen, put out the light, and witli body erect as in the morning, he strode across the yard to the parsonage door. The next morning as he arose to deliver his sermon to an immense audience, his face for a moment clouded with sorrow. His voice, always heavy, res- onant and musical, was at first husky, but as he caught the sympathy of his hearers, his voice cleared and, without a note, he delivered one of the most elo- quent discourses ever heard in that church. He began: "To-day the wicked triumph and the "good are brought low. Two days ago the Republic "stood erect, strong and valiant; her foot advanced "and countenance radiant with hope. To-day she "lies prostrate upon the ground, her features stained [U5] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH "with tile traces of recent i)Tief. and lier voice lifted "in lamentation." The sermon of this hoy of twenty-fonr was tilled with the wisdom of a sn^e. As he drew toward the close he said: "Xor is he wholly o()ne! He lives; "not in hodily presence, hut yet he lives, in the his- "tory of his times, in the memory of his age — in the "affections of us all. His name will not he forgot- "ten. The living of to-day will tell it to the unhorn "and they, in turn, will repeat it to the remotest age. "Amid the doings of the great of every clime will his "deeds he recorded. Among the teachings of the "wise will his sayings be written. In galleries where "wealth gathers the faces of the loved and the re- "nowned will his portrait be suspended, and in hum- "bler homes and in lowlier hearts will his face and "his memory be retained, until the present has be- "come the past, and the children cease to be moved "by the traditions of the fathers. "We cannot measure him to-day. Years must "23ass before his influence on his age can be estimated. "It needs the contrast of history to reveal his great- "ness. In the native vigor of his intellect, in the sin- "cerity of his pvu'pose, in the originality of his views, "in the sim2)licity of his faith, and in his sympathy "for the o])pressed, what potentate of his time will "bear a comparison with this backwoodsman of "America:' I'^ntaught in the formalities of courts, "he a])ed not their customs. Unostentatious, he as- "pired to nothing beyond his reach and seemed to [146] REV. WILLIAM H. H. :MURRAY "reach more than he aspired after. He was mcapa- "ble of bitterness, and in this doth his greatness most "appear, that having defamers, he heeded them not. "persecuted by enemies he hated them not, reviled by "inferiors, he retorted not." It is sad to think that a man as capable as :Murray should have gone to pieces, like a ship on a ledge. Leaving ]Meriden. he was the settled pastor of Park Street Church, Boston, at the age of twenty-eight. But in Boston his career seemed a striking case of a square peg trying to tit into a round hole. Sport of all kinds fascinated the man, and the conventionali- ties that hedge about the ministerial cloth became ex- ceedingly distasteful to him. To the Park Street Church deacons it was equally distasteful to have the name of their pastor connected constantly with horse racing. Whether :Mr. ^Murray ever risked money on the races, was never established, but that he organized the Boston Buckboard Co. to introduce a trotting sulky, deemed by him of superior quality and put a good deal of time into the business of breeding ]M organ horses at his Guilford farm, there is no question. At one time the Guilford es- tate, which included the old homestead, which he had purchased after it went out of the family, was worth seventy-two thousand dollars, a fact quite sufficient to reassure those whom Mr. :Murray had persuaded to invest heavily in the Buckboard Co. Racing and religion soon began to be blended by ]Mr. :Murray in a manner most severely criticized. [147] OTIIEH DAYS IX (;KKKXWTCH He owned and edited a weekly ])a])er ealled The (roldi'ii Rule, wln'eli had a larye mini})er of suhserib- ers in (rreeiiwicli. In this ])a|)er matters pertain- ing' to the tnrf and tlie ehni'eh were treated with so loose an attempt at impartiality that there seemed at times to he a leaning towards favoring the turf the more. As a natui'al eon- sequence, in 18TJ*, he was forced to resign from . «» *• Park Street Church. Hut for the following three years he drew great audi- ences to ^lusic Hall where he preached lib- erty, free speech and inde- pendent action. THOMAS RiTCH ^^ ^ pulpit orator he I'l i!^!^" was incomparable. There was a peculiar charm in his delivery, a magnetism in his presence and a profound logic in his reasoning, which rendered his talks positive rhetorical studies. His religion, at this time, was the doctrine of common sense. There was no egotism in his manner, no narrowness in his ideas. To hear him was to realize his powers of mind. To meet him was to com])rehend his graces of manner, aiid to know him was to appreciate his goodness of heart. However he certainly had no business ability. The Golden Rule failed and to the buckboard enter- [148] REV. WILLIAM H. H. MURRAY prise there came a financial crisis. One morning the pastor, author, editor and manufacturer was missing. From Texas he sent a letter to the Boston newspapers declarino- tliat husiness liad called liim to tliat distant MRS. W. H. H. MURRAY In lS(il. State. He in.sisted tliat he had always intended to retire from puhlic life when he was forty and that it was in fulfillment of this determination tliat he left Boston a few weeks hefore his fortieth birthday. In the fall of 1881 jNIin-ray conceived a project of shipping Texas wood to Chicago and other northern [149] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH iiiaiuifac'turiii<4' centers, but as the selieiiie necessitated tlie transportation of material wliicli could be secured better and clieapei" nearer home, its chance of success was sli<>ht. Yet ^Murray so believed in it that he built a mil] on the Guadalupe, about forty miles from San Antonio, and went there to conduct it. He also in- duced })cople to invest in this singular enterprise. At tliis time he became, himself, a teamster. He dressed in brown overalls, cowhide boots and a blue and white checked shirt. Then as he left New Englantl — with many debts behind him ; so jNIr. ]Mur- ray left Texas. In the winter of 1883, the late Thomas Ritch told me that he found him running a restain-ant called the "Snow Shoe" in JNIontreal where INIurray himself, in cap and apron, had cooked and served for him a plate of buckwlieat cakes. Here he met so many of his old parishioners that the restaurant actually served as an entering wedge for the man's retiu'n to the world again. The winter of 1884 he was back again on the Bos- ton lecture platform. That same winter, or the next, he lectured in Ray's Hall in Greenwich. A few of liis old friends w^ere present, but nearly every one had forgotten the eloquent preacher of twenty years be- fore. And yet, after all his vicissitudes, his charm of old had not departed. That night he read from his own works "How John Norton, the trapper, kept his Christmas," a vivid and ex(iuisitely pathetic descrip- tion of a lonely mountaineer's perilous tramp to in- [1.50] REV. WILLIAM H. H. MURRAY sure a happy Christmas to another. As the story was read, with the same deep resonant voice of old, those who heard it could not but do homage to the liumanity and genius of its writer. Before I close this painful chapter I must recur to JNIrs. jNIurray or the story will be incomplete. She was a remarkable woman, possessed of unusual in- tellectual power. The year that her husband left her she entered the Xew York Medical School for a term. Then she went to Europe and for three years studied in Vienna ^Medical College and finally was graduated in surgery as well as medicine, with high honors. She was the first American woman to re- ceive, in Europe, a diploma entitling her to practice as a surgeon. Returning to her native land she opened an office in New Haven. The same year that his wife divorced him ]Mr. JNIurray married Miss Frances ^I. Rivers of INIont- real, a Catholic. With her and their four daughters he long lived happily in retirement at the old home- stead in Guilford and there he died in 1906 in the same room in which he was born. His body was laid at rest under an old apple tree near the house. The following lines were written by JNIr. ISIurray in 1867 as a prelude to a sermon on Faithfulness: The play is done — the curtain drops Slow falling to the prompter's bell; A moment yet the actor stops. And looks around to say farewell, It is an irksome word and task. And when he's laughed and said his sav, [151] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH He shows, as lie reuiovrs the mask, A face lliat"s anything but gay. So each shall mourn, in life's advance, Dear hopes, dear friends, untimely killed — Shall grieve for many a forfeit chance, And longing passion unfulfilled. Amen ! Whatever fate be sent, Pray God the heart may kindly glow, Although the head with cares be bent. And whitened with the winter's snow. [152] CHAPTER XIV ALONG PUTNA:M AVENUE AT the opening of the nineteenth century there were hut three prominent trees on the main country road from Putnam Hill to Toll Gate Hill. The hushandman's ax kept the hedge rows trimmed and ornamental trees were rarely set out, as they shaded the growing crops. The three trees that held their branches high in the air were plainly visible from vessels cruising in the Sound. They were button-ball trees; one stood in fron.t of the old Hobby tavern on what is now the J. H. Fennessy property on East Putnam Avenue; another spread its immense limbs over Hearfields, the home of Richard INIead, later of Col. Thomas A. Mead; and the other, until 1911, stood in front of the Peter Acker homestead on Putnam Avenue. This latter tree was the smallest of the trio, but had been sturdy and vigorous at the opening of the Revo- lutionary War. The Hobby tavern stood almost exactly on the ground occupied by JNIr. Fennessy's beautiful house of antique style. Capt. John Hobby had been active in the eighteenth century, but on the 13th of ^lay, 1802. when probably an old man, he sold all his Horse [153] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH Xcck real estate to Ilaiuiali Courtney. This con- sisted of twenty-two acres, near the fleeting Plouse, on hotli sides of the Post Road. He })ounded the soutlierly tract on the east hy land of Jared ^lead and on tlie soutli bv huid of the Rev. Dr. Isaac I^ewis. ( i^r'' ■\i> 't."- '* ^- '.-iv iM:sii)i:.\n-: oi- isiiali-: x. lewis Erecti'd 1807. Subsequently tlie home of Henry M. lieiu'diet and Dr. William Guy Peek Subsequent deeds bound it on the west by land of Dr. Lewis, and it a])parently extended east to what is now the Frederick Mead place, west to the present line of ^Mason Street and south to land now owned by the Greenwich Hospital. The tract on the north side of the road included property now known as the Elms and a considerable tract west of it. But the land still further west, belongino- to Di". Carl E, ]Martin [15-t] ALONG PUTXAM AVENUE and Walter M. Anderson and Ada ^I. Cook, be- longed to Thomas Hobby, probably a brother of the Captain. It is clear that Captain Hobby lived on the south side of the road and probably on the commanding eminence where Henry ]M. Benedict lived so many years, and afterward owned and occupied by Pro- fessor Wm. Guy Peck of West Point and Columbia College. That the house had long ])een an inn, and that it was of ample dimensions, shaded by the great ])utton-ball tree, there is no doubt. But the shrewd Captain Hobby in his deed to ^Nliss Coiu'tney, a Xew York lady of wealth and social ])osition, makes no allusion to a tavern, inn, or pul)lic house, but de- scribed the buildings as a "mansion house and barn." Miss Courtney paid $2,84-3.7.5 for the h.andsomest piece of property in the village of Horse Xeck. At that time, however, it could hardly be termed a vil- lage. There were but few houses, well scattered and whatever commercial interests Greenwich liad were centered at Mian.us, where the Town Clerk's office was located. From the hilltop purchased by ^liss Courtney was an unobstructed view in all directions. It was said that travelers by stage coach along tlie Post Road anticipated with pleasure that part of the trij) from Putnam Hill to Toll Cxate Hill wliere the view of the Sound was unln-oken and unobstructed the entire distance. ]My father made the stage coach trip from Xew [155] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH ^'()^k to Roston in 18.*3.'3. and st()j)j)t'(l at what was then the jNIansion House, sinee ealled the Lenox House, kept hy Augustus Lyon. He (my father) often referred to the faet that tlie two front rooms of the present Lenox House, are identieal witli the two front rooms of that aneient liostelry — tlie ]Man- sion House. Hannali Courtney owned tlie Hobby property hut five years. It is easy to imagine that slie did not find it uninteresting, but that it was remote from New York, and that the means of transportation i)y slooj) or stage coach were not agreeable. At all events on November 1 1. 1807, for the consider- ation of $500, she sold it to Reale N. Lewis. It is not likely that ^liss Court- ney suffered sucli a loss, or that JNIr. Lewis made such a good })argain as to actually get the pro])erty for $.500. which was doubtless a nominal consideration. They were cousins. Reale N. Lewis was also from New York City, and was a son of the Rev. Dr. Isaac Lewis. He was an able lawyer of large wealth. As soon as he actiuired the land, he removed the Hobby tavern and built what was then coi^sidered a grand mansion. It was not deep but it was wide, built like three cubes, a [1.50] i)i;. \\ M. c, ri:( K |SJ{)-IS!tJ ALOXG PUTXAIM AVENUE large one in the center, and one at each end for wings. He died possessed of the pro|>erty in the spring of 1817, leaving a widow, Elizabeth Lewis, bnt no lineal heirs. His death occurred seven years before that of his distinguished father. On May 11, 1829, the brothers and sisters of Beale N. Lewis conveyed the same twenty-two acres to Peter Tillott, James Tillott and Susan Seymour. They were probably speculators as they subsequently owned other land in town, and did considerable con- veyancing. But the venture does not a])pear to have been profitable as they held the land till April 4, 1833, when they sold it at cost to Alvan Mead. In 1833 Cornelia J. Graham and JNIary E. Graham, sisters, were conducting a school on the north side of the Post Road where they owned considerable real estate. The Alvan ^lead purchase was bounded on the east by their property. The school was carried on in the house now know^n as the Elms. Tlie Til- lotts and Miss Seymour must have been exceedingly tired of carrying tlie property as they accepted the entire purchase price in a note secured by mortgage. Alvan INIead held it four years when, on February 6, 1837, he sold it to Obadiah Peck at a profit of $3,500. Mr. Peck was one of our earliest real estate specu- lators. At that time two acres was considered a small plot. Mr. Peck was also a house builder. His aim was to improve the land with buildings and sell at a profit. He occupied the Beale X. Lewis home- [1-57] OTIIKR DAYS IX (;UEKN\VICII stead wliosL' south windows and l)i'oad \trati(la coiu- niaiided a splendid view of Lond Island Sound and tile inter\ e?u'nn' eountry. Here Heiu'v M. Henediet subsequently resided foi- neaidy twenty yeai's. This same house was torn down by L. V. Ilarkness after he purcliased it from the A\"illiam (t. Peck estate, June 1.5. 1801. ]5ut to 1-eturn to Obadiah Peck. In 18.)4 he built tlie home so loni>' occupied by the late L. P. Hubbard and now owned by Dr. Kdward (). Parker. Then he built the Banks homestead recently moved by ^Irs. Xathaniel AVitherell to make room for the new Young ]Men's Cliristian Association building'. This last venture of ]Mr. Peck's was disastrous and he made a bad financial failure. Before closing this chapter and leaving the neigh- borhood I have been describing, 1 must allude to the homestead of Jared ^lead. which stood where now stands the Frederick ]\Iead homestead. Jared Mead was the father of Alvan ]Mead and here Alvan was born in ITDo. The house was an old-fashioned sweep-back, covered with sliingles to the sills, which were close to the ground. In the center of the house was a great stone chimney which aiforded an open fire place in each room of its two stories. Down the hill a short distance were the somber farm barns. ^Ir. Mead was a sprightly little man with a numerous family. He was prominent and active in the aff'airs of the fleeting House, hard by on the hill. Perhaps it should be called the Sec- [158] ALONG PUTNAM AVENUE ond Congregational Church but he always called it "The jNIeeting House." The house was double, the hall in the center ex- tending from the front door to the great chimney, where winding stairs with white painted banisters and a cherry rail led to the second story. On one side of this hall was the living room and the other the "best room," in later years called the "parlor." Both these rooms had grand old fire places with crane and pot hooks, blackened by the smoke and flame. The hearth was an enormous slab of blue stone, cracked across from the heat of the great logs, seven feet long, that blazed merrily all the winter day and smouldered under a bed of ashes all night. It was Mr. ]\Iead's duty as an active member of the church to supply the Sabbath attendants with ma- terial for their foot stoves. On Saturday an unusual supply of fire w^ood was stacked against the chimney jambs and by ten o'clock, Sunday, a large quantity of live coals was lieaped in the spacious chimney place. As the old bell in the INIeeting House was calling the parishioners to worship, they would repair to INIr. JNIead's and fill their foot stoves with live coals. It was, however, a rule of the family that no com- munication whatever should be had with those who called and no member of the family should go into the "best room," lest it be said that they were enter- taining visitors on the Sabbath day. Those who came understood and approved of the rule. They opened the door unbidden and filling their stoves with [159] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH coals went out witli (\\uv\ dignity. Tliere was no levity: no eoinnu)n-i)laee remarks, only the most for- mal salutations were made. If anytliino- was said, it refen-ed to the discourse which they expected to liear. oi" at noon, when the stoves were re]:)lenishe(l. concerning- the sermon which they had heai'd. The afternoon was a repetition of the morning and the winter twihglit was scarcely an hour away when the church was closed. [IGO] CHAPTER XV THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED AT the present time there are many people resid- ino' in Greenwich who have never heard of Boss Tweed. Since his day the new generation has been taught history but local characters like Tweed have usually been ignored. During the past five years I have made a test and have been surprised how the once notorious politician has been forgotten. For that reason this chapter will be devoted to the man, without an}^ allusion to his residence in Greenwich. I attended Tweed's trial during the fall of 1873 and also did some clerical work for the Committee of Seventy, ])eing then a law student in New York City. But much that follows in this chapter has been culled from R. R. Wilson, who wrote a pamphlet on the subject which is said to have been suppressed. Until the year 1834 the Mayor of the City of New York was chosen either by the State Council of Ap- pointments or by the Common Council of the city. After 1834, however, that official was elected by the citizens. In 1846 the judiciary was made elective and thereafter most local offices were chosen by popu- lar vote. Diu'ing the first seventy years of New York's history as a free city the Democratic party [161] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH was the one usually in power. The Federalists and after them tlie AVhigs oecasionally secured control of aiFairs, hut the Democrats always recovered their hold on the reins. And without exception all the Democratic ^Mayors of that ])eriod owxd their election to Tammany Hall, a secret association whose social and henevolent aims had heen early put aside for political ones. Business men, then as now, shrank from political activity, while the men who directed Tammany Hall knew how to drill and control the mass of poor and ignorant voters, mainlv of foreimi hirth, who after 18-tO constituted a majority of the voters. Still the majority which assured the continuance in or return to power of Tammany Hall and its allies was often a narrow one and victories were gained by fraud, intimidation and violence at the polls. The master spirit of the organization in the early '50's was Fernando Wood, an able and resolute man, who held to the belief that success was the criterion in politics, and that almost anything w^as justifiable to win it. In 18.54 Wood became ^layor, and was reelected at the end of two years. Then he quarreled with his associates in Tammany Hall and failed of a reelec- tion in 1858. Following this he formed Mozart Hall as a rival organization, and with its help and that of the mob in the lower wards succeeded in 1860 in de- feating Tammany Hall and putting himself at the head of the City Government. [162] WILLIAM M. TWEED Photo by Brady in 1871 18;23-187"8 THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED In 1862 Tammany again secured control, and for several years political corruption was rife in the City of New York. This era of corruption was made easy hy radical changes in methods of municipal administration ef- fected in 1857. In that year a new charter was passed for the city, which, hesides dividing the re- sponsibility among the local officers, created a number of Boards and Commissions, the heads of which were not appointed by tlie Mayor, but elected by the voters of the city, as were also the Comptroller and Corpora- tion Counsel. ^Nlore important still, coincident with the enact- ment of the new charter, a law was passed establishing for the County of New York a Board of Supervisors, chosen by popular vote, wliich was made inde- pendent of the city authorities, and vested with power to levy tb,e local taxes and to direct those branches of administration which in the State at large were relegated to the county authorities. One of tlie first to discover the chance for private gain at public expense made possible by the legisla- tive changes of 1857 was William ^I. Tweed, a native of the city. He was a man of Scotch parentage, who after failing in business as a chairmaker had in the late '40's turned to politics as a means of livelihood. He became first a member and then foreman of one of the volunteer fire companies of the period, known as the Big Six, thereby achieving popularity, which brought liim to the attention of Tammany [165] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH leaders. He was elected an Alderman of the city in 18.50 and in 18.58 was chosen a member of Conoress. Hut he never eared for Washington and in 18.57 he was elected Public School Commissioner and subse- quently State Senator. ^Meanwhile Tweed had himself elected to the newly created Board of Supervisors, of which he was four times chosen president and of which he remained the directing spirit until 1870 when it passed out of ex- istence. Leadership of this board, which had the power of auditing accounts, gave him an opportunity to se- cure various privileges which were frauds u])on the city, and lie made the most of it. Thus obtaining control of an obscure newspaper, he secured the ])as- sage of a l)ill by the legislature making it the official organ of the City Government and it was paid over a million dollars for jn'inting the proceedings of the Common Council, which no one read. He also established a company for the printing of blank forms and vouchers for which in one year $2,800,000 was charged. A stationers company con- trolled by Tweed which furnished all the stationery used in the ])ublic institutions and departments re- ceived some three million dollars a year. Tweed em- })loyed certain persons as executive heads of these companies who were also upon the city pay rolls, some receiving money for work never done. While serv- ing as State Senator and president of the Board of Supervisors, Tweed also held the office of Deputy [166] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED Street Commissioner with "authority to appoint as many as a thousand office holders, many of whom did no work except to serve him, yet were paid out of the city treasury." By sucli methods as these Tweed advanced in a few years from poverty to great wealth, and at the same time, made himself undisputed master of Tam- many Hall. In 1863 lie was cliosen chairman of the General Committee of the organization and Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society. In 1863, also, he assured Tammany Hall's absolute control of the city by ef- fecting a truce with its rival organization. Wood's JMozart Hall, tlie price of ])eace being Wood's elec- tion to Congress. This truce brouglit Tweed two efficient lieutenants, A. Oakey Hall and Albert Cardoza, an a})le lawyer, who was made a judge of one of the city courts. Two other men placed upon the bench about the same time because "they could be relied upon," were John H. ^IcCunn and Cxcorge G. Barnard. Other politicians who came into close alliance with Tweed were Richard B. Connolly and Peter B. Sweeny. In 1865 Tweed and his associates secured the elec- tion of John T. Hofit'man as ^Nlayor and three years later he was elected Governor. At that time the charge was freely made that Hoffman's election was secured by tlie practice of frauds described as colossal and "embracing every known method of corruption in the l)allot box." Tammany Hall at the same time [167] OTIIKK DAYS IX GREENWICH i secured control of the legislature of the State and the Common Council of the City. Hall succeeded Hoffman as Mayor; Connolly be- came City C()m|)troller: .James Sweeny was City Chamhei'hiin and with Tweed supreme in the street depai'tment and the Board of Supervisors, the ring which had long been in the process of formation "be- came completely organized and matured.'" Then Tweed and his lieutenants set to work to secure a new city charter, which would make doubly sure their control of the finances of the city. This charter became a law in 1870. It abolished the Board of Supervisors, again vesting its functions in the ^Nlayor, Recorder and Aldermen of the city, and centered responsibility for the administration of municipal aff'airs in the Mayor, who was given au- thority to appoint all his important subordinates. It siu'rendered the Police Department to men con- trolled by the ring; it re-organized the Park Depart- ment in such manner that three of the five commis- sioners became for five years each, tools of Tweed; it vacated the office of Street Commissioner, vesting all the powers of the office in a Commissioner of Public Works to be appointed by the ^Nlayor for a term of four years. Tweed received the a])])oint- ment. The Governor had no power to remo\'e him on charges. He could only be im])eached through charges made by the jNIayor, and could only be tried in case every one of the six judges of the Court of Common Pleas was jjresent. [ir,8] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED The new charter also created a Board of Apportion- ment made up of the jNIayor, Comptroller, Commis- sioner of Piihlic Works and President of the Park Department, and vested with power to make all neces- sary appropriations for the conduct of the city gov- ernment. The men who composed this hoard were Hall, Connolly, Tweed and Sweeny, who liad re- signed the office of City Chamberlain to become President of the Park Department. And in this way the ring secured unchecked control of the ex- penditures of the city. Yet another tool for plunder was forged at this time. By a special act of the legislature a Board of Audit was created and it was vested with power to ex- amine and allow all claims against the city prior to 1870. Its purpose was to put money into the pockets of members of the ring and to reimburse them for the large sums they had been compelled to s])end to secure the adoption of the new charter by the legisla- ture. Tins purpose was promptly put into execution and in less than four months after its creation orders were made by the Board of Audit for the payment of claims to the amount of $6,312,500, ninety per cent, of which went into the pockets of the members of the ring. Yarious other special legislative acts were passed whereby the ring had power to raise and expend nearly fifty millions of dollars in a single year. Other laws were passed which placed the ring in more complete control of the Board of Education [169] OTHEK DAYS IX GREENWICH and ol' the Police and Health Boards, while there was also created a Hoard of Street Opening and Iin- ])roveiiK'nt. coni])()se(l of the Mayor, Coni])troller, Commissioner of Puhlic AVorks and Tax Commis- sioner, vested with power whenever its members "deemed it for the ])ublic interest so to do" to close, open, widen or straighten any or all of the streets of the city. The passage of these laws marked th.e cnlmination of the ring's power, and it has been said that during the winter they were being enacted "Tweed lived in Albany with all the state of a sovereign who had prodigious favors to bestow or awful penalties to en- force." There seemed never to have entered his mind a suspicion of the power of an aroused public opin- ion. The story of the downfall of the ring, however, should be prefaced by a In'ief description of the meth- ods which it employed to till the pockets of its mem- bers. The opening or widening of streets was one of the most fruitful sources of illicit gain. A favorite method of fraud practiced l)y the ring consisted in the payment of enormously increased bills to mechanics, arcliitects. furniture makers, and, in some instances to unknown persons for supplies and services. It was the expectation that an honest bill would ])e raised from sixty to ninety per cent. The average increase was such as to make it 2)ossible to give sixty- seven per cent, to the ring, th.e confederates being al- lowed to keep the thirty-three per cent., and of that [170] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED thirty-three per cent, probably one-half was a fraud- ulent increase. This game reached a climax in the County Court House, still standing in City Hall Park. Work on this structure was begun under a stipulation that the cost should not exceed $250,000, but before 1871 more than eight millions had been spent on it, one million of which was ultimately traced to Tweed's pocket. When a contractor submitted a bill he would be told to swell the amount of the total, at the same time being given to understand that payment de- jDended upon compliance with this order. Then a warrant would be drawn for the padded claim and the contractor paid a sum slightly in excess of his original bill, while the balance would be divided among the members of the ring. Xor was there any immediate danger of detection. Tweed as Commis- sioner of Public Works would order work done; as President of the Board of Supervisors he would see to it that the bills were passed, and then the County Auditor, who was his pliant toc^l, would issue warrants of payment. All this time suspicion was rife in the comnumity. Thomas Xast, the cartoonist for Harper's Wceldy, was constantly illustrating the iniquities of the ring. Tweed's face and figure, with the blazing diamond in his shirt front, were always before the public. He once said, 'T don't care what the papers print so much but I don't like those pictures," and in the end they were the cause of Tweed's apprehension. [m] OTIIEK DAYS IX GREENWICH One of tlic |)()liticians of the j)ei'i()(l was James O'Brien, a t'oruRT sheriff' of tlie county, wlio in 1S71 was tile leadei' of the ^'()lln^• Denioeraey. an organiza- tion Avliieh liad for its |)ur])ose tlie ovei'thro\\ of the power of Tweed in Taniniany Hall. 'riir()n_t»h O'Brien's iniiuenee a friend of his named C'opeland had secured a place as an accountant in the office of the Comptroller. The magnitude of the city expenditures recorded in the ])ooks and the fact that these enormous payments were made to a few ])ersons aroused Copeland's suspicions. He transcrihed th.e figures and showed the transcript to ^Ir. O'Brien. They were taken by the latter to the office of a daily newspaper in the city and offered for publication but were "declined with thanks." Thereupon Mr. O'Brien called upon George Jones, publisher of the Times, and handed him the transcripts from the Comptroller's accounts. Mr. Jones con- sulted his editorial staff and it was decided that the figures should be published. This decision was made known to ^Ir. O'Brien, who took the incriminating accounts, retained them for a short time and then returned them to ]SIr. Jones with the unconditional permission to publish. Tweed in some manner discovered that his guilty secrets were about to be published and his desperate efforts to forestall the publication were as charac- teristic of him as their complete defeat was charac- teristic of ^Ir. Jones. Tweed sent an offer to buv the Times at anv ])rice. [1T2] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED The emissary wlio was sent promptly reported the faihire of his mission. Tweed's next move was so extraordinary tliat 3Ir. Jones' own account of what happened, taken from Harper's Wecklii of February 22, 1890, deserves to be reproduced here. "This conversation (between Tweed's emissary "and ^Ir. Jones) occurred in Jones' office in the "Times Building, then down town in Printing House "Square. A lawyer who was a tenant in the build- "ing sent for Mr. Jones to come to his office, as he "wished to see him on an important matter. Think- "ing that the business pertained to the building, JNIr. "Jones went to the lawyer's office, and, being ushered "into a private room, was confronted by Richard "B. Connolly, the Comptroller, Tweed's partner in "crime. T don't want to see this man,' said Mr. "Jones and he turned to go out of the room. 'For "God's sake!' exclaimed Connolly, iet me say one "word to you.' At this appeal ^Ir. Jones stopped. "Connolly then made a proposition to forego the "publication of the documents Jones had in his pos- "session, and offered him an enormous sum of money "to do this. The amount of this offer was five mil- "lion dollars. As Connolly waited for the answer "Mr. Jones said, T don't think the Devil will ever "make a higher bid for me than that!' Connolly "then began to plead, and drew a graphic picture with "what one could do with such a sum. He concluded "by saying: 'Why, with five million dollars you "can go to Europe and live like a prince!' 'Yes,' [173] OTHER DAYS I\ (^HEEXWICH ''said Mv. Jones, 'but I slioiild know tliat I was a rascal.' " The first iiistallinent of tlie accounts was printed in the Times July 22, 1871. Tliey sliowed the ])aynient of the sum of $o,()68,()4() durino- the years 18()1) and 1870 for "repairs and furniture" for the new Court House. Each Avarrant was si(>ned by Coni])ti-()lIer Connolly and ^layor Hall, and all were endorsed to "Ingersoll & Co.," that is, James H. Ingersoll, the agent of the ring. The Times followed with other installments of secret accounts more fully revealing the extent of the plundering. It had unmasked the ring and it pursued its ad- vantage with extraordinary energy. An immense number of co})ies of each issue of the paper contain- ing the figures, running into hundreds of thousands, was published. These proofs awakened the slumber- ing city. The Committee of Seventy, made up of prominent citizens, was formed early in Se])tember to obtain legal proof of the frauds revealed by the Tiini-s and to prosecute the offenders. At the same time Samuel J. Tilden, aided by Charles O'Conor and Francis Kernan, all three lawyers of great ability, set to work to achieve the same end. JMr. O'Conor, v^ho was then the unchallenged leader of the New York bar, consented to aid in the investigation only upon condition that he should serve without com- pensation. The task of bringing the offenders to justice ap- [174] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED peared at the outset a difficult and nearly hopeless one. Tweed was insolent and defiant. The Board of Aldermen and all the local officers were members of the ring. But in September, 1871, an effective weapon was unexpectedly placed in the hands of Mr. Tilden. One morning in that month he was visited by a mes- senger from Comptroller Connolly, who w^as con- vinced that it was Tweed's intention to offer him up as a sacrifice to appease public sentiment on the charge that the frauds had been committed in his department, by his connivance and for his exclusive benefit. This the messenger explained to Mr. Tilden, and asked the latter's advice, suggesting that it might be best for Connolly to resign his office. Subsequently Mr. Tilden suggested that Connolly appoint Andrew H. Green, an eminent and honored lawyer, his deputy and then surrender the office to him. This was done and Mr. Green became head of the Comptroller's office, with power to examine and publisli all ex- penditures under the ring, and to prevent any con- tinuation of the fraudulent practices. Though a partially successful attempt was made to burn all the vouchers soon after Mr. Green took pos- session, of the charred scraps remaining (great bundles of them), Mr. Tilden was engaged for some ten days in making a searching analysis, which fur- nished legal proof of the crime. He succeeded also in tracing through one of the banks the checks which [175] OTHER DAYS IN GREENWICH had been issued in ])ayment of the aeeoiiiits wliieh the vouch.ers ])iirj)()rted to represent. Indeed, ]Mr. Tilden's study of the vouchers and th.e bank accounts lias often been pi'onounced one of the most remarkable pieces of analysis ever offered to the courts. Judge Noah Davis, of the Supreme Court, who sat upon the trial of Tweed, and heard this demonstration offered in evidence, afterwards de- clared it as perfect a specimen of logic and mathemat- ical proof as the books anywhere contained. With checks, stu])s, charred vouchers and other documents, ^li'. Tilden was able to show the exact amount of money stolen in each given instance and the exact division of the s])oils. It was, however, then or later impossible to make an accurate estimate of the total amount of money stolen. })y the ring, l^e- tween IHOO and 1871 the debt of the city increased from $20.()()(),()()() to $101,0()(),()()(). and it is believed that at least $U.()()().()0() of this increase represented fraud and theft. The appointment of ^Ir. (xreen acting Comptroller thoroughly alarmed Tweed, and he made desperate attempts to stem the tide that was setting against him. At the Democratic State Convention, held in October, he received the nomination to the State Sen- ate and his personal ])0]mlarity in his district, where he had been bountiful in his gifts to the poor, assured his election. Rut he never took liis seat. He was arrested Octobei- 2(). 1871, in a civil action instituted bv the Committee of Seventy and released on bail. [170] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED In December he was indicted for fraud and felony, and two weeks later he resigned his post as Commis- sioner of Public Works, ceasing about the same time to be the official head of Tammany Hall. He was brought to trial aftei- many delays in January, 1873, but the ring still retained sufficient influence to se- cure a disagreement of the jury. On a second trial in the following Xovember he was convicted on fifty out of fiftv-five charges aoainst him and sentenced by Judge Davis to an aggregate of twelve years imprisonment. But at the end of the year, Tweed was released, the Court of Appeals holding that he could not begin, to serve a new sen- tence of a year at the end of a term of service of punishment upon another count. He was at once re-arrested up'on civil actions to recover six million dollars stolen from the city, and being unable to obtain bail was kept in confinement in IahIIow Street jail. There he remained until De- cember, 1875. wlien lie effected his escape and was next heard of in Vigo, Spain. Here he was arrested and brought l)ack in a Federal man-of-war and re- turned to jail. This was in Xovember, 1876, and in the following ^larch the city recovered judgment against him for $6, .500, 000. He could not pay. In April, 1878, he died in jail. I have told this long story of Tweed in order that what follows, connecting him with Greenwich, may be more significant to the younger generation. And before I close this cliapter it should appear that [177] OTIIKU DAYS IX GKKKXWKH Tweed, more than any otliei- man of liis time, fore- saw New York's imperial future. It was at his initiative that, in 18()8, the lei^ishiture chartered a eom])any for the eonstruetion of a ra])id transit suhway on hues nearly identical with the lower half of the route now in operation, and in the same year he was instrumental in settin<^' a])art in Central Park a site for the present Metro])()litan ^Museum of Art. Credit must he given him foi' the establishment of fine floating' baths, the Newsl)oys' Lodging House and the city's paid fire department, which has since become a model for the world. He did much to aid the extension and betterment of Central Park, and it is a matter of record that those who had the work in charge never appealed to him in vain for legislation or for funds. No suspicion of fraud ever attached to this great undertaking, and it is said that Tweed ordered his follow^ers to keep hands oif the park. Another great work designed and accom])lishe(l by Tweed was the widening of Broadwav from .*32nd to .59th Street and the construction of what was long known as the Boulevard, but is now officially a section of Hroad- way, and which before its improvement was a narrow unpaved country road. He also led in the creation of the system of city-owned and improved water front, in which .$()(),()()(),()()() is invested, and which has proved a boon to commerce and at the ])resent time affords what is regarded by students of the subject [178] THE DAYS OF BOSS TWEED as the most striking example offered here or abroad of profitable municipal ownership. "Tweed was not all bad," once declared the late ]Mayor William L. Strong. "He gave us the Boulevard, the annexed district, streets, parks, docks, schools and liospitals." [179] CHAPTER XVI WILLIAM M. TWEED IX GREENWICH WILLIAM M. TWEED was a proniinent char- acter in Grecmvich for a number of years. He took no part in tlie afl'airs of tlie town, but his pres- ence was felt, with an effect very different on some than others. The sensible, well-bred men and women of the place greatly regretted his presence. They felt that the town could not grow in wealth and character, rendering Greenwich desirable as a place of residence so long as he remained to make it no- torious. It pi'obably was true in those years that outsiders gave us a sneer when they alluded to (Treenwich as the home of Tweed and the rendezvous of the Ameri- cus Club. But to the boys who admired his checker- board team, his ponies and dog carts, he was an object of admiration.. If they ever noticed Tom Nast's caricatures in ILirpcr^y, ]]' ccJdn, the purpose of such things was probal)ly lost and as for reading all the pa])ers said about him, detrimental to his reputation, they hardly took the pains. He was a living hero, with untold wealth, a great deal of which he dispensed locally with a liberal hand. It is not certain whether he came here in 1S()() or [180] WILLIAM M. TWEED 18G1. The first knowledge tliat came to any of the village hoys was that a numher of tents were pitched on Round Island just south of the old potato cellar. And this fact left us in considerable uncertainty as to what the tents meant. It was tlie talk amono- the boatmen in the harbor and at Ephraim Head's on the steamboat dock that the tents were occupied by a club, but Tweed's name was not mentioned and it was not until the following summer tliat the name Americus Club was heard. But Tweed had visited Greenwich during the tii'st summer th.at the tents appeared. Certain members of the club, which afterwards ])ecame the Americus Club, had preceded liim. This club was both social and political, being composed of Republicans and Democrats, although more of the latter prevailed than the former. I have never seen a list of the members during those early years of the club's exist- ence, but I have a complete list of tlie membership of 1871, which was the most prosperous year in the club's history. It was C^eorge E. JNIann, Charles H. Hall and P. B. Van Arsdale who one day hired a sailboat at City Island and sailed up the Sound, with the expectation of returning before sunset. But the weather sud- denly changed after they had left Execution I^ight far astern and rather than go about in the stiff south- west breeze that was blowing, they concluded to make a harbor for the night. Accordingly, they found good holding ground for the anchor under the lee [181] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH of Round Island and the tender took them ashore where they pitehed a tent which they brought from the yacht. The place Mas entirely new to them and they did not realize its beauty until the followino- morning;. I have often heard Charles H. Hall tell of that next morning when the sun rose and revealed all the beauty of their surroundings. Finch's Island, later known as Tweed's Island, had a beautiful grove of trees and its irregular shores TWEED'S ISLAND, 1S71 were not disfigured by sea wails. Captain's Island lighthouse was a short wooden affair to which was attached the diminutive home of the keeper. The same little house is now used as a summer kitchen and store room, the present stone building being erected in 18()8. There was no fog horn then. The more the young fellows looked around the better they liked the place and it was not until after- noon that they sailed for Xew York. Hall, who was afterwards secretary of the Americus Club, was one of the clerks in the Tom})s Police Court. He was always a Republican, but he was a great favorite with [182] WILLIAM M. TWEED ^Ir. Tweed and as long as Tweed's influence lasted Charlie Hall had a lucrative place. Mr. Tweed was foreman of the Big Six Volunteer Fire Co. with headquarters in an engine house on the Bowery. All the members of this company sooner or later were members of the Americus Club. Tweed was accustomed to sit with the firemen around the engine house and he soon learned of the trip up the Sound and of the discovery made by his three mates. Their frequent allusion to the beauty of the spot finally caught Tweed's attention, with such force that he determined to investigate for him- self. Tweed and Hall took the train one afternoon con- sisting of an old wood-burning engine and yellow, gilt-trimmed cars, making the trij) in the best time of those days, one hour and twenty minutes from 27th Street. They called on Oliver ^Nlead, then owner of the property, and secured his permission to camp out on Round Island. They took possession a few days afterward and remained to the end of the season. They had two or three sailboats with enormous jibs and when they were not bathing on the beach or fish- ina- or sailing, they were over at Rockv Neck. The saloon on the point was an attraction as was Capt. Abraham BrinckerhofF's back dooryard, where they exchanged sea tales and discussed the merits of their boats by the hour. Later Captain Brincker- ho?f and JNIr. Tweed became very warm friends, and the latter gave the Captain many souvenirs and pic- [183] OTIIKU DAYS IX (iUKEXWRII tures, that constituted an interesting asset in his es- tate after his death. Among these are three ]:)hoto- graphs hy A. Cxnrney. framed in black wahiut and hanging at tlie present time in my office. One rep- resents Indian Harbor from Tweed's Island, includ- ing the first club house built the year following the first camp on Round Island. This building was of simple architecture, two stories high, with a broad veranda. Painted under the peak of the roof in prominent black letters were tlie words "Ameri- cus Club of New York." It nuist have been about one hundred feet in width. On the first floor was a spacious reception room, a dining-room and a kitchen in the rear. This house stood on the extremity of the point nearly in front of where Klias C. Benedict's house now stands. When the new house, which afterwards was known as the Morton House and later the Indian Harbor Hotel, was built, the old house was removed to a }K)int in "Chimney Corner," now occupied by ]Mr. Benedicts boa' house. Tliere it remained, somewhat altered and enlarged as the servants' (juarters for the hotel until ISD'J when it was torn down with all the other l)uil(lings on the Point. [18-t] CAPT. 15RIXCKKHH(M F 1816-1894 — X WILLIAM M. TWEED The other picture represents Mr. Tweed with the members of the ckib gathered about liim on the rocks at tlie west side of the house and on the veranda ; two groups of "the boys," as Tweed used to call them. It is quite easy to distinguish their features. The presi- dent of the club is dressed in a frock coat buttoned close about him. His hat is off, and a white neck- tie is beneath his chin. By his side stands Charles H. Hall, somewhat foppishly dressed in white trousers and dark coat. John and Dick Kimmons, great tall twins, and P. B. Van Arsdale are close to George E. Mann, who was Commodore in charge of the club fleet. These pictures were taken August 30, 1803. Tlie other picture that Captain Brinckerhoff had, was a quarter size India ink photograph of jNIr. Tweed by the artist Brady, a famous war-time pho- tographer. This picture was autographed but un- dated. It originally hung in the parlor of tlie new club house, and went into the possession of Capt. Brinckerhoff when the club broke up. John W. De- laney of this place now owns it. In the original club house the Americus boys found their greatest eniovment. It was more like a camp. The members appeared in their shirt sleeves, and lolled about on the rocks, or under the shade of the tall oaks, enjoying in the most unrestricted fashion their summer outing. Occasionally a visitor from the city or the village would appear, in which event Sec- [187] OTHER DAYS IX GKEEXWICII retary Hall Mould do tlif honoi's, with an old-fash- ioned cake hasket and a little wine. Sonietinies the eliih nienihers, in a ])()dy, would saunter up to the village, a very small eolleetiou of liouses then, with a post office that paid the postmaster only $2.50 per annum. But when they did appear, with all sorts of ])ranks played upon each other and with jolly songs there was no one in the village that did not realize it, especially tlie children. The new cluh house was completed in 1871 and stood on the point till the summer of 189*2. It was three stories high, with a mansard roof, a tall tower, from which extended east and north two wings, termi- nating also in towers. It was a well-proportioned huilding. not architecturally had. although tlie archi- tect. Gage Inslee, had a lingering law suit in our courts in the endeavor to collect his fees. It occu- pied a commanding place on the point and, painted white, was a landmark for many miles up and down the Sound. The summer of 1872 was the first season of its oc- cupancy after its full completion. It had heen fur- nished without regard to expense. Th.e carpet in the great front room was woven ahroad. one single piece, a hundred feet long, with tigers' heads in the corners an.d the center. A grinning tiger was the emblem of the club and Pottier c^ Stymus, who had l)ig contracts for city furnishings, put the tiger's head upon every piece of furniture wherever it was pos- sible, [188] WILLIA^NI :M. tweed But Mr. Tweed and his associates were never happy in this building. He had a grand room in the cen- tral tower, and Secretary Hall's suite was next, but in 1873 the revelations came and the place was aban- doned as a club house. It was said that $105,000 was the expense of running the club that season. Tweed's best enjoyment of his club was before THE TWEED BATH HOUSE Built 1870 1870. He was considered, in Greenwich, a very rich man and yet compared with the ow^iers of the pres- ent-day fortunes, his circumstances were moderate. He was an extremely generous man, and indeed it has many times been said that liad he not been anx- ious to enrich every one of his acquaintances no no- tice would have been taken of his irregularities. The amount he made out of the city contracts was small compared to the sums which went to his friends; and some whom he supposed were his friends were dis- [189] OTIIKK DAYS IX (iKKEXWICII loyal ill the gloomy fall of 187'i wIr-ii his arrest and iiulictiiK'iit were acconi])lislie(l. Xo mail from (ii-eeii- wieli. however hiimi)le, ever went to that little offiee in Diiane Street for lielp that he did not on. Tlie year 18()7 was remarkable for tlie craze for high carriages. Tweed ()ccu])ied tlie back seat of tliis conveyance, with its enormously high springs. I'snally liis son was by his side, but his great weight of nearly three hundred pounds gave the wagon a decided list. He generally wore a stove lM])e hat and the closely buttoned frock coat and white tie. It was this rig which took him to the railroad sta- tion that summer morn- ing in 1870 when he J()si:ph g. merritt bought the eighteen acres ot r rederick Mead. E. Jay Edwards recently told this story in The Evening Mail, but I allude to it particularly because in some (juarters it has been (loul)ted and the asser- tion made that JNIr. INIead never owned land east of wliat is now JNIilbank Avenue. That street was a very narrow country road in those davs, called Love Eane. It was never digni- tied with a proper street name until ^Irs. Jeremiah JNIilbank generously j)ut the Town Clock in the Con- gregational Church steeple and then Dr. Leander P. Jones had it changed to JNIilbank Avenue. [196] WILLIAM M. TWEED In 1870 Frederick ^lead owned eighteen acres directly across the street from the Congregational Churcl), hounded on the west hy Love I^ane and on the south l)y Davis Lane, now Davis Avenue. There were a few apple trees on it and at times INIr. Mead used it for pasture. It made a fine romping ])lace for the Academy hoys. Down at the south end was an old yellow harn, the front doors o^' which were locked with a padlock much larger tlian is made m these days. This lock made a fine target, although it was quite a long time before any one of the hoys ^vas able to ])ut a bullet from a pistol through the keyhole of that lock. It was finally accomplished how'ever and the back of the lock knocked off by a man now very well known in Xew \'()i-k City, as a mining engineer. Tweed had long wanted this land, and when INIr. uNIead declined to put a price on it. Tweed said, "\Vell, you will take a Tweed price, will you not?" He had ])aid for several small places about town, anything that the owners demanded and when the price was large, as it always was, it had been usual to designate it as a "Tweed price." Tweed knew this and when he intimated that he was willing to pay a "Tweed price," he exjjected to pay more than the land was worth. In reply ISlr. ^Nlead said, "Why, yes. I'll sell for $.5.5,000," which was at least four times the actual value of the land at that time. But it did not feaze ^Ir. Tw^eed. He asked Joseph G. JNIerritt, the ticket agent at the railroad station, for pen and ink [197] OTIIKK 1)A^ S I\ (iRKKXWrCII and taking' out a pocket clicck book he wrote a elieck loi- the anioimt to Mr. Mead's order and asked liiiii to send him a dvvd eoiu eyiiit>' tlie i)ro])erty to Mary Jane Tweed. Slie hehl it until 187*K wlien it was inehided \\ith all the rest of tlie Tweed plaee in the sale to Jeremiah ^lilhank for $47, .500. AVhen Tweed bought this land the stone fence that enclosed it from the street was perhaps a century old. and somewhat out of oi'der. He replaced it with the present hluestone wall, which extends from the ])r()])erty of A. Foster Higgins along Putnam Ave- nue, down Milhan.k Avenue to where the old yellow barn stood at the top of the hill across the road from the cemetery. In those days the north end of Love Lane at its junction with Putnam Avenue turned with an angle to tile west. AVhen it was known that Mr. Tweed w^as about to build the new stone wall, ^Nlr. Solomon jMead, a member of th.e Eoard of Burgesses, called upon him to see how much he would ask for a small angle of this valuable land to straigliten the road. "Not a cent, not a cent." said Mr. Tweed. "Take all you want; just 1/ave your surveyor drive the stakes and 1 wqll build my wall according to his lines." And the wall stands there to-day just as ])erfect as when ^Ir. Tweed finished it, more than forty-two years ago. Ik'fore I close this chapter it seems best to give the entire roll of members of the Americus Club in [198] WILLIAM M. TWEED 1871. JNIany of them besides Tweed were promi- nent and will be remembered by the older generation. Perhaps in no other way ^\dll this list be permanently preserved. The officers were William M. Tweed, 237 Broadway, President; Henry Smith, 300 Mul- berry St., Vice President; Charles H. Hall, 135 3Iadi- son St., Secretary; George E. INIann, 197 ]Mon- roe St., Captain; John Vanderbeck, 221 Christie St., Actuary. Besides the officers were the following members: John S. Betts, Francis Vanderbeck, John ^IcGarigal, P. B. Van Arsdale, William Davison, Lewis J. Kirk, Edward A. Davin, Lawrence Clancy, Francis Kinney, Edward ^Marrenner, William H. Schaffer, William B. Dunley, Joseph Southworth, John Scott, Edward J. Shandley, George W. Butt, James M. Macgregor, William L. Ely, Christian W. Schaffer, Walter Roche, Peter D. Braisted, Edward D. Bassford. Andrew J. Garvey, \Villiam K. O'Brien, George W. Rosevelt, Patrick H. Keenan, Joseph Shannon, James L. ^Miller, Terence Farley, Sheridan Shook, AVilliam H. Charlock. John T. Barnard, James Watson, Henry H. Huelat, Edward Boyle, William P. Stymus, John Pickford, Jr., Owen W. Brennan, Eugene Diu'nin, Charles G. Cornell, John J. Ford, Edwin ^I. Hagerty, Edward Hogan, Claudius S. Grafulla, Morgan Jones, Wes- ley S. Vard, John T. King, Edward Kearney, Joseph B. Voung, C'^^rnelius Corson, Robert M. Taylor, Edward Jones, Joseph A. Jackson, Amaziah D. [199] OTIIKU DAYS IN CiKKEXWRIl Uarl)t'r. CMiarles L. Flciiiiiio". .Tacol) Sharp, Kdward Cuddy. .lames O'l^i-ii-n. .lohii Sattei'lce. Andrew liKakU'V. Thomas Doiiohoe. .Maiiiii H. Hrowii, 'I'homas 1^. Tripler. dohii T. MeCTOwan. .rohn ]Mc. B. Daxidsoii. James II. Iiiyersoll. William C\ Kogers, Sol. Sayles. Klhiii A. Woodward. CTe()ri»e S. ]Miller, John 11. Keysei'. William C. Dewey. Daniel lU'rrien. Da\ id Miller. James Uyan. Michael J. Sliandley, Isaae J. Oliver. Charles L. Lawrence. Henry T). Felter. John 1^\ Chamherlain. James W. Hoyle, Chris O'Connor. Kruseman van Klten. Daniel \\'inants. Alexander I'rear. James Fisk. Ji-.. Jay (Tould. Thomas Kii'kpatriek. Jose])li (i. Harrison, Reeves K. Selmes. Charles K. I.oew. Thomas C. Fields, (Teorge II. Mitchell, John l*yne. James J. (inml)leton. Thomas II. FeriMs. Thos. J. O'Donolnie, James K. Jones. John (xarxey. James L. Ilarway, T. Augustus Philli})s. John M. Carnochan. Matthew T. Brennan. James Barkei', William H. Horrows. Henry A. Barnum. Schayler Flalsey, James S. \\'at- son, Xewell Sturtevant. James W. Collier, Henry T. Helmhohl. (ieorye A. Osgood, John Hriee, Francis McCahc. John II. Harnett. James K. Coul- ter. (Running S. Bedford, (ieorge Ct. Barnard. An- drew Bleakley, Jr.. Augustus Funk. Peter 'i'l'ainer. AVilliam Schirmer. Adolph K. (xeorgi, Joseph Koch, William A"an Tassell. John Pentland, Thomas Ca- nary. S. Fostei- Dewey. Dennis Burns. James ^Ic- Ciowan. (Tcorge (t. Wolf, l-'rank S. F'.. Heck. Jose])h 1). C. Andrade. John 1). Welch. Jr.. Henry M. Wil- [200] WILLI A.AJ ,M. T\VEP:D liams. Albert IL Wood. Joliii W. Oliver, Janies G. Dimond. George B. Xnn Brunt. Alex W. Harvey, Richard ()"(Torniaii. William Hitchniaii. 'I'liouia^ J. Creamer. [201] CHAPTER XVII LINWOOD THE JOHN ROMER THE 2jlace, now known as jNlilbank, owned l)y jNIrs. A. A. Anderson, was tlie lionie of William ]M. Tweed. The present property includes much more territory, eighty acres being its extent, when it was known as Linwood. INIr. Tweed was very proud of the place and lavished money on it without stint. The name Linwood seems to have been a favorite of his, because he had a yacht of the same name and the word was prominent on his stationery. The yacht Lhitcood was a modest craft, possibly a catboat. His big sailing yacht, a jib and mainsail boat, bore the name of his wife, iMari/ Jane Tweed. These boats, and indeed all the pleasure boats in the harbor in those days, would not compare very favor- ably with the boats of the present time. When it was reported that Tweed had built a steam yacht, a good deal of interest was manifest along the water front. There may have been steam yachts long before, but none had been in this harbor, at least not to remain any length of time. When she came steaming in from Northport where she was launched, she was considered a wonder. Dr. William Schirmer, Abraham Brinckerhoff, Simeon [202] LIXWOOD— THE JOHX R0:MER ^lorrell and a string of the club members were on the steamboat clock as she came to an anchor. It seemed to me that none of them was very enthusiastic about her. Her hull was shaped somewhat like an ocean-going tug, although only half the size of such a vessel. Her graceful mold was well-nigh destroyed in ef- fect by the boxlike structure which made a large, high, and elegantly furnished cabin. She had side wheels, housed in like those of an old-fashioned ferry- boat, and her name which was displayed on the pilot house in large gilt letters was that of the owner. Tweed took a great deal of comfort in his pioneer steam yacht. In tliose days races among the oyster boats were common and regattas, in which those boats figiu'ed, were organized several times during the season. They were very fast jib and mainsail boats and often stowed below were })alloon jibs and topsails that on occasion were run up to their places, when some other similar craft was showing a disposition to take the lead. There were no steamers then for oyster dredging and among the owners of these sailing ves- sels there was much rivalry. It was not limited to Greenwich oystermen, for these graceful little ves- sels came to join in the regattas from across the Sound. They came also from Xorwalk, Five ^lile River and ^Nlamaroneck. Xothing pleased ^Nlr. Tweed better than to witness a race between these boats, and he always tendered [203] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH his steam vaclit for the use of tlie iu(l<»'fs and the press. Of course that meant an elaborate spread in the cabin, with a lot of guests always eager to quench their thirst. While the yacht was homely, she was very comfortable, for the saloon was large, high and square. The table in the center on such occasions was loaded with all kinds of good things. To a hungry youth — and what youth is not in- variably hungry — these yacht races were memorable events. Plenty to see and plenty to eat, what ex- periences were they! And how well I recall the al- most affectionate way in which ^Ir. Tweed would put his pudgy hand on my shoidder, with the remark, "Boy, did you get enough down below '■ Better go down and get another bird or a plate of whitebait." Of course he had no interest in me, except such feel- ings as any host possesses for a guest, but beyond that was his intense desire to stand well with the press. In a mixed crowd his first thought was for the news- paper representatives. He had a great admiration and affection for Greenwich. He often steamed the yacht down to Jones' Stone and then l)ack to the mouth of the Cos Cob harbor, and back again to Byram, all the while watching and commenting on the beauty of the shore. One day he asked me to bring my camp stool near the capacious chair he occupied in the bow, and with a wave of his hand he directed my attention to all the wooded shore from Byram Point to Cos Cob, re- marking: "I shall not live to see the day, but possibly [204] LINWOOD— THE JOHN ROMER you. and certainly your children, will see all this land occupied by the fine estates of New York busi- ness men. In my judgment Ochre Point at New- port is not as favorable for places of residence as Field Point and Nelson Bush's farm." The latter is now Belle Haven Park. Perhaps I looked in- credulous, for he at once repeated the prophecy with emphasis and with just the suspicion of a shadow^ on liis face he added: "^Vllen I am dead, say twenty- five years from now, 1 wish you would come out here and see how near 1 have hit it." He never lived to see his dream realized, but it came true in less time than he allotted. His great hobby during those days was a daily steamboat to New Vork. He supposed that such an enterprise would yield a large pecuniary ])rofit, and the subject was frequently on h.is lips, when aboard the yacht. He would call a few members of the club about him, an.d ask their opinion, none of whom knew anything more about it than he; yet he would seek from them information on the cost of coal, the prob- able number of passengers and the amount of freight likely to be carried. He exercised his own judgment finally, but he was led astray in this instance by his overweening desire to increase the popularity and the convenience of Indian Harbor. While he could figure out in a moment the prol)- able majority of a certain candidate in a city elec- tion, he had no idea of the possibility of the success or failure of such an enterprise. In.deed. it is prob- [205] OTIIEK DAYS IX GKEEXWICII ahlf tliat lie had no anxiety on that ])()int, j)r()\ ided lie aeeoniplished his purpose. One day as we were sitting' on the wide eaiic settee haek of the j)ilot house Mr. Tweed appealed to C'apt. Abe Erinekerhott' and I reeall how the latter twisted the tobaeeo under his tont^ue and drawled out: "She won't earn the purser's salary, ]\Ir. Tweed.'' The latter looked quite crest- fallen, and said, "Do you think so, Abe?" And that was all he did say for fully ten minutes ex- cept to order up some seltzer. l^iit as usual INIr. Tweed had his way. and he had a steamboat, the T. F. SKCOK beautiful Jolin liomcr. 1^"^-^""^ She was a very fast boat and she did not end her career until the middle eighties when she was on the line between Boston, Hing'ham, Hull and Xantasket. He talked about his plans, as they matured. He was very particular about a l)artender, and eventu- ally he selected just the ri^»ht man as well as excellent officers for the steamer. The ]{()incr came from Wilmington, Del. She was built by the famous tii'm of Harlan & Hollings- wortb. and was su])])lie(l with iVUaire enoines. The Allaire Engine Co. built most of the marine engines [•2()(>] LIXWOOD— THE JOHX ROMER installed immediately after the war. The president of the Allaire Co. was Theodocius F. Secor, who resided on Lake Avenue for many years and died April 27, 1901, at the age of 92. His widow still lives here. The Romer's furnishings were luxurious and her s])eed was greater than most boats of her length and tonnage. The price , asked was $50,000, but her owners were pecun- iarily embarrassed and ]Mr. Tweed got her for $35,000— a great bar- gain. He was never known to haggle at a price, and doubtless some of the officers of the cor- poration known as the Greenwich & Rye Steam- boat Co. should have the credit of making the pur- chase. This corporation was formed early in 1866. Capt. Thomas Mayo, M'hose daughters still reside here, was elected its president, and Sanford ^Mead, secretary. Subsequently Philander Button, then principal of the Academy, occupied the position of president. The capital stock was $75,000. of which $70,000 was paid in., one-half of which went for the purchase of the Bomcr. ]Mr. Tweed held 200 shares, par value $100, and members of the Americus Club held a suffi- [207] CAPT. THOMAS .MAYO 1819-188T OTHER DAYS IX caiEEXWlCH cieiit iHinibci'. witli Mr. Tweed, to control tlie com- pany. Tlic biilancc of the stock was held in small lots in Greenwich and Port Chester. The boat was decidedly popular, as is evident from tile fact that her <>i-oss earnings the first year were $•21,7(18.15, expenses $21,417.28, leaving a net bal- ance of only $845.87. This small amount was kept as a reserve fund to dis- appear the following year in financial chaos. The summer of 1867 was the last of the Iioincr in these waters. In jjassing. I must re- call two of her officers — Captain Stephen G. W^iite and. the pilot, l^illy Witherwax. Capt. White had had experi- ence as a steamboat captain on the Pacific Coast, and he made an efficient and p()])ular commander. He was a round, jolly man with a merry laugh, the ring of which I well remember. His son, Wai-ren P. White, is a resident of Cxreenwich. as is also his daugh- ter. Mrs. Lucy JNI. Delano. l^ilot Witherwax had been commander and ])art owner of a sky-sail yard flyer, that had successfully rounded Cape Horn so many times that he was worth $50, 000 — a snug fortune for those days. He h.ad re- tired from the sea wlien jNIr. Tweed met him and he [208] SANFORD MEAD LINWOOD— THE JOHX ROMER consented to take a position on the Homer as a favor to ^Ir. Tweed. He was a typical sailor. His square built form had the power of an ox, while his sphinx-like face recalls the former Vice-President of the United States, William A. Wheeler. To make the boat pop- ular, the company re- sorted to every legitimate means to introduce her to the public. With this end in view a grand Fourth of July excursion to Xew Haven, with Dodworth's ban.d in at- tendance, was announced in 1867. The proposed trip was the talk of tlie tow^i, and when on that beautiful summer morn- ing, the order was given to cast off the lines, the boat was loaded with a party decidedly miscellaneous in its make-up, but evi- dently happy and bent on having a good time. As we passed Red Rock, I remember well how Capt. White stood forward, chewing an unlighted cigar and congratulating everybody on the beauty of the morning. But Billy Witlierwax was unusu- ally glum and once as I met him aside from the crowd, he significantly remarked, "Capt. White likes [209] 8TEPiii:\ (i. wiiriK 18;,'()-1H81 OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH tliis weather, but I don't. Look out for a blow when the tide turns/' 1 inquired why he thou(>ht so. and he rephed, "jNIares' tails to the s'uth'ard!" and diving into the pilot house closed the door. Everything went well until after we left New Haven to return. I had forgotten Pilot Wither- wax's remark about the mares' tails, when I suddenly became conscious of the fact that the wind was fresh- ening and that the sky was becoming overcast. I^adies were sending for extra wraps and there was a general disposition to seek the seclusion of the cabin. Inside, the roll of the vessel became more ]3er- ceptible; a general complaint concerning the close- ness of the atmosphere was heard and then followed a stampede for the deck. The storm had arisen with great suddenness, and as the passengers came out, many of them were drenched with flying spray. The boat rolled terribly, and the noise of the guards strik- ing the w^ater as she lay in the trough of the sea struck terror to the now thoroughly frightened ex- cursionists. T^vo lunch counters and a liberally stocked bar had been well patronized all the morn- ing. In the tumult of the angry elements there seemed to be universal nausea attributable in part to the chopj^y sea and in part to the conviviality of the forenoon. Under the circumstances two hundred and fifty people found it necessary to visit the boat's rail and as the wind was blowing a gale, broadside on, the sea- [210] LINWOOD— THE JOHN ROMER sick excursionists found the weather rail unsatisfac- tory. They all, therefore, with one accord sought the lee rail and there endeavored to relieve their sufferings. As the steamer was three decks high, two-thirds of the passengers suffered intensely from their location and the only clean hats, coats and honnets were in possession of those who occupied the upper deck. No sicker, sorrier or more dejected set of human heings ever landed in Port Chester than those who. late that night, went ashore from the Bomcr. It was deemed unsafe to land at Greenwich. Many of the present generation have never heard of this sea trip hecause those of the older generation hate to think of it, and never speak of it. There is one other incident in connection with the Komcr that I cannot omit. Greenwich has always been interested in temperance, if one may judge from the societies and legions which have usually ex- isted here. In 1866 that famous but erratic man, William H. H. ^Murray, was the preacher at the Sec- ond Congregational Church. He was a strong ad- vocate of temperance. He rejoiced over the new steamboat, but when he was told that a bar was to be maintained he predicted the failure of the enterprise. It was his wish that the boat should be run without a bar, and in a quiet way he made every effort to have his wish complied with. The stock list showed a large number of Congregationalists who doubtless would liave been glad to have no bar, but the Tweed [211] OTIIKK DAYS IX GRP^EXWK II .stock controlled and tlie bar was an established fact. Sanford ]Mead made eveiy endeavor to keep out the l)ar. ^Ir. Murray, however, was not satisfied. He be- lieved that it was his duty to ])reach a<^ainst that bar, even if some of the company's directors did occupy prominent pews in his cliurch. Accordin^i^ly, the sermon was annoimced a week in advance and tlie church was crowded. I cannot recall the text, nor can I remember much about the sermon. There was, however, one exclamation from the preacher that I have never forgotten. He alluded to the fact that excuses had been made for the existence of the bar and th.at one of the officers had informed him that it was "out of sight; way down below," Then shaking liis black locks from his forehead in that tragic w^ay so common to him he added: "And, brethren, so is hell, way down below!" P^our years after that memorable sermon was delivered, Murray was the pastor of the Park Street Church, in Boston., and the John R outer was running from Rowe's Whai-f in the same city to Hull, Hingham and Xantasket. As I have said, the Notncr was a boat of "Teat speed and no steamer of her size goiug out of the port of X^ew York could overhaid her. The Sca- rcauhaJxa was a fine boat running to Sea Cliff. She was twice the size of the Roincr, with engines of enor- mous power for a small boat, and ecjually well manned and officered. She represented the wealth of [211'] LIXWOOD— THE JOHX ROMER Roslyn and Sea Cliff and was launched early in 18(36. The claim was freely made that her speed would ex- ceed that of any other steamer on the Sound. The Romcr had always heen a})le to take the lead on the run from her herth to Execution Light, and it struck Capt. White and Billy AVitherwax rather hard to think of giving up their laurels. For a time they managed to keep out of the Seawanhaka's way. hut finally on the second day of June. 18()7, it was apparent to all on })oard that a race was inevitable. One of the officers of the Homer gave me this account of the affair: "We had three-quarters of an hour's start of the "Seawanhaka, hut as we approaclied Throgg's Neck 'we could see her astern, gaining rapidly. Pilot 'Witherwax was at th.e wheel and Caj)t. White 'stood aft with a pair of glasses watching the on- 'coming steamer. Every tw^o or three minutes With- 'ei"wax would ring for more steam, till at last John 'Darrah, the engineer, called through the speaking 'tube that he was doing all he could and that it was 'useless to keep ringing, as the throttle was wide open 'and there was no more steam to be had. 'Well, 'make more steam,' was Witherwax's reply; in re- 's])onse to which I lieard the engineer groan as 'though the task imposed upon him was hopeless. "It was evident that the pilot intended, if possible, 'to kee]) the lead until he could reach the narrow 'channel between Riker's Island and Barrow's Point, 'for beyond that he thought that once ahead of the [213] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH "Seaxcanhalxci he could maintain his position for "the hahince of the trip. The intense interest in the "pilot house and the engine room amounted to ex- "citement among the passengers and many l^ets were "made on the result. Some of the Americus Club "hoys on the quarter deck became hilarious and the "secretary of the Steaml)oat Co., who hai)pened to be "aboard, went to tlie bartender and said, 'Now "Henry, I wish you would go a little easy with the "boys.' 'Why, what do you mean, ^Ir. Meadf said "Henry. 'Well, I mean,' was the reply, 'that while "this race lasts you must give the boys sarsaparilla "when they ask for whisky, and if they call for "brandy, make it a point to serve seltzer.' Henry "smiled at the idea of thus fooling an Americus Club "man but nevertheless he promised to try it. "But to return to the race. Pilot Witherwax had "calculated correctly, for he succeeded in getting "abreast of North Brother Island before the Seazvan- ''haka began to lap over the Romcr. At this point "she was slipping by at the rate of about ten feet a "minute, guard to guard, with the Homer so close "that conversation was easily carried on between the "two vessels. "The ])assengers and crews of l)oth boats were now^ "in a fever heat of excitement. "I think I never saw such a crazy lot as yelled at "each other across the span of a dozen feet between "the two boats. AVomen shook their parasols in the "air and squealed like a flock of geese. [211] LINWOOD— THE JOHN ROMER "Billy Witherwax's face was as stern as an In- "dian's. Again he gave the bell for more steam only "to be disappointed. Every minute made a decided "difference in the relative position of the contending "steamers, and it was plain that something more nmst "be done, and without delay, or the Homer would be "left behind. "Witherwax again sought the tube and yelled: " 'Give her more fire. If you can't find anything "else throw Pat, Donnelly into the furnace. We "must have more fire, and I guess he'll burn.' "Patrick Donnelly, only recently deceased, then "occupied a responsible position on the quarter deck "of the Komcr. He knew all about the freight and "how it was stowed. He knew exactly where to i)ut "his hand on a tub of Abe Acker's lard and when "he heard the order repeated by the engineer, rather "than be sacrificed himself, he produced the lard. "The fireman seized it and flung it on the coals. The "steamer leaped ahead like a sailboat in a squall. "Black smoke belched from the stack. She walked "by the ScatcaiiJiaka as the Filgritn will pass the "Sarah Thorp. "Witherwax's triumph was complete and he held "the Homer on her course in an undisputed lead all "the way to Twenty-third Street." The Seaxvanhaka never bothered the Romer again, but I never pass the "sunken meadows" and see the ghostly hog frame of the lost Seawanhaka rising amid the swaving drift of sedge grass that I do not [215] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH recall the fact that the 2iul June, 1880, when she was driven onto those meadows, wreathed m flames, was the thirteenth anniversary of her famons race with the tJohu liomcr. [216] T CHAPTER XVIII THE TWEED FAISIILY HE iiienibers of ]Mr. Tweed's family were well known about the village. ^Vhile many of the vil- lagers treated them with something like an air of awe, they mixed in (luite well and those wiio knew them liked them. The oldest son was William ^i.. Jr. We knew hhn as "Billy'' and he was quite intimate with Henry ^I. FitzGerald and Stephen G. White. Billy Tweed was a fine-looking young man in those days. He was tall and straigh.t. carried himself well, and wore Dundreary whiskers. If a man eould raise a good pair of "side-boards." as such whiskers were called, he was all right. And this Billy had done to perfection. It is somewhat singular that William ^NI. Tweed, Jr., married a Greenwich girl whom he met in Xew York City. Her father and many earlier genera- tions were natives of the town and lived at Davis Landing. Her father was Silas Davis, who for many years was engaged in the flour business in Xew York under the firm name of Davis & Benson. He had made a large fortune and his daughter had all the advantages afforded by wealth. She was then a beautiful girl of fine character and she is still a hand- [217] OTHER DAYS IX (xREEXWICH some woman, upon wliom tlic hand of time has rested lightly. Her lHisl)an(l (hed ahout 1908. The next son was Riehard. He liad a very fast hlaek liorse that he (h'ove at top speed from ^la])le Avenue to Putnam HilL It was his liahit to do tliis nearly every day, till the warden of the Borough put a stop to it hy telling Diek that if he wanted to trot his horse, he had hetter enter him at Jerome Park. Riehard went to Europe in 1879, subsequently mar- ried the widow of his brother Charles and shortly afterward died in Paris. There were two daughters whose names I do not reeall. They married two wealthy l)rothers hy the name of ^IcGuinness who resided in New Orleans and tliere they went to live ahout 1871. I am told that one is still living and moves in the best eireles of that aristocratic southern city. Josephine came next. She was a young lady of QTeat beauty, a brunette, and was about eighteen years old when her father was at the height of his o-lorv. She drove a pair of beautifully matched, high-spirited black horses. It was certainly a pleas- ure to observe the skill and dignity with which she would rein the team up in front of the jjost office for the afternoon mail. She married a wealthy Xew Yorker by the name of Frederick Douglas and in 1898 they w^ere living on Staten Island. Jemiie was a school girl in 18().5 and was thus well known by the school children of that period. Hers was a short life, as she died before she was twenty. [218] THE TWEED FAMIEY Charlie was a romping boy in his early teens, with a lively pony and without much time for his books. School had little attraction for him and at one time he had a tutor. Had he lived in these days he would have possessed a high power motor car, if not a Hy- ing machine. But everybody liked Charlie Tweed and all were saddened at the news of his death some years after I^inwood was sold. George was a baby in 1865. Of him I never had a very intimate knowledge, as he died in early youth. After Tweed's trou})les began in 1873, the glory of I^inwood })egan to wane. The checkerboard team was seen no more and many of the other fine horses were sold. Money ceased to flow in, and after the incarceration in I^udlow Street jail, the demands that were made upon Tweed by his lawyers for a defense fund were large. John Graham, bewigged and al- ways wearing kid gloves with the fingers amj^utated, was his chief counsel. Elihu Root, now so w^ell known, was at the head of a younger coterie of men who worked up tlie details of the defense that did not succeed. All this re(piired large sums of money and from time to time various things were sold at Linwood. The greenhouses were stripped of rare plants and many articles that had special value because of their association, were (juietly disposed of for a substantial consideration. When Greenwich Avenue was re- cently widened at its lower end, on what was formerly the Thomas Ritch property, I saw a couple of ornate [219] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH ii'on lani|) posts pulled down tliat formerly stood in front of the house at Einwood. There were many other things that found their way into the possession of Greenwich people who afterwards would some- times covertly allude to their origin. By this it must not he inferred that the family was impoverished. ^Irs. Tweed owned valuahle real es- tate here and in Xew York City and it was probahly only l)ecause of a desire to limit expenses and prepare for the final disposition of Linwood that she made such dis- position of her })ersou- alty. The property was listed with many real es- tate agencies in Xew York City and was brought to the attention of many local capitalists, but it remained unsold year after year, when the price asked for eighty acres was only fifty thousand dollars. Finally in the fall of 1878 a syndicate was formed consisting of A. Foster Higgins, Solomon Mead, Frank Shepard, principal of the Academy, and one or two others, whose names I do not recall. To one of the syndicate, whose name is not mentioned, was entrusted the duty of closing the deal. The purpose of the syndicate was to establish a residence park, something like Rockefeller Park, al- [•.'•JO] FRANK SHEPARD In 1869 THE TWEED FA31IEY tliouo-h the demand for house lots was not as active in those days as it was after tlie puhhe water and sewers had heen introduced. It would have made, however, an ideal residence park and it was the pioneer effort in that direction. The matter dragged along- through the winter months of 1878, without any re- port to the syndicate, and finally in February, 1879, its members awoke to the fact that the land had sli])ped away from them and had become the prop- erty of Jeremiah Milbank, having sold for $47,o()(). When the title was being closed in the old Town Clerk's ofhce I asked AVilliam ^I. Tweed, Jr., who represented his mother, how it hapi)ened that the $50,000 offer was rejected. "No such an offer was made," said he. "I would have been glad of $2. .500 nioi-e, but the offer that came to me fi'om the s\ luh'- cate was $40,000 and 1 was told that no better offer would be made." Tt was just one of those Httle inci- dents, growing out of lack of judgment, probably, that often attend real estate transactions and are far- reaching in their consequences. In 1868 and 1809 ^Nlr. Tweed was in the height of his glory. He ruled Xew York with an iron hand and yet there must have been times when he realized that his political power rested on a thin shell of corruption, liable any day to collapse and plunge him into a vortex of adverse public sentiment. He loved flat- tery and he hated to be criticised. Tom Xast, Har- pers' famous cartoonist, had even then sharpened his pencil and occasionally Tweed appeared in the [221] OTHER DAYS IX GKKKXU ICH Wccldy witli a hlazino- diamond in liis shirt front, lint notliin^- in tliose years appeared tliat seemed serions to Tweed. altlion<)-h they greatly annoyed liim. As an offset to sneh inflnences. Senator Harry Genet and a few of tliat ilk started a general eontri- bution to a fnnd for a publie statue to ]Mr. Tweed, to be ereeted in Central Park. These men realized what many people liave failed to give ^Nlr. Tweed eredit for, and that was his remarkable eoneeption of the future of the City of X^ew York. He often ex- pressed regret that Manliattan Island with its mag- nificent water front, should have been laid out in angles and scpiares, and it was he who planned the Bovdevard and Riverside Drive. During this period he east about foi' sustaining influences and in the summer of 1808 and 18(>9 he invited the children of the city orphan asyhim on Randall's Island to visit him at Linwood. They were called for short the "Randall's Island children," and their coming was announced several days in ad- vance. Dodworth's band — Tweed would have noth- ing else — came with them on a steamboat chartered for tlie occasion. They were marched u]) (Treen- M'icl] Avenue and down Putnam Avenue to Linwood, with the band in advance and most of the villagers looking on with pride at the benevolent act of their distinguished neighbor. ^Ir. Tweed in his silk hat and frock coat with tlie inevitable white tie, stood out on the lawn in front of tlie house and reviewed his vouthful guests; on one occasion addressing them [222] THE TWEED FAMILY as the future voters of the great metropohs. After this ceremony they disbanded, with evident rehef, and were turned loose on the Linwood grounds, to the great disgust of Theodore H. ^Nlead, whose apple orchard adjoined and suffered accordingly. Perhaps it was the same spirit of assumed benevo- lence that caused him to donate to one of the village churches a sandstone baptistry around the base of which was inscribed, with letters deeply cut, the words, "The gift of William ]M. Tweed, 1869." It still remains within the church, although it has lost its former place of prominence. During this period lie was also recognized as gen- erous to the bearer of a subscription paper and the object mattered not; black or white, Catholic or Protestant, all were received with a benign smile and a ready response. On one occasion the good ladies of a certain re- ligious organization called upon him with the request for a subscription for an organ. Before approach- ing him, however, they had gathered up all the sub- scriptions possible, but had found rather hard sled- ding, with the result that the pledges were only half sufficient. Taking the subscription paper, he footed up the various small amounts, with the stub of a pencil he had taken from his vest pocket, and looking over his gold-rimmed glasses at the somewhat awed commit- tee, he said, "Well, what is the damn thing going to cost, anyway?" [223] OTHER DAYS IX (xREEXWICH The ladies were shocked at the expression, but a quickly drawn check for the l)alance re(juired, served as a relief for their feelings, and they left express- ing many thanks and a world of good wishes. [224] CHAPTER XIX THE ESCAPE OF AVIIJJAINI :M. TWEED IN Chapter XV allusion lias been made to the escape of Tweed from jail and his suhsecjuent apprehen- sion and arrest in Vii>'o, Spain. One of his own ap- pointees in the Sheriff's office took him out for a ride; he stopped to make a call at his own home in the city, and he never appeared again until several months had elapsed. ]Many accounts have been given of his escape and of his place of hiding before he embarked for S])ain. but all of them are very far from the truth. Before I relate the actual story of his esca])e, let me recall certain facts, within tlie memory of many Greenwich people, which are closely connected with that event. On the ninth day of June, 1870, one Isaac ^Nlosher sold twenty-four acres of land and a farm house northwest of Cos Cob village to Lydia G. ]McjMullen, the wife of William jNIc^Iullen. The price paid was $12,300 and the transaction was closed in the office of Col. Heusted W. R. Hoyt, counsel for jNIr. Tweed. The latter was present on the occasion and subse- (pientlv he gave a great deal of attention to the im- provements made to the property. This place is lo- [22o] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH catc'd oil tile easterly side of tlie liiLiliwav ruiuiiii<»" northerly froiii the l^ost Road near the residenee of Augustus and Catherine ^lead whieh was then known as the Edward Mead homestead. The house is still standing, but since the days of Tweed has been much enlarged and more recently has been known as the Ardendale Sanitarium. He introduced ^Irs. ^Ic- Mullen as his niece and it was understood that she and her husl)and were, to a certain extent, dependent upon him. Andrew J. Garvey, a memlier of the Americas Club, an.d generally known, from his numerous con- tracts, as the city plasterer, paid all the repair bills on the ^Ic^NIullen house. Garvey usually left the train at Cos Cob carrying a carpetbag filled with greenbacks with which to pay the mechanics and ma- terial men employed on the job. Subsequently in one of the ring prosecutions in the New York Su- preme Court, the fact appeared that, at least the plastering, if not all of the repair work on the ^Ic- Mullen house, was charged to the city. At that period the Cos Co!) station agent was a young man who has since been a prominent resident and officeholder in the Borough. He had consider- able to do with handling the freight and express pack- ages for the ^JcMullen house, to his ])ecuniary ad- vantage, and after the family moved in, he continued to l)e a arcat favorite with them because of his uiii- versal courtesy and ])romptness. On his home trip from the Duaiie Street office in [•22(>] ESCAPE OF WILLIA^NI M. TWEED New York, ]Mr. Tweed usually left the train at Greenwich, but, as he held in high esteem his nephew and niece, it is not strange that occasionally he was invited to pass the night with them at Cos Cob. The young station agent began to notice that the 9.15 evening train at Cos Cob would fre(j[uently stop a thousand feet west of the station, down by Edward ^lead's bars, and then crawl up to the station. In the glare of the headlight it was hard to determine ^vhy the pause was made, as down the length of the train was impenetrable darkness. Frank Hermance was the conductor of the train. He was one of the old-fashioned conductoi's, who carried a lantern with his name ground on the glass globe and a rose in his buttonhole. AVhen he entered the door he came with a bound and a smile and many will recall how he purred the words, "Good morning, brother," as he punched the tickets. It was the duty of the station agent to report such an irregularity as halting a train down by Edward Mead's bars and especially when the occurrence was fre(juent. Finally he told ]Mr. Hermance that he would be obliged to report him if it occurred again, but Frank only smiled and gave the station aoent a friendh" salute as he started his train. About this time Tweed was indicted ])y the Grand Jury of Xew York County, locked up in the Tombs and upon the trial before Judge Xoah Davis and a jury was convicted. Judge Davis had never been a friend of Tweed's and on the opening day of the [227] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH trial, Jolui Cirahani, his leading counsel, very humbly suggested that His Honor "was disciualitied," for which insinuation 31r. Graham was promptly fined $250. Rut the charge to the jury was fair and the only criticism counsel for the defense made was "the remarkable sentence imposed by the Court." He was convicted on fifty out of fifty-five charges against hiiu and sentenced l)y Judge Davis to an aggregate of twelve years imprisonment. He might have been sentenced for sixty years, but Judge Davis decided that he would give him a sentence i)roportion- ate to his average share in the stealings; that is that he would give him twenty })er cent, of what he might have imjjosed u])on him. Then the (juestion was generally discussed as to whether a cumulative sentence, as it was called, was legal, (xraham appealed to the (xeneral Term, now called the Appellate Division, and was defeated, but afterwards the Court of Appeals held tliat Tweed could not })egin to serve a new sentence of a year at the end of a term of service of punishment upon an- other count. Meanwhile Tweed went to Rlackwell's Island and began to serve his sentence, occupying a dou})le room luxuriously furnished, near the northeast end of the penitentiary building. In going down the East River, on the Rrooklyn side you may still see in the gi'im walls of the great building a double win- dow, the only one, which was made expressly to add to the comfort of ^Ir. Tweed in his davs of imprison- [228] ESCAPE OF WILLIAM ^l. TWEED meiit, when he was being attended by the officers wlio owed tlieir appointment to their prisoner. Upon the reversal of the judgment by the Court of Appeals ]Mr, Tweed was re-arrested and held in I.-udlow Street jail under the civil suit brought by the city for six million dollars damages and it was from this place that one night he made his escape. It is unnecessary here to go into the particulars of that escape further than as they are connected with and apply to the town of Greenwich. Tweed had disappeared and there was no clew to his where- abouts. Andrew H. Green, Charles O'Conor, Joseph H. Choate and the others of the famous Com- mittee of Seventy offered a reward of fifty thousand dollars for his apprehension. If yon will read the newspapers of those days you will notice that from the time of his departure till he was reported in Vigo, Spain, there is no positive account of his whereabouts. There were at least two men, however, who might have made the story clear. One was the young sta- tion agent at Cos Cob and the other was George W. Hoffman. It was in the early winter of 187o that the Cos Cob agent, who had just laid aside an evening paper telling of tlie escape of Tweed and advertising the fifty-thousand dollar reward notice, that the 9.1.5 train again made its mysterious stop at Edward JNIead's bars. The agent was angry. The conduc- tor had disregarded his threat to report him, and was again disobeving the rules. Seizing a lantern he ran [229] OTIIKH 1)A^ S IX GREENWICH ,>^j> down the track. As he jja.ssed hevoiul the ^iare of the lieadliiJ'lit and reached the l)a<>'ga_i>e car. he saw the side dooi- sHde ()i)en. At that inoment a woman I'l-oni hehind smashed his lantern. Bewildered in the sndden darkness, he stepped forward and put his hand on the <>reat hulk of William ^I. Tweed. There was a man with him and a woman followed, leaping across the ditch ])eside the track, and uj) the hank through Edward ^Mead's hars. There a carriage was in waiting and George W. Hoff- man was on the hox. Who was Hoffman? He was not a memher of the Aiiiericus C'luh and I could never get any defi- nite information as to who he was, except that Philip X. Jackson, the son of an Americus Cluh man, said he was one of Tweed's men. Jackson was a messenger in the X"ew York Su- preme Court ])y Tweed's appointment and in the late seventies and early eighties was the trial justice in Greenwich. After Tweed's death Hoff'man came to Green- wich to reside. He apparently had considerahle money and lie jjurchased of James Elphick a large area of oyster ground. A long and serious litigation then followed between El])hick and Hoff'man over [230] JAMES ELPURK 18:?4— 1889 ESCAPE OF WILLIAM M. TWEED the contracts for the purchase of this oyster ground, and the case finally termmated in the Court of Errors in favor of ]Mr. Elphick and is reported in the 49th volume of Connecticut Reports. While this litigation was in progress, I saw much of Hoffman and on more than one occasion he ad- mitted that Tweed came up on the 9.15 on the night in (juestion, occupying the baggage car. Hoffman never told how he got Tweed into the car at 42nd Street, but at that time there was ample opportunity to walk, unseen, down what had once lieen Fourth Avenue, on the south side of the train and slip into the baggage car. From Cos Cob the carriage, with Tweed in it, was driven to the JMcjMullen house, where his last meal in Greenwich was eaten. Thence he was driven across to Tarrytown where a tug chartered by Hoffman was waiting. This tug took ]Mr. Tweed down, to the lower ])ay and to an outgoing freight steamer l)ound for Cuba. In the port of Havana under the beetling walls of INIoro Castle Tweed was transferred to another steamer bound for Spain and was subsequently cap- tured at Vigo and sent back to Ludlow Street jail where he died April 12, 1878. at the age of fifty-five. Often I have tliought of that $50,000 reward that the young station agent made no attempt to earn. How easy it would have been to telegraph the authori- ties who had offered the reward, and to have caught Tweed that night as liis last dinner in the jNIc^MuUen [231] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH house was being served. The agent knew exactly where he was. He was poor then, hut uow he is worth more than twice the amount of tliat reward. Once I asked him about it. He took from his lips an expensive cigar and contemplated reflectively its long, unbroken ash. Then he looked at me and said, "I thought of it, but how could I?" [23-2] CHAPTER XX THE OLD TOWN HALL THE old Town Hall which stood where the Sol- diers' ^lonuiiieiit now stands, was burned the niffht of October 15, 1874. This building had been used many years for public meetings, theatrical shows, church fairs, elections, and as a court room for the trial Justice of the Peace. It was a single room, lighted by eight windows, containing a portable bench for the court and an enclosure for the lawyers, which usually stood on the east side of the room. The Selectmen and other town officials had their offices m a small frame building, on Greenwich Avenue, which stood where the brick building of Tuthill Brothers now stands. At a later date the officials occupied rooms in the old Congre- gational Church building after it was removed to the corner of Putnam Avenue and Sherwood Place. At the time of the fire it had outlived its useful- ness. As early as 1873 the question of a new town hall was seriously considered. At the annual meet- ing in that year, Luke A. Lockwood, Drake ]Mead, William J. ^lead, Odle C. Knapp and Thomas A. ]Mead were appointed to inquire into the expediency of erecting a new building. This committee was also [233] OTHER DAYS IX (iHEEXWTCH charged with the (hity of recommending tlie k^cation, the size, architectural character and internal arrange- ment of sucli a huilding, and the estimated cost. The following year the committee was continued, TOWN HALL Drawn from (li-scription by Carlctiin W. Hubbard having re})orted progress. A set of plans had been prepared for a huilding which was to he erected on the northeast corner of Putnam Avenue and Sher- wood PLice, then considered the business center. These plans were afterwards framed and for many years hung on the wall of the Town Clerk's office. INIr. George Jackson Smith, the Town Clerk at that time, had a habit of boastin.g of his expensive [234] THE OLD TOWX HALL wall decoration, for the picture cost tlie town twelve hundred dollars. It would seem, however, that many were interested in the subject and desirous of carrying out the ])lans, because in 187-t the Selectmen were authorized to ap- ply to the General Assembly for authority to bon.d the town for $75,000, for the purpose of building a new town hall. A spe- cial town meeting was called November 28, 1878, and the Town Hall C o m m i 1 1 e e was in- structed to present ])lans and make report to a "special meeting here- after to be called to con- sider the whole subject of a new Town Hall." While the new Town Hall was being discussed, the officials moved into Aaron P. Ferris' new building, which had been erected for a hotel and is the building now owned by the town and occupied by Mayer H. Cohen. The town paid an annual rent of $000. The Se- lectmen occupied the south side and the Town Clerk and Judge of Probate the north side, first floor. The second and third floors were occupied as tenements until the first of July, 1875, when the second floor was converted into pu])lic offices. ^Nlyron L. ^Mason, [235] GEOllGE J. S.MITH 18M.-1S77 OTIIKK DAYS IX (iHKKXWKH Kdward .1. Wright. Charles Camcroii. Lcaiukr V. Jones, M.I).. Dr. Beverly K. .Mead, R. Jay Walsh, James V. Walsh. Fi'ederiek A. Iluhhai'd and pos- sihlv othei's ()eeu])ied ofHees on the seeoiul tlooi' of this hiiihlijin'. TOWN IlAl.l. IN ls7h Jolin H. K;i\' iiiul .lolin K. Ray stand in tin- forciii'oiiiHl iiiulcr the tree ])lant<'(l by iMlward .(. Wriiilit It was erowded, uncomfortahle and l)a(lly ar- ranged for sueh ])nr])oses and yet for years it was the only plaee for an office because it was the actnal business center. The Assessors, Eoard of Relief and Tax Collector all found places wherever they could, unless actually excluded by a justice trial, held in th.e Selectmen's ofHce. [2:}(>] THE OLD TOWN HALL But the scht^nie to build a new town hall was for- gotten and we might still he using the Aaron P. Fer- ris huilding, hut for the lil^erality of the late Robert ]M. Bruce who, with his sister, JNIiss Sarah Bruce, donated the new buildino. ROBERT M. BRUCE Philanthro])ist Besides many other benevolent gifts, donated to Greenwich its Town Hall, Pui)lic Park and Hospital On May 15, 1875, Mr. Ferris made a written prop- osition to sell his building to the town. He described the property as 50 feet wide and 254 feet deep and the price named was $11,500, to be paid in a series of notes, drawing interest at the rate of seven per cent., payable over a term of ten years. The proposition [237] OTHER DAYS IN GREENWICH was accepted at a special toAvii meeting and tlie town took title and still owns the property; the front half of whicli yields a rental of a})out twelve hundred dol- lars a year and reser^'es shed room in the rear. At the time tlie town took title we had no public water, sewers or lights. The water supply for the toA\'n building was a large well, which was tilled up in 1890. Rut the occupants of the building realized its unsanitary condition and at tlie annual town meet- ing in 1878 the Town Clerk and the Judge of Pro- bate were appointed a committee "whose duty it shall be, at an expense not exceeding $300, to make needed re])airs and improvements in and about the rear of the town buildin.g, for the purpose of proper use and protection of the well; to effect safe and convenient exit from the rear doors of the building; to build a cistern for the use of the tenants and as a provision against fire." At the same meeting it was voted to build a lockup and it is still standing as a storage room in the rear of Cohen's store. Rut for seventeen years matters went on in this May without a ripple until September 9, 1895, when an attempt was made to purchase the land adjoining on the south owned by JNIary F. Dayton and now occupied by Elias S. Peck. It was thought that the lot enlarged to a width of 100 feet would warrant the town in tearing down the old building and erect- in"' a new town hall about fifty feet back from the street, with light on all sides. Rut the proposition was voted down and we struggled on under the old [-.'38] THE OLD TOWN HALL conditions until January 1, 1906, when the new town hall was occupied. Both of these old town huildings are of peculiar interest. The first one was probably built about 1830 and represented a building typical of the rural, farming people. Tlie illustration which is given is made from a description of tlie building, there being no photograph of it in existence. But the drawing so accurately illustrates the old building that those of the older generation will at once recognize it. During all those fervid times before and during the war of 1861 it was used as a polling place, as indeed it was ujj to the time of its destruction. But in the war time it was the place of many an angry debate and many incidents occurred which are still talked about. Two very estimable and prominent neighbors once got into a hot political dispute on an election day. One resisted the entrance of the other, through the door, with the result that one of the doors was pulled off the hinges and the two contestants with the door rolled down the hill. From 18o-l till long after the war the Borough meetings were held in the old town hall, but the Bur- gesses met at private houses and usually at the home of the Clerk. I first knew of Borough meetings in 1860. Billy Trumble, a quaint little old man. was the town jani- tor. For a number of years he had been man of all work for the Rev. Dr. Joel H. Linsley, and. holding [239] OTIIEll DxVYS IX GREENWICH such a ])ost. he fancied lie knew all the affairs of the parish. The ohl man had (juite an attraction for nie and his sterlin<^" chai'acter and odd sayings made their im- pression. It was his duty to open and light the hall for the annual meetings of the Borough. After he had arranged the henches and dusted the chairs, he would take his seat and with the immense brass door key across his lap await tlie coming of the Warden. On such occasions I enjoyed sitting by his side and listening to the (|ueer stories of what he claimed to have seen and heard around the old white church, then standing in front of the present stone edifice. I was only a small boy, but 1 realize how the old man enjoyed impressing upon my youthful fancy his visits at night to the pulpit an.d the pews, where he routed out the hats that were circling around in the moon- light. In those days the workmen were busy on the new church and piles of rubbish and blocks of cut stone occupied every possible place about the town hall. The cellar had also been invaded by the stonecut- ters and it was a weird place at night after they had abandoned it to the darkness and the bats. One of Billy's duties was to gather uj) the chisels and ham- mers which tlie workmen had carelessly left, and as his "chores" at th-e parsonage, as he called his small errands about the place, often kept him till his lan- tern was needed, it was my great delight to go with [240] THE OLD TOWN HALL him on such nocturnal trips, poking ahout among the cliips for the stray tools. But nothing was more agreeahle to Billy than the occasion of the annual Borough meeting. I think he felt ([uite as important as the Warden and he was certainly better paid, as that official drew no sal- ary. After the arrival of the Warden the next man to appear was Kol)ert W. INIead, the clerk. These officials w(Hdd talk a few minutes, but no one else appearing, the Warden would step over to the parsonage, while the clerk would hurry up to Solomon ^Mead's and Charles H. Seaman's, and Billy, while I tagged at his heels, woidd be sent down to invite Henry M. Benedict, L. P. Hubbard, Joseph E. Brush and George Sellick up to vote. It was invariably the case in those days that a suf- ficient number of voters to fill the offices would not attend the meetings except upon personal solicitation, and Billy and I did most of the roping in. 3Iy part was to carry the lantern. He had an odd hut very [241] A.MOS .M. IJUL'SIl III lS(i() 1 8:35-1 905 OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH ])()litc' way of touching his hat and saying, "Please, sir, there are only four at the meeting and it takes eight to fill the offices. Won't you come up and vote for somebody, and somebody will vote for you?" Such an aj^peal was irresistible and we elected the full Board. I can remember no other moderator in that building on election days except Amos ]M. Brush. In those times there was not such a system of regis- tration and such a poll list as are now employed. Of coiu'se, the Town Clerk's record showed who were voters and when they became voters. Both political parties were represented at the polls and there was always a record of the number of votes deposited. jNIr. Brush, the moderator, stood behind the ballot box and as the voter deposited his ballot ^Nlr. Brush would poke it down among the others wath his lead pencil. On one occasion a voter, whose political be- lief was opposed to that of the moderator, charged the latter witli not depositing his ballot in the box. "Stop the voting," said ]Mr. Brush, "unlock the box and count the l)allots," which was (juickly done, and the disgruntled voter was satisfied that his ballot was among the others and not upon the floor, as he had charged. In the old days when the towni building on Green- wich Avenue was filled with tenants, a local w^it dubbed it "Lincoln's Inn," and a young man who then resided here but ^\'ho subsecpiently became a grave and learned professor in a great American Uni- versity wrote the following lines which were pub- [24.2] THE OLD TOWN HALL lished ill the Stamford Herald. The first and last verses only are qnoted: Oh, I wish I lived in Lincohi's Inn Where the signs are made of gilt and tin; ^^"ith my feet in a chair I'd sit and grin. It's the way they do in Lincoln's Iini. Then at night when the darkness is complete, When the faithful watchman treads his beat, And his boots resound in the silent street. Full many a spectre, weird, he sees, The ghosts of departed lawyers' fees And spirits pale of all degrees, Who perch in the dark; on the signs of tin — Oh, a rare old place is IJncoln's Inn. [243] CHArTKK XXI THE I>EWIS AND :\rAS()X rA:\ni,iEs LEWIS and ^Masoii Streets are named after two prominent old-time families. One of the most interesting spots in the Borongh, rife as it is with historic memories, is the northeast corner of Pntnam Avenne and Lafayette Place, where the Rev. Dr. I^ewis lived, and whicli was subsequently owned by his daughter, Mrs. ^lary Ei. ^Nlason, and his grand- son, Theodore I^. ^Nlason. ]M.D. Before the war of the Revolution this corner and many acres besides belonged to Henry INIead. He was the landlord of a Colonial ta\ ern wliicli stood near the jimction of tlie main country road and the road to Slierwood's Bridge, now (xlenville. Here he entertained, in such style as the times permitted. Gen. Putnam, Gen. Lafayette and other Revolutionary notables. Times were hard in (Treenwich after the close of the war and Henry Mead struggled along for a few years and then moved with his family to New York City. As far as is known, none of them returned. He sold the old homestead or tavern in 17S7 for three hundred and twenty pounds. The land, bounded northerly by the highway and what is now the IjCUOX House property and westerly by tlie road [244] THE LEWIS AND MASOX FAMILIES to Piping Point, now Greenwich Avenue, was pur- chased from Amos JNIead and Henry 3Iead, respec- tively. I^ewis Street divides the southerly tract and was very appropriately named after Dr. Lewis. He was a man of note throughout Xew England. He was graduated from Yale College in the class of 17(y5, and entered the ministrv of the Congreoational Church. His long and lahorious professional life was largely passed in the pastorate of the Second Congregational Society in tliis town, wliich position he assumed in 178(5 and occupied for thirty-three years. In 1792 Vale College conferred on liim the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and from 1816 to 1818 he was a member of the Corporation, and in 1816 was made a Fellow of tlic College. I'pon accpiiring the property lie at once proceeded to remove the Henry INIead house, and as the churcli then had no ])arson- age, he built a fine Colonial mansion a])out seventy- five feet back from the corner. The okl fig tree, still there, was planted by him and it grew very near the south end of tlie house. It was a beautiful house in all its proportions and in the look of hospitality which always pervaded it. It was built in the summer of 1786, but was not an old-fash- ioned sweep-back, because the Colonies had become in- dependent, and the necessity for a one-story house, which is said to have been exempt from taxation by the Crown, no longer existed. I have had many interesting conversations with the [245] OTIIKK 1)A^S I\ (iKKKWVK ir late Col. 'I'lioiiias A. Mead, Solomon S. Mead. D. Smith Mead and Isaae I.. Mead eoneernini> this old mansion. There was no confliet am()n<>' them as to the loeation and appearance of the house. As the fig tree _<>rew near the south end. it is easy to locate it. The house I'aeed the west, and from the front door, over which was an old-time porch with a graceful trellis, a walk hetwecn rows of hox-wood lead to La- fayette Place. It was considered a gi'and house and its owner was looked u]) to hy old and young as a wise and good man. It was his home foi' thirty-three years, and during that period it was the center of social and re- ligious activities. "He was kind and affectionate in his social relations, and for ])iety and learning emi- nently distinguished," according to his e])itaph. It is easy to believe he wielded a powerful influence for a'ood in the communitv. Dr. Lewis died August 27, 1840. at the age of ninety-five, leaving six children and a considerable es- tate. Here, also, on November 2(), 1821. died, at the early age of twenty-four, ^liss Elizabeth Stillson of Bethlehem. Conn,, a membei- of the family of Dr. Lewis, for whom the Stillson Benevolent Society of the Second Congregational Church was named. The children who siu'vived Dr. Lewis were Zach- ariah; Isaac, who succeeded his father as pastor of the church; Mrs. Piatt Buff'ett of Stanwich: Mrs. Mary E. Mason, widow of David Mason; Koswell \V.. and [246] THE LEWIS AND MASON FAMILIES Sarah. ]Mrs. Hannah Lewis, the mother of these children, died in Aj)ril, 1829. On the 10th of December, 1846, all the Lewis prop- erty was conveyed to ^lary E. ^lason and Sarah Lewis, and until 1850 they were inmates of tlie old mansion. Later they moved to the new house wliich was built in that year and is still standing-. ]Mary E. JNIason was the mother of Dr. Theodore L. ^lason, for whom JNIason Street, opened in 1881, was ap- propriately named. Miss Sarah Lewis was very active in the chui'ch that for so many years had been under the ])as- torate of her father and l)rother. She organized miss sarah i.rwis the Sunday School, and it84-i8(30 was its first superintendent. Her portrait hangs upon the wall in the Sunday School room. In 1801 David JNIason, Esq., married ]Mary Eliza- beth I^ewis, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Lewis, at the old homestead. He was a lawyer of ability and as an advocate had special influence. He was engaged in practice in Cooperstown, N. Y., Avith JNIr. William Cooper, an elder brother of James Fenimore Cooper. His cousin was Jeremiah Mason of Boston, who in his day often crossed swords with Daniel Webster in the courts of JNIassachusetts and New Hampshire. [247] OTHER DAYS IX CxREEXWICH David Mason was tlie f'atlier of three ehiklren. of wlioni Tlieodore L. Mason was the eldest. At his death his widow and ehihh'en removed to Dr. Lewis' residenee in Greenwich, where Theodore's youth and early nianliood were spent. I'^nder the (hreetion of ^ai'ious teachers, and notahly in the ])rivate school of liis uncle, tlie Rev. Piatt HuftVtt of Stanwich. he re- ceived a thorouyh trainino- iu En<>lish and the classics. Later he he- came a medical student under the direction of Dr. Darius ^lead. who lived on the top of Putnam Hill where Edwin H. Raker's h o u s e n o w stands. Dr. ]Mead gave the youny" men M'ho studied under him clinical instruction at the hedside of the sick, as well as in- struction in the proper text hooks. Suhsequently young Dr. Mason was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York and practiced a few months in Greenwich. He then went to AVilton, Conn., and later to Xew Y^ork City, removing from there to Brooklyn, X"^. Y^., in 1834, where he remained in the active ])ractice of his profession until his death Fehruary 12, 1882. He frequently visited Greenwich and during his life [248] 1)K. DARIIS MEAD In 18(iO THE LEWIS AND .AIASON FAMILIES was well known in tliis town. After his death the land on both sides of ^Nlason and Lewis Streets as well as that alono- Greenwich Avenue was sold. [249] CPTAPTER XXII THE OLD BLACK WALXLTT TKEE TlIK great black walnut tree that stands on ]Mrs. George E. Nichols' front lawn on jMaple Avenue is said to ])e the largest in the State. It is certainly a very old tree and was a seedling long be- fore the Revolution. It must have been planted very early in the eighteenth century and it is not improb- able that the Rev. Abraliam Todd, a minister who served the Second Congregational Church for forty years, ])lante(l it with his own hands. At that time and until 18.*}.'J the church owned no ])arsonage, but in addition to his salary the minister was given the use of the "parsonage lands." 31r. Todd was graduated from Yale in 17*27 and came to Greenwich five years later. For those days his salary was princely. He received a "settlement" of one thousand dollars, the use of the ])arsonage lands and five hundred dollars ])er annuuL besides firewood, and after three years an additional one himdred and fifty dollars ])er annum. As I\Ir. Todd on the 29th of ^Nlay, 173.*3, purchased for eleven hundred dollars twelve acres of land of Theophilus I'eck, with his homestead, we may as- sume that the "settlement" money above referred to [250] THE OLD BLACK WALNUT TREE was tliiis invested and here was established the par- sonage. These twelve acres were identical witli the land now extending from Patterson Avenue south to property of Edward Brush and ^vest beyond ^Laher S.XCKETT HOMESTEAD Built 1770. Siihsequcntlv the homes of Jaini's W. Doininic-k and .John Sniflfen. Remodeled 18j(). The old tree does not a])))ear in the photogra})h Avenue. In this tract stood for many years the John Snithn house. When jNIr. Todd bought the land it Avas bounded on the east ])y North Street, the name by which jNIaple Avenue was known until long after the adoption of a Borough government in 1854. The house occupied by ]Mr. Todd until his death [251] OTIIKR DAYS IX GREENWICH ill 177'J stood well \r.ivk fVoiii tlic road, in what was subsequently called the old oi'ehai-d. Mi'. Alvan Mead, who died at an achaneed age in 18S1. was able to locate the honse hy tradition and to descrilie it as an old-fashioned sweep-back, facing the south. Mr. Todd left seven children. Five yeai's after his death they sold, for twenty-three hundred and fifty dollars, the place occupied by the family for more than forty years. Xehemiah ^Nlead, Jr., was the purcbaser and it may not l]e uninteresting to copy the description of the property as it appears in his deed. He purchased from the Todd heirs "Fourteen acres, "be it more or less, with a dwelling house and barn "thereon, northward of the Country road (meaning "what is now I'ntnam Avenue) it being that house "and land whereon oui' honored father, Kev. Abra- "ham Todd, deceased, lately lived. Bounded East- "erly by North Street, Northerly by land of "Humphrey Denton, Westerly by land of Justus "Sackett in part and partly by land of Isaac Holmes, "Jr., and Southerly by land of Justus Sackett." ^Ir. ]Mead held it for only nine months when, on Decemlier 4, 1778. he sold it for one povmd more than he paid to Justus Sackett. It was ^Ir. Sackett who built the original John Sniffin homestead under the shade of the old black walnnt tree and it was probably built immediately after he came into possession., in the Summer of 1770. Here he lived until January 1.5, 1827. when he died at the age of eightv-seven vears. [25i] THE OLD BLACK WALNUT TREE In passing it may not be amiss to quote from ISir. Sackett's will in which he speaks of the "Todd lots," referring to the location near the old orchard, the former home of Rev. Abraham Todd. This spot is not far from the place occupied by the recently re- moved and remodeled "Sniff en homestead" on Pat- terson Avenue belonging to William H. Hoggson. To his son he gives his black boy "Charles" and the ancestral tall clock, showing that slavery was extant in Connecticut as late as 1815, when the will was dated, and that tlie tall clock was then valued more than by later generations. Anna Sackett, the widow, continued to reside in the homestead in the enjoyment of her dower until February 15, 1837, when she died at the age of ninety- six years. Justus Sackett, Jr.. was the next owner of the pro])erty. He appears to have been some- what of a trader in real estate, for in 1832 he ac(iuired contiguous property extending north and west as far as Sanford ^lead's and south to Augustus Lyon's, later known as the Perry land and now belonging to William G. and Percy A. Rockefeller. He did not hesitate to l)orrow money and give mortgages, a somewhat unusual proceeding in those days. But on ^Nlarch 19, 184G, he seems to have been willing to abdicate in favor of his son, William H. Sackett, to whom he gave a deed of more than fifty acres, re- serving to himself a life estate. William H. Sackett continued to reside in the old homestead under the famous tree until 1851 when [253] OTIIKU DAVS IX (;kekxwtctt lie sold the property to Justus Ralph Sackett. who held it until Octoher 1. 18.52, when he sold and eonveyed it to James W. Dominick. And now we get down to tlie memory of many Greenwich people. James W. Dominiek and his hrother. William, who resided on Putnam Avenue in the house now owned by Mrs. Susan C. Talbot, were two of the early Greenwich commuters. They each possessed a fam- ily of likely boys, wlio have sustained their early reputations and are now men. well known in financial circles being honored aiul respected by all. George F. Dominick and his son of the same name are both residents, ])ut James W. Dominick \s sons have never lived here. "Sir. James W. Dominick was rated a rich man and he belonged to a lineage of culture and refinement. Therefore the old Sackett homestead built in 1770 was not to his liking. It is true it possessed some attractive features, both within and without. The wide fireplace, the quaint mantel cupboards, the long shingles and the colonial roof with its diminu- tive dormers were artistic, but more room was needed and hence, more than tifty years ago, the remodeling was accomplished. Until it was moved in 1900 to make room for the new^ Nichols house it remained unchanged. It went to John Sniff'en May 19, 1804, and continued in his possession until his death Janu- ary 31. 1888. It was subsequently sold by the widow and heirs. [254] THE OLD BLACK WALNUT TREE The Sackett boys, the Dominick boys and the SnifFen boys all had a happy home under the old black walnut tree which may continue to grow for centuries to come. [255] CHAPTKH XXIII ROCKY NECK THE SILLECK PIOI^SE AMOXG the cherished articles of personal prop- erty found among- the effects of tlie hite Solo- mon ]Mead and now owned hy his nephew, Elhert A. Silleck, is a map of "Rocky Xeck Point." Ex- actly given, the title of the map is as follows: "Map "of eleven acres of land lying on Kocky Xeck Point, "Greenwich steamhoat landing, laid out into bnild- "ing lots .50 feet front on th.e road, unless otherwise "expressed upon, the map and extending to the water. "Surveyed October, 18J3(). and plotted from a scale of "13*2 feet to one inch by Wm. II, Holly, X. Currier "Lith., Cor. Xassau and Spruce Streets, X. Y." The map shows Indian Harbor Point, Field Point and an island then called (xreat Island, but now Round Island. It also shows the de])th of water at the steamboat landing to be six feet at low tide, and it indicates the course of a steamboat to Stamford and Sawpits. The latter place now has the more dignified name of Port Chester. At the foot of the map is written in ink, "the above lots to be sold on the 23d of March, 1837." This is sug- gestive of a vendue, as an auction in those davs was called. There were fifty-eight lots and one acre on the extreme point was reserved. [256] ROCKY NECK— THE SILLECK HOUSE From the fact that this map was lithographed by the firm afterwards so well known as Currier & Ives, it is clear that the public vendue must have been ex- tensively advertised. At that time New York City was a day's journey away and was reached usually by market sloop and sometimes l)y team down the stage road. Greenwich was then sparsely settled, devoted to agriculture exclusively, and possessed of considerable wealth. The land in (piestion was wild, filled witli rocks, and seamed with ledges overshadowed by enormous trees. The eleven acres included all the land south of the north line of the property of Wil- liam H. Teed. It appears from the records that as early as 1725, all the land from Grigg Street south to the end of the point and east as far as the Held House was called "Rockie Xecke." It was common land, as wild as the Adirondack forest. About that time it was ap- portioned off' by the town to tlie different taxpayers, who were called "Proprietors," in proportion to their respective assessmen.t lists. Under the apportion- ment and by a few subsecjuent conveyances all of "Rockie Xecke" went into the possession of two brothers, Daniel Smith and John Smith. Through the marriage of a daughter of Daniel Smith much of this property went to Daniel Smith Mead, the grandfather of Oliver D. ^Nlead. When the Rocky Xeck Co. was formed Daniel Smith ^Nlead was deceased and the company bought [257] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH tlu' land of his heii's. This j)iiivluise rei)resented the first effort of hind speculators in Greenwieh. I often talked with those interested in the venture and I I'eeall vei"v distinctly tlie details of the transac- tion as they were given to me and as they are found in the ])ublic records. It was a wild and rocky stretch with nothing but a cart path over the line of the present higlnvay. No attempt had l)een made to cultivate any part of it. Many of the primeval forest trees were still standing — great oaks that had stretched their limbs across the Indian paths of a century earlier. There were bowlders of enormous size covered with a wealth of moss, and resting in beds of lichens and ferns that grew with rank luxuriance about their base. One larger and more rustic than all the others was shaped like a great chair, filled with moss and backed with ce- dars over which the woodbine trailed in graceful profu- sion. It was well named the "Indian Chief's Throne." To cut such a piece of land as that into fifty-eight building lots seemed a wild and chimerical scheme. But as I read the list of stockholders of the Rocky Neck Co. I find them all men of nerve and character, as far as I knew them, and I have a personal knowl- edge of all but three. These were John D. Spader, who held three shares, Benjamin Andrews, two shares and Thomas Simons four shares. ^Ir. Spader was the man who subsequently married a daughter of Silas Davis and the other two were probably residents of New York. [258] ROCKY NECK— THE SILLECK HOUSE The other stockholders were Silas Davis, one share; Augustus Lyon, five shares; AVilliam A. Husted, two shares; Jonathan A. Close, three shares; Walter Davis, one share; Alvan ^lead, one share; Solomon Mead, three shares; Daniel S. ^Nlead, one share; Zaccheus Mead, Jr., two shares; Husted Hohby, two shares; Abraham B. Davis, three shares; and Thomas A. jNIead, two shares. Each share liad a par value of one hundred dollars. Silas Davis appears to have been the leader of the enterprise, as he held what was termed a refusal of the property for $3500. At the present time it would be called a thirty-day option, except that ]Mr. Davis had nothino- jn writing. But perhaps he was merely carrying out the insti'uctions of such men as Solomon Mead and Thomas A. ]Mead in securing the option. At that time Solomon ]Mead was only twentv-eio'ht years old and as he lived here all his life and died at the age of ninety, possessed of more than a million of dollars, it is fair to assume that this apparently crazy investment was advised and perhaps urged by him. Although he thought the price too high, he finally approved the scheme, put up his three hun- dred dollars and carefully preserved the map, pos- sibly as a reminder that in this enterprise he made some of his first dollars. The company was formed under tlie joint stock laws, and the articles of the association which a])pear in the land records were evidently prepared bv a lawyer. [259] OTHER DAYS IX GREEN WICH Tile piir])o.se of the association was to acquire the land and to build a store house or store houses, and a whai-f in order that passen^"ers and freight to Stamford, New York and other points coidd be transported. This was clearly a bid to steamboats and sailing vessels to call for passengers and produce, but no suggestion was made that the com])any should engage in the transportation busin.ess. The corporation was, however, to be a close one and a sjjccial })r()vision was made whereby any stock seeking a purchaser must l)e offered to tlie other stockholders. This was too good a thing to afford even a taste to outsiders. The first meeting was called for September 14, 1836, at seven o'clock in the evening at the inn of Augustus Lyon. The name of that iiui, \\hich was one of the stage stops on the mail route between New' York and Hoston, was "The I'ilansion House," since known as the Lenox House. Here all the incorpo- rators gathered and evidently without any lawyer, because all they did was to sign the articles of incor- poration. There ap])ears to have been no election of officers or directors. However, we can imagine what a jolly time these young men had in the front room of the inn that September night. They all ])ut up their money, and in due time the land was con- veyed and in the following month "Rill Hen" Holly, of Stamford, as everybody called him, made the sur- vey and map. The following Spring sales began to be made, but [260] ROCKV NECK— THE SIEEEC K HOUSE they were not very active and many times tlie owners w^ere almost discourat>e(l. It is not uin-easonal)le to suppose tliat most of the !)uyers were (hscouraged too, for Captain Ahraham Erinckerhoff. wlio liought one of the lots from the map. discovered when he made his way in hetween KE8KK\KI) 1,()1' IN 1S7() SHOWING KPHHAIM READ HOME- STEAD IX EOKEGKOrXD AXD THE MARBLE HOUSE BEYOXD the roeks and trees, that in order to reach his lot he would ha^•e to huy two more. The ma]) shows one acre reserved on the extreme point. This was afterwards known as tlie Ephriam Read property and includes the Indian Ilarhor yacht cluh house and t>roun(ls and the cottage sites on the east side of the road, huilt hy Charles T. Wills, now owned hy the Indian Harhor yacht cluh. The incorjK)rat()rs all agreed that the reservation should he made, })ut no two of them thought alike as to the purpose of the reservation. One wanted it for a com- [261] OTIIKU 1)A^ S IX (iKKEXWKIl inon cow ])aslui'c'. al'tci' the ti-ces wei-f rt'iiioNcd. for the use of those who ini,i>ht hiiy and l)iiil(l on the lots. Anothei- siinL>este(l tliat siieli a dense I'oi'est wouhl snj)|)ly sntlieient firewood I'oi- all who iniu'lit l)nv lots. Anothei" ni\L>'ed tlie erection of a cider mill. A\^illiani A. Ilusted thonn'ht that the lunil)ei- could })e ship])ed to New York at a large ])rotit and the cleared f^ronnd used for an a])|)le orcliard. Col. JNIead [who. hy the way. had no such title then, hut Avas just Thomas] and Solomon Mead thought that as the reservation had been made, there was no imme- diate necessity of passing ii])on the question of its disposition. They tliought that would take care of itself, and indeed it did. Four of th.e company huilt potato cellai's whei'e the Silleck Plouse now" stands. They were ])uilt with openings at either end, like the one on Round Island, which bears the date, 1827. These cellars belonged to Solomon ^Nlead, Thomas A. ^lead and Zaccheus JNIead, Jr., but it is uncertain who owned the fourth one. The Silleck House was erected over these very cellars in 18.38, just one year after they were built. This building, a small afl'air, owned by .Tared jVIead, prcwed to be unsuccessful. Situated near the shore with a dense forest on three sides, it was an ideal spot for a (juiet summer retreat. The ti'ouble with, the "White House," as Mr. ^lead called it. was due to the fact that table supplies were difficult to obtain. At that time there was no market in (xreen- wich. To sup])lv the table with meat it was .Tared [•.'(!-2] ROCKY NECK— THE SILLECK HOUSE jNIead's custom to purchase laiiil)s and calves of the farmers and hutcb.er them on the premises. Vege- tables were secured at the market sloops. Butter was difficult to buy as the farmers preferred to send it to New York. The cows were pastured on Field Point, assiu'ing a good supply of milk and cream. The water M^as brought from one of the Field Point springs, there being no well near the hotel. Apples were free to anyone who woidd gather them. My. Mead had a good class of boarders at what w^as then thought to be remunerative prices, but he found it quite a struggle to maintain a satisfactory table. His fried fish, broiled lobsters, succulent oys- ters and scallops were considered most palatable, but there always came a time when the appetite demajided fresh meat. In the spring of 1849, when the railroad was just six months old, he sold out to ^Nlrs. Fanny Runyan and IMrs. ]Mary Dennis. These ladies, although they were joint owners of the real estate, were partners in business only one summer. On the 9th of Fel)ruarv, 18.50, jNIrs. Dennis sold out to Thomas Funston. His wife was Mrs. Runyan's sister and Mrs. Elbert A. Silleck is his granddaughter. In the winter of 1854-5 upon the death of ]Mrs. Funston, ^Ir. Funston sold his interest to Thaddeus Silleck, although he did not take title till ^lay 25 of the latter year. The Silleck House is the oldest hotel on either shore of the Sound from Sands' Point to Stonington. [263] O'illKK DAYS IX (;UKKX\\ Kir Tliesc details liave l)een carefully <>atliere(l for the reason that it has many times heen erroneously stated that Thaddeus Silleek was the founder of the hotel hcai'in^ his name since 1876. Mis. Kunyan died at Kocky Neck Jan. 2(>. IDl.'J. aa'cd OS. From her 1 ohtaincd mauv interestin<>' facts ahout the Wliite House \ou' cbarters to railroads. Tbe turnjjikes and canals of tlie ])recedin<>' century liad proved remu- nerati\e and it was reasoned tliat i-ailroads as means of transportation wovdd l)e still more ])r()titable. In 18.*32 tlie Xorwicli 6c Worcester was incorpo- rated, followed in 18.30 l)y the Housatonic; the Xew York & Xew^ Haven in 1844<; the \au. The 7.21 was the popular morning- train, used by the commuters, of whom there were a very limited number. Of these 1 recall Robert ^NI. Rruce, John G. Wellstood, Charles A. Whitney, Closes Christy, Luther Prescott Hubbard and Henry M. Renedict. From New York th.e first train left Twenty-seventh Street at 7 a. m. The cars were drawn up Fourth Avenue — four horses to each car — to 32nd Street [a [268] RAILKOAUS IX THE EARLY DAYS little later to -i'iiid Street] where a wood burning engine was attached. Think of sucli a thing happen- ing now ill front of the new Vander})ilt Hotel! The first stop was at Williamsbridge at 7.37. This was originally the northern terminus of tlie Harlem railroad, the first railroad built out of New York, and on the north side of the track may still be seen the remains of the foundation of the old turntable. The stations following were ]Mt. Yernon. New Rochelle, JMamaroneck, Rye and Port Chester, reacli- ing Greenwich at 8.21. Tliere were no such, stations as Columbus Ave., 12ath St., Pelhani, Larchmont or Harrison. There was at that time no South Nor- walk, but at the Norwalk station a liorse car line ran to the Borough of Norwalk. The time table of that year, a bit of yellow pa])er, printed on both, sides and only six by ten inches in size, is among my possessions. The difference be- tween that modest little affair and the throu""h time table of to-day. with its sixty-two pages, represents the difference in the importance of the road then and at the present time. This was before the days of consolidations and the inconveniences of transportation of half a century ago h.ave been eliminated by the union of corporations. \Ve take a parlor car at New York, and in five hours, having had all the comforts of a delightful journey, step out at the South Station in l^oston. But on this little yellow time table there is no assur- ance that the Boston express — there were two daily — [269] othp:r days ix Greenwich would ever carry you beyond New Haven. That was the end of tlie hue and upon arrival you were turned over to another road. If the trains made o-()()d connections you might expect to reacli Boston in seven hours, including ten minute stops for refresh- ments, at such points as Hartford, S])ringfield and Worcester. Vou were in charge of a new set of trainmen, without uniforms, and you jogged on over a rough roadbed, dodging hot cinders from the engine and swaying back and fortli in tb^e narrow rigid seats. There existed scarcely a community of interest between the New Haven road, seventy-two miles long, and the other roads of the State. The first train out of Xew York left at 7 a. m. and passengers for the l)anbiu-y & Xorwalk R. R. were told to take that train and change cars at Xorwalk. The same remark was made of the Housatonic, the X'aug- atuck and X"ew I^ondon R. R. Com])anies. Each was an independent concern, never waiting beyond its time of departure. Tlie X"ew Haven road simply suggested, but not in words, "we will take you where you can find another raili'oad and you take yoiu' chances." But the road was making money and paying ten per cent dividends, with a good surplus in the treas- ury. Indeed the law makes it compulsory to pay to the State all railroad earnings in excess of ten per cent unless the same is recpiired for equipment or roadbed. It is needless to say that the State has never received a dividend. There were enough o])- [270] RAILROADS IX THE EARLY DAYS portunities to make improvements and one of these was in new locomotives. When Xo. 27 came out the directors gave Currier v*v: Ives of Xew York a commission to make litho- graph pi'ints. in colors, of the engine and tliey were o-iven a^vav to friends of the road. It was a liaht CIKKKNWRH 1{. U. STAllOX 1^.M) affair, witli a great bulging smoke stack, the driving wheels painted a gay red. but half the weight of an ordinary yard engine of tlie present day. In the spring of 18(58 two parlor cars were ])ut on tile Boston express trains. These it was believed would add materially to the comfort of the traveler. These cars were of the English Coach model, divided [278] OTHER DAVS IX GREEXAVICH into compartiiR-iits with a dooi- fVoni each opening onto the runninf>- l)()ar(l. They were called "X^ew York" and "Hoston" and left each city about eight o'clock. They were supplied hy the Wagner Parlor Car Co. They were never popular and the following year one was destroyed in a train shed tire and the other was withdrawn. The club car was unknown in those days but cer- tain commuters who desired to play cards occupied their own camp chairs in the baggage car. These chairs were in charge of the baggage master, who had little else to do, and his conijjensation was a generous Christmas collection. This was the origin of the present club car service. The location of the Greeinvich station in 18.59 was about seventy feet north of the present site but the building now in use is the same, enlarged and im- [)roved, when the four tracks were laid in ISD.'J. It was a quiet spot, where that old station stood fifty years ago. Henry Sackett's great farm barn across the road, south of where the Daly building now stands, gave fortli an aroma of the country as the passengers left the train and walked past it on a lane twelve feet wide to (xreenwich Avenue. There was always one hack in attendance, owned and o])er- ated by William Elliott. He was a man of various responsibilities, for besides being the backman he was the ticket agent, baggage master an_d hotel pro- ])rietor. He was just such a bustling ty])e of thin, sinewy man as one linds to-day occupying; similar [274] RAILROADS IN THE EARLY DAYS positions, at remote little stations in Maine and New Hampshire. In those days there was no telegraph station and WILLIAM H. WALLACE At age of l(i it was years afterwards before the Adams Ex])ress Co. took any notice of Greenwich.. It was INIr. Elliott's cnst(!m to sit on tlie station platform during tlie long summer days, fighting flies and dozing away the time lietween trains, while the bovs would sneak up behind him and tickle his ears OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH with a timothy head. When they tired of tliis, tliey would go dow^n under the stone arch, after wliicli the sti-eet h'ds since heen named, and, hui-i'vino- alonu' the dusty road in their haste to ^et into the water at tlie head of the creek, shed their clothinf>-, one i)iece after another, until there was scarcely a ]jause be- fore they \vere nude and immersed. But the boys' fun was considerably curtailed af- ter ]Mr. Elliott employed William II. Wallace as an assistant. Although "Billy'' AVallace was then only sixteen years old he felt the responsibilities of his position and the boys liad to stop foolint^" around the station, although it was several years before the swimming hole was aban- doned. There wasn't much for young Wallace to do but paint the chairs and scrub the iiooi-s. but he made tlie old station such a model one that it attracted the at- tention of the officials. His reputation for cleanli- ness must have been well established among the school children, for I know that the following incident actu- ally occurred: One day diaries H. ^Vright, the [276] CHAUI.l.S II. WRIGHT A-i-e of ^i Ift;}4.-18T8 RAILROADS IN THE EARLY DAYS principal of the public scliool, was walking" along the track with a favorite scholar. The summer sun was just sinking in tlie west as the man and hoy looked ahead at the glittering rails and exclaimed "How beautiful!" At their feet the iron was dull and tar- nished but where the sun- light struck them, in front of tlie station and down at tlie Field Point cross- ing, the rails shone like liurnished silver. 'Tt is the finger of God in the sunshine, my boy. that tui'iis tliis liomely iron to those tlu'eads of silver," suid tlie teacher. The boy replied, '"Oh, no scouring 'em." However, Mr. Wallace secured the confidence of the ofHcials and became the first baggage master at the station. Then he succeeded "Sir. Elliott as ticket affent and fi-om freight conductor to conductor of one of the finest through trains, he finally became assist- ant superintendent, which position he held for many years, with an office at New Haven. He died at his home on ^lilbank Avenue April ,5, 1906. In those days there were no through freight trains; one local that ran down in the forenoon and back at nigh.t. Conductor Jones was in charge with old [277] W ll,l,!AM H. WAIJ.ACE \s Asst. Sunt. X. V., X. H. & H. a. K. Billv Wallace has been OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH engine Xo. 10. He knew everybody on tlie line and after his freight was loaded he was sometimes reluc- tant to leave till an especially good story was told. The milk train down at 10.30 at night was some- times used by passengers who occupied tlie caboose. The conductors and brakemen were not compelled to wear a uniform, the only mark of their official posi- tion being a piece of metal, fastened to the front of the cap marked "Conductor" or "Brakeman." But the conductor tlien had all the responsibility of run- nino" his train, while now the trains are controlled bv the tower men. They were often the recipients of presents from commuters in the form of gold watches and lan.terns of rich cut glass, bearing the name of the official. The cars were low, and covered with a flat roof, with- out ventilators, with very small windows and lighted by four coach lamps containing coal oil. This ab- sence of light required the conductor to have a lantern on his arm w^hile punching and collecting tickets and reading by the passengers was impossible. At each end of the car was a long wood stove, by the side of which was a wood box, usually filled ^\'ith white birch. The brakeman attended to the fire and "broke" the train at the call of the engineer by two sharp whistles. Every train carried a "water boy" whose duty it was to go through the train occasionally and supply the jjassengers with water carried in a tin receptacle resembling a watering pot, without the rose, and sur- rounded by half a dozen glasses in tin brackets. [278] RAILROADS IN THE EARLY DAYS Mruy of the old time conductors rose from the humble post of water boy, entering the service at the age of fourteen. It was certainly no easy task to travel and yet I recall one occasion when I rode with my father over the "Old Colony k Newport R. R.," such rolling stock as I have described was referred to as the "luxuries of travel" and so it was in comparison to the stage coach and canal which, as means of transportation, hud been abandoned but comparatively few years. I.COKIMI DOWN THE HARBOU lHo9 FUO-M NEAR R. R. STATION [279] CHAPTKH XXV 1{I\ l.HSIDK AM) SOrXl) lU'.Al II PHI OH to 1870 Hi\c'rsi(le was iiiuiaiiKd and Sound Htac'li was Old Greenwicli. A cciiturv earlit'i" it was "Old Town/' ^Vll that poi'tion of the to^\■n now known as Sonnd l^each is historic ground. In 1()4() it was called ^lonakawaye, tliat name oradii- ally limiting' itself to the ])oint. which, a few years later, hecanie l^'dizaheth Xeck. Avhich name it retained for many years. Latei". it hoi-e the name of Old (Ti'eeiiwich Point and J. Kennedy 'I'od calls it Innis Arden. It i-eceived its first Kno-lish name fi'om Klizahetii Feaks. who. under the first Indian dt^fd. hecanie a part owner of that territory and with lier hushand, John Feaks, lived on the heautifnl ])oint, "Good INIa Feaks,'' as she was called, was a daughter of John Winthi'op. who was (rONcrnor of Massachusetts with little intei'mission from 1(».*}() until his death in KUl). She and her hushand. with C'apt. Daniel Fati'ick. Capt. John Fnderhill, Jeff're Ferris, and a few- others, were the first settlers of (rreenwich and they estahlished themselves along the shore ol* the Sound. ]\'iti'ick and I'nderhill wei"e fighting cliaractei's and galhuitly shared with C'a|)t. John Mason, another [280] RIVERSIDE AND SOUND BEACH fighting mail, the hardships and glories of the Pequot War in 1637. The other settlers were men of peace. Feaks and Patrick came to Greenwich early in 1640. Tliey \vere acting under the authority and in behalf of the Colony of Xew Haven and they at once opened negotiations with the Senawaye Indians for the purchase of land for a settlement. The red men, caring less for land than for coats and blankets, were (}uite willing to part witli tlieir ancient possessions, and on July 18, 1640. they formally executed to Feaks and Patrick a conveyance of a large tract including all of what is now Sound Beach. This deed was un- recorded for forty-five years, when it took its place in Vol. 1, page 1. of the Greenwich Land Records, where the copy now is, yellow and faded with age but per- fectly legible, under a magnifying glass, and signed by old Amogorone, whose name is now associated with the Greenwich Fire Department. In the early sixties there was nothing but open fields, beautiful trees, along the highwavs and a mag- nificent view at Sound Beach. Of course it had farmers and they were prosperous, because the soil was wonderfully productive — the place often being called the garden spot of Greenwich. The soil is black, free from ledge or bowlder and well adapted to the cultivation of celery, strawberries and aspar- agus. When it was out of season on the farm there was an oyster boat in the cove near by, for the Sound Beach farmer plowed the sea as well as the land. The old Ferris homestead, still standing, was at the [281] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH entrance gate of the Sound shore, where scallops in large quantities were caught after the first of October. Din-ino- the warm summer days after the hav had been gathered and the potatoes hoed for the last time, the farmers from Greenwicli and Stamford, and some even from Bedford, made it a point to give their families an outing on the broad beach or they would camp out for a week or t\\o un.der the great oaks that grow on the point. Riverside had no rail- road station until about 1870. Both the station and the post office were established through the efforts of Jeremiah W. Atwater and Luke A. Lockwood. ]Mr. Atwater and his family came to Greenwich from Brooklyn and bought a house and lot of Titus Mead on February 27, 186.5. The place was located on the west side of North Street and is now owned by William F. H. Lock- wood. ]Mr. Atwater was a commuter on the railroad, having a real estate office in New York. Some three or four years afterwards he moved to what is now Riverside and began the active development of that part of the town. He bought large tracts at what were considered large prices but what he sold brought him a good profit. He also engaged in house con- [282] Ll KE A. LOCKWOOD 1833-1905 RIVERSIDE AND SOUND BEACH stmction, building some of the best houses in River- side and thus improving his land was better able to dispose of it. He was very optimistic and although the liard AMA8A A. MARKS 1835-1905 times of 1873 and the years that preceded the re- sumption of specie payments made his schemes of development more difficult, he never lost courage but was always confident that in the end he would "come in a sure winner," as, in fact, he did. Luke A. Eockwood, a New York lawyer who lived at the old homestead and died November 20, 1905, in [283] OTITKK DAYS IN GREENWICH tlic Iioiisc ill wliic'h liu N\as horn. _i>avL' to Mr. iVtwatcr liearty ('iK*()ura<>x'iiient and tliiis were e.stal)lislie(l tlie railroad station, a post olliee. and St. Paul's eha))el, no\\ an Ej)iseo])al C'hureli in(le|)endent of Christ Chureh. organized originally as a |)ri\ ate eor|)oration. The <>r()wtli and inii)ortanee of Sound Heaeh may be largely attributed to the efforts of iAiuasa A. Marks. He was a New Vork nuinui'aelurer and business nian. who eaiiie to (ireeiiwieh and. on Janu- •A\'\ 12. 1872. hounht of Charles Ileiidrie. Jr.. about twenty-five aeres of shore front land for $1 (),.')()(). The |)riee he paid for the land shows that he was a pioneer. The man who sold him the land was a nati\ c and the ohl homestead still stands, a beautiful exam])le of an old-time mansion, IMr. Charles Ilendrie had a brother, J. W . Ilendrie, who is well reiiieiiibered by his neinhhors at Sound Eeaeli. He was a orathiate of \ iilc Colle<>e. a mem- ber of the famous elass of 1851. and u])on reeeiving his degree lie embarlved for California. In the eity of San Franeiseo, Avhere he was early a lart»e land- owner, he beeame rieh from the |)rofits of the gold mines. The law sehool building at Ynh-, known as Hendrie Hall, was his gift. ^Ir. ^Nlarks and ^Ir. Hendrie. who in those early days spent a few montlis each year at the old home- stead, eooperated as far as possible in the improve- ment of the roads, the eonstruetion of a new sehool building and in many other ways made their inttuenee felt in the eommunity. Mr. Marks left a son. W'il- [284] RIVERSIDE AND SOUND BEACH liani I J. Marks, who is still a resident of Sound Beach, heing the public spirited owner of Laddin's Rock Farm. George E. Marks, another son, who in his younger days was a civil engineer in town, is now a resident of New York City. The advent of the railroad in 1848 led many of the old residents to believe that a station would be located in that neighborhood, (xilbert ^Marshall resided in the house still standing nearly opposite the present Sound Beach station. He owned considerable land in that vicinity and it was his desire to have a station at that jjoint. It is difficult to imagine for whose accomnuxlation it was required, but Mr. Marshall was determined to get the station and he got it — on the maj). In his deed of a part of the right of way he liad his lawyer in- sert these words: "Said Company is to establish a "regular stoj^ping place on said land and if said Com- "pany should fail to use it as a passenger depot for "three months at any one time after said road shall "have been completed between New Haven and New "York, then the said land shall revert to and become "the property of said ^Marshall." The old man told me it was just as sti'ong as Charles Hawley could write it and still the station remained a promise unfulfilled for thirty-one years and long after the old man had passed a\Nay. For years before his death I often saw him standing at the south door as the train rattled by looking as if he was still waiting and expecting the long deferred station. [^85] CHAPTER XX\ I THE OCTAGON HOUSE THE Greeiiwicli Hospital on ^Nlilbaiik Avenue occupies land where formerly stood the Octagon House. In the spring of 18.3*) this house stood alone in a wide territory of farm land. It had been built about two years. IMason Street, then called on a map in the Town Clerk's office "First Avenue," had not been opened and Milbank Avenue from Putnam Avenue to Davis Avenue was called I^ove I^ane, sometimes JMill Lane. South of that it went by the name of Second Avenue. Aaron Woolsey and Edwin ^lead owned all that tract north of Elm Street bounded on tlie east by Mil- bank x\ venue, on the west by (xreenwich Avenue and extending north to the ^lason property, now I^ewis Street. This land was all very productive and from the Octagon House was an unbroken view, south and west across tields of timothy and grain. Solomon S. Gansey built tlie house from ])lans claimed by him to be original. He said he expected to build a house of an entirely new and original style of architecture and the ])lan as first drawn showed one more story than was finally constructed. The [286] THE OCTAGOX HOUSE third story for lack of funds was omitted and the cii])ola occupied its place. Jacob T. Weed had an inn at the head of Green- wich Avenue, in those days, and among those who made the inn a place of rendezvous, particularly Sat- TIIE OCTAGON HOUSE urday nights, was the builder, ]Mr. Gansey. When JNIr. Gansey showed the plans to ]Mr. Weed, the latter suggested that the house be built out of plumb, so as to resemble the leaning tower of Piza. ^Ir. Gansey told jMr. Weed that he didn't know what he meant, but that he had a suspicion that ]Mr. Weed was laughing at him. However, the house construction went on with its [287] OTHEU DAYS IX (iKEKXWICH wiiulows and dooi-s on eight sides, till it was com- pleted in the iniperfeet manner already deserihed. lirnsh Knapp was a native of Cxreenwich who, when he was a youth, had left the Round Hill farm for X^ew York City. lie heeame wealthy as a whole- sale grocer and in 1850 retired, and purchased of AVilliam L. I^yon seven acres and a dwelling house on X^orth Street, now the property of Cornelius Mead and lately occupied by (xcorge Gnion. On the second of April, 18.59, he bought the Octagon house of George A. Palmer for $5, ()()(), in- cluding one and one-half acres of land. The same month he Iiought of Aaron AYoolsey of Bedford, X"^. Y., for $1„500 five acres adjoining his first pur- chase. At that time the opening of what is now ]Ma- son Street between Kim and the present I^ewis Street was somewhat uncertain, as shown by 3[r. Knapp's deed which reads as follows: "In case the said Brush Knapp and adjoining "owners shall deside to keep it (First Avenue) ])er- "manently closed then each party shall own to the "center of said First Avenue, opposite the land owned "by him." It was about ten years before this portion of Mason Street was opened and it held the name of First Avenue till 1881 when it was extended north to Put- nam Avenue and the street, for its entire length, named ^lason Street. JNIr. Knapp had been an active business man in [288] THE OCTAGOX HOUSE Xew York and for those days had amassed a fortune. He was pleased with tlie location and surroundings of the house, but he often stated that when the place was new to him he had to take his bearings with some care, lest in attempting to go out at tlie front door he emerged at the back door, so confusing was tlie con- struction of his eight sided house. INIr. Knapp was a man of excellent judg- ment and was active in the management of Borough affairs, occupying the position of Bur- g e s s ma n y terms. His keen business instinct enabled him as the B o rough grew to sell off „ .. , BRUSH KNAPP irom time to ^^ ;5 time portions of iso7-is95 his original j^urchase until he had gotten his money back several times over, and still retained his home with ample ground, AVlien ^Nlason Street was opened from Elm Street to Lewis Street he built one of the first houses on the [289] OTHER DAYS IX (aiKKXWKII street, wliere liis daugliters, Amelia and ^lartha Kiiapp, lived for a niiinher of years. The house is now owned by David K. Allen. In 1885 jNIr. Knapp sold the home to ^Nlary War- ing INIead and went to live in the JNIason Street house, where his last days were spent. [290] CHAPTER XXVII THE OLD :mii.l at stoxybkooke THE first house north of Cornehiis ^Mead's on the road to Stan^vich is the liome of George P. Waterl)ury, known as Stonybrooke, and recently jjurchased by J. Howland Hunt. One liundred and seventy years ago this road was called the By- field Road. No on.e knows why it bore that name, but it is fre(iuently mentioned in the early land records and may have referred to a road by a field, at a time wl^en cleared ground was rare. The house, which stands on a knoll beneath an an- cient elm, looks out across a merry brook and down a road, curving between moss-c(wered stone walls. Beyond this road, with its graceful curves, is a broad stretch of meadow, called in the old deeds "the Hook land." and still farther away the trees of a dense forest meet the sky line. The first settler on this spot, then common land, was Caleb ^Nlead. He was born in 1698 and tradition has it that he was forty-one years old when he built the first house at Stonybrooke. It was on the exact spot where the present house stands. In 1750 at the age of fifty-six Caleb Mead died, leaving three sturdy sons. Caleb, Jeremiah and Titus. [291] O'lIIKU 1)A^S IX (iUKKXWICII Calt'l). the CatlKi-. K ft n will l)\- whifli lie <»a\c' all his land, (ii^■i(i(.'(l and iin(ii\ idcd, 'lyiiii'' in (ii'ccnw ich Township, Faii'tield County. Connecticut Colony, in Xew Kn_t>land," to he cciually divided between his three sctns, above mentioned. After his death, the boys made (li\isi()n of the land by the e.\ehanL>e of (]uit claim deeds, and the homestead went to Jeremiah. 'Die t'ollowino' yeai\ 1751, Jeremiah toi'e down the old house, and using some of the old frame. l)uilt the western half of the present house. Th.e fire])laces in the kitclien and living-room and in the chambers above are suggestive of a time when they were the only means of cooking the food and warming the house. The eastern half of the house lias been built within the last sixty years. That portion of the liou^e iivst I uilt, reveals massive oak beams, wrought iron nails and handmade latches and hinges that tell of house construction methods one hundi'ed and tifty years ago. It is probable that about this time the mill site on the ])roperty was first utilized. \Vhile the dam was rebuilt in 1880 and bears that date, it is well known that the new dam gave ])lace to one of more ancient construction and })y some it has been claimed that Caleb Mead, the first settler, made use of the water power foi' a cider mill, traces of the foundations of which are still pointed out in the orchard south of the house. It is more likely, how- ever, that the first use of the water power was for a saw mill. It is known that manv of the earliest [202] THE OLD MILL AT STONYBROOKE bouses in Greenwich were supplied with material sawed at that mill. Jeremiah ^Nlead ran the mill and managed the farm during- his life. His son, Edmund JNIead, taking up the work after his death, raised a familv of twelve children. The lat- I.OWKR FALLS, STONYBROOKE Power for the churn and ice-cream freezer ter consisted of six boys — James. Reuben, Allen, Al- fred, Edmund and Irving, and six daughters, Laura, Eunice, Anna, I^ydia, Emeline and Samantha. Upon the third son, Allen, the father of Dr. Beverly E. Mead, devolved early in life the management of the old mill. He measured the lumber and thereby learned to solve manv a mathematical problem which [293] OTHER DAYS IX (;UKKX\\ I( H tlie sc'liool hoys of tliose days could not master. He learned niiisie wlien musical attainments were not looked upon ^^'ith favor by the hard-working farmers, hut Allen caught many a s])are moment among the logs around the old mill to study the art of music as taught l)y Lowell jNIason. a famous Hostou teacher who had a class in Stamford. Later, the farm descended to the son, Ldmund, who ran the mill for many years and died at the old place IMay 9, 1893. He was the father of Irving JNIead of Stanwich and of Mrs. John H. Banks of the Borough. It was less than thirty years ago that the mill wheel was stopped and the old mill was given over to the storage of plows and harrows. It was torn down about 1909. The illustration shows how the old building rested against a great tree. But for that tree it would have fallen several years liefore it finally became imsafe. It was probably the last of its kind near the village and it was an interesting relic of the generations that have gone before. [296] SNAP SHOTS AT S TON Y15U( )()K !•: CHAPTER XXVIII THE OLD MII>L AT DAVIS LANDING IN an early chapter, reference has been made to tlie old Davis mill. It was a great disappointment to me that it had to he torn down, because I always loved the old mill. I caught eels under its great wheel before I was ten years old. I dove from the rocks into the pond, and swam with the tide through the race-way and as I grew older I fished for snap- pers from the window on the south side. 1 knew every mysterious nook and cranny in the old building. l?ut at last it grew so weak with age that it was no longer safe to allow it to stand. The upper part of the building was sound. Every timber and plank in it were hewn from the native forests and the marks of the adze were visible. Some of the oak was as hard as bone, but the sills and the lower floor timbers had for so many years felt the direct influence of the salt water that they were thoroughly decayed and there was great danger of a complete collapse. The mill was built in 170.5. At that time Church and State were closely united. Ecclesiastical prop- erty was town property. The meeting house, as the name indicates, w^as used for both religious and secu- lar i)uiposes. The minister was supported by the taxpayers, and the town meeting hired and discharged [299] OTHER DAYS IX GKEKXWICII as it .saw fit. Rev. Joseph M()rt>aii was the minister in tliat year and by a vote of tlie town. Jannary 9, 1704, he was ^ranted tlie privile<>'e of hnihhn<^' a mill on Cos Col) I'iver. The stream referred to as Cos Cob river was some- times known as Brothers brook and later Davis' ereek. JNIany have snpposed that the river referred to is the creek at Cos Cob, but in this they are mistaken, as that was always called in the records the "^Nlyan.os river." The i>rant to 1 iiild the mill was accorded to Mr. ]Morgan with a view to aiding in. liis support, and as a convenience to the inl^aliitants who wanted their corn ground. Rut the mill was very profitable and it became a serious question with the deacons of the church whether ^Ir. ^Morgan was not devoting less time to the spiritual interests of his jjarish and more to the running of the mill tlian was best for those concerned. The town had given to Mr. Morgan thirty acres of common land and a house lot where the village is now located, and the people thought he should be there most of the time, rather than at the mill. There was, however, a difference of opinion as to whether ]Mr. ^I organ was justified in his course and therefore at a town meeting held July 20, 1708, it was voted to leave the matter for decision to the minis- ters of the County, very much as such differences in tliese days would be settled. Kbenezer Mead and Caleb Knapp were a])])ointed [;jo()] " y ill THE OLD MILL AT DAVIS LAXDIXG a committee to lay the subject before the united min- istry of Fairfield County and the result was adverse to ]Mr. ^lorgan. The ministers decided that ^Ir. .Morgan ought to hire a competent miller, while its owner should attend to the spiritual wants of his parish. The matter was decided with great promptness, but ^Ir. 3Iorgan showed a reluctance to yield and on the 27th of August. 1708. the town voted that :\lr. ]Morgan must obey or the committee should hire an- other minister by "ye last of September." However, ]Mr. ^lorgan held out till the 17th of October, wlien he gave up the fight, stuck to his mill, and the committee secured another preacher. The mill must have been a source of great profit, for after ^Ir. ^lorgan's death it was sold at auction for a large price, and what seems very singular to a man who had no interests here — to a genuine out- sider by the name of \"alentine. He lived in Oyster Bay, Long Island, then called "Xassau Island." He owned a trading sloop, that had frequently made a harbor in "Chimney Corner" and in that way Capt. Valentine knew of the value of the property and was present when it was offered for sale. The Valentine family owned the old mill till 17(U when it was sold to Thomas Davis, wlio also came from Oyster bay. He ran the mill up to the time of the Revolutionary war. His two sons, Stephen and Elisha, ran it jointly during the war. Elisha Davis was a Tory and secretly ground grain for the British [303] OTHER DAYS IX (iREEXWICH fleet ly'inu; in the Sound. Stephen Davis remained loyal and at the end of the war the State of Con- neetient. hein^- able to eonviet Eli.slui Da\ is of liis offense, eonflscated liis property, wliieh eonstituted the undivided lialf of tlie niilL Afterwards, by an aet of the General Assembly and in conformity with tlie treaty of peace with Great Britain, Stephen Davis bouo-ht back the share wliich had been taken from his brother and for many peace- ful years thereafter the wheel went round with every tide for the convenience of the people and the profit of Stephen Davis. For more than a century thereafter, the white- aproned miller that Hfted the sacks of grain in at the old Dutch door and passed back the meal into the waiting ox cart, was a Davis. Ste])hen Davis was laid at rest with, his father on tile hillside, in the woods just north of the railroad and was followed by his sons and his grandsons, all millers. There was Silas, Walter the "Commodore," Henry and last of all, Edward, who died in the winter of 1891. He loved the old mill l)ut he realized that its end had come and the day before the demolition began he went all through it in his half blindness. He passed his hands over the girders and the floor timbers and stroked the long shingles as tliough tliey were creatures of life and knew him and realized the ])art- ing hour. The warming pan, the old brass andiron.s and the ancient clock of his forefathers were all in [804] THE OLD MILL AT DAVIS LANDING the mill, but were taken out with tender care and not long since I saw the clock, now more than two hundred years old, still ticking the time away in. the shop of Henry Schifferdecker. Although the old mill is gone, all the surroundings are much as they were fifty years ago. The winding road with the wayside well, the picturesque walls, the granite bowlders, nuiss-covered and overgrown with stunted cedars and climbing vines, the bold and wooded shores up and down the creek all lend a charm to Da^'is I^anding that the removal of the old mill has not effaced. [305] CHAPTER XXIX THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS THK highway commissioner, I^eon H. Peck, says there are about one hundred and seventy-five miles of public ways and streets in Greenwich. During the last half century they have increased in small proportion to the growth of the town. The map of Greenwich, from a survey made in October, 1757, and April, 1773, a copy of which appears in Spencer P. ^Mead's history, shows practically the same highways that are in use to-day. As a boy and youth I was familiar witli all the roads. JNIany of the ohl landmarks have disap- jjeared; tlie dirt road has been changed to macadam; grades have been altered; ancient stone walls have been sacrificed to the greed of the house builder and curves have been eliminated to accommodate the swift moving motor car. I like to think of tliem as they were in other days, although we are not without artistic and beautiful higliways. But fifty years ago all our roads ran between ancient walls of granite bowlders, softened with the moss of a century and overrun with creep- ing vines. The stone fences were one of tlie prettiest features of an afternoon drive. They were as [306] THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS crooked in their winding as the track of an adder. They were strangely irregnlar in shape; some low and some high; some of small stones and some of massive howlders. Many of them would have fallen to the ground hut for the tenacious grasp of the ivy that ran in and out the fissures of the rock and held them like the strong- est mortar. Some of them were so buried beneath WOODSl',^ KOAD the foliage th.at only here and there was revealed a glimpse of their mossy surface. It was hard to believe that they were the creation of man, and not the wild growth of nature. 3Iany of the roads were shaded and some of them were typical "woodsy roads" where the maiden hair fern would rustle against the spokes of the wheels and the overhanging chestnuts brush against the carriage top. The farmhouses all had a look of prosperity. The massive chimneys were the style of a century [307] oriiKU DA^'s i>: (;hi:kx\\ K'li before, when the great open firephiee was tlie only method of heating- the house. Some ol' the tields were rugged witli roeks. 'Vhv ])l()\vnian would dodge between the ledges and baek and go ahead again with i)ei'reet inchff'erenee. Tile soil was sweet and warm l)etween the roeks and tlie liai'xest always abundant. The houses were never eonneeted, hv woodsheds. liOL'XI) 1111.1, W()()l)Slli:i) witli tlie barns, as in Xew Hampshire and in many parts of ^lassaebusetts. The snow has never pre- vailed sufficiently in tliese parts to warrant such a construction of farm buildings that a fire in one of them means certain destruction to all. The woodshed was usually a feature among the farm l)uildings, although at points near the village it had often been degraded into a storehouse for })roken down farm implements, among which the hens would steal their nests and hatch their young, out of season and in open defiance. For what [308] THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS farmer's boy would hunt for eggs between the rusty knives of (hscarded mowing machines^ But in the northern part of the town the woodshed continued to perform its (hity of a century earher. In the fall and earl\- wintei' it was piled to the rooC w i t h seasoning hickory and ap- l)le tree wood and its perfume was easily detected. As the shades of evening came on one could see the thin line of wood smoke from the great chimney and often the odor of flap- i acks came out at the half open door. The (Greenwich farmers always lived well. I used to note the l)ee skips about the back yard and the milk cans upon pegs in the cleansing sunlight. There were vegetable gardens, apple orchards and melon ])atches. Rows of INIason jars in the pantry told of how they had everything "in season and out." [309] ISAAC HOWE MEAD Snapshot by Nelson B. Mead 18;23-1889 OTHER DAYS IN GRKEXWKII Tn otluT (lays tlic walk to Cos Col) was over the Post Koad unless one avoided the dust in summer and the mud in winter hy going- "aeross lots" from Davis Landing over the dam and through tlie Isaac Howe Mead farm, now Hruee Park. In laying out Hruee I'ark eare was taken to preserve all the natural and rustie features of the plaee, hut the remo\al of the old stone fences and the construction of invit- ing drives has taken away all the seclusion that its former inaccessibility as- sured. South of the Isaac How e Mead farm was the farm (jf Charles ]Mead, usually known as Mead's Point, for it has a magnif- icent watei' front. It had yielded hay and grain to successive generations of jMeads. The ancestral home stood not far from the present house owned hy liis sons, AVhitman S. Mead and Charles X. JNIead. The old house, which was su- ])ei'se(led by the new house longer ago than 1 can re- memhc]', had Dutch doors and a hrick oven which told something of the family life of those who lived there more than a century ago. I^ike all Greenwich farms, it liad its potato cellar and once on the key- stone of its arch 1 dug the moss from the words "Noah Mead, 1812." The marks of the chisel re- [310] CHARLES MlvM) 1S1:}-1S98 THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS vealed tlie hand of a boy who like the boys of to-day had left his name and the date for future generations to read. The same boy ; lived to honored manhood and died at the age of seventy-seven. Isaac Howe Mead lived in the first brick house built in Greenwich. It stood near the road in front of the present home of William H. Truesdale. Along the lane, for the road was scarcely more, where this house stood, the oaks are very old and tln-ifty and even in these days artists find many a subject EDWARD MEAD 1809-188,5 y I'.DW Mil) .Ml'.AD HOMI STI-.AI) J5uilt 18:i;2 for their brush. Cos Cob harbor and the Sound are in plain sight and to the northwest one could look across the fields and over the tree tops, now w^ithin [311] OTIIKU DAYS IX GREENWICH tlk- (.'iK'losurc of Milhaiik. lo the village with its tall c'hini'h spire. •Just north of the Isaae Howe INIead house, on t]ie same I'oad, was a s(iiiai'e ^vhite house still standing'. JOSEPH BRUSH 1T9;?-187() })ut now suri-ounded hy other dwellino's which was the home of Lyman Mead. He was ])rominent in town affairs foi- many years, and a memher of the I^egi statu re. A little farther alon<>-. through a i-oad that retains [312] THE AXCIEXT HIGHWAYS all of its former beauty, is the old Post Koad at Cos Cob. Opposite the juiietioii of these roads stands one of the old-time mansions, with its four great ehimnevs and its ehaste and artistie front donr im- JOSKPH BKlSil il().\ii:Sl i; \i) 111 l!,i IN liN, MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CEXTL'KY This house and the Ephraini I.ane, James Waring, and Roliert Clark houses were the homes at one time of fifty-three children. In the Brush Homestead were horn all of the fourteen children in the familv with the exception of Amos, the eldest, who was born in Horseneck mortalized by Xutting, the artist. It bears the date, 18.32. The home of Edward Mead, for many years it was the center of the social life of earlier days when all the children were there to join in the merry times that cannot be forgotten. There is only one Cos Cob in the world, and that is our Cos Cob. [313] OTHER DAYS IX (;kp:exwicii A few years ai>() some one — perlia])s moi'e than on.e — eoneeived the idea of ehangin*^' tlie name of Cos Coh to Bayport. An ap])heati()n was made to the Post Ofhce Department, and the name of tlie office llOM.^' IXX, cos COB was aetnally changed to the very common name of Bayport. But, fortunately, the raih'oad company declined to change the name of the station. The school authorities clung to the old name for the district and poor little Bayport was only six feet S(juare, heing a small part of a small room, where the resi- dents of Cos Coh went for their daily mail. There are two very old I'esidences in the center of Cos Coh and once there was an old tide mill. The mill, when it was destroyed l)y fire January 28, 1899, was one of the oldest ])uildings in town. The two old [314] THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS residences are on opposite sides of the road, the one on the east side being the Josepli Brush liomestead which b.as long since been abandoned as a dwelling. The one on the west, belonging to ]Mrs. Edward P. 1 ALLS XKAR THE OLD ROLLLVCi MILL Holly, is a popular inn. Within its walls are many in- teresting pieces of antique furniture. The shining brass knocker, on the broad front door, the diminutive window panes, the steep pitch of the rear roof and the massive chimney all tell their story of the long ago. It is said that artists enjoy this inn and ]Mr. Hobart B. Jacobs tells me that he knows of no better oppor- tunity for the use of pencil or brush than amid the [315] OTIIKH DAYS I\ (IKKKXWICH siirr()Uii(lin_L>s of Cos Col). 'I'ln' old iiiill was a study in itself and many a picture lias hem dfawii ol" its open dooi" with tlu' orist-iadcn inillci' within and the I'oaniinn' water hclow. that had "giound tlie _ni"ist and will ncNcr tui'n tlie wheel again." An odd kind of a mill is a tide mill, for it will not i:lkaxah mead homkstkad grind except at the ebb of the tide, and to take it at the ebl) tlie miller must ofttimes work at the mid- night hour. Nearl)y was the Palmer cSc Duff shi])yard. How many years it was the center of activity at Cos Cob! The click of the shi]) carpenter's lianimer and the smell of oakum will never de])art from my memoi-y. Cxoing north from Cos Cob, the Cognewaugh Road always had its attractions. It was narrow and crooked aiul the hills were steep. The trees bung- low and the tangled vines grew close to the track of the wlieels. It was along such a road that one would ex])ect to tind abandoned farms, but there were [31 (i] THE AXCIEXT HIGHWAYS never any such farms in Greenwich. There were, however, a numher of abandoned houses and on more than one occasion I found a spot where a house had sometime stood and nothing remained but a gnarled cherry tree and an overgrown hlac bush, rehcs of the front dooryard. The locust trees grew on that road and in the spring the air was heavy with the fragrance of their blos- soms. Near some of the aban- doned houses were piles of locust, in lengths for posts, looking old and storm-beaten as though they had been entirely forgotten an.d had no value. Years ago — more than fifty — these small places were occupied by operatives in the rolling mill long ago abandoned. The Cognewaugh Road enters the Xorth Cos Cob Road, not far from the little settlement, with school- house and church that once went by the name of Dingletown, ^Jt-rhaps because the cow bells were so often heard in that neighborhood. Xot far away was the home of Elkanah ^lead. It was a great white house visible for half a mile down the road. Here he lived for forty-eight years. He saw his children, that were spared, grow u]) to honor and [317] ELKANAH MEAD 1S1S-1S91. OTHER DAYS IX (;KKKXU KIT cherish liim in liis (Ifchiiino- years. I low miicli of joy and sori'ow came to liini in this home! So much tliat it made liim tlie sweet-tempered and genial okl man that evei'vone loved and respected. Tile heauty of (xreenwieh is in its valleys as well as its hills. There is much life and \\armth hidden in the meadows and hy the hrooksides. And in other days most of the farmers appreciated the heauties of nature. It is true they were living in houses, huilt hy earlier o-enerations. who had had no time to look heyond the hay field. In many instances magnificent views had heen ohstructed hy planting apple orchards or hy the erection of harns and out- huildings, when perhaps a hundred acres more de- sirahle for such purpose had heen left open for culti- vation. But they were always quick to admit the mistake and to point out the prominent knolls on the farm, where a view could be obtained and where, in many instances, have since heen built tine residences for city people who ap])reciate the country. One of these is Benjamin T. Fairchild, who bought the sightly Caleb W. ^Nlerritt home at North Green- wich years before the automobile had made the place accessible and furnished it throughout with Colonial furniture. He may drive or ride one of liis tine horses across to Round Hill, but his automobile, never. Down in that deep valley, ap])roached by a tortuous road, runs the infant Byram roaring over the rocks of an ancient millsite. Here in Revo- lutionary days the military operations in Westchester [318] THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS County and in Western Connecticut were conceived and planned. The old mill, which long ago disappeared, was the meeting place of the Generals and on one occasion in 1781 Washington himself was present to advise and encourage. Round Hill was always a fascinating place. It was so quiet, so rural, so peaceful. Perhaps to- day it has as many attrac- tions as in the past, hut they are not (piite tlu- same. Grand mansions, h e a u t i f u 1 lawns, tall fences and formidahle gateways o c c u p y the places of many old houses with well-sweeps in the yards and the simple latch gates that led out to the road. In tlie early morning hours the salty, pungent odor of the sea-marsh, seven miles away, has often been borne to my nostrils by a favorable wind. Perhaps Saturday night in Round Hill was no different from other weekday nights and yet some- times as I drove through that quiet hamlet there ap- peared evidences that the week's w^ork had terminated differently from that of other nights. The farmer bo^^s had tidied up the side-bar buggy and the silver- mounted harness, preparatory to the Sunday drive [319] C" H I' H C H A T NOR T H CJltEEXWICH DESTROYKD BY FIRE DEC. 15, 1895 OTHER DAYS IX GREP^XWICH with theii" best girls. The carriage liouse doors were still open, while the |)()()1 of water hy the grassy wash- stand, the mhhei- hoots and the water-soaked overalls ODLE C. KXAPP 1815-1888 dripping on their pegs told their own story. Round Hill was a village with a store, a post othee and a hill of the same name. To see the hill in all its glory one must aseend it at high, noon of a elear Oetoher day and look at the horizon of foi'est, farms and water in one grand sweeping circle. It is now the prop- ei'ty of the banker, William Stewart Tod. hut once [320] THE ANCIENT HIGHWAYS eight acres on the summit belonged to Frederick Bonner, one of the sons of Robert Bonner, of Phila- delphia Ledger fame. Fred Bonner was the chum of Alexander Taylor, Jr., and once, when on the latter's steam yacht, Sky- lark, cruising in the Sound he saw through the glasses Round Hill with its single apple tree at the apex. Tm-ning to Taylor he said, "Alex, do you see that land that lies nearer to Heaven than any other in sights I want to buy it." And within a month it was liis. The old store at Round Hill stood on the west side of the road, in those days, but since it has been moved across the way. It belongs to Nathaniel A. Knapp, but the name "O. C. Knapp" over the door has looked the same since tlie son was a baby boy, making mud pies with his })rothers and sisters in the little pools about the hitching posts. [321] CHAPTER XXX BELI.K HAVEN RECURRING finally to the farms which consti- ' tuted rural Greenwich half a century ago, the Nelson Bush farm, now Belle Haven, comes naturally to mind. In 18S2 this farm was jjut on the market at forty thousand dollars. George H. and Henry Dayton bought six acres of it for $().0()(), which l)rought the price of the balance down to $.34, ()()(). Subsequently the Belle Haven Land Co. paid that amount to the Bush heirs and acquired tlie land. A tract of twelve acres was also purchased of Augustus I. :Mead for $12,000, located about where the Hackett Day, AVilbur S. Wright, Thompson and Tyler cot- tages stand. This made the total original cost of Belle Haven, ])efore any improvements were made, about $4(),000. (juite small compared to the price of $150,000. paid for the D. Smith oNIead farm in 1907. I visited the ground with alxnit a dozen ])r()spective stockholders early in the spring of 1888. No finer day could have been selected for the purpose. There was just a reminiscence of winter in the air and the soiled snow lay in ridges along the north side of the stone walls. But tlie sun was warm and the twittei" of the ])luebir(ls and the joyful whistle of the meadow lark, the first of all our song birds, could l)e heard [322] BELLE HAVEN across the fields. The matter of the purchase was practically settled that day and Belle Haven, the first residence park that Greenwich ever had. was an as- NELSOX BUSH 1800-1875 sured fact before the cheery trees had blossomed. Before this, land had been divided into buildino- plots such as Rocky Xeck, but this was the first land specu- lation that could really claim th.e name of a residence park. In 1882 all the land now included in Belle Haven exceptino' the William H. ^IcCord property [82.3] OTHER DAYS IX GRKKXWK H and about forty acres besides, was assessed for town taxes at $15,490, yielding an annual tax of $19.*3.(5-2. The taxes now paid by the various owners at Belle Haven amount to many thousand dollars. The men wlio bravely took up the Belle Haven enterprise saw many dark days and in 1885, '8(5 and '87 the sales were slow and expenses heavy. There were mo- ments, perhaps, when they wished they had taken pronounced views against farm land on that spring day in 1883. Capt. Thomas ^layo, Nathaniel Witherell and Robert ]M. Bruce were among the pioneers in the Belle Haven scheme. It is interesting to think of Belle Haven, when it was an open farm many years ago. Once I knew an old man who gave his personal recollections of the place as it appeared early in the last century. On the Byram side of Belle Haven was what was known as the Banks lands, consisting of 29 acres, and after the park was quite well built up, it was bought of Nelson B. Mead for $9,000. This occurred in January, 1889. It was shortly after this that I had an interview with the old man and his recollections are as follows: "I enjoyed going down there as early as 1820, "when Samuel Bush owned what is now tlie upper "portion of the park. JNIy recollection of the old "gentleman is very distinct. Never a great talker, "he possessed plenty of ideas and the (juaint origi- "nality with which they were expressed, made it worth "all it cost to get them. When alone he said but [324] BELLE HAVEN "little, but when I lured him up to Deacon Abraham "Mead's or down to John Banks' he would talk, "esj^ecially if he got onto the subject of Obadiah "Banks' will. Obadiah was the father of nine chil- "dren, all of whom grew to full age, and in the early "years of the nineteenth centiu-y lived in that part of "Belle Haven purchased of Nelson B. ^lead. The old "man died in 1790. He had been personally inter- "ested in the Revolutionary war, and the flint-lock "gun that hung above the mantel had been his pride. "His son, John Banks, and the widow, Elizabeth, "never removed it, and I used to see it just as it hung "when its owner's silent form was carried out of the "narrow south door for its last resting place. Well, "Obadiah's will was always an interesting topic for "Sam Bush and Deacon Abraham INIead. Sam never "liked it. He used to say that Obadiah's w^idow "was altogether too restricted in her rights to the "farm, and that wh.en he made his will he would pro- "vide that his widow should have the use of all his "farm for twenty-one years after his death. And "that is exactly what he did when he came to make his "will along in corn-husking time in 1826. But he "used to complain to the Deacon that the widow Banks "had too liberal a dower in the use of the house and "barn whicli Deacon ]Mead had set out to her in the "following language: " 'The one-third part of the dwelling house, being "the west room, w^ith the chamber above said room "and one-third part of the cellar, with the privi- [325] OTHER DAYS IX GREENWICH "lege of tl^.e entry and eliamher staii-.s to go to and ''from said elianiher. and to hake in the oven: also "the one-third i)art of the harn heing the west hay, "with the lihertv of the floor to eai-t in and thron»>'h-' "Sam thonght that the mother and girls eould "manage tlieir nnity of interest in the oven, hut that "when a sudden shower was coming up and the widow "and her sons, Ben, Daniel, John and Joshua, were "each getting in their hay, on their respective parcels, "they were all likely to get a load to the harn at the "same time and in the strife for the 'liherty of the "floor' the hay might get wet. It was certainly a "small harn for all that was expected of it, and I "felt a little sorry to hear that it was torn_ down last "week. Sam Bush at times would tell us of his hoy- "hood days and how, in tlie summer evenings, he used "to sit hy Ohadiah's west door, and count the potato "laden sloops sail down the Sound. Pie thought a "wonderful sight of Ohadiah's children, the oldest of "whom was (juite grown, hut the little tow-headed "ones were a merry lot and they were in and out at "the door, oft' to tlie harn and hack, across the knoll "to the shore, singing and laughing like school chil- "dren at recess. "When winter came and the snow fell deep in the "Field Point Road and drifted across the lane, Dea- "con Ahraham ^lead's hoys, Isaac and Zophar, ac- "com]}anie(l ])y the Ranks l)()ys with their ox team, "would join forces in hreaking the roads. After "the work was done and the evening chores at the [326] BELLE HAVEN "harii accomplished, how natural it was for the boys "to retrace their steps over the newly beaten track "to Obadiah's home, where the glow of the great open "fire filled the south room and shone out of the win- "dows across the snow% to where the tide had tumbled "the ice against the scarred and seamed rocks along "the shore. "The striped cider mug on the shelf, the apple "basket and the pop corn bag, were not greater at- "tractions to them than the merry girls gathered in "a half circle about the hearth. "I remember well just how the old Banks home- "stead looked, both without and within. In the cor- "ner cupboard of the south room was the best blue "china, that made a beautiful array, and so precious "that to-day the few pieces that remain would almost "bring their weight in silver. Their odd but grace- "ful shapes were decorated with historic scenes, of "which I recall Washington crossing the Delaware, "th.e siege of Yorktown and the landing of Columbus. "One could eat veal pie and study history at the same "time. "Near the china cupboard was a square mahogany "clock, trimmed with brass, that has long outlived "its owner, for in a certain office in the village it still "ticks the time away. Upstairs, the great canopied "bedsteads were piled high with feathers, and the "small windows were curtained with the most delicate "shades of chintz. There were two picture mirrors "that hung on the wall; one of exquisite design and [327] OTHKU DAYS 1\ CaiEENWICH "workniaiiship, represent int>' tlie fierce marine stru<>'- "ole ])etween the frigates Gucrriere and Constitution "in tile war of 1812. "Tlie Coiislil iitioii on even keel, lier fla,ys flying, "but her sails riven with shot, was flring with terrible "effect upon the hapless Guerricre lying almost upon "her beam ends, with her foremast gone by the "board, and her severed shrouds hanging over the bul- "warks. "Sam Bush bought the mirror in New York in "1813 for his neighbor, Thomas Hobby, and after ]Mr. "Hob])y\s death John Banks bought it at a vendue. "The other mirror was much older, but more crude "in design and workmanship. It represented a girl " — a grotesque httle thing — with a basket on her arm "and her forefinger in her mouth. Her rosy clieeks "and red boots were of the same tint and she stood "out against a yellow background and beneath a "scarlet canopy. "For more than twenty-five years after Obadiah "died, his son, John Banks, occupied the old "homestead, but his brothers Dan, Joshua, Ben and "their sister Elizabeth from time to time sold their "lands to Deacon Abraham ^lead, till finally in 18'25, "after the deacon had died, John Banks sold the home- "stead to Isaac ]Mead, the son of Abraham ^Nlead and "the grandfather of Nelson B. ^Nlead." Just as the old man gave me these facts, with here and there some verbal clianges and the occasional insertion of a date, I have written them. As I sat [328] BELLE HAVEN listening- to the story I could see him close his eyes as though visions of the past filled his mind. With the present he showed no sympatliy, and expressed no interest except as it pointed to the past and to those who had gone before. In his anticipations of the future he again saw liis XKI.SOX BLSIl HOMKSTKAI) Belle Haven old neighbors. He rememliered them as patient, in- dustrious, sober. Their hours of enjoyment, aside from tliose given to tlie cultivation of tlie soil, which was their life, were few. Their integrity was pro- verbial and their confidence in tlie honesty and purity of their fellow men. mdimited. Sentiment and af- fection in. their natures were not so much lacking as the ability or disposition to express them. [329] OTITEU DAYS IX GKEKXWKII A sturdy, honest, reputable race were tliey of whom their deseeiulaiits may well be proud and whose sterling qualities very generally have descended to the preseut generation. THE END [330] IXDEX IXDEX Acker, Abraham, -20, 215 Acker, Peter. :?0; garden and homestead of. 23. 122, 153 Acker, William, drums up recruits, 130 Adams, Samuel, 5 Aiken, Dr. James, 19, 115 Allen, David K., property of, i?S9 Allen Brothers, garage of, :?67 Allaire Engines, used in marine service, :306, 207 Americm Club. ISO. 181, 18f?, 1S4, 187, 188, 189, 194; members of. 63, 199, 200, 301, i?03, 205, 207. 214 Amogorone, 281 Andrews, Benjamin, 258 Andrews, (Mrs.) Mar^- E.. prop- erty of, 94- Andrews, Chief Justice, sitting in trial. Mead will case, opinion of, 50 Anderson, Walter M., property of. 155 Anderson, (Mrs.) A. A., propert^- of, 202 Andrade, Joseph D. C. 200 Apples, become a product of Greenwich farms. 83 Apartment houses, Italian, 32 Arch Street, 26. 117 Ardendah Sanitarium. 226 Artisans, Port Chester, emploved in Greenwich, 23 Asten, Peter. 264 Athelcroft. 94 Atwater, Jeremiah W., 282, 284 Bailey. (Mrs.) Henry M.. 106 Baker, Edwin H., residence of. 248 Balloon frame building, projection of causes comment, 122 Banks, Benjamin, 326, 328 Bank*. Daniel. 326, 328 [333] Banks, (Mrs.) Elizabeth, 325, 328 Banks, John, 44. 325, 326, 328 Banks, (Mrs.) John H., 296 Banks, Joshua. 326, 328 Banks, Obadiah. homestead of, 325, 326, 327; will of, 325, 326 Banks" Homestead, built by Oba- diah Peck, 158 Banksville, 61, 117 Banksville stage, connecting link with Greenwich, 61 Baptistrv, donated hv Wm. M. Tweed. 1869, 223 Barber, .\maziah D., 200 Barker. James, 200 Barnard, George G., 167, 200 Barnum, Henry A., 200 Barnard. JohnT., 199 Barrow's Point. 213 Bars, imknown in Greenwich. 21 Bassford. Edward D.. 199 Bathhouse. The Tweed, 190, 193 Bayport. 314 Beck, Frank S. E., 200 Bedford. 2^2 Bedford. Gunning S., 200 Bedford stage, stopped at Stan- irich Inn. 66 BeU. (Mrs.) Alfred. 106 Belle Haven. 322, 32,3. 324; objec- tion of residents to extension of shore road, 44 Belle Haven Land Co., propertv of. 322 Belle Haven Park. 205 Benedict, (Miss) Belle, 12 Benedict, Elias C, residence of, 184 Benedict, Henry M.. 8, 12, 119. 241, 268; residence of. 155. 158; se- cures widening of Greenwich .\ venue. 120 Benedict Place. 12, 13 Benson, Oliver D.. 139 Berrien, Daniel, 200 INDEX iJetts, Joiiii s., lyy liig Six \'i)hinteer Fire Co., Ki.), lil;u-k Republicans, ahoiitioiiists sd ealied, 1J.5 lilac-kwell's Island, Win. .M. Tweed sent to, ■2-2S lilack Walinit Tree, tiie old, JjO Hleaklev, Andrew, -200 Blcaklev, Andrew, Jr., 200 Uonnett, (Mrs.) A. Leta, (i(i Bonner, Frederick, property of, 321 Borrows, -William B., 300 lioswell, Henry C, property of, 94 Boulders, The, home of ' E. B. Close, 76 Boyle, Edward, 199 BoVle, James W., 300 Brady, Henry, 138 Brady, Stephen, 138 Braisted, Peter D., 199 Brennan, Matthew T., 300 Brennan, Owen W., 199 Brice, John, 300 Brinekerhoff, Captain Abraham, 183, 187, 303, 306, 361 lirookside Drive, 74 Brothers' Brook, 16, 300 Brown, (Mrs.) F. Kissam, prop- erty of, 9,> Brown," Martin B., 300 Britce Park, 16, 310 Bruee, Robert M., 337, 364, 368, 334 Bruce, (Miss) Sarah, 237 Brush, Amos M., 19, 115, 243 lirush, S. Augustus, 131 lirush, Charles, property of, 66 Brush, Edward, ))roi)erty of, 2.')\ Brush, Henry L., 33, 131 Brush, Joseph, 17, 18, 3,5, 115, 341; homestead of, 315 Brush, (Mrs.) Jose])h, 106 Brush, S. A., 33 Bru.sh, Shadrach M., 106; j)ro])erty of, 131 Brush, Shubel, granddaughters of, 66; ])roperty of, (Hi I5rush, William, ])roperty of. Mi Buchanan, James, Pres. V. S. A., 18, 135 Buckley, Justin R., 367 Buffett, Rev. Piatt, 248 Buffett, (Mrs.) Piatt. 346 Bullard, John A., 31 Burying ground, the I)a\is, 57, (iO Burke, Dr. William, 7 Barnes, Judge Charles D., prop- erty of, 74 Burns, Dennis, 300 Burns, Erastus, 137 Burns, James, 137 Bush, Nelson, farm of, 305, 333 Bush, Rebecca, 3 Bush, Samuel, 335, 336, 338; ]>ro])- erty of, 334 Bush, William, 3, 5 Butt, George W., 199 Buttermilk Falls, tract so called, 91 Button-ball Trees, the old, 153 Button, (Mrs.) Julia A., 105 Button. Philander, 105, 194, 307; farm of, 1. 86, 194 Button, Philander (Mrs.), 106 Byficld Road, the, 391 Byram, 37, 304, 334 Byram Point, 37, 304; rural con- dition of, 38 Byram Riyer, 30, 318 Cameron, Charles, 236 Canary, Thomas, 300 Cajitain's Island, lighthouse on, 183 Cardo/.a, Albert. 1()7 Carnochan, John M., 300 Central Park, Tweed statue pro- posed for, 333 Chamberlain, John C, attorney in Mead will case, 48, 49 Chamlierlain, John F., 300 Chajiman. John D.. owner of Round Island, 45 Charlock, John T.. 199 ('Iwrriirdlc. Recreation Home for Working Girls at, 85 ChimiK'i/ft. the, 94 Chimney Corner, the, 184, 303 Choate," Joseph H., 339 Christensen, Carla, artist, ,31 Cristy, Moses, 368 Cri.sty, (Mrs.) Moses, 106 City "island, 181 Clark, Dr. J. A., home of, 14 Clark, (Mrs.) Lockwood P.. 106 Clancy, Lawrence, 199 Close," Allen H., 90 Close, E. B. owner of the "Bould- ers." 76 Close, Jonathan A., 359 [334] INDEX Close, Samuel, 18, 3,5, 37, 93 Coasting, favorite place for, 1:31 Cogiiewaugh Road, 316, 317 Cohen, Ma\er H., 235; property of, 121," 23S Collier, James W., 200 Colonial Tavern, Mead's, 244 Columbia, District of, compared in size with Greenwich, 25 Company I, Tenth Conn. Vohm- teers, first to go to war, 130, 133, 137 Committee of Seventy, work of, 161, 174, 176, 229 ' Congregational Church, old, 19; first edifice, 112; second edi- fice 1730, 112; third edifice 1798, 112; burning of 1866, 115 Connolly, Richard B., 167, 169, 173*, 175 Cooney, William, residence of, 98 Cook, Ada M., property of, 155 Cixtper, William, associate of David Mason, 247 Copperheads, Southern syin])athiz- ers called, 125 Cornell, Charles G., 199, 264 Corson, Cornelius, 199 Cos Cob, 17, 25, 26, 54, 88, 204, 225, 226, 229, 231, 310, 313, 314, 316; Harbor, 311; River, 300 Coulter, James E., 200 Courtney, (Miss) Hannah, prop- erty of, 154, 155, 156 Cozine, John R., 2 Crabs, found at old White Bridge, 60 Cres-t Vieir. sale of, 94 Cramer Building, 8 Creamer. Tliomas J.. 201 Cuddy, Edward, 200 Curtis, Julius B., attorney for H. M. Benedict, 19, 120, 134 Daly Building, 274 Dam, the old, 12, 14, 16 Dandi/, horse owned by Judge Mead, 34 Danes, pojudation in East Port Cliester, 31 Danisii Clul) House, built by Milo Mead, 31 Darrab, John, 213 Davin, Edward A., 199 Davis Avenue, 6, 7, 16, 197, 286 Davis, Abraham B., 2, 5, 259; farm of, 1 Davis' Creek, 54, 300 Davis Cemetery, 57, 60 Davis' Dock, origin of, 68; owned and held by Davis family, 69; litigation over ownership, 69, 70, 71; jury in litigation over ownership, 71 ; witnesses called in suit over ownership of, 71 ; ownership of Walter Davis, sustained 1837, 70, 71 Davis, Edward, 304 Davis, Eleanor R., 6; estate of, 6, 69 Davis, Elisha, 303, 304 Davis, Henry, 304 Davis Landing, 2, 217, 310 Davis Lane, 197 Davis Mill, old, 57, 299, 300, 303, 304, 305 Davis, Judge Xoah, 176, 177, 227, 228 Davis Pond, 16 Davis, Silas, 2, 258, 259, 304 Davis, Stephen, 303, 304 Davis, Thomas, 303 Davis, Walter, 259, 304 Davidson, John McB., 200 Davison, William, 199 Day, Hackett, residence of, 322 Dayton, George H., property of, " 322 Dayton, Henry, property of, 322 Dayton, Jacob, Jr., 70 Dayton, John, 22, 90 Dayton, Mary F., property of, 238 Dc'arfields, 2," 153 Dearfield, built in 1799, 73; origin of name, 73 Dearfield Drive, origin of name, 73 Deep Hole, 16 Decker, William F., residence of, 85 Delano, (Mrs.) I,ucy M., 208 Democratic Party, during war times, 125 Dennis, (Mrs.) Mary, 263 Denson, Frederick, property of, 18 Denton, Humphrey, 252 Deri)y, Silas, 61, 62; reminiscences of, 62. 63 Dewey, S. Foster, secretary to Wm. M. Tweed, 194, 200 Dewey, William C, 200 [335] INDEX Dinioiul. James G., 201 Diiifiletowii, so called, HIT Dodworth's Band. 209, 222 Docks, Ihc Town, :i\ Dock, the Daniel Mcrritt, 117 Doniinick, George F., 251; pro])- crty of, 41 Doniinick, George F., Jr., 254 Doininick, James W., 254 Dominick. William, 254 Donnelly, Patrick, 215 Donoluie, Thomas, 200 Donohue, William, 139 Doiigan, (Mrs.) Amelia J., ]>ro)i- erty of, (iO Douglas, Frederick, 218 Draw Bridge, the Cos Cob, 58, 59 Duane Street, office of Tweed in, 190 Dunley, William B., 199 Durnin, Eugene, 199 East Putnam Avenue, 11, 153 East River, the, 228 Kdffcirood lull. 76 E(l(/eir(io(J Park, 73, 76 Edwards, E. Jay, writer for X. Y. Erenini/ Mail. 196 Eidlitz, Leo))old, architect of Con- gregational Church. 100, 116 Electric Light Co., office of, 193 Elizabeth Xeck, 280 Elliott, William, 274, 275, 277 F^llsworth, Col., shooting of, 125 Elm Street, 7, 14, 120, 286, 288, 289 Elmit, The, 154, 157 Elphick, James, 230, 231 Elten, Kruseman van, 200 Elv, William E., 199 Eiigine No. 10, 278 Engine No. 27, 273 Enlisting station, the wartime, 130 Episcopal Church, Riverside, 284 Ei)iscopalians, earlv, 27 Execution Eight, 181, 213 ]-"arley, Terence, 199 Farms, early imincumbered, 25 Farm ]iroducts, 1859, 25; sent to N. Y., 26 Farm produce, earh' sliip]>ers of, 26 Farmers, early Greenwich, 1, 2; average wealth in 1859 of, 25 Fairchild, Benjamin T.. residence of, 318 Feaks, (Mrs.) l-:ii/.al)etli, 2S() Feaks, John, 280, 281 Felter, Henry D., 200 Fennessy, J. H., ])roperty of, 153 Ferris, Aaron P., i)ropcrtv of, 235, 237 Ferris, Jeifre, 280; homestead of, 281 F'erris, .loshua B., attornev Davis' Dock Suit, 71 Ferris, Thomas H., 200 Ferris, Wm. I>., 194 Fessenden, Sanuiel, attornev in Mead will case, 46, 47, 49, 50 Field Point, 111, 205, 256, 277; early settlers on, 38; originally common land, 37; centre of in- terest, 42; cultivation of, 41; sales of shore front, 53 Field Point Prings, 263 Fields, Thomas C, 200 Finch, David, 137 Finch's Island, 182 Finch, Jared, 137 Finnev, B. Frank, 14 First "Avenue, 286, 288 First Presbyterian Church, 93 P'isk, James, Jr., 200 Fitz Gerald, Henrv M., 217 Five Mile River, 203 Flag pole, erected during wartime, 126, 129, 139 Fleming, Charles L., 200 h'old. The, a home for children, 84, 85 Ford, John J., 199 Fort Sumter, fired upon in Civil AVar. 125 Frear, Alexander, 200 Freight tonnage, early, 26 Fresh Air Home, opened by Na- thaniel Witherell, 84 Fmik, Augustus, 200 ]*"iinstoii, Thomas. 2()3 Gansey, Solonio;! S.. 122, 286, 28T Garve'v, Andrew J., 199, 22(i Garvey, John, 200 Genet," Harry, 222 Georgi, .\doli)h E., 200 [336] INDEX Golden, Ei)liraim, 70, 71 Gordon, Rev. George A., D.D., jiastor of Second Cong. Chureli, 110, 111 Gould, Jay, ^00 Glenville, 2i4 ; woolen mills at, 31 Glenville Road, divided Mead farms, 73 Grafulla, Claudius S., 199 Graham, (Miss) Cornelia J., 157 Graham, John, chief counsel for Wm. M. Tweed, :319, 238 Graham, (Miss) Mary E., 157 Grand Jury indicts Wm. M. Tweed, 227 Grant, the Justus Bush, 68, 69 Great Hill, owned by Israel Knap]), 95 Great Island, 256 Greeley, Horace, 26i Green, Andrew H., 175, 176, 229 Green Court Inn, 5 Greenwich Academy, 195, 197, 207, 220 Greenwich Avenue, 7, 20, 22, 23, 118, 123, 137, 219, 222, 233, 242, 245, 249, 266, 267, 274, 286; first purchase of land for business purjioses, 22; original widening of, 120 Greenwich P^ire Department, 281 Greenwich Hospital, 286; ])ro])ertv of, 154 Greenwich Library, 8 Greenwich. Mead's History of, 98 Greenwich & Uye Steamboat Co., formed 1866', 207 Greenwich Savings Bank. 22 Greenwich Trust Co., building of, 23, 122 Grigg, John R., farm of, 32 Grigg Street, 257 Gurney, A., 184 Gnion George, 288 Gimibleton, James J., 200 Hagerty, Edwin M., 199 Hall, .\. Oakley, 167, 169, 174 Hall, Charles H.. 181, 182, 183, 187, 188, 189, 199 Hall, Judge, hands down decision in Davis Dock litigation, 72 Halsey, Schuyler, 200 Hamilton Avenue, 32 Hanan, John H., jirojierty of, 32 [337] Hardenl)rook, (Miss) Lillie A., l)roi)erty of, 194, 195 Harkness. L. \ ., pro{)erty of, 158 Harnett, John H., 200 llarpert!' Weekli/, 222 Harrison, Jose]ih G., 200 Harway, James I>., 200 Harvey, Alex W., 200 Havemeyer School, 6, 118 Hawley, Charles, attorney Davis' Dock suit, 70, 285 Hawthorne, origin of name, 31 J I eld IJoiise. site of old jiottery plant, .38, 257 Held, Henry, meat market of, 23, 122, 123 Hembold, Henry T., 200 Hemlock Woods, 73, 74 Henderson, John, market of, 20 Hendrie, Charles, .Tr.. projierty of, 284 Hendrie, J. W., 284 Hermance, Frank, 227 Higgins, A. Foster, 220; pro])erty of, 98, 198 Historians, local, X\'II Hitchman, William, 201 Hobby, Cai>tain John, 153. 155 Hobby, Husted, 259 llohh'i/ Tarern. 153, 156 Hobby, Tiiomas, 328; ]iro]ierty of, 155 Hoey, John, 264 Hoey, (Mrs.) John, 264 Hoffman, (leorge W., 229, 230, 231 Hoffman, John T., Mayor of Xew York 1865, 167, 168 Hogan, Edward, 199 Hoggson, William H., residence of, 253 Holly, Edward P., 106 Holly. (Mrs.) Edward P., 315 Holly, Frank M., M.D., property of, 35, 37 Holly, (Mrs.) Stephen, 106 Holly, William H., 260 irollt/ T nil. 315 Holmes, Captain Caleb, 26 Holmes, Caleb M., 139 Holmes, (Mrs.) Caleb, 106 Holmes, Frank, 21 Holmes, Reuben, characteristics of, 96; property of, 95 Holmes, Isaac, Jr., 252 Homentend Half, origin of. 33 Hook lands, the so called, 291 INDEX llorsi' \cck, -'(i; origin of iKiiiie, :w Horse Ncik. llohhv jiropcrtv in, 154 Horse Neck lirook, 77; territory near, 37 Horse Xeck l-'ii-ld I'oiiit, original name, SS Houses, number built and assessed up to 1H,59, -V) Howard, Henry Waring, 115 Howe, (Mrs.) Xehemiaii, 10(5 Howe, William A., KHi Hoyt, (Mrs.) Klizabetli H., 10() Hovt, George H.. :2m HoVt, Col. Heusted W. K., ;33, 194, ' 2-25 Hoyt, Dr. James H., 267, i268; de- livers farewell speeeh to Co. I, 134 Hubbard, Frederiek A., 236; home in 185f), 11 Hubbard, Holly, 13T Hubbard, Jolni, 137 Hubbard, L. P., 211, 26S; home- stead of, 157 Hubbard, L. P., Jr., enlists in N. H. Regiment, 130 Huelat, Henrv H., 199 Hunt, J. Howland, 291 Husted, William A., 259, 262 Hyde, Clarence M., ])roperty of, 94 Hyde, Dr. F. C, projierty of, 90 Hyde, Seymour J., property of, ■ 41 ' Ice cream, sold in fish market, 23 Ice house, first in town, 34 Indian Chief's Throne, lan(hnark at Rocky Neck, 258 Indian Field, Fresh Air Home at, 84 Indian Harbor, 124, 184, 194, 205; Mead Home at, 38 Indian Harbor Hotel, 184 Indian Harbor Point, 25() Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 26, 2()1 , Ingersoll. James H., 174, 200 Ingersolls', projierty of, (ifi Tiiiiix Ardcn. 280 Iiislee. Cage, architect, 188 Jackson, Josei)h A., 199 Jackson. Piiilip N., 230 Jacol)s, llol)art B., 315 Jaynes Park. |)art of Griggs' farm, 33 Jerman, Cicorge, 1.38 Jerman, William, 138 Jerome Park, 218 John Homer, the, 63, fi4, 20(i, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 21() Johnson, William, solicits recruits with fife, 130 Jones, Conductor, 277 Jones, Edward, 199 Jones, George, jnililisher of the A\ ¥. Times, 172, 173, 174 Jones, James E., 200 Jones, Dr. Leander P., 196, 236. Jones, Morgan, 199 Jones' Stone, 204 June, Theodore, kept boarding school for boys, 67 Kearney, Edward, 199 Keeler, John F.., attorney in Mead will case, 47, 48, 49 Keenan, Patrick H., 199 Kernan, I^'rancis, 174 Keyser, John H., 200 Kimmons, John, 187 Kinmions, Richard, 187 King, John T., 199 King, Professor, 2(i4 Kinney, {"'rancis, 199 Kirk, Lewis J., 199 Kirk])atrick, Thomas, 200 Kna))]), (Miss) Amelia, 14, 289 Knajip, Brush, 8, 13, 288, 289, 290 Kna])]), Caleb, 300 Kna])]), Israel, ])ro]ierty of, 95 Kna])]), (.Miss) Martha, 289 Kna})]), Nathaniel A., ]iroi)erty of, 321 Kna])]), Odlc C, 2.33, .321 Koch, ,Fosc])h, 200 I>addin's Rock Farm, 285 Lafayette, General, 244 Lafayette Place, 126, 129, 244, 246 Lake Ayemie, 207 Lawrence, Charles L., 200 Lawrence, Rt. Rev. William, Bisho]) of Mass., decries use of stained windows, 65 Leeds, J. W., 267 Lrnn.r House. 20, 156, 244 [838] INDEX Lewis, Beale N., 156; property of, 156, 157 Lewis, Rev. Dr. Isaac, 156, 346, 247, 348; residence of, 118, 154, 244, 245, 246, 248 Lewis, (Mrs.) Elizabeth, widow of Rev. Dr. Lewis, 157 Lewis, (Mrs.) Hannah, wife of Dr. Lewis, 247 Lewis, (Miss) Mary Elizaljeth, 247 Lewis, Roswell W.", 246 Lewis, (Miss) Sarah, 247 Lewis Street, 244, 245, 249, 286, 288, 289 Lewis, Zachariah, 246 Lexinjjton Avenue, 8, 14 Lincoln, Abraham, Pres. U. S. A., 18, 35, 140, 144 Lincoln Avenue, 8, 13 Lincoln's Inn. so called, 242 Linslev, Rev. Joel H., D.D., Pastor 2nd Cong. Church, 105, 108, 112, 133, 239 Linvood 202, 219, 220, 222, 223 Limrood. the vacht owned by Wni. >L Tweed, 202 Lockwood, Benjamin, propertv of, 23, 121 Lockwood, (Miss) Harriette L., propertv of, 66 Lockwood, i.uke A., 233, 282, 283 Lockwood, Luke V., 267 Lockwood, Oliver, grocery of, 23 Lockwood, William F. H., prop- ertv of, 282, 283 Lowe, Charles E., 200 Long Island Sound, 153, 181, 183, 188, 203, 263, 280, 282, 311; view of, 11, 14, 20, 32. 37, 91, 99, 155, 158; Sound shore tract, 32 Long, Serg. AVilliam, 137, 139 Love Lane, 6, 16, 196, 197, 198, 286 Lower Landing, 26 Lyon, Augustus, 156, 259; property of, 253 Lvon, Daniel, farm of, 27 Lvon, Captain William L., 23, 122, 123, 267; propertv of, 122, 288 Ludlow Street Jail, 194, 219, 229, 231 Macgregor, Jameson, 199 JVIaher, John, property of, 86, 91 Alaher Avenue, 251 Maine, soldiers from State of, 126 Main Street, 17, 120 Mallory, Charles, 28; propertv of, 32 Mallory, Henry R., 28 Mamaroneck, 203 Mann, Rev. Joel, ex-pastor of Second Cong. Church, 109 Mann, Commodore Geo. E., 181, 187, 199 Mannion House, the, 156 Maple Avenue, 98, 218, 250, 251 Markets, Early, open only in the forenoon, 23 Marks, Amasa A., 284 Marks, George E., 285 Marks, AVilliam L., 285 Marrenner, Edward, 199 Marshall, Drake, 137 Marshall, Gilbert, residence of, 285 Marshall, Henrv B., 6, 129 Marshall, William, 137 Marston, Edgar L., property of, 32 Martin, Dr. Carl E., property of, 154 Mason, David. 246, 247, 248 Mason Farm, the. 14, 15 Mason, Jeremiah, 247 Mason, Captain John, 280 Mason, (Mrs.) Mary E., 244, 246, 247 Mason, Mvron L.. 235 Mason, Dr. Theodore L., 14, 20, 244, 247, -'48; farm of, 1 Mason Street. 13. 14, 154, 244, 249, 286, 288, 289 Mavo. Captain Thomas. 36, 207, 324 Mavo, (Mrs.) Rebecca R.. 36 McCabe, Francis. 200 McCann, Charles, 137 McCann, John, 137 McCord, William H., propertv of, 323 McCunn, John H., 167 McCutcheon, James, 45 McFadden, Parmelee J., estate of, 96 McGarigal. John, 199 AIcGowan, James, 200 McGowan, John T., 200 McGuinness brothers, 218 AIcMullen. William, 225; propertv of. 231 McAIulIen. (Mrs.) Lydia G., 226; nropertv of, 225 McXall, George G., 44 [339] INDEX Mead, Dcacdii Ahraham, 38, 325, [i-2S Mead, Alexander. I()(i Mead, Alfred, J9,5 Mead, Allen, 295, 296 Mead. Alvaii. 8, 158, 259; i)ro])ertv of, l.JT Mead, Amos, 2i5 Mead, Andrew, 92 Mead, (Miss) Anna, 295 Mead, Arthur I)., !()() Mead, .Viigiistus, '33 Mead, Augustus, son of Isaac Mead, 38; farm of, 33 Mead, Augustus^ son of X. B. Mead, 34; residence of, 226 Mead, Augustus I., 34; j^roperty of, .3-'-' Mead, Judge Augustus, 35, 36 Mead, E. Belcher, home of, 91 Mead, Dr. lieverlev E., 336, 295 Mead, Calel), 291,' 292 Mead, Caleb, Jr., 291 Mead, (Miss) Catherine, 226 Mead, Charles, ;26; farm of, 310 Mead, Charles X., 310 Mead, (Miss) Clarissa, 105 Mead, Cornelius, ])ropertv of, 388, 291 Mead, (Mrs.) Cornelia J., 90 Mead, Major Daniel Merritt XVII, 22; eai)tain of Co. I, 26, 130; sword ])resented to, 134-; ex- tracts from diary, 133; re- turns dying, 139; death and funeral of, 140 Mead, (Mrs.) Daniel Merritt, 106 Mead, Daniel S., 120, 259; property of, 117, 190, 257 Mead. Daniel S., Jr., ])roj)ertv t)f, 193 Mead, Daniel Smith. 6 Mead, D. Smith, 6, 246; farm of, 1, 6, 322 Mead, D. Smith, 2nd, 7 Mead, Dr. Darius, 102, 248 Mead, (Mrs.) Deborah, 79 Mead, Drake. 26, 233 Mead, CJeneral Ebene7er, sees Gen. Putnam esca])e from British, 1779, 86 Mead, Rev. Ebene/.er, half brother of Theodore H., 87 Alead. Edmund, 295, 296 Mead, Ednnuid, Jr.. 295 Mead, i^ldward, home of, 226, 227, 229, 230, 313 Mead, (Mrs.) Edward, 105, 10(i Mead, Edwin, 7, 286; 5)ro])ert\- of, 120 Mead, Elkanah. administrator. Es- tate of Judge Mead, 36; home- stead of, 317 Mead, (Mrs.) Elsie, 76 Mead, (Miss) Emeline, 295 Mead, (Miss) Eunice, 295 Mead, Frederick, 102; property of, 102, 154, 158, 159, 196, 197 Mead, Hanford, 121 Mead, (Miss) Hannah M., 106 Mead, (Mrs.) Hannah, ])ro])ei-ty of. 96 Mead. (Miss) Hannah R., 80; leg- acies of, 83 Mead, Henry, 245; ]iro])erty of, 244 Mead, Henry, military funeral of, 1.39 ^('ad'x Ilhton/. 306 Mead, Isaac, 38, 326, 328 Mead, Isaac Howe, farm of, 16, 84, 310, 311, 312 Mead, Isaac I-., 106, 246; building of, 20 Mead, Irving, 295, 296 Mead, (Mrs.) Jabez, 106 Mead, James, 295 Mead. Jared, projierty of, 154, 158, 262, 263 Mead, Jeremiah, 291, 292, 295 Mead, Job, 76 Mead, Deacon Jones, 27, 105; death of, 29; Estate of, 27, 29 Mead, .Joshua, 96 Mead, (Miss) Eaura, 295 Mead, (Mrs.) Laura, 80 Mead, Lot, 26 Mead, (Miss) I^ouisa, 106 Mead. (Mrs.) Lucy Mumford. 92, 94 Mead, (Miss) I>ydia, 295 Mead, I>yman, part donator of sword, 134; homestead of, 312 Mead, Lyman, meadow, 60 Mead, Matthew, 21 Mead. Mark, 27, 29; i)roiierty of. 32 Mead, Mary Waring, pro]ierty of, >90 ^lead, Merwin, farm of, 14 [3-tO] INDEX Mead, Milo, ^7, _'!), 30; held in es- teem by Danes, 3;? Mead, Xehemiah, Jr., -252; property of, 252 Mead, Xelson B., 34, 3:^8; property of, 32i .Mead, Oliver, 2(i, 38, 183; conten- tion over will of, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52; Estate of, 41; farm of, 37; Errors, Su- jireme Court of, decides for perfect title to Oliver Mead farm, 45; last will and testa- ment of, 43, 43, 44, 46, 47, 51 Mead, Oliver D., 43, 44, 117, 357 Mead's Point, 310 Mead, Richard, 73; homestead of, 153 Mead, Reuben, 395 Mead, Robert William.s, 341; ad- vocates new church building, 100; home and interests of, 103; builds Second Cong. Church, 103 Mead, (Miss) Samantha, 395 :\Iead, Sanford, 307, 313, 314; Pres- ident Greenwich & Rye Steam- boat Company, 63; property of, 353 Mead, Silas Merwin, 7; farm of, 1 Mead, Solomon, 90. 96, 97, 198, 330, 341, 346, 356, 359, 262, 365; early residence of, 98; later residence, 99; farm of, 98 Mead, Spencer P., XVII Mead, Dr. Sylvester, 115 Mead, Theodore H., characteristics of, 86, 88, 89; farm of, sold by order of Probate Court, 90; speculations of, 88, 89, 90; pro]ierty of, 16, 86, 333 Mead, Theodore, 86 Mead, Colonel Thomas A., 2, 16, 19, 36, 77, 3.33, 346, 359, 363; home of, 153; loans to Tlieodore H., 90; buys old Cong. Church building, 115; farm, 1, 15, 73, 76 Mead, Thomas R., military funeral of, 139 Mead, Titus, 391; Town Treasurer, 93; hill so called, 93; will of, 93; property of, 1, 86, 93, 95, 283 Mead, Whitman S., 310 Mead, Rev. William Cooper, D.D., L. L. D., 87 Mead, William Henry, 366 Mead, William J., 333 Meadville, origin of, .30 Mead, Zaccheus, 36; characteristics of, 78, 80; pi-operty of, 1, 73, 74, 75, 77; pr divisions of will, 79 Mead's Lane, Zaccheus, 15 Mead, Zacciieus, 3nd, 76, 78, 359, 363 Mead, Zophar, 38, 106, 336; one of original settlers, 37 Mechanic Street, 115 Meeting House, the old, 154, 158 ]Menendez, J. M., projiertv of, 91 ."Slerritt, Caleb W.. farm' of, 318 Merritt, Henry A., conditions gov- erning his purchase of dock property, 31 Merritt, Joseph G., 197 Merritt, John H., 33 Merritt, (Mrs.) Lewis A., 106 Metro]iolitan Museum of Art, site of, 178 ^lianus, 17, 26, 155 ]\Iianus River, streams that join, 61 Middle Patent, hills of. 61 Milbank, 1,5. 91, 195, 303, 313 Milbank Avenue, 196. 198, 377, 386; origin of name, 196 Milbank, Jeremiah, 198; property of, 331 Milbank, (Mrs.) Jeremiah, donates Town Clock, 196 Milbank, Joseph, property of, 32 Milk, present importations of, 27; shipments of, 36 Miller, David, 300 Miller, George S., 300 Miller, James L., 199 Mills. George H.. 106 Mill Lane. 386 Minor. Sheldon E., 44 Mitchell, George H., 300 Monakawaye, 380 Morgan, Rev. Joseph, .300, 303; pastor in first house of wor- ship, 113 Morrell, Simeon, 203 ^lorton House, 184 Mosher, Isaac, property of, 225 Mozart Hall, established by Mayor Wood, 163, 167 [341] INDEX jMulbfrrv tree, old laiulmark on Greeinvirh Avenue, 137 Miirrav, Rev. William H. H., liO, 201, 212; l)irth and early days of, 141, 143; eharacteristies and life of, 141, 14^, 143, 144, 147, 148, 149, LjO; delivers ad- dress of weleonie, 108, 109, 110; jiastoratc at Greenwich, 141 ; sermons and writings of, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 212; lectures in Ray's Hall, 150 Murray, (Mrs.) W. H. H., 141, 144, 151 Myanos River, 300 Nast, Thomas, cartoonist for Har- pei-'s Weekh/, 171, 180, 221 News Boys' Lodging House, estali- lishment of, 178 New Haven, excursion on the John Rnmer to, 209, 210, 211 New I>ebanon, docks at, 30, 31 j school district of, 31 ; Sage of, 29 ; origin of name, 30 Newman and Hewes, 17 Newport, 205 New York, Municipal and political affairs from 1834-1873, Kil, lfi2, l(i3, lfi5, l()fi, 167, 1(58, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179 Nichols, Milton C, property of, 88 Nichols, (Mrs.) CJeorge E.", 250 North Brother Island, 214 North Castle, hills of, 61 North Cos Col) Road, 317 North Greenwich, 318 Northport, 202 North Street, 26, 94, 251, 288 Norwalk, 203; horsecar line at, 269 Norwalk Islands, visible from Solo- mon Mead iioinestead, 99 O'Brien, James, 172, 200 O'Brien, William K., 199 O'Connor, Charles, 174, 229 O'Connor, Chris., 200 O'Donohue, Tlios. J., 200 O'Gorman, Richard, 201 Oak trees, The Oliver Mead, 41 Ochre Point, 205 Octagon House, the, 13, 286, 287, 288 Old Greenwich, 280 Old Greenwich Point, 280 Oliver, .lohn W., 201 Oliver, Isaac J., 200 Old Town, 280 Osgood, George A., 200 Opera House, 31 Park Avenue, originally Tracy Street, 98 Park Street Church, Boston, 212 Parsonage Road, 27 Patterson Avenue, 251, 253 Palmer, George A., i)ropertv of, 288 Page, Benjamin, owner (1837) of Inn at Mianus Landing, 70, 71 Parker, Dr. Edward O., 11; home- stead of, 158 Parks, Archibald, 264 Parlor cars, first used 1868. 273 Patrick, Cajitain Daniel, 280, 281 Peck, Benjamin, 21 Peck, Klia's S., 23, 238 Peck, (Mrs.) Isaac, 106 Peck, Leon H., 306 Peck, Obadiah, 157; property of, 157, 158 Peck, Theo])hilus, property of, 250 Peck, Prof. Wm. Guy, residence of, 155; estate of, 158 Pentland, John, 200 Pequot War, 1637, 281 Perrj' Land, knoMii as, 253 Phill'iiis, Arthur, 23 Phillips, T. Augustus, 200 Piatti, Dr. Virgil C, property of, 20 Pickford, John. Jr., 199 PlUjrlm. the, 215 Piiineo, Dr. T. S., 106; residence of, 121 Pinneo, (Mrs.) T. S., 106 Pijiing Brook, 12 Pi]>ing Point, 26 Piping Point Road, 117, 245 Police Headquarters, 117 Population, 1859, 25 Port Chester, 27, 208, 211, 256; East, 27, 29, 30 Post Road, 73, 74, 139, 154, 155, 157, 226, 310, 313 Post Offices, early, 25, 34, 35 Potato cellars, old, 310 [342] INDEX Potterv, made by Deacon Abraham Mead, 1790," 43 Prescott Building, 118 Presroiirt, owned by H. P. Whit- taker, 94 Probate Court, initial judge of, 34; location of, 34, 36, 235 Proprietors, original term applied to taxpayers 1725, 257 Purdy, (Miss) Ann, establishes boarding school, 62 Pumping station, the new, 54 Putnam Avenue, 2, 17, 18, 20, 35, 115, 120, 153, 198, 222, 233, 234, 244, 267, 286, 288 Putnam Cottage, 95, 98 Putnam, General, 90, 244 Putnam Hill. 86, 87, 153, 155, 218, 248 Putnam Terrace, 14 Pyne, John, 200 Radford, Stephen L., 2(i Radicals, Republicans called, 125 Railroads, early, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279 RailM'ay stations, four in Green- wich, 25 Randall's Island, orphan children from, visit Lin wood. 222 Rav, George S., wheelwright, 93 Read, Charles B., 74 Read, Ephraim, 180; projiertv of, 261 Red Rock, 909 Regattas, in Tweed's day, 203 Reynolds, Abraham, 26 Reynolds, Augustus N., 26 Reynolds, (Mrs.) Augustus X., 106 Reynolds, Gideon, 106 Reynolds. Frank, V. R., house of, 13, 14 Reynolds, (Mrs.) William T., 106 Riker's Island, 213 Ritch, Thomas, 150; property of, 219 Ritch, (Mrs.) Thomas, 106 Rivers, (Miss) Frances M., 151 Riverside, 25, 280. 282 Roads, ancient, 306, 307, 308, 310 Rogers, William C, 200 Round Hill, 37, 117 Round Hill Farms Dairy, 129 Robbins, George, 138 Robbins, WilliaTu, 138 Roche, Walter, 199 Rockefeller Park, 8, 220 Rockefeller, Percy A., property of, 253 Rockefeller, William G., property of, 253 Rock Ridge, 73, 76; oldest house in, 78; appraised value of, 83; sale of, 84; becomes site of Fresh Air Home for children, 85 Rocky Xeck, 26, 117, 183, 190, 257, 258, 323 Rocky Xeck Company, the, 257, 259, 260, 262, 265 Rocky Xeck Point 1836, Map of, 256 Rocky Point, 184 Rockwood Lake, 65 Root, Elihu, iunior counsel for Wm. M. Tweed, 219 Rosevelt, George W., 199 Roslyn, 213 Round Island, 111, 180, 182, 183, 256; potato cellar on, 83, 182, 262; owned by Oliver Mead, 41 ; proposed purchase by Town of, 44 Round Hill, 288, 318, 319, 320, 321 Runyan, (Mrs.) Fanny, 263, 264 Rural free delivery, before days of, 25 Russell, Joseph E., 93 Russell, (Mrs.) Joseph E., 106 Ryan. James, 200 Rye Beach, 63 Sackett. (Mrs.) Anna. 253 Sackett, Henry, farm of. 274 Sackett. Justus, 252 Sackett, Justus. Jr., 253 Sackett, Justus Ralpn, 254 Sackett, William H., 253 Sand's Point, 263 Sanitary Commission, has branch in Greenwich, 138 Sarah Thorp, the, 215 Satterlee, John, 200 Sawpits, 256 Sayles, Solomon, 200 Schaffer, Christian W., 199 Schaffer, John, 138 Schaffer, Eouis. 138 Schaffer, William H., 199 Schifferdecker, Henry, 305 [343] IXDEX Scliirmcr, Dr. William. .'()(), 202 Shi])yar(l, tlic I'aiiner & Duff, 316 Sc-liiivlcr, Robert, Pros. Xew Haven i{. K., ;.'()() Scofieid, (.Miss) Kii/.a J., lOfi Scofield, Cieorge \\., 11.5 Seofield, William, 1 i<) Scott, Joiin, 19!) Sfott, Henrv, 138 Scott, Warren, 138 Sea Cliff, 212, 213 Seaman, Charles H., 134, 341 Seaman, (Mrs.) Ciiaries H., lOfi Second Congregational Church, 27, 144, 159, 196, 19T, 211, 250; anni^■ersaries of, 100, 107; Com])any I assembles in, 133; meniber.s of, 38, 41, 80. lO.S, 134, 211; present edifice l)uilt 185(), 100; remodelled 1900, 102 Secor, Theodocius F., 207 Selectmen, offices of, 233, 235, 236 Selmes, Reeves E., 200 Semloh Farm, 66 Senawave Indians, 281 Srs()n, (Miss) Harriet, 96 Thoni]is<>n, James, 96 Throggs' Neck, 213 Tiers, WiUiam M., 7, \2\; home of, 8 Tilden, Samuel J., 17-t, 175, 176 Tillott, Peter, ]M-opertv of, 157 Tingne, William J., 28, 31 Tod, J. Kennedy, 280 Tod, William Stewart, )iropcrt\ of, 320 Todd, Rev. Abraham, 250, 251, 252; residence of, 251, 252, 253 Toll Gate Hill, 153, 155 Town Building, original, 36 Town Clerk, office of, 155, 235 Town Clock, donated bv Mrs. Jere- miah Milbank, 196 Town Hall, old, 233; used as ren- dezvous for Coni]ianv I, 133; new, built 1906, 239 Town offices, old, 19 Tracy, Hezekiah, ))roperty of, 98 Tracy, John Jay, property of, 98 Tracy Street, origin of name, 98 Trainer, Peter, 200 Tripler, Thomas E., 200 Trolley cars, first run in 1901, 266 Truesdale, William H., property of, 311 Truml)le, "Billy," 239, 240, 241, 242 Tuthill, Oscar, property of, 129 Tuthill Building, 233 Tweed, (Miarles, 219 Tweed, CJeorge, 219 Tweed's Island, 182, 184 Tweed, (Miss) Jennie, 218 Tweed, (Miss) Josephine, 218 Tweed, (Mrs.) Mary Jane, 195, 198, 220 Tweed, Marij Jane, vacht owned bv Wm. M." Tweed,' 202, 203, 204 ' Tweed Price, origin of saying; pur- chase of Mead acres by Tweed, 197 Tweed, Richard, 218 Tweed, Wm. M., 63, 86, 199, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 212, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231 ; life' and characteristics of, 161, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171,. 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 18,3, 184, 187, 188, 189, 190, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199; trial of, 1883, 161, 176, 177; escape of, 177; property of, 257 Tweed, Wm". M., Jr., 217, 221 Underbill, Captain John, 280 U]i]ier Landing, 17 \'alentine. Captain, 303 \'aluation, re])resented by taxation in 1859, 25 Van Arsdale, P. B., 181, 187, 199 Van Brunt, George B., 201 Vanderbeck, Francis, 199 \'anderbeck, John, 199 ^'an Tassell, William, 200 Voorhis, John, homestead of, \^.\ 2G7 Wallace, William H., 276, 277 Walls, ancient stone, 76 Wall Street, Greenwich investors in, 123 Walsh, Judge James F., 2, 236 Walsh, Judge R. Jay, 45, 236 War Democrats, favor abolition, 125 Waterbury, Geo. P.. property of, 291 Watson, James, 199 Watson, James S., 200 Webb, Henry, projierty of, 91 Webster, Daniel, 247 Weed, Isaac, 7; Postmaster to 1831, 35; property of, 8, 121 Weed, Jacob T., 287; property of, 287 Weed, Linus, store of, 19 Welch, John D., Jr., 200 Wellner, George, 14 Wellst(K)d, John G., 264, 268 [345] INDEX W'fsl StiH'ct, tlu' (liri'i'l roail to Bt'dford from the Borough, (ii Wheeler, William A., Viee-Pres. U. 8. A., JO!) White BridfTf. the old, .>t; inoncy foiiiul ill, jS); rendezvous of crab lumtcrs, (iO; removed about ISSd, j7; the robbery at, 58; wreek jireveuted at, 187(), (iO White House, the, (see also Silleck House), ^62, Jdi White, Captain, Stephen G., 208, 209, 2V.i AVhite, Stephen G., 217; part donator of sword, 134 White, (Mrs.) Stephen G., 106 White, Warren P., 208 Whitney, Charles A., 264, 268 AVhittaker, H. P., projierty of, 94 Williamsbridge, first terminus of H. R. R., 269 Williams, Henry M., 201 MMUiamson, Ro'bert, 195 Wills, Charles T., 261 Wilson, John, 138 Wilson, R. R., writings of, 161 Wilson, Thomas, 138 Winants, Daniel, 200 Winthrop, .lohn, Gosernor of Mass., 1630, 280 Witherell, Nathaniel, 80, 83, 324; becomes owner of UoeU Hidge, 84 Witherell, (.Mrs.) Nathaniel, 158 Witherwax, Pilot Billv, 208, 209, 210, 213, 214, 215 AVolf. George G., 200 Wood, .\lbert H., 201 Wood, Fernando, Mayor of New York 1854, 162 Woodward, Elbirt A., 200 Woolsey, ,\aron, 7, 286; projjerty of,' 288 Working Girls' Vaeation Society, recreation home of, 85 Wright, Lieut. Benjamin, 18, 106, 137 Wright, (Mrs.) Benjamin, 106 Wright, Charles H.,"276, 277 Wright, I'^dward J., 236 Wright, Wilbur S., property of, 322 Yard, Wesley S., 199 Young, ,Tosej)h B., 199 Young, Thomas, tract so called, 94 Y. M. C. A. Building, the, 158 [346] MAY 24 1913