<-. ■ So Hq, 'bV t^O^ ■^■'^ ,v .-^^^ ^<^A ^ '-^ - ^^. ^^ .0^ '-'- :^5 ^: O v^^a^v O^ *■.,-,•' . o ^ ^ o • '^^'^ %". ^^ c- \P b .XX^^-. ^4t,>i^%- ' • • s o > .°-^^ <;^ V " ■Xv"^-:^' , >--'\^'' \.^ -i c'i'^. Ao^ S'"^' ^^' ^>, .'^ :'^'' .^ ^ '^-Z ^i^^^'^'- "^ - * <^ L^/ .^^ "^^ '.^p,* ^^ ^^ ^yi%^v ^^" "^. o ' ^<.:--i.---j^ X'^'^-y X----.^^ "^ v^ ^" 4 O /v. o v^ <^- .V .^ Li "^, ,^ ^^ N^ ^' K- ^^''^'^"-^ .•f' ^-^ REMINISCENCES BY SYLVESTER BARBOUR, A NATIVE OF CANTON, CONN. FIFTY YEARS A LAWYER, AND APPENDIX CONTAINING A LIST OF THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, AND A COPY OF THE BY-LAWS OF PHffiBE HUMPHREY CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, OF COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT. l^artforti pre«;rf The Case. Lockwood a Brainard Company 1908 pi)orbe f)«inpl)rfp Cl)aptcr of tl)e r'auffbtcrg of t\)t Slmerttan Ectolution OF COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT MANY OF WHOSE MEMBERS, LIKE MYSELF, WERE BORN IN THE TOWN OF CANTON THIS UNPRETENDING LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED, WITH THE SINCERE ESTEEM OF THE AUTHOR AND COMPILER. SOME REFERENCES TO CONTENTS. Page Aclcert, Peter ...... 35 Adams, Gen. Ezra :^^ '■ 2, 53, 87 ^7^ Emerson H. and Family 136 ' Additional Sketches 101-145 Adventists 94-96 Anecdotes • 17, 27, 32, 33, 68, 83, 84, 132, 142 Barber, Alson and Family 56-62 " Rev. Clarence H. 59 " Harvey and Family 138 " Jonathan Sherman 138 " Levi 48, 49 " Linda 132 " Rev. Luther H. 57 " Melissa 140, 141, 142 " Nancy and Family 136, 137 " Sodosa and Family 140-143 " Susan and Family 133-135 " Thirza and Family 132 Barker, Ludlow 16, 107 "3 129, 130 Barbour, Rev. Clarence Augustus, D D. " Edward Payson and Family " Heman Humphrey . 17, I 36, io8. 116, 120 " Rev. Heman Humphrey, Jr. no, m " Henry and Naomi Humphrey lor, 130, 139 " " Martin . . ' 141 n6, 117 Stiles "5. " Hiram 31, 56 " James Joseph III, 112 " Jesse 3 I, 72, 77 " Rev. John Baptiste 114 117 " " John Humphrey, D.D., and FamiU " Joseph Lane and Family 17, 108, 109 " Juliaette and Eliza Naomi 126, 128 " Linus " Lucius, and General Lucius A. 77, 78 102 " Boarding around " . 26, 88 Bristol, Anson W. 144 143, 144 49, 136 " Noah Russell Lyman Brown, William Ely and Family " Sherman Ely . 137 45, 46 2. 32, 34 32 22 Burt, Rev. Jairus Canton, founders of . 2 named by whom ? " not a stain on its name " burning of records of 64 22 49, 137 " Centennial " Center choir . /3. SOME REFERENCES TO CONTENTS. Canton churches " " active laymen in " clergymen " probate judge, first " lawyers and lawsuits " physicians " scholars " school district quarrel Case, Benj. F. " Chester and Everett " Elam " Franklin " Mrs. Franklin (Lucia) " Gen. Jarvis " George Jarvis . " Levi " Norman Pliny Ruggles " Seymour N. Charter Oak, fall of . Churches, donation parties of " present friendly relations of " not always so " heating of . " Conference House," Canton Center Courant office, location and editors of in 1851 Dyer, Cemetery " Families " Mrs. D. T. . East Windsor Theological Seminary Falling Stars Foote, Col. Miles and Family " John Mills (deputy sheriff) Freeman, Dr. Orrin B. Funeral Customs Funeral Invitation Garrette, Pluma Barbour and Family " Joseph Warren and J. Frank Griswold, Dr. Chauncey G. Hallock, Rev. Jeremiah " " Squire " Homan Hartford, business men in 1856, " clergymen •■ •• " lawyers " " " physicians " " " town meeting debaters Hawes, Doctor Joel Hill, William, President Collins Co. Hitchcock, " Doc " Edward, professor in Amherst Hosford's Tavern Hough, Frederick J., Asst. Supt. Collins C( Humphrev, Families ... Mrs. Alfred F. . '' Austin N. " Dwight College 71 Page 44. 48, 91 49 44. 48 33 52, 53. H 49. 50, 51 26, 37. 54. 88 35 30 29. 30 33. 142 29 30 49. 53. 55. 87 55. 87 30, 31, 48, 49 46 28 27, 28 30 15 45 96; 98 96'-98 67 36, 40, 67 15 165, 166 34 30, 43 57. 60 69 130 131 49, 50 65, 66 81 124-126 125, 126 30 44 45, 64 16 15 12, 13 16 17 43 78 82 25 78 75. 76. 79-81 30, 41, 76, 88 65. 73 73. 74 VI SOME REFERENCES TO CONTENTS. Humphrey, H. Davton " ' " "' Jr. . Rev. Heman, D.D. " Loin, and Loin Harmon Pliny and Pliny O. '■ Roilin Orestes and wife " Solomon . - . " Theophilus and Family " Warren C. Inventions last century . . ■ ... i8 Kasson, Doctor Ben Adam Kinney, Mrs. Sara Thomson, State Regent D. A. R Lane, Lucy Barbour Roljin D. " Willis A. Large Families . . . . • 55. 56 Low prices in former days Matches, introduction of McLean, Revs. Allen and Charles B Merrill, Daniel and Familv . Rev. Selah, D.D.,'LLD. Mills, Ephraim " Simeon North Canton Academy " " Cemetery " ~ " Churches Old Style houses Pepper on Stove Perkins, Charles E., last of Hartford's lawyers of 1856 Perry, Oliver Franklin, Esther Clarinda, Wilbert Warren Phoebe Humphrey Chapter, D. A. R., of Collinsville, Conn, Sears, President Collins Co. . Select Schools in Canton School Teaching in former days Spelling matches in former davs Smith, Charles H., Supt. Collins Co Spencer, Imri L. and Familv ■ " , " A. Tiffany, Doctor Russell H. Tolling Bell for deaths, etc. Tornado Treat Lambert House " Watching " with the dead Weatogue Weed, Stanley and Family Williams, Mrs. Ruth Case " " Numerous relatives of E •age 79 80 48, 56, 71 72 73 39, 73 71 72, 79 49 72 19, 68, 85, 103 51, 52 38, 43 118- 122 33, 142 122, 123 62, 72, 140, 144 88, 92 68 47 47 47 32, 33 35 35 36 37 28, 36 91 67. 73 74 53 64 12 104, 105 43. 151- r66 78 26, 37, 53, 54 88 89, 90 78 133, 134 134 50 65 70 25, 102 66 26 86-94 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Barbour Dwelling-House Barbour, Heman Humphrey and Henry Sitles Henry and Naomi Humphrey " Joseph Lane and Rev. Heman Hum PHREY, Jr. " Sylvester and Edward Payson Barker, Ludlow BissELL, Hiram Burt, Rev. Jairus Case, Chester and Everett Crane, Doctor C. L. G. Dyer Cemetery Dyer, Mrs. D. T., Organizing Regent Phcebe Humphrey Chapter, D. A. R Garrette, Pluma Barbour . Griswold, Doctor Chauncey G. Hitchcock, " Doc." Edward, Professor in Amherst College ..... Humphrey, H. Dayton ... " Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Orestes . Jewell, Puny . Kasson, Doctor Ben Adam . Kinney, Mrs. Sara Thomson, State Regent D. A. R Lane, Lucy Barbour, .... " Rollin Dwtght .... Lougee, Mrs. J. B., Regent Phcebe Humphrey Chapter, D. A. R., McLean, Rev. Charles B. North Canton Academy and Cemetery Page House, Oldest in Canton Perkins, Charles E., Hartford's only Lawyer of 1856 Perry, Esther C. Phcebe Humphrey House Russell, Doctor Gurdon W., only Survivor of Hartford's Physicians of 1856 Talcott, Major William H. Whitney, Amos Williams, Mrs. Ruth Case . fad ng page loi 106 102 108 106 16 12 46 92 16 164 152 102 84 84 80 84 12 46 152 102 46 152 46 36 148 12 108 152 12 16 16 92 PREFACE. The Idea of issuing this book did not originate with me, but with readers of the newspaper articles who pro- fessed a desire to have the biographical and historical in- formation contained in the articles preserved in a more permanent form than is afforded by scrap-books. It will be seen from what is said on page 42 how it came about that the Fifty-Year article was followed up with others; and from what is said on page loi how it came about that the Additional Sketches hav^e been included in the book. The Statistics have been gathered and prepared for publication with great care, so that they might be reliable; and it is believed that the mistakes, if any, are very few. The letters are copied from the newspaper, including the editorial headings, without change, except typographical corrections, and the insertion in brackets of a little ex- planatory^ matter. The portraits of living persons are printed with the willing permission of those persons, and those of deceased persons by permission of the families of those persons. The first eight are of well known, highly esteemed, vener- able gentlemen, mentioned in the Fifty-Year article. I should be less than human if I were not proud to be permitted to be in such a pictorial environment. I bespeak for the book the considerate judgment of readers critically inclined. I hope I may be believed when I sav, that my only motive in all this task I have under- taken has been to render a helpful service to such persons as are interested in statistics such as have been here gathered together. S. B. Hartford, June 20, 1908. [Hartfokd Times, July i6, igo6. FIFTY YEARS A LAWYER. Half-Century Retrospect by Judge Sylvester Barbour on His Golden Anniversary. TWO lawyers of '56 LEFT. Judge Sylvester Barbour, one of Hartford's oldest and most respected lawyers, today observed the fiftieth anni- versary of entering the legal profession. Judge Barbour- is in good health, and is daily at his office. In rounding out the half-century of service as an attorney he has the congratulations of professional and business circles of the city and the legal profession of the state. Judge Barbour prepared for The Times the follow- ing interesting communication, giving a condensed history of the professional life of Hartford for fifty years, the details being carefully verified: To the Editor of The Times: A certificate I hold, signed by James Nichols, assistant clerk of the superior court, brings to my mind a pleasant experience T had fifty years ago tonight, having had the honor of spending that evening in the Hon. Richard D. Hubbard's office, now that of George G. Sill, undergoing an examination, conducted by Mr. Hubbard as a commit- tee of the court, followed the next day by my admission to the bar, upon his recommendation. A half-century retrospect may be of interest to some of your readers, as it is to me. There are today but two lawyers living who were then residing and practicing In Hartford — Mr. Sill and 12 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Charles E. Perkins, the latter now the acknowledged and beloved leader of the Hartford county bar; and, in pass- ing, I might say, he seems as alert and zealous in his practice in his seventy-fifth year as he was in his twenty- fifth, and that, with habits calculated to promote longevity, he ought to be good for another twenty-five years, and thus, with Russell Sage, " expect to reach par." [Mr. Sill died May 19th, 1907.] Among the older lawyers, fifty years ago, were Thomas C. Perkins, Isaac Toucey, William Hungerford, Francis Parsons, Charles Chapman, and William W. Eaton. In physiognomy and eloquence, Mr. Perkins re- minded me of Henry Clay. It was a treat to see and hear him argue a case in court, his animated countenance and whole frame showing the intense interest he had in his cause. Five years later he was appointed judge of the supreme court, but he declined to accept, partly, perhaps, because of the ridiculously small salary then paid. Mr. Hungerford was conceded to be the most learned lawyer at that time. For many years he had as a partner Wil- liam R. Cone, who possessed rare business and financial ability, the firm amassing wealth, one evidence of which was the erection by them of the Hartford Trust company block; Mr. Parsons was eminent in character and sound in counsel; Mr. Eaton, grave and impressive in manner, in great demand for jury trials; and Mr. Chapman was admitted by all to be without a peer in the trial of criminal cases, keenest in wit, retort and sarcasm, and so adroit and subtle in the cross-examination of witnesses that it is doubtful if he ever failed to expose perjury when attempted by a witness whom he was cross-examining. The venerable ex-Chief Justice Thomas S. Williams was then living. He was a man of attractive simplicity and benignity. Mr. Parsons's mother was his sister. Among the younger prominent lawyers at that time were Richard D. Hubbard, previously and subsequently state's attorney; William D. Shipman, Henry K. W. CHARLES E. PERKINS Born March 21, 1832. GURDON W. RUSSELL, M.D. Born April 10, 1815. HIRAM BISSELL Born Aug. 12, 1818. After strenuous contention, he originated the Hart- ford Water Supply System, and was the first Presi- dent. PLINY JEWELL Born Sept. i, 1823. President of the Jewell Belting Co., established in 1848, by Pliny, the father, and sons, and since con- tinued. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 13 Welch, Nathaniel Shipman, George S. Oilman, and Lucius F. Robinson. The latter was less impassioned and florid in speech than his brother Henry, but was an accomplished scholar and learned lawyer, well adapted for a place on the bench of the supreme court. His intimate friend, Judge Storrs, of that court, recognized that quality in Mr. Robinson, and several of the opinions handed down by the former are known to have been writ- ten by the latter, among them* that in the very important case of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance company vs. the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company (25 Conn., 271). That case involved the application of common law principles, and three of the ablest lawyers in the state, William Hungerford, Wil- liam D. Shipman and Roger S. Baldwin, were counsel in the case. Like Mr. Welch, Mr. Robinson possessed rare amiability, and there was very sincere mourning by their brethren and the community when they died in midlife. Eminent as the bar of this County has ever been, it is doubtful if it was ever more so than then. The Perkins family is unique in this county, in that it has had a repre- sentation in four successive generations: Enoch, Thomas C, Charles E. and Arthur, all college educated and prom- inent as lawyers. The family having the nearest approach to that honor is that of Waldo and Hyde; Judge Waldo, son-in-law, Alvan P., grandson, William Waldo, and great-grandson Alvan Waldo Hyde. There have been several instances of three generations having such repre- sentatives. Judge x'\sa, Charles and Charles R. Chapman; Francis, John C. and Francis Parsons; Ahollab, J. War- ren and Warren B. Johnson; William N., William L. and William R. Matson; Thomas, Thomas M. and Arthur P. Day. The first named of the last three for a time was judge of the county court, and for many years supreme court reporter, and at his death, in 1855, ^^le eulogies, commemorative of his life and work, were pro- 14 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES nounced by bench and bar; Thomas M. practiced for some years, then became editor of The Hartford Courant, dying recently at an advanced age; Arthur being now en- gaged in legal work connected with the Connecticut Trust and Safe Deposit company. Judges Calhoun and Briscoe were then practicing in this county, the former residing in Manchester, and the latter then, as now, in Enfield. As shown by the Register the list of lawyers was then 50, now 175, with frequent accessions. The judges of the supreme and superior court, up to 1856, held office "during good behavior," though then, as now, only to the age of 70. The eight-year term for those judges began that year. The county court, which had criminal as well as civil jurisdiction, was abolished the year previous, to the displeasure of eight judges, who were thus legislated out of office. That court then ap- pointed the state's attorneys. The recorder of the city court then, and until 1873, ^^^ with two associate lay judges, who, like himself, were appointed by the common council. The year before, Hon. Eliphalet A. Bulkeley, the senator's father, was recorder, and Gurdon Trumbull and Nathaniel H. Morgan were the associates; Nathaniel Shipman was clerk, Lucius F. Robinson, city attorney; Goodwin Collier was judge of the police court and Ben- ning Mann, clerk, the judge being then, and until 1871, appointed by the common council. There was no prose- cuting attorney of that court until 1875, grand jurors having before that acted as the prosecuting officers in that court. Henry Francis was town clerk. He is immortal- ized by his unique, neat and very legible penmanship on the land records of the town; Henry C. Deming, lawyer, courtly gentleman, silver-tongued orator, was mayor; Ezra Clark was in congress from this district; William T. Miner, governor; Nehemiah D. Sperry, secretary of the state, and now the only survivor of the state officers of that year; Hiram Bissell was president of the board of BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 15 water commissioners. J he Courant offi-ce was in the second story of the building on the southwest corner of Main and Pratt streets, Thomas M. Day being the editor and Abel N. Clark office manager. The post-office was in the building connected with The Times office. William James Hamersley, the judge's father, was postmaster. At that time the area of the city was not quite one-fourth w^hat it now is, the west line being about where Sigourney street is. The Charter Oak blew down on August 2 1 of that year. I visited it more than once during the two or three days it lay prostrate, and, as I recall its scraggy" form, in trunk and limbs, apparently furnishing very little material for constructing anything, I am amused at the stories told of the many things produced from it. Mark Twain fitly, in an indirect way, showed the absurdity of these stories, when, in his adciress of welcome to ex-Presi- dent Grant, on his visit to Hartford after his journey around the world, he spoke of Hartford as " the home of the famous Charter Oak, out of which most of the city had been built." The humor of the remark was too much for the placid face of the general, he even smiled. Not a clergyman now here was here in 1856. The pulpits were ably filled, the pastors of the churches being Dr. Bushnell of the North Congregational, worshiping in the building now on the northeast corner of Main and Morgan streets; Dr. Hawes in the Center; Dr. Walter Clark in the South Congregational; Mr. Beadle in Pearl street (now Farmington avenue) ; Mr. Abercrombie in Christ; Mr. Washburn in St. John's; Mr. William W. Patton in Fourth Congregational; Father Hughes in St. Patrick's; Dr. Murdock in South Baptist; Charles R. Fisher in Market Street Episcopal; Mr. Kelsey in Meth- odist Episcopal, worshiping in the building on the corner of Trumbull and Chapel streets, now occupied by ex-Sen- ator C. C. Cook for an office and lumber business; Thomas S. Childs in Presbyterian, in their church edifice on the I 6 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES southeast corner of Main and Sheldon streets, not long hefore that bought from the South Baptists on the latter moving into their new church across the street; Moses Ballou In the Universalist, in their church edifice on Cen- tral Row, they moving four years later to their church on Main street, which they have just vacated; Dr. Turnbull in North Baptist, they having recently left their edifice, standing where the store of Brown & Thomson now stands, that edifice thereafter for a while being known as Turo hall, and used for public meetings. Among the surviving business men of that day are *Thomas Sisson, Ludlow Barker, Hiram Bissell, *Aner Sperry, *David Rood, Ex-Chief Henry J. Eaton, Henry K. Morgan, Pliny Jewell, William Francis, F. R. Slocum, Major William H. Talcott, *Daniel Stevens, John Allen, Amos Whitney, Hiram Loomis, and George W. TuUer, the latter being in the clothing business where the Courant building now stands. [*Since died.] Among the leading physicians were Drs. Gurdon W. Russell, Beresford, Barrows, Crary, Sr., and Curtiss, the first named being the only one now living. Dr. Crane is the only surviving dentist; then, as now, at No. 8 State street. The year 1856 was most exciting, politically. Slavery agitation was at its highest. Because of it, it took nine weeks to organize the house of representatives that met in December ^previous, Nathaniel P. Banks being elected speaker on the one hundred and thirty-third ballot, by a plurality of three, not a member from a slave state voting for him. Senator Charles Sumner was brutally assaulted and nearly killed in the senate chamber by Representative Preston S. Brooks, of South Carolina, Incensed by a Speech the senator had made on " The Crime Against Kansas." It was three years before Mr. Sumner was able to resume his seat in the senate. After a sharp con- test to prevent the renomination of Franklin Pierce, whose DR. S. L. G. CRANE. LUDLOW BARKER. AMOS WHITNEY, Born Oct. 8, 1832. MAJ. WM. H. TOLLCOTT, Born Feb. 17, 1831. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 17 attitude on the question of slavery m the territories had been unsatisfactory to many northern democrats, the contest being carried on in behalf of Douglas and Bu- chanan, the latter was nominated at Cincinnati on the seventeenth ballot. Heman H. Barbour, Joseph's father, was in the convention and among the most ardent sup- porters of Buchanan. He took the stump, making many speeches. Having resided and campaigned in the west, where joint debates were common, he invited the repub- licans to select their champion to accompany him in the joint canvass of this part of the state. Joseph R. Hawley, then a young lawyer, practicing in company with John Hooker, was chosen, a selection pleasing to Mr. Barbour. These champions addressed large audiences in an immense wigwam, erected on the present site of Park church and adjoining buildings, and in other towns, Mr. Hawley advocating the electjon of Fremont, and Mr. Barbour, Buchanan. A pleasing circumstance, as I now look back, is the fact that Joseph, then in his tenth year, was shout- ing vigorously for Buchanan, making speeches to gath- erings of his numerous younger brothers, and neighbors' boys, attracted by his budding oratory. Doubtless he was then as successful in captivating his infantile audi- ences, as he is now those of adult years. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hamersley did good .work on the stump. Mr. Ham- ersley was a man of imposing presence, tall, erect, and stately, and an effective speaker. Mr. Barbour was a candidate for postmaster under Buchanan, the contest being prolonged and sharp, Mr. Hamersley winning, and being reappointed. In those days the town meeting was the arena of sharp debates, and Hartford had able champions therein. Prominent among them were Messrs. A. E. Burr, James G. Batterson, Mark Howard, John L. Bunce, presi- dent of the Phoenix bank, always stately and aggressive, in his swallow-tailed coat and trim black cravat, and I 8 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Thomas T. Fisher (father of Major George B.), these men rarely failing to be present to work for good govern- ment. In debate Mr, Fisher was a match for the others, which is saying much, and in repartee he was as keen as Mr. Edward S. Cleveland, of later days. I recall one instance, when he made an impassioned speech, advocat- ing an important matter, and an opponent, in replying to him, accused him of being angry, when, quick as a flash, Mr. Fisher interrupted him with St. Paul's retort, " I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." I recall, with great pleasure, instances of warm per- sonal friendship between the most ardent political an- tagonists; for example, these — Mr. Burr and Mr. Bat- terson, Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hawley, and Mr. Hawley and Mr. Barbour. Each man of these pairs saw in the other a sincere, fearless man, having the courage of his convictions, whom he could not but respect ; it being true, as was fitly remarked recently by Judge Harmon, in an address made at the funeral of his friend, Governor Pat- tison, of Ohio: "Sincerity and bravery will always win friends." And now, Mr. Editor, please permit me, in closing, by way of pleasantry, to indulge in a little homely poetry, making some contrast between 1856 and 1906: Compared with time that went before, Fifty years are but a mere span. Yet, when we think the matter o'er, In it, what wonders wrought by man! In eighteen hundred fifty-six, No telephone, no car on street, Nothing but cry of " Fire! " to fix The place for the firemen to meet. No machine to do man's writing, Save his old quill and metal pen ; Poor woman could not do a thing To help the weary business men ; BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Now, where'er we go, we find her — In shop, store, office, college, too, Doing what God dfesigned her for, Happy, finding something to do. Then, it took a full week, and more, To get news over the ocean; Now, we get it from farthest shore In a minute, under ocean. " We call our fathers fools, so wise we grow. No doubt our Mnser sons will [yes, can] call us so." Hartford, July i6, 1906. S. B. 19 [Hartford Times, Editorial July i6, 1906.] FIFTY YEARS AGO. The letter of Judge Sylvester Barbour, which is printed on page 3, goes back beyond the mernory of most readers of this paper, for it begins with the day just fifty years ago when Mr. Barbour passed his examination for admission to the Hartford bar. His examination was by R. D. Hubbard, long since gone over to the majority, and of the lawyers of that time in Hartford, only two survive, George G. Sill and Charles E. Perkins. The examination was in what is now the office of Mr. Sill. Out of the stores of recollections due to a long life, a good memory and a wide acquaintance. Judge Barbour makes a paper of lively interest, not least in his brief characterizations of the men of the older days. Among the older lawyers at that time, he speaks of Thomas C. Perkins, second or third in a line of lawyers by descent, which has continued through three later generations, and who reminded him, in physiognomy and eloquence, of Henry Clay; Isaac Toucey, afterwards senator and sec- retary of the navy; William Hungerford, whom he con- siders the most learned lawyer of the time; Francis Par- sons, Charles Chapman and William W. Eaton. He mentions Chief Justice Williams, who was then living, and among the younger lawyers of his early days he speaks of Richard D. Hubbard, William D. Shipman, Henry K. W. Welch, Nathaniel Shipman, George S. Gil- man and Lucius F. Robinson. He says much more about the bar. Passing on to later times, he notes that not one of the clergymen of 1856 is now living. He recalls many old business men, who will prove well known to the older readers; he notes thafDr. Gurdon W. Russell is the only physician of 1856 now living; he tells something of the BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 21 height of the anti-slavery discussion at that time. In a word, he takes the readers back to days which are merely historical to most of them, and, in a perfectly simple way, sets them forth, so that in place of mere names, there comes something like a feeling of acquaintance, even to those not yet old enough to have had personal knowledge of many of these men, even in their later days. It is a delightful letter, kindly observant, and aston- ishingly young in spirit for a man who has practiced fifty years at the bar. It is a pity not to have more of these reminiscences, especially the professional ones which prob- ably appealed most strongly to the writer, for they show a gift at characterization which is rather rare and is worth much indiscriminate cataloguing of details. [Hartford Times, July rg, 1906.] THE CANTON CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. Poem by Hartford Lawyer — Judge Sylvester Barbour. Judge Barbour's verses were entitled " Salutation to Canton," and he recited them just before the close of the forenoon's exercises. There was a manifestation of pleasure by the assembly, and personal appreciation by several prominent ones on the platform at the delivery of the salutation. The Times prints the poem in full: SALUTATION TO CANTON. Hail ! Canton, one hundred years old ; From far and near we're gathered here, Where we were born, as we've been told, To celebrate thy natal year. We've come to talk about that year. When thou wert born, so long ago; We've come to thank Simsbury, dear, For so kindly letting thee go. No one of us was living then, As we so much regret to say, Though some are more than three-score ten, And glad to see this festal day. We're proud to own thee our mother. There's not a stain upon thy name. As a town there's not another More free from aught to cause one shame. The older ones of our numbers Well knew the staunch and upright men Who acted as thy founders. We revered them, we children, then. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES And ever since our childhood days, Scores upon scores of like good men Have ruled thee in true, honest ways, Would there were time to mention them. Most of them have gone to their rest. Their lives of faithful service o'er, And we hope they're among the blest On yon bright and heavenly shore. May each coming generation In like manner, in honesty, Govern thee, beloved Canton, During the coming century. And may the next celebration, To be held in two-thousand-six, Be as joyous to thee, Canton, As is this in nineteen-nought-six. No one of us will be here then, As none of us was at thy birth; God grant us, then, a home in heaven, As, one by one, we've passed from earth. 23 [Hartford Times, Oct. 15, 1906.] VISIT TO HIS NATIVE TOWN. Reminiscences by Judge Sylvester Barbour, in Connection with a Sunday Ride to Canton. To the Editor of The Times: On a recent Sunday I took a delightful drive Into the country, one that I can recommend to others, fond of hill, dale, now and then a fertile field, wild scenery, and beautiful views from mountains. I am sure Dr. M. and his dentist companion would be delighted with it. I wish I had the gifts of the former for describing it. One should take the precaution, which I did, to have a horse afraid of nothing, and controllable In all situations, for the traveled part of the highway In many places is little more than a good cart path, say eight or nine feet wide, making it difficult for teams to pass on meeting, not to mention the on-rushing, frightening automobile. Doubt- less the highway was originally laid out of suitable width; but as it costs less labor to maintain a narrow way than a broad one, bushes, trees and rocks have been allowed to occupy the major part of what land belongs to the public, but the road, what there is of it. Is kept in good condition. My friends ©ut there need not chide me for this seeming criticism, for, as a country boy among the hills, accustomed to assist In the repair of roads, I well know what a great burden it Is for the taxpayers In sparsely settled towns to keep their highways in repair. A spin on the dirt road of the country must be very pleasing to the city horse, accustomed to the hard pave- ments. The undulations, though sometimes mountains, must contribute to his comfort, in that different muscles of the body are brought into use alternately. The BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 25 monotony of dead-level prairie travel is very fatiguing to man, as I have learned from tramps upon it, and must be so to the horse. My drive took in my beloved native town, Canton; the route out being the north wav, over Talcott moun- tain, through that most quiet, restful little village, Wea- togue, peopled in summer considerably by city folk; on through West Simsbury, formerly known as Case's farms; on over a winding elevation, down into that staid village. North Canton, not much given to changes; thence around another considerable elevation, to the dearest spot on earth to me, the old house where I was born, on the rug- ged farm connected with which my early life was happily spent in hard toil, rendering such assistance as I could to my parents, who were struggling to rear and support a large family; thence down by more hilly, w^inding road, a mile and a half to the old Treat Lambert house, so called, in an older annex to which my father was born (that annex having been removed In recent years), on which mile and a half of lonely road there are but two houses, a road we children traveled on foot, going to school, most of us beginning such experience at the age of three years; thence to and through Canton center, where was built the first church in town, to a point in the old turnpike road from Hartford to Albany (so much traveled for transporting goods between those cities before the days of railroads), near Cherry Brook railroad sta- tion; thence on past the ruins of Hosford's tavern (from Avhich a moneyed traveler mysteriously once disappeared, heavenward. In the opinion of the late Congressman Simonds, as expressed In a magazine article) ; on through Canton village, formerly more generally known as Suf- frage, for what reason I don't know, a village one would readily recognize if he hadn't seen it for seventy-fiv^e years; on through Avon, and over the mountain, up and down which the late Charles F. Rustemeyer many times 26 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES drove his double-decker, four-horse omnibus, with never a mishap; and thence through West Hartford and Eliza- beth Park, home. I doubt if a more delightful drive here- about can be found, for the enjoyment of the love of country. A half-hour was most pleasantly spent in a call upon each of three estimable ladies, beloved pupils of mine, fifty-four years ago, in a select school I had the honor of teaching in the little schoolhouse, near Adams's corner — namely. Miss Martha Weed, her sister-in-law, Mrs. Antoinette (Case) Weed, and Mrs. Sarah (Case) Vining. Mrs. Weed lives with her brother, James, where their father, Stanley Weed, long resided. I remember the latter as an ardent, lifelong democrat, with whom, as a whig boy, I had pleasant, instructive arguments (for he was a man of great intelligence), during the few nights T spent at his house. In those days teachers " boarded around " considerably, a practice that gave the teachers a chance to get acquainted with parents. In that respect it is much to be commended, for it is about the only way in which teachers can have the acquaintance which is so beneficial to the school. The first three terms of my teach- ing experience I boarded around, and I bear witness to much enjoyment while being as royally entertained as the means of the hosts would permit. In those days the school teacher and minister were considerable personages in the country. There was one little experience connected with boarding around that I remember particularly, namely, retiring to the fireless spare room on a cold, wintry night, to receive a shock from the icy-cold sheets, equal in benefit, though, I doubt not, to a cold-water bath, for producing sleep. In those moments thus spent in com- posing myself for sleep, I sometimes wondered if the last human occupant of the room were not a dead one. I was senselessly spookish about such things. My childish dread of dead persons continued to haunt me somewhat In after BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 27 years. I remember with what quickened step I would, when a child, go past a graveyard in the darkness of night; how, for several nights, after attending a funeral, I would bury my face beneath the bed covering, as if, more effectually, to shut out the haunting face of the dead one. Perhaps my horror, in the respect referred to, is not common with children, and with older persons. Cer- tainly a relative of mine was more sensible, of whom my mother used to speak. His wife died, she' was laid out in their bedroom, and, owing to limited sleeping accommo- dations, he was seen to be making preparations for occu- pying a bed in that room for the night. On being remon- strated with for so doing, he said : " Sarah never did me any harm while alive, and I don't think she will now." He retired, as contemplated, and soon gave audible evidence that he had lapsed into sleep. Even now, it seems to me, no amount of money could tempt me to pass through such an ordeal. What more awe-inspiring than the silence of the dead! Stanley Weed was born November 30, 1 806, the year Canton was set off from Simsbury, and died November 4, 1884. His son George, my pupil, was born April 7, 1835, and died May 22, 1902. The latter's widow is tenderly caring for her father, Mr. Everett Case. Mrs. Vining makes her home at the General Ezra Adams house, with her daughter, wife of Henry Adams, grandson of the general. [Everett Case has since died.] Mrs. Vining's father, Ruggles Case, was one of the most respected citizens of Canton, a lifelong democrat. He lived to an advanced age. About 1820 he erected a shop. In which he established and for very many years carried on blacksmlthing. I vividly remember watching him many times, shoeing horses and oxen I had ridden and driven there, a distance of three miles, to be shod. In those days the blacksmith made his own shoes and nails, a 2 8 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES work largely done at the time of shoeing, and which kept the by-standers dodging the particles of red-hot iron fly- ing about while the iron was being hammered into shape for use. Mr. Case's devotion to his business was so close, intense and long-continued, that he became greatly bowed in form. His shop still stands, somewhat aged in appear- ance, but otherwise just as it was sixty-five years ago, when I first began to visit it for the purpose I have indicated, a grandson succeeding to the business. The old red schoolhouse, formerly used for the lower grades of scholars, near the blacksmith shop, was sold by the dis- trict to Ruggles Case, and is now used by his son Henry as a storehouse, across the street. A new schoolhouse to take its place was erected in 1872, and the year before the Methodists built an attractive wooden church, near by. Mr. Pliny Case, a veteran blacksmith at the center, in those days had his share of the town's patronage. He was a staunch democrat, highly respected by everybody. His widow (second wife), a very intelligent woman, for many years a successful school teacher, occupies the homestead. His shop which, till lately, like the one of the other Mr. Case, remained unchanged in appearance, has passed into other hands and has been renovated. There is nothing significant in the coincidence of the names of these black- smiths, for, in those days, a large percentage of the in- habitants of the agricultural part of Canton bore that name, so much so that it was sometimes facetiously re- marked that a stranger coming into town and meeting a man whom he did not know might pretty safely address him as Mr. Case, and, if that name proved a misfit, call him Mr. Barbour, a name common there then. Those names are not so largely represented there now, though the Cases are still quite numerous. There have not been many millionaires among the Canton Cases, but in general thrift and respectability they have not been excelled there. Hard cases among them have been rare, so rare, that I BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 29 recall but one, and he was all right except that he was dreadfully profane, though his profanity was confined mostly to his oxen, in the breaking and handling of which, notwithstanding, he was a splendid master. I shall not be so impolite as to mention his name; perhaps some of the older people out there can guess to whom I refer. It ought to be said, however, that later in life he ceased the habit referred to, and died in the Christian faith. Speak- ing of oxen, there was a man there a half century ago. Mr. Franklin Case, who excelled as a raiser and trainer of that beautiful, sleek, red breed of cattle, the Devon- shire. His strings of anywhere from 6 to 10 pairs, rang- ing in age from yearlings up, at cattle shows, and on other occasions on the street, were a delight to the eyes and tastes of lovers of fine stock. Speaking of this ex- cellent man, reminds me of a pleasant incident. On a certain Sabbath, in church, at the close of the sermon, upon the minister's invitation, Mr. Case stepped out of one pew, and his wife-to-be from another, into the center aisle, where after a brief ceremony, they returned to his pew, thenceforth to walk life's way together till death should, and did, sever them. Marriage is a contract, and, ordinarily, contracts entered into on Sunday are not bind- ing, but no one has been heard to question the validity of a contract of this sacred nature, when entered into on that day. A part of my mission that day was to call upon those highly respected, aged gentlemen, so much noticed at the celebration, Messrs. Chester Case and Everett Case. The former is 95 years old this 9th day of October, and the latter was 94 on the 14th day of last March. The former retains much of the vivacity and enthusiasm of young manhood, walking about town quite nimbly for so old a man, and the latter, though infirm for getting about, retains his mental faculties in full vigor. His words are few, but witty, weighty and wise. His countenance indl- 30 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES cates a strong intellect and benignant character. Inter- spersed with farm work, his occupation for many winters was teaching school. These men are widowers, were old- time whigs, afterward republicans, and voted for most if not all of the presidential candidates of those parties, ending with Theodore Roosevelt. [Both now dead.] There are four other aged people in Canton whom it was my privilege to call on on the Sunday of celebra- tion week — Mrs. Lucia Case, widow of Franklin; Mrs. Alfred F. Humphrey, daughter of that eminently good man, Dr. Chauncey G. Griswold, whose salve has been such a boon to society; Mr. Levi Case and Hiram Bar- bour. Mrs. Case retains her physical and mental vigor and marked business ability. Acting as a trustee under the will of her brother, Seymour N. Case, well known in Hartford fifty years ago, she has drawn numerous checks, in assisting nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand- nieces in getting a liberal education. Mr. Case was a successful lawyer, and accumulated a large estate. Having no family of his own, he could not have more wisely be- queathed it. Mrs. Case's son, Hon. Benjamin F., is an invaluable man in business and social matters in Canton, and her four daughters, Lucia, widow of Miles Case, of Braintree, Mass., Marion, widow of Mason Case of Can- ton, Flora, wife of Mr. Rose, of Granville, Mass., and Hattie M., wife of Daniel T. Dyer, of Canton, are in like manner most highly respected and useful members of society. The latter is the honored regent of that branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution known as the Phoebe Humphrey chapter, and is most active and zealous in research concerning colonial and later ancient history. Having had a hint from that respected organi- zation, that such action on my part, in any paper of a historical nature that T might prepare, would be welcome, I modestly and respectfully dedicate this article to that association. I fear, however, it is not deserving of such BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 31 a high honor. Mrs. Alfred F. Humphrey is nearly as sprightly as when I first knew her sixty years ago. She continues to well fill her place in church and society mat- ters, and took in the celebration exercises with delight. She is the last of her father's family. Her mother was a sister of the Hon. Ephraim Mills. Her sons are well known, highly respected business men in this county. She makes her home with her daughter in the house erected by Volney G. Barbour. [Lucia Case died Jan. 2d, 1908.] Mr. Levi Case, though feeble, is still able to perform a little light farm work. He makes his home with his son, Asa L. Case, in a very ancient house, near the famous Dr. Everest house. He is a very intelligent, strong minded man; formerly taught school several terms, practiced sur- veying, and is recognized as a safe authority on the ancient history of the town. He began his political career when Henry Clay was the idol of the Whig party, voting for him for president in i 844, and has been a republican since Whig days. He has voted at every presidential, state and town election since he was made a voter, until two years since, when he became too feeble to go to the polls, though he did, however, vote for Mr. Roosevelt in November, 1904. To talk with this man on historical matters is like sitting at the feet of Gamaliel. Mr. Hiram Barbour is in feeble health, and nearly. blind — lives with his daughter in the famous Jesse Barbour house. The latter was a shoemaker, and oft did I visit his shop at noon time, for the repair of my boots, and, before I could understand much about politics, I many times heard him discourse on Jeffersonian democracy, as he at the same moment was hurrying through my work so that I might not be late at school. He was a disciple of Thomas Paine, but it took an able logician to match him in argu- ment on theology or politics. He was, withal, a very good man. There have been noteworthy incidents in the lives of ^2 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES some of the early settlers In Canton, which I proceed to relate. General Ezra Adams was prominent in the for- mation of the town, and represented it several times in the legislature. I feel honored in a relationship, resulting from the marriage of a sister of my father to a son of his. His descendants are quite numerous, and highly respectable. His wife survived him a few years. Ac- cording to a story I heard in my boyhood, and now con- firmed to me by one of the oldest people in Canton, she possessed some of the heroism of Israel Putnam. She awoke one night, hearing some one in her cellar; she arose, prepared herself to face the burglar, and, with candle in hand, and, seemingly, her life in her hands, she descended alone into the cellar, and, to her surprise, found a poor neighbor there, helping himself to meat from her barrel. In the well-known kindness of her heart, it can- not be doubted she permitted the poor man to carry home some food, but with the sharp injunction thereafter to take the honest way to supply his wants, by applying to her when needy. Mr. Ephraim Mills, who was born in 1782 and died August 7, 1863, was of an age to assist in the organiza- tion of the town. In 1806, and did materially assist. In connection with the Canton centennial celebration, a query arose in my mind how it happened that the town came to have its beautiful name. I never had heard, and, so far as it has come to my knowledge, there has been nothing said about it in connection with the celebration. I began an Investigation and was Informed by Mr. Mills's esti- mable daughter, Mrs. R. O. Humphrey, whose memory goes back into the forties, that she had often heard her father say that he suggested the name. But, why Canton? It came from Mr. Mills's Interest In the Swiss people and their ardent patriotism, and was suggested to his mind by their territorial divisions into cantons. The name appealed to him, partly because of its pleasant BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES oo sound, and its being so easy to speak and write. Mr. Mills did not have the educational advantages of this day, but, by his very studious habits he came to be a man of rare intelligence. He had a great fondness for the natu- ral sciences, anci his knowledge of philosophy, chemistry and astronomy was extraordinary, and in historical mat- ters he was an authority. He was the first judge of probate of the district of Canton after the town became a probate district in 1841. His daughter holds his com- missions, signed respectively by Governor Chauncey F. Cleveland, Governor Roger S. Baldwin and Gov^ernor Clark Bissell. He three times represented the town in the legislature. It has been the rule in Canton to send a man to the legislature but once, so that the honor might pass around, and some have died waiting for their turn to arrive. Mr. Rollin D. Lane, a Canton boy, early orphaned by the death of his father, relates to me a pleasing inci- dent in the life of another of those early Canton men, Mr. Elam Case, grandfather of Benjamin F. Mr, Case's family lost a little household article, of no great value, and Rollin happened to find it, and he promptly returned it. Mr. Case proceeded to reward him, and, in doing that, to leave on the boy's mind an impression that would probably never be effaced. He said to the lad, handing out 25 cents: " Here are I2>4 cents for your finding the article, and 12 J/2 cents for your honesty in returning it." In those days one of the pieces of silver money was one stamped I2>^ cents, and commonly called ninepence. Such a fatherly address of commendation of a good deed is worthy of imitation by actual parents. This incident suggests to my mind a remark I once heard the Rev. James B. Cleav^eland, a man of rare wisdom, make in a sermon on the training of children. He said that he had found it efficacious in family government never aftenvard to refer to any act of a child's misdoing, when once it had 3 04 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES been reproved, and then watch for opportunities promptly to commend the child for good deeds, his theory being that deserved praise incites to good behavior in the child. His success in rearing quite a large family of children tends to prove the soundness of the theory. He was happily aided, of course, by his wife, whose beautiful poem, " No Sects in Heaven," attracted such wide notice and admiration. The probate judge in New Haven, and another son, a young lawyer of great promise in New Haven, who died a few years ago, were children of that family. I know it will be said, it's blood that tells, but, all the same, we know that training has largely contributed to the production of many of the most respected and suc- cessful of men. Mr. Zenas Dyer, grandfather of Daniel T. Dyer, was another man who took part in Carlton's setting-off pro- ceedings. In 1 8 1 2 he built the house in which the grand- son lives, situated on the north side of the old Albany turnpike, near Farmington river, on an elevation com- manding a fine view of varying scenery. Mr. Dyer used the house for a time as a tavern, sharing with nearby Hosford's tavern the entertainment of the extensive trav- eling public. I well remember him and his son Daniel, who many years owned and occupied that house; both highly respected men. Daniel T., the only child of Dan- iel, succeeded to the ownership of that house, and resides there. He is the owner of some 500 acres of land, and is an honored member of the democratic party, to which party, if I mistake not, Zenas and Daniel belonged. The present Mr. Dyer and his estimable wife, to whom I have already referred, are royal entertainers. Numerically, and in winsome manners, their children would delight the heart of President Roosevelt, and they help to make up a very happy family. Mr. Dyer's exhibition at the cen- tennial of his grandfather's old tin lantern, which was a guide to travelers seeking a good inn to tarry at,, attracted BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES or much attention. I wish there were space in my already over-full paper to speak of the other antique articles ex- hibited. Permit me, however, to speak of " Uncle Sim's " post-office, a little desk. He was long the mail carrier and postmaster at the Center, and the contents of that recep- tacle were often, particularly during the Civil War, anxiously awaited by the people in that district. That good man, Simeon Mills, like his brother, Ephraim, was universally respected, none more so. His compensation was but a pittance, his reward being mainly the conscious- ness of a loving sei'vice rendered the people. The last of the aged Canton men of whom I would speak is Peter Ackert, half brother of Edward Ackert. He is still living, at the age of 85 years, and now resides in Southington. That honest-hearted man believed in, and practiced rigorous economy and plain, simple habits, devoid of every manner of ostentation. While resident in Canton he always inveighed against the extravagance of the times, and sighed for life on the frontier, where one would not have " all this pride to support." Imagine the amused amazement of his old acquaintances when he appeared at the celebration, riding in an automobile. One knowing his former antipathy to show of any kind would not have suspected that he would even accept the treat of a ride in such a vehicle. He was a much respected man. Canton has not always had peace in its entire borders. Some sixty vears ago action was taken for building a new schoolhouse in the Center district, and a proposition was made for a slight change in location. The rankest bitter- ness was engendered over the matter, resulting, after a sharp strife, in a division of the district into the North Center and South Center. There was sufficient area for two districts, perhaps, but the number of children and families did not seem to call for it. Nothing, save anti- slavery agitation in ante-bellum days, ever produced so much alienation of feeling among the good people of that 36 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES part of the town, extending in its baneful effect to mem- bers of the same church, and to near relatives. As a youth I viewed the battle from the north side of the dividing line. What intensified the feeling in that section was the fact that a very prominent church member resid- ing there, sided with the southerners in bringing about the division. Of course he acted for what he deemed the best interests of all concerned. As the affair is looked back upon, the feeling gotten up between rational people seems unaccountable and almost ridiculous. The moral of the affair for country folk is, if you can possibly avoid it, don't propose to change the location of your, school- house, or church. As might be imagined, my visit to my native town was attended with some saddening thoughts. First was the sight of that schoolhouse at North Canton, where fifty- four years ago, I had passed a pleasant term of school, as teacher of a delightful company of grown-up boys and girls, my affection for whom was akin to that of a parent. That house, so many years ago occupied for school pur- poses, is now abandoned, windowless> and going to decay. I wish it might be restored and put to some educational or social use. I would be glad to join with some of my good friends In North Canton and elsewhere, who, like myself, spent happy school days there, in the expense of such a restoration. The probably equally aged " con- ference house " at the center presents a pleasing contrast. The latter, in external appearance. Is little changed, be- yond the substitution of large windows, addition of a basement and a coat of paint. That house Is dear to me. There I attended upper grade schools, there I cast my first vote, and there spent two happy winters, honored as the teacher of a quarter of a hundred and more young ladies and gentlemen as scholars. Mr. Sears, In his his- torical address at the celebration, kindly spoke of that school as having more than a local reputation. The /i^^'it^/Cfi^n^&i^, 38 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES me to copy the letter and also to print her photograph in this little book, for which courtesy I feel greatly obliged to her. S. B. "Hon. Sylvester Barbour, Hartford: "Dear Sir: I have read with much interest your recent communication to The Hartford Times, and I wish to give myself the pleasure of saying to you, that I greatly enjoyed the reminiscences, and the historic char- acter of the paper as a whole. Your pleasant reference to the D. A. R., and to my friend, Mrs. Dyer, are appre- ciated, and I thank you for them.. It is such articles as yours that make files of good newspapers of great value. A hundred or two years hence, someone will pick up The Hartford Times and read that article of yours; then he (or she) will say, ' Well, I'm mighty glad to see that: it tells me just what I wanted to know about Canton, about D. A. R., and ever so many other things.' " Next week Thursday, the Connecticut D. A. R. are to hold a meeting in Center Church. The gallery will be open to friends of the organization. I hope we may see you there. " Believe me, ver\' truly yours, " SARA T. KINNEY. " 46 Park St., " New Haven, " 24 Oct., 1906." L Hartford Times, Aug. 15, 1907. EIGHTY YEARS OLD. Judge Barbour's Tribute to the Hon. Rollin Orestes Humphrey of Canton. To the Editor of The Times : It is pleasant, and fitting, too, to talce note of the birthdays of those whom we respect, and especially so, when such persons are our seniors, about whom we have always known. I can't remember the time when I did not know of my fellow-townsman, the Hon. Rollin Orestes Humphrey, of Canton, and I think that most persons liv^ing, who were born or have resided in or near that town, can say the same as to their recollection. He has always resided in that town, and was born there, August 16, 1827, and, therefore, in common understanding, he will be 80 years old to-morrow, the i6th, though, in law, he has attained that age today, the 15th. This proposi- tion will surprise many, yet it is true. A familiar appli- cation of that principle in estimating ages occasionally occurs in case of a man admitted as a voter the day before he nominally becomes 21. As on that immediately pre- ceding day such man completes his minority, and, as, for most purposes, the law knows no fraction of a day, at the beginning of that preceding day, eo instanti, that in- stant, the minority of the man is considered completed. Accordingly, at the first tick of the clock after midnight this morning Mr. Humphrey became 80. As he was considered so much a part of Canton on the centennial occasion, his. picture appeared prominently in print. As he is so generally known in all this region, in and outside of Canton, I think many of your readers 40 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES will be Interested in learning that he has rounded out four score years, and is still in a good state of health. Though much retired, his long familiarity with legal matters makes him very useful in such legal business as he can perform as well as a lawyer, and his services are much in demand. His official honors in that town have been many, including representing it in the general assembly, and frequent jury service in all the courts. Presumably he cast his first presidential vote for General Zachary Taylor, in 1848, as he then became of an age to vote, and was an ardent whig, though latterly a democrat. By his marriage to Henrietta, the only daughter of my uncle Harvey Barbour, he became my first cousin, and by his subsequent marriage to Caroline Emma, only daughter of the Hon. Ephraim Mills, of Canton, he be- came my third cousin. Genealogists figure out a blood relationship between us, also. Among my precious memo- ries of school-teaching days, is that of having had the last named lady as an adult pupil in a select school in the " Conference house," at Canton center, more than 50 years ago, and among my mementos of that school are the scholars' essays, copied by them for my preservation. Two of this pupil's come to my mind, the subject of one, expressed in Latin, in which language she was proficient, " Vera Amicitia Semplterna Est," true friendship is ever- lasting; the theme of the other, a beautiful poem written near the close of the term, being the school, of which she was a member. This subject gave her an opportunity to refer to her teacher, and to those twenty-six excep- tionally exemplary, diligent scholars, parting from whom and among whom, at the close of school was painful to teacher and scholars. Barring lameness, Mrs. Humphrey is quite well, but that infirmity very seriously interferes with social enjoy- ments, of which she is so capable. People who know her gifts and culture can the more deeply sympathize with BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 4t her in her enforced retirement. Her very dear njece, Mrs. W. E. Simonds, and her first cousin, Mrs. Lydia Griswold Humphrey are still living, with whom she has delightful intercourse. Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey, two survive, a daughter, Alice, whose husband is in the patent office at Washington [died May lo, 1908], and Rollin O., Jr., in the employ of the Collins Co. They experi- enced sore affliction in the death of two young children, and a daughter, Emma, so much beloved by all who knew her, as former wife of M. Stanley Neal, a much honored and very highly respected business man in Collinsville, and a daughter, Caroline Amelia, who died at the age of seventeen, just as she was budding into happy woman- hood, and of whom very flattering predictions of literary attainment had been made by her teachers. They have two grandchildren, Morris Humphrey Neal, aged 20, and Kenneth Stanley Neal, in his 17th year, who, in view of the over full professions, are wisely fitting themselves for business careers, the fonner, already a student in the Wor- cester Polytechnic institute, and the latter, just graduated from the Collinsville high school, is to enter that college the coming autumn. It is to be hoped that the occurrence of this birthday anniversary may be known among the neighbors and friends of this honored couple, so that there may be opportunity, by calls, letters and otherwise, to testify the respect which is cherished for the pair. None of the persons whose names I have mentioned is aware of the preparation of this paper. S. B. Hartford, August 15, 1907. [Hartford Times, Dec. 6, iqo6.] REMINISCENCES OF CANTON, JUDGE SYLVESTER BARBOUR. Dedicated to Phcebe Humphrey Chapter, Daugh- ters OF THE American Revolution. LARGE families THE RULE. Rev. Jairus Burt of the Old Center Church — Something About the Old Physicians and Lawyers of the Town. THE EAST WINDSOR SEMINARY. To the Editor of The Times: When, with some trepidation, a few weeks ago I handed you a fifty-year reminiscent article, relating mainly to Hartford, I had no thought of venturing to offer anything further in that line; but, after your very- kind (and I would say, too laudatory) comments on the article, and your expression (speaking, of course, in a general way) that " it is a pity not to have more of these remin,iscences," I felt encouraged to present a second article, relating chiefly to the affairs of my native town. Canton. As some of my acquaintances, whose judgment I respect, and whose candor I would not question, have expressed themselves as interested in contributions of such a sort, may I tender this further one, which, how- ever, you may commit to the waste basket, if, in your judgment, it isn't calculated to be of such general interest as warrants your giving space for it. If, however, you print it, I wish to dedicate it, as I did the second article, BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 43 to Phoebe Humphrey chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The dedication in that case, as in this, is pursuant to an invitation of the chapter, signified to me by its honored regent, Mrs. Dyer. If the history these articles furnish is thought to have any value what- ever for the archives of that association, I am pleased to comply with the invitation, for the regent and some others of the order are natives and residents of Canton, and I greatly respect all the members. In passing, I would like to express the great pleasure I received, as, from the gallery of the Center church of Hartford, I looked down upon the grand assembly of the D. A. R. at their recent convention, and from the addresses delivered, all of which were good. I was espe- cially interested in that of Mrs. Cone, as I had well known her late husband, J. H. Cone, and her father, John G. Mix, and because she is a Hartford woman. Her admi- rable address on Lafayette's visit to Hartford, was recited from memory in a fluent, modest and very impressive manner. And I hope it will not be thought by any of that vast company of women invidious, if I single out one other lady for honorable mention, namely, Mrs. Kinney, state regent. In physiognomy and unassuming, winning bearing upon the platform, she pleasantly re- minded me of Secretary Taft. I hope, in making this comparison, I may offend neither good taste nor the feel- ings of that excellent woman, whom I so much respect and admire. As I thus looked down upon that scene in the church, where more than a half century ago I some- times heard the sermons of the then pastor, the Rev. Dr. Hawes, whose august presence was enough to inspire awe, I thought what a terrific frown would have been upon his face if, in his day of occupying that pulpit, such a spectacle had been presented to his view. I fancied he would have said. " Sisters ! this will never do ! Don't you remember what St. Paul said, ' It is a shame for 44 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES women to speak in the church '? " Well, I don't hold a brief, to defend Paul, nor am I out to condemn him. If he meant that command for universal application, and for all time, I should venture to say that, to that extent, I doubt if he was inspired. My admiration of that pow- erful logician is such, however, that I would rather believe he meant the precept for sole application to the people of Corinth, whom he was addressing, where the circum- stances made such an injunction proper. Perhaps the circumstances were, an adverse, hostile, public sentiment, disregard of which might lead to riot. If Paul looks down upon us, I doubt if he was shocked on seeing his sisters speaking in most of the pulpits in Hartford, on the Sunday following that convention, since the audiences seemed pleased with, and edified by the addresses, the brethren not excepted. Reminiscences. And, now, to resume my reminiscences, which will center very much about Canton. First, I would speak about the so-called learned professions, as represented there; and, of course, the clergymen should have the pre- cedence in mention. The present meeting-house at the center, built by the Congregationalists in 1814, is in place of one upon the same site, built in 1763. A mournful calamity in connection with preparations for building the present edifice was the death of a man very prominently engaged in these preparations, Mr. Orange Case, killed by the falling of a tree, designed for the frame of the building. Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, born in 1758, was pastor of the church at the time mentioned. He was a very devout man, very deliberate and solemnly impressive in his manner of speaking. In those days ministers, as a means of usefulness, and of eking out a subsistence, took young men, to fit them for college. Mr. Hallock did this. He also carried on farming to some extent, thereby CANTON CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AND "CONFERENCE HOUSE" OPPOSITE. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 45 utilizing the assistance of the students, who could thus pay their way, in part. Mr. Hallock died June 23, 1826, having been pastor of the church more than 40 years. He left a son, William Homan, a man of massive frame and kingly dignity. Everybody called him " Squire " Hal- lock, and he was very prominent in Canton affairs, was an ardent abolitionist, represented the town in the lower house of the legislature in 1841, held the office of town clerk when in the forties his house and most of the records of the town were burned in the night time. [Should be 1838, as stated in later article on page 64, "Pepper on Stove."] He left four children, Jeremiah, Wilham, Sarah and Mary, the first named only, a very aged man, is living, residing in New Hartford. There are no male grandchildren, and this branch of Hallocks will soon be- come extinct. Mary left a daughter, the only grandchild. Rev. Jairus Burt. Mr. Jairus Burt, an uncle of Federal B. Bridgman of Hartford [who died February 10, 1908], succeeded Mr. Hallock in 1826, and continued pastor till his death in 1857. He was an able preacher, influential in the councils of his denomination, an ardent abolitionist, fearlessly denouncing the evil of slavery. Actuated by patriotic motives, a large portion of his congregation did not sym- pathize with him in the agitation of the slavery question, and the trials he passed through In consequence were very great. Nothing but a sense of duty could have kept him from resigning his charge. In those days ministers' salaries in the country were very small, but they were considerably supplemented by occasional donations of provisions, and by an annual dona- tion party in the winter, when the farmers would appear with their loads of wood, affording fuel for the year, and with divers articles for family use, and the good women would appear, to cultivate acquaintance with each other 46 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES and the pastor and his wife. The occasions were so happy that they were looked forward to with pleasure. Now and then, of course, the minister would receive a wedding fee, to hand over to the wife for her pin money (as I have heard was the custom), though, considering the ability of the newly-wedded pair, the fees were, presumably, sometimes small. I knew one instance in which it was 25 cents. I doubt not the pay was sometimes an article other than money, and just as useful. Mr. Burt passed through a very sore family trial a few years before his death. His only child, Jairus, died in his early manhood. It was known in the parish that Jairus was seriously sick in Suf- field, where he had been clerking, and that his father was at his bedside during the week. Mr. Burt returned home late Saturday evening; and when, on Sunday morning, he appeared in his pulpit, a load was taken from the hearts of his congregation, as they inferred the young man was better. Mr. Burt had not been able to procure a supply for his pulpit, and he conducted the services in the usual manner, and at the close he announced that Jairus was dead. This remarkable instance of calm self-control under afflictive circumstances Avas equaled about the same time, in the case of another very good man in that parish. When the congregation met at the church on a Sunday morning it was learned that Norman Case's daughter, Fanny, the first wife of John Brown, had died during the night previous, and that Mr. Case, who sometimes made coffins, was at his shop making one for the daughter. Mr. Burt preached a powerful sermon on the last Sunday of his life, during that terribly cold month of January, 1857. The text was: "Who can stand before His cold? " He went to his home from that service, performed a mar- riage ceremony at his house in the evening, was soon after taken with a chill, severe coughing, hemorrhage, became unconscious on Tuesday, and died on Thursday, January 1 5) 1857. Quite naturally some would think he had a REV. JAIRUS BURT Pastor Canton Center Cong-. Church, 1826—1857 REV. CHARLES B. McLEAX Pastor Collinsville Cong. Church, 1843— iS DR. BEN ADAM KASSON Born Dec. 6, 1807, Died Dec. 21, 18 ROLLIN DWIGHT LANE Born Apr. 8, 1834. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES aj premonition of his early death when he prepared and preached that sermon. However that may have been, it is to be said his aptitude for selecting suitable texts and subjects for his sermons was remarkable. Among the instances of this character, I remember, was his sermon at the funeral of Daniel Merrill on the text: "What! Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In the affliction of the family, the preacher would have them remember their great bless- ings. Among its blessings to be remembered was the pos- session of fine, promising children — four daughters and a son. This son, Selah, later became an able clergyman, is now, and for years has been, stationed at Jerusalem under a government appointment, made upon the recom- mendation of Senator Hawley, whose father had married Mr. Merrill's widow. [Rev. Selah Merrill, D.D., LL.D., has been since transferred from the consulate at Jerusalem to that, at Georgetown, Guiana. While at Jerusalem he did much in archaeological research, and discovered the Second Wall, outside of which Christ is said to have been crucified.] A fall of snow of great depth just before Mr. Burt's funeral made it almost impossible to reach the church and graveyard, a few rods distant from the house. Mr. Burt's very dear friend, the Ktv. Charles B. McLean (Governor McLean's uncle), pastor of the Congregational church in Collinsville, preached the sermon. He was a preacher of great ability, and one of the most benignant in spirit I ever knew. I many times heard his father, the Rev. Allen McLean, of Simsbur}', preach after he became blind, in exchange with Mr. Burt. In giving out the hymns they were read from the tablets of his memory, and in like manner were recited passages of Scripture. His discourses were delivered in a very impressive man- ner. I vividly recall one, on the text: "Within three days ye shall pass over Jordan," a sermon on preparation 48 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES for death. The sudden death the next day of my father's distant relative and near neighbor, an aged man, Mr. Levi Barber, familiarly known as " Uncle " Levi, brought to the minds of some who had heard that sermon, Mr. Barber's apparently very thoughtful attention to the ser- mon, as though it was a personal address to him. Mr. Barber was not a church. member, but was a very constant attendant at church, a very exemplary man in his life, and was, I doubt not, " an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile." [Mr. Barber's death is further referred to on next page, under the head of " Physicians.] There have been several successors to Mr. Burt in the Center church, the present one being the Rev. J. W. Moulton. He and his cultured, gifted wife are doing a good work there. If sudden emergency requires it she can go into her hus- band's pulpit and conduct the service, a happy condition of things for pastor and people, in this day, when the fear of St. Paul's adverse declaration is less prevalent than formerly. Canton has been extraordinarily honored in the cler- gymen with whom properly it may be credited. The Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., long-time president of Amherst college, was born there, near where the venerable octo- genarian, Levi Case, resides. [Levi Case was born Janu- ary 4, 1822, and died October 21, 1907.] Including Dr. Humphrey's three sons, his son-in-law, his brother (the Rev. Luther Humphrey), and Humphrey descendants in the Barber and Barbour lines, there have been fourteen most respectable clergymen in the family. The Old Church. The pleasure of an occasional visit to my home .church has mingled with it much sadness. The pews are there as they were three score years ago, but only a very few of the former occupants are there, and church attendance is comparatively small. Then, those pews, and the large BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES aq galleries on the three sides of the church (which have since been removed), were well filled. The large choir in the gallery facing the pulpit was led instrumentally by William E. Brown, on the bass viol, Warren C. Hum- phrey on the violin, and General Jarvis Case on the flute, an accompaniment to church singing I never have seen anywhere else. The congregation, apparently not to seem impolite in standing with their backs to the choir, stood during singing, facing it, that is, all but a very few men, who stood in prayer time. In that day Canton had many staunch laymen, active in helping to maintain church services, Sunday and week days. They loom up in my memory very pleasantly. Among them were those long- time deacons, Lancel Foot and Uriah Hosford, Dr. Chauncey G. Griswold, Elijah Whiting, Warren C. Hum- phrey and Averitt Wilcox. The last named, a very able man in speech, was at the head of a line of five genera- tions whom I have known, Imri Wilcox of Hartford being midway in the line. Physicians. Next I will speak of the physicians. Sixty years ago there were only three local ones in Canton, Dr. O. B. Freeman, Dr. R. H. Tiffany (sometime subsequently a resident practitioner in Hartford), and Dr. Ben Adam Kasson. The first named was a man of kindly manner, rare gentility, much esteemed by many as a physician, and very deliberate in action. I had a memorable illustration of the last named characteristic in my very early boyhood. On the occasion of the death of " Uncle " Levi, his son- in-law, Horace Gridley, came hurriedly to my father's place, and asked that I be at once dispatched to Collins- ville for a doctor, as Mr. Barber had been " taken with a fit." I immediately mounted a horse, not stopping for saddle or blanket, and rushed for Collinsville, a distance of six miles. I feel sure King Jehu himself never trav- 4 -O BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES eled more swiftly, though he Is said on one occasion to have ridden " furiously." People all along the way gazed in wonderment and fear. The first doctor I found was Dr. Freeman, and he would go. As I was the worse for my furious ride, I asked him if I could ride back with him and lead my horse behind. " O, yes, my little man, come right in, and wait for me." And oh! what a wait! I thought the stricken man would die before we could reach him. I don't know that the doctor waited to shave himself, but there was time enough for it before we got started, and then, what distress I was in because the doctor didn't whip up his horse with all his might, and not stop on the way to tell all inquiring people what was the cause of such a hurried call ! Well, the good doctor knew more about " fits " than I did, and reasoned it out, I suppose, that the man was probably dead from the first attack, as turned out to be the case. Dr. Freeman was a republican, and represented the town In the house In 1862, with gre^at dignity. Dr. Tiffany was stately in bearing, and, by polite, gentle manners and a wise look impressed his patients and their friends favorably. He had a drug store in Collinsville, and I remember the honor he conferred upon me in my youth, by an invitation to become his clerk and study for the profession. But the life of the physician, with no time, day or night, he can call his own, didn't appeal to me. In those days country doctors had to hold themselves ready for any service, from extracting a tooth to amputating a limb ; always carrying forceps, and some- times a torturing instrument, called a turnkey, which was operated very much as a derrick is for extracting rocks from the earth. I remember how, on one occasion in my youth, when I was suffering from toothache, I chanced to meet Dr. Tiffany on the street and asked him if he could relieve me. Of course he could, for he was equipped for it, and we repaired to a nearby shed, and out came three BARBOURS REMINISCENCES 51 teeth, as it was difficult to tell which was the offending member. It was a senseless transaction on my part, but tooth-pulling was quicker relief than filling, and scarcely more painful in those days, when dentists didn't use co- caine to enable one to sleep while the dentist did his work. I knew all about the filling business, for I had spent hours of suffering in the hands of Dr. Curtis of Collinsville, who, however, I could testify, was as honest, competent and thorough a workman in his line as I ever knew. In one respect the doctors of that day had an advantage over those of this day, for I think pneumonia and appendicitis hadn't then been invented; if they had, I didn't happen to hear of it. I have always had reason to remember Dr. Kasson gratefully. He was my father's family physician, and I therefore assume I am indebted to him for my introduc- tion to the world. I trust he has long since forgiven me, if, as is probable, there was on my part a manifestation of ingratitude rather than gratitude for the introduction. He carried my mother through many sicknesses, more than one of them of several weeks' duration, when her life for days hung in the balance. He was self-reliant, heroic in his treatment of disease, rarely, if ever, himself proposing counsel, was understood to have a high opinion of calomel as a remedy, though I knew from a little ex- perience and much observation that his little paper packets of Dover powders, so soothing in effect, were much in evidence in the sick room. He was moderate in his charges, never, in his early practice at least, more than 75 cents for the longest drives, never oppressing poor people who couldn't easily pay, never accused of repeating visits to swell his bill, quick to detect and expose imaginary sickness, in which latter cases he prescribed exercise in- stead of medicines, in doing which he would, of course, sometimes give offense. He was sober and stern in visage, brusque in manner, tall and erect in his bearing; and. ij2 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES with his neck elongated by his high stock, did in that respect somewhat resemble Micawber, as Dickens pic- tures him. His mode of travel was unique and attracted much attention. His vehicle was a high-up gig or sulky, often the worse for age and wear; While making calls, his horse would graze by the roadside, and sometimes would stray some distance from the house. As doctors are rarely at home at meal time, on the wing most of the time, the doctor himself would many times receive per- sonal refreshment when making his calls. My mother never lost an opportunity to minister to him in that respect. He had been her personal savior in several sicknesses, and she almost worshiped him. The doctor was an ardent whig, fond of talking politics with democrats, whom he generally fancied he had worsted In the argument — and. If having the last word was proof of victory, he was right in his conclusion. Canton grati- fied his ambition by sending him to the house In 1846. The doctor had sore family trials, beginning with the death of a promising young son, whom he so idolized that he was inconsolable at his funeral. His house in later years was struck by lightning, the bolt entering the bed- • room of his two daughters, occupying the same bed, in- stantly killing one, but the other escaped. Another afflic- tion was the death of his estimable wife, who was a daughter of General Ezra Adams and much esteemed in the community. [The doctor would be proud to know, if he could, that he has now a son by a later wife (Benj. B.), a doctor practicing In Massachusetts.] Lawyers. Canton has had few resident lawyers, nev^er more than one at a time, I think. Orrin S. Case was located there more than fifty years ago, and represented the town in the house in 1853. Because there were not many local > HARBOURS REMINISCENCES r^ attorneys, no one should jump to the conckision that Can- ton hadn't much litigation. Lawyers from out of town often came in to help the contentious enjoy the rich luxury of a lawsuit. I recall one occasion, when those distin- guished attorneys, Truman Smith and Charles Chapman, once came. Delicacy forbids my giving the names of the parties to the celebrated suit, or the offense involved. Mr. Chapman came at other times, once in defense of a man charged with breaking up a session of a large singing school at the " conference house " at the center, by put- ting pepper upon the stove at recess time. This lawyer, as might almost be assumed, as a matter of course, con- sidering his general success as a defender in criminal cases, cleared the accused, but in a very queer way; another person confessed he did the deed. [See further on this incident, item, " Pepper on Stove," p. 64.] General Jarvis Case. Reference, has been made to General Jarvis Case, who for many years was very prominent in Canton affairs. He was born September 10, 1801, and died March 18, 1864. There were some noteworthy incidents (one of them most sad) in his life and In that of his family. His estimable wife, Lucia, daughter of General Ezra Adams, to whom he was married March 26, 1828, died October 11, 1885. Their children were Lucia Helen, commonly called by her second name, born April 13, 1829, died October 30, 1845; Mary Jane, born March 15, 1832, died October 31, 1855; Ann Lucelia, born January 12, 1839, ^'^^ J^^Y 3, 1903; George Jarvis, born -November 15, 1835, mar- ried Sarah Ruth Case, February 20, 1861 ; she died Janu- ary 14, 1902; and Ellen Maria, born November 3, 1845, twice married, first to Edward E. Woodford, September 3, 1867, and, secondly, to Clifford S. Thompson, October 12, 1881. In the autumn of 1845, there was a so-called select school in the " conference room " at the center, taught 54 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES by my brother, Henry Stiles, and Helen was a much loved member. She went to her home from school one evening, in perfect health, was prostrated that night with profuse hemorrhages at the nose, and died. When news of her death came next morning to the school, a scene, was pre- sented never to be forgotten. Teacher and scholars were ovei'whelmed with grief. That community has rarely, if ever, been more profoundly moved by any event. The funeral services took place at the church opposite the school room, the Rev. Mr. Spencer of New Hartford preached the sermon, in the absence of the pastor, Mr. Burt, and many with bowed heads and sympathetic hearts followed the dear one to the grave. It was my great privilege and honor to teach a similar school at that same room, eleven years later, and George and Ann were beloved pupils. The school was made up of yoiing men and young women of whom any teacher might be proud. The disparity in the ages of teacher and scholars was so small, that it would not have been strange if the imperfections and deficiencies of the teacher should have led to manifestations of some disrespect, but, fortu- nately, the teacher can recall no such manifestation, and he vividly remembers with what tearful eyes he attempted to address a few parting words to those much beloved scholars at the close of school. There was in that school a lady whom it seems proper to mention in this connec- tion. Miss Sabra L. Beach, subsequently Mrs. Harvy Godard, of Granby. As she and Miss Ann Lucelia, sub- sequently the wife of the Hon. Edwin N. White (in the house from Canton in 1878), sat together in that school room, they little dreamed of the tie that was afterwards to be formed between them, by the marriage of the for- mer's son, Oren Harvy Godard, of Granby, to the daugh- ter of the latter. General Case organized a military company called the " Canton cadets," was its first captain, and was advanced BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES r^ from that to the rank of brigadier-general of the state mihtia. He was a man of striking dignity and gentility, erect and stately (though of medium stature), such a one as would attract the attention of strangers ; was long prominent in the choir, taking an interest in its pros- perity and improvement, participating in singing schools sometimes held in the winter. He was a whig till the dissolution of that party, and afterward an ardent demo- crat. He began a carefully prepared record of the weather in 1857, and it has been continued by his son, George J., since his death. That record has been pub- lished in. The Times monthly, and has been esteemed for its accuracy. No Race Suicide. The people of Canton have generally been quite obedient to the divine command, given to the original pair, and inferentially, in the apparent opinion of Presi- dent Roosevelt, to all succeeding pairs. Large families have been common. The people bearing our name have not been remiss in that obedience. The spelling of the name in our case, as in the case of some other families, has not been uniform; members even of the same immediate family sometimes thus varying. Well, the craze in spell- ing reform has not yet extended to names of persons, hence everybody is at liberty to suit his own taste as to spelling his own name. The orthography of our family name has been quite variant. In our probate records of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the name is found written variously, " Barbur," " Barber," " Barbar," and " Barbour " — the latter orthography occurs as often as any other, I think. My brother, Heman, led our family in the adoption of the last named form, when, in 1840, he located in the west, where that form of the name was common. In this article, as T mention the name of any person, I use his adopted form of spelling. ;;5 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Doctor Samuel Barber, of Canton, had fourteen chil- dren, eleven sons and three daughters. But, it should be mentioned that there were two mothers,, each having seven children, the first wife's all boys. Think of eleven boys in a family ! There must have been music there, '' to beat the band! " The family of Daniel Barber was very large and highly respected. Only two of the children are now living, Daniel Hiram, and Jane Rood, the youngest. [Mrs. Rood has since died.] The family of Sadosa Bar- ber was large and much. respected. All the children are dead, except Hon. Henry M. Barbour, the youngest child, who resides in the house where he was born. He was in the house in '1880. The daughter, Melissa, mother of Rollin D. Lane, of Hartford, long resided in Collinsville and was much beloved. Family of Alson Barber. The family of Alson Barber is the most remarkable I have known, and seems to me worthy of special mention. He was born May 6, 1792, and died April 5, 1880. He was brother to Sadosa (their father, Reuben, being the first person buried in the Center cemetery) , and first cousin to my father, Henry Barbour. His wife, Hannah Hum- phrey (born December 4, 1796, died April 19, 1877), was a sister to the Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., (spoken of on pages 48 and 71), and sister to my mother, thus pro- ducing double relationship between the children of the two families. John Brown, the martyr, was first cousin to these sisters and brother. Alson and Hannah were mar- ried November 16, 18 14, and the following named twelve children were born to them: Luther Humphrey, Maria, Nelson, Harriet, Sarah, Gaylord, John, Jennette, Lemuel, Mary, Hannah and Martha. All of these children lived to adult years, all were married, and excepting the first named, had children of their own. The only ones now BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 57 living are Luther [Luther died August 17, 1907], Han- nah, widow of Howard Rogers of Canton, and Martha, wife of Ervin Whiting of Southlngton. All because mem- bers of the church In their youth and lived exemplarlly. The parents lived together most happily more than 62 years, and celebrated their golden wedding and the six- tieth annl\ersary of their marriage. At the former cele- bration eleven of their twelve children were present, and at the latter nine were present. Thirty-five grandchildren were living at the time of the former celebration, and all the children were living at the sixty-second anniversary of the parents' marriage. Luther was born September 3, 1815, graduated from Amherst college In class of 1839, and from the East Windsor Hill Theological seminary (succeeded now by the Hartford Theological seminary), in class of 1842. He is the last surviving member of his college class, which at the time of graduation numbered fifty-seven; and only one earlier graduate of that college is living, namely, the Rev. John H. Wells of Kingston, R. L, who was In the class of 1837. The Rev. Henry ^L Field of the class of 1841 Is the only earlier living graduate of said seminary [since died]. jVIr. Barber has the distinction of being the oldest Congregational minister now living in Connecticut. His active ministry was continuous, extending over a period of fifty years, during which he had pastorates In Hitch- cockville (now Riverton), Scotland, Hanover, Bolton and Vernon Center. He was married, August 23, 1842, to Miss Lucinda Taylor, of Canton, and they lived to- gether most happily nearly fifty-four years, her death occurring April 20, 1896. She was a woman of many gifts, and one of the most lovable I ever knew, a true help- meet to her husband in the highest sense of the word. She finished her education at South Hadley seminary, class of 1841, of which she was a member two years, while Miss Mary Lyon, the founder, was principal. Mr. 5^' BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Barber Is now living with his nephew, Rev. Clarence H. Barber, In Danielson. His mind is clear, memory and hearing good, general health quite good, though he is nearly blind and much bowed in form, and unable tO' get about much without assistance. He attended church on the occasion of " Old People's " day, pronounced the benediction, his voice being easily heard by all present. Mr. and Mrs. Barber had an adopted child, Ella, who was to them all that she could have been had she been their own child. She tenderly cared for him after the death of his wife, until she died, November 29, 1904. Mr. Barber was a very practical preacher, Is a man of saintly character and he greatly endeared himself to the people in all the parishes where he ministered. He retains a deep interest in all the affairs of church and state and Is an exceedingly agreeable conversationalist. The second daughter, Harriet, married iVmos Grid- ley, who was one of the fortynlners, who went to Cali- fornia in search of gold. He remained there a few years, and returned to his family, having been successful In his pursuit. Gaylord, the third son (born October 16, 1824, died May 21, 1879), was the first of the children to die, Mar- tha, the youngest child, being then 42 years old, she having been born April 23, 1837. tie was first married. May 8, 1850, to Catharine Hayden, of Barkhamsted, and, secondly, on November 22, 1868, to Miss Jerusha Taylor, a niece of Luther's wife. By the first marriage there were five children, all of whom survived their father. The eldest daughter is the wife of Sherman E. Brown of Collinsville, and the youngest daughter, Cath- arine H., was for twelve years a missionary of the Ameri- can Board at San Sebastian, Spain, engaged as a teacher in a school there. At the outbreak of the war with the United States, the school was hastily transferred over the line into France, where the work of the school was con- BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 59 tinued, and at the close of the war, the school returned to Spain, though Miss Barber's health failed while the school was in France, and she returned home, and died, September 5, 1901. The second daughter is also dead. The two sons of Gaylord are I^ev. Clarence Howard Barber, and Allison H. Barbour, the latter being, for a time, a few years since, a successful teacher in Professor Huntsinger's business college in Hartford, and since that time in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and is professor, having charge of the commercial department in the academy there. Rev. Clarence graduated at Amherst college, class of 1877 and from the Hartford Theological seminary in class of 1880. In college he won prizes in debate, and in athletics. His first settlement as pastor was at Torringford, his second at Manchester, where he remained more than eight- een years, when he resigned to accept a call from the Westfield Congregational church in Danielson, where he now is. In 1885, during his pastorate in Torringford, he was one of the representatives from Torrington in the house, and served on the committee on education. In 1899 he was chaplain of the house, in 1901 chap- lain of the senate. He was married September 29, 1880, to Miss Mary Johnson, of Morris. They have- three sons, Edward, Yale, '05, is a teacher in the Peekskill Mili- tary academy; Laurence, Yale, class '10; and Harold, a student in Danielson high school. Mr. Barber is modest and dignified in bearing; attaches to himself wann friends among the people; active in what concerns good citizen- ship; tactful, sympathetic and helpful in pastoral work; sound in doctrine and judgment; undemonstrative yet pleasing in delivery, having such facility in substantially memorizing his carefully prepared sermons as to be able to discard his manuscript, and thus to have that freedom which apparently extemporaneous, eye-to-eye expression affords. It is safe to predict for him continued growth and advancement in his chosen work. His stepmother is 5o BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES happily making her home in his family. Mary, the fifth daughter of Alson, died several years since, leaving chil- dren, one of whom a talented woman, Mrs. Jennette Lee, is a professor in Smith college, having a husband resid- ing in Northampton. A member of my family in the faculty of that institution informs me, that Mrs. Lee is deservedly very, popular with the students, and is very successful as a teacher. A pleasing story from her pen occasionally appears in some periodical. East Windsor Seminary, In closing, a word about East Windsor seminary building, where Mr. Luther Barber was educated for the ministry. On this day of increased interest in ancient buildings, permit me, please, to suggest how fitting it would be to have steps taken for the preservation of these buildings. They are right on the trolley line, and, there- fore, very accessible. What a boon some one or more persons could confer on deserving people by purchasing the property, and the conversion of the buildings for some charitable purpose, for instance, a home for the widows of poor clergymen. Judge Stoughton, who lives near by, and has long been familiar with the premises, says the seminary proper, and the chapel, are changed very little from their original condition. They are said to belong to Nannie S. Verner, are unoccupied, and pre- sumably for sale. S. B. Hartford, December i, 1906. [Editorial HARTFORD TIMES, Dec. 6, igo^.] Another of Judge Sylvester Barbour's excellent chap- ters of local reminiscences is printed on page 3 of this issue. It deals with Canton, and is worth reading. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 6 1 NOTE. (Data concerninii the family of Alson Barber, supplementary to the foregoing letter.) Marriages of His Children. (Phoebe) Maria to James H. Coe, May lO, 1846. Nelson L. ist, to Zilpah Case (sister of Uriah), September 12, 1846; do., 2d, to Julia Smith, Januan^ i, 1868. Harriet (E.) to Amos Gridley, September 16, 1840. Sarah E. to Lucius Foote, May i, 1844. John, 1st, to Maria Mills, April 4, 1849: 2d, to Susan Vin- ton, June 14, 1869. Jennette to James T. AUyn, November 27, 1851. Lemuel to Susan E. Case, November 23, 1854. Mary to P. Franklin Perrj', April 19, 1854. Hannah to Howard Rogers, December 6, 1865. Martha J. to Solomon Ervin Whiting, January 29, 1861. Children of IVLaria. George, Cornelia, Willie, Charles. , Children of Nelson. Edda J., Delia, John. Children of Harriet. Lucelia E., Kate AL Child of Sarah. Ellen E. Children of Gaylord. Florence L, Clarence H., Adelaide, Catharine, Allison. Children of John. (First Wife.) John M., Nellie, Carrie. (Second Wife.) Jennie, Mary, Herbert. Children of Jennette. Laura H., Herbert, Ethan. Children of Lemuel. Lucy A., Cora H. 62 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Children of Mary. Alice M., Kate, Jennette B., Grace. Florence. Children of Hannah. Stanley H., Ervin. Children of Martha. Carrie M., Josephine B., Lizzie M. DEATHS. Luther H., August 17, 1907. Phebe Maria, February g, 1892. Nelson L., January 5, 1885. Harriet, June 24, 1898. Sarah, August 30, 1883. Gaylord, May 21, 1879. John, April 10, 1894. Jennette, January 19, 1905. Mary, May 14, 1895. Lemuel, Februarys 13, 1892. Lucius Foote, April 23, i860. Zilpah, February 28, 1866. Maria Mills, first wife of John, September 22, 1867. James H. Coe, April 23, 1890. Howard Rogers, February 12, 1894. Amos Gridley, February 24, 1901. Solomon Ervin Whiting, January 16, 1908. S. B. [The Hartford Daily Times, Saturday, March g, 1907.] CANTON REMINISCENCES; TOLD BY JUDGE BARBOUR. Fourth in the Series of Interesting Articles on Country Life of Long Ago. ABOUT THE HUMPHREY FAMILY. To the Editor of The Times: If you and your readers are not wearied with Canton reminiscences, may I add this further chapter? I wish to say, I fully appreciate the great honor you have con- ferred upon me, permitting me to speak to 90,000 readers of a paper so widely circulated and so highly esteemed as The Hartford Times. You give your average daily circulation as over 19,000, each copy of which I assume may be read by an average of five persons, at least. I realize, too, that to make articles concerning local matters generally readable, to some extent they must be of general interest. In area, Canton is a small town, abounding in rocks and hills, yet, in its time it has produced many very staunch and upright men and noble women, some of whom have distinguished themselves in the learned professions, in this and other states; and, being the seat of an exten- sive manufacturing industry, so well managed and pros- perous that its stock is gradually soaring to the $200 mark, a concern furnishing implements of great variety, always, true to representation, and of world-wide use, I think I hazard nothing when I say the town has a good reputation. In giving dates of events, I am careful to verify them. 6-4 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES well knowing that otherwise they are valueless; and, In mentioning occurrences and relating anecdotes, to state nothing that is not personally known to myself, or coming to me well attested, manufacturing nothing for embellish- ment. In that way, I hope I am contributing in some small degree to the enjoyment of present readers, and to the help of posterity in historical matters. Pepper on the Stove. My allusion in my last article to the disturbance of the singing school at the center, by the putting of pepper on the stove at recess time, must have raised the query in some minds, what led to that act, and what happened to the person who came forward at the time of the trial of the accused person, defended by Charles Chapman, and confessed the deed? There had been a division of senti- ment as to who should be the teacher, Mr. Charles Foote or Warren C. Humphrey, both Canton men and capable te.achers, each having many friends, the contest being quite sharp, Mr. Foote being chosen. The confessing person was evidently of the Humphrey party, who had been outvoted. Mr. Chapman had been let into the secret as to the facts, and, presumably on his direction, the guilty one went beforehand before a justice of the peace, plead guilty and was fined one dollar. As the accused man was acquitted, it should no^ seem improper to mention his name (Mr. Thorpe), but I forbear to give the name of the confessing party. He is still living, a respectable citizen, and so far as I have ever heard, has never been charged with any other misdoing. For a long time he had an unpleasant prefix to his name. I spoke in the late article of the burning in the night time of the " Squire " Hallock dwelling-house and many of the records of the town, of which he was clerk, as having occurred in the 40's. It' was, however, in Febru- ary, 1838. I remember the event well, and hearing at BARBOUR'S REMINISCENXES 6S the time, that in efforts made to get some of the effects out, a simple-minded man carried out an armful of fire wood. Austin N." Humphrey happened that night to be on the way from the north part of the town, where was a powder manufactory, carrying a load of kegs of powder, and, as he was anxious to reach his destination before day- light, it not being considered prudent to transport powder in the daytime, when the people might be on the street, he risked the safety of his load by cov^ering it with wet blankets, and passed the burning building unhaiTned. On the 4th day of July of that year, while some young men were preparing to celebrate, by firing an extemporized cannon at North Canton, a keg of powder exploded, fatally injuring Chauncey Moses's son, Harry, who died the next day, and others of the company were severely burned. Not long afterward, the manufacture of powder at that place was given up, the buildings taken down, some of the materials of which wer.e carried to CoHins- ville and used in constructing dwelling-houses. Old Custom. In the early days of which I speak, and until recently, it was the custom to ring and toll the church bell for deaths, first, a short ring, then, pausing a moment, to give information to the community as to whom it might prob- ably be, nine strokes for a man, seven for a woman, five for a male child, and three for a female child were given. Personally I never knew the ceremony to occur in the evening, but am informed that it did a few years since, when Howard Foote's first wife died, adding greatly to the mournfulness of the occasion. At the time of a funeral, the bell was tolled from the time the head of the procession could be seen from the church until the audi- ence was seated in church (most funeral services were in the church, with sermon) ; and then, in passing from the 66 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES church to the graveyard near by, and until the burial was completed. I vividly remember how we would pause in our farm work, when we heard the bell strike, first, to learn whether the dead one was an adult or child, then count the strokes for the age, then speculate as to who probably was the dead person. In the tolling of the bell there was a solemnity connected with death and funerals, befitting the occasion. I suppose there are people who are glad that custom has ceased, but I am not. It seems to me we cannot too often be impressively reminded of our own mortality. In the procession to the church, and in that from the church to the cemetery, when burial was not in that near-by, the horses were driven always in a walk. The modern way, sometimes practiced, of trotting the horses in funeral processions, seems to me like an effort to get through with an unpleasant duty as quickly as possible, and quite unbecoming on so solemn an occasion. In those days neighbors were called in, usually In pairs, to " watch " with the dead at night, for hourly applica- tion of a saturated cloth to the face to preserve the features, a gruesome ceremony I went through with once In my youth. In the case of a much emaciated aged man, my associate, younger than myself, and less Impressed than myself with the awful silence of the dead, made more so by the profound stillness of night in the country, performing the duty put upon us, while I held the candle at arm's length, and with averted look. I doubt if I am alone in this feeling of dread. It extends to the lower animals. If any one doubts this, let him try to drive a horse by a dead one, lying by the roadside; let him drive a herd of cattle over a spot where an animal has been killed, the only evidence of which killing is the blood remaining on the ground, the very sight and smell of which sets the herd bellowing in distress, and otherwise manifesting that distress. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 67 In the early days of the last century stoves had not come Into much use, and the mode of heating dwellings and doing cooking was by a fire in large fireplaces, con- nected with which in the chimney was a large brick, oven for much of the baking. The chimneys were much larger than those of today, that in the house in which I was born, built more than 100 years ago, is nine feet square at the base in the cellar, with an immense fireplace and oven (both now bricked up, however), on the first floor, and an apartment in its side in the attic, for smoking hams. Chimneys of similar size were common in those days, some of which still remain. Churches were rarely, if ever, heated by a fireplace, and not much heated at all, the zeal of the worshipers and their interest in the services being calculated, I suppose, to make them unmindful of the cold atmosphere about them. The women helped out the situation somewhat by their heated bricks and their foot stoves, often quite ornamental articles, about nine inches square, and not quite so deep, made of metal, with per- forated sides, a wire bail, a door in front for putting in a metal pan, in which was burning charcoal. One effect of the poisonous gas, emanating from the charcoal, was to produce drowsiness in the worshipers, which would lessen their consciousness of the cold air about them. At noon- time, to get warm between services (then they had two sermons) people repaired to the " conference house " across the street, a building some forty feet long, in each end of which was ready a huge -fire in a large fireplace. About the time of my earliest recollection, however, box stoves began to come into use, and two large ones were placed in the church, near the front end, with long reaches of smokepipe suspended to the side galleries, running to the back end of the church, an arrangement common in the churches at that time, but very unpleasant for persons sitting underneath the pipe because of too much heat for their heads, and occasional wet, sooty drippings at the 68 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES joints, protected, however, sometimes by a saucer-shaped metal receptacle suspended by wire under the joints. Amusing An-ecdote. Speaking of methods of heating, I might add an amus- ing anecdote. There was an implement in quite common use in families, called a bed-warmer, made of copper or other metal, about the size of a common milk pan, with a tight-fitting cover and long handle. In preparation for retiring, this article was filled with hot ashes, coals, or water, and moved about in the bed to warm it. In the case referred to, the labors of the wife generally kept her up far into the night in the repair of garments that had been vacated for the night (an experience, by the way, common with my dear mother) , and until her hus- band had lapsed into deep sleep, and she had been often cautioned by him, to be careful when applying the instru- ment to her side of the bed, preparatory to her retiring, not to hit him, and seemed so distrustful of her skill in the operation, she thought one very cold night to have a little fun at his expense, and filled the implement with snow, making it as cold as possible, then placed it in such a position in the bed as to touch his person, when he awoke, sprang up, with the agonizing exclamation, " There ! I knew you would scald me some time ! " Pre- sumably, after that, he trusted her not to " scald " him. The First Matches. The introduction of matches, not more than seventy- five years ago, relieved families of much trouble as to their fires. Before that time, when the weather did not require keeping up fires through the night, for warming dwellings, by carefully covering the embers with ashes, fire could generally be kept for kindling in the morning. If this expedient failed, there were different methods for starting fire in the morning. Families who had a flint- BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 69 lock musket, with it could produce a spark, which, com- municated to a sprinkling of powder and tow, or other very' inflammable substance, would accomplish the desired result. Then, there was a punky substance, or tinder, which, if ignited at bedtime, might keep the fire all night, and a pipe-stem shaped, slow-burning substance could be utilized in like manner. But it was not unusual, when a family lost its fire during the night, in the morning to go to a neighbor's to borrow some. And this leads me to speak of the memorable 13th day of November, 1833. During the night before, my parents lost their fire, and at an early hour in the morning they sent my brother, Henry Stiles, then 1 1 years old, to get some fire at a neighbor's, a quarter of a mile distant. While on the way, across the fields, there came that shower of shooting stars, and he returned in deadly fright. I cannot better describe that extraordinary scene than by copying from the weekly CouRANT of November 18 this graphic account: " The sky was for hours filled with luminous meteors, shooting and falling in every direction, crossing each other in their courses, and leaving behind them trains of great length and brilliancy. They assumed a variety of forms, sometimes darting across the heavens like an ordinary shooting star, at others, suddenly making their appearance like a ball of fire, then separating, as if by an explosion, into a great number of parts, and van- ishing like the fragments of a rocket. The exhibition, all agree, was grand and splendid beyond description. The whole sky was brilliantly illuminated, and the meteors so numerous as to resemble a shower of fire. The sky, during the whole time of this remarkable exhi- bition, was bright and without a cloud." In Volume 16 of Encyclopedia Britfanica is this: "The air was thick with streams of rolling fire; scarcely a space in the firma- ment that was not filled at ev^ery instant — almost infinite numbers of meteors; they fell like flakes of snow." yO BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES A few years afterward, there occurred a thunder shower and tornado, very destructive in Canton and else- where. Toward night on Saturday, August 9, 185 i, while we were at work in the hay field, an angry, billowy cloud suddenly appeared above the western horizon, quickly enveloping the whole sky, accompanied by furious wind, of wide extent, prostrating crops and fences, uprooting trees of great size, and doing much damage generally. The pathway of the storm in its greatest severity, how- ever, was not wide; its intensest force in Canton being concentrated at a forest of heavy timber on the western slope of a mountain, a few rods south of the residence of Deacon Lancel Foote, It mowed a swath, so to speak, through that forest, up the mountain, about 100 feet wide, breaking down trees of great size, leveling to the ground everything before it. A little to the westward, right in the line of that gale, Captain Loin Humphrey was at work raking hay, when the wind swept him and the hay a considerable distance. The next day, Sunday, was a busy one for farmers, putting up fences to secure their crops from cattle; and, for days, and until prostrate trees in highways were removed, travel to a considerable extent was through fields adjoining. In some localities in the state, lightning and hail did much damage during that storm. Edward Ackert, of Canton, and another man were fishing in the Farmington river, and had to get into it to protect themselves from the wind and hailstones. In North Canton the barn of Watson Case was struck by lightning, and two steers be- longing to Richard Case were killed. In West Hartford barns were blown down, some twenty were unroofed, and one was moved two or three feet from its foundation. In Windsor hundreds of trees were torn up by the roots, • some twenty barns unroofed, and one woman was killed, by being burled under a falling chimney. The force of the gale was sometimes confined to a very narrow limit. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES yi In SImsbury, in one cornfield, it was confined to tAvo or three rows, sweeping the ground clean of stalks, doing little damage to rows bordering thereon. The Times, in speaking of the storm, said, " The present season will long be remembered on account of the frequency of thun- derstorms, and destruction of life and property." There was an eclipse of the sun (one-fourth covered) In the early morning of July '28, and some people would nat- urally connect that, in its effects, with the tornado. That's a question for the scientists. The Humphrey Family. In earlier articles, I have spoken of noteworthy fami- lies in Canton. I wish now to speak of those bearing the name Humphrey; and, to begin with, I think I may prop- erly speak of my mother's brother, the Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., born in Canton In 1779, in a house located near where the venerable Levi Case now lives. He died in 1861. His father, Solomon, and other rela- tives of the name, were in the Revolutionary war. Solo- mon had fifteen children, his first wife two, and his second (Hannah Brown, aunt of John Brown, the martyr), thirteen, the former and nine of the latter, living to adult years. The doctor was president of Amherst college, 1823-45, while he was rearing and educating his children, three of his sons, Edward P., D.D., Zephanlah and John, becoming distinguished clergymen, located respectively In Danville, Ky., Chicago, and Binghamton, N. Y., and one son, James, a prominent lawyer In New York city, and for several years a member of congress from New York. The latter's wife was Urania Battell, sister of the Hon. Robblns Battell, they, and other members of that noted family, giving to the Congregational church of Norfolk, Battell chapel. John, In college, was called " the Apostle John," on account of his gentleness and goodness. The 72 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES mother of these children was a sister of the Rev. Dr. Noah Porter, president of Yale college. Deacon Theophilus Humphrey (a son of Samuel, who was born in 17 lo), was a resident of West Simsbury, now Canton, many years subsequent to 1750. He had eleven children, a daughter, Hepzibah, born 1767, who married Jesse Barbour; five of his sons, James, born in 1765, died 1830; Alvin, bom in 1769, died 1847; The- ophilus, Jr., born 1776, died 1851 ; Loin, born 1777, died 1854, and Pliny, born 1780, died 1852; were life-long residents of the Canton part of Simsbury, and assisted in the setting off of it as a town in 1806, and were prominent in public affairs. James was a trying justice of the peace, and nine times a representative in the legislature. Le- Roy Jones of Collinsville informs me that when he went to live in the house sixteen years after James's death, the papers then remaining in the house, showing the extent of his participation in public affairs, were numerous. Al- vin was in the house in 1821. Loin (in the house '24 and '29), was a man of keen mind and an interesting talker. I remember him well; he was a noticeable figure on the street, with his long homemade, straight walking cane, extending above his hand several inches. His sons were men of great intelligence and prominence. Warren C. (house '59 and '72), was a pillar in the church, long the leader of its choir, was thrice married, first, to a daughter of General Ezra Adams, a woman of rare amia- bility, secondly, to Mrs. Eliza Ann (Hinman) Moses, a very intelligent woman, and thirdly to Albert Bidwell's widow, whose maiden name was Pike, a very estimable woman, still living in Canton; Loin Harmon (house, '56), having four daughters, Sophia, Ellen, widow of the Rev. David Strong; Emily, widow of the Rev. Ed- ward Bentley; and Fidelia, wife of Major Horatio N. Rust, who lately died in California; all of these daughters, except Fidelia, are still living [Emily died September 2, BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 73 1907]; Mrs. Strong having three sons who are clergy- men; Austin N. (house, '49), having a son bearing his own name and four daughters, the eldest, Jane, being the first wife of the late Hon. Jeffery O. Phelps of Sims- bury and mother of Jeffery O. Phelps, the present judge of probate of Simsbury^ A daughter of the first-named Loin was the wife of the late Oliver C. Adams (house, '52). The said Pliny's son, Pliny Orestes Humphrey (house, '54), was the father of Rollin O. Humphrey (house, '57). The last named is still living, as is his cultured wife, Caroline Mills, daughter of the late Hon. Ephraim Mills of Canton, and he has been prominent in town affairs, serving in most of the offices of the town,- and, until lately, as juror in our national and state courts, much esteemed in that capacity by litigants and lawyers,- and not infrequently selected by his associates for their foreman. Alvin had a son, Dwight, who, like Zaccheus, mentioned in Scripture, was quite diminutive in stature. He was sometimes chaffed because of that, and his reply usually was, " What I lack in stature, I make up in feel- ing," gospel truth, I may say. Not that he was puffed up, haughty, conceited, but courageous, energetic, chuck full of push. He combined with farming, carpenter work, getting out by hand the frames for, and putting up many buildings. People of the present day have little concep- tion of what it was to erect buildings of the style of those common in those days. Now, four or five men can put up the so-called balloon-framed buildings, one stick of moderate size at a time. Then the timbers were much larger, joined together in bents or sections, preparatory to being lifted into position, often requiring twenty or more men to do the raising and great skill in the master of ceremonies, to see that there was no mishap. Mr. Humphrey could direct and command with wonderful skill and efficiency the neighbors called together to assist in the raising. I fancy I can hear his stentorian and in- 74 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES spiring voice, when commanding his assistants. Boys were permitted to attend as witnesses, a treat they greatly appreciated, chiefly, however, because of the raisin cake served at the close of ceremonies. I well remember how we children, in playing in the barn of my father, would run across the big beams, a dozen feet above the floor, feeling as safe as when walk- ing on the ground, because of the great size of those timbers. A man could readily stand and balance himself on them, in pitching sheaves of grain to the upper scaf- fold, Mr. Francis A. Gillette, now owning that barn, which is more than lOO years old, has measured for me some of the timbers. The beams are 10x12 inches, the posts supporting them 11x12, and, as if to prevent posts and beams ever parting company, they are fastened to- gether with three wood pins at each joint, an inch and a half in diameter; the plates and purline plates 40 feet long, supporting the rafters, the former at the lower end and the latter midway between ends, 7x9 inches; the rafters, over 20 feet long, 4x5 inches; ridge pole 6x6 inches, each of these timbers being hewed with axe from one oak log or pole for each timber. The men who pre- pared those timbers and erected that building have re- turned to dust, but their work may be expected to last for centuries longer, as a memento of the way things were done in the early days of our state. It ought to be men- tioned, as a recommendation of Mr. Gillette to President Roosevelt, that he is the father of ten children, nine still living. Dwight Humphrey's lilliputian size was made the more striking when he stood by the side of his tall wife. They had no children. He was a great reader, kept abreast with the times politically, was an ardent demo- crat, taking The Weekly Times, which I often bor- rowed of him, my father's paper being The Weekly CouRANT, whose semi-monthly supplement was a great BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 75 boon to families, filled as it was with carefully selected stoYies and much other good reading matter. Mr. Hum- phrey also loaned me his Congressional Globe, very cap- tivating to me, as it gave me my first intimate acquaint- ance with the great men of that day, Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Toombs, Stephens, Seward, Giddings, and so on. I thought then, and have never changed my mind, that Webster was the greatest man the country had pro- duced. I remember how I had hoped he would be nomi- nated for president in 1852, and how grieved we students in Williston seminary were when, in the autumn of 1852, we received news of his death, hastened, I doubt not, because of his disappointment in not receiving that nomi- nation. He would have had my first presidential vote if he had been nominated; as it was, however, I did not vote for General Scott, his competitor, being away from home teaching school, and waited till 1856 to cast my first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. Scott car- ried but two or three states; but, apparently, his life was not shortened by his defeat. Such a result evidently hur- ried Horace Greeley into his grave. His defeat was fol- lowed by his death after election, but before the meeting of the presidential electors. His case was pitiable, in that in his electioneering tour through the country his speeches in the east were high tariff in character, and in the west low tariff. The Humphreys in Simsbury and Canton have never been at all numerous; but the name has been exceptionally honored. From 1776 to 18 18, when our state constitu- tion was adopted, there were semi-annual sessions of the legislature, in May and October, representatives being elected to each separate session. From 1776 to 1806, when Canton was set off from Simsbury, there were sixty- two sessions, and in forty of them there was from Sims- bury (mostly from the west part of it, subsequently set off as Canton), at least one Humphrey, and sometimes 76 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES both representatives bore that name. From 1806 to 18 18 there were twenty-four sessions, In eleven of which there was an Humphrey from Canton. Since 1818 there have been seventy-eight sessions, In thirteen of which!, one" sixth of the number, there has been an Humphrey from Canton. This is a record of which those who bear that name may well be proud. The three Humphreys in the house since 18 18, whom I have not already mentioned, were the late Alfred F. Humphrey ('76), his son, Fred- erick G. ('01), and Henry ('05). George F., another son of Alfred, was In the house from Bloomfield, in '97. It should be incidentally stated that character has been the test in selecting candidates for representatives in that section of the state. I have never heard any scandal connected with securing nominations or elections, in the way of buying votes in Canton. Alfred and Henry were brothers, their great-grand- father, Colonel George Humphrey, born In 1756, died 1 8 13, was cousin of Deacon Theophllus Humphrey; their grandfather was named George, born 1782, died 1836; and their father was named George, born 1804. The first two named Georges were born In the Canton part of Simsbury, the first named was In the War of the Revolution; the last named George was born* in New Hartford. The name George Humphrey was several times represented In the legislature, from West Simsbury. Alfred married Mrs. Lydia A. Mills, who had been pre- viously married, she being the daughter of Dr. Chauncey G. Griswold and Ruth Mills, sister of Ephraim and Simeon Mills; and Henry married Calcle A. Mills, both of whom are living, she being the daughter of Ellzur, and granddaughter of Simeon. [Calcle died Apr. 19, 1908.] Alfred's widow, an octogenarian, is happily spending the evening of her long and useful life In the family of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Lamphier, Jr., residing In the only stone BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES n-j dwelling-house in all that section, built by the late Volney G. Barbour, of granite, blasted out of a near-by quarry by his brother, Linus Barbour. I wish in this connection to speak of this man Linus. He was a well-known man in all that region, and univer- sally respected. He never married, was (like his brother, Jesse, of whom I have particularly spoken on page 31) a democrat, a great reader, an able debater, though he had some impediment in his speech. Some sixty- five years ago he proposed that shade trees should be set out along the highway, north of the church at the Center, and succeeded in enlisting others in the scheme, which was carried out, and those trees today are a me- mento of that good man's influence and work in a com- mendable enterprise. For a time he carried on the only grist mill at the Center, and, as a boy, I sometimes visited him in connection with my father's patronage of the mill. My father used to say that, of all men, a miller should be an honest man, because there were in the business opportunities to practice dishonesty. The compensation for grinding grain was in the form of toll, a certain quan- tity taken out of a bushel, prescribed by the law of the state. Dishonesty, not often easily proved, could be prac- ticed by mixing in grain of the same kind and of inferior quality. Then, too, it might not be noticed by the patrons of the mill, if the toll taken out was a little in excess of what was legal. In the latter particular there was some- times pleasantry indulged in at a miller's expense, namely, that he had made a mistake, kept the grist and sent back the toll. No suspicion of that sort ever attached to Linus, for he was honesty personified. In the last years of his life he resided in Ansonia, and died and was buried there, in an unmarked grave. While I resided there, some twenty years after his death, I witnessed the disinterring of his remains, which his sisters, Mrs, Russell Bristol and Mrs. Selden White, caused to be transferred to the Can- 78 BARBOURS REMINISCENCES ton Center burying-ground, where are burled many of the family connections. It was not easy to make a mis- take in the removal of those bones, for he was a very tall man, and the undecayed auburn hair was a further proof of identity. So tall was Linus that there was a saying in reference to tall people, " As tall as Linus," and it would have been equally appropriate, in speaking of up- right men, to have said, " Honest as Linus." I was informed that his death may have been hastened by an operation to help his impediment of speech, performed in New York. Death of President Sears. Since the first part of this article was written, includ- ing the incidental reference to the Collins company, Presi- dent Sears has died. While writing that part I had not heard of his serious illness, and thought of him as likely to live many years, and was even then thinking of him, as I often had before, as an ideal man for governor of the state, so graceful in bearing, so successful had he been in governing a most important private corporation. As what I thus wrote was the dictate of my sober judgment, and no way sentimental, L hope it will not seem indeli- cate to let it appear as thus written. And, in the same unimpassioned manner, I wish to add that, in his death, Canton has received a shock, and suffered a loss from which it will not soon recover. Men die, corporations live on, and I cannot doubt that the wise men at the head of that company will be guided In the selection of a worthy successor of the good man, whose death we all sincerely mourn. S. B. Hartford, Febniary 14, 1907. [The position was well filled by the promotion of Mr. Wm. Hill. Mr. Charles H. Smith is the very efficient superintendent, and Mr. Frederick J. Hough, the assistant superintendent.] BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES -jq NOTE. In the foregoing newspaper sketch of the Humphrey families, there is no mention made of a fourth son of Captain Loin Humph- rey, of Canton, namely, Hosea Dayton Humphrey, who was born in Canton, August 3, 1809, and who graduated from Am- herst College. I must have heard in my boyhood of so prominent a man as he was, but, if I did, I had forgotten it. This is per- haps explained by the fact, that he left town for the west, about the time of my birth. In that sketch I mentioned that Theophi- lus Humphrey, the father of Capt. Loin (Loin married Rhoda, daughter of Hosea Case), had eleven children. As a coincidence, I now mention that Capt. Loin had eleven children, who were Loin Harmon, Austin N., Eunice, Hosea E. (died at the age of three years), Hosea Dayton, Warren C, R. Florinda, Sarah E., Susan M., an infant (died at birth), and Eliza L. In going west, Hosea Dayton is said to have ridden to Ohio on horseback. He read law in the office of Henry Starr, of Cin- cinnati, and then located for the practice of law in Crawfords- ville, Ind., in 1832. Wabash College was established there in 1834, ^^^ he became a member of its faculty, being appointed professor of mathematics, the duties of which appointment he performed in connection with the practice of law, until the time of his death, September 18, 1845. On September 23, 1835, at Warren, Conn., he was married to Caroline Starr, daughter of George Starr of Warren, Conn., a brother of Henry. She was born July 8, 181 1. There were born to them six children, all in Crawfordsville, Ind., namely, Henry, George Starr, Frank Warren, Austin R., Flora, and Hosea Dayton, Jr., the last named on January 18, 1846. Henr}' is living in Medford, Oregon (served through the Civil War) ; George is a Iretired farmer, living in Washington, Conn, (in the House in 1871); Frank was in the war from Illinois, was under Gen. Grant in his cam- paign on the Mississippi River, was mortally wounded, while aboard gunboat Switzerland, in the siege of Vicksburg, and died June 7, 1863; Austin served in the war, is a farmer, residing in Warren, Conn, (in the House in 1876) ; Flora died in New 8o BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Orleans, La., in May, 1863. Upon the death of the father of these children, his widow came to Warren, Conn., with the chil- dren, to live with her father. She died in 1853, H. Dayton Humphrey, Jr. This gentleman is a man of affable manners, and genial dis- position. He came to New Britain May 7, 1863, and has since resided there, where he is one of the most prominent and most highly respected inhabitants, and has had much to do in pro- moting the growth and prosperity of the town. He was in the dry goods business there for years, and for a few years past has conducted a large real estate and insurance business, being the leading man there in that business. He is a member of the society committee of the South Congregational Church of New Britain ; one of the trustees of " Erwin Home," an institution for old ladies; chairman of the New Britain water board, a branch of the city government, his position and duties corresponding to those of the president of the board of water commissioners of Hartford; and he holds other important offices, and would hold more if he would consent to take them. He has had very much to do with acquiring water rights and privileges; and the soundness of his judgment in all business, church and social affairs has been demon- strated. On October 4, 187 1, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Harriet Loomis, of New Britain. They have a delightful home, his family consisting of his wife, an. unmarried son, Howard Starr, who graduated from Yale College in 1897, and is now a member of the Parker Shirt Company, of New Britain, and a daughter. Miss Flora Loomis, who is a graduate of Wellesley College. Mr. Humphrey has shown me a large, beautiful mahogany sideboard, known to be at least 125 years old, and that belonged to his grandmother Starr, who pointed out to him the apartment in it, in which she told him the flip was kept, to be served to ministers. It is a matter of authentic history, that in early days clergymen openly partook of stimulating drinks the same as other people, presumably, we may suppose, a pure article, and in mod- eration. He also showed me a unique paper, of which the follow- ing is a copy: H. DAYTON HUMPHREY, New Britain, Conn. His paternal ancestors were natives of Canton. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES gl "FUNERAL INVITATION. " Yourself and Familv are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of H O S E A D. HUMPHREYS at the resi- dence of Ben T. Ristine, Esq., this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Sep- tember 20, 1846." (In former days the letter s was generally added to the name Humphrey.) At first blush, it seems queer to send cards of invitation to a funeral ; but, really, why is it not as appropriate for one to select one's guests when one buries a dead friend, as to select one's guests for a reception in honor of a living friend ? Mrs. Humphrey and her daughter are zealous members of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The latter's eligibility for membership is at least trebly fortified, for three of her father's great grandfathers, Theophilus Humphrej'^, Hosea Case, and Elisha Cornish, were in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Humphrey is proud of the family name, and, as remarked in the sketch to which this is a supplement, the great respecta- bility of those who have borne the name, fully justifies such a feeling. S. B. [Hariford Times, April 30, 1Q07.] ACTIVE AT 79. Dr. Edward Hitchcock, Professor of Physical Culture at Amherst — Judge Barbour Reminiscent. To the Editor of the Times : Accompanied by his picture, there appears in the last Outlook a very interesting article on a widely known man, Edward Hitchcock, M.D,, professor of physical culture in Amherst college. In 1859 that college created a department of physical education and hygiene, which was an experiment in college training. Years afterward Presi- dent Eliot of Harvard university said: " It is to Amherst college that the colleges of the country are indebted for a demonstration of the proper mode of organizing the de- partment of physical culture." Dr. J. W. Hooker of New Haven, a recent graduate of Yale college and Medi- cal school, was the first incumbent of the chair, but, owing to his failing health and death a few months later, Dr. Hitchcock was called to the position, and has filled it ever since, nearly one-half century. There are said to be more than 4,000 men now living, who have received benefit from his instruction. I imagine that not a few of your many thousand readers are among that number, and that such of them as are not readers of the Outlook will be interested in seeing his likeness in your paper. The author of that article, a former pupil of the doctor, says: " Every one of them [his pupils] he has known by name; more than that, he has known each man's chest expansion, and his ' pull-up,' and some forty other listed and intimate physical details, and has rejoiced with him over every least show- BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES g^ ing of gain." His pupils knew him as " Old Doc," and loved him greatly, so familiar with them and so interested in them was he. The doctor's father was for years president of Amherst college, and, by his book, entitled " Religion of Geology," issued more than a half century ago, did much to disprove the common belief that the world was created in six natural days. He showed that the earth's strata dem- onstrated that the work of creation extended over many centuries. It was my great privilege to intimately know Dr. Hitchcock as an instructor in Williston seminary before he became professor at Amherst college, and to have as class- mates his brother, Charles, and Cyrus Northrop, now president of the Minnesota university. I sat at the same table with the latter in a boarding club, the late William S. Goslee of Glastonbury being also a member of that club. Forty years afterward, in 1891, I met the doctor for the first time, and reminded him that I recited to him in Williston seminary, as did a certain young lady, a classmate, whom he afterward married, as T had heard, and I inquired if she was still living. In his quick, quaint way he replied: "She was when I left home this morning." The article I refer to illustrates his comical way of speaking. On a commencement day, when former graduates were greeting the doctor, one of them said to him: " Guess you don't remember me, ' Old Doc' I'm Jones of 'sixty-blank; got a boy in college now." Quick as a flash came the reply: " He's a good boy, Jones, a good boy; better deportment than his father had, but I'm glad to see ye." Many an amusing story is told of the doctor's catch- ing boys at their pranks. For instance, a Hartford graduate, a lawyer, an ex-judge, who was a student at the college, tells me of one occasion when some of the students were out at night on " a lark," the attorney one of them I 84 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES will suppose; and the sentinel of the party called out: " Boys, run ! Hitch is coming," The first time I ever saw Dr. Lamson (afterward pastor of the Center church in Hartford) was at the semi-centennial of Williston seminary, he being the orator of the day. He told of a scrape he was in at the seminary when a student there. The boys were out at night, helping themselves to tempt- ing fruit, and the sentinel of the occasion sounded the alarm, that " Old Hitch " was coming. The orator turned about to the doctor sitting on the stage, and, with one of his happy smiles on his face, said: " That's a true story, Doc," whereat the audience cheered loudly. The doctor is almost 80 years old, still wiry and alert, with snow-white hair, and a splendid example of what physical culture can do for a person. He fitted for college at the Amherst academy and Williston seminary, gradu- ated at Amherst college and the Harvard Medical school, having as a classmate in college Julius H. Seelye, after- ward president of Amherst college, and a member of congress one term, having the distinction of spending only 3 cents as a candidate, for a postage stamp, used, I presume, in notifying the committee of his acceptance of the nomination. S, B. Hartford, April 29, 1907, [The Doctor was born at Amherst, Mass., May 23, 1828, is still in the harness, and joyously celebrated his eightieth birthday]. "^- ^Rnr^\'}° HITCHCOCK ROLLIN O. HUMPHREY Born May .3, 1828 Born August .6, 1827. Classmates, Williston Seminary, 1844. DR. CHAUNCEY G. GRISWOLD. Born Sept. 10, 1792. Died Dec. 26, 1864. Uncle and Niecu. MRS. R. O. HUMPHREY. Born May 14, 1840. [ Hak'ikoku Times, Nov. 30, 1907.] NINETY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY. Sketch of Mrs. Ruth Williams, Who Observed Her Birthday Today at Home of Nieces." To the Editor of The Times: On November 30, 18 14, Ruth Case, now Mrs. Ruth Williams, was born in Canton, the town of my own na- tivity, and today she celebrated her 93d birthday. Provi- dence having thus lengthened out her life, there come to my mind the touching words of Daniel Webster, spoken at Bunker Hill in an address to surviving soldiers of the American Revolution, just fifty years after the battle fought on that historic spot: "Venerable men! You have come down to us from a former generation; heaven has bounteously lengthened out your lives that you might behold this joyous day!" Substituting "woman" for " men " and " life " for "lives," the words may be used fittingly on this interesting anniversary occasion as an affectionate salutation to this venerable woman; and, con- sidering the great contrast between the world as it was at her birth and the world as she views it today, I might appropriately add to that salutation these words, quoted from that address: "Behold how altered! The same heavens are indeed over your head(s) . . . but all else how changed!" Wonderful, indeed, has been the change and the advance in the world during the life of this aged woman, and she realizes it all. Her mind Is bright and her memory clear, and she retains the sprlght- llness of the average woman of three-score-and-ten years. It has been my privilege during the last few months to spend an occasional hour with her, listening to her ani- 86 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES mated, crisp, instructive conversation about old-time mat- ters. She now resides in Hartford, happily spending the evening of her active life in the families of her affectionate nieces, children of her brother Jared and his wife, Lydia (Emmons), born June 28, 18 19, who were married No- vember 29, 1848, namely, Mrs. Georgia A., wife of Henry P. Smith, and Mrs. Edna L., wife of William R. Reid, at No. 48 Oak street. Mrs. Williams was one of the very numerous Cases in Canton, and is the daughter of Robert Case (born June 17, 1779, died November 19, 1861), anci Clarissa Case (born July 15, 1784, died October 31, 1827), who were married March 28, 1804, their children being Robert (born December 22, 1804, died March 18, 1852), Am- brose (born June 11, 1806, died iVpril 26, 1883), Pluma (born April 8, 1808, died February 6, 1886), Clarissa (born January 5, 18 10, died February 13, 1877), Tem- perance (born May 29, 18 12, died May i, 18 18), Ruth (born November 30, 18 14), Jared (born July 9, 18 17, died February 16, 1866), Walter (born December 3, 1 8 19 (time and place of death unknown), Louisa (born April 2, 1882, died October 18, 1828), Savilla (born December 12, 1824, died August 12, 1902). By the father's second marriage there was a half-brother, Sidney (born April 5, 1830, died August 19, 1902). Of the eleven children Mrs. Williams alone survives, a circum- stance sadly impressive to the sole survivor of a large family, as I can testify from personal experience. Mrs. Williams's father's father's name was Simeon, her mother's father's name was Darius. Her mother was a sister of Anson Case (born in 1791), long prominent in Canton ; her father was a brother of the father of Chester Case (who lately died at the age of 95) ; she is therefore cousin of Chester, as she is of Chester's brother Joseph, and is also cousin of the three brothers, Everett Case (who lately died at the age of 94), the late Hon. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 87 Norton Case (father of Dr. Erastus E. Case), and Orrin Case, now living in Granby. Mrs. Williams's father was a cousin of Ruggles Case, longtime and widely patronized blacksmith in North Canton, and staunch democrat of the old school. There are still living three children of Ruggles Case's large family, namely, Edmund in Hart- ford, Henry in California, and Sarah (my pupil), the widow of Horace Vining, living in North Canton, in the family of her daughter, wife of Henry Adams, the much- respected grandson of General Ezra Adams, prominent in that community a century ago. There are many very re- spectable descendants of the general, among whom is his grandson, George Jarvis Case, of Canton, well known to all of your readers as having much to do with the weather, not, however, in the business of regulating and forecasting the weather, a work so damaging to the reputation of a man for wisdom, but in recording and reporting it, as, day by day, and night by night, it puts in its appearance. One of the general's sons, Henry, became my greatly esteemed uncle by his marriage to my father's sister. Mrs. Williams's aunt Elizabeth married Reuben Russell, who with his family and household effects moved to Ohio, locating in that part of it called New Connecticut, making the entire journey in his wagon, behind which he led his cow. This occurred when Mrs. Williams was a small child, and she vividly remembers witnessing the good-by partings and the departure of the emigrants. The aunt died out there in 1850, aged 63 years. Intermarriages between the Cases in Canton have been common, but I have never seen any evidence of that por- tion of the human race suffering any degeneracy In con- sequence. In general thrift and respectability they have not been surpassed in that community. Eliminate the Cases from that town, and it would not rank where it now does. In her early life Mrs. Williams taught school in dif- 88 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES ferent districts in that region, holding sessions every other Saturday, as was then the custom, boarding around, and receiving the uniform wages of one dollar a week. It was my pleasure afterward, in 1852, to have as a pupil in a school in North Canton one of her scholars, Everett Case's daughter, Antoinette, now the widow of George Weed, who was also my pupil, as was his sister Martha Weed, now living with her brother James in North Can- ton. That pay for a teacher now^ seems small, though it was then common for female teachers in district schools; and three times that sum was considered good pay for male beginners, as I can testify from personal experience. If the latter pay was adequate, in my judgment the former was not, for in teaching quality there is not, as a general rule, that difference, if any, between the sexes. I suppose the theory is that man surpasses woman in discipline, though, judging from my observation, I am not sure of the soundness of the theory; but, be that as it may, consider- ing the mettle Mrs. Williams exhibits, I will wager a guess that she was in no wise deficient in government. I don't know when the practice began of having school sessions every other Saturday, or, perhaps, I should rather say, of allowing to teachers and scholars the fortnightly Satur- day holiday. There was no statute for it. Mrs. Lydia Griswold Humphrey (widow of Alfred F.), who has re- cently celebrated her eighty-second birthday, tells me that in her early teaching in Wethersfield, she was given the option of teaching every other Saturday, or a half-day every Saturday, she, however, choosing the alternate ar- rangement as preferable to herself and scholars. In those days it was the common practice for teacher and scholars to join in reading a chapter in the Bible as an opening exercise. I know there is now an almost unanimous opinion that the practice is objectionable, though I don't remem- ber to have heard any objection to it then. The branches of study then receiving chief attention were the three BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 89 R's, reading, writing and arithmetic, and the two G's, geography and grammar. There were, too, daily oral spelling exercises, the classes, sometimes large, being ar- rayed on the floor, " toeing a mark," the member mis- spelling a word being displaced by the first one down the line spelling it correctly. There was great strife to see who would " get to the head " most times during the term, a reward of some sort being sometimes given to the victor, but, if not, the glory was suflicient pay. The book of words used was Webster's " Elementary Spelling Book," beginning with words of one syllable, and ending with those of seven syllables, every one of which selected words should be in the vocabulary of even^ cultivated writer and speaker. The tables of words were interspersed with sentences of a line or two, happily illustrating the meaning of many of the words. Then there were in the book pages of words, arranged in pairs, differently spelled, but identi- cal in pronunciation, with definitions appended, to be learned and recited by the scholars in like manner; and in the back part of the book were short fables and accom- panying pictures, moral in their signification, notable among which was that representing the pilfering boy in an apple-tree, looking down contemptuously upon the owner standing underneath, whose moral suasion being insultingly disregarded, as a final argument, missiles, first pieces of turf, then stones, were resorted to, and were said to have brought the urchin down from the tree and upon his knees, begging the old man's pardon — the book being on the whole of priceless value, suflicient to have immortalized Noah Webster, if he had made no other contribution to literature. I recall with the greatest pleas- ure those spirited contests, and one of my lamentations is that I did not preserve a twenty-five cent book thus won one four-months' term, when, by reason of the num- ber of good spellers in the class, the result was in doubt until the last day. The book disappeared in some way, 90 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES as, to my present grief, did my school books, the spelling book, Peter Parley's geography. Smith's grammar, and Colburn's Intellectual arithmetic, the last named book being properly named " intellectual," the solution of its problems not permitting the making of a figure, but was wholly oral, sometimes lengthy, and was designed and cal- culated to strengthen the intellect by unbroken continuity of thought, a mental attainment not easy to achieve. I didn't realize that such books long afterward would be prized as mementos of the happiest days of life. In good sense I was unlike my schoolteacher niece, Miss Lucy, who can show most of her school books. She has also her father's early reading book, " Easy Lessons in Reading," containing pleasing and instructive fables and stories, edited by Joshua Leavitt, and published in 1823. It is illustrated with divers wood cuts, which are amusing in this day of pictorial art. I find folded in the book, which had been loaned to Judge David S. Calhoun, a letter written by him years ago, expressing his great pleasure in having had " the opportunity of reading it once more," the inference being that it may have been his first reading book. Now that there has developed such a taste and craze for the antique, it would seem probable that there will not hereafter be such a reprehensible neglect in pre- serving the educational implements of childhood, to afford delight in the period of old age. There were added, to the spelling by classes what was called " choosing-sides " spelling matches, in which the school as a whole par- ticipated, the teacher naming leaders, one for each side, who exhibited their estimate of the relative spelling ability of the scholars, as, alternately, they chose their assistants, till the list was exhausted, the victory being given to the side having the member that stood up longest. So much attention given to spelling exercises helps to make good spellers, and everybody, who ever writes a letter or any- thing else, knows the comfort there is in being able to BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 91 spell correctly. In this da}' of stenographers, howe\er, it is less essential to the business man than formerK', pro- vided the stenographer is up in the art, as is probably generally the case. Mrs. Williams speaks of the old church edifice at North Canton, known as " The Independent Meeting House," it being for general religious services, and for all people regardless of sect, though, as she knew it, the services were Episcopal in form. It stood about one mile north of the schoolhouse, on the corner of the road leading to Granby and the crossroad therefrom, to the road going to Bark- hamsted. In a historical address delivered at the Cen- tennial Celebration, Mr. Sears does not mention it, in his enumeration of church edifices in Canton, though of its existence there is no question. In Phelps's history of Simsbury, published in 1845, '^ '^ stated that it was built about sixty years before that date, namely, 1785, and that religious services having ceased to be maintained in it, it was taken down in 1842. It appears to have been the second church built in West Simsbury, now Canton, the first was that at the center, erected in 1763, taken down in 1 8 14, and succeeded by the present house on the same site, dedicated in 1815. Mrs. Williams has no children. She was married to Alonzo Williams, a widower, with children, at Pine Meadow, New Hartford, February 27, 1855. He was born May 28, 1804, and died December 22, 1880. His nephew, Albert (son of his brother, Douglas Williams), was born in New Hartford, December 22, 1828; was one of a family of ten children; in 1853 was married to Helen M. Graves (born in Agawam, Mass., April 14, 1834); was railroad station agent at Collinsville for twenty-five years, from March 17, 1857; carried on the coal and feed business there some forty vears; built a dwelling house in 1867 on the site of an old house long occupied by Mr. Frisbie, near the water tank, on the corner of River road 92 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES and Maple avenue, where his widow now resides. He was a highly respected citizen, for years a deacon and tireless worker in the Congregational church in Collins- ville, and died October 15, 1906. That old Frisbie house was a familiar landmark to me, when sixty-six years ago, as a lad of ten years, I began to drive an ox team to Collinsville, laden with the produce of my father's farm, six miles distant from Collinsville. In these days of high prices, it may be of some interest to mention that that year, 1841, we carried to Collinsville and sold over 400 bushels of potatoes at 20 cents a bushel; among our customers were Samuel W. Collins, Charles Blair, Ben Wingate, Sam Barbour, George Lane, Pliny Humphrey, Samuel Victor Woodbridge, Deacon Horatio N. Goodwin and the father of Congressman Simonds. My father sent me on ahead, following later with the horse team. My return trip was not on foot as was the down trip, but, Barkis like. I rode perched up in the front end of the cart. It was always after nightfall, the up-hill-and-down, winding road being dreary, as there were no electric lights on it, except when I got caught in a thunder shower. There were few inhabitants on the road, Case families preponderating. How my heart throbs, as I recall those toilsome, though happy vears of childhood, doing what I could to assist my father, always burdened with debt, to pay interest and taxes, and support and educate a family of nine children ! But I thank God I was permitted to have just that strenuous boyhood and youth. Mrs. Williams takes great pride in her family relatives, having a carefully kept record of them, which she is pleased to exhibit. Of her brother Robert's children there are living four, Ansel (born December 17, 1826), John Julia, Ann and Martha. Their brother Trumbull (born January 15, 1831) was my beloved pupil, my senior in age, but always abundant in the manifestation of the re- EVERETT CASE Born March 14, 1812. Died Nov. 11, iqo6. CHESTER CASE Born Oct. 9, iSii, Died June 9, 1907. MRS. RUTH CASE WILLIAMS Born Nov. 30, 1814. Still living, in good health. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 93 spect due to the relationship existing between us. Within one month of the close of the school it was my great sorrow to attend the funeral of himself and his father, buried in one grave, the father having died March i8, 1852, and the son, March 20. Mrs. Williams's cousin Joseph's son, Wilbert J. Case and his wife Lucelia (Wil- cox), my pupils, now reside in Hyde Park, Mass. My admiration of that young man's name (resulting, partly, perhaps, from his lovable character), led me to suggest his name for a nephew, my eldest sister's son, born that winter, and the child lived to be proud of the name, as are two grandnephews now bearing it. Mrs. Williams's brother, Ambrose's grandson. Birds- eye Erskine Case (born, September 2, 1878), a practicing lawyer in Hartford, distinguished himself in Yale Law school, graduating from it in 1906, receiving a prize of one hundred dollars, and delivering the Townsend essay on " The International Police Power of the United States on the American Continent," an address in which he forcibly and ably discussed and urged the duty of the United States to exercise that power over the South American republics, if they are to enjoy the benefits they receive from the en- forcement of the Monroe doctrine. As time goes on, the urgency of the exercise of that power over those mis- behaving, scrappy republics grows more apparent. That was not the only prize Birdseye there received for excel- lence in legal scholarship. Birdseye was married July 17, 1906, to Louise Marion Sage of Collinsville. Birdseye's mother, Frances (born December 23, 1849, ^^^^ January I, 1886), was the daughter of Ambrose Case; his father, Emerson Case, again married, now resides in x'\von. Mr. Smith, husband of the niece Georgia A., above referred to, was born October 8, 1852, in New Hav^en, Mrs. Smith in North Canton, October 4, 1853, ^""^ they were married November 13, 1873, in Springfield, Mass.; Mr. Reid, husband of Edna L., was born in Tariffville, 04 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES March 4, 1848, Mrs. Reid August 9, 1862, in North Canton, and they were married in Suffield February 8, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have no children, except as they playfully claim part ownership in the Reid children, living in the same house, and for whom they manifest parental affection; Mr. and Mrs. Reid having eight chil- dren, a pleasing group, William J., Lydia E., Leslie C, Henry W., Savilla J., Malvern E., Stuart I., and Elton R. William has been in the Charter Oak National bank of Hartford four years, having been promoted step by step to the position of bookkeeper at present. Lydia is a stenographer, Leslie in the high school, and the other children in district schools. The Smith and Reid families are most harmonious and delightful in their association, and are enthusiastically devoted to their Aunt Ruth. She, however, has specially adopted Elton, 3K' years old, whom she delights to call her child, who beautifully reciprocates her affection. Mr. Smith's father, Henry A. Smith, a well-preserved man, will be 80 February 16, 1908. Mr. Reid is the son of James Reid of Simsbury. Of the children of Chester Case, five are living, W^illiam, Willis, Frederick, Frank and Rachel. Besides Mrs. Weed and the wife of Dr. Case, children of Everett Case, there is a daughter, Lucia, living in New Britain. Mrs. Williams's husband is buried in the old cemetery in North Canton, as are her parents and many other rela- tives, where she expects to rest by the side of her husband till the resurrection day. She makes no prediction as to the period of time she will sleep in that sacred ground. She is willing to leave that all to her Saviour, assured that in His own good time she will come forth to meet Him. Who will say that such faith and trust are not most beauti- ful? Religiously, Mrs. Williams is an ardent Second Ad- ventist, and is humbly, trustingly and joyfully looking for- ward to the second coming of her Saviour on the earth, when, on the morning of the resurrection, the trumpet BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 95 shall sound and the dead in Christ shall be raised; she being a firm believer in the tenet held by the church of her faith " that death is a condition of unconsciousness to all persons, righteous and wicked, a condition that will remain unchanged until the resurrection at Christ's second coming, at which time the righteous will receive everlast- ing life, while the wicked will be punished with ever- lasting destruction, suffering complete extinction." Mrs. Williams retains her loving interest in the work of the church, reaciing its literature extensively, having been a subscriber to the " World's Crisis " from the beginning of its publication, over fifty years, and to the " Herald of Life " more than twenty-five years. The Second Adventist church came into great prom- inence in this country in the late twenties and early thirties of the last century, when William Miller, a plain farmer, residing in New York state, a profound student of pro- fane history, a disbeliever in a revealed religion, became converted to Christianity, and espoused the Second Ad- vent doctrine, and preached it extensively, and for a time, in Hartford, winning many converts to it, who were popularly known as " Millerites." It was then, and for some years afterward, the belief of those good people, that the coming of Christ was near at hand, and days were successively set for that coming. By this prediction, based on an interpretation of the Bible, a sensation, though of a different kind, was produced in the community, as extensive as occurred a little earlier, when William Morgan renounced Masonry and pub- lished a book which claimed to reveal the secrets of the Masonic order. He mysteriously disappeared shortly afterward, the popular idea being that his disappearance was due to foul play, occasioned by his disclosures. I well remember that years afterward the excitement over that disclosure and disappearance continued, and distressed many good people who were not connected with the order, 96 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES and were prejudiced against it, among whom was my own mother, though she was much reheved by the assurances of her Christian son, Heman, a Mason, that there was no inconsistency between the principles of Masonry and those of Christianity. The Adventists have a church organization in Hart- ford, with a pleasant house of worship on Foot Guard place, and a devout membership, the Rev. Mr. Johnson being their zealous pastor. Mr. William J. Pierce, a man of much culture, saintly in character, and of venerable presence, has long been a pillar in the church, having written a history of it. Any one, liberally inclined in religious matters, must admit^hat this sect finds some war- rant in Scripture for its tenet concerning the future con- dition of the dead, as what sect does not there find some warrant for its peculiar beliefs, if independent passages are relied upon? With the condition of friendly relations now existing between the different religious bodies, no harm to the peace and welfare of society would seem likely to result from the existence of many sects. But, to our amazement, there has not always been this fraternizing spirit manifested. Even my own limited memory goes back to a different situation. I well remember, for example, how Christians believing in a future salvation limited to those dying re- generate, regarded with distrust, and did not receive into fellowship, churches of the Unlversalist faith, who ap- parently find no warrant In Scripture for limiting human repentance and divine forgiveness to this life, and urged In opposition to them, that the effect of a belief in the doctrine of universal salvation was to encourage a life of sin, though the preachers of that faith, no less earnestly than preachers of other faiths, proclaimed the duty of re- pentance and holy living, and the importance of securing divine forgiveness here and now. Divide as we may religiously, 'twould seem that all BARBOURS REMINISCENCES 97 must admit that the L'nl\ersalist and Adv^ent churches In their creeds impliedly pay a beautiful tribute to Jehovah's mercy, exercised though it be in a widely different manner, in the one case by the ultimate salvation of all, and in the other by the extinction of the wicked from the moment of death. Let no one be shocked at the last part of this rerhark, for, if there were such an alternative, would not extinction be preferable to an eternity of unhappiness? If It were permissible to apply finite reason to a matter of divine arrangement, not made so clear by revelation that there should be no difference of opinion concerning It, might it not be said, most reverently, that it seems im- probable, nay, impossible of human belief, that a Being, of whose power and wisdom we have such proof in our- selves and In the universe, can have established a scheme of creation, involving the unending, conscious estrange- ment from Himself of a portion of His creatures, made in His own image? Unutterably horrible! such a sup- position, a seeming affront to the benignity of a God of Infinite compassion! It must have been just that con- dition of soul of which the poet speaks. "Oh! what eternal horrors hang around the second death!" Not a cessation of life, but an eternity of misery — a living death is clearly meant. In further proof of my assertion of the former mani- festation of an un-Christlan spirit between different Christian churches, I quote from the words of Chief Justice Swift, In his " System of the Laws of Connecticut," published in 1795 : '' For near eighteen centuries, the dif- ferent sects of Christians have been quarreling with each other, respecting a religion which recommends brotherly love as the most essential duty ! It is time they began to practice the religion they profess. They ought to know, that no one can have any occasion to quarrel about It, because every one has a right to think as he pleases. May we not hope that the period is not far distant when man- 7 98 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES kind will have sense enough to discern the extreme folly of a religious quarrel?" No wonder that broadminded Christian jurist was shocked and indignant ov^er the quarrels of which he speaks; quarrels mainly over non- essentials, such as nice distinctions of theology, evolved by the different schools, and not material to man's moral well-being; quarrels in which the disputants forgot to exercise that charity which St. Paul so beautifully portrays and enjoins; quarrels in which the participants usurped the prerogative of the Judge on high, and undertook to pass judgment on each other! With what greater amaze- ment and grief the Master himself must have looked down on that spectacle ! In this era of such a beautiful exhibition of Christian charity, a humble layman might be permitted to inquire, why not let it have one other manifestation, namely, in an interchange of pulpit service between the robed and un- robed clergy, such as there is now between members of the latter class? I have never known such an exchange. And, please, why not here in Hartford let the courtesy go one step further, by inviting Rabbi Elkin into Christian pul- pits? He has been heard once in a Congregational church, and his reported utterances, though a Jew, recognized and honored Christ and breathed His spirit. The failure to make such exchanges is not due to any lack of mutual re- gard of the clergy, nor to any probable opposition of their congregations. How passing strange ! these separations, the result wholly of man-made regulations, how out of harmony with the sentiment of the hymn, " Blest Be the Tie," etc., sung in all worshipping congregations, with emphasis on "fellowship!" Such interchanges would tend to still further unify believers, who in heart and purpose are one. Something of a sensation has been produced by Dr. Parker's praiseworthy suggestion of a church, to be made up of all souls who love and strive to serve the Lord, to BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 99 be received into membership, in the observance or non- observance of rites and ceremonies, according to the dictates of each member's conscience. Would not the carrying out in practice of this suggestion bring the world one step nearer the millennium? Most sincerely do I thank the doctor for thus leading the way to the establish- ment of a church, to which all may be admitted who give evidence that it is their ruling purpose and constant effort to live according to the teachings of the Bible, as they understand them ; and I wish he might have the support of his brethren in the ministry, in carrying out that scheme. That's all that's needed to make it a success; the people will welcome it, I verily believe. Greetings to Mrs. Williams. Should any persons be inclined to call to-morrow, Sunday, fore/ioon or afternoon, to pay their respects to Mrs. Williams, I am authorized to say that such calls will be pleasing to her, and that the families with whom she is living will greatly appreciate such a compliment to her. Will not heaven be pleased with such a use of a few minutes of holy time, and with such an exhibition of af- fection to this mother in Israel? I feel that I myself cannot more appropriately spend the Sabbath than by my presence on the occasion, to assist in it as I may be able. Cars on Capitol avenue, Lafayette street. Park street and Zion street, pass within a few steps of No. 48 Oak street. S. B. Hartford, November 30, 1907. [Hartford Tuies. Dec. 2, 1907.] HAD MANY CALLERS. Congratulations for Mrs. Ruth Williams on 93D Birthday. To the Editor of The Times: Mrs. Ruth Williams, of whose history I wrote you at length on Saturday, pleasantly passed her 93d birth- day anniversary on that day, at her home. No. 48 Oak street, Hartford, receiving calls and what the letter carrier was pleased to style, " bushels of letters for Aunt Ruth," about forty in number, all of which her good eyesight enabled her to read herself and greatly enjoy. Among the Saturday callers were Mrs. Williams's pupil of long ago, Mrs. Eliza (Phelps) Wilcox, Birdseye E. Case and wife and Mrs. Julia Goodrich of Hartford and Mrs. Bell Gilbert and Miss Maud Loomis of Granby. She was further honored and delighted by receiving many calls on Sunday from people of all religious faiths, whom she de- lighted, in turn, by her sparkling, witty conversation. Among the callers were the Hon. Henry K. Morgan, in his 89th year, his daughter. Miss Emily, Rabbi Elkin, Major Henry P. and Mrs. Hitchcock, Major and Mrs. William H. Talcott, Judge Leonard Morse, Enos Lane, James H. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lankton, and the Rev. A. C. Johnson of Hartford, and Mrs. Roxy M. Hoyt (daughter of the late Giles Calhoun of Collinsville), and Henry T. Hart, both of East Hartford. Mrs. Williams is in good health, gets about the house, upstairs and down, with ease, and walks out almost daily. S. BARBOUR. Hartford, December 2, 1907. ADDITIONAL SKETCHES. Having in the foregoing letters to the Hartford Times referred only in a general way to the family to which I belong, it has been suggested to me by persons outside that family, that I ought to include in this pub- lication, statistics of the different branches of that family, somewhat in detail; accordingly waiving modesty, I proceed to comply with those suggestions, in the hope that thereby I may furnish historical and biographical informa- tion of some general interest, present and future. As I stated on bottom of page 55, I use the form of spelling the name adopted by the person referred to, the practice of the families not being uniform. HENRY BARBOUR. My father, Henry Barbour, was fifth in descent from Thomas Barber, who came to Windsor, Conn., in 1635, and he was the son of Jonathan and Abi (Merrill) Barber, of Canton, where he was born March 12, 1793. On April 2, 1 8 17, he was married to Naomi, daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Brown) Humphrey, of Barkham- sted, Conn., the marriage ceremony having been per- formed in Barkhamsted by William Taylor, Esq. Naomi was born in Burlington, Conn., where the family then re- sided, September 28, 1794. In the paternal line she was fifth in descent from Michael Humphrey, who came from England, and afterward to Windsor, Conn., about 1640. As in the mingling of the blood in my veins there is some Dyer blood intermixed, I am pleased to say that my mother was fifth in descent from Sarah Dyer, of Weymouth, 102 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Mass., who was the wife of John Ruggles, Jr., and who died May 2, 1687. In her maternal line, my mother was sixth in descent from Peter Brown, of Plymouth, Mass. Immediately upon their marriage, my father and mother began housekeeping at the home of his widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters, in the house latterly known as the Treat Lambert house, situated about one and one half miles northerly of Canton Center Con- gregational church. In the fall of 18 17, they moved one-fourth of a mile westerly to the house afterward long owned and occupied by Loin Harmon Humphrey. In April, 1820, they moved one mile northwesterly to the then one-story house that had been occupied by my father's first cousin, John Barber, father of General Lucius A. Barbour's father, Lucius, where the latter was born July 26, 1805. My father added a second story to that house; the present and long-time past appearance of it being as shown in the accompanying picture. There were born to my parents, children as follows : Clarinda, April 17, 18 18; Heman Humphrey, July 19, 1820; Henry Stiles, August 2, 1822; Lucy, May 7, 1824; Pluma, September 17, 1826; Juliaette, November 14, 1828; Sylvester, January 20, 1831; Eliza Naomi, Feb- ruary 3, 1833; and Edward Payson, September 23, 1834. The eldest of these children was born in the Harmon Humphrey house, the others in the house afterward oc- cupied by the family. That house, and the farm connected with it, now belong to the family of the late Levi Gillette, whose son, Francis A., now owns and occupies the farm across the street, which was originally a part o^f my father's farm, my brother-in-law, Henry P. Lane, having bought it, and built the house upon it, which he occupied several years. HENRY BARBOUR NAOMI HU.MPHREY BARBOUR LUCY BARBOUR LANE PLUMA BARBOUR GARRETTE Parents and Daughters BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES CLARINDA BARBOUR. 103 On May 2, 1838, this daughter was married to Frank- lin Ruel Periy, who was born August 30, 18 13. He was a large-sized, brainy man, possessed of more than av^erage talents and intelligence, positive in his convictions. They first resided in the Widow Spring house, situated a few rods easterly of the Pliny Case blacksmith shop, at Canton Center; then, for a few years, in the Hosea Case house, situated on the hill a few rods northerly of the site of the present schoolhouse of the North Center school district. He taught school winters; and carried on farm- ing in the summer time, on a part of the farm then be- longing to Capt. Loin Humphrey, of which part of farm and Case house the late Giles Sisson afterward became the owner, and he took down that house and built, and for many years occupied a new house on substantially the same spot. Afterward the Perry family for a while oc- cupied the Augustus H. Carrier house, subsequently owned by Cyrus Harvey, of Collinsville, situated midway be- tween Canton Center and Collinsville; and then they moved to Collinsville, where he for years held a position in Collins Company's works. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Perry three chil- dren, Oliver Franklin, October 11, 1839; Esther Cla- rinda, March 28, 1842; and Wilbert Warren, December 20, 185 I ; the first named in the Spring house, and the others in the Hosea Case house. Politically, Mr. Perry allied himself with the despised Abolition party, and then with the Republican party on its formation. He held several town offices, and was esteemed for his upright character and sound judgment. He and his brother-in-law, Henry Stiles Barbour, had a novel experience one winter in the forties, just after the announcement of the invention by Morse of the electric telegraph. Thev traveled in a portion of New England, I04 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES lecturing on the invention, and exhibiting its working by a wire drawn from end to end of a hall, they transmitting messages to each other from the respective ends. They had some difficulty in convincing their audiences that there was not collusion between them as to the messages trans- mitted, until, upon their invitation, individuals in the audience prepared and handed to the operator the mes- sage to be sent. Mr. Perry died December 12, 1878, and his wife, April 30, 1886. OLIVER FRANKLIN PERRY. " He is possessed of an even, most amiable disposition, and maintains peaceful relations with everybody, and is faithful to every trust committed to him. For 44 years he has been connected with Collins Company in its office in Collinsville. On June 30, 1870, he was married to Laura Latimer, of Simsbury, a most estimable woman. She was born January* 14, 1847. There have been born to them two children, Wilbert Latimer, December 31, 1 871; and one that died at birth. On June 2, 1906, Wilbert was married to Helen Bernardine Mahoney, of Hartford. They reside in West Hartford, and he is a rising Insurance man, connected with the JEtna. Fire In- surance company in its office in Hartford. They have no children. ESTHER CLARINDA PERRY. She has had an extraordinary career. She graduated from the State Normal school in New Britain in July, i860; and, with the exception of one year in the interval, has taught school continuously since that time; 35 years in the large graded public school of the West Middle District of Hartford ; being for 20 years its principal, convincing proof of her ability in teaching and govern- ment. She is a woman of commanding presence, queenly BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 105 in visage and bearing, always self-possessed. Her years and labors seem to have made little impression upon her. She retains her connection with the school referred to. WILBERT WARREN PERRY. He inherited sterling qualities from his parents. He graduated from the Hartford High school in 1867 ; from Yale College before he was 20 years old, valedictorian of the class (1871), having among his classmates the Hon. Charles Hopkins Clark, editor of the Hartford COURANT, and Hon. Charles D. Hine, secretary of the Connecticut State Board of Education. For a time he conducted a school for the education of boys for college, in Morristown, New Jersey. He graduated from Columbia Law school. New York, taking high ^rank. He practiced law in Hartford nearly twenty years, demonstrating that he was able to conduct the trial of the most important and difficult cases, civil and criminal. Jointly with Hon. Edward S. Cleveland, he represented Hartford in the House in 1883, and was honored by Speaker Pine by an appointment on the Judiciary Committee as an additional member from Hartford County. On October 6, 1880, he was married to Kate Cleve- land Pratt, of Hartford, and there were bom to them four children, namely: Wilbert Warren, Jr., August 29, 1881; Katherine, March 25, 1883; Cleveland, March 13, 1885; and Franklin, February 23, 1888; the latter dying April 2^;, 1888. Wilbert, Jr., and Cleveland are unmarried. On September 19, 1903, Katherine was married to Harold W. Hough, son of Hon. Emerson A. Hough, of Collins- ville (House, 1903), and they have two children, Perry Tyler, born April 30, 1905, and George Emerson, born June 19, 1908. William and Harold are in the office of the .'Etna Life Insurance company, Hartford; Cleveland is in Washington, D. C, where the mother resides. I06 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES HEMAN HUMPHREY BARBOUR. On October 23, 1845, he was married to Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Merlin and Clarissa (Newton) Merrill, of Barkhamsted, Conn., where she was born May 25, 1824. She was a woman of much talent and culture, a very devoted daughter, wife and mother. There were born to this happy pair ten children, Joseph Lane, December 18, 1846; Henry Merlin (named for his grandfathers), May 29, 1848; Heman Humphrey, Jr., June 22, 1850; James Bolles, December 17, 1851; Thomas Seymour, July 28, 1853; Francis Newton, March 26, 1855; Samuel Barwick Beresford (named for the beloved family physician), February 12, 1857; William Hungerford, November 7, 1858; Frances E., August 2, 1861 ; and a son, October 17, 1863. Joseph was born at his grandfather Merrill's, in Barkhamsted; Henry in Columbus, Ind. ; Heman, Jr., on Windsor street, Hart- ford, in the brick house, then known as No. 40, and now called No. "120; James, Thomas, Francis, and Samuel, on said Windsor street, in the south half of brick house, then known as No. 35, and now called No. 105; the other children (including the second wife's), were born in the brick house on the east side of Windsor Avenue, Hartford, second one north of Pavilion street. (I think these statements as to precise places of birth must be of interest to the families concerned). At the time of Joseph's birth, the residence of the family was in Colum- bus, Ind., but Mr. Barbour was in the Mexican War, adjutant of a regiment, having enlisted at the beginning of the war. He obtained a furlough to come east, to be present at the natal ceremonies. Joseph was named for Joseph Lane, a general in that war. Mr. Barbour was fond of western life and manners — entered much into politics out there ; was in the state senate, and talked of for Congress, anei would hav^e preferred to remain there; HEMAN H. BARBOUR HENRY S. BARBOUR SYLVESTER P.ARl'.OUK inJWAkl) P. BAkHOL R The four sons of Henry and Naomi Barbour in the order of their ages. BARBOURS REMINISCENCES 107 but, that discouraging ailment, iever and ague, then very prevalent in Indiana and the new west generally,^so af- fected his wife's health, that he found it necessary to change his residence ; and he decided to return east, and he located in Hartford in April, 1850. Of this branch of the family there have died, Francis Newton, April 23, 1857; Samuel, November 15, 1859; Frances E., September 9, 1861; the mother and infanc son at the birth of the latter, October 17, 1863; James, October 5, 1869; and William, December 3, 1898. The mother and infant were buried in one casket. On Sammie's tombstone is this epitaph, " Our boys still number seven, five on earth, two in heaven"; a thought suggested by Wordsworth's beautiful poem, " We are Seven." Wil- liam was named for William Hungerford, Hartford's distinguished lawyer, who, on learning of the christening, was so pleased that he sent the father fifty dollars, as a present to the child. On May 9, 1865, Mr. Barbour was married to Myra Ann, daughter of William Frazer Barker, of Hartford, a brother of Ludlow Barker, and to them were born three children, Clarence Augustus, April 21, 1867; John Bap- tiste, June 24, 1869;' and Edith Gertrude, March 15, 1874, the latter dying October 23, 1874. Mrs. Barbour, an estimable Christian woman, had been associated with Mr. Barbour in Sunday-school and other church work in the North Baptist church, in Hartford. She was left a widow on June 29, 1875, her elder son then being only eight years old. For a time she resided in Hartford, until the graduation from the high school of the elder son, then moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where she remained until the graduation of both sons from Brown University. She now resides in Rochester, New York, in the family of her son, Clarence. Some allusion is made in the Fifty-Year article, on page 17, to Mr. Barbour's political work in Connecticut, 108 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES and, in the address a! the funeral of the sister, Lucy, to his philanthropic work, which was extensive. As a lawyer, he was in the front rank in Hartford. He was a power- ful logician, as the late Hon. Henry C. Robinson ex- pressed it, and he relied much on general principles in the trial of his cases, thereby winning some important ones, for which no precedents could be found in the re- ports. He was, withal, a very conscientious lawyer, and would not take a case until he first became satisfied his client was in the right; he declined to bring any divorce case, except on the one scriptural ground — adultery, thereby manifesting his acceptance of the teachings of the Bible, as the rule of his life in all matters. JOSEPH LANE BARBOUR. Joseph's fame as a lawyer and public speaker is more than state-wide. He is most attractive and convincing to a jury, in happiest relations with the judges and lawyers, the sharpest tilts with the latter being quickly forgotten by the participants, because not prompted by personal hatred, but by momentary excitement; impassioned, dra- matic, keenest in wit, and aptest as a story teller on the political platform ; unsurpa~ssed in making and clinching points; and in such demand in political campaigns that no hall can be found large enough to hold the crowds that flock to hear him. His work is always most intense, and, vigorous as he is, he would ere this have collapsed, if he did not in summer time, for a month or two, steal away from his work, into the mountains or onto the ocean where his clients cannot finci him. He is as simple, un- artificial, natural in manner as a child. This is no over- drawn picture of the man, in the delineation of which I believe I am not in the least influenced by the relationship existing between us. Joseph practiced for a while in New Britain in com- pany with his brother, Heman, and was a member of the ESTHER C. PERRY .>**•: JOSEPH L. BARBOUR REV. HEMAN H. BARBOUR, JR. Cousins of the above-named lady BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 1 09 Common Council there for a time. In 1877 he was clerk of the House, and of the Senate in 1878 and 1879. In 1884 he was prosecuting attorney of the city of Hartford. He was a member of the House from Hartford in 1897, when he was made Speaker, remarking in his address on taking the chair, that it was the happiest moment of his life. He belongs to the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar. On June 21, 1871, Joseph was married to Anne Jane, daughter of Oliver and Jane E. Woodhouse, of Hartford, her father then and for years before being assistant post- master of Hartford. Anne was born in Hartford, August 21, 1 85 I. There have been born to this pair five children, all in Hartford, viz.: Frances, July 25, 1872; Robert Woodhouse, February 13, 1877; Richard Joseph, March 13, 1879; Florence Anne, February 19, 1881; and Edwin Parker, May 23, 1886. Frances is unmarried and resides with her parents. Robert is unmarried, and now living in the state of Washington. "On November 11, 1903, Florence was married to Arthur R., son of Rev. Dr. George R. Van De Water, of New York, and they have one child, Dorothy, born December 9, 1904. Richard died July 6, 1880, and Edwin, May 18, 1887. HENRY MERLIN BARBOUR. Mr. Barbour was educated in the public schools of Hartford, and in Trinity College, of which he is a gradu- ate. He Is an Episcopal clergyman, having had pastorates in New Jersey, and is now rector of The Church of the Beloved Disciple, in New York City. On June 27, 1872, he was married to Harriet Deming, and to them have been born these children, Henry Grosvenor, November 15, 1873; Elizabeth Sumner, July 21, 1877; Catharine Hutchinson, xAugust 15, 1879; Margaret Mary Clymer, May 31, 1887; and Myron Wallace Wilson, December 27, 1890. The first named child Is dead. Elizabeth was married to Hutchinson Southgate, January 19, 1898. no BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES HEMAN HUMPHREY BARBOUR, Jr. He received his preparatory education in the pubHc schools of Hartford, and then read law. He practiced in New Britain, Hartford and Norwalk. Conn., from 187 1 to 1880, and was very successful. His success was due largely to his wonderful oratorical gift, backed by in- domitable energy and perseverance, and his great sincerity. He was always working; at night he often wrote out and committed to memory his arguments to be addressed to the jury, so that he might be concise in delivery and have every word mean something. In build and pose he much resembled the " Little Giant," Stephen A. Douglas, Lin- coln's powerful adversary on many a hard fought political battlefield. While practicing law he had had much suc- cess, and his leaving the legal profession seemed to many a mistake, as it involved a great financial sacrifice; but, he hac^ had a visitation from heaven, similar to that ex- perience by St. Paul, and, like the latter, he became con- vinced that it was his duty to preach the gospel, and that was an end of the controversy in his mind over the matter. He was ordained to the ministry, after a preparatory course, and held pastorates as follows, namely: over the North Baptist church, in Newark, New Jersey, 1880- 1886; Trinity Baptist Church, Camden, New Jersey, 1 887-1 888; Belden Avenue Baptist church, Chicago, 111., 1 888-1 894; First Baptist church, Lockport, New York, 1 894-1 896; First Baptist church, Columbus, Ohio, 1896- 1904; and again North Baptist church, Newark, New Jersey, 1904- 1905. His number of pastorates should not be taken as an evidence that he was, as a preacher, unpopular, for, as a preacher, he was much esteemed; but it was his delight to take a church that needed an Infusion of new life, which, in his work, generally resulted In an increased membership, and, In some Instances, in the build- ing of new church edifices. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES m On January 26, 1869, he was married to Frances Emma Luther, of Berlin, Conn., and to them were born three children, James Joseph, December 28, 1869; Ernest Luther, September 24, 1871; and Elizabeth Humphrey, July 7, 1873. On July 13, 1890, Ernest was married to Mertie May Clow, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Neva Vaughan, November 20, 1892; and Olga Clow, October 19, 1894. On October 18, 1891, Elizabeth was married to Frank Lynde. On June 10, 1889, Heman, Jr., was married to Gertrude Annie Mahan, of Chicago, and to them were born four children, namely: Helen Sampson, January ^7> ^§93' "^ Chicago; Humphrey M., December 13, 1894, in Lockport, N. Y.; Roger Merrill, February 28, 1897; and Lorraine O., January 5, 1900, the last two in Columbus, Ohio. In his battling with an incurable, painful malady for a year or two before he died, Mr. Barbour resembled that great soldier and sufferer from a like disease. General Grant, and his heroism, like that of the general, elicited the wonder and sympathy of his many acquaintances, and of the public generally. The general at Mount McGregor was struggling to complete his Memoirs before his death; and Mr. Barbour, from his sick bed, In his affection for his church, painfully prepared sermons to be read from his pulpit. In the great affliction arising from the loss of her husband, there remains to the widow the solace derived from the possession of four bright children, whom she Is struggling to keep together, and properly rear and educate. She now resides at Bloomington, Indiana. JAMES JOSEPH BARBOUR. This son of Heman, Jr., was born in Hartford, in one of the dwelling-houses his grandfather built, on the east side of Barbour street, a street laid out by the latter, 112 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES and named by the city, as a token of respect for him. James went to Chicago to practice law, was there married on September 2, 1891, to Lillian Clayton, and there have been born to them three children, Justin Fulton, December 30, 1892; Heman Humphrey, May 27, 1894; and Eliza- beth, May 25, 1900. On January 19, 1904, he was appointed assistant state's attorney by the Hon. Charles S. Deneen, then state's attorney of Cook County, 111., and now governor of that state; was reappointed by Hon. John J. Healy, present state's attorney, in December, 1904, and became first assistant In 1907. He Is evidently In the line of promotion to the state's attorneyship. He has conducted the prosecution of important cases, with extraordinary ability and success. In moderate stature, and unpretentious manners, he Is like his distinguished namesake uncle, and, when roused for the fray, like him, is a formidable adversary In the court room. From earliest boyhood he has had an ambition to suc- ceed as an advocate. All his reading has been directed to that end. He has made it a point to study the biographies of statesmen, and great lawyers, to read the literature of eventful trials, and, whenever possible, to come Into per- sonal relation with those who have been truly successful in life, so that he may be Influenced by their example and precept. Hard work at all times has had much to do with bringing results. One of the important trials he has lately conducted was that of the prosecution of the ex- chief of police and his attorney, for conspiracy. THOMAS SEYMOUR BARBOUR. He Is a Baptist clergyman, Is a doctor of divinity, and has held different pastorates. He Is now connected with the mission work of the Baptist denomination, being cor- responding secretary of the Foreign* Department, with central oflSce In Boston. On September 4, 1877, he was married to Emma J. White, and to them were born chll- BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 113 dren, as follows: Louise Huntley, September 19, 1880; Harris Merrill, September 6, 1884; Florence White, Februarys 4, 1888; and Gertrude Frances, May 18, 1889. Louise was married to Rev. Randall T. Capen, on May I, 1903. She died March 11, 1904, leaving an infant child. Mr. Barbour's very extraordinary benignity of character is conspicuously depicted on his countenance, and tenderly exhibited in his manners. Such a man must be loved by all who know him. WILLIAM HUNGERFORD BARBOUR. He was educated in the public schools of Hartford, and followed a business life; his last place of residence being in the south. He was married, and there are four children, issue of the marriage: Milton, born in 1886; Genevieve Merrill, born in 1889; William Hungerford, Jr., born in 1892; and Joseph Lane, 2d, born in 1897. He died December 3, 1898, leaving a widow and children. CLARENCE AUGUSTUS BARBOUR. This son graduated from the Hartford High school in 1884; from Brown University in 1888; from Rochester Theological Seminary in 1891 ; and has been pastor of the Lake Avenue Baptist church of Rochester, since 1891. When he assumed this pastorate, the membership of the church was a little short of five hundred; it is now a little over eleven hundred. He is an able preacher, and beloved as a pastor. Bible school work has always been a promi- nent feature in the church, and the school is one of the largest in the city, and, indeed, in the Baptist denomina- tion in New York state. He has also interested himself as a citizen, and has been influential in the change of the Rochester public school system from one that was no- toriously bad, to one holding rank among the very best 114 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES in the country. One of his ambitions at the beginning of his ministry was, to be known as a man's man, and such he has proved to be in the highest meaning of that term. On June 28, 1891, he was married to Florence Isa- belle Newell, of Providence, Rhode Island, and they have four children, born as follows: Eric Newell, May 26, 1892; Ethel Wilbur, August 19, 1893; Myra Seymour, March 3, 1895; and Harold Robinson, August 27, 1896. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Rochester, June 19, 1901. He received the 33d and last degree of Masonry from the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, on Septem- ber 17, 1907. Mr. Barbour is very felicitous on Memorial day occasions. His address at Rochester this year was on the theme. The Immortal Words of President Lincoln at Gettysburg. JOHN BAPTISTE BARBOUR. Mr. Barbour graduated from Providence, Rhode Island, high school in 1887; from Brown University in 1 891; and from the Rochester Theological Seminary in 1896. He has held pastorates as follows: in Geneva, Syracuse and Mumford, New York; and in Erie, Penn., where he is now pastor of the Calvary Baptist church. On July 13, 1896, he was married to Lois Preston Wray, of Rochester, and they have three children, born as follows: Marion Harrison, July 12, 1897; Ruth, No- vember 26, 1900; and Dorothy Wray, April 21, 1905. Mr. Barbour has a singularly strong gift of organization. In all of his pastorates, his systematic and wise handling of the forces of the church has shown large and important results. He is very strong among the young people. He has a genuine gift of clear, concise and forceful utterance, and preaches much without manuscript. He is an ardent BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 115 worker in the field of temperance, in that respect follow- ing the example of his distinguished father. (If, in the divine arrangement, that is permissible, with what delight must the father of these five ministerial sons have watched their careers!) HENRY STILES BARBOUR. This brother was admitted to the bar in i 849, and then located in Torrington, the village part of the town then being called Wolcottville, where he remained till 1870, when he removed to Hartford, and formed a partnership with the older brother, Heman, which continued till the death of the latter. He built up a large practice in Litch- field County, and was so beloved in Torrington, that there was general mourning of the people there when he left. At the meeting of the bar in Hartford,- to take notice of Mr. Barbour's death, the Hon. Frank L. Hungerford, a native of Torrington, a member of the very prominent family of John Hungerford, and in the practice of law there for a time before he came to New Britain, spoke thus affection- ately of Mr. Barbour: "I have known Judge Barbour since my earliest childhood, as I was born in Torrington where he had practiced law for many years, and during my minority he was my guardian. He was the man of the town, and prominent in church matters. Every one looked up to him, and thought when they had his opinion on any matter, they had all that could be gotten anywhere. He was a man of great knowledge and ex- cellent judgment." Judge McConville, who had read law with him, and had been for years in his office, said of him: " he never had an unkind word to say of any one. He loved his fellow men, and delighted to help them. . . . He died as he had lived, a patient, upright, Christian gentleman." The Hon. John Hooker said of him: "He was one of the best probate lawyers in the state." Il6 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Mr. Barbour held the offices of town clerk and judge of probate much of the time he resided in Torrington. He represented the town in the House in 1850 and 1865, and the old Fifteenth Senatorial district in 1870. Prior to that year it had been the practice to allow the lieutenant- governor, as president of the senate, to appoint its com- mittees. That year the democrats had the state officers (Julius Hotchkiss being lieutenant-governor), and the republicans had a small majority of the senators. Mr. Barbour proposed that the senate should appoint its com- mittees, as was the custom in the United States Senate, and that practice was then adopted, and has been con- tinued since In Connecticut. Mr. Barbour was made chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which position he filled most creditably. While living In Torrington, Mr. Barbour was much talked of for judge of the superior court, a position he was exceptionally well qualified for, having the judicial mind and temperament similar to that possessed by the late Judge Dwight Loomis. While in Hartford, his firm was attorney for the Connecticut Valley Railroad Com- pany while it was securing Its rights of way and building the road; and it was attorney for the Charter Oak Life Insurance Company while it was having most important matters litigated; and was attorney for the town of Hart- ford during the time the question of the title to the Stone Pits, a matter so important to Hartford, was being de- termined by a suit in the superior court, the firm associating with itself in the trial, the Hon. Charles E. Perkins, the trial being by jury, and occupying many days, Hartford winning In the sharp contest. On November 25, 1851, Mr. Barbour was married to Pamela J. Bartholomew, who was born December 28, 1827. There were born to them three children, all in Torrington, John Humphrey, May 29, 1854; Lucy Amelia, May 6, 1863; and Edward Willis, May 2, 1857. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 117 The last named, a bright and very attractive child, died May 28, 1 86 1, from which blow Mr. Barbour never re- covered before his own death, which occurred September 21, 1 89 1. Mrs. Barbour, who had been his loving help- mate, and who was greatly esteemed by a widely extended circle of acquaintances, died August 27, 1899. JOHN HUMPHREY BARBOUR. This son possessed a sweetness of disposition, and gentleness of manners that made him beloved by all who knew him. From very early childhood, he had an inquir- ing mind, and soon became a very close student of general literature and the sciences, about which he was a very entertaining conversationalist. His preparation for college was thorough; he Avas for a time in Amherst college, and graduated from Trinity college in 1873, and from Berkeley Divinity school in 1876. In 1899 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Trinity college. He began his ministry in the Episcopal church in Park- ville, Connecticut, and subsequently became a professor in Berkeley Divinity school, which position he held till his death. On May 7, 1878, Mr. Barbour was married to Annie Gray, daughter of John S. Gray, of Hartford, and to them were born four children, Ellen Gray, May 4, 1879; Henry Gray, March 28, 1886; Paul Humphrey, Septem- ber 13, 1888; and a child that died in infancy. On May 14, 1907, Ellen was married to Doctor Walter A. Glines, now doing hospital work In Panama, and on May 7, 1908, ? daughter was born to them, baptismal name, Elizabeth. Henry graduated from Trinity college, in class of 1906, and is pursuing study for becoming a physician. Paul is in Trinity college, class of 1909, and purposes to enter the ministry. Mr. Barbour died April 29, 1900. ri8 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES LUCY AMELIA BARBOUR. She possesses the characteristics of her father and brother John, and, like them, is held in high esteem. To native charm of manners is added much culture. A few years since she established on Beacon street, Hartford, and has since successfully carried on, a private school for fitting girls for college. LUCY BARBOUR (LANE). On November 9, 1846, my sister Lucy was married to Henry Pratt Lane, who was born in Hartland, Conn., February 29, 1820. They celebrated their golden wedding on November 9, 1 896. There were born to them four chil- dren, Albert Henry, March 5, 1851; Sylvester Barbour, January 25, 1859; Willis Augustin, August 28, 1865; and Wallace Stiles, March 17, 1867. Sylvester died June 8, 1864, Wallace, December 2, 1890, and Albert, Decem- ber 30, 1899. The family first resided in Collirisville, where Mr. Lane held a good position in Collins Company's works; afterward for a time he owned and carried on the farm opposite that of his wife's father. He died April 6, 1900, and his wife July 9, 1902. The afflictions of the family, and the characteristics of Mrs. Lane are mentioned in the funeral address, copied from The Times, to be read in connection with this sketch. [Hartford Times, July 12, 1902.] TRIBUTE BY JUDGE Bx\RBOUR. Delivered at Funeral of His Sister, Mrs. Lucy Barbour Lane, at Canton. The funeral of Mrs. Lucy Barbour Lane was at- tended at the Congregational church at Canton Center, this afternoon. Mrs. Lane, who died in Talcottville on Wednesday, was the widow of Henry P. Lane of Can- ton, of which town she was a native and for many years a resident. Her father, Henry Barbour, was a native and lifelong resident of Canton, and was first cousin of the grandfather of General Lucius A. Barbour of Hartford; and her mother, Naomi Humphrey, was a native of Burlington, a sister of the Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., second president of Amherst College, and first cousin of John Brown. Two of Mrs. Lane's brothers, the late Judges Heman H. and Henry S. Barbour, who died a few years ago, were well known lawyers of Hartford, and two of her sisters. Miss Julia E. Barbour and Mrs. Eliza N. Sexton, invalids for many years, were well known to many people in Hartford and vicinity. Mrs. Lane leaves only one child, Willis A. Lane, with whom she resided since the death of her husband, two years ago. The Rev. Clarence H. Barber of Manchester, whose father was first cousin to the deceased, preached a sermon at the funeral this afternoon. At the close of the dis- course. Judge Sylvester Barbour of Hartford, the only living brother, made an address, speaking as follows: Judge Barbour's Tribute to His Sister's Memory. My friends: Before we go to the churchyard, to com- plete these funeral rites, I wish to add to the minister's I20 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES words a few of my own, such as my extraordinary situation suggests, and by way of reminiscence and just eulogy. As you know, I alone remain of our large family. Death first entered it in January, 1863, taking my beloved mother, my father following six years later. In 1875, when the youngest of the nine children was 40 years old, my brother Heman, though the most robust of all, was cut down In midlife, by reason of having for years added to his exacting professional labors philanthropic work, including that of rescuing the inebriate and reforming the criminal. Afterward, one after another passed away, the death of my brother Edward, which occurred seven years ago, leaving this sister and myself alone remaining, each of us wondering which of us would be the survivor. Since December, 1898, when she was stricken with what seemed to be a fatal sickness, she had been an invalid, patiently and calmly awaiting her release, which came to her on Wednesday morning, when, as If dropping into a peaceful sleep, she passed away, at the age of 78 years and 63 days. Added to my deep sense of sadness and loneliness there comes over me a feeling of amazement, such as I would expect to have were I the sole survivor of a shipwreck at sea ; and it Is with no affectation that I say, this provi- dence, exercised in behalf of the least deserving of our family, is a mystery I cannot solve. (That this sister ever manifested a most kindly dis- position, free from every appearance of jealousies, envy, or enmity of any sort toward any one, I think I may truly affirm; and I believe that many, if not all of her numerous acquaintances In this and other communities where she lived and was known would say that she was so generous, so unselfish, that she more than fulfilled the Scriptural Injunction to love her neighbor as herself. As one who knew her well has said of her: "Her thoughts seemed never to be for herself, but always for others." This remark contains no extravagant encomium. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 121 To the sick, the hungry, the friendless she was ev'er a helpful and devoted friend, and the epitaph at the tomb of the self-sacrificing brother referred to would be most appropriate at hers: "Good Samaritan: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." I would that my thoughts might follow these departed kindred into the Beyond; but between it and me there is a veil, impenetrable even to my faith. There remain to me, however, most pleasant memories of them all, and if their death was only the beginning of a new life, I am con- fident it is well with them now, for they lived righteously, and this world is the better for their having lived in it.) It seems to me most fit that this sister should be buried from this sacred spot. This house is the first church edifice she ever saw; here, in infancy, she received baptism from the devout and venerated Hallock, then pastor of the church; here, in early childhood, she first heard the gospel preached and received lasting impressions from the solemnity of the service, ev^en if she did not under- stand the words uttered; here she was a Sunday-school scholar and teacher; here, in mature life, she took upon herself Christian vow^s and spent many of her happiest hours in worship; here, nearly fifty-six years ago, as a preliminary to marriage, she was " published " from the pulpit by her beloved pastor, Burt, the law of the state then requiring proclamation of intended marriage, to be made at least eight days before the nuptial ceremony, by a notice read in meeting or posted on or near the church, in public view; and from here were borne her husband, three children, her parents, and three sisters to the hal- lowed ground across the street, where, with them, she will soon be at rest. Respected neighbors and friends : Now, that the grave is about to close over the last of our family whom you will assist to bur>', I wish to bear testimony to your very 122 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES many kindnesses to us as a family, every one of whom, if they could now join me in word, I am sure would say, Accept our heartfelt thanks, and may the Good Lord richly reward you. And I should be false to my feelings if I did not also express thanks to our beloved kinsman, who, for the second time in the funeral experience of our family, has come here today, to speak to us words so eminently fitting on such an occasion. NOTE. The following is copied from " Trumbull's " article in the Connecticut supplement of the New York Herald, Sunday, July 20, 1902: " Brother and Sister. Mrs. Lucy Barbour Lane, who died recently at Canton, this state, was a member of a very prominent Connecticut family. Her father was a native of Canton, and her mother, Naomi Humphrey, was a sister of Rev. Heman Humphrey, D.D., second president of Amherst College. Two of Mrs. Lane's brothers, Judges Heman H. and Henry S. Barbour, were lawyers in Hart- ford. Another brother, Judge Sylvester Barbour, of. Hartford, is the only living member of the family. At the funeral in Canton, after the clergyman had delivered his sermon. Judge Barbour addressed the assembled relatives and friends. It was an unusual occurrence, but parts of his panegyric are worthy of preservation. He said in part: — " [Trvimbull copies so much of the address as is included in the parenthesis.] S. B. WILLIS AUGUSTIN LANE. This son of Henry P. and Lucy Barbour Lane, spent his early life on the farm. On August 28, 1891, his 26th birthday, he was married to Mary Leveria Stoneburner, of Harbor Springs, Mich. She was born April 11, 1866. There have been born to them two children, Cecille May, February 21, 1893; and Dana Abrams, January 16, 1895; the former died January 10, 1894. Mr. Lane for a time engaged in the grocery business, in Hartford. Financial embarrassment coming upon him, he was obliged BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 123 to suspend, and, without attempting to arrange with his creditors, so as to save something for himself, he made an assignment in bankruptcy, and turned all his property over for the benefit of his creditors. At the meeting of the creditors for the choice of a trustee, there was such an apparently honest showing by him of his affairs, that he was advised by one of the creditors, who professed to know something of the feeling of other creditors, to make an offer of ten per cent., as a compromise; but, he said, " No, my creditors are entitled to every dollar of my estate, and they shall have it." His wife, who had been a considerable financial loser in the mercantile venture, joined with him in the declaration, with the result that the creditors received 42 cents on the dollar, on the closing up of the estate. Afterward Mr. Lane clerked it for a while in Rockville, then was connected with Talcott Brothers, in Talcottvllle, for a time, then became superintendent of the Ellington Alms House; and, upon such favorable report of his reputation in that position as was made, he was applied to to take the position he now occupies, that of superintendent of the Town Home, in New Britain. Without his knowl- edge, I copy from the Hartford Courant of June 4th, from a report of an examination of "that institution, con- ducted by the Mayor, the Charity Commissioners, and a large delegation from the Common Council, these words: " They found the institution conducted in admirable shape by Supt. and Mrs. W. A. Lane. They were all much pleased with the trip, and everything about the building was neat and wholesome The visitors went all through the home, and the inspection was a thorough one." Mr. Lane is an honest man, and there is no danger of there being any graft scandal connected with any official position he may occupy. Mr. Lane Is an Odd Fellow, a member of a lodge In Hartford. 124 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES PLUMA BARBOUR. On November 8, 1848, she was married to Samuel Douglas Garrett, of New Hartford, Conn, (the family now spell the name with the addition of an e). He was born February 8, 18 18. They first resided in Ohio, then in Iowa, and afterward in Maryland. There were born to them five children, Joseph Warren, January 28, 1850; John Frank, January 30, 1852; Florilla Naomi, June 11, 1855; Eliza Jane, March 23, 1857; and Cora Juliaette, June 10, 1859. The father was a great reader, an ad- mirer of General Joseph Warren, for whom he named his first-born child. He and his wife were both possessed of most extraordinary equanimity. If there were ever a spirit of resentment in their minds, it was not allowed to have expression; and, as an honor to them, I prefer to believe that the absence of that outward manifestation was due in part to self-repression. Their self-control was so complete, I doubt if their children can recall a sharp, cross word of reproof ever received from either parent. They governed their children largely by their quiet, uniformly passionless example. How beautifully does such parental conduct contrast with what is sometimes witnessed, where children are scolded and nagged, and thereby made very unhappy at the time of the administration of reproof, and permanently soured in disposition. Mr, Garrette died in Maryland August 26, 1881, as the result of a severe com- pound fracture of his leg, resulting in amputation and blood-poisoning. His wife died in Ansonia, Conn., Feb- ruary 20, 1892. JOSEPH WARREN GARRETTE. Joseph inherits his parents' peaceful traits. He is as- sociated in business with the Bill Brothers Company, of Hartford, expressmen. On April 19, 1877, he was married to Virginia Redhead, of Maryland, born Decem- BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 12c ber 25, 1846, and they have one child, Edward Douglas, who was born August 24, 1880, and who was married to Susan Walker Cowles, of Hartford, on October 4, 1905. They reside in Hartford, and have no children. JOHN FRANK GARRETTE. He has had a successful mercantile business career; is a member of the firm of Miner, Read and Garrette, carrying on a large business In New Haven. On October 15, 1879, he was married to Harriet Harris, of South Egremont, Mass. She was born December 14, 1856; and there have been born to them two children, Elizabeth, October 6, 1880; and Ruth, February 28, 1890. Eliza- beth was married to Frederick B. Ackley, of East Hamp- ton, Conn., on January 14, 1903. He resides in Hartford, and is connected in business with his father-in-law. FLORILLA NAOMI GARRETTE. On April 5, 1875, she was married to Arthur Mun- son; they reside at Sound Beach, Conn., and have three children, Mary Estelle, born January 27, 1876; Rodney Earle, born March 2, 1878; and Myra Ophelia, born March 5, 1880. ELIZA JANE GARRETTE. On February 4, 1878, she was married to Isaac W. Robinson, and the family now reside in Worcester, Mass. There have been born to them four children, Grace Florilla, May i, 1879; Samuel Franklin, September 16, 1881; Ralph, July 23, 1884; and Cora Belle, August 24, 1886. On May 30, 1903, Grace was married to Harry W. Twigg. On March 30, 1900, Samuel was married to Daisey Antoinette French, and they have two children, Ernest Elmer, born January 12, 1901; and Pluma IvOuise, born March 27, 1902. 126 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES . CORA JULIAETTE GARRETTE. On May 28, 1892, she was married to Lafayette Madison Gilligan, of Monson, Mass. They reside in Milford, Conn., and have no children. JULIAETTE BARBOUR. She was tall and comely in figure, and inherited the Humphrey look and energy. She had great business tact and ability. In early womanhood she followed school teaching till she became disabled for it, by reason of chronic spinal complaint; and then, after a few years, became bedridden, and so continued for twenty-six years, until her death. In her intense suffering she always ex- hibited great fortitude and Christian resignation, and, in that way, was a living sermon to all who knew her. She was never married. SYLVESTER BARBOUR. He worked on the farm in boyhood and youth, except while at school. After receiving the benefit of the district and select schools of the town, he was for a time in the Literary institution at Suffield, and finished his preparatory education in Williston Seminary. He began the study of law in Poughkeepsie law school, and completed it in the office of his brother, Heman, in Hartford, as stated on page 9. On November 27, i860, he was married to Frances Amelia, daughter of John Francis and Pamelia J. (Tul- lar) Collin, of Hillsdale, New York. There were born to them six children, as follows: Lizzie Laurane, Septem- ber 21, 1861; Collin Henry, July 6, 1863; Edward Humphrey, May 19, 1867; Amy Louise, September 25, 1869; John Quincy, January 31, 1874; and Frederic Ernest, February 25, 1876; the five last named, in Ansonia, and the first named, in Hillsdale, New York. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 127 Four of these children have died, Edward, February 13, 1869; John, August 15, 1874; Frederic, July 19, 1876; and Lizzie, October i, 1886. This daughter was pos- sessed of a sweet disposition, and had endeared herself to her many acquaintances; her death, which followed a sad and mysterious invalidism that had continued for a year or two, occurred at her grandfather's home in Hills- dale, in the room in which she was born. Collin was named for his grandfathers taking the surname of one and the Christian name of the other. He is in mercantile business in Hartford. On January 25, 1893, he was married to Lena Louise Bestor, of Hartford, and they have one child, Francis Collin, born December 3, 1894. Amy I ouise graduated from the Hartford High school, from Smith College, and from Yale College after a three years' post graduate course, receiving from Yale college the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After teach- ing a few years in Marietta, Ohio, the last part of the time in Marietta College after it beacme co-educational, and one year in the Hartford High school, she became a member of Smith College faculty, and is Greek instructor. She spent several months of 1907 in Greece and other European countries, having as a companion her classmate, Miss Minnie Day Booth, Latin teacher in Miss Lucy A. Barbour's school. The mother of these children was a gifted woman, literary in her tastes, fond of, and an extensive reader of the best works of fiction, having read all of Scott's novels before she was twelve years old. As a letter and story writer, her style was felicitous, and she occasionally con- tributed a pleasing story to a newspaper or magazine. She was much interested in the work of the Hartford branch of the Connecticut Children's Aid Society; and the last work of her pen was a poem, written just before she was taken sick, to be read, and which after her death (which occurred February 6, 1905) , was read, at a meeting of the 128 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES society, held on Valentine day, to raise funds for the work of the society. Her parents and one brother (John), are dead; a sister (Laurania), Is the widow of Rev. John Braden, D.D., who for 33 years was president of Central Tennes- see College, Nashville, a large Institution for the education of colored people; a brother (Rev. Quincy J. Collin), Is residing In Hopklnton, Mass. The father of these chil- dren was a life-long democrat, an extensive political writer, and for a time a member of Congress, during the adminis- tration of President Polk. ELIZA NAOMI BARBOUR. She was a woman of attractive personality, and at- tached to herself very warm friends. In early woman- hood she taught school several seasons. In September, 1 861, as he was about to enlist as a soldier In the Civil War, she was married to Henry D. Sexton, a son of Henry G. and Clarissa (Barber) Sexton. (Clarissa was a daughter of Sadosa Barber, my father's first cousin). News came to the young wife in January, 1862, that her husband was dying In camp at Annapolis, Md., and she went on Immediately, but he had died and was burled before she reached there, and It was too late to locate his grave, as the burial had been hurried. On the sister Juliaette becoming bedridden, Eliza be- came her devoted attendant, herself, not long afterward, being prostrated in like manner, and so continued until her death. Their last years were spent upon cots In a private room in the Hartford hospital. Their years of sad retirement were very much brightened by the visits and ministrations of many very kind and sympathetic friends. Eliza died there June 2, 1900, and Juliaette, December 23, 1891. Like Saul and Jonathan, they "were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not [long] divided." BARBOUR'S RP:MINISCENCES 129 EDWARD PAYSON BARBOUR. In amiability and gentleness of manners, this brother much resembled the brother, Henry Stiles. His early life was spent on the farm, and in teaching in winter, this continuing until 1869, when he sold the farm to Levi Gillette. On April 5, i860, he was married to Emma Jane, daughter of Alonzo Barbour, of Canton. She was born February 13, 1840. There were born to this pair five children, Helen Pamela, April 17, 1861; Frances Amelia (familiarly called Minnie), October 10, 1863; Alice Maud, November 22, 1872; Edward Payson, Jr., November 26, 1877; ^^i^ Henry Alonzo, December 24, 1880. Helen and Frances were born in Canton. Frances died May 26, 1870; and Henry, May 20, 1883. After leaving the farm Mr. Barbour established and carried on a grocery business in xA.nsonia, where he then resided. His three children, Alice, Edward, Jr., and Henry were born there. He died there August 5, 1895, and his wife. May 24, 1903. HELEN PAMELA BARBOUR. ' On January i, 1891, she was married to William L. L. Ellis, of Ansonia, a much respected farmer. There have been born to them three children, Gertrude Josephine, May 26, 1893; Harold Barbour, August 22, 1894; and Ruth Humphrey, November 11, 1900. ALICE MAUD BARBOUR. She graduated from the Ansonia public schools, and from Wellesley College in 1893. She taught in the public schools In Ansonia, six years of the time In the high school; and Is now In Washington, D. C, pursuing a special course of study. She Is scholarly in her tastes. 9 l^o BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES EDWARD PAYSON BARBOUR, Jr. He was educated in the public schools in Ansonia, and is carrying on the mercantile business established by his father. On September 3, 1902, he was married to Agnes E. Hawthgrne, of Ansonia. They have no children. BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF HENRY BAR- BOUR. They were twelve in number (himself making thir- teen), ten of whom lived to adult years and were married, namely, Seth, born in 1788; Clarinda, bom in 1789; Linda, born in 1791 ; Henry (above named), born March 12, 1793; Thirza, born June i, 1801; Susan, bom June 29, 1803; Eliza, born March 25, 1806; Nancy, bom January 16, 1808; Jonathan Sherman, bom in 18 12, and Harvey, born June 24, 18 14. Of the thirteen children two, Abi and Abiah, died in infancy, and one, Pluma, died in her youth, just before she was to be married. SETH BARBER. He was married three times, and there were born to him several children. He early settled on a farm in York State, and died there suddenly more than fifty years ago, dropping dead in the barn where he had gone to feed his cattle. CLARINDA BARBER. She was born in Canton, and on November 11, 1807, was married to Colonel Miles Foote, who was bom in Canton in March, 1788. There were born to them in Canton children, as follows: Laura, June 24, 1809; Henry, September 15, 181 5; Lucius, April 5, 18 17; Eliza M., March 7, 1823, and John Mills, February 9, 1827. Laura was married to Augustus H. Carrier, and HARBOURS REMINISCENCES i -^ i they had one child, I.ucy M., born in Canton in 1848. Henn' and John married sisters, the former, Lemira Woodruff, in 1836, and the latter, Savllla Woodruff, May 13, 1 85 1. Henry settled in Illinois and died there in 1886. John Mills latterly resided in West Hartford, Conn., where he died June 16, 1899. His wife is still living there in quite good health. Their only child is John Mills, Jr. Col. Foote and all his sons were extensive dealers in live stock, the Colonel being a noted horseback rider. At the Canton Centennial Celebration in 1876, he rode at the head of the procession, and was in the saddle most of the day, though then 88 years old. He died September, 1878. JOHN MILLS FOOTE, JR. He takes pride in the fact that he was born in Canton, that important event in his life having occurred January 12, 1858. He has been a resident in West Hartford many years, and until 1907, when he declined a re-election, he had been for years a constable and the tax collector in that town. He has been deputy sheriff seventeen years, having been first appointed by Sheriff Preston, a democrat, though himself a republican ; was then appointed by Sheriff Spaulding for four years, then by Sheriff Smith for two terms, eight years, and in June, 1907, by Sheriff Dewev. As an officer he is efficient and trustworthy, as a citizen, active and patriotic. On October 12, 1882, he was married to Helen An- netta, daughter of Edward Stanley, of West Hartford, and there have been born to them three children, all in West Hartford, Edward Mills, October 25, 1885; Elliott Stanley, April 20, 1889; and Helen Selden, May 30, 1892. Mr. Foote is a 3 2d degree Mason, and his prominent connection with the order is thus shown : Wyllys Lodge, 132 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES No. 99, A. F. and A. M.; Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M.; Washington Commandery, No. i, K. T. ; Conn. Sovereign Consistory, S. P. R. S. ; Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. LINDA BARBER. She was a woman of serene temper, was married to Uriah Hosford, long-time most highly respected deacon of the Canton Center Congregational Church. They had no children. Her mother, Abi (Merrill) Barber (whom I vividly remember as very fond of those brown sticks of hoarhound candy, and as accustomed to sit in conversa- tion, plaiting and re-plaiting her checkered pocket hand- kerchief), spent her last years in her family, and died there in 1848. This mother was left a widow, with a large family of small children, whom she wisely reared. She was a brave woman, sometimes riding alone to Hart- ford, eighteen miles, on horseback, with her saddle-bags, for bringing home goods. On one occasion, she assisted in the amputation of a man's arm, holding the vessel to catch the dripping blood while the doctor did his work. That was before the days of anesthesia, when courage of the highest quality was indispensable. THIRZA BARBER. This sister of my father was married to Isaac Barnes, a highly respected farmer, of New Hartford, Conn. There was born to them one child, Eliza P., July 4, 1833. She was married to Alfred E. Merrill, of New Hartford, May I, 1853. There were born to them four children, Charles Alfred, April 9, 1856; Ida Helen, September 24, 1858; Jessie Eliza, July 26, 1866; and Fannie Kate, November 24, 1870. These children • were married as follows, Charles to Loretta J. Mason, October, 1876; Ida to Charles J. Healey February 11, 1889; Jessie to Stephen T. Kellogg December 28, 1892; and Fannie to Wilbur M. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 133 Beckwith, December 20, 1898. Mr. Barnes died Novem- ber 15, 1865, aged 77 years, his wife died May, 1887, their daughter, EHza, February 14, 1904, and her husband May 5, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith reside in Nepaug, New Hartford, SUSAN BARBER. On March 2, 1825, she was married to Imri Lester Spencer, who was born April 15, 1803. She was a quiet woman, a devoted wife and mother, finding her highest joy in making her home a happy one. Mr. Spencer was a kind hearted man, of pleasing manners, highly respected, much interested and versed in public affairs; was first a whig, then a republican, and represented Canton in the house in 1847, his residence then being in the northeast part of the town, on a high elevation, commanding an extensive, beautiful view. He there carried on farming, and there his children were born. Afterward for a few years, he resided in Bloomfield, and there conducted a general store, then moved to Waterbury and carried on a store there. There were born to this happy pair, six children, as follows, Amos L., December 25, 1825; Susan, December 22, 1828; Hannah, April 3, 1831; Jane, February 16, 1836; Imri A., May 3, 1842; and Jonathan Barber (named for a brother of the mother), August i, 1844; Jane died January 10, 1839; and Jonathan, October 13, 1847. O" September 3, 1852, the daughter, Susan, was married to Franklin C, son of Chester Moses, who was a brother of Chauncey Moses, of North Canton. She died January 27, 1853. The father of these children died September 5, 1870, his wife, March 9, 1888, just before the great blizzard. They are buried in Canton Center cemetery. A note- worthy incident connected with the funeral of the latter is that, while en route for Canton by cars, they became stalled 1.34 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES in snow drifts, and went back to Waterbury and waited for the roads to be opened. AMOS L. SPENCER. He was married to Mary Ann, daughter of Harvey INlills, of Canton, on April 3, 1849. She was born Janu- ary 15, 1 83 1. They resided for years in Canton, and then moved to Manchester, Conn. There were children as follows, Helen Maria (adopted), born April 7, 1856; Susan Mariam, born October 23, 1859; Hattie Jane, born February 20, 1861; and Marion May, born December 29, 1865. (Unmarried.) Hattie died September 28, 1863; Susan died May 13, 1880. Helen was married to Austin Henry Skinner September 25, 1878. He is highly respected, living in South Manchester, Conn. Mr. Spencer died there September 20, 1894, and his wife, June 13, 1898. Two sons, born 1855 and 1856, died in infancy. HANNAH SPENCER. She is unmarried and resides in Waterbury. She had a memorable and frightful experience on the evening of February 20, 1848, when Amos, Susan and herself were descending the winding, steep hill southerly of their house, to make a call upon a neighbor, and their horse, becoming frightened, ran furiously and threw them out, Hannah striking upon a rock, and receiving a serious compound fracture of her limb ; in consequence of which injuries she was confined for weeks before she was able to walk. Hartford's distinguished surgeon, Doctor Pinckney W. Ellsworth, assisted Doctor Kasson, the family physician, in the treatment of the case. IMRI A. SPENCER. He early enlisted in the Civil War, was in Company F, 14th Conn. Volunteers, of which regiment Dwight Morris, of Bridgeport, was the first Colonel, Adjutant Theodore G. Ellis, of Hartford, succeeding him as BARBOLRS REMINISCENCES j^r Colonel. Imri was wounded in the thigh December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.; was captured at Reams Station, Va., August 25. 1864; was confined in Libby, Belle Isle and Salisbury prisons for six months; and was paroled at Goldsboro, North Carolina, February 27, 1865. As prisoner he received the poor treatment usual in Confederate prisons, having, perhaps, as he expresses it, as good food as the Confederate government, in its straitened circumstances, could spare from its own army. That regiment was in thirty-three engagements, in nineteen of which Mr. Spencer participated. Mr. Spencer belongs to the G. A. R., the Odd Fellows and Royal Arcanum, and has held official positions therein. He has held several important political offices In Water- bury; is active in church matters; and is held in high es- teem for his integrity and good judgment. He was asso- ciated with his father in mercantile business, and is now conducting there a grain and feed business. On December 20, 1865, he was married to Christiana Whiton, of Bloomfield, who was born September 21, 1844, and there have been born to them two children, Antoinette Whiton, April, 1869; and Alice Winifred, February 16, 1871; the former died July, 1871; Alice was married on June 10, 1897, to Davis Rich, and to them were bom two children, Josephine Spencer and F.velyn Spencer, aged now respectively three and one-half and two years. ELIZA BARBOUR. On October 25, 1831, she was married to Henry A. Adams, of Canton, Conn. He was the son of General Ezra Adams. They went to Skaneateles, New^ York, and bought and settled upon a farm. To them were born two children, Emerson H., March 22, 1838; and Ella Maria, June 3, 1847. ^^^- Adams died November 5, 1856, his wife survived him thirty-two years, her death occurring May i, i888.# 1^6 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES EMERSON H. ADAMS. On October 2,18 60, he was married to Annette Austin, who was born February 25, 1838, and to them were born three children, Warren Austin, September 14, 1861; Henry Emerson, January 27, 1864; and Spencer Lional, June 12, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are living, he having succeeded his father on the farm; and for several years past he has been much engaged in banking business, being secrecai*y and treasurer of the Skaneateles Savings Bank. He is much interested in church and town matters, and is highly esteemed for his good judgment. WARREN AUSTIN ADAMS. He is German professor in Dartmouth College; is married and has two children, Austin L., born August 27, 1897; and Henry, born June 15, 1904. HENRY EMERSON ADAMS. He is a professor in a high school in Maryland. SPENCER LIONAL ADAMS. He is a successful lawyer in Chicago, and is said to be amassing wealth. ELLA MARIA ADAMS. This daughter was married to Hubbard W. Cleave- land, of Skaneateles, and died March 25, 1901. Her death brought a sore affliction upon that otherwise very happy family, exceptionally favored of heaven. NANCY BARBER. On March 2, 1830, she was married to William Ely Brown, of Canton, who was born November 27, 1807, and to them were born fiv^e children, namely, a daughter, August 29, 1832; Catharine Eliza, March 26, 1835; BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 137 Eliza Ann, July 21, 1845; Sherman Ely, May i, 1847; and a son, November 30, 1849. The first named child and last named child died at birth. Eliza Ann died June 14, 1846. Catharine was a pupil of mine in the North Canton School. She was a sedate, thoughtful, and at- tractive young woman. She was married to Nelson J. Church on March 18, 1862. Her death, which occurred March, 1875, cast a gloom over the community. Mr. Brown was the son of Abiel Brown, famed for his genealogical sketches of Canton families. There were three other sons of Abiel, Selden H., John and Elizur O.; the father and four sons long living almost within a stone's throw of each other. Abiel was the brother of the father of John Brown, of national fame. William Ely was a man of few, and very deliberately spoken words, which, however, were always pertinent. Mentally he kept in close touch with all public matters, of religious, civil, and political interest. He was a whig, then a republican, and represented the town in the house in 1865. I have spoken on page 49 of the novel custom in the Canton Center Congregational Church, of having, as an addition to the large choir, an instrumental accom- paniment of the bass-viol, violin and flute, Mr. Brown playing on the bass-viol. Such a spectacle today would be pleasing to an audience. Mr. Brown's wife died October 25, 1879, ^"^ ^e died July 29, 1895. SHERMAN ELY BROWN. He was born in Canton, in the house where his par- ents had so long lived, receiving at his christening a part of his father's name and a part of his mother's brother's name. He spent his early life on the paternal farm; since that time he has resided at Canton Center and in Collinsville, engaged in milling and feed business. He has held several town ofl^ces, and filled them acceptably. On November 26, 1868, he was married to Florence 138 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES I., daughter of Gaylord Barber, of Canton. She is a sister of the Rev. Clarence H. Barber, There have been born to this pair four children, Nellie Catharine, January 1 8, 1 871; Kate Eliza, December 8, 1874; William Gay- lord, August 25, 1879; and Estella Irene, March 11, 1893. William follows the business of his father, lately in Manchester, and now in Berlin, Conn. JONATHAN SHERMAN BARBER. He was married to Statira Church. For years he was a consumptive invalid, and died from that disease in June, 1847, ^t the home of his sister, Susan, wife of Imri L. Spencer. He left no children. His widow married Har- mon Hamlin, a much respected man. They resided in the white Colonial house, near Canton railroad depot, at- tractive by reason of its tall pillars. HARVEY BARBER. On March 19, 1833, he was married to Lorinda Case, sister of Uriah. She was born April 3, 18 16. They were prosperous, highly respected persons; and for several years they owned and carried on a fine farm at North Canton. They then moved to Collinsville. There were born to them two children, Henrietta, July 10, 1837; and Willard J., November 21, 1850. On June 11, 1855, Henrietta was married to Rollin O. Humphrey, of Col- linsville, and to them were born two children, the first dying at birth, May 6, 1856, the other, Henry Rollin, died September 24, 1857, aged five months; Henrietta died May 8, 1857; her father died September 14, and her mother, October 12, 1859. WILLARD J. BARBER. On May 8, 1871, he was married to Henrietta Lin- coln, who was born February 4, 1851, and there were born to them three children, Lenore, March 15, 1873; BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 139 Jane, October 21, 1882; and Harvey, January 9, 1883. Harvey, died September, 1883; Lenore, November 4, 1898, and Willard's wife, on April 5, 1908. Mr. Barber resided in Canton for years, and worked for Collins Com- pany. He now resides at Ipswich, Massachusetts. BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MY MOTHER. In all, my mother's father had fifteen children, two by his first wife (Lucy Case), namely, Horace (who died 1855), and Solomon (who died 1830) ; and thirteen by his second wife [Hainiah Broun) ^ of which latter number my mother was one, and four of them died in infancy, — the other eight were, Heman (see pages 48, 56 and 71) ; Lucy, (born 178 i, married Jason Squires and died 1809) ; Luther, a clergyman (born 1783, twice married, left no children;) Clarinda, (born 1789, married Harvey Web- ster, of Farmington, had one child, Candace, whose daughter is the wife of Asa L. Case, son of Levi, residing in the house in which Levi lived and died) ; Candace, (born 1792, unmarried) ; Hannah, (wife of Alson Bar- ber, see page 56) ; Electa, (born 1799, married Sidney Hart, of Burlington, left no children) ; and Harriet, (born 1802, unmarried) . COLLATERAL RELATIVES OF HENRY BARBOUR SADOSA BARBER. He was the first cousin of my father; was the son of Reuben, whose body was the first burled in Canton Center cemetery. Reuben was in the Revolutionary war, and when he came home at the close of the war his pay is said to have consisted of a fifty dollar bill of Continental currency. It proved to have no value; and sometime afterward he lighted his pipe with it. Sadosa was born January 31, 1781, and on February 4, 1802 he was married to Sarah Cleveland, who was born August 8, 1784, and who was first cousin of Governor Chauncey F. Cleveland, and sixth cousin to President Grover Cleveland. There were born to Sadosa and Sarah ten children, Melissa, April 3, 1803; Sterling J., June 30, 1804; Ansel S., July 8, 1806; Sophronia, July 23, 1808; Clarissa, February 11, 181 1; Fannie L., September 4, t8i8; Fanny E., February 14, 1820; Lucius L., July 17, 1822; Jasper E., August 11, 1824; a.nd Henry Martin, December 14, 1832. Fanny L. died in infancy, on May 17, 1819. The other children were married, as follows, Melissa, to David Lane in 1831 ; Sterling to Pluma P. Mills; Ansel to Mary Chapman; Sophronia, to Samuel Victor Wood- bridge: Clarissa to Henry G. Sexton; Fannie E., to James Clark; Lucius to Celia Chapman; Jasper E., to Marie P. Bowers; and Henry to Melissa E. Lee on February 15, 1854. Jasper's wife was the sister of Chester A, Bowers, longtime popular merchant tailor, on Asylum street, Hart- ford, who was born in Collinsv^Ille in 1815, and died in BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 141 Hartford June 23, i 884. He was one of the very politest persons I ever knew; often in conversation, particularly in his business, repeating the word " Sir," with the accom- paniment of a bow, not only of his head but of his body. Sadosa died November 25, i860, and his wife, March 7, 1861. Melissa died May 3, 1891; Sterling, May 19, 1878; Ansel, March 22, 1875; Sophronia, September 21, 1891; Clarissa, December 15, 1867; Fanny K., January 29, 1883; Lucius, October 18, 1868; and Jasper, March 22, 1872. HENRY M. BARBOUR. He is the only one living of that large family of children, his wife is also living, and they are residing in the house in which he was born. To them have been born six children, Wilbur H., November 15, 1854; George I., June 16, 1859; Lillian A., December 9, 1861; Ella A., November 16, 1864; Arthur H., August 22, 1871; and Emma J., November 20, 1874. Wilbur died June 2, i860; Lillian, September 25, 1863; Arthur, February 22, 1873; Emma, August 19, 1895. George was married, first, to Emma J. Bidwell, and, secondly, to Bessie H. Buckingham; Ella was married to William H. Chapin; Emma was married to Arthur G. Sisson. Mr. Barbour has held the offices of Constable, As- sessor, member board of relief, selectman and was in the house in 1880. David Lane, who was married to Melissa Barber, was born November 8, 1799, and died May 4, 1839. He and Melissa first met while she was acting as housekeeper for Samuel W. Collins, and he was boarding in the family. It is said that he was the eighth man employed by Collins Company; also, that he set out the present large elm trees on the Collinsville Church green, while he was working for the Company. There were born to David and Melissa 142 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES three children, David Frank, February 29, 1832; RoUin Dwight, April 8, 1834; and Fanny Lucretla, who is now the widow of Calvin Pike. Frank was married to i\.nna Cromack, and they had three children. At the outbreak of the Civil War he offered his services to his country; was for a time stationed as guard at the Arsenal in Hart- ford; then worked at recruiting for Colonel Colt's regi- ment (which the government saw fit not to accept, with the Colonel's proposed mode of arming it) and finally he became a member of the fifth Conn, regiment, volun- teers, being made captain of Co. D, and was afterward promoted to the position of major. He died many years ago. ROLLIN DWIGHT LANE. His life has been a strenuous one, he having had to earn every dollar he ever received. He was five years old when his father died, and, his mother being poor, he was put out to service with farmers when he was seven years old, his first wages being six cents a day. He worked some of the time for Elam Case, whom he con- siders one of the best men that ever lived. One incident in his experience with that man is mentioned on page 33. He relates two others, that show the big heart and blunt manner of that man. While Melissa and her children were living near him, she went to him one day, and asked him if he would sell her a bushel of potatoes. She was greatly taken back by his, " No, Mrs. Lane, I Avon't sell you a bushel of pota- toes." After giving her a little time to rally from the shock, he said to her, " You and your boy may go out into the lot and dig and put in your cellar enough to last you through the winter." On the other occasion, a farmer, whom he didn't know, applied to him to borrow a hundred dollars, for buying a yoke of oxen. He talked with the man in his gruff way, to find out something about him, and finally he said, " Let me see your hands." On finding \ BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 14^ that his calloused palms were proof that he was a hard working man, he said to him, " Yes, I'll lend you the money." On October 27, 1858, Rollin was married to Julia Smith Miner. Their son, Arthur Miner, born October 18, 1859, is a successful osteopathic physician in Boston. The doctor is married and has a daughter, Madge Ada, wife of Burr Pierce of New Haven. Rollin is a republican, has always been a very active political worker; cast his first presidential vote for Fremont. While residing in Collinsville, he was chair- man of the town committee from 1858 to 1874, then be- came a member of the State Central Committee. He left Collinsville in 1877 and resides in Hartford. He was U. S. mail agent on the Connecticut Western railroad for more than fifteen years, and was Superintendent of the old North Cemetery, Hartford, about ten years. Though nearly seventy-five years old, he is vigorous, and capable of active service. MARY BARBER. This woman was a not very distant cousin of my father, being the daughter of Giles, and granddaughter of Dr. Samuel Barber, spoken of on page ^6. She was the sister of Jesse (page 31,) Linus, Volney G., and Mrs. Selden White (page 77). Her father was prominent in Canton affairs. She was born June 5, 1803. On January i, 1829, she was married to Noah Russell Lynan Bristol, who was born June 9, 1797. There were born to them four children, Volney R., December 22, 1829; Kezia M., November 5, 1832; Burton H., Septem- ber 26, 1835; and Anson W., June 9, 1840. Volney and Burton never married, the former died August, 1887, the latter, February 6, 1872. Mr. Bristol died Septem- ber 8, 1 86 1, and his wife September 4, 1887. On February 20, 1853, Kezia was married to George 144 BARBOL^RS REMINISCENCES L. White, a brother of Ruel O., a well known and much respected man, who resided in Barkhamsted, on " Rat- lem " hill, when I first knew him, and afterward in Pleas- ant Valley, near North End, New Hartford; and in the latter period he represented Barkhamsted in the House, in 1 86 1. George died July, 1904. There were born to him and Kezia four children, Julia, Edgar, Jessie and Herman, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. White now resides in Bristol, Conn. Mr. Bristol was highly honored by his fellow citizens, holding the office of town clerk for twenty years, and represented the town in the legislature in 1835. I re- member him and his wife as dignified in bearing, and they were among the persons I had in mind as former residents, when reciting the Poem at the Centennial Celebration on July 18, 1906. ANSON W. BRISTOL. He is a farmer, owning and residing on the farm for- merly belonging to Oliver Bidwell, situated a little west- erly of Cherry Brook railroad station. He is v'ery promi- nent in town affairs, held the oflRce of town clerk, 1875- 1886, has held other town offices, and, when lot designates him for jury duty, creditably performs that service in the different courts in Hartford. He was a respected pupil of mine the two winters I taught in the " Conference house." On November i, i860, he was married to Sarah E. Williams, and there have been born to them twelve chil- dren, as follows; Minnie E., September 13, 1861; Burton E., January 29, 1863; Burton Noah, November 9, 1864; Mortimer L., December 29, 1866; Anson W., Jr., April 25, 1871; Mary M., August 27, 1873; Helen B., May 21, 1878; Roscoe C, and Ruby S. (twins), September 23, 1880; Christa E., December 25, 1885; Sterling W., Octo- ber 20, 1887; and Catharine Barber, January 22, 1890. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 145 Burton E, died February 15, 1865; and Ruby, February 12, 1882. No apology is needed for reporting such a splendid compliance with the scriptural injunction, given to the original pair, " Be Fruitful, and Multiply." One might well lament, as does President Roosevelt, that so many families are childless, and might well exclaim, Oh! the loss in many ways to that household in which there is not a child! S. B. Hartford, June 25, 1908. Y I APPENDIX As the foregoing sketches are dedicated to the Phoebe Humphrey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colhnsville branch, I follow the sketches with a copy of the Chapter's Catalogue, containing the By-Laws of the Chapter, names of the Officers and Members, and other interesting information. This house, built by Benj. Dyer in 1747, now known as the Page House, occupied by L. D. Dowd, is conceded by the best authorities to be the oldest house in Canton, now standing. The site of a house built a little earlier, and known as the Richard Case House, may still be seen opposite the house lately occupied by John Case, deceased. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 149 Daughters American Revolution PHOEBE HUMPHREY CHAPTER Connecticut Chapter, No. 46 National Chapter, No. 686 CoLLINSVILLE CONNECTICUT BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES jri BY-LAWS OF THE Phoebe Humphrey Chapter, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Organized January jo, /goj. Connecticut Chapter, No. 46 National Chapter, No. 686 COLLINSVILLE, CoNN. BV-LAH'S A D O PT E D -tqos 152 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES I905-I906 STATE REGENT, Mrs. SARA THOMSON KINNEY. STATE VICE-REGENT, Mrs. TRACY BRONSON WARREN. HONORARY STATE REGENTS FOR LIFE, Mrs. WILLIAM M. OLCOTT, Norwich. Mrs. ELIZABETH ROGERS SMITH, Hartford. j\IRS. SAKA THOMSON KINNEY State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution of the Slate of Conneclicut. MRS. J. B. LOUGEE Regent of the Phoebe Humphrey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Collinsville, Conn. MRS. D. T. DYER Organizing Regent of the Phoebe Humphrey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Collinsville, Conn. PHO^^E HUMPHRKV HOUSE, CAXTOX. (See pag:e 154 for explanatory note.) BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 153 CHAPTER OFFICERS ELECTED 1905 Regent, Mrs. D. T. Dyer. Vice-Regent, Mrs. J. B. Lougee. Recording Secretary, Mrs. C. H. Smith. Corresponding Secretary, Miss Sara Dyer. Registrar, Mrs. G. a. Latimer. Treasurer, Mrs. I. W. Havens. Historian, Mrs. F. p. Swezey. Board of Management, Mrs. W. W. Huntley, Mrs. Z. J. Hinman, Mrs. E. J. Latimer, Mrs. G. A. Codaire, Mrs. Weston Barnes. 154 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Phcebe Humphrey, the daughter of Samuel Humph- rey and Prudence Mills, was born in 1763 in the town of Canton, Conn. The record states that her father, commonly called " Master Sam," " taught school and wrote much." The record also states that he was lame, which physical infirmity doubtless prevented him from enlisting in the army. We know comparatively little of her life. Three times she passed through the sorrows of widowhood. Her first husband was Abisha Forbes, of Canton, of which marriage a grandson, Bleeker Forbes, survives and is now residing in Collinsville. She is described as a woman of fine physique and more than ordinary courage. Tradition says that just after the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, some of the British troops, including Hessians, on their way to Boston, passed through " Canton Street " and stopped for rest near the home of Phoebe Humphrey Forbes. One of the men, a Hessian, came to her door and seeing her about to take breaci out of the oven, de- manded a loaf, which she promptly refused, emphasizing her words with a motion of the shovel in her hand. It is said that an officer coming along just then, saw the man's danger and advised him to come away. The house in which Phoebe Humphrey lived near Canton Street, is now standing. She died in Berlin, Conn., at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Albert Hurlbert, on February 20, 1848, at the age of 85, and was buried in Canton. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 155 PHOEBE HUMPHREY CHAPTER, D. A. R., COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT. Organized January 30, 1905. OFFICERS. Elected December 14, tqo6. REGENT, VICE-REGENT, MRS. J. B. LOUGEE, MRS. I. W. HAVENS, SECRETARY, COR. SECRETARY, MRS. Z. J. HINMAN, MISS JOSEPHINE BARBOUR, REGISTRAR, HISTORIAN, MRS. G. A. LATIMER, MRS. J. P. HOSFORD, TREASURER, MRS. W. W. HUNTLEY. ADVISORY BOARD, MRS. J. B. FLINT, MRS. HERBERT HOLT, MRS. C. H. SMITH, MRS. J. A. NORTH, MRS. B. F. CASE. 156 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES BY-LAWS ARTICLE I. Name. The name of this Chapter shall be the Phoebe Humphrey Chap- ter, Daughters of the American Revolution. ARTICLE II. Object. This Chapter is formed under and in accordance with Article VII of the Constitution of the National Society, D. A. R., and has for its object, not onh" to honor the heroic men and women of the Revolution, but to cultivate and perpetuate their spirit of patriotism, to elucidate their personal history and heroism, to encourage historical research in relation to the Revolution and publication of its results; to acquire, preserve, and mark historic spots; to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the people: "To promote, as an object of primary importance, in- stitutions for the general diffusion of knowledge," thus developing an enlightened public opinion, and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens. ARTICLE III. Government. This Chapter shall be governed by the Constitution and By- Laws of the National Society of which each Daughter is a member. ARTICLE IV. Membership. Section' i. Any woman having the qualifications required for membership in the National Society and endorsed by the Local BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 157 I Board of Management, (who shall vote by ballot), shall be con- sidered eligible for membership in the Chapter. Sec. 2. Persons desiring to become members of this Chapter must be introduced by a Chapter member either personally or by note to the Registrar, who shall then present the name to the Board of Management at its next meeting. If accepted, applica- tion blanks will be sent to the applicant. Sec. 3. These blanks must be filled out in duplicate and each one must be signed by a member of the National Society, who shall vouch for the acceptability of the applicant. They must then be returned to the Registrar accompanied by the entrance fee and the dues for the current year. If elected the application blanks must be signed by the Regent, Secretary and Registrar, and by the latter transmitted to Registrar General for the approval of the National Board of Management. The appli- cant will be notified by the Registrar of the action taken upon her papers. Sec. 4. A member transferred from another Chapter shall be received upon presenting to the Registrar a transfer card signed by the Regent, Treasurer, and Registrar of the Chapter of which she is a member in good and regular standing and a copy of her duplicate paper. ARTICLE V. Fees. Section i. The regular admission fees and dues shall be as follows: One dollar admission fee, and two dollars and twenty- five cents annual dues, payable in advance on or before the 2d of January of each year, of which the admission fee and such part of the annual dues as is required hy the National Society shall be sent to the Treasurer General at least six weeks before the next ensuing Continental Congress, and twenty-five cents to the Treasurer of the Connecticut Utility fund. Any member who shall remain in arrears for dues for three months after notice of her indebtedness has been sent to her by the Treasurer, may be dropped from the list of members of the Chapter, by a majority vote of the Board of Management, provided that no one shall be dropped until after two notices of arrears, one month apart, shall have been given her. 158 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES Sec. 2. The sum of $3.25 covering the initiation fees and the annual for the current year, must accompany each application presented to the Chapter. Any member whose papers are accepted by the National Society on or after August 22d in any year, shall not be required to pay dues again until a year from the suc- ceeding January, ARTICLE VI. Officers. The officers of the Chapter shall be a Regent, Vice-Regent, Recording and Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and a Historian, all of whom, with five other members who hold no office, shall constitute a Board of Management, to be elected at the annual meeting of the Chapter to be held the second meet- ing in December of each year. The officers shall be elected by ballot and shall hold office for two years. No person shall hold more than one office at the same time. No person shall be eligible to the same office more than two years consecutively, except the Registrar and Historian. ARTICLE VII. Duties of the Officers. Section i. The Regent shall be the official head of the Chapter, and the other officers shall take rank after her as enumerated in Article VI. She shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and shall sign all bills, orders, and drafts on the Treasurer. Sec. 2. The Vice-Regent shall perform the duties of the Regent in her absence. Sec. 3. The Recording Secretary shall record all proceedings at the meetings of the Chapter and of the Board of Management. Shall notify officers of their election and committees of their ap- pointments. She shall prepare the annual report, a copy of which she shall send to the State Regent, and shall perform any other duties pertaining to her office. Sec. 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the cor- respondence of the Chapter; shall retain copies of all letters written, and keep on file all communications received by her; she shall notify members of special meetings of the Chapter, at least BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 159 three days before such meetings are to be held, and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Management may direct. She shall also notify Corresponding Secretary General of the election and appointment of all officers and delegates and shall send a duplicate copy of such notification to the State Regent. Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall receive the initiation fees, dues for membership, and all other moneys belonging to the Chapter, and pay all bills approved by the Regent or by the Vice-Regent, if the Regent be unable to act. She shall keep an account of re- ceipts and expenditures and submit the same to the Auditing Committee once a year before the annual meeting. She shall notify members who are in arrears, and forward to the Treasurer General the amount of the initiation fee, and such part of the annual dues as is required by the National Society, when an ap- plication is sent to the Registrar General. She shall also send to the Treasurer General before the 22d of February each year, the amount required for each member of the Chapter, and a report of the same to the State Regent. Sec. 6. The Registrar shall receive and examine all applica- tions for membership, and when endorsed by the Regent and Secre- tary', forward the same to the Registrar General with a duplicate copy to be returned to the Registrar. She shall also keep a record of the names and dates of the election, resignation, transference, or death of the members of the Chapter and transmit to the State Regent a duplicate of the record. She shall have the care and custody of all duplicates after their acceptance by the National Board. Sec. 7. The Historian shall have the custody of all historical and biographical collections of which this Chapter may become possessed ; shall keep a record of all historical and commemorative meetings, and prepare, or cause to be prepared, such historical papers as this Chapter shall require. Sec. 8. The Board of Management shall consider and formu- late current business and fill any vacancies which may occur in office until the next annual meeting; shall judge of the qualifica- tions of applicants for admission, when presented by the registrar, and elect the same by ballot; arrange for entertainments and in general do all in its power for the prosperity and success of the Chapter. The regular meetings of the Board may be held a half l6o BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES hour previous to the regular meetings of the Chapter. Five shall constitute a quorum of the Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Regent, Vice-Regent, or Recording Secre- tary, upon written request of three of its members. ARTICLE VIII. Order of Business. Roll Call. Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting. Reports of officers and committees. Unfinished business. New business. Miscellaneous business. Program of the Day. ARTICLE IX. Guests. Husbands of members. Sons of the American Revolution, and members of other Chapters may be invited to participate in the social events of the Chapter.. ARTICLE X. Amendments. The By-Laws may be amended at any meeting, written notice of the proposed change having been submitted at a previous meeting. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES igj CHARTER MEMBERS I. Mrs. D. T. Dyer (nee Hattie M. Case). 2. Miss Sarah Dyer 3. Mrs. B. F. Case, (nee Mary Higley). 4- Mrs. G. a. Codaire. (nee Jennie L. Hotchkiss). 5. Mrs. Z. J. HiNMAN (nee M. Jennie Hinman). 6. Mrs. F. p. Swezey (nee Pauline Smith). 7. Mrs. I. W. Havens (nee Cora Wolcott). 8. Mrs. J. B. Lougee (nee Sarah L. Rice). 9- Mrs. G. a, Latimer (nee Sara J. Lougee). lO. Mrs. J. Hinman (nee Pluma Rice). II. Mrs. Weston Barnes (nee Charlotte Marquis). 12. Miss Bessie Winifred Barnes 13. Miss Louise M. Hotchkiss 14. Mrs, E. J. Latimer (nee Emma Monks). 15. Miss Edna Genevieve Farnham 16. Miss Harriet C. Dyer 17. Mrs. C. H. Smith (nee Mary Priscilla Barker). I 52 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 1 8. Mrs. C. A. Hart (nee Inez M. Case). 19. Mrs. W. W. Huntley (nee Emma Rice). 20. Mrs. W. a. Rice (nee Claribel Hinman). BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 163 NEW MEMBERS 21. Miss Josephine A. Barbour 22. Mrs. S. H. Dowd (nee Florence Barnes). 23. Mrs. J. P. Hosford (nee Hattie Wright). 24. Mrs. J. A. North (nee Anetta Philura Drake). 25. Mrs. H. S. Holt (nee Alice May North). 26. Mrs. E. H. Bancroft (nee Bessie Hotchkiss Codaire). 27. Miss Minnie Robinson Codaire 28. Mrs. E, E. Clark (iiee May Hinman). 29. Mrs. T. S. Bidwell (nee Hattie Hinman). 30. Mrs. I. C. Davis (nee Grace C. Bidwell). 31. Mrs. J. B. Flint (nee Harriet Lucinda Blair). 32. Mrs. F. M. Butler (nee Emily Marilla Webster). 33. Mrs. Herbert Barnes (nee Edna Leona Butler). 34. Mrs. O. F. Perry (nee Laura Latimer). 35. Mrs. C. J. Fox (nee Julia F. Cannon). 36. Mrs. Isaac Barnes (nee Nellie M. Smith). 164 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 37. Mrs. B. O. Higley (nee Emma J. Woodford). 38. Mrs. G. B. Fenn (nee Carrie Higley). 39. Mrs. H. C, Hough (nee Josephine Case). 40. Mrs. H. L. Sanborn (nee Frances Case). 41. Mrs. S. S. S. Campbell (nee Lelia Corey). "DYER CEMETERY," CANTON, CuNN. ENTRANT .., ,< ■ ...V ^ i-.Mi. . .... . . Erected by Hon. Jasper H. Bidwell, of CoUinsville, in Memory of Corinne Beckwitli Hidwell. BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES 165 NOTE Revolutionary Soldiers burled in Dyer Cemetery, Canton, Conn. 1 Thomas Bidwell 2 Dudley Case 3 Edward Case 4 Silas Case 5 Daniel Case, 2d. 6 Abel Case 7 Elias Case 8 Joseph Dyer 9 Oliver Humphrey 10 Charles Humphrey II George Humphrey 12 Ruggles Humphrey 13 Asher Humphrey 14 Benjamin Mills 15 Amasa Mills 16 Ephraim Mills 17 Abraham Pettibone 18 Solomon Ackart Ci\-.il War soldi ers there buried. I Enos A. Sage 2 Solomon Hosmer 3 Philip Perkins Upon the recent application of Phoebe Humphrey Chapter, D. A. R., to The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the i\merican Revolution, Bronze Markers were furnished for the above named graves, and the Chapter 1 66 BARBOUR'S REMINISCENCES caused the same to be placed at the graves; and on May 30, 1908, Memorial Day, the members of the Chapter decorated said graves. In this matter, and in all the affairs of the Chapter, Mrs. D. T. Dyer, the Organizing Regent of the Chapter, has rendered loving, patriotic ser- vice, in which she has had the hearty co-operation of all the members. Hon. Jasper H. Bidwell, of CoUinsville, is great grand- son of Thomas Bidwell, the first of the above named Rev- olutionary soldiers. S. B. HK225-78 C, vP ^^--^ 4 o^ ■ /^ 1^ ,'•», \;- v^ •'^:z/ ,0 •y- ■- ■ ''^* < o ^\ f^ & .■^' » -^ •0^ . S^^ 'WiWS ^' :.,s^ :m^x \^^ "0 ♦ 1^^ '\/^ .^^v^:-; '^•^ .,^'^.v;^&'.*\ •S<"r ^- INDIANA. ) A, .V5