ABSTRACTS TAKEN FROM:
THE WILLIMANTIC JOURNAL William L. Weaver, Editor
Fri Mar 13 1863: Improvements – A New Hotel in Prospect. – There have been many improvements at the Center within the past year or two in the erection of new buildings and the removal and repair of old ones; and the good work is still progressing. The new dwelling erected by the late Edmund Smith is a fine one and adds much to the appearance of that part of the village. The late Dr. Avery place has been thoroughly fitted up, improved, and made as "good as new" by its present owner, Mr. J. Griffin Martin. We understand that Mr. Wm. M. Johnson has sold his farm at North Windham and proposes to take up his residence at the Center. He has purchased a lot on the corner opposite the old Staniford Hotel where he will make some desirable improvements. Mr. Samuel Bingham has purchased the Antrim House and lot near his residence and we doubt not will improve the looks of things "down town" in his vicinity. We are also gratified to learn that Hon. A.A. Burnham has decided to make Windham his permanent abode, having purchased of his father his residence on "Zion's Hill." This, as most of our readers are aware, was the home of the late Judge Swift, and is truly, like Zion of old "beautiful for situation." The mansion was erected about a hundred years ago by the noted Col. Eleazer Fitch and was then considered one of the very finest private residences in the State. Mr. Burnham proposes to greatly improve and modernize it, and then bring to Windham his amiable and accomplished wife to reside. A long and happy life to them!
But the most gratifying intelligence from Windham is that a company of her "solid men" have purchased the old Staniford tavern stand, and intend to tear down the old rookery, clear away the rubbish which has for generations accumulated around it, and erect on the site, a fine, first class hotel, which will be a credit to the town. For years a good public house has been a great want at the Center, and we are very much gratified to hear that it is to be supplied. We have no doubt it will be a good investment and that many besides the sons ad daughters of the old town scattered abroad, will come to this quiet and delightful place to spend their summers.
Fri Mar 13 1863: The Palladium says that the small pox is said to prevail in Meriden to some extent, and the authorities have closed up one street in consequence of it. No deaths have yet occurred as far as we can learn.
Fri Mar 13 1863: The 28th Connecticut Regiment is at Camp Parapet, La., and have been brigaded under Gen. Neal Dow, of Maine. The health of the regiment is improving; they have lost nine men, and have about one hundred under medical treatment, and forty in hospital.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Rev. V.A. Cooper, chaplain of the 18th Regiment, has been compelled by ill health to resign.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Capt. Arnold Leach, of the 8th Regiment, arrived at his home in Putnam, on Saturday, the 28th ult., on sick leave.
Fri Mar 13 1863: In Putnam, Feb. 28th, two lads named John Ryan and John McCackney, broke through the ice while skating. McCackney was taken out and resuscitated, but Ryam was drowned.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Mr. Arthur F. Gilman for forty years a resident of Norwich, and for the last sixteen years bookkeeper of the Norwich Bank, and Auditor of the Town Accounts, expired at the Wauregan House, Sunday afternoon, of heart disease, after an illness of but two days.
Fri Mar 13 1863: A soldier stole out of the Portsmouth Grove, R.I., hospital Saturday night, got maddened with whisky, returned to the hospital, and was placed in a strong box near the guard house. Becoming noisy the door was opened to gag him, when he sprang upon the sword of a sergeant the point of which entered his head, and he died during the night. He had been wounded in battle several times, and was a brave soldier. His name was John Higgins.
Fri Mar 13 1863: The Charleston Courier says: "The bakers of this city have raised the price of bread to 25 cents for a half pound loaf. Flour is selling at $65 per barrel. An enormous sin in the eyes of God."
Fri Mar 13 1863: General Asboth, commanding the department of Tennessee, has issued an order to the effect that if any northern copperhead shall be found guilty before a court martial of harboring, feeding or clothing deserters from the army or ferrying them across streams, or furnishing them other facilities to escape, he shall suffer death.
Fri Mar 13, 1863: During the heat of the gold excitement at New York on Thursday, at the brokers' board, one very nervous Jew broker, being powerfully acted upon while the hammer was going up by the pressure of the downward tendency and the crowd, closed his eyes and swooned. A brisk application to his temple, however, "brought him to," and he was enabled to shout "fif--fif--fifty--to," before the hammer had come down. The grand master of ceremonies mistaking the incoherent bid for "fifty-four," the gavel came down at that figure, and the Jew intensified the dramatic scene by swooning again.
Fri Mar 13 1863: A Singular Case.--The Brandon (Vt.) Monitor makes mention of a young women of that place, the wife of a volunteer in the 6th regiment, who, at the time of her husband's enlistment, could neither read nor write. Being devotedly attached to her husband, and cut off from all communication with him except by letter, she could not endure the thought of being compelled to submit his epistle, designed for herself alone, to others to read to her, and she shrank from committing the secrets of her own heart to the pen of an amanuensis. So, day after day, since her husband's absence she has taken her two little ones by the hand, and led them to the District School, laid aside her bonnet and shawl, seated herself on a bench by the side of her children, and devoted herself to study. Within a brief period of time, so earnestly has she set herself about the task, this devoted wife and mother has surmounted every obstacle, and has acquired the rudiments of an English education. She now writes a fair hand and reads with fluency.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Marriages
In Willimantic, March 5, by the Rev. S.G. Willard, Ira T. Hoxie and Lovisa J. Brown, both of Willimantic.
In Scotland, March 10, by Rev. S.H. Barber, Mr. Wm. B. Ames of Plainfield and Miss Emma B., daughter of O.F. Wood. Esq. of Scotland.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Deaths
In Mansfield, March 10, Lemuel Hall, aged 86 years.
In Hampton, March 2, Thomas Clancy, aged 54 years.
In Eastford, March 5, Nathan Mosely, aged 87 years.
In Chaplin, March 7, Fanny P., aged 21; March 9, Lucy E., aged 2 years, daughters of Elisha Fenton. Both buried in a day.
In Plainfield, March 8, 1863, Mrs. Lydia Wilson, aged 88, widow of the late Deacon James Wilson of Windham.
In Springfield, March 7, Mrs. Oldershaw, an adopted daughter of L.R. Dunham, Esq. Her remains were brought to Mansfield and buried on Monday.
In Buffalo, N.Y., March 8 of membraneous croup, Alice Mary, only daughter of Wm. R. Storrs, aged 5 years.
Fri Mar 13 1863: Auction. On Wednesday, the 25th day of March inst., at 10 o'clock A.M. will be sold at Auction on the premises the manufacturing establishment situated near the depot in South Windham, Windham County, Conn., lately owned and improved by J.G. Cooley & Co. The building is seventy by twenty-two feet, two stories high, built of wood, with an over-shot wheel thirty feet in diameter the water power is sufficient and durable. For further information inquiry of Messrs. Smith & Winchester near the premises, or of the undersigned at Norwich, Conn. Lewis Hyde, Henry B. Tracy. Norwich, March 10, 1863.
Fri Mar 13 1863: At a Court of Probate holden at Hampton within and for the district of Hampton on the 10th day of March A.D., 1863. Present--Dyer Hughes, Judge. On motion of Ralph W. Robinson, Administrator on the estate of Thomas Clancy late of Hampton within said district deceased. This Court doth decree that six months be allowed and limited for the creditors of said estate to exhibit their claims against the same to the said Administrator, and directs that public notice be given of this order by advertising in the Willimantic Journal, a newspaper published in Windham and by posting a like notice on the public sign-post in said Hampton, nearest the last residence of said deceased. Certified from Record, Attest, E.H. Newton, Clerk.