The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-03
RecOllectiOnS That Almost Antedate
American independence.
BURNING OF NORWALK.
Benedict AmoIds British Brides and His
Connecticut Slave.
Romantic Incidents Of Life from the Time
Of Washington to Grant.


Nearly threequarters Of century ago man. then
thirty years OF age to Walton from Connecticut
the fat on which the village Is built then
forest and there were but few houses in the
vicinity Into this wilderness the young
man brought his wife and two small children,
and out of It hewed farm and forced o CON-
potency This mans was Cook St. John,
and no Is stil living at tho age of los
years. the head Of family which has eleven
branches within stones throw OF each other and
number probably lao persons Sound In body and
mind, with memory retaining the impression OF in
terestng events that IN the days that tried
mems souis," his personal history at this time has
peculiar interest He Is older than American liberty,
whose centennial anniversary close Mt hand.
Il and talk with this relic OF days long de-
parted that journeyed to this out Of the retreat
among the mountains His memory is storehousc Of
rich "reminiscences, but It needs weeks daily inter-
with him and his family to extract their narra
ton from him. A vein OF dry humor pervades his
conversation, and the most sprghtly and gushing
society could not be intensely entertaining
than found "Uncle Cook" ST. john
Asccrtaining at tho hotel that the centenarian
In good health and living the residence of his oldest
son, Mr.. T. ). ST John. sought that gentleman and
cordially invited TO visit and talk with his father.
The himself venerable gray haired man. past
threescore years and ton, and II seemed strange TO
hear him speak of his father; but when other gray
haired men asked amer grandfather" themselves
grandfathers, ''stl tho wonder grew"
Father lies down IN the forenoon, and will go and
see II he IS up yet, said the aged but active son.
He returned few minutes aud said that his father
was ready TO see mo
THE ST. JOHN RESIDENCE
or this particular one-ls neat and attractive franc
dwelling, the main street OF the village The cx-
terror and grounds conveyed impression that the
mates Of the house possessed OF refinement and
cuture and the interior confirmed it. was conducted
walls OF which wero hung with choice
told Of the in house of young and tasty
female hands A welnlied bookcase ranged
one side OF tho room, and in canary bird
sang cheerily IN u handsome cage "This Is my wife,
Mrs 81 john" said my conductor, as u nne-looKing
and venerable lady arose from chair by one OF the
windows. "And here is father"
TAX cESTRSARIAS
sat the stove easy CHAR with his eyes bent
on the hoor Across his lap lay hickory cane which
he worked TO and fro nervousiy with his hands Ny
attendant conducted me 10 the old mans chair. He
not aware oil my presence until his placed his
hand upon his shoulder, and said
"Fa.her, here Is The young man | was telling you
about"
The venerable head raised quickly, but the an
nounccment had not been 81, ary understood. and
saw that no was quite deaf The repeated the
nouncement. "Ah, yes,' he replied, and, extending
his hand toward me, took hold OF NINE. His small
and SOFT lacking In warmth, but remarkably steady.
His clasp cordial and he peered up into my lace
with expression Of curiosity that would have been
decided but the almost total absence OF sight
from his eyes He retained my hand until had taken
seat Ia a chair by his side, and then released and
laid his hand, brown but comparatively smooth and
tree from wrinkles. upon my knee
In which the usual lsping and huskiness OF old
but slightly noticeable 'what is it you want OF mes'
His manner was inviting and calculated TO dspcl
serve aud uneasiness in his presence.
"a would like TO talk with you about your recollection
ofthe early days OF this country He interrupted
with peculiar laugh. while y shade Oh humor
fitted across his facc and sad:--
'You young and know nothing of those days
How do you know will tell you the truth y'
Assuring him that hts word would he sufficient told
him that desired also sketch OF his long, and
NO doubt momcntous life.
REMARKABLE urE
"Ha! ha' II would be curious story. l don't be-
lcve the man lived who has passed through what
have and lived so long Since was years old
have earned my own bread; and, still (pausing
working with his In his nervous man.
ner. musing the whel .'and STILL I've always been
comfortable, too Here the centcnaran folded his
hands. settled back in his char and in
revere, as II the long years he had left behind him,
with their busy scenes, their hopes and lcars trials
and triumphs, were passing in review through his
mind
interrupted the rcveric by asking tho centenaran
when and where he born.
He replied, readily aud quckiy:-"In the town OF
Norwak, Fairfield county, Conn, on the LIST day
OF June, liza The ST. Johns among the settlers
OF Norwalk over two centuries and quarter ago.
They were Huguenots and driven from Frdncc by
religious persecution. Peter ST. John my fathers
name He was one OF three brothers. all born in Nor
wak-Nyer and Daniel being the other two. Ny
father lived TO be quite old being eighty he
died here in Walton, in January, 1871" Mr. 81 John
talked rapidly and at times was obliged to make two
three attempts at pronouncing word When ne
paused t was TO rest himself the exertion seeming to
Had you educational advantages, Mr.. St John ~
"oh, no My parents were very poor and schools
~ere not plenty in them days never went to school
much. was put OF from home when was
year old 4 learnt 10 read and write and SPELL though.
Ny fsthcF was man OF education. Hcwa graduate
Of Yale College, but uon't know In what year"
The centcnaran stopped and fell to musing again,
BY and by asked him II he had learned trade.
IVES, carpenter and Joiner but have Principally been
engaged ~ farming When was years old my
parents put out 10 farmer living 10 drive
BABY" A. rscooc,oD Of tins catalogue Of duties
the old man INDUCED IN spell OF his peculiar chuck
ling laughter "a year alter that they sent me TO
farmers In Dutchcss county. this Statc-town OF
Frederick own--now Paterson, Putnam county. Let
me see-I there four years. Then went back
hume and worked on farm summers and went 20
school little winters, TIL was fifteen Ny mother
weaver, aud she put mo 10 work on the loom, but
couldn't stand u aud mad 10 quit
Here the venerable narrators breath seemed 10 grow
short and he SAID he would have 20 stop moment rs
he was getting dizzy. .Grandfaiher complains good
deal OF dizziness and shortncss OF breath. remarked
bis maironly daughter-n-law. 'Otherwisc his mind
and health are Ms good as they ever were"
Presently he placed his hand upon my knee and con-
tnucd--"I was gong to tell YOU had a brothers,
Law named Amos Plat, who lived in soulhbury thirty
miles from Norwaik. he was carpenter and joiner,
and my parents apprcntccd me dIm 10 learn that
trade. He QUIT the business IN something year.
ma nsss, nd S NY sa1 ~onsa a. =,
work at Wilton parish, town OF Norwak, making the
running gear Tor a srist mill And here done
SOMETHING THAT WILL skEn iScREDiBLE TO yor."
Ill will, indeed" interposed Mrs. 81 john the
daughter in-iaw.
II want afraid OF anything them days The timber
for the running gears was near meeting house they
were building Wilbur and the trustees gave US per-
mission 10 work in the lower ROOM which unnn-
ished. A man named Terrell swept out the meeting
house. and didn't like the idea Of working So
be fastened the doors and nailed the windows down,
and we couldn't get in. But early morning 1
climbed the lightning rod up the steeplc, got into tie
belfry, and from there down TO the room below. The
windows fastened by nail driven through the
sash Of each tho casing IL popped into my head
TO puzzle Terrell, and | drew the nail OF one OF
the windows and filed IL In two. then placed the
pieces back IN their places The window raised, but the
nail was there yet When Terrell saw II he couldn't
understand ~ and finally said that the devil me,
and he wouldn't try to keep me out Of the meeting
house again. The old man laughed over the recocc-
s,on OF this youthful trick ana mis- daughter-in law
hooked a. him admiringy and said :--"0h, he was sly
and iull Of mischief Always doing something OF that
kind Now, grandfather. sell him about going to New