Connecticut western news., 1895-12-26
SAMUEL FORBES, ESQUIRE.

of the painting of the portraits of Squire Forbes and wife which was celebrated at the East Canaan on the evening of December i7, ls95.
 John Forbes. blacksmith, was the father of several sons, three of whom we know something about Whether there were any daughters is net record ed.
 The sons, whose names have been handed down to grateful posterity, were: John Forbes, Jr., Elisha Forbes and Samuel Forbes, whose memory we should like to cherish, not only for his practical benefits to numerous descend ants but for the good qualities which shone so brightly in his long and busy life.
 John Forbes, senior, moved from Simsbury sometime between TAO aud 1743. He brought his family, first go- ing to Sheffield, then coming to Canaan. where he spent the rest of his life.
 Samuel Forbes was lad of l4 years when his father settled in this town Early in life he showed remarkable mechanical and enterprising turn of mind, and we find him looking in many directions for outlets to his energy and push. As time passed on he discovered the iron ore bed in Salisbury, which bears his name today. "The Forbes ore bed" This he opened, also having a forge and foundry at Lakevine where many cannon were cast during the Revo- lutionary war, all sizes from four to thirty-tive pounders.
 It is related that at one time an order was sent from Boston, to Samuel Forbes for a cannon After the great gun was cast it was loaded upon an oI-sled, to which six yokes of cattle were attached, and the cavalcade started off for the capital of Massachusetts. The gun was delivered in good order, and the party started on their returo, reaching Lake vile in safety, having taken just six
 weeks for the round trip
 Samuel Forbes was the pioneer iron
 worker of this part of Connecticut
 fiuding the goose that has laid the gol-
 den eggs, from which not only his own
 descendants have drawn nourishment
 but which have placed in easy circum'
 stances many another family, who owe
 something of their prosperity to the
 iron industry of this region. To be
 sure the goose has not been SO active
 of late. the eggs becoming more and
 more like angels visits, "short and far
 between" but she is not dead yet. Il
 is the unexpected that happens; and il
 Turkey has to be dealt with, ,who knows
 but that the Eastern Question" may
 make an opportunity, and the somewhat
 discouraged goose be stimulated to lay herself out more than she has for many day. while the Crescent and the Star
 shall find that New E,gland iron will
 do its part to break the yoke of the op
 pressor. and set the captives free
 Besides making cannon, Squire
 Forbes did quite business in o'he,
 castings; among which were huge iror kettles in which soft soap was made by
 our thrifty grandmothers, who never
 dreamed of the day when rosiu would
 be at a premium for raising lather, a, ( one could have diff rent preparation of potash and grease, for laul dry pur poses, every day in the week But al | th;a aot,ra b,,a;,, o.o I;fo 5,J ,oI ,Draya,, Mir Forbes from indulging in the ten der sentimeut-as common in bye-gon, days as now-and when prosperity
 crowned his labors we find that h, crowned his life by wedding ! Lucy, daughter of Deacon Pierce
 wise move it proved, as she made a gen tie, gracious dame, beloved by all who
 knew her.
 In 17S3 we find Samuel Forbes build ing paper mill. on the west side O the Housatonic river, just below tn,
 great falls This mill was destroyed
 by fire iu 1900
 About 1755 Mir Forbes built tn, dwelling house (which still stands or the banks of the Blackberry river ! which was known far and near as tn, : Squire Forbes place." A few rod east of his house, further up the strean above mentioned. 8 sitting mill wa } put up, and a very large business don, in making nail-rods, out of whicl wrought iron nails were hammered; laborious task, as we look at it now-a , days, but at that time affording fin, vent for the peut up energy of many farmers lad, to say nothing of the pris
 oners in the old state prison at Newgate : who earned their daily bread by nail
 making; au improvement on these de
 generate days when the leisure time O
 convicts is spent bottoming chairs. o making shoes, that are never mates ant
 always misfits.
 l At the time when Squire Forbe | built his sitting mills there were bu two others iu the country; one neai Boston. the other in Maryland so tha ? the demand and supply were grea
 source of revenue to our upright ant downright old ancestor. Later we fint , the Squire busy with forge ant
 anchor works. This anchor business , was continued for many years, ther' being those among us who we'll remem Der seeing some of Mir Forbes grand sons passing their homes with anchor B loaded on the sled for market Th' ' water outlets were Hartford, Hudson | Alhanv and PnnnhkaanAia. traralins