The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-24
"REMINISCENCES
Recalled by a Letter From an Ex-
 Speaker.

Recalled by Letter From an Ex-
 Speaker
 The following letter in the Ansonia Sentinel is from a gentleman who has many friends and old business associ- ates in New Haven:
 A few days since I received a letter from an old speaker of the Connecticut house of representatives of sixty years ago. I did not know that the gentle man was living, not having heard of him for over half a century. He is now over ninety-four (94) years of age and in active practice of his profession-the law-and in good health, and writes as legibly as though he were a half cen tury younger. It was under his ad- ministration of the office of speaker that the law for Imprisonment for debt was abolished and he was the author of the bill and carried it through the house and It's repeal caused great rejoicing by many who had suffered from it.
 At that time I was clerk in New Haven store and was present in the house when the bill was considered and the old law repealed.
 For the information of some elderly people who lived in that era, I would thank you to publish his letter and let them recall the changes of the inter- vening years.
 At that time there was no Ansonia and no Birmingham. A commence ment had been made by some capital icte o+ ,Oi ,t 1ub Birmingham now stands under the title of ''Smithville." Its basis was narrow and it's progress slow. It was some years before Ansonia had been thought of.
 The legal title of the town embraced what is now Derby, Birmingham, An sonia and Seymour, and the sum total of taxation of year of all this terri tory was less than three thousand dol- lars. The town meetings were holden part of the time on Great Hill as being near the center of population.
 That which is now Main street in An sonia was a sandy plain forming a part of the stage road between New Haven and Litchfield without a human habit ation on the street and scarcely one in sight.
 Such was the condition of this com munity when the gentleman whose let ter is published herewith procured the abolishment of imprisonment for debt in the state of Connecticut
 The dam opposite the city of Ansonia, known as Hulls dam, on the Nauga- tuck river, was built for the purpose of maintaining an oil mill, also a grist mill on the west bank of the river, few rods below, but above what is now known as Division street. These mills at that time were not a financial sue cess, and the proprietor fell into em- barra ssment and was for a time re- strained of his liberty at New Haven, under this law which was abolished by the instrumentality of Speaker Wight man.
 CHARLES DURAND. Ansonia, Dec 21 '97
 New York, Dec 17, 1897. To Hon. Charles Durand, Ansonia, Conn:
 Dear Sir-Yours of the 18th of De- cember inst. was received yesterday, and I hasten to answer. The clipping was the work of the Times office found it desirable, in 1S43, to conf1ne myself to the practice of the law which led me to remove to this city, where have ever since been and still am en- gagged as attorney and counsellor-at- law in the practice of my profession, avoiding all political promotion. With my warmest wishes for your happiness and prosperity I am respectfully yours,
 S. K WIGHTMAN,
 70 East 131st street.