The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-06-23

Monroe was formerly portion OF OIC
| Stratford, whose settlement began in
about the year 1889. Monroe was at thai
time an unexplored region. The whole
inlard was a perfect wilderness, nc
roads, no houses and not much land that
was fit for cultivation. Wolves, bears,
deer, moose and wild fowls of various
kinds were quite numerous. The Indians
we're its only inhabitants and they mum
bered about three hundred. Some OF
them were friendly and greatly aided the
irst settlers by teaching them the mode
of cultivating corn and various means OF
getting living, but many Of them were
hostile and were a source of fear and
disquietude to the settlers as they would
destroy their crops, burn their buildings
and sometimes murder their inmates
The ground which the Indians wished to
cultivate for corn they prepared with q
clam shell or sharp stick. The trees,
such as they wished for their canoes,
which generallysaccommodated about 40
persons, they leveled by fire and their
stone axes, some of which have been
found and are preserved. At the
| time of the settlement of Stratford there
were not more than five p1oughs in the
| state. The price Of COW was $3.50 and
at one season of the year the price of
corn was 50 per bushel. In the year 1913
1 dGLOLO Was q LOWu Az
this time nearly all the settlements were
made along the coast. All was labor, ex-
posure and warfare. Every man must
be drilled as soldier and be ready and
willing 60 defend his country. But in
the midst of all this endurance on the
seashore, exploring expeditions into the
| interior were not infrequent. Bagburn,
Barn and Moose Hills attracted early
notice and at an early date were partial
ly settled and cultivated. The land was
claimed by the people Of Stratford who
used to pasture their fiocks in this section.
Tradition claims that the first barn in
Monroe was built by the these shepherds
onsBarn Hill which probably derived its
name from that circumstance. It is
claimed that Samuel Lewis and family
were the first to move from Stratford and
they settled on Moose Hill. The family
of Dea Juds0n 1t is supposed was among
the early settlers. He is said to have been
wealthy and endowed with common.
sense. He was Justice of the peace and
was known as the "Leathern Apron
Judge" because he always wore leath
ern apron in court In preference to any
thing finer. 1t is stated that some peo-
pie who were alleged to be witches were
arraigned before him. Capt Joseph
Moore donated the land for the present
of the former Congregational church,
which was the first built in Monroe. 1t
stood several feeE in front of the present
structure and was raised on the 21st and
22d days of June 1863. It is stated that
1t was about IL years in the process of
completion. The delay no doubt was
owing to the difficulty in procuring Ia
borers and materials, as most of the |
young men were In the army fighting for |
liberty. The last service held within its |
walls was June ID, l847, and the present |
edidce was raised July 20 of the same |
year. The Episcopal church of the Cen
ter was dedicated by Bishop Jarvis on |
the 18th OF September 1907. It is stated |
Capt William Clark gave one half bushel |
OF silver dollars towards the erection OF |
this church. The Methodist church In /
East Village was rsised In the year 1910.
The conveniences for warming churches
and schoolhouGes, such as are In use now
we're unknown. The only stove was
he small hand foot-stove some OF which
~ curiosities still exist. The first pub
nc house and store was built and kept by
} Mr. DeForest In the Center. At enc
sime during the Revolutionary war he
entertained the officers OF French force Il
of about five hundred men who were Il
chartered for few weeks on Moose Hill. Ii
Three houses that were built on Bag
burn Hill we're situated close together
Tor the purpose of the inmates better de-
lending themselves against the depreda-
ions OF the IBdians. There was also sit Z
lated on this hill pest house in which J
people were inOculated for various dis
Eases, more especially smallpox. During /
ne last century and somewhat into this j
here were few IL any four-wheeled vehi- [
,les. People that wished to travel were ,
TO do 1t In che saddle, the OK
led and cart or on foot. The news also Z
vas carried on weary footed horses and |
he mail-carrier sounded his horn at each /
appellant farm house or village office. n