The Newtown bee., 1899-09-01
OUR NEIGHBORS.
BETHEL.
INTERESTING REM1N1so ENoEs.

A recent pleasure trip over Wild Cat
Ridge in the southeast part OF Elmwood
chOol district brings 60 mind many
"reminiscences of It's early history. Many
Il the most substantial people OF the
r rat Ecclesiastical Society OF Bethel
lived IN that part of the Society, and In
esrIy days inhabitants OF the mother
Town, Danbury. The people then on the
Ridge made a good living for themselves
and large families. Although the land
was rough and stony, the soil was fertile
and produced abundant crops. Large
Groves of sleek, fat cattle we're pastured
long the Ridge. Sheep by hundreds
'vere also kept for wool and mutton.
Every family had its spinning wheels
and weaving looms. Mothers and sisters
Knit the warm stockings for cold weather
wear, fathers and sOns built the fences
and raised the crops. Cora and rye, the
wo principal crops for bread stuff, was
produced in large quantities. Dea James
Seeley lived on the north slope of the
Ridge. His farm extended north down
o the bog land or swamp meadows. His
farm house stood near the McFarl md
uace. The old VI, II is still in use. Nj
SPeey came up from SCrstfOrd before
l7GO. He was on the church roll OF
membership In 1884. His wife, Hannah,
was one of the founders OF the old Con
EIG&AbluuAA GuuIGu III lAOO' mI DCFlSy
was elected deacon, October 30, 1890,
and ceased to act, December, s, 1903.
Dea James Seeley and his wife, Hannah,
rsised four daughters, who became the
wives OF four influential men of Bethel
society. Their descendants now number
thousands and are still holding prominent
positions in church and town and al 10 in
The mother town, DRnbury. In the lat
ter we bring to mind Hon. james s Tay.
", l.. l.. Hubbcll, Mrs James Ryder,
Mrs Joel Foster, William Fred Tay lOr,
Granville Taylor and many others. Tile
aid that Dea Seeley was very consci-
sntlous Christian man and was a man
hat paid great regard for the Sabbath
uay. On Saturday his work was done at
ne going down OF the sun and was taken
up again at the same hour on Sunday.
AT candle light mother and daughters
lesumed their knitting. Lt was said Of
he deacon that he picked his cucumbers
On Saturday and put them in the well
md took more time on Sunday morning
"shinR them out for breakfast than it
would TO have picked them freFh from
be vines. Ammon Taylor, a grandson
If Dea Seeley, built the house now own.
I'd by Shtr nan Smith and wife. &c
afterwards became the owrer of large
art OF the SeeleY prOpt rGy. His de-
scendants are quite numerous in New
own and n few still remain in Bethel.
On the site of the present homestead of
Frederick Dykeman there stood a very
very old house which had served for a
home for many generations OF substan-
tal families. Samuel CrOfut, q son-in-
qw Of Doa Seeey, raised q large famil Y
e children there. Nehemiah Gillette,
EbeneZtr Platt and others occupied the
PREMISES until the present Mr. Dykeman
bought and rebuilt the present house,
which he has occupied for half centur 7
more. The present house of Mr. and
Mrs Joseph Morgan, formerly was the
property Of James Morgan, a respected
farmer Of his day. Mrs Morgan is q
granddaughter. AT the south end OF the
rtreet, where the Dads brarch stands a
very old house which a half century
r. 60 was the pleasant home VI Morehouse
Lyon, a comb maker by trade. MrLyon
Is still living, hale and hearty, very
Straight and spry 4 one of his age, 81
years. He visited Bethel last spring and
called on many OF his old friends and
nelghbors. His present home is with his
ION, Burr Lyon, a prominent man in
ForrinRtnn, Conn. Lyman Whitehead,
now a prominent farmer of the town,
lives on the east and west road. He has
enlarged his dwelling house and barns
and ID largely engaged in the dairy bus
ness and keeping city boarders during
he hot weather. A home on the Ridge
IN the hot part of the season Is much
ought after by the city people; In fact,
It has become q place OF considerable
note. Wild Cat Ridge has become a
prominent place Of the town. The &C,
hortherly breezes have clean sweep
rom the distant hills far as eye can
ach. The Ridge ls well watered by
little streams, springs and good wells,
There In also in season an abundance of
Wild berries and nuts Of many varieties.
Mr. Whitehead's farm formerly belonged
10 Starr Benedict, once prominent man
II the church and town. Mrs Amos
NYoodman, over 80 years of age, was q
lughter of Mr. Starr. She was brought
Up on this farm, and was q scholar and
aeher in the old church Sunday school.
hrs WoOdman In her CID age Is cared for
~ her two daughters, Mary and Fanny,
Pnd Howard Woodman, the present town
ERIK. Mrs Clemment Beebe of Brooklyn,
II. Y, Is a granddaughter OF Mr. Starr.
lIany OF her early recoll 'etions are
rentered upon things that occurred at
kndfather Starts on the Ridge farm.
OCher prominent homes will be taken up
by the writer in the next issue of THE
nj