Connecticut western news., 1911-04-06
SET BARNS ON FIRE
0LD-TIME LEGENDARY
 CAUGHT BY "ANSE" BARNES
Interesting Circumstances Recalled by Deacon SteVens-More History of the Canaan Corners and the Old Lawrence House.
(BY H. B. sTEvKNs)

(BY H. B. sTEvENs)
 Leaving the Watson place we come next to house occupied at one time by Albert Kellogg, also by Amos and Sam uel Wright and by Thompson Moses, whose wife was Nancy Lawrence, sister of Anson Lawrence and aunt of A. A. Lawrence of this village. MT. Moses died here. The place was later owned by MT. Pratt, who also died there, as did Kiel Fitch, who owned it after MT. Pratt. The place was afterward bought by Pepoon Jacobs, who with his brother Hyman and sister Mrs. Martin Beldan occupied it for many years. 1t is now owned and occupied by Wallace Mausir.
 Leaving thls house, going on, we plss the house of Isaac Lermond also the Catholic church. A little east from here are two houses recently built by the late Danlel L. Freeman one is now occu pied by hls sou Arthur P. Freeman, the other by Dr, Corwin; also the New England Lime Go. kilns and group of houses occuped by employees of the Noompany. Going on we pass the h h)use of Mrs Charles Collins, and cross the railroad and come to Canaan Cornsrs. On one corner is the house form rly owned by Samuel Bennett, who had three children, namely William, Susan and Samual A. Bennett. Susan was a school teacher for many years and after ! |. C.. ~sol AL c.. with John Blake as assistant managSr. I have spoken of Miss Susan as a school teacher, aud since writing the above I have been told by one of her m my scholars that she was a most excellent teacher and that her scholars had to learn. She was bright, intellectual, an expert in mathematics. we'll versed in ! literature, able to quote whole pages of poetry energetic not only in teaching but in business and in fact in anything she undertook. aud all in all e very su- perior woman. After their death the place was owned by Samuel A Bennett who sold to Frederick Thompson, who conducted boys school for few years-
 
 James L. Bragg and is now occupied by his daughter Miss Louise Bragg, who conducts & first-class boarding house. On another corner was the house of John Franklin, whose wife was Betsey Llw- renee. They had three children named Charlotte. Edward and Hugh Franklin. I remember bat little about the two older ones. but Hugh married the widow of William Douglas, who was Mary Watson. He conducted the Douglas farm for some years and was also supsr- intendent of the Housatonio railroad. Some of Tne News readers probably knew him better than I did. John Franklin was 8 merchant and conducted 8 store in building between the house of Miss 8. W. Adam and Fitch Ferris place. Miss Adam tells me he was first associated with her father. the late Will liam Adam, but afterward carried on business by himself. Later he built a new store near his residence and carried on business until short time before his sath. Miss Adam also tells me that he , died in the old Lawrence house w ere Mr. Lyles now lives. I remember ME Franklin as a very affable, friendly kind of man, and think he took particular notice of children, as I recall hearing him say to my father "I know yn.r r children by their mother" also re- member as boy being in his store with t,,x fat n n ha was clerking there and hearing him talking with my father. l do not re- member what the conversation was, but do remember that concluded that he was very nice young man and one to be trusted and afterward had occa sion to know that was correct in my con- clusion as I often heard the late Deacon Rood speak of him as his Sunday sc lool scholar and quote him as model yolnR man and he became man to be and vas trusted and was connected with b btuk for many years and died not long sizes. He was the late Harvey Williams. of Danbury, Conn. This place was aF sr- ward bought by Simon Branch whose wife was Jane Beckley, daughter of Luther Beckley and sister of the late Deacon Levi Beckley. Mir. Branch died few years later and the place was bought by Sheridan W. Barnes anl MT - Branch lived in the store building ul ti her death, after which Mir. Barnes moved it back from the road and fitted it up for the use as a barn. The Elace is still owned by Mir. Barnes.
 On another corner was the house of ] William Rennntt who had tyvn wi rns