Republican farmer., 1919-02-14
REDDINC

y
Redding, Feb. 13.---Such dissatisfac-
assessors arises almost wholly from
application of the boards rule fixing
value Of SIS per acre on all land be-
low the grade of land classed as till
able. Some years ago the lowest fig
ure was IS an acre placed on rough
woodland so recently cut over that
the second growth had not fairly
started. Later the minimum became
SO with upward graduatlons accord
ing to quality, but this year every
thing was practically assessed at SIS.
The result was that such increases as
were made came from the lower grade
and the reductions from the higher.
On one farm in hometown the decrease
from the latter cause amounted to
about $1,000, although the owner was
satisfied with the previous valuation.
OF the dozen or more who appeared
before the board of relief last Satur-
day all except two protested on ac-
count of the SIS rule. Among these
We're Charles Bronson, Mrs Mary
Jones, Albert Gorham, representing
his wife's estate, and Harry Grasmuk.
Redding Grange appealed from the
assessment of $1,000 on its building, a
raise Of $500, and Commodore Luttgen
was represented by his foreman in
making a general appeal The next
and final meeting of the board will be
held Feb. 81
The death of John Reynolds, which
occurred on Monday morning, re-
moves another Of the considerable
number who came from Ireland a
nail century or more ago and Iocat-
ed IN Redding where they and their
descendants have since formed so use
1ul and desira BILE an element in the
lffe OF the community. In these days
when SO many of those dependent on
their own labor for support complain
OF the difficulty in getting ahead"
or even getting along" it is instruc-
tive and interesting to recall what
these early Irish incomers accom-
plished under conditions seemingly
less favorable than those now exist
ing. As a rule they came when
young men and were practically
without means. They hired out rs
farm hands for small wages and with
their savings in due time bought a
dwelling and some land for which
icy were seldom able to pay IN full.
Subsequently they wiped out the debt
nd added to their holdings. Despite
he original handicaps they raised
good sized families in comfort and
responsibility, contributed literally,
considering their means, to their
struggling church and so far from
being merely dull stones of toll man
aged to brighten their lives and those
of their families with a reasona BILE
amount of recreation. Also it was
noteworthy that they appeared to
have keener appreciation of school
opportunities than did most of the
native" stock. 1t was to the class
described that the late Mr.. REYNOLDS
belonged.
He came to this country from
County Leitram Ireland, with his
wife and their one child, 46 years
ago and two years later arrived in
Redding. He hired out to the late
/ William Dennison and some years
afterwards purchased the Hester
Nichols farm property on the lower
slope of Sunset Hill where he has
since lived. The number of his chill
dren increased to IL. Two of them,
John and Michael, died from
consumption in their early man
hood and those surviving are: Misses
Catherine and Annie of New York.
Miss Ellie of New Haven, Miss Julia
Of Hartford, Miss Rose of Ridgefeld.
Mrs. NJ. Joseph Sullivan, Mrs. Pat
rick Sullivan, James and Charles.
living at home, and Thomas. an able
! in h.
is also survived by his wife His age
was 76 and he had been a semi
invalid for several years from heart
trouble. The funeral was held yes
terday with services at the Catholic
church in Bethel.
Those acquainted with Jonathan
Bartlett Sanford, Jr., of Redding
Center were not surprised when they
learned through publication of the
official army reports that he had
been decorated for bravery by the
high commands of both the Ameri-
can and British forces They had
felt that he would make good to the
limit of his opportunities despite a
tempermental reserve and modesty
which removed him to the furthest
possible distance from the fireater
and swashbuckler type of soldier. The
American citation which accompanied
the award of the Distinguished Ser
vice Cross reads as follows:
During the operations against the
H1ndenburg line near Vaudeville
France, Sept. 20, First Sergeant ]. B
sanford gave proof of great devotion
and bravery when he calamity in
sisted on remaining with his COM
rades in spite of the fact that he ha(
been severely wounded in the leg
During the advance he later received
other Woundes through shell fire
thereby demonstrating his courage
and devotion to duty and setting g
splendid example to his comrades"
In addition to this honor Sergeant
Sanford was awarded by the British
commander the British Military Med.
al for valor. He enlisted in August
1917, with the 7th N. Y. regiment
which later became a part of the
10th U. S. Infantry. He went across
as a corporal in the following May
and his attainment of the rank Of
Top" sergeant evidently came about
through successive promotions. The
wounds he received at Vaudeville kept
him nine weeks in the hospital. His
age is "a. W. c.. Sanford, head OF
the local war bureau, has sent tc
Hartford a copy of the report relat.
~ to Of