Such was the "frame of mind," in which our ancestors lived, labored and died. A sweet sense of God's power, presence and providence illumined all the events and providences of their earthly life. Let us take the lesson to our own hearts. CHAPTER XXV. WINDSOR LOCKS. 1833-1859. The northern portion of the ancient town of Windsor, was, from its early settlement, called Pine Meadow, down to 1833, when a post office was established and the name changed to WINDSOR Locks, combining the good old name of Windsor with the canal improvements which were completed in 1829. The first house was built by Henry Denslow, about the year 1662, from thirty to forty rods south of the town lock, on the point of a hill. Tradition says he was killed by the Indians, in 1676, while attending to his crops, and it is confirmed by a record of the answer from an Indian prisoner to the question proposed by the committee of safety," Who killed Henry Denslow?" Ephraim Haskell and Seth Dexter, in 1769, bought 160 acres of land, "with the saw mill thereon standing," on the site of the present one. The first clothier works in this section of the country, was built in 1769 by Seth Dexter, who moved from Rochester, Mass., to this place in 1770. The clothier's business was carried on by the family, until 1817 when David, son of Seth, sold the property to Timothy Mather and moved to Amherst, Mass. Jabez Haskell, who also moved from Rochester in 1770-with Seth Dexter, in 1784, built a grist mill a few rods east of the present one, which was removed to make way for the canal. The present grist mill was built in 1819 by their descendants, and the mills are still in their possession. In the summer of 1776, the head of each of the nine families conprising the population of Pine Meadow, with a single exception, were in the army at New York. In 1811, H. & H. Haskell built a distillery for the manufacture of Gin-and continued the business until 1833; then abandoned it. The canal around Enfield Falls, five miles in length, overcoming a fall of thirty feet, was completed in 1829, for navigation and water power, built mostly by Hartford capital. The population at this time was about 300. 1831. Jonathan Danforth from New York built the foundery (now occupied by H. A. Converse as a foundery since 1844), and a small building on the north for a finishing and packing room in the manufacture of door butts, which was continued near two years, when the proprietor "struck his flag" to a cheaper imported article which came into the market. These buildings were occupied a few years in the manufacture of cotton batting, by Griswold & Co. of Hartford, Elisha Jenks of Warehouse Point, also Sexton, Woodward & Co. of the same place. In 1844, Slate & Brown, from Stafford, erected on the site of the finishing building the present building for a machine shop, occupying it several years in the manufacture of cotton and other kinds of machinery. The building is now owned by L. B. Chapman and is occupied by A. G. West in manufacturing sewing and various other kinds of machines. Samuel Williams, of Hartford built a six engine paper mill just north of the Ferry-way, and failed during the financial trouble in 1837. In 1838, the mill was again put in operation under a joint stock company, by the name of WINDSOR MILLS, but for want of ballast was foundered in about two years. While the varied interest of mortgagers, endorsers and stock holders were being legally adjusted, the property passed into the possession of the Connecticut River Company, for non-payment of water rent. It was however disposed of by the parties. in interest to Persse & Brooks, of New York in 1844, and by them. put, and continued, in operation until it was burnt in 1856. In 1856, they rebuilt it, making an eight engine mill. This with two others, were transferred in 1857 to the Persse & Brooks Paper Works. 1836. Carleton of New Hampshire and Niles of Hartford built a large saw mill, and manufactured lumber several years. After the death of Mr. Niles, the property was sold to J. B. Chapman, and run by him until his death in 1847, when the business was abandoned, and it was subsequently sold to C. B. Hutchins & Co. of New Hampshire, and by them to James Outterson who converted the works into a paper mill. After the death of Mr. Outterson, it was again sold to Converse, Burbank & Co. in 1855, who removed the paper mill and manufactured manilla paper about one year. It was then sold in 1857, to Persse & Brooks, and by them the same year to the Persse & Brooks Paper Works. 1838. Haskell & Hayden commenced the sewing silk business in the old Distillery buildings (which were burnt in 1848, and rebuilt the same year), and is continued successfully by them. 1839. James H. Wells, Jr., of Hartford, built a two engine paper mill for hardware paper just south of the Ferry-way, was unsuccessful in manufacturing, sold the mill and house in 1843, to C. P. Hollister of Andover, Conn., who ran the mill on printing paper, until it was burnt in 1847. The ruins were sold, in 1849, to A. & G. Blake of Wrentham, Mass., who commenced to rebuild for the manufacture of cotton batting, but their buoyant hopes were crushed by old embarrassments, before a cover to the walls could be raised. The unfinished property was sold to L. B. Chapman, in 1850, who finished the building and sold it to Medlicott & Osgood who are now manufacturing stockinet goods. 1845. Philip & E. G. Ripley of Hartford built a rolling mill about fifty rods south of the lower (canal) bridge, for the manufacture of iron. In 1852, E. G. Ripley retired from the business, which was carried on by P. Ripley until 1856, when the works were leased to T. G. Nock for five years, but one year's business enabled him to retire. The works have not been occupied since. 1845. Josiah Rice of Hartford erected a building a few rods north of the rolling mill, for the manufacture of Wesson rifles; but, instead of rifles, cotton batting and thread were manu factured by several rotating successors until 1849, when the property was sold to Apollo Willmarth of Medway, Mass.-the present owner, and a manufacturer of thread and twine. 1846. Royal Prouty, formerly from Spencer, Mass., built a house a few rods north of the town (canal) bridge for the manufacture of various kinds of wire, blind staples and covered bonnet wire. In the fall of 1857 the public were surprised by a dissolving view of Mr. Prouty and most of his property. The works are now occupied by W. E. Rice of Worcester. 1846. The Connecticut River Company built a large building near the locks, to rent for various mechanical purposes, but in 1847 rented the building to the Connecticut River Mills, a joint stock company owned mostly in Hartford, for the manufacture of printing cloths and umbrella goods, which was continued nine years without a dividend, when the stockholders sold out their interest to A. Dunham and others, who are successfully manufacturing a superior article of thread. 1847. C. H. Dexter built a four-engine paper mill to manufacture manilla paper, to which he has added another engine, and otherwise increased the work. 1847. Leander Hotchkiss erected a building near the lower canal bridge for the purpose of manufacturing edge tools, in company with Charles Dickerman of Westfield, but failing to agree, it was occupied by Hotchkiss as a small machine shop until 1849, when it was sold to Carroll & Risley and by them converted into a two engine paper mill for printing paper, and was run by them until the death of Mr. Risley, when the property was sold in 1853 to S. N. Risley who carried on the business until 1857 and failed; one of the mortgagers, John C. Ely of New York run the mill five months in 1858, then closedthe gates remaining in a statu quo condition until a fire in March, 1859, destroyed it. The ruins and land were sold in April to C. H. Dexter. 1854, 5 and 6. Persse & Brooks, built one of the best and largest paper mills in the country, fourteen 36 inch engines and three 84 inch Fourdrinier machines, with all the modern improvements in machinery, to make first class book papers. In 1857, they obtained an act of iucorporation under the name of |