New Hartford Tribune
Henry R. Jones, Editor
Friday, August 11, 1882
Barkhamsted Reminiscences - Fourth
In the year of 1773 was born in the town of Lyme, Conn., a boy, who was given the name of John Mack. In 1796, he married, on the first day of January, Betsey Miner, of Lyme, and went at once to Bloomfield, N. Y., where their married life was spent. In 1797, a son was born to them, and they named him John after his father, as it was then customary to name the first son after the father. In 1799, a daughter was born, and in 1801 they were richly blessed again by the advent of another daughter.
During the summer of 1801, a terrible sickness swept through the town of Bloomfield, and a great many lay sick while others dying, or already dead. It was an impossibility to find nurses to care for the sick and suffering. The fever reached the home of Mr. Mack, and all were prostrated by it. The father and son lay sick in one room, the mother in another, and then the little girls were taken, and they were removed to another house. Mr. Mack arose from his sick bed and went into his wife's room to administer some medicine. The few who were not sick passed from house to house to administer what comfort and aid they [Page Torn]. Mr. Mack left the house, some one came in to see Mrs. Mack, and when he next went in death had done its work, and the wife and mother had found release from all sufferings. The two little daughters also died. From the 24th of July, when the mother died, until the 2nd of August, the three were in their graves. Mr Mack and the son recovered, but the climate seemed unhealthy, the water was poor, and saddened by the loss of his wife and daughters, he resolved to leave the place and seek some locality more healthy. A neighbor of his, and a most intimate friend, who was a native of Barkhamsted, returned to his old birthplace. Knowing Mr. Mack was anxious to leave Bloomfield, he advised him to come to this town and make it his home. This man's name was Lynds Jones.
Mr. Mack accordingly came, bringing his son John, and bought the place where Robert Vosburgh now lives. He built the front of the house, and also built a tannery and a shoe shop on the east side of the main road, close by the little brook which passes west through the meadows of Mrs. Elihu Case. On January 26th, 1804, he was married to Rachael, only daughter of Ephraim Munson. In 1805, a daughter of born to them, to whom they gave the name of Sophronia. In 1810, a son was born and they called him Whitfield; in 1814, Jeannette, the third child, was born; in 1818, Samuel the forth, and in 1818, Wesley, the fifth and last child.
After John Mack had been in town some little time, his father, Ezra Mack, came from Lyme and bought the house which stood on the east side of the way, across the street from where Mrs. Elihu Case now lives. Mr. Mack bought the property of Ozias Case. It was an old-fashioned house, standing up a number of feet higher than the highway, and was similar in pattern to the house now owned by Rhodney Phelps, having two front rooms, one each side of a small hall, (or entry as they were formerly called), with the main entrance opening into this, and back of these rooms was a long kitchen, with a pantry at one end and a bedroom at the other. Flat stones led up to the house from the street
Ezra Mack had nine children, but it is impossible for me to give a history of each one, their lives, and to what part of the country they went. After the death of Mrs. Mack, the home was broken up, and Mr. Mack went to live with John.
John was a most successful tanner, understanding perfectly tanning, currying, and everything pertaining to that branch of business. He had a large number of apprentices, and the leather coming from his tannery was always of the best quality. Somewhere near the year 1807, his tannery and shoe shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Mack took a brand fire of from the house in a pair of tongs (it being before the invention of matches, and at a time when if one neighbor's fire went out, they had to borrow another neighbor), and carrying it through the tannery for the purpose of making a fire in his shoe shop, found on his return the building on fire, and in a moment's time beyond control. The tannery was well built, and the loss was a great one to Mr. Mack. The neighbors came hurrying to his assistance, but nearly every one seemed to be paralyzed by fear, and little of value was saved. It is said of one man that he passed by a large and valuable bundle of leather, and taking up an old pot of tar, carried it carefully away from the burning building, and left it in a place of safety.
The tannery was soon rebuilt, the neighbors lending him much assistance, but not as good a building as the first one was. At the time of the raising, cider was handed around, and one of the poets of Barkhamsted present, John Ives by name, drank the health of Mr. Mack in a glass of cider in these words:
"Here's health to John Mack,
Who soles the shoes and drives the tack;
If he does set fire again,
I hope it will escape his house and burn his skin."
His first wife's son, John who came with him, staid in Barkhamsted until quite a young man, when he left town and joined the Shakers at Lebanon, but after being with them a time, he became disgusted with their customs and manner of living, and ran away and his family lost all trace of him.
In 1826, John Mack sold his property on the east side of the road to Alvin Sage, who sold it to Mr. Vosburgh, the present occupant. After Mr. Mack sold the east side, he lived in the house with Mr. Sage, while he was building the brick house on the west side, where his daughter, Mrs. Case, now resides. The place where Ezra Mack lived, was bought by Dr. Amos Beecher, and by him was given to his given to his daughter Julia. who sold it to Edward Squires. After Mr. Mack left the place and went to live with John, the house was rented to a number of different families.
At one time a man by the name of David Jones from New Haven, lived in it. He married a lady by the name of Beers, a sister of Mrs. Japhet Case. A Methodist minister by the name of Clarke also lived there. He was a circuit preacher, and was away from home a great deal of the time. One night when Mrs. Clarke was alone, she awoke to find her little babe was not in bed with her. She rushed frantically around in search of it, and at last when nearly wild with fright and anxiety, she lifted a clothes basket which stood by the side of the bed, when lo! there lay the missing babe under the basket upon the floor. It had fallen from the bed and striking the edge of the basket, turned it over, leaving the baby underneath still fast asleep, and safely hid.
John Mack's second wife died Feb. 21, 1831, and he July 14, 1835. Their oldest child, Sophronia, married a man by the name of Butler, of Hartford, where she died in August 1880. Whitfield died in infancy. In 1837, Jennette married Elihu Case, a son of Humphrey Case, of Center Hill, she living the greater part of her life in the brick house built by her father. She is the only living member of her father's family. Her husband died last March, leaving her with a son and daughter. Samuel, the son, is now living in New Hartford, has a wife and two children. Helen, the daughter, lives at home with the lonely mother.
John Mack's son, Samuel died when three years of age. Wesley lived at Middletown, Conn., and died Oct. 1st, 1880, aged 59 years.
Helen Case, the daughter of Jennette, has in her possession a pair of slippers, which have an interesting bit of history attached to them. More than 80 years ago John Mack, then a widower, invited Lizzie Phelps, of Canton, to attend a ball with him. She frankly told him she could not go, as she had no slippers. She had a pair ready for the soles, which were made from a piece of her mother's wedding dress, the color being a light green, and the material brocade satin. Mr. Mack told her he would sole them for her that afternoon, so they could attend the ball. He made his promise good, and in the evening they "tripped the light fantastic toe," she happy as the wearer of the green satin slippers. They descended from Lizzie Phelps to her daughter, Eliza, who married Richard Case, of North Canton, and were safely preserved by her until her last sickness, when she placed them in the hands of the granddaughter of John Mack, who 80 long years ago back on the life-walk, soled the slippers in an afternoon. The slippers are highly prized by the present owner, and visitors to her dwelling marvel at their age and queerness.
The toe came to a sharp point and the slipper has no heel. If the foot of Miss Phelps filled it to its length and breath, it must have been an unusually large foot, but I conjecture that the inhabitants of that age wore no tight shoes, consequently were not troubled with corns. The slippers are a rare and valuable relic, for it is a little more than 80 years since John Mack placed the soles upon them, while the satin is all of 100 years old, and possible several more years ought to be added to the number.
Henry R. Jones, Editor
Friday, August 11, 1882
Barkhamsted Reminiscences - Fourth
In the year of 1773 was born in the town of Lyme, Conn., a boy, who was given the name of John Mack. In 1796, he married, on the first day of January, Betsey Miner, of Lyme, and went at once to Bloomfield, N. Y., where their married life was spent. In 1797, a son was born to them, and they named him John after his father, as it was then customary to name the first son after the father. In 1799, a daughter was born, and in 1801 they were richly blessed again by the advent of another daughter.
During the summer of 1801, a terrible sickness swept through the town of Bloomfield, and a great many lay sick while others dying, or already dead. It was an impossibility to find nurses to care for the sick and suffering. The fever reached the home of Mr. Mack, and all were prostrated by it. The father and son lay sick in one room, the mother in another, and then the little girls were taken, and they were removed to another house. Mr. Mack arose from his sick bed and went into his wife's room to administer some medicine. The few who were not sick passed from house to house to administer what comfort and aid they [Page Torn]. Mr. Mack left the house, some one came in to see Mrs. Mack, and when he next went in death had done its work, and the wife and mother had found release from all sufferings. The two little daughters also died. From the 24th of July, when the mother died, until the 2nd of August, the three were in their graves. Mr Mack and the son recovered, but the climate seemed unhealthy, the water was poor, and saddened by the loss of his wife and daughters, he resolved to leave the place and seek some locality more healthy. A neighbor of his, and a most intimate friend, who was a native of Barkhamsted, returned to his old birthplace. Knowing Mr. Mack was anxious to leave Bloomfield, he advised him to come to this town and make it his home. This man's name was Lynds Jones.
Mr. Mack accordingly came, bringing his son John, and bought the place where Robert Vosburgh now lives. He built the front of the house, and also built a tannery and a shoe shop on the east side of the main road, close by the little brook which passes west through the meadows of Mrs. Elihu Case. On January 26th, 1804, he was married to Rachael, only daughter of Ephraim Munson. In 1805, a daughter of born to them, to whom they gave the name of Sophronia. In 1810, a son was born and they called him Whitfield; in 1814, Jeannette, the third child, was born; in 1818, Samuel the forth, and in 1818, Wesley, the fifth and last child.
After John Mack had been in town some little time, his father, Ezra Mack, came from Lyme and bought the house which stood on the east side of the way, across the street from where Mrs. Elihu Case now lives. Mr. Mack bought the property of Ozias Case. It was an old-fashioned house, standing up a number of feet higher than the highway, and was similar in pattern to the house now owned by Rhodney Phelps, having two front rooms, one each side of a small hall, (or entry as they were formerly called), with the main entrance opening into this, and back of these rooms was a long kitchen, with a pantry at one end and a bedroom at the other. Flat stones led up to the house from the street
Ezra Mack had nine children, but it is impossible for me to give a history of each one, their lives, and to what part of the country they went. After the death of Mrs. Mack, the home was broken up, and Mr. Mack went to live with John.
John was a most successful tanner, understanding perfectly tanning, currying, and everything pertaining to that branch of business. He had a large number of apprentices, and the leather coming from his tannery was always of the best quality. Somewhere near the year 1807, his tannery and shoe shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Mack took a brand fire of from the house in a pair of tongs (it being before the invention of matches, and at a time when if one neighbor's fire went out, they had to borrow another neighbor), and carrying it through the tannery for the purpose of making a fire in his shoe shop, found on his return the building on fire, and in a moment's time beyond control. The tannery was well built, and the loss was a great one to Mr. Mack. The neighbors came hurrying to his assistance, but nearly every one seemed to be paralyzed by fear, and little of value was saved. It is said of one man that he passed by a large and valuable bundle of leather, and taking up an old pot of tar, carried it carefully away from the burning building, and left it in a place of safety.
The tannery was soon rebuilt, the neighbors lending him much assistance, but not as good a building as the first one was. At the time of the raising, cider was handed around, and one of the poets of Barkhamsted present, John Ives by name, drank the health of Mr. Mack in a glass of cider in these words:
"Here's health to John Mack,
Who soles the shoes and drives the tack;
If he does set fire again,
I hope it will escape his house and burn his skin."
His first wife's son, John who came with him, staid in Barkhamsted until quite a young man, when he left town and joined the Shakers at Lebanon, but after being with them a time, he became disgusted with their customs and manner of living, and ran away and his family lost all trace of him.
In 1826, John Mack sold his property on the east side of the road to Alvin Sage, who sold it to Mr. Vosburgh, the present occupant. After Mr. Mack sold the east side, he lived in the house with Mr. Sage, while he was building the brick house on the west side, where his daughter, Mrs. Case, now resides. The place where Ezra Mack lived, was bought by Dr. Amos Beecher, and by him was given to his given to his daughter Julia. who sold it to Edward Squires. After Mr. Mack left the place and went to live with John, the house was rented to a number of different families.
At one time a man by the name of David Jones from New Haven, lived in it. He married a lady by the name of Beers, a sister of Mrs. Japhet Case. A Methodist minister by the name of Clarke also lived there. He was a circuit preacher, and was away from home a great deal of the time. One night when Mrs. Clarke was alone, she awoke to find her little babe was not in bed with her. She rushed frantically around in search of it, and at last when nearly wild with fright and anxiety, she lifted a clothes basket which stood by the side of the bed, when lo! there lay the missing babe under the basket upon the floor. It had fallen from the bed and striking the edge of the basket, turned it over, leaving the baby underneath still fast asleep, and safely hid.
John Mack's second wife died Feb. 21, 1831, and he July 14, 1835. Their oldest child, Sophronia, married a man by the name of Butler, of Hartford, where she died in August 1880. Whitfield died in infancy. In 1837, Jennette married Elihu Case, a son of Humphrey Case, of Center Hill, she living the greater part of her life in the brick house built by her father. She is the only living member of her father's family. Her husband died last March, leaving her with a son and daughter. Samuel, the son, is now living in New Hartford, has a wife and two children. Helen, the daughter, lives at home with the lonely mother.
John Mack's son, Samuel died when three years of age. Wesley lived at Middletown, Conn., and died Oct. 1st, 1880, aged 59 years.
Helen Case, the daughter of Jennette, has in her possession a pair of slippers, which have an interesting bit of history attached to them. More than 80 years ago John Mack, then a widower, invited Lizzie Phelps, of Canton, to attend a ball with him. She frankly told him she could not go, as she had no slippers. She had a pair ready for the soles, which were made from a piece of her mother's wedding dress, the color being a light green, and the material brocade satin. Mr. Mack told her he would sole them for her that afternoon, so they could attend the ball. He made his promise good, and in the evening they "tripped the light fantastic toe," she happy as the wearer of the green satin slippers. They descended from Lizzie Phelps to her daughter, Eliza, who married Richard Case, of North Canton, and were safely preserved by her until her last sickness, when she placed them in the hands of the granddaughter of John Mack, who 80 long years ago back on the life-walk, soled the slippers in an afternoon. The slippers are highly prized by the present owner, and visitors to her dwelling marvel at their age and queerness.
The toe came to a sharp point and the slipper has no heel. If the foot of Miss Phelps filled it to its length and breath, it must have been an unusually large foot, but I conjecture that the inhabitants of that age wore no tight shoes, consequently were not troubled with corns. The slippers are a rare and valuable relic, for it is a little more than 80 years since John Mack placed the soles upon them, while the satin is all of 100 years old, and possible several more years ought to be added to the number.
New Hartford Tribune
Henry R. Jones, Editor
Friday, August 11, 1882
Barkhamsted Reminiscences - Fourth
In the year of 1773 was born in the town of Lyme, Conn., a boy, who was given the name of John Mack. In 1796, he married, on the first day of January, Betsey Miner, of Lyme, and went at once to Bloomfield, N. Y., where their married life was spent. In 1797, a son was born to them, and they named him John after his father, as it was then customary to name the first son after the father. In 1799, a daughter was born, and in 1801 they were richly blessed again by the advent of another daughter.
During the summer of 1801, a terrible sickness swept through the town of Bloomfield, and a great many lay sick while others dying, or already dead. It was an impossibility to find nurses to care for the sick and suffering. The fever reached the home of Mr. Mack, and all were prostrated by it. The father and son lay sick in one room, the mother in another, and then the little girls were taken, and they were removed to another house. Mr. Mack arose from his sick bed and went into his wife's room to administer some medicine. The few who were not sick passed from house to house to administer what comfort and aid they [Page Torn]. Mr. Mack left the house, some one came in to see Mrs. Mack, and when he next went in death had done its work, and the wife and mother had found release from all sufferings. The two little daughters also died. From the 24th of July, when the mother died, until the 2nd of August, the three were in their graves. Mr Mack and the son recovered, but the climate seemed unhealthy, the water was poor, and saddened by the loss of his wife and daughters, he resolved to leave the place and seek some locality more healthy. A neighbor of his, and a most intimate friend, who was a native of Barkhamsted, returned to his old birthplace. Knowing Mr. Mack was anxious to leave Bloomfield, he advised him to come to this town and make it his home. This man's name was Lynds Jones.
Mr. Mack accordingly came, bringing his son John, and bought the place where Robert Vosburgh now lives. He built the front of the house, and also built a tannery and a shoe shop on the east side of the main road, close by the little brook which passes west through the meadows of Mrs. Elihu Case. On January 26th, 1804, he was married to Rachael, only daughter of Ephraim Munson. In 1805, a daughter of born to them, to whom they gave the name of Sophronia. In 1810, a son was born and they called him Whitfield; in 1814, Jeannette, the third child, was born; in 1818, Samuel the forth, and in 1818, Wesley, the fifth and last child.
After John Mack had been in town some little time, his father, Ezra Mack, came from Lyme and bought the house which stood on the east side of the way, across the street from where Mrs. Elihu Case now lives. Mr. Mack bought the property of Ozias Case. It was an old-fashioned house, standing up a number of feet higher than the highway, and was similar in pattern to the house now owned by Rhodney Phelps, having two front rooms, one each side of a small hall, (or entry as they were formerly called), with the main entrance opening into this, and back of these rooms was a long kitchen, with a pantry at one end and a bedroom at the other. Flat stones led up to the house from the street
Ezra Mack had nine children, but it is impossible for me to give a history of each one, their lives, and to what part of the country they went. After the death of Mrs. Mack, the home was broken up, and Mr. Mack went to live with John.
John was a most successful tanner, understanding perfectly tanning, currying, and everything pertaining to that branch of business. He had a large number of apprentices, and the leather coming from his tannery was always of the best quality. Somewhere near the year 1807, his tannery and shoe shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Mack took a brand fire of from the house in a pair of tongs (it being before the invention of matches, and at a time when if one neighbor's fire went out, they had to borrow another neighbor), and carrying it through the tannery for the purpose of making a fire in his shoe shop, found on his return the building on fire, and in a moment's time beyond control. The tannery was well built, and the loss was a great one to Mr. Mack. The neighbors came hurrying to his assistance, but nearly every one seemed to be paralyzed by fear, and little of value was saved. It is said of one man that he passed by a large and valuable bundle of leather, and taking up an old pot of tar, carried it carefully away from the burning building, and left it in a place of safety.
The tannery was soon rebuilt, the neighbors lending him much assistance, but not as good a building as the first one was. At the time of the raising, cider was handed around, and one of the poets of Barkhamsted present, John Ives by name, drank the health of Mr. Mack in a glass of cider in these words:
"Here's health to John Mack,
Who soles the shoes and drives the tack;
If he does set fire again,
I hope it will escape his house and burn his skin."
His first wife's son, John who came with him, staid in Barkhamsted until quite a young man, when he left town and joined the Shakers at Lebanon, but after being with them a time, he became disgusted with their customs and manner of living, and ran away and his family lost all trace of him.
In 1826, John Mack sold his property on the east side of the road to Alvin Sage, who sold it to Mr. Vosburgh, the present occupant. After Mr. Mack sold the east side, he lived in the house with Mr. Sage, while he was building the brick house on the west side, where his daughter, Mrs. Case, now resides. The place where Ezra Mack lived, was bought by Dr. Amos Beecher, and by him was given to his given to his daughter Julia. who sold it to Edward Squires. After Mr. Mack left the place and went to live with John, the house was rented to a number of different families.
At one time a man by the name of David Jones from New Haven, lived in it. He married a lady by the name of Beers, a sister of Mrs. Japhet Case. A Methodist minister by the name of Clarke also lived there. He was a circuit preacher, and was away from home a great deal of the time. One night when Mrs. Clarke was alone, she awoke to find her little babe was not in bed with her. She rushed frantically around in search of it, and at last when nearly wild with fright and anxiety, she lifted a clothes basket which stood by the side of the bed, when lo! there lay the missing babe under the basket upon the floor. It had fallen from the bed and striking the edge of the basket, turned it over, leaving the baby underneath still fast asleep, and safely hid.
John Mack's second wife died Feb. 21, 1831, and he July 14, 1835. Their oldest child, Sophronia, married a man by the name of Butler, of Hartford, where she died in August 1880. Whitfield died in infancy. In 1837, Jennette married Elihu Case, a son of Humphrey Case, of Center Hill, she living the greater part of her life in the brick house built by her father. She is the only living member of her father's family. Her husband died last March, leaving her with a son and daughter. Samuel, the son, is now living in New Hartford, has a wife and two children. Helen, the daughter, lives at home with the lonely mother.
John Mack's son, Samuel died when three years of age. Wesley lived at Middletown, Conn., and died Oct. 1st, 1880, aged 59 years.
Helen Case, the daughter of Jennette, has in her possession a pair of slippers, which have an interesting bit of history attached to them. More than 80 years ago John Mack, then a widower, invited Lizzie Phelps, of Canton, to attend a ball with him. She frankly told him she could not go, as she had no slippers. She had a pair ready for the soles, which were made from a piece of her mother's wedding dress, the color being a light green, and the material brocade satin. Mr. Mack told her he would sole them for her that afternoon, so they could attend the ball. He made his promise good, and in the evening they "tripped the light fantastic toe," she happy as the wearer of the green satin slippers. They descended from Lizzie Phelps to her daughter, Eliza, who married Richard Case, of North Canton, and were safely preserved by her until her last sickness, when she placed them in the hands of the granddaughter of John Mack, who 80 long years ago back on the life-walk, soled the slippers in an afternoon. The slippers are highly prized by the present owner, and visitors to her dwelling marvel at their age and queerness.
The toe came to a sharp point and the slipper has no heel. If the foot of Miss Phelps filled it to its length and breath, it must have been an unusually large foot, but I conjecture that the inhabitants of that age wore no tight shoes, consequently were not troubled with corns. The slippers are a rare and valuable relic, for it is a little more than 80 years since John Mack placed the soles upon them, while the satin is all of 100 years old, and possible several more years ought to be added to the number.
Henry R. Jones, Editor
Friday, August 11, 1882
Barkhamsted Reminiscences - Fourth
In the year of 1773 was born in the town of Lyme, Conn., a boy, who was given the name of John Mack. In 1796, he married, on the first day of January, Betsey Miner, of Lyme, and went at once to Bloomfield, N. Y., where their married life was spent. In 1797, a son was born to them, and they named him John after his father, as it was then customary to name the first son after the father. In 1799, a daughter was born, and in 1801 they were richly blessed again by the advent of another daughter.
During the summer of 1801, a terrible sickness swept through the town of Bloomfield, and a great many lay sick while others dying, or already dead. It was an impossibility to find nurses to care for the sick and suffering. The fever reached the home of Mr. Mack, and all were prostrated by it. The father and son lay sick in one room, the mother in another, and then the little girls were taken, and they were removed to another house. Mr. Mack arose from his sick bed and went into his wife's room to administer some medicine. The few who were not sick passed from house to house to administer what comfort and aid they [Page Torn]. Mr. Mack left the house, some one came in to see Mrs. Mack, and when he next went in death had done its work, and the wife and mother had found release from all sufferings. The two little daughters also died. From the 24th of July, when the mother died, until the 2nd of August, the three were in their graves. Mr Mack and the son recovered, but the climate seemed unhealthy, the water was poor, and saddened by the loss of his wife and daughters, he resolved to leave the place and seek some locality more healthy. A neighbor of his, and a most intimate friend, who was a native of Barkhamsted, returned to his old birthplace. Knowing Mr. Mack was anxious to leave Bloomfield, he advised him to come to this town and make it his home. This man's name was Lynds Jones.
Mr. Mack accordingly came, bringing his son John, and bought the place where Robert Vosburgh now lives. He built the front of the house, and also built a tannery and a shoe shop on the east side of the main road, close by the little brook which passes west through the meadows of Mrs. Elihu Case. On January 26th, 1804, he was married to Rachael, only daughter of Ephraim Munson. In 1805, a daughter of born to them, to whom they gave the name of Sophronia. In 1810, a son was born and they called him Whitfield; in 1814, Jeannette, the third child, was born; in 1818, Samuel the forth, and in 1818, Wesley, the fifth and last child.
After John Mack had been in town some little time, his father, Ezra Mack, came from Lyme and bought the house which stood on the east side of the way, across the street from where Mrs. Elihu Case now lives. Mr. Mack bought the property of Ozias Case. It was an old-fashioned house, standing up a number of feet higher than the highway, and was similar in pattern to the house now owned by Rhodney Phelps, having two front rooms, one each side of a small hall, (or entry as they were formerly called), with the main entrance opening into this, and back of these rooms was a long kitchen, with a pantry at one end and a bedroom at the other. Flat stones led up to the house from the street
Ezra Mack had nine children, but it is impossible for me to give a history of each one, their lives, and to what part of the country they went. After the death of Mrs. Mack, the home was broken up, and Mr. Mack went to live with John.
John was a most successful tanner, understanding perfectly tanning, currying, and everything pertaining to that branch of business. He had a large number of apprentices, and the leather coming from his tannery was always of the best quality. Somewhere near the year 1807, his tannery and shoe shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Mack took a brand fire of from the house in a pair of tongs (it being before the invention of matches, and at a time when if one neighbor's fire went out, they had to borrow another neighbor), and carrying it through the tannery for the purpose of making a fire in his shoe shop, found on his return the building on fire, and in a moment's time beyond control. The tannery was well built, and the loss was a great one to Mr. Mack. The neighbors came hurrying to his assistance, but nearly every one seemed to be paralyzed by fear, and little of value was saved. It is said of one man that he passed by a large and valuable bundle of leather, and taking up an old pot of tar, carried it carefully away from the burning building, and left it in a place of safety.
The tannery was soon rebuilt, the neighbors lending him much assistance, but not as good a building as the first one was. At the time of the raising, cider was handed around, and one of the poets of Barkhamsted present, John Ives by name, drank the health of Mr. Mack in a glass of cider in these words:
"Here's health to John Mack,
Who soles the shoes and drives the tack;
If he does set fire again,
I hope it will escape his house and burn his skin."
His first wife's son, John who came with him, staid in Barkhamsted until quite a young man, when he left town and joined the Shakers at Lebanon, but after being with them a time, he became disgusted with their customs and manner of living, and ran away and his family lost all trace of him.
In 1826, John Mack sold his property on the east side of the road to Alvin Sage, who sold it to Mr. Vosburgh, the present occupant. After Mr. Mack sold the east side, he lived in the house with Mr. Sage, while he was building the brick house on the west side, where his daughter, Mrs. Case, now resides. The place where Ezra Mack lived, was bought by Dr. Amos Beecher, and by him was given to his given to his daughter Julia. who sold it to Edward Squires. After Mr. Mack left the place and went to live with John, the house was rented to a number of different families.
At one time a man by the name of David Jones from New Haven, lived in it. He married a lady by the name of Beers, a sister of Mrs. Japhet Case. A Methodist minister by the name of Clarke also lived there. He was a circuit preacher, and was away from home a great deal of the time. One night when Mrs. Clarke was alone, she awoke to find her little babe was not in bed with her. She rushed frantically around in search of it, and at last when nearly wild with fright and anxiety, she lifted a clothes basket which stood by the side of the bed, when lo! there lay the missing babe under the basket upon the floor. It had fallen from the bed and striking the edge of the basket, turned it over, leaving the baby underneath still fast asleep, and safely hid.
John Mack's second wife died Feb. 21, 1831, and he July 14, 1835. Their oldest child, Sophronia, married a man by the name of Butler, of Hartford, where she died in August 1880. Whitfield died in infancy. In 1837, Jennette married Elihu Case, a son of Humphrey Case, of Center Hill, she living the greater part of her life in the brick house built by her father. She is the only living member of her father's family. Her husband died last March, leaving her with a son and daughter. Samuel, the son, is now living in New Hartford, has a wife and two children. Helen, the daughter, lives at home with the lonely mother.
John Mack's son, Samuel died when three years of age. Wesley lived at Middletown, Conn., and died Oct. 1st, 1880, aged 59 years.
Helen Case, the daughter of Jennette, has in her possession a pair of slippers, which have an interesting bit of history attached to them. More than 80 years ago John Mack, then a widower, invited Lizzie Phelps, of Canton, to attend a ball with him. She frankly told him she could not go, as she had no slippers. She had a pair ready for the soles, which were made from a piece of her mother's wedding dress, the color being a light green, and the material brocade satin. Mr. Mack told her he would sole them for her that afternoon, so they could attend the ball. He made his promise good, and in the evening they "tripped the light fantastic toe," she happy as the wearer of the green satin slippers. They descended from Lizzie Phelps to her daughter, Eliza, who married Richard Case, of North Canton, and were safely preserved by her until her last sickness, when she placed them in the hands of the granddaughter of John Mack, who 80 long years ago back on the life-walk, soled the slippers in an afternoon. The slippers are highly prized by the present owner, and visitors to her dwelling marvel at their age and queerness.
The toe came to a sharp point and the slipper has no heel. If the foot of Miss Phelps filled it to its length and breath, it must have been an unusually large foot, but I conjecture that the inhabitants of that age wore no tight shoes, consequently were not troubled with corns. The slippers are a rare and valuable relic, for it is a little more than 80 years since John Mack placed the soles upon them, while the satin is all of 100 years old, and possible several more years ought to be added to the number.
Family Members
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