the mills made other important contributions to the communities in the field of public service. Samuel Wire represented Oxford in the Connecticut General Assembly for a number of years. He later moved to New Haven, where he held the office of city Sheriff until the time of his death.

SHEEP INDUSTRY AND WOOLEN MILLS SUFFER DECLINE IN LATE 1870'S

    Although the area towns enjoyed a period of great prosperity due largely to Colonel Humphreys' introduction of merinos, the good times did not last forever. In the 1870's sheep breeders all over the state began to suffer from sheep kills inflicted by wandering dogs.
    In Oxford, the 1876 Selectmen's Report noted that $753.50 was paid to farmers who had sheep killed by dogs, and said, "the amount paid for sheep killed by dogs has been larger than ever before known, and if some means cannot be found to prevent such wholesale destruction, sheep culture will be destroyed entirely in our farming towns as neighboring towns are suffering as heavily as we."
    As economic conditions changed, and with the development of power other than water power, the mills of the area were gradually closed down. With their demise a period of unprecedented prosperity drew to a close.

Chapter 9

CAPTAIN JOHN HOLBROOK OF GREAT HILL

    Captain John Holbrook was an early Valley leader in the local efforts towards American independence. Although many of the rich and Anglican Church members were loyalists, Captain Holbrook broke with others of his class and supported the revolutionary cause. He contributed his time and leadership to local committees and sent four of his sons into the battlefields.