When the census[11] of 1820 was taken Litchfield ranked fourth in population in the State, New Haven, Hartford, and Middletown only taking precedence. Great red, four-horse coaches with whips cracking and horns blowing came and went at a great pace[12] all day long through the town,—from New York to Albany by way of Danbury and Poughkeepsie, from New York to Boston via Danbury and Hartford, and in many other directions. A driver and later owner, of one of these stages, Hiram Barnes by name, was a resident of North Street and so noted a character in the community that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe immortalized him in her “Poganuc People” under the name of “Hiel Jones.” He is therein portrayed by her graphic pen along with other prominent people of the town, as she drew largely upon her youthful memories of Litchfield in writing that volume. So, too, Henry Ward Beecher recalls Hiram Barnes in the passage from his life quoted later on in this chapter. Some of the advertisements of these stage routes read as follows: For Poughkeepsie, New York and Albany. Daily through in 20 Hours Stage leaves Litchfield every morning at 5 o’clock (Sundays excepted) and arrives at Poughkeepsie at 5 P. M. Steam Boats leave Poughkeepsie every evening at 5 o’clock and arrive in New York or Albany next morning at 1 o’clock. This line passes through Cornwall, Sharon, Amenia, Washington and Pleasant Valley to Poughkeepsie. This arrangement to continue until further notice. For seats apply at PHILO C. BUSH, Deming’s Tavern, WILLIAM STEVENS, Litchfield, April 1829. _Proprietors_. In the following one it is interesting to observe the emphasis laid upon “_no night travelling_” as a special inducement to travellers to take that line. One doubts its advantages on reading further that the stage leaves at 3 A. M.! New Arrangement. Litchfield, New Milford, Danbury and Norwalk Mail Stage. This stage leaves Josiah Park’s Hotel, Litchfield, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 3 in the morning, passing thro’ New Preston, New Milford and Brookfield and arrives at Danbury to lodge: leaves Danbury next morning for Norwalk and arrives in time for passengers to take the steam boat for N. York. _No Night Travelling._ Fare through to New York 3.25 Returning Takes the Norwalk passengers at Danbury on Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, and arrives in Litchfield the same day. For seats apply at the Bar at Park’s Hotel, Litchfield, H. BARNES, _Proprietor_, Nov. 10, 1829.