James Dike of Dudley, Connecticut, moved to Thompson, Connecticut, in 1740, after buying land from his father-in-law, Samuel Narramore. The family stayed in the area for generations, involving themselves in all aspects of the growth of the town. During the 1820s, a number of manufacturing concerns sprung up around the junction of the Quinebaug and French Rivers. During that decade, Thomas and James Dike retained part ownership in a three-story woolen mill, a saw mill, and homes for operatives. By the 1850s, Thompson was a prosperous town with the largest population in Windham (later Pomfret) County.
From the guide to the Dike family business records, (inclusive), 1804-1881, (Baker Library, Harvard Business School)