USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 22
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Nathan Buckingham
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Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
ington avenue, and Mr. Hubbell soon united with Mr. Carlos Curtis, and both establishments led in the manufacture of newer styles of goods. Mr. Parrott changed his business, some years after, to the making of varnish, and Hubbell and Curtis are still a leading firm in the cabinet making business.
Messrs. Frederick Lockwood and Nathan Buckingham commenced business together in 1838, which has grown and continues to be a large and important business among the enterprises of Bridgeport.
Nathan Buckingham was born in Milford, Ct., Dec. 29, 1813, and learned the trade of a joiner and builder in New Haven. He came to Bridgeport in 1834 to follow his trade, with Jerah Stowe, also of Milford; and their business was located on Water street until 1840 or '41. At this time, Mr. Frederick Lockwood and Nichols Northrop were man- ufacturing chairs and light furniture in Mr. Roswell Lewis' large store on the wharf, nearly opposite Union street. In 1842, Mr. Buckingham took the place of Mr. Northrop, and the business was continued under the old name. In 1843, they established a wareroom on State street, where they were burned out in 1845. The next year F. Lockwood and Co. put up the brick building on Water street, the upper stories of which have been used for the furniture business ever since, by that company and its successors. In IS53, Mr. Lockwood sold his interest to Mr. Burr Curtis, when the firm name was changed to Buckingham and Curtis. They continued thus until 1857, when the former took the whole business, conduct- ing it until 1872, when he took Mr. David Stowe and Mr. Chas. B. Buckingham as partners. They gave prominence to undertaking, and, associating with them Mr. W. F. Bishop, opened a store on Wall street, devoted to this specialty, the first of the kind in Bridgeport. A branch house was also established in South Norwalk, which, in 1878, was taken by Mr. Stowe, and the other partners kept the Bridgeport house, which has been continued with great success until the present time, under the name of N. Buckingham and Company. Mr. Nathan Buckingham died June 16, 1885. He was a member of the Common Council in 1860 and '61, and was an active
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History of Bridgeport.
member of the Board of Trade. At his decease he was pres- ident of the Bridgeport Coach Lace Company, also a trustee of the City Savings Bank, and a member of the Universalist Society. In 1840, he married Mary A., daughter of Abel Booth, of Stratford, who survives him with the following children : Charles B. Buckingham, Mrs. M. M. Downer, and Mrs. J. O. Green, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Charles B. Buck- ingham and his brother-in-law, Mr. M. M. Downer, continue the business at the store on Water street.
A Furniture Manufacturing Company was formed as a joint stock concern in 1852, which was run with varying suc- cesses for several years, when it came under the control of the present enterprising proprietor, Mr. Jacob Kiefer, who has made it one of the leading enterprises of the city.
The work of the undertaker, now frequently a separate business from all others, grew out of the trade of cabinet making, and has become a very essential part in the fulfillment of the first stipulation made in nearly all the wills for two hundred years, -" a decent burial." Mr. Frederick W. Par- rott built the first hearse that was used in Bridgeport, upon the suggestion of his wife, Mrs. Lucelia A. Parrott. He built the body with his own hands, purchased the running part of a neighboring wagon maker, and Mrs. Parrott made the cloth trimmings.
Messrs. George E. Northnagle and Son, furniture makers and merchants. They were engaged some years with the Hubbell and Curtis Co., until January 1, 1886, when they purchased the stand of Kiefer and Company, at 425 Main street. They manufacture a general assortment and do a retail business, doing their own upholstering, occupying the four upper stories of the building. They are practical work- men themselves, and propose to keep up with all the demands and enterprises of their line of business.
Carriage Making became prominent early in the busi- ness enterprises of Bridgeport. Previous to 1833, it was confined to the modest establishment of Messrs. Carier and Porter on Middle street, and Mott and Burr, on Clinton, near the corner of North avenue. The late Stephen Tomlinson,
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Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
who had been identified with the Middle street establishment, and David Augustus Wood, both excellent mechanics, were joined by the late Jeremiah Judson, who contributed both capital and enterprise to the firm of Tomlinson, Wood and Co. They erected a factory on Broad, at what was the head of Cannon street, and entered upon what proved to be a very successful business. The house maintained a preeminence in New York City for many years.
About 1834, the first steam power was introduced in con- nection with the carriage business. David and Ebenezer Wheeler set up a James engine, a sugar-loaf boiler, in two parts, the top conical in shape, set in a knuckle joint, kept in place by its own weight. The power was used for sawing, drilling, turning axles and grinding springs, the engine being located in the blacksmith shop on the south side of Cannon street. This engine also furnished steam for a bathing estab- lishment on the north side of Cannon street.
About the same time, Mott and Burr removed to the locality on State street, since occupied by Messrs. Mott and Company, enlarged their business, where, with some changes of proprietors, they maintained a prominent position to a very recent period.
Several firms of longer or shorter continuance have some- time since discontinued or removed, such as : Haight; Hurd, Fairchild and Co., North Main street; Burr and Haight; George Keeler, on Harrison street ; the Union Carriage Co., in the pioneer factory in East Bridgeport; and after them in the same building, Brewster and Co., who became very cele- brated in the sale of fine carriages in Broome street, New York; also Haight and Hubbell, in East Bridgeport. Also the Messrs. Nichols, veteran manufacturers of light wagons at Nichols Farms, in Trumbull, have a few years since located in John street.
Nichols, Peck and Co.'s carriage manufactory was established at Nos. 97 and 99 John street. George K. Nichols and his brother David S. Nichols were successors to James K. Nichols, in manufacturing carriages at Nichols Farms. They made coaches and light carriages, chiefly for the South- ern States and Texas, inaking also a specialty in Mexican
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248
History of Bridgeport.
coaches. At the commencement of the late rebellion the firm inet with heavy losses in the Southern trade at their house in New York where in Broadway they had kept a depos- itory for a few years under the charge of George K. Nichols, the senior member of the firm. Soon after this the firm of Nichols, Peck and Co. was organized. In 1862, George K. Nichols went to Rochester, N. Y., remaining through the war and sometime after in charge of a depository which the firm had in that city. About that time they received large orders from Australia, and did a lucrative trade with that market, some years.
In 1873, the buildings on the old Nichols estate at Nichols Farms were abandoned, the manufacturing having been all removed to the present commodious place of business in Bridgeport ; their principal building in John street being sixty feet square, four stories in height, where now between twenty and thirty men are employed. Mr. James K. Nichols died in 1883, since which time the business has been princi- pally owned and managed by Mr. George K. Nichols, assisted by Mr. Charles W. Blakeman. The firm of Nichols, Peck and Co. has established a well-earned reputation and enjoy the confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.
Saddlery was a very important element in the earlier growth and prosperity of Bridgeport; indeed, for almost half a century its relative importance as compared with the size of the place, at the time, was fully equal to that of the sewing machine interest, for the last twenty years. Substantial for- tunes were realized by proprietors, and among the employed, the liberal earnings and arrangement for savings, numerous independent happy homes were secured.
William Peet, one of the early settlers in Bridgeport, was a tanner and saddle maker. His dwelling was on State street, on the site of the present post office, and his tannery was on Broad street, west side, between John and Cannon streets. He probably established this tannery before the year 1800, for Sheldon Smith of Derby, born March, 1791, was placed as an apprentice with Mr. Peet in 1805, to learn saddle and harness making, and soon after his majority Mr. Peet took him as a partner under the firm name of Peet and
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249
Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
Smith. The manufacturing was conducted in the second story of the new block near Mr. Peet's residence, and sup- plied little more than the local demand.
William Wright, a native of Clarksville, N. Y., was a practical saddler, having learned his trade of his uncle, Anson G. Phelps, of Hartford. He had been employed at Middletown, Conn., and about 1814 had visited Charles- ton, S. C., by a vessel sent out from Middletown to that port with an assorted cargo of which saddlery formed a part. On his return, he came from New York to Bridgeport, and meeting Sheldon Smith opened the subject of establishing a distinctive saddlery business at Charleston, although the Smiths of Hartford were already there. Neither had the needed capital, but they applied to Mr. Peet who consented to assist them. A small stock of goods was made and in the fall sent to Charleston. On landing his goods Mr. Wright opened a store on Meeting street and placed over the door the name of Peet, Smith and Company. Many of his cus- tomers called him Peet Smith, and thought that was his name.3 Mr. Wright sold his stock at good prices long before the season was over, but in the unsettled state of the country he could make no remittances, and Mr. Peet declined sending more goods, without receiving returns for those already sent.
In the spring Mr. Wright came to Bridgeport and made report, which gave entire satisfaction to his partners, and after that they never hesitated to send him all the goods he needed. On September 2, 1819, he married Minerva, one of the four daughters of Mr. Peet. The business of the firm prospered, and soon the profits satisfied Mr. Peet's moderate ambition and he retired from the firm in the year 1816. The firm then of Smith and Wright established themselves in a store on the wharf at the end of the Bridgeport Bridge, and they gradually enlarged their operations.
Hanford Lyon, a native of Weston, Conn., had been ap- prenticed to Elijah Sanford, of Danbury, and by the receipts of money for overwork at the age of twenty years, purchased the last year of his time, and, having some money left, came
3 One of his customers, seeing Mr. Wright write the name Peet, Smith & Co .. on the bill, blurted out " What do you spell your name that way for ? Why don't you write it out Pe-ter Smith."
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003-12- 71012
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History of Bridgeport.
to Bridgeport and commenced the saddlery business, in the second story of the new block, corner of State and Main sts. He was joined by Lemuel Coleman and perhaps others, and Mr. Coleman soon followed Mr. Wright to Charleston, S. C. More capital was needed, and the Fairchild Brothers, of Trumbull, who were successful manufacturers of saddle trees, joined Mr. Lyon. The Fairchilds owned two stores on the east side of Water street near the foot of Wall, and into one of these the firm of Fairchild, Lyon and Co. re- moved,4 and under this firm name in Charleston made a vig- orous fight against Smith and Wright for the business of that market.5
In this opposition neither firm made money and, there- fore, on March 20, 1821, a compromise was effected by which Smith and Wright were to remove their manufactory to Newark, N. J., taking Savannah and Augusta, Ga., Mobile and New Orleans as their market, while Fairchild, Lyon and Co. were to remain at Bridgeport, and hold Charleston as their market, which was ample for all the goods they could produce.
Some attention was given to local trade, as seen from the following fac-simile cut and copied advertisement, taken from the " Republican Farmer" of September 25, 1822 :
"Fairchild, Lyon and Co., Have for sale, cheap for cash or short approved credit, a general assortment of Saddles, Bridles, Harnesses, Trunks, Valieces, Port- manteaus, Whips, Spurs, Holsters, Caps, Saddlery Ware, &c. They also manufacture Cotton Web ; and will furnish saddles with that arti- cle very low.
4 In the summer of ISIS Barak T. Nichols, a native of Greenfield, engaged as an apprentice to Fairchild, Lyon and Co., doing chores in the old store now standing just below the south line of Wall street. Mr. Nichols, while in his prime, just before the late war, filled a large place in the saddlery business in Augusta, Ga., and at Newark, N. J. He is still living in North Bridgeport.
5 In 1820 Mr. Southmayd, of Middletown, failed, and quite a number of jour- neymen and apprentices came from that manufactory to Bridgeport, among whom were Chauncey Ward, James F. Banks, and William Wright, Jr.
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Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
"Cash paid for common Bark and Hemlock Tanned Sleep- skins, and Cattle's Hair, at the store, west end the Bridge. Bridge- port, May 21, 1822."
About 1828 the Fairchilds retired from the saddlery busi- ness and the firm was changed to Lyon, Wright and Co., at Bridgeport, and Coleman, Wright and Co., at Charleston ; Mr. Wright retaining only a fractional interest, which was represented by Mr. H. K. Harral, who subsequently acquired Mr. Wright's interest and more, but Mr. Wright's name was retained for its prestige until 1837, when Smith and Wright, though financially sound, were forced to suspend payment temporarily, and the name of Harral was substituted for Wright. A short time brought in remittances, which set the Newark house right and their prosperity was scarcely checked by their suspension.
Henry K. Harral, at the age of fourteen, left the house of his father, Doct. George Harral, in Rochester, N. Y., to seek his fortune in New York City, where he obtained em- ployment and developed a noticeable business talent, which chanced to meet the quick eye of William Wright, who pro- posed to him to go out to Charleston and learn his business. To this Mr. Harral consented and proved a very valuable acquisition. He is said to have been one of the most success- ful salesmen and collectors ever engaged in the southern trade. He subsequently married Sarah Ann, the youngest daughter of William Peet, and was prominent in the finan- cial, municipal, political, and social circles of Bridgeport and Connecticut. In IS40 he purchased the home of the Rev. John Blatchford, D.D., on Golden Hill, and the native walnut grove adjoining, and in 1848 and 9 removed the old dwelling house, improved the grounds, and erected the large dwelling now owned and occupied by the Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler. He possessed an active and nervous temperament, and appar- ently a strong constitution, but in 1853 a chronic bronchial trouble became strongly developed, which he sought to alleviate by a winter's residence at Aiken, S. C. In this he and his friends were disappointed, for he died at Augusta, Ga., in the spring of 1854, aged 46 years.
coloursguide £
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History of Bridgeport.
Philo C. Calhoun, a native of Danbury, Conn., was apprenticed to Lyon, Wright and Company in 1826. The workman's ledger of the firm shows an entry of ten dollars credit to B. T. Nichols for instructing Philo C. Calhoun on harness. This used to be referred to as a curiosity when these gentlemen were at the head of their respective firms and filling a large place in business circles. He was of rather delicate health and the exposures in his work threatened to permanently impair his health. On this account and good qualities he was placed in the store at Charleston, where he spent a number of years associated with H. K. Harral, who had become the leading manager of that house. In 1835 or 6 Mr. Lyon called Mr. Calhoun to his aid in Bridgeport, giving him a small interest in the profits.
In 1838 changes were made and the firm became Lyon, Calhoun and Company, consisting of Hanford Lyon, P. C. Calhoun, H. K. Harral, and Willys Lyon, a relative of Han- ford Lyon, who for a number of years had been bookkeeper for the firm. In Charleston, Mr. Coleman having retired, the firm became Harral, Hare and Co., Robert W. Hare, a native of Philadelphia, and William Harral, brother of H. K. Harral, becoming associated. In June, 1843, H. K. Harral purchased the entire interest of Hanford Lyon and the latter retired from active business with a handsome fortune, which by skill- ful management was further augmented, and at his decease he was the largest tax payer in Bridgeport.
Hanford Lyon was born in the town of Easton, Conn., in Rock House district, and was the son of Nathaniel Webb Lyon. His family was noted for its longevity. His father attained nearly 101 years; his brother David 96 years; Sam- uel, 93 ; Levi, 90; and Walker, 81. His youngest brother, Jarvis, died at the age of 56. Hanford was the youngest but one in the family of nine children. He worked on his father's farm, attended the public school in winter, until he was four- teen years of age, when he was apprenticed at Danbury, and then passed through the business career as represented in the preceding pages concerning the saddlery business.
Mr. Lyon was twice married. His first wife was Hettie
Hanford Lyon
5
253
Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
Ann Thompson, of Stratford, sister of the late Joseph and John M. Thompson. Their children were two sons : Freder- ick H., who married Bessie Hawley ; William, who is unmar- ried ; and three daughters: Sarah J., who married Judge Edward I. Sanford, of New Haven; Josie, married Henry T. Shelton ; and Adelaide.
His second wife was Annie Mackey Frye, daughter of Daniel M. and Ann Butler Frye, of New York City, and sister of the late Major Frederick Frye. Mr. Lyon left the following children by this marriage, who, with their mother, survive him: Edward H., who married Jessie, daughter of Doct. D. H. Porter ; Frank C., who married Ida, daughter of Mrs. C. M. Mitchell, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Charles G .; and Alice C., who married Col. Thomas L. Watson, of Bridgeport and New York.
Mr. Lyon was a member of the , first Congregational society from his early manhood, and united with the church in 1858, in which he was held in high esteem. Self-educated and thoroughly furnished by a large and active business experience, with capabilities equal to almost any position, he was yet unassuming and did not seek public office or distinc- tion. He belonged to the old whig party during its day, but afterwards became a strong republican and supporter of the union cause in the late war. He was a member of the Com- mon Council of the city in the years 1837, '42, '44, '45 and '48, a portion of the time as alderman. He was a director of the Connecticut Bank ; director and president of the old Bridge- port Bank ; director of the Pequonnock Bank ; first president of the City Savings Bank : director and president of the City Gas Light Company ; and was also a valued member of other important public and private institutions. He died Decem- ber 21, 1879.
In 1843 Mr. Harral retired from the management of the Charleston house, making Bridgeport his only residence, and with P. C. Calhoun devoted himself to the Bridgeport busi- ness. Before the first year of the new firm had passed addi- tional help was needed and they employed Mr. Rowland B. Lacey, whose successful management of the business of the Housatonic Railroad at Bridgeport -which at that time
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History of Bridgeport.
meant a large part of the business of the road-in close prox- imity to their saddlery, secured an assuring business acquaint- ance, and he entered their establishment in March, 1844. The firm of Harral and Calhoun was continued ten years, until June 1, 1853, when Mr. Lacey became a partner, and it was made Harral, Calhoun and Company.
Railroads, at this time, began to add to the facilities of transportation and prosperity in business enterprises. In 1845 the company opened a salesroom at 309 Pearl street, New York, with Francis Harral, the youngest brother of H. K. Harral, as manager, and in 1847-S an arrangement was made with Samuel E. Sproulls, who had much experience in the southern trade in the firm of Rankin, Sproulls and Co., hatters, of Charleston, S. C., to join the company, and the business was removed to the fine store numbers 119, 121 William street, under the name of Harral, Sproulls and Co. In 1852 the business was removed to 24 Chambers street.
In 1847 occurred the Mexican War, in which the United States acquired the territory of Texas, which opened a new market and called for new styles of goods.
In IS45 Isaac Sherman, Jr., was furnished with a stock of saddlery goods by this company to try the St. Louis market. These he readily disposed of, and the next year an arrange- ment was made, under the firm name of Harral, Sherman and Co., for the sale of saddlery in St. Louis, Mo. In IS47 the cholera appeared in St. Louis and Mr. Sherman started for home, but died with that disease at Rockford, Ill. The vacancy was filled by Edward J. Sterling, a brother-in-law of Mr. Calhoun. The firm later manufactured extensively in St. Louis, as some kinds of stock and labor were cheaper there. In 1858 their connection with the Bridgeport house ceased.
Mr. Harral died in 1854, but the company name and its business continued until June, 1858, when the firms were reorganized and became Calhoun, Lacy and Company, com- posed of P. C. Calhoun, R. B. Lacey, Henry T. Shelton, and George H. Meeker, at Bridgeport; Sproulls, Meeker and Company, composed of Samuel E. Sproulls, John B. Meeker, J. B. Hoover, and Samuel R. Lang, in New York; Calhoun and Lacey only retaining an interest in the Charleston house.
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255
Manufacturers in Bridgeport.
In 1853 the old building at the west end of the Bridgeport bridge, which had been used as a saddle factory from 1816, became insufficient, and the firm purchased the property on the corner of Fairfield avenue and Middle street, now owned by the Read Carpet company. This property had been im- proved by a Malleable Iron company, which produced mainly saddlery hardware, but had been burned out. These ruins were rebuilt as far as necessary, and fitted up in good style, and the business prospered until the commencement of the late war.
At the opening of the war their southern trade was broken up and they sustained great losses on it, but they soon entered upon extensive production of army goods on orders from the United States government, and thereby retrieved a portion of their losses. On the opening of the south at the close of the war a few of the old customers made honorable settlements. In 1863 the partnership changed, Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Sproulls retiring, and the firm of Lacey, Meeker and Company continuing the business about five years longer.
The sketch of this business thus far is an outline of only one firm, the original house from which sprang others of more or less note.
Seth B. Jones and Co., saddlery makers. Seth B. Jones was born in Ridgefield, Conn., December 25, 1798, and was apprenticed to - - Northrop, one of the saddlers who worked on the corner of Main and State streets. Hanford Lyon and Joshua Lord worked there at the same time. Mr. Jones was ambitious and economical, and was able, from the avails of over work, to purchase of his employer the latter portion of his time, and commenced business for himself in 1820. He opened a store in Savannah, Ga., H. Cassady being his salesman and manager. When he was twenty-five years of age he had accumulated the sum of $25,000. In 1835 Noah B. Knapp, a native of Danbury, took charge of the business in Savannah, and the firm was N. B. Knapp and Company. His factory was the old brick house of Capt. David Hawley at the corner of Water and Union streets, and continued there until Mr. Jones retired in 1847, after a very successful business
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History of Bridgeport.
career. The late Dea. Henry Higby was cutter and foreman in this factory for many years, and such men as Joshua Lord, William Wright, Jr., Edwin B. Gregory, Alexander S. Gor- ham, were journeymen saddlers. It was the arena for the warm discussion of high theological themes. Munson Wade and the late Samuel Grumman, J. B. Barnum and Daniel W. Hawley were among the younger apprentices. The old shop was taken down in 1847 for the erection by Mr. Jones of the brick block on Water street north of Union, and the little manufacturing continued by N. B. Knapp and Co. was con- ducted in a loft on the east side of Water street at the foot of Bank street, Mr. Knapp being supplied with most of the saddles he needed by Harral, Calhoun and Co., at a small advance from cost. In 1853 Mr. Higby gave up his position as manufacturer for Mr. Knapp and a local business was continued by Barnum and Grumman, later by Grumman and Wilson. The present firm of Wilson and Doremus, at num- ber 391 Water street, is the local representative, or successor, of the firm of S. B. Jones and Company.
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