USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
293
BIOGRAPHIES.
294
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Strict integrity and honesty of pur- pose in all his dealings have won the confidence and esteem of Mr. Doolit- tle's fellow townsmen, and he has many times been called to accept posi- tions of honor and trust. He is at this writing vice president and trus- tee of the Meriden Savings Bank ; di- rector of the Meriden Gas and Elec- tric Light companies ; vice president and director of the Home National Bank; trustee of the Meriden Hospi- tal, and in 1904 was appointed by the governor of the state a member of the Connecticut Commission to the St. Louis World's Fair Exposition, where his service to the commonwealth was marked with rare judgment and abil- ity. During his terms as chief mag- istrate of the city of Meriden, his ad- ministration, which was concluded in 1887, was productive of many perma- nent improvements and conducted in the interests of all citizens and tax- payers.
While in the State Senate he won the esteem of his colleagues and con- stituents alike by his close attention to the proceedings of that worthy body and fearless prosecution of bills which embraced that which was right and wise.
In social life Mr. Doolittle is a prominent figure and universally es- teemed and respected. He is a mem- ber of Meridian Lodge, St. Elmo Com- mandery, K. T., and a thirty-second degree member of the F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
and Mary Warner (Couch), of Meri- den, who died August 21, 1902. He has one daughter, Dorothy.
HON. BENJAMIN PAGE.
Hon. Benjamin Page, mayor of Meriden in 1890 and 1891, was born in North Branford, a son of Benjamin and Sarah E. (Merriam) Page, Sep- tember 4, 1840. He comes of English ancestry. Both his father and grand- father were farmers whose names were Benjamin and they took a most active part in the affairs of their na- tive town.
Inheriting a love of learning and a desire for knowledge, young Benja- min by close application to his school books, fitted himself to become a teacher at the age of seventeen; and after an attendance at the State Nor- mal school began his career in that capacity, his first school being at Wal- lingford. He continued with like suc- cess as a teacher at East Haven and in his native
town of North Branford, afterwards becoming prin- cipal of the school at South Meriden, which position he held for four years. In 1865 and while still a teacher, he established the insurance agency which in 1892 became Page & Pardee, of Meriden, and for some years past has been known as one of the largest and most reliable in the state.
A man of acknowledged judgment and with a conscientious regard for the rights of others, he has been chos- en to settle many important estates,
He was married November 13, 1867, to Martha W., daughter of George and in that capacity has proven him-
295
BIOGRAPHIES.
Bej Page
296
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
self a valued friend to many bereaved families. His broadness of mind, wide experience and knowledge of men and affairs have made him a man much sought for advice; and he has achieved a success in business life that can only be attained by much ex- ecutive ability and the practice of methods of strict integrity.
Mr. Page has had an extended and honorable public career. Shortly af- ter obtaining his majority he became an active and interested worker in the ranks of the Republican party of which he has ever been a loyal and able supporter. He was first elected to office in 1883 when he was chosen a member of the Board of Aldermen from the Third Ward. His re-elec- tion was but a fitting tribute to his valued service and during the last two of the four years he was a mem- ber of the upper branch of the city government, he was made president pro tem. His nomination and elec- tion as mayor in 1889 were the results of his popularity and general fitness for the honor ; and upon assuming the duties of the office he became the chief magistrate of the city in fact as well as in name. His first term won him a spontaneous re-election and the ex- ecutive ability and display of wisdom during his second term was but a continuation of his. first. Although a third time honored with a nomina- tion by his party he declined to serve another term as mayor but in 1894 ac- cepted the call to take a seat in the state Legislature. He was made clerk of the Committee on Insurance,
in which capacity he was admirably qualified to serve and at the close of the session had made a record satis- factory to his constituents.
Mr. Page was collector of taxes for the Town and City of Meriden for a period of ten years and during his ser- vice in that office handled the public funds in a manner most satisfactory to the people. His appointment as a member of the Board of Fire Com- missioners by Mayor Seeley in 1902 was met with expressions of warm ap- proval from both the public and press.
Mr. Page is a director of the Meri- den Savings and Meriden National Bank; president of the board of trus- tees of the Curtis Home and one of the directors of the Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company of Middletown. He is prominent in church and social life and is one of the wardens and vestrymen of St. Andrew's Episcopal church. He is also a member of Mer- idian Lodge, F. & A. M., and Pacific Lodge, I. O. O. F.
He was married in 1864 at North Branford to Miss Margaret A. Cook, daughter of Leverett and Thankful (Stevens) Cook, of Wallingford, to whom one daughter, Mrs. Frederick W. Kilbourne, of Springfield, Mass., was born.
WILLIAM W. LYMAN.
The late William Worcester Ly- man, one of the foremost citizens of Meriden from 1836 to the time of his regretted decease, November 15, 1891, was born at Woodford, Vermont,
297
BIOGRAPHIES.
298
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
March 29, 1821. He was the son of Andrew and Anna (Hall) Lyman. When he was but seven years old his father died, and with his mother he removed to Northford, Conn. In 1836 he came to Meriden and served his apprenticeship in the shop of Gris- wold & Couch, britannia ware manu- facturers, where he remained for a period of five years. With a determi- nation to make his mark in life, in 1844 he embarked in business on his own account, which he was enabled to do by the practice of strict economy for some years previous. With a practical knowledge of his business he engaged in the manufacture of bri- tannia spoons, taking with him as partner Ira Couch. A short time later he purchased his partner's interest and continued in the same factory, which was near his late residence in Meriden, for the following two years. He then removed his enterprise to the Twiss factory in Prattsville, which offered larger and more suitable quarters, and took as partner Lemuel J. Curtis. This partnership was afterwards dis- solved and Mr. Lyman took possession of the old Frary shop which at that time stood near the works of the present Meriden Firearms Company. He continued in the manufacture of spoons until 1858 when he patented the "Lyman Fruit Jar," which was well received by the trade from its highly desirable qualities and practi- cal usefulness for the canning of fruits. The jar was the first of its kind put upon the market and after- wards became in great demand in
fruit growing communities. While his patent of the fruit jar in itself gave him a competency and enabled him to leave his family well provided for, he also patented an ice pitcher, a copper-bottomed tea pot, a butter dish and several other articles.
Mr. Lyman was possessed of rare business attainments, and was a citi- zen of enterprise and public spirit. For many years and until the time of his death he was one of the directors of the Meriden Britannia Company. He was also until 1878 president of the Meriden Cutlery Company, of which concern he afterwards and until his decease continued as one of the di- rectors. He was also one of the prime movers of the street railway and a director in the Meriden Horse Railway Co. He was a director of the Meri- den National and also in the City Sav- ings Bank, and was the first president of the old Meriden Flint Glass Co.
Mr. Lyman was a man who could be counted upon at all times to do his duty toward his fellow citizens, and several terms served the town of Meriden in the state Legislature, his service comprising the years 1849, 1881 and 1882. He also served as a member of the Common Council from the Fifth ward.
He was married in 1844 to Roxanna G. Frary, daughter of James Frary, a leading dry goods dealer of his day, and is now survived by one daughter, Mrs. Henry Warren (formerly Miss Josephine Griswold Lyman) who re- sides on Britannia street with her hus- band and daughter.
1
299
BIOGRAPHIES.
THE LATE ELI C. BIRDSEY.
One of the noted citizens of Meriden in his time was the late Eli C. Bird- sey, known as Squire Birdsey, mer- chant, public official and churchman, who during his life stood high in the estimation of his fellow townsmen. He was born in Meriden December 21, 1799, and was the oldest son of Dea- con Gershom and Lucy P. Birdsey. After an eventful life of usefulness he passed away October 9, 1843. He re- ceived his education in the schools of Meriden, and when a very young man engaged in business at the corner of East Main and Broad streets, but after having had a practical experience pre- viously in manufacturing, purchased the brick building now demolished, previously occupied by Potter, Ship- man & Lewis, the site of which is near the present stately residence now occupied by his son, Eli C. Birdsey.
Squire Birdsey was known as the leading merchant of his day, and over his counters was sold nearly every- thing in the way of merchandise to be procured at that time except groceries. The store and the strong personality of its proprietor attracted the leading men of Meriden who for years con- gregated there, especially in the win- ter time, and many matters of public interest were there discussed, Squire Birdsey usually taking the leading part. That he held the entire confi- dence of the community seems also to be proven by the fact that he kept the savings of many of his friends and acted as banker before the establish-
ment of local banks, and he was known to be the only possessor of an iron safe for some years in Meriden. He was a natural born leader of men and his judgment and foresight were much relied upon. Although by no means stubborn or arbitrary he had a quiet faculty of leading others to his way of thinking rather than being one who changed his mind easily without just cause. Early in life he identified himself with the Baptist Church, of which he was an active member, and of this society he was for some years treasurer, and permanently identified with its growth and prosperity dur- ing his life. He was first selectman in 1833 and clerk of the town of Mer- iden continuously from 1834 to 1843, and served the town in the Legislature in 1834 and 1835. He was a man who never shirked his duty, and ever had in mind the Golden Rule and the just dues of his friends and neighbors. Squire Birdsey was of a genial, kind- ly and benevolent disposition, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
He was married June 3, 1824, to Rebecca Cook Wilcox and three chil- dren blessed the union: Linus, born April 13, 1825, married first Vincey Ann Miller, second Julia Davis, and now residing in Meriden; Alina, born Sept. 25, 1826, married John Ives, of Meriden, and died March 13, 1855; Eli Coe Birdsey, now a leading resi- dent and business man of Meriden, born February 25, 1843. Squire Bird- sey was buried in the family lot at the East Cemetery.
300
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Eli G. Birdsey
30I
BIOGRAPHIES.
Oli C.Biden
302
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
ELI COE BIRDSEY.
A life-long identification with Mer- iden, following that of his father, whose full name he bears, has made the name of Eli C. Birdsey one most familiar to both present and past res- idents of the town. He was born in Meriden February 25, 1843, and still resides in the stately Colonial mansion built in 1830, at the corner of Broad and East Main streets, and which from its prominent location and pleas- ing style of architecture has been for many years one of the most conspic- uous landmarks of the town. His father, of whom a biographical sketch is given elsewhere, died when Eli was an infant and he was trained early to paths of rectitude by his mother. He attended the schools of Meriden and later took a course at Pierce Academy at Middleboro, Mass. He began his business career as a clerk in his broth- er's general store but at the end of four years engaged in business in the hardware line for himself, taking as a partner the late Wallace A. Miles, one of the past mayors of the city. Adhering to the same location and since having as partners the late Frank S. Foster and his present partner, John F. Raven, Mr. Birdsey has be- come known as one of the most re- liable and enterprising merchants of the locality and the large trade the firm of Birdsey & Raven enjoys is the result of a long and uninterrupted period of a carefully conducted busi- ness during which the confidence of the buying public has been justly mer-
ited. In matters of public interest concerning the town and state Mr. Birdsey has shown a conscientious re- gard. During its existence he was secretary of the Meriden Merchants' Association, and upon the organiza- tion of the Meriden Board of Trade he became a director and was its first secretary. Since its organization he has also been vice president of the Connecticut State Board of Trade.
Mr. Birdsey has always taken much interest in historical research and is considered an authority on many sub- jects relating to the past. He is a valued member of the Hartford His- torical Society and one of the state managers of the Sons of the American Revolution, a society to which he is in several directions eligible owing to his distinguished ancestry. In his polit- ical affiliations Mr. Birdsey is a Re- publican and while he has ever been willing to further the political ambi- tions of his friends has never sought nor accepted any public office.
His prominent connection with the Masonic order dates back many years and brings no little distinction to Meriden. A thirty-third degree mem- ber of that order, he entered the blue lodge (Meridian) as far back as 1864 and since has devoted much time to the work in the various branches of the order, being, at the present writ- ing, one of the best known members in the country. He was a charter member of Center Lodge, of which he has also been secretary, junior and senior wardens and treasurer at dif- ferent times ; he has also held several
303
BIOGRAPHIES.
offices of honor and trust in Keystone Chapter, R. A. M .; and was one of the organizers and the first generalis- simo of St. Elmo Commandery, of which he is also a past eminent com- mander. He has further been hon- ored with the offices of grand warden and grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Connecticut and since 1894 has continuously been elected grand recorder of the Grand Com- mandery in this state. In addition, he is, at this writing, secretary and treasurer of both the Connecticut and New England associations of past grand commanders of K. T. and is the grand representative of the Grand Commandery of the District of Col- lumbia near the Grand Commandery of Connecticut. Mr. Birdsey is grand treasurer of the Council of Deliber- ation of the A. A. S. R.
That he should be known among members as one of the best authorities in the state on Masonic law, methods, legislation and discipline and that the work of his pen has ever been appre- ciated to the fullest extent by his brother members in the various branches of the order are facts con- ceded by all familiar with his honor- able record and standing as a Mason.
As a resident of Meriden he is highly esteemed in the community and deserves that regard which is accorded men in any community only when they have won it by good citizen and fellowship. Mr. Birdsey was married in 1864 to Miss Catherine Butler, a daughter of Lyman and Mary Anne (Clark) Butler, and has no children.
HON. GEORGE S. SEELEY.
Hon. George S. Seeley, mayor of Meriden in 1902-3-4 and 5, like sev- eral of his antecedents, was born in Waterbury. He first saw light Feb- ruary 2, 1846. His ancestors on the paternal and maternal sides comprised old Connecticut stock. His great- grandfather was one of the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War and his grandfather, Roger Pritchard, saw active service as a continental sol- dier in the War of 1812.
The subject of this sketch and his mother were born at the old Pritchard homestead, and he received his edu- cation by attending the public schools of Waterbury and Meriden. When he was 12 years old, his parents removed to Meriden, his father purchasing the farm at East Meriden, now owned by Edwin Birdsey, where for some years he continued in agricultural pursuits, later engaging in business as a stone mason.
At the age of 19 George S. Seeley began to learn his trade and after serving his apprenticeship pursued the calling of a metal turner with marked perseverance and industry for twenty-five years. For the past eleven years he has devoted his energies to the handling of real estate. His wide knowledge of public affairs has been gained by practical experience ac- quired by his repeated election to town and city offices. Affiliated closely with the Republican party, Mr. Seeley, although a strong organ- izer, has never been classed a politi-
304
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
305
BIOGRAPHIES.
cian in the generally accepted sense of the term, and his public record and private life have ever been above re- proach. He served creditably as a member of the Common Council and later of the Board of Aldermen from the third ward and in 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901 as second selectman and sev- eral years as chairman of the Repub- lican Town Committee.
After the city had gone Democratic two municipal elections, the Republi- cans of Meriden chose Mr. Seeley for their standard bearer and his election was a high personal tribute to his pop- ularity.
Subsequent to his election it was proven that the people of the city had made no mistake, for both his terms as mayor were marked by wise ap- pointments and an administration of public affairs which reflected credit upon the city as well as its mayor ; for the city's business was conducted in the interest of the taxpayer and property owner. During his four years as mayor he was accredited a most loyal support from the various commissions of his appointment and his management of the city's finances was most pleasing and gratifying to the citizens. Mr. Seeley is a promi- nent Odd Fellow, and since 1888 has served that fraternity as treasurer of Meriden Center Lodge, of which lodge he is also a past grand. He is a member of the Arcanum Club ; one of the vestrymen of St. Andrew's Episcopal church of Meriden, of which parish he has also been treasurer since 1900 ; he is also a member and a di- 20
rector of the Meriden Board of Trade; member of the Meriden Business Men's Association, and as a member of the General Committee has shown an active interest in the Centennial celebration.
November 24, 1867, he was united in marriage with Anna G., daughter of Melvin C. and Esther (Guy) Lee, of Meriden, and three children have blessed the union; Frank Guy, who now resides with his wife and two children in Mt. Vernon, N. Y .; Mrs. James H. Guernsey, of Ansonia, and Arthur D. Seeley, a promising young man in his seventeenth year.
GEORGE REDFIELD CURTIS.
The subject of this sketch, George Redfield Curtis, was a descendant of John Curtis, who, with his mother, Elizabeth, and his brother, William, was among the first settlers of Strat- ford, Conn., in the year 1639. His line of descent is as follows: Widow Elizabeth, John, Thomas (who settled in Wallingford, Conn., in 1670, as an original planter), Nathaniel, Ben- jamin, Benjamin, Asahel. In 1670 the territory now comprised in Meri- den was a part of Wallingford, and so for over two hundred years this branch of the Curtis family have lived practically in the same locality. George Redfield Curtis was the youngest child of Asahel Curtis and his wife, Mehitabel Redfield, of Clin- ton, Conn., through whom he was a lineal descendant of John Alden, of "Mayflower" fame. He was born in
306
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Meriden, Conn., on Christmas Day, December 25, 1825, and received his education principally in the schools of that place. He left school at the age of eighteen, and took a position in a dry goods store in Middletown, Conn., where he remained four years. In 1847 he went to Rochester, N. Y., and for one year taught school in a town near that city. During the year 1848 he taught school in Meriden. In 1849 he became bookkeeper for Ju- lius Pratt & Co., of Meriden and con- tinued with them until October, 1850, when he became teller of the Meriden Bank. On January 7, 1853, the month following its organization, he began work with the Meriden Bri- tannia Company. The following April he was elected its treasurer, which position he held until his death ; he was also for some time its secre- tary. For many years his life was bound up in the increasing interests of that company and his labor and care contributed largely to the pros- perity of the corporation. He was an ideal business man and the financial affairs of the company were admir- ably conducted under his personal di- rection for many years, until advanc- ing age and many outside interests made him gradually withdraw from their administration. He was always interested in whatever increased the prosperity of his native town, and his connection with the financial and man- ufacturing concerns of Meriden is in- dicated by the following list of of- fices held by him: He was treasurer of the Meriden Britannia Company, years. His religion seemed to be in-
president of the Meriden Silver Plate Company, Meriden Horse Railroad Company and Meriden Gas Light Company ; director in the Wilcox Sil- ver Plate Company, Chapman Manu- facturing Company, Manning, Bow- man & Company, Home National Bank, Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit Company, R. Wallace & Sons Manu- facturing Company of Wallingford, Rogers & Brother of Waterbury, and William Rogers Manufacturing Com- pany of Hartford. He was trustee in the Meriden Savings Bank and the Curtis Home for Orphans and Old Ladies. Mr. Curtis married May 22, 1855, Augusta Munson, youngest child of Jesse and Sophia (Talmadge) Munson, of Bradford, in western New York. Of this marriage were born three children-George Munson, Frederick Edgar (who died in child- hood), and Agnes Deshon.
Mr. Curtis was a Republican in pol- itics but he was never a politican, al- though he served his city as council- man and alderman, and finally as mayor during two terms, from 1879 to 1881. Of the social, domestic and religious characteristics of Mr. Curtis, it is difficult to speak truthfully and justly without seeming over-eulogis- tic. Intellectual in his tastes and wide- ly read in general and historical lit- erature, he was a most genial and re- sponsive companion and acquaintance. As a husband and father, he was most loving and indulgent ; as a son, most filial in his devotion to his mother, whose life almost reached a century of
307
BIOGRAPHIES.
Ses. R. Criter
308
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
nate. An elderly person who had known him from childhood says of him: "The peace of his natal Christ- mas-tide seemed to have influenced his mind and character." His interest in St. Andrew's Episcopal church in Meriden and in the church at large was very strong. For years he rep- resented his parish at the diocesan con- ventions, and in 1892 he was a dele- gate from Connecticut to the general convention of the Protestant Episco- pal church held at Baltimore. For about forty-five years he was an offi- cer of St. Andrew's parish, and for many of them either senior or junior warden. As the years went on and his means enlarged, he gave to his be- loved church munificently. In 1891 his sister, Mrs. Hallam, died and left the bulk of her property to build a church in a new parish in Meriden, as a memorial to her husband. Mr. Cur- tis supplemented this gift largely, and two days before his death added to his generosity by presenting to the new parish a house and lot for a rectory. Mr. Curtis first became seriously ill at the time of the convention in Bal- timore. A trip south in the early spring of 1893 failed to materially benefit him and he died suddenly May 20, 1893, at his home in Meriden, aged sixty-seven years.
GEORGE MUNSON CURTIS.
George Munson Curtis, treasurer of the International Silver Company and one of the most valued citizens and active men of affairs of Meriden, is
a son and the only living child of Hon. George Redfield, and Augusta (Mun- son) Curtis. He is a worthy repre- sentative of the eighth generation of one of the oldest families of Connec- ticut. His paternal ancestor, John Curtis, came to this country from England, settling in Stratford, Con- necticut, in 1639, and since 1670, when Thomas Curtis, son of John, lo- cated in Wallingford, the family have been prominent in the affairs of this immediate vicinity. The subject is also descended in the eighth genera- tion from William Redfield, one of the earliest English settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony,, and on the maternal side of the ninth genera- tion from Thomas Munson, a pio- neer of Hartford and New Haven.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.