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 68
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MARSHALL LEE FORBES.
Marshall Lee Forbes, a resident of Meriden, now deceased, and who held the respect of the community, was born in East Hartford, July 29, 1828, and was the son of Orin and Mary 26
Forbes. Coming to this town from Wallingford where he had previously worked, he became employed by the Meriden Britannia Company as a sil- ver plater, which occupation he fol- lowed until his death. He was indus- trious and thrifty in his habits and be- came a property owner and was al- ways known as a citizen of the town, who had its interests at heart.
MARSHALL LEE FORBES.
On November 28, 1849, he married Susan C. Hall, daughter of Hiel and Sarah (Kirtland) Hall, of Walling- ford, who still survives him and re- sides in the comfortable residence which he owned some years before his regretted death. Mr. Forbes served creditably in the city government and, with his wife, was a devoted member
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of St. Andrew's Episcopal church. He was also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being con- nected with the blue lodge, Walling- ford, and St. Elmo Commandery, Knights Templar. He died April 24, 1891, respected by all who knew him.
His son, Henry Forbes, was born in Wallingford January 2, 1851, was educated in the public schools, but dur-
HENRY FORBES.
ing the latter part of his life was in very poor health. When he was eighteen years of age his father built for him a small greenhouse, and upon his advice, the son employed himself in the study and cultivation of flowers. From this small start grew a florist business of quite large proportions, which was carried on for some years with success.
Henry Forbes married May O. Ward, of Rochester, N. Y., but for- merly of Wallingford. The surround- ings of the greenhouse and the duties. involved in conducting it, without question, prolonged the life of the younger Forbes, but at the age of thir- ty he died, after having passed a short but active life. After his death the florist business, which was at that time the largest in Meriden, was conducted by his wife, a woman of exceptional business ability and energy, who also conducted the store on West Main street, until her death which occurred in 1894, when the business was sold by Mrs. Forbes, Sr., to others who have since conducted it in the green- house adjoining her residence.
HOMER CURTISS.
Homer Curtiss, deceased, was born August 4, 1800, at the Curtiss Home- stead, on Curtis street, where his father was also born. He spent sev- eral years while a young man, first in teaching school, and later as clerk in a store which he left because his prin- ciples forbade his selling liquor. He thus early took a stand on the tem- perance question which he maintained by precept and example throughout his life.
About 1833, in partnership with Harlow Isbell, he commenced the manufacture of latch keys, and later of locks and knobs, in a building lo- cated near the corner of Church street and High School avenue. About 1845 the factory was removed
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to the site now occupied by the Brad- ley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., the firm he- ing Curtiss, Morgan & Co.
In 1855 the factory was destroyed by fire and the business removed to Norwalk and organized as the Nor- walk Lock Co. In 1857 Mr. Curtiss returned to Meriden and remained until 1861 when he removed to New York. There he was engaged in the
HOMER CURTISS.
hardware business until failing health compelled him to retire from active business and he returned to Meriden where he died May 30, 1880.
Mr. Curtiss in early life united with the First Congregational church, and went with that church when it moved to Colony street. In 1848 he was elected a life deacon and served
until he moved to Norwalk. He was superintendent of the Sunday school and was for many years a teacher there. Soon after he removed to New York, there being a strong pro-slav- ery sentiment in the community, he with several members of the Presby- terian church which he attended, founded Pilgrims Church, now locat- ed on 123rd street, to propagate anti- slavery principles ; and he was a dea- con and loyal supporter of that church until his return to Meriden.
In 1835 he married Julia Ann Up- son. They had four children, all of whom are living.
Mr. Curtiss was fearless in follow- ing his convictions and "Dared to be in the right with two or three." Early in the history of the Anti- Slavery agitation he and Mrs. Cur- tiss became ardent adherents of that cause and gave to it freely of their time and substance, frequently suffer- ing serious loss in consequence. Their home was a station of the "Un- derground Railway" and many fugi- tives passed through it on their way to freedom.
Mr. Curtiss maintained an unblem- ished reputation as a business man and Christian citizen through his long life, being everywhere respected and loved, and his "works do follow him."
HENRY J. CHURCH,
Henry James Church, during his life, was one of the oldest and best known men engaged in the undertak- ing business in the state. While horn
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at East Haven a greater part of his useful life was spent in Meriden where he died May 20, 1903. The date of his birth was August 1, 1831. He was a son of James and Huldah (Barnes) Church and was descended from Thomas Church, who came from England in 1680 and settled in Plainfield, Conn. Henry J. Church's grandfather, a farmer of Haddam and a Continental soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, was taken a prisoner by the British and being confined in their prison ship in New York harbor, es- caped by swimming, a feat which historians record as unequalled by any other man during the Revolution. Mr. Church was also descended from patriotic ancestry on the maternal side; for his grandfather, Isaac Barnes, a farmer of East Haven, en- listed during the Revolution and un- der Benedict Arnold marched from New Haven to Ticonderoga.
Henry Church, father of Henry J., a shoemaker by trade, and who spent many years engaged in the retail shoe business in the West Indies, served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in East Haven in 1839, and his son, Henry J., who spent his boyhood in his native town, New Britain and Meriden, was the last of seven children to survive him.
Apprenticed as a cabinet maker in 1847, he became a skilled workman at that trade and later became a clerk in a Meriden furniture store. When the Civil war broke out he followed the example set by his forefathers and in August, 1862, enlisted from Meriden
in Company F, 15th Conn. Vols. He took almost immediate active service at the front and his regiment was en- gaged in the battle of Fredericksburg and the siege of Suffolk. He was later assigned to the subsistence de- partment of the Army of the Potomac under General Burnside with whom he remained until 1863, but continued in active service in the North Caro- lina district until the close of hostili- ties. After receiving his honorable discharge July 8, 1865, he returned to Meriden and engaged in the under- taking business. Through the evi- dent painstaking service he rendered the people, many years before his death he had established the largest, oldest and best known establishment within several miles of the city. Of a naturally kindly and humane disposi- tion, he could not fail to win the personal gratitude and regard of all who employed him. He was usually called to arrange the services in cases of bereavement not entirely confined to the older and leading families. During his life he officiated at the ser- vices of over 6,000 people but der- ing the latter years of his life was as- sisted by his son, Louis H. Church, who succeeded him upon his re- gretted decease.
He was a member and past presi- dent of the New England and the Connecticut Undertakers' Associations and stood high as was possible for any man to stand in his profession. He was a prominent member and past commander of Merriam Post, G. A. R .; served as a member of the city
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government in both the Common Council and Board of Aldermen ; was a member of the higher branches of the Masonic order, being connected with the St. Elmo Commandery, K. T., and was a past master of Meridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; he was also a charter member of Myrtle Lodge, K. of P .; Silver City Lodge, No. 3, A. O. U. W., and was an honorary mem- ber of Meriden Center Lodge, No. 68, I. O. O. F.
He was married in 1853 to Eliza- beth, daughter of Luke T. and Eliz- abeth (Foster) Draper, of Monson, Mass., and they had five children, of whom Louis H. is the only one sur- viving. Mr. Church is remembered, not only as a man who conducted his business on a plane with the profes- sions, but one who was a good citi- zen, neighbor and friend indeed to all who knew him.
LOUIS H. CHURCH.
Louis Henry Church, Meriden's leading funeral director and who in business succeeded his father, the late Henry J. Church, was born in Meri- den January 15, 1878. His education in the local public schools was fol- lowed by an attendance at the schools of embalming from which he grad- uated. Few young men have been favored with better training for their profession, but he was never sent to college to be taught to think. Frorr. boyhood he became associated with his father, who taught him in the old and thorough way his life's calling,
and the high standard of which he has always maintained. The present well equipped establishment, the oldest in Meriden, stands near the site where young Mr. Church was born and he naturally became an undertaker. Perhaps never was the saying "like father like son" more forcibly illus- trated than in Louis Church and his deceased father, Henry Church. He not only resembles him in personal appearance, except being taller in stature, but in actions, methods and disposition. That he fills in an offi- cial capacity the place in the busi- ness world made vacant by the loss of his father is a fact fully conceded by the better and older families of this vicinity by whom he is constant- ly employed and has enjoyed an ac- quaintance with for many years, While imbued with the teachings of his father who was of the old school, he is also an authority on the mod- ern methods of the business of which he has become master.
The first glance at the establish- ment he conducts suggests to the vis- . itor nothing as to the nature of the work done there unless he looks fur- ther than the large and nicely fur- nished office, finished in well polished hardwood fittings ; but hidden from view is a full fledged morgue. Ad- joining the office is a mortuary chap- el and beyond that a workroom. The office is never closed night or day and two competent assistants are em- ployed.
Mr. Church, having been born and brought up in the business which he
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has by study and long practice devel- oped to a scientific standard, enjoys the fullest confidence of the commun- ity. His funeral arrangements are always to be relied upon in every de- tail which he attends to with that kindly consideration for the feelings of his fellowmen which must be in- born.
As a resident of Meriden Mr. Church is held in high regard by the citizens. He resides with his family in the old Church homestead, 78 Pleasant street, and is a prominent figure in social life. From early manhood he has been an active mem- ber of the First Methodist church, of Meriden, in which he takes a deep interest. He is also a member of several fraternal organizations. He is identified with the Masons, holding membership with Meridian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M .; Meriden Center Lodge, 68, I. O. O. F .; Meri- den Lodge, 35, B. P. O. Elks ; Myr- tle Lodge, 4, Knights of Pythias ; Col- umbia Council, American Mechanics ; Alfred H. Hall Council, Royal Arca- num; Charles L. Upham Camp, Sons of Veterans, and is one of the charter members of the Colonial Club of Meriden. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He is also a member of the Meriden Business Men's Association and the Connecticut Undertakers' As- sociation. He stand's at the head of his profession and has met with fa- vor from a fastidious clientele, the re- sult of the fact that he has attained his position by the merit of his own effort.
He is married to Maude Lillian Marshall, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they have the following named chil- dren : Grace Huntington, Annie Louise and Elizabeth Augusta.
THE MURDOCK FAMILY.
The first of the Murdock family to come to this country was Peter, son of John Murdock and Mary (Mun- son) Murdock. They were natives of Scotland but removed to Limerick, Ireland, on account of religious per- secutions. John Murdock was a loval subject of William of Orange in whose interests he sacrificed nearly all his property. For this reason Peter was sent to live with his uncle, also named Peter, in the north of England. At seventeen years of age he emigrated to this country, landing in Philadel- phia with but a crown in his pocket. Naturally of a frugal and industrious disposition, he saved enough to go in- to mercantile business. He, later, settled on Long Island and married Mary E. Fithin, of Southampton. He then opened a store in East Hamp- ton which he left in charge of his wife while he engaged in the coasting- trade with a small vessel. He pur- chased later, 2,200 acres of land at Little Egg Harbor, N. J., and 840 acres more at what is now Westbrook, Conn., removing his store to the lat- ter town and continuing there until his death November 6, 1755.
John Murdock, only child of Peter and Mary, was born in East Hampton. Long Island, in 1706. He became
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Harriet M. hurdoch,
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a large land owner and a successful farmer in Westbrook, and was one of the deacons of the Congregational church, major in the colonial militia, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of New London county and also rep- resented the town of Saybrook in the legislature. He married Phebe Sill of Lyme, who died ten months after the marriage. His second wife was Frances Conklin of East Hampton who bore him thirteen children and three of their sons were graduates of Yale College.
William Murdock, son of John, born August 31, 1740, was a farmer in Westbrook; he married Jerusha Lay of Lyme and they had thirteen children. His fourth child, Peter Murdock, the patriot, was a cabin boy, serving three voyages on the pri- vateers "John Jay" and "Thomas Mar- shall" during the Revolution and re- ceived $300 prize money on the first trip. In later life he was a farmer in Westbrook. He married Mrs. Bath- sheba (Dodge) Bush, widow of John Bush, of East Lyme. To this union were born the following children : Polly U., who became Mrs. DeWolf, of Clinton, Conn .; Charles and Delia, twins, the latter of whom married Edw. Dowd, and was the mother of Zina Dowd, of Meriden ; Emeline, who married Horace Nettleton, of Clinton, Conn .; Zina Kelsey, and Matthew Griswold. Mrs. Murdock by her marriage to John Bush was the moth- er of Fenner, John and Amaziah Bush, Fenner Bush being prominent in his day in the manufacturing life
of Meriden; Mr. Murdock died at Westbrook in 1853.
Zina Kelsey Murdock was born at Westbrook, March 2, 18II, and re- ceived his education there. Although in delicate health, but being ambitious, at the age of fourteen, he walked from Westbrook to Meriden where his half brother, Fenner Bush was engaged in manufacturing ivory combs, in whose employ he worked for several years, finally becoming the partner of Cur- tis L. North and carried on a trading business along the shores of the Mis- sissippi and Ohio rivers, leaving Mr. North to manage the insurance and investment business in Meriden. The outcome not being satisfactory to Mr. Murdock, he dissolved partnership, leaving Mr. North in full possession. He later bought a large farm on Mur- dock avenue, where his son, George B. Murdock now resides. Mr. Mur- dock was a man of strong character and believed in every man receiving his just rights. He was also a man possessed of indomitable courage and energy, a well trained mind and cul- tivated intellect.
During the so-called Meriden riots in 1837, Mr. Murdock, with several other advocates of free speech, took a stand in favor of allowing the Rev. Mr. Ludlow to lecture on anti-slav- ery, which in consequence of the pre- vailing sentiment in Meriden caused a mob to gather during which the de- fenders of free speech were severely injured.
Mr. Murdock was a Whig in poli- tics during the existence of that party,
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but during the last years of his life supported the Democratic party. He never sought or accepted any political office. Both Mr. Murdock and his wife belonged to old Congregational families and were members of that church but in later life joined the Episcopal church.
He married Harriet M. Bronson, daughter of Judge Bennet and An- na (Smith) Bronson, of Waterbury, to whom three children were born: Mary E., October 8, 1843; George Bronson, February 25, 1846, and Charles Z., May 1, 1850. Mr. Mur- dock died January 30, 1874, and his wife survived him twenty years, pass- ing away in 1895.
George B. Murdock, oldest son of Zina K. and Harriet M. Murdock, at- tended the Meriden public schools, Meriden Academy and the Russell Military Academy at New Haven. He grew to manhood on the farm where he has always remained en- gaged in general agriculture.
Mr. Murdock is one of the directors of the Meriden Savings Bank and was one of the organizers of the Meriden Grange, the first three years of which he was master. He was married in Meriden in 1896 to Harriet Elizabeth Graves, of New Haven. Their chil- dren are George Peter, born May II, 1897; Harriet Josephine, born Octo- ber 22, 1898, and Bennet Bronson, born January 15, 1901.
Charles Zina Murdock, youngest son of Zina K. and Harriet M. (Bron- son) Murdock, was born on his fath- er's farm May 1, 1850. He attended
the Meriden public schools and the Meriden Academy and also the Rus- sell Military Academy at New Haven.
He remained upon the home farm until he was thirty-eight years old, previous to which he was engaged in general agriculture and dairy farm- ing. In 1888, by agreement with his mother and brother, he took one hun- dred acres of his father's estate on Paddock avenue, upon the highest ele- vation of which he has erected his present modern residence.
He is a member of the Meriden Grange and belongs to no other so- ciety ; is domestic in his tastes, well versed in the topics of the day and is an extensive reader of the best lit- erature.
He was married March 6, 1889, to Miss Alice C. Carter, who is remem- 'bered as a woman of marked beauty, a warm and generous heart and cul- tivated mind, with a keen apprecia- tion of the highest and noblest in daily life, and who died April 25, 1891, and was buried in the West cemetery at Meriden. But one child was born to the union, Carter Z., Feb. 12, 1891.
REV. HARVEY MILLER.
One of the clergymen of the town who enjoyed the esteem of the com- munity in a marked degree was the late Rev. Harvey Miller, who was for eighteen years pastor of the First Baptist church.
He was born in Wallingford, the son of Samuel Miller. His, father was a preacher before him and like
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the divines of his period had to rely upon other methods of money mak- ing than that which he received at the hands of his church society. He taught school during the day and cob- bled shoes at night.
Harvey Miller was one of a fam- ily of nine boys and early in life re- ceived a lameness, caused by stepping on a scythe, from which he never
REV. HARVEY MILLER.
recovered. This gave him a halting gait. At one time he suf- fered severely from. inflammatory rheumatism and was able to walk only with the aid of crutches which he dis- carded when in the pulpit and his wise sermons were delivered under great personal physical pain. As a boy he was delicate and he never ac-
quired a physique sufficiently strong to lead the life of the clergyman whose deeds furnish such a bright spot on the pages of the history of this town.
He was born April 3, 1814, and died August 27, 1856. He was edu- cated in the district school and the Hamilton Theological Seminary, of New York. His first pastorate was at Ann Arbor, Mich., but he remained there but a short time owing to ill health, which was caused by the poor board furnished him.
During his eighteen years as pas- tor of the First Baptist church, the society grew and prospered both spir- itually and otherwise. The kind and sympathetic nature of its pastor was always a source of comfort to its members and his able sermons always presented on evangelical lines result- ed in the saving of many souls.
His wife was Sarah Rosetta Ives and their children were as follows : Sarah Eliza, Mrs. Edward A. Wilcox, of St. Paul, Minn., born July 5, 1841, died April 8, 1886; Catherine Juliet, widow of Edward H. Yale, of Meri- den, born March 21, 1844; Alina Birdsey Miller, born Aug. 21, 1846, died July 1, 1869; Vincie Rosetta, born June 15, 1851, died December 19, 1855.
During his married life Mr. Miller lived with his family at the parsonage standing on Broad street, next ad- joining the residence of Edward Mil- ler, which was afterward purchased of the church society by his widow.
Mr. Miller during his life was
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deeply interested in educational mat- ters and was a member of the school committee for many years. He served as a member of the visiting committee and also selected the text- books used in the Meriden schools in his time.
His only surviving daughter is Mrs. Edward H. Yale, who for many years has been a widow and has con- ducted, with her son, a large farm on the North Colony road until 1905, when upon her son's marriage, she leased the farm to him and has since remained there but a portion of the time.
CHARLES S. PERKINS.
Charles Smith Perkins, national bank examiner of Connecticut and Rhode Island, is one of the best known Federal officials of the state. He was born on Perkins street, New Haven, May II, 1854, and is the son of Charles Perkins, who during the latter part of his life, was a promi- nent contractor and a partner of H. Wales Lines. His mother was Eu- nice, daughter of Deacon David Smith, of Woodbridge, Conn.
He was educated in the public schools of New Haven, Russell's In- stitute, New Haven, and finished at the academy at Cheshire. In 1870 he entered the Home National Bank, of Meriden, where he remained contin- uously for twenty-nine years. In 1899 he received the appointment as nation- al bank examiner, by the United States Treasury Department, to succeed Mi-
chael Dooley, of Hartford, who had resigned to become the head of a large financial institution of Providence, R. I. Mr. Perkins has since acted in his official capacity under the comptroller of the currency and his duties require him to visit every national bank in Connecticut and Rhode Island, once a year, and to see that they observe the regulations set forth by the govern-
CHARLES S. PERKINS.
ment at Washington. Probably no man in the state has had a greater ex- perience or is better posted on bank- ing matters, than Mr. Perkins, and his service as a national bank ex- aminer reflects credit upon this town where he has resided the greater por- tion of his life.
He has served Meriden both as town and city treasurer, having served sev-
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en years in the former and six years in the latter office. While not at the present writing active in politics, he was for many years a prominent mem- ber of the Republican town commit- tee. He has for thirty years been a member of the Home Club, with which social organization he was affiliated when it was known as the Meriden Club. He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter and Hamilton Council. He is also a member of St. Elmo com- mandery, 9, K. T., and was for some years its recorder.
He has been twice married; first, in 1877, to Laura Bloodgood, and to that union two children were born ; September 24, 1889, he was again imarried to Ada Pitt, of Meriden ; to them four children were born, three of whom are now living, two boys and one girl. Mr. Perkins with his fam- ily resides on North Colony street.
REV. JOEL S. IVES.
Joel Stone Ives was born in Cole- brook, Connecticut, December 5, 1847. His father, Rev. Alfred Eaton Ives, Yale 1837, was descended from William Ives, who came from England to Quinnipiac in 1637 and from John Howland, of the Mayflow- er company ; his mother, Harriet Platt Stone had as ancestors John Stone, of Guilford, the Rev. Thomas Hooker and Governor Treat. Fit- ting for college at his home in Cas- tine, Maine, he graduated at Am- herst in 1870 and received his A. M.
in 1872. During the school year 1870-1871 he taught in what was then the Railroad district, the school house being on Colony street south of the entrance to the State grounds. After three years in Yale Divinity school he received his B. D. in 1874. In May of the same year he went to East Hampton, Connecticut, and in September was ordained pastor of the
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