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 72
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$30,000 were raised to erect the build- ing and equip the library of the above named institution; and for twelve years he was president and for the last fourteen years of his life, was chair- man of the board of trustees. He was a member and for thirty years a teach- er of an adult class at the First Con- gregational church. His considera-
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tion for his fellowmen was always ap- parent and it was his delight to per- form acts of kindness. He placed a free ice water barrel in front of the Palace block and this he looked after personally for many years, and the drinking fountain at the head of Crown street was dedicated to him.
He served for some years as chair- man of the Corner school district com- mittee and officiated as a member of the school board for nine years, two of which he was acting school visitor. During his service he introduced printed school reports and schedules of school terms. His efforts in behalf of free schools enabled Meriden to pass down in history as the first town in this state to adopt them. In 1884 he was chairman of the Winthrop Square Association that established the pres- ent green opposite the railroad sta- tion which has since added to the beauty of the city. In 1882 he wrote, illustrated and published a book of 240 pages containing sketches of his life and writings ; and through his person- al effort for church, Y. M. C. A. and other benevolent purposes, he solic- ited and obtained from the generous public of Meriden over $60,000, with- out ever desiring or receiving any com- pensation except the pleasure such commendable work afforded him. His death was a sad loss to Meriden ; for his life was largely spent in good works that were always wrought by him purely in the interests of his fellowman. He is survived by a widow and daughter, Mary J. Ben- ham, who reside on Prospect street.
JOSEPH E. COE.
By the death of Joseph E. Coe on May 5, 1902, Meriden lost a most earnest and indefatigable worker in the cause of temperance and Chris- tianity ; a man who devoted his life to the betterment of his fellows. He was born on a farm in the town of Middlefield, Connecticut, June 16,
JOSEPH E. COE.
1827, the youngest son of Eli Coe. His early life was spent on the farm, but he desired a wider field for his activities and when he felt sure of his mission he began to devote his ener- gies in behalf of mankind, a service to which practically the remainder of his long life was given. He had wise- ly invested his early savings and had displayed much business ability. His
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investments in Chicago real estate brought to him a comfortable income which, to a large extent, he applied to the carrying out of his plans as a re- former.
Mr. Coe was a strong advocate of temperance and was a consistent ene- my of tobacco. He was every ready to denounce the vices he had set out to oppose although often to do so re- quired no small degree of courage.
Mr. Coe was known throughout the country as a distributor of Bible leaves. At great expense to himself he traveled many thousand of miles, covering every state of the Union, in order to distribute these tracts, one leaf at a time. This required about 2,000 copies of the revised and 4,000 copies of the King James version of the New Testament.
Mr. Coe was always interested in education and gave freely of his mon- ey in behalf of schools. He was prominent in Y. M. C. A. work and was an active member of the Amer- ican Bible Society of New York City. He was a promoter of the Meriden hospital and was much interested in its work. He provided commodious quarters in the Middlefield town hall for the W. C. T. U. in whose work he also took a deep interest. In the work he had made peculiarly his own he employed others, paying them out of his own means. In all these causes there are few men who have proved themselves so devoted as Mr. Coe, whose time and thought, whose ener- gy and money were given without the slightest expectation of personal gain.
Mr. Coe's first marriage was to Laura L. Miller. His second wife, who survives him, is Orpha R. Root, who, during his life, proved a faith- ful wife and gave him moral support and encouragement in his efforts for others.
F. J. WHEELER.
Frederick J. Wheeler, a striking example of the self-made man, who has accumulated a competency in the business life of Meriden, was born in Stratford, Conn., and is a son of Everett Wheeler, a farmer of that town, where his ancestors resided for many generations before him. He is also descended from Moses Wheeler, who lived in London, England, dur- ing the existence of the plague which caused many to flee to this country over two centuries ago. Moses Wheeler was one who was stricken and supposing he was about to die, dug his own grave and lay down in it. His neighbors believing him to be dead, he came near being buried alive, but recovered and was one of the early settlers of Stratford, be- coming the operator of the ferry which in olden times plied between Stratford and Milford.
Frederick J. Wheeler of whom this article now speaks more especially, was educated in the district schools of his native town and worked on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, when he journeyed to Seymour, Conn., and learned the trade of a tin- smith, serving his full apprenticeship
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there and afterwards working as a journeyman for seven years at Wa- terbury. From the fruits of his labor, he was enabled to engage in business in 1862, and happily for him, he chose Meriden for the field of his business life. He leased a portion of his pres- ent store, one of the most historic buildings of the town, and from a small beginning has increased his bus- iness to large proportions. Begin-
F. J. WHEELER.
ning business as a tinsmith, he later added plumbing, heating and venti- lating, increasing his employes and business steadily and profitably. His original stock consisted of stoves and tinware but gradually other lines have been added until at the present writ- ing the store, which has been several 30
times enlarged, contains an endless variety of general hardware, cutlery, tools, stoves, crockery, wooden, tin and willow ware. For many years Mr. Wheeler has conducted a large plumbing, gasfitting, heating and ventilating business, employing a number of workmen to whom he gives steady employment. From a long and honorable business career, Mr. Wheeler has become one of the most responsible business men of the town.
GEORGE A. CHURCH.
George A. Church, one of Meriden's ablest merchants and respected citi- zens, and from 1878 until the time of his death, senior member of the firm of Church & Morse, and for some years previous to that engaged in the hard- ware business in Meriden, was born in Hartford, May II, 1847. He was the son of Abner and Lucy Church and was educated in the public schools of Hartford and Cheshire Academy. After the war broke out, although a mere boy he enlisted in the Union army as a private and saw active ser- vice as a member of the 64th Ill. Vols. Infantry.
He came to Meriden in 1872, after having received a business education from his previous experience, and en- gaged in the hardware business as a member of the firm of Church & Sprague, in a store on East Main street in the vicinity of the depot crossing. The business rapidly outgrew the first location and was later re- moved to West Main, directly opposite
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GEORGE A. CHURCH.
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Colony street. In 1878 Mr. Church bought the interest of Mr. Sprague and continued the growing business for one year; but at the end of that time, Charles P. Morse bought a half interest and the business has ever since been conducted under the firm name of Church & Morse. Since the death of his father, Robert G. Church has represented the interests of the estate and taken his place in the store. The growth of the business of Church & Morse to that of the largest in the hardware line in Meriden, is in no small degree due to the somewhat re- markable business acumen of the late George A. Church. He was known as one of Meriden's most progressive merchants and his popularity, both in and out of his store, will be long re- membered by the people of Meriden and vicinity.
Mr. Church was a familiar figure in social life as well as a business man standing high in the community ; he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he filled a large place in the hearts of his brethren. He was eminently devoted to that craft and his energy was ex- erted to the best results. Among his prominent characteristics were his scrupulous honesty, faithfulness to trusts, whether in private or official relations, and fidelity to principles which he might espouse without re- gard to either popular clamor or fa- vor. Mr. Church was also a member of the Red Men and his connection with that order will cause him to be long remembered by his fellow braves.
He was also a member of the Home Club and his good fellowship there made his loss greatly deplored by its members. For many years before his death he was also a member of Mer- riam Post, G. A. R. His death, Sep- tember 13, 1896, came without warn- ing and caused great surprise and pain in the community, with which he had become so thoroughly a part.
He was married in Middletown, Conn., 1875, to Lucy R. Goodell, to whom three sons have been born: Robert G., Howard W. and William B. Church, who with Mrs. Church, survive him and still reside in the same residence, 93 Crown street.
WILLIAM F. ROCKWELL.
William Francis Rockwell was born in Ridgefield, Conn., January 12, 1845, and died at his home in Meriden, Conn., January 5, 1901. His early education · was acquired at a pri- vate school. He afterwards graduat- ed from Fort Edward Collegiate In- stitute. His business career began in the forwarding and commission house of Miller Bros., in New York, when about eighteen years of age. He held an important position with that concern for several years, being sta- tioned at Norfolk, Va., as supercargo of a vessel during the war. In 1868 he went to Washington, N. J., and engaged in mercantile business under the firm name of Cummins. Rockwell & Co. In 1874 .Mr. Rockwell re- turned to Connecticut and became treasurer of the United States Steel
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Shear Company. In 1876 he partici- pated in the reorganization of the Miller Bros. Cutlery Company. That concern had failed for a large amount and Mr. Rockwell, in connection with four other gentlemen, bought out the plant and reorganized the company. Mr. Rockwell became treasurer and general manager, and the late Lem- uel J. Curtis was the first president. At the death of Mr. Curtis, I. C. Lew- is became president, and in 1893, when Mr. Lewis died, Mr. Rockwell was elected president and held the office until the time of his decease. In 1877 Mr. Rockwell was one of the organ- izers and first president of the Amer- ican Pocket Cutlery Association of the United States, organized to look after the protective interests of the cutlery trade. He was also a member of the committee on the revision of customs laws of the Merchants' Association of New York. While that organization is composed largely of importers and merchants, they recognized Mr. Rock- well's knowledge and'experience and were glad to avail themselves of it.
The following tribute to Mr. Rock- well's character and position in the cutlery trade is from William H. Ma- her, of Toledo, Ohio, who knew him long and intimately :
"For twenty-five years Mr. Rock- well had been one of the controlling forces in the hardware trade of this country, and has left his impress upon the tariff laws and rulings to an ex- tent that very few realize. He was a manufacturer, but he was something more than that ; in a broad sense he
was a statesman, and though he held no office his was the mind and brains and research and perseverance that furnished facts, figures and arguments to the men who made laws. He worked through them, meeting every point raised by the opposition, until to-day the American consumer who wishes American goods cannot be fooled by having foreign stuff forced on him under an American name.
"His battle for American cutlery was something grand and Titanic. Mr. Rockwell began his battle as a lawyer prepares his case when im- mense issues are at stake. His fight was made on facts, facts, facts ! Every point was fortified with figures that could not be questioned. In that contest the American cutler triumphed, and if he wished to know who was his friend he need but listen to the mal- edictions heaped upon Mr. Rockwell's head by the importers, whose false brands and under valuation had been summarily ' interfered with. And when Congress had done its work Mr. Rockwell's task was seemingly but just begun. The men in the New York custom house had his knowledge at their command, and his quick eye caught at every loophole through which the spirit of the law might have been rendered abortive.
"Of all my acquaintances I know of none who has shown more resource- ful energy, more knowledge of every- thing connected with his business, or who has left one tithe of his impress upon his associates. . In his own office and in his home he was a most genial
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host. In his city and state he was one of the controlling minds, and in national affairs he was a power."
Mr. Rockwell was married in 1876 to Miss Louise Taylor, of Washing- ton, N. J. To them was born one son, Charles Francis Rockwell.
GEORGE COOLEY.
George Cooley, one of the substan- tial residents of the town of Meriden
GEORGE COOLEY.
and the veteran liveryman engaged in business at the present writing, was born in Ashford, Windham county, Conn., June 23, 1835. He is the son of Rowe and Mira (Snow) Cooley and his father was a well-to-do farmer of that town which is now Eastford. He was educated in the district school and brought up to work on the home farm
until sixteen years of age, when he went to Hartford and learned the trade of a burnisher, first entering the factory of William & Asa Rogers and later being employed by J. H. Martin.
He came to Meriden soon after and secured employment as a burnisher at the works of the Meriden Britannia Co. and for some years was employed by that company in Wallingford; and during this time Samuel Simpson was a member of the concern. In 1864, while still employed by the Meriden Britannia Co., he started in the livery stable business on Broad street, by buying out William Fisher, where he soon recovered his previous failing health, and since that time he has been engaged in the livery business contin- uously. He remained on Broad street for a period of sixteen years, but be- fore he sold out the Broad street sta- bles to Mr. Smith, of Middletown, he had for four years at the same time been conducting also the stables of Willliam Parker on Main street. The latter stables he carried on successfully in all for twenty-one years, but May, 1901, he sold out the Parker stable and from J. H. McDonald, purchased the Meriden House stables, which he has since conducted.
Mr. Cooley is a Republican in pol- itics and a member of the Home Club He is married to Emily J., daughter of Leander Parmelee, of Wallingford, once high sheriff of New Haven coun- ty, and by that marriage are two grown children: Irving G., the mana- ger of the Meriden Curtain Fixture Co., and Jennie, wife of C. S. Howard.
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FRANCIS STANLEY FOSTER.
Francis Stanley Foster, deceased, a lifelong resident of Meriden, active and popular in business life, a member of the firm of Birdsey & Foster, now Birdsey & Raven, was born in this town April 25, 1840. He was the son of Ira and Harriet F. (Kelsey) Fos- ter. He was a grandson of Mathew and Charlotte (Preston) Foster and their family name is one of the oldest and most familiar in this section. His maternal grandmother was Lucy, daughter of Lot and Rhoda (Wads- worth) Stanley, of New Britain, who was descended from one of the best known families of Hartford.
Francis Stanley Foster attended the Corner school. When he was quite young his father removed from what was known as Crow Hollow and built a house on the corner of Main and Butler streets, the land at that time be- ing worth less than $300, but now val- ued at about $20,000. At sixteen years of age he entered the grocery story of H. D. Bassett on Broad street. Later he was employed as clerk by Jared Lewis, whose employ 'le left to fill the position of head clerk in the dry goods store of David S. Williams. He was a natural salesman and developed into a successful mer- chant. He became the partner of Eli C. Birdsey in May, 1876, which part- nership was continued under the name of Birdsey & Foster until his lamented death in 1899.
He was possessed of an especially
happy disposition and his good fel- lowship was as fully apparent in his store as elsewhere. He was known as very genial, strictly honest, and one who treated all with due consideration. He was known as a good Mason and a loyal Odd Fellow and was a member of the Center lodges of both orders and also was a valued member of Key- stone Chapter, Hamilton Council and St. Elmo Commandery, Knights Tem- plar.
He was married October 22, 1863, to Mary J., daughter of Alanson and Clarissa (Wilcox) Birdsey. He died November 12, 1899. His wife, moth- er and a sister, Mrs. Martha Hillard, survived him.
Alanson Birdsey, the father of Mrs. Foster, was the son of Gershom and Lucy Coe Birdsey and was born in the present town of Middlefield in 1807. He was a brother of Eli C. Birdsey, known as Squire Birdsey, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. The family moved to East Meriden and after spending his younger days on the home farm he finally engaged in the grocery busi- ness on Broad street and carried on that trade for many years.
In 1844 he built what was then known as a most imposing brick man- sion on Broad street, where he resided until his death which occurred June 14, 1881, when Francis S. Foster and his wife became the occupants and since the death of her husband it has continued to be occupied by Mrs. Foster.
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FRANCIS S. FOSTER.
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ALANSON BIRDSEY.
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WILLIAM GARLICK.
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WILLIAM GARLICK.
William Garlick, whose death oc- curred October 10, 1904, at his home in South Meriden, was born in Shef- field, England, August 19, 1847. His parents moved to this country when he was but three years of age; and he was reared in South Meriden. For many years he was engaged in the ice business and he was also a con- tractor at the Meriden Cutlery Com- pany's factory and president of the Colorado and Connecticut Gold Min- ing Company.
Mr. Garlick was educated in the South Meriden district school. At the age of fifteen he entered the em- ploy of the Meriden Cutlery Company in the same department in which his father was engaged, continuing there until he reached his majority. For three years thereafter he was em- ployed as inspector at the Aetna Cut- lery Works at New Britain. He then returned to take the etching con- tract at the Meriden factory, that con- nection continuing for nearly thirty years.
Mr. Garlick had purchased his father's ice business in 1878 and in 1889 he consolidated it with the Mer- iden Ice Company. He was elected president and served for five years. In 1894 he withdrew from this con- nection and started the Beaver Lake Ice Company, Mr. Garlick being the sole owner.
In 1898 Mr. Garlick made a trip to Alaska prospecting for gold in the
Klondike. He was gone eighteen months, during which the ice business was successfully carried on by his wife and daughter. Returning home he formed the Colorado and Connecti- cut Gold Mining Company and was chosen president. Mr. Garlick was a member of Hancock Lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F., of South Meriden, Pil- grims' Harbor Council, Royal Arca- num, and the Home Club, of Meriden. He was a member of the Methodist church.
After Mr. Garlick's death his wife and daughter again assumed the man- agement of the ice business, which they carried on in a successful man-
ARTHUR S. GARLICK.
ner for several months until dispos- ing of same to parties who now carry on the business under the same name- The Beaver Lake Ice Company.
Mr. Garlick was held in high re- gard both as a citizen and business man. He was upright in his deal-
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ings with his fellows and progressive in his ideas. He took great pride in municipal affairs and was ready to aid in anything that promised to advance the welfare of city or town. He was respected and liked by his employes in whom he always took a kindly in- terest.
Mr. Garlick was married on No- vember II, 1875, to Nellie May Stev- ens, daughter of Philander and Eunice Stevens, of South Meriden. Two children were born, Miss Mabel Stev- ens Garlick, prominent in Meriden so- ciety, and Arthur Stanley Garlick, who is an instructor in Cincinnati University. Young Mr. Garlick has a bright future. He is a member of Meridian Lodge, F. & A. M., of Mer- iden, and is well known and liked in social circles. His advance in his chosen profession is certain, and the position he now holds in Cincinnati University is most promising.
PAUL T. SALESKI.
Paul T. Saleski, president and treasurer of the wholesale grocery, fruit and produce dealing corporation which bears his name, and one of the most energetic and successful busi- ness men of the vicinity of Meriden, was born in Germany, September 2, 1866. His father, Charles Wilhelm Saleski, was a well known manufac- turer of pottery and earthenware, who married Mary Lietz. Their children, fourteen in number, nine of whom are now living, are as follows : Gustav W., Charles M., a carpenter
and joiner ; Frank, August B., Anton A., of the Wilcox & White Co .; Ce- cilia I., widow of Samuel H. W. Yale ; Anna A., wife of John Velz, and Ida M., wife of Joseph Dumackowski, all of whom came to Meriden with their parents in 1878, where they have re- sided ever since, excepting Frank, a prominent dairy farmer of Walling- ford.
The subject of this sketch, who was eleven years old when the family came to Meriden, having previously attended school in his native land, was further educated in St. Rose's parochial school of Meriden. He be- gan his business life as a clerk in the grocery store of Martin Booth where he began at a salary of seventy-five cents a day and remained until he had learned the business, to which he read- ily adapted himself.
He began business for himself in 1890 in a somewhat small way in partnership with J. I. Parker under the firm name of J. I. Parker & Co. In 1892 he bought his partner's in- terest and the growing and success- ful business was continued under the name of P. T. Saleski & Co. He af- terwards took an extensive trip to Eu- rope and the old world and upon his return again formed a partnership with Mr. Parker whose interest he again bought out in 1895, when he be- came an importer of foreign fruits as- well as an extensive dealer in domes- tic fruits, vegetables and country prod- uce, having since been the only im- porter of fruits between Hartford and New Haven. The growth of the bus-
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Paul I. Saleski
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THE P. T. SALESKI BUILDING.
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iness, of which he has for many years been the head, has been remarkably steady and rapid. As early as 1901, the enterprise first began to show the evidence of success and was removed to South Colony street and later the adjoining store was added and im- provements costing $4,000 were made which included cold storage accom- modations and every facility for keep- ing fresh the goods sold to the trade.
In 1905 a large four story brick structure was erected on the opposite side of the street at a cost of $25,- 000. This is one of the most sub- stantial buildings in Meriden and admirably adapted for the large business carried on by the P. T. Sa- leski Co., a corporation which was chartered by the legislature, of which Mr. Saleski owns ninety per cent. of the stock, the balance being owned by trusted employes. In the basement of this building are the cold storage and steam heating plants. The first floor, where the handsomely fitted offices are, is devoted to fruits and produce, the second to groceries and the third to woodenware. The building is of buff brick with granite trimmings and is most conveniently arranged for the business now car- ried on there so extensively. The business of the company of which Mr. Saleski is the head, adds much to the mercantile life of Meriden and several traveling men are now employed to wait upon the trade in adjoining towns. The success of Mr. Saleski from a poor boy, has been the result of untiring energy, honest dealings
with the trade and his ability to rise to the occasion. He has the respect of the community and stands high in business circles.
He was married September 28, 1897, to Anne Reichardt, of Buffalo, N. Y., a lady of culture, who has since made him an excellent helpmate. To this union these children have been born, Henrietta, Eugene and Philip, and one who died in infancy.
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