An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 75

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252

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 75

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tive to the General Court between 1662 and 1673 and at one time he was speaker of the house. Ichabod Rog- ers, of New London, Conn., grand- father of Cephas, was a soldier in the war with England in 1812, and his great-grandfather, Ichabod Rogers, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

GILBERT ROGERS.

Gilbert Rogers, for many years a well known manufacturer and a most loyal and patriotic citizen of Meriden, was born in the historic town of Say- brook, in the old Tryon homestead oc- cupied for many generations by his an- cestors, July 4, 1838. He is directly descended from John Rogers, cler- gyman, one of the first martyrs under Queen Mary, born in England in 1505 and burned at the stake, February 4, 1555, for his denunciation of Roman- ism. James Rogers, his paternal an- cestor from whom he comes in the ninth generation, came to America in 1635, and from James first and his wife Elizabeth (Rowland) Rogers, his genealogy in synopsis is as follows: James Ist, James 2nd, James 3rd, James 4th, Ichabod Ist, Ichabod 2nd, Ichabod 3rd, Elam Hervey and Gil- bert.

On the maternal side he comes from the Tryon family of the nobility of England. Among his progenitors are Sir Thos. Tryon, who left a large es- tate ; Baron Peter Tryon of Malden, England, who also left a large un- claimed estate and General Wm. Try-

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Photo by Akers & Pigeon.

Gilbert Rogers

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on, LL. D., governor of North Caro- lina in 1765, and of New York in 1771, who owned large estates in London and Flanders, England. He was a Tory and a general in the British Army during the Revolution, and with his soldiers created much havoc in Connecticut ; but on account of having a favorite nephew at Yale College, treated New Haven with extreme len- iency. On the maternal side, Gilbert Rogers is also descended from Dr. Chas. Goodrich, a son of an English nobleman, also from Dr. Chas. Bulk- ley, son of Rev. Gershom and Sarah Chauncey (Bulkley), daughter of Rev. Dr. Chas. Chauncey, who be- came the second president of Harvard College in 1654, which office he held until his death, February 16, 1672. He is also in the ninth generation lineally descended from Peter Bulkley, D. D., who came to America in 1639.

He is a direct descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, his wife, who came to this country in the May- flower in 1620, to whom he traces his ancestry back directly through nine . tory at Waterbury; but after two

generations, as follows: 2nd, Eliza- beth (or Betty) Alden, daughter of John, married Wm. Peabody ; 3rd, Lydia Peabody, daughter of William Peabody, married Daniel Grinnell ; 4th, Mary Grinnell, daughter of Dan- iel Grinnell, married Robert Lay, De- cember 12, 1703; 5th, Jeremiah Lay, son of Robert Lay, married Pru- dence Belden; 6th, Huldah Lay, daughter of Robert Lay, married Dan- iel Jones ; 7th, Belinday Jones, daugh- ter of Daniel Jones, married Jedediah Tryon ; 8th, Elizabeth Tryon, daugh-

ter of Jedediah Tryon, married Her- vey Rogers ; 9th, Gilbert Rogers, son! of Hervey Rogers, and the subject of this sketch.

Gilbert Rogers was the fifth son of Elam Hervey and Elizabeth (Tryon) Rogers. He attended the little brick school house in what is now known as Old Saybrook, but when he was quite young, the family removed to Meri- den, where he attended the private school taught by Henry D. Smith. He began his business career as a boy of fourteen years, when he became employed by Luther Webb, at whose factory pocketbooks were then exten- sively made. After two years he en- tered the factory of Chas. Parker, where he remained for five years, dur- ing which time he learned the trade of finishing flat ware. In 1858 he re- moved to Hartford where he was em- ployed by the Hartford Silver Plating Company, but later by Rogers, Smith & Co. He was afterwards made su- perintendent of one of the departments of the Rogers Bros. silver plating fac- years, he formed a partnership with Asa H. Rogers and engaged in the manufacture of silver plated spoons and hollow ware, in a factory on Nas- sau street, New York City. Like many other concerns when the Civil war broke out, business operations were suspended, and Mr. Rogers, re- turning to Meriden, received the ap- pointment as U. S. enrolling officer, which duties he fulfilled for the gov- ernment for one year.

It was in 1866 that with his broth- ers, Cephas B. and Wilbur F. Rogers,

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the concern of C. Rogers & Bros. was formed. Building a factory on Butler street, now owned by the In- ternational Silver Co., they first en- gaged in the manufacture of casket hardware, shrouds, etc. Later the firm began making plated forks, spoons, knives, etc., and built up as en- viable a reputation as any concern in this country.

During the World's fair at the Cen- tennial exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876, Mr. Rogers had charge of the C. Rogers & Bros.' exhibit.

The large business being sold to the United States Silver Corporation in 1902, Mr. Rogers retired from busi- ness until 1905, when he again estab- lished himself in the manufacturing world by starting a factory at West- field, Mass., for the manufacture of casket hardware and other metal goods, which is now largely conducted by his sons.

Mr. Rogers has for many years been one of the directors of the City Savings Bank and was also one of the organizers of the Walnut Grove Cem- etery Association, of which he is one of the directors. Mr. Rogers has also served the city and town of Meriden in public capacities, having been a member of the city government and the board of selectmen. He is also a member of the town hall building committee, and the committee of citi- zens appointed for the Centennial Cel- ebration of 1906.

He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chap- ter, 27, R. A. M .; Hamilton Council,

22, R. & S. M .; Capt. John Couch Branch, Sons of the American Revo- lution, and the First M. E. church, of Meriden. In the last named he served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school and secretary of the official board.

Mr. Rogers has always been a Re- publican in politics and cast his first vote at Waterbury, November, 1860, for Abraham Lincoln, and whom he afterwards saw riding in his carriage in New York City, on his way to the inaugural ceremony.

With his two sons he went abroad in 1900, visiting the world's fair ex- position at Paris, afterwards traveling extensively over Europe, visiting the principal places of interest of Switz- erland, Italy, Germany, Holland, France, England and Scotland.

He was married February 6, 1867, to Estelle Victorine Rogers, and to them have been born the following children : Mabel Estelle, born March 23, 1871, married Frederick Arthur Wright ; Eugene Culver, born January 8, 1876, associated with his father in business at Westfield; Ralph Gilbert, born April 8, 1878, likewise interested in business with his father ; and Wil- liam and Emerson, twins, who died in infancy.

WILBUR FISKE ROGERS.

Wilbur Fiske Rogers, a distin- guished member of the Grand Army, and until his recent retirement a lead- ing manufacturer of Meriden, was

th-

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born in Saybrook, Connecticut, July 18, 1841. While he was still a boy he moved to Meriden, and, after at- tending school here, secured work at the Chas. Parker factory, be- ing only twelve years of age at that time. He soon became very skillful as a silver-plater, and worked at that trade until 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Rogers, while working at his trade in New York city, was one of the first to respond to the call of his country. He was one of the party of the loyal mob who compelled every newspaper of- fice in New York to display the Union flag and, on the first day following President Lincoln's first call for troops he enlisted. On May 2, 1861, he was mustered in as a private in Company F, Fourth N. Y. V. I., called the First Scott Life Guard, be- ing composed in part of the old organ- ization of New York Volunteers under General Scott in the Mexican War.

Mr. Rogers was in the battle of Big Bethel, the first formal engage- ment of the war, and remained with the regiment until the expiration of its two years' service. He was in the engagements at Antietam, Fredericks- burg and Chancellorsville, the regi- ment volunteering to go into the lat- ter fight after its. time had expired. For this conduct it received a mag- nificent reception from the City of New York on its arrival home, where it was reviewed by General Scott at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.

Mr. Rogers was in all the battles participated in by the regiment and

held the rank of third sergeant and right general guide.

After being at home three months he re-enlisted in Company G, Thirty- fifth N. J. Zouaves, and was made sergeant and general guide of that regiment. He was with General Sherman when the latter made his fa- mous expedition across the state of Mississippi to Vicksburg, and his more famous march to the sea.

Mr. Rogers remained with the reg- iment until the close of the war, tak- ing part in every engagement and nev- er being off duty, wounded or sick in hospital-a truly remarkable record.

In 1865, he returned to Meriden where he formed a partnership with his two elder brothers known as C. Rogers & Brothers.

Mr. Rogers is a Republican in poli- tics, and was an alderman from 1895 to 1899, serving on many important committees. He is active in the First Methodist Church, being a mem- ber of the official board. He is a member of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Royal Arcanum, and was a charter member of Pacific Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F. In Merriam Post, No. 8, G. A. R., he is especially prominent, having served as com- mander of his post, aide-de-camp to the national commander-in-chief, in- spector of Department of Connecticut, delegate to the national encampment at St. Louis, junior commander, sen- ior vice and department commande .: of the G. A. R. of Connecticut.

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Milli- 7 Pages

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Mr. Rogers is an able writer and speaker, and an upright and highly re- spected citizen, and has traveled ex- tensively. In 1894 both he and Mrs. Rogers made a long trip abroad, vis- iting the principal countries of Europe.

He was married January 1, 1867, to Miss Mary J. Corbin, daughter of Hezekiah H. and Maria B. (Ryder) Corbin, and niece of the proprietors and founders of the great hard- ware manufacturing concern of P. & F. Corbin Manufacturing Co., of New Britain. Mrs. Rogers, who was once for four years a teacher at the Corner school and a graduate of the State Normal school, is a woman of rare personal attainments. She has ever taken a leading part in church work and woman suffrage. She has for some years been president of the local Political Equality club, and the Meriden Humane society. For the past ten years

she has been president of the Ladies' Aid so- ciety and by virtue of that office a member of the official board of the First M. E. church ; she is also treas- urer of the Connecticut Woman Suf- frage League ; was the first president of Merriam Woman's Relief Corps of Meriden, and was the first woman to serve on the Meriden school commit- tee before the consolidation of the dis- tricts ; also the first woman in the state to be elected a member of the High school committee, of which she was made chairman. She is also a prom- inent member of Susan Carrington Clarke Chapter, D. A. R.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have had three

children: Zula Elizabeth, born Sep- tember 21, 1874, a graduate of Wes- leyan University and a talented lin- guist and mathematician; Burton Cephas, born April 12, 1876, secretary of the Connecticut Telephone & Elec- tric Co., of Meriden; and Howard Wilson, born December 27, 1879, and died May 30, 1883.

LEVI BRADLEY.

Levi Bradley (deceased), while a lifelong resident of Cheshire, was closely identified with the town of Meriden and built the first brick block here, located at the corner of High School avenue and West Main street. He was in many respects a remarkable man and is remembered for his strong personal character and high attainments. He was the son of Daniel Bradley, a Vermont farmer, who was driven to abandon his farm by the ravages of the British during the Revolutionary war and removing first to Hamden, Conn., finally settled in Cheshire. There Levi was born, November II, 1792. As a boy he worked on his father's farm where he gave his industrious services until at the age of seventeen he "bought his time" of his father up to the time he was twenty-one and with a horse and wagon filled with goods, secured on the credit of his name, started out to win success in mercantile life. At the age of twenty-one years he had earned sufficient money by peddling to pay for his time annually and at the age of twenty-three years to

LEVI BRADLEY.

ABIGAIL ANN BRADLEY.

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buy all of his father's farm. ter having procured his seed from New York state, his crops of wheat were much admired by visiting sight- seers.

His business as a dry goods peddler was carried on by him with remark- able success and he was given a hearty welcome everywhere he drove his team. His routes extended through several of the Southern states and he carried on his business before the advent of the steam rail- road. Many streams had to be. ford- ed, too, in order to reach the villages which he supplied with dry goods, as bridges were few and widely scat- tered in that territory in his traveling days.

His unusual energy and business capacity not only won him the confi- dence of his customers, but so good and shrewd a buyer was he that his fellow peddlers, and they were nu- merous in those times, one by one, gradually delegated him to do their buying. Finally, when at the age of twenty-seven he had married and set- tled down on the Cheshire farm, af- ter he had stopped peddling, he became the New York buyer for the members of his craft, which trust he assumed for some years, his judg- ment being held in high regard by them.

As a farmer Mr. Bradley was any- thing but a failure ; for his crops were ever large and his land showed the result of care and high cultivation. He took a pride in his property and in the product of his farm; and he won many prizes at state and town agricultural exhibits. It was Levi Bradley who first undertook the pro- duction of wheat in Cheshire and af-

He was also the discoverer of the first barytes mine in Cheshire. While driving along the highway where men were plowing on the roadside his at- tention, which was naturally observ- ing, was called to a peculiar looking white stone and upon examining it found it to be of unusual weight for its proportion. Putting the stone in- to his wagon, the following day he submitted it to Prof. Silliman of Yale College. His analysis prompted Mr. Bradley to immediately buy an option where the mineral was, which he did, and he afterwards sold the farm to a New Haven firm at a handsome profit, who in turn mined from the property several million dollars' worth of the mineral, Mr. Bradley being for two years employed as superintendent of the mine.

Mr. Bradley was recognized as a man whose moral worth was a whole- some and strong virtue in the com- munity where he lived. While thrifty in connection with his farm he kept well abreast of the times and thoroughly informed on the topics of the day. He was also a great read- er, and his knowledge of men and pub- lic affairs won him the admiration of those who knew him. His good qualities were recognized by his fel- low townsmen in a marked degree; and he was called upon to serve Cheshire in the State Legislature.

He was married September 30,

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1819, to Abigail Ann, daughter of Samuel and Patience (Peck) Atwa- ter, of Cheshire. Miss Atwater was a woman of rare personal attractive- ness and was called the belle of her native town. She was also beautiful in character and always did her duty as a wife and mother and enjoyed the distinction of being a true daughter of the American Revolution. She lived to the age of ninety-seven and her por- trait at ninety-two is herewith pre- sented, accompanying that of her es- timable husband. Their children were Emeline Amelia, born December 19, 1820, and married Alfred P. Curtis ; Samuel Atwater, born Jan. 18, 1823; William Lambert, born May 25, 1826; Nathaniel Lyman, born December 27, 1829, and Abbie Ann, born Feb. 26, 1833. The last named married Wal- ter Hubbard and died in 1855. Two of these sons, William Lambert and Nathaniel Lyman, the former of whom died in Hingham, Mass., December 15, 1894, achieved marked prominence in the business world from the lessons in industry, perseverance and manly courage taught through the example of their father. William L. Bradley, for fifteen years a resident of Meriden and who removed to Boston in 1862, was the founder of the Bradley Fertilizer Co., of Boston, Mass .; and Nathaniel L. Bradley, a leading resi- dent of Meriden and treasurer of the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Company.

Another captain of industry who benefited by the wise teachings of Levi Bradley, was Charles Parker, of Meriden, who before he made his

first start from which he achieved world-wide fame as a manufacturer, spent three years on Mr. Bradley's farm.

Levi Bradley died at Meriden March 18, 1877. He was a man of decidedly Christian sympathy and was a liberal supporter to the cause of re- ligion. His life furnished an excel- lent example for those who are to follow him.

GEORGE GAY.

A citizen of Meriden, justly remem- bered as an upright man of sterling worth, was George Gay, who, after having been most active as a builder and later as a box manufacturer, died at the age of eighty-one years. He resided in his own residence at the cor- ner of Center and Camp streets, the last eleven years of his life in well earned retirement from business cares, until deathi claimed him from old age. He was born in Dedham, Mass., Oc- tober 22, :1816.

He learned the trade of a carpenter in Roxbury, Mass., and at the age of thirty-six years located in Meriden, with which he was thereafter promi- nently identified. Engaging in busi- ness as a contractor and builder just previous to a period of rapid growth of Meriden manufacturing, he made the most of his opportunities and soon became one of the leading builders of the town. In the construction of build- ings, he was exceedingly thorough and he enjoyed deservedly the confi-

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GEORGE GAY.

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dence of the leading citizens of the town in his day.

His first shop was located on State street, but he afterwards sold the land to the Meriden Britannia Company who built a portion of their works on the property which he formerly owned. Mr. Gay afterwards built the shop at the corner of State and Cross streets, where he continued for a time as a builder, but later founded the cooper- age and wooden box industry, which he carried on until 1886, when he sold it to Charles T. Dodd.

During Mr. Gay's career as a build- er a large number of the factories, sev- eral leading residences, business blocks and two churches were built by him. Among the buildings still stand- ing as a monument to his thorough work may be mentioned the following : Factories, Meriden Britannia Com- pany, Meriden Silver Plate Company, J. Wilcox & Co. (now the Meriden Woolen Co.) ; the First Methodist and Main Street Baptist churches; resi- dence of the late Dennis C. Wilcox, now occupied by Mrs. Horace C. Wil- cox, on Colony street ; residence of the late Jedediah Wilcox, now owned by Dexter W. Parker, on Broad street ; the residence of the late Isaac C. Lewis, Main street, in which one of whose daughters, Mrs. Kate A. L. Chapin, now resides.

At the time of his death, Mr. Gay was highly respected, not only as the oldest builder in Meriden, but as a man who always did his duty as he saw it in whatever capacity he was called upon to serve. Mr. Gay was

first selectman of Meriden for five years consecutively, from 1868-1872, and immediately following that, was a member of the city government as councilman, and in 1872 was a mem- ber of the board of aldermen. As Mr. Gay built a goodly portion of old Mer- iden and was justly esteemed in the community for his heartfelt interest in the affairs of the town, his memory will still survive him many years.

He left two daughters : Mrs. A. G. Finney and Mrs. Charles F. Linsley, the latter of Meriden.

JOSEPH MORSE.

Joseph Morse, son of Harley and Harriet Morse, was born November 12, 1827, in Yalesville, town of Wal- lingford, Conn. He came to Meri- den in the early forties and engaged in the butchering business. Later, he began dealing in real estate and soon gave his entire attention to this business. He bought largely and made many improvements ; and as the years passed his business became large and his holdings of prop- erty great, all of which he managed wisely and well. He opened up more. streets in the town of Meriden than any other man, among them being: Willow, Veteran, Columbia, Merriam, Walnut, Plumb, Yale avenue, North Hickory, Water, Reservoir avenue, Spring, Springdale avenue, Clark, Hill, Park, Morse, High, Frary ave- nue and North Spring.

As stated, he was a good manager and possessed an excellent judgment ;

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was energetic and industrious and made money rapidly, becoming one of the largest holders of property in Mer- iden.

He owned a portion of the State school property and the section of the town known as Morsetown. In 1896 he owned thirty-two dwellings, seven acres of land and five business blocks, being sole or part owner in the latter. It was then estimated that he had about two hundred tenants.

Mr. Morse was also a large owner of land in Kansas, at Wichita, An- thony, Pratt, Emporia, Junction City, Salina and other small places.

Mr. Morse was a self-made man, beginning life without a dollar, yet possessed of good health, and started out in life with a determination to suc- ceed.

He was willing, possessing natural tact and ability, which, together with his energy and close application to business, brought remarkable success.

In all his business transactions he was regarded as thoroughly honest and most reliable, his integrity and honesty being of the highest order. He possessed ability and was shrewd in matters pertaining to real estate transactions.

His judgment was considered very superior. Mr. Morse held the office of town assessor and was also a mem- ber of the common council at one time. He was a vestryman of St. Andrew's church and was the last surviving member of the vestry that directed the parish when the church was on Broad street; was a director in the

First National bank and a trustee of the City Savings bank.

In 1852 Mr. Morse married Lucy A. Hall, a daughter of Casper A. Hall, son of Brenton Hall, the founder of Meriden, the first representative from this town in 1806. The children by the marriage were George N., born October 16, 1853 ; Lilla E., born Au- gust 1, 1857; Eva L., born July 4, 1855, died September 12, 1861 ; Jo- sephine M., born September 17, 1869; Lucy M., born November 17, 1871. Mr. Morse died October 16, 1897.

GEORGE N. MORSE.

George N. Morse was born in this city October 16, 1853, at the old Morse homestead, which stood at the corner of East Main and Veteran streets. The building has now been made over into a store and is occu- pied by the Meriden Tea & Coffee Company.

Mr. Morse is a descendant of John Morse, born 1604, who was one of the seven Puritans of that name who emigrated from England to America in 1635, settled at New Haven; and was one of the founders of Walling- ford in 1670, and was a deputy and commissioner to the General Court for fourteen years, dying in 1707 at the age of 103. On his maternal side Mr. Morse is a descendant of Rev. Sam- tel Hall, of Cheshire, born 1695, died 1776, who married Anne Law, daughter of Gov. Jonathan Law and granddaughter of Gov. William Bren- ton of Rhode Island.

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George 1. Mouse,

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BIOGRAPHIES.

After the usual training in the com- mon schools, Mr. Morse attended, when sixteen years of age, the Con- necticut Literary Institute at Suffield in 1869-70. For several years he was correspondent of the New York Mir- ror and the Turf, Field and Farm. He has been at one time or another in various mercantile pursuits. In 1872 he was a member of Charter Oak Hose company in the old volunteer fire department. In 1882 he moved to Kansas City, but returned to Meri- den the following year; was mar- ried in 1877 to Mary A., daughter of John C. Byxbee, by whom he has had two children: John B., born in 1880, and Ida L., born 1882. He has been a prominent figure in local and state politics. At the state convention held in Hartford in May, 1888, to choose delegates to the Democratic national convention, he was chairman of his town's delegation. He was a dele- gate to the state convention held in September of the same year at New Haven, presenting the name of Hon. Carlos French for governor in the county caucus, and E. B. Manning to the convention for electoral delegate. The latter was nominated and elected. Mr. Morse was nominated for state senator in 1888 and was elected by a plurality of 353. In the presidential campaign of 1888, he organized and was president of the Cleveland Demo- cratic club of Meriden. In the state Senate he was chairman of the manu- factures and woman's suffrage com- mittees ; introduced and advocated the passage of the cigarette bill, which

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An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 75

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co. Number of Pages: 1252

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252