Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 2, Part 113

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 2 > Part 113

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CLARK. (I) Jonathan Clark m. Eunice Bost- wick, of New Milford [ see], Jan. 18, 1753. Had five children : Huldah, Hezekiah, Anna. George. Anna. (II) George Clark, b. Sept. 7. 1761, at New Milford, m. Mary Smith [see]. He was a ship- builder and merchant. Had four daughters and one son, the latter dying young. Daughters: Mary m. Joseph Bostwick; Hepzibah: Ophelia ; Huldalı. (III) Huldah Clark, dau. of George and Mary (Smith) Clark, b. Jan. 22, 1783, m. Oliver Stevens | see]. Children : Sally Maria, Elisha Clark, Eme- line ( living January, 1901), Elvira, Livonia, Hora- tio Kimberly, George Leander, Charles Tracy, twins died, Maryett. (IV) Sally Maria Stevens m. Sam- tel W. Upson. (V) Emeline M. Upson m. Frank- lin Downes. (VI) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (VII) Adrienne Florence Muzzy. b. 1885.

WALKER. (I) Robert Walker, b. 1607. in 1623 was living in Manchester, Lancashire. England, was in Boston in 1632, when he united with church.

In 1669 lie was one of the founders of the "Old South" Church. He d. May 29, 1687. His widow, Sarah d. Dec. 21, 1695. Hlad twelve children: Elizabeth, 1635: Zecharialı, 1637; John, 1639; Sarah, 1641; Jacob; Joseph, July, 1646; Thomas and Mary, who d. young; Timothy; Elia- kim; Mary; John. ( 11) Joseph Walker, sixth child of Robert and Sarah. b. July, 1646, came when a young man to Stratford. In 1667 he m. Abigail Prudden [see]. Josephi d. November, 1687, and his widow in. Richard Hubbell, Sr. Joseph and Abigail had five children: Robert, Sarah, Johannah (or Joanna ) , Abigail and Mary. ( 1H1) Abigail Walker, b. February, 1671-72, m. John Bostwick, Jr. [ see]. (IV) Lemuel Bostwick m. Anna Jackson. (V) Eunice Bostwick m. Jonathan Clark. ( V1) George Clark in. Mary Smith | see ]. (V11) Huldalı Clark 11. Oliver Stevens [see]. (VIII) Sally M. Stevens 1. Samuel W. Upson [see]. (1X) Emeline M. Upson m. Franklin Downes [see ]. (X) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (XI) Adrienne Florence Muzzy. | See New England Genealogical Register for 1847, llistory of Stratford, Savage. Boston Records, etc. |

PRUDDEN. (1) Rev. Peter Prudden, one of the "Fathers of New England," and founder of Mil- ford, Conn., was b. at Edgton, Yorkshire, England, in 1601. Ordained for ministry in England. Was a non-conformist of Church of England. Sailed from Bristol, England, in the "James," leading a company from Hereford and other western counties. Arrived at Boston July 26, 1637, two months being the average time from England to America. They joined Eaton's company to Quinnipiac (New Ha- ven). The Sunday following their arrival, April 18, 1638, Rev. Mr. Davenport preached to the peo- ple in the morning, under a spreading oak, near the northeast corner of George and College streets, near Yale College : and Rev. Mr. Prudden preached in the afternoon, at the same place, the second sermon ever given in New Haven, his text being: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ve the way of the Lord." Prudden and his company received house-lots : but during the summer of 1638 Prud- den, preaching at Wethersfield, found several dis- satisfied families, who were willing to go with him and his company to the place now called Milford. On Feb. 12, 1639, they received a formal deed of land from Ansantaway, Sachem of the Wepowaugs, and removed thither in the autumn. Prudden's salary was £48, and fire wood. His house and George Clark's were the two fortified houses in Milford. The first burying-ground was a part of Mr. Prudden's home-lot. A tablet in the First Con- gregational church at Milford, on the site of the first church there, has an inscription by Cotton Mather : "I am sure 'tis a blessed child of God whose name is before us, who, besides his other ex- cellent qualities, was noted for a singular faculty to sweeten, compose, and qualify exasperated spirits, and stop or heal all contentiones. Whence it was

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that his town of Milford enjoyed peace and trutli all his days. He continued an able and faithful servant of the churches until the fifty-sixth year of his age, when his death was felt by the Colony as a fall of a pillar which made the whole fabrick to shake." Peter Prudden has also a large memorial stone at the entrance to the Milford Memorial Bridge, inscribed with his first text at New Haven. He m. Joanna Boyse, at Edgton, County of York, England. Had five daughters and three sons: Jo- anna, bapt. 1640; Elizabeth, 1643; Abigail, 1647 ; Sarah, 1650; Mildred, 1653; John, 1646 (Harvard, 1668) ; Samuel; Peter, died young. Peter Prud- den left a good estate here, and lands in England. (II) Abigail Prudden, b. 1647, m., Nov. 14, 1667, Joseph Walker [ see]. She d. 1717. After Walker's death she m. Richard Hubbell [see]. Joseph and Abigail had five children: Robert, Sarah, Johannah (or Joanna), Abigail and Mary. (III) Abigail Walker, b. February, 1671-72, m. John Bostwick". (IV) Lemuel Bostwick m. Anna Jackson. (\') Eunice Bostwick m. Jonathan Clark. (VI) George Clark m. Mary Smith [seel. (VII) Huldah Clark m. Oliver Stevens [see]. (VIII) Sally M. Stevens 1. Samuel WV. Upson [ see]. (IX) Emeline M. Up- son m. Franklin Downes [ see]. (X) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy [see]. (XI) Adrienne Florence Muzzy, b. 1885. [ New England Genealog- ical Register, 1847; Savage; Atwater's History of New Haven ; Glastonbury History. ]

CANFIELD, spelled also Camfield, Campfield, Camphile, Canfyld. (1) Sergt. Thomas Canfield, probably brother of Matthew, came to Milford from New Haven about 1647. Had four acres of land il. Milford, received for "supporting a gate." He m. Phebe Crane, dau. of Jasper Crane [see], about 1652 (?). Admitted to church, 1657 ; representa- tive to General Court from Milford, 1674 and 1676: is called lieutenant on tax list, 1686. In will, dated Feb. 23, 1687, he mentions three married daus .. Sarah, Phebe, Elizabeth ; and three unmarried. Also sons Thomas and Jeremiah, also "son, John Smith." He d. 1689. Has block in Memorial Bridge to Founders of Milford. (II) Phebe Canfield, b. May 8, 1656, d. May 3, 1730. m., Jan. 23. 1671-73, Sergt. John Smith. Children: John (3) : Thomas; Sam- uel; Ebenezer ; Joseph; Abiah: Nathan; Joseph- eight boys. (III) Joseph Smith (1) m. Mary Clark [see]. (IV) Capt. Joseph Smith m. Widow Jemima (Hubbell) Bostwick [ see Hubbell ]. (\') Mary (Polly) Smith m. George Clark. (VI) Hul- dah Clark m. Oliver Stevens. (VII) Sally M1. Ste-

vens m. Samuel W. Upson. (VIII) Emeline M. Upson m. Franklin Downes. (IX) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (X) Adrienne Flor-

ence Muzzy.

CRANE, spelled also Crayne and Crain. "The name of Crane often appears among the Records of Meetings in England before 1630, as one of the Governors and Company of the New England Col- ony to be planted in Massachusetts Bay." [Hin-

man.] The Cranes had several coats of arms. (I) Hon. Jasper Crane (called variously "Mister" Crane, Esquire, Jasper Crayne, Sr., and "that good old saint Jasper Crane," etc.) was an important and one of the first settlers of New Haven Colony ; signed "Fundamental Agreement" June 4, 1639, at a meeting "held at the barn of Mr. Newman ;" was one of the surveyors who laid out town plat of New Haven, locating grants, settling division lines, dis- puted titles, etc. ; was selectman, and one of civil managers, 1639-1641 ; was made freeman, 1644, and "freed from watching and trayning;" merchant trader in Fair Haven and Branford, 1644-45 and 1652 ; built house on east side of Fair Haven green, 1644-45. In 1653 he was one of the first deputies to the General Court of Electors from Branford, which office he held five years. In 1654 he ( with others, such as Sherman, Leete, Lewes, Treat, etc.) was invested with power as magistrate to assist in the governments of the plantations of New Haven, Milford, Branford, Guilford and Stamford. In May, 1658, he was chosen magistrate of New Haven Colony, and held this office till 1663. In 1664-65, on the union of New Haven Colony with Hartford, Jasper Crane was ordered by General Assembly to be assistant to General Court, holding this position three years, as well as the office of magistrate of Connecticut for same period, and justice of county court of New Haven, 1664-65. In 1667-68 he sold property in Branford and moved to Newark, N. J., of which place he had been one of the projectors in 1665. Hlere he and Robert Treat, afterward gov- ernor of Connecticut, were the first magistrates. [Treat's daughter Mary m. Crane's son Azariah. ] They represented Newark at General Court the same year ; were deputies, 1669-70; deputies and magis- trates, 1671-72, when Treat returned to Connecti- cut, and Crane held same offices 1675. He "died, an old man," at Newark, about 1681. Children are given probably as follows : Phebe, 1633; John, 1635; Hannah, 1639, m. Thomas Huntington ; De- liverance, bapt. 1642: Mercy, 1645 : Azariah ( some- times given as Micah), 1647: Jasper, Jr., 1651 ; and it is said there was also Bell, who may have come between John and Hannah, in 1637. (II) Phebe Crane m. Thomas Canfield probably about 1652 [see Canfield]. (III) Phebe Canfield m. Sergt. John Smith. (IV) Joseph Smith (1) m. Mary Clark. (V) Capt. Joseph Smith m. Jemima (Hubbell) Bostwick, widow. (VI) Mary (Polly) Smith m. George Clark. (VII) Huldalı Clark m. Oliver Ste- vens. (VIII) Sally M. Stevens m. Samuel W. Up- son. (IX) Emeline M. Upson m. Franklin Downes. (X) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (XI) Adrienne Florence Muzzy, b. 1885. [From Hin- man : various town histories, and Conn. Records. ] SMITII. (I) John Smith (1), b. 16-, 1684; settler of Milford, Conn., 1640, is presumed to have been one of the Hertfordshire men who could not leave England with Prudden in 1637, as they de- sired ; probably came direct to New Haven in 1639;

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left property over £513. He m. Grace Hawley, who d. 1690, supposed sister of Joseph Hawley, Strat- ford. Children of John and Grace (Hawley) Smith : Ephraim, b. 1644, m. Abigail Briscoe ; John (2), bapt. 1646, m. Phobe Canfield ; Mary, b. 1648, m. Dr. Abel Gunn; Ebenezer, b. 1650, d. young ; Mercy, b. 1652; Mehitable, b. 1655, m. Edward Camp. (II) John Smith (Sergt.), bapt. Aug. 27. 1640, d. Jan. 8, 1732; lived in Milford. On Jan. 23, 1672-73, he m. Phebe Canfield (or Campfield), dau. of Sergt. Thomas Canfield and Phœbe ( Crane ). Tombstones are in Milford cemetery. Children of John (2) and Phœbe (Canfield) Smith : John (3), b. 1674, m. Ruth Briscoe; Thomas, March, 10//. m. Hannah Camp; Samuel, 1679; Ebenezer, 1683- 1744, m. Sarah Collins; Joseph, d. young ; Abian, 1686; Nathan, 1689, m. Hannah Tibbals; Joseph (I), bapt. 1694, m. Mary Clark. (III) Joseph Smith (1), bapt. April 15, 1694, m., July 7, 1720. Mary Clark, dau. of George and Rebecca Clark, Milford. Mary d. Feb. 23, 1773. Moved to Brook- field, Conn. Children of Joseph (1) and Mary (Clark) Smith: George, 1721-1800; Mary, 1723- 1795; Abiah, 1727-1819; Joseph (2), 1730-1810; Amos, 1732-1807 ; Ann, 1734-1758. Joseph Smith (1) was the first magistrate in Brookfield, "the finest old magistrate ever lived," states a descend- ant living at Danbury. (IV) Joseph Smith ( 2). captain in Revolutionary war ( Connecticut Rec- ords), b. March 15, 1730, d. Aug. 10, 1810. He m. Jemima Hubbell, widow of Gershom Bostwick, of Brookfield [see Hubbell]. Children of Capt. Joseph and Jemima Smith: Abel (m. Sarah -).

Prude, Jemima, Joseph (3) (m. Patty Wilmot). Eli, and Mary ( called Polly). Capt. Joseph Smith, his wife Jemima, also their daughter Mary and her husband, as well as Abel and Sarah, are well re- membered by the descendant mentioned above. Capt. Joseph was a first selectman of Brookfield. 1788, and representative in 1789. He is buried at Hawleyville. (V) Mary (Polly) Smith m. George Clark [see]. (VI) Huldah Clark m. Oliver Ste- vens [see]. (VII) Sally Maria Stevens m. Samuel W. Upson. (VIII) Emeline M. Upson m. Franklin Downes. (IX) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (X) Adrienne Florence Muzzy, b. 1885.

HUBBELL. This name comes from Hubba's Hill (Hub-hill, Hubbill, Hubbell), which was so called from Hubba, the Dane, chief of a band of barbarians who plundered and destroyed in England, about 867, an interesting account of which is given in the Hubbell Genealogy. One of the Hubbell Arms con- tains the Danish Raven, the ensign carried by Hubba, originally the mark of the God Odin, which "fell from heaven" upon the Danish army, was cap- tured by Britons, and used by them in war for three centuries, when it gave way to the cross. It is sup- posed that the Connecticut Hubbells came from Walter Hubbell, who had a merchant house in Ply- mouth, England, and d. 1515. His son William carried on the business, and m. Annie Mimant, a

French lady. Ile d. 1576, very old. He left one son, Francis, who m. ( second) Sophia Brown. In 1615 Francis started for the West Indies and was never heard of again. In 1651 his widow Sophia. was alive at Plymouth, England, having two sons, Francis and Edward. It is prob- able that Richard, who came to America, was a son of either Francis or Edward Hubbell, of Ply- mouth, England. (I) Richard Hubbell (1), b. 1027-28 in Great Britain, d. Oct. 23, 1699. Prob- ably came to America about 1645-47. In New Haven, March 7, 1647. M., in 1650, Elizabeth Meigs [see]. Was planter in Guilford, Conn., Feb. 25, 1653-54. In 1664-65 removed to Fairfield coun- ty, where he was a leading citizen, and an extensive land owner and dealer. Is called sergeant, on rec- ords. Ile, with his son Richard, was among the nine original. members of the First Church of Stratford, now in Pridgeport. He left an estate of over £816. Children of Richard and Elizabeth (Meigs) Hubbell : John, b. about 1652, at New Haven, d. 1690; Richard (2), b. 1654; James, b. 1656; Elizabeth, b. 1659: Ebenezer; Mary; all in Guilford ; Martha, about 1664-65, in Fairfield coun- ty. His first wife, Elizabeth, d. about or before 1672; and his second wife, whose initials on tomb- stone are also "F. H.," d. early in 1688. Children of second wife : Samuel, Abigail, Sarah, James ( Fair- field), Richard m. (third), in 1688, Abigail Prudden Walker. Her children were : Joseph, b. about 1690, d. 1700 ; John, b. 1691 [see Prudden and Walker]. (11 ) Richard Hubbell (2). b. at Guilford 1654, d. 1738. Removed with his parents to "Fayrefield" when about eight years old. On Nov. 5, 1685, he m. (first) Rebecca Morehouse (dau. of Samuel More- house, d. 1687, and Rebecca , of Fairfield ).

Rebecca Hubbell d. April 2, 1692, leaving children : Peter, b. 1686; Ebenezer, 1687; Elizabeth, 1689; and infant son, Jonathan, b. March 25, 1692. Richard m. his second wife the same year, and had seven more children between 1694 and 1709. He was a wealthy planter, and held many offices of trust ; was one of the nine original members of the First Con- gregational Church of Stratford Parish ( now Bridgeport), to which church he willed a silver tankard valued at £55, which was in use at least 150 years later. He was lieutenant, and was select- man for ten years ; was also auditor, constable, sheep master, on scho l and various other committees. (III) Jonathan Hubbell, son of Lieut. Richard Hub- bell and Rebecca Morehouse, b. March 25, 1692, d. Sept. 6, 1766. Moved to Newtown, and m. Peace- able Silliman, Nov. 18, 1713. Children : Daniel, Ichabod, Richard, Hannah, Elizabeth, Jemima, Hep- zibah. Beulah. Ithamar. Rebecca, Silliman and Jeptha. Jonathan's will is dated Nov. 24. 1768. (IV) Jemima Hubbell, dau. of Jonathan and Peace- able, b. (probabiy) about 1724-25, m. (first) Ger- shom Bostwick, and (second) Capt. Joseph Smith, of Newtown, June 13. 1754 [see Smith]. She is called Jemima Smith in her father's will. (V)

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. Mary Smith, dau. of Capt. Joseph and Jemima, m. George Clark. (VI) Huldah Clark m. Oliver Ste- vens. (VII) Sally M. Stevens m. Samuel W. Up- son. (VIII) Emeline M. Upson m. Franklin Downes. (IX) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy. (X) Adrienne Florence Muzzy, b. 1885. [Hubbell Genealogy.]

MEIGS (or Meggs). (I) Vincent Meigs, b. 1570, came from Dorsetshire, England, and settled first at Weymouth, Mass. ; was living in New Haven, Conn., 1647, owning what is now corner of Church and Chapel streets; removed to Guilford, then to Killingworth, where he d. 1658. Will is dated Sept. 2, 1658. (II) John Meigs, b. in England in 1600, m. Tomasine Fry, sister of William Fry, in England, 1630. Was first in Weymouth, Mass., then in New Haven, Conn., 1647, Guilford, 1654, and Killing- worth, 1663; made freeman here in 1669. Was a tanner, and had large estate. Owned some books, one a Greek and Latin Dictionary. His will is in existence. He d. at Killingworth Jan. 4, 1672. (III) Elizabeth Meigs, dau. of John, m. Richard Hub- bell (1) [see]. (IV) Lieut. Richard Hubbell m. Rebecca Morehouse. (V) Jonathan Hubbell m. Peaceable Silliman. (VI) Jemima Hubbell ( Bost- wick) m. Capt. Joseph Smith [see]. (VII) Mary Smith m. George Clark [see]. (VIII) Huldalı Clark m. Oliver Stevens [see]. (IX) Sally M. Stevens m. Samuel W. Upson [see]. (X) Eme- line M. Upson m. Franklin Downes [see]. (XI) Florence E. Downes m. Adrian J. Muzzy [ see]. (XII) Adrienne Florence Muzzy. [From Hubbard Genealogy.]

HON. PHILIP CORBIN, a leading American manufacturer, widely known in the business world as founder and president of the great hardware manufacturing corporation of P. & F. Corbin of New York and New Britain, president and treas- urer of the Corbin Cabinet Lock Co., president of the New Britain Machine Co., vice-president of the New Britain Savings Bank, director of the Hart- ford National Bank, of Hartford, the Mechanics National Bank, of New Britain, and also of the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Co., of Hartford, and formerly a city official of New Britain and member of the House of Representatives and State Senate of Connecticut, was born in Willington, Conn., Oct. 26, 1824.

The family name of Corbin is of great antiquity in England, and is enrolled among the armigeri of Staffordshire, Suffolk and other counties. In the annals of that kingdom Walter Corbin is men- tioned in 1272; and Geoffry Corbin, presumably his ancestor, in 1194. They were of Norman ori- gin, and were probably descendants of Robert Cor- bin of Normandy, mentioned in Magr. Rotul. Scac- carri Normanniæ in 1180-1195. The first of the name mentioned in American records is, singularly enough, Robert Corbin, who came from England and settled at Casco Bay, near Portland, Maine.

"Corbyn Sound" there was named after him. He was a man of education and consequence. In the Colonial records for the year 1658, still preserved in the State House at Boston, his name appears signed by himself to a report of the commission sent out to that region by the Massachusetts Legis- lature for the purpose of bringing settlers there into closer touch with the Massachusetts govern- ment, his signature testifying to his recognition of its authority, and his willingness to be governed by its laws. He was killed by Indians, and, al- though married, left no issue.

The subject of this sketch traces his ancestry to James Corbin, born at Roxbury, Mass., in 1667, probably a son of John Corbin, of Roxbury, who is supposed by Savage [New Eng. Gen. Dict.] to have been a son of Clement Corbin, or Corbyn, of that town. It is possible that John was a brother or nephew of Robert Corbin, of Casco Bay; and the fact that he, too, fought the Indians makes this seem probable. John Corbin was one of sixteen white men who, with a body of fifty-two "praying Indians," Eliot's converts, left Boston on July 6, 1675, (during the King Philip's war), under com- mand of the intrepid Capt. Isaac Johnson of Rox- bury, marched into Rhode Island, and took part in the Fort Fight at Mount Hope, Dec. 19, 1675, where, at a heavy loss of life to the attacking party, the savage Narragansett tribe was destroyed [ Hist. of Roxbury]. James Corbin is recorded as an orig- inal settler and proprietor of Woodstock, Conn., in 1686. He married at that place, April 7, 1687, Hannah Eastman. He was living at Dudley, Mass., in 1732, and died there. His sons were James, Jr., Clement, Philip, Samuel, and Elisha, all born probably at Woodstock, where the first three were married, although all subsequently became residents of Dudley. Each of these brothers was a man of weight and distinction in the community. James was chosen "field driver" in 1732; Clement, "towil treasurer" in 1741, and "captain" in 1744; Philip, a "tytheing man" in 1739, and a "constable" in 1746; Samuel, "surveyor" in 1737, "constable" in 1739, and "selectman" in 1759; and Elisha, a "con- stable" in 1750.

Philip Corbin married Jan. 13, 1731, Dorothy Barstow. One of their sons, Lemuel, the great- grandfather of our subject, is first mentioned in the records of the town of Dudley as a young man who (in 1759) was given leave with orders to build a pew at the rear of the church. He was chosen "constable" in 1768, and became "captain" in 1781. In the history of Union, Conn., it is re- corded that "Philip Corbin, son of Lemuel and descended from James Corbin, came to Union, from Dudley, Mass., in 1793." The historian further says : "He was a man of more than ordinary powers of body and mind, which, guided by stern integrity, gave him an influence largely felt wherever he went. He was a farmer, owning a large tract of land; manufactured potash in considerable quantities, and

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at one time owned part of the Mashapaug sawmill. He was selectman a number of years; represented the town in Legislature in 1814 and 1815; and was a prominent and influential member of the Church. His wife, Rhoby Healy, of Dudley, bore him six children, of whom Philip, Jr., the third son, born at Union April 4, 1797, went to live at Willington, whence he removed in 1833 to West Hartford, where he died July 24, 1881. On No- vember 29, 1820, he married Lois Chaffee, of Ash- ford, Conn., by whom he was the father of ten children, who lived to maturity. Philip Corbin, the third of this large family, is the subject of this sketch.

One of eight sons, Philip Corbin was brought up with his brothers on his father's farm. In the labor incident to its management, and in outside work, these lads all developed wonderfully vigorous physical frames, and acquired habits of industry and self-reliance which went far toward taking the place of the higher schooling from which they were 111 a measure debarred by their parents' limited means. Philip, however, after attending the dis- trict schools, had the advantage of one and one- half terms at the West Hartford Academy, and at the age of fifteen, when he took up farm work, was a well-informed and promising lad. Strong, active and willing, he did a man's work and carned a man's wages, which he turned over to his father for the family's support. Finding himself pos- sessed of decided mechanical tastes, he quitted farm 'work when nineteen years of age, and (in March, 1844) went to New Britain, Conn., where he secured employment with Russell & Erwin, and later in the lock shop of North & Stanley. He had not been thus employed a year before he felt sufficient confidence in his skill to bid for a con- tract on his own account. Filling it to the satis- faction of those with whom it was made, he took another contract, and, calling his younger brother. Frank, to his aid, made him his partner. From the profits of their venture they deducted merely suffi- cient for their expenses, paying the surplus loyally to their father. In 1849 P. & F. Corbin, in partner- ship with Edward Doen, as Doen, Corbin & Co., built a small shop, put in machinery worked by horse-power (steam having been introduced then only on a limited scale), and on a joint capital of less than a thousand dollars launched themselves as manufacturers.

Their first aim was to make articles not made by others, in competition with European firms. They began with ox-balls, for tipping horns of cattle, window springs, lamp hooks, etc., and changed to other products when competition pro- duced what they had made. The success of the enterprise was so immediate-the brothers being skillful and earnest workmen who did most of the manual labor themselves-that they soon drew three of their younger brothers, William (died

1860), Andrew, and George S. (died 1899), into the business, giving each in turn a share in its management. In 1853 the firm was re-organized as a joint-stock company, the style "P. & F. Corbin ' being retained. From their original productions they soon branched out into the manufacture of certain kinds of locks, bolts, hinges, latches and general builders hardware. Plain and low-priced goods were made at first, but in 1868 new fields were entered upon, and the company turned out more ornamental goods than any other manufac- turer then made. The l'. & F. Corbin Co. was the first to use the bronzing process patented by Hiram Tucker, of Boston. The articles, styles and designs made have been innumerable, and the quantities vast and increasing constantly. The company has supplied bronze hardware for the State, Navy and War Department Buildings at Washington, D. C., the Post Office and Sub-Treasury at Boston, and many other public buildings ; and for many great offices, business and government structures every- where, including many large banks and insurance companies, and the fine State Capitol at Hartford. When the brothers began as employers of labor they had ten workmen in their pay. For years past they have had upward of eighteen hundred on their pay roll, this number including a large corps of inventors, artists, designers and pattern-makers, in addition to other skilled hands. The works and main offices of the company are at New Britain, Conn., and constitute an important feature in that thriving center. Many large buildings make up these works, which cover several acres. Stores with full stocks of the firm's products are main- tained also in New York City, in Chicago and in l'hiladelphia. The catalogue and price list of the company's productions takes the form of a beau- tifully illustrated bound volume of about eight hundred pages, which is sent to all parts of the world.

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Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 2, Part 113

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1172

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172