Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 30

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 30

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Mr. Baldwin entered business life as a

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

merchant, and as a manufacturer of silver ¿poons at Oxford, in company with his broth- er Seymour, they forming the firm of J. & S. Baldwin. In 1832 they moved their business to Middletown. Three years later Seymour retired from the firm and went West in search of a location, but came back to Connecticut nd established himself at Meriden. In 1856 le again removed to the West, and settled at Elyria, Ohio, where he became a leading mer- hant, and took high rank among the business men of northern Ohio. After the retirement f his brother Jesse Garrettson Baldwin con- nued in the business, manufacturing silver poons and plated ware. At one time the en- erprise had attained such proportions that more than thirty men were employed in the fac- pory, and eighteen traveling salesmen were ngaged in disposing of their finished product. The late Julius Hotchkiss was among the num- er. Henry G. Hubbard was associated with Ir. Baldwin from 1833 to 1836.

From the time the anti-slavery sentiment thered force and found expression, Mr. aldwin was strongly enlisted on that side. rom the first he entirely abstained from the se of anything made by slave labor. While Ir. Hubbard was associated with him they anufactured cotton webbing on a small scale, It the cotton used was purchased from a uaker settlement in the South, and all of it as made by free men. The sugar used in e family was procured from distant islands here there were no slaves. When Mr. Bald- n traveled he carried his own loaf sugar th him. He assisted in the organization of e first anti-slavery meeting in Middletown, ad was prominently associated with nearly meetings of that character held in the city. required moral courage of a high order to nd on so unpopular ground, and the mob- lig of his house while he was entertaining anti-slavery speaker was only a small part ( the ordeal through which he passed. It re- ( ired men of courage and strong conviction t openly advocate Abolition, and Mr. Bald- 1 i was, in every sense of the word, such a 1 n. Mr. Baldwin and Dr. Charles Wood- rd built the two schooners "W. B. Doug- 1. 5" and "Jesse G. Baldwin." Before enter- 1 into the partnership an agreement was nle that these vessels should not enter a ithern port. When the schooners were 'ly for the sails a new difficulty arose, and it 1

was settled by each partner furnishing one-half the sails. Those that Mr. Baldwin bought did not contain any cotton that had been made by slaves. "Mr. Baldwin's name was several times on the Free-soil State ticket with those of Francis Gillette, John Boyd and other well- known anti-slavery men. When nothing farther remained to be done in the crusade against slavery, Mr. Baldwin enlisted in the movement against the saloon with almost equal enthusiasm. He was the candidate for Gov- ernor on the State Prohibition ticket in 1876.

In 1858 Mr. Baldwin was elected presi- dent of what is now the Central National Bank, and held that position as long as he lived. He was also president of the People's Fire Insur- ance Company and of the Indian Hill Cemetery Association, at the time of his death. He was a director of the Middletown Gas Company, a director of the Farmers & Mechanics Sav- ings Bank, and president of the board of trus- tees of the Methodist Church, filling these po- sitions when he was eighty-three years old, yet so careful and methodical was he that all his labors were well rendered. His last great work was as chairman of the finance committee at the building of the Methodist Church ; he at- tended nearly all its frequent meetings, which. were often protracted to a late hour. The pall- bearers at his funeral, representing the various. institutions with which he had been connected,. were Prof. Van Benschoten, Hon. Daniel Chase, George N. Ward, George W. Harris, George S. Hubbard and Seth H. Butler.

Mr. Baldwin was married April 14, 1830, in West Meriden, Conn., to Miss Lydia Rice. who was born February 5. 1800. eldest daugli- ter of Ezekiel and Mary ( Merriam) Rice ( the latter was the first wife of Ezekiel Rice). Mrs. Baldlwin died May 13, 1876, a good wife and a faithful mother : she was a woman of much charity, and used excellent judgment in the distribution of her kindness. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin came the following children : (1) Mary Ann, born February 18. 1831, is noted for her musical ability, being an accom- plished pianist, educated in Boston and Berlin, Germany. (2) Harriet Rice, born October 2. 1832. died a victim to the climate at Eufaula. Ala., March 28, 1870; she had gone South under the auspices of the American Mission- ary Association and was engaged in teaching among the freedmen, with whom her sympa- thies were strong. She served without com-

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pensation. (3) Maria Antoinette, born No- vember 22, 1835, died July 7, 1861 ; she was a bright and gifted young woman, of unusual literary talent, and during her last illness, while lying on what proved to be, a few weeks later, her death-bed, she composed the following beautiful poem :

THE FALL OF ELLSWORTH.

Gone in his golden prime, Youth's sunshine in his eye, He might not find till gray old age A fitter time to die.

Wrap him in starry folds, Wreathe laurels on his breast, And with sweet sounds of melody, Bear him to dreamless rest.

Shout, shout, his comrades all, Drive back the starting tear, And let your vow be firm and deep By your young hero's bier.

Vow ne'er to sheathe the sword Till freedom shall be free, And our old banner's starry folds Crown the palmetto tree.

Till every galling chain Shall covered be with rust, And every flag with bastard stars Shall perish in the dust.

Then shout-his comrades all- Drive back the starting tear, And let your vow be firm and deep By your young hero's bier. MARIA A. BALDWIN.

MIDDLETOWN, May 28, 1861.

(4) Lydia Elizabeth, born November 10, 1837, died July 27, 1839. (5) James Garrettson, born June 17, 1841, died November 25, 1881. He married Miss Hannah Arnold Sill, daugh- ter of Henry Sill, of New York, a woman of superior character and a very lovable dispo- sition, who died August 26, 1883. Four of their children lived to adult age-James Gor- don, who graduated from Wesleyan Univer- sity in 1894 : Harriet Rice, who married George W. Davison, an attorney of Brooklyn; Henry Sill, an expert mechanical engineer, who re- ceived his education at the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology, and is in the employ of the General Electric Company at Lynn, Mass .; and Caroline Sill. James Garrettson Baldwin was one of the valuable citizens of his time in Middletown. At the time of his death he was engaged extensively as a real-estate and fire insurance agent. He was one of the most ac- tive laborers in City Mission work, an enthusi-

astic advocate of Temperance, and an earnest worker for the success of that cause. His death, at the age of forty, cut short a life that had been a credit to the honored name of Bald- win in Middletown. (6) Lydia Elizabeth, born May 24, 1844, died October 4, 1863; she was a young woman of much talent and lovable disposition, with many warm friends.

Jesse Garrettson Baldwin died April 5, 1887, and with his wife is buried in Indian Hill cemetery. He early built the home at No. 41 Broad street, which was his residence throughout the remainder of his life. At one time he owned much of the land on the north side of William street, between Broad and High streets.

JOSEPH GLADWIN, in his lifetime a skillful builder of water craft, was born July 24, 1829, in Gildersleeve, Conn., a son of Eras- mus Gladwin, who came to Portland from Higganum. The latter was one of twelve chil- dren, nine boys and three girls, of whom only two are now living: Timothy, at Meriden; and Julia, who is Mrs. Warren Taylor, of Clinton, Connecticut.

Erasmus Gladwin was a son of James Glad- win, and became a ship builder and also a farm- er, his home comprising quite a tract of good land. He was married in Portland, to Miss Prudence Churchill, a daughter of Charles Churchill, the pioneer ship builder at Gilder- sleeve. Mr. Churchill was very prominent in his time, and carried through many important business enterprises ; he was a son of Captain Joseph Churchill, who was in command of a company in the Eighth Connecticut Regiment under Col. Comfort Sage, in the Revolutionary war. Erasmus Gladwin lived to be eighty- eight years old, and died July 12, 1889; his wife died November 12, 1883, at the age of seventy-four. Both were buried at Center cem- etery. Their children were: Joseph ; Lora G., Mrs. Theo. F. Lewis, of Waterbury, Conn .; and Frederick E., of Portland. In politics Mr. Gladwin was a Democrat, and in religious faith an Episcopalian. Fraternally he was a Master Mason, and a man of good character and en- viable standing at home.

Joseph Gladwin had the advantage of the local schools, and made good use of his oppor- tunity. He had a gift for mechanics, and when a young man was a great canoe-builder, con-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tructing some of the finest canoes that floated n the Connecticut river. On January 3, 1856, e was married to Miss Lavinia E. Sage, a ative of Portland, who was born July 6, 1829, daughter of Phillip and Vienna (Penfield) jage, and a cousin of Frederick C. Penfield, who was United States Consul General to `gypt from 1893 to 1897. She was a student t a boarding school when a girl, and is an in- elligent and a refined lady, being a great read- : and much interested in literary work.

Joseph Gladwin died September 1, 1896. n Episcopalian in religious faith, he belonged , ad

Trinity parish and served as vestryman. A [ason of high standing, he belonged to War- en Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Freestone Chapter, A. M., at Portland; and Cyrene Command- y at Middletown. He was a highly esteemed ember of the Sons of the American Revolu- >11. He won a high reputation as a skillful tilder of water craft in Portland, and while s tastes were literary, he loved the out-of- or world, and was an enthusiastic yachtman, iciating as a judge when the Cromwell races re held. His widow now lives in Portland, here she is highly esteemed. Although she 1's not yet joined, she is eligible for member- ip in the society of the Daughters of the nerican Revolution.

Phillip Sage, father of Mrs. Gladwin, was Irn near Center Church in Portland in 1786, aion of Enoch and Sybil ( Sage) Sage. Al- twigh a stanch Democrat, he was appointed cflector of the port of Middletown by Presi- chit John Tyler, and served for five years in tt capacity. He was probate judge of Port- 1:

d and Chatham for a number of years, and 1

filled various town offices as well as serving in the State Legislature several terms. Relig- 1( sly he was an Episcopalian, and in that f. h he died, in 1855, and was buried in Cen- to cemetery. His wife, Vienna Penfield, was aughter of Zebulon and Prudence ( Dixon) ifield, and lived to be about eighty-three.

S : married a second time, becoming the wife George Brown, of Portland, and died at the 0 lı ve of her son, Enoch, in Portland. To llip Sage and his wife were born the follow- family : (1) Enoch, who is still living in F tland, was born in 1814, and married Sarah cox, a daughter of Luther and Lucy (Burt) V

cox. (2) Charles H., a prominent citizen 0

Portland, was born in 1816, and married E :a Hall, the daughter of Jesse and Harriet

(Cheeney ) Hall. He was probate judge for. years, and was secretary and treasurer of the Shaler & Hall Quarry Company. His only son, John H. Sage, is the cashier of the Portland National Bank. (3) Oliver P. lived to be twen- ty-seven years old, and died unmarried. He was inspector of the custom house in Middle- town. (4) Frances ( I) died in infancy. (5) Frances (2) died at the age of thirteen. (6) Lavinia is the widow of Joseph Gladwin, and resides in Portland.

Enoch Sage, father of Phillip, was born on the old Sage farm, in 1752, a son of David and Sarah (Stocking) Sage. He was a miller by trade, and conducted the old Sage mill, now known as the Cox mill. During the Revolutionary war, he was kept at home to operate his mill. He married Sybil, daughter of John Sage, of Cromwell, and their children were as follows. 'Alexander, lived at the Nooks, in Cromwell, for years, and spent the latter part of his life with his brother, Charles L., in Portland; David died young; Phillip, 1786; Charles L., 1797, was a farmer, and lived on the old Sage homestead, where he died; Lucy, 1779, died unmarried; Charlotte, 1782, married Alex. Hollister, of Glastonbury ; Laura, 1788, married David Williams, and lived and died on Rose Hill; and Mary, 1790, died unmarried.

David Sage, father of Enoch, was born in 1718, a son of Timothy and Margaret ( Hola- bird) Sage, and died in 1803. He married Sarah Stocking, a daughter of an old family in the county. Their children were as follows : David, born 1747; Josephi, 1748; Noah, 1750; Enoch, 1752; Ebenezer, 1755; Abner, 1758; Ruth, 1761; Sarah, 1765; and Mary, 1769. David Sage was a deacon in the old church that stood back of the soldiers' monument in Port- land, and was the first of the family to come to Portland.

Timothy Sage, father of David, was born in Cromwell, in 1678, and died in 1725. He was the fourth son of David, the founder of the family in America, and was the father of five sons and two daughters, namely : Sam- uel, born 1709: Mercy, 1712; Timothy, 1714: Mary, 1716; David, 1718; Solomon, 1720; and Amos, 1722.

David Sage. the ancestor of this family in America, was born in Wales in 1639. and came to Middletown in the earliest history of the town. His name first appears on the town

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

records in 1664. He settled in what is now Cromwell, and a portion of his land is still owned by his descendants. He died in March, 1703, and was buried in the old Riverside cem- etery at the north end of Main street in Mid- dletown. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Kirby, and she died in 1672, the mother of children as follows: David, born 1665; John, 1668; Elizabeth, 1670; and Mary, 1672. In 1673 David Sage married Mary Wilcox and of this union were born: Jonathan, 1674; Timothy, 1678; and Nathaniel and Mercy, I680.

RICHARD HENRY PASCALL, super- intendent and general manager of the Picker- ing Governor Company at Portland, is the practical head of that plant, which is one of the principal institutions in its line in the United States. It is an important enterprise in Portland, as it pays by far the highest wages of any factory in the town, entploys skilled labor and is never closed by shut-downs or strikes. Mr. Pascall is one of the foremost citizens of the town, and his relations to all projects for local improvement and the public welfare have always been singularly free from selfish considerations. The Pascalls were of Saxon origin, and his maternal ancestors, the Pickerings, came of a Norman ancestry. Mr. Pascall was born October 6, 1841, in Fenton, Staffordshire, England, a son of Richard and Margaret ( Pickering) Pascall.

Richard Pascall, his father, was born in 1800, and died in England in 1844. He was a man of far more than the usual mechanical skill, and was the only one of his father's family to exhibit any aptitude in that direction. He married Margaret Pickering, a sister of the late Hon. Thomas R. Pickering, of Port- land. At his death he left his wife with seven children, of whom Richard Henry is the only living son ; a daughter, Margaret P., founded the Pascall Institute, No. 576 Lexington ave- nue, New York, and is now at its head. Mrs. Margaret (Pickering) Pascall died in that city in 1859.

Richard Henry Pascall was a lad of seven years of age when his mother brought her family to the United States, and he has found in this country a fertile field for his ability and courage. He spent his 'boyhood and youth in the city of New York, where he received his education in the public schools, and the free

academy, which has now become the College of the City of New York. From an early age he displayed considerable mechanical skill, and his. natural gifts in that direction determined his educational progress. He took a course in mechanics in the Cooper Institute, though his. studies in that splendid school of practical life were broken off by his response to the cry of the republic for help in 1862. He enlisted in April of that year as a member of Company A, Seventy-first New York Volunteer Infantry, and completing his first term of enlistment, re- entered the service in 1863, as a sergeant of Company K Thirty-seventh New York Vol- unteer Infantry, and was with that regiment when it was called home to suppress the draft riots in the city of New York. Mr. Pascall entered the State militia on his return from the war, and continued with it until his removal to this State. He served in all positions up to and including captain, his commission as cap- tain being issued in 1870, and signed by Gov- ernor Fenton.

Mr. Pascall became associated with Thom- as R. Pickering in the Pickering Governor Company, in October, 1865. In 1878 he was made superintendent of the factory, and it is in this position that he has made a reputa- tion for himself second to none in the State. He has developed a thorough and practical system' by which he obtains a large production from the labors of the men, a system which se- cures their utmost exertions and invites com- mendation from all who are familiar with fac- tory work. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and takes a lively interest in everything that tends to me- chanical development.

~. The Pickering governor was a decided in- novation in mechanics but its success was so immediate that it has made its way wherever introduced. It ignores the force of gravity, and makes a mechanical movement without a joint and at the present time its distinguish- ing principle, the application of a spring to the governor, is incorporated in some form in nearly every make. There are, however, many improvements and attachments to the Pickering that are properly protected by pat- ents. The plant is one of the two largest in the United States, and receives all its material in the raw state. The governors range in size from 3/8-inch to 12-inch steam connection, and in height from ten inches to six feet. Their

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

weight varies from five to one thousand pounds. Power comes from a 20-horse power engine, which also runs a light-dynamo. This was installed in 1890, and was the first private electric light plant put in in this town. It has a fine system of fire protection, and em- ploys from seventy to eighty men, mostly skilled mechanics, and they are numbered among the best people of the town. Besides his interest in this company, Mr. Pascall is a stockholder in the First National Bank, and is interested in the Portland quarries.

Mr. Pascall was united in marriage with Miss Marie A. Lasher, a native of German- town, Columbia Co., N. Y., and a descendant of old Knickerbocker stock. To them were born the following children: Mary A. mar- ried S. S. Hall, secretary and assistant treas- urer of the Pickering Governor Company ; Bessie P. is the wife of Walter Penfield, of Portland; and George C. is a pupil at the Hotchkiss school. Mr. Pascall is a stanch Republican and in local affairs is most anxious that good men get into office. He is a great worker for the continued improvement of the schools and their very excellent condition may justly be attributed in large measure to his unceasing interest. Fraternally he is a Mason of high degree and is affiliated with Warren Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Freestone Chapter, R. A. M .; Cyrene Commandery, K. T .; and Sphinx Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also an Odd Fellow, and a prominent member of Mansfield Post, No. 53, Grand Army of the Republic, taking a lively interest in the wel- fare of the old comrades of the "tented field." In his religious faith he is an Episcopalian. A good business man and a valuable citizen, he has hosts of friends in this community.

CAPT. CORNELIUS R. DOANE, de- ceased. Among the prominent citizens of Es- sex who once exerted a great influence upon and were associated with all the important events marking the history of that section of the great State of Connecticut, none were bet- ter or more favorably known than Cornelius R. Doane, whose lamented death took place May 29, 1874.

The first of this name to locate in Amer- ica was Prince Doane, who came from Eng- and and settled at Eastham, on Cape Cod. where he spent the remainder of his life. His son, also named Prince, was born at Cape Cod,

and located at Saybrook soon after 1734. His son, Israel, the grandfather of Cornelius R., was born in Saybrook January 21, 1739, and married Priscilla Shipman, who was born in the same year in Saybrook (now Chester). He engaged in farming, was also a carpenter, and resided in what is now Essex, where he built a house which is still standing-now near- ly 145 years old-in the Meadow Woods Dis- trict. A consistent member of the Episcopal Church, both he and wife are remembered in its annals. His death occurred August 30, 1829, his wife's on December 11, 1833. They had a family of eight children : Deborah, Pris- cilla, Israel, Ruth, Anne, Justus, Mary and Dan.

Justus Doane, the father of Cornelius R., was born June 17, 1776, was a farmer by oc- cupation, and resided in the Meadow Woods District, of Essex. Although he was crippled, having had his leg broken, he lived to be sev- enty-nine years old, dying March 15, 1855. His first marriage was to Phillipa Read, a na- tive of Essex, daughter of Cornelius Read, and eight children were born of this union. Cor- nelius R. is our subject. Israed S., who mar- ried Dolly Post, was a sea captain all his life, running betwen New York and London: he died in Liverpool. William Hillhouse, who married Elvira Tucker, of Essex, was a sea cap- tain between American and European ports. George, who married Abby Fuller, was a ship carpenter, living in Essex, where he died. Nancy, who married Erastus Downing, lived in East Haddam. Rebecca, who married James Coggswell, lived in Essex, later moved to Nebraska, and died there. Amelia, who married Roderick Chapman, lived in East Had- dam. Mary, who married Zelotus Young, lived in Killingly, Conn. The second marriage of Mr. Doane was to Laurana Champlain, and they had one child, Jane, who died young.

Cornelius R. Doane was born August 26, 1799, in the Meadow Woods District of Essex. At the district schools he received his primary education, later becoming a student in the pri- vate school of Rev. Aaron Hovey, pastor of the Congregational Church at Centerbrook. At the age of sixteen he began his life on the water, shipping before the mast from New York, on a sailing vessel running between that city and European ports. His marine service covered fifty years. Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, he efficiently filled every posi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion, and at the early age of twenty-seven was made captain of one of the largest vessels, the "Indiana," that then sailed out of New York. Later he became captain of the "Cotton Plant- er," which was built at East Haddam. For many years he was engaged in the cotton trade between Mobile, Ala., and European ports. The last vessel he commanded was the "Rhine," which was built in New York, and in which he owned an interest, as he did in many other vessels. He never gave up his ownership in the "Rhine," which was sold after his death; the vessel was finally lost at sea.

Beginning life without means, by his en- ergy and industry the Captain accumulated a competency, and when advancing years made him willing to leave the sea he was able to retire and spend the remainder of his life in ease, at his home in Essex. Although he had traveled the world around, when he de- cided to remain on land there was no better place to him than historic old Essex, and there he died : his remains now rest in Riverview cemetery.

Capt. Doane was a stanch Whig, originally, later becoming a Republican, and he held many of the minor offices in the gift of his fellow cit- izens, also serving as selectman, and as a mem- ber of the Legislature in 1847-48, and again in 1863-64; he did good work for his party and for the people at large. At one time he was president of both banks of Essex, being presi- dent of the Saybrook Bank of Essex from 1860 to 1873, and of the Essex Savings Bank from 1859 until his death, which occurred sud- denly, from heart failure.

Capt. Doane married Minerva Pratt, of Es- sex, who was born October 31, 1800, daughter of Gideon and Hannah (Southworth) Pratt, and died August 31, 1876. A family of six children blessed this union: Cornelia M .; Prudence A., a resident of Essex; William P., who was lost at sea at the age of sixteen; Cor- nelius R., Jr., deceased; Christopher, who was lost at sea, at the age of twenty-eight; and Elvira, deceased. The eldest daughter, Cor- nelia M., married

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 30

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502