USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1 > Part 21
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sesses to an mmusual extent one or the other of those faculties, and at the same time a valuable combina- tion of both faculties is to be found in either of them.
Harvey S. Munson's inventive genius has been a most valuable asset to the concern. He has ob- tained patents on almost a score of his own in- ventions. Edward B. Munson has taken out patents on seven different inventions and he has probably given more of his time and energy to the business end of the concern.
Fraternally Mr. Munson is a member of Woos- ter Lodge, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter : Har- mony Council ; New Haven Commandery. Knights Templar; and of Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine. He was for a number of years a member of the New Haven Grays, in which organization he arose from the rank of private to that of acting captain, having declined the election to that capacity. At one time he was a member of the Foot Guards, and served two and one-half years as inspector of rifle practice. Politically he is a supporter of Republican principles, and while taking the interest of a public spirited and enterprising citizen in political matters he is far from being a politician. The ancestral history of Mr. Munson is such as to render him eligible to membership in several of the most ex- clusive colonial societies, among them being the Mayflower Society, but he has never sought to en- ter any of these. His tastes are quite too demo- cratic to wish a social standing based upon any- thing but his own intrinsic worth, and like a truly progressive, cultured and useful citizen he lives a life worthy of emulation by future generations in- stead of resting on the laurels of his honored an- cestors.
On Feb. 11. 1886, Harvey S. Munson was mar- ried to Miss Grace Louise Catlin, of New Haven. One child, Marion Catlin, born Aug. 5. 1887. has blessed this union. In 1894 Mr. Munson completed his elegant home at No. 612 Whitney avenue. Both he and his wife are members of the Church of the Redeemer.
SYLVESTER SMITH. The ancestor of the branch of the Smith family in Connecticut to which this gentleman belongs was Nicholas Seversmith or Sieversmith, maker of sieves or sifters, who came from Holland and settled in Milford, Conn .. where on July 12, 1666, he married Mary Tibbals, dangh- ter of Thomas Tibbals, a noted man of that town. Horace Day, the antiquarian, of New Haven, has found evidence that when Mary Tibbals married Nicholas Seversmith she made him drop the first part of his name. Seven children were born of this union, of whom Andrew was the direct ancestor of our subject.
Andrew Smith was born in 1670, settled in Derby, Conn., was married to Sarah Tomlinson, and died in 1727. He was the father of seven chil- dren, and his third son, Josiah, the great-great- grandfather of our subject, was born June 15, 1703.
The latter married, Aug. 24, 1727, Esther, daugh- ter of Thomas Oviatt, and had one son, Elijah, born June 28, 1729. Elijah Smith married, May 3, 1748, Ann, daughter of Capt. Moses Hawkins, and they had seven children, the eldest of whom, Josiah, born Dec. 12, 1748, was the grandfather of our subject.
Josiah Smith married Sept. 8, 1773, Esther, daughter of Capt. Isaac Smith, of Derby. Josiah Smith was a large land owner and it was on a part of his farm that the village of Birmingham ( now Derby city) was built. His house-a large, finely constructed dwelling-and more than one hundred acres of land, after the death of Josiah became the property of his son, Davis, who was the father of Sylvester Smith, who has often been heard to say that he was born in the only house there was then in Birmingham, now Derby city. Josiah Smith and his wife, Esther, had a numerous family, of whom Davis was born April 24, 1785.
On Sept. 2, 1810, Davis Smith married Hannah. daughter of John Coe, of Derby, Conn., who was of English descent. She was born July 18, 1790, and died June 1, 1870. Six children were born to Davis Smith and his wife: Matthew, born in ISt 1, was successfully engaged in the bakery business in New Haven for many years. Cynthia, born in 1813, died in 1864. Julius, born in 1816, died in 1876. Franklin C., born in 1822, died in 1889. Harriet. born in 1826, died in 1865. thus leaving our subject the sole survivor of the family.
Sylvester Smith was born July 29. 1820, in Derby. When he was twelve years old his father sold the farm, the family moved away from Derby, and Sylvester went to school in Farmington, mak- ing his home with Rev. Laban C. Cheney, who had married his sister, Cynthia. In 1834 Mr. Smith went to Middletown, where his parents were then living, and attended the school of Daniel H. Chase. Not caring for books, in 1836, when between fif- teen and sixteen, he located in New Haven and en- tered the employ of Isaac Gilbert & Sons, leather manufacturers and dealers, continuing with them until 1857. At this time. in association with How- ard B. Ensign, Mr. Smith engaged in the leather business under the firm name of Smith & Ensign. this connection lasting until 1865, when he entered into partnership with his brother, who was the prin- cipal owner of the New Haven Baking Co., the most prominent concern in its line in the city. Mr. Smith was actively concerned in the New Haven Baking Co., of which he was for many years pres- ident, until 1890, since which time he has been re- tired from the cares of an active carcer. For fifty- four years he was in active business life and earned the rest he is now enjoying.
On March 29. 1846. Mr. Smith was married to Charlotte Butler, of New York, who was born in 1824 and died Sept. 3. 1852. Two children came to this union: Joline B., born May 19. 1848, who is a well-known artist in New Haven : and Charlotte, born July 7, 1850, who died in April, 1862. On
Sylvester Smith
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May 8, 1855, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Harriet L. Butler, widow of the brother of his first wife, and two children came to this union: Edward S., born in 1857, who is a physician of Bridgeport ; and Robert S., born in 1863, until recently connected with the baking business in New Haven, in the office of the New Ilaven Baking Co.
Politically Mr. Smith is a Democrat and many years ago served in the city council, but of late years has refused any office. He is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church, having been for many years class-leader and trustee. During his business life he was noted for his strict integrity, and among business associates his name was ever a synonym for honesty. The family is one of the most respected in New Haven and the family home at No. 9 Col- lege street is known to a very large circle of friends and acquaintances as the center of so much gra- ciousness, cheerfulness and generous hospitality that its beautiful influence is felt from the oldest to the youngest, from the most privileged to the niost un- fortunate, of the many who enter its doors.
JOHN CYRUS KNIGHT, who was for many years a well-known designer and engraver of Meri- den, was born Dec. 2, 1833, in Andover, Vt.
Daniel Knight, his grandfather, was a native of Ashburnham, Worcester Co., Mass., where he fol- lowed the trade of shoemaker, and where he mar- ried Esther Fairbanks. Ten children were born .of this union, namely: Daniel, who died in child- hood; Mary, wife of a Mr. Norton; William; Phineas; Cyrus; Stedman : Elbridge: Daniel ; Esther, who married David Kirk: and Jane. The father of these served as a soldier of the Revolu- tion in a Massachusetts regiment. After the close of his service he removed, with his family, to And- .over, Vt., and there passed the remainder of his life, being occupied during his active years in the prosecution of his trade. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational Church, and they died and were buried in Andover.
Cyrus Knight was born in Ashburnham, Mass., and there grew to manhood. He removed with his father's family to Andover. Vt., where he gained a knowledge of brick-making, and also engaged in farming. For some years he followed brick-mak- ing in the Hudson river region, famous for the pro- duction of this valuable building material. In IS56 he became a resident of Meriden, and secured em- ployment with Parker & Perkins, in the spoon shop. His busy and useful life came to an end in April, 1863, and his remains were interred in the West cemetery. Previous to the Civil war he had been a Democrat, but later he affiliated with the Republican party. He attended divine worship at the Universalist Church. In Andover. Vt., he mar- ried Anna Tyrrell. daughter of John Tyrrell, a sol- dier of the war of 1812. She died July 1. 1868. and was buried beside her husband. Six children mourned her as a kind and loving mother. They
were: Daniel T., now a resident of Great Bar- rington, Mass .; Anna P., wife of Asa G. Foster, of Meriden ; John C., whose name begins this article : Hiram E., who married Sarah Fenn, and resides in Meriden ; Thomas A., residing at Santa Clara. Cal .; and Victoria A., who married Levi Allen, and left a daughter, Anna Victoria. The last named became the wife of Edward Spink, and is the mother of June E. and Estella Spink.
John C. Knight spent his boyhood days in his native place, where he attended school. When a young man he came to Connecticut, and for some time was employed at Clinton in the manufacture of tin toys. Coming thence to Meriden, he was employed here in the manufacture of tinware. Be- ing of ingenious mind, he drifted naturally into designing and engraving, and was employed in this line of effort by the Meriden Malleable Iron Co. for a long period. Failing health at length com- pelled him to abandon active labor, and he retired to his handsome home on Hubbard avenne, where he was cheered and comforted by a devoted wife until his demise, which occurred Oct. 11, 1898, and his remains were tenderly laid away in the West cemetery. Mr. Knight was widely known and re- spected for his manly. upright character. and his departure was mourned by many outside of his circle of relatives and intimate friends. Broad- minded and liberal of view, he worshipped at the Universalist Church, and sustained the principles of the Republican party in public affairs. Ile was not a self-seeker, and never asked any public of- fice in the gift of his contemporaries, preferring the quiet contentment of his own fireside.
On Dec. 31, 1867, Mr. Knight was married to Miss Julia, daughter of Aaron Highy, who was born July 15. 1840. in Meriden. Mrs. Knight cared for her aged father in his closing vears, and is known as a highly sympathetic and kind neigh- bor, and widely respected for her many graces of character. Like her late husband, she is of liberal mind, with charity for the foibles of her kind, and ever ready to aid those seeking sympathy, or ad- vancement toward a higher life.
HON. JOHN MANNING HALL, of New Haven, president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., and former judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut, until recent years has been a resident of Willimantic, the place of his birth, and one that he has long honored.
President Hall is the great-grandson of Judge George Hall, who came from England when a lad and made his home in Rhode Island. where he became a man of prominence, serving for many years on the Bench. Dixon Hall. the grandfather of President Hall. was a resident of Sterling. Conn., holding there a number of public offices of trust and honor, and otherwise being a useful and substantial citizen of Windham county.
The late Ilorace Hall, father of our subject,
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was born in the town of Sterling, and in the carly history of the village of Willimantic, Conn., came to it as a school teacher. Later he became identi- fied with the manufacturing interests of this sec- tion, for years serving as local manager of the Windham Manufacturing Co., and for a time was an enterprising merchant of Willimantic. He was a man of education, good ability and judgment, and soon these qualities were recognized, and his sery- ices to public positions were sought. He held vari- ons offices of honor and trust, among them for twenty and more years that of trial justice, was se- lectman for a dozen or more years, and a repre- sentative in the State Legislature. He held the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens, and when he passed from their midst his death was keenly felt. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Manning, of Albany, N. Y., and a descendant in direct line from John Alden, and to this mar- riage were born three children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch is the youngest.
John Manning Hall was born Oct. 16, 1841, in Willimantic, Conn. He laid the foundation of his education in the schools of his native village and in the somewhat famous school of Mr. Fitch, in South Windham, Conn., and then for several years he was a clerk in his father's store. Subse- quently, having acquired a taste for the law, and deciding upon the adoption of that profession, he furthered his studies in Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., where by hard study he com- pleted a three-years course in two, and was grad- uated in 1862, standing among the first in his class. In the fall following he entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1866. While at Yale he won distinction as a writer and speaker. and took a number of honors in composition and debate. He won the Townsend prize, and com- peted for the De Forest medal : he was also presi- dent of the Linonia Society. In 1868 he was grad- nated from Columbia Law School, New York City, after which he continued his law studies in the office of Robert Bonner, and was admitted to the New York City Bar soon after. He began the practice of law in Willimantic, and rapidly rose to prominence in the profession, and grew into a large practice not only in Windham, but in the adjacent counties. He was generally represented in all of the important cases in this section, one of which was that of the Will's Trust Company, which in- volved some $10,000 and in which he was snecess- ful, the case passing to both the Superior and Su- preme courts. He became the acknowledged leader of the Bar of Windham county, and his ability gained him great honors and successes. From 1870 to 1872, and again from 1881 to 1882, he was the representative from the town to the Lower House of the State. He held the chairmanship in almost all of the important committees while a member. and in 1882 he was unanimously chosen Speaker of the House. In 1889 he was elected to the State Senate, and was made chairman of the Judiciary
Committee. He served as president pro tempore of the Senate. Following the close of the session of the Senate he was made a judge of the Su- perior Court of Connecticut. The appointment was well received and was regarded by all as a meri- torious one. Ife served in this high office for five years, giving eminent satisfaction, making an ex- ceptionally good record alike for a thorough knowl- edge of the law, courtesy, and unwavering firm- ness. This was the expressed opinion of the press in general of both political parties. In October, 1893, he was appointed vice-president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, the appointment being hailed by the press through- out the State with most flattering comments. The New Haven Leader observed :
Judge Hall was very successful in all the great cases in which he appeared before the higher courts. As a judge he has been universally liked, and his conduct of cases has won very sincere approbation from his associates on the bench and from members of the Bar. There is great re- gret among all the lawyers of the State that as good a judge is to retire. Judge Hall will fill his new position to the entire satisfaction of the directors and stockholders of the Consolidated road, and also to the public. He has ornamented every position he has ever held. and he has gained steadily in public estimation from the time he first appeared before the people until the present day. His character is without a blemish; his reputation is untar- nished ; his ability is great ; his popularity is extensive.
In his political affiliations President Hall has been a stanch Republican, and has been active. as he has passed along through life, in the local public affairs of Willimantic, where he has held about all the offices within the gift of the people. Him- self liberally educated, he ever took a great interest in the schools of Windham county, and worked for their advancement. He was acting school visitor for a number of years, and early advocated the es- tablishment of the high school, and he was chair- man of the first high school committee appointed. In 1872 he advocated a more modern charter for the borough of Willimantic, and was made the com- mittee to draft the same, and that charter remained until the adoption of the City Charter several years ago. He early advocated a liberal system of public improvements, which resulted in better streets, side walks, curbing and street lines, and finally the ex- cellent system of sewers, being chairman of the committee putting the measures through.
On Nov. 11. 1899, vice-president Hall was unanimously chosen president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., succeeding Charles P. Clark. On his promotion the Hartford Courant of Nov. 13 observed :
Vice-President John M. Hall was promoted on Satur- day to the presidency of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. This was generally ex- pected. and expected because it was obviously the fit course, in view of the great interests of the company. Mr. Hall has been for years the vice-president, and in the vari- ous absences of President Clark, he has taken full charge of affairs, and borne the responsibilities, and done the work to the satisfaction of all. It was natural that, if he would take the place, he should have it.
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The formal action of the directors, which practically ratifies the choice of the public, will be received with very general satisfaction, and the pleasant relations that exist between the company and the State will not suffer any disturbance by this change of officers. Judge Hall is en- tirely familiar with the duties of his new position, indeed all he has to do is to change title and go on with the man- agement of that great property. as he has been managing it. He knows the road and its interests, and those of the communities that it lives on, and that depend upon it. A crisis in the affairs of the company, and we may say, too, in the business affairs of the State, has been successfully met.
President Hall is too well known to Connecticut peo- ple to need any introduction ; whatever position he has held he has filled admirably. Ile has breadth, industry, intelli- gence, and a high personal character, and his election will be welcomed by stockholders and the public as a sign that the road is to be managed as it has been, and to maintain its unique position among railroads in this country. If he is to be congratulated, so are the company and the State.
On Sept. 27, 1870, President Hall was mar- ried to Julia White, daughter of Silas F. Loomer, former president of the Windham Savings Insti- tute of Willimantic, and to them have been born three children, namely: John L., Florence M. and Helen B. Of these John L. Hall, who was grad- nated from Yale in 1894, was, like his father, dis- tinguished in college ; he took the Ten Eyck prize in 1893, and in his senior year was chosen class orator ; he was a Townsend orator and took the De Forest gold medal -- the highest Yale honor. He is now a practicing lawyer in the city of Boston.
REV. JAMES HENRY CHAPIN, PH. D., late of Meriden, Universalist clergyman and for some years professor of Geology and Mineralogy in St. Lawrence University, New York, was born Dec. 31, 1832, at Leavenworth, Ind., but passed his youth in Illinois, whither his father removed in 1839. The son was graduated from Lombard Uni- versity, Galesburg, Ill., in 1857, and was for sey- eral years an instructor in mathematics and natural science in that institution. In 1859 he was or- dained a minister of the Universalist Church, and was settled at Pekin, Ill., and afterward at Spring- field, that State. During the Civil war he was in the service of the United States Sanitary Commis- sion, and, crossing the Rocky Mountains in the spring of 1864, canvassed the greater part of the Pacific coast, from Mexico to British Columbia, for funds for the Commission. supplementing the work that had been so well begun by Rev. T. Starr King, just before his death.
In the autumn of 1865 Dr. Chapin went to Boston as secretary of the New England Freed- men's Aid Society, of which Gov. John A. Andrew was president, and while holding that position made several tours of inspection of the schools of the Southern States. In 1868 he became financial sec- rotary of the Universalist Convention, with head- quarters in Boston, and during the centennial peri- od of that church was instrumental in raising the larger part of the Murray centenary fund, now hield for missionary purposes. In 1871 he became
professor of Geology and Mineralogy in St. Law- rence University, New York, which position he beld until his death, March 14, 1892. In 1875 he was elected president of his Alma Mater, at Gales- burg, Ill., but after due consideration declined to accept the position. In 1873 he resumed regular pulpit ministrations, and became pastor of the I'ni- versalist Church at Meriden, Conn., continuing in that relation until 1885, when, finding himself over- loaded with professional duties, he resigned. Dr. Chapin served as a member of the school board of Meriden, and from 1880 to 1887 was acting school visitor ; and it was during this period that the Meri- den high school was established, and the present capacious building erected. He was an active fel- low of the Alumni Association for the Advance- ment of Science, and one of the founders of the As- sociation of American Geologists. He served as president of the Connecticut Convention of Uni- versalists for a dozen and more years, and was for a long period chairman of the committee on Mis- sions in the National Convention of that church. Fraternally he was connected with the Freemasons and the Odd Fellows, and in the former held the rank of Knight Templar.
Dr. Chapin was twice married. first, in 1857, to Helen W. Weaver, of Alstead, N. H .. and in 18,8 to Kate A., daughter of the late Isaac C. Lewis, of Meriden, Conn. He left a daughter, Mary A., now the wife of W. M. Jackson, of London, England.
Dr. Chapin made several tours in foreign lands, and not long before his death returned from a trip around the world. He was the author of sex- eral volumes, among them "The Creation, and the Early Development of Society;" and shortly before his death issued from the press a work entitled "From Japan to Granada," which was well re- ceived by both the press and the public. He was identified with the Republicans from the organiza- tion of the party, but never held a political office till elected to the House of Representatives in 1888.
RICHARD W. LAW is one of the prominent and successful oyster farmers of New Haven, and has prospered in this business for many years, on Oyster Point.
Mr. Law was born in Middletown. Conn., Nov. 6, 1820, a son of Richard W. and Hannah ( Eng- lish) Law. Grandfather Jonathan Law was a son of Richard Law, who was a distinguished member of the Continental Congress. Richard W. Law married Hannah English, a daughter of Capt. Ben- jamin English, who lost his life in the West Indies.
Richard W. Law, of New Haven, had the mis- fortune to lose his father while in infancy, and as soon as he could earn his own living, was put to work on a farm, acquiring a limited schooling. and working in Madison, East Haven. Branford and other places, his cheerful industry making him welcome all through this agricultural district. While engaged in farming in East Haven Mr. Law was married, on July 1, 1849, to Harriet Barnes,
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of New Haven. She was a daughter of Sherman and Huldah (Smith) Barnes, of East Haven, the Barnes family having originated in North Haven, where they were noted as excellent farmers.
After his marriage Mr. Law and wife remained for one year on the farm in East Haven, coming then in 1850 to New Haven. Desiring to engage in the business of oyster farming, then almost a new industry in these waters, Mr. Law located at Oyster or City Point. Purchasing his seed oysters from the great oyster beds along the Virginia coast, Mr. Law followed the best then known methods of propagation and . was rewarded with unqualified success in this enterprise. Although he has spent so many years in this line, Mr. Law is still inter- ested in it, and has associated with him his three sons.
The family of Mr. and Mrs Law consists of four children : Richard W., Jr., Sherman B .. Jona- than H. and Harriet English. The young men are all capable and reliable business men, and manage a business of large proportions. Miss Law is a lady of education and culture, and belongs to the social organization the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is also a member of the Congrega- tional Church, of which her father is one of the supporters. In politics Mr. Law has always re- tained the right to vote independently as his judg- ment prompts. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Red Men.
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