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 66
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JARED LEWIS, son of the late Jared and Mehit- able (Paddock) Lewis, was born in Colchester, Middlesex Co., Conn., March 18, 1836. At the age of five years he went to live on the farm of his grandfather, Samuel Paddock, and later was em- ployed on the farm of Richard Andrews, in Wal- lingford. Here Mr. Lewis remained five years. going then to assist his grandfather, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years old.
Although his early training was all in an agri- cultural line, and his education but incompletely ac- quired in the public schools, Mr. Lewis had tastes in another direction, and the years between sixteen and twenty-one were spent in the web, lock and rule shops of Middletown. At the expiration of this experience he had become skilled in the details of shop machinery, and accepted an offer from the Wheeler & Wilson Co., of Bridgeport, and worked in their sewing machine shops for five years. By this time the country had need of able-bodied men to suppress the Rebellion, and in August, of 1862. Mr. Lewis became a member of the 2nd Conn. Light Battery, under Capt. John Sterling, with whom he faithfully served for three years, or until his hon- orable discharge in July of 1865. During his ser- vice Mr. Lewis participated in a number of import- ant engagements including the battle of Gettysburg -where his battery was notably effective-the Red River expedition, New Orleans, Fort Gaines, the Sieges of Mobile and Fort Morgan, the latter ter- minating with the capture of all concerned. Re- turning to New Orleans, the battery was sent into Arkansas, where Mr. Lewis contracted a fever necessitating hospital attendance. When sufficient- ly convalescent he was sent home on a furlough, and saw no more of the grim and terrible side of warfare.
More fortunate than many of his brave soldier brothers, Mr. Lewis returned to his home un- harmed, and upon resuming work, became an em- ploye of the lock shop of the Mallory & Wheeler
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Co., at New Haven, where he remained about three years. The succeeding period of three and one- half years was spent in the lock shop of the Parker & Whipple Co., in Crow Hollow, Meriden, and in June, 1874, he became connected with the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Co. One year later he had advanced to the superintendency of the pack- ing department, a responsibility maintained with efficiency by Mr. Lewis for the past twenty-seven years.
. In 1859, Mr. Lewis was married (first), at Dur- ham, Conn., with Matilda M. Bailey, who died, with her son, Frank Burr, in 1864. both being interred in East cemetery, Meriden. Mr. Lewis was mar- ried (second) Dec. 31, 1870, in New Haven, to Barbara Coggins, born in Lubec, Maine, daughter of John and Lucinda Coggins. mentioned further in the biography of Emory Coggins, of Meriden. Two children were born of this union, namely: Charles Edward, who is employed by the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Co .; and Emory S., who is employed as traveling salesman by the same concern. The sons have already evinced pro- nounced business capacity, and have won the con- fidence of the company with which they are asso- ciated.
Although Mr. Lewis is an interested member of the Republican party, he has never sought political preferment. His tastes are of a domestic character, and he finds his greatest pleasure in the comforts of his home, and association with his family. Re- ligious controversies do not disturb him, his life being patterned as nearly as possible after the Gold- en Rule. Thus he has gained the esteem of his em- ployers, and the respect of those with whom he is brought into contact in whatsoever relations of life.
EDWARD B. MUNSON. secretary and treas- urer of The Munson & Co., of New Haven, is one of that city's self-made men, one whose success in life can be directly attributed to his energy and abil- ity to successfully grapple with business situations where judgment and foresight are essential. His connection with the folding paper box industry, in all its branches, dates back to a time when it was in its infancy. In fact he and his brother, Harvey S., were the pioneer manufacturers in that line in New Haven, and have been so closely identi- fied with that branch of industry that they are probably the best-known manufacturers of such products in America. The city of New Haven is indebted to them and their untiring efforts for one of its largest employers of labor, as well as for the reputation of being one of the very foremost cities in America in that particular line of manu- facture. No longer ago than 1875 their industry was struggling along. The Munson brothers, then little more than boys, not only handicapped by youth but by lack of capital as well, were laying the foundation of a structure the building of which marked their lives and brought deserved success.
These brothers are descendants of the old Mun- son family, whose history reaches back to the early Colonial period of Connecticut. The progenitor of the family in America was Thomas Munson, who was born about 1612, and was first known as a resident of Hartford, where he performed military service in the Pequot war in 1637. He came early to the New Haven Colony, where he is spoken of in history as being a good and useful citizen, and where he died in 1685. From this Thomas Mun- son, Edward B. Munson is in the ninth generation, his line being through Samuel, Theophilus, Daniel, Kirk, Joseph, Kirk, Charles and Edward Beach Munson, and including a line of ancestors all of whom at some time or other lived in New Haven, and were prominent in their various callings, whether as manufacturers of that period, farmers or professionai men.
Charles Munson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born Feb. 14, 1792, in New Ha- ven, and on April 11, 1815, was married to Mabel Beach, who was born Aug. 2, 1792, daughter of Benajah Beach. She died Feb. 16, 1878. and he died June 9, 1879. Mr. Munson resided in New Haven, and was for a period engaged in the shoe business in Newbern, N. C. He also resided in the town of Woodbridge, Conn., where he was chosen highway surveyor in 1832, 1843 and 1856, and grand juror in 1835 and 1836. During the war of 1812 he served in the militia under Capt. Joseph A. Bishop. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational Church.
Edward Beach Munson, son of Charles, and the father of the Munson brothers, Edward B. and Harvey S., of New Haven, was born Oct. 30, 1817. He became an elector in Woodbridge in 1840. He early became associated in business, as a builder, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Willis Smith, and Hon. N. D. Sperry, a connection that lasted some three years. For years he was largely identified with the building of railroads. He super- intended the masonry work and the purchase of materials for the New Haven, New London & Stonington railroad, in 1857-59. President Giles, in a letter on this work, said of him, "He not only equalled our expectations, but far exceeded them in ability, energy and mechanical skill." Later MIr. Munson built the Derby railroad. He became su- perintendent of the Fair Haven & Westville horse railway. His place of residence was New Haven, and in 1860 he served in the common council. On the breaking out of the Civil war he raised Com- pany K, roth Conn. V. I., and was chosen its cap- tain, his commission dating from Sept. 25, 1861. He was mustered into the United States service Oct. 3, 1861, remaining therein until the 14th of the following December, when he tendered his res- ignation. Capt. Munson was a man of imposing appearance. He commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, and all with whom he came in contact, and in his death, which occurred Aug.
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15, 1879, the city and county lost a valued citi- zen.
On June 3, 1841, Mr. Munson was married to Amelia C. Sperry, of Woodbridge, born June 13, 1822, daughter of Wyllis and Catherine ( Rams- dell ) Sperry. Children came to this marriage as follows: ( 1) Albert Leroy, born in 1842, resides in New York. He was an officer in the 5th N. Y. Heavy Artillery during the Civil war, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel of United States Vol- unteers. (2) Henry Theodore, born in 1844, was for a number of years a prominent attorney of New York; he was for some years connected as an ex- aminer with the United States Patent Office ; he took out a number of patents on his own inventions of useful and labor saving devices, and later practiced his profession of law in New York, where his death occurred in April, 1897, on the day following his wife's death. He was married, in Washington, D. C., to Nellie S. Porter, of that city. (3) Mary Gertrude, born in 1846, married, in June, 1867, Richard Henry Greene, a lawyer of New York. (4) Kate Amelia, born in 1849, married, in 1869, Louis Hartman Todd, who was connected with the jewelry firm of Tiffany & Co., New York. (5) Sarah Augusta, born in 1852, married in 1882 Al- bert Candee, a clerk in the New Haven post of- fice. (6) Edward Benjamin was born June 12, 1854. (7) Harvey Sperry was born March 3, 1857. (8) Miss Harriet Eliza. born in 1859, lives in New Haven. (9) Emma M., born in 1864, died in 1888 unmarried.
Edward Benjamin Munson was born June 12, 1854, in New Haven, on what is now the northeast corner of George and West streets. In those days that was all a farming section, and the only road leading toward the city was Chapel street. He at- tended the old Webster school, and from there went to the old Hillhouse high school. the old building of which during the period of his attendance was demolished and the construction of the present one begun. School was held in the old State House during the progress of this improvement, and there young Munson last attended school, as he left in his Sophomore year to enter upon a business career, which appealed to him not entirely as a matter of choice, but to no small extent because of circum- stances. As a boy he was industrious, eager to earn his own spending money, which he did. His asso- ciates were boys of well-to-do families, and in order to have at his disposal pin money to the extent that his comrades had he early developed those hustling proclivities that have been characteristic of the man. Mr. Munson acted as carrier boy for the Courier, then a morning paper, and also for the Palladium, then an evening paper. As carrier for the Courier he delivered a paper at the factory on the corner of Williams and Bradley streets, which property later was bought by himself and brother, Harvey S., and was the scene of no little of their success in later years. It is doubtful if there can be found
in New Haven a parallel coincidence of this kind. Among Mr. Munson's boyhood associates was the late John Addison Porter, as well as a number of others who became noted and prominent men. A souvenir of that period of his life, and something that Mr. Munson prizes very highly, is a photograph of a base-ball team of which he was a member, and which included several boys who rose to positions of prominence in professional and financial circles. i
Soon after leaving school, at about the age of fifteen, Mr. Munson accepted the position of errand boy in a hiat store then conducted by Bradley & Pratt, on the southwest corner of State and Chapel streets. He remained there for some time, and later accepted the position of clerk with Kimberly & Candee, in the same line of business. The failure of this firin, some time afterward, threw young Munson out of a position, and though in a short time he had an offer from another concern he did not accept it, being dissatisfied with the wages of- fered. This dissatisfaction, arising from a matter of $3 per week, was instrumental in causing him to take up other lines of business, and incidentally the one which he has carried on so successfully. It was about this time that his brother, Harvey S., severed his connection as clerk for the dry goods firm of J. N. Adams & Co., so that both were un- employed. Their industry and energy would not permit them to remain idle. They conceived the idea of selling a line of office stationery and sup- plies, which proved so much of a success that their first week's profit was all of $20 each. This busi- ness they carried on a few months, during which time they were on the lookout for something bet- ter. The elder brother, Henry T., was then an examiner in the United States Patent Office at Washington, and coming beneath his notice was a patent folding pasteboard box. The value of this invention and its future possibilities, as they ap- peared to him, were made known to his younger brothers, who almost at once began to look into that line, intending, if possible, to get control of the in- vention. In this way they learned of a manu- facturer of Newark, N. J., J. B. Osborn, who was then producing a folding box, the New England agency for which they secured. This was in the early part of 1874. At once they began to push their new line, and the first order taken was from C. Cowles & Co., of New Haven, for 50,000 boxes. When this order was sent in the manufacturer could not fill it! The fact that one customer in New Hayen could not be supplied showed how very far were these young men from having an adequate supply, when the whole of New England was to be considered. They readily saw the great future for the business, and concluded to enter into the industry of manufacturing this article. Young as they were-one not yet twenty-one, and the other less than eighteen-they had implicit confidence in the future of the undertaking. Their means were quite limited, which difficulty was but one of several
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necessary to be overcome before the enterprise was started. It was in 1875 that Munson & Co. was first established. The handicap of limited means had been temporarily overcome by financial assist- ance from their mother, not only at the beginning, but later on, as it was several years before the business became self-supporting. Their first loca- tion was in the top floor of a building off Artizan street, the room of 40x50 serving for office, factory and all. The first three years was a constant strug- gle, and many times, had those back of the business been less courageous and persistent, it would cer- tainly have been abandoned. It had grown, how- ever, so that in less than two years from its incep- tion larger quarters were necessary, and they occu- pied the whole top floor of the building. Still later they occupied, in addition, the floor directly under- neath. It was practically not until 1878 that the business began to show encouraging returns. The time previous had been largely spent in introducing their goods and buying up patents that would per- fect or protect their business-all of which had not only exhausted their means but much more as well. In 1879 this firm perfected a die for use in their business, the efficiency of which is attested by its al- most universal use, without improvements, to the present time. In 1881 it had become necessary to again seek larger quarters, and they purchased the property at the corner of Bradley and Williams streets, the old plant of the New Haven Organ Co. The early building thereon was the structure on the corner, 35x90 feet in dimensions, and five stories high. In 1888 another building was erected, 40x50, and five stories high, as well as a building of the same height which connected the two.
Long before this their product had taken a front rank, and was being constantly improved by the most careful study of the details of production as well as the inventive genius of the proprietors, so that it was probably the best known in the coun- try. In 1891 the business was consolidated with others in the formation of the National Folding Box & Paper Co. The property, however, was re- tained by the Munson & Co., and is yet owned by them. In February, 1896, owing to internal dis- sension, the Munson brothers severed their con- nection with The National Folding Box & Paper Co., and at once made preparations to start up in business. The Munson & Co. was incorporated in 1897, with Harvey S. as president and Edward B. as secretary and treasurer. Another coincidence in their career may be here mentioned. The only available quarters for their business were in the same building, on Artizan street, where nearly a quarter of a century before had been the scene of their modest beginning. Conditions had been great- ly changed. Instead of inexperienced youths with but little more than energy as their capital, they were men of experience, familiar with every detail of the business, and favorably known to the trade every- where. Competition was plenty and formidable,
but to offset this the field of consumption had been greatly enlarged, and the product had come to be used in thousands of different ways, so that the degree of their success was only to be measured by their ability to produce the goods-the character of which was thoroughly suggested by the name of Munson. In March, 1898, they bought their pres- ent quarters, on Clinton avenue, which they have transformed into one of the most modern and best equipped plants of the kind in New England, and certainly the best arranged and most accessible of its kind in New Haven. The success of this firm began with its inception. The peculiar fitness of its proprietors is such as to form a combination of mechanical skill and business acumen from which but little else than success could come; each pos- sesses to an unusual extent one or the other of those faculties, and at the same time a valuable com- bination of both faculties is to be found in either.
Harvey S. Munson's inventive genius has been a most valuable asset to the concern. He has obtained patents on almost a score of his own inventions. Edward B. Munson has taken out patents on sev- eral different inventions, and he has probably given more of his time and energy to the business end of the concern, and has borne heavy responsibilities. His identification with business life has always been with the paper box industry, and his success has certainly been well merited.
Fraternally Edward Benjamin Munson is prom- inent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-second-de- gree Mason, and affiliated with Wooster Lodge, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter; Harmony Council ; New Haven Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Lafayette Consistory. Politically he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, but, while tak- ing the interest of a public-spirited and enterprising citizen in political matters, he is far from being a politician. He served two terms in the New Ha- ven city council, from the Eighth ward, his service in the city government being from a sincere desire to promote the public welfare, and not from any enjoyment of the position. One very impressive characteristic of his service was his unswerving de- votion to what he believed to be right. The same can be said of him in his business dealings, where he has always maintained a reputation for the strictest integrity.
On Feb. 24, 1879, in New Haven, Edward B. Munson was married to Josephine Etta Leaven- worth, daughter of Oscar B. Leavenworth, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. They have had chil- dren as follows: Grace Amelia, born April 24, 1880, is a graduate of Mrs. Cady's private school, in New Haven; Maude Josephine, born Nov. 22, 1881, is also a graduate of Mrs. Cady's school ; Harvey Benjamin, born Dec. 20, 1884 is a student at the Boardman school ; Ethel May was born Aug. 13, 1892: and Thornton Sperry was born Jan. I, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Munson are members of the Church of the Redeemer. The records of both the
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Munson and Leavenworth families entitle their de- scendants to membership in several of the Colonial societies, among these the Mayflower, to which MIr. Munson is eligible. Neither Mlr. nor Mrs. Munson has, however, sought to enter any of these. Their tastes are quite too democratic to wish a social standing based upon anything but their own intrin- sic worth, and, like truly progressive, cultured and useful people, they are living lives worthy of emula- tion by future generations instead of resting on the laurels of their honored ancestors. In 1894 Mr. Munson completed his elegant home at No. 389 Whitney avenue, where the family reside.
RICE. Through the greater part of the pres- ent century the name of Rice has been one of prom- inence in the various lines of social, religious and business life of Waterbury, one of whose most use- ful and prominent citizens was the late Archibald E. Rice, who did much toward the development of the city in the line of contracting and building, a business in which his son Frederick B. Rice has been conspicuously prominent for many years.
Archibald Elijah Rice was born Aug. 13, 1809, in Hamden, Conn., a son of Isaac and Mary ( Rob- erts) Rice, and grandson of Isaac Rice, of Ham- den, a patriot of the war of the Revolution. Arch- ibald's boyhood was passed in Hamden, Wood- bridge and Prospect. At the age of seventeen he came to Waterbury and entered the employ of Mark Leavenworth & Co., manufacturers of wooden clocks. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, and entered into business as a carpenter and builder for himself. Between 1830 and 1842, he built a num- ber of more important edifices in Waterbury. In 1843 he moved to Hudson, Ohio, and while there built the Western Reserve College. After a resi- dence of several years. there he returned to Water- bury, and was one of the founders of the City Lum- ber & Coal Co., which was later merged into the Waterbury Lumber & Coal Co., of which he later owned a controlling interest and became president. Some ten years later he and his son sold out their interests in the company, and at that time the father practically withdrew from business. For many years prior to this he had been president of the Apothe- caries' Hall Co., which position he retained until the time of his death. At one time he was also president of the American Ring Company.
Mr. Rice although always greatly absorbed in business was ever interested in public affairs. He was a number of times honored by his fellow-citi- zens by election to offices of trust and responsi- bility. In 1856 he was a member of the common council, and in 1857 he served as chairman of the Finance committee of the Centre School district: and again as such from 1867 to 1875. In 1876 and 1877 he was mayor of Waterbury, and for a period of seventeen years was one of the county commis- sioners for New Haven county. During this period he superintended the erection of the jail and the
county court house in New Haven. He also super- intended, in 1874-75, the building of the present edifice of the First Congregational Church of Waterbury. Mr. Rice was reared an Episcopalian, but in 1831 united with the First Congregational Church, and for more than sixty years, with the exception of his residence in Ohio, he was a com- municant and a regular attendant of that Church. "His early advantages were limited, yet by the force of his character and industry he forged his way to a prominent place among the intelligent and pros- perous men of Waterbury. He was a diligent read- er of newspapers and books, and possessed a very accurate and vigorous gift of expression. He pos- sessed intellectual power and was an independent thinker on the great questions of the times. In theological and ecclesiastical matters he exhibited the somewhat unusual combination of radical think- ing and conservatism of method, and the same was true of his political life. His attitude toward pub- lic men and parties was severely critical, and he held some advanced theories, yet in practice he was uniformly cautious and reluctant to make great changes. He was unsparing in his condemnation of whatever seemed untrue or unmanly. The frauds of business, the tricks of politics, and the shams of social life alike called forth his keen satire, and his hot condemnation. He did not measure his words. and therefore did not fail to arouse opposition and sometimes ill-will. But his conservation was never- theless very pronounced, especially in local affairs, and his reputation was that of a careful manager and a strict economist."
During the Civil war and for years thereafter Mr. Rice was a Republican. In 1884 he voted for Mr. Cleveland and from that time on affiliated with the Democratic party. In the Waterbury American of March 15, 1893, appeared a biography of Mr. Rice over the initials of "J. A.", from which much of the foregoing is taken, and which is closed with the following: "In the large group of strong char- acters and useful citizens whose names adorn the annals of Waterbury, Mr. Rice must be assigned a prominent place."
In 1832 Mr. Rice was married, at Prospect, to Susan Bronson, a descendant of John Bronson, who is given in the Memorial History of Hartford County in the list of original proprietors of Hart- ford-those settling prior to 1640. Mr. Bronson re- moved to Tunxis ( Farmington) about 1641, of which place he was one of the first settlers, and later in 1652, became one of the seven pillars of the original church there. His son John was one of the first settlers of Waterbury. Mr. Rice was married. second, to Mrs. Sarah H. Baker, who still survives, and is residing in Waterbury. To the first marriage were born seven children, two of whom died in childhood ; Edward J., died in 1890; and Mrs. L. M. Camp, died in 1877. Those living are: Mrs. L. J. Monson, Frederick B., and Mrs. S. P. Will- iams. Archibald E. Rice died March 14, 1893.
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