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 67
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FREDERICK B. RICE, son of Archibald E. Rice, and the present secretary of the Waterbury Lum- ber & Coal Co., and of the Apothecaries' Hall Co., was born Sept. 30, 1843, at Hudson, Ohio, where his parents resided for a time. He received his carly education in the public schools of Waterbury, and later attended Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After this he became a clerk in the flour and feed business of L. D. Smith & Co .. in which his father was interested, and still later he occupied a position in the Apothecaries' Hall Co. Early in the Civil war, in 1862, he entered the service of the United States, enlisting for nine months, and performed honorable service through a period of thirteen, sharing the fortunes of his command, which, the greater part of the time, was under Gen. Banks, in Louisiana. Returning to Waterbury after his military experience, young Rice again entered the Apothecaries' Hall Co., be- coming its secretary. Subsequently he entered the yard of the Waterbury Lumber & Coal Co., as a clerk, and as such was occupied for several years. For a brief period following this he was at Bangor, Me., returning to Waterbury he again entered the employ of the Lumber & Coal Co., and of which he became secretary. While yet with that company company Mr. Rice began his present business-that of building houses and selling them on the install- ment plan. He has erected upwards of four hun- dred houses, stores and business blocks, ranging in value from $800 to $1,200. Like his father, Mr. Rice has been placed in various public trusts, the duties of which he has efficiently discharged. He has served three terms in the city council and five terms as assessor. He has also held other positions. serving on numerous committees of importance in city affairs, among them on the Water Supply com- mittee, New Charter and Finance committee and the committee of Center District. In some of these his expert knowledge of real estate has lent his judg- ment great weight and value.
On May 25, 1866, Mr. Rice was married to Helen McCollough Mintre, daughter of Alexander and Helen (Kenyon) Mintre, and to them have been born two children, as follows: Helen S., who died in childhood; and Archibald E.
CHARLES STORRS HAMILTON, one of the leading members of the New Haven Bar, whose professional career covers a period of twenty-five years in that city, is one of its substantial men and reliable citizens. He was born Jan. 3, 1848, at Grand Pre, in Nova Scotia, second son of James E. and Anna M. (Gesner) Hamilton. His ances- tors on his father's side were of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and the original ancestor in America came to Rhode Island in 1640, and thence to Norwich, Conn. His maternal ancestors were of Knicker- bocker and French Huguenot descent, being among the earliest settlers of New York, and his maternal grandfather was a lineal descendant of Konrad Ges-
ner, the Zurich scholar and philosopher. The Storrs family of New England was allied to his father's line by marriage, hence his middle name. Mir. Hamilton's ancestor in the Storrs line was a man of distinction in Connecticut. Samuel Storrs, the progenitor of the Connecticut family, came f:om Nottinghamshire, England, to Barnstable, Mass., in 1663, and thirty-five years later to Mans- field, Conn. James E. Hamilton, father of Charles S., was a merchant in the West India trade and to New York, and died at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Anna M. (Gesner ) Hamilton was born in New York, daughter of Henry Gesner, a farmer and trader in New York, who died at the age of ninety-four. She died at the age of seventy-four years, a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. Of their six children, four are yet living: Charles Storrs ; James, living on the old homestead ; Nicho- las L., a trader in the West Indies and the South American ports : and J. Henry, late professor in the Polytechnical School. Brooklyn, New York.
Charles Storrs Hamilton passed the early part of his life in study, and received a liberal collegiate education, graduating with honor from King's Col- lege in 1871. He is a lover of the classics, and, since leaving college, has not lost his grasp upon them, but still reads Greek and Latin as a pastime ; he speaks both French and German fluently. After his graduation Mr. Hamilton went to Boston to take up the study of law with Congressman Clark, and in 1874 entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated in one year by reason of advanced standing. He took a special course in Yale Medical School in order to fit himself for technical cases, in which he has since excelled. The winter following the completion of his work at Yale, he traveled in the Southern States, and in May, 1875, opened an office for the practice of his profession in the Yale National Bank building, where he is still located. Since that time Mr. Ham- ilton has greatly developed in the knowledge of the law and its practice, until he has reached a very high place in the active ranks of the profession, not only in the city, but throughout the country. As a lawyer before the jury great success has crowned his work, and an inspection of the court docket shows that he appears in a very large percentage of the jury cases, generally in a majority of them. His preparation and management of his cases is re- markably fine, and he is never surprised by an ad- versary, and never fails to detect the weak point in the presentation of his opponent, at once taking advantage of any possible opening for successful assault. It is said that he frequently wins a trial before it goes to the jury, by his skill in prelimin- ary maneuvering. Mr. Hamilton is a master of English, and his jury addresses are fine specimens of wit, pathos and sarcasm. The announcement that he is to speak on an important case never fails to crowd the courtroom with students and fellow members of the Bar. Mr. Hamilton has from one-
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Charles A, Hamilton
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to four cases in every volume, from Vol. 41 to Vol. 73, Connecticut Reports. For the last four or five years he has had an extensive business in damage cases in Rhode Island, New York and Massachu- setts, which owing to the rule in Connecticut cannot be tried before a jury in that State.
Mr. Hamilton was a Republican until 1890, when he felt the party had gone too far in its ad- vocacy of the tariff and other issues, and since that ycar he has been a Democrat. In 1888 he was elected a member of the council from the Second ward, and the following year was elected alderman. Ir' 1890 he ran for State senator, and, though not elected, was many votes ahead of his ticket. In the same year he was chairman of the commission to compile the charter and to revise the city ordinances of New Haven, and did his work thoroughly and well. Mr. Hamilton takes a deep interest in mat- ters of legislation, and has drafted many of the im- portant statutes which have been passed in recent years. In local matters he has been prominent, and has filled a number of town offices. Mr. Hamilton is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., and has risen to the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, in the fraternity. In religion he is connected with St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he has served as vestryman for many years.
On Aug. 13, 1878, Mr. Hamilton was married to Mary E. Chipman, and to this union were born two children: Mary Grace, a graduate of Misses Orton and Nichols School, in New Haven, and Woodside Seminary, in Hartford; and William Storrs Hoyt, who is now at a private school.
Mr. Hamilton has taken out three patents for marine inventions-a new adjustable center board, a rudder hinge, and a mooring line attachment. He is a member of the New Haven Yacht Club, of which he is a trustee and manager, and sails several boats. He is an enthusiastic sailor, and is capable of handling his boat well even under the most trying circumstances. In the summer of 1901 Mr. Ham- ilton carried the flag of the New Haven Yacht Club for the first time into the British provinces, flying it on the schooner yacht "Fearless." In addition to being a yachtsman he is also a faithful disciple of Izaak Walton, and also handles a shotgun with skill. He has made quite a large collection of birds, some of which are rare specimens, and he has them finely mounted.
THOMAS P. GIBBONS, M. D., whose widow resides at No. 64 Trumbull street, in the city of New Haven, was in active practice there for some ten years prior to his death, and ranked high among the able physicians of this part of Connecticut.
Dr. Gibbons was a native of Lancaster, Lan- caster Co., Pa., born in 1823, and was the third child of Abraham and Mary (Penn) Gibbons, who are now deceased, the Doctor being quite young when his father passed away. Richard Gibbons, elder brother of Thomas P., is still living. Thomas
P. Gibbons received his general education in the Jefferson School, and his professional training at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. During the Civil war he served on the staff of General Schenck, and subsequently followed his profession in Philadelphia, remaining in his native State until his removal to New Haven, in 1876. Dr. Gibbons was a representative of his profession in the broad- est and noblest sense of the word, and he enjoyed a large practice, the responsibilities of which were voluntarily increased by his interest in all charitable and benevolent enterprises. He was widely be- loved, and his death, April 3, 1886, when he was sixty-three years of age, removed a fine, interesting, and humanitarian personality. He was a member of the City, County and State Medical Societies. Po- litically he was a Republican.
Dr. Gibbons married, in 1867, Harriet Prime, of New York City, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Fay) Prime, also of New York. The family is one of the oldest and most prominent in the great metropolis.
GEORGE PHILLIPS LINES (deceased), a son of Augustus Lines and a brother of Augustus E. Lines, both of New Haven, Conn., was for many years a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of this community. He was born in New Haven Nov. 23, 1824, and died at his home on Lyon street, that city, June 10, 1874.
Mr. Lines was educated in the common schools of this city, receiving instruction also in the Lan- casterian school, under the noted John E. Lovell, continuing there until the age of fifteen years when he entered the larger school-the printing office. His latter opportunity was in the office of the Hart- ford Courant, and there he continued for a three- years apprenticeship. Upon his return to New Haven, he was employed in the office of the Courier, where he remained for several years, going then to New York city, and working at his trade on various journals. Some fifteen years of his life were spent in the printing business, but at length lie gave it up to accept a position in the shipping department of Davenport & Wheeler, of New Haven. His last change was made after ten years with this firm, when he became bookkeeper for R. & J. M. Blair, undertakers, and here he continued until the time of his death.
Mr. Lines was a man of great intelligence and wide reading. In manner he was quiet and unas- suming, and no attractions of clubs or secret organi- zations could tempt him from the ease and conl- fort of his home. Unusually devoted to the welfare of his family, he was much beloved by every mieni- her. It has been said of him that "his word was as good as his bond," and although the declaration is not new. it carries with it no uncertain meaning. As a citizen he took an interested part in every movement that made for the city's good, and he was especially zealous in promoting temperance and edu-
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cation. While still in early manhood, he became a member of the Congregational Church, in Hartford, and his life bore testimony to his religious con- victions. Although he believed in and voted for the support of the Republican party, he was no politi- cian, being always, however, a strong anti-slavery man.
George P. Lines was first married on Nov. 22, 1848, his bride being Almira Augur, of New Ha- ven, a daughter of James Augur, and she died May 24, 1860, at the age of thirty-three years. The chil- dren of this union were: Ella Almira, who died on Feb. 27, 1852, at the age of fifteen months ; and Frederick George, who died on May 20, 1860. On May 7, 1862, Mr. Lines was married to Mrs. Ann Eliza (Holt) Hibbard, who was a daughter of Ryal and Lovina (Lamb) Holt, of Coventry, Conn. Mrs. Lines is a descendant of Nicholas Holt, who was one of the first settlers in New England, and the founder of the old and honorable family which is known all over the United States, many of its mem- bers having become prominent in many walks of life.
GEORGE H. SMITH, the senior member of the well-known firm of Smith & Twiss, and one of the substantial representatives of the commercial life of New Haven, was born in Watertown, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1840, a son of George and Jane ( White) Smith.
William Smith, the paternal grandfather, was born in Litchfield county, Conn. During a long and useful life he was a merchant and machinist, and was the first to establish a mercantile establish- · ment in Watertown, N. Y. He was buried in that - city.
George Smith, son of William and father of George H. Smith, was born in Watertown, N. Y., and died in 1897 at the advanced age of eighty-four. During this long life, Mr. Smith resided in the city of his birth, and for a number of years was conduc- tor on the Rome & Watertown Railroad. During the war, he was honored with the position of treas- urer of that organization, and at the time of his *death was treasurer of the Jefferson Co. Savings Bank. Mr. Smith married Jane White, who was born in Schoharie, N. Y., and died in Watertown, N. Y., about thirty-eight years ago. To these two good people were born: William, George, Henry, Eugenia and Allen. Of these, William died in the Civil war; Henry is a printer in the West ; Eugenia died at the age of fifteen ; and Allen is a merchant of Chicago.
George H. Smith grew to manhood in Water- town, attending the district school. While still a boy he evinced a taste for machinery, and in order to learn the trade of a machinist he entered the em- ploy of Golden, Bagley & Sewell, with which firm he mastered the details of the calling he adopted. So rapid was his progress that at the age of twenty he left Watertown and worked at his trade in vari-
ous cities, finally, in 1881, locating in New Haven. Soon after his arrival he was engaged to superin- tend the construction of a horseshoe factory Mr. C. S. Mersick was erecting; later for eight years he was superintendent of the McLagon Foundry of New Haven, and in the fall of 1897, he, with Gus- tavus Twiss, formed the partnership of Smith & Twiss, and they now conduct one of the best equipped and most successful enterprises in their line, in this portion of the State. Special attention is given to engines and pumps, to reboring cylinders and to planing valve seats without removing cylin- ders. The building of special machinery and gen- eral jobbing comes within the scope of their opera- tions. Steamboat work is also an important feature of the business, as well as the repairing of machin- esy in various establishments in New Haven and the vicinity. An adequate force of skilled mechanics is regularly employed, and unnecessary delay in ex- ecuting contracts is always avoided. This progres- sive concern has invented and built special machin- ery for planing valve seats without removing the cylinder, one of the most efficient and reliable ever used, the market for this invention being widespread. The extensive plant is fully equipped with the latest improved appliances and machinery, including a gas power engine, and the success which has attended the efforts of the partners is the result of good work, prompt service and strictly honorable business methods.
On May 24, 1862, Mr. Smith was married to Anna Gill, who was born in England, but came to America when five years old. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of William Gill, a very successful ma- chinist. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith one child has been born, Eugenia. .
Coming of a line of Whigs and Republicans, Mr. Smith earnestly supports the platform and can- didates of that party, while he and his family are consistent members of the Baptist Church. A man of energy, successful in his business enterprises, public-spirited, Mr. Smith is an influential and es- teemed citizen.
RUFUS WARREN BLAKE, manufacturer at Birmingham in the town of Derby, where for nearly thirty years as manager and president, respectively, of the Sterling Company, he has been a most potent force in the development of that concern, and also in the growth and advancement of Birmingham and vicinity as a busy manufacturing centre, is one of the town's leading business men and. foremost citi- zens.
President Blake was born May 3, 1841, in the town of Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Mass., a son of farm- ing people of that community, whose ancestors were among thie sturdy New Englanders of the Colonial period. As a boy our subject did not take kindly to farming, his tastes being in another direction, and he sought other lines of employment, beginning his career as a "bobbin" boy in a woolen mill, working
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. through the summer season and attending the neigh- boring district schools during the winters. At the age of fifteen lie began learning the painter's trade, and at twenty, in 1861, he took up the trade of a cabinet-maker. This was really the beginning of his identity with the business of which he has made a life work, and in which his energies and cap- abilities have been so successfully rewarded. In 1863 he became engaged with the firm of Taylor & Farley, of Worcester, Mass., manufacturers of melodeons. Their business was small and the few men engaged in the work were afforded opportuni- ties of learning the building of reed instruments in all of its points. This opportunity was taken ad- vantage of by Mr. Blake, during his term of sev- eral years in such employment, and he thoroughly learned the art. Following this experience, along about 1867, he formed a partnership with Mr. J. W. Loring, under the firm name of Loring & Blake, which later became the Loring & Blake Organ Co., for the manufacture of organs. This new concern did a prosperous business, but in 1873 there was an opportunity open to Mr. Blake to identify him- self with the Sterling Organ Co., of Derby, Conn., which he embraced, accepting in that year the posi- tion of manager of The Sterling Co. The corpora- tion at that time was not on a very strong founda- tion, and the times which followed-the days of the panic of 1873 including the ever to be remembered "Black Friday"-were of the most trying to this concern, as in the case of hundreds of industries throughout the country, yet by the ability of the new manager and his indefatigable energy, the affairs of the corporation were kept intact, not only weather- ing the storm, but gaining in the volume of its busi- ness and catching an impetus that soon brought great prosperity. This, however, was checked by the burning of the entire plant in 1875. Thus again was the recuperative energy of the concern sorely tried, but the mental and physical resources Third, conscientiousness, or high quality in manu- facture and the scrupulous keeping of all business engage- ments and contracts. The instruments offered to the pub- lic are found to have character in them. and to be void of disappointment, while the money centres where the company's financial transactions are done are inspired with perfect confidence in the pledges of the factory. The inner history of saving to the company the impending loss occasioned by the New York failure already referred to, is a striking proof how fully the word and character of the company's president can be relied upon in business circles. of the management seemed equal to the occasion, and the plant was rebuilt and for the next decade and more the business was large and successful, and brought prosperity to all interested. A second great disaster followed in 1887, in which year the failure of a large musical house in New York threat- ened a loss to The Sterling Co. of $75.000. Here again the manager's tact and ability were put to test, and again he proved himself equal to the occa- On Christmas Day, 1865, Mr. Blake was mar- ried to Miss Hannah Marsh, of Wooster, Mass. Their elegant home on Elizabeth street is open to their many friends, to whom is dispensed a gener- ous hospitality. sion, devising and working methods by which the house's indebtedness to his company was paid. From that time on to the present The Sterling Co. has enjoyed great prosperity and with the passing years its business has grown to great proportions, until now it is the largest manufacturing plant of SAMUEL ELMER DIBBLE, President of the State Association of Master Plumbers. of New Hay- en, Conn., was born in Newtown. Conn., Jan. 16, 1842, son of Frederick B. and Sarah Ann ( Bots- ford) Dibble. the many at Birmingham. In 1885 piano making was added to the industry, and of necessity an en- largement of the factory occurred, giving it a floor space of more than 150,000 feet, and making it one of the largest establishments of its kind in this John Dibble, the paternal grandfather of Samuel country: As an indication of the company's growth. I. E. Dibble, was a life-long resident of Bethel, Conn.,
statistics show an output in the new factory, fol- lowing the fire of 1875, of 100 organs per month, but in 1878, 1,200 per month. And from the piano department were sold upwards of 12,000 pianos from 1885 to 1892. In 1890 the capital stock of! the company was increased to $210,000. Its of- ficers are: R. W. Blake, president ; James R. Ma- son, secretary and treasurer ; and Charles H. Ifub- bell, superintendent. Mr. Blake held the office of secretary and treasurer from 1874 until 1887, when lie was advanced to the presidency.
A new company, known as the Huntington Piano Co., was organized some years ago by The Sterling Co., in order to make a piano that could be sold for a lower price than the Sterling instru- ment. This company's capital stock is $30,000, and of the company Mr. R. W. Blake is treasurer. The business of the new company is carried on in a new building recently erected in Shelton by Mr. Blake.
A recent writer referring to the president of The Sterling Company says :
That an analysis of Mr. Blake's habits as a business man, places his success in life in three particulars:
First, a. thrifty management of the factory he con- trols. He is the personal supervisor of the factory. Know- ing by wide and long experience in organ building how every part can be most economically and rapidly made, he also knows at a glance when the workmen are best serv- ing the factory's output. And trained himself, he can select trained men. and but them, only in every depart- ment. There is no concealment under his eye, and the employes strive for the best results. Skilled in designing as well as construction, Mr. Blake exhibits an elegance in his organs and pianos which attracts public notice, and makes his instruments popular.
Second, thrift in the outside management of the com- pany's purchases and sales. The materials to be worked up into organs and pianos are purchased with keen iore- sight of the best interests of the company's treasury; while the completed goods are laid, by wide, judicious ad- vertising, in sight, if possible, of the people of all lands.
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and lived to the age of ninety years. He was a son of Samuel E. Dibble, who descended from Capt. John Dibble, who came to America from England, in 1630. On the maternal side, our subject is de- scended from one of the early families which settled in Newtown, Conn.
Samuel E. Dibble, of New Haven, received his education in the public schools of Newton, and through private tuition. Until he was sixteen years of age he lived upon the farm in Newtown, and then went to Woodbury, Conn., where he learned the tinning and plumbing business with George B. Lewis. After a five-year service, he went to New Haven with his uncle, Everett B. Dibble, and there completed his trade. Owing to the death of his uncle, Samuel E. concluded to enter into business for himself which he did, at No. 101, now No. 639, Grand avenue, April 14, 1865, the day upon which occurred the assassination of President Lincoln. This business has been at the same location under the name of Dibble, since 1852. For a period of thirty-six years, Mr. Dibble has successfully carried on his business, which includes tinning, steam, hot air and hot water heating, and every branch of plumbing. Mr. Dibble is a strong believer in sani- tary science, and makes use of every modern ap- pliance and invention in his line of work.
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