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 2, Part 15

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1010

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 2 > Part 15

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THEODORE D. L. MANVILLE, for many years Clerk of the City Court and former Super- intendent of Charities of Ansonia, is one of the leading citizens of that place, and his biography will be read with more than ordinary interest.

Mr. Manville was born Jan. 13, 1843, in Middle- bury, New Haven county, and is descended from good French Huguenot stock, the family in this country being traced to three brothers who came from France at an early day and settled in Con- necticut. Uri Manville, our subject's grandfather, was born in Middlebury and passed his life there in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring at the age of seventy-two. He was prominent in local affairs, holding various township offices, and was extremely popular in the community, being famil- iarly called "Uncle Uri" by young and old. His wife, Betsey Strong, a native of Southbury, died when eighty years of age. Both were connected with the Congregational Church. Their family consisted of two daughters and five sons, none of whom are now living.

William Manville, our subject's father, was born in Middlebury, and during his active years followed the carpenter's trade there and at Wood- bridge. He died at the age of forty-two years, and was buried at Middlebury. His wife, Maria C. Lord, was born in Woodbridge, the daughter of Ransom and Chloe Lord. She survived him : mar- ried for her second husband Henry Richardson, a resident of Woodbridge, and died aged seventy- four years. Throughout her life she was a consist- ent member of the Congregational Church in Woodbridge. She had six children by her first marriage and one by her second, and four of the former are now living: (1) Uri D. is a dealer in

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sewing machines and pianos in New Haven. (2) Harvey W. is superintendent of the yard work at the Farrell Foundry and Machine Co., in Ansonia. (3) Theodore D. L. was next in the order of birth. (4) Albert I'., a commercial traveler, resides in New Haven. Jane A., a daughter by her second marriage, married Edgar C. Squires, and resides in Fair Haven, Connecticut.

Theodore D. L. Manville's boyhood was spent in Middlebury, and as he was but six years old when his father died, he made his home with his grandfather, Uri Manville. He received a com- mon-school education, and when he was twenty- one years of age entered the employ of the Ameri- can Fish Hook and Needle Co., of New Haven, re- maining with them two years. He then removed to Middlebury, Conn., and for the next fixe years he worked in a woolen factory there, owned by his father-in-law. On removing to Ansonia, in 1870, he engaged in business as a shoe dealer, and two years later took a position in the case department of the Ansonia Clock Co., was there some two years, and was then with the Farrell Foundry and Machine Co., in the wheat roll department, under Charles Moore, then superintendent, until 1893. In the latter year he was appointed Superintendent of Charities, but a change of administration caused his retirement in December, 1895. On Jan. 1, 1896, he was appointed Clerk of the City Court for one year, and in July, 1897, he was again appointed to serve until July, 1899. He still holds the position by appointment. In December, 1897, Mr. Man- ville was re-appointed Superintendent of Charities, and was retained in that incumbency until Jan. I, 1900, discharging the duties with marked efficiency, the books and accounts being kept by him person- ally. In November, 1900, he was elected a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature, and was chairman of the Committee on Labor. He affiliates with the Republican party, and has always been active in politics, serving as chairman of ward committee, member of town committee, registrar of voters, and in other offices.

On Oct. 11, 1864, Mr. Manville married Miss Sarah E. Dews, a native of England, and daughter of George and Ann Dews. She died aged twenty- six years, and he later married Miss Ella J. Wood- in, of Chelsea, Mich., who was born in Seymour, Conn., daughter of Aner F. Woodin, a carpenter ; the latter married Delight Bronson, a sister of Dea- con Orin H. Bronson, a leading lumber dealer of Waterbury. By his first marriage our subject had two sons: ( I) Charles H., who has been for some years employed as an electrician with the Rubber Glove Co., of Naugatuck, married Margaret Lasher, and has two children. Eleanor M. and Charles Theodore. (2) Edwin A., superintendent of the Ansonia Electrical Co., married Miss Hat- tie S. Judson, and has two daughters, Ethel May and Elizabeth. By the second marriage our subject has two children : Miss Sadie E., a talented young

lady, who is assistant city clerk; and A. Theodora, a pupil in the high school. The family is actively interested in the work of the Methodist Church and Sunday-school. Mr. Manville is also prominent in various fraternal orders, notably the I. O. O. F., belonging to Naugatuck Lodge, No. 63, with which he united March 18, 1874. and to Hope Encamp- ment, No. 26; he has passed the chairs in both the societies. He also passed the chairs of the Grand Encampment of the State, having been Grand Patriarch in 1893-94, and was sent as a representa- tive at Atlantic City, N. J., to the Sovereign Grand Lodge, in 1895, and in 1896 to Dallas, Texas. In 1898 he visited the Boston session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. In 1899 the fiftieth anniversary of the lodge was celebrated, Mr. Manville being one of the oldest members present. He also holds membership in Sylvan Lodge, No. 5, Daughters of Rebekah. at Seymour. Mr. Manville has passed the chairs in Friendship Lodge, No. 34, A. O. U. W., of which he was a charter member, and in the Order of Red Men, at Ansonia, being past sachem of Wepawong Tribe, No. 7 ( since dissolved). He helped to organize the Ancient Essenic Order in ·Ansonia some years ago, but it has also been dis- solved.

THOMAS ELMES (deceased) was for many years identified with the commercial and municipal growth and prosperity of Derby, of which city his widow is still an esteemed resident. His father, who was also named Thomas, was one of three brothers -the others being Abner and Lazelle-who emi- grated from Old to New England. Thomas Elmes, Sr., married Lydia Coles, and shortly after their union the young pair took up their residence in Philadelphia. They were the parents of ten chil- dren : Lydia, Phoebe, Maria, Thomas, Mary, An- gelina, David B., Henry M., Fannie and an un- christened infant. Of this numerous progeny only one daughter Fannie, is yet living, residing in Phila- delphia. Phoebe died there recently.

Thomas Elmes was born in that city Aug. 23. 1818. His school days over, he became associated with his father, then a dealer in hats, caps and furs, and at the age of twenty-seven left the city of his birth to become a resident and merchant of Quincy, Ill. Previous to that emigration, however, on June 19, 1839, he had married Lucy R. Atwater, concern- ing whose ancestry more will be said in a succeeding paragraph. His wife accompanied him to Illinois, but their Western experience was not of a sort to induce them to make their permanent home in the "Prairie State," and in 1848 they returned East, finally taking a residence in Birmingham, Conn., where Mr. Elmes died, Nov. 15, 1880. Even in boyhood he displayed mechanical ability of no com- mon order and on his settling in Birmingham was made superintendent of the Birmingham Iron and Steel Works, in which his father-in-law, Mr. Charles Atwater, was a large stock holder. He continued

Thomas Elmed

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to discharge the arduous duties of this responsible position with marked ability and fidelity until 1876, when failing health compelled hini to retire to pri- vate life.

Mr. Elmes was a stanch Democrat, and stood high in the councils of his party. For many years Jie was an influential member of the State Central Committee. In 1871-72 he represented the Fifth District in the State Senate, and in 1875-76 was the chosen delegate from Derby to the Lower House. In both positions he brought to bear upon the dis- charge of his official duties native shrewdness and well developed executive ability. In 1876 he was a delegate, from the New Haven district, to the Na- tional Convention which nominated Tilden and Hen- dricks. From what has been said, Mr. Elmes' pop- ularity may be inferred. It may be said to have been attributable to his unfailing courtesy, his faith- fulness as a friend, and his worth as a man. His death was deeply mourned by citizens of Derby, without distinction of political or religious creed. He was a Mason of high degree, a Knight Templar and an Odd Fellow, being a member of King Hiram Lodge, of Birmingham, the New Haven Command- ery, and Housatonic Lodge, I. O. O. F.

Mrs. Elmes can trace her English ancestry back . to the days of Charlemagne. Her maiden name, Atwater, is a corruption, through Attwater, from Outwater. She is the great-great-great-grand- daughter of David Atwater, who was born in Eng- land in 1615. From him the line of descent runs through Ebenezer, James and Timothy to Charles, Mrs. Elmes' father. Timothy Atwater, her grand- father, was born in 1749, and was the owner of a large farm, which is now the site of a very consider- able portion of the city of New Haven, including York Square. He was a gentleman-farmer, fond of books, and a man of ability and education. He

died in 1824. He married Susan Macomber, a lady of Scotch descent, who was according to extant tradition, the greatest beauty in New Haven. Nine children were born to them of whom Charles, Mrs. Elmes' father, was the seventh. The others. in the order of their birth, were Susan, Sarah, Harriet, Julia, Jeanette, James, Robert and Henry.

Charles Atwater was born in New Haven, where after reaching manhood, he engaged in the dry- goods business with Joel Root, his father-in-law, in which he continued for nearly eighteen years. He was eminently successful, and little by little became interested in banking in both New Haven and New York, and was made president of the Mechanics' Bank of the latter city. He was also the founder of the Birmingham Iron and Steel Works of Derby, investing about $300,000 in the plant, and acting as president and manager of the company from the time of its organization until his death. He owed his influence not so much to his wealth as to his gen- erous nature and his moral worth. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican ; his religious belief was that of the Congregational

Church, of which lie was a devoted member and to which he was a liberal contributor. He married Miss Lucy Root, who was born in Southington, Conn., a daughter of Joel Root, who traced his line- age back, through five generations, to John Root, who was born in 1608. A distinctively martial spirit has characterized the family since their emigration from England, which was chiefly due to a refusal to serve in the army of "Old Ironsides." Stephen, the son of John Root, the American progenitor of the family, was a man of extraordinary stature and phenomenal physical strength. He stood six feet six inches in his stockings. In athletic sports- wrestling, boxing and running-he was especially expert, frequently "outclassing" the fleetest Indian runners. Timothy, Stephen's son, was the great- great-grandfather of Mrs. Elmes' mother. Timothy ( born in 1681) was the son of Stephen and father of Jonathan. The next Root in the descending line was Elisha, the maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Elmes, he was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was stationed in New York, dying at East Chester, on his way home. Joel Root, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Elmes followed a sea-faring life in his youth, but later became a dry-goods mer- chant. He was originally a resident of Southing- ton, but subsequently removed to New Haven. Mrs. Elmes, as has been said, survives her husband and is estcemed in Derby for those traits which, when happily combined, go to make up the estimable - woman and valued citizen.

WILLIAM DAGGETT BRYAN was in his day a well-known merchant tailor and prominent citizen of New Haven, where his widow still re- sides, at No. 198 Crown street.

Mr. Bryan was born May 13, 1819, in New Haven, son of Oliver Bryan and grandson of Major Oliver Bryan, who died in Milford, this county. Oliver Bryan, father of our subject, was born in Milford, and, coming to New Haven, engaged in the merchant tailoring business, which he followed until his death, at the age of sixty-nine years. He prospered, and did much toward the improvement of his section of the city, erecting several houses, among them the one in which the widow of his son William D. now resides, which was built about 1840. He also put up the buildings at Nos. 200-202. and No. 210 Crown street, and that at Nos. 194- 196, occupied by the Young Men's Republican Club. Oliver Bryan married Phoebe Gorham, a native of New Haven, who died at the age of sixty- seven years, and six children blessed their union,. only two of whom, Oliver and Stephen G., sur- vive. The former is a real-estate broker in New York City, where he resides. Stephen G. is a com- mercial traveler, with office in Boston. Another one of the sons, Benjamin Sherman Bryan, went to California with the "forty-niners," and remained in the State a number of years, keeping a hotel. He returned East, and died in Saybrook, Conn., at

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the age of fifty. On Nov. 16, 1868, he married Miss M. Louise Hayden, a native of Essex, Conn., and they had one son, Oliver, now making his home in New York City, who married Bessie Ida Gitt, of New Oxford, Penn. Mrs. M. Louise (Hayden) Bryan resides with the widow of her husband's brother William, Mrs. Mary M. Bryan, in the city of New Haven.

William D. Bryan learned the merchant tailor- ing business with his father, and after the latter's death carried on the establishment successfully on his own account until his death, which occurred June 1, 1884. Mr. Bryan was a man of the strict- est integrity in all his transactions, esteemed wher- ever he went, and socially was one of the most genial and companionable of men, winning numer- ous friends by his amiable disposition and engaging manners. He was a member of the Quinnipiac Club, the New Haven Grays, Connecticut Volun- teer Militia, the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fra- ternity, in which latter he reached the thirty-sec- ond degree, affiliating with Wooster Lodge, F. & A. M., the Council, Chapter and Commandery. His political support was given to the Republican party, and he was a stanch friend of Gov. English. Mr. Bryan was a member of the Episcopal Church, attending first at St. Thomas, later at Trinity.

On Sept. 1, 1852, Mr. Bryan was united in mar- riage with Mary Miles Brown, a native of New Haven, who survives him. All the children born of this union are deceased.

Jacob Brown, father of Mrs. Bryan, was born in New Haven, son of Walter Brown, a sea cap- tain, who made his home in that city. Jacob Brown carried on a grocery store in Chapel street until his death, at the early age of thirty-three years. He married Henrietta Miles, also a native of New Ha- ven, and three children were born to them, of whom Mary Miles, Mrs. Bryan, is the only sur- vivor. The others were Henrietta and Sarah. Mrs. Brown died at the age of thirty. Her father, Capt. John Miles, served in the Revolutionary war, and lived to the age of eighty-one. By calling he was a sea captain, and his vessel was once captured by the French, and Mrs. Bryan's claim against the French Government is on file in Washington.

SAMUEL P. CRAFTS, president of the Quin- nipiac Brick Co., and a member of the Chamber of Commerce of New Haven, has led an interesting career. Though his life has been a busy and use- ful one, it has been diversified by travel and con- tact with people of every condition, and until the past few years he has been engaged in business enterprises demanding constant activity in their supervision.

The family from which Mr. Crafts springs is one of the oldest in Connecticut, the first of his line coming to America in 1630. Edward Crafts, his grandfather, a native of Pomfret, Conn .. settled in Derby, this State, where he followed the medical profession until his death, which was caused by a

fall from a horse. He had quite a numerous fail- ily, of whom Gen. Chauncey Crafts, father of Sam- tel P., was born in Derby, where he was reared. During his carly manhood he clerked in a store, but for the greater part of his entire life he was en- gaged as a manufacturer in Woodbury, Conn .. turning out horse-power machinery, which he also invented. He died in Woodbury, at the compara- tively early age of forty-one. Chauncey Crafts married Miss Maria Bacon, a native of Woodbury. and nine children were born to them. But two of this family survive: Samuel P., whose name opens this sketch; and Fanny, widow of Gen. Charnly. Mrs. Crafts passed away at the age of sixty-five years. In religion she and Mr. Crafts were men- bers of the North Church of Woodbury. He took a deep interest in military matters, and was a briga- dier general of the Connecticut militia ..

Samuel P. Crafts was born Jan. 30, 1824. in Woodbury, where he passed his earlier years, re- ceiving a thorough education in the common and select schools. Before going to sca he spent eight- een months in Bridgeport, this State, in the harness business. He was not many years a mariner before he rose to the position of master, and he sold his ship to enter the navy, being in that service as act- ing ensign during the Civil war. Incidental to . his share in the capture of Fort Fisher is men- tioned his promise to meet Gen. Terry inside the fort, which he kept. He was recommended for promotion to acting first master and later for the rank of lieutenant.

Mr. Crafts went to California in 1849. and had his share in the exciting experiences of those law- less times. He was a member of the vigilance committee, and witnessed the hanging of three men. two of whom were buried in the grave they had prepared for their murdered victim, a Capt. Snow, of Nantucket. In 1855 our subject was in Nor- folk. Va., where hundreds were dying of yellow fever, and he was in Barbadoes during the terrible rage of cholera, where there was an average of 350 deaths per day. He has traveled extensively all over the country.

After his discharge from the navy Mr. Crafts went to Liverpool, where he took charge of a bark tor Funk & Meincke, and made a few European voyages. He continued to devote himself to vari- cus matters up to 1872, in which year was or- ganized the Quinnipiac Brick Co., and he was elected president thercof. He has continued to hold that position to the present, and its duties receive the same faithful and effective attention which has characterized all our subject's undertakings. In 1895 Mr. Crafts moved from Hamden to New Ha- ven, where he still makes his home. He was not long in establishing himself in the esteem of his new neighbors and fellow citizens, for in 1896 he was elected selectman in New Haven, and filled that office to the satisfaction of all concerned. Our subject gives his political allegiance to the Repub- lican party, and has long been a member of the

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Young Men's Republican Club. Socially he holds membership in the Loyal Legion and in Admiral Foote Post, No. 11, G. A. R. He was commander of Gideon Welles Naval Veterans.

In 1859 Mr. Crafts was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Thomson, who was born in New Haven, daughter of Isaac Thomson, a mason builder, who put up many of the college buildings in the city, as well as the large insurance build- ings. He was a member of the firm of Thomson. Sperry & Smith. Mr. Thomson died in 1876. Of his four daughters three are yet living, Mrs. Crafts, Mrs. Bacon (in California) and Mrs. Burt (in Cincinnati ).

HENRY KIRKE WHITE. For a quarter of a century the name of White has been prominent in the business and social circles of Meriden. where have resided Henry Kirke White and his sons James Henry, Edward H. and Howard, all of whom have been identified with the extensive in- terests of the Wilcox & White Co., whose products have gone to the ends of the civilized world and brought fame to the name of White and to the city of Meriden.

Henry Kirke White was born in Bolton, Conn., Feb. 7, 1822, and comes from an ancestry on both sides reaching back to the early Colonial period of Connecticut, one of his forebears being a member of the party led by Rev. John Warham, who came from England to these shores in the ship "Mary and John" in 1630, landing at Nantasket, Mass. Henry Kirke White was reared on a farm, but pos- sessing musical tastes and genius, he soon found a new and broader field for the exercise of his tal- ents. While yet in his "teens" he was a conspicu- ous figure in the singing schools of his locality, as a teacher and musical director, and he soon be- came known throughout the State. In 1841 he mastered the art of tuning musical instruments, and was engaged in that capacity. until 1845 in the West and Northwest. Returning to Connecticut, he began the manufacture of musical instruments at Colchester for Dennison Smith. Two years later, in 1847, he began on his own account the making of melodeons in New London, Conn., mov- ing his business in 1853 to Washington. N. J., where he remained until the great panic of 1857 and the subsequent outbreak of the Civil war ren- dered it unadvisable to continue in business. For several years he was mainly occupied in piano tuning in Philadelphia, and in 1865 took charge of the tuning and action department of the Estey Or- gan Works at Brattleboro, Vt., where he and his several sons soon obtained high positions. In 1876 and the following year Mr. White and his sons, through their tact and energy, interested several citizens of Meriden, among them the late Horace Wilcox, in the establishment of a factory for the manufacture of musical instruments, and these efforts resulted in the organization of the Wilcox

& White Organ Co. To this concern there was a guarantee of success in the very beginning of its efforts, in the person of Mr. White. A man of genius and energy, of high honor and most un- swerving integrity, with long years of experience in business and manufacturing, not a little of the great success and the achievements of the company in the last twenty-five years is due to Henry Kirke White. He enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest makers of reed instruments now living, and can look back over an experience of more than fifty years in this line, with a just pride in the achievements credited to his genius and labors.

The Wilcox & White Co. is, to-day, foremost among the manufacturers of musical instruments in all the world. The great effects produced by their instruments have won for them the hearty welcome into the homes of all the civilized coun- tries of the globe. The Wilcox & White organ is one of the most celebrated of reed instruments. To the builder of these was given use of the best old features and the new ones of the organ. The principal inventions of the company are the "Pneu- matic Symphony," or self-playing organ, and the "Angelus" Piano Player. The former has the fea- tures of an ordinary organ, and can be played as such, while the latter can play any piano; they are also supplied with mechanism whereby perforated paper is made the medium for automatic playing. With this perforated paper, and the use of the ped- als and stops as in ordinary playing, the most in- tricate and beautiful music can be produced with- out touching the fingers to the keys. This com- pany, in which the Whites figure conspicuously, is one of the leading industries of the great and fa- mous center of manufactories, Meriden, and gives employment to over 300 people. Under the admin- istration of James H. White the business of the company was very largely increased, and an addi- tional brick factory, four stories high, and 250 by 40 feet on the ground, was erected for the manu- facture of the "Angelus." This is the invention of Edward H. White, and is the first instrument ever manufactured for automatic piano playing.

Henry Kirke White has been called by his fel- low citizens to a number of public offices, and in the discharge of their duties has conscientiously and faithfully used his time and best efforts. He has served as alderman from the Fifth ward, and for a period was Mayor pro tempore of Meriden. For many years in succession he was first committee- man of his school district, and both as a citizen and as a man he has held the full confidence of the com- munity in which he has lived so long.

Mr. White was married Sept. 2. 18446, to Lticy Cornwell, who was born Jan. 2, 1825, a daughter of William and Julia ( Robert) Cornwell, of Middle- town, Conn. She died Feb. 18, 1867, and Mr. White then was married to Mrs. Betsey Herrick, who was born July 12, 1840, a daughter of Benja- min Stickney, of Dummerston, Vt. The children,

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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 2, Part 15

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1010

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1010