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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
-
.
487
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Stopping over night at Augusta, Ga., Mr. Hand narrowly escaped being mobbed on account of his known anti-slavery sentiments. Good friends, how- ever, interfered, and sent him safely on his way. At Richmond Mr. Hand was set at liberty and per- mitted to go where he pleased within the limits of the Confederacy. He located at Asheville, N. C., where he spent his time in reading, and waiting for the war to close, as he knew it must, in the de- struction of the Southern oligarchy. The Con- federate government sought to secure Mr. Hand's extensive property, which was saved after strenuods efforts to confiscate it.
At the close of the war Mr. Hand came North and left Mr. Williams to adjust accounts, allow- ing him unlimited control in his administration. Mr. Williams' final statement showed a large amount due Mr. Hand, and for this he gave his note at a low rate of interest. Final payment was at last made, and the name of Mr. Williams is held by those conversant with the facts as that of as honest and incorruptible a man as is known in the annals of American business.
In the South Mr. Hand never became identified with its prevailing pro-slavery sentiment, and yet he never expressed unkind or unfriendly sentiments toward the Southern people. He treasured their good qualities and entertained the kindest feeling toward the communities where he dwelt. Sin- cerely compassionating the white people as well as the black, he used his great fortune to bring the colored people of the South up to a higher level. In order that he might return to the people of the South a substantial expression of his interest in their behalf, and that a portion of his fortune earned there might forever work for the benefit of the needy and suffering of that part of the country, Mr. Hand gave to the American Missionary As- sociation in 1888 a fund of one million dollars to be used for educational purposes, and to be kept intact as the "Daniel Hand Educational Fund for Colored People." This great gift, the largest at that time bestowed in a single sum, was put into the hands of the officers of the Association, and has for many years been doing its noble work. By the will of Mr. Hand the fund was increased by over $600,000.
In his youth Mr. Hand married his cousin, Elizabeth Ward, daughter of Dr. Levi and Mehita- ble ( Hand) Ward, early settlers of Rochester, N. Y. Mrs. Hand and her children all died young, and for more than sixty years Mr. Hand lived a widower, and in absence of family cares and domestic relations, his beneficence has fallen like the sunshine and the dew upon many who were trying to help themselves and overcome unfriendly conditions. Mr. Hand established the Hand Acad- emy in Madison, and did many other commendable and noteworthy deeds. Formed under the influ- ence of a Puritan ancestry and home surroundings, Mr. Hand's religious convictions were deep but
never obtruded upon any. He had faith in the Bible, and his consecration was marked. Uniting with the First Presbyterian Church at Augusta, Ga., when twenty-eight years of age, he was always a ready and willing worker in the Church. For thirty years he was superintendent of the Sunday- school at Augusta, and maintained admirable or- der and enthusiasm, yet never reproved a boy or censured a teacher. He died in December, 1890.
GEORGE E. HAND, a brother of Daniel Hand, and one of the leading lawyers and public men of Michigan, was born in East Guilford, Conn., Aug. 16, 1809, and was graduated from Yale College at the age of twenty years. After completing his course at Yale he went to Detroit, Mich., where he became a student in the law office of William A. Fletcher, and on his admission to the Bar became a partner of that gentleman. In the law Mr. Hand very quickly attained eminence. In 1835 he was made Judge of Probate for Wayne county, and in 1844 Injunction Master for Eastern Michigan. In 1846 Mr. Hand was sent to the Legislature as the representative from Detroit, and in that body took an active part in preparing the revised statutes of that year. He also introduced the resolution for selling the public works of the State, the principal ones being the Central and Southern railroads. Mr. Hand prepared the charter for these roads, and negotiated their final sale. The policy which he advocated proved of great value to the State then struggling with the problems of an impaired cur- rency and profound business depression. In 1853 Mr. Hand was appointed United States attorney for Michigan and held the office four years. Founding the Young Men's Society of Detroit. he was its first president. He also organized the De- troit Bar Association, and for many years was its president. A personal and an intimate friend of General Cass, he was chairman of the Democratic State Committee in 1848, when that distinguished citizen of Michigan became a candidate for Presi- dent. Always devoted to his profession, he was long recognized as one of its leading representatives in his adopted State. The last two years of his life were spent in Madison, where he died Aug. 30, 1889. He was a member of the Fort Street Church in Detroit, of which he was an elder, and main- tained a high standing as a man and a citizen among those at all familiar with his life and char- acter.
ROBERT DOWNS, a thorough and skillful farmer and a business man of more than ordinary ability, is a worthy representative of the agricultural interest of Oxford. His fine farm, which is one of the most desirable of its size in the town, is pleas- antly located on Chestnut Hill road in the Red Oak school district.
A native of this county, Mr. Downs was born in the town of Bethany, March 10, 1835, a son of Leverett and Anna (Atwater) Downs. He was
.
488 .
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
only a year old when his parents removed to the farm where he now resides, and upon that place he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the labors of the farm and pursuing his studies in the local schools. After the death of his father, which oc- curred in 1859, he took charge of the farm and has since carried it on with marked success. He owns about 116 acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation, and is engaged in dairy and general farming, and in bce culture.
Mr. Downs' labors were interrupted during the Civil war, as he enlisted Aug. 18, 1862, for three years or during the war, as a private in Co. H, 15th Conn. V. I. With his regiment he proceeded to Camp Chase, Washington, D. C., and later partici- pated in the battle of Fredericksburg, the siege of Suffolk and the battle of Kinston, N. C., where he was captured March 8, 1865. He was then taken to Richmond. Va., where they arrived after fifteen days spent upon the road, and where he was held a prisoner for three days. At the end of that time, however, he was paroled and taken to Annapolis, Md. Returning home on a furlough, he was here when the war ended, but again went South, and was discharged at Newbern, N. C., June 17, 1865. Since the war he has engaged in farming on the old homestead in Oxford. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and has served as grand juror. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and has the entire confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. In his church affiliations he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Naugatuck.
HENRY REYNOLDS, long conspicuous as a manufacturer and business man of New Haven, is a son of Stephen and Sybil (Vinton) Reynolds, and was born in Southbridge, Mass., March 16, 1824. His father was a blacksmith and later a manufac- turer of scythes, hoes and other such articles in de- mand among the people with whom he lived. He was an honest man and reputable citizen. But he was not wealthy, and his son Henry Reynolds began his active life without capital or influential backing, equipped with such a rudimentary education as he was able to gain in the common schools of South- bridge and Wilbraham, to which place his father moved when he was nine years old. Henry's nat- ural bent was for mechanics, and he set about ac- quiring a practical knowledge of mechanical en- gineering, finishing his apprenticeship with Otis Tuffts, a once celebrated mechanical engineer, of Boston.
Later Mr. Reynolds was employed by Mr. Tuffts continuously in one responsible position after an- other till 1848. In February of that year Mr. .Reynolds went to Springfield, Mass., and connected himself with the American Machine Works, of which he was superintendent and part proprietor until 1861, during which period were built under his
supervision all the engines constructed by the com- pany, including a large engine in the water works of Columbia, S. C., and another in the United States Branch Mint at New Orleans, La. The erection of these two, with many others, Mr. Reynolds per- sonally oversaw. The business of the company was largely in the South, and at the outbreak of the Civil war, in common with many others, it was so seriously crippled that a change of base was deenicd expedient, and the manufacture of firearms was be- gun.
In 1861 Mr. Reynolds disposed of his interest in the American Machine Co., and removing to New Haven, Conn., became interested in the Plants Man- ufacturing Company (a joint stock concern ), and engaged in the manufacture for the government of pistols and gun parts, making a specialty of the Reynolds, Plants & Hotchkiss revolver, of which two sizes were made. The business was continued until Dec. 8, 1866, when the factory was burned. At that time the company was turning out an aver- age of sixty revolvers per day.
In May, 1867, the present business of Mr. Rey- nolds was established by Reynolds & Bigelow, and it was soon sold to Reynolds & Co., a stock company, of which the following named gentlemen are now officers : Henry Reynolds, president and manager ; William H. Reynolds, secretary; James English, treasurer ; and George F. Reynolds, superintendent. The business was started with the design of man- ufacturing screws which should be standards of excellence, and the success of Mr. Reynolds and his associates in carrying out their intentions is at- tested by the popularity which their goods have at- tained and the steady increase of their business, which has obliged them to make frequent large ad- ditions to their facilities. Started with one screw machine, five horse-power engine, many are now in use and the factory gives employment to 150 skilled men.
The premises comprise several brick buildings, having an aggregate floor surface of about 40,000 square feet. The factory is equipped with the latest improved machinery and tools, operated by a one hundred and seventy-five horse-power engine. The products of these works comprise all kinds of set, cap and machine screws, machine bolts, bridge and roof bolts, coach screws, nuts and washers. The company also manufacture molding machines of metal as the Eames, Reynolds & Hammer machines. Though on the market only some twenty-odd years their machines for pressing sand molds have, in spite of the strong opposition shown to them by the molders, slowly but surely grown in favor with the foundrymen, until there are to-day thousands of them in active use, showing in each case very fav- orable results, and quickly repaying the foundryman for his investment. The leading sewing machine foundries of the country are now making all their sewing machine beds, arms, wheels, pulleys, tread- lers, braces and all small castings upon these ma-
.
489
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL, RECORD.
·chines, and they are also in general use in the larg- est locksltops and malleable iron foundries both East and West. The company for twenty or more years has been constantly improving the machines, their endeavor being to so simplify and strengthen them as to render it almost impossible for them to get out of order or break with any proper use. This end has been practically accomplished, and the ma- chines they now offer to the public cannot be equaled for strength, simplicity, compactness and easy adap- tation to all classes of bench molding. These ma- chines are made in several different styles and sizes, and will make any kind of casting that can be molded in flasks 36 inches long and 12 inches wide. or smaller, but are especially adapted to snap flask or bench molding, and show the largest gain over hand ramming on light work, such as is generally made in flasks 20x16 inches and smaller. The molds can be made at considerably less cost than they can be rammed up by hand, much smoother and more uni- form castings produced, and owing to the simplic- ity and durability of the machines they can be run for years amid the dirt and dust of the foundry with- out getting out of order or occasioning any outlay for repairs. The company also makes a draw plate machine, which is on the same principle as is em- bodied in the Reynolds machine. This machine is especially adapted to globe valves, pipe fittings keys, parts of sewing machines, locks, etc. It is claimed for these machines first, that they will produce smoother and more even work than can be made with hand rammers; second, a smaller percentage of poor castings; third, a much larger number of molds per day ; fourth, a saving of from 25 to 50 per cent. in cost of molding, according to pattern ; fifth, considering size, strength, durability, capacity and adaption to all kinds of work, they are the cheapest machine made : sixth, they do not require experienced molders to run them; seventh, they will soon repay any foundryman for his invest- ment, if properly handled.
The great success of the enterprise mentioned in the foregoing is attributed no less to the practical mechanical skill of Mr. Reynolds, than to the able business management of himself and associates. It is true of him (and of many manufacturers it can- not be said), that he is personally able to do quickly and skillfully any work required of any machine in his employ, but he learned his trade when men ac- quired the whole, and did not content themselves with learning portions of it. It is a distinction which he enjoys, that he was the first in the United States to make steel and iron set and cap screws for the trade; and the first pianoagraffe screws in America were made by him.
Mr. Reynolds was married to Martha A. Shearer. of Massachusetts, Jan. 10, 1847. She died March , 26, 1850. Sometime later Mr. Reynolds married Nancy H. Wheeler, of Springfield. Mass. He has two sons, William Henry, born in 1853 : and George Francis, born in 1856. Politically Mr. Reynolds
is a Democrat, and has been one from his youth. While adhering firmly to the principles of that party in all questions of national import, he is liberal in his views, and in municipal affairs is in favor of the election of the man who bids fair to be the best officer. He has been for many years a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, upon the services of which he and his family are attendants.
Mr. Reynolds has long been prominent as a Mason, having attained the 32d degree. He is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 1 ; Franklin Chapter, No. 2: Harmony Council, No. 8; and New Haven Commandery, No. 2; also E. G. Storer Lodge of Perfection : Elm City Council, Princes of Jerusalem ; New Haven Chapter Rose Croix A. A. S. R .: La- fayette Consistory, S. P. R. S. Since taking up his residence in New Haven he has never consented to accept any position of public trust, but while living in Springfield he served his fellow citizens as al- derman and councilman, and in other capacities. He is public spirited, and has always done his full share in the upbuilding of the best interests of the community. He is a conspicuous example of New Haven's self-made men.
JULIUS ELIZUR NORTON. one of Guil- ford's successful business men, and a well-known citizen, is a native of that city. born Oct. 23, 1841. and is descended from one of the oldest New Eng- land families. The first known of the family under consideration was
(I) John Norton, a native of Bedfordshire. England, where he passed all his life. He married Jane Cooper, and had children : William, Alice, John. Robert and Richard. Of these,
(II) Richard Norton, born in Bedfordshire. England, where he passed all his days. married Marjory Wingate, and had children : William (married to Margaret Harrison) and Thomas.
(III) Thomas Norton, born in Bedfordshire, England, son of Richard, moved to Ockley. County of Surrey, thence in 1639 coming to America and settling in Guilford, Conn., where he died in 1658. In England he had married, his wife's name being Grace, and they had children. all born in England : George, born in 1606, who died in 1659: Thomas. sketch of whom follows: Ann, wife of John War- ner: Grace. wife of William Smead: John. mar- ried to Hannah Stone: Marv. wife of James Rock- well ; and Abigail, born in 1629, who died in 1704.
(IV) Thomas Norton. born in England in 1626, came to Guilford with his parents, later mov- ing to Saybrook, and dying at Durham, Conn .. in 1712. He married, May 8, 1671. Elizabeth Mason. who died Jan. 31, 1609, the mother of children as follows: Elizabeth. born in October. 1674, died April 2. 1676: Thomas, born June 1. 1677. died May 22. 1726: Elizabeth (2), born Dec. 25, 1679, married Reuben Neal; Toseph. born Nov. 6. 1681. died in 1756: Samuel (twin of Toseph) died Tulv 13, 1749: Abigail and Ebenezer (twins). born Oct.
-
490
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
26, 1683, both died young; John, sketch of whom follows.
(V) John Norton, born Oct. 8, 1686, in Dur- ham, Conn., passed all his life there, dying in 1768. He and his wife Elizabeth had children : Jonathan, born Feb. 18, 1712, who died Oct. 27, 1801; John, sketch of whom follows; Benjamin, born Feb. 12, 1719, who died in 1758; Ephraim, born Aug. 20, 1721; Stephen, born June 7, 1724; Elizabeth, born June 15, 1726, who died young ; and Elizabeth (2), born June 21, 1728, who mar- ried Joseph Seward.
(VI) Jolin Norton, born at Durham, Feb. 16, 1715, in early manhood moved to Killingworth, Conn., where he passed the remainder of his days. In 1742 he married Mary Griswold, who was born June 23, 1723, and died in Killingworth. We have the following record of their children: Mary, born April 13, 1743, married Cornelius Hull; Rhoda was born Aug. 16, 1745; Moses, Feb. 23, 1748; Aaron, June 24, 1751 ; Anna, Feb. 3, 1754; Elah, May 8, 1757 (married Huldah Hull) ; Abel, July 4, 1762; and Amos, sketch of whom follows.
. (VII) Amos Norton, grandfather of Julius E., born in the town of Killingworth in November, 1764, removed in early manhood to East Guilford (now the town of Madison), where he died Dec. 4, 1822, and he is buried in Madison cemetery. He married Sylvia Field, who was born March II, 1779, and died March 15, 1812. Their children : Phebe Ann, born May 25, 1800, who died Oct. 17, 1868; Mary, twin of Phebe Ann; Rebecca, who married G. S. Hill and died Oct. 21, 1828; Edward, sketch of whom follows; Calvin and Melinda (twins), born June II, 1805 ( Calvin died Sept: 12, 1876) ; Joseph and Mary Ann (twins), born Aug. 17, 1807; Joshua, born in 1809, who died in De- cember, 1820; Josiah, twin of Joshua, who died in 1813; Grift, born March I, 1812, who died March 15, 1812.
(VIII) Edward Norton, father of Julius E., was born at East Guilford (now Madison), Feb. 26, 1803, and died in Guilford June 26, 1873. A butcher and cattle dealer by occupation, he became a man of considerable means, but lost all or most of his property. On June 9, 1834, he married Mrs. Eliza (Hotchkiss) Leete, who was born May 27, 1800, died March 16, 1874, and is buried in Guil- ford West cemetery. She was a daughter of Henry Hotchkiss, and widow of Simeon Leete, by whom she had one child. To Edward Norton and his wife came children as follows: Mary E., born Dec. 31, 1835, married Jonathan Morse ; James An- drew, born in February, 1839, died Oct. 14, 1840; Julius Elizur, sketch of whom follows; and Julia Elizabeth (twin of Julius E.), born Oct. 23, 1841, died May 8, 1844.
. (IX) Julius Elizur Norton, whose name opens this sketch, received his education in the district schools of Guilford, and early in life, owing to his father's ill health, had to contribute toward the
support of the family. At the age of thirteen years he removed to Branford, where for one year he found employment in the iron works, at the end of which time he returned to Guilford and com- menced working in the Spencer foundry, at the time conducted by Isaac S. Spencer & Son, the former father of the present proprietors. Here he passed over a quarter of a century, being employed in all the departments, during which time, through his industry and attention to business, he won for himself the confidence of his employers. In 1881 he met with an accident which necessitated his re- signing his position in the works, and as a con- sequence lie had to seek some other employment. In 1882 he commenced in the produce business, buying and selling on a small scale, gradually ex- panding his trade, and for the last twelve years he has shipped produce in large quantities to Preston Brown, of Providence, R. I., as well as to many Western points, etc. In course of time, in 1876, he took his son Robert into partnership, under the firm name of J. E. Norton & Son, which has since continued, and they have several branch meat markets in Guilford and elsewhere, besides dealing extensively in live stock.
· On Feb. 23, 1863, Julius E. Norton was mar- ried to Maria Griffing Hill, a record of whose fam- ily is given farther on, and children as follows have come to them : (1) Robert Henry, born Sept. 12, 1864, was married Nov. 30, 1889, to Laura Noble Roberts. They have had five children- Arthur Julius, born Aug. 27, 1890; Hazel Maria, Sept. 19, 1892; Earl Daniel, June 8, 1895; Leslie Roberts, July 12, 1897; Robert Henry, June 28. 1901. (2) Lelia Augusta, born July 15, 1866, mar- ried, Oct. 31, 1889, George Mason, who died Aug. 16, 1899 ; she makes her home in Guilford, and has four children-Frank Norton, Olive Margaret, George R. and Walter Harris. (3) Anna Laura, born Jan. 19, 1872, died April 26, 1888. (4) Harry Eugene, born March 20, 1878, died Aug. 22, 1893. (5) Clarence Edward, born Feb. 28, 1886, is "the largest boy of his age in Guilford." The family are all identified with the Congregational Church, and in politics Mr. Norton was formerly a Demo- crat, but since 1896 has been a stanch Republican.
. The Hill family, of which Mrs. Julius E. Nor- ton is a member, trace their descent from old and honored residents of Guilford, and the first of the name in New Haven county was
(I) John Hill, who came from Northampton- shire, England, and in 1654 settled in Guilford, where he passed the rest of his life, dying June 8, 1689. He was twice married, and his first wife's name was Frances. On Sept. 23, 1673, he married for his second wife Catherine Chalker, born Sept. 8, 1657, a daughter of Alexander Chalker. Chil- dren born to John Hill: (1) John, a sketch of whom follows: (2) James, who died Nov. 1, 1715; (3) Sarah; (4) Elizabeth ; (5) Ann, wife of James Topping.
-
491
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
(II) John Hill died May 8, 1690. He married Thankful Stone, who was born in May, 1648, and died Nov. 18, 1711. Their children: (1) Mary, born May 8, 1671, died Aug. 24, 1671; (2) John, sketch of whom follows; (3) Elizabeth, born Feb. I, 1676, married Josialı Rossiter and died July 14, 1739; (4) Hon. Samuel, born Feb. 21, 1678, mar- ried Huldah Ruggles and died May 28, 1752; (5) Nathaniel, born in April, 1680, died Oct. 10, 1764; (6) James, born in April, 1682, married May Fay and died March 20, 1715.
(III) John Hill, born July 18, 1672, died in Guilford Feb. 10, 1740. He married Hannah Highland, who was born Jan. 29, 1670, and died May 19, 1752. Children : (1) John, born June 13, 1695, married Hannah Dibble and died Sept. 6, 1756; (2) Hannah, born May 3, 1699, died March 13, 1768; (3) Elizabeth, born Oct. 1, 1705, married John Stone and died April 14, 1781 ; (4) Thomas, sketch of whom follows; (5) George, born April 25, 1710, married Ruth Robinson and died Feb. 9, 1787; (6) Benjamin, born Jan. 29, 1712, died young ; (7) Reuben, born Nov. 2, 1713, went to Canada ; (8) Abigail, born March 10, 17-, died Oct. 11, 1774.
(IV) Thomas Hill, born Sept. 27, 1708, died in Guilford Feb. 23, 1792. On March 23, 1734, he married Hannah Pierson, of Bridgehampton, who died May 6, 1791. Children : (1) Lucy, born July 29, 1735, died Dec. 13, 1745; (2) Hannalı, born July 27, 1737, married Nathaniel Johnson and died Dec. 27, 1763; (3) Elizabeth, born Sept. 9, 1739, died July 28, 1748; (4) Thomas, a sketch of whom follows.
(V) Thomas Hill, born March 20, 1743, died April 4, 1820. On Oct. 13, 1767, he married Eliza- beth Fairchild, who died Feb. 28, 1812. Children : (1) Reuben, born April 23, 1769, died Sept. 23, 1775; (2) Thomas, sketch of whom follows; (3) William, born April 29, 1773, married Lucy Sco- vill and died Sept. 13, 1832; (4) Anson, born April 13, 1775, married Polly Arnold; (5) Mary, born Feb. 4, 1781, married Alex. McQuillan.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.