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 34
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The Judge is an ardent Republican, and from an early age has been influential in public matters, his wide popularity making him a most desirable candidate. He has served on the board of town- ship assessors fifteen years, being chairman of that board except during the first year, and for ten years he was on the borough board. In 1886 he was elected justice of the peace as well as assessor, and he continued as trial justice of the town until the establishment of the town court in 1895, when he was appointed to the position of deputy judge and clerk of the town court. This appointment was for two years, and at the end of that time. he was reappointed, serving until 1899, when he was again reappointed, to serve until 1901. During the time of his service as trial justice he did a large amount of work, and had a great number of cases, and the duties of his late incumbency he dispatched with marked ability. The appreciation of the pub- lic is shown by the fact that he has been success- ively elected at yearly elections since 1886, making fifteen years in all. He was one of the building committee of the new town hall. When the new Union school building was erected he was on the school committee, and was the inspector of build- ing from start to finish, overlooking all the work.
EDWIN FRANCIS MERSICK, who died . April 8, 1898, was throughout his active life prom- inently identified with business interests in the city of New Haven, where he made his home from boyhood. By diligence and perseverance he
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gained a high standing in the commercial world, where as a successful man of affairs his judg- ment was sought and highly valued.
Mr. Mersick was born in New York City Jan. 8, 1838, son of John C. and Sarah (Daggett) Mer- sick, the former a native of Boston, Mass., the latter of New Haven. John C. Mersick lived re- tired in New Haven for some years prior to his death, which occurred in that city in January, 1887. His wife lived to the advanced age of eighty. They were the parents of two children, Edwin Francis (our subject) and Charles Smith.
Edwin F. Mersick was reared in New Haven, and in his early years attended both public and private schools. He commenced business life as a clerk with English, Dickman & English, and finally formed a partnership with James G. Eng- lish, continuing in business up to the time of his death. He was a director in the Mechanics Bank. treasurer of the Rattan Chair Co., and connected in various other ways with the most important in- dustries of the city, taking also an active interest in public affairs and improvements.
Mr. Mersick was twice married, his first wife having been Emily Augusta Cannon, by whom he liad one daughter, Sarah Emily, who is now the wife of Frederick T. Bradley. For his second wife Mr. Mersick wedded Mary Emma Lewis, who survives him. Mr. Mersick was an active member of Trinity Church, in which he served as vestryman, and socially he belonged to the Quinni- piac Club and other organizations. He took especial delight in books, and was an unusually well-read man.
ORLANDO JONES. Among the reliable, substantial and prosperous farmers of Hamden, New Haven county, there is probably no one who stands higher in the public estimation than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born in the town of Meredith, Delaware Co., N. Y., April 19, 1827. a son of Edward and Nancy (Churchill) Jones. When he was five years of age the family removed to Wayne county, Penn., where they lived until 1844, and then came to Hamden, Conn. Here the father died at the age of sixty-six years. He had eight children, of whom our subject is the oldest; Almira (Mrs. D. C. Stebbins) is now a resident of Vergennes. Vt .; Edwin is deceased ; Willis lives in Buffalo. N. Y .; Charles makes his home in Bristol, Conn .; Malinda is the wife of Edward Jones, of Hamden; Emma is deceased; and Eliza is the wife of Harry Davis, of Wallingford, Connecticut.
Orlando Jones was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania, where he made his home until seventeen years of age. On coming to Ham- den, he entered the auger factory of his maternal . uncles, Joel N. & Levi Churchill, which is now owned by the Hamden Manufacturing Co., at Augerville, and there he learned the trade of
auger making. After working for that firm eight years, he went to Westville, Conn., where he was employed in Wales French's auger factory from 1852 to 1857, and then entered the iron foundry of Guy Hotchkiss, manufacturer of axles, and was in his employ until 1869, since which time he has been engaged in farming and market gardening upon the farm in Hamden where he now lives; and he has built all the buildings thereon, the home being erected there in 1862.
On April 18. 1855, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Sylva J. Thomas, daughter of Caleb and Hattie Thomas, and by this union two sons were born: ( I) Lester O., a market gardener of Hamden, married Miss Mabel Ripley, of Paris, Me .; he is one of the selectmen of Hamden. (2) Burton T., also a market gardener of Hamden, married Miss Alice Woodcock, a native of Eng- land, who came to the United States when a girl. Fraternally Mr. Jones affiliated with Day Spring Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., and politically is identi- fied with the Republican party. As a citizen he has the good of the community at heart and gives his support to those enterprises calculated to ad- vance the general welfare. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense. His start in the world was his own ambition and his energy, and his life has been a busy and active one, but withal he is a very well preserved man.
HENRY HOMER OLDS, deceased. For al- most sixty-four years Henry H. Olds, of New Ha- ven, lived a life of industry and uprightness, and at his death June 16, 1888, he left behind him a rec- ord of honorable dealing and Christian conduct.
The birth of Mr. Olds occurred July 6, 1825, in New Haven. Homer Olds, his father, was a na- tive of Southwick, Mass., and his mother, Clarissa (Avery) Olds, was born in Wallingford, Conn. The Olds family is an old one in the State of Massachu- setts, the early records telling of five brothers of the name coming over in the "Mayflower" and set- tling there. Homer Olds was a cigar maker by trade and followed it in New Haven until his death, when he left two children: Henry H., the subject of this biography; and Ann, who married a Mr. Stout, also a cigar maker, who removed to the State . of New Jersey. The mother passed away at the residence of her son in New Haven.
At the age of fourteen, Henry H. Olds began his business career as a farmer boy on the estate of Capt. Samuel Thompson, in East Haven, leaving there to go to New York, to act as errand boy in a livery stable for his uncle. Erastus Beach. Two years later he returned to New Haven and first learned the blacksmith and boiler making trade, and later the brass molding trade, following the latter until 1851. We are not informed what turned his attention to the pie-making business, in which he so signally succeeded, and by which he accumulated a large fortune, but it was in 1851 that he first began
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it. For eight years Mr. Olds studied every method of the pie-making trade, becoming thoroughly ac- quainted with all its details and a competent judge of all ingredients. In 1859 he established a pie bakery in Providence, R. I., for a short time, but the competition was great there, and in 1861 he re- turned to New Haven and built the large establish- ment at No. 403 Chapel street. From the first it was a success, for Mr. Olds was its conscientious manager himself, and he held his goods to the high standard he inaugurated ; and before long his trade doubled, and continued to grow, until his business represented the second largest house of its kind in the United States.
On July 6, 1855, Mr. Olds took to himself a wife, fitted in every way to be his capable and con- genial companion, this estimable lady still residing in New Haven. She was Miss Elizabeth Camp- bell, a native of County Down, Belfast, Ireland, a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Clemens) Camp- bell, both natives of Ireland, where they spent their lives. ' No children were born of this union, but Mrs. Olds takes great interest in charitable and church work. Both she and her husband were much attached to the Universalist Church, to which Mr. Olds contributed freely, even giving a church edifice to the society, but his gifts were given so quietly that of the major number of them the world knew nothing.
In speaking of the lamented death of Mr. Olds, the New Haven Palladium said: "Mr. Olds led a pure and benevolent life. Patriotic and honest, he stood by his country in the dark days of the war, and was a friend of the poor and oppressed. He was early guided by Christian principles, though not until late in life did he make a Christian profession."
CHARLES L. NORTHROP was born Feb. 26, 1828. in Bethany, this county, and despite his seventy-four years is hale and hearty, and well preserved in both mind and body.
Bela Northrop, his grandfather, was a native of the same town, and followed the occupation of a farmer, also running a saw and gristmill. He married Betsey Johnson, and to their union were born five children: Marvin (the father of our subject), Allen, George, Clark and Rebecca.
Marvin Northrop was born in Bethany, and followed farming throughout life, dying at the ad- vanced age of eighty-one years. He married Mary Sperry, who was born Sept. 26, 1805, daughter of Micah Sperry, a farmer of Bethany, and is still living, having passed her ninety-sixth milestone. Eight children were born to Marvin Northrop and his wife, three of whom are deceased, the others being as follows: Charles L. is our subject : Delia married David Smith, of Woodbridge; Elizur A. resides in Brooklyn. N. Y .; Sarah is the wife of Julius Merwin, of New Haven; and Marshall is associated in business with his brother Charles. Both parents were devout members of the Episco-
pal Church. Mr. Northrop was regarded as one of the most energetic and successful farmers of lris day.
Charles L. Northrop, after reaching manhood, bought a farm in Woodbridge, but subsequently learned the carpenter's trade and was for fourteen years a successful contractor and builder. In ad- dition he engaged in the manufacture of matches at Woodbridge for twenty-five years. In 1896 he disposed of his interest in Bethany and Wood- bridge, and removed to West Haven, at first oc- cupying a house not far from his present location. It was not long, however, before he secured the very desirable property which he now occupies, and to which he has given the very appropriate name of "Fairview," inasmuch as it overlooks a wide and fascinating marine landscape. Here he entertains boarders, and the house has already be- come a popular resort for pleasure seekers.
On July 14, 1850, Mr. Northrop was married to Adeline F. Andrew, a daughter of Nehemiah and Phinctt (Sperry) Andrew, prosperous farm- ing people of Bethany. Five children have blessed their union, and three are yet living: (1) Mary married William H. Beecher, a successful ice dealer of New Haven, and has one daughter, Addie, who is now the wife of Burt Dickerson, superintendent of a trolley line in Salisbury, Mass., and has one daughter, Lila. (2) Elmer was form- erly a blacksmith in Bethany, where he is now in tne carpenter business; he married Lucia North- rop, and is the father of four children, Clara (Mrs. Louis Sandland), Viola, Sadie and Charles. (3) William, the youngest, is his father's partner in business ; he married Mary Moody, who died Sept. 28, 1899.
Politically Mr. Northrop is a Democrat, and was an efficient member of the board of relief in Woodbridge. He commands universal respect, alike for his qualities of head and heart.
STEPHEN GUY GILBERT is a representa- tive merchant as well as one of the substantial and thorough business men of the town of North Haven. His ancestors were old and honored set- tlers of Connecticut, and his grandfather, Stephen Gilbert, was a native of Hamden, where he fol- lowed farming on the old place now known as the Pickett farm. He is remembered as a quiet man, who lived a typical rural life, farming extensively and dealing justly by his neighbors, the only prom- inence he desired being in the Episcopal Church, of which he was a devout member. He married Betsey Fowler, of New Haven, and they had two children : Chloe and Stephen C. The daughter married Alfred Bassett, and lived in Hamden, later in New Haven, where Mr. Bassett held an important office in the Customs House.
Stephen C. Gilbert was born May 7, 1802, in Harrington, where his father owned a farm and was living at that time. His education was only
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that afforded by the district schools, but he so applied himself to his books that he was able to teach, through the winters, and worked on a farm during the summers. After his marriage he opened a general store in Centerville, town of Hamden, which he conducted several years. Dis- posing of his mercantile business in 1830, he came to North Haven, where he opened a general store in the basement of his house, which is located next to the store of his son, and remained until increasing business made necessary the erection of the present building used as a store. Mr. Gilbert was an energetic and intelligent man, and but for the lack of early education might have become prominent in many lines, his natural ability mak- ing him a leader in many things in spite of disad- vantages. His accomplishments as a penman were well known. Almost any local position of honor was open to him, and during 1875-76 lie repre- sented the town in the Legislature; for a number of years he served as town clerk. Many sought his advice in business, and he was always ready to assist any who came to him. His death, which occurred in February, 1886, was mourned by the whole community. His devoted and estimable wife, Luanna P. Abbott, was born April 3, 1810, in North Haven, a daughter of John Abbott, a merchant there. Her death occurred in Decem- ber, 1891. She was a kind and charitable neigh- bor. Children were born of this union as follows: Stephen G .; George Edward; Anna Maria, who married F. E. Ives, of Mt. Carmel; John Pierson ; and Mary, who married A. E. Austin.
Stephen G. Gilbert was born July 18, 1829, in the town of Centerville, came with his parents to North Haven when he was but a year old, and received his education in the district schools. When old enough he left home and entered the employ of B. Douglass & Son, confectioners of New Haven, as traveling salesman over the State of Connecticut, and. remained with them twenty years, at the expiration of that time returning to North Haven and entering the store of his father, where he was needed. After his father's death he took charge of the business and has successfully conducted it ever since. From 1885 to 1889 Mr. Gilbert was postmaster, under President Cleve- land, but has never been willing to accept local of- fices. Commercially and socially he is one of the representative citizens of North Haven.
Mr. Gilbert married Celia Louise Fish, a na- tive of Grand View, N. Y., and a daughter of Asa N. and Harriet (Crossett) Fish. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have one of the most desirable residences in the town. They are members of St. John's Episcopal Church.
CHARLES SAMUEL GILLETTE, one of the most progressive citizens and prominent agri- culturists of Cheshire, was born in Colchester, New London Co., Conn., July 15, 1840, and traces
his ancestry back to the first Puritan settlers in New England. The family was originally fromn France, but removed to England during the days of William the Conqueror, and from the latter country came to America, first locating in Massa- chusetts, and later in Windsor, Conn. Descend- ants of these pioncers are now widely scattered over the American continent.
Samuel S. Gillette, the father of our subject, was also a native of Colchester, and a son of Sam- uel Gillette, a farmer and land owner of New Lon- don county, where his death occurred. The fa- ther received a good common-school education, and for several years successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of his native county. Sub- sequently he located upon a farm in the town of Colchester, and devoted the remainder of his life to general farming and stock raising and dealing. He was a Whig and later a Republican in politics, was an active member of the Congregational Church, and was quite a prominent and highly re- spected man in his community. He married Jose- phine Babcock, a native of East Haddam. Middle- sex county, and a daughter of Samuel Babcock, one of the old and respected settlers of that place, and a descendant of an old Rhode Island family. By this union were born four children : Charles Samuel, subject of this sketch; Oscar, who died in New Orleans while a soldier of the Civil war; Dwight, who lives on the old homestead; and Selden L., a resident of Kent, Ohio. Both par- ents died on the old homestead, and were buried in Colchester cemetery. The mother was also an earnest member of the Congregational Church.
The primary education of Charles S. Gillette was obtained in the district schools near his boy- hood home, and was supplemented by a course at the Colchester Academy. He remained under the parental roof until attaining man's estate, and learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, at which he worked for several years, and then bought a farm, which he operated for two years. At the end of that time he removed to the town of Meri- den, where he followed farming until coming to Cheshire, in 1874, when he purchased the Anson Tuttle farm of fifty-three acres, which he has since greatly improved. In connection with farm- ing he continued to work at his trade in the town of Cheshire and other sections of the county for several years, and in 1890 embarked in the feed and agricultural implement business. He now represents several different manufacturers of farm machinery in the United States, and is also agent for fertilizers. He is a man of good business and executive ability, is enterprising and progressive, and upright and honorable in all his dealings.
Mr. Gillette was married, in Stroudsburg, Pa., to Miss Emma Laing, a native of Johnsonburg, Warren Co., N. J., who is well educated and is a talented musician. Mrs. Gillette is a daughter of Joseph C. and Phœbe A. (Bunting) Laing, na-
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tives of the same vicinity. Her grandparents were Samnel and Edith (Lundy) Laing, natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively. The family has been traced back to Aberdeen, Scot- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Gillette have been born two children: Charles, deceased; and Dwight Laing. They have taken three girls to rear, one of whom is deceased. The eldest, Minna Bunting, is now the wife of W. Percy Bristol, of Meriden ; tue youngest, Amy, is now a student in the public schools. Dwight L. Gillette was educated in the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire, and holds a di- ploma from the Amherst ( Mass.) Agricultural College. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette are members of the Congregational Church, and he is a Republi- can in politics. He is a charter member of the Grange, and has served as chaplain of the same ; and has been elected to several local positions of honor and trust, having served as selectman of Cheshire and also assessor and justice of the peace, the duties of which offices he most capably and satisfactorily discharged.
GLADWIN. This family, of which Gilbert A. Gladwin, one of Meriden's highly respected citi- zens, and the late Hon. Russell S. Gladwin, were descendants, is one of the oldest and most respect- ed in Middlesex county, and is of English origin.
Joseph Gladwin, the grandfather of Gilbert A., was born in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Conn., in 1763, was a farmer, and served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His life ended in Saybrook, May 3, 1823. His four sons were Silas, Elisha, Alva and Joseph.
Joseph Gladwin (2), son of Joseph (1), was born Dec. 22, 1791, in Saybrook, and was engaged through life in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred at an advanced age, and ne rests in Deep River cemetery. In politics he was an Old-line Whig, and for many years he was a leading mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Joseph Gladwin was married in Saybrook to Sally Doane, who was born June 3, 1796, a daughter of Edmund and Sally ( Bushnell ) Doane, and died Feb. 6, 1874. Chil- dren as follows were born to them: Chapman, born June 2, 1819, resides in Essex, Conn. ; Almira, born March 6, 1821, married William L. Jones and died April 29, 1887; Russell Samuel and Gil- bert A., both mentioned below; Juliet, born Dec. 27, 1828, died March 3, 1829; Joseph S., born March 2, 1830, served in the 15th Conn. V. I., dur- ing the Civil war, and is a painter in Westbrook, Conn .; Juliet, born July 30, 1832, married L. E. Dennison, of Saybrook, and died Feb. 16, 1857; Augustus T., born May 19, 1835, died April 15, 1862: and Ecford H., born July 16, 1838, is a blacksmith in Essex.
The late RUSSELL SAMUEL GLADWIN was born in Saybrook Aug. 23, 1823, grew up on the farm, was educated in the district and private schools. He learned blacksmithing, and coming to Meriden
engaged in work at his trade, with Lucius Smith as a partner, later becoming a foreman in the forg- ing department of the Parker Bros. gun factory, in which he was a director. Still later he became a member of a stock company which engaged in the manufacture of steel shears, this concern after- ward being known as the Miller Bros. Cutlery Co. After disposing of his interest in this company, Mr. Gladwin engaged for a number of years, in- dependently, in the same line of work. In 1849 he joined the gold seekers in California, and re- mained three years. Late in life he became an invalid, and was kindly cared for by his brother Gilbert A., who also looked after his business in- terests. For many years Mr. Gladwin was a prom- inent Republican, was a member of the city coun- cil, and the second mayor of Meriden, holding the office with credit and ability; the first mayor was the venerable Charles Parker. Mr. Gladwin was a prominent member of the Baptist Society, a good man, an excellent citizen, beloved by his family and the community. Socially he had long been a member of Center Lodge, No. 97, A. F. & A. M., of Meriden. The death of this prominent citizen occurred May 15, 1900, and his interment took place in Walnut Grove cemetery. In 1847 he was married to Eunice A. Averill, who was born in Branford, Conn., daughter of David and Polly Averill. Two children were born to this union, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Gladwin passed away April 15, 1895, at the age of seventy- two years, and was buried in Walnut Grove cem- etery. She, too, had been a consistent member of the Baptist Church.
GILBERT A. GLADWIN was born on the old homestead in Saybrook, Sept. 12, 1826. His edu- cation was obtained in the district and private schools, and until early manhood he worked on the home farm. Possessed of business ability and mechanical genius, while still a young man he be- came a manufacturer of joiners' tools, carrying on a successful business in Winthrop until 1861, at which time he accepted a position as pattern- maker in the Parker gun shop, in Meriden. Mr. Gladwin and Philo Hart were the makers of the pattern for the first printing-press in Meriden, which was used by The Recorder, established by the well-known Luther Riggs. Until 1865 Mr. Gladwin remained with the Parker Co., and then, in association with H. R. Tooley, he embarked in the furniture business, the firm style being Tooley & Gladwin. This partnership lasted until 1869, when Mr. Gladwin bought the interest of Mr. Tooley and continued with Choate Howard until 1879, and with others of the Howard family until 1884, when he sold out this enterprise, which is now conducted by the Howard Brothers, on Colony street. For the past sixteen years Mr. Gladwin has employed his time in looking after his own and his brother's real-estate interests. For many years he was a very prominent factor
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in the business world of Meriden, in which he was well and favorably known.
On Nov. 6, 1848, Mr. Gladwin was married in Winthrop, town of Saybrook, ' to Marietta E. Jones, who was born in Winthrop, Jan. 12, 1827, a daughter of Capt. Zina Jones, of Saybrook. Her death occurred April 18, 1851, and she was in- terred in Winthrop cemetery. The only child of this marriage, Marietta E., was born April 14, 1851, and married Edwin P. Hall; their three children are Arthur G., a newspaper man of New York City; Abbie; and Mabel, the latter engaged in the art and embroidery business in Meriden. On March 31, 1852, he married for his second wife Abigail W. Loomis, who was born May 9, 1826, a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Williams) Loomis, and a granddaughter of Simon and Sallie ( Hol- brook) Loomis. Her death occurred in Meriden Aug. 6, 1898, and she was buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs. Gladwin was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, a lady of Christian charac- ter, gracious presence and winning personality.
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