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 81
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HON. JOHN WALTER MIX, United States Collector at the Port of New Haven, and for many years a prominent manufacturer and business man at the town of Cheshire, Conn., is one of the sub- stantial and influential men of New Haven county.
Mr. Mix was born March 31, 1850, in Cheshire, a son of John and Eliza ( Merriman) Mix, and a descendant on both sides from early Colonial fam- ilies. On the paternal side he descends from Thomas Mix ( Mixx, or Meeks, as the spelling is varied), who came to New Haven from London. England, when a young man. In 1649 he married Rebecca Turner, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Turner, one of the most prominent Pilgrim settlers in New England. Thomas Mix died in 1691, and was buried near the old church in the burying ground on the "Green" in New Haven.
(II) John Mix, son of Thomas, was born in 1649, and in 1670 removed to Wallingford. He married Elizabeth Heaton, of New Haven. He died Jan. 21, 1711, and she passed away Aug. 21, following.
(II) Daniel Mix was born Sept. 8. 1653. On May 2, 1678, he married Ruth, daughter of John and Sarah ( Ensign) Rockwell, of Hartford, Conn.
(III) Thomas Mix, son of Daniel, was born March 25. 1679, and married on March 12, 1705, to Deborah Roys. -
(IV) Thomas Mix (2), son of Thomas, was
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born Nov. 27, 1709, and married on April 5, 1736, to Ruth Manross.
(V) John Mix, son of Thomas (2), born Aug. 25, .1750, married Dec. 10, 1781, Elizabethi Hall, who died Sept. 7. 1845. He died Oct. 3, 1824.
(VI) Jolın Mix (2), son of John, was born Feb. 10, 1784. On April 6, 1808, he married Olive Ives, who passed away Sept. 1, 1856. He died April 5, 1849.
(VII) John Mix (3), son of John (2), and fath- er of John Walter, was born Jan. 16, 1813, and he be- came one of the pioneer manufacturers at Cheshire. About 1830 Edward A. Cornwall had a small shop which was operated with water power from the Canal below the second lock, at a place then called Beachport, now West Cheshire, and there made coffee mills. Mr. Mix leased this shop, and began making Britannia spoons in a small way, increasing his output as the years passed until he came to en)- ploy a working force of more than thirty hands. He was also engaged in the manufacture of gim- lets and auger bits, and was in business until the abandonment of the Canal in 1846 took away his power. The place on Ten-Mile River afterward be- came Mixville, where a power had been improved to operate a small gristmill. Mr. Mix built new shops in which he made bits and gimlets. In 1853 he formed a stock company. entitled the John Mix Manufacturing Co .. and finally leased the factory in Mixville to J. W. Mix & Co., who sold out and removed to Southington, . and remained there eighteen months. Mr. Mix, however, continued the manufacture of edge tools in Cheshire until his retirement in 1876. His death occurred in March, 1889. He married Eliza Merriman, a daughter of Albert Merriman, a resident of Southington, and a man of much character and standing in his day.
(IX) John Walter Mix was educated in the Episcopal Military Academy of his native town and at Golden Hill Institute, Bridgeport. Conn. He became associated with his father in the manufac- ture of edge tools in 1876, and when his father retired, took full charge of the business, added a full line of carpenter's edge tools and, developing much business and mechanical ability. soon built up a very large business. In 1886 Mr. Mix took charge of a similar enterprise conducted by the firm of G. I. Mix & Co., at Yalesville, where he has made for himself a most admirable reputation in business circles, being well and favorably known, not only at home, but throughout the State.
terized by patriotic zeal, marked business ability, and won for him deserved distinction. In Febru- ary, 1899, Mr. Mix was appointed by Pres. McKin- ley, Collector of the Port of New Haven, an im- portant position which he has since filled with sig- nal ability. He is a member of the Republican! State Central Committee, the Union League, and the Young Men's Republican Club of New Haven, and the Home Club of Meriden. Collector Mix is one of the prominent Masons of the State, having taken the Thirty-Second Degree, and is now Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, and is Grand Captain General of the Grand Com- mandery of the Knights Templar.
On Oct. 2, 1872, Mr. Mix was married to Miss Kate Wallace, daughter of Franklin Wallace of Cheshire. This union was blessed with six chil- dren : Edna, Tenna ( died), Ethel, Helen, Clifford (died), and Breckenridge. Edna married Eugene A. Hall, treasurer of the town of Meriden, trustee of the State School for Boys, and treasurer and teller of the Meriden Savings Bank, and Eminent Commander of St. Elmo Commandery, K. T .; they have two children, Fanny and Edna. Helen gradu- ated from the State Normal School at New Britain in 1902, and Mrs. Hall and Ethel from the Meriden High School. Mrs. Hall was a teacher in the pub- lic schools for five years, including three years in New Haven. Ethel has been teaching in the Wal- lingford schools three years. The son, Breckenridge, is now a member of the Boardman Training School of New Haven. Mr. Mix is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. In January, 1902, Mr. Mix removed to Meriden, severing his connec- tion with the manufactory at Yalesville.
LEW ALLEN LIPSETTE, better known as Lew Allen, editor and one of the founders of the Meriden Daily Journal, is one of the best-known newspaper men in the State, and, in point of serv- ice, the oldest in the city of Meriden. He was born Feb. 18, 1852, in the city of New York, where he received his education in the public schools. His first independent undertaking was in newspaper work, and for more than a quarter of a century he has been engaged in journalism in Connecticut. He was city editor of the New Haven Union until 1886, when he became interested with Francis Atwater, Thomas L. Reilly and Frank E. Sands in forming the Journal Publishing Company, which began the issue of the Meriden Daily Journal. Mr. Allen was made vice president of this company, and has been editor of the paper from its birth. It has grown steadily in size and influence, and is to-day one of the most enterprising and successful newspapers in the State. It is a violation of no confidence. nor of any rule of propriety, to say that much of this prog- ress is due to the fertile inind and ready force of Mr. Allen.
From boyhood Mr. Mix has taken a deep inter- est in public affairs, and for years has been one of the prominent men in his native county, where he is now looked upon as an able and talented leader. In 1883 he was the representative of his town in the General Assembly. In 1892 he was defeated for State Senator, but in 1895 was triumphantly elected to that body, being re-elected in 1897, from the Sixth Senatorial District. His services to the In politics, Mr. Allen is an Independent. and he State as a member of the Legislature were charac- 1 has served as a member of the Meriden Common
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Council. For a period of five years he was a mem- ber of Co. I, 2nd Regiment, Conn. National Guard. He is connected with All Saints' Protestant Epis- copal Church of Meriden. Fraternally he belongs to Pilgrims' Harbor Council, No. 543, Royal Ar- canum.
In 1878 Mr. Allen married Miss Amelia Urick, and his family includes two sons, Walter and Lewis, Jr., now students in the Meriden High School.
WILLIS L .. MIX, who conducts one of the most popular and complete drug stores in the city of New Haven, and is prominent among druggists throughout the State, was born March 13, 1851, in New Haven, son of Lewis Mix, who is fully mentioned elsewhere.
Mr. Mix attended the public schools of his native city, and later was a student at Russell's ; Military Academy four years, after which, in 1867, he entered old Apothecaries Hall, acquiring his first knowledge of the drug business with Noves & Shepard. He was subsequently with Lannam & Sevin, in Norwich, and his last employer was J. H. Klock, who carried on the drug business at our subject's present location, Church and Chapel streets. MIr. Mix continued with Mr. Klock until the latter's death. He had enjoyed a partnership in the business for eighteen months prior to that event, and has since been sole proprietor, having purchased the remaining interest. In 1901, Mr. Mix completely renovated and refitted his estab- lishment, which is one of the largest and best appointed in the city, and also one of the best- known, having been carried on without interrup- tion for over fifty years. It was known for many years as Klock's drug store. Our subject has a large and varied assortment in his stock, and the large patronage he enjoys requires the services of six clerks. Mr. Mix is well known to the trade generally all over Connecticut. He was formerly president of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Asso- ciation, and is at present one of the State Board of Commissioners of Pharmacy, consisting of three druggists appointed by the governor to examine candidates for druggists' licenses.
On Dec. 29, 1875, Mr. Mix was united in mar- riage with Miss Harriet E. Bradley, a native of New Haven, and they have had one child, Claribel, who was educated in New Haven and Northamp- ton, Mass., and was married Nov. 20, 1901, to Albert L. Whitcomb, a photographer of Walling- ford, this county. Mrs. Mix was one of the six children of Frederick and Elvira ( Wakeley) Bradley, of whom Theodore S. is a resident of Meriden ; Harriet E. is Mrs. Mix; Mrs. L. L. Camp resides in New York: and Mrs. George T. Strong lives in Malden, Mass. The mother is still living in New Haven. Mr. Bradley was engaged as a carriage manufacturer and was a prominent citizen of New Haven.
Mr. Mix stands high in Masonic circles, having
taken the thirty-second degree. He holds mem- bership in Wooster Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is senior warden; Franklin Chapter ; Harmony Council, No. 8, in which he has held all the offices ; New Haven Commandery, No. 2, in which he has held a number of offices and was eminent com- mander in 1895; the Lodge of Perfection, of which he is grand senior warden; the Scottish Rite Ma- sons ; Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; is a trustee of the Grand Lodge of the State of Connec- ticut ; and is an active member of the Knights Templar Club. He also affiliates with the A. O. U. W., and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Mix is a Republican in political sentiment. In religious connection he is a Congre- gationalist, belonging to the Dwight Place Church, is a member of the society's committee and of the Congregational Club. A worker in all the organ- izations with which he is identified, progressive in his chosen line of business, and honorable in all the relations of life, he ranks high among his asso- ciates as a man whose intelligence and worth com- mend him to the unqualified esteem of all who know him.
OSCAR C. HUPFER, the junior member of the grocery firm of Pierce & Hupfer, of Britannia St., Meriden, is one of the esteemed citizens and successful business men of this city. He was born at Haydenville, Hampshire Co., Mass., June 16, 1862, and is of German descent.
Christian Hupfer, his grandfather, was a native of Germany, and was the owner and operator of a flour mill. He was twice married, his first wife being Christina Herman, who died in Germany. His second wife was Belina Millenzuer, who came to America with him and family about 1871. From New York Mr. Hupfer removed to East Hampton, Mass. In his native land he had followed milling, but he now settled down on a small farm and spent the remainder of his days on it, dying in 1896, at the age of eighty-four years. His burial took place in East Hampton. In Germany he belonged to the Lutheran Church, but his religious views were broad enough to enable him to take comfort in the Congregational services held in his vicinity. He was a Democrat in his political belief. Mrs. Hup- fer still resides in East Hampton. A family of twenty-four children was born to Mr. Hupfer, thir- teen by his first marriage, the survivors being as follows : Charles Frederick: Minnie: Sidonia, who married William Sanford of Meriden ; Au- gustina, who resides in East Hampton : Ernestina. who married Albert O. Hartenstine. of Meriden. Of the eleven children born to the second marriage, the survivors are as follows: Mary, who married Henry C. Kline, of Meriden : Sarah, who married Mr. Knodel, of East Hampton: Frederick: Rich- ard : and Hattie. who resides at East Hampton.
Charles Frederick Hupfer, father of Oscar C .. was born in Germany, and was given a good, Ger-
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man education, and then learned the trade of gold- smith. His father having a large family and busi- ness prospects not looking very bright for the young man's future, he left home and emigrated to America while still in his teens. By the time he reached New York his means were pretty well ex- hausted, but his destination was Haydenville, Mass., and he managed to reach there, soon finding work at his trade with some of his countrymen. Later he removed to East Hampton, where he industrious- ly followed his trade, quietly accumulating means, and in middle life was able to invest the same in a small farm, to which he then retired and which he is still engaged in operating. In his commun- ity, Mr. Hupfer is much respected for his honesty and industry, and he is a leading member of the Lutheran Church. In former years he was a Demo- crat, but later issues caused him to become a Re- publican.
In East Hampton, Mass., Mr. Hupfer married Wilhelmina ( Minnie) Knipfer, born in Saxony, Germany, daughter of William Knipfer, who owned and operated a woolen mill, in Germany. Mrs. Hupfer, the mother of our subject, still resides in her home in East Hampton, Mass. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hupfer were: Minnie, who married Frank Miller, resides in East Hampton, Mass .; Oscar C .; Max L., of Bridgeport, Conn .; Charles August, who resides in East Hampton ; Flora, at home ; and one that died in infancy.
Oscar C. Hupfer moved with his parents from Ilaydenville to East Hampton, where he had school advantages for a short time. As early as nine years he began to be a wage earner, in the East Hampton woolen mills, remaining there, a faithful employe, until he reached his majority, in the meantime con- tributing to the family support. From early child- hood he had displayed musical talent, and as soon as he was able to do so, began the serious study of the clarionet, mastering this musical instrument, and becoming so perfect a performer upon it, that when he discontinued work at the mills, he was able to make this tuneful little instrument a source of income. He started out on the road on a trial trip with a minstrel troupe, and later was connected with the Si Perkins Comedy Co., the J. C. Lewis Comedy Co., as clarionet performer, and met with such success that he remained in the musical line for some six years, traveling all over the country.
In 1886 Mr. Hupfer decided to locate, and with this end in view came to Meriden and accepted a position with the lamp department of the Charles Parker Co., where he remained for five years, dur- ing all this time playing in the Meriden Opera House orchestra. Then Mr. Hupfer accepted a clerical position in a store conducted by Shaw Bros., on Britannia St., where he spent one year, when, in company with his brother-in-law, HI. At- chison Pierce, he bought out the interest of Shaw Bros. and embarked in the grocery business. Since that time the business had been enlarged and ex-
tended and the firm name has become one asso- ciated with upright methods and honorable deal- ings. No concern in the city stands better with the trade and the general public than does that of Pierce & Hupfer. After a business life of eleven years they have the assurance that their efforts to secure and keep patronage meets with public ap- proval.
On June 6, 1886, Mr. Hupfer was married in East Hampton, Mass., to Miss Edna E. Pierce, born in Windsor, Mass., daughter of Orris G. and Harriet Pierce. Three children have been born to this union : Raymond Douglas, Clarence Welling- ton and Emma Harriet. Fraternally Mr. Hupfer is connected with Center Lodge, No. 97, Meriden, A. F. & A. M .; Meriden Center Lodge, I. O. O. F., taking an active interest in both organizations. Mr. Hupfer is also deeply interested in musical matters in Meriden, and is a member of the Edwin D. Korn orchestra, contributing to it a high order of musical ability. In politics he is a Republican. His fam- ily attend the Congregational Church.
Although Mr. Hupfer is now one of the sub- stantial men of Meriden, he was the architect of his own fortunes. His industry and ability have brought him from the very bottom of the ladder. and his present prosperity is justly deserved. He enjoys the respect of all classes for he is widely known for his upright character, his charitable ac- tions and his devotion to the best interests of his community.
JAMES T. MORAN is one of the younger members of the New Haven bar, who has taken high rank in the profession, and who maintains a creditable position in society as a man and a citizen.
Mr. Moran was born Sept. 19, 1864. in the town of North Haven, Conn., a son of Thomas and Maria (Cullom) Moran. He attended the public schools of New Haven and the Hillhouse high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1883. The following year he was graduated from the Yale Law School, with the degree of LL. B., and the following year received the grad- uate degree of M. L. from Yale University. Soon after his graduation he was admitted to the bar in New Haven, and he presently became a member of the prominent law firm of Tyler, Ingersoll & Mor- an. For the past seventeen years he has been carnestly and indefatigably engaged in the practice of his profession with abundant and deserved suc- cess, and he is the general attorney of the Southern New England Telephone Company.
Mr. Moran's political affiliations are with the Democratic party, and in municipal affairs he has been quite active and useful. His manly character- isties and faithful labors in his profession have con- mended him to the consideration of his fellow citi- zens. For three years he served as a member of the common council, being the president of that body in 1888. From 1888 to 1892 he was a di-
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rector of the Free Public Library. Since 1893 he has been a valued member of the board of educa- tion, and is chairman of the committee on schools. For three years he was a member of the board of police commissioners, and has been president of the Hillhouse High School Alumni Association.
Mr. Moran was married April 27, 1898, to Miss Mary E. Mckenzie, of New Haven, and they have one child, Helen, born Jan. 1, 1902. Socially Mr. Moran is a member of the Graduates Club and Knights of St. Patrick, both of New Haven, and of the Yale Club, of New York City.
BYRON DAVID WELTON. Prominent among the enterprising and successful business men of Waterbury, New Haven county, is this well-known dealer in grain, feed, coal and wood. He is one of the native sons of that town, having been born in Waterville, Nov. 21, 1851.
The Welton family is one of the oldest and most highly respected in the . State. The first to come to America was John Welton, a native of England, and one of the first settlers of Farm- ington, Com., as well as one of the pioneers of Wat- erbury, whither he came in 1679, and where he died June 18, 1726. His wife, Mary, died Oct. 18, 1716.
Richard Welton, son of John, was born and reared in Waterbury, and spent. the last years of his life on Bucks Hill, that town. where he pur- chased a house and land of Joseph Gaylord, Jr. He died in 1755. In the year 1701 he wedded Mary, daughter of Stephen Upson, and to. them were born nine children.
Richard Welton, Jr., the . eldest child of Rich- . ard, was born in Waterbury Jan. 5. 1702, and re- moved with his parents to Bucks Hill, where lie spent the remainder of his life engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He was well known and was very prominent in public affairs. His death occurred Jan. 11, 1766, and his remains were interred on Bucks Hill. On Nov. 3, 1724, he married Anna Fenton, daughter of Jonathan Fenton, of Fairfield, Conn., and they had five children: Anna, born Aug. 17, 1725, married John Brown; John, the next in order of birth, is mentioned below : Abi was born Oct. 29, 1729: Titus, born Oct. 20, 1732, died July 9, 1757; and Abby, born Oct. 3. 1738, married Thomas Fenn.
John Welton, son of Richard, Jr., was born on Bucks Hill Jan. 26, 1727, and he spent his entire life at that place, where he owned and operated a farm. He was known as John Welton, Esq., and was a man of prominence in his community. He died Jan. 22, 1816, and was buried on Bucks Hill. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dorcas Hickcock, was born July 11. 1736, a daughter of Capt. Samuel and Mary ( Hopkins) Hickcock, and granddaughter of William Hickcock. They had ten children : Abi, born Nov. 2. 1758. died May 14, 1828; the second died in infancy; Mary, born June 10, 1760, married Hezekiah Phelps and died
Sept. 6, 1811 ; Ann, born Feb. 11, 1762, died May 10, 1803; Titus was born July 3, 1764; Richard Fenton was born April 17, 1767; Jolin, born Oct. 28, 1700, died Dec. 1, 1776; Dorcas, born Oct. 29, 1771, died July 23, 1793; Adrian is mentioned be- low; and John, born Jan. 13, 1778, died April 2, 1813.
Adrian Welton, son of John, was born on Bucks Hill, Feb. 15, 1775, and died Oct. 26, 1804.
Horace Clark Welton, son of Adrian, a farmer of Bucks Hill, was born Feb. 15, 1801, and was married June 20, 1823, to Sophia Bradley, who was born April 1, 1804, a daughter of Daniel Brad- ley, of Plymouth Bay. They had two children, of whom William Alonzo, born Dec. 20, 1824, was married Nov. 10, 1847, to Eliza Prichard, daughter of Leonard Prichard.
FREDERICK ALONZO WELTON, the younger son of Horace C., was born on Bucks Hill April 8, 1827, was reared on his father's farm, and received a district-school education. At the age of sixteen he went to Waterville, where he worked in a knife shop for several years, and then removed to New Haven, where he engaged in business for eighteen years. On his return to Waterville he resumed work in the knife shop, and was thus employed un- til he embarked in the grain, feed, coal and wood business, which he successfully carried on until his death, building up a large trade. He passed away Sept. 20, 1897, honored and respected by all who knew him, and was laid to rest in Bucks Hill cemetery. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. In all the relations of life he was found true to every trust reposed in him, and he was very popular with his fellow citizens. On Jan. 1, 1851, Mr. Welton was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Maria Boyden, who was born Oct. 6, 1828, a daughter of David and Lucy Ann ( Scott) Boyden, the former a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. Welton's maternal grandparents were Joel and Hannah ( Bronson ) Scott. Mrs. Welton, who was an earnest member of the Episcopal Church, and a most estimable lady, died in July, 1897, and was buried in Bucks Hill cemetery. To her mar- riage with Mr. Welton were born two sons: Byron David, our subject; and Edward, who died at the age of seven years.
During his boyhood Byron D. Welton pursued his studies in the district schools of Waterville and a private school at New Haven. He began his busi- ness career with his father in the knife shop at Waterville, and was thus employed until his father's death, when he assumed control of the grain, feed, coal and wood business, which he has since carried on with marked success, being a man of unusually good business ability and sound judgment. He holds membership in the Episcopal Church, and casts his ballot for the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. In Waterville he married Miss Harriet L. Hubbard, a native of
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Terryville, Litchfield Co., Conn., and to them have been born two children: Clark Hubbard, now at- tending school ; and Mary, who died at the age of four years.
WILLARD S. PAIN, superintendent of the works of the Acolian Co., at Meriden, and secretary of the company, might well be termed a thorough- bred. He comes to his calling by birth and breed- ing, and so is naturally fitted for it. His fathers before him were musicians and musical mechanics, and he has a son preparing to follow hini. He, himself, was born in the city of New York, Oct. 2, 1855.
Stephen Pain, his paternal grandfather. was a native of Dover, County Kent, England, and a mu- sician and church organist there. He was also a composer, and a man devoted to his profession and its work. He married a Miss Willard, of the same town, and they had three children: Robert W. father of Willard S., and who is with his son in the employ of the Aeolian Co .; Annie, who married William Gardner ; and Mary, who never married. These with their mother he brought to America locating in New York, where he passed the remain- der of his days, and where also his wife died. They were members of the M. E. Church.
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