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 4 > Part 38
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I continued in the employ of other parties a few years, first with E. A. & G. Coles, selling dry goods. I was one year with Parker & White, selling dry goods, and had the pleasure of hearing them say, when I settled in the spring, that I had given them satisfaction. They paid me about eighty dollars per month, and thereby I was able to pay Uncle Robert Paddock, and I think I settled my note with Mr. Coy with brick, which he transferred to Samuel Yale.
I then went to New York and purchased goods for myself, having no one to recommend my credit. I went to one store where Major Cowles and his son-in-law, Mr. Churchill, were sitting, and Major Cowles said to me, "Mr. Paddock, what are you ; doing here in New York?" "I came down to buy some goods to take to Alabama, if they will sell them on time." Major Cowles said to Mr. Church-
corn bread. We stood it for a few months, then moved about four miles down to the river to a Mr. Archa Howard's. We had fine board and enjoyed it very much. We rented a store there, and in the spring our youngest, George Byron, was teething and appeared quite feeble. Our eldest babe, Mary, was well, but we concluded it would be safer for the sickly babe to come North. We went as far as Savannah, then took a sailing vessel for New York. We were thirteen days on the water, which was very favorable for Byron. The child had overcome his trouble and become well again, after our return. We cleared at least fifteen hundred dollars in the winter's work.
We spent the summer at home and purchased more goods and hired John Lucky Ives to go with us. I stayed in the store and Mr. Ives did the traveling. We did very well through the winter, and closed up our business for the season. In re- turning I had an interesting trip. Mr. Ives came with us. The railroad between Montgomery and Columbus, Ga., was built, but from Columbus we took a stage. I did not like the driver's actions, therefore I became a little anxious about traveling in the night. In the night about midnight the stage stopped. The driver seemed to be fixing the car- riage, and I supposed everything was all right.
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About twc o'clock in the morning the driver stopped to change horses, which they did every ten miles. I got out and put my hand back to see if my trunks were all right, then got back in the stage and rode on to the next stop. Just at the break of day the driver got off his seat and came to the back of the stage and said, "The stage has been robbed." I got out and saw that my trunk was gone, in which were valuable papers, about eighty dollars that men South had given me to purchase goods for them, and six or seven thousand dollars worth of accounts and bills. I said to the stage driver, "Drive on, and I will go back and find my trunk, if possible." The driver said there was no use. I instructed my wife to go on with Mr. Ives to the end of the stage route. I engaged two horses and a man to go back with me. The servants had been tracking over the road, but inspiration seemed to direct me, after I had gone nearly ten miles, to what seemed to be a suspicious track. I got off my horse, found a stick and measured the track, both length and breadth, then put the stick in my pocket. We rode back to the stage stand and I ordered breakfast for myself and servant. I engaged four or five men to go back and hunt for the trunk. We went back to the track, and, supposing it to turn to the left, looked the ground over and over and over again. I seemed to be impressed that that side of the road would be the one. We looked until dinner time, went up to the house, ate our dinner, and going back I saw the same track and it was going across the road. All hands went on the other side of the road and hunted for an hour or two in the woods and bushes. By the middle of the afternoon one of the men gave a loud shout, a regular Southern yell, and we sup- posed he had come across the trunk. All hands went to where he was, and found the trunk. It was in a nest of leaves and had been opened, all the silver being gone, as well as tobacco and some essence. All my stockings had been opened to see if they could find something. The papers remained. I had it carried to a blacksmith and the lid fixed and ready to go on the next stage. The stage being filled, I was compelled to put my trunk on the top and get up there myself. I found my wife and Mr. Ives at the end of the route. From Savannah we had no trouble and reached home safely, all standing it very well.
I continued in the South for several winters, with my family, and returned in summer. Having spent so much time among the plantations, which in Lowndes county were large, I had an opportunity of seeing the working of the institutions, and saw scenes which surpassed "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in showing the cruelties of slavery.
The question of slavery or Free-soil in the new territories impressed me as a great one, and my vote being in Meriden I decided to cast it for Free- soil and John C. Fremont. I was told by Mr. Yale, the postmaster at Meriden, "If you cast that vote it will raise the devil with your business." Still I | all I owed-at least, eighteen thousand dollars. He
voted, and my partner, Mr. R. D. Twombly, in Ala- bama, wrote nie that he understood I had voted for Fremont, "That being the case, you cannot sell goods here." I wrote him, and did not deny that I voted for Free-soil. He wrote, "It will not be safe for you to come to Alabama," and I took his advice and remained at home. I stayed at home fifteen months. My business indebtedness in New York, with new extensions, amounted to eighteen thousand dollars. Matters seemed to be coming to a crisis. I said to my wife, "I am going to Alabama to see to my business." I went there the day before Christmas, Friday, and on Saturday morning I found that the Vigilance committee had been noti- fied and came there to the store. I saw them ride by and come to the post office, which was in my store. They came in one by one and inquired for a letter. I said, "Good morning," to each. Col. Moore, who was appointed the head of the Vigilance committee, said to Mr. Twombly, who was in the store, "They have appointed one o'clock to take Pad- dock out. I would advise you to tell Mr. Paddock he had better retire, for they may commit some vio- lence." This meant business for me. Mr. Twombly said, "You know me well enough to know I would not stand by and see you abused without resenting it," and in that case some one would probably get badly hurt. I said, "That would be useless," and he said "Col. Moore things you had better retire." I took the advice and went into the woods a half a mile or more, where I spent the remainder of the day. Some negroes came out from a plantation and said, "Massa, you had better look out for them fellows, they mean business." "You had better go and not be found here," said I. "I would not want you hurt on my account." I stayed there until sun- set, then walked up toward the place. I went in and kept myself quiet and waited until the crowd of fellows, who were rather filled up, were going back. The servant girl prepared the supper. After sup- per I retired for the night, and no other person be- ing there it was rather lonesome. I fastened the doors and windows, then lay down, and it seemed as though the Lord inspired a plan, which I said in my mind I would adopt, and then went to sleep. In the morning I had my plan clearly in mind and said to Mr. Twombly, "It being Sunday we will go to Hayneville," the county seat, about twenty miles distant, "and will employ a lawyer to draw up a bill of sale that I propose to make. It will include my personal property, notes, accounts, indebtedness from everyone, goods, and everything pertaining thereto, and also I want you to have the rights of the store and all real estate, the little plantation of 160 acres." This was done, and I took the deed with me for my wife to sign, and proceeding from Hayne- ville about three miles to a railroad station, boarded the train and started for home.
From time to time Mr. Twombly wrote me re- garding his payments in New York. He had paid
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had collected some money, and sometimes, in- directly, I ordered a few goods for him. He paid all; and finally, when secession broke out, wrote me a letter saying, this will be the last letter I can write, as the post office will be broken up and we cannot send letters from the South to the North.
I went on a little farm in Meriden, and paid three thousand dollars for it. My family had in- creased to four, after losing one little boy three years of age. We lived on the farm and managed to make a very comfortable living. As the war progressed, some of the people became alarmed in regard to the money of the United States, which they thought would be worthless. Mr. Hinsdale, a former pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Meri- den, came from Massachusetts and inquired for a farm he might buy, as he was afraid that the money of the United States banks would not be good, and they directed him to my house. He came in the morning and I greeted him as an old resident, and he inquired if I would sell my farm. I said "Yes." "How much?" "The price is six thousand dollars." He wanted the refusal of it for a few days, and I gave him only till sundown. He came over before that time and said, "I will take it." I don't sup- pose' all the talking about it took over thirty min- utes. We were both ready for a trade. He took most of my farm tools, horses and cattle, which added more to the income. By that means I had a few dollars to invest.
The next place I bought was standing where the First Methodist parsonage stands, which I pur- chased for seventeen hundred dollars. The next place was where I now ( 1901 ) live, and with that I secured a tract of land in the south of Meriden, one mile from the depot-twenty-five acres for fif- teen hundred dollars. This was heavily timbered, and after cutting off the wood I laid it out in lots and streets for building purposes. As the railroad was then using wood for fuel, I had no difficulty in selling it at a good price. I employed men to chop, cord and cart it, and after paying all expenses cleared about eighteen hundred dollars.
After the war had ceased Mr. Twombly wrote me that the negroes were all free, and they did not know what to do. He was going to hire some of his former slaves and others to work for him, to see if he could make a crop of cotton, and if he could he would divide it with me, although every- thing he had had been confiscated .. In the fall of the year he wrote that his cotton was all picked and being packed. He was going to Mobile to sell it. I had a letter from the commission merchants of Mobile, saying Mr. Twombly had sold his cotton and requested them to send a portion of the pro- ceeds to me. They enclosed a draft for seven hun- dred dollars. When Mr. Twombly went down the river to Mobile he was quite ill, and the next night he grew worse and died. This is the winding up of my plantation store. All interest and debts were paid in New York.
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I started a meat and vegetable market in Meri- den, in the brick block on the corner where Seth Hall's store now stands. A fire swept everything clean and I had to remove to a new location. I bought the place where the corner tea store now stands. It being an open brook bank on either side, I brought timber from the wood lot and laid it from bank to bank, covered with planks and built thereon. A bridge was built by the town, but the contract was to build only in the traveled road, and I paid for the building of the bridge as far as my land. The parties on the south side did the same for their sidewalk. I continued business about fifteen years, and found myself pretty well worn ou .. I sold out my business, and finding nothing particular to do soon had a gun and dog, and got into the habit of enjoying hunting during the fall season. I went to Minnesota with other parties, and spent the fall there for ten years.
Mr. Paddock is by religious profession a Bap- tist, and a worthy and beloved member of the church at whose communion table he sits, but no man except himself has formulated his religious creed. He has been a close student of the scrip- tures, and bases his belief upon the direct study of them. While charitable in spirit, and tolerant of others' views, he is not the less firm and positive of his own. When a young man he could not read "fire and brimstone" either out of or into the gospel of Christ, nor could the church committee convince him that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is a picture of the realities in the next world, but rather in this. In his view God is emphatically one, and the terms of the old theology describing him as three persons are to be interpreted, to make them correct, as manifestations of him. So, too, Christ was the human personality in whom God chose to manifest himself. wondrously, the manifestation, however, being not different in kind from that in other persons, but only. in degree; and the work of Christ operated for man not as vicarious suffering for his sin, but as a powerful exhibition of divine love for him, teaching him how to live. He re- gards the judgment day as running parallel with human earthly life, and as being coterminous with it, both at the beginning and at the end, and not a stupendous assize at the end of all things temporal. To him also the second coming of Christ is a re- peated event of divine mercy or wrath appearing in the striking providences which happen to persons or nations, such as the fall of Jerusalem or the san- guinary war which ended American slavery; and death is the dissolution of the unjust into non- existence, but for believers in Christ, by virtue of their life in him, it is their transference to the eternal world, where all that is temporal and ma- terial has dropped away from them forever, in the event of dying. Mr. Paddock deems these reforms of doctrine suggested in his creed essential to the
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full power of the Gospel in the world, and attrib- utes the greater part of the current skepticism of the age to the false teachings so prevalent concern- ing these great Biblical truths.
Mr. and Mrs. Paddock lived together for fifty- seven years, sharing the burdens and reaping the rewards of industry. Five children were born to them, of whom two died: Samuel Archer Paddock, born Oct. 10, 1847, died Nov. 29, 1850; and Adella Paddock, born March 16, 1854, died Jan. 17, 1876. The children now living are: George Byron Pad- dock, of Jackson, Minn .; Mary Ann, wife of Frank M. Hall, of West Haven, Conn .; and Aland B. Paddock, of Rialto, Cal. Mrs. Janette Hall Pad- dock died July 22, 1894, aged seventy-six years, four months, and was buried in Walnut Grove Cem- etery, Meriden. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was greatly beloved for her many ex- cellent Christian graces.
On Oct. 10, 1895, Mr. Paddock married, in Bridgeport, Conn., for his second wife, Sophia H. Manwaring, in whom he has found a true help- meet. She was born in New London, Conn., daughter of Adam and Susan ( Harding) Manwar- ing, of that place. Mrs. Paddock is thoroughly edu- cated, cultured and refined, and was formerly a Successful teacher in the public schools of New London. She is a woman of fine Christian char- acter. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock, surrounded by a large circle of friends, enjoy together their ample fortune. He has lived to see the dawn of the twen- tieth century, and is enjoying as good health as could be expected at the age of eighty-five.
HARRY STEVENSON BRADFORD, super- intendent of the pen-manufacturing department of the Miller Brothers Cutlery Co., Meriden, is a popular young man, of inherited talent and ability, succeeding both his father and his father's father as a penmaker. He was born in Mount Vernon, N. Y., on the last day of the year 1874. His father, George Bradford, was a native of Birmingham, England, born in 1830, one of ten children born to George and Martha ( Morgan) Bradford, both also natives of Birmingham, where George Bradford ( I) followed the business of penmaking until his death.
George Bradford (2). father of Harry S., at- tended school in his native city and learned the trade of penmaking in the factory of his father. With four others he came to America when a young man. intending to start the pen business here. Coming first to New York, he went thenee to Newark. N. J., and worked a short time there at toolmaking, after which he formed a partnership with George Harrison and engaged in the manufacture of pens under the firm name of Harrison & Bradford. Later he moved to Mount Vernon, N. Y., where he con- tinued to manfacture pens until the year Isso. when the Miller Brothers Cutlery Co. instituted a pen- manufacturing department in their works at Meri- , a member of the City Band ; is secretary and treas-
den and called Mr. Bradford to its superintendency. Here he spent the last fifteen years of his life, giv- ing general satisfaction. He died at his Meriden home July 24, 1895, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mr. Bradford was a member of the M. E. Church, a Republican in politics, but never an office seeker, a member of a New York City Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Pilgrim Society, of Plymouth, Mass., which latter he joined Jan. 1, 1870, as a descendant of the l'ilgrim Gov- ernor Bradford. On Oct. 14, 1856, he was married in Newark, N. J., to Sarah Ann Lavender, a native of his own town of Birmingham. She was a daugh- ter of John and Mary Ann Lavender, who brought their family to this country while young and settled in Newark, N. J., where the father engaged in mak- ing steel buttons, etc. He died in Mount Vernon, N. Y., and is buried there. After his death his widow came to Meriden and made her home with her daughter. Here she died, and is buried in the West cemetery, Meriden. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lavender were members of the Episcopal Church.
To Mr. and Mrs. George Bradford eight chil- dren were born: ( 1) Annie died at the age of six months; (2) Florence married M. D. Brown, and resides in Chicago; (3) George went West; (4) William died in boyhood; (5) Martha Louise. mar- ried Edgar Chambers and has one child, George E., born in 1890; (6) Lillian married Edward Mol- loy, of Meriden, and died leaving one son, Harry; (7) Harry Stevenson is mentioned below; (8) Clarice Adele married Alfred J. Batten, of Meri- den. Mrs. Bradford married, for her sec- ond husband, George Lowe, a native of Coventry, England, who died in November, 1900, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs. Lowe is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Harry Stevenson Bradford came to Meriden with his parents. He attended the public and high schools there until 1889, when, at the age of fif- teen years, he commenced to learn the trade of penmaking, under the guidance of his father, who taught him every branch of the business and then made him his assistant. Harry S. was still in his minority when his father died, but his ability was so marked that his employers appointed him to succeed in the superintendency. He has now been. seven years in that position, and by his faithfulness and ability has given the most complete satisfac- tion to every one concerned. His honorable char- acter, thorough mastership of his calling, and gen- era! capacity, joined to attractive social qualities, have earned him the regard of all who know him. He is domestic in his tastes, a member of the Cen- ter Congregational Church, and a Republican in politics, but not an active participant in public af- fairs. His musical talents are worthy of note. At the age of sixteen years he played first violin, and led an orchestra of fifteen pieces. He plays the saxophone, the violin and the viola; has been
A.S. Bracford
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urer of the Brotherhood of Orchestra, in which he plays first violin ; is a charter member of the Meri- den Orchestral Club; a member of the Association of Wheelmen, and of Meriden's Cycle Club. He has taken part in numerous musical entertainments, and has played the violin and viola in several churches, and in all the prominent concerts given in the town during the last ten years. He is now the leader of Bradford's Orchestra, which plays only concert music and performs at special social and fraternal functions.
Harry S. Bradford married May Elizabeth Quig- ley, who was born in Meriden, daughter of Patrick J. and Elizabeth Greer Quigley. She is a woman of education and refinement, a cultivated musician, too, and was a teacher of music. She presides with easy grace over her happy and hospitable home, wherein melody and harmony reign. She is a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
SHELDEN CHURCH, of Seymour, was a na- tive of the town of Oxford, where he was exten- sively engaged in the timber business, getting out vessel frames and taking them to New York. He was obliged ro cart the timber as far as Derby, and there load it on vessels, that being the only method of transportation in those days. When Ansonia was built he furnished the frames for many of the buildings, factories and residences from chestnut timber, cut on his own land, and sawed at his own mills ( which were run by water power) with the old-fashioned "up and down" saws. Mr. Church was an extensive land owner, and carried on farm- ing on a large scale. When some fifty years of age he moved into Seymour, and retired from active participation in business affairs.
Shelden Church married Laura Lines, of Beth- any, and of this union were born five sons and one daughter-Henry, William, John, Charles, Noyes and Alice-all of whom survived their parents. But one son, Charles ( who lives in Cincinnati ), and the daughter, Alice (who married Frederick Beecher, of Seymour), are now living ( 1902). Although not an active politician, Mr. Church was an unfaltering Democrat, and decided in his views; he held a number of offices of trust in connection with town affairs. He died highly respected and esteemed in 1874; his wife passed away in 1871.
William Church, father of Shelden, was a con- tractor and road builder, and operated chiefly in New York and New Jersey.
JOHN CHURCH, third son of Sheldon Church, was born in Oxford June 30, 1830. His home was in his native town, but so near the Seymour line that he was well known in that town, and virtually a part of it. Like his father he was a large land owner, and engaged extensively in the timber and wood business. Of a retiring disposition, he took only such part in public affairs as he regarded the duty of each citizen. His death occurred Aug. 2. 1888.
In 1861 John Church was united in marriage with Sarah M., daughter of William S. Whiting, and two sons blessed their home: (1) Lewis Whiting, born in Oxford, in June, 1862, has charge of the landed estate left by his father, and assists his brother in his business. He is an earnest church- man, serving at present as junior warden of Trin- ity Episcopal Church in Seymour. (2) Stephen Betts, born in August, 1866, is extensively engaged in erecting suburban water works, the sale of gaso- line engines and. agricultural machinery ; he has a large store house in Seymour, and one at his home in Oxford; his offices are in Seymour and Boston. His business is conducted on so large a scale as to necessitate agents throughout New England and the employment of a large force the year round. Both sons are unmarried, and make their home with their mother on the old homestead.
WILLIAM S. WHITING, well known in his day in New Haven and Seymour, was born in Great Barrington, Mass., March 28. 1803, a son of Sam- uel Whiting, and traced his line direct to Gov. Brad- ford, of the "Mayflower," whost great-granddaugh- ter, Elizabeth Adams, married Samuel Whiting. When William S. was but a few years old his father moved to Redding Ridge, Conn. About 1840 he removed to New Haven, where he resided until 1856, when he determined to accompany his eldest son on the latter's removal to Ohio. After two years, however, Mr. Whiting returned to Connecti- cut, locating in Bethany, whence after a short time he removed to New Haven, remaining there until 1861, when he went to Camden, N. J. The charms of the Garden State, however, did not overcome the love of home, and when his health failed he again turned his face toward Connecticut, and this time located on a farm in Oxford, near Seymour. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in his seventy-ninth year, while on a visit to his son, Will- iam Samuel. in Waterbury.
In 1832 William S. Whiting was united in mar- riage with Aurelia Sherman, and of this union were born five children, as follows: (1) Stephen- Betts is mentioned below. (2) Sarah Maria married John Church, and resides in Seymour. (3) William Samuel married Susan Gray, of Ansonia, and had six children. He died and is buried in Camden, N. J. (4) Edward Sherman married, died and is buried in Camden. N. J. He left one daughter, who was two weeks old at the time of his death. (5) Charles Linus died in New Haven at the age of three years. William S. Whiting, the father, was a quiet man, devoted to his own fireside, but his genial disposition made of him a great favorite in social circles. He was very fond of music. and quite proficient for the times, ever taking a lead- ing part. With a decided fondness for reading. he kept well posted on current events. In his religious belief he was an Episcopalian, and he always took an active part in church work, being for many years
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