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 43
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Ezra Smith was married Oct. 3. 1813, to Martha Stone, a descendant of John Stone and Gov. William Lecte, two of the original settlers of Guilford. This
Marcus Merwin's boyhood was spent after the custom of farmers' sons in his day, and as a young | marriage was blessed with children, as follows:
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(1) Catharine, Mrs. Kelsey, has three children- Ezra, Sarah M. Cruttenden and Mary Blakeman- and four grandchildren-Robert Cruttenden, and Eva, John and Maud Blakeman. ( 2) Rosalind had a granddaughter, Harriet Coe, who lives on the Neck. (3) Mary married Edwin Watrous, and had five children: Andrew ( who has five children, George, Paul, Bernard, Fannie and Grace) and Franklin lives on the Neck; and Martha F. Burr (who has two children, Frederick and Jessie) Julian F. (who has two children, Lena and Isabella ) and John N. (who has three children, Charles, Julian and Ruth) all live in Thomaston. (5) Andrew Norman Smith is mentioned below.
Andrew Norman Smith was married April 16, 1850, to Lydia S. Kelsey, and of the children that blessed this union, we have record of the following : Thomas Andrew resides on the Neck, in Madison, with his three children-Gerrit, Martha Stone and Newman S .; Elizabeth married Thaddeus F. Leete (a direct descendant of Gov, Leete), and with her three children, Emma, Dorothy and Caroline, lives in the same house with her brother Thomas; and Gerrit, is in business in New York.
FRANK DAMON PUTNAM, a prominent and well-known man of Hamden, New Haven coun- ty, was born in Boston, Mass., June 23, 1875. but was reared in this county, making his home with his paternal grandfather, Rev. Austin Putnam, who for almost half a century was the beloved pastor of the Congregational Church of Whitneyville.
This branch of the Putnam family was among the earliest settlers at Croydon, N. H., going there from Sutton, Mass. Caleb Putnam, the grandfa- ther of Rev. Austin Putnam, and Deacon David Putnam were the first settlers of the name in Croy- don. They located on the southeast slope of the Pinnacle, in a locality long known as the "Salt Box.". They were noted for their hardy- constitu- tions and their great industry.
REV. AUSTIN PUTNAM was born at Croydon, N. H., March 6, 1809, and was there reared upon a farm. After pursuing his studies in the district school and at Newport Academy he entered Dart- mouth College in 1825. At the close of his second year circumstances led him to relinquish his plan of a full collegiate course, and he soon after com- menced the study of law in the office of Hon. F. A. Tallmage and Charles F. Grim, of New York. and completed it in the office of Hon. John P. and J. Newland Cushman, of Troy, N. Y., and at the Law School at Litchfield, Conn. In July, 1831, he was admitted to the Bar at Utica, N. Y. He immediately began practice at Troy. N. Y., with highly encouraging prospects. But after a short time in that profession he experienced a total change in his views on the subject of religion. At what he conceived to be the call of duty, he left the profession which he had chosen, and which he loved, and began the study of theology under the
instruction of Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D. D., of Troy, N. Y. He was ordained at Lowville, N. Y., in 1834. After a few years of successful labor in New York City and New Haven, Conn., he was, Oct. 31, 1838, installed as pastor of the Congrega- tional Church at Hamden, Conn., which position he filled for forty-eight consecutive years. In 1833 he married, at Lowville, N. Y., Miss Caroline W. Northrop, a native of that place, born March 21, 1813, a daughter of Gen. Joseph A. Northrop, of that place. In 1844-45 Rev. Putnam spent a year in Europe, traveling over different countries. In 1839 Yale College conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. He was a man of reg- ular habits, for years retiring every night at eight o'clock, rising in the morning at six, and break- fasting at seven, and he was punctual almost to the minute. The only office, outside of those connected with the church, which he would accept was that of school visitor, which he filled for several years. For a few years after coming to Hamden he lived in the parsonage, and then erected the house where our subject now resides, which was his home up to .the time of his death, on Sept. 26, 1886. Although he was extremely generous and charitable, giving freely to the poor and needy, he accumulated con- siderable property. No man in the community was held in higher esteem, and in his death the people of Hamden realized that they had lost one of their best and most useful citizens. Rev. Austin Putnam was in many ways a remarkable man. He was the type of man whose advice to young people was, "Carefully study what is expected of you as a church member, then if you can live up to those requirements it is time to unite with the church." He detested hypocrisy. He was a great lover of dumb brutes, was fond of dogs, and his admira- tion and love for a good horse were very marked. He always kept a good horse, and could drive and manage horses very successfully. In disposition Mr. Putnam was kind and lovable, without any su- . perfluous dignity except on occasions when dignity is called for. During a married life of over fifty years. few couples have lived more congenially than did he and his wife. Mrs. Putnam was one of those ' kind-hearted women who endeared herself to all with whom she came in contact, and with her hus- band enjoyed the respect and esteem of all. She died Aug. 31, 1893, and both are buried in Whit- neyville cemetery, in Hamden. In their family were six children : Blandina MI., born Sept. 28, 1839, lived to the age of fifty-two, and died unmarried ; Sarah Jane, born Jan. 20, 1842, died in young womanhood ; Joseph N., born Aug. 2, 1844, was the father of our subject: James C., and Caroline, twins, born Aug. 2, 1845, of whom James C. died young, and Caroline married Henry McCarty, and died in the West; and James C. (2), born July 23. 1849, died young. Of this family the only descendant is Frank D. Putnam, whose name opens this sketch.
1
MRS. CAROLINE W. PUTNAM.
austin Putnam.
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Joseph N. Putnam, our subject's father, was twice married, first on June 3, 1869. to Miss Belle Shirley, who died Sept. 29. 1878, at the age of thirty-two years. Our subject is the younger of the two children born of this union. Austin, the elder, was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 12, 1870, and died Jan. 25, 1876. The father was again married, Dec. 24. 1886, his second union being with Catherine M. Polhill, who is now living in New York City, and by whom he had no children. He died suddenly Jan. 8, 1887, in New York City.
Immediately after his mother's death Frank D. Putnam came to Hamden, Conn., to make his home with his grandparents, and remained with them until their deaths. His education was received in the public schools of the town, and at Montclair, N. J. At the age of fifteen years he began life for himself, working at the machinist's trade for Her- rick Cowell, of New Haven, with whom he remained six months, and later was employed in the same capacity by E. A. Burgess, of New Haven, for two and a half years. After leaving the employ of Mr. Burgess he was employed at the New Haven Water Co.'s pumping station at Whitneyville, where he took up the trade of mechanical engineering. This work did not agree with him and he was obliged to give it up. Later he was for a short time em- ployed at the Winchester plant as engineer, and then partly from desire for outside work, and greatly from a natural fondness for horses-a trait that is hereditary-he took up the business of train- ing, developing and driving fast horses, a calling in which he has been successful and which he lias followed ever since. He has shown himself to be a skillful reinsman, and for one of his years occupies a foremost position as a driver and handler of fast horses. Mr. Putnam has confined his attention to handling horses for others, going into the racing business only as a representative, not as an owner.
On Dec. 1, 1896, Mr. Putnam married Miss Essie Rhoda Preston, of Ansonia, Conn., daughter of Wesley and Laura ( Brown) Preston, and to them have been born two children: Gladys MI., Oct. 26, 1897, died in infancy ; and Carolyn E., Dec. 5, 1898. In his political views Mr. Putnam is a stanch Republican, and in his social relations is a member of Rathburn Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of New Haven.
TROWBRIDGE. Of the families of the Col- ony of New Haven, 1641, and since represented continuously in the town and city's history-cov- erig a period of over two hundred sixty years- few if any have exerted a greater influence for good than that of Trowbridge; and from a busi- ness standpoint, through the last hundred years of the city's history, certainly no one firm has left a greater impress in business circles than that of Henry Trowbridge & Sons and its successors, Henry Trowbridge's Sons-Thomas R., Henry, Ezekiel H. and Winston J.
Thomas Trowbridge, the progenitor, probably, of all the name in America, emigrated from Taun- ton, Somersetshire, England, to this country about 1636, bringing with him two sons, Thomas and William. They settled in Dorchester, Mass., where another son, James, was born. Thence he removed with his family in 1641 to New Haven, where he purchased lands, built houses, was a merchant, and engaged in the Barbadoes trade. In 1645 he returned to England, leaving his "three sons, houses, goods, lots, estates and chattles, in trust with his steward, or servant, Henry Gibbons, but this man shamefully neglected them and proved dishonest and false to his trust, and a friend, Ser- geant Thomas Jeffries, took these three sons to ed- ucate and bring up in the fear of the Lord, and when Mr. Trowbridge comes back, will leave it with the court to determine what is equal for it."
Thomas Trowbridge, the eldest of these sons, remained at New Haven, and was a merchant. He was born in 1632, married Sarah, daughter of Hen- ry Rutherford, of New Haven, and died in 1702, leaving a large estate. From this Thomas Trow- bridge (2) the Trowbridge sons mentioned in the foregoing descended in the sixth generation, the line of their descent being through Thomas (3), Daniel, Rutherford and Henry. Of these ances- tors, Thomas Trowbridge (3), born in 1663, mar- ried Mary, daughter of John Winston, and died in 1711. Daniel Trowbridge was born in 1703, was graduated from Yale College, married Mabel, daughter of Francis Brown, and died in 1752. Rutherford Trowbridge, born in 1744, married Dorcas, daughter of Amos Hitchcock. Henry Trowbridge, born July 30, 1781, married Harriet, daughter of Ezekiel Hayes.
HENRY TROWBRIDGE, son of Rutherford, and the father of the Trowbridge brothers under con- sideration, was a shipping merchant, and early in the present century founded the house of Henry Trowbridge & Son, New Haven, which was more extensively engaged in the West India trade than any other house in the State of Connecticut. Hen- ry Trowbridge began business as a shipping mer- chant, taking his sons in business with him as they became old enough. In 1826 the eldest, Thomas R., began his business career under his father's care, and as time passed was taken into the busi- ness as an interested partner, and in about 1837 the second son, Henry Trowbridge, who likewise had been practically schooled in the business be- came of age and a partner in the house. Subse- quently the younger sons, Ezekiel H. and Winston J., became menibers of the firm as they became of age, both having been trained from their early years in the business. In 1849, on the death of the senior member of the firm, the four brothers estab- lished the firm of Henry Trowbridge's Sons, in which business each was 'active until his death save Ezekiel H., who retired in 1885. Henry died in 1883.
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Henry Trowbridge, Sr., while yet in his 'teens turned his attention to the sea, beginning his ea- reer in 1799. His first trip was on the ship "Bet- sey," to China, and at Canton he became clerk of the captain ( Howell), taking account of cargoes and keeping books. Subsequently he became first officer of a West India trader, and, having saved his money, made several voyages on his own ac- count. In three years he had sufficient means to purchase a sloop on the Connecticut river, which vessel he fitted out as a schooner, and as captain he went into the West India trade. After a trip heestablished himself in business, as set forth in the foregoing. His death occurred Oct. 7, 1849.
THOMAS RUTHERFORD TROWBRIDGE, son of Hen- ry and Harriet ( Hayes) Trowbridge, was born July 17, 1810, in New Haven, and in its schools received his early scholastic training, completing his education, however, in Partridge's Military Academy, at Middletown. After his school days were over he entered the counting house of his father, and from that year ( 1826) until his death, May 26, 1887, he was, with the exception of occa- sional absences in the West Indies and elsewhere, always at his office in the unpretentious Trow- bridge counting room on Long Wharf. Through his long, active business life of upwards of sixty years in New Haven he was a man of upright char- acter and integrity, and held in the greatest degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens, of all who knew him, and with whom he had business deal- ings. He was broad, liberal and just. He was fitted for positions of high trust and responsibility in city and State, and was often obliged to de- cline them owing to numerous family trusts and his own large business affairs. During the Civil war he made a record that was enviable, having shown himself a true and generous friend to the soldiers and their families, responding liberally to constant calls upon his purse and sympathies. For many years he was a valued director of the Mechanics Bank, and it was at his suggestion that the bank tendered the use of fifty thousand dollars to Gov. Buckingham in the dark days of the Rebellion.
Mr. Trowbridge was the choice of the Repub- liean committee as candidate for lieutenant gov- ernor of Connecticut, with Hon. William A. Buck- ingham for governor, in 1858, an honor which he positively and persistently declined. At the break- ing out of the Civil war he threw his whole soul into the cause of liberty, and although too far ad- vanced in life to enter the field actively, aided in sustaining the government in every possible way by his influence and wealth. When the roth Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry broke eamp, with or- ders to proceed to their rendezvous, a beautiful State flag was presented to them by Mr. Trow- bridge, made expressly for the regiment by his wife and daughter. Ile afterward presented flags to several Connecticut regiments, and swords to numerous officers, and was the first to provide a
flag which was raised and kept flying on the steeple of the Center Church. He was one of the most active citizens in New Haven in the formation of the Sanitary Commission, and contributed greatly to its success by pecuniary assistance, as well as by per- sonal service. At one time in order to raise New Haven's quota of men without a draft, he paid fifteen dollars each for thirty enlistments. Mr. Trowbridge had a taste for historical research, was one of the founders of the New Haven Historical Society, and was instrumental in having prepared and published the history of the Trowbridge fam- ily. "In his business relations Mr. Trowbridge showed a breadth of mind which joined with far- seeing prudence and a high standard of commercial honor brought him well-deserved wealth."
On Sept. 11, 1834, Mr. Trowbridge was mar- ried to Caroline Hoadley, daughter of Capt. Simon and Polly ( Harrison ) Hoadley.
HENRY TROWBRIDGE, son of Henry and Harriet (Hayes) Trowbridge, was born April 22, 1816, in New Haven, and was there schooled and trained for business under his father's care in the latter's counting room and in the business noted in the foregoing. He was associated with his father in his life time, and throughout life, with his brothers, continued in active business, and did his full share toward the great success all attained. After a life of usefulness in the community Mr. Trowbridge died, May 28, 1883, highly esteemed and greatly respected. He filled various positions of trust and distinction in social life, which a well-earned repu- tation for sagacity, integrity and practical efficiency led to. For fifteen years he was vice-president of the New Haven Bank, and for forty-five years a director. From time to time he was frequently called in both the city and town of New Haven to places of active service. He united with the First Congregational Church in New Haven May 31, 1840, and from that time until his death continued a loyal and active member of the same. He was a man of quiet manners, gentle and kind, a genial and sympathetic companion, and eminently domestic in his preferences and habits. His tastes were elevat- ed, as were the tone and tenor of his life. He possessed good judgment and rare good sense, with a quick and appreciative observation.
Mr. Trowbridge married ( first ) Miss Mary W. Southgate, a granddaughter of Noah Webster, the lexicographer, and ( second) Miss Sarah C. Hull, daughter of Edward Hull, Jr., of Brooklyn, N. Y. Five daughters and one son blessed the first union. the son dying in early boyhood. Three children were born to the second marriage, only one of whom, a son, survives. In memory of the two de- ceased-a son and a daughter-the father founded the Reference Library in the Theological Depart- ment of Yale College. Undesignedly, yet most fitly, this has also become a lasting monument to his own personal character and worth.
EZEKIEL HAYES TROW BRIDGE, son of Henry and
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Harriet ( Hayes) Trowbridge, of New Haven, like his older brothers, after his school days were at an end entered the business house of his father and brothers, and there received proper and most thor- ough business training, such as could only be given by men of a high sense of justice, honor and in- tegrity. He imbibed in the course of such training those characteristics that had given stability and honor to his forefathers, and which have ever since characterized his successful and honorable life. He soon mastered every detail of the business, and early in his career was intrusted with large re- sponsibilities, having been sent when nineteen years of age to the West Indies, where he familiarized himself with the business affairs of the house there, and where he transacted important business mat- ters. Like his brothers, on reaching his majority he was taken into the firm, and, as set forth in the foregoing, remained an active member of it until his retirement, May 1, 1885. To his untiring en- ergy, wise foresight and rare management much of the success of H. Trowbridge's Sons has been dùe.
Mr. Trowbridge is a man of high honor and in- tegrity, and of excellent business ability, and dur- ing his long and active life has been intrusted with various public and private trusts. He was one of the founders of the old Elm City Bank, now the Second National, of New Haven, and has ever since remained one of its directors. For twenty and more years he has been a director in the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co., and because of his far-sighted judgment has been of great service to that large corporation, as well as to the other or- ganizations comprising its system, in each of which he still retains a directorship. Mr Trowbridge is vice-president of the Shore Line Railroad Co., and holds official positions in other enterprises and cor- porations, where his business sagacity and wise counsel have aided in their successful management.
Politically Mr. Trowbridge was first a Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party has affiliated with same. In no sense has he sought political honors, but rather shrunk from them, and, we believe, never held political office. Throughout the Civil war he was a stanch supporter of the gov- ernment, giving both his time and money in the cause. His tastes are domestic, a characteristic of the family. He is genial and social in disposition, and of positive character, warm in his friendships and careful and considerate in his dealings. His religious connections are with the First Congrega- tional Church in New Haven, of which he has been a member since 1842. He is a successful man, and he gives liberally of his means to worthy charities and to church work.
Sarah and Arthur H. are now deceased. Mrs. Sarah A. (Day) Trowbridge was born June 12, 1818, and comes from sturdy New England stock, being a descendant in the seventh generation from Robert Day, who emigrated in 1634, when thirty years of age, with his wife Mary, to America, sail- ing in the bark "Elizabethi" from Ipswich, Eng- Jand, to Boston, in New England. He first set- tled in Newtown, now Cambridge, and in 1639 was at Hartford, of which place he was one of the first settlers and original proprietors. The descent of Mrs. Sarah A. ( Day) Trowbridge is through John of Hartford; Thomas, of Hartford; Nathaniel, of Northampton, Mass .; Joel, of Hatfield, Mass .; and Zelotes, of New Haven, who was born June 24, 1791, and married July 23, 1817, Eliza Atwater.
WINSTON J. TROWBRIDGE, son of Henry and Harriet ( Hayes) Trowbridge, was born May 10, 1820, and, like his brothers, became identified with their father's business. He spent much of his time in the interest of the firm at Barbadoes. in the West Indies. His life was characterized by that same broad, liberal spirit and business ability possessed by the father and brothers. He was first married June 12, 1850. Mrs. Trowbridge died in 1852, at Barbadoes, and on Oct. 30. 1852, he married Margaret E. Dean, daughter of John E. P .. Dean. Two children were born to the first marriage. Mary L. and Caroline A .; and to the second: Winston J., Florence M., Frank D., Elford P. and Con- stance B.
THOMAS RUTHERFORD TROWBRIDGE ( deceased), of New Haven, son of Thomas Ruther- ford, whose ancestry and life are portrayed else- . where, was born in that city March 3, 1839. He received his early education in his native city. at the well-known schools of Amos Smith, Lewis M. Mills and Stiles French. After leaving school he became identified with the firm of Henry Trowbridge's Sons, mentioned elsewhere. The offices were on Long Wharf, and it was there, with his father and uncles, that young Trowbridge began his business career. At the age of nineteen he was sent to the West India branch of the firm, and lived in the Islands Barbadoes and Trinidad five years, returning to New Haven in 1863. A few years later the busi- ness was transferred to New York, as that city of- fered a more convenient port, although the main office still continued to be in New Haven. The firm was finally dissolved by mutual consent in 1892. During all that time, thirty-six years. Mr. Trow- bridge has been one of its most active members, and in later years a partner. Since his retirement from business he had been occupied with his private in- terests. and with those of the institution with which he was connected.
In June, 1840, Mr. Trowbridge was married to Sarah A., daughter of Zelotes and Eliza ( Atwater ) Mr. Trowbridge was always interested actively in whatever concerned the welfare of New Haven. and, although never taking a very prominent part Day. of New Haven, and to them have come chil- dren as follows: Ezekiel H., Sarah A .. Sarah D., Charles H. and Arthur H., of whom the two named i in the politics of the city, held several public of-
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fices of trust. He served in bothi branches of the city council, and was president of the board of aldermen. In 1886 he was a candidate for mayor on the Republican ticket, but was defeated, although he reduced considerably the usually large Demo- cratic majority. He was also for several years presi- dent of the board of the harbor commissioners, and was the first president of the Republican League Club. At the time of his death, Oct. 25, 1898, Mr. Trowbridge was president of the Mercantile Safe Deposit Co., director of the Mechanics Bank; trustee of the New Haven Savings Bank; president of the New Haven Colony Historical Society; trustee of the Grove street cemetery, and of the New Haven Orphan Asylum; member of the Society's Committee of Center Church ; member of the Chamber of Com- merce; vice-president of the Connecticut Humane Society ; and a member of the New York Produce Exchange. He belonged to the American His- torical Association, the Society of Colonial Wars and the Sons of the American Revolution, and was an honorary member of several historical societies in different parts of the country.
In the field of Archaeological and historical re- search Mr. Trowbridge's contributions are well known and will always be valued. It was by his efforts that the funds were raised for the many memorial tablets set in the walls of Center Church and the crypt below restored. He more recently made similar improvements in the Grove Street Cemetery. He was a leading spirit in planning and carrying through the celebrations which during the past twenty-five years have commemorated the city's growth and history, and many of the tablets which mark historic spots were placed as a result of his researches and under his personal super- vision.
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