USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 32
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nurse with his mother, he said that she was to him like an angel of mercy.
He never married, but continued to re- side with his mother, to whom he was devotedly attached. His tastes and habits were simple, and the whole conduct of his life was distinguished for its unpretend- ing dignity. His integrity was not only without a stain, but without suspicion. He was a pure, single-hearted, just man, and his best eulogy was to be found in the deep sense of personal bereavement felt in every heart that knew him well. The death of Elihu Spencer occurred April II, 1858.
REMINGTON, Eliphalet,
Founder of Gun Manufacturing.
Eliphalet Remington was born at Suf- field, Connecticut, October 28, 1793, son of Eliphalet and Elizabeth (Kilbourn) Remington. His father, a mechanic, bought a large tract of land in Herkimer county, New York, then almost a wilder- ness, to which he removed in 1799, set- tling at Crane's Corners. He subse- quently acquired other real estate, includ- ing land on Steele's creek, about three miles south of the present town of Ilion, and removing there set up a forge with water-wheel power. He carried on the manufacture of the rude agricultural im- plements used by the farmers of those days, and also did horseshoeing and gen- eral repair work for farmers, his business increasing steadily, and chiefly as acci- dental occurrence.
The introduction of Eliphalet Reming- ton, Jr., to gunmaking was accidental. As the story goes, his father refused him money with which to buy a gun, where- upon the youth forged a gun barrel for himself from some scraps of iron, and took it to a gunsmith at Utica to be rifled. The gunsmith praised the barrel so highly
that young Remington was encouraged to make others, which he from time to time took to Utica, going afoot and carry- ing them on his back. The knowledge of his skill spread throughout the neigh- borhood, and orders came in until the forge was taxed to the utmost. The Remingtons soon set up a rifling machine of their own, the son giving his time ex- clusively to this feature of the work, gradually extending the work to stocking and lock-fitting. It is said that the de- mand for these gun barrels so far ex- ceeded the supply that customers at times resorted to the works and remained there until their goods were ready. Meanwhile the Erie canal had been built, and in 1828 the works were removed to their present situation at Ilion, where, in the following year, other buildings were erected and equipped with water-wheels and trip- hammers, to be used especially for weld- ing and forging gun barrels. A shipping department was organized, and for a num- ber of years was in charge of A. C. Sea- mans, father of C. W. Seamans, of type- writer fame. Eliphalet Remington, Sr., died in 1828.
In 1839 Eliphalet Remington, Jr., formed a partnership with Benjamin Har- rington in a separate enterprise for the purpose of manufacturing iron and such articles as were not properly connected with the gun business, an industry which was abandoned after a number of years, Mr. Remington confining himself to the manufacture of firearms. His sons, Philo and Samuel, entered the factory about the time they attained their majority, the former becoming master of all branches of the mechanical work, and finally super- intendent of the manufacturing depart- ment, and the latter acting as general salesagent, negotiator of contracts with the government, and purchaser of ma- chinery. Eliphalet, the youngest son, ad-
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mitted some years later, had general office supervision. In 1845, the national gov- ernment contracted with Ames & Co., of Springfield, Massachusetts, for the con- struction of several thousand carbines for the army. Learning that they were anxious to withdraw from the undertak- ing, Mr. Remington bought the contract and a quantity of machinery from the firm and, adding another building to his works at Ilion, finished the work to the satisfaction of the government. During the years 1857-58, orders for twelve thou- hand five hundred rifles and five thousand Maynard self-priming musket locks were received from the government, and a new branch was added-the manufacture of pistols. Meantime, Samuel Remington had engaged in the manufacture of broom handles and brooms, Yale patent locks, safes and vault doors for banks, and to a small extent in breech-loading guns; but in 1856 he gave up his separate enterprise, and the three brothers and their father formed the firm of E. Remington & Sons. About that time they began the manu- facture of a cultivator tooth, thus laying the foundation of agricultural works which grew to large proportions. On the outbreak of the Civil War, government orders for revolvers and Springfield mus- kets were received, necessitating the erec- tion of several buildings and the purchase of new and special machines. The health of the elder Remington broke down under the pressure of these new demands, and he never recovered.
Eliphalet Remington was a man of great will-power; firm in his dealings with his employes, yet kindly in his man- ners. His memory was so remarkably retentive that he carried in his head many business details that are ordinarily kept in ledgers. He took much pride in the village that grew up around his works, and contributed generously toward the
building of a union church, to be free for the use of all denominations. The post- office, established at that place in 1845, was named after him, but at his request was changed to Ilion, a name suggested by the first postmaster. In August, 1852, soon after the village was incorporated, the Ilion Bank began business, with Mr. Remington as president, and this position he held until his death. In politics he was an old-line Whig, but joined the Re- publican party on its organization in 1854.
Mr. Remington was married, at Litch- field, May 12, 1814, to Abigail, daughter of William and Lucy Paddock, who died in 1841. Besides the sons-Philo, Samuel and Eliphalet-she bore him two daugh- ters: Mary Ann, who was married to Rev. Charles Austin; and Maria, who was married to Lawrence L. Merry. Mr. Remington died at Ilion, New York, Au- gust 12, 1861.
WARD, James H., Naval Officer, Author.
James Harman Ward was born in Hartford, Connecticut, September 25, 1806. He was graduated from the Nor- wich Military Academy (Norwich Uni- versity), Vermont, in 1823, and was com- missioned midshipman, March 4, 1823, remaining for a time under instruction at the academy. He cruised in the "Con- stitution," 1824-28; was promoted passed midshipman, March 23, 1829, and lieu- tenant, March 3, 1831. He delivered a course of lectures on "Gunnery" in Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, 1842 and 1843, with the object of the founding of a naval academy by the government, and upon the establishment of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, was elected to a professorship, serving from 1845 to 1847. He was attached to
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the Gulf fleet during the Mexican war; commanded the "Vixen," 1849-50; and was promoted commander, September 9, 1853.
He organized the Potomac flotilla in May, 1861, for Civil War service. This originally comprised the steamers "Thomas," "Freeborn" and the tugs, "Anacostia" and "Resolute." He partici- pated in the engagement against the bat- teries at Aquia Creek, May 31 and June I, 1861, clearing the Virginia banks of ob- structions, and opening the river. In the bombardment of Mathias Point, June 27, as he was sighting a gun on the shore, he was struck by a minie ball and died with -. in an hour, being the first naval officer killed in the Civil War. He published : "Elementary Instructions on Naval Ord- nance and Gunnery" (1845, enlarged edi- tion, 1861) ; "Manual of Naval Tactics" (1859), and "Steam for the Millions" (1860). The date of his death at Mathias Point, Virginia, is June 27, 1861.
HERRICK, Edward C., Scientist.
Edward Claudius Herrick was born in New Haven, Connecticut, February 24, 18II, son of Rev. Claudius and Hannah (Pierpont) Herrick. The father was a noted teacher in New Haven, and the son received a good classical education, though he did not attend college.
His first employment was as clerk in the book-shop of General Hezekiah Howe, an employment which was con- genial to the studious, bookish lad. For a time afterward he was in business for himself as a bookseller. In 1843 he was appointed librarian of Yale College, and this position he held until 1858, and he was also treasurer of the college from 1852 until his decease. His labors in be- half of the college were various, and he ever had its interests at heart and fur-
thered them earnestly so far as lay with- in his ability. In 1842 Professor James Kingsley prepared the initial annual obit- uary of the graduates of Yale College. In 1844-45 Mr. Herrick became associated with Professor Kingsley in this work, and after 1851-52 he had sole charge of the necrology, his own obituary record being incorporated in that on which he was em- ployed at the time of his death. After the death of Professor Kingsley, he edited the triennial catalogue; he collected much biographical matter concerning the early graduates ; and was assiduous and perse- vering in his researches for data apper- taining to the college history. He was throughout life eminently a student, and acquired a vast amount of erudition on those subjects which he made his spe- ialty. Entomology was one of these sub- jects, and he had a comprehensive knowl- edge of its literature, and made some original investigations of undoubted value, though he published little. He early became an enthusiastic student of astronomy and meteorology, and in the latter science made important observa- tions concerning the periodicity of mete- oric showers. He himself discovered the return of the August shower, and for sev- eral years kept an accurate record of the recurrence of the aurora borealis; his communications on these and other sub- jects are to be found in the "American Journal of Science," to which he was a frequent contributor. Mr. Herrick's knowledge of bibliography, local history, American biography and kindred subjects was varied and extensive; he was re- garded as an authority, and his knowl- edge was ever at the command of those who sought it. He was an honorary graduate of Yale College. He was never married. He died in New Haven, Con- necticut, June II, 1862. A memorial win- dow in Battell Chapel, Yale University, bears his name.
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THORBURN, Grant,
Merchant, Author.
Grant Thorburn was born at Dalkeith, Scotland, February 18, 1773. His father was a nailmaker, whom he assisted in his business. In 1792 young Thorburn be- came connected with a movement to se- cure parliamentary reforms, and was ar- rested on a charge of treason, but was released on bail. In 1794 he emigrated to New York, where he continued in his trade until 1801, when he took up the grocery business. As this did not prove lucrative, he removed to Newark, New Jersey, and endeavored to make a living by selling seeds, a venture which also proved unsuccessful. Returning to New York in 1802, he continued the business and accumulated a handsome property, which he lost not many years later by en- gaging in mulberry culture, expecting to make a fortune through the rearing of silkworms and the production of raw silk. His first store was on Cedar street, in a building once occupied as a Friends' meeting house. Some years later he located on John street, near Broadway, where his descendants continued to carry on the business, and in connection with the store had a free gallery of engravings. Mr. Thorburn was a Friend, and, while in some ways eccentric, was universally esteemed, and noted for his charity. Dur- ing the yellow fever epidemics of 1798, and succeeeding years, he and his wife endeared themselves to the citizens by their devotion to the sick. Among those whom they saved from death was Rob- ert Hoe, father of the inventor of the rotary printing press, whom they had be- friended on his arrival in this country.
After Mr. Thorburn had retired from active trade, he had a position in the cus- tom house that barely supported him. In 1854 he removed to Astoria, Long Island,
and then to Winsted, Connecticut. He was a voluminous contributor to the newspapers of New York, under the as- sumed name of "Lawrie Todd," writing on topics of the day, or furnishing remin- iscences of his early days in the city. He published a number of works, includ- ing "Forty Years' Residence in America" (1834); "Men and Manners in Great Britain" (1834) ; "Fifty Years' Reminis- cences of New York" (1845) ; "Lawrie Todd's Hints to Merchants, Married Men and Bachelors" (1847) ; "Lawrie Todd's Notes on Virginia, with a Chapter on Puritans, Witches, and Friends" (1848); "Flowers from the Garden of Lawrie Todd;" "Life and Writings of Grant Thorburn" (1852) ; and "Supplement to the Life of Grant Thorburn" (1853). He died in New Haven, Connecticut, January 21, 1863.
TOTTEN, Joseph G., Soldier, Author.
General Joseph Gilbert Totten was born at New Haven, Connecticut, Au- gust 23, 1788. He was a protege of his uncle, Colonel Jared Mansfield, whom he accompanied to West Point in 1802. After his graduation there in 1805 he went to Ohio, where he served as secre- tary of the national survey. He left the army in 1806, but was reinstated in 1808 and employed in the construction of Fort Clinton and Castle Williams in New York harbor. In the war of 1812 he was chief engineer on the Niagara frontier and on Lake Champlain; was engaged at Queenstown and Plattsburg, and won the rank of captain and the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel. He became a member of the board of engineers in 1816, and did not withdraw with his col- leagues when General Bernard was in- vited from France to advise them. These
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two were associated from 1819 to 1831 in improving our coast defences. Totten had charge of the construction of Fort Adams on Narragansett Bay, and in gen- eral of the work east of New York. He became a major in 1818, lieutenant-colo- nel in 1828, and in December, 1838, colo- nel and chief engineer of the army. His headquarters, hitherto at Newport, were now at Washington, whence, every two years, he made a tour of inspection of the entire range of coast defences, examining every detail, and giving special attention to casements and their embrasures. Most of our forts on the coast were built under his directions, and his work was of the highest order known to the science of the time. He was also an inspector of the Military Academy at West Point until his death. In 1847 he accompanied Gen- eral Scott to Vera Cruz, directed the en- gineering operations of the siege, and was brevetted brigadier-general. He was a regent of the Smithsonian Institution from its organization in 1846, a harbor commissioner for New York and Boston some ten years later, and one of the light- house board from its inception in 1852. In 1859 his cares were extended to the Pacific coast.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Gen- eral Scott wished Totten to be his suc- cessor in the chief command of the army, but he felt himself too old for so great a task. However, he remained at the head of the engineer bureau, acting on sundry commissions, receiving the rank of briga- dier-general in March, 1863, and the brevet of major-general, April 21, 1864. The more notable of his writings are sev- eral treatises, chiefly translations from the French: "Essays on Hydraulic and Other Cements" (1838-42) ; "Report of National Defences" (1851), and "Essays on Ordnance" (1857). His papers on conchology, mineralogy, etc., appeared in
the proceedings of learned bodies of which he was a member; two shells, the Gemma and succinea Tottenii, were named from him. A sketch of him by General J. G. Barnard appeared (1877) in the "Memoirs" of the National Academy of Sciences, of which he was a corporate member. He died at Washington, D. C., April 22, 1864.
BROWNELL, Thomas C., Clergyman, Author.
The Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, third bishop of Connecticut and nine- teenth in succession in the American epis- copate, was born at Westfield, Massachu- setts, October 19, 1779. He taught in a common school at the age of twelve years, but was not able to complete his prepara- tion for college until he was twenty-one. In 1800 he entered the College of Rhode Island, from which he removed with Pres- ident Maxcy to Union College in 1802, and was graduated there in 1804 with the highest honors of his class. While in col- lege he studied theology under Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, who became president of Union College in 1804 and made young Brownell tutor in the classics, and a year later professor of logic and belles lettres in the college. After this he spent a year in Great Britain and Ireland in the study of the natural sciences, and returned to teach chemistry at Union College, at first as lecturer and in 1814 as professor.
About this time he changed his reli- gious belief from the Calvinistic creed to that of the historical episcopacy, and was ordained a deacon of the Protestant Epis- copal church, April 11, 1816. Two years later he was elevated to the priesthood. and accepted the position of assistant minister in Trinity Church, New York, and in June, 1819, he was elected to the episcopate of the diocese of Connecticut,
Conn-1-15
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which had been vacant for six years, and was consecrated October 27, 1819. He re- newed the efforts to secure a charter for a college in the State, which should be free from Congregational control; and in 1823 the charter of Washington College, afterward Trinity, was granted, with full academic prerogatives. It was located at Hartford, and scholastic work was begun on October 24, with nine students. Bishop Brownell had been chosen president, and with him was associated a full faculty, in- cluding men of no little ability. Two buildings of freestone were erected on a sightly campus southeast of the centre of the city. The number of undergraduates rapidly increased, partly on account of the provision made for practical work and for special courses, and one of the best libraries in the country was soon within its walls. For seven years Bishop Brow- nell guided the plans and the actual work of the college. In 1831, at the request of the convention of the diocese, he resigned his position as president of Trinity Col- lege and was elected to the honorary office of chancellor. Before this date, however, the bishop had three times paid a visit to the Southern States in the inter- est of the advancement of the Episcopal church. For twenty years longer he ad- ministered the diocese alone, and in 1851 the Rev. Dr. John Williams, president of Trinity College, was elected his assistant. Bishop Brownell, though suffering much from infirmity, officiated from time to time as late as 1860. For twelve years he was presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church on account of his seni- ority. During the closing years of his life, on each commencement day, the pro- cession on its way from the college build- ings to the public hall stopped before his house to salute him, and all stood with uncovered heads while the band played "Auld Lang Syne." A colossal bronze
statue of the bishop stands on the college campus. His published writings, besides a lecture on the theology of agriculture, are sermons, addresses, and charges, a "Commentary on the Prayer Book," a "Compilation on the Religion of the Heart and Life," and an edition of "Holden's Commentary on the New Testament." He died at Hartford, Connecticut, Janu- ary 13, 1865.
BREWSTER, James,
Manufacturer, Philanthropist.
James Brewster was born at Preston, New London county, Connecticut, Au- gust 6, 1788, son of Joseph and Hannah (Tucker) Brewster, and of the seventh generation in direct descent from Elder Brewster, of the "Mayflower," through Jonathan, Benjamin, Jonathan, Joseph, Simon, and Joseph, the father of James.
Owing to the early death of his father and the limited means of the family, it became necessary for young Brewster to learn a trade, and in 1804 he was appren- ticed to a carriagemaker at Northampton, Massachusetts. After attaining his ma- jority, he was offered an interest in his employer's business, but preferring inde- pendence, went to New Haven, Connecti- cut, and began business in a small one- story building situated on the corner of Elm and High streets. The general ex- cellence of Mr. Brewster's workmanship from the first, brought him reputation, and he then took up the manufacture of carriages of various kinds, and became eminently successful. For the benefit of his employes he founded an orphan asy- lum, and organized an institute, furnish- ing a room, for meetings, and later erected a hall in which professors from Yale Col- lege were accustomed to lecture at his expense. His philanthropic efforts were amply rewarded, and to the intelligence
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of his workmen was due in considerable measure the high quality of the products of the factory. In 1827 Mr. Brewster established a branch of his business on Broad street, New York City, forming the firm of Brewster & Lawrence, and which had a prosperous existence for some years. In 1835 he gave up business to promote the construction of the railroad from New Haven to Hartford, was elected first president of the company, and be- came personally responsible for payment for the rails, which were imported from England at an expense of $250,000. In 1838 he reëstablished himself as a car- riage manufacturer in New York City, associating with him his son, James B. Brewster, and later his son Henry, the firm name being James Brewster & Sons. In July, 1856, the firm dissolved, the sales department being taken by James B. Brewster, and the manufacturing depart- ment by Henry Brewster, in association with John W. Britton and James W. Law- rence.
James Brewster was married, in 1810, to Miss Mary Hequembourg, of Hartford, a lady of French descent, who bore him three sons and two daughters. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, November 22, 1866.
SCRANTON, Erastus C.,
Legislator, Railway Manager.
Hon. Erastus Clark Scranton, late of Madison and New Haven, long promi- nent by being connected with marine commerce and the banking interests of New Haven, State Senator and member of the lower house from his native town; and whose memory has been perpetuated in the erection of a substantial library building at Madison by his only surviv- ing child, Miss Mary Eliza Scranton, of New Haven, was one of the eminently successful men of his period.
Born November 16, 1807, in Madison, New Haven county, Connecticut, Mr. Scranton was the son of Jonathan and Roxanna (Crampton) Scranton, of Madi- son, and a descendant in the seventh gen- eration from Captain John Scranton, one of the about twenty-five heads of families who made a settlement in Guilford, Con- necticut, in October, 1639. These fami- lies came from Kent and Surrey, Eng- land, and in general were pious, intelli- gent and industrious men, most of them farmers. Captain Scranton was twice married, the first time probably in Eng- land, and this wife, Joanna, died in 1661. His second marriage, in 1666, was to Ada (or Adaline), widow of Robert Hill, she died in 1685. Captain Scranton was a farmer, and was honored with a seat in the General Court in 1669 and 1670. His death occurred in 1671. His male de- scendants to a great extent have been farmers, and, in general, useful, indus- trious and respected citizens of the com- munities in which they settled. From this Captain John Scranton the late Hon. Erastus C. Scranton's line is through Captain John (2), Captain John (3), Cap- tain Ichabod, Theophilus and Jonathan Scranton.
Captain John (2) Scranton, son of Cap- tain John (1) Scranton, the settler, was born as early as 1641, the first of the name in East Guilford, now Madison. He mar- ried (first) March 12, 1674, Mary Seward, who was born February 28, 1652, daugh- ter of William Seward. His second mar- riage, December 10, 1691, was to a widow, Elizabeth Clark, daughter of John Bishop. Captain Scranton died September 2, 1703.
Captain John (3) Scranton, son of Cap- tain Jolin (2) Scranton, born about 1676 in Hammonassett, was a farmer, and re- sided in what is now the town of Madi- son, where he died March 21, 1758. He married (first) December 12, 1699, Mary
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Norton; his second wife was Mary or Sarah Everts, daughter of John; she died in October, 1749, and he married (third) Mary, daughter of Deacon Francis Bush- nell.
Captain Ichabod Scranton, son of Cap- tain John (3) Scranton, born February 19, 1717, married Chloe Fowler, who was born March 3, 1723, daughter of Abra- ham Fowler, of Guilford. Captain Scran- ton was a soldier, and held his rank in the French and Indian war; he was at Louis- bourg and at Ticonderoga. He is de- scribed as a man of patriotism, strong, brave and enterprising. His death oc- curred December 1, 1760, while he was en route home from military service. His wife, Chloe, died December 3, 1791.
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