USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 4 > Part 32
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James J. Meskill
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
at the time that it was considerably too large for them and that they might be very well pleased if they ever fully occu- pied its space. Since that time, however, they have been obliged to erect additions occupying at least one and a half times the space of the original structure, at a cost of some $26,000, to accommodate their enlarging requirements. Among these buildings is a modern brass, bronze and aluminum foundry, with the very finest equipment possible. The great business is managed with consummate skill and foresight by Mr. McCarthy, and has reached its present great proportions as the direct result of his efforts. His methods have always been the most scrupulously honest, and the concern has the name of square and downright deal- ing in a degree not surpassed by any other in the region. Its development is still as regular and rapid as at any time in its history, and the future seems very bright.
But Mr. McCarthy is a man of too broad interests and sympathies to con- fine his attentions exclusively to business, and there are but few aspects of the life of the community in which he is not deeply interested. Politically, he is ex- tremely independent and does not ally himself definitely with any party, judging of each issue and candidate as the occa- sion arises and on the merits of the indi- vidual case. He is not politically am- bitious in any sense of the word, rather avoiding than seeking preferment or office, but he has consented to serve as a member of the school board and has held that position for five years. He does hold many unofficial positions, however, especially in connection with the organi- zations which exist for a semi-public object, or those which have undertaken some work for the common good, such as the Village Improvement, of which he
was the first president, and the Business Men's Association, in which he has also held that office. He is also keenly inter- ested in certain of the city departments such as the police and fire departments, and it was he who raised the sum of $1500 within one week to aid in the purchase of a Knox chemical engine for the latter. Mr. McCarthy is a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church, in whose priest- hood it was his early ambition to serve, and attends mass at the Church of St. Mary, in Milford. He is prominent in all the activities of the parish and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. McCarthy was married to Miss Josephine L. Hogan, of New Haven, a daughter of Edward and Hannah Hogan, old and highly respected citizens of that place. To Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy two children have been born: Jartina Amet, October, 1904, and Imelda, 1906. Mr. McCarthy and his family reside on West River street, Milford, at the charming place known as the Lindens, and which is the site of the house occupied by the first clergyman in the town.
MESKILL, James T.,
Lawyer, Jurist.
Judge James T. Meskill, a well re- garded resident of New Britain, in which city he was born in 1874, and in which he has spent his entire life, has gained a creditable place among the attorneys of Hartford county.
James T. Meskill was born on July 10, 1874, the son of Mathew and Catherine (McMahon) Meskill. In due course, he was sent to the public schools of New Britain, and eventually became a student at the Yale University Law School, grad- uating in 1897 with the degree of Bache- lor of Laws. Soon thereafter Mr. Meskill was admitted to practice as an attorney
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at the bar of Hartford county, and formed professional association with two respect- ed and able New Britain lawyers, John Walsh and James Roche, thus establish- ing the law firm of Walsh, Roche & Mes- kill. The firm continued as such until the death of Judge Roche, and the admission to junior partnership of his son, Henry P., necessitated a transposition of the firm name to that of Walsh, Meskill & Roche, under which designation it is now known.
A biographer writing in 1901 of Mr. Meskill, stated that he then was "one of the leading young lawyers of the city" of New Britain. He has since advanced even more certainly into a place of promi- nence in legal circles, and also into the esteem of his confreres at the bar of Hart- ford county. Although during his early years of practice he gave most of the time he could spare from his own clientele to close research into the fundamentals of law, he was able to undertake the duties appertaining to the office of assistant city attorney, and in course of time his merit in that and other legal offices indicated to those in whose power it lay to appoint him that Attorney James T. Meskill would not be receiving undue recognition if he were elevated to the judiciary. He was accordingly preferred, and took his seat as judge of the city and police courts of New Britain in 1907, since which time the courts have been under his jurisdic- tion.
Judge Meskill is a staunch Republican, but has not sought political office ; in fact, his legal ties are such that his time is almost fully occupied thereby. His in- clinations also do not lie in political work. otherwise his personality and convincing speech might easily have carried him far into the councils of the party, and the confidence of the electors. Judge Meskill is wedded to his profession, and is con- tent in knowing that his judicial rulings
are accurately based, and that his inter- pretations of the law since he became a member of the firm of Walsh, Roche & Meskill have safeguarded the interests of many clients of the firm.
In matters relating to the church, Judge Meskill takes interested part as a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, New Britain ; he also belongs to the fraternal orders of Knights of Co- lumbus and Foresters of America.
MILLER, Lewis Albert,
Contracting Builder.
For nearly thirty-five years Mr. Miller has been actively engaged with building operations in Meriden, Connecticut, and has constructed many important build- ings in the State. His father, George W. Miller, was born October 13, 1838, in Ramapo, Rockland county, New York, son of William Miller and his wife, Jane Storms. Jane Storms was a daughter of John Storms and Elizabeth Sidman. John Storms was born September 10, 1752, in Poughkeepsie, New York, and died in Ramapo, November 30, 1845. He was a soldier of the Revolution, enlisting at Poughkeepsie, April 29, 1777. for three years or during the war. He was allowed a pension on his application made in April, 1818, residing at that time at Pompton, New Jersey. In 1828 he re- moved to Ramapo, New York, where he died, as previously noted. In the battle of Fort Montgomery, New York, he was captured, and was reported missing Octo- ber 6, 1777. After confinement of six months on the famous prison ship "Jer- sey." in New York Harbor, he was ex- changed and returned to his regiment, with which he served to January, 1782, when he was mustered in for new service. He participated in the battles about York- town, which were the decisive actions of
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the Revolution, causing its close. He served under Captains Rosecrantz and Vanderberger, under Colonel Lewis Du Bois Cortlandt, also under Captains Van Wyck and Brinckerhoff. During a part of this time he was a member of the First Company, Fifth Regiment, New York line.
George W. Miller has long been a con- spicuous citizen of Meriden. In his twelfth year he removed with his parents to Chico- pee Falls, Massachusetts, where he at- tended school four years. He then en- tered the service of the Massachusetts Arms Company at Springfield as an ap- prentice toolmaker. In 1862 he removed to Meriden, where he entered the shops of the Parker, Snow & Brooks Company, who were engaged in manufacturing Springfield rifles for the United States. For some time he worked as a toolmaker, and then took a contract for producing locks for Springfield rifles. In 1868, in association with his brother, William H. Miller, he engaged in the manufacture of pocket cutlery, and this led to the forma- tion of the Miller Brothers Cutlery Com- pany, still engaged very extensively in the production of various kinds of cutlery, steel pens and other metal products. In 1878 George W. Miller sold out his in- terest in the establishment and began the manufacture of pocket knives and novel- ties, with factory located at George and Mechanic streets, where he continued un- til 1899. Since then and for some time previous, he has been employed in the public service. He was a member of the city council in 1869, 1877 and 1879. In 1890 he was appointed collector of inter- nal revenue, in which position he con- tinued four years. In 1894 he was ap- pointed superintendent of the Meriden Water Department, and in his four years of service in that capacity the storage reservoir of the city was completed. This is known as "Hallmere," and has a ca-
pacity of one hundred and forty million gallons. In 1882 Mr. Miller was elected first selectman, and again in 1898, since which time he has continuously filled that office, by far the longest term of any individual in the history of the city. Through his efforts the "Cold Spring Home" was completed within one year after the call for a meeting of citizens to take up the matter. Over five thousand dollars of the original appropriation of forty thousand dollars were left after the completion of the work. This affords a comfortable home for all the unfortunate of the town. Mr. Miller has long been affiliated with the great Masonic frater- nity, and is a charter member of St. Elmo Commandery, Knights Templar, of Meri- den.
He married, February 4, 1863, Lydia M. Tucker, of Chicopee Falls, and they are the parents of three sons. Horace G., the eldest, is secretary and treasurer of the Union Iron Works at Los Angeles. California. Lewis Albert, of whom fur- ther, is the second. The third, Max E., is president and secretary of the Wemer- Miller Company of New Haven, Connec- ticut.
Lewis Albert Miller was born June 29. 1866, in Meriden, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native city. He abandoned the high school be- fore completion of his course, to enter the coal office of Amos Ives, in Meriden, where he remained but a few months. In May, 1883 he entered the service of the H. Wales Lines Company, and soon after its incorporation, six years later, he be- came a stockholder, and was made secre- tary of the company. This company has always engaged very extensively in build- ing operations in many States, and a large number of the most important public buildings in New England and elsewhere have been constructed by it. In Febru-
Conn-4-15
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ary, 1909, Mr. Miller resigned his position as secretary of that company, and in Sep- tember following engaged in general con- tracting on his own account, since which time he has continued with great success. Many public buildings, factories and school houses in Connecticut and Massa- chusetts have been erected by him, among the most prominent of which may be mentioned the State armories at Torring- ton and Branford ; the additions to armo- ries at New Britain, Bridgeport and Stam- ford; the seven-story factory building of Beaton, Cadwell & Company, New Brit- ain; and extensive additions to the tuber- culosis hospitals at Shelton and Meriden. The elegant home of the Danbury Club and the First Congregational Church house at Danbury are monuments to his efficient operations. He also erected the Strong School at New Haven ; Lyman Hall High School at Wallingford; Choate School Hill dining room and gymnasium at Wal- lingford; East Hartford High School ; Northside School of Bristol; Humiston School in Cheshire ; Board of Trade Build- ing, Meriden ; additions to factories of the Manning, Bowman Company of Meriden; the Connecticut Telephone & Electric Company ; Wilcox & White Organ Com- pany ; International Silver Company, and the A. L. Peton residence and garage at Meriden. Mr. Miller has also constructed important buildings in the State of New York, and many others in Connecticut.
He has also taken a keen interest in public affairs, sustaining the principles and policies of the Republican party, and represented the Second Ward of Meriden in the city council in 1892-93-94. He is a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 77, Free and Accepted Masons; Keystone Chap- ter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons; and St. Elmo Commandery, No. 9, Knights Temp- lar, of Meriden; and Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. He is a member of the Home and Highland Coun- try clubs, and the Colonial and Wheel clubs of Meriden. He is a trustee of the Meriden Savings Bank, and is recognized as one of the most sound and substantial business men of his native city. For many years he was active in amateur bicycling. racing on the high wheel, was several years a member of the National Racing Board, winning several championships, and at one time held the American rec- ord for a one mile run.
Mr. Miller married, October 19, 1892. Lena S. Merriam, daughter of Charles B. and Mary (Rice) Merriam, of Meriden.
TRUMBULL, John H.,
Manufacturer.
Among the distinguished and public spirited citizens of which Plainville, Con- necticut, can boast, there is none more worthy of comment and respect than John H. Trumbull, president of the Plain- ville Trust Company and the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, both Plainville organizations, which have proven to be important factors in the de- velopment and prosperity of this town. There is scarcely a department in the life of the community to which he has not devoted time, study and energy, and has become instrumental in moulding for the better from the purely industrial and financial interest to those of general en- lightenment and culture. In the former direction he has been one of the pioneers in the electrical industry, and it was due to the efforts of John H. Trumbull, his brother, Henry Trumbull, and Frank T. Wheeler, sketches of whom also appear in this work, that the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, a concern which stands second to none in the knife switch industry of the country, has been founded
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The American Historical Society
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and brought to its present proportions and state of development. The towns- people have recognized Mr. Trumbull as a leader, placing their trust and confi- dence in him, and thereby repaying to a certain extent their profound debt of gratitude, not only for the business enter- prise that must of necessity react upon the general prosperity of their town in a favorable manner, but also because dur- ing his entire career he has kept its best interests at heart, working quite as much for this impersonal object as he has for his own private success. Such disinter- estedness is the more noteworthy because in this day and generation it is none too common.
John H. Trumbull was born March 4, 1873, in the town of Ashford, Connecticut, one of the seven sons of Hugh H. and Mary Ann (Harper) Trumbull, who in the year 1870 came to the United States and settled near Windsor, Connecticut, emigrating from the North of Ireland, whither the family went from the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, the home of their ancestors, they locating in that city in 1792. Shortly afterward they located in Ulster, Ireland, and remained there more than half a century. Here it was Hugh H. Trumbull was born, reared, educated and married, coming to this country in early manhood, and for a number of years he engaged in farming in the neighbor- hood of Windsor. Somewhat later he re- moved to Plainville, Connecticut, and there his family of seven sons grew up to manhood and gained their educations in the public schools, although in every case their educational advantages were some- what abbreviated, owing to the necessity for them to engage in the task of earning their own livelihood.
John H. Trumbull, although an apt scholar, had other plans to be developed which required actual contact with me-
chanical equipment rather than literary courses, and at an early age he became employed in the local mills, which afford- ed him meagre opportunity to conduct crude experiments along the lines of elec- trical apparatus and devices, which knowledge, however, at a later date proved very valuable in his work while connected with electrical engineering or- ganizations. Through coming in actual contact with conditions existing in the various branches of the electrical lines, and by concentrated study of technics in general, Mr. Trumbull soon became quite skilled in the fundamental branches of the art, and when the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, composed of John H. and Henry Trumbull and Frank T. Wheeler, began its operations in a small wooden shack in the town of Plain- ville, in September, 1899, the seed of the coming electrical industry which had been planted in their scantilly equipped plant began to take root, and it has grown steadily and sturdily, showing a healthy increase from year to year, until at the present time (1917) the company has developed into a modern. well- equipped manufacturing plant, thorough- ly up-to-date in every respect and still growing.
After deciding to settle permanently in the town of Plainville, Mr. Trumbull be- gan various campaigns for the betterment of the town and the convenience of its people. He recognized the need of a local banking house and, together with his associates, set about to learn the condi- tions which existed in the banking world. After careful investigation and many strenuous appeals to the public, the First National Bank of Plainville was organ- ized, and the attitude of the townspeople toward Mr. Trumbull was clearly shown in his election to the presidency of the bank as the best qualified man to handle
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the problems of that responsible position. In the year 1916 the First National Bank was changed into the Plainville Trust Company, this change being for the best interests of its patrons, as it enabled them to secure better facilities for their re- quirements, which could not be taken care of under a national bank charter.
In the recent inilitary campaign, the townspeople again showed themselves willing followers of Mr. Trumbull when they appointed him captain of their Home Guard, and became enthusiastic subjects under his leadership, placing in him their unfailing confidence that he would place at their disposal the best possible protec- tion to be obtained, and see that they were adequately represented as a pre- pared military unit among other bodies of a corresponding size. Possessing a cool head and steady nerve, Mr. Trumbull has gained prestige among his fellow shoot- ers, and he is known to be an enthusiastic gun-man in all phases of the game.
Mr. Trumbull's name has been connect- ed with practically all movements under- taken for the town's advancement, and he has always been ready and willing to give his assistance in any financial, social or physical problem requiring attention. Due to his superior judgment and capable management of financial matters, he has been made director of several concerns in Plainville and surrounding cities, and has worked conscientiously and faithfully in every capacity, but has always been loyal to the town of Plainville, taking unlim- ited pride in its success and growth. In social and fraternal circles Mr. Trumbull has accomplished considerable during the past years, his efforts being particularly directed in behalf of the Masonic lodge of Plainville, which has benefited greatly through his efforts, it being directly through his influence and enthusiasm that Frederick Lodge, No. 14, was estab-
lished on a solid foundation, making it one of the most prosperous of its size in the entire country. Both Mr. Trumbull and his brother are well known among the Masonic institutes of this section, having joined all the local bodies and taken all degrees up to and including the thirty-second.
Mr. Trumbull married, November 30, 1903, Maude Pierce Usher, of Plainville, a daughter of Robert C. and Antoinette Usher, old and honored residents of that town.
The name of John H. Trumbull is closely identified in the minds of his fel- low citizens and associates with the progress of their town. Conservative and prudent as is his mind, personal contact with men of all nations and creeds has taught him the valuable lesson that a man should not be judged by his nation- ality, creed or position in life. He is en- dowed with the rare gift of reading char- acter, is always open to conviction, there- fore the innovation which actually offers a substantial advantage does not have to wait to gain his approval or to enlist his sympathy and aid. Plainville at one time was one of those New England towns which seemed not to have felt the tre- mendous impulse to progress that is characteristic of the region of New Eng- land generally. It was rather one of those, and there is a number of them, which, satisfied with the past and the methods of the past, has not cared to as- sume the responsibility of the problems of advancement and growth which had already been solved by the majority of its neighbors, but Mr. Trumbull and his as- sociates set about in their characteristic and energetic way to remedy it. Mr. Trumbull is a man of very broad interests and sympathies, which find expression not only in what is known as public spirit but in charity and tolerance, and that
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most altruistic of the virtues, a demo- cratic attitude toward his fellow-men of whatever rank or position and whereso- ever found. There could scarcely be found one better fitted to take upon him- self the awakening of a community, as it were, without arousing malice or jealousy on the part of others and thus stirring up unnecessary opposition to the good work. How admirably he has succeeded is wit- nessed by the result, a result, be it re- membered, accomplished in a few years, and while he who brought it about is still a young man with every hope for still greater achievement in the future.
TRUMBULL, Henry, Manufacturer.
Henry Trumbull, one of the seven sons of Hugh H. and Mary Ann (Harper) Trumbull, and brother of John H. Trum- bull, was born at Burnside, Connecticut, January 12, 1875. He began life among country environments and the wholesome atmosphere of rural surroundings. He attended the local schools and there first developed a keen interest in the founda- tion of systematically arranged opera- tions, which later brought him unlimited success in the various lines of work to which he devoted his time prior to his final connection with the Trumbull Elec- tric Manufacturing Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer.
For a number of years the two brothers, John H. and Henry, have worked side by side, making their business and social in- terests mutual, and therefore much that is written in the sketch of John H. Trum- bull applies also to Henry Trumbull, the second brother, both having worked dili- gently in an endeavor to place the town of Plainville on an equal basis with other towns of its size and help it along the road to success and prosperity.
Henry Trumbull has spared no effort or expense in assisting all worthy institu- tions or individuals coming under his ob- servation, even at a sacrifice of his own convenience and comfort. While he is considered a deep thinker and a man of few words, many of the townspeople have received substantial evidence of a warm heart and sympathetic tendencies, of which the public have heard but little. The brothers are men of the greatest public spirit, having taken an active part in town matters in general, placing their time and influence at the disposal of the people with the object of accomplishing satisfactory results and a better source of convenience for the public. Not satis- fied with their own success, they have placed others on the road to advancement, giving a helping hand on all occasions when the objects to be gained were ulti- mate improvements and the betterment of the community.
During recent years Mr. Trumbull has spent considerable time and study in re- search work on agricultural problems, and has taken unlimited interest in local farms and facilities for increasing the capacity of their output. He has learned the great need for a systematically con- ducted farm, and is very enthusiastic in his efforts to place his statistics and find- ings before the local farmers, with the object of inaugurating better manage- ment and system in handling their prod- ucts with the ultimate object of operating their farms on a more productive basis than has been done in the past. While but very slow progress can be made along these lines, Mr. Trumbull has taken the work up with untiring patience, and considering the usual tenacity which is characteristic of the members of the Trumbull family, he will undoubtedly win out eventually. The same spirit has pre- vailed in many directions, and in connec-
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