Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 802

USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8 > Part 8

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In 1892 Mr. Towne changed his resi- dence from Stamford to New York City, and despite the exacting demands of his own business he found time to render valued service as an early and active member of the Merchant's Association of that city, serving as its president from 1907 to 1913, and is still a member of its board of directors. He was active in pro- moting the organization of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, and of the National Tariff Com- mission Association, and served as treas- urer of the latter until it was disbanded. He also participated in the early activities of the League for Industrial Rights, and the National Industrial Conference Board. In 1919 the degree of Doctor of Commer- cial Science was conferred on him by New York University.

While a resident of Stamford, Connec- ticut, especially in the years between 1880 and 1890, Mr. Towne interested himself in movements for the improvement of the town. Stamford's most pressing need at that time was a system of sewerage. Mr. Towne was the most active advocate of this, and led numerous debates in its favor at public meetings. He was instru- mental in securing the employment, by the then borough, of his friend, Colonel George E. Waring, a celebrated sanitary engineer, who designed the system of sanitary sewerage that was later installed. Mr. Towne was a pioneer in the move- ment for good roads. In addresses and in articles published over his signature, he

advocated a more progressive policy and the result was the construction of a num- ber of macadamized streets, the real be- ginning of better roads in Stamford. He caused a plan to be drawn for a parkway along the Rippowan river. This met with opposition and defeat, but in later years it was recognized that had Mr. Towne's suggestion been carried out, which could easily have been done at that time, Stam- ford would have a beauty spot through the center of the town that would make it unique. One of the earliest undertak- ings of Mr. Towne for the benefit of his employees was the establishment of a library, which was housed in two rooms of a building on Main street. This was supplied with works on scientific sub- jects, fiction and current magazines. It was used not only by his factory em- ployees but by the public, and was really the beginning of Stamford's splendid free library. It was also the beginning of the Yale & Towne welfare work already al- luded to in this sketch.

On March 12, 1868, Mr. Towne mar- ried Cora E. White, daughter of John Parker and Eliza Canfield (Tallmadge) White. John P. White was a descendant of Hon. David Hall, first governor of Del- aware. Hon. Frederick Augustus Tall- madge, father of Eliza Canfield Tall- madge, was at one time recorder of the City of New York. He married Eliza H. Canfield, daughter of Judson and Mabel (Ruggles) Canfield. Frederick A. Tall- madge was the son of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, aide-de-camp of General Washington in the Revolution. He mar- ried Mary Floyd, daughter of General William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Henry Robinson and Cora E. (White) Towne were the parents of John Henry Towne, still living, and of Frederick Tallmadge Towne, who was born March 5, 1872, and who died February 4, 1906.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

MIX, Elisha (3rd),

Head of Important Business.

A man is a quotation from all his an- cestors. No book printed in the nine- teenth century did so much perhaps to spur young people to worthy endeavor as "Self Help," by Samuel Smiles, a collec- tion of brief biographies detailing the struggles of men who by their own un- aided efforts worked their way from hum- ble beginnings to commanding positions in every field of human achievement. Such stories still interest and instruct us, but the objection is often heard that the days of opportunity are past. It is, there- fore, important to place before the youth of our time the histories of successful men now living ; and the career of Elisha Mix, lock manufacturer of Stamford, furnishes such a story. It will be an inspiration to the young. It will stimulate ambition. It will conduce to honesty, energy and per- severance. It will inculcate humanitar- ianism in the management of employes, efficiency and system in upbuilding a business.

The Mix family is among the oldest in New England, and Elisha Mix, of this review, who will appear in greater detail below, carries in his veins also the blood of other Colonial families, among them, Turner, Goodwin, Webster, Steele, Gov- ernor William Bradford and others. It was the lofty ideals and sturdy patriot- ism of such families that gave color and form to New England society and insti- tutions, which in turn exerted such a vir- ile and beneficent influence in shaping the real character of America as a nation. To possess such a heritage carries with it responsibility. Elisha Mix in his char- acter and activities maintains the unsul- lied reputation of his ancestors, and like them he has always stood ready to meet every responsibility that is connected by

the term, good citizen. The spellings of the name of Mix have been many and va- ried. In the early records it is most com- monly spelled Meekes.

(I) Thomas Meekes, the ancestor of the family, believed to have been born in London, England, died in 1691, and is buried near the old green in the New Haven Church Burying Ground. In 1643 he was a resident of New Haven, Connec- ticut. He married, six years later, Re- becca Turner, daughter of Captain Na- thaniel Turner, who came with Governor Winthrop.

(II) John Mix, eldest son of Thomas and Rebecca (Turner) Meekes, was born in 1649, and died January 21, 1711-12. He removed to Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1670, and was the first of the name there. He married, before 1676, Elizabeth Hea- ton, born in 1650, died August 21, 17II.

(III) John (2) Mix, eldest son of John (1) and Elizabeth (Heaton) Mix, was born August 25, 1676. He married (first) No- vember 25, 1702, Sarah Thompson, born January 16, 1671, died November 21, 17II. He married (second), November 12, 1712, Mrs. Elizabeth Booth, who died in May, 1716. He married (third), Feb- ruary 14, 1717, Esther Peck.

(IV) Ebenezer Mix, son of John (2) and Elizabeth (Booth) Mix, was born in 1715-16, and died in West Hartford, Con- necticut, August 4, 1766. He was a large land owner, and an active member of the Congregational church. He married Anna Goodwin, born in 1725, died in 1817, daughter of Isaac Goodwin (see Good- win V). Ebenezer and Anna (Goodwin) Mix were the parents of John and Elisha Mix, both prominent men. The former. John Mix, was secretary of the Order of the Cincinnati, and with him were de- posited the charter and funds of the So- ciety when it was disbanded in 1804. He was an ensign and lieutenant in the Rev-

Elisha Trix

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

olution. The second son was Elisha, of whom further.

(V) Elisha Mix, son of Ebenezer and Anna (Goodwin) Mix, was born July I, 1764, and died June 12, 1818. He was a corporal in the Revolutionary War, and a pensioner in 1818, the year he died. His widow received a pension until her death. Elisha Mix served in Captain Catlin's company, Fifth Regiment of the Connec- ticut Line, May 26, 1777, for eight months ; enlisted from Goshen, as corporal, Au- gust 14, 1777, for the war, in the Seventh Regiment of the Connecticut Line ; "en- listed in Captain Baldwin's Company, January I, 1781, paid to December 31, 1781." He also served as a corporal in Captain Bissell's company, "arrived in camp, June 23, 1778." Elisha Mix mar- ried Anna Webster, born in 1759, died January 27, 1842, daughter of Isaac Web- ster (see Webster V).

(VI) James Mix, son of Elisha and Anna (Webster) Mix, was born July 10, 1793. He was corporal in the War of 1812. He settled in Goshen, Connecti- cut. At one time he conducted a grocery store in Hartford, and he died in Terry- ville, Connecticut, in 1859. He married, December 8, 1814, Lucy Steele, born De- cember 8, 1793, daughter of Allyn Steele (see Steele VII).

(VII) General Elisha (2) Mix, son of James and Lucy (Steele) Mix, was born November 17, 1818, in Watertown, Con- necticut, and died October 8, 1898. He married, July 10, 1843, Amelia Edmonds, a native of Trowbridge, England, where she was born April 2, 1827. She died in November, 1916. General Elisha Mix was reared in Hartford, where his father re- moved while he was yet a small lad, and entered the grocery business. The boy, Elisha, attended the common school, and later learned the trades of tool and clock making. When he was about eighteen

years old, he ran away and went to sea ; he continued along this line for about two years, and finally reached Florida, during the progress of the Seminole War, in which he took part. After that he re- turned to Connecticut and settled in Terryville, remaining for a time, going thence to New Haven, where he was one of the organizers of the New Haven Clock Company. After a few years he left the Clock Company, though still retaining his financial interest in it, and went to Michigan where he engaged in the lum- bering business for a year or two. He then returned to New Haven, Connecti- cut, and spent three or four years with the Clock Company. About 1854 he sold his interest in that enterprise and went West, locating in Allegan, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumbering busi- ness until 1862, in which year he raised a company for the Eighth Michigan Cav- alry and served three years. He went out as captain of his company and was pro- moted successively to major, lieutenant- colonel and colonel. On March 19, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general. In the Stoneman raid, General Mix was taken prisoner and confined in Macon, Georgia, for a short time. From there he was sent to Charleston, South Caro- lina, where he remained about two and one-half months, when he was exchanged. General Mix served in fifty-two engage- ments, a remarkable record.

After the war, General Mix purchased a retail hardware store in Allegan, which he conducted for about three years. Then he removed to Fennville, Michigan, where he operated a saw mill for Emerson & Talcott for two years. In 1868-69, he bought a machine shop in Allegan and engaged in building saw mills and sta- tionary engines, and doing repair work on them, until 1870, when he removed to Wyandotte and took charge of the

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Wyandotte Agricultural Works, manufac- turers of mowers, plows, cultivators and so forth. He was there about two years and then returned to Allegan. In the latter place, General Mix organized a company to manufacture freight cars. A factory was built and the machinery had been installed when the panic of 1873 compelled the abandonment of the enter- prise. On May 3, 1873, General Mix re- turned to Connecticut and entered the employ of the Eagle Lock Company as a toolmaker. In October, 1875, he organ- ized the Bridgeport Lock Company and removed to Bridgeport. He was secre- tary of the company, which was success- ful from the beginning and promised such competition in the lock business that the Eagle Lock Company purchased the busi- ness and removed it to Terryville. Gen- eral Mix went there as superintendent of the tool department and remained there until 1880, when he went to Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and organized a lumber company under the name of the Bagaley Mills Company. Later he es- tablished another mill in Elk county for the same company. That was in the spring of 1882, and as there were coal mines on the property where the com- pany proposed to work, a new corporation was formed under the name of the Ar- thur Coal & Lumber Company. Gen- eral Mix remained there until the spring of 1884, and in that year retired from ac- tive business, returning to Allegan, Mich- igan, where he resided until his death in 1898. During his last residence there he was for several years superintendent of the Allegan County Poor.

In political faith a Republican, he was active in the support of the party. He was a delegate to the convention in Jack- son, Michigan, at which the Republican party was organized, but never desired public office. General Mix was a member

of C. J. Bassett Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Allegan, which he served several times as commander, and he was made a Free Mason in Mt. Clements, Michigan, while in camp there at the be- ginning of the war. A Sons of Veterans camp was also organized in Allegan, and they chose the name of General Elisha Mix Camp in honor of their fellow-citizen.

General Mix and his wife, Amelia (Ed- monds) Mix, were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Rosina, wife of Harold C. Weeks; she died January 10, 1919. in Allegan ; Elisha, of further mention ; Har- riet Elizabeth, died in infancy. The fam- ily were members of the Congregational church.

General Elisha Mix was a typical, rest- less, energetic, aggressive and progres- sive New Englander. He knew not the word discouragement. The failure of one undertaking only spurred him to greater and more determined effort. A highly skilled mechanic of the time when men learned trades thoroughly, he was also the fortunate possessor of splendid execu- tive ability. He understood human na- ture and knew how to win the confidence of men and manage them. Every inch a patriot, he served his country on the field of battle, and in the less strenuous days of peace he measured up to the responsi- bilities of citizenship. He was highly es- teemed by all who had an opportunity to recognize his sturdy, upright character.

(VIII) Elisha (3) Mix, only son of General Elisha (2) and Amelia (Ed- monds) Mix, was born January 14, 1850, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was educated in the grammar and high school of Allegan, Michigan, and at an early age began to learn the trade of machinist, under the instruction of his father. He came to Connecticut, May 3, 1873, and entered the employ of the Eagle Lock Company as a toolmaker, in which ca-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

pacity he served for one year, when he was promoted to superintendent of the mail lock department, which position he held until the Bridgeport Lock Company was formed in November, 1874. He re- mained with this company until it was consolidated with the Eagle Lock Com- pany in 1877. He then returned to Terry- ville and engaged with the old company as toolmaker until the summer of 1880, when he went with his father to Penn- sylvania to engage in the lumber busi- ness. He left Arthur's Coal & Lumber Company in November, 1883, and then took a position with the Corbin Cabinet Lock Company, where he remained until October, 1891, when he came to Stamford, Connecticut, and took a similar position with the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, which position he held until June 30, 1898, in which month he organ- ized The Excelsior Hardware Company, of which he has since been president. The produce of the company is trunk and cab- inet locks, which are sold direct to trunk manufacturers and makers of cabinet work.

The business has grown from the small- est of beginnings until about eighty-five people are employed on an average and about ten thousand dozen locks are pro- duced a month. The story of the growth of this enterprise is both entertaining and instructive. Mr. Mix's achievements dem- onstrate that it is still possible for a man with the requisite knowledge of his busi- ness and the right personal qualities to enter a field of business apparently al- ready preëmpted and win for himself a substantial success. From what we have seen of his father's career, we have a right to infer that Mr. Mix inherited his great courage, determination and initia- tive. Like his father, he is thorough master of every detail of his trade and a highly skilled artisan. With this equip-

ment and a capital which was, apparently, wholly inadequate, he embarked in this enterprise, full of hope, but not unmind- ful of the keen competition which he knew he should encounter as soon as other lock manufacturers discovered his product on the market. Accordingly, he planned wisely for all contingencies. He made a thousand dozen of a certain type of lock, which he had no difficulty in marketing. He was not in the least sur- prised when other manufacturers cut the price on that type of lock to a ruinous figure. However, he had sold his first thousand dozen and now, with the strat- egy he had already planned, he made a large stock of a different type, and this also met with the ruthless price cutting competition, and so it went, Mr. Mix gradually strengthening his standing with the trade and adding to his capital and equipment until his position among lock manufacturers was assured. In 1918 a new and modern brick factory building of two stories, one hundred feet by fifty feet, was erected, well lighted and equipped with every convenience for the comfort and well being of his employes. A trip with him through the plant illumines the character of the president, for it is ap- parent that the workers are accustomed to his visits and to receive a pleasant word of kindly interest that does more to promote their loyalty than can easily be estimated. In such an atmosphere it would be hard to propagate discontent.

Mr. Mix takes an active interest in the welfare of his adopted city, and can be depended upon to do his share in its de- velopment toward an ideal community. He is an ex-president of the Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Order of United American Mechanics, of which he is also past councilor ; he is past mas- ter of Ponus Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Mix married (first) Frances A. Williams, who has nearly all her life been known as "Fannie." She was born in Terryville, Connecticut, March 4, 1851, a daughter of Cornelius R. and Caroline (Hooker) Williams, the latter named a daughter of Ira Hooker. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mix are: I. Moseley W., now vice-president of The Excelsior Hardware Company; he married Nellie N. Layle, and has one son, Earle Lin- wood. 2. Lora A., resides at home ; a re- tired school teacher. 3. Ralph Hooker, married Ina Thresher, and has a daughter, Frances Bradford, and a son, Ralph Thresher; they reside in Springdale, Stamford, Connecticut. 4. James Ed- monds, secretary and treasurer of The Excelsior Hardware Company; he mar- ried Grace Morro and they have two daughters, Marjory and Elizabeth Ann. 5. Clarence Elisha, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of The Excelsior Hardware Company. He served eleven months in France, until April 4, 1919, in the Medical Corps of the 107th Infantry, 27th Division, and was in the engagement at the breaking of the Hindenburg Line. Clarence E. Mix has a citation for brav- ery under fire in the Hindenburg line and other engagements in the World War. The mother of these children died July 23, 1916. Mr. Mix married (second), March 12, 1919, Mrs. Mary M. Forbes, of Plain- well, Michigan. The family attend and are active in the support of the Congre- gational church, of which Mr. Mix has served several terms as deacon.

(The Goodwin Line).

(I) Ozias Goodwin, the ancestor of this branch of the family, was born in 1596, and died in 1683. It is not known just when he came to New England, but he was a resident of Hartford, Connec- ticut, in 1639. He was one of those who

agreed to remove to Hatfield, although he did not go himself. He married Mary Woodward, daughter of Robert Wood- ward, of Braintree, Massachusetts.

(II) William Goodwin, son of Ozias and Mary (Woodward) Goodwin, was born about 1629, and died October 15, 1689. He was made freeman, May 21, 1657, and in 1662 served as chimney viewer.

(III) Nathaniel Goodwin, son of Wil- liam Goodwin, was a shoemaker by trade. He was a deacon of the First Church of Hartford in March, 1734. He held this office until his death, in November, 1747. He married Mehetable Porter, born Sep- tember 15, 1673, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Stanley) Porter, and she died February 6, 1726.

(IV) Isaac Goodwin, son of Nathan- iel and Mehetable (Porter) Goodwin, was baptized November 10, 1695, and died August 15, 1766. He was grand juror in 1741, and selectman in 1742. He married (first) Hannah Morgan, born Nevember 24, 1703, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Morgan.

(V) Anna Goodwin, daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Morgan) Goodwin, was baptized May 16, 1725, and died Septem- ber 9, 1817. She married, in 1754, Eben- ezer Mix (see Mix IV).

(The Webster Line).

(I) Governor John Webster was from Norwickshire, England, and was one of the original settlers of Hartford and one of the founders of the Republic of Con- necticut. He held many prominent of- fices; in 1655 he was deputy governor and in 1656 was governor. His wife's Christian name was Agnes and they were the parents of four sons.

(II) Lieutenant Robert Webster, son of Governor John and Agnes Webster, was born in 1627, and was a man of great

Samuel Lignes

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

ability. He served his communities in many ways, and settled in Middletown. When that town was organized, he was made recorder, and also represented Mid- dletown in the General Court, 1653-55, 1656, 1657, and 1658. He married, in 1652, Susannah Treat, born in 1629, daughter of Richard and Joanna Treat, of Wethersfield.

(III) Deacon Jonathan Webster, son of Lieutenant Robert and Susannah (Treat) Webster, was born January 9, 1656, and died in 1735. His wife became a member of the Second Church in Hart- ford, March 17, 1695, and died the same year.

(IV) Captain Stephen Webster, son of Deacon Jonathan Webster, was born Jan- uary 1, 1693, and died in 1724. He mar- ried, June 6, 1717, Mary Burnham, bap- tized December 19, 1690, daughter of John and Mary (Olcott) Burnham, of Hartford.

(V) Isaac Webster, son of Captain Stephen and Mary (Burnham) Webster, was born in 1718, baptized June 15, of that year, and died September 19, 1801. He married, November 11, 1739, Ame White, who died June 23, 1807. They were the parents of Anna Webster, who became the wife of Elisha Mix (see Mix V).

(The Steele Line).

(I) John Steele, the immigrant, was born in Essex county, England, and died November 25, 1665, in Farmington, Con- necticut. He came to New England in 1631, and settled in Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. He removed to Hartford, thence to Farmington. The first wife of John Steele was named Rachel; she died in 1653; he married (second) Mrs. Mercy Seamer.

(II) John (2) Steele, son of John (1) and Rachel Steele, was married in 1645 to Mercy Warner, daughter of Andrew

Warner. He died previous to his father, 1653.

(III) Samuel Steele, son of John (2) and Mercy (Warner) Steele, was born March 15, 1652, and died in 1710. He married, September 16, 1680, Mercy Brad- ford, daughter of Major William Brad- ford.

(IV) Thomas Steele, son of Samuel and Mercy (Bradford) Steele, was born September 9, 1681, and died in 1757. He married, May 16, 1709, Susanna Webster, who died November 27, 1757.

(V) Samuel (2) Steele, son of Thomas and Susanna (Webster) Steele, was born March II, 1712, and died September 12, 1779. He married, December 20, 1739, Elizabeth Merry.

(VI) Allyn Steele, son of Samuel (2) and Elizabeth (Merry) Steele, was born July 21, 1757, and died June 17, 1802. He married (first) Joanna Cadwell, born Jan- uary 20, 1757, and died May 3, 1835.

(VII) Lucy Steele, daughter of Allyn and Joanna (Cadwell) Steele, became the wife of James Mix (see Mix VI).

LYNES, Samuel,

Merchant.

Many of the old New England names have undergone great modifications in spelling and one of these is Lynes. It is frequently written Lines and Lyne. Henry and Ralph Lines, usually supposed to be brothers, settled in New Haven, Con- necticut, about 1642. Henry Lines states in the birth-record of his son, Samuel, that he is "second sonne of John Line (as he saith) of Badby two miles from Dantry (Daventry) in Northampton- shire."

(I) Ralph Lines, Sr., probably brother of Henry Lines, lived in that part of New Haven later designated the parish of Am- ity, and now the town of Woodbridge.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY

He died September 7, 1689, and his estate showed an inventory of over £242. In his will, dated December 4, 1687, he men- tions sons, Samuel, Ralph, Joseph and Benjamin, wife "Alis," and daughter Han- nah. A codicil, dated February 1, 1689, says that as his life has been prolonged, and his daughter Hannah since died, he leaves her portion to his wife Alice. An additional codicil, made during his last sickness, states as his son Benjamin has since died, but his widow being with child, to that child, if it lives, he bequeaths its father's portion. He also speaks of his deceased daughter Merriman. The will was proved November 13, 1689 (New Haven Probate, Vol. II, p. 17). Children : Samuel, Ralph, John, Joseph, Benjamin, of whom further; Hannah.

(II) Benjamin Lines, son of Ralph Lines, married Anna Wilmot, daughter of William and Sarah (Thomas) Wilmot. He died July 26, 1689, and soon after his widow married (second) Dr. Peter Car- rington. In 1702, Peter Carrington is called husband to Anna, administratrix on the estate of her late husband, Benjamin Lines, deceased (County Court Records, New Haven, Vol. II, p. 83).

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Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1923 Publisher: American Historical Society Number of Pages: 802

Author:
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 802