History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 122

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 122

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In this connection, as incidentally illustrating an- other characteristic of his nature, when he found that the contractor for his organ, who was a poor man, had taken the contract at a ruinous rate,-a fact which he ascertained only by diligent inquiry,-he, to the unspeakable relief of the poor man, assured him that he should be fully remunerated for all his time and expense, which proved to be nearly a thou- sand dollars more than the price contracted.

Mr. Terry was trained to habits of business in his early life, to which he was naturally by no means disinclined. Ilis father's health was such during his later years that he needed his assistance, and he was left, before the age of eighteen years, to settle his father's estate, with the aid of his uncle, William E. MeKec. Ile had learned the art of land surveying in his school-days, which was valuable to him in lay- ing out and selling the lands which his father had left.

He was much interested, too, in steam-engines, par- ticularly in their application to travel on our common roads, and he built a working model of one that would walk on four legs like a horse. He also built a sta- tionary engine of some ten horse-power, which was used for some years to carry on the works of the lock- factory of S. Terry & Co. His father, in his later years, had turned his attention to the raising of silk- worms, and had in mind to commence the manufac- ture of silk. James, in pursuance of this plan, put up a factory, and made a commencement of the busi- ness, which, not proving remunerativo, he soon aban- doned.

In 1846 he formed a copartnership with his uncle, William E. MeKee, under the name of James Terry & Co., for the manufacture of locks. They purchased the trunk-lock business of Williams, Mckee & Co., of Terryville, and added to it, little by little, the

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

manufacture of cabinet-locks, in competition with Lewis & Gaylord, who had succeeded to that business on the death of Eli Terry (2d). They also made carpet-bag locks and frames, the former at Terryville, and the latter, after a short time, at Newark, N. J. This latter business proved quite profitable, and put the concern on a good financial footing.

In 1854 the competing concerns united their inter- ests under the name of the Eagle Lock Company, a joint-stock company with a capital of eighty-five thousand dollars, of which James Terry was made president and financial manager. The capital was afterwards increased to one hundred thousand dol- lars, where it remained till after his death. Suffice it to say that its success in the years that have fol- lowed is largely due to the wise and prudential man- agement of Mr. Terry in its beginning.

The prominent characteristics of Mr. Terry as a business man were strict honesty, method, caution almost extreme, and untiring diligence, united with that indefinable but very important qualification which we call tact.

His sterling honesty and justice showed itself in his dealings with his employees. They knew he could be depended upon to fulfill all his agreements, and to give them what he thought was a fair remuneration for their labor. He was a man, to use a homely but ex- pressive phrase, that "you could tie to." He de- spised trickery and underhanded dealing, and took no advantage of these arts. He was, nevertheless, shrewd

in the sense of foreseeing and keenly discerning the results of his doings, and not allowing himself to be overreached in any business transaction. He pur- sued a uniform method in his daily duties, and nothing was left at loose ends or neglected because he had overlooked it. His supervision extended to every de- tail of the business, and nothing escaped lis eye.

In his caution he attempted nothing that he could not reasonably anticipate the means of carrying out. In those early days business was done largely on credit, very few concerns having the capital to invest in uncertain speculations, or even to follow their legitimate business to its best results. Unlike many, he preferred to defer even desirable improvements till they could be undertaken with reasonable safety.

The years IS57 and 1858 were very trying ones, as the panic following the failure of the Ohio Life and Trust Company found most houses deeply involved and the wheels of business completely blocked. This naturally gave Mr. Terry no little anxiety, but he had the confidence of the community and of the banks, and weathered the panic with very little loss to the company. The men were allowed to continue their work on short time, trusting to the future for their pay, and they were not disappointed, and the company was able in a few months to sell advantageously the goods that would not have been made except for the benefit of the laboring men.

Mr. Terry was a very diligent man, putting in an

appearance at the office at the stroke of the bell, and continuing at his work, with the exception of short intervals for his meals, into the evening, when he looked over the night mails and read his daily paper. Undoubtedly this unceasing application to business shortened his life, as he took no time for recreation, and the constant strain broke down his system before he knew it, and led to the terrible disease which ended his days.

In politics Mr. Terry was a Republican, and repre- sented his town in the State Legislature. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Hollister, of Glas- tonbury, by whom he had four children,-Jane, Mary,' E. Clinton, and one who died in infancy,-all of whom were born in Terryville. Mrs. Terry died in 1852, and he married for his second wife Valeria, daughter of William Treat, Oct. 20, 1853. By this union three children were born,-Lerria F., who died at the age of eleven years; Nellie, who resides with her mother in Terryville; and an infant.

Mrs. Valeria Terry was born in Euclid, Ohio. Her father was a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and went to Ohio when a young man, where he was engaged as a farmer, and more especially as a ship-builder. He died at his residence at Topeka, Kan., at the age of seventy-seven years.

Mr. Terry was a member of the Congregational Church in Terryville. He was very liberal to the church, and charitable to the poor. He was consid- ered one of the best business men in his town, and his judgment was always sought on matters of public interest. He died April 19, 1871, of paralysis, from which he had long been suffering.

ANDREW TERRY.

Andrew Terry was born in Terryville, Conn., Dec. 29, 1824, at the old homestead, still standing, on the south side of the road, west of the upper lock-shop. He was the second son of Eli Terry, Jr., and Samantha McKee. At the famous boys' school kept by Deacon Hart, in Farmington, Conn., he pursued classical studies almost to the point required for entering col- lege. Soon after his father's death, and before be- coming of age, he went to Washington, Pa., and became clerk in a store. In that place he made the acquaintance of Susan Orr, whom he married Oct. 16, 1844, and who is still living. They had two children, -Gertrude, who died April 10, 1856, and Margaret, who married C. S. Treadway, cashier of the Bristol" National Bank, and died Sept. 17, 1880.

Returning to Terryville immediately after his mar- riage, he established himself as a country merchant in "the store," which all Terryville boys remember, and remained there for two years.

Nov. 24, 1847, the first ground was broken for a foundry for the manufacture of malleable iron. The business was then new to this part of the country, and the difficulties to be surmounted were very great. By

Andrew Jerry

A. G. Shelton

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PLYMOUTH.

his energy and courage the obstacles arising from lim- ited capital and inexperience were overcome, and the business was established on a paying basis. He con- tinued the same under his own name until Feb. 2, 1860, when a joint-stock corporation was formed, to which his name was given, and of which he contin- ued as president and principal owner until April 26, 1871, when he disposed of his entire interest therein. The business is still carried on under the old name of A. Terry & Co.

In 1868, Mr. Terry removed to Waterbury, still continuing to give his attention to the Terryville business. In the summer of 1871 he took up his res- idence in Lawrence, Kan., where he engaged in private banking and real estate operations. Remov- ing to Bristol, Conn., in July, 1875, in connection with G. J. Bently, the enterprise known as the Bristol Foundry Company was organized in the summer of 1876, and Mr. Terry was actively engaged in it until his last sickness.

As a citizen he realized his responsibilities, and tried to discharge them faithfully. Upon all ques- tions of public policy he held decided opinions, and did not hesitate to express them. Office he never cared for. When the civil war broke out he gave his time, money, heart, and body to the support of the government. He enlisted as a private in Com- pany I, First Regiment Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and went out as orderly sergeant. A severe illness rendered him unfit for duty, and he received his dis- charge, for disability, Sept. 23, 1861. On the 5th of October he was commissioned as major of the Eighth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and was soon pro- moted to the lieutenant-coloneley. He took part in Gen. Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and participated in the capture of Roanoke Island, and in the battle of Newbern. His commission was resigned March 28, 1862. In the list of those uniting with the Congregational Church in Terryville in 1842 oc- curs the name of Andrew Terry ; he was then eighteen years of age. In 1868 he removed his connection to the Second Congregational Church in Water- bury. On his removal to Kansas, he took a letter of recommendation to the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence. A marked era in his religious life began with the death of his little daughter Ger- trude. The revival of 1857-58, which brought "all Terryville" into the church, found a most helpful la- borer in him. He was not only active in the prayer- meeting, but held personal conversation with individ- uals, the result of which will only be known in eter- nity. He taught a class of boys in the Sunday- school, and had the pleasure of seeing nearly every one brought to Christ. At Allentown a mission Sun- day-school was sustained for a considerable time under his superintendeney, with very encouraging results. Theological questions then had for him a fascinating interest; late into the night he would talk with ministers and others interested in such thinking. llis

library was well selected and well read. Many min- isters shared the hospitality of his home, and were assisted by him in substantial ways. Among the number were the Rev. M. H. Williams, of Philadel- phia, and the Rev. J. C. Mcclintock, of Burlington, Iowa.

AUGUSTUS C. SHELTON.

Augustus Canby Shelton, the founder and senior member of the firmn.of Shelton & Tuttle, carriage man- ufacturers in the town of Plymouth, Conn., was born in Plymouth, Feb. 7, 1816, and died in that town, Aug. 27, 1880, at the age of sixty-four years.

He was of the fifth generation in descent from Daniel Shelton, the founder of the New England branch of the family, who came to this country from England about 1687, and settled in Stratford, now Huntington, in this State, The original home of the Shelton family was Norfolk, England. In 1504, Sir John Shelton, Knight of the Bath, was high sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. His son John served in the same office, which was also held in 1570 by Sir Ralph Shelton. At an earlier date the family was distin- guished, Sir Ralph de Shelton having been knighted at the battle of Cressy in 1346, and Nicholas De Shel- ton being one of the barons who rebelled against King John and wrested from him " Magna Charta."

In the village of Shelton, Norfolk Co., England, there is an old church with the remains of stained glass windows, on which were blazoned the heraklic tokens signifying that one of the race had been a pil- grim to the Holy Land. One of the family accompa- nied the Prince of Orange in his invasion, being a captain in the army which he led against James II., and was at the battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690.

Daniel, the original ancestor of the New England families bearing the Shelton name, came from the town of Rippon, Derbyshire Co., England, from which town the parish of Rippon took its name. He is described in the Stratford records as "merchant." His tombstone bears the inscription, "Saint Daniel Shelton." He was an extensive land proprietor, own- ing large traets of land in Stratford, Stamford, Far- mington, Oxford, Woodbury, Darien, Rippon, and Derby.

He was one of the non-resident proprietors of Wa- terbury, as appears by the grant of Governor Sal- tonstall, bearing date of Oet. 28, 1720. He had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. His fourth son, Samuel, was born in 1704. He had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters. His third son, Daniel, was born June 16, 1741. He had nine chil- dren, five sons and four daughters. His fourth son, Joseplı, was born Oct. 20, 1783. He had eleven chil- dren, five sons and six daughters. Of these sons Augustus Canby was the sceond, being the fourth child. His middle name he took from his mother, whose maiden name was Martha Canby.

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The original proprietor of the Shelton estate in what is now the town of Plymouth was David Shel- ton, the grandson of the original Daniel, and the grandfather of Augustus C. His estate lay in what is now called Todd Hollow, and was an extensive one, comprising some three thousand acres. He also owned land in Stamford and Kent.

Joseph Shelton, the father of Augustus, was a mer- chant and farmer. Augustus' early years were passed on his father's farm, where he acquired those habits of industry which characterized him through life. At the usual age he went to Harwinton to learn the trade of wheelwright, serving his time there with Lewis Smith. From there he went to New Haven, where he worked three years in the carriage establishment of George Hoadley. He then returned to Plymouth, and in 1837 entered upon the business of carriage- making on his own account. For the first three years he worked in a small building now occupied as a dwelling-house. He then erected the first building of the present establishment, which is now the engine- room. In 1843 the building in which the office is was built.

At that time the trade was mainly Southern. In 1855, Mr. Shelton took in as partner Mr. Byron Tut- tle. For several years the business was prosperous. For six years all the carriages made by the firm went West. The Southern business was broken up by the war, while the Western trade was improved. This continued till 1868, when the business began to wane, and in 1870 the company sold out the Chicago estab- lishment, and the partnership, so far as the business of manufacturing was concerned, was dissolved, the partners still holding the property together. From that time till his death Mr. Shelton carried on the business in a limited way.

Mr. Shelton was married, Nov. 19, 1858, to Ellen A. Crook. His children are John Canby, born May 14, 1860, died Sept. 13, 1860; Mary Jane, born Sept. 29, 1862; Frances Pauline, born June 9, 1865; Ellen Augusta, born May 20, 1870 ; Milla Canby, born Ang. 6, 1876.

The immediate occasion of Mr. Shelton's death was a slight wound in the finger, the inflammation of which proved fatal. His death was unexpected, and gave a great shock to the community, where he had been regarded as yet in the fullness of health and strength. In character Mr. Shelton was a man whom all who knew him admired and loved. He was up- right in business, honorable in spirit, of great indus- try and perseverance, never surrendering a purpose once formed, but by persistent endeavor carrying it into execution. Positive yet candid, not to be co- erced by argument, but yielding finally to the force of just considerations, not as quick in making up his mind as some, but coming to right conclusions with time for reflection, industrious and successful, he was a man of an eminently generons spirit, living not to himself but to aid others, responding cheerfully to

all worthy appeals ; a friend of the poor, and thor- oughly enjoying doing good, he was a man who thanked you for bringing to him a subscription-paper for a worthy object, as though you had done him a favor.

He was interested in the public welfare, though he declined public office. All the interests of the villages where he lived found in him a friend, and in the parish with which he was connected he was the main stay. He had a tender heart towards children, and not long before his death gave the schools in the village, at his own expense, a common ride. In his home he was most loving and kind, both as a husband and a father, and his death leaves there a group of deeply mourning hearts. The life of such a man is not only an honor to himself, it elevates and ennobles the idea of life in those who witness it, and the memory of it relieves the gloom of death.

Such a life does not end in death ; in its influence it lives on after death, inspiring those who survive it to strive to imitate it.

BYRON TUTTLE.

The Tuttle family came from Devonshire, England, and were probably of Welsh descent. In 1528, and again in 1548, William Totyl was recorder of the ancient city of Exeter, the capital of Devonshire, and then the second city in England, being next to Lon- don in population and importance. William Totyl was high sheriff of Devonshire in 1549, and lord mayor of Exeter in 1552. William Totyl had a son Jeffrey, who was recorder in 1563. Jeffrey Totyl bought a fine estate, called "Pearmore," in the neigh- borhood of Exeter. This estate had belonged to Gray, Duke of Sussex, who was executed for treason, and his estate confiscated by the crown, of whom Jeffrey bought it. Jeffrey had a son, Henry Tottle, who was high sheriff in 1624, and from him William Tuttle and three brothers descended. William Tuttle and his three brothers came to America in the ship "Planter," and landed in Boston in 1635. The bro- thers were Richard, who settled in Boston; John, in Dover, N. H .; Simon, in Ipswich, Mass .; and Wil- liam, removed to New Haven in 1639, and was a man of wealth and consequence, and much employed in public affairs. William Tuttle married Elizabeth - -, in England, and had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Elizabeth Tuttle, daughter of William, married Richard Edwards, and had five daughters and one son, Rev. Timothy Edwards, D.D., minister at Windsor, Conn., sixty-four years. Rev. Timothy Edwards had ten daughters and one son, viz., the famous Jonathan Edwards, president of Princeton College. He had eight daughters and three sons,-Pierpont, Hon. Timothy, and Rev. Jon- athan, president of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. The eldest of Rev. Jonathan Edwards' eight daughters was Esther, who married Rev. Aaron Burr,

F. O. Hills, Photographer, Wolcottville, Conn.

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president of Princeton College, and was the mother of Aaron Burr, Vice-President of the United States, and the mother of Sarah Burr, who married Tapping Reeves, afterwards judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut. A daughter of Tapping Reeves married Timothy Dwight, and is the mother of Timothy Dwight, President of Yale College. The descendants of William Tuttle are numerous and distinguished, most of the clergymen in the United States of the name being descendants of William Tuttle, of New Haven, among which are Joseph F. Tuttle, president of Wabash College ; Daniel S. Tuttle, Bishop of Mon- tana; Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., New York City; Rev. J. M. Tuttle, Rahway, N. J. John Tuttle, the eldest son of William Tuttle, was born in England, being three and a half years old when he landed in Boston with his father; married Catharine Lane, Nov. 8, 1653; had a son Samuel, who married Sarah Newman in 1684; had a son Daniel, born Aug. 23, 1702, who mar- ried Mary Mansfield, April 26, 1726; had a son Sam- uel, born Feb. 12, 1727, who married Chloe Todd ; had a son Lemuel, born in 1760, who married Lydia Bassett, of North Haven, Conn., June 12, 1788, and moved to Plymouth. He had three daughters and one son,-Philenda, Lua, Lydia, and Nelson. Phi- lenda married Seth Thomas, died May 12, 1810. Nel- son Tuttle, born Nov. 21, 1798, married Hila Norton, of Wolcott, Oct. 22, 1820; had five children,-Jane H. (deceased), Byron, Mary A., Martha A., and Birney L.

Byron Tuttle, the second child and eldest son of Nelson and Hila Tuttle, was born in Plymouth, Conn., Aug. 23, 1825. His early years were spent at home in that best of training, the life of a New England farmer's son. The winter before he came of age he taught school in the Buck's Hill District, in the town of Waterbury.

On the 26th of Angust, 1847, he entered the carriage establishment of Augustus C. Shelton, the senior mem- ber of the firm of Shelton & Tuttle, whose partner Mr. Tuttle afterwards became. Commencing work for thirteen dollars per month and his board, at the end of three months he made a new engagement with Mr. Shelton for three years at a dollar a day and his board. At the expiration of this time he went out to Milwaukee, Wis., to superintend the sales of the estab- lishment at that place, thus laying the foundation of the Western business of the firm. Returning, he re- sumed work in the shop till, on the Ist day of Janu- ary, 1855, he became Mr. Shelton's partner in the business. In 1854 he went out to Chicago and estab- lished a carriage repository in that city, leaving Har- low B. Hill in charge of the sales. Mr. Tuttle re- turned to direct the preparation and shipment of the goods, frequently visiting Chicago in person to look after the business. The venture proved very successful, and the firm made money rapidly. In 1864 they built a repository on Madison Street, which they occupied until April 1, 1870, when, the business

declining, it was disposed of, and Mr. Tuttle began to withdraw his interest from the business of manufac- turing, the partners still holding the shops together. In 1872, Mr. Tuttle disposed of his interest in the shops to his partner and retired from the business, though still retaining the care of Mr. Shelton's finan- cial affairs, and holding his power of attorney till his partner's death, Aug. 27, 1880.

Mr. Tuttle was married, April 10, 1853, to Candace D., daughter of Oliver Smith, Esq., of Plymouth. They have two children,-Harriet A. and William B.

Aside from his private business, Mr. Tuttle has oc- eupied a prominent place in the affairs of the town, having been elected a justice of the peace in 1864 and selectman in 1878, which office he has since held. He has also for a number of years been the agent of the town, having filled this position with ability and efficiency before the Legislature and in the courts in cases where the interests of the town were involved. Mr. Tuttle's characteristics as a business man are energy, promptness, thoroughness, and integrity, --- this is the secret of his success in life. In what- ever he engages he does his part, and that in the style in which his business affairs are conducted. Nothing in his charge is left to suffer through inat- tention or neglect. He is judge of probate in the distriet where he resides, and in every respect is a prominent member of the community, and among the leading men of the town.

In polities Mr. Tuttle is a Republican, and is one of the active men in his party. He is a member of the Congregational society, the office of whose com- mittee lie has filled with advantage to the society and credit to himself. As the surviving member of the former firm of Shelton & Tuttle, he is engaged in settling the affairs of his late partner and life-long friend, thus concluding the history of one of the most well-known and successful business establishments in Plymouth.

GEORGE PIERPONT.

George Pierpont is of English descent, from James Pierpont, who settled in Massachusetts at a very early day, and died at Ipswich, Mass. One of his children was named John, who was born in London in 1619, admitted a freeman in Massachusetts in 1652, repre- sentative to the colonial Legislature in 1672. He married Thankful Starr, and had five sons, viz. : Ben- jamin, Joseph, Ebenezer, James, and John. Mr. Pierpont died Dec. 7, 1682.

James Pierpont, son of John Pierpont, was born at Roxbury, Mass., in 1659, graduated at Harvard in IGSI, and was ordained at New Haven in 1686. Descended from an illustrious family, and gifted to a high degree with intellectual endowments, cloquent of speech, a graceful person, handsome features, and manners the most courtly and winning, he appears to have been from early youth too intently occupied with the mission of saving the souls of his fellow-men ever to think of

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 122

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532