History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 163

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 163

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Deacon Hungerford died in 1858, at the age of seventy-five, and his widow, Rebecca Merriam, is still living at the age of ninety-four. Her father, Chris- topher Merriam, died in Watertown in 1838, aged eighty-seven, and his father, Joel Hungerford, Sr., in 1814, at the age of seventy-two. They were men of integrity and influence, and served as citizen-sol- diers in the Revolutionary army, the former at the burning of Danbury, and the latter at the siege and capture of New York. His father, David Hunger- ford, from Haddam, Conn., settled in Westbury about 1750, and a few years after died while in the English army, near Lake Champlain.

Dr. A. M. Hungerford graduated from the Medieal Department of Yale College in 1838, and represented Watertown in the State Legislature in 1850-51. He was judge of the Probate Court for the district of Watertown in 1851-52, and for the district of Water- bury in 1851, also for the Watertown district during the years 1877-78. Mrs. Emily P. Hungerford, his wife, died July 15, 1880, aged sixty-six. She was a daughter of Joseph Platt, Esq., of Prospeet, Conn. The only daughter, Sarah A. Hungerford, died March 17, 1870, at the age of twenty-four. The only son, William A. Hungerford, of New York, survives her.

The following address to the Putnam Phalanx, of

Hartford, and other invited guests, present at the cen- tennial celebration of Watertown, June 17, 1880, was written for the occasion by Dr. Hungerford :

Men live but once, a noble life lives on

Down the uncounted years, through victories woo, Deathless and crowned, for nye. This very day

Heroes who perished in that bloody frny Where Putnam fought aod gallant Warren fell Are in these scenes around us, living well. Their lives were thoughts wrought out in deeds sublime, And still their footsteps press the shores of time. Our fathers came here from beyond the sea, Gave us this heritage, and left us free. A few years since the Indian roamed these hills, And reared his wigwam by our busy rills; To-day these homes, with cheerful beauty crowned, Invite to us the eager world around. Green isles behind him, sod his father's grave, Erin comes, spellbound, o'er the ylelding wave, To gain a broader manhood when he willa, And own the god his hardy muscle tills. And why that etranger boy from far Cathay, Sstchel in hand, his household gods away ? What but to learn the great, the good, the true Freedom has taught her generous sons to do ?

What they have done I pause oot to relate, Since first the colony became the State, And States united made the nation free To rule this heritage of land and sea ; But while our flag is waving in the breeze Of tropic, torrid, and of polar seas, Fair Freedom was aod is by heaven designed

To rule the greater empire of the mind,

To raise the fallen, make the sick man whole, And ronse to faltb and life his sluggish sonl.

There are some things that Freedom will not do : She cannot make the false lo be the true ; She may inspire the poet'e lofticet sung, But falle to dignify the flagrant wrong. We tried it once when growing proudly great, And in the bosum of a sovereign State Kopt an Ill-gotten trensure, made to bring A pleasure often, oftener a eting.

'Twas fenred, yet cherished, hated, too, yet loved,

Detested, honored, scorned, admired, approved,

Till once oworn brothers deadliest foemen stood, And dropped that burden in a sea of blood.

Ilence to your humes, and on our natal morn Unroll those battle-flage through Dixie borne; Gezo the brave rents of XIInie-ball und shell.

Oh ! read their lesson unce, but read it well, Nor vainly strive to carry hoary lils Up Freedom'e sacred heights and henven-crowned hills.

In the sure kingdom that la yet to come, Where love refines and purifies the home, Woman supreme, yet loyal in her sphere, Hler wrongs redressed, her Intuitions clear, ller brilliants richly set, her jewela rare And regal, ns of old Cornella'e were, That home n glimpse of Eden's bower, revealed, Ero sorrow entered it or shame concealed,- A bright Aurora, lending In the mora To kindrede and to peoples yet unborn,- Shall be where'er our standard le unfurled, A power to bless and purify the world.

Our fathers lived for us, and shall we then Bo in these coming ages living men ? Live noble lives, whole, manly Ilvee and truc, And God will guard and gulde the nation, too, Till on earth'e darkest realms the light shall rise, And Freedom's gracious baldric arch their sklea.

678

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ELI CURTISS.

Eli Curtiss was born at Huntington, in this State, June 16, 1804, and died Feb. 27, 1878. He came to Watertown when sixteen years old, as clerk for Ben- jamin De Forest, and when he was twenty-two he took Mr. De Forest's store, remaining there until 1850. In Watertown Mr. Curtiss built up an extensive trade, employing many clerks, and engaging in the " plant- hat" business, as it was called. He procured the ma- terial for the hats, which was taken by women from all the adjoining towns, cut into strips, and braided into hats. The ladies from Bethlehem, Morris, Wood- bury, Middlebury, Plymouth, and all the surrounding country profited by this employment, returning the hats to Mr. Curtiss, and receiving their pay in goods from his store. In this way he became the most ex- tensive and successful merchant in all these parts, people coming from Waterbury to trade with him, as they now go from Watertown to trade at Waterbury. Here Mr. Curtiss laid, strong and deep, foundations for his future prosperity, beginning business with an empty pocket, but with a head full of good common sense and enterprise, balanced by a benevolent heart. In 1850, Mr. Curtiss went into the New York store of the Scoville Manufacturing Company, remaining in New York eighteen years, and retiring from active business in 1868. He was postmaster of his town for several years, and represented Watertown in the Legislature in 1861, and ten years later became State senator and a fellow of Yale College, assisting in electing Professor Porter president of Yale. He was very fond of military matters, and held various posi- tions, from that of sergeant to that of colonel of the Twelfth Regiment State Militia. For many years he was connected with the Congregational Church in Watertown, and was always interested in church and society matters. One of his last gifts was a handsome donation to the church, in which he occupied the same seat, when at home, almost every Sunday for over twenty years. His generous soul kept his purse ever open to the calls of charity, and his prosperity never exalted him above his own townsmen, for he had a kind word for every one of whatever rank or station. Feb. 20, 1878, he was suddenly struck with a shock of paralysis, being at the Gramercy Park House, in New York, where he had gone, with his wife and two daughters, to spend the winter. After two hours he became unconscious, and lay in that state until he passed away a week later. Mr. Curtiss was twice married, first to the sister of Dr. John De Forest, who left five sons to survive her when she died, five other children having preceded her to the other shore. Mr. Curtiss' second wife, her two daughters, and four of his sons by the first wife now remain to mourn the loss of a kind and loving hus- band and father.

BENJAMIN DE FOREST, ESQ.

The following was written by a friend, and published soon after his death :

"The character of this gentleman, recently deceased, is worthy of public notice, as it possesses features which may profitably be commended to the imitation of others, especially men of business.

" The outline of his life may be given in a few words. He was born in Huntington, Conn., in June, 1780, the son of Benjamin and Mehitabel De Forest. At the age of sixteen years he went to Watertown to learn the trade of a hatter. After serving a regular apprenticeship at that business, he entered the store of Mr. Leavitt, of Bethlehem, as a clerk. He left that position after a few months to enter into mercantile business in Watertown with his brother, John H. De Forest, who afterwards became a manufacturer in Humphreysville, now Seymour. In that business he continued from 1803 to 1825, when he became con- nected, as a stockholder, and by active personal agency, with manufacturing in Waterbury, though still hav- ing his home and residence in Watertown. About twenty years since, in 1838, on account of impaired' health, he retired from active service in business, though he was for a long period after connected as stockholder, and a director whose counsel was always valued, with the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company. Twenty-seven years ago, in 1832, he united with the Congregational Church in Watertown by profession of his faith in Christ, and he has ever since honored that profession by an exemplary Chris- tian life. Of the ecclesiastical society connected with that church he had been for many years previous an active member, and a steadfast, judicious, and reliable friend.

" The most prominent feature in Mr. De Forest's character was his inflexible and incorruptible integ- rity,-he loved righteousness ; he hated iniquity. He loved to do right himself, exactly right, and was exceedingly careful to learn it and do it. His con- scientiousness was very active and very just. His devotion to the right and the true in his own conduct was remarkable; and he loved, also, to have others do right, and he did what he wisely could for that end, though he was uo busybody in other men's mat- ters, and was not lacking in charity for their failings. The same trait of character made him in all public affairs the firm and ardent friend of righteousness, and the steady and unswerving opponent of wrong and oppression. On all questions of right and wrong men knew where to find him, and how to rely on him.

" As a man of business, he had unusual sagacity,- he made himself thoroughly acquainted with all mat- ters pertaining to his business, and with respect to them was quick-sighted and far-sighted,-and with this sagacity he united equal prudence and caution, though it was not prudence or cantion of that sort which partakes of moral cowardice, or ever compro- mises right and truth. His accuracy was most exact,

Elitulist

Benjamin De Forest

679

WATERTOWN.

and his punctuality was proverbial among all who knew him. It is not too much to say that during the more than sixty years in which he was more or less connected with business he was never one moment too late. No man or company of men ever lost a minute's time by his neglect to meet an appointment in season ; and this punctuality he carried into every department of his life: at bank, or counter, or con- vention, at church or prayer-meeting, he was never tardy.

"In his speech he was a man of few words, but they were always pertinent, luminous, and unequivo- cal words. He never spoke till he had something suitable to say, and then he spoke plainly, briefly, and decidedly. He was as downright in his language as he was upright in thought and conduct.

" Mr. De Forest was a liberal man. By the blessing of Divine Providence on his industry and skill, he possessed a handsome competence for many years, and he made good use of it during his lifetime, as his contributions to many objects of benevolence have for a long period testified. He was quiet and unos- tentatious in his manner of giving, but many are the plans of heavenly charity, and many the persons in trial and necessity, that testify to the compassion of his heart and the openness of his hands.

" On the whole, it may be truly said that in a good degree Mr. De Forest obeyed the comprehensive rule of human duty as it is given in the Divine Word, -- ' To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.'

"In his domestic life Mr. De Forest had much of joy, and an unusual degree of bereavement and sor- row. The wife of his youth was Alma Southmayd (daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Skinner Sonthmayd, sister of Samuch W. Southmayd, before his early de- cease an able lawyer at the bar of Litchfield County, and descendant of Rev. John Southmayd, the second minister of the first church in Waterbury), whom he married in Watertown, June, 1805. With her he lived in the happiest relations till December, 1850, when he followed her to the grave, sorrowing, but sorrowing not as those without hope, in the full as- surance of her faith in Christ and of her infinite gain. They had before followed, in united grief, to the grave seven out of ten children. These afllictions, through divine grace, were borne by him with Chris- tian patience and meekness, and had a manifest effect in mellowing his character and ripening it for heaven."

He died suddenly, Feb. 2, 1859, with disease of the heart. Three children only survive him, viz. : John, born March 31, 1806; Alma, first wife of Eli Curtiss, born May 28, 1813; and Benjamin, born Aug. 7, 1818.

" Why weep yo then for him who, having won The bound of man's appointed years, at last,

Life's blessings all enjoyed, life's labors dono, Serenely to his final rest has passed, While the soft memory of his virtnes yet Lingers, like twilight hues when the bright sun is sot."

EDMUND B. DICKERMAN.

Edmund B. Dickerman was born in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 29, 1810.

His early life was passed with his father, a farmer, and his education acquired at the schools of New Haven. While still a youth he entered the employ of Durrie & Peck, booksellers, as clerk. Here he remained until he was twenty-one, when he went to Natchez, Miss., and engaged in trade. After twelve years of life as a merchant in Natchez, Mr. Dicker- man removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and became much interested in the early growth of that city. His real estate transactions there having proved successful, in June, 1871, he retired from active business, and took up his residence in Watertown, Conn., where he passed the remainder of his life.

Mr. Dickerman married, July 2, 1844, Margaret G., daughter of Elam Hull, Esq., of New Haven, Conn. Of their three children, only one, Edwin H., attained maturity. He received a liberal education, was graduated from Columbia (N. Y.) Law-School, and is now a successful lawyer of Westfield, N. Y. Mr. Dickerman had all the qualities necessary to success in business, and he was eminently successful. His per- sonal magnetism won him hosts of friends, and his ster- ling worth and integrity, with his warm, social nature, continued the friendship for years. He was estcemed and honored wherever he was known, and his counsel earnestly sought and heeded in critical times. His car was ever open to the calls of charity, and his heart and his purse were ever quick to respond, either to aid the suffering or the promotion of public improve- ments. He was a man of remarkable energy, prompt- itude, and perception. In business, in society, in considering public interests he always wore the same pleasant smile, used the same far-seeing judgment and quick, unerring decision.

Mr. Dickerman had much leisure for travel, and did travel extensively in this and in foreign lands. His ardent temperament, literary taste, and powerful memory made him one of the most agreeable of travel- ing companions, and many who enjoyed his society will long cherish the memory of the intercourse.

On the 14th of September, 1871, he married Mrs. Jane B. Woodruff, widow of John H. Woodruff, and daughter of William Bronson, of Middlebury, Conn. Mr. Dickerman's death was sudden, but hardly un- expected. His nervous system was too sensitive to withstand a difficult surgical operation which became necessary, and he passed quietly away, Fch. 22, 1877.

" Beyond the parting and the meeting We shall be soon ; Beyond the farewell and the greeting,

Beyond the puise's fever beating, We shall bo soon."

680

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ALANSON WARREN.

Alanson Warren, of Watertown, Conn., was the son of Edward and Mary Steele Warren, of Water- town, and was born May 16, 1796, at their home, on the farm called the Warren place, located about three and a half miles easterly of Watertown Centre. The farm-house is now standing, in a good state of pres- ervation, and liable to for generations to come, for many of its timbers and beams of hard wood are of huge size, being twelve to fifteen inches in diameter. He was the youngest of six children,-five sons and one daughter. His father died Dec. 10, 1814, aged fifty-three years. Alanson at this time was about eighteen years and six months of age. His mother died Feb. 26, 1849, aged eighty-five. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and but eighteen years old when he entered the service. He was engaged in the capture of the fortress of Stony Point by Gen. Wayne, in 1779, and, as he used to relate the account of it, was the third man to go over the wall or embankment into the fort. The widow drew a pension during her life.

At the age of sixteen Alanson went to learn the hatter's trade with Joel P. Richards, in Watertown, and when he became twenty-one bought out the business of his employer, and, with a capital of six hundred dollars, embarked in the business for himself, employing from ten to twenty apprentices and journeymen. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Sarah M. Hickox, Christmas, Dec. 25, 1818. She was the daughter of Caleb aud Ruth Hickox, who lived upon their farm, one and a half miles east of the village of Watertown.

In the year 1833 he formed a copartnership with William H. Merriman and son, C. B. Merriman, mer- chants, and united the two concerns, under the name of Merrimans & Warren. After three years he with- drew from the company, and alone resumed his old business, and, in addition thereto, commenced the manufacture of cloth and fur caps and fur goods of various kinds. His manufactured goods he sold to the country merchants in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York States, carrying them in a large two- horse wagon built especially for that purpose. In 1843 a company was formed for the continuance of the same business, under the name of Warrens & Beers, composed of A. Warren, his son, T. A. Warren, and R. S. Beers, who for many years had been with Mr. War- ren, acting as foreman, attending chiefly to the manu- facturing. In 1847, A. Warren withdrew from the business, which was thereafter carried on by Mr. Beers and T. A. Warren, under the name of Beers & Warren.

Besides his other business, Mr. Warren for many years carried on farming to quite an extent, having at times from one to three large farms and other lands, the care of which was in a measure intrusted to his elder sons, with hired men more or less, according to the season of year. About the year 1845 he formed a copartnership with his son-in-law, George P. Wood-

ruff, for merchandising, and manufacturing of buckles, buttons, slides, and metal trimmings for hats and caps, occupying the store then standing on what is now the east end of the Warren House park, and was popu- larly known as the "Corner Store," but has since, at the time of building the hotel, been removed to a lot south of C. A. Warren's residence. The manufac- turing was carried on in other buildings on the same premises for several years, until about the year 1848, when they formed a copartnership with Nathaniel Wheeler, who was then also engaged in the manufac- ture of similar goods in Gen. M. Heminway's factory, now his silk-factory, but very much enlarged. The tools and machinery of Warren & Woodruff were now removed to this factory, and the two concerns con- solidated, operating under the firm-name of Warren, Wheeler & Woodruff. They now added to their pre- vious business the manufacture of suspender-buckles. The business so rapidly increased that early in 1849 they found the room and water-power too limited for their business and that of Mr. Hemingway, and there- fore purchased the water-power on which the Leverett- Condee satinet-factory, that was burned, had formerly stood, about one and a half miles south of the Centre, and erected a large factory. Here, with their greatly increased facilities, the business was very much en- larged and successfully carried on.

About this time the idea of sewing by machinery began to agitate the minds of a few inventors, and late in 1850 the company contracted to build some two thousand of the Wilson first patented shuttle sewing-machine for a New York company, then the principal owners of that patent. Early in 1851, A. B. Wilson, the patentee, came to the factory to assist in building these machines. He, who has since attained such a world-wide reputation as a sewing-machine in- ventor, had at this time, in his head, on paper, and in models, still another idea of a sewing-machine on a different principle,-that of a rotary hook,-which was brought out after much study and labor, and patented in 1851, but was not considered quite satis- factory until his second invention, patented iu 1852. This improvement being a success, the copartnership of Wheeler, Wilson & Co. was now formed, and com- posed of A. Warren, N. Wheeler, G. P. Woodruff, and A. B. Wilson, each having equal shares in it, and without any specified amount of capital, which con- sisted in real estate, patents, machinery, etc., valued probably at not less than eighty thousand dollars. It was about this time, when the sewing-machine busi- ness was in its infancy, that Mr. Warren remarked to one of his sons that he would probably live to see the day when they would make and sell twenty-five ma- chines a day. This was considered an extravagant remark at that time, as no one could then foresee the magnitude to which the sewing-machine busi- ness would in the future attain, and would hardly have been justified in making a larger estimate. The most visionary mind did not anticipate, or even ven-

Aaron

frederick Hotcount

681

WATERTOWN.

ture to predict, that they would ever come up to their present capacity of turning out from four hundred to six hundred a day, and with such a demand for them that, even at this rate of production, in November, 1880, they fell some eighteen thousand machines be- hind their orders, and from a machine that could per- haps take but fifty to seventy-five stitches a minute, have so improved as to now produce machines that will take fifteen hundred stitches per minute.

The business was successfully continued under this firm-name for about one year, when it was thought desirable to enlarge the business, introducing more capital. They then organized the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, Oct. 5, 1853, with a capital of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Alanson Warren was elected its president, and George P. Wood- ruff secretary, Waterbury capitalists and others taking part of the increased stock. In 1855, Mr. Warren re- signed the presidency, and N. Wheeler was elected president, and William H. Perry secretary, and have been re-elected every year since to said offices, and may continue to be for life.

It was soon found that the room and power of this factory was not sufficient for their rapidly-increasing business, and in June, 1856, they removed to Bridge- port, into more commodious quarters. They have continued to prosper under the wise management of its officers, increasing its capital stock from time to time by stock dividends to its present capital of one million dollars, with a very large surplus, and in the mean time have paid liberal cash dividends to its stockholders. Their extensive manufactory now covers from eight to ten acres of ground, and employs from nine hundred to eleven hundred hands, according to the business. But for the engagement of Messrs. War- ren, Wheeler and Woodruff with each other in business this great and prosperous concern might never have existed.

Mr. Warren was president of the Warren & New- ton Manufacturing Company, organized Feb. 5, 1846, for the manufacture of suspenders, with a capital of twelve thousand dollars, which was by the earnings of the company increased to sixty thousand dollars. Their factory was at Oakville. They also carried on a store for general merchandise at Watertown Centre, -the " Corner Store." In 1857 the store was sold to the Phoenix Company,-a new company, with Mr. Warren as president,-and continued as a country store. The factory property and suspender business was sold to the American Suspender Company, at Waterbury,- a new company, formed by the union of three sus- pender companies, viz., Cheshire Company, Hotch- kiss & Merriman Company of Waterbury, and the Warren & Newton Manufacturing Company,-and the business continued on a much larger scale, under a capital of three hundred thousand dollars.

Mr. Warren was also interested in various other manufacturing companies,-that of the American Knife Company of Plymouth, Waterbury Brass Com-

pany, Oakville Pin Company, Union Leather Com- pany, A. Warren & Co., for buckles, etc., at the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company's factory, after their removal, 1856, and the Beers, Woodruff & Co., Watertown, for shirts and linen goods, from 1853 till the death of Mr. Woodruff, 1857, then R. S. Beers & Co., till the death of Mr. Warren, 1858, when, T. A. Warren taking his father's interest in the company, it continued, with some changes, till 1870.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 163

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