History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 104

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 104

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Code," which attracted great attention and discussion, and has been translated into French, Italian and Chinese. Mr. Field is, and always was a democrat, but he belonged to the free soil wing of that party. He supported Mr. Van Buren as candidate for the presidency against Gen- eral Cass, and occupied a leading position in the repub- lican party during the whole period of the Civil war, taking the strongest stand in favor of an indissoluble union and of its maintenance by all the means at the command of the nation. He dissented from some of the reconstruction measures, but voted for Mr. Hayes for the presidency; he, however, believed that he was not elected, and took part with the democratic party in the struggle which followed that election. Mr. Field, in the controversies of the profession, is a formidable, unrelent- ing antagonist, and presses with the utmost earnestness upon the court, all the considerations properly available for his client. But to those who know him as a friend, he is genial, kindly, and beloved. Perhaps to see him at his best, is to see him walking or driving over the hills and along the pathways with which he was familiar in his boyhood, in the old town where he was born. Quite re- cently there has been published a selection from the writings and forensic arguments of Mr. Field, in two volumes, which bring quite within the reach of all some of the best specimens of his remarkable power.

Dr. Field's second child, Emilia, married Josiah Brewer, who became a missionary to Smyrna, and his his- tory is well known. Her eldest son, Fisk P., is an emi- nent Greek scholar ; her second son, David J., after having been a justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas, is now the circuit judge of the United States for the dis- trict which which embraces that State.

Timothy, Dr. Field's third child, entered the United States navy, and died at an early age.

Matthew D, the fourth child, born in Haddam, June 26th 1811, became a railroad engineer, and the latter part of his life dwelt in Southwick, Massachusetts, where he died, March 1870. , He was the means of bringing to the attention of his brother, Cyrus, the project of a tele- graph across Newfoundland, and spent two years in its construction, and may be said to have suggested to his energetic and successful brother, Cyrus, the great enter- prise with which his name is connected.

Jonathan E., the fifth child, was born in Haddam, July 11th 1813, graduated at Williams College in 1832; studied law with his brother, David Dudley, in New York. He was a scuccessful and prosperous lawyer in Stockbridge, and held an honorable place at Berkshire bar. He was a democrat in politics, but united with the republicans on the breaking out of the Civil war. He was elected to the State Senate of Massachusetts, and became and remained its president during three succes- sive terms, and so long as he continued a member of the body. He died on the 23d of April 1868.

Stephen J. Field was born in Haddam on the 4th of No- vember 1816. In 1829, he went with his sister Emilia to the East, where he remained for two years and a half visiting Ephesus, Scio, and indeed all places of interest in the exception of Mr. Justice Miller, who took his seat 10

Levant. He returned from the East in 1832, and in the fall of 1833, entered Williams College, where he gradu- ated in 1837, taking the highest honors of his class. He spent some time as a student at law in the office of John Van Buren, at Albany; subsequently entered his broth- er's office in New York, and being admitted to the bar in 1841, became his partner, a connection which was con- tinued for seven years. In 1848, he sailed for San Fran- cisco via Panama, and landed at San Francisco on the 28th of December 1849, with $10 in his pocket.

He was fortunate in his movements in California, and his capacity and powers were speedily recognized. He possessed that firmness of character, that determination, and that moral and physical courage, which were essen- tial to the holding of a position of real influence among the class of people who then occupied California, and the position which of right belonged to him was speedily recognized. In a volume of reminiscences, printed by Mr. Field for his friends, he gives a most interesting ac- count of his career in that new State, but the limits pre- scribed to us do not allow of quotations. In 1851, Mr. Field became a member of the Legislature of California, and took the most active part in the framing of laws for that State; and he probably did more toward laying the foundations for the legislation and legal system of Cali- fornia than any other one person. The mining laws of that State came largely from his hands. It is said, he was seldom absent from his seat; he carefully watched all measures proposed, and there were few debates in which he did not participate. At the close of the ses- sion, Mr. Field resumed his practice as a lawyer, and de- voted the next six years unremittingly to it; so that his practice became, perhaps, the largest and most remuner- ative of any lawyer in that State, and he was rec- ognized by all as among the leaders of the bar. In 1857, he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court, and on a vote of 93,000 he received a majority of 17,000 over both his opponents. In September 1859, he became chief justice, and occupied that position as long as he remained upon that bench. With great industry and patience he addressed himself to his judicial duties, and established a reputation as a judge second to that of none occupying a State bench; so that when, in 1863, Congress decided to create a judicial district on the west coast, and have a judge represent it on the Supreme bench, the whole Pacific delegation, senators and repre- sentatives, democrats and republicans, went in a body to President Lincoln and urged the appointment of Judge Field. No other name was presented by the bar of Cali- fornia in opposition. He was at once nominated by the president and unanimously confirmed. His commission was dated on the Ioth of March, but Judge Field did not take the oath of office until the 20th of May, and the reason the judge gave was, that the 20th of May was his father's birthday, and that he would be delighted that his son should on that day assume such an exalted position. Judge Field has now been 21 years on the bench of the Supreme Court, and is the senior justice, with the single

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months later. Space does not permit a mention of the important opinions written by Mr. Justice Field; opinions by the court, and opinions dissenting from the judgment of the court; all of which are of great importance, all well reasoned and demanding from the student careful consideration. An appreciative review of Mr. Field's career as a jurist was published some years ago by Prof. John Norton Pomeroy, to which those desiring familiarity with his official career must be referred. This summary is well worth study, but far more worth the study is his judicial history as exhibited in the causes he has heard and decided, to be found in the reports of the Supreme Court of California, of the Circuit to which he is assigned on the west coast, and in the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1880, Mr. Justice Field was promi- nently before the country as a candidate for the presi- dency-he was not nominated. The delegates from his own State, California, voted against him, and probably on the ground that he had rendered a decision-a most righteous decision-holding a city ordinance of San Francisco, aimed against the Chinese, unconstitutional. Many republicans regretted that Mr. Justice Field did not receive the nomination, knowing the patriotic posi- tion which he held during our Civil war, and his belief that law, while it remains law, should be reverenced and obeyed, and they would gladly have trusted him with the presidency, even though elected under the name demo- crat.

The remaining children of Dr. Field, Cyrus W., Henry M., and Mary E., were born in Stockbridge.

MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER SHALER.

The State of Connecticut cannot be held amenable to the charge that " Republics are ungrateful," for her people point with pride to the long list of military heroes who have distinguished themselves on every bat- tle field from the Pequot war in 1637 down to the war of the Rebellion, and not only are the names of these men enshrined in the hearts of the people, but the rec- ord of most of them has been carefully preserved so that future generations may recall the deeds of these illus- trious heroes, and thus enkindle anew the fires of patriotism, which for the last two hundred years have been kept brightly burning.

Among those who distinguished themselves in the war of the Rebellion was General Alexander Shaler, who, though he enlisted under the banner of the Empire State, is a native of Middlesex county, and is justly en- titled to a place in her annals, by the side of such men as Generals James Wadsworth, Samuel Holden Parsons, Return Jonathan Meigs, Comfort Sage, and Epaphrodi- tus Champion, of the Revolution, and General Joseph K. Mansfield, of the last war.

The paternal ancestor of General Shaler, Thomas Shaler, came from Stratford-on-Avon (the home of Shakespeare) about 1662, and settled in the town of Haddam. Among his descendants was Captain Ira, the father of General Alexander Shaler, a seafaring man, who for some years commanded a vessel sailing between

New York and the West Indies. In 1835, he removed his family to New York, and commenced the business of buying and selling stone, principally the North River blue stone.

He married Jerusha, daughter of Josiah Arnold, of Haddam, by whom he had 10 children. Alexander, the eighth child, was born in the town of Haddam, March 19th 1827, and remained there until he was seven years of age, when his father removed to New York. He studied in the private schools of the city, and finished his education in Brainerd Academy in the town of Haddam. At the age of 17 he was taken into his father's employ, and on his father's retirement, three years subsequently, he took charge of the business and continued it until 1861. He was then at the head of three business firms, viz .: A. Shaler & Co., blue stone dealers, New York; A. Shaler, blue stone and building materials, Hoboken, N. J .; and Shaler, Gardner & Co., general contractors, Hudson county, N. J.

At an early age he manifested a great desire to be- come conversant with military matters, and in 1845, be- ing but 18 years old, commenced his military career by enrolling in the Fifth company, Washington Grays, sub- sequently the Eighth regiment, New York State Militia. During his connection with this company he was well known for his prompt attention to drills, and his mili- tary deportment soon won for him the admiration of all his associates and promotion in the ranks. In 1848, he was transferred to the Second company, National Guard, Seventh regiment. Immediately after uniting himself with this company he was elected a sergeant, and before the close of the year was elected first lieutenant.

While holding the latter position he was acknowledged to be one of the best commissioned officers in the regi- ment, and in 1850, was chosen captain of the company. Through his untiring efforts he acquired for his company the reputation of being the best drilled in the regiment. His drill room became the center of attraction on drill evenings, and among other distinguished visitors who were attracted thither in 1860 was Lady Franklin, who was at the time on a visit to this country.

Being a resident of New Jersey during a part of this period, he identified himself with the military of that State, and for five years was colonel of the First Regiment, Hud- son Brigade. This command afforded him an opportunity to familiarize himself with the details of the different arms of the service, as the regiment consisted of a battery of artillery, a cavalry corps, one rifle, and three infantry corps.

He held the position as captain in the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, New York, for nearly 11 years. Dur- ing that time he instructed all the recruits, brought the company to a high state of efficiency, and increased the membership to its maximum number. Col. Emmons Clark, now commanding the Seventh regiment, was a member of the last class of recruits instructed by him.

In 1860, he resigned his command in New Jersey and was commissioned major of the Seventh regiment, Na- tional Guard of New York,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

As a drill officer Captain Shaler had no superior. He was distinguished for activity, promptness, and correct- ness. His popularity as an officer was military, not per- sonal. He was at times severe, almost to rudeness, and sometimes petulant and morose, but these were consti- tutional failings, and generally confined to the drill room. When not in uniform he was a gay, social, and pleasant companion. He possessed a strong and discriminating mind, was an able executive officer, and possessed the firmness and resolution which secured the adoption of his plans and ideas.

Colonel Clark says in his history of the "Second Com- pany:" "In person he was remarkably commanding, and in his appearance as an officer always attracted at- tention and admiration. Tall, straight, and well-pro- portioned, with an active and athletic figure, and an easy and confident carriage, he was the beau ideal of a soldier. His face was not handsome nor expressive, nor was he particularly prepossessing in manner, but a brief ac- quaintance soon developed his many excellent and bril- liant traits of character."

When the American flag was fired upon in Charleston Harbor in 1861, he offered his services to the government and immediately thereafter his regiment was encamped in Washington. Major Shaler was charged with the su- perintendence of all the drills and camp regulations. He succeeded while there in getting adopted a new manual of arms prepared by himself for the use of light infantry troops using the Minnie musket. So perfect and at the same time so simple was the manual that in two days after the first drill of the officers the regiment was exer- cised in it at dress parade.

He continued with the regiment during its term of service of about six weeks, and soon after his return to New York was commissioned, by the president, lieuten- ant colonel Ist United States Chasseurs (afterward 65th New York Volunteers). The selection of officers, the organization of the regiment, its drill and instructions, devolved upon him. In July 1862, after the Peninsula campaign, he was promoted to the colonelcy. His regi- ment was attached to the 6th Corps, and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac. It maintained throughout the war a reputation for discipline, profi- ciency, and reliability in all the duties pertaining to field service, enjoyed by very few other regiments, and was about the last of the Army of the Potomac which was mustered out of service.

After the assault on Marye's Heights, at Fredericks- burgh, Virginia, in May 1863, he was appointed brigadier general United States Volunteers, and assigned to the command of the Ist Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, the brigade to which his regiment was attached, and which he had commanded, by virtue of seniority, after the res- ignation of General John Cochrane, March Ist 1863. He executed that memorable march with the 6th Corps, of 34 miles in 19 hours, to reach the battle field of Get- tysburg.

In the winter of 1863-4, the brigade was sent to Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, to guard against the an-

ticipated effort from Canada to release about two thou- sand Confederate prisoners of war. For three months General Shaler was in command of the prison, and in the spring returned to the Army of the Potomac, with three regiments, leaving the two largest at Sandusky.

He was captured by the enemy in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6th 1864, and confined at Macon, Ga., for a few weeks, where many changes in the manage- ment and in the treatment of the prisoners were brought about as a result of the experience had at Johnson's Island.

He was subsequently removed to Charleston, S. C., with the fifty general and field officers ordered by the Rebel government to be placed under fire of the Union batteries on Morris Island. After six weeks of impris- onment and exposure he was exchanged in Charleston Harbor with a number of other officers, and reported to the War Department. Upon application of General Canby, then commanding the military division of West Mississippi, General Shaler was ordered to New Orleans to take command of some western troops, and was as- signed by General J. J. Reynolds to the command of the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 19th Corps, and by Gen. Sol. Meredith, commanding the Department of Kentucky to the Post of Columbus, Kentucky, where headquarters were established in November 1864.

In December following, General Shaler was placed in command of the 2d Division, 7th Army Corps, and of the White River District in the Department of Arkansas, with headquarters at Duvall's Bluff. While in the 7th Corps he was appointed by the president to be Major- General of U. S. Volunteers by brevet. He was not mustered out of service until four months after the close of the war. He frequently received verbal and written acknowledgments from superior officers for gallant con- duct on the battle field.

During his term of service he participated in the fol- lowing engagements: Lewinsville, Va., September 11th 1861; Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5th to May 4th 1862; Williamsburg, Va., May 5th 1862; Fair Oaks, Va., May 31st to June Ist 1862; Malvern Hill, Va., July Ist 1862; Antietam, Md., September 17th and 18th 1862; Williamsport, Md., September 19th 1862; Fredericks- burgh, Va., December 11th and 13th 1862; Marye's Heights, Va., May 3d 1863; Salem Church, Va., May 3d and 4th 1863; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d and 3d 1863; Rappahannock Station, Va., November 7th 1863; Mine Run, Va., November 27th and 30th 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 3d and 6th 1864; was a prisoner of war from May 6th 1864 to August 3d 1864.

In July 1865, he was breveted major general for " Continuous, faithful and meritorious services through- out the war, and especially for gallantry in the assault upon Marye's Heights, Fredericksburgh, and the battles of Gettysburg and Wilderness."

In 1866, soon after his return home, General Shaler was elected a meniber of the New York Board of Super- visors.

Early in 1867, he was appointed by Gov. Fenton, major-

THOMAS J. CLARK.

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general of the First Division, National Guard, New York, which position he still holds. In the same year, he was appointed fire commissioner, and made president of the department. He held the position until legislated out of office by the charter of 1873. His great ability as an organizer was here displayed in a marked degree, and his long experience in military discipline soon made him master of the position. He introduced many features of drill and routine that tended greatly to promote the effi- ciency of the department, and the city of New York is greatly indebted to him for the best drilled and most efficient fire department in the world. All the impor- tant rules and regulations now in force in this depart- ment were adopted during his administration, from 1867 and 1870, inclusive. Within this period the losses by fire in the city of New York were reduced from $6,000,000 per annum to $1,500,000.

Gen. Shaler's great ability as an organizer was recog- nized in a marked degree by his being invited by the municipal authorities of Chicago, shortly after the great fire in that city in 1871, to reorganize its fire department. He was appointed consulting engineer to the Board of Police and Fire of that city, and spent three months in reorganizing and instructing the officers and members of the fire department.

He has taken part in the suppression of every riot in New York and its vicinity since, and including the Astor Place riot in 1849, except the draft riots of 1863, at which time he was in command of troops in the field.

He was one of the organizers, and for four years was vice-president and president of the National Rifle Asso- ciation; was an incorporator of the Army and Navy Club, commander of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, a member of the Union League Club, the New York Historical Society, the American Geo- graphical Society, the American Museum of Natural History, the General Society of Mechanics and Trades- men, and other charitable, benevolent, and social organi- zations. By an act of the Legislature, in 1884, he was appointed a member of a board created to provide armories for the organizations of his military command.

General Shaler has held many positions of trust and responsibility, but the greatest compliment ever paid him was his appointment, in 1883, of president of the New York Board of Health.

The population of New York numbers upwards of 1,250,000, and is rapidly increasing. It is also one of the most cosmopolitan as well as one of the largest cities in the world. Thus it will be seen that when the health, comfort, and well-being of so many people are taken into account, the office of president of the Board of Health becomes one of the most important in the system of municipal government, requiring experience in dealing with large bodies of people as well as a thorough knowl- edge of their sanitary requirements.

General Shaler assumed the duties of this position at a period when great dissatisfaction existed in regard to the sanitary condition of the city, and urgent appeals had

been made, from time to time, by her citizens, to the State Legislature, to aid in the removal of legal obstruc- tions that hindered the efficiency of this department. His political opponents viewed with jealousy the appoint- ment, and determined to hold him to a strict account of his stewardship. He went quietly to work, however, without fear or favor, reorganizing the department, clas- sifying and prescribing the duties of officers and em- ployees, and in his selection of subordinates he had but one end in view, viz .: the efficiency of the department. His efforts to secure clean streets and the prompt re- moval of garbage, a renovation of the filthy tenement house districts, and cleanliness of the public markets, have resulted in a marked decrease in the death rate of the city.

But few men have had so active and eventful a life. He was neither born nor reared in affluence, but, enter- ing business, and taking upon himself the obligations of a husband at the age of 20, he has, by his industry and frugality, secured a reasonable competency. In all his undertakings he has been eminently successful. The issue of his marriage with Miss Mary McMurray, of New York city, has been four daughters and one son; the latter having recently graduated, with high honors, at Cornell University, is about entering a life of usefulness which promises to be no less distinguished than that of his honored sire.

THOMAS J. CLARK.

Wlliam Clark was one of the 28 young men who, in the summer of 1662, settled on what was then known as "the lands at thirty mile island," subsequently (in 1668) called Haddam. He came from Hartford, and settled, with a few others, on the rising ground, back from the town meadow, beginning at the eastern point of Walkley Hill and extending down to the grave yard.

While the Brainerds and Shalers left a numerous prog- eny, there are but few of the Clarks now remaining. These, however, are fitting representatives of their worthy ancestor-tough, hardy, honest, enterprising men, with strong individuality, but modest and unassuming in their manners.

Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son of George W. Clark and Cynthia Selden, being a direct descendant of William Clark, one of the original proprietors of the town of Haddam .. He was born at Haddam on the 21st day of September 1830. His childhood was spent in "roughing it " amid the rocks and hills of his native town. He received a few months' instruction in the rudimentary branches at the public school. When he was but 15 years of age, he commenced working in the quarries and doing odd jobs of mason work. The strong spirit of self-reliance and independence were manifested at this early age, and three years later he started for Apalachicola, landing there in the fall of the year an entire stranger. He didn't sit down, Micawber like, " waiting for some- thing to turn up," but soon after engaged as an assistant in the engineer's department of a cotton pressing estab-

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lishment. He soon learned to run an engine and earned good wages as an engineer. For two or three years he spent his winters at Apalachicola, and his summers at the north working at his trade as a stone mason. For several years after this he was engaged in the construc- tion of important works at different places, among which was the Asylum Street Depot in Hartford, erected in 1848. He subsequently entered into partnership with his brother, George M., taking large contracts for the erection of bridges, mill works, factories, etc., the stone and mason work being entirely under his supervision. He was engaged with his brother in the erection of the Russell Manufacturing Company's building at Higganum, and soon after this started with his brother the extensive manufacturing business now carried on by the Higganum Manufacturing Company.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 104

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818