History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 61

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 61

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POST OFFICES AND MAIL.S.

The first post office was established in 1810, at Bani Denison's store. He was the first postmaster, and dis. pensed a weekly mail. The post rider was a Mr. Stock-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

ing, who at first carried the mail on horseback, but as the business became more important, he provided himself with a one-horse covered wagon and a fish horn, to herald his approach to the villages on his route from Middletown to Saybrook. To keep up with the march of improvement, sleigh bells were finally used at all seasons of the year. Friday was mail day, and Mr. Stocking, with his white hat, was eagerly looked for as one of the great government officials, dispensing news to the inhabitants of Middlesex county.

QUARRYING.

For many years previous to 1830, the quarrying of stone for the New York and Philadelphia markets was extensively carried on. A large force of men was em- ployed, and a considerable amount of shipping was en- gaged in transporting the products of the quarries, and the large amount of wood shipped from here to market.

AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture is not as important here as in many other towns of the State, a large part of the land being covered with wood, although there are some good farms and thrifty farmers.

MANUFACTURING.

The town is finely situated for manufacturing, hav. ing two considerable streams of water running through it, which have their rise in the lower part of Had- dam and unite, at tidewater, at the head of the cove. In addition to these streams there is another in the north part of the town that has its rise in Shipman's Pond, so called from one of the early settlers of that name who originally owned it. Previous to 1820 there was a grist mill near its outlet, and subsequently a tan- nery, a mile below, but for some cause not understood the volume of water running from the pond has greatly decreased, and the stream is now useless for mill sites.

In addition to Cedar Lake, the south branch of Patta- conk River has a large reservoir northwest of the lake, covering a large tract of land. The north branch has two large reservoirs, one of these being within the bounds of Haddam. Both streams afford a sufficient supply of water at all seasons of the year for the facto- ries on them.

The first factory on the south stream is the bitt factory of C. L. Griswold, now occupied by the Chester Manu- facturing Company, consisting of Edwin G. Smith, John H. Bailey, and Charles E. Wright, who manufacture auger bitts, corkscrews, reamers, etc. The factory is on the site of a forge built about the year 1816, and occu- pied by Abel Snow in the forging of ship anchors. About 1838, the building was used for the manufacture of carriage springs, later by C. L. Griswold & Co. for the manufacture of bitts, and by the present owners for the same business.

The second factory on the stream is Russell Jennings' Bitt Factory, which is two hundred and twenty feet

long, twenty-eight feet wide, and two stories high. The machinery is driven by two water-wheels, each over twenty-five feet in diameter, and corresponding length of buckets. There is also connected with the factory a steam-engine of sixty horse power, which is used when accidents or repairs on the water works render it neces- sary. A considerable portion of this factory was erected by G. G. Griswold & Company in 1854, for the manu- facture of augers and bitts. In 1865, Turner, Day & Company became their successors. Mr. Jennings bought the property in 1865 for the purpose of manu- facturing his celebrated patent extension lip augers and bitts, and has successfully carried on the business to the present time. On the site of the property, Ezra and Joshua L'Hommedieu built a factory in 1812 for the purpose of manufacturing gimlets, which business was carried on for several years. About the year 1815, Ezra L'Hommedieu invented the celebrated single-twist ship auger, and manufactured them here until the building, about a quarter of a mile west, which was built in 1790, and known as Snow & Smith's Anchor Forge, was pur- chased, and the business transferred to it. This build- ing is now owned by Russell Jennings and used as a part of his bitt making establishment. It is fifty-two feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and two stories high, and is provided with a turbine water-wheel. A few feet from this building, Mr. Jennings has erected another, one hundred and twelve feet long, thirty feet wide, and two stories high, the machinery of which is driven by a water- wheel over twenty-five feet in diameter.

The three factories here and the one in Deep River, using twelve trip hammers, make one of the largest bitt manufacturing establishments in the world. Mr. Jennings, in 1851, invented what is widely known as Russell Jennings' Extension Lip Bitt, on which he obtained a patent and a renewal of the same, and various patents on machinery for making them. The favorable reputa- tion which these goods have obtained is largely due to the skill of Mr. Henry L. Shailer, who has from the first been the principal overseer and director of the business. Mr. Shailer is a practical bitt maker, and gives his per -. sonal attention to every branch of the business, and while he is kind and indulgent to his men, he requires every man to do his work well, and if any one is in- clined to slight his work, he is notified of the fact before he has proceeded far in that direction. Mr. Shailer has invented several valuable machines, which are used in the business.

The fourth establishment is the saw mill and joiner's shop of G. A. Bogart & Company, on the site of the ax helve factory of Gibbs & Boies.

The fifth is the brush factory owned by the estate of C. B. Rodgers, of Deep River, where carpet sweepers and brushes of various kinds are manufactured by George S. Gladding. This water privilege was originally occupied by a grist mill and saw mill. The present building was erected by the firm of S. C. Silliman & Company for the manufacture of ship augers.

The sixth factory is owned by N. C. Perry, who

225

CHESTER-INDUSTRIES.

manufactures bright wire goods, screw eyes, hooks and eyes, etc. He has been successful in the business, and has invented a number of valuable machines for the manufacture of this class of goods.

The seventh establishment is that of C. E. Jennings, of New York, and at this factory auger bitts, gimlets, bung borers, etc., are made. J. R. Ferguson, who com- menced the business here in 1880, is superintendent of the works. The site was formerly occupied by a wool carding machine.

The eighth and last water privilege on this stream is near the outlet of Cedar Lake, which has before been alluded to as having been occupied by the first saw mill and grist mill established in the town by the Willards. About the year 1836, a large stone factory was erected here for the manufacture of wagon springs, but none were ever made. Wood screws were manufactured here a short time, and it was used as a woolen mill from 1859 to 1874, when the main portion was burned. At present the small part that escaped the fire is used as a shoddy mill by Matthew Gledhill.

A small saw mill and grist mill is located about a mile and a quarter west of the last mentioned mill, on a stream that enters the northwest part of Cedar Lake.

On the north branch of Pattaconk River, near its junc- tion with the south branch, is Pond's Witch Hazel Distil. lery, where a large business is done in the fall and winter months. The material from which the extract is made grows in great abundance here, and in this vicinity. About the year 1840, Russell & Beach established an iron foundry on the site of this building, and for many years did a large amount of business.

The second factory on this stream is that of S. Silliman & Company, where stationers' goods have been manu- factured since 1837. The business was commenced by Samuel Silliman, Ezra Southworth, and Samuel C. Silli- man. They were succeeded by Daniel D. Silliman and Joseph E. Silliman, under the name of the old firm, and they fully maintained the good reputation of the goods made at this factory.

The third factory is owned by Edward C. Hungerford. It was built about the year 1837, by Lybbeas Auger and his son, Daniel M. Auger, for the manufacture of cast iron pumps, and other hardware goods. They were suc- ceeded by James L. Lord, who occupied the building as an iron foundry and machine shop for many years. The next occupants were the Gaylord Brothers, who manufactured gimlets, cork screws, gimlet bitts, etc. The present occupants are H. M. Norton & Company, manu- facturers of gimlets, gimlet bitts, bung borers, screw drivers, etc.

The fourth fadtory is C. J. Bates' ivory and bone turning factory, where a great variety of goods are made from these materials.

The fifth factory is owned by Merritt S. Brooks, and occupied by William N. Clark & Sons, for the manufac- ture of bright iron and brass wire goods. This business was established about the year 1848, in an old building situated near the present factory, built by Colonel Charles

Daniels, about the year 1825, for the manufacture of gim- lets. The present factory was built in 1850, by Simeon Brooks, and the business was carried on by him until his death. In 1871, his son, Merritt S. Brooks, succeeded him, and continued it about three years, when he leased the building and business to the present occupants for a term of years. They have since carried it on successfully employing a large number of hands. William N. Clark was the originator of this business in the United States.

The sixth establishment on this stream is the grist mill occupied by Eugene Scovill, who is a large dealer in grain and feed. The site of this mill was occupied, previous to 1805, by a saw mill.

About a mile further west is the factory of A. H. & J. S. Dense, established in 1872, where a variety of hard- ware goods are made, such as auger bitts, gimlet bitts, gimlets, bung borers, corkscrews, etc. The proprietors are entitled to great credit for their energy and perse- verance under many discouragements in successfully es- tablishing this business.

Situated near the north of Chester Cove and the Valley Railroad, is the large bitt factory of the Connecticut Valley Hardware Company. The machinery is operated by steam. The building was erected in 1873 for the purpose of manufacturing wire beds, but after an unsuccessful effort the business was given up, and the property changed hands, and is now owned by the present occupants. The officers of the company are: A. J. Allen, of Hartford, president; and George F. Stearns, of Chester, secretary.

In addition to the other places of business should be mentioned George WV. Smith's paper box manufactory, in the Middle District, and George T. Graham's jewelry store at " The Cove."

CHESTER SAVINGS BANK.

A savings bank was established here in 1871, and the deposits and surplus amount to $117,296. C. L. Gris- wold is president, and during the past seven years Ed- ward C. Hungerford has been secretary and treasurer, and has managed the financial affairs of the bank pru- dently and skillfully, not a dollar having been lost by bad debts.

CHESTER IN THE WARS.

The town has never been lacking in patriotism when our country has called for help. It is said that in the war of the Revolution, 32 went into the service here from a population of about 500. Thirteen of the number returned and died here, viz .: Edward Shipman, Abraham Waterhouse, John Lewis, Andrew Lewis, Joseph Clark, Andrew Southworth, John Parker, Reuben Clark, Con- stant Webb, James Baldwin,and three others whose names are not known. The two first named, Edward Shipman and Abraham Waterhouse, entered the service as captains, and the former became major.

In the war of 1812, 35 Or 40 entered the service for a short time.

In the war of the Rebellion, 40 residents of the town volunteered, and 12 of the number died in the service.

226

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

The town sent in addition 38 non-residents, which filled its full quota of 78. There was raised by the town for war purposes, $7,500, and by individuals, about $3,000, making $10,500, besides about $2,000 that was paid for substitutes by men who were drafted.

CIVIL LIST.

Representatives .- The representatives to the General Assembly for the town of Chester have been: Joshua L'Hommedieu, 1837, 1842, 1843, 1845, 1848; Thaddeus Beach, 1838; Edward Shipman, 1839; Stephen L'Hon- medieu, 1840; Samuel Colt, 1841; Phillip S. Webb, 1844; Constant Webb, 1846; William Miller, 1847; Clark Can - field, 1849; William Parker, 1850; Henry W. Gilbert, 1851; David Read, 1852; Socrates Denison, 1853; Ap- pleton Stevens, 1854; Samuel P. Russell, 1855; Charles I. Griswold, 1856; Hiram H. Clark, 1857; Joseph E. Silliman, 1858, 1859, 1872, 1873; Alexander H. Gilbert, 1860; Jarvis Boies, 1861; Samuel C. Silliman, 1862; Wil- liam D. Clark, 1863; Charles L. Griswold, 1864, 1874; Sylvester W. Turner, 1865; George W. Smith, 1866; Thomas C. Silliman, 1867; T. Cooke Silliman, 1868; George Jones, 1869; E. C. Hungerford, 1870, 1871; J. Tyler Smith, 1875; Fisk Shailer, 1876; Daniel D. Silli- man, 1877; Walter S. Clark, 1878; Jonathan Warner, 1879; J. Tillotson Clarke, 1880; Joseph W. Bates, 1881; A. Hamilton Gilbert, 1882; William N. Clark jr., 1883; Franklin Y. Silliman, 1884.

Town Clerks .- Chester has had but three town clerks. The first clerk appointed after the incorporation of the town, in 1836, was Gideon Parker 2d. He was elected October 3d 1836, and served until 1846. Socrates Den- ison was elected October 5th 1846, and continued in of- fice till 1877, when he was succeeded by his son, J. Kirt- land Denison, who still holds the position.

PROMINENT MEN.

HON. ELY WARNER.

Five natives of this town have become lawyers, two of them being eminent judges, viz., Ely Warner and William D. Shipman.

The following relating to Judge Warner is taken from the obituary record of graduates of Yale College for 1873: ""Ely Warner, son of Jonathan and Hepsibah (Ely) War- ner, was born in Chester (then a parish in Saybrook) in 1785. After graduation in 1807 he taught school for a year or more, and then entered a law school at Litch- field, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar at Mid- dletown about 1811. So untiring was his industry while pursuing his professional studies that he wrote from his own stenographic notes the entire course of lectures, making three manuscript volumes; said to be the only correct copy of the lectures of Judges Reeves and Gould now extant. Settling in Haddam in 1816, he afterward represented that town in the State Legislature for two sessions, in 1825 and 1831. In 1828, he was appointed

chief judge of Middlesex County Court, and was reap- pointed for several terms. Subsequently, he became cashier of the East Haddam Bank, and removed to Ches- ter in 1837, where his farm was situated, and where he resided during the remainder of his life. In 1855, he was appointed county commissioner, and held the office for two terms. He was also for more than 50 years ac- tively engaged as county surveyor. He died of paralysis, at his residence in Chester, October 23d 1872, in his 88th year, being at the time the oldest lawyer in the State. Judge Warner was married, November 11th 1817, to Sarah H., eldest daughter of John Warner, of Chester, who survives him. Of their eight children, three sons and three daughters are now living. One son, Jared E. Warner, graduated at this college in 1854, and died Au- gust 9th 1855, in East Saginaw, Michigan, where he was engaged in teaching." Judge Warner was a man of sin- gular modesty, and an estimable citizen; and the people of the town ought to cherish his memory with feelings of gratitude, for the public spirit he displayed in beautify- ing the highways with shade trees, and for his example in everything pertaining to a good inhabitant.

The father of Judge Warner, Jonathan Warner Esq., was a man of great influence in Chester and in the town of Saybrook. He was a large land owner, and was for many years interested in commercial affairs, and was a man of sterling integrity.

WILLIAM D. SHIPMAN.

William Davis Shipman was born in Chester, Decem- ber 29th 1818. His father was Capt. Ansel D. Shipman, youngest son of Col. Edward Shipman, and his mother, Elizabeth Peters, a daughter of Major Nathan Peters, of Preston, Connecticut. The subject of this brief notice was engaged in manual labor from the age of ten to- twenty-four, fourteen years; the first seven in tilling the soil and the last in laboring in a manufactory in his native town. At the end of that time, his health having become indifferent, and his education being very meagre, he commenced a course of study to qualify him for a teacher. In a few months he was engaged as such at Springfield, New Jersey, where he continued to pursue that calling for about six years, during which his leisure hours were assiduously devoted to a wide range of studies. During the last three years of his residence in New Jersey he studied law without the aid of any in- structor, and in the autumn of 1849 he removed to East Haddam, Connecticut, where he spent the winter, and continued his studies under the Hon. Moses Culver, afterward a judge of the Superior Court.

Mr. Shipman was admitted to the bar of Middlesex county in the spring of 1850, and at once entered on the practice of his profession, continuing his residence in East Haddam. In 1852, he was elected Judge of Pro- bate for the District of East Haddam, and at the session of the General Assembly, in the spring of 1853, he rep- resented East Haddam in the lower house In July of that year,he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and was reappointed in 1856. In

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227

CHESTER-BIOGRAPHIES.

January 1854, he removed to Hartford. He held the office of United States Attorney continuously for seven years, and till the spring of 1860, when he was appointed United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut. The latter office he filled for thirteen years, during a large part of which time he was engaged in the perform- ance of judicial duties in the city of New York, and oc- casionally in the Northern District of New York, and in the District of Vermont; at the same time performing the duties pertaining to his own District of Con- necticut.

From his appointment in 1860 till 1867, his judicial labors confined him most of the time to the city of New York, owing to the accumulation of cases there, where the federal judicial force was then limited. This period was fruitful in difficult and novel questions, owing to the disturbed condition of the country. Judge Shipman's official labors embraced cases in all branches of the law -common law, equity, admiralty, and criminal law. His duties were mostly in holding the Circuit Court; and his written opinions delivered in that tribunal are published in Blatchford's Reports from the 4th to the roth volume, and occasionally in the London Law Times. Few of his opinions in the District Court have been published.

In May 1873, Judge Shipman retired from the bench and returned to the bar, settling in the city of New York, where he has ever since been engaged in active practice. During that time the most important cases he has argued have been before the Supreme Court of the United States.

It is not too much to say that the subiect of this sketch has proved equal to every station he has occu- pied, and that in the opinions of those who know him best, his abilities, accomplishments, and character place him among the foremost citizens of Connecticut. One indication of the estimation in which he has been held by those competent to judge may be found in the fact that Trinity College, Hartford, has conferred on him the honorary degrees of M. A. and LL. D.

In 1847, Mr. Shipman married Sarah Elizabeth Rich- ards, of Springfield, New Jersey, by whom he has six children living.

SAMUEL C. SILLIMAN .*

There are a few men in almost every community whose lives are so intertwined with the growth and develop- ment of the place that the extent of their power and in- fluence is not felt and their usefulness not fully appre- ciated until the brittle thread of life is snapped asunder, and the shock is felt by the whole body politic; then men exclaim, " He was a valuable citizen, and we have suffered an irreparable loss." It is the duty of the faithful historian to gather such data from the living, as that their virtues may be reflected in a clearer light, ere the lamp of life has ceased to burn, and that they theniselves may know that their lives have not been spent in vain.

The snows of 74 winters have whitened the hairs of Samuel C. Silliman, and yet he stands erect, strong in

mind and body-like the sturdy oak of the forest, with a spotless escutcheon, and a public and private record of which any man might feel justly proud. While he is strictly a self made man, he inherits many virtues from his worthy ancestors. His American ancestor was Daniel Silliman, who settled at Holland Hill, in Fair- field county, about 1640. His great-grandfather was Rev. Robert Silliman, who was settled as the pastor of the Congregational church in Chester in 1772, and min- istered to the people in spiritual things for many years. His father and grandfather held the office of deacon of the church for over 100 years.

Mr. Silliman's maternal grandfather was Col. Edward Shipman, who received a lieutenant's commission in the French war, and at the commencement of the Revolution- ary war raised a company, of which he was captain, and soon after rose to the rank of major, and at the close of the war, became colonel of State militia.

Samuel, the father of Mr. "Silliman, was a contractor and builder, and subsequently engaged in manufacturing. He married Annie H., daughter of Colonel Edward Ship- man, of Chester, by whom he had eleven children.

Samuel C., the second son, was born in Chester, on the 8th of November 1809. In his early youth he attended the public school and subsequently attended a select school taught by the Rev. William Case. He served an ap- prenticeship with his father as a joiner, and continued with him in the manufacturing of glass lined wooden ink- stands for some years, which was at one time the leading ink-stand in the market. Subsequently for several years he was engaged in the manufacture of ship augers. He has since principally confined himself to the cultivation of his land.

From his early manhood up he has been identified with the public affairs of his native town, and while never seeking office, he has filled nearly every position of trust in his native town.

For ten years he held the office of county commis- sioner, and won the highest encomiums for his able management of the prison and reformatory institutions and his careful solicitude for the welfare of the prisoners.

In 1862, he represented his native town in the State Legislature, and for a number of years has been first selectman of the town.

In every position in life he has evinced that rectitude of purpose, that firm determination to adhere to what he believed to be right, regardless of the opinions of others. Under no consideration would he ever accept public of- fice when it was necessary to bind himself to obey the instructions of his constituents. His independent course has sometimes made him enemies, but his firm adherence to principle has always gained him the approval of his fellow-citizens.

He has been for some years engaged in genealogical researches, and in collecting facts relative to the history of his native town, and it was the unanimous wish of the people of Chester that he should write the history of this town as a part of the history of Middlesex county.

In 1832, he married Harriet, daughter of Israel

*BY HENRY WHITTEMORE.

228

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

L'Hommedieu. Four children were the issue of this marriage: Charles N., born June 12th 1834; Franklin Y., born October 21st 1835; Harriet Amelia, born June 22d 1837; William L'Hommedieu, born August 25th 1846.

Two of these, Charles N. and William L'Hommedieu, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and made an honor- able record, Charles N. having risen from the ranks to the post of Ist Lieutenant in the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery. William served 3 years in the 3d Missouri Cavalry.

JOSHUA L'HOMMEDIEU.

Joshua L'Hommedieu was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1787, and became an inhabitant of this town in 1812. He was, with his brother Ezra, one of the early manu- facturers of the town. Mr. L'Hommedieu was an active member of the Congregational Society and was inter- ested in all affairs of the town. He was well known throughout the county as a democratic politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives several years, and once a member of the Senate. He was a per- fect gentleman of the old school in manners; and, though never married, took a deep interest in the welfare of the young in the community. He died October 7th 1880, aged 93 years.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 61

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