History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 41

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 41
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 41

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Being at first essentially a government of a community, limited to a single place, there was no wide scope of business aside from the allotment of lands, the movement to establish the church (which was the principal factor after 1672), and to adopt measures for protection against Indian attack. Although apprehended to such an extent that small forts were built at the sonth part of the village, at Abraham Doolittle's house, in 1675, and later at the meeting house, there prob- ably was no real cause for alarm, except the fear inspired by the restless Indians on the east side of the Connecticut river. In 1679 greater confidence prevailed, and the town voted " to agree to lay down ye warding on ye weeke days for ye present."

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

The records of the births, marriages and deaths, in the town books, are some of their most interesting features. The first born was Samuel Potter, September 19th, 1671 ; the first death was Samuel, son of Eleazer Peck, March 12th, 1673 ; and on the 5th of June, the same year, occurred the marriage of Thomas Hall, which was the first in the town. The later records of these matters are comprehensive and voluminous.

The early records also afford an interesting insight of the monetary matters of that period. The volume of circulation being very limited, when payments had to be made or means raised, it was necessary for the town to authorize some product as a means of exchange. Hoops for casks and barrels were among the chief articles of commodity, and the town received them in payment of taxes. Several of the first rank men had "hoop lands " allotted them, so that they might secure therefrom the means to pay their proportion of the taxes.

Space will not permit more extended reference to the records, which indicate that in the support of the church, schools, etc., the town was active and fully as zealous as any other community in the county.

A complete list of the town clerks of Wallingford embraces the following names and years of service: New Haven Committee to 1673; Nathaniel Merriman to 1682; Eliasaph Preston to 1687; Joseph Hoult to 1696; Joseph Royce to 1697; Thomas Hall to 1711; Samuel Munson to 1740; Thomas Miles to 1741; James Miles to 1766; Caleb Hall to 1774; Caleb Cook to 1775; Caleb Hall to 1783; Elisha Whittlesey to 1800; George WV. Stanley to 1803; Hunn Munson to 1834; Friend Cook to 1835; James Carrington to 1836; James W. Carrington to 1836; Samuel Cook to 1840; Delos Ford Cook to 1840; Henry A. Cook to 1841: Lorenzo Lewis to 1856; E. S. Ives to 1860; Lorenzo Lewis to 1861; E. S. Ives to 1863; J. B. Pomeroy assistant T. C. to 1863; Augustus Hall to 1864: E. S. Ives to 1868; George W. Bartholomew to 1868: Edward F. Cook to 1869; Franklin Platt to 1872; Othniel I. Martin to 1888; William Burr Hall to 1889; Othniel I. Martin the present clerk.

In 1776 the Wallingford Probate District was erected to include the original town and also part of what is now Prospect. Out of this dis- trict were subsequently formed the Cheshire and the Meriden districts. the latter being set off in 1836. From the establishment of the dis- trict until the present the following became judges in the Walling- ford district in the years mentioned: Caleb Hall, 1776: Oliver Stanley, 1784: G. W. Stanley, 1809; J. P. Kirtland, 1818; R. Hitchcock, 1819; J. D. Reynolds, 1829: E. M. Pomeroy, 1838; Augustus Hall, 1842: E. H. Ives, 1844: J. R. Merriam, 1846; E. H. Ives, 1847; Augustus Hall, 1850; E. H. Ives, 1851; E. S. Ives, 1852: Ira Tuttle, 1868; Franklin Platt. 1869; Othniel I. Martin. 1872 to present time.

One of the greatest obstacles the early settlers encountered was the difficulty of communication, the roads being few and very poorly

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

improved. From New Haven to Hartford was a two days' journey, prior to 1700, and the usual stopping place was Belcher's tavern, in the northern part of what is now Meriden- an almost midway point on the old colony road. The course of that highway, through Wal- lingford, and the principal streets in the borough were described in 1670. Other streets east and west in the village, and Elm street north and south came later. At first so little attention was paid the old colony road that at the session of the general court, October, 1684, it was ordered that the different towns through which it passed should "amend it from such defects as dirty sloughs, bushes, trees and stones which incumbered it."

In 1692 the highway over the river was ordered; in 1693 the road between Daniel Mix and Joshua Culver; in 1694 the road at Broad Swamp, in Cheshire; in 1697 the road at Mill River, in the same town- ship; also the same time the road from South Meriden to Stony river; in 1693 the road to Haddam, through the northeastern part of town, was laid out: in 1700 the road through Dog's Misery neighborhood was located; and in 1702 two highways were located on the west side of the river, to run westward, one south of the Broad swamp, the other north of it. The same year the road on the New Haven line west- ward, terminating in what is now the town of Prospect, was also located. The highway from the Long hill to the New Haven line southward was located in 1707. In many places the Old Colony road was originally forty rods wide; most of the other roads were twenty rods wide; and very few of the early roads were as narrow as ten rods.

Little work was done on these roads beyond cutting down the brush, and when one track was full of ruts another was made, land being more plentiful than labor to repair the roads. Again, travel on them was an easy matter, as the mode was mainly by horseback or two-wheeled chaises, and but few of the latter class were used. " It was not until 1789 that the first wagon was brought into Meriden, as the property of Ezra Rice. It was a rude affair, being simply a square box on four wheels, drawn by two horses, with ropes for traces and cords for the driving lines."*

Not until 1802 were the roads rounded from the center to the sides, after the manner of building turnpikes. No doubt the completion of the Hartford & New Haven turnpike, in 1800, had something to do in setting this fashion. When that highway was projected it was opposed with some spirit, but after it was in use a good patronage was given. Its course through Wallingford was on the west side of the river, which was crossed at Yalesville. At that place one of the first good bridges across the stream was erected by the company. For fifty years this was a good thoroughfare, but in later years other highways have also been well improved, at a yearly expenditure of about $4.000.

*Doctor Davis.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

The bridges are kept in repair at an ontlay of several hundred dollars per year.

Splendid communication is afforded the town and the borough of Wallingford by the Hartford & New Haven railroad, which estab- lished a station on the "Plains," northwest of the cemetery, in the fall of 1839. In November of that year Orrin Andrews became the station agent, and acted as such ten years. Gould Andrews succeeded him, and was the agent five years. Since January 1st, 1855, the present agent, Silas N. Edmonds, has represented the company at Walling- ford, and under his direction most of the station improvements have been made. The old station was a frame building, standing northeast of the present station, and was also the home of the agent. The present station was built in 1871, and is very commodious, being of brick, 35 by 155 feet. In 1885 it was remodelled in the inside and supplied with modern conveniences. The present freight house, on the opposite side of the tracks, was built in 1875. It is of brick, 175 feet long, and is built substantially. The labor of the station is per- formed by Mr. Edmonds and ten assistants. In 1855 the station had three trains per day; in 1889 the number was eighteen, and the yearly increase of traffic was about ten per cent. The station was supplied with telegraph service in September, 1860, and Mrs. S. N. Edmonds was the first operator.

The station is supplied with two sets of Hall's Electric Railway Signals, 2,500 feet distant, and also a set of danger signals. The present improved system has been in use since 1884. The original system was here first put in use by the inventor in 1871, he being at that time a resident of Wallingford. Later the device was perfected and manufactured at Meriden, from which place the factory was removed to Bridgeport.

The station at Valesville was remodelled in the summer of 1889, and made more attractive. Ed. Carrington was the first agent; W. E. Rice served until the fall of 1887, and since that time the present agent, C. W. Cook. A considerable volume of business is there transacted.

A brief review of the industrial life of the town, as manifested in her manufacturing interests, affords one of the most gratifying fea- tures of its history. The manufactories of Wallingford have given the town wealth and prominence. Not long after the settlement of the first planters, this phase of business life was brought into exist- ence by the urgent needs of the settlers, and a mill for grinding corn was built on Wharton's brook, south of the present borough, which was ready for operation in December, 1674. This mill was put up by Lieutenant William Fowler, of Milford, for the town, and among the first millers were John Fowler and John Lothrop. The location was not favorable, and after a few years it was decided to move the mill. A new site was projected in 1677, the natural falls above the great plain on the Quinnipiac being selected. The mill was removed, and

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grinding at the new site was begun in May, 1678, John Lothrop being the miller. At the end of half a dozen years it was decided to move the mill again, further down the stream, where a better site was afforded, and to make it sure forever for that purpose the town voted, October 3d, 1687, to sequester the site. which was done.

As the mill stood on the west side of the stream, and most of the planters lived on the east side, a public canoe was provided early in 1688. Six years later the town built a bridge, so that the mill could be reached on horseback. This was probably put up on the site of the present bridge at Valesville, and is thought to have been the first bridge in the county across the Quinnipiac.

The maintenance and operation of the mill was a troublesome piece of business for the town, which in 1707 made an arrangement with William Tyler, whereby he became the sole owner. From that time on the Tyler family controlled the property for more than a hundred years. The locality became known as Tyler's Mills, and the grinding of grain and the fulling of cloth were both carried on. In the early part of the present century Charles Yale became the owner of the Tyler interests, and having made extensive repairs and added other lines of business, which augmented the population of the ham- let, it now became known as Yalesville.

Charles Vale was born in 1790, and on reaching manhood became a manufacturer of japanned and tin ware, which he sold in the South and amassed a fortune. Later he engaged in the manufacture of pewter and Britannia goods, being one of the pioneers in the latter interest. He here associated his brother Hiram with him, and with the aid of skilled artisans from England they not only made flat wares of Britannia, but produced hollow ware, such as tea sets and communion services, which had a beauty of finish and excellence not before attained in this country. Both the Vales died while the Bri- tannia industry was yet in its infancy, Charles Yale departing this life November 2d, 1835.

In the meantime Samuel Simpson, who had been an apprentice of the Yales here, became interested in this line of manufactures, begin- ning January 1st. 1835, and carried on operations twelve years, when he sold out to John Munson, who had been associated with him several years. Prior to this a part of the power at Yalesville was utilized by J. B. Pomeroy and John B. Hall in the manufacture of gimlets and auger bits, which industry was here discontinued about 1843 and re- moved to the Quinnipiac, two miles below Wallingford. About this time Bennet Jeralds began using a part of the Yale works, and for three years manufactured Britannia spoons for Russell Holt, of Meri- den. Eli Ives became the owner of the property in 1843, and for the last time put the grist mill, still kept up, in order, but which was per- manently discontinued several years later. In 1846 he sold out to a Mr. Johnson, of Middletown, who manufactured pins at this place a

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short time. Soon after Charles Parker purchased the property and continues the owner. In 1848 he and Garry I. Mix began the manufac- ture of Britannia and German silver ware, continuing until 1854, when Mix retired to establish himself in business at a lower power at Yales- ville. Parker and the Jeralds (Thomas and Bennet) continued at the old place as the Parker Manufacturing Company. In 1857 the old inill and factory buildings were destroyed by fire, when the present buildings were erected and occupied in February, 1858. The main factory is of brick, 100 feet long, with an ell 60 feet long, both being two stories high. There are also large frame buildings.

In 1876 the Parker Manufacturing Company discontinued the manufacture of German silver ware at this point, but the production of Britannia spoons has since been carried on, in a limited way, by Bennet Jeralds. When these industries were at their best 130 people were employed. In later years the greater part of the Parker shops has been devoted to the manufacture of the woodwork for coffee and spice mills, piano stools and packing cases, about 1,000,000 feet of lumber being used annually. Fifty hands were thus employed, in 1889, by the Parker Manufacturing Company, with A. G. Brown as superintendent. An excellent dam produces a motor of 150 horse- power, but since these 'shops are auxiliary to the works at Meriden they have lost their former importance.

G. I. Mix & Co., at Valesville, are extensive manufacturers of Bri- tannia goods. This establishment is on the Quinnipiac, at the lower end of Talesville, where the plant embraces about twenty acres of land, admirably located for manufacturing purposes. There is an casily utilized water power of 175 horse capacity, which appears to have been overlooked until 1855, when Garry I. Mix selected it and began the improvements which now give the place so busy an appear- ance. There are in all ten buildings, the main factory being 40 by 100 feet and four stories high, with a large brick wing. In 1886 steam power-50 horse-was added to the water motor, and since that time the capacity for production has been increased. In 1889 large turning and sawing shops were added, as well as offices and store- rooms, in an attractive brick building, 32 by 72 feet. One hundred and fifty persons are employed, mainly in the manufacture of Bri- tannia goods, but carpenters' tools and other specialties are also made. Garry I. Mix continues at the head of the firm.

The Jennings & Griffin Manufacturing Company's plant is located at Yalesville station. The power on the Quinnipiac at this point was improved by Deacon N. C. Sanford and others, and was first used in the manufacture of angers, etc. The building was small, forming at present a meager part of the establishment of the above company. Later owners were Clark, Nelson & Co., E. H. Tracy being the man- ager and subsequently the owner of the works, which were now de- voted to the manufacture of ship angers, and during the war did a

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

large business. Associating C. E. Jennings and others with him. the Le Homedeau Manufacturing Company was established and here con- tinued until 1882. In 1883 the present firm succeeded to the business, becoming a corporation January 4th, 1884.

The plant contains about fifty acres of land, and the water priv- ilege has been improved to turn two wheels of 80 and 100 horse power respectively. The buildings are brick and frame, and there are forty small forges. One hundred hands are employed on carpenters' tools, ship augers, edge tools and table cutlery. After the death of E. H. Tracy, before 1882. R. E. Tracy was the superintendent; and since the date given R. Aldrich has had charge of the works.

In this establishment A. J. Burghoff has also carried on the manu- facture of Britannia spoons, employing from six to ten hands.

The Miller Brothers Cutlery Company was incorporated March 1st, 1870, to operate at Yalesville, but removed to Meriden in 1872. Their product was pocket cutlery.

In 1887 the Turner Rapid Heat Furnace Company was incorpor- ated, and later began the manufacture at Yalesville of the castings, etc., needed in their apparatus. L. W. Turner is the manager of the concern, which has a growing business.

Quinnipiac is a very small hamlet on the river, two miles below Wallingford borough. The power was first improved to operate a grist mill, and the land contiguous was sequestered for that purpose. After 1833 a large building was there put up by Almer Hall, Walter Martin and others for the manufacture of wood screws, which was not a profitable undertaking. Some time about 1843 J. B. Pomeroy used the building in making razor strops and gimlets, and later he and Robert Wallace there made German silver spoons: still later Hall, Elton & Co. used it in the manufacture of Britannia ware, the build- ing finally becoming the property of Milo Todd and others, who con- verted it into a paper mill about 1870. The latter industry was not long continued, and in later years the grist mill was the only interest maintained at that place.

One of the first industries of importance in the borough of Wal- lingford was the manufacture of razor strops, which was begun about 1820 by Elisha MI. Pomeroy. James Carrington and Constance Kirt- land, in a shop on Centre street, east of Main. Not long after the building on the corner of Centre and Fair streets was erected and occupied by them. In a few years Pomeroy became the sole proprietor, and also had a store where was the post office, kept by Carrington. The strops made were a really good article, and were sold all over the country by peddlers with teams, kept by Pomeroy himself. Later he was joined by his son, Lucien, and Lyman Humiston, and the Pomeroy Manufacturing Company was formed. Humiston was a part owner of the grist mill and cloth works on the Quinnipiac, near the village, which he and Daniel Humiston had operated, but which was now taken

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for the uses of the new company, which had several lines of manu- factures, including paper buttons. A score of people were employed. After operating there some time the old Humiston site became the property of Samuel Simpson, and the Pomeroy Manufacturing Com- pany secured a new plant in the eastern part of the borough, where its business was continued a number of years. In 1850 the company was duly incorporated. In about 1866 the company consolidated with Hall & Miller, rival button makers, Lucien Pomeroy becoming the president, and Friend Miller secretary and treasurer of the new com- pany. The business declined, and the company discontinued many years ago, there being no longer a demand for paper buttons.

Another pioneer enterprise in the borough was the factory of Charles and Hiram Vale, at the southeast corner of Main and Centre streets, where they began making pewter and Britannia ware prior to their removal to Tyler's Mills. later Valesville, where they built the largest establishment of the kind in the country, when the Walling- ford plant was abandoned. Charles Vale also had a large tin shop in the village, where he manufactured goods for his southern trade, sup- plying his store in Richmond therefrom. He employed many hands, and his shops were hives of industry prior to 1825.

Some time about 1826 J. and M. Carrington began the manufacture of coffee mills, on Main street, but built a shop on Wharton's brook, east of the village, being the pioneers in that locality. They discon- tinued about 1830. Near this time Deacon Almer Hall began making block tin spoons, in a shop on Main street, near Centre, having at first only a few hands, but increasing until 25 persons were employed. Later he moved this industry to Quinnipiac, where he and others made wood screws and block tin spoons.

The business of Hall, Elton & Co., manufacturers of silver plated goods, was established about 1836, when Jacob Hall and William Elton began the manufacture of Britannia ware on the site of the present plant of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., and a year later Deacon Almer Hall was associated with them, the firm taking the above name. About this time Robert Wallace, who had become a skillful workman in German silver, entered the employment of this company. whose business soon demanded larger quarters. These were secured in a new factory, erected on the river, where is now Community lake, the dam being higher up the stream than the present one. A large number of hands were employed, the manufacture of German silver table cutlery being extensively carried on. After the use of steam power became more general, this property was sold to the commu- nity, and that society vacated the old site, removing the buildings to the present site, below the large dam, constructed opposite the com- munity residence. Hall, Elton & Co. next secured still more com- modious quarters on Cherry street, near the railway station, where they have since continued. In 1882 the company leased its quarters,

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for ten years, to the Meriden Britannia Company, but maintains its organization. It became a corporate body in 1850, and its capital has been increased to $125,000. In 1889 A. S. Chase was the president of the company, and R. H. Cowles the secretary and treasurer.

At this place the veteran manufacturers, Samuel Simpson and Robert Wallace, must be noticed," as their united and separate efforts, more than anything else, have placed the most important industries of the borough upon a permanent basis. Although both are now the heads of large corporations, they have attained these positions only by skillful and industrious application to their chosen occupations, extending over a period of time covering about half a century of years, in which they have learned and developed the details of their business as manufacturers of Britannia, German silver and plated wares.

Samuel Simpson began his career as an apprentice to the Yales, at Y'alesville. April 1st. 1829. After serving a number of years, he him- self manufactured there until 1847. About this time new methods of manufacturing Britannia were introduced. The use of moulds was discarded, and the metal was spun in shape by means of a lathe and power press, after having been cut into the desired patterns from the thin sheets by dies and chucks. This left it in good shape for electro-plating, which was applied to this class of goods about this time, with favorable results, and permitted a finish as fine and almost as durable as sterling silver, and at a cost of not more than one fifth of like goods in standard silver. These innovations encountered deep-seated prejudices, but the beauty and durability of the goods were soon established, and those who had early adopted these meth- ods were on the high tide of the electro-plating excitement which now swept over New England. After leaving Valesville, Samuel Simpson secured the old Humiston mills property, and in 1847 there fitted up a factory with improved machinery for the manufacture of silver- plated ware and electro-plated hollow ware, the latter being the first attempt of the kind in America. From the beginning both branches were successful. In 1854 he stocked his business with the Meriden Britannia Company, of which corporation he was an active member eleven ycars, when he dissolved his connection, thereafter more dis- tinctively devoting himself to his several Wallingford enterprises, as shown in the following pages.

Robert Wallace, the contemporary of the above, fully shares with him the honor of bringing up this class of goods to their present state of excellence. While but a mere boy he entered the employ of Deacon Almer Hall and learned the art of manufacturing Britannia and pewter spoons, in which he took great interest. This led him to endeavor to improve the quality and to experiment with other metals. To this end he obtained a recipe from a foreigner for the composition of a

* See also biographical sketches in following chapter.

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metal which has become widely known as German or nickel silver; and it is claimed that the first spoons made in the United States of this compound were from the mixture prepared by Robert Wallace. He obtained the nickel and other ingredients in New York in 1836, and after having melted a few pounds according to the recipe, he had it rolled into proper sheets at a mill in Waterbury. He now had a sil- versmith work up some of it into spoons, which proved to look nearly as well as those of sterling silver, and which were, if anything, more substantial. The utility of the new metal was speedily recognized by Deacon Hall, who secured the services of Mr. Wallace, who continued with him and with Hall, Elton & Co. until 1855, since which time his individuality as a manufacturer has been exhibited in his own busi- ness. In that year he associated with Samuel Simpson and others interested in the Meriden Britannia Company, and formed a copart- nership for ten years, under the name of R. Wallace & Co. The Humiston factory was occupied and a large business transacted. At the expiration of ten years a new corporation was formed, September 9th, 1865, under the general laws of the state, with the name of Wal- lace, Simpson & Co.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 41

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 966

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966