USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 61
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 61
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Biblia, a 16 page small quarto monthly, was established in April, 1888, as the organ of the Bible Student's League. It has joint offices in New York city and in Meriden, where Mrs. Nellie V. Potter is the publisher and Doctor C. H. S. Davis an editor.
Meriden has always been noted as a manufacturing town and but little attention has been given to literary matters. The first book written in Meriden was a volume of 117 pages, entitled " Historical Sketches of Meriden." It was a continuation of a Thanksgiving
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sermon preached by Reverend George W. Perkins, and was printed in "West Meriden, by Franklin E. Hinman, 1849." Before coming to Meriden Mr. Perkins had been a teacher, and one of his pupils was the celebrated Margaret Fuller. A biography of Mr. Perkins was published after his death. Another clergyman, Reverend Abraham Norwood, published several books and sermons, including " The Book of Abraham," an autobiographical sketch, and " How I got into the Church and how I got out of it." In 1868 Reverend M. J. Steere pub- lished a work of 400 pages, entitled "Footprints Heavenward," the materials for which "accumulated as a result of private meditations along the way of religious inquiry." In 1877 Reverend Edward Hungerford published a volume of 75 pages, entitled "Centennial Sermons on the History of the Center Church."
One of the most prolific writers has been Doctor Charles H. S. Davis, who published in 1870 a " History of Wallingford and Meriden," one of the largest of New England local histories, a work of 1,000 pages, and very complete in genealogies of the old Wallingford families. Other works of Doctor Davis are: "The Training and Management of the Singing Voice," published in 1879; " The Educa- tion and Training of the Feeble Minded, Imbecile and Idiotic," pub- lished in 1883, and a number of pamphlets, besides a large number of articles on literary, educational, scientific and medical subjects written for the periodical press during the past 30 years. Doctor Davis has edited the "Boston Medical Register," the " Index to Periodical Literature," and has edited for four years, Biblia, as previously men- tioned.
In 1875 Mr. Luther G. Riggs published a volume of poems of 528 pages, in connection with H. S. Cornwall, F. G. Fairfield and Ruth G. D. Havens. The volume had an intoduction by Reverend W. H. H. Murray and a critical analysis by Francis Gerry Fairfield. Over 300 of the poems were by Mr. Riggs and 60 were contributed by Mrs. Havens, who was a resident of Meriden. Mr. Murray resided in Meriden a few years but all of his books were published after he left the town. In 1882 was published " The Life and Writings of W. E. Benham," 240 pages, written by himself. Reverend J. H. Chapin, Ph. D., published a work of 276 pages, entitled " The Creation and the Early Development of Mankind," and in 1889, "From Japan to Granada; being sketches of observation and inquiry in a tour round the world in 1887-S." Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox resided in Meriden a few years and much of her literary work was done here. Miss Emily J. Leonard, a sketch of whose life appears in this volume, wrote con- siderably for the press, and in 1885 was published her translation of Blanqui's " History of Political Economy;" a work of 583 pages. Mrs. Jane Kavanagh has written many poems, and in 1887 she published a novel entitled "For the Sins of his youth."
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According to Doctor Charles H. S. Davis, himself a physician of long standing in the town, the practitioners of Meriden prior to 1870 were the following: Doctor Isaac Hall was the first. He lived in the east- ern part of the town, where he died March 7th, 1781, aged 66 years. His son, Jonathan, was also a physician.
In 1769 Doctor Ensign Hough commenced the practice of medicine, living at the center of the town. He was highly esteemed. His death occurred in 1813, but prior to that event, in 1802, one of his sons, Isaac I., began a practice, which was successfully continued a number of years. From his childhood he was noted for his large size, and at the time of his death, at the age of 71 years, in 1852, he weighed 350 pounds. He was a very popular man, and was engaged in other busi- ness the latter years of his life.
From 1825 until his death in 1842, Doctor Wyllys Woodruff was here as a skillful practitioner, and his practice passed to Doctor Ben- jamin H. Catlin, who came from Haddam. The latter became a resi- dent of Meriden April 5th, 1842, and for nearly two score years was one of the leading physicians and prominent citizens of the town. He had many contemporaries, among them being Doctor Gardner Barlow, from 1845 until the latter's death in 1854; Doctor William H. Allen, from 1840 until 1850, when he died of typhoid fever; Doctor Edward W. Hatch, from 1849 for nine years, when he became superintendent of the State Reform School.
Doctor Allen was succeeded, in 1850, by Doctor Timothy F. Davis, who for 18 years was an active practitioner, when failing health caused him to retire. He died February 24th, 1870, aged nearly 60 years, and his demise was much deplored by the community. In his practice he was succeeded, in 1867, by his son, Doctor Charles Henry Stanley Davis,* now one of the most prominent physicians of the county, in the allopathic school of practice.
In the same year, 1850, Doctor H. A. Archer, an eclectic physician, came to Meriden and remained until 1857, when he sold out to Doctor John Tait* and removed to Brooklyn, N. Y. A few years ago Doctor Archer returned to the town, and is now in practice at South Meriden. Doctor John Tait, also an eclectic practitioner, still remains as one of the oldest physicians of the city.
Doctor James Wyle was in practice from 1854 to 1870. He was a Scotchman and a surgeon of some skill. For some years Doctor Nehemiah Nickerson was associated with him, but removed in 1868. Since 1870 he has again been in active practice in Meriden.
In 1852 Doctor Lewis Barnes came, but after a few years removed to Oxford; and Doctor Roswell Hawley was here in 1858. Others in that period and earlier also removed, after being here a short time, Doctor M. F. Baldwin being here in 1856.
In the latter year, Doctor W. N. Dunham, a homeopathist, came to * See biographical sketch in following chapter.
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Meriden, but not long after sold his practice to Doctor C. W. Ensign. In the same line of practice came Doctor Grove Herrick Wilson,* who since 1857 has been one of the foremost physicians of the city. For the past ten years E. A. Wilson has been a practitioner in the same school of medicine.
Other homeopathists now in practice are Doctor Charles J. Mans- field and Doctor E. C. Newport, both since 1870; Doctors F. H. Monroe and J. D. Quill, since 1888; and Doctor A. T. Holton, who was here in 1880; and Doctor H. N. Porter, in 1885, removed.
In 1858 Doctor Asa Hopkins Churchill succeeded to the practice of Doctor Hatch, and has since been a physician at Meriden, ranking among the oldest in practice. His contemporary practitioners now at Meriden are, besides those named above: Doctors A. S. Allain, since 1889; E. T. Bradstreet, since 1877; J. D. Eggleston, since 1880; A. H. Fenn, since 1886; Anna J. Ferris, since 1879; F. P. Griswold, since 1884; O. J. D. Hughes, since 1885; J. H. Kane, since 1886; S. D. Otis, since 1877; E. W. Smith, since 1882: E. W. Pierce, since 1886; Burton D. Stone, since 1888; A. W. Tracy, since 1875; Charles A. Graeber, an eclectic, since 1888; H. N. Delesdernier and H. Marchand, recently located, there being, in all, 27 practicing physicians in the town in 1890.
Among other physicians who were here and removed or died were the following: Doctors Frederick J. Fitch, who came in 1866 and died about eleven years later; J. J. Averill, who came the same year and continued about half a dozen years; John McMahon, who located in 1867, but removed to Boston in 1869; C. H. Gaylord, who died in 1877, after half a dozen years practice; G. H. Gray, who died about the same time, after a short settlement; Willard Wolcott, in practice from 1883 for a few years, until his death; and Jared Wilson, who died near the same time; James G. Bacon, who removed in 1873; W. A. Bevins, in 1880, as an eclectic; L. Baumgart, 1885-8, who, and the fol- lowing, removed, after being here in the years set opposite their names: Doctors A. F. Blakeman, 1886; E. M. Child, 1878-86; Edward T. Cornwall, 1882: Hiram B. Cutler, botanist, 1885-9; Edward S. Dav- idson, 1879; J. J. Dougherty, 1875-6; David Dufreane, 1882; H. Doutil, 1881-5; William H. Delesdernier, 1885-7; G. D. Ferguson, 1880 -1; C. S. Griswold, 1878; C. H. Howland, 1881-8; H. N. Hall, 1889; E. C. Jeni- gor, 1878-86; H. E. Jacobson, 1889; E. C. Luks, 1884-5; Everest Mon- geon, 1877; William R. Marsden, 1883-5; Mrs. W. H. H. Murray, 1886-7; Levi D. Rood, 1882: Charles E. Scott, 1873-87; A. J. Spinner, 1880; James F. Sullivan, 1888; J. L. Terry, 1883-7; E. C. Tremblay, 1887-8; H. L. Young, 1873-4.
In the early history of the town Brenton Hall, George W. Stanley and others advised on legal matters. Benajah Andrews ranked among the first lawyers who maintained a residence in the town. He lived * See biographical sketch in following chapter.
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on the Middletown road, east of the Center, and had an office at his house, where he transacted much business, serving also as probate judge. He died before the civil war. Contemporary with him and doing much legal business at West Meriden, where he lived, was James S. Brooks. He was no regular attorney, but had sound judg- ment and a good knowledge of affairs. When the probate district was formed, in 1836, he was elected the first judge, and served eight years. He also died in the town.
Dexter R. Wright first came to Meriden in 1845, as the teacher of the academy. In 1848 he graduated from the Yale Law School, and settled here as an attorney, becoming one of the town's leading citi- zens. In 1862 he was commissioned colonel of the 15th Connecticut Volunteers, and being compelled by ill health to resign, in 1863, re- turned to Meriden, and in 1864 moved to New Haven, where he took a place as one of the foremost attorneys of the state. While at Meri- den Julius Bissell was associated with him a short time. Washington Rogers, Savilian R. Hall, Andrew J. Coe and Leverett L. Phelps were attorneys for short periods, deceasing in town or removing.
Tilton E. Doolittle, who graduated from Vale in 1846, successfully practiced at Meriden a number of years, then removed to New Haven, where he took a leading place at the bar.
Orville H. Platt was born July 19th, 1827, at Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., and was educated at the common schools and at the academy called the " Gunnery," in Washington, Conn. He studied law in the office of Honorable Gideon H. Hollister, of Litchfield, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He resided in Towanda, Penn., for a while associated with Honorable Ulysses Mercer, afterward judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. In 1851 he located in Meriden and entered into the practice of law. His first public office in con- nection with the state government was as clerk of the senate in 1855-6. In 1857 he was secretary of state, was member of the senate in 1861-2, and a member of the house in 1864 and 1869, and in the latter year was speaker. From 1877 to 1879 he was state's attorney for New Haven county, which office he held until he was elected, in the latter year, United States senator, to succeed William H. Barnum.
James P. Platt, son of O. H. and Annie (Bull) Platt, was born in Towanda, Pa., March 31st, 1851. He attended school at the "Gun- nery." Washington, Conn., graduated from Hopkins Grammar School in 1869, from Vale College in 1873, and from Yale Law School in 1875. Since July 1st, 1875, he has practiced law in Meriden in partnership with his father. He represented Meriden in the legislature in 1877-8, and has been city attorney since July 1st, 1879. He married Harriet W., daughter of John Ives. Although not born in Meriden he has lived there since he was 6 months old, his father coming to Meriden and opening a law office in 1851.
L. C. Hinman, son of F. C. and Elizabeth (Camp) Hinman, was born
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in Meriden, February 25th, 1856. He attended the Meriden schools and the Iowa State University, and graduated from the law depart- ment of Yale College. He was admitted to the bar in 1877, and began practice in Wallingford, where he remained three years. He after- ward practiced in Ohio, between three and four years, and during a part of the time was local attorney in the coal fields for the Ohio Cen- tral Coal Company. He came East on a visit, not intending to remain, but finally settled in Meriden in 1884, where he has since practiced. In the spring of 1886 he became a member of the firm of O. H. & J. P. Platt, and is at present assistant city attorney. He married, in 1879, Jennie E., daughter of P. H. Burns, of Middletown, Conn.
George A. Fay was born at Marlboro, Mass., in 1838, and in 1863 grad- uated from the Yale Law School, since which time he has been an attorney in this city. Frank S. Fay, born at the same place in 1848, has been in practice since 1871, in which year he was admitted to the New Haven County Bar.
Cook Lounsbury was at Meriden from 1867 until 1875, when he re- moved to Hartford, where he is still in practice.
George W. Smith, born in Wallingford, in 1825, graduated from Yale Law School in 1857, was an attorney at Meriden from 1858 until his death, in 1890. He was many years the probate judge, serving in that office continuously from 1883 to 1889.
Emerson A. Merriman, born at Westfield, Mass., August 3d, 1842, is a son of Silas A. and Lucretia B. (Rice) Merriman, a descendant of the Connecticut Merrimans. He graduated from the Connecticut Lit- erary Institution at Suffield, Conn., from the law department of Mich- igan University in March, 1867, and was admitted to practice law in Connecticut, at Hartford, in October, 1867. He opened an office in Meriden in December, 1867, where he has since been in the active practice of his profession. He was judge of probate for 12 years. He represented Meriden in the legislature in 1880 and 1881. He was married to Frances E., daughter of Reverend Ezra G. Johnson, De- cember 23d, 1872.
Ratcliffe Hicks came soon after the war, continuing until 1880, when he removed to New York, where he engaged in manufacturing.
John Q. Thayer, son of Augustine and Electa (Fairchild) Thayer. was born March 24th, 1843, in New Milford, Conn. He was educated at Housatonic Institute. New Milford, and was preparing for college when the war broke out. He enlisted in 1861 in Company I. Sthi Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and reënlisted in 1863, serving four years and three months. After his return be studied law with William Knapp, Esq., of New Milford, and was admitted to the bar of Litch- field county in 1869. In the fall of 1869 he came to Meriden and was for three years in the office of Senator O. H. Platt, and afterward with Ratcliffe Hicks, under the firm name of Hicks & Thayer, which con- tinued three or four years. Since that time he has been practicing
·
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law alone. He has been assistant city attorney two terms, and assist- ant judge of the city and police court of Meriden about ten years, also a justice of the peace. He married Annie S., daughter of S. K. Devereux, of Castine, Maine.
Wilbur F. Davis, a graduate of both the Harvard and Yale Law Schools, has been in practice in the city since 1870. Franklin Platt, admitted to the New Haven bar in 1876, has been located at Meriden since that time, having previously served as probate judge in Wallingford.
Henry Dryhurst, son of Henry and Eleanor (Lewis) Dryhurst, was born in England in 1855, and came to America in 1863 with his par- ents, locating first in Providence, R. I. They afterward moved to Taunton, Mass., and in 1865 came to Meriden. Mr. Dryhurst studied law in the offices of Ratcliffe Hicks, city attorney, George A. Fay and O. H. & J. P. Platt, and was admitted to the bar January 15th, 1884, upon motion of Colonel D. R. Wright, of New Haven. He was chair- man of the republican town committee from 1886 to 1890, registrar of voters, grand juror and justice of the peace. He was appointed post- master in January, 1890. He married Margaret C., daughter of Wil- liam F. and Harriet (Bennett) Dutcher, of Wallingford, Conn., and has two children, a girl and a boy. His father was known as one of the most skilled silversmiths in England and America, worked for the largest silver concern in England, and came to this country to accept a position with the Gorham Manufacturing Company, Provi- dence, R. I. He was afterward with Reed & Barton, Taunton, Mass., and in 1865 with the Meriden Britannia Company; he also worked for Tiffany, of New York. His mother's father was superintendent of the largest iron industry in Wales. Her brother, Rowland Lewis, Q. C., is still practicing his profession in Wales.
Charles W. Mann, a native of England, emigrated to America in 1877, was admitted to the New Haven bar in 1878, when he located here and has since been in practice in this city. William C. Mueller, born in Germany, came to America at the age of ten years, in 1874, and since 1886 has been a member of the Meriden bar. John Barrett, an Englishman, in this country since 1872, has been an attorney at Meriden since 1881. In the same year Willis I. Fenn, after graduat- ing from the Yale Law School located at Meriden. C. H. Shaw, admitted in 1870, died in the city in June, 1883.
Charles H. Sawyer, after studying in the office of George A. Fay, was admitted to practice in March, 1883, continuing at Meriden.
George A. Clark, son of Edwin B. and Cornelia M. (Pratt) Clark, was born in Meriden, March 27tl1, 1866, educated at Meriden High School, and graduated from Yale Law School in 1887. Previous to going to college he was for four years reporter on various newspapers, including the Meriden Press Recorder, Hartford Times, New Haven Union and New Haven Morning News. He studied for two years in the
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office of E. A. Merriman, and began practice in Meriden in 1887. He was candidate for probate judge in 1888, and for city clerk in 1889, and is at present collector of taxes.
Other contemporary lawyers are Charles P. Ives, since 1876, Richard Gleeson, since 1886, and Henry Dryhurst, the latter not active in his profession.
Among attorneys who have been at Meriden and have removed may be noted D. J. Donahoe, 1876 to 1880; Darwin M. Woodward, 1877; William Slatterley, 1880; A. L. Judd, 1880-5; F. A. Brown, 1882; Edward Kunkel, 1880; and E. J. Fenn, after 1880. Most of thesc attained distinguished success in other towns in this state or in Massachusetts.
The following account of the secret orders in Meriden was pre- pared for this work by Hon. William Wallace Lee :
It nowhere appears in any known record that any attempt was made, prior to 1815, to organize a Masonic Lodge in Meriden. In that year a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge for a charter, but as Meriden was at that time a small town and there were then in active operation Lodges in Berlin, Southington and Wallingford, six miles to the north, west and south, respectively, and one of the oldest in the state at Middletown, ten miles to the east, the project was not deemed feasible, and the petitions were refused. At the time when the "anti-Masonic craze" swept through the state, from 1828 to 1832, there were probably not more than twelve or fifteen Masons, if so many, living in what is now the town of Meriden. Although the "craze," like other similar delusions, died out in a few years, no effort seems to have been made to establish a Lodge until 1850. In that year another application was made for a charter, which, after the necessary preliminaries, was granted, and the organization was effected in January, 1851, under the name of Meridian Lodge, No. 77.
The list of petitioners included some of the leading citizens, among whom were Charles Parker, Reverend John Parker (the first master), Stephen Ives, Bertrand L. Yale, Dexter R. Wright, etc. The Lodge gradually added to its membership from the best class of citizens, and met for 15 years "up-town" (so-called) in "Odd Fellows Hall;" but, as the business and growth of the town was toward the "Corner," or nearer the railroad, the Lodge, after much consideration and discus- sion, voted, in April, 1865, to hold its communications in "Morgan Hall." This was its home for about six years, and was also the period in which the Lodge had its greatest prosperity. In 1871 the Lodge voted to lease, for a term of 15 years, the room which it has ever since occupied, in Palace Block.
There have been upon the roll of membership more than 500 dif- ferent names, but deaths, removals and other causes have reduced the number, so that in 1890 the membership did not much exceed 300. Among the members are men prominent in every department of life,
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and who have in different avocations distinguished themselves as the leading citizens of the city. Several of the Meriden Masons have been honored by being elected to the highest positions in the Grand Lodge of the state.
When Meridian, or the old Lodge, had voted, in 1865, to remove from its "up-town" home, some of those who deemed such a step un- wise made an effort to establish a new Lodge in the old locality, and organized to that end. After some little delay this movement was successful, and a charter was granted in 1866 for Center Lodge, No. 97. This has been kept in a prosperous condition to the present time and now numbers about 200 members.
Masonry has been a very popular institution in Meriden, and al- though it recognizes no political affiliations it has so pervaded all parties and churches that it is a fact that with only two exceptions every mayor of the city was a Free Mason; also a very large propor- tion, if not majority, of those connected in town and city affairs, were members of this widely extended brotherhood.
While every Free Mason knows that there are several grades and different organizations in Masonry, the uninitiated are not familiar with the fact. These are not antagonistic, but harmonious in their fields of labor, and may, without impropriety, be said to correspond to the different grades of schools or departments in educational life, the primary grade being the subordinate or Blue Lodge.
Keystone Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons, was organized in Meriden in 1854. Among those most active in it were Humphrey Lyon, who was for more than 20 years the treasurer; James Brooks, and Doctor Noah H. Byington, of Southington, who was the first presid- ing officer. Its meetings were usually held at the "corner." Its growth for about ten years was slow, owing to unavoidable causes, but about 1864 there began a more prosperous period, which, with the incidental exceptions that are features of every voluntary association, has been maintained ever since. It has now from 250 to 300 mem- bers. Among its now prominent ones are William H. Miller, W. H. Westwood, Mathew Beatty, John P. Weir and William Cochrane, the oldest living past high priest. All the charter members are dead. A large number of the living members reside elsewhere, their avocations in life (many being mechanics) having called them to other localities.
Hamilton Council, No. 22, Royal and Select Masters, was organized in 1854, those who were prominent in the movement being, with few exceptions, the same who were active in organizing the Chapter, which naturally follows, as the grades are closely connected. Meeting in the same place with the Chapter, depending upon that for its growth, it shared the latter's fortune of poor accommodations, being burned out, etc. Among its past officers were William H. Miller, William H. Westwood, M. Beatty, A. R. Yale, J. P. Weir and William Wallace Lee. The last two have been the official head of the State
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Council. It has a membership of about 125. All of its charter mem- bers are dead, and many of the living are widely scattered.
St. Elmo Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, was organized in 1869. In the preceding grades of Masonry, the only religious qualifi- cation is that the candidate must express his belief in a God, but in Chivalric Masonry it is requisite that he be a believer in the Christian religion and must, also, be in good standing as a Mason. Prominent in the organization of St. Elmo Commandery were Doctor G. H. Wil- son (its first presiding officer), H. Wales Lines, Theodore Byxbee and E. C. Birdseye. Of these Messrs. Lines and Birdseye have been the official head of the State Grand Body. Others who have presided over the local body are Levi E. Coe, E. B. Everett, William H. Miller, W. F. Davis, E. J. Doolittle and William Beatty. Since its organiza- tion its experience has been that of a steady growth until now its membership must be nearly one hundred, and it ranks among the foremost of the younger subordinates in the state. Five of our ex- mayors are members and it includes many of the leading men of the city and town.
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