USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 76
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 76
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
he carried on up to within a few years of his death. Charles S. went West as a land agent, and also practiced law there. He was elected to congress from Iowa, and has since practiced law in Washington, D. C. James T. remained on the farm, which he has since carried on. Noah Pomeroy served as selectman many years, and justice of the peace by appointment of the state legislature, as long as it possessed the power to appoint, during his whole residence in Meriden. In 1832 he was elected to the house of representatives, and in 1837 to the senate. He was director in the Meriden Bank from its organization, and was chosen president in 1849, but resigned six months later.
Reverend A. T. Randall, son of Reverend H. C. and Mary L. (Davis) Randall, was born September 23d, 1854, at Poquetannock, Conn. He graduated from St. Stephens College at Annandale, N. Y., in 1877. and from Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Conn., June 2d, 1880, and was ordained to the priesthood June 7th, 1SS1, at Litchfield, Conn. He came to Meriden as assistant to Doctor Deshon June 4th, 1880. The latter was rector for 33 years, and died January 1st, 1883. Mr. Randall had full charge of the parish from the death of Doctor Deshon until he was made rector at Easter, 1884. November 30th, 1SSS, the parish house was dedicated, built at a cost of $16,000, raised by sub- scription.
T. L. Reilly was born in 1858 in New Britain, Conn., and was educated at the parochial school attached to St. Mary's church, and at the State normal school, New Britain, graduating in 1876. He imme- diately entered the office of Town Clerk Walsh, of New Britain, as assistant. In 1877 he came to Meriden and studied law in the office of Judge Donahoe, now of Middletown; was afterward employed as bookkeeper for John F. Butler, and later in the packing department of the Meriden Britannia Company. In 1880 he became the Meriden correspondent of the New Haven Daily Union, afterward had charge of the local department of the Meriden Press-Recorder, was later connected with the Meriden Republican for three years, and then engaged with the New Haven Register, doing their legislative work, remaining with them until the Meriden Journal Publishing Company started, of which he has since been secretary and local editor. He married Marie E., daughter of M. Rowen, of Blackstone, Mass.
M. G. Reynolds, son of Thomas and Ellen (Gill) Reynolds, was born in Ireland in 1838, and came to America in 1863, locating in New Haven. A few months later he came to Meriden and worked in an auger shop a short time, then worked at teaming. About 1865 he went West, where he was employed in the grocery business for about two years. He returned to New Haven, remaining about eight months, and in 1868 went to Wallingford, where he started the grocery busi- ness. In 1870 he came again to Meriden and established business at his present place on West Main street. He married Mary, daughter of Owen Campbell. He has been chairman of the committee of the
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West school district since 1886, and was elected assessor in 1888, 1889 and 1890.
John L. Richmond, son of Leonard and Edna (Wright) Richmond, was born in 1836 at Canaan, Conn., and was educated in the common schools, and at West Granville, Mass., where he went when young. remaining there until 18 years of age. He afterward located in Glas- tonbury, Conn., where he learned his trade. He came to Meriden in 1855, and from that time until 1877 (with the exception of the time he was in the war) was employed with the Meriden Britannia Company. In 1877 he bought Mr. Lewis' interest in the firm of Griswold, Lewis & Glock, the firm afterward being Griswold, Richmond & Glock until July 1st, 1889, when a stock company was organized under the name of the Griswold, Richmond & Glock Cooperative Company, with N. F. Griswold, president: John L. Richmond, treasurer, and Charles C. Glock, superintendent. Mr. Richmond served in the 3d Connecticut Volunteers, under Captain Jared R. Cook. He has served as alder- man and as councilman several years. He married Eunice E., daughter of Sherman Stone, of Durham, Conn.
Charles L. Rockwell, son of Francis A. and Mary (Lee) Rockwell, was born in Ridgefield, Conn., was educated at Fort Edward Institute, N. Y., and has always been identified with banking business. He was teller of the National Bank of Norwalk, Conn., from 1863 to 1870, and has since been cashier of First National Bank of Meriden; is also a director in same, vice-president and trustee of City Savings Bank, treasurer and trustee of Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit Company, director of Meriden, Waterbury & Connecticut River Railroad Com- pany, and secretary and treasurer of the Meriden Horse Railroad Com- pany. He is also trustee of the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn.
William F. Rockwell, son of Francis A. and Mary (Lee) Rockwell, was born in Ridgefield. Conn., in 1845, and was educated at a select school in Ridgefield, and at Fort Edward Institute, N. Y., where he prepared for college. He was first employed as assistant bookkeeper in a flour and grain house in New York city, and afterward had charge of the office for three years. In 1868 he established a general country store at Washington. N. J., under the firm name of Cummins, Rockwell & Co., which continued until 1873, and since that time he has been secretary and treasurer of the Miller Brothers Cutlery Com- pany, Meriden. He married Louise, daughter of J. D. Taylor, of Washington, N. J.
T. S. Rust, son of Daniel and Ann (Haskell) Rust. was born in 1844 at Northampton, Mass., and was educated at Williston Seminary. Easthampton, Mass., his parents having moved there when he was a child. He is a machinist by trade, and during the early part of the war he returned to Northampton, where he worked on guns and gun machinery, afterward locating in Meriden, where he also worked
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
on guns and gun machinery with Snow, Brooks & Co., now Parker Brothers. In 1864 he began the practice of dentistry in Meriden, succeeding D. S. Colton. who was his brother-in-law. He married Fannie M., daughter of Chauncey and Miranda F. Colton, of Westfield, Mass.
Henry Sabin, son of Colonel Horace and Emily (Grosvenor) Sabin, was born in Pomfret, Conn., in 1841, and was educated in the common schools. He was employed by the Meriden Cutlery Company for 22 years, and in 1873 established himself in the coal and wood business, as a member of the firm of McWeeney & Sabin. He was elected justice of the peace in 1886. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Olney Burton, of Pomfret, Conn. His second wife was Myra, daughter of H. B. Harvey, of Pottsville, Pa." His present wife is Bertha, daughter of James Brooks Ely, of Meriden. Mr. Sabin enlisted in the 1st Conn. Cavalry, but was taken sick before the regiment left and had to return home.
F. E. Sands, son of Jesse and Mary E. (Turner) Sands, was born in 1863, in New Fairfield, Conn. He was educated at Danbury, Conn., and at Yale College, graduating in 1885, as civil engineer. After graduating he was employed on the New Haven Union staff, and in April, 1886, together with others, formed the Journal Publishing Com- pany, of which he is treasurer.
H. S. Savage, son of Elliott and Sarah F. (Southmayd) Savage, was born in 1861, in Meriden, was educated in the public schools, worked at surveying under S. C. Pierson for nearly three years, and since 1877 has been employed by the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Com- pany, for the past four years in charge of invoice department. He was elected to the council in December, ISSS. He married Alice A., daughter of James Self, of Meriden.
Henry L. Schleiter, son of John and Catherine (Gilbert) Schleiter, was born in Rosendale, Germany, June 24th, 1830, and came to Amer- ica May 2d, 1847, locating in New London, Conn. He learned the boot and shoe business with A. D. Smith, remaining in his employ six years, and then established business for himself, continuing there until February 1st, 1869, when he located in Meriden, where he has since carried on the business. While in New London he was a mem- ber of the common council four years, and has served six years as a member of common council in Meriden. He was assessor of taxes one year, member of board of water commissioners four years, the last two years being president and superintendent, and afterward was elected superintendent, serving seven years, making nine years in all as superintendent of water works. He resigned on account of ill health, and was reelected in January, 1890. He enlisted April 20th, 1861, as first lieutenant in Company A, 3d Regiment, Conn. N. G., serving three months at Fort Trumbull, and in the fall of 1861 he re- cruited a company and joined the 13th Connecticut Volunteers, as
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
captain of Company I. The regiment went out with the New England division, commanded by Major-General B. F. Butler, and at New Or- leans his company was detached from the regiment and made special body guard to General Butler. Captain Schleiter resigned in 1863, on account of ill health contracted in the service. He married Adelia, daughter of Captain William Potter, of New London.
August Schmelzer, born in 1841, in Germany, is a son of C. A. and Johanne (Wetzel) Schmelzer. He came to America in 1871, and located in Meriden, where he worked in the woolen mill, and afterward with the Charles Parker Company. He then went to Albany, N. Y., work- ing in a sash and blind factory, and in the fall of 1872 returned to Meriden and was again employed in the woolen mill from 1873 to 1879. From 1880 to 1889 he was employed by the Malleable Iron Com- pany. In 1873 he established a news agency. in 1874 added cigars and tobacco, in 1876 became agent for the German Lloyd Steamship Com- pany. and in 1878-9 for the Hamburg-American. He is a notary pub- lic, and also in the coal and wood business, buying out A. A. Beadle, June 1st, 1889. He married Flora, daughter of Glottlob Schoen, of Werdau, Germany. He was elected councilman in 1886, and reëlected in 1888, and was also a member of the board of relief.
J. G. Schwink, Jr., son of J. G. and Barbara (Schaab) Schwink, was born in Valesville, Conn., in 1857. He was brought up on his father's farm until 16 years of age, and like his father, has always followed the milk business with farming. In 1871 he came to Meriden with his parents. He married Lillian S., daughter of Charles and Sophia Grether. Her father carried on the butcher business in Meriden for many years. Mr. Schwink served as a member of the Southeast School District committee in 1886-7, and as treasurer in 1888. In 1889 he built his present residence, corner East Main street and Paddock avenue. His father came to America about 1850, locating in Valesville. His mother before marriage was employed for a number of years in the family of Charles Parker, of Meriden. Mrs. Schwink's uncle on her mother's side, John Dreher, and her mother were the only Germans in Meriden at that time, and were the organizers of the first German Lutheran church in Meriden. Her mother was employed for seven years in the family of Noah Pomeroy. Her parents came to America, locating in Meriden about 1850.
Isaac Skidgell, son of Nicholas and Amy (Van Wart) Skidgell, was born in 1822, at Tarrytown, N. Y., and was educated at the old Tarry- town Academy. He went to New York when 16 years of age and lived there until 1860, when he went to Bridgeport, Conn., as engincer for the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company. remaining five years. In 1864 he came to Meriden and since that time has been engineer for the Meriden Britannia Company. He has followed steam engineering since he was 16 years of age. He was elected boiler inspector in 1868 and has been reelected each year since. He
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
married Frances, daughter of Thomas and Frances Devoe, of New York.
Edward W. Smith, M. D., son of David and Fidelia (Parker) Smith, was born in Meriden in 1854. He graduated from Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, in 1874, and from Yale in 1878, and after attending medical school one year, he taught school for one year at Yalesville. He then entered McGill Medical College, Montreal, graduated in 1SS2, and returning to Meriden, immediately began practice. He is a member of State and County Medical Societies. He married Helen B., daughter of Oliver and Abby A. Rice, of Meriden, Conn. Oliver Rice was a native of Meriden.
George W. Smith, son of Willis and Olive (Smith) Smith, was born in Wallingford, Conn., in 1825, graduated from Yale Law School in 1857, and immediately began practice in Meriden. He was justice of the peace continuously while in Meriden, and for many years probate judge. He was also justice of city court, and one of the trustees of the City Savings Bank. His first wife was Kate A., daughter of Lyman Carrier, of Canton, Conn. She died in 1882. His second wife was Mary A. Smith, whose father. Daniel Smith, was a native of Stoning- ton, Conn., and whose mother was Alona Abbott Smith, of Stonington, Conn., daughter of General Lyman Abbott, also of Stonington, Conn. George W. Smith died in Meriden, Conn., August 2Ist, 1890.
F. W. Stiles, son of Truman and Eliza (Wooding) Stiles, was born in 1849 in Meriden, was educated in the common schools and at New Haven Business College, and learned the carpenters and builder's trade when he was 15 years old, with his father, who was for many years in the business and at one time was foreman for the Lyon & Billard Company. Mr. Stiles makes a specialty of repairing dangerous and unsafe buildings, and is the oldest contractor and carpenter builder that has been continuously in the business in Meriden. In 1884 he started house moving in connection with his building busi- ness, and is doing the principal work in that line. He was married in 1875 to Elizabeth J., daughter of John Aubrey, of Meriden.
A. W. Tracy, M. D., born in 1846 in Ireland, is a son of Michael and Julia (Hannon) Tracy. He came to this country with his parents when three years old, locating in Island Pond, Essex county, Vt., where his parents still live. He attended St. Sulpie College, Montreal, and St. Charles College near Baltimore, and was graduated from McGill Col- lege, Montreal, in 1873. He began the practice of medicine in Island Pond, Vt. Since November, 1875, he has practiced in Meriden. He is a member of state and county medical societies. He married Margaret, daughter of Edward Broderick, of Willimantic. Conn.
James C. Twichell, son of Dwight and Jane (Carter) Twichell, was born in Southington, Conn., in 1842, was educated at Lewis Academy, Southington, and came to Meriden in 1871. He was employed with the Meriden Malleable Iron Company for about eight years, and since
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
1878 has been engaged in the furniture business under the firm name of Smith & Twichell, succeeding Bowditch & Prudden. He was coun- cilman two years and was elected alderman in 1888. He married Ellen E., daughter of Edwin Gridley, of Southington. He enlisted in the 20th Regiment, was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, and afterward transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He was mustered out in July, 1865.
Waldo C. Twiss, son of Ira and Vincie (Andrews) Twiss, was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1829, and was educated at Meriden Academy and Suffield Institution. He has resided in Meriden since he was 7 years of age. He followed the house moving business for 25 years, and since 1875 has been engaged in the lumber business. He mar- ried Cornelia I., daughter of Watrous Ives, of Meriden. His father was a clock maker by trade, and was engaged in that business in Canada, wheu Waldo C. was born. He and his brothers were the first Yankees to attempt the manufacture of clocks in Canada. From 1839 to 1843 his father kept the old tavern in Meriden, having bought the property some years before. He afterward built several mills. His grandfather, Joseph Twiss, fought in the campaign at Saratoga and at the taking of Burgoyne.
John Watson, son of John and Jane (Holt) Watson, was born in 1850, in Lawrence, Mass., and was educated at Roxbury Latin School. He came to Meriden in December, 1879, and has since been employed as cashier and head bookkeeper for the Meriden Silver Plate Com- pany. He was elected member of city council in December, 1889. He married Sadie A., daughter of Wilder Beal, of Boston, Mass.
F. J. Wheeler, son of Everett and Maria (Curtis) Wheeler, was born in Stratford, Conn., in 1834. He learned the tinner's trade, and when he was 21 years of age went to school for one year, after which he worked at his trade in Waterbury for six years. In 1862 he came to Meriden and bought out J. C. Smith, and has since carried on the business. He married Mary E., daughter of William L. Bennett, of Huntington, Conn.
Henry S. Wilcox, son of Henry T. and Elizabeth W. (Scovil) Wil- cox, was born in 1835 at Meriden. His first experience in business was as bookkeeper for his father, who was in the manufacturing busi- ness. The factory was burned in 1853, and Henry became bookkeeper with the Meriden Hardware Company. In 1855 he started in the grocery business with his father, and in February, 1867, they started the drug business, under the firm name of H. T. Wilcox & Co. This is the oldest established drug business in Meriden. His father died in 1885. Mr. Wilcox has served three terms as town treasurer, and once as councilman. He married Jane E., daughter of Ira Merriman, of Meriden.
Julius W. Yale, son of Julius and Polly N. (Wilcox) Yale, was born in 1834 in Meriden, on the old homestead. He has always followed
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farming on the land originally settled by his great-great-grandfather, and which has remained in the family for the five generations. He married Mary C., daughter of David Hobart, of Meriden, in 1862, and has five children. His ancestors, as connected with the county's his- tory, are as follows: (1), Thomas Yale (a brother of Elihu Vale, from whom Yale University takes its name), was one of the original plant- ers of New Haven, and an active member of its first church. (2), Thomas, Jr., born in 1678, was a planter in Wallingford, and active in town and church affairs. In 1729 he moved to Meriden, on land which has since become the Yale homestead, in the Southeast dis- trict of the town. He was active in both town and church affairs in Meriden, as he had been in Wallingford. (3), Noah, born in 1723, died in 1803. (4), Joel, born in 1759, died in 1805. (5), Julius, born in 1795, died in 1867. (6), Julius W., born in 1834. His son, Julius H., born in 1863, is the sixth generation of the family cultivating the original grant of land.
Levi B. Vale, son of Levi and Abigail E. (Bacon) Yale, was born March 25th, 1838, in the same house where he has always lived, at- tended school at the Meriden Academy, and married Frances E., daughter of Dedodatus Royce, of Berkshire, N. Y. His father was born April 11th, 1792, in Meriden, about one-fourth mile from the farm where Levi B. was born. He was first selectman seven years, a member of the legislature, and justice of the peace. He figured prominently during the agitation of the anti-slavery question, many times jeopardizing his life in defense of anti-slavery principles. He taught school for 14 winters, beginning when he was only 16 years old, and also taught singing school seven winters. He married Abi- gail E., daughter of Nathaniel Bacon, of Middletown, Conn. She died May 7th, 1845, and he afterward married Jennette, daughter of Dedo- datus Royce, of Berkshire, N. Y., who survived him. He died Feb- ruary 18th, 1872.
August Vost, son of Frederick and Catherine (Wehrheim) Yost, was born in Germany in 1844, and came to America in 1855. He located at Warehouse Point, Conn., for a short time, then moved to Rockville, and was for 15 years employed in the New England Mills, the last four years as designer. In June, 1872, he established a bakery business in New Britain, Conn., and in September of the same year moved to Meriden, starting the bakery business on Liberty street, opposite the town hall, where he remained three years. In 1875 he located at his present place on West Main street. He married Agnes, daughter of George Naedele, of Germany. His father was a baker in Germany, and is still living at the age of 83, and active.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE.
Geographical and Descriptive .- Early Settlers .- Roads .- Taverns .- Small Pox .- Civil Organization .- Manufacturing Interests .- Mines and Mining .- Cheshire Village .- West Cheshire .- Brooksvale .- Mixville .- Cheshire Street -Other Localities .- Rail- roads .- Lodges and Societies .- Soldiers' Monument .- Educational and Professional Interests .- Cheshire Congregational Church .- St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church. - Cheshire Methodist Episcopal Church .- St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church .- Biographical Sketches.
T HE town of Cheshire was settled under the jurisdiction of Wal- lingford, from which it was set off as a town in 1780, after hav- ing sustained the relation of a parish from 1723. The locality was early regarded as favorable for the uses of the Wallingford planters and was called by them, " West Farms," the " West Society." or " New Cheshire" (in distinction from the old town in England) until the present name was adopted. The town is bounded north by Southington, in Hartford county; east by Meriden and Wallingford; south by Hamden; and west by Waterbury and Prospect. It is about seven miles in length, north and south, and about four miles in width, the area being less than 16,000 square acres of land.
The general surface is diversified by hills and valleys, and presents a most attractive landscape. In the central part the land appears in the form of an undulating plateau. from which flow the principal streams and along which are level lands, being in some localities of the nature of swamps. Hoppen's brook takes its rise southeast of the village; Mill river, northwest of the same locality and flowing through Hamden, in its southerly course, empties into the sound at New Haven, about fifteen miles distant. Flowing northeast. in the northwestern part, and emptying into the Quinnipiac, which cuts through the northeastern part of the town, is the Ten Mile river, which rises in Prospeet. Also coursing northeast and dropping their waters into the Quinnipiac are the Honey Pot and Broad Swamp brooks. The swamp through which it flows is several miles in extent. The valleys along these water courses are generally very fertile, the soil being a gravelly loam. On the hills the soil is less rich, but is admir- ably adapted for fruit culture and the grasses. There are some fine orchards and farms-and of all kinds, more than three hundred in number-a large proportion of the inhabitants being agriculturists.
41
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The following account of the early settlers of Cheshire was contrib- uted by Honorable E. R. Brown, of Cheshire, also author of articles on Roads, Taverns, Small Pox and Early Industries.
In the southeast portion of the town and near the residence of Mrs. Silas Ives, Joseph Ives settled in the year 1694; the same year of his marriage to Esther Benedict. He was one of the first, if not the first settler, in what is now Cheshire. He was chosen the first deacon of the Congregational church in 1724, and served the church in that capacity until the year 1739, at which time the second church edifice was erected. Deacon Ives was a very useful and devoted member of the infant parish. In this same house also his son Joseph and grand- son Titus resided. The latter was a revolutionary soldier and was with Washington's army at Harlem, N. Y., where he died in the year 1777. A letter written by his wife, and sent to him at Harlem, during his last sickness, and also the gun used by him in the colonial struggle for independence, are now extant and are preserved as precious memorials by the family of Mrs. Silas Ives, who are descendants, who reside within a few feet of the old Ives homestead, and who own and occupy the same property that has been in the possession of Deacon Joseph Ives and his descendants for about 200 years.
Near the present residence of H. C. Bristol was in early times the residence of Captain John Hotchkiss, who settled here in 1694, the same year of his marriage to Mary Chatterton. He evidently settled here nearly the same year that Deacon Joseph Ives located a short distance to the southward, these two families mentioned evidently being the two first families that located in what is now Cheshire. A son, Captain John Hotchkiss, Jr., married Mirriam Wood, and also resided here, and here died of the sinall-pox in the year 1732. Cap- tain Hotchkiss was prominent in the formation of the parish of New Cheshire in 1723, and was one of its officials until the time of his decease.
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