USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 53
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
well-arranged Common Council room, occupying the third story, and other public offices. The cost of the building and lot was thirty-three thousand dollars.
Burial-Grounds. - The first burial-place in the town, and the oldest in the county, occupied a plot north of the "meeting-house on the hill." This ancient place of sepulture is still preserved, and its mossy headstones1 and crumbling tablets are re- garded with deep interest by many of our citizens. The spot will long remain sacred as the peaceful rest- ing-place of the early honored and revered dead of the colony.
The second burial-ground was purchased by tax on the ratable estate of the citizens, and opened in 1793. For several years it was the principal place of inter- ment in the town. Here originally were deposited the remains of Bishop Scabury, Gen. Jedediah Hunt- ington, Hon. Richard Law, Hon. Lyman Law, Gen. Burbeck, Capt. Elisha Hinman, Capt. N. Fosdic, John F. C. Brainard, the lamented poet, and many others of equal note ; the most of these, however, have since been removed to Cedar Grove Cemetery, and interments here are now discontinued.
The third ground is located in the outskirts of the city, and is still occupied as a family burial-place.
Cedar Grove Cemetery, about one mile from the city limits, is now the present principal hallowed place of sepulture. This pleasant and retired loca- tion was purchased and consecrated to its sacred use in 1851. Its natural beauty, commanding prospect, sequestered dell, quiet lakelet, and shadowing ever- greens all combine to render it a most appropriate and hallowed spot, where the loved and departed may peacefully rest beneath its quiet shades. The many monumental tributes of affection, beautiful in design and rich in architectural adornment, already erected give ample evidence of the strong hold that this sacred "garden of the dead" has upon the affections of the inhabitants.
Manufactories .- The manufacturing companies of New London consist mainly of the Albertson & Doug- lass Machine Company, now occupying their extensive works on Main Street, and doing a large business in boilers and steamboat machinery and machine-work generally. The Brown Cotton-Gin Company, on Shaw's Neck, incorporated in 1869, engaged exclusively in the cotton-gin business, and noted as turning out some of the most perfect and beautiful gins in the country. The Wilson Manufacturing Company, having a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, with extensive works occupying two full city blocks in the heart of the city, are engaged largely in the manufacture of mowing-machines, brass-work, tools, and other im- plements.
The Brainerd and Armstrong Company, silk manu- facturers, located at No. 1 Water Street, was organ-
ized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, Sept. 22, 1879, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, all paid in, contributed by James P. Brainerd (of Hart- ford, Conn.), Benjamin A. Armstrong (of New Lon- don), and Leonard O. Smith (of Philadelphia), in equal sums of twenty thousand dollars. The officers since the date of organization are James P. Brainerd, president ; L. O. Smith, vice-president ; Benjamin A. Armstrong, treasurer. The annual production is valued at three hundred thousand dollars ; hands employed at New London, Conn., one hundred and twenty-five. This company is also interested in silk manufacturing at Florence and Leeds, Mass. They have salesrooms, etc., at 469 Broadway, New York ; 238 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa .; 35 Sharp Street, Baltimore, Md .; and 4 Fifth Avenue, Pitts- burgh, Pa.
The Acid Pump and Syphon Company is located in Bank Street, and manufacture Nichols' acid pumps.
The Livesey Manufacturing Company is a new firm engaged in the manufacture of steel-roller bushings and cast-iron sheaves.
Orlo Atwood & Son, formerly engaged in making silk-twist, now making trams and organzines.
The Quinnebaug Fertilizer Company is also doing a large business. In addition to the above is the im- mense establishment of C. D. Boss & Son (see biog- raphy of C. D. Boss), cracker manufacturers, and the New London Woolen-Mills.
Gas .- The New London Gas Company was incor- porated in April, 1853, with a capital of seventy thou- sand dollars, and the privilege of increasing the same to one hundred thousand dollars. The company ob- tained from the city exclusive privilege for fifteen years on condition of furnishing fifty lamp-posts and supplying the city with gas at two dollars and fifty cents and individuals four dollars per thousand feet, the price afterwards to be modified according to cir- cumstances.
Water-Works .- In its supply of water for the city for all purposes New London surpasses most New England towns. An act of the General Assembly, passed at the May session in 1871, "To provide the city of New London with pure and wholesome water," was promptly carried into effect by a city appropria- tion of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in bonds and the appointment of an efficient Board of Commissioners, composed of William H. Barns, J. T. Shepard, Charles M. Daboll, J. C. Learned, and R. H. Chapell. Lake Konomoc, a beautiful sheet of water about six miles distant from the city, with about ninety acres of the adjoining lands, was pur- chased, a massive and substantial dam of earth, con- crete, and mason-work constructed, raising the water ten feet above its natural level, and enlarging the lake to two hundred acres, insuring a most abundant sup- pły of water at all times for the city. The works were designed by J. T. Fanning, consulting engineer, and
1 A few years since the city authorities built A new wall of inclosure and replaced and reset the fallen headstones, and In a measure renovated this ancient burial-ground.
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NEW LONDON.
built under the direction of W. H. Richards, civil engineer, who has ever since been in charge. As a bountiful supply for the city for the next half-century it may be said to be inexhaustible. Lake Konomoc's estimated capacity is 600,000,000 gallons ; its annual supply is 530,286,000 gallons, or 50 gallons per day each for 29,000 persons. It has a head of from eighty to one hundred and seventy feet, rendering the city steam fire-engines entirely useless.
CHAPTER XVI.
NEW LONDON-(Continued).
THE PRESS-THE BANKING INTERESTS.
The New London Summary-New London Gazette-The Connecticut Gazette-The Weekly Oracle-The Bee-The Republican Advocate- The Connecticut Sentinel-The People's Advocate-The Morning Daily News-The Daily Chronicle - The Weekly Chronicle - The State Temperance Journal-The Repository-The New London Demo- crat-The Morning Star-The New London Telegram-The Day- The Union Bank-The New London City National Bank-The Na- tional Whaling Bank - The National Bank of Commerce - The Savings-Bank of New London-The Mariners' Savings-Bank.
THE first New London newspaper was established by Timothy Green1 in August, 1758. This was a small half-sheet paper, published weekly, and called the New London Summary. After a continuance of five years its editor died, and its issue was suspended until 1763, when it was revived under the title of the New London Gazette. This was continued a few years, was enlarged, and the name changed to the Connecti- cut Gazette, the name of the first newspaper in the colony, but which had then been discontinued. The Gazette was continued by Timothy Green & Son, Samuel Green, Cady & Eells, again by Samuel Green, John J. Hyde, S. H. Green, and A. G. Sea- man, until at the expiration of more than eighty years its existence ceased. The Weekly Oracle ap- peared in 1796, printed and published by James Springer. The Bee was printed and published by Charles Holt from 1797 to 1802, and then transferred to Hudson, N. Y. The Republican Advocate, by Clapp & Francis, was established in 1818, and continued to 1828, when it was succeeded by the Connecticut Senti- nel, which was soon discontinued. The People's Ad- vocate was commenced in August, 1840, published by Benjamin P. Bissell, and continued, under the editor- ship of John J. Hyde, Thomas P. Trott, J. G. Dol- bear, and W. D. Manning, until April, 1848, when it was merged into the weekly and daily Chronicle. The Morning Daily News, the first daily paper published in New London, was established by Mr. Dolbear, and was afterwards merged in the Daily Chronicle. The New London weekly and daily Chronicle was pub-
lished by C. F. Daniels and F. H. Bacon from 1848 to 1858, when it passed into the hands of William O. Irish and Charles Butler, and afterwards into the possession of William H. Starr, and after a short time was merged in the State Temperance Journal, and the Chronicle was discontinued. In 1858, The Reposi- tory, a family paper, was established by W. H. Starr, and continued four years. In 1845 the New London Democrat was established by J. M. Scofield, who in 1848 issued in connection with it a small daily, the Morning Star. This passed into the hands of D. S. Ruddock, who continued the publication until 1853, when an association of gentlemen, under the title of the "New London Printing Company," purchased the paper and office, and are now the publishers of the Gazette, a well-filled weekly sheet, and the Evening Telegram, a daily paper, both of which are having a very liberal circulation.
The New London Telegram and the Connecti- cut Gazette .- The initial number of the New London Telegram was issued Saturday, May 10, 1873. It was published by the New London Printing Company, and the editorial staff was composed of Courtland I. Shepard, business editor and manager ; John A. Tib- bitts, political and supervising editor ; and John C. Turner, city editor. It began its existence as an in- dependent Republican journal, and has retained this position. Previous to its appearance the papers pub- lished in New London had been noted for their ina- bility to exist, and for a paucity of news and enter- prise. The Telegram has endeavored to reverse this experience. It has striven to give its patrons a com- plete and entertaining summary of all telegraphic news, and to place before its readers a thorough history of local events. In all matters concerning the welfare of the city and the widening of its busi- ness relations it has taken pronounced and advanced ground, holding that the facilities possessed by the harbor and the city have never been appreciated or utilized, and that these were peculiarly adapted to the needs of manufactures and ocean commerce. It has fostered local improvements and upheld all wise and beneficial sanitary measures. It has collected and produced faithful reports of all meetings and events falling within its radius, and has sought to be a useful and entertaining member of the newspaper fraternity.
By its enterprise and generous outlay it soon so in- creased its circulation that it was forced to add to its editorial staff Mr. Turner, taking charge of the gen- eral news, and Mr. Gilbert Fox, assuming the post of city editor. Ill health and business changes have caused the usual calling in of new men. Mr. Fox was succeeded by Mr. W. A. Carroll, Mr. Carroll by Mr. John G. Crump, and Mr. Crump by Mr. Walter Fitzmaurice. Mr. Turner and Mr. Tibbitts both sought new editorial fields, and were succeeded by Mr. Julius T. Shepard (2) and Mr. Crump. The editorial staff at present, July, 1881, is as follows :
1 Timothy Green was the progenitor of the famous line of Greens, dis- tinguished as printers and publishers in New London for nearly a cen- tury, Col. Samuel Green being the last of the family.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
Mr. C. I. Shepard, business editor; Mr. John G. Crump, political and editorial ; Mr. Julius T. Shep- ard (2) general news ; Mr. Walter Fitzmaurice, city.
In the matter of occasional contributors the Tele- gram has been peculiarly fortunate. It has always extended a ready welcome to home talent, and has made the encouragement of the literary element a specialty. It was the first to make prominent that choice series of poems by Dr. H. S. Cornwell of which "The Bee" and "The Grasshopper" were a part, and it has mingled with other able productions of this author striking poetical works by Mrs. Ida Whipple Benham and Mr. T. S. Collier.
In the department of fiction it has been so fortunate as to secure a number of original short stories by Dr. H. S. Cornwell, Mr. T. S. Collier, and Mr. O. F. Hewitt, and several valuable historical papers have been contributed by the Hon. William H. Starr.
Its selected miscellany has always been of an enter- taining and pleasing variety, and its political selec- tions will compare favorably with those of any paper in the State.
Ever striving to stand abreast with the advance and thought of the time, to furnish its patrons with a full equivalent for their favor, it has steadily in- creased its circulation, until in this matter it has left all of its predecessors far behind.
It is a four-page sheet, twenty-two by thirty-one in size, with an average daily circulation of twelve hun- dred copies. Prompt in its business contracts, ac- commodating in the matter of its columns, honest in its endeavors for the public good, it has won a well- merited and distinctive favor.
The Connecticut Gazette is the weekly edition of the Telegram, and is under the same management. It is twenty-one by forty-one in size, and has an average weekly circulation of thirteen hundred copies. It was begun as a four-page sheet at the same time as the Telegram, but was changed to an eight-page Oct. 31, 1873. The matter in the Gazette is carefully selected from the daily issues of the Telegram, local and national affairs and news occupying a prominent place. To these are added a comprehensive tele- graphic summary and a large miscellaneous depart- ment. It is specially prepared to meet the needs of those whose means do not admit of a daily journal, and of farmers and old residents whose homes are now in the new States and territories of the West.
It has striven to be a journal for the family, and one that will afford entertainment and instruction to each member of a household, and much care is be- stowed on the matter that is gathered in its columns. Its liberal supply of news and other reading matter- an attribute in which it leads all of its contemporaries -have won it many stanch friends and made it a welcome visitor in all homes.
One point of the Gazette's history should not be lost sight of. It is the direct successor of one of the earliest colonial newspapers, taking the name and fol-
lowing in its general characteristics a paper whose first issue appeared in New London in the late sum- mer or early autumn of 1763. Though there have been lapses in the appearance of this journal, they have not been of long duration, and the Connecticut Gazette of 1763 is worthily represented by the Con- necticut Gazette of 1881.
The River Thames .- From " The Edelweiss," a poem by John G. Bolles now in press, the following extract is taken, illustrative of the river Thames, and of incidents in the history of New London and vicinity :
"But I do love my own fair Thames, E'er fed by living fountains And noble streams of Indian name Upspringing in the mountains.
" All gliding through the valleys sweet To that delightful river, By airy wing of zephyr touched, I've seen its waters quiver,
While jauntily upon its breast
My little skiff would rock and rest;
And I have seen its quiet depthis Reflecting cloud and sky,
And gazed along its winding course Far as could reach the eye, Where, nestled 'mid the distant hills, Ils cradled waters lie.
I ne'er beheld a lovelier scene, Or skies more bright, or hills more green,
Or blissful morning more serene, While islands in the distance rest As emeralds on the water's breast. The traveler, with admiring eyes, Exclaims, 'Can this be Paradise ?'
" There towers that lofty monument Ou Groton's tragic height, To mark the spot where martyrs fell Undaunted in the fight.
" There Ledyard sleeps, and many a score Of heroes each renowned, Who midst the battle's wildest roar Were firm and foremost found.
" Amid the storm of fire they sang 'Columbia shall be free,' And every whizzing bullet rang For honor, liberty.
" Allyns and Edgecombs left their plow To win immortal fame, And glory sets on many a brow I need not call by name.
" Let Hempstead's memory be bright Who wrote the battle's story, Wounded and bruised and down the steep Hurled in that wagon gory ;
"And left for dead among the dead Till, touched by gentle hand, He saw his wife and rose again To live long in the land.
"'Twas there Decatur with his fleet Held hostile ships at bay, And gnarded well the sacred place Where patriot ashes lay.
" And fresh upon that famous shore Shall live the name of one Who gave the garment that she wore As wadding for the gun.
RES. E.L.PALMER, NEW LONDON, CONN. ORIGINALLY BUILT AND OCCUPIED BY GEN'L. JEDEDI AH HUNTINGTON.
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NEW LONDON.
"There Uncas darted his canoe, A friendly Indian power, And there the Pequot warrior drew His bow in evil hour,
" And fell beneath the white man's wrath, As falls a stately tower, Yet from the reddened earth looks up To heaven the dew-bright flower.
" And there that quaint old city stands, New London on the Thames, With Groton looking from the east, All bearing British names.
" There may be found that ancient well In its perpetual flow Where a whole family once fell By the assassin's blow
But one, who in the cradle lay, And father, who was far away ;
And from that little one have sprung Thousands who live to-day.
Nobly for conscience' sake he fought, And kept his foes at bay ; And still the light upon that shore Is bright with freedom's ray.
" The first to cross the Atlantic's wave By Fulton's proud invention ; All honor to those sailors brave, And of their deeds make mention.
"Their name upon the roll of fame A lofty place shall hold,
More brilliant set in memory Thau all the gifts of gold
Bestowed by titled hands upon The navigators bold.
"' A ship on fire ! a ship on fire !' The sea-born Briton cried, Seeking to render friendly aid With canvas spreading wide.
"Our Yankees looked at them and laughed, And sped away their little craft Without a sail, without an oar,- Its like they had not seen before; And ere he touched the royal wharf, With pennant proudly streaming,
'Take down your banner!' cried John Bull, 'A commodore you're seeming;
Take down the pennant and put up A broader in its place.'
The captain answered, with an air Defiant in bis face,
'Get ready the hot-water pipes : Be sure you uim them right.' The Englishman took lively hint And vanished out of sight.
" To wondering nalions forth they go, Their memory ensinine; The world moves on-move as it may, America is mine.
"Within its Thames a harbor lies Smooth as a summer lake, Where like white swans the vessels speed, Their safe repose to take,
When the dark omens of the sky Their fearful signals make.
" Oft in the deep, secure recess, Sheltered by islands near,
As darkness draws its curtains round By hundreds they appear,-
A phantom city of the sea .
With lanterns burning clear !"
The Publishing Interest .- The bookselling and publishing business had been conducted in New Lon- don on a small scale by Samuel Green until about the year 1827, when it passed into the hands of William Bolles, the author of a spelling-book which he pub- lished, and which was a popular work for a while, until superseded by Webster's "Elementary." The subsequent firms of W. & J. Bolles and Bolles & Williams greatly enlarged the business, publishing or manufacturing for New York houses "Walker's Octavo Dictionary," "Scott's Bible," "Life of Na- poleon," by Walter Scott, " Kirkham's Grammar," " Daboll's New Arithmetic," "Complete Evangelist," etc. "Bolles' Phonographic Dictionary," royal oc- tavo, edited by William Bolles, was also published by them. It is a fact worthy of notice, as displaying the originality and versatility of New England thought and enterprise, that the paper-mill at Bolles' Cove, a few miles north of New London, was erected by William Bolles, who made the paper for his diction- ary, which was also printed and bound by the concern of which he was senior partner. The bookselling and publishing business of the firm above named is now in the hands of Mr. Charles Allyn, editor and publisher of "The Centennial History of the Battle of Groton Heights."
The Union Bank of New London was chartered in May, 1792, and was the first bank organized in the State. The first recorded movement for obtaining a charter was at a meeting of a number of persons in New London, Feb. 10, 1792, at which a plan was agreed upon for instituting a bank, and commissioners appointed to obtain subscriptions for stock in the same to the amount of $100,000. Such commissioners were directed to present their proposals for subscription to all those persons whose property, interest, business, or situation should, in the opinion of the commission- ers, more particularly entitle them to become sub- scribers ; but, to prevent subscriptions on speculation by persons not intending to permanently continue stockholders, they were authorized to reject all sub- scriptions that appeared to be made in that way. At a further meeting, held on the 5th of March succeed- ing, it appeared that the full amount of stock required had been subscribed, no one person having taken more than thirty shares of $100 each. At this meet- ing, termed on the record " a stockholders' meeting," the earliest such meeting known to have been held, Hon. Richard Law, Esq., was chosen moderator, and William Leffingall clerk. The following persons were then elected to be directors of the bank when char- tered, viz., Gen. Jedediah Huntington, Joshua La- throp, Marvin Wait, Joseph Howland, Guy Richards, Joseph Williams, Samuel Wheat, William Stewart, Daniel L. Coit, Edward Hallam, Samuel Woodbridge, Joseph Perkins, and George Phillips, and these di- rectors the same day appointed Jedediah Huntington president, and John Hallam cashier. The name of the bank as first proposed was "The Bank of New Lon-
218
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
don and Norwich," the leading citizens of both towns having united in the effort to establish it, and the di- rectors having been taken in about equal proportions from each town ; but it appears to have been changed on further consideration to the simpler but equally expressive name of " The Union Bank." The amount of the capital stock was fixed in the charter at $100,000, but with liberty to increase the same at any future time to $500,000. The legal rate of interest to be taken was established by the charter at six per cent., and there is no record that the bank has at any time ever taken more than the legal rate. At the first meeting of the directors after the act of incorpora- tion, held June 5th, the president was authorized to provide an office, seal, desk, scales, weights, and the necessary books; also to procure from Philadelphia sixteen reams of paper, paper mould, and plates for bank-notes. Gold was directed to be received and paid out at the bank at the rate of eighty-nine cents the pennyweight. Notes to be discounted were re- quired to have two witnesses to the signature of the maker, and no loan was to be on longer time than sixty days. It was further directed that evidence of the funded debt of the United States might (if de- sired) be received as a pledge for loans instead of other security, viz., the six per cents. at sixteen shil- lings on the pound, and the three per cents. at ten shillings. A vote was also passed, and public notice of the same given, that all payments by the bank must be examined at the time, as no deficiency suggested afterwards would be admitted. In August of the same year it was further voted that for the purpose of furnishing change, then much wanted in common dealing, there be issued by the bank small bills of the denominations of one penny, twopence, and threepence, to the amount of £576 lawful money. Sub- sequently this amount was increased, and other de- nominations, varying from four to twelvepence, were. issued.
At a later period in the same year the cashier was directed to send to Dr. Joshua Lathrop, in Norwich (one of the directors there), $500 in specie, to be used by him in redeeming their notes in that town, the same being with a view to the convenience of such persons as should be under the necessity of so ex- changing them, and also to the establishing the credit of the notes in that quarter. In October, 1794, at a meeting of the directors, it was voted that hav- ing heard there was a large sum of this bank's paper in the Union Bank, Boston, and that it was incon- venient to those holding it, the cashier be directed to send about $1000 to Boston for the redemption of such paper. In December following he was directed to send them, for the same purpose, about $1400 more. Nothing further is known as to any difficulty in re- deeming notes until April, 1796, when a letter was addressed to the bank by David Green, an officer (probably president) of the Union Bank, Boston, in which he says that the banks in that town (of which
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