History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 58

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 58

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Acors Barns' sole capital in beginning life was in- dustry. His common-school education was finished in his early youth, and he then began the battle for success. His profession was the life of a sailor. It was not long before he owned and commanded a ves- sel of his own, small in dimensions but nevertheless his own. His business with his craft was trafficking along the coast from Nantucket to New York. His prospects were flattering, to say the least, and life looked bright, but the war of 1812 soon gave a more serious aspect to his business. The risks taken were greater and the profits larger. He was a skillful navi- gator and had many hairbreadth escapes. On one of his trips along the coast, availing himself of a dense fog to run by the blockading ships of the enemy, he was so unfortunate as to be becalmed in the midst of the squadron, and when the fog lifted he and his vessel were captured by the enemy. He with other prisoners were started for Halifax, Nova Scotia, but finally were put ashore on the coast of Massachusetts. He returned home a worse than penniless boy, for he had not paid for his first vessel in full. Some time after this disaster he joined a vessel known as a " row- galley," and called "Black Nose," the forward half of the boat being black and the after part white. Its armament was the old-fashioned flint-lock musket, each man furnishing his own with ammunition. Their occupation was skirting along the coast, keep- ing a sharp lookout for Yankee crafts that had been captured by the enemy and recapture them if possible. They also rendered assistance to their friends when they were pursued by the enemy's boats. At the time Commodore Hardy made his famous descent upon the borough of Stonington, Aug. 9 to 12, 1814, this "row-galley" was the boat that carried the cor- respondence between the civil authorities of the bor-

ough and Commodore Hardy. While the boat would be waiting alongside the ship the crews of each would pass the time in exchanging tart compliments with each other. After the commencement of the bom- bardment the "row galley" was actively engaged in moving the inhabitants and their household goods up the Pawcatuck River to a place of safety. The result of the gallant defense of Stonington is a matter of history well known to all.

After the close of the war of 1812 Acors Barns re- turned to his profession of a sailor. At first he was employed on vessels fitted for the Banks of New- foundland to catch codfish. Afterwards he com- manded vessels whose cargoes of oil and codfish were sent to a foreign market to be sold, generally to Spain or Portugal. In these markets the proceeds of the outward cargo would be invested in dried fruit, and he thus turned his outward cargo into money by sell- ing the cargo of fruit in New York. It was on one of these voyages that he arrived in New York in 1822, during the fearful ravages of the yellow fever, when he found the streets deserted and grown over with grass and weeds. The consignee of his vessel met him at the wharf in the lower part of the city with his horse and chaise and drove to the custom- house, in the village of Greenwich, then far out of town, so far as to be considered safe from the epi- demic.

On the 25th of May, 1817, Acors Barns married Miss Hannah Dickins, daughter of Tristam and Martha Dickins, née Wilcox, of Stonington. She was born June 30, 1799, and still survives her hus- band.

The Dickins' ancestors were among the early set- tlers of Block Island, where their descendants are still to be found. Although Lottery Village, in the town of Westerly, was the residence of Acors Barns, Sto- nington was his place of business. Here early in life the subject of our sketch became associated in marine adventures with the members of Gen. William Wil- liams' family, who were part owners in the vessels and cargoes which he managed. Whether selling oil and salt fish in Portugal, or trading the farm produce of his neighbors at Baltimore, Norfolk, and Rich- mond for wheat or flour, some members of the Wil- liams family were always interested with him.

In 1819, Maj. Thomas W. Williams, son of Gen. William Williams, located at New London, and com- menced to outfit ships for the whale-fisheries. His success at first was not flattering, but soon the in- domitable energy of the master-spirit brought success, and with it an increase of business to such an extent that an assistant was wanted, and the result was that Acors Barns came to New London April 1, 1827, with his family. He immediately entered into the employ of Maj. Thomas W. Williams, and remained with him until 1829. During the fall of 1827 he took command of the ship "Chelsea," built by Maj. Williams and his friends at Norwich, Conn., and made a voyage from .

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

New York to New Orleans and back ; from New York she sailed under his command as a London packet to that place, and back to New York. After this voyage she was put into the whale-fishery.

In 1829, William Williams, Jr., and Acors Barns commenced business by fitting two ships for the whale- fishery, the "Stonington," already in the fishery, and the " Electra," a London packet, bought for the busi- ness.

From 1829 to 1832 the above-named firm had no permanent place of business, but leased office, storage, and wharf accommodations during the time necessary to fit their ships for sea and to dispose of their car- goes. In the spring of 1832 they leased a store and office on Bank Street, and commenced a commission and general merchandising business, as was the custom of all the whaling agents (as they were styled). This year they fitted for sea the "Helvetius," "Stoning- ton," and " Electra." The two latter ships made an- nual voyages until 1833, when the "Stonington" was sent on a sperm-whale voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where the "Helvetius" had been sent in 1832. This vessel was wrecked on Oahu, one of the Sandwich Islands, but her cargo of five hundred barrels of sperm oil was saved and sent home. In 1833 the first dis- aster befell the firm. The bark "Ruth and Mary" was lost on Block Island, as she was proceeding to sea, during a dense fog. Some of the material of the ves- sel, however, was saved, and a large part of the cargo.

In 1836, Thomas W. Williams (2), son of William Williams, Jr., became a partner in the firm, and the title was changed to Williams & Barns. In February, 1841, William Williams, the senior, retired from the firm. In 1847, William H. Barns, the eldest son of Acors Barns, was admitted to an interest in the firm. There was no change of the personnel of the firm until 1855, when Thomas W. Williams (2) died. During the following year a new organization of the firm was made, Henry R. Bond and Charles Barns becoming partners. Mr. Bond had been a member of William Williams, Jr.'s family from his youth up. Charles Barns was the second son of Acors Barns.

On the 31st of December, 1858, the subject of this sketch withdrew from the firm, leaving the partner- ship to consist of William H. Barns, Charles Barns, and Henry R. Bond, with the title of the firm un- changed, and so it remains at this date.

During the time Acors Barns was a member of the firm, from 1829 to 1858, a period of thirty years, they owned thirteen ships and barks and two brigs. Of these four were wrecked, two were condemned in for- eign ports, and four were sold.

Acors Barns had other investments and enterprises than the whale-fishery. He was a prominent owner in the coasting trade, carried on by a large fleet of sloops and schooners at an early date, and afterwards by propellers. He was one of the projectors of the first propeller line that ran between New York and New London, and at a time when a propeller was

looked upon as an experiment. This was in the year 1844. He lived to see sail-vessels to a great extent superseded by propellers.

He was one of the incorporators of the New Lon- don Northern Railroad Company, chartered under the name of the New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company, was elected a director on its organization, and remained in its direction until his death.

In 1852 he, with his friends, became the incorpor- ators, under the State Banking Act, of the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, soon increased to two hundred and seven thousand two hundred dollars. He was elected presi- dent on its organization, and held that office until his death.

Acors Barns was never a merely nominal officer in the directorship to which he was elected, but he at- tended to and performed the duties of his office to the best of his ability, and his quick comprehension of the matter under discussion always gave weight to his opinion with his co-directors. He was a man of good judgment, a safe counselor, and steadfast friend, well known in the community in which he lived, and he died respected by all who knew him.

Thomas W. Williams, second son of Gen. William Williams, of Stonington, Conn. Born Sept. 28, 1789. Educated at Plainfield. Received mercantile training in New York, Russia, and England. Took up resi- dence in New London in 1818. Married Lucretia Woodbridge, daughter of Hon. Elias Perkins.

In the decadence of general business consequent on the war and the disordered state of affairs in Europe, Mr. Williams sought to revive and develop the whaling interest, in which some faint attempt had been hitherto made. His energy and tenacity of pur- pose led to the establishment of this business on the firm basis which added largely to the growth and prosperity of New London, and though, under the operation of natural laws, the business has declined and is nów fading ont, it yet served its purpose well for the time, and justified the sagacity and compre- hension of the man who saw and utilized its possibil- ities so well for his town and himself.

In 1838 he was elected member of Congress for this District, and served with ability for two consec- utive terms, then withdrawing on his own decision from further official connection with political life. He was one of the promoters of the N. L. & W. R. R., and for many years its first president and strongest supporter. Largely interested in all good works, publie or otherwise, which aimed at progress and im- provement, he led many and aided all efforts that commended themselves to his judgment as beneficial to the city and State in which he lived.

His political convictions were strongly Whig and Republican, and among his personal friends were numbered the best men of the old party and its worthy successor. Integrity of thought and action,

Enc' by n H Ritchie

Th. W. Williamy

Nathan Balchen

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NEW LONDON.

with broad liberal views, based on strong Christian principle, marked his life, and a powerful will, united with energetic determination, emphasized his charac- teristics. Earnest and truthful, his life was never idle or useless, and he died honored and respected, Dec. 31, 1874.

Nathan Belcher was born in 1813, in that part of Preston, New London Co., afterwards incorporated as the town of Griswold. His first ancestor in this country was Gregory Belcher, who came from England in 1634, landing at Boston, and settling in Braintree, Mass. As appears by public records, Gregory's de- scendants continued to reside in that vicinity until early in the succeeding century, when one of them, Moses, removed to Preston, then but partially set- tled, and became owner of an extensive tract of land there. He was prominent in the organization of the Second Church of Preston, and represented the town in the General Assembly.

A grandson of his, William, was active in the affairs of the town about the period of the Revolution, and was one of a committee sent by it to Boston to present a contribution of money raised in the town to aid the poor who were suffering through the en- forcement of the Boston Port Bill, and also to consult with the authorities there as to the measures necessary to be taken for maintaining the rights of the colonies. When actual hostilities began he joined the Conti- nental army as captain of one of the companies raised in Preston, and served under Col. Selden, and after- wards Col. Latimer, in the battles on Long Island, at White Plains, and around New York. At a later period he became captain in a regiment commanded by Col. (afterwards Gen.) Jedediah Huntington.

His son, William, father of Nathan, the subject of the present sketch, was a resident of Preston during the early part of his life. In the war of 1812 he com- manded a regiment stationed on the Groton side to repel the invasion threatened by the British fleet in Long Island Sound. At the close of the war he en- gaged in business at New London, but removed from thence to Norwich, and some years later to the western part of Massachusetts.

The son, Nathan, did not accompany him, but re- mained with relatives in Griswold, and under their direction attended the academy at Plainfield, and there fitted for college. He graduated at Amherst College in 1832, and afterwards studied law with Sam- uel Ingham, of Essex, and at the Harvard Law School ; was admitted to the bar in 1836, and commenced practice in Clinton, Conn. Early in 1841 he removed to New London, and in October of the same year married Ann, daughter of Increase Wilson. A few months previous he had relinquished the practice of law and engaged with Mr. Wilson in the manufacture of hardware, and from that time forward gave his principal attention to the management of that busi- ness. During the succeeding years he occasionally held some local offices and appointments. In 1846 16

and 1847 was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, and in 1850 of the State Senate. In 1852 was one of the Presidential electors at large for the State, Governor Thomas H. Seymour being the other, and as such cast his vote for Franklin Pierce for President. In 1853 he was chosen representative in Congress for the Third District, and served through the Thirty-third Congress, but declined being a can- didate for re-election. Intending to resume business at the close of his term, he had arranged that the manufacturing establishment with which he had been identified, and which until then had been individual property, should be changed into a corporation, and accordingly it commenced operations in 1855 as "The Wilson Manufacturing Company," his father-in-law, Increase Wilson, being the president, and himself the secretary. At the death of Mr. Wilson, in 1861, he succeeded him as president, and remained thus until 1866, when he disposed of most of his interest in the company and retired from its management and from further active business. While he had the principal charge of its affairs the business of the corporation was large and exceptionally prosperous. Since this retirement he has been disinclined to re-enter upon the strife of business or politics, but continues to dis- charge the duties connected with some positions of trust assumed in earlier life. He has been a director in the Union Bank since 1858, and a trustee of the Buckley School since its incorporation in 1850, and its treasurer since 1876.

He has had two children, a daughter, who died young, and a son, William, a lawyer, and at the pres- ent date (1881) judge of probate for the New London district.

In politics Mr. Belcher has always been a Demo- crat, but throughout the war he was a firm and out- spoken supporter of the Union, and was called upon to preside at the first war-meeting held in New London after the attack upon Sumter.

His religious associations are with the First Con- gregational Church, in New London, where he has long been a regular attendant, though not a member.

Hon. Francis B. Loomis was born at Lyme, Conn., April 9, 1816. His father, Joel Loomis, was an in- fluential public man, a frequent representative of his town in the General Assembly, judge of probate for many years, an associate judge of the County Court, and the intimate friend of the late Chief Justice Waite, of Connecticut, father of Hon. Morrison R. Waite, the present chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and also Hon. Charles J. Mc- Curdy, Judge Lodowick Bill, and the leading men of that day.

Mr. Loomis' boyhood was passed in his native town, where he attended the public and private select schools, and acquired an education that well fitted him for his subsequent successful business career.

Thus prepared for the active duties of life, on at- taining his majority he immediately began the inan-

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ufacture of woolen goods in his native town, and that with a vigor and wisdom that were rewarded by suc- cess from the very beginning. Col. Loomis had at- tained a prominent position in Lyme as a public- spirited citizen of enterprise and ability, and in 1847, just prior to his removal to New London, he was honored by an almost unanimous election to the Lower House of the Legislature. Mr. Loomis always mani- fested quite an interest in military affairs, and when only twenty-one years of age was elected colonel of the Third Regiment of Connecticut Militia and county commissioner.

In 1848 he removed to New London, and at once greatly enlarged his sphere of operations, and has since been prominently identified with the business and financial interests of the city. Soon after his removal to New London he erected the woolen-mills at Mont- ville, and subsequently became the owner of the Rock- well Mills at Norwich and other factories in that town, now owned by the Sturdevant Bros. He also constructed and managed for some time the steam woolen-mills at New London, which factory was the first of the kind ever built in this city for the produc- tion of textile fabrics, of which he was the sole owner. He also erected and owned the woolen-mills at Cov- entry, Tolland Co. In the marvelous development of the woolen manufacture from 1840-70, Col. Loomis was one of the principal factors, and made the busi- ness a grand financial success. Later he secured the exclusive ownership of the large steam cotton-mills at Sag Harbor. The mills were built by the late Gen. James, and were regarded as the model mills of the country. During the civil war his manufacturing was conducted on a more extensive scale than that of any other individual in the State, his employés num- bering over twelve hundred, and his mills were run- ning night and day in the fulfillment of government contracts.

Notwithstanding Col. Loomis met with almost un- paralleled success as a manufacturer, his ability as a financier was no less conspicuous. Quick to perceive proffered advantages, and active in turning them to private and public account, he availed himself of the privileges conferred by the National Banking Act soon after it was passed, and organized the First Na- tional Bank of New London, which was one of the first institutions of its kind in the country. He sub- scribed and owned nearly the whole of the capital stock, and directed its operations in person from the date of organization until its cessation from business in 1877. Investments rarely prove to be more lucra- tive than did that. Dividends for many years aver- aged twelve per cent. in gold, and the surplus accumu- lations more than equaled the capital. During the late rebellion this bank was the government deposi- tory for Eastern Connecticut, and for a time held government deposits of over $4,000,000. It was also intrusted with the sale of government bonds, and floated over $20,000,000 of the several issues.

Possessed of au ample fortune, obtained by pro- cesses only beneficent to the multitude, Col. Loomis retired from manufacturing soon after the close of the war, and employed his energy and resources in stock speculations and railroad enterprises. Some of the former have been of colossal magnitude, while the latter, particularly in the South and West, have also been on a large scale, developing their section of country, enriching its inhabitants, and yielding a rich return to the deserving capitalist.

Politically, Col. Loomis began life as a Whig, and acted with the party until it ceased to exist.

In 1861, when armed rebellion raised its hideous head, he promptly and patriotically devoted himself to the upholding of the Union cause, and lost neither heart nor hope in the darkest and dreariest days of the sanguinary struggle that ensued. He was presi- dent of the first war-meeting, held in the old court- house at New London, on the evening of that ever- memorable 12th of April, 1861, when the lightning flashed the intelligence to the expectant North that Confederate shot had been fired at the national colors at Sumter, and that Major Anderson and his gallant band were in a state of siege.

Never did the spirits and genius of the Revolution- ary fathers shine more resplendently than in an act of Col. Loomis' in 1864.

We all remember the dark hours of the early part of 1864. Grim-visaged war stood out in all its mani- fold horrors before the people of this country. It was an hour of intense gloom. A mighty conflict was imminent, and at this time, on the eve of the horrible carnage which has gone down in history as the battle of the Wilderness, Col. Loomis' patriotism was brilliantly displayed in his offer to President Lincoln to furnish and equip at his own expense one thousand men for one hundred days in order to re- lieve the garrison at Fort Trumbull, that the regulars stationed there might be sent to the front. The noble offer was not accepted, but the genuine and glowing patriotism which dictated it at the supreme hour of the nation's peril received appropriate acknowl- edgment from the lamented Lincoln in the follow- ing autograph letter, which was subsequently found among his papers, and was published in Raymond's "Life, Public Services, and State Papers of Abra- ham Lincoln."

" EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 1864. "MY DEAR SIR,-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 28th of April, in which you offer to replace the present garrison at Fort Trumbull with volunteers, which you propose to raise at your own expense. While it seems inexpedient at this time to accept this proposition, on account of the special duties devolving upon the garrison mentioned, I cannot pass unnoticed such a meritorious instance of individual patriotism. Permit me, for the government, to express my cordial thanks to you for this generous and public-spirited offer, which is worthy of note among the many called forth by these times of national trial.

"I am very truly your obedient servant,

" F. B. LOOMIS, Esq."

"A. LINCOLN.

Francis @ Lownet

141140

RESIDENCE OF GOV. FRANCIS B. LOOMIS, NEW LONDON, CONN.

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NEW LONDON.

Throughout the war, and until 1872, Col. Loomis acted with the Republican party, but uniformly de- clined all overtures to become a candidate for office. The Liberal Republican movement of that year en- listed his heartiest sympathy and co-operation, and he was nominated elector at large on the Greeley and Brown ticket. Since then he has been politically identified with the Democratic party. In 1872 he declined the unanimous nomination as candidate for Senator from the Seventh District, and soon after he also declined the congressional nomination from the Third District, which was also unanimously tendered him. He was a delegate at large to the convention that nominated Tilden and Hendricks, and was chairman of the State delegation. He was also Presidential elector at large on the Tilden and Hen- dricks ticket from Connecticut. In November, 1876, he was elected Lieutenant-Governor on the Democratic ticket, and as presiding officer of the Senate, in the subsequent legislative session, discharged his duties with acceptancy and skill, added to an impartial dignity that commanded respectful attention and grateful applause of political friends and opponents alike. At the close of the session, the last held in the old State-House and the first in the new, Senator Brown, Republican, of the Eighth District, in the course of his remarks in delivering the farewell of the Senate to its presiding officer, said, "You have treated all questions fairly and honorably, and in a manner to command the respect and approval of all. Strange as it may seem, yet it is true that during the two years you have presided over this body no ap- peal has been made from the ruling of the chair." Certainly a meritorious record.

Col. Loomis was urgently requested to become a can- didate for the Lieutenant-Governorship for a second term, and although positively declining the honor, he was chosen by acclamation in the convention, but he refused to stand as the candidate.

In the fall of 1880, Col. Loomis was a prominent candidate for gubernatorial honors, and it was the belief of all the leading men in the party that his nomination would insure success to the Democratic ticket. His peculiar fitness for the position, in con- nection with his popularity among the masses, were some of the reasons why Col. Loomis should have been the candidate of his party in the critical cam- paign of 1880. He, however, declined the honor in a characteristic letter, in which he said, " To the end that our noble candidate may be elected, all private ambition should be sacrificed, and all personal self- seeking and local claims subordinated."

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 58

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317