USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 12
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On the 4th of July, 1859, Charles William Gillette wedded Katherine E. Vanghan, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Hubbard S. Vaughan, of Southbridge, Massa- chusetts. They became the parents of three sons, Alexander Vaughan, Edwin Johnson and William Mansfield.
The youngest son acquired a public school education in Waterbury and became a law student in his father's office. For twenty-four years he was in the employ of the district court, acting as assistant clerk from 1898 until 1907, when he was made clerk of the court and so continued until 1914. In November, 1915, he was appointed superin- tendent of the Connecticut Free Employment Bureau and has since occupied that position, doing splendid work in securing employment for those in need of positions and giving to the employer those who are competent. Under his direction the work has been splendidly systematized and organized and the results are most satisfactory.
On the 6th of July, 1903, Mr. Gillette was united in marriage to Miss Iva Miller, of Waterbury, a daughter of Herman and Augusta (Somers) Miller, both of whom were representatives of old families of this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Gillette have been born a son and a daughter: Mansfield Miller, whose birth occurred April 6, 1906; and Lois, who was born July 7, 1913. Fraternally Mr. Gillette is a prominent Mason. He has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite, the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Almost the entire period of his life has been passed in public service and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.
THE TORRINGTON REGISTER.
The consensus of public opinion accords the Torrington Register first place among the journals published in the borough. Moreover, the weekly Register is the oldest paper of the town and the only weekly published in Torrington. The first issue was given to the public August 8. 1874, under the name of the Wolcottville Register, with Henry Bolton as editor and owner. Mr. Bolton conducted the business until November 7, 1877, when on account of ill health he disposed of the property to Charles James, who had been with the Millerton (N. Y.) Telegram. Mr. James conducted the paper until July, 1880, disposing of it to E. A. Hayes of the Southington (Con.) Phoenix, Mr. Hayes had charge of the property until December. 1882, when he sold a half interest to Henry M. White, who came to Torrington from Northamp- ton, Massachusetts. A few months later he disposed of the other half interest and went to New York to become an instructor in vocal music. The first issue of the Wolcottville Register was printed in the Granite block on Main street. Abont a year later the plant was moved to a one story building just north of the present W. W. Mertz department store. This building was destroyed by fire in May, 1881. The entire equipment of the Register was also destroyed. After the fire no paper was issued for two weeks and for another two weeks it was printed in New York: then some new machinery was procured and publica-
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tion was resumed in the Ashborn block and was so issued until 1889. Probably the only complete set of copies of the Register during its entire period of publication is to be found at the Torrington library. This set was the property of the late G. S. Weeks and was donated to the library by his widow.
Mr. White conducted the Register as a weekly until 1889, when on account of a strong demand for a daily newspaper he founded the Torrington Daily Register, but continued the weekly Register, which is still published by the Torrington Printing Company and which enjoyes constantly increasing patronage on the part of a large number of former residents of the town as well as residents of the rural sections in Litchfield county. Mr. White in 1889 erected a two story building on Water street, just west of the railroad crossing, and the Register plant was moved to this building in the spring of 1889. This was the home of the Register until 1905, when the present building was erected.
A joint stock company was organized July 8, 1898, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, and the business was purchased from Mr. White. At the same time equipment of a small daily newspaper called the Item, which had been established a few years before, and the job printing shop of Graham & Gerrard were purchased. The Item was discontinued but the job printing shop was made one of the departments of the company, which was incorporated as the Torrington Printing Company. Upon taking possession of the property the company purchased two linotype machines, the first to come into this part of the state, and it also secured membership in the Associated Press, the greatest association of newspapers in the United States and in the world for that matter. There was no change in the methods until 1905, when the building now occupied by the company was erected. In order to provide funds for the new building and new machinery the capital stock was increased from twenty-five thousand dollars to forty thousand dollars. Two additional linotype machines and a Cox Duplex printing press were installed and a large amount of other equipment was also purchased.
The company prospered and made the Register ever a stronger influence in Litchfield county. Both the newspaper and job printing departments grew rapidly and in 1913 and 1914 important additions to the plant were made. These included the erection of a second story over the old offices, extensive alterations in the workrooms and the installation of one of the most modern stereotyping press plants in the state. In order to provide for these improvements the eapital stock was increased from forty thousand dollars to sixty thousand dollars. The plant of the Torrington Printing Company is now by far the most complete and up-to-date establishment of its kind outside of the larger cities of the state.
The Register is issued as an eight to sixteen page newspaper, published every afternoon except Sunday and the most important of the holidays. In local polities the Register is non-partisan and independent, although in national polities it has inclined to the republican side. Its one ambition is to present the news in an accurate and unbiased manner, both local and general, and its constantly growing circulation and influence in its community indicates that the public appreciates the service it gives.
The officers of the company are: Edward H. Hotchkiss, president: Thomas W. Bryant. vice president; James A. Doughty, secretary and treasurer; and the directors are these officers and George W. Peterson, Frederick F. Fuessenich, John F. Alvord and Elisha J. Steele.
FREDERICK G. GRAVES, M. D.
Dr. Frederick G. Graves. a successful physician and one who represents an old and prominent Connecticut family, was born in Danbury, on the 15th of April, 1869. Various generations of the family have been represented in this state. His great-grandfather was Ezra Graves, who exerted a marked influence over public thought and action, serving for some time in the state legislature. His grandfather, Jedediah Graves, was for more than twenty years a judge in the county courts and he was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising at Sherman. Connecticut. He wedded Sarah Northrop and they became the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom reached adult age. This family included Judge Henry B. Graves, of Litchfield, who attained distinction as an able lawyer and as a prominent member of the general assembly of Connecticut, to which he was sent by the democratic party. Another member of the family was George W. Graves, who was born in Sherman, Connecticut, in 1825, and conducted a large and successful business in tobacco, which he purchased direct from the producers and shipped to various trade centers. He married Hannah Brush, a native
Frederick Grane
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of New Fairfield, Connecticut, and a daughter of Eli Brush, who was a large landowner there. Mrs. Graves passed away in 1881 at the age of fifty-one years.
Frederick G. Graves was one of a family of seven children born to George W. and Hannah (Brush) Graves. He spent his boyhood days in Danbury, where he began his education, pass- ing through consecutive grades in the publie schools until graduated from the high school with the class of 1888. Early in life he determined to make the practice of medicine his profes- sion and while still a public school student began reading with that end in view. After his graduation he continued his reading for a year in the office of Dr. Scott, and in the fall of 1889 he became a student in the medical department of Yale, where he was graduated with honor in 1892. In competitive examination he won appointment to a position on the staff of the New Haven Hospital but did not accept it, preferring to go west, where in his professional capacity he was employed by the Missouri Mining & Lumber Company, acting as surgeon for that company at its plant at Grandin, Missouri. There he remained for nearly three years, doing excellent professional work and constantly broadening his expe- rience. In 1895 he opened an office in Waterbury and has steadily advanced until he now oecupies a position in the foremost ranks of the medical profession in his adopted city. His practice has steadily grown in volume and importance, and broad reading and close study have kept him informed concerning the latest discoveries and ideas advanced by the most eminent members of the profession all over the country. Dr. Graves belongs to the New Haven County and the Connecticut State Medical Societies and the American Medical Asso- ciation, and he served as surgeon general on the staff of the late Governor George L. Lilley and also of his suceessor, Governor Frank B. Weeks.
Fraternally Dr. Graves is a prominent Mason and has attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, and its teachings have been his guiding spirit in all the relations of life.
PATRICK THOMAS HAYES.
Patrick Thomas Hayes is well remembered and his memory is cherished by all who knew him during the many years of his residence in Waterbury, where he was an active business man and highly respected citizen. His military bearing and his many admirable traits of character cannot soon be forgotten. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Limerick, July 30, 1849, a son of Thomas and Bridget (Casey) Hayes. Ile was reared to manhood at the place of his nativity and attended the parish school. While still in his teens he enlisted in the English army, serving as a private in the Royal Horse Artillery, with which he was connected for three years. Coming to America in the early '70s, he established his home in New York city and soon afterward found employment in the sugar refining plant of the Havemeyers, situated in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn. He there spent five years and while a resident of New York he became a member of Squadron A, now known as Troop A. In this connection he developed expert horsemanship and was noted as a fine equestrian, being often detailed for escort duty.
In 1875 Mr. Hayes came to Waterbury and thereafter made the Brass city his home. It was here that he was best known. He bought out the business conducted by James Longworth at No. 91 South Main street and for thirty years he conducted a restaurant and retail liquor business and was one of the most successful merchants in his line in the Naugatuck valley. He catered to the best trade of Waterbury and had a splendidly con- ducted restaurant, in which he served many banquets and in which he made a specialty of game suppers. He gave up the business in 1907 to enter the real estate field and during the remainder of his life he was actively engaged in the purchase and sale of property, becoming one of the well known real estate men of Waterbury. To this undertaking he devoted his time and attention throughout his remaining days, meeting with a fair measure of success.
In Waterbury, on the 19th of September, 1876, Mr. Hayes was united in marriage to Miss Katherine E. Carroll, who was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William and Katherine (Corrigan) Carroll. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were married for more than forty years and were much devoted to each other. Their union was blessed with a family of seven children. William Carroll, who is traveling salesman residing at Woodmont, New Haven county. married Grace Sanford and has two children, Reginald and Montague. Lucy, the second member of the family, was graduated from the Notre Dame convent school at Water-
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bury and now resides in New York. Arthur C., who is with the American Pin Company, resides with his mother. Harry G. is living in the west. Walter was killed by accident in 1907. Frances M., who attended the Notre Dame convent school in Waterbury and after- ward the State Normal School at Danbury, Connecticut, is now teaching in the public schools of Waterbury. Marjorie is now a student in Notre Dame.
Mr. Hayes was a member of the Immaculate Conception church and his family are also of the Catholic faith. In politics he was a democrat but did not seek nor desire office. He was a good citizen, faithful to the welfare of the community, and his cooperation could be counted upon to further measures for the general good. He passed away at his home on First avenue, November 22, 1916, and was laid to rest in the old St. Joseph cemetery of Waterbury. He held membership in Sheridan Council of the Knights of Columbus, which he joined on its organization. Ile was a soldier every inch of him and was much devoted to those interests which promote individual manhood and high standards of citizenship. He was noted for his high moral character and his sterling qualities and for his devotion to his home and family. He found his greatest happiness at his own fireside and eounted no personal sacrifice on his part too great if it would promote the welfare or advance the comfort of his wife and children.
THE HEMINWAY FAMILY.
Samuel Heminway, the first of the name in Connecticut, settled in what is now East Haven, Connecticut, where his son, John Heminway, was born May 29, 1675. The latter was married there in 1702 to Miss Mary Morris and their children, all born in East Haven, were: Mehitabel, who was born May 30, 1702; Mary, born April 28, 1704; Desire, March 2, 1707; Hannah, December 11, 1709; Samuel, March 12, 1713; and John.
John Heminway was born in East Haven, October 7, 1715, and passed away April 17, 1762. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Tuttle, was born December 22, 1720, and died January 17, 1779. They were married November 9, 1738. The will of John Hem- inway II was dated in April, 1762, and proved December 29, 1762, his widow stating that "he was wounded and may not recover." He perhaps died from the effects of the injury that he had sustained. The children of John and Mary (Tuttle) Heminway were: John; Joseph, born in June, 1741, Amy, born May 26, 1743; Joseph, March 14, 1745; Hannah, February 14, 1747; Jured, May 17, 1749; Moses, born in August, 1751; Anna; Joel, born May 21, 1754; Mary, September 1, 1755; and Lydia, May 22, 1759.
The eldest of the family was John Heminway III, son of John Heminway II. He was born at East IIaven, August 6, 1739, and died February 28, 1797. He was married August 25, 1761, to Jemima Hitehcock, who was born December 17, 1744, and was a daughter of Daniel and Abigail (Chidsey) Hitchcock. Their son, John Heminway IV, was born at East Haven, February 28, 1777. On the 25th of February, 1797, he married Hannah, a daughter of Moses and Desire (Moulthrop) Thompson. In 1806 having lost his first wife, he wedded Abigail (Bradley) Holt, a daughter of Jonathan and Comfort (Hitchcock) Bradley and the widow of Samuel Holt, whom she married May 2, 1796, and who passed away June 23, 1803, leaving three children, Alfred, Jeremiah and Mary Holt. Mrs. Abigail Heminway was born October 22, 1776. By his first wife John Heminway IV had several children, namely: Har- riet Laura, who died May 29, 1810, at the age of ten years; Merrit; John, who died December 10, 1805, when four years of age; and Maria. The children of the second marriage were John, Orilla and William.
General Merrit Heminway, the representative of the family in the seventh generation, was born in East Ilaven, Connecticut, March 23, 1800, and his experience and environment were those of the farm bred boy. The public schools afforded him his educational oppor- tunities and at an early age he began providing for his own support as an employe in a carding factory. He worked through the summer months, spending the winter season in school, and thus. he continued until sixteen years of age, when he went to New Haven and secured a elerkship in the grocery store of N. & H. Oaks. He there spent two years, after which he was employed by E. & J. Shipman, who were engaged in the West Indies trade. After two years, or in December, 1821, he came to Watertown and the following March witnessed his initial step in the mercantile business, having as partner James Bishop. The firm of Bishop & Heminway began operations in the basement of the old Bishop Hotel and after seven years they were joined by Josiah Hickox and removed to another store which was built in 1828. Two years later Mr. Hiekox disposed of his interests and Messrs. Bishop and Heminway continued the business until 1837, when the partnership, that had existed
Men't Temiway
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for sixteen years, was dissolved. General Heminway continued the business with Charles Partree, the General being a silent partner, but in 1842 he came into full control of the business, which he conducted individually until 1855, when he admitted his sons to a partner- ship under the firm style of M. Heminway & Sons. In 1849 he took possession of the building which had previously been occupied by Nathaniel Wheeler, who was engaged at that time as a wagon maker. There he began the manufacture of silk and after being joined by his sons carried on the business under the style of the M. Heminway & Sons Silk Company, the partners being the father, General Heminway, his four sons and his daughter, thus represent- ing the entire family in a joint stock company. The business was capitalized for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and one hundred and twenty-five operatives were employed in the factory, the output being shipped to all parts of the United States and to South America and Europe. The sewing silk manufactured by the company was equal if not superior to that manufactured by any other house in the country. A sales store was opened in New York under the management of Homer Heminway, that the output might be more directly connected with the trade. The business steadily developed and the enterprise and progressive- ness of General Heminway gave him leadership in his line, the family name becoming a synonym for the best in manufactured silk products in the United States. Previously General Heminway was also associated for a time with Nathaniel Wheeler in the manufacture of slides and buckles; was interested in farming and for twenty years was proprietor of the old Bishop Hotel.
Aside from his intense activity in the field of silk manufacturing, General Heminway took a most active and helpful part in promoting the growth and progress of his town, cooperating in many movements for the general good and for the support of those projeets which are based upon civic virtue and civic pride. A stalwart advocate of democratie prin- ciples, he filled the positions of justice of the peace, judge of probate and postmaster of Watertown for a number of years. In military affairs he was keenly interested and served as quartermaster sergeant under Colonel Channey Craft, of Woodbury, in the Twelfth Regiment of the Connecticut Militia. He later became captain of the First Rifle Company upon its formation and rose through various promotions to the rank of colonel of the Twelfth Connecticut Regiment of the State Militia, while subsequently he received the merited appointment of general of the Sixth Brigade, thus remaining active in military circles for many years with a most honorable record. He passed away June 8, 1886, and was laid to rest in the Watertown cemetery. Widely known, he was most highly respected by all by reason of his genuine worth, his devotion to the public welfare and his many sterling traits of character. Ile was most devoted to his home and family and was an active and helpful member of the Episcopal church, in which he served as vestryman.
It was on the 13th of March, 1832, that General Heminway wedded Mary Ann Buell, a daughter of Jonathan Buell, of Litchfield. The children born of this marriage were: John, born March 13, 1833; Homer, October 19, 1834: Mary A., who was born November 7, 1836, and became the wife of Henry Merriman; Buell, born April 20, 1838; and Merritt, August 9, 1842.
MERRITT HEMINWAY.
Honored and respected by all, no resident of Watertown occupies a more enviable position in business and financial circles than Merritt Heminway, now president of the Watertown Trust Company. This is due not alone to the success which he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policy which he has ever displayed and the progressiveness which he has manifested in the conduct of manufacturing and banking interests.
Mr. Heminway was born in Watertown, August 9, 1842, and after attending the public schools became a student in the Watertown Academy. When his textbooks were put aside he received practical training in the silk business, in which he long continued as the associate of his father and brothers but sold out in 1912 and upon the organization of the Watertown Trust Company became its first president and has so continued. The bank was established May 23, 1912, in the same building as the old Watertown Savings Bank, but in 1917 the Heminway store building was remodeled into a modern bank building and the bank is now pleasantly located in quarters associated with the Heminway name more than a century ago. At the organization Charles W. Jackson became vice president and George N. Griswold Secretary and treasurer, each remaining in his respective position. In addition to these three on the board of directors are T. F. Carmody, Horace D. Taft, Charles L. Holmes, H. H. Bartlett, H. H. Heminway, A. T. Minor, R. V. Magee and Simeon M. Jones. The bank opened Vol. II-5
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with high ideals, to which it has always strictly adhered. Its purpose has been to further the progress of the community, knowing that this reacts for the benefit of the institution. The aim of the company has ever been to make it an institution of unquestioned strength and stability, one in which funds will be absolutely safeguarded. They invite small as well as large checking accounts and have a savings department in which four per cent interest is paid on money deposited. A general banking business is conducted and the bank has shown a steady growth in all of its departments, its deposits of three hundred and seventy-eight thousand dollars having increased more than one hundred thousand dollars in the past year, while the surplus and undivided profits have more than doubled. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars.
In 1864 Mr. Heminway was married to Miss Edla H. Himman, of Watertown, and they have two sons: Charles M., of New York, who has a wife and three children; and Harry H., who is a prominent manufacturer with the Waterbury Paper Box & Metals Specialty Com- pany. He is married and has two children. Two of the grandsons of Mr. Heminway are in the army. The fact that he comes from a Revolutionary war ancestry is indicated in his membership with the Sons of the American Revolution. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. His fellow townsmen have ever regarded him as a man worthy of the highest trust and confidence and his entire course has merited this opinion.
HARRY H. HEMINWAY.
The history of Waterbury in recent years is that of business achievement. Many mam- moth enterprises have sprung into existence, making this a great manufacturing center with its ramifying trade interests reaching to all parts of the world. Harry H. Heminway is now actively identified with one of these concerns as president of the Waterbury Paper Box Com- pany, a company that came into existence in 1901, although the business had been established and conducted successfully for many years under the name of R. E. Hitchcock & Company. Mr. Heminway is a native of Watertown, born November 5, 1869, and is a son of Merritt and Edla R. (Hinman) Heminway, who were also natives of Watertown. The father was a son of General Merrit Heminway.
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