USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 6
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FRANK M. BALDWIN.
One of the most progressive and capable young business men of Torrington is Frank M. Baldwin, the treasurer of the Torrington Trust Company. He was born January 28, 1880, in the city in which he still resides, a son of Leslie I. Baldwin, a well known marble and monument dealer of Torrington. who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
In the public schools of Torrington, Frank M. Baldwin pursued his education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, which he left at the age of fourteen years to earn his living by work in factories. He also sold papers and did anything that he could which would yield him an honest living. Two years were spent in that way and for five years thereafter he was a clerk in the Torrington postoffice. Between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years his time was thus passed and later he devoted fourteen years to various responsible positions with the Torrington National Bank. He started in as bookkeeper and clerk, was advanced to teller and finally became assistant cashier. On the 1st of December, 1916, however, he resigned that position to become treasurer of the new Torrington Trust Company, of which he is a stockholder and a director. This company was organized in 1916 and began business on the 18th of December of that year, with llarry J. Wylie as the president ; George H. Braham, Harlow A. Pease and William W. Mertz as vice presidents; Frank M. Baldwin as treasurer; and Charles F. Cooper as secretary. The company was capita'ized for one hundred thousand dollars and already the business has been placed upon a substantial basis.
On the 22d of June, 1910, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Edna Snyder, of Torrington. who was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, and they have two children: Franklyn Leslie. born July 16, 1912; and Marjorie Elma, born .July 5, 1915.
Mr. Baldwin has membership with the Odd Fellows and with the Elks and his life is guided by the teachings of the Trinity Episcopal church, of which he is a communicant. He is at present a member of the Machine Gun Company of the Torrington Home Guard. being a non-commissioned officer. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is ever loyal to duty, faithful in friendship and true to any trust reposed in him, and he has made for himself a very creditable position in the financial circles of his city.
JOHN E. GILL.
John E. Gill is the treasurer of the New England Engineering Company of Waterbury. He was born in Corning, New York, and in the acquirement of his education passed through consecutive grades in the public schools until he left the high school to enter the railway business as an employe of the Erie Raihoad Company. He was connected with that corpora- tion for about five years and later was associated with the Corning Gas Company, which was taken over by the Young interests in 1901. Mr. Gill remained with the latter corporation as cashier until 1911, when he became connected with the New England Engineering Company. He served as auditor until 1913 and was then made treasurer of the company, his position at the present time, and he is active with the capable men who are controlling the extensive and important interests of the business. The company handles electrical supplies and does electrical construction work, also installs isolated plants for industrial works and does wiring and motor installation work. While the main office is maintained at Waterbury, there are
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also branch establishments at New Haven, New London, Stamford and Greenwich. While in former years the company engaged in large construction work in various sections of the country, they are now confining their efforts to the Naugatuck valley. Their business has assumed extensive proportions and for six years Mr. Gill has been an active factor in the further conduct of their interests and the extension of their business relations.
In October, 1898, Mr. Gill was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Hickey, of Binghamton, New York. To them have been born three children, namely: Edward; Walter, who is deceased; and Gertrude. Mr. Gill gives his political allegiance to the republican party. while his religious faith is indicated in his membership in St. Margaret's Catholic church.
L. RUSSELL CARTER.
L. Russell Carter, an attorney practicing at the Waterbury bar, was born July 9, 1880, in the city where he still resides, and is a son of Loren R. Carter, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, the father being a prominent and well known real estate dealer of Waterbury. At the usual age the son became a publie school pupil and passed through consecutive grades to his graduation from the Waterbury high school with the class of 1899. He next entered Yale, where he completed the academic course with the class of 1903. He then became a student in the Harvard Law School and was graduated in 1906. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1906 and to the Connecticut bar in January, 1907, since which time he has practiced continuously in Waterbury, meeting with marked success, his clientage steadily growing in volume and importance. He now has a suite of rooms in the Irving- Platt building at No. 11 East Main street and he is giving the closest attention to his profession, with special attention to probate and real estate matters. In 1912 he became secretary of the French Manufacturing Company and has since devoted a portion of his time to the duties of that position.
In politics Mr. Carter is a progressive republican and in 1912 was the candidate of the progressive party for judge of probate. He is a member of the Waterbury Bar Association. holds membership in the Baptist church and is an Odd Fellow and a Mason. In the latter organization he has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite, the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Waterbury Country Club.
DWIGHT J. CASTLE.
Dwight J. Castle, a florist conducting an extensive business at No. 271 South Main street in Torrington, was born in Harwinton, Litchfield county, Connecticut, November 11, 1850. a son of Joel and Marion (Fenton) Castle, both of whom have now passed away. His paternal grandparents were Horace and Polly Castle. The mother of Dwight J. Castle died when he was a little lad of six years and his father afterward married Ann Marsh, who proved a good mother to him and his three brothers and four sisters, all older than he. There were no children born of the father's second marriage. Only three of the members of the family born of the first marriage are now living, namely: Mrs. Ellen Sessions, of Bristol, Connecticut, who is a widow; Mrs. Martha Nettleton, of Thomaston, also a widow; and Dwight J. Two of the sons, George and Edgar Castle, were killed while serving in the Union army during the Civil war. Another brother, Hiram Castle, served throughout the Civil war and afterward became a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, where he passed away a few years ago.
Dwight J. Castle was reared upon the home farm seven miles from Torrington, in the town of Harwinton, and while there residing became interested in market gardening, which finally led to the growing and marketing of flowers as well as vegetables. Thus he became interested in floriculture and in fact he has always been fond of flowers. He was still on his father's farm when he was married at the age of twenty-two years. He continued on the farm after his marriage and engaged in market gardening, while as a side line he raised potted plants and garden plants. He finally purchased the farm from his father and about nineteen years ago he moved to Torrington, where he has since devoted his attention to the cultivation of flowers and plants. For fourteen years he has been located at No. 271 South Main strect, where he has a comfortable and attractive home, together with an excel- lent plant for the conduct of his business. He has three greenhouses, which embrace alto-
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gether about fifteen thousand square feet of glass. Two of his greenhouses are approximately thirty by one hundred feet and the third is twenty-six by one hundred feet. These green- houses combined have more feet of glass than those of any other florist in Litchfield county, a fact which is indicative of the extent of his business and his prominence as a florist in this section of the state.
It was on the 6th of November, 1872, that Mr. Castle was united in marriage to Miss Edith Baldwin, of the town of Litchfield. Their children are: George D .; Lena, the wife of Willis Moore; and Howard J., who is the treasurer of the Torrington Building Company, a prominent contracting company of Torrington. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Castle exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Almost his entire life has been devoted to the business in which he is now engaged and he has made steady progress along that line, continually adding to his knowledge through reading and experience. He possesses some of the finest flowers and plants raised in this section of New England and by careful management has developed a business of extensive proportions. This, however, is but one phase of his life, for he is never neglectful of his duties in any relation and is mich interested in the educational and moral welfare of his city.
HON. CHARLES BUCKINGHAM MERRIMAN.
The important place which Charles Buckingham Merriman made for himself in the business circles of Waterbury would alone entitle him to representation as one of the builders of this great commonwealth, but in other connections, too, he played an important part, occupying a central place on the stage of public activity in his community. His record was at all times faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation. He was born October, 9, 1809, in Watertown, Connecticut, being the eldest child of William H. and Sarah (Buckingham) Merriman. He was descended from one of the oldest and most prominent families of Connecticut, tracing their lineage from Captain Nathaniel Merriman, who became one of the original settlers of Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1670 His children were: John, born September 26, 1651; Hannah, born May 5, 1653; Abigail, April 18, 1654; Mamre, July 12, 1657; John, February 28, 1659; Samuel, September 29, 1662: Caleb, May 16, 1665; Moses, in 1667; and Elizabeth, September 14, 1669.
Of this family Caleb Merriman wedded Mary Preston and at his death, which occurred July 9, 1703, left an estate valued at four hundred and thirty-nine pounds sterling. His children, born at Wallingford, were Moses, Elizabeth, Eliasaph, Phebe, Hannah, Phebe and Lydia.
The second son, Eliasaph Merriman, was born May 21, 1695, and died August 14, 1758. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Abigail Hall, was killed by the Indians, together with her daughter Abigail, August 4, 1758. The children of this family, all born at Wallingford, were: Eunice, who died in early life; Eunice; Sarah; Titus; Caleb; Amasa; Elizabeth; Esther, and Abigail.
Amasa Merriman, the ancestor of Charles Buckingham Merriman in the fourth generation, was born at Wallingford in 1730 and to him and his wife Sarah there was born a son, Charles, on the 20th of August, 1762, at Wallingford. He served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, enlisting as a drummer in 1776 and becoming a drum major. He was married May 16, 1784, to Anna Punderson, of New Haven, who died April 1, 1844, at the age of eighty years. Settling in Watertown, Charles Merriman there commenced business as a tailor, but ill health compelled him to abandon that work and he "rode post" from New Haven to Suffield for four years. He afterward went on a voyage to the West Indies and later he engaged in business as a merchant of Watertown until his death, which occurred August 26, 1829. He was of a genial nature and was also distinguished for his decision of character and for his sterling integrity. His children were: Charles P., who died in 1794; Betsy, who became the wife of Dr. Samuel Elton, of Watertown; William H., who was born September 27, 1788: Nancy, who was born in 1792 and died in early childhood; Nancy, born August 8, 1796; Charles P., who was born August 7, 1798, and died July 10, 1835; Anna, who was born July 7, 1801, and died in Alabama, November 1, 1836; William Punderson, who was born September 6, 1805. and became a merchant of Augusta, Georgia; and George F., born August 5, 1808.
William H. Merriman, of the above mentioned family, was born September 27, 1788, and on the 8th of January, 1809, was married to Sarah Buckingham, who was born February 16, 1790, a daughter of David and Chloe (Merrill) Buckingham. William H.
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Merriman was an enterprising merchant and leading citizen of Watertown, Connecticut, whenee he afterward removed to Waterbury. His children, born in Watertown, were: Charles Buckingham, born October 9, 1809; Sarah A., who was born September 27, 1811, and beeame the wife of Thomas Morton and after his death wedded James Mitchell Lamson Scovill, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Joseph P., who was born September 24, 1813, and was married in 1840 to Julia Judd; David, who was born May 27, 1816, and died March 28, 1834; and Henry, who was born March 25, 1820.
Charles Buekingham Merriman, son of William Il. Merriman, spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native city and acquired his early education in the excellent public sehools of Watertown, while for a period he was a student in the Leonard Daggett School in New Haven. In 1839 his parents removed with their family to Waterbury and from that time until his demise Charles B. Merriman was a resident of the latter city. He made for himself a most enviable and creditable position in business circles and also in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He was thirty years of age when he established his home in Waterbury, prior to which time he had been associated with his father in business. On his removal to Waterbury he entered into partnership with Ezra Stiles, a dry goods merchant conducting business at the corner of Center square and Leavenworth street. The partnership was maintained until 1843, when Mr. Merriman withdrew to enter into partnership relations with Julius Hotchkiss in organizing the Hotchkiss & Merriman Manufacturing Company, successors to the firm of Hotchkiss & Prichard. They took up the manufacture of suspenders and developed a business of large and gratifying proportions. They equipped an extensive plant and conducted business under that style until January, 1857, when they merged their interests with a similar concern-the Warren & Newton Manufacturing Company, adopting the new style of the American Suspender Company. For twenty-one years the business was conducted by the new company with notable success and in 1879 was discontinued.
The prosperity enjoyed by the company through all those years was largely attributable to the capability, keen sagacity, resourcefulness and enterprise of Mr. Merriman, who for a considerable period was the president of the Hotchkiss & Merriman Manufacturing Company. His plans were always carefully considered and well defined and were then carried forward to successful completion. His activities broadened to include many of the most important industries of Waterbury as the years passed on and every concern with which he became connected profited by his keen discrimination, his indefatigable energy and his persistency of purpose. He became president of the Waterbury Gas Light Company and also president of the Waterbury Savings Bank, while of the Citizens National Bank he was a direetor. Honored and respected by all, no man occupied a more enviable position in the manufacturing and financial circles of Waterbury than did Charles Buckingham Merriman, not alone by reason of the success which he achieved but also owing to the straightforward business poliey which he ever followed. His activities measured up to the highest commercial ethics and his interests were ever of a character that would bear the closest investiga- tion and serntiny.
While the business interests of Mr. Merriman were important his activities, along other lines were equally notable and commendable. He was a most public-spirited citizen and stood for progress and improvement in all things relating to the general welfare. IIe became a recognized leader in political circles and did everything in his power to insure the success of the republican party, of which he was a stalwart champion. From early youth he took a keen and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the day and kept well informed upon everything bearing upon the welfare and progress of his community, politically and otherwise. He never lightly regarded the duties of citizenship but recognized its obligations as well as its privileges and felt that he owed much to the eity under the protection of whose laws he lived. His fellow citizens eagerly availed themselves of the opportunity to utilize his service in a public connection and he was elected a member of the Waterbury common conneil, in which he served for a member of terms. In 1869 still higher political honors came to him in his election to the mayoralty. He assumed the duties of the office on the 14th of June of that year and for a twelve- month gave to Waterbury a most progressive and businesslike administration characterized by needed reform and improvement. He was actuated in everything that he did by a singleness of purpose that had for its object the publie welfare and that alone.
No history of Mr. Merriman would be complete withont reference to his work in behalf of the church. He held membership in St. John's Episcopal church of Waterbury for many years and for a long period filled the office of vestryman. He did everything in his power to advance the interests of the church, taking active part in its different societies and in its carefully organized work. He contributed liberally in support of its benevolences Vol. II-3
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and was a man of most charitable spirit. He gave freely to the poor and needy and could not hear a tale of distress unmoved. Such a tale at once found ready response in him and his sympathy was manifest in tangible effort to alleviate suffering. No one realized the full extent of his benefactions, for he was most unostentatious in his giving, literally following the biblical injunction not to let the left hand know what the right hand doeth. High and honorable indeed were the principles which guided him in all the relations of life, making him a thoroughly progressive and reliable business man, a loyal and patriotic citizen, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father. His Christianity was not something to be assumed at the attendance of Sunday services in the church. It was the guiding spirit of his life and he ever endeavored to closely follow the golden rule, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him.
Mr. Merriman was married on the 30th of June, 1841, to Miss Mary Margaret Field, a daughter of Dr. Edward Field, of Waterbury. He was born in Enfield, Connecticut. July 1, 1777, and there the birth of Mrs. Merriman occurred March 12. 1817. She departed this life October 5, 1866, leaving behind her a beautiful memory that is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew her. The children of this marriage were six in number: Charlotte Buckingham, who was born August 21, 1843, and died February 9, 1911; Sarah Morton, who was born August 7, 1845, and passed away February 20, 1903; Helen, who was born January 19, 1848; Margaret Field, who was born March 16, 1850, and became the wife of Dr. Frank Castle, her death occurring January 23, 1911; William Buckingham, who was born June 11, 1853, and married Sarah Kingsbury Parsons; and Edward Field, who was born September 1, 1854, and died June 28, 1909.
William Buckingham Merriman, a son of Charles Buckingham Merriman, was born in Waterbury, June 11, 1853, and largely pursued his education in the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, Connectieut. In early life he became connected with the Benedict & Merriman Company and was later with the Seovill Manufacturing Company for several years. He afterward turned his attention to financial pursuits and became teller of the Waterbury National Bank, in which he advanced to the position of assistant cashier, also becoming a member of the board of directors, in which capacity he continued until his death. He was one of the original projectors of the Country Club of Waterbury, was a member of the Waterbury Club, of the Home Club and of the Farmington Club. He had marked appreciation for the social amenities of life and his salient characteristics were those which insured him personal popularity. On the 17th of November, 1886, he was married to Miss Sarah Kingsbury Parsons, a daughter of Guernsey and Eliza (Brown) Parsons. They became the parents of two children, Buckingham Parsons and William Buckingham Merriman, Jr.
Through Mrs. Charles Buckingham Merriman the family has become connected with the Field family, her father having been Dr. Edward Field, who was born in Enfield, Connecticut, July 1, 1777. He was a son of Dr. Simeon Field, whose birth occurred at Long Meadow, Massachusetts, in 1731. He in turn was a son of Thomas Field. Simeon Field took up the study of medicine and in 1763 removed to Enfield, Connecticut, where he engaged in the practice of his chosen calling, there remaining active in his profession until his death, which oceurred January 7, 1801, when he was seventy years of age. In 1763 he had married Margaret Reynolds, who was born in 1742 and was a daughter of Rev. Peter Reynolds, of Enfield. The children of this marriage were: Simeon, who was born June 3, 1765, and became a physician, practicing until his death, which occurred March 1, 1822; Margaret, who was born February 27, 1768, and married the Rev. Joshua Leonard; Mary and Peter Reynolds, twins, who were born February 22, 1771; and Edward.
Dr. Edward Field began his medical studies at home and continued his reading with Dr. Coggswell of Hartford. In 1799 he received a commission in the navy as surgeon's mate And started upon a three years' cruise in the East Indies. The voyage proved a disastrous one, however, for the ship lost its mast and there was mutiny on board. While assisting in subduing the mutinous sailors Dr. Field was wounded in the right wrist and thus he lost his taste for a sea-going life. The voyage lasted hardly a year and at the end of the time Dr. Field willingly returned to his home. About 1800 he began practice in Waterbury and for forty years remained an active physician of this place. He first resided with the family of Mrs. Sarah Leavenworth, the widow of the Rev. Mark Leavenworth. and in 1807 he wedded her granddaughter, Sarah Baldwin. The family residence stood where the home of the Misses Merriman is now seen in Waterbury. Dr. Field and his wife continued to occupy the old home until after the death of her grandmother, Mrs. Leaven- worth, and in 1816 he removed the old house and built upon the same site the dwelling which now stands and is occupied by his granddaughter, Miss Helen Merriman.
Dr. Field was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife in 1808 and two years after- ward he married her sister. Esther Baldwin. He had six children: Dr. Junius Leavenworth.
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who was the only child of the first marriage; Henry Baldwin; Arietta, who died in 1815, at the age of two years; Mary Margaret, who became the wife of Charles Buckingham Merriman; Charlotte Arietta, who married Samuel G. Blackman; and Dr. Edward Gustavus. Dr. Field became a member of the First church of Waterbury on the 5th of July, 1840, and it was on the 17th of November of that year that he passed away.
HENRY JOHNSON ALLEN.
Among the public men of Torrington none deserved or received in greater measure the respect, confidence, goodwill and friendship of their fellow citizens than did Henry Johnson Allen, who was called upon to represent his district in the state legislature and who for twelve years served as high sheriff of his county. He was also for many years a prominent business man, conducting a hotel for three decades and later engaging in the insurance business. His personal qualities and traits of character were such as endeared him to all who knew him. He was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, May 26, 1831. His grandfather, Hiram Alien, was a native of Hebron, Connecticut, where he was reared to manhood and became a teacher. In 1825 he removed to what is now Torrington and tanght school on the New Guinea road, near the Ilarwinton line. He passed away at the okl Taylor Honse in Torrington, April 3, 1826. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Tinker and his second wife Mrs. Barber.
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