USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 7
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William Allen, son of Hiram Allen, was born in Hebron. Connecticut, December 26, 1790. and was there reared to manhood. Afterward he learned the trade of blacksmithing and iron working. He followed those pursuits in his native town for a time and subsequently removed to Manchester, Connecticut, where he still continued to work at his trade. Later he became a resident of New Britain, Connecticut, where he engaged in the blacksmithing business, and there he continued successfully during his active life. He came to Torrington in his declining years and made his home with his son Henry J. and his family, who tenderly cared for the father through the period of his old age and until his death. lle was a member of the Advent church. of which he was one of the founders in New Britain, Connecticut, remaining one of the stanch supporters of its doctrines throughont his entire life. He was a close Bible student and true churchman and he fought the fight and kept the faith. He enlisted for service in the War of 1812 near the end of the struggle but never saw service He was most devoted to the welfare of his family, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside. On the 26th of November, 1816, he married Hannah Johnson. of Hebron, Connecticut, who passed away in New Britain and was there laid to rest. Mr. and Mrs. Allen became the parents of eight children, as follows: William, who was born January 20, 1818, was a well known physician of Meriden, Connectient, where he passed away in 1850. Edwin, born in Hebron. September 12, 1818, died in infancy. Harriet N., born in Manchester, Connecticut, July 16, 1821. died in 1839. Nancy E., born in Manchester, January 27, 1823, became the wife of C. M. Burt, of New Britain, Connecticut. . Caroline, born in Manchester, May 27, 1826, became the wife of Lemuel Penfiekl, of New Britain. Adeline L., born in Manchester. Septem- ber 30, 1828, was married first to Alfred L. Burt and after his death became the wife of Milo Shattuck. Hannah E., born May 13, 1830, died in infancy.
The last member of the family was Henry Johnson Allen, who was reared in New Britain, spent his youthful days under the parental roof and there acquired his education. He became clerk in a hotel of New Britain for a Mr. Humphrey and worked his way upward to the position of manager of the hotel, which was owned and operated by a syndicate of four men, including Mr. Humphrey. He afterward went to Chicago, where he was associated with Mr. Humphrey in the conduct of the old Massasoit House, but he did not remain long in the west. He returned to New England in 1853 and in March, 1857, came to what was then Wolcottville, now the borongh of Torrington, where he purchased of Charles F. Church the old Taylor House on Main street, on the site of which he erected the present hotel, known as the Allen House. This is today one of the best known hotels in the Naugatuck valley and was successfully conducted by Mr. Allen for more than a quarter of a century. after which he retired from the hotel business and rented the property to a Mr. Conley. The hotel is now conducted by Mr. Dewyer, but the property is still owned by the family and the hotel still retains the name of the Allen House.
After giving up hotel life Mr. Allen became engaged in the insurance business, in which he continued to the time of his death. For many years he had been an active factor in political circles and was a stanch democrat, giving unfaltering support to the principles of the party. He was recognized as one of its leaders in Litchfield county, and he served as
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a member of the state legislature and also as high sheriff of the county for a period of twelve years. filling those positions with honor and dignity. He was widely known and highly respected. He had a keen sense of honor in all personal relations and in publie office as well as his business life, and his marked characteristics were such as in every land and elime awaken confidence and regard.
On the 14th of November. 1853. Mr. Allen was married in New Britain, Connecticut, to Miss Ellen Robinson, a daughter of Augustus and Mary (Hart) Robinson and a descendant of one of the oldest and best known families of Hartford county. She was a lady of culture and artistie tastes and possessed marked musieal talent, her powers as a vocalist making her a great favorite in musical eireles. She was a member of the Congregational church of Torring- ton and for thirty years sang in its choir. She possessed a fine contralto voice and her musical ability added much to the effectiveness of the church serviees. To her family she was a most devoted wife and mother. She passed away August 28, 1903, and she and her husband rest side by side in the same cemetery. In the Congregational church a beautiful memorial window has been placed as a gift of her daughter, Mrs. Huke, a splendid expression of the love which she bore to her mother and a recognition of her mother's marked loyalty to the church. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born three children. Henry J., born February 20. 1855, wedded Mary Walling and resides in Torrington. Nellie H., born December 14, 1857, is the wife of Herman W. Huke. Harriet B., born October 5, 1867, is the wife of Charles T. Grilley, of Waterbury.
The death of Mr. Allen oceurred in Boston, October 10, 1899. He was a most worthy exemplar of the Masonie fraternity. holding membership in Seneea Lodge of Torrington. His life was the expression of the high principles inculcated by the fraternity. There were in his life many admirable traits, worthy of all praise. He held friendship inviolable. He possessed a genial nature and kindly disposition, continually reaching out a helping hand to others. He stood for the highest in eitizenship and the record of no man who has occupied publie office in the county has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduet or stainless in reputation.
THE WHITE FAMILY.
Among the families long prominently connected with Connecticut is the White family. Its ancestry can be traced back to Robert White, who was connected with the farming interests of Essex, England, and who became a resident of Shelford, where nearly all his children were baptized. He died there and was buried June 17. 1617. He had married at Shelford on the 24th of June, 1585, Bridget Algar, who was baptized on the 11th of March, 1562, a daughter of William Algar. The children of this marriage were Mary, Anna, Elizabeth, Sarah Marie, Bridget, Nathaniel, John and Daniel.
Of this family Elder John White, who was next to the youngest of the children, was born in England and became the founder of the family in the new world. The exact date of his death is not known but his will bears the date of December 17, 1683, and on the 23d of January, 1684, the inventory of his estate was made. He had erossed the Atlantic with Elder William Goodwin in the ship Lyon, arriving at Boston on the 16th of September, 1632. He established his home in Cambridge upon what is now the site of Gorr Hall of Harvard University. He was admitted a freeman on the 4th of March, 1633, and when in 1635 Cam- bridge elected its first board of seven men, who were known as "townsmen" or seleetmen, he was one of the number chosen. In the same year he sold his property there and removed to Hartford, Connecticut, with the Hooker Company, establishing his home on the east side of what is now Governor street. He took an active part in public affairs in the new eom- munity and from time to time was elected to office. He was made a seleetman in 1642, again in 1646, in 1651, and in 1656, and in 1653 he was granted land in Middletown but did not take up his home thereon. In 1659 he took part in founding the town of Hadley, Massachusetts, where he was again called to offiee. In 1670 he again took up his residence in Hartford and was made an elder of South church. Before coming to the new world he was married in England on the 26th of December, 1622, to Miss Mary Levit and they had six children, namely, Mary, Nathaniel, John, Daniel, Sarah and Jacob.
Among the direet ancestors of the White family as now represented in Waterbury was Nathaniel White of the second generation. He was born in England about 1629 and was brought to America by his parents. In 1650 he established his home at Middletown and beeame one of the influential residents there. In 1659 he was chosen deputy and from 1661 to 1710 inclusive, or for a period of fifty years. he was chosen once or twice every year for that office. thus being a representative from Middletown to the general eourt eighty-five times. His
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record is the more remarkable in that he was eighty-one years old when last elected. In 1669 he was appointed a magistrate for Middletown and his military record included service as eaptain. In 1668 he was prominent in the organization of the church. Following the death of his first wife, Mrs. Elizabeth White, he married Martha Coit, a daughter of John and Mary (Jenners) Coit and the widow of lugh Mould. By his first marriage Nathaniel White had seven children.
Of that family Jacob White was born in Middletown, Connecticut, May 10, 1665, and on the 4th of February, 1692, he married Deborah Shepard, who was born in 1670 and died February 8, 1721. He was again married December 16, 1729, when Mrs. Rebecca (Willett) Ranney, the widow of Thomas Ranney, became his wife.
John White, the fifth son of Jacob and Deborah (Shepard) White, was born in Middle- town, Connectieut, October 19, 1712, and there died February 9, 1801. On the 31st of October, 1736, he married Elizabeth Boardman, a daughter of Samuel and Mehitable (Cadwell) Boardman. She was born in Wethersfield. Connecticut, December 22, 1713, and died November 17, 1800. She had two children, Jacob and Sarah.
The former represented the White family in the sixth generation. He was born Novem- ber 7, 1737, and at his death was buried at Middletown. At the time of the Revolutionary war he had done active service on a privateer with the rank of lieutenant. On the 25th of November, 1760, he married Lucy Savage, a daughter of Captain Joseph Savage. She was born July 16, 1741, and died August 20, 1812, leaving four children, including John White, who was born in 1766, became a sea captain and was drowned March 19, 1799. Ten years before, or on the 13th of March, 1789, he had married Ruth Ranney, who died December 25, 1862, at the very advanced age of ninety-two years and ten months. Their children were four in number.
Jacob White of that family was born at Middletown, Connecticut, April 27, 1792, and died on the 13th of January, 1849. He learned the tanner's trade and following his removal to Sandisfield, Massachusetts, in 1819 there conducted an extensive tammery business for twelve years. He afterward returned to Middletown and purchased and ocenpied a part of the old Ranney homestead. His death occurred at Cromwell, January 13, 1849. On the 22d of November, 1814, he had married Susan Sage, a daughter of Captain William and Abigail (Eells) Sage. The Sage family was founded in America by David Sage, who came from Wales and settled in Upper Middletown, now Cromwell, about 1632.
Luther Chapin White, who was one of the eight children of Jacob and Susan (Sage) White, was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, December 25, 1821, and died in Waterbury, Connecticut, April 5, 1893. His youth was spent at Cromwell ( Middletown), Connecticut, where he attended the district schools, dividing his time between his study and work on the home farm until he reached the age of seventeen, when he was apprenticed to the builder's trade under his oldest brother in Middletown. Hle sustained an injury, however, that forced him to abandon the business and upon recovering his health he entered the employ of L. E. Hicks, of Cromwell, and when twenty years of age removed to Waterbury, where for a short time he was employed by E. L. Priehard and Hiram JJ. White, manufacturers. He spent the summer of 1842 on the farm of his unele, Orrin Sage, in Geneva county, New York, and in December of that year accepted a position with the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, with whom he continued for two years. In 1845 he was appointed to the important position of foreman in the manufacturing house of J. S. Norton and was associated with that business for six years in New Haven. in Middletown and in Meriden. In 1851 he brought out and patented a valuable improvement in burners for fluid lamps and formed a partnership with Frank Smith, of Meriden, under the firm name of White & Smith. for the purpose of manufacturing the lamps. Through the efforts of Charles Benedict and John Bailey the business was removed to Waterbury and on the 3d of September of that year was reorganized under the name of the City Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. White became president. The business was installed in the old Benedict & Burnham factory. A year later upon the death of Mr. Smith, Mr. White purchased his stock in the business and continued in the active management thereof for fifteen years, necessary changes being made following the introduction of coal oil and afterward of kerosene. Mr. White was a pioneer in that important field, being the manufacturer of the first burners ever made in America for utilizing kerosene. The very rapid growth of the business led to the expansion of the factory, making it a most important industry. In February, 1866, Mr. White admitted Captain Wells to a partnership and purchased the paper box business of his deceased brothers, thus organizing the firm of White & Wells. On the 1st of July. 1868. he sold his interest in the City Manufacturing Company to the Bonediet & Burnham Company, retaining. however, the button back department of the business, which he conducted personally until July 1, 1888. On that date he organized the L. C. White Company, with himself as presi-
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dent, F. J. Ludington, vice president, and George L. White, secretary and treasurer. Luther C. White remained continuously the president of that corporation until the time of his demise. He was also the largest stockholder and the president of the Southford Paper Company, which had a mill at Southford. Connecticut, and became greatly interested in straw board mills in the west. He was likewise actively interested in the Leland type dis- tributing machine, spending much time and money in its development. His business interests were most carefully managed and wisely directed and contributed to the welfare, upbuilding and prosperity of the community as well as to individual success.
In 1843 Luther C. White joined the First church and took an active part in its work and in its charities. He was continually extending a helping hand to those who needed assistance. He was a republican and was active in promoting the success of the party in both local and national elections. He was a close observer, possessed a retentive memory, and he sought entertainment and instruction in travel. He was a man of happy, genial disposition who held friendship inviolable and was most devoted to the welfare of his family.
On the 28th of November, 1844, Luther C. White was married to Jane Amelia Moses, a daughter of Joseph Moses, of Watertown. She was born June 19, 1825, and was in the seventy-fourth year of her age at her death March 14, 1899. Their family included the following: William Henry, who was born May 7. 1847, and died August 22, 1873; George Luther. and Harriet Sage, who was born March 4, 1854, and became the wife of Hon. Lynde Harrison. of New Haven, on the 30th of September, 1886.
The second son. George Luther White, was born in Meriden, Connecticut, July 15, 1852. He was quite young when his parents removed to Waterbury, where he attended the H. F. Bassett School and also high school. He later went to the Gunnery in Washington, Con- nectient. but a serious illness forced him to discontinue his studies when sixteen years old and he then traveled extensively for the benefit of his health. For nearly five years he lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The winters of 1874 and 1875 he spent in California and in 1876 returned to Waterbury. He so far recovered his health that in 1880 he was able to devote himself to business and he was secretary of the Southford Paper Company until 1885. He afterward gave some time to closing out the lumber business of William S. White & Company of Hartford and in 1888 became a member of the firm of White & Wells, taking up the active management of the business in 1892, following the retirement of Edward L. White. He succeeded to the presidency of the White & Wells Company upon the death of his father and tlms in his various connections became a most important factor in manufacturing circles of this section of the state, remaining active in business up to the time of his death, which occurred December 1, 1914. He was not only president of the White & Wells Company of Waterbury, but also president of the L. C. White Company, of Waterbury; president of the New England Watch Company of Waterbury: vice president of the Philadelphia Paper Company of Philadelphia; and a director of the Dime Savings Bank and of the Colonial Trust Company of Waterbury.
George L. White was a republican and was a member of the common council in 1889. He was very prominent and widely known in club circles and was president of the Water- bury Country Club and of the Waterbury Club. He also belonged to the Union League Club of New York. the New Haven Country Club, the Country Club of Farmington, the Home Club of Waterbury and the Metabetchoun Fish and Game Club of Canada. He attended the First Congregational church of Waterbury and his life was guided by high and honorable principles, continually manifest in all his relations with his fellowmen.
On the 15th of April, 1874. George L. White was married in Fairfield, Connecticut, to Miss Julia Phelps Haring, who was born in New York, March 30. 1852, and is a daughter of James Demarest and Caroline E. (Phelps) Haring. They had a family of three children, of whom the eldest. Caroline Haring, was born in San Rafael, California, April 10. 1875, and was educated in St. Margaret's School at Waterbury, Connectient. On the 4th of February, 1902, she married Robert Foote Griggs and their children are: Haring White. born Novem- ber 16. 1904: Carolyn White, born December 1. 1906; and Robert Foote. born June 27, 1908. The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. George L. White are William H. and George L .. Jr., accounts of whose lives follow this sketch.
Mrs. White resides at the family home at the corner of Grove and Prospect streets amid most attractive surroundings. She is a descendant of John Haring. of New York, who in 1774 was elected to congress. to the provincial congress in 1775 and to the second, third and fourth provincial congresses and from 1781 to 1799 inclusive was state senator from the central district of New York. He was also a minority member of the state convention that ratified the federal constitution and had a highly creditable military record. In 1776 he saw service as major of the brigade from Orange and Ulster counties. Among the direct ancestors of Mrs. White are also numbered Eleazer Wheelock, the founder
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WILLIAM H. WHITE
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and first president of Dartmouth College, and Jolin Davenport and she is likewise a descendant of other old and well known families of New England, including the Phelps, Griswold and Holeomb families. She is a member of Melicent Porter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Waterbury.
WILLIAM H. WHITE.
William H. White, president and treasurer of the White & Wells Company, was born in Waterbury, November 26. 1876, and is a son of George L. and Julia (Haring) White, an account of whose lives precedes this sketch. After acquiring a private and public school edu- cation he attended Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, the Waban ( Mass.) School and then entered Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1900. He has numerous business interests, perhaps being best known as president and treasurer of the White & Wells Company. This was the outgrowth of a paper box business which had been established by Henry S. and J. Watson White in JJannary, 1851. The latter died in July, 1865, and the business was purchased by his brother, Luther C. White, in February, 1866, at which time he admitted Captain Alfred Wells to a partnership. They built up an extensive business in paper and straw board and paper boxes. Following the death of Captain Wells in July, 1886, his interest was purchased by Mr. White on the 21st of March, 1887, at which time his nephew, E. L. White, became interested. In January, 1892, the latter withdrew from the management of the business and was succeeded by George L. White, who remained in active control of the company np to the time of his death on the 1st of December, 1914. He in turn was succeeded by his son, William H. White of this review, who is president and treasurer, with George L. White, Jr., as vice president and William E. Trent, secretary. The company has factories in Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven and Naugatuck which are thoroughly modern in construction and equipment. The business is devoted to the manufacture of paper boxes and has reached extensive proportions.
On the 17th of June. 1903, William H. White was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wade, a daughter of Henry Lawton Wade, who was born in Harrisville, Rhode Island, May 24, 1842, a son of Lawton and Aleph Abby (Handel) Wade. Henry Lawton Wade was married Septem- ber 20. 1877, to Martha Chase Starkweather, and the elder of their two daughters became the wife of William H. White. By this marriage have been born two children: Elizabeth Wade, who was born April 8, 1906, and Henry Wade, born October 1, 1907.
The family attend the First Congregational church and Mr. White is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. In politics he is a republican. He is well known in club circles, belonging to the Waterbury and Waterbury Country Clubs, the University and Yale Clubs of New York, the Graduates Club of New Haven, the Dauntless Club of Essex, the Tunxis Club. the Laurentian Club of Canada, Society of Colonial Wars and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He enjoys all manly outdoor sports and employs his leisure in that way. As a representative of a family long connected with the manufae- turing mterests of Connecticut he has given proof of the possession of those qualities which characterized his forbears and in modern day conditions has directed his efforts so as to continue the success which has always been associated with the name of White in Waterbury.
GEORGE L. WHITE. JR.
George L. White, Jr., now the president and treasurer of the L. C. White Company, was born in Waterbury, July 14, 1878, and is a son of George L. White, of whom mention is made in the sketch of the White family on another page of this work. George L. White, Jr., acquired his education in the Phillips Academy at Andover. Massachusetts. and in Yale, in which he completed the academie course by graduation with the class of 1901. lle also attended the Harvard Law School for a short time, after which he entered business in con- nection with his father's interests. In 1903 he was made secretary of the L. C. White Com- pany and succeeded to the presidency in 1914, at which time he also became treasurer, while W. H. White became the secretary The company employs one hundred people, mostly men. in the manufacture of buttons, upholstering nails and button part novelties. They have developed a splendid line of automatic machinery for use in the factory. That work has largely been done under the charge of the Ludingtons, while members of the White family have had charge of the business management. Their ontput is sold all over the United States
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and in foreign lands to jobbers and manufacturers. George L. White, JJr., is also the vice president of the White & Wells Company, extensive paper box manufacturers.
On the 7th of August, 1907, Mr. White was married to Miss Carolyn Augusta Armstrong, of Ossining, New York. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and fraternally he is a Mason. He is widely known in club circles, holding membership in the Waterbury and Waterbury Country Clubs, the Yale Club of New York, the Laurentian, the Fishers Island Sportsmen's Club, the Tunxis Fishing & Outing Club and the Marshepaug Club. While conducting extensive business interests he has at the same time upheld all those forces which work for the upbuilding and benefit of the community at large.
CHARLES L. CAMPBELL.
Charles L. Campbell has devoted his life to railroad interests and electrical projeets and is now the seeretary and treasurer of The Connecticut Light & Power Company of Waterbury, which is one of the most important corporations of the eity. He was born at St. John, New Brunswick, in the year 1877, and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Partelow) Campbell, both of whom have now passed away. His education was acquired in publie and private schools and after pursuing a high school course he came to Connecticut in 1901, settling at Putnam, where he entered into active connection with street railway work in the aecounting department of the company. In 1904 he removed to New Haven and accepted the position of auditor of The Consolidated Railway Company. In 1911 he removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he was made treasurer of The Dayton Power & Light Company, and in 1912 he came to Waterbury as assistant treasurer of The United Electric Light & Water Company, so continuing until December 15, 1916, when he was made secretary and treasurer. In August, 1917, The United Electric Light & Water Company was consolidated with other similar companies into The Connecticut Light & Power Company and Mr. Campbell was made secre- tary and treasurer of the new company. Each change which he has made indicates a forward step in his business career, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Each opportunity he has quickly grasped, making it yield its utmost, for he is actuated by a spirit of most eominendable and laudable ambition. While at New Haven from 1904 until 1911 he had charge of all of the accounting departments of all the street railway, gas and electric companies controlled by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
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