USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 16
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His son, William Henry Dayton, was named in honor of William Henry Harrison, who was president of the United States at the time of his birth. He spent his youthful days in Daytonville, where he attended school, and began his career as a workman in his father's organ factory. In 1886 he entered the employ of the Excelsior Needle Company, which had just been organized. His first position was a minor one but he rose rapidly through promotions to be master mechanic, in which capacity he served to the time of his demise. He was with the company from its inception and at the time of his death the business had grown to be one of the leading concerns of its kind in the world. Mr. Dayton was an expert in the use of tools, a thorough master of his trade and was considered one of the most skilled artisans in New England. He invented the Dayton swaging machine and much of the automatic machinery used by the Excelsior Needle Company. His swaging idea constituted the initial point for the development of the spoke and nipple business which forms an important part of the Excelsior needle business today. As a representative of the company he made many trips abroad to England, Germany and France and his ability and inventive skill and ingennity placed him in the front rank among those who have upbuilded the industrial development of New England.
In 1867 Mr. Dayton was united in marriage to Miss Clara Case, a daughter of Hosea T. Case, a druggist of Torrington. She passed away in September, 1876, leaving two children: Katherine, who became the wife of Dr. S. M. Hammond and died in 1911, leaving a
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daughter, Betty; and James, who is associated with the Wright-Martin Aeroplane Com- pany of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
William H. Dayton was a member of Torrington Lodge, B. P. O. E. He was also one of the organizers of the old Torrington Band and became its first leader. He always took the deepest interest in everything that pertained to public progress and improvement and in 1888 he joined the Torrington fire department, a volunteer organization, of which he became the first chief engineer. Year after year he was reelected to that position, which he filled at the time of his death. Throughout the entire period he always recom- mended the use of improved fire apparatus and endeavored to keep the department up to the highest standards. In 1888 he was elected a burgess of Torrington and served in that capacity until 1905, when he was elected warden to succeed George Workman, who had passed away. Mr. Dayton filled the position until 1912, having been a member of the board of warden and burgesses for twenty-four years, a record not equalled in the history of Torrington. Many improvements are directly traceable to his efforts. He was head of the borough government in 1911 the year of the widespread typhoid epidemic, and he gave mueh of his time as a member of the relief committee and did valuable work for which he will always be remembered. His daughter, Mrs. Katherine Hanimond, was one of the first persons to die of the fever in that epidemic. He had a strong sense of duty in relation to public affairs and fully met. every obligation that devolved upon him in this connection. He was a most useful and honored citizen of Torrington, was one of New England's foremost inventors and through his efforts contributed to the world's capacity along business lines.
ELI C. BARNUM.
Eli C. Barnum, for twenty-seven years connected with the Naugatuck Water Company as secretary, treasurer and general manager, in which connection he is rendering important public service to the borough in furnishing an adequate supply of pure water obtained from six different reservoirs, has displayed excellent business ability in the management of this interest throughout the entire period of his eonneetion therewith. Litchfield county numbers him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Kent township, December 14, 1844. His father, Beecher Barnum, was a son of Richard and Anna (Blakeman) Barnum, who were farming people of the town of Kent and had a family of six children, of whom Beecher, the eldest, was born in 1800 in Litchfield eounty. His mother's father and three of his brothers, members of the Blakeman family, served in the Revolutionary war. Beecher Barnum became a carpenter and millwright, although reared to manhood on his father's farm. He wedded Sophia Combs, a daughter of Eliud Combs, of Danbury, Connecticut, and his death occurred at Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut, in 1858.
Eli C. Barnum was the youngest in a family of five children and his three brothers, Lafayette, Lewis and Marcus, all of whom were engineers, have passed away. The only daughter, Mary, became the wife of Levi Barnum, of Bridgeport.
Eli C. Barnum acquired a public school education in Kent and Danbury, the family home being established at the latter place when he was ten years of age. A little later, however, they returned to Kent, and after the death of husband and father in 1858, Mrs. Barnum removed with her children to Bridgeport. At a later period Eli C. Barnum went to Botsford Station, Connecticut, where for three years he engaged in clerking in the general store of Oliver Botsford. In 1864 he established his home in Naugatuck, where he has since remained. He sceured a clerkship in the Andrews store and while thus employed he care- fully saved his earnings until his economy and industry had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. In 1868 he turned his attention to general merchandising in connection with C. A. Hotchkiss under the firm style of Hotchkiss & Barnum, buying out the store of Frank Spencer & Sons. The partnership relation existed until 1873, when Mr. Barnum purchased the interest of Mr. Hotchkiss and remained as sole proprietor for twenty years. In 1887 he erected a new business block on Church street and there conducted his store until 1893, when he sold out, having long been prominently identified with the commercial activity of Naugatuck and its consequent development. In the meantime he became associated with the Naugatuck Water Company, of which he was made secretary and treasurer in 1890. He has been the active factor in the development of this enterprise and the success which has attended his efforts is shown in the excellent annual report which he publishes cach year.
In 1868 Mr. Barnum was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ward, a daughter of Loren
ELI C. BARNUM
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and Emily (Hotchkiss) Ward, both representatives of old Naugatuck families. They have become parents of two children. Frederick W., a resident of Sheffield, is married and has two children, Harold and Hazel, who are twins. Earl M., residing in Naugatuck, is con- nected with the Waterbury Clock Company. He is married and has two daughters, Dorothy and Elizabeth.
In politics Mr. Barnum is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire political preferment. However, his influence is always given on the side of progress and improvement and he stands for every measure that he believes will benefit the community. He has been an exemplary representative of Shepherds Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., since 1866 and lie became a charter member of the Red Men. He attends the Congregational church, in which he has been an active and effective worker, and for thirty-three years he has served as church treasurer. He is a man true to his honest convictions, loyal to his spoken word and faithful to every obligation that devolves upon him.
CHARLES GRAVES AGARD.
Charles Graves Agard, who for many years figured prominently in commercial eireles in Torrington and is still a well known figure in connection with banking interests of the city, was born June 29, 1863, in Torrington, and is a son of Bradley R. and Sarah (Graves) Agard, both of whom came from good old Connecticut ancestry. The father was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, January 7, 1816, and was a son of Luman Agard, of Litchfield. In 1839, when about twenty-three years of age, he went to New York city, where he con- ducted a stove and tinware business at Broadway and Fulton street, remaining in the business there for a year. In 1840 he removed to Wolcottville and established himself on East Main street in partnership with C. S. Church, under the firm style of Agard & Church. After a brief period there occurred a change in the partnership, George Church succeeding to the interest of C. S. Church, the firm thus standing for forty years. In 1861 the business was removed to Water and Main streets. In addition to conducting this important mercantile house Mr. Agard became one of the directors of the Alvord Car- riage Company and was a trustee of the Torrington Savings Bank from its organization.
In community affairs Bradley R. Agard took a most active and helpful interest. He was first selectman of his town from 1861 until 1871 and again from 1874 until 1881. His career as a public man and his interest in the welfare of Torrington deserves more than passing notice, for he never neglected an opportunity that enabled him to aid in promoting public progress or in advancing standards of citizenship. During the trying times of the Civil war and the subsequent period he was preeminently the leader in town affairs. When Torrington voted in April, 1861, to furnish arms and clothing for the volunteers, Mr. Agard was made chairman of the committee to make the purchases and take charge of the work. From thenceforward to the close of the war he devoted his time and energy to aiding the soldiers and their dependent families and acted as aid and counsel to many of these families, from whom came frequent calls for assistance. Mr. Agard was chosen to represent Torrington in the general assembly in 1862 and he again represented Torring- ton in the general assembly in 1879. He was a regular attendant at the Congregational church and generously supported its work. On the 3d of November, 1841, he wedded Mary A. Church, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Andrews) Church, of Southington. His wife died September 22, 1858, and their children were Arthur B. and Susan C., wife of Judge G. H. Welch, of Torrington. In 1862 Mr. Agard married Sarah J. Graves, daughter of Judge Jediah Graves of Sherman, Connecticut, whose death occurred July 21, 1913. The children were Charles G. and Olive S., the deceased wife of C. W. Odell, of Philadelphia. She died in 1905. The death of Mr. Agard occurred January 6, 1890, and was the occa- sion of deep and widespread regret. He had been a most loyal and progressive citizen, a leading business man, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father.
His son, Charles Graves Agard, acquired his education in the public schools of Tor- rington and in the Park Avenue Institute of Bridgeport. He embarked in business life with the Agard Hardware Company, which had succeeded to the firm of Agard & Church, formed more than a half century ago. He soon became treasurer and manager of the company and after the death of his father became, in 1890, sole owner of the business. Under his administration the interests of the company were developed along progressive lines and the business was very successfully prosecuted. For several years prior to dis- posing of his hardware store to George D. Lyford in 1916, Mr. Agard had owned it
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individually. In May, 1903, the plans for the present handsome brick structure known as the Agard Block were drawn and the erection of the building was completed in February, 1904. Mr. Agard is still owner of that block and has other extensive real estate holdings in Torrington. He enjoys a large acquaintance in hardware circles in the New England states and was president of the Connecticut Hardware Association in 1895. He is the vice president of the Torrington National Bank and was one of the incorporators of the Torrington Savings Bank. His sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise have consti- tuted important features in business development and progress in this city.
On the 20th of June, 1895, Mr. Agard was married to Mrs. Frank (Raymond) Lyon, of New York city, and they have a daughter, Marjorie G. Agard, who is prominent in social activities of the town. Mr. Agard has always been an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of the principles of the republican party and has shown a deep interest in local affairs and a desire to promote the welfare and upbuilding of his native town. During two of its most prosperous years he was president of the Torrington Business Men's Association. He also served the town in the state house of representatives in 1909 and was a member of the committee on appropriations and the committee on contingent expenses. He proved a valuable factor in procuring legislation favorable to his town and to the county of Litchfield and was prominently instrumental in securing for Torrington its state armory. For many years he has been interested in military matters and as a prominent Knight of Pythias is on the brigade staff of the Uniformed Rank of that organization.' Since its for- mation he has been the first lieutenant of the Torrington Transport Company of the Con- necticut Home Guard. He was one of the incorporators of the Charlotte A. Hungerford Hospital, is a member of the Torrington Club and of the Waterbury Country and Green- woods Country Clubs. He is likewise a member of the Bantam Lake Regatta Association and of the Morris Fish and Game Club. These associations indicate the nature and breadth of his interests which have compassed social activity, military affairs, important business connections and vital public matters. At all times he has been actuated by a spirit of progressivenes that has reached out along better lines for the benefit of the individual and of the community at large.
THE WELTON AND GARRIGUES FAMILIES.
The Welton and and Garrigues families of Waterbury are among the oldest and best known families of this section of New Haven county. The founder of the Welton family in New England was John Welton, who came from England or Wales about 1667 and located with his family at Farmington, Connecticut. In 1679 he came to New Haven county, set- tling at Waterbury, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring June 18, 1726. His wife, who before her marriage was Mary Upson, was also a native of England and came to America with her husband. She died in Waterbury in 1716. They were the parents of ten children.
Their son, Richard Welton, was born in Waterbury, September 27, 1679, and is said to have been the first white male child born in the town. Here he grew to manhood and spent his life as a farmer, passing away in 1775. He wedded Mary Upson, who was born March 5, 1683, a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Lee) Upson and a granddaughter of John Lee, of Farmington, Connectieut.
Eliakim Welton, one of the nine children of Richard and Mary (Upson) Welton, was born January 21, 1715, in Waterbury, and became a large landowner on what is known as Bucks Hill. There he followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life and at his death on the 20th of November, 1794, was laid to rest in Bucks Hill cemetery. He wedded Eunice Bronson, who was a daughter of Moses and Jane (Wiah) Bronson and a descendant of one of the first families of Waterbury. Their family numbered nine children.
Richard Welton, of the fourth generation, was born October 10, 1743, on Bucks Hill, where he grew to manhood and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, becoming a landowner there. He died on his farm February 20, 1820. On the 27th of April, 1766, he had married Margaret Warner, who became the mother of two children and passed away October 19, 1768. For his second wife he chose Hannah Davis, who lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four years, her death occurring December 11, 1839, when her remains were interred in the Bucks Hill cemetery. She was the mother of seven children.
Joseph Davis Welton, son of Richard and Hannah Welton, was born April 15, 1783, was reared on the homestead farm and was educated for the ministry, after which he was ordained a deacon of the Episcopal church December 18, 1802, and became priest of the church
Joseph Welton
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Joseph Welton
MRS. JABEEBY WELT.0
Levis Garrigues
Levis Garriga
Eunice C. Garrigues.
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December 23, 1810. He had charge of churches at Woodhury and Easton for a period of nine years but on account of impaired health he had to give up his holy calling and settled down to a quieter life. He located on the farm of his father-in-law, Victory Tomlinson, known as the Zara Warden farm, and there he conducted a private school, fitting young men for college. Upon that place he spent his remaining days, his death occurring January 16, 1825, while he was still in the prime of young manhood. In St. John's Episcopal church in Waterbury there has heen erected to his memory a haptismal font of carved marble, pre- sented to the church by Hohart V. Welton. Rev. Joseph Davis Welton was married in Waterhury to Eunice Tomlinson, who was born April 27, 1788, and died February 20, 1832.
Their son, Joseph Welton, was horn on the Victory Tomlinson farm May 15, 1814, and was one of four children. He acquired a good education and at the age of fourteen years, while still in school, he made a careful survey and prepared an outline map of the Green in Waterbury Center which is still preserved and which furnished useful information for the Anderson history of Waterhury. He lived on the Wolcott road until 1836, when he removed to the west side of the Naugatuck river in the Bunker Hill district, where he followed farming and spent the residue of his days. As a husiness venture he and Leonard Platt imported a large number of Norway spruce trees, which they planted, and some of these arc still growing on the farm. His death occurred May 1, 1894, and his remains were interred in Riverside cemetery. In politics he was a stanch whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He held membership in the Episcopal church and was well known and highly respected, his many excellent traits of character gaining him the warm regard of all. On the 20th of January, 1836, he wedded Mary S. Pierpont, a daughter of Seabury Pierpont, a representative of one of the best known families of Connecticut. They hecame parents of three children. Homer Heher married Ellen Jennette Garrigues and had three children: Julia A., who hecame the wife of Walter Warner; Joseph Dennison; and Edith J. The second of the family was Eunice C., and the younger daughter, Lucy A., horn November 14, 1841, is now the wife of A. B. Pierpont.
Eunice C. Welton was born in Waterbury, Octoher 7, 1839, and became the wife of Orrin Scott. Following his death she married Lewis Garrigues. The Garrigues family from whom he was descended was of French extraction. The founder of the family in America was David Garrigues, who came to this country as an exile from France during a period of religious persecution there. He settled in Philadelphia and died leaving a large family, most of whom had adopted the religion of the Society of Friends. His son, Jacoh Garrigues, was born in Philadelphia and hecame a resident of Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, where he owned land and followed farming, devoting his remaining days to agricultural pursuits there. He had a family of nine children and four of his sons participated in the war of the Revolution.
John Garrigues, son of Jacob Garrigues, was born on the old homestead in Hanover town- ship, Morris county, New Jersey, and made farming his, life work. He married Elizabeth Shipman and they were the parents of six children, including Isaac Garrigues, who was born in Hanover township in 1798. There he grew to manhood and became a smelter and charcoal hurner. He continued to make his home in Morris county until his death, which occurred in August, 1865. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics was originally a whig and afterward a republican. In 1822 he married Sarah Sheppard, a daughter of John Sheppard, and they had a family of fourteen children: Mary Ann, who became the wife of George Griswold; David, who married Arminda L. Birch; Euphemia K., the wife of John Mesler; Isaac Newton, who married Caroline M. Twiss and is now deceased; Harriet, who died in childhood; Phebe, the wife of John Totton; Lewis; Cyrus, who married Hannah M. Douglass : Jacoh Henry; Elizabeth Sarah, who hecame the wife of Jacob Van Slike; Charlotte, the wife of James Johnson; Horace, who married Maria Dailey; Ellen Jennette, the wife of Homer H. Welton; and Aaron. The mother of these children passed away in 1883 at the home of her son, Jacoh Henry, in Wolcott.
Lewis Garrigues, son of Isaac Garrigues, was horn in Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, in 1834 and was there reared to the age of sixteen years, after which he came to Connecticut, settling in the vicinity of Waterhury, where he learned the wood finishing business. In course of time he hecame engaged in fine wood working and finishing and for a period conducted business at Waterville as manufacturer of and dealer in fine wood mold- ings and kindred lines. He remained in that field of business sucessfully for many years, maintaining his home in Waterhury, where he passed away December 22. 1907, his remains being laid to rest in Riverside cemetery. His political allegiance was given the republican party and he attended the Congregational church. He was married in Waterbury to Miss Julia Elizabeth Parsons, who died leaving two children: Alice B., who was a successful school teacher in Wolcott, Thomaston and Bridgeport, is now a religious missionary of the Vol. III-6
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Pentecostal Society and is stationed at St. Johns, Newfoundland; and Albert Parsons, a retired railroad man. For his second wife Mr. Garrigues married Eunice C. Welton, a daughter of Joseph Welton. She resides on Circuit avenue in Waterbury. She takes a deep interest in the growth and progress of the city as well as being much devoted to lier family. Three children were born of that marriage. Mary L. became the wife of John Morrow and has two children: Helen, who died in infancy; and Richard Joseph, born April 27, 1906. Gertrude, the second daughter, is the wife of Edward Croft and they had three children : Edward Welton, who died in infancy; Harry Packard; and Robert Wallace. Frederick Lewis, the youngest of the family, married Sarah Wilber Hayward and has one child, Eunice Welton.
AUSTIN B. PIERPONT.
Important property and business interests both in Connecticut and in Florida claim the attention of Austin B. Pierpont, a representative of one of the old and well known families of this section of the state, living at East Farms near Waterbury. He was born February 11, 1849, on the farm which was also the birthplace of his father, Charles J. Pierpont, who wedded Mary Ann Warner. It was in colonial days that the family was established in Connecticut and Ezra Pierpont, the great-grandfather of Austin B. Pierpont, was a soldier in the war for independence. He was a public-spirited citizen, cooperating heartily in move- ments for the general good, and he served for a long period as selectman and in other local offices. He reared a large family, all of his sons operating farms in the town of Waterbury, while two of the number, Luther and Austin, loyally defended their country in the War of 1812. The latter became a prosperous farmer and the owner of the property whereon occurred the birth of his son Charles and of his grandson, Austin B. Pierpont. He married Sally Beecher, of Waterbury, and they became the parents of seven children who reached adult age: Enos A., who became a farmer and butcher of Waterbury, where his death occurred; Ezra A., who followed farming and also engaged in the sale of oysters in the town of Water- bury; Minerva, who became the wife of Amos Moss, a farmer and carpenter of Cheshire; Jennette, the wife of Amos J. Beers, a wholesale fruit dealer of New Haven; William S., a carpenter of Waterbury; and Ellen, the wife of Lorenzo Peck, a merchant of New Haven.
Charles J. Pierpont gave his attention to farming and to the butchering business in Waterbury, where he spent his entire life. He married Mary A. Warner, a daughter of Jared Warner, a farmer of the town of Waterbury and a soldier of the War of 1812. Her grand- father was Justus Warner, a representative of one of the old colonial familics. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Pierpont took up their abode on the old homestead, where they reared their family of six children: Charles J .; Austin B .; Ellen C., who became the wife of George W. Conner; Wilson L .; Merritt E .; and Mary A., who married Charles S. Miller. The family adhered to the faith of the Episcopal church and the father gave his political allegiance to the democratic party.
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