USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 51
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Platt, who was born at Thomaston, Connecticut, and they have three children: Raymond A., Dorothy and James L. Mr. Smith follows an independent course politically. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason and is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Early recognizing the eternal principle that industry wins, he made it the beacon light of his life and along the line of indefatigable energy he has reached his present posi- tion in connection with one of the large and important industrial interests of his adopted city.
HON. JOHN F. MCGRATH.
Hon. John F. McGrath, a member of the Connecticut bar and now serving as judge of the Waterbury city court, has thus come to a position of prominence in the city of his birth, his record standing in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country. He was born June 24, 1878, and is a son of Edward McGrath, a well known citizen of Waterbury, who for many years was engaged in the real estate business but is now living retired. He married Annie L. Fruin, who passed away in 1910. In the family were but two sons, the elder being William J. McGrath, a resident of Water- bury.
Judge MeGrath spent a year in the Holy Cross College of Massachusetts and two years in St. Francis College at Brooklyn, New York. He then entered upon the study of law in the Yale Law School in 1899 and was graduated therefrom with the LL. B. degree in 1902. He opened an office in Waterbury and through the intervening years his practice has steadily grown in volume and importance. His name has figured in connection with many of the leading cases heard in the courts of this district. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he has been called upon to fill several public offices, most of which have been in the direct path of his profession. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of the city court from 1907 until 1911, when he was made prosecuting attorney and so continued for five years, or until 1916, when he was appointed judge of the city court of Waterbury by Governor Holcomb to fill out the unexpired term of the late Patrick J. McMahon. In January, 1917, he was reappointed to the office by the general assembly and is still serving upon the bench.
On the 12th of October, 1902, Judge MeGrath was married to Miss Annie L. Merritt, of Jackson, Tennessee, who died September 25, 1908. On the 30th of June, 1910, he wedded Frances A. Fallon, of Lee, Massachusetts, and they have had two children: John F., who was born July 28, 1913; and Eleanor, born November 15, 1915.
The religious faith of the family is indicated in the fact that they are communicants of St. Margaret's Catholic church and Judge McGrath also holds membership with the Knights of Columbus and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party, of which he is a stalwart champion, and in 1913 he was called upon to represent his district in the state senate. In 1914 he was his party's candidate for mayor. The major part of his attention, however, has been given to his professional duties and he has the qualities which work for success and prominence at the bar, being a clear thinker and a logical reasoner.
SAMUEL R. BRISTOL.
Samuel R. Bristol, secretary of The Bristol Company, manufacturers of recording instru- ments, with plant and head office at Waterbury, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, May 12, 1885, a son of Franklin B. and Cora (Russell) Bristol, natives of Waterbury and of Bridgeport respectively. The former was a son of B. H. Bristol, of whom mention is made in connection with the sketch of W. H. Bristol on another page of this work. The father was a machinist and tool maker of Waterbury who was long associated with industrial activity in this city as a representative of Platt Brothers & Company and other business firms. He became one of the organizers of The Bristol Company, of which he was made vice president and so continued until the time of his death, which occurred on the 21st of November, 1904. He was in charge of the factory of the company, while his brother, W. H. Bristol, who was the president, continued as an instructor in college. Mrs. Franklin B. Bristol still survives and makes her home in Waterbury.
Samuel R. Bristol completed his education by graduation from the Naugatuck high
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school and received his business training with The Bristol Company, which is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. He entered the factory, where he was employed in various departments, thus gaining knowledge of the practical operation of the plant. Later he be- came eonneeted with the purchasing department and so continued until 1908, gaining fur- ther experience in the business from a different angle. He was afterward elected secretary of the company and has continued in that position, thus having voice in the management of a business which in extent, importance and in the nature of its output ranks second to none in the country.
In 1906 Mr. Bristol was united in marriage to Miss Edna Hamilton, of Naugatuck, Con- necticut, a daughter of Henry W. and Julia (Talboy) Hamilton. Their children are Hamil- ton, Muriel, Harold and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Bristol are members of the Congregational church of Naugatuck, where the family home is maintained. He is a republican but is not inclined toward politics, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his busi- ness affairs. His success is undoubtedly due, in part at least, to the fact that he has always continued in the same line in which he embarked as a young man, mastering every phase of the business in production, and in the purchase, sales and executive departments.
JOSEPH A. NORTON.
Joseph A. Norton is a representative young business man of Winsted, being promi- nently identified with several interests that contribute in marked measure to the material upbuilding and prosperity of the city. He was born in Winsted, July 11, 1884, and is a representative in the tenth generation of the descendants of Le Seigneur de Norville, who on the 29th of September, 1066, accompanied William the Conqueror to England and thus aided in changing the history of the world. He was constable to the Conqueror and became a resident of England. The name Norville, as it was originally spelled, was Freneh and signified North Village. Later generations changed it to the present orthography, the name Norton meaning North-town. It is believed that all those who bear the name of Norton in England, Ireland and America were descended from Le Seigneur de Norville. The first member of the family in the United States was George Norton, who was born in England and in 1629 came to the new world, settling in Salem, Massachusetts, where he took the freeman's oath on the 14th of May, 1634. He was connected with a com- pany that in 1640 obtained leave from the general court to settle Jeffrey's Creek, after- ward called Manchester. About 1641 he went to Gloucester and was representative of that town from 1642 to 1644, when he returned to Salem. It is supposed that he was a car- penter by trade and he built the first Congregational church of Salem, the frame of which is still preserved by the Essex Historical Institute of that place. His death occurred in 1659. To him and his wife Mary were born the following named: Freegrace, born in 1635; John, in October, 1637: Nathaniel, in May, 1639; George, whose birth occurred Mareh 28, 1641; Henry, born February 28, 1643; Mehitable, born in 1645; Sarah, born September 14, 1647; Habbah, born in 1649; Abigail, born in 1651; and Elizabeth, born August 7, 1653.
George Norton, son of the immigrant ancestor, was born March 28, 1641, and on the 7th of October, 1669, married Sarah Hart, who died at Suffield, July 23, 1682. His second wife was Mrs. Mercy Gillett, the widow of Windsor Gillett. At different periods George Norton (II) resided in Salem, in Ipswich and in Suffield, Connecticut. In the latter place a grant of sixty acres of land was made to him on the 14th of September, 1674. The settlement was broken up the following year on account of King Philip's war but the people returned in 1676-7 and the name of George Norton, as that of one of the citizens, occurs on the records as early as September 25, 1677. In the list of voters, March 9, 1682, he is called Ensign Norton. He became a selectman in 1693 and that year was sent to the general court in Boston, at which time he was called Captain Norton. He died Novem- ber 15, 1696. His first five children were born in Ipswich, namely: George, whose natal day was November 10, 1671; Thomas, born November 10, 1674; Nathaniel, born June 30, 1676; Sarah, born July 12, 1677; and Alice, who became the wife of Robert Kimbal. There were two other children of the first marriage, both named Samuel. The elder was born January 22, 1679, and died on the 2d of February of that year. The other was born April 9, 1681, and passed away on the 27th of April following. By his second wife George Norton had the following children: John, who was born June 12, 1683, and died June 16, 1683; Mary Jane, whose birth occurred June 18, 1685; Abigail, who was born Jan- nary 14, 1687, and passed away on the 21st of October. 1705; Freegrace, who was born January 1. 1689: Joanna, born March 17. 1693: and Elizabeth, born Mareh 19. 1697.
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George Norton (III) was born November 10, 1671, in Ipswich, and his life record spanned the years to the 13th of February, 1742. He married Hannah Youngglove and after her death wedded Mrs. Martha Stiles, widow. His children were as follows: George, Thomas, Nathaniel, Sarah, Alice, Samuel, Mary, Abigail, Freegrace, Joanna, Joanna, the second of the name, and Elizabeth, All were born of the first marriage.
Nathaniel Norton, of the fourth generation, was born in Suffield in 1702 and died in 1776. To him and his wife, Mercy, there was born one son, Captain Jonathan Norton, whose birth occurred in 1739 and who passed away at Otis, Massachusetts, in 1830. He purchased twenty acres of land in Otis, April 24, 1787. He there enlisted for service in the Revolution, becoming first lientenant in the company of Captain Jacob Cook, Jr., of the Berkshire County Regiment, and was commissioned May 5, 1776. He was a lieutenant of the same company in Colonel Ashley's regiment in the summer of 1777 at Saratoga and also of Captain Samuel Warner's company, Colonel John Brown's regiment, for three months in 1780.
Jonathan Norton (II), son of Captain Jonathan Norton, was born in Otis, June 8, 1761, and was the father of Joel H. Norton, who was born March 19, 1785, at Otis. He was educated in the public schools and for many years followed the profession of teach- ing. He also engaged in farming. On the 22d of March, 1810, he wedded Ann Hunt, daughter of Joseph Hunt. She was born in Paxton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, April 12, 1788, and died at Blandford, August 31, 1873, while the death of Joel H. Norton occurred at Blandford, October 23, 1846. Their children were Eunice, Harrison, Joseph H., Chauncey, George, Ann Eliza, Permelia, Lyman R. and John P.
Of this family Joseph Hunt Norton became the grandfather of Joseph Allen Norton of this review. He was born in Tolland, Massachusetts, March 29, 1814, acquired a public school education and spent his youthful days on his father's farm until he reached the age of fifteen, when he began working for an uncle as a farm hand at six dollars per month. For four seasons he had charge of a carding machine and also made linseed oil in the village of Otis for his uncle. In 1835 he was employed for a short period as clerk in the store of Lucius Gibbs and afterward became a salesman of silverware and jewelry for Isaac Miller, of West Granville, whom he represented in all parts of the coun- try. Later he served as salesman for another firm for a year and then embarked in business on his own account, continuing active until December, 1841, when he purchased the store of Pomeroy & Norton at New Boston, Massachusetts, there remaining in busi- ness for sixteen years. He was also a leading factor in public affairs, serving as selectman, as assessor for several years and as postmaster. At the urgent solicitation of leading busi- ness men in Winsted he accepted the management of the Winsted Manufacturing Com- pany. September 4, 1862, being officially designated as agent, secretary and treasurer. He afterward became president of the company, with his son, Allen H. Norton, as sercetary, and developed one of the largest manufactories devoted to the making of scythes in this country. He was also a director of the Hurlbut National Bank and a trustee of the Mechanics Savings Bank, while of the Winsted Real Estate Company he was the president. His political allegiance was given to the whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party and continued to follow its banners throughout his remaining days. His religious faith was that of the Congregational church and to its teachings he loyally adhered. He was married March 7, 1849, to Maria L. Hawley, who was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, and they became parents of two children, Allen H. and Mary A.
Allen H. Norton, the only son, was born in New Boston, December 22, 1849, and died in Winsted on the 22d of May, 1901. After attending public and private schools he be- came connected with the Winsted Manufacturing Company and devoted his entire life to the business, succeeding his father in the presidency. He wedded Mary Miller, a daughter of David Miller, and they became parents of a daughter, Helen, who died in childhood.
Their only son, Joseph Allen Norton, whose name introduces this record, was born in Winsted in 1884 and supplemented his early educational training, received in the town schools, by a study in the Hotchkiss school at Lakeville, Connecticut. He is now -president of the Winsted Manufacturing Company and is of the third generation in that capacity. This company manufactures grass, grain, brush, weed and lawn scythes and hay and corn knives. The business was established in 1835, when it was incorporated. At that time they manufactured both scythes and axes, but at present scythes are the staple product of their factories. The plant is located on Still river, about a half mile from East Green, and their product is sold all over the United States, their scythes being considered standards of value. Aside from being president of this company Joseph A. Norton is also the secretary of the Winsted Edge Tool Works, the vice president of the First National Vol. III-17
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Bank, president of the Winsted Real Estate Company and a director of a number of other Winsted corporations.
In 1905 Mr. Norton was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Rood, a daughter of Charles G. and Mary (Griswold) Rood, of New Hartford, Connecticut. They have three children: Helen Mary, born March 6, 1908; Ruth Miller, born March 7, 1911; and Frances Rood, born May 25, 1913. Mr. Norton is well known in fraternal and social connections. He is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Mason; a member of the Mystic Shrine and also a member of the Winsted Club.
FRANKLIN B. DANIELS.
Franklin B. Daniels, assistant manager for the American Brass Company with the Benedict & Burnham branch at Waterbury, was called to his present position in 1917. His identification with that company, however, covers a quarter of a century and spells thorough- ness, reliability and efficiency, qualities which have won him promotion to his present place of responsibility. He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, July 16, 1869, and is a son of Charles E. and Emma D. (Moore) Daniels, the former a contractor and builder.
After obtaining a public school education Franklin B. Daniels at the age of seventeen years started out in the business world as clerk in a retail store in Boston and was a youth of nineteen when in November, 1888, he came to Waterbury. Here he was employed in various connections, being cashier with the W. F. Brett Clothing Company for a short time and afterward filling other positions until the 22d of March, 1892, when he became con- nected with the brass manufacturing industry as an employe of the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company. His position was a clerical one and he has since been identified with office work, eventually advancing to the position of assistant manager. He is well equipped for his duties by reason of his preliminary training and experience and the office end of the business is thoroughly systematized, everything being managed in a most method- ical manner, while as directing head Mr. Daniels has that initiative which enables him to readily adapt forces to conditions and needs.
On the 8th of November, 1892, occurred the marriage of Mr. Daniels and Miss Annette F. Wardsworth of Saxonville, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters: Mildred E., who is a graduate of the Crosby high school and the wife of Emerson L. Bray, of Water- bury; and Alice W., who is attending high school.
Mr. Daniels votes with the republican party as far as national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot, where the question for consideration is the capability of the candidate in the discharge of his duties relative to the business management of city or county. He belongs to the First Congregational church and is a member of Townsend Lodge, No. 89, I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic fraternity. In the latter organization he is prominently and widely known. He has served for twenty years as secretary of Continental Lodge, No. 76, F. & A. M., and is now one of its trustees; is past commander of Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T., has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and is a director of the Waterbury Masonic Temple Corporation. His life is an exemplification of the craft and he is in full sympathy with its purposes and projects. In fact, loyalty is one of his marked characteristics, a fact indicated by twenty- five years' service with the corporation which he still represents.
GEORGE H. MANVILLE.
Actuated by a spirit of initiative and ever watchful of the road leading to success, George H. Manville possesses the courage to venture where favoring opportunity points the way and his even-paced energy and ability have carried him into important business relations. He is well known in the manufacturing circles of Waterbury as president and treasurer of the G. H. Manville Pattern & Model Company. His birth occurred in this city in 1861, his parents being E. J. and Mary (Potter) Manville, who were natives of Watertown and of Naugatuck respectively. The father was born March 13, 1823, and was a son of Cyrus and Polly (Hickox) Manville. Cyrus Manville was a son of David Manville, a south-of- France Huguenot, who came to the United States about 1735 and settled in Watertown. where he followed the occupation of farming. Cyrus Manville also devoted his life to agri- cultural pursuits. but E. J. Manville became a mechanic, learning his trade in Naugatuck
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with the Naugatuck Machine Company. He was employed by various concerns and spent a few years in Meriden but eventually returned to Waterbury, where he worked at his trade. He was with the firm of Blake & Johnson during the period of the Civil war and while with them perfected the first cartridge heading machine, which was sold to the Winchester Arms Company. While he was superintendent of the New England Buckle Company he built the "Four Way" automatic wire forming machine, which is still exten- sively used. He was the first man to make a safety pin and produced the automatic machines for their manufacture. He was also the first man to swage a cold wire. In 1874 he in- vented the Manville shaper and he devised various other ingenious machines. He was one of the most prominent of the mechanical experts of the state and did more for the mechanical development of the valley perhaps than any other one man. He died in Waterbury on the 30th of October, 1886, at the age of sixty-three years, while his widow survived until May 4, 1892. In their family were six children. Robert Cyrus, who died in January, 1912, was an expert mechanic and engaged in business with his brother, George H. Franklin Burr, who passed away in March, 1912, was also in business with George H. Fred J. and William W. are still residents of Waterbury. Emma J. died at the age of five years and George H. completes the family.
The last named was graduated from the Waterbury high school. When a youth of seventeen he began work with his father, who then had a small shop in Waterbury, and was associated with him until his death. The E. J. Manville Company was formed in May, 1885, with E. J. Manville as president, R. C. Manville as treasurer, W. W. Manville, secretary, and F. B., F. J. and G. H. Manville as directors. Upon the death of the father the sous took over the business but sold out in 1894. The firm of Manville Brothers was organized in 1897 and incorporated by R. C., W. W. and G. H. Manville. They conducted the business until they sold out to the Rowbottom Machine Company. In 1902, however, George H. Manville had withdrawn from the Manville Brothers Company and in 1911 he organized the G. H. Man- ville Pattern & Model Company, which was incorporated in 1913, at which time he became the president and treasurer. with H. E. Manville as the secretary. They began business at No. 42 Walnut street and on the 1st of April, 1917, removed to No. 32 Walnut street. where they are occupying a building seventy-five by thirty-five feet in the manufacture of wood patterns. Theirs is regarded as the best pattern shop in New England and they employ ten expert patternmakers.
On the 20th of May, 1885, Mr. Manville was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Comber, who was born in Waterbury, a daughter of Thomas Comber. They have one child. Harold E., who is a graduate of the Waterbury high school. in which he completed the technical course, and is now in business with his father.
In politics Mr. Manville is a republican and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, but he con- centrates almost his entire time and attention upon his business affairs, which have been carefully directed. He comes of a family noted for mechanical ingenuity, the name of Man- ville being associated with some of the most important inventions and the manufacture of somne of the most valuable mechanical devices produced in this city.
ROBERT CYRUS MANVILLE.
Robert Cyrus Manville, who was for some years president of the E. J. Manville Ma- chine Company and also of the Manville Brothers Company, was born in Watertown, March 1, 1847, and acquired his edueation in the schools of that place while spending his youthful days in the home of his father, Eli J. Manville. He seemed to have inherited the mechanical taste and talent of his father and when eighteen years of age he began learning machine making under him while the latter was yet in the employ of the Turner & Seymour Manu- facturing Company of Wolcottville. In 1867 Robert C. Manville returned to Waterbury, where he worked at his trade as a machinist and tool maker and in 1880 entered into active connection with the E. J. Manville Company. In 1882 he produced his first design and draw- ings, which were of an automatic chain machine. He afterward made the designs for nearly all of the machines constructed by the E. J. Manville Machine Company and upon the death of his father he succeeded to the presidency of that company, remaining at its head until the business was sold out in 1894. In 1897 he became one of the organizers of the Man- ville Brothers Company and he continued an active factor in the industrial eireles of the city up to the time of his demise.
On the 16th of April, 1874, Robert C. Manville was married to Miss Rachel Maria Shepard, a daughter of Edward Shepard. of Portland and they became the parents of two
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sons, Charles Robert and Wade Shepard. The death of the husband and father occurred in 1912 and the manufacturing interests of the city lost one who had made valuable con- tribution thereto.
R. G. STEWART.
R. G. Stewart, secretary and treasurer of the Autoyre Company, is active in the control of one of the more recently established but rapidly growing business enterprises of Waterbury and is a young man of marked energy whose well devised plans are bringing to him a notable and merited success. He was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, in 1885, a son of W. G. and Mary E. (McMurtry) Stewart. The father was a woolen mill employe and R. G. Stewart after acquiring a public school education turned his attention to the same line of business, entering the Curtis woolen mill at a salary of ten dollars per month. He has been in the employ of several factories of the city, being associated at different periods with the Scovill Manufacturing Company, the Waterbury Clock Com- pany, the Blake & Johnson Company and many others of the big concerns of Water- bury. Each change was a step in advance, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities.
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