History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 36

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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The Windham Bank was incorporated August 8th, 1842, being located in the central village of Windham. The following per- sons were then made directors: John Baldwin, George Spafford, Justin Swift, Stephen Hosmer, Thomas Gray, William C. Dor- rance, John Webb, Chauncey F. Cleveland, John A. Rockwell and Abner Hendee. The officers were: John Baldwin, presi- dent ; Joel W. White, cashier. The salary of the cashier was fixed at $350 a year, to begin when he should give his bonds for $50,- 000. September 17th Mr. White resigned, and Samuel Bingham was unanimously appointed in his place as cashier, which posi- tion he held until March 17th, 1886. April 3d, 1850, Henry S. Walcott was elected president, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Baldwin. The bank was organized as a national bank June 21st, 1865. January 9th, 1872, Thomas Ramsdell was elected president, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Walcott. In March, 1879, the bank was removed from Windham to the borough of Willimantic. Mr. Ramsdell resigned the presidency, and Guilford Smith was elected in his place January 12th, 1886. March 17th, 1886, the resignation of Samuel Bing- ham was accepted, and H. Clinton Lathrop was elected cashier in his stead. The capital stock of the bank is at present $100,- 000; surplus, $7,500 ; profits, $11,753; deposits, $182,882. The present officers are : Guilford Smith, president; Mason Lincoln, vice-president : H. Clinton Lathrop, cashier. The directors are

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Guilford Smith, Mason Lincoln, Henry Larrabee, Charles Smith, Thomas Ramsdell, George Lathrop, Frank F. Webb, Albert R. Morrison and Charles A. Capen. A robbery occurred to the bank in the year 1854, the particulars of which are given from the personal recollection of one of its officers as follows :

" Friday, November 17th, 1854 .- Windham Bank was entered by three men, with false keys, about eight o'clock last evening, and when the clerk, James Parsons, who slept in the bank, en- tered about nine o'clock, he was taken by two of the men, in the dark, after he had locked the door; a handkerchief was put over his eyes and he laid on the bed and watched by one man while the others broke open the vault and took about $7,000 in specie and about $2,000 of other bank bills and $13,000 of Windham bank bills. After gagging Mr. Parsons and con- fining his hands and feet, they locked the door and went to Bingham's Crossing on the N. L. N. Railway and waited while one went to Willimantic and took a hand-car from the Hart- ford & Providence Road and took them to Norwich, where they arrived about 5:30 in the morning. They were fright- ened when they heard that the news had got there before them, and crossed the river, entering the woods between Lau- rel Hill and Allyn's Point, where they were watched until the steamboat train arrived for New York. They then boarded the steamboat. There the sheriff and his assistants were wait- ing with Mr. Tingley, who pointed them out to the officers, and they were arrested. About $21,000 of the money was found while the boat was going from Allyn's Point to New York, Sat- urday night. At their trial in Windham they gave the names of Jones, Crandall, Scott & Wilson.

"About November 1st, 1854, a large man came to Williman- tic and stopped at the hotel then kept by William Tingley on the south side of the river (The Hebard House). It was after- ward thought that his business was to make arrangements for the men to rob Windham Bank. He stayed but a short time, then disappeared. On or about November 2d, three men stopped at the same place. They went out in the evening but came back about ten o'clock and took an early morning train to New York, via Hartford. While they were at breakfast Mr. Tingley felt of their carpet bag and was satisfied that there was a bit-stock and other burglars' tools in it. He came to the conclusion that they were there for the purpose of robbing

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some place in Willimantic. One of the arrested men in reply to some questions, stated that they came there at the time named above and walked to the Windham Bank to rob it that night. They broke their key and went back to New York, made another key and were gone two weeks, before they came to complete the business. When the lock was taken from the outside door of the bank, the piece of a key was found in it, which helped to confirm his story."

The Willimantic Savings Institute was incorporated by act of legislature in 1842, approved by the then Governor Chauncey F. Cleveland of this county. The incorporators were Oliver Kings- ley, Jr., John Tracy, Lloyd E. Baldwin, James D. Hosmer, Joshua B. Lord, Royal Jennings, Samuel Lee, Horace Hall, William L. Jillson, Laban Chase, Newton Fitch, Lewis Gager, Lucien H. Clark, Amos Palmer and Waterman C. Clark. The first meeting of incorporators was held June 18th, 1842. The first officers then chosen were: Oliver Kingsley, Jr., president ; Royal Jen- nings, vice-president ; John Tracy, secretary and treasurer ; Wil- liam L. Jillson, Lloyd E. Baldwin, Joshua B. Lord, Horace Hall, Laban Chase, directors. Oliver Kingsley, Jr., held the office of president until his death, in 1846. He was succeeded by Horace Hall, who acceptably filled that position until 1870, when John Tracy was chosen president. Mr. Tracy had acted as treasurer since the incorporation, a period of 28 years, and a resolution acknowledging his fidelity and ability in that position was unan- imously given him by the board. At this time Henry F. Royce was chosen secretary and treasurer. In 1869 a fine brick and stone building was erected on the corner of Main and Bank streets, which affords excellent facilities for the transaction of banking business in the corner room on the first floor. The bal- ance of the building, on the ground floor and the second and third floors, used as stores and offices. On the death of Mr. Tracy, in May, 1874, Whiting Hayden, who had for a long time been vice-president, was elected president. He continued in that capacity until his death, which occurred June 20th, 1886, when he was succeeded by Edwin A. Buck, the then vice-presi- dent, who still remains at the head of the institute. Henry F. Royce, having held the position of secretary and treasurer since 1870, was suspended March 23d, 1888, and Frank F. Webb was appointed, at first temporarily, and in June following elected by the trustees at their annual meeting, to the office of secretary

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and treasurer, which place he still holds. This institution, from a small beginning increased with the growth of the place until the deposits amounted to nearly $1,000,000, and has divided a large amount of profits with its depositors.

The Dime Savings Bank of Willimantic was organized in May, 1872, and was incorporated under the state law in the same year. Its original incorporators were Silas F. Loomer, James Walden, Horace Hall, James G. Martin, Henry G. Taintor, Ansel Arnold, George W. Burnham, Madison Woodward, Porter B. Peck, John M. Hall, Hyde Kingsley, James M. Johnson, William C. Jillson, Fred. Rogers, S. O. Vinlen, George Lincoln, George W. Hanna, E. P. Packer, J. Dwight Chaffee and George W. Mc- Farland. The bank commenced business September 21st, 1872. Its first officers were : Silas F. Loomer, president ; O. H. K. Ris- ley, secretary and treasurer. The amount on deposit October 1st, 18SS, was about $600,000. Its present officers are : James Walden, president ; John L. Walden, secretary and treasurer.

James Walden was born in Exeter, Conn., October 26th, 1825, and came to Willimantic with his parents in 1828. He was the youngest son of Silas and Jane (Rose) Walden, and commenced at the age of thirteen to work in the Windham Company's mill, being engaged in the dressing department. About 1850 he en- gaged in the book and stationery business in Willimantic, which he carried on successfully till 1887, but during this time was also agent for Adams Express Company. He was also postmaster and had charge of the telegraph office here. He was elected president of the Dime Savings Bank, July 21st, 1880, and since that date has devoted much of his time to that institution. He married Amanda M., daughter of James Hempstead, and has three children-James H., a resident of New York city; Jessie L., wife of H. C. H. Palmer, of Sing Sing, N. Y .; John L., born in Willimantic, April 10th, 1861, and married Bell N., daughter of Henry Herrick, and who is the present secretary and treasu- rer of the Dime Savings Bank of Willimantic.

The Merchants' Loan .& Trust Company, organized for the double purpose of doing the business of a trust company and a general banking business, opened for business February 1st, 1871. A. C. Crosby was president, and J. F. Preston, treasurer ; William C. Jillson, vice-president, and O. H. K. Risley, assistant treasurer. In March, 1873, the two latter became respectively president and treasurer. The company continued doing active

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banking business until July, 1878, when that department was: turned over to the First National Bank, and the company con- tinued to do simply a trust business until the present time. The officers last mentioned remain to the present time. The com- pany has a capital of $50,000, and its office is with the First Na- tional Bank.

The First National Bank was organized in June, 1878, with a capital of $100,000. Its officers were: William C. Jillson, presi- dent ; Ansel Arnold, vice-president ; Oliver H .K. Risley, cashier. They remain in their respective positions at the present time. The first board of directors were as follows, all except those marked * remaining in the board at present. Those marked have withdrawn, and their places have not been supplied, so the board now numbers but six : William C. Jillson, Ansel Arnold, O. H. K. Risley, James M. Johnson,* Hyde Kingsley,* Amos T. Fowler, Silas F. Loomer,* E. Stevens Henry, Stephen G. Ris- ley.

The United Bank Building, one of the finest business blocks in the town, standing on the north side of Main street, in the heart of the borough, was erected in 1884, by the First National and Dime Savings Banks. The imposing front is made attrac- tive by artistic designs in terra cotta work, and still further set off by plate-glass windows at the first story, surmounted by cir- cular transoms in cathedral style. The interior arrangement is in accord with the best modern ideas of convenience and com- fort ; the plumbing, heating and lighting represent the latest improved methods, and the polished cherry woodwork and hard- finished walls give a pleasing effect. The first floor is occupied by the banks, one on either side of the spacious central entrance, which gives access to the offices above.

One of the largest business blocks in the borough is the Tur- ner block. It was erected in 1877, and is a substantial five-story brick structure with a three-story extension. The main build- ing, with the exception of the store floor, is occupied as the Hotel Commercial, a well-kept house under the popular management of Mrs. P. A. Babcock. The block is named in honor of Mr. A. S. Turner, a leading druggist, who occupies an elegant store in the extension.

Loomer Opera House is one of the most substantial buildings in the borough. It is built of brick, the walls being not less than sixteen inches thick in any part. The fronts on Main and

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

North streets are of pressed brick. The size of the building is- 72 by 125 feet, four stories high. The ground floor is occupied by stores, while the upper floors along the Main street front are occupied by offices of various kind. Back of these on the sec- ond floor is the opera house, one of the finest entertainment halls in the state. The architectural plans were furnished by the designer of the first class theatres of New York city. It is. furnished with all the modern appointments, elegant and com- plete scenery and properties, a stage 35 by 60 feet, twelve dress- ing rooms, four proscenium boxes, two balconies, best opera chairs in parquet and first balcony, heated by steam and thorough- ly ventilated, and capable of seating 1,100 persons. The audi- ence room and its appointments were finished at an expense of some twenty thousand dollars. The building was commenced in April, 1879, and was completed so far that the corner store was occupied by Mr. Murray March 15th, 1880. The opera house was completed on the 12th of the following November. The proprietor of the building is Mr. Silas F. Loomer, who came to Willimantic and started in the lumber and coal business in 1862. At that time there was no lumber or coal business carried on here, and the wiseacres advised Mr. Loomer not to risk his mon- ey and enterprise in so hazardous and unpromising a field. But the remarkable success of that business as well as the rapid de- velopment of the village since that time proves those cautions to have been not well timed.

The first newspaper published in this village was the Public Medium, started by John Evans, about January, 1847. After a few years its name was changed to the Willimantic Journal, under which name it is still published. From Evans it passed into the hands of a Mr. Simpson, then to William L. Weaver, whose liter- ary career was a very important and conspicuous one to the people of this town and county. His footprints on the intellec- tual sands of this locality were deeply impressed and the influ- ence thereof will go out to many generations. From him the Journal passed to the hands of a Mr. Curtis, later of the Norwich Bulletin, and again it changed to the hands of Walt Pierson. A little later we find it in the hands of W. J. Barber, from whom again it passed to Henry L. Hall. Later the firm became Hall & French, then Hall & Bill, and still later the Hall & Bill Pub- lishing Company, by whom the paper is now issued. It occu- pies commodious quarters at the foot of Railroad street, near

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the depot, where it has been located for several years. Its form was changed from folio to quarto about 1872. It is now a six column quarto, republican in politics, published on Fridays. The business of job printing is also carried on quite extensively in connection with the publication of the paper. Eight presses are employed, and the force numbers fifteen hands. Extensive job work for manufacturers is done, besides general printing. The paper has a circulation of 3,000, and goes to every state and territory in the Union, as well as to Canada.

The first issue of the Willimantic Enterprise was sent out Janu- ary 4th, 1877, from an office in the Franklin Building. It was started by the Enterprise Publishing Company, of whom N. W. Leavitt was the principal spirit. It passed to Fayette & Safford in the early part of 1879. In November of that year John A. McDonald bought an interest, added capital, and increased the facilities of the office. The paper was changed from a 4-page to an 8-page paper, and its name changed to the Willimantic Chronicle, the firm name at the same time being changed to McDonald & Safford. In May, 1887, the proprietor- ship adopted the name Chronicle Printing Company, the former owners still holding the principal interest. From Franklin Hall the office was removed to H. C. Hall's building on Main street, then to the present building, which had been erect- ed for it, at No. 10 Church street, into which it moved in Octo- ber, 1887. At first politically neutral, it was made a democratic paper since its name was changed, and is now claimed to be the only living paper which sustained the democratic banner during the period from 1872 to 1889.

The Connecticut Home was started in September, 1886, by Allen B. Lincoln, editor and proprietor ; A. E. Knox is its present business manager. It is a seven-column folio, and has a circula- tion rising three thousand. It is the temperance paper, and an exponent of the prohibition movement. It is also a family news- paper of general departments. It was started on Church street, · the paper at first being printed by another concern. It now has a well fitted and furnished office on Main street, over Buck's store.

Other newspaper ventures have been made here that have closed up their accounts in time and manner more or less sum- mary. The Willimantic Record was started by W. C. Crandall in 1881. After a very brief existence it was suspended March 24th

Lloyd & Balchom

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N Y

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of the same year. The Willimantic Daily News was started in E. A. Buck's building on Main street in 1887. Its editorial and business management was in the hands of J. Harry Foster, though John L. Hunter was a frequent editorial writer. Its pub- lication was suspended April 1st, 1887, after an existence of about four months.

In connection with the subject of printing, it may be of inter- est to notice the enterprise of wood type manufacture which was once carried on in this village. Among the employees in the shop of Edwin Allen at South Windham, were Horatio N. and Jeremiah C. Bill. After that shop failed these two brothers started the business at Lebanon in 1850. In the following year they removed to Willimantic and located in a room in the old cotton mill now owned by the Linen Company as mill No. 3. Here they carried on the manufacture of wood type for three years, having a trade mostly with New York. They gained a wide and favorable reputation in their art, in which they were not excelled by any other wood-type manufacturers in the world. Indeed they were the only firm exhibiting wood type at the World's Fair in New York, and their specimens were burned when the ill fated Crystal Palace was destroyed. About the year 1853 they had associated with them a man by the name of Stark, the firm name being Bill, Stark & Co. Afterward the firm name was simply H. & J. Bill. The business not proving profit- able, disaster followed, and the material was sold to William H. Page in 1854, and he moved it to Greenville, Conn.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

L. E. BALDWIN .- John Baldwin, one of the first thirty-five set- tlers of Norwich in 1659, was the ancestor of that branch of the family to which the subject of this notice belongs. John Bald- win, 2d, grandson of John, settled in New Concord, then a part of Norwich, but incorporated into the town of Bozrah in 1775, his son Eliphalet succeeding him in the occupancy of the homestead where the father of the subject of this notice was born in 1787. Upon attaining his majority, having qualified himself for his business, Eliphalet, Jr., removed to Norwich, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of carriages up to the time of his death, November, 1819.

The subject of this sketch was born in Norwich April 13th, 1810, attended the common schools from four to ten years of age,

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from ten to sixteen attending the common county district schools from three to four months each year. His father's death occur- ring when the lad was nine years old, and his mother's four years later, threw him upon his own resources. At the age of sixteen years he commenced to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner in all its branches. ' After serving an apprenticeship of five years, in May, 1831, he commenced business in Willimantic as a contractor and builder, for more than forty years being more ·or less extensively engaged in building contracts, embracing large factories, churches and dwellings, in various parts of Con- necticut and Massachusetts. He married, December, 1833, Miss Lora Ann Sessions, of Mansfield, whose death occurred October, 1864. Of their children, five in number, three are living, en- gaged in active business. In 1866 he married his second wife, Miss Ellen E. Parmele, of Guilford, who is still living.

In politics the subject of this sketch is an out and out demo- crat, and enjoys the confidence of his party, having three times been their candidate for state comptroller, also for senator and presidential elector. He has been a representative to the state legislature, postmaster at Willimantic, warden of its borough, a delegate to the national convention, and held various local offi- ces from time to time. He was instrumental in establishing the Willimantic Savings Institute, holding various positions in the same. His connection with the Masonic and Odd Fellows' or- ganizations extends over a period of forty-five years, having held the position of grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of the state of Connecticut and grand representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States, being at this time the oldest grand master in this state. For the last sixty years he has been connected with the various military organizations of this state, holding many responsible positions therein, including the offices of captain, lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and general of the Fifth Brigade, holding the last position 1844-47. He is now an active member of the Veteran Corps of the famous Putnam Phalanx. He has always taken an active interest in the local churches and public schools, and done much to promote their progress. In brief, General Baldwin has been one of the most active and influential factors in the growth and develop- ment of Willimantic, is a prominent citizen of the state, and is known as the staunch friend of all that is good and true in soci-

W w. Presto , 民

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ety. Just now rounding out his four score years, and still hale and hearty, he is enjoying the just fruits of an honest and hon- orable life, universally esteemed.

J. DWIGHT CHAFFEE .- The Chaffee family have for several generations resided in the town of Mansfield, Tolland county, Conn. Frederick Chaffee, the grandfather of J. Dwight Chaf- fee, a prosperous farmer in that town, married Elizabeth Knowlton. Their son, Orwell S., was born in Ashford, Wind- ham county, Conn., and for some years resided in North- ampton, Mass., where he was engaged in the manufacture of silk thread. Later he was similarly interested in Mansfield, and was a man of prominence in that locality, serving his constituents in the state legislature and filling other important offices. He married Lucinda A., daughter of Joseph Conant of Mansfield, one of the earliest silk manufacturers in that town. Their children are a daughter, Maria A., deceased, and two sons, J. Dwight and Olon S.

The eldest of these, J. Dwight Chaffee, was born August 9th, 1847, in Mansfield. He pursued a common English course at the public schools, and at the age of sixteen entered his father's mill in Mansfield. He thoroughly learned the process of silk manufacturing, passing in succession through all the depart- ments and becoming master of the business, the management of which gradually passed into his hands. In the year 1872, under the firm name of O. S. Chaffee & Son, the business was re- moved to Willimantic, where, under superior advantages of location, it greatly increased in proportions, and has enjoyed a career of much prosperity. Two hundred hands are employed and a market for the products, consisting of silk thread and silk braid, is found in all parts of the United States through agents as direct representatives of the mills. Mr. Chaffee, as a republican, was, in 1874, elected to the state legislature, and in 1885 was the choice of his constituents for state senator. In Jan- uary, 1887, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov- ernor Lounsbury. He is president of the Natchaug Silk Com- pany and director of the W. G. & A. R. Morrison Machine Com- pany.

Mr. Chaffee was married to Martha, daughter of George B. Armstrong, of Mansfield. Their children are two sons, Arthur D. and Howard S., and a daughter, Gertie.

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WILLIAM C. JILLSON .- The first ancestor of the Jillson family is said to have come over from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066. The earliest member of the family to sail for New England was William Gilson, who came from Kent county, England, and settled in Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1631. The next on the list to emigrate are Joseph and James Gilson, the latter of whom settled in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, about the year 1666. He is the progenitor of the branch of the family represented by the subject of this biography. James and his wife Mary died about 1712. Their son, Nathaniel, was born in 1675, and died in 1751. To his wife, Elizabeth, were born five children, of whom Nathaniel was the eldest. His death only is recorded as having occurred in 1782. He married first Ruth Boyce in 1728, and second Sarah, daughter of William Arnold, in 1741. He was the father of two children by the first and seven by the second union, of whom Luke, the fourth son by the last marriage, was born in 1754 and died in 1823. He was both a farmer and mechanic, and the first person in the country to adapt and apply satinet looms to water power. He married, in Cumberland, Rhode Island, Anna, daughter of Nehemiah and Experience Sherman, and made Cumberland his residence. He had seven children, among whom was Asa Jillson (the name having been, in 1709, changed from Gilson to Jillson), born Sep- tember 5th, 1783, who died in Willimantic, Connecticut, April 7th, 1848. A manufacturer of cotton goods, he removed from Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Willimantic, in 1828, and spent the remainder of his life at this point. He was in 1807 married to Anna H. Sabin, of Providence. Their children were nine in number, the eldest being William L., the father of the subject of this biographical sketch, who was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, December 18th, 1807, and died in Willimantic June 1st, 1861. He married in 1831 Caroline Curtis, of South Coventry, Connecticut. Their children are five sons and three daughters, of whom William Curtis, the eldest, was born April 4th, 1833, in Willimantic, and received his education at the high schools of Ellington and his native town. His father being then engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods in Willimantic, his son at the age of eighteen entered the office to acquaint himself with the business of a manufacturer. The death of his father in 1861 threw upon him very grave responsibilities'as agent and treas- urer of three cotton mills-the Willimantic Duck Company, the

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 36

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506