USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 31
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Brown of Brooklyn, Conn. She died July 3, 1874, leaving three daughters and one son. The latter died Sept. 11, 1879. The present wife was Miss So- phia Tyler Cowen, niece of the late Gen. Robert O. Tyler and daughter of the late Mrs. Cowen, whose memory will long be regarded with affection and enthusiasm in this city. There are two children by the latter marriage. One of the daughters of Judge Carpenter by the first wife is Mrs. Myron H. Bridge- man of this city.
A. C. BIGELOW, NEW FAIRFIELD: Farmer.
Allen Clarington Bigelow was born January 25, 1860, in the town where he now resides, and where his life has principally been spent on the farm. He married Miss Sarah Bell Benedict, and they have two children. He is a re- publican in politics, and is considered one of the best workers in that party in the town of New Fair- field. He was employed as a census enumerator in 1890, and is at the present time one of the messen- gers of the Connecticut house of representatives. A. C. BIGELOW. Mr. Bigelow is a young man of many pleasing accomplishments, and an earnest and enthusiastic citizen, whose interests are all identified with the town of his nativity. He was educated at the West Center school of New Fairfield.
DAVIS A. BAKER, ASHFORD: Merchant.
Davis A. Baker has twice been a member of the general assembly, the first term occurring in 1867, when his colleagues from Windham county included Henry M. Cleveland from Brooklyn, George Daniel- son from Killingly, Thomas Tallman and Lucius Briggs of Thomp- son, and Frank S. Burgess of Plainfield. Mr. Baker was also a member of the house in 1887. The local offices which he has held include that of acting school visitor for seven- teen years, constable and D. A. BAKER. collector two years, select- man five years, judge of probate eight years, town clerk and treasurer eigh- teen, and was postmaster under President Cleve- land's administration. He is one of the leading
and most successful members of the democratic party in his town. He was educated at the Ashford Academy and the State Normal school at New Britain, and began life as a public school teacher, proving himself especially adapted to that avoca- tion. He was a contractor and builder for a num- ber of years, but for the past decade or more he has devoted himself exclusively to mercantile in- terests, managing a prosperous business in that line. His two sons are associated with him. The wife of Mr. Baker, Miss Eliza H. Walbridge, is still living. Mr. Baker was born in Ashford, Octo- ber 28, 1834, and has spent his life in that town, where he is thoroughly honored and esteemed.
JOHN DENNISON PAGE, HARWINTON: Paper Manufacturer.
Mr. Page was born Jan. 10, 1816, in that part of the town of Manchester which was afterwards set apart and incorporated as East Hartford. After acquiring his education at the public schools, he learned the trade of mill- wright, which business he followed in his native town for the next twenty- five years. In 1860 he gave up the business in East Hartford and en- gaged in the manufacture of paper at Lisbon, this state, the firm being J. D. Page & Co. This busi- J. D. PAGE. ness he continued for three years, selling out at the end of that time and returning to East Hart- ford, where, in 1863, he became a partner in the well-known firm of Hanmer & Forbes, paper man- ufacturers, under the style of Hanmer, Forbes & Page. Here he remained two years. Selling his interest he removed to East Litchfield, town of Harwinton, where he has since resided, engaged in the manufacture of paper, and where he has estab- lished and built up one of the important industries of the state in his line. He has associated with him in the business his son-in-law, the Hon. George W. Dains, present senator from the Eighteenth district, the firm name being Page & Dains. His wife's name before her marriage was Mary Alvord. There have been four children, only one of whom, a daughter, is now living. She is the wife of his business partner, the Hon. George W. Dains, above mentioned. Mr. Page has never sought public office, and has never accepted it, save in 1872, when he represented his town in the state legislature of that year. He is a republican in politics and a prominent citizen, being held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
G. WELLS ROOT, HARTFORD: Wholesale Com- mission Merchant.
Mr. Root is senior partner in the firm of Root & Childs, a mercantile house which was established in Hartford in 1826, by A. & C. Day. Afterwards the firm became A. & C. Day & Co .; then Day, Owen & Co .; Owen, Day & Root; Owen, Root & Childs; and finally Root & Childs. Up to 1864 their business was a job- bing business, and their sales were to the principal retailers throughout New England, the northwest, west, southwest, and south. It may be said, there was not a state in G. W. ROOT. the Union that merchants from them did not visit Hartford for the purchase of domestic dry-goods. From that time the busi- ness gradually changed to a package commission business, sales being made exclusively to the job- bing trade. This led to their opening a store in New York city. They now occupy one of the finest stores in New York, corner Church and Leonard streets. They have a sample office in Chicago, and are represented by agents in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Their business is very large, they selling the entire production of a large number of New England and southern mills. Mr. Root com- menced with Day, Owen & Co., nearly forty-eight years ago, and Mr. Childs over thirty years ago. The Days and Mr. Owen have passed " over the river." Probably no house has been more exten- sively known throughout the country for the past sixty years than this house under its different or- ganizations. It has gone through all financial panics for the past sixty years without a blemish, and its record is a very proud one.
Mr. Root was born in Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y., April 26, 1826, a descendant of Thomas Root, one of the first settlers, and a great-grandson of Jesse Root, a distinguished jurist of the revolu- tionary period, who was born in Coventry, Con11., and spent most of his days in that ancient town. Mr. Root spent the first eight years of his life at his birthplace, from which he went to Mount Mor- ris, Livingston county, N. Y., and remained nine years, obtaining during these years a theoretical education at the public schools, and a three years practical education in a country store. In 1843 he came to Hartford and entered the employ of Day, Owen & Co., into which firm he was admitted as a partner in 1851. Calvin Day retired from the partnership in 1861, and the firm name was then changed to Owen, Day & Root. In 1864 Horatio
Day went out and the firm was again changed to Owen, Root & Childs. Mr. Owen soon afterwards retired from active business, but remained as a silent partner until his death. The firm then became Root & Childs, as it has since remained. Soon after en- tering the firm he married Miss Paulina S. Brooks, daughter of the late David S. Brooks of Hartford, who with their five children is still living.
Mr. Root was a member of the Hartford board of police commissioners for nine years, and a mem- ber of the common council one year. He is a director in the Hartford National Bank and in the Phoenix Insurance Company; president of the Sig- ourney Tool Company, the Taft Company, and the Mankato Pipe Company; he also holds member- ship in the Hartford Club and the Hartford Board of Trade. He is an active and influential member of Park church, and an enthusiastic and stalwart republican. He is a man of positive convictions and absolute frankness in their expression. His long residence in Hartford has been attended by much earnest and conscientious effort in behalf of the city and its institutions, his home-public-spirit being one of Mr. Root's strongest traits. There can be no doubt of his essential usefulness as a citizen, or of the well-earned and well-deserved confidence which is reposed in him by his towns- men and all who have the pleasure of his acquaint- ance.
J. H. BLAKEMAN, STRATFORD: Farmer and Stock Breeder.
James Henry Blakeman enlisted in the Seven- teenth Conn. Vols. July 29, 1862, and served three years in the field, being a member of Company D. He was severely wounded on Barlow's Knoll during the first day at Gettys- burg, and was taken pris- oner by the confederate forces. Subsequently he was recaptured and re- moved to a place of secu- rity within the Union lines. He is the master of Housatonic Grange, No. 79, of the Patrons of Husbandry, and is one of the best known stock J. H. BLAKEMAN. breeders in his section of the state, paying especial attention to Holsteins. He is also engaged in general farming and the raising of small fruits. He was formerly associated with his brother, M. A. Blakeman, in dock and bridge building, but withdrew from the business after a couple of years. He has held numerous local offices, including constable, deputy sheriff in Fairfield county, tax collector, town auditor, notary
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public, justice of the peace, and member of the school district committee. He is connected with the Congregationalist society in Stratford. His wife, who was Miss Amelia Janette Burr, is a daughter of the late Deacon Isaac Burr of Monroe. The mar- riage occurred in 1866. There are two children in the family. Mr. Blakeman is a republican in politics. He was born at Stratford, November 20, 1841, and received a common school education.
GEORGE DUNHAM, UNIONVILLE: Inventor and Manufacturer.
George Dunham was born at Southington, April 7, 1830. His early life, up to the age of twenty- one, was spent in hard work upon his father's farm, with the exception of a few months' schooling each year until he was eighteen, when he finished with one term at Lewis Academy in Southington. As soon as he became of age he went to work at Miller's Bolt Works in Southington, heading bolts by hand for about a year and a half (this was before any machines for GEORGE DUNHAM. heading were invented). He then worked for about two years at East Berlin and Southington on Tin- man's machines. After that he was employed by the Miller Bolt Works to make tools for threading bolts and nuts. He worked at this business, hav- ing charge of the finishing department in addition a part of the time, until 1859, except in dull times, when, the factory being closed, he turned to farm- ing and such outdoor work as could be had. In February, 1859, he went to Unionville as superin- tendent of Langdon's Bolt Works. In something more than a year from that time Mr. Langdon died, when, in connection with Mr. A. S. Upson, he pur- chased the business. He made improvements upon nearly all the machinery then used, many of these improvements being still in use. In 1865 he in- vented what is now called the Dunham forged nut machine, which was highly successful, and up to this time has not been superseded for this class of work, either here or in England. Having at this time no knowledge of drafting, this machine was built without drawings, the inventor carrying all the details in his head. Since then he has invented a number of machines, mostly automatic, for cheap- ening the product by doing several different things in one operation. Included among them is a ma- chine for making brass tips for pocket rules; also for making brass rolls for rule joints, a bolt-header,
a paper-bag machine, a hot-working quadruple nut machine, a cold-press nut machine which makes a nut complete from the bar cold, and one for finish- ing nuts cold, a mechanical motion, and several others of simpler construction. He has been in- terested in nearly all the new business enterprises of the village, a director in most of them, president of some, and secretary and treasurer of others. He is now manager of the Dunham Nut Machine Company. He has held a number of offices within the gift of the town, including that of selectman for several years and justice of the peace since 1878. He held the office of clerk and treasurer of the Unionville Ecclesiastical Society for more than twenty years, and is a member and deacon of the Congregational church. In politics he is a strong republican. Mr. Dunham is a man of decided energy and determination, great perseverance and thoroughness in his work, and of strict integrity, quiet and self-possessed in manner. He takes great interest in the growing of fruit, of which he has a large variety; and his chief recreation in summer is in pruning and caring for it.
Mr. Dunham married Miss Isabella Bradley of Meriden in 1853, who died in 1856, leaving one daughter. In 1861 he married Miss Mary J. John- son of Unionville, his present wife. Three sons are the result of this marriage.
OLCOTT B. COLTON, HARTFORD: Junior Part- ner Smith, Bourn & Company.
Councilman Colton of the second ward in this city was born at Longmeadow, Mass., January 16, 1850, and was educated in the Massachusetts pub- lic schools. His first business experience was with the Medlicott Com- pany of Windsor Locks, where he remained for three years. At the close of that period he became a clerk in the office of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. In 1871 he accepted the position of bookkeeper with Smith, Bourn & Company of this city, one of the largest O. B. COLTON. concerns in the country engaged in the man- ufacture of harnesses, riding saddles, and sad- dlery goods. Subsequently he became a sales- man for the firm, and on January 1, 1885, he was admitted to the junior partnership. The factory is located at the corner of Capitol avenue and Sigour- ney street in this city. It employs 200 hands. The principal depot for the distribution of its goods is
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in New York city. The New England market is supplied from the firm's store, No. 334 Asylum street in this city. Mr. Colton is a republican in politics and represents the second ward in the court of common council. He is a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational church, and is the su- perintendent of the Glenwood Union Sunday- school. His wife, who is living, was Miss Helen C. Coomes. The family includes three children. Mr. Colton is regarded as one of the most success- ful young business men in the city.
HON. LYMAN S. CATLIN, BRIDGEPORT: Treas- urer and Secretary Mechanics and Farmers Sav- ings Bank.
Lyman Sheldon Catlin was born at Harwinton, Litchfield county, Conn., Jan. 21, 1840, and edu- cated in the common schools and academy of that town. He remained in Harwinton through his minority, and in 1862 en- listed as a private in the Nineteenth Connecticut Infantry Company. He remained for two years in this regiment, and, at the end of that time was commissioned as first lieutenant in the Thir- teenth United States Ar- tillery (colored) Regiment. While with the colored- L. S. CATLIN. troops Lieutenant Catlin was in an engagement on the Cumberland River in Southwestern Kentucky, in which the entire com- mand was captured by Forrest's Cavalry. The officers connected with the colored troops were ordered hung, but they escaped by means of a gunboat. In 1865 this command was mustered out and its first lieutenant was commissioned by Secretary Stanton as lieutenant in the Fifth United States Cavalry. He served with this command in Arkansas until 1866, when the Union army was mustered out. Since the war Mr. Catlin has passed most of the time in Bridgeport, his only absence being between 1870 and 1873. Early in 1870 he settled in Alabama as the agent of a Chicago in- surance company, but was driven out by the Klu Klux in a few months. The same company then sent him to Kansas, where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Bridgeport and organized the Mechanics and Farmers Savings Bank of that city, and has since been its chief executive officer. He has filled various offices for the town of Stratford, and was elected to represent the town in the gen- eral assemblies of ISSI and ISS3. The first year he served on the house committee on school funds and
in 1883 he was house chairman of the committee on banks. In 1888 he was elected senator from the Thirteenth District, and in the session of '89 was chairman of the joint committee on banks, and the committee on further accommodation for the in- sane. His career was one of prominence and use- fulness in both branches of the legislature. Mr. Catlin was married in 1871 to Miss Helen J. Lewis of Stratford, and they have four children -two sons and two daughters. He is an earnest repub- lican, and an influential factor, locally and state- wise, in the councils of his party. He is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, of the Grand Army, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Catlin is a thorough and successful business man and a valued citizen.
JOHN E. ANDREWS, MT. CARMEL CENTER (HAM- DEN): Real Estate and Insurance.
John Edward Andrews was born in Cheshire, November 17, 1831, and received a common school education. His father was a farmer in that place, and the son at the age of twenty bought his time and spent the succeeding seven years in an axle factory. At the expira- tion of that period he en- gaged in mercantile pur- suits, real estate, insur- ance, and building. He was one of the influential men in the community in building up Mount Car- mel Center and in secur- ing the post-office for the place. He was connected J. E. ANDREWS. for two years with C. A. Burleigh in the flour, feed, and coal business, and afterwards with the firm of J. E. Andrews & Son for seven years at Mount Car- mel. For a period of four years he held the office of first selectman and town agent, being elected in a strong democratic town, although being himself a republican in politics. During his administration a public hall was erected at a cost of $15,000. He was one of the charter members and first master of Hamden grange, and is an influen- tial member of the Congregational church, being connected with the finance committee of the eccle- siastical society. Mr. Andrews has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Celia Kinney of Litchfield. The son by this marriage, George L. Andrews, is the postmaster at Mount Carmel Cen- ter and has been the chairman of the republican town committee. The second wife was Miss Han- nah E. Norton of Bristol. She is still living. Mr. Andrews is at present a justice of the peace and assistant postmaster.
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JUDGE WILLIAM B. GLOVER, FAIRFIELD: At- torney-at-Law.
William B. Glover, the son of Samuel and Emily H. (Brown) Glover, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., April 7, 1857. He received his early educa- tion at the Fairfield Acad- emy, and prepared for college at General Rus- sell's Military Institute at New Haven. At the age of seventeen hc entered Yale University, and grad- uated in the class of 1878, receiving the degree of B.A. He then entered the law department of Columbia College, New York, and pursuing the W. B. GLOVER. course there, graduated in 1880 with the degree of LL.B., and was at once admitted to full prac- tice as a lawyer in the courts of the state of New York. For a short time he continued in business in New York city, and then applied, and was in 1881 admitted, to practice in the courts of the state of Connecticut, since when his advancement and suc- cess in his profession have been rapid and flatter- ing. He has been engaged in much important litigation in the courts of Fairfield county, notable among which has been the bitterly-fought contest between the town of Fairfield and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, involv- ing the question of payment of the cost of separat- ing the grades of railroad and highway at cross- ings. The success of the town of Fairfield, which he represented in that litigation, has more than anything else had the practical effect of settling a question which had been the subject of widespread dispute and ill-feeling for a long time.
In November, 1882, he was elected judge of the probate court for the district of Fairfield, and has received successive re-elections to that office to the present time. Judge Glover has introduced many reforms and improvements in the administration of that court, and the Fairfield probate office is to-day known as one of the model offices of the state. His opinion in matters of probate law and practice is often sought by probate judges throughout the state, and is at all times cheerfully and carefully given. In 1884 he was appointed one of the state commission formed to revise and codify the probate laws of the state. Among his associates on that commission were Judge Luzon B. Morris of New Haven and Judge A. H. Fenn of Winsted. The report of the commission was adopted by the legis- lature in 1885, and forms the basis of the present probate law of the state. He has three times rep- resented the town of Fairfield in the legislature -
in the sessions of 1883, 1884, and 1889. In the legislature he has always taken a leading and honorable position, and has become one of the well- known public men of the state. In the long and difficult session of 1889 he occupied the responsible position of chairman of the judiciary committee, and was the acknowledged leader of the house. During the session he was unanimously elected speaker pro tempore, and when in the chair pre- sided over the house with marked ability and suc- cess. In politics he has always been a republican.
In 1884 he married Miss Helen Wardwell of New York city, a great-granddaughter of Judge Jona- than Sturges of Fairfield, who was a member of the first congress of the United States, and for many years a judge of the superior court of this state. He has two sons.
Judge Glover is a member and junior warden of St. Paul's Episcopal church in Fairfield, and pos- sesses in a very high degree the confidence and esteem of all classes in the community in which he lives. His judgment and counsel are greatly re- spected, and many private trusts are given into his care and control. Among the young men of the state there are few who give so much promise of a useful and brilliant career.
LEVERETTE W. WESSELLS, LITCHFIELD: Merchant.
Mr. Wessells was born in the ancient town of Litchfield, in this state, July 28, 1819. He spent a few years with his colleagues in the important work of mastering the rudiments of the English language in the district school, and finished his educational accomplish- ments at the academy. Mr. Wessells began his political life at an early age, being elected to his first office, that of deputy sheriff of Litchfield coun- ty, in 1845, in which capac- ity he served until 1854, when L. W. WESSELLS. he was elected sheriff, a position he held until 1866. He was postmaster of Litchfield from 1850 to 1854. In the war he served with distinction as colonel of the Nineteenth Regiment, Connecti- cut Volunteers, from July 28, 1862, to September 15, 1863, having command of Second Brigade de- fences of Washington, south of the Potomac, from March, 1863, until the latter date, also the date of his resignation. He was made provost-marshal of the fourth district January 9, 1864, and held that position until the close of the
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war. In 1866 he entered mercantile life, and has pursued his avocation in this direction since. In 1879 he was elected to the house, serving on the railroad committee, and the same year was ap- pointed quartermaster-general. In 1877 he was again chosen to represent Litchfield in the general assembly, when he was house chairman of the com- mittee on military affairs. At present he is a mem- ber of the state board of charities, and its auditor.
EDMUND B. DILLINGHAM, HARTFORD: Ad- vertising and Real Estate Agent.
E. B. Dillingham was born in West Bridgewater, Mass., Sept. 30, 1836. His residence there was of exceedingly brief duration, and from infancy until 1867 he lived continuously in Fall River, Mass. His education was acquired in the grammar school of the last-named city and in the academy at My- rickville, Mass. After leaving school he engaged in mercantile business as a clerk until 1861, and from that time untill 1866 was employed in clerical duties connected with the city of Fall River, and in E. B. DILLINGHAM. the office of provost-mar- shal of the Ist Congressional District of Massachu- setts, being assistant marshal and enrolling officer during a considerable portion of that period, and having charge of the enlisting of men in the military service under the several calls made upon his city. From 1862 to 1865 he was United States special agent, with headquarters at Fall River. After leaving the government employ he went to Rock- ยท ville, in this state, and became superintendent of the Rose Silk Company, remaining there until 1870, when he removed to Hartford, and established " Dillingham's Newspaper Advertising Agency," being the pioneer in that business in Connecticut. His agency in Hartford is among the oldest repre- sentatives of that business in the country, and sus- tains a reputation among the best, having the com- plete confidence of advertisers and publishers everywhere. In 1877 he was elected a member of the state executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of Connecticut, which position he still retains. In this capacity he has attended every international convention of the V. M. C. A. since 1879. He was D. L. Moody's chief usher during that distinguished evangelist's labors in Hartford in the winter of 1878-79. As a member of the Hartford Y. M. C. A., he is on the board of trustees for the proposed new building of the asso-
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