USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 36
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E. W. DEWEY, NORTH GRANBY: Judge of Pro- bate.
Edward Watson Dewey was born in North Granby, October 29, 1857, and was educated at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. In 1889 he represented the town of Granby in the general assembly, serving on the republican side of the house. He is the judge of probate in the Granby district, and has held other responsible offices, includ- ing that of justice of the peace. Judge Dewey has also been engaged in mer- cantile pursuits; has held the chairmanship of the republican town commit- tee, and is the Worshipful E. W. DEWEY. Master of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 91, F. and A. M., of Granby. He is connected with the Universalist church, and is one of the most thoroughly esteemed residents of the town of Granby. Judge Dewey is without a family.
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DANIEL J. DONAHOE, MIDDLETOWN: Attorney- at-Law.
Daniel J. Donahoe is a native of Brimfield, Mass., born February 27, 1853. He finished his education at Wesleyan University, Middletown, in 1872, studied law for three years, and was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1875. He engaged in the practice of his profession at Meriden three years, then located in Middle- town, where he has since been in continuous prac- tice. He married Mar- garet Burns, who died in April, 1888, leaving two young children, daugh- ters. Mr. Donahoe is a D. J. DONAHOE. member of the Catholie church, and of the democratic party. He holds the associate judgeship of the Middletown city court, is a member of the city board of education, and president of the town board of health. He stands well as a lawyer before the bar of Middlesex County, is an earnest and conscientious advocate, and a gentleman of fine literary accomplishments. He is author of " Idyls of Israel, and other poems," published in 1888, and "A Tent by the Lake, and other poems," 1889. Both volumes have had a fair sale, and have been well received by the publie.
HENRY M. WHITE, TORRINGTON: Editor " Tor- rington Register."
Henry M. White, member of the general assem- bly from Torrington for the current term, is the editor of the Torrington Register, which has for years been a leading county paper in Western Connecticut. Mr. White has been at the head of the paper for nine years. In 1889 he founded the Daily Register, which has a handsome clientage in the flourishing bor- ough of Torrington and the adjacent localities. Mr. White was born at Elba, N. Y., and was edu- H. M. WHITE. cated at the Shelburne Falls Academy, Mass. He was formerly engaged in the manufacture of hard- ware, occupying the positions of foreman and sales- man. He has resided in Shelburne Falls and Northampton, Mass., and in New York. Mr. White is connected with the Congregational church
at Torrington, and is the secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in that place. He was the superintendent of the Sunday-school at Northampton. He is the president of the Mercantile Co-operative Bank, and is a member of the Knights of Honor. His wife, who is living, was Miss Minnie A. Cole prior to her marriage. There are no children.
BULKLEY EDWARDS, CROMWELL: President Cromwell Savings Bank.
Mr. Edwards is a descendant of Churchill Ed- wards, who came from England many generations ago and settled in Wethersfield in this state, sinee which his descendants have mostly made their homes in the Connecticut valley. Bulkley Edwards was born in Cromwell, May 29, 1811, and during the forescore years of his life has maintained a con- tinuous residenee in the identical house where he was born. His education- al training was at the dis- trict and high school of Cromwell. He was reared BULKLEY EDWARDS. in the hotel and farm life which his father led until his death in 1836, and which he then took up and has since followed. He has three times married; his first wife dying in 1854 and the second in 1863; he married last Mrs. Corne- lia Wilcox of Wethersfield, December 28, 1887. Of the four children who have been born to him, neither is now living. Additionally to his hotel busi- ness, Mr. Edwards is something of a farmer, own- ing and improving a considerable tract bordering on the Connecticut River. His farm has been cut in two twice by the locating across it of the Valley and the Cromwell railroads, and though estimated to have been thus damaged to the extent of $1,500, he regards the railroads as of more practical benefit than damage to his property. Mr. Edwards is pres- ident of the Cromwell Savings Bank, which posi- tion he has occupied for twelve years. He has been first selectman a number of terms, county commis- sioner four years, member of the board of assessors and board of relief, and has held various minor local offices; until at his present age he feels that he has performed his part of the public service, and has declined further public honors or burdens. Mr. Edwards was reared a Jackson democrat. When he became of age and was made an elector, he re- calls that his father told him to vote as he thought best, but always to put his ballot down right side up. As a democrat he has for five different terms
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represented Cromwell in the legislature, and he has never given his associates or constituents reason to think that he was ashamed of his politics. He is an attendant at the Baptist church of his native town, in the support of which he is a liberal contributor.
JOHN A. CRILLY, HARTFORD: Ex-Alderman Fourth Ward.
John A. Crillv was born at Pike River, in the province of Quebec, April 22, 1847, and received a common school education, preparing him for an active and successful busi- ness career. He removed to Hartford in 1862, and has since been a resident of the city. He has been connected with the Hart- ford & Wethersfield Horse Railroad Company most of the time since his re- moval to Hartford, and has been in charge of important and responsible interests on the line for a number of years. Mr. J. A. CRILLY. Crilly is one of the most trusted men in the management of the company, and much of its success is due to his administration and influence. He has been a member of the court of common council in this city since 1877, when he was first elected a member of the council board from the Fourth ward, receiving a total of 627 votes. He served in that board for six consecutive years, acquiring special familiarity with municipal interests. In 1883 he was advanced to the board of aldermen, receiving a larger vote for that office than the one polled when he was first elected coun- cilman. Mr. Crilly has served eight years consecu- tively in the upper board, making a period of four- teen years of active identification with the municipal government. No one in local public life has been longer associated with the city's interests, and it can be said with the utmost candor and honesty that he has been a faithful and unfaltering advocate of local progress. The different municipal depart- ments owe a great deal to his watchfulness and supervision. From the beginning of his career he has been an intelligent observer of the effect of city legislation, and where improvements have been needed, he has promptly and efficiently co-operated in their inauguration. For a number of years he has held the chairmanship of the committee on amuse- ments, a place of decided importance, considering the fact that the chairman must be constantly on the alert against the admission of undesirable plays and companies for entertainments in the city. The matter of regulating playbills and placards
placed in public resorts is left mainly to the decision of the chairman of the committee. Ex-Alderman Crilly is a prominent Mason, being a member of St. John's Lodge, Pythagoras Chapter, Wolcott Council, and Washington Commandery, Knights Templar. He is one of the oldest members and past grand of Hartford Lodge, I. O. O. F .; member of Crescent Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and of the Hartford order of Elks. One year ago he was elected a member of the board of selectmen of Hartford, having previously served one term by appointment. He has been a member of the Fourth ward republican committee for ten years, and is also an active and influential member of the town committee. In addition to the work that has de- manded his attention in connection with the horse railroad company, he has dealt extensively in real estate, and is a member of the board of directors of the Glastonbury Horse Railroad Company. Mr. Crilly is an attendant at the South Park Methodist church in this city. He has a wife and one son, John A. Crilly, Jr. Two daughters have died. Mrs. Crilly was Miss Louisa A. Smith of Wethers- field prior to her marriage. As a citizen and busi- ness man Mr. Crilly has manifested the deepest interest in Hartford, and his success in various fields of activity has been thoroughly merited.
FRANK W. MIX, NEW BRITAIN: Superintendent Corbin Cabinet Lock Company.
Major Frank W. Mix was born in Terryville, February 17, 1834. He attended the village school until he was sixteen, when he went into the factory with his father. What is now the Eagle Lock Com- pany in Terryville was then Lewis & Gaylord. Here he learned the art of die-making and press- ing, and obtained a gen- eral idea of machine work. At the age of twenty he left home, going to Water- bury to perfect himself as machinist and tool- maker. At the end of six months he accepted a call from New Haven to take F. W. MIX. charge of the die and press work of the New Haven Clock Company, where he remained a year. Still having a desire to become a perfect tool-maker, he secured a position with what is now the Winchester Arms Company, then run by Smith & Wesson, as a tool-maker, remaining there until the concern failed in 1857. While in New Haven Major Mix became actively interested in musical matters, hav- ing charge of the choir and playing the organ in
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one of the churches. Here he was also married in IS56. After the failure of the pistol company, Major Mix went into the sewing-machine business with his father-in-law, R. B. Fuller, locating in Mansfield, afterwards in Norwich, continuing until 1860, when they sold out, the Major going to the Sharps' Rifle factory in Hartford. In the spring of 1861, his health being impaired, he removed to Michigan, where, September 1, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Michigan cavalry, with which he served for eleven months, when he was appointed a cap- tain of the famous Fourth Michigan cavalry. While with the Third he took part in the capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10, and the battles of Corinth, Inka, and Boonville, Miss. He joined the Fourth cavalry at Mumfordsville, Ky., and was pro- moted to be major for gallantry at the battle of Stone River. While he was in command of the regiment it took part in eighty-four general engage- ments, not to mention scores of lesser events. These included Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and most of the important actions of the western army up to the siege of Atlanta. He was severely wounded at Lovejoy's Station in August, IS64, on account of which he received an honorable discharge in the following November. He lost two horses in action, and was repeatedly named by corps and brigade commanders for gallantry, promptness, and the skillful manner in which he handled his regiment in tight places. On two dif- ferent occasions the brigade commander attributed the success of his brigade " to the brilliancy and tenacity of the fighting of the Fourth Michigan, under the command of Major Frank W. Mix." It was this regiment that at the close of the war cap- tured Jefferson Davis.
During the last twenty-five years Major Mix has resided in this state, engaged in the manufacture, as well as the invention, of locks. During that time he has probably taken out more patents on cabinet and trunk locks than any man in the coun- try. In 1870 he brought out a padlock, known as the Mix lock, which the government adopted for mail bags, and which was manufactured by the Eagle Lock Company, where Major Mix was em- ployed as superintendent for ten years. Since that time he has resided in New Britain as superintend- ent of the Corbin Cabinet Lock Company, in which position he has made a notable success, as is at- tested by the flourishing condition of the business at the present time. He is also half owner in the Park drug store in New Britain, which ranks among the first in the city and state. He has a wife, who before her marriage was Miss Mary J. Fuller, and three children, a son and two daughters, his only son being a superintendent of the government lock repair shop in Washington. The Major is always a republican in politics, is connected with the First
Congregational church, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the (). U. A. M., the Grand Army, the New Britain Club, the Army and Navy Club, and the Putnam Phalanx. He is a useful and re- spected citizen, and occupies, with his family, an honorable position in the community.
GEORGE FLINT, THOMPSON: Judge of Probate.
George Flint was born at Oxford, Mass., Oct. 17, 1832, and received a common school education in the town in which he now resides, all but six months of his life having been spent in that community. He has been the judge of probate in the Thompson district for nineteen years, member of the board of relief for twenty-four, and registrar of voters for four years. He has also held the office of selectman, and in every position which he has occupied he has faithfully represented the public interest. His general avocation has been that of a farmer. He has been a republican GEORGE FLINT. in politics since 1856. Judge Flint is a lineal de- scendant, on the paternal side, of Thomas Flint, who came from Wales to Salem, Mass., about 1642; on the maternal side, of John Cary, who came to Plymouth in 1635. His wife, who died Nov. 6, 1889, was Miss Gertrude I. Dowling. One son survives.
ROBERT WALLACE, WALLINGFORD: President R. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing Company.
Robert Wallace, the creator and founder of the great silver and plated-ware manufactory which bears his name, was born in Prospect, Conn., No- vember 13, IS15. In his youth he had the advan- tages which the common schools of his day afford- ed, and with a fair educa- tion went out into the world to seek his fortune. He was under brief en- gagements åt Watertown, Cheshire, and North Ha- ven, but many years ago gravitated to Walling- ford, where he established, at first in a small way, the industry which, under his ROBERT WALLACE. fostering care and management, has since become one of the most prosperous of its kind in the state. He has literally spent his life in it, devoting his
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time, his thought, and his energies to it, to the ex- clusion of all public service, and largely of active participation in the ordinary enjoyments of social life. His history is practically the history of his company and its business, with which he has always been intimately identified. Mr. Wallace was mar- ried many years ago to Miss Louisa Moulthrop, now deceased. They have had nine children, eight of whom are still living. His political affiliations are with the republican party.
REV. HORACE WINSLOW, A.M., WEATOGUE, (SIMSBURY): Congregational Clergyman.
Rev. Horace Winslow is a lineal descendant of Kenelm Winslow(brother of Governor Edward), who first settled at Marshfield, Mass., the homestead re- maining in the family for four generations. Horace was born in Enfield, Mass., May 18, 1814. When he was about two years of age, his father removed to Pittsford, Western New York. Lat- er, he was employed as clerk in a bookstore in Rochester, which city was his home until he was set- tled in the ministry. He REV. H. WINSLOW. was married May 8, 1850, to Miss Charlotte H. Pet- tibone of Simsbury, Conn. Three daughters have been born to them, two of whom are now living. He was educated at Hamilton College, from which he received the degree of A.M., and at Auburn Theological Seminary, and the Union Theological Seminary in New York city. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church of New Windsor, N. Y., in the spring of 1842. In 1843 he became pastor of the Second Presbyterian church in Lansingburg. In 1845 he was settled as pastor of the Congregational church of Rockville, Conn. In 1852 he resigned and accepted a call from the First Congregational church of New Britain. In January, 1858, he was installed pastor of the Con- gregational church of Great Barrington, Mass. Having been appointed Chaplain of the 5th regi- ment of Connecticut Volunteers, in February, 1862, he at once resigned his charge and joined the army. Late in the year, in consequence of ill health, being unable to follow the regiment, he resigned and re- turned to his home. In 1863 he became pastor of the Congregational church of Binghamton, N. Y. After five years of service there, he resigned and returned to Connecticut. For a few months he was in the service of the American Missionary Associa- tion, and also of the South church of Woodbury,
from which he had received a call, but finally de- clined it and accepted one from the Congregational church of Willimantic, where he was settled in 1869. In 1876, while driving in a severe thunder storm, he was struck by lightning, thrown from the carriage, and taken up insensible. After recovering consciousness, he was for a time in a very critical condition. His people gave him a vacation for six months, after which he resumed work. Finally, after a service of a little more than twelve years, his health not being firm, he resigned his charge, and located at Weatogue, Simsbury, where he now resides. With this change his health improved, and in a short time he resumed his work in the pul- pit, and has continued to the present time, supply- ing in Providence, R. I., for two years, in Litch- field, Hartford, and for nine months in his former church in Great Barrington, Mass .; also about three years in Simsbury.
Mr. Winslow has ever been an earnest worker in the interests and prosperity of the communities in which he has lived, in the elevation of the schools, and in village improvements. The two parks at Rockville are the outcome of his labors. The one in front of his church (as it then stood), was graded, enclosed, and, with the help of young men, set out with trees by him. Talcott park was a conception of his. He secured from the owners of the land a refusal of it for one month, for two thousand dol- lars. Before the time expired, the money was raised by subscription, the amount secured by a very large and generous gift (nearly one-half the amount) from Judge Phineas Talcott. While the spiritual interests of the people have been Mr. Winslow's first consideration, he has been conspicuous in re- newing old church edifices and building new ones, securing in this work architectural excellence, con- venience, and ventilation. His first settlement witnessed a change in the church edifice. The year following his advent in Rockville, twenty-five feet were added to the church building, with other im- provements. Later on, a colony went out and formed a second church. Then a chapel with par- lors was erected for the old church. When he re- moved to New Britain he led the people to erect a new house of worship, with the conveniences of chapel, parlors, and an audience-room seating twelve hundred people. A like work he accom- plished at Great Barrington, Mass., and at Willi- mantic. In these new churches acoustic properties. and means of ventilation were complete. He had especial care that the house should be adapted to its use; that the church edifice should have architectu- ral excellence, the audience-room be adapted to speaking and hearing, and in all these particulars he had perfect success. In this work, also, in most cases, he had the chief business of raising money. In Willimantic, where the church building cost
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forty-seven thousand dollars, more than half of the amount was raised through his personal efforts. In this business of remodeling and building anew he created no burden of debt upon the society, and when a small amount was left, it was from the choice of the society. In Willimantic, when the final debt was twelve thousand dollars, and recog- nized as an embarrassment to the society, he took the matter up and raised the whole amount. In this building of new churches, the society was lifted into greater independence, and the church into a new spiritual life. Mr. Winslow lias been an active worker in the temperance cause, and his Cold Water Army of three hundred children at Rockville became quite famous. Being an earnest advo- cate of human rights, he was an anti-slavery man, and at the outbreak of the rebellion an ardent de- fender of the Union. In the conflict of thought at the approach of the war. and since, he has given, on occasions of special interest, many discourses and addresses, which have been published. Mr. Winslow's life has been one of great usefulness to: church and state, and he is united by the strongest ties of friendship with large numbers of the best men of the present and past generation.
HOMER L. WANZER, NEW FAIRFIELD: Farmer.
Homer L. Wanzer was born in New Fairfield, March 3, 1850, being the son of Willis H. and Sarah A. Wanzer, and a descendant of Abraham Wanzer, who emigrated to America from Hesse Castle, Germany, and be- came a lieutenant in the French war in America. At the age of sixteen the subject of this sketch at- tended a boarding-school in Oswego village. His studies were completed in 1870 at the Chappaqua Mountain Institute
in Westchester county, New York In 1878 he married Miss Mary Alice Gid- H. L. WANZER. dings, daughter of James A. Giddings, Jr. Mrs. Wanzer died within a few years, leaving one daugh- ter, Miss Grace Wanzer. The subject of this sketch is a farmer by avocation. He has held the presidency of the Housatonic Agricultural Society two years, and has been a member of the board of directors and president of the New Milford Agri- cultural Association. He is a democrat in politics, and has been a member of the board of selectmen in New Fairfield since 1884. He is also the presi- dent of the town board of health, and is actively associated with local interests and affairs.
E. A. MERRIMAN, MERIDEN: Attorney-at-Law.
Judge Emerson A. Merriman has represented Meriden in the legislature during two sessions, serving in 1880 and 1881. He was prominently identified with the legis- lation of both years, being connected with important committees each year. He is a republican in politics. For thirteen years he was judge of the probate court in Meriden, serving the people of that city with marked accept- ance and success. Both as judge and member of the legislature he was governed by the strictest personal honor, and his E. A. MERRIMAN. public career has deserved and received the most gratifying approval. He is a member of Meriden Lodge, No. 77, F. and A. M., of Meriden. Judge Merriman was born at Westfield, Mass., August 3, 1842, and was educated at Suffield, in this state, being a graduate of the Literary Institute in that place, and in the law department of the University of Michigan. His wife was Miss Frances E. John- son before marriage. There are no children in the family. Judge Merriman is a member of the New Haven county bar, and one of the leading attor- neys in Meriden.
JOHN P. WOOD, BROOKLYN: Cashier Windham County National Bank.
John Palmer Wood was born in Scotland, May 30, IS33, and received a thorough common school education, preparing him for a successful business career. He was a repub- lican in politics until 1884. Since that time he has been connected with the democratic party. He re- mained on the farm in Scotland until he was eighteen years of age, when he became interest- ed in a mercantile life. From 1864 until 1870 he was in the United States treasury office in Wash- ington. He then removed J. P. WOOD. to Lynn, Mass., where he remained until 1876. Since the latter year he has been connected with the position which lie now holds in the bank. He was elected judge of the Brooklyn probate district in 1890, and is now the judge of the court. Judge Wood is connected with
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the Unitarian church. His wife, who is yet living, was Miss Sarah J. Kimball, daughter of Jacob Kim- ball, prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had six children, three of whom are liv- ing. The family occupy a prominent place in the community where they reside, and Judge Wood is a leading citizen of eastern Connecticut. He is a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 15, F. and A. M., of Danielsonville, one of the oldest Masonic lodges in the state.
NORRIS G. OSBORN, NEW HAVEN: Editor " The New Haven Register."
Norris G. Osborn was born in New Haven, Conn., April 17, 1858, and his native place has always been his home. He was educated in the private schools of that city, and in Yale College, from which institution he grad- uated with the class of 1880. In 1886 his alma mater conferred upon him an honorary degree of master of arts. In 1884 he became chief editor of The New Haven Regis- ter, and has had the en- tire management of the paper since that time. N. G. OSBORN. Mr. Osborn served as senior aid, with the rank of colonel, to Governor Waller, during his adminis- tration, from 1882 to 1884. He is a member of many social organizations, chief of which are the Free Masons and the Sons of the American Revo- lution. He married, in 1881, Miss Kate Gardiner of New York city, and they have three children.
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