USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 65
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GILES POTTER, NEW HAVEN : Agent of the State Board of Education.
Giles Potter, son of Elisha Payne and Abigail (Lathrop) Potter, of good Puritan stock, was born in Lisbon, Conn., February 22, 1829. Attending the common school, work- ing on the farm or at car- riage-making in his father's shop, and teach- ing school, he at length found his way through Leicester academy, and graduated at Yale College in the class of '55, winning honors in mathematics and the sciences; and en- gaged in teaching - 1855-56 at East Hartford, GILES POTTER. 1856-59 as instructor in natural science at the Connecticut Literary Institution (Suffield), 1859-64 as principal of Hill's academy, Essex. He then went into manufacturing for a short time, resumed teaching at the Essex seminary, and in 1870 took up the insurance business.
Mr. Potter is in politics a firm but quiet repub- lican, doing his duty in the caucus and at the polls, but never troubled by political ambition. How- ever, the people of Essex found it their pleasure and profit to bestow upon him many local offices- selectman, justice of the peace, school visitor, etc. - keeping him always in the two latter offices, well knowing that Mr. Potter has almost a weakness for serving his fellows and not himself. For the years 1870, '71, and '72 they elected him representative to the state legislature. Quite naturally, he was assigned to the committee on education. This committee, in 1872, being instructed to revise the school laws, formulated the present compulsory system, Mr. Potter, as chairman, presenting the report. In the fall of 1872 he became agent of the state board of education, and for the last eighteen years it has been his office to look after the enforce- ment of those same beneficent laws which he had so large a share in compiling. He has brought into this work rare tact, energy, and love. For instance, if he happens to buy a paper of a small- sized newsboy he is apt, in a kindly way, to ask the
boy's name and age, and where he goes to school. Quiet and conciliating in manner, preferring mild means where possible, never withholding stronger ones where necessary, the delinquent employer and selfish or brutal parent have learned that Mr. Pot- ter brooks no trifling. For Agent Potter to be in town means business. He has, therefore, won the esteem and respect of the many prominent men in all parts of the state with whom his duties bring him in contact; has largely by the diligence and enthusiasm with which he fulfills his office con- tributed to the present creditable showing of Con- necticut in regard to popular education- this de- spite the increasing foreign character of the popu- lation, and the vast growth of the factory interest - and seems well to bear out the truth of these words, uttered in reference to him on the floor of the United States senate: "One of the most efficient men in the state is appointed to enforce the law."
Mr. Potter is an active supporter of public worship; long time deacon of the Essex Baptist church; twenty-three years superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is now a deacon of Calvary church, New Haven, whither he removed in 1881. He was married in 1857 to Martha Hubbard Wright, daughter of Rev. David Wright, and has four children living.
GEORGE MILTON MORSE, PUTNAM: Cotton Manufacturer.
George M. Morse was born at Central Falls, R. I., August 25, 1830. He was educated principally at the public schools of his native town and of the city of Providence. He has been engaged in manufacturing, mer- chandizing, and in real estate operations in Woonsocket Falls, Val- ley Falls, and Providence, R. I., and in Putnam, Conn. He is now presi- dent of the Powhattan and the Morse mills man- ufacturing corporations, which are among the leading cotton manu- G. M. MORSE. facturing concerns in the Quinebaug Valley. He has held and worthily filled various offices within the gift of his townsmen, including that of representative to the general court, to which he was chosen at the last state election. He is a member and deacon of the First Baptist church of Putnam, and in politics is an ardent republican. Mr. Morse married Miss Me- lora Whitney, of the adjoining town of Killingly, and has reared a family of nine children.
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J. E. PINE, WINSTED: Marble Cutter.
John Edgar Pine was born in Riverton, in the town of Barkhamsted, in 1841. After spending a few years at the schools of his neighborhood, he served an apprenticeship as stone cutter with his father, who was then in the marble business. From 1872 till 1884 he was junior partner with his father, conducting the monumental and marble business under the firm name of S. W. Pine & Son at Winsted. In 1884 the senior partner retired, and John E. Pine has since that date conducted the business alone, the J. E. PINE. establishment being designated and known as the Winsted Monumental Works. The many fine monuments in the vicinity of Winsted which have been furnished by this house indicate that the pro- prietor is master of his business. Mr. Pine is a member of St. James' Episcopal church. He is also a Mason, and in politics a republican. He has held various town offices, such as water commis- sioner, school committee, etc .; and in whatever capacity called to serve the public he has proved a trusty and useful public officer. He has a wife, but no children living.
CHARLES P. STURTEVANT, NORWICH : Woolen Manufacturer.
The subject of this sketch was born in New York city in 1844 and received an academic educa- tion. His father was Hon. A. P. Sturtevant of Norwich, one of the great manufacturers of eastern Connecticut. Mr. Sturte- vant has held nearly all the offices in the gift of his townsmen; was elect- ed to the house of repre- sentatives in 1878 and was state senator from the eleventh district in 1881-S2. He is a Congre- gationalist, and has been prominently identified with the republican party of his section of the state. C. P. STURTEVANT. He is engaged in manufacturing and is agent and secretary of the Niantic Mills Co. and connected with the Clinton Mills Co., the Norwich Woolen Co., and the Glen Woolen Co. He has for some years been prominent in the fraternal societies,
being a 32d degree Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Im- proved Order of Red Men. He is married and has five children. Mr. Sturtevant is deservedly popu- lar among a host of friends and in his various busi- ness interests has a most extensive acquaintance.
JAMES ANDREW PICKETT, NEW BRITAIN : Ex-Mayor and ex-President of Several Manufac- turing Corporations.
J. A. Pickett, one of the most honored and respect- ed of New Britain's citizens, a son of Albert Pickett, was born in New Milford, Litchfield county, March 9, 1829. He was cdu- cated at the public schools in New Milford and pri- vate schools in Bridge- port, and in 1851 went to New Britain to enter the employ as bookkeeper of the A. North & Son Sad- dlery Hardware Manu- facturing Company. In 1855 he, with L. F. Judd, bought a one-half interest in the establishment. He has been twice married: J. A. PICKETT. first, September 9, 1857, to Miss Caroline E. Stanley; and a few years after her death, second, to Miss Emma C. Lawrence. He has one child, a daughter, who is now Mrs. Anna M. Rockwell of Birmingham.
In 1876 Mr. Pickett was elected president of the manufacturing company of Landers, Frary & Clark, and held the office by repeated re-elec- tions until his resignation in ISS9. He was also president of the Union Manufacturing Company from 1878 to 1891. He was vice- president and director of the Shelby Iron Works, Alabama, and was for many years director and vice-president of the New Britain National Bank. He is a director in the Mechanics National Bank, Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company, American Hosiery Company, Stanley Rule and Level Company, Union Manufacturing Company. and the New Britain Savings Bank. He has been repeatedly called to offices of trust and responsi- bility by his fellow-citizens. He was elected town assessor for several years; was city auditor in 18;1 and 1872. On the adoption of the system of sewerage by the city he was appointed one of the sewer commissioners, and held the office from 1874 to 1882, inclusive. He was elected mayor of the city in ISS3, 1884, and 1885, and represented the town in the legislature in 1884, when he was chair- man on the part of the house of the committee on insurance. He is a member of the Center church
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of New Britain, and a liberal promoter of its in- terests and supporter of its charities. His rank as a public officer, business man, and citizen is very high, and has met practical recognition from his townsmen on every opportunity. By his knowledge of business and insight into the needs of the town and city, he has been able in all the various posi- tions he has occupied to contribute much to the welfare and prosperity of the place.
CHRISTOPHER M. SPENCER, WINDSOR : Treasurer Spencer Arms Company.
Christopher Miner Spencer was born in Man- chester, Conn., June 20, 1833. In 1845 he went to live with his grandfather, and there developed a great fondness for me- chanical work. From early childhood he had a passion for firearms, and the first gun he owned was his grandfather's old musket, a revolutionary relic, which he improved by sawing off the barrel with an old case-knife converted into a saw by hacking it on the edge of an axe. In 1847 he left C. M. SPENCER. his grandfather's farm and went to work in Cheneys' silk mill, and in 1848 entered a machine shop at Manchester Center as an apprentice. The year following he again entered the Cheneys' em- ploy as a machinist, and remained about three years. In 1853 he went to Rochester, N. Y., where he worked in making machinists' tools. Return- ing to Hartford he was a year with Colt's Firearms Company, where he first conceived the idea of radical improvements in repeating firearms. Later, while with the Cheneys, he invented an ingenious automatic machine for winding silk, which was adopted by the Willimantic Thread Company. About this time he invented and patented the "Spencer Seven-shooter," which was adopted by the U. S. government, and a company, known as the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company, was organized for its manufacture. The success of this new arm is now a matter of history. At the close of the war the company sold its entire plant to the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven. In 1869 Mr. Spencer moved to Hartford, and in company with Mr. Charles E. Billings be- gan the manufacture of drop-forgings. While here he invented a very successful machine for turning sewing-machine spools, which later suggested to him the idea of a machine for turning metal screws automatically. He kept this invention a se-
cret until he had obtained his patents, and then applied the device to a machine in the Billings & Spencer shop. The result was a complete success, and so great was his enthusiasm that he determined to commence the manufacture of screws automati- cally as a new enterprise; and, severing his con- nection with Mr. Billings in 1874, he hired a room and set his first screw machine to work. In 1876 the Hartford Machine Screw Company was formed from this nucleus, with Mr. Spencer as superin- tendent, the ultimate result of which is one of the largest and most profitable enterprises in the city of Hartford, with a plant valued at half a million dollars.
During all these years Mr. Spencer's mind was exercised with the idea of still further improving modern firearms, and he determined to produce a repeating-gun that should excel all others in rapidity of firing. The result of his thought on the subject has been what is now known as the "Spencer Repeating Shot-Gun." Models were shown, capitalists interested, and a company was formed for their manufacture, known as the "Spencer Arms Co.," with its works located at Windsor in this state, of which Mr. Spencer is the treasurer. This gun has an established reputation among sportsmen, and many thousands are in use in the United States and other parts of the world. His latest achievement is the invention of an auto- matic screw machine, which produces finished screws direct from a coil of wire.
ELIJAH MANROSS, BRISTOL: Clock Manufac- turer and Constable.
Mr. Manross is a native of Bristol, having been born there June 20, 1827. He received a common school and academic education, completing his course of study at Wil- liston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. Upon entering active life Mr. Manross learned the clock business, and was a man- ufacturer until 1867, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to retire and give himself over to absolute rest. After rug- ged treatment, including a year and a half passed ELIJAH MANROSS. in the wilds of the Adi- rondacks, he regained his strength, and now enjoys good health. The father of Mr. Manross was a pioneer in the manufacture of brass clocks in America, with which industry he was prominently identified. Three of his brothers served in Connecticut regiments during the war of
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the rebellion, one of whom (Captain Newton S. Manross) was killed while leading his company . into the sanguinary field of Antietam. Sergeant Eli Manross of the Fifth Connecticut was wounded at Chancellorsville, and John Manross, also a brother, was disabled at Cold Harbor. The sub- ject of this sketch has twice represented Bristol in the legislature, in 1880 and 1882. He has held the office of justice of the peace, has served repeatedly on the republican town committee, and for fifteen years has been constable, in the duties of which office his time is now chiefly occupied. He has been a republican ever since the formation of that party. His wife, who before her marriage was Miss Ellen S. Woodruff, is living, and they have three children.
CHARLES F. LINCOLN, ANDOVER : Postmaster and Merchant.
Charles F. Lincoln was born in Columbia, Oct. 4, 1854, and was educated at the public schools. He came to Andover in 1873 as clerk for Henry F. Cleveland, and in May, 1880, bought the business and carried it on until 1888, and between those dates he held the offices of town clerk, treasurer, registrar, and treasurer of the Andover Creamery Company. He repre- sented Andover in the legislature in 1886. In 1888 he entered the em- ploy of Durkee, Stiles & Co., of Willimantic, as commercial traveler, con- C. F. LINCOLN. tinuing with that firm for about six months until he again went into business for himself, buying out the establishment of Palmer Brothers in Fitchville, town of Bozrah. He continued that business until 1889, and since that time has been a commercial traveler for New York grocery and specialty houses. In this line he has been very suceess- ful, and is ranked as a first-class salesman. His instincts and abilities are of a high mercantile order. He was assistant postmaster and post- master at Andover for three years, and assistant postmaster at Fitchville one year. Mr. Lincoln has always been a republican, and has received honors from the hands of his townsmen as a member of that party. He married, in June, 1883, Miss Nellie A. Daggett, youngest daughter of W. H. H. Daggett of Hartford. She died Sept. 21, 1887. Mr. Lincoln is a wide awake sort of a man, who succeeds in whatever he undertakes.
R. W. CHADWICK, OLD LYME: Farmer.
Richard William Chadwick was born a farmer, and has followed that occupation through his life. He was solidly educated at the public schools, and had the additional advan- tage of a course of train- ing at Lyme Academy. He has held various town offices, to which he has been elected by the re- publicans, of which party he has been a member since old enough to vote. For about a quarter of a century he has been a deputy sheriff, and by virtue of his office was instrumental in capturing R. W. CHADWICK. the notorious Bridgeport gang of boy burglars in 1885; and at that time narrowly escaped death by a bullet from the pistol of one of the burglars while effecting his arrest. Mr. Chadwick was a member of the Connecticut house of representatives from Old Lyme in 1873, and again in 1889, during the latter session serving on the fisheries committee. He also holds the office of selectman of his town at the present time. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic frater- nity; is married, and has two children living. His wife was Miss A. M. Rowland before her mar- riage.
WILLIAM C. SHARPE, SEYMOUR: Editor and Publisher " Seymour Record."
Mr. Sharpe is a native of Southbury, where he was born October 3, 1839. He was educated at the Seymour High School and Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. After his graduation he engaged in teaching, and was thus employed for ten years, in Massachu- setts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsyl- vania, his last work of this kind being as princi- pal of a graded school at Derby in this state. He became the editor and publisher of The Seymour Record in 1871, and has sustained that relation for W. C. SHARPE. twenty years. He was united in marriage some years ago to Miss Vinie A. Lewis, daughter of Harry Lewis of Monroe, by whom he has had two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Sharpe has held a number of public offices in Seymour, having been a member of the school board for nine years,
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secretary and acting visitor six years, a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church fifteen years, and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is now a member of the Congregational church at Seymour. He is a republican, and connected with various social organizations, including several Masonic bodies, New Haven Commandery, Knights Temp- plar, Red Men, Knights of Pythias, New England Order of Protection, and others. Additionally to his literary work on the Record, Mr. Sharpe has found time for much other similar labor. He is author of the " History of Seymour " in two volumes; " An- nals of Seymour M. E. Church," " History of Ox- ford," " Genealogy of the Sharpe Family," " Dart Genealogy," etc. He is also a member of the Con- necticut Historical Society of Hartford. Mr. Sharpe is a thoroughly industrious man, a careful editor, and a conscientious author.
CYRUS WHITE, ROCKVILLE: President, Treas- urer and Manager of the White Manufacturing Company, President of The White, Corbin & Company.
Mr. White was born at Richford, Vt., Nov. 18, 1814, the eldest of eight children of a farmer of moderate means. He was early inured to the toils and privations of life in a newly-settled region, and thereby gained a hardy physical development and laid the foundation of industry, frugality, and self reliance, which has served him so well in his subsequent career. With the limited educational privileges of a few weeks each year in the district schools, he gained a fair CYRUS WHITE. knowledge of the rudi- mentary sciences (read- ing, writing, and arithmetic), and at the age of nineteen started out to learn the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years in the lit- tle hamlet of East Enosburgh, about ten miles dis- tant from the parental home. Here he learned, literally and figuratively, to strike while the iron is hot, a practical lesson to ever keep in mind. At the close of this term, in November, 1836, the chances for obtaining employment in Northern Ver- mont being less favorable than in other localities, he made an engagement with a man in Ware, Mass., and went there to find that his intended employer had died suddenly a few hours before his arrival. This left him without business,among strangers with only three dollars in his pocket ; but providentially he heard of an opening for employment at Vernon
Center in this state, with a chance to work his passage thither by helping a drove of cattle to that place. There he remained until April 1, 1838, re- ceiving about eighty cents per day and his board for his services, from which during the seventeen months he managed to save $25, in cash ; and with this capital he hired a shop at Rockville and em- ployed two assistants, thus commencing business for himself. On the Ist day of January, 1839, meeting with some success, he engaged in a matrimonial partnership with Miss Sarah A. Grant of Ware, Mass., formerly a school companion in Vermont. This union proved a very fortunate and happy one, and still continues. Of five children born to them, three are now living. During the next few years he acquired considerable real estate and built his present residence, also White's opera house and other buildings. In 1848 he bought a half interest in the iron foundry business, and about two years later the firm of C. White & Co., which had at this date bought tools and started a machine shop busi- ness in connection with the foundry and smithing business, with Milton G. Puffer employed as a patternmaker and ingenious mechanic, inaugurated a series of experiments which resulted in the pro- duction of an improved machine capable of folding and pasting 10,000 letter envelopes per day. Mr. White, discovering in this a chance for a permanent and profitable enterprise, began to lay the founda- tions for the eminently successful business of C. White & Co. In this his partner had less faith, and in 1855 sold his interest to L. A. Corbin, when the firm was changed to White & Corbin, and the foundry and blacksmith shop were sold, a water- power purchased, and early in the spring of 1856 a four-story building, 83×39, was erected for an envelope factory.
On the fourth of the following July three or four of these improved envelope machines were started in the new factory, and the business was placed on a more permanent basis, Mr. White devoting his time exclusively to the general management of the business, and to the building up of a trade in enve- lopes and paper. Sales were small and means also; hence the firm had to proceed slowly. A business of about $8,000 the first year more than doubled the next, and so continued to increase until a con- dition was reached where sales amounted to $325,- 000 in a single year. Machines were added as fast as they could be made by the company with their limited facilities. In 1866 William H. Prescott, who had been their bookkeeper for several years and who by his ability and strict attention to business had made his services indispensable to the firm, was, at the instance of Mr. White, admitted as a partner, with an equal interest with the two former partners, when the firm became White, Corbin & Co. In May, 1870, Mr. White having other busi-
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ness requiring his attention, retired from the man- agement of the envelope and paper business, since which time the managerial duties have devolved upon Mr. Prescott. The business continued to de- velop to such an extent that in 1881 it gave occa- sion for the purchase of the " Florence mills," one of the largest and finest mill buildings in Rock- ville, and which it became necessary to enlarge by extensive additions some years later, in order to accommodate the still increasing business, which is now among the most extensive of its line in the world. As ability, integrity, and success had given value to the name of Cyrus White, it was frequently sought as a means of obtaining credit by others less fortunate. By his kindness of heart which too often led him to disregard warnings to avoid suretyship, he became involved, by the fail- ure of parties he had assisted during the autumn of 1869, in liabilities amounting to nearly $200,000. This necessitated taking certain mill properties, assuming prior incumbrances thereon, and like- wise a further outlay to make the property available as a source of income for reimbursement for obligations he had assumed. This led to the com- mencement of the business of the White Manufac- turing Company, which was started with sixty looms, and has been extended, until now it operates four hundred and eighty-eight looms and other machinery requisite to run them, with capacity to make 14,000 to 15,000 yards daily of ginghams and ladies' dress goods of various designs and superior quality. In addition to the business of the White Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. White is principal owner and manager, he also holds a one- third interest in The White, Corbin & Company. Mr. White also owns the Highland farm, located within the city limits, which is carried on and managed by him. He takes great pleasure in im- proving its well-tilled fields, and in its fine herd of cows and young stock. He also owns a large farm in Enosburgh, Vermont, well stocked, together with two fine sugar orchards of over two thousand trees.
In Rockville he does a large grain and milling business, the extensive " city mills" being run by the White Manufacturing Company. The various enterprises with which Mr. White is and has been identified have kept him a very busy man. Not- withstanding he is almost an octogenarian, he still attends to the direction and general management of his business with the energy and vigor of a man in the prime of life. A recital of the struggles and triumphs through which he has passed affords a fine picture of a life which illustrates the possibilities of undaunted confidence and earnest effort in mak- ing a success of enterprises undertaken under ad- verse circumstances, and in some cases almost without any previous practical knowledge of their
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