USA > Connecticut > Representative men of Connecticut, 1861-1894 > Part 38
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Remarkably successful as a manufacturer, Mr. Bigelow was no less efficient in fiscal matters. He was especially identified with the Merchants' National Bank of New Haven, and to its management he gave no small share of his time. Upon the death of Mr. Nathan Peck in 1882, he was elected president of the bank, and retained that position until the fall of 1889, when he resigned, though he held a directorship up to the date of his own death in 1891. Among the other corporations with which he was interested are Holcomb Brothers & Company of New Haven, extensive carriage manufacturers, with whom he was connected for about twenty years. To the capital which he brought to their aid in the infancy of the concern, and the skillful and judicious counsel in the management of their affairs, is largely due the high position which they now occupy as manufacturers. He was in reality the founder of the National Pipe Bending Company of New Haven, and was its president from its inception to the time of his death.
Mr. Bigelow's continued success as a manufacturer had not passed unnoticed by his fellow-citizens, and he was called upon to fill a variety of public stations. The municipal honors he received, however, were simply commensurate with the value and worth of such a man to the community. He was elected to the Common Council in 1863, and the follow- ing year was made a member of the Board of Aldermen. A year of public service in each body was all that could be spared by the exactions of business. From 1871 to 1874 he was a member of the Board of Supervisors, and from 1874 to 1876 he filled most acceptably the office of fire commissioner. Sent by the Republicans of New Haven to the legislature of 1875, hie acquired further popularity by his talents and address, and gained additional reputation by action on important committees, especially in that on banks. His long experience had rendered him specially adapted to fill the office of inayor. Thoughi belong- ing to the party nominally in the minority in New Haven, in 1879 lie was elected for a two years' term by the very handsome majority of 2,587 over the opposing candidate. This
OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894. 237
election was a gratifying tribute to his intellectual, moral and social value, effected as it was, not entirely by the political party with which he affiliated, but by citizens of all shades of political opinion. Mr. Bigelow's administration of this office was marked by two events of peculiar and permanent interest to the citizens of New Haven. It was during his official term, and very largely due to his support and encouragement, that the East Rock Park Commission was created and the park opened, making an important addition to the beauty and comfort of the city. The other was the admirably planned and successful effort of the city government under his direction for the building of the breakwaters which have been projected and are being carried on by the United States government for the improve- ment of the city's harbor.
He was sent as one of the delegates to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in the summer of 1880, and contributed largely to the success of his political compatriots at the polls in the election which followed. The same year Mr. Bigelow received an exceed- ingly complimentary nomination in the Republican state convention, and was triumphantly chosen to the chief magistracy of the state. This exalted position he filled with quiet dignity, thorough impartiality and great good sense. The wise and liberal character of his past action was a sufficient guarantee for the sound discretion and enlightened policy of his administration.
After Governor Bigelow's retirement from official life, his attention was devoted to the development of his growing manufacturing industries, though his lesser interests in other business enterprises drew heavily upon his strength. His career has been preeminently that of the man of business, familiar with and skillful in modern methods of conducting large enterprises. All the success he has attained has been based upon thoroughness and energy in action, a careful attention to details, combined with the severest integrity and avoidance of speculation. The same characteristics have always marked his administration of public affairs. It was the possession of such qualities which won for him the hearty esteem of his fellow citizens, and which was deepened by his open-handed and broad-minded practical benevolence. The full extent of benefactions has been realized by only a few, but a host of persons in New Haven and elsewhere will rise up and call him blessed at the last for prompt assistance rendered in time of need.
Governor Bigelow was married May 6, 1857, to Eleanor, daughter of Philo Lewis. Mr. Lewis came of a family which has left its mark upon the administration of New Haven affairs. Of their children, two sons reached the years of maturity : Frank L., who succeeded to the presidency of the Bigelow Company, and also to a directorship in the Merchants' National Bank, and Walter P., now residing in New York, and in charge of the Bigelow Company's office in that city.
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AWLEY, JOSEPH RUSSELL, of Hartford, ex-governor of Connecticut and United States senator since 1881, was born Oct. 31, 1826, in Stewartsville, Richmond County, North Carolina.
His father, Rev. Francis Hawley, was a native of Farinington, Conn., and a descendant of one of the carly settlers of the state. His mother, née Mary McLeod, was of Scotch ancestry, the McLeods from time immemorial being among the most warlike and powerful clans in the west of Scotland. Rev. Francis Hawley removed to the South on reaching his majority and entered into mercantile business; later he devoted himself to the work of the Christian ministry, and after fourteen years' labor in North and South Carolina, he returned to his native state in 1837, bringing his family with him.
Beginning in the district school, the education of young Hawley was continued in the Hartford grammar school, and, on the removal of the family to Cazenovia, N. Y., in 1842, in the Oneida Conference Seminary at that place. Entering Hamilton College, he was graduated with honor in the class of 1847, having made an excellent reputation as a linguist and orator. Athletic amusements and exercises contributed to give him a splendid physical development, and thus aided to prepare him for the influential part he was to play in the great drama of national life. Subsequent to graduation he taught school, and at the same time took up the study of law. In May, 1849, he contracted a partnership with John Hooker, Esq., of Farmington, and the September following they opened an office in Hartford under the title of Hooker & Hawley.
Pronounced identification with the Free Soil party marked Mr. Hawley's entrance into public life. Chosen chairman of the Free Soil committee at the opening of 1851, he held that position until those who thought and acted with him in relation to national polity were blended in the Republican party. Together with eight other gentlemen, he set the movement in motion which resulted in the formation of the Republican party in Connecticut. Active . agitators necessarily use the newspaper press in pushing beneficent reforins, and Mr. Hawley, in harmony with the general law, became a frequent contributor to the Republican, a weekly organ of the Free Soilers. The law business of Hooker & Hawley grew rapidly in size, but it was evident that politics rather than law was the sphere to which he was best fitted. After a year's experience with the Hartford Evening Press, he relinquished the practice of law permanently. Then he invited first Charles Dudley Warner of Chicago, and later Stephen A. Hubbard of West Winsted, to associate themselves with him in the proprietorship of the Press.
After three years of hard labor, the Press was placed on a paying basis. Just at this point came the "irrepressible conflict," long dreaded, but seemingly unavoidable. The demand was made for troops to suppress the Rebellion, whose leaders had been emboldened to violent acts of treason by the apparent inactivity of the North. President Lincoln's call reached Hartford Monday, April 13, 1861. In conjunction with Mr. Drake, Mr. Hawley promptly raised a military company, and purchased rifles for them at Sharp's factory. It was the first organization of the kind that was completed in the state, and was accepted, fully enrolled, Thursday cvening, April 16. He was elected captain, and with his regiment proceeded at once to Virginia and took part in the battle of Bull Run, his three months' term of enlistment expiring on the day of the engagement. Captain Hawley was then appointed major by Governor Buckingham, and, assisting in raising the Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, was still further promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy.
The Seventh was known as one of the fighting regiments of the state, and under such a leader it could not well have been otherwise. With his regiment, Lieut .- Col. Hawley had a share in the Port Royal expedition, and was represented at Morris Island and Fort
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Wagner. In July, 1861, Colonel Terry having been made a brigadier, he received his merited commission as colonel. The regiment next formed part of the Florida expedition under General Seymour, and Colonel Hawley had command of a brigade. At Olustee he added to his military laurels and was recommended for promotion "for gallant and meritorions service." Ordered to Virginia, the Seventh was conspicuous at the battle of Drury's Bluff and the engagements around Bermuda Hundred, as well as in the trenches before Petersburg. His hardly earned commission as brigadier reached him in October. Under General Butler, he assisted in keeping peace at New York during the presidential election. After a brief service as chief of staff for General Terry, he was assigned by General Schofield to the command of Wilmington, North Carolina, where he found a new class of duties added to those of ordinary military character. Fifteen thousand refugees were dependent upon him for food, while the reconstruction of his native state largely occupied his thoughts. Completing his work in July, 1864, he was again made chief of staff to General Terry at Richmond, and the position was one which called all his knowledge of civil and military law into earnest exercise, as grave complications were of constant occurrence. The merits of General Hawley were recognized in October by the brevet of major-general, conferred for distinguished services throughout the Rebellion. With final leave of absence he returned to Hartford the same month, but was not discharged from the service until Jan. 15, 1866.
It was but fitting that the illustrious soldier should receive civic honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. Such has often been the case in the history of the world. Nominated by the Republicans for the chief magistracy of the state, he was elected over his Democratic competitor, James E. English, and served from May, 1866, to May, 1867, with great acceptance. The swing of the political pendulum was in the opposite direction at the next election, and Mr. English was chosen as his successor, and Governor Hawley declined further candidacy.
Having given so large a share of his time to the service of country and state, General Hawley's private affairs now claimned his attention and energies. Effecting the consolidation of the Press and Courant, and adding W. H. Goodrich to his active partners, he has published the Courant since 1866, though for the last dozen years the management of the paper has been almost wholly in the hands of his associates. Politician and statesman in the truest sense of the words, General Hawley has been a prolific writer and vigorous speaker in each of the annual state campaigns, and not unfrequently in the campaigns of neighboring states. In presidential canvasses he has always been a prominent and effective actor, and has served as delegate or alternate to the National Convention of his own party for a score of years, his first experience being at the Baltimore Convention of 1864. In 1868, he was nominated in caucus for United States senator, but the "good war Governor" Buckingham obtained the honor, and with it the sincere concurrence of his patriotic competitor. Four years later he was again nominated for the senatorship, but was defeated by the defection of members of his party, who united with the Democrats and reelected Hon. O. S. Ferry. In September, 1872, he was elected to the vacancy in the First Congressional District occasioned by the death of Hon. J. L. Strong, and was reelected in the spring of 1873. During his three years' service he was a member of the committees on claimns, centennial commission, military affairs, and currency and banking.
At the organization of the United States centennial commission in 1872, he was chosen president, and was subsequently reelected annually. General Hawley had intelligent faith in the usefulness and success of a national industrial exhibition, and it was largely through his efforts that the loan of a million and a half dollars was effected. In the spring of 1876, the centennial commission unanimously requested him to go to Philadelphia and devote his whole time to the interests of the great exhibition. He was finally prevailed upon to accept,
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and in cooperation with the other officials remained on the ground till January, 1877, two months after the close of the most brilliant and imposing international industrial exhibition held up to that time in the interests of human progress and welfare. In Connecticut itself, General Hawley was elosely identified with all the state arrangements in relation to the Centennial exhibition, and he had the satisfaction of seeing his state contribute in due pro- portion to the enterprise and reap the profit of extensive advertisement and enlarged sale of its products.
General Hawley was elected to the Forty-sixth Congress from the First Congressional Distriet, taking his seat March 4, 1879, and as usual rendering effective service for liis con- stituents. In January, 1881, he was the unanimous choice of his party for the United States senatorship, and was elected to succeed Senator Eaton, whose terin expired in March. In the upper house of Congress he found a fitting field for his patriotie and extended usefulness, and few, if any, within its halls are better qualified for wise and far-reaching aetion. Six years later, he was reeleeted for a second term. That his work is appreciated let the following paragraph from the Army and Navy Journal show:
We congratulate the army upon the action of Senator Hawley in introducing the excellent bill to improve the efficiency of the army, which appears elsewhere, and upon the report our correspondent gives of its prospects of becoming a law. If it cannot be passed this session the outlook ahead is not a brilliant one. We fear that the new Congress will be found to have in it elements of ignorant hostility to the maintenance of an efficient military estab- lishment that will make proper action even more difficult than it has been heretofore. Every effort should therefore be made, by those who realize the needs of our military establishment, to secure the passage of General Hawley's bill. Accept the measure as it stands ; do not dispute over it, but throw the whole weight of military experience and military sentiment in its favor. It is a measure most important to the country as well as to the army.
When the legislature assembled in January, 1893, one of its first and most important duties was the election of a United States senator. General Hawley was again a candidate, and though he was not the unanimous choice of his party associates in the caucus, he was awarded every vote in the joint ballot of both houses. His eleetion was received with mueh rejoieing, not only in Connecticut, but in all parts of the country. The testimony of the Worcester (Mass.) Spy was that :
Since the day when "Joe Hawley " led a small, but enthusiastic, band of "Free Soilers " out into the suburbs. of Hartford to fire a salute over the election of Charles Sumner of Massachusetts to the United States Senate, there has not been a truer Republican than he in New England. He was early in the field in defence of the Union, and has for years been one of the ablest and most honest members of the national Senate. He is a senator in whom all New England takes pride.
The Granite state joined in the general notes of commendation, as the following from the New Hampshire Republican will bear witness :
The reelection of General Hawley to the United States Senate by the Republicans of Connecticut is an act that causes rejoicing among the New Hampshire comrades of his inarches, battles and sieges. He is a comrade whom they admire, whom they talk about at their campfires, and in whose loyalty to their interests they place implicit faith. But it is not alone his comrades who extend the hand of congratulation. Every Republican in the Granite state who admires courage and respects ability and honesty is pleased that General Joe Hawley is to be continued at the front in the great battles that are yet to be fought and won to the end that every inan in America - regardless of foriner conditions of servitude -may stand equal before the law. The Republicans of Connecticut, therefore, in honoring Joe Hawley, have honored themselves and the Republicans of the whole country.
Let the Bridgeport Post voiee the. sentiments of Connecticut :
The people of this state are glad that Joseph R. Hawley is to be returned to the United States Senate. General Hawley's long experience in national affairs, his integrity and patriotism, eminently fit him for this high honor. Some may feel, perhaps, that it is time some one else is given a chance, but the common people who are' not in politics would rather trust their interests to his tried judgment and honor.
Seores of similar comments might be published, but only one more is added. Says the New York Press :
----
!
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1.13 Steele M.D.
Mas achusetts Publishing Co. Everett, Mass.
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OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
The re-nomination of Gen. Joseph R. Hawley for the United States Senate in Connecticut is in timely and highly satisfactory contrast to the spectacle which has been presented in the capital of New York. The result is gratifying to Republicans throughout the country who believe in placing and in keeping the best man at the helm1. Senator Hawley is a statesman of well proven ability, of keen and deliberate judgment, of resolute and vigorous action. He is a typical American, a splendid example of the success which may be achieved under American insti- tutions by the exercise of native energy, integrity and patriotism11.
The lack of space prevents a more extended example, but the following from a speech made at the Republican State Convention of 1892, will give expression to his opinions and also be a brief sample of the terse and vigorous English that General Hawley uses :
This is the opening hour of what bids fair to be a hotly-contested campaign, involving principles of the highest importance and probably the control of the national government for many years. The Republican party comes to the crisis with its usual abundant pride in a noble past and its high purposes for the future. During the last thirty years our party has underlaid the very foundations of our government, perfected the constitution, destroyed secession, destroyed slavery, established universal suffrage and equal civil rights, given free the public lands to the actual settler, drawn from foreign nations acknowledgments of the full American citizenship of our adopted fellow-citizens, reduced by two thousand millions the great national debt, established a national currency, applied to the Indian the treatment due from a Christian democracy, bestowed unprecedented relief upon the disabled soldier and his widow and his orphan, and put into vigorous practice the legitimate doctrines of protection, building up a national self- dependence with astonishing success ; in short, in every imaginable field of governmental activity erecting monu- ments of wise legislation. In none of these things have we had the cordial cooperation of the Democratic party. In almost every one we have had its vigorous opposition. Our friends the enemy jeer us for pointing with pride at our record. It is a pleasure they cannot enjoy. We offer that record as the only valuable security that our future control would be as beneficent as our past.
Being a member of the party in the minority, Senator Hawley was not assigned to any important committees, still he fared better in this respect than most of his colleagues of the same political faith. He is one of the leaders on the Republican side, and his speeches have lost none of their force and pungency, but have gained in strengtli of expression from his long experience.
TEELE, HARVEY BALDWIN, M. D., of Winsted, was born in Southington, Feb. 22, 1827, the anniversary of the birthday of the "Father of his Country." He died May 24, 1890.
Among the early pioneers from England, in the early settlement of New England, particularly in the founding of the colony of Connecticut, John Steele of Essex County acted no unimportant part. His name appears first in connection with Dorchester, one of the earliest settlements of the colony of Massachusetts, in the year 1630, only ten years after the arrival of the Pilgrim company in the Mayflower. He is next inen- tioned as one of the proprietors of Cambridge, and, having been inade. a "freeman," was elected a representative from that town to the General Assembly in 1635. In the autumn of 1835, Mr. Steele led the pioneer band of Rev. John Hooker's colony through the rugged, pathless wilderness to a new location on the Connecticut River. As leader and magistrate he appears to have conducted the expedition wisely and well. Other expeditions the same season failed, but this succeeded, largely owing to his indomitable perseverance. "And here," says the Genealogy of the Steele Family, "as a faithful head of a family, as an active member of their church, as a magistrate, as one of the principal members of their colony court, he aided in establishing a community, the duration, wisdom, and happy influence of whose institutions have been - with few exceptions - the glory of the state. * * Thus, unambitious except to do good, and to be faithful to every trust committed to him, did he pass some thirty of the active years of his life, in founding with others according to their views, a new home in the new world." From him by successive generations the family line comes down through (2) Samuel, (3) Capt. James, (4) Dr. Joseph, (5) Ebenezer, (6) Selah, (7) Selah, Jr. Selah Steele, Jr., was married three times, and by his first wife, née Phœbe Baldwin, was the father of the subject of this sketch.
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H. B. Steele's early education was obtained in the public schools of New Britain, and, when the question canc to be settled regarding his vocation for life, he chose the inedical profession. With Dr. Sperry of Hartford, hc studied in the botanic school of medicine, and later took a regular course of lectures in the medical schools of New York, and was well read in other departments of the science of healing. For over forty years he practiced in Winsted, and was recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the state. He made no part of the human boly a specialty, but devoted himself to general practice, and it was in the broad work of his chosen profession that his reputation was gained. Dr. Steele was a member of the Connecticut Medical Association, and his advice and counsel were sought after by physicians throughout his section of the state, as well as in the adjoin- ing towns of Massachusetts. His faculty of diagnosing diseases was remarkable in the extreme. It would seem as if he did not need to ask the regulation questions of his patients - that he could see what ailed them. Many stories are related of the wonderful power which he possessed in this direction. He was also a skillful surgeon. A young physician once said : "It is as interesting to be with Dr. Steele in an 'operation, as to attend a clinic in New York, one learns so much of him." Free from professional jealousy, he was always glad to assist his younger brethren, and to say appreciative words to or of them, ever remembering his own early and unassisted efforts. An enthusiastic student, it was only a few months before his dcatlı that he reviewed anatomy with great thoroughness.
The taxing cares of an increasing practice bore heavily upon him, still he found time to give attention to public affairs, and took no little interest in so doing. The welfare of Winsted was very close to his heart, and he was active in all measures which would pro- mote the growth and prosperity of the town. During the War of the Rebellion Dr. Steele was a strong Union inan. After the battle of Fredericksburg he was sent by the town authorities to minister to the wants of the wounded, and was indefatigable in his efforts in that direction. Retaining his interest in military matters, he assisted in the organization of Company I of the Fourth Regiment Connecticut Militia, which was named in his honor the "Steele Gnards."
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