USA > Connecticut > Representative men of Connecticut, 1861-1894 > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
The subject of this sketch is the third son of Enoch and Atlanta Sperry. His father was a farmer and manufacturer of some means and of excellent repute, who transmitted to his offspring the best qualities of the sturdy Puritan stock from which he sprang. Young Sperry was educated in the public schools of his native place, and spent one year at Prof. Amnos Smith's private school at New Haven. Being not only a diligent student and an assiduous reader, but also painstaking and observing, he made rapid progress in his studies and proved more than the equal of many lads who enjoyed greater advantages. As a youthi he developed remarkable self-reliance and great independence of character, and at a time of life when inany are still groping blindly along the thorny paths of knowledge he, as an instructor, was communicating to others what he had learned and with laudable ambition was steadily adding at the same time to his own acquirements. By his labors as a teacher, and also through liis connection with his father's business, he was enabled to save several hundred dollars; and with this small capital at his command he entered upon a very successful business career in New Haven as the junior member of the building firin of Smith & Sperry, founded in 1848. From the first he displayed an unusual energy in his calling, and soon became one of the best known business men of the "Elm City." His activities were not limited to any special line of operations, but embraced a number of very important and original improvements of a public character. He was one of the chief organizers of a company for constructing and operating the horse railroad connecting New Haven with Fairhaven and Westville, and as its president for ten years directed and managed its affairs with rare energy and discretion. Through his
268
REPRESENTATIVE MEN
direct personal efforts, during this period, much legislation in Connecticut favorable to liorse railroads was secured. He was interested also in steam railroads, and served for several years as a director in thic New Haven & Derby and New England & Eric Railroad com- panies. He was a director, likewise, in the Highiland Suspension Bridge Company. It may be said that no enterprise of any magnitude affecting the city's interests, present or prospective, has failed to secure his hearty cooperation and assistance, direct or indirect.
From the day he polled his first vote, Mr. Sperry has taken an active and intelligent interest in political affairs, local, state and national. Previously a Whig, he becainc connected with the American party upon its formation, and in 1854, was its principal leader in Con- necticut, althoughi then one of its youngest members. In 1855, he was a delegate from Connecticut to the national convention of the American party held in Philadelphia, and was As such he vigorously opposed the appointed a member of the committee on resolutions.
incorporation of pro-slavery planks in the platform, as false in logic and vicious in principle ; and when they were adopted he unceremoniously bolted the convention. This decided stand for principle made liim very popular with his party in the North, particularly in Connecticut, where his ability as a political leader also was well known, and his nomination for the office of governor of that state was only checked in the state convention of 1855, when it was remembered that he fell short several years of the constitutional age for that office. As this age limit did not extend to the office of secretary of state he was nominated for that position and was elected. A year later he was nominated and reelected. In 1856, while serving as secretary of state, he was a member of the national convention of the American party, held at Philadelphia, which placed Ex-President Fillmore at the head of its ticket. Here again he vigorously opposed the resolutions adopted to secure the Southern vote and declined to support the nominees.
Together with many others of the party who held views in consonance with his own, he attended the first national convention of the newly-formed Republican party, which was held in New York city in the same year, and gave his warm support to the candidacy of General Fremont, for whose election he labored with extraordinary energy during the ensuing campaign. Chosen chairman of the state Republican committee, at the beginning of this campaign, he filled this position during the critical period preceding the Civil War and also during its continuance. In the state campaign of 1860, he played a most important part, exhibiting rare qualities as a leader and manager, and carrying the election of Governor Buckingham, thus swinging Connecticut into the Republican line for Abraham Lincoln. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed him postmaster of New Haven. In 1864, he was a member of the Repub- lican national convention, held at Baltimore, which re-nominated Lincoln for the presidency, and at that time was a member and the secretary of the national Republican committee. He was one of the seven persons selected by the national committee to conduct the campaign of 1864, and was chosen its secretary. Throughout the period of the War of the Rebellion he gave his best services to the Union canse, and to his able and unceasing efforts in Connecticut the government is greatly indebted. In 1868, he presided over the state convention which nominated the electors who voted for General Grant for President.
His political activity, since 1868, has been in no degree inferior to what it was during the years preceding, and has earned for him a national reputation. Soon after the beginning of President Cleveland's administration, Mr. Sperry's place as postmaster of New Haven was sought by prominent Democrats, and its incumbent was removed on purely political grounds. He was restored to office by President Harrison early in 1889, on a petition extensively signed, without regard to party, asking him to become a candidate. The postmastership of New Haven is a position of great weight and responsibility, and the office itself holds the first rank
OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894. 269
in the state and rates among the chief in the United States. It is a matter of record, and is so held by the general public, that Mr. Sperry's administration of its duties left nothing to be desired. The honest and diligent manner in which he discharged the business of the office gave universal satisfaction, and, together with the many improvements introduced by him and carried forward successfully, indicate uncommon ability as an executive and manager. Not the least of these improvements was the assorting of mails to the various stations in New York city which resulted in saving many hours in delivery. On numerous occasions Mr. Sperry has been highly complimented by the authorities at Washington, and, in 1866, Postmaster- General A. W. Randall named him as one of a select commission of distinguished experts to visit European countries and inspect and report to the department upon the foreign mail systems. Although the acceptance of this appointment would not have inade necessary his resignation as postmaster of New Haven, he felt compelled, for personal reasons, to decline it. During the later years of his incumbency Mr. Sperry enjoyed the unique distinction of being one of the oldest postmasters by presidential appointment in the United States, and it is worthy of note that he held his commission in a city and town which his ancestors helped to found nearly two and a half centuries previous to the date of its issuance. Mr. Sperry resigned the office of postimaster of New Haven on April 15, 1885, after an incumbency of twenty-four years. As an evidence of their high appreciation of his eminent services, his fellow citizens without regard to party, gave him a complimentary banquet shortly afterward at the Hyperion Theatre, the largest auditorium in the city. This banquet was one of the most notable ever given in the state, and no other citizen has received a more spontaneous and hearty tribute, either before or since, in the city of New Haven.
No man is more profoundly interested in the welfare of New Haven, and few, if any, have deserved more highly by their consistent and persistent efforts in its behalf to rank among its worthies. No inan is better known in the city, and, probably, no one has a greater number of personal friends. A strong supporter of the American system of public schools, he is deeply concerned in preserving them as they have been handed down by their patriotic and enlightened founders, that is, on a Christian basis. A victory of which he is as proud as any other achievement in his eventful life was won by him in 1878, when he vigorously attacked the action of the New Haven board of education which, by the vote of a majority of its members, had ordered the discontinuance of the reading of the Bible in the public schools of the city. Taking the logical ground that the Bible, being the moral code, taught the young a clear idea between right and wrong, Mr. Sperry made an appeal to the general public against the course adopted by those in charge of the work of education. His vigorous opposition and logical arguments in favor of the Bible, voiced in many of the leading churches in New Haven, aroused a sentiment which, still further stimulated by his fervid utterances in the press, speedily caused a revocation of the obnoxious order, and it was rescinded by a vote of three to one, with the hearty approval of the entire Christian community, Protestants and Catholics alike. Although given special prominence, this incident is but one of many instances in which he has stood up, sometimes-alone, but always undaunted and undismayed, and fought nobly for principle and that which he holds sacred. It suffices to show the stamp of the man and explains the high esteem in which he is held by all. It is proper to state here that Mr. Sperry's views in regard to the education of the young have never been those of a fanatic or bigot. He is a firm believer in the separation of church and state, and is opposed to all sectarianism in connection with the public school system, hold- ing that this position is the only one tenable by an American citizen.
Mr. Sperry has served his fellow-citizens honorably and faithfully in several elective pub- lic offices. He has been a councilman and alderman of the city, and also one of the select-
35
270
REPRESENTATIVE MEN
men of the town of New Haven. In 1886, he was nominated by the Republicans in his distriet as their candidate for Congress. The eireunistances at the time were such that he could have been elected, but, for private reasons, he declined the honor, to the regret of all the members of the convention. I11 1888, he was a delegate to the Republican national convention whiel nominated Benjamin Harrison for the presidency, and was a member of the committee on platform. As a publie speaker and debater, Mr. Sperry possesses a wo11- derfil power to move and influenee his auditors. His voice has been heard upon the plat- form for years, and few men have equal taet and force in plaeing faets before an audience? He is one of the strongest advocates of "Protection, " in the Republican ranks, and his voiee has been heard with 110 uneertain effeet upon this vital topie on numerous oeeasions. In the debate before the Connecticut State Grange in 1887, the subjeet being "Whierein does Protection benefit Agriculture ? " he was one of the two orators seleeted by the National Protective League to answer for " Protection." The "Free Traders " seleeted as their spokes- 111e11, Messrs. Wells, Sumner and J. B. Sargent; but the last named only appeared. In the absence of his eolleague, Professor Denslow of New York, Mr. Sperry was likewise left un- supported. On this occasion hie achieved a deeided victory over his opponent, so mueh so that the Free Trade paper admitted the fact. His success was a signal one, as the result in the farming distriet showed in the election hield a year later. Mr. Sperry also appeared before the General Assembly of Connectieut in 1888, and discussed "Protection " with a committee of that body. Even his opponents admitted that he inade the best defenee they ever listened to; and the result of the vote in the legislature justified the remarks. During the presidential canvass in 1888, a challenge was sent out by the Tariff Reform Club, (Demo- cratie) of New Haven, to the Republicans to debate the "Mills Bill." The "Protectionists " accepted the challenge, and Mr. Sperry was selected by their unanimous vote to present their case. It was a high compliment to Mr. Sperry's power, but it was well deserved.
Mr. Sperry has been several times a delegate to the National Board of Trade, and on eaeh occasion inade a powerful impression upon that body. For years he has taken a decided part in favor of the old town government system, instituted by the founders of the com- monwealth. His speech before the committee of the Commnon Council of New Haven on this subject was one that will long be remembered. In 1887, he was selected by Senators Platt and Hawley and others to write an article on "The Advantages of Protection," for the Christian Secretary, a paper published in the eity of Hartford, in reply to a Free Trade article in the same paper, by Prof. W. G. Sumner. Mr. Sperry's article covered a whole page of the paper, and excited such wide spread interest that four hundred thousand eopies were published to meet the immediate demand, and a large edition in pamphlet form was afterwards published and broadly eireulated. The New York Tribune and other leading journals pronounced it one of the strongest as well as one of the ablest papers on the question of " Praetieal Protection " ever published. Mr. Sperry delivered the address at the national postal convention held at Alexandria Bay on Sept. 8, 1891. The address was to have been delivered by Col. S. A. Whitfield, first assistant postmaster-general of the United States, or by Hon. James E. White, general superintendent of the railroad inail serviee, but as neither of these gentlemen eould attend, Mr. Sperry was telegraphed for to supply their place. With his usual courtesy he responded to the invitation in person, and his address, which was published largely throughout the country, was one of the chief features of the convention. As a business man Mr. Sperry has been very successful. He is a member of the well- known firm of Smith, Sperry & Treat of New Haven, contraetors and builders, who have construeted some of the most palatial residences and largest factories in the city. In social
76 6, Milano
27I
OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
life he is very popular, and is connected officially and otherwise with a number of the princi- pal local organizations. Of one of these, the Quinnipiack Club, probably the oldest in the city, he has been president for twelve years or more.
N. D. Sperry was married in 1847, to Miss Eliza H., daughter of Willis and Catherine Sperry of Woodbridge. This estimable lady died in 1873. His present wife, to whom he was united in 1875, was formerly Miss Minnie Newton, whose parents, Erastus and Caroline Newton, were highly respected residents of Lockport, N. Y., where the young lady herself was born.
W 19 9847 ILCOX, HORACE CORNWALL, of Meriden, president of the Meriden Britannia Company, of the Wilcox & White Organ Company, and other corporations, was born in Middletown, Jan. 26, 1824. He passed on to hiis reward Aug. 27, 1890, the fatal power of paralysis cutting short his life, seemingly at the very height of its usefulness.
The family of Wilcox is of Saxon origin, and was seated at Bury St. Edmonds, in the county of Suffolk, Eng., before the Norman conquest. Sir John Dugdale, in his "Visitation of the County of Suffolk," mentions fifteen generations previous to 1600. The arins of the family are : per fesse, or and az., a fesse, gules, over all a lion rampant, countercharged. Crest : a demi-lion rampant, az. The lion rampant indicates that he to whom the arms were granted had gained a victory whilst in command of an army. In the reign of King Edward Third and the kings who followed, the name Wilcox occurs frequently in connection with inen of high degree. The Connecticut branch of the family is traced to John Wilcox, who is known to have been an original proprietor of land in Hartford in 1639. His son John, born in England, was the father of Ephraim and by successive generations through John and Joseph, to Elisha B. Wilcox, who was born in 1795 and died in 1881.
Horace C. was the son of Elisha B. and Hepsibah (Cornwall) Wilcox of Middletown. The ordinary duties of a farmer's boy filled his life until he reached the age of twenty, in the meantime obtaining such an education as one could get in the public schools of his native town. The year before he attained his majority, he commenced his career in the somewhat prosaic business of peddling tinware. The pecuniary basis of his later fortune consisted of three dollars, every cent of which was borrowed. His more immediate capital, however, was a strong will, a clear and vigorous brain, and a hopeful disposition. This extended his acquaintance, and the possibilities of the new business of manufacturing Britannia ware was brought to his attention. Coming to Meriden, he first sold goods mnade by James Frary, and his success was such that finally he supplied Mr. Frary with stock and took all he could produce. Widening his operations, he also handled ware made by Williamn Lyman and John Munson of Wallingford, and I. C. Lewis & Company of Meriden. About this time, he took his brother Dennis into partnership, under the firm name of H. C. Wilcox & Company. This connection lasted until 1852, when the conception of a combination of interests occurred to Mr. Wilcox, which he proceeded to put into execution. The concentration of rival interests is going on continually at the present time, but then the idea was new and untried. Through his efforts, after a friendly deliberation, the entire Britannia trade of the city formed itself into what is now known as the Meriden Britannia Company. The incorporators were H. C. Wilcox, Isaac C. Lewis, Dennis C. Wilcox, James A. Frary, Lemuel J. Curtis, W. W. Lyman and John Munson. Mr. Isaac C. Lewis was
272
REPRESENTATIVE MEN
chosen president, and Mr. H. C. Wilcox secretary and treasurer. His previous experience had in a measure fitted him for the responsibilities of the new position, and Mr. Wilcox entered upon his duties with enthusiasm. I11 1866, Mr. Lewis declined to serve longer as president, and Mr. Wilcox was made the head of the growing concern. This office lie filled until his death, being a period of twenty-four years. His administration was, as miglit readily be supposed, energetic and full of push. Building wisely on the foundation hc had helped to lay, hc secured a mercantile success not often paralleled in the business world. From a single frame building in 1852, by successive accessions, immense brick structures have been erected, until the various factories, together, have tlic floor space of over ten acres, or about 425,000 square feet. The original capital of $50,000 has been increased to $1, 100,000, and besides the company has over $20,000,000 invested. The Meriden Britan- nia Company is the largest of its kind in the world. To all this development and to all the exceptional success attained, Mr. Wilcox contributed his full share. His faculty for hard work and his rare exccutive powers well qualified him to be the head of such an extensive enterprise. At his death, Mr. Lewis was again chosen to the presidency, which position he retained until his death in 1893, when Mr. George H. Wilcox, who had been secretary of the company for several years, was elected to assume the office and with it the cares and responsibilities which his father had borne for a quarter of a century.
Extended as were the operations of the Meriden Britannia Company, Mr. Wilcox did not confine all his talents to its management. Appreciating the musical and mechanical qualifica- tions of his kinsman, Mr. H. K. White, he entered into a partnership under the name of The Wilcox & White Organ Company, for the purpose of manufacturing organs. They began on a somewhat larger proportionate scale than Mr. Wilcox's first efforts, but here again he assisted in building up one of Meriden's largest industries. When the business was organized on a stock company basis, he was chosen president and held the office until his decease, in 1890.
There seemed to be absolutely nothing which affected the welfare of the city of his adop- tion, in which Mr. Wilcox was not interested. The extension of its railroad facilities was almost a hobby with him. It was through his exertions in the early eighties that the Meriden and Cromwell railroad was built, and by it Meriden gained direct tide water communication. Later, the road was extended to Waterbury, and the name changed to the Meriden, Waterbury & Connecticut River Railroad. The city owes him a heavy debt for this piece of work alone, if he had done nothing else to advance its development. Elected first president of the road, his tenure of office was only cut short by his death.
Meriden responded nobly when the call was made for troops on the breaking out of the Rebellion. To providing for the wants of the citizen soldiery, many of whom were his own employees, Mr. Wilcox gave liberally of his time and money. His efforts to aid the success of the Union cause lasted until the surrender at Appomattox. Public official station was not to Mr. Wilcox's taste; but having assisted in securing the incorporation of Meriden as a city, he allowed himself to be elected mayor, and served during the year 1875-76, showing that he was as capable of managing a city as he was of controlling an immense manufacturing corporation.
The leading traits of Mr. Wilcox's character were his indomitable energy and his unwavering perseverance. Starting with a borrowed capital of three dollars, by his own unaided exertions he accumulated a large property. The various enterprises with which he has been connected are to-day monuments to his sagacity and shrewd management. To the very last he presented abundant evidence of having perseveringly and judiciously developed his splendid natural abilities, both mental and physical. It has been truthfully said of hill, that, "Being a gentleman of tremendous energy, clear foresight and great quickness of
273
OF CONNECTICUT, 1861-1894.
judgment, he occupied his various honorable and important offices with much acceptability to all concerned therewith." In the afternoon of his existence he was able to regard his career with satisfaction and equanimity. The promise of a long and happy evening to his life was shortened by the power of insidious disease. A single sentence from a mention of his death in the leading journal of the jewelry trade will show the estimation in which he was held by his contemporaries. The paper said: "The king of the silverware trade is dead." Success is a result of the skilled use of means and the powers of nature ; persistent success always proves ability of the highest order. Judged by this standard, the title just applied to Mr. Wilcox is fully deserved, as he was a born leader and organizer of men.
Horace C. Wilcox was twice married : First, Aug. 9, 1849, to Charlotte A., daughter of Jabez Sinitli of Middletown, by whom he had five children. She died May 6, 1864. He was married a second time to Ellen M., daughter of Edmund Parker of Meriden. Three children were the result of this union.
W ARNER, CHARLES DUDLEY, was born on the 12th of September, 1829, at Plainfield, Hampshire County, Mass., in the same region that William Cullen Bryant and George William Curtis came from. At his father's death his mother removed to Cazenovia, N. Y., where an acquaintance with Joseph R. Hawley began, which has had much to do with shaping the career of each of them, for it was through this acquaintance that later in life Mr. Warner was led to make Hartford his home, Hawley his partner, and journalism and letters his occupation. He and Hawley were companions in school days at the seminary in Cazenovia and at Hamilton College, where Hawley graduated in 1847, and Warner, taking the highest prize in Englishi, in 1851. They have been close personal and business associates ever since 1860.
After graduating from college, Mr. Warner first undertook to be a surveyor, and sub- sequently studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1856, he took up its practice in Chicago, but his early fondness for letters, which had inade him from boyhood an eager reader, had never left him, and, when the opportunity offered to enter newspaper work, he was very ready to accept. It came about in this way. Hawley, who has since become major-general of the army, governor of Connecticut, and member of Congress, and is now (1894), in his third term as United States senator, was, before the war, a young lawyer in Hartford, acting also as editor of the Press, a newspaper established by the Connecticut founders of the Republican party to advocate its principles. In 1860, needing editorial assistance, he sent for his early friend, Warner, to come and join him at $800 a year. Such a newspaper salary in those days was considered worth having, and Warner accepted. Soon afterward Hawley, the first man to enlist from his state, started off for the war, leaving his associate in charge of the paper.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.