USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 40
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The first store was built by Lewis and Willis Hotchkiss in 1835, which still stands on the corner opposite the bank in Main street. It was called the Boston Store, and Sheldon Canfield who owned it carried on for some time a prosperous business in the line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes. The same year Donald Judson built the long stone store, now supplanted by the National Bank building and George C. Allis's book and jewelry store. A farmer passing through the place at that time remarked that "the people of Derby must be fools to build stores in a sand-bank."
JOHN CLOUES is well and favorably remembered by many of our citizens. He was a most exemplary, dictatorial, and even ambitious man, but always exercised a moral influence in the
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
right direction. With his men his word was law. In the ab- sence of courts he often acted as prosecuting attorney, judge, jury and witness. On one occasion he summoned a laborer to appear at his office at a certain hour. "Now, Pat," said he, " you are to be tried for your life. You were drunk at Warner's tavern last Sunday ?" " In faith, you say so, my lord," said the trembling Irishman. "And drunk many times during the week ?" "Very likely, but I don't remember." " I also hear you abuse your wife ?" " I guess I do sometimes, but she always gets the better of me." After a severe reprimand the judge said : "The sentence of this court is that you at once mend your ways, stop drinking and abusing your wife, or get back to Ireland." " A devil of a court is this," said the prisoner, but the verdict had a most salutary effect.
Mr. Cloues was identified with the early interests of Birming- ham and Ansonia, and was instrumental in planning and carry- ing forward many public improvements. During his general agency of six or eight years the village was in a most flourish- ing condition, notwithstanding the great revulsion in business interests which swept over the country in 1837. Building lots on the principal streets at that time were sold for four and five dollars a foot, and house building was encouraged by an admir- able feature in Smith and Phelps's decree, that whosoever bought a lot should within a year's time erect a building thereon, which was a measure to avoid undue land speculations. At this early period the place had its minister, doctor and lawyer ; the lyceum was established, the cemetery laid out, and labor, capital and manufacturing interests were drifting towards the infant village.
THE BIRMINGHAM IRON FOUNDRY.
In the spring of 1836 the Messrs. S. and S. M. Colburn (twin brothers) from Westville were induced to locate in Bir- mingham. Their business in the former place had been that of casting clock weights, and at that time no castings of the kind could be obtained but of them. When they came to this place they had only five thousand dollars capital, but being sturdy and full of native energy, they laid the solid foundations for the Birmingham Iron Foundry. They soon took into partnership their brother, Dr. Josiah M. Colburn, and still later Sheldon
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Sylwester Colluen
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IRON FOUNDRY.
Bassett. In 1850 the concern was incorporated under the above name, and the Colburns then removed to Ansonia. Henry Whipple (now sheriff) made the first castings in Birmingham, and continued in this department about forty years, when fail- ing health forced him to leave the shop. This foundry was started on a capital of $32,000, which has been increased to $ 100,000. On the death of Sheldon Bassett in 1865, who had for some years managed the concern, his son Royal M. Bassett was chosen president, and his brother Theodore S. Bassett sec- retary and treasurer. The company has been very prosperous
BAILEY
BIRMINGHAM IRON FOUNDRY.
under their administration. The average number of hands em- ployed from year to year being about one hundred and twenty- five ; the monthly pay-roll amounting to $6,000 ; goods produced yearly, $200,000. The sale of goods during the war amounted to $35,000 per month. F. M. Clemons is the general superin- tendent, and H. F. Wanning book-keeper.
THE HOWE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Howe Manufacturing Company was organized in New York, Dec., 1835, to manufacture pins by means of Doct. John I. Howe's machines and he was appointed its general agent. In
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Fagravid 9 8 mmnoi Barturn.
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BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
THE SHELTON TACK COMPANY.
This firm was organized in 1854, with a capital of $80,000. The tack business was started successfully in the place in 1836 by Sanford and Shelton, and after the death of Mr. Sanford in 184I was continued by E. N. Shelton until the formation of the present company, which has now a capital of $100,000. It is one of the best and most substantial establishments in the place, having a branch factory in Shelton, just across the Ousa- tonic river, and the two employ on an average 125 hands. The company manufacture into tacks, small nails and bolts about a thousand tons of iron yearly, producing $200,000 worth of goods. E. DeForest Shelton, president ; George Blakeman, secretary and treasurer ; Edward N. Shelton, George Blake- man and E. De Forest Shelton, directors ; Almon P. Glover, general superintendent.
THE FURNITURE FACTORY.
Stephen N. Summers commenced the manufacture of furni- ture in 1836 in a little shop, and the firm of Summers & Lewis was established prior to the purchase of the Atwood factory in 1858, since which time they have done a large busi- ness in the wholesale and retail departments. The firm employs about thirty hands, and the establishment has been very success- ful from the beginning. The firm is known as Summers & Lewis.
PAUGASSETT MILLS.
These well-known mills constitute one of the busiest indus- tries of the borough. The senior members established their reputation in Orange in 1845, and, after thirteen years, their business demanding a change to a more convenient locality, they purchased the property of the Globe Company and removed their machinery into Birmingham in 1858. In January, 1864, their mills were entirely destroyed by fire. In 1865 the old Copper Mills property was purchased and their present exten- sive factory buildings were erected. The firm consists of Amos H. and C. B. Alling, and the son of the latter, Charles H. Alling.
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THE STERLING ORGAN COMPANY.
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ORGAN COMPANY.
They employ about 250 hands; their monthly pay roll amount- ing to $7,000. They produce about 7,500 pairs of hose per day, and the valuation of their products amounts to about $400,- 000 annually.
THE STERLING ORGAN COMPANY.
The manufacture of reed instruments had been carried on in a limited way for a number of years in Derby, by various parties, but the business did not assume extensive nor profita- ble dimensions until the establishment of the Sterling Organ Company in 1871. Their works were destroyed by fire in 1875, but promptly rebuilt, and in 1879 were enlarged to nearly dou- ble their former dimensions, making a very spacious building, 265 by 40 feet, four stories high, affording ample room for the construction of many thousands of organs a year.
Mr. Rufus W. Blake, now the secretary and general manager, being the founder of a leading manufactory of a similar char- acter in Massachusetts, accepted the direction of the business of this company in 1873, since which time the enterprise has been very successful, with the exception that in 1875 it sus- tained a loss of $25,000 by fire, but was put upon a firm basis by Charles A. Sterling and the enterprising manager, R. W. Blake, and its reputation is now widely extended, its mercan- tile standing number one, and the various styles of organs pro- duced are unsurpassed by any establishment in the country. Their instruments are shipped to every state and territory in the Union and to various foreign ports. They employ about 125 hands, and produce 4,000 organs per year. Charles A. Sterling, president ; R. W. Blake, secretary and general man- ager, and Oliver E. Hawkins, cashier.
ALLIS'S BOOK STORE.
The illustration represents the store of George C. Allis, the oldest continuous firm with one exception in Birmingham. Mr. Allis started his business when he was only fifteen years of age, in the stone building on Main street, in a room eight by sixteen feet, his original capital being fifty dollars of borrowed money.
In 1857 Edward Lewis, to encourage Mr. Allis, built him a small store on the south side of Main street, which he occupied
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
until 1866 when he purchased the store he now occupies, which he has rearranged and very much improved by extensive alter- ations and additions.
In 1859 he founded his circulating library of the current pop-
GEORGE C.ALLIS.
ALLIS' CIRCULATINGLIBRARY 3000 VOLS.ALLTHE FRESH BOOKS
ALLIS
IL SENIORYENG ALY
GEORGE C. ALLIS'S BOOK STORE.
ular literature, which now numbers more than 3,000 volumes. He has been successful and is a standard representative in his line of business.
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THE TRANSCRIPT.
DERBY PRINTING COMPANY.
Thomas M. Newson and John B. Hotchkiss of New Haven started the first newspaper in Derby December, 1846, which was called the Derby Fournal. Mr. Newson was the editor, and was young, talented and energetic. For a time he published in Birmingham a lively daily paper, but it failed for want of support, the community being too limited for such an enter- prise ; and Mr. Newson disposed of his paper and pushed into a larger field. He is now the editor and proprietor of a large monthly illustrated magazine in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Fournal passed into other hands and for many years it was published by various editors, under the names of Valley Messenger and Derby Transcript. In 1868 William I. Bacon bought the paper and established the Derby Printing Company, from the office of which he, in connection with his son Daniel Bacon, issues the Transcript weekly ; a stirring, enterprising and valuable newspaper. The department of job printing is commensurate with the wants of the locality, and is conducted with promptness, accuracy and enterprise. But what is of de- cided value in the paper is the fact that its moral influence is carefully guarded by its editors so as not only not to be offen- sive to a Christian community, but also to sustain the Christian sentiment of such a community.
AN ANTIQUARIAN.
John Whitlock, a mechanical genius, came to Birmingham in 1844, and is particularly noted for the variety of styles in his collection of old clocks. These time-keepers he has collected from various parties, in various stages of dilapidation, and with great ingenuity repaired the worn or broken parts and put them in good spirits, and set them at their old and almost forgotten work of measuring the revolutions of the earth. The variety consists of ninety or more different clocks, most of them the production of different makers. The oldest clock bears the date of 1656 (one year before the first deed of Birmingham Point was given by the Indians), having iron wheels, made in Germany, and was brought to this country by a Hungarian. Another is one hundred and fifty years old, and was once the
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
property of the grandfather of Commodore Isaac Hull of Derby, and of Revolutionary fame. Another, made in the black for- ests of Germany, is a tall pipe-organ clock and plays eight tunes. Two others, of " Crane's patent," run each 385 days with one winding. Mr. Whitlock is believed to be good authority on clocks, but if he is not his clocks are.
The clock dated 1656 was an artistic and costly article, being constructed of iron and brass ; about six inches square, and was intended to lay on the table or mantel. The face is ornamented with allegorical figures ; those on the corners representing the four angels blowing the four winds of heaven ; those outside of the dial are Adam and Eve, between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morn- ing, the latter holding out the apple ; between 10 and II, a group of young people; at 12 m., the Savior loosing the tongue of the dumb ; at 3 p. m., the good Samaritan pouring oil on the wounds of the bruised man by the wayside ; at 5 p. m., a monk going to the church in the Gothic age. Different styles of architec- ture representing different ages of the world are on the face. The case, constructed of brass and originally gilded, is orna- mented with allegorical figures and Latin inscriptions under them. Beneath the figure of "Minerva " is (the Latin ren- dered), " No one knows all things at all times ;" beneath " Tem- pus," "Time flies never to return ;" beneath " Hora," " Honor time as a god ;" beneath "Mors," "We are dying every mo- ment."
A partial classification of this collection may be stated : Of eight-day, brass hall clocks there is one by Osborn of Birming- ham, Eng .; one by Williams of Birmingham, Eng .; one by Richardson Miner of Stratford-on-Tyne, Eng .; one by Joseph Clark of Danbury, Conn .; one by Isaac Doolittle of New Ha- ven, Conn., and two by Macock Ward.
Of the tall wooden clocks there are two made by Silas Hoad- ley of Plymouth, Conn .; one by J. and L. Harrison of Water- bury ; one by Asa Hopkins of Litchfield; one by Eli Terry of Plymouth, and one by Hoadley & Thomas of Plymouth, Conn.
Of the wooden shelf clocks there are three each by Mark Leavenworth of Waterbury and Silas Hoadley of Plymouth, and one each by the following: Eli Terry, Henry C. Smith, Robert Seymour, Bishop & Bradley, James Bishop, Sedgwick
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373
CLOCK MAKERS.
& Bishop, all of Waterbury ; one each by Ephraim Downs, Oli- ver Weldon, Boardman & Wells, Jerome & Darrow, Eldridge G. Atkins, Mitchell & Atkins, and Chauncey Boardman, all of Bristol ; one each by M. & E. Blakeslee and Seth Thomas of Plymouth, and one each by the following : Riley Whitney of Winchester, Hotchkiss & Field of Burlington, Eli Terry, jun., of Terryville, William Orton & Preston of Farmington, Orton, Preston & Co. of Farmington, Samuel R. Hitchcock of Hum- phreysville, R. E. Northrop of New Haven, Charles Stratton of Worcester, Mass., Wadsworth, Lounsbury & Turner of Litch- field, Julius Peck & Co. of Litchfield, B. H. Twiss of Meriden, B. & A. Richards, made for Lawson & Ives of Bristol, and L. & F. Andrews, John Bacon, Barnes & Bacon, Terry & Andrews, Samuel Terry, E. & G. W. Bartholomew, all of Bristol, Conn .; George C. Marsh of Torrington, and Norris North of Wolcott- ville, Conn.
Mr. Whitlock's object has been to obtain a wooden clock by every maker of clocks who has conducted his work in Connec- ticut, and thinks he has made a good beginning, but is still far from the end. He has many brass clocks with peculiarities in their mechanical construction, in various stages of wear and tear, and a variety of cases, faces and ornamental parts; suffi- cient to meet the wants of repairing for many years to come.
OTHER ENTERPRISES:
L. L. Loomer & Sons are manufacturers of corsets; and pro- duce about $175,000 worth of goods annually, employing 130 hands.
Tomlinson & Brewster are manufacturers of corsets, employ- ing 60 hands at an expense of $1,500 a month, producing yearly about $75,000 worth of goods.
In addition to the enumeration thus far given should be men- tioned the following enterprises now in active operation, con- tributing to the industries of the place : Robert May, corset maker, and the first importer of kid gloves into Birmingham ; Robert N. Bassett, maker of corset steels ; Wm. Hawkins, man- ufacturer of skates and wrenches ; Henry G. Bassett, box maker ; Sturges Whitlock, machinist and builder of printing presses ; John Whitlock, machinist ; H. S. Sawyer & Sons, grist-mill ;
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
S. L. Otis, machinist ; George G. Shelton & Brothers, baby carriages ; Cornell & Shelton, folding boxes; R. M. & T. S. Bassett, corsets, successors to Downes & Bassett, and Downes & Krous, corsets, just established.
In closing this brief account of business companies it is proper to say that Birmingham has been the starting point from which have sprung many of the now prosperous enterprises in the town of Derby and its vicinity. The Derby Building and
ST. JAMES'S CHURCH.
Lumber Company at the Narrows; Wallace & Sons, Slade Woolen Company, formerly owned by D. W. Plumb, Colburn's Foundry, now owned by F. Farrell, Osborn & Cheeseman Com- pany, W. & L. Hotchkiss Lumber Company, and the Copper Mills, of Ansonia ; and Sharon Bassett's bolt factory, Star Pin Company, Wilcox & Howe Company, Shelton Factory, Derby Silver Company, and Derby Gas Company, of Shelton, are all outgrowths of men and capital once largely identified with the interests of Birmingham.
April 30, 1841, the members of the Episcopal parish of St. James's church held their first meeting to change the location of
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375
SAVINGS BANK.
their church edifice, by a warning duly given, and it was voted to change it to Birmingham. The accompanying cut represents the present structure, which is in striking contrast with the first church built in this ancient parish in 1738. The lot was donated by Smith and Phelps, and the money ($6,000) raised by subscription for a stone church. Since its erection it has been enlarged, a stone tower erected in place of a wooden one, and a chime of bells furnished. The stone work was built by Harvey Johnson, and the wood work by Nelson Hinmon ; the building committee being A. Beardsley, E. N. Shelton and Jo- seph P. Canfield. This edifice was erected under many dis- couragements, but was completed in the spring of 1843, and consecrated by Bishop Brownell, April II, the same year, the following clergymen being present : Rev. William B. Ashley, rector, Rev. Drs. Daniel Burhans and William C. Mead, and Rev. Messrs. Stephen Jewett, E. E. Beardsley, G. H. Stocking, Rodney Rossiter, D. G. Tomlinson, G. S. Coit, J. Pures, G. S. White, C. Hopson, Joseph Scott, J. D. Smith, S. S. Stocking and J. L. Clark.
The earlier and more complete history of this church is given in chapter fifth of this book.
Three of the churches in Birmingham are beautifully located on the Green, St. James's on the east, the Methodist on the north or upper end, and the Congregational on the west side. Two of these, with the old public school-house, are represented in the accompanying illustration.
DERBY SAVINGS BANK.
The Derby Savings Bank was chartered in May, 1846, the original corporators being John I. Howe, Donald Judson, Thomas Burlock, David W. Plumb, George W. Shelton, Fitch Smith, David Bassett, George Kellogg, Thomas Wallace, Samuel French, George Blakeman, S. M. Colburn, Henry Atwater, S. N. Summers, Isaac J. Gilbert, Edward Lewis, Sheldon Bassett, Henry Hubbard, Sheldon Smith, jun., John W. Davis and Sid- ney A. Downes. The officers were, John I. Howe, president ; Edward N. Shelton, vice-president ; Joseph P. Canfield, secre- tary.
Mr. Canfield held his office sixteen years. At the end of the
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
first year the deposits in the bank amounted to $2,391.50. In the sixteen years following they increased to $187, 103.50, with a surplus of $5,337. In 1862 Mr. Canfield resigned and Thad- deus G. Birdseye was elected to fill the place as secretary and treasurer, which office he has ever since held. The deposits have increased to $1,226,085.95, with an increased surplus of $55,381.63, without the loss of a dollar.
During the past two years the directors have limited the deposits, thereby reducing the total deposits nearly $200,000.
PUBLIC SQUARE, BIRMINGHAM,
Of the original incorporators, twenty in number, only ten are living, four of whom remain its officers.
It is believed that few if any savings banks in the state have been better, more judiciously or honestly managed than this. Both officers and institution have the entire confidence of the community. The present officers are, president, Joseph Arnold ; vice-president, D. W. Plumb; directors, David Torrance, Sid- ney A. Downes, Stephen N. Summers, Wm. E. Downes, Henry A. Nettleton, Clark N. Rogers, Truman Piper.
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BANK CHARTERED.
MANUFACTURERS BANK.
This bank was chartered in 1848, with a capital of $ 100,000, with authority to increase the same to $300,000. It was organized and commenced business the same year, $100,000 being subscribed. The first board was composed of the follow- ing gentlemen : president, Edward N. Shelton ; directors, J. I. Howe, Lewis Downs, Fitch Smith, William Guthrie, Thomas Burlock, Edward Lewis, Sidney A. Downes, H. S. Nichols ; cashier, James M. Lewis.
The granting of the charter was violently opposed in the Legislature on account of the prejudices against the old Derby Bank, but soon after its organization it was found that the $ 100,000 capital was insufficient for the business of the town and vicinity.
In 1851 the stockholders voted to increase the capital to $300,000, which amount was subscribed and paid during the next two years.
In 1853 Mr. Lewis resigned his position as cashier to accept the position of president of the Union National Bank of New York city, and Mr. Joseph Arnold of the Meriden Bank was elected to and accepted the vacated position, which he has retained to the present time.
With the exception of a few months in 1865, Edward N. Shelton has remained president of this Bank, from the time of his first appointment in 1848 until the present.
In 1865 the institution was reorganized under the National Bank Act with the title of the Birmingham National Bank ; the same officers being retained.
At first the Bank was located in a small room over the Shel- ton tack factory. In 1850 a banking house was built on the low grounds opposite the Iron and Steel Works, but in conse- quence of injuries done by freshets, another location was selected and the present bank building was erected on the cor- ner of Main and Caroline streets, which is still occupied by this Bank and the Derby Savings Bank.
The institution has proved a successful and most accomodat- ing enterprise to the citizens of Derby and its vicinity. The present board of officers and employes are : president, Edward
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
N. Shelton ; vice-president, D. W. Plumb ; directors, George Blakeman, Edward Lewis, Merritt Clark, Wm. E. Downes, Charles H. Pinney, Joseph Arnold ; cashier, Joseph Arnold ; book-keeper, Wm. S. Browne; teller, Charles E. Clark; clerk, Charles C. Blair.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Birmingham Congregational Society was organized July 30, 1845. The first meeting was held at the house of | Ephraim Birdseye, the present residence of Sharon Bassett, in Birmingham. There were present, David Bassett, Asa Bas- sett, G. Smith, Ephraim Birdseye, David Nathans, George W. Shelton, F. T. Frost, Edward Kirby and Samuel P. Tomlin- son ; four of whom are still living. David Bassett, Josiah Smith, 2d, and George W. Shelton were the first society's com- mittee, and Ephraim Birdseye, clerk and treasurer. The name adopted was the " Birmingham Congregational Society." The church edifice was erected the same year by Hotchkiss, Clark & Company, at an expense of about $6,000. The lot was donated by Anson G. Phelps, for church purposes only, and the new edifice was dedicated January 28, 1846; the sermon on the occasion being preached by the Rev. Joel Parker, D. D., of Philadelphia.
In the summer of 1859 the edifice was enlarged by adding seventeen feet to its rear, at an expense of $2,500. In 1866 the present parsonage was erected at a cost of about $6,000. On January 4, 1846, sixty persons, in good standing, were dis- missed from the First Church of Derby, and on February 13, 1846, organized themselves as a church by the adoption of arti- cles of faith and a covenant. Feb. 25, 1846, a council of neigh- boring churches was held and the church formally recognized, the Rev. George Thatcher, pastor of the Derby Congregational church preaching the sermon. On March 9, 1846, the society voted to hire the Rev. E. W. Cook for six months and to pay him three hundred and twenty-five dollars.
Rev. Charles Dickinson was installed as the first settled pas- tor, Sept. 16, 1846, and continued as such until his death in 1854. Rev. Zachary Eddy of Warsaw, N. Y., was installed Dec. 19, 1855, and dismissed at his own request Feb. 11, 1858.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Rev. C. C. Carpenter was ordained pastor of this church Feb. 13, 1861, and continued thus until June 27, 1865, when he voluntarily resigned. May 1, 1866, the Rev. Stephen S. Mer- shon was installed, and by his own request was relieved of the
SENIOR INGEN
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE.
duties of pastor March 17, 1869. The Rev. Charles F. Bradley was installed over this church Dec. 30, 1873, and remains at the present time its pastor.
At a church meeting, April 10, 1846, Josiah Smith, 2d, and David Bassett were chosen deacons. The following have since
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
been chosen : Truman Gilbert, E. G. Atwood, Henry Somers, J. R. Hawley, G. W. Shelton, S. M. Gardner, and Joseph Tom- linson. The last three are acting at the present time.
At a church meeting held Feb. 13, 1846, George W. Shelton was appointed superintendent of the Sabbath school and was re-appointed yearly until 1854, in which year William B. Lewis was elected. In 1855 George W. Shelton was again chosen and held the office until April, 1858, when Truman Piper was elected. In April, 1859, Joseph Tomlinson was appointed and has held the office with the exception of one year up to the present time.
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