USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 44
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 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
53
418
HISTORY OF DERBY.
prises of Birmingham. It fell into the hands of Anson G. Phelps, and his heirs sold it to the present stockholders in December, 1859. The present officers are : J. H. Bartholomew, president ; George P. Cowles, secretary and treasurer ; Abraham Hubbell, general superintendent.
WALLACE AND SONS.
The names of statesmen, warriors, philosophers, scientists, and those toiling in the professions may stand out most promi- nently in history, and the masses accord them the highest honors, yet some of the ablest men in the world have been those engaged in secular pursuits. To carry forward great manufact- uring and mercantile interests demands an amount of talent, enterprise, brain power ; a broad comprehensive and executive ability far beyond that required in any of the learned profes- sions,-a knowledge must be obtained that can only be acquired by practical contact with the business world, while many a man would have utterly failed in business pursuits, yet, by devoting all his energies to some special study he has become eminent.
Great manufacturing establishments do not grow up spon- taneously from nothing, although nearly all the largest and most successful ones, in this country at least, germinated from very small seed, producing at first but tiny plants which by dint of careful culture have developed to commanding proportions. Every such establishment has been emphatically worked up by the strong hands and active brains of earnest thinking men.
These statements are not only especially applicable to the Wallace and Sons' mammoth establishment, but are equally so to many others alluded to in the pages of this history.
Thomas Wallace, now deceased, came to Derby with his wife and seven children and all his effects on board the Old Par- thena and were landed on a bright Sunday morning in May, 184I, at the Birmingham wharf. Captain E. F. Curtiss, com- mander of, the sloop, often said, he "felt proud of having trans- ported from up the Hudson so valuable an acquisition to the town as the Wallace family." Mr. Wallace came here through the influence and in the interests of Doct. Howe of pin notoriety, as a wire drawer. But he was not the first in Derby to manufacture wire from the metal, for William Smith, father
419
WALLACE AND SONS.
of Wm. W. Smith now of Birmingham, was an adept in this business. He came from England to Derby in 1842 and was an experienced and capital mechanic, but he died in a few years after his arrival. He manufactured from the raw material and drew wire for Charles Atwood and others while in Birmingham.
Thomas Wallace with his sons, John, Thomas and William, whom he taught the trade, by application during about seven years, drew wire for the Howe Pin Company, and in 1848 established with moderate beginning the brass business in Ansonia. Although small at first, the enterprise proved suc- cessful, it being in the hands of an experienced, energetic and sagacious man, who, by honest persevering industry and fair dealing with his fellow men, struggling on in his way in life, was granted abundant success, and his business soon grew into promising proportions, and in later years his sons, imbued with the spirit and sturdy methods of the father, imparted fresh vigor to the establishment, enlarging its resources, and in every way meeting the exigencies and demands of the times and of a pros- perous business.
From the first factory building erected in 1848, others have almost yearly been added until now the establishment covers, in buildings, an area of nearly five acres of land. A prominent part of these is the tall chimney (the largest in the state) which rises to an altitude of over 200 feet, and in its construction, over 500,000 bricks were used. It is a marvel of strength, beautiful in proportions, and the draught all that could be desired. A novel feature of it is that one of its massive sides is made to do duty as a clock tower, and at the height of eighty feet one of Seth Thomas's celebrated town clocks points to the employes the correct time, as well as to all living in that vicinity.
This noble structure was planned and built under the imme- diate supervision of Mr. William Wallace, a member of the firm. Most of the main buildings are either stone or brick, and one of the latter has just been erected thirty feet wide and one hundred and forty feet long, four stories high. A large store and warehouse at 89 Chambers street, New York, is connected with this concern. Brass and copper goods, pins, burners and more than a hundred other articles are manufactured from
420
HISTORY OF DERBY.
metals by the Wallace and Sons, and the great perfection an variety of their machinery give them the advantage over com petitors, and their goods are found in almost every market in the world. Their business is immense and constantly increas ing, and to obtain any just idea of their works and the variety of goods made would require a day's inspection.
The average number of hands employed is 450, and the weekly pay-roll is about $5,000 ; annual products, over $2,000, 000. The present officers are : William Wallace, president Thomas Wallace, secretary and treasurer.
THE FARRELL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY is one of the largest concerns in the town, with vast buildings, and does an extensive and varied business. The company was started early in the history of Ansonia by Almon Farrell, and with him were connected the Colburns, formerly of Birmingham. Their first building was erected by Lindley and Johnson, who came to Ansonia from New Haven in 1845. At that time the capital was only $ 15,000, but it has gradually increased. The company now manufactures chilled-rolls, and about forty different kinds of goods in connection with their branch factory at Waterbury. It has shipped various kinds of iron machinery to France, Germany, Switzerland, England, Sandwich Islands and Cuba. To the latter place they have shipped two sugar mills for crushing sugar cane since 1877, the last one in 1878, which weighed over 320 tons, the heaviest and largest ever cast and built in this country, if not in the world.
The sole management of this establishment has been for many years under the direction of its president, who has brought the stock of the company from a nominal cash capital of $ 100,000 to a real capital of $500,000. The number of hands employed is 175, and the monthly pay-roll about $11,000. The present officers are : Franklin Farrell, president ; Alton Farrell, secretary ; E. C. Lewis, agent and treasurer. The annual products, without the Waterbury branch, $500,000.
THE OSBORN AND CHEESEMAN COMPANY.
The accompanying plate represents in part the extensive manufactory of the Osborn and Cheeseman Company, which was built upon the ruins of the Ansonia Clock works, destroyed
Franklin Franel
421
OSBORN AND CHEESEMAN.
by fire in 1854. The present factory, 200 by 50 feet, was built in 1861. The large addition built since, 280 feet long and 40 feet wide, and three stories high, does not appear in the cut.
Osborn and Cheeseman conducted a mercantile business in Birmingham some years, and in 1858 went into the hoop-skirt business at that place, and removed to Ansonia in 1859. In 1866 the Osborn and Cheeseman Company was organized with a capital stock of $120,000. Charles Durand was president of the company until 1875, when he sold his interest in the enter-
LIFE
OSBORN AND CHEESEMAN COMPANY.
prise. The company now manufactures a great variety of goods, such as sheet and brass ware, gilding metal, German silver, copper and German-silver wire, seamless ferrules, and other kinds of metallic goods, which are sold in all parts of the United States. The number of hands employed averages about 250; the monthly pay-roll is about $10,000 ; and the amount of goods produced about $500,000. The prosperity of the com- pany was never greater than at the present time. The officers of the company are : president, Wilber F. Osborn ; treasurer, George W. Cheeseman ; secretary, Charles D. Cheeseman.
422
HISTORY OF DERBY.
THE SLADE WOOLEN COMPANY.
The Woolen Mill of Ansonia was established by David W. Plumb in 1847, (formerly in the same business in Birmingham,) and was run very successfully during the war of the rebellion. In 1865 Mr. Plumb sold his stock, and the new firm of the Slade Woolen Company was formed with a capital of $100,000. The firm manufactures cassimeres, beavers, doeskins, and vari- ous kinds of woolen goods.
The number of hands employed is 135, and the monthly pay-roll $4,000. The annual amount of goods produced is $300,000.
The present officers are : Charles L. Hill, president and treasurer ; Morris A. Hill, secretary.
THE ANSONIA LAND AND WATER-POWER COMPANY has for its president, D. Willis James, and for its secretary and treas- urer, George P. Cowles.
THE ANSONIA CLOCK COMPANY has for its president, Wm. E. Dodge, Jr. ; for its vice-president, George P. Cowles ; for secre- tary and treasurer, A. A. Cowles ; and for general manager, Henry I. Davis.
It manufactures clocks in great variety both at Ansonia and Brooklyn, N. Y.
THE W. AND L. HOTCHKISS COMPANY, with an office on Main street, conducts a large and varied business in lumber, doors, sash and blinds. They have been successful dealers in lumber and house building from their boyhood. The business amounts to about $100,000 annually. The officers are : Willis Hotch- kiss, president; H. J. Smith, secretary and treasurer.
JOHN B. GARDNER, in his large factory on Main street, man- ufactures clock dials and all sorts of clock trimmings, novelties, and picture frames, and employs on an average 40 hands. He started this business in Ansonia in 1857, and has had good success. On the Ist of April, 1880, he took his son into part- nership, and the firm stands, John B. Gardner & Son. The monthly pay-roll is $2,000.
GEORGE C. SCHNELLER, on Main street, manufactures eye- lets, and is doing a brisk business for a manufacturer who has but recently started.
423
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
CHARLES SCHNUCKS & COMPANY manufacture nickel and Japan plating ; and employ about 40 hands and are doing a lively business.
WALES, TERRELL & COMPANY make fifth wheels for car- riages, and have a well established business ; the company hav- ing been established about ten years.
THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY SENTINEL was started on the 9th of November, 1871, with Jerome and Carpenter, editors and proprietors.
On the 19th of the following April (1872) Mr. Carpenter re- tired, leaving Mr. Jerome sole editor, and on the 24th of Au- gust, 1876, Mr. Jerome sold to Messrs. Emerson and Kramer. On the Ist of September, 1877, Kramer sold his interest to his partner, who has since conducted the paper under the title of "J. M. Emerson & Company."
The paper takes its place with credit among all its stirring neighbors in the Naugatuck Valley, and is an energetic, enter- prising publication.
THE ANSONIA OPERA HOUSE, on Main street, was built some years since by a joint stock company at a cost of about $40,000. It is a fine structure of brick, four stories high, and the Hall is one of the finest in the state. It has recently passed into the hands of Dana Bartholomew, and is conducted by him.
The present Ansonia Hotel was built by Lindley and John- son in 1846, when there was scarcely a finished dwelling in the place. It has had many landlords, but under the proprietor- ship of Mr. Wm. H. Dayton has a reputation second to none in the Naugatuck Valley.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Ansonia had scarcely an existence as a village when this church was organized in 1848. Previous to this the few fami- lies that resided within its circuit were cared for by the First Congregational Church of Derby Narrows. Religious meet- ings were occasionally held for their accommodation by the pastors of the last named church, and prayer-meetings were maintained by the pious portion of the population.
In the winter of 1848-9, stated religious services on the Sab- bath were commenced in the village, but intermitted after a few
424
HISTORY OF DERBY.
months. In the winter of 1849-50 they were renewed and have been regularly continued to the present time. The church, with its covenant and standing rules, was fully organized April 17, 1850, with thirty-one members, as follows, with the names of the churches from which they had been dismissed : From the First Congregational Church of Derby-Wales Coe, Julia E. Coe, Luther Root, Mary Tucker, Geo. W. Nettleton, Sarah Johnson, Roswell Kimberly, Delia M. Kimberly, Martha Jud- son, Phebe H. Phelps, Martha Fitch, Nancy Johnson, Eli Car- rington and Susan Carrington ; from Wolcottville-Jeremiah H. Bartholomew, Polly H. Bartholomew, Caroline Skinner and Edith Hubbard ; from Northfield-Benjamin Smith, Julia A. Smith ; from Plymouth Hollow-Francis C. Smith ; from Ober- lin, O., Lester B. Kinney ; from Norwalk-Edwin Ells ; from Bristol -- Charles Cramer, Nancy Cramer, Salmon Root and Eliza Root; from Waterbury-Fred Treadway and Esther J. Treadway ; from Plainville-Lucas H. Carter and Jane Carter.
Colburn's Hall, on Main street, was used temporarily as a place for meetings, and the Rev. J. R. Mershon employed as the stated supply of the church during the first year of its exist- ence ; his support being furnished in part by the Home Mis- sionary Society. The winter of 1850-51 was signalized by an extensive work of grace in the community, resulting in the uniting of forty-four persons with the church by profession of their faith. In the meantime a church edifice had been com- menced which was completed and dedicated July 1, 1852.
Rev. Owen Street was the first pastor, being installed Sep- tember 1, 1852, and dismissed May, 1857. Following this, for nearly three years, the church was without a settled pastor. Rev. Chauncy Goodrich and Moses Smith and S. L. Thompson, (afterwards missionaries to the Nestorians,) acted as supplies for a considerable portion of the time. Mr. A. L. Frisbie, then pursuing his preparatory studies at Andover, Mass., was called to the pastorate in 1859. Accepting the call, he was not or- dained until March 22, 1860, and remained until July 11, 1865.
While some women were cleaning the church in October, 1865, it took fire in the flue of the furnace and was entirely de- stroyed. The present handsome stone structure was immedi- ately built, and dedicated May 25, 1865. During the five years
CHRIST CHURCH, ANSONIA,
425
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
succeeding the dismissal of Mr. Frisbie, the church was with- out a pastor, but enjoyed the ministrations of the Rev. Wm. S. Adamson and James T. Hyde about three years. Rev. Charles J. Hill was the next pastor, being installed in September, 1872, and dismissed October 1, 1875 .. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edward P. Payson, who commenced his labors December I, 1875, and still continues his pastoral relations with the church. Like many others, this church has had its struggles and dis- couragements, but has never been more prosperous than at the present time. The present number of members is 250. The officers of the church and society are : Pastor, Rev Edward P. Payson; deacons, John Jackson and Wales Terrell; clerk, V. Munger ; treasurer, Charles C. Blair ; prudential committee, Robert Coe, Wm. H. Corwin and Dana Bartholomew ; society's committee, V. Munger, Josiah H. Whiting and Dana Barthol- omew ; clerk and collector, Reuben H. Tucker ; treasurer, Charles H. Pine.
CHRIST CHURCH.
At the house of Mr. Lorenzo D. Kinney, in Ansonia, a pre- liminary meeting was held November 25, 1849, for the laudable purpose of forming a new Episcopal parish in this village. The Rev. Thomas Guion, then rector of St. James's Church of Derby, was called to the chair, and Mr. John Lindley appointed secretary. After mutual consultation the meeting adjourned to November 27, 1849, to meet at the residence of Samuel French. Rev. Mr. Guion was present at this adjourned meet- ing, and the parish was organized under the name of Trinity Church of Ansonia, by the following persons : Samuel French, Charles Cooper, Eleazer Peck, Samuel P. Church, Charles Gale, William B. Bristol, Lorenzo Kinney, John Gray, E. B. Gillett, H. S. Hill, R. M. Johnson, John Lindley, H. L. Smith, L. A. Clinton. Measures were at once adopted to secure a lot for the erection of a house of public worship, and on the 28th of January, 1850, the following officers were chosen : Senior war- den, Samuel French ; junior warden, Eleazer Peck ; vestrymen, R. M. Johnson, John Lindley, H. S. Hill, John Gray, Charles Gale, H. L. Smith.
Of the above only three are now connected with the parish,
54
426
HISTORY OF DERBY.
viz .: Lindley, Gale and Smith. Mr. Lindley has been a zealous worker in the parish, having been continuously in office, since its organization, over thirty years.
In this connection it is necessary to mention that when the members of St. James's Church, the old parish of Mansfield, Jewett and others resolved in great harmony and by legal vote in 1841 to remove their edifice from Up Town to Birmingham, as being more central, a few families in the vicinity of the old edifice, who at first acquiesced in the removal, became dissatis- fied on seeing the services, bell, organ and records transferred to the new edifice at Birmingham, withdrew from the old church and established regular services in the village school- house Up Town, and at the next diocesan convention applied for admission as a new parish under the name of St. James's of Derby. A request so much at variance with good order was denied and the applicants were recommended to petition for admission as a new parish, and the next year, 1844, were ad- mitted as such under the name of Christ Church, as appears by the following vote of the convention : "Voted that the parish in Derby organized on the first day of June, 1843, under the name of St. James's Parish be and the same is hereby admitted as a new parish into the union of this convention by the name of Christ Church, Derby." Thus was this new parish instituted and recognized as such according to the usages of the Episco- pal Church, and when this had taken place the officers of St. James's Church conveyed by deed the grounds and old edifice in good faith to this new parish, and the old church was then re-opened with Rev. N. S. Richardson as its first rector. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Putnam in his rectorship, who labored with pious zeal and good spirits until this church united with the new parish of Trinity at Ansonia, the latter surrender- ing their first ecclesiastical name and adopting that of Christ Church. Thus these infant parishes were wisely merged into one. The Rev. Henry Olmstead was the first rector of Trinity, and for a short time religious services were maintained in two localities within the limits of the parish, at Up Town and An- sonia. Messrs. Olmstead and Putnam being a sort of co-rectors, resigned at the same time, and were succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Stryker, under whom all parochial interests were then consol-
.-
427
RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH.
idated. Mr. Olmstead remained rector of Trinity less than a year and is now rector of Trinity Church at Branford, and has received the degree of D. D. Mr. Putnam has long since deceased.
The Rev. P. Mansfield Stryker, now deceased, may be con- sidered the second rector of Christ Church at Ansonia, remain- ing one year, and among the results of his labors were three marriages, six baptisms, five confirmations by Bishop Brownell, and eight burials.
The third rector was the Rev. D. F. Lumsden, who remained over one year. He was deposed from the ministry a few years ago by Bishop Coxe of Western New York.
The fourth rector was the Rev. Samuel G. Appleton, whose labors extended from Easter 1854 to Easter 1856. Mr. Apple- ton died of apoplexy at Morrisania, N. Y., in 1874.
The fifth rector, the Rev. John Milton Peck, was in charge of the parish ten months. He is now and has been for a num- ber of years rector of Christ Church at Danville, Penn.
The sixth rector, the Rev. Louis French, remained six years. Mr. French, since leaving Ansonia, in 1863, has been rector of St. Luke's Church at Darien, Conn.
The seventh rector, the Rev. Julius H. Ward, remained as such from January, 1864, to August, 1865, and is now located in Boston, engaged in church work.
The eighth rector was the Rev. Charles H. W. Stocking, during whose service of three years and a half there were eighty-one baptisms. He is now rector of Grace Church, De- troit, Mich., and has received the degree of D. D.
The ninth, Rev. J. E. Pratt, was rector from October, 1869, to June, 1872. Mr. Pratt, since leaving, has been rector of Trinity Church at Syracuse, N. Y.
The tenth, the Rev. Samuel R. Fuller, assumed the rector- ship in July, 1872, and resigned November, 1874. He is now rector of Christ Church at Corning, N. Y.
The eleventh rector, the Rev. S. B. Duffield, came to this parish in December, 1875, and left March, 1878. Mr. Duffield is now in charge of St Peter's Church at Monroe, Conn.
After the resignation of Mr. Fuller a vacancy for thirteen months occurred, during which the Rev. Sheldon Davis was in
428
HISTORY OF DERBY.
charge of the parish, he being largely instrumental in gathering the class for confirmation at the beginning of Mr. Duffield's labors.
During the rectorship of Mr. Ward the church edifice was enlarged at an expense of about $2,000. In 1875 it was re- built at a cost of $12,000, and adorned with costly and appro- priate memorial windows to the embassadors of the church in Derby, viz .: the pious Mansfield and the devout Jewett. The l present officers of the church are : rector, Rev. H. T. Widde- mer ; wardens, John Lindley and E. W. Webster ; vestrymen, F. Farrell, J. B. Gardner, H. J. Smith, F. E. Colburn, N. S. Johnson, Chester A. Hawley, Robert Peck, R. R. Wood, H. A. Shipman ; Alton Farrell, parish clerk and treasurer.
During the rectorship of Mr. Widdemer since April 20, 1878, there have been one hundred and thirty baptisms, one hundred and sixteen confirmations.
Rev. Mr. Widdemer was born in Philadelphia, July 2, 1848 ; was prepared for college by his father, the Rev. E. S. Widde- mer, now rector of the Church of Reconciliation in New York city ; was graduated in 1867 at St. Stephen's College, N. Y., at the head of his class, and pursued his theological course at the Berkeley Divinity School at Middletown, from which he gradu- ated in 1870. He was ordained in Albany, N. Y., July 12, 1870, by Bishop Doane, and advanced to the priesthood July 6, 1872 ; was a short time rector of St. Ann's Church at Amster- dam, N. Y., and in January, 1875, removed to New York city and became associate rector of the Church of St. John the Baptist. Severing his connection there he was called to the rectorship of Christ Church at Ansonia in April, 1878.
This church is now substantially out of debt, and, dating its organization in 1849, only thirty-one years ago, few parishes in the diocese within that period can show a more rapid or pros- perous growth.
The reflection is pleasing that the good seed sown by the early ministers of the church in Derby and their successors has taken deep root and is still producing much fruit.
1
429
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION.
The Catholic parish of Ansonia was organized in 1866, and the present church edifice built in 1867. The Rev. P. J. O'Dwyer was the first pastor, and his zealous efforts were largely instrumental in building the church. Father O'Dwyer was born in Ireland and received his ecclesiastical education at " All Hollers College," Dublin. Prior to his pastorate in An- sonia he was a very acceptable and efficient priest of St. Mary's Church, Birmingham, for five years. On his transfer to Nor- walk, where he recently died, he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. H. F. Brady, who was born in Ireland, and came to this country in his youth, about thirty-seven years ago. He received his rudimental ecclesiastical education at the Col- lege of St. Charles Bonemeo, Philadelphia, where he passed through a course of the classics, metaphysics and ethics. Af- terwards he spent eight years in the University of St. Mary's of Illinois, being both student and professor of belles lettres. Not being a subject of that diocese, which then included the whole of that state, he returned from the West and was ac- cepted by the Archbishop of New York, Dr. Hughes, and ap- pointed pastor successively of St. Joseph's and St. Ann's. In 1861 he resigned charge of the latter, went to Europe and at- tended lectures in Paris for three years. At the end of that time he was offered the degree of D. D., but respectfully de- clined the honor, saying that he had no ambition to add to his name a tail which so many wagged with so little credit, a degree that was originally granted only to men of talent, great worth and industry.
Returning from Europe he attached himself to the diocese of Hartford, then comprising the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. He was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Rhode Island, for a short time, and was then trans- ferred to Naugatuck, Conn., where he remained from 1866 to 1876, when he was transferred to his present parish at Ansonia. His congregation is flourishing, and numbers about 3,000 souls ; the largest Christian organization in the town. A commodi- ous parsonage has been built within a year.
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.