USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. II > Part 35
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his entire rule business, which included the manufacture of the best rules made in this country. For a time the business was carried on both in Brattleborough and in New Britain, but it was afterward all moved to New Britain, with an extensive warehouse in New York. In 1864 the capital was increased to $100,000; in 1867, to $200,000; and in 1881, to $300,000. Henry Stanley was president of the company from its organization until his death, in 1884. He was succeeded by C. L. Mead, who is president and treasurer. Frederic N. Stanley is secretary. This company has largely extended its business by the erection of new buildings, the introduction of new and improved ma- chinery, and the increase in the variety of articles manufactured.
The manufacturing company of Landers, Frary, & Clark originated with the Hon. G. M. Landers, ex-member of Congress from the First District. For a time engaged in manufacturing furniture-casters and window-springs with Josiah Dewey, he saw an opportunity for enlarg- G. M. Sanders ing the business, and in 1841-1842 built a shop west of his residence on East Main Street, and commenced the manufacture of coat and hat hooks and other small articles of hardware. Subsequently Levi O. Smith entered into partnership with him, and in 1853 the Landers & Smith Manufacturing Company was organized as a joint-stock company. In 1862 the company purchased the business of Frary, Carey, and Co., of Meriden, and the capital was increased to $50,000. Mr. Smith retired, and James D. Frary took his place. The company then organized by act of legislature, under the name of Landers, Frary, & Clark. The capital has been increased to $500,000, and the business enlarged until it includes a large variety of table cutlery and general hardware. The Atna Works were built in 1866 and destroyed by fire in 1874. They were rebuilt at once on a larger scale, and supplied with improved machinery. The Hon. G. M. Landers was president until he retired from the active management in 1870. The present officers are J. A. Pickett president, G. M. Landers vice-president, C. S. Landers treasurer, and J. C. Atwood secretary.
The extensive hardware manufactory of P. & F. Corbin began in a partnership formed in 1849 by Philip Corbin, Frank Corbin, and Edward Doen, under the name of Doen, Corbin, & Co. The shop was located near the residence of Philip Corbin. The capital was small, and but few workmen besides the proprietors were employed. In November Mr. Doen sold his interest to H. W. Whiting, and the firm name was changed to Corbin, Whiting, & Co. In January, 1851, Mr. Whiting sold his interest to the other partners, and the firm became P. & F. Corbin. In 1853 the company was removed to the shop formerly occu- pied by Seth J. North in the manufacture of hooks-and-eves. In Febru- ary, 1854, a joint-stock company was formed with a capital of $50,000, which has since been increased to $500,000. The buildings have been extended until they cover a large area on Park and Orchard streets. The goods manufactured are builders' and miscellaneous hardware, a great variety of door-locks, ornamental bronze, door, and house trim- mings, and iron and brass screws. Philip Corbin is president and treasurer, and S. C. Dunham secretary.
The North & Whipple Company, one of the companies formed before
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the War of 1812 which continued business after the war closed, was bought out by Alvin North, who for a time manufactured rings, buckles, and other metal parts of saddles. Horace Butler was for a time part- ner with Mr. North ; but in 1846 he bought Mr. North's interest, and with his sons established the business of HI. Butler & Sons, to which the Taylor Manufacturing Company succeeded. The branch of the business continued by Mr. North was afterward prosecuted in company with his sons, O. B. North and H. F. North; the latter associating with him Lorin F. Judd and J. A. Pickett, by whom in 1861 the North & Judd Manufacturing Company was organized. This company has been successfully engaged in the manufacture of saddlery, hardware, and malleable iron castings.
The business of Morton Judd and O. S. Judd, which was commenced with the manufacture of harness hames in 1833, has been continued on West Main Street by the Judds and C. S. Blakeslee, under the name of M. Judd & Co., Judd & Blakeslee, and now of O. S. Judd.
There are a number of other manufactories of hardware of less extent than those mentioned, or more recently established. The Hu- mason & Beckley Manufacturing Company make pocket cutlery and a variety of brass, steel, and iron goods. The Malleable Iron Works and the Vulcan Iron Works produce malleable and gray iron castings ; the Union Works manufacture hardware, pumps, and machinery ; the National Wire Mattress Company and the Wire-web Bed Company, wire mattresses ; the Corbin Cabinet Lock Company, in the large new building erected for its works, cabinet hardware; the Companion Sew- ing Machine Company, sewing machines; the Francis Company, cast- steel goods ; the Kempshall Manufacturing Company, bank and safe locks and hardware. The American Spring Needle Company and the Dyson Needle Company make knitting-needles, and other companies or firms various articles and specialties in iron and brass.
The manufacture of fine jewelry dates from about 1820, when Wil- liam B. North had a shop for that purpose on the corner of Main and Elm streets. William A. Churchill was first an apprentice with Mr. North, and then a partner in the business. After Mr. North's death, in 1838, James Stanley became a partner, and the firm was changed to Churchill & Stanley. Charles Warner and Charles M. Lewis, engaged in the same business, became united with this company in 1853. Other partners were interested for a time, and then retired or were removed by death. The business is now carried on under the firm name of Churchill, Lewis, & Co., by C. M. Lewis, W. W. Churchill, and F. Wessel, who continue the manufacture of the finest quality of solid gold jewelry in a great variety of designs.
Besides the work in metals, which has been the leading branch of manufacture in the city and town, considerable capital has been em- ployed in the manufacture of various kinds of neck-wear and under- clothing. Seth J. North, John Stanley, and others were for a few years engaged in the manufacture of neck-stocks, much of the work being done by women at their homes. Afterward the manufacture of shirts was commenced, and continued until it became a large business ; the shops of I. N. Lee & Co., Julius Parker & Son, and William Bingham furnish employment to a large number of persons, and send a great quantity of manufactured goods to market.
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New Britain has long been noted for its manufacture of kmt goods. A small factory in Griswoldville having been partially destroyed by fire, the tools and machinery which were uninjured were purchased and re- moved to New Britain, and in March, 1847, by the efforts of S. J. North, H. Stanley, O. Seymour, and Mr. Powell, the New Britain Knitting Com- pany, the first of the kind in this country, was organized with a capital of $20,000, which in October of the same year was increased to $30,000. The company was reorganized in May, 1848. Seth J. North was presi- dent, and Henry Stanley secretary and treasurer. The business was commenced in the Sargent building, then belonging to North & Stan- ley. The capital, at various times, has been increased to $200,000. The business occupies the whole of the large building on Elm Street, erected for this company and enlarged several times to accommodate the increase of machinery and product. The company make a specialty of the manufacture of knit goods of various kinds for men, women, and children. John B. Talcott is president and manager, and George P. Rockwell secretary and treasurer.
The American Hosiery Company was organized in 1868, under the general law relating to corporations. The company occupy three large buildings on Park Street, in which are manufactured a great variety of knit goods for men, women, and children's underwear and hosiery, in cotton, woollen, merino, and silk. The goods of this company deserv- edly rank as the best of the kind made in this country. The machinery used was made to order in England, and is specially adapted to the pro- duction of the finest quality of goods. The carding, spinning, and knitting are all done by the company in their own buildings. The machinery is driven by an engine of two hundred and fifty horse-power, and employment is given to over one thousand persons, all under the general management of ex-Mayor John B. Talcott.
The manufacture of paper boxes has for several years been success- fully carried on by H. H. Corbin & Son and by James H. Minor. Other industries are pursued, but are mostly connected with those already mentioned, in the way of supply or preparation of material, or else are designed to meet the immediate needs of a rapidly growing manufac- turing community.
Having no sea-coast or navigable rivers, New Britain had no advan- tages for commerce, and, with the exception of a few persons engaged to a limited extent in the West India trade and in trade with Boston, made no effort to establish commercial relations with other places. When Middletown was the largest city in the State, a limited ex- change of surplus products for foreign articles needed was made in that city. Hartford and Rocky Hill were the other shipping ports for New Britain. The articles of early manufacture were distributed from baskets by foot-pedlers, and afterward from wagons, to the neighboring towns, and were transported on horseback to Boston, New York, and other markets. As business increased, goods were transported nine or ten miles to the Connecticut River by teams, and then shipped to their destination. The opening of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad in 1839 lessened the cartage of freight to two miles; and the extension of the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad to Bristol in 1850 gave New Britain direct railway communication with Hartford. The
THE WORKS OF THE AMERICAN HOSIERY COMPANY.
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New Britain railroad to Berlin was opened in 1865, giving direct con- nection with New Haven and New York ; and the New York and New England road was extended to Fishkill in 1881, making connections with roads to the coal-mines and west. All the facilities of communi- cation and transportation were favorable to the business of New Britain.
The first store within the present limits of the city was kept by Elnathan Smith on East Street, near the Rhodes place. In 1805 and 1806 Isaac and Thomas Lee built a store at the northwest corner of the Green, on the south side of West Main Street. In 1823 the Lees also built the stone store which is on the west side of Main Street, opposite East Main, and is still occupied as a place of business. As the popula- tion became greater, new stores were erected, and when the place became a manufacturing city, with the resulting increase in the demand for articles for domestic use and for business, stores were multiplied and goods classified until there are stores of specialties with stocks as varied and complete as are to be found in the State.
The New Britain Bank was incorporated by the legislature in 1860, with a capital of $100,000, which on Feb. 28, 1863, was increased to $200,000. It became a national bank, by vote of the stockholders, April 21, 1865, and in the following August the capital became $310,000. On the first organization of the bank C. B. Erwin was chosen president and A. P. Collins cashier, and these gentlemen have been continued in office until the present time.
The New Britain Savings Bank was incorporated in 1862. Its deposits and loans have steadily increased, until the former amounted on the 1st of July, 1884, to $1,409,576.
Were it not that the manufacturing interests of New Britain far surpass all other industrial interests, the place would be noted for its progress in agriculture, and for the intelligent application of the prin- ciples of science to the cultivation of the ground, the raising of stock, and the production of fruit and garden vegetables. There are some good farms so worked as to be constantly improving in value as the crops removed from them are increased. Several farmers are already noted for the excellence of the blooded stock that they have reared. The market-gardens are well known, and their products find a ready market not only at home, but in the chief cities of the country. The Connecticut Valley Orchard Company, organized in 1884, with its office in New Britain, is already extensively engaged in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables in New Britain, Berlin, and Deep River. The New Britain Agricultural Club, organized in 1858, mainly through the efforts of Elihm Burritt, is vigorously sustained, and is disseminating information among the farmers and gardeners about New Britain.
The citizens of New Britain have borne an honorable position in the defence of the State and country. Several of the In° Datenfor members and officers of the Farmington trainband resided within the limits of New Britain. Major John Patterson, the first deacon chosen in the First Church of New Britain, held a captain's commission under King George III. He was
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present at the capture of Havana by Admiral Pocoek and the Duke of Albemarle in 1762, and died there. His son, General John Patterson, was a brigadier-general in the American army during the Revolutionary War, and a member of the council that tried Major Andre.
Noah Stanley, another deacon of the First Church, was a lieutenant of the king's troops in the French and Indian War. General Selah Hart was in 1775 one of the committee to provide ammunition for the Connecticut colony, and in 1788 a delegate to the -State convention for the adoption or rejection of the Constitution of the United States. Colonel Isaac Lee, Captain Stephen Lee, Captain Phineas Judd, and Phinehas guld many others were active in military matters in the Revolutionary War. Colonel Gad Stanley was one of the officers who with his troops covered Washington's retreat from Long Island. Captain Lemuel Hotchkiss, who was with Colonel Stanley, had a horse shot under him in that retreat.
In the War of 1812 only a few citizens of New Britain were specially distinguished, but a number bore an honorable part. Isaac Maltby, a member of the First Church and a divinity student of Dr. Smalley, was brigadier-general in that war. Ezekiel Andrews was a captain in the same war, and some other members of this church had a less conspicu- ous part in the struggle.
In the Civil War, which occurred during President Lincoln's admin- istration, there were six hundred and forty volunteers from New Britain, of whom eighty fell in battle, were wounded and died of their wounds, or were sick and died in hospitals or Southern prisons. Among those who participated actively in this war were some who were promoted to posts of distinction, and by bravery and heroic fortitude won an honor- able name.
A publie library was established in New Britain quite early in the history of the place, and the books were in general use among the pro- prietors. Some inconvenience having been experienced in the general management, at a special meeting of the proprietors, held Feb. 2, 1792, a new constitution with eight long articles was adopted.1 By this instrument each member at the time of subscribing was to pay the sum of three shillings, and two shillings annually afterward. The rights of members were carefully guarded, were assignable to any person approved by the majority of the proprietors, and the shares could be devised by will or deseend by inheritance. Five directors, chosen an- nually, had the general care of the library, purchased books, and made by-laws and regulations for the use of the library. Though this was not a church library, it was considered an aid to parish work. It was kept at the church, or at the house of Deacon Judd. It was open on
1 Some of the provisions of the constitution and by-laws were strict. For every leaf folded down in any book there was a fine of threepence, and for any other injury a fine in proportion to the injury. The eighth and last article of the constitution declared that the articles taken together were to be considered a " MAGNA CHARTA," and were not to be re- pealed, either together or in part, except by the votes of three fourths of those present at a meeting warned for that purpose, when said three fourths " shall amount to more than one half of all the proprietors for the time being." There were fifty-six subscribers to this consti- tution, the list being headed by Dr. Smalley.
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the days of the conference meetings, or of the lecture before commun- ion, for an hour or two before or after such meetings, and the pastor, Dr. Smalley, took special pains to have the books well distributed, and read by those who would be profited by the reading.
The library association continued in active operation until 1825, when it was succeeded by the Julian Society, - a similar association. which had at first about thirty-five members, but was soon increased to one hundred and fifty. New books were added to the library, the drawing days were more frequent, and meetings for debate were also held once in two weeks. In the autumn of 1836 the constitution was again amended and the name of the association changed to the New Britain Lyceum. The library and effects of the Julian Society passed into the hands of the new association. To the measures for improve- ment already employed was added a course of lectures. By means of the library, the lectures, and discussions, the intellectual culture of the community was advanced. This association was maintained with vigor until the autumn of 1841, when its record was suddenly closed, the books were distributed or lost, and the society ceased to exist.
Soon after the organization of the South Congregational Church a parish library was established, which had, in February, 1846, over four hundred volumes, - principally of biography, history, travel, and prac- tical science, with a few religions works. Additions were made until the library included over six hundred volumes, which were kept in the vestry when not in use by members of the congregation. This was for a time popular and useful to the church : but the multiplication of Sunday-school books and the increase of the Sunday-school library made this library less necessary to the parish, and the books were transferred to the shelves of the New Britain Institute, to increase the usefulness of the public library.
The New Britain Institute was established in 1852, to provide a public library and reading-room for a growing manufacturing commu- nity, and also to arrange for lectures or other means of entertainment and instruction. It was incorporated by the legislature in 1858. For some years it was maintained by the annual subscriptions of manufac- turing companies and individuals. It received a legacy of ten thousand dollars from the late Lueins Woodruff, the income of which, with a small town appropriation and membership fees, pays the annual ex- penses and admits of small additions each year to the library. The reading-rooms are well supplied with daily and weekly papers, maga- zines, and other periodicals, and are free to all. For taking books home from the library there is the annual charge of one dollar.
The Rev. John Smalley, D.D., was born in the Columbia parish of Lebanon, June 4, 1734. His father, Benjamin Smalley, was an English weaver in humble circumstances, who came to this country in early life. His mother, the second wife of Benjamin Smalley, was Mary Baker, of Cornwall, a devotedly pious woman, under whose influence his earlier life was passed in the quiet of a country home. While young he was placed in a shop to learn a trade ; but his pastor, the Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, D.D., afterward the first president of Dart- mouth College, became interested in him and offered to fit him for college. He pursued his studies with Dr. Wheelock, entering Yale
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College in 1752, at the age of eighteen. While he was in college his father became pecuniarily embarrassed and died suddenly, leaving his family dependent, and John decided to leave college to assist in their support ; but he was advised to proceed with his studies, and by the assistance of friends was enabled to do so. He graduated in 1756, and immediately entered upon the study of theology with the Rev. Joseph Bellamy, D.D., of Bethlehem. He was licensed to preach by the Litchfield South Association in 1757, began to preach in New Britain in November of that year, and was ordained and installed over the church April 19, 1758, the day that the church was organized. IIe soon won the confidence of his people and was beloved and revered. He was married, April 24, 1764, to Sarah Guernsey, of Bethlehem. He had six children, all daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Two of the others married clergymen, and two were married to parishioners of their father. Dr. Smalley was a diligent student. He took great pains, in preparing his sermons, to aim at a specific impression, and to lead his hearers to God as the source of all good. His sermons were logical, dwelling much upon the doctrines, and fortified by proofs from the Scriptures. He preached by reading his notes closely, with some- what of formality and a slightly drawling utterance. He had no popu- lar oratory, and he heartily despised all tricks of art with a view to attract the attention of his audience. He was scrupulously punctual, exceedingly vigilant, and ever watchful of the interests of his parish. During his pastorate of fifty-two years the church increased in numbers and in spirituality, and the whole parish was stimulated in thought. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the College of New Jersey in 1800. He became eminent as one of the foremost of New England divines, wielding a commanding influence. His sermons on Natural and Moral Inability were published in this country and in Europe, and had a wide circulation. Two volumes of his sermons were published. He also wrote occasionally for religious periodicals. Sev- eral young men were educated in his family, some of whom he trained for the ministry. Among the private students who owed much of their success to his training, were Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, the Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D.D., Ebenezer Porter, D.D., the President of An- dover Seminary, and about twenty others, some of whom became emi- nent in their work. Dr. Smalley continued his duties as pastor until the autumn of 1809, and preached occasionally until 1813. He died in the midst of his people, June 1, 1820, at the age of eighty-six.
Ethan Allen Andrews was born in New Britain, April 7, 1787. He was the youngest of four children, and passed his early years on the farm of his father, a man of English descent, in easy circumstances, and of much general information. Surrounded with books, and of a natu- rally inquiring mind, young Andrews resolved to seek a liberal edu- cation. He commenced his preparation for college at Berlin, and continued it at Farmington under the tuition of the Rev. Noah Por- ter, D.D., and Samuel Cowles, and completed it at Litchfield under instruction of the Rev. J. M. Whiton, D.D. He entered Yale College in 1806, and graduated with Governor Ellsworth and Professors Fitch and Goodrich. On leaving college he entered upon the study of law in the office of his former teacher, Samuel Cowles, of Farmington. He com- menced the practice of law in New Britain in 1812, and was admitted
of . Stanley
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to the Hartford Bar in 1813. He was soon after appointed aid to Gen- eral Lusk in the service of the war with England, and passed most of the summer at New London. He returned from service in the army to the practice of his profession in New Britain. Soon after, he opened a school in his own home, where he fitted young men for college. He was several times elected to the legislature from the town of Berlin, and represented New Britain the first year after the town was incorpo- rated. He was also for two years Judge of Probate. In 1822 he was appointed Professor of Ancient Languages in the University of North Carolina. For six years he filled this position with distinguished abil- itv, and then returned to Connecticut to accept the professorship of Ancient Languages in the New Haven Gymnasium. After continuing a year in this institution, he established the New Haven Young Ladies' Institute. He conducted this so successfully as to call together pupils from nearly all parts of the Union. In 1833 he removed his family to Boston and succeeded Jacob Abbott in the care of a school of high order for young ladies. He continued in charge of this school for six years, when he resigned to give more of his time to the course of Latin au- thorship which he had already commenced. He was for a time senior editor of the " Religious Magazine," and a contributor to other periodi- cals. On leaving Boston with his family, he again became established in New Britain at the old homestead. This, in the mean time, had received extensive alterations to prepare it for his family residence. His time was now principally devoted to the revision of his Latin books. His most elaborate work was his Latin-English Lexicon ; but his "First Lessons in Latin," of which thirty-four editions had been published in 1862, " First Latin Book," Latin Grammar, Latin Reader, and the adaptation of several Latin authors as school text-books, gave evidence of his indefatigable industry. He received the degree of Doc- tor of Laws from Yale College in 1847. Though absorbed in classical studies, he was fond of the sciences, and investigations in them were to him pleasant recreation. He had good taste, and possessed a keen relish for the beautiful in nature and art. He took an active interest in all matters pertaining to education, was for many years upon the town board of school visitors, was president of the Educational Fund Association organized to secure a building for the State Normal School, and made the official presentation to the State of the buildings erected by citizens of New Britain for that purpose. He was interested in all measures which affected the welfare of his native town, and advocated successfully the project for securing better railway facilities and other measures for the improvement of the place. He was a member of the South Congregational Church, New Britain. The later years of his life were passed at his home in the circle of friends by whom he was esteemed and beloved. He died March 24, 1858, aged seventy-one.
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