USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume II > Part 35
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335
THE WATERBURY BRASS COMPANY.
During his residence in Waterbury, Mr. Coe was one of our most prominent and public-spirited citizens. He served in various posi- tions in town and city affairs, and was a liberal supporter of all good works. He represented Wolcottville in the legislature in 1845 and Waterbury in 1858, and was a member of the senate in 1862 and again from 1877 to 1881. He was also at one time a candidate for congress in the Fourth congressional district.
On November 3, 1841, he married Eliza Seymour of Torrington. Their three children are Mrs. W. H. K. Godfrey, Edward J. Coe and Mrs. Ella Coe.
Mr. Coe died February 9, 1893.
SAMUEL J. HOLMES.
Samuel Judd Holmes was born in Waterbury, October 28, 1794. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Captain Samuel Judd, and his father, Israel Holmes, was a descendant in the fifth generation of John Holmes, who, in 1660, came from Beverly, in Yorkshire, England, and settled in Connecticut. Samuel was the senior, by six years, of his brother Israel, whose biography is given in the preceding chapter.
Israel Holmes, the father, was a silversmith. After his marriage he built a house on the corner of West Main and Church streets (now the site of St. John's rectory), where Samuel was born. After residing several years in Waterbury, Israel Holmes was engaged by a silver mining company in New York, to go to South America as superintendent of their mines. He set out with fair hopes and prospects, but was stricken with yellow fever and died at Demerara soon after landing, on May 11, 1802, aged thirty-three years.
Samuel Judd Holmes was thus called upon, at the early age of eight, to assist his mother in the struggle to support herself and her six children, the youngest of whom was less than eight weeks old; and his life was henceforth one of earnest effort. After working some years for his grandfather, Captain Jndd, he learned the cooper's trade of Captain Anson Sperry, and carried it on, in partnership with Captain Sperry, or independently, for several years.
On May 2, 1822 he married Lucina, daughter of Hezekiah Todd, of Cheshire. She was a woman of rare excellence of mind and charac- ter, and a devoted wife and mother. After a residence of some years in Southington, during which he was engaged in the manufacture of combs, he returned to Waterbury in 1834, and settled on the Judd homestead, where he resided during the remainder of his life,
336
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
engaged at first in the manufacture of buttons, and carrying on farming at the same time. In 1838 he was elected to the legislature by the Whig party.
When the Waterbury Brass company was founded, he took a share in the enterprise. He became superintendent of the wire department, and discharged the duties of the position efficiently and faithfully until 1862, when he retired from active business. He died in 1867.
Mr. Holmes inherited the vigorous, soldier-like discipline of his grandfather, Captain Judd, and exemplified and enforced it through life. Many anecdotes are related illustrating the high value he set upon promptness and punctuality. Probably during all the years of his service at the east brass mill, although his place of business was two miles from his residence, he never failed to be on time by so much as a single minute. He was a model of integrity as well as of punctuality, and was a member and a most regular attendant at the First Congregational church. His vigor- ous, methodical, business-like traits of character were relieved by a genial, kindly nature, and a taste for the pleasant and enjoy- able side of life, revealed in occasional flashes of humor. He was a man of large stature, but not corpulent, erect in figure, of ruddy complexion, and active and vigorous in movement. He lived nearly all his life in sight of the Green, and was for many years one of the most familiar figures of the place.
For the record of his children (as well as of his father's family), see Vol. I, Ap. p. 68. Sketches of his three sons, Israel, Samuel and William, have already been given in other chapters. Sarah, born in Southington, July 6, 1829, was married to the Rev. Jesse W. Hough, D. D., and died April 5, 1877.
THE WELTON BROTHERS.
GEORGE WALES WELTON, son of Richard Fenton and Anna (Por- ter) Welton, was born in Waterbury, August 26, 1809, on East Main street, in a house owned by his father, located not far from the site of the church of the Immaculate Conception. He received his education at the Bucks Hill district school and at the Waterbury academy. For some years he was engaged in farming, and in 1842 entered the employ of Brown & Elton. In 1845 he was interested in the formation of the Waterbury Brass company, and was a superin- tendent in that establishment until 1857, when he was called to fill a similar position at Holmes, Booth & Haydens, which he held for thirteen years. He was one of the founders of the Plume & Atwood
The sumfacture of buttons, and carrying on Time In 1838 he was elected to the legislature
Waterbury Brass company was founded, he took a enterprise. He became superintendent of the wire wut. and discharged the duties of the position efficiently menfully mobil 1862, when he retired from active business. I died in 1807.
Mr. Il lares inherited the vigorous, soldier-like discipline of bis grandfather, Captain Judas and exemplified and enforced it through life. Many une ofdes w reliled illustrating the high Vailuc he set upor wolity. Probably during
the years of lu " although his place wwwer failed to be
of business was commm
or time by so much Al model of
integrity as well as of punctually, a most regular attendant at the First Congregational com ans, mettoligil ace ni os pleasant and enjoy - a genial 0 uble side of life, revealed in occasional fast a man of large stature, but not corpulent, erect iny Iwin of ruddy complexion, and active and vigorous in movement. He lived nearly all his life in sight of the Green, and was for many years one of the most familiar figures of the place.
For the record of bon children fas well as of his father's family), se val k &n p & Sketches of In three sons, Israel, Samuel and VITivos, Hade already beenyes In other chapters. Sarah. born
was married to the Rey muse W. Tiougu, D. Th, and died April 5, 1877.
THE WELTON BROTHERS.
000967 WasEs WELTon, son of Richard Pillan and Anna (Por- WTion, wa. Vom in Waterbury, August =0, 18on, on East Main st-l, . . house owned by his father, located not far from the site 91 b&b & of The Drumaculate Conception. He received his edingdes at the Boys. Dll district school and at the Waterbury academy Fur some Trs In was engaged in farming, and in 1842 entered Mit /milor bi Brown & Elton. In 1845 he was interested in .the formucon of the Walemory Brass company, and was a superin- tendent in ther . lishment unitil 1857, when he was called to fill i similar position ix Tholmes, Hooth & Haydens, which he held for thirteen years. He was one of the founders of the Plume & Atwood
Syre Dy A. H. Ritchie.
Grow Melton
THE WATERBURY BRASS COMPANY. 337
Manufacturing company, and a director there at the time of his death, also a stockholder in the Oakville Pin company.
On September 11, 1837, Mr. Welton married Harriet, daughter of Archibald Minor, of Wolcott. She died May 26, 1839, leaving one child, Harriet Minor, who married Leveritt D. Kinea of Thomaston. Her children are Harriet Welton and Edith Lee. On December 22, 1840, Mr. Welton married Mary Grahame, with whom he lived forty- five years. Their children are: Mary Elizabeth, married to George E. Bissell, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; Emily J., married to Edward L. Frisbie, Sen .; Ellen Caroline, who was married to James E. Coer, and George Richard, who married Nellie C. Webster, of Thomaston; also a son who died in infancy.
Mr. Welton died January 16, 1886.
JOSEPH CHAUNCEY WELTON, the youngest child of Richard Fen- ton and Anna (Porter) Welton, was born at Bucks Hill, August 5, 18II. He was educated in the common schools of his native town. At an early age he learned the trade of a wood-carver, and while still a young man travelled through the South, selling Yankee clocks. Having acquired sufficient capital to commence business for himself, and experience enough to make him a successful sales- man, he became in 1839, a partner in the firm of William R. Hitch- cock & Co., and for several years had charge of their store in New York. In 1853 he returned to Waterbury and became actively interested in the brass industries and a stockholder in the Water- bury Brass company, and in Holmes, Booth & Haydens. About 1857 he purchased an interest in the Oakville Pin company and was soon after elected president of the corporation. He achieved a notable success in managing its affairs, and retained this position during the remaining years of his life. Subsequently he was elected president of the Waterbury Brass company. Although assuming this responsibility reluctantly, in addition to his other business cares, he discharged its duties in such a manner as to assure his continued re-election to the office.
On June 28, 1839, Mr. Welton married Jane E., daughter of Tim- othy Porter. They had one daughter, Caroline Josephine, who per- ished in a storm on Long's Peak, Col. (See elsewhere.) In 1863 he purchased Rose Hill cottage on Prospect street, which was built and named by William H. Scovill. Here his death occurred, from the kick of a horse, March 26, 1874.
Mr. Welton may be said to have personified in himself the busy, restless activity of the nineteenth century. So wholly absorbed was he in whatever he undertook, that neither heat nor cold nor food nor rest debarred him from attending to what his hand found to
22
338
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
do. He was never known to take a vacation. His success in life was due to his unbounded energy and perseverance, united to cool, deliberate judgment, and a determination of character which over- came all obstacles.
A. I. UPSON.
Ambrose Ives Upson was born in Wolcott, April 18, 1827. He was the son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, and was named for his uncle Dr. Ambrose Ives. In early life he was employed as a clerk in a store in Southington, belonging to his uncle and brother (Lucas and Charles H. Upson). While thus occupied he studied with the expectation of entering college, but decided eventually to abandon this plan and engage in the mer- cantile business in Hartford. He afterwards removed to Kensing- ton, and thence to Eagle Harbor, Mich. During his sojourn in that place he was elected to the Michigan state senate. From the west he came to Waterbury, and was connected with Holmes, Booth & Haydens and the Waterbury Brass company. He removed to New York, where he remained for fifteen years, during which time he had control of the New York office of the Brass company, and was elected president of the American Flask and Cap company, a branch of that concern.
About 1873 Mr. Upson retired from active business, and re- sided for some years in Germantown, Penn. A short time before his death he was forced to break up his home, and live at various health resorts. He died at Easthampton, Mass., July 10, 1879.
Mr. Upson married Mary Scovill, the only child of the Rev. Dr. Jacob L. Clark, November 2, 1864. They had two children, Ambrose Ives, born in New York, February 11, 1866, and Mary Scovill Clark, born in New York, March 1, 1871.
JAMES S. ELTON.
James Samuel Elton, son of John Prince Elton, was born in Waterbury, November 7, 1838. He was educated at the Rev. C. W. Everest's school, in Hamden, and at General Russell's Military school in New Haven. In 1863, after a brief apprenticeship with the American Pin company and at the store of the Scovill Manu- facturing company in New York, he engaged in business in bis native town, and has been responsibly connected with the Water- bury Brass company from that time to the present. On the death of J. C. Welton, in 1874, he was elected his successor in the presi-
338
JuokY OF WATERBURY
do. Ite was meyer known to take & vacation. His success in life was due tola missindce energy and perseverance, united to cool, delihren gment, umlu determination of character which over-
.
A I. UPSON.
Niabroke Tvrs Upson was born in Wolcott, April 18, 1827. He is the son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, and was nanied for his uncle Dr. Ambrose Ives, In early life he was employed as a clerk in a place in Southington, belonging to his unele and brother (Luc .. Charles H. Upson). While thus haber of entering college, but occupiedl he studied with
decided eventually to engage in the mer-
cantile business in il pod to Kensing-
ton, and thence le Erge fan own in that
place he was elected to the Mu Hle The avest
he came to Waterbury and was connected
Haydens and the World
had control of the New York office of the @ company, and was elected president of the American Flask and Lap onmany, a branch of that concern.
About 1873 Mr Upson retired from active business, and re- sided for Some years in Gero witown, Penn. A short time before his death he was forced to Inwake up his home, and live at varica Te ched at Easthampton, Mass., July 10, 1576-
Mr. Uyovo mal Mary Scovill, the only child of y Rer Dr. Jacol L Clark, Navember a, 1864. They had ildren Ambrose Ives, Dorn p New York, February Mary Seprili Clark born in New York, March 1. 12
JAMES 5 ELION
Jaime bowel Elton, son of John Prime Milton, was born in Waterbury, Ney mber , 1838. He was canceled at the Rev. C. W. Everel's soh \ in Hamden, and at General Russell's Military scheml M. New fler x. In 1663, after a brief apprenticeship with the American Ky con pany and at the store of the Scovill Manu- facturing company to Arw York. he engaged in business in his hative town, and has been responsibly connected with the Water- bury Brass comtemy from that time to the present. On the death ot J. C. Welton, 111 1574. he was elected his successor in the presi-
James D. Elton.
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THE WATERBURY BRASS COMPANY.
dency, a position which he continues to fill, with much wisdom and efficiency. He is the president of the Detroit and Lake Superior Copper company and the Lake Superior Smelting company, and a director of the American Pin company, of the Oakville Pin com- pany, of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, of Blake & Johnson, of the Waterbury National bank, of which his father was one of the organizers and the second president, and of several other business corporations.
He is an officer and active member of St. John's Episcopal church, the managing trustee of the Hall "church home" fund, a director in St. Margaret's Diocesan school and in the Waterbury hospital, and an efficient supporter of the charitable and semi- charitable institutions and undertakings of the city. His mother, Mrs. Olive M. Elton, was for many years known as a person whose ready benevolence and wise sympathy could be counted on with certainty, and Mr. Elton has largely inherited her character, and assumed her responsibilities.
In 1881, he was made the nominee of his party-the minority party in the district-for state senator, and having been elected, served his constituents with ability in the General Assembly in 1882 and 1883.
On October 28, 1863, he married Charlotte, daughter of Hiram Steele, of East Bloomfield, N. Y. They have one son, John Prince, who was born June 20, 1865. He is a graduate of Trinity College, and, as stated above, is assistant treasurer of the Waterbury Brass company.
EDWARD D. STEELE.
Edward Daniel Steele was born in Lima, N. Y., November 20, 1838. He is the son of Hiram and Nancy (Turner) Steele. He came to Water- bury in June, 1856, and entered the employ of the Waterbury Brass company. He has held the offices of secretary and treasurer of the Brass company, as well as the position of director in that and other corporations in Waterbury and in Providence, R. I. He is also a director in the Waterbury Savings bank, and a director and vice president of the Meriden and Waterbury Railroad company. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as alderman and council- man.
Mr. Steele, married Sarah C., daughter of Joseph P. Merriman, April 5, 1864. They have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who was married to Roger S. Wotkyns, October 12, 1887, and one son, Henry Merriman, who is a student of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University.
340
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
GILMAN C. HILL.
Gilman Crane Hill, son of Gilman Elbridge and Nancy (Crane) Hill, was born in Bethlehem, June 13, 1843. He has lived in Middle- bury, Naugatuck, New York city, St. Peter, Minn., and since 1870 in Waterbury. In all of these places he has been interested in manufacturing. He was secretary of the American Flask and Cap company from 1871 to 1876, when he was elected secretary of the Waterbury Brass company.
Mr. Hill married, May 30, 1878, Charlotte Buckingham, daughter of Charles Benedict. They have one child, Amelia Katharine.
E. A. PENDLETON.
Eugene Allen Pendleton, son of John Handy and Phebe (Shep- ard) Pendleton (both natives of Connecticut), was born at Stow, Ohio, October 26, 1845. He was educated at the Stow public schools, with the exception of one year spent at Hiram college.
On March 10, 1864, Mr. Pendleton enlisted as a private in the Ninth Ohio Independent Battery. He was engaged in the battles of Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville, besides a number of skirmishes with guerillas, and received his discharge at Cleveland, O., July 25, 1865. Later in the same year he came to Waterbury, where he has since lived. He was engaged for two years in the City Manufactur- ing company, was connected for a year with T. F. Judson in the dry goods business, under the firm name of Judson & Pendleton, and held a position in the Elton Banking company from January, 1869, until it ceased to do business, in 1877. He continued for a time with J. S. Elton, and since July, 1879, has filled the position of accountant in the Waterbury Brass company.
He married Jennie Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Elam C. Knight. Their children are Lewis Wayland, Lucy Elton and William Knight.
WARREN S. FROST.
Warren Selah Frost, son of Selah and Ursula (Brooker) Frost, was born in Torrington, January 19, 1827. He was educated in the schools of his native town. He came to Waterbury in 1847, to accept a situation in the kettle-shop of the Waterbury Brass company, a department of which he had charge for a number of years. With the exception of two years, one of which was spent in Bristol, Mr. Frost was connected with the east mill of the Brass company from 1847 to 1892, succeeding George W. Welton as superintendent. Since the fire of January, 1892, he has been connected with the west mill.
341
THE WATERBURY BRASS COMPANY.
On November 24, 1850, he married Edna Jane, daughter of Thomas Spring of Collinsville. (For their son, Dr. C. W. S. Frost, see the chapter on the medical profession.)
THE CHAPMAN BROTHERS.
GEORGE PICKERING CHAPMAN Was born March 31, 1830, in War- wick, R. I. He was the eldest son of Sherman and Sarah (Leonard) Chapman. When he was a small boy his parents removed to Tol- land, and settled on a farm. While working on the farm he also learned his father's trade-that of a blacksmith. When twenty-one years of age, he went to New Haven, and worked there at his trade for four years.
From New Haven he came to Waterbury and entered the employ of Charles F. Goodwin. In 1862 he removed to Hartford where he was employed by the Sharp's Rifle company. At the close of the war he went to Wolcottville and became foreman of the wire depart- ment in the Coe Brass company. He afterward resided in Erie, Penn., and in Troy and Albany, N. Y., but in 1877 he returned to Waterbury, and was for ten years the superintendent of the west mill of the Waterbury Brass company, and for a short time held a similar position at the east mill. He then removed to Bridgeport to assume the superintendency of the Bridgeport Brass company. While here, he was active in the Scientific society and in the First Methodist Episcopal church in which he was a member of the official board. He was a councilman from the Third ward for three years, and during two years of the three was president of the board. He was also a member of the finance committee of the Centre School district during the years 1884 and 1885. While at the west mill, he invented and patented an apparatus for pushing in and pulling out pans of metal from the muffles-a labor-saving device of such value that it is now used in nearly every brass mill in the country.
In New Haven, August 30, 1855, he married Jane Elizabeth Brown, and to them three sons were born: Charles Sherman, Octo- ber 6, 1856; George Merwin, October 20, 1861, and Frederick Ezra, July 15, 1876. On July 31, 1885, his wife died, and on December 24, 1887, he married Myra D. Hudson of Troy, N. Y.
Charles Sherman Chapman was born in this city. When he was five years of age his parents removed from Waterbury, and returned again in June, 1877. On October 24, 1884, he married Carrie Eliza Trowbridge. They have two children: Howard Eaton and Marjorie Helen.
342
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
In 1885 C. S. Chapman was a councilman from the Third ward, and a member of the finance committee of the Centre School dis- trict from 1892 to 1894. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and is the superintendent of its Sunday school, a position he has held for twelve years. Since 1886 he has been treasurer of the Connecticut Sunday School association. He is also a director in the Young Men's Christian association and is a member of Townsend lodge of Odd Fellows, and of Towantic tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men.
He is at present cashier of the Waterbury Watch company, hav- ing been in their employ since March, 1882.
EZRA LEONARD CHAPMAN, the second son of Sherman and Sarah (Leonard) Chapman was born in Canton, April 10, 1832. Like his brother, he worked on the farm at Tolland, and learned the black- smith's trade from his father. In 1851 he went with his brother to New Haven, and worked at his trade for several years in that city. In 1856 he returned to Tolland, and was for some time the landlord of the Tolland County House and keeper of the jail adjoining this hotel. He was a deputy sheriff in Tolland county for twelve years, and a selectman. He represented the town in the legislature in 1878. From 1861 until the close of the war he was provost mar- shal for the First district in Connecticut, and was active in run- ning down bounty jumpers, deserters and other political criminals. After the close of the war, he removed to Cincinnati, O.
Mr, Chapman came to Waterbury in 1880, and since that time has held the position of yard foreman for the Waterbury Brass company.
He has for many years been connected with the Masonic order, and has passed through the various degrees, including that of Knight Templar.
On April 25, 1857, he married Elizabeth Ann Barker. They have had two children, both of whom died when quite young.
CHAPTER XXI.
A NEW BRASS MILL IN 1851-THE BROTHERS BROWN-A FACTORY IN THE HEART OF THE CITY - THE CORPORATION AFTER 1870-SUCCES- SIVE ENLARGEMENTS- THE END IN 1886 - PHILO AND JAMES BROWN-E. L. FRISBIE - PURCHASE OF THE OLD PLANT BY NEW MEN-WORK BEGUN AGAIN-STRUGGLES AND SUCCESSES-A PROS- PEROUS CONCERN-GEORGE H. CLOWES.
I
N the year 1851 the brothers Philo, William, Augustus and James Brown, William H. Brown, the son of Philo, Preserve W. Car- ter, Solomon B. Minor, Stephen M. Cate and Willis Upson organized a special partnership, under the firm name of Brown & Brothers, for the manufacture of brass, copper, German silver and other metals in sheets, and of wire, tubing and other goods. They were the first concern in this country to use steam power for rolling brass. They erected their factory on Bank street, near the Nauga- tuck Railroad station. The company organized in 1853 under the joint-stock laws of the state (retaining the original name) with a capital of $200,000, and for a number of years carried on a large and profitable business. In 1858 their mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and enlarged the same year. The corporation, after 1870, was owned chiefly by Philo, James and William H. Brown, the other original stockholders having sold BROWN & BROTHERS, 1858. out their interest. In 1874, the company added to their business the manufacture of German silver plated ware, and of seamless copper boilers and seamless brass and copper tubing drawn by hydraulic power. A mill was built for these new manufactures, and placed in charge of Leroy S. White, the designer of the hydraulic machin- ery. (See under Rogers & Brother.)
Philo Brown was president and an active manager of the com- pany from its organization until the close of his life, in May, 1880. He was succeeded in the presidency by his son, who held the posi- tion until May, 1884, when Franklin Farrel, of Ansonia, who had undertaken to relieve the concern from its financial embarrass-
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
ments, was appointed to the office. The secretary of Brown & Brothers from 1863 to his death in 1872 was Theodore S. Buel (for whom see the chapter on the legal profession).
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