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 37
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The first five stockholders constituted the first board of direc- Israel Holmes was prosulent, and John C. Booth secretary and trea wer Mr Milmes wus cominally the executive head of the company, but his goal rosk was to superintend the internal rogerition taf flos "(mm(3] " the department where the metal is rolled L. while Mr. Booth devoted himselt
IT conduct of the lumines Hiram W. Hayden was ju charge of the factory " (that pistol the establish ment devoted to The making up of sheet Busy son copper into various articles), and Henry H. Hayden bad charge of the sailing Agoney in New York. Through Mr. Holmes'sin fliescyto los gentle- men already prominently connected with tlo Wwwle Invested in the company's stock at an carly period of w history, among whom were Gordon W Burnham, BonMmlo & Forest and Arad On October 3, 1853, Messis bumbum and Welton were added & it- Board of directors. In 1856, for the purpose of Wereusing the business. a half interest in the Arm of Brown & Elton, then afheeft to come up its affairs, was bought of John P. Elton and Allwoy Tros, and in this way these gentlemen became stockholders in the new corporation.
Holmes, Booth & Haydens, in the beginning, engaged like other brass companies in casting, rolling and drawing brass and
H. R. & H.
18&H
3
PETER HALL & CO. N.Y.
HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS,
WATERBURY, LOWIN.
353
HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS.
copper. They were the first to make planished (as distinguished from polished) copper-silver plates for daguerreotyping and other purposes .* When kerosene oil began to be introduced for light- ing, the company added to their business the manufacture of lamps and burners especially adapted to its use, and from then until now they have been among the leading lamp manufac- turers in this country. H. W. Hayden has taken out numerous patents relating to the burning of kerosene oil, many of which have been a source of profit to the concern. Latterly, the company has followed the introduction of elec- tric lighting by establish- ing large plants for pro- ducing brass and insulated copper wire fitted for carry- HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS IN 1858. ing the electric current. A recent addition consists of a large mill for the manufacture of seamless tubing in brass and copper. This company has been steadily progressive, erecting from time to time large and sub- stantial buildings, and introducing improved machinery and appli- ances to facilitate its work, and it now ranks among the largest producers of brass, German silver and copper in sheets, wire, rods, rivets, jack chain, tubing, library and table lamps, lamp fittings and burners, besides being the sole manufacturers of certain im- portant special devices.
On February 19, 1880, the department devoted to the manufac- ture of silver plated spoons and forks was completely destroyed by fire, and on October 5, in the same year, the building containing the rolling mill and the lamp factory was also burned to the ground. The loss was only partially met by insurance. Larger buildings were immediately erected, and to-day the plant is in many respects a model. New offices were completed in 1886.
Mr. Holmes remained at the head of the company until 1869, when he retired to take part in organizing the concern now known as the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing company and was succeeded by Augustus S. Chase. Mr. Booth left soon after for the same purpose. Henry H. Hayden, the principal manager of the New York agency, retired in 1871. Hiram W. Hayden is still actively engaged with the company. Of the original incorporators, the Messrs. Hayden are the only two now living.
* Henry H. Hayden brought August Brassart to this country, from France, to engage in the manufac- ture of these plates, Mr. Brassart having made the first plate used by Daguerre.
23
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
The later changes in the management are sufficiently indicated in the following list of officers:
Presidents: Israel Holmes, 1853-1869; Augustus S. Chase, 1869-1879; Gordon W Burnham, 1879-1885; Henry E. Russell, 1885-1887; Chandler N. Wayland, 1887 1893; Thomas B. Kent, since 1893.
Vice Presidents: Henry H. Hayden, 1868-1871; James A. Hayden, 1871-1874, Henry S. Russell, 1879-1885; Samuel H. Willard, 1885-1887; Henry E. Russell, 1887-1889; Thomas B. Kent, 1889-1893.
Treasurers: John C. Booth, Benjamin DeForest, Dyer Ames, each during a part of 1853; Dyer Ames, Dr. Robert Crane, John C. Booth, at different times in 1854; John C. Booth, 1854-1859; Elizur D. Griggs, 1859-1867; John C. Booth, 1867- 1868; James M. Abbott, 1868-1869; Augustus S. Chase, 1869-1879; Edward S. Hayden, 1879-ISSI; Samuel H. Willard, 1881-ISS7; Chandler N. Wayland, 1887- 1893.
Assistant Treasurers: Edward S. Hayden, 1881-1886; Henry F. Davis, 1886- ISSS; Frederick L. Adams, since 1888.
Secretaries: John C. Booth, Benjamin DeForest, Dyer Ames, each during a part of 1853; Dyer Ames, Dr. Robert Crane, John C. Booth, each during a part of 1854; John C. Booth, 1854-1868; James M. Abbott, 1868-1878; Edward S. Hayden, 1879-1886; Henry F. Davis, 1886-ISS8; George H. Benham, since 1888.
THE HAYDEN BROTHERS.
HENRY HUBBARD HAYDEN, the elder son of Festus and Sophia (Harrison) Hayden, was born in Waterbury, April 2, 1820. (See page 266.) Festus Hayden belonged to the seventh generation of American Haydens, descended from John Haiden of Dorchester, England, founder of the Braintree (Mass.) branch of the family.
He received his education at the old stone academy and at the academy at Wilbraham, Mass. During the first years of his busi- ness life he was associated with his father, and early developed the force and energy that have characterized his later undertakings. He was one of the organizers of the Waterbury Button company, and its president from its formation until 1871; it was due in great measure to his efforts that a large and prosperous business was built up. As already mentioned, he was one of the incorporators of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, and its vice president until 1871, when he retired from active business.
In 1853 he removed to New York, to take charge of the com- pany's principal office. In 1862 he purchased "Lowland Lodge" and a considerable quantity of land at Lake George, N. Y., where he spent his vacations while he remained in business, and which he made his regular residence after his retirement. He is the senior warden of St. James's Protestant Episcopal church in that place, and takes an active interest in matters of local improvement. He
Hayden
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HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS.
is also a land-owner in Chicago, Ill., in New Jersey, the District of Columbia and Arkansas.
On September 6, 1854, he married Mary Lenita, the daughter of Robert W. and Mary Lena (Price) Cairns, who were of English birth, and who, when she was born, resided in the Argentine Re- public. Their children are: Lenita Cairns, born June 20, 1855, died February 4, 1869; Florence Sophia, James Henry and Robert Cairns.
JAMES ALBERT HAYDEN, the younger son of Festus Hayden, was born in Waterbury, March 8, 1825. He was educated in the old stone academy, and at Pittsfield, Mass. He removed to New York in 1844, and engaged in the wholesale dry goods business. He was one of the promoters of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, and in 1855 dissolved the partnership of Murphy, Benedict & Co., and became the "general attorney in fact" of that corporation, which position he retained until 1871, when he was elected its vice president. In 1876 he retired from active business, and has since then been one of the directors of the Manhattan Brass company, and one of the executive committee of the American Surety company of New York.
On January 26, 1853, he married Harriet, a daughter of the Hon. James R. and Catharine (Gale) Whiting. In 1866 he purchased land of Judge Whiting at Spuyten Duyvil, on the Hudson, built upon it, and resided there eight or nine years. He has since resided in New York city and at his country place at Lake George. Their children are: Henry Whiting, Katharine, Harriet, born De- cember II, 1859, died March 16, 1860; James Raynor and Mary Lena.
HIRAM W. HAYDEN AND SON.
HIRAM WASHINGTON HAYDEN, son of Joseph Shepard and Ruha- mah (Guilford) Hayden (see page 265), and of the eighth genera- tion in descent from John Haiden, founder of the Braintree branch of the family, was born in Haydenville, Mass., February 10, 1820, and came to Waterbury with his parents when an infant. He re- ceived a common school education at the old Waterbury academy.
When the firm of J. M. L. & W. H. Scovill were seeking some one to chase or engrave metal buttons-at that time an unknown art in this country-Mr. Hayden was induced to try the work, as he had even at that early period developed the love for art which has since become his distinguishing characteristic. He found the work too confining, and abandoned it, but was afterwards induced to resume it, and thus it happened that he made the first chased
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
buttons manufactured by the Scovills, which were probably the first made in the United States. He removed to Wolcottville in 1838, to fill an engagement with Wadhams & Co., button manufacturers, but returned to Scovills & Co. in 1841, where he made all the important dies for buttons and medals, until 1853.
While at Wolcottville his attention was drawn to the manufac- ture of brass kettles by the old fashioned coppersmith method (a specialty of the Wolcottville Brass company), and he soon devised a more effective way of making them. In the old method there was
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1875
MAPLEWILD, THE RESIDENCE OF H. W. HAYDEN.
a tendency to make the metal thinner at the angle formed by the bottom and sides of the kettle, where really the greatest strength was needed. In Mr. Hayden's process the metal at this point is the thickest. He patented his invention December 16, 1851, and subsequently sold it to the Waterbury Brass company. This dis- covery completely revolutionized the manufacture of brass and copper kettles and is at the present time the only method in use.
In 1853, as already stated, Mr. Hayden joined Israel Holmes, John C. Booth and Henry H. Hayden in the organization of the
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HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS.
company known as Holmes, Booth & Haydens. He has been con- nected with the company, chiefly in its manufacturing department, throughout its history, and since its formation has never been absent from the stockholders' annual meeting.
Mr. Hayden has taken out a remarkable number of patents in the United States and in Europe, a large majority of which have been assigned to Holmes, Booth & Haydens. Among his many inventions may be mentioned a breech-loading rifle, a magazine rifle and a breech-loading cannon, which although not adopted by the government were entirely practical, the principles they embod- ied being found in the arms of to-day. A machine for making solid metal tubing, which he invented, was sold to parties in Pittsburgh.
His love for art, which showed itself at an early age, led him into the development of the daguerreotype. While engaged in this way the idea occurred to him of taking pictures on paper. A scientific article on this subject, written by him in 1851, but never published, entitles him to the honor of being an inde- pendent discoverer of the photographic process. The Waterbury American of February 14, 1851, contained the following notice of his discovery :
Mr. Hiram Hayden, ingenious artist of this village, has shown us three land- scape views taken by the usual daguerrean apparatus upon a white paper surface, all at one operation. This is the first successful attempt to produce a positive picture by this extraordinary medium. The pictures exhibit the effect of light and shade, similar to a fine engraving, bringing out the most delicate minutiae with the fidelity of the ordinary daguerreotype. For many purposes this improvement will be of great importance, as it will enable the operator to produce views and portraits of any size that may be required and at a cheap rate. We understand that Mr. Hayden has made application to secure a patent upon a mode of preparing the paper previous to its use.
His studies in photography have been almost continuous since this early period, and so far as can be learned from published state- ments he has arrived nearer to the solution of the problem of photography in colors than any one else. He enjoys the society of amateur photographers and is the president of the Waterbury Photographic society. The taste displayed by him in his work as a designer in his business is also pleasantly exemplified in his home, in which are to be found many specimens of his artistic workman- ship. During his leisure hours he has devoted himself to various branches of the fine arts, such as etching on copper, modelling in wax, and sketching with charcoal and with pencil. He enjoys the study of art, and keeps pace therein with the movement of modern thought.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Mr. Hayden has always been a diligent reader and student, and has a large store of information on all subjects. He is a man of original ideas, and although of a retiring nature has embodied them in very practical ways, and thus has had a large share in the advancement of the prosperity of Waterbury.
At Litchfield, July 31, 1844, he married Pauline, the eldest daughter of Henry Migeon, a native of France. Their children are: Edward Simeon; Lena Migeon, wife of Frederick J. Brown (see page 245), and Florentine Harriet. Mrs. Hayden died April 20, 1873. The notice of her funeral, in the Waterbury American of April 24, closed with the following tribute:
To the public she was known as a quiet and retiring person, but with a select circle of friends she was the object not simply of respect but of admiring affection. Those who knew her best found her most attractive and charming, and felt that in her death the society of Waterbury had lost one who could ill be spared. As the funeral procession moved, by way of the iron bridge and the beautiful river road, to the sunny spot in the cemetery where her remains are henceforth to lie, every one must have felt that the peaceful April afternoon-musical only with the chirp- ing of birds and the noise of brooks-was in perfect keeping with the life which had shone so pleasantly and kindly upon the friends who were now following her to her final rest. Such are the lives for which a busy world should never forget to be thankful.
EDWARD SIMEON HAYDEN Was born October 20, 1851. He was educated at private schools in Waterbury and at the Riverview Military academy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
He entered the Waterbury National bank as bookkeeper in February, 1869. In February, 1879, he was elected secretary and treasurer of Holmes, Booth & Haydens. Having made a study of the metallurgy of copper, he became connected with the Bridge- port Copper company in September, 1886, and there put in practice the results of his studies and experiments. He was one of the promoters of the Baltimore Electric Refining company, organized in March, 1891, for the express purpose of using his process for electrolyzing metals. This invention of Mr. Hayden's has been patented in the United States and foreign countries, and is in use in the factories of the two companies mentioned. The extensive plant at Baltimore, Md., was wholly built from his plans and under his general supervision.
He was appointed First Lieutenant and Paymaster, Connecticut National Guard, September 30, 1878; Major and Brigade Commis- sary, January 23, 1883; Major and Brigade Quartermaster, April 23, 1884. He resigned his military offices in April, 1890.
On October 8, 1877, he married Elizabeth Gilder Kellogg of New York city (see page 208). They have three children; Pauline Migeon, Rose Hinckley and Margery Kellogg.
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HOLMES, BOOTH & HAYDENS.
C. N. WAYLAND.
Chandler Norton Wayland, the son of John and Sarah (Norton) Wayland, was born in Trumbull, September 5, 1835. He spent his boyhood and received his early education in his native town. After several years passed in New Haven, he came to Waterbury in 1852. When, in 1860, John P. Elton established the private banking house, known afterward as the Elton Banking company (see page 178), Mr. Wayland became connected with it, and so con- tinued as long as he remained a resident of Waterbury.
In 1875 he removed to New York, and since then has made that city his winter home. In 1887 he was elected to the presidency of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, and held the office until 1893, spending a large part of his time in Waterbury. He has been connected, as a director, with various other business concerns, and during the war for the Union was assistant assessor of internal revenue.
The story of Mr. Wayland's business life can be briefly told, but there are very few business men who would be more imperfectly represented than he by a bare record of facts and dates. In the various positions of responsibility which he has held, he has ex- hibited unquestioned fidelity and diligence, and achieved a marked success ; but another side of his life has been constantly visible, and has been known to all men as dominated by the love of the beautiful, and as revealing the incessant play of unique thought and manly sentiment. He has never been so burdened with the cares of business as to lose his sense of the beauty of nature in its most delicate and subtle manifestations, while, at the same time, his delight in the higher forms of art has been no less than a passion. During his residence in Waterbury he became specially interested in instrumental music, and decided to take up the study of the violin. He has long been known as an accomplished player, and for a number of years found pleasure in practising, each week, with a quartette of which Richard Grant White was a member. He possesses refined literary tastes and a facile pen. He has a wide acquaintance with authors and artists, and has, to a consider- able extent, shaped his life with reference to the undisturbed enjoyment of fellowship with them. He is not so engrossed, how- ever, with the æsthetic side of life as to lose sight of the more pro- found questions which excite the interest of thinking men. The problems of the social life and the deeper problems of philosophy have always had a fascination for him, and in their discussion his independent and keen thinking invariably reveals itself.
Before his removal from Waterbury, Mr. Wayland purchased one of the little islands constituting the picturesque group known
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
as the Thimbles. He built a cottage upon it, and has ever since made it his summer home and a place of resort for his artist friends. He is an enthusiastic yachtsman, and spends a large part of his time, every summer, on the waters of the Sound, where he is known, no less than on "terra firma," as a cordial and hospit- able host.
On September 9, 1858, he married Lucy Elizabeth, the only daughter of John P. Elton (see page 329). They have one son.
JOHN ELTON WAYLAND Was born in Waterbury, October 26, 1860. He graduated from Yale in the class of 1883, and from the Colum- bia Law school in 1885. He practises law in New York city. On December 9, 1886, he married Mary Isabel, the only daughter of Thomas L. Scovill (see page 283), and they have two children.
GEORGE H. BENHAM.
George Hurd Benham, son of Lockwood Perry and Mary Eliza- beth Benham, was born in Woodbury, November 27, 1850. Until nineteen years of age, he lived in Middlebury, receiving his educa- tion in the district school. In 1869 he entered a situation in Naug- atuck, and after his marriage in 1872 became a resident there. During a time of depression in business, in 1876, he gave up his trade and entered the Eastman Business college in Poughkeepsie, to obtain a business education. He secured a position with Holmes, Booth & Haydens in February, 1877, and since 1888 has been secre- tary of that corporation.
On October 2, 1872, he married Antoinette Judson, of Woodbury, and they have two daughters, Edith Louise and Ellen Augusta.
F. L. ADAMS.
Frederick Lyman Adams, son of Lyman and Rebecca (Baldwin) Adams, was born in Waterbury, October 24, 1850. Before he was sixteen years old, he entered the store of Benedict, Merriman & Co. as a clerk, but in 1867 he secured a position in the office of the Waterbury Brass company, where he was book-keeper for about thirteen years. In 1880 he went to New York as agent for the Lane Manufacturing company and remained there until 1888. He then . returned to Waterbury, to accept the position of assistant treasurer with Holmes, Booth & Haydens, and now holds that office.
On October 10, 1877, he married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Merrit Lane. They have no children.
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WISJONY OW WATERBURY.
as the Toltoble& H: built a cottage upon it, and has ever shice trade if his summer bime and a place of resort For the artist Friends. Ile is an athosistic yachtsinon, and spends a large part of his time weys summer, on the waters of the Soul, where DE is known on less than on "terra firma," As a cordial and buspit- ne hom.
Op September 9, 3858, he married Lucy Elizabeth, the only dangbier of Joha P .. Elton (see page 327). They have one son,
Jon& Lupus WAYLAxp was born in Waterbury, October 26, 1860. He graduated from Vat treba wuss of 18de, and from the Colum- bid Law school in MASE 11 le - Sex York city. On
December 9, 10 only daughter of drer.
Thomas L. Soovil cabave
Tomb Tessuto, was born in Woodbury, bal someten years of age, he lived in Middlebury, tion in the district school. In 186g he entered a situation no Non_ altok, and after his marriage in 1872 became a resident there. During a time of depression in business, in 1876, he gave up his trade aml'oni red (by Rastman Thisiness college in Poughkeepsie, to obtain a biam Inestiot. Hu mored a position with Holmes, Raam & Bleeding in February 2 and since 1888 has been secre-
Antoinette Julson, of Weeditor sunil they bare vyps k sters Ffith Louise and Ellen A
V. L. ADAMS
Frederick Lyman Adams, son of Lymar 10002 (Baldwin) Adaras. was born in Waterbury, October' xl Before he was Alsteen years old be entered the store of Benediet, Merriman & Co nw a eletk Ief 50 1867 be secured a position in the office of the Watertodry Www- company, where he was hook-keeper for about thirloon years To 1880 he went to New York as agent for the Lane Manufacturing com oy aud remained there until 1888, He then returned to Woles bury, to accept the position of assistant treasurer with Holmes, Booth & Huydens and now holds that office.
On October ro. very, be married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of , Merrit Lane. They have no children.
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THE PLUME & ATWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
THE PLUME & ATWOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Plume & Atwood Manufacturing company was organized in January, 1869, under the joint stock law, by Israel Holmes, John C. Booth, Lewis J. Atwood, David S. Plume, Aaron Thomas, George W. Welton, Burr Tucker and others. The name they first adopted was the Holmes, Booth & Atwood Manufacturing company, but on January 1, 1871, this was changed to its present form by an order of court, the company being enjoined from using the names of Messrs. Holmes and Booth, inasmuch as these names had been so long con- nected with another concern. Israel Holmes was the first president of the new organization, John C. Booth its secretary, and David S. Plume its treasurer.
Soon after its formation, the company bought out the Hayden & Griggs Manufacturing company, and in the June following, purchased the brass rolling mill of the Thomas Manufacturing company at Thomaston, the entire capital stock being fixed at $400,000. During the same year was begun the erection of the present factory on Bank street. Both this establishment and that at Thomaston have been enlarged from year to year, until they now comprise one of the most extensive plants anywhere to be found for the manufacture of sheet brass, wire, kerosene burners, lamp trimmings, copper rivets, pins and other goods of like character.
Upon the death of Mr. Holmes, in July 1874, Mr. Booth was elected president and Lewis J. Atwood secretary. The company was incorporated by the General Assembly, at the January session, 1880. On the death of Mr. Booth, in July 1886, Burr Tucker was elected president, and on the death of Mr. Tucker, in August, 1890, Mr. Atwood was made president and Robert H. Swayze, of New York, secretary. The present officers (1894) are Lewis J. Atwood, president; Robert H. Swayze, secretary; David S. Plume, treasurer; Aaron Thomas, Edward C. Lewis, Edward M. Burrall, Charles H. Tucker and Walter S. Atwood, directors. Messrs. Thomas, L. J. Atwood and Plume have been members of the board from the organization of the company until now.
JOHN C. BOOTH.
John Camp Booth, the son of Philo and Aurelia Booth, was born at Newtown, June 13, 1808, and was educated in the schools of his native town. He completed his studies at Danbury, where for several years he served as a teacher.
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