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 III > Part 25
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In 1863 he became manager of the Waterbury Brass company, and during the rest of his life his time was mostly given to manu- factures. He also acted as administrator, executor, trustee and guardian, and in various other fiduciary relations, for which his legal knowledge, his unswerving integrity and his warm and sym- pathetic nature, united with great positiveness and firmness of character, especially qualified him. He was one of the most active members of the board of agents of the Bronson library; also one . of the officers of the Waterbury hospital, and, although of strongly conservative tendencies, took a lively interest in all schemes for public improvement. He rendered good service for some time as chairman of the school board, and was interested in educational work. He was fond of historical studies, and especially of local history, and had he lived would doubtless have been an efficient co-laborer in the preparation of this book. His range of reading and study was broad, embracing theological and anthropological topics. He was a member of the American Historical association, and prepared for publication at the request of its secretary, a valu- ble monograph on Connecticut boroughs. This was published how- ever, by the New Haven county Historical society, having been read before that body.
Mr. Carter took an active part in political affairs, and held various offices of public trust. He was clerk of the state senate in
* By a typographical error, the year of Mr. Carter's birth is given on page 331 as 1824.
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1859 and represented the town in the legislature in 1883 and 1885. He was always an open and courageous enemy of political "job- bery," and a staunch guardian of the publie treasury both in state and local matters. He was a prominent and striking character in this community. Positive, downright and imperious, sometimes perhaps prejudiced and apparently unreasonable, he was sternly and inflexibly honest. Although blunt in his address and careless in his personal appearance, he had an almost feminine sympathy with sorrow and suffering, and in the sick room few men were his equal. He had an intellect vigorous by nature and well trained by study, reading and observation. His style was strong and terse, and whether speaking or writing he enunciated propositions with great clearness and vigor, and frequently with remarkable originality.
Mr. Carter married Mary Jane Darrow, who died August 24, 1872. Four of their seven children (three sons and a daughter) survived their father. The sons are Charles Franklin, who graduated from the Yale Art school in 1888, William Darrow, and Frederick, both of whom took a partial course in the Sheffield Scientific school. Helen Holmes (a graduate of St. Margaret's school), became the wife of Frederick C. Abbott, and died at Hendersonville, N. C., November 3, 1893. Mr. Carter died September 18, 1887.
GEORGE L. FIELD.
George L. Field was the son of Lyman Field of Watertown, where he was born December 4, 1828. He studied law with John W. Webster and opened an office in Waterbury in 1854. The follow- ing year he went to Watertown, but after awhile returned to Water- bury and remained here until his death, October 27, 1879. He was town clerk from 1869 to 1871, judge of the city and police courts from July 1, 1871, to July 1, 1874, and a deputy judge for several years longer. He was also the principal trying justice for a num- ber of years. He had a judicial mind and good natural ability, and his judgment and opinions were much respected by his professional brethren. During the later years of his life, however, he suffered much from ill health and from an affection of the eyes, which at last nearly destroyed his sight; and these and other troubles seri- ously interfered with his professional work.
C. W. GILLETTE.
Charles William Gillette, son of William and Amy (Johnson) Gillette, was born April 2, 1831, in that part of Oxford which is now known as Beacon Falls. He received his early education in Sey-
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mour, and afterward studied at the academy in Wilbraham, Mass. He came to Waterbury in 1856, and entered the law office of J. W. Webster. He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and has practiced here since that time, attaining a conspicuous place in his profession. He was first the clerk and afterward the judge of the city court, holding the latter position from 1866 to 1871. He was elected judge of probate in 1871, and has been reëlected several times since then. He was also city attorney for several years. He was elected town clerk in 1858 and again in 1862; was postmaster from May, 1863, to August, 1866 (see pages 169, 170), and represented the town in the legislature in 1882. He has been a director of the Dime Savings bank since its incorporation, and a member of the common council.
On July 4, 1859, Mr. Gillette married Katharine, daughter of Hub- bard S. Vaughan of Southbridge, Mass. They have three sons : Alexander Vaughan, Edwin Johnson (for whom see the next chap- ter), and William Mansfield, who is a law student in his father's office.
HENRY I. BOUGHTON.
Henry Isaac Boughton, son of Isaac and Caroline (Upson) Boughton, was born in Waterbury, April 11, 1841. He was educated in the schools of Waterbury and graduated in 1861 from the Fort Edward (N. Y.) Collegiate institute. He studied law with John W. Webster, and was admitted to the bar in 1864. Mr. Boughton has served the city in the following capacities : city clerk, 1867 and 1868; judge of probate from 1868 to 1871; representative in the legislature 1877 ; mayor in 1878 and 1879, and from January, 1886, - to January, 1890 ; chairman of the finance committee of the Centre school district, 1875, 1876 and 1877, and a member of the board of aldermen for four years.
On June 22, 1864, Mr. Boughton married Elvira N. Blakeman. They have one child, Charlotte Elvira, wife of Curtis J. Birken- mayer.
GEORGE E. TERRY.
George E. Terry, son of Edward and Anne (Lewis) Terry, was born in Bristol, September 15, 1836. He received a common school education, and graduated at the Albany (N. Y.) academy in 1854. He studied law for two years with S. P. Newell in Bristol and after- ward with John Hooker in Hartford, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1858. After a year spent in mercantile business in Vir- ginia, he returned to Connecticut, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Plainville, and in 1860 represented Farmington in the legislature. In 1862 he enlisted for nine months in the Twenty-
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fifth regiment of Connecticut volunteers, and was sergeant in Com- pany K from September 10 of that year to August 26, 1863.
He came to Waterbury to reside in September, 1865. He formed a law partnership with the Hon. S. W. Kellogg, which continued until 1881, after which he had no business associate until 1888, when he received into partnership Nathaniel R. Bronson. He was clerk of the old city court from July, 1866, to July, 1875, and city attor- ney from July, 1881, to the close of 1890. He has been assistant state attorney for New Haven county since 1881.
On September 20, 1862, Mr. Terry married Emma Pollard of Loughborough, England. She died April 27, 1868, leaving one son, Frederick L., who was born in Southington, July 31, 1863. On March 10, 1869, he married Fannie E. Williams.
THOMAS DONAHUE.
Thomas Donahue, son of Michael and Bridget (Coyle) Donahue, was born in Waterbury, May 20, 1840. He attended the public schools of the city and pursued his collegiate course at St. John's college, Fordham, N. Y. He studied law in the office of the Hon. S. W. Kellogg, was admitted to the bar in 1865, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in Waterbury. Mr. Donahue was clerk of the city court from 1868 to 1870, city clerk from 1872 to 1875, town clerk in 1878 and 1881, a member of the board of education in 1887 and 1888, and a member of the board of agents of the Bronson library from 1886 to the time of his death.
On September 26, 1870, he married Margaret Bradley. They had eight children: Nellie, Frank L., who married Nellie Donahue of Litchfield; Thomas E., Louise M., Stephen M., George D., and two who are not living. Mr. Donahue died July 20, 1892.
JOHN O'NEILL.
John O'Neill was born in Canada village, in the town of Goshen, November 5, 1841. His father came from Ireland in 1833 ; his mother, Emily Hayden, was born in Litchfield and was of Puritan descent. His parents removed to Waterbury in 1848, and he was educated in the public schools of the city. On the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in the First regiment of Connecticut vol- unteers, participated in the first battle of Bull Run, and was honor- ably discharged at the end of his term of service. The year fol- lowing he began the study of law in the office of John W. Webster, and at the end of a three years course (March 10, 1866) was admitted to the bar, and soon afterwards to a partnership with his former instructor (see page 801).
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Mr. O'Neill represented the town in the legislature of 1889, and was the author or the chief promoter of much of the tax legislation of that session, notably the investment tax law, the collateral inher- itance tax law and the law relative to the taxation of telegraph and express companies. He has held office in Waterbury almost contin- uously since attaining his majority, having been a justice of the peace since 1862, assistant city attorney for ten years, and prose- cuting agent of the county for seven years. He was elected a member of the board of agents of the Bronson library in 1882, and is now its president. On October 15, 1867, he married Mary E. Fitzpatrick, sister of the Rev. J. S. Fitzpatrick of New Haven. They have three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Joseph J. O'Neill, is a graduate of Georgetown college; the others are pursuing a collegiate course.
GEORGE H. COWELL.
George Hubert Cowell, son of Nelson and Jeannette B. Cowell, was born in Waterbury March 25, 1840. He graduated from Wilbra- ham academy in 1864, from Yale college in 1868, and from the Columbia Law school in 1869. Being pronounced in his political convictions, he early identified himself with the Republican party, and in 1870 was chosen chairman of the Republican town commit- tee-a position which he held for five years. He was also a mem- ber of the State Central committee for four years. In 1871 he was chosen assistant clerk of the house of representatives, clerk of the house in 1872 and clerk of the senate in 1873. In 1875 and 1876 he held the position of chief clerk of the post office department at Washington, D. C., and in 1876 was admitted to practice law in the Supreme court of the United States. He was judge of the city and police courts from 1877 to 1881, judge of the district court from 1881 to 1883 and deputy judge of the police court from 1887 to 1893. During his four years of service as alderman he was chairman of the law committee. He has been town clerk, a member of the town board of health and the town board of school visitors, and a member of the board of education of the Centre district. In 1894 he was elected by a large majority to represent Waterbury in the legislature, and in March following was made chairman of the judiciary committee and thus "leader of the house." After the establishment by the legislature of 1895 of a new city court he was unanimously chosen (April 16) to be the judge of that court.
Judge Cowell has shown a marked interest in the various fra- ternities of the city, especially in the order of Odd Fellows, having
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filled every office in the Grand lodge of the state. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
On November 11, 1878, he married Alice Sewall Barton of Wash -- ington, D. C. They have one child, a daughter, living.
RUSSELL, W. AYRES.
Russell William Ayres, son of James R. Ayres (see page 719), was born in Waterbury, January 10, 1844. At the time of the break- ing out of the civil war he was a pupil in the high school; but he enlisted and served for nine months. On his return he entered the academy at Wilbraham, Mass., and after a preparatory course of two years entered Yale college. He there acquitted himself with credit, having competed successfully for some of the highest prizes. He was also one of the editors of the Yale Literary Magazine. He graduated in 1868, and immediately began the study of law in the office of C. W. Gillette. A year later he entered the Harvard Law school, from which he graduated in 1870. In the meantime his health had become so enfeebled that he found it necessary to defer entering into active practice, but a visit to the South (of which he gave a full account in a series of letters to the Waterbury American) restored him temporarily to more than his usual vigor.
The removal of his father's family to the town of Orange involved a transfer of his activities to a new field. He became greatly interested in the "development" of the region lying between his new home and the shore of the Sound, secured the establishment of a railroad station, to which he gave the name of Woodmont, * and aroused the people of the town to a sense of the need of public improvements.
Mr. Ayres died at the home of his brother, James G. Ayres, in Syracuse, N. Y., on December 14, 1873, while returning from a visit to Missouri in behalf of one of his clients. The resolutions passed by the bar of the city court made mention of "his generous qual- ities of mind and heart, his noble enthusiasm for his profession, his spotless integrity, his love for the right, his courtesy toward his co-workers, and his unselfishness in his intercourse with his breth- ren." The Waterbury American (December 15) spoke of "the thor- oughness of his culture, the purity of his taste, his cheerfulness and generosity and the nobleness of his ambitions. A11 who knew him," it was added, " will regret that he was cut off at the threshold of a noble career."
* The name Woodmont was selected by Mr. Ayres with reference to the wooded slope near which the railroad station was first located.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
E. F. COLE.
Edward Francis Cole, son of Henry and Sarah M. (Harmon) cole was born in Cheltenham, England, November 20, 1839. He came to America in his boyhood, and until twenty-five years of age lived for the most part a seafaring life. On finally abandoning the sea he became a resident of Ansonia and there studied law in the office of John D. Ballou, and afterwards with Judge Munger. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and came to this city to enter upon the practice of his profession. For a few years he had as a law partner Judge H. B. Munson of Seymour, but since Mr. Munson's death he has had no associate in his practice. Mr. Cole was for six years assistant city attorney and for four years deputy judge of the district court of Waterbury. He has also been, for nearly fifteen years, assistant clerk of the Superior court of New Haven county.
In 1878 he married Elizabeth S. Curtiss of Woodbury, a graduate of Vassar college. She died January 12, 1882.
H. R. MORRILL.
Henry R. Morrill, son of Samuel and Amanda (Short) Morrill, was born in Candia, N. H., August 12, 1840. He fitted for college at the Wilbraham (Mass.) academy, and graduated from Wesleyan university in 1866. For two years he had charge of the high school in Wolcottville (now Torrington). In June, 1868, he began the study of law in the office of the Hon. H. B. Graves of Litchfield, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1870. He practiced his pro- fession for several years in connection with Mr. Graves, and was for a time judge of probate for the Litchfield district. He removed to Waterbury in 1874, and in 1876 was elected by the legislature judge of the city court, but held the office for one term only.
In 1881 Mr. Morrill married Mrs. Emma Bolles (now Mrs. Emma Silliman), his first wife having died several years before. Mr. Mor- rill's death occurred, after a brief illness, on July 12, 1884. He was buried in his native town. Mr. Graves, his former associate, said of him in an obituary notice: "As an advocate at the bar he was not brilliant or fluent, but he excelled as a wise and safe counsellor, and as an office lawyer he had few superiors."
D. F. WEBSTER.
Daniel Frederick Webster, son of Frederick Buell and Cornelia (Loomis) Webster, was born at Litchfield, March 14, 1853. He is a descendant, in the seventh generation, from Lieutenant Robert Webster, who was a member of the committee appointed by the
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General Court in 1673 "to view the lands at Mattatock " and report whether they were suitable for a plantation. He received his early education at the academy in Thomaston, and graduated at Dart- . mouth college in 1874. For three years after graduation he taught a school at Thomaston. He studied law in the office of Judge A. P. Bradstreet and was admitted to the bar in 1876. In 1877 he- removed to Waterbury and has since resided here, engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1881 he formed a law partnership with C. W. Gillette, which lasted until 1889. In 1880 he was appointed clerk of the city court and in 1883 clerk of the police and district courts. He was a member of the common council in 1887, an alderman in 1888 and 1889, and a school visitor for several years. In 1891 he was nominated for mayor by the Republican party, and was elected by a handsome majority, being the first Republican to assume the office in twenty-three years. In 1894 he was elected to represent the Fifth district in the state senate, and in that body was made chairman of the committee on incorpora- tions. In May, 1895, he was selected by Judge Cowell for prosecut- ing attorney in the new city court.
On June 26, 1879, Mr. Webster married Elizabeth Rogers Fox of Thomaston, a graduate of Vassar college. They have four chil- dren : Bradford, Frederick Buell, Benjamin, and Howard.
JAMES F. FITZPATRICK.
James Francis Fitzpatrick, son of Michael and Mary (Carey) Fitzpatrick, was born in Frelighsburg, Canada, December 22, 1853. He studied at the Waterbury public schools and afterward at Niagara university, and graduated from the Yale Law school in 1874. On September 16, 1876, he married Mary Elizabeth Bennett of Westerly, R. I. He died on July 8, 1880, leaving no children.
CHARLES G. ROOT.
Charles George Root, grandson of George Root (see pages 198, 208) and only child of Reuben H. and Laura E. (Penfield) Root, was born in Naugatuck, August 13, 1855. When he was ten years old the family removed to Springfield, Mass., and resided there till 1869, when they came to Waterbury. Young Root attended the public schools of Springfield and afterward of this city, and after graduating from the Waterbury high school was for five years assistant librarian at the Bronson library. He graduated from the Yale Law school in 1877, and on being admitted to the bar began the practice of his professsion in this city.
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Mr. Root has served on the town board of school visitors and on the board of education of the Centre district. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1891, and was elected to represent the Fifth district in the senate in 1893. He was judge of the police court in 1893 and 1894, and was made deputy judge of the district court of Waterbury for the term extending from 1893 to 1897. He is also a member of the Tariff Reform club of New York city.
ALBERT P. BRADSTREET.
Albert P. Bradstreet, second son of Thomas J. and Amanda T. Bradstreet, was born in that part of Plymouth which is now Thom- aston, June 9, 1846. He graduated from Yale college in 1871, and from the Columbia college Law school in 1873. After a few months spent in the law office of Webster & O'Neill he opened an office in Thomaston. He represented Thomaston in the General Assembly in 1877 and 1878, and was senator from the Sixteenth district in 1881 and 1882, serving, the latter year, as chairman of the judiciary committee. He was town clerk of Thomaston from 1875 to 1891, and judge of probate for the Thomaston district from 1882 to 1890. In 1879 he was elected deputy judge of the Waterbury city court and re-elected in 1881. In 1883 he was elected judge and re-elected to the same office in 1887 and again in 1893.
COLONEL L. F. BURPEE.
Lucien Francis Burpee, son of Colonel Thomas Francis Burpee, was born at Rockville, October 12, 1855. His father enlisted from. Rockville in the war for the Union, became colonel of the Twenty- first regiment of Connecticut volunteers, and lost his life in the cause of his country toward the close of the conflict. Young Bur- pee, although only a boy of eight years, accompanied his father in all the campaigns of the regiment from May, 1863, until the spring of 1864. As soon as his age permitted he joined the First regiment of the Connecticut National Guard in Rockville, and rapidly rose to the position of second lieutenant.
He fitted for college in the public schools of his native town, and graduated from Yale in the class of '79. He studied at the Yale Law school, and at the same time took a post-graduate course in history. He graduated at the Hamilton college Law school, and was admitted to practice at the New York bar, in 1880, but returned to New Haven and spent another year in study there, in order to equip himself still further for the practice of his profession.
He came to Waterbury in September, 1881, and entered the law office of the Hon. S. W. Kellogg, who subsequently received him
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into partnership-the firm being at first Kellogg & Burpee and afterward Kellogg, Burpee & Kellogg, (see page 805) and continu- ing until 1889. In 1883 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for. the city, and in 1890 was made city attorney.
His military tastes led him to connect himself in Waterbury with Company A of the Second regiment of the Connecticut National Guard. In 1886 he was elected second lieutenant of the company, and after passing through the grades of captain and major was elected lieutenant-colonel in May, 1893. On the resigna- tion of Colonel J. B. Doherty in July, 1895, Lieutenant Colonel Bur- pee was elected to succeed him as colonel .*
ELLIS PHELAN.
Ellis Phelan was born in Limestone county, Ala., August II, 1843, and was educated at the Alabama university. On the break- ing out of the civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service, and became a captain in the Confederate army. He practiced law at Birmingham. In 1882 he was elected Secretary of State of Ala- bama, and was re-elected in 1884, but resigned that office and removed to Waterbury in 1885. Here he soon won the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen of all parties, and was elected judge of probate in 1888 and again in 1890. The election of a for- mer Confederate officer to a position such as this in a Northern city was commented upon by the Southern press as a pleasant indi- cation of the progress that had been made toward the full restora- tion of harmony between the North and the South.
Mr. Phelan's first wife, the mother of four of his children, was a granddaughter of Richard Welton of Bucks Hill. His second wife is the eldest daughter of Edward L. Frisbie (page 348), and is the mother of two of his children.
BRIEF NOTICES OF YOUNGER MEN.
BRYAN JOHN SMITH, son of Bryan and Ellen (Donahue) Smith, was born in Waterbury, July 4, 1852. He studied at the Cheshire academy and the Yale Law school, and graduated from the latter institution in 1876. He has practiced his profession in Waterbury since that date.
CHARLES A. COLLEY, only child of James M. and Cornelia (Minor) Colley, was born in Waterbury January 18, 1858. He received his early education in the public schools of the city and studied law in
* At the regimental parade at Camp Coffin, Niantic, August 13, 1895, Colonel Burpee "went upon the field with the sword hanging by his side which his father wore in the battle of Cold Harbor, in which he was killed in 1864. Before his death he expressed the wish that his eldest son should wear his sword."
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the office of Webster & O'Neill. He graduated from the Yale Law school in 1878 and began the practice of law in Waterbury the same year, in the office of C. W. Gillette. In 1883 he received the appoint- ment of prosecuting agent under the liquor law, and held the posi- tion until 1893, bringing upon himself in the meantime the hostility and violence of some of the representatives of the liquor interest. After the close of his term of service as prosecuting agent he remained in practice but a short time. In 1894 he turned his atten- tion wholly to business, and in August of that year his abandon- . ment of the law was publicly announced.
ROBERT ALFRED LOWE was born in Ireland, February 4, 1850. He came to Waterbury when about fifteen years of age and was employed in the factories of the city. Desirous of obtaining an education, he entered the academy at Wilbraham, Mass., in the class of 1878. He graduated from the Yale Law school in 1879, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1880. Since that time he has been in practice in Waterbury. He has interested himself strongly in pub- lic affairs and has been a faithful worker in behalf of the Demo- cratic party. In November, 1893, he was elected judge of probate, and continues to hold that office.
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