History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Mr. Frary is a public-spirited citizen and a tlior- ougli business man. Politically, he is a Republican, and was a member of the Legislature in 1868. Dec. 22, 1S52, he united in marriage with Miss Helen .\. Peek, of Berlin, Conn. Their children have been as follows: James P., Harry L., Cora .V., and Grace R., all of whom are living except James P., who died at Meriden in the spring of 1861. Mr. Frary attirvK the Episcopal Church. Photo, liv Wils.ii. Briilsciiort. 'r^n>^' There is no prouder or more enduring pergonal record tlian the story of a seir-roliant, mnnly. -'^iid successful career. It declares thiit the individual ha.^ not only understood liis duty and mission, but fultilled them. The following hiugiuphy is highly suggestive of these farts. Russell Tomlinson, now a leading niiuiufacturcr of Uriilgeport, Conn., was born at f^outhbury. in that State, April h, |SU7. His father was a mechanic, and worked and owned a mill forge jit Oxford, but died in 1S19, when Russell was only twelve years of age. From the age of eight years he had lived about on the neighboring farms. At fifteen he went to Amenia, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he labored on a farm during the summer months, and worked in a blacksmith-shop in winter and at night. Not being well treated by his employer, he left and located in Salisbury, Conn., on what is known as the old Salisbury Ore Hill, where for two years he worked at black- smithing for the miserable pittance of fifteen dollars a year and board, clothing himself from his earnings. About iS27 bo joined one of his brothers, who had established a small fac- tory fur making carriages at Bridgeport. He was engaged here for some time at the then wages of one dollar and a cjuarter a day. At this time I. k L. Shumau had a branch of their sail- dlery and carriage business at Columbia, S. (_\. and, knowing young Tomlinson to bo a jiopular and intelligent workman, made an engagement with him to go to that place, and take charge of the blueksmith-shop. He went there, but remained only one winter, when he returned to liridgejiort. He was shrewd enough to see that the best opportunities for success in business were in New Kngland. He opened a small shop, where he attended to blacksmith work of different kinds and made car- riage-springs. Having now accumulated the sum of four hun- dred and fifty dollars, he closed up his afl'airs in Bridgeport, and went to Derby, Conn., where he built a shop, and carried on the manufacture of carriages in a small way. He c<mtinued in this for three years, when he sold out and found himself the possessor of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. Returning to Bridgeport, he bought a steam-engine, and worked for a year or two making axles and sawing timber. By this time his brother's carriage business hatl grown into considerable inijtor- tance, and was conducted under the firm of Tomlinson, Wood & Co. He bought half uf his brother's interest, and Mr. Wood sold half of his interest to a brother, thus making four in the firm. Mr. Tomlinson was a member of this firm for about fifteen years. During this period it established a name over the whole country for the manufacture of all descriptions of eariinges. This bnineh of manufacture has given to Bridge- jiort much of its im|iortunee. The business of Tomlinson, Wood A- Co. was conducted in all its departments with great judgment and success. Mr. Tomlinson at length sold his interest, and retired from said business. Not being satisfied with a life of ease, he next turned his attention to the organization of a company for the manufacture of springs and axles, whi<di was in tile year ISJi'. The jiresent fiourishing Tomlinstm Spring and Axle (?omj)any, of Bridgeport, is the result of these efforts. In I.S()7 he resigned the presidency of the Naugatuck Railroad, an otfice wlii<-h he had held for a number of years. The year ISOM saw him elected to the Legislature of Connecticut. In 1S7S he was elected to the Senate for two years, and by a vote of the Senate was appointed to fill the position of chairman of the State prison committee, which place he held for two years. He has also filled nearly all the different offices in the municipal government of the city and town of Bridgeport, and during the whole period of the late war was the active and efficient agent of the town in raising troojis for the Union army. Though still interested in business enterprises, he has withdrawn from active participation in them. He resides iu a tine mansion on (Jolden Hill, a beautiful locality of Bridgeport. Mr. Tomlinson was a large contributor to the building of Christ Kpiscopal Church, one of the finest edifices of Bridgeport, winch is located in the same select neighborhood. He has always exhibited a great deal of public spirit, and aided in every i)ossiblc manner the growth and improvement of the city in whieh he lives. Mr. Tomlinson is about of the average lieiglit. and etjually pro])ortioned. His face shows intelligence, foresight, and decision as the chief elements of his character, Ue is practical and refiective in all things, and. when once his j)lans are formed, is diligent and obstinate in their speedy and complete execution. His success in life has been achieved by economy and industry in its earlier stages, and by a prudent and skillful managetncnt of large business interests at a later period. He has gaine<l nothing by mere luck, but everything by well- digested ])Ians, and the intelligent appreciation of his energies to file end in view. In social life hois a gentlemanly and affa- ble person, and there is a considerable vein of humor in his composition which adds very much to his eompanionable qual- ities. His business ability aud integrity and popularity have ])laced him in the first rank of the successful manufacturers and valuable citizens of New England. I Capt. John Huooks, son of John Brooks and Mary Coo, was horn in Stmlfonl. Sept. 1ft, nn."). His griindfatlicr on tho ma- ternal side was Kbcnezor Coe, of Stratford, who was a ca|itain in the war of the Uevolution. lie was in the vicinity of Dan- hiiry when it waJ* burned by the British, and lost an eye at the battle of Ridgclield, whore the lamented Woostcr was mortally wounded. The r<ubjecl of this sketch attended sehool nt the old Strat- ford Aeademy. which wa? then under the control of David riant, suhsei|uently jud;;c of Probate and Lieut. -Governor of Connecticut. In IHIO ho was taken to New York City to live with John Vandcrbilt. In 1811 he went a.s clerk with (jersboni Smith, a grocer in Peck Slip, but, not being adapted to that busineps, ho left the establishment, and soon after the breaking out of the war of 1SI2 came home. About this time Elisha Wilcox built a sloop called the" Arab," to run as a packet between lioro and New York, and, knowing well the sterling qualities of young Brooks, oifered to make him its commander. He accepted the position, and at the age of eighteen years Capt. John Brooks commenced his long career as a steamboat commander. Ho sailed the ''.Vrab" until 1811, when ho was transferred to a sloop owned by his father, called the " Intrepid." In 1815 ho was captain of tho regular packet " Patriot," owned by Beach A Peck, and in KSlfi of his father's sloop called the " Mary Ann." In 1S17, dipt. Brooks formed a copartnership with the late Isaac Sher- man which lasted about two years. Ho continued in charge of one of the lino of nackets plying bot^veen Bridgeport and New York until 1821, wlion he became captain of tho "John Marshall," a steamboat plying between New York and Norwalk. He remained here but one year, and then took charge of tho steamer " United States," plying ho- tweon Now Haven and New York, and soon became captain of tho " S. B. Hudson," a fine boat built by Montgomery Living- ston to run on the Hudson River, but was then plying between Now York and Now Haven. SVe next fin-l ('apt. Brooks in command of the " Franklin," a steamer running hetween New York and Poughkecpsic, ond in 1S27 of the 'M'.ovcrnnr Wol- cott" on the same line. A few weeks after assuming command of the '•Governor Wolcott," l^e boat was chartered by Capt. Vandorbilt to run to New Brunswick. While running on this line he lived with Mr. Vanderbilt as one of his family. About this time, the winter of 1820-27, he made the acquaintance of Capt. Cornelius Vamlerbilt, which soon ripened into a warm friendship which lasted as long as Mr. Vanderbilt lived. He subsequently commanded the *' Emerald." running be- tween Norwalk and New York ; the " Bollonn," running to New Brunswick ; the *' Thistle," from Now York to New Bruns< wick; tho *' S. B. Baltimore," from New York to Norwalk: the " Nimrod," and the "Westchester." Capt. Brooks' long and active business career closed in ISRl, when he retire<l with a competency, and has since lived in (he enjoyment and peace of a happy home. Capt. Brooks has a strong individuality and strengtli of character. Like his friend and colaborer tho late Com. Vanderbilt, ho was possessed of an indomitable will, which triumphed over all obstacles. Capt. Itrooks never allowed his multifarious business cares to interfere with his duty to Him who had given life, strongtb. and prosperity, and has ever been a faithful Christian. He was originally a member of the North Congregational Thurch of this city ; subsequently became one of tl»e founclors of the South Church, fmm which he with others seceded and united in organizing the First Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a member of the Republican party, and has been an earnest exponent of its principles since its organization. He was previously a Whig. Oct. II, 1S17, he united in marriage with Maria Hawley, a native of this town : honcc it will be soen that this venerable couple have enjoyed the marital felicity of more than three- score years.