David Smith was born in Norwich in September 1796. He began his business career in Windham, where he gained valuable experience in the manufacture of paper. His early success in this comparatively new industry, combined with his high personal character, earned him an invitation to join the Chelsea Mfg. Paper Mill in Greeneville, which he accepted in 1833. Mr. Smith was for many years a prominent proprietor of the mill, which achieved remarkable success under his direction. The company, which produces high-grade book, writing, and coated lithograph paper, had an output of thirty tons of finished product a day and, in 1860, claimed to be the largest paper-making establishment in the world. The main building was 375 feet in length.
The operation used twenty-six engines to grind and clean the rags, and six more to convert the pulp to paper. The company employed 200 people and had an annual output valued at $475,000. In 1864, the Norwich Board of Trade lists David Smith’s yearly income at $13,331 ($307,000 today). As a resident of Greeneville, Mr. Smith, by his public spirit and benevolence, did everything in his power toward the building up of that part of the town. He was an active member of the Greeneville Congregational Church and made generous contributions on its behalf.
In 1856, he moved to the city of Norwich, where he built a fine residence and was a liberal donor to the Second Congregational Church in the town during its remodeling. Later, he became a member and generous contributor to Park Congregational Church. In 1858, he retired from the paper manufacturing business. From this time onward, he was involved with several business enterprises. He was a director of the Norwich Water-Power Company and president of the Jewett City Bank for twenty years. He was a primary organizer of the Norwich and New York Transportation Company, capitalized at $350,000, and served as its second president until 1873, when he declined re-election. Interested in all that promised to promote the general growth of Norwich, he was a director of both the Norwich & Worcester Railroad and the New London Northern Railroad. He was the second president of the Second National Bank in Norwich. He was the vice president of the Chelsea Savings Bank. David Smith represented the town for one year in the State Senate.
Mr. Smith died in November 1873. He and his family are interred in Yantic Cemetery in Section 29, as shown below.
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James Dixon Mowry was born on November 5, 1820, in Canterbury, CT.
He, his father, Deacon Samuel Mowry of the Greeneville Congregational Church, and his grandfather, Havilah Mowry Sr., were all prominent in the affairs of Norwich and its manufacturers. As a young man, he served as Secretary of his father’s Axle & Machine Company based in Greeneville.
He later founded the Mowry Machine Company, and in January 1862, he contracted to furnish the government with 30,000 rifle muskets of the latest Springfield construction. The barrels were made at Cole & Walker Machine Shop in Norwich, the locks by CB Rogers & Company of West Chelsea (today’s Westside of Norwich), and other pieces at Mowry’s factory in Greeneville.
He later became the Secretary of the Page Wood Type Company. After several years, he was selected as its president and served in that role from 1800 to 1895.
He married Emily Louise Smith on March 19, 1844. She was David Smith’s eldest daughter. Her father and several other members of her family are also buried in Section 29 of Yantice Cemetery
James’ and Emily’s children were:
David Smith: March 1845
Colonel William Cary: June 1850
Susan Louise: July 1858
Lucy Curtis: September 1861
His son, Colonel William Cary Mowry, became the Aide-de-camp for Connecticut’s Governor Henry B. Harrison.
James Dixon Mowry died at his home on February 22, 1895, after an illness of several weeks.
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