1827-1898 David Ames Wells
David Wells was born in June 1827 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Williams College and, in 1848, became associate editor of the Springfield “Republican,” where he invented a device to fold papers. He was appointed assistant professor at the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University in 1850. In 1852, he received his B.S. from Harvard, and in 1863, he was awarded the honorary degree of M.D. from Berkshire Medical College. Mr. Wells was affiliated with the book publishing company, G.P. Putnam & Co. of New York, for a time. Between 1857 and 1863, he wrote a series of scientific schoolbooks that were widely circulated. West Point adopted his book on chemistry as its standard textbook for chemistry.
During the Civil War years, David Wells wrote a pamphlet describing the financial strength of the Federal Government and its ability to defray the cost of the war for an indefinite period. It was entitled “Our Burden and Strength.” It bolstered confidence in the financial strength of the Federal Government and became “the” excellent pamphlet of the Civil War. It met with such popularity that several hundred thousand copies were printed and circulated throughout this country and Europe. As a result, and at the request of President Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Wells met with the President in February 1865 to discuss the most effective method for using taxation to raise federal revenues and pay the interest on the country’s mounting war debt.
Following their meeting, Lincoln appointed Wells as chairman of the National Revenue Commission in 1865. Mr. Wells’ recommendations, which became law in 1866, included lowering the tax on domestic distilled spirits from $2.00 to 50 cents per proof gallon. As a result, revenue rose from $18,655,000 in 1868 to $45,071,00 in 1869 and $55,606,000 in 1870.
President Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, made David Wells a special commissioner of the revenue. The Reports of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue, 1866-69, recommended the use of stamps in the collection of revenue on liquor and tobacco. After studying the economic advantage workers in the United States had over those in European countries, David Wells became an advocate for “free trade.” He was an advisor to his close friend, Congressman James Garfield, on tariff matters, and later to Grover Cleveland. As chairman of the New York State Tax Commission, he presented a highly influential analysis of the problem New York was experiencing in losing business to neighboring states with lower taxes. Mr. Wells was also an active consultant to the railroad industry and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress from Connecticut in 1876 and 1890, and he delivered many speeches in support of each of Grover Cleveland’s campaigns.
Wells wrote extensively on current economic issues, especially on tariffs, the theory of money, and taxation. His goal was to achieve greater efficiency by progressively lowering the costs of production through the application of science. The creation of a Federal Bureau of Statistics in the Department of the Treasury was primarily due to Wells’ influence. He was the foremost American authority on the economics of the emerging “machine age” and, as a result, was awarded the French gold medal at the 1869 French Exposition for his contributions to economic literature. David Wells also received honorary degrees from Oxford, Williams College, and Harvard University.
Wells died in November 1898 at Norwich, which had been his residence since 1870. He was married on May 9, 1860, to Mary Sanford Dwight, by whom he had one son; a second wife and a son also survived him.
1828-1886 Alfred H. Vaughn
Norwich Iron Foundry
Alfred H. Vaughn founded the Norwich Iron Foundry in 1854. Both light and heavy iron goods were made and sold by the enterprising proprietors of this extensive industry. This establishment fronted on Ferry Street 135 feet, and extended through to Rose Place, a distance of 175 feet. In 1884, the foundry was materially enlarged to a four-story brick structure with a frontage of 35 feet on Ferry Street, now primarily occupied for the storage of patterns.
In 1887, a two-story brick building, now adjoining, was erected, the two buildings giving a 90-foot frontage. In the latter building, along with others in the rear, is the foundry proper, where powerful cranes, a large cupola, and other necessary implements are located. In 1881, Messrs. A. N. H. and C. W. Vaughn were admitted to partnership, when the present style of the firm was adopted; but since the death of the senior member in 1886, the business has been continued under the same name.
Among the various products of this busy foundry are architectural ironwork and modern stable fixtures. In addition to general foundry work, the firm executes contracts for the castings used by local steam heater industries and other ironworks in the vicinity. Railroad and mill castings also form parts of the work. Water pipes, lamp posts, cistern covers, cattle mangers, round and square grates, grate bars, gratings, park settees, lawn and cemetery vases, stair plates, ash pit doors, window frames, balances, hand truck and car wheels, gearings, pulleys, l hangers, couplings and boxes are also enumerated in the work emanating from this foundry. A great variety of the smaller articles is kept in stock at the capacious warerooms.
A.H. Vaughn & Sons possessed probably the most extensive stock of patterns in Connecticut. In addition to the vast accumulation of patterns from the firm’s forty-year business, it purchased the entire stock of patterns belonging to the Shetucket Foundry Company, which had a large business during its existence.
Employment was given to 50 men, and the capacity of the foundry is 1200 tons. The counting rooms are at 11 Ferry Street.
1828-1890 Ezra W. Yerrington
Ezra Yerrington, born in Norwich in August 1828, operated a large wholesale and retail business, which he founded in 1862, located at 131 Main Street in downtown Norwich, and which specialized in a wide variety of home furnishings and decorations that were in high demand to furnish a Victorian home during the boom times of the mid-1800s. The first floor of his store was devoted to the sale of wallpapers, curtains, borders, oil cloths, and other wall coverings, along with an assortment of traditional Victorian novelties. The second floor was utilized for the sale of pianos and organs; a selection of at least twenty-five was on display at any time. On the third floor, you would find a large selection of carpets, mats, and other floor coverings.
Well-known among business people and athletes, Mr. Yerrington was celebrated as one of the top trap shooters in Connecticut.
1830-1888 E. Winslow Williams
Winslow Williams became one of the leading woolen manufacturers in Eastern Connecticut. He was born in Norwich in 1830, the son of Capt. Erastus Williams of Essex, Connecticut. Mr. Williams graduated from Trinity College in 1853 and, in 1854, following his father’s death, took over the operation of the Yantic Woolen Mills. In 1865, the buildings, which had stood since 1822, were destroyed by fire. That same year, new mill buildings, constructed of stone, were built to replace those lost to the fire. Civil War demand gave production a boost, which lasted almost forty years.
In 1874, the mill employed 130 workers and produced 35,000 yards of white and colored flannel each week. Winslow’s concern for his community and employees was reflected in the company’s policy of setting aside excess production for sale when needed. This practice kept the mill running smoothly through both good times and bad. Mr. Williams took a great interest in community affairs. His mill was the center of social and recreational activity for the village of Yantic. He was active in the Yantic Fire Company, which his father had founded. He rebuilt the Merchants Hotel in Norwich, which housed the Superior Court of Errors on the third floor. Winslow was trustee and incorporator of the Norwich Free Academy.
In 1867, he built a stately home on the hill east of the village called “Rockclyffe.” Mr. Williams was one of the fifteen hundred citizens chosen to greet President Ulysses S. Grant when he came to Norwich on July 4, 1870. In 1853, Mr. Williams married Miss. McNulty of New York had two sons and two daughters. Winslow Williams was an active supporter of Grace Episcopal Church in Yantic, where he lived.
When Winslow Williams died in 1888, a special train took mourners from Norwich to Yantic for his funeral.
Following his father’s death in 1888, Winslow Tracy Williams assumed control of the Yantic Woolen Company and continued to operate the business successfully. In 1908, he had built the stone bridge across the Yantic River at the private entrance to the family property. When Norwich celebrated its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary in July 1909, Winslow T. Williams was president of the General Committee. He held a reception at his home for President William Howard Taft and other distinguished guests.
1831-1908 Daniel Coit Gilman
Daniel Gilman was born in Norwich in July 1831. He was the fifth of nine children of William C. Gilman, a wealthy mill owner. He graduated from Yale in 1852 with a degree in geography. For a time, Mr. Gilman served as the attaché of the United States legation in St. Petersburg, Russia. Afterward, he returned to Yale and played a pivotal role in founding the Sheffield Scientific School. He was Yale’s librarian from 1856 to 1865 and was appointed professor of geography at the Sheffield Scientific School.
In 1872, he left Yale to become the second president of the newly formed University of California. Then, in 1875, he was selected to become the first President of Johns Hopkins University. His formal inauguration, on February 22, 1876, has become Hopkins Commemoration Day, a day on which many university presidents now choose to be installed in office.
While at Johns Hopkins, Daniel Gilman developed an advanced program of study that is followed today by many colleges and universities, known as the graduate school. Mr. Gilman played a pivotal role in establishing the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889 and the Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1893.
He began the practice of requiring a college degree as a stipulation for entrance into the college, a practice that all other medical schools soon adopted. Daniel Gilman retired in 1901 but was later appointed to the presidency of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C.
Following his death in 1908, the main academic building at Johns Hopkins University was named Gilman Hall in his honor. Additionally, at UCLA (Berkeley), Gilman Hall, the oldest building of the College of Chemistry and a National Historic Chemical Landmark, was also named in his honor.