Mayor of Norwich (1870-1871)
James Albert Hovey (b.1815-d.1892)
James A. Hovey was the Mayor of Norwich from July 1870 – June 1871. At that point-in-time, many administrative changes were taking place in Norwich. He was a hard working lawyer and judge.
While serving as mayor, he was instrumental in updating the City Charter and City Ordinances. His revised City Charter, which included modern City Ordinances, was accepted and put into force just after his term as mayor expired in July 1871.
James A. Hovey was born in April 1815, in Hampton, Connecticut. Throughout his lifetime he was an ambitious man who steadily worked his way up the ladder of life. At the young age of 15, he was elected a non-commissioned officer of a company of infantry of the Fifth Regiment, Connecticut Militia. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1832, Captain in 1834, Major in 1836, and then promoted to Colonel for a three year period.
At the age of 21 he began to study law, under direction of the Honorable Chauncey F. Cleveland, the 31st Governor of Connecticut. During this time he served as a Probate Clerk for Windham County. In 1838, Mr. Hovey was admitted to bar in Windham County. From 1841-1849, Mr. Hovey was associated with the law practice of Mr. Cleveland. They worked together in a firm named “Cleveland & Hovey”. When the Bankruptcy Act of 1841 became law, Hovey was appointed as a general assignee to settle bankruptcies in New London County. He settled more than 160 bankrupt accounts.
It appears that Chauncey F. Cleveland was Hovey’s mentor. While Hovey was coming up through the ranks in the militia, Cleveland was a senior officer. Ultimately, Cleveland held the rank of General, and, Hovey quickly progressed from non-commissioned officer to Colonel. After Hovey’s militia service, he learned about law and passed the bar, while he worked in Cleveland’s law office. Hovey did not attend any formal law school. When Hovey’s wife, Lavinia, gave birth to their son, they named him Albert Cleveland Hovey.
At the age of 35, James A. Hovey became a judge of the New London County Superior (1850-1854). During the years of 1852-1873 he was the President of Uncas State Bank and he served as a trustee of the Norwich Savings Bank for more than 30 years. Later, he also served as the Representative from Norwich to the Connecticut State Legislature.
In 1874 and 1875 the city limits were extended to embrace Greeneville, Laurel Hill, and Boswellville, and thus changes to the charter were needed. In 1875 the charter was also revised to change the term of office for the mayor from one year to two years.
Due to changing circumstances and previously published conflicting ordinances, a major revision of the city charter was needed. Judge Hovey worked with Jeremiah Halsey, Albert S. Bolles, and the former President Pro Tempore of the Connecticut Legislature, Allen Tenny, to prepare a major revision to the charter. The new Ordinances of the City of Norwich went into force on 11/06/1876. The Charter of 1875 remained virtually intact until 1951.
He is buried in Yantic Cemetery, along with his wife Lavinia Barber Hovey.
Acknowledgements
“A Modern History of New London County Connecticut Vol. 2” (1922), page 334, by Benjamin Marshall Tinkham
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Hovey” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1875-1876) & (1877-1886)
Hugh Henry Osgood (b.1821-d.1899)
Hugh Henry Osgood served as the Mayor of Norwich from 1875 to 1876 and from 1877 to 1886. He became the Mayor in 1877 after his cousin*, Dr. Charles Osgood, became ill and was forced to step down.
Whenever he consented to run he, was elected with by a large majority, which was fully explained by the excellent character of his administration. Many public improvements were inaugurated and carried out while he was in office. Among the most important being a sewer system in the central part of the city and the introduction of the fire alarm telegraph.
Mr. Osgood was one of the leading druggists in the State of Connecticut. At the time of his death, he was the President of the Norwich Druggists’ Association. In 1888 he was the President of the Norwich Board of Trade
Source 1 states :“Perhaps no better description of the character of the man could be given than that which appears on the tablet at the entrance to the beautiful parish house of the Park Congregational Church, erected to his memory: “An interested and generous member of Park Congregational Church from its organization; a sincere and earnest Christian; a public-spirited citizen; a broad-minded patriot; a wise counselor; a devoted and unselfish friend; a man of noble powers, nobly used. ”The last clause is the keynote to his whole life.”
His legacy is alive and well in Norwich today. The plaque, shown in the photo, is still on proud display on the walls of Park Congregational Church.
Hugh Henry Osgood served as an aide to Governor William A. Buckingham throughout the Civil War, attaining the rank of Colonel. He also served as a Fellow of the Corporation of the Norwich Free Academy, and for over forty years served as treasurer of the Center School District. He was one of the organizers of the Norwich Board of Trade, and was its first President. Mr. Osgood was also a 32nd Degree Mason.
Hugh Henry Osgood is buried in Yantic Cemetery, along with his wife Mary Ruth Lee Osgood.
*NOTE: Hugh Henry’s uncle Erastus (1780-1867) was Dr. Charles’s father. Refer to Source 1, page 219.
Much more information about Hugh Henry Osgood is provided in the bibliography.
Acknowledgements
“Genealogy and Biographical Record of New London County Connecticut”, (1905), pp 16-18, 219, by J.H. Beers
“Norwich The Rose of New England”, 1894, by C.B. Gillespie
Bob Dees
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Hugh Henry Osgood” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1876-1877)
Dr. Charles Osgood (b.1808-d.1881)
Dr. Charles Osgood was the Mayor of Norwich in the latter half of 1876. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his term due to ill health. His cousin*, Hugh Henry Osgood, was the mayor of Norwich before Charles took office and subsequently succeeded him when he was forced to step down.
Charles’ son, Frederic L. Osgood, also served as Mayor of Norwich from 1896-1900.
Dr. Charles Osgood graduated from Yale Medical School in 1833. He practiced medicine in Providence, Rhode Island and then in Monroe, Michigan. While in Michigan he came into possession of a formula for the cure of fever and ague (a shivering fit). In 1840, he moved to Norwich and opened a wholesale drug store and laboratory, Charles Osgood & Co., on Shetucket Street. It is interested to note that his cousin*, Hugh Henry Osgood, was one of the leading druggists in Connecticut at that time.
Source 1 states: ”… he engaged in the preparation of this remedy, developing that business in connection with the wholesale drug business, which he established in 1841, and in this line was gathered the nucleus of the large fortune which he accumulated during his busy and successful life. In 1865, he authored “The Causes, Treatment, and Cure of Fever and Ague, and Other Diseases of Bilious Climates”.
He was a founder of both the Norwich Free Academy and the Shetucket Bank and president of New London Junction Railroad.
He is buried in Yantic Cemetery along with his wife Sarah Smith Larned Osgood.
*NOTE: Dr. Charles’ father Erastus (1780-1867), was Hugh Henry’s uncle. Refer to Source 1, page 219.
Acknowledgements
Genealogy and Biographical Record of New London County Connecticut” (1905), page 220
“Norwich The Rose of New England” , 1894, by C.B. Gillespie
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Charles Osgood” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1886-1888)
Increase W. Carpenter (b.1836-d.1894)
Increase W. Carpenter, a native of Norwich, served as mayor from July 1886 – June 1888. During his term as mayor the city gained many public improvements, among them the widening of Main Street. His management of the city’s business was also commendable and economically sound. He was a strong advocate and promoter of the Board of Trade.
He was named for a famous war Colonel from New London, and, even though he never served in the military, his nickname, “Colonel”, clung to him throughout his lifetime.
He became interested in politics at 21 years of age and was an active worker in the Republican Party. He was first elected to public office in 1876. Upon the annexation of Greeneville he was the first member of the Board of Aldermen from that district. Previous to annexation he was for a long period president of the Greeneville Fire Association. He was well known in financial circles, being a director in both the First National and Dime Savings banks and was Vice President of the former.
Colonel Carpenter was a 32nd degree Mason and Eminent Commander of Columbian Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar. He was also one of the directors of the Masonic Temple Corporation. Colonel Carpenter also served as the Most Excellent High Priest 1874-1876 of the Franklin Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons.
He is buried in Yantic Cemetery along with his wife Ann M. Kendall Carpenter.
Acknowledgements
Norwich Evening Record (1894), pp 41-42
“History of New London County, Connecticut: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men”, (1882), pp 320, 324, by Benjamin Marshall Tinkham
Bob Dees
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Increase” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1888-1892)
Stiles Ashbel Crandall (b.1851-d.1932)
S. Ashbel Crandall served as Mayor of Norwich from 1888 to 1892. In 1892 he was elected to the Connecticut Senate. While in the Senate he sat on the committee on Education and Forfeited Rights.
Later, in 1895, he was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. After losing the election he returned to Norwich and served as a school board member for six years.
S. Ashbel Crandall began his life on a farm in Ledyard. He attended school there, and through the ages of 18 to 25 he was engaged in the profession of teaching school. Later, he attended and graduated from a law school in Iowa. After returning home in 1880 he began his political career by being elected as Ledyard’s representative to the State legislature. From 1893 to 1895 he was a State Senator and Norwich City Attorney.
He was a Master Mason, a Past Grand Conductor in the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a Knight of the Pythias, a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and a Forester.
He is buried in the Gales Ferry Cemetery, along with his wife Jane Frances Stoddard Crandall.
Acknowledgements
Sites.RootsWeb.com
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Crandall” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1892-1896)
Calvin Luther Harwood (b.1844-d.1910)
Calvin L. Harwood served as Mayor of Norwich from July 1892 – June 1896. He first came to Norwich at the age of 24. After working as a bookkeeper for a wholesale company for two years, he engaged in the wholesale grocery business for himself as a member of the firm of Lippitt & Harwood.
After ten years of successful business, the firm dissolved and was immediately succeeded by Harwood & Co. Twelve years later the firm was changed to Harwood, Bishop & Bidwell. It was the largest wholesale grocery store in eastern Connecticut.
According to the Norwich Evening Record:
“Mr. Harwood has proven to be an efficient mayor. Well versed in affairs of the city, he has conducted them to the best advantage and given the city a substantial business like administration. The Mayor is a member of a number of fraternal organizations. He is a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and belongs to the Arcanum Club and Kitemaug Association. Personally he is a man of strong friendships, being possessed of the happy faculty of making friends with nearly all with whom he comes in contact.”
At the age of 66 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage his while visiting his brother 03/23/1910 and died several days later. He is buried in Yantic Cemetery along with his wife Ellen Augusta White Harwood.
Acknowledgements
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Harwood” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1896-1900)
Frederic Larned Osgood (b.1849-d.1923)
Frederic L. Osgood, one of Dr. Charles Osgood’s sons, was one of the most popular mayors of Norwich, being broad-minded and liberal in his views, and wise in his administration. He was genial in his disposition and was a man easily approached. He listened with patience to all sides of the questions he was called upon to settle.
Fred Osgood and his wife Eliza lived in the beautiful home, shown on the left at 194 Washington Street.
Mr. Osgood was elected in 1896 by a good majority and fulfilled the duties of the office with judgment and efficiency. Due to the respect and esteem that the citizens of the town afforded him, he was again nominated by the Democratic Party, and was re-elected by the largest majority ever given to a candidate in the city.
During his second term (of two years), he once again served the town with his time and talents. He was offered the nomination for a third term as mayor, however, declined.
Fred Osgood was also a popular socialite and an enthusiastic yachtsman. His yacht, “Fedalma” is shown in the photo. He also owned the yacht “Tillie”. He was a member of the New York Club, the New York Yacht Club, the Larchmont Yacht Club, the Atlantic Yacht Club, and the Norwich Club.
He also served as the First Exalted Ruler of the Norwich Lodge of Elks #430. He also served as the Norwich Chief of Police from June 1884–June 1885.
He and his wife Eliza White Osgood are buried in Yantic Cemetery.
Acknowledgements
“Genealogy and Biographical Record of New London County Connecticut” (1905), pp 221-222, by J. H. Beers
Find A Grave
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Frederic Osgood” in the SEARCH box.