Lafayette S. Foster
Mayor of Norwich (1851-1853)
Lafayette Sabine Foster (b.1806-d.1880)
Lafayette S. Foster contributed to Norwich, the State of Connecticut, and to the United States in more ways than we will ever know. He served as a Mayor of Norwich (1851-1853), a United Senator (1855-1867), and the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate (1865-1867).
He is best known for serving as the acting Vice President of the United States (1865-1867) after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He was was one of the pall bearers at Lincoln’s funeral.
The engraving was made when he was a young man living in Norwich, circa 1845.
Mr. Foster was born in Franklin, Connecticut in 1806, and permanently moved to Norwich in 1834. He worked in Norwich as an intern to Calvin Goddard (Norwich’s Mayor 1814-1831) and as a part-time editor for the Norwich Republican newspaper, prior to opening his own law practice.
According to Source 2 :”One issue that divided most was slavery during the Civil War, and the debate began only a year before Foster left for Washington D.C. Mr. Foster was known as a skilled debater and always expressed his views calmly, and unfortunately, the issue of slavery divided Connecticut. The issue resolved around how to limit slavery and whether or not to limit slavery to Western territories.”
“In Norwich, Foster took a stand, he opposed the act of slavery, but he acknowledged slave holder’s rights stated in the Constitution. Foster gave a memorable speech opposing the Missouri Compromise, he also supported a bill that released slaves in Missouri. Foster did not believe black people could not vote without a graduation certificate. In 1864, Lafayette Foster did not impress the Connecticut people as he urged the Senate only to focus on abolishing slavery.”
After his service at the national level, Mr. Foster returned home to Norwich in 1876. When he died in 1880, his home was left to his second wife Martha Lyman Foster. The house was later, in 1953, bought by the Norwich Free Academy. His former home now houses a community room, a board room, and connects to the Latham Library office.
He his buried in Yantic Cemetery along with his wife Joanna Boylston Lanman Foster who died while he was a U.S. Senator, and his second wife Martha Prince Lyman Foster, who survived him.
Acknowledgements
“Lafayette Foster”, (2016), by Madelyn Bell
Engraving by J. C. Buttre
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Lafayette” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1853-1855)
Captain Erastus Williams (b.1793-d.1867)
Captain Erastus Williams was born in Essex, Connecticut in 1793. He settled in Saybrook, but went to sea at an early age. Through his ventures he soon advanced to Ship’s Master, (a.k.a. Captain), and amassed a small fortune. After the death of his first wife and retiring from the seafaring life, he married Elizabeth Dorr Tracy of Norwich in 1829. He is best known for his early development of the Yantic Woolen Mill.
”Captain Williams acquired a parcel of land in northern Norwich known as West Farm and renamed it Yantic, from an Indian name meaning “Little River”. He built the Yantic Mill, a church, houses for the mill hands and a store. Williams realized the mill would be destroyed if it ever caught fire, son in 1847, in petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly to charter a village fire company, which became the Yantic Fire Engine Co. No. 1.” (from Info Source 1)
Unfortunately, seventeen years later, on May 26, 1865, the mill burned to the ground. Captain Williams’ only son, Erastus Winslow Williams, had a new cornerstone laid in 1865. And, within a year a new mill was completed. At 11:30 a.m. on April 16, 1866, his sons, (Captain Williams’ grandson), Louis, age 8, and Winslow Tracy, age 3, started the wheels and the mill was back in operation.
Captain Williams’ son and grandson were very successful. His grandson, Winslow Tracy Williams hosted President William Howard Taft at his Rockclyffe home, during his 1909 visit to Norwich, commemorating Norwich’s 250th anniversary.
Captain Williams and his wife, Elizabeth Dorr Tracy are buried in Yantic Cemetery. Elizabeth was a direct descendant of one of Norwich’s founding fathers, John Tracy Sr.
Acknowledgements
“Norwich in the Gilded Age: The Rose City’s Millionaires’ Triangle”, (2014), page 142, by Patricia F. Staley
Bob Dees
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Erastus” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1855-1856)
William Lyman Brewer (b.1813-d.1886)
William L. Brewer, a native of Norwich, served as Mayor of Norwich for one year (1855-1856). He also served as the New London County Clerk in 1860 and was on the Board of Directors of the New London County Mutual Fire Insurance company in 1881.
Much of his energy was focused on Freemasonry and the Knights Templar, (a fraternal order affiliated with Freemasonry). The image of the Red Cross, shown on the left, is a symbol of the Knights Templar. Note that this is the same symbol carved into his gravestone.
His journey through the world of Freemasonry began in Norwich. William L. Brewer was the Master of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, located in Norwich, during the years 1849-1850. In 1853 Knight Templarism found its way into New London County, and William L. Brewer was one of the initial members. He was given the title of “Prelate” in the Templar group called the “Columbian Commandery, No 4” on November 9, 1853.
Later, during the years (1855-1856) he served as the Thrice Illustrious Master in the Franklin Council No. 3 group. Subsequently, moving up in the ranks, he became the Eminent Commander of the Columbian Commandery No. 4.
Ultimately, he became the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. This was one of the most important Freemasonry positions in Connecticut. The current “Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut” website describes the position as :
“The Office of Grand Master is extremely important. This elected Brother is responsible for the spirit and continuity of the Fraternity, and, for a period of one year, the Craft is in his safe keeping. Although, most often, for only one year, it takes each man many years to prepare and when finished, many Past Grand Masters remain active, lending their guidance and wisdom to their successors”.
William L. Brewer died in 1886 in San Mateo California. At that time, his brother was the rector of the Church of St. Matthew in San Mateo. An excerpt from his obituary states:
“After twenty years of suffering, borne with Christian patience and heroic fortitude, he passed gladly and peacefully away. The services of the Church were his delight, and her ministrations were his consolation to his last hour. Only his inability to leave his room ever kept him from public service, and many were stimulated by his example when he was seen with the aid of his cane, painfully yet cheerfully, entering His gates whose praise was always in his heart ……
Acknowledgements
William L. Brewer is buried in Yantic Cemetery.
“History of New London County, Connecticut: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men” (1882), pp 320-321, by Duane Hamilton Hurd
Bob Dees
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button on the left, and then typing “Brewer” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1858-1860)
Amos Wylie Prentice (b.1816-d.1894)
Amos W. Prentice began his career as a clerk and eventually became a senior partner of the hardware store “John Breed & Company”, (later named Breed, Prentice & Company). Ultimately, he became partners with William M. Williams, and started the Amos W. Prentice & Company.
Mr. Prentice was involved in several local business establishments. He served as President of the Norwich Savings Society, and also in 1859 became President and a Director of the Thames Fire Insurance Company.
He served as a Representative and Senator in the State Legislature, and a New London County Commissioner.
He was a well respected Mayor of Norwich, however, he won the mayoral election by a narrow margin. The Monday, June 7, 1858 election was quite exciting. Mr. Prentice received 351 of the 714 votes cast. The population of Norwich at that point-in-time was approximately 10,000, so the voter turnout was approximately 7%. Since he needed a majority to win, a second vote was required. At the second town meeting he received 492 of the 932 votes, thus, he won a majority by only 26 votes.
From Info Source 2 :
“In every community, large or small, there are a few men who by their force of character are intuitively recognized as leaders, men who are successful in their business undertakings, generous and fair in their relations with others, and who perceived and warmly advocate those measures which insure the public well-being.”
“In the city of Norwich there was no none better known that that of Amos W. Prentice. He was intimately associated with those enterprises through which the city has attained a higher and broader life. He aided or led in every movement for the public good, and as merchant and banker, as well as popular and eminent citizen, he was prominent in its material growth.”
He died in 1894 at his Norwich home after a short illness. He is buried, along with his wife Hannah E. Parker Prentice, in Yantic Cemetery.
Acknowledgements
“Amos Wylie Prentice, (Dec. 20, 1816 – Dec. 14, 1894)”, (1895), Printed by Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co.
“A Modern History of New London Count Connecticut Vol. 2”, (1922) page 70, by Benjamin Tinkham Marshall
Find A Grave
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button on the left, and then typing “Prentice” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1860-1862)
James Stedman Carew (b.1821-d.1881)
James S. Carew was a merchant, a manufacturer and a local politician. He owned the Hayward Rubber Company, a maker of rubber boots and shoes. During his term as Mayor (July 1860 – June 1862) he led Norwich thru the early years of the Civil War (April 1861 – May 1865).
James Carew’s headstone, in Yantic Cemetery, is shown on the left.
Norwich Meets in Breed Hall
On April 20, 1862 the first great mass-meeting of all the citizens of Norwich was held to discuss the war in Breed Hall. The Honorable Mayor James S. Carew presided. On taking the chair he said “ … this is in no sense a party meeting, but a meeting where every man could act who loved his country, and was willing to aid in its support”.
After the music played by the band, there followed a number of speeches, each one of which was listened to with the closest attention, for this was the meeting in which Norwich citizens foreshadowed the course they would adopt in reference to supporting an administration to which many of them had not lent the support of their votes; and also what measures they would unite upon in prosecuting the war already begun.
Info Source 1 summed up the results of this meeting with the following words : “Never before had Norwich greater occasion to be proud of the patriotism of its citizens; while to see them rise above all partisan predilections, and stand together for the public weal, was in itself a sublime sight.”
In the following months the Union forces were making steady progress in the war effort; however, the Union War Department needed more troops. On July 11, 1862 Governor William A. Buckingham presided at another town meeting, also held in Breed Hall, that was designed to encourage volunteer enlistments. At the conclusion of this stirring meeting a James S. Carew joined a committee that was formed: “whose duty it shall be to take such measures as may be necessary to produce the speedy enlistment of troops.”
He and his wife Leonie Grandjean Carew are buried in Yantic Cemetery.
Acknowledgements
“The Norwich Memorial: The Annals of Norwich, New London County, Connecticut in the Great Rebellion of 1861-65”, (1873), pp 21-22 , by Malcom McGregor Dana
Bob Dees
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Carew” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1862-1866) & (1871-1875)
James Lloyd Greene (b.1827- d.1883)
J. Lloyd Greene was the Mayor of Norwich from July 1862–June 1866 and then again from July 1871–June 1875 following in the footsteps of his father, William P. Greene (Norwich’s mayor from July 1842-1843). He began his career as a business man and became an officer of his father’s two businesses, the Falls Company and the Shetucket Company. Also, like his father, he was one of the incorporators of Norwich Free Academy.
When Mr. Greene first became mayor, the Civil War was in full bloom. Only a few months after he took office, President Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared; “that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforth shall be free.”
Mayor Greene ordered all the city’s bells to be rung for an hour and a one-hundred-gun salute. It is believed this was the first public celebration of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in the State of Connecticut.
On the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the proclamation, Norwich once again took to the streets and celebrated. Cannons were fired, bells were rung, and two Abraham Lincoln impersonators were in Norwich.
The photo on the left shows the re-enactment of the 100 cannon salute performed on that day.
Source 1 states: “Not everyone supported the action, however. Five citizens obtained a court order to prevent the town from paying for the gunpowder, so Greene used his own money to pay the bill. A newspaper article of the time sneered, “He is a political relation of Lloyd Garrison’s probably”. Lloyd Garrison was a prominent abolitionist, journalist and leading advocate for women’s rights.
J. Lloyd Greene was one of the first to publicly use Norwich’s nickname, “The Rose of New England”.
Source 3 states : “He compared the five hills of Norwich as viewed from the banks of the Thames River, to that of petals of rose and declared Norwich indeed the Rose of New England“.
Acknowledgements
“Norwich in the Gilded Age: The Rose City’s Millionaires’ Triangle” (2014), page 62, by Patricia F. Staley
“City Reenacts Historic Edict With Cannon Bells”, by Adam Benson, 01/02/2013
2017 Heritage Map, by the Norwich Historical Society
The Day (01/02/2013)
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Lloyd Greene” in the SEARCH box.
Mayor of Norwich (1866-1870)
Lorenzo Blackstone (b.1819- d.1888)
Lorenzo Blackstone served as Mayor of Norwich from July 1866 to June 1870. He was an extremely successful, energetic businessman who became very wealthy. He founded, owned and operated several cotton mills in Southeastern Connecticut, and later became a public servant.
Lorenzo Blackstone was born in Branford, Connecticut in 1819. At the age of 23 he moved to Liverpool England where he established an agency and commission house for the sale of American merchandise. He branched out his export (from the U.S. to England) business to London, Manchester, and even to the continent of Australia.
For a time he purchased goods from various American companies, but in 1846, he began to sell the goods of the Hayward Rubber Company of Colchester, Connecticut. The sales of rubber boots and shoes through his agencies amounted to several hundred thousand dollars per year. ($100,000 in 1846 is worth $3,300,000 in today’s dollars). He returned to Norwich in 1857, at the age of 38.
Once in Norwich, he became very active in the cotton industry. He was involved in the Attawaugen mill in Dayville, the Ballou mill in Dayville, and the Totokett Mill in Occum. He was also on the executive board of the Ponemah Manufacturing Company. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Norwich Free Academy for several years.
Mr. Blackstone began his public service duties in 1866 (age 47) as Mayor of Norwich. In 1871 he served as a State Representative and then in 1878-1879 as a State Senator.
Source 1 describes him as : “Mr. Blackstone was greatly interested in the welfare of his adopted city, and was a most busy man. He was ever a most useful one, and in various capacities performed the duties of good citizenship with that grace and dignity characteristic of the man.”
He married Emily Norton, Henry Baker Norton’s sister, in 1842. After living in England for several years they returned to Norwich and live at 138 Washington Street. Lorenzo and his wife are buried in Yantic Cemetery.
Acknowledgements
Norwich Evening Record (1894), page 44
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Blackstone” in the SEARCH box.