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From: Gary Warner <>
Subject: Re: [Waterbury] Mayors of Waterbury -- Isaac E. Newton
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 17:50:47 -0600
References: <e.2a5b0ecc.2b39343f@aol.com> <3E07E146.DB2053AB@askgar.com> <004701c2ad11$56fb3c30$a5881ad1@GailsToy>


Gail Moore wrote:
>
> Isaac E. Newton - June 13, 1870 - June 11, 1871
>
> What else is there on this man please???????
> Gail

From the Index first:

Newton, Isaac E., I. 587; III. 1070:president of American Suspender Co,
II.419,421; biography 421; mayor and legislator 45, 421; his invention,
481; his residence III. 793.


II:421

The Brothers Newton

Isaac E. Newton, son of Nathan Newton, was born in Waterbury, September
14, 1808. He was a lineal descendant of the Rev. Thomas Hooker. At
seventeen years of age he served an apprenticeship as carpenter and
joiner, and worked at this trade for four years. In 1832 he and his
brother Charles became engaged, at Oakville, in the business of sawing
timber and furnishing finished frames for houses. He was practically
the founder of the American Suspender company, and became its president
and treasurer in 1876.

Mr. Newton served the city as Mayor in 1871, and was a representative of
the town in the legislature at different times. He was a director of
the the Russell Manufacturing company of Middletown; a stockholder in
the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing company of Bridgeport, and a director
of the Waterbury National bank.

In October 1830, he married Polly, daughter of Obadiah Warner. For
their children see Vol. I. Ap. p. 94.

Mr. Newton died January 22, 1886.

Charles N. Newton was born May 9, 1811, and during his life of over
eighty-one years lived on Bunker Hill. He was one of the partners of
the Warren & Newton Manufacturing company, which was organized at
Watertown in 1846 for the manufacturer of suspenders. After the
consolidation referred to above, Mr. Newton continued in the business,
and was connected with the American Suspender company, until it became
the American Mills company. He was for several years a member of the
vestry of St. John's church.

On December 26, 1836, he married Caroline, daughter of Chauncey Root.
He died October 10, 1892.

--------------------------
(the note from 419, refers to The American Mills Company article,
started here from page 418:)

The manufacture of elastic and non-elastic webbing for suspenders,
garters, etc., dates back to about 1839, when E. E. Prichard and his
brother, Dr. David Prichard, together with Julies Hotchkiss, formed a
partnership for this purpose, under the firm name of Hotchkiss &
Prichard (see page 271). They began work in the building on Mill street
previously used by the Beecher Manufacturing company as a manufactory of
fine woollen cloths. The business was then in its infancy, and while
the weaving process was comparatively simple, little was known of the
manufacture of India rubber thread. It was not then, as it is now, an
article of commerce produced by accurate machinery; it was made by hand,
the India rubber being cut with shears into long strips and the ends
welded together with a hammer. This process, primitive as it now seems,
was regarded as a very valuable secret, so that the work was not done at
the factory, but at the residence of a member of the firm.

The partnership of Hotchkiss & Prichard continued but a few years, and
was succeeded in 1843 by the Hotchkiss & Merriman Manufacturing company
(see page 48). They carried on the business under this title until
January 1857, at which time they became consolidated with the Warren &
Newton Manufacturing company, which had been doing a business of the
same kind in Oakville, and were incorporated as the American Suspender
company. This organization prosecuted the business with considerable
success till 1879, when it was obliged to suspend.

The entire property was sold out and the business closed up -- the real
estate and machinery being purchased by Isaac E. Newton, president and
manager of the American Suspender company before its failure. Mr.
Newton conducted the business in a small way until November 1881, when
the American Mills company, organized by Earl A. Smith, his son A. J.
Smith, A. S. Chase, and H. C. Griggs, with a capital of $75,000
purchased the entire plant. Since that date E. A. Smith has been
president of the company and A. J. Smith secretary and treasurer.

-------------------
The invention, listed on page 481 in "The REcord of Inventors and Their
Patents":

I.E. NEWTON, 1869-1874,
Stone-cutting saw, suspenders, 2.

----------------------
III. 793
(summary)

The court house (as of 1896) was the house of Isaac E. Newton, bought
from his heirs.
First built by Rev. Henry B. Elliot about 1845. Afterwards occupied by
William H. Merriman, and later by Isaac E. Newton.

---------------------
III. 1070
(summary)

Newton was a member of the first brass band, called "Jewett's Band".
"I. E. Newton and his brother playing bugles"

_-_
gar

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