Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 2: Biographical - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 7

When death called Friend William Smith on the 3rd of March, 1917, when he was in the eighty-eighth year of his age, Bridgeport lost a citizen whose work had been of great worth not only to the city but to the world at large through the many inventions which he brought forth and which are now in use throughout every civilized country. He remained almost to the last an active factor in the business world, giving personal attention to his extensive and important interests as president of The Smith & Egge Manufacturing Company. Mr. Smith was a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Kortright, Delaware county, on the 11th of May, 1829. His ancestors came from Holland and England and many of them were actively connected with the work of the ministry. His parents were Friend William and Mary (Myers) Smith, the former a son of Eben Smith and a nephew of James Matthew Smith, who were circuit riders of the Methodist church in an early day and in that way traveled throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Friend William Smith, the father, devoted fifty years of his life to the active work of the ministry.

Being stationed a part of the time in New York city, Rev. Friend William Smith removed his family to the metropolis, so that his son, Friend William Smith, pursued his early education in the public schools there, afterward attending Amenia Seminary, in Dutchess county. New York. His initial step in the business world was made as clerk in a hosiery store of New York city at a salary of ten dollars per month. There he remained for thirteen years and in 1859 came to Bridgeport, where he opened a dry goods store, but the undertaking met with failure on account of the dishonesty of an employee and Mr. Smith was forced to resume clerking. He never allowed discouragement to overtake him, however, and with determined purpose set about to retrieve his lost fortune.

Mr. Smith was at the same time deeply interested in public affairs, and, being an ardent republican, became a prominent member of the Wide-Awakes, marching companies formed during the Fremont and Lincoln campaigns, and in this connection he did everything in his power to promote republican success. When election gave over the administration of the country to the republicans Mr. Smith was appointed postmaster of Bridgeport under President Lincoln and held the office until 1869. He continued an active factor in shaping political thought and action and was made a member of the state central committee and chairman of the executive committee of Bridgeport. On leaving the post-office he organized the Forrester Manufacturing Company of Bridgeport and in 1870 was chosen superintendent for the Ellsworth Mill & Mining Company of Nevada, in which connection he became familiar with the processes of mining and milling gold, but in 1873 he resigned his position with the Nevada company and returned to Bridgeport.

It was at that time that the United States post-office department was advertising for a new lock for letter boxes, and giving study and thought to the subject, Mr. Smith and Frederick Egge invented a lock, for which Mr. Smith invented a key. They became the successful bidders for the contract of manufacturing a letter box for the government and the result was the organization of The Smith &. Egge Manufacturing Company, which has since remained an important factor in business circles of Bridgeport. In 1878 the company secured another contract from the government for the manufacture of mail box locks and for twenty years made all the locks used in the postal service. It was about this time that Mr. Smith originated the system of carrier and post-office chains for securing the lock and key and obtained orders for the manufacture for the entire country. He also obtained the contracts for all the cord fasteners and label cases used in the postal service. He brought forth another most important invention, the -window chain, .used instead of cord for hanging weights to windows. His experiments led to his idea taking tangible form and the Giant metal sash chain was introduced by his company and is now a standard article all over the country. This factory was the first to introduce the nine hour day and later the eight hour day in Bridgeport. In 1891 Mr. Smith went abroad to determine the possibilities of his business in England and organized the Automatic Chain Company of Birmingham, a company that now supplies Mexico, Haiti, Chile and San Domingo, while the trade of the Bridgeport factory covers the entire United States. The company also has extensive dealings with the treasury and navy departments of the government in furnishing various equipment and the business has long since been one of substantial proportions and profits. Mr. Smith also organized the Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Company, of which he was for a long time the president. He was an organizer of and was largely interested in the Lake Torpedo Boat Company, thus being largely instrumental in having that concern located in Bridgeport, and was a director in the City National Bank and a trustee of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, of which he was one of the incorporators. In all his different business connections he so directed his efforts that very gratifying results accrued.

In 1853 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Angelina Amelia Weed and they became the parents of three sons and a daughter: Friend William, Jr., a well-known patent attorney; Oliver C, who is secretary and treasurer of The Smith & Egge Company; Charles E., who is superintendent of the plant; and Mrs. Horace H. Jackson. There are also five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Both parents have now passed away, the mother having died in January, 1911, while Mr. Smith survived until March 3, 1917.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith held membership in Christ Episcopal church, of which he was a vestryman. He belonged also to St. John's Lodge, No. 3, of Bridgeport, to Hamilton Commandery, K. T., and to Lafayette Consistory, A. & A. S. R. He likewise held membership in the Seaside dub, of which he was a past governor, in the Algonquin Club, the Brooklawn Club, the Seaside Outing Club, the National Manufacturers' Association and the Bridgeport Historical and Scientific Society — associations which indicated the nature and breadth of his interests and the line of his activities outside the field of business. He was ever a man of studious habits, took a keen delight in books and the attainment of knowledge and delved constantly into historical, poetical and scientific works. Those things which are ever a matter of deep concern were of deep interest to him and at no time was he neglectful of the duties and obligations of citizenship. His life span covered a wonderful period in the world's history. Born during the presidency of Andrew Jackson, he lived to witness a remarkable revolution in business affairs, in public life, modern methods taking the place of old-time customs and each year marking a forward step in America's history and development. His life work was a contributing factor to this result and he well deserved the place which was accorded him as one of the most honored and valued of the venerable citizens of Bridgeport.