Source: https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio12inbeer Scan label: 193 OCR: uncorrected; verify against page image. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 463 excitement. By canal he reached Buffalo, thence l)v boat he went to Tokdo, thence again by canal, ;ii)(l here the canal gave way and the passengers Middciily found their boat high and dry on land in the woods. Each one had to do the best he could, Mr. Griswold finally reaching the Queen L'itv by team. He soon found employment at his trade, with Greenfield & W'inchell, and there for a ])criod of three years worked as a journe^nnan. Returning to Meriden, he worked for Pomeroy & Leonard, and later removed to Holyoke, Alass., where he first started in business and remained two years, and then returned to Meriden. In 1854 he started in the tinning business for himself, first with George F. Searles as partner, who later sold out. With Henry J. Lewis, son of the well-known citizen, Isaac C. Lewis, the business was conducted under the firm name of Griswold & Lewis, until 1876, when Mr. Charles C. Glock became a partner, and the firm became Griswold, Lewis & Glock. Mr. Lewis later sold out to Mr. J. L. Richmond, the firm thus becoming Griswold. Richmond & Glock. In 1889 the firm changed into a stock com- pany, known as the Griswold, Richmond & Glock Co., of which Mr. Griswold is president and Mr. Glock is superintendent. Mr. Griswold has conducted a successful busi- ness for nearly half a century, succeeding on ac- count of his ability, energy and keen foresight. A man of kind and genial disposition, large-hearted and generous, he is very frequently called upon for aid for charitable purposes, and liberally responds. In his religious views Mr. Griswold avows himself an agnostic, declaring his belief to be founded on facts and science, in the place of superstition and faith, which has been opposed to progress. Mr. Griswold believes there is much wisdom in Paine's ■'-Age of Reason" and in IngersoU's "Age of Truth," and closes his testimony with the gentle assertion, "with malice toward none, and charity for all, I simply confess that I don't know." Mr. Griswold's spotless private life and his imtarnished public reputation disarm all criticism, and he is in every way a citizen of whom his city is justly proud. In Meriden Mr. Griswold married Eliza Will- iams, a native of that town, where she died, and her remains rest in the A\'est cemetery. She was a consistent and valued member of tne L'niversalist Church. The children born to this union were : Ella A., who married Eugene H. Ray. superintend- ent of the Silver City Plate Co. : Charles, who died in young manhood, and now sleeps in the West cemetery by his mother; Frank, who died while a resident of Chicago; and Lewis F., who is a de- signer for the Charles Parker Co. For his second wife l\Ir. Griswold wedded Mira Rockwell, who was born in Hartford, a daughter of Capt. Samuel Rockwell, and is a lady of high culture and of fine attainments. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold reside in their beautiful home on Lincoln street, where they offer a bounteous hospitality. The Rockwell family, of which Mrs. Nathan F. Griswold is a descendant, is one of the oldest in Hartford county. Williatn Rockwell, the first of the family in America, was born in Dorchester, England, April 14, 1C24, was married in his native country to Susannah Capan, a daughter of Bernard Capan. They came to America in 1630, locating first in Dorchester, Mass., where he was one of the twenty-four freemen who took the oath of fidelity on May 18, 163 1, was a deacon in the church there, and was one of the jurors in the first manslaughter case tried in the Colony. In 1637 he removed his family to Windsor, Conn., where he passed the re- mainder of his days, dying ^Nlay 15, 1640. William Rockwell was also a deacon in the church at Wind- sor. On May 29, 1645, his widow married for her second husband Mathew Grand, and she passed away Nov. 14, 1666. The children were; Joan, born April 25, 1625, in England; Samuel, July 18, 1627, in England; John, March 28, 1631, in Dor- cnester, Mass. ; Ruth, in August, 1633, in Dor- chester; Sarah, July 31, 1634, in Windsor, Conn.; and Joseph, in 1635, in Windsor. Ruth married Christopher Huntington, and removed to Say- brook in 1660, and later to Norwich, where they were early settlers. Sarah became the wife of Walter Gaylor. Sergeant Samuel Rockwell, son of Deacon Will- iam, was born in England, came to America with his parents, and removed with them to Windsor and was one of the early settlers of what is now East Windsor, and there engaged in farming until his death, in 171 1. On April 6, 1662, he was ad- mitted to membership in the Windsor Church, and on April 7, 1660, he married Mary Norton, of Guil- ford, a daughter of Thomas and Grace (Wells) Norton, and to them were born these children : !\Iary, baptized in January, 1661, married, Oct. 23, 1683, to Josiah Loomis ; Samuel, baptized Oct. 19, 1667; Joseph, ]\Iay 22, 1670; John, Alay 31, 1673; Abigail, April 11, 1676, married, Nov. 9, 1704, John Smith, and died Oct. 12, 1741 ; and Josiah, baptized ^Nlarch 10, 1676. Lieutenant Joseph Rockwell was born in East Windsor, where he grew to manhood and was en- gaged in farmiup- all his life, dying on June 26, 1733. His marriage was to Elizabeth Drake, born Xov. 4, 1675, s daughter of Job and Elizabeth (Al- vord) Drake, and to them were born six children: Joseph, Nov. 23, 1695; Elizabeth, Dec. 12, 1690, died in infancy; Benjamin, Oct. 26. 1700; James, June 3, 1704; Job, April 13, 1709; and Elizabeth, July 24. I7r3, married Jonathan Huntington. Benjamin Rockwell, son of Lieut. Joseph, was born in East Windsor, Oct. 26, 1700. At the age of nineteen years he removed to Staft'ord, Tolland county, where he became engaged in farming an