L.F.  Root, now a leading man in New Haven, came to work with me when quite young, nearly twenty years ago.  He also has held many offices of trust, and filled them with great ability.  I could mention many others, but cannot in this brief work speak of them as their merits deserve.  It gives me pleasure to know that the business of the Jerome Manufacturing Company has fallen into such good hands.

The Benedict and Burnham Company, now making clocks in the city of Waterbury, under the name of the Waterbury Clock Company, is composed of a large number of the first citizens of that place.  In politics nearly all of them are Republicans.  The oldest man of the company is Deacon Aaron Benedict, now about seventy-five years old—­a real “old Puritan, Christian gentleman.”  He has been Representative and State Senator many times—­Mr. Burnham of New York, another member of this company, is well known to almost every body as one of the richest men in [Transcriber’s note:  probable missing word ‘the’ here] whole country.  My brother, Noble Jerome, who is an excellent mechanic and as good a brass clock maker as can be found, is now making the movements for this company, and Edward Church, a first rate man and an excellent workman, is making their cases.  He worked with me seventeen years at case making, and can do a good job.  I cannot pass without speaking about another man of this company, Arad W. Welton Esq.  He was one of my soldier companions in Capt.  John Buckingham’s company, which went to fight the British in 1813, at New London, and in 1814 at New Haven.  He stood very near me in the ranks.  I shall never forget what pluck and courage he showed one night when the news was brought into camp that the enemy were landing from their ships.  Our whole regiment was mustered in fifteen minutes, and on the way to pitch battle with the British and defend our shores.  This Mr. Welton, who is now an old man, as stout and large as Gen. Cass, and looking something like him, was then a young man nineteen years old, and without exception the funniest and drollest fellow that I ever saw.  He kept us all laughing while we were going down to fight that awful battle, which, however, proved to be bloodless.  This incident occurred at New London, and I have often thought of it in latter days.  Mr. Welton Is said to be a great business man, and the company with which he is connected is doing a good business.

The next clock company which I shall speak of, is that of Seth Thomas & Co., of Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut.  As I have mentioned before, the senior Thomas is not living.  The business is carried on by a company, the members of which are all Republicans in politics and respectable men.  Fifty years ago this spring, Heman Clark built the factory which Seth Thomas, two or three years afterwards, bought, and in which he carried on business until his death, about two years since.  It was never Mr. Thomas’ practice to get up any thing new.  He never would change