Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

and Rush, built a small mill, known as
the Mount Nebo Silk Mill ; a few years
earlier he began the culture of silk worms
and mulberry trees on a New Jersey
farm. This, however, proved to be un-
profitable, so in 1841 he returned to
South Manchester, and for the remainder
of his life took part in the silk manufacturing
operations of the brothers Cheney
at that place. 7. Rush, who in later life
manifested superior mechanical genius,
and invented much of the special machin-
ery needed by the brothers in the process
of silk manufacturing. 8. Frank, of
whom further. 9. Electa Woodbridge.
George Wells Cheney, eldest son of
George and Electa (Woodbridge) Cheney,
and father of James Woodbridge Cheney,
was born in South Manchester, Connecticut,
October 22, 1799, and died Decem-
ber 20, 1841. He held some town offices,
and was justice of the peace for many
years, and so just were his decisions that
no appeal was ever taken in a case decided
by him. He married Mary, daughter
of Calvin and Lovina (Wilson)
Cheney, who bore him eight children: 1.
George Wells (2), who to within fifteen
years of his death, in 1893, was connected
with the silk business established by the
brothers of his father in 1836. 2. John
Sherwood, born April 14, 1827, died in
1910. 3. Mary Elizabeth, born April 24,
1829. 4. Charles Ely, born January 9,
1831, died March 9, 1853. 5- William
Henry, born May 21, 1833. 6. Emily
Frances, born January 23, 1836. 7.
James Woodbridge, of whom further. 8.
Caroline Waitstill, born February 9, 1840.
Charles Cheney, third son and child of
George and Electa (Woodbridge) Cheney,
and father of the late Colonel Frank
Woodbridge Cheney and Knight Dexter
Cheney, was born in South Manchester,
Connecticut, December 26, 1804, and died
there June 20, 1874. For several years
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he was a merchant in Providence, Rhode
Island, and later, for ten years, lived near
Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1847, returning to
Connecticut, and to South Manchester, to
join his brothers in the manufacture of
silk. He was a man of strong character,
methodical and upright, and of firm con-
viction on many subjects of public im-
port. He was an Abolitionist, and served
in the State Legislature. He married
Waitstill Dexter Shaw.
Frank Cheney, youngest son of George
and Electa (Woodbridge) Cheney, was
born in South Manchester, Connecticut,
July 5, 181 7, and died February 4, 1904.
He received such education as was obtainable
in South Manchester, and when
eighteen years of age became interested
with some of his brothers in the culture
of silk and in the growth of the mulberry
tree, upon the leaves of which the silk
worm feeds. At this time great interest
in silk culture had developed throughout
the country, and in 1837 the Cheney
Brothers established nurseries for raising
the mulberry trees at their farm at Man-
chester, Connecticut, and also at Burlington,
New Jersey. In this work Frank
Cheney took an important part, and in
order to acquire a knowledge of the in-
dustry and to purchase young mulberry
trees, he spent some time in France. Silk
culture in the United States having
proved a failure, Frank Cheney joined
with his brothers, Ralph, Ward, and
Rush, in starting the manufacture of sew-
ing silk at South Manchester, Connecti-
cut, in 1838. The development of this
industry, now so important, became the
life work of Frank Cheney, and he lived
to see the business of Cheney Brothers
become one of the most important silk
manufacturing plants in the United
States. He was a man of great strength of
character and executive ability, and commanded
to an exceptional degree the re-