Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

and the skilled pattern maker was an in-
calculable force in the constant improvement
which has brought American made
machinery to its present level of perfec-
tion. From his apprenticeship Mr. Case
went directly to the machinee shop of a
large iron works. When the Civil War
broke out he went into the navy as third
assistant engineer. He had for his
"bunkie" George Westinghouse, who
later won imperishable fame as the in-
ventor of the air brake. Mr. Case was in
the service for nearly two years, then
went to Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, to
executive positions with the paint mills
and iron works. He more than made
good under this test of ability, for after
being there for three years, in the election
of officers, he missed being placed in
charge of the iron works by only one vote
out of a total of twenty-seven. He then
became actuary of the Security Life Insurance
Company, of which his father was
president, and during his period of service
in that capacity worked hand in hand
with other actuaries, who have since become
famous, in laying the foundations
of the insurance business in America,
which has become such a vital factor in
our economic order.
After the insurance company went out
of business, Mr. Case made a trip to Aspinwall,
and while in that locality met
the French engineers who were making
the survey for the Panama Canal. Upon
his return to New York he engaged in the
real estate business. Later on he became
a salesman for the Simonds Manufacturing
Company, in which capacity he was
very successful. Then about thirty-five
years ago, as has been the case with so
many thoughtful men, the idea of the re-
turn to nature came to him with 3 strong
appeal, and he bought a farm about six
miles from Geneva, New York. There
he raised wheat and potatoes, remaining
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
82
about five years. He then purchased his
present farm in Stamford, a part of the
Charles Brown estate. Mr. Case was the
pioneer peach grower in that part of Con-
necticut. He has had varying success, as
is inevitable with this crop, but year by
year has developed the place and its re-
sources, and become more and more of
an enthusiast on peaches. The severe
winter of 191 7-18 did not spare him, and
along with probably every peach grower
in the East he suffered heavy losses, be-
tween seven and eight thousand trees
being ruined. He now has about 1,200
trees in bearing and, undismayed by mis-
fortune, is planting others to replace those
destroyed. He has developed the science
of peach growing to a remarkable degree,
and his reputation for fine fruit has
reached far. He markets mostly in New
York City, and commands the exclusive
trade of the connoisseur, many of his
peaches running only sixty to seventy to
the basket, and retailing at twenty-five
cents each. He also grows small fruits
quite extensively, producing three or four
acres of strawberries annually, besides
quinces, pears, blackberries, raspberries
and currants ; and he has a fine apple
orchard of two acres. He has won such
a reputation along these lines that, with
the exception of peaches, nearly all his
fruit is sold to patrons who go to the
farm for it. As a war measure Mr. Case
grew about eleven acres of wheat and
two acres of buckwheat. The former is
a crop which has been deplorably neg-
lected in Connecticut in recent years.
Mr. Case is a Republican by political
affiliation but for many years has de-
clined office. When a resident of Mifflin
county, Pennsylvania, he took an active
part in politics and largely as a result
of his efforts the vote of that county was
changed from an average Democratic majority
of 126 votes to a Republican major-