Hezekiah Scovil, Jr.

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. at the age of 20 assisted his father in the production of gun barrels, "receiving 8 shillings per day and paying 1 dollar per week for his board. About this time he failed in health, so that he had to seek lighter employment--and was engaged as a teller in the Middlesex Discount Bank, Middletown, Connecticut, for which he received 1 dollar per day and paid 3 dollars per week for board. He was in the bank 2 years."

"At the age of 21 his father gave him 1000 dollars, half of which he invested in his business. The other half was invested in the Hartford and New Haven Railroad where it yet remained (1899)."

Nov. 12. 1841--Hezekiah Scovil, Sr. gives to his son, Hezekiah Scovil, Jr., an advancement of $500 against Hezekiah, Jr.'s share of Hezekiah, Sr.'s probate estate.

Sept. 4, 1860--Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. pens in a D & H Scovil company memorandum: "Worked 3 hours at upper shop. The same time at the lower shop before I came away. Left them running at the lower shop."

Sept. 11, 1860--Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. pens in a D & H Scovil company memorandum: "Worked at both shops about 5 hours before I came away."

1899 Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. gave a silver bowl to Eveline Brainard, known to Capt. Philip W. Porter, Jr. and his sister, Winifred Lucile Porter (Rounds), as "Aunt Sula." In 1944, Eveline gave the bowl to Winifred as a wedding present. Winifred has in turn given the bowl to one of her daughters. The gifts to Eveline and Winifred are memorialized by inscriptions on the bowl.(2013).

"In politics [Hezekiah Scovil, Jr.] was first a Whig, and after the fall of that party he became a Democrat. At the last he supported McKinley rather than Bryan. He believed, as President Cleveland said, 'that it is not the business of a government to support its people, but of the people to support their government; and once to lose sight of this vital truth is as dangerous as to trifle with some stealthy narcotic poison.' He [Scovil] had no sympathy with free silver or paternalistic theories, and did not desire tariff protection from the government against competition in his industry." Homer Worthington Brainard (1915).

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. was a trustee and liberal supporter of the Middlesex County Hospital, Middletown, Connecticut. In 1946, Charles E. Rounds, Jr. was born in that hospital. In 1969, Philip Wells Porter, Sr., his maternal grandfather, died in that hospital.

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. "had a deeply religious nature and contributed freely to the support of the Congregational Church in Higganum where he lived and of the First Church in Haddam where his ancestors worshiped." Homer Worthington Brainard (1915).

Jan. 14, 1903--Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. dies. [His probate estate was valued at $1,000,000. To his nephews, Joseph, Edward, and Wallace Porter he bequeathed the residue of his estate which comprised "the large manufacturing plant." He expected them to "continue the business." Joseph,Porter, Wallace Porter, and Mrs. Scovil (Caroline Bonfoey Scovil) were designated as executors of the will.]

1970--Mill No. 3, 12 Scovil Road, Higganum, Connecticut 06441, a red brick structure that formerly had housed one of the factory shops of the D & H. Scovil Company, is sold to the Samoa Corporation [North Carolina].

2005--Mill No. 3 is sold to Kenyon Laboratories, L.L.C., a light manufacturing company that produces the hand- held Gyro Stabilizer.

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. "always regretted he had not had a college education, from which he was deterred by some prejudice of his father."

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. at one time owned a horse named "Sam" and a horse named "Dick."

Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. was co-founder with his brother, Daniel Scovil, in 1844/1845 of the D. & H. Scovil Company, Higganum, Connecticut. The company made plantation hoes. Daniel had come up with the idea while traveling in the South. Daniel died in 1881 after which Hezekiah Scovil, Jr. ran the business until his own death in 1903. "He was in the business harness for sixty years. He never 'retired.' Though lacking but one month of eighty-three years, and having for the last two years failed in bodily strength, he continued in actual control of his business until the last day of his life, personally inspecting the finished product, so insistent was he that the high standard of excellence for which his goods were famous, should be maintained. The name 'Scovil' sells a hoe as the name 'Dunlap' sells a hat." Homer Worthington Brainard (1915).