J. Wilcox & Co. goods in exhibitions and historical information
Owner of the famed Jedediah Wilcox mansion, this resource page focuses on his business activity and life, particularly before 1868 prior to the mansion being built, and also after 1874 when the ownership of the mansion changed. For information about— and related to— the mansion, click the related link directly below.
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 4 December 2020 | Updated 31 January 2021
LINK: Jedediah Wilcox mansion - historical information
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The companies that Jedediah Wilcox, owner of the Wilcox mansion until 1874, had a financial stake in until c. 1874 include J. Wilcox & Co.; the Meriden Woolen Co.; the Wilcox Britannia Co., which later became the Wilcox Silver Plate Co., and the the Meriden Fire Insurance Co.
In ongoing research, the overview of J. Wilcox’s business activity and approach until 1874 seems the most detailed in the unflattering Meriden Daily Journal article published on 3 September 1887. It contrasts with praise for the mansion over the years and is entitled "Sinking Meriden money; many concerns that once prospered here and died". For example, the newpaper states, "The assumption of the debt incurred in putting up [the Woolen mill] was the real cause of Mr. Wilcox’s financial downfall." This article is quoted extensively below.
Further research shall provide clarity, and in this regard, I refer to the contextual scheme at the top of the art design publicity section of this website, as a framework to better understand the context of art, design— and here business— communications, including historical and contemporary journalism and academic writing. What we often see is a text surface involving a multi-faceted, decision-making process that we are often unaware of.
— R. J. Preece, artdesigncafe.com (23 December 2020)
A. J. Wilcox & Co. goods in exhibitions
| Material status: |
= online = link to more info = completely offline |
| 1850s | 1854 - Connecticut State Agricultural Society fairdate unknown - 13 October 1854. Connecticut State Agricultural Society fair, New Haven. > Unspecified designs, "satchels and travelling bags", exhibited by J. Wilcox & Co.
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| 1870s | 1872 - Meriden Town Hall exhibition19-21 (or after) September 1872. Meriden Town Hall exhibition, Meriden Agricultural Society, CT. > Repellants by J. Wilcox & Co. were exhibited
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B. J. Wilcox & Co. goods - historical information (by year)
| 1840s |
Various newspapers, magazines and other sources(c. 1840s-). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines. (Updated 15 June 2020.)
1849 - bookPerkins, G.W. (1849). "Appendix 12. Manufactures in Meriden in 1849... Jedediah Wilcox— Carpet bags... " In Historical sketches of Meriden, (pp. 115-17). Franklin E. Hinman: West Meriden. (Viewed 11 June 2016. A00779-80). |
| 1850s | 1851 - mapWoodford, E. M. (1851). Markings for "J. Wilcox" and "Carpet Bag Factory". Plan of the town of Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut. Richard Clark: Philadelphia. (Viewed 3 October 2020. E01641). 1854 - spotlighted article mention - J. Wilcox & Co. in Connecticut State Agricultural Society fair, New Haven.(13 October 1854). The State Fair [with mention of J. Wilcox & Co. exhibiting "satchels and travelling bags"]. Hartford Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01532).
1856 - map(1856). Map of New Haven County, Connecticut [with marking for "J. Wilcox & Co." and "J. Wilcox & Co. Carpet Bag Manf’y"]. H & C. T. Smith: Philadelphia. (Viewed 1 October 2020. E01632). 1858 advertisementsSee the ads 1858 - advertisementJ. Wilcox & Co. (29 July 1858). Advertisement: "... Carpet-Bag and leather-belt manufacturers, West Meriden, Ct. Office and depot, 13 Barclay Street, New York" [with no illustrations]. The Independent: Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies..., p. 5. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01541).
1858 - advertisementJ. Wilcox & Co. (19 August 1858). Advertisement: "... Carpet-Bag and leather-belt manufacturers, West Meriden, Ct. Office and depot, 13 Barclay Street, New York" [with no illustrations]. The Independent: Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies..., p. 5. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01540).
1858 - advertisementJ. Wilcox & Co. (30 September 1858). Advertisement: "... Carpet-Bag and leather-belt manufacturers, West Meriden, Ct. Office and depot, 13 Barclay Street, New York" [with no illustrations]. The Independent: Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies..., p. 5. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01539).
1859 - advertisementJoseph L. Wheeler, Baltimore, MD. (28 May 1859). Advertisement: "Special Notice! .... J. Wilcox & Co.’s Standard Imperial Extension Skirts— all sizes and prices... " [with no illustrations]. The Sun (Baltimore, Maryland), p. 1. (Viewed 5 December 2020. D01538).
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| 1860s | 1863 - patent - improvement in machines for clasping hoops to ladies’ skirtsBela A. Mann, assignor by mesne asisgnments, to Jedediah Wilcox. (24 December 1861; reissued 4 August 1863). Letters patent no. 34,026: Improvement in machines for clasping hoops to ladies’ skirts. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01531).
1865 - spotlighted news brief - fire(9 June 1865). [Untitled news brief with mention: "The large balmoral skirt factory of Jedediah Wilcox & Co., in Meriden was entirely destroyed by fire last week. Loss $300,000; insured for $250,000."] The Caledonian (St. Johnsbury, Vermont), presumably p. 2, col. 5. (Viewed 2 December 2020. F01961). 1865 articlesSee the articles 1865 - news mention(12 March 1865). Brevities [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox, Elliott Savage and patent purchase listed above]. The Daily Courier (Lowell, Massachusetts), presumably p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 5 December 2020. D01550).
1865 - news briefNew Haven, Ct., May 31. (1 June 1865). Fire ["The large Balmoral Skirt Factory of Messrs. Jedediah Wilcox & Co. ..."] Cleveland Leader (Ohio), p. 1, col. 7. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01543). 1865 - news mention(1 June 1865). News summary ["The large balmoral skirt factory of Messrs. Jedediah Wilcox & Co., in Meriden, Conn., was entirely consumed by fire..."] Troy Daily Times, presumably p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 5 December 2020. D01548).
1865 - news mention(2 June 1865). Brevities ["... large balmoral skirt factory... Jedediah Wilcox & Co., in Meriden, Ct., was entirely destroyed by fire on Thursday evening... "] The Daily Courier (Lowell, Massachusetts), p. 2, col. 3. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01544).
1865 - news brief - social event(24 June 1865). Meriden [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Hartford Daily Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01962).
"Grand Marshal Jedediah Wilcox has appointed the following Assistant Marshals to act with him during the grand celebration on the 4th of July... [including] Walter Hubbard, Edward Miller... Dennis C. Wilcox... John E. Parker... Wilbur F. Parker... Cephas B. Rogers... " 1866 - news mention(8 March 1866). Clippings from exchanges [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. The Lancaster Gazette (Ohio), p. 1, col. 7. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01545). "... Meriden, Connecticut... Elliott Savage, of Meriden, lately received a patent for a new process of hardening iron, which he sold to Jedediah Wilcox for $500,000, and that Mr. Wilcox has sold it for $2,000,000." (Excerpt from above.) 1868 - book mentionBishop, J. Leander. (1868). "Manufactures in Meriden" [including details about Jedediah Wilcox’s companies]. In A history of American manufactures from 1608-1860 (3rd edition, revised and enlarged), (pp. 424- 426). Philadelphia: Edward Young & Co. (Viewed 2 December 2020. A00816-18). "... The second most extensive manufacturer in Meriden is Jedediah Wilcox, the present senior partner of the firm J. Wilcox & Co. ... manufactured Skirts, Leather Belts, and Carpet Bags... recently they have added Corsets... " (Excerpt from above.) 1868 - mapBeers, F. W. (1868). Listing: "Meriden Business Reference... Manufacturers... Wilcox J. & Co.; Manufrs of Balmoral Skirts; Pratt St." and marking on map "J. Wilcox & Co." and across the street "Balmoral Skirt Factory". On Plan of the city of Meriden, New Haven Co., Conn. from actual surveys map. Beers, Ellis & Soule: New York. (Viewed 12 October 2020. E01642). 1868 articlesSee the articles 1868 - news mention(25 August 1868). Real estate changes ["From Jedediah Wilcox to Stephen C. Pierson, one lot and cottage house recently thereon, $3,700"]. Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, col. 3. (Viewed 23 December 2020. D01509). 1868 - news mention(22 September 1868). Matters about home ["The case in regard to whether Jedediah Wilcox, esq, or Lemuel J. Curtis, esq., are entitled to the position of director of the First National Bank... in favor of Mr. Wilcox... "] Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01999).
1868 - news mention(30 September 1868). Meriden Horse Fair [with mention: "... Mr. Jedediah Wilcox had his handsome pair of chestnuts on the ground..."]. Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, col. 3. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01998).
1869 articlesSee the articles 1869 - news mention(3 June 1869). Another ticket ["Our municipal election next Monday... Three tickets are now in the field. The nominees of the third ticket are: For Mayor— Jedediah Wilcox..."] Meriden Daily Republican, p. , col. 1. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01986). 1869 - article mention - J. Wilcox loses mayoral race(8 June 1969). The election; Russell S. Gladwin elected mayor [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, col. 2. (Viewed 20 January 2020. F01980). "... The vote for mayor... Jedediah Wilcox [2nd place]... Mr. Wilcox received his defeat with the [most] good humor, and it was characteristic of a man who felt that he had got to win some time, though the time must be the future and not the present... " (Excerpt from above.) |
| 1870s | 1871 - spotlighted news brief - personal - J. Wilcox building summer house(15 July 1871). [Untitled news brief mentioning J. Wilcox of West Meriden]. The Statesman (Yonkers, New York), p. 4, col. 6. (Viewed 23 December 2020. D01582).
"The fine summer house which is now being built by O’Brien Brothers, on Main street, is for Mr. J. Wilcox, West Meriden, Conn. Thus our Yonkers artists and mechanics are doing the work for the ’foreigners’. We [would] like to see the fame of our worthy artisans spread far and wide." (Excerpt from above in full.) 1872 - spotlighted article mention - J. Wilcox & Co. in Meriden Town Hall exhibition(19 September 1872). The Agricultural Fair; A great variety; A fine exhibition (with mention of "... repellants, [J. Wilcox & Co.] ... "). Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, cols. 3-4. (Viewed 4 December 2020. F01869). 1872 - article mention - J. Wilcox & Co. in Meriden Town Hall exhibition(20 September 1872). The Agricultural Fair [with mention of J. Wilcox & Co. ... Meritorious Mention... two repellants... "]. Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, cols. 3-4. (Viewed 4 December 2020. F01835).
1874 - state business directory listing(1874). Listing: "Manufacturing Companies ... Meriden Woolen Co.", (p. 219). In The Connecticut Business Directory for 1874. Briggs & Co.: Boston. (Viewed 18 October 2020. F01535; F01537). 1875 - bird’s eye view mapO. H. Bailey & Co. (1875). City of Meriden, Conn 1875 [birds eye view]: with illustration of Meriden Fire Insuran[c]e Company, and listings, and on map: "19. [The] Meriden Woolen Co." and "56. The Meriden Fire Ins. Co.". [1 print; lithograph, 55 x 67 cm]. (Viewed 5 December 2020. A00048; A01099) 1879 - news mention - possible business initiative(13 November 1879). General state news; Meriden [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Hartford Daily Courant, p. 4. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01965).
"... It is rumored that the woolen mill, which was closed on account of the failure of Whittemore, Peet, Post & Co. some time ago, the mill company being among the creditors, will soon be started by out-of-town parties, with Jedediah Wilcox, the president of a former company, as president." (Excerpt from above.) |
| 1880s |
1883 articlesSee the articles 1883 - news mention(15 May 1883). Railroad buying [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Meriden Daily Republican, p. 2, col. 3. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01993). "The roadbed of the old Pennsylvania and Sodus Bay Railroad... was bought by Joel A. Sperry and Jedediah Wilcox of New Haven, with ex-senator Pomeroy of Kansas, John B. Alley of Massachusetts and ex-Congressman John H. Rice of Maine..." (Excerpt from above.) 1883 - news mentionIthaca Journal. (17 July 1883). The N. Y. Northern R. R. [with mention: "Mr. R. W. Clapp... stated that the New York Northern railroad company was organized on Friday June 28th in New York city... Directors [include] Jedediah Wilcox, New Haven... "] Seneca Co. News (Waterloo, New York), presumably p. 2, col. 2. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01546).
1883 - news mention(17 July 1883). Waterloo local [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Seneca Co. News (Waterloo, New York), presumably p. 3, col. 3. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01547).
"Mr. Jedediah Wilcox of New Haven, Conn., who is stopping at Seneca Falls with his family, was in town several times last week... [he] is one of the directors of the proposed New York Northern railroad... and will remain in this vicinity a number of weeks... " (Excerpt from above.) 1883 - news brief(10 August 1883). The new railroad again [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Waverly Advocate (Waverly, New York), p. , col. 4. (Viewed 5 December 2020. D01549).
"Messrs. Jedediah Wilcox of New Haven, Conn., and Albert Jewell of New York city, directors of the New York Northern railroad company, were in Newfield Tuesday evening looking after their interests... The present company is pleased with the route, and expect to build the road... " 1885 articlesSee the articles 1885 - news mention(23 February 1885). Personal [with mention: "... Jedediah Wilcox, formerly of Meriden, where he once was a woolen manufacturer, has taken the presidency of the United States Telephone company... "] Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 2, col. 2. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01528). 1885 - news mentionSaratoga, Sept. 25 [sic]. (26 August 1885). At Saratoga... Prominent New Haven people at the Springs [including mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Journal and Courier, presumably p. 4, col. 2. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D01529-30). "... at the Grand Union, the largest hotel in America... Among the New Haven ladies and gents conspicuous as promenaders at the garden party were... Jedediah Wilcox... Wilcox’s wife is quite sick, and under the physician’s care at the American Hotel... " (Excerpt from above.) 1886 - spotlighted news mention - brother commits suicide(14 April 1886). A rich broker kills himself; Dennis C. Wilcox of Meriden kills himself in his New York home [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), presumably p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 4 December 2020. D015 ).
"Dennis C. Wilcox, a well-known broker of New York city, committed suicide at his home, No. 3 West Fiftieth street, yesterday by shooting himself. His mind is said to have been diseased.... He was a brother of Mr. Jedediah Wilcox... " (Excerpt from above.) 1887 - article mentionSaratoga, Aug. 22. (23 August 1887). At Saratoga [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 4, col. 4. (Viewed 3 December 2020. D01523-24). "A great influx of new visitors at the great summer resort... and at the Continental Mr. Jedediah Wilcox, wife and daughter... and a number more are expected at this hotel from New Haven in a few days... " (Excerpt from above.) 1887 - spotlighted article - previous business concerns(3 September 1887). Sinking Meriden money; many concerns that once prospered here and died [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox’previous business concerns]. (See comment at the top of this webpage.) Meriden Daily Journal, p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01985). "The push and energy of Jedediah Wilcox and the varied interests that he had in the city— a list of defunct corporations... The heyday of these quickly formed and spasmodic concerns was when Jed Wilcox was the moving force in Meriden’s business life. The failure of the Woolen mill, the chief venture on which we has concerned, put a sudden stop to the formation of these mushroom firms, and related the prime mover to comparative obscurity. No man that ever claimed Meriden as his residence could boom a thing like Jed Wilcox. He was a hustler from way back and if he had not succumbed to the too-many-irons-in-the-fire disease, this town would be much further advances than it is to-day, because Mr. Wilcox, with all his faults, took a deep interest in Meriden and in doing things for its advancement. A glance at the host of concerns which Jedediah Wilcox originated will show what a boomer he was, and at the same time demonstrate the cause of his ultimate failure... the Meriden Tape company, the American Copper and Brass company, the Avery Spinning Machine company, the H. N. Waters Heater company, the American Metal company, the Union Drying company and the Meriden Stream Printing company... They lived for a short time, did well for a shorter time and then died. Besides these was the firm of J. Wilcox & Co., who built the present fine brick structure on Pratt street known as the Woolen mill. The assumption of the debt incurred in putting up that building was the real cause of Mr. Wilcox’s financial downfall. The Meriden Woolen company that occupied the shop upon its completion was another of the big concerns that Mr. Wilcox ruled and which must be counted among the wrecks.... Other corporations that once flourished here was... the Meriden White Lead company, which by the way was another of Jed Wilcox’s sprouts. Requiescat in pace ["Rest in peace"]. (Excerpt from above.) 1888 - news briefSaratoga, Sept. 1. (4 September 1888). Exodus from Saratoga (with mention: "... Mr. Jedediah Wilcox, of New Haven, is the general agent for [Hathorn] springs..."). Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 3, col. 3. (Viewed 12 December 2020. D01610).
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| 1890s | 1894 - news brief(22 February 1894). Court record; Supreme Court of Errors [with mention: "the cases of the Yale Gas Stove company against Jedediah Wilcox et ux. and of Jedediah Wilcox against John Foley. In both cases the decision was against Wilcox ... "]. Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 4, col. 4. (Viewed 3 December 2020. D01525). 1894 - news brief(6 March 1894). Local news [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox]. Morning Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), presumably p. 2, col. 1. (Viewed 12 December 2020. D01609). "... Jedediah Wilcox of this city and G. W. Coy of Milford, representing the Magnetic Telephone company, were in Meriden yesterday with a view of forming a local telephone company... " (Excerpt from above.) 1895 - spotlighted news mention - court case(13 March 1895). Jedediah Wilcox case; it is reported in volume 64 Connecticut Reports, just issued. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 7, col. 4. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01983). "Yale Gas Stove Co. vs. Jedediah Wilcox. If a man gets up a joint stock company to buy property at a higher price than the owner would sell it for, on an agreement with him that the difference shall be represented by stock in the company, to be divided up between the promoters of the company, is against public policy; and the company can recover back the profits made by the sale of such stock." (Excerpt from above.) 1895 - news mention(23 December 1895). City personals [with mention: "Jedediah Wilcox of New York city was in town today."] Meriden Daily Republican, p. 1, col. 2. (Viewed 26 December 2020. D01501). 1897 - spotlighted news brief - J. Wilcox passes awaySaratoga [, NY], June 12. (13 June 1897). Dropped dead in a Louisville hotel. New York Sun, p. 10, col. 1. (Viewed 2 December 2020. F01953).
"Word was received here to-night that Jedediah Wilcox, for twenty years employed as a travelling salesman by the Hathorn Spring Company, dropped dead in the Galt House at Louisville, Ky., this morning. Mr. Wilcox was about 70 years of age and his home was in New Haven, Conn." (Full excerpt from above.) 1897 - spotlighted news brief - J. Wilcox’s funeral(17 June 1897). Funeral of Jedediah Wilcox [with mention "... was held at his late home, No. 70 Howe street.... "]. Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 6, col. 2. (Viewed 2 December 2020. F01960). |
| 1930s | 1931 - article mention(19 March 1931). International [Silver Co.] closes Colony Street plant (with mention of J. Wilcox & Co., woolen manufacturers). Meriden Daily Journal, p. 1, col. 8. (Viewed 30 December 2020. D01684).
1936 - spotlighted article mentionSnow, William G. (17 April 1936). Meriden’s silverware industry history [with mention of Jedediah Wilcox and Wilcox Silver Plate Co., and sale of electric lighting]. The Meriden Daily Journal [Fiftieth Anniversary issue (1886-1936)], unknown page numbers. (Viewed 30 December 2020. D01699). ".. In 1885, Jedediah Wilcox, who had given up activities as a Meriden manufacturer, was then endeavoring to sell electric lighting equipment produced by Charles F. Brush (Brush Electric Co.) [in?] Cleveland, and he interested his brother, Horace C Wilcox, sufficiently so that equipment was bought and installed for use first in the office and show room and later extended to other departments... " (Excerpt from above.) |
| 1970s | 1971 - article mention(29 May 1971). The end of a landmark [microfiche version may or may not have an accompanying photo of mansion of some kind; with mentions of Jedediah Wilcox, the mansion, Charles Parker and Charles Parker Co.]. The Morning Record, p. 6. (Viewed 1 February 2021. R00981). [1]
"The 101-year-old Jedediah Wilcox mansion... is finally falling victim to the house wrecker... The demolition puts an end to protracted, but unsuccessful efforts to preserve the building as a monument to the flowering of the Victorian era in New England. Jedediah Wilcox, a local woolen manufacturer... built the building... A few years later Wilcox went bankrupt, and Charles Parker, founder of the Charles Parker Co. ... bought the house which was occupied by successive generations of the Parker family for many years. Subsequently, the house was used for a convalescent home, until that operation became unprofitable... Under the circumstances— a decaying building, with no possibility of restoring it to its former glory— there remained no choice but to remove it in the interest of public safety... On the fortunate side is the fact that the furnishings and decor of some of the more impressive rooms were removed several years ago to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where they have been restored, thus preserving a segment of the gracious living of the past, particularly as it was lived in Meriden." (Excerpt from above.) |
| 2000s | 2010 - book, illustration and captionFranco, Jan Leach. (2010). Meriden [includes historical illustration of J. Wilcox & Co. / Balmoral Skirt Factory, Pratt St., Meriden, erected 1865], p. 42. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, SC. 2014 - presentationCofrancesco, Brian. (11 March 2014). Jedediah Wilcox and his mansion: History, mystery and legacy [including a great deal of information about the business activity and life of Jedediah Wilcox]. Presentation at Meriden Public Library, Meriden, CT. (Viewed 27 November 2020). 2016 - articleButkus, Paul. (2016). The famed Wilcox mansion in Meriden and its demise [with reference to 2014 presentation by Brian Cofrancesco listed above, which included a great deal of information about the business activity and life of Jedediah Wilcox]. (Viewed 27 November 2020). |