The "Mansion House Hotel", around 1893, a 250 bedrooms hotel in
Brooklyn Heights, facing
Wall Street, property and residence of Senator Yale's uncleThe
1878 Wallingford tornado, showing the damage done to the city school
Charles Dwight Yale was born on April 23, 1810, in Wallingford, Connecticut, to Charles Yale and Huldah Robinson, members of the
Yale family.[2][3] His father served in the state legislature, and was a
Britannia metal and
tin ware manufacturer, along with his brothers
William, Hiram and Selden.[4]
His family were pioneers in the manufacturing of Britannia ware in the United States, and established a manufacturing dynasty in the region.[5][6]
His grandfather, Samuel Yale Sr., was the first manufacturer in
Meriden, Connecticut, manufacturing
pewter buttons in 1794, and was a
Patriot of the American
War of Independence.[11][12] From their manufacturing businesses, with factories and stores in Connecticut, New York and Richmond, they gave their name to
Yalesville, Connecticut.[13][14]
Yale was born in Connecticut but sent at sixteen years of age to
Richmond, Virginia, to assist in the management of his father's businesses in the city. He later established his own general store in Richmond, and by 1860, built and owned one of the largest warehouses in the city.[15]
He became a member of the city council, acting as a peacemaker during the
Civil War, and introduced in a speech Gov.
Gilbert C. Walker for nomination, becoming the first governor elected since the state joined the
Union.[16]
He was made foreman of the grand jury of the county's district court by Chief Justice Chase, and made treasurer of the Peabody fund committee, helping in the establishment of the public school system.[17] In 1871, he went back to Connecticut, connecting with past business relations.
In 1874, Yale was elected a member of the
Connecticut State House of Representatives, serving on the Committee on Humane Institutions, and later, as chairman of the committee.[18] In 1875, he was once again elected to the House and served on the Committee on Banks.[19]
Yale was made president of the Silver Plated Ware Manufacturers Associations. In 1875, and from 1883 to 1884, he was twice elected Senator with the Democrats from the
6th Senatorial District.[24][25] In 1878, he served as the
Warden of Wallingford during the
1878 Wallingford tornado, which brought much damage to the city and number of casualties, and while in office, he made a strong effort to secure state aid for the sufferers.[26]
During the
Reconstruction era, following the end of
American Civil War, he was placed on frequent committees to mediate tensions between Washington and Virginia.[27] He also helped to bring Virginia back into the
Union States.[28]
He was nominated in 1884 by his party to be president of the senate.[29] In Richmond, he had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church, while in Wallingford, he joined the First Congregational Church. Yale died on March 30, 1890.
Family
Charles Dwight Yale married December 3, 1834, Mary Culver, of Wallingford.[30] They had three children :
Martha A., born May 30, 1836 : she died young
Charles B., born April 7, 1843 : he became president of the Board of Education, president and board director of the
Dime Savings Bank of Wallingford, and deacon of the Congregational Church.[31] He was also a shareholder and board director of
Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co..[32]
George S., born Dec. 24, 1846 : he ran the Simpson's business stores in Manhattan on
Union Square, became a real estate investor, and established a jewelry business with his brother.[33][34]
Charles Dwight Yale's cousins were Samuel Yale Jr., who became a founding director of the Meriden National Bank, Henry Clay Yale, founder of Townsend & Yale,
dry goods merchant, and Sarah S. Yale, wife of Senator Edgar Atwater, who was of the family of Senator
Charles Atwater.[35][36][37]
^Kendrick, John B. (1878).
History of the Wallingford Disaster, Illustrated, The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Printers, Hartford, Connecticut, p. 45-52-54-56-57-58-68