Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-14
Charles H. Northam.

Charles Fl. Northam, president of the New York and New Haven Steamboat company, and one of the leading financiers of Hartford, died Saturday morning at his residence on Washington street in that city. He and Chester w. Chapin, of Springfield, have long been interested in the above line of steamers, and are the largest owners. The splendid steamer 0. H. Northam bears his name. He was several times a member of each branch of the Hartford city govern ment, and was several times a representative of Hartford in the Legislature.
 For half century he was connected with Christ church in that city, serving as vestry- man and warden, and representing the church in the diocesan conventions. He was @ director in various financial and benevolent establishments, and for great many years held prominent position in the community. Probably Hartford contained no man more universally and thoroughly respected and esteemed.
 He was director in the Broad Br ook Manufacturing company, president of the Mercantile bank, president and director of the Hartford hospital, president and director
 
 Railway company, president of the New York and New Haven Steamboat company, eorporator of Trinity College, director of the Cedar Hill Cemetery company, trustee of the State Savings bank, trustee of the Conpecti- cut Trust and Safe Deposit company, and director of the Phoenix Fire Insurance com pany.
 Deceased was native of Colchester, Ct., born December 21, 1797. He came to Hart ford at 15 and clerked at 8 grocery store for five years. The store Is still standing. He went into the business for himself when 20 years old, and after two years formed a part nership with Nathaniel Morgan They were grocers and shippers to the West Indies. About 1925 he formed partnership with the late M. w. Chapin in the shipping, for warding and commission business, then an i'm portsnt business in Hartford. This partner | ship was dissolved in 1882, MT. Chapin talk | ing the Philadelphia line of packets and Colo nel Northam the Norfolk and Richmond line, | and resuming the wholesale grocery business. In 1843 the firm became c. H. Northam & Co.,, the company being James Bolter, now president of the Hartford bank, and for sev- enteen years this firm continued, the dissolu- | tion being in 1860. Colonel Northam con- | tinued in business about two years longer, when he retired and became president of the Mercantile National bank, which position 1 he held from that time to the day of his 1 death
 His title of colonel was derived from his being ieutenant-coIonel of an artillery regi- ! ment in 1885.
 He was early interested in steamboating He was treasurer and subsequently president, of the Connecticut River Steamboat com- pany, owning the steamers Oliver Ellsworth, New England, Bunker Hill, Cleopatra, etc. This company did large and very profitable business. It iquidated at last in consequence of diversion of business by the building of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, and other roads, which changed to some extent the method of business The Connecticut River Steamboat company was succeeded by the existing Hartford and New York Steamboat company.
 Deceased had fingered on the confines of the other world for several months, in a con dition' which afforded no hope of ultimate re- covery and during which she was several times reported at the point of death. There was no special disease but apparently the
 breaking down after long life of vigorous constitution which had borne all the Yicissi- tudes of more.t than four-score years and at
 last yielded gradually to the inevitable course of nature.
 Personally MT. Northam was 8 man of the strictest integrity, of great capacity for labor and of unbounded energy, which was
 noticeably shown in the active participation in business affairs which he continued until he was confined to his house this last spring. In his social and business relations he was