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In the spring of 1836 he joined with Nathan C. Sanford and established a business in the new town of Birmingham. They manufactured tacks and nails at a factory on the north side of Main Street.
Sanford died in 1841, but the business continued under the name E.N. Shelton until 1854, when the Shelton Company was formed. The plant at Birmingham was too small, and a branch factory was opened in Shelton. Later the entire business was transferred to that location. The plant consisted of half a dozen buildings in which were manufactured small bolts, nails and tacks. It was one of the leading industries of the town, employing more than a hundred laborers.
Shelton was a leader of the effort to build a dam across the Housatonic River at Birmingham. The question of damming the river was raised in 1838, and the following year the legislature authorized improvement of the power at Birmingham and Shelton, but would not allow the dam to be built. The charter was finally granted in 1864, and two years later the Housatonic Water Company was organized. It consisted of the leading manufacturers of Birmingham. The work was begun in 1867 and completed in 1870. At the organization of the water company, Shelton was chosen president - a position which he held until his death.
He was also chosen president of the old Manufacturers Bank when it was organized in 1848. This later became Birmingham National Bank. Shelton remained at its head until his death on September 16, 1894.EMERY L. TERRELL
Emery L. Terrell was born in Colebrook, Connecticut on May 9, 1866. His father, Henry Terrell, was one of the prominent Democrats of that place, serving in the State Legislature in 1876. Emery was reared in Colebrook, the public schools and the Congregational Church there. He attended high school in Winsted.
Terrell came to Beacon Falls in 1883. For a time he was a clerk in a general store, known as Terrell and Bacon. After four years he purchased an interest in the business as a partner of E. J. Terrell. On the death of E. J. Terrell, Emery purchased the interest of his former partner and conducted business himself. The store was located on Main Street, opposite the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company's office.
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