A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 105

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At Voluntown, Connecticut, Mr. Love was married to Miss Marion Gladys Gardner, who was there born. She is a daughter of Willard and Eldora (Dawley) Gardner, who were farming people of Voluntown. Mr. and Mrs. Love have two children, Dorothy Irene, born in Voluntown, March 12, 1918; and Evelyn Pauline, born October 1, 1919, in Sterling.

Mr. Love's study of political questions and conditions has led him to give his support to the socialist party. He is a member of Ekonk Grange No. 89 and he is

1630

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

well known in this locality, where his entire life has been passed. He is regarded as a young man of genuine worth who has a large circle of warm friends and merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

FRANK EDWIN MILLER.

Frank Edwin Miller, long a prominent figure in hotel circles, is now living retired at Canterbury, where he owns a valuable farm property, and he also maintains a winter residence in New York city. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, August 30, 1856, a son of Dr. Jonathan T. and Fidelia (Metler) Miller. The father, a native of Nunda, New York, was there reared and educated and after completing his more specifically literary course took up the study of dentistry. Subsequently he removed to Rockford, Illinois, where he practiced his profession for a number of years, or until his retirement from active life. He passed away in Rockford and the mother is also deceased. In their family were three children: Frank Edwin; and Edwin and Gertrude, both of whom are deceased.

Frank E. Miller was a pupil in the public schools of Rockford until graduated from the high school of that city. In young manhood he made his way eastward to New York, where he engaged in the hotel business, and he later removed to Netherwood, New Jersey, where he purchased a hotel which he conducted for ten years. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he gave his attention to the man- agement of sixteen restaurants and five hotels, and his employes during that period numbered five hundred and twenty-five on the pay roll each month. His restaurants and hotels were located along the line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad and he continued in the business for sixteen years. Subsequently he went to Kansas City, where he remained for three years as manager and one of the directors of the Savoy Hotel. In 1913 he retired from active hotel business and has since made his home in New England. He purchased a farm in Canterbury, upon which he has since main- tained his residence in the summer seasons, while the winter months are spent in an attractive home at No. 112 West Eighty-eighth street, in New York city.

In New York city on the 14th of June, 1884, Mr: Miller was united in marriage to Miss Hattie W. Jenks, a native of Canterbury, and the daughter of Edward and Jennie E. (Armstrong) Jenks. Mr. and Mrs. Miller attended the Congregational church and he is a life member of the Elks lodge at Denison, Texas. Politically he is a republican and in 1917 was a member of the state legislature representing the town of Canterbury, and serving on the fisheries committee and on the committee on cities and counties. He is a broad-minded man, his interests being typical of that class which closely studies the vital questions and issues of the day and at all times keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. His business interests were most carefully and wisely conducted and the enterprise, initiative and keen discern- ment which he displayed constituted the broad foundation upon which he built a substantial fortune.

PATRICK JOSEPH McQUADE.

Patrick Joseph McQuade is conducting extensive farming interests in Ashford, where he has valuable property supplied with every modern equipment familiar to scientific agriculture at the present time, and in addition to the development of the fields he is conducting a large and profitable dairy business. Moreover, he finds time for public duties and the exercise of activity in behalf of general progress and improve- ment, and is now serving as selectman.

Mr. McQuade is a native of Ireland, his birth having occurred at Dromore, in County Tyrone, November 11, 1862. He is a son of Patrick and Mary (Goodwin) McQuade and a grandson of Patrick and Catherine (Slavin) McQuade. The grand- father was born in Tullyclenagli Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland. He was a wheel- wright and farmer, becoming the owner of a tract of land at Dromore, and was also the owner of four houses in the village, where he owned and conducted his shop. He was born in 1757 and passed away in 1858, when more than a hundred years of age. His father bore the name of Patrick McQuade and his wife in her maidenhood was also a member of the Slavin family. They, too, were natives of Dromore. Patrick McQuade, father of Patrick J. McQuade of this review, was born in Dromore in 1813, and in young manhood purchased a small farm near the village, devoting his attention to its development throughout his remaining days. There he passed away in 1878.

PATRICK JOSEPH McQUADE

1632

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

His brother, Michael McQuade, came to America, crossing the Atlantic to New York city, and served as a lieutenant in the Sixty-ninth Regiment ("Fighting Irish") of New York during the Civil war.

Patrick J. McQuade of this review was educated in the national schools of Dromore and later became a monitor and assistant teacher there, holding a third class teacher's certificate when eighteen years of age. Leaving his native land, he crossed the Atlantic to New York city and then went to Southford, New Haven county, Connecticut, where he secured employment as a farm hand. Later he removed to Milford, Conecticut, where he lived for fourteen years. He was a foreman on the large seed farm of Alburtis N. Clarke, who was the largest seed grower of Connecticut. In May, 1897, Mr. McQuade removed to Ashford, Windham county, and purchased the Lanphear farm of two hundred acres on Pumpkin hill. He has since bought the old Bennett farm of seventy acres, the Jairah Backus farm of two hundred acres, the Chandler farm of twenty-seven acres, the Rourke farm of eighteen acres and the Butler farm of fifty-five acres, all of which he now owns and operates. He has thus become one of the extensive landowners of this section of the state and is prominently and successfully engaged in general farming, in stock raising and dairying. For a time he also engaged in raising seed, but found that the climate was not well adapted to this business. He is a most progressive man whose land is supplied with all modern equipment for agricul- tural pursuits. He has secured all the latest improved farm machinery, has good buildings upon his land and utilizes the most progressive methods in the further culti- vation and improvement of his property.

On the 15th of July, 1890, Mr. McQuade was married to Miss Unnie McClaffarty, at Milford, Connecticut, who was born at Drummonagh, County Donegal, Ireland, and became a resident of Milford in 1880. She is a daughter of Edward and Nellie (Coll) McClaffarty, who were natives of Altmore, County Donegal, and spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle, the father there following the occupation of farming. To Mr. and Mrs. McQuade were born the following children: Terrence Joseph, who was born at Orange, Connecticut, and there passed away; Francis Joseph, who was also born and died at Orange; William Edward, who was born at Orange and is farming with his father; Catherine, who was born at Orange and is now a school teacher at Mansfield, Connecticut; May Ellen and Ellen May, who have passed away; Hugh Ralph, who was born at Orange and follows farming in connection with his father; James, also de- ceased; Annie, who was born at Ashford and is now a school teacher; Eugene and Neal, who were born at Ashford and have departed this life; Thomas and Unnie, who were born at Ashford and are at home.

In his political views Mr. McQuade has always been a democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has served on the board of relief and in 1918 was elected first selectman, while in 1919 he was elected second selectman. He belongs to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church at Willimantic. He is a well educated man who has given his children excellent advantages, and the sterling worth of his char- acter, the enterprise of his business methods and his thorough reliability as well as his success have gained for him the high respect of all who know him.

CHARLES FRANKLIN ENNIS.

Charles Franklin Ennis, who has devoted practically his entire life to farming in the town of Brooklyn, was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, May 7, 1859, and is a son of Joseph F. and Maria (Berdick) Ennis. The father was a native of Rhode Island and he too, followed the occupation of farming as a life work. Crossing the boundary into Connecticut, he established his home in Brooklyn when his son, Charles F., was a lad of. eight years, renting a farm on Day street. After seventeen years here, he purchased a farm on the Danielson road. Here he continued to till the soil and further develop and improve his property till his death. He was a thrifty, industrious man and was active in the town affairs of Brooklyn throughout his life, his practical and progressive methods contributing to substantial upbuilding there.

Removing to the town of Brooklyn when but a young lad, Charles Franklin Ennis pursued his education in the public schools, and when his text books were put aside took up the occupation of farming, with his father. Following the father's death he continued upon the home place and has since been actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits. The only interruption to his life as an agriculturist came when he was about twenty years of age, at which time he went to Canada, where he spent three years in farming on the New York and Canadian line. He then returned to Windham county, where he has since made his home, and his enterprise and dill- gence are manifest in the excellent appearance of his farm property.

1633

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

On the 31st of December, 1884, in Killingly, Connecticut, Mr. Ennis was married to Miss Karah Darbie, who was born in Thompson, Connecticut, a daughter of Nathan W. and Jane Tyler (Arnold) Darbie. They have become parents of two children. Archie Grover, who was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, September 2, 1886, wedded Miss Mabel Morrison, a native of Dayville, Connecticut, by whom he has two children, Morrison A. and Dorothy Estelle. Floyd Franklin, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Ennis, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, September 23, 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Ennis are connected with the Baptist church and are people of genuine worth, enjoying the warm regard and friendship of those with whom they come in contact. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his farming interests, which have been wisely directed and have constituted the basis of a growing success.

HERMAN MENDENHALL COULTER.

Herman Mendenhall Coulter, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of the Good- year Cotton Mills, Inc., of Goodyear, Connecticut, was born in Seville, Ohio, December 11, 1886, his parents being Jerome and Cora E. (Sieg) Coulter, who were also native of the Buckeye state, the father born at Seville, and the mother at Massillon. The father spent his life in Ohio and was educated in the schools of Seville. While a young man he worked as a baker for a short period. Later he became proprietor of the Chippewa Hotel at Chippewa Lake, Ohio, where he remained for a number of years. He next went to Uhrichsville, Ohio, as proprietor of a railroad restaurant and en- gaged in that business for fourteen years. During that period he also did catering at the state fairs and various other places. In addition to his regular business, and as a side issue, he made a specialty of raising Shetland ponies, keeping up this interest all his life. He passed away December 2, 1917, and is still survived by his wife, who now makes her home in Akron, Ohio. In their family were three children, of whom the second died in infancy, while Herman M. is the eldest. The youngest, John S., also resides in Akron and is purchasing agent for the Whitman Barnes Manufacturing Company of that place.

Like his father, Herman M. Coulter largely acquired his education in the public schools of Seville, Ohio, there pursuing a high school course, while later he attended a business college at Akron. He started out in the business world in the position of billing clerk with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of Akron in the year 1907 and remained with that corporation in Akron until 1918. When he resigned he was filling the position of chief of the statistical department. Later he came to Goodyear, Connecticut, as cashier and office manager of the Goodyear Cotton Mills, Inc., and continued in this position until March 1, 1920, when he became assistant secre- tary and assistant treasurer. Thus he remains in the company with which he has been identified throughout his entire business career, a fact indicative of his efficiency, faithfulness and trustworthiness.

During the World war Mr. Coulter served with the United States Coast Guards at Raritan, New Jersey, being kept on this side on guard duty as he was physically unfit for overseas service. Mr. Coulter is a republican in his political views. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce at Akron, Ohio, is a member of the Bohemian Club of Danielson, and he attends and supports the Episcopal church. He is also a prominent Mason, belonging to Adoniram Lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter No. 25, R. A. M .; Akron Council No. 80, R. & S. M .; Akron Commandery, No. 25, K. T., all of Akron, Ohio; Eliada Lodge of Perfection at Cleveland, Ohio; and Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S., Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree. He is a member of the Masonic Club of Akron, and of the Putnam Country Club. He is widely known as an energetic, wide-awake and alert young business man and one who, in every relation of life, has measured up to high standards, thus meriting and winning the confidence and goodwill of all who know him.

HENRY HARRISON UPTON.

Henry Harrison Upton was long actively engaged in farming in the town of Ashford, in fact he spent his entire life there with the exception of the period of one year. He was born in Ashford, December 23, 1839, a son of Elias and Nancy (Russ) Upton. The father's birth also occurred in Windham county, where he acquired his

1634

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

education. He was the driver of a stage coach for a few years in early life in Con- necticut and Rhode Island. He afterward removed to Ashford, where he took up the occupation of farming, and there contiuned to carry on general agricultural pur- suits until his son took charge of the farm and he retired from active business, spend- ing his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. His wife was born in Ashford, where her entire life was passed. Both have been called to their final rest, Elias Upton passing away May 18, 1889.

The son, Henry H. Upton, was one of a family of four children, being the second in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Ashford, where he spent his entire life with the exception of the year following his marriage, when he lived in Mans- field, Connecticut. He then returned to Ashford and in 1870 took up his abode on the old Lieutenant Daniel Knowlton homestead, which he farmed to the time of his demise on the 8th of June, 1918. He carefully cultivated the fields, bringing the land to a high state of productiveness, and his energy and enterprise gained for him a substantial measure of success.

On the 1st of March, 1869, Mr. Upton was united in marriage to Miss Maria Bugbee Knowlton, of Willimantic, Connecticut. She was born on the place which is now her home, the old Lieutenant Daniel Knowlton homestead, her natal day being September 16, 1837. Upon this farm she has spent her entire life save the first year of her married life, which was passed in Mansfield. She is a daughter of Marvin and Calista (Leonard) Knowlton and her father was also born on the Lieutenant Daniel Knowlton. homestead, while the mother's birth occurred at Stafford, Connecticut. Her father was a son of Lieutenant Daniel and Rebecca (Fenton) Knowlton, the former one of the Revolutionary war heroes, who served under command of Washington for seven years. He was a brother of Colonel Thomas Knowlton, also a Revolutionary war hero, who was killed in the battle of Harlem Heights, New York. The Knowltons are one of the old historic families of Ashford, mention of whom is made in connection with the historical volume of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Upton were born five children: Calista, now the widow of David A. Bisco, of Dudley, Massachusetts; Nancy Marvin, who died in infancy; Clark Henry, who passed away at the age of nine years; Edith' Pauline, at home; and Ethel May, who is the wife of Fred Fitts, of Ashford.

Mr. Upton was a democrat in his political views and he served the town of Ash- ford as selectman, as tax assessor, as tax collector and as justice of the peace, ever discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Congregational church and the sterling worth of his character was recognized by all with whom he came in contact. His life history was as an open book which all might read. He was thoroughly reliable in every relation of live and his many sterling traits gained for him the confidence and goodwill of those with whom he was associated. Mrs. Upton still resides upon the old homestead, which is one of the historic places at Ashford, the house having been built in 1790.

ALBERT ROLLINSON.

Albert Rollinson, who since 1903 has occupied the position of overseer of the weaving department with the Attawaugan Company at Killingly and who has been continuously in the employ of the company for more than a quarter of a century, was born at Otter River, in the town of Templeton, Massachusetts, February 29, 1864, his parents being James and Mary (Caldwell) Rollinson, who were natives of Yorkshire, England. In young manhood the father engaged in farming and also operated a hand loom in his native country. He came to the United States with his family in 1857, and for a time resided in Templeton, Massachusetts, where he was employed as a woolen dresser tender. He later took up his abode in Rhode Island and after some years there passed removed to Norwich, Connecticut, where he continued to work at his trade. In the later years of his life he purchased a farm near Taftville, Con- necticut, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred about 1890. He had for a decade survived his wife, who passed away in 1880. In their family were ten children, of whom nine are yet living: Sarah, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and is now a resident of Providence, Rhode Island; Emma, living in Worcester, Massachusetts; Clara, who like the preceding members of the family was born in Yorkshire and is living in Providence, Rhode Island; Martha, now deceased; Maria, a resident of Canterbury, Connecticut; John, living in Stafford, Connecticut; Selina', whose home is in West Somerville, Massachusetts; Albert, of this review; William, who is a resident of Canterbury, Connecticut; and Walter, who makes his home in California.

1635

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Albert Rollinson was educated in the common schools of Taftville, Connecticut, to which place his parents had removed with the family when he was a small boy, and in the schools of Versailles, Connecticut, and the Podgum school of Norwich, Connecti- cut. When about fifteen years of age he obtained employment in the mill of Taft- ville, near Norwich, and there learned weaving. He afterward took up the business of loom fixing and was employed in that connection in the Ponema mills for about fifteen years. In 1894 he became connected with the Attawaugan Company, removing to Attawaugan, Connecticut, where he served as second hand in the weaving department for about nine years. In 1903 he was appointed overseer of the weaving department and has since occupied that position, covering a period of seventeen years. His efficiency and faithfulness are indicated by his long connection with the- company and he is known as one of the leading millmen in this section of the state.

In Taftville, Connecticut, April 11, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rollinson and Miss Mary O'Brien, who was born in Westerly, Rhode Island. Their children are as follows: Mabel, born in Taftville in March, 1890, is the wife of Charles Weeks, of Taftville, and they have five children: Mary E., Walter A., Bessie, Ruth and Hazel. Emma, born in Taftville in 1892, is the wife of Raymond Mitchell, of Central Village, Connecticut, and now lives in Attawaugan. Walter, born in Attawaugan, August 1, 1896, married Corinne Layeuness of Goodyear, Connecticut. He enlisted at Danielson in April, 1917, for service in the World war and went to Fort Terry, New York. While there he took instruction in wireless operating and in March, 1918, sailed for France. He was a member of Battery D, of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps, A. E. F. While overseas he saw much active service. He received further instruction in wireless there and was later made a wireless operator, receiving his dis- charge in 1919. He is now foreman of the cloth room for the Attawaugan Company at Attawaugan, Connecticut.

Mr. Rollinson attends the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has been a busy and useful one, measuring up to high standards in every relation. Since at- taining his majority he has given his political support to the republican party and keeps well informed on the vital questions and issues of the day, but has never held office, concentrating his attention and energies upon his business interests. Never- theless he is not remiss in the duties of citizenship and cooperates in various plans and measures for the general good.

FRANCIS XAVIER BERNIER.

Francis Xavier Bernier, proprietor of a grocery and meat market in Danielson, was born at Cap St. Ignace, Canada, November 15, 1863, and is a son of Francis and Marie (Caullard) Bernier. The father in early manhood entered upon a seafaring life and for many years was a navigator, sailing to most of the world's ports. He was successful in his navigation activities and in the spring of 1880 he retired from active business and with his family removed to the United States, settling in Danielson, where he lived retired for about twenty years, enjoying a well earned rest. In 1900 he decided to make a trip back to Canada and while there became interested in farming, purchasing a tract of land which he continued to cultivate and improve until July, 1919. He then disposed of his property and once more came to Danielson, where he has since made his home with his son, being now in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife passed away in Canada in 1906. They were the parents of four children, all born in St. Ignace, these being Francis X .; Philip, who now lives in Taftville, Connecticut; Philomen, who died in Canada in 1915; and Caroline, who is a resident of Danielson.

Francis X. Bernier came to Danielson in boyhood with his parents and obtained his education in the graded schools of this city. He first became identified with its mercantile interests by opening a small store, which he conducted for about two years. On attaining his majority, however, he gave up business there and went to Montreal, Canada, where he soon established a grocery and meat market, which he carried on with excellent success for about seventeen years, remaining a factor in the commercial circles of that city until 1901, when he disposed of his business there and purchased a hotel of which he was proprietor for about a year. In 1903 he sold his hotel and again came to Danielson, where for three years he was engaged in busi- ness on South Main street as proprietor of a fish market. He also conducted a barber shop for a time and later went to Alaska with a party of gold prospectors, remaining in the mining section of that country for seven years. Once more he came to Danielson and here soon opened a meat market and grocery store, which he has since owned and managed. He has recently removed to new and larger quarters on South Main street, where he has an attractive modern establishment, carrying an extensive line of

1636

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

staple and fancy groceries, while his meat department is equally well equipped, his fair dealing and reasonable prices bringing to him a liberal patronage.

In Danielson, Mr. Bernier was married to Miss Azilda Barbeau, a native of Canada and a daughter of Toussant and Marie (Laroque) Barbeau, who were also natives of that country. Mrs. Bernier died in Danielson, July 21, 1916. They were the parents of five children. Henri, born in Montreal, Canada, July 15, 1887, is now employed as overseer at the Connecticut Mills in Danielson and was here married to Delima St. Germain, by whom he has one child, Adrien Robert, who was born in Danielson, December 4, 1914. Marie Louise, the second of the family, born in Montreal, October 6, 1888, is the wife of Adellard Savoie, now living at Moosup, in the town of Plain- field, Connecticut, and they have one child, Doris, born in Moosup, October 16, 1916. Senneville, born in Montreal, is the wife of Joseph Robillard, a native of Canada, now living in Danielson, and they have one child, Roland B., born in Danielson, December 15, 1918. Albert, born at Tupper Lake, New York, married Iva Jones, who was born in East Killingly, Connecticut. They reside in Danielson, where he is now associated with his father in the meat business, although a druggist by trade. Loretta, born in Danielson, July 20, 1902, married Derwood Burdick of Danielson.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 105

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960