A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 59

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 59

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).

Both Mr. and Mrs. May are consistent members of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as a clerk, and for many years he has been a member of the society committee of the church. In politics he is a stanch republican and has been very active and prominent as a worker in republican ranks in Woodstock. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of worth and ability, have many times called him to public office. He served as selectman from 1897 until 1899, inclusive, and in 1893 he was chosen assessor, filling the position for three consecutive years, and then again was elected to that office in 1904, serving also in 1905 and in 1907. He was a member of the board of relief from 1908 until 1910 inclusive, and in 1912 was chosen a member of the town committee and served to the year 1918. From 1914 until 1918 he occupied the position of justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning for him golden opinions from all sorts of people. In 1916 and 1917 he was agent for the town deposit funds and in 1888 he was chosen to the office of tax collector. Thirty years later he was once more chosen to that position and is now the incumbent in the office. In 1915 he was elected to represent Woodstock in the state legislature and was made a member of the committee on agriculture. Fraternally he was formerly identified with Senexet Grange, with which he held membership from 1890 until 1897. In the latter year he became identified with Woodstock Grange, of which he was a member until 1915, and he served as its secretary, treasurer, overseer and has been master of both granges. He is a director of the East Woodstock Community Club and a member of the Windham County Farm Bureau. He manifests a deep and helpful interest in all that pertains to community welfare and progress and his efforts in behalf of the development and upbuilding of this section of the state have been far-reaching, effective and beneficial.

ARTHUR CLAIR BOTHAM.

Brookdale Farm, in the town of Pomfret, is one of the valuable properties in that sec- tion of the county and in former years was devoted to the raising of cattle, but Arthur Clair Botham, its owner, is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon the raising of chickens, making a specialty of Rhode Island Reds.

He was born in Pomfret, December 19, 1876, and is a son of William Arthur and Eliza (Scranton) Botham. The father was born in Pomfret in 1852 and devoted his entire life to farming and to the raising and sale of horses. He died in Pomfret in 1892 after an active and busy life. His place became well known in connection with the sale of horses and his land is now a part of what is known as the Westland Farm. His parents were Merrick and Cornelia (Green) Botham, the former a descendant of Obediah Botham, who was the original settler of the family in Pomfret. The mother of Arthur C. Botham bore the maiden name of Eliza Scranton. She, too, was born in Pom- fret and was a descendant of an old Connecticut family, the line tracing back to Revolu- tionary war times. The branch of the family of which she was a representative was established at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where her parents were born, but later re- moved to Pomfret.

Arthur C. Botham pursued his education in the schools of Pomfret until he reached the age of sixteen years. As his father was a prominent horse dealer, Arthur C. Botham naturally became interested along that line. He went to New York and became interested in horse racing and followed the track until 1913, being trainer, horse owner and manager of racing stables. In this connection he traveled all over the United States and became widely and favorably known. He was one of the familiar figures in the racing meets all over the country. In 1908 his wife and children removed to Pomfret but he continued traveling with his horses until 1910, when he purchased a farm in Pomfret, and in 1912 he retired from the race track business and devoted all of his attention to raising Holstein cattle upon his Pomfret farm. He registered his farm with the American Holstein-Friesian Cattle Association as Brookdale Farm, by which name it has since been known. Mr. Botham disposed of his cattle and is now specializing in the raising of poultry, handling Rhode Island Reds He has a fine, modern and well equipped chicken farm and his business is being carefully and profitably conducted.

On the 28th of September, 1905, Mr. Botham was united in marriage to Miss Nora Swannick, of New York City, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and became a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in young womanhood. Later she removed to

1339

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Washington, D. C., and then came to Pomfret as the wife of Mr. Botham. To them have been born two children: Mary Ruth, who was born in New York, September 28, 1906; and Helen Elizabeth, born October 3, 1907.

Mr. Botham is still a member of the American Holstein-Friesian Cattle Association although he is no longer engaged in cattle raising. He gives his political support to the democratic party but is not an office seeker and prefers to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which are wisely and systematically conducted and which are bringing to him a well merited return for his labors.

CHARLES BURTIS COX.

Charles Burtis Cox, actively identified with business interests of Woodstock as a farmer and building contractor, was born in Port Washington, Long Island, May 8, 1858, and is a son of Abram and Emma C. (Burtis) Cox. In removed generations the family name was spelled Cocks, but the orthography has been changed to the present form for several generations. The paternal grandparents were Peter and Charity Voorhis (Duryea) Cox, who were natives of Little Neck, Long Island. Abram Cox was also born at Little Neck and in early life took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for many years at Port Washington, where his death eventually occurred. His wife was born at Port Washington and was a daughter of John S. and Eliza Ann (Willets) Burtis, who were natives of Long Island and were representatives of the Quaker faith.

Charles B. Cox of this review acquired a public school education in the place of his nativity and afterward entered Swarthmore College of Pennsylvania, being thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties by liberal educational advantages. He early became an assistant upon his grandfather's farm and after his textbooks were put aside continued to work in the fields upon the old homestead at Port Washington, Long Island, for a time, but not desiring to concentrate his entire efforts and attention upon agricultural pursuits, he took up the study of building construction and engaged in the building business at Floral Park, Long Island, where he erected many of the beautiful and attractive homes of that place, noted for its fine residences. In 1891 Mr. Cox removed to Woodstock and purchased the old Morse farm in the Central school district that was owned by a relative of Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, who years ago spent many summers upon this place as the home of his relatives. Mr. Cox continued to concentrate his efforts and attention upon agricultural life until 1905, when he again took up the building business, which he has followed to the present time. He has erected many buildings in Windham and Tolland counties, Connecticut, and is regarded as one of the foremost builders of this section of New England. He is thoroughly familiar with every practical phase of the business and also with the scien- tific principles which underlie his work, and the structures erected under his direction combine comfort, utility and beauty in a most harmonious whole. He can be relied upon to fully carry out the terms of a contract in a letter and in spirit and his personal knowl- edge of the business enables him to wisely direct the labors of those in his employ, so that excellent results are achieved. He has spent several winters in Florida and in Louisiana, where he has also done considerable building. He still occupies the farm, but his time and attention are largely devoted to his building operations, and in this connection he enjoys a most enviable reputation.

On the 12th of April, 1882, at New Hyde Park, Long Island, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Ellen Rebecca Wiggins, who was born at Queens, Long Island, a daughter of Benjamin and Ellen (Pratt) Wiggins. Her father was born at New Hyde Park, Long Island, and was a son of Benjamin and Amelia (Bergen) Wiggins, who were likewise natives of Long Island. He-devoted his life to the occupation of farming and in early manhood he wedded Ellen Pratt, who was born at Queens, Long Island, and was a daughter of Lendal Freeman Pratt, a son of Lendal and Polly (Lyon) Pratt, of South- bridge, Massachusetts. Lendal F. Pratt married Ellen Rebecca Doughty, who was a native of Jamaica, Long Island, and a daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Doughty. Both Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wiggins continued their residence on Long Island until called to the home beyond. Their daughter, Mrs. Cox, was there reared and educated, attending a private school at Manhasset, Long Island, after which she taught in the school in which she had pursued her studies and also in the Pratt neighborhood near Southbridge, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been born eight children. Harold Wiggins, the eldest, born at Roslyn, Long Island, is an expert machinist at the United States naval torpedo station at Newport, Rhode Island. He married Mildred Hall, of Upton, Massachusetts, and they have become the parents of five children, Robert Hall, Eloise Wiggins, Ellwyn Burtis. Merle Vincent and Lorelys. Ellen Van

1340

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Lew, the second of the family, was born at Floral Park and is the wife of Albert Henry Hibbard, a blacksmith of East Woodstock, by whom she has two children, Ellen Rebecca and Elsie Palmer. Charles Burtis, the third of the family, was born at Floral Park and is a building contractor of Safford Springs, Connecticut. He married Ruby Smith, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, and they have two daughters, Margaret Smith and Dorothy Ellen. Florence Willets, born at Floral Park, is the wife of Captain George Chapman, of East Hartford, Connecticut. Dorothy Valentine, born in Woodstock, is a teacher in the Central school of Woodstock. Theodore is a machinist and resides at home. Benjamin Maxwell is associated with his father in the building business. Emma Carolyn, the youngest of the family, is a student in the Woodstock Academy.

Mr. Cox exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles. He has served on the board of relief of Woodstock but has never been a politician in the sense of office seek- ing. He attends the Congregational church and fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his family occupy a fine home in Wood- stock which he has remodeled and made thoroughly modern in every particular. Mrs. Cox is a lady of liberal education and culture and they have reared a family of which they have every reason to be proud. The members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles where intelligence and true worth are accepted as passports to good society, and Mr. Cox has made for himself a most creditable place in business circles.

ERNST ROSSIE.

Ernst Rossié is active in the control of most important manufacturing interests in Connecticut, being superintendent of the Rossie Velvet Company, which was incor- porated in New Jersey in 1897. Mr. Rossie was born in Germany, June 3, 1883, and learned the business of silk and plush manufacturing in that country, where he remained until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1905 and has since been associated with the Rossié Velvet Company, which has its headquarters in Mystic, Connecticut, owning there a very extensive establishment, in which three hundred and eighty-five operatives are employed. In 1911 a branch factory was opened in Willimantic, where they have forty thousand square feet of floor space and employ one hundred and eighty-five workmen in the manufacture of silks, velvets and plushes. At this writing the company is opening a silk throwing plant in Noank, Connecticut, thereby greatly enlarging their capacity. Their output is sold all over the United States and their trade is very extensive, theirs being one of the im- portant manufacturing concerns of Connecticut.

Mr. Rossié is married and has two children, Katherine and Thomas. He makes his home in Mystic and he is a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of that city. He ranks with the substantial, progressive and representative business men of this section of the state and his thorough training and experience well qualify him for the important duties and responsibilities which devolve upon him as superintendent of the Willimantic plant.

ARTHUR D. LOWN.

Arthur D. Lown is the superintendent of the mills of the Manhasset Manufacturing Company at Putnam and there are few men so thoroughly informed concerning the cot- ton trade in all of its ramifying interests and branches as Mr. Lown, who has studied the question from the standpoint of cotton production on the plantations of the south until the finished cloth is placed upon the market. His experience has been long and varied and Putnam is indeed fortunate in that he has allied his interests with her manufacturing, for his labors have contributed much to the substantial development of the city along that line. He is, moreover, actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good and in many other ways Putnam has profited by his support and co- operation.

A native of New York, Mr. Lown was born in Barrytown, October 14, 1863, and in early boyhood accompanied the family on their removal to Fall River, Massachusetts, where he acquired liis education. He made his initial step in connection with cotton manufacturing in that city by entering the employ of the Border City Manufacturing Company, actuated by the laudable ambition of thoroughly mastering every phase of the business and working his way steadily upward. He applied himself with great thorough-

1341

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

ness, rapidly acquired knowledge and skill in his work and after a comparatively brief period was given the responsible position of overseer in the King Philip mills at Fall River. His next position was that of overseer in the Granite mills of Fall River, and he later became a cotton broker of Fall River, continuing in that business for fifteen years, on the expiration of which period he became superintendent of Hargraves Mill No. 1, at Fall River. Later he was assistant general superintendent of the mills of the Bibb Manufacturing Company at Macon, Georgia, and afterward was superintendent of the mills of the Fulton Bag & Cotton Company of Atlanta, Georgia. On the 1st of January, 1915, he accepted the superintendency of the mills of the Manhasset Manu- facturing Company at Putnam and here he has since remained. When he took charge of the Manhasset mills they operated nine thousand spindles and today they have fifteen thousand and twenty-four, while the twisted spindles have been increased from nine hundred to four thousand, one hundred and twenty-eight. They employed at the time that Mr. Lown became connected with the business two hundred operatives in the mill, while today their working force numbers five hundred and fifty, and they also maintain night shifts. Their Quiller spindles have been increased from one hundred and forty to three hundred and sixty. When Mr. Lown took charge the mills were shipping twenty thousand pounds of manufacturing cotton per week and today their shipments amount to one hundred and forty thousand pounds. The looms have increased in number from fifty-three to one hundred and forty-two and during the superintendency of Mr. Lown the mills have more than doubled in size. The old original Monahasset mill was a four-story structure fifty-four by one hundred and eighty feet, containing thirty-five thou- sand, one hundred and eighty square feet of floor space. That was the mill as built by Thomas Harris. The Manhasset Manufacturing Company has built and added seventy- nine thousand, two hundred square feet of floor space in the past three years, or since Mr. Lown took charge of production. They have also added three hundred horse power steam and nine hundred horse power electric motors. The Monahasset mill used only three hundred horse power water. They still use this power but have introduced the steam and electric power as well. The Manhasset Manufacturing Company held its first meeting in December, 1911, and the business was incorporated under that style in 1912 with R. H. Ballou, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as the treasurer (now president) ; E. V. Livesey, of Fall River, as the president; H. Thayer, of Putnam, as secretary; and Albert Haworth, of Providence, Rhode Island, as vice president. With the incorpora- tion of the Manhasset Manufacturing Company they took over the business of the Mona- hasset Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Lown thoroughly understands every part of the cotton business. He learned the manufacturing business as a boy by practical experience in the mills and also obtained experience in the cotton brokerage business and he also knows the cotton trade from the planters' standpoint, having lived in the south as superintendent of cotton mills, while he also traveled extensively there, buying cotton, many times making his pur- chases right out in the cotton fields when he was engaged in the cotton brokerage busi- ness. His comprehensive familiarity with every phase of the business from the ele- mentary processes of cotton raising to the completed processes of cotton manufacturing enables him to speak with an authority that few possess, and that he is a man of excel- lent executive ability is indicated in the improvements which have been made in the Manhasset mills since he accepted the superintendency thereof. The growth of the business in the extension of the plant, in the improvement of its equipment, in the number of its employes and in its production is something of which Mr. Lown may well be proud, as this result has been largely achieved as the direct outcome of his efforts. The company is engaged in the manufacture of cotton duck, which is used exclusively in making automobile tires.

In July, 1891, Mr. Lown was united in marriage to Miss Effie Reed, of Fall River, where she was born, a daughter of Charles and Johannah (Chase) Reed, who were like- wise natives of Fall River. The father, who followed the occupation of farming as a life work, is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lown were born four children, of whom three are living: Nelson Edward, who is overseer of the Manhasset mills; David Reed, also connected with the mills; and Wilbour Chase, who is a student in high school. One son, Melvin Francis, died at the age of sixteen years. All were born in Fall River. Mr. Lown was again married October 30, 1918, his second wife being Katherine Seward, a daughter of Frederick W. Seward, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. By this union there is one child, Elsie Barbara, born in Putnam, January 7, 1920.

Politically Mr. Lown has been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Episcopal church and has attained high rank in Masonic circles, having membership in the lodge, chapter, council, commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He is deeply interested in all that has to do with the public welfare and progress of the community in which he resides. He was largely instrumental in securing an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars for the town of Putnam in order

1342

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

to secure the location of the State Trade School in Putnam. He was also the moving spirit in the organization of the Putnam Building & Loan Association. He is active in anything that will improve the city or better the conditions of mill employes and that he is not a hard taskmaster is indicated in the fact that there have been no labor troubles in the Manhasset mills since he assumed the superintendency. His is never the command of the tyrant to go but is ever the call of the leader to come. He never imposes conditions which are detrimental to the welfare of employes but studies their comfort and their welfare and believes in attaining results through cooperation and not through force.

PAUL MARROTTE.

Paul Marrotte, who throughout his entire life has been identified with industrial and manufacturing interests in New England, has since 1899 been assistant overseer in the mills of the Wauregan Company and he makes his home upon a farm in the town of Brooklyn. He was born at St. Mary, in the province of Quebec, Canada, March 24, 1867, his parents being Peter and Cordelia (Treado) Marrotte. The father was also a native of St. Mary and in young manhood learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. He was thus employed for several years and later disposed of his farm and came to the United States in 1874, settling in Ballouville, Connecticut, where he worked in the Ballou Mills for eight years. On leaving that place he went with his family to Willimantic, Connecticut, and again engaged in carpen- tering, there spending his remaining days. He met death in a railroad accident April 29, 1900. His widow survives and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Florina Lamour, in Willimantic. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Marrotte there were seventeen children, of whom eleven are yet living: Peter, Joseph, George, Paul, Arthur, Denslow, Delia, Alexander, Louis, Henry and Florina.

In the schools of Ballouville, Paul Marrotte pursued his education and when his textbooks were put aside he began providing for his own support by working in the mills of that city. There he was employed until the family removed to Willimantic, where he again secured work in the cotton mills. He was afterward engaged in carpentering for two years and then went to Wauregan, Connecticut, where he entered the employ of the Wauregan Company in 1895, becoming connected with the spinning department. In 1899 he was made assistant overseer and still occupies this position. On the 9th of October, 1911, he purchased a farm in the town of Brooklyn, known as the Dorance place, and thereon has since made his home, having forty-five acres of land which is devoted to general farming and dairying, his son remaining upon the place and continuing its cultivation.

Mr. Marrotte was married at Willimantic, Connecticut, September 25, 1889, to Miss Eleanor Charpentier, a daughter of Charles and Philomene (Martell) Charpentier, who were natives of the province of Quebec. To Mr. and Mrs. Marrotte have been born five children: Edward, upon the farm; Norris, who married Alexina Bousquet, of Danielson, and is proprietor of a shoe store; Nelson, who married Esther Burgstrom; Freeman, who carries on the home farm for his father, and Lillian R., the wife of John Turner, a mill man of Central Village.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and in political belief Mr. Marrotte is a republican, giving stalwart allegiance to the party. He has worked diligently as the years have passed and his farm property is the visible evi- dence of his thrift and industry.

R. A. HARRIS.

R. A. Harris is a most aggressive, progressive and public-spirited man, whose labors have been far-reaching and resultant in behalf of all those interests which have to do with general progress and improvement. Moreover, he is numbered among the repre- sentative business men of North Windham, where he is engaged in jewelry manufacture.

He was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, August 11, 1878, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Harris. The former died January 18, 1917, and the latter on the 30th of August of the same year. The father was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but spent his youthful days in Windham and at fifteen years of age began learning the jewelry busi- ness in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and remained throughout his life in active connection with jewelry manufacturing. He formed a partnership with J. M. Fisher under the firm style of Harris & Fisher, a connection that was continued for about six years, and after

C. R. HARRIS

1344

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

the dissolution of the firm Mr. Harris remained in business on his own account in Attle- boro for four years. In February, 1890, he removed to North Windham and became the pioneer in the establishment of jewelry manufacture in this city. He equipped a thor- oughly modern plant, in which was received the raw material and from which were sent out ready-to-wear articles, the product being shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. His business steadily increased and his plant became one of the most important productive industries in that section of the county. Mr. Harris voted with the republican party and both he and his wife were active members of the Congregational church. He was one of the founders and organizers of the church in North Windham and contributed largely toward the erection and equipment of the present house of worship. At the time of his death he was serving as one of the deacons of the church. His life was also per- meated by the teachings of the Masonic fraternity, with which he was identified for many years. He married Emma Nicholas, of North Scituate, Rhode Island, and, traveling life's journey happily together for many years, they were not long separated in death, only a few months intervening between their demise.

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 59

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