A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 67

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

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Revel M. Hyde is today the only representative of the family in the ninth generation bearing the name of Hyde. He was born in Willimantic, May 9, 1882, and is a son of Henry M. and Fanny (Rouse) Hyde. The father was born in Franklin, Connecticut, in 1852, and the mother was born in Columbia, this state. The mother of Henry M. Hyde bore the maiden name of Laura Robinson and through her the ancestry is traced back to the Mayflower. The death of Henry M. Hyde occurred September 23, 1912, and Mrs.

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Hyde is still living, now making her home in Willimantic with her son Revel. The father was engaged in the trucking business for more than twenty years and led an active and useful life.

In the schools of Willimantic, Revel M. Hyde pursued his education and when seventeen years of age became a clerk in the office of the Central Vermont Railroad, in which connection he continued for three years. He afterward became a clerk in the service of the New Haven Railroad, which he represented in Willimantic and in New Bedford, and in 1904 he became agent for the Central Vermont at Amherst. Later in the same year he was made car distributor with headquarters at St. Albans, Vermont, and in 1906 he was appointed to the position of traveling passenger agent, acting in that capacity until 1909, when he was made chief clerk to the superintendent of car service. He remained in active connection with railway interests until the 23d of October, 1912, when he resigned his position to take up the trucking business which had been estab- lished and long conducted by his father. He still continues active in this line and con- trols a business of substantial proportions, acting as distributor to wholesalers and jobbers.

In 1909, in St. Albans, Vermont, Mr. Hyde was united in marriage to Miss Adeline L. Forrant, of that place, a daughter of Albert J. Forrant, an early resident of central Vermont. Mr. Hyde is a charter member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Willimantic and also has membership with the Knights of Pythias. He has been quite active in local affairs and is an ex-member of the Hilltop Hose Company of the volun- teer fire department. He is now identified with the board of trade and cooperates in all - those forces which have to do with the welfare of his community. He is a progressive business man, alert and enterprising, and his close application, his persistency of pur- pose and his sound business judgment have constituted the salient features in his grow- ing success.

ANTHONY HANSEN.

Anthony Hansen, who since 1910 has been engaged in general merchandising at North Windham, was born at Tolland, Connecticut, November 29, 1879, his parents be- ing Hans and Johanna (Jacobsen) Hansen, who are natives of Denmark. The father attended the national schools of that country and when about nineteen years of age bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world. He settled first at Hartford, Connecticut, and was employed as a farm hand for a time but afterward removed to Tolland, Connecticut, where he purchased land and engaged in general farming and dairying on his own account. He became one of the prominent farmers of his community and was called upon to fill several town offices. For forty-five years he continued to operate his farm at Tolland and there died on the 20th of December, 1919. His widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Labonte, at Mansfield Depot, Connecticut. To them were born seven children, and with the exception of the oldest, whose birth occurred in Hartford, the others were all born on the Hansen homestead at Tolland. They are as follows: Hans, who married Eleanor DeWolf and conducts a grocery store at West Wellington, Connecticut; Johannes, who married Bertha Sparrow and afterward married Rose Gross, but is now deceased; Martin M., who wedded Mamie Jensen and is proprietor of a grocery store at Mansfield Depot, Connecticut; Anthony, of this review; Mette, the wife of Anthony Jacobsen, proprietor of a grocery store at Norwich, Connecticut; Serina, the wife of Henry Labonte, of Mans- field Depot, who is employed in connection with the improvement of the state high- ways; and Annie, deceased.

Anthony Hansen is indebted to the public school system of Tolland, Connecticut, for his educational privileges. In his youth he worked with his father upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He afterward learned the trades of painting and paper hanging, which he followed for ten years in Hartford, and subsequently he went to San Francisco, Cali- fornia, where he conducted a meat market for two years. Leaving the Pacific Coast, he then returned to the east and with his brother Hans, purchased a grocery store at West Willington but later sold his interest in the store to his brother. For a time he resided at Stafford Springs, Connecticut, where he conducted a cigar stand for one and one-half years, and then, selling that business, he afterward followed the painter's trade but in 1910 took up his abode at North Windham and purchased the general store of W. H. King, which he has since conducted, being now one of the pro- gressive merchants of the village.

At Stafford Springs, Connecticut, on the 14th of April, 1903, Mr. Hansen was mar- ried to Miss Albina Bondville, a daughter of Peter and Elmira (Sharkey) Bondville.

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They became parents of four children: Dorothy M., Leroy H., Roosevelt T. and Evelyn R. The wife and mother passed away at North Windham, February 15, 1920.

The family attend the Congregational church and in politics Mr. Hansen is a republican. He was appointed postmaster of North Windham under President Taft in 1911. after passing the civil service examination. Practically his entire life has been passed in Connecticut save for the brief period spent on the Pacific coast. He started out in the business world without special advantages and his diligence and industry have constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his commercial advance- ment.

JOHN A. CARPENTER.

John A. Carpenter was often called the father of Putnam, a term indicative of the important part which he played in the development of its material, intellectual, social, political and moral interests and upbuilding. He did with thoroughness everything that he undertook and in his vocabulary there was no such word as fail. He realized that when one avenue of opportunity seemed closed he could carve out other paths that would enable him to reach the desired goal and his entire life was actuated by a spirit of helpfulness and progressiveness for the benefit of the individual and for the com- munity at large.

John A. Carpenter was the seventh in order of birth in a family of three sons and six daughters whose parents were Amos and Mary (Bailey) Carpenter. He came of English ancestry, the line being traced back to William Carpenter, who crossed the At- lantic as a passenger on the ship Bevis in 1638 and became a resident of Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was a cousin of Alice Carpenter Southworth, the wife of Gov- ernor Bradford. Members of the family figured in connection with the military history of the country. Robert Carpenter, the great-grandfather of John A. Carpenter, enlisted as a corporal in the Continental army, in Colonel Michael Jackson's regiment, and served from April 24, 1777, until the 7th of October of the same year. He enlisted again in Colonel Pyncheon's regiment and afterward reenlisted for three years on the 9th of February, 1778. Amos Carpenter, father of John A. Carpenter, was a shoemaker, cooper and carpenter, and in 1837 he removed with his family to a farm in the eastern part of Pomfret, now Putnam, Connecticut, where he reared his family. He wedded Mary Bailey, a daughter of Joseph Bailey, who was a Revolutionary war soldier, and they became the parents of nine children.

John A. Carpenter assisted with the farm work in Pomfret and after attending the district schools pursued a course in the Wilbraham Academy, and in 1846 became a student in the Woodstock Academy. In the following winter he began teaching school, which profession he followed for nearly twelve years. In 1857 he entered the employ of M. S. Morse & Company, with whom he remained until July, 1866, when he became cashier of the First National Bank and continued in that position until his death, which occurred November 27, 1907. He was the last survivor of the nine original directors of the bank. On the 1st of October, 1866, he was elected treasurer of the Putnam Sav- ings Bank, which had been organized but a short time, and his marked ability, applied to the business of the bank, resulted largely in its increase. He voted with the re- publican party, of which he was one of the active workers, and in August, 1863, he was elected judge of probate for the Putnam district and occupied that position for thirty-five years, being many times nominated by both the republican and democratic parties. But one decision which he rendered was appealed from and carried to the superior court. He was the first warden of the town fire district and was one of the first school visitors of the new town of Putnam, filling that position for many years. He contributed much to the development of the city in the way of advancing its school and church interests and its civic affairs. Such was his integrity and business abil- ity that he was frequently called upon to act as administrator of estates and at all times he commanded the highest esteem and respect of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Carpenter married Miss Elizabeth Williams, a daughter of Byram Williams, of Pomfret, who passed away, leaving one son, Byram Williams, now a resident of Bos- ton. For his second wife Mr. Carpenter chose Marcia J. Chandler and they became parents of three children: Jane Elizabeth, who married Edgar M. Warner; Annie Chan- dler, who became the wife of Chester E. Child; and John Frederic.

The last named, an attorney at law who since 1892, or for a period of more than a quarter of a century has been practicing his profession in Putnam, pursued his edu- cation in the public and high schools of the city in which he still resides and then, determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he became a student in the Yale Law School, being admitted to the bar in 1892. He then located for practice in Put-

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nam, where he has since remained, and through the intervening years he has main- tained a high place in professional circles. He is accorded liberal clientage and his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, yet he never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.

On the 27th of December, 1893, John F. Carpenter married Alice M. Sharpe, of Putnam, and they have had three children, of whom two are living, Alice Maude and Mary, both born in Putnam. Politically Mr. Carpenter has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he has been a close student of the questions and issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argument. In 1911 and 1912 he represented his district in the state legis- lature and gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement. He served on the committee on cities and boroughs, and was connected with much constructive work of the general assembly. Fraternally he is well known as a Mason with membership in the lodge, chapter and council, and he is also a member of Putnam Lodge, No. 574, B. P. O. E. Mr. Carpenter is well known in Putnam, where his entire life has been passed, and he has a large circle of warm friends here.

JASON ELLIOTT GREENE.

Jason Elliott Greene, deceased, for seventy years occupied a farm on the old state road in the town of Pomfret and was one of the valued citizens of his community. He was born in Thompson, Connecticut, August 28, 1836, a son of John Jewitt and Anna (Elliott) Greene, who were representatives of old families of Thompson.

Jason E. Greene acquired his education in the schools of Windham county and after- ward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for more than thirty years, be- ing at different times an active representative of the profession in Pomfret, in Woodstock and in Putnam. The home which he so long occupied is still known as the Jason Greene farm and is pleasantly situated on the state road in the town of Pomfret. He settled thereon when a lad of but ten years and made it his place of residence for three score years and ten. He carefully, systematically and wisely carried on his farming interests and his unfaltering diligence and determination constituted the basis of his growing success. Year by year, as the result of his practical and progressive methods, he gathered good crops and gained a position among the substantial and valued citizens of the community.

Mr. Greene was twice married, his first union being with Miss Catherine Adams Holbrook and there was born a son, Jason Holbrook Greene, who died at the age of nine years. It was on the 22d of August, 1905, that he wedded his second wife, who was formerly Emma Werrell, of New York. She was born in England and was a trained nurse, following the profession in an English hospital. She came to America in 1882 and established her home in Pomfret, where for many years she did active professional work, her patients being summer residents of Pomfret. She now occupies the old Jason Greene farm, upon which she has lived since the death of her husband on the 30th of April, 1916.

Mr. Greene filled various town offices and was also a member of the state legislature. His public duties were promptly and faithfully performed and he made an excellent record in office, while at all times the sterling worth of his character com- manded for him the confidence and goodwill of those with whom he was brought in con- tact. In his passing the community lost one of its oldest citizens and a representative of a family that had long been identified with the development and progress of this sec- tion of the state.

GEORGE EDWIN LARKHAM.

George Edwin Larkham, who follows farming in the town of Canterbury, is num- bered among the self-made men of that section. He started out in the business world empty-handed, and for a long period worked as a farm hand by the month at small wages, but from his earnings as the result of his industry and economy he at length saved a sufficient sum to enable him to begin farming on his own account. At first he operated rented land, but is today the owner of a good property as the result of his perseverance and intelligently directed efforts.

He was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, November 12, 1849, at which time Volun- town was then a part of Windham county, although it is now in New London county.

JASON E. GREENE

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His parents were William Hinkley and Hannah E. (Palmer) Larkham. The father was born in Voluntown and there resided until 1857, when he removed to Griswold, Connecticut, where he cultivated a rented farm. Subsequently he took up his abode at North Stonington, Connecticut, and later again went to Griswold. In 1864 he became a. resident of Canterbury, renting a farm in the Willoughby school district, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in January, 1884. His wife was born in Norwich, Connecticut, near what is now Taftville, and following her husband's death she returned to Norwich, where she bought a farm and there passed away in February, 1916, at the notable old age of ninety-one years.

George E. Larkham was reared in Voluntown to the age of seven years and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Griswold, where he obtained a district school education. He likewise attended school at North Stonington and then with the return of the family to Griswold attended the school where he had formerly been a pupil. In 1864 he went to Canterbury, where he completed his education. He then took up farming and worked by the month at small wages in Canterbury and adjoining towns until 1895. He was ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account and then rented the farm upon which he now resides, near Canterbury Green. In 1897 he bought this fine farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres and here carries on general agricultural pursuits and dairying. His labors are rewarded with a sub- stantial measure of success, for he is diligent, persevering, practical and progressive.

On the 27th of November, 1879, Mr. Larkham was married to Miss Sarah Kenyon, of Canterbury. She was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, a daughter of Anthony B. and Jane (Farmen) Kenyon, who were likewise natives of Plainfield. Mrs. Larkham passed away in Canterbury, November 21, 1912. The only son of that marriage, Henry Palmer, was born in Canterbury, March 1, 1881, and has spent his entire life in the town of his nativity. He is now farming with his father and lives upon the home place. He wedded Clara V. Towne at Canterbury, a daughter of William Towne, a farmer of Canterbury, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

In his political views Mr. Larkham is a democrat and has served on the board of relief but has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Congregational church and has lived a quiet, unassuming but useful life, and his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what can be accomplished by determination and energy. He has justly won the proud American title of self-made man, and his prosperity is the merited reward of earnest labor, intelligently directed.

PATRICK MCDERMOTT.

For thirty years Patrick McDermott has been a well known figure in the com- mercial circles of Willimantic, where he has throughout the entire period conducted a confectionery store. He was born in New York city, July 29, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Ellen (McGonigle) McDermott, who were natives of Sligo, Ireland. The father was reared and educated on the Emerald isle, and for several years in young manhood worked in a stone quarry. He afterward came to the United States, making his way to Willimantic, and worked as a quarryman on the Hartford & Providence Railroad at the time of the construction of the line. He also worked on the New London & Northern Railroad as a quarryman and later was employed by the American Tele- graph Company when the line was built from New York to Boston. During these periods he lived in various places. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the Union army in 1861, at Hart- ford, serving for four years in defense of the Stars and Stripes. He died at Togus, Maine, in 1892. To him and his wife were born four children: Marguerite, who became the wife of Edward King, a farmer of Hop River, Connecticut, but both are now deceased; Fred, who has also passed away; Patrick, of this review; and Mary, also deceased.

Patrick McDermott was reared at Willimantic, Connecticut, where he pursued a district school education. He started out in the business world as an employe in a thread mill, working at night for several years. He was ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account, and carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to establish a small confectionery store in Willmantic in 1889. Throughout the intervening period he has conducted this business, or for more than thirty years, and has long been regarded as one of the leading and progressive mer- chants of the city. He carries a large and well selected line of confectionery, giving to the public the best that the market affords, and the tasteful arrangement of his store, combined with his reasonable prices and earnest desire to please his customers, has gained for him a very liberal and gratifying patronage.

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On the 30th of December, 1891, Mr. McDermott was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Carey, of Rockville, Connecticut, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Egan) Carey, natives of Sligo, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. McDermott became the parents of two children : Edward P., now deecased; and Henry L., who was born in Willimantic, July 1, 1895, and was here reared and educated. He worked, for the Rockville & Willimantic Electric Light Company, but after America's entrance into the World war he went to Fort Slocum, New York, enlisting in the air service. He was afterward sent overseas as a mechanic in the Two Hundred and Twenty-third Aero Squadron and was discharged May 21, 1919, having done his full duty in making the world safe for democracy.

The religious faith of Mr. McDermott and his family is that of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally he is connected with Camp No. 1546, Modern Woodmen of America, and Division No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, of Willimantic. In politics he is a democrat and belongs to the chamber of commerce, cooperating in all the purposes and plans of that organization to upbuild and develop the city, to extend its business con- nections and to maintain its high civic standards. He is a director of the Willimantic Building & Loan Association.

PERCY HOWARD WILCOX.

Percy Howard Wilcox, who is engaged in the dairying and truck farming business in the town of Plainfield, his place being known as the Market Garden Farm, was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, January 20, 1870, a son of Stephen Elias and Eliza Sissons (Bushnell) Wilcox, who were residents of Sprague, Connecticut. In their family were nine children, of whom two died in infancy. The others are Elias Frank, Julia Ade- laide, Lillie Jessie and Nellie Bessie, twins, Percy Howard, Ernest Spencer and Amy M.

In his youthful days Percy H. Wilcox was a pupil in the public schools of Hanover and of Canterbury, Connecticut, and when his textbooks were put aside took up farm- ing and carpentering in order to provide for his own support. Eventually he re- moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he was employed as a chauffeur, and later he went to New London, where he took charge of the garden truck department on the estate of Morton F. Plant. At a subsequent period he conducted a farm for six years at Franklin, Connecticut, and then removed to Plainfield, where he purchased a farm from Clara E. Taylor in 1913. He has since devoted his attention to dairying and to the raising of garden produce, conducting his place under the name of the Plainfield Market Garden Farm. His farm is noted for the fine vegetables which it produces and for its excellent dairy products, for in the conduct of his business affairs Mr. Wilcox dis- plays a most progressive spirit and holds to the highest business standards. He is a member of the New England Milk Producers Association and also of the Windham County Farmers Association.

On the 4th of September, 1904, at Norwich, Connecticut, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage to Miss Edna Wheeler, and they have become the parents of nine children: Howard, Daisy, Ruth, Amy, Percy, Marian, Stephen, Walter and Bessie.

In his political views Mr. Wilcox has ever been a republican, supporting the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his family attend the Congregational church at Plainfield, and they are interested in all that has to do with the welfare and further development and upbuilding of this section of the state.

FRED BUCKLEY.

The great manufacturing industries of New England employ thousands of men, each one of whom must be trained for efficiency in his particular line. Advancement in such work can only be secured through capability and worth, and the record of Fred Buckley therefore speaks for itself inasmuch as he is now serving as assistant superintendent of the Goodyear Cotton Mills, Inc., at Goodyear, Windham county. He comes from the land where the weaving industry first reached a point of high efficiency, for he is a native of Bradford, England, his birth having occurred on the 23d of May, 1887. His parents were Marcus and Rebecca (Bean) Buckley, who were also natives of England, the former born in Bradford and the latter in Scarborough, where she still resides. The father was reared and educated at the place of his birth and became identified with the silk industry there, continuing active in the business throughout his entire life. He retired in 1907 and passed away in his native city, December 16,

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1918, after which his widow returned to the place of her birth. They had a family of three children.

Fred Buckley of this review was educated in the national schools of Bradford, England, and also attended the Bradford Technical College, from which he was grad- uated on the completion of a three years' course, thus being trained in the practical and scientific phases of cloth manufacture. He first did designing and specialized in connection with the manufacture of worsted and woolen goods. Later he was made . assistant designer at Bradford for the house of William Ellison & Son, with which he continued for three years, while subsequently he was general assistant to the manager of the Empsall & Firth Company at Bradford, continuing in that position for two years. In 1908 he came to the United States, settling first at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he was head clerk of the Lorraine Manufacturing Company. He afterward became head of the preparation department of that company, continuing in the position for five years, when he went with the Jenks Spinning Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and for three years acted as head of their preparation department. He next became assistant to the mill manager and in 1919 he removed to Goodyear, Connecticut, as assistant superintendent of the Goodyear Cotton Mills, Inc. He has since occupied this position, for which his previous experience, his wide study and his developing efficiency had well qualified him.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 67

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