USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bristol > Bristol, Connecticut : "in the olden time New Cambridge", which includes Forestville > Part 39
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EDWARD BUTLER DUNBAR.
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EDWARD BUTLER DUNBAR. (From Bristol Press, May 20, 1907.)
Edward Butler Dunbar was born in Bristol November 1, 1842 and was a son of Edward Lucien Dunbar and Julia Warner. He was de- scended from one of the oldest Scotch-American families in New England.
Mr. Dunbar attended the public schools of the town and completed a course at the Williston seminary at East Hampton, Mass. At the age of eighteen years he went to New York and became associated with the late William F. Tompkins in the mangaement of the New York office of the "crinoline" or hoop skirt business of Dunbar & Barnes, then an extensive Bristol industry. Two years later Mr. Tompkins resigned and Mr. Dunbar succeeded to the sole management of the office. He continued in the position three years, when the fashion for hoop skirts had materially subsided and the New York office was given up.
Returning to Bristol in 1865, Mr. Dunbar entered the employ of his father who had that year established the small spring factory at the present location of Dunbar Brothers. He resided here continuously since. In 1872 the elder Dunbar died and the following year a partner- ship was formed between the brothers, Edward B., William A., and Winthrop W. for carrying on the business under the firm name of Dun- bar Brothers. The partnership continued until 1890 when because of ill health, W. A. Dunbar sold out his interest to his brothers and retired from the firm.
The business thrived under the management of the new firm and became one of the leading manufacturing houses of the town. The original factory building is still in use and one of the landmarks of the town. Since the death of the elder Dunbar, and by his express wish the old bell is tolled every night of the year ninety-nine times at 9 o'clock.
Just previous to the death of the subject of this sketch the firm of Dunbar Brothers was incorporated, with C. E. Dunbar as a member of it. E. B. Dunbar was the largest stockholder and president of the firm.
Mr. Dunbar's life was an active one, and he found time to devote much time, energy and thought to worthy public enterprises and institu- tions.
He served his town two terms as representative in the general assembly, in 1869 when but twenty-seven years old and again in 1881. He served the old Fourth senatorial district in the upper branch of the general assembly in 1885 and was re-elected in 1887. Subsequently he was urged to accept a nomination for Congress but declined.
For thirty years he was the Democratic registrar of voters in the First district of the town and borough, and the first election he failed to attend in all those years was the borough election held a few days ago.
He was one of the active promoters of the project which provided Bristol with a High school and was chairman of the High school com- mittee from its establishment until four years ago when he resigned, because of the press of other duties. It was under his direction the present sightly school building was constructed. His interest was ever intense for maintaining high standards at the school, giving it a standing and efficiency beyond that of similiar schools in towns the size of Bristol.
For a number of years Mr. Dunbar was a member of the board of school visitors and for more than a quarter of a century, was a member of the district committee of the South Side school.
Mr. Dunbar had been the executive head of the Bristol fire depart- ment since 1871, the date of the establishment of the board of fire com- missioners. He was deeply interested in the progress of the depart- ment and within his administration saw it grow from the old hand engine equipment to its present modern apparatus.
In 1891 when the Free Public library was suggested as a solution of the question of what should be done with the library of the then defunct
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Y. M. C. A., Mr. Dunbar was very active in behalf of the movement for the town institution. He was chosen president of the board of library directors which position he held to the time of his death. He was a member of the special committee of the board appointed to solicit for the building fund and during the absence of Mr. Ingraham from the town acted temporarily as a member of the building committee.
Mr. Dunbar was also active in the interests of the movement for the establishment of the Bristol National bank and from the first has been a director in that institution, For a number of years he was its vice president. In 1905, following the death of President Charles S. Treadway, Mr. Dunbar was chosen his successor and filled that office with characteristic faithfulness and ability to the last days of his illness.
He was also a director and vice president of the Bristol Savings bank since 1889.
Mr. Dunbar united with the First Congregational Church July 7, 1867, and since October 11, 1901 had been a faithful deacon in that church.
He was a member of the Bristol Business Men's association, Reliance Council, Royal Arcanum and the Central Congregational club.
In former days he was president of the Bristol Board of Trade and of the Young Men's Christian Association. being particularly interested in the Boys' branch of that institution.
Every position held by Mr. Dunbar was regarded by him as a channel for service to the community and his fellows. Faithfulness and ability and self sacrifice characterized his administrations, throughout his long career of usefulness.
Ms. Dunbar married Miss Alice Giddings, daughter of Watson Giddings, December 23, 1875 and three children were born to them :- Mamie Eva, who died in 1881; Marguerite, wife of Rev. C. N. Shepard, professor of Hebrew at the General Theological seminary, New York City, and Edward Giddings Dunbar who is at present attending a pre- paratory school at Stamford.
Mr. Dunbar is survived by Mrs. Dunbar and five brothers and sisters :- Winthrop W. Dunbar, William A. Dunbar, Mrs. Warren W. Thorpe, Mrs. Leverett A. Sanford and Mrs. George W. Mitchell. Mr. Dunbar's death took place May 13, 1907.
HENRY ALBERT SEYMOUR.
Henry Albert Seymour was born in New Hartford, January 22, 1818. He was married in Bristol, in 1844, to Electa Churchill of New Hartford. In 1847 he removed to Stafford District where he engaged in clock-making in the Boardman & Wells shop in partnership with his brother-in-law, John Churchill and Ebenezer Hendrick of Forest- ville. Conflicting with patents controlled by Noble Jerome, he re- linquished this business and moved to Bristol, where he built a small factory, now used as a tenement house on Riverside avenue, and began the manufacture of ivory and boxwood rules, which business he sold to The Stanley Rule and Level Company of New Britain. In 1851 he built the first of the Main street buildings known as Seymour's Block, where he conducted a jewelry and watch repairing business for several years. He sold all his Main street property, homestead included, in 1896, to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. Mr. Seymour served the town as Selectman, Assessor and in other capac- ities. He was one of the organizers of the Bristol Savings Bank in 1870, was elected its first president, and served in that office continuously until his death, a period of nearly twenty-seven years. He died April
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6, 1897. Mrs. Seymour died December 10, 1873. Their surviving children are: Laura E., of Bristol; Henry A., of Washington, D. C .; Mary, wife of Miles Lewis Peck, of Bristol; Grace, wife of William S. Ingraham, of Bristol and George Dudley Seymour of New Haven.
ALLEN BUNNELL.
Was born in Burlington, February 7, 1802, and died in Bristol, May 20, 1873.5" His schooling was received at the Center district of his native town until fourteen, when he gave seven years to learning the trade
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of "wagon making of "Boss" Hale of the same town. At twenty-four he was married to Rhoda Atwater, of Bristol, and raised a large family of intelligent, active children, too well-known as prominent citizens of Bristol, to need designation. Except for a period of three years spent in Ohio and Illinois, his long life was spent in,Burlington and Bristol. He was one of the earliest and most outspoken of the aboli- tionists, and burned a keg of powder when his three boys were at the front, in celebrating the freedom of the slaves.
ELISHA C. BREWSTER.
Was a son of Capt. Elisha Brewster, of Middletown, and a descendant of Elder William Brewster, of the Mayflower. He was a clothmaker by trade, but became interested in the sale of clocks as a "Yankee clock peddler," in the South, selling the clocks made by Thomas Barnes of Bristol. In 1843 he became a partner of Elias and Andrew Ingraham, afterward associating himself with William Day and Augustine Norton. He retired from business in 1862. His son, N. L. Brewster, represented the London, England, branch of the business for twenty-one years. He was a prominent man, a deacon in the Congregational Church, and much respected as a man and citizen. He died January 28, 1880.
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GEORGE W. BARTHOLOMEW.
HARRY S. BARTHOLOMEW.
GEORGE W. BARTHOLOMEW.
Descended from the first settlers of the town. Mr. Bartholomew became, indeed, a representative man. His father was born in the old "Bartholomy" tavern, near the Burlington line, Peaceable street, March 25, 1776. Mr. Bartholomew was born June 19, 1805. He lived many years in Polkville, now Edgewood, but in early life traveled exten- sively in the South and in California. He was one of the first to open the Bristol copper mine; and in company with his son, Harry S., was engaged in manufacturing up to the time of his death, which took place May 7, 1897.
HARRY S. BARTHOLOMEW.
Son of George W., was born in Bristol, March 14, 1832. He married Sabra A. Peck, of Whigville, in 1860. He was a student of Simeon Hart's noted academy, in Farmington, went to California in 1854, but returned in 1855, and commenced the manufacture of bit braces, in company with his father in Polkville, in which business he continued to the end of his life, which took place February 19, 1902, in the South, where he was seeking to benefit his health by a change of climate.
CHARLES BEACH.
Was born at Burlington, August 8, 1816. His parents were John ' and Betsey (Curtis) Beach. He came to Bristol in his boyhood, en- gaging in various employments in his earlier years, but was for many years preceding his death an efficient and faithful employe in the clock factory, his specialty being varnishing. He was twice married; first to Miss Mary Granniss, of Southington, Conn., who lived but a few years. In 1845 he married Miss Abigail Clark, of Sandisfield, Mass. He was a faithful member of the M. E. Church for over sixty years, and a constant attendant upon its various services until failing health compelled him to stay at home. He died December 3, 1894.
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CHARLES BEACH.
ORRIN & BURDETTE IVES.
Was born in Bristol Aug. 2, 1830. His first experience in his mercan- tile career was as a clerk with George Merriman at the North Side. After living in Boston and other places he formed a partnership with Andrew Shepard, in the store now owned by the Muzzys. Mr. Ives took the
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grocery department about 1862, and carried it on separately for a time. On the death of Mr. Shepard he took the entire business, selling out to A. J. Muzzy in 1875. He was in South Norwalk for several years where he conducted a dry goods store. After disposing of his store to Mr. Muzzy, he was engaged in the feed business, and harness business, and finally the glass and crockery trade which he sold to Lee Roberts, who has since conducted it. His death occurred while returning from Florida, where he had been for the benefit of his health, which had long been delicate, at Aiken, S. C., April 18, 1896.
CONSTANT LOYAL TUTTLE.
Constant Loyal Tuttle, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bristol, Conn., January 28, 1775, the son of Ebenezer and Eunice Moss Tuttle (I mention the year as it accounts for his strange name.) He was their sixth child. October 21, 1798, he married Chloe, daughter of Caleb and Annah Carrington Matthews. They commenced housekeeping at East Plymouth and in 1812 returned to her home on Chippin's Hill to care for her parents in their declining years. Nine children were born to them. Two died young, seven grew to maturity and married. He had twenty-seven grandchildren and twenty-two followed him to his grave.
Mr. Tuttle was a prosperous farmer. He built a tannery north of his house where they tanned leather making a portion of it into shoes and harnesses. Here was a cider mill and distillery, for in those days it was not considered wrong to make and drink brandy. That was given up long before his death in 1858.
He was a church man and helped build the Episcopal Church at the North Side and with' Mr. Ephriam Downs built and owned the rectory. He was Justice of the Peace and was a man thoroughly respected. He was a Free Mason previous to the Morgan trouble and his name is men- tioned as treasurer in 1819.
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JOHN HUMPHREY SESSIONS.
John Humphrey Sessions, in whose death at Bristol, September 10, 1899, the community lost one of its most valued citizens, was a native of Connecticut, born March 17, 1828, in Burlington, Hartford County.
The Sessions family, with which our subject was connected, had its origin in Wantage, Berkshire, England, which place was visited in 1889 by a member of the Connecticut line, who found none of the family there. However, in the adjoining country of Gloucester, there is a family by the name of Sessions, which, there is little doubt, came from the same stock, in fact, it was the only one of the name to be found in England. The head of this Gloucestershire family, Hon. J. Sessions, at the age of eighty years, was Mayor of the city of Gloucester, and his three sons were associated with him in a large manufacturing business in both Gloucester and Cardiff (Wales), the style of the firmn being J. Sessions & Sons. There is also a daughter who is actively engaged in benevolent and reformatory work, while the mother established and built a "Home for the Fallen," which is managed and cared for by mem- bers of the family. They all belong to the "Society of Friends," and Frederick Sessions, although at the head of a large business, gives his entire time, without salary, to reformatory work, lecturing and organ- izing Sunday Schools, and temperance and other beneficent societies.
The crest of the English Sessions family is a griffin's head. This mythological creature was sacred to the sun, and, according to tradition, kept guard over hidden treasures. It is emblematical of watchfulness, courage, perseverance and rapidity of execution-characteristics of the Sessions family to the present day.
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John Humphrey Sessions, born March 17, 1828, in Burlington, Conn., was married April 27, 1848, to Miss Emily Bunnell, born in Burlington, January 30, 1828, a daughter of Allen and Rhoda (Atwater) Bunnell, also of Burlington. Children born to John Humphrey and Emily (Bunnell) Sessions were as follows: (1) John Henry, born February 26, 1849; (2) Carrie Emily, born December 15, 1854, married December 24,
. . . .
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1871, George W. Neubauer of Bristol; (3) William Edwin, born February 18, 1857.
John Humphrey Sessions received a common school education, such as the district schools afforded in his boybood days, and at an early age began to work in the wood turning establishment of A. L. & L. W. Wins- ton, Polkville, a suburb of Bristol. In 1858 he entered into partnership with Henry A. Warner, under the firm name of Warner & Sessions. The venture proving a success, he in 1869 removed the business to the center of the town. About 1870 he purchased the trunk hardware business that had belonged to his deceased brother, Albert J. Sessions, and the business was a success from the commencement. In 1879 Mr. Sessions bought the property of the Bristol Foundry Co. on Laurel St., and together with his son Wm. E. Sessions, formed the Sessions Foundry Co. This business, like the others, proved a great success, and in 1896 they moved into their present plant on Farmington avenue.
All his life Mr. Sessions was identified with important concerns of the town. In 1875 he was one of the founders of the Bristol National Bank and was elected its first president, a position he held until the time of his death. He was president of the Bristol Water Company at the time of his decease. He was one of the original stockholders of the Bristol Electric Light Company and was its president until it merged into the Bristol & Plainville Tramway Company; was a stockholder in the Bristol Press Company.
"Besides being a most important factor in financial life of the town, he was no less a potent force in its moral and religious life:" A brief sketch of his connection with the Prospect M. E. Church is given in the article about the Church, on page 283.
JOHN HENRY SESSIONS.
Eldest son of John Humphrey Sessions, born in Polkville, February 26, 1849, and received a liberal education at the schools of Bristol. In 1873 he was admitted into the firm of J. H. Sessions & Son, trunk hard- ware manufacturers. He was a director of the Bristol Water Company
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at its organization and at the death of his father became its president. At the time of his father's death he was elected vice president of the Bristol National Bank. Mr. Sessions, though a staunch Republican, took no active part in politics. In 1883 he was elected secretary of the Bristol Board of Fire Commissioners. On May 19, 1869 he married Miss Maria Francena Woodford, who was born September 8, 1848, a daugh- ter of Ephraim Woodford, of West Avon, Conn., and one son was born to them, Albert Leslie, born January 5, 1872.
ALBERT JOSEPH SESSIONS.
Was born in Burlington, June 11, 1834. At the age of twelve he left home to work for a farmer for his board and clothes, attending school in the winter. At sixteen he started out in the world for himself. In 1857 he engaged in the manufacture of trunk trimmings, in Southington, in company with his brother, the late Samuel W. Sessions, of Cleveland, "Ohio. In 1862 the business was moved to Bristol, and conducted by him until his death, when it was acquired by John H. Sessions. He died June 25, 1870. He was an active member of the Congregational Church, President of the Y. M. C. A., and interested in all the affairs of the town, political and otherwise.
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HERVEY ELLSWORTH WAY, M. D.
Hervey Ellsworth Way, M. D., the subject of this sketch, was born in Meriden, Conn., January 17, 1828. He was the son of Susan and Samuel Way.
He received a common school education and studied medicine under the instruction of Gardner Barlow, M. D., of Meriden and later under John B. Newman, M. D. of New York City, after which he took a course of study in the University of the City of New York, from which institu- tion he graduated in the year 1849.
He commenced the practice of medicine in Westbrook soon after graduation, where he remained but a short time. While in Westbrook he married Lucy Ann Kirtland, daughter of Philip M. Kirtland of that town. From Westbrook he removed to Cheshire remaining a few years and in 1857 came to Bristol where he was in active practice until two years before his death which was caused by heart trouble.
Dr. Way was upright and honorable in his dealings with men, con- scientious to a very marked degree and highly regarded by all with whom he came in contact. He ranked high in his profession and was often called in consultation. He was first of all a student and his library contained many choice works, the study of which was to him a pastime.
He died in Bristol, July 29, 1892, survived by his wife, daughter, son and granddaughter and a large circle of friends and patrons mourned his loss.
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EX-SENATOR ELISHA N. WELCH. From Bristol Press, August 4, 1887.
Elisha N. Welch died at his home in Forestville at noon on Tuesday, August 2d, in his 79th year. He had long been in feeble health, and of late, for the most part confined to the house. Thezimmediate cause of his death was angina pectoris.
Mr. Welch was born in Chatham, East Hampton Society, February 7, 1809. During his minority his father moved to Bristol, having bought the house on West street, now owned by Mrs. H. Bradley.
He became of age on a Sunday and the next day entered upon a business career in connection with his father. The business in which they engaged was that of casting clock weights. The scale on which they began this enterprise would hardly entitle it to the dignified' name of a business in these days, for their facilities were exceedingly limited. The blast for their cupola was produced by a blacksmith's bellows worked by hand, and the cupola itself is still humorously spoken of by the old residents of Bristol as a "porridge pot." The weights were sold to clock makers, and payment taken in finished clocks. They were dis- posed of to such customers as they could find, some of them being carried to Philadelphia by the younger member of the firm. Old iron was frequently taken in exchange. As the business grew, other branches of it were added, and in a few years the father and son, who started in so small a way, were possessed of $20,000, which in those days was considered a large fortune.
Later he had as a partner in the foundry and machine business, for many years, the late Harvey Gray, and this firm did a large business. Much of their work was for the Bristol Copper Mine Company. Mr. Welch withdrew about 1856, and Mr. Gray continued alone until burned out a year or two later.
As a result of the business panic in 1857, the clock business of J. C. Brown at Forestville came into Mr. Welch's hands, and he organized the E. N. Welch Mfg. Co., which has had a most successful career, and is today one of the largest clock concerns in the country. Mr. Welch was also founder of the Bristol Brass and Clock Co., in 1850, which has
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also been a great financial success. This company has a rolling mill for the manufacture of sheet brass, located between Bristol and Forest- ville; a lamp burner factory at Forestville, and a spoon and fork factory in Bristol. Mr. Welch was also principal stockholder in the Bristol Manufacturing Co., manufacturing knitted underwear. Of these three companies he has been the president for many years. He was also a large stockholder in manufacturing concerns in Waterbury, New Britain, Plainville and other places. He was also one of the five stockholders of the First National Bank of New Haven, of which his brother, H. M. Welch, is president. Each of the five stockholders put in $50,000 when the bank was instituted. Mr. Welch was also a director in the Bristol National Bank, and in the Travelers and National Insurance Companies of Hartford. He has also had some interest in mines in Montana. His financial success in all of his undertakings has been very great and his estate is estimated at $3,000,000.
Mr. Welch was a member of the Baptist Church in Bristol, and its principle financial supporter, and contributed very largely to the build- ing of a new church edifice and parsonage a few years since. He repre- sented Bristol in the Legislature in 1863 and 1881, and was Senator from the Fourth District in 1883 and 1884. In politics he was a Demo- crat.
In 1829 Mr. Welch married Miss Jane Bulkley of Bristol, who died in 1873. Their children were four, one of whom, Mrs. Frederick N. Stanley of New Britain, is deceased. The others are Mrs. A. F. Atkins, Mrs. G. H. Mitchell, and James H. Welch. In 1876 he married Mrs. Sophia F. Knowles of Canandaigua, N. Y., who survives him. Two brothers and one sister also survive him, H. M. Welch of New Haven, H. L. Welch of Waterville, and Mrs. J. R. Mitchell of Bristol.
JULIUS NOTT.
Was a native of Rocky Hill, where he was born June 11, 1819. Learned the trade of stonemason and bricklayer prior to 1840. Came to Bristol and in 1843 began to work at his trade here, and in other towns. While at work on the knitting mill in Plainville in 1857 he
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sustained injuries from a fall that prevented him from following his trade. He opened a small grocery in Bristol, in 1858, in the basement of the building that he afterward owned, where the Main street railroad bridge now is, where he accummulated a competence, though twice burned out. In 1872 he sold the business to H. & L. G. Merick. He served the town faithfully as Selectman and Representative; and was a Director in the National and Savings Banks, from their organization. His death came from an accident at the railway crossing on Prospect street, January 2, 1877.
GAD NORTON.
Gad Norton, son of Parrish and Betsy Rice Norton, was a descend- ant of John Norton, the founder of the line known as the "Farmington Nortons," who was also one of the eighty-four proprietors of that town.
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