Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 100

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 100

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the Philadelphia Dental College with the class of '95, and has since been doing a very fine business at Torrington. He married Miss Julia Brooker, of Torrington, only daughter of Major Brooker, a prominent man of that locality.

Austin D. Thompson is a member of Franklin ? Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M .; also of Gilbert W. Thompson Post, No. 13, G. A. R., of which latter he is a past commander. He attends the Episcopal Church, in which his wife, who had a very sweet voice, was a member of the choir and quite active in the work of the church. In politics Mr. Thomp- son is a stanch Republican, but, like his father, abstains from taking part in party work, being satisfied with the general exercise of his franchise.

MORRIS CATLIN WEBSTER. This distin- guished citizen of New Britain is a lineal descend- ant of John Webster, who was governor of Con- necticut in 1656. Two grandsons of the latter- Moses and Cyprian-were among the first five set- tlers of Harwinton, in 1730. Three of our subject's ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers, and all left their impress upon the legislation of the State, of whose law-making body many of them were distin- quished and influential members. His father, Addi- son Webster, married Ann M. Catlin, a member of the noted Catlin family, to which Connecticut owes so many capable officials.

Mr. Webster was born at Harwinton, Conn., Sept. 28, 1848, on the farm which was first occu- pied and cultivated by his ancestor, Moses Webster. His early scholastic education was acquired in the common schools and at Harwinton Academy, and he also took a preparatory course at the Winchester Institute. His real preparation for active commer- cial life, however, was obtained primarily in the employ of Hart, Merriam & Co., of Hartford. He served in every department connected with the es- tablishment conducted by that house, acting as sales- man and accountant, and in every way thoroughly fitting himself for his successful mercantile life. In 1881 he accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale boot and shoe house of Boston, his route covering the States of Illinois, Iowa and Ne- braska. His preference, nevertheless, being for the carpet trade, in which branch of business he had received his early training, he entered the employ of Stark Bros., of Milwaukee, but soon left that firm to enter upon an engagement with W. & J. Sloane, of New York. In 1874 he returned to Connecticut and embarked in business for himself, at Terryville. Four years later he sold out this establishment to accept his present responsible position, that of secre -. tary and superintendent of the Malleable Iron Works of New Britain, Mr. Webster is also engaged in ag-' ricultural pursuits, carrying on a truck and produce farm at New Britain, and he has extensive farming interests in his native town, Harwinton.

Mr. Webster has been repeatedly honored by elec- tion to office, although the duties of official life have

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been forced upon him, rather than sought. For three years he was a member of the common coun- cil of the city, and has been four times in succession elected a member of the school board, in which body he is now serving his tenth year. In 1896 he was elected to the Connecticut Legislature by 1,868 ma- jority-the largest ever received by any candidate for an office in the city of New Britain. During his service in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, which revised, in a sat- isfactory manner, the agricultural legislation of the State. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Webster was elected mayor for a term of two years, which posi- tion he filled until the spring of 1900, refusing re- nomination. He is a prominent member of various societies and fraternal orders, among which may be mentioned the following: The Royal Arcanum, in which he is past regent ; the Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics, in which he is past councillor ; the Improved Order of Heptasophs, in which he is trustee ; the Mutual Benefit Association ; the A. O. U. W .; and the New Britain Club. Politically he is a Republican, adhering to the faith in which he was reared.

Mr. Webster was married, in 1874, to Ida E. Barber, of Harwinton, and they have three children.

JOHN GEORGE RUOFF. That sterling char- acter which is the basis of broad and permanent success, an honor to its possessor, and the object of universal esteem and respect, wherever right thinking and right sentiments prevail, is most fit- tingly typified by the subject of this sketch. The Fatherland has contributed to this newer country an element of solidity, stability and integrity which is a great reserve power in all national issues, in- telligent and discriminative, throwing its influence with unerring instinct and judgment in the di- rection of clean and good government. The same element contributes immensely to the material well- being of the people, teaching by example the cardinal virtues of thrift and industry. A more appropriate example of these admirable traits than Mr. Ruoff it would be difficult to find.

Mr. Ruoff was born in Metzingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, Feb. 16, 1835, son of John and Mary Magdalena (Smale) Ruoff. His father, a farmer by occupation, died Jan. 26, 1835, and his mother married again. Our subject had only one full brother, and he died in Germany. The father left some property, but our subject had not received his portion when in 1853, at the age of eighteen years, he decided to come to America. He had at- tended the schools of Germany, and had also worked to some extent at the butcher trade in his native land. He sailed from Havre in September, 1853, on the sailing vessel "Corinthia" for the United States. The trip to America was a most memorable one. Cholera broke out aboard the vessel after her departure, and the ranks of the crew were soon depleted by sickness and death. it became neces-

sary to impress into service the immigrants in order to properly man the plague-visited ship. Mr. Ruoff, who chanced to occupy berth No. I, was the first passenger called to the assistance of the crew. He served as a sailor during the passage of seventy- three days to New York, except the first two weeks. It was a rough and stormy passage. On account of the dread visitation the course of the vessel was changed to the north, so as to reach colder weather, and this course protracted the voyage, which was attended by severe storms. Mr. Ruoff was at one time at the pumps during the height of a gale, and had only left for a moment when a big sea swept overboard and drowned his companions whom he had left there. There were over seventy deaths on the "Corinthia" during this stormv passage.

Our subject landed in New York, a stranger in a strange land. Not a word of English could he speak, but he was industrious and anxious for work. He found employment with a butcher in New York City, and after remaining with him for three weeks he came to Glastonbury, Conn .; ar- rived at Hartford by boat, and thence walked to Glastonbury. There for a time he worked for his board with Guy Sampson, a farmer, and then ob- tained employment at Curtisville, now Naubuc, in the Curtis factory, where spectacles were manu- factured. For over five years he remained there, then went to Hartford, and for several years was employed in Colt's factorv.

In 1862 Mr. Ruoff enlisted in Company C. 22d Regiment Conn V. I., and remained in service until his discharge in July, 1863. Returning to his old position in Colt's factory, he worked there until the shop was destroyed by fire. Mr. Ruoff then went back to Naubuc, and for a time resumed work in the Curtis factory. But gradually he was becoming a farmer, and he soon left other employ- ment to give his entire attention to his farm. In 1861 he had bought from Elisha Smith thirteen acres of land, where he now lives. By a subsequent purchase the area has been increased to thirty-four acres, and the small cottage which stood on the land for a home has been succeeded by a more imposing edifice. Mr. Ruoff has a good farm, and he knows how to till it; the land is under a high state of cultivation, and very productive.

In January, 1858, at Hartford, Mr. Ruoff was married to Miss Elizabeth Amelia Schercer, who was born in Schwabach, Bavaria, Dec. 14, 1837, daughter of John Martin and Dorothy ( Millmark) Schercer. She came to America from Bremen in 1854, on the sailing vessel "Diana," and was forty- four days in making the ocean passage. Her fa- ther was a house carpenter, and both parents died in Germany. They were people of high character and good social standing. She was the only mem- ber of the family who came to America. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruoff have been born the following chil- dren : Mary A., now Mrs. John Bantly, of Man- chester ; George, who died at the age of seventeen

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years ; John, superintendent of the town farm at East Hartford; Frederick, an industrious young man, who at the age of twenty-five years was killed, June 23, 1891, in the factory at Naubuc, by the bursting of a grindstone; Rosa P. (Mrs. Frank Hartz), of Burnside; Frank, a machinist, of New Britain; Charles, of East Hartford; Bertha, who died at the age of two years; Katie L., who mar- ried Frederick Brutt, of New Pritain; and Edwin M., a farmer at home.

In politics Mr. Ruoff is a Democrat, but he is independent in national issues, and voted for Presi- dent Mckinley. While not members of church, he and the family are good Christian people, attend- ants at both church and Sabbath-school. Socially Mr. Ruoff is a member of Rodman Post, G. A. R., at East Hartford. His family would be a credit to any parentage, and all his children have been reared to become honorable and worthy men and women. Mrs. Ruoff is a most excellent helpmeet, and to her is due a share of the credit for the prog- ress in high citizenship and in material prosperity which the family has attained. The youngest son, Edwin M., lives at home, and as a steady-going, intelligent young man is now the mainstay of his parents, whose health will not permit that effort which was once their welcome lot. Not since his service in the army has the health of Mr. Ruoff been rugged, and in recent years he has suffered severely from rheumatism. But he is the same plain, unas- suming and sturdy farmer, whose name has never been associated with dishonest or dubious prac- tices. His word is as good as his bond, and he is one of the most highly-respected men in his lo- calitv.

In 1878 Mr. Ruoff paid a visit to his native land, after an absence of twenty-five years. He remained there three months, and renewed many former acquaintances.

WILLIAM C. SMITH, a prominent resident of Glastonbury, is a descendant of one of the old families of that locality. His grandfather. Jedediah Smith, who was born Sept. 5, 1764, and died in April, 1826, was for many years engaged in farm- ing on the west side of Main street, near our sub- ject's present home. On May 28. 1788, Jedediah Smith married Mary , and they had a large family of children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Jeduthan, July 2, 1789; Philer. Jan. 20, 1791 : Hannah, Aug. 24. 1792 : Shu- bael, Aug. 12, 1793; Mary, Dec. 3, 1795: Mary (2), May 20, 1797 ; Thomas, Oct. 8, 1799; Sydney, May 16, 1801: Eliza, Oct. 8, 1804; Julia, Sept. 30, 1806: and Amelia, July 9, 1808.

Shubael Smith, our subject's father, was born and reared at the old homestead in Glastonbury, receiving a common-school education. He followed farming in Glastonbury throughout his life. In 1815 he married Miss Mary Risley, who was born in Glastonbury Feb. 19, 1799, and they had eleven

children, of whom our subject was the youngest. (I) Mary Ann, born March 22, 1816, married (first) Dexter Wrisley, and (second) Nathaniel Kelsey, and died April 24, 1900, at the age of eighty-four. (2) Matilda, born Aug. 29, 1817, was married, in November, 1835, to Sylvester Dun- nells, a carpenter at Glastonbury. (3) Andrew, born May 25, 1819, married Julia Goodrich in No- vember, 1842; he was engaged in the boating busi- ness with our subject for many years. (4) Lucy, born March 29. 1821, was married, Nov. 30, 1836, to William Higley, a business man of Hartford. (5) Jedediah, born June 19, 1823, married Susan Arnold July 1, 1845. (6) Elizur, born April 4, 1825, was the captain of a tow-boat, and lived in Hartford. He married Cynthia Gaines, and reared a large family, and three of his sons are now ent- ployed in the offices of the Connecticut Mutual Co. (7) Julia, born March 1, 1828, died young. (8) Julia (2) was born Oct. 26, 1831. (9) Elizabeth, born Nov. 14, 1833, married Ransom Wrisley. (10). George N., born March 26, 1838, enlisted in a New York regiment, in Gen. Sickles' Brigade, was wounded at Fortress Monroe May 5. 1862, and died in a New York hospital May 13. 1862.

Our subject was born Jan. 25. 1841, and as a boy attended a district school in a frame building which was replaced some years ago by the brick school house. On leaving school he was employed for a time at general work on a boat belonging to his brother Andrew, and used in carrving stone be- tween Hartford and other points, on the Connecti- cut. Later he bought a boat which he ran for morc than ten years, and on selling out he formed 2 partnership with his brother Jedediah and opened a general store in Naubuc, which they conducted two years in connection with the post office. Our sub- ject then sold out and removed to Hartford, en- gaging in the grocery business on Potter street and three years later he built a store on the same street, nearer the river. He continued there in the grocery and meat market business for many years and also started a store on Pearl street, operating both for a year. He then disposed of the first store, and in 1898 lie retired from business alto- gether. He is living in well-earned ease in his pleasant home in Glastonbury. erected by himsel in 1893. Politically Mr. Smith is a Democrat. and while residing in Hartford he was very prominen in municipal affairs, holding the offices of council man and alderman for a period of ten years. Fra ternally he is a member of the T. O. O. F. at Hart ford, and of Putnam Phalanx, in which he has been corporal and is now color guard.

Mr. Smith was married first to Miss Julia Cal lender, a native of Hartford, and they had the fol lowing children, none of whom are living: George W., born Aug. 25. 1862: William C .. Sept. 9. 1863 Ransom, Oct. 30, 1864: Flora, Nov. 10. 1865. The mother of these children died Dec. 9. 1867, and our subject, on Jan. 9, 1869, married Miss Eliza

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Moore. To this last union no children have been born. Mrs. Smith was born in Ireland, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Huston) Moore, also na- tives of that country, and came to America with her parents in 1850, when six years of age. Her fa- ther, who was employed in cutlery works for many years, died in 1888, her mother some twenty years before. There were seven children in their family : Jane, William, Mary Ann, Robert, Robert (2), Eliza (Mrs. Smith), and John.

JAMES LAWRENCE RISING, a leading horticulturist of West Suffield, is a man whose enterprise and ability are worthy of note, and in his successful career he has shown the progressive nature which characterizes the best class of Amer- ican agriculturists.

Mr. Rising belongs to a well-known family, and is a direct descendant of James Rising, who was born in London, England, about 1617, and came to this country at the age of eighteen, locating in 1635 in Massachusetts. In 1646 he was a student in Harvard College, and on July 7, 1657, he mar- ried Elizabeth Hinsdale, daughter of Robert Hins- dale, of Medfield, Mass. For a short time he re- sided in the Bermuda Islands, and on returning to Massachusetts settled in Salem. In 1668 he came to Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., where his wife died the following year, and on Aug. 13, 1673, he married Martha Bartlett, a widow, who died April 20, 1674. In 1679 he removed to Suffield, where his death occurred Sept. 11, 1688, his remains be- ing interred in West Suffield. By occupation he was a farmer, and he became the owner of a large tract of land. He had two sons, John and James, and the latter died unmarried.

John Rising made his home on High street, in Suffield, where he followed farming. He died Dec. II, 1720, and was buried in Suffield. He was twice married, and had eighteen children, whose de- scendants are now among the best citizens of Suf- field.

Abel Rising, our subject's great-grandfather, was a native of Suffield, and resided at Rising's Corners. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church at West Suffield.

Justus Rising, the grandfather of our subject, was born at the Corners, where he spent his entire life. As a farmer he was very successful, and he owned a large estate, being one of the substantial citizens of the locality. He married Mary Wilcox, who was also muchi esteemed for her excellent qualities, and both died in West Suffield, where their remains were buried. They had five chil- dren : Ransom, our subject's father; Sanford, a resident of Indiana; Lafayette; Silence, who mar- ried Dr. James L. Hodge; and Justus, who died in childhood.

Ransom Rising was born at the old homestead, and was educated in the local schools and in the Connecticut Literary Institute, being among the

first to enter that noted school. When a young man he settled upon a portion of the old homestead and engaged in tobacco growing, dairying and stock raising. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican, but he never sought or held office. His upright life won him the respect of all who knew him, and for many years he was a leading member of the Baptist Church of Zion's Hill. He died at the homestead in 1892, in his seventy-second year, and his estimable wife, Jane E. Porter, a native of Hartford, passed away May 10, 1803, at the same age.

James L. Rising, who was the only child of this worthy couple, was born Dec. 19, 1846, and has always made his home at the old farm, his education being obtained in the district schools of West Suf- field. Until his father's death thev operated the farm in partnership, our subject assuming the active management as time passed. He devotes much at- tention to general farming and stock raising, but has inade a specialty of growing peaches, strawberries and other fruits, in which he has met with marked success, his scientific methods producing good re- sults under all conditions. In religious work he is prominent as a member of the Baptist Church, and while he is not an office-seeker he is keenly in- terested in the political issues of the day. In former years he was a Republican, but his earnest convic- tions on the question of temperance reform have made him a thorough-going Prohibitionist. In 1872 he married Miss Maria Louis: Hastings, and four children have blessed the union: Margaret, wife of Lemuel Griffin, of Granby ; Lawrence, who was educated at the Connecticut Literary Institute. and is now at home ; Judson Everett, now a student in the Institute ; and Silence M .. who is at home.

Mrs. Rising is a representative of one of the old and highly-respected families of Suffield, and from an early date the Baptist Church of that sec- tion has had no more ardent and devout adherents than those bearing the name of Hastings. Her an- cestors came from England, originally, and her great-grandfather, Joseph Hastings. was born at Hastings' Hill, in the town of Suffield, where he spent his life, being engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Politically he was a Whig, and like all of his family he was active in the support of the Baptist faith. He died at his homestead, and he and his wife were buried in the cemetery at Zion's Hill. They had a large family of children, of whom the following lived to adult age: : Samuel, Garry, Homer, Frank, Harvey, James, Anna and Rachel.

James Hastings, Mrs. Rising's grandfather, was born at the homestead June 2, 1796, and when a young man settled upon the Austin farm, in West Suffield, where he died in 1825. at the early age of twenty-nine. He married Ursula Austin, who was born at the Austin farm March 12, 1796, daughter of Joseph Austin, a Revolutionary soldier, and his wife, Sarah Goodrich, and she survived him many years, her death occurring Feb. 1, 1868. Two chil-

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dren were born of this union: Maria Louisa, who died in Buffalo, N. Y .; and James G., Mrs. Rising's father.

James G. Hastings was born in West Suffield Dec. 16, 1822, on the farm which he now occupies. He attended the district schools and the Connecti- cut Literary Institute, and has made farming his occupation throughout life, tobacco being his prin- cipal crop. He is a Republican in politics, and is a strong champion of temperance and other re- forms. For fifty years he has been a member of the Baptist Church, in which he holds the office of dea- con, and his long and useful life has won him the respect of all who know him. In 1850 he married Miss Mary A. Cartter, sister of Mrs. Buel D. Hodge, and six children were born to them, viz .: Maria Louise, wife of our subject; Stephen C .; James Eugene; Jessie F., wife of Ralph Granger, of San Diego, Cal .; Elbridge G., a cigar manu- facturer at Suffield ; and Miss Dora, who is at home. 1

JOHN WILLIAM GRAY, who has charge of the packing department of the Bristol Brass & Clock Co., in Forestville, is a native of Connecticut, born Dec. 26, 1840, in New Haven.

Bernard Gray, father of John W., was born in the Province of Connaught, Ireland, in 1813, and died Aug. 17, 1845, in New Haven, Conn., where he was employed in the soft-drink manufactory of Henry Grunert. Early in 1840, at New Haven, he married Alice Towner, who was born in 1821 in County Armagh, Ireland, and died in Forestville, Conn., in 1893. The children born to this union were as follows: John W., our subject; Annie, born Dec. 6, 1842, married Charles W. Brown, of Forestville; and Alice, born in 1844, died when three years old. The mother of these remarried in 1849, her second husband being Noble Smith, of Plainville, by whom she had children as follows : William J., living in Bristol; and Katie, Helen and Edward, all three in Forestville.

John W. Gray, the subject proper of these lines, received his education in the schools of New Haven up to the age of nine years, at which time his mother (who in the meantime had married again) removed to Plainville, and there he finished his schooling. At the age of sixteen he commenced life work in the varnishing division, case department of the E. N. Welch Clock Co., and there remained until his en- listment July 22, 1862, in Company K, 16th Conn. V. I. At the battle of Antietam he received a gun- shot wound in the left hand, which has ever since been badly crippled. He was sent home on a furlough, ordered to report at the New Haven hos- pital, and was mustered out March 4, 1863, on ac- count of the wound. For the same reason he was compelled to take up light work, and forone year was night watchman for the E. N. Welch Co. He then found employment in the "burner shop" of the Bristol Brass & Clock Co. in Forestville, in the press room, and there remained about eight years, at the

end of which time he entered the foot-press room as assistant to the superintendent, and at the close of four years in that incumbency he was given charge of the packing department, which position he has since filled with his accustomed ability and fidelity.

On March 19, 1864, Mr. Gray was married to Katie Hughes, who was born in Waterbury, Conn., daughter of John and Catherine (Sheren) Hughes, and a brief record of their children is as follows : (1) George Bernard, born April 5, 1866, is a clerk in J. S. Deming & Co.'s grocery, Forestville ; he was married in 1900 to Hellen Bracken, of Norwalk, Conn. (2) Annie Emma, born Oct. 3, 1870, was married Dec. 26, 1898, to James P. Bree, of New Haven, a lawyer and man of prominence in politi- cal affairs; he was a member of the legislature in 1898, and Senator, 1900 to 1902, from New Haven ; they have one child : John Paul, born Nov. 15, 1899. Mrs. Bree is a graduate of Bristol High School, class of '88, and of Mt. St. Joseph's Convent, Hart- ford, in music; prior to her marriage she spent seven years in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church at Forestville. Politically he is a Democrat; for five years served as constable, and has been clerk and treasurer of the Thirteenth school district of Bristol-clerk from 1875 to 1888, and treasurer and clerk since the latter year. Socially he is a charter member of Newton S. Monroe Post, No. 57, of Forestville, in which he has passed all the chairs, being past commander, and is now serving as quar- termaster.

ELMER WINFIELD STEARNS, a well- known and popular citzen of Berlin, who is serving as assistant to the president of the Berlin Iron Bridge Co., was born in Manchester, N. H., Dec. 13, 1860, and traces his ancestry back to (I) Isaac Stearns, a native of the parish of Wayland, Suffolk, England, who came to America in 1630 on the same ship with Gov. Winthrop and Sir Richard Salton- stall. He served as selectman of Watertown, Mass., for several years. He had married in England, and his wife came with him to the New World. Tc them were born eight children who lived in this country.

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Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 100

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1336

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336