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 102

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 102

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P. R. HAYES was born in Tipperary, Ireland, March 8, 1843, son of Patrick and Mary (Ryan) Hayes, who had a family of six sons and eight daughters, six of whom are yet living. The others are : Hannah, who lives at Providence, R. I. ; Ellen, now Mrs. John Gorman, of South Manchester, Conn .; Catherine, the wife of Peter Calhoun, of the same place; John, residing in Australia; Tim- othy, in South Manchester, Conn .; and Thomas, whose home is in Vermont. Of the children de- ceased four attained maturity : Mary, Thomas (I), Bridget and Joseph. The others died in infancy.

The family emigrated from Ireland in 1852, coming by a sailing-vessel, and after a passage oc- cupying more than two months reached New York, where they remained for a year, passing the next year at New Hartford, Conn., and the two follow- ing at Avon, Conn. From there the elder Hayes removed to Chicopee, Mass., and thence to Glaston- bury, Conn. The next year he returned to Avon, and two years afterward (1860) took up his resi- dence at South Manchester, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1884, when he had reached the extraordinary age of ninety years. His wife had died three years before, at the age of sixty-six.

P.R. Hayes was a youth of seventeen years when he first came to South Manchester. He obtained work in Joseph Parker's cotton mill, and showed such aptitude, industry and fidelity that he was soon made overseer of one of the spinning rooms, remaining in the mill until 1869, when he was affected by the "gold fever," and went to California, making the trip by way of the Isthmus. Two months' work in the mines satisfied him, so turning his face again toward the East he once more located at South Manchester, and for a year worked in the cotton mill of F. D. Dale. His next venture was the purchase of a gristmill, which he disposed of after a year, buying a farm in the town of Bol-

ton, Tolland county. Two years later he erected the "'Three Oaks Store," about a mile from South Man- chester, which he successfully conducted for seven years. Tiring of mercantile business, he rented his store, and returned to California. There he went to work as superintendent of the leather shop of the State penitentiary, from which he was afterward transferred to the jute works, where he superin- tended the manufacture of gunny-bags, etc. For four years he was employed in the State prison, and two more he spent in San Francisco, when he again returned to South Manchester and resumed the management of his store, in which he has been engaged ever since. In 1893, he purchased the "American Hotel," at South Manchester. Four years later the house burned down, but he at once rebuilt, and continued to conduct the hotel (at the same time running his store) until 1898, when he sold it in order to devote his whole time and energy to his mercantile business.

On June 7, 1865, Mr. Hayes was married to Miss Catherine Gorman, who died June 6, 1897. Polit- ically our subject is a Republican, and in religious faith a Catholic, attending St. James' Church, in Manchester. The career of Mr. Hayes affords a striking illustration of the possibilities which lie before industry, when directed by intelligence, in- tegrity and a fidelity to principle that has never wavered. He has educated himself, and has made his own fortune. That such men should succeed is not surprising. Success is their birthright.

THOMAS ROPER, of Newington, was born on Capitol avenue, Hartford, Oct. 21, 1851, and is of English descent. The name of Roper was a very familiar one in England during the early part of the seventeenth century, and members of the fam- ily were quite prominent there. Sir Thomas Moore's daughter married a Roper, who was one of the ancestors of our subject. The family have all been great readers and deep thinkers.

From England the branch of the family to which our subject belongs went to Ireland on matters per- taining to the government, and remained in that country. At an early day his grandfather, Hugh Roper, a farmer by occupation, left Ireland and came to the New World, locating in Hartford, where he died when our subject was quite young. One of his sons is now very prominent in the social circles of Philadelphia, Penn. Thomas Roper, Sr., father of our subject, was born in Ireland, and in early life came with the family to America, taking up his residence in Hartford, where he passed away May 19, 1883, at the age of sixtv-nine years, and his remains were interred there. He was a ma- chinist and a mechanical and stationary engineer, and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church of Hartford. He married Miss Mary Conley, a lady of Irish extraction.

During his boyhood and youth Thomas Roper, Jr., pursued his studies in the public schools of

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Hartford, and there grew to manhood. On Aug. 19, 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Helen Hamersley, a daughter of William James and Laura Sophia (Cook) Hamersley, of Hartford. She also traces her ancestry back to very promi- nent English families, her father being a descend- ant of the Earl of Dudley, and her mother's father a descendant of the Earl of Leicester. Mr. and Mrs. Roper have one son, Osmer, born on their present farm in Newington, Nov. 7, 1888. He has attended the West Middle school of Hartford, and will eventually enter Trinity College. He is a very bright, attractive boy, and will probably be edu- cated for the medical profession.

Mr. Roper and his wife removed to Newington soon after their marriage, and there he purchased a fine farm of seventy acres, where they have a pleas- ant home with most attractive surroundings. They are prominent members of Grace Episcopal Church of Newington, and their son is a member of the Sunday-school. In national affairs, Mr. Roper always supports the Republican party, but at local elections votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office. Like his ancestors he is a great reader, not only of standard literature, but keeps well posted on current events and topics and issues of the day. He is a quiet. unassuming gen- tleman, and stands deservedly high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends.

PHINEAS COE STEVENS, a worthy repre- sentative of the agricultural interests of East Hart- land, and one of its honored and highly respected citizens, was born in Durham, Conn., Dec. 17, 1831.

Our subject is a son of Ruel Stevens, a native of Rockland, this State, where he was educated in the common schools, and later followed farming. Subsequently he lived in Durham until 1834, when he removed to Worington, Mass., and from there went to Montgomery, Mass., where he was similarly employed for one year. Later he engaged in lum- bering and operating a sawmill, in partnership with our subject, in Granville, Mass., but spent his last days in West Haven, New Haven Co., Conn., where he died in 1882, being laid to rest in East Hart- land cemetery, Hartland county. He was a very industrious and enterprising man, well liked by all who knew him, was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican in politics. In Hartland he was married to Miss Louisa Coe, a native of that place, and a daughter of Miles Coe, who belonged to an old and highly respected family of Hartland. Our subject is the eldest of the seven children born of this union, the others being Sydney, now a resident of Indian Orchard. Mass. : Laura, who died young ; Fanny, deceased wife of James Jones : Susan, wife of Isaac Willer; Caroline, wife of George Frost, of New Haven : and Helen, wife of Edward Hinkley. The wife and mother, who was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was killed, in 1855,

by a runaway horse she was driving, and was buried in East Hartland cemetery. Later the father mar- ried Jane Case, of West Granby, Hartford county, who died in 1894, and was buried in West Granby cemetery.

During his boyhood Phineas C. Stevens attended the union school in Hartland, the Hartland Acad- emy, and the high school of Granville, Mass. Thus he acquired a good education which has been of much practical benefit to him in later years, and by subsequent reading and observation has become well posted on current events and the leading questions and issues of the day. In early boyhood he became interested with his father in the lumber business at Granville, Mass., and for twenty-four years was a managing partner in the business. In 1855 he locat- ed in the town of Hartland, Hartford Co., Conn., near the Massachusetts line, and has since devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits with marked success, being one of the first tobacco growers in that section, and still one of a few. Ile has made extensive improvements upon his place, including the erection of a comfortable residence and good barn, and ranks among the most skillful and thor- ough farmers of the community.

In October, 1855, in Granville, Mass., Mr. Ste- vens was united in marriage with Miss Harriett M. Parsons, a native of West Granville, and a daughter of Horace and Julia ( Meacham) Parsons. Three children were born of this union: (I) Edward married Belle Dickinson, and died leaving one child, Walter. (2) Alice first married Henry Crocker, of Bangor, Maine, and after his death wedded James Bean, of Belfast, Maine. She had two children by the first marriage, Maude S. and Hattie S. (3) Frederick D., who resides on the home farm, married Adda Harger, of West Gran- ville, and has three children, Edward, Blanch and Rupert.

In addition to his private interests, Mr. Stevens has given much time to local affairs, and has been one of the most active workers of the Republican party in his locality. He has been called upon to fill a number of important political positions of honor and trust, the duties of which he has most capably and satisfactorily performed. In 1879 he was elected to the State Legislature, and served for one term; has been selectman of Hartland eight years, being first selectman seven years of the time ; has also been assessor, justice of the peace, a mem- ber of the board of relief, and a member of the grand jury. He and his family attend the Con- gregational Church, and are held in high regard by the entire community in which they live.

HON. P. D. RYAN. Among the well-known buiness men of Hartford, who have demonstrated what energy and pluck will accomplish, none are more worthy of mention than Hon. P. D. Ryan, the merchant tailor and general clothier at No. 76 Asylum street, Hartford.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Ryan is a native of Ireland, born March 17, 1841, and is a son of Daniel and Ann (Perryman) Ryan, the former of whom was a tailor by trade in Ireland, where he passed all his days, dying at the age of seventy years. They had a family of nine children, five of whom are still living: Mary, in Hartford; John, in Boston; Mrs. Peter Shaugh- nessy, in Hartford; P. D., our subject ; and James, in England. The mother of these died in 1844, and the father subsequently wedded Margaret Mc- Andrew, by whom he had six children.

Mr. Ryan, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the National schools of Ireland, and while yet a boy he went to England, where he learned the trade of tailor, which he followed as a journeyman until coming to America, Sept. 5, 1864. Shortly after arriving in this country he located in Hart- ford, and here followed his trade for a while, later proceeding to New York State, where he remained for a few years in the capacity of "cutter." Return- ing to Hartford in 1876, he formed a partnership with Mr. Mulcahy, in the clothing and tailoring business, in a part of the store now occupied by Mr. Mulcahy. This partnership was continued for five years, when it expired by limitation, and was dissolved. Mr. Ryan then started for himself in the tailoring business, on Main street, in a building which stood upon the present site of the Waverly block. Here he remained until 1883, when he re- moved to his present location, where he has since remained. Here upon the first floor, he has his stock of ready-made clothing, and various grades of goods for custom work, the upper floor being used for cutting and making goods to order. His busi- ness has constantly increased, and he now employs five clerks and a bookkeeper. With two exceptions, he is the oldest tailor or clothier in the city, and one of the best known.

In 1870 Mr. Ryan married Katherine Devery, who was born in Hartford, and eight children were born to this union, five of whom are living : Frank, a cutter, in Boston ; Annie, who married Edward Ahern, son of the prominent builder in Hartford; Mary, bookkeeper for her father; Harry, employed by his father as a clerk; and Katherine, at school. The mother of these died in 1888, at the age of forty years, and in 1891 Mr. Ryan married Katherine Scanlon.

In politics Mr. Ryan is a Democrat, and in 1892 he was nominated and elected (unsolicited by him) to the Legislature, serving to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He has also been delegate to a large number of State conventions. Perhaps it is among the various Catholic societies in which Mr. Ryan is best known, and the offices which he has held in these are probably the best indication of the confidence placed in him by the large number of members throughout the State. He was a charter member of the Green Cross Council, Knights of Columbus, of Hartford, and has been treasurer since its organization. He has also been a delegate

to the various State and National conventions, and was the National treasurer of this organization for twelve years, being six times re-elected. He paid the first "death benefit" of this order, when it had but nine hundred members, nearly a quarter of a century ago, and has seen it grow until to-day its membership numbers over thirty-five thousand. The council in the city of Hartford is among the oldest in the country, being the eleventh council in the United States. For twenty-five years Mr. Ryan has been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibern- ians, and for twelve years has been the State treas- urer of this organization, having been six times re- elected. He has also been a delegate to all of the National conventions of this body for a great many years. In each of these offices he has handled a large amount of money; in the Knights of Col- umbus, in one year, $275,000 passed through his hands. He has held office longer than any other man now living, and with few exceptions is the old- est living member of either organization. For many ycars he was a member of the St. Patrick Society, in which he took a prominent part, and was treas- urer and secretary up to the time the order was dissolved ; also a member of the St. John's Society, and has been secretary of same for twenty-five years ; is also a member of the Emerald Society-in fact, he has undoubtedly been more closely identified with the Catholic societies of this city and State, and taken a more prominent part in them, than any man now living. His family all attend the Catholic Church, and in St. Peter's, of which he is a mem- ber, he has collected the pew rents for over twenty years. Mr. Ryan has been engaged in real-estate transactions to some extent, having built one brick block and several houses in the city of Hartford.

THOMAS E. LONGLEY. an honored and highly respected citizen of West Hartford, was born in Hawley, Franklin Co., Mass., Dec. 3, 1848, and is a representative of one of the early families of that place.

There his father, Elijah F. Longley, spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born May 13, 1810, and died Nov. 23. 1894. On April II, 1836, he married Miss Catherine T. Conelison, who was born May 22, 1813, and died Sept. 21, 1878. In their family were ten children : Rebecca S., born June 23, 1837, died Aug. 15, 1837 ; Edmund, born Sept. 19, 1838, died Sept. 7, 1863 ; Ann Eliza, born Jan. 19, 1841, died Feb. 10, 1841 ; Chiffenette, born Jan. 16, 1843, died April 1, 1843 ; Calvin E., born Dec. 23, 1843, died Nov. 23, 1846; Josephine, born June 10, 1845, is the wife of Homer F. Damon, of Berlin, Conn .; a son, born Nov. 10, 1847, died the following day ; Thomas E., our sub- ject, is next in the family; Mary F., born Jan. II, 1852, is the wife of Frederick Hawks, who lives at No. 99 New Britain avenue, Hartford; and Wealthy E., born Feb. 14, 1856, is the wife of George Williams, of Holyoke, Massachusetts.

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Thomas E. Longley is indebted to the public schools of Hawley, Mass., for his educational priv- ileges. He remained on the home farm with his father until 1868, when he went to Charlemont, Mass., and remained there a year and a half. The following three years he passed in Greenfield, Mass., and in January, 1876, came to Hartford, Conn. For twenty years he was connected with the Retreat for the Insane, and for thirteen years of that time was foreman of the farm, a position which he most capably and satisfactorily filled. Resigning on ac- count of ill health, in 1896, he removed to the Fuller farm, in West Hartford, where he is now practically living retired.

On Oct. 1, 1879, Mr. Longley was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie A. Tuttle, a daughter of Alfred and Anna E. ( Moore) Tuttle. Her great- grandfather Moore and his father-in-law, Mrs. Longley's great-great-grandfather Wells, were both colonels in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Longley have three children: Raymond I., born Oct. 10, 1885; Lottie L., Nov. 24, 1888; and Leslie Robert, Nov. 2, 1895.

DWIGHT N. HEWES, of Hartford, who is well known in business circles as secretary of the Mellen & Hewes Co., and president of the Hart- ford Business Men's Association, was born Aug. 5, 1854, in Suffield, Conn. He comes of good New England stock, and his great-grandfather, Nathaniel Hewes, was born Feb. 24, 1747, in Brookfield, Mass. He died Dec. 16, 1808, at Lyme, N. H. He mar- ried Sarah Freeman, who was born Nov. 16, 1749, at Mansfield, Conn., and died March 26, 1851, at Lyme, N. H., aged one hundred and one years, four months, and ten days. They had ten children : Kezia, born Nov. 9, 1775; Mindell, Jan. 11, 1778; Theoda, Dec. 5, 1780; Abigail, June II, 1782 ; John Freeman, March 15, 1784; Olive, July 3, 1786; Syl- vanus, May 8, 1789; Sarah, June 29, 1791 ; Eliza- beth, Dec. 6, 1793; Moody, May 31, 1795. The last named, who was the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of Lyme, N. H., and made his home there. He married Susan Hurlburt.

Nathaniel Hewes, the father of our subject, was born in Lyme, N. H., in 1823, but removed to Suf- field, Conn., in early manhood, to engage in farm- ing. There he married Miss Emeline Gambol, daughter of Hiram Gambol, a well-known resident of Suffield. Since her death, in 1888, he has spent a portion of his time with our subject in Hartford, and the remainder with his other children. Of their three children, (I) George M. (deceased) married Miss Lizzie Gemmill, and had one son, George M., Jr., now a resident of Enfield, Conn. (2) Dwight Nathaniel is mentioned more fully below. (3) Genevia S. married John F. Brockett, of Suffield, Conn., and has had four children, Daisy, Nellie, Frank and Fred.

Dwight N. Hewes spent his early years in Suf- field, where he attended the public schools, and he began his business career in Thompsonville, Conn.,

as bookkeeper for David Woodruff. Later he went 10 Mt. Sterling, Ohio, as clerk in a store, but re- mained for a short time only, and in 1878 he lo- cated in Hartford, and engaged with James G. Welles & Co., No. 27, Asylum street, as traveling salesman. In 1880 he became connected with C. F. Hurd & Co., on Main street, the firm name being changed later to Hurd & Mellen, and on March I, 1890, he bought an interest, the firm becoming known as Hurd, Mellen & Hewes. In 1896 the firm became the Mellen & Hewes Co., and the pres- ent officers are M. Mellen, president ; D. N. Hewes, secretary ; and Frank G. Mellen, treasurer. In 1880 and 1896 Mr. Hewes traveled in the interests of the firm, but his work has been connected mainly with the local trade. The Mellen & Hewes Co. occupy a store and basement 280 feet deep, and a store- house at the corner of Valley and Terry streets, and their business, which was established about sixty years ago, is conducted on a large scale in both wholesale and retail lines.

Mr. Hewes was married, in Hartford, Nov. 14, 1882, to Miss Fannie A. Wilcox, daughter of Capt. William and Mary Wilcox, of East Hartford, Conn. They have one daughter, Marion Hewes, aged five years; Ruth Isabel died Aug. 27, 1885, aged two years, seven months. Mr. Hewes has been presi- dent of the Hartford Business Men's Association for the past two years, and is a director of the Hartford Board of Trade, and although fond of domestic recreation he takes an active interest in the work of the Royal Arcanum, and is also a member of the Veteran Corps of Company K, Connecticut National Guard, and of the Hartford Yacht Club, and Hartford Revolver Club. He attends the Asy- lum Avenue Baptist Church.

TUTTLE. The Tuttle family, from which de- scended William Frederick and the venerable Sam- | uel I. Tuttle, of the firm of S. Tuttle & Sons, of Hartford, is one of the oldest New England fam- ilies, they being in the seventh generation from William Tuttle, the American ancestor. The line of descent is through Joseph, Joseph (2), Joseph (3), Samuel and Samuel (2).

(I) William Tuttle, his wife Elizabeth, and fam- ily sailed in the "Planter" from England in 1635, locating in New Haven. His age at the time of sailing was given as twenty-six. Himself and wife passed the rest of their lives in that city, she dying in 1684, aged seventy-six. Mr. Tuttle was the equal socially of any of the colonists. He was a man of courage, enterprise, intelligence, probity and piety. His children were: John, Hannah, Thomas, Jonathan, David, Joseph. Sarah, Elizabeth, Simon, Benjamin, Mercy and Nathaniel.

(II) Joseph Tuttle, son of William, baptized in 1640, in New Haven, married, in 1667, Hannah, daughter of Capt. Thomas Munson. He died in 1690, and his widow later married Nathan Brad- ley. She died Nov. 30, 1695. Joseph Tuttle's chil- dren were: Joseph, Samuel, Stephen, Joanna,

William I Tuttle

Jame I Juttle

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Timothy, Susanna, Elizabeth, Hannah and Han- nah (2).

(111) Joseph Tuttle (2), son of Joseph, born in 1668, married, in Milford, Conn., in 1691, Eliza- beth Sanford, born in 1671, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Paine) Sanford. Mr. Tuttle was prominent and active in local affairs. His chil- dren were: Joseph, Noah, Catherine, Elizabeth and Thankful.

(IV) Joseph Tuttle (3), son of Joseph (2), born in 1692, married (first) Mercy Thompson, daughter of John (3) and Mercy ( Mansfield) Thompson. She died in 1743, and he married (second) Widow Sarah Washburn. He died Jan. 16, 1761. He was captain of the train-band in East Haven, and was quartermaster of troops in the Second Regiment in 1742. Ile was several times elected moderator, and was at various times school committeeman. Ilis children were: Joel, Mary, Amy, Mercy, Comfort, Joseph, Samuel, Jo- seph (2), Amy (2) and Benjamin.

(V) Samuel Tuttle, son of Joseph (3), born in 1741, married, in 1761, Bethia Miles, daughter of Theophilus Miles. He resided in East Haven, on land that came to him by will of his father. He opposed the British raid on New Haven in July, 1779. but seeing the day was lost endeavored to save some of his goods, which he had loaded on a cart and was trying to conceal, when he was cap- tured, taken to New York, and kept a prisoner about six months, finally escaping. He died in East Ha- ven in 1817, his wife in 1802. Their children were: Amasa, Samuel, Bethia Miles, Samuel Ammi, Saralı Miles, Bethia, Samuel, Ammi Miles, Zurviah, Phebe Anna, Eunicia and Frederick William.

(VI) Samuel Tuttle (2), son of Samuel, born June 23, 1773, died July 5, 1850. He married Betsey Hotchkiss, who was born May 2, 1779, daughter of Isaac and Lydia (Fields) Hotchkiss, and died Aug. 2, 1831. She was also a descendant of William Tuttle. Their children were: Esther Rowe, born Jan. 25, 1801, died July 2, 1873: Miles Ammi, born Dec. 21, 1802, died in Paris, France, Oct. 26, 1858; Samuel Hotchkiss, born March 19,

1805, died Dec. 19, 1806, and is buried in Bloom- field, Conn .; Sally, born Feb. 13, 1807, died May 19, 1816; Samuel Hotchkiss (2), born Feb. 19, 1809, died Sept. 15, 1809; Betsey, born June 24, 1810, died Nov. 24, 1810; William Frederick, born April 8, 1812, is mentioned below ; Sarah Elizabeth, born May 11, 1816, married Dr. Gurdon W. Rus- sell, of Hartford, and died July 16, 1871 ; Samuel Isaac, born Dec. 16, 1819, is referred to farther on ; and Rev. Ruel Hotchkiss, born July 16, 1824, mar- ried, in Boston, Mass., Sarah A. Crompton, and died in Windsor Aug. 13, 1887. Of these, Miles A. was a prominent business man, a director of the Ætna Insurance Co., the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, and the Hartford Hospital, and a trustee of the Society for Savings. He was a member of Christ Church.

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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 102

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