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 106

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 106

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Reuben Brewer, father of Hoadley C., was born on Brewer street, April 25, 1805, and attended the old school house that stood on High street. west of where Deacon Charles Forbes now lives, but which has since been destroyed by fire. It was a mile away from his home, and many a winter day did he wade to it through snow up to his hips., He lived at home until his marriage, Sept. 10, 1834, to Jane Hills, who was born June 9. 1812, a daugh- ter of John and Abbey ( Brewer') Hills. As a reward for his faithful services at home Reuben's father purchased for him the farm now owned by Hoadley C., then known as the "Wells place," where his death took place Oct. 30. 1886, his wife having preceded him to the grave Aug. 21, 1882. He was a man of large stature, but of a very re- tiring, indeed bashful, disposition, and domestic in his habits; he was a vigorous and indefatigable

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worker, ever industrious, and yet an inveterate smoker, raising his tobacco himself and making his cigars. His children, six in number, were: Lemuel, born March 27, 1837, died June 20, 1846; Lucy M., born April 26, 1839, is the widow of Henry Hurlburt ; Hoadley C. is the subject of this sketch : Zopher L., born Dec. 14, 1845, died Oct. 7, 1846; Abbott C., born Sept. 15, 1847, married Anna Best, and died Jan. 18, 1879, in East Hart- ford, his widow being now a resident of Hartford City: and Deloss, born March 2, 1852, died July 20, 1852.

Hoadley C. Brewer received a sound common- school education, and later spent two years in the East Hartford Academy. At the age of nineteen years he left school and returned to his father's farm, now his own, where he remained for a short time only, and then went to Hartford, where he was employed in Colt's Armory until it was de- stroved by fire in 1863. He then returned home, and assisted his father until the latter's death. This farm comprises thirty-two acres, seven of which are in tobacco, and there is no better-kept farm in the town.

On March 29, 1876, Mr. Brewer wedded Josie M. Stanton, born June 23, 1838, a daughter of Robert W. and Harriet (Ladd) Stanton, and to this marriage have been born two children: Bessie M., Jan. 4. 1877, who died April 15, 1879, and Ada M., March 19, 1880, who is still at home. The family attend the Southi Congregational Church, and liberally aid in its support. In politics Mr. Brewer is a Democrat, but never worries himself about party affairs more than the trouble of voting. He belongs to no secret society, but leads a quiet, un- ostentatious, industrious life, happy in holding the respect of his fellow men and in the felicity of his family circle.

JOHN R. PIKE, a successful agriculturist re- siding near Pine Meadow, was born in that locality Nov. 26, 1836, and is a representative of a family which has long been noted for good citizenship. His ancestors were early settlers in New England, and his grandfather Pike was a farmer at New Marlboro, Massachusetts.

Hiram Pike, our subject's father, was a native of New Marlboro, born May 25, 1799, removed to Connecticut, and was married in Canaan to Olive Rood, who was born there Sept. 25, 1797, daughter of John Rood. He located in Canton, where he engaged in farming, and his death occurred Nov. 13. 1838. His wife died July 21, 1887, and the remains of both now rest in the Pine Meadow cemetery. They had the following children: Julia A., wife of William Wilcox: Henrietta R., widow of Warren C. Humphrey: Celestia, who married Villiam Wilcox; Olive, wife of Nelson Humphrey ; Mark H., who died in 1892; Mary E., wife of Ed- vard Chapin; John R., our subject ; Aretus, who lied in 1837, and Catherine, wife of William Case.

As a boy our subject attended the local schools, also assisted in the work of the homestead, and later he and his brother, Mark H., took charge of the farm. The place contains 140 acres, including a tract of woodland, and our subject devotes special attention to dairying and tobacco growing. In 1856 he built a fine dwelling house, and he has made other substantial improvements from time to time. For the past ten years his health has been somewhat impaired, but he is still active in the management of the farm. Socially he and liis fam- ily are much esteemed, and they are identified with the Congregational Church, of which his lamented wife was a member. In 1881 Mr. Pike married Miss Ellen Adams, and three children were born of the union : John E. is attending a business college in Hartford; Miss Nellie is in school at home; and Albert has been adopted by Mrs. Lewis H. Lee, of Massachusetts.

Mrs. Ellen (Adams) Pike was born Aug. 12, 1851, and died April 21, 1888, her remains being interred in Pine Grove cemetery, New Hartford. She was a daughter of Oliver Cromwell Adams, and granddaughter of Gen. Zera Adams, an officer in the Revolutionary war. Gen. Zera Adams mar- ried Abigail Holburt, of West Hartford, and had nine children: Ezra, Elmer, Lucia, Laura, Mary, Lorenzo, Henry, Oliver C., and George. Oliver C. Adams was born in North Canton, and resided there throughout his life, following farming and mercantile pursuits. He was a leading Republi- can, and represented his town in the State Legis- lature, while he also held various local offices, in- cluding that of postmaster at North Canton. He was temperate in his habits and domestic in his tastes, and in every way his life furnished a worthy example to the community. He married Susan M. Humphrey, daughter of Loin and Rhoda (Case) Humphrey, and had six children : Eugene, who died in early manhood; Mary, wife of Lewis H. Lee, of Westfield, Mass .: Ezra S., a resident of Hart- ford : Albert, a physician, now deceased ; Ellen. wife of our subject; and Henry, a resident of North Canton.

CHARLES J. BUNN, a popular liveryman of Southington, is one of the men who have made their own way in the world. The spirit of self- help is the source of all genuine worth in the in- dividual, and is the means of bringing to man suc- cess when he has no advantages of wealth or in- fluence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is possble to accomplish when per- severance and determination form the keynote to a man's life. Depending upon his own resources, looking for no outside aid or support, Mr. Bunn has become one of the leading business men of the town. Mr. Bunn was born in New Hartford, Conn .. Jan. 21, 1862. a son of Matthew and Margaret (Doll) Bunn, both natives of Germany. His ma- ternal grandfather, Christian Doll, lived in New

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Hartford. Matthew Bunn, a grinder by trade, spent some years in Granby and New Hartford and worked in the cutlery works at Collinsville and also in Southington. He died in the latter village. In his family were eight children: Joseph, Carrie. Christian, William, Maggie, Charles J., Lavina (wife of Frederick Young), and Laura, wife of Frank Rhoe.

The first ten years of his life our subject passed in New Hartford, and then accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Southington, where he has since made his home. His educational advantages were limited to a short attendance at the public schools, as at the age of ten years he entered the employ of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., with which he was connected for five years, and during the following four years he worked upon a farm. At the age of eighteen he began work in a livery stable in Southington, and was manager of the same for five years. For a time he was also in the employ of R. A. Neal. In 1887 he embarked in the livery business for himself, on a small scale, and by in- dustry and good management has built up an ex- cellent business and acquired a competence.

On Oct. 6, 1886, Mr. Bunn married Miss Char- lotte L. Davies, third daughter of Thomas and Ma- tilda (Fox) Davis, who were married in Safe Har- bor, Lancaster Co., Penn. The father was born in Colebrookvale, Monmouthshire, Wales, the mother in Philadelphia. He was in the employ of the Union Iron Works, Buffalo, N. Y., at the time of death, Aug. 26, 1875. His parents were John and Parnell (Martin) Davies, the former a native of Merthyr Tydvill, Wales, the latter of Warwickshire, England. She was a daughter of Parnell Baird, whose mother was Elizabeth Parnell. On the ma- ternal side Mrs. Bunn is a granddaughter of Char- lotte Bodenbender, who belonged to an old Phila- delphia family.

Mr. Bunn casts his ballot with the Republican party, and is a member of the Foresters of America, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Order of United American Mechanics, and the Southington Fire Department ( for ten years). He started out in life for himself at a tender age, with scarcely any schooling, being practically a self-educated man, and for the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit.

ARTHUR DE COLLARD, M. D., inventor of The Medical Physical Culture System, and one of the most successful practitioners in physical cul- ture in the United States, is a native of London, England, and comes of a grand lineage, his mother being the celebrated African traveler.

Dr. de Collard was educated in France, Ger- many and England, and is a graduate of the Paris School of Swordsmanship. His system of medical treatment is known as the "New School System," being one of purely outward application of salves and ointments, which are made by himself from

roots and herbs, called Kasekraut, and the prepara- tion of which is a secret of his own discovery. So. successful has he been in the application of this treatment that, in the past eighteen years, of the 25,000 patients who have been treated by him he has not lost a single one by death. The discovery of this system was brought about by himself in an attempt to reduce his own weight, which when he was twenty-two years of age had reached the enorm- ous proporitons of 302 pounds. He, however, suc- ceeded in reducing his weight to 168 pounds, and with astonishing development of muscle. Besides his office at No. 926 Main street (Cheney building), Hartford, he has branches in New York, Philadel- phia, and Buffalo, N. Y., being now located per- manently in the last named city, at No. 439 Dela- ware avenue.

In addition to his other accomplishments, Dr. de Collard is a musical composer of distinction,. and many of his compositions are well known. Not only does he compose, but he sings as well, having a rich voice of great compass and flexibility. He is also an accomplished linguist, speaking eight languages fluently, and singing in each, while in swordsmanship he is well known to excel. As a remarkably clever penman he may be said to be without a peer, and a demonstration of the fact exists in a piece of work, done in pen and ink by his own hand, hanging in his office. It is a copy of the "Declaration of Independence," written so that each. sentence or word indicates a nerve of the head. This work is done so finely that it is impossible to read it without the aid of a powerful magnifying glass, and what makes it even more remarkable is the fact that it was done purely from memory, and without the aid of any drawing or plan !

HON. HENRY NORRIS GALPIN. The family of the late Mr. Galpin, whose name and mem- ory are held in high esteem throughout Berlin town, is of English descent.

John Galpin, the ancestor in the eighth genera- tion preceding Henry N., is the progenitor from whom this branch of the American Galpins claims descent. He lived and died in England toward the close of the sixteenth century, but of his ante- cedents or collateral connections comparatively little is known. His son, Philip, emigrated from Bristol, and took up his home in New Haven. From that point he removed to Stratford, where, in 1646. he married Elizabeth Smith, who bore him two chil- dren. The next in line of descent, Samuel Galpin, (the great-great-great-grandfather of Henry Nor- ris), was born in 1650. He, too, lived in Stratford, and about 1679 married Elizabeth Peat, of his na- tive village, by whom he was the father of two children. One of these, named Caleb, was born in 1691, and died Sept. 16, 1753. in Berlin, whither he removed from Stratford, and where he owned a farm. On Feb. 24. 1708, he married Elizabeth Baldwin, who was, like himself. a native of Strat-

Yo Noalpini

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ford, born Nov. 5. 1693. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Amos, the great-grand- father of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this memoir, was born Dec. 2, 1723, and died Oct. 10, 1815. He married Anna Patterson, who was born in 1724, a daughter of Edward Pat- terson, and died Jan. 20, 1803. Her brothers Ed- ward and William are believed to have been the first manufacturers of tinware in the United States. Their factory was situated in Berlin, on the thor- oughfare then known as Lower Lane. now West street. Amos Galpin was a native of Berlin, a farmer and large land owner. He was the father of three children, one of whom, Thomas, was the grandfather of Henry N. He was born Feb. 6, 1757, and died Nov. 17, 1802. His birthplace is supposed to have been Berlin, and he is believed to have built the present Bosworth homestead. On April 3, 1783, he married Ruth Goodrich, who was born in 1761, and survived him until July 24, 1843. Five children were born to them, one of whom, Norris, was the father of the late Henry Norris Galpin. Norris Galpin was born in Berlin March 22, 1794, and was in the employ of the Patterson Tinware Co. He died in New York. His wife, Hepzibah Wilcox, was born in 1796, and died in 1853. They were married Aug. 19, 1818, and had but one child, Henry Norris Galpin.

Our subject was born at the lower end of Ber- lin street, Berlin, Dec. 22, 1820. He enjoyed the advantages of attendance at the common schools and academy of his native place, but, his father dying while he was quite young, he was obliged to begin the battle of life at a comparatively early age. His first inclination was to learn the trade of a harness- maker, and he actually spent some time in acquir- ing a knowledge of its principles, but finding it distasteful he abandoned its pursuit to become a clerk in the store of Edward Wilcox. He filled this position-under Edward Wilcox and his successor, Samuel C. Wilcox-until the early '50s, when, through hard work, prudence and economy, he found himself able to purchase the business, which he carried on during the remainder of his life. He was also the owner of the land where now stands the home of Mr. Wilcox, but exchanged this with the latter, in 1861, for land adjoining his store. Here he purchased the house which is yet occupied by his widow. In 1861 his store and stock were destroyed by fire, but he rebuilt and resumed busi- less on the same site, and continued to personally supervise the establishment until his death, which occurred Dec. 22, 1892, notwithstanding the fact hat during the latter years of his life his health vas enfeebled through partial paralysis, resulting rom a fall in 1883.

The character of Mr. Galpin was one of those are combinations of keen business sagacity with pen-hearted, open-handed generosity which are seldom found. He was a man universally respected ind beloved for his public spirit, his high moral

character, and his sympathetic nature. His ears and his purse were ever open in response to the necessities of a friend, and his blameless life at once challenged and defied criticism. An earnest and sincere Christian, he was a prominent and consistent member of the Congregational Church, of which he was treasurer at the time of his death, and whose work he generously aided, both by personal effort and by liberal donations. He was prominent and influential in both public and commercial affairs. Prior to 1860 he affiliated with the Democratic party, but the open advocacy of the doctrines of secession by a wing of that organization drove him into the fold of the Republicans, with whom he was ever afterward identified. For many years he was town auditor, and in 1863, 1880 and 1882 represented his town in the Legislature. He was school treas- urer of District No. 5, from 1878 until his decease, and was also a trustee of the Selden school fund. He was one of the organizers of the Wilcox Ceme- tery Association, and its first president, an office which he held until he himself was called away. In 1845 he received his first commission as post- master at Berlin, and held the office almost con- tinuously until his death, it being located in his store. In commercial enterprises of a semi-public nature he was equally prominent. At the time of his death he was a director in the Berlin Iron Bridge Co., as he had been for several years; and was also vice- president of the Berlin Savings Bank, an office which he had held since the organization of the bank, in 1873. The death of such a citizen naturally caused wide-spread sorrow in the community where his long and useful life had been spent. Faithful in every relation of public and private life, he left to his family a memory which is in itself a precious heritage.

Mr. Galpin was three times married. His first wife was Tamson Eliza Dowd, of East Berlin, who was born in 1823, and to whom he was married June 25, 1845. The fruit of the union was one daughter, who died in infancy. The first Mrs. Galpin died April 26, 1846, and on April 26, 1864, he married her sister, Harriet A. Dowd, who was born in 1832, and died July 3, 1865. She had been a teacher at Temple Grove Seminary, Saratoga, N. Y., before marriage. A daughter was born of this union, also, who lived for a little more than twelve months. Mr. Galpin's third marriage was solemn- ized Oct. 2, 1867, when he was united to Mrs. Eliza (Sanford) Booth, of Seymour, Conn., who was born.Dec. 14, 1838. This marriage was blessed with three children: Mary, born July 24, 1868; Ruth, Dec. 4, 1870; and Helen, May 23, 1879. The eldest daughter was married, June 24, 1891, to Ern- est W. Mildrum, of East Berlin, a contractor for the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co. Mr. and Mrs. Mil- drum have one daughter, Elizabeth, born May 7, 1894. The second daughter, Ruth, who, as did both her sisters, graduated from the New Britain high school, lives at home, with her mother. The

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youngest daughter, Helen, is one of the alumna of Temple Grove Seminary, having graduated from that institution in 1898. She, too, remains at home.

CHENEY BROTHERS. The growth and ap- pearance of the village of South Manchester, cred- ited with being the model manufacturing point in New England, are due to the energy of the Cheney Brothers, manufacturers, whose silk mills are the nucleus around which have clustered the comfortable residences for operatives and other employes, as well as churches, schools and other public buildings.

On the north side of the street, extending east;, from the center of the town, a hundred years ago were the farms and residences of the brothers Tim- othy, Benjamin and Silas Cheney. On the south side of the same street, and west of the north and south highway, tracts of land were owned by Rich- ard Pitkin. Near liis residence, a mile east of the Center, was the chief place of business at the time of the Revolution. Manufacturing enterprises had an early beginning but a limited development in this section as compared with others. Timothy Cheney (as well as his brother Benjamin) was notable as one of the first clockmakers of New Eng- land. In those days the usual timepiece was the noon-mark on the kitchen floor, and clocks were rare and costly. Those made by Timothy Cheney and his brother had tall carved cherry-wood cases and wooden works, some of which, after the lapse of a century, are still keeping good time. In their workshop John Fitch, whose invention of the steam- boat antedates that of Fulton, was an apprentice, and received his first lesson in mechanics.

The manufacturing enterprise of the town of Manchester most remarkable for its growth is that of the Cheney Brothers. Near the close of the last century Timothy Cheney removed to a farm about a mile south of his former home at the Center, and, improving the water power, built a sawmill and gristmill on the stream, and near it the house vet known in South Manchester as the Cheney homestead. When he died, in 1795, his son Tim- othy returned to the former home at the Center. While George, another son, occupied the latter house, and there passed his life, an influential citizen in his generation, as his father had been before him. George Cheney was married, Oct. 18. 1798, to Electa Woodbridge, and their children were : George Wells, John, Charles, Ralph, Setli Wells, Ward, Rush, Frank, and Electa (wife of Hon. Richard Goodman, of Lenox, Mass.). Several of the sons, after the manner of New England boys, loft home in youth to engage in various pursuits. Jolin and Seth became artists of rare skill and genius, and gave their energies chiefly to their pro- fession, but had part in the business enterprises of their brothers. Seth W. Cheney died, greatly la- mented, in 1856, at the age of forty-six. Charles and Ward were for several years merchants ill Providence, Charles later going to Ohio, where he

bought a farm near Cincinnati. The brothers who remained at home became afterward interested in experiments in silk culture. In March, 1836, they built a small mill known as the Mount Nebo Sik Mill, and began the manufacture of sewing silk- their first venture as silk manufacturers. On the rise of the morus multicaulis speculation Ward, Frank, Charles, Ralph and Rush Cheney went with ardor into the culture of mulberry trees, Charles Cheney conducting his experiments on his farm in Ohio. The three others took a farm at Burlington, N. J., where they had nurseries and cocooneries, and where they published for a year or two The Silk Grower and Farmers Manual. In 1841, after the collapse of the speculation throughout the coun- try, the brothers returned to South Manchester and re-opened the Mount Nebo mill, making sewing silk from imported raw silk. From this tinte dates the steady development of the silk industry. The next ten years were years of experiment and study aided by travel and close observation of what had been done abroad. Fraternal co-operation, natural ingenuity, and untiring application were the factors which produced success. In 1855 they made their first experiments in the production of spun silk from pierced cocoons, floss, silk waste, and what- ever silk cannot be reeled. These hitherto almost waste materials have by special machinery been spun into fine yarns and woven into beautiful and durable fabrics. From a small beginning this new industry, developed by years of patient and costly experiment, grew to be the specialty of the business. The present company was incorporated in 1854, under the name of Cheney Brothers Silk Manu- facturing Company, with a capital of one million dollars. During the same year, the growth of the business requiring a larger number of hands than could be obtained at that time except in cities, a mill was built in Hartford, of which Charles Cheney had special charge until 1868, when he returned to South Manchester. The original Mount Nebo mill was a small building, with machinery driven by water power, and gave employment to half a dozen hands. In place of this has arisen the group of buildings known as the Old Mill, comprising the business and other departments, for weaving, dyeing, finishing and preparing goods for shipment. In 1871 the New Mill (so called) was erected, con- sisting of four three-story brick buildings, each 250 feet long, and connected by a common front. The Lower Mill is a third group, comprising a large carpenter shop and the building formerly used for velvet weaving. Near by are also the gas works, foi lighting the mills and the whole village. Cheney's Hall is a spacious brick building which serves an important purpose as a place of meeting for re- ligious, literary and social occasions. The public library and reading room, till recently occupying the basement, have been removed to a building specially provided. The number of names on the Cheney pay-rolls has increased from the original

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half dozen to over 2,800. The mills are models of order and convenience in their internal arrange- ments, while their attractive surroundings mani- fest the same taste and care that appear alike in the private grounds and residence of the proprietors, and in the comely cottages and shaded avenues of tlie village.

In 1869 the Cheney Brothers built between South Manchester and North Manchester the branch railroad connecting with what is now the New Eng- land railroad. This line, from the date of its open- ing as the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill road, in 1850, to the present time, when eight or more passenger trains each way daily connect the villages with Hartford, New York, Providence, and Bos- ton, has been an important factor in the growth of the town, to which also the branch road has con- tributed in no small degree.

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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 106

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