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 107

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 107

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PATRICK DEVINE. This gentleman, who spent his early manhood in active business, and mainly in agricultural pursuits, is now living re- tired upon his fine farm in West Suffield. A man of great energy and more than ordinary business capacity, his success in life is due to his own well- directed efforts and sound judgment.

Mr. Devine was born in Mohill parish, County Leitrim, Ireland, March 20, 1821, and is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Flynn) Devine, farming people, who spent their entire lives in that parish. In their family were the following children : Bridget, who died in her native land; Cornelius, who died in Hartford county, Conn .; Mary, who married Bernard Byrne; Thomas, who died in Ireland; Patrick, our subject; Ellen, wife of Robert Van- Houten; and Annie, who died in Ireland. The family were all devout members of the Catholic Church.

Patrick Devine was educated in the subscrip- ion schools of his native land, and began life there is a farmer, remaining with his parents until 1849, when he went to Berwickshire, Scotland. Shortly afterward, however, he moved to Liverpool, Eng- and, and in 1850 left that port on the sailing-ves- el "Anna Tift," which reached the harbor of New York after a voyage of seven weeks. Proceeding it once to Suffield, Conn., he found employment on the farm of Isaac Phelon, with whom he re- nained for five years. During the following eleven ears he worked on the farm of Sydney Kent, and rom there removed to Windsor Locks, where he pent five years on the farm of James Coogan. Re- urning to the town of Suffield, in 1872, he bought he Norman Clark farm of sixty acres in West Suffield, on which he has made many useful im- rovements which add greatly to its value and at- ractive appearance. Here he successfully engaged n tobacco growing, dairying and general farm- ng until he laid aside business cares to enjoy a vell-earned rest.

At Windsor Locks, Conn., March 3, 1862, Mr.

Devine was united in marriage with Miss Mary O'Farrell, who was born in the same parish as our subject, and they became the parents of ten chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy. Of the others, (1) Mary is now the wife of Martin J. Furey, a paper manufacturer, and they have had seven chil- dren : Mary R. and Elizabeth E. (twins) ; John A., who died young; James; Helen; Marguerite, and Martha. (2) Thomas F. began his education in the public schools of Suffield, was graduated from the Connecticut Literary Institute in 1887, and has since taught in the public schools and academy at Southwick, Mass., one year, the Suffield public school one year, and the Warehouse Point school two years. In 1893 he graduated from Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., then attended George- town College, Washington, D. C., in 1893-94, and was graduated in 1894 with the degree of A. M. He has since filled the position of principal of the Bank street school, Waterbury, New Haven Co., Conn. He is a young man of culture and refine- ment and genial disposition, is a Democrat in poli- tics, and a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. (3) Ellen M. is at home. (4) Eliza- beth F. attended the public schools of Suffield, and also .the Connecticut Literary Institute, where she was graduated in 1890, and has since engaged in teaching : Two years in the Suffield public schools ; four years in Plainville, Conn. ; one term in Water- bury, and two and one-half years in Manchester. (5) Martha R. was also educated in the public schools of Suffield, and in the Connecticut Literary Institute, graduating from the latter in 1893, since which time she has taught in the public schools of Berlin, Conn., for five years, and at Windsor Locks two years. (6) John J. is at home. The family is very intellectual, and one of social prominence in the community where they reside. They all hold membership in the Catholic Church, and po- litically Mr. Devine is identified with the Democratic party. He is a well-read man, possessing a good fund of general information, is upright and hon- orable in all his dealings, and his integrity is un- questioned.

John O'Farrell, father of Mrs. Devine, was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, and was a son of Pat- rick O'Farrell, a native of the same county, and a farmer by occupation. The O'Farrells were quite prominent in Ireland during the reign of Charles I of England, but during the days of Cromwell they suffered many persecutions, and their lands, now known as Newtown, and owned by Lord Forbes, were confiscated by Cromwell and his follow- ers. John O'Farrell was reared in his native coun- try, and there followed farming for some time after reaching manhood. He wedded Margaret Shan- ley, of the same county, a daughter of John Shan- ley, and to them were born four children, namely : Patrick, who died unmarried in Windsor Locks, Conn .; Mary, wife of our subject; Bridget, wife of Thomas Hancock, of Windsor Locks; and Mar-

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garet, wife of Patrick McGinney, of the same place. In 1849 Mr. O'Farrell embarked at Liverpool on a sailing-vessel, which was wrecked two days later and had to return to land for repairs. Finally, however, he reached New York in safety, and came at once to Suffield, Conn., where he engaged in farming for some time, but later bought a farm at Windsor Locks and made that place his home un- til called from this life, in 1895. He was joined in his new home by his wife and children, in 1855, and here the former died in 1886, the remains of both being interred in the Catholic cemetery at Windsor Locks. The family were all connected with the Catholic Church, and Mr. O'Farrell was a stalwart Democrat in politics.

HON. HENRY TOLLES, a prominent resi- dent of New Britain, well deserves to be called one of the pioneers of the lock industry, as his skill and energy have been the ma'n factors in organiz- ing and maintaining the work of several factories now widely known to the trade in that connection. In taking an active and influential part in the vari- ous progressive movements of the locality he has also shown a public spirit which is worthy of emu- lation, and the story of his life will be read with especial interest.

Mr. Tolles is a descendant of an old English family, and his ancestors came to Connecticut at an early date, his great-grandfather having been a resident of Woodbridge. Lyman Tolles, his grand- father, was born in Woodbridge, Conn., and became a successful farmer, settling at Plymouth, Litch- field county. As a citizen he was held in high es- teem, and for many years he was prominent in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, at Plymouth, in which his sons were also active members, Orris and Nathan serving as vestrymen, and Zenas and Ly- man, Jr., in other official positions. His wife was Massie Russell. Of their five children, our subject's father, Orris Tolles, was the eldest. (2) Sally mar-

ried a Mr. Horton, and went to Ohio. (3) Nathan, born Jan. 23, 1795, resided in Plymouth during the greater part of his life, but died in Nw Britain. On Dec. 17, 1823, he married Pattic Jorden, who was born April 30, 1800, and died in 1866. (4) Ly- man lived and died in Plymouth. (5) Zenas lived and died on the homestead, and was one of the prom- inent men of the town, serving as selectman and a member of the oldtime militia.

Orris Tolles was born in Plymouth Feb. 22, 1793, and became a clock-maker by occupation, he and his brother Nathan being employed for many years by Hoadly & Thomas, and then by Seth Thomas. He also owned a farm of 100 acres at Plymouth (now Thomaston), and by his thrifty management accumulated a fine competence. He removed to New Britain, and died there Dec. 19, 1863. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. On Dec. 19, 1815, he married Hannah Jorden, and they had the following children: Harriet, born

Sept. 24, 1816, married Riley Hine, and died Nov. 12, 1845. George, born Jan. 13. 1819, died in 1896, at Indianapolis, Ind. ; he married Catherine Wright, and settled in Indiana, where he was living re- tired at the time of his death. Henry, our subject, was third in the order of birth. Martha, born April 4, 1828, died Aug. 27, 1828. John, born Feb. 7, 1830, was a mechanic in Russell & Erwin's factory at New Britain, and died May 1, 1888. Ho- bart, born May 4, 1832, died March 8, 1848. Ed- win, born Nov. 29, 1834, died Jan. 24, 1836. Mary, born Feb. 1, 1837, married Marcellus Clark (now deceased), and now resides in Plainville, Conn .; Mr. Clark was at one time a member of the Con- necticut Legislature, and for twenty years was post- master at New Britain, being retained through sev- eral Republican administrations, notwithstanding his affiliation with the Democrats.

Our subject's mother belonged to a well-known family of Huntington, Conn. Her father, Elijah J. Jorden, who was born in 1745, died in March, 1825, and his wife, Hannah Curtis, was born July 12, 1745. and died Aug. 18, 1836, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. This worthy couple had a large family of children: Timothy, born Feb. 5, 1766; Sally, April 1, 1768: David, July 12, 1770; Eliza, July 12, 1772; Miles, May 19, 1774; Samuel, July 10, 1776; Polly, Nov. 8, 1778 (died Aug. 13. 1780) ; Isaac, March 10, 1781 (died Sept. 12, 1797) ; Hannah, June 2, 1783 (died June 16, 1854) ; Ed- mund, Aug. 8, 1788; Polly, April 13, 1790; Curtis, June 29, 1793.

Henry Tolles was born Jan. 2, 1822, at the old home in Plymouth, and educated mainly in the pub- lic schools of that town, with one term in the acad- emy. For some years he attended only during the winter season, but he managed to secure a good practical education, to which he has added by con- stant reading on current topics, having been a sub- scriber to the Hartford Times for fifty years. At eighteen he left school, and at nineteen he found employment in a wood-turning factory, where he worked for about six years. The next seven years he spent in Unionville, town of Farmington, and in the fall of 1848 he removed to New Britain taking a position in the lock department of North & Stanley, with whom he remained until the firm was merged into the Russell & Erwin Manufactur- ing Co. After spending some time as an operator he became a contractor, in partnership with the late H. M. Dates, their business employing about 125 men. On leaving this factory Mr. Tolles re- mained out of business for two or three years, wher he was engaged at a handsome salary by P. & F Corbin to start their lock department. After six- teen years with this firm he went to New Haven, to organize a similar department for J. B. Sargeant: & Co., remaining about three years, and since 1886 he has been living in retirement in New Britain From early manhood he has been interested in poli- tics, and until 1896 he was a stanch Democrat. Ir

Henry Tolles

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1861 he served as a member of the Connecticut Legislature, being on the committee on New Towns and Probate Districts, and at times he has held local offices, including those of assessor, member of the board of relief, alderman, and councilman from the Third ward of New Britain. In 1889 he was street commissioner of that town, and for six years past he has been park commissioner. He is a leading member of the Episcopal Church at New Britain, in which he has served as vestryman and warden, and for many years he has been active in the work of the Masonic Fraternity. For six years he was master of Harmony Lodge, No. 20, F. & A. M., and after the organization of Centennial Lodge he served it six years in the same rank ; he also belongs to Giddings Chapter, No. 24, R. A. M .; Doric Council, R. & S. M., in which he was high priest for six years; and Washington Commandery, No. I, K. T., at Hartford.

On Dec. 15, 1842, Mr. Tolles married Miss Fanny Kimberley, who was born Jan. 28, 1824, and died March 19, 1850. On March 26, 1852, he mar- ried Miss Ellen Ford, born Jan. 21, 1821, died Feb. 7, 1891. By his first marriage he had three chil- dren : Ellen, born Feb. 7, 1844, now the wife of Alfred Finch, of New Britain, agent for the charity organization ; Edwin, born Jan. 12, 1846, now in the wholesale cloth business in Hartford ; and Ade- laide, born Aug. 1, 1848, who married ( first) Will- iam H. Porter, of Bristol, Conn .; and (second) Edward Alpress, a machinist of New Britain. By his second marriage Mr. Tolles had one son, Will- iam H., born Ang. 19, 1855, who died Sept. 4, of the same year.

SAMUEL AUSTIN GARDNER, of Burnside, was born in Manchester, Hartford Co., Conn., June 28, 1858, and descends from one of the old Colonial families of New England. The first of the name in Connecticut was Stephen Gardner, who was among the early settlers of New London, and un- doubtedly came from Rhode Island. He bought a large tract of land near the "Great Pond" (after- ward named Gardner's Lake), and married Amy Sherman, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Money) Sherman, who was born Oct. 25, 1681. They had twelve children, born in the following order: Amy, June 13, 1701; Lydia, Oct. 10, 1702 ; Stephen, Feb. 24, 1704; Benjamin, April 18, 1706; Peregrine, Jan. 24, 1707; Daniel, Dec. 14, 1709; Sarah, Oct. 25, 1711 ; Hannah, May 2, 1713 ; Mehit- able, May 22, 1715 ; Abigail, July 9, 1717; David, June 28, 1720; and Jonathan, April 18, 1724.

Jonathan Gardner, the youngest of this family, first married Mary Haughton, and after her death married Abia Fitch, twin daughter of David F. and Sarah (Sherwood) Fitch. To the latter mar- riage were born four children: Amy, in 1754; Mary, in 1756; Jonathan, Dec. 2, 1758; and Lucy, in 1760.

Jonathan Gardner (2), born in 1758, was a

soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was at New York when the British took possession of that city, but was on detail duty, which prevented his taking part in combats, yet he was an eyewitness of the battle at White Plains. He married Jerusha Hyde Stark, Jan. 22, 1783, three children being born to them : Jerusha, Nov. 21, 1783 ; Mary, Jan. 10, 1786; and Roderick, July 20, 1788.

Roderick Gardner was a farmer and an exten- sive land owner, lived near Gardner's Lake, and married Amy Miner, a native of Lyme, May 23, 1813. She bore her husband twelve children, as follows : Dyer Hyde, Feb. 11, 1814; Ulysses S., Dec. 16, 1815; Adolphus M., Aug. 10, 1817; An- drew J., Feb. 20, 1819; Russell S., Dec. 16, 1820; Lucius L., Aug. 31, 1822; Mary M., Oct. 10, 18:4; Austin, July 2, 1826; Anson, May 19, 1829; Al- bert A., Aug. 20, 1831 ; Emma E., Aug. 24, 1833; and Elisha M., July 13, 1836. Roderick Gardner, father of these children, and grandfather of our subject, was a pensioner of the war of 1812. He represented his town, Bozrah, in the State Legis- lature, when it met in Hartford, in 1830. His death took place Jan. 1, 1849, and that of his widow March 6, 1866, the remains of both being interred in New London county.

Austin Gardner, father of our subject, was born near Gardner's Lake, and was educated in the local district school, East Greenwich Academy and Wes- Jeyan University. He learned the trade of paint- ing, and after his father's death he taught school in the Carolinas, where he met and married Miss Emily Jane Baker, a native of Benson, Vt., and also a teacher. Returning to the North he taught in Manchester Center, near the soldiers' monument, and afterward went through a course of theological instruction in the seminary at East Windsor Hil !. His first charge was at West Granville, Mass .; thence he went to Jenksville, Mass., and founded a church; was next at Canton Center, Conn., four years ; then three years at West Suffield ; later was pastor of the Congregational Church at Bucking- ham for fourteen years ; spent eight years at War- ren ; and is now at Ashford, having thus filled out forty years in the ministry, in the pulpit each Sun- day, with but two exceptions. To his marriage with Miss Baker five children have been born : Dwight B., a manufacturer in Chicago, Ill. ; Gene- vieve Theresa, at home ; Samuel A., the subject of this notice: Harry D. J .; and Frederick R., who died in childhood. The fourth of this family, Harry D. J., was a minister of the Gospel, and was about to go to Natal as a missionary for the American Board when he was suddenly taken ill, and died Nov. 27, 1888, almost on the eve of his wedding.

Samuel Austin Gardner was born while his fa- ther was teaching school in Manchester, and shortly after his birth his parents removed to East Wind- sor Hill, where his early boyhood years were passed. Ile attended the district schools at West Suffield, Canton Center and Ludlow Mills, and when fifteen

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years of age started in life on his own account. His first experience was in a store at Suffield, and he was later engaged in Springfield, Mass., as a clerk for J. S. Marsh & Son, grocers, for several years ; he next taught school, then came to Burn- side, and for several years was employed in the store of H. T. Hart. He was next employed as a traveling salesman for W. & B. Douglass, pump manufacturers of Middletown, and while in their employ traveled throughout the West. In 1891 he entered into the oil business, and remained in it for about nine years. At one time he was presi- dent of the Otto Miller Co., of Chicago. Since dis- posing of his oil business he has busied himself with looking after and dealing in real estate and investments.

Mr. Gardner was joined in marriage, May 20, 1880, with Miss Mary E. Fisk, who was born March 2, 1859, a daughter of D. C. and Mary (Clark) Fisk, of Springfield, Mass., and the marriage has been graced with three children: Harold Irving, born Jan. 24, 1882, who is now at Yale University ; Amy Louise, born Oct. 30, 1883, who is a student at Northfield Seminary; and Linda Baker, born Sept. 13, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are mem- bers of the Burnside Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Gardner is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican in National affairs, but in local issues he is independent, and votes for the can- didate best suited, in his opinion, to fill the office. Fraternally he is a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 25, 1. O. O. F., of East Hartford, and of La- fayette Council, No. 37, O. U. A. M., of East Hart- ford. As a citizen and business man he is univers- ally respected, and in social circles he and wife hold a most enviable station.

HON. L. MULLALEY, JR. Few men in this section have shown as marked capacity for business as has this young and enterprising merchant of Windsor who has built up the largest general trade of that locality. Nor has his financial success been gained at the expense of other interests, as he has found time to help forward many important public movements and has become a recognized power in local politics. His friends and adherents are to be found among people of all parties and creeds, his wide popularity being due to his genuine worth as a man and citizen rather than to an effort on his part to be the leader of a faction. The story of his life, involving a gradual rise from poverty to afflu- ence, can not fail to be of interest.

Born in Windsor, Sept. 16, 1861, he is of Irish ancestry, a fact of which his ready generosity and warm-hearted sympathy give abundant indications. His grandfather, John Mullaley, a large cattle dealer in County Galway, Ireland, married Margaret Houli- han, and reared a large family of children, none of whom are now living. One of the sons, John, died in Wisconsin, in March, 1897. Lawrence Mul- laley, Sr., our subject's father, was born Dec. 23,

1825, in County Galway, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Margaret Dooley, a native of the same county. In 1851 he came to the United States in a sailing-vessel, the voyage between Liverpool and New York requiring many weeks. He had already gained some knowledge of the tanner's trade and on his arrival in this country came immediately to Windsor to take a position in Henry Halsey's tannery. At that time but few of his nationality lad ever visited this section, and he and his family were regarded with some curiosity, but his sterling qualities of character soon won the respect of the citizens. By her careful economy his estimable wife aided him in his purpose to better his condition in life, and, as he was industrious, he was able after a time to buy a comfortable home at Windsor, Conn., where his last years were spent in agricultural pur- suits. While he was not a politician, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and was always keenly interested in its success. His wife died April 25, 1898, and he survived her but a few months, dying Aug. 25 1898, and their remains now rest in the cemetery at Blue Hills. Of their eight children six lived to adult age, our subject being third in the order of birth.

As a boy our subject attended school in Wind- sor, his studies in the common schools being supple- mented by a course in the academy. His spare time was spent in work on the home farm, but as he had strong inclinations toward mercantile life he at the age of sixteen secured a position as a clerk in M. D. Murphy's store at Windsor. Later he was employed in a similar capacity by D. W. Phelps and the firm of Clark & Welch, of that town, but on being offered a position in a railroad office in Omaha, he resigned, thinking the change would be desirable. His parents objected to his going so far from home. and in deference to their wishes he gave up his plan, determining to engage in business on his own account, and early in the eighties he established his present general store. He carries on a credit busi- ness, and at times has lost heavily, but this is to be attributed to a generous nature rather than to any lack of sagacity, as it has always been difficult for him to refuse a favor. He has gained a substantial competence, and in 1894 he built a fine brick resi- dence, one of the best in the village. His wife, who was formerly Miss Maggie C. Kennan, is a dangh- ter of John Kennan, an esteemed resident of Wind- sor Locks. Two children brighten their home, Will- iam and Ritter. Mr. and Mrs. Mullaley are prom- inent in religious work as members of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church at Windsor, and this sketch would not be complete without a further mention of our subject's influence in political fields. From early manhood he has been an ardent Democrat, and his sound advice has been valued in the party councils, but he did not consent to enter the arena as a candi- date until he was nominated by his party as a rep- resentative in the Legislature. The usual vote of the town gives over one hundred Republican plit-

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rality, yet he was elected by a plurality of sixty-four, being the first Democrat chosen to that office in the town in more than twelve years. On Oct. 17, 1900, he was elected for senator in the Third district of the old town of Windsor, Connecticut.

JAMES A. GRISWOLD. Inthe rural communi- ties of Connecticut a high type of citizenship has always prevailed, and the subject of this sketch, a leading resident of East Granby, Hartford county, is a typical representative of the intelligent, progres- sive and public-spirited farmer. His home gives evidence of taste and judicious use of ample means, and the "whole-souled" hospitality of Mr. Griswold and his wife makes it a center for a large circle of friends, while in local affairs he exerts a recognized influence.

The Griswold family has been prominent in Hartford county from an early date, our subject's ancestors having been identified with the town of Windsor previous to its organization. James A. Griswold is of the fifth generation in direct descent from Elijah Griswold. Levi Griswold, his son, the great-grandfather of our subject, resided in Windsor.

Hiram Griswold, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in Windsor, and settled upon his homestead at Poquonock, where he engaged in the blacksmith's trade in connection with the cultivation of his farm. The place was unimproved, and he built the farm buildings, as well as the shop in which he carried on his trade. He was a resolute, quick- tempered, outspoken man, but generous and ready to forgive, and his friends were numbered by the score. In religious faith he was a Universalist, and politically he held firmly to the Democratic party, often declaring that he would stand by it if no other adherent could be found in the United States. Among the offices in which he served was that of selectman, and for eight years he was constable of his town, while during his several years as tax col- lector no one dreamed of requiring a bond, so com- plete was the confidence of the public in his integ- rity. He died at the advanced age of eighty years, and his remains now rest in the town of Windsor, beside those of his second wife. By his first wife, Esther ( Bates), he had one son, James Monroe, our subject's father. His second wife, Hannah (Stanley), who died at the age of seventy-one years, was a daughter of Roswell Stanley. They had a large family of children, of whom the following lived to adult age: Esther, widow of John A. Bruce, of Bridgeport, Conn. ; Hudson N., a farmer of Windsor; Julia, widow of James Yeomans, of Centerville, S. Dak .; George H., of Windsor; and Edgar W., a druggist of Centerville, South Da- kota.

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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 107

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