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 109

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 109

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Mr. Burr is also a faithful member of the Con- gregational Church, and socially is affiliated with Mattabessett Lodge, No. 25, K. of P., of East Ber- lin. Politically he was originally a Whig, and is now a stanch Republican. He has never taken an active part in political affairs, aside from voting, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interest ; he was once nominated as repre- sentative to the State Legislature, but declined the honor. Energy, industry and perseverance have

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been marked characteristics in his business career and to these may be attributed the secret of his success. In business affairs he was notably reliable, and had the entire confidence and respect of his associates and of all with whom he came in con- tact.

WILLIAM R. MACK, one of Windsor's best citizens, has been prominent for many years in busi- ness circles, and is still extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick. His family may be said to have been pioneers in that industry in his locality, and as large holders of real estate they have also been identified with the agricultural interests of the town. Throughout his career Mr. Mack has shown the thrift, energy and sound judgment which charac- terized his ancestry as the following record of his achievements will indicate, and by his judicious use of his resources he has acquired a comfortable competence.

The family is numerously represented in this section, and in other sketches contain interesting ac- counts of early generations. In the paternal line our subject is a descendant of Andrew Mack, a Hessian soldier, who was captured at Fort Ticon- deroga, and confined in the Old Newgate Prison at Simsbury. On being released he joined the Colo- nial army and fought bravely for Independence. On the maternal side he traces his descent from Peregrine White, of "Mayflower" fame, and from the Allen family, to which Ethan Allen belonged.

Our subject was born Dec. 25, 1836, in a house which stands on Mack street, Windsor, near his present residence, and is a son of William and Sarah (Ware) Mack, of whom further mention is made elsewhere. During boyhood he attended the com- mon schools of the academy at Windsor, while his spare moments were usefully employed in farm work or in helping in his father's brick yard. In the spring of 1858 he went to Springfield, Illinois, where he took a position as foreman in a large brick yard at a handsome salary. There he re- mained a number of years, and among his recol- lections of the place are incidents connected with the life of Abraham Lincoln, who was elected Presi- dent during that time. Mr. Mack was one of many who called at Lincoln's residence on the mem- orable night when the returns from the election were received, and he distinctly remembers the tall form of "Old Abe" as he stood on the doorstep and said "Friends and Fellow-Citizens : I wish that my house was large enough to hold you all. Come in, all that can get in." On his return from Illi- nois Mr. Mack engaged in farming in Windsor, which he has ever since followed in addition to the management of his brickyard. In 1871 he built his substantial brick residence in Mack street, where he has since resided, and its comforts are a tangible re- ward of his industry and foresight. In manner he is unostentatious and his reliable and straightfor- ward methods of business have brought him the con-

fidence of all who deal with him. Politically "Russell" Mack, as he is called, is a life-long Re- publican, his first Presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln, and but for his refusal to ac- cept nomination he would doubtless have been the choice of his party for local office more than once. He and his family enjoy an excellent social position, and he is a charter member of the O. U. A. M. at Windsor. His wife is prominently identified with the Episcopal Church. He was married (first) in Windsor to Miss Juliette Holt, of Hartford, daugh- ter of Samuel and Rachel Holt. His second wife was Mrs. Anna ( Clapp) Baldwin, widow of Charles Baldwin. His third wife was Mrs. Jane (Cobb) Camp, of Norfolk, Conn., widow of Abel Camp, and in 1898 he married Mrs. Mary A. ( Barnes) Cornell, widow of George Cornell, of Providence. He has five children, all by the first marriage : Eva R. ( Mrs. T. H. Whitney), R. W., E. W., and Nellie ( Mrs. Wilbur Reid) reside in Windsor, and Etta is the wife of Henry Elcock, of Hartford.

HON. NORRIS W. BUNNELL, of Burling- ton Centre, is now living retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly de- serves, by reason of his industrious efforts in for- mer years. Accomplishment and progress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the success- ful few.

Mr. Bunnell was born on a farm near Burling- ton Centre Nov. 10, 1825, and belongs to one of the oldest families of that locality. His grand- father, Lemuel Bunnell, was born in 1767 in Hart- ford county, and when a young man located in Burlington. He died there Feb. 1, 1809, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Marial Ben- ham, was born in 1772, and died April 7, 1852, the remains of both being interred in Burlington cemetery. In their family were five children: Hez- ckiah, a manufacturer of linseed oil, who died in Burlington : Polly, Mrs. Elton ; Theda, Mrs. Smith; Joel, the father of our subject : and Sybil, Mrs. Wheeler.

Capt. Joel Bunnell, our subject's father, was born Feb. 5. 1793. received a district-school ed- ucation, and during his youth learned the trades of tanner, currier and shoemaker. Throughout the greater part of his life he followed shoemaking, going from house to house making shoes, then known as "whipping the cat." He was a man of good business ability and sound judgment, and became quite well-to-do, owning over 700 aces of land in Bulington, where he also engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a captain in the State militia, and during the war of 1812 was drafted, serving for six months at New London, Conn. In his religious views he was liberal, and in political sentiment he was first a Democrat, and later a Republican, but never an office seeker.

Novis W Bunnell

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He died in Burlington July 4, 1876, honored and respected by all who knew him. He married Miss Fanny Gridley, a daughter of Reuel Gridley, who was a farmer in Harwinton, Conn., and there died. She was born March 13, 1798, and died April 30, 1887, being laid to rest by the side of her husband in Burlington Centre cemetery. Their children were as follows: Warren G., born April 6, 1819, is a resident of Burlington. Lemuel W., born June 12, 1823, married Jennette E. Clark, who died Jan. 3, 1847, at the age of twenty-six years, and he subsequently wedded Serena Aldrich, who survives him, and by whom he had two daugh- ters, Fannie, Mrs. Jenkins, of Plainville; and Clara (deceased), Mrs. Robert Bissell; Lemuel W. died in Plainville, Conn., April 23, 1890. Norris W., our subject, is next in the family. Shelden L., born Jan. 19, 1828, died July 8, 1878. Adaline A., born June 24, 1832, is a resident of Burlington Center.

During his boyhood Norris W. Bunnell at- tended the district schools of Burlington, but the greater part of his education has been acquired by reading and observation in later years. He is especially well posted on the leading events of the day. Remaining with his father until the latter's death, he subsequently came into possession of 300 acres of land, on which he made many improve- ments, and there he successfully engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising until after the death of his wife, in 1888, when he sold the farm, and now lives retired with his sister in Burlington Cen- ter. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, he has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact. Being one of the prominent men of his town, he was elected to a number of offices, and most creditably served as selectman, assessor, tax collector and justice of the peace, and represented Burlington in the State Legislature in 1883. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and liberal in religious views.

In Burlington, Oct. 10, 1866, Mr. Bunnell mar- ried Miss Kavanna Edwards, a daughter of Abel Edwards, a well-known citizen of Burlington. She was born in Washington, Conn., in 1842, and died March 30, 1888, her remains being interred in Burlington Center cemetery, where the family have erected a beautiful monument. Mrs. Bunnell was a lady of culture and refinement, and a good Chris- tian woman, well liked by all who knew her. Mr. Bunnell has one son, Otis Gridley, born Dec. 19, 1868. He attended the district schools of Burling- ton, and later the high school of Bristol, from which he was graduated in April, 1889, in the fall of that year entering Yale College. He completed the scientific course, graduating in 1892, with hon- ors, and then became a private tutor in the family of L. L. Lorillard, of New York City. In the spring of 1893 he went to the Old World, visiting the principal cities of Europe, Asia and Africa, where he spent fifteen months. In 1894 he became

an instructor in French, at Yale, where he still re- mains. He is a young man of far more than ordinary ability and intellectual attainments, hold- ing the degrees of Ph. B. and M. S. Mr. Bunnell also attained high standing in military science, pur- suing the study during his college course, and stood fifth in class of nearly 200. He is a Knight Temp- lar, a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity, and of the Graduates Club, New Haven.

HON. WILLIAM HANMER (deceased) was at the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 27, 1877, one of the foremost business men of East Hartford, as a member of the East Hartford Manu- facturing Company, and was a native of the town. He was born Aug. 14, 1828, and was a son of Fran- cis and Julia (Roberts) Hanmer, both descendants of old and highly respected Colonial families, to whom frequent allusions are made in various sketches to be found within the covers of this work.

Francis Hanmer, father of our subject, was born Sept. 6, 1801, and died Feb. 6, 1881, his re- mains being interred at East Hartford. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Julia Roberts, became the father of three children: Mary, born April 12, 1827, who died April 18, 1888; William, the subject of this sketch ; and Julia, who was born Aug. 14, 1830, and died Nov. 22, 1854. Mrs. Julia (Roberts) Hanmer, who was born May 12, 1805, passed away June 5, 1832, and Mr. Hanmer next married Abbie Forbes, who was born Sept. 15, 1811, and died May 10, 1879, the mother of two children : Francis, Jr., who was born Oct. 19, 1837, and died Aug. 31, 1838; and Charles, a resident of East Hartford. Mr. Hanmer was recognized as one of the most progressive men of East Hartford town, and in 1859 was its representative in the State Leg- islature. He was a pioneer in the manufacture of gunpowder, and for years the firm of Hanmer & Forbes stood at the head of this industry in the United States, their factory being located at Scot- land, now Burnside, Connecticut.

Hon. William Hanmer was reared in East Hart- ford, and received a sound academic education, being fitted for college, but he did not, however, matriculate in any of the higher institutions of learn- ing. When a young man he went to Monson, Mass., and for some time clerked for a mercantile firm, then returned to East Hartford, and assisted in his father's office until he became associated with the East Hartford Manufacturing Company at Burnside, where his arduous labors, beyond a doubt, accelerated his untimely and lamented death, in the prime and full vigor of manhood. He had, however, other interests beside those connected with the company, and holdings which, in conjunction with his activity in promoting the prosperity of his town, and his duties as a public officer, were additional strains on his mentality and nervous system. He took a keen interest in public affairs, both of the vil-

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lage of East Hartford and of Burnside, and being truly public-spirited was liberal in his donations of land to the latter village for streets and other pur- poses, and was ever ready to contribute to any pro- ject designed to advance the public welfare. In politics a Republican, he was elected to represent the East Hartford district in the State Legislature in 1863, and in 1870 served as town treasurer, and also served incidentally in several minor offi- ces, all of which, however, carried with them a burden of care and responsibility.

Mr. Hanmer was joined in matrimony Sept. 6, 1853, with Miss Caroline E. Forbes, who was born at Burnside April 17, 1834, a daughter of Charles and Mary A. ( Ward) Forbes, the former of whom was born Dec. 27, 1805, and the latter May 8, 1807, and of whom a full biographical sketch is given else- where. The children born to the marriage of Mr. Hanmer and his amiable wife were six in number, and were named, in order of birth, as follows : Frances, now Mrs. A. W. Eaton, of Pittsfield, Mass. ; Franklin H., of Burnside; William W., who died at the age of tweny-eight years; Harriet, married to Mark Robbins, of Lee, Mass. ; John R., of Boston, Mass .; and Daisey, wife of Clarence Rodgers, of Hartford, Conn. Mrs. Caroline E. Hanmer now makes her home in Hartford, and is a respected and consistent member of the Park Congregational Church, the tenets of which she embraced early in life. She is honored by all who know her, as many do, for her sunny and amiable disposition has made her hosts of friends.

LYMAN TREAT, of East Hartford, one of the earliest of the residents of Connecticut to engage in the tobacco-growing industry, descends from a very old and respected Colonial family which had its origin in England, but of which family, after diligent search, no absolutely authentic trace has vet been followed which leads the American family to its connection with the stock on Albion's Isle.

It is, however, a well-authenticated fact that Matthias Treat, one of the founders of the family in America, was born in England, and was married in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1648, to Mary Smith, a daughter of Richard Smith, of Wethersfield, and died July 8, 1682, at his residence on the east side of Broad street, which had been the old Samuel Boardman homestead. From the marriage of Matthias Treat and Mary Smith came the following named children : Henry, born in 1649, married Sarah Andrews in 1673, and died in 1681 ; Susanna was born in 1651, and Richard in 1655; Elizabeth was born in 1657; Abigail, born in 1659, was mar- ried to Capt. Stephen Hollister in 1683, and died in 1702; and Dorcas, born in 1662, was married, in 168r, to Richard Smith. The records of Wethers- field show that Mrs. Mary ( Smith) Treat gave to her daughter, Dorcas, Jan. 20, 1681, her "brown cow, between six and seven years old."

Henry Treat, son of Matthias and Mary, mar-'

ried in 1673, Sarah Andrews, daughter of Edward Andrews, of Hartford, and died in 1681, at East Hartford, the father of the children as follows : Sarah, who was born in 1674, and was married to David Forbes, of Hartford, and Matthias, born about 1676. The latter married, about 1700, Han- nah Warren, and died Oct. 26, 1726, the father of Matthias, who was born in 1705, married Mrs. Dorothy (Buckland) Bidwell about 1750, and died about 1776; and Henry, born in 1707, was baptized May 4, of that year, married Abigail Gilman about 1731, and died Oct. 12, 1794. Matthias and Dor- othy (Buckland-Bidwell) Treat became the parents of the following named children: Matthias, who was born in 1750, and baptized Dec. 3, married Tryphena Risley, Dec. 20, 1778, and died in June, 1827; Mary, the date of whose birth is not given for lack of record, was married to a Mr. Raymond : Theodore, born Aug. 15, 1754, for his first wife married Mary Williams, Dec. II, 1783, for his sec- ond wife wedded Mrs. Zeppora Sholes, March 28, 1805, and died March 28, 1828; Esther, born in August, 1755, was married (first) to a Mr. Bunce, and (second) to a Mr. Hinsdale; Russell, born in 1758, and baptized April 23, married Anna Ensign, daughter of Moses Ensign, and died in East Hart- ford in 1842, his wife following him to the grave July 10, 1849.

Of the above named children, Matthias served as a private in the company of Capt. Jonathan Wells at the outbreak of the Revolution, and at the first alarm, in 1775, marched to the defense of Boston, for which he was allowed six days' compensation. From Jan. 7, 1778, until March 7, 1778, he was a private in the company of Capt. Russell Grant, of Col. Obadiah Johnson's regiment, and he was a lieu- tenant of a militia company in 1794. Russell Treat also served in the war of the Revolution. He was a drummer of great skill, and in December, 1775, en- listed at East Hartford under Capt. Bissell, in Col. Huntington's regiment, for one year, and was dis- charged at Peekskill, N. Y., having taken part in the battle of Long Island, that State, Aug. 27, 1776, as well as in several other engagements. In 1777 for six months he was with Capt. Curtis in Col. Eno's Connecticut Regiment, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Oct. 17, of the same year.

The eight children born to Lieut. Matthias and Tryphena Treat were as follows: (1) Tryphena, born April 17, 1780, was married to Major Nehe- miah Abbey, and died April 22, 1859; (2) Eliza- beth, born Nov. 18, 1781, was married (first) March 21, 1802, to Timothy Forbes, of Burnside, Conn., a son of Timothy and Mary (Roberts) Forbes, and (second) May 1, 1822, to John L. Goodale, of Windsor, Conn., her death taking place May 17, 1860; (3) Clarissa, born Jan. 18, 1784, was married to Harvey Peck, of Rochester, N. Y .; (4) Olive, born Jan. 18, 1787, was mar- ried Nov. 19, 1809, to Timothy Deming; (5) Mat-

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thias ( father of our subject), born July 28, 1789, married (first) Aug. 29, 1813, Lucy Brewer, and (second) June 17, 1840, wedded Mrs. Sarah (Sey- mour) Williams, and died March 5, 1843; (6) Sylvester, born Sept. 8, 1792, married May 8, 1824, Emily Brown, and died in 1860; (7) Oliver, born May 1, 1795, married (first) May 8, 1816, Dorothy Porter ; (second) Oct. 9, 1834, Statira Adams; (third) Oct. 11, 1862, Almira Phelps ; and ( fourth) in October, 1867, Mrs. Mary Orville Bridges (Oli- ver died Jan. 21, 1875) ; (8) Henry B., born May 8, 1798, died April 5, 1878.

Matthias Treat, father of Lyman Trcat, the subject proper of this sketch, and the dates of whose birth and death have been mentioned above, was born on the farm now occupied by Samuel Hills, was educated in the common schools, and at an early age was employed in the shipyards on the Connecti- cut river at seventy-five cents per day. To his marriage with Lucy Brewer, daughter of Daniel and sister of Samuel, George, Daniel and Reuben Brewer, were born nine children. Mrs. Lucy (Brewer) was born May 7, 1793. passed her child- hood and womanhood near Hazard Forks, and died on her husband's homestead on Willow street, East Hartford, Aug. 2, 1838. Their children were as follows: Eliza Ann, born Oct. 29, 1814, died Sept. 29, 1820; Abigail, born Jan. 20, 1816, was married to Joseph Rist, of East Hartford, Aug. 19, 1841; Lyman, the subject of this biography, was born May 10, 1819, and married Sarah L. Bell, Jan. I, 1843: Eliza Ann, born Dec. 16, 1821, married Horace B. Sellew, of Glastonbury, May 3, 1842; Edwin, born Oct. 4, 1823, married Lucinda M. Cush- man, March 24, 1858; Lucy Ann, born April 13, 1826, was married to Clement Fox, of East Hart- ford: Ellery, born April 1, 1829, married Eunice Shipman, of Glastonbury, June 30, 1864; Fitch, born Oct. 12, 1831, died in New York May 23, 1881 ; and Owen, born Oct. 2, 1834, married (first) Lucy A. Bell, Oct. 4, 1858, and (second) wedded Jan. 18, 1885, Mrs. Eliza (Risley) Anderson, who was born Dec. 22, 1845, a daughter of Daniel Sey- mour and Almira (Keeney) Risley.

Lyman Treat, although his opportunities for ac- quiring an education were limited, became a splen- did scholar. He was a diligent reader, a good writer, and stood above all his classmates as a mathe- matician. In his early manhood he passed much of his time in hunting game for market in Tolland county, near Andover, and vicinity, and largely as- sisted in the support of the family. For four months he served an apprenticeship at bootmaking under George Cleveland, in James Hill's shop, and after leaving there started in on his own account, and buying the stock, made boots at his own home for Darius Rising, realizing about $2.00 per day. The breaking out of the Civil war, however, demoralized the trade in fine shoes in the South, and Mr. Treat then embarked in the raising of tobacco, being one of the first to engage in this industry in the section.

Mr. Treat lived on the home farm until Jan. 1, 1843, when he was married to Sarah L. Bell, who was born Jan. 15, 1823, a daughter of Stephen and Cera ( Stocking) Bell, natives of Glastonbury. He then removed to the Morley farm, near Colchester avenue, Glastonbury, where he resided two years, and then bought his present farm from Allen Brewer, his uncle, and here, in 1879, erected his handsome dwelling. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Treat is Louisa M., who came to bless their home Feb. 5, 1845, and is now the widow of Addison Pitken, of East Hartford, where Mrs. Pitken still resides.

Mr. Treat has long been recognized as one of the most progressive residents of East Hartford, has held several offices, and was instrumental in having Willow street graded through in 1865, do- nating land for that purpose. He has been fore- most in many other enterprises designed for the good of the public. He is a well-preserved gentle- man, has a most retentive memory, is an entertain- ing conversationalist, and is moreover generous in the extreme, no deserving individual ever going away from his home empty handed. His wife is a pleasant and refined lady, and of a very kindly dis- position, and no family in East Hartford enjoys a higher degree of respect than that of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Treat.

HON. A. T. PATTISON, one of the most pro- gressive residents of Simsbury, and a leading busi- ness man of the village, was born March 26, 1861, in East Weatogue, town of Simsbury, and is a son of Joseph and Delilah (Sceery) Pattison.

Joseph Pattison was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Oct. 16, 1833, a son of Joseph and Mary (Brown) Pattison. He came to the United States in the spring of 1855, landing in New York after a voyage of thirty days, and thence came to Simsbury. There he married, and has had born to him the fol- lowing named children: A. T., the subject of this sketch; Joseph; Nellie, wife of Edward Welch, of Hartford; Jennie, wife of William Washburn, of the same city ; Carrie, now Mrs. E. M. C. Eddy, of Sims- bury; George E .; and Alice V. Joseph Pattison has always been a farmer. In politics he is a Republican. Some years after the arrival of Joseph Pattison in Connecticut his father, also named Joseph, came to Simsbury, to which town several of his sons had preceded him, and here passed the remainder of his life, a strict churchman and a highly respected citizen. Among his children were Thomas, of Bris- tol ; John; Alexander, who served in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Andover, Conn .; Hugh, of Simsbury ; Joseph, father of our subject ; and Jane, who died young.

Hon. A. T. Pattison was reared in Simsbury. He first attended the district schools, then the Granby Academy, under Prof. Murphy, and finished his schooling at Prof. McLean's school, in Simsbury, at the age of nineteen. He began his business

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career as clerk in the store which he now manages, and which was then in charge of Judge A. S. Chap- man, as administrator of the estate of Judson Wil- cox, and when Chapman withdrew, Jan. 1, 1886, to assume his position as probate judge, Mr. Pattison became manager. This business was established by Mr. Wilcox in 1851.

In November, 1896, A. T. Pattison was elected a member of the State Legislature. Such measures of success as he has attained, either as a business man or as a citizen, has come to him in the town where he was born and where his life has been spent.

On Oct. 7, 1885, Mr. Pattison married Miss Ella Ruth Wilcox, who was born in Simsbury Oct. 23, 1862, a daughter of Judson (the founder of the store) and Nancy S. (Chapman) Wilcox. This union has been blessed with three children: Lucy W., born Oct. 14, 1886; Stella C .; and Julia E., born Aug. 26, 1890.

Mrs. Pattison is of the seventh generation of the WILcox family in Simsbury, as follows: (I) William Wilcox, of Stratford, Conn., born in 1001 at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, came to this country when thirty-four years old, on the ship "Planter," having certificate from minister at St. Albans; freeman of Massachusetts, 1636; moved to Stratford, 1639; representative at Hartford, 1647; died in 1652. His children: John, born 1633; Jo- seph, died Feb. 9, 1703; Samuel, died March - 12, 1713; Obadiah, born 1641, died 1713; Timothy, died June 13, 1713. Of these,

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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 109

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