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 114

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 114

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in 1839, enlisted in the First Connecticut Cavalry in the Civil war ; had many thrilling experiences in service as a detective ; was taken prisoner and con- fined at Belle Isle for three months : he has for many years been employed in the United States railway mail service, and resides in Chicago; he married Rosa Fagan, of New Britain, Conn. (9) William Norris, the youngest of the family, who was born in 1842, is a sea captain, sailing the Pacific; he is unmarried.

Langdon J. Peck, as has been said, was born Feb. II, 1829. He attended the district schools of Kensington until he was fourteen years old. when he took a course of study at a private academy at Berlin, conducted by Rev. Joseph Whittlesey. At the completion of his school days he returned to his father's farm, where he has ever since resided.

Mr. Peck is one of the best-known and most highly esteemed citizens of the town of Berlin. Trained to work while a boy, he has le:l a life of activity, industry and usefulness. He has always been keenly interested in the public welfare, and his fellow townsmen have repeatedly evinced their re- spect for his sound business sense, and their con- fidence in his probity, by electing him to positions of public responsibility and trust. In politics he is a stanch and consistent Republican; in religious faith both himself and wife are active members of the Congregational Church, and liberal contributors to its support.

On Dec. 4, 1856, Mr. Peck married Miss Han- nah Rogers Keeney, a daughter of Sheldon and Lucy Eliza (Van Nearing) Keeney, both of whom are now deceased ; their remains rest in Collinsville, Conn. Before marriage Mrs. Peck was a teacher. Three children have blessed the union: Robert Langdon, Giles Keeney and Alice Elizabeth. Rob- ert Langdon. the eldest, was born April 6, 1860, and educated at Kensington and Suffield. He is

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a mechanical designer, and liyes at the Peck home- stead. In 1886 he was united in marriage with Harriet Louisa Lines, eldest daughter of Hon. H. Wales Lines, of Meriden, and three children have been born to them. Norman Van Nearing, Dec. 24, 1887: Frederick Lines, May 12, 1891 ; and Amy Langdon, Nov. 18, 1897. Giles Keeney, second child of Langdon J. Peck, was born June 25, 1862, and died April 22, 1883. Alice Elizabeth, the third and youngest, was born Jan. 8, 1865, and on Oct. 3. 1889, was married to Arthur Upson, an attorney of Berlin. They have three children, Claire Peck, born Feb. 6, 1891 ; Everett Langdon, June 19, 1892 ; and Stuart Arthur, May 10, 1894.

STANLEY. The Stanleys of New Britain are the posterity of one of the first settlers of Hartford and Farmington, Conn., a sturdy type of the best New England settlers, who proved themselves of the highest type of manhood by their useful lives in the community in which through long periods they were entrusted with the highest public trusts. We write especially of the late Hon. Frederick Trenck Stan- ley, of New Britain, and his line of ancestors.

HON. FREDERICK TRENCK STANLEY (deceased), late of New Britain, was in the seventh generation from John Stanley, the emigrant ancestor, the line of his descent being through John Stanley (2), Thomas Stanley, Thomas Stanley (2), Gad Stan- ley and Gad Stanley (2).

(I) John Stanley, born in England, embarked for New England in 1634-35, but died on the pas- sage. leaving three children.

(II) John Stanley (2), son of John Stanley, born in 1624 in England, was, after his father's death, placed by the Court at Cambridge in the care of his uncle, Thomas Stanley. He removed with his uncle to Hartford in 1635. In 1645. he married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Anna Scott, of Hartford, and settled in Farmington, Conn. John Stanley and his wife were received into the church Jan. 30, 1652-53, and subsequently, when the families were graded according to dignity, they ranked fourth in a list of forty families. He was one of the most distinguished of the Colonists, being appointed by his townsmen to nearly every office of trust and honor. He was deputy to the General Court almost continually for thirty-seven years, and held various other public offices.

(III) Thomas Stanley, son of John Stanley (2), born Nov. 1, 1649, married in 1690 Anna, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah and Joanna ( Kitchell) Peck, of Waterbury.

(IV) Thomas Stanley (2), son of Thomas Stanley, born in 1696, married in 1718 Esther, daughter of Samuel Cowles, of Kensington. He lived in the "Stanley Quarter." New Britain, and was a man of wealth for the times.

(V) Gad Stanley, son of Thomas Stanley (2). ! born in 1735, married in 1767 Mary, daughter of John Judd. Gad Stanley was a large farmer, and

ultimately became one of the leading men of the town. He was made captain of the militia, warmly espoused the cause of the Colonies in their resistance to the oppression of the mother country, was present at the battle of Long Island, and was subsequently made colonel. After the war Col. Stanley served in nearly every important office in the town. He was many times sent to the General Court, both from Farmington and from New Britain.

(VI) Gad Stanley (2), son of' Gad Stanley, born in 1776, married in 1799 Chloe, daughter of Ensign Levi Andrews, of Newington and New Britain, born in 1777. They lived in the northern part of the "Stanley Quarter." He died in 1820, on the passage from Martinique, and was buried at sea. She died in 1851. After his death the farm was sold, and a fine residence built on Washington street, in New Britain. Their children were Levi A., Frederick T., William B., Herbert M., Alfred H., Catherine A., and Mary C.

The late Hon. Frederick Trenck Stanley, long a prominent, influential and honored citizen of New Britain, was born there Aug. 12, 1802, son of Gad Stanley. Until sixteen years of age he passed his. boyhood on the farm, assisting his father and at- tending school. He was a leader of sports among his companions, and during the latter years of his life was fond of relating some of the exploits of his boyhood days, with considerable amusement to his friends as well as to himself. Among other things he often told of his trips to Hartford on horseback, to secure the papers for the village, receiving every week for the trouble of distributing them a copy for himself, which he read with great interest. When sixteen years of age he occupied a position as clerk in a store in New Haven. While here he became a member of the New Haven Greys, a leading military organization. He was a favorite with all with whom he came in contact, and was liked by both employers and associates.

In 1823 Mr. Stanley left New Haven, and for a period was engaged as a merchant in Fayetteville. N. C. Returning to New Britain, he was for a time a clerk in the store of O. R. Burnham, then for one season was clerk on the "Oliver Ellsworth," a boat running between Hartford and New York. He developed a quick and active mind, and adapta- bility for a successful business life. In 1829 Mr. Stanley formed a partnership with the late Curtis Whaples, and opened a general store in New Britain. As time passed he saw the importance of manu- facturing and the promise it offered, and as early as 1830 associated himself with his brother, Will- iam B. Stanley, Henry W. Clark and Lora Waters. and erected a small shop for the manufacture of ma- chinery. In 1831 Frederick T. Stanley bought out. the business, and changed the product of the shop to wrought-iron door-locks, the first ever manufac- tured in this country. The firm first mentioned bought and put in operation the first stationary steam engine used in New Britain. In 1835 Mr. Stanley, his

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brother William B., Emanuel Russell, Smith Matti- son and T. and N. Woodruff bought thirty acres of land on the west side of Main street, and in 1836 built a dam and brick factory, and went more ex- tensively into the manufacture of locks. In 1841 Frederick T. Stanley sold out his interest in the busi- ness, which ultimately came into the hands of the Russell & Irwin Manufacturing Co., and, after an absence of two years in Mississippi with his brother, returned to New Britain, and began the manufacture of hinges. They also made door and shutter bolts, latches and trunk handles. When they began the manufacture of bolts in 1844 all door bolts were im- ported. The business increased rapidly, and in 1852 a new company-the Stanley Works-was formed, of which Mr. Stanley was elected president, and as such remained for more than thirty years, or until his death.

The enterprise and forethought of Mr. Stanley displayed in his own business led him to devise plans for the benefit of his native place. He first called the attention of the citizens to the necessity of hav- ing a suitable water supply in 1856, and at once gave much time to a thorough investigation of the sub- ject. He inspected the land where "Shuttle Meadow" now is, and devised the present plan for bringing water to the city. The leading men saw the feasibility of the plan, and Mr. Stanley laid out the details of the scheme before the taxpayers at public meetings.

Seeing the advantages to be derived by railroad communication Mr. Stanley, with others, labored to get the main line of the Consolidated road to run through New Britain. On the building of the branch road to Berlin, the first engine run on this line bore his name. He was the leading spirit in having the Providence, Hartford & Fishkill (now the New England) branch laid and run through New Britain. Mr. Stanley was intrusted with many public enter- prises, and it was often the remark that "he had done more for New Britain than any one here." During the Civil war, although too far advanced in years to go to the front, he did much to forward the good work at home. He was always anxious to have a suitable monument erected in New Britain in memory of the fallen heroes of the place, and was willing to give to it as liberally as his means would allow.

"In business Mr. Stanley was methodical, ener- getic and progressive, but never made the acquisi- tion of property his sole aim. His generous nature led him to give liberally, both of time and of means, for the benefit of others. His public spirit especially led him to place the welfare of the town and city be- fore his private interests."

In politics Mr. Stanley was first a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party he joined it. He was a great admirer of Daniel Webster, and was grieved much that he failed of a nomination for President at the Baltimore convention. He was personally acquainted with that statesman, and

a number of times went to hear him speak, notably at Bunker Hill and Dartmouth. In 1834 Mr. Stanley was elected a representative to the State Legisla- ture. He was again solicited for the same honors, but declined them. He was the first warden of the borough, in 1850, and in 1871 was elected the first mayor of New Britain. Though a Republican his name appeared at the head of both tickets. He was always ready to act for what he believed to be the public welfare, but never anxious to put himself for- ward into political prominence. His recollection of the early history of all the business enterprises of New Britain was remarkable, and it was a rare pleas- ure to hear him converse on such subjects. He could with perfect ease recite the exact dates of almost any public event of half a century prior to 1870, was an intelligent gentleman, of varied in- formation, or unflinching integrity, conscientious, loyal to his country, and unwearied in advancing the interests of his native town.

During the last years of his life Mr. Stanley was in feeble health. He was almost totally blind for seven years before his death, which occurred Aug. 2, 1883. At the time the Hartford Courant said : "In the death of Hon. F. T. Stanley, New Britain loses one of its most public-spirited and best be- loved citizens, and a man worthy to be called one of nature's noblemen. He has watched the growth of his native town with the eye of a lover, and for fifty years, and until laid aside by ill health from active work, there has been no important measure for its welfare which has not been either originated or warmly aided by him. And he took an equal interest in the welfare of his State and Nation, be- ing himself an embodiment of that spirit of loyalty among the active business men of the North which was the reserve force in the Union struggle. He has left a blessed memory that will long be cher- ished." He was the friend and acquaintance of most of the prominent men of his day, and was al- ways found among those who extended a welcome to such men, whenever they came into the State in a public capacity.

On July 4. 1838, Mr. Stanley was married to Melvina, daughter of Samuel C. and Anna ( Conk- lin) Chamberlain, of Sandisfield, Mass. The chil- dren by this marriage were: Alfred H., born Aug. 2, .1839: Frederick H., born Feb. 9, 1841, died Oct. 10, 1843; and William Chamberlain, born April 14, 1843, died July 31, 1844.

GEORGE BISSELL, a greatly-respected retired resident of East Hartford, was born March 27, 1833, in the north part of the town of Manchester, near the South Windsor town line, Hartford county, is a son of Lewis G. and Parmelia ( Beckwithi) Bissell, and is of the eighth generation from John Bissell, who was born in England in 1592, was one of Connecti- cut's earliest colonists, and died in Windsor. The line of descent is traced through Samuel, who died

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in 1688 in Windsor; John, born in 1659, died 1684; Capt. John, born in 1682, lived in Windsor and Bolton, and died in 1771; Capt. Ozias, born in Bol- ton May 13, 1732, died in Vernon March 16, 1828; Ozias, born in 1779; and Lewis G., born in 1801, to George, the subject of this sketch. To Lewis G. and Parmelia Bissell were born four children: Harriet, born Oct. 27, 1827, died March 23, 1896; Lewis, born July 6, 1829, died Sept. 1, 1900 ; George, subject of this sketch ; and Charles Henry, born Aug. 29, 1841.

George Bissell was but six months old when his parents settled in South Windsor, where he was reared and educated in the district schools, with Mary Ann Buckland as his first teacher. He then attended the Wapping Seminary, where Rev. Col- lins taught, and at the age of nineteen years went to work on his father's farm, which was a large one, and where he had plenty to do. Mr. Bissell early began for himself by raising tobacco, was indus- trious and prospered, and later he and his brother Charles engaged in buying and selling this staple quite extensively.

On May 21, 1873, Mr. Bissell married, in Ver- non, Conn., Miss Sarah Loraine Russell, who was born Aug. 18, 1845, in Vernon, and is a descendant of the Whitney and Powers families, being a daugh- ter of George and Nancy Cutler ( Powers) Russell, the former born in Enfield, Mass., Oct. 30, 1817, and the latter in Boylston, Mass., April 28, 1818. Im- mediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Russell lo- cated in Vernon, Conn., where Mr. Russell died Feb. 25, 1890, after a married life of fifty years, lacking two weeks; and Mrs. Russell was called away May 29, 1896, dying at the home of Mrs. Bissell, her daughter.

George Russell was a son of Jonathan Russell, who died in Vernon, Conn., in 1850, at the age of eighty years. George Russell was a farmer and fruit grower, and, as a rule, was a successful man. Although he met with reverses at the age of forty, he recovered himself, and acquired property of con- siderable value. He was a man of superior physique, weighed 180 pounds, and was well-qualified to cope with the arduous labors of farm life. In politics he was a Republican, but was never an office seeker. Although not a member of any church, he was a sincere follower of the Gospel, and an upright, pure man, of modest demeanor, and well worthy of the great respect in which he was held by his fellow citizens. His wife died in the faith of the Congre- gational Church, of which she had long been a de- voted member. The children born to George Rus- sell and wife were two in number: John Whitney Russell, of South Hadley Falls, and superintendent of the wire mill at Holyoke, Mass., and Sarah Lo- raine (Mrs. Bissell). The great-grandfather of Mrs. Bissell was Col. John Whitney. a hero of the Revolutionary war, and a resident of Concord, Mass., after whom the brother of Mrs. Bissell was named. Mrs. Bissell is a highly-accomplished lady,

having when young been fitted by private tutors for entrance to Mount Holyoke Seminary, but failing health prevented her attendance at that famous in- stitution of learning.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bissell went to housekeep- ing on part of his father's farm, and there lived for seventeen years, farming, dairying and tobacco rais- ing. In 1885 he relinquished all traffic in tobacco and tobacco growing, and devoted his time and at- tention to his other interests and those of his fa- ther. In May, 1890, he sold his farm property and removed to his present elegant home on Burnside avenue, in East Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Bissell have a family of four children: Jennie Loraine, born July 18, 1875, attended the New Britain Nor- mal School, was a successful teacher for a few years, and was married, Oct. 18, 1899, to Erastus C. Geer, son of Elihu Geer ; Alice Louise, born Feb. 13, 1880, is a stenographer; George Russell, born Dec. 20, 1883, is still at home; and Florence Louella, born Oct. 15, 1889, is a bright and promising little girl.

Mrs. Bissell, a very refined lady, and her eldest daughter, also an accomplished young woman, are members of the Congregational Church, in the work of which Mrs. Bissell takes quite a prominent part. She is president of the Home Missionary Society, also secretary and treasurer of the Foreign Mission- ary Society, and is a leader in all the measures of the congregation for the promotion of its work of beneficence. In politics Mr. Bissell is a stalwart Republican, and has voted for every candidate of his party for the presidency of the United States from John C. Fremont down to William McKinley.

Mr. Bissell, although nominally retired from business, has many interests that still claim his at- tention. He is the owner of a number of valuable residence properties in East Hartford that require his time and care, has other investments that need looking after, and is also engaged in the manipulat- ing of loans of his surplus capital, and in these transactions he is ably assisted by his accomplished helpmate. He is still a hale and well-preserved gentleman, notwithstanding the fact that he has un- dergone much hard labor. It is needless to add that socially the Bissell family stand with the elite.

HENRY CASE, a leading resident of North Canton, is a worthy representative of a family which has furnished many valuable citizens to this Com- monwealth. He is a descendant of John Case, a pioneer of Simsbury, through his son Bartholomew, who married Mary Humphrey, daughter of Ensign Samuel Humphrey.

Amos Case, son of Bartholomew, was born in 1712, and died in 1798. In 1740 he removed to. West Simsbury (now Canton), and engaged in farming at East Hill. He was married, in 1739, to Mary Holcomb, who was born in 1714, and died in 1802. They had ten children: Mary (1739- 1834) married Simeon Case, son of Richard Case (2) ; Ruth (1742-1794) married Richard Case, son

Henry Case,

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of Richard (2) ; Huldah ( 1744-1774) never mar- ried ; Amos (1746-1798) married Betsey Ward; Abel (1748-1834) married (first) Huldah Higby, and (second) Lucy Perry ; Silas ( 1749-1809) is mentioned below; Lucy ( 1752-1837) married (first) Ruggles Humphrey, and (second) Solomon Bull; Pliney ( 1754-1780) married Rhoda Merill; Rhoda (1757-1786) married Hosea Case; Seth (1760-1776) died in New York, while serving in the American army in the Revolutionary war.

Silas Case, son of Amos, was born in 1749, at East Hill, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He followed farming in West Simsbury, and died there in 1809. He married (first) Jane Kelly, who died in 1777, and later wedded Mary Case, who was born in 1755, and died in 1833. The only child of the first marriage, Kelly, born in 1777, married (first) Roxy Hoskins, and (second) Mabel Steele. There were nine children by the second marriage: Polly ( 1781-1850) married Giles Case ; Ira (1782-1848) married Mary Humphrey, and (second) Dinah Case; Silas (1785-1816) ; Levi (1787-1865) married Keturah Bandell; Ruggles is mentioned below ; Jane ( 1792-1859) married Hol- comb Case; Lucy (1794) married Everest Case ; Gad ( 1796) married Tirzah Gibbons; and Ruth (1799-1832) married Case Braman.

Ruggles Case, father of our subject, was born in 1789 in Canton, and received a district-school education. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Canton Street, and later removed to North Canton, where he built a shop and followed his trade many years. He also owned a seventy-acre farm, upon which he made many improvements. He died in August, 1881, and was buried in North Canton. In politics he was a Democrat, and for a long period he filled the office of justice of the peace. He was temperate and domestic in his habits, and, although liberal in religious views, he attended the Congre- gational Church and later the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married, in Canton, to Cynthia Case, daughter of Capt. Uriah Case, and they had the following children: Oliver, deceased; Clarissa (deceased), who married Roswald Barnes ; Watson, deceased ; Lucinda, deceased wife of Watson Case; Edmund, a retired resident of North Canton; Cyn- thia, deceased; Nelson, who died in childhood; Henry, our subject ; Mary E., deceased ; and Sarah, widow of Horace C. Vining.

Our subject's mother, who was born in 1793, and died in 1874, was a most exemplary woman, and a regular attendant of the Congregational Church. She was a descendant of John Case, the pioneer, her line being traced through Richard, a son of John. Sergt. Richard Case, son of Richard, was born in Simsbury in 1710, and came to West Simsbury in 1737, being one of the first settlers there. He married Mercy Holcomb, who was born in 1712, and died in 1780. Their son, Uriah, fa- ther of Mrs. Cynthia Case, was born in 1743, and died in 1822. He resided in East Hill, where he fol-

lowed farming all his life. He married (first) Susan Lawrence, (second) Eunice Dill, and (third) Mrs. Mary Case, widow of Silas Case. By the first marriage he had four children: Zilpah, born in 1766, married Isaiah Taylor; Sylvia, born in 1768, married (first) Amasa Fuller, and (second) David Sutliff; Uriah, Jr., born in 1771, married Sarah Noble, who died in 1807; Susannah, born in 1774, married Jared Mills, Jr., and died in 1808. There were eleven children by the second marriage: Joab, born in 1779, married Sarah Case, and died in 1818; Eunice, born in 1780, married Roswell Reed; Wat- son, born in 1781, married Sylvia Case, and died in 1853; Elizabeth, born in 1783, died in 1808, un- married; Holcomb, born in 1784, married Jane Case, and died in 1854; Lorinda, born in 1786, died in 1808, unmarried; Clara and Laura, twins, were born in 1788, of whom the latter died in 1842, and the former married Charles Humphrey ; Lydia, born in 1791, died in 1822, unmarried; Cynthia married Ruggles Case; and Lucinda, born in 1799, married Hiram Case.

Our subject was born Sept. 4, 1830, in North Canton, and after completing a district-school course attended the high school at Ellington. For some time he taught school in winter, and assisted his father on the farm during the summer, and at the age of twenty-two he began dealing in furs, a business which he has carried on extensively ever since, his goods being bought mainly in Canada, New York and the "Far West." He has had some manufactured, and has sold extensively in Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, the various kinds of fur wraps, robes, etc. He has also for several seasons bought furs on commission for a New York firm. Mr. Case is also interested in farming, tobacco growing and stock raising at the old homestead, where he resides, except during occasional visits to California and Florida. His habits are irre- proachable, and his genial disposition has made him many friends.

Mr. Case was married, in 1890, in San Jose, Santa Clara Co., Cal., to Miss Regina E. Mecklem, who was born in Crescent City, Del Norte Co., Cal., in 1859, a daughter of John and Jane (Lowry ) Mecklem, pioneer residents of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Case have one child, Henry Ruggles, born in North Canton, Nov. 20, 1894. Mr. Case is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and has served as justice of the peace for the town of Canton. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church at North Canton, of which he is a liberal supporter.

John Mecklem was born in 1818 in Beaver county, Penn., son of Samuel and Rachel (Mc- Donald) Mecklem, who came to Pennsylvania from Delaware. In 1845 he married Jane Lowry, who was born in 1818 in the North of Ireland, but was reared in Pennsylvania, her parents, James and Mary (Henderson) Lowry, natives of County Down, Ireland, having come to America when she was quite young, taking up their home in Pitts-

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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 114

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