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 119

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 119

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In politics Henry G. Beaumont is a Republican, formerly a Whig. He has been a stanch party man on State and National issues, but in town matters is independent. He has never had political aspira- tions, business presenting to him a more congenial field for his efforts. He is a liberal supporter of the church, and his wife and daughter are mem- bers of the Congregational Church. Mr. Bean- mont is exceptionally well-preserved, though from early life he has been an active, hard-working man. He is unassuming in manner, and a splendid type of the business man of a half-generation ago, the dupli- cation of which in more recent times is a matter of serious doubt. Mr. Beaumont is an excellent reins- man, even with his present years. He has always been an admirer and an excellent judge of good horses, and for many years has owned some of the best roadsters in East Hartford. It has been one of his enjoyable diversions from business to take a spin over the roads behind a favorite team, and his skill has always proved equal to the complete management of his flyers. There are few men who can equal his mastery at the reins. Mr. Beaumont has amassed a handsome property, and to his sons in Nebraska has given a good start in business. Every faculty of his keen intellect retains the strength and accuracy of former years. He has an

extensive acquaintanceship, and wherever known he is highly honored for his eminent ability and achievements, and a better example of sterling char- acter and worth could not be found. His family has high social rank among the first families of East Hartford.

HENRY DANIELS, a greatly respected retired farmer and machinist of East Hartford, was born Oct. 25, 1829, in the town of Lebanon, New London county, near the line of the town of Hebron, Tolland Co., Conn., and is a son of Alfred and Lavinia (Lewis) Daniels, both natives of Connecticut.

The grandfather, Asa Daniels, was also a native of Connecticut, lived to be a very old man, and had a large family whose descendants are scattered all over the United States. His death was caused by a cancer. Alfred Daniels (the father of our sub- ject) was a shoemaker by trade, and his death was caused by drowning in Long Island Sound, his body being recovered on Fisher's Island. To his mar- riage with Lavinia Lewis, who was the eldest of a family of fourteen children, the following children were born : Mary A., who first married John Ful- ler, who was drowned while on a whaling voyage, and she afterward was married to Capt. Samuel Rose, also a whaleman, but later a boarding-house keeper in Hartford, and finally a farmer in Glastonbury, where his death occurred, his widow now making her home with a son in Boston; Ralph, the second of the five was a sailor, and died in Valparaiso, Chile, South America, and was there buried; the third child is Henry, the subject of this sketch; the fourth child, Elizabeth (I), died in infancy; and the fifth, Elizabeth (2), also died young. Mrs. La- vinia Daniels is also deceased, and her remains lie interred in Spring Grove cemetery, Hartford.

Henry Daniels was educated to a limited extent in Hebron, Colchester and New London, in which towns his father had lived. At the age of fourteen years he started out to make his living by working in a machine shop owned by Increase Wilson, manu- facturing novelties, at thirty-seven and one-half cents per day, but his wages were increased as he became more expert, and he retained his position about seven years, his last duty there being the feed- ing of a machine with hot wire, the product being rivets. He next went to New York, where he be- gan working at one dollar per day, and received an increase from time to time as the months rolled on. While in New York he lost a "chum", with whom he had worked a long time, and Mr. Daniels brought the corpse to New London, the home of his friend. The coffin was made by the men who worked in the shop, as time was short, being twenty miles up the North river from New York, and had to be taken by rail to New York, thence by steamboat to New London.

Mr. Daniels then returned to New York, worked there a short time, and next came to Mystic, Conn., where he was employed in making cotton-gin ma-

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chinery until February, 1853, when, having an attack of gold fever, he returned to New York and sailed thence for the Isthmus of Panama, en route for California. The railroad had then been built about half way across the isthmus, and the fare to its ter- minus was $12.50; the rest of the way to Panama had to be made on foot, or at a cost of $Io, for a mule ride. Mr. Daniel chose to go afoot, and the weather, even at that season, being extremely hot, he waded every brook he came to in order to cool off. He passed two nights in Panama, and then took the steamer "Tennessee" for San Francisco, but in a thick fog the vessel ran ashore, and Mr. Daniels was landed on the beach several miles from his destination. From San Francisco he went to Sacramento, but was dissatisfied with the outlook, and, being unfamiliar with mining, hired out to a salmon fisherman at $65 per month and remained with him until the close of the season. He then returned to San Francisco, where he met some New London (Conn.) acquaintances. Thence he went to Benicia, then the capital, where he was employed in a machine shop of the Pacific Mail S. S. Co., for some time, at $6 per day, and on his return to Con- necticut, via the Isthmus, he worked for several months in a machine shop in New London.

In July, 1855, Mr. Daniels came to Hartford, and worked for a time in Colt's machine shop, and later was employed making tools and models in Colt's Armory until 1866, when poor health made it neces- sary for him to seek out-door employment. He ac- cordingly purchased a sail boat in New London, and for sometime employed himself in sailing and fish- ing along Long Island Sound. He also bought a farm near the navy yard at New London, farmed in summer, and worked in Colt's factory at Hartford in winter, and in the fall of 1869 came to Hartford. He was employed by the Russian government as in- spector of all firearms manufactured in Colt's factory for its use, including Gatling guns, and in over-see- ing the shipments made to New York. In the spring of 1870 he moved his family to Hartford. Later he removed to Springfield, Mass., and was in- spector for the Russian government of all arms manufactured for it at Smith & Wesson's works, and then went to Bridgeport, where he was inspec- tor of cartridges made for the same government ; he next returned to Springfield, where he remained until, in 1874, he came to East Hartford, and settled on his present place of nine acres, which he had pur- chased in 1872, erected a dwelling and tobacco sheds, rented his lands for two years, and in 1875 began farming and tobacco growing.

On Jan. 17, 1856, Mr. Daniels married Miss Caroline A., daughter of Charles and Mary (Lewis) Saunders, a native of Hebron, Conn., and to this union have been born four children : (1) Isabelle is the wife of Hiram C. Fox, of East Hartford, and the mother of one son, Sherman. (2) Newell P., a printer, first married Mary Wadsworth, by whom he had one child, his second wife being Jennie Weaver ;

his home is also in East Hartford. (3) Charles mar- ried Miss Edna Brewer, a daughter of Ellery L. Brewer, whose biography appears elsewhere ; he be- ing a skillful taxidermist, and owns a fine collection of specimens. (4) Alice is still living with her parents.

In politics Mr. Daniels is a Republican, and has filled the office of selectman. He has never joined any of the secret societies, but with his wife and daughter is a constant attendant at the Congrega- ional Church. He is a very pleasant gentleman, and is an agreeable conversationalist, has through his own industry realized a competency, and is now liv- ing in quiet retirement and in the enjoyment of the respect of a host of friends.

FRANCIS DEMING, a prominent and suc- cessful business man of Berlin, was born in the Beckley Quarter of that town Feb. 4, 1857, and traces his ancestry back to one of three brothers who came to the United States at an early day. It is believed that he is descended from the one who settled in Wethersfield, Hartford county. All his ancestors followed the occupation of farming.

Israel Deming, our subject's great-grandfather, was born in Berlin, and married Hepzibah Web- ster. Their son, Philip Deming, also a native of Berlin, was married, June 14, 1817, to Sallie An- drews. Their son, Levi Deming, father of our sub- ject, was born in Berlin Sept. 1, 1818, and married Delia Belden, who was born in Rocky Hill Jan. 27, 1826, a daughter of Leonard Belden. The parents died in Berlin, and were buried in South cemetery, the father departing this life Dec. 17, 1877. In the family were only two children, Francis and Henry, the latter born Oct. 8, 1847. He entered the Union service during the Civil war, and died from quick consumption while on his way home, just before his arrival in New York, the day Presi- dent Lincoln was assassinated.

Francis Deming was reared on the home farm, attended the local schools, and later the Connecti- cut State Normal at New Britain, from which he graduated in 1878. He taught school in New Hart- ford one season and in West Cromwell two terms, after which he turned his attention to farming. After the death of his father he took charge of the old homestead, which he still owns and operates. In 1881 he purchased the grocery and drug store of Alfred North, but after conducting it for about eighteen months sold out. In 1890 he was instru- mental in organizing the Golden Ridge Creamery Co., of which he has since been secretary, treasurer and superintendent. W. H. Webster is now presi- dent of the company, and the directors are W. H. Webster, Daniel Webster, S. F. Raymond, C. M. Jarvis, A. E. Norton and Isaac E. Alling, of Ber- lin ; and Joshua Belden and Newton Osborne, of Newington. Their plant has a capacity of seventy thousand pounds of butter a year, and the product. which is of a superior quality, is sold in Hartford,

Francis Deming rances

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New Britain and Meriden. Mr. Deming is also in- terested in the Mattabessett Canning Co., which was organized March 2, 1896, for the purpose of can- ning squashes, sweet corn and tomatoes, the last named vegetable being their specialty. They also deal in corrugated iron, and have a capital stock of $10,000. Their plant, which has never been taxed to the utmost capacity, turns out each season from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand cases of twen- ty-four cans, tnd they use all the vegetables the farmers can supply. Business is carried on in the Beckley Quarter purely in the interest of the farm- ers, and from seventy to eighty hands are employed during the busy season. Their product is sold only to jobbers, and Boston, New York, Springfield and Hartford are their principal markets. The mem- bers of the company are Charles M. Jarvis, presi- dent ; E. I. Clark, vice-president ; Francis Deming, secretary and treasurer ; I. E. Alling, S. F. Ray- mond, M. E. Jacobs and F. D. Jones, directors.

On Oct. 5, 1880, Mr. Deming married Miss Jennie Bidwell Hill, of Cromwell, who was born Dec. 5, 1857, a daughter of William S. and Phœbe (Bidwell) Hill, farming people. Four children blessed this union: Florence Delia, born Sept. 3, 1881, died May 6, 1882; Lester Francis, born Dec. 1, 1884, and Robert Hubbard, born May 30, 1886, are attending the New Britain high school; and Henry Clarence, born Aug. 12, 1889, is attending the Berlin district school. The family have a pleasant and commodious home on Benjamin street, Berlin, which was erected by our subject in 1892, and there hospitality reigns supreme.

Politically Mr. Deming has always been identi- fied with the Republican party, of which his father was also a supporter. He has filled the offices of justice of the peace and grand juror, and has been a member of the school board several years. He is a prominent member of the Grange and was elected master, but refused to qualify. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum Lodge, No. 738, of New Britain, and is an active and prominent member of the Con- gregational Church, in which he has served as clerk for about thirteen years, and was elected deacon in January, 1897. He has also been clerk and treasurer of the Ecclesiastical Society since Feb. 8, 1886. His wife and son, Lester, are also mem- bers of the same church. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside. Mr. Deming is a man of excellent business and executive ability, one whose sound judgment, un- flagging enterprise and capable management have brought him a well-merited success. In manner he is pleasant and cordial, which, combined with his sterling worth, makes him one of the popular citi- zens of his native county.

ANDREW HAMILTON, Justice of the Peace, is one of the leading business men of the town of East Windsor, and in addition to the management of his valuable farm near Broad Brook he is exten-

sively engaged in the manufacture of printing stamps and type-writer ribbons, his factory being located on his homestead. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and his fellow townsmen have kept him constantly in office from early manhood, he having served forty years as justice of the peace.

Mr. Hamilton was born Aug. 15, 1824, on the old Hamilton homestead in the town of Ellington, Tol- land county, and is of Scottish ancestry in the pa- ternal line. About 1650 three brother's of the name came from Scotland, making the voyage in the "Mayflower," and it is believed that one of these was the grandfather of Daniel Hamilton, who set- tled on the old homestead in Tolland county about 1782.

Benjamin Hamilton, our subject's grandfather, was born in the town of Eastham, Barnstable Co., Mass., on Cape Cod.

Hon. Benjamin Hamilton, our subject's father, was born in 1794, in the town of Ellington, Tolland Co., Conn., and died at the present homestead in East Windsor in 1865, aged seventy-one years. He resided in East Windsor, and was prominent in pub- lic affairs, being elected in 1850 as a State senator from the Second district, and in 1852 as a represen- tative from East Windsor to the State Legislature. He first married Cynthia Blodgett, and later wedded Mrs. Ann Dunham, a sister of his first wife. His three children, Havilah, Arnold and Andrew, were all by the first marriage.

When our subject was about eight years old the family removed across the line from Tolland county into the town of East Windsor, locating on the farm now occupied by Edward Shropp, and in 1842 his father bought the present homestead. As a boy Mr. Hamilton attended the common and select schools near his home, and the academy in East Windsor village, while his work upon the farm gave him a good practical knowledge of agricultural methods. He has continued to reside at the home- stead, with the exception of four years, from 1889 to 1893, when he was employed as general manager of the plant of the Springfield Button Co., in Spring- field, Mass. He learned that business in his early manhood, having in 1849 entered the employ of G. C. Brown, a manufacturer of pearl buttons. For two years he was engaged in merchandising in Broad Brook, which he abandoned in 1852, buying out Mr. Brown's button factory and carrying on the manu- facture of pearl buttons until 1865. Mr. Hamilton's farm comprises forty-two acres, and he not only carries on general farming but has been interested for many years in tobacco culture. About ten years ago he built his present factory, which has been a profitable venture under his able management. He is an ardent Democrat in politics, and besides his long services as justice of the peace he has served six years as notary public ; four years as commis- sioner of the superior court ; two years as a member of the board of education ; four years on the local board of relief ; and three years as deputy sheriff

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under Simon D. Kendall, of Suffield, while he has frequently been chosen as grand juror and registrar of elections. Socially he and his family are promi- nent, and he is a charter member of Oriental Lodge, No. III, A. F. & A. M., at Broad Brook, in which he has served as treasurer.

In 1849 Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen M. Dunham, a native of Gilead, Conn., born Oct. 26, 1827, and they have had two children : Andrew R., born Aug. 14, 1854, died Aug. 22, 1892 ; and Jennie D., deceased in infancy, April 26, 1858. Andrew R. Hamilton married Miss Eliza H. McCray, and they had three children : Earl W., Lizzie and Jennie D., of whom the last named died in childhood.

ARIEL MITCHELSON (deceased), a native of the town of Simsbury, was the representative of an old and distinguished family. Favored by birth and circumstances, he lived up to the full measure of his capabilities, and among his business asso- ciates he was known as a man of strict integrity, a kind and obliging neighbor, and courteous, ex- emplary and honorable in all the relations of life.

Mr. Mitchelson was born in what is now the town of Bloomfield (then Simsbury) April 3, 1816, a son of Ariel and Elizabeth (Cornish) Mitchel- son, and a grandson of Eliphalet and Susannah (Eno) Mitchelson. His great-grandfather, Will- iam Mitchelson, Jr., came to Hartford from Cam- bridge, Mass., and was married to Mary Howard April 26, 1713. The Howard family were wealthy and extensive realty holders, and from them con- siderable property was inherited. The family still own the ancestral acres, the original papers of the grant of land still held by them, the estate having descended from son to son through several genera- tions. William Mitchelson, Jr., is supposed to be a descendant of Edward Mitchelson, who arrived in the Colony of Cambridge, Mass., in the year 1636. His wife, Ruth (Bushell), arrived on the ship "Abigal" in 1635. Their children were: (I) Ruth, born Nov. 8, 1638, married John Green Oct. 20, 1656. (2) Thomas was born September, 1639. (3) Bethia, born Dec. 6, 1642, married Daniel Weld. (4) Edward, born Nov. 1I, 1644, graduated at Harvard College in 1665, becanie a physician, and was lost at sea while on a voyage to England with Capt. Scarlet, in 1666. (5) Elizabeth, born Aug. 29, 1646, married (first) Theodore Atkinson, Jr., and (second) Henry Deering, of Boston. Edward Mitchelson, the father, in 1639, bought of Major Simon Willard the estate at the southeast corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets, where he prob- ably resided until Oct. 29, 1650, when he bought the estate of Major Samuel Shepard, on the south side of Harvard street, extending from Holyoke street to Bow street, which was thenceforth his dwelling place. In 1637 he was appointed marshal-general of the Colony, which office he held through life. The fees were established by the General Court. In April, 1668, a stated salary of £50 was fixed.

He died March 7, 1681, aged seventy-seven years, and was succeeded in office by his son-in-law, John Green. His wife, Ruth, died June 15, 1664, aged about fifty-two. He was in full communion with the church. William Mitchelson, brother of Ed- ward (1), married Mary Bradshaw April 26, 1654, and their children were: Mary, born Jan. 15, 1655; Thomas, born Jan. 8, 1657; Alice, born about 1661, baptized April 3, 1663 (she married John Shears, of Sudbury, April 9, 1688) ; Ruth, baptized Oct. 4, 1663; and Abigal, baptized March, 1665. Will- iam, the father, died Dec. 10, 1668.

Eliphalet Mitchelson and Susannah Eno were married Dec. 28, 1758. Their children were as follows: (1) Susannah married George Cornish, of Simsbury. (2) Rizpah married Elisha Gris- wold. (3) Elizabeth married A. V. Griswold, bet- ter known as Bishop Griswold. His descendants are very prominent in Rhode Island, and are con- nected with many prominent families. (4) John married Abigail Pinney. (5) Howard, a graduate of Yale, was a successful medical practitioner, and died in Charleston, S. C. He had traveled over much of the globe, and left much property. (6) Martin married Cvrina Adams. (7) Ariel was born Dec. 14, 1774. (8) Eliphalet died young.

Ariel Mitchelson, the father of our subject, was born Dec. 14, 1774, in what is now the town of Bloomfield, near Scotland church. He was reared in that locality, and followed farming through life, was a large land owner, and one of Bloomfield's most substantial citizens. He was a man of wide influence, a recognized leader in all improvements, and for his day a man of progress and advance- ment, and greatly interested in church work. He often served as an arbiter among neighbors, being selected for that delicate service on account of his excellent judgment and the utmost confidence of the entire community in his integrity. His word was never doubted. In politics he was a Whig, and for several terms he was elected to the General As- sembly. He left to his children the task of per- petuating the high standard of citizenship with which the Mitchelson name has been so closely associated and which task it can be truly said was faithfully and successfully borne. He married Eliz- abeth Cornish, of Granby, who bore him three chil- dren : Elizabeth, Ariel and Hugh. Elizabethı Mitchelson was one of the grandest types of woman- kind, possessed of a most lovable character, and was widely known for her good and charitable deeds. She remained unmarried through life, and was devotedly attached to charitable and religious work. For sixty years she was the teacher of the infant class in the Episcopal Church, and among her pupils were many of the best citizens of to-day, all of whom revere her memory. She died Nov. 16, 1891. Hugh Mitchelson married Miss Mary Dwight Morton, a highly esteemed woman of Hat- field, Mass. He lived in Bloomfield, being one of its most prominent citizens, and died there, leaving

Ariel Mitchelson

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no children. He possessed a wonderfully retentive memory, and a large fund of valuable historical knowledge. Ariel Mitchelson, the father, died Sept. 30, 1852, the mother on Dec. 17, 1846.

Ariel Mitchelson, our subject, in his boyhood attended the schools of his home district, after which he became a student at what was known as Holcomb's high school, in Granby. This education was supplemented with a course at an academy in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The culture of tobacco in Hartford county as a possible new industry of im- portance received earliest recognition from Ariel Mitchelson, who was the first grower in the town of Simsbury. From his own success as a producer his business instincts quickly realized what the magni- tude of the culture would be in a few years, and what new business opportunities would thus be opened at home. He formed business connections for making the newly arrived trade both prosperous and enduring, bought heavily of tobacco, and be- came one of the best known wholesalers in the Con- necticut valley, following this business for over forty years ; his cousins and partners, A. L. and C. L. Holt, of New York, marketed the vast stores of the plant, which he thus purchased.

While a thorough business man in the fullest sense of the term, and while pressed for time by his extensive and exacting interests, Mr. Mitchelson's public spirit was always evident. It has been doubted if in his day there was another who had at heart to the same extent as he the best interests of his community. No improvement of value or bene- fit to Tariffville ever came up but that he was either the prime mover, hearty endorser, or one of the most liberal contributors, when contributions were nec- essary. He probably did more for Tariffville than any other citizen of his time. It was mainly through his influence and efforts that the original Connecti- cut Western railway reached Tariffville instead of passing through Farmington, a more direct route. His wide acquaintance with capitalists, his means and his influence often placed him in a position to do more good than others even though their pub- lic spirit had been as great. He built part of the town of Tariffville, laid out streets, donated the land for two school houses and the sites for the Baptist, Roman Catholic and Trinity Episcopal churches, and to the latter church also bequeathed $5,000. He was for many years a director in the Charter Oak National Bank, of Hartford, of which institution he was also one of the organizers, and his opinion on matters of finance was considered valuable, as was his judgment on any business matter. Politically he was originally an Old-line Whig, later a Republican. Without ambition to shine politically, he was nevertheless deeply inter- ested in the success of his party and in the selec- tion of competent officials. In religious connection he was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, in which he was honorary warden at the time of his

death. His marked stability of character endeared him to the hearts of his friends.

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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 119

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