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 125

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 125

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Ebenezer Norton, son of John (2), was born at Farmington in 1699, married Sarah Savage, of Middletown, July 7, 1726, and had a family of eight children. He died March 21, 1750, in South- ington, where he was one of the early settlers.

Ebenezer Norton (2), son of Ebenezer (I), born in 1746, married Sybil Parrish, of Branford, in 1773. He died at Southington Oct. 3, 1807. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a worthy and respected citizen, and influential in town and church affairs.

Parrish Norton, son of Ebenezer (2), the sev- enth of a family of eleven children, was born in 1786 in Southington, and married Betsy Rice, of Cheshire, Oct 10, 18II. He died Aug. 11, 1838.

Gad Norton, one of the six children of Parrish, was born at Southington Oct. 24, 1815, and mar- ried Mary A., daughter of Solomon and Olive (Comes) Wiard, of Wolcott, Oct. 23, 1839. He died May 4, 1898. He was a prominent and in- fluential man, and was recognized as one of the valued and useful citizens of his community ; served as selectman of Southington in 1874 and 1875, and was a director of the Bristol National Bank and the Bristol Savings Bank. In May, 1875, the General Court, at his request, set off to Bristol so much of the town of Southington as was in- cluded in his homestead, making the now familiar jog on the map on the line of division between the two towns. He inherited from his father the Com- pounce property, which he developed as a summer resort in the years previous to 1850. His chil- dren are Marshall Parrish, whose portrait is here presented ; Alice J .; Julius G .; and Gilbert E., who inherits the old homestead, and is an energetic and successful man of affairs.

NORMAN LOOMIS is one of the old and val- ued citizens of the town of Manchester and the coun- ty of Hartford, where, throughout his long residence, he has won an enviable reputation for untiring in- dustry and unimpeachable integrity. His fellow townsmen pay him their highest tribute when they refer to him the intricate questions arising out of the administration of estates where the question of heir- ship is disputed. But on this subject more, anon.

Norman Loomis was born Aug. 1, 1821, in the town of Hebron, Andover Society, in Tolland coun- ty. Being the son of Jacob Loomis, a farmer and much noted man in his day, a descendant of the first settler of Bolton, our subject's early years were

filled with hard work, as were those of most of the men and women who, through patient toil and un- flagging energy, have made Connecticut what it is to-day. Such education as he received early in life was attained only through great personal effort and self-sacrifice. The district school was the first nur- sery of his juvenile mind, and he experienced diffi- culty in passing through even the limited curriculum which it afforded. Only for three months of the year was he given the "golden opportunity," the term commencing shortly after Thanksgiving, when farm work was at a stand-still, and ending early in the spring, when the boys were needed for plowing and planting. The school-house was two and one- half miles from the farm, but he manfully trudged the five miles each day, besides walking some two miles around the farm to feed the stock. It is from such men as this that have descended the sons and daughters of New England who have spread over a continent, permeating alike its industries, its aspi- rations and its thoughts. Those were not the days of well-built school houses, wth high-ceiled, steam- heated rooms. The seats were of slabs, and an open, smoky fireplace was the only source of heat. Such as they were, however, these old-time Yankee school houses have leavened the civilization of the country. After acquiring such knowledge as his limited op- portunities afforded at home, he had recourse, for his further intellectual advancement, to the high school at Andover. The tuition at this school was but two and one-half dollars per quarter, yet young Loomis was obliged to pay even this small sum by hauling cordwood, driving three yoke of oxen at the liberal remuneration of one dollar and fifty cents per day. This was pre-eminently fatiguing and unsatisfactory, and during his last term at the institution he earned his board and tuition by such work as a stalwart young man might perform, work- ing early and late.

Thus Mr. Loomis continued until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he began his appren- ticeship of three years at the trade of a carriage- maker. During this period he received his board, with a sliding scale of pecuniary reward; i. c., thirty dollars for the first year, thirty-five for the second, and forty for the last. The pay, however, stood in an inverse ratio to his capability. No sooner had he qualified himself as a journeyman than he secured a post as foreman in the carriage shop of Benton J. Kellogg, of North Glastonbury, where he contintied for two years. From Glastonbury he went to Rocky Hill, where he entered the employ of the Merriman Carriage Co. For five years he lived in Berlin, where his industry and intelligence soon brought him into prominence, both as a me- chanic and as a citizen. Within a year he was made constable, deputy sheriff, and, not long afterward, justice of the peace. It was at about this period of his life that he began reading law, his preceptor being Francis Chambers, a personal friend. While he never applied for admission to the Bar, he ac-

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quired an intimate acquaintance with the underlying principles of the science, which has ever since stood him in good stead. While living at Berlin he per- ceived symptoms of failing health, and at once aban- doned active work to seek occupation in the Far West. He devoted a year to travel, and his adven- tures were numerous and exciting. With two friends whose acquaintance he had made by chance, hie visited a Sioux chieftain on the farther slope of the "Rockies," and the old Indian warrior presented Mir. Loomis with a copper bracelet, which is one of the most highly-prized specimens in his extensive and unique collection of curios. He was immensely impressed by the possibilities of the Northwest, but his enthusiasm exceeded his experience. He per- ceived that Minnesota was destined to become one of the great wheat-growing, wheat-distributing cen- ters of the country, and on his return to Berlin he enlisted the interest of some of his friends in the formation of a concern to start a flouring-mill at Wasioja, Dodge Co., Minn. Unfortunately for the success of the scheme, the spot chosen for the venture was so far out of the way of travel that even all the machinery for the mill ( not to speak of its putative product ) had to be hauled by teams. The project was abandoned, and in 1857 Mr. Loomis returned to Connecticut, taking up his residence at Hartford. With his expert knowledge of carriage-making, he did not find it difficult to secure a remunerative posi- tion. For four years he was foreman for one of the leading factories of the State, and in 1861 he en- tered the employ of the Sharp's Rifle Company, which held a valuable government contract, remain- ing with that company until the close of the war. Then he accepted a position in the car shops of the New York & New Haven Railway Co., where he re- mained until 1867. In that year he began to "farm," and bought his present holding, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and on which he has lived ever since. In addition to his farm he owns valuable real estate in and around Manchester, a part of which has been improved by the erection of factories.

In June, 1861, Mr. Loomis was married to Miss Rose Bunce, who died Dec. 15, 1891. Their union was blessed with two children, Charles B. and Nor- man M. The first named is bookkeeper in the em- ploy of Walton Grant, of Manchester, and the younger has completed his second year at Trinity College.

Since Mr. Loomis has settled down to the pro- saic life of a farmer his knowledge of law, joined to his sterling integrity, has stood him in good stead. For eight years he has exercised the functions of a notary public, and he has been called upon to adju- dicate disputed questions in, and to settle up. fully one hundred estates-a record without parallel among the laity. In politics he is Republican, and has twice filled a seat in the Legislature, with credit to his constituents and honor to himself. In 1859 he represented his native town, and in 1889 the town

of Manchester. At present ( 1900) he is a member of the board of relief, on which he has served in all about seven years. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for many years. While not nominally affiliated with any church, his life is the best exposition of his conception of true Christianity.

WARREN WALTER THORPE, of No. 144 Main street, and proprietor of one of the neatest and most extensive shoe stores in Bristol, was born in Southington, Conn., Nov. 19, 1839, and is a son of Lauren and Catherine (Byington) Thorpe, the former of whom was born Jan. 19, 1805, married Sept. 21, 1831, and died Jan. II, 1843; the latter was born Jan. 24, 1808, and died Jan. 23, 1894.

Asahel Thorpe, grandfather of Warren W. Thorpe, was a native of England, and a gentleman of considerable wealth, the Thorpe family being the original proprietors of Hyde Park in London.

Lauren Thorpe was also born in Southington, Conn., was a blacksmith and farmer, was the in- ventor of bolts for carriages, and started the in- dustry in the factory now being conducted by L. D. Frost, his son-in-law, at Southington. Mr. Thorpe was a Whig in politics, and in religion a Congregationalist, as was likewise his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Thorpe were born six chil- dren: Judge Elbert E., born Feb. 11, 1833, died March 9, 1897; Augusta Irene, born April 29, 1834, was married to Harrison S. Judd, of Bethany, and died April 30, 1899; Cornelia Marian, born July 22, 1836, married Levi D. Frost, of Southington, who died Oct. 14, 1900; Emily Alice, born March 27, 1838, died Aug. 30, 1846; Warren W. is the sub- ject of this sketch; and Maria Theresa, born Dec. 14, 1841, is the wife of Franklin Byington, of Bristol.

Warren W. Thorpe was born on his father's farm, and was but three years of age when that gentleman was called from earth. He was educa- ted in the common schools of Southington, which he attended until sixteen years of age, and then passed two years in the factory of Levi D. Frost. He then entered the Bloomfield Academy, was under tuition one year, and then spent a short time on the home farm, after which he passed two years in the store of Peck, Stow & Wilcox; he and his brother, Elbert E., then purchased this store, and conducted it about two years, selling it to Buritt & Son.

Mr. Thorpe next came to Bristol, where he en- tered the employ of Andrew Shepard as clerk. About three years later Mr. Shepard died, and Mr. Thorpe conducted the store in the interest of the Shepard estate for another year, when it was sold to O. B. Ives, and is now known as the A. J. Muzzy & Co. store. Mr. Thorpe then clerked in the dry- goods store of Benedict & Merriman, of Waterbury, about one year, when he returned to Bristol and clerked in J. R. Mitchell's general store, remaining until the fall of 1875, at which time he opened a

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shoe store in Eber's block on North Main street. Here he remained four years, thence removing to the old J. R. Mitchell store, which he occupied un- til G. W. Mitchell erected his new brick block at No. 144 Main street, which Mr. Thorpe has since occupied-doing a most thriving trade.

Warren W. Thorpe was joined in wedlock May 3, 1865, with Miss Alice Augusta Dunbar, who was born March 28, 1847, a daughter of Edward Lu- cien and Julia (Warner) Dunbar, of Bristol. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Eva May and Helen Dunbar. Eva May was born Nov. 2, 1869, and was married Oct. 19, 1898, to George Wallace Birge, youngest surviving son of the late Nathan Loomis Birge; one child graces this union, Rachel, born Sept. 8, 1899. Helen Dunbar, born June 9, 1876, graduated from the Bristol high school in 1895, and from the New Britain Normal School in 1898; she taught one year in the Rockwell public school, of New Britain, and is now teaching in the kindergarten department of the Federal Hill school.

Warren W. Thorpe is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., and in politics is a Re- publican. He is a member of the Congregational Church, of which he was librarian for several years. The family stand high in social circles, and as a business man Mr. Thorpe's name is beyond reproach

GUSTAV JULIUS SCHLAAK, a well-to-do farmer of Berlin, was born in West Preussen, Ger- many, Nov. 6, 1859. He left his native country in early life, and coming to the "land of great possibil- ities" has realized the promises which it has always held out to the hand of industry, and is now the owner of a fine farm of IOI acres in Blue Hills, Kensington.

Mr. Schlaak's father, Julius Johann Schlaak, never came to America, but spent his entire life in Germany, as a farmer. There he died in 1878, at the age of seventy-two years. The wife and mother, who bore the maiden name of Wilhelmine Kadau, is still living, at the age of seventy-two, and makes her home with our subject in Blue Hills, Kensing- ton. In the family were three sons, all of whom came to this country. One brother of our subject is now a laborer of Fair Haven, and the other is a baker of Milford, Connecticut.

At the age of six years Gustav Schlaak began his education in a private school in his native land, and continued his studies for eight years. After leaving school he learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked until his emigration to the United States. He sailed from Bremen, Germany, March 22, 1884, and arrived in New York April 5, 1884. He located in Meriden, Conn., where he worked for the firm of Baum & Bernstein, and then opened a tailor shop of his own which he successfully conducted until com- ing to Blue Hills, Kensington, in November, 1889. Here he purchased a home and farm of 101 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation, and which as a skillful agriculturist he operates with good suc-

cess, raising general produce. He is also interested in the dairy business, and has a milk route in Meriden.

Mr. Schlaak married Miss Therese Mayer, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 6, 1863, but was living in Meriden at the time of her mar- riage. Four children have been born to them: Emma Therese, born Sept. 7, 1887, died Dec. 3, 1887, and was buried in Meriden ; Eda Minnie, born Jan. 25, 1889, and Emma Helen, born Sept. 8, 1890, are attending the Kensington schools; and Margarete Lena, born Aug. 8, 1892, died Aug. 5, 1895, and was laid to rest in the Kensington burying-ground.

In politics Mr. Schlaak is independent, voting for the men whom he considers best qualified to fill the offices. He is a member of a protective association of Meriden, and attends the Lutheran Church of that place, while his wife holds membership in the Cath- olic Church of Meriden.

HON. JAMES HENRY MINOR. (deceased). during his lifetime a prominent manufacturer of New Britain, was born in Woodbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 20, 1840, and was a son of Henry Minor, and a grandson of Matthew Minor, both also natives of Woodbury.

Matthew Minor was a lawyer of distinction at Woodbury, was active in politics and church affairs, and a man of recognized local influence. He mar- ried Lorena Bacon, who bore him six children : Mary, who was married to Dr. Huxley, of Goshen ; Emily, who became the wife of Enos Benham, of Woodbury ; Giles, the eldest son ; Samuel, a graduate of Yale and a lawyer; John B., who was a lumber and coal merchant; and Henry, father of subject.

Henry Minor was a manufacturer of Woodbury or in Hotchkissville, wielded much influence in Litch- field county, of which he was elected sheriff on the Republican ticket, and was a member of the Con- gregational Church. He married Althea Green, of Woodbury, and to this union were born four chil- dren: James Henry, the subject of this sketch ; Mary J., married to William C. Buell, of Litchfield ; Emily Lorena, married to George W. Minor; and Juia Bacon, wife of Dr. Frank Esterly, formerly of Wisconsin. Both parents of this family are now deceased.

James Henry Minor, whose name opens this me- moir, received his early education in an academy in Woodbury, and also took the course in the high school of New Britain, under John Warren Tuck. When about nineteen years of age he finished his education, then worked for his uncle, John B. Minor, in the lumber business at New Britain, a few months, after which he took a short vacation home. In 1863 he went to Wisconsin for a year, returned to New Britain, and in 1864 entered the shipping department of Russell & Erwin Mfg. Co., holding that place a year or so. He then bought out the paper-box business of Sylvanus Stone, on Elm street, a rather small concern at that time

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(1868). In 1872 Mr. Minor removed his factory to its present location, on Arch street, where it has grown to be one of the industries of the city. For a few years prior to 1890 he had interested with him John B. Minor, but to James Henry Minor is due the credit of making the business what it is, and he showed himself to be a man of unusual ex- ecutive ability and business talent.

In politics Mr. Minor was a Republican, and a very popular member of his party. For many years he was chairman of the Republican town commit- tee, and prior to 1861 was a member of the General Assembly from New Britain for two terms. From a business point of view he was a strictly self-made man, and earned the high position he held solely through his personal efforts. He passed away March 7, 1895.

Hon. James Henry Minor was married, Dec. II, 1861, to Ann Elizabeth Eddy, a daughter of Ilon. Horace Eddy, who was reared and educated in New Britain. He learned the trade of machinist of Joseph Shipman, in whose family he lived for years. Thence he went to Russell & Erwin, with whom he remained until his death, becoming a stockholder in the company, and when a joint-stock company was formed he was made superintendent, a position he held until March 25, 1887, and was also a director for many years. Mr. Eddy was a man of great force of character, and for one term represented the Republican party in the Legislature from New Britain. He was a director in the First National Bank, in the New Britain Savings Bank, in the Landers, Frary & Clark, the Union Works, and in the Gas Co. He was an honorary deacon in his church, and was foremost in every enterprise designed for the promotion of the true interests of New Britain.

Mr. Eddy married Roxy Ann Wright, daugh- ter of Dan Wright, of New Britain, and had born to him two children, who have grown to maturity : Dan Wright, who was connected with the Russell & Erwin Co .: and Ann Elizabeth. The mother died May 6, 1881.

SAMUEL ASHBEL HART, a representative agriculturist and influential citizen of Kensington, was born Jan. 15, 1844, in the house where he still resides. The family was founded in America by Stephen Hart, a native of England, who crossed the Atlantic in 1631, and located in Farmington, Conn. During the early trouble with the Indians some of the Tunxis tribe set fire to the nouse in which the ancestors of our subject lived, and all were killed with the exception of Capt. John, who was herding stock at the time and fortunately es- caped. From him our subject is descended. Capt. John Hart was born in 1655, and died Nov. II, 1714.

Lieut. Samuel Hart, the great-great-grandfa- ther of our subject, was born in Berlin, Hartford county, in January, 1692, fourth son of Capt. John

Hart. He was a lieutenant in the war of King George II, in 1740, and died in 1751.

Samuel Hart, the great-grandfather, was born in Berlin in 1738, and died in 1813. He first mar- ried Rebecca, daughter of Charles and Rebecca ( Munson) Norton, and by her had seven children. By his second wife, Lydia Hinsdale, daughter of Capt. John and Elizabeth (Cole) Hinsdale, he had ten children. Among the number were Emma Hart Willard, who was a great scientist, and in 1819 founded the Troy Female Seminary (she died in 1870, aged eighty-three years) ; and Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps, the founder and for many years the principle of the Baltimore Female Seminary. The father of these was a very clever and intel- lectual man.

Hon. Capt. Samuel Hart, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1761, and died in 1835. He was quite a prominent man in his day, was a State Senator from the First District, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war for a short time. In 1800 he repaired and enlarged the house in which our subject now lives, it being probably two hun- dred years old-one of the oldest in the town of Berlin. He married Mary Wilcox, who was born in 1772, and died in 1850, being laid to rest beside her husband in the South burying-ground of Kensington.

Samuel Hart, father of our subject, was born Aug. 9, 1802, and throughout life engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits, owning and operating 200 acres of land. He was one of the most popular and in- fiuential citizens of his community, and about 1837 was elected to the State Legislature. He also served as justice of the peace, and was a stanch Democrat in politics. In November, 1825, he mar- ried Miss Lucy Dickinson, and for over fifty years they traveled life's journey together. He died April 1, 1876, and she passed away Nov. 4, 1888, in Kensington, their remains being interred in the South burying-ground. In their family were the following children : Willis, born Nov. 6, 1826, died Oct. 17, 1848; Sherman, born Oct. 2, 1828, en- listed during the Civil war in the 32d Iowa V. I., and died at Island No. 10 in September, 1863; Lucy, born Dec. 13, 1830, is the widow of Henry R. Lyman, and now resides in Montevallo, Ala .; Mary A., born April 10, 1834, died when a few days old; Mary Wilcox, born April 30, 1835, was the first wife of Deacon William Upson, and died June 30, 1871 ; Anna, born in 1837, died at the age of twenty years ; Samuel, born in 1840, died when a few months old; and Samuel A., of this review, completes the family.

At the ancestral home of the family our subject grew to manhood. From the age of four to fif- teen he attended school in district No. 3 for eight months during the year, and during the summer season assisted in the work of the farm. For one term he was a student in Lewis Academy, Southing- ton, but on account of ill health was obliged to

Samuel . Hast

Moro Samuel A. Hart

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leave school and return home. Almost his entire life has been passed on the old homestead, and in his farming operations he has met with most grat- ifying success, becoming one of the most sub- stantial and prosperous citizens of Kensington. In 1866 he went to Alabama, and from there to Iowa. where he remained about a year, and then returned home. Again, in 1875. he went to Iowa, where he remained a year, but since then has lived un- interruptedly in Hartford county.

On Jan. 19, 1881, Mr. Hart married Miss Anne Amelia Hough, who was born May 8, 1843, a daughter of Isaac and Laura (Johnson) Hough, of Wolcott, Conn. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hart are active and prominent members of the Kensington Congregational Church, in which he was elected deacon in 1897, and he is also chairman of the Kensington Ecclesiastical Society, while his wife is a member of the Ladies Aid and Missionary So- cieties. MIrs. Hart belongs to the D. A. R. Fra- ternally Mr. Hart was a member and treasurer of Percival Grange, No. 95, of Kensington, for sev- eral years, or until the organization dissolved. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, but at local elections votes for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices, regardless of party affil- iations, and he has never cared for political pre- ferment. He is a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, is a great reader, a deep thinker, broad- minded and liberal in his views, and keeps well informed on the topice and issues of the day. Be- ing a man of sound judgment and keen discrimina- tion, his advice is often sought by his neighbors and friends, and he is one of the most influential citizens of his community.

JONATHAN KNOX HALL, a most worthy citizen and prosperous farmer of Hockanum, Hart- ford county, was born in that village May 28, 1834, in the house now occupied by Stanley Wadsworth, and is a son of Austin and Betsey ( Wells) Hall.

Dr. Timothy Hall, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Brookline, Mass., carly located in Hockanum, and had a very large practice, and was quite prominent as a citizen. He was known as a very skillful army surgeon during the Revolutionary war. He was twice married, his first wife being Eunice Hills, who bore him twelve children-three boys and nine girls, the sons being Dr. Eli, of East Hartford; Luke, a policeman in New York; and Austin, father of our subject. Dr. Timothy Hall retained his health all his life, and his death, at the age of eighty-eight years, was caused by an accident when out driving. lle was a charter mem- ber of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., East Hartford.

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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 125

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