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 126

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 126

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Austin Hall was born in Hockanum, just across the street from where Truman Hale now lives, was educated in the common schools to a limited ex- tent, and was a farmer from youth until death. To his marriage with Betsey Wells, a native of East

Hartford, and a daughter of Jonathan Wells, were born the following named children: Adelaide be- came the wife of George D. Scott, of New York, and the mother of one son, George D., of Hartford. Eunice died in infancy. George A., now of Oregon, (first) married Catherine Grossman, and ( second) Ellen Hitchcock, and is the father of six children by his second wife ; he was postmaster at Hockanum for many years, the post office having been estab- lished mainly through his instrumentality. Eunice, the fourth child who lived in East Hartford, died unmarried. Lucius J., a miller, married Caroline Clapp, and lived in Enfield, Ellington, Rocky Hill and other places; he was killed by being thrown from his wagon in Hartford, his horse having been frightened by a locomotive. Fidelia is the wife of Abner Dickinson and the mother of nine children ; she lives in New Britain. Mary, also a resident of New Britain, married Truman House, and is the mother of William A. House, a young, enterprising business man, who is president of the Adkins Print- ing Co., of New Britain, Conn. Harriet died in young womanhood. Timothy Eli married Fanny King, and also lives in New Britain. The tenth and youngest child, J. Knox, is the subject of this biography.

Austin Hall at one time owned and operated the gristmill now owned by W. J. Cox, and also had a cotton mill, which was located on Maple street, but was later changed to an eyelet-mill, and was operated as such until the Curtis mill was started in Naubuc. Mr. Hall died in 1857, but had lost his wife in 1835, when the subject of this sketch was about six months old. He served as a lieu- tenant in the war of 1812. He held the office of selectman of the town of East Hartford, and also represented the town in the State Legislature.

J. Knox Hall, after attending the district school at llockanuni until sufficiently far advanced, en- tered the East Hartford high school under Prof. Pearson, and attended two winters. He lived one winter with his brother Lucius, who was in the milling business at Enfield, then returned to the home farm, where he lived until the death of his father, after which he lived with his brother George until his marriage, when he settled on his present farın, which he had paid for from his own earnings.

On Feb. 26, 1859, Mr. Hall married Miss Cath- erine F. Brewer, daughter of Francis and Theo- dosia (Crossman) Brewer, and five children were born to this union: Burdette, who was engaged in the fish and oyster business in Virginia, is now deceased. Carrie L., a very bright and intelligent young lady, was postmaster at Hockanum for two years, and is now clerk in the money-order depart- ment of the post office at llartford, and a leader in church work and in the Grange, belonging to Grange No. 37, of East Hartford; she has invariably de- clined accepting office in either organization, al- though frequently importuned to become an officer in both; she taught school four years, two in her

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own district (Hockanum), but gave up teaching on account of ill health; during her term she was the moving spirit in getting the first American flag of the district in the town of East Hartford, which was ordered for every district in town by iaw by the Legislature. Mary is married to Alexander Pease, of East Hartford. William K. and Edith are living with their parents.

In politics Mr. Hall was formerly a Republican, but is now an earnest Prohibitionist. For many years he has been a justice of the peace, and is 110W serving as such, his fellow citizens having always had the utmost confidence in his integrity. Fra- ternally he is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., in which he has filled nearly every office, having been its worshipful master eight years; is a member of Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, Royal Arch Masons; Wolcott Council, No. I, of Hartford; Washington Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, of Hartford, in which he has held several offices; the O. U. A. M., of Glas- tonbury; East Hartford Grange, No. 37, P. of H .; and is also post lieutenant in the Putnam Phalanx Association, of Hartford, and was a mem- ber of the staff under Major Alvin Squires. Mr. Hall is, besides, a member of the Hockanum Con- gregational Church, and superintendent of the Sun- day-school. He was one of the first members of this congregation, and was active in securing the erection of the church edifice. Mr. Hall is a courteous gentleman and a credit to his community, where he is held in the highest regard.

FRANCIS HENRY WHITON, M. D., is a na- tive of Connecticut, having been born May 16, 1846, in the town of Mansfield, Tolland county, on a farm. His inextinguishable fondness for study man- ifested itself in his early youth, and until he reached the age of sixteen years he attended the public schools, supplementing their curriculum by instruc- tion received from Rev. Herbert Brooks, of Mans- field. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school, which vocation proved congenial to his tastes, and for a time he thought of making it his life work, but the district schools were only open during the winter months, consequently he was without any fixed income. For six years he con- tinued to teach school with gratification to himself and satisfactory results to his pupils, yet he saw that there might be something better before him. He never let the "golden moments" pass, and spent his leisure time in the study of languages, par- ticularly of Latin and French, attaining proficiency in both.

At the age of twenty our subject began reading medicine, Dr. William H. Richardson, of Mans- field, being his first preceptor ; later he read with Dr. F. O. Bennett. In 1868 he matriculated at Harvard University, and in 1871 at Dartmouth Medical College, graduating from the last named institution in 1872. Being desirous of securing

hospital practice, and taking a deep interest in dis- eases of the nervous system, he secured a post in the insane hospital at Flushing, L. I. From there he went to Bellevue Hospital, New York, and sub- sequently to a hospital in Brooklyn. In 1874 he commenced practice in Manchester. His ripe train- ing and rare skill ensured his success from the out- set. and he has continuously enjoyed a successful practice there with the exception of brief intervals devoted to travel in this country and in Europe. He is a member of the County Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Whiton was married, May 17, 1876, to Mrs. Mary L. Buckland, daughter of George N. Loomis, of Portsmouth, N. H. In private life he is genial, hospitable and generous ; in public affairs he is active, sagacious and patriotic. He is a Republican iti politics, and represented his town in the Legis- lature during the years 1894-98.

JOHN W. HOLMES. Among the many his- tories in this volume none are of more lasting in- terest than those which tell of steady, persevering effort in overcoming the limitations of early poverty, and the following sketch of one of New Britain's business men is deserving of a prominent place.

Mr. Holmes was born Sept. 28, 1850, in York- shire, England, where his family has been well- known and respected for generations. Michael Holmes, our subject's grandfather, was a prosperous farmer in Yorkshire, and by honest, straight-for- ward methods of business won a reputation which is a credit to his descendants. He had the following children : Daniel, Jonathan, Joseph, John, Mary, Rebecca, Ann and Bessy.

John Holmes, the father of our subject, was born in 1810, in Yorkshire, and for some years of his early manhood was engaged in farming and butchering at Cullingworth, England; later he re- moved to Haworth, England, where he died in 1886. He was a thrifty, industrious man, success- ful in his undertakings, and although his early ed- ucation was somewhat limited he possessed un- usually sound judgment. He belonged to the Church of England, to which his family has al- ways adhered. He married Miss Elizabeth Sunder- land (now also deceased), and they had a large family of children : (1) Mary married Edward Stansfeld, an extensive farmer in Lancashire, Eng- land. (2) George was a butcher in Halifax and Ovenden, England, and was quite successful, be- ing one of the best judges of cattle that ever went to a market. He died in February, 1893, aged fifty-nine years, and our subject, who had gone to England to place his daughter in college on the Isle of Jersey, attended his funeral. (3) Michael came to America when twenty-two years of age, and became a prosperous butcher at Wapping, near Manchester, Conn. (4) Ann married William Hartley, a tinner at Haworth, England, son of a

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well-known citizen of that place. (5) Sarah mar- ried Samuel Jennings, a farmer at Cullingworth, who afterward became a well-to-do butcher. (7) Lydia married James Ackroyd, a tailor, now a suc- cessful auctioneer. (8) Elizabeth married John Barker, a foreman in a wool warehouse. (9) Eliza married James Pickard. a tanner and dealer in hides and skins. (10) Susie (twin of Eliza) mar- ried George Greatorex, a foreman in one of the large breweries at Burton-upon-Trent. (II) Nannie mar- ried Driver Keighley, a carpenter by trade. (12) John W. is mentioned more fully later on. (13) Emma married James Green, a farmer and butcher. (14) Albert learned the plumber's trade of his brother-in-law Hartley; he is now engaged in the coal business at Haworth.

The Sunderland family has long been identified with Fold Farm, Mixiden, Yorkshire, where they occupied a castle many years. George Sunderland, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and stockraiser at the old estate, which is now operated by his son Joseph. George Sunder- land married and had five children: Joseph, Mary S., Elizabeth (our subject's mother), Sarah and John.

John W. Holmes spent his early life mainly in Haworth, made famous by the genius of Charlotte Bronte and her sisters, and his education was be- gun in a school in Marsh Lane, near his home. As his help was needed at home he could attend only two or three days in a week, and when fourteen years old he left school altogether. He remained at home until he reached the age of fifteen, when he was employed in sorting wool, an occupation which he followed about seven years. In Septem- ber, 1873, he sailed from Liverpool for the United States, arriving in New York at 8:30 A. M. on the 23d of that month. Two months were spent in prospecting for a suitable business opening, and on Nov. II, 1873, he formed a partnership with his brother Michael in the meat business, their market being on Main street, New Britain. After a year and a half he bought his brother's interest and continued alone for three years, when he was again joined by his brother, then just returned from Eng- land. This partnership also lasted a year and a half, when Michael Holmes removed to James- town, N. Y., our subject continuing to occupy the same store for several years. Later he removed to Mr. Page's store, and about May, 1883, opened a market in the basement of Henry Gwatkin's building, corner of Main and West Main streets, now owned by Holmes and Hoffmann. About 1887 he purchased the property in partnership with Will- iam Siering, the Siering-Holmes block being one of the best buildings in the city. In 1892 he sold out his retail meat business, and for three years he gave his attention to the dressing and wholesaling of sheep, lambs and calves. In 1896 he purchased an interest with George Dennis in the brickyard of Dennis & Co., and at present he is extensively en-

gaged in that line of business, having in 1900 pur- chased his partner's interest. With all his other in- terests he finds time for some agricultural work, owning two farms, and his success in all his en- terprises shows excellent management.

As a business man Mr. Holmes is public-spirited ; in politics he affiliates with the Republican party, although not an active worker. For more than twenty-five years he has been a member of Har- mony Lodge, No. 20, F. & A. M., and he and his estimable wife are identified with the M. E. Church of New Britain. He married Miss Mary Earn- shaw, daughter of William Earnshaw, of Yorkshire, England, the family being neighbors and tenants of Sir Isaac Olden, M. P. Five children have blessed the union : (1) Miss Eva Bernette is her father's bookkeeper in all three of his branches of business, while (2) Francis Henry assists him in his brick business ; (3) John Arthur died at the age of thir- teen ; (4) Cora May and (5) Flossie Dell are at home.

WILLIAM R. TINKER, M. D., was born Aug. 8, 1853, at Tolland, Hampden Co., Mass. His fa- ther, William Tinker, was born in Westfield, that State, and his mother, Emily C. (Slocum), was of the same nat.vity.

On the paternal side Dr. Tinker traces his line- age back through eight generations, to Thomas Tin- ker, one of the devoted band who disembarked from the "Mayflower" on Plymouth Rock, in the cold mid-winter of 1620. Thomas Tinker died before the crocuses of spring had pushed their heads through the snow. His son John was subsequently made governor of the New London Colony. Mrs. William Tinker, the Doctor's mother, was one of the old New England family of Slocums. Her mother, Fidelia (Robinson), was a daughter of Col. Timothy Robinson, of Revolutionary fame. William R. Tinker is third in a family of seven children, one of whom died in infancy. Of the others, Pearl died at Los Angeles, Cal., in 1888; Lucia, the widow of Malon Haley, is at present re- siding at Plainville, Conn .; Emma is the wife of Eli D. Warfield, a merchant of Plainville, Conn. ; Bert S., died at Los Angeles, Cal .; and Edward F. is engaged in mining at Dawson City, in the Northwest.

When William R. Tinker was but five years old his parents removed to Connecticut, bringing him with then. The family remained at Colebrook river until he had reached the age of twelve years, when they returned to Massachusetts, making their home at Otis, that State. There he attended the public schools, supplementing the instruction thus received by subsequent courses at the South Berk- shire Institute, New Marlboro, Mass., and the Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. At the age of twenty he began his professional studies at Otis, Mass., under the tutelage of Dr. C. B. King, and after two years spent with him entered the Medical

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Department of the University of New York, from which institution he graduated in 1880. After grad- uation he came to East Hartford, Conn., and be- gan practice. In October, 1880, he removed to South Manchester, which town has ever since been his home, and where he enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Hartford County Medical Society, also of the Connecticut State Medical Society, and he is prominent in social circles, being a member of the Manchester Lodge, No. 73, F. & A. M., and of King David Lodge. I. O. O. F. In 1897 he was elected to the Legislature on the Republican ticket.

On Sept. 10, 1888, Dr. Tinker was married to Miss Eugenia A. Sault, who has borne him two children : William R., Jr., born Aug. 26, 1891 ; and Marion E., born May 9, 1895.

THOMAS E. DAMERY, a successful merchant of Wethersfield, possesses many of the admirable characteristics of his Scotch-Irish ancestry, and his great energy and perseverance have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of af- fluence.

Mr. Damery was born in Wethersfield May 24, 1858, and is a son of William and Ann (Ford) Damery, both natives of the North of Ireland, and descended from sturdy Scotch-Irish stock. The father was educated in the National schools of his native land. He came to this country when a young man, with nothing but a stout heart and willing hands, to make for himself a home. Locating in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Conn., he first engaged in farm work, and for several years was employed in the store of S. W. Robbins, as a general hand. He died Dec. 16, 1869, of pneumonia, in the prime of life, at the age of thirty-five years, and was laid to rest in Wethersfield cemetery. He was strictly temperate in his habits, was domestic in his tastes, was a good husband and kind father, was honest, industrous and enterprising, and commanded the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. Politically he was a supporter of the Re- publican party, and religiously was a member of the Congregational Church. His death proved a sad loss to his wife, who is still living, and now finds a pleasant home with our subject. She is a member of the Episcopal Church, and a most esti- mable lady. In their family were five children : Thomas E., our subject ; Elizabeth M., who married J. L. Higgins, of Haddam, Conn., and died in 1898; William H., who died young; S. Jennie, wife of E. G. Fairfield, of Hartford; and Frederick Louis, a resident of Boston, Massachusetts.

Thomas E. Damery was quite young at the time of his father's death, but was reared by a good Christian mother. He was educated in the district and high schools of Wethersfield, and at the age of fourteen entered the store of S. W. Robbins, of Wethersfield, as clerk, remaining there six years. He next became a clerk in the general store of J.

Amidon & Co., of Wethersfield, and held that po- sition until 1886, when he purchased an interest in the business. After the death of Mr. Amidon he formed a partnership with E. L. Walkley, under the firm name of Walkley & Damery, and bought out the company, and on April 1, 1900, he bought out Mr. Walkley, now doing business alone as a general merchant, druggist and dealer in coal, hav- ing built up an excellent trade. Mr. Damery gives his undivided attention to his business interests, is thoroughly familiar with the trade in every detail, and has steadily and honorably worked his way up- ward until he has attained a fair degree of pros- perity. He is one of the self-made men of the com- munity, and the success that has come to him is certainly well deserved. Besides his business prop- erty he owns a pleasant home on Main street, Weth- ersfield, where he and his mother now live. He is broad-minded and liberal in his views, is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and, in religious connection, a member of the Episcopal Church.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON ALCOTT, M. D., a popular and successful physician of West Hartford, was born in Oriskany Falls, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1850, and belongs to quite a distinguished family.

(I) Thomas Alcock, the progenitor of all bear- ing the Alcott name in this country, came from England with the Winthrop company in 1630, and died in Boston, Mass., Sept. 14, 1657. (II) Philip Alcock, son of Thomas, married Elizabeth Mitchell. (III) John Alcock, son of Philip, married Su- sanna (last name not known), and resided in New Haven, Conn. (IV) John Alcock, son of John, married Deborah Blakeslee, and removed to Water- bury, Conn., in1 1731. (V) Capt. John Alcox, son of John (2), was born in Waterbury, and married Mary Chatfield, of Derby, Conn. (VI) John Chat- field Alcott, the grandfather of our subject, was married, Oct. 13, 1796, to Anna Bronson, daughter of Capt. Bronson. One of their sons was Amos Bronson Alcott, who was born in Wolcott, Conn., and was the father of Louisa M. Alcott, the noted author of "Little Men," "Little Women," etc.

(VII) Junius S. Alcott, the Doctor's father, was born in Wolcott, Conn., July 6, 1818, and was engaged in the machinist's business under the firm name of Couch & Alcott, at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., where he died April 16, 1852. He married Miss Nancy J. Pritchard, of Litchfield, Conn., who was born Feb. 5, 1821, and died Aug. 19, 1880. They had five children : Lillian May, born May 19, 1845, is now the wife of John H. Perry, of Hart- ford, Conn .; Junius Bronson, born Dec. 14, 1846, was drowned Aug. 19, 1853; Jane Ann, born May 31, 1848, is the wife of William Ayer, of Fowler, Mich .; Ralph W. E., our subject, is next in the order of birth; and Julia S., born Aug. 16, 1852, died Sept. 9, 1852.

(VIII) Dr. Alcott was only two years old when

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his father died. Later the mother married James M. Richards, of New Hartford, Conn., where the family lived for a few years, and then removed to Massachusetts. Our subject commenced the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. C. S. Cut- ler, of Granby, Conn., and later with Dr. H. B. Steel, of Windsted, Conn., studying in this way for three years. Subsequently he took a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and in 188I was graduated from the United States Medical College, of New York, with the degree of M. D. He then engaged in practice in Granby and Avon, Hartford county, until 1896, in which year he lo- cated permanently in West Hartford, where he has already built up a large and lucrative practice. He is thoroughly versed in his profession, and his skill and ability are widely recognized.

On July II, 1871, Dr. Alcott married Miss Ida H. Miller, daughter of Myron and Lura (Gates) Miller, of Hartland, Hartford county, and to them were born two children: Herbert Bronson, who is now engaged in business in Torrington, Conn .; and Ila Louise. Mrs. Alcott died July 1, 1884. The Doctor was made a Mason in Village Lodge, No. 29, F. & A. M., in Collinsville, in 1880, and at present holds membership in Wyllys Lodge, No. 99, F. & A. M., of West Hartford; Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M .; and Wolcott Council, No. 1, R. & S. M., of Hartford.

GEORGE TRUMAN COOK, one of the rep- ·resentative self-made enterprising citizens of Bris- tol, and widely and favorably known, is a native of New York State, born Oct. 10, 1840, in West Camden, Oneida county.

The Cook family, of which our subject is a worthy member, are descended, it is supposed, from one of three brothers who came to America from England in early days, two of them settling in Con- necticut, the third seeking a New World home in the Western States. Truman Cook, grandfather of George T., was a farmer for several years in Terry- ville, Litchfield Co., Conn., also for a time in West Camden, N. Y., where in connection he conducted a rake manufactory, and a lumber business. He married Abigail Beach, a native of Plymouth, Conn., and children as follows were born to them: Arba, Emily, Mary, Ann, Henry and George. Of these, Arba Cook, father of subject, was born Feb. 6, 1807, in Plymouth, Conn., where during his earlier man- hood he followed the trade of wood turner, and was employed in various other lines of work. The latter days of his life he spent in farming in Terry- ville, Conn., whither he had removed when his son George T. was eight years old. On April 8, 1829, he married Hepziba Case, who was born in South- ington, Conn., March 27, 1810, and died Sept. 20, 1883, in New Britain. He passed from earth March 17, 1876. A man of retiring disposition, he became a great reader, and on general topics of the day was well posted. In religious faith he was a mem-

ber of the Congregational Church of Terryville, Litchfield county : in politics he was originally an Old-line Whig, later a Republican and Abolitionist. Three children were born to this honored couple : (I) A son died in infancy. (2) Nancy Maria mar- red Francis Hare, of Deerfield, Mass., and now a widow is making her home with her son Averett Hare, in Bristol. (3) George Truman is our sub- ject.

George T. Cook received a liberal education, in part in the schools of West Camden, N. Y., later attending the public schools of Terryville, Conn. At the age of fourteen years, owing to his father's im- paired health, the lad had to lay aside his books and commence work in order to assist in the support of the family, his first employment being in the Eagle Lock Co.'s shop at Terryville, where he was re- quired to work eleven hours a day for $10 per month. This comparatively small sum went toward paying for a small piece of land and a home, which his father had purchased and was struggling to re- lieve from indebtedness. On Aug. 8, 1862, leaving the employ of the Eagle Lock Co., our subject en- listed, at Plymouth, Conn .. in Company D, 19th Conn. V. T., serving first as a private, later as a musician. He participated in the battle of Cold Harbor, where he was wounded (he still has the bullet ) : also took part in the campaign in front of Petersburg, and was mustered out of the service July 7, 1865, at New Haven, Conn. Returning to the paths of peace, he recommenced work in the Eagle Lock Co.'s shop at Terryville, and there con- tinued until the death of his father, March 17, 1876, in that year removing to Bridgeport. and accepting a position with the Bridgeport Lock Co. (which con- cern had just been started), having charge, as fore- man, of some fifty hands in the assembling depart- ment. At the end of two years this factory was purchased by the Eagle Lock Co., of Terryville, and the plant removed there, Mr. Cook accompanying and remaining as foreman of the same department another two years. He then removed to New Brit- ain, where he was employed as foreman for the P. & F. Corbin Cabinet Lock Co., filling that incum- bency some four years, at which time he resigned and removed to Bristol, where he embarked in his present prosperous bakery business on Main street. In 1897, in Waterbury, he opened what was known as "Cook's Branch Bakery," and for two vears carried on same verv successfully, at the end of that time selling out to James Lawton.

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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 126

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