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 131

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 131

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John Webster, the great-grandfather of William Howard and Daniel, and the son of David (2), was born in the Beckley Quarter April 7, 1768. He, too, vas a farmer, but a constant and judicious reader, nd a man of scholarly attainments. He married Eunice Andrews, of New Britain, who died Aug. 2, 1835, at the age of sixty-three. His own death ccurred Feb. 26, 1829. The next in line of descent vas Jonathan, who was born in 1792, in the Beckley Quarter, and died Sept. 17, 1884, having reached he extraordinary age of ninety-two years. A armer by occupation, he began life with little or

nothing, but died worth $120,000. He married Roxana Seldon, of East Haddam. After her death, at the age of thirty-two, on May 3, 1826, he married Esther Dickerson, who died Feb. 1, 1874, after pass- ing her eighty-fifth birthday.

John Webster (2), the father of William H. and Daniel, was born Dec. 20, 1818, on the ancestral homestead in the Beckley Quarter. He also was a tiller of the soil, a successful agriculturist, and a man held in high repute for his many virtues. He was endowed with rare native intelligence, and was a man of strong personality and moral force of char- acter. His political convictions were strong, al- though he never took any active part in politics. Prior to the organization of the Republican party he was an Old-line Whig, but later was a strong supporter of the principles of the party of Greeley, Lincoln and Sumner. He entered into rest in his eightieth year, closing a well-spent life on Feb. 17, 1897. He exerted a wide influence in the commu- nity, and a strong influence over those with whom he came into immediate contact. He was married, in 1843, to Lydia, a daughter of Robert Frances and his wife, Mary (Toby), of Barnstable, Mass. Mrs. Webster still survives her husband, her home being on Berlin street. To them were born two sons and four daughters : Frances Ellen, Anna Seldon, Daniel, William Howard, Hattie Lina and Minnie. The eldest daughter, Frances Ellen, was born Oct. 10, 1845, and is the wife of Waldo C. Camp, of New Britain, who is connected with the American Paper Goods Co., of Kensington. Anna Seldon, born February 28, 1847, married Willis W. Mildrum, a manufacturer of jewels for compasses at East Berlin. Hattie Lina, born Dec. 10, 1855, is the wife of Em- erson G. Clark, a teacher in the public schools of New York City. Minnie, born Nov. 4, 1861, mar- ried William E. Hansel, a resident of Hartford.

William Howard Webster, the younger of the two sons born to John Webster, was born at the paternal homestead in the Beckley Quarter on Nov. 25, 1853. Both lie and his brother Daniel enjoyed excellent educational advantages. Both attended the Berlin common schools and the Monson ( Mass.) Academy, an institution located near Springfield. William H. graduated from Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., in 1873, and subsequently he conceived an idea of settling in Florida and be- coming an orange grower, with which end in view he visited that State and remained there about six months, during which time he handled more or less fruit on commission. The general outlook, how- ever, did not appear satisfactory, and he returned to Berlin. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, he became a farmer, and he would scarcely have proved his right to the name of Webster had he not succeeded. In 1885 he founded the Golden Ridge Creamery Co. The corporation is capitalized at $7,000, and Mr. Webster has been its president from its inception. The present annual output of the factory is about 75,000 pounds, most of which is dis-

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posed of in the neighboring towns. In 1895 Mr. Webster bought the grocery of A. P. Goodrich, on Berlin street, but a pressure of other business en- gagements prevented his devoting sufficient personal attention to its conduct, and after two years he dis- posed of it to J. W. Woodruff. His farm is one of the best stocked, best cultivated, in Hartford county. In addition to his home place of 125 acres, he owns 325 acres of choice land in the town of Rocky Hill. On his property in Berlin he has built a large modern house, which contains all the modern accessories ob- tainable on a farm.

Mr. Webster is a citizen of influence and promi- nence, respected alike for his high order of intelli- gence, his broad public spirit, and his unblemished Christian character. He is president of the Berlin Agricultural Society, and of the Driving and Ath- letic Association. He has also held many town offi- ces of responsibility, having been selectman, tax collector (two years ), member of the board of relief ( for several years), and district school committee- man. In politics he is a strong Republican, as was his father. In religious faith he is a Congrega- tionalist, having been prominently identified with the Second Church of that creed in Berlin for many years, and he has held, simultaneously, the office of chairman of both church and society committees, also has been one of the most liberal contributors to the support of church work and church extension. Mrs. Webster belongs to the same communion.

Mr. Webster was married, Oct. 13, 1880, to Miss Cornelia Augusta Wells, who was born in Newing- ton April 5, 1854, her parents being William Wells and Cornelia Deming, both of whom rest in the cemetery in Newington. Mr. and Mrs. Webster are the parents of four children: Jonathan Leland, born April 29, 1882; Merton Wells, March 24, 1884; Arthur Eggleston, March 26, 1886; and Florence Louise, May 3, 1890. All the children are gaining their education, the eldest son being a stu- dent at Mt. Hermon ( Mass.) School ; he will prob- ably adopt the profession of an electrical engineer. Merton Wells will graduate from the New Berlin High school in 1902, and after that will matricu- late at Yale College. Arthur E. is attending the New Berlin High school, and Florence L. is at- tending the Berlin public schools.

DANIEL WEBSTER, the elder brother of William H., was born March 20, 1848, on his father's farm. After leaving Monson Academy, he took a special course in the Normal School at Oswego, N. Y., with a view to qualifying himself for the vocation of a teacher, which he then intended to be his life- work. For ten years he taught school with marked and gratifying success ; first, for three years, in the graded school at Neversink, and afterward, for about the same period, at Mechanicsville and Long Branch, liis latest experience covering two years at Cromwell, and two terms at East Berlin. He then returned to the old homestead farm, remaining there until 1897, wlien he purchased the property com-

monly known as the Dr. Woodruff homestead, in Berlin, which he has enlarged, remodeled and greatly improved. On Oct. 20, 1874, he married Clara Amelia, daughter of William M. and Almira ( Mil- drum) Noble, of Cromwell. She was born March 10, 1851, and has borne her husband six children : Mary Emma, Helen, Hattie Louise, William John, Stewart Noble and Gertrude. The eldest daugh- ter was born June 21, 1879, graduated from the Berlin high school, and lives at home. Helen died at the age of two years. Hattie Louise is a high- school pupil, and the younger children are pursuing their studies at the Berlin common schools.

As was his father, and as is his brother, Daniel Webster is a stalwart Republican. He has been prominently identified with public affairs, and has led a very active, useful life, having served several terms as assessor, and as a member of the school board, and acting school visitor for ten years, and has been recently elected (1899) superintendent of schools in Berlin. In 1893 he was a candidate be- fore the Republican convention for the nomination for member of the legislature. His elevation to these positions of responsibility and trust attests the deservedly high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens, because of his recognized in- tellectual ability and moral worth. He is one of the vice-presidents of the Agricultural Society, is a director in the Golden Ridge Creamery Co., and president of the National Laundry Co., of New Britain, which he founded in 1899. Both he and his wife are active and leading members of the Con- gregational church, and among the most liberal con- tributors to its support. He has served on various important Church committees, and his wife is a prominent member of the Ladies' Aid and Mission- ary Societies.

WALTER GWATKIN, a prominent represen- tative of the business interests of Berlin, is a native of Hartford county, born in New Britain June 23, 1857. His father, Henry Gwatkin, was born in London, England, Nov. 15, 1820, and his grand- father spent his entire life in that country as a butcher, dying when our subject was quite young.

In his native land the father learned the trade of brass-molder, and became an expert workman in that line. In March, 1846, he married Mrs. Mary (Crockwell) Ring, who was born in London in 1819, and before leaving their native land their eldest child, Henry Edward, was born in London, April 23. 1847. (On June 28, 1871, he married Hattie Ella Payne, of New Britain). In 1848 they crossed the Atlantic and took up their residence it Hartford, Conn .; later three other children were added to the family, namely: Lizzie, born in 1849, married Sherman H. Alger, of Marlboro, Conn., who is connected with the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, and they now live in West Haven. Walter, our subject, is next in the order of birth. Arthur is a conductor on the electric cars

WEwalkin

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in New Haven. After taking up his residence in New Britain, the father worked in the brass foundry. of Peck & Walter as foreman for a number of years, and later held a similar position with J. B. Sergeant. He then conducted a shop of his own in Hartford for about a year, and subsequently engaged in mer- chandising in New Britain for about nine years, on Main and West Main streets. At the end of that time he came to Berlin and purchased the "Berlin Hotel," which he conducted for twenty years, sell- ing out in 1881, when he returned to New Britain. The hotel has since been owned and carried on by other parties. Mr. Gwatkin then lived retired from active business until his death, which occurred in New Britain, Oct. 14, 1895, his remains being in- terred at that place. His wife is still living, and makes her home with her daughter in West Haven.

Walter Gwatkin, whose name introduces this review, is indebted to the public schools of Berlin and New Britain for his educational advantages. After leaving school he commenced work for W. Hunt & Son, butchers of Berlin, and remained with them about two years, after which he embarked in the same line of business on his own account, and has since successfully conducted a market in Berlin, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage. In November, 1889, he purchased a home on Berlin street from the William H. Steele estate, and has since improved it until he now has one of the hand- some homes of the neighborhood.

On Nov. 12, 1879, Mr. Gwatkin was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Martha Norton, who was born in Berlin, Dec. 12, 1855, a daughter of Henry and Mary Angeline (Tuttle) Norton. The father died in that place Nov. 12, 1885, and was laid to rest in the Berlin cemetery ; the mother continues to make her home in that town. Our subject and his wife have one child, Leland Walter, born Dec. 13, 1882, who is attending the high school of New Britain.

In politics Mr. Gwatkin is independent, voting for the man whom he considers best qualified to fill the office regardless of party affiliations. He is a member of the Mattabessett Lodge, No. 25, K. P., of East Berlin, and is a member of the Congrega- tional Church. As a business man he stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and in all the relations of life his course has been such as to com- mand the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.

WILLIAM ROBERTS. Success and promi- nence in life are rarely attained in these modern days by the possession of a single trait or character. A variety of admirable and telling qualities are es- sential. Industry avails little unless results are produced. It is a characteristic of William Roberts, than whom there is no better known farmer and gardener in the Hartford markets, that take him as you will in this occupation he is every ready for emergencies. He thoroughly knows his business.

He knows how to raise farm products, and is none the less an expert in the sale of the same. Buyers enjoy trading with him. Their confidence and es- teem have never been betrayed.

Mr. Roberts is a representative of an old New England family, sixth in descent from William Roberts, founder of the family in New England, the line being as follows: (1) William Roberts, who married Dorothy Forbes, and died about 1730; (2) Benjamin, his son (March 8, 1698-Feb. 14, 1774), who married (first) Dorothy Pitkin and (second) Jerusha Pratt ; (3) George (Nov. 22, 1752-Oct. 4, 1824), married Jerusha Williams ; (4) Ozias (Aug. 10, 1785-Feb. 8, 1868) ; (5) Ira T. (Feb. 10, 1817-Jan. 17, 1897) ; (6) William, our subject. A fuller ancestral history appears elsewhere.

William Roberts, son of Ira T. and Charlotte Corinthia (Cowles) Roberts, was born Dec. 3, 1850, on the old homestead in the town of East Hartford where he now lives. In his boyhood he attended the school in the Silver Lane district, occupying the present site of the school. It was well attended, there being at one time eighty pupils in one room. W. P. Pratt was the first teacher of Mr. Roberts, who remembers with kindness and gratitude the thoroughness of the schools in the days of his youth. For two winters he was a pupil at Elm Hall, East Hartford, walking to and from school, and later he attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Hartford. The journey to and from his home he made twice daily afoot. As a farmer boy he was "put in the harness" young. He was small of stature and strength, attaining his growth mainly after reaching his twentieth year. But the training he received under his father was the foun- dation of his after character, thoroughly good in every particular. In 1868, at the age of eighteen years, he began working for his two brothers, Charles W. and Martin, and when he arrived at age he formed a partnership with his brother Frank in the operation of a part of the farm. They re- mained partners from 1872 to 1877, when at the suggestion of his father he formed a farming part- nership with his brother Martin, the business ar- rangement continuing until 1886. In that year our subject began farming as an individual. After the death of his father, in the distribution of the estate, the old homestead fell to our subject, and there he has since resided, conducting a most suc- cessful agricultural and gardening business.

Mr. Roberts married, Dec. 9, 1874, Miss Emma J. Burnham, of Orchard street, East Hartford, who bore him one child, Grace D., now the wife of Fred Smith, of Silver street. Mrs. Roberts died April 25, 1882, and was buried in East Hartford. For his second wife Mr. Roberts married, May 29, 1883, Mrs. Ella Dixon, widow of Richard Dixon, and daughter of Nathan and Maria (Edwards) Dean. By this marriage Mr. Roberts has had four children : Mildred, born June 10, 1891 ; Edna D.,

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born Jan. 21, 1894; Myra, who died Sept. 11, 1898, aged eighteen months; and Ira W., born Jan. 19, 1900.

In politics Mr. Roberts is a Republican, but he is no office seeker, and has repeatedly declined candidacies that were offered him. For over thirty years he has been engaged in marketing vegetables, berries and fruits. lIe has a thorough knowledge of his business, and his reliability as a truck gar- dener has won for him an enviable reputation among that class of farmers in the Hartford market. He is a good salesman, and his promises are always fulfilled. He possesses a rugged physical consti- tution, and braves all kinds of weather, is indus- trious and energetic, and there is perhaps, in East Hartford, no better farmer in his line, no harder worker, none who better understands every detail of his business. He is probably as well-known as any gardener supplying the Hartford markets. His thorough reliability and his great regard for his word are but characteristics of the name, and a feature of it that does not suffer at his hands. He gives great attention to detail, and is very sys- tematic in his work. Mr. Roberts also gets re- sults. He has prospered in proportion to his mag- nificent energy and ability, and ranks high among the agriculturists of Hartford county.

ANTHONY McGEHAN, a well-to-do farmer and gardener of Hockanum, is an excellent example of the self-made man, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by the residents of Silver Lane and vicinity. Born April 1, 1847, in London- derry, Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, he is a son of John and Mary ( McLaughlin) McGehan, who were the parents of eight children. The father, John McGehan, was a groceryman, and was quite com- fortable in the possession of all that pertains to happiness with the middle class of Ireland.

Anthony McGehan attended school in his native land until sixteen years of age, and after leaving his studies hired out as a farmer's lad. He saved his earnings to a great extent, and from these paid his passage to the United States, arriving here June 10, 1869. He had six sovereigns in his pocket on his arrival, and these gold pieces he kept an entire year, and then sent them home. He came over in the "Iowa," a vessel of the Anchor Line, and on departing from Londonderry, when some little dis- tance out, he could see the house in which he was born-to him a touching and impressive sight. Six- teen days later he landed at New York, but as he had been advised by a rich lady with whom he had lived in Ireland to avoid large cities, he came at once from New York to East Hartford, and first found employment with E. C. Brewer, of Silver Lane. Ile next worked for Giles Forbes a few months, and later was employed by George W. Pratt for eight years, as overseer of his place on Silver Lane.

In 1874 Mr. McGehan married Miss Rose

Knabbs, who was born in Ireland, coming to the United States when nineteen years old. The young couple went to housekeeping on Silver Lane, on hired premises where they lived seven years, when Mr. McGehan purchased his present farm from Elizur Viberts. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McGehan, eight in number, were as follows: Mary, John (died in infancy), Jonas, Marcus (a bookkeeper in Hartford), Willie ( died at the age of thirteen years), Alfred, Elizabeth and Lucy, the survivors are still under the parental roof, with the exception of Marcus. The family are members of the Episcopal Church, of which Mr. McGehan is a vestryman. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but when he has exercised his right of franchise his interest in politics subsides.

Mr. McGehan, by his industry and frugality, has earned for himself a good home, and has reared his family in respectability. He has secured for himself and children a good name, has won the re- spect of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and has shown himself to be well worthy of the success he has met with in the land of his adoption.

JAMES POLK CORNISH. One of the best and most favorably known residents of Naubuc is its genial postmaster, the subject of this sketch, a man whose musical accomplishments, social quali- ties and good business principles have endeared him to wide acquaintancesliip. He is a representative of one of the oldest families of New England, trac- ng his lineage from James Cornish, a native of Mas- sachusetts, who migrated from that Commonwealth to the Connecticut Colony in the seventeenth century.

The family had been residents of Massachusetts for many years. The records show that Samuel Cornish was living in Salem in 1637. Richard Cor- nish died in Boston in 1694. The direct line of de- scent as far as known is as follows: (1) James 1

Cornish was the first school master of Northampton, Mass. Later he removed to Westfield, and about 1667 was appointed clerk of the courts in Hamp- shire county, by Sir Edmund Andros. An item in an old Massachusetts Gasette says that what is now Granville, Mass., was sold to James Cornish in 1686, by Toto, an Indian chief, for a gun and sixteen brass buttons. He moved to Connecticut, and died in Simsbury, Oct. 29, 1698. He had married, after 1661, the widow of Greenfield Larraboy, of Say- brook, Conn. She is supposed to have been his sec- ond wife, and died Dec. 22, 1664, leaving three chil- dren, Gabriel, Elizabeth and James (2).

(II) James Cornish, last named, was born in 1663. He settled in Simsbury about 1695, and was deacon of the church in 1715. For his first wife he married, Nov. 10, 1692, Elizabeth, daughter of Tim- othy Thrall, and by his marriage his children were as follows: James, born Oct. 30, 1693; Elizabeth, born Sept. 25, 1695; Joseph, born Oct. 18, 1697; Phebe ; Sarah, born April 19. 1709; Benjamin, born

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March 28, 1710. For his second wife Deacon James Cornish married, April 15, 1715, Hannah, born Dec. 12, 1681, daughter of Rev. Andrew Hillard, and widow of Thomas Humphreys. The children by this marriage were: Gabriel, born May 25, 1716; Jemima, born Nov. 20, 1718; Keziah, born Oct. 12, 1721 ; Maiy; and Jabez, born in 1726. Deacon James Cornish died April 2, 1740. His second wife, Hannah, died Dec. 2, 1751.

(III) Capt. James Cornish, son of Deacon James Cornish, was born Oct. 30, 1693, and married, Dec. 9, 1719, for his first wife, Amy Butler, of Hartford, Conn. To them were born the following children : James, born Oct. 4, 1720; Elisha, born June 5, 1722 ; Amy, born Aug. 2, 1724 ; Daniel, born May 21, 1727 ; Abigail, born Sept. 5, 1729 ; Joel, born July 18, 1731 ; Abigail, born May 5, 1733; Lucy, born June 8, 1735 ; Violet, born April 12, 1737 : Rachel, born Sept. 3. 1740. The wife died Feb. 16, 1763, and for his second wife Capt. James Cornish married Mrs. Han- nah Wilcox, nce Thrall, who died Aug. 27. 1779. Capt. James Cornish died March 22, 1784. He was a lifelong resident of Simsbury.

(I\') Sergt. Elisha Cornish, born June 5. 1722, for his first wife married Hepsibah Humphrey, who was born in 1724, daughter of Charles Hum- phrey. She bore him seven children: Hepsibah. born Aug. 27, 1741 ; Hepsibah, born Nov. 4, 1742 ; James, born Dec. 16, 1744; Elizabeth, born May 8, 1746 ; Elisha, born Dec. 7. 1748: Dorcas, born Sept. II, 1750: Charles, born Sept. 29, 1752. She died Feb. 25, 1755, and for his second wife Sergt. Elisha Cornish married, Aug. 31, 1755, Mary, daughter of Benjamin Dyer. By this union there was one child, Mary, born Feb. 17, 1759. The mother died Oct. 21, 1775, and for his third wife Elisha Cornish mar- ried, June 2, 1776, Charity, born June 30, 1744, daughter of John Pettibone, and widow of Syl- vanus Humphrey. By this marriage there was one child, Giles, born April 8, 1780. Elisha Cornish died April 27, 1794, and his wife on Oct. 5, 1803.

(V) Capt. James Cornish, son of Sergt. Elisha and Hepsibah Cornish, born Dec. 16, 1744, married, Dec. 28, 1766, Rhuhama Bidwell, who was born in 1743. They settled in Simsbury, and had six chil- dren : Charles, born Oct. 29, 1767 ; Dorcas; Chloe ; Larue Hama ; Eber, born Feb. 16, 1772 ; and James, born in 1776. Capt. James Cornish died July 9. 1813: his wife on March 14, 1814.

(VI) Col. James Cornish, born in 1776, married Cynthia Russell, born Oct. 14, 1778, daughter of Sergt. Jesse Russell. She bore him five children : Grove, born in 1796, ; Charles, born in 1799, ; Charles Edwin, father of our subject, born April 13, 1805; James Darwin, born in May, 1808; Sidney Aurora, born Oct. 6, 1819. The mother died Aug. 5, 1824, and for his second wife Col. James Cornish married, in 1829, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. She was a resident of Simsbury, and died Jan. 30, 1836.

(VII) Charles E. Cornish, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Simsbury, and was a farmer

through life. He located at Tariffville, later re- moving to Hartford. He married Mary N. Vining, a native of Simsbury, and a daughter of Dr. Thomas Vining. Three children were born to Charles E. and Mary N. Cornish: (1) Cynthia Jeanette, who was born June 11, 1834, married (first) Henry L. Pratt, and for her second husband wedded George Tolles, of Nashua, N. H., and now lives at Hart- ford; (2) Charles H., born May 17, 1837, married (first) Sarah Cook, and for his second wife wedded Emma H. Risley, of Glastonbury, by whom he had three children, Charles A., Frank S., and Robert (he died in 1873) ; and (3) James Polk, our subject. The father died Feb. 14, 1882, and the mother May II, 1873. They were buried in Glastonbury cem- etery.

(VIII) James Polk Cornish, cur subject, was born in Weatogue, Simsbury, Feb. 24, 1847. When a child he removed with his parents to Tariffville, and thence at the age of six years to Hartford, where he received his education. He attended the Brown school in Hartford, and when thirteen years old re- moved with his parents to the house in Glastonbury which he now occupies. At fourteen he began a five-years' service ss clerk for A. E. Bogue, a grocer, Ambitious to improve his circumstances, he at the age of nineteen went to Hartford, and was an em- ploye in Colt's Armory until it was destroyed by fire. Returning to Naubuc, he served a four-years' apprenticeship at the machinist's trade, in the shops of the Ames Manufacturing Co. For a time he fol- lowed his trade on the corner of Pearl and Asylum streets, Ilartford, but in 1873, after the death of his brother Charles H., he returned to Naubuc and as- sisted in the management of the home farm. Thus he continued for nearly seven years, and in 1879 he purchased the place, which he has ever since oper- ated. Mr. Cornish has made the application of electricty to medical purposes a thorough study, and now conducts a very successful business of that kind at Hartford. He was appointed postmaster at Naubuc in 1888, and still holds that important fed- eral office.

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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 131

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