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 132

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 132

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Our subject was married to Miss Harriet M. Goodrich, of Rocky Hill. She possesses more than ordinary business acumen, is a musician of ability, and very popular. She is organist of the Connec- ticut State Grange, and in appreciation of her untir- ing efforts in that position has been made the re- cipient of a medal. Mr. Cornish is also a musician of distinguished ability. For ten years he has been musical director of the Connecticut State Grange. For twenty-five years he has been the choir leader in St. James Episcopal Church, of which he is a member, and for two years was the leading tenor in the Centre Church, at Hartford. In politics Mr. Cornish is a Democrat. He has been nominated for various local offices, his candidacy resulting in reducing the adverse Republican majority, but not in overcoming it. He is now serving as school vis- itor. Our subject is prominent in fraternal work.

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He is a member of Daskam Lodge, No. 86, F. & A. M .; of Washington Commandery, Knights Templar ; and of the Consistory, 32d degree ; he is serving as past grand of Elm Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Glaston- bury, and is an active and influential member of East Hartford Lodge, No. 1237, Royal Arcanum. He possesses a charm of manner which has won him a wide friendship, and ranks as one of the foremost citizens of Glastonbury.

HENRY DAVIS TILLOTSON, an energetic and successful farmer and dairyman of West Hart- ford, is a native of Hartford county, born in Farm- ington, Dec. 23, 1850.

John Whitman Tillotson, his father, was born in the same town, about 1824, and was a son of Seth and Fannie (Whitman) Tillotson, residents of Farmington, where the grandfather engaged in teaching school for many years. He also taught in the academy at West Hartford. Religiously he was a member of the Congregational Church.

Throughout life the father of our subject fol- lowed the occupation of farming. He married Miss Lucy Allen, of Salisbury, Conn., who is still living and makes her home in Farmington; he died at the age of sixty-three years. To them were born eight children : Henry Davis, our subject ; Albert S., a res- ident of Hartford ; Ella L., wife of Frederick Hurl- burt, of Farmington ; Frank E., deceased ; Florence, a resident of Hartford; Ida, ( Mrs. Morway, of Plainville ) ; John M., of Farmington ; and Frederick E., of Hartford.

Henry D. Tillotson received his literary education in the schools of Farmington, and continued a res- ident of that town until eighteen years of age, when he came to West Hartford to work for John M. Foote, remaining with him for seven years. In 1877 he removed to his present farm, where he is now suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and dairying, running a wagon to Hartford in connection with the latter branch of business. In addition to his wife's farm, he also owns the old birthplace of Noah Web- ster. A man of keen perception, of unbounded en- terprise, his success in life is due entirely to his own efforts, and he deserves prominent mention among the leading and representative agriculturists of the county. Religiously, he is a member of the Congre- gational Church and Society.

On April 7, 1877, in West Hartford, Mr. Tillot- son was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Dun- ham, a daughter of Elisha Dunham, and to them were born two sons; Henry Howard, who is now con- nected with the Scottish Union Insurance Co. of Hartford; and Lora L.

CHARLES E. CURTISS is one of Simsbury's best known citizens, and as a member of Ensign, Bickford & Co., of that place, he holds a prominent place in business circles. He was born March 18, 1850, in the Bushy Hill District of Simsbury, son of Ebenezer G. Curtiss, and grandson of Timothy H.

Curtiss, the latter of whom died March 19, 1864, aged seventy-six.

Hon. Ebenezer G. Curtiss, father of our subject, was born Nov. 15, 1822, in the Bushy Hill District of Simsbury, near the Canton line, but a portion of his boyhood was spent in Southwick, Mass., where his parents resided for a time. He engaged in farming in early manhood, and his later years were passed in Weatogue, Conn., where he became in- terested in the cattle business, his stock being pur- chased in the west and driven to Connecticut. He was a prominent Democrat of his locality, and at one time represented Simsbury in the State Legis- lature, while he was also active in Masonic circles as a member of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 36, F. & A. M., at Simsbury, to which our subject now belongs. He died Sept. 16, 1890, his remains being interrel in Simsbury. On Oct. 11, 1846, he married Miss Mary A. Norton, who survives him, and now resides with our subject. They had three children : George N., born Aug. 19, 1848, died April 20, 1849 ; Charles E. is our subject ; and James, born June 23, 1856, is now a resident of Simsbury.

Mrs. Mary A. (Norton) Curtiss, who still enjoys excellent health notwithstanding her advanced age, is much esteemed among the people of Simsbury, and for many years has been a consistent member of the Congregational Church. She was born Oct. 29, 1827, in the town of Avon, this county, and is de- scended in the paternal line from one of the oldest families of Farmington. Her father, George Nor- ton, married Elizabeth Frisbie.

As a boy our subject attended first the district schools of Weatogue, his first teacher being Miss Ellen Marks. In 1859 his parents removed to the Meadow Plain District, and among his teachers there were Lucy Alford, Addie Allen and Minnie Case. Later he studied for one winter at Guilford Insti- tute, and after leaving this school spent a year in. farming with his father. In 1867 he began clerk- ing for Judson Wilcox in a general store at Sims- bury, and two years later he accepted a position as traveling salesman for Humason & Beckly, of New Britain, handling a line of shelf hardware goods. His territory covered New York State, and after a time he traveled the same routes for a cigar house in New York City. In 1872 he went to Oneonta, N. Y., and engaged in the livery business, and on leav- ing there he removed to Westfield, Mass., where he was employed as a bookkeeper and clerk in a gro- cery house. On Dec. 1, 1879, he returned to Sims- bury, where he has since resided, and for a number of years he has been connected with the Ensign Bickford Manufacturing Co. On April 10, 1889, he moved to his elegant home, which is probably the best appointed residence in Simsbury. It was formerly the Averett Wilcox homestead, and is known as "The Seven Elms," from the seven large elm trees in front of the house. Mr. Curtiss has two children: Joseph T., born Dec. 16, 1878; and Grace G., born Sept. 26, 1883. The son was edu-

Chat. E Curtis

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cated at Dobb's Ferry School and at Andover, Mass., and spent a year in Europe. On Dec. 19, 1899, lie married Abigail G. Eno, daughter of Chauncey H. Eno, of Simsbury, and they live in Tariffville, where he is engaged in mercantile business. Grace G. Curtiss was graduated from St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, class of 1901.

Mr. Curtiss is an enthusiastic horseman, and owns one of the fine stable of horses of Hartford county, being an excellent judge of that noble animal. He is a liberal man, and believes in enjoying life, while as a citizen he has always been in favor of public im- provements. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and "can always be counted upon" to vote the State and National tickets. In town matters he selects the best men regardless of politics, and while he has never shirked duty as a good Democrat, he has de- clined to be a candidate for office.

JOSEPHI TOWERS, who for years has been a successful manufacturer of brick at New Britain, is of English descent. He was born Oct. 17, 1861, in Rockland county, N. Y., son of James Towers, and grandson of William Towers. The latter, a native of Derbyshire, England, was by occupation a silk-weaver, though for many years he followed market gardening. He married Deborah Heath- coate, and to the union were born : Sarah, Maria, Mary, Thomas, Joseph, William, Mathew and James, the latter being the father of our subject.

James Towers, was born in 1825, in Stockport, Cheshire, England, and in his young life there worked at blacksn ithing. In January, 1851, he with family left England in a sailing-vessel bound for the United States, whither they arrived after a voyage of five weeks and two days. Soon after reaching this country Mr. Towers was for a time employed by a Mr. Conger, at Grassy Point, Rock- land Co., N. Y. Following this he became em- ployed in a muslin print factory, and then for a time worked at blacksmithing. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he next accepted a position as a machinist at Haverstraw, N. Y., and was thus en- gaged for a period, also in blacksmithing, after which he became engineer in a brickyard. Later he moved to the State of Iowa, where he pur- chased a farm and followed agricultural pursuits for six and one-half years, and in about 1881 sold his property and returned to the East, locating at New Britain, Conn. Here he became interested in the brick plant of Dennis & Co., later purchased the brickyards now owned by Towers Brothers and Holmes & Dennis, remaining thus engaged until about 1891, at which time he sold the brick plant to his sons. He was a man of good business ability, industrious, a thorough manager, and met with suc- cess. He was self-made, rising in the world through his own efforts.

On Aug. 13, 1848, James Towers was married to Hannah Lee, and the union was blessed with children as follows: Mary is the wife of Charles

Lawrence ; James is a resident of Springfield, Mass .; William; Elizabeth married Chester M. Buck, of Iowa; Joseph is our subject ; Sarah married Casper Schweilzer, of New Britain; and Helena married Stephen Sautter, of New Britain.

Joseph Towers, the subject proper of these lines, attended the public schools at Haverstraw, N. Y., until twelve years of age, by which time he had a fair elementary book training. At this age he ac- companied his parents to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he assisted in the work of the farm during their seven or eight years' residence there, mean- while pursuing his studies at home. On the return of the family to the East our subject assisted his father in the operation of the brick plant at New Britain, referred to in the foregoing, serving for some three years as engineer, and later as foreman, In about 1891 he and a brother purchased the plant, and for three years conducted it as partners, our subject at the expiration of tliat period pur- chasing his brother's interest. In 1896, during his ownership of the works they were removed to a different locality, and their manufacturing capacity greatly increased. Subsequent to this the Towers Brothers purchased an interest in the business, and the capacity of the plant was again increased, until it now gives employment to some fifty men. Mr. Towers is an experienced brick manufacturer, thor- oughly understanding the business in all of its branches, and, possessing energy and industry, he has been successful.

In his political views Mr. Towers is a Repub- lican, though not a party worker for the reward of office. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., and of Washington Command- ery, No. I, K. T. : also affiliated with the Order of Red Men, in which he is especially prominent ; and with Putnam Phalanx, of Hartford. For a number of years he was secretary of the New England Brick Exchange Co., which was succeeded by the New England Brick Co., and of the latter he is now president.

On March 25, 1891, our subject was married to Miss Lucy Agnes Rawlings, daughter of Noah and Agnes Rawlings, of Berlin, formerly of Eng- land. To this union two sons were born : Raymond Rawlings, who died at the age of three and one- fourth years; and Reginald Ellsworth, who is still at home.

CHARLES L. RUSSELL, JR., a well-known citizen of Milldale, was born in Farmington, Hart- ford, county, Aug. 28, 1843, a son of Charles L. and Marilla (Ford) Russell, the former a native of Cheshire, Conn., the latter of Vermont. The paternal grandparents, John and Ruth (Root) Rus- sell, were natives of Cheshire and Southington, respectively. The maternal grandfather, Hial Ford, was born in Vermont, son of Gen. Ford, of Revolu- tionary fame, but spent much of his life in Thomas- ton, Conn., where his death occurred. He was

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quite prominent in public affairs. His wife bore the maiden name of Lucina Preston.

Our subject was reared in Cheshire, pursued his studies in the common schools of that town and in the high school of Waterbury. During the dar' days of the Civil war he entered the service of his country, enlisting in July, 1862, in Company A, 20th Conn. V. I., and was connected with the quar- termaster's and commissary departments. At the end of three years he was honorably discharged and returned home. He was engaged in farming, teaming and trucking until 1893, when he removed to Southington, and has since followed the occu- pation of a teamster at Milldale.

On Nov. 25, 1874, Mr. Russell married Miss Ella Hotchkiss, a daughter of Henry and Rosette ( Beecher) Hotchkiss, formerly of Cheshire, and by this union have been born two children: Edith R., now the wife of F. M. Ellis ; and Olive F. Re- ligiously Mr. Russell is a member of the Episcopal Church ; socially he is affiliated with Doolittle Post, No. 5, G. A. R., of Cheshire, and politically he is connected with the Republican party. He is widely and favorably known, and has a host of warm friends in the community where he resides.

EDWARD RISLEY, farmer and tobacco grower, of the town of East Hartford, with his farm near Willow Brook and his residence in the village of East Hartford, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most honored of the families of the town, being a son of Seth, a grandson of Caleb, and a great-grandson of John Risley.

John Risley was a farmer all his life, and was the father of six children, as follows: Ruth, mar- ried to Ralph Judson ; Lucinda, married to Ashbel Cowles ; Damos, married to Solomon Treat; Patty, who became the wife of Moses Ensign, and the mother of four children, Charles A., Elizur, Owen and Jeanette ; John, who married Sallie Seymour ; and Caleb, the grandfather of our subject.

Caleb Risley was born on Main street, East Hartford, was reared a farmer, married Abigail Hancock, and lived in a house that stands south of his grandson Edward's present residence. To him and his wife were born nine children : Caleb : Emeline, who became the wife of Solomon Treat ( a son of Solomon Treat), and the mother of five children, Charlotte, Maria, Delia, Harry and Charles, lived to be over eightyyears old, and was buried in Hockanum; Russell, married to Ruth Warren, who bore him two children, Nancy and Harry ; Reuben, who died unmarried, as also did Horace ; Seth : Seth (2), the father of our subject : George, first married to Sarah Camp, who bore him two children, Ellen and Jennie (to his second marriage with Martha Roberts, no children were born) : Abbie, the youngest, who was married to Charles Risley, and had two children, Charles R. and Owen.

Seth Risley, father of our subject, was born in August, 1816, in Willow Brook, attended the brick

school house near where the present district school house stands, and then learned the shoemaker's trade in Hockanum, at which he continued to work until the Civil war ruined that industry, when he turned his attention to farming. He purchased the land now occupied by Edward, his son, and erected the dwelling in which the latter now lives. On Sept. 25, 1839, Seth Risley married Mary A. War- ren, a native of Hockanum, born in the house now occupied by Horace Williams, and a daughter of Edward and Ruth (Warren) Warren, being the third of four children-Harry, who was lost at sea ; Edward, who died young; Mary A., mother of our subject; and Susannah, who died young. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Risley came two children, Emma, who was born June 17, 1842, and died Dec. 10, 1845, and Edward, the subject of this sketch, who was born July 3, 1850.

Seth Risley was a man of extraordinary intelli- gence and of large physique, he was firm in his con- victions and conclusions, was a keen business man, and quite enterprising. He was elected selectman in 1852, and served two years, likewise served as assessor and a member of the board of relief, and in 1878 was elected to the State Legislature. He was called from earth in June, 1887, his wife in 1897; the remains of both were interred in Hocka- mum, where their little daughter Emma had been buried, in the town of East Hartford.

Edward Risley, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his early education in the district schools, and later attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College, which was the first institution in its line to be opened in Hartford. For a time he was em- ployed as a clerk and bookkeeper by J. H. Ranney, a grocer of No. 5, American Row, Hartford, and then returned to the farm, which he yet occupies. On Jan. 12, 1876, he married Miss Hattie E. Hills, a native of Hockanum, and a daughter of Ashbel and Cynthia D. (French) Hills, the latter still liv- ing in Hockanum. Mrs. Risley is an excellent housewife and a most agreeable lady, and with her husband attends the services of the South Con- gregational Church. They have no children.

Mr. Risley is a member of Orient Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M., and of East Hartford Council, No. 1237, Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and has served as assessor four years, as auditor two years, and also as a member of the board of relief. He is a business man of acknowl- edged ability, has twelve acres of fine tobacco land. and a tasty and comfortable home, and with his wife is held in the highest respect by all his numer- ous friends and acquaintances, being classed with the best families of the town.

DARIUS DWIGHT MONROE. For a quar- ter of 'a century this gentleman has been promi- nently identified with the agricultural and business interests of West Hartford. His thoroughly Amer- ican spirit and great energy have enabled him to

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mount from a lowly position to one of affluence, and he is now numbered among the prosperous farmers of his community.

Mr. Monroe was born Dec. 4, 1850, in Goshen (now Chaplin Station), Windham Co., Conn., and is a son of John Monroe, a native of Scotland, Conn., who now makes his home in West Hartford. The grandfather, David Monroe, was a resident of Scotland, Conn., and in early life was a sea captain. By trade the father of our subject is a tinner, but he has devoted · considerable attention to agricult- ural pursuits. He married Miss Sarah Jane Rob- inson, of Goshen, who died in West Hartford and was buried there. To them were born three chil- dren, but Dwight and another son died in infancy, leaving only our subject, the youngest of the family.

During his boyhood Darius D. Monroe attended the public schools of his native place until sixteen years of age, and then learned the stone cutter's trade at home and in Essex, Conn. At the age of eighteen he came to Hartford, where he worked for Burnham Brothers, street sprinklers, for two seasons, and was then in the employ of William B. Smith, of that place, until the spring of 1879. The following five years he spent in Colorado, and on his return to Hartford was again with William B. Smith, in the vegetable business, for a year. In 1884 he removed to Sunset farm, in West Hartford, and for several years gave special attention to the poultry business. In 1887 he became interested in the milk business, and has established one of the finest milk routes in Hartford, in his dairy business now giving employment to four men. He is also engaged in general farming, and in his undertakings is meeting with most gratifying results. Mr. Mon- roe was a member of the first company of Horse Guards in Hartford, but has never taken a very active part in public affairs, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests.

OSWALD J. SIGNOR, an enterprising and well-to-do farmer of Burnside avenue, was born May 27, 1852, in South Windsor, near East Hart- ford, on his father's farm, and is the only child of Jerome and Elgiva B. Signor, the former of whom is a prominent farmer and tobacco grower.

Jerome Signor is a descendant of one of the oldest Dutch families of the State of New York, his great-great-great-grandfather being the first of the family to come from Holland to America. He settled on Manhattan Island, and at one time owned 300 acres of land in what is now the city of New York, on part of which the city hall and the United States Government post office now stand, but which property was confiscated by the British authorities after the surrender of the then embryo city to the English army. The Signor family possessed re- markable longevity, the great-grandfather of Jer- ome attaining the wonderful age of 106 years, and his grandfather that of 104 years. Jerome Signor

was the second child of Albert and Fanny E. Sig- nor, was born in Franklin, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1825, and came to South Windsor, Conn., in 1848. Here he found employment with Otis Wood as wood-chopper, doing the work at forty-two cents per cord. He here married a widow, Mrs. Elgiva Burnham, who was born in 1809, bore the maiden name of Elmer, and by her marriage to Horace Burnham became the mother of three chil- dren: Edmund and Elgiva, still living on the Signor homestead; and Horace, who is married, and is living in Albany, Wis. Mrs. Elgiva Signor passed away Jan. 2, 1893, and at the advanced age of nearly eighty-three years had not a gray hair on her head. Mr. Signor is still a weil-preserved man, of large physique, and although he had the misfortune of falling and breaking his neck a few years ago most miraculously recovered, the effects being a rigid condition of the vertebræ and an inclining of the head forward.

Oswald J. Signor was educated in the district schools and also at the Suffield Seminary, under Prof. Spencer, from which latter institution he graduated with the class of 1870, and then returned to the old homestead. On June 9, 1875, Mr. Sig- nor married Miss Rosella Perkins, who was born Jan. 27, 1852, daughter of George Perkins, a prominent citizen of Glastonbury, and this mar- riage has been graced with four children : (I) Oswald J., Jr., born June 21, 1876, is still un- married, and is living on the Signor homestead (he is industrious and thrifty, very popular, and very prominent in Lodge circles) ; (2) Edna E. was born Feb. 2, 1881 ; (3) Leslie E. was born Sept. 5, 1884; and (4) Walter was born Dec. 24, 1894. Of these, the two eldest were educated in Hartford and East Hartford.

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Signor pur- chased his present farm of six and one-half acres, known as the "Johnson farm," which he has im- proved with modern and substantial buildings, and it is now one of the model farms of the town of East Hartford. On this modest but valuable place Mr. Signor raises a large and profitable crop of tobacco and considerable "market truck," besides handling firewood in no small way. In 1894 Mr. Signor erected on Burnside avenue his present fine modern dwelling, which is one of the prettiest in the neighborhood, and is surrounded by a nicely- kept lawn, which delights the eye of every passer- by. As a business man Mr. Signor is an absolute "hustler," and in 1897 he and his father shipped 2,700 cases of tobacco, which they packed, and on which they realized a handsome profit.

In politics Mr. Signor is an active and energetic Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined the order March 8, 1897, and has since been largely instrumental in the establishment of Elm Lodge, East Hartford, of whichhe and his son, Oswald J., are charter mem- bers, both holding official positions. Mr. Signor

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and his son are also members of Sumner Division, No. I, uniformed rank, Crescent Lodge, No. 7, of Hartford, and, socially, they mingle in the highest circles of East Hartford.

ORION BROOKS TREAT is a native of Glastonbury, Hartford county, born Aug. 5, 1849. He was of an adventurous disposition in youth, and the patriotic element in his nature was deeply stirred at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. At the age of fifteen (Oct. 16, 1864) he enlisted in the U. S. navy, for two years' service, and was sent to a receiving ship. From this he was trans- ferred to the "Gemsbok," then attached to the blockading squadron off the coast of South Caro- lina and Georgia. On June 9, 1865, he received his discharge and returned home.

Mr. Treat had found the life of a sailor pleasant, and not long afterward he shipped as one of the crew aboard a coasting vessel, sailing through Long Island Sound and along adjacent shores. This vocation he followed for eleven years, when he determined to take to himself a wife and establish a home of his own. Accordingly, in the fall of 1878, he abandoned his seafaring career, and com- ing to Manchester began work in the needle factory of H. Lydall & Foulds. He remained in that gen- tleman's employ until 1895, by which time through industry and economy, he had accumulated sufficient capital to engage in business for himself. In that year he erected his present factory, where he makes knitting needles of the description used in woolen mills. His plant has a capacity of about 3,000 needles per day, and he employs from eight to fifteen hands, the number varying according to the condition of the market and the demand for the output. Reference has been already made to Mr. Treat's marriage, which took place July 4, 1878, when he was united to Miss Margaret E. Paxson. One child has been born to them, named Mary A. In politics Mr. Treat is a Republican. He is a member of Drake Post, No. 4, G. A. R., of Man- chester.

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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 132

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