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 141

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 141

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(II) John Kimball lived in Ipswich, was a wheelwright, and an extensive landowner. "He frequently bought and sold land, and there are a number of deeds at Salem bearing his name.' About 1655 he married Mary, daughter of Hum- phrey and Bridget Bradstreet, who came to this country in the same ship with the Kimballs. She was born in England in 1633. On March 8, 1673, he united with the church by taking the covenant. His personal property at the time of his death amounted to £131, 9s, IId. His real estate had all been given away previously. Chil- dren born in Ipswich: (1) John, born Nov. 8, 1657, died Feb. 24, 1657-8. (2) Mary, born Dec. IO, 1658, married May 17, 1682, Deacon Thomas Knowlton, of Ipswich. (3) Sarah, born July 29, 1661, married John Potter, of Ipswich, and died in 1724. (4) Hannah died young. (5) Rebecca, born in Feb., 1663-4; married Jan. 21, 1689, Thomas Lull. (6) Richard, born Sept. 22, 1665, died May 26, 1716, is mentioned below. (7) Elizabeth was born Sept. 22, 1665. (8) Abigail, born March 22, 1667, married Oct. 14, 1689, Isaac Esty, of Tops- field, Mass. ; she married (second), April 25, 1718, William Poole. (9) John, born March 16, 1668, died May 4, 1761, in Preston, Conn. (10) Benja- min, born July 22, 1670, died May 28, 1716. (II) Moses, born in September, 1672, died Jan. 23, 1750. (12) Aaron, born in January, 1674, died probably before his father, as he is not mentioned in his will. (13) Joseph was born Jan. 24, 1675.

(III) Richard Kimball first married Lydia Wells, of Ipswich, and later wedded Sarah Waite, who died Feb. 22, 1725. Children: (1) Lydia, born Oct. 18, 1690, died young. (2) Richard, born Aug. 17, 1691, is mentioned below. (3) Aaron was born Jan. 10, 1692. (4) Lydia, born Sept. 14, 1694, mar- ried, Nov. 19, 1716, Stephen Kinsman. (5) Mary, born May 10, 1699, married May 21, 1729, Moses

Kimball, her cousin, son of Moses Kimball. (6) Nathaniel, born May II, 1700, died in 1786, in Nor- wich, Conn. (7) Martha, born Feb. 1, 1701, married Feb. 4, 1728, Edmund Head.

(IV) Richard Kimball married Feb. 11, 1715- 6, Sarah Burley, born Oct. 6, 1698, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Conant) Burley. He was a carpenter. Removed from Ipswich to Norwich, Conn., and later to Windham, Conn. Will probated April 7, 1760. Children: (1) Sarah, was born in Ipswich, July 27, 1718. (2) Mary, baptized in Ipswich, Sept. 18, 1720, married Jan. 2, 1748, Sam- uel Robinson, of Windham, a descendant of Rev. John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrims. She died in Windham, Dec. 15, 1791. (3) Lydia was born April 1, 1723, in Norwich, Conn. (4) Richard was born May 28, 1725, in Norwich. (5) Andrew, born Dec. 10, 1727, in Norwich, is mentioned be- low. (6) Aaron, born Feb. 18, 1729-30, in Nor- wich, died March 20, 1808, in Grafton, Mass. (7) Lucie was born April 5, 1733. (8) John was born Aug. 9, 1735, in Norwich. (9) Hannah was born April 22, 1738. (10) Pelatiah, born June 5, 1739, died March 1, 1823. (II) Elizabeth, born June 5, 1744, married Joseph Dimock.

(V) Andrew Kimball married, in 1749, Elizabeth Kimball, daughter of his uncle Nathaniel. They resided in Windham, Norwich, and Windsor, Conn. Children: (1) Jedediah, born in Norwich, Dec. 21, 1749, who is mentioned below; (2) Andrew, born Dec. 14, 1750; (3) Sarah, born March 31, 1753; (4) Daniel, born in Windsor, Conn., April 4, 1755 ; (5) Luke, born Sept. 7, 1757, in Windsor, Conn .; (6) Joseph, born in August, 1761 ; and (7) Benjamin, born in August, 1761. Nathaniel Kim- ball (father of Elizabeth) married Nov. 3, 1722, Elizabeth Rindge. He was a carpenter and farmer. Before 1728 he removed from Ipswich to Norwich, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his life. Elizabeth was born there Dec. 19, 1728.

(VI) Jedediah Kimball, born in Norwich, Conn., Dec. 21, 1749, died in Stowe, Vt., March 28, 1825. On July 2, 1775, he married, at Norwich, Eunice Love, born in 1761, died Aug. 13, 1838. Jedediah Kimball was a soldier in the Revolution, serving under LaFayette in the Virginia campaign during the summer of 1781 and during the siege of York- town. He belonged to the battalion commanded by Major John Palsgrave Wyllys, of Hartford, which battalion led the storming column in a night attack on Oct. 14, thereby hastening the surrender. Jede- diah Kimball removed to Stowe, Vt., in 1794, being one of the first settlers of that town, and has numer- ous descendants there. Children: (1) Amy, who died Aug. 20, 1813, married Andrew Luce, of Stowe. (2) Luke was a sea captain, and died in South Carolina. (3) Asa, born May 5, 1778, is men- tioned below. (4) Jedediah, born May 18, 1780, died Aug. 8, 1806. (5) Joel, born Oct. 10, 1784, died Jan. 13, 1848. (6) Reuben, born Feb. 3, 1786, went West or South. (7) Eunice born Nov. 17,

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1787, married Orange Luce, of Stowe. (8) Ros- well, born Jan. 1, 1790, went West or South. (9) Russell, born July 8, 1791, was killed in battle Nov. II, 1813, in the war of 1812-15. (10) Levi was born Dec. 21, 1793. (II) Ely was born Dec. 18, 1794. (12) Richard, born July 27, 1796, died Oct. 20, 1804. (13) Susa, born May 22, 1800, died Oct. 16, 1806.

(VII) Asa Kimball, born in Norwich, Conn., died in Stowe, Vt., Dec. 14, :365. He married (first) Lydia Waters, of Ellington, Conn., and later wedded Lucy Pember, who was born in Ellington, Conn., daughter of Samuel and Esther Reed Pem- ber, of Randolph, Vt. They were among the first settlers of that town, removing from Ellington. Asa Kimball was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was near his brother Bussell when the latter was killed in battle. Children by first marriage: (I) Charles Wright was born April 14, 1802. (2)

Achsah, born April 30, 1804, died June 12, 1880. She married Chester Hovey, of Massawhippi, Can- ada. (3) Elizabeth, born Feb. 27, 1806, married Walter Poole, of Webster, N. Y. By second mar- riage: (4) Elijah Pember, born Jan. 26, 1809, died Jan. 17, 1880. (5) Luke, born Feb. 27, 18II, died June 14, 1893, at Stowe.

(VIII) Luke Kimball, married at Canton, Conn., in 1837, Eunice, daughter of Deacon Anson and Mary (Goodrich) Chidsey, of Avon, Conn. She died Oct. 27, 1840, and he married (second), at Suffield, Conn., in 1842, Lucretia Wilson, daughter of Peter and Anne (Bingham) Wilson, of Stock- bridge, Vt. She died May 21, 1888. He lived in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and in 1846 re- turned to Stowe, during the remainder of his life living on the farm previously owned by his father. Children, by first marriage: (1) Achsah, born in Bristol, Conn., July 22, 1833, married William N. Beach, of Cheshire, Vt., who died Oct. 28, 1887. She resides in Pittsfield, Mass., with her daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Bryant. (2) Mary Elvira, born in Collinsville, Conn., Nov. 13, 1839, married John C. E. Humphrey. By second marriage: (3) Lydia, born in Chicopee, Mass., in 1842, married George Simmons, of Stowe, who died Aug. 30, 1879. (4) Eunice Chidsey, born in Springfield, Mass., in 18.45, died in Green Bay, Wis., March II, 1872. On Feb. 19, 1869, she married Willis Hugh Peterson, of Stowe, Vt. (5) El- len Augusta, born March 7, 1847, in Stowe, \'t., married Aug. 10, 1882, Albert Bruce Goss. She was educated at the Normal School in Johnson, Vt., and taught in Iowa for several years. Mr. Goss is a college graduate, and has been principal of several high schools in Iowa, superintendent of schools of Van Buren county, and lately principal of the school at Fairfield, Iowa. They now reside in Grinnell, that State. (6) Luke Wilson, born May 10, 1848, in Stowe, Vt., married Feb. 8, 1871, Eli- zabeth Stone, of New Britain, where he is chief en- gineer of a large factory. (7) Irene Lucretia, born

Aug. 20, 1849, married William Slingerland, and lives in Hood River, Oregon. (8) Matthew James, born July 28, 1852, married Annie Belden. He re- sided in New Britain and Meriden, Conn., recently returned to Stowe, and died Sept. 13, 1900 .. (9) Martha Jane, born July 28, 1852, married at Chi- copee, Mass., Oct. 18, 1881, John Brandt Hunter, son of David and Emma Hunter,, of Phil- adelphia. He formerly lived in Meriden, and now resides in Cincinnati. (10) Charles Peter, born Sept. 29, 1854, married Julia Luce, of Ver- mont, and later wedded Lura May, daughter of Hinckley and Mary Stevens, of East Montpelier, Vt. They reside in Meriden, Conn. (II) George Harvey, born April 26, 1857, married Nov. 19, 1885, Ella C. Freeman, of New Britain, Conn., who died June 18, 1888. He resides in Meriden.

The GOODRICH family trace their descent from John and William Goodrich, brothers, who came to this country and settled in Wethersfield, Conn. John's name first appears in Colonial records ( Hart- ford) in 1643. They were sons of John and Mar- gerie Goodrich, of Hegesset, near Bury St. Ed- munds, Suffolk, England. John, Sr., died in 1632. He was the eldest son and heir of William, who died in 1632. The wills of William, of England, John, Sr., and William (2) (brother of William and John, and a clergyman of the Church of Eng- land) are extant. The last named willed property . to sons of his two brothers in America.

William Goodrich, of Wethersfield, married Oct. 4, 1648, Sarah, daughter of Matthew Marvin, one of the first settlers of Hartford. He was made a freeman May 15, 1656; represented Wethersfield in the General Court in 1662 and 1663; was ensign in the train band. He died in 1676, and his widow married Capt. William Curtiss, of Stratford, and died in 1702. Children: (1) William, born Aug. 8, 1649, died in infancy. (2) Sarah, born Aug. 8, 1649, married Nov. 20, 1667, John Hollister. (3) Mary, born Nov. 13, 1651, married in 1667 Joseph Butler. (4) John, born May 20, 1653, who mar- ried Rebecca Allen, is mentioned below. (5) Eliza- beth, born in 1658, married June 9, 1675, Capt. Robert Welles, of Stratford; (6) William, born Feb. 8, 1661, married Grace Riley; (7) Abigail, born June 5, 1662, married Thomas Fitch ; (8) Ephraim, born June 2, 1663, married Sarah Treat ; (9) David, born May 4, 1667, married Hannah Wright.

(II) John Goodrich resided in Wethersfield, Conn., and died Sept. 5, 1730. On March 28, 1678, be married Rebecca Allen, born Feb., 1660, daugliter of Capt. John and Ann Allen, of Charlestown, Mass., the former of whom was the wealthiest man in Charlestown. Children : (1) Sarah, born April 10, 1679, married Abraham Kilbourn: (2) Rebecca, born Nov. 1I, 1680. married David Wright; (3) Mary, born Sept. 4, 1682, married Thomas Curtiss ; (4) Samuel was born May 24, 1684; (5) Abigail, born April 27, 1686, married David Curtiss; (6) John, born June 9, 1688, married Mary Tillotson ;

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(7) Allyn, born Nov. 13, 1690, is mentioned below ; (8) Ann was born Sept. 1, 1692; and (9) Jacob, born Nov. 27, 1694, married Benedicta Goodwin. (III) Allyn Goodrich resided in Wethersfield and Farmington, Conn. On December 29, 1709, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Col. David and Hannah Wright Goodrich. She died Aug. 25, 1726, and on Dec. 10, 1729, he married Hannah Seymour, born March 28, 1707, daughter of Sam- uel and Hannah ( North) Seymour. He died April 8, 1764. Seven children were born to the first mar- riage and two to the second : (1) John, born March 20, 1734, married Hannah Dewey. (2) Asahel, born Sept. 13, 1736, is next in the line of descent.

(IV) Asahel Goodrich resided in Berlin, Conn. On Jan. 1, 1764, he married Abigail Gilbert, who died May 15, 1772, and on Nov. 3, 1775, he mar- ried Sarah Woodruff. Children: (1) Isaac, born Feb. 2, 1765, is mentioned below. (2) Orrin, born Nov. 13, 1767, married Rhoda Mather. (3) Sarah, born May 2, 1777, married Salmon Hart. (4) Abi- gail, born May 28, 1779, married William Andrews. (V) Isaac Goodrich married (first) Mary Wright, who died March 24, 1793, and he subse- quently wedded Aug. 29, 1793, Mrs. Electa Lusk, daughter of Stephen and Mary ( Whaples ) DeWolf, and widow of a Mr. Lusk, formerly of New Britain, Conn. They lived in that part of Berlin which is now New Britain, and afterward removed to cen- tral New York. He was a Baptist preacher. He died April 19, 1847, his widow on Aug. 27, 1858. Children by first marriage: (1) James, born April 20, 1791, died May 10, 1791. (2) Mary, born April 12, 1792, died April 27, 1792. By second marriage : (3) Mary, born Aug. 28, 1795, married May 17, 1817, Deacon Anson Chidsey, son of Deacon Abram and Eunice (Curtiss) Chidsey, of Avon, Conn. (4) Laura, born May 18, 1796, married, June 8, 1815, Anson Kellogg. (5) Elizabeth, born Sept. I, 1798, married a Mr. Dickerman.

Eunice Chidsey, eldest child of Deacon Anson and Mary (Goodrich) Chidsey, married Luke Kim- ball; their daughter Mary E. married John C. E. Humphrey. The Chidseys were one of three fam- ilies which first settled Avon, Conn., and were from Branford, Connecticut.

Elijah Pember, of Ellington, Conn., married Hannah (Cross). Their son, Samuel, born in Ellington Jan. 4, 1750, died in Randolph, Vt., March 14, 1826. In 1777 he married Esther Reed, daugh- ter of Jacob Reed, of Ellington, born June 27, 1758, died Aug. 10, 1826. Their daughter Lucy, born in Ellington July 13, 1779, died in Stowe, Vt., in 1854. She married Asa Kimball, of Stowe, and their son, Luke Kimball, married Eunice Chidsey, of Avon, Conn. Their daughter, Mary E. Kim- ball, married John C. E. Humphrey. Samuel Pem- ber was a corporal in the Second Company, of Fourth Connecticut Continental Regiment, Col. Hin- man's regiment. This regiment was raised on the first call for troops, April-May, 1775, was sent to

Ticonderoga, and later the Second Company served in the siege of Boston. In 1780 Samuel Pember removed to Randolph, Vt., and there cleared up a farm. The last house which he built, in 1797, is still owned and occupied by his grandchildren. Randolph was then the extreme frontier, and Mr. Pember was accustomed to spend the Sabbath at the home of Mr. Havens, in Royalton, in order to attend church. Early on Monday, Oct. 16, 1780, Royalton was surprised by a band of Indians from Canada in the employ of the British, and among those killed was Thomas Pember, brother of Sam- uel, who was clearing a farm in Randolph, and who expected to be married in six weeks to a daughter of Mr. Havens. He was a very fleet runner, and had often said he would never be taken alive by the Indians. He was wounded by a spear, and ran a long distance, but at length fell, being weakened from loss of blood, and was dispatched by the In- dians. Samuel Pember was taken to Canada, his father finally obtaining his release by exchanging for a British prisoner, and the payment of thirty dollars in silver.

Mrs. J. C. E. Humphrey also traces her line of descent from Michael Humphrey, as follows : (I) Michael Humphrey married Priscilla Grant. (II) Samuel Humphrey married Mary Mills. (III) Abigail Humphrey married John Case. (IV) Lucy Case married William Wilcox. (V) Mary Wil- cox married Eliphalet Curtiss, Jr. (VI) Eunice Curtiss married Deacon Abram Chidsey. (VII) Deacon Anson Chidsey married Mary Goodrich. (VIII) Eunice Chidsey married Luke Kimball. (IX) Mary Kimball married John C. E. Humphrey.

CHARLES EDWIN BUNCE is one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Hartford county. His family name is indissolubly identified with the early manufacture of paper in that locality, his grandfather, father and uncles having all been engaged in that line of trade.

Mr. Bunce's grandfather, Charles Bunce, was unquestionably the pioneer manufacturer on Hop brook. The place of his birth cannot be told with certainty, but its date was July 25, 1770. He was an extensive landholder. Ile learned the trade of papermaking by serving an apprenticeship thereto at New Haven in 1788, going from that place to Hartford, where he worked for Hudson & Goodwin. Later he found employment in Butler's mill, and was for four years superintendent of a plant at Andover. At the end of that time, having accum- ulated a little money, he determined to engage in business for himself. His first manufactory was in a building which he bought from Elisha Pitkin, who had intended using it as an oil mill. The structure was unfinished when Mr. Bunce purchased it, but he completed it and installed the necessary machinery. His eldest son, George, was one of his workmen, and was afterward, on attaining his ma- jority, admitted into partnership. All his other

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sons embarked in the same business, erecting other mills, and for sixty years the various members of the family carried on an extensive and lucrative business.

It goes without saying that Charles Bunce was one of the county's best-known and most influential citizens. He died Dec. 15, 1853, at the hale old age of eighty-three. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Bidwell, who was born April 20, 1771, and died June 10, 1804. The issue of this marriage consisted of eight children: George, born April, 1790, married Mary Kennedy ; he had exten- sive holdings of real estate, at one time owning the larger portion of the land on which Cheney Bros.' silk mills now stand. Herman, born Jan. 12, 1792, died July 8, 1876; he married Phyllis Simon, and lived in Manchester. Merwin, born Jan. 26, 1794, died a bachelor Oct. 24, 1853. Sarah, born Jan. 10, 1796, died in December, 1834, the wife of John McLean, a farmer of Manchester. Harriet, born Jan. 20, 1798, died Oct. 28, 1847; she married Champlin Cadwell. Charles, born Feb. 1, 1800, died Feb. 21, 1874; he married Aurelia Strickland. Melinda, born Feb. 2, 1802, died Feb. 23, 1885; she married John Hills, a farmer of Manchester. Lewis, born May 27, 1804, married Harriet John- son, and died July 2, 1879.

After the death of his first wife Mr. Bunce mar- ried Sarah Cadwell, who was born Sept. 2, 1776, and died Oct. 19, 1856. She also bore eight chil- dren to her husband: Ann, Walter, Betsey, Aurelia, Sophia, Clarissa, Ralph and Edwin. A brief mention of the majority of these will prove of interest. Ann was born Oct. 3. 1805, and is now the wife of Daniel Griswold, a Manchester farmer ; Walter was born Jan. 10, 1807, married Katherine Kennedy, and died Feb. 7, 1866; Betsey was born June 23, 1809, and married Jehial Buckland, who was first a woolen manufacturer and subsequently a farmer of Manchester (she died Dec. 8, 1854) ; Aurelia, now Mrs. Samuel T. Avery, of Wapping, Conn., was born April 11, 1811; Sophia was born June 8, 1813, and died unmarried Aug. 3, 1879; Ralph, born May 20, 1818, died at the outset of his early manhood, Oct. 14, 1836; Edwin, the father of Charles Edwin, was the youngest of the issue of the second marriage. He was born May 15, 1822, and died Nov. 24, 1876.

Returning to the topic of the family connection with the paper manufacturing trade, some addi- tional historical facts are worth mentioning: Her- man, Charles, Walter, Lewis and Edwin all em- barked in this line, Lewis, with his sons Henry C. and Edgar (Edwin being also a member of the firm), successfully operating a mill which was swept away by a flood in 1869. After the death of his father Edwin and his brother Walter formed a co-partnership for the conduct of their father's mill, which association in business continued for several years. Edwin ultimately secured his brother's interest, by purchase, and later formed a

partnership with George Cheney. After a few years the latter firm sold out to Case Brothers.

Edwin Bunce was a native of South Manches- ter. He received his early education in the com- mon schools, also at Wilbraham Academy, and at the end of his school days began his life work in a paper mill, being thus actively engaged in manu- facturing until near the end of his life, when he retired to the farm of his son, Charles Edwin ; here ended his life at the comparatively early age of fifty-four years. In 1843 he was married to Lucinda, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Strick- land) Tryon, of East Glastonbury. [A more de- tailed account of the Strickland family may be found in the biographical sketch of Nathaniel Strick- land, elsewhere.] She died Nov. 20, 1891. Her mother was noted for piety and for strict ob- servance of the Sabbath. The closing years of her life were passed at the home of her son-in-law, where she died.

Charles Edwin Bunce is the younger of two shildren, the elder, who was born April 23, 1848, having been a daughter, Alice C. She was married June 5, 1876, to Ransom Fitzgerald, a wholesale merchant of Hartford. Our subject was born Aug. 6, 1851, in the house where he now lives. After passing through the district schools he attended the high schools of Manchester and Hartford, and on finishing his studies returned home, where he has ever since lived, devoting himself to agriculture. In this pursuit he has greatly prospered, and now owns one of the largest and best-improved farms in Hartford county. His temperament is genial, his disposition kind and gentle, and his manners those of a refined, courteous gentleman.

On June 8, 1882, Mr. Bunce married Miss Ina Chaffee, daughter of Peter and Hannah Chaffee, of East Woodstock. Her father and brothers are wagonmakers in that town. The issue of the mar- riage has been eight children: Myrtis, born April 15, 1883, who died July 30, same year ; a child, born April 19, 1884, who died in infancy; Gertrude M., born May 29, 1885 ; Edwin C., born Aug. 15, 1887; Zella, born Aug. 5, 1889; Rena, born Feb. 5, 1891; Florence, born Sept. 15, 1893 ; and Louis, born July 19, 1897. Mr. Bunce is a Democrat in politics, and has held several minor offices.

MICHAEL HENRY DONNELLY (deceased) was for many years prominently identified with the industrial and business interests of New Britain and Berlin. He was of foreign birth, but his duties of citizenship were performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and he did all in his power to advance the interests of his adopted town and county .

Mr. Donnelly was born in County Tyrone, Ire- land, May 19, 1846, a son of Patrick Donnelly, who was born in the same place in 1810. The grand- father, Michael Donnelly, was a native of County Tyrone, where he spent his entire life as a tenant,

Out Donnelly

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prospered in his undertakings, and became quite well-to-do. He married a Miss Woods, and the children born to them were Patrick, Peter, John, Michael, Daniel, Rosa, Katie, Ellen and Eliza.

Patrick Donnelly, father of our subject, was one of the most successful farmers of his community, and was a man of good business ability. After his marriage he purchased two good farms adjoining his father's place, and in his native land continued to make his home until called from this life, in February, 1896. He was a quiet, unassuming man, but made many friends. He married Catherine Woods, daughter of Patrick Woods ( whose family was in no way related to Mr. Donnelly's maternal an- cestors), and to this union eight children were born : Michael, Patrick, Peter, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Katie, and Rosanna. After the death of the father the mother came to the New World to make her home with our subject, and resided with his widow in New Britain until her death, May 12, 1900.

In the national schools of Ireland Michael H. Donnelly acquired his education, pursuing his studies during the daytime until fourteen years of age, and then attending night school for three years. He was naturally a man of ability, and, by devoting considerable time to reading, he became well in- formed on topics of general interest and the lead- ing questions and issues of the day. After leaving school he remained at home until twenty years of age, and then, in March, 1866, sailed for America. When he landed in Boston he had only three dollars with which to begin life in a strange country. Com- ing to Hartford, he first worked on a farm for ten dollars per month, and then served a three-years' apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. He fol- lowed his trade as a journeyman until 1872, when he opened a shop of his own on Chestnut street, New Britain, and later bought land and built a shop in that town. When he embarked in business for himself his only assistant was a boy, but his trade steadily increased, and he afterward furnished em- ployment to five men. He received some large contracts, furnishing the iron work for the New York, New Haven & Hartford railway depot at New Britain, and also for the armory and other large buildings in that place. In 1889 he sold his blacksmith business, rented his shop, and embarked in the manufacture of brick in Berlin. At first he only worked half a day, but the following winter his business had so increased that he had to double the capacity of his plant, while the shed and ma- chine gangs did a full day's work, turning out from six and one-half to seven million brick annually. The Donnelly Brick Co. was organized, our sub- ject being president and treasurer, and in the yards employment was given to forty men. A terra-cotta plant was also operated by the company for some time.

On Jan. 19, 1876, Mr. Donnelly was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Farrell, of Plainville, who was born June 26, 1858, a daughter of Timothy

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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 141

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