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 151

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 151

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The church at Plainville was erected, in 1881, on the corner of Broad and Pierce streets, and in 1885. Father Walsh erected the priest's home on the corner of Broad and Canal streets, while in 1887 he purchased the Catholic cemetery ground on Farm- ington avenue. In 1891-92 he erected, at a cost of $15,000, St. Matthew's church at Forestville, which district has been added to his parish. Father Walsh also caused several improvements to be made, such as the introduction of electric lights, in both the church and the priest's house in Plainville.

Father Walsh is a Democrat in his political pre- dilections. He has served on the school board of Plainville four terms (twelve years), during eleven

A. . Walsh

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years of which time he has been active school visi- tor, having practically the management of the schools. He was one of the original directors of the Free Public Library (which was installed in 1896), being the first individual to bring the matter to the notice of the town, and to advocate the great good to be derived from such an institution.

F. HOWARD ENSIGN, a well-known and highly-respected citizen of East Hartford, is a na- tive of the place, born Jan. 3, 1855, and descends from one of the oldest families in the county. The family was founded in America by James Ensign, who died in 1670, and whose progeny is traced to the seventh generation in the biography of Charles A. Ensign, to be found elsewhere, F. Howard En- sign, of the eighth generation, being the subject of this memoir.

It is claimed, by one biographical authority, that the family name, Ensign, is of Saxon origin, and that it first appeared in Childham, near the Cathedral of Canterbury, England, where there was an Ensign Manor, the family arms being placed in the Church of Childham. The validity of the name was estab- lished in 1563 by William Henry Clarenseaup, and it appeared in the Counties of Essex, Norfolk and Kent; another claim is made that the name was originally Ensing, and that, for bravery displayed in battling for his sovereign, Ensing was knighted and the letters in the name transposed. But the first statement is undoubtedly correct.

In the will of James Ensign, the first settler of the name in America, which testament is dated Nov. 23, 1670, appears the following: "1 give as a token of respect to our Honored Governor Winthrope five pounds ; I give as a token of respect to my dear pastor, Mr. Whiting, five pounds; I give towards the building of the new meeting house six pounds ; I give to Jiles Aires, to buy him tools when his time is out, forty shillings." The inventory of his estate is dated Dec. 23, 1670. Sarah, the wife of James Ensign, died in May, 1676, leaving an only child, David, born in 1645.

David Ensign married Mehitable Gunn, daugh- ter of Thomas Gunn, of Windsor, but they were divorced by mutual consent, and the wife was later married to Isaac Sheldon, a widower, of Windsor. David Ensign, for his second wife, married Sarah Wilcox, who died Feb. 3, 1717. He removed to West Hartford, organized the church there, and died Dec. 12, 1727. His children were named David, James and Thomas.

Thomas Ensign married Hannah Shepherd, daughter of John and Rebecca (Greenhill) Shep- herd, and among his children was Moses (I), who was born in South Windsor, and married Love An- drews in 1731, she being a daughter of Thomas and Love (Knight) Andrews. Among their chil- dren were Moses (2) and Isaac, the latter of whom learned blacksmithing and removed to Simsbury, where his descendants are still living.

Moses Ensign (2), from whom the East Hart- ford branch of the family descends, was baptized Dec. 24, 1732, and also May 12, 1734, and mar- ried Anna Williams, daughter of Timothy and Anna (Andrews) Williams, of East Hartford, and a mem- ber of the old and respected family that owned the land on the west side of Main street from the Hock- anum river south to Willow Brook. Their chil- dren, five in number, were: Moses (3), born Dec. 4, 1759; Anna, baptized Nov. 29, 1761 ; Ruth, bap- tized May 24, 1767; Solomon, baptized Oct. 13, 1770; and Edward. Of these children. Solomon went to Chenango county, N. Y., located in Pitcher, erected a sawmill, and invented a saw which gave him a widespread reputation. He became very prominent and popular, was elected a judge, and reared a large familv.

Moses Ensign (3) married, Feb. 16, 1786, Jean- ette Forbes, who was born Oct. 11, 1767, and fol- lowing are the names of their children and dates of birth and death : David F., Dec. 30, 1786, Feb. 25, 1787; Moses (4), July 20, 1790, Sept. 16, 1790; Moses (5), Sept. 6, 1791, Dec, 8, 1829; Betsey, July 10, 1794, Feb. 1, 1837; Anna, Sept. 21, 1796, Jan. 21, 1845; Harry, Nov. 4, 1798, April 21, 1869; Ralph, Dec. 21, 1800, Oct. 14, 1879; John, Aug. 15, 1803, Oct. 31, 1803; Jeanette, Nov. 19, 1805, Nov. 22, 1879; and John (2), Nov. 25, 1807, Dec. 7, 1807. Moses Ensign, the father of this family, was a blacksmith, had his shop on the bank of Wil- low brook, near the late residence of J. Fitch Com- stock, and was a very skillful workman. Here his wife died June 18, 1813, and his own death took place Nov. 30, 1821.

Moses Ensign (5), the third-born child of Moses (3), in the family above enumerated, and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a stonecutter and mason by trade. He was a member of the local militia, and when commissioned color- bearer of his company was known as Ensign En- sign ; he rose to the rank of captain, and with his company went to the defense of New London in 1812. On May 23, 1820, he married Martha ( fa- miliarly called "Patty") Risley, who was born June 4, 1790, a daughter of John and Ruth (Abbey) Risley, the former born Feb. 20, 1752, and the latter born in 1754. The four children of this union were : Charles A., who was born Dec. 4, 1821, first mar- ried Cornelia Stevens and afterward wedded Maria Smith, and died August 17, 1896; Elizur Rob- erts, father of our subject, born Feb. 22, 1824 ; Jean- ette F., born Feb. 19, 1826, and married to Ira An- derson; and Owen L., born May 13, 1829. Moses Ensign, the father of these children, while engaged at his trade in Hartford, building a stone vault for the Connecticut River Banking Co., strained his back in lifting a heavy stone, and for some time was incapacitated for work. About this time he had purchased a piece of land in Wethersfield, but neg- lected to record the deed, of which neglect the sel- ler took advantage, and sold the land to another

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party. Mr. Ensign, receiving an intimation of this fact, hastened to Wethersfield to have the deed recorded, running all the way, and forestalled the second purchaser, thus securing the land, but at a fearful cost. The exertion, in his weakened con- dition, caused his death, which occurred Nov. 30, 1829. His widow lived to good old age, and died June 6, 1864.

Elizur Roberts Ensign, second child of Moses and Martha (Risley) Ensign, was born in Hock- anum Feb. 22, 1824-the ninety-second anniversary of the birth of George Washington. As he was quite young when he lost his father, and being one of the elder of the children, he was early called upon to aid in the support of the family-a task he cheerfully undertook when strong enough. In the meanwhile he received a somewhat limited ed- ucation at the old Willow Brook school, and on quitting school worked at various places, at a com- pensation of $100 per annum and board. In 1841 or 1842 he began learning the bootmaker's trade under George Risley, worked as an apprentice and journeyman fifteen years, and in 1857 went to New Haven to take charge of a department in a boot and shoe manufactory. In 1862 he returned to his old home, and, as the Civil war was then at its height, the States of Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky were no longer able to contribute to the trade their usual quota of tobacco, of which they had been the chief producers. The boot and shoe trade with the South also fell off to nothing, and the fertile and prolific ingenuity of New Englanders was called into play to furnish new industries. It occurred to some enterprising farmers in the Con- nccticut valley that tobacco would thrive there as well as in Kentucky, and the following spring they prepared their land on the Kentucky plan and met with success. Prior to this, however, some little efforts had been made toward tobacco culture, but the methods used were crude and the results unsat- isfactory, and in the new and systematic process of cultivating this staple Elizur R. Ensign was a pioneer. For his first crop, cured in 1863, he re- ceived twenty-eight cents per pound, and for the following five years he received about fifty cents ; he is now probably one of the best-posted tobacco men of the North.

In politics Elizur R. Ensign has always been a stanch Democrat, and a very popular one. He has filled all the minor town offices, and in 1871 was elected selectman in East Hartford by a large ma- jority, in 1872 was re-elected by a larger majority, and in 1875 was again chosen, and was also elected school visitor. In the following year he was elected to the State Legislature, and in 1881-82-83 served the town as assessor. In religion he is a Congre- gationalist, a deacon in the First Church of Hock- anum, and was chairman of the committee of the church society for nearly fifteen years. He was also a member of the old Elm Lodge, I. O. O. F., which disbanded in 1862.

On May 24, 1849, Mr. Ensign married Miss Delia Brewer, who was born Feb. 13, 1830, a daugh- ter of George and Fannie (Stevens, nce Whaples) Brewer, and this marriage has been crowned with three children: Frank Howard, Milton E. and Al- fred J. Of these, full mention of F. Howard will be made farther on. Milton E., born July 2, 1860, married, Nov. 16, 1882, Miss Annie Comstock, a native of East Hartford, who bore him two chil- dren, Louis, who is living with his maternal grand- father, Frank Comstock, in East Hartford; and Ruth, living with her paternal grandfather, E. R. Ensign, as is her mother, the father, Milton E., hav- ing died April 13, 1897. Elsewhere will be found a sketch of Alfred J., the youngest of the three chil- dren mentioned above. In speaking of the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Ensign, a local journal had this to say: "Mr. and Mrs. Elizur R. Ensign, two of the best-known resi- dents of the south end of East Hartford, celebrated their Golden Wedding at their home at the corner of Colt and Main streets, Willow Brook, yesterday afternoon, from 4 to 8 o'clock, and over one hundred guests were received. The house was very prettily trimmed with flowers and evergreens, and the bay window, where Mr. and Mrs. Ensign received, was flanked with honeysuckle and geraniums, against a solid background of evergreens. Mr. and Mrs. En- sign were assisted in receiving by their daughters- in-law, Mrs. Annie T. Ensign and Mrs. Alfred J. Ensign. Two grandsons, Frank H. Ensign and Louis M. Ensign, acted as ushers. Refreshments were served, and Leslie L. Brewer, a nephew, ren- dered several baritone solos." Elizur R. Ensign is a fine type of the most progressive and solid to- bacco growers of the town, and his life furnishes. an object lesson of the success which may be achieved by many young farmers, if they possess judgment, thrift and industry.

F. Howard Ensign was born in a house that stood on the site of his father's present dwelling. His first school attendance was in his native dis- trict, and later at the Hartford Public High School, from which he graduated in 1873. He then entered the Eastinan Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he completed the course Jan. 24, 1874, and was at once employed as bookkeeper by C. L. Will- ard, a fertilizer dealer in Hartford, whose place of business was where Olds & Whipple are now lo- cated. After remaining with Mr. Willard about two years he, in December, 1875, returned to his home, and there continued to live until his marriage, on May 1, 1879, to Miss Anna Samson, who was born Dec. 21, 1856, a daughter of Earl and Mary L. (Sellew) Samson. The father of this lady was a native of Glastonbury, was captain of a merchant- man, made several trips round the world, and on one occasion was captured by cannibals on the west coast of Africa, but made his escape ; his partner was not so fortunate, as he was killed and eaten by the savages. Capt. Samson lived many years

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afterward, and passed peacefully away at his home in Glastonbury Dec. 1, 1892. Mrs. Ensign is a descendant of John Talcott, the founder of the Tal- cott family in this country, and is also connected with the Stilman family, of Wethersfield, who de- scended from Capt. Nathaniel Stilman, a member of Washington's body-guard. She is related to Ad- mirals Sampson and Dewey.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Ensign, five in number, are as follows: Frank Howard, Jr., born Aug. 26, 1881, is a graduate of the Hart- ford Public High School, class of 1900; Adella Marion, born Feb. 21, 1883, is a pupil in the East Hartford High School; Vera Agnes was born Nov. 17, 1884: Earl Elizur was born Jan. 19, 1888; and Russell Lee, born Aug. 31, 1892, died Nov. 10, 1893.

Mr. Ensign, although a lifelong Democrat, voted for Mckinley for President of the United States. He is very popular in his community, has served as auditor three years, has been tax collector, is now chairman of the school board, and has been a director of the Raymond and East Hartford free library since its organization. In 1878 he united with the Hockanum Congregational Church, and is clerk of the board. He is third sergeant in the Sec- ond Company, Putnam Phalanx, and is chaplain of East Hartford Council, No. 1237, Royal Arcanum. He is a progressive farmer and tobacco grower, deals in leaf tobacco, and is tobacco inspector, be- ing thoroughly posted in every detail of the tobacco trade. His life has been upright and useful, and he well deserves the high esteem in which he is universally held.

GEORGE FRANCIS SMITH. Prominent among the business men of Plantsville is the sub- ject of this review, president of the H. D. Smith Co., who for over forty-three years has been closely identified with the manufacturing interests of the town. He is a man of sound judgment, keen per- ception and unbounded enterprise, and his executive ability and capable management have brought to the concern with which he is connected a high degree of success.

Mr. Smith was born in New Haven Oct. 24, 1831, but his parents, George A. and Mary A. ( Slate.) Smith, were both natives of Hartford coun- ty. Ilis paternal grandfather, Asa Smith, a car- riage blacksmith by trade, was a resident of Wind- sor, Conn., and a son of Asaph Smith, a farmer of Ashford, this State. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Slate, made his home in Man- chester, Conn., where he conducted a hotel for many years, and where his death occurred. For many years our subject's father was engaged in the car- riage iron business in New Haven, North Haven and Plymouth, and in 1861 located in Plainville, where he embarked in the manufacture of fifth wheels for carriages, and continued that business up to the time of his death, which occurred Feb. I,

1878. His wife also died in Plainville, June 24, 1868. Their children were George F. ; Cornelia S., wife of O. A. Hitchcock; Julia, wife of Clarence Burr ; Charlotte A .: Antoinette; Helen; and Ed- ward.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in this State, and his literary education was completed at Lewis Academy, Southington, from which he was graduated in 1848. He then entered a retail dry-goods store in Hartford, where he was employed for six years, and during the following six years was connected with a. wholesale dry-goods house in New York City. Returning to Hartford, he spent three years in the carpet department of a store of that city, and later was in business for himself at Ogdensburg, N. Y., for six months. Since 1857 he has been identified with the H. D. Smith Co., of Plantsville, as a member of the firm since 1860, and business manager up to 1894. He held the office of vice-president from Aug. 1, 1894, to Aug. 1, 1899, when he was elected president.

On March 1, 1866, Mr. Smith married Miss Emma H. Bryant, a daughter of Ebenezer and Free- love Bryant. They have a family of four children : Emily J .: George M., who was graduated from Yale in 1889, and married Catherine Ware, daugh- ter of President Ware, of the Atlantic University ; Agnes ; and Margaret.

Mr. Smith is an active and influential member of the Plantsville Congregational Church, of which he has been a deacon for several ycars, and has also served as chairman of the society committee for twenty years ; he was chairman of the building committee when the church was built. Fraternally he is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., and politically is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the board of relief for several years, and repre- sented Southington in the State Legislature in 1882. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and merits and re- ceives the respect and esteem of all.

MATTHEW F. MCLAUGHLIN, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Bloomfield, was born in that town Feb. 16, 1856, and here he has passed all his life.

James McLaughlin, father of our subject, was a native of County Westmeath, Ireland, came to the United States when a young man, settled in Bloom- field, Conn., and in due course of time married, at Hartford, Miss Elizabeth Foster, who was born in County Longford, Ireland, and was also young when she reached America. To this marriage were born six children: Matthew F., whose name opens the article; Frank Bernard, of whom mention will be made farther on: Mary E., widow of Bartholo- mew O'Neil, of Hartford : Sarah, married to Thomas Joyce, of Bloomfield : Delia, now Mrs. William Reynolds, also of Bloomfield; and Nellie, residing in the same town. The father of this family passed

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his years in Bloomfield, engaged in farming. In poitics he was a Democrat, and in religion was a devout Catholic, in which faith he passed away in 1865, at the comparatively early age of thirty-six years.

Matthew F. McLaughlin passed his school-boy days in Bloomfield, and was reared to manhood on the home farm, where he still lives, and which, until 1885, he operated, in conjunction with his brother, Frank B., with unvarying success. For the past thirteen years he has been engaged in dairying in connection with farming, and has been as equally successful as he was when in co-partnership with his brother, who parted with him only for the reason that he wished to marry and have a home of his own.

In politics Mr. Mclaughlin is a Democrat, but has never sought public office; nevertheless he was, in spite of himself. elected constable, but, con- sistently, did not qualify. In religion he is a devout Catholic.

FRANK BERNARD MCLAUGHLIN, the second child of James and Elizabeth (Foster) McLaugh- lin, was born in Bloomfield July 15, 1857. He was educated in the Old Farm district of his native town, and was associated with his brother Matthew F. in the cultivation of the home farm until the spring of 1885, when he married and settled on his present place, where he has since been chiefly engaged in raising tobacco and in dairying. His wife bore the maiden name of Annie Francis, and she is a daugh- ter of Patrick Francis, a native of Galway, Ire- land. The children that have blessed this union, five in number, were named, in order of birth, Mary Elizabeth, James Joseph, Francis Edward, Anas- tasia and Margaret Irene. Of these, Mary, James and Anastasia died within one week, in April, 1899.

Frank B. McLaughlin has made a success of life, and has been very popular with his fellow citizens, whom he has served as justice of the peace, grand juror, and member of the school committee. Fra- ternally he is a Knight of the Maccabees. In re- ligion he is a true Catholic, and a dutiful member of the Sacred Heart Congregation of Bloomfield.

REV. JOHN JOSEPH QUINN, priest in charge of the parish of St. Patrick's at Collinsville, is a man whose learning and piety make him a power in the community. While he has exceptional gifts as an orator and spiritual teacher, he is also an able administrator, as the material prosperity of the parishes over which he has presided has shown, and since settling in Collinsville he has built a fine rectory, established a Young Men's Club, and in- troduced many improvements of a practical nature.

Father Quinn was born Oct. 30. 1855, in Hart- ford, this county, son of the late William and Mar- garet Quinn, both of whom were devout members of the Catholic Church. They were natives of Ireland, whence they came to America early in life, and the father, who was a blacksmith by trade, was a respected citizen of Hartford, and an active sup-

porter of the principles of the Democratic party. One of the sons of this worthy couple is now a lawyer in Hartford, and a daughter, Sister Rosalie, is in a convent. Father Quinn's education was be- gun in St. Patrick's School, in Hartford, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and later he attended the school of the Christian Brothers, in Hartford, and St. John's College at Fordham, N. Y., where he was graduated in 1876 with the degree of B. A .; he remained another year, receiving the M. A. de- gree. Having a strong desire to devote himself to the service of God, he entered the Grand Seminary, at Montreal, Canada, to prepare for the priesthood, and Dec. 18, 1880, he was ordained by Bishop Favre, of Montreal. He celebrated his first mass at Thompsonville, and after three months as assist- ant priest at Southington, Conn., he was stationed at Norwich, where he remained two years. The next three years he spent at Willimantic, Conn., and in June, 1885, he took charge of the parish of Cov- entry, a rectory and many other improvements be- ing among the results of his zealous work. In April, 1889, he was appointed to his present parish, and for twelve years his parishioners have found him a faithful friend and counsellor. He is a man of broad views, which he can present effectively and eloquently, his rich voice adding to the pleasure of his hearers. He has traveled extensively in this country, and in 1897 he went abroad, visiting points of interest in England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and the Holy Land. His manner is genial, vet unassuming, the index of a generous nature. Politically he supports the Democratic party, and he is a member of the Order of Knights of Columbus, and chaplain of the Hibernian Society at Collins- ville.

ERNEST M. EHLERS, the enterprising milk- man of Burnside, is a shining example of a self- made young man who has achieved success in life through his own individual efforts. He was born in Hundborg, Denmark, April 15, 1871, and is a son of Carl Ernest Martin and Carren (Hansdatter) Ehlers, the former of whom was a native of Ger- many, and moved to Denmark, where he was mana- ger of a large sheep farm near Hundborg, and was quite well-to-do.

Mr. Ehlers is one of a family of seven children, of whom four brothers came to the United States, our subject and a brother, Hans, two years his senior, starting from Hamburg in a steamer, July 22, and landing in New York seven days later, Mr. Ehler with $13 in his pocket. Ernest M. Ehlers came direct to Hartford, where a companion of his boyhood, Andrew Ferguson, was living, by whom he was employed for a short time. He was next employed at the South Manchester reservoir for some time, at the rate of $50 per year and board, and then went to Worcester, Mass., where he worked for a farmer for $1.25 per day and board for two months, at the end of which time he had

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saved $61, which proved to be the foundation of his future business prosperity. He next came to Burn- side, and for some time peddled meat for Erastus Cowles, a butcher. Later he worked for a while in Hartford, returned to Burnside and was employed by Frank Hanmer a few weeks, and then, with his savings, purchased a milk route from James Forbes, and in this business he has since continued, having established an immense and lucrative traffic through his strict honesty and cleanliness, and the purity of his dairy products. He has realized a comfortable competence already, and owns two houses, which he rents, as he is not a married man.

Mr. Ehlers is possessed of an excellent baritone voice of great compass, and is at present training it under direction of Prof. Barrington, of Hartford ; he is already sought after as a singer at parties, church socials and other gatherings at which su- perior vocalism is desired. He is individually very popular, and is a welcome guest everywhere, his rich voice, of which he is no niggard, making him doubly attractive. In politics Mr. Ehlers is a Repub- lican, but has never sought office, and in ordinary business parlance is what is called a "hustler."

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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 151

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