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 152

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 152

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ADAM NEUSCHELER, one of the most high- ly-respected farmers of Glastonbury, exemplifies those admirable traits of character which rise above circumstances and win success in the face of ad- verse conditions. Mr. Neuscheler came to America a young German emigrant, friendless and without adequate means. By the exercise of unflagging in- dustry, thrift and ripe business judgment he has es- tablished for himself an excellent agricultural busi- ness, and won from the community in which he lives high respect and esteem.

Mr. Neuscheler was born at Hassloch, Wurtem- berg, Germany, Feb. 9, 1838, son of Joseph and Katrina (Kohn) Neuscheler, being the fourth in their family of eight children, who were as follows : Michael, a farmer, who died unmarried in Germany ; Jacob, a farmer, married and living in Germany ; Joseph, who married Magdalena Redmond, and is a farmer and shoemaker at Hassloch, Germany; Adam, our subject ; Ludwig, who lives at Hassloch, Germany; Fred, who died young; John, who died young ; and Charles, who migrated to the United States, married a Mrs. Pederman, and operated a hotel at Hoboken, N. J., until his death, Jan. 13, 1899. The father of these children was a farmer by occupation, and died at Ilassloch, Germany, aged sixty-five years.

Our subject attended school to the age of four- teen years, and then hired out as a farm hand for eight dollars per year, his father receiving the wage. The life of our subject at this stage of his career was not inviting. He remained engaged in farm work until he was twenty-one years of age; then entering the German army he remained in service six years. After his discharge he worked for a time on good wages as driver at a gristmill, and later he

drove carriage two years for a hotel. While thus engaged, June 3, 1863, he married Katrina Decker, who was born at Nekartenclingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 12, 1839. In 1865 Mr. Neuscheler, with his wife and infant child Jacob, emigrated to America via Liverpool. The trip across the At- lantic in a steamer was rough and consumed seven- teen days. Landing at New York May 28, of that year, our subject proceeded at once to Philadelphia, where he secured work in a livery stable, and a little later in a tannery. At Philadelphia he re- mained three months, and then came to Glaston- bury, Conn., secured employment in the tannery of Isaac Broadhead and David Hubbard, now owned by Herman Roser. For eighteen years our subject re- mained a workman in this tannery, and with his savings he purchased first, from George E. Hale, a five-acre tract, located just across the road from his present residence. He and his wife cleared off the stones, brush and trees, and together they tilled the land, making it the foundation for their present neat home andowell-cultivated farm. Many evenings Mr. Neuscheler worked on the little farm until after nine o'clock, or until darkness stopped him. To this first purchase he added other land, until he now owns thirty acres, ten of which are excellent tobacco land. His present residence he erected in 1879. He has made a notable success of his little farm, due wholly to the untiring efforts of himself and his wife.

To Mr. and Mrs. Neuscheler have been born five children : Jacob, born April 21, 1864, and married to Lena Klein, is in the ice business in New York City, and has three children, Lena, born July 15, 1892, Katie, born March 30, 1894, and Lottie, born Jan. 15, 1897 ; Fred, born March 22, 1866, married Katrina Stocklum, of New Haven, and is a teamster at Hartford; John, born June 16, 1868, who died June 26, 1868; the fourth was an infant who died unnamed ; Paul, born July 6, 1873, married Emma Broukey, lives at Glastonbury, and has one son, Leon, born Jan. 8, 1899. In politics our subject is a Democrat. Himself and family attend the Congre- gational Church. He is a man of strict integrity, and his many excellent qualities have won for him the high regard of all who know him.

JOHN GEISELMAN, JR., a thriving young tobacco grower of Silver Lane, town of East Hart- ford, was born June 17, 1867, on the homestead on High street, Hockanum, and is a son of John and Agatha (Cameron) Geiselman, whose full biog- raphy will be found elsewhere.

John Geiselman, Jr., was educated in the public schools, and his first teacher was Mrs. Hawkins. The school-building was situated a half-mile from his home, but this was not a very lengthy walk for a young and healthy lad. He assisted on the home farm, and worked out for others until twenty-one years of age when he married, Nov. 22, 1888, Miss Fannie E. Erving, who was born March II, 1870,

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a daughter of John J. and Sarah A. ( Brewer) Erv- ing, natives of Hockanum. Mr. Erving made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Geiselman until about a year ago ; he died Oct. 25, 1899, and was interred by the side of his wife in Hockanum cemetery. When first married he lived in an old house through the roof of which he could see the stars at night, and many mornings he awakened to find snow on his bed. But he had inherited the frugal and industri- ous habits that had characterized his father and the race from which he descended. To Mr. and Mrs. Geiselman have been born two children : Elsie May, May 17, 1892, and Sarah Ruth, Dec. 4, 1893. The family attend the South Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Geiselman is a member, and to the support of which Mr. Geiselman is a liberal con- tributor. In politics he is liberal, in local affairs voting for the man that he considers the most capable of filling office.

Mr. Geiselman started out in life a poor young man, and through his own energy he has secured for himself a good farm and comfortable home. In 1894 he purchased from his father-in-law a lot on which he erected, the same year, his present neat dwelling, and he now owns sixteen acres of fine tobacco land, all paid for through his own good management.

The Erving family, from which Mrs. Geiselman is descended, came from Salem, Mass., and settled in Hartford county, Conn., and from West Hartford her grandfather, who was a bootmaker, came to East Hartford, bringing with him his son John J., who was born in West Hartford July 4, 1832. The latter was also a bootmaker, and he worked at the trade until the breaking out of the Civil war, which event destroyed this industry in East Hartford, and he then went to Wethersfield, where he was em- ployed as inspector in the penitentiary shoe factory. John J. Erving married, in 1857. Miss Sarah A. Brewer, who was born in Hockanum Dec. 25, 1833, and to this union were born three children : Dora L., born Nov. 4, 1858, was married to Charles B. Case, and is now living in West Granby ; Rollin K., born Jan. 29, 1861, first married Jennie Merri- man, and after lier death wedded Clara Tuller, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Burr Index Co., of Hartford ; and Fannie E. is the wife of Mr. Geiselman. The mother of these children passed away Feb. 22, 1894, and her remains were interred in Hockanum.

Mr. Geiselman is now classed among the sub- stantial citizens of the town of East Hartford, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of the entire com- munity, Mr. Geiselman's industry and upright life, and his wife's piety and amiable disposition, hav- ing made them especial favorites in Willow Brook.

EDWIN FRANKLIN GRISWOLD ( de- ceased ) was a prominent and respected citizen of Wethersfield, born in Griswoldville Sept. 22, 1835. Ilis father was Stanley Griswold, born June 22,

1804, and his paternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary ( Wolcott) Griswold. A detailed state- ment of the genealogy of his family may be found in the memoir of Thomas Newton Griswold, on an- other page.

Stanley Griswold was a farmer, of progressive ideas, and broad views ; possessed of a keen judg- ment and sound common sense ; affable in his man- ners, yet unassuming, generous and genial. He made a specialty of stock-raising, but was also suc- cessful in general farming. He was first a Whig and later a Republican, but always consistent in his advocacy of human freedom. His religious belief was that of a practical, rather than a theological. Christian. He was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and a liberal contributor to the cause of religion. He married Lucy Welles, of Wethersfield, the issue of the union being two sons and two daughters, of whom Edwin Franklin was the second son in order of birth. The eldest was Martin, who married Elizabeth Hale, and is now deceased. Lucy Welles, the eldest daughter (also deceased), became the wife of Henry Augus- tus White, of Griswoldville. The youngest, Jenny, is an invalid. Mrs. Stanley Griswold was a lady of fervent piety, tempered with a tender charity that embraced all that was human. She was a devout Congregationalist, and a sincere Christian.

Edwin F. Griswold was largely self-educated. His scholastic advantages were of that meager sort incident to an irregular attendance upon the dis- trict schools, but through reading, observation and experience he so developed his native mental powers that he was justly reckoned one of the best in- formed men of his day. His early years were spent upon his father's farm, but not long after attaining his majority he bought property of his own, set- tling upon a farm of 150 acres. Here he spent his life, engaged in general farming, and at the same time devoting especial attention to seed-growing and tobacco culture. While he was a successful man of business, he was far from neglecting the amenities and enjoyments of social life. He was fond of music. He was a member of the Grange, and of the Governor's Horse Guards, holding the dual posi- tion of bugler and color bearer. He was popular in the community among which his long and useful life was passed. and greatly respected for his many noble traits of character, among which was a deep-seated regard for justice and truth. He died at Wethersfield Jan. 11, 1892. He was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Chamberlain, who was born in Iowa, and died in Wethersfield, Oct. 6, 1888. No children were born to them, and they adopted, as their son, Wilbur E. Williams, who now bears the name of Wilfred E. Griswold.

WILFRED E. GRISWOLD was educated at the dis- trict schools, the instruction there received being supplemented by a course at Wilbraham Academy and at Hannum's Business College. Hartford. He made his home with his foster father, and at the

E. F. Griswold

Stillred E Griswold

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

latter's death inherited the home farm of about 135 acres. He, too, is a seed-grower and tobacco raiser, as well as a general farmer. In addition he is a large dealer in ice, cutting over two thousand tons annually, which he sells in Wethersfield and Hart- ford. He is enterprising and industrious, and in every way a most estimable citizens. His life is exemplary, and he commands respect through his positive, manly, Christian character. Both Mr. and Mrs. Griswold are members of the Congregational Church, and he is secretary of the Sunday-school. They are also members of the Wethersfield Grange, in which Mr. Griswold has held several offices, and is now master. He is a Republican, but not an ac- tive politician, and has never sought office. His union with Miss Harriet Shepard, of Wethersfield, has been blessed with one son, Edwin F., born Nov. 25, 1894.

Mrs. Griswold is a daughter of Frederick W. Shepard, who was born in Hartford, and was a son of Hiram L. and Harriet A. (Tuttle) Shepard, both of whom were natives of Bloomfield. Frederick W. Shepard received his education in the district schools and at Power's Institute, Greenfield, Mass. He was a farmer through life, and followed this pursuit at various localities in Hartford county, fin- ally settling at Hartford. There he became a men- ber of the Governor's Horse Guards. In that city he married Almira E. Cook, a daughter of Samuel Cook, and granddaughter of Aaron Cook. Three children were born to them: Hiram, who conducts a milk route at Wethersfield and Hartford ; Harriet, Mrs. Wilfred E. Griswold; and Grace, who lives at home. Mr. Shepard was a Republican, and a warm friend to popular education. He died at Hartford, and was buried there. His widow is yet living, and makes her home at Wethersfield. Both she and her daughter, Mrs. Griswold, are ladies of a genial temperament and rare refine- ment.

MICHAEL LIEBLER. Among the descend- ants of the German settlers, who, about a half- century ago came to Hartford county, it would be difficult to find one who is more typically represen- tative than the subject of this sketch. The great majority of these settlers have from the insignifi- cant belongings they possessed when they arrived risen to positions of comfort and independence by the exercise of the sterling qualities of industry, patience, perseverance and thrift. Mr. Liebler is an industrious and successful farmer, and the winning traits he has so admirably exhibited were the foun- dation stones of his father's success.

Our subject was born in Cromwell, Conn., March 29, 1858, a son of Frank and Margaret (Falmood) Liebler. The father was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, in 1822. He received a good education in the public and select schools of his native land, and in his native town, Markheidinfelt, served in his youth a three-years' apprenticeship in a gristmill,

receiving for his services during that time thirty dollars per year and board. He married Margaret Falmood, a native of Bavaria, and for eight or nine years followed his trade of miller in Germany. Then, about 1850, he migrated with his wife to America. They left Havre on a sailing-vessel, and were three monthis en route. Mr. Liebler landed at New York with little money, and first secured employment in the Livermore flour mills at a small compensation, remaining there about two years. He then removed to Cromwell, Conn., where he purchased a small farm, to which in the succeeding years he gradually added until he possessed a tract of 160 acres. Besides farming, he dealt quite largely in his younger years in wood, shipping white oak butts to New York, where they were consumed in the manufacture of baskets.

Mr. Liebler enlisted from Cromwell in 1863, in Company D, 24th Conn. V. I., Col. Allison, for three years, and filled the entire term of service. He was with the command throughout the Louisi- ana campaign, was at Baton Rouge, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment. After he was mustered out he returned to Cromwell and re- sumed general farming, engaging also in the sale of milk. He prospered in business, and his suc- cess was due to his own unaided efforts. He died April 23, 1896, and was buried in Middletown, Conn. His faithful wife died Nov. 21, 1885. To Frank and Margaret Liebler were born eight chil- dren : Frank, a molder of Wethersfield, married Katherine Donnelly, of New Britain, and had five children, three of whom, Mamie, Michael and Eddie, survive; Barbara married Peter Rosner, both now deceased, and lived at New York and later at Crom- well ( their two surviving children are Frank and Mamie ) ; Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Andrew, all three died in infancy; Michael is the subject of this sketch; Margaret married Bartholomew Trant, a molder of Hartford, and had four children, Kittie, John, Louis ( deceased) and William ; and Andrew (2), a molder, married Mary Clark, of New Britain, and has three children, Marguerite, John and Andrew.

Michael Liebler, our subject, attended school until the age of fourteen years, when for three years he worked on his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he secured employment at small wages in the grocery store of Goodrich Bros., at Glaston- bury. He often worked seventeen hours a day, but remained continuously with this firm for twelve years, saving money each year. In 1879 he went to Champaign, Ill., to become foreman on the farm of E. E. Goodrich, and held that position until the farm was sold, two years later. Returning to Con- neeticut, Mr. Liebler was for a time employed by P. H. Goodrich in the latter's store and tobacco warehouse, and on his farm. He then operated the farm of Frederick Wells on shares for a year, and continued farming at various places until 1897, when he purchased from the estate of Herbert

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Samson a tract of twenty acres, to which he has since devoted his attention, making notable im- provements. He also owns a farm of seventeen acres in Cromwell. Mr. Liebler raises annually about seventeen acres of tobacco, receiving good prices for his product. He is regarded as one of the successful, wide-awake and prominent residents of Glastonbury.

Mr. Liebler was married, April 12, 1883, to Miss Mary Ellen Bransfield, who was born Oct. 10, 1860, in Glastonbury, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Carter) Bransfield. Her father has for the past forty years been a tanner in the employ of Isaac Broadhead. Mrs. Liebler died Aug. 4, 1895, and was buried in St. Benedict's cemetery, Hartford, leaving one daughter, Anna May, born June 24, 1884. Mr. Liebler for his second wife married, Sept. 26, 1900, Miss Mary Frances Burnham, who was born April 10, 1863, in Mt. Vernon, N. H., daughter of William and Mary L. (Gibbons) Burn- "ham, the former of whom was a farmer by occupa- tion. Our subject and family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church of East Hartford. In

politics he is a Republican. While interested in public affairs, he is not an office-seeker, preferring to devote his energies to his own business. He is intelligent and enterprising, and one of Glaston- bury's most honorable citizens.

HON. FRANK LANGDON WILCOX, A. B. New Engand, in American history, will ever be known for two most vital contributions to the na- tion, first, the implantation of civil liberty, as ex- emplified in the migration and subsequent lives of the Puritan forefathers, and second, the birth and de- velopment of American industry, which now prom- ises to make the nation foremost in the world. Not by accident nor extraneous circumstances did the New England States rise to importance in this re- spect, to lead the nation to its highest material as well as moral destiny, but by the inherent strength of character, the fertility of resource, beneficence of invention and the energy and perseverance which lay enshrined in the best type of New England man- hood. Nurtured in the progressive atmosphere of human liberty, strengthened by the hardships and privations incident to Colonial life, many of the early families had the foundation of worthy and noble struggle and achievement in the mother land before migration.

The Wilcox family, of East Berlin, has been most prominently associated and identified with the history of Connecticut since the days of earliest set- tlement. At one time in the history of the town of Berlin, Hartford county, there were twenty-five voters in the Wilcox family. To-day Frank Langdon Wilcox, the subject of this sketch, a prom- inent business man, treasurer of the Berlin Iron Bridge Co., is the only voter of the name in the town. His father, Samuel Curtis Wilcox, was one of the most successful and prominent manufactur-

ers of Connecticut. To him, perhaps, more than to any other one individual, is due the industrial prominence of Berlin. Our subject is the eighth 1 in line of descent from John Wilcox, who was born in England, and who migrated to Connecticut about 16 -. The "Blue Book" of England states that he was a descendant of Capt. John Wilcox, who commanded 1,000 lances at the battle of Hastings in 1066, against William the Conqueror.

The line of descent to our subject is as follows : (2) Israel, son of John Wilcox, was born in East Berlin June 19, 1656. He married Miss. Sara Savage, of Middletown, Connecticut.

(3) Samuel Wilcox, son of Israel and Sara Wilcox, was born in East Berlin Sept. 6, 1685. He married Hannah Sage, of Middletown, Connecticut.

(4) Daniel Wilcox, son of Samuel and Hannah Wilcox, was born in East Berlin Dec. 3, 1715. He married Sarah White, of Hartford, the descendant of early settlers of Hartford, who came to that set- tlement with John Hooker. Daniel Wilcox (4) gave the ground in East Berlin to the town to be used as a burying ground, and upon his monument the following inscription can still be seen :

I gave this ground, I'm laid here first, Soon my remains will turn to dust. My wife and my progeny around,

Come sleep with me in this cold ground.

(5) Samuel Wilcox, son of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, was born in East Berlin Sept. 12, 1753. He marired Phebie Dowd, who was a descendant of the David Dudley Field family.

(6) Benjamin Wilcox, grandfather of our sub- ject, was a son of Samuel and Phebie Wilcox. He was born in East Berlin June 27, 1782. He mar- ried Betty Savage, who was born in East Berlin, June 25, 1787, and who was a lineal descendant of Gov. Hubbard, of Connecticut. He was a large land owner in the town of Berlin.

(7) Samuel Curtis Wilcox, the father of our subject, was born in East Berlin Dec. 11, 18II. He married, July 20, 1836, Miss Eliza Anne Parson, who was born March 9, 1815, in Durham, Conn., and who died Jan. 20, 1845. By this marriage he had four children, all of whom are now deceased. He was married, the second time, June 7, 1846, to Miss Anna Scovill Peck, who was born in Ken- sington March 15, 1827, daughter of Norris and Elizabeth (Langdon) Peck, representatives of the oldest and most influential families in the county. Norris Peck was born Dec. 9, 1795, and was a prominent farmer and citizen of Berlin, a descend- ant of Deacon Paul Peck, who is supposed to have been born in the County of Essex, England, in 1608, and to have come to Boston, Mass., in the ship "De- fense," in 1635, and to have removed to Hartford the following year with Rev. Thomas Hooker. His name is on the list of proprietors of Hartford in 1639. From the records of the town it appears that he became one of its leading men. His resi- dence is said to have been upon what is now Wash-

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ington street, near Trinity College, the site yet being remembered by aged inhabitants as the "Peck" lot. Paul Peck was deacon of the Congre- gational Church from 1681 until his decease, Dec. 23, 1695. His will is upon the probate records, B. 5, pages 217-18-19, dated June - 25, 1695, and proved Jan. 15, 1696. It is a lengthy and interest- ing document, detailing and describing his property, which inventoried 536 pounds, 5 shillings.

The Langdons, who were the maternal ances- tors of the mother of our subject, were at one time large land holders in Berlin, having in their posses- sion a large tract of land, upon which now stand all the brickyards and the Berlin depot of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. They were prominent in the Revolutionary war.

By his second wife, Anna, Samuel C. Wilcox had eight children : Samuel Howard, born April 23, 1848, is now manager of the New York office of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co .; Clarence Peck, born March 18, 1850, died young ; Annie Peck and Amos Peck (twins), born Dec. 2, 1853, both died young ; Edward Henry, born Sept. 22, 1856, died Jan. 24, 1865; Frank Langdon, subject of this sketch, born Jan. 6, 1859; Elizabeth Peck, born March 8, 1861, is now residing with her brother at the old Wilcox homestead on picturesque Berlin street ; and Victor Peck, born May 27, 1866, died aged two years. The mother of our subject died March 7, 1884, aged fifty-seven years.

The business career of Samuel C. Wilcox is most interesting. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended school at Ballston Spa, N. Y., after which for a few years he taught school in Connecti- cut. But the bent of his mind was for a business rather than for a profession, and returning to Berlin he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Establishing a general store at Berlin, he traveled South by team, and established a similar store at Washington, N. C., conducting these for a great many years. Ex- pansion of trade in his estimation, gave greatest promise along manufacturing lines, and he accord- ingly established a tinware manufactory in company with two others, associated under the firm name of Carpenter, Lamb & Wilcox. The factory was located on land now owned by the Wilcox family and rented to H. F. Damon, the original building erected by Mr. Wilcox having since been remodeled for Mr. Damon. It was the first tinware factory in the United States, and at the start employed about thirty men. From the energy and business methods put into the shop the firm quickly developed a wide and profitable trade, especially through the Southern States. All kinds of tinware were manufactured, and the business was continued for fifteen years. In 1845 Mr. Wilcox established at East Berlin a small manufactory for tinmen's tools and machines, this being the nucleus from which has grown the widely known Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co. The latter was established in 1870, by the consolidation of eight factories of tinmen's tools, seven in Con-

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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 152

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