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 16

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 16

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Gen. Nathan Johnson received a liberal educa- tion, graduating at Yale College in the class of 1802, and on the death of his father, by a bequest, fell into possession of an equal share of the latter's library. He was prepared for the legal profession in the office of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, in whose family he lived for some years, and from 1808 to 1852 practiced law in Hartford, Conn. He was prominent in military affairs, served as a lieu- tenant in the war of 1812, and from 1816 to 1820 we find him serving as colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Light Artillery, and from 1820 to 1828 as brig- adier-general of the artillery of the State. He also served as quartermaster general of the State. In those early days some notable general trainings of the First Brigade took place in Hartford, Wethers- field, Windsor and East Hartford, and there were also military displays on special occasions. In 1817 three artillery companies under the command of Gen. Johnson, along with other companies of the militia, were received in Hartford by President James Monroe. In 1824, on the occasion of Gen. La Fayette's visit to Hartford, some 1,200 sol- diers, artillery, cavalry and infantry, under the com- mand of Gen. Johnson escorted him with credit to the city. The visit of La Fayette was a long-re- membered holiday in Hartford, on which day nearly one hundred soldiers and officers of the Revolution were present and greeted the distinguished French- man with emotion, one of the features of the day being the parade under Gen. Johnson. Again in 1833 President Jackson and Vice-President Van Buren were similarly escorted by the militia.

General Johnson was also prominent in his pro- fession and in civic public affairs For sixteen years he was town treasurer. He was clerk of the House

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Representatives of Connecticut in 1820, 1821 and 1822. In 1823 he was a member of the House, and from 1825 to 1829, inclusive, of the Senate. At about this time he was Fellow of Yale College, the corporation of Yale then consisting of the Gov- ernor of Connecticut, the Lieutenant-Governor and six senior Senators, besides the minister. At one time when his (the Democratic) party was in power, the General was offered the position and high honor of United States Senator, but with his large family and the salary of the position being only $3.500 per year he felt he could not give up the law practice, and so declined that great honor. In 1827 Harvard conferred upon him the honorary degree of M. A. Gen. Johnson died at Hartford Oct. 12, 1852, aged seventy-two years.

(\'11) Charles William Johnson, yet of Hart- ford, son of Gen. Nathan Johnson, was born Oct. 7, 1831, in Hartford, where his life has been passed as an esteemed and respected citizen. He was here educated and prepared for the legal profession and was engaged in active practice of the law until the latter part of the 'sixties, or early 'seventies, when he for a time became assistant clerk and soon after- ward clerk of the Supreme and Superior Courts at Hartford, and most intelligently and efficiently thereafter until 1897 performed the duties of such office. In his carlier years and prime, Mr. John- son was possessed of a brilliant mind and attracted to him socially the lights of the Hartford Bar, the most prominent of whom were his admirers and warm personal friends. His wit and savings went the "rounds" and were not a little the subject of most favorable comment.

In 1870 Mr. Johnson was married to Mary A. Stedman, daughter of the late Griffin A. and Mary Ap Owen (Shields) Stedman, of Hartford, and sister of the late Gen. Griffin A. Stedman, who fell at Petersburg. Va., during the Civil war, and a statue of whom now adorns the Capital city. To this marriage were born two daughters, Mabel and Eleanor.

BULKELEY. Hon. Morgan Gardner and Hon. William Henry Bulkeley, ex-governor and ex-lieu- tenant-governor, respectively, of Connecticut, and Mrs. Leverett Brainard, of Hartford, children of the late Hon. Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley, are de- scendants of an old and honorable family of New England, being in the eighth generation from Rev. Peter Bulkeley, through Rev. Gershom, Rev. John, Hon. John, Eliphalet, John C. and Hon. Eliphalet Adams,

(1) Rev. Peter Bulkeley, B. D., one of the origi- nators and first pastor of the church of Concord, Mass., and identified with the town in all its inter- ests, was of the ninth generation from Robert Bulk- cley, Esq., one of the English barons who in the reign of King John was lord of the manor of Bulk- eley, in the County Palatine of Chester. Peter re- ceived a learned and religious education, suited to his distinguished rank, under the direction of his

father, Rev. Edward Bulkeley, D. D. He arrived in Cambridge, Mass., 1634 or 1635. After a laborious and useful life at Concord he died March 7, 1659, in his seventy-seventh year. He was twice married, having by his second wife, Grace Chit- wood, four children, one of whom, Gershom, was the next in the line we are tracing.

(II) Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, son of Rev. Peter Bulkeley, the Puritan settler of Concord, Mass .. born in 1636, was graduated from Harvard College in 1655. In 1659 he married Sarah Chauncey, daughter of President Chauncey, of Harvard, the emigrant ancestor of the name. She died in 1669. In 1661 Mr. Bulkeley located at New London, Conn., as the second minister of the church in that place. He was installed pastor of the church in Wethers- field, in 1667, and continued pastor there ten years. He then devoted himself to the practice of medicine and surgery. Ile was appointed by the General Court in 1675, surgeon to the army that had been raised against the Indians. While in this service he was attacked by the Indians, and received a se- vere wound in the thigh. As a clergyman he stood at the head of the profession, and he ranked among the first in medical science. Soon after devoting himself to the practice of medicine he located on the east side of the river, in what is now Glastonbury. and became quite a landowner. He died at Wethers- field in 1713. His children were Catherine, Doro- thy, Charles, Peter, Edward and John.

(III) Rev. John Bulkeley, son of Rev. Gershon and Sarah (Chauncey) Bulkeley, married Patience Prentice, daughter of John and Sarah Prentice, in 1701, and was the father of twelve children. Hle was graduated from Harvard College in 1699, studied divinity, was ordained as pastor of the church in Colchester, Conn., in 1703, and took a high rank among the clergymen of his time. His children were: Sarah, one who died unmarried, John, Dorothy, Gershom, Charles. Peter, Patience. Oliver, Lucy, Irene and Joseph.

(IV) Hon. John Bulkeley, son of Rev. John and Patience ( Prentice ) Bulkeley, born April 19. 1705. was graduated from Yale College in 1725, studied law, and became eminent in his profession. In 1753 he was elected an assistant, and onward for a period of ten years he was judge of probate, and held many important offices of trust. He was twice married. first, in 1738, to Mary Gardner, who died in 1750. and second, in 1751, to AAbigail Hastings. He was colonel of militia. He died in 1753. His children by his first marriage were : Lydia, Mary, John, Mary (2). Eliphalet. Lucy and Charles.

(\') Eliphalet Bulkeley, son of Hon. John and Mary (Gardner ) Bulkeley, born Aug. 8, 1746, mar- ried Anna Bulkeley, of New London, in 1767. Their children were: Lydia A., Mary A., John C., Pa- tience. Jonathan, Pettis, Eliphalet. Sarah, Fanny, Orlando and Julia.

(VI) John Charles Bulkeley, son of Eliphalet and Anna Bulkeley, born Aug. 8, 1772, married

Ark Buckley

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Sally Taintor in 1798, and to the marriage were born children as follows: Charles E., John T., and Eli- phalet Adams.

(VII) Hon. Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley, son of John Charles and Sally (Taintor) Bulkeley, born Jan. 20, 1803, in Colchester, Conn., married Lydia S. Morgan, of Colchester, March 31, 1830, and died Feb. 13, 1872, in Hartford. Judge Bulkeley was graduated from Yale College in the class of 1824, and after his graduation studied law in the office of William P. Williams,, in Lebanon, Conn. In about 1830 he removed to East Haddam, Conn. He prac- ticed law in that place, and was a'so president of the East Haddam Bank. He represented the town in the General Assembly, and was twice a member of the Senate from the Nineteenth district. In 1847 he removed to Hartford, and filled the office of school fund comissioner. For several years he held offi- cial positions, and besides was a leading stockholder in very many profitable business enterprises, out of which he accumulated a handsome fortune.

Judge Bulkeley's habits of life were very regu- lar. He was especially prompt in all his engage- ments, making it a duty to be present at meetings where his presence was expected. It is said of him that for eighteen years he had never failed, until during his last sickness, to attend and preside over the meetings of the Pearl Street Ecclesiastical So- ciety, to which he belonged. When he lived in Church street his regularity of attendance at school meetings in the First district was a matter of remark, and afterward he was equally punctual at all meet- ings of the South district, at all gatherings, whether religious, political or otherwise, in which he took an interest. He was a leading man in politics. In 1857 he was elected with Nathaniel Shipman to the Legislature from Hartford, and was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives by the Union Re- publicans. He was originally a Whig, and joined the Republican party at its formation. In the practice of law in Hartford he formed a partnership with Judge Henry Perkins, the firm being Bulkeley & Perkins. His later years were devoted to the busi- ness of life insurance. He was the first president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., which he assisted in organizing, and subsequently, in 1850, he organized the Ætna Life Co., taking its presidency at the start and holding it to the time of his death. He was largely interested in all the Ætna moneyed corporations, banking and insurance ( fire and life), and was also a director in the Will- imantic Linen Co. and other concerns. His regular- ity and promptness were not exceeded by any other citizen, probably, and he was especially faithful in all his political obligations. It was not enough that he should vote on election day, but he urged others to do so. He never neglected his duty as a citizen. One marked characteristic of the man was his wonderfully retentive memory as to individuals and dates. His knowledge in this respect enabled him to give with surprising accuracy many genea-

logical facts relating to families whose own mem- bers were in ignorance. Few men have lived in the State who have possessed such general information with regard to individual associations. In other re- spects his knowledge was quite extensive, accurate and valuable. Judge Bulkeley was survived by his wife and three children. Mrs. Bulkeley died Aug. 9, 1895. Their children were: (1) Mary Morgan Bulkeley, born Oct. 21, 1831, died June 20, 1835.

(2) Charles Edwin Bulkeley, born Dec. 16, 1835, was graduated from Yale College in 1856, studied law, and practiced at Hartford. He served as a cap- tain of artillery in the Union army in the Civil war, dying in the service in December, 1864, while in command of Battery Garesche, near Washington, D. C.

(3) HON. MORGAN GARDNER BULKELEY, ex-gov- ernor, and president of the Ætna Life Insurance Co., of Hartford, was born Dec. 26, 1837, in East Haddam, Conn. He became a resident of Hart- ford in 1846, and received his education in its public schools. In 1851 he began his business ca- reer with the ÆEtna Co., sweeping out the office for $I a week. Later that year he became a bundle- boy in a mercantile house in Brooklyn, N. Y. Through his own efforts he became successively salesman, confidential clerk and finally partner, with- in seven years, in the dry-goods firm of H. P. Mor- gan & Co. At the beginning of the Civil war he be- came a private soldier in the 13th N. Y. V. I., and served in the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Mansfield, at Suffolk, Va., during Mcclellan's Pen- insular Campaign. Since his father's death. in 1872. he has made his home in Hartford, in which city he has been most active and useful as a business man and citizen. He was the principal factor in organiz- ing the United States Bank, of which he was made the first president, and which now. after a long and successful career, is among the largest and most substantial banks in Hartford. He succeeded Thomas O. Enders to the presidency of the AEtna Life Insurance Co., and to him credit is due for the great success that has come to that institution. In this connection it is interesting to note that dur- ing the company's existence a Bulkeley has always been president with the exception of Mr. Enders' seven-year term, and it has always been under the direction of members of the Bulkeley family.

Mr. Bulkeley having a love for politics, his abilities were early recognized by his fellow citizens, whom he served as councilman, alderman, and, for eight consecutive years, as mayor of Hartford. He displayed rare executive ability in managing the affairs of the city, and the fact that he had made municipal problems a study doubtless ac- counts for the satisfaction his services.in these vari - ous incumbencies gave. He exercised watchful care over income and expenditure, and advocated only such measures as would advance the interests of the municipality, irrespective of partisan con- siderations. He did much during his incumbency

570

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the mayor's office for the amelioration of the distressed, and the comfort and pleasure of the working classes, by organizing free excursions on the river and to the sea, his salary as mayor being more than disbursed in this way every year. His availability for higher honors was soon observed by his friends, and his candidacy for the gubernatorial office was urged, which resulted in his name being presented before the Republican State Convention in the fall of 1886, but it was finally withdrawn by his advice in favor of Mr. Lounsbury. At the State Convention of his party in August, 1888, Morgan G. Bulkeley was nominated for governor by acclamation, the choice was approved at the polls, and in the following January he was inaug- urated, and took his seat in the gubernatorial chair. The vigorous administration which followed was characteristic of the man, and will be remembered as among the most notable in the history of the Commonwealth. At the State election in Novem- ber, 1890, a peculiar situation of affairs occurred, and amid the trying scenes Gov. Bulkeley won fresh honors for himself. It was the first State election under the new ballot law, and results were declared by town officers which were not accepted as conclusive by the Senate, to whom the election statistics were returnable under questions of guber- natorial succession. Under the constitution it be- came Gov. Bulkeley's duty to continue to exercise the functions of his office for two additional years, The circumstances attending his second term as the official head of the State were delicate and some- times vexing in the extreme. That he bore every test most creditably is the highest praise that could be awarded. When the General Assembly failed to pass the usual and necessary appropriation bills he, as president of the Atna Co., advanced the hundreds of thousands of dollars necessary to con- tinue the affairs of the State until provision was made, and his conduct in this and numerous other trying situations won the hearty approval of all. In 1896, at the convention in St. Louis which nominated Mckinley for President, Mr. Bulkeley received the largest vote ever given to a Connecti- cut man for a National office. It goes without saying that he is one of the most prominent figures in the State, and he is especially devoted to the wel- fare and interests of Hartford. Socially he is con- nected with various societies, and is president of the Connecticut Society of Sons of the Revolution, Connecticut Society of Foreign Wars, and Con- necticut Society of the War of 1812; he is also a member of the Mayflower Society, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Mass. Commandery of the Loyal Legion. Gov. Bulkeley enjoys wide reputation in the life and ac- cident insurance world as a man combining, in rare degree, progressiveness and conservatism. The success which has followed his management of the Ætna's affairs demonstrates his keen perception and skill. He is also connected with a number

of corporations and financial institutions in Hart- ford, among them the Ætna National and United States Banks, in each of which he is a director. Mr. Bulkeley married Miss Fannie Houghton,

(4) HON. WILLIAM HENRY BULKELEY, & capitalist, ex-lieutenant-governor and merchant, Hartford, was born March 2, 1840, in East Had- dam, Conn., and came to Hartford six or seven years later with his father, who then established his home in the city. The boy received his education in the public schools of Hartford, in which he made an admirable record for scholarship. His business career was begun with the company with which he has so long been connected, for he succeeded his brother, Morgan G., in the humble capacity, and at the same salary, above referred to. When six- teen years of age he commenced mercantile life with an old dry-goods firm of Hartford, becoming a clerk. In the spring of 1857 he became engaged in the dry-goods business in Brooklyn, N. Y., with H. P. Morgan & Co. Later he began the dry-goods business in that city for himself, continuing it suc- cessfully on Fulton street for some six years. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion young Bulkeley was one of the first to respond to his country's call. At the time Fort Sumter was fired upon he was a member of Company G. 13th Regi- ment, N. Y. N. G., the Brooklyn City Guard, and advanced to the front April 19, 1861, the organiza- tion being in the service for four months. In 1862 Mr. Bulkeley organized Company G, 56th Regi- ment, N. Y. N. G., and was made its captain. He was with his command through the Pennsylvania Crisis of 1863, being in Gen. "Baldy" Smith's divis- ion. During the New York draft riots the regi- ment was ordered home, after which it was dis- banded, its time of service having expired.

Capt. Bulkeley returned to Hartford, and en- gaged in the lithographing business, organizing the Kellogg & Bulkeley Co., lithographers, of Hartford, of which for many years he has been president. Immediately on his return to Hartford he was elected a director of the Atna Life Insurance Co .. was also vice-president of the same in 1877-79, and is at present auditor, which office he has held many years. He has had more to do with the success of the company than any other man who has not held an executive office. Gen. Bulkeley has borne a very close relation to the company in an advisory ca- pacity for the past quarter of a century, and his business judgment has proved invaluable in the direction of its policy. He has been and still is prominently connected with a number of the bank- ing, insurance and other corporations of Hartford, among which are the United States Bank, of which he is vice-president and a director, the American National Bank, of which he is a director, and the Kellogg & Bulkeley Co. In 1878 he purchased the "Bee Hive." a famous dry-goods establishment, which he managed for years with great success. He has been honored with official position, and has

Charles H Clark

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

had large experience in city and State politics. He served his fellow citizens for five years in the common council of Hartford, acting a portion of the time as vice-president and president of the board. He also served as one of the street com- missioners of the city for some seven or eight years, in which he proved a very efficient member. Mr. Bulkeley was commissary-general of the State, commissioner of Connecticut to the Yorktown Cen- tennial Celebration, and was elected to the office of lieutenant-governor of Connecticut on the ticket with Gov. Bigelow, serving with credit through 1881 and 1882. He made a good presiding officer of the Sen- ate. In 1882 he was a Republican candidate for gov- ernor, and in the exciting time which followed the election conducted himself in a manner which elic- ited favorable comment in the press all over the country. He is an active member of Robert O. Tyler Post, G. A. R., of Hartford, and of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut. In religious con- nection he is a member of the Pearl Street Congre- gational Church, and contributes generously to the charities of Hartford.

On Sept. 18, 1863, Mr. Bulkeley married Emma Gurney, daughter of Melvin and Letitia Gurney, and they have had six children: (1) Mary Morgan, wife of E. S. Van Zile, the author; (2) Willian Eliphalet Adams, cashier of the AEtna Life Insurance Co; (3) Grace Chetwood, wife of David Van- Shaack; (4) John Charles, of Hartford; (5) Sally Taintor, wife of Richard McCauley, of Detroit, Mich. ; and (6) Richard Beaumarais, of Hartford.

(5) Mary Jerusha Morgan, born Sept. 27, 1843, married Hon. Leverett Brainard, president of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., of Hartford, and ex-mayor of the city.

(6) Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley, born July II, 1847, died Dec. 17, 1848.

HON. CHARLES HULL CLARK, of the firm of Clark Bros. & Co., manufacturers of bolts and hardware specialties, Milldale, has become an im- portant factor in the business circles of Southington, and by the exercise of his ability has not only ad- vanced his individual prosperity, but has materially contributed to the welfare of his native town.

Mr. Clark was born in Southington, Oct. 23, 1832, a son of Theodosius and Chloe ( Clark ) Clark. On the paternal side he traces his ancestry back to James Clark, originally of England, who located in New Haven, in 1638, and was one of the company con- sisting of Gov. Eaton and others who met in a Mr. Newman's barn June 4, 1639, to form a civil com- pact. In 1669 he removed to Stratford, Conn. His son, Ebenezer Clark, the first of the family to locate in Wallingford, was born Nov. 29, 1651, and was married May 6, 1678, to Sarah, daughter of James Peck. Their son, Stephen Clark, was born Dec. 7, 1696, married Lydia (or Ruth) Hotchkiss, and died Nov. 1, 1770. He was the father of Amasa Clark, who was born Nov. 25, 1753, and was mar-

ried Dec. 28, 1785, to Lydia Hull, daughter of Deacon Zephaniah Hull, of Cheshire. He engaged in farming in Cheshire, and died Dec. 30, 1833.

Theodosius Clark, the father of our subject, was born in Cheshire Oct. 22, 1788, and spent his early life on a farm. At the age of eighteen years he commenced teaching in a district school in his native town, and in 1810 he came to Southington to teach in the Plantsville District. In 1811 and 1812 he taught at what is now Plainville, and in Farmington · in 1813 and 1814, while for several years following he taught in the districts in the southern part of Southington. In 1824 he was a techer in the South End District. This was the first year that grammar was taught in the town, the school commissioners requiring it. Mr. Clark was entirely ignorant of grammar, but he took the study in hand, and with much labor was enabled to carry his class through the book. In connection with teaching he also fol- lowed farming. During the seasons of 1826 and 1827 he was commissary at Suffield, while the canal was being constructed around Enfield Falls. In 1819 he united with the First Congregational Church of Southington, in 1834 was elected deacon, which office he held until 1865, and was also superintendent of the Sabbath-school for some years. He died July 27, 1865, honored and respected by all who knew him. On Oct. 26, 1816, he married Chloe Clark, who passed away April 5, 1848. Their children were Harriet,, wife of Hezekiah C. Cummings; Francis J. ; William J. ; Henry H. ; and Charles H.

Seth Clark, our subject's maternal grandfather, was born in Middletown, Conn., July 11, 1768, and was married Nov. 16, 1789, to Chloe Bailey, who was born in Haddam, Conn., Feb. 19, 1771, a daugh- ter of Benjamin Bailey, of that place. Soon after their marriage Seth Clark and wife removed to Southington, where she died July 17, 1834, and he passed away Jan. 27, 1851. His father, Joseph Clark, was born Sept. 15, 1720, and died in Middle- town Aug. 22, 1778. On June 2, 1752, he married Joanna Fairchild, who was born Sept. 21, 1727, and died Nov. 26, 1793.

Our subject passed his boyhood and youth in his native town, and was educated in the common schols and Lewis Academy. In 1852 he began his business career as a mechanic in the nut and bolt shop of his brother, at ten cents per hour, and was thus employed until he attained his majority, when he was admitted into the firm as a partner. In 1854, with his two elder brothers, under the firm name of W. J. Clark & Co., he embarked in the manufacture of bolts and carriage hardware, and was superintendent of the plant until 1862, when he laid aside all personal interests to enter the service of his country during her hour of peril. On Aug. 5, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 20th Conn. V. I., and was made quartermaster sergeant of the regiment. He remained in active service until 1864, and dur- ing the last years was on the staff of Col. James Wood, who commanded the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Divi-

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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 16

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