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 161

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 161

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Willard S. Barnes, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared in Cheshire and Southington, and was provided with a common-school education. In early life he served a three-years' apprenticeship to the mason's trade, which he has followed since, and has also engaged in general jobbing. On Jan. 17, 1881, he married Miss Ida Pratt., a daughter of Dwight and Eunice ( Moore) Pratt, of Southing-

ton. Politically he is identified with the Republi- can party, and religiously is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Plantsville. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, he has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact, in either business or social life.

EDWARD NAPOLEON PIERCE, a repre- sentative business man and progressive citizen of Plainville, is a native of Connecticut, born April 16, 1815, in Bristol, of stalwart New England an- cestry on both paternal and maternal sides.

Abraham Pierce, his grandfather, was born in 1737, at Woodbury, Conn., a son of Deacon John Pierce. Abraham was a farmer, and while a resi- dent of Bristol operated also a gristmill and sawmill, the product whereof he would cart to New Haven, whence it was exported. From Woodbury The moved to Bristol in 1797, and on Nov. 29, of that year, purchased the homestead, from Amos Barnes, where the subject of this sketch was born, and which is still in the possession of the family. The middle third of this house was built by Ebenezer Barnes in 1728; later the north third and the south third were added. Upon the death of Abraham Pierce this property descended to his son Noble A., and upon his death it descended to his children, Sophronia (Mrs. Jared Goodrich, of Plainville) ; Mrs. H1. M. Welch (now deceased), late of New Haven; Ed- ward N. (our subject) ; and Julius E., who now owns and occupies the north two-thirds, E. N. and Mrs. Welch having conveyed their share to their brother Julius E. Mrs. Goodrich is still the owner of the south third. The place has, therefore, been in the Pierce family over a century, and Abraham Pierce's grandchildren are the fourth generation of the family that have slumbered beneath its giant rafters. From the time of the purchase by the Pierces until about 1835 the place was kept as a tavern, and being situated on the old "Queen's high- way," about a day's journey from New Haven, was much patronized by the teamsters who conveyed, by wagon, grain from northern Connecticut and Massachusetts to that city for shipment to the West Indies. Abraham Pierce married Annie Hubbell, who was born, in 1744, in Southbury, and of their family of children we have mention of Calvin, Philo and Noble A., the last-named being the father of Edward N.

Noble Abraham Pierce was born in 1779, in South Britain, Conn., and died in 1834, in Bristol. He was a lifelong farmer, in religious faith a Bap- tist, a constant attendant at church, and in politics was a Democrat, a stanch supporter of Andrew Jackson, he and George Mitchell being the only two in Bristol to vote that ticket. He married Lydia Gridley, daughter of Luke Gridley, and a descend- ant of Thomas Gridley, one of the original settlers of the town of Farmington, Conn. She was one of seven children : Alma, Chloe, Rachel, Lydia, Susan, Lott and Elisha.

E A Piene

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Edward N. Pierce, the subject proper of this memoir, received a liberal education at the Bristol common schools, later taking a two-years' course at Bristol Academy. At the age of seventeen years he went to Boston, and was there engaged selling "on the road" various novelties for Alfonso Barnes ; after a time he visited New York, and then returned home. When twenty years old he set his face to- ward the Southern States, and in 1835 was em- poyed in North Carolina and Virginia, collecting for a map. Ile then drove to Alabama for Hubbell Pierce, and at Montgomery, Ala., engaged in a wholesale and retail general business. Returning in 1846 to Connecticut, Mr. Pierce opened a coal and lumber business in Plainville, in 1855 taking up his residence in New Haven and engaging in the same line there for seven years, at the same time continuing his Plainville business. In 1862 he re- turned to Plainville, and has since here made his permanent home.

Mr. Pierce was one of the original stockholders and incorporators (in 1850) of the Plainville Mfg. Co., and has been a director in same ever since, as well as holding the positions of general manager and secretary-treasurer. The firm manufacture knit underwear, making a specialty of goods in that line for women and children. He was one of the incorporators (and the only one now living) of the Bristol Savings Bank, and has been a director thereof ever since its organization in 1870; was also one of the incorporators of the Bristol and Plainville Tramway Co., of which lie has since been a director ; also one of the original stockholders in, and for many years a director of, the Bristol Mfg. Co., and is still a stockholder therein.

Shortly after the war of the Rebellion Mr. Pierce, in the course of business transactions, be- came owner of a large plantation at Mt. Meigs, near Montgomery, Ala., and as a result became deeply and practically interested in educational work among the colored people. We say "practically in- terested," for he was one of the incorporators and a trustee of the "Colored Institute" at Mt. Meigs, the organization of which institution, in 1888, was due largely to his efforts and those of his family, all of whom took deep interest in the work ; he has been president of same since its organization. The "Colored Institute" educates about 300 pupils an- nually, most of whom become, themselves, educa- tors, teaching the common branches in the institute, and Mr. Pierce is having a dormitory added to the school, which he expects to have finished by Septem- ber, 1900. About seventeen miles from Montgom- ery is his plantation, comprising some 1,800 acres, with residence thereon, a remarkably fine property, in which he takes great pride. He has thirty-three families (colored) living thereon, and raises chiefly cotton and corn.

Mr. Pierce is firm in his political convictions, as an uncompromising Democrat, and though at no time an office seeker, has served as justice of the

peace, assessor, and in various town offices, the only really political office ever held by him being that of post master (in 1840) at Pierce Ilill, Ala., the post office being now known as Pierce. Socially he was in his younger days affiliated with an I. O. O. F. lodge ; for many years he has been a consistent mem- ber of tlie Congregational Church of Plainville, as was also his wife and the entire family.

In September, 1837, Mr. Pierce was united in marriage with Henrietta Lydia Thompson, who was born in 1815, a daughter of Alonzo and Tryphena (Rich) Thompson, of Bristol, and a brief record of their children is as follows: (1) The eldest died in infancy ; (2) Antoinette Cora married Rob- ert Cleveland Usher, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. The mother of these died Oct. 8, 1847, and Oct. 8, 1850, Mr. Pierce married Pamelia Fran- ces Thompson ( sister to his first wife), who was born in 1830, and died in November, 1895. The children born to this union were: (I) Frank Noble died at the age of ten years; (2) Henrietta Frances in 1885 wedded Edward H. Rogers, of New Haven, and they have two children, Elizabeth Townsend Rogers, and Pierce Edward Rogers; (3) one child died in infancy; (4) Bertha Thomp- son was married in 1886, at Liverpool, England, to

William Emerson Peck, of New Britain, an exten- sive exporter, with residence in New York, and they have one child, Helen Marjorie ; (5) Minnie Louise, (6) Harriet E., and (7) Helen May are unmarried ; and (8) Edward N., Jr. died at the age of three weeks. The family have a summer home at Sachem Head, Mr. Pierce's cottage being one of the first built there. He constructed and opened Pierce street in Plainville, and has erected a large number of houses in the village.

Mr. Pierce is quiet and domestic in his habits, broad and liberal in his business dealings, and has attained success mainly through his good judgment and practical common sense. He has at all times been highly popular with his fellow towns- men because, in a great measure, of his kindly na- ture ; and, particularly, has he received, during the half-century he has been connected with the Plain- ville Manufacturing Co., the cordial esteem and good-will of its large force of employes. A straight- forward. honorable man, he has secured the con- fidence and respect of all who know him, and has many warm personal friends.

GEORGE EDMUND BIDWELL is one of the leading farmers and representative citizens of East Granby, and while not an old resident of that town, he has during his residence there secured a prom- inent place among its better class of citizens.

Mr. Bidwell was born in Canton, Hartford county, Dec. 21, 1858, a son of Albert F. and Hen- rietta R. (Pike) Bidwell. The family is one of the oldest in Hartford county, being founded here by John Bidwell, the pioneer tanner of the Colony of Connecticut, who came to this region with the

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Hooker party, and whose tanyard stood on an island in what is now Bushnell Park, Hartford. His de- scendants were pioneers of Canton. Our subject's father was a native of that town, and in its district schools obtained his education. Later in life he became one of the thrifty, progressive and success- iul farmers, as well as one of the highly-respected citizens. He lost his father when quite young, and his death occurred in 1874. As a Republican he took quite an active interest in political affairs, and he filled the offices of selectman and assessor. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Congregational Church. His wife, a native of western Conneci- cut,, and a daughter of Hiram Pike, is still living, and continues to reside in Canton. In their family were five children: Mary, who died at the age of twenty years; Hiram P., who was for over fifteen years superintendent of the Canton Creamery, and died at that town in 1892; Frederick A., who pur- chased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead in Canton, where he still resides ; George E., our subject; and Thomas S., a farmer of Canton.

George E. Bidwell began his education in the district schools of liis native town, and among his early teachers were Susie Barber and Ellen Adams. He also attended the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, Conn., one year, and subsequently took a course at Hannum's Business College, Hartford. His father died when he was quite young, and at the age of fifteen years he commenced earning his own livelihood as a, farm hand. He was an excep- tionally good workman, and at that age was able to do a man's full share of labor. He was thus em- ployed until the first year after his marriage, when he commenced operating a farm on shares, and in April, 1883, he came to East Granby, taking up his residence upon his present farm, which was then known as the Chauncey E. Viets farm. It com- prises 147 acres of rich and arable land, and is con- sidered one of the best farms in the town. The buildings upon the place are much above the aver- age, and the residence is supplied with many mod- ern conveniences. The land is highly productive, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm inl- dicates the careful supervision of a skillful and pro- gressive fariner and a man of good business abil- ity and sound judgment.

On Jan. 5, 1882, Mr. Bidwell married Miss Min- nie Bristol, who was born in Canton, Sept. 15, 1861, and is the eldest child of Anson W. and Sarah E. (Williams) Bristol, honored and highly-esteemed citizens of that town. She was educated in the district and select schools of her locality, prepared herself for teaching, and successfully taught two terms, one in the Canton Center primary school and one in the West Hill district. She is an intelligent lady, and an excellent wife. Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell have one child, Jasper W., a promising young man, who is now attending the Hartford high school. The Republican party finds in Mr. Bidwell a

stanch supporter of its principles, and he is a rec- ognized leader and adviser of the party in his sec- tion of the county. While not a politician, he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens in vari- ous official capacities. In 1895 he was elected to the State Legislature, and was the first man who ever represented the town with so short a residence therein. He has also served as first selectman, and on the school committee. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M., at Granby, and of East Granby Grange, No. 12. His wife is a member of the Congregational Church.

HENRY ALBERT COLVIN, the well-known foreman of the Scitico mills of the Hazard Powder Co., was born in Enfield, Sept. 22, 1857, a son of William S. and Charlotte (Rose) Colvin, natives of Houston, England, who came to America in 1846, and located in Hazardville. There the father was killed by an explosion in the mills of the Hazard Powder Co., Sept. 13, 1858.

Our subject was reared in Enfield, educated in its public schools, and at the age of twelve years began life as an employe in the packing department of the mills of the Hazard Powder Co. At the age of sixteen he was given full charge of that depart- ment, and in that capacity he served for eight years. He then went to Warren, Mass., to learn the ma- chinist's trade, and after serving an apprenticeship of one year at that place went to New Haven. Re- turning to Hazardville, he was in the employ of Gordon Brothers one year, and the following year, 1887, again entered the employ of the Hazard Pow- der Co., painting kegs four years, and then work- ing in the glazing department six years. Since 1897 he has held his present responsible position as foreman of the mills at Scitico, and is one of the most trusted employes of the company.

On Oct. 6, 1881, Mr. Colvin was united in mar- riage with Miss Grace, daughter of Rev. R. New- ton and Rhoda (Dickens) Parsons, of Enfield, and of English origin. By this union four children have been born: Charles H., Royal R., Gertrude I. and Rhoda C.

WILLIAM ARTHUR HITCHCOCK, the well- known and popular secretary of the Upson Nut Co., of Unionville, is a native of Connecticut, born July 30, 1859, in Cornwall, Litchfield county.

Reuben Hitchcock, grandfather of William A., was born in New Milford, Conn., and when a young man settled in Cornwall, Conn., where he followed his trade, that of tailor, and passed the rest of his days, dying in 1870. He married and had a fam- ily of eight children.

Elmer Hitchcock, father of William A., was born in 1826, at Cornwall, Conn., and he also learned the trade of tailor, which he followed in Cornwall and Bridgeport, Conn. In 1858 he opened a shop in the first-named place, in 1860 moving to Sharon, Conn., and there continuing in business until 1869,

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in which year he settled in Unionville, where he followed his trade until 1896, since when he has lived retired. Elmer Hitchcock married Mary Gorman, and to them were born children as fol- lows: William A. ; Nellie H., wife of Willard Baker, by whom she has one daughter, Mildred ; Mary A., wife of Edgar Dunham, by whom she has one daughter, Gladys; and Emily G., wife of Clayton Dunham, brother of Edgar (above), who has one son. Willard.

William A. Hitchcock, the subject of this sketch, is deserving of more than average credit for the manner in which he has succeeded in business. He may be regarded as a representative selfmade man, having worked his own way through life to his pres- ent enviable position. His earlier education he ob- tained at the rural schools, and supplemented same with a course of study at the Unionville High school. When fifteen years old Mr. Hitchcock en- tered the employ of the Union (now Upson) Nut Co., at Unionville, as office boy, in which capacity he remained until promoted to invoice clerk, later to bookkeeper and traveling salesman. In 1897, on the death of Mr. Frisbie, he was appointed sec- retary of the company, which position he is now holding.

Mr. Hitchcock has always taken a commenda- ble interest in public improvements ; was one of the promoters of the present water supply system of Unionville, and is the present treasurer of the Water Co.' For several years he was engaged in mercantile business in Unionville as a clothier and carriage dealer, and was also largely interested in the insurance business. He has, however, disposed of all these interests, and is giving his undivided attention to his work in connection with the Upson Nut Co.

In 1890 Mr. Hitchcock was united in marriage with Miss Emily J. Boyle, of Gaspe Basin, Quebec, Canada, a daughter of John and Emily Boyle. She was educated in Albany, N. Y., also in Pennsyl- vania, and for several years followed the profession of teacher in Unionville and in the public schools of Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock have one daughter, Ada Taylor, born in 1892. The parents are members of the Congregational Church, and in politics he is a Republican, but he has never aspired to office.

JAMES AND ROBERT BAWN, farmers and tobacco growers of Suffield, are two highly-re- spected brothers who were born in the parish of Dromare, County Down, Ireland, and are now among the most prosperous as well as popular citi- zens of the town of Suffield. They are the sons of Robert and Isabella (Mccutcheon) Bawn, who were the parents of five children: Annie, still in Ireland ; Mary, the widow of John Carr; James and Robert, whose names open this paragraph; and Joseph, who died in Suffield, Conn. The mother of these children died in her native land, where the

father still is engaged in farming. Mrs. Bawn was highly respected, and died in the faith of the Pres- byterian Church, of which the father is still a de- vout member.

James Bawn was born March 9, 1851, was edu- cated in the national schools of Ireland, and at the age of twenty-seven years decided to come to the United States. He sailed from Liverpool, Eng- land, landing in New York, went thence to Pitts- burg, Penn., where he remained but a short time, and then came to Suffield, Conn., where he found employment as a farm laborer with G. H. Fuller at $14 per month, and continued to work at this class of labor until 1892, earning a lesson in American methods of agriculture as each year passed. In the year last named he and his brother Robert, of whom further mention will be made later on, pur- chased their present farm of 110 acres, then known as the P. R. Allen farm, on which they built the barns, tobacco sheds, etc., and engaged in their pres- ent employment. James Bawn is unmarried. He possesses a happy and genial disposition, and has made many friends.

Robert Bawn, brother of James, was born June 9, 1856, received a common-school education in the old country, and left his native land at the age of twenty-three years. On arriving in Suffield, Conn., he found first employment with W. C. Hastings, as a farm hand, and continued as such, for him and others, until 1892, when, having been frugal and industrious, he was able to join his brother in the purchase of the farm. In August, 1894, he mar- ried Miss Mary Edger, also a native of County Down, Ireland, and a daughter of John Edger, a highly-respected agriculturist.

The Brothers Bawn are Republicans in politics, and James is a member of the Loyal Orange Asso- ciation. They are members of the Congregational Church, are temperate and hard-working, progres- sive, honorable, and a credit to the land they live in.

CHARLES FAYETTE GRISWOLD. A son of Thomas, and a lineal descendant of Michael Gris- wold, who was one of the earliest settlers of Wethersfield, in 1645, his genealogy may be found elaborated in detail, in the biography of his brother Thomas Newton, on another page. He was his father's third son, born at Griswoldville, March 22, 1836, and his experience in early life did not greatly differ from that of his brothers. A course in the district schools of Wethersfield was followed by attendance at the East Hampton academy and at the South School in Hartford. His scholastic training completed, he remained with his parents upon the farm, learning to follow and love the life of an agriculturist, and devoting especial attention to seed culture. It was the policy of his father to associate his sons with him in business, and in due time Charles F. became a member of the firm of Thomas Griswold & Co. For thirty years he re-

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tained his partnership, but in 1886 sold his interest, to devote himself to farming. He took up his resi- dence upon the farm on which he now resides, but which he has since then greatly improved. His specialties are seed-growing and dairy farming, in both which lines he has been singularly successful. For several years he was superintendent and man- ager of the Spring Brook Creamery, and is still a stockholder in the concern.

Mr. Griswold is a man of simple tastes and un- assuming manners. He is a lover of home life, and his habits are domestic and temperate. His temperament is genial and his impulses kindly, easily winning friends, and retaining them by virtue of the affection and respect which his character in- spires. He is a devoted and thoroughly consistent member of the Congregational Church, and active in all departments of religious work. For several years he has taught in the Sunday-school, and for forty years has been its superintendent. He has also been a member of the church choir. He belongs to the Wethersfield Grange, as does also his daughter Bertha. He is a strong supporter of the principles and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought official preferment.

On Dec. 30, 1865, he was married to Miss Caro- line D. Hale, a daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Church) Hale, of Wethersfield. Four daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Griswold : Bertha Hale, Edith Gertrude, Caroline Augusta and Miriam Church. All the Misses Griswold graduated from the Wethersfield Academy and the Hartford High school, and the eldest, Miss Bertha Hale, took a special course of study at Mount Holyoke, Mass. For many years she has been a teacher in the South Hartford high school, and all of her younger sisters-Edith G. and Caroline A. and Miriam C. -have also had experience as school teachers. Miss Edith Griswold is at present (1899) employed as a stenographer in the Travelers Insurance Office, at Hartford. Caroline Augusta married George Buck- ley, of Rocky Hill, and is the mother of one child, George Grant. Miriam Church Griswold, the youngest of the four sisters, early gave evidence of possessing a voice of rare quality. She received a course in vocal culture under the tuition of Miss Bissell, a noted instructor, of New York City. As a vocal and instrumental musician, Miss Miriam Griswold has achieved rare proficiency and no little reputation, and is a soloist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, in New York.

The Hale family, of which Mrs. Griswold is a member, is of English descent, and justly lays claim to the honor of having been among the earliest settlers of Connecticut. Her grandfather, Joseph Hale, removed from Glastonbury to Oswego, N. Y., where for several years he was a distinguished medical practitioner, and a highly respected citizen. Ile married Sarah Moseley, who bore him four children : Joseph, Horatio, James and Christopher. Joseph Hale, Mrs. Griswold's father, was born at

Oswego, N. Y., but removed to Wethersfield in early manhood, and there spent the remainder of his life. He married Lucy, a daughter of Jona- than Church, of Springfield, by whom he was the father of seven children. Elizabeth, the first born of this union, died single. Lucy, the second child, was twice married, her first husband being Dr. A. Churchill, and the second Dr. S. Kelley. Mary Ann became Mrs. James Bradford. Joseph and John (twins) are both deceased. Caroline D. mar- ried Charles F. Griswold, and Robert Blake mar- ried and lived in Wethersfield, where he died.

JAMES MADISON DOW. The branch of the Dow family to which this well-known resident of Hartford belongs is collaterally related to that of the late Neal Dow, the eminent temperance agitator and reformer, although of a different line. Mr. Dow also follows in the line of temperance, having never tasted tobacco or one drop of intoxicating liquor.

Mr. Dow's birthplace was the town of Wash- ington, Maine, where his father, John K. Dow, was born in 1795. His grandfather, Peter Dow, was a native of the same locality, although his home was in the town of China. Both Peter and John K. Dow were thrifty farmers, and men of prominence and influence in the communities in which they re- sided.

John K. Dow at the age of seventeen was on duty in the war of 1812, as one of the coast guards. Po- litically he was a Democrat, and held several offices, among which was that of school commissioner. In religious faith he was an earnest and consistent Baptist. He was a man of keen intelligence and excellent judgment, to which he joined an integrity unassailable and incorruptible. It was the custom of his neighbors to make him their confidant and counselor, and for many years he was the "guide, philosopher and friend" of all who were in per- plexity or trouble. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Martha Ames, and his second Hannah Boyington, the daugliter of a farmer and the mother of the gentleman who is the subject of this biographical sketch. To the first marriage were born four sons and two daughters, all of whom are deceased : Phineas, George Washington, Thomas. Maria, Julia Ann, and Waterman (one of the "ar- gonauts" of '49). The second Mrs. Dow also bore her husband six children : John W., Ensign D., James M., Leander A., Alfred M. and Henrietta. Henrietta died at the age of two years, and the two elder sons are also deceased. Alfred M. is be- lieved to have been murdered by the Indians in California, although his fate is not certainly known. Leander's home is in Minneapolis, Minn. John K. Dow passed away Sept. 3, 1872, having passed more than his allotted threescore years and ten. His wife had died eighteen years before, on Aug. 7, 1854.

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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 161

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