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 166
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Mr. Dunham has been a lifelong Democrat, and has been chosen to fill several town offices, but has always refused to qualify ; he has, however, served on the Democratic town committee. He is entirely self-made from a business standpoint, was a hard- worker in his earlier days, and is now enjoying the fruit of his early industry. He has an excellent memory, is a good conversationalist, and had he had the advantages of any early education, he would cer- tainly be prominent in a higher walk of life. As it is, he is one of the most substantial and most highly-respected men of the town.
FRED M. HILLS, a thrifty and progressive young farmer of East Hartford, Conn., was born March 2, 1869, in the second house north of his present residence, a son of James and Caroline (Montague) Hills. He is of the seventh genera- tion descended from William Hills, who emigrated from England in 1630, and was one of Rev. Thomas Hooker's party, who came overland from Boston in 1634-35 to settle in Hartford. Going back to the
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great-grandfather of our subject, the genealogy of the family is traced as follows to the the present time :
Ashel Hills, the great-grandfather, born May 5, 1743, married Mehitabel House, who was born Aug. 6, 1748, and died Jan. 28, 1828; the marriage took place Oct. 8, 1766, and the issue was fourteen chil- dren : Sarah, born July 16, 1767; Ashbel, born Feb. 27, 1769, died Sept. 20, 1818; Isaac, born March 28, 1771 ; Eunice, born June 18, 1773; Esther, born July 9, 1775, died Oct. 28, 1776; Wait, born Sept. 16, 1777; Eunice, born Sept. 22, 1779, died Nov. 24, 1816; James (grandfather of our subject), born Nov. 16, 1781; Dorcas, born July 12, 1784, died June 14, 1786; Chester, born Nov. 23, 1787, died April 28, 1794; Dorcas, born Jan. 24, 1790, died Dec. 15, 1790; Betsey, born July 27, 1792; Fanny (daughter of Isaac Hills), born Dec. 25, 1793, and Isaac, born Nov. 2, 1794, died Feb. 18, 1795.
James Hills, whose birth date is given above, married Nov. 23, 1803, Abigail Brewer, who was born May 10, 1784, in East Hartford. They be- came the parents of the following named children : Nancy S., born Sept. 4, 1805, died June 6, 1891 ; Emily, born Jan. 29, 1808, died Aug. 25, 1881 ; James, born July 11, 1810, died Oct. 9, 1862 ; Delia, born May 5, 1813; James ( father of our subject), born July 21, 1815, died Feb. 8, 1898; Abigail J., born Nov. 18, 1817, died Jan. 14, 1873; Lucy A., born July 19, 1822, died June 10, 1897; Hester, born May 16, 1824; and Laura M., born July 19, 1826, died May 10, 1899.
James Hills, father of our subject, was born in a house that stood on the corner of Forbes street and Hillstown road, there being at that time ( 1815) only two or three families in the neighborhood that did not bear the name of Hills. For a short time he at- tended a school house that stood across the brook from the farm now occupied by George Ruoff, and then went to Hartford, where he was employed by a shoe firm for awhile ; on his return to his place of birth he engaged in farming. Farmers in those days grew flax, raised sheep, etc., but very few acres were planted in tobacco. In 1834 Mr. Hills removed to a place near the present home of his son, Fred M., where he followed farming until his death.
The first marriage of James Hills took place June 10, 1841, to Harriet M. Wells, who was born May 31, 1816, in the house south of the one in which the death of Mr. Hills occurred. To this union one child, Edward W., was born April 4, 1842. This son married Lois Locke, a native of Chicago, Ill., in which city his death took place Dec. 1I, 1892. Mrs. Harriet M. Hills died Aug. 22, 1843, and Mr. Hills, on Dec. 16, 1845, wedded Sarah Barker, a native of New York City. By this union there were four children : G. Wiley, born Dec. 15, 1847, died April 29, 1899; James Howard, born July 14, 1849, died April 1, 1882; Ruez H., born Nov. 14, 1851, who married Fannie Myers, March 12, 1874, and is now captain of the steamer "Middletown,"
plying between Hartford and New York City; and Nellie, born Sept. 28, 1854, died Jan. 9, 1879.
Mrs. Sarah (Barker) Hills passed away June 7, 1860, and Mr. Hills afterward married, Jan. I, 1862, Caroline Montague, of Williston, Vt. This marriage was blessed with three children: Herbert C., born Oct. 31, 1862, married Nellie Griffin, and re- ides in Hockanum; Mary L., born Dec. 29, 1866, is married to Joseph Neary, and she is living in Bridgeport; and Fred M., the youngest, is the sub- ject of this sketch. Mrs. Caroline ( Montague) Hills was called to rest Dec. 7, 1876, and her mortal remains lie interred at Hockanum.
Hon. James Hills was an industrious and enter- prising farmer, was very prominent in his com- munity, and was extremely popular with the Repub- lican party, by which he was elected to the State Legislature in 1864, when that body met at New Haven. He was noted for kind-heartedness and his spirit of charity, and as a worker was indefati- gable. Even in the latter part of his life, while an intense sufferer from cancer, he never relaxed his labors, but tenaciously adliered to the full perform- ance of his duties. He died, as has been mentioned, Feb. 8, 1898, mourned by all who knew him, and truly honored by a host of unfeigned friends. His remains were interred in Hockanum, to rest beside those of his wives, who had preceded him to the grave.
Fred M. Hills, whose name stands at the open- ing of this article, was primarily educated in the district school under charge of a Mrs. Hawkins; he next attended the Hartford Public High School, and later Hanum's Business College. For a short time after his graduation from the latter he was employed in Hartford, but as liis supervision of affairs at home was needed he returned to the farm and assumed charge. On Nov. 5, 1891, he married Miss Ruby Hurlburt, a daughter of Henry and Lucy M. ( Brewer ) Hurlburt, natives of East Hartford. Henry Hurlburt was called from earth Dec. 2, 1873, and the Hurlburt farm is now managed by his widow, who is a sister of Hoadley C. Brewer, a biog- raphy of whom will be found elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Hills no children have been born. Mrs. Hills is of a cheerful disposition, and willingly aids her husband in all his undertakings, proving in every way a valuable helpmate.
In politics Mr. Hills is a Democrat so far as the affairs of the nation at large are concerned, but in local matters he is liberal, or independent. He has never sought public office, being contented with the rewards resulting from the intelligent manage- ment of his farm. Fraternally he is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., and in religion he is a Congregationalist, and with his wife attends the South Church, to the support of which he liberally contributes.
In 1898 Mr. Hills erected his present fine modern dwelling on Main street, in the construction of which he personally assisted. When he first as-
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sumed the management of his farm it was slightly incumbered with debt, but his shrewd management and industry soon released it from all obligations, and he is now among the solid men of East Hart- ford. He is strictly temperate and moral in his habits, and no residents of the town are more re- spected than Mr. and Mrs. Fred M. Hills.
CALEB BOWERS BAILEY, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of East Berlin, was born in Cromwell (then Middletown), Middlesex county, Jan. 10, 1837, and is a descendant of John Bailey, who was a constable in Hartford in 1656. His grandfather, Caleb Bailey, was born in Had- dam, Conn., in 1761, and was considered one of the best farmers of Middlesex county in his day. At the age of fifteen he became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner by the British, being confined on the old Jersey prison-ship for eleven months and fifteen days. Returning home at the close of the war, dressed in a British uniform, he, unrecognized, was refused admittance to his father's house. After his identity became known, through the intercession of a cousin, he re- ceived the hearty welcome which was due him. He married Elizabeth Tuel, and to them were born three children. Caleb Bailey died at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife on July 3, 1859, at the age of eighty-nine, and both were laid to rest in Cromwell cemetery.
Alfred Hale Bailey, the father of our subject, was born in Middletown July, 1807, and later moved to Cromwell, where, during the remainder of his life, he operated a small farm. He died Aug. 22, 1860, after a life full of hardship and toil. In political sentiment he was a Whig. In 1827 he married Loretta, the only daughter of Shadrach and Eunice Robinson, of Cromwell. Mr. Robinson, who was a sea captain in early life, was killed in the Mexican war. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born four children: Elizabeth Eunice. wife of Justice R. Stevens, of Rocky Hill; Lester Rob- inson, who married Mary E. Flagg, of New Brit- ain, where he now resides; Caleb B., our subject ; and Loretta Almira, wife of Henry Bulkeley, of Cromwell, formerly Mrs. L. Southwick.
Our subject obtained his education in the public schools of Cromwell, which he left at the age of sixteen to enter the employ of Warner & Noble, manufacturers of hammers. The next year he left their employ to accept a position as clerk in the fancy and variety store of J. C. Smith, of Middle- town, where he remained until 1856. During a part of the hard times of 1857-58 he was employed at Warner & Noble's. He spent two years in the silver plate factory of Manning & Sons in Crom- well, and in the fall of 186; entered the Roys & Wilcox Co.'s factory of East Berlin. For a time he was employed in the manufacture of cavalry "snaps," and afterward, for a number of years, held a contract in the breast drill department, en-
ploying two or three men. At the present, in con- nection with Rufus W. Morse, he is employed by the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., and has now been connected with the firm for almost forty years, as one of its most trusted and competent employes.
Mr. Bailey was married, April 7, 1869, to Miss Martha Rhoda Wooster, a daughter of Jesse and Rhoda ( Brockett) Wooster, and a relative of Gen. Wooster, who was killed at Danbury in 1777. By this union two children have been born: (1) Wal- ter Wooster, born April 6, 1871, in Cromwell, is now connected with Westcott Bros., formerly book- keeper and clerk at E. W. Bowers' hardware store. He married, June 21, 1894, Grace L. Jones, of Elkins, N. H., and they have one child, Robert Walter, born Sept. 11, 1895. (2) Norris Caleb, born Aug. 9, 1876, who was graduated from Wes- levan University, Middletown, in 1899, with the degree of B. S.
Politically Mr. Bailey is an ardent Republican, but he has never songht or desired office. He takes a deep and commendable interest in educational af- fairs, and has been an efficient member of the school board in both Cromwell and East Berlin. Fra- tornally he is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., of Cromwell, and Giddings Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M., in both of which branches he has filled offices; is also a member of New Britain Council, No. 8, Sr. O. U. A. M., of New Britain, and both he and his wife belong to Meriden Chapter, No. 8, O. E. S., of Meriden, and to the Baptist Church of Cromwell. Wher- ever known they are held in high regard, and those who know them best are numbered among their warmest friends.
MILFORD CATLIN THOMPSON, one of the best known contractors and builders in Bristol, was born in Windham, Conn., Sept. 6, 1839, and has been doing business in Bristol since 1888.
Horace Thompson, Jr., father of Milford C., was born in Mansfield, Conn., March 31, 1812, was a son of Horace and Sophia (Dunham) Thomp- son, and was by trade a carpenter. Horace Thomp- son, Sr., also a native of Mansfield, was likewise a carpenter and contractor, was the father of ten chil- dren, and died about 1863, at the age of seventy- six years. Horace, Jr., worked at his trade in Andover, Coventry, Mansfield, and Columbia, part of the time as a journeyman. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a Baptist, but as to the former he cared but little. He first married, in 1837, Caroline P. Thompson, a native of Willimantic, and to this marriage came the following children : Milford C., the subject of these lines ; Collins V., born Aug. 2, 1841, served with the Sixteenth C. V. I., in the Civil war, and is now living in the West : Rienzi W., born July 5, 1843, is also a resident of the West; Alfred C. and Albert C. (twins) were born Sept. 2, 1844, the former of whom is living in Glastonbury, the latter in Providence. The mother
I do Thompson
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of these children died April 9, 1863, and hier re- mains were interred in Willimantic. The second marriage of Horace Thompson, Jr., was with Sarah Grover, a widow who lives in Wethersfield with her son Myron Thompson, who was born in October, 1876. The father, Horace Thompson, Jr., died Aug. 19, 1883 (the same day that President Gar- field expired), and his remains are interred in East Hartford.
Milford C. Thompson was bit a year old when his parents removed from Windham to Columbia, and at the latter place he attended school until seven- teen years old. Meanwhile he had learned the car- penter's trade, under his father, and after quitting school went to the Willimantic Linen: Co .; in the spring commenced work as a carpenter for the same company, and so continued for three years. After an- other year at the same work for others, he went to East Hartford and followed his trade for three years in the employ of Senator Patrick J. Gavin, a contractor; during the following three years he worked in the car shop of the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Railroad Company at Hartford, and built the first two smoking cars ever seen on its road. He next started in the contracting line on his own account in East Hartford, but in 1875 abandoned it because of ill health, and opened a grocery store on Main street. A year later, however, he removed to Providence, where for two years he conducted a meat market, and then went to Warehouse Point, again engaging in contracting. There he built tobacco warehouse, 200x30 feet, for William Bar- ber, built several other large ones in East Hartford, and also many of the finer residences in the latter town. In August, 1888, he removed from Ware- house Point to Bristol, and here erected seventy- five dwellings, including those of Dr. Carrington, Mr. Andrews and Mr. Kimberly, and also built the private sanitarium on Fall Mountain. Besides his own fine home he owns six houses, which he rents.
In April, 1861, Mr. Thompson enlisted in Com- pany B, Fifth C. V. I., but after having manifested this patriotic desire to serve his country in its hour of peril was never mustered into the service, although he waited in Hartford several months with the hope that his purpose would be consummated.
Mr. Thompson is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., in which he has filled the office of senior deacon ; he is also affiliated with the Im- proved Order of Red Men, in which he is a past sachem and is the present prophet of his lodge; he and his wife were members of the Order of Good Templars for over thirty-five years, at the conclu- sion of which period their lodge suspended. In politics Mr. Thompson is an ardent Democrat, and at Warehouse Point served as constable three years ; he also made the race for representative in East Hartford, a town which usually gives a Republican majority of seventy-five, but was defeated by only twelve votes; in 1898 he ran for the same office in Bristol, which is also a strong Republican town, and
was again defeated by a meager majority-these facts, alone, showing that he is a very popular man with members of both parties or, rather, with the public at large.
Mr. Thompson was very happily married Sept. 8, 1861, to Miss Emily Auletta Jacobs, daughter of Lucius Brown Jacobs and Caroline Walton Jacobs, of Mansfield. This marriage has been blessed with five children : Lillian Caroline, who was born Oct. 6, 1862, and died Aug. 13, 1880; Nettie Isabelle, born Jan. 16, 1864, is the wife of Thomas II. Nun- son, a cigarmaker at Soby's store in Hartford, but residing in Warehouse Point, and is the mother of two children, Lillian Isabelle, born Oct. 6, 1886, and Howard Thomas, born Nov. 23, 1889; Minnie Adella, born Jan. 13, 1868, is the wife of Rev. Samuel J. Watson of Mill Bank, S. Dak., and is the mother of two children, Walter Thompson, born June 23, 1895, and Ruth Lucia, born March 24, 1897; Ida May, born July 2, 1870, is married to Olin S. Rockwell, a machinist at Warehouse Point, and is the mother of four children, Maud, Mildred, Leon and George Washington; Samuel Tilden, born Jan. 2, 1876, was married in June, 1900, and is a clerk in the post office. Mr. Thomp- son and family are members of the Prospect Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and at Warehouse Point Mr. Thompson was a trustee of a church of the same denomination. In the Prospect Church Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Ladies Aid Society, and was formerly a member of the Foreign Mis- sionary Society.
It may here be mentioned as somewhat unusual, that Milford C. Thompson's maternal grandfather, William Thompson, served in the Revolutionary war, was in nine battles, was wounded nine times, and died at the patriarchal age of 101 years, when our subject was about two years old.
Mrs. Milford C. Thompson's maternal grand- father, Joseph Walton, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
HENRY BIGELOW GLEASON, a well-known citizen of Southington, who has for many years been an honored and trusted employe of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., is a native of Hartford county, born in Manchester May 11, 1833.
Our subject's parents, Harvey and Sarah ( Col- burn) Gleason, were natives of East Hartford. The paternal grandfather, Moses Gleason, who is sup- posed to have been of Scotch-Irish descent, located in Windsor in the eighteenth century, and for some time taught school in East Hartford. He married a Miss Marsh, and had a family of twelve children : Stephen, George, Harvey, Chauncey, Hiram, Anson, Triphena, Hannah (Mrs. Bliss), Alma (wife of Martin H. Keeney), Polly, Marcia (Mrs. Mead), and Harvey. The father of our subject, who was a carpenter and farmer by occupation, spent most of his life in Manchester, and there died. His chil- dren were Jane, wife of Jacob Beam; Charlotte F.,
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wife of Jolin Spencer ; Alma, wife of John Coughey ; Hiram ; Henry B .; Roy A .; and Julia, wife of Dr. John M. Clark. The maternal grandparents of our subject became pioneers of the Western Reserve, in Ohio.
Henry B. Gleason grew to manhood in Man- chester, and was provided with a fair common- school education. In 1853 he located in Southing- ton and entered the shop of the Peck-Smith Co., now the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., where he learned the machinist's trade, and with the exception of the three years spent in the army, during the Civil war, he has been in the employ of that company up to the present time. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 20th Conn. V. I., becoming corporal, and participated in most of the battles of his regi- ment, being wounded in the engagement at Chan- cellorsville. He marched with Sherman as far as Atlanta, Ga. ; was under Gen. Thomas in the battle of Nashville, Tenn .; and was honorably discharged with his company in June, 1865. He is now an honored member of Trumbull Post, No. 16, G. A. R., and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles.
On Jan. 27, 1859, Mr. Gleason married Miss Martha A. Lewis, a daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth (Root) Lewis, of Southington, and to them have been born three children: Lewis Harvey, who married Delia V. Morway; Charles P .; and Lizzie C., wife of Ambrose Treganowan.
Mrs. Gleason is descended from many of the oldest and most highly respected families of South- ington. Her father. Henry Lewis, was born Dec. I, 1806, and was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel and Sally (Dun- hanı) Root, his second being Nabby Clarinda, daughter of John and Esther (Tinker) Carter. He died Nov. 29, 1849. His father, Selah Lewis, was born in Southington Sept. 2, 1764, and was married Jan. 1, 1792, to Mary Carter, daughter of Abel and Rhoda (Lewis) Carter. He was a merchant and large landholder, living in the northern part of Southington, where he died Sept. 12, 1827. His father, Job Lewis, was born April 20. 1731, and was married Nov. 13, 1755, to Hannah, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah and Hannah (Burnham) Curtiss, of Southington. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and also lived in the northern part of Southington, where he died Dec. 5, 1813. He was a son of Nathan Lewis, who was born Jan. 23, 1707, and was married July 28. 1730, to Mary Gridley, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Humphrey) Gridley. His home was in the Marion District of Southington, and there he died Sept. 7, 1799. He was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Lewis. Sam- uel Lewis, who held the military rank of sergeant, was born Aug. 18, 1648, and died Nov. 28, 1752. His father, William Lewis, a native of England, was a resident of Farmington, Hartford Co., Conn., in 1644, and was the first recorder of the town after its incorporation in 1645. Ile died Aug. 18, 1690.
He was a son of William and Felix Lewis, who came from England in the ship "Lion," landing in Bos- ton Sept. 16, 1632, and the father was admitted as a freeman in November of that year. He joined the Braintree company, which in August, 1633, lo- cated in Newtown (Cambridge) ; came to Hartford with a company in 1636; and in 1659 became one of the founders of Hadley, Mass., which town he rep- resented in the General Court in 1662. He resided in Northampton, Mass., in 1664, and prior to No- vember, 1677, removed to Farmington, Conn., where he died Aug. 2, 1683.
EDMUND DONALD ROBERTS. For the past thirty-eight years the subject of this sketch has been prominently identified with the official life of Hartford. In point of service he is the oldest sealer of weights and measures in the United States. Mr. Roberts is of Scottish extraction. His grand- father, John Roberts, was a native of Scotland, and came to this country when young, lived in Hartford, and attained the good old age of eighty-three years, his wife surviving to the age of seventy-three.
Thomas Roberts, father of our subject, was born Dec. 22, 1794. He lived for a short time in the South, but was during the greater part of his life a resident of Hartford. He was a contractor and builder, and one of the earliest of that trade in Hartford. Later he entered the mercantile busi- ness at No. 2812 State street, the site of the Courant building, and conducted his store for many years, finally disposing of the business to his youngest son, the subject of this sketch. Thomas Roberts was a man of commanding presence, six feet in height. He was prosperous in business affairs, and was possessed of unusual intelligence and learning, having added to the good education he received in his youth, a vast store of information through close observation and careful reading. Somewhat austere in manner, he possessed great force of character, which impressed itself upon his associates. He was an early councilman of the city, his first year in service being in 1831, and he afterward served in 1857, 1858, and 1863 to 1865. He was often importuned to accept office. Pos- sessing an inclination for military affairs, he became a member of the Ist Connecticut Regiment, rising from the ranks to the colonelcy of the regiment. He was an officer of the regiment when Gen. La- Fayette visited Hartford in 1824, and took a prom- inent part in the reception, and in 1831 was elected colonel, serving three years. He was a close friend of Hon. Isaac W. Stewart, Hon. James Dixon, and Hon. Isaac Toucey. In religious thoughts he was broad and liberal, and was a member of the Univers- alist Church. With four others, in 1843, he held the office of sealer of weights and measures, and from him this business was transferred to his son Edmund D.
For his first wife Thomas Roberts married Miss Sophia Speare, by whom he had four children ;
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John T., Sophia E., George C., and William Speare. For his second wife he married Nancy Goodman, by whom he had seven children: Henry A., who removed to Detroit, Mich., and there died in 1898; Charles F., who was killed at the battle of Gettys- burg, and was buried at home ; Edmund D., our sub- ject ; and four that died in infancy. The father died May II, 1875, and the mother July 11, 1881.
Edmund D. Roberts was born in Hartford Feb. 3, 1838, was educated in the public schools of that city, and possessing a taste for business entered a grocery store as clerk. Four years later he became a student at the commercial school of Nicholas Har- ris, where many of the early bookkeepers of Hart- ford received their business education. He was also clerk in the postoffice at the commencement of the Civil war, and was there three years. He then entered the store of his father as bookkeeper, and from him learned the details of the office of sealer of weights and measures. In 1865 he bought out his father's business, and in 1870 removed it to North Main street, where he remained in business until 1876. In that year he devoted his entire at- tention to the office of sealer of weights and meas- ures, which he has ever since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the city. In 1883 the office of inspector of milk (of which he was the originator ) was created and added to it. Mr. Rob- erts has thoroughly organized the office, which is now one of the best in the country, one well and widely known for the efficiency of its incumbent. For five years-1867 to 1871-he was a member of the city council from the old Sixth ward. He is prominent in the fraternal orders, and has held the collectorship in the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor, and National Provident Union.
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