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 168

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 168

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Monroe F. Cushman, the only surviving member of the above named large family, was born on the home farm in Stafford Oct. 18, 1818. His educa- tional advantages were not of the best as he had to walk three and one-half miles, in the cold of Con- necticut winters, to attend the district school. He remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of thirty years. Then he took charge of the old homestead and successfully managed it until 1868, when he bought his present farm in the town of Manchester, Hartford county, upon which he makes his home, although still owning ninety acres of land in Stafford.

On June 26, 1847, Mr. Cushman married Miss Adeline Lull, who was born in Tolland county June 9, 1822, a daughter of Daniel P. and Jocasta (Church) Lull. The fruit of this marriage was four children: (1) Emma, born Sept. 14, 1852, married June 19, 1876, Truman R. Foster, a native of Berlin, Washington Co., Vt., born Aug. 26, 1847, a son of Truman C. and Julia (Srong) Foster ; Mr. and Mrs. Foster have three children, Belle, an in- teresting young lady, who has decided taste for literature and music; Truman Cushman; and Leon Ransom. (2) Freddy M. was born Jan. 14, 1861, died eight days later. (3) Everett A., born Feb. 8, 1862, is a paper maker by trade. (4) Alganon, born March 14, 1868, died Oct. 20, 1889.

The mother of this family passed away Jan. 15, 1898, aged seventy-five years, after a married life of more than fifty years.

Mr. Cushman is a man of medium stature, quiet and unobtrusive in manner. While he has devoted his life to farming, he has taken a commendable interest in the affairs of men and in men of affairs. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, though never an aspirant for political honors. While a

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resident of his native town his townsmen showed their appreciation of his worth by electing him to the offices of constable, justice of the peace and collector, which latter position he filled six years. In religious thought and belief he has always been tolerant and liberal, adhering to the faith of the Spiritualists. His long and useful life has been marked by untiring industry and his transactions with his fellow men characterized by strict integrity. Mr. Cushman has attained the ripe old age of nearly eighty-two years, and is yet well preserved with un- impaired faculties. He is spending the evening of his life in the enjoyment of the handome compe- tence that has come to him as a reward of industry, honesty and temperance.

JOHN FRANKLIN WADE, general superin- tendent of the manufacturing department of the New Departure Bell Co., at Bristol, and one of the most useful citizens of that place, is a native of Georgia, born June 29, 1860, at Tallokas, Brooks county.

Thomas Wade, grandfather of our subject, was a cotton planter in Georgia. He married Mary Morris, and children as follows were born to them : Thomas, father of John F .; and Elijah, who was also a cotton planter in Georgia, owner of 400 acres under cultivation, besides other lands.

Thomas Wade, father of our subject, was born in Dooly county, Ga., and died in March, 1869. He was a planter, and the owner of extensive plan- tations in the South, having 1,100 acres in Georgia. and 500 acres in Florida, 300 of which were im- proved. Illness prevented his taking an active part in the cause of the South in the Civil war, and at its close he found himself bereft of personal prop- erty and his slaves. He was a Democrat in politics, and served as justice of the peace. Socially he be- longed to the 1. O. O. F. He married Mary Ann Oliver, a native of North Carolina, of English de- scent, and a granddaughter of James G. Oliver, a prominent sea-faring man. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Wade lived on the old farm until her death, in 1896, in Tallokas, where her remains were laid away besides those of her husband. Their children were: Frances and Susan Caroline (both unmarried), still living in Tallokas ; Emily Melissa, who died when young; Thomas G., a farmer in Okapilco, Ga .; Macey, wife of Robert B. Martin, a farmer of Thomas county, Ga. : Leonidas, a lawyer of Jacksonville, Fla., married to Tula Floyd : Jo- sephine, wife of Mitchell Hyers, and residing in Georgia ; John F., our subject ; Helen M., wife of John O'Neal, of Pavo, Ga. ; William W., a farmer of Tallokas, Ga., married to a Miss Croft: Paten L., also a farmer of Tallokas, married ; and Sarah, who died when aged about eighteen years of age.

John F. Wade received his education in his native village, but at the age of fourteen years, his father having lost all his property through the Civil war, he had to leave school and commence to earn

his own living. However, he made up for the inter- ruption by studying at night, after his day's work was done, and being a close observer of men and things he soon became well informed. For two years lie was superintendent of the help employed on his uncle Elijah's farm. He then removed to Jacksonville, Fla., and for two years clerked in S. B. Hubbard & Co.'s hardware store, after which he traveled some eight months, in Louisiana and Texas. Returning to Jacksonville, he clerked there for the Drew Hardware Co. about two years, and then found employment with Rockwell & Kinney, of that place, Albert F. Rockwell, being general manager of the business, remaining until the concern closed up. In October, 1888, Mir. Rockwell, the inventor of the New Departure Bell, established his business in Bristol, Conn., and the following spring MIr. Wade came here, at first filling the position of ship- ping clerk, and then working at the bench to learn the business. At the end of about three years he took a contract in the assembling department, which he continued for three years, or until 1896, when he was made general superintendent of the New De- parture Bell Co., with full charge of the manufactur- ing, and has since filled the position in a most com- petent and acceptable manner ; he is now one of the stockholders of the company.

On Oct. 6, 1886, Mr. Wade was married to Emma G. Ponder, who was born in Quincy, Fla., a daughter of James and May (McGill) Ponder, of Quincy. Two children have come to this union : John F., born May 10, 1888; and Walter R., born March 23, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Wade and their eldest son are members of the Prospect M. E. Church. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and in 1899 was elected a member of the board of bur- gesses ; at present he is a member of the sewer and building committee. Socially he is affiliated with Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., of which for two years he served as steward. He is also a men- ber of the New England Order of Protection. Mr. Wade is an intelligent and progressive citizen, a lib- eral-minded, honorable gentleman, and his well- spent life is worthy of emulation.

JAMES HONISS, one of the most highly- respected citizens of East Berlin, was born in the County of Kent, England, June 9, 1828, a son of William and Ann ( Hooker) Honiss, also natives of that country.

The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born July 16, 1792, in Biddenden, and died in West Rocky Hill, Conn., Sept. 15, 1872 ; the mother was born in Biddenden, Sept. 21, 1790, and died in Berlin, Conn., Aug. 10, 1876. In their family were seven children: Mary Ann, born Oct. 21, 1817, died in Hartford, Conn., May 6, 1900, and was the widow of Edwin Tolhurst, a farmer, who died a few years after the Civil war, of consump- tion contracted in the service. Hannah, born Dec. 7, 1819, niarried Major John Rowe, an officer in the

John F Wade

Mors John J Hade Walter Rockwell Wade John F. wade fr

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British army, and died in the Tower of London, where her husband was stationed at the time. Fran- ces, born April 19, 1822, married James Bormail, and lived in Chicago, Il1., where she died Sept. 10, 1854. John, born Jan. 8, 1825, married Mary Thayer, of Rocky Hill, Conn., and is now engaged in the real-estate business in Newark, N. J. James, our subject, is next in the order of birth. Williani, born July 22, 1832, married Victoria Dudley, and is living in Rocky Hill, Hartford county. Robert, born in 1834, died in England at the age of about eighteen months.

James Honiss was reared on a farm in his native land, and attended school in England until eleven years of age, after which he aided his father in the farm work. At the age of sixteen he was employed as a farmi hand by John Chittey, in Tunbridge Wells, England, and then came to America with his sister Mary Ann and five children. They set sail from London May 14, 1849, on the sailing packet "Margaret Evans," Capt. Tinker, of Middle- town, Conn., and after a long passage of six weeks and three days arrived in New York July 3, 1849. James found employment on the farm of Elisha Hubbard, in Middletown, Conn., where he remained four months, and then secured work in the shop of J. & E. Stevens, at Cromwell, where he was em- ployed for four and one-half years. The following year he worked in the shop of William Keighley, at Middle Haddam, and from there came to Rocky Hill, Hartford county, where he purchased a farm of forty-five acres from Jason F. Burr, and again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. After operating that farm for twenty-one years he pur- chased the Franklin Roys homestead, of about eight- een acres, on Berlin street, East Berlin, where he has since resided.

On March 17, 1859, Mr. Honiss married Miss Rachel Philletta Dudley, who was born in Killing- worth, Conn., July 25, 1835, a daughter of Julius and Jerusha (Stevens) Dudley. Her parents are both dead, and are buried in the Wilcox cemetery, East Berlin. The children born to our subject and his wife are as follows: (1) Alida Virginia, born in Rocky Hill, Conn., April 1, 1860, is now the wife of Charles C. Webster, a machinist employed in Colt's factory, at Hartford, Conn., and they have one child, Stewart, born April 14, 1890. (2) Lillian Victoria, born in Rocky Hill, Conn., Sept. 3, 1861, is the wife of Harvey Jay Brown, chief machinist employed in Enameline works, Passaic, N. J., and they have four children : Lovell Jay, born in Norwkich, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1887; Bessie Alice, born in East Berlin July 22, 1889; Vera, born in East Berlin, Feb. 26, 1892; and Gladys, born in Passaic, N. J., Jan. 19, 1898. A twin of Gladys died in infancy. (3) Howard Ogden, born in Rocky Hill, Feb. 18, 1864, died in Rocky Hill, April II, 1873, and was buried in Wilcox cemetery, East Berlin. (4) Edward Everett was born in Rocky Hill, Conn., April 16, 1866. At the age of nineteen

he entered Hannum's Business College, Hartford, Conn., he then became a bookkeeper for his uncle, Carroll L. Dudley, who was engaged in the milling buiness in East Berlin, and remained with him four years. After that he was employed as clerk for Wescott Bros., of the same place, for seven years. On March 1, 1900, he bought the grocery business of the late Henry N. Galpin, of Berlin, Conn., which he now conducts. He was married April 26, 1894, to Cora Augusta Clark, of Berlin, Conn., and they have had two children, Lillian Jeanette ( who was born May 15, 1896) and Esther Clark ( who was born Jan. 24, 1898, and died July 2, 1898, being laid to rest in Wilcox cemetery, East Berlin, Conn. ). (5) Emma Frances, born in Rocky Hill Feb. I, 1868, is the wife of George E. Hall, employed as draughtsman for the Eastern Challenge Windmill Co., Boston, Mass., and they have three children, Marcy Honiss (born March 17, 1893), Dorothy Elizabeth (born June 30, 1897), and Edward James (born Dec. 24, 1898). (6) Lovell James, born April 13, 1871, was married Aug. 15, 1895, in Chicago, Il1., to Florence J. Yates, of Wash- burn, Wis. At the age of twelve years he entered the Middletown High School, and graduated in 1888; tlen entered Wesleyan College, Middletown, Conn., and graduated in 1892, and is now principal of a school in Dumont, N. J. (7) Hobert Livingstone, born July 20, 1874, took a business course in Hunt- singer's Business College, Hartford, Conn., and is now assisting his father on the farm.

While in Rocky Hill James Honiss, our sub- ject, took out his naturalization papers, and has since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He served on the board of relief and grand jury in that town, but has never been prevailed upon to accept office since coming to Berlin. He is a prominent and active member of the Metliodist Church of East Berlin, and is at present one of its trustees and a member of the official board. He also served as treasurer of the church nine years. His estimable wife is also a faithful member of the same church. Although Mr. Honiss is modest and unassuming, he is none the less hospitable and so- ciable, and makes many friends.

EDWIN SETH TODD, a faithful and trusted einploye of Clark Brothers & Co., manufacturers of bolts and carriage hardware at Milldale, was born in Waterbury, Conn., March 25, 1869.

Mr. Todd is a son of William E. and Emeline E. (Barnes) Todd, in whose family were two chil- dren, the younger being Eva L., wife of Charles H. Clark, of Royalton, Vt. The father, who spent his entire life in Waterbury, was a son of Edwin Todd, a farmer of that town. The latter's father, Street Todd, was also a farmer by occupation, and made his home in Cheshire and Wolcott, Conn. Our sub- ject's maternal grandparents were Seth and Lucinda (Pond) Barnes, the former born Nov. 13, 1824, and died July 20, 1863, while a prisoner of war at

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Charleston, S. C., from wounds received at Fort Wagner. His parents were Philo and Electa (Shepard) Barnes, the former of whom was born March 2, 1782, and lived in the Marion District of Southington. Hle was a son of Asa Barnes, who was born Aug. 24, 1745, and was married Oct. 30, 1765, to Phobe Atkins. daughter of Luther Atkins. Asa Barnes conducted a tavern in the Marion Dis- trict, was known as Landlord Barnes, and was very popular in his business relations. His father, Ste- phen Barnes, was born Jan. 2, 1704, and was mar- ried, Jan. 5, 1726, to Martha Wheadon, of Bran- ford. He removed to Southington during its carly settlement, and located in the southwest part of the town, where he died March 27, 1777. His wife died March 18, 1773, and was the first one buried in Plantsville cemetery. He was a son of Stephen and Mary Barnes, of Branford, Connecticut.

The early life of our subject was passed in the town of Waterbury until 1878, in which year he moved to Southington, and his primary education, obtained in the public schools, was supplemented by a course at the Lewis high school, Southington. In 1888 he embarked in general merchandising at Marion as a member of the firm of Newell & Todd, and was engaged in business along that line for one year. The following year he spent in the Adi- rondack mountains for his health, and while thereen- gaged in school teaching. Since Oct. 1, 1892, he has been in the employ of Clark Brothers & Co., in various capacities, and for several years as acting assistant manager, which responsible position he is still acceptably filling.

On Oct. 23, 1895, Mr. Todd was united in mar- riage with Miss Layette C. Newell, a daughter of Henry J. and Sophia ( Bayrer) Newell, of Marion. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias ; polit- ically he is a stanch Republican. At the age of fifteen, being a musician of average ability, he be- came identified with some of the local musical or- ganizations, and since 1890 has been leader of "Todd's Orchestra." He is widely known and highly respected, and has many warm friends throughout the town.

BIRT BEMAN MESSENGER, one of the most popular and influential citizens of West Gran- by, where he is now successfully engaged in general farming and tobacco raising, was born there April 29. 1846, and belongs to one of its old and highly- respected families.

Amos Messenger, his grandfather, spent his entire life as an agriculturist in West Granby, and was a faithful and consistent member of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. Seymour Messenger, the father of our subject, was born in West Granby, in May, 1793, and was only three years old when his father died. He was educated in the district schools and reared in Granby, where he made his home throughout life. He also engaged in agricultural

pursuits, making a specialty of tobacco culture and stock raising. Sober, industrious and honorable in all things, he had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was liberal in his views on religious subjects, and with his family attended the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics he was a Whig until 1856, when he became a stanch supporter of the Republican party. In 1832 he married Miss Sally Beman, who was born Nov. 1I, 1812, a daugh- ter of Aaron Beman, who belonged to a well-known family of Hartford county, Conn. Five children were born of this union : Armenus S., born May 27, 1833, died June 21, 1887; Rufus L., born Sept. II, 1835, was killed by a falling tree Jan. 19, 1887; Albert A., born April 26, 1844, died Aug. 13, 1887 ; Birt Beman, our subject, is the next in order of birth: and Betsy Matilda, born March 5, 1852, is now the wife of George R. Case, of West Granby. The father died on his farm in West Granby Oct. 21, 1870, and the mother, who was a devout mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, passed away Jan. 24, 1884, the remains of both being interred in the West Granby cemetery.

During his boyhood Birt B. Messenger attended the public schools of Granby, and spent his early life upon the home farm with his parents. On start- ing out in life for himself he worked as a farm la- borer, receiving at first only $18 per month, but $40 during the last few years he was thus employed. For thirteen years he continued to work for others, during which time he saved a little money, and in 1878 he purchased his present farm, to the cultiva- tion and improvement of which he has since de- voted his energies, making a specialty of dairying and tobacco raising. He is a quiet, unassuming man, hospitable and generous, a kind neighbor and a good friend, and he is held in high esteem by all who know him. On April 3, 1878, in Granby, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Frazier, a native of Hartland, and to them have been born three children : Frederick B., Willam R. and Ruth B. The parents are both earnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In his political views Mr. Messenger is a stanch Republican ; for several years served as school clerk, and as assessor for five years ; and in 1898 was chosen by his fellow citizens to represent Granby in the State Legislature, an office he is now most creditably and acceptably filling.

The Frazier family, to which Mrs. Messenger belongs, was founded in America by Thomas Frazier, who was born near Inverness, Scotland, and came to this country when a young man. He spent a number of years in Brooklyn, N. Y., engaged in the sale of tobacco, and then came to Hartland, Hartford Co., Conn., where he followed farming for some time. Later he removed to the farm in the town of Granby, now known as the Strickland farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. There he died, and was buried in East Hartland. He was a member of the Established Church of England. His only child, Daniel, was born Jan. 22, 1742, in

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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Brooklyn, N. Y., where he grew to manhood. For several years he followed a sea-faring life, on board the ship "Vulture," under Capt. John Gunn, en- gaged in the West India trade, and later canie to Hartland, Conn., with his parents. Here he be- came interested in farming, and finally became the owner of a fine farm of 150 acres in the town of Granby, on which he engaged in agricultural pur- suits until called from this life, Oct. 22, 1803, his re- mains being interred in the East Hartland cemetery. In politics he was a Democrat. He was married, Dec. 16, 1760, to Abigail Haladay, who was born April 15, 1743, and died May 9, 1825, also being laid · to rest in East Hartland cemetery. Their children were as follows: Alexander, born Aug. 19, 176i, died March 3, 1762; Thomas, born April 2, 1763; Daniel, born May 19, 1765, died April 22, 1803; Abigail, born July 23, 1767 ; Jared, born Sept. 14, 1769 ; David, born Jan. 6, 1771 ; Elizabeth, born Jan1. 26, 1773 ; Samuel, the grandfather of Mrs. Messen- ger ; Polly, born June 4, 1781, married Polis Case : and Ruth, born June 30, 1784, married Richard Alcott.

Samuel Frazier, grandfather of Mrs. Messenger, was born Sept. 27, 1777, in Simsbury (now Gran- by) town, and attended school at that place. He made farming and house-painting his life work, was a Democrat in politics, and liberal in liis relig- ious views. He died in Granby March 26, 1840, and was laid to rest in the family burying-ground in East Hartland. He was married, in Granby, to Cynthia Osborn, a daughter of Abrani Osborn, who was of Welshi descent. She was born in Granby, Sept. 3. 1785, and died in 1875, her remains being interred in East Hartland. She was a good Chris- tian woman, a member of the Congregational Church. In her family were ten children: Dayton, born in 1807, was a lifelong invalid: Daniel was born in July, 1809; Abram, born July 25, 1811, died in infancy ; Sherman was born Jan. 11, 1813; Ed- win was born April 1, 1815; Alma, born May 23, 1818, married Lyman Clark; Stewart was born March 13, 1821; Jaman, born Feb. 13, 1824, is now living in Ohio; Marvin, born Feb. 27, 1827, is the father of Mrs. Messenger ; and Oren L., was born Dec. 1, 1831.

Marvin Frazier was reared and educated in Granby, and has followed farming throughout life there and in Hartland. Though he has made sev- eral trips to northern Ohio, he still makes his home in the town of Granby, a hale and hearty old man, who is widely and favorably known throughout the community in which he has so long lived. In Hills- dale, N. Y., he was married, Sept. 15, 1852, to Miss Eunice Clark, a native of Otis, Mass., and a daugh- ter of Lyman Clark. To them were born nine chil- dren: Mary, now the wife of our subject ; Ruth, wife of Joseph Beman; Samuel, who married Grace French, and is a painter by trade ; Joel, at home, who married Lillia Messenger, and has two children, Mabel and Pearl: Gilbert, who married Jennie

Roberts, and lives in West Granby; Chester, Ina and Emmet, all deceased; and Merton, a resident of Granby. The mother, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in 1890, and was buried in East Hart- land. In politics Mr. Frazier was first a Democrat, but he is now a stalwart supporter of the Prohibi- tion party and its principles.

HOWARD C. GAINES, a resident of East Hartford, was born in that village, Nov. 22, 1851, and is a son of Albert and Hester ( Hills ) Gaines, descendants of the oldest families in the town and county of Hartford.

Albert Gaines was born in East Hartford Oct. 9, 1819, and at the age of fourteen years became an apprentice at harnessmaking to Timothy Deming, under whom he served seven years. He then located at Manchester Green, and entered into business on his own account ; remained there four years ; thence, in 1844, came to East Hartford, carried on business a few years and then removed to Hartford, where he did business for thirteen years. He finally came back to East Hartford, which has since been his home. His marriage took place May 19, 1842, to Hester Hills, daughter of James and Abigail (Brewer) Hills, and to this union have been born four children : Albert, who died in 1863, at the age of twenty years; Howard C., the subject of this sketch; Alice, who is married to Francis E. Clark, a resident of Grass Valley, Oregon; and Gertrude, the wife of John R. Hanmer, living near Boston, Mass. Mr. Gaines is still living, and his wife, a lady of refined tastes, holds with him a high posi- tion in the esteem of the community in which they have so long lived.

Howard C. Gaines first attended the schools of East Hartford, and had for one of his instructors Joseph O. Hurlburt, who was a renowned educator in his time. Later, after his parents removed to Hartford, he was a pupil at the South school, of which Chauncey Harris was the principal. At the age of fifteen years his educational course ended, and since then he has fought his own way through life. He was first employed by E. P. Kellogg, a photographer ; then took a position in a shoe store, but two years later the firm went out of business ; and he entered the employ of the City Fire Insurance Co. The disastrous fire at Chicago in 1871 ruined this company, and he then took a position with the Orient Fire Insurance Co., and with it remained until failing eyesight compelled him to relinquish clerical work. His next situation was with George WV. Williams & Co., wholesale druggists, as trav- eling salesman and collector. He held this situation eight years, and was then offered a better position with D. W. Williams & Co., of Glastonbury, and traveled through Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts. Later he accepted a situa- tion with C. L. Jones & Co., of Boston, and was with that firm eleven years.

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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 168

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