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 37

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 37

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John Knox, great-grandfather of Mrs. Frank Rising, was born Jan. 13, 1759, and served in the Revolutionary army as ensign. When a young man he removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and- settled at Russell, where he was engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. He was a Feder- alist in his political views, and a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married in Blandford to Miss Anna Gunn, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and a descendant of an old Welsh family. She was also a Presbyterian, and died in Russell, leaving the memory of a useful Christian life. To this union nine children were born : Henry; Gerry ; John; Russell; Chester; Harvey; Clarissa, who married Moses Bradley; Harriet, who married Cal-

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vin Hill; and Philomela, who married a Mr. Clark.

Henry Knox, grandfather of Mrs. Frank Rising, was born in 1786, in Blandford, Mass., and re- moved to New York State with his parents while still in his 'teens. When a young man he returned to Blandford, where he bought 190 acres of land, on which he made valuable improvements. He fol- lowed farming there until his death, which occurred in July, 1853, and was much esteemed as a citizen, being a leading member of the Episcopal Church. He married Miss Charlotte Blair, a native of Bland- ford, of Scottish descent, who died in 1846. Her father, Adam Blair, served as a soldier in the Revo- lutionary army under Capt. Ferguson. Two chil- dren were born of this union : Mary Ann ( deceased ), formerly the wife of Thomas Herrick; and Hiram Henry, father of Mrs. Frank W. Rising.

Hiram Henry Knox was born in Blandford Jan. 27, 1825, and received a limited education in the district schools, which he attended during the winter months. As he was a keen observer and a constant reader, he became a well-informed man, being es- pecialy interested in ancient and modern history. In early manhood he engaged in farming at Bland- ford on a tract of 230 acres, where he made substan- tial improvements and remained until 1865. He then sold out and bought the place known as the Charles M. Owen farm, a tract of seventy-five acres, on which he has built barns and tobacco sheds, and where for the past thirty-five years he has been engaged in tobacco growing, stock raising and gen- eral farming. He is an excellent citizen, and com- mands the respect of the community. On April 27, 1847, he was married in Blandford to Miss Ophelia Black, a native of Becket, Mass., and a daughter of Curtis and Lucina ( Herrick) Black. Her grand- father, George Black, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. Of the two children born to this union, Curtis died in infancy. Minnie A., wife of Frank W. Rising, was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Connecticut Literary Institute, and was teacher of drawing and painting at Mc- Lean's Seminary, Simsbury, for two years previous to her marriage. She is a lady of fine mental gifts and culture, and has shown decided talent in both painting and music.

ISAAC DE FORREST BLINN, proprietor of the "Maple Crest" poultry yard, at East Hartford, and member of the firm of I. N. Blinn & Son, wood and lumber dealers, as well as extensive property owners, of the same town, was born in Vernon, Tolland Co .. Conn., Oct. 25, 1866, and is a son of Isaac N. and Jane (Fish) Blinn.

Isaac N. Blinn was born in Newington, Hartford county, May 23. 1837, and is a son of James and Annie ( Butler ) Blinn, the former of Newington and the latter of Wethersfield. James Blinn was a life- long farmer, and was a son of Elisha Blinn, who was killed by being thrown from a cart, the team

of oxen running away. He left his son, James, a handsome farm. To James and Annie Blinn were born eight children : James B., a molder, who died in Bridgeport, Conn. ; Adelia, widow of Frederick Little, of Somers : Edward, of Vernon; Chauncey, of Rocky Hill : Isaac N .; Fanny, of Vernon; Agnes and Charles H., also of Vernon. James Blinn was a large man, weighed 230 pounds, and had always lived in Newington until his removal to Vernon, where his sad and tragic death took place when he was eighty-five years of age, his wife dying at the age of eighty-seven. He had been a Democrat in politics up to the outbreak of the Civil war, when his faith in that party was shattered, and he became a stanch Republican.

Isaac N. Blinn attended the Newington Acad- emy until seventeen years of age, and then entered the South school in Hartford, where he finished his education. Notwithstanding the fact that he was born without a left hand, he could, when a boy, milk cows, pitch hay, cradle and mow, and his ability to do other kinds of work equally well was indeed remarkable, if not almost incredible. Mr. Blinn was reared as a farmer, as may well be inferred from the foregoing remarks, and moved from Newing- ton to Vernon with his parents, with whom he re- mained until twenty years old. He then, with his brother Chauncey, built a sawmill and gristmill on his father's farm, known as the "King Farm" and on a brook having the Indian name angirousin. This brook runs into the Hockanum. . For three years the two brothers ran the mill together. Then Isaac N. continued the business alone.

In 1865 Mr. Blinn went to Parkville to run a blacksmith and wagon shop. Some time later he took a position in the sash and blind factory of Richard Joslyn, in South Manchester. In 1879 he built a sawmill on the Hackmatack road, south of that village. Two years later this was burned down, and in 1882 he built on its site an iron foundry, which he operated for three years, having among his work nearly all of the casting for the Cheney Bros. In 1885 Mr. Blinn located in North Man- chester, resuming the sawmill business under the firm name of I. N. Blinn & Son, which he has since followed. . They bought the Stone property, ad- joining the Childs elevator, in 1888. In 1891 they removed to Burnside, buying twenty-eight acres of woodland of Charles R. Forbes, in the tract north of the Woodland mill, and clearing this purchase and several acres adjoining. On this land they built a house, now owned by L. R. Clark.

It was in 1891 that Mr. Blinn built a sawmill on the site of his present mill. This was burned in May, 1893. The fire which consumed it was the first one occurring after the formation of the Center Hose Company, No. I, and is accordingly memorable among the volunteer firemen of the town. Immediately after the fire Mr. Blinn built his present mill. This structure is of brick in the portions ad- joining the boilers and engines, and in the remaining

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portion of wood. It houses two boilers, one of 35 and the second of 70 horse-power, and one portable engine, running the sawmitl and the planing mill which adjoins the sawmill, and is a two-story build- ing of wood containing appliances for turning out all kinds of planing. For hauling logs to the mill Mr. Blinn keeps nine horses and two three-horse stretchers.

Isaac N. Blinn and his son laid out Blinn street in East Hartford, and erected all the houses thereon. Indeed, wherever they have lived they have built dwellings and mills, and their sound judgment has been proven by the fact that they have always realized a profit in disposing of their improved property. In East Hartford the firm of I. N. Blinn & Son has transformed a veritable swamp into beau- tiful yards, surrounding pleasant homes, showing what push and enterprise can do.

On Nov. 1, 1864, Isaac N. Blinn married Miss Jane Fish, who was born in Manchester Aug. 7, 1841, and is a daughter of Henry M. and Samantha ( Keeney) Fish, who were the parents of two chil- dren : Jane, Mrs. Blinn ; and Alfonso H., a joiner. The ancestors of Mrs. Blinn were old-time residents of Manchester, and Keeney street, of that town, was named in honor of the maternal side of her family. Mrs. Blinn was primarily educated in the Manchester district school, was later graduated from the high school at Meriden, and is a lady of rare ac- complishments, well-fitted to be the mate of her enterprising husband, whom she has materially aided in his remarkable business career through her sage advice. Her father was called from earth at the age of seventy-four years, and her mother at sey- enty-six. Three children crowned the union of Isaac N. Blinn and wife: Isaac DeForrest, the sub- ject of this sketch: Leroy, who was born in 1867, and died in 1868; and Henry Dayton, who was born in 1870, and died in 1885.

Mr. Blinn is a member of Lodge No. 2. Knights of the Maccabees, of Manchester, and for three years he was the lodge's chaplain. He is also a member of the East Hartford Grange, and he be- longs to the Center Congregational Church, of which his wife is also a member. In politics he is a Re- publican, though prior to the war he was Democra- tic. He has attended various conventions as a del- egate, and in temperance work he is actively inter- ested, being a strictly temperate man and one who has never used tobacco. He is still very active and industrious, and with the little assistance he re- ceived at the start of his business life as a part proprietor of a mill run by waterpower, he has made himself one of the largest holders of improved real estate in the county.

Isaac DeForrest Blinn, in -his childhood days, at- tended the schools of the district in which his par- ents at different times resided, and at the age of sixteen years finished his education at the Cheney graded school, in South Manchester. He was early trained to a practical knowledge of business by his

father, who taught him, also, to remain at home, which he did, and eventually became his father's partner in business, as is indicated in the foregoing paragraphs. But from early childhood he was an ardent poultry fancier, and often expressed a desire to enter into poultry raising. This desire was not favorably regarded by his father, but later on, in 1881, he started the business on a small scale, and his management of and success in this industry has been so phenomenal that a somewhat lengthy ac- count of it is here permissible, if not necessary. He started in the business in a small way nineteen years ago, on a village lot in South Manchester, with the White and Barred Plymouth Rocks, Silver Wyan- dottes and White Leghorns. In one season he cleared $50 on twelve hens. He then bought one and one-quarter acres of land on Hackmatack street, in South Manchester, and put up a poultry house 135 feet long, with enclosed yards,' keeping 200 fowls. He sold out at a good price, and in 1889 moved to North Manchester, later to Woodand. Here he purchased twenty-two acres of forest land, which he cleared, and put up a poultry house 150 feet long, with a brooder house 40 feet long, pipe system and hot water. Here he kept 250 fowls.

In the spring of 1891 Mr. Blinn moved to his present location, the "Maple Crest" poultry farm on Pitkin street, East Hartford, and last spring bought an additional ten acres of meadow. The poultry house is 275 feet long. As we enter the door we pass through the cooking and feed room, where are root and vegetable cutters, a bonemill, and an Em- pire State cooker. The feed bin overhead holds 2.500 pounds of grain, and is divided into com- partments for the various kinds. An alley-way three feet wide extends the length of the building, opening into the pens, which are 12x9 feet. There is an unique device for feeding soft food, the drink- ing fountains supply two pens at a time and the eggs are gathered from the alley without entering the pens. Over the cooking room is the salesroom, where breeding birds are kept in separate compart- ments. In the basement are kept the roots and vegetables, and there is a winter scratching room for each pen. In this building are 700 fowls.

Another 100 feet will be built on, thus enabling Mr. Blinn to realize his ambition in having room for 1,000 fowls. Long sloping yards extend from each pen to the meadow. Here are portable houses 5x7 feet, on sleds, which are moved to fresh ground often to accommodate the growing chicks. One thousand five hundred have been raised this season. The in- cubator house, one story and basement, contains six Cyphers hatchers, 360-egg capacity each. Here are kept the eggs gathered each day, cach egg being neatly stamped with the day of delivery. All the eggs are disposed of to private customers in Hart- ford. a cart being run to that city once a week. Chicks are hatched out ten months of the year to sup- ply the demand for broilers. There are several out-door brooders of Mr. Blinn's own manufacture,

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and more are being built. Many hundreds of feet of wire fencing are used to fence in the inany vards.

Eggs for hatching are sold and shipped to cus- tomers in all the States and distant points in Canada. Mr. Blinn showed two white Plymouth Rock cock- erels at the great Madison Square Garden exhibition last winter, one "Snowflake," taking second prize, and the other taking fifth, in a class of twenty birds. He has recently refused an offer of $50 for "Snow- flake." He has also exhibited his strains all over New England, and has invariably carried off a prize.

1. DeForrest Blinn was joined in matrimony June 22, 1892, with Miss Ella L. Forbes, a native of Hockanum, and daughter of Stephen Forbes, de- ceased, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere. To this felicitous union have been born two chil- dren, of whom the first-born, Clarence D. F., died when eighteen months old; and Harold Newton, the survivor, is a bright and intelligent child, who gives promise, if spared, of becoming a credit to any community in which his future lot may be cast.

WILFRED HOPKINS NETTLETON, inven- tor, promoter and retired manufacturer of Bristol, was born in Waterbury, Conn., June 2, 1825. At an early age he removed with his parents, Garry and Mary Nettleton, to Bristol. Upon finishing his edu- cation, in the schools of his adopted town, he entered the employ of Brewster & Ingraham, clock manu- facturers, for one year. Soon afterward, at about the age of twenty, taking a contract and employing a number of men.

Very ambitious to be himself a manufacturer, Mr. Nettleton began the making of certain parts of clocks, such as those regulating the striking, called "Lockwork," also arbors, pinion wires, and other smaller clock devices. For these purposes he perfected automatic machines, for which he secured patents in this country, but unfortunately not in Europe, and, as evidence of the value of these in- ventions, they have been copied, and precisely the same machinery is being used at present by Euro- pean clockmakers. These inventions were greatly labor-saving, and gave the product great perfection over the old methods, and by them Mr. Nettleton for years supplied nearly all the large elockmakers of this country with special parts, in the manufac- ture of which about one thousand pounds of spe- cial wire were used per day, equipping some five thousand clocks. He continued actively in this busi- ness for some twenty-five years, employing at times from thirty to fifty workmen. He also manufac- tured, during this time, ladies' fans, sewing ma- chines, hemmers and binders, toys, and other small wares. He also engaged in the manufacture of the famous "Ten Dollar Sewing Machine," at Brat- tleboro, Vt., in company with Charles Raymond, the inventor of this, the first practical and best cheap sewing machine made in this country. After

a few years, and with this business well established and successful, he sold his interests to his partner, Mr. Raymond.

By reason of failing health, Mr. Nettleton was obliged to give up his important business in Bris- tol, selling out to George A. Jones in 1871. Since that time he has occupied himself in looking after his business interests in general, and in frequent. travels over the country, and especially to the South, seeking renewed health. During all his active busi- ness life, though a very busy man under the ex- actions of his own special lines of business, he was sought as a promoter and leader in other business enterprises. He was president for twelve years of the Bristol Saw Co., a director of the National Water Wheel Co., and president of the American Coal Barge Co. of New Haven, owning the most rapid coal filling and emptying process ever in- vented. He is also one of the two surviving original directors of the Bristol National Bank.

The quality and scope of Mr. Nettleton's busi- ness abilities and successes can have no better sum- ming up than to say that, beginning as a poor boy and day laborer, he never had a penny of financial assistance, except as a young man, a hundred dol- lars from a kindly aunt. And further, to mention the way in which he met and passed, successfully, a most critical epoch in his business career. This was about 1855-1857, a period of hard times and panic, in which clock manufacturers were severely stricken, and many failed. With large sums due him, and his own obligations to meet, he weathered the storm by what was hardly less than a stroke of genius. Foreseeing the darkening clouds, he- hurried to make contracts with jewelers, paper makers, and other manufacturers of salable wares,. to take his orders upon the clockmakers, he in re- turn taking miscellaneous goods, and changing the same into cash wherever he could find a market. The crisis called for foresight, skill and high cour- age, and these master qualities were rewarded, bringing him safely through what seemed certain bankruptcy.

Mr. Nettleton has ever been interested and active in spheres other than the merely business and financial. Politically he has ever been an ardent Republican, and for several years was a member of the Republican League of New Haven, and a nom- inee of his party in 1866 for the Legislature, as town representative. During the Civil war he gave evidence of earnest loyalty ; though unable to bear arms himself on account of ill health, he pledged a hundred dollars to each of his employes who might choose to enlist, and several did so, receiving this bounty. And while not a participant himself in the great struggle, he mourns the death of his only brother, George E., a soldier of the 16th Connecticut Regiment, who died as a result of the hardships he suffered at Andersonville. After the terrible day at Antietam Mr. Nettleton hurried to. the battlefield, passing through most eventful ex-

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periences in his endeavors to aid the suffering soldiers from his town and State.

Mr. Nettleton became a member of the First Congregational Church of Bristol in 1871, ever interested in its welfare, and at times serving it in an official position. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M .. of Bristol, having a longer membership in it than any one living, and in its earlier existence serving it as treasurer. He has always had an alert interest and progressive spirit in community and social life. This is interestingly illustrated in the notable Bristol Brass Band, the first of its kind in the town. When a young man of nineteen he, with S. B. Jerome and the hearty co- operation of a choice body of young men, organized the band and orchestra that attained quite a celeb- rity under the instruction of Signor Salvator Rosa, of New York.

Personally, Mr. Nettleton is easily one of "Na- ture's gentlemen." A man of gentle dignity, un- assuming, affable, and naturally kind and generous, as fortune came to him. many have been the institu- tions and persons that have found in him a thought- ful and generous benefactor. His relations with the many employes of his active business life were ever friendly and cordial, many remaining with him for years.

On June 9, 1847, Mr. Nettleton married Miss Harriet Newell Tuttle, of Bristol, his strong helper, his devoted wife, and a lady of exceptional intelligence and refinement. Mrs. Nettleton died May 4, 1896, and had she survived another year they would have celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their most happy union.

By a long and honorable business career, by his thoughtful interest in other persons and things, and by his genial social qualities, Mr. Nettleton has well earned the confidence and high esteem of his fellow townsmen and all who know him.

JOHN B. LEWIS, M. D., medical director and adjuster of the Travelers Insurance Co., Hartford, himself a patriot and soldier of distinction in the Civil war, has descended from a family of patriots and soldiers.

Eleazer Lewis, his great-grandfather, was a sol- dier of the war of the Revolution, Benjamin Lewis, his grandfather, a soldier of the war of 1812, and John Lewis, his father. a teacher at West Point. Our subject was born March 10, 1832, in Suffolk county, N. Y., and received his education in Powell- ton Seminary, at Newburgh, N. Y. He was gradu- ated March 10, 1853. on his twenty-first birthday, from the University Medical College of New York City. Shortly threafter he located in the practice in Vernon. Conn., having formed a business partner- ship with Dr. Alden Skinner, and here for several years he had a full share of that laborious practice of medicine and surgery which falls to the lot of an energetic country doctor.

Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war

Dr. Lewis, July 3, 1861, was commissioned surgeon of the 5th Conn. V. I. In the spring of 1862 he was commissioned brigade surgeon, United States Vol- unteers, by the President, and ordered to report to Maj .- Gen. Banks, Department of the Shenandoah, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Shield's Di- vision. Soon afterward he was made medical di- rector of the division, and remained in service in that capacity up to the time when the division was in- corporated with Gen. McClellan's Army, at Harri- son's Landing, when he was assigned to temporary duty. The invasion of Maryland by Gen. Lee oc- curred soon afterward, and Sept. 15, 1862, while in charge of a field hospital, he received orders to pro- ceed without delay to the headquarters of Gen Mc- Clellan and report to Surgeon Letterman, where, during Sept. 17 and 18, he was on duty at the battle of Antietam. Some days later he was assigned sur- geon in charge of the United States General Hos- pital, No. 6, at Frederick, Md., and was in charge of this hospital until its discontinuance, in February following. By command of Maj .- Gen. Schenck, Middle Department, Feb. 18, 1863, Dr. Lewis was assigned surgeon in charge of the United States General Hospital at Cumberland, Md., upon which duty he remained until after the close of the war. While in charge of the hospital he also served for a time as medical director of the Department of West Virginia, and in such official position, in company with Maj .- Gen. Crook, commanding, visited and in- spected the military posts and hospitals within the department. In his field service Dr. Lewis was pres- ent in thirteen battles and skirmishes, and during the same period was many times in charge of field hospitals. In 1865 he was commissioned, by the President, brevet lieutenant-colonel, United States Volunteers. He was retained in the service after the close of the war in order that he might have charge of the sale of the large property belonging to the government which had been used for hospital purposes at Cumberland, and when he had com- pleted these duties he forwarded a written request to be mustered out "at the earliest date consistent with the interests of the service." By special orders from the War Department, Oct. 7. 1865, he was "honorably discharged out of the service of the United States."

After his discharge from the service Dr. Lewis resumed the practice of medicine, residing for some three years at Rockville, and then removed to Hart- ford. After a few months spent in Europe he en- tered, in 1869. the service of the Travelers Insurance Co., of Hartford, as medical director for that com- pany and in charge of its claim department. He has since devoted his time and talents to the medical department of the Travelers, writing meanwhile nu- merous papers on historical, medical and medico- legal subjects.

On June 13, 1855, Dr. Lewis married Miss Mary K., daughter of Hon. J. N. E. Mann, of Dedham, Mass., and to this union three children were born,

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one son and two daughters; Dr. William J. Lewis, the son, was for years consulting surgeon for the Travelers Co., and is now in practice in New York City.

TALCOTT. The family Talcott was originally of Warwickshire, England. The Arms-Ar. on a pale Sa. three roses of the field. Crest-a demi- griffin, erased. Ar. gorged with a collar Sa., charged with three roses of the first. Motto- VIRTUS SOLA NOBILITAS.

(I) John1 Talcott, a descendant from the War- wickshire family, was living in Colchester, County Essex, previous to 1558. He married (first)

Wells, who died, her husband and three children sur- viving. John Talcott died in Colchester about I Nov., 1606, survived by his wife and her six chil- dren. His will, dated 24 Sept., 1606, was admitted to probate 12 Nov., 1606. His bequests indicate a large estate-"to his grandchild John Talcoat, the son of my son John Talcoat, late of Brantree, the sum of £40 good and lawful money to be paid unto himself by myn executors at the age of 20 years if he lyve so long.'

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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 37

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