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 39

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 39

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carried on business for many years, and which is now occupied by his sons. Even then he displayed that tenacity of purpose and power of self-control which, in his after life, was so conspicuous. He received from Mr. Kennedy for his first year's work $600. By dint of rigid economy he was able to carry this sum home intact, and offer it to his mother. Finding that it was not needed in the do- mestic economy, he brought it back with him to Hartford; and this small amount, deposited in the Phoenix Bank, constituted the financial nucleus of his fortune. The word financial is used advisedly, since he owned a more productive capital, in the form of hard sense, quick perception and tireless energy. In 1840 he acquired an interest in the business, which after a few years passed wholly under his control. In commercial life he seemed incapable of fatigue. Always the first at the store in the morning, he was the last to leave at night, devoting his evenings to the inspection of his books of account, a task which not infrequently extended far into the night. How the business developed, under his watchful, judicious supervision, consti- tutes a part of Hartford's commercial history. No detail was too trivial to fix his notice ; and it is said of his memory that he was able to tell-among nearly 3,000 accounts-on which side the balance stood on each account and to fix that balance to a nicety. The extent of his business necessitated carry- ing a large stock, filling not only his store on Main street, but also the rear buildings and additional warerooms on Kinsley street. In addition to the capi- tal invested in his business he had large and valuable holdings in real estate, besides being a stockholder in various solid, dividend-paying corporations. He owned farms in Bloomfield, on Talcott Moun- tain, in Windsor, and in other localities, having probably over 700 acres of valuable land in Hart- ford county alone. Although unassuming, and modest in dress, demeanor and mode of life, he was a man of powerful personality, rarely failing to exert an influence over those with whom he came in contact. His mental grasp was broad and firm, and capable of comprehending and fathoming schemes of vast magnitude. Among his warmest personal friends were E. M. Reed, superintendent of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, who was wont to consult him on matters of grave import ; and the prominent merchants, Henry Keney, Charles Brainard (president of the State Bank), James Goodwin, and Robert Buell, the latter a merchant tailor, and later an extensive stock bro- ker. These gentlemen frequently gathered in each other's offices, remaining often late into the night. Mr. Way died at his home on Windsor avenue Oct. 5. 1882, some two years after the death of his wife, May 21, 1880, leaving an estate valued at over half a million dollars. In his early life he was a Whig, and in later years a Republican, although never taking an active part in politics. In religious faith he was a Congregationalist, being an attendant at the Central Church, of which Rev. Dr. Hawes was

George W. Way

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pastor. He was a lover of fine horses and Alder- ney cows. of which he owned a large number. His wife, Miriam F. (Kennedy), was born March 18, 1804. She bore her husband three sons: Samuel L., born July 13, 1833: George L., May 21, 1835 : and William K., May 19, 1837. The youngest died Jan. 18, 1887.

GEORGE L. WAAY was educated in the district and high schools of Hartford, having among his precep- tors Rev. Thomas K. Beecher. After graduation he entered the store of his father, whose wish was that he should become a merchant. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 22d Conn. V. I., serving about ten months. On his return home he became associated with his father, in the capa- city of confidential manager, which relation sub- sisted until the demise of the latter. Since that event he has devoted his time to the management of his own extensive business interests.

On June 15. 1876, Mr. Way married Miss Sarah Jane Smith, a daughter of James Smith, of Hart- ford. Five children have been born to them: A. Sidney. Henry P., Leonard D., Howard D., and Helen C. Mr. Way attends the Universalist Church.

DANIEL ANSON MARKHAM, who has been engaged in the successful practice of law in Hart- ford for the past sixteen years, and has also become well known in the city in other connections, was born Dec. 29, 1854. in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., and comes of a family long established in this State. His great-grandfather, John Markham, was a sol- dier in the Revolution. Hiram Markham, son of John, had a son Daniel Niles, who married Mary Skinner, and resides in Chatham. They were the parents of our subject.

Daniel A. Markham prepared for college under private tutors, was graduated from Wesleyan Uni- versity. Middletown, Conn., with the class of 1897. and subsequently studied law in Middletown with Arthur B. Calef and D. W .. Northrop. In 1882 he was admitted to the Bar in Middlesex county, but since 1884 he has followed his profession in Hart- ford, where he has won high rank among the mem- bers of his profession and as a citizen. The resi- dents of his adopted city gave substantial evidence of their appreciation of his worth and confidence in his ability by electing Mr. Markham, a few years after his settlement in Hartford, to the position of recorder in the city court, in which he served from 1891 to 1893. His able discharge of all the duties connected with that incumbency elicited the ap- proval of all concerned. Mr. Markham's reputation as a legal adviser is of the highest.

In 1889 Mr. Markham married Miss Grace Goodrich, daughter of Samuel G. and Annie ( But- ler ) Goodrich, and three children have been born to them, as follows: Daniel Goodrich, Dec. 12, 1890; Margaret. Jan. 21. 1893 (died Dec. 9. 1895) : and John Anson, Nov. 15, 1894.

ROGER WELLES was born at Newington March 7. 1829, the sixth child and second son of Roger and Electa (Stanley) Welles. Mr. Welles attended the district school and the academy in Newington, also the academies at Madison, Conn., and East Hartford, and later Williston Seminary, at East Hampton, Mass., where he fitted for college. He taught a district school in the Belden district in West Hartford during the winter of 1846-47, and "board- ed round." In 1847 he entered Yale College, and graduated in the class of 1851, after which he en- tered his name as a student in the law office of his uncle, Judge Martin Welles, in Hartford, some part of the time being occupied in teaching in Madison and his native town. He was admitted to the Bar in October, 1854. and had a desk in the law office of Judge Francis Parsons. He was appointed en- grossing clerk of the Legislature at its May session, 1855, and acted as reporter for the Hartford Courant of the doings of the House of Representa- tives during that session, Thomas M. Day, Esq., being the editor of the Courant at that time. In Sep- tember of that year he went to St. Paul, Minn., and entered into a law partnership with William P. Murray, Esq., of that city. In the fall of 1856 he- was taken sick with remittent fever, and, being ad- vised to have a change of climate as the best medi- cine, he returned home for the winter of 1856-57. In the spring of 1857 he went back to Minnesota with restored health, locating at Henderson, Sibley county, where the United States Land Office had just been established, and entered into partnership- with Martin J. Severance, Esq., practicing law mostly before the land office. On June 16, 1858, he married, at Prairie du Chien, .Wis., Mercy D. Aiken, daughter of Lemuel S. and Sarah ( Coffin) Aiken, of Fairhaven, Mass. They have seven chil- dren, as follows: (1) Martin, born April 15. 1859 .. graduated at Yale in 1882, and is now doing busi- ness in New York City ; on June 12, 1888, he mar- ried Mary Amelia Patton, and they have three chil- dren. (2) Mary Crowell, born Nov. 1, 1860, grad- uated at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., in 1883, and is now an instructor there. (3) Roger, born Dec. 7, 1862, graduated at the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1886, and is now a lieutenant in the Navy. (4) Sarah Aiken, born Dec. 2. 1864, died Nov. 3. 1870. (5) Edwin Stanley, born Sept. 5, 1866, graduated at the Berkeley Divinity School, at Middletown, in 1892. (6) Lemuel Aiken, born Nov. 18, 1870, graduated at Yale in 1893, and is now a lawyer in New York City. (7) Grace Mather, born May 12. 1874, graduated at Miss Burnham's School, Northampton, Mass., in 1893, and on Sept. 3. 1895. married H. Leonard Beadle : they have one son.

In the spring of 1860 Mr. Welles returned to Connecticut and entered into partnership with Judge Martin Welles, who died Jan. 18, 1863. He was chosen a representative from the town of Wethers- field in 18644 and 1871, and during the session of the

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legislature in the latter year secured the passage of an Act incorporating Newington, which had before been a parish in the town of Wethersfield, as a new town. On June 1, 1874, he entered into part- nership with Hon. William W. Eaton and his son, in law practice, continuing thus for several years. On May 1, 1889, he was appointed financial clerk of the United States Patent Office at Washington, D. C., where he continued until Sept. 1, 1891, when he was transferred at his own request to the office of the Assistant Attorney-General in the Interior Department, remaining till he resigned, July 1, 1893. He has since practiced his profession in Hart- ford.

Mr. Welles became a member of the Congrega- tional Church in Newington May 3, 1868, and was clerk of the Ecclesiastical Society from Nov. 5, 1867, to Oct. 24, 1887 ; superintendent of the Sun- day-school from Dec. 31, 1868, to Jan. 4, 1873. He published the Church and Society Records in the "Annals of Newington," in 1874. Various town offices, as those of selectman, assessor, justice of the peace and grand juror, have been held by him. For several years he was chairman of the committee of the Hartford County Bar, for the examination of candidates for admission to the Bar, until he resigned, in 1889.

WILLIAM A. CROSBY was born in East Glastonbury, May 20, 1846, and was educated in the common schools and Wilbraham ( Mass.) Academy, finishing at the age of eighteen.

The name Crosby means "town of the Cross." The termination "by" in English towns is a Danish form of burgh, bury or borough. The towns so called are found in great numbers where the Danes formed their settlements, principally along the sea coasts of northern England. Undoubtedly the first of the Crosby family to come to America was Simon, who, when twenty-six years of age came to this country in the "Susan and Ellyn," with his wife Ann, aged twenty-five years, and their young son Thomas. He became a freeman in Cambridge, Mass., in 1636. later was one of the selectmen, and died in 1639. He was a wealthy man, and undoubtedly brought considerable money with him to America. He left three children. His widow afterward married Rev. William Thompson, of Braintree.

Edwin Crosby, the father of our subject, was born in Ellington, Conn .. in 1816, and was left an orphan at the tender age of two and one-half years. Being deprived of his parents at such an early age, much of the family history has been lost. He made his home with an uncle upon a farm in Ellington until fourteen years of age, dur- ing which time he attended school only a few short months in the winter, but he was a very studious 1.oy. and much of his education was obtained by reading in the evenings after his day's work was done. At the age of fourteen he left the home of

his uncle to make his own way in the world, and went to Rockville, where he was employed in the dye department of the woolen mills for some time. He then came to East Glastonbury to accept the position of superintendent in the mills owned by Sereno Hubbard, and in that capacity was connected with the mills until the death of Mr. Hubbard, when he purchased an interest in the business and became a silent partner. Subsequently the firm bought the Eagle Mills, in Eagleville ( now Addi- son ), Conn., and for two years they conducted both, the finishing of the product of the old mill being done in Eagleville. The mills at East Glas- tonbury were then known as the Roaring Brook Mills. Financial reverses overtook the company. and the mills in Eagleville were sold. They began anew in East Glastonbury, but it required some months before matters were properly adjusted. Later Mr. Crosby assumed full control of the mills, which he ran with profit, and continued in active business until 1884, when he was succeeded by his sons, Alembert O. and Lincoln E., but poor health obliged the latter to retire from business shortly afterward. The father died April 12, 1888, after a gradual decline of about ten years, and was buried in East Glastonbury cemetery. He was a man of medium height and weight. A faithful member of the East Glastonbury Methodist Episco- pal Church, he was very active in all its affairs, and was a large contributor to same. He served as class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday- school for a number of years, and whether the weather was good or bad he was always in his pew on the Sabbath-day. He was very domestic in his habits, and was a lover of home and family. As a business man he was very thorough in his under- takings, was frank and open, and kind to his em- ployes, many of whom had been in his employ for several years, and made a great effort to please him. He was a man of strict integrity. was a con- stant reader, and broad-minded and liberal in his views. If he had had better educational advant- ages in youth he would undoubtedly have become a very prominent man. He was a stanch supporter first of the Whig and later of the Republican party, and represented Glastonbury in the State Legislature.

For his first wife Edwin Crosby married Al- truda Andrews. a native of Glastonbury, and a daughter of David and Honorra ( Sparks) Andrews. She died Dec. 5, 1843, leaving two children: (I) Lincoln E., born April 10, 1840, died Aug. 25, 1890 (he married Sarah E. Strong, and they had four children, Edwin Hugh, who married Ethel L. Clark, and is engaged in the newspaper business in Glas- tonbury : Grace A. ; Eva A. : and Florence V.) : (2) Adario, born July 4, 1843. died Feb. 22, 1894 (he wedded Mary Cory, and they had one daugh- ter, Cora, now the wife of a Mr. Webb, of Holyoke, Mass.). For his second wife Mr. Crosby married a sister of his first, Harriet Andrews, who was born

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Oct. 7, 1826, and died Jan. 5, 1899. She was a good Christian mother, and a kind and loving neigh- bor. By the second union there were three children : William A. ; Alembert O., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere ; and Ada, now Mrs. David Gordon, of Hazardville. Conn., who cared for her mother in her declining years.

William A. Crosby commenced work with T. Steele & Co., of Hartford, and learned the jeweler's trade, remaining about eight years in all. In 1868- 60 he was in the jewelry business in Chicago, work- ing for A. H. Miller & Co. In 1869, after return- ing from Chicago, he was employed in the office of E. Crosby & Sons as bookkeeper in their Hartford office, which position he filled some five years. After withdrawing from that position he went into the jewelry business in Holyoke. Mass., and there was associated with him his brother Adario, doing busi- ness under the firm name of William A. Crosby & Co. Two years later W. A. Crosby sold his interest in the business to his brother Adario, who afterward carried on the business alone. In 1881 W. A. Crosby entered the insurance business in the city of . Hart- ford. continuing same some nine years, and in 1890 he came to East Glastonbury and entered the Crosby Manufacturing Co., in which he is a stockholder. He acts as inspector and shipping clerk. Mr. Crosby is a Republican, but he has no taste for political life. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Order, holding membership in Lafayette Lodge, Hartford.

On Sept. 2. 1869, Mr. Crosby married Miss Alice 1. Rodda, who was born April 25. 1850. daugh- ter of James and Harriet ( Thomas) Rodda, and they have had one son, Albert W., born Nov. 13. 1870, who was educated in the Hartford Public High School and the New York Dental College, receiving the degree of D. D. S. from the latter. He is now practicing his profession in New London, Conn. He married Miss Isabel Seldon Darrow, of New London.

WILLIAM M. HUDSON, M. D. The Hudson family has been prominently identified with Hart- ford for several generations, and Barzillai Hudson, the great-grandfather of the well-known physician whose name opens this sketch, was at one time ed- itor of the Hartford Courant. Barzillai Hudson came from Bridgewater, Mass, and married for his second wife Hannah Watson, the owner of the Courant. By his first wife, Margaret Seymour. daughter of Gov. Zebulon Seymour, he had one son, William. She was buried in Hartford cemetery.

William Hudson, our subject's grandfather. died at the age of thirty-nine years. He married Mary Skinner, and had two sons: Barzillai ; and William, our subject's father. Barzillai Hudson was born in Hartford Feb. 28, 1794, and died March 28, 1871. in his seventy-eighth year. He spent his boyhood days in Hartford, and engaged in the furniture and auctioneer business with his brother on Main street, opposite Pratt, under the firm name of B. & W. Hudson. He was the first president of the Phoenix

Life Insurance Co., and was active in public life, being director of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at . the time of his death, and for many years served as alderman. He was a member of the Center Church. He was married in Hartford to Eliza Woodbridge, daughter of Ward Woodbridge, of Hartford, and they made their home in a pleasant residence on Pratt street. They had ten children, eight of whom reached maturity: Ward Wood- bridge, who died in 1864; Mary Woodbridge and Alfred, both deceased; Charles, who died in 1897 ; Eliza, widow of Mr. Pirie, of Milwaukee ; Frank, de- ceased ; Julia E., a resident of Hartford ; and Gren- ville MI., who has been connected with the Phoenix Life Insurance Co. for thirty years.

William Hudson (2), our subject's father, was born in 1803, and died in 1879. For some time he was engaged in the printing business as a member of the firm of Hudson & Skinner, his office being opposite Center Church, and later he and his brother formed the partnership mentioned above. He was a member of the Governor's Foot Guard at one time. and as a citizen was highly esteemed. He married Anna Miller, a native of Bloomfield, daughter of Rev. William Fowler Miller, of that town, and they had the following children: William Miller, our subject ; Anna Jane, who married F. W. Russell, of Hartford, and died in 1895; and Regina Miller, who married Leverett B. Englesby.

William M. Hudson spent his early years in Ilartford, and was one of the first students to com- plete a course in the Public High School of that city, where he graduated in 1849. The same year he en- tered Yale College, taking the academic course, and graduating in 1853, and in 1855 he was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He then studied for two years in Paris, and in 1857 began practice in New York City. For some time he was connected with the Northern Dispensary. In 1862 he was appointed, by Surgeon-General Hammond, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A. While he was in the service his family removed to llart- ford, and after his return from the army he prac- ticed there until 1869, when he was appointed fish commissioner. This office he held for twenty-five years, and from 1881 to 1891 he was a member of the shell-fish commission. He is a stockholder in the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. and has been for twenty years stockholders' auditor of same. He was the first treasurer of the Colonial Club, and is now one of the vice-presidents of the American School for the Deaf, and vice-president of the Cercle Francais. For many years his influ- ence was recognized as a potent factor in municipal affairs. He is chairman of the executive commit- tee of the Republican Club, and served two years in the board of aldermen and five years in the com- mon council, of which he was president for a time. Ile was also a member of the City, County and State Medical Societies.

Dr. Hudson was married in Philadelphia May

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4. 1858, to Miss Ellen Hieskell Bryan, and they have three children: William M., Jr., resides in New York City: Frances Bryan married William M. Storrs, and resides on Columbia street, Hartford ; Regina Miller married Frederick P. Holt, of the Hartford Trust Co., and they have one son, Lucius Hudson Holt, who is a member of the class of 1902. Yale University.

JAMES H. BREWSTER, manager at Hartford of the United States branch of the Scottish Union and National, and the Lion Fire Insurance Co .. of London, England, was born in Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., Dec. 24, 1845, and descends from one of the most ancient of New England families, as will be seen by the family tree at the close of this article.

James H. Brewster was educated in Coventry and Hartford, and after leaving school clerked for two years in Pease & Foster's store, in the latter city. In 1867 he entered the office of the Connecti- cut Fire Insurance Co., of Hartford, and manifested so great an aptness for the business that he was ad- vanced rapidly, and in 1873 had reached the position of assistant secretary. On Nov. 1, 1880, when the late Martin Bennett was appointed to the position now held by Mr. Brewster as manager of the United States branch of the Scottish Union and National, the latter became assistant to the former, and on the death of Mr. Bennett succeeded, Jan. 1, 1900, to the management, the two gentlemen having been asso- ciated together in the insurance business for up- ward of thirty years.

The ten generations of the Brewster family in America are traced to England as far back as 1560, and may be given as follows :

(1) Elder William Brewster was born at Scroo- by, England, about 1560, and the history of his life in connection with the "Mayflower" and the Ply- mouth Colony is too well known to need repetition here.

(II) Jonathan Brewster, also born at Scrooby. married Lucretia Oldham, resided for a time with the Pilgrims in Holland, and in 1621 came with his family in the "Fortune" to Plymouth, Massachu- setts.

(III) Benjamin Brewster, born in Duxbury, Mass., in 1633, moved to Pequot (now New Lon- don), Conn., in 1648, and in February, 1659, mar- ried Ann Dart. In 1668 he was chosen deputy to the General Court, in 1673 was appointed lieutenant in the New London county military forces, and was later promoted captain. In 1686 he was again ap- pointed deputy to the General Court.

(IV) William Brewster, born in March, 1669. in Norwich, Conn., married Jan. 8, 1692, Elizabeth Reed, who died March II, 1692; his second wife was named Patience. About 1701 he removed to Lebanon, Conn., where he died on his farm Aug. II, 1728.

(V) Peter Brewster, born in Lebanon Feb. 17. 1706, married Feb. 18, 1730, Mary, daughter of

Stephen and Elizabeth Lee; she was born Dec. 19, 1713, and died Sept. 17, 1784. About 1737 Peter Brewster removed to Coventry, Conn., having pur- chased of David Lee, Aug. 27, of the same year, a farm in the North parish of that town. Peter Brewster was a hatter by trade, and undoubtedly also a farmer. On Nov. 30, 1786, when over sev- enty-nine years of age, he married for his second wife Miriam Barnard. He died in January, 1802, and she in 1818.

(VI) Jacob Brewster, born in Coventry, Conn., in 1742, married Delia, daughter of Stephen and De- liverance (Rust) Taylor. She was born May 23, 1750, and died Oct. 20, 1835. The death of Jacob took place March 31, 1823.

(VII) Shubael Brewster, born April 14, 1769, married April 24, 1794, Asenath, daughter of Noah and Submit (Cooke) Porter, for his first wife. She was born July 8, 1766, and died May 21, 1814. For his second wife Shubael married Cynthia Wing Kingsbury, who died March 27, 1856. He died June 17, 1862.

(VIII) Henry Augustus Brewster, born in Cov- entry, Conn., July 23, 1817, married Fannie S. Badger Dec. 10, 1844.

( IX) James H. Brewster, whose name opens this article, and whose nativity has been mentioned, married in Brooklyn, N. Y., Mary E. Folts.

(X) James H. Brewster, Jr., born June 7, 1882, is now ( 1900) a member of the Freshman class in Yale University, New Haven.

PHILO W. NEWTON has been successfully engaged in the drug business in Hartford for over a quarter of a century, and in that and various con- nections is well known in the city, of which he is a native, born Dec. 10, 1849. He is a son of Philo S. Newton, grandson of Daniel Newton, and great- grandson of Solomon Newton.

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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 39

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