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 69

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 69

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(VI) Amaziah Stanley, born in West Hartford, Feb. 18, 1733, died Feb. 8, 1790. On Dec. 16, 1756,

he married Elizabeth Woodruff, who died July 8, 1768, leaving one son, Noadiah, who was born June 22, 1760, and married Hannah King. Amaziah Stanley subsequently married Mary Flower, daugh- ter of Franeis Flower. She died Oct. 30, 1822. By the second union there were six children : Elizabeth, born June 10, 1770, married Ezekiel Kellogg; Ama- ziah, born Aug. 24, 1771, married Hannah Good -. win; Truman, baptized March 29, 1778, was the grandfather of our subject; Oliver, born in June, 1781, married (first) Mary Goodrich, and ( second ) Elvira Chapin; Abraham, born July 25, 1783, died in 1789; and Eunice, born in October, 1786, mar- ried Hezekiah Seldon.

(VII) Truman Stanley was born Feb. 7, 1778, and was baptized in West Hartford March 29, 1778. He became an extensive land owner in that town, and in connection with farming worked at the stone mason's trade. He was a Whig in politics, and a Congregationalist in religious belief. On Sept. 30, 1804, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Braman, who died July 26, 1867, and his death occurred Sept. 9, 1860. They had six children : Will- iam, born March 11, 1806, who married Elizabeth Moore; Eliza, born Nov. 20, 1808; Laura, born in 1812, who died Mareh 8, of that year ; Edward, born June 6, 1814, the father of our subjeet ; Henry, born April 27, 1817, who married Sarah W. Lee; and Ann, born Jan. 18, 1825, who married George W. Robbins.

( VIII) Edward Stanley was born in West IIart- ford June 6, 1814, and was baptized Nov. 15, 1817. Throughout the greater part of his life he engaged in farming in West Hartford, and was one of the most prominent and influential citizen's of his com- munity, serving as the first representative of the town in the State Legislature; as selectman for twenty-five years; and first seleetman for fifteen years. Politically he was a stanch Republican, and religiously both he and his wife were carnest and consistent members of the Congregational Church. He was married June 26, 1840, to Miss Susan Smith (Selden), a daughter of John and Hannah ( Hurl- burt) Selden. He died April 25, 1884, and his wife passed away March 12, 1888. In their family were five children: William Mortimer, born in March, 1841, died Sept. 28, 1852; Everett Thomas, born Jan. 17, 1846, is mentioned below; Mary Ida, born Feb. 6, 1849, died Sept. 12, 1852; Frederick Ed- ward, born Aug. 31, 1853, is also mentioned more fully below; and Helen Annetta, born Aug. II, 1854, was married Oct. 12, 1882, to John M. Foote, Jr.

(IX) Everett Thomas Stanley spent his boyhood and youth in West Hartford, and was provided with good educational advantages, attending first the dis- trict schools of the town, later the old West Hart- ford Academy, Barnhart's private school, at Moores- town, N. J., and a business college at Hartford. Throughout his business career he has followed farming in West Hartford with marked success, and

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for fifteen years was also engaged in the milk busi- ness. He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party and of its principles, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to serve as first selectman for the past fourteen years. Mr. Stanley was first married, in West Hart- ford, to Miss Julia Flagg, who died Dec. 2, 1873, and later he was again married, in Hartford, his second union being with Miss Fannie Elizabeth Baker, by whom he has one daughter, Mary Baker.

(IX) Frederick Edward Stanley was born at his present residence in West Hartford Aug. 31, 1853, and attended the West District school and the Cen- ter school of the town. He remained on the old homestead, and, like his brother, he has met with excellent success in his farming operations. On June 4, 1884, in Hartford, he married Miss Rowena Annetta Clark, a daughter of Henry Stiles and Lucy (Fowler) Clark, of South Windsor. The brothers are both wide-awake and enterprising business men, and are widely and favorably known.

ANER SPERRY, of Hartford. * The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Russia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1812. For a great many years he was active in business in Hartford and well known throughout the city and county. He practically retired years ago, and has since devoted his attention to the settlement of estates. His erect form is still a familiar figure on the streets of Hartford, and although he is nearly eighty-nine years of age his step is firm and his eye bright. He has personally prepared a sketch of his life, which is printed verbatim below, and will be read by his acquaintances with greater relish than anything the editor could offer in its place.

Mr. Sperry writes: "My father and mother went from New Haven to Russia, N. Y., in the year 1800, and settled on a farm in the wilderness. They had one daughter, Laura. They constructed a log house, in which they lived several years, but the family increased and a larger house was re- quired. It was built at the foot of a small hill, of logs, and in this house I was born. I take great pleasure in visiting the spot where the old log house stood, and looking at the little babbling brook near by, where I have taken so much comfort in wading in the water, building dams, and after school filling my fish basket with speckled trout, or picking twelve quarts of blackberries and carrying them to 'the corner' one and a half miles away. I could generally get two cents per quart, but if the market was dull Esq. Frink would take them and give me a yard of cotton cloth that was worth one York shilling. My mother could always find use for it, as I had five sisters and two brothers. The school house was one and a half miles away, and I did not spend much time there. Father was

a tailor, and spent most of the winters in 'whipping the cat,' and that left the chores and wood chopping for me to do. The old bay mare 'Cub' was a great help to me in getting up the wood, and she also took us to mill and to meeting. We had about three acres of orchard, and I remember the names of nearly every tree. Father built a frame barn, and one of our neighbors had a frame house. He died one day, and father bought the house for $50, and the neighbors that had oxen came and moved the house to our place, and we dug a cellar under it, and that made us a very good home. It was a hard struggle for our parents to clear up the land and raise so large a family. We were all brought up in the Methodist faith and the fear of hell was before our eyes, but l 'did not see it.' Our ad- vantages for knowing what was in the future were very limited. The answer to any and all questions was faith.' Our farm was very hilly, and it made lots of hard work. The soil was good, however. A brook ran through the south part of it, and a spring supplied the north part; we had a good sugar bush. Our neighbors were kind and agree- able. I took lots of comfort in attending singing school.

"At the age of sixteen years I left home in the fall and went to live with John Graves, and did chores for my board and went to school. Per- haps some of the sixteen-year-old boys of the pres- ent day would like to know what chores I had to do. Well, the first was to get out of bed at four o'clock A. M., dress and go to the barn and milk six cows, feed forty cows, two oxen and five horses, then go to another barn and feed twenty calves and forty sheep; then go to a hay stack half a mile away and feed five colts, shovel away the snow, and cut a hole in the ice for them to drink; feed six hogs-all of which must be done before day- light. Who can guess how much hay has been handled? Now breakfast is ready. After eating in a hurry, the cows are all turned out to water, and put back if stormy, horses led out to water, and all of the stables cleaned out; now comes wood sawing and filling the woodbox in the kitchen ; and then I am now ready for school. At twelve I must hurry home and feed all the cattle and get back to school for the afternoon. As soon as it is closed I am seen running home to do the chores, which are not finished until about eight o'clock; then when supper is over I am soon between the sheets. This is repeated every day until spring ar- rives. I then go to work for $7 per month. This is followed up for five years. I then arrive at the age of twenty-one. During my boyhood, when at home, my father gave me a small patch of ground on which I raised watermelons, and sold them at general trainings, and picked up a little money of my own. At seventeen I enlisted in the artillery under David Joy. Dr. Walter Booth commanded the company afterward, and our general trainings were held at Herkimer. F. E. Spinner was col-

*Taken from "The Popular Biographies of Connecticut."

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onel. he who was afterward United States treas- urer. On the 26th of July, 1830. I was appointed corporal of the company, and received my warrant from Col. Spinner on that day. Our uniform was blue. trimmed with gilt braid. bell crowned caps made of patent leather and brass trimmed, with tall red feather, sword and belt.

"When I reached twenty-one I was sick of farming, and decided to look for some other busi- ness. Father said, 'If you will stay here and take care of me and mother, when we get through you shall have all that is left.' I thanked him for his very kind and generous offer, and said to him, 'You have worked all your life so far and got to- gether a farm of fifty acres, and it is well stocked and worth about $1.500. No, I shall decline the offer for two reasons: First, I have brothers and sisters, and would not take it all; second, I think I can do better.' I was then twenty-one, and had thirty dollars in my pocket. I left Russia about the 4th of April, 1833, for New Haven, by stage ; could not get work, and my thirty dollars was re- duced to one dollar and seventy-five cents. Left New Haven at 8 A. M., arrived in Hartford at 4 P. M., having walked thirty-six miles ; applied at the Retreat for work without success : went to Mr. John's house near by, and staid over night; told him my situation, and he gave me my supper, lodging and breakfast, and it was valued higher than any gift that I ever received. Next morn- ing went over to the Retreat and obtained a situa- tion : was employed in the house six months ; then went outside and drove the team seven and one- half years. My stay there was very pleasant and agreeable. I had fifteen dollars per month for two years. and twenty dollars per month for six years, and the managers made me a present of fifty dol- lars when I left. Dr. Todd was superintendent and Phineas Talcott steward when I went there, and Dr. Brigham was superintendent and Virgil Cornish steward when I left. The boys there wanted to use their money faster than they earned it. and I lent them money every month at a large interest. I saved my money and the big interest helped me out. I spent but very little. I attended dancing school two winters. The first thousand dollars that I earned I put into the grocery trade with a partner, who managed the business two years, and then left with all the funds. I left the Retreat in the spring of 1841, and manufactured root beer for five months : cleared $875. Then I formed a co-partnership with Frederick F. Taylor, and we bought out Solomon Smith's livery stable, price $2,500. I had $2,200, and Mr. Taylor had $300. We were located on Front street. Mr. Smith still owned the office, which we afterward bought for $700. Then we bought of Christopher Colt a barn for $1,200; then bought of Griffin Stedman a house on Talcott street for $1.500; then sold the whole to Daniel Buck for an advance of $500. We bought of William Kellogg a barn, cor-

ner of Front and Talcott streets, for $4,000, and on this ground I built my first home, a neat little house of four rooms. Aug. 18, 1844, I was mar- ried to Nancy B. Miller, of East Hampton, N. Y., who was six years younger than myself. We were married at the Methodist church. I played the bass viol there for five years. I think Nancy was the best housekeeper in the wide world. We lived together thirty-nine years. She died Aug. 31, 1883. "Mr. Taylor and myself bought, in the spring of 1847, the old Goodwin livery stable in the rear of the Exchange Bank, State street, for $13,200. Mr. Taylor's health failed in 1850, and I bought him out and paid him $8,000. I continued the business until 1859. I had ten hacks and twenty- five single teams, and generally kept fifty horses, and attended to most of the funerals. I employed fifteen men, and had a large run of business; kept my own books. My hacks cost generally from $1,200 to $1.500. I had one that cost $2,000, and Mrs. Sigourney liad the first ride in it. 1 lost over fifty horses, the value of which was at least $10,000. My barn was burned, and the loss over insurance was $8,000. I gave George K. Reed $5,000; Mrs. Sharp's family, $2.300; George W. Loveland, $3,100; Frederick S. Sperry, $300; Philena Fith- ian, $250; Polla Osborn, $2,500; and many other smaller gifts ; also S. A. L., $2,200. Lost by en- dorsements and otherwise over $20,000. The ag- gregate amount of losses and gifts, $40,000. The interest added to this amount would at this time make the whole amount considerably over $100,000.

"I bought ten hacks here, three in New Haven, thirty-five in Bridgeport. My livery property would generally inventory about $30,000. When I commenced the business, our capital being but $2,500, I was obliged to have some credits, and Robert Buell endorsed for me. He was on my paper most of the time. I gave him what riding he wanted, which amounted to about $100 per year. I have been interested in the hack business outside of my own business with James Girin, Mr. Boying- ton, Mr. Briggs, John White, E. P. Cottrell, James Tehan, C. B. Boardman, George Goyt, T. A. Cham- berlin and Merrick Freeman. I finally wound up by selling out to Freeman. I took a house of hint on Pleasant street, and lived there one year; then changed that for a farm on Windsor avenue. In the spring of 1860 I bought my house on Ann street. During 1859 and 1860 I was out of busi- ness, and it was the two hardest years' work that I have ever done. At that time Hewett & Rogers failed in the livery business, and theirs was the first estate that I ever settled, but I have followed the business ever since, and my list numbers now 175 : my fees will amount to about $17.000. When I first started out to take care of myself, the main object was to provide for myself a good home. I had denied myself many good things in my youth that would have been ple. sant to enjoy, but by so doing I have accomplished my object. I

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have got my long desired good home, although in getting it 1 have passed through many storms ; but the storms are over and the sun shines bright." Mr. Sperry is one of a family of eight-three sons and five daughters. The daughters are all deceased, Aurilla, Mrs. Reed, who was the last to pass away, dying Aug. 2, 1900, at Taunton, Mass., aged ninety- five years. One of the sons is dead. Major F. S. Sperry, the youngest of the family, born in 1825, is now living in Syracuse, New York.

Since the above sketch was prepared Mr. Sperry was married, May 6, 1891, to Mrs. Emily J. House, of Hartford. He has been an active member of the Sons of Temperance for many years, and was one of the promoters and supporters of the temper- ance paper printed and published by Rev. B. E. Hale. He spent two years as an active worker in Hose Company No. 2, and two years with Hose Company No. 3, on Front street, and when the old-time firemen organized a Veterans Associa- tion, about 1890, he was one of the leaders in the project. The association has since built a fine building in Hartford. In politics Mr. Sperry is a Repubican, formerly a Whig, and at one time he served on a vigilance committee of that party with Gideon Welles, the well-known statesman.

DANIEL PHILLIPS. Among the representa- tive men of Hartford county, none, perhaps, is re- garded with as much respect and veneration as the gentleman whose name here appears. For sixty years he has been a resident of the city, with whose rise and progress his life has been so closely inter- woven.

Mr. Phillips is of the sixth generation in de- scent from (1) Rev. George Phillips, the first min- ister of Watertown, Mass., who was a native of England, born in Rainham, County of Norfolk, in 1593; came to America in 1630 along with Gov. Winthrop and others; was at Salem, but soon lo- cated at Watertown, Massachusetts.

(II) Theophilus Phillips, son of George and Elizabeth, born in 1636, married (second) Mary Bennet ; resided in Watertown, Massachusetts.

(III) Joseph Phillips, son of Theophilus, born in 1702, in Watertown, married (first) Ruth Towne, and settled at Oxford (now Auburn), Worcester Co., Mass., there owning several tracts of land, the old homestead remaining in the family some ninety years.

(IV) Lieut. Israel Phillips, son of Joseph and Ruth, born in August, 1737, in Oxford (now Au- burn), was a soldier in the French war in 1758; married Huldah Towne; he died Feb. 28, 1800.

(V) Daniel Phillips, son of Lieut. Israel, born March 1, 1776, in Auburn, Mass. was a farmer in Charlton, Mass., moving there in 1800: married (first) in 1798 Hannah Small ; married (second) in 1800 Jemima Dennis ; married (third) Abigail Dres- ser, of Charlton, born Aug. 17, 1775, daughter of Asa and Abigail (Wheelock) Dresser. This wife

died April 7, 1816, and Daniel Phillips married. (fourth) in 1816 Lucy Harwood. Children by first marriage : Curtis, Clarissa and Austin; children by third marriage: Daniel (our subject), Abigail, Moses D. and Austin T. All the children were born. in Charlton, Mass. Of the above, Moses D. Phil- lips went to Boston and engaged in the book-pub- lishing business with Mr. Sampson, the firm becon- ing Phillips & Sampson, and together they built up the largest business of that nature in the New Eng- land States. The father, who was a farmer in Charl- ton, died March 27, 1848 ; he and his wife were mem- bers of the Congregational Church.

Daniel Phillips, whose name appears at the open- ing of this sketch, was born July 2, 1809, in Charl- ton, Mass., and remained at home until he was twenty years of age. He then, in 1829, went to Westboro, and engaged in butchering and in other lines of business until 1837, when he went to Bos- ton for one year. Returning to Westboro, he re- mained there until October, 1841, when he moved to Hartford, Conn., and has been a resident of that city ever since. In 1842 he established the ex-

press business in Hartford, commencing as a mes- senger, carrying packages by hand to the various residences, then purchasing a wagon, and conduct- ing the business up to 1854 under the name of Phil- lips & Co. In that year he united his business with! several other (then existing) companies, under the name of the Adams Express Co., in which concern he became a director, and of which he was the agent in Hartford up to 1870. In addition to all this, our subject was identified with the manufacture of pig iron in Alabama, which has for many years been con - ducted in the town of Shelby.

A Republican in politics for over a half century, Mr. Phillips was one of the signers of the first Re- publican mass meeting held in Connecticut, and which resulted in the formation of that party in the State. He was a member of the celebrated Harri- son Club. In 1854 he represented Hartford in the General Assembly, the Assembly then meeting in New Haven. In 1859 he served the city on the board of aldermen ; was on the water board for ser- eral years; and was one of the building committee that had charge of the erection of the Charter Oak Fire Insurance Co.'s handsome building.

Mr. Phillips has been either a director or a trus- tee of each of the following companies and asso- ciations : Hartford Savings Bank & Building Asso- ciation ; City Fire Insurance Co .; Charter Oak Life Insurance Co .; Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co .; Orient Fire Insurance Co .; Ameri- can National Bank; Mechanics Savings Bank; Na- tional Screw Co .; Weed Sewing Machine Co .; Willimantic Linen Co. : Theological Institute of Con- necticut; Hartford Female Seminary; Hartford Branch of the American Tract Society; and Cedar Hill Cemetery.

On April 6, 1836, Mr. Phillips married Mary M. Forbush, of Westboro, Mass., born Feb. 10, 1812,

Daniel Phillips

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and five children were born to them, their names and dates of birth, etc., being as follows: Mary Helen, 1838, died in 1843; Daniel Austin, 1840, died in 1861 ; Henry Curtis, 1843, died in 1882 ; Alice Maria, 1848, died in 1865; and Charles Willie, 1852, died in 1870. The mother of these departed this life Feb. 29, 1896. For many years she and her hus- band were members of Dr. Bushnell's (and, later, Dr. Lamson's ) Church (the Center Congregational Church), ever taking an active part in church mat- ters. In 1870 Mr. Phillips built his present elegant residence, No. I Farmington avenue, which is one of the finest homes in that part of the city. He well remembers Hartford when it included West Hart- ford, and when the population was only 11,000, while to-day there are about 80,000 inhabitants. There is no one now left in the city who was doing business when Mr. Phillips first entered the place, sixty years ago, and he stands like a stalwart oak whose neighbors have long since succumbed to the passing storm. After the death of Mrs. Phillips Rev. Lewis W. Hicks, son of Mr. Phillips' only sis- ter, came from his pastorate in Wellesley, Mass., to care for his uncle in his declining years. Mr. Hicks is a graduate of Yale College, class of 1870, and of Hartford Theological Seminary, is one of the editors of the "Hartford Seminary Record," and also a trus- tee of the Seminary.

JOSEPH HENRY DESMARAIS, M. D., of No. 58 Prospect street, Bristol, was born in Mont- real, Canada, Nov. 10, 1864. His father, Ilenry Desmarais, also a native of Canada, was born in 1817, son of a Canadian machinist, and was him- self a machinist. Henry Desmarais married Miss U'rsule Mace, who bore him three children: Philo- mene, now married and Living in Montreal ; Peter, in the drug business in Holyoke, Mass. ; and Dr. Joseph H., the subject of this sketch. The father of these children died in 1895, in Canada, and the mother died in Wagantuck, Conn., Sept. 24, 1900.

Joseph H. Desmarais, now a rapidly rising young physician, attended the common schools of Mont- real until fifteen years of age, and then entered Chambley College, from which he was graduated in 883. He next entered upon the study of medicine n the office of Dr. G. Jannotte, a well-known phy- ician of Montreal, studied assiduously until Oc- ober, 1884, and then entered the University of Victoria, in the same city, from the Medical Depart- ment of which he was graduated in 1888. He then vent to New York City, studied one year in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, receiving his diploma, nd in 1890 went to West Warren, Mass., where te practiced a year. He then took a post-graduate ourse of one year, and for eighteen months follow- ng had a very fair practice in Palmer, Mass. He was recalled to New York as an assistant in Dr. A. C. Carpenter's Sanitarium for diseases of omen, and held theposition until December, 1898, in le meantime taking several private post-graduate

courses in the New York Post Graduate Medical School. Thence he came to Bristol, where his ability and experience have gained him a lucrative practice that will be likely to hold him here the re- mainder of his years.

Dr. Desmarais first married Miss Julia Lillie Burney, a native of Indian Orchard, Mass., who bore him one child, Arthur Henry, who still lives with his father. The Doctor's second marriage took place Jan. 1, 1899, to Miss Louisa Henrietta Stein, of Winona, Minnesota.

AAlthough the Doctor was naturalized in New York, he has not yet affiliateed with any political party. His constantly growing practice distracts his attention from politics, and medicine is the absorb- ing topic of his thoughts. The Doctor and his wife stand very high socially. Professionally Dr. Des- marais has brought himself to the front through his individual merits and abilities, and has never depended upon extraneous assistance in making his progress through the world, and such as he are the men to be depended on under all circumstances.

MORGAN. The name of Morgan has been a synonym for confidence in business circles and in the finances of the world for upward of half a century, and members of the family, who were given that confidence and achieved so great a stand- ing in both this and the Od World, sprang from New England stock, were born or had their boy- hood and early business home in Hartford, the capi- tal of the Commonwealth, where now repose the dust of some of them, among them that of Junius Spen- cer Morgan, the famous London banker.

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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 69

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