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 7

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 7

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But a work (now in press) which will live long to redound to the fame of its author is a poem in blank verse on the "Creation." Besides a remark- able display of knowledge in geology, astronomy. evolution, dynamics and the associated sciences, it

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

contains germs of thought far in advance of the age. Expressed now with superlative force and virility, and again in the soft accents of simple description, the coloring of each passage varies that it may har- monize with its text. But the rhythmic swing of the verse is never lost to sight, and the whole is rounded and finished with a smoothness and polish that makes it of the highest order of literary merit. Add to this his masterly treatment of the subject and the poem will not only attract the litterateur, but the student in science and philosophy. Both Yale and Williams have recognized Mr. Batterson's pre-eminence as a man of letters and conferred upon him the honorary degree of M. A.

In personal appearance Mr. Batterson is a man of large frame, strong, robust, naturally dignified and of commanding presence. With a wonderful constitution, a lifetime of unceasing labor, during which he has accomplished more than three average men, has left him at the age of seventy-eight still strong and active. Every week-day finds him be- fore his desk at The Travelers, directing the affairs of this immense corporation, and often entering into the minutest details. In character honest and just to the last degree, he asks nothing which is not rightfully his, and takes no advantage over the weaker because of his superior strength. It has been said that "the busiest man has the most leis- ure," and this is true of Mr. Batterson, for in spite of his great and varied interests he is one of the most accessible of men, always finding time to listen to anyone whose business in any way warrants it. Possessing a strong personal magnetism and a gra- cious manner, he puts his interviewer completely at ease, seeming to know how to meet on equal foot- ing men of every station.

One great factor in his success has been the abil- ity to wholly concentrate his mind on the matter in hand, disposing of it quickly without loss of time in reviewing details already covered. This is only made possible by his remarkable memory, and ability to grasp whole ideas at once. But more than all else is his power to find recreation in reading and study. and after a particularly hard and trying day at the office he may be found in his den, "resting" until the small hours of the morning, with a volume of Homer or Horace, of Spenser or Haeckel, before him. With his omnivorous intellect and great as- similative qualities, sixty years of such evenings have given him his wonderful store of knowledge, always available on almost every subject. He is the true type of the self-made man who has taken pride and pains in that making.

In religion Mr. Batterson is a Baptist, and has always been a regular attendant and active sup- porter of his church. The Bible has been a study of great interest to him, and his philological ten- dencies have been of very material aid in following the higher criticisms.

Politically Mr. Batterson is a Republican, having assisted in founding this great party. When the Civil war broke cut he withstood the temptation to

take the field with the promise of rapid promotion held out to him, deciding to do his duty where it seemed to lie, in the direction of affairs at home. As a result to-day he wears no Grand Army button, bears not the title of colonel or general, but no man in battle ever did more for his country than this plain citizen of Connecticut. All through the war, as chairman of the State Central Committee of his party and chairman of the War Committee, he was indefatigable in his endeavors to further the public interests, managing events with a judgment and tact that dispelled jealousies and promoted har- mony. AAlthough Connecticut sent nearly 55,000 troops to war, or over 6,000 more than her quota, no less an authority than Appleton ( '66) says polit .. ically she was regarded all through that crucial time in our history as a doubtful State. Those were days when Mr. Batterson was here, there, and every- where, organizing and directing, consulting with his leaders in the various districts, exhorting. en- couraging, and now and then answering calls to Washington for consultation with National heads. his advice being sought even by President Lincoln regarding matters connected with the administra- tion.

By sheer hard work and personal influence, felt to the corners of the State. Mr. Batterson managed to poll 2,405 majority for Lincoln in 1864 out of a total vote exceeding 87.000, one of the largest ever cast in its history. In 1866, when the differences between President Johnson and Congress over the reconstruction of the South became the election issues with the two parties in Connecticut, and the eves of the Nation were turned toward that little State, General Hawley, the Federal candidate, was elected governor by only 541 majority. Although Buckingham was re-elected governor each year dur- ing the war, it was only with small majorities, and Republican Congressmen were returned by margins of a few hundred only. The moral effect of the elec .. tion of an anti-administration government by loyal old Connecticut, one of the thirteen original States, can scarcely be imagined. A home of rebellion against the National Constitution, and of advocacy of State Rights in the very heart of the solid North, would have struck terror and discouragement into the sorely tried hearts at Washington, and given a new impetus to the efforts of the South. State sovereignty was the issue of the South: State Rights of the Democratic party of Connecticut.

Mr. Batterson undoubtedly saved the State elec- tions through this trying time, for a man less strong than he in control of the Republican party would have ensured Democratic success. This mighty service was duly recognized abroad by the great Na -. tional leaders. In many other ways he rendered un- told service from 1861 to 1865. assisting greatly in the enlistment, organization and mobilization of troops. In relief work, too, he devoted much time and money.

Ever since its formation Mr. Batterson has been very active in working for the interests of his party.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

With a powerful voice, ready wit, and strong argu- mentative ability, he has exerted great power as a political speaker and debater. But with all his serv- ice he will accept no reward or political preferment, and the man who might have attained to the highest State and National honors is a simple citizen of his native city, viewing politics as a civic duty only. This fact has carried unusual influence with his party leaders.

In the old town meetings of Hartford, now done away with, Mr. Batterson was a man of unusual influence, and the rooms used to be crowded when it was known that his views on a subject would probably call for a debate. With his splendid pres- ence, quick wit, at times keenly sarcastic, great argu- mentative powers, and the attribute of never recog- nizing defeat, he was more than a match for a score of worthy opponents, and the finest displays of for- ensic ability ever seen in the State took place when some of those long standing contentions were wres- tled with in the open arena of the old town meet- ing. As a lecturer, also, and presiding officer, Mr. Batterson has an enviable reputation, and has been in great demand.

A long life with its varied interests has given him a wide and extensive acquaintance with men in public life, and has enabled him to know intimately and number among his friends those in its highest walks for more than half a century. From humble circumstances he has risen to be a man of large affairs and comfortable estate.

.Although in no sense a club man, the following are a few of his business and society connections : President and director of The Travelers Insurance Co .. The New England Granite Works, Batterson & Eisele. New York, director Hartford National Bank, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., vice-presi- dent Wadsworth Atheneum, trustee Brown Univer- sity. member Colonial Club, Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution, American Statis- tical Association, Society of Biblical Literature & Exegesis, Hartford Scientific Society, Connecticut Horticultural Society, New England Society of New York, American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, Yale Alumni Association. Hartford Board of Trade. for thirty years Fellow American Society Civil Engineers, etc.

In 1851 Mr. Batterson married Eunice E. Good- win, and for forty-six years lived in the enjoyment of domestic happiness that comes to but few people. In 1897 Mrs. Batterson died, leaving, besides her husband, two children surviving-Mary E., wife of Charles Coffing Beach, M. D., of Hartford; and James G., Jr., who resides in New York, as manager of the business of The Travelers Insurance Co., in that city .- E. D. C., 1901.

FRANCIS M. BUNCE, Rear Admiral U. S. Nawy: a native of Hartford, Conn .; was born Dec. 25. 1836; is a son of James M. and Frances A. ( Brace) Bunce. Appointed Acting Midship- man, May 28, 1852: graduated Naval Academy and

warranted Midshipman, June 10, 1857; "German- town," East India Squadron, 1857-60. Passed Mid- shipman, June 25. 1860; "Brooklyn," Gulf Squad- ron, engaged in Chriqui Survey. Master, Oct. 24, 1860; "Macedonian," Gulf Squadron, Jan. 7, 1862. Commissioned Lieutenant from April 11, 1861 ; Ex- ecutive-Officer of "Penobscot," 1862; in that vessel took part in engagement with Rebel batteries at Yorktown, Va .; was assigned to temporary duty with the army, and had charge of the disembarka- tion of the heavy artillery and mortars for use in the batteries at the investment of that place by Gen- eral Mcclellan, April, 1862; rejoined "Penobscot," blockading off Wilmington, N. C., and took part in several skirmishes with Fort Fisher and batteries about Fort Caswell; commanded a successful boat expedition up Little river, between North and South Carolina, destroying several schooners and large quantities of cotton, turpentine and resin, together with extensive salt works: on capture of "Robert Bruce" by "Penobscot," was placed in charge of her as Prize-Master, and brought her to New York, Nov. 1, 1862; detached from "Penobscot" and or- dered as Executive of "Pawnee," refitting at Phil- adelphia ; served in her in South Atlantic Blockad- ing Squadron Station, Stono River, S. C. Commis- sioned Lieutenant Commander, Jan. 16, 1863 ; dur- ing winter of 1863 sounded out and buoyed and re- moved obstructions from interior channels from Stono River, S. C., to Morris Island ; acting as aid to General Gilmore, had charge of the embarka- tion and transportation of Gen. George C. Strong's brigade, five regiments, through these channels to Morris Island, and commanded the naval part of this attack, July 10, 1863, resulting in the capture of Morris Island to Fort Wagner; conduct in this affair honorably mentioned, report of Commander G. B. Balch and letter of Admiral Dahlgren, to Navy Department ; detached from "Pawnee" and or- dered to monitor "Patapsco:" took part in that monitor in all the actions in which she was engaged during siege of Charleston : also in night boat at- tack on Fort Sumter, Commander T. H. Stevens ; received honorable mention for conduct in that of- ficer's report of same; wounded by premature ex- plosion of a. cartridge, in action, November, 1863; detached from "Patapsco" and ordered to "Wabash" for recovery ; ordered to monitor "Kaatskill," tem- porary duty, Dec. 8, 1863 ; returned to "Wabash," Jan. 7, 1864; same month ordered to temporary command of "Weehawken ;" detached and returned to "Wabash," and ordered on staff of Admiral Dahl- gren, was given charge of the scouting and picket boats of the squadron before Charleston, until or- dered to command monitor "Lehigh," April 6, 1864; May 14, 1864, detached from South Atlantic Block- ading Squadron, and ordered North ; monitor "Dic- tator," Commodore John Rodgers, Sept. 26, 1864; commanded monitor "Monadnock," Sept. 5. 1865 : took this vessel from Philadelphia to San Fran- cisco, Cal., the first extended sea voyage ever made ly a monitor ; received for this service the thanks

J. K. Quale

60 OdmanoTolles

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the Navy Department, upon recommendation of Commodore John Rodgers, and was recommended for reward to the President by the Secretary of the Navy; Boston Navy Yard, 1866-9; monitor "Dic- tator," April, 1869; detached Oct. 4, 1869, having fitted her for sea service ; commanded "Nantasket," Nov. 12, 1869, stationed at St. Domingo; detached July 20, 1870 ; special ordnance duty, at Pittsburg, Penn., 1871. Commissioned Commander, from Nov. 7. 1871 ; commanded "Ashuelot," Asiatic Station, 1873; on duty, Navy Yard, Washington, June, 1875; detached, on Light-House duty, July to October, 1875; returned to duty, Navy Yard, Washington ; during 1877 attended torpedo instruction at New- port, R. I .; Jan. 7, 1879, to July 29, 1881, com- manded "Marion," Home and South Atlantic Squad- ron ; commanded receiving-ship "Wabash," Navy Yard, Boston, 1882-5. Commissioned Captain, Jan. 11, 1883 ; Senior Member of Board on Timber Pres- ervation for Naval Purposes ; commanded "Atlanta," June 1, 1886, to Dec. 1, 1889; command of Naval Station, New London, Feb. 12, 1890. Appointed by the President as president of a commission to select a suitable site for a dry dock on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, or waters connected there- with, Nov. 22, 1890; commission reported and dis- solved, March 9, 1891 ; Senior Member of Board for Examination of Master Mechanics, Foremen, etc., of Navy Yards, April 17, 1891; this board later ordered to report on Navy Yard organization, the employment of labor, etc., dissolved Feb. 4, 1892 ; June 30, 1891, ordered to command Naval Train- ing Station, and ship "Richmond," Newport, Rhode Island.

On Aug. 20, 1894, he was relieved from the command of that station and the "Richmond," and ordered to the Navy Department at Washington as a member of the Board of Inspection and Survey. March 1, 1895, commissioned Commodore: March 23, 1895, assigned to duty as president of the Naval Examining and Retiring Boards at the Navy De- partment, Washington. June 19, 1895. Commodore Bunce was assigned to the command of the Naval force on the North Atlantic Station, and ordered, June 27. to hoist the flag of Rear Admiral, and to affix that title to his official signature. The U. S. ship "New York" was designated as his flag-ship. He received, March 5, 1897, a letter from Secretary of the Navy. Herbert, on his retirement from of- fice, expressing his official and personal satisfac- tion with the discharge of the duties assigned to the Admiral during his term of office. May 1, 1897, he was relieved from the command of the North Atlantic Station and ordered to command the New York Navy Yard and Station. Aug. 17, 1897, or- dered senior member of a Board to report on the requirements of the country as to dry docks, and, on Feb. 19. 1898, was commissioned Rear Admiral. Dec. 25. 1808, Admiral Bunce was transferred to the retired list of officers of the U. S. Navy in accordance with the provisions of Section 1444, Re- vised Statute, he then being sixty-two years of age

and the senior officer on the active list of the of- ficers of the Navy. He continued on duty at the New York Navy Yard until relieved Jan. 14, 1899, when he received from the Secretary of the Navy the following letter :

NAVY DEPARTMENT, January 12, 1-99.

MY DEAR SIR:

As the time approaches for your retirement, I cannot let the occasion pass without expressing my appreciation, not only of the long, distinguished and useful service which you have rendered as an officer of the United States Navy, but also of the efficient manner in which you have dis- charged the duties of the very responsible post you have held as commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the existing demands of the recent war. I wish to say this for the Department and personally for myself, and, also, to wish you many happy years to come, feeling sure that if the call of your government should come at any time, your ripe experience would be at its service.

Very truly yours.

JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.

On June 20, 1899, the senate and house of rep- resentatives, Connecticut, passed the following reso- lution, of which an engrossed copy was sent to the Admiral :

"The country has been deeply indebted to Ad- miral Bunce for his long and successful service in the Navy during the late Civil war. He had as- tonished and delighted, not only the Naval author- ities of the world, but the world of science itself, by his courage and skill in successfully navigating the iron-clad monitor 'Monadnock' around Cape Horn.

"At the outbreak of the recent hostilities with Spain he was placed in charge of the principal coast defenses of the country and of its largest maritime interest at its metropolis port. That duty he ful- filled with the wisdom and energy which have char- acterized all his previous history."

On May 28, 1864, when a Lieutenant com- mander, Rear Admiral Bunce married Mary Eliza Bull, eldest daughter of John W. Bull, of Hartford, Connecticut.

CHARLES H. BOLLES. The Bolles family. which is one of the oldest in the United States, originated in England, and was identified from an- cient times with Bolles Hall, Lincolnshire.

Sir John Bolles and his son Sir Charles, of Bolles Hall, lived and died in London, England, and Joseph Bolles, a son of the latter, was born in 1608, and came to America at an early date. set- tling before 1640 in Maine. John Bolles, the great- great-grandfather of the well-known resident of Hartford whose name heads this sketch, was born in August. 1677. He established Baptist Churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and carried on an earnest struggle of twenty years with the Connecti- cut General Assembly to obtain a charter for the church in that State. He endured great persecu- tion, but his heroic efforts resulted in much good. Our subject has a book written by him in 1754, which shows his work, and sets forth his arguments

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

against his opponents in a most able and scholarly style. It was addressed to the elders and members of the church in Connecticut, and to the General Court of that Colony, and was also presented to the General Court at Boston, May 29, 1754.

Enoch Bolles, our subject's great-grandfather, died Dec. 3, 1800.

Deacon John Bolles, the next in the line of de- scent, was born in New London, Conn., Feb. 3. 1752, and lived in Hartford, in a house located where the Phelps building now stands. For many years he was successfully engaged in mercantile business in Hartford, and he was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church, in which he held the office of deacon. He died March 19, 1830, in Hartford. His first wife, Lydia Tabor, who died June 19, 1816, was the mother of nine children, of whom our subject's father was the youngest. The second wife was Lydia A. Francis, a native of Newington, Conn. [See Dr. Trumbull's memoirs of the First Baptist Church of Hartford.]

EDWARD BOLLES, our subject's father, was born in Hartford in 1797, on North Main street, and became the leading wholesale dry-goods merchant of that city. At the time of his retirement, in 1867. he had been in business over fifty years, with Dea- con Albert Day as his partner. He was noted for his sound judgment, being one of the best buyers in New England, and by his sterling qualities of character and quiet. unassuming manners he won a host of friends. He contributed liberally to the support of the Baptist Church of Hartford, in which he also served for years as clerk. leader of the choir, and player on the bass violin. He died in June, 1882. In 1819 he was married, at Hartford .. to Abigail Rand, who died aged sixty-two years. She was born in South Deerfield, Mass .. daughter of Aaron Rand, a farmer in the latter locality, who spent his last years in Hartford. engaged in the bakery business. Our subject was the youngest of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity: Ed- ward John, Eliza Jane, Abigail M .. Caroline L .. George W., Lucius S., Lydia Ann. William C. (who makes his home in Hartford) and Charles H., all deceased except the two youngest.

Charles H. Bolles was born Oct. 8, 1836, on Village street, Hartford, and now resides at No. 471 Farmington avenue, Hartford. After receiv- ing a common-school education he learned the jeweler's trade, which he followed in Virginia pre- vious to the Civil war. He was regarded as an expert in his line, and continued in active business until his retirement. in 1882. In politics he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Baptist Church, for which his ancestors made so many sacrifices. In 1873 Mr. Bolles married Miss Harriet Knox. who was born in Farmington, Conn., daughter of Walter Knox, and granddaughter of Walter Knox, a native of Hawick, Roxburghshire, southern Scot- land. and a prominent citizen and wealthy land owner of that section, some of his estate having been a grant from the King. He passed his life in Scot-

land, dying at the age of sixty years. Walter Knox, Mrs. Bolles' father, came to this country in 1844, and is now living in the West, at the age of eighty-seven. He married Elizabeth Smith, a native of his own birthplace, who died aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Bolles' parents united with the Pres- byterian Church many years ago, and their children were brought up in that faith. They had nine chil- dren, of whom five are living: Jessie, Mrs. Mc- Clintock, of New Britain; Walter; Mrs. Bolles; Anna, wife of Dr. Stark, of Dakota; and Louise, Mrs. Hammersmith, of Milwaukee.

Mr. and Mrs. Bolles have had four children, one of whom died in infancy; Harry, a graduate of Williston Seminary, is now employed in Boston ; Charles, who attended Lehigh University, is now connected with the Chandler Co., of Ayer, Mass .; and Elsie is a student in the Hartford Public High School.

THOMAS OSTROM ENDERS. In the busi- ness circles of Hartford no man stood higher than the late Thomas Ostrom Enders.

Mr. Enders was born Sept. 21, 1832, in Glen, N. Y., a son of Jacob John and Relief (Ostrom) Enders, natives of New York State. His father was a prominent man, a merchant and farmer. Thomas O. was educated in Glen, and began work on the farm at an early age, continuing until sev- enteen, when he came to Connecticut and secured employment in a factory at Meriden. He also worked for a time as a dry-goods clerk in New Haven, and, being a man of naturally good business ability, he met with considerable success. He be- came interested in the insurance business through Curtis L. North, of Meriden, Conn., the first agent of the Ætna Life, who employed him as a solicitor. Three years later he removed to New York and en- tered the employ of the Avery Sewing Machine Co. While there he attracted the favorable atten- tion of the secretary of the Ætna Life, and on in- vitation he came to Hartford at the age of twenty- two, and accepted a clerkship in that office. Four years later ( 1858) he was elected secretary of the company, and served as such until 1872, when he became president. His industry, fidelity to duty, and remarkable aptitude for the insurance busi- ness, contributed largely toward bringing about the great success of the company. In building up its interests he sacrificed his health, and in 1879 he re- signed his position of president and rested for two years, although he continued as a director of the company. He took the presidency of the United States Bank of Hartford (then called the United States Trust Co.) in 1881, at which time it was suffering from old losses, and the stock was quoted at eighty. He remained president until June 16, 1891, when he declined re-election. Under the pres- idency of Mr. Enders the bank advanced rapidly, and at the time of his resignation was in per- centage of surplus, value of shares, and ratio of deposits to capital, far in advance of the other banks

Leonard Daniels

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the city. Mr. Enders made his home in West Hartford, and as a Republican represented that town in the General Assembly during the sessions of 1889 and 1891, and served on the committees on Appropriations and Banks, respectively. Without the aid of influence or wealth he rose to a leading position among the most prominent business men of the county. In addition to his connection with the .Etna Life and the United States Bank he was a director in the Atna Fire, Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co., Society for Savings, Dinie Savings Bank, Charter Oak Bank, and various other financial institutions. He died June 21, 1894, "honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a member of a lodge of the Masonic Fraternity, at Hartford. Mr. Enders was a man of wonderful business knowledge and a courteous gentleman, a representative financier.

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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 7

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