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 77

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 77

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In 1860, during the mayoralty of Henry C. Dem- ing, Mr. Shultas was a member of the board of po- lice commissioners. For a number of years he was attached to the old volunteer fire department, being associated with Allyn S. Stillman, Gen. William Hayden, and others interested in the discipline and success, the esprit de corps of the department. At the time of his death Mr. Shultas was treasurer of the Firemen's Benevolent Society, having succeed- ed the late Allyn S. Stillman in that office. He had also been a member of the Putnam Phalanx, and held the office of major in that command from 1862 to 1864, succeeding Major Stillman. In 1875 he was elected president of the Hartford County Mutual Fire Insurance Co. For half a century Mr. Shultas was an active and public-spirited citizen. He was a man of fine personal appearance, and was always genial and pleasant, enjoying social life, and enter- ing heartily into all innocent amusements and rec- reations. At his death, Sept. 13, 1880, he left a large estate. Mr. Shultas married Mary Ann, daughter of Truman Sweet, an influential business man in his day. The only surviving child of this union is Caroline B., widow of Jacob Knous, of Hartford. A son, Charles Carroll Shultas, died in New York July 18, 1870; he had prepared for the legal profession, and was admitted to the Bar at the same time with the Hon. Henry C. Robinson, Hon. John R. Buck, and others, but when the Civil war broke out he left his practice and marched away as captain of Company H, 22nd Conn. V. I. After the war he married Isabel, daughter of Charles Fow- ler, of New York, by whom he had one son, Charles Fowler Shultas, of New York, who died Dec. 26, 1899.

TRUMAN SWEET, son of Palmer and Lucy ( Bid- well) Sweet, was born at Farmington, Conn., April 19, 1775. In 1806 he began life as a stage driver between New Haven and Hartford. The mail was then carried three times a week; the regular run- ning time from New York to Boston was four days, which was considered quick traveling in those days. In 1810 he purchased the stage route between Suf- field, Conn., and Wilbraham, Mass., and by so doing became the first owner of lines of stages running north from Hartford on both sides of the river. The steamer "Massachusetts," built by the inventor, Blanchard, was constructed for Mr. Sweet and Ches- ter W. Chapin, of Springfield, another old-time whip. This boat ran between Hartford and Spring- field. Mr. Sweet continued with boats and stages

until bought off by the railroad company, when he retired, and devoted himself to farming, purchas- ing a fine property on Albany avenue, now included in the plans for Keney park. Of the strictest integ- rity, he amassed a considerable property. Mr. Sweet was a man of singularly regular habits, his love of order developing itself in a very striking manner. He never suffered himself to betray anger, and probably had not an enemy in the world. He died peacefully in 1864, at the age of nearly ninety years, possessing full control of his mental faculties to the last hour of his life. In 1809 Mr. Sweet mar- ried Miss Mary Glover, and they became the par- ents of two children: Caroline, who married Nor- man Boardman, of New York; and Mary Ann, who married James B. Shultas, of Hartford.

AMOS L. CARLETON. There are scattered through New England, and perhaps more plenti- fully in Connecticut than in sister States, a large number of prominent manufactories that possess an individuality as distinct as that of their founders; that represent some valuable idea carried into suc- cessful operation by a master mind; that stand for what is foremost and best in American manu- facture. In Hartford the name of the Carleton Foundry Co. is typical of the finest grade of cast- ings, and the company owes its name to a success- ful business man who has thoroughly mastered his trade, who has risen to eminence by the exercise of the native forces within him, and who has assisted in founding a manufactory that is one of the rec- ognized industrial forces of the times.

Amos L. Carleton, treasurer and general man- ager of the Carleton Foundry Co., of Hartford, Conn., was born in Derry, N. H., Aug. 13, 1847, son of Amos M. and Anna E. ( Hanson) Carleton, grandson of David Carleton, a lifelong farmer of New Hampshire, and great-grandson of David Carleton. The great-grandfather was born March 4, 1704, and was a farmer by occupation. He mar- ried Hannah Daniels, by whom he had four chil- dren, and lived to a good old age. David Carleton, i the grandfather, married Ruth Stevens in 1773, and six children were born to them. The father lived to the age of eighty years, the mother surviving to almost one hundred years of age. Both were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Clurch.

Amos M. Carleton, the father of our subject, was reared on a farm, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age. Then for a time he con- ducted the hotel at Derry, N. H. Selling out, he started a general store, carrying a stock of shoes, groceries, harness, etc., and buying all kinds of country produce. He conducted this business for some years, then sold out and removed to Chicopee Falls, Mass. He had for some time previous studied veterinary surgery, and had also practiced extensive- ly, with success. In 1859 he removed to a farm at Bernardston, Mass., where he spent some years, then settled at Winchester, N. H., where he spent

Amos L. Carleton

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the rest of his life, dying at the age of seventy- two years. He achieved distinction in military cir- cles, having begun as a private in the militia, was commissioned captain, and later brevetted colonel. He was familiarly known as "Capt." Carleton, and took a great interest in military matters. He and his wife attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. Anna E. Hanson, the mother of our subject, was born in New Hampshire. To Amos M. and Anna E. Carleton were born seven children, five of whom are living. The mother died at the age of sixty- seven years.

Amos L. Carleton, our subject, spent the early years of his life, or until he was eighteen, at home, and was educated in the common schools and at Powers Institute, Bernardston, Mass. He learned his trade, that of iron molder, at Colerain, where he remained three years, and later followed his trade at Southington, Conn., then at Worcester, Mass. Returning to Colerain, he remained there for a time, then went to Fitchburg, Mass., where he worked four years. Proceeding to Shelburne Falls, he there began the foundry business for himself. Later he sold out to the Millers Falls Co., and going to Millers Falls took charge of the Millers Falls Co. foundry, having under him twenty-five men. Remaining three years, he then went to Spring- field, Mass., where he entered the employ of Wright & Emmerson, as foreman, for one year. He next took charge of the foundry department of the Wasson Car Co., at Brightwood, near Springfield, one of the largest manufacturers of passenger and freight cars in the United States, having under him sev- enty-five men. After three years' experience there Mr. Carleton accepted the position of superintend- ent with the G. F. Warner Manufacturing Co., New Haven, Conn., having charge of the entire works, both machine shop and foundry, employing 150 men. There he remained three years, at the expira- tion of which time he came to Hartford, Conn., ac- cepting a position with the Pratt & Whitney Man- ufacturing Co., one of the largest concerns in the New England States. He was superintendent of the foundry department, having entire charge, em- ploying and discharging all men, and was with this company for eleven years, resigning to accept a better position. For the last three years he has acted as expert, general superintendent and man- ager for various companies, going first to the Ben- jamin Altha & Illingsworth Steel Foundry, which he assisted in placing on a permanent basis, and later to Dunkirk, N. Y., where he was with the Brooks Locomotive Works, getting their foundry in running order. Returning to New Haven, he as- sisted G. F. Warner Mfg. Co. on a government contract, then began drawing the plans for the pres- ent buildings of the Carleton Foundry Co., where he is now located. The company owns a tract of seven acres of land.

The Carleton Foundry Co. is an incorporated stock company. William H. Watrous is the presi-

dent ; Bernard S. Carleton, vice-president and as- sistant treasurer ; our subject, treasurer and general manager ; and L. Clinton Carleton, secretary. They manufacture a line of fine castings, intended for the best grade of work, employing expert molders for this purpose, the force numbering about 100 men. The foundry is located on Faience street, on the. direct line of the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford railroad. The wide acquaintance and reputa- tion of Mr. Carleton is a sufficient guarantee of the success of this enterprise. He has patented a pro- cess for melting iron, by the introduction of steam, converting it into hydrogen and oxygen gas, and is one of the patentees of the chainless bicycle, which was purchased by the Pope Manufacturing Co.

Mr. Carleton was married, in 1867, to Gertrude Maxam, who was born in Westfield, Mass., daugh- ter of Samuel N. and Margaret ( Peck) Maxam. Samuel Maxam was a foundry owner in Colerain, where he was in business for some years. He died at the age of seventy. Of his four children two are living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carleton were born three chil- dren, two of whom, L. Clinton and Bernard S., are living. L. Clinton is a first-class molder, secretary of the company, and has general supervision over the mechanical part of the work; Bernard S. is with the Ætna Life Insurance Co., being second in rank in the renewal department.

Amos L. Carleton is a member of Hartford Lodge, F. & A. M., and was formerly a member of Hamden Lodge, I. O. O. F. His son Bernard S. is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and L. Clinton is a member of the order of United American Mechanics. All are Republicans in politics.

PATRICK H. CONDON, who, for nearly a third of a century, has been one of the genial whole- souled citizens of Bristol, as well as one of the town's substantial business men, now the efficient first selectman of the town and vice-president of the Journal Publishing Co., is a native of Ireland, born March 10, 1853, in County Limerick.

Mr. Condon is a son of John and Catherine (Hogan) Condon, who were born in Ireland, where the father was a farmer in easy circumstances, and where his death occurred in about 1872. The mother, with some of the children, after settling up the estate, came to America, in 1875, locating in Unionville, Conn .. her present place of resi- donce. Her children were Mary, who became the wife of Michael Bridgeman, of Unionville, and died in: 1898; John II., who is engaged in the cutlery business in Unionville: Patrick H., our subject ; Bridget, the wife of Michael Hanrahan, of Union- ville; Richard H., a resident of Farmington, now a selectman, who was formerly a representative from the town in the State Legislature ; and Mar- garet, who married Peter Rourke, of Unionville.

Up to the time of coming to America, at the age of seventeen, our subject attended the schools of his

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locality, and after his arrival cast his lot for a period at Greenfield, Mass., working for two years in the cutlery establishment of J. H. Russell & Co. From Greenfield he came to Unionville, Conn., and here learned the trade of an iron molder in the foundry of Cottrel & Bogart. After two years' employment with this concern it was moved to Plainville, and young Condon went thither with it. After a two-years' stay at Plainville he came to Bristol, which place has since been the scene of his labors and triumphs. On coming to Bristol he be- gan work with the Sessions Foundry Co., and later on was made foreman of the establishment. This position he resigned in 1888 to go into business for himself, starting on a small scale a livery business, which he still conducts. Through his tact and good business qualities, together with his industri- ous habits and excellent management, his business has developed into one of considerable size and stic- cess. He also deals extensively in horses, and carries on a general trucking business, in which he has had some large contracts outside of Bristol, a notable one being the distributing of the heavy iron pipe across the county from Roaring Brook to Shuttle Meadow reservoir. The political affiliations of Alr. Condon are with the Democratic party, and locally he is influential in its councils. Socially in- clined, and a good mixer of men, he is popular, and stands high as a citizen. He has served his fellow townsmen for two terms as burgess of the town ; in 1899 was chosen first selectman, and was re-elected in 1900 with a majority of 482, running some 485 votes ahead of his ticket, a substantial evidence of his popularity ; he is now most satisfac- torily performing the duties of that office. On the death of T. H. Keirns he succeeded that gentleman in the vice-presidency of the Journal Publishing Co. He is a member of various orders and frater- nities, among them the T. A. B., which society he was instrumental in founding, and of which he is now a trustee; the A. O. U. W. lodge at Bristol ; the Knights of Columbus, of which he is a trustee ; the tribe of the Order of Red Men at Bristol ; the Order of Foresters of America ; the Hibernian So- ciety; and the Heptasophs. Ile is also a trustee of the Catholic Benevolent Legion.

On Jan. 31, 1877, our subject was married to Miss Mary McDonald, of Plainville, daughter of Peter McDonald, and to this union have come chil- dren as follows: John E., born in 1878, was grad- uated from the Bristol high school and from Hunt- singer's Business College, Hartford; George, born Jan. 8, 1886, is at home ; Agnes died in infancy. The family are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church of Bristol.

GEORGE OLNEY BROTT. member of the well-known able firm of Bennett & Brott, attorneys at law, Hartford, is a native of the State of Miss- issippi, born March 4, 1867.

George F. Brott, his father, was born in Canas-

tota, N. Y., and received his education there. While quite young he showed considerable talent as a me- chanic, and for many years has given his attention to inventions and patents, of which he has a large number ; he has also been extensively engaged in promoting and developing large tracts of real estate. He now makes his home in Washington, D. C. He married Lucy E. Olney, daughter of Jeremiah Olney, who was born Aug. 1, 1817, in Thompson, Windham Co., Conn., a son of Heze- kiah Olney, one of the early settlers of that locality, where he followed farming, as well as being a manufacturer of hats, and also a merchant, for several years conducting a store.

JEREMIAH OLNEY, our subject's maternal grand- father, received his education in Thompson, and for many years, or until 1881, kept a large general store there. A Republican in politics, he has held all the town officers, having been town clerk, treas- urer, selectman, postmaster for several years, as- sessor, representative in 1852, 1874, 1875, and from 1863 to 1873 collector of internal revenue. In 1881 he was appointed commissioner of the school fund of the State, a position he held up to 1804, and he has since been living retired. For many years he was a justice of the peace. In addition to holding the above mentioned offices, he has served as delegate to a large number of State conventions, and in 1880 was a delegate to the National con- vention which nominated Garfield. In 1876 he was nominated for state treasurer on the Repub- lican ticket, but, although well supported at the polls, failed to secure election. He has also been prominently identified with the business interests of Thompson, Windham county ; for twenty-six con- tinuous years was president of the National Bank there, and is one of its oldest officers. Although now eighty-three years of age he is still hale and vigorous, and his opinions regarding questions of finance or politics are considered of the best. In 1891 he purchased a fine residence' at No. 117 Washington street, Hartford, where he resides from September to June, the summer months being passed at his old home in Thompson. Mr. Olney has been twice married, first time to Almira F. Jacobs, of Thompson, by whom he had children as follows: John E., in Norfolk, Neb .; Martha E. (Mrs. Nichols) ; Lucy E., mother of George O. Brott (she died when he was six months old) ; Charles E., living retired in Thompson ; and Fran- cis L. The mother of these died in 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Olney for his second wife wedded Emily Matthewson, of Pomfret, Conn., who is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Olney are members of the Congre- gational Church of Thompson, and when in Hart- ford they attend the South Church.

George O. Brott, the subject proper of this sketch, received his earlier education at the public schools of Thompson, Windham county, subse- quently preparing himself for college at Dean Acad- emy, Franklin, Mass .; then entered Yale College,

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graduating therefrom in 1888, after which he at- tended Columbia Law School two years. In May, 1890, he was admitted to the Bar, and at once com- menced the practice of law in New York City, re- maining there until 1894. in that year coming to Hartford and forming a law partnership with Judge Edward B. Bennett, a prominent member of the Hartford County Bar, which co-partnership has since continued.

In politics Mr. Brott is a Republican, and since coming to Hartford has been connected with the Republican committee of the Eighth ward, in which connection, as chairman, he in 1900 succeeded in influencing the delegates at the caucus to cast their votes for the nomination of Mayor Harbison, the votes in that ward deciding the nomination in his favor. Mr. Brott has served on the board of alder- men and common council, and in 1898 he ran for judge of the city court, but failed by three votes to secure the office ; in 1896 he was elected a justice of the peace, which incumbency he has since held.

Socially Mr. Brott is a member of the F. & A. Ji., Lafayette Lodge, No. 100, Hartford, formerly affiliated with St. Nicholas Lodge, New York, of which he was secretary ; member of Wolcott Coun- cil, R. & S. M .; of Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., in which he has passed all the chairs; of the K. O. T. M. ; of Cutler Lodge, No. 5, K. of P. ; of Putnam Phalanx; of the Republican and Masonic Clubs; and of the Hartford Base Ball Club, of which he is vice-president.

On Dec. 23, 1896, George O. Brott was united in marriage with Carrie M. Mills, who was born in Thompson, Windham Co., Conn., a daughter of Andrew and Maria. ( Perry) Mills, the former of whom is a farmer of prominence in that locality, the latter born in Monson, Mass. To our subject and wife has been born one child, Jeremiah. Mr. and Mrs. Brott are members of the Congregational Church at Thompson, and attend the South Church in Hartford. They reside at the home of his grand- father, No. 117 Washington street, Hartford.

JOEL L. ENGLISH. As secretary of the Atna Life Insurance Co., an institution than which none in the United States is better known, the sub- ject of this sketch is regarded by the profession in which his life work has been found as one of its most acomplished members.

Mr. English was born in Woodstock, Vt., Oct. I, 1843, son of Henry W. and Eliza A. English, and grandson of Joel English. The grandfather was born Dec. 9, 1766, in Andover, Tolland Co., Conn., and when about twelve years old, his father having died, went to live with Benjamin Burtch, in Woodstock, Vt. As he became older lie was set to tending Strong & Burtch's mill, on the North branch. In early manhood he married Tryphena Strong, who was born Jan. 12, 1770, in Hartford, Vt., daughter of Benjamin Strong. In 1789 Mr. English bought 100 acres of land on the West

branch. About that time Simon Davis, Jr., set up a gristmill on land near by, and, in connection with Daniel Fuller, a sawmill, also. In 1793 Mr. Eng- lish bought the sawmill, and two years later Bell- nett & English bought the gristmill. The mills were then enlarged and improved, and from this time the place came to be known as English Mills. Joel English died Dec. 19, 1852, his wife on Dec. 28, 1846. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters : Benajah ; Richard ; Charles ; Henry W., the father of our subject ; William S .; Sarah, who married Jacob Boyce, of Woodstck, Vt .; Free- dom, who married Lysander Raymond; and Mary, who married Hosea Vaughan.

Henry W. English, the father of our subject, was born Jan. 27, 1805. He resided in Woodstock, Vt., and was an honorable and upright man of ex- cellent spirit, esteemed by all as a most valuable citizen. He held important town offices and posi- tions of trust, and was a justice of the peace for over forty years. He married Eliza A. Steele, and to them were born six children, three of whom are still living : Charles H., of Woodstock; Joel L., our subject ; and Chloe T., who married Charles Adams, of Peacham, Vt. The father died April 2, 1887, aged eighty-two years, and the mother lived to be sev- enty-six. They attended the Christian Church, in Woodstock, of which Joel English, the grandfather of our subject, had been a deacon.

Joel L. English was born at Woodstock, Vt., Oct. 1, 1843, was educated in the schools of Wood- stock and Randolph, and in 1867 began the work in which he has had an honorable and distinguished career, entering the service of the Ætna Life In- surance Co., at Hartford, Conn., as a stenogra- pher and general clerk to the secretary. This position he held for five years, and in 1872 was elected to the position of secretary of the company, which he has held uninterruptedly ever since. In the service of this one company he has since devoted the business energies of his life, in the performance of a ceaseless round of duties which, while lacking in dramatic incident, have established for him a record of high order. The business of the company has increased very largely in the past thirty years, now employing in the home office about one hun- dred clerks, and two assistant secretaries. Mr. English has been longer in the service of the com- pany than any who are now employed in the office with one exception. The company is the largest in New England, writing the greatest amount of busi- ness, and one of the oldest and best known in the United States. It has been doing business for over fifty years.

In 1878 Mr. English married Mabel B. Plimp- ton, who was born in Hartford, a daughter of A. S. Plimpton, formerly a prominent hotel-keeper in this city, who later built the "Plimpton House" at Watch Hill, and conducted it for a number of sea- sons, also managing the "Dixon House" at Wester- ly, R. J., and being well known both in that State

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and in Connecticut. He died at the age of seventy. Mr. Plimpton married Lucinda F. Bacon, who was born in Norwich, and is still living, making her home with our subject. Mrs. English is an only child, and to her and Mr. English has been born one son, Robert B., now in school. In politics Mr. Eng- lish is a Republican. He attends St. John's Epis- copal Church.

JOHN W. GRAY (deceased), formerly a lead- ing business man of Hartford, was born in that city March 19, 1851, of an old and honored New England family.

For over 200 years the Gray family has been identified with this section, and our subject is of the seventh generation in descent from Ebenezer Gray, a pioneer of Hartford. Col. Eben- ezer Gray, his great-grandfather, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and a prominent citizen of Hartford in his time, and Samuel Gray, the grand- father, was also a resident of the city. John S. Gray, the father of our subject, was born in Hart- ford, and engaged in business there as a dealer in crockery and hardware. He died in June, 1899, aged eighty-three. His estimable wife, Mary Wat- kinson, who survives him, was born in Hartford, daughter of Robert Watkinson, an Englishman, and for many years has been a member of Trinity Church. They had three children, of whom two are living: Annie, now widow of Rev. John H. Barbour, D. D., of the Berkeley Divinity School, in Middletown; and Miss Ellen Watkinson Gray, who resides with her mother.

The subject of this memoir was reared in Hart- ford, and, on. completing a high-school course. en- tered Trinity College, from which he was gradu- ated in 1872. The next year he spent in the hard- ware business with Tracy & Tarbox, with whom his father was associated as silent partner, the busi- ness having been long established. In 1874 he bought out the Goodyear rubber store, and started a factory to make goods for mechanical purposes. There he conceived the idea of making whole solid bicycle tires without joints, this giving a trend to his business career, and after a time began making pneumatic tires, much against the wishes of his friends. Ile made a success of the venture, and supplied the Pope Mfg. Co. with tires during his life, his business growing so rapidly that at the time of his death he was regarded as one of the most successful men in the city. Had he lived he would doubtless have been one of the most noted business men of the day, as the business founded by him is now worth millions. He had a large factory where the Pope Mfg. Co.'s tire department is now located, and employed a large force of men. He sold largely to other manufacturing concerns, also making a large solid tire which he had put upon the stages of Philadelphia, becoming the founder of that industry. Mr. Gray passed away . June 1, 1892, aged forty-one years, at his home, No.

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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 77

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