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 9

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 9

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On December 25, 1855, Gen. Hawley was mar- ried to Harriet Ward Foote, of Guilford, who died March 3. 1886. Mrs. Hawley's services at the front during the Civil war in alleviating the dis- tresses of the war have made her name sacred to thousands of soldiers. [Compiled in part from Ap- pleton's "Encyclopædia of American Biography."]

GEORGE S. IIULL, M. D., of Bristol, was born in Burlington, Hartford Co., Conn., March 31, 1847, and is a son of Sylvanus and Florilla (Clark) Hull, parents of three children : Dr. George S. ; Burton C., born Feb. 22, 1854; and Rowland T., born in May, 1863.

Sylvanus Hull, the father of the Doctor, was born in North Haven in June, 1820, was of English clescent, and a farmer by vocation ; he first married Evaline Pond, by whome he became the father of a daughter Evaline, who married Isaac B. Hart- well, and had four children, Samuel, Susan, Everett and Grace. The father of Sylvanus, Elisaph Hull, was born in North Haven in 1783, was also a farmer, died in 1873, and his remains lie interred in Burling- ton. The maternal grandfather of the Doctor was Wooster Clark, who was born in Burlington, June 26, 1797, married Maria Sparks, and died Aug. 21, 1884, the father of the following named children, Neanvin, Florilla, Jane and Sybil.

George S. Hull's early education was secured in the common schools of his native town, and this was supplemented by a two-years' course in the State Normal at New Britain, and by a preparatory course of study at the Connecticut Literary Insti- tute at Suffield; he next entered Yale Medical School, where he passed one year, and then attended one course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at New York, after which he entered the Homeopathic Medical College of the same city, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1872, and immediately afterward (in March) located in Bristol, where he has built up a good practice.

On the creation of the office of medical examiner for Bristol, Dr. Hull was appointed to that posi- tion, and still retains it. In 1887 he was elected .surgeon of the First Regiment, Connecticut Uni- form Rank, Knights of Pythias, and held the office until 1890, when he was appointed to the same po- sition in the Second Regiment, and a few weeks later received the appointment of assistant surgeon- general on Brig. Gen. E. F. Durand's staff. Dr. Hull is a member of the Alumni Medical Association of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, and of the Connecticut Homeopathic Medical Society. He is an enthusiastic believer in the principles of fraternal organizations. In the spring of 1872 he was made a member of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., at Bristol, and carly the next year became a member of the Pequabuck Chapter, No. 32, R. A. M. He then joined, in order, the Doric Council of New Britain, the Washington Commandery of the Knights Templar of Hartford, the Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport, is a charter member of the Mystic Shrine, Sphinx Temple, of Hartford, and in 1889 became a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason of the Sovereign Consistory of Nor- wich. Dr. Hull is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was a charter member and the first past chancellor of Ethan Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., of Bristol, and was the organizer of Hull Company,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

No. 5, of the uniform rank of the same city, which was so named in his honor. In 1888 he was ap- pointed grand master at arms at the grand lodge ses- sion held at Derby (or Ansonia) ; in 1889 he was elected grand prelate ; in 1890, grand vice-chancel- lor at the session held at Torrington ; and in 1891, grand chancellor at the session held at Wallingford. In 1895 he was sent as supreme representative to the supreme lodge session held at Cleveland, and was also representative at the supreme lodge session held at Indianapolis in 1897, and at both places was ap- pointed a member of the Rathbone monumental fund committee, organized for the purpose of erect- ing a monument at Utica, N. Y., and is still a mein- ber. The Doctor is likewise an Odd Fellow in good standing, being a member of Stephen Terry Lodge, No. 59, of Bristol, and a charter member of E. L. Dunbar Encampment, at Bristol.

Dr. Hull has been a devout member of the Bap- tist Church for thirty years, and for the past ten years has been one of the trustees. In politics he is a Republican, for a number of years has held the office of manager of the' town deposit fund, and for eight years has been a member of the school committee from District No. 3. He is extensively interested in several of the industrial pursuits of Bristol, being president of the Codling Manufactur- ing Co., which was incorporated in 1893 ; also presi- dent of the Turner Heating Co., manufacturers of hot air heaters and stoves, and incorporated in 1890, with a capital stock of $50,000, and he is a direc- tor in the Bristol Water Co., having held that office since its organization. Besides the above he is a director of the Dowd Printing Co., of Winsted, Connecticut.

The first marriage of Dr. Hull took place April 2, 1867, when Miss Sarah Alice Curtiss became his wife. She was born in October, 1846, and died in October, 1884; his second marriage, which occurred June 3, 1886, was to Miss Hattie Antoinette Fenn, who was born Sept. 22, 1857, in Plymouth, a daugh- ter of Lucius A. Fenn, and to this union has been born one son, George W. Hull.

COL. HENRY KENNEDY (deceased) was one of Hartford's best known business men, and in his life and character he well represented the sturdy pioneer stock from which he came. He was born at Burnside, East Hartford, April 5, 1819. He was the son of Samuel Kennedy, and grandson of John Kennedy. Samuel Kennedy was nine years of age when his father settled in Burnside, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, and became one of the wealthy land owners of East Hartford, and a prominent citizen. In every generation the family have been noted for the possession of sterling qual- ities of character.

Col. Kennedy's education was begun in the schools of East Hartford, and among his school- mates was the late Gov. R. D. Hubbard. Col. Ken- nedy left home at the age of fourteen, and much against the wish of his father, as the Colonel ex-

pressed it in later years, he carried but a dollar in his pocket and his father's disapproval. He went to Hartford and apprenticed himself to Smith & Bourn, at such meager wages that he could not properly clothe himself, and in order to avoid the jeering of the boys of his acquaintance he would wait until they had returned to their work, and then run as fast as he could to the shop. Such experi- ences early taught him the worth of money, and he became a shrewd and careful financier, as was evi- denced in later years by his successful investment of moneys, both as related to his personal interests and those of others. To illustrate his integrity, when a very young man the late Gov. Hubbard urged upon him the loan of a thousand dollars with which to start in business, the Colonel having no security to offer. He served as a supernumerary on the police force, and about 1860 was appointed jailer under Sheriff Russell, at the old jail at the junction of Pearl and Jewell streets, where the Y. M. C. A. building now stands. In 1865 he was appointed steward of the American Asylum, which position he held for six- teen years, filling it with marked ability. While at the American Asylum he was appointed conservator of the late Leonard Church. After the death of Mr. Church he was appointed administrator of his estate, much to the satisfaction of Mrs. Church, and at her death he benefitted largely from her estate, reward- ing his efforts in the handling of the Church proper- ties, which were largely increased under his manage- ment. Through the efforts of Col. Kennedy, Mrs. Church was induced to present the organ to the First Church of Christ in Hartford, which remains a memorial to herself and her husband. His early experiences at Smith & Bourn's brought him in con- tact with horsemen and their interests, and having an inborn liking for horseflesh he early became identified with trotting interests, which was con- tinued through his life, and was himself an owner of good horseflesh. He was prominently identified with Charter Oak Park and its trotting interests, and a familiar figure at its race meetings for many years. At the time of the sale of Charter Oak Park it was purchased by the Colonel, and some time later passed into the hands of prominent turfmen, thus securing its continuance as a race course. When the Gentle- men's Driving Club was formed in 1888 Col. Ken- nedy was elected the first president of the organi- zation. In politics Col. Kennedy was a stanch Re- publican. He united with the Putnam Phalanx in 1859. In 1869 he was chosen major, and served as such until 1873. He was again elected maior in 1874, holding the position until 1876. Under his command the Phalanx made a trip to Montreal, Canada, in September, 1871. While in that city he was presented with a very fine sword by his Pha- lanx friends, as a token of the esteem in which he was held. This sword was always highly cherished by him, and is now in the possession of Mrs. Pitkin.

Although the Colonel disliked notoriety and lived a quiet life, he was a man who loved his friends and made them know it. He was interested

Hermy Kormidy

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in religious work, having been one of the organizers of the old Fourth Church, to which he gave liberally. For some years previous to his death he and his family attended Christ Church. After leaving the American Asylum he lived for a time on Winthrop street, later removing to the Leonard Church home- stead, corner of Asylum avenue and Garden street, which came into his possession after the death of Mrs. Church, and where he died March 15, 1899. On Feb. 21, 1844, Col. Kennedy married Sarah Jane White, who died Feb. 10, 1875, and on Dec. 3, 1887, he married Rebecca A. Cady, who died Dec. I, 1898. Col. Kennedy is survived by a brother, John Kennedy, and a sister, Mrs. Esther Abbey, and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Nellie W. Pitkin, wife of William T. Pitkin, of Hartford, Connecticut.

SAMUEL M. BRONSON, director and general manager of the National Machine Co., Nos. III- 133 Sheldon street, Hartford, was born April 1, 1832, in Waterbury, Conn., where his family has long been prominent. His great-grandfather lo- cated there in pioneer times, and became the owner of a large tract of land.

Amasa Bronson, grandfather of our subject, was born in Waterbury in 1778, and died in 1880, at the age of one hundred and two years, never hav- ing had a week's sickness. At the time of his death he was the oldest man in the State. He was a farmer, and owned considerable real estate in Waterbury, comprising a part of the business portion of the town, and a part of what is now the "Green." Dur- ing the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the army, but peace was declared before he had an oppor- tunity for active service. He and his wife, Sarah, who lived to the age of ninety-four, were members of the Episcopal Church, and very regular attend- ants. They had a large family of children, all now deceased.

Julius G. Bronson, our subject's father, was born and reared in Waterbury, and engaged in butchering and farming upon a part of the old homestead. In public affairs he was prominent, holding various offices. His death occurred at the age of fifty-seven. He married Julia Newton, who was born in Waterbury, and died in 1843, aged thirty-three years. She was one of five children of James Newton, who died at the age of forty-three, and his wife, who died aged ninety-two years. Our subject was one of a family of four children, of whom only two are living. His younger brother, Charles H., has always resided in Waterbury, and is now assistant superintendent of the Waterbury Hospital.

Samuel M. Bronson spent much of his early life in Waterbury, receiving a common-school educa- tion, and at thirteen entered a store as clerk. Soon afterward he went to Waterville to learn the cut- ler's trade, and for four years was engaged in the manufacture of shears and pocket knives. He then went to Hotchkissville, having a contract in the

manufacture of shears, and later he became super- intendent of the plant, remaining in all four years. One year he spent in Waterbury, practically out of business on account of poor health, and he then took charge of a mill at Oakville, where he also served as postmaster for three years. On resigning he entered the employ of the Adams Express Co., making his headquarters in Waterbury, but act- ing as their traveling representative, and taking the place of different agents. Later he removed to New York, and for some time had the express run from New York to Boston, afterward acting in this capacity upon different routes, and finally removed his headquarters to Hartford, from which point he took charge of the inward freight and money department. In 1869 he entered the retail market and grocery business, and three years later began the wholesale trade on State street, which he con- tinued up to 1894, being at that time among the oldest and best known wholesale merchants in the city. In 1891 he was one of the organizers of the National Machine Co., together with Charles E. Billings, Silas Chapman, and others. He was elect- ed treasurer in 1893, and secretary in 1894, and held both offices until 1897, when he resigned as secretary, and was made treasurer and general man- ager, which position he still holds. This concern started with only six workmen, and has increased to sixty. They are the sole manufacturers of a special machine or printing press for printing in colors, which is used by the best-known periodicals, such as the "Youth's Companion," "Harper's Weekly," and others of this character. They also ship these ma- chines to the most remote parts of the world, not only throughout Continental Europe, but to Aus- tralia, Cuba and even southern Africa. They made a large exhibit at the World's Fair in Paris in 1900, and received the grand prize, notice of which read as follows :

The National Machine Co., Hartford. Conn., U. S. A.

The official Journal of the Republic of France an- nounces that you have been awarded a Grand Prix in the United States Department of Liberal Arts and Chemical Industries.

A. S. CAPEHART, Director.

Participant in Modern Commercial Composing Room, Exhibitors of the Gally Universal Presses.

In the Columbian Exposition, in 1893. they occupied a large space, and took all the medals awarded to machines of this character for superiority of work. In their own plant they use all labor-saving ma- chinery from the latest inventors.

Mr. Bronson was one of the organizers of the Hartford Merchants Exchange, with which he was connected until he left the wholesale business, serv- ing five years as president. He is a director in the State Savings Bank, and was for some time a di- rector in the Fowler & Miller Co., while he has also dealt extensively in real estate for many years. He was one of the charter members of the Hart-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ford Board of Trade, in which he was a director for many years.

Mr. Bronson is a Democrat in politics, and served as a member of the common council in 1874-75, alderman in 1892-93, and commissioner of fisheries in Connecticut for three years. The following shows his activity in Masonic life: He was raised in Federal Lodge, No. 17, Watertown, Conn., February, 1857 ; affiliated with Pacific Lodge, No. 233, New York, 1861 ; affiliated with St. John's Lodge, Hartford, 1866; received chapter degrees in Pythagorus Chapter, Hartford, 1868; received Cryptic degrees in Wolcott Council, No. 1, Hart- ford, 1868; knighted in Washington Commandery, No. I, Hartford, April 13, 1869, and elected com- mander in 1880; elected grand commander of Con- necticut in March, 1897 ; is Past T. P. G. M., Char- ter Oak Lodge of Perfection ; Past M. E. S., Prince G. M., Hartford Council, Princes of Jerusalem ; Past M. W. and P. M. of Cyrus Goodale Chapter, Rose Croix ; member of the Connecticut Sovereign Consistory : member of the Royal Order of Scot- land ; crowned an honorary member Supreme Coun- cil, in 1884; member of the Veteran Association of Connecticut. He has held various offices in the different bodies of the York Rite, and is grand chancellor in the council of Deliberation, A. & A. S. Rite, of Connecticut. During his Masonic career, while in the Council, Cryptic Masonry, he was treas- urer for a number of years, and also treasurer of Pythagorus Chapter, and held the offices in both these bodies. He was one of the organizers of all Scottish Rite Bodies in Hartford, and has held nearly all the offices in these, and in a number of instances served several terms. For eight years past he has been president of the Masonic Mutual Benefit Association of Connecticut. He was one of the first in organization of the Masonic Hall Association in 1872, and was secretary and treas- urer of this body until 1897. Of the four Masons in this city to receive the 33d degree he was second, having it conferred upon him in 1884; the remain- ing three are Charles, E. Billings, Silas Chapman and John G. Root, of this county, sketches of whom appear elsewhere.

In 1853 Mr. Bronson married Miss Harriet A. Burnham, a native of South Windsor, and daughter of Lucius A. Burnham, a farmer, who became one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, going there at a time when he had to make the journey with horses. For seventy-four miles west of Chicago towards his destination there was not a single house, and he was offered land within the limits of the present busi- ness portion of Chicago for $6 per acre. He fol- lowed farming successfully in Wisconsin for twenty- three years, but later returned to Hartford, where he died aged seventy-four years. His wife, Pamelia (Goodrich), who died aged sixty-nine, was a native of Waterbury, Vt., and they had five children, three of whom are living : John W., of Portland, Oregon ; Edward L., of East Hartford; and Julia A., Mrs.

Bacon, who resides in Wisconsin. Mrs. Bronson died June 15, 1893, aged sixty-two years. Sev- eral years ago Mr. and Mrs. Bronson became inter- ested in two little girls, Flora E. and Ada E. Burt, sisters, whom they took into their home and edu- cated. Flora graduated from Madame Draper's famous French Seminary in Hartford, and later married Thomas R. Morrow, a native of Hart- ford, but now one of the leading lawyers of Kan- sas City ; he has recently gained a celebrated case in the United States Supreme Court, at Washing- ton, D. C. Ada graduated from the Hartford Pub- lic High School, and taught in Hartford for seven years, but since the death of Mrs. Bronson has had charge of the Bronson home.

PERKINS. The Perkins family of Hartford, of which the eminent lawyers, Enoch Perkins and his son, the late Thomas Clay Perkins, were honored and distinguished members, and of which the lat- ter's son and grandson, Charles E., and Arthur, re- spectively, are prominent in the profession, is one of the oldest families in New England. Charles E. Perkins is in the seventh generation from John Perkins, Sr., the American ancestor, the line of his- descent being through Sergt. Jacob, Joseph, Mathew, Enoch and Thomas Clap.

(I) John Perkins, Sr., as he is called in the records, the immigrant ancestor of many of the family in this country, according to family tradi- tion was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England, in 1590. He was among the earliest emigrants. from the mother country, sailing from Bristol, Eng- land, Dec. 1, 1630, in the ship "Lyon," bound for Boston in America, taking with him his wife and five children. The ship anchored before Boston Feb. 6, 1631. The children of John Perkins and wife Judith were: John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Jacob and Lydia. He resided in Boston two years, and became one of the leading men of. Ipswich, Mass .; was several times deputy to the General Court; and held other offices of trust. He died' in 1654, aged sixty-four years.

(II) Sergt. Jacob Perkins, son of John, Sr., was born in England in 1624. He was first married about 1647, his wife's name being Elizabeth. She died in 1665, and later he married Widow Damaris Rob- inson, of Boston. He died in 1699-1700, and his. widow in 1716. Like the general farmer he lived a quiet, uneventful life. His children by Elizabeth were : Elizabeth, John, Judith, Mary, Jacob, Mathew, Hannah, Joseph and Jabez.

(III) Joseph Perkins, son of Sergt. Jacob, born June 21, 1664, in Ipswich, Mass., removed in early life to Norwich, Conn., and married there, in 1700,. Martha, daughter of Joseph and Dorothy Morgan. She was of Preston, Conn., born in 1680, and died in 1754. He died in 1726. In connection with his- brother Jabez he purchased a large tract of land --- 800 or 1,200 acres-in that part of the town of Nor- wich afterward the town of Lisbon, and it was.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

known as "Perkins' Crotch." Joseph Perkins was an influential man in both town and church. His children were: Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Martha, John, Jerusha, Mathew, Deborah and Ann.

(IV) Mathew Perkins, son of Joseph, was born Aug. 31, 1713, in Norwich, Conn., and died in 1773. In 1739 he married Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Fobes) Bishop. She was born in 1724, and died at Lisbon, Conn., in 1809. He owned a farm of 1,000 acres in Hanover Society, north part of Lisbon. His children were : Joshua, Hannah, Mathew, Ephraim, Jerusha, Na- than, Susanna, Sarah, Mathew (2), Enoch, Fre- derick and Samuel.

(V) Enoch Perkins, son of Mathew, was born Aug. 16, 1760, and in 1787 was married to Anna Pitkin, born in 1764, daughter of Timothy and Tem- perance (Clap) Pitkin, of Farmington, Conn. Enoch Perkins was graduated from Yale College in 1781, and studied law with William Channing, of Newport, R. 1. He was a tutor in Yale College for two and one-half years, after which, in 1786, he established himself in liis profession at Hartford, where he remained in the active discharge of his duties to the end of his life. As a lawyer he was distinguished for a thorough acquaintance with the duties of his profession, and he was, to no common degree, skilled in the forms of legal process, and his services were often called into requisition ; his clients are said never to have suffered by his negli- gence. As a member of the civic society he was ever ready to bear his part of public business; and when appointed to civil offices he executed the duties thereof promptly and efficiently, and his services met with the approbation of the wise and good. In 1809 he was appointed attorney for the State of Con- necticut in the county of Hartford, in which office he discharged the duties of public prosecutor withi a characteristic regard for moral principle. He was chosen a member of the board of trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut in 1808, and was also trustec of the Hartford grammar school. Mr. Perkins was much esteemed and resorted to as an adviser in cases of difficulty, and for this office he was well qualified. He looked coolly into the intricacies of a subject, and it was rarely that he did not penetrate it to the bottom; his unbending integrity and honesty of purpose gave to his advice its peculiar value. His life was one of uncommon evenness.

While a tutor in Yale College Mr. Perkins made a public profession of religion, and through his whole life he was thoroughly and sincerely a Chris- tian : his religious feeling sprang from clear views of truth. He observed the Sabbath with great strictness, for he loved its holy hours and sacred duties. He died Aug. 28, 1828. His children were Anna, Charlotte, Henrietta, Emilia, Thomas Clap, Henry A. and George W.

(VI) Thomas Clap Perkins, son of Enoch, and the father of Charles E. Perkins, of Hartford, was

born July 30, 1798, in Hartford, Conn. On Nov. 7, 1827, he married Mary Foot Beecher, daughter of Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D. Thomas C. Perkins was graduated from Yale in 1818, taking the salu- tatory, and studied law with Hon. Seth P. Staples, of New Ilaven. He was admitted to the Ilartford Bar, and soon rose to an influential position among associates whose ability and success rendered it no easy matter for a new and young lawyer to achieve distinction. For a time he was secretary of the Protection Fire Insurance Co. He filled several town offices, and was a number of times a member of the State Senate and House. Elected later in life to the Bench of the Supreme Court, he declined that honor, preferring the business of his profes- sion. He was very learned in the law, had an in- tellect of great exactness and clearness, a sound and instructed judgment, and wonderful tenacity of purpose. He excelled both in the preparation of a case and in its conduct, convincing court and jury not so much by eloquence of words as by perspicuity of statement and entire candor of manner. "Thor- oughly learned in the law, he was untiring in his work. Gifted with an extraordinarily retentive memory, and an equally surprising quickness of perception, he made the most of his facts and au- thorities : and could inprovise his points, as trial progressed, without previous knowledge of prep- aration of the case. He had not the winning and persuasive way with a jury that marked Mr. Chap- man, who was frequently associated with him; he was better before the Court than before the jury. 1Ie digested everything he read, and his application of a rule was remarkable. He used his precedents and authorities in such a way as to make them 'tell' on the case without lumbering or overloading it. In a consultation his judgment was as valuable as that of the ablest of his associates. As a lawyer, in the stricter sense of the word, he was one of the best of the Hartford Bar. During the latter half of his professional career his practice was very large and lucrative."

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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 9

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