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 95

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 95

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ELIAS BURWELL, the only workman in New England who understands and conducts the per- petual calendar movements for clocks, was born in old Milford, Conn., Oct. 4, 18II, and is a son of Elias and Amy ( Platt) Burwell, both also natives of Milford.

John Burwell, grandfather of our subject, came from England, was one of the first settlers of Mil- ford, which was then known as Burwell's farm, and was very influential in church work.

Elias Burwell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born Nov. 8. 1785, and was reared a farmer. He married in 1807, and about four years later volunteered in the patriot army, and served through the war of 1812. He was not very active in politics, but was inclined toward Federalism : he was, however, very active in the work of the Con- gregational Church, in which he was a chorister. He had quite an accurate knowledge of the laws of those days, and frequently served on the grand jury. He was very hospitable, and ever ready to entertain travelers over Sunday, as journeying was prohibited on that dav.

Elias Burwell, father of subject, married Amy Platt Feb. 12, 1807. She was born Sept. 29. 1783. and was a daughter of Isaac Platt. Seven children came to them to cheer their way through life. namely: Laura, who was born Dec. 27. 1808, died in March, ISHI ; Sidney Platt, born March 31, ISIO, is living in New Brunswick, N. J. : Elias is our sub- ject : Austin S., born Feb. 12, 1814, resides in Seattle, Wash. : Laura H., born Feb. 28, 1816, died Feb. 4. 1881: Isaac P., born Aug. 17. 1818. died Dec. 21. 1857: and Asahel F., born Aug. 17, 1820, died Aug. 25, 1820. The father of this family passed away Sept. 14, 1820, and the mother on Nov. 10, 1865.

Elias Burwell, the subject proper of this biog- raphy, received his earlier education in Milford until

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le was ten years old, and then went to live with John Gillette, at Burlington, Conn., where he re- mained , four years, attending school and doing chores. After this he lived one year with Carlos Hotchkiss, pursuing his studies in winter school; hen lived a year with his uncle, Isaac Gillette, in1 Burlington, after which, coming to Bristol, lie served an apprenticeship of two years at wood- turning with Rollin Atkins, and next worked two vears for George W. Bartholomew, in Edgewood (Bristol).

Mr. Burwell now began his career as a clock- naker, filling situations as follows: With Upson & Merriman, a short time only ; with the Setli Thomas Co., at Thomaston, one year; with his porother, Sidney P., who had a contract with the Atkins Clock Co., at Bristol, for wood-turning, two years; with Charles Kirk, at Bristol, also at wood- turning, one year ; with Jerome, on brass clocks, two vears; with John Terry, one year, when the latter failed; with Deacon Elisha Brewster, on clocks, nine years; again with his brother Sidney P., who tad a contract with Chauncey Boardman on clock work, three years. Mr. Burwell then formed a partnership with Ralph Terry, and Franklin and George Downs, under the style of Terry, Downs, Burwell & Co., and manufactured eight-day and narine movements for clocks, most of which were lisposed of to Chauncey Jerome, who had removed o New Haven. Three years later Mr. Burwell old to his partners his interest in the factory, which occupied the site of the present Liberty Bell Co.'s blant, and went to work for the Atkins Clock Manu- acturing Co., but three years later this company ailed, and Mr. Burwell was appointed receiver ; he inished up its business-he having the contract for making the movements, ran the factory about one ear, and finally adjusted its complications to the atisfaction of its creditors and all concerned.

Mr. Burwell next purchased Deacon Brewster's old red factory" on Race street, and made clock- larms for a Lowell (Mass.) concern until 1862, vhen Benjamin B. Lewis, of Ohio, came along with patent for clock-calendars. Mr. Burwell secured he right to manufacture these at a royalty to be aid Mr. Lewis, and also secured a contract with .. F. & W. W. Carter for five years, to supply a ertain number of these calendar clocks annually. Ie next made a contract vith the Welch and Spring Co., to work on the Lewis perpetual calendar for hree years, and then for four years-seven in all. n 1876 Mr. Burwell went to work for the E. Ingra- iam Company, which had purchased the Lewis atent, and made a contract with the company afore- aid to furnish the calendar movement, and he still olds the position, being the only man in the shop apable of doing the work, although he is quite ged.

Mr. Burwell was joined in matrimony Nov. 10, 834, with Miss Lucinda Upson, who was born Nov. 10, 1811, a daughter of John Upson, of Water-

bury, and died Aug. 16, 1890, the mother of the following named children: Lucinda A., who was born Sept. 19, 1835, died May 21, 1836; Elias, Jr., born April 7, 1837, died Dec. 1I, 1838; Maria, born July 10, 1838, died Sept. 22, 1864; and Harmanas, born Jan. 30, 1841, died Feb. 17, 1841. The second marriage of Mr. Burwell took place Sept. 23, 1891, to Julia A. Knowles, a native of Plainville, Conn., and a daughter of William Knowles. She died in Bristol Feb. 16, 1899, a member of the Prospect M. E. Church. Of this church Mr. Burwell has also been a member for sixty-five years, was a class- leader over forty-two years, and for many years was a trustee and also superintendent of the Sunday- school. In politics he is a Republican, has served as constable, grand juryman and justice of the peace, and there is no more venerated man in Bristol then Elias Burwell.

EDWARD ATWATER PORTER, engineer in J. H. Sessions & Son's trunk hardware factory, Bristol, is a native of Connecticut, born in Hamden, New Haven county.

When two and one-half years old our subject was adopted by Col. Chauncey Porter, who was quite prominent in military affairs in Farmington (White Oak District), now Plainville, Conn. The Colonel married Lucy Frisbie, daughter of 'Squire Ichabod Frisbie, of Southington, Conn., and our subject continued to live with these good people until he was twenty-one years of age. He received his schooling in the White Oak District, Plainville, which common-school education was supplemented by a term in Southington Academy. When seven- teen years of age he left school and commenced firing on the old New England railroad running be- tween Hartford and Plainville, before the road was extended to Bristol. After a few months thus em- ployed he went to work on Col. Porter's farm, at which he continued until he was twenty years old, and then took up his residence in Southington. Here for about two years he ran a stationary engine for Henry A. Miller, manufacturer of clock faces, at the end of that period returning to Col. Porter's farm. He then went to work for Allen Bunnell, who had a contract with Emery Barker, making small sleds, baby carriages, etc., in this connection remaining one year. Once more taking up his abode in Plainville, he purchased a small farm, which he operated for about two years, in connection with other miscellaneous work, after which for two and one-half years he kept the toll-gate at White Oak, on the Middletown and Farmington road. Leaving this, Mr. Porter went to New Britain and entered the employ of J. B. Sargent as engineer in his foundry, an occupation he was well adapted for, and which he followed in this foundry some six years, from there removing with Mr. Sargent and the works to New Haven. Here he remained nine months, and then entered the service of the U. S. government as engineer on the "Alice E. Preston,"

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which was commissioned by the government during the war of the Rebellion for the transportation of troops and provisions between New York and Hart Island. This vessel was also utilized as the dis- patch boat to carry the message concerning Lee's surrender down New York harbor. After some six moths in this service, Mr. Porter accepted a po- sition with Warner & Sessions in Polkville, now known as Edgewood, Conn., but after between two and three years he removed with his family to Brookfield, Linn Co., Mo., where he bought a farm. After a sojourn of no more than eight months in that Western State, he returned to Connecticut, and once more went to work in Edgewood for John H. Sessions, who in the meantime had bought his part- ner's interest in the business. Mr. Porter at first worked as carver in the wood-turning establishment, and when, that same winter, Mr. Sessions moved his works into Bristol our subject was given the position of engineer-in fact, he set up the engine and has been operating it ever since. The firm is now J. H. Sessions & Son, manufacturers of trunk hardware.

On April 5, 1852, Mr. Porter was married to Susannah Bunnell, who was born Sept. 16, 1832, a daughter of Allen Bunnell, of Burlington, Conn., and two children have graced their union : (1) Rhoda A., born Oct. 9, 1853, married Sept. 20, 1874, to James E. Hodges, of Plainville, Conn. ; their chil- dren, Minnie E., Nellie R., Agnes S., Edward J., Arthur G., John Franklin, Allen Bunnell, and Walter Irving. (2) Edward Orrin, born Feb. 27, 1858. He is in the employ of the E. Ingraham Co. He married March 16, 1879, Jeannette E. Glover, of Thomaston, Conn., who died Dec. 1, 1899; their children, May Augusta, Edwin Allen, Leland Mar- shall, and Bessie M.

In religious faith Mr. Porter attends the serv- ices of the Advent Christian Church, of which his wife is a member. In politics he is a Republican, and in his younger days took an active part in po- litical affairs. For the past five years he has served as second engineer of the Bristol Fire Department, declining the post of first engineer on account of his age. In 1861 he was a member of the National Guard in New Britain, serving as corporal for about three years. He is much respected in the community in which he lives, and is a good, loyal and useful citizen.

ELI S. HOUGH, one of the most popular and influential agriculturists of the town of Windsor, is a native of Connecticut, born in Chaplin, Windham county, Aug. 10, 1832. He is a son of Rev. Lent S. and Hannah (Smith) Hough, both natives of Wallingford, this State, the former a son of Serajah Hough, the latter a daughter of Eli Smith.

The Hough family was founded in the United States in 1640, by two brothers, one of whom lo- cated in Jamestown, Va., and spelled the name Huff, while the other took up his residence in Maine,

which then formed a part of Massachusetts, and i is from the latter branch that our subject is de. scended. His paternal grandfather was a residen of Yalesville, Conn., and was a farmer by occupa. tion, as were all the ancestors of our subject dowr to his father, who entered the ministry of the Con- gregational Church and for forty-seven years wa: engaged in preaching the Gospel in Connecticut He was educated at Yale Theological Seminary was very broad and liberal in his views, and notec for his generosity, and possessed a keen eye and re- tentive memory. He stood six feet, one inch, il his stocking feet. He died at the home of our sub- ject in Poquonock at the age of seventy-six years his wife at the age of seventy-seven, and both werd buried in the Poquonock cemetery. The subject of this review is the eldest in a family of six chil- dren. Sarah married Charles H. Galpin, and diec in Plantsville, Conn. Benjamin S. was in the serv- ice of his country during the Civil war, first as a member of the 3rd Conn. V. 1., and later of the 88tl: 111. V. I., and at its close returned home, paralyzed from the hips down; he died unmarried in 1896. Maria is the wife of Joseph E. Hall, of Colchester, Conn. Mary is a resident of Norwich, Conn. Mar- tha, twin sister of Mary, is the wife of Charles T. Avery, of Coldwater, Kansas.

Eli S. Hough was named for his mother's only brother, Rev. Eli Smith, a missionary to Syria. He attended the high school at Bethel, Conn., while his parents were residing there, and later the Wills- ton Seminary, at East Hampton, Mass. He learned rapidly, and intended entering Yale, but failing health interrupted his studies. He began his busi- ness career as clerk in the store of George W. Guy, at Middletown, Conn., and subsequently accept.d a similar position with H. D. Bassett, at Meriden, Conn., being connected with mercantile pursuits for nine years.

In the meantime Mr. Hough was married, Oct. 4, 1854, to Miss Caroline A. Hall, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., June 18, 1832, a daughter of Benjamin A. and Esther L. (Lindsley) Hall. He began farming at Wallingford, later engaged in the same business at Westfield, and on Aug. 26, 1862, came to Poquonock, where for five years he was head farmer for different men, having charge of the farm of Daniel Buck, of Hartford, for two years. He then bought the Cyrus Phelps farm, which he has greatly improved, and has since suc- cessfully operated. He is interested principally in raising tobacco and plums, and has one of the finest plum orchards to be found in the county.

Politically Mr. Hough is one of the most prom- inent representatives of the Republican party in his community, and he has been honored with a number of official positions. He has served as trial justice in Windsor town for twenty-two years, notary public twelve years, assessor four years, selectman three years, and in 1897 was elect- ed to the State Legislature by the largest ma -.

Ser S. Hangh

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

jority ever given any candidate of that party. For ten years he has been quite prominent in Grange circles, and he is master of Grange No. 53, at Poquonock, of which he was one of the founders and has always been an active member. He has been identified with almost every agricult- ural society in Ilartford county: Was secretary of the Windsor Agricultural Society while it existed ; has been superintendent of the State Agricultural Society ; a member from Hartford county to the State Board of Agriculture; and chairman of the commission on diseases of domestic animals. He is also a member and agent of the Connecticut Humane Society, and has been one of its most active workers. He is a member of all of the tobacco growers associations, and is secretary of the Con- necticut Tobacco Experiment Co. Socially Mr. Hough is a charter member of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics, at Windsor, and re- ligiously both he and his wife are leading members of the Congregational Church at Poquonock, in which he has held various offices. He is a public- spirited and enterprising citizen, and wherever known is held in high regard.

CARLOS EDWIN BISHOP, of Hartford, one of the pioneer ladder manufacturers of the United States, and probably of the Western continent, was born March 29, 1836, in Stanstead, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Hiram Bishop, his father, was born in Lisbon, N. H., and became a tanner and currier at Stan- stead, employing a number of men. He died at Stanstead, aged seventy-three, a prominent, suc- cessful business man, of sound judgment, and one of the most highly respected in the village of Rock Island, where he resided. He married Eseba Rose, who was born in Stanstead, Quebec, daughter of Timothy and Sally ( Allbee) Rose, of Rockingham, N. H. Mr. Rose was a farmer, tanner and currier, and spent his life in the town of Stanstead, where he died at a ripe age. Grandmother Sally Allbee, who was born in Rockingham, N. H., was the mother of twelve children, and lived to advanced age. Hiram Bishop and his wife had a family of eleven children : Timothy R., who died in infancy ; Sarah, who died in Stanstead; Hiram R., a resident of Somerville, Mass., where he died some years ago ; Charles E., who died in the spring of 1900; Henry C., also deceased, who was a resident of Stanstead ; Carlos E., of this memoir; John A., a resident of Barnston, Quebec; Lewis R., deceased ; Eseba C., deceased; Albert M., of East Providence, R. I .; and Lucretia, now Mrs. De Costa, residing in New York. Both parents were members of the M. E. Church, in the work of which they were prominent, ind took an active part and interest.

Carlos E. Bishop spent his early years in Stan- stead, being educated in the common schools, and at eighteen went to Boston to join his brother Hiram, who had preceded him by three years, and was 27

engaged in the manufacture of ladders in Somer- ville, Mass. He continued in partnership with him for some four years, when he sold his interest to his brother and went to Vermont, taking up the vo- cation of a farmer from 1861 to 1865. He then located in Providence, R. 1., and with his brother again entered the ladder business, which he con- tinued until 1872, when he bought out Hiram's interest, and took into partnership his brother Henry. Removing to Hartford, they founded the ladder business there, in 1872 establishing the manufacture of ladders in Hartford, and continuing business in both cities for a few years, when Mr. Bishop sold his interest in the Providence concern and bought his brother's interest in the Hartford branch, which he carried on alone. Thus he continued until 1893, when his son took charge, and our subject retired. During the first few years of his business in Hart- ford, or in the early 'eighties, the interests of the five brothers were to some extent mutual, their methods of conducting business being to send wagons through the country. At one time they had about thirty-five upon the road, covering all the New England States, New York, and Pennsylvania. They were at that time the most extensive manu- facturers of ladders in the United States. The busi- ness of the brother in Providence having later been discontinued, our subject became the only manu- facturer of ladders outside of Boston in the New England States, and, the business having constantly increased, at the time of his retirement it was the largest in the United States. The name of Bishop is connected almost inseparably with the ladder busi- ness throughout the Union ; not only do they manu- facture everything in the line of ladders for all uses, including a large trade in the different fire de- partments, but they also manufacture step-ladders, clothes-horses, and an enormous quantity of snow shovels, and carry in stock all kinds of chairs and settees, together with a large variety of other kinds of wooden goods. They send their products to all parts of the United States, as far west as California, and also to the Cape of Good Hope. Their largest factory is located at Hartford, but they have parts of ladders made for them in great quantities in differ- ent factories throughout New Hampshire and other parts of the New England States. Their poles were brought by shipload from Maine.

Mr. Bishop now resides at No. 27 Blue Hills avenue, Hartford, and is the owner of considerable real estate in that city, having bought a number of houses, which he rents. In 1858 he married Coro- lin V. Hall, who was born in Holland, Vt., daughter of Captain Luther D. Hall, a farmer, and was one of a family of twelve children. Mr. Bishop has three children : E. C., who has his father's business [sketch elsewhere] ; Karl F., in the employ of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. (he married Jennie E. Sweet, and has one child, Richard S.) ; and Miss Edna L., at home. The children were all educated in the common and high schools of the city. Mr.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Bishop is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Stanstead. The family at- tend the Congregational Church, and are much es- teemed socially.

WILLIAM EZRA KEEP, widely known as a successful contractor and builder of Hartford, and one of the oldest in that line in the city, is a native of Massachusetts, born Sept. 15, 1844, in the town of Paxton.

Mr. Keep is of the seventh generation in de- scent from John Keep, who came from England to this country in 1660, locating in Long Meadow, then a part of Springfield, Mass., where he became a very prominent man, holding divers offices of trust and responsibility. In 1676 he was killed by the Indians, his wife and an infant son also being slain at the same time. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject was born in Monson, Mass., Aug. 30, 1745, and was a lifelong farmer there; he served as a corporal in the war of the Revolution.

Josiah Keep, grandfather of William Ezra, was born in Monson Jan. 26, 1778, and died Oct. I, 1851, at the age of seventy-three years. On Oct. 27, 1801, he married Lucy Tucker, and by her had eleven children, ten of whom reached maturity, but all are now deceased.

Josiah Otis Keep, father of William Ezra, was born in Monson, Mass., April 23, 1812, and was there reared and educated. A blacksmith by occu- pation, he followed his trade in West Brookfield, Warren and Paxton, Mass. He married Eliza Ann Southworth, who was born Sept. 19, 1813, in Ash- ford, Conn., a daughter of Ezra Southiworth, of that place, and seven children were born to them, three of whom died in childhood. The others are : Susan M., widow of Edwin A. Giddings, a son of H. A. Gid- dings ; William Ezra, a sketch of whom follows; Josiah, in California, where he has been a professor in a college some fifteen years ; and Edward Palmer, of Paxton, Mass. The father died Aug. 2, 1895, the mother on Aug. 28, 1891 ; both were prominent members of the Congregational Church in which he was a deacon for many years ; in politics he was the first in his town to uphold the Free-soil doc- trine.

William Ezra Keep received his education in the public schools of his native place, and worked at blacksmithing and farming under his father until he was eighteen years of age. At that time he en- listed in Company B, 51st Mass. V. I., and served one year in the 18th Army Corps. In August, 1864, he re- enlisted, this time in the Ist Battalion, Mass. Heavy Artillery, in which he served one year, at the end of that time receiving an honorable discharge. He then came to Hartford, remaining there during 1865-66, after which we find him in Worcester, Mass., where he learned his trade, that of a carpen- ter, and where he remained until August, 1871, the date of his settling in Hartford. Here he has since, with the exception of eighteen months passed

in the West, been engaged at his trade, also in con- tracting and building, and has met with all desir- able success. He has erected many buildings, mainly dwelling-houses, and he built the larger part of the village of Elmwood, Hartford county, including the chapel, school house, factories and dwellings.

On Oct. 15, 1873, William Ezra Keep was united in marriage with Adelaide M. Giddings, born in Hartford, daughter of Horatio A. Giddings, a farm- er and gardener, who spent the greater part of his life there, dying in 1888, at the age of seventy-five years. The family attend the services of the South Congregational Church. In politics Mr. Keep is & Republican, is a member of the Republican warc committee, and has represented the Eighth ward i the common council for two years, 1896-97. Socially he is affiliated with the G. A. R., R. O. Tyler Post No. 50, Hartfo -' and with the U. O. A. M., being a trustee of Cutfer Council, No. 85. He is an ex cellent citizen, genial and affable by nature, and hi name is a household word throughout the county

GEORGE JOHN SCHUBERT, a native o Bavaria, Germany, born Oct. 2, 1837, and a residen of Bristol, Conn., since August, 1853, an ex-soldie of the Civil war, is at the present time a foreman i the clock case department of the Ingraham Company

John Schubert, father of George John, was cabinetmaker by trade, and in 1828 married Johann Schubert, to which marriage were born two chi dren, Lorenz, born in Germany in 1830, and no living in Forestville, Conn., and George J. TH father died in Bavaria, when the subject of th sketch was but a small boy, and the mother, in 1876 made a visit to this country, expecting to make he home with her sons, but became homesick and som returned to Germany, where she died Sept. 2, 189

George John Schubert attended school until si: teen years of age, and was then employed in the ci of Schweinfurt as a clerk in the post office. Ju: before attaining the age of seventeen years he e- tered a cabinetmaker's shop for a short time to g: an insight into clock-case making. He sailed froi Bremen, Germany, July 23, 1853, and arrived 1 New York August 7, same year, coming immec- ately to Bristol, Conn., and there found a position 3 clock case maker with Brewster & Ingraham (nc7 the E. Ingraham Company). In September, 180, he enlisted and he served about a year, but of tls further mention will be made. In 1867 he mae a contract with the Ingraham Company, which lasti about thirty years. He started with three men n his employ, and when he relinquished his contrat he had forty-eight. In 1896 he was made foremn of a part of the clock-case work, and has fifty mon under him.

Mr. Schubert was married Dec. 24, 1858, 0 Sophia Wilhelmina Funck, who was born in Ha- over, Germany, Sept. 23, 1839, and in 1848 came o Bristol, Conn., with her parents, Christian ad

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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 95

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