Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 2, Part 124

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172

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 2 > Part 124

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In 1883 Mr. Cleaveland was married, at Hol- yoke, Mass., to Miss Mary E. Hunter, daughter of John Hunter, a well-known citizen of that place, and three children have blessed the union : Lottie A., Charles F., Jr., and Carrie A. Mr. Cleaveland and his estimable wife are prominent in social life, and are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Windsor Locks, Mr. Cleaveland being a member of the official board of the Church. He is an active member of Euclid Lodge, No. 109, .A. F. & A. M., of which he is treasurer.

GEORGE N. AHIL, a young and much re- spected market gardener of East Hartford Meadow, Hartford county, was born in Greenfield, Mass., July 30, 1862, a son of Michael and Margaret ( Stuckert) Ahl, natives of Germany.

Michael Ahl, son of John Ahl, was reared to farming in Germany, but when a young man sailed from Havre, France, for the United States, landed in New York, and thence went at once to Greenfield, Mass., where for several years he was employed in a cutlery factory. He then purchased a farm near Springfieldl, Mass., engaged in market garden- ing and general farming for several years, and finally came to East Hartford Meadow, Conn .. purchasing a farm from Mr. Buddy, on which he still resides. In Massachusetts he married Mar- garet Stuckert, a native of Darmstadt, Germany, and to this union were born five children: John, who married Flora Fish, and is farming his land at .Agawam. Mass .; George N., the subject of this article; Michael, who married Freda Schultz, and is also farming at Agawam; Henry H., who passed four years in Europe as a student in drawing and oil painting, and is now an artist of acknowledged merit, in Springfield, Mass .; and Louise, who is married to William Michael, and living in Bristol, Connecticut.

George N. Ahl, our subject, early came to East Hartford Meadow, attended the district school, and

then the Brown school, in Hartford, after quitting which he went to the Agawam ( Mass.) farm. There he lived until 1894, when he returned to East Hartford Meadow, where his father, some years previously, had purchased the home farm, on which he has since lived. On April 4, 1894, Mr. Ahl married Miss Ophelia Crouse, a native of Agawam, Mass., and a daughter of George and Augusta (Voegel) Crouse, and this marriage has been blessed with one daughter, Tryphena, born Nov. 26, 1895, a very bright and interesting child.

In politics Mr. Ahl is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker, neither has he ever been a member of any secret society; his religious associations are with the Congregational Church. He is successful as a gardener, is an excellent business man, and his quiet demeanor and pleasant manners have won him the respect of all who know him.

JOHN WARNER, a leading farmer and hon- ored citizen of Wethersfield, was born in that town Sept. 1, 1835, a son of Levi and Sallie (Larkin ) Warner.

Our subject attended the district schools of his native town and. also the Wethersfield Academy, receiving a good English education, which has been of much practical benefit to him in later years. In early life he also became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and has made farming his life occupation. His home is on Broad street, and he is now especially interested in stock raising and tobacco culture, in connection with general farming. Upright and hon- orable in all his dealings, he is well liked and highly respected, and has many warm friends throughout the county. Religiously he is a member of the Episcopal Church of Wethersfield, and politically is identified with the Democratic party.

On March 23, 1864, Mr. Warner married Miss Cornelia S. Dix, who was born Dec. 14, 1838, a daughter of William and Lucy ( Barrett) Dix. She died Feb. 16, 1869, and was buried in Weth- ersfield. There were two children by that union : Ralph Dix, born May 9, 1865. died Dec. 10, 1891 ; and John, born Aug. 12, 1867, died April 20, 1868, Mr. Warner was again married, Nov. 26, 1872, his second union being with Miss Catherine E. Bulkley, also a native of Wethersfield, and a daugh- ter of Frederick and Nancy B. (Riley) Bulkley, whose ancestors were early settlers of that town. Capt. John Riley, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Warner, was married in Rocky Fill, and he and his wife had the following children; Nancy B., born July 16, 1792, was married Oct. 6, 1814, to Frederick Bulkley, and died Dec. 24, 1857; Lucy, born Dec. 29, 1796, died July 6, 1824; Seth, born Oct. 4, 1797, died in New York in September, 1850; Horace, born Sept. 29, 1798, was married May 14, 1835, to Grace Hudson See, and died May 12, 1842; John, born in 1800, was married

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April 2, 1823, to Eliza S. Larkins, and died Nov. 18, 1845; Lydia, born May 10, 1804, was married Jan. 31, 1837, to Richard Smith, and died Nov. 14, 1877 ; Maria, born Jan. 27, 1806, was married in Detroit, Mich., to Joseph l'eters, and died July 5, 1841 : Louise, born Aug. 1, 1808, died unmarried Nov. 9. 1882; and James, born Sept. 2, 1810; was married in May, 1834, to Charlotte A. Derrie.

To Mr. and Mrs. Warner were born three chil- dren: Kate Bulkley, born Oct. 11, 1873, was mar- ried Oct. 12, 1891, to Jomes N. Hale, and died Aug. 23, 1893. Gertrude Edwards and Grace Chetwood, twins, were born Dec. 7, 1875, and the latter died Oct. 19, 1896. The former is a graduate of the Wethersfield high school. Mrs. Warner and her daughter are ladies of culture and refinement, and are quite prominent socially in the community where they reside. They hold membership with our sub- ject in the Wethersfield Grange, and Mrs. Warner is an earnest member of the Congregational Church.

JOHN CHRISTIAN NIELSON. Scarcely more than ten years ago the subject of this sketch, a native of Denmark, who had just served his time in the army of his fatherland, landed in New York with $20 in his pocket, his entire fortune. A stranger in a strange land, with no trade, and only some knowledge of Danish farming, his best and only capital was the determination within him to grow in prosperity as an American citizen. He is yet a young man, but is succeeding beyond ex- pectation.

Mr. Nielson was born in Denmark Jan. 14, 1865, son of Christian and Annie (Peterson) Sieerskil. His father, born in 1833, was a life- long farmer of Denmark, prosperous and indus- trious. John Christian received a good common- school education in his native land, and remained on his father's farm until he arrived at the age of twenty. He then entered the army, to serve the prescribed term, and afterward worked two years as a farm hand for Yans Larson, receiving $65 per annum, besides board and clothes. Determining to come to America, the young man sailed May 15, 1889, on the steamer "Iceland," from Copenhagen. He arrived at New York June I, and the next morning expended a portion of his $20 capital in the purchase of a ticket for passage by boat to Hartford. After visiting a cousin there, Peter Peterson, for about a week, our subject found em- ployment on a farm in Simsbury owned by a Mr. McRoy, a blacksmith. He remained there three months, and then for six months worked for the Belting Co. Subsequently, for two years, Mr. Niel- son worked as a farmer in Unionville.

Ambitions to become his own employer, Mr. Nielson in 1892 rented a farm of Henry C. Rice, in Farmington, and operated it successfully for six years. They were years of the closest applica- tion to the duties of the farm, and by the energy and intelligence which he placed into the work the

lease proved quite profitable to our subject. From a farm hand to tenant was one step, from tenant to land owner was another, and the latter step Mr. Nielson took in 1898, by the purchase, on Feb. 27, of a farm of eighty-five acres in Newington. Besides operating his land, raising large quantities of corn, potatoes, etc., for he is a man of unusual -

energy and industry, Mr. Nielson conducts a large milk business in New Britain. llis farming has already proved highly profitable, and its success is due to the fact that he attends strictly to his busi- ness, and never tires of its labors.

Mr. Nielson was married, May 29, 1894, to Miss Elizabeth Margaret Sweeney, of Hartford, a native of St. Thomas, Canada. To our subject and wife two children have been born: Jessie Rice and Annie Marie. Mr. Nielson has become an earnest and enthusiastic American citizen. He en- dorses the principles of the Democratic party, but in the choice of local officials votes for the man he thinks best fitted for the place. By his business ability and industry our subject is rapidly making his presence felt in the community in which he lives, and is regarded as one of its best type of citizens.

WILLIAM C. UPSON is a wide-awake and enterprising business man of Southington, a mem- ber of the firm of Upson Brothers, the leading grocers of the place. He was born in that town June 9, 1859, a son of Capt. Andrew and Elizabeth L. (Gridley) Upson, of whose ancestry a full ac- count is given in connection with the sketch of Frank R. Upson, on another page of this volume.

Our subject was educated in the Lewis Academy, and in 1876 began his business career as clerk in a grocery store, being thus employed until June, 1883, when he formed a partnership with his brother Frank R., and has since engaged in the grocery trade on his own account, with most grati- fying results. On May 24, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie E. Sutliff, a daugh- ter of Lucas and Harriet E. (Langdon) Sutliff, of Southington, and to them have been born two children : Clifford Andrew and Kenneth Sutliff.

Mr. Upson has been a member of the South- ington fire department since its organization, first as private of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 ; as first assistant foreman six years; as foreman ; and in January, 1898, was appointed chief engineer of the Department. He is quite popular in social circles, and is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F .; Wonx Tribe, No. 28, I. O. R. M., in which order he holds one of the State offices ; and S. S. Woodruff Camp, S. of V. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

RAYMOND S. CASE, treasurer of the Case Manufacturing Company, is one of the most pro- gressive, enterprising and energetic business men of Unionville. Although he is still a young man

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his popularity in business circles is established 011 a firm basis -- that of his own well-tested merit. In1 1889 A. Willard, A. Welles and C. Frank Case established in Unionville the Case Manufacturing Company, buying the Cowles' paper-mill, and in October, 1898, the company was incorporated witlı A. Willard Case as president; C. Frank Case, vice- president ; Raymond S. Case, secretary and treas- urer. They do a large and profitable business as manufacturers of paper.

Our subject was born in Manchester, Hart- ford county, October 16, 1875, and is a son of A. Willard Case, of that place. He attended the public schools of Manchester for some time, was also a student in the Hartford Public High School, and began his preparation for Brown University under a private tutor, but was obliged to give up study on account of his eyesight. For three years thereafter he held the position of general man- ager in the Windham Paper Company's mill at Chaplin, Conn., and in September, 1897, was made manager of the mill at Unionville, with which he has since been connected. He still holds that respon- sible position in connection with that of secretary and treasurer of the company, and under his able management the mill has proved quite profitable. In Somerset, Mass., Mr. Case was married, in June, 1898, to Miss Ethel Bernice Leonard, a daughter of Henry B. Leonard, proprietor of the Mt. Hope Iron Works.

JOSEPH P. NORTON, an enterprising and successful young agriculturist of East Windsor, is the manager of a fine homestead of 150 acres near Broad Brook and another tract of fifty acres near Windsorville, and his able management has won him an enviabe reputation. As a citizen he has shown himself to be public-spirited, and his fel- low townsmen, recognizing his ability, have al- ready called him to an official position, as select- man, seldom given to one of his age.

Mr. Norton was born Aug. 1I, 1870, on the homestead, son of Peter and Bridget (Concannon) Norton, who had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Our subject was reared to farm work, and his education was begun in the schools of Broad Brook, but he also attended a night school in Hartford for some time. Like many farmers' sons he thought country life uncongenial, and at the age of nineteen he began the study of telegraphy, in which he became so proficient that when only twenty years old he was appointed agent and operator at South Windsor. This position he held four years, but in the meantime the wholesome life of a farmer assumed a more attractive aspect in his mind, and on giving up telegraphy he returned to the old homestead, where he has since been en- gaged in general farming and tobacco culture. From his youth he has been an ardent Democrat, and in 1897 he was the candidate of that party for the office of third selectman, to which he was duly

elected in company with George A. Ellis and H. W. Talcott.

In 1897 Mr. Norton was married to Miss Au- gusta Krah, and one child, Margaret, has blessed the union. In religious faith he is a Catholic, and he and his estimable wife are active members of the church at Broad Brook.

NELSON STAPLES, the leading merchant of East Glastonbury, is a veteran of the Civil war and has made an enviable record for good citizenship.

Mr. Staples was born in East Glastonbury Jan. 4, 1840, son of Shubael Staples, and grandson of Septius Staples, a native of New York who settled in Ilebron, Conn, and was employed there at vari- ous occupations during the later years of his life. Shubael Staples, our subject's father, was born in Ilebron and was one of a large family of children. As a young man he engaged in any work that would bring an honest dollar and for many years he was employed in Spark's (now Crosby's) mill at East Glastonbury, where he died. He married Miss Fannie Valentine, a native of that town, who sur- vived him. They had two children: Nelson, and Elizabeth J., wife of Dewitt C. House, of East Glastonbury, a local preacher of the M. E. Church, who is employed in Crosby's mill.

At the time of our subject's birth the family occupied the place where Henry Lingler resides, but the old house has since been torn down. He attended the district schools and a select school which was conducted in the basement of the Meth- odist church, and at eighteen years of age began to earn his own livelihood in the factory of the Curtisville Manufacturing Co., at Naubuc, then Curtisville. He worked by the piece, and, being industrious, managed to make fair wages. After one year he went to Cobalt, Middlesex Co., Conn., to work in a factory owned by Bailey & Brannon, remaining six months. He then went to Hart- ford and was employed for a short time by Rogers & Co., in their silver plating establishment, and later he was employed in the finishing department of the Crosby Manufacturing Co., at East Glaston- bury. While there he responded to his country's call for defenders, enlisting, in 1862, in Company G, 25th Conn. V. I., under the late Capt. Chas. Talcott. He served in the Louisiana Campaign un- der Gen. Banks, and although the regiment was or- ganized for nine months service they were kept out over a year, our subject being absent from his command only one day. They were mustered out in Hartford, in 1863, and Mr. Staples returned to his place in the mill, where he worked continu- ously until September, 1894. He became an expert finisher and after leaving that place he worked in factories in Mystic and New Britain for a couple of years, but finally returned to East Glastonbury to engage in business on his own account. He built his present building and opened a general store, the largest in the place, and his increasing

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trade is an evidence of his promptness, thorough- ness and honesty.

On Nov. 23, 1864, Mr. Staples was married to Miss Katherine J. Andrews, who was born Dec. 21. 1844. in South Glastonbury, daughter of Albert and Alvira ( Dickinson ) Andrews. Her father is a joiner and farmer of East Glastonbury, and a highly-esteemed citizen. Four children were born of this union: (1) Edith J. married Raymond Russell, a salesman in Hartford, and they have one daughter; (2) Everett M. married Florence An- drews, and resides in New Britain, where he is em- ploved as a brick layer ; (3) Frank W. married Alice Judd, a native of New Britain, and resides at the homestead, assisting his father in the work of the farm and store. (4) Miss Myrtis Belle is at home.

Mr. Staples is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of justice of the peace. He is a member of Stanley Post G. A. R., of New Britain, and he and his wife are prominent members of the M. E. Church of East Glastonbury, of which he is now steward.

HENRY FRICKE, an honest, hard-working German farmer of East Hartford Meadow, Hartford county, was born in Prussia. Germany, March 10. 1835, and was a young man not yet of age when his father, also named Henry, who was a mason by trade, was called away by death, leaving some prop- erty to his widow and four sons.

Henry Fricke, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived a common-school education in his native kingdom. Soon after the death of his father he sailed, in company with his mother and three broth- ers. Frank, Augustus and Charles, on board the ship "Wayland," from Bremen for New York : after a voyage of forty-nine days they arrived at their destination, in the fall of 1854. From New York the family came at once by steamboat to Hartford, Conn., and rented a dwelling. Our subject. being the eldest son, immediately sought and found work, having learned the trade of mason under his fa- ther, and was thus the main support of the family as long as they lived together, which they did until his marriage, the younger brothers in the meantime having found employment at various occupations. and by degrees became something more than self- supporting.

Henry Fricke married, at Hartford, Miss Mary Stein, a native of Switzerland, who was but four years of age when brought to the United States by her parents. After marriage Mr. Fricke continued his residence in Hartford until failing health obliged him to abandon the mason's trade, and he resorted to the collecting of paper stock and also dealt in tinware, a line of business he has since followed. Since coming to East Hartford Meadow he has, in addition to his paper stock business, buying. etc .. carried on farming, owning a seventy-four-acre tract of fine land.

In religion Mr. and Mrs. Fricke are Protest-

ants, in which faith they are rearing the seven chil- dren who have blessed their union : Edwin, Albert, Everett, Lillian, Robert, Oscar and Florence. In politics Mr. Fricke was once a Democrat, but is now a stanch Republican, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of Beethoven Lodge. I. O. O. F., and of the Germania Association, both of Hartford. Mr. Fricke is still a well-preserved man, although he has done a great deal of hard work, and his life in America has been so upright and industrious as to win for him the warm esteem of all who know him.

CHARLES FRICKE, a highly-respected farm- e1, live stock and poultry raiser, and tobacco grow- er. of East Hartford, was born in Saxony, Prussia, Feb. 3. 1840, the youngest of the four children born to Henry Fricke. of whose family more may be found in the sketch of Henry Fricke, above.

Charles Fricke attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age, as the law requires, and was fourteen years old! when he arrived in the United States, on the ship "Wayland," in com- pany with his mother and three brothers. On ar- riving in Hartford the family took up their resi- dence on Front street, and in that city young Charles worked at various callings-at harness- making. in a restaurant, and in a bakery, and for awhile for Smith, Bowen & Co .. at Hartford, until his mother bought the present farm in East Hart- ford from Adam Boardman, and built sheds, barns, etc. ; on this place she passed the remainder of her life. Here Mr. Fricke grows about three acres of tobacco annually, besides carrying on general farm- ing operations. as indicated at the opening of this brief article. He is very industrious and thrifty, and is quiet and retiring in disposition.

In politics Mr. Fricke is a Republican, but has never sought office : in religion he is a Lutheran. He is still a bachelor.

GUSTAVUS ARNURIUS, an industrious and prosperous farmer of Hockanum, town of East Hartford, was born in Saxony, Germany, Dec. 11. 1825, a son of Gottlieb and Fredericka ( Sanders) Arnurius.

Gottlieb Arnurius was a mason by trade. He was a corporal in the German army, fought against Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo, and after a charge against a battery on a hill there were left of his regiment but himself and one comrade; for his bravery on this and other occasions he was dec- orated with an iron cross, a silver cross, and a "war medal." He and his wife both died in Germany. Their family were: One who died in infancy ; Carl, who also died young; August, who came to the United States ( with our subject), and was drowned in the Fraser river, Colorado, with seven or eight others : Gustavus, whose name opens this sketch ; and Frederick, a public singer of continental reputation, who died in Germany.

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Gustavus Arnurius attended the public schools of his native country, in accordance with the law, until fourteen years of age, and was then employed in the silver mines until their humidity brought on rheumatism, and he was obliged to quit. He then went to Berlin, where he learned lock-making, and later the machinist's trade, at which he worked in the large shops in Borcig until March 18, 1848. when. the Revolution having broken out, he re- turned home, having determined to come to America. He started for Hamburg, via Berlin, and in the latter city was arrested by mistake, but was soon re- leased, with profuse apologies, and sent on his way. From Hamburg he sailed for Liverpool, England. there embarked on the sailing vessel "Jamestown," and after a voyage of seven weeks, during which a mutiny took place, landed in New York City, July 4, 1850. Unable to find employment, and being without money (as he had been robbed soon after his arrival), "Not even a cent to buy a glass of water, if it would have cost that much," he found his way to Hartford, where he was engaged first at ȘI per day for a month, then at $1.25, and then. being an expert machinist, at much better wages, so that, at the close of a year, he had saved $600. His board and lodging cost him from $8 to $9 per month, and his washing and mending he did him- self. He was thus enabled, in 1851, to send to Ger- many for his sweetheart in Berlin, Francisca Schultz. who was born in that city May 13, 1831, and who sailed from Hamburg for America as soon as prac- ticable ; she was seven weeks on the voyage, canie to East Hartford, and their wedding took place July 13, 1851.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnurius started housekeeping in Hartford, lived there a year, and then settled in East Hartford, where he purchased twelve acres of his present farm, to which further allusion will be made. He left Colt's machine shop at Hartford in 1861, and was employed in the armory at Spring- field, Mass., where he earned from $90 to $1oo por month, and, as no work was too fine for him, he was retained for three years ; he then returned to Hart- ford, where he was again sought for, and was ent- ployed in Colt's Armory two years longer, when he bought the farm where he has resided ever since. His original tract of twelve acres Mr. Arnurius in- creased to nineteen, but has since sold a part of it. His first habitation here was in a somewhat dilapi- dated condition, as the snow and rain beat through the roof, but in 1859 he erected a substantial and handsome dwelling, which he still occupies.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnurius, as follows: Anna died in young woman- hood : Emma also died young : Oscar, a skilled me- chanic, was for a timie superintendent of the Eddy Machine Co.'s Electric works in Windsor, but is now employed in Hartford : Armand died young : Bertha was married to Howard Cox, and became the mother of one child, Frances Myrtle, who is now living with Mr. Arnurius, the mother having passed away ;

Osmond died in infancy; and Hattie is living with her parents. Mr. Arnurius and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Arnurius is a Republican in his predilections, being neutral, however, in local matters. Fraternally he is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., and of the I. O. R. M. lodge at Hartford.

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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 2, Part 124

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1172

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1172