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 127

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 127

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Alexander Brewer, of the second generation, was born Oct. 5. 1706, resided in Glastonbury, and (lied in Middletown in 1750, leaving his widow, Thankful, and his son, Joseph, as administrators of his estate, valued at £109. 8s, 6d. The children born to Alexander and Thankful Brewer were nine in number, and were named as follows: Thomas, Hezekiah, Joseph, Benjamin, Daniel, Mary, Sarah G., Lydia L. and Amy P.

Daniel Brewer, named above, of the third gen- eration, married Mary Slate, and reared a large family, of whom Julius Brewer, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was the fourth child and son.

Julius Brewer, of the fourth generation, was

.born near the Connecticut river, west of High street, in Hockanum, in 1802, and was a repairer of shoes, a carpenter and a fisherman. On Dec. 31, 1826, he married Raechel Goodale, of East Hart- ford, who bore him seven children: Louisa Julia, widow of Louis Jackson, and residing in High street, Hartford; Martha, who is married to Frank Morton, of Wethersfield, a polisher by trade, now living in Hartford; Deacon Franklin, whose name opens this biographical sketch; Sarah, deceased wife of Comfort Bogue, who lived near New London; Maria, deceased wife of Charles Smith, who lived in Poquonock, in the town of Windsor; Jennie, wife of Charles Conant, a flour merchant of Bos- ton : and Matilda, who married David Hills, and is residing in Hartford. Julius Brewer, father of these children, died Oct. 21, 1856, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Louisa J. Jackson, in Hartford.

Deacon Franklin Brewer, of the fifth genera- tion, was born in Hockanum Jan. 8, 1833, and was unfortunate in not receiving a proper education in childhood. His father was poor, and young Frank- lin was obliged to leave home at an early age to earn his living, and also to contribute to the sup- port of the family. He was first employed by Daniel Winslow, near Hillstown, remaining in his employ several years, and on his return to Hock- anum made his home with Edwin Brewer, his cousin, under whom he learned the bootmaker's trade ( marrying in the meantime), and was en- gaged in this calling when the war of the Rebellion broke out. Patriotic to the core, he offered his services to defend the flag at the first call for vol- unteers, but an accident which he had in youth, a fall from an apple tree, incapacitated him for serv- ice in the army, and was a cause for his rejectment, very much to his disappointment. Later he was drafted, served sixteen days, and was then dis- charged on account of the same disability. The war destroved the boot trade with the South, and during its continuance Mr. Brewer made his home with Anson Forbes, his father-in-law, but on the revival of the boot and shoe industry resumed his trade, made boots for Hunt, Holbrook & Barber, of Hartford, and so continued until he purchased, from the heirs of Mrs. Polly Forbes, his wife's grandmother, a tract of fifteen acres of land. He built tobacco sheds thereon, and in 1876 erected the dwelling now occupied by his widow and son, Clif- ford F. Here he engaged in tobacco growing and farming until the close of his life.

Deacon Brewer was joined in matrimony, Nov. 24, 1858, with Miss Esther Forbes, who was born Feb. 6, 1836, a daughter of Anson and Lucy ( Por- ter) Forbes, descendants of old and respected fam- ilies of East Hartford town. Anson Forbes was born July 30, 1806, and died in July, 1887; his wife was born Aug. 13, 1806, and survived until Nov. 1, 1881. Mrs. Brewer is one of the five chil- dren born to her parents, of whom two only are now living. Ellery S. (a farmer in Hockanum) and Mrs. Brewer. This marriage of Deacon Frank-

Franklin Brewer

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lin and Esther Brewer was blessed with two chil- dren : Clayton A., born Dec. 15, 1869, who died Jan. 4, 1873; and Clifford F., born March 5, 1879. Clifford F. Brewer was educated in the East Hart- ford district and high schools, from which latter he graduated in 1895, in a class of nine, of which he was the treasurer. He then entered the Hart- ford Public High School, and was in the Junior class when the death of his father took place, and he was recalled home to take charge of the farm, which he has since conducted in a masterly manner.

Deacon Brewer, when young, united with the Methodist Church, but in later years joined the Congregationalists, of which denomination he be- came a deacon, and in the faith of which he passed away May 11, 1896, honored and beloved by all who knew him. He was a self-made man, and left to his widow and son a comfortable home, and a name of which they may well feel proud.

THOMAS S. HALL, a prominent resident of New Britain, is numbered among the self-made men of that thriving town, and, while his enterprise and ability reflect credit upon him, his successful efforts in his chosen line of business have helped in the de- velopment of the locality.

Mr. Hall was born Nov. 6, 1827, in Newbern, N. C., and is of English descent in the paternal line. Thomas F. Hall, his grandfather, was born of English parentage in the Bermuda Islands, but later in life made his home in North Carolina. He married Miss Frances Alexander. of Mecklenburg, N. C., a descendant of one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which was dated one year earlier than that of Philadel- phia. The children of Thomas F. Hall were : Mary, who married William S. Webb, of Norwalk, Conn. ; Frances. wife of Charles Dewey, of North Caro- lina, and George A.

George A. Hall, our subject's father, was born in 1799, in Newbern, N. C., and for many years was successfully engaged in mercantile business there. He died in 1831. and his wife, whose maiden name was Emily Dewey, died in 1838. They had four children, viz. : Elizabeth, wife of Robert Bur- ney; George, who died in childhood ; Thomas S .. our subject : and Mary A., who died in childhood.

As a boy Thomas S. Hall attended school in Newbern, receiving a good academic education, and at the age of seventeen he became a clerk in a gen- eral store in that city. In 1847, at the age of twen- ty, he removed to New Britain, the home of his mother's ancestors where he was employed for a time in the office of North & Stanley. In 1849 he engaged in mercantile business there in partnership with Gad Stanley, a grandson of Col. Gad Stanley, mentioned below. On the dissolution of the firm, in 1849, he began the manufacture of levels, try squares, and similar articles as a member of the firm of Hall & Knapp. He was the pioneer in this line of business, and in 1857 his firm was re-organ- ized as the Stanley Rule & Level Co., now one of the

leading concerns of this section. For a few years Mr. Hall was in mercantile business with a Mr. Bowers, but in 1861 he sold out and went to New York City. Later he became connected with the New Britain Knitting Co., and for twenty-one years he acted as their superintendent and agent. In 1887 he engaged in real estate business under the firm name of Hall & Peck, the partnership continu- ing until 1898. Politically he is a strong Repub- lican, and at times he has been called to accept town office as selectman, assessor and member of the board of relief. He has always taken an active part in municipal affairs, serving as a member of the Council and the Board of Water Commissioners, and has been chairman of said board for five years- a longer term than that of any other of the present members. He was instrumental in introducing the "Roaring Brook" supply, which has doubled the ca- pacity of the works. In religious faith he is a Congregationalist, and for nine years he has been a member of the standing committee of the church in New Britain. In 1851 he married Miss Julia A. North, daughter of Henry and Lauretta ( Smith ) North, of New Britain. Two children of the union died in childhood, Mary E. at ten years of age, and Emily L. at six years.

In the maternal line Mr. Hall is descended from several well known families, notably the Deweys and Stanleys. His mother, Mrs. Emily ( Dewey ) Hall, was a member of one of the old families of New Brit- ain, and a distant relative of Admiral Dewey, of the United States Navy. Her father, Oliver Dewey, was a farmer in early life, but removed to Newbern, N. C., and engaged in business as a merchant, be- ing one of the leading citizens of the town for many years. His death occurred in 1841. His wife, Mary Stanley, was born Aug. 2, 1772, the daughter of Col. Gad Stanley, of Revolutionary fame, and died in 1848. They had six children, namely: George S., born May 30, 1794: Emily. born June 27, 1796; Henry, born Aug. 19, 1798; Adeline, born Oct. 12, 1802; Mary, born Sept. 3. 1804: and Oliver S., born Dec. 22, 1807.

The STANLEY family traces its ancestry from John Stanley, a native of England, who started for America about 1634, but died on the ocean. His wife's name is not known. Of his three children, John became the progenitor of the family in this country ; Ruth, born in 1629, married Isaac More, and the youngest was born in 1634 and died the same year. Capt. John Stanley, son of John (I), was born in England in 1624, and as he was still a minor when his father died was placed under the care of an uncle at Cambridge, Mass., and removed with him to Hartford in 1636. As a boy he took part in the Pequot war, and during King Philip's war he served as lieutenant and captain. For many years he was a leading citizen of Farmington, hold- ing offices of high responsibility. He married ( first ) Sarah Scott, and (second) Sarah Stoddard, and had eight children. John, Thomas, Sarah, Tim-

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othy, Elizabeth and Isaac were born of the first marriage, and by the second there were two chil- dren. AAbigail and Elizabeth. Thomas Stanley, son of Capt. John, was born in Farmington Nov. 1, 1049, and died April 14, 1713. His wife, Anna Peck, died May 13, 1718. They had two children, Thomas and Anna. Thomas Stanley (2) was born Oct. 31, 1696, and died Oct. 13, 1755. He married Esther Cowles, who died July 22, 1776, and they reared a large family of children. Col. Gad Stan- ley, mentioned above, was born March 21, 1735, the youngest son of Thomas and Esther ( Cowles) Stan- ley. He engaged in farming extensively, and with one exception was the wealthiest member of the Church at Farmington, with which he united in 1768. By his ability and address he ultimately be- came one of the leading men of this section. lle took keen interest in military affairs, serving as captain in the local militia, and warmly espoused the cause of the Colonies in their resistance to the oppression of the mother country. He acted on various committees for his town during the troublous times just preceding the Declaration of Independ- ence. When the war actually broke out he was prompt in resorting to arms. Just at that time two British vessels appeared off New London, and an express was sent into the country to convey the alarming intelligence. He arrived in New Britain on the close of the Sabbath, and just before the close of the afternoon service. As soon as the blessing was pronounced Capt. Stanley stepped for- ward, and with a loud voice gave notice to his com- pany to appear on parade before the meeting-house door next morning. The spirit thus manifested grieved the heart of the good clergyman, who, as a lover of law and order, had the sentiment of loyalty to his Sovereign warm in his heart. "What," he exclaimed, "will you fight against your King?" "Yes." replied one of the sergeants, "and I would kill him as quick as I would a black snake if I could catch him." Capt. Stanley was present in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776, a dis- astrous day for the American troops, all of whom were raw recruits, while their enemy were the dis- ciplined troops of England and Germany. Capt. Stanley maintained his position as long as it was possible, and at last, when the retreat was ordered, succeeded by a masterly maneuver in leading off his regiment safely past the British forces. He was subsequently made a colonel, and ever afterward re- tained that title. During this summer his fifth child, a son, was born. The joyful news was re- ported to the absent father with the request that he should say what his name should be. In due time the answer was sent: "If he turn out a likely lad, it might be well to call him Gad." After the war Col. Stanley served in nearly every important of- fice in the town. He was representative from Farmington from 1778 to 1782, and from Berlin from 1785 to 1804 continuously. His name was associated with Col. Lee and others in school and

parish affairs, in securing the incorporation of Ber- lin as a district town, and in attending to highways and town expenses generally.

On Oct. 29, 1707, Col. Stanley married Mary Judd, daughter of John and Mary ( Burnham) Judd, and granddaughter of Rev. William Burnham, of Kensington, a lady well-born and bred, descended from the Wolcotts and the Appletons, who were reputed to be of the bluest blood of the Colonies. He died Jan. 10, 1815, aged seventy-nine, and his wife Jan. 8, 1818, aged seventy years.

DENNIS ROSE, a resident of Bloomfield since about the year 1849, was born in Granville, Mass., July 15. 1830, and is a son of Isaac and Louisa (Clark) Rose, also natives of Granville.

Isaac Rose, son of Noahdiah and father of Den- nis, was a school teacher in his early manhood, and later became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Louisa Clark, his first wife, were born six chil- dren, named as follows: Juliette ; Emeline L., mar- ried to William Moore, of Granville ; Harriet, now Mrs. Chauncey Newberry ; Mrs. Beulah Moore, de- ceased ; Dennis, whose name opens this sketch ; and Rhoda. For his second helpmate, Isaac married Mary Ann Crocker, and to this union were born Mrs. Lucy Baker, of Cape Cod, Mass .; Emerson, who married a Miss Scudder, and resides in New Orleans, La. ; and Emma, wife of William Shaw, of Bridgeport, Conn., in which city Isaac, the fa- ther, ended his days.

Dennis Rose attended the public schools of Granville, and resided in that town until about nine- teen years of age, when he came to Bloomfield and lived with Chauncey Newberry until 1866. On Oct. 31, 1866, he married Miss Maria Goodwin Latimer, daughter of Elihu Latimer, at Bloomfield, of which town she is a native. The only child re- sulting from this union is George Dennis, who was born Oct. 22, 1870. Mr. Rose has always voted with the Democratic party and has served as a men- ber of the School Committee. He has ever held the respect of the members of his community, and has led a life of genuine usefulness, although he has never aspired to public office or position for the sake of either fame or profit, being content to fol- low his vocation in quiet, and being satisfied with the esteem which has been bestowed upon him as a reward for his present merit.

JAMES A. HOWARD, an ex-soldier, who owns one of the neatest and best-kept farms in the town of East Hartford, was born in North Scituate, R. I., Aug. 3, 1844, a son of Woodbury Howard, and a grandson of G. F. Howard, the lat- ter a native of East Douglass, Mass. He went to Florida and there died, leaving his widow with nine young children.

Woodbury Howard, also a native of East Doug- lass, was an expert carpenter, and erected many of the finest buildings in Rhode Island, Connecticut

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and Massachusetts. Among others he worked on the Wauregan mill, Conn., and for seven years was foreman of the carpenter work on the magnificent mansion erected for Alexander Duncan, at Provi- dence, R. I. At Chestnut Hill, Conn., he married Matilda Fuller, a native of Killingly, to which union were born eight children : Maria, who married (first ) Thomas Gilson, and ( second) Joseph Midgely ; Su- san J., who died in infancy; James A., the subject of this sketch; Jane Helen (twin sister of James A.), who died in young womanhood ; Stephen G., who went to California, but of whom trace is lost ; Martin L., who was a carpenter, and died in St. Louis, Mo., leaving one son ; Mary Ella, married to Amos Plumb, of Windsor, Conn. ; and Annie, wife of Rev. William C. Townsend, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and living in Greenfield, Mass. The father of this family died at a ripe old age ; the mother is still living, and makes her home with one of her daughters.

James A. Howard, after a brief attendance at common school, entered a cotton factory as sweeper, and worked sixteen hours per day at $1.25 per week, but he advanced by degrees, working for sev- eral years as tender, lapper and spinner. He was next employed in a factory at Danielsonville, and was there at work when the Civil war broke out. He then enlisted in Company K. 7th Conn. V. I., and was the smallest man in his regiment, which was in command of Col. Terry, under Gen. J. Hawley. The regiment was first placed in camp at New Haven, then was sent forward to Washington, An- napolis and Fortress Monroe, and was the first to open the bombardment at Hilton Head, and for bravery and meritorious conduct in front of the enemy Mr. Howard was awarded a medal. On one occasion he was the bearer of a message to Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, and on the trip was accompanied by a negro driver ; when he had nearly reached his destination the colored driver was killed by a burst- ing shell, but Mr. Howard delivered his message, although the trip looked like one to certain death. On another occasion, while engaged in unloading ammunition and ordnance from a vessel, the derrick rope broke, and its burden fell on one of Mr. How- ard's nether limbs, crushing it in a shocking man- ner. It was the determination of the surgeon to amputate the mutilated member, but by the inter- cession of one of his officers the limb was saved, though it has caused him hourly pain ever since, and a small pension is allowed him in consequence. He served out his three-years term of enlistment, and returned to Rhode Island with an honorable discharge.

Mr. Howard took up the vocation of wool sorter in Rhode Island, at which he became very expert, and remained in his native State from 1864 until 1883, during which time he was for ten years fore- man in shops in which wool sorting was the spe- cialty. He then came to Hartford, and was em- ployed by William H. Post & Co., carpet dealers,

as carpet layer, shortly afterward entering the em- ploy of the City Water Works Co., as gate-tender. Leaving this employ, he made a contract with John Belcher to operate that gentleman's farm and sup- port him all his life, the compensation to be the own- ership of the farm itself at the death of the proprie- tor. Mr. Howard kept his contract. and now owns the farm, consisting of thirty-five acres, which he has greatly improved, and on which, in 1885, he erected his present handsome dwelling.

Mr. Howard was first married to Lucy M. Con- nell, a native of Summit, R. I., who passed away childless. He subsequently married Sarah E. Haz- ard, of Dexter, R. I., and to this marriage was born one child, that died in infancy. In politics Mr. Howard is a Democrat, and in his religious views is quite liberal. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 99, F. & A. M., of West Hartford. He is a hard-working husbandman, unostentatious in his demeanor, and has the sincere respect of everybody in his neighborhood and wherever else he is known.

JOHN GORDON WILLOUGHBY is one of the prominent representatives of the agricultural and industrial interests of the town of East Granby, where he is now successfully carrying on opera- tions as a general farmer, and also owns and con- ducts a flour and feed mill at Tariffville. He was born on the old homestead near Tariffville Jan. 8, 1867, and belongs to a family of English origin which was founded in America by Lord Willoughby, who crossed the Atlantic in Colonial days, and took up his residence in Virginia.

William Willoughby, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New London, Conn., born Nov. 7, 1807, and was a son of John Willoughby, a well-known citizen of that place. William Will- oughby was reared to manhood in New London, and received a liberal education for those days. When a young man he removed to Bloomfield, now North Bloomfield, where he engaged exclusively in agricultural pursuits for many years. In later life he located on Hatchet Hill, now East Granby, where he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, and there spent the remainder of his life, being tenderly cared for in his old age by his son Gordon C. He died Sept. 6, 1887, honored and respected by all who knew him. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and re- ligiously was liberal in his views. He married Miss Caroline Clark, of Bloomfield, a daughter of Ira Clark, a native of the same town, and to them was born one son, Gordon Clark, father of our subject. The wife and mother died on the farm in East Granby town in 1886, and she and her husband now sleep side by side in Scotland cemetery, North Bloomfield.

Gordon Clark Willoughby was born March 14. 1837, in Bloomfield, and received a good practical education attending both public and select schools in

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early life. Throughout his active business life he engaged in farming and tobacco raising, and was also interested in milling, erecting the first grist- mill at Tariffville, and operating it successfully for many years. He was a man of good business abil- ity and sound judgment, and, being a great reader, lie was always well posted on the leading events of the day, as well as political interests and is- sues. In connection with his other business in- terests he engaged in packing tobacco quite ex- tensively, and in all his undertakings met with well-merited success. He had one of the finest homes in East Granby, and everything about the place was in perfect harmony with it. The Re- publican party always found in him an ardent sup- porter of its principles, and in 1880 he was elected by a large vote to represent East Granby town in the State Legislature, being the first Republican to fill that office in the town. He was a man of temperate habits, and was liberal in his religious views, but always adhered strictly to the Golden Rule. He was well liked and universally respected, and in his death, which occurred Aug. 4, 1898, the community realized that it had lost one of its most valuable citizens. His remains were interred in the family burial plat in Scotland cemetery. On Jan. 3, 1866, in North Bloomfield, Mr. Willoughby mar- ried Miss Jennie M. Barnard, a lady of culture and refinement, who is much esteemed for her many virtues. She was born in Bloomfield, attended the Bloomfield public schools, and later the academy at that place, from which she was graduated, and for four years successfully engaged in teaching. To this marriage were born five children : John G., our subject ; William B., who married Mary A. Merwin, and is engaged in farming in East Granby town; one who died in infancy; Martha C., post- mistress and bookkeeper at Tariffville; and Ed- ward C., who is attending school. The mother still lives on the home farm near Tariffville.

John Barnard, our subject's maternal grand- father, was born in Bloomfield in 1821, and was one of a family of six children born to Francis and Arabella ( Hoskins) Barnard. He received a good common-school education, and throughout life en- gaged in farming in Bloomfield town. He was noted for his honesty and honorable dealings, and was highly respected by the entire community. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious con- nection was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1844 he married Miss Martha J. Barnard, a daughter of Milton Barnard, an old settler of Bloomfield, and to them came two children: John M., who was born Oct. 16, 1846, and died in 1869. being buried in Scotland cem- etery ; and Jennie M .. mother of our subject. Mr. Barnard died in 1847, at an early age, and was also laid to rest in Scotland cemetery. His widow subsequently married Lorenzo Hoskins. She died Sept. 4, 1897, and was buried in Scotland cemetery.

During his boyhood and youth John G. Will- oughby attended the public schools of East Granby town, and in 1885 graduated from the Hartford Business College. He began his business career in his father's mill, where he remained until 1888, and then removed to Bloomfield, where he spent one year. In 1889 he located on the farm on Hatchet Hill, and has since extensively engaged in tobacco culture and general farming. He was also engaged in the manufacture of lumber, owning a sawmill in East Granby, and in 1892 rented his father's gristmill, which he now operates, dealing in flour, feed, etc. Ambitious, energetic, and pos- sessing good business ability, he has already met with excellent success in life, and undoubtedly a brilliant future awaits him. He is a recognized leader of the Republican party in East Granby, and in 1896 was the nominee of his party for representa- tive, but withdrew in favor of George L. Viets.

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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 127

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