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 132

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 132

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In addition to his labors in the musical world, Mr. Hatch had a general agency, for New Eng- land and other States, for a number of popular and standard subscription books. among which were Porter's "History of the Civil War," "Per- sonal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant," and James G. Blaine's "Twenty Years in Congress." For a time he was also interested in the manufacture of the first really compact folding music stand on the market, known as Hatch's Patent Music Stand. While actively engaged in this business he also manufactured toys for a while. It is seldom that

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such practical business ability is associated with fine musical taste, but in Mr. Hatch's success may be seen that potent working of still other factors, his high character, genial nature and perfect man- ners winning for him friends and opportunities wherever he goes. He is a member of Charter Oak Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F .; Charter Oak Coun- col. No. 3, Order of American Mechanics : the Im- proved Order of Red Men; and, Putnam Phalanx, but his evenings are too constantly filled with his work to permit him to attend the meetings. He is a Republican in politics, and has received the nomination to various local offices, his popularity making him a desirable candidate. His musical headquarters are at No. 104 Asylum street, and his residence at No. 18 Windsor avenue, where his wife presides with gracious hospitality.

Mr. Hatch was married Sept. 14, 1889, to Miss Mabel L. Swain, who also possesses fine musical taste, and is in full sympathy with her husband's labors. She was born in Suffield, Conn., daughter of Reuben James and Annabelle L. (Greene ) Swain. prominent residents of that town, and was one of five children, of whom three are living: Lena, the wife of William Kay, of Wallingford, Conn. ; Mrs. Hatch : and Nettie, who married Louis Cressy, of Hartford.

EDWARD WILBUR MERRIMAN, propri- etor of the "Ideal Pharmacy." and one of the most popular and progressive citizens of Bristol, is a native of Connecticut, born Feb. 8, 1856, in Terry- ville, town of Plymouth, Litchfield county, and is of English, Scottish and French descent.

Joseph Merriman, Jr., his great-grandfather, was born Nov. 3. 1772, a son of Joseph Merriman, Sr., who was drowned at Camps Mills, Litchfield Co., Conn., in the year 1776. Joseph, Jr., married Betsey Swift, who was born June 25, 1772, and their chil- (Iren were as follows: Eliza, born May 26, 1797, (lied March 26. 1845; George, a sketch of whom follows: Julia, born Aug. 29, 1801. died Nov. 5, 1816: Electa, born June 25, 1803. died Oct. 5, 1862 ; Mary, born May 8, 1805. died July 15. 1838 ; Emily, born June 7. 1807. died March 6, 1800: Joseph, born April 8, 1810, lived in Michigan (it is thought he is now deceased) : and James, born April 12, 1815. died July 10, 1857. The father of this family was a lifelong farmer, for a number of years owning a farm at Chestnut Hill, and finally moving to one in the western part of Litchfield county, where he died Nov. 15, 1829 : his wife passed away June II, 1810.

George Merriman, grandfather of Edward W .. was born Sept. 24. 1799. in Litchfield, Conn., where he followed farming and carpentry. He died Feb. 19. 1894. a member of the Congregational Church of Milton. During his active lifetime he put up no fewer than ninety-nine frame buildings. On Nov. 30, 1820, he married Mary A. Cables, born July 19. 1804. in South Farms, Litchfield county. who died Oct. 13, 1884. On Nov. 30. 1870, they

celebrated their Golden Wedding. Their children : Clarinda Jane, born May 20, 1822; Alanson Hall, born April 24, 1827; Harriet, born March 21, 1830, died Aug. 18, 1833; George Elmore, a sketch of whom follows; Harriet Eliza, born May 8, 1836; and Eugenia, born Feb. 16, 1843.

Mary A. (Cables) Merriman, wife of George Merriman, above, was a daughter of William and Hannah (Treadwell) Cables, of Warren, Conn., highly respected farming people, who had fourteen children, nearly all of whom lived to advanced ages, Mrs. Mary A. Merriman being the last one in this numerous family to pass away. Their names and dates of birth and death are as follows: Wheeler, Jan. 15. 1788, Aug. 29, 1860; Benjamin, April 29, 1789, March 10, 1845; Judson, Aug. 8, 1790, March 12, 1791; Judson, March II, 1792, Dec. 30, 1873 : Stephen, Sept. 27, 1793; Nancy, June 12, 1795; Sally, Feb. 8, 1797, August, 1856; Esther, Aug. 8. 1798, Oct. 14, 1872 ; William, Nov. 8, 1799, Nov. 19. 1880; Hannah, Feb. 5, 1801, Dec. 3, 1876; Lucy, Feb. 9, 1803, May 28, 1884: Mary A. (Mrs. Merriman). July 19, 1804, Oct. 13, 1884; Harriet, Jan. 15. 1806, Dec. 4, 1875; James T., Aug. 8, 1810, Sept. 16, 1873.

George Elmore Merriman, father of Edward W .. was born Sept. 5. 1831, in Litchfield, Conn., where he was reared and educated. By trade he is a diemaker, toolmaker and machinist, and from Sept. 12, 1848, to 1883, he was in the employ of the Eagle Lock Co., Terryville, during which time, from 1865 to 1883, he was foreman of the machine room. For several years he also owned a drug business in Terryville, which was managed by his son, our subject, Mr. Merriman continuing his me- chanical work. From Terryville he removed to Bristol, where he bought out the grocery and pro- vision store of Henry Skinner on Main street, near the "Bristol Hotise." After about a year, how- ever. he gave up the business, and in 1886 re- moved to New Britain, where he has since been fore- man of the Harvard Pin Lock Department in the works of P. & F. Corbin. He is an excellent me- chanic, familiar with all branches of machine work.

On May 17. 1855. George E. Merriman mar- ried Emily Amanda Curtiss, born Sept. 20. 1830. in Camden, N. Y., a daughter of Eli Curtiss, and a brief record of their five children is as follows : (1) Edward W. and (2) Willis (twins), the former' of whom is the subject proper of this sketch, the latter dying when six months and three days old. (3) Elsie Amelia, born May 20, 1860, is now liv- ing in Columbus, Ohio, where she is a teacher of musie in Miss Phelps' school, and also gives private lessons-vocal and on the piano. Among her other accomplishments she is a fine contralto singer, and is the author of musical compositions, one of which, "Nature Songs and Stories," is well worthy of special notice, claimed by good critics to be the finest work of its kind ever published for home. school and kindergarten. (4) Bennett Curtiss, born Oct. 25, 1864, is a diemaker in P. & F. Corbin's

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factory, New Britain; he married Dec. 7, 1889, Bertha Parsons, and they have two children, Clara llsie, born Feb. 5, 1891, and Dwight Elmore, Jan. 15, 1890. (5) George Robert, born Jan. 27, 1869, is a machinist in P. & F. Corbin's factory, New Britain; he is an excellent tenor singer. George E. Merriman, the father, was a member of the Terryville Congregational Church ; in politics he is a Republican.

Edward W. Merriman, of whom we more par- ticularly write, received a liberal education at the common schools of his native place and then for six months worked in the Eagle Lock Co.'s shop, where his father was employed. On Oct. 1. 1874. Dr. A. M. Kessler and George E. Merriman (our subject's father ) formed a partnership in the drug business in Terryville, and our subject entered then employ to learn the business under Dr. Kessler, who devoted his time outside of practice to the store and Mr. Merriman's instruction. At the end of one year the Doctor's interest was bought by George E. Merriman, who was the owner until bought out in 1881 by our subject, he meantime having had the management of the store. In January, 1884, he sold out to Newell M. Plumb, in whose employ he re- mained until April 1, following.

Accompanied by his wife Mr. Merriman then spent several weeks in an extended trip through- out the West, traveling as far as Wichita, Kans .. after which he located in Bristol, Conn., on June 2. 1884, entering the employ of Merriman Bros .. drug- gists, and remaining until Nov. 20, 1887. At that time he went to New Britain, and became manager of the "Corner Pharmacy." owned by Frank W. Mix, which position he held until May 15, 1889. when he resigned, and July 15, 1889, opened a drug business in Bristol in the Austin Curtiss block, North Main street. whence on Jan. 6, 1896, he re- moved to the Skelly block, same street. h's place of business being known as the "Ideal Pharmacy."

On Oct. 18, 1882, Edward W. Merriman mar- ried Ida Valura Siblev, born Sept. 29, 1857, in Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., and two children have graced this union : ( 1 ) Thurston Cables, born April 13, 1886. is attending the Bristol high school; and (2) Dana Sibley, born Oct. 23. 1891, is attending the Bristol graded schools.

Mrs. Ida V. Merriman is a daughter of Alden Wheeler and Sarah Miranda ( Fuller ) Sibley, of Sutton, Worcester Co., Mass., and is of English and Scottish descent. (1) John and Richard Sib- ley (the former of whom was the progenitor of the family of which Mrs. Merriman is a member ) came to America in 1629. in the fleet of that vear from England. This John was a selectman in Salem, Mass., and was sent to the General Court a: Boston. The line in descent from him is as follows: (ID) Joseph was a member of the thirty original families of Sutton, Mass., as were also his brothers John and Jonathan. ( III) William. (IV) Elijah was a drummer in the Revolutionary army. (V) Daniel, Sr., was a member of the famous "Sutton minute-men," serving about two

years as a private under Capt. Ebenezer Learned ; lic took part in many decisive engagements, includ- ing the battles of Bunker Hill, white Plains and Saratoga, and saw some very severe service, for which he received a pension of £4o. (VI) Daniel, Ji., was a lifelong farmer in Sutton, and consid- ered by all who knew him to be one of the noblest works of God-a good and honest man. (VII) Alden Wheeler, who occupied the old family home- stead, later carrying on a general store in Sutton, was born May 18, 1822, and died June 10, 1858; his wife was born Aug. 21, 1823, and died Oct. II, 1865. Mrs. Ida V. Merriman is a member of Katherine Gaylord Chapter, No. 18, Daughters of the American Revolution, Bristol.

Edward W. Merriman is a member of the fol- lowing societies: Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & . 31., of Bristol; Pequabuck Chapter, No. 32, R. A. M., of Bristol; Doric Council, No. 24, of New Britain : and the Eastern Star, Olivet Chapter, No. 29. of Bristol, of which his wife is also a member ; LE the Royal Arcanum, Reliance Council, No. 753, Bristol: of the I. O. O. F., Stephen Terry Lodge, No. 59. Bristol: Knights of Pythias, Ethan Lodge. No. 9, Bristol; and Knights of Khorassan, Hira Temple, No. 90, New Britain. In religious faith he and his wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church, and she is prominently identified with the Daughters of the Covenant and the Ladies Missionary Society. In politics Mr. Merriman is a pronounced Republican, but has never sought public office.

COL. JACOB L. GREENE, of Hartford, presi- cent of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., was born Aug. 9, 1837, at Waterford, Me., son of Capt. Jacob H. and Sarah Walker ( Frye) Greene. Capt. Greene was a man of stanch character, of great vigor and of intellectual force, positive con- victions and strong religious views. He was a son of Thomas and Tabitha ( Holt) Greene, and a great-grandson of Lieut. Thomas Greene, a resi- dlent of Rowley, Mass., from which town he went into the war of the Revolution, serving from the alarm at Lexington until its close. After the war he located in Waterford, Me. On his maternal side Col. Greene is descended from John Frye, who came from England and settled in Newburg, Mass., in 1738. From this first American ancestor Col. Greene is in the seventh generation, his line being through Samuel, John. Gen. Joseph, one whose name is not given, Samuel and Sarah W. Gen. Joseph Frye was a soldier from youth and from what follows it will be seen that his military mantle fell on his posterity. He served in the expedition against Louisburg, and was in command of a regi- ment at the surrender of Fort William Henry on Lake George, in 1757, in the French and Indian war. For his services he was, in 1762, granted a township of land, six miles square on either side of Saco river. He settled in the territory comprised in the township afterward named in his honor. On the outbreak of the Revolution he was called to

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Cambridge to assemble and organize the patriot troops. He was made a brigadier-general by the Provisional Congress, then promoted to major-gen- eral. Two of his sons were officers in the service, Joseph as captain. and Nathaniel as lieutenant. Col. Greene's mother was a woman of many virtues, affable, winning and graceful, and a woman of great intelligence and force of character, thoroughly de- voted to the welfare and advancement of her chil- Gren.

Col. Greene from early boyhood was of studious habits and sought every avenue open for intellectual attainment. He became a student in Michigan Uni- versity, which school, then just opening, offered the inducement of free tuition. After completing a course of study there, and was prepared for the practice of law, he located at Lapeer, Mich. About this time the war of the Rebelnon broke out, and young Greene enlisted as a private in the 7th Mich. \. I. He was soon after made a non-commissioned officer, and went with the skeleton of his regiment to the School of Instruction at Fort Wayne, Ind., where it remained for two months. It was then filled up, and in August was sent to the front. Young Greene was soon advanced to a first lieu- tenaney, but owing to an extended prostration by sickness he was laid up for nearly a year. On his recovering in the spring of 1863 he was appointed captain in the 10th Michigan Cavalry, and set about recruiting a company. While so engaged his friend, George A. Custer, was appointed a brigadier-gen- eral, and assigned to the command of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. He telegraphed Greene, offering him the position of assistant adjutant-general on his staff, and asked him to join at once without wait- ing for appointment by the President. He reported to Custer July 23. 1863, and served on his staff without rank or pay for several weeks. He was then appointed captain in the 6th Michigan Cav- alry, and on Sept. 10 was appointed assistant ad- jutant-general with the rank of captain by the President and assigned to duty with Gen. Custer, and served with him until the battle of Trevellyan Station, where he was taken prisoner, June II, 1864, and was confined in Libby, Macon, Charles- ton and Columbia prisons. While at Charleston, S. C., Col. Greene was one of the Union officers placed under the Union fire by the Rebel author- ities. Later he was removed to Columbia and there paroled, but was not literally exchanged until April 8, 1865, although at the time of parole he was transferred to the Union lines. After his ex- change he returned to the front, joining Gen. Custer at Burkeville Junction, April 10. Col. Greene par- ticipated in the review of the Army of the Potomac at Washington, after which he accompanied Gen. Custer to New Orleans, and went with him up the Red river to Alexandria, where a division of cav- alry was organized. Thence Custer advanced into "Texas, having been made commander of the central division of Texas and of the cavalry in the depart-

ment, with headquarters at Austin. Col. Greene was made chief of staff in both commands. Mean- while he had been promoted to the full rank of major, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for dis- tinguished gallantry. When Custer was mustered out as a major-general of volunteers, Col. Greene applied for his muster-out, and finally received it in April, 1866, one year after the close of the war.

After his muster-out the Colonel returned East, where he passed four years at Pittsfield, Mass., be- coming assistant secretary of the Berkshire Life Insurance Co. He began his insurance career as an agent with that company, but his executive ability soon manifesting itself, he was given a position on the office staff. On June 1, 1870, he was made assistant secretary of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn., and in the fol- lowing April became secretary. In March, 1878, he succeeded the late James Goodwin to the presi- dency of the company. To this honorable position as executive officer of one of the largest insurance organizations in the United States he has brought the qualifications of great ability, absolute fidelity, a clear conception of duty, and a loyalty to principle which neither surrenders nor compromises.

As a citizen Col. Greene's abilities and habits of industry lead him into various useful activities. He is a frequent and popular speaker at meetings of religious and scholastic bodies, and has been se- lected as the orator of the day on several important State occasions. He is a man of superior intellec- tual endowments, which render him not only an able business manager, but a thoroughly useful citizen. He is senior warden of Trinity Church, a lead- ing member of the Church Temperance Society and trustee of the bishop's fund. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the Revolution : Society of Colonial Wars: and of the Loyal Legion. He is a trustee in the Watkinson Library, the Church Home and other local organi- zations. He is a director and vice-president of the Connecticut Trust & Safe Deposit Co .. and a di- rector of the Society for Savings: a director also of the Hartford Fire Insurance Co., and of the Phoenix National Bank.

JULIAN R. HOLLEY, secretary and treasurer of the Bristol Brass & Clock Co., was born in Mans- feld, Conn., May 16, 1855, the youngest of the twelve children born to Perry and Lois ( Fenton) Holley, both now deceased.

Perry Holley was a native of Rhode Island. He was a trip-hammersman, and passed the greater part of his life in Mansfield, Conn., where his death took place. He was a Methodist in religious faith, and in polities a stanch Democrat. Of the twelve children born to him and his wife, who was a daughter of Elisha Fenton, eight were named as follows: Anstice D., who is married to William E. Fenner, of Mansfield : George Gilbert, a trip-ham- mersman, living in Fiskdale, Mass .; Harriet Phi-

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leta, now a widow; Mary Ellen, of Mansfield, who first married Edmond Simons and afterward Nor- man Dunham, both of whom are deceased; Lovisa M., who is now living in Meriden, the wife of George M. Clark : Dwight Storrs, a machinist fore- man in Forestville ; Perry E., living in Waterbury; and Julian R., the subject of this sketch. The other four died quite young.

Julian R. Holley attended the common schools of Mansfield until fifteen years of age, and then passed through the curriculum of the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His first business experience was as clerk in the grocery of J. M. Todd, in Forestville, for about five years, when they formed a partnership under the firm name of Todd & Holley: a year later Mr. Holley sold his interest in the concern and came to Bristol. Here he entered the office of the rolling-mill de- partment of the Bristol Brass & Clock Co. as book- keeper, filling the position four or five years, was then made secretary, and a year later assistant treas- urer. In 1893. at the death of Mr. Atkins, the du- ties of the treasurer were entrusted to him, and he now holds the dual position of secretary and treas- urer.

Mr. Holley is Democratic in politics, and is the present auditor of the borough of Bristol, which office he has held several years. He stands very high in the Masonic order, being a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M .; the present treasurer of Pequabuck Chapter, No. 32, R. A. M .; and has filled the chairs in both lodge and chapter. He is a member of Sphinx Temple, Shriners, of Hartford, and the thirty-second degree. Scottish Rite Masons, of Norwich : is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a trustee ; is secre- tary and treasurer and a director in the Masonic Building Co., which built and owns the large brick block occupied by A. T. Muzzy & Co .; and a di- rector in the Bristol National Bank.

Mr. Holley was married, June 10, 1896. to Miss Calista Vinton Brockett, who was born July 20. 1865. and is a daughter of Deacon Asahel and Mariett ( Bradley) Brockett, of whom a full his- tory is given elsewhere in this volume. Two chil- dren have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holley: Julian Laurence, born Aug. 25, 1898: and Margaret Storrs, born Oct. 31, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Holley worship at the Baptist Church.

JOHN H. FISH. Among the qualities which 1.ring men into prominence, and by degrees that are almost imperceptible raise them into the esteem and confidence of their fellow men, are straightforward business methods, an interest in and support of policies for public improvement, and education. When these combine with industry and good judg- ment the result is, almost invariably. not only a man who is held by his fellow men in high esteem, but one who by his own force of character wins las way to prominence and leadership. The above traits are attributable to John H. Fish, a resource-

ful, self-made man, a prosperous and leading. busi- ness man of Newington.

Mr. Fish comes of an old New England family. His paternal great-grandfather, John Fish, came to Bloomfield from Bozrah, New London Co., Conn., and settled on a farm. He married Lydia Lathrop, who bore him six children, John, Electa, Nancy, Simeon, Miller and Lydia, and lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years.

Miller Fish, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Bozrah, Conn., June 5, 1792. He was reared in Bloomfield, and there learned the black- smith's trade, but was engaged in farming. On March 6, 1822, he married Miss Ann Goodwin, daughter of Hezekiah Goodwin, and from 1824 un- til his death, in May, 1862, lived on the farm which his son. H. Goodwin Fish, now owns. He was. a member of the Baptist Church of Bloomfield. He had three children : Samuel, born Jan. 9, 1823, died Aug. 2, 1825 ; Samuel (2), father of our sub- ject : and H. Goodwin, born June 1, 1828, a farmer of Bloomfield.

Samuel Fish, the father of our subject, was born in Bloomfield July 2. 1826. He was reared as a farmer lad, and in his youth attended the local schools. He married Emeline, daughter of Daniel and Rhoda (Filer) Webster, of Bloomfield, and for thirty years engaged in farming and tobacco grow- ing in Bloomfield. He then removed to Avon, where he followed tobacco raising until his death, July 2, 1885, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a: stanch Democrat in politics. His wife was early in life a member of the Baptist Church, but later attended the Congregational Church. After the death of her husband she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Ellsworth, at West Hartford, until her death. at the age of sixty-six years. To Samuel and' Emeline Fish were born children as follows: John H., of Newington ; Sarah M., Mrs. John Ellsworth, of West Hartford : Daniel W., of Newington : Au- gustus M., of Newington : Luella. who married George Nichols, and died at Avon : Norton, of Avon town ; Dwight W., of Bloomfield : and Edgar W., of Bloomfield.

John H. Fish was born in Bloomfield March 4, 1850. As a boy he attended the schools of the South Middle district, and among his early teachers were Miss Sylvia Burr, Miss Hattie Clements and Francis Barber. It is a testimonial both to his own studious habits and to the efficiency of his teach- ers that Mr. Fish still retains for these old schools only the kindest memories. Later he attended West Hartford high school, under Miss Pratt. But circumstances beckoned him to a more active life. At the age of seventeen he began farming" for Martin Burr. as a full hand. He also worked for Lorenzo Burr, receiving $20 per month. He was a good hand, and though scarcely more than a boy held his own beside full-grown men. In the. spring of 1868, when about eighteen years of age, he- came to West Hartford and entered the employ of Walter Cadwell, a butcher. For three years he re-

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mained in his employ, and was then admitted to partnership, the firm being Cadwell & Fish. This was before the advent of western beef, the firm kill- ing home-grown beef. Two years later the part- nership was dissolved. Mr. Fish engaged in the grocery business at West Hartford for a short time, and in November, 1874, came to Newington and engaged in the meat business. He built a market, and has ever since continued successfully in that line. Possessing unusual energies he has also prose- cuted in addition to the meat trade a number of other enterprises. Opening a grocery immediately after he settled in Newington, he conducted it until quite recently, when he sold out. He has for many years engaged in the coal and fertilizer trade. He has also done considerable work as a contractor, building macadamized roads in East Hartford and New Britain, and also in Portland, Connecticut.

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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 132

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