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 143

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 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry Ely, grandfather of our subject, born Oct. 25, 1802, died Oct. 17, 1849. For some time prior to his decease he carried on a store and farm in North Simsbury, his land lying on the bank of the old canal, near what is now called Hoskins Station. On Nov. 9, 1833, he married Caroline St. John, who was born June 23, 1815, and is also deceased.

John R. Elv, father of Ilenry D., received his education in his native town and in Brooklyn, N. Y. From the age of sixteen years lie spent the greater part of his life in Brooklyn and New York City, working for Dudley P. and Nathan C. Ely, of New York, whom he and his brother succeeded in business. Mr. Ely died Sept. 2, 1895. In May, 1862, he married Miss Rebecca H. Cooper, of New York, who was born Sept. 10, 1841, and died Jan. 16, 1867. They had two children, Henry D. and George C., the latter now a resident of New York. Mrs. Ely's father, John Davidson Cooper, was born June 19, 1810, at Kingston, N. Y., and died June 17, 1878. For a number of years he lived on Long Island, in what is now a part of Greater New York.

Henry D. Ely spent his earlier life in Simsbury, Bloomfield and Granby, attending the common schools in those places, and later the High Street school and the Public High School in Hartford, as well as a business college. For a time he was em- ployed by his uncle, William R. Adams, in Bloom- field, and subsequently, in Brooklyn, N. Y., he was engaged for one and one-half years by his father. Going to Kansas he bought a ranch-3.960 acres by deed and 160 acres by claim-which he stocked with sheep, cattle and horses, and which he con- ducted for two years, selling out at the end of that time and removing to Shoals, Martin Co., Ind. There he bought a store and mill, and continued in business for eighteen months, thence returning to Kansas, where, at Ottawa, he engaged in milling for a time, but he was so unsuccessful in this venture that he withdrew in debt. Buying a livery stable, "on tick," he set to work to retrieve himself, and succeeded in paying off all his indebtedness, as well as regaining a firm footing in the business world. From there he removed to Joplin, Mo., where he was engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness, and thence to Huntington, Ark., where he was employed in the general store of a

1411

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large coal company, and his next location was in Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed on the MMetropolitan railroad until he had the misfortune to have one of his legs cut off. Returning East, Mr. Ely lived with his father for a time, and also spent a short period in Bloomfield, and since his father's decease he has made his home in Hartford, where he has large real-estate holdings. The care of his real estate consumes the greater part of his time and at- tention. Mr. Ely is a pleasant, cordial gentleman, as all who enjoy the pleasure of his acquaintance will agree.

Mr. Ely was married Jan. 22, 1896, in Hartford, 10 Miss Carrie Louise Hubbard, of Bloomfield, Conn., daughter of James E. Hubbard, of that town, but now a resident of Hartford.

WILLIAM ROBERTS ADAMS, a prominent farmer of Bloomfield, was born July 15, 1831, on his present farm, which was then included in the town of Simsbury. He is a grandson of William Adams, Sr., who, as appears on a gravestone in St. Andrew's cemetery, was a son of Capt. William Adams ; the latter was a son of Matthew . Adams.

William Adams, Sr., was born Oct. 14, 1778, and klied July 24, 1822. On May 2, 1798, he married Electa Roberts, who was born Oct. 30, 1775, and died Oct. 15, 1847. Children were born to their union as follows: William, Jr. (father of our sub- ject ), Oct. 10, 1799; Hiram, May 22, 1801 (died March 8, 1866) ; Byron, Feb. 23, 1803; Chester, Feb. 23, 1805 (died July 6, 1870) ; Watson, April 23, 1807 (died May 9, 1837 ) ; Tudor, April 30, 1809 ( died Feb. 25, 1860) ; Electa C., Dec. 4, 1811 (died Feb. 4. 1831) ; Edwin R., Feb. 11, 1814 ( died March 22, 1814) ; James M., Aug. 26, 1817 ( died June 20, 1868).

William Adams was born in what is now Bloom- field town Oct. 10, 1799, and died June 4, 1871. He received his education in the private school con- ducted by Rev. Mr. Warner. On Nov. 25, 1827, he was married, in Bloomfield, to Miss Fluvia K. Barnard, who was born Sept. 30, 1799, daughter of Samuel Barnard, and died Feb. 5, 1894, and to this union came children as follows: Sarah Maria, born Sept. 20, 1828, died Aug. 25, 1831 ; Mary J., born Jan. 7, 1830, and died Sept. 7, 1831 ; William R. was born July 14, 1831; Sarah J., born March 28, 1834. died Aug. 26, 1837: Harriet F., born June 5 1839, married H. W. Rowley, of Bloomfield, where he was postmaster and merchant many years : Andrew S., born Nov. 29, 1840, died Nov. 17, 1859. The father of these was a farmer by occupation, and was prominent in his locality in various ways, holding different town offices, and representing his district in the Assembly. He was a Democrat in political sentiment, and in re- ligious connection united with St. Andrew's Epis- copal Church of Bloomfield, of which he was warden for many years.

William R. Adams received his literary train- ing in the public schools of Bloomfield and Sims-

bury, and he has spent his entire life on the old home farm, which he is still successfully cultivat- ing. He was married in Bloomfield to Miss Ellen H. Ely, of Simsbury, and they have had three children : William R., John J. and Henry Ely. Like his father, Mr. Adams is a member of the Epis- copal Church, in which he is serving as warden. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has served his fellow citizens faithfully as assessor and justice of the peace.

WILFRED ETHIEL FOGG, contractor, builder and designer, dealer in lumber, timber, shingles, lath, etc., and manufacturer of sash, doors, window frames, etc., Bristol, is a native of Con- necticut, born Nov. 13, 1859, in Winchester.

Joseph Fogg, grandfather of our subject, born May 31, 1800, died in Bridgewater, Conn., March 5, 1838. He was a shoe manufacturer, having learned the trade at Lynn, Mass., and had a shoe factory in Bridgewater which gave employment to some forty hands. He married Susannah Hilbert, who was born in 1800 at Marblehead, Mass., and their children were as follows: (1) Joseph H mar- ried Lorena Merwin, of Brookfield, Conn., who died Jan. 11, 1897 ; he lives in Hartford, and is an engineer by trade. (2) Nicholas is deceased. (3) Susannah is deceased. (4) Nicholas Hilbert, sketch of whom follows. (5) John Calcutt married Ellen Fenn; he is a contractor in bridge work, and makes his home in Waterbury. (6) George married Helen Allen, and is now living in Colorado, where he owns a fruit and berry ranch. (7) Charles married Elizabeth Munson; he is a sash, door and blind manufacturer in Bridgeport.

Nicholas Hilbert Fogg, father of Wilfred E., was born Dec. 4, 1828, in Troy, N. Y., whence, when he was four years old, his parents removed to Bridgewater, Conn. When he was nine years of age he lost his father by death, and he was then bound out to Anson Herd, in Bridgewater, until he was sixteen years old, during which time he re- ceived his schooling. He was then apprenticed to Joel Morehouse for five years, at the carpentering business, and during the last year of his apprentice- ship was foreman of the work. He had the job of laying out the timber for Ethiel (or Ithiel) Em- mons' new house, in West Morris, and while so en- gaged met his future wife, Alcey Marie Emmons, eldest daughter of said Ethiel Emmons. After serving his time he embarked in business on his own account, and soon had a horse and wagon and set of tools-all paid for. He hrst kept house on South Willow street, Waterbury, Conn., afterward buying property there, which he sold about the time of the breaking out of the Civil war, and then bought a farm in Bantam, Conn. This he sold five years later (spring of 1869) to his wife's brother, Ira A., re- moving to Southington, where he bought a farm of George Finch on Queen street, two miles above the town. In 1895 he exchanged this for property on High street, in the center of the town, where he is

1412

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

still living ; he has always been either a Whig or a Republican, but has never had time to take much active interest in politics, and at present he occu- pies himself in looking atter his real-estate interests.

On March 7, 1852, Nicholas H. Fogg married AAlcey Marie Emmons, who was born in West Morris, Conn .. July 8, 1833, and whose ancestry will be found farther on in this sketch. Children have been born to this union as follows: (1) Nellie S., born Sept. 9. 1857, in Waterbury, Conn., was twice married, first time Oct. 1, 1879, to Joseph Willie Hobart, who died in October, 1881. She married ( second) Oct. 9. 1884, Wilbur Leslie Wright, a clock maker by trade, by whom she has two chil- dren, Howard Fogg, born Dec. 31, 1885 : and Earle Enunons, born Dec. 10, 1887, both attending the Bristol schools. (2) Wilfred E. is the subject of sketch. (3) Cora, born Dec. 24, 1861, died in August, 1864, in Bantam, Conn. (4) Nettie Almira, born Dec. 28, 1866, is living in Bristol. (5) Nicholas Joseph, born Dec. 9, 1875, in Southington, Conn., is a carpenter in Bristol.

Ancestry of Mrs. Alcey Marie ( Emmons ) Fogg : (I) William Emmons, born in England, came to Taunton, Mass., in 1718, and bought real estate. Removing to South Farms, Litchfield county. in 1733, he passed the rest of his life there: by occu- pation he was a farmer. He was one of the found- ers of the First Episcopal Church, Nov. 5. 1745. In England he had married, his wife's name being Sarah, and their children were: William, born in England ; Woodruff, born on shipboard : and Lydia, Arthur and Tabitha, born in America.

(Il) Arthur Emmons, born Aug. 28, 1731. in Taunton, Mass., died in Litchfield Aug. 19. 1804. He and his wife, Sarah, had children : Russell, Jesse. Phinehas, Arthur, Jr., Isaac, Sarah, Orange and ()liver.

(111) Arthur Emmons, born in Litchfield June 14, 1757, kept a store in Bantam, Conn., but about 1810 failed in business, which so discouraged him that he decided to remove to some new field, choos- ing Butternuts, now known as Gilbertsville. N. Y. He married Nov. 6. 1777, Elizabeth Palmer, and by her had three children: Emos. Edmond and Lauren.

(IV) Emos Emmons, born April 6, 1780, died Feb. 24. 1861, married Sally Weeks, who was born April 1, 1783. in Washington, Conn., and died April 1, 1844. Their children: Ithiel (or Ethiel ). Laura. Samuel ( 1). Samuel (2), Eliza, Lucius and Lucia.

(\') Ithiel (or Ethiel) Emmons, born in Litch- field, Conn .. July 6, 1802, died in West Morris. Conn., Feb. 8, 1873. He was married in Torring- ton, Conn., Oct. 14, 1827. to Almira Leach, born in Torrington May 13. 1804. died Feb. 2, 1875. Their children: Orson C .; Alison Miles, Alcey Marie (mother of our subject ), Ira Abbott, Ma- ti'da A .. and George E.

Wilfred E. Fogg, whose name introduces this Tetch, was born, as already related. in Winchester,

Conn., where his parents were making their home at the time, his father having a large building con- tract on hand in that town. Our subject received his education in Waterbury up to the age of ten years, at which time his parents removed to South- ington, where he continued his schooling, attending also Lewis Academy, in that place, for two years. After leaving school he commenced learning car- pentering with his father, at which trade he con- tinued in Southington. During the last year he was in that town he was engaged in the contracting busi- ness for himself.

In December, 1881, Mr. Fogg came to Bristol, and fairly established himself as a contractor and builder, in which line of business he has since been successfully engaged; he also does architectural work, originating and drafting the designs for many of the buildings for which he takes contracts. Since commencing in Bristol he has taken the con- tracts for and completed the following: Masonic Temple ; large foundry buildings of the Terry Foundry Co., in Terryville : Liberty Bell Co.'s fac- tory; Clayton Bros.' factory, and the Armory, on North Main street, Bristol: Swedish Evangelical church: additions to Barnes' spring factory, and the Codling Mfg. Co.'s factory, as well as the fol- lowing residences, also in Bristol: Edson Peck's, on Summer street : E. G. Hubbell's on Bellevue street : and Dr. Hull's on Main street. In 1886 he bought out Joseph Sigourney's confectionery store, corner of Main and North Main streets. He also deals in lumber. timber, shingles, lath, etc., and is engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, and window frames.

On July 2, 1884. Mr. Fogg was united in mar- riage with Florence Esther Wright, who was born Jan. 9. 1850, a daughter of Filbert Leander and Sabrina ( Merrill) Wright, a sketch of whom ap- pears in that of William H. Wright, elsewhere. No children have been born to this union.

In his political predilections Mr. Fogg is a stanch Republican, has served on the board of burgesses three years, is chairman of the Building committee, and has been chairman of the Street committee of the borough for the past two years. In May, 1900, he was elected warden of Bristol. Socially he is a member of the F. & A. M .. and of Pequabuck Chap- ter. No. 56, R. A. M. He was also a member of the K. of P., Ethan Lodge. No. 9. and Hull Division, No. 5. U. R., as well as of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and Stephen Terry Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., all of Bristol: but owing to pressure of business he was obliged to give these up, still retaining his member- ship, however, through an honorary card. He is one of the busiest and most prominent men in Bris- tol. a useful, loyal citizen, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all.

AUSTIN CURTIS. a prominent merchant of Bristol, was born Aug. 7. 1836, in Burlington. Conn .. a son of Henry Curtis, who was born Aug. 13. 1810, and attained the age of seventy-three

1413

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years, departing this life Dec. 31, 1883. Henry Curtis was a farmer, and his industry and persever- ance were crowned with the full measure of suc- cess which attention to business merits. In politics he was a Democrat, and served as tax collector for a number of years. He was a member of the Methodist Church. On Jan. 2, 1833, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Dowd, of Harwinton, Conn., who was born Nov. 1, 1805, and died Jan. 3, 1884. Four children were born to them as fol- lows: (1) Royal, born Dec. 21, 1833, died Aug. 1, 1880; he was a machinist, and lived in New York State the greater part of the time. (2) An infant died June 10, 1835. (3) Austin, the subject of this sketch. (4) Evaline, born Sept. 30, 1838, was mar- ried to Thompson Root, and died in Bristol April 8, 1881.

Henry Curtis was a son of Joshua Curtis, who died Jan. 14, 1842. He, too, was a tiller of the soil. His wife Polly bore him eight children : Philo, Simeon, Sylvester, Corydon, Henry, Sylesta, Amy and Laura.

Austin Curtis received his schooling in Burling- ton. At the age of sixteen years he went to work for John Doolittle in Bristol, with whom he re- mained about one year: he then started a meat market on Main street, Bristol, which he conducted for about twelve years. At the end of this time he sold out to Levi Moulthrop, and engaged in buying and selling horses and cattle, which occupation he pursued most successfully for about six years. He then opened a general merchandise store in the Curtis Block, corner of Laurel and North Main streets, handling dry-goods, boots and shoes, milli- nery, etc. In this business he is still engaged. Mr. Curtis possesses sound business judgment, a vast amount of perseverance, and great energy. Many of the finest residences and business blocks in Bris- tol stand as monuments to his indomitable courage and progressiveness. He built what is now known as the Skelly Block, and later erected the house that is now owned by P. H. Condon. He also built the postoffice building on North Main street, several dwelling houses in various parts of the town, four houses on Summer street, and in 1897 he built his present attractive home at the corner of Summer and Centre streets.

In politics Mr. Curtis is a Democrat, as his fa- ther had been. He is loyal to his party, serving faith- fully, though always declining to hold office.

On Sept. 18, 1861, Mr. Curtis was married to Lucy Joanna Steele, of Bristol, who was born March 26, 1861, daughter of Charles and Jane ( Par- melee) Steele. This union has been blessed with two children: (1) Charles Henry, of Bristol, born Oct. 14, 1864, was married March 2, 1887, to Mamie Smith, of Forestville, who was born in 1869, a daughter of Royal Smith (Charles H. Curtis is a .conductor between Hartford and Willimantic on the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., with which road he has been for many years, and his faithful services are fully appreciated by the company whom he served and

by the patronizing public) ; (2) George Austin, born July 11, 1875, and died Aug. 31, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Curtis attend the Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Curtis is a communicant. They are active in the church work, and contribute amply to its sup- port financially and sociany. Mrs. Austin is pres- ident of the Ladies Aid Society. Mr. Austin, like many of our ablest statesmen and financiers, is a self-made man. He has always been very successful in all his undertakings, and is a worthy example for the rising generation to emulate.

PATRICK McGOVERN has been a resident of Hartford for over thirty years. His first experience in the city was as clerk and bookkeeper in a large mercantile house ; but for the past twenty-one years he has occupied an important position in the office of the Atna Life Insurance Co. Mr. McGovern has been a member of both branches of the city gov- ernment, and for seven years was acting president of the board of aldermen. He was the Republican member of the town auditors for many years, his services as such terminating with the consolidation of the town and city. Mr. McGovern was chairman of the Republican town committee, and under his management the party obtained and held control of the city, the influence of which was felt throughout the State. For many years he was an important factor in keeping Hartford, which was naturally Democratic, in the Republican ranks. To him is due much credit for what was accomplished in this par- ticular. Mr. McGovern is public-spirited-always acting for the city's interests. His loyalty to, and his indomitable energy in behalf of, his friends have given him prominence in political and social circles. As a business man he has been successful, and he bestows liberally upon others less fortunate.

TRUMAN COWLES, a well-known agricultur- ist residing on South street, Hartford, was born Feb. 14, 1844, in Bethlehem, Conn., son of David M. and Alma ( Merriam) Cowles. His father was a native of Bethlehem, followed farming at that place throughout life, and died at the age of eighty-two years. This worthy citizen was a devout Methodist, and helped to build the church at Bethlehem, where he served as deacon for many years. His wife, Alma Merriam, who died aged sixty-five years, was born and reared in Watertown, Conn., and taught school for some time previous to her marriage. Of their eight children six are living: Edward, a resident of Woodbury: Oliver; Wealthy, who married John Porter, and resides in Bethlehem; David, in Beth- Ichem ; Horace, a resident of Litchfield ; and Truman.

Our subject was educated in the common schools of Bethlehem, and assisted in farm work at the homestead until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then spent a year in farming on Long Island, and in 1866 settled in Hartford, taking a position as clerk in a meat market. Six years later he en- paged in the meat business on his own account, and for twenty-three years he had a market at No. 84

r- 1-

me 1- ed

hi-

1414

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Main street. At the time of his retirement, in 1894, he was among the oldest business men in the city, and one of the best known. He purchased thirty acres of land where he resides soon after going to Hartford, and in 1872 built his present residence. I11 1873 he built a block in Alden street, and he also owns and conducts the old homestead of 200 acres in Bethlehem.

In 1869 Mr. Cowles married Miss Martha Magee, who was born in Boston, Mass., daughter of John Magee, a blacksmith, and his wife Jane (Sygh), a lady of Scottish descent, who died at the home of our subject at the age of eighty-six. They had a family of ten children, and three are living : Ann, who married Hugh Robinson, of Omaha, Neb. ; Hugh; and Martha, Mrs. Cowles. Our subject and his wife have had eleven children, of whom nine are living : Emily married a Mr. Snow, of Norfolk, Va., and has one son, Malcolm; Margaret married William Green, of Hartford, and has one son, Al- fred; Mary married Daniel Harrington, and has two children, Martha Jane and Lester ; Almer is at home ; Louisa is in Norfolk, Va .; Daisy is at home ; Miss Cornelia is attending Pratt Institute, in Brook- lyn, N. Y. : Truman D. is at home : William ; Oliver died at the age of four years; and one died in in- fancy. The children were all educated in the South School and Public High School of Hartford, and at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. Mr. Cowles and his family attend the Congregational Church, but Mrs. Cowles was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which her parents were devout members.

WILLIAM WHETTEN HUNTINGTON, a resident of West Hartford, is a native of Hartford county, born in Hartford, Dec. 9. 1841. He is of the eighth generation from the original American ances- tor of the family, Simon Huntington, the line of de- scent being through Christopher, John, John (2), John (3). Hezekiah and Francis Junius.

Francis J. Huntington, father of our subject, was born in Suffield, Conn., Dec. 3. 1802, and there spent his early school days. In 1843 he removed to what is now the home of our subject, on Pros- pect Hill, West Hartford. For many years he was a successful publisher of music books in Hartford and New York, and he died in the latter city Feb. 5. 1878. On Sept. 1, 1833, he married Miss Stella Bradley, daughter of Michael Bull, and to them came seven children : Ilelen, born Jan. 3, 1836. died Feb. 18, 1839: Francis, born Nov. 2, 1837, died Sept. 3. 1838: Francis (2), born Sept. 1, 1839, died April 28, 1842: William Whetten, our subject, is next in the order of birth; Edward Bouverie, born Feb. 5. 1844. is a resident of California: Margaret Kent. born Jan. 5. 1846, died July 1, 1876; and Archibald Dunbar, born Nov. 26, 1851, is a resident of Connecticut.

William W. Iluntington was educated in New York City, Paris, ( France), and Hamburg (Ger- many). For five years he was with the firm of

Little, Brown & Co., of Boston, Mass., and was then junior member of the firm of Bunce & Huntington, publishers, New York, for one year. Subsequently he was associated with his father in the publishing. business for thirteen years prior to the latter's death. He lives at the old homestead on Prospect Hill, and since 1878 his attention has principally been devoted to agricultural pursuits. He takes considerable in- terest in public affairs, especially those pertaining: to education, and is a member of the school board of West Hartford, now serving as its secretary.

Mr. Huntington was married in West Hartford, June 1, 1876, to Miss Harriet Bradley Beach, who was born Sept. 20, 1850, a daughter of Charles M. Beach.

ARTHUR L. FOSTER, who enjoys the enviable 'listinction of being the most extensive dealer in clothing and gents furnishings, etc., in Hartford .. and probably second to none in the State, is a native of Vermont, born Jan. 19, 1858, in Moretown, Wash- ington county.

Mr. Foster comes of English lineage, his great- great-grandfather having emigrated from England. to Vermont and first locating in what is now the city of Manchester, later becoming one of the first settlers of Moretown, where he passed the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty-nine years. His son John (grandfather of Arthur L.), a lifelong agri- culturist of that locality, died in comparatively early life, at the age of forty-five. One of the highly prominent citizens of the community, he served on juries and as selectman, and represented his town in the Legislature. By his wife Abbie (Atherton) ,. of Waterbury, Conn., who died in 1868, he had four children, one of whom, Ruel by name, is living in Newark, Vermont.

Charles A. Foster ( father of our subject) was. born in Moretown, Vt., was reared on the home- stead, and educated in the district schools. On the. death of his father he took charge of the home farm, subsequently purchasing adjoining lands until he owned in all some 300 acres of the most beautiful part of Vermont, so attractive in every way as to be found worthy of a place in the work known as "Picturesque America," and to be immortalized on canvas, our subject having in his possession paint- ings of different views of the place, painted from photographs taken by himself. Charles A. Foster was not only a leading man in the locality, but also one of the most popular, and held all the offices in the town, including those of selectman, and repre- sentative. In addition to his farming interests he- owned a store in Vermont.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 143

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