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 144

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 144

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Charles A. Foster married Hulda Hathaway, born in East Montpelier, Vt., a daughter of Paul Hathaway, a farmer of that locality, who died at the age of eighty-four years: his family was from New Bedford, Mass., and became prominent in the affairs of East Montpelier. Two of Mrs. Hulda Foster's sisters are yet living, one of whom is Mrs. David Plimber, of Winchester, Mass. To C. A.

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Foster and his wife were born ten children, six of whom are living, as follows: Ella, wife of W. A. Crown, of Taunton, Mass .; John, in Bridgeport, Conn. ; Julia, wife of T. H. McElroy, of Haverhill, Mass. ; Charles, in Taunton, Mass. ; Arthur L., the subject proper of these lines ; and Jesse, in Pittsfield, Mass. The mother died at the age of sixty-eight years, a consistent member of the M. E. Church.

Arthur L. Foster passed the earlier years of his life on the home farm at Moretown, Vt., attending the commo: schools of the district, and at the age of eleven years went to Clinton, Mass., to live with his uncle John R. There he completed his education, and commenced his remarkable business career in the humble capacity of "shop boy" in his uncle's cloth- ing store. From there he removed to Holyoke, Mass., to fill the position of clerk in the Foster cloth- ing store there, which was one of the "Foster com- bination" started by his uncle in 1859. The latter had at one time twelve stores, for which he did all the buying, and later the company (J. L. Besse becom- ing a partner ) owned no less than forty-three stores. After a year's residence in Holyoke, our subject moved to Waterbury, Conn., whence after two years he betook himself to Bridgeport, Conn., and there for three years conducted a clothing store for his brother John. From Bridgeport he went to Troy, 'N. Y., and opened a clothing store for a Boston house, remaining there six months; then together with L. W. Besse, bought out H. C. Tennant, of Westfield, the business being continued under the name of Besse & Foster for three years, at the end of which time, in 1884, Mr. Foster bought out his part- ner's interest in that concern and became interested with Mr. Besse in another store, in Hartford, located at Nos. 45-47-49 Asylum street. After three years, the business having greatly increased, they found it necessary to add to their premises Nos. 53-55. and here they continued until 1890. In that year Mr. Foster bought out the interest of Mr. Besse, and at a cost of $40,000 fitted up the entire building with such luxurious taste and in such elegant style, not to speak of its commodiousness and conveniences, that it is allowed to be by far the finest clothing and ladies' and gents' furnishing store in New Eng- land, and one of the finest in the United States. Mr. Foster is, probably, the largest single buyer of clothing in the country, and not only keeps in stock all kinds of clothing and gents' furnishings, but also all kinds and sizes of tailor-made suits for la- dies, buying in the great Besse syndicate. He be- gan his business with three clerks, and now em- ploys forty-two, and his motto is: "Most goods for the money, and everything as represented."

Mr. Foster has another store, in Portland, Maine, which he had fitted up at a cost of $16,000, and which gives employment to twenty-three clerks. On March 31, 1900, he opened a third store, in Syracuse, N. Y., 60x125 feet, in which are employed eighteen clerks. The managers of these several stores all learned their business under Mr. Foster himself. Our subject is also interested with F. M.

McElroy in a clothing store at Haverhill, Mass., and in one, along with his brother Jesse, in Pitts- tield, Massachusetts.

In 1881 Mr. Foster married Harriet Benham, of Bridgeport, Conn., who died in 1888 at the age of thirty-two years. He wedded July 6, 1898, Jo- sephine Wilkinson, born in Troy, N. Y., but whose lite before marriage was passed mainly in Santi- ago, Cal. The family residence is one of the finest in the city, its elegance and beauty being the ad- miration of all.

In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Foster are Con- gregationalists ; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Omioca Lodge, Westfield, and in politics he is a Republican. Beginning life a comparatively poor boy, Mr. Foster has steadily worked his way up- ward until to-day he ranks among the most sub- stantial citizens of the community, owing his suc- cess to his own industry, perseverance, sound judg- ment, application and honorable dealing. Pleasant and genial in manner, he is very popular with all classes, and together with his amiable life partner commands the respect of all.

TAINTOR. For over two hundred and twenty- five years the name of Taintor and the families with which it has been allied, by marriage, have been prominent and influential citizens of their re- spective communities in Connecticut. Among those bearing the name in recent years we mention the late Hon. Henry G. Taintor, of Hampton. former State treasurer, and his sons, Hon. Henry Ells- worth, George Edwin and William Wolcott Taintor, all substantial citizens of Hartford.

These brothers are in the seventh generation from Michael Taintor, an early settler of Branford, Conn., where his death occurred in 1673. he being a son, it is said, of Charles Taintor, of Welsh ori- gin, who came to this country to escape religious persecution. Their line of descent is through Mi- chael (2), Michael (3), John. Solomon and Henry G. Taintor.

(11) Michael Taintor (2), son of Michael, of Branford, born in 1652, married ( first ) in 1679 Mary, daughter of Thomas Loomis. He moved to Windsor, and later to Colchester, where he was one of the first settlers. He served as town clerk from the town's settlement to the time of his death, in 1730, and was a member of the General Court twenty-six sessions.

(III) Michael Taintor (3), son of Michael ( 2), born in 1680, married in 1712 Eunice Foote, of Wethersfield, Connecticut.

(1\') John Taintor, son of Michael (3), born in 1725, married (second ) in 1758 Sarah Bulkeley.

(V) Solomon Taintor, son of John, born in 1769, married in 1797 Judith Bulkeley, and removed in the same year to Hampton, Conn. He died in 1827.

(VI) Henry G. Taintor, son of Solomon, and the father of Hon. Henry E., George E. and Will-

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iam W., all of Hartford, was born Feb. 17, 1813, in Hampton, Conn. He married Sept. 25, 1839, Delia W. Ellsworth, born in 1818, daughter of Martin and Sophia ( Wolcott ) Ellsworth, and grand- daughter of Hon. Oliver Ellsworth, former chief justice of the United States, and a descendant in the fourth generation from Josias Ellsworth, who was at Windsor, Conn., as early as 1654, the line of his descent being through Josias, Jonathan and David Ellsworth.

Mr. Taintor was one of the prominent and in- fluential citizens of Hampton. In 1866 he served as State treasurer. He was a man of good ability and considerable force of character. He died in March, 1889, greatly esteemed and highly respected. To his marriage with Delia W. Ellsworth were born children as follows: Henry E., Aug. 29, 1844: George E., Dec. 20, 1846; William W., July 9. 1851: Frederick, Nov. 12, 1855 ; and Mary E., Oct. 8. 1860. The mother died in January, 1889.

HENRY ELLSWORTH TINTOR, son of Henry G., was born Aug. 29, 1844, in the town of Hampton, Conn. He was prepared for college at Monson ( Mass.) Academy, and entered Yale College in 1861. continuing his studies until his enlistment, Jan. 14, 1864, as a private in Company A. 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He performed honorable service with his regiment for nearly two years, being discharged as second lieu- tenant, on Sept. 25, 1865. Although not return- ing to complete his college course. Yale. conferred on him the regular degree, A. B., the same as though he had completed the course of study. After the war had closed Mr. Taintor, in 1866, established liis residence at Hartford, where he read law in the office of Chamberlain & Hall, and was admitted to the Bar in Hartford county in 1868. Since then he has been engaged uninterruptedly in the prac- tice of his profession. He was executive secretary to Gov. Jewell in 1872-73, and also associate judge of the Hartford City Court at the same time. He was assistant judge of the Hartford City Court from 1889 to 1893. In 1891 he was appointed coroner of Hartford county, to succeed Hon. Lewis Sperry, an office he still holds. Judge Taintor has served several terms in the common council of Hart- ford, and also was for two years one of the board of aldermen. He was for many years clerk of the Hartford City Court. He is now vice-president of the Security Co. of Hartford ; a trustee of the State Savings Bank, as well as one of the attorneys, and attorney for the Society for Savings on Pratt street ; and a director of the Connecticut General Life In- surance Co. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has held various offices therein, including those of commander of the Department of Connecticut, and judge-advocate-general on the staff of the com- mander-in-chief. In politics he is a Republican. His religious connections are with the First Congre- gational Church of Hartford. There is not a law- ver in the State who has a more honorable standing before the Bar or the public.

On May 13, 1869, Judge Taintor was married to Miss Jane G., daughter of Lyman and Almira (Greene) Bennett, of Amsterdam, N. Y., and a descendant of an old Hampton (Conn.) family. To this marriage was born Harlan Henry, a grad- uate of Yale College, class of '92, who died April 17, 1893.

GEORGE EDWIN TAINTOR, son of Henry G., was born Dec. 20, 18446, in Hampton, Conn. He received a liberal education, and has for years been engaged in real-estate operations as a resident and business man of the city of Hartford. He represents prob- ably the largest real estate interests in the city- those of Francis and J. J. Goodwin. He is also a trustee of the Keney estate and Keney Park, another large estate. He is a director of the State Bank and of the Hartford Street Railway Co. Mr. Taintor married Oct. 25. 1870, Emily S., daughter of the late Hon. Gustavus F. Davis, of Hartford ( whose sketch appears elsewhere), and to the union was born one daughter, Lucy Strong, Oct. 15, 1871.

WILLIAM WOLCOTT TAINTOR, son of Henry G., was born July 9, 1851, in Hampton, Conn., where his early life was passed, and where he received his elementary education, later attending school in Brooklyn, Woodstock, and Hartford, all in Con- necticut. He also attended the Hartford Public. High School, when the building was at the corner of Asylum and Ann streets. After his school days were over he was for a time engaged in the wool jobbing business in New York City. He returned to Hartford in 1882, since which time he has been connected with the Hartford Ice Co., being at this time its efficient secretary and treasurer. On May 10, 1876, he was married to Eliza H., a native of New York City, and a daughter of William Miller, and to them have been born two daughters, Arline Deolph and Delia Ellsworth.

DAVIS. Through several generations the pos- terity of Rev. Gustavus Fellows Davis. D. D., pas- tor of the First Baptist Church of Hartford from 1829 to 1836, have been men of prominence in the professional and business life of the city, where a number of his descendants are to-day active in their several walks of life, among them Dr. Gus- tavus Pierrepont Davis, physician and examiner for the Travelers Insurance Co., and Frederick Wen- dell Davis, sons of the late Hon. Gustavus Fellows Davis, who for fifty years was prominent among the bankers of Hartford.

REV. GUSTAVUS F. DAVIS was born March 17, 1797. in Boston, Mass., son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Fellowes) Davis. He was converted under the preaching of Rev. William Bentley, of Worcester; Mass., when in his sixteenth year, and united with the church in April, 1813. He began to preach at seventeen, his first field of labor being in Hampton, Conn. After a year he removed to Preston, and was ordained pastor of the church there in June, 1816. He served that charge three years, when he accepted an urgent call from the Baptist Church in South

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Reading, Mass., and was publicly recognized as pastor April 23. 1818. He had keenly felt his in- adequate preparation in the way of an education, and from the start had done the utmost by severe and persistent study to repair the deficiency. While at South Reading, Mass., in addition to his pastoral labors, he began a systematic course of study in Latin and Greek, often walking to Boston, a dis- tance of ten miles, to receive instruction from Rev. Mr. Winchell, and from an entry in his diary it appears that he finished reading the Greek testament some three years later, with the Rev. Francis Way- land, Jr.

In the spring of 1829 Mr. Davis came to Hart- ford to assist the Rev. William Bentley, at that time laboring here in a revival of religion, and this circumstance led to his settlement in the city. He was publicly installed in the pastoral office July 29, 1829. During the seven years of his pastorate here the church prospered in every respect. He at- tended carefully to all details of organization and administration, and labored incessantly in prayer- meetings and special revival services. He made much of sacred music, and did everything to en- courage and improve the choir, but his principal strength was in the pulpit. It was as a preacher that he was best known, both at home and abroad. For the pulpit he prepared himself carefully, but preached either without manuscript or from brief notes. He had a tenacious memory, and, as one of his hearers remarked, the "whole Bible was at his finger ends." His sermons were always studded with Scriptural gems. He was pre-eminently a Bible preacher, and was singularly apt and some- times amusing in his selection of texts.

Dr. Davis had all through his life an excep- tional interest in education. He secured the estab- lishment of an academy at South Reading, Mass., where lie then lived. He was the chief agent for collecting funds for the Connecticut Literary In- stitute at Suffield, and had the satisfaction of see- ing it well established before his death. He was in- terested in Newton Seminary, was trustee of Brown University, examiner at Wesleyan University, and, by appointment of Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War in 1836, a member of the board of examiners of the United States Academy at West Point; also in 1831 he was elected one of the trustees of Wash- ington (now Trinity) College. Waterville ( Maine) College (now Colby University) and Yale College afterward conferred upon him the degree of M. A. His degree of D. D. was bestowed by Wesleyan University in 1835. In August, 1836, while on a visit to friends in Boston, he was taken sick, and his useful life was brought suddenly to a close. He died Sept. 11, 1836, in the fortieth year of his age. Dr. Davis had special traits of character. He was by natural constitution buoyant and self-re- liant, full of hope and cheer; this, added to his hearty, courteous manner, made him a universal favorite. Everybody knew him: everybody loved him.

On Jan. 5, 1817, Dr. Davis was married to Abigail Leonard.

Gustavus F. Davis, son of Rev. Gustavus F. Davis, D. D., was born Jan. 4. 1818, in North Ston- ington, Conn., and the family removed that year to South Reading, Mass., where he remained until he was eleven years of age, at which time his father accepted a call to the First Baptist Church of Hartford, and the family came to this city. Young Davis was educated in the grammar schools of Hartford, and at Hartford Academy. At the age of eighteen, in 1836, he was left fatherless, the eldest of five children. When fifteen years old he entered the employ of the Phoenix Bank, and re- mained for six years, at the expiration of which time he was sent to Litchfield, Conn., and entrusted with the branch of that institution located there. He remained in Litchfield until 1851, when he re- turned to Hartford to take the cashiership of the City Bank, which had just been organized. After the removal of Edmund G. Howe, its first presi- dent, to New York, in 1857, Mr. Davis was chosen president of the bank, and remained at the head continuously from that time until his death, April 28, 1896. He was identified with a number of the leading financial corporations of the city, was presi- dent of the State Savings Bank, one of the oldest surviving directors of the Atna Insurance Co., vice-president and director of the Travelers In- surance Co. from its organization until the election before his death. He was also president of the Hartford Dispensary, and treasurer of the South School District for nearly forty years.

In his political affiliations Mr. Davis was a Re- publican, of Whig antecedents, and voted in 1840 for William Henry Harrison. He never sought political preferment, but in 1880 he was elected by the Republicans of Hartford as representative in the Legislature: he declined a re-election. His religious connections were with the First Baptist Church of Hartford, of which church his father had been pastor from 1829 to 1836. He was a con- sistent Christian gentleman, of positive convictions, and of so equable a temperament that he impressed himself upon all who knew him as a man of fairest dealing and of strictest integrity. He had the uni- versal confidence and esteem of a large business acquaintance, acquired through many years' con- nection with prominent financial institutions of Hartford, and as a citizen and friend he won last- ing regard and affection.

On May 14. 1839, Mr. Davis was married to Lucy Terry Strong, who was born Aug. 24, 1817, a daughter of the late William Strong, of Hart- ford, who was a descendant in the sixth generation from John Strong, of England, an carly settler at Windsor, Conn. The children who survived the father are residents of Hartford, and are: (1) Charlotte Maria, born in Litchfield, Conn., March 4. 1840, married June 15, 1862, Rev. Wilder Smith, who was born July II. 1835. He was graduated from Yale College in 1857, and was a tutor there

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1859-61. He was settled as pastor at Berlin, Conn., 1862-66; at Milwaukee, 1866, later at Rockford, 111., but resided in Hartford the latter part of his life. They have two daughters, Edith ; and Alice, who married C. T. Welles. (2) Gustavus Pierre- pont Davis is mentioned below. (4) Frederick Wendell Davis was born Sept. 9, 1855, in Hart- ford, and there passed his early school days, and was graduated from the high school in 1873, from Yale College with the degree of B. A. in 1877, in which year he went to Kentucky, and engaged in the saddlery business with M. W. Smith until 1881 ; the last three years of his connection with Mr. Smith, however, were passed in New Orleans ( 1878-1881). He returned to Hartford and en- gaged in the manufacturing business until 1896, since which time he has been connected with J. J. & F. Goodwin. He married Lucy Trumbull, of Hartford, who died in New Orleans Feb. 1, 1881, · leaving one child, Carl Wyllis, born Oct. 27, 1880. Mr. Davis then married Mary Taintor, sister of George E. Taintor, and by this union is the father of four children: Dorothy Wendell, born March 12, 1886: Roger Wolcott, born Jan. 8. 1890; Fred- erick Ellsworth, born March II, 1892; and Elise Pierrepont, born Nov. 27, 1897. Fraternally Mr. Davis belongs to the Delta Kappa Epsilon. (3) Emily Strong Davis, born June 22, 1847, in Litch- field, Conn., is now Mrs. George E. Taintor, of Hartford, Connecticut.

Gustavus Pierrepont Davis, M. D., physician and medical examiner for the Travelers Insurance Co .. Hartford, was born Jan. 16, 1845. in Litch- field, Conn. He was graduated from Vale College in 1866, then spent a year in the study of medicine in Paris. He was graduated from the New York Medical College in 1869, and for a period was a physician in the Charity Hospital there. He has been in Hartford since 1870, and connected with the Travelers Insurance Co. since 1875. He is on the Hospital staff, and is a member of the City, County and State Medical Societies. He married Elise Mitchell, and they have four children: Eliza- beth M., Arthur W., Louise P., and Helen Fitch.

HON. HENRY CORNELIUS ROBINSON ( deceased) was born Aug. 28, 1832, in Hartford, son of David Franklin Robinson. He was pre- pared for college in the Hartford Grammar School and the high school of the same city, and was grad- nated from Yale College in the class of 1853. Two years later (in 1855) he received the degree of A. M., and that of LL. D. in 1888. He studied law in the office of his brother Lucius F. Robinson, and with Judge William L. Storrs, and was ad- mitted to the Bar of Hartford county in 1855, at once entering into partnership with his brother, and continuing thus until the death of Lucius F., in 1861. From that time he practiced alone until the graduation of his eldest son, when a new partner- ship was formed, consisting of H. C. & L. F. Rob- inson.

From 1872 to 1874 Henry C. Robinson was mayor of Hartford. He had previously, in 1866, been fish commissioner. In 1889 he was commis- sioner from Connecticut at the Federal Constitu- tional Centennial. In 1879 he was a representative from Hartford in the General Assembly. Mr. Rob- inson was long attorney for the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, and one of its direc- tors. He was attorney for the Connecticut Mutual Fire Insurance Co .. the Pratt & Whitney Co., the Connecticut Fire Insurance Co., and many more of the large and influential corporations of Hartford. He was a trustee of the Connecticut Trust & Safe Deposit Co., and of the Wadsworth Athenaeum; a member of the Hartford Tract Society; vice- president of the Connecticut and Hartford Bar Asso- ciations, and served as president of the Yale Alumni Association of Hartford. Mr. Robinson was thrice the Republican candidate for guberna- torial honors. He was a member of the Chicago Convention in 1880, and author of much of its platform. Mr. Robinson was an accomplished ora- tor, and his public addresses were numerous and able. In his professional life he was concerned, for the last twenty-five years of his life, in most of the important suits in which the city of Hartford, its various departments, the State of Connecticut, and the Republican party, have at various times been made parties in court. Mr. Robinson died Feb. 14, 1900, at his home in Hartford, and testimonials from his fellow lawyers and associates in. the dif- ferent concerns with which he was connected. from his pastor, and from personal friends, unanimous in their expressions of praise and regret, gave evi- dence of the universal esteem in which he was held.

On Aug. 28, 1862, Mr. Robinson was married to Eliza Niles Trumbull, daughter of John F. Trum- bull, of Stonington, Conn. The children born to the marriage were: Lucius F., Lucy T. (Mrs. S. T. Miller), Henry S., John T. and Mary S.

Lucius Franklin Robinson, son of Henry C. Robinson, and grandson of David Franklin Robin- son. was born June 12, 1863, in Hartford. He was graduated from Vale College in 1885, studied law under the direction of his father in Hartford, and was admitted to the Bar in that city in 1887. He was a member of the city council in '1890-91, serv- ing as president of the board in the latter year. He has served as a member of the fire commission- ers for Hartford, and as president of the board of park commissioners, and is a director in several cor- porations of Hartford, among them the First Na- tional Bank.

ATKINS. Josiah Adkins is supposed to have been the first of his family in this country; just what date is not exactly known. He was married twice, as is shown by wills and records. His first wife was a sister of Edward Andrews (who was in Hartford as early as 1655), as shown by said An- drew's will. 1673, and three of Josiah's children were born of this marriage. His second union, on

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Oct. 8, 1673, was to Elizabeth Wetmore, of Mid- dletown. Previous to this time he hal been in East Hartford and Wethersfield, where his eldest son and daughter married and remained, the sec- ond son going to Milford.

Descendants of Josiah's eldest son, Thoinas, are the only branch presented in this genealogy. [For other lines, see Hinman's "Genealogy of the Puri- tans," Orcott's History of Wolcott, Craft's, Whate- ly, of Massachusetts. | In this branch the spelling of the name was changed to Atkins about 1770. The family has not aspired to notoriety in public or political lines, for the most part following agri- cultural and mechanical pursuits. Positive in their political and religious convictions, they have faith- fully served the churches of which they were mem- bers as deacons, trustees, or on committees, and Rev. Irenus, son of Samuel, was a minister, being pastor of the Baptist Church in Southington for twelve years; he also, during his life of nearly eighty-nine years, supplied without remuneration feeble churches. At the same time he was inter- ested in manufacturing, for the support of his fan- ily, and together with his brothers was the pioneer of the saw manufacturing industry in this country ; the reputation of their productions is as wide as the country, and has been added to by the offspring of the original establishment, The E. O. Penfield Saw Works, of Bristol, Conn., and The E. C. At- kins establishment, of Indianapolis, Ind., E. C. Atkins being a son of Rollin, one of the brothers in the partnership in the infancy of the business. George R. Atkins, an elder brother of E. C., has also been intimately associated therewith. All of the sons of Samuel followed to some extent manu- facturing in connection with farming, tanning. shoemaking, wood turning, and the manufacture of horn combs and clocks, both wood and brass. Samuel, the father, was a weaver, and interested to some extent in shipping in early or middle life. The records of the State show that the Atkinses as a family have ever been ready to respond to the call of their country, whether in the deadly Havana expedition, the fierce struggle of the Revolution, or the sanguinary conflict of 1861-65. Never seek- ing political office, they have served their town as called upon satisfactorily, Roswell Atkins as judge of the probate court for a term of two years, when the age limit would be soon reached. He is a machinist and tool maker by trade, but by occupa- tion a civil engineer, and though now in his sev- enty-fifth year is able to follow the lines all day, through woods, over hills, or wherever the business calls him.

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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 144

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