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 146

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 146

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( 11]) Edward Augustus Mitchell, son of John S. and Sarah, married Elizabeth Gorham, born Aug. 12, 1813, died May II, 1888. Their children : (I) Anna Galpin, born March 26, 1837, died Feb. 17. 1880. (2) Edward Augustus, born in January, 1839, died in May, 1843. (3) Eliza Loomis, born Oct. 16, 1840, married G. Pierrepont Davis, born Jan. 16, 1843, and had Elizabeth M., born Aug. 16, 187! (wife of Otto Adolph Schreiber) ; Ar- thur W., born May 8, 1874; Louise P., born April 6. 1880: and Helen F., born Nov. 22, 1882. (4) Charles Le Moyne, born Aug. 6, 1844, died March I, 1890. He married Emeline Morse, born March

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22, 1850, and had Edward Augustus, Jr., born .April 17, 1872: and Eliza, born May 21, 1877, chied April 15, 1882.

(Il) John S. Mitchell, son of John S. and Sarah, was married Jan. 3, 1838, to Mary Lyman Benedict, who was born Sept. 23, 1819. They had one child, Charles Benedict, born Sept. 16, 1840, who died Feb. 4. 1854, at New Haven.

( 111) Charles Moulton Mitchell, son of John S. and Sarah, married ( first) Mary Ann Foote, born March 20. 1834, who died April 18, 1859. Ilis second wite, Mary Parsons, born Sept. 17. 1840, is also deceased. By the first union he had children: (1) Charles Foote was born Nov. 15, 1850. (2) Mary Ann, born April 17, 1859. mar- ried April 8. 1880, John B. Wallace, born July 7. 1858, and had Henry Mitchell, born Jan. 12, 1881, and John B., Jr., born Nov. 6, 1886.

(III) Juliet Carrington, daughter of Leicester and Almira ( Mitchell) Carrington, was married Nov. 10, 1847, to Pliny A. Jewett, and they had three children: Thomas (had one son, Thomas ), Mary and William.

(III) Ellen Douglas Mitchell. daughter of Samuel Augustus, was married July 21, 1842, to Horatio Nelson Burroughs. Their children: (1) Mary Elena, born April 11, 1844, married Feb. 11, 1868, Effingham Perot, of Philadelphia, born Ang. 10, 1837. They had no children. (2) Annie Burroughs, born Dec. 13, 1846, married April 15, 1875, Josiah Maurice Bacon, of Philadelphia. They had no children. (3) Joseph Howells, born May 16, 1851, married Edith Lewis May 19, 1881. and they had two children-Joseph Howells, Jr., born April 12, 1882, and Ellen Douglas, born July 26, 1888. (4) Ellen Douglas, born Jan. 23, 1853. married Nov. 5. 1879, Effingham Buckley Morris, of Philadelphia, and they had four children- Rhoda Fuller, born Nov. 5. 1880: Eleanor, Oct. 6, 1881: Caroline Burroughs, June 24, 1886; and Effingham B., Jr., Aug. 26, 1890.

( 111) Caroline Mitchell, daughter of Samuel Augustus, was married July 20. 1854, to Horatio Nelson Burroughs, she being his second wife. They had one child, Henry Augustus, born March 10, 1856, who was married Dec. 5, 1878, to Emilie Bailey, and died March 1, 1882, leaving one child, Horatio Nelson, Jr., born Dec. 17, 1879.

(III ) Samuel Augustus Mitchell, Jr., son of Samuel Augustus, was married Oct. 16. 1856, to Clara Sarah Le Moyne. [See record of family above. |

WILLIAM T. MARCHANT, member of the firm of Hills & Marchant, funeral directors and em- baliners, Hartford, is a native of that city, boin Feb. 6. 1860.

William Marchant, his father, was born in England, a son of Robert, also an Englishman, who was a florist and landscape gardener, at which calling he worked while in Hartford. He came to America in March, 1850, and died in Hartford Oct.

6, 1861. By his wife, Mary, he ( the grandfather) had a family of ten children, seven of whom came to America, all locating in Hartford, where Will- iam, our subject's father, followed the business of caring for horses. He died in 1882, at the age of fitty-six years. On Jan. 6, 1850, in England, he married Caroline, daughter of William Church, by trade a shoemaker, who died in Hartford Jan. 18, 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and to this union were born six children, two of whom are vet living: (1) Elizabeth M. A., wife of Frederick H. Dean, by whom she had two sons -William H., born Nov. 1. 1883, and Frederick D., born Jan. 14. 1888. ( 2) William T., our sub- ject. Their mother died May 26, 1900, aged sixty-eight years.

William T. Marchant, whose name opens this sketch, after receiving but a limited education (for he is a typical self-made man), learned the trade of butcher in a meat market situated on the cor- ner of Main and Canton streets, Hartford, remained there nine years, then for three years was at the corner of Main street and Goodman place. For seven years after leaving this line of business he was in the employ of C. W. Hills, undertaker, at the end of that time, in 1893, becoming a part- ner in the concern, the firm name being Hills & Marchant, and the establishment is now the second oldest and the largest of the kind in Hartford, averaging over 300 funerals per annum. On Oct. 15. 1900, the firm moved into their present prem- ises, No. 53 Ann street, where they have commo- dious and comfortable offices and anterooms. Both partners are graduates of the New York School of Embalming, and are thoroughly versed in the art, being excellent men of business.

On Dec. 18, 1884, Mr. Marchant was married to Carrie E. Hills, daughter of his partner. Our subject and his wife are members of the Episco- pal Church. In politics he is a Republican, though in municipal and other local matters he usually casts his ballot for the candidate whom he con- siders best adapted for the office.

Fraternally and socially Mr. Marchant has been affiliated with Lodge No. 88, Hartford, Pythagoras Chapter, No. 17, Wolcott Council, and Washing- ton Commandery, No. 1; is also a member of Oak Lodge of Perfection. Hartford Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Cyrus Council, Chapter Rose Croix, and Connecticut Sovereign Consistory, Sphinx Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, being a 32d degree Mason. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for eighteen years, and at present is identified with Connecticut Lodge. No. 93: is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Charter Oak Lodge; and of the Master Workmen Fraternity, Order of Connecticut. Mr. Marchant is a mem- ber of the State Association of Funeral Direc- tors, being ex-president of same, and on retiring from this office, in the year 1898, he delivered a masterly oration in reviewing the past years of his service.

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EDWARD W. KEENE, a prosperous business man of Unionville, whose success in life is due en- tirely to his own unaided efforts, was born in Southington, this county, Aug. 9, 1862, a son of Patrick and Mary A. ( Brennan) Keene. The fa- ther, who was a native of Ireland, was employed for thirty-eight years as a molder by Peck, Stowe, Wilcox & Co., of Southington. In the family were twelve children, but only five are now living, namely : Patrick F., whose present address is No. 19 Park street, Hartford ; Edward W., our subject ; Mary A. and Margaret L., residents of Southington ; and Andrew J., of Unionville. One son, James Keene, was for some time collector of Internal Revenue at Louisville, Kentucky.

Reared in Southington. Edward .W. Keene was educated in the public schools of that place, and later he worked in the bolt department of the works of Peck, Stowe, Wilcox & Co. for eight years. Going to Chicago, he was in the employ of W. H. Deering & Co., reaper, binder and mower manu- facturers, for six months, and then traveled in their interest through Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska. Soon after his return to his old home in Southing- ton, Conn., he came to Unionville, Aug. 6, 1886, and for about five years worked for the Upson Nut Com- pany. In 1891 he embarked in the liquor business in Unionville, and is still interested in the same. He has met with excellent success in his under- takings, and is now the owner of Keene's block, one of the best business blocks in the town. He is con- nected with the Co-operative Building & Loan and the Connecticut Building & Loan Associations, and belongs to the Foresters in Unionville, the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 19, of Hartford.

In Newington, Conn., Mr. Keene was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Foran, a daughter of John Foran, and they have four children-May, Edward W., Jr., John and James Richard.

WILLIAM BREWER NOBLE. the leading re- tail dealer in drugs in East Hartford, was born Feb. 18, 1863, on Canton street, Hartford, in one of the earliest built houses in that section of the city, and descends from two of the oldest families in the State, the Nobles and the Brewers. Paternally he is of the eighth generation from Thomas Noble, the founder of the family in America.

Thomas Noble was born in England in 1632, but the date of his coming to America is not on record. It is known, however, that he was a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and that in 1653 he located in Springfield, and with Elizur Holyoke and others received permission to erect a sawmill on Ensign Cooper's farm, on the Agawam river. In 1669 he removed to Westfield, where he died in 1707. He married, in 1660, at Springfield, Hannah Wariner, and had a family of ten children, from the sixth of whom, Mark by name, the sub- ject of this sketch lineally descends.

From Thomas Noble the generations up to the present time are as follows : Mark, born in Westfield, Mass., in 1670, married Mercy Marshall, of North- ampton, and died April 16, 1741. Noah, born in Westfield May 23, 1713, married Mary Barber, of Springfield, who was born in 1715, his death taking place in 1781, and hers July 6, 1797. Zenas, born in Westfield Nov. 30, 1743, (first) married Hannah Jones, who was born in the same town Dec. 12, 1747, and died in January, 1791, Zenas dying in Washington, Mass., March 31, 1813. William, son of Zenas and Hannah, born in Washington Feb. 2, 1778, married Mary Smith, a native of the same place, who was born in 1779, and died June 9, 1847, in Pittsfield, where his death also occurred, May, II, 1869. James, born in Washington Nov. 23, 1809, first married Asenith Smith Martin, who was born in Washington May 13, 1810, and died in Hart- ford Sept. 29, 1837, his second marriage being to Eliza A. Smith, who was born in Groton, Conn., April 4, 1817. James M., father of our subject, was born Nov. 30, 1834; and William Brewer Noble is our subject.

James Noble, grandfather of our subject, was one of the early school teachers of Washington, Mass., as was also his wife, Asenith Smith ( Mar- tin) Noble. He was a wholesale and retail clothing merchant, and came to Hartford, Conn., about 1830, after his marriage. He was a deacon in the Fourth Congregational Church, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school for many years. His first wife died at the early age of twenty-seven years, the mother of two children: James M., father of our subject ; and Asenith, wife of Edwin L. Humphrey, of Pitts- field, Mass. To his second marriage were born sev- eral children, those living being Charles S., a vegetable dealer of Hartford ; and Mrs. Emma Adams, a widow, of the same city. The latter years of his business life James Noble passed as a traveling salesman for Curtis Brothers, at that time manufacturers of Curtisville, Conn., but he withdrew from business many years prior to his death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years of age.

James M. Noble. father of our subject, was born Nov. 30, 1834, at the corner of Morgan and Commerce streets, Hartford, and at the age of sev- enteen years began clerking for Gurdon Fox, grocer, in Central Row, Hartford, with whom he remained until twenty-one years old. Later he clerked in Hartford, Boston, and again in various stores in Hartford. He married Miss Mary Brewer, of Brewer street, East Hartford, born Aug. 13, 1841, a daughter of Osman and Deluanna Brewer. To this union have been born three children: William Brewer, our subject : Thomas M., of the firm of Noble Brothers, and Charles S., of the Noble Drug Store, both of Hartford. The father is a Repub- lican in politics, and in religion is a member of the Congregational Church of East Hartford, where he has also passed many years, alternating with Hart-

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ford. He is a well-preserved gentleman, and is held in the highest esteem for his many personal excellencies.

William B. Noble passed his childhood days on his father's farm, where his New England as well as family qualities of thrift, industry and faithful- ness to duty were fully developed. His first at- tendance at school was in Hockanum, and at the age of thirteen years he entered the high school in Hartford. To reach this school it was necessary for him to walk five miles, which distance he cov- ered in all kinds of weather, winter and summer, regardless of snow, rain, mud and dust, and scarcely missed a day in four years; thus, at the rate of ten miles per day, he traveled on foot about 7,300 miles in order to secure his high-school education. To add to this exercise he was also a member of his class foot-ball team the last two years of his at- tendance. He graduated in 1880, and at once se- cured a position in the drug store of McNary & Co., on Main street, where the Adams Express Co. is now located, but a year later was employed by George N. Clark & Co., with whom he remained two years. From 1883 until 1887 he was with Tal- cott, Frisbie & Co., wholesale druggists, from whom he received his druggist's diploma, and he passed the Board on his first examination. During the last two years he was with Talcott, Frisbie & Co. he liad entire charge of their laboratory. work. From 1887 until 1890 he was chief clerk for C. R. Gris- wold. on North Main street, and in March, of the latter year, opened his drug store in Garvan's block, East Hartford.

Since entering business for himself Mr. Noble has had an assured success, and has built up an extensive trade through low prices, the reliability of his stock in bulk and in compounds, his affable, accommodating manner of treating his patrons, and his promptitude in executing their orders. These facts are vouched for by the East Hartford Weekly Gazette, which in its issue of Sept. 6, 1895, had this to say of Mr. Noble: "Few of the young business men of the town have had as successful and rapid a rise as the subject of this article. A resident of this town from early boyhood, and endowed with sterling personal qualities as well as sound com- mercial judgment, great industry and faithfulness. Mr. Noble had but to enter business for himself to attract the custom of his friends and win the trade of strangers. A low price-list, quick service, faith- ful work, a pleasant and accommodating spirit- these are main factors in his business' quick and substantial growth."

In January, 1898, the Noble Drug Co., of Hart- ford, began business, and William B. and C. S. Noble constitute this firm, which is a grand success. William B. Noble has exhibited a wonderful amount of vim, energy and enterprise for so young a man. and well deserves the recognition he everywhere meets with, both as a business man and a gentleman.

On Nov. 7, 1887, Mr. Noble married Miss Nettie

Sherman, a native of Norwich, Conn., and a daugh- ter of George Sherman, who settled in Hartford when she was a child, and in that city she was reared. This happy union has been blessed with five children, of whom, however, three only are now living : Russell B., Raymond B. and Rena S., Harry B. and Gladys S. being deceased.

Fraternally Mr. Noble is a Mason : is a member of Elm Lodge, K. of P .: Court Raymond, For- esters of America ; the Odd Fellows: the Royal Arcanum: the Grange; and is president of the Wheel & Social Club-all of East Hartford. In the social circles of the town he and his wife hold exalted positions, and are extremely popular.

ORRIN H. GOODRICH, one of the most re- spected citizens of East Hartford, and a descend- ant of one of the oldest New England families, was born in Rocky Hill, Hartford county, Jan. 10, 1832. His grandfather, Jason Goodrich, also a native of Rocky Hill, was a river captain nearly all his life, and had a family of eight children. of whom Levi Goodrich, the father of our subject, was one of the youngest, was born in Rocky Hill about 1812, and was a farmer all his life.

Levi Goodrich married Nancy Taylor, a native of South Glastonbury, Conn., and a daughter of Ezeriah Taylor, a farmer, and to this union were born eleven children, in the order here recorded : Joseph, who married Fannie Buck. a native of Port- land, Conn., followed farming in Portland. and there died : Henry, a farmer of South Glastonbury, who married Mary Saunders, is now deceased, and is interred at South Glastonbury: Jeannette, who is married to Harvey Cornwell, a farmer of Portland; Orrin H., the subject of this sketch : Elizabeth, de- ceased wife of James Stowe, a farmer of Crom- well; Elmira, also deceased, who was married to Lucius Somers, and lived in Ormond, Fla. : James, who died when a young man ; Stephen, who lived to be over sixty years of age. and died single ; Leverett, a machinist of Rocky Hill, who married Mary Wright, and is now deceased: Anna, who died young, as also did Augusta. The father of these children, Levi Goodrich, passed away in 1879, and the mother in 1881.

Orrin H. Goodrich received a good common- school education, and at an early age began learn- ing the machinist's trade with Cheney Bros., at Manchester, being employed by the same firm for twenty years-good evidence, indeed, of his skill as a mechanic. From Manchester he went to Hart- ford, and worked for the Plimptons for some time, when he retired .to a farm. but was sent for by Case, Lockwood & Brainard. of Hartford, who had al- ready tested his skill, and still works for them in- terniittently. when some special or intricate piece of work is to be done ; he has always commanded a good salary.

Orrin H. Goodrich married Celia Amidon. a na- tive of Massachusetts, who died without issue. and

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he subsequently married Mrs. Martin ( Holmes) Lowe, who was born in Lee, Mass., Sept. 26, 1831, a daughter of Jonathan Wadsworth and Roxanna ( Chambers ) Holmes, and a cousin of Oliver Wendell Holmes, the eminent physician and writer of medi -. cal literature, poet. essayist and humorist. The fa- ther of Mrs. Goodrich was born and reared in West Hartford, where he followed the vocation of a potter, but later became a farmer at Lee, Mass. Mr. Goodrich now occupies the house formerly owned by Martin Lowe, and is living in quiet re- tirement. In politics he is one of the stanchest of Democrats, but has never had a desire for public office. He is an attendant at the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Our subject has never joined any secret society. He and his wife have a most com- fortable home, with delightful surroundings, and are among the most respected residents of the town and county.

Mrs. Orrin H. Goodrich descends not only from one of the oldest of New England families, but from one of the most ancient and noble families of Old England-the historical Seymours. Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was born about 1500, and was beheaded for reasons of state on Tower Hill, London, Jan. 22, 1552. He was the eldest son of Sir John Seymour, and his sister was the wife of Henry VIII, King of England. He was created Viscount Beauchamp and Earl of Hartford, and, later, Duke of Somerset and Earl Marshal of Eng- land, in February, 1547. Upon the death of Henry VIII he was made guardian of his own nephew, young King Edward VI. with the title of Lord Protector of the Realm, and met his death at the date mentioned above, through political chicanery.

Tracing, now, the American ancestry back to the Colonial days : Cynthia Seymour, the mother of Jonathan W. Holmes, father of Mrs. Goodrich, was born in Massachusetts Dec. 24, 1771, of the sixth generation from Richard Seymour, grandson of the Duke of Somerset. Richard Seymour came to America soon after the arrival of Rev. Mr. Hooker and his colony, as the first record of his residence is found to be at Hartford in 1639. Thence he removed to Norwalk in 1650, being one of the earliest settlers of that town. Of his children, John married Mary Watson, who bore him ten children, and of these John (2), born Jan. 12, 1666, mar- ried Elizabeth Webster, daughter of Robert Web- ster. and granddaughter of Gov. John Webster. To John Seymour (2) were born eleven children, of whom John, the eldest, was born in 1694, and first married a Miss Mason, a daughter of Capt. John Mason, who bore him the following named chil- dren : Lydia, Abigail, Elisha, Isaac, Lucretia, John (born Nov. 24, 1727), William and Lucretia (2). The second wife of John was Hannah Ensign, who also bore him a large family, so that he had nine- teen children in all.

Of the above family, John, who was born Nov. 24. 1727, married Lydia Wadsworth, a granddaugh-

ter of Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, renowned in Co- lonial history as the person who concealed the precious charter of Connecticut in the hollow of an oak tree, which was ever afterward known as the "Charter Oak." To the marriage of John Seymour and Lydia Wadsworth were born thirteen children, among whom were Cynthia and Silvia (twins), and of these Cynthia became the mother of Jonathan W. Holmes, the father of Mrs. Goodrich.

EMORY ORVILLE BANCROFT. Among the most attractive homesteads of this section is the farm of this well-known resident of the town of East Windsor, its location on the banks of the Connecticut river affording a beautiful view. As an agriculturist Mr. Bancroft is enterprising and successful, and he is a valued citizen, his honorable record as a soldier during the Civil war being well sustained by his integrity, ability and progressive spirit in private life.

Mr. Bancroft belongs to one of the old families of East Windsor, and his great-great-grandfather, Isaac Bancroft, the first of the name to locate there, occupied the farm now owned by Morell & Snyder, situated about one mile south of Warehouse Point. Isaac Bancroft (2), our subject's grandfather, was born in the town of East Windsor.

Bissell Bancroft, the father of our subject, was born in 1801 in the same town, and for some years of his early manhood was a teacher. In 1827 he settled at the present homestead, where he was en- gaged in farming for many years, his death oc- curring in 1865. He was much respected for his excellent qualities of character, and at times held local offices, including that of selectman. His wife, Joanna Morton, who died March 11, 1895, aged eighty-eight years, was a daughter of Alexander Morton, a Revolutionary soldier. Eleven children were born to them: Horace M., a farmer of East Windsor; Willard and Rosina, deceased: Emory O., our subject : Miss Emily R., who resides at the homestead ; Amanda, wife of John Thompson, of Ellington town, Tolland county ; Alexander M., a traveling salesman, residing in Springfield, Mass .; Miss Ellen L., who resides at the old home; and three who died in childhood.

Emory O. Bancroft was born March 4, 1831. at his present farm, and was educated in the local schools and in the old Scantic Academy. He re- mained at home until he reached the age of twenty, when he began raising tobacco on a farm near Hartford, and after one year in that business he engaged in a mercantile enterprise in Hartford. In 1861 he went to Springfield to work in the United States arsenal, but as the "dark days" of the Re- bellion drew on he decided to offer his services to the government. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, "for three years or the war," being mustered into service at Readville. The regiment was sent to Norfolk, Va., and then up the river to join Gen.

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Butler's forces, meeting the enemy for the first time at Bermuda Hundred. Mr. Bancroft was assigned to the engineer corps, in the 13th Independent Com- pany of Heavy Artillery, was with that company at the battles of Cold Harbor and Fredericksburg, and took part in the long siege of Petersburg. Many notable feats of engineering skill are recorded to the credit of this brave band of men, the building and maintaining of a pontoon bridge across the Appo- mattox river, thus uniting two sections of our army, being especially famous. They also constructed a pontoon bridge across the James river during the siege of Petersburg, and one at Richmond over which all the Union forces passed on their way to Washington. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Bancroft was detailed for service in the engineering depart- nient of Fortress Monroe, and on Sept. 25, of that vear, he received his discharge at Gallop's Island, Boston Harbor. His father dying soon after his return home, he took charge of the farm, which comprises sixty acres of land, and is now devoted to dairying and tobacco growing, as well as the rais- ing of general crops. Politically Mr. Bancroft is a Republican, but he has not sought official honors. He and his family are much esteemed socially, and he belongs to J. A. Converse Post, No. 67, G. A. R., of Windsor Locks, and to Morning Star Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M., at Warehouse Point.

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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 146

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