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 150

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 150

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In 1867 Mr. Clark was married at East Granby, Conn., to Miss Alderman, who died six months later. His second wife was Miss Emma Talbot, of East Granby, and they have had four children : George E., now a student in Harvard University ; Leila M .: Leland, who died at the age of three vears, and Bertha, who died when five years old. The family is prominent in social life, and Mr. Clark is a leading member of the Congregational Church at Windsor Locks. He also belongs to E. K. Wilcox Post, No. 16, G. A. R., at Springfield, Mass., and some years ago he united at Suffield, Conn., with the Masonic order, becoming later a charter

member of Euclid Lodge, No. 109, A. F. & A. M., at Windsor. His sympathies are with every pro- ject for local improvement, and his interest in edu- cational matters is shown by his effective work on the board of education of Windsor Locks.

JOSEPH SCHEIDEL. Among some of the most enterprising and successful citizens of Bur- lington are those who were born in Germany, and have brought to this fertile and productive coun- try the thrift and economy of the Old World. Among these there is no figure that stands out more prominently in the history of the town than Joseph Scheidel, a well-known farmer and lumber manu- facturer.

Mr. Scheidel was born in Baden, Germany, April 28, 1847, a son of Loran and Elizabeth Scheidel, natives of the same place. The father was a well-educated man in his native language, and was a linen weaver by trade, following that occupation in Germany for many years. In 1864 he came to America on the sailing-vessel "Isabelle," which was seven weeks in crossing the Atlantic. He landed at New York with his wife, daughter Fredericka, and our subject, and from there came to Collinsville, Hartford Co., Conn., where he was employed in the grinding department of the Collins Co.'s works for eight years. He then removed to the farm in Burlington now owned and occupied by our subject, who cared for him in his declining years. There he died and was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Collinsville. He was an industrious man, a good citizen, a loving husband and father, and a faithful member of the Catholic Church, to which his widow also belongs. She is still living at the ripe age of eighty-four years, and finds a pleasant home with our subject. In their family were four children : Benjamin, who came to Amer- ica about 1854, and is employed at the Collins Co.'s works in Collinsville: Fredericka, wife of Chris- tian Zitler; Joseph, subject of this review ; and John, who died before the emigration of the family to the United States.

Joseph Scheidel attended the schools of his na- tive land, receiving a good German education, and also worked at weaving with his father. He was seventeen years of age when he came with the fam- ily to the New World, and took up his residence in Collinsville, where he found employment with Mr. Wilkison, polishing screw drivers. Later he was a trusted employe of the Collins Co. for the long period of thirty-three years, working in differ- ent departments of their works. In 1870 he bought the Charles Scoville farm of 125 acres in Burling- ton, and since then has also been interested in gen- eral farming, stock raising, dairying and the manu- facture of lumber. For the past seven years he has also successfully conducted a fine distillery upon his farm. He is an enterprising, progressive business man who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and has be- come quite well-to-do.

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In 1868, at the Catholic Church, in Collinsville, Alr. Scheidel was married by Rev. Father Welsh to Aliss Catherine Ilair, also a native of Germany, and to them have been born ten children: Ben- jamin and George, who now operate the home farm; John, who is engaged in teaming; Minnie, wife of Julius Horn ; William, Frances, Lawrence and Seva, at home ; and Adam and Elizabeth, who died young. The family are communicants of the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Scheidel is a Democrat.

ADDISON MONROE HALE, a prominent agriculturist of the town of Glastonbury, is a mem- ber of one of the pioneer families of that locality, his great-grandfather, Isaac Hale, having been one of the first white men to settle in the northeastern part of the town, near South Manchester.

Isaac Hale was born in 1733, and died suddenly Jan. 27, 1797, while on an errand to his cellar. He bought a large tract of land of the Indians, in the northeastern part of the town. For one quart of rum and one bag of corn he could buy as much land as he could walk over in a day, marking the trees by chipping them with an ax, and for a mug of "flip" he could get land as far as he could throw a stone. The use of spirituous liquors was not considered so disgraceful then as at the present time. The Indians, the "Winnechaugs," from whom a mountain near by is named, shortened now to "Winchug," retained a piece of land (near where Addison M. Hale's grist-mill now stands), for their reservation, also the privilege of fishing from the stream and hunting in the forest. Isaac Hale set- tled and reared his family on the farm now owned by Addison M. Hale by inheritance. He lived on very friendly terms with the Indians, and often provided food and clothing for them during the severe winters, when they would otherwise have suffered, as they were very lazy and improvident. Isaac Hale's wife, Lucy, lived to be ninety years old, and died of a cancer, caused by a fall while making soap out of doors. They were a strong, rugged couple. He was a large man with light hair and large blue eyes. They had ten children who lived to mature years. The principles of in- tegrity and industry were thoroughly implanted in their hearts, and the same traits characterize their descendants. As far as can be ascertained, not one of them brought the name of Hale to dis- honor, as no criminals, drunkards or paupers are among them. They are scattered widely, yet we find them honorable men and women, and very much respected in the communities in which they live. Out of the large tract of land which Isaac Hale pur- chased of the Indians, he divided large farms for his ten children, Isaac, Marvain, Timothy, Edward, Frary, George, Eunice, Mrs. James Coville, Mrs. Zebulon Bidwell, and Waite. He gave each of then ten Spanish dollars, with the wish that they be handed down to their heirs, saying he wanted them to always have some pocket money. Addison M. Hale, our subject, has the original dollars, as well as the Isaac

Hale farm, which the latter gave to his son, Waite Hale, our subject's grandfather. It was on this farm that the homestead was located.

Waite Hale, our subject's grandfather, who was much younger than the rest of the family, was born on cur subject's present farm, where he resided all his life, following agricultural pursuits. He died at the age of eighty-one years, in the same house in which he was born. He married Abigail Hollister, and had a large family of children as follows: ( 1) Clement married Marinda Bidwell; (2) Gideon 1. married a Miss Johnson ; (3) Timothy H. married Catherine Strong; (4) Waite, Jr .; (5) Orange married Eliza Johnson; (6) Orrin married Sophia I.ox: (7) Emeline married a Mr. Holmes; (8) Hemietta married Eldrige AAndrews; (9) Abigail married a Mr. Lattimer.

Orrin Ilale, the father of our subject, was born and reared at the old homestead, and became a farmer by occupation. He died Aug. 9, 1853, aged forty-seven years. His wife, Sophia ( Fox), a na- tive of Vernon, died Sept. 5, 1853, aged forty-three years. Our subject was the youngest of five chil- dren, the others being: Alfred, a sailor who spent many years on the water, and died unmarried ; Ab- bie, who died young; Louisa, who died in early womanhood; and Elizabeth, who married Henry P. Rix, of Tolland county, Connecticut.

Our subject was born Dec. 5, 1851, in the house in which he now lives. He was one and a half years old when his father died, and was taken by his uncle, Orange Hale, with whom he remained, and as his uncle's health failed with declining years our subject took charge of his farm, which he now owns and operates. He is an industrious man, and a good manager, and has the assistance of a wife whose good common sense makes her advice most valuable. In politics Mr. Hale is a Republican, but he votes independently on local affairs, and has never held office. He and his family attend the Con- gregational Church.

On April 17, 1878, Mr. Hale married Florence Brock, born Jan. 25, 1856, at Middletown, Conn., daughter of Henry and Sarah (Roberts) Brock. Her father was a well-known agriculturist of that town. Four children have blessed the union : Her- bert E., born Aug. 23. 1879; Everett O., born Dec. 7. 1883 : Mary, born Aug. 1, 1888 ; and Sarah, born April 17, 1890.

GEORGE TURVEY MATHEWSON, a prom- inent business man of Thompsonville, and one of the most progressive and enterprising citizens of En- field, is a son of John and Ann ( Turvey) Mathew- son, natives of London, England, who came to the United States in 1845.

John Mathewson was by occupation a powder maker, and for several years was superintendent of the large powder mills at Hounslow, England, a position his father (also named John ) had long occupied. John Mathewson, father of our subject, was for fourteen years employed by the Hazard

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Powder Co., as superintendent of their extensive works at Hazardville. In 1860 he started a brewery in Thompsonville, which he successfully operated until his death, in 1879. His widow died in 1888. Their family consisted of eight children: John, deceased; Edwin H., of the firm of Lounsbury & Mathewson, boot and shoe manufacturers in South Norwalk, Conn., the senior member being ex-gov- ernor of the State; Annie E., Mrs. W. O. Collins; Albert H., of Enfield; Florence A .; George T .; Herbert A., of South Norwalk; and Charies P., of Cleveland, Ohio.

George T. Mathewson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Enfield, March 13, 1859, and received his primary education in the schools of his native town, after which he took a course of instruction at Selleck's Academy, South Norwalk. In 1876 he began his business career, entering the brewery belonging to his father, and after the latter's death he and his brother Albert H. succeeded to the busi- ness, which they have since successfully conducted under the firm name of Mathewson Bros. From a small beginning the business has grown until the annual output is now about eight thousand barrels of ale.

Mr. Mathewson, in addition to his brewery in- terests, is a member of the Westfield Plate Co., of Thompsonville, an incorporated concern engaged in the manufacture of casket hardware, the members of the firm being W. O. Collins, president ; George T. Mathewson, vice-president ; and Albert H. Mathewson, treasurer and manager. Our subject is also president of the Enfield & Longmeadow Elec- tric Railway Co. Socially he is a member of Doric Lodg'e, No. 94, F. & A. M .; of Washington Chapter, No. 30, R. A. M. ; and of Suffield Council. In public affairs he has always taken a keen inter- est, is active in the support of the Republican party and its principles, and for two terms ( 1891-93) rep- resented Enfield in the lower house of the Legis- lature. He is now ( 1899) president of the State Board of Fisheries and Game.

Mr. Mathewson was married, May 21, 1885, to Laura A., daughter of Henry P. Allen, of Enfield, and three children have been born to them: Allen, Grace and George T., Jr. Though reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church Mr. Mathewson is not a member of any religious organization, but contributes liberally to the support of the different churches of the town. Mrs. Mathewson is a mem- ber of the Congregational Church.

GEORGE SHERLOCK ALLEN, one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the Civil war, and the efficient superintendent of the plant of the Peck: Stow & Wilcox Co., at Plantsville, Hartford county, was born in Wallingford, Conn., Sept. 21, 1842, son of William Dewey and Elvira ( Benham) Allen, the former a native of Catskill, N. Y., the latter of Cheshire, Conn. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Benham, was a farmer of Cheshire. In early life the father learned the blacksmith's trade,

in North Haven, Conn., where he continued to follow it for some years, and then removed to Wal- lingford, where he died in 1857. His children were George S., Lyman D., Wilham A. and Charles J.

The subject of this sketch is indebted to the pub- lic schools of Walingford for his educational ad- vantages, as he was there reared to manhood. On Oct. 20, 1861, he joined Company C, 8th Conn. V. 1., and after his first term of service expired he re-enlisted as a veteran, in 1864. He was in all the engagements in which 'his regiment partici- pated, and was honorably discharged Dec. 12, 1865. After the war Mr. Allen worked in a spoon factory in Wallingford for fourteen years, and since 1879 has been connected with the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., at Plantsville, as a contractor for nineteen years, and as superintendent of the Plantsville plant since 1898. He is a straightforward, reliable business man, one who commands the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.

On Feb. 22, 1864, Mr. Allen was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucy D. Jeralds, a daughter of Bennett and Lucy ( Mix) Jeralds, of Wallingford, and two children have been born of this union, Laura D. and Maude E. Socially Mr. Allen affil- iates with Friendship Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M .; Triune Chapter, No. 40, K. A. M .; Temple Coun- cil, No. 32, R. & S. M .; Trumbull Post, No. 16, G. A. R. : and Eureka Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F. He served as assistant chief of the Southington Fire Department for ten years ; has been a member of the board of education ; and has filled the office of bur- gess. As a citizen he has always been true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, so that his loyalty is above question, being manifest in days of peace as well as when he followed the old flag on Southern battle fields.

H. A. OSBORNE was born at Granby, Hart- ford county, as were also his father, William, and his grandfather, David, both of whom were farm- ers. William Osborne was the fourth of seven chil- dren, the names of the others in the order of their birth being David, Basha, Lyman, Ethop, Sylvia and Melza. All the family were ardent patriots during the struggle for independence.

William Osborne's first employment was on the farm of Judge Hillier, while he was still a young man. After reaching maturity he married, and became a landowner himself. His wife was Betsey Wilcox, and they raised a large family of children, a brief mention of whom will be found of interest. William, now deceased, was a resident of Suffield, in which town his brother James yet lives ; Riley, de- ceased, had his home in Westfield ; Louise married Frank Gillette, of Westfield, and they lived for a time at Burlington, but later removed to Ani- mosa, fowa, where he opened a store, and where both have since died; Melza and Lewis were among the Argonauts of '49-the latter has passed away, but Melza is still a resident of California ; Linas em- igrated from Connecticut to Iowa (he was pre-

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eminent as a peace maker, his amiable disposition and innate sense of justice well qualifying him for the delicate and difficult duties of such a position ) ; Lydia became the wife of Mr. Alderman, of Suf- field, and they removed to Marion, Iowa, where her husband engaged in business, and where their son, Ediom, a captain of an lowa militia regiment, yet lives ( Mr. and Mrs. Alderman, however, turned their faces toward the Pacific slope, and he is at present the owner of an orange grove at South Riverside, Cal.) ; David also found a home in Iowa, buying land in the town of Cass, in Jones county, where he has become an exceedingly prosperous farmer; Leverett migrated to California in 1862, and died there. Generally speaking, the family has been unusually successful, and it has no members who have not been upright men or women and use- ful, valuable citizens. The father, William Os- borne, was himself a man of exceptionally good business ability. He took little interest in public affairs but was a man of sterling worth, although not a member of any church. His declining years were passed in lowa, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gillette, where he passed away at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife had preceded him in 1837.

H. A. Osborne was born June 9, 1833. His early educational advantages were not of the best, being confined to such as were obtainable at the dis- trict school of that early date. His school days came to an end when he was thirteen years old, but he has sought to supplement his early deficiencies by a course of well-directed reading. His life has been one of hard work, but his toil has been crowned with the success which his industry and persever- ance merited. Shortly after leaving school, he be- gan life's battle by entering the employ of Alfred Spencer, at a yearly compensation of $150. At the age of fifteen he was working in the large Austin Cigar Factory for $200 per year. The following year he went to Broad Brook, where for twelve monthis he was a clerk in the general store of King- ley & Hamilton. His next situation was in a cass- imere factory, and after quitting that employment he went to Plainville (1852), where he secured work as a spinner in a knitting mill. An oppor- tunity presenting itself to obtain work as a brass molder, he offered his services to Peck & Smith, who placed him in charge of their brass department, a position which he satisfactorily filled for fourteen years, still retaining his home at Plainville. In 1868, lie went to lowa, but returned after twelve months and entered a cottonette factory. After thirteen years spent there, he was compelled to abandon work temporarily, on account of ill health. A few years later, however, in 1887. he purchased a brass foundry at New Britain, which he has con- ducted ever since. The venture has proved suc- cessful. and he has built up a profitable business.

Himself a self-made man. and deprived of educa- tional advantages in his early youth, Mr. Osborne all the more keenly appreciates their value for others.

For twelve years he has served on the school board ; and he is regarded as one of the representative men of Plainville, having served as one of the selectmen of that town. On National issues he is a Democrat, but in local elections he is able to rise above parti- sanship. He was one of the charter members of Frankin Council, Order of United American Me- chanics, and still retains his connection with that organization.

Mr. Osborne married Martha, daughter of Ira Howe, of Plainville, and by her has two children : Frank G., for twelve years engaged in the meat business at Plainville, and Lillian, at home.

GEORGE BOSTICK, a prominent farmer, dairyman and tobacco grower of Enfield, was born Sept. 14, 1873, in that town, a son of Randall and Anna (Joy) Bostick, natives of England and Ire- land, respectively.

Randall Bostick, for many years a resident of Enfield, began his business career as a peddler of vegetables. In 1875 he settled on the farm now occupied by cur subject, and, accumulated a com- petency, dying there April 12, 1894. In 1858, at the age of eighteen, he married Anna Joy, daugh- ter ot John and Ellen ( Howring) Joy, and they had a family of seven children : John, Thomas, Nel- lie (Mrs. Barton Prickett), Randall, Anna ( Mrs. Colts). George and Benjamin.

George Bostick, our subject, was reared on the homestead farm from the age of two years. He was educated in the public schools, and has always fol- lowed his present business, having gained a sub- stantial reputation as a thrifty farmer. On Jan .. I, 1896, he married Hattie, daughter of Ruthford and Maria ( McLeish) Barber, of Enfield. Mr. Bostick is a member of the Episcopal Church, and of Enfield Grange. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

CHAUNCEY BENJAMIN ELLSWORTH, a veteran of the Civil war, is one of East Windsor's best citizens, belonging to the class whose influence. can be relied upon in support of any measure which tends to the elevation and advancement of the com- munity. He is a representative of an old and hon- ored family, his ancestors having settled in "Old Windsor" soon after the organization of the - town, and his character and career show that he possesses the sterling qualities of the pioneer stock.

Benjamin Ellsworth, our subject's great-great- grandfather, was born in 1690, and died in 1770. Job Ellsworth, his great-grandfather, was a soldier in the French and Indian war. He and his brother Benjamin removed from their early home in Town Street, Windsor, to what is now East Windsor, where they purchased a large tract of land, includ- ing our subject's present homestead. This land was divided between them, and, having built substantial homes. they passed their remaining years there in agricultural pursuits, Job Ellsworth dying in De- cember. 1776, aged about fifty years. His descend-

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ants are now among the leading residents of the town, Theodore E. Ellsworth and others being nrentioned more fully elsewhere.

Benjamin Ellsworth, our subject's grandfather, who was born Feb.8, 1763, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and died at his homestead in East Windsor. He was a tall man, and by occupa- tion was a farmer, the old residence in which our subject was born having been built by him at the present homestead. In November, 1789, he mar- ried Ann Stiles, and they had the following children : Anson, born Sept. 23, 1791, died in East Windsor ; Benjamin, born Dec. 24, 1793, died in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., leaving a family ; Reuben, born Dec. I, 1795, died in East Windsor; Chauncey was the father of cur subject; Ann, born March 18, 1800, married John Thompson, of Ellington ; Martha and Mary, twins, born Feb. 1, 1803, died at the old homestead unmarried, Mary on March 19, 1890, and Martha on Dec. 20, 1881; Israel, born Jan. 21, 1805, died in East Windsor; and Aurelia, born Oct. 7, 1807, was the wife of James D. Skinner, of South Windsor.

Hon. Chauncey Ellsworth, our subject's father, was born Oct. 31, 1797, in the house built by Ben- jamin Ellsworth at the present homestead. He was educated in the local schools, and when a young man taught for several years, boarding around after the custom of that day. Being naturally clever and bright, he was always interested in the best liter- ature, becoming especially well informed on his- tory and kindred topics. In religious work he was active as a member of the Congregational Church, being known as Deacon Ellsworth, and his observ- ance of the Sabbath was according to the strictest rules of Puritanism. He always resided at the old homestead, which he bought from the other heirs on the death of his parents, and was regarded as one of the most enterprising and successful farm- ers of his town. In his time tobacco growing was introduced into this section as a special industry, and he was among the three "pioneers" in that line of effort in East Windsor. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and he served two terms as representative, besides holding various town offices, including those of selectman and asses- sor. He was a robust, healthy man, weighing 175 pounds at times, and lived to a good old age, pass- ing away June 12, 1869. In 1834 Mr. Ellsworth married Miss Elizabeth R. Allen, a native of Tol- land county, Conn., and a daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Loomis) Allen. Her father, who died in East Windsor in his seventy-sixth year, spent his life in that town with the exception of a few years passed in Tolland county. Mrs. Ellsworth died Jan. 31, 1882, aged seventy-three years, and was buried beside her husband in Scantic cemetery. Of their five children, the eldest, Jane, born Feb. 25, 1835, married Rev. James W. Grush, a Congre- gational minister, now deceased; Edward S., born April 10, 1837, is a carpenter at Ormond, Fla .; Ed- mund P., twin of Edward, was a farmer by occu-

pation, and died in East Windsor, Jan. 17, 1894, unmarried ; Chauncey B., our subject, is mentioned below; and Sarah L., born May 6, 1847, is now Mrs. George B. Slater, of Manchester, Connecticut.

Chauncey B. Ellsworth was born May 21, 1841, in the old family residence in East Windsor, and began his education in the schools of District No. IO. He has a good word for the old-fashioned methods of discipline, which he thinks produced better results than those of to-day, and among the early teachers whom he recalls most gratefully were Edwin Barber and a Mr. Morris. He also attended the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suf- field, and the high school at East Windsor Hill, while his summers were spent in the wholesome activities of farm life. On leaving school he con- tinued to assist in the work of the farm until Sep- tember, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, 25th Conn. V. I. After a few days in camp on Long Island the regiment was sent to New Orleans, making the voyage from New York City on the vessel "Empire City." Their first regular battle was at Irish Bend, La., and throughout his term of service Mr. Ellsworth was ready for duty, never being absent from the regiment from sickness or other causes. In August, 1863, he received an hon- orable discharge and returned home, where he re- sumed the work of farming with his father, and since the death of the latter he has had sole charge of the place. On Jan. 1, 1865, he married Miss Cordelia M. Sadd, and during that year he built his present residence, on the opposite side of the road from the old house in which he was born. He has never been an office seeker, but is a steadfast Repub- lican in politics, and cast his first vote for the party while in the army. When the order of Good Templars was doing active work in the cause of temperance, he was one of its most devoted ad- herents, and for years he has been prominent in the Congregational Church at East Windsor, serving as a member of the society committee. His family is much esteemed socially, and consists of three chil- dren : (1) Arthur C., born Oct. 23, 1866, who resides at the homestead, married Miss Anna G. Crowley, of New Britain. (2) Kate L., born Oct. 30, 1868, married Lemuel Stoughton, Jr., of East Windsor. (3) Miss Edith C., born March 13, 1871, is at home.

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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 150

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