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 155

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 155

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In 1848, Dr. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Ellsworth, a daughter of Erastus Ellsworth. She still survives her husband, as did two children : Elizabeth Ellsworth ( now deceased), who became the wife of Congressman Lewis Sperry, a prominent attorney of Hartford. who resides with Mirs. Wood at East Windsor Hill : and William R., who resides at the old home ; he is a tobacco grower and stock dealer, and is now representing South Windsor in the State Legislature.

Dr. Wood was always a student of nature, de- voted much time to the study of ornithology, 20- clogy and archæology, and had a valuable collection in each of these departments. He was also skillful taxidermist, and his method of mounting his specimens shows a keen observation of their manner and habits. His collections of birds and their eggs are among the finest in the country, and may be seen at the Hartford Atheneum, where they are in the care of the Scientific Association, to which they were presented by Mrs. Wood after the Doctor's death. His published writings for the most part related to natural history, and appeared in the "AAmerican Naturalist" and in other popular journals. Among his works may be mentioned a series of twenty-one articles published in the Hart- ford Times, in 1861. upon the "Rapacious Birds of New England." Another of his valuable contribu- tions to science was an article published in the "Lo- comotive." entitled "Who first successfully applied steam to the navigation of vessels." and it proved most conclusively that the distinction belonged to

John Fitch, of East (now South) Windsor, Conn., and not to Robert Fulton, as is generally contended.

Besides his association with professional organi- zations, Dr. Wood was an honorary member of the Lyceum of Natural History of Williams College; corresponding member of the National Ornithologi- cal Club of Cambridge, Mass .; and held positions of honor and trust in various medical societies. He was considered by his professional brethren as a very skillful practitioner, and he successfully en- gaged in practice up to within a few weeks of his death, which occurred Aug. 9, 1885.

The Doctor was an active and prominent mem- ber of the First Congregational Church and Society of East Windsor Hill. He was a lover of good music, and for thirty years led the services at that Church. He was a devoted leader, and was never absent from his place unless illness or professional duties kept him away. His favorite recreation was fishing, in which he was an enthusiast. He was very social in his nature, had a keen sense of the humorous, and his fund of anecdote was inexhaust- ible. He was very sympathetic, and his kindly and benevolent disposition was manifested by the readi- ness with which he responded to a call from one from whom he knew he could receive no possible remuneration. He devoted his untiring attention to his patients, and was always prompt to fulfill an engagement, professional or otherwise.

REUBEN W. HADLEY was born on March 22, 1843, at Dudley. Worcestershire, England, son of George Hadley, and grandson of Samuel Hadley, both natives of the same town.

Samuel Hadley was an innkeeper, and proprietor of the hostelry known as the "Shakespeare." famous in its day for its fine ale, which was always brewed under the personal supervision of "mine host." The house was a large one for its time, and enjoyed an enviable reputation. The proprietor was the father of four sons-Edward. Benjamin, George and Samuel. A daughter was married to a Mr. Carmichael, of Cornwall, and afterward made her home in London. Edward and Benjamin Hadley became innkeepers, and the latter succeed- ( to the conduct of his father's establishment. Samuel and George were iron workers.

George Hadley, who was the father of Reuben W., learned the iron worker's trade in the Burn- tiee shop. at Dudley, and emigrated to America in 1848. He found temporary employment in the Mott Foundry, in New York City, but the follow- ing year went to Winsted, Conn. There he be- gan work for the B. & E. Woodhall Co., manu- facturers of fire irons. It was not long before he became a stockholder in the Winsted Shovel and Tongs Company, assuming the superintendeney of their works. He continued to fill this position for six years, when, in the spring of 1858. he removed to New Britain, and became connected with the Russell & Erwin Co., which had purchased the stock, plant, patents and good will of the Winsted

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concern. With Russell & Erwin he entered into a contract, which continued until near the close of his life, when it was assumed by his son, George. George Hadley, Sr., was a man of keen, common sense, sound judgment; and more than ordinary talent. While his sympathies were with the Re- publican party, he took no active part in politics. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and in his latter years manifested an unusual interest in re- iigious and humane effort, being an active worker in the cause of temperance, and in the "Good Samaritan" movement. He married Ann Woolley, whose father, Benjamin Woolley, of Dudley, Eng- land, was a manufacturer of fire shovels in a small way, in copartnership with his sons. He was a man of rare native mental acumen, and a stanch supporter of the Established Church. He was of magnificent physique (standing more than six fcet ), and lived to the age of seventy-five years. In addition to his daughter, Ann, who, as has been Said, married George Hadley, he had children : Sabina, Phobe, Maria, Eliza, Benjamin, Joseph, Henry and Alfred. Phoebe married Thomas Collett ; Sabina became the wife of Abitha Parker: Eliza was united to Benjamin Jucks, and Maria to Ben- jamin Moss. Mrs. Hadley did not accompany her husband to America, but in 1850 sailed from Eng- land to rejoin him. She died during the long voy- age of 105 days, on the sailing vessel "Antarctic." her husband following her to the grave in 1876. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five have died-Edward, Joseph, Edmond, George E., and Albert Edward. Those yet living are Reuben W. and Alfred W.

Reuben W. Hadley received his early educa- tion in his native county in England, and at the schools of Winsted. At the age of fifteen years he went from that town to New Britain, where he went to work in the same shop with his father. Early in the Civil war he and his brother worked on contracts for furnishing cavalry buckles to the government. The filling of the contract called for the services of some half dozen men, and required about six months for its completion. When it had been filled he returned for a short time to the em- ploy of Russell & Erwin, but in 1863 went to Yonkers, N. Y., where he secured a contract for the polishing of army carbines. In this venture he was very successful, having fifty men in his employ at the close of the war. In fact. the profits accruing on this contract furnished the nucleus of the capital which has given him his financial success in life. Ilis contract completed, Mr. Hadley resumed his relations with Russell & Erwin, and not long after- ward formed a copartnership with Ambrose Beatty, the object of the joint enterprise being to engage in the grocery business under the firm name of Beatty & Hadley. A co-operative feature was in- troduced into the business, and from it sprang the Sovereign Trading Company, of New Britain. The firm of Beatty & Hadley ceased to exist, and in 1876 Mr. Hadley subsequently disposed of his

interest in the venture to his partner. Three months afterward he entered into business alone at the present location of George Swain's saloon. After four or five years he removed to the premises now occupied by Olcott's Cafe, where he had a very extensive and lucrative trade. In October, 1895, he sustained a severe loss through fire, and, a dis- pute arising as to his liability under his lease, he determined to retire from active business.

Mr. Hadley, although measurably self-made, has built well upon a natural foundation. His business success has been, in certain aspects, phenomenal. To him the word "failure" has conveyed but an imperfect meaning. He remodeled the "Park Hotel," which he owns, at one time owned the D. C. Judd store, and has ever been one of New Brit- ain's prominent and most prosperous business men. He has always been a Republican, and has taken an active interest in advancing his party's success. He has been selectman, but has never aspired to any higher office, being content faithfully to discharge the duties of private citizenship. He has served as captain of the Light Artillery, and has held the same rank in Company D. First Regiment of State Militia. For twenty years he has belonged to the I. O. O. F. and I. O. R. M. Among the busi- ness enterprises in which he has been interested was the Hadley & Martin coal firm, and he was one of the incorporators of Burrell's Savings Bank.

Mr. Hadley ascribes no small portion of his success to the counsel and aid of his wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Neal. She was a daughter of James Neal, of Plainville, who emigrated to America from Loughborough, England. Two chil- dren have been born to them-Charles Edward and Fannie Neal, the daughter being now the wife of William H. Cadwell.

WILLIAM H. BREWER, an ex-soldier of the Civil war and one of the most progressive and successful farmers of the town of East Hartford, is the youngest of the eight children born to George and Fannie (Stevens ) Brewer, a full biographical sketch of whom, including genealogy, will be found in the article devoted to Philo S. Brewer, else- where, but of whom brief mention will here again be made.

George Brewer, who was born July 6, 1800, married Sept. 12, 1820, Sarah Treat, who was born Sept. 7, 1794, and by this marriage were born four children: Elisha C., Nov. 5, 1821 ; Omri P., Sept. 4. 1823: Albert F., Sept. 4, 1825; and George C., Sept. 13. 1827. After the death of the mother of these, George Brewer married, Feb. 22, 1829, Mrs. Fannie Stevens, widow of Jason Stevens, of Glas- tonbury, and the mother of two children, Cornelia H., born Nov. 13, 1822, and Abbie S., born Dec. 22, 1824. The marriage of George and Fannie (Stevens) Brewer was blessed with eight chil- dren : Delia, born Feb. 13. 1830, who married Elizur Ensign April 3, 1850, and is residing in East Hartford; James F., born April 14, 1832,

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who married Harriet Whitney, but is now de- ceased, his widow being now a resident of South- ington ; Sarah A., born Dec. 25, 1833, was married Sept. 29, 1857, to John J. Erving, a native of East Hartford, and is now deceased (her husband re- sided in East Hartford, making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Fannie Geiselman, until his death, in October, 1899) ; of the fourth child, Philo S., a full record is given elsewhere; Eliza A., born Aug. 6, 1838, was married Oct. 28, 1868, to Dwight E. Sanford, of Hadley, Mass., but died June 25, 1874, her husband being also deceased, and the remains of both now lie at rest in the Hockanum cemetery ; Jason, born Oct. 23, 1841, served three years in Company A, Twenty-first Conn. V. I., was shot in the side in front of Petersburg, and died from the injury Dec. 2, 1866; John M., born Oct. 7, 1843, married Ellen Roberts, of East Hartford, Jan. 23. 1866; and William H., the youngest, is the sub- ject of this sketch.

William H. Brewer was born Oct. 13, 1845, on the old homestead, near where Philo S. Brewer now lives, was educated in the district school and the East Hartford high school, and after finish- ing his studies in the latter, about 1861, was em- ployed in Colt's Armory, Hartford, for nearly a year, and then enlisted, March, 1864, in the same city, in Company A, Twenty-first Conn. Infantry, Capt. Beldon, Col. Dutton commanding. The first gunpowder burned by the regiment was at Little Washington, N. C., in a skirmish with superior numbers, and it was forced to retreat to the river ; it was then transported to Portsmouth, in the same State, May 16, 1864, took part in the battle of Drury's Bluff, then lay in rifle pits near Bermuda Hundred, Va., a short time, and after a few more skirmishes took an active part in the three-days' fight at Cold Harbor, Va .; the regiment then fell back to the James river, then again to Bermuda Hundred, and next participated in the general ad- vance on Petersburg. They arrived before that city at dawn after an all-night march, and were within firing distance of the enemy's line, when the terrible mine explosion took place (June 30, 1864); Mr. Brewer saw human beings, cannon and tons of dirt blown high into the air.

From Petersburg the Twenty-first Connecti- cut was ordered to Cedar Point, where it crossed the James river, fought at Fort Harrison, and then passed the winter of 1864-65 in camp on Chapin's Farm. It next made a raid toward Fredericks- burg, it was thought after the Rebel guerrilla chief, Mosby, who had captured twenty-six carloads of tobacco at that point; but it withdrew from this pursuit and spent a few days at Deep Bottom, near the Wilderness, and later was one of the first regi- ments to enter Richmond. In that city Mr. Brew- er acted as a guard for a train that was detailed to supply wood to the poor, and from Richmond went to Columbia, fifty miles distant, on the James river, where a base of supplies was established for the benefit of the impoverished ex-Rebels, and for

some time was detailed to run up and down the river in carrying provisions between the two points. This duty having been fulfilled, Mr. Brew- er was transferred at Richmond to Company G, Tenth Conn. V. I., the Twenty-first having been ordered home. After this transfer Mr. Brewer served three months as hospital guard, and had in charge the dairy supplies, seeing to it that milk was properly delivered, etc. He was honorably discharged at Richmond Sept. 5, 1865, and was shortly afterward mustered out at Hartford, Con- necticut.

After the war Mr. Brewer went to Southing- ton and started in to learn the iron molder's trade; but soon afterward returned to Hartford, and for a time worked in Colt's Armory. In 1866 he drove stage from Manchester Green to Winchester Sta- tion, and in 1867 returned to the home farmn.

Mr. Brewer was united in marriage Feb. 9, 1870, with Mary Isabelle Crosley, and this union has been graced with five children: Frank C., who was born Nov. 13, 1870, married Mary Van Wag- ner, of Hartford, and now lives in East Hartford ; Earnest J., born June 2, 1877, is still under the pa- rental roof; Lenwood R. was born Jan. 16, 1879; Minnie Alice, April 23, 1889; and Rena B., June 14, 1892. The family attend the Congregational Church, and in politics Mr. Brewer is as liberal in his views as he is with his purse. He is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., is past mas- ter of the same, and for four years has been com- mander of D. C. Rodman Post, No. 65, G. A. R., of East Hartford. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer stand very high in the esteem of the community, Mr. Brewer's long descent never having suffered a stain through any word uttered or act performed by him or any member of the honored old family.

CHARLES CHAUNCEY BISSELL, a rep- resentative and prominent business man of Suf- field, was born in that town Aug. 18, 1867, and is of the eighth generation of the Bissell family in America, tracing his ancestry from John Bissell, Sr., born in England in 1591, through the follow- ing: John, Jr., Jeremiah, Samuel, Isaac, Asaph L., and Charles S.

(II) John Bissell, Jr., was born in England, and died in 1693, in Hartford county.

(III) Jeremiah Bissell, born Feb. 22, 1677, married Mehitabel White.

(IV) Samuel Bissell married, Aug. 1, 1746, Mary Kibbe, of Enfield, Hartford county. He died Sept. 18, 1759.

(V) Isaac Bissell, born in Windsor Jan. 25, 1749, was the first of the family to settle in Suf- field, and all of the name residing in that town are his descendants. On July 4, 1776, he married Amelia Leavitt, who was born in 1757, and died Nov. 15, 1809. He died July 28, 1822. Their children were: Amelia, Amelia (2), Isaac, Amelia (3). Samuel, Sophia, Harvey, George, Asaph L., Betsey, Sally, Luthera, and George (2).

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(\']) Asaph L. Bissell, born Jan. 1, 1791, in Suffield, died Aug. 2, 1850, became a successful physician. He married Lucy Norton, and they had eight children, of whom Charles S., father of our subject, was the eldest.

(VII) Charles S. Bissell was born April 5, 1821, in Suffield, and is mentioned more fully in the sketch of Leavitt P. Bissell, elsewhere.

(VIII) Charles Chauncey Bissell was reared and educated in Suffield. While his father was a man of abundant means, he was not friendly to- ward giving his boys the theoretic side of life, nei- ther did he think that a college education was in- dispensable to a young man's success. However, his sons were given practical ideas of business, and such education as was sufficient to carry on almost any enterprise. On leaving home Charles went to Hartford, where he accepted a position in the office of the Travelers Insurance Co., and there remained until 1891, when he entered the Suffield National Bank as assistant cashier, Alfred Spen- cer. the former cashier, having left that institution to accept a similar position with the Etna Na- tional Bank, of Hartford. Mr. Bissell remained with the company in that capacity until 1898, and his service was marked by a courteous and effi- cient discharge of his duties.

In 1889 Mr. Bissell was united in marriage with Miss Clara J. Spencer, of Suffield, a daughter of the late I. Luther and Julia ( Pease) Spencer, well-known and prominent citizens of that town. Our subject and his wife have one child, Charles, a most interesting boy. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bissell are Baptists. She is a member of the D. A. R., and is now vice-regent of Sybil Dwight Kent Chapter, at Suffield. Mr. Bissell is a char- ter member of Gideon Granger Lodge, No. 62, Knights of Pythias; Apollo Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M .: Washington Chapter, No. 30, R. A. M., at Suffield: and Washington Commandery, No. I, K. T., and Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, both of Hartford, Conn. Politically he is a Republican, and does all in his power for his par- ty's success.

Mr. Bissell has purchased what is known as the Cline place in Suffield, its beautiful surroundings and delightful location making his home one of the most attractive in the locality. It is built in mod- ern style of architecture, and supplied with every convenience, while the outbuildings are of the best, the barn, completed in June, 1899, being one of the finest in the northern part of Hartford county. Mr. Bissell is an admirer of good horses, and he keeps some fine animals in his stables. He is now a mem- ber of the firm of L. P. Bissell, Bro. & Co., exten- sive leaf tobacco dealers of Suffield. Mr. Bissell is probably one of the best-known citizens of his years in the town, a wholesouled, generous-heart- ed man, open in his every act, whose friends are numbered by the score, and whose acquaintances are among the very best people. He is shrewd and keen in business, far above the average in this

respect. As a citizen he also stands high, and is ever ready to encourage projects of benefit, he and his brother Leavitt P. both taking a prominent part in promoting all enterprises for the public good. In his business dealings "Charley" Bissell has always been fair and honorable, and his every agreement and obligation has been carried out. His integrity is above question, and is just as re- liable as his ability to pay. Such an individual would do credit to any ancestry.

FREDERICK LEVI NORTON, son of George Jones Norton, was born in the old Norton home- stead at Kensington, Jan. 5, 1855. His father was born Feb. 16, 1807.

George J. Norton was master of two trades. He was both a cooper and a brass founder, and he was fairly prosperous in business, erecting a shop of his own, which has since been converted into a dwelling for his widow. In early life he became a Federalist, from conviction, and no mutation of administration ever induced hint to change his po- litical faith. On May 9. 1841, George J. Norton married Roxy Ann Munson, who was fifteen years his junior, having been born Oct. 12, 1822. Mr. Norton attained the age of seventy-five years, pass- ing away Dec. 18, 1882. He was a stanch friend of temperance, a member of the Sons of Temper- ance, and a public-spirited citizen, serving on the board of relief several years. His father, Stephen Norton, the grandfather of Frederick L., was a farmer, and took an active interest in politics, as well as in church work. He died at the age of fifty-one, his widow, Betsey (Hooker), living to be nearly ninety years old ; she was born May 22, 1785. Both were devout and consistent members of the Congregational Church.

Our subject was one of a family of nine chil- dren, only four of whom are living. The eldest, Charles William, born Aug. 23, 1842, served as a volunteer in a Connecticut regiment during the Civil war, and is at present assistant postmaster at New Britain; he married Rosella Capron, of that place. Harriet Jane Norton, born Sept. 15, 1852, is the wife of John P. Cornell, formerly of Berlin, but now residing in New Britain. Henry, Stephen, the youngest living son, was born May 22, 1858, and married Julia Elizabeth Arthur, of Berlin, who was born Jan. 10, 1859.

Frederick L. Norton's education was obtained in the common schools of Kensington and at the Berlin Academy, which he attended for three terms, his instructors there being Miss Gleason and Mr. Richardson. At the age of sixteen he be- gan his apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and served four years with J. G. L. Carpenter, of New Britain, receiving during the last three years the sum of $300 in addition to his board. After leaving Mr. Carpenter he worked four or five months for Edward Pinney, of New Haven, who was at that time erecting the Central Block in New Britain. For a year and a half following he was

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in the employ of Whapples Brothers, of New Brit- ain, contractors. On leaving them he went to Bridgeport, where for six months he worked on the construction of the plant of the Ferris Cutlery Co., and for one and a half years for George Turney. Returning to New Britain, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Carpenter, which continued for a year, during which time the firm of Carpenter & Norton built a house in Kensington for Theron Upson, one for Matthew Meskil, in New Britain, and four houses in Wethersfield for a Mr. Rogers. The firm being dissolved, Mr. Norton went to work for Adna Woodruff, at Southington, and after six months entered into partnership with George Stan- ley, of Kensington, the firm name being Norton & Stanley. They remodeled a residence for J. C. Bowers, of Kensington, and one for H. F. Damm, of Berlin, besides building houses for Barney Fitz- harris and Michael McGee, of Kensington, and for Lewis Ainsworth, of New Britain. At the end of twelve months Mr. Norton bought Mr. Stan- ley's interest in the business, which he has since conducted alone. He built a shop in Beech Swamp Row, and for a time carried on a coal and lumber business in addition to that of contractor and build- er. The former, however, he discontinued in De- cember, 1896. Among the many buildings erected by Mr. Norton may be enumerated the following : The Steele & Damon, the D. C. Judd, the Bagley, the E. Volkman and the Isaac Kanerich blocks, New Britain; the Old Ladies Home and a number of residences in the same place, including those of Fred Steele, E. H. Preston, Lyman S. Burr, Mrs. Emeline E. Bassett, Joseph Towers, Charles E. Woodruff, Edward Conklin, James Finnegan, Han- nah Lockre and George Banning. In Berlin he built Brandegee's, Walter G. Watkin's and Me- chanics' Halls, the Methodist church, the residences of W. H. Upson, R. A. Wooding, James Brown, and Horace Payne, and six houses for Marcus E. Jacobs. In Kensington he has remodeled houses for Frank L. Wilcox and William S. Brandegee, and built for Dr. Gillin, besides erecting the fac- tory of the American Paper Goods Co., Wooding Brothers' factory, and R. A. Wooding's water- tower. He has also recently completed a building for the Wheel & Cycle Bar Co., of Berlin, and has built a large number of houses in Meriden.

Mr. Norton's success has been wholly the re- sult of his own efforts. Hard work, sound sense, keen intelligence, perseverance, pluck and honesty have been his main supports through life. It is these qualities that have won for him the unre- served confidence of the community in which he resides. It is such characters as his that have made New England what it is, and that shed lustre upon the State in which they are born : quiet and unas- suming, yet rugged and of sterling worth. He is a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the town committee of his party for nine years. He has never desired office, yet in 1895 his fellow townsmen, knowing his business sagacity and be-

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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 155

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