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 157

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 157

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MISS RUTH THOMPSON SPERRY, local historian and genealogist, whose death occurred Feb. 22, 1900, at the home of her mother at East Windsor Hill, had become widely known to the people of her locality, Hartford county and the State, through her valuable historical work, which brought her into prominence.

Miss Sperry was born July 4. 1854. at East Windsor Hill, in the town of South Windsor, a daughter of the late Daniel Gilbert and Harriet Frances (Pelton ) Sperry, and on her father's side was a lineal descendant of Richard Sperry, who came to New Haven in 1643 ; while on her mother's side she was a lineal descendant of John Pelton. who came to Boston in 1634. more of the details of her ancestry being set forth in the sketch of her brother. Hon. Lewis Sperry, former Congressman from the Hartford district.

Miss Sperry was graduated from Mount Hol-

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yoke ( Mass.) College in the class of 1875, with su- perior scholarship. Her literary tastes were di- rected into historical channels. She rendered Dr. Stiles valuable assistance in preparing his "History of Ancient Windsor," in the preface to which he pays her the following compliment: "Providence has supplied me with a most efficient helper in Miss Ruth Sperry, of East Windsor Hill, to whose un- wearied enthusiasm and tact in the collection of material, both historical and genealogical, the good people of East and South Windsor will owe far more than they can ever repay."

Miss Sperry evinced great aptitude for this line of work as well as capacity, and was most thorough and painstaking. Her methods of research were peculiarly her own, and once started on a subject she followed it up with a persistency and patience known only to the few. Her enthusiasm was great, and she threw her very soul into what to her was most fascinating and a labor of love. She could be seen in the attics of her ancient town in search for papers, records and odd documents that might throw light upon its venerable history ; and in the graveyards, removing the moss-covered and long obscured letters from the tombstones of the long silent dead. She was an enthusiastic lover of old manuscripts and books, and possessed a valuable collection. She prepared most carefully a complete history of the towns of East and South Windsor in the war of the Revolution, rescuing from ob- livion much valuable history, and for this work the people of those towns and the State are under a lasting debt of gratitude to her.

Miss Sperry was petite and sprightly in per- son, and an entertaining and original conversation- alist. Possessed of many womanly virtues, she attracted to her many friends. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of South Wind- sor. Miss Sperry became an authority in the gen- ealogies of the Windsors, and great were the de- mands made upon her by descendants of the fam- ilies of those towns, both local and distant, so mich so that her strength was probably overtaxed. At the time of her death, the following is one of the resolutions passed by Martha Pitkin Wolcott Chapter, of Hartford, of the Daughters of the American Revolution :

Resolred, That this Chapter place upon formal record its grateful appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Miss Sperry to Revolutionary History, and especially to East Windsor and South Windsor and their descendants, in the painstaking and exhaustive historical work she has done for her native town, through which much has been preserved, that, except for her labor of love, would have been lost to posterity.

EDWIN DWIGHT GRAVES, civil engineer, Hartford, with offices in the Ætna Life Insurance building, though yet a young man, has, by applica- tion to his profession and innate ability, placed him- self among the leaders of his profession.

Born Oct. 5. 1865, at Orono, Maine, a son of Perez Boardman and ALbie M. (Colburn) Graves,

our subject is a representative of one of the early settlers of Hartford and vicinity, and later of Hat- field, Mass. Thomas Gr .ves, the emigrant ances- tor of the branch of the Graves family of which the subject of this sketch is a member, born in ' 1585, in England, came to New England with his wife Sarah and five children before 1645, the first record of him in this country being in 1645 at Hartford, Conn., where he and family then re- sided. They were intelligent members of society and prominent in religious and public affairs. Thomas Graves died in 1662 in Hatfield, Mass., whither he had moved in 1661.

From this Thomas Graves our subject is a de- scendant in the ninth generation, his line being through Isaac, Jonathan, Jonathan (2), Joseph, Perez, Joseph (2), and Perez Boardman Graves.

(II) Isaac Graves, son of Thomas, the settler, born in England as early as 1620, came to New England with his father's family, and settled in Hartford, Conn., before 1645. He married Mary, daughter of Richard and Ann Church, who came to New England in 1637. He removed to Hatfield, Mass., in 1661, and took an active part in the affairs of that settlement, as he had at Hartford. He was sergeant of the Colonial militia and clerk of writs for the town. He figured in having Hatfield set off from Hadley, and .was prominent generally in the affairs of the community. He was killed in the Indian attack on the Hatfield settlement Sept. 19, 1677. His wife died in 1695.

(III) Jonathan Graves, son of Isaac, born in 1666, married (first) Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah (Atherton) Parsons. Mr. Graves died in 1710, and Mrs. Graves in 1737. They resided in Hatfield, Massachusetts.

(IV) Jonathan Graves (2), son of Jonathan, born in 1702, married Margaret, daughter of Na- thaniel and Rebecca (Stebbins) Strong, and re- moved from Hatfield to Belchertown between 173I and 1736. Mr. Graves died in 1787, and his wife in 1769.

(V) Joseph Graves, son of Jonathan (2), born in 1735, in Belchertown, Mass., married in 1761 Eunice, born in 1742, daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah (Lyman) Dwight, of Belchertown. Mr. Graves was a patriot of the Revolution, serving as a lieutenant in the 5th Company, 4th Regiment of Hampshire troops. His death occurred in 1796, and that of his widow in 1807.

(VI) Perez Graves, son of Joseph, born in 1764, married in 1795 Anna, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Winslow) Spencer, of Belchertown, Mass., and resided there until 1826, then removed to Orono, Maine. Mr. Graves died in 1827, and his widow in 1849. He was a substantial citizen, and for many years a deacon in the Congregational Church.

(VII) Joseph Graves (2), son of Perez, born in 1805. married in 1834 Augusta Johnson. of Jackson, Maine. She died soon afterward, and he survived until 1887, dying at Orono, Maine, June

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17, of that year. He was a lumber dealer, and later a farmer.

(VIII) Perez Boardman Graves, son of Joseph (2), and the father of Edwin Dwight Graves, of Hartford, born Nov. 15, 1835, in Orono, Maine, married July 5, 1863, at Orono, Abbie Marie Col- burn, born Feb. 4, 1838, daughter of Abram Col- burn, a farmer of Orono, and a descendant of an early family in Maine. Mr. Graves was reared on a farm in Orono, and on the death of his father became the possessor of the homestead, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. His politi- cal affiliations were with the Republican party. His death occurred June 14, 1884. He held the respect and esteem of the community in which he lived. His children are: Edwin Dwight, and Jo- seph Colburn, who was born Sept. 3, 1870, in Orono, was graduated with the degree of M. E. from the University of Maine, and is now in the employ of the Otis Elevator Co., of New York. The mother of these sons is living on the homestead in Orono. She is identified with the Congrega- tional Church.

Edwin Dwight Graves, the subject proper of this review, attended the public schools of his native town, and then took a course in civil engineering at the University of Maine, at Orono, from which he was graduated in 1886. After this event he began his professional career, occupied in the con- struction of railroads in the State of Maine, in the capacity of chief engineer of the Somerset railroad from 1886 to 1890. In the latter year he came to the State of Connecticut, and has since devoted himself to the specialty of bridge building. Mr. Graves designed, and was in charge of the construc- tion of, the bridge crossing the Connecticut river at Thompsonville, and following this he designed and built the new toll-bridge over the Connecticut river at Middletown, which is the longest draw- span operated by electricity in this country. He also built the bridge crossing the Connecticut at White River Junction, Vt. Mr. Graves has also given some time in the line of steel frame building, and has had charge of the construction of a num- ber of steel frame buildings erected in New York, including some of the "sky-scrapers" in that me- tropolis and elsewhere over the country. He drew the plans for the large building in Hartford known as the Coliseum. He located in Hartford in 1896 -two hundred and fifty years and more from the time of the coming to this point of his first Ameri- can ancestor-as chief engineer for the Connecti- cut River Bridge and Highway District Commis- sion, since which time he has given his ability and energies to the plans of the new structure which is to span the Connecticut, from Hartford to East Hartford, and which will involve the expenditure of a million and a half dollars, require several years in construction, and be one of the finest bridges of its class in this country. Engineer Graves is one of the energetic and live men of Hartford, thoroughly in love with his calling, and

most proficient, and, if we mistake not, will Le heard from in no uncertain sounds in the line of engineering.

On Oct. 6, 1890, Mr. Graves was married to May Bell Parlin, born in North Anson, Maine, a daughter of J. J. Parlin (deceased), who was a lawyer of prominence in that town, and who served in the Maine State Legislature and as a member of the State Central committee. By his wife, Sarah ( Butler ), he had two children : May Bell, wife of our subject ; and Leon, living in North Anson with his mother. To Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Graves have been born two children: Margaret E. and Justin D. Our subject is a member of the Ameri- can Society of Civil Engineers; of the Connecticut Civil Engineers and Surveyors Association, of which latter he was elected vice-president in 1898, president in 1889, and re-elected in 1900; member of the Engineers Club of New York; the Engi- neers Club of Philadelphia; the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, organized in 1825; the Interna- tional Association for Testing Materials ; the Hart- ford Club ; the Republican Club; the Hartford Golf Club; of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity; and also a member of Connecticut Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

JOSEPH SCHWAB. A fine example of for- titude and fidelity to duty is found in the life his- tory of Joseph Schwab, one of the honored citizens of Hartford. Both in public service and in his business activity he has won the esteem of his fel- low men, and now in the afternoon of life enjoys a well-earned competency. He conducts a general insurance agency at No. 51 Trumbull street, in the building of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company.

Mr. Schwab was born in Gruenstadt, Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, June 3, 1826, the youngest son of Jacob and Miriam (Sauer) Schwab, and grand- son of Elias Schwab. Jacob Schwab, the father, was a butcher by trade, and followed that business at Gruenstadt, his native town. He served in Na- poleon's "Young Guard," and of his regiment of 2,000 men, who took part in that fearful cam- paign in Russia, all perished but twenty-eight, he being among the survivors. In recognition of his brave service during that campaign he was pre- sented by Louis Napoleon with a bronze cross of honor, which his son still possesses. Later he took part in the historic battle of Leipsic, under a Swe- dish general of the allied armies, who had admired his soldierly qualities. In 1853 he came to America, bringing his wife and four children-two sons and two daughters-and with his oldest son, Moritz, started in the butcher business in New York, where he lived until his death, in 1863, at the age of sev- enty-one years. Moritz continued this business after the father's death up to the time of his own death, in 1879. The mother, nee Miriam Sauer, was born in Bayreuth, Germany, and had four chil- dren, of whom Joseph was the youngest, and is the only survivor. She lived to be nearly one hundred

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years old, and was a very active woman. The par- ents were both of the Jewish faith.

Joseph Schwab passed his early years at his birthplace, Gruenstadt, where he was educated in the common and high schools, studying Latin and French, and graduating at fourteen, far in advance of his years. On account of straitened means his father was unable to gratify his wish to enter the University, so he took a position as copyist in a law office, where his knowledge of Latin was of considerable advantage. Here he remained three years, and then entered a mercantile house in Buehl, Grand Duchy of Baden, engaged in the manufacture of knitting yarns. Here faithful and efficient serv- ice advanced him to the position of manager, which lie held for the five years prior to his coming to America. During the early years of his connection with this firm he took part in the Revolution which broke out in Germany in 1848. Believing that there would be better opportunities for his ability in a foreign land, he consented to the removal of his father's family to America, which was accomplished in 1853. He resigned as manager of the knitting yarn mills and sailed for the New World, bringing with him credentials of a high character. Upon ar- riving in New York, he applied for and obtained the position of bookkeeper in the American branch of the great international banking house of Philip. Speyer & Co., whose home office was in Frankfort- on-the-Main. After two years' service with Speyer & Co., he resigned, and, at the earnest solicitation of a cousin, thien engaged in the millinery and dry- goods business in Hartford, he came here and ac- quired a part interest in the enterprise. Two years Jater his cousin removed to New York, and Mr. Schwab, buying his interest, conducted the business alone for one year, then formed a partnership with Julius Wallach, under the firm name of Wallach & Schwab. This firm continued in successful ope- ration of the greater part of eighteen years, but owing to the depression in business, disolved part- nership in 1877. During the last few years of its existence the firm had invested extensively in real estate, and during the panic which followed they lost heavily. Nothing daunted, however, Mr. Schwab entered the insurance business as an agent, and valiantly began to retrieve his shattered for- tunes. He pursued the business of general solic- itor with indomitable perseverance, and success crowned his efforts. While no longer striving, or ex- pecting to be wealthy, he has placed himself on a firin financial basis, and is reckoned as one of the successful business men of the city. He represents a number of the largest companies, and as a member of the Hartford Board of Fire Underwriters can write policies in any fire insurance company author- ized in the State of Connecticut. He has served eighteen years as manager of the Germania Life Insurance Co. of New York, for the New England States.

Honesty, coupled with a determination to win, has been the keynote of Mr. Schwab's life. An

indication of the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens may be gained by a summary of his public services. For more than a quarter of a century he has been elected year after year to serve as a member of the High School Committee. He was first elected in 1870, when the building then used for that purpose was small, poorly ventilated and poorly equipped. To-day the High School building, the pride of every citizen of Hartford, the hand- somest, largest and best equipped of its kind in the New England States, if not in the Union, stands largely as a monument to his indefatigable ambition to give Hartford the finest High School which money could procure. This building was completed in 1899. Probably no man in the State has served so continuously upon any committee of a public school. Mr. Schwab served three years as police commissioner of the city, and has been a delegate to a number of conventions. He has been Treasurer of the High School Committee for the past twelve years. In 1869 he was chairman of the committee on the celebration of the Humboldt Centennial, and practically had charge of all the details.

Mr. Schwab was married, in 1850, to Johanna Wertheimer, who was born in Buehl, Grand Duchy of Baden, where he lived during the nine years prior to his coming to America. She was a woman of rare literary tastes, and her family was highly respected. To Mr. Schwab and wife were born eight children, seven of whom are living, namely : (1) Emil, a newspaper man, is living in Boston, where he has editorial charge of the publications of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. (2) Otto, who is vice-president of the Southern Furni- ture Co., of Atlanta, Ga., married Ida Newelt, and has two children, Robert and Richard. (3) Gustav, who is the representative of a New York importing house at Boston, married Caroline Fox, and has one son, Lawrence. (4) Alice, widow of the late Simon C. Metzger, of the firm of Gallup & Metzger; has two children, Clarence and Robert. (5) Martha has, since the death of her mother, conducted the house- hold of her father. (6) Emma is married to Fred- erick J. Curnick, a broker of New York. (7) Jose- phine Hortense, a graduate of the Hartford High School, and of the Normal School at New Britain, is now teaching at the Brown school. Mrs. Schwab passed away Dec. 25, 1893, aged sixty-seven years. Socially Mr. Schwab is a member of La Fayette Lodge, F. & A. M., and is chairman of the trustees of this lodge. The family attends the Reformed Jewish Temple.

HON. ELISHA JOHNSON, whose death oc- curred at his home in Hartford Feb. 18, 1891, after a brief illness resulting from an attack of bronchial pneumonia, was for many years one of the city's substantial men and useful citizens, and a promi- nent member of the Hartford County Bar.

Judge Johnson was born May 1, 1818, in Bark- hamsted, Conn .. son of Elisha and Hannah (Gates) Johnson. He passed through the customary expe-

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riences known to the country boys of his day, in the district school, on the farm, and as a teacher. Having decided upon the law as a profession, he entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated. He furthered his studies in the office of Hon. Gideon Hall, at Winsted, Conn., was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1841, and located in practice in Plymouth, where he built up an excellent prac- tice; he was for many years elected judge of Pro- bate, and was sent to the State Senate from the Sixteenth District in 1849, 1850, and 1852.

In 1855 Judge Johnson came to Hartford, where he continued in the active practice of his profession until his death. He was for two years recorder of the Hartford City Court, and judge of the Police Court for three years, and was a member of the original board of police commissioners, which or- ganized the police force in 1860. He was elected to the State Senate from the First District in 1860, 1861, 1870 and 1871, and to the House of Represen- tatives in 1869, 1875 and 1876. He was for many years chairman of the school committee in the West Middle district of Hartford, and served for eleven years as chairman of the High School committee. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Health in 1885, and continued in that office until his death. He was one of the original members of Trinity Church parish, and was an active officer and liberal supporter of his church during his whole life. For nearly twenty-five years, and until a short time before his death, he was the superintendent of its Sabbath-school. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, passed all the chairs, and was past grand of Hartford Lodge. He was a director of the Hartford County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and of the Eagle Lock Co., of Terryville, Conn. He was one of the organizers and directors of The Loan & Guarantee Co. of Connecticut.

The following tribute to the life of Judge John- son is extracted from the obituary prepared by Thomas McManus, Esq., of the Hartford County Bar, and published in the Connecticut Law Re- ports, 1891.

Mr. Johnson's life, private, public and professional, was eminently of the useful type. He wasan affectionate husband, a model parent, a good neighbor,a public spirited citizen. He was honest, capable and industrious. He was well equipped mentally and physically for success as a legislator. His frame was large, erect and well proportioned. His voice was distinct, and his temper and feelings were always under control. In debate he never lost his head or rashly ventured into the discussion of subjects that he did not thoroughly un- der stand, and so the leadership came by the cheerful consent of his colleagues. Outside of purely partisan questions (in which numbers, not reason, prevail ) the majority were almost invariably with him. His associates had the fullest confidence in his integrity and never feared a hidden trick behind his advocacy. In his legal practice he excelled as counsellor and preferred to secure an adjustment of differ- ences between parties if possible outside the court room. No one could justly accuse him of looking to his own pros- pective profits in preference to the best interests of his · client. Every cause that he tried before the court, jury o1 committee, was tried honestly, intelligently, and thoroughly. He lost no case by neglect, neither did he seek to win hy

unworthy procedure. He advised his clients wisely, served them faithfully, and charged them reasonably. He was a safe model for the young practitioner's imitation. Every dollar that he collected was honestly accounted for to his principals. Every possibility of failure was frankly ex- plained to the expectant litigant. During his professional life there were many young men who studied in his office and under his direction, but no one of them ever deflected from the straight line of professional or personal integrity, by reason of his advice or example, in things great and small.

While a resident of Plymouth, Judge Johnson was married to Miss Catherine Talmadge, daugh- ter of Edwin Talmadge, of Plymouth. Her deatlı in August, 1889, was a shock from which he never rallied, and his rapid decline in health from that time was painfully evident to his friends. Four children were born to this marriage, three of whom are living, Frank E., Katherine ( who married El- bert B. Taylor, of Westminster, Md. ), and Mary E.

Of these children, FRANK E. JOHNSON was born Jan. 12, 1863, in Hartford, and was educated in the public schools and in Trinity College, having been graduated from the latter in 1884. After this event he studied law for a year, then became sec- rctary of The Loan & Guarantee Co., a position he efficiently filled until 1895, when he succeeded to the presidency of the company and remained as such until 1898. In 1899 he formed a partnership with Capt. N. G. Valentine and purchased the Bairstow Ink Co., which later became the Barber Ink Co., of which Mr. Johnson is president; N. G. Valentine, vice-president; and W. P. Barber, sec- retary and treasurer. These gentlemen are manu- facturers of "Standard" inks and mucilage. Their inks are of a very fine quality for office and copy- ing purposes. They have been tested by the State chemist, and rank with the highest grade made. They also manufacture white paste, ammonia and bluing. The present plant of the company was purchased in March, 1899. They have an extensive trade throughout New England.

Since boyhood Capt. Johnson has been identi- fied with military affairs, and has for years past been extensively and prominently known in such circles throughout the State. He enlisted April 27, 1883, in Company K, First Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, was promoted corporal, Feb. 12, 1886; sergeant, March 12, 1889 ; sergeant-major of the First Regiment, July 22, 1893, and served in such position one year. On July 21, 1894, he was promoted to first lieutenant and battalion adjutant, and on June 20, 1899, was promoted captain and adjutant.

During the Spanish-American war Lieut. John- son was out with his regiment, serving as first lieu- tenant and adjutant, Third Battalion, First Regi- ment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, being en- rolled May 4, 1898, and mtistered into the United States service on May 18, 1898. He was mustered out of the United States service, after an honora- ble record, Oct. 31, 1898. While in the United States service during the war, Adjutant Johnson

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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 157

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