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 164

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 164

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William H. Wright, whose name appears at the opening of this biography, was educated at District School No. 3. and at the age of sixteen vears commenced learning the tinner's and steam- fitter's trade in his father's shop, remaining there until he was twenty-four years old. He then went to work for the Welch Spring Co., manufac- turers of clocks in Bristol (the factory being where is now the Codling Mfg. Co.), having a contract with them; but at the end of a year he left there and went to the E. Ingraham Co., commencing as a driller at $1.50 per day. Remaining some three or four months in that position, he then became millwright for about one year, after which he was given charge of the enameling department some four years. For the succeeding five years or so he was superintendent of the movement depart- ment, and on April 1, 1895, he was made super- intendent of the entire factory, which gives employ- ment to some six hundred hands. He filled that position ably until his untimely death, Nov, 16, 1900, after an illness of only ten days, from blood poisoning.

On Nov. 8, 1887, Mr. Wright married Nellie Florence Perkins, who was born June 1, 1867, only daughter of Merwin Henry and Sabria Es- telle (Buck) Perkins, of Bristol, and children as follows blessed their union: Wilhelmina Marga- ret, born Aug. 9, 1894; and Wilmart Buck, born March 29, 1897. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Prospect M. E. Church, of which Mr. Wright was also a member, and a trustee for nine years. Politically he was a Republican, and for eight years was a member of the town Republican com- mittee. Socially he affiliated with Franklin Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M .; Ethan Lodge, No. 9, K. of P .; and Reliance Council, Royal Arcanum, all of Bristol.

Harvey Wright, son of Joseph (Jr.) and Anna Wright, was married Nov. 10, 1815, to Esther Crissey, daughter of Gould Crissey, granddaugh- ter of John and Martha (Davenport) Crissey, and a descendant in the sixth generation of Rev. John Davenport, founder of the Colony of New Haven. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wright died in Bristol, he on June 28, 1858, she on Oct. 30, 1844. He came to Bristol as a manufacturer of old-time wooden clock movements. The tools he required were not complicated, neither did he require a large factory. A good jackknife, a file, a saw, also a turning lathe and, possibly, a "fiddle-bow drill." completed his outfit. Thus equipped, he commenced manu- facturing in a small shop which stood near the

Main street bridge, where is now to be seen the old blacksmith shop, on the Pequabuck river. In course of time another man started in the same line of business, and reduced the price to such an extent that Mr. Wright had to abandon the enter- prise, and, moving his shop farther down the river, to near the next bridge, he carried on a wood- turning business for several years. The pond is yet there, just as it was over half a century ago, and on the south bank are several large willow trees which grew from twigs planted by Harvey's son, Filbert Leander, when a boy. Harvey Wright was a firm believer in the principle of perpetual motion, and spent a great deal of time during the latter part of his life on his "hobby," but it went the way of all "perpetuals." It is further said of him that he was one of the best rifle shots in the States. He was society clerk of the Bristol Bap- tist Church Dec. 4, 1806. His wife, Esther, had an exceedingly interesting ancestry, being of the sixth generation from Rev. John Davenport, whose ancestry dates back in the nineteenth generation to Ormus de Davenporte, born in the year 1080 in the County of Chester, England. Her father, Gould Crissey, belonged to the Connecticut mili- tia, and his name appears on the list of pensioners for the sum of $23.33 per annum, when he was sev- enty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had children as follows: Filbert Leander, born Nov. 18, 1816; Julius, born March 23, 1821 ; a son, born in 1830, who died aged six months, eight days ; and Benjamin Franklin, born Aug. 25, 1834.

Filbert Leander Wright was married Dec. 31, 1848, to Sabrina H. Merrill, daughter of Zebulon Merrill, of New Hartford, and granddaughter of Jerijah Merrill, of "Lexington Alarm" fame, sol- dier and hero. Their children were Florence Es- ther, born Jan. 9, 1850, who married Wilfred E. Fogg, of Bristol, a sketch of whom appears else- where; Frank Merrill, born July 30, 1854; and Wilbur Leslie, born July 18, 1856. When a boy Filbert Leander Wright came to Bristol from Southington with his parents, and was employed to ride horseback on the old canal tow-path from Southington to New Haven and return. After leaving school he worked for a time at clock-mak- ing, and he invented many improvements in clock- making machinery, which greatly facilitated the manufacture. Also, at one time, with others, he was engaged in the manufacture of hoopskirts, or crinoline, the factory for which was located just over the first knoll on Main street. On retiring from this industry he worked for a time at harden- ing and tempering springs, after which he com- menced the study of dentistry with Dr. Wales A. Candee, they becoming partners in the profession for over twenty years, under the firm name of Candee & Wright. After the death of Dr. Candee Dr. Wright continued the business for some years alone, but finally took into partnership Lora W. Robinson, a graduate of the Philadelphia Dental School, the firm name being Wright & Robinson.

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The partnership was brought to an abrupt end by the tragic death of Dr. Wright, on the afternoon of Oct. 2, 1886. While walking over the tracks of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railorad, at the Main street crossing, a switch engine backed down upon him, and he was instantly killed. He was a man of profound reflection, well acquainted with the Bible, and was familiar with almost any topic. He was honest to a fault, benevolent and extremely kind, and devoted to his family.

HON. EPHRAIM BRIDGE, one of the most reliable and highly esteemed citizens of the town of Enfield, now residing in the village of Hazard- ville, was born in Milton, County of Kent, England, Sept. 2, 1840.

John and Mary (Prickett) Bridge. his parents, brought their family to America in 1842, and lo- cated in Enfield, Hartford Co., Conn., where the father was employed as a packer in the Hazard Powder Mills for about three years, and for the following four years was engaged in the fish and veast business in Thompsonville. About 1850 he erected the store in Hazardville now occupied by E. C. Allen, and engaged in general merchandis- ing there until 1870, when he retired from busi- ness to enjoy a well-earned rest. He was born July 3, 1806, and died April 21, 1873, while his wife was born Sept. 10, 1802, and died Jan. 15, 1871. Of their nine children, seven reached years of maturity: George, John W., Ruth (wife of Rev. Henry D. Adams), Amos D., Ephraim, Eben- ezer, and Stephen. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Bridge, was a fish and oyster man of Milton, England ; his wife was Elizabeth Down. His father, John Bridge, was a manufac- turer of marine supplies at Milton; he married Anna Gallahawk. John was a son of Stephen Bridge, who started the marine supply business later carried on by his son. Stephen died in 1782, John in 1803, and Robert in 1849. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Thomas Prickett, of Faver- sham, England, married Elizabeth Smith. He was a farmer by occupation, and a son of Thomas Prickett, a shoemaker by trade, who died in Do- ver. England, in 1781.

Ephraim Bridge grew to manhood in Enfield, and was educated in the common schools and the Suffield Literary Institute. During the Civil war he enlisted, Aug. 7, 1862, in Company F, 22d Conn. V. I., becoming second sergeant, was pro- moted to first sergeant in February, 1863, and was honorably discharged from the service July 7, 1863. On his return home he engaged in general merchandising, as a member of the firm of J. Bridge & Son, in Hazardville, of which firm he had become a member while in the service, con- tinuing that business until 1878, and later was for several years connected with the American Paper Barrel Co., of Hartford ; during this time he was also at work on various inventions, as he possesses considerable ability along that line. He is the

inventor of a paper barrel cover of compressed pulp, and has two patents for type, one of con- pressed wood, the other of compressed pulp. Since 1889 he has been in the employ of Gordon Brothers, shoddy manufacturers of Scitico.

On Oct. 24, 1867, Mr. Bridge was united in marriage with Miss Jeannette Gordon, a daugh- ter of William and Jean (Bauchop) Gordon, of Enfield, and they have become the parents of two sons : George Bennett and David Amos. Mr. Bridge and his wife are active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hazardville, of which he is one of the trustees, and socially he is a member of Samuel Brown Post, No. 56, G. A. R. He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and he most ably represented Enfield town in the State Legislature during the session of 1875. Over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong, and he has the respect and confidence of the entire community in which he has so long made his home.

JEREMIAH MERWIN ALLEN was born May 18, 1833, in Enfield, son of Jeremiah V. Allen, and is a member of an old and prominent New England family. He was married at Ellington, Conn., April 10, 1856, to Hattie S. Griswold, who was born March 30, 1833, in Washington, Conn., daughter of Hermon C. and Mary A. (Wheaton) Griswold. Children were born to this marriage as follows: Frederick M., born Dec. 2, 1857, in Hartford, died Jan. 20, 1858; Lizzie T. was born April 7, 1859, in Hartford; and William H. was born Nov. 12, 1864, in Hartford. Jeremiah M. Allen has been for thirty or more years president of the Hartford Steam .Boiler Inspection & Insur- ance Co.

DAVID JOSEPH FERGUSON, a promi- nent merchant of Scitico, was born in Esopus, Ulster Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1858, a son of Law- rence and Anna (McMinnoney) Ferguson, na- tives of Ireland. His father came to America in the early 'forties, locating in Ulster county, N. Y., where he engaged in farming, and where he still resides.

Our subject was reared in Ulster county, N. Y., and received a good common-school educa- tion. At the age of eighteen years he began his business life as an employe in the powder mills at Passaic, N. J., where he remained one year, subsequently working for the same company three and one-half years in Ulster county, N. Y. For six months Mr. Ferguson was then engaged as salesman in a general store in Rosendale, Ulster Co., N. Y., resigning that position and coming to Hazardville, Hartford Co., Conn., in 1881, secur- ing at once employment in the mills of the Haz- ard Powder Co., and remaining with them four years. In 1885 Mr. Ferguson embarked in the meat business at Hazardville, continuing same

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successfully up to 1898. Since September of that vear he has kept a grocery and meat market at Scitico, where he is doing a thriving business, be- ing the leading merchant of that village.

On Nov. 15, 1882, Mr. Ferguson married Anne E., daughter of Eliakim and Myra (Raymond ) Root, of Hazardville. This union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, Ethel E. Mr. Fergu- son is a prominent member of the Catholic Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the K. of C. and the Foresters. In politics he is a Democrat, and he ranks as one of the substantial and enterpris- ing citizens of Hartford county.

SAMUEL F. JONES. In the death of Mr. Jones, at his home on Farmington avenue, Hart- ford, Sept. 28, 1891, there passed away a noted man, one of Connecticut's best-known and suc- cessful criminal lawyers, always a unique figure in Hartford. He was the son of Samuel Jones, of Marlboro, a prominent citizen of that town, and was born there in 1827. He fitted for college and entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, in the class of 1847, a famous class in that college, among his classmates being Hon. Cornelius Cobb, ex- United States senator from California: the late Prof. Alexander Winchell; Bishop Edward G. An- drews, of New York: Orange Judd and ex-Gov. Briggs of Delaware.

Mr. Jones did not graduate, but left college dur- ing his junior year. For a year or two he taught school, and then in 1849 he began the study of law in the office of the late Gov. Hubbard. He was admitted to the Bar in 1851, and from that time on practiced law in Hartford. In 1853 he was clerk of the Superior court, holding the office for one year. In 1866 he was judge of the city police court. He was a member of the Legislature for Hartford in the sessions of 1873 and 1874, and dur- ing both terms was on the Judiciary committee.

JOHN F. O'HEAR. a prominent and successful merchant of Thompsonville, was born in the town of Enfield May 21, 1852, a son of Hugh and Agnes (McGinnis) O'Hear, natives of Ireland and Scot- land, respectively.

Arthur O'Hear, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Ireland, and his wife was an English lady. He was editor of a Fenian paper in the early part of the last century, and on account of some of his writings was compelled to leave Ireland, locat- ing in Canada, where his death occurred. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Peter McGin- nis, was a native of Scotland, was a resident of En- field for several years, and died there in 1856. Hugh O'Hear, our subject's father, was a refiner of saltpeter, and for twenty-five years was in the employ of the Hazard Powder Co., at Hazardville, Hartford county. He retired from the business in 1874, and died in Thompsonville in 1882, at the age of seventy-two years. In his family were eight children who reached years of maturity: Patrick,

Agnes ( Mrs. David Crombie ), James, Maggie (Mrs. John Cusick), Matilda, John Francis, Mary E. ( Mrs. John Wallace ) and William.

The subject of this review was reared in Hazard- ville, and received his education in the common schools of that place. He commenced his business life as a brussels weaver, and also served an appren- ticeship of three years to the machinist's trade. In 1885 he embarked in the grocery business at Thompsonville, and is now one of the most success- ful merchants of that place, carrying a large and well selected stock of goods, and receiving from the public a liberal patronage.

Mr. O'lear has been twice married, first to Julia, daughter of John and Julia ( Moquin) Low- rie, of Enfield. To them were born four children : Bertha, Gertrude, Agnes and Hugh. His second wife was in her maidenhood Miss Lizzie Ashe, a daughter of James Ashe, of Thompsonville, and two children have been born of this union: Francis and Mary M.

An industrious, enterprising and progressive citizen, Mr. O'Hear has become one of the well- to-do and substantial business men of Thompson- ville, and has been prominently identified with its public affairs. He is now serving his fourth term as one of the selectmen of Enfield, and is also a member of the board of relief. The Democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he does all in his power for its success. Religiously he is a Catholic, and frater- nally a member of the Knights of Columbus.

ALVAN PINNEY HYDE was born March IO, 1825, at Stafford, Tolland Co., Conn., son of Alvan and Sarah (Pinney) Hyde, and a descendant of a family which was one of the first at Hartford and Norwich.

Mr. Hyde was prepared for College at the Mon- son (Mass.) Academy, and was graduated from Yale College with honor in 1845. After his gradu- ation he read law under the direction of the late Judge Loren P. Waldo, then of Tolland, and was admitted to the Bar in 1847. He began the practice of law at Stafford, later removing to Tolland. He was chosen a representative from Tolland in the General Assembly in 1854. 1858, and 1863. He was the candidate of the Democratic party for Congress in the three hotly contested campaigns from 1858 to 1862, but failed to secure election. In 1863 or 1864 he removed to Hartford, where he and Judge Waldo formed a partnership for the practice of law, to which firm three years later was admitted the late Richard D. Hubbard, the firm then becom- ing Waldo. Hubbard & Hyde. Charles E. Gross was admitted to the firm in 1877, and on the death of Judge Waldo, in 1881. William Waldo Hvde and Frank E. Hyde, sons of Mr. Hyde, were admitted, the style of the firm becoming Hubbard. Hyde & Gross. At the death of Gov. Hubbard the firm was again changed, this time to Hyde, Gross & Hyde. In the summer of 1893 Frank E. Hyde was appoint-

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ed United States consul at Lyons, and withdrew from the firm, and in his place was substituted Ar- thur L. Shipman.

Alvan P. Hyde on removing to Hartford gave himself with great zeal and industry to the practice of law, and for many years declined nomination for office. He had been a member of the National Convention which nominated Buchanan, and was also a member of the Convention at Chicago that nominated Cleveland. In the "Judicial History of Connecticut," one of the editors of which is Hon. Dwight Loomis, Mr. Hyde is referred to as follows :

As a general practitioner he hardly had a superior at the Bar. He had no specialty, though his marvelous fac- ulty in unwinding the tangled threads of business compli- cations might have made him one of the greatest mercantile lawyers in the country. His mind was so versatile, and his equipment so complete, that he was fitted for every style of forensic contest. He was always found a trusty and competent leader, a sturdy, skillful and dangerous antag- onist. Patient and fearless, with that grand physique which defied fatigue, never too elated and never discour- aged, insensible to ill omens, he never faltered till an irre- sistible judgment barred his way. He was one of the great leaders of the Connecticut Bar, and no lawyer through nearly half a century of struggle and strife in courts ever carried himself more manfully, more generously, morc honorably, or left fewer rankling wounds behind. He was a man of great, kind heart, with liberal judgment of others, a rare good fellowship, and simple honesty of soul which needed no sensitive moral sensibilities since it was not open to temptation, with a strong relish of the pure airs of truth and justice, and a deep-seated love for home, friends and country.

Mr. Hyde became a Mason in 1858, having been initiated into Ariel Lodge, at Merrow Station, in Tolland county. He became Grand Master of the Connecticut Grand Lodge in 1862, and was re- elected in 1863. He became a thirty-second degree Mason. In the latter part of his life he and his wife traveled somewhat extensively in this country and abroad.

On Sept. 12, 1849, Mr. Hyde was married to Frances E. Waldo, born March 21, 1831, daughter of the late Judge Loren P. Waldo. Mr. Hyde's death occurred Feb. 6, 1894, and at a meeting of the Bar called on that occasion the following resolu- tions were presented by Hon. Henry C. Robinson and unanimously adopted.

In the death of Hon. Alvan Pinney Hyde the Bar has lost an eminent lawyer. Nature equipped him for use . fulness. His frame was strong and stalwart, his intellect penetrating and logical, and his moral character honest and sound. Study and culture developed his natural pow- ers. A long career of honorable practice carried him to the front rank of the profession, and its most important activities, whence he retired for a few months of sickness, and died. He was faithful to his client and his cause, and his own conscience as well, from the first hour of examina- tion until the last decree of the court was registered. If he succeeded he was generous, if he lost he was brave. In consideration of his associates he had no superior, in dealing with his opponent he was always fair. His broad outfit for professional achievement made him a favorite counselor and advocate in large interests, but he was never deaf to the inquiry nor reluctant to serve the cause of the humble client. He won his victories by direct and open attack; he had no use for indirection or intrigue. No 95

problem of logic puzzled his reflection, and no crisis con- fused his perception. His knowledge of jurisprudence was reinforced in furnishing a good lawyer or a good judge, a fine sense of that natural justice which underlies the writ- ten law of statutes and constitution. He was fair to a witness, for he was full of kindness. Aggressive in his assertions of a righteous cause, he delighted to fight fraud and tyranny, but he had only sympathy for the unfortunate. and weak. He loved the law and his love was returned. His name and his life are woven into the records of our courts for the last forty years.

In business circles he was influential and useful. Hc was skilled in banking, insurance and bookkeeping. He was fearless and upright in public life. As a friend he was true, as a husband, father and brother, he was tender and self-sacrificing. His genial presence was a jog to com- panionship. He brought much sunlight and no darkness to social life. He was full of hope. He believed in man, individually and socially, and for synicism and pessimism neither his head nor his heart had any harbor. His career was successful and honorable. We remember him and will remember him with great respect, admiration and love. We will attend his funeral in a body, and the clerk of the Bar will enter this minute upon our records and transmit a copy of it to his family.

The children of Alvan P. and Frances E. (Waldo) Hyde are: (I) Hon. William Waldo Hyde was born March 25, 1854, was graduated from the Hartford High school in 1872, and from Yale College in 1876; he was admitted to the Bar in 1878, and not long thereafter was admitted to the law firm which became Hubbard, Gross & Hyde, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession with increased suc- cess. He was married Dec. 1, 1877, to Helen E., daughter of the late George W. Watson, of Hart- ford, and to the union were born children- Elizabeth H., Oct. 17, 1878: and Alban W., Aug. 21, 1880. (2) Hon. Frank E. Hyde was born Jan. 21, 1858, and was graduated from Yale College in 1879, entered the law school in 1881, and he was admitted to the Bar at Hartford at the May term of court, 1881 ; he became a member of the law firm of Hyde, Gross & Hyde. Mr. Hyde was mar- ried, Oct. 20. 1881, to Carrie A., daughter of the late Hon. Julius L. Strong, of Hartford.

TUDOR GOWDY, the popular and efficient postmaster at Thompsonville, was born in Westfield, Mass., July 9, 1857, a son of Charles H. and Cyn- thia ( Upson) Gowdy, who were both of Puritan stock. The paternal grandfather, Tudor Gowdy, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Somerville, Conn., where he spent his entire life. He was a son of Robert Gowdy, and a grandson of Samuel Gowdy, both lifelong residents of Somerville. Our subject's maternal grandparents were Willis and Harriet (Allyn) Upson, of Westfield, Mass. Charles H. Gowdy, the father, grew to manhood in Somer- ville, Conn., but for a period of thirty-five years, from 1853 until 1888, was engaged in general mer- chandising in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Tudor Gowdy, whose name introduces this re- view, was reared in Westfield, and was educated in the public schools of that place. In 1876 he

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became interested in general merchandising with his father. continuing thus until the retirement of the latter, in 1888. In 1891 he came to Thompsonville, Hartford Co., Conn., where he served as clerk in the post office until 1897, when he was appointed postinaster, a position he has since filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the gen- eral public.

On Nov. 1I, 1896, Mr. Gowdy was united in marriage with Miss Agnes G. Smith, a daughter of Robert and Agnes Smith, of Thompsonville, for- merly of Scotland, and of this union one son has been born, Edwin Tudor.

Mr. Gowdy is a wide-awake, progressive busi- ness man, and is now interested in several success- ful enterprises, having been secretary of the Thomp- sonville Board of Trade since its organization in 1895 ; a director and vice-president of the Thomp- sonville Trust Co. ; a director of the New England Machine Screw Co .: and a director of the Enfield Electric Light & Power Co. He has made good use of his opportunities in life, has prospered from year to year, and has conducted all business matters carefully and successfully, displaying in all his acts an aptitude for successful management. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and so- cially is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN STODDARD KIRKHAM has been an important factor in the public affairs of Newington for many years, and has been honored with a num- ber of official positions of trust and responsibility. His fidelity to every trust reposed in him is above question, and he is regarded as one of the leading and most highly respected citizens of the town.

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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 164

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