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 172

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 172

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On September 26, 1888, Mr. Keirns was married to Miss Ella M. Cannon, born May 27, 1862, the only daughter of the late William T. Cannon, of New Haven, of which city her mother is still a resident. Mr. Keirns was a man of strict integrity and hon- esty, and as a man had the courage of his convic- tions. He was a power in the community. He was charitable and gave liberally of his means to worthy objects. Mrs. Keirns is a member of the Congregational Church. There were no children born to this couple. She was an invalid for several years, during which period she received the most devoted attention that a husband could give a wife.

CHARLES E. LORD, a leading groceryman of Elmwood. Hartford county, is comparatively a recent acquisition to the goodly array of progres- sive business men of the town, but his ability, en- terprise and upright methods have already estab- lished for him an enviable reputation. He is a native of this county, born in Southington Oct. 16, 1866, and is a son of Sylvester O. Lord, a na- tive of Broad Brook, Conn., and a member of a Connecticut regiment during the Civil war. Dur- ing the period of that conflict the grandfather, Charles E. Lord, was a resident of Broad Brook, but later was a night watchman in Southington.

Our subject attended the public schools of Southington during his boyhood, served an appren- ticeship in the silverware business, and followed that trade in Southington for twelve years, after which he was in the employ of the Barbour Silver Co., of Ilartford, for eight years. He was also manager of the Hartford Brick Co. for a year, and in 1895 purchased the grocery store of J. H. Raymond, in Elmwood, which he has since con- ducted with marked success, having built up a most excellent trade.

Mr. Lord was married in West Hartford to Miss Ellen L. Shaw, a daughter of John M. Shaw, and they have two children, Edith May and Charles. Edward. Fraternally he is a member of Wyllys Lodge, No. 99, F. & A. M., and Washington Lodge, K. P., of which he is past chancellor. He is now filling the office of constable of his town in a most creditable and acceptable manner.

HON. JULIUS NOTT (deceased), of whose parents, John (a hero of the war of 1812) and Eliza- beth ( Blinn) Nott, more may be read in the biog- raphy of William Nott, on another page, was born June 11, 1819, at Rocky Hill, Hartford county, and was educated in the common schools of that town. He commenced his business career with Griswold & Keeney, learning the trade of a stone mason and brick layer. Prior to 1840 he came to Bristol, and in 1843 he began business on his own account, and executed work in various parts of the State until 1857. when, in the erection of the stock- inette factory in Plainville, he met with an accident which prevented him from following his trade. Under these circumstances he turned his attention to the grocery business, and opened a store in Bris- tol in August, 1858, which he carried on very suc- cessfully until December 31, 1872, when he sold out his business at the corner of Main and Prospect streets to H. & L. G. Merick.

In 1870 Mr. Nott built the block on the ground where the old store had been burned. This block also was burned down on April 13. 1873, just three years and three months from the time of the previous fire in 1870. He rebuilt, and in the same year, 1873, he also built the Bristol Savings Bank. W. A. Terry's art gallery, corner of Laurel street and the shop in Forestville owned by Mr. Hubbell as a clock movement manufactory. From this date he spent

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most of his time in looking after his property. From 1871 10 1874 he was selectman and road commis- sioner; he also represented Bristol in the Legisla- ture in 1874, and was a director of the National and also the Savings Bank, from the time of their or- ganization until his death. On Oct. 29, 1844, Mr. Nout married Miss Rachel Cooke, a native of Har- winton, Conn., born Feb. 7, 1817, and a daughter of Daniel Cooke, who passed the latter part of his life in Bristol. To Juhus Nott and wife were born three children, viz : Charles Edward, Aug. 17, 1845; Catherine E., who was born in 1851, and died Mav 5. 1854, and Caroline Elizabeth, who died Sept. 6, 1855, at the age of six weeks. Julius Nott died Jan. 2, 1877, from the effects of an accident by the steam cars in Bristol.

CHARLES EDWARD NOTT was born in Bristol, where he attended the common schools until twelve years of age, and then clerked for his father until the latter disposed of his store, since which date he has done no active business, other than that of taking care of his real estate. Charles E. Nott was joined in wedlock June 25, 1884, with Miss Harriet J. Stoneburner, who was born in Pittsford, N. Y., July 5, 1850, but at the time of marriage was a resident of Brighton, in the same State, with her parents, John and Almira ( McMinders) Stone- burner. To Mr. and Mrs. Nott there have been born no children. As was his honored father, Mr. Nott is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican in sentiment, but is indifferent as to party measures locally. Mr. and Mrs. Nott have their pleasant home at No. 30 High street, and with them resides the venerable Mrs. Julius Nott.

SETH BARNES, an active and influential citizen of Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut.

GEORGE W. WOOLLEY, a prominent mer- chant of Hartford, was born Feb. 22, 1822. in Rich- mond. Va., of good New England parentage.

Mr. Woolley's father, William Porter Woolley, carried on the business of cabinet making at Boston, Mas ... and at Glastonbury, Conn .. before his removal to Richmond. Va., where he was employed for some time in the building of a fine theater. He returned North in 1822, and resided in Glastonbury until 1829: he died in New Haven, in 1831. His wife, Martha ( Hollister ), who died aged forty-four years. was one of the family of eight children (all now deceased) of Amos Hollister, a farmer and ship- builder in Glastonbury. Her ancestors were among the pioneers of that locality, and her grandfather died there at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Woolley had five children, of whom four are living : Sarah, Mrs. Parsons, a widow: William, resident of Hartford: George W .: and Martha, widow of Edwin Wadsworth. Both parents were members of the Episcopal Church, and were much esteemed In their associates.

George W. Woolley's history is of unusual inter-

est, and his courage and ability, as shown by the fact that he has made his own way in life from the age of seven years, command respect. He was edu- cated chiefly in the Glastonbury schools, but spent some years of his boyhood in Hartford and Albany. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the un- dertaker s trade in Hartford, and when twenty-one he started for himself in a small way, working very hard, and gradually building up a lucrative business, having now the largest in the State in his line. In 1846 he made the first casket constructed in the United States, and for many years he used his own patent in his work. Mr. Woolley employes twenty- five men in his factory at No. 586 Main street, and manufactures everything connected with his line of business, his large wholesale trade extending over all parts of the United States. In his time he has made caskets for many distinguished men, and his reputation for careful workmanship is of the best. He has rebuilt his residence at No. 88 Buckingham street, and built a number of houses and business blocks, and he also owns a large tract of land. For some years he was a stockholder in a bank and the Hartford Casket Co., and at times was interested largely in driving and other stock.

In 1844 Mr. Woolley married Miss Rhoda L. Fuller, who was born in East Haddam, daughter of Chauncey Fuller, and nine children have blessed the union. The eldest, Elizabeth, died aged twenty- seven years, and two died in infancy. Of the others (I) George H., who is in business with our subject, married Miss Ella Taylor Frisbie, and has four children. (2) Joseph C., who is in the hardware busi- ness in Hartford, married (first) Mary P. Sloan, and. ( second) Agnes Rodgers, and has two children, Alice and Harry. (3) Lucy. (4) Ellen A. is the widow of George A. Faxton, and has two children, Richard D. and Raymond W. (5) Charles Parsons married Charlotte Philipps, and has two children, Florence P. and Dorothy. (6) Mary Gertrude.

Mr. Woolley was one of the early members of St. John's Episcopal Church, and saw the corner- stone laid in 1842. He has held various offices therein during the past thirty years, for ten years has held his present office of senior warden, and pre- viously served ten years as junior warden. In pol- itics Mr. Woolley is a Republican. His children have taken an active part in church and Sunday- school work, as well as social life.

GEORGE A. FAXTON (deceased ) was born in Hartford June 12, 1850, son of Hiram and Margaret ( Collier) Faxton. His father, who was born in West Hartford, and engaged in business for many years as a book-binder, died at the age of sixty- seven. His mother, a native of Boston, died in carly womanhood, and of their six children only four are living. George A. Faxton was educated in Hartford, and on completing his high-school course entered upon the business of book-binding in Hartford, and later was in the government serv- ice in Washington, D. C. On Oct. 10. 1877, he married Miss Ellen A. Woolley, and he died in

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Washington in 1895, at the age of forty-five, after eighteen years of happy wedded life. His prom- inence in his profession made him a valued mem- ber of various printers' societies, and for a number of years he was an active worker in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows.

EDWARD THOMAS LYONS, proprietor of the Lyons cigar factory, No. 44 Windsor street, Hartford, is a native of that city, born May 24, 1864, a son of Edmund Lyons.

Edmund Lyons was born in Fermoy, Ireland, in 1824, and died in Hartford in September, 1894. His father, Michael Lyons, was also born in Fer- moy, and his father, Edmund Lyons, was born in France, where Edward T. traces his ancestry back as far as 1652. Edmund Lyons, father of the gen- tleman whose name introduces this sketch, emi- grated to the United States, arriving at Hartford in the spring of 1848, after a sea voyage of six months in a sailing vessel. He found employment at the "United States Hotel," as steward. Before coming to this country he had traveled extensively on the continent of Europe with Hon. John Hyde, of Castle Hyde, Fermoy. After spending several years in Hartford he went to Glastonbury, where most of his children were born. Returning to Hart- ford about 1858, he was employed at Colt's rifle fac- tory until it was burned down. He was next en- gaged in J. W. Danforth's wholesale grocery house, remaining there until he retired on account of old age. Edmund Lyons married Bridget Foley, daugh- ter of Dennis and Elizabeth (O'Connell) Foley, of Kanturk, Ireland, and they had nine children : Ellen, Michael, Elizabeth (deceased), Mary, James, Dennis A. (deceased), Julia, Edmund (deceased) . and Ed- ward T .; all of those living reside in Hartford.

Edward T. Lyons pased his early years at home, and was educated in the Christian Brothers school. When twelve years of age he began work as a clerk in T. Duffy's dry-goods store, and continued thus until he was twenty years of age, when he formed a partnership with his brother Dennis A., in the gentle- men's furnishing business. They remained together until Dennis died, when Edward T. carried the con- cern on alone for some twelve years. at the end of that time selling out to E. B. Dix. He then began the manufacture of the popular brand of cigars known as "Our Brothers," which he has conducted success- fully up to the present time, finding a market for them throughout the State, and employing from twelve to fifteen men.

On June 22, 1892, Edward T. Lyons married Ellen A. O'Brien, born in Hartford, a daughter of Jeremiah O'Brien, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, May 20, 1818, and was the eldest of five brothers, Jeremiah, Dennis, Cornelius, Michael and Patrick, all born in Ireland. Mr. O'Brien came to America in the late 'forties, landing in Boston, sub- sequently located at Willimantic, this State, was em- ployed as section boss on the old Hartford, Provi- dence & Fishkill railroad, at Coventry, and was a

contractor on the New York & New Haven rail- road at Willimantic. Later removing to Hartford, he followed the grocery and provision business up to 1888, some thirty-five years in all, being among the oldest merchants in the city. He died in Sep- tember, 1891, at the age of seventy-three years. On Jan. 15, 1854, at Willimantic, he married Catherine Crowley, who was born in Ireland, May 1, 1834, daughter of Cornelius and Mary Crowley, who came to this country, bringing the family. To Jeremiah O'Brien and his wife were born nine children, Mrs. Lyons being the only one now living, of whom are named : Mary, Dennis J., Catherine, John, Michael, Margaret, Michael (2) and Ellen A. The mother died Oct. 25, 1886. The parents were members of the Catholic Church, as were also our subject's par- ents. Mrs. Lyon's brother, Dennis J. O'Brien, was a charter member of Green Cross Council, Knights of Columbus, and took an active part in the organi- zation of that society in Willimantic and Norwich. He passed away March 1, 1885, one of the first members of the Knights of Columbus to die in the United States ; he was a bright, promising young man, and his friends and acquaintances throughout the State were numerous.

Mr. Lyons is a Democrat, but always votes for the best man, regardless of politics. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a charter member ; the A. O. H., of which he is city and county treasurer; the Knights of the Maccabees; St. Patrick's Benevolent Society, of which he was treasurer some fourteen years; and the Knights of St. Patrick, and has taken a great interest in all these organizations.

Mr. Lyons has put up several fine buildings in Hartford, including his own handsome and pleasant residence, which is tastefully furnished, and equipped with all modern improvements, and where hospitality reigns. He and his wife, both of whom are highly esteemed in the community, represent two of the oldest Irish families in Hartford.

Dennis A. Lyons, brother of Edward T., who was in the furnishing business with our subject, was a charter member of Green Cross Council, Knights of Columbus; imember of the Knights of St. Patrick; the Emerald Society; the 1. O. H .; and St. Patrick's Benevolent Society, and was popular in the city among his numerous friends.

JOHN FLOOD, a prosperous agriculturist of Farmington, and a representative citizen, respected alike for his industry and integrity, may be prop- erly placed in the list of self-made men, who through their own unaided efforts have achieved a well- merited success in life. He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, June 25, 1821, is a son of Patrick Flood, who was also born in that county, where he lived and died. Besides our subject, he had three daughters and one son who came to this country.

John Flood was reared and educated in his native land, and when his school days were over,

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he engaged in farming there until 1852, in which year he emigrated to America, landing in New York. He worked for a time in Branford, East Haven and New Britain, Conn., and in 1861 came to Farmington, where he has since successfully en- gaged in farming. In 1865 he made his first pur- chase of land, to which he has added from time to time, as his financial resources have increased, until now he has a fine farm of eighty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. In connection with general farming he is also engaged in the dairy business, selling milk in New Britain. He was made a voter at that place, and has since been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and its principles.

In New Britain Mr. Flood was united in mar- riage with Miss Ann MacCele, and to them have been born ten children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Patrick H .; James; John, Jr .; Christopher ; Peter ; Margaret ; and Mary.

PETER DORSEY. Few men in New Britain are as well known as this enterprising citizen, who has made his own way to success in business life, and at the same time has gained the esteem and con- fidence of a large circle of friends. For many years he has served in various public positions of trust and responsibility, bringing to his duties the energy and ability which have characterized his business career, and he is regarded as one of the leading advisers of the local Democratic organiza- tion.

Mr. Dorsey comes of good old Irish stock, his ancestors having resided for generations in County Wicklow, Ireland. His great-grandfather, John Dorsey, was a native and lifelong resident of that County, and owned a farm in the parish of Ha- gerstown, being well-to-do for that time and lo- cality. lle was a man of influence in local affairs, and during the rebellion of 1798 took an active part against the tyranny of England.

William Dorsey, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in County Wicklow, and as a young man engaged in farming about six miles from his father's homestead. He became a thrifty. sub- stantial citizen, his farm comprising about fifty acres of land. His wife, Jane Slack, was a daugh- ter of William Slack, of the same county. They had the following children: Patrick, Catherine, Willian, Michael, John and James, all of whom re- mained in Ireland except Patrick.

Patrick Dorsey, the father of our subject, was born in 1828, in County Wicklow, about eight miles from the birthplace of his father. He was edu- cated in Ireland, and when twenty-one years old came to AAmerica, locating first at Marlboro, Conn., where he was employed by a farmer off and on for about six years. For nearly twenty-two years he resided at Colchester, Conn., being employed in the quarries and rubber works, and since 1873 he has been a resident of New Britain, where he was con-

nected for fifteen years with the screw factory now owned by Russell & Erwin. His industry and thrift have won him a competence, and he is highly respected among his associates. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and in religion he is a Roman Catholic, being a leading member of St. Mary's Parish, New Britain. His estima- ble wife, Catherine Eagan, who died in 1867, was a daughter of l'eter Eagan, of County Clare, Ire- land. Our subject was the first of six children, the others being: John, who died in 1898; Cather- ine, wife of Henry O'Brien ; Mary, deceased ; Pat- rick, who has his home in the South, and who has been connected with the United States Navy for many years, having traveled around the globe several times ; and William, deceased.

Peter Dorsey was born Feb. 5, 1857, in Colches- ter, Conn., and was educated there in Bacon Acad- emy. At the age of fourteen he left school, and after working for some time as a farm hand he removed to New Britain with his father. For three months he was employed in driving a cart, and on July 30, 1873, he entered the finishing department of the Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Co., where he spent about twenty-two years, being foreman for fifteen years. Since that time he has been en- gaged in the liquor business, and has also given much attention to politics. He has been a member of the Democratic town committee, and has served in various local offices, having been elected coun- cilman from the Sixth ward in 1888, for two years, alderman in 1890, and re-elected in '92, '94, '96, '98, and registrar of votes of the city and town in October, 1898, for the term of one year. While on the board of aldermen he served as chairman of the police committee ; and member of the committees on streets, sewers, and sale of public lands. He is a prominent member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and is president of the First Division, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and a member of the Order of Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Dorsey married Miss Catherine Leonard, daughter of Michael Leonard, of Ireland, and they have had seven children, viz .: Edward, Margaret, William, Frederick, Catherine, Peter and Mary.

KASPER HAMBACH, farmer, town of East Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.

MATHER. The name of Mather has been closely identified with the history of Hartford county for 250 years. The several children of the late Timothy Mather, of Hartford, of whom Wal- ter S. Mather was one, are in the ninth generation in descent from Rev. Richard Mather, the Ameri- can ancestor, the line of their descent being through Timothy, Rev. Samuel, Dr. Samuel, Nathaniel, Elijah. Return Strong and Timothy. Rev. Rich- ard Mather was of the same family as the famous John Mather and Cotton Mather, of early Massa- chusetts history. The genealogy of the family under consideration is as follows :

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

John Mather, of Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, England.

Thomas Mather, of Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, England.

(I) Rev. Richard Mather, of Lowton, Winwick Parish, Toxteth Park, England, also Dorchester, Mass., born in 1596 in Lowton, died in Dorches- ter, Mass., in 1669. He married (first ) Catherine, daughter of Edmund Holt, of Bury, in 1624; she died in 1655, and in 1656 he married ( second) Sarah Story, widow of Rev. John Cotton, and daughter of Richard Hankridge, of Boston, Eng- land. She died May 27, 1676. Rev. Richard Mather's children were: Rev. Samuel, Timothy, Rev. Nathaniel, Joseph, Rev. Eleazer, and Rev. Dr. Increase. Rev. Richard Mather arrived in Boston Aug. 17, 1635.

(II) Timothy Mather, son of Rev. Richard, of Dorchester, Mass., was born in 1628, in Liverpool, England, and died in Dorchester, Mass., in 1684. He married (first) Catherine, daughter of Maj .- .Gen. Humphrey Atherton, and in 1778-79 wedded (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Amiel Weeks. His children were: Rev. Samuel, Richard, Cather- ine, Nathaniel, Joseph and Atherton. Timothy Mather was a farmer, and settled in the town with his father. His death, at the age of fifty-six, was the result of a fall in his barn.

(III) Rev. Samuel Mather. of Windsor, Conn., son of Timothy, was born in 1650, in Dorchester, Mass., and died in 1727-28. He married Hannah, daughter of Gov. Robert Treat. She died in 1707- .08. His children were Dr. Samuel, Hannah, Rev. Azarialı, Ebenezer, Joseph, Elizabeth, Rev. Na- thaniel, Benjamin and John. Rev. Samuel Mather was graduated at Harvard College in 1671, and

then prepared himself for the ministry. He preached in Deerfield, Mass., thence going to Hat- field, whence he came to Milford and Branford, Conn., and from the latter place he was called to settle at Windsor, where he remained until his deatlı.

(IV) Dr. Samuel Mather, son of Rev. Samuel, of Windsor, Conn., was born in 1677, and died in 1746. In 1704 he married (first) Abigail Grant, daughter of Samuel. She died in 1722. and he married (second) in 1723 Hannah, daughter of Nicholas B. Buckland. She died in 1758. His .children were: Eliakim. Samuel, M. D., Timothy, Abigail, Nathaniel. Joseph, Charles, Abigail (2), Hannah, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Eliakim (2). Dr. Samuel Mather was graduated from Harvard Col- lege in 1698, and was licensed to practice medi- cine by the General Assembly in 1702. After a life of professional usefulness, during which he held various civil and military offices of trust and honor, he died in 1745, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.

(V) Nathaniel Mather, son of Dr. Samuel, of Windsor, Conn., born in 1716, died in 1770. He married Elizabeth Allen, and their children were: Nathaniel, Charles, M. D., Elijah, Elizabeth, Rev.

Allyn, Col. Oliver, John, Increase, Elizabeth (2), Timothy, M. D., Elihu, Abigail, Hanna and Roxana.

(V1) Elijah Mather, son of Nathaniel, of Wind- sor, Conn., born there in 1743, died in 1796. He married (first) Mary Strong and ( second) Ku- hama Roberts. He served for a time in the war of the Revolution. His children were: Mary, Elijah, Return Strong, Allyn M., and William.

(VII) Return Strong Mather, of Hartford, son of Elijah, born Jan. 1, 1771, in Windsor, died May 19, 1846. On May 8, 1798, he married Patty Shep- herd Clark, daughter of Joel Clark, of Granby. She died June 11, 1867. Their children were: William, Elijah, Lydia C., Samuel, Mary, Huldah, Charles, Sarah J., Timothy and John. Return Strong Mather sold out his land in Windsor and came to Hartford, buying land for $40 an acre. He built a house on Windsor avenue which is still standing. He was a prominent Methodist, and it was from him that a loan of $5,000 was obtained which enabled that denomination to build its first church, at the corner of Trumbull and Chapel streets.

(VIII) Timothy Mather, son of Return Strong, of Hartford, born there Nov. 2, 1819, married Jan. 2, 1850, Nancy Chapin, who died Jan. 20, 1873, aged fifty years. Their children were: Walter Strong, Lydia C., Anna C., Oliver T., William A. (living in San Francisco), Arthur, Frank H., Julia Y. (married to Frederick H. Robertson, of Wichita, Kans.), and Nancy E. (wife of John Jenks, a teacher ). Timothy Mather, the father of these children, was at his death the owner of 1,000 acres of land in Hartford, Windsor and Bloom- field, and was well known throughout the country as a breeder of cattle. His wife was a niece of Chester W. Chapin, of Springfield, the promoter of the Boston & Albany railroad.

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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 172

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