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 175

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 175

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Henry Robbins, our subject's father, was born and reared on the old homestead in Wethersfield, and made farming his life occupation. He was a man noted for his temperate and industrious habits, his honesty and fair dealing. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Congregational Church, a Republican in politics, and was elected to a number of local offices of honor and trust. He died at his home on High street, Wetherfield, April 24, 1864, and his wife, who was a faithful member of the same church, died Dee. 20, 1886, the remains of both being interred in the Wethersfield cemetery. She bore the maiden name of Celia Talcott, was a native of Wethersfield, and a daughter of William and Amelia (Hanmer) Talcott. Their children were Celia and Augustus, who both died young ; Sarah Isabella ; and Francis H.

Our subject was educated in the district schools and the Wethersfield Academy, and after leaving school remained with his parents, engaged in farm- ing upon the old homestead. Here he owns fifty acres of land, upon which he has made many im- provements, and is successfully engaged in general farming, dairying, and the raising of tobacco and seeds. He is also engaged in the flour and feed

business in Wethersfield, and displays excellent ex- ecutive ability and sound judgment in the manage- ment of his affairs.

In 1872 Mr. Robbins was married, in Wethers- field, to Miss Delphine M. Smith, and they have one daughter, Bertha T., who first attended the schools of Wethersfield, and subsequently gradu- ated from the Hartford Public High School and the New Britain Normal School. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are both members of the Congregational Church, and also belong to the Grange. Ile is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party in his community ; has been a member of the board of relief, and in 1895 was elected to the State Legislature, in which august body he served as a member of the Press committee. Since 1884 he has been assessor of Wethersfield, and in the faith- ful discharge of his official duties has won the com- mendation of all concerned. As a citizen he is en- terprising and progressive, and gives his support to every measure which he believes will prove of public benefit.

Mrs. Robbins also belongs to an old and honored family of Wethersfield, of which place her great- grandfather, Jonathan Smith, and her grandfather, George Smith, were natives. Here the latter owned land, and spent his entire life in agricultural pur- suits. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and was called upon to serve as selectman of Wethersfield. He married Sarah Blinn, daughter of Samuel Blinn, and they had two children, George, Jr., and Maria, wife of Milo AA. Salts.

George Smith, Jr., was born in Wethersfield Dec. 27, 18HI, and was educated in its distriet schools and academy. For fifteen years he suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school in Wethers- field and Rocky Hill, and later followed farming and engaged in the seed business. He was also a stockholder and director of the Comstock Ferre Co. He is still well preserved for one of his age, and retains his mental faculties unimpaired. So- cially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically is identified with the Democratic party. On Nov. 25, 1835, he married Miss Lucy R. Griswold. also a native of Wethers- field. and a daughter of James Griswold. To them were born five children: Edgar R .; Albert G .; Maria Delphine, wife of our subject : Harriet, de- ceased wife of Alfred Francis, of Wethersfield; and George Francis, a resident of Hartford. The mother of these children, who was a faithful mem- ber of the Congregational Church, died April 16, 1882, and was buried in the Wethersfield eeme- tery. The father was again married, in New York, March 29, 1888. his second union being with Miss Cecelia A. Talcott, daughter of William Taleott, of Wethersfield.

JOHN CALVIN NORTON, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Plainville, who is at present engaged in farming, was born in Boston, Mass .. March 19. 1825. a son of William and Har-

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riet (Amidon) Norton. The father was a native of Newburyport, Mass., and was a son of Joshua Norton, who was of English descent, and a sail- maker of Boston, the business he established there being still carried on by members of the Norton family. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Amidon, of Pomfret, Conn., who served in the Revolution, taking part in the battle of Plattsburg.

William Norton was a silversmith by trade, and in that capacity mounted the swords of Commo- dores Hull and Brainbridge, during the war of 1812. He also participated in that war, serving as a private. About 1831 he removed to South Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Conn., where he was employed as a machinist until his death, in 1848. Of his twelve children, nine reached years of matu- rity : William, Noah, Stephen, John C., Richard, Gilbert, Angeline (wife of William Quinion), Har- .riet (wife of Eli Howe), and Ada B. (wife of Charles Cook).

The subject of this review was six years of age when brought by his parents to this county, and he is indebted to its common schools for his educa- tional privileges. He served a three-years' appren- ticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade in South Glas- tonbury, and then worked at the same in Plainville, where he located in 1847. In 1857 he removed to Rockville, Conn., where he opened a cabinet shop and engaged in business for himself for six months, but the same year he returned to Plainville, and for sixteen years was employed as a painter of clock dials. He then worked in clock factories in Thomaston, Bristol and other places until 1894, since which time he has followed farming in Plainville.

Mr. Norton has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Harriet Hotchkiss, a daugh- ter of Carlos and Phila (Clark) Hotchkiss, of Bur- lington, Hartford county. By that union he had two sons: Charles H., superintendent of one of the departments of the Brown & Sharp machine shop, at Providence, R. I. ; and Wendell P., a machinist and superintendent of the Hendey Machine Co., Torrington. Conn., and also the inventor of the celebrated Norton lathe manufactured by them. Mrs. Norton's grandfather, Samuel Hotchkiss, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. For his second wife Mr. Norton married Miss Harriet Ryder, a daughter of Chester and Esther (Merrill) Ryder, of New Hartford, Conn., and a granddaughter of Sylvester Ryder and Eli Merrill, both prominent farmers of New Hartford. Religiously Mr. Nor- ton is a faithful member of the Congregational Church, and politically he is an earnest advocate and stanch supporter of prohibition.

JOHN D. DALY, an enterprising and success- ful agriculturist of East Windsor, is one of the self- inade men whose careers afford encouragement to every poor but ambitious boy, and his history is de- serving of a prominent place in this volume.

Mr. Daly was born Nov. 18, 1832, in County Cork, Ireland. Ilis father was a farmer in Ireland, and in 1854 he came to the United States with his family, the voyage lasting five weeks and three days. Soon after landing in New York City, he came to South Windsor, where he made his perma- nent home. Of the four children, Patrick died Feb. 25, 1882; John D., our subject, was second in the order of birth, and is now the only survivor ; William died June II, 1881, and Lawrence on Nov. 27, 1874.

As our subject was of age when he settled in South Windsor he at once sought and found em- ployment, and for seven years he worked by the month as a farm hand. He then rented his pres- ent homestead and began raising tobacco, meeting with such good results that he purchased the place after a few years. It comprises thirty-four acres of land, and is located two and a half miles north of Warehouse Point, and the substantial improvements made by Mr. Daly show his progressive ideas as well as his industry and thrift. In addition to gen- eral crops he plants from five to nine acres in to- bacco every year, and is also interested in the dairy business. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and in religious faith a Catholic. On Dec. 6, 1862, he married Miss Ellen Callahan, who died in March, 1898, deeply mourned by a large circle of friends. Five children blessed their union: Patrick, a ranch- man in Wyoming; John, a resident of New York; and William, Lawrence and Mary E., who are at home.

JAMES M. CURTIN, dealer in groceries, meats, liquors, Nos. 331-335 Park street, New Brit- ain, Hartford county, Connecticut.

FRANK A. PFENNIG, for several years foreman of finishing in the movement department at the E. Ingraham Clock factory in Bristol, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 8, 1865, and is a son of August F. and Christina (Beiber) Pfennig, of German descent.

August F. Pfennig was a cigar maker by trade, and worked for his own father, a wholesale cigar and tobacco dealer in Buffalo, N. Y. To his mar- riage with Christina Beiber were born three chil- dren: Frank A .; George, who died when quite small : and John, born May 28, 1873, now a cigar maker. August F. died in Buffalo. and his widow. who has since remarried, is now a resident of White Rock, Michigan.

Frank A. Pfennig, father of August F., was a wholesale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco in Buffalo, and died there in 1899, and there his widow yet resides. They had four children: Au- gust F., Matilda, Minnie and Frank L.

Frank A. Pfennig, our subject, was partly edu- cated in Buffalo, N. Y., and partly in White Rock, Mich. He was able to quit school at the age of fourteen years, having been very apt in his studies, and was at once given a situation in the jewelry

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

store of Otto Honack, in Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained four years. He then came to Connecti- cut, and was employed for two years by Rayan & Barrows, jewelers at Middletown, and then for three years, in the same line, by Lee Roberts. The following year he was employed in the movement department of the Ingraham clock factory, and was so efficient that in 1891 he was made foreman of the finishing department of this branch of the in- dustry, with from twenty to twenty-five men, and ten to fifteen girls, under his charge.

Mr. Pfennig married, Sept. 11, 1888, Miss Anna M. Merchant, who was born in Bristol May II. 1869, and the only child of Harvey J. and Ellen C. (Hunt) Merchant, formerly of Glastonbury. To this marriage were born: Hazel Anna, August 2, 1889, died July 15, 1890; and Clair Merchant, Oct. 25, 1891. Harvey J. Merchant, father of Mrs. Pfennig, was a native of Bristol, but removed to New York City. He was first lieutenant of Co. C, 90th N. Y. V. I., during the Civil war, with the rank of acting-adjutant. On his return he was offered the postmastership of New York City, but declined the offer, preferring to return to Bristol, Conn., and there for over twenty-five years was foreman of the movement finishing department of the E. Ingraham Company, a position later held by the subject of this sketch. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merchant are members of the Congregational Church.

Frank A. Pfennig is a Republican in political sentiment, but takes very little active interest in public affairs. He is a member of Stephen Terry Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., of which he is a char- ter members and was secretary three terms; is a member of Ethan Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., and Hull Division Uniform rank, No. 5, K. of P., and of the E. L. Dunbar encampment, also of Hira Temple, No. 90, Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan. Mrs. Pfennig is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, of Bristol. Socially the family move in the best circles of the town.

GEORGE LUCE CLARK, a miller and lum- ber manufacturer of Suffield, Hartford county, was born in Tolland, Tolland Co., Conn., May 30, 1855.

Lucius Clark, his grandfather, was a native of New York, was a carpenter by trade, and after his marriage to Catherine Powell came to Connecticut and located in Coventry, Tolland county, where he engaged in contracting and building, and also in the lumber business. There he passed the better part of his days, but in the evening of life retired to New Britain, where he died in the faith of the Congregational Church, a highly respected citizen. He was a Whig in politics. To his marriage were born fourteen children. Ilis worthy wife also passed her declining days in New Britain, and the remains of both now lie at rest, side by side, in the cemetery of that town.

Albert Clark, father of our subject, was also born in New York City, and moved to Coventry,

Conn., with his parents. There he learned the trade of carpenter, and for some years carried on contracting and building, later engaging in the same line of business in Tolland, and still later in Amherst, Mass. In 1883 he settled in Suffield, Conn., and conducted a grist and saw mill for his father-in-law until his death, which occurred in June, 1896, when his remains were interred beside those of his wife, in the New Britain cemetery .. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and in politics a Republican. Albert Clark was mar- ried in Tolland, to Miss Mary Luce, a native of that town, and a daughter of Leverett and Mary Ann (Hunn) Luce, and to them were born four children : Mary, now the wife of Rev. W. E. Knox, of Waltham, Mass .; George Luce, our subject ; Frank, who died when four years old ; and Herbert, who died at the age of sixteen years. The mother of this family passed away at Suffield Dec. 23, 1893. sincerely mourned by her many acquaintances and the surviving members of her family.

George Luce Clark received his earlier educa- tion in the public schools of Tolland, and gradu- ated from New Britain Seminary in 1872. He be- gan his business life by working in paper-mills, later worked in the firearms factory at Norwich, Conn., and then, being a gifted musician, began traveling with some of the best minstrel troupes of the clay, including the famous Barlow & Wilson and the Primrose & West organizations, and visiting every part of the United States. In 1883 he came to Suffield with his parents, and has been engaged here ever since in lumbering and milling, in his maternal grandfather's mill, which he aided his father in conducting until the latter's death, since when he has himself conducted it. For fifteen years he has been organist for the Congregational Church in Suffield; he is also a member of the Second Reg- iment Brass Band, of Springfield, Mass., and of the Springfield Orchestra. Mr. Clark is, more- over, a practical journalist and an able writer, has been local reporter for the Hartford Times for twelve years, and for the Springfield Union six years.

Mr. Clark was united in marriage, in Norwich, Conn., to Miss Amelia Pierce, a native of Amherst, Mass., and to this marriage has been born one child, Leverett M., who is master electrician of the linen mills at Willimantic, Conn., a position he had attained at the age of sixteen years.

Mr. Clark is a Republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker. He is a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and is greatly respected both within and without its pale. He is remarkably well read. and besides being a prolific writer stands.second to none in the State of Connecticut as a musician. He has led a temperate and industrious life, and his extensive travels have broadened his views of mankind and enlarged his natural intelligence, and given him a more compre- hensive knowledge of human motives and actions than he would have possessed had his life been con-

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fined to the limits of his native State. His business name stands without a blemish, and his veracity has never yet been placed in doubt.

Leverett Luce, maternal grandfather of George Luce Clark, was born in Tolland, Conn., and was a lifelong miller. In 1850 he came to Suffield and bought the Wright mill, and for thirty-three years operated it for grist and lumber purposes. In 1883 he withdrew, and for fifteen years lived in re- tirement, dying at his home Dec. 21, 1898, and his remains were interred in the Suffield cemetery ; he was attentively cared for by Mr. Clark in his de- clining years. To the marriage of Mr. Luce, in Tolland, with Miss Mary Ann Hunn, were born three children: Leverett H .; Mary, who was mar- ried to Albert Clark, and became the mother of our subject ; and Edwin, now of Suffield.

MICHAEL HAGGERTY, a progressive citizen and highly respected young farmer of Bloomfield, was born in the city of Hartford, Conn., Nov. 10, 1857, and is a son of William and Catharine ( Daily) Haggerty, being the eldest in a family of five chil- dren.

William Haggerty was born in County Cork, Ireland, but came to the United States when a young man. He married, in Hartford, Conn., and his union to Miss Catharine Daily was blessed with five children, viz .: Michael, the subject of this sketch; Ella, the wife of William A. Hern, of Hart- ford; William, a volunteer in the recent war with Spain; Katie, still in Hartford; and John, in Bloomfield. In his early laboring days Mr. Hag- gerty was a well-digger by calling, but after his marriage he came to Bloomfield in 1859, and worked as a stonemason, as well as at well-dig- ging. In politics Mr. Haggerty was a Democrat, but never an office-seeker. He and wife both ended their days in Bloomfield, and both died in the faith of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Michael Haggerty was but two years of age when his parents settled in Bloomfield. He here attended the public schools in boyhood, faithfully assisted his father in his calling during his younger years, and for eight years worked for D. C. New- berry. For the past seven years he has been en- gaged in farming on his own account, and is recog- nized as one of the most progressive and enterpris- ing agriculturists of the township. He is a faith- ful member of the Catholic Church, and stands very high in the esteem of his neighbors.

FRANK C. CASE, a well-known farmer and dairyman of West Simsbury, was born at Troy, N. Y., March 10, 1859. Norris Case, his father, was born in West Simsbury, on what is known as the Case farm, Sept. 23, 1816, and was a son of Mamre Case.

Norris Case attended the district schools, and also Wilbraham Academy, at Wilbraham, Mass. When a young man he learned the trade of mill- wright, and for twelve years operated a mill in

Simsbury, which he owned. He then removed to New York State, settling at Troy, where he en- gaged in the shoe business for several years, and later at Saratoga, N. Y., where he conducted a hotel and livery business until 1864. He was a great lover of blooded stock, and owned the well- known mare "Flora Temple," a trotter. In 1864, after meeting with reverses, Norris Case returned to West Simsbury, and there became engaged in general and dairy farming and tobacco growing, spending the balance of his life on a tract of 160 acres. He died Aug. 20, 1886, and is buried in the old Case burying-ground, Simsbury. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican. He sang for many years in the choir of the Congregational Church. He first married Almeda Burned, of Massachusetts, who bore him three children: Arthur, who died at the age of three years; Frances, who died at the age of eighteen years; and John W., a shoe dealer of Boston. The mother died in Simsbury, and Nor- ris Case married for his second wife, at Troy, N. Y., Mary Converse, a native of that city. The chil- dren born to Norris and Mary Case were: Henry, deceased ; Susan, who died young; William N., of West Simsbury; and Frank C., our subject. The. mother died June 9, 1893, at the home of our sub- ject, and is buried in Simsbury. She was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church.

Frank C. Case attended the common schools. He came to West Simsbury with his parents, and there engaged in farming with his father. After the latter's death he took charge of the farm, and has since managed the property. He is engaged in dairy, stock and general farming.

Mr. Case married at Simsbury, in 1882, Louisa Hiem, who was born in Hartford, daughter of Frank and Mary (Degenhardt) Hiem. Her father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and was a cab- inet maker of Hartford. The mother was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, and now makes her home with our subject. Six children were born to Frank C. and Louisa Case, as follows : Frances, who is a student at McLean's Seminary, Simsbury ; Lena L .. also at school; Sarah O .; Har- vey H. ; Charles V .; and Watson E. Mr. Case, our subject, lost his wife by death only a few days after his mother's death, June 20, 1893. She is buried in Simsbury cemetery. She was a good woman, and a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Case is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Capitol City Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Case is genial in disposition, and popular among a wide circle of friends.

JOHN J. HICKEY, an industrious, temperate and highly respected farmer and tobacco grower of the town of East Hartford, was born in County Waterford, Ireland, June 24. 1850, a son of Michael and Margaret (McCarty) Hickey, of whom men- tion is made in detail in the biography of P. P. Hickey, a younger brother of the subject of this sketch.

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John J. Hickey had heard from his sister Han- nah, who had already been in the United States, ac- counts so glowing of the opportunities offered here for the advancement in life of young men who were willing to work and to economize their earnings, which were much greater for less work than dreamed of in their native land, that he determined to make his future home in America. He had re- ceived a meager education, and at the age of nine- teen years, having gathered together a little money, he sailed, with his sister Mary, in a Cunard steamer from Queenstown, landing in Boston, Mass., 011 Easter Sunday, 1869. From Boston he came direct to Hartford, where his cousin, Mary Duggan (now (leccased ), then lived. Having but one dollar cash in his pocket, he immediately hunted around for work, and found employment with Henry King, at South Windsor, at $20 per month. A short time afterward he returned to Hartford, whence he walked to Talcott Mountain, and there found work, and also considerable difficulty in collecting his wages, after having worked for his employer some time. He was next employed in Jewell's shop, re- ceiving $9 per week for nearly a year. He was very economical of his earnings and faithful in his work, and was ten years in America without tast- ing either beer or whisky.

Mr. Hickey's first purchase of land was in South Windsor, and was a tract of three and one-half acres. On this he lived twenty-two years, and then bought a part of his present farm from Joel Hatch Guy, president of the National Bank at Mer- iden. To this he has added from time to time until he now owns forty acres, seventeen of which are planted in tobacco.

Mr. Hickey first married Eliza Reardon, of Broad Brook, and she bore him one child, Mary Ellen, who died at the age of seventeen years ; she was an exceptionally bright young lady, and her death was a sad blow to her father, who sorrowfully laid her remains to rest in the Blue Hills cemetery. After the death of his first wife Mr. Hickey mar- ried Nellie Breen, and to this union have been born five children: John J., (deceased in infancy). Charles, one who died in infancy unnamed, Levi P., and John J.

In politics Mr. Hickey is a liberal Republican, and fraternally is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The family are all members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, to the support of which they are among the most liberal contributors. Mr. Hickey is a jovial and pleasant gentleman, has niade his way unassisted through life, and is well entitled to the respect in which he is held by all his neighbors, without exception.

JOSEPH HECK, the well-known cigar manu- facturer of Hartford, with residence in East Hart- ford Meadow, and one of the best musicians in Hartford county, was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .. Feb. 14, 1855, and is of German extraction. When nine years of age he began work in a tobacco fac-

tory, at stripping, and when twelve years old en- tered the United States service, at West Point, as a fifer and drummer, and served three years, becom- ing an expert in field music. His discharge papers, dated in 1870, read "very good," and were the last issued, at that time, in this branch of the service.

Joseph Heck, father of our subject, was born in Bavaria, and his naturalization papers are dated at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., June, 1847. In New York State he married Maria ( Shuler ) Propson, a native of Germany, and the widow of a Mr. Propson, by whom she had two children : Mrs. Susan Hoffman, now of Suffield, Conn. ; and John, who was a drum- mer in the volunteer infantry during the war of the Rebellion, was a cigar-maker by trade, and died in Poughkeepsie in May, 1898. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Heck were born two children : Joseph, the subject of this sketch; and Mary, Mrs. Christian Collins, of Suffield, Conn. The death of the father, Joseph Heck, was caused by sickness contracted in the army while serving in the Civil war; the mother lived to be seventy-eight years of age, and died in Hartford.

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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 175

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