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 176

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 176

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After quitting West Point Joseph Heck, the sub- ject of this memoir, went to Williamsburg, N. Y., and there worked in a tobacco factory. Later he was employed in other places until Christmas Day, 1874, when he arrived in Hartford, Conn., on a visit, and there became, naturally, acquainted with the musical fraternity, and decided to make the city his home. Under John Ehret, on State street, he took further instructions in his trade of cigar-making, and then completed it with Elser & Leschke. Mr. Elser was at that time leader of the Hartford City Band, and through him Mr. Heck was induced to become a member of that musical organization, but 'did not relinquish his trade. He worked for Krug, Parrish & Co., later for Charles Soby, and then be- came foreman for E. D. Williams, with whom he re- mained seven years, giving the utmost satisfaction. In September, 1887, he began business on his own account, which he has continued ever since in Hart- ford, with the exception of one year spent in East Hartford Meadow, where he owns a handsome dwelling and he makes his home.

Mr. Heck married, in Hartford, Miss Alice Ehren, a native of Massachusetts, and a daughter of Patrick Ehren, and to this union have been born three children, of whom Albert J. is a cigar-maker (he is a member of ÆEtna Hose Company, of East Hartford) : Charles A., also a cigar-maker, is a member of Center Hose Company, No. I, of the same village, and a member of the East Hartford Consolidated Band, and both brothers are also mem- bers of the Musical Union of Hartford, of the Cigar Makers' Union, of that city, and of Heck's Or- chestra ; Alice C., the third child, is at home.

Mr. Heck's band and orchestral experience has been quite extensive. He was first a member, as has been intimated, of the Hartford City Band, and when that went into dissolution joined Colt's Band as a drummer ; he next joined Weed's Band,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAFIITVIL ALVORD.

and in its infancy played flute and piccolo under the leadership of Prof. Ferdinand Patz. This band later became Pope's Military Band, and our sub- jects fine piccolo solos in its open-air concerts did much toward building up its reputation. But Mr. Heck became tired of brass and reed bands, and withdrew, notwithstanding great remonstrance on the part of leaders and members, and it cost him a five-years' struggle to free himself. He then took up orchestral work, becoming a member of the Germania Orchestra, under Prof. Glasius, and also of Elser's Orchestra, which, in its day, was the best in the city. For eight years he was a member of Edwin Severus' well-known orchestra, in which he played second violin, but the greater part of the time played the bass viol-and the most singular part of the story of his becoming a bass viol player is the fact that he had had but a few hours' rehear- sal on this instrument before he played in an orches- tra at a ball. Mr. Heck was the instructor and leader of Steele's First Regiment Drum Corps, the . crack drum corps of New England, which won many prizes for ability and discipline. At Spring- field Mr. Heck was presented with a silver fife. as an emblem of the championship of New England, and at a drummers' and fifers' tournament at Rock- ville was presented with a gold-mounted fife. For several years he was fife-major and instructor in the band of the Putnam Phalanx. He was a man- ager of Stertzing & Heck's Orchestra, and is now the leader of his own-the Heck Orchestra.

In politics Mr. Heck is independent, and votes for the man he deems best fitted for the office to be filled. Fraternally he is a member of Nathan Hale Lodge, A. O. U. W. : Capitol Lodge, No. 6, Degree of Honor, A. O. U. W. ; and Samuel Colt Lodge. of Foresters, all of Hartford; also of Capitol City Colony, No. 158, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers. He belongs to the Musical Union of Hartford, and the Cigar Makers' International Union of Amer- ica, and in the work of all these he takes an active part. He is a charter member of the Etna Hose Company, at East Hartford Meadow, and was on the general committee that managed its first fair, which netted $1.200. Mrs. Heck is a devoted men- ber of St. Mary's Catholic Church, to the support of which she and her husband contribute freely. She is a lady of refinement, and extends a welcome to her numerous friends at their hospitable dwell- ing at the corner of Lester and Darlin streets, East Hartford Meadow, which was erected by Mr. Heck in 1896. Mr. Heck resided in Hartford from his first coming to Connecticut until his removal to Fast Hartford Meadow, in order to have a quiet and comfortable place of rest after performing his mul- tifarious duties in the city of Hartford.

JAMES J. MORIARITY, the popular engineer on the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, with residence in East Hartford, was born in Ireland in 1861, a son of Timothy and Catherine (Glaster ) Moriarity, and

came with his parents to America when three years old.

Timothy Moriarity was a machinist by trade, was an expert, and had charge of a machine shop in his native Ireland. He was a man of colossal proportions, being six feet two inches in height, and weighing 235 pounds avoirdupois, and possessed of herculean strength, which physical attributes have been inherited by his sons, of whom he had seven, as well as nine daughters, sixteen children in all, of whom James J. is the youngest. On coming to the United States, about 1864, he located in Spring- field, Mass., and was for years employed there at his trade in the shops of the Boston & Albany Rail- road Co. He died in Springfield at the age of about seventy-one years; his wife died at the age of sixty-five, and both were devoted members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Moriarity was a stanch Democrat, and never failed to cast his vote at each election, but never for a moment had a de- sire for public office, being satisfied with the honor bestowed upon him as a private citizen by a host of sincere friends.

James J. Moriarity attended school in Spring- field, Mass., and manifested all the aptness and ca- pability for learning possessed by any of his class- mates until he left school, when he was nearly six- teen years of age. At this age, being an extraor- dinarily powerful lad, he began work as fireman on a yard engine in the Boston & Albany railroad yards, at Springfield, although all his brothers who had reached adult years had followed the example of their father and become machinists in railroad shops, James J. being the only engineer of the fam- ily. Mr. Moriarity remained in the employ of the company mentioned, and in the same capacity, until November, 1888, when he was given charge of an engine on what is now called the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, and up to the present has had a night run between East Hartford and Waterbury, Conn. After his appointment to this position he moved from Spring- field, Mass., to Hartford. Conn., and thence to East Hartford.

Mr. Moriarity married Miss Margaret Moran, a daughter of Timothy and Bridget ( McMahon) Moran, of Springfield. Mass., and this union has been blessed with four children. all born, in the fol- lowing order, in East Hartford: Mary M., Theresa, Margaret and Lauretta. In 1891 Mr. Moriarity erected his present handsome double house on Main street. East Hartford, and here he and his respected family have ever since resided, surrounded by warm- hearted friends and genial neighbor -.

In politics Mr. Moriarity has always been a stanch Democrat, and makes manifest his loyalty to the party by his unfailing vote for its candidates. He is a sincere Catholic in religion, and he and his family do their duty in full at St. Mary's Church, to the support of which they contribute freely of their means : Mr. Moriarity is also a member of the B. I. F. He is a most excellent citizen, is very.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

popular among his fellow employees, has the full confidence of his employers, and is as finely built, steady-going and reliable a man as may be found "in a summer day's walk."

WILLIAM FEELY, one of the best known farmers of Bloomfield, Hartford county, was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, April 22, 1833, and is a son of Matthew Feely, a merchant of County Leitrim and a son of William Feely Matthew Feely married a Miss Hilley, and this union was blessed with six children, viz .: Bridget, deceased ; William, our subject; Owen, in Ireland; Patrick, who died in 1899 in Hartford county, Conn. ; Michael, in Scotland; and Sarah, still in Ireland.

William Feely left his native land in the spring of 1853, on the sailing-ship "Fingal," and after a somewhat tempestuous voyage of six weeks and three days, landed in the port of New York, whence, after a sojourn of one week, he came to Connecti- cut and worked nearly a year in Stamford; he next worked for a short time in Bedford, West- chester county, N. Y., and in the fall of 1854 came to West Hartford, Conn., and for fifteen years farmed in that town. In 1869 he settled in Bloom- field, bought the Riley farm, his present home- stead, and later the Meacham farm, on which his son, Jolm, now resides. Mr. Feely was naturalized in the town of West Hartford and was married in Hartford, in 1857, to Miss Catherine Hunley, who was called away, February 8, 1884, the mother of ten children, viz .: Maggie, of New Haven ; John, of Bloomfield, married Louisa Case, daughter of Hezekiah Case, and is the father of one child-Catherine Marie; Matthew, a grocer on Front street, Hartford, married Mary Keough, and has had three children-Minnie, Catherine and Ed- ward-the last named deceased; William, de- ceased; Thomas, of Bloomfield; Mary, of New Haven ; Sarah, of Hartford; Joseph, also of Hart- ford; and Kate and Annie, of Bloomfield.

Since coming to Hartford county, Mr. Feely has employed himself in general farming and to- bacco-growing, and is emphatically a self-made man, in the busines sense of the phrase. In pol- itics he is a Democrat, and for many years has been a member of the board of relief, of which he has been the chairman since 1884. He is a de- yout member of the Catholic Church of Bloomfield and has ever been ready to assist it pecuniarily and otherwise, and has reared his children in the same faith. All the Feely family are upright and useful members of the various communities in which they live, and well deserve the high respect in which they are held.

ANSON II. PORTER. Among the more prominent and influential agriculturists of Farm- ington, Hartford county, none stand higher in the esteem of their fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is a native of tlie county, born in East Hartford July 24, 1821,

a son of Anson Porter, also a native of East Hart- ford, born in 1788, and a grandson of Stephen Porter. There the father was reared and educated, and throughout life followed the occupation of farming. He married Miss Sophronia House, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., and whose mother was Esther Hooker, a descendant of John Hooker. Two sons were born of this union : Albert D., deceased ; and Anson H., our subject ..

In the schools of East Hartford Anson H. Porter acquired his education, and later he was. engaged in carriage-making in Bloomfield, Conn .. from 1841 to 1872, during which time he served as constable and assessor of that town. He re- moved to his present home in Farmington in 1872. and has since devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits with good results. Ile is one of the rep- resentative citizens of the town, honored and re- spected by all who know him.

In Bloomfield Mr. Porter married Miss Delia Clark, who died there leaving one son, Scott, now also deceased. For his second wife he married Mrs. Sarah J. ( Bliss) Mills, of Bloomfield, who was born in 1837 in Hartford county, and first married Thomas S, Harman. They had one daughter, who is now the wife of Henry Conlon, of New York. By her second husband, George Mills, she had one son, George, also of New York. Mrs. Porter's grandfather, John Hull, was also a native of Hartford county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been born four children, viz. : Jennie, now a teacher of Farming- ton; William Lewis, a singer in the Pearl Street Congregational Church, Hartford; Etheline, a teacher at Winsted; and John B., of Farmington. Mrs. Porter commenced singing in the Church choir when fifteen years of age, and she and her children are all connected with the choir in the Church at Farmington.

H. E. FITTS, cashier of the Travelers Insur- ance Company, Hartford, Connecticut.

TIMOTHY GILBERT. The old Gilbert homestead in the town of Enfield was the place of Mr. Gilbert's birth, which occurred on May 12, 1833. He is a son of Timothy Gilbert and grand- son of Benjamin Gilbert, both of whom were na- tives of the same place. His grandfather was a soldier during the Revolutionary war; his father was a farmer. His mother's maiden name was Ada Crowell, and other children in the family were as follows: Benjamin, Mary H., Ada C., Samuel, Eben, Curtis, Timothy and Martha.

Timothy Gilbert was brought up on his father's farm, his early education being received at the dis- trict school, distant one mile from his father's house, and at the public schools of Middletown. He lived at the old homestead until 1889, taking charge of the property in 1864. In 1889 he re- moved to Rocky Hill, and purchased the handsome residence he now occupies from George Belden.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

His home is one of the finest in the town, but he still continues to superintend the management of the farm upon which he was born, and which he still owns. He drives thither in the morning from Rocky Hill, returning at night. The property consists of seventy-five acres, highly improved and well cared for.

Mr. Gilbert was married, in 1862, to Elizabeth. daughter of Chester B. Goodrich. In politics he is a Republican ; although not a member of any Church he attends those of various denominations, and is a liberal contributor of their support.

M. J. MAGUIRE, a prosperous and respected farmer of Manchester, was born Sept. 24, 1841, in County Cork, Ireland, son of William and Johanna (Cream) Maguire, the former of whom was a small farmer.

Mr. Maguire found it necessary to begin work early in life and at the age of twelve years secured employment by the month as a house servant. His educational advantages were extremely limited, yet he was able to attend school during a portion of each year. He remained in Ireland until his twenty- eighth year, when he determined to seek better for- tune in the land where so many of his countrymen had found homes and prosperity, and accordingly on May 6, 1869, he set sail for the American shore. His first location was Hartford, Conn., where for some two weeks he was in the employ of Dr. Ells- worth, and later worked for Mrs. Colts. In 1869 he came to Manchester, where he began farming on land of his own, which he had bought two months after his arrival. His first purchase was fifty-one acres and he has added to this from time to time until he now owns a home farm of one hundred acres, besides another valuable tract of twenty-seven acres. This property he has greatly improved, and here he has resided ever since he purchased his first tract, with the exception of the years 1870-72, which he spent in New Orleans. His place is generally known as the "old Eli Pit- "kin farm." He carries on an extensive dairy busi- ness, having usually from twenty-five to thirty milch cows, and also raises and deals in Holstein and Jersey cattle.

On Feb. 7, 1879, Mr. Maguire married Miss Mary Moriarty, and they have four children : Mary, born Dec. II, 1880; John F., Aug. 8, 1885; and Lewis William and Joseph (twins), May 4, 1888. In politics Mr. Maguire is a Democrat. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church, and he attends St. James' Church in Man- chester

CHARLES DOHRENWEND. Competence comes to the industrious and thrifty, and there is no element in the American nation in which these traits are more conspicuous than the German. An active journeyman through life, Charles Dohren- wend, the subject of this sketch has in recent years settled down to farm life in Berlin town, where

the same goud judgment and energy which he previously displayed have developed one of the pro- lific and highly-cultivated farms of Hartford county.

Mr. Dohrenwend was born in Germany, Dec. 22, 1832, son of Christ H. and Armena (Dohren- wend) Dohrenwend, and grandson, on his father's side, of Fred and Sophia (Daly) Dohrenwend. The grandfather was a shoemaker of considerable wealth for his time, and left $2,800 to each of his sixteen children. He died in Germany at an ad- vanced age, and his widow survived to the age of ninety-four years. The father of our subject was born Jan. 21, 1812. He was employed by the Ger- man Government in managing the transportation of silver from the mines, and was well-to-do. He died in 1880, surviving about thirty-three years his wife, who died when our subject was about four- teen years of age.

Charles' Dohrenwend received the excellent ed- uation which the public schools of Germany afford- ed, attending school until he was sixteen years of age. He had the opportunity to continue his edu- cation, which he did not, greatly to his subsequent regret, his temperament at the time influencing him to active pursuits rather than books. For a year he devoted himself to the joiner's trade, but did not like it. Returning home he later worked for a time at the mason's trade, but that too proved distasteful. He assisted his father until he was about twenty years old, and on Sept. 7, 1852, he sailed from Bremen, Germany, for New York, to visit his uncles, George and Louis Dohrenwend, brothers of his mother. Mr. Dohrenwend landed at New York Dec. 17, 1852, and after a visit of eight months resolved to remain in America. For a year he clerked for a grocer named Gagger, then began work at the joiner's trade, which he con- tinued many years. For a year he was employed in New York and at New Bridge, N. J. He then married in New York, in 1854, Catherina Stuffs, who was born in New York, in 1828. He contin- ued his trade in Brooklyn until the Civil war be- gan, and throughout the conflict was employed in the Brooklyn navy yard. Resuming his trade in Brooklyn, he later worked one year at Jamaica, Long Island, followed by a year at his trade at Brooklyn again, whence he removed to Suffield, Conn., where he worked for the same length of time on the construction of the New York Paper Mill. He then lived for a year at Warehouse Point, working on the paper company's new houses at Windsor Locks. Removing to New Britain, he worked on the Rockville school building, thence he removed to Southington and for four years worked for Samuel L. Woodruff, after which for five years he lived in Middletown. From that time until 1881 he remained in New Britain, with the exception of three years at Columbia, Tolland county. In 1881 he settled in Newington, where he purchased a farm, and remained until he erect- ed a fine home in Beckley, on property which he had previously purchased. His farm is a most

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

productive one, and he ranks as one of the most successful farmers in Berlin town.

Mrs. Dohrenwend, first wife of our subject, died in Southington in 1868, surviving their only child, Charles, who was born in 1858, died in 1864, and was buried in Flushing cemetery, Long Island. For his second wife our subject married Elizabeth Edwards, who was born in Southington in 1841. By this union he has three children-Frank Henry, of whom mention is made below; Mary Armena, born in Middletown Nov. 12, 1871, and now a bright and popular stenographer in the New Haven office of the New York Life Insurance Co .; and Charles Frederick, born Sept. 24, 1874, a joiner by trade.

In politics Charles Dohrenwend is a stanch Re- publican. He has served on the school committee, but has never sought office. Himself and wife are active members of the Methodist Church, and he is a member of Meriden Lodge. No. I, I. O. O. F. Mr. Dohrenwend is a skilled mechanic, and his services have always been in demand. He ranks as one of the best joiners in Berlin, and his stand- ing as a citizen is equally high.

FRANK HENRY DOHRENWEND, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Edwards) Dohrenwend, was born in Middletown Sept. 8, 1870. He was educated in the Stocking Corners District school, and in the schools of Newington and New Britain. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the trade of his father, that of joiner, and has worked at it since when not engaged on the farm. He was employed in the finishing of the Seldon school in Beckley. He was married, June 26, 1895, to Miss Lena A. Splettstoeszer, who was born in Berlin Jan. 23, 1874. daughter of Charles and Susan (Weckesser) Splettstoeszer. The only child born to them, Almon, (lied March 8, 1898, aged three days. Frank Henry Dohrenwend is an attendant of the Congregational Church, of which his wife is a member. He is an unswerving Republican in politics, and is a member of Berlin Grange. No. 24. He owns a farm of about forty acres, and in 1896 erected his present taste- ful residence in Beckley. He has placed his prop- erty under a high state of cultivation, and is one of the young citizens of Berlin town whose energy. ambition and good business qualities are rapidly guiding him to the front.

JOSEPH R. JOHNSON, ex-chief of police of the city of New Berlin, won universal commenda- tion in that community by his excellent work in managing the details of that department of the municipal administration. The force, which con- sisted of ten men at the time of his appointment. was increased to fourteen to meet the needs of the growing city, and while chief, Mr. Johnson, who is noted for his keen perception and clear ideas, main- tained a high degree of efficiency.

Mr. Johnson was born Dec. 16, 1855. in Hunter ( formerly Bushnellville), Greene county, N. Y .. and is of Holland Dutch descent in the paternal

line. Alexander Johnson, his grandfather, was a native of Columbia county, N. Y., and became a ship carpenter by occupation. He was killed in Newburg, N. Y .. in 1830 or 1831, and his wife, whose maiden name was Kesselbrick, died in the same year. They had four children, viz .: Willett, Riley, Eliza, who married Matthew Fort, of Troy, N. Y., and Adna, our subject's father.

Adna Johnson, a highly respected resident of Jewett, N. Y., was born in October, 1829, in Ellen- ville, N. Y., but his boyhood was spent chiefly in Pine Hill, that State, with one Peter Coon. He attended the schools of that locality, and later learned the shoemaker's trade which for many years he followed as a journeyman. He served four vears as a soldier in the Civil war, in Company K,. 14th N. Y. Cavalry, holding the rank of sergeant and corporal, and for a few days endured the hor- rors of Libby Prison, but was released on parole. On his return he found it impossible to continue his trade because of the strain upon his back, and he engaged in carpentering which he has ever since followed. He is a man of good abilities, being- especially talented in mechanical lines. At times he- has been active in local politics, and has held the office of tax collector. For many years he has been identified with Stanley Post, G. A. R., at Jewett. and in religious faith he is a devout Methodist. His estimable wife, Harriett Craig, is now deceased. They had the following children : Willard and Wil- lis (twins), who died in infancy; Joseph R., our subject ; Lucy E., wife of George W. Coyne, for- merly of Pine Hill and now of New Britain ; Rob- ert W., deceased ; Henry Augustus, deceased ; and Millie A., who married F. P. Hart, and died No- vember 1, 1898.

During his boyhood Joseph R. Johnson enjoyed fair educational advantages, as he attended the- schools of Jewett, N. Y., both winter and summer until he was sixteen, and in the winter until he was nineteen. In the meantime he learned the shoe- maker's trade, and in 1873 he came to New Britain to work through the summer season as a farm hand for W. H. Stanley. He then returned home. but in the following spring he came again to this country. The summer of 1876 he spent in West Hartford, in the employ of C. M. Lewis, the whole- sale jeweler, and for the next four years he was en- gaged as a shoemaker in Hunter, N. Y., carry- ing on a shop on his own account. In the spring of 1880 he again came to New Britain, and for two years was a night watchman for the American Hosiery Co. He clerked in D. C. Judd's grocery for two years, and had charge of the teaming for the P. & F. Corbin factory for some time, and then went to Hensonville, N. Y., and bought out a team- ing business which he carried on for twenty months. On returning to New Britain he became a night watchman at the Stanley factorv, but. as his ability to do more difficult work was recognized, he was soon transferred to a position where he had charge of forty or fifty men. There he quickly demon-

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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 176

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