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 5

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 5

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William McGirr, father of Mrs. Nancy Welden, was born about 1800 in County Donegal, and was married there to Nancy Nesbit, a native of the same locality. By occupation he was a weaver, and in 1839 came to the United States for his health, which was greatly benefited by the change. Having decided to remain, he sent for his family, and on July 4, 1841, they arrived in New York City, where he has been staying with his brother Robert. For many years he was engaged in business as a stone mason, and in laving flagging, and his death oc- curred in New York in April, 1852. He was an honest, hard-working man, and an excellent citizen, and he and his estimable wife, who survived him two years, were members of the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Grand and Mercy streets, New York. Of their nine children, Ellen married John Johnston, and resides in Wisconsin, where they were pioneers : Rebecca died in New York at the age of twenty-two years, unmarried; Martha, widow of Alexander McNulty, resides at Simsbury, Conn. : Sarah married George Corran, and died in Wiscon- sin: Nancy, our subject's mother, was fifth in the order of birth; Catherine died in Ireland in child- hood: Robert died in Wisconsin; William, who

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served in the Civil war with the rank of orderly ser- geant, was a contractor for years, and is now a farmer at Upper Macopin, N. J .; George, the only one of the children born in America, served in the Union army during the Rebellion, and now lives in the West.

Our subject attended the public schools of New York City until he was fourteen, but from that time he was compelled to carry on his studies alone, while helping to support the family. He is a close, keen observer, and his reading has given him a wide range of information, his conversation making a stranger suppose him to be a college graduate. His manner in speaking is deliberate and effective, and had he been prepared for a profession in his youth he would doubtless have met with marked success. His unvarying courtesy has been a strong factor in his advance to his present enviable position in life, and he has hosts of friends, won by his sterling qualities of character. After coming to Simsbury he worked for fifteen years for the firm known as the Ensign Bickford Co., beginning in a humble capac- ity, and rising to a position of responsibility. He then engaged in business on his own account, pur- chasing his present hardware store and greenhouse from the estate of C. A. McLean. As both enter- prises were then carried on in a small way, he de- voted his attention to building them up, and through his able management they have developed to an extent seldom seen in towns of the size of Sims- bury. As a florist he has made a decided success with his house plants and cut flower specialties, his trade extending over a large territory. Politically he is a Republican, but for the first few years after attaining his majority he supported the Prohibi- tion party. In the fall of 1898 he was elected to the Legislature, where he served with credit. So- cially he and his wife are prominent, and they are identified with Epworth League circles and the work of the Methodist Church in Simsbury, in which Mr. Welden is steward and trustee. He is also active in the Masonic Fraternity, being a member of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 36, F. & A. M., at Simsbury, and the Chapter. R. A. M., at Collinsville. His wife, formerly Miss Harriet A. Case, is a daughter of Ralph and Mary Annie Case, and was born at Livonia, N. Y., where her family is well known. The only child of this union, Alice M., died in infancy.

HON. D. W. MACK. It is a noteworthy fact that the scions of the old pioneer families are taking the lead in the manifold activities of modern life, the hardy stock being in no way deteriorated by the added culture and refinement of later generations.

roga, and Peregrine White, the first white child born in America, while several of his ancestors served as soldiers in the Revolutionary army. In the direct paternal line he is descended from Andrew Mack, a Hessian soldier, who was captured at Ticon- deroga, and imprisoned for a time in the old New- gate prison, in this county ; when released he joined the Continental army and fought gallantly on the side of freedom until the independence of the Colo- nies was acknowledged. He then settled upon a farm in the town of Windsor, where he died July 7, 1839, aged eighty-nine ; his wife, Sally Pease, of Enfield, this county, died Jan. 23, 1833, at the age of eighty. They had four sons who lived to adult age: Will- iam, our subject's grandfather; Andrew, known as Col. Andrew; James, who served in the war of 1812, and died while on the way home from New Orleans; and Henry, of whom no definite account has been preserved.

Col. Andrew Mack was born March 9, 1780, at the old home in Windsor, and, after receiving a somewhat limited education, went to sea, where he passed through all grades up to that of master of a ship. He circumnavigated the globe three times, but in 1808 he gave up his sea-faring life, bringing with him on his last trip a flock of Merino sheep, one of the first brought to this country, from Spain. He disembarked at New Haven, but took his flock to a farm near Cincinnati, where for many years he was engaged in sheep breeding. He was one of the owners of the first woolen-mill in Ohio, being associated with William H. Harrison (afterward Fresident of the United States), Lewis Corneal, Nicholas Longworth and other prominent men of that day, but through indorsing a note of a New Orleans merchant he lost all his means and was obliged to begin life anew. He opened the "Man- sion House" in Cincinnati, which became a favorite headquarters for army officers, Gen. Andrew Jack- son being a frequent guest. During the war of 1812 Andrew Mack organized a body known as "minute men of Cincinnati," which was part of the First Ohio Regiment of Militia, and of which he was made colonel. After the close of the war he served as representative and State senator of Ohio, and was also levee commissioner. After Jackson's election, in 1828, one of his first thoughts was of what he could do for his friend Mack. He came to Mack's hotel in Cincinnati, and said : "Andrew, would you take an office? I can give you a good one in Michigan." Mr. Mack said "it would be acceptable." "Well," said Old Hick- ory, "you can be governor of the Territory of Michi- gan or customs collector of the port of Detroit." After some consideration the Colonel decided that both his modesty and means inclined him towards the collectorship, to which he was appointed, to suc- ceed Louman Beecher. He held the office ten years. and as in those days it vielded less than $1.000 per annum to its incumbent, he decided to supplement his income, taking charge of the "Mansion House"

The subject of this sketch, who is one of the most prominent citizens of Windsor, can trace his descent in different lines from several of the oldest families in America, and by his ability and personal worth he does credit to his ancestry. Among the historic personages with whom he can claim blood relationship are Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonde- at Detroit, of which he was landlord for three years.

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In 1831 he, in company with ten others, all leading Democrats, organized a company, and on May 5, 1831, they issued the first copy of the Democratic Free Press, Detroit. For some years the Gazette had been the only Democratic sheet in the Terri- tory, but it was burned out in 1830, and the Journal, although professedly independent, but with Whig leaning, had been pouring hot shot into the admin- istration, so the Free Press organized to offset its opposition. In 1832 cholera broke out in Detroit, being brought by soldiers from the steamer "Henry Clay," en route to take part in the Black Hawk war, but Col. Mack took in every soldier that applied at his hotel, although it cost him the loss of many of his regular guests. At one time he was mayor of Detroit, and in 1839 he was elected to the Legisla- ture of Michigan. He was a man of striking per- sonality, resembling pictures of "Red Jacket," the Indian chief, and was over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and firm muscles. He died July 12, 1854, and of his children only one son survived him, Charles A. Mack. He also had an adopted daugh- ter, Cornelia, who married Jacob Strader, a well- known and wealthy steamboat owner of Cincinnati, Ohio. Charles A. Mack was for many years an offi- cer in the United States Revenue service, and died in Detroit in 1864.

William Mack, our subject's grandfather, was born May 31, 1783, in Windsor, and also served in the war of 1812. By occupation he was a farmer, his home being in the town of Windsor, where he died June 15, 1862, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a Democrat in politics, and for many years was an active member of the Congregational Church. On May 22, 1804, he was married to Charlotte Allen, who was born July 30, 1784, and died Nov. 2, 1857. and the remains of both now rest in the cemetery at Windsor. Charlotte Allen was a near relative of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. Her father, George Allen, a highly respected resident of Wind- sor, died Oct. 16, 1835, aged seventy-nine, and her mother, Saborah Case, of Simsbury, died April 22, 1840, at seventy-eight years of age. To William and Charlotte (Allen) Mack came nine children : Charlotte, born Aug. 3, 1806, married William Per- kins, and died May 23, 1836, in East Hartford; Elizabeth, born April 8, 1808, died Jan. 18, 1810; William, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully below; Andrew, born June 4, 1812, died Jan. 26, 1876, at Chaplin, Conn., where he had followed farming ; George A., born July 23, 1815, married Eliza M. Reynolds, Nov. 29, 1837, and died May 4, 1898, in Windsor ; Henry, born March 1, 1818, died in childhood; Ruth, born March 5, 1819, married Lucius S. Merritt, of Windsor; Hezekiah, born April 19, 1821, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Windsor in 1898; Griswold, born Sept. 21, 1829, was accidentally killed in Sanilac, Mich., by a fall from a trestle. (For some years he was employed in the lumber business by Mr. Imlay, formerly of Windsor, with whom he went to Michigan).

Hon. William Mack, the father of our subject,

was a native of Windsor, born May 14, 1810, and was educated in the common schools of the town. When about fourteen years old he secured employ- ment in a brick yard, where his faithfulness and steady habits soon won him promotion. Knowing that he had to make his own way in the world he saved his earnings, and at one time he worked six months at $12.50 per month, and only spent two dollars. As a young man he engaged in brick- making on his own account, and at present he is the oldest manufacturer in Windsor in that line. He is also interested in farming, and although he has been an industrious worker all his life, he is remarkably well-preserved, each day during the summer of 1898 finding him busy at some task. As a citizen he is much esteemed, and at times he has taken an active part in political affairs, although he often avoided official responsibilities. In his early years he was a Democrat, having voted for Jackson, but since the organization of the Republican party he has been a stanch supporter thereof, having been the first representative ever elected on that ticket to the State Legislature from the town of Windsor. His able services in that body during the Civil war established him still more firmly in the confidence of the people.

At the age of twenty-six Mr. Mack married Miss Sarah M. Ware, who died June 30, 1890, her re- mains being interred in Windsor. They had the following children : William R., brick manufac- turer and farmer, and a resident of Windsor ; Henry C., a farmer and brick maker of Windsor ; Warren, who died aged nine years ; Sarah M., who died when one year old ; Charles N., a member of the New Haven police force ; D. W., our subject ; Willard W., who died at the age of sixteen, from typhoid fever ; Sarah M., now Mrs. Elisha Cobb, of Windsor ; and Frederick W., who married Miss Vernelia Case, of. Bloomfield, and resides in Windsor.

Mrs. Sarah M. (Ware) Mack was a lady of uni- sual gifts of mind and heart, and was especially noted for her retentive memory, even in old age. For many years she was identified with the Con- gregational Church, but later she united with the Methodist Church. Hier father, Daniel Ware, came from Massachusetts, and for some time lived on a farm in the town of Enfield, but his remains are buried in Windsor. Her paternal grandfather, Sergt. Daniel Ware, who served in the Revolution- ary army as a first sergeant, was also interred at Windsor. Her mother, Sarah (White), was a daughter of William White, also a Revolutionary soldier, and a direct descendant of Peregrine White. Mrs. Sarah Mack was the youngest in a large fam- ily of children, as follows: William, a joiner by trade, who died in Windsor ; Alfred, a jeweler, who died in Windsor Locks; Amanda, who married Alonzo Reynolds, and died in Windsor Locks; Au- relia, who married John Hillyer, and died in St. Paul, aged eighty years ; Lucinda, Mrs. Henry Hos- kins, of East Granby; Emeline (deceased), who never married; and Sarah, our subject's mother.

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Hon. D. W. Mack was born Jan. 6, 1847, and after a course in the district schools and the acad- emy at Windsor he attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at Hartford, graduating in 1866. When not in school he was kept busy at home, either in farming or at brick making, and as he grew older he gradually relieved his father of much of the active work of management. On Nov. 17, 1882, he was appointed railway postal clerk between Bos- ton and New York, on the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, and this position he held until May 23, 1887, when he was removed for political reasons. His ability was not called in question, as is proved by the fact that he was afterward recalled for extra work, and served acceptably as long as there was need of his help. On leaving the govern- ment service he became a traveling salesman for the W. H. Sweeney Manufacturing Co., of New York City, his route covering New York, Pennsylvania and the New England States. Later he spent three years as secretary and treasurer of the Fowler & Miller Printing Co., of Hartford, but he afterward returned to the W. H. Sweeney Co., for whom he has traveled from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains, his ability bringing large financial re- turns. Politically he has always been a Republi- can, and for fifteen years he was chairman of the town committee, while at various times he has served in other offices, including that of representative in the State Legislature, to which he was elected in 1879. His public spirit has been shown in many ways, and on the reorganization of the local fire company he was chosen captain. For about twelve years he was the leader of the Windsor Cornet Band, a notably successful organization, and for five years he was chief trumpeter of Company K, Ist Conn. N. G., in which his military ardor made him a valued member. Socially he and his family are promi- nent, and he attends the Methodist Church. He be- longs to the Masonic lodge at Windsor, and for years was active in the Good Templars' Society, serv- ing in all the offices. He helped to organize Wind- sor Grange No. 3, of which he was secretary for some time, and his influence is freely given to vari- ous progressive movements in the community. In 1872 he built a handsome and substantial residence at the corner of Prospect and Mill streets, Windsor, and it is there that his genial nature and cultivated taste may be best seen and appreciated. An interest- ing collection of curios bears witness to his wide travels and observing eyes, and the house is adorned by some fine specimens of his work in taxidermy, in which he has acquired inore than ordinary skill through his own efforts.

On June 30, 1873, Mr. Mack was married in Poquonock to Miss Elizabeth P. Rowles, and six children have blessed the union: Clara L., born July 28, 1874, died in Windsor, March 2, 1885; Daniel R., born Dec. 30, 1876, died Feb. 5, 1878; Miss Florence E., born May 14, 1879, is at home ; Daniel W., born April 30, 1882, died March 25,

1883 ; Clinton L., born July 9, 1885 ; and Louis P., born Feb. 9, 1889.

Mrs. Mack is a native of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., but was educated in Boston, her fine mental abili- ties fitting her to grace any position in life. For some years previous to her marriage she taught school in Hartford and elsewhere, and in rearing her clever and intelligent family of children her gifts as a teacher have been of service. She was born May 19, 1847, daughter of Dr. William Penn Rowles, and granddaughter of William Rowles and his wife Elizabeth (Penn), a lineal descendant of William Penn. The Rowles family is of good Southern stock, Rowlesburg, W. Va., having been named in their honor, and previous to the Civil war they were very wealthy. Dr. William P. Rowles was born at Harper's Ferry in 1792, and died at Lawrenceburg, Tenn., at the age of fifty years. A considerable part of his life was spent in study, he having taken a college course and being admitted to the Bar in Tennessee, and at one time editing a paper in Gallatin, Tenn. He served as surgeon dur- ing the Mexican war and afterwards wrote a book on that campaign. His wife, Clarissa (Griswold), was of the sixth generation in America of that well- known family, and traced her descent from Edward Griswold, of Kenilworth, England, through George, John, Isaac, Isaac, Cyrus, to Isaac, her great-grand- father ; Isaac (2), her grandfather (who married Christiana Holcomb), and Cyrus, her father (who married Parmelia Niles). Dr. Rowles and his wife had five children, two of whom died in childhood, the others being Theodosia, who died at eighteen years of age; Elizabeth P., now Mrs. Mack; and Louisa, widow of George W. Fowler, of Hartford.

LINCOLN E. CROSBY (deceased) was all his life an active citizen of Glastonbury, and in the pur- suit of his numerous interests became well known in business, public, social and religious circles, for his life was not one of limited usefulness.

Mr. Crosby was born April 10, 1840, in Addi- son, town of Glastonbury, son of Edwin Crosby, who is fully spoken of elsewhere. His early education, acquired in the district schools, was supplemented by two terms of study at Wesleyan Academy, Wil- braham, Mass., and at this time the energetic ambi- tion characteristic of all Mr. Crosby's actions had already begun to display itself, for he earned the money to pay for his tuition. When sixteen years of age he entered his father's mill, where he learned finishing, afterward taking charge of that depart- ment until his enlistment, July 31, 1862, for service in the Civil war. He became a private in Company A, 21st Conn. V. I., and was soon promoted to cor- poral. After about one year's service he was dis- charged on account of disability, his weight having been reduced to ninety pounds ; he was in action at the battle of Gettysburg. As soon as able, after his return from the army, Mr. Crosby became interested in the mills as a member of the company, of which

L.G. Crosby

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he became superintendent and treasurer after his father's health failed. In this connection he was active in the business until 1888, when, while on a business trip, he had a paralytic stroke, and he never recovered sufficiently to resume his former duties, though he still retained his interest in the mills. He passed away Aug. 25, 1890, deeply and sincerely lamented by the many friends he had drawn about him in the course of his helpful and active career.

On Jan. 4, 1864, Mr. Crosby married Miss Sarah E. Strong, who was born Dec. 11, 1841, in Gilead, Conn., daughter of Edwin W. and Sarah (Staples) Strong. Four children blessed this union, born as follows: Edwin H., Oct. 23, 1871 ; Grace A., Oct. 28, 1875; Eva A., Dec. 7, 1877 ; and Florence B., Jan. 13, 1881. All attended Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., the two younger daughters grad- uating, Eva in 1897, and Florence in 1898. The son is now in the newspaper business, being editor of the Glastonbury Bulletin; on Aug. 18, 1896, he married Ethel L. Clark, of Portland, Conn., and they have had two children, Lincoln Luzerne and Pris-

cilla Alden. Grace A. is at. home. Eva A. is teach- ing. Florence B. took the vocal course at the Acad- emy, and since April, 1899, has sung in the First Baptist Church of Hartford.

In political sentiment Mr. Crosby was a Repub- lican, and though not a politician in any sense was deeply concerned in the welfare of his town and county, held various minor offices wth his customary efficiency, and ably represented his district in the Legislature (one term, 1880-81). From boyhood he was united with the M. E. Church, in which he was specially active as a Sunday-school worker, serving seventeen years as superintendent of the Sunday- school. He always gave liberally of his time and means to the advancement of its interests and relig- ious affairs generally. Fraternally Mr. Crosby was a Freemason.

HON. SILAS W. CLARK (deceased). One of those grand old men who give stability and. worth to the fabric of society passed away when, on a March morning in 1899, the spirit fled from Silas WV. Clark. He had attained the age of eighty-four years and seven months, and his fatal illness lasted but two months, prior to which he was one of Suf- field's most sterling characters. For fifty years he had lived in the community, successfully engaged in farming, and his name was a household word for probity and honor.

Mr. Clark was born in Washington, near the town of Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., July 22, 1814, a member of one of the oldest families of New England. Silas Clark, his grandfather, was a native of Lebanon, Conn., was a landholder and farmer, was noted for his industry and integrity, as well as his public spirit, and passed his entire life in his native town. Silas Clark, his son, and father of our subject, was also a native of Lebanon, and was reared to manhood on his father's farm, in the meantime learning the shoemaker's trade. He was

a well-read young man, kept himself well posted as to current events, and was, withal, industrious and frugal in his habits.

While still a young man Silas Clark, the young- er, mounted his horse, the only piece of property he could call his own, bade farewell to the parental roof, and rode to Berkshire county, Mass., where he settled in Washington. In that town he worked at his trade until he had saved sufficient from his earnings to purchase a small farm, which he culti- vated in the summer, continuing at shoemaking in winter for several years, until he eventually, by economy and unceasing toil, was able to buy for himself upward of one thousand acres of land, on which he engaged quite extensively in breeding horses, cattle and sheep, for which he found a ready market in New York. He waxed wealthy, and won the respect of all who knew him. He was moreover a very popular and quite public-spirited, and at one time raised a company of militiamen · at Pittsfield, of which he was elected captain, and which was incorporated into the State's service. Although he took an active part in local politics as a Whig, he never sought nor would accept public office; and while he fully lived up to the Golden Rule, he was very liberal in his religious views.

Capt. Silas Clark was united in marriage, at Westfield, Mass., to Miss Sally King, a native of the town, and a member of one of the oldest fam- ilies of the county. To this marriage were born five children, in the following order: Henry, who died in Pittsfield, Mass .; Andrew, who died in April, 1899, in Suffield, Conn .; Mary Ann, deceased wife of Charles Hathaway; Silas W., the subject of this article; and Nathan, who died in Suffield, Conn. The father of this family died on his farmi in Washington in 1852, he and his wife being; among the most highly respected residents of Berk- shire county.

Silas W. Clark passed his early days on his father's farm, ably assisting in its care and cultiva- tion during the summer months. The winter months he passed at the district school, receiving a fair education, but he is chiefly self-taught, as he devoted much time to study after quitting school for good. He assiduously aided his father until he was twenty-seven years of age, when lie was pre- sented by the latter with a one-hundred-acre tract of land, on which he lived eight years, devoting his attention to general farming, dairying and stockraising. He made extensive improvements on his place, but in 1849 disposed of it by sale and came to Suffield, Conn., where he purchased an eighty-acre tract, known as the Remington place, near Hastings Hill, on which he resided until 1875, extensively engaged in the raising of tobacco, for some of which he received as high as forty cents per pound. He made many improvements upon the place, including a fine dwelling, barns, tobacco sheds, etc., but sold out at a fair profit and settled on the place of seventy-five acres which he occupied at the time of his death, known as the Henry Sikes

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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 5

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