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 56

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 56

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HENRY RICHARDS BURNHAM, a retired farmer and highly-respected citizen of East Hart- ford, was born in South Windsor, Hartford county, March 4, 1842, and was educated in the district school and at the East Hartford Academy.

Elijah Burnham, grandfather of Henry R., was born in East Hartford, but lived in South Windsor, then a part of East Windsor, in the latter years of his life, and was a gentleman of considerable prom- inence in nis neighborhood. He married a Miss Austin, who bore him seven children, in the follow- ing order: Horace, who married Elgiva Elmore, and lived and died a farmer in South Windsor; Henry, father of our subject; Julius, who married Laura Hills, and was a farmer of East Hartford, where he died ; Austin, who married Frances Olm- stead, and is now a farmer of East Hartford; Mary, widow of William Williams, who was also a farmer in East Hartford ; Lucy, who was married to a Mr. Converse, a farmer in Wisconsin, in which State he died, near Wyocena; and Susan, who was mar- ried to Reuben Parker, and lived in Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, but lived in East Hartford.

Henry Burnham, father of our subject, was born in South Windsor Jan. 22, 1808, received a common- school education, and after quitting school worked in an ax factory in Collinsville, thence returning to the homestead in South Windsor. He married Miss Mary Richards, daughter of Jonah and Nancy Rich- ards, and to this union were born three children: Willard G., who married Sarah Williams, and is now living in South Windsor; Henry R., the sub- ject of this sketch ; and Roland, who married Aman- da Starks, and is now engaged in farming in South Windsor. The father of this family was a very successful farmer, and, aided by his children, ac- quired a large estate. He was called away in 1875, but his widow survived until 1894, and the remains of both were interred at South Windsor.

Henry R. Burnham, after leaving school, re- turned to the home farm, on which he lived until his marriage, which took place April 15, 1880, to Mrs. Sarah Hollis, widow of Henry D. Hollis, and daugh- ter of Alexander H. and Ella S. ( Allen) Bingham. To this marriage no children have been born. The year previous to his marriage Mr. Burnham had purchased his present farm, known as the "Ralza- man Gillman" place, and up to 1886 cultivated to- bacco ; he then turned his whole attention to market gardening, which he carried on until 1898, when he

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raised another crop of tobacco. He then rented his land, and is now enjoying in quiet the fruits of his early industry.

Mr. Burnham has never cared for politics, and has not voted since 1880. He is a member of the O. U. A. M., and has been a trustee of the same. He is not a member of any religious society, but Mrs. Burnham is a regular attendant at the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Burnham started in life without any assistance from his people, and luis success is due entirely to his own efforts. He is a pleasant man, and an entertaining conversa- tionalist : is upright in his walk through life, and honorable in all his dealings, and is much esteemed for his unaffected kindness and sterling personal merits.

HERMAN MARTIN SALSTRUM was born at Horsens, Denmark, May 7, 1870, son of Berndt Magnus, and grandson of August Salstrom. His father is a botanist and gardener, whose scientific knowledge caused his selection for the post of State gardener, which he filled for ten years. He is a man of marked ability, and a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church. He married Marie Andresen, by whom he has been the father of children as follows : Herman M., Alga, Nels, Olga, Christine, Hjalmar, Oxel, Elsie, Germanus and Wilhelm. Herman and Alga are twins ; Olga resides in Chicago.

Herman M. Salstrum was educated in the schools of Sandseryd, a suburb of Jonkoping, Smaland, Sweden. He left school at the age of eleven, but studied in the evening under a private tutor, thus acquiring a good knowledge of the elementary branches. His first employment was in two fish markets, working in each on alternate days. After three or four years spent in this work he entered the postoffice at Safsjo, where he remained for two years. His next situation was at Wrigsted, a place some sixteen miles distant, where he entered the em- ploy of J. P. Johanson, a dealer in clothing, as well as in groceries and table delicacies. After two and a half years he went to Goteborg, where he was a clerk for Carl Johnson, the largest retail merchant of the place. This employment also lasted two and a half years, when he went to Christiania, Norway, and entered the employ of Johan Christiensen Carl Johans Gade, a dealer in clothing and shoes. After remaining three years with him he resolved to seek better fortune in the New World, and in 1892 came to America, landing in New York on July 9. From there he went to Marbledale, Conn., where he went to work for F. M. Ford, being employed at raising and cutting tobacco. A month later he found em- ployment with Sperry Brothers, as a tobacco sorter, remaining with that firm, however, only a few months. and subsequently worked for men by the name of Green and Shoverling, in New Milford, Conn. He remained at New Milford until March, 1895, when he went to Lynn, where, for three months. he worked in a shoe factory. On July 16, 1895, he removed to New Britain, and opened a small store at No. 54 Church street, carrying a stock

of hats and shoes. In May, 1897, he changed his place of business to No. 40, in the same street, and in June, 1899, enlarged it by adding the premises adjoining. Here he has a large stock, and has built one of the most extensive trades in his own line in the city, employing four clerks constantly, and on Saturday and Monday evenings has nine additional men constantly at work.

From what has been said it may be seen that Mr. Salstrum is wholly a self-made man. From the po- sition of a boy in a fish market to that of proprietor of an extensive and prosperous business is a long stride, but he has taken it successfuny. Industry, integrity and thrift have been the corner-stones on which he has built his success. In commercial mat- ters he is noted for his unquestioned probity; in private life he is genial and generous. He is fond of social pleasures, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Wega. He belongs to the Swedish Lutheran Church, and politically is a Re- publican, although taking no active part in politics. He married Miss Amanda Hahn, of New Milford, and they have two children, Hugo and Beatrice.

WILBUR F. GRANT. This enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Manchester was born on a farm in the town of South Windsor, Hartford coun- ty, March 5, 1840, the fifth in a family of six chil- dren born to Willis S. (son of Gustavus) Grant and Emily Belcher. Both his father and his pa- ternal grandfather were born in South Windsor. Of his brothers and sisters, William C., the eldest, and Sydney D., the fourth in order of birth, are de- ceased ; Norman O. is a farmer of South Windsor ; Bersheba was the wife of Capt. Henry Nettleson ; and Heien M., now deceased, was married to Frank Stevens.

Wilbur F. Grant was reared at the old home- stead, and received his early education in the school of District No. 7, supplementing same with study in the Manchester high school. When he was six- teen years old he entered the employ of Samuel Rockwell & Son, of Hartford, as a clerk, and re- mained with them for six years. At the expiration of that period he formed a co-partnership with Henry Willard, for the conduct of a mercantile business. In 1863 Mr. Grant disposed of his in- terest in the firm to his partner, and began farming of property purchased from his father's estate, con- tinuing there until 1864, when he exchanged farms with his brother, Norman, who still resides there. In 1883 he erected a new house, and he has made many extensive improvements on the property since it came into his hands. He makes a specialty of raising fine Jersey cattle, and also carries on a large and profitable dairy business, besides marketing six to twelve tons of tobacco yearly. In addition to his farm he also owns a grocery and meat and vege- table market in Manchester, which he opened in 1892. In the management of this last mentioned enterprise he has associated with himself his son, Walton W.

Mr. Grant has been twice married, first, in 1867,

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to Miss Estella Johnson, of Manchester, who was the mother of the son already mentioned. After her death he married, on July 29, 1879, Miss Henrietta A. Morse, of New Britain. In politics Mr. Grant is a Democrat. He has a wide circle of acquaint- ances, and is justly esteemed by the community at large by reason of his marked enterprise and his recognized probity.

EDGAR BREWER, farmer, breeder of fine Jer- sey cattle, and dealer in grain, flour, feed, etc., at Hockanum, town of East Hartford, is of the sixthe generation in direct descent from Thomas Brewer, the ancestor of most of the Brewers in Connecti- cut. [For complete genealogy see sketch of P. S. Brewer. ]

Daniel Brewer (4), father of our subject, was born Feb. 22, 1796, in the town of East Hartford, Hartford Co., Conn., tenth in the family of twelve children born to Daniel (3) and Mary (Risley) Brewer. Daniel Brewer (4) was reared to farm life, and acquired such education as was obtainable at the common schools of the time, assisted by the practical experiences of every-day life. He pos- sessed a remarkably retentive memory, and by much reading stored his mind with useful information. At the age of nineteen he left home with a party of young men, who were employed by I. L. Skinner to work on a government road at that time being built from Washington, D. C., to the West. With others of the party he walked all the way to Wheeling, Va., and after laboring on the said road for several months returned to Connecticut, the en- tire distance being made on foot.

After his marriage( which will presently be re- corded) Mr. Brewer and his wife commenced do- mestic life in Brewer street, Hockanum, in a small house at that time known as "the old oil mill house," and two years thereafter purchased land on Main street, meantime making many improvements to the home. A very industrious man, he devoted his energies to market gardening and general farming, and from time to time, as his means increased, he bought more land, until he owned about one hun- dred acres. He was one of the early tobacco growers, at a time when each family manufactured into cigars the product of their farms, and alto- gether was one of the best and most prosperous farmers in the community. A Whig in politics, he held some of the minor town offices, although he was too devoted to his duties on the farm to take much interest in public affairs.

On Feb. 23, 1819, Daniel Brewer was marricd in West Springfield, Mass., by Rev. Griswold, to Miss Sarah Viets, who was born July 16, 1798, in Westfield, Mass. [For history of the Viets family, of which she was a member, see sketch of Lcvi Clinton Viets, elsewhere.] Nine children were born to this union, to wit: Arthur Elsworth, born Nov. 19, 1819, learned the trade of tinner, but became a farmer and resides in Staffordville, Conn .;

Hanscy Sophia is the widow of William Jones, of East Hartford; Charlotte Amelia is the deceased wife of Edward D. Howlett; Caroline is the widow of William S. Avery, and resides with Mrs. Hansey S. Jones ; Edgar, our subject, is next in the order of birth; Joy Hamlet is deceased; Julia Arabel mar- ried Cyrus Knight, and died in Warwick, Mass .; Roswell Henry died in childhood; and Roswell Viets is also deceased. The parents of this family both died in 1883, the father in July, in his eighty- eighth year, the mother in October, in her eighty- sixth year.

Edgar Brewer, the subject proper of this re- view, was born June 17, 1830, in the old housc standing next north of his present residence, Hocka- num, and received his education in part at the dis- trict school on High street, later in the academy presided over by that distinguished pedagogue, Salmon Phelps, and finally taking lessons in book- keeping at a private school. At the age of eight- een he went to Rockville, Conn., to learn the sad- dlery trade, but after a year there he finished learn- ing his trade in New London, and from time to time was required at home to assist his father on the farm. In 1851 he went to Hartford, to fill the po- sition of general assistant or manager, salesman and bookkeeper for P. V. Hall, proprietor of a saddlery and harness shop there. In 1861 he pur- chased the business, and for some twelve years thereafter carried it on successfully, his time being taken up alternately between the store and the farm, in which latter he by that time had an interest.

In the fall of 1868 Henry S. Sawyer, of Hart- ford, and Mr. Brewer formed the firm of Sawyer & Brewer, to deal in hand lawn mowers, the first ones manufactured in this country, and in fact, the first made in any country that could be operated by one person. They were of the type invented by Amariah M. Hills, and the contract for their manu- facture was given to Landers, Frary & Clark, of New Britain. The introduction and sale of them devolved on Mr. Brewer, who in this work put in the hardest year's labor of his life, and the credit for its unusual success is due to him alone. The mower was shown and operated by him in many of the public parks in this country, and, although a new thing to the people, sold so successfully that the sales reached nearly $100,000 the first year. The second year $30,500 worth was sold, on one order, to the Ames Plow Company, of Boston. In 1871 the Hills Archimedcan Lawn Mower Company was formed, Mr. Brewer taking the position of general sales agent. In 1872 he was chosen president of the company, and continued in that capacity for nine years, during which period the value of stock doubled. The manufacture of the mowers was done by the Hills Archimedean Lawn Mower Company, at Colt's Armory, new styles, of several sizes, were perfected, and the original style was remodeled to meet the requirements of foreign markets, half of

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their production for several years being sold in Europe. Throughout his connection with the com- pany it enjoyed prosperity, and led all others in the manufacture and sale of lawn mowers. They were the pioneers of their line, and Mr. Brewer took great pride in the success of the concern, and the subsequent disaster that overtook the firm was a matter of personal sorrow to him.

In connection with his farming interests Mr. Brewer is an extensive breeder of Jersey cattle, of which breed no man in the State has a better knowl- edge, or is a better judge-in fact he is a universally acknowledged authority on Jerseys. In 1868 he made his first purchase of Jersey stock, buying two cows and a bull (descendants of early importa- tions by John A. Taintor and John F. Norton), and now has some thirty head, though at one time he owned as many as fifty-five. He sent for ex- hibition in the Columbian herd at the World's Fair his cow "Sayda III," 17,317. Though twelve years old she gave fifty pounds of milk, or two pounds four ounces of butter on her one-day's trial for se- lection. At her best she has made twenty-four and one-half pounds of butter in seven days. She was one of the famous ten cows that went throughi the three tests, a period covering nearly or quite six months, and she was pronounced by superintend- ent Fuller a "representative Jersey." She also had a daughter in the supplemental herd, whose butter record (the only one reported) was twenty-two pounds eleven and one-half ounces in seven days- six and one-half months after calving. Mr. Brewer had previously sold her to Banker C. A. Sweet, of Buffalo, to be exhibited by him. In 1894 Mr. Brewer lost his world-famed Jersey bull, "Koffee's Noble," 14,631, a grandson of the famous Island- bred cow "Coomassie," and one of her very best, as his entire pedigree was made up of some of the most famous names on the Island. Prominent breeders pronounced him the best Jersey bull living in his day, and he was valued in his prime at fully $10,000. Mr. Brewer is a member of the Con- necticut Jersey Breeders Association. John O. Couch, of Middlefield, professional buyer for the Havemeyers and other large owners of Jerseys, styles him "the best posted in Jersey literature of any man in Connecticut." Hon. R. A. Potter, ex- president of the Dairymen's Association of Con- necticut, has paid him an equally high compliment. His work in the introduction of the best strains of Jerseys has made him known to lovers of blooded stock throughout the country. He is kept in cor- respondence with breeders from Maine to Cali- fornia, and is frequently visited by parties who have journeyed hundreds of miles for the sole purpose of examining his herd of Jerseys. He also does a considerable flour, grain and feed business under the firm name of Edgar Brewer & Son.

Mr. Brewer built his beautiful home in Hocka- num, which is surrounded with all the comforts

that make life worth living, and takes a just pride in it. He is also justly proud of the fact that the large apple trees in the yard he grew from seeds sown with his own hand, while the beautiful row of maples in front of the place, as well as those in the lawns, were all planted by himself.

In November, 1854, Edgar Brewer was united in marriage with Miss Ellen S., daughter of George King, of Hartford, and four children have been born to them: Cassius King, a farmer of East Hartford; Helen Eugenia, who died in her sixteenth year ; Robert Henry, deceased in infancy; and R. Mont- gomery, who assists his father in the farm and other interests. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer attend the services of the Congregational Church, and he was a member of the building committee at the time the church was erected at Hockanum. In politics he is a Republican, though taking no special interest in the affairs of the party, and has declined to accept nomination for office. He is very popular in the community, and is considered one of the county's most loyal and public-spirited citizens.

EDWARD D. DICKINSON is an energetic and successful tobacco grower and farmer of Glaston- bury, has a thorough knowledge of the tobacco busi- ness, and is one of the largest growers in the town. A son of Nathaniel and Mary (Rich) Dickinson, he was born April 22, 1849, in Marlboro, Hartford county, in a house which was located in the northern part of that town and has since been torn down. [ The ancestral history of the family is given in the sketch of Julius G. Dickinson, elsewhere. ]

The early education of our subject was acquired in the district schools and finished at the Penfield Hill school, in the eastern part of the town of Port- land, which was a very good school in those days. On laying aside his text books, at the age of four- teen years, he returned home, where he followed farming until nearly twenty-one, and then went to East Hampton, Conn., forming a partnership with a cousin, Nathan R. Hall, under the firm name of Hall & Dickinson, and engaging in getting out tim- ber and lumber, such as railroad ties, poles, piles, ship timber, etc., in which business they continued about two years with success. On selling out the business to a company, Mr. Dickinson went to Port- land, Conn., where for six months he served as fore- man in the Brainard brown-stone quarries, having a number of men under him, many of whom were much older than he. The following spring, in 1872, he came to Hockanum, in the town of East Hart- ford, and was employed for a year by J. Knox Hall as a farm hand, endeavoring to learn in this way something of tobacco culture. In 1875 he and his brother, Charles R., leased land of Henry Daniels, Henry Holmes and Alonzo Roberts, in Hockanum, where they cleared a tract of new land and planted it in tobacco, raising the first crop on what is now some of the best tobacco land in East Hartford. They raised about seven and a half acres annually for three years, and met with success in the under-

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taking. After his marriage, in 1875, our subject located on the farm where he now resides, it being occupied by his father-in-law, Russell Sellew, who for many years conducted a restaurant on Main street, Hartford. The farm was not cultivated, as Mr. Sellew devoted his entire time to his cafe, and when Mr. Dickinson took charge of the same it was in a "run-down" condition. He erected all of the outbuildings, has improved the same from time to time, and has added to the farm, which when he took possession consisted of twenty-five acres. In connection with his farm work he also engaged ex- tensively in buying and selling cattle. In 1899 he raised twelve acres of tobacco, which was sold in the field to the same buyer who has purchased our sub- ject's crop for a number of years past.

On Sept. 7, 1875, Mr. Dickinson married Miss Ella S. Sellew, who was born June 7, 1858, a daugh- ter of Russell and Mary (Manning) Sellew. The father was born March 7, 1829, and died Jan. 30, 1873, and the mother was born Dec. 20, 1827, and died Sept. 14, 1882. In their family were three chil- dren, the others being Florence E., who died at the age of eleven years; and Alice M., now the wife of Cassius Raynesford, of Ellis, Ellis Co., Kan. Our subject purchased her interest in the old home- stead. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have one child, Bertha May, who was born June 4, 1876, and was married, Nov. 28, 1894, to Ansel Bidwell, a son of Ansel and Emeline (Hodge) Bidwell, of the same town ; he is a soap manufacturer of South Glaston- bury, and resides with our subject. They have two children: Leon Russell, born Dec. 23, 1895; and Edward Dickinson, born April 12, 1897.

Mr. Dickinson and his family attend the Congre- gational Church, and he affiliates with the Demo- cratic party, of which his father was also a sup- porter. He has served as grand juror and assessor, and has filled other minor offices. Socially he is a prominent member of Elm Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs, and at one time was also connected with the Grange and the Order of United American Mechanics. He is a man of jovial disposition, is wide-awake and en- ergetic, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management.

CHARLES R. DICKINSON, a brother of our sub- ject, now residing in Rockville, Conn., was born on the old homestead in Marlboro, Aug. 29, 1851, and received a district-school education, which was completed when he was fourteen years of age. When about twenty he and his brother embarked in the tobacco business in East Hartford, and fol- lowed the same until 1875, when he went West, visiting Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. He worked in various places at the joiner's trade, and conducted a hotel in Hampshire, Kane Co., Ill., for six months. Returning to Connecticut, he located on the home farm in Marlboro, and like his brother he engaged in getting out timber for cross ties, poles, etc. He operated the farm for

about ten years, and then went to Ellington, Tol- land Co., Conn., where he purchased a house and lot, being engaged in the wholesale and retail dressed meat business at that place for many years. In No- vember, 1899, he moved to Rockville, Conn., where he now resides. He is a member of the Ellington Congregational Church, and a supporter of the Dem- ocratic party. In 1881 Mr. Dickinson married Miss Fannie Ferguson, a daughter of Samuel A. Fergu- son, a wagonmaker of Marlboro, and they have one son, Merton V., at home.

PHILIP JOHN BRIDEAUX. As a stock breeder the subject of this sketch is rapidly acquir- ing a reputation which is extending far and wide. He was born in the Island of Jersey, the original home of the famous Jersey breed of cattle, and his ancestors for generations have been noted breeders of cattle. As a boy our subject became an expert judge of cattle, and in adult life he adopted the oc- cupation of his father. He exported stock from his native island to America, and realizing the vast op- portunities in this country he finally came to the United States. His successes here are briefly re- counted in the following sketch.

Mr. Brideaux was born in the Island of Jersey Sept. 2. 1852, son of John and Mary (LeGresley) Brideaux, and grandson of John Brideaux. Both his father and his grandfather were farmers and breeders of fine Jersey cattle on the Island, where the former was born in 1813, and lived to the age of sixty-eight years. He was a progressive and en- ergetic man, and these traits his son, our subject, has inherited. The mother of our subject was born April 14, 1818, and died in England, where she is buried. Their family consisted of three sons, of whom Philip John was the youngest. John Francis, born in September, 1846, died in 1898; he had one daughter, Amelia. Elias John, born in August, 1849, married Maryann Pirouet, and they had twelve children, of whom Walter P., the fourth son, came to this country in 1899 to learn farming and cattle breeding, making his home with his uncle, our subject.

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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 56

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