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 58

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 58

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Joseph Carroll was born in County Dublin, Ire- land, about 1805, and the year after his arrival in America ( 1841) he was joined by his wife and four of his children-Edward J., Mary A., John F. and Joseph-who had passed a year in Richmond, York- shire, England, at the home of Mrs. Carroll's mother. In September, 1842, the wife and children mentioned embarked at Liverpool, on the sailing vessel "Chester," and after a reasonably short voy- age of four weeks landed at New York City, whence they came by boat to Hartford, Conn., and from Hartford to Scotland (or Burnside). There the family lived for a number of years, or until 1870, when they removed to East Hartford, and a few years later to Hartford, where the father died at No. 199 Sheldon street, when seventy-seven years old, and the mother in February, 1896, at the age of eighty-two years. They were both devout mem- bers of the Catholic Church, and their remains were interred in the North Catholic cemetery. Joseph Carroll was very energetic and industrious up to the time he was stricken with paralysis, when he lost his sight, and for nine years immediately preced- ing his death was deprived of the use of his eyes. His wife was a noble example of womanhood, and, like her husband, was highly respected by many warm-hearted friends. The children born to this venerable couple numbered eleven, as follows : Ed- ward J., our subject ; Mary A. (now Mrs. Patrick Garvan), of Hartford; John F., who enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteers, in 1862, fell before Port Hudson May 25, 1863, and was buried where he fell (he went out as sergeant, but his company was divided, and he was acting as a private at the time of his death. He was a brave soldier and greatly honored, the Sons of Vet- erans camp at East Hartford being named after him) ; Joseph, who died a few months after the fam- ily came to America ; Theresa (now Mrs. Peter J. Gilligan), of Holyoke, Mass .; Elizabeth, who was a Sister of Mercy and died in a convent at Hartford ;

Joseph E., a contractor and builder in East Hart- ford; Miss Martha and Miss Agnes, who reside in Hartford; Frank, who died in the same city, at the age of thirty-five years; and there Miss Annie, the youngest, also makes her home.

Edward J. Carroll, it will have been noticed, was but seven years of age when he came to Connecti- cut. His limited education was acquired in the district school of Burnside under such teachers as Mr. Woodbridge, Miss Ayers, Mr. Lyman and Walter McKee; when less than thirteen years old he quit school, as his parents were poor, and it was necessary he should earn a trifle toward the support of the large family. He had never studied gram- mar, but being possessed of a keen intellect he kept up his studies later in life; to-day anyone, judging from his conversation, would class him among col- legians. At the age of thirteen he went to work in the Hudson paper-mill, and his hrst work was at "laying off for the cutter." He advanced in the work, learned all its details, and worked in the mill until twenty-seven years old, and then for a few weeks worked in Colt's Armory, at Hartford. In April, 1862, he entered Sharp's rifle works, and while there employed decided to serve his adopted country in the preservation of the Union. He was given authority to recruit a company, which became Company E, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteers, and left Hartford in October of the same year. He was then appointed lieutenant and commissioned by Gov. Buckingham. He first made his headquarters at Middletown, then, in November, went to Center- ville, R. I., and early in December, 1862, joined Banks' expedition for New Orleans. With his regiment Lieut. Carroll took part in all its marches and engagements until February, 1863, when, the regiment having been reduced to eight companies, there was a superfluity of officers, and Lieut. Car- roll resigned his commission, and returned home. He virtually served as captain of his company, all through, from the time it first went into camp, the captain proper, George A. Denslow, being absent most of the time.

Lieut. Carroll reached Connecticut in February, 1863, and in April resumed work at the Hudson mill in Burnside (which had changed proprietors in the meantime ), and there he remained until April, 1865, when he embarked in the paper and paper- stock business at No. 245 State street, Hartford. For the first year he conducted this business on his sole account, and then, in partnership with Patrick Garvan, he established the firm of E. J. Carroll & Co. ; this style was maintained until February, 1877, when Mr. Carroll sold his interest to his partner, but remained with Mr. Garvan in the store on the road until September, 1893. since when he has been engaged on his individual account as a dealer in paper and paper-stock.

Edward J. Carroll was joined in matrimony, June 23, 1859, at St. Patrick's Church, Hartford, with Miss Mary Ruth, a native of County Kilkenny, Ire-

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land, and a daughter of John and Ann ( Powers) Ruth, born Dec. 24, 1836. John Ruth came to the United States when Mrs. Carroll was ten and one- half years of age, and died in East Hartford in November, 1868; his wife survived until Novem- ber, 1880, when she passed away at Waterbury, Conn., where she had been living the later years of her life with a son. To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have been born nine children: Joseph R., an insurance agent, and Edward P., a gardener, both of East Hartford; Anna E., with her parents; Christopher J., now an undertaker of Kansas City, Mo .; Ruth, a teacher of East Hartford; Agnes, a Sister of Mercy of Hartford; May, a teacher, of East Hart- ford; and Alonzo, also in business in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Carroll has been a resident of East Hart- ford since 1865. He built his first dwelling on Burnside avenue, by which act he transformed a blackberry hill into a pleasant home, planted a num- ber of rock maple trees in front of his dwelling, where they still form a delightful snade, as well as presenting an ornamental appearance to the avenue, and he occupied these premises until 1872, when he removed to the corner of Main and Orchard streets, living there until, in 1880, he came to his present home on Main street-the "John B. Smith home- stead."

In politics Mr. Carroll is a sound Democrat, and is very popular with his party. Although he has never sought public office for the sake of any re- ward attached thereto he has felt it to be his duty to fill any position to which his fellow citizens might have invited him, and in this spirit of patriotism has served as assessor two years, justice of the peace ten years, and also as school committeeman, and as a member of the High School Building committee, as a chairman of the Center School committee, and as chairman of the High School committee.

Mr. Carroll and family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, contribute liberally to its support, and are leaders in Catholic circles. In fact, the first Catholic services held in the town of East Hartford were at the house of the father of our subject, in 1852, at Burnside, and so continued once a month for several years. In 1872, at a meeting of the Catholic residents of East Hartford, Mr. Carroll, our subject, was appointed secretary and treasurer of a committee selected for the pur- pose of raising funds with which to erect a church edifice, and he succeeded in collecting $1,800 before anv steps had been taken, even to secure a pastor. He was also on the committee that purchased the Woodbridge lot, on which St. Mary's church now stands, and was otherwise active in carrying out the plans of the Catholics to secure a permanent house of worship and found a congregation, which plans, it will have been seen, culminated in success. Since July, 1873, Mr. Carroll has likewise acted as pew collector.

There are few, if any, warmer friends of edu-

cation in the town than Mr. Carroll. He has given his children every advantage in this respect. He is a charter member of Rodman Post, No. 65, G. A. R., at East Hartford, was its first junior vice- commander, rose to the rank of senior vice-com- mander, and then to commander, and for the past ten years has served as quartermaster.

Probably no better estimate of Mr. Carroll's standing and character can be presented to the reader than that furnished in the following extract from a local newspaper: "Mr. Carroll is a man of untiring industry, of seldom-erring judgment, of great companionship, warm geniality and hos- pitable disposition. In his opinions he is broad and charitable, always meeting with the utmost courtesy those who disagree with him, and allowing them every right to their own views. He is open to con- viction, and is ready to admit his mistakes, which are few and far between-far fewer that with the average man. His family ties are particularly happy, and his family among the most popular of the young people in East Hartford, sharing their father's judg- ment, industry, broad-minded liberality, genial com- panionableness and unfailing courtesy."

CHARLES MAPLES JARVIS, vice-president of the American Bridge Co., stands to-day in the front rank of Hartford county's most prominent business men.

Mr. Jarvis is of the seventh generation in de- scent from (I) William and Esther Jarvis, the for- mer of whom was one of the original settlers of Huntington, Long Island. (II) Capt. Samuel Jar- vis, son of (I) William, married Naomi Brush, and by her had two sons: Bishop Abraham and Stephen. Of these, (III) Stephen Jarvis married Rachel Starr. Their son, (IV) Samuel Jarvis, mar- ried Abigail Sanford, and their son, (V) Henry Jarvis, married Mariette Sanford. Their son, (VI) Henry Jarvis, was the father of (VII) Charles M. Jarvis bv his wife, Rachel (Peters).

Charles Maples Jarvis was born in Deposit, Delaware Co., N. Y., April 16, 1856. At that time his father was operating a line of stages between New York City and Owego, N. Y., having the con- tract for delivering the United States mails between Owego and New York City in forty-eight hours. When our subject was two years old his parents moved to Binghamton, N. Y., and he received his early education at the public schools of that place. Entering the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, he graduated with his class in 1877, having taken the course in civil engineering. In April, 1878, he was offered a position as engineer with The Berlin Iron Bridge Company, of East Berlin, Conn., the company at that time being known as The Corrugated Metal Company. They had then about twenty employes, and did a business of about $20,000 a year. For two or three years Mr. Jarvis did the entire work of making all the draw- ings, estimates, and a portion of the contracts, and

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also kept the books. The history of the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. is the history of the life of Charles M. Jarvis, as he has given his entire time and at- tention to the development of this enterprise, and has made it one of the most successful of the many successful Connecticut corporations.

The Berlin Iron Bridge Co. ( Corrugated Metal Co.) began the manufacture of iron bridges with the incoming of Mr. Jarvis as engineer, and almost immediately took front rank. The dense population and close connection of towns in New England by improved highways then, as now, called for the con- struction of the best class of highway bridges, and The Berlin Iron Bridge Co., recognizing this, soon took the lead, especially in the New England States, as furnishing the best bridges designed for the heavy traffic required in this section. Later they extended their business into other parts of the coun- try, in fact, with the development of foreign com- merce, into all parts of the world. In 1880 came a demand for something different than the ordinary wooden frame for manufacturing buildings. Mr. Jarvis was the first to recognize this, and The Ber- lin Iron Bridge Co., under his management and en- ginecring guidance, were the pioneers in this line, and have had more part in the development of structural iron and steel for the construction of manufacturing buildings than all other companies in America, their work in this line appearing as evidence of the engineering and executive ability of Mr. Jarvis in every State of the Union, and in al- most every foreign nation.

In 1886, at the death of S. C. Wilcox, Mr. Jar- vis was placed at the head of the affairs of The Berlin Iron Bridge Co., and under his leadership the business of the company has been marvelously developed, so that now (1900) over five hundred men are employed, part at East Berlin, and others in all parts of the world, erecting stcel bridges and buildings; and the business of $20,000 per annum which was done when Mr. Jarvis first came to East Berlin, in 1878, has grown one hundred fold, or to over two million dollars per year.

In May, 1900, The Berlin Iron Bridge Co., to- gether with twenty-six other leading concerns in the same line of business, were combined into one largc corporation, known as the American Bridge Co., and Mr. Jarvis' enginccring and executive ability was recognized by those associated in this vast en- terprise-those who were formerly his competitors- by his election to the position of vice-president of the company, in charge of the operating depart- ment, comprising twenty-scven manufacturing plants and an army of men in the field erecting these bridges, buildings and all classes of metallic structures in all parts of the world.

Mr. Jarvis was married, May 27, 1880, to Mary Morgan Bcan (a direct descendant of Miles Mor- gan, of Massachusetts), of Binghamton, N. Y., by whom he has one child, Grace Morgan Jarvis, at this time (1900) fourteen years of age.

THOMAS CHANDLER HANCOCK, a well- known citizen and representative farmer of South- ington, was born in Scitico, town of Enfield, Hart- ford Co., Conn., Nov. 20, 1841, and is a son of Hart and Lucretia (Chandler) Hancock, the former a native of Somers, the latter of Enfield. The father was a blacksmith by tradc, and followed that occu- pation in Enfield Street and Scitico for many years, but in 1882 he removed to Plantsville, where he died in December, 1887, at the age of eighty-one years. His children were Louisa, wife of George Spencer ; Horace H .; and Thomas C. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Alpheus Hancock, of Somers, Conn., also a blacksmith by trade, who married Sarah Steele. His father, William Han- cock, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Mary (Stcele) Chandler, farming people of Enfield.

The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood and youth in Enfield, and received a common-school education. At the age of fifteen years he began his business career as an employe in the plow works of Clark & King, of Scitico, and remained there until 1860, when he went to Windsor Locks and worked in the gun shops of Denslow & Chase until 1862. On Sept. I, of that year, he enlisted in Company C, 25th Conn. V. I., and with his regiment took part in the battle of Irish Bend, La., and in the siege of Port Hudson. In the former engagement he was wounded twice in the right arm. On the expiration of his term of enlistment he was honorably dis- charged from the service at Hartford, Aug. 26, 1863. On his return from the war Mr. Hancock located in Springfield, Mass., where he was in the employ of the Smith & Wesson Manufacturing Co. until 1868, when he removed to Providence, R. I., and was connected with the Providence Tool Co. for threc ycars. In 1871 he came to Southington, where he was in the employ of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co., the Atwater Manufacturing Co., and the H. D. Smith Co., for twelve years, being with the last- named firm for six years of that time. In 1887 he located on the farm where he now resides, and has since devoted his energies to agriculture with most gratifying success.

Mr. Hancock has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Ellen Duty, daughter of David and Eliza (Goodwell) Duty, of Hampden, Mass., and to them were born two children: Luella, wife of George L. Clark; and Henry. For his second wife our subject married Evaline Branch, a daughter of Fayette and Adeline (Propcr) Branch, of Mooers, Clinton Co., N. Y. By this union two children were born, Leon and Lena (twins), both of whom are now deceased. Fraternally Mr. Hancock is a Mas- ter Mason, and a member of Trumbull Post, No. 16, G. A. R .; politically hc is a stanch Republican.

WILLIAM SYLVESTER BRANDEGEE is a leading and prominent citizen of Berlin, his name being inseparably connected with the industrial and

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business interests of the place. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concerns with which he is connected a high degree of success.

Mr. Brandegee was born Dec. 15, 1858, in the house where he now lives, and belongs to an old Connecticut family of English origin, tracing his ancestry back to Jacob Brandegee, who was born in Nine Partners, in 1729, and whose mother bore the maiden name of Brock. He was engaged in the West India trade, running vessels from Rocky Hill, Conn., and died at sea, March 25, 1765. On Oct. II, 1752, he married Abigail Dunham, of Hart- ford, who was born in 1737, and died in 1825.

Capt. Elishama Brandegee, son of Jacob, was born in Christian lane, Berlin, April 17, 1754, and was a sea captain, also engaged in the West India trade and in merchandising in Berlin, where he died Feb. 26, 1832. During the Revolutionary war he enlisted, May 5, 1775, in the 2nd Company, 2nd Regiment, of Connecticut, which was organized un- der Capt. Wyllys as a Continental regiment. He was recruited in Middlesex county, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, after which he was de- tached and joined Capt. Hanchett's company, Sept. I, 1775. He took part in the assault on Quebec, Dec. 31, 1775, Gens. Arnold and Montgomery com- manding, and after that engagement was taken prisoner. Capt. Brandegee was married, March 10, 1778, to Mrs. Lucy ( Plumb) Weston, of Middle- town, who died Feb. 1, 1827, and the remains of both were interred in the South burying-ground, Berlin.

Elishama Brandegee, son of Capt. Elishama, and grandfather of our subject, was born in Berlin, Nov. 5, 1784. He conducted a store on Berlin street, near where Brandegee Hall now stands, and also engaged in the manufacture of thread. He was a man of excellent ability, and was quite prominent in business affairs. He married Emily Stocking, who was born in Cromwell, Conn., Nov. 29, 1793. The Stocking family was founded in Massachusetts in 1633, and three years later one of its representa- tives, George Stocking, came to Hartford with Rev. Thomas Hooker. In 1650 they were among the first settlers of Middletown, Conn., and Samuel Stocking was the first deacon of the first church at that place.

John Brandegee, the father of our subject, was born Aug. 18, 1826, in Berlin, and throughout his active business life engaged in merchandising in that town until about twelve years before his death. He died June 6, 1881, and was laid to rest in the South burying-ground, Berlin. In 1845 he married Miss Mary Ann Norris Bulkeley, of the same town, who was born March 18, 1822, a daughter of Dr. Syl- vester Buckley. She is still living, and makes her home with our subject in Berlin.

During his boyhood William S. Brandegee at- tended Abbott's school, Hartford, and the Gunnery, Washington, Conn., and was graduated from the

former institution. At the present time he is not actively engaged in any business, but devotes nis time to looking after his investments. He is the owner of a factory in Bridgeport for wood-turning of all kinds. The new shop, the finest in the place, is 200x50 feet in dimensions, and three and a half stories in height, is supplied throughout with au- tomatic machinery, and was completed in November, 1899. Here employment is furnished 150 men. In 1884, Mr. Brandegee built Brandegee's Hall in Berlin. He has one of the finest homes on Berlin street, and also owns a beautiful cottage at Pine Orchard, where he spends most of the summer season.

In 1884, Mr. Brandegee was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Reed, a native of Newing- ton, and a daughter of James B. Reed, of Berlin, and they have three children: Mary Elizabeth, born July 23, 1887; Marjorie, born June 1, 1889, and Frank Augustus, born Aug. 15, 1890.

Mr. Brandegee is a man of undoubted ability, is a practical electrical engineer, a botanist and pho- tographer, and devotes considerable time to the study of these sciences. He is very fond of out- door sports, and at his summer home finds ample opportunity to indulge in such diversions. He owns two yachts-a naphtha, "Mollie," and a sloop yacht, "Commodore ;" is a member of the Sachem Head Yachting Club, at Sachem Head, Conn .; is presi- dent and director of the Berlin Driving and Ath- letic Association; and is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is of a very genial and social nature, and is very popular, hav- ing a most extensive circle of friends and acquaint- ances, who are always sure of a hearty welcome at his hospitable home.

EPHRAIM HORACE ANDREWS, justice of the peace, and a prominent citizen of Southington, was born in East Haddam, Conn., Jan. 15, 1849, a son of Ephraim and Rhoda A. ( Scofield) Andrews, also natives of East Haddam. His paternal grand- parents were Gideon and Jemima ( Sawyer) An- drews. The former, a ship carpenter by trade, lived in East Haddam for many years, but died in Port- land, Connecticut.

The father of our subject also followed the ship carpenter's trade in early life, but later was captain of a vessel. Our subject has in his possession a cer- tificate given his father by the United States Govern- ment for meritorious service rendered in provision- ing the forts at Pensacola, Fla., during the Semi- nole war. He was also captain of militia at East Haddam, where he died in 1848. In 1836 he mar- ried Miss Rhoda A. Scofield, a daughter of Nathan and Phebe ( Ackley) Scofield, of East Haddam, and to this union hve children were born, four of whom reached years of maturity : William A., Joseph, Ne !- son H. and Ephraim H.

Ephraim H. Andrews, our subject, passed his boyhood and youth in East Haddam and New Brit- ain, Conn., and was educated in the public schools and Pine Grove Seminary, South Windham, grad-

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uating from the latter institution at the age of four- teen years. In 1867 he commenced the study of den- tistry in New Britain, and later engaged in the prac- tice of that profession there and in Southington for twelve years, having located in the latter place in 1879.

In 1870 Mr. Andrews was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Andrews, of Kiver Point, R. I., by whom he had five children: Joseph N .; Elsie I., wife of Harry M. Merwin ; Harry H. ; William W., who enlisted in the Spanish-American war in Febru- ary, 1899, as a member of Troop K, 5th United States Cavalry, and is now stationed at Porto Rico ; and Rhoda M. For his second wife Mr. Andrews married Martha J. Hubbard, of Fair Haven, Con- necticut.

Mr. Andrews is quite a prominent and active member of several civic societies, being past noble grand of Eureka Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F .; past chancellor commander of William Berry Lodge, No. 50, K. P. ; ex-captain of Quinnipiac Division, No. 17, U. R. K. P. ; past warden of Quinnipiac Lodge, No. 291, N. E. O. P. ; past councillor of Unity Council, No. II, O. U. A. M .; and past sachem of Wonx Tribe, No. 28, 1. O. R. M. Mr. Andrews is also a charter member of Southington Hook and Lad- der Company No. 1, and religiously is a member of the Baptist Church. The Republican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and his fellow citizens, who place in him the ut- most confidence, have called upon him to serve as grand juror of Southington seven years; justice of the peace fourteen years; and right watchman since 1881.

CHARLES FREDERICK SPLETTSTOES- ZER, a prominent German-American citizen of Ber- lin, whose life has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits, was born in the northern part of Germany Sept. 19, 1845. His father, John Splettstoeszer, also a farmer by occupation, was born Feb. 3, 1803, and spent his entire life in Germany. He married Lou- ise Sedoe, who was born in 1812, and also died in the Fatherland.

Our subject received a good practical education in the public schools of his native land, from which he was graduated at the age of fourteen years, and after laying aside his text-books he worked for dif- ferent men as a shepherd until coming to America, in 1868. He took passage at Hamburg on the "Sen- bria," which now lies at the bottom of the North Sea, and arrived in New York in May, 1868. Com- ing to Hartford county, Conn., he found employ- ment on the farm of Jacob Dicks, a tobacco dealer of Newington, and remained with him until the fol- lowing October. He then went to New Britain, and entered the service of a Mr. Trout, caring for his horse for about six months. He next worked in Multhrop's brickyard for about two years, and for the same length of time was foreman on the farm of Jacob Dicks. At the end of that period he came to Berlin, where he operated the Norris Bailey farm

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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 58

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