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 64

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 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Ward Vining, likewise born in Southwick, re- ceived a good common-school education, and learned the trade of cigarmaking. In 1847 he married Miss Jane Cecilia, a native of Granby, Conn., and a daugh- ter of Willis and Emily ( Moore) Reed, to which union were born nine children: Gertrude, who was married to Hinman Dibble, and died in Granby ; Jasper, residing in Southwick; Mortimer J., our subject; Lester, Morton, Jane (wife of Edward Gillett), all living in Southwick; Etta, married to Edward Knott, of Westfield, Mass .; Foster, in Southwick; and Hattie, who died young. Ward Vining worked diligently at his trade until his enlistment in Springfield, Mass., during the war of the Rebellion, in Company E, 26th Mass. V. I., and served until 1865, when he returned home. In his prime Mr. Vining was an athletic man, fond of out-door sports, and an enthusiastic hunter, but

he has now retired to private life, and is living in ease at Southwick. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Republican, and in religion he is a Meth- odist. His beloved wife died March 1, 1896, and her remains were laid to rest in Southwick.

Mortimer J. Vining, after receiving a fair com- mon-school education, left the parental roof and began life's struggles alone. He was first employed in Granby, Conn., for a short time, thien returned to Southwick, and for five years was employed in farming; he next came to East Windsor, Conn., managed a farm for Col. Gowdy four years, then lived in South Windsor one year, and afterward for eleven years was employed at the "Parsons House" in Broad Brook. With his savings during all these years he purchased his present farm of 135 acres, near Melrose station, where he has ever since been engaged in tobacco growing and general farming, meeting with unvarying success.

Mr. Vining was united in marriage, in 1873, at East Hartford, Conn., With Miss Mary Thompson, a daughter of Joseph and Celestia (Shepherd) Thompson, the former a native of Rhode Island, the latter of Blandford, Mass. Mrs. Vining re- ceived a sound public-school education, lived at home until her marriage, and is a most pleasant lady ; she possesses a marvelously retentive memory. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Vining has been graced with six children : Susie Celestia, born Dec. I, 1873, is now the wife of E. M. Granger, of Mel- rose ; Scott, born Feb. 7, 1875, is living in Spring- field, Mass .; Grace Marian, born Feb. 3, 1876, died in 1886; Ward Mortimer, born Aug. 6, 1878, died in 1886; Stanley Shepherd, born Feb. 19, 1879, also died in 1886; and Barry Allen, born Aug. 6, 1889. The family attend the Congregational Church, and are highly respected within and with- out its pale. Mr. Vining has led a temperate and industrious life, and owes his financial success to the habits of self-reliance he acquired while yet a mere boy.

GOODSEL AUSTIN CODAIRE, a w.1 !- known horticulturist and market gardener of the town of Canton, is the owner of a fine farin at Cherry Brook, and its orderly, thrifty management and neat and attractive appearance show rare executive ability.

The Codaire family is of French origin, and its members have been noted for culture for genera- tions. Peter Codaire, our subject's grandfather, was born in France, and came to America soon after the close of the war of 1812, locating in Addison coun- ty, Vt. He engaged in farming and stock raising, devoting special attention to breeding sheep.

Belina Codaire, our subject's father, was born and reared in Addison county, Vt., and became a leading agriculturist, dairyman and stock raiser of that locality, the breeding of sheep being a specialty with him, as with his father. He was a Republican in politics, and wielded much influence in local af- fairs, but never sought or held office. In religious

1062

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

faith he and his wife were Methodists. He died at his homestead in 1878. His wife, who was born in Vermont, of French ancestry, died in 1896 at the homestead. Of their twelve children seven are liv- ing : Ellen, wife of William A. Hendrick, of Spring- field, Mass .; George W., a resident of Rocky Hill, Conn .; Goodsel A., our subject ; Lewis B., a farmer in Vermont; Mary E .; John D .; and Watson, a salesman.

Our subject was born July 13, 1854, at Ver- gennes, Addison Co., Vt., and his education was be- gun in the local schools. At the age of eighteen he went to Springfield, Mass., where he attended school two years, and on returning home he continued his studies in the high school. He taught school in Vermont for several years, and then came to Hart- ford county and taught at Rocky Hill, Berlin and New Hartford being principal at the latter place for four years. For three years he clerked in a store, and in 1886 he bought his present farm, a tract of sixty acres, formerly known as the Orvil Case farm. Mr. Codaire gives much attention to dairying and the raising of small fruits and garden produce, and at one time he raised tobacco. His success in life reflects the more credit upon him be- cause it has been gained through his own efforts, and his industry, sound judgment, strict temperance views and domestic habits make him a valuable citizen. He is a member of Collinsville Grange, is a strong Republican in politics, and is a men- ber of the town school committee, and school visi- tor, although he has never been an office seeker. Mr. Codaire was married in New Hartford to Miss Jennie L. Hotchkiss, daughter of Willard Hotchkiss, a well-known citizen of that town. She was a teacher for several years previous to their mar- riage, and her culture and refinement are reflected in her home life. Six children have blessed the union: Bessie H .; Minnie R .; Alfred H .; George A., deceased; and Ruth and Robert (twins), the latter of whom died in childhood.

WILLARD HOTCHKISS, the father of Mrs. Jennie L. (Hotchkiss) Codaire, descended from one of the early and prominent families of New England, being in the seventh generation from Samuel Hotch- kiss, the emigrant ancestor of the family in this country, who was a native of the County of Essex, England, and came to New Haven, Conn., in 1641. The line of Willard Hotchkiss' descent was through Joshua, Deacon Stephen, Stephen, Samuel and Samuel Hotchkiss (2).

Willard Hotchkiss was born Aug. 18, 1818, near Town Hill, in New Hartford, Litchfield Co., Conn. After receiving a good common-school education he learned the trade of patternmaker, and followed it in connection with farming. He was a man of local prominence and influence, and served his town variously in official relations, including that of jus- tice of the peace. He was a stanch Republican. On July 23, 1843, Mr. Hotchkiss married Sarah Cromack, a native of Leeds, England, daughter of

Samuel Cromack. She died in 1897, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Codaire, of Canton. Her chil- dren were: Mary (Mrs. Bently Frazer), Isabell (Mrs. W. S. Gould, of Southington), Minerva A. (Mrs. William H. Robinson), Alfred (deceased, formerly a merchant in Collinsville), Jennie L. (Mrs. G. A. Codaire), and Willard (a farmer of Burlington). [An extended history of the Hotch- kiss family appears in the sketch of William H. Robinson, elsewhere.]

HUGH CHESNEY, a well-known and pop- ular florist of Farmington, was born in Wigtown- shire, Scotland, Oct. 15, 1858, a son of Hugh and Mary (Fitzsimmons) Chesney, also natives of Wig- townshire, where the father was engaged in the re- tail shoe business until 1864, which year witnessed the emigration of the family to the United States. During his residence in this country the father fol- lowed the same business in New York City until his death, which occurred in 1872. His wife died in> Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1884. In their family were eight children: Alexander and Annie, both de- ceased ; Robert, a florist of Montclair, N. J. ; Eliza- beth, Margaret and Mary, all residents of Brook- lyn, N. Y .; Janet, of Scotland ; and Hugh, our sub- ject.

Hugh Chesney was only six years old when brought by his parents to America, and he was reared and educated in New York City and Brook- lyn. At the age of fifteen years he began serving a five-years' apprenticeship with Peter Henderson, a florist of Jersey City, and from eighteen to twenty years of age he was employed by a Miss Gregory, in New Haven, Conn., after which he was employed at various other places until 1889, when he came to Farmington and succeeded Alfred Hardy in the florist business. During the ten years that have since passed his business has steadily grown, and he now enjoy an excellent trade. He is a man of fine artistic taste, and is thoroughly conversant with every department of the business, so that his success was almost assured from the start. In fra- ternal matters he is an Odd Fellow.

In Middletown, N. Y., Mr. Chesney married Miss Lillian Conkling, and to them have been born five children: Janet, Frances Eugenia (deceased), Lillian, Hugh, Jr., and Dorothy.

ELISHA CURTIS BREWER, one of the old and most highly-respected residents of that part of the town of East Hartford known as Silver Lane, was born Nov. 5, 1821, on the place now occupied by Norman Brewer, in the same town, and is a son of George Brewer, and grandson of Daniel Brewer, a genealogy of this ancient New England family be- ing given in the biographies of William H. and Philo S. Brewer, brothers of Elisha C., elsewhere.

Elisha C. Brewer lived on his birthplace until he was twelve years old, when his father sold the farm and purchased property on Main street, near

1063

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Willow Brook. Young Brewer then worked at various places until 1860, when he bought his pres- ent. farm, at that time known as the "Timothy Ris- ley farm," paying for it, in part, with his economized earnings. Here he has made many extensive im- provements, among which are his present large and conveniently arranged dwelling, erected in 1875. Here he first started raising tobacco, but for the past sixteen or seventeen years has been engaged in raising vegetables and melons, achieving especial success in the culture of the last named, and it is an undisputed fact that "Curt" Brewer's melons are the finest raised in the State of Connecticut, and famous wherever introduced; he also has the rep- utation of owning one of the best cultivated farms in the town of East Hartford.

Mr. Brewer was first united in marriage, in 1849, with Miss Sarah Anderson, sister of the late Nor- man L. Anderson, and to this marriage were born two children: Mary, who died young ; and Emma, who was born in 1856, made her home from child- hood with her uncle, Norman L. Anderson (her mother having died in 1858), and is now the wife of A. S. Bidwell. The second marriage of Mr. Brewer was with Mrs. Delia Babcock, nec Bliss, widow of Charles Joseph Babcock. Mrs. Brewer is a native of East Hartford, and a member of one of the most respected families of the town, who re- sided on Bliss Hill, so named in honor of the fam- ily. To this marriage have been born three chil- dren, in the following order: (1) Harriet Eliza- beth Brewer, who was born Sept. 7, 1860, is mar- ied to Ralph Morse, of Silver Lane, and is the mother of two children, Fred Brewer, born Nov. 27, 1883, who is now a bright young lad, with a most tenacious memory, and well posted on his- orical events (he is a valuable assistant to his grandfather in the culture of his melons) ; and Will- am Everett, born May 16, 1888, who is attending school. (2) Fannie Adelia Brewer, born Dec. 2, 1862, married William S. Smith, a joiner by trade. He is now in the Klondyke gold region, and most favorable reports have been received from hin, Mrs. Smith meanwhile making her home with Mr. Brewer, the subject of this sketch. (3) Mary Eve- ine Brewer, born Oct. 6, 1864, died July 5, 1870, ind was buried in East Hartford.

Mrs. Brewer is of a very kind and loving dis- position, and Mr. Brewer is good-humored and pleasant at all times. In politics he is a Democrat, out has never felt any desire for office, taking more pride in his reputation as a melon grower than any official title within the gift of his fellow citizens. The family attend the Congregational Church, live closely up to its tenets, and enjoy the full esteem of all their neighbors.

JACOB WILLIAM BANTLE. The sterling raits of industry, thrift, fidelity and good business udgment are none too common to command es- eem and respect, or to ensure success in life to

their fortunate possessor. The name of Bantle in Glastonbury is synonymous with the best type of citizenship, and one of its worthy representatives is the subject of this sketch, a young farmer and tobacco grower, who is a son of Jacob and Cath- erine (Handel) Bantle. The father was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1830, and in 1857 mi- grated to America, settling soon after in Glaston- bury, where he has since become one of its in- fluential and prominent citizens.

Our subject was born in Glastonbury July 5, 1862. He was reared on his father's farm, attend- ing the district schools and receiving a good edtica- tion, then devoting himself on the home farm to the mastery of agriculture, which he has made his life pursuit. He remained faithfully on the paternal homestead until his marriage, Dec. 31, 1885, to Amelia Tenner, who was born May 6, 1864. daugh- ter of John and Frederick (Handel ) Tenner. To our subject and wife have been born four chil- dren: Edith Rose, born Nov. 14, 1886; Bertha Emma, born Oct. 21, 1888, who died Aug. 14, 1890, and is buried in St. James cemetery ; Elsie Amelia, born Sept. 25, 1891 ; and Ernest Jacob, born July 26, 1900.

After his marriage Mr. Bantle settled upon his present home, which from an uncultivated state he has brought to a high degree of fertility. He grows annually about ten acres of tobacco, and is one of the highly-respected and successful young farmers of the town. Himself and wife are active members of the M. E. Church, and they are mem- bers of the Order of the Eastern Star, our subject being a member of Daskam Lodge, No. 86, F. & A. M. In politics Mr. Bantle is a Democrat, and he is now serving as a juror. He believes in and practices the virtues of industry and hard work, and has at heart the best interests of the community in which he lives.

GEORGE DESIRE BOYER. Canada has fur- nished to the United States many bright, enter- prising young men, who have left the Dominion to enter the business circles of this country, with its more progressive methods, livelier competition and advancement more quickly secured. Among this number is Mr. Boyer, who is now living retired in Berlin, Hartford county.

Mr. Boyer was born at St. John, Chrysostome, Canada, Nov. 22, 1840, a son of Joseph and Mar- garet Boyer. His father was captain of a company during the Canadian rebellion, and was the only one of the company that escaped. While he was in hiding his future wife, to whom he was engaged at the time, carried him provisions, and on her re- turn home from one of these trips one very warm day she received a sunstroke. The remedies used to save her life left her deaf and dumb, but she regained her health, and they were married after the close of the rebellion. In their family were sev- en children, four sons and three daughters, George

1064

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

D. being the eldest. On his return to the United States from a visit home our subject brought his second eldest sister with him. She soon married and moved to near Troy, N. Y., where she died in I866.

The early life of George D. Boyer was not a very pleasant one. The father was in limited cir- cunstances, and the children had but few advan- tages. During his boyhood and youth our subject worked hard, and he was unable to attend school until after he attained his majority. He worked at whatever he could find to do, and saved all that he possibly could above what he gave to his father. After reaching the age of twenty, he attended the St. John's mission school for two years. As he adopted the Protestant religion, his father refused to have anything more to do with him, and he was thrown upon the world to fight life's battles empty- handed and unaided.

After leaving school, at the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Boyer turned his attention to the car- penter's trade, which he mastered through hard study and practical experience. He took a con- tract to build .a dwelling-house adjoining the school house, and for this work, which required five months to complete, he received $300. Coming to the United States Dec. 2, 1864, he located in South Adams, Mass., where he found employment chopping wood in the mountains, and on Dec. 24, 1864, while at work accidentally cut off four toes on his right foot. His injury proved so severe that he was unable to work from Dec. 24 to Feb. 27. He then resumed his former occupation, and was thus em- ployed until April 1, 1865, after which he worked at the carpenter's trade in Adams until April, 1868. He then went to Vineland, N. J., where he worked for a few months, and from that time intil 1870 was not actively engaged in any business, other than farming to some extent and occasionally speculating in some product. In 1870 he came to New Britain, Conn., where he worked at the car- penter's trade until July, 1871, and later was sim- ilarly employed in Kensington until 1877. During the following three years he rented and operated a small farm, and in 1880 leased the farm of 165 acres now owned by Aaron W. Hall, upon which he made his home for five years. Having met with success in his undertakings, he was able to purchase the place at the end of the fifth year, and was quite ex- tensively engaged in farming and dairying, selling the milk in New Britain. On account of ill health, brought on by continued hard labor for many years, he was obliged to sell his farm in 1894, Aaron W. Hall being the purchaser, and then removed to the E. S. Tubbs place, on the Berlin and Meriden road, where he owns three and a half acres of land and is engaged in gardening, being unable to perform the more arduous labors of general farming.

On Nov. 21, 1866, Mr. Boyer married Miss Alfarata Tinney, who was born in South Adams,

Mass., June 14, 1852, a daughter of Peter L. and Emily L. (Wright) Tinney, both of whom died in that place. The father was a teamster by occupa- tion, working with his own team, and carried on a small place of his own, where he raised all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer had two children : George Herbert, born July 21, 1870, was married, June 16, 1897, to Lottie Cushman, of East Hartford, and is now a dyemaker in Corbin's fac- tory, New Britain. Emily Alfarata, born Aug. 21, 1873, died April 7, 1892, and was buried in West Lane cemetery, Kensington.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are active members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Church of Ken- sington, and take an interest in everything calcu- lated to advance the moral or material welfare of their town and county. He is also a member of New Britain Lodge, No. 20, F. & A. M., and was a member of the Kensington Grange until it dis- banded. He took out his naturalization papers in Hartford, in 1876, and since that time has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. He has served on the grand jury, and in 1895 was elected first selectman, but at the end of a year resigned the office, as its duties required too much of his time, and his health was poor. While in office, however, he did more toward secur- ing good roads than any other selectman, and has always had the welfare of his adopted country at heart.

J. BURWELL NEWTON, M. D., is one of the younger members of the medical fraternity in Hart- ford county, but his prominence is by no means measured by his years-on the contrary he has won a reputation which many older practitioners might well envy, and has built up a large practice in Unionville and Farmington.

The Doctor is a native of Durham, Conn., born Nov. 15, 1870, and is a direct descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker, the founder of the Hartford Col- ony. The Doctor's father, John Burwell Newton, was also born in Durham, son of Deacon Samuel Newton. For some time he was a traveling sales- man in the Barbadoes and Jamaica, but his last days were spent in Durham, where he died in 1875. He married Mary G. Tucker.

John Burwell Newton began his education in the public schools of Durham, and later studied in the Academy at East Greenwich, R. I. Subse- quently he attended the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital, New York City, from which he was graduated with the class of '94, on June I of which year he opened an office in Unionville, succeeding to the practice of Dr. E. C. King, now of Hartford. He is now serving as county medical examiner and health officer, and is also surgeon for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway Co., and for the Fire Department. He is a member of the Connecticut State Homeo-

1065

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pathic Medical Society, the American Institute of Homeopathy, and the Hahnemann Society of New York. Fraternally he is a prominent Mason, be- longing to Evening Star Lodge, No. 101, F. & A. M., of Unionville; Columbia Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M., of Collinsville ; Lee Council, R. & S. M., of Collinsville; Washington Commandery, K. T., of Hartford, and Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and to the Grand Lodge, K. of P., of Connecticut. The Doctor is a pleasant, genial and polished gentle. man, of high social qualities, and is very popular, having a most extensive circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

In New York City Dr. Newton was united in marriage with Miss Martha G. Mansfield, a daugh- ter of Albert Mansfield, of Worcester, England. They have had one child, Doris Mansfield, born Dec. 28, 1898.

GEORGE ROWLAND CASE is one of the busiest, most energetic and most enterprising men of the town of Granby, where he is successfully carrying on operations as a farmer and tobacco grower, and has met with more than ordinary suc- cess in his undertakings. He has also been prom- inently identified with public affairs, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to fill important official positions of honor and trust.

Mr. Case was born in Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 17, 1837, but is a representative of an old and highly-respected Hartford county fam- ily. Deacon Joseph Case, son of John Case ( I) (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere), married Annie Eno, of Simsbury, Hartford county, and the names and dates of birth of their children are as follows : Joseph, Feb. 2, 1700 ; Jacob, March 19, 1702 ; a son, born and died 1706; Benajah, 1710, died 1748; Josiah, 1716; Hezekiah, 1719, died 1848; David, 1722; and Joel, 1724. Of these,

Josiah Case, great-grandfather of George R. Case, married Mary Haskins July 23, 1742, and the names and dates of birth of their children are as follows : Hezekiah, Aug. 11, 1743; Mary, Sept. 30, 1745; Zera, Sept. 15, 1747; Andrew, Aug. 15, 1750; Josiah, Feb. 19, 1753; Ozias, Nov. 2, 1755; Abel, Nov. 3, 1758; and Oliver, June 1, 1761.

Oliver Case, grandfather of George R. Case, was born in the town of Simsbury, Hartford coun- ty, whence when a young man he moved to Bark- hamsted, Litchfield county, where he engaged in farming until life's labors were ended, his remains being interred at that place, as were also those of his wife, Jemima. He was a soldier of the Revo- lutionary war, was a Whig in politics, and he and his family held membership in the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He married Jemima Case, who was born in West Simsbury (now Canton), Conn., a daughter of Lieut. Richard and Ruth Case, the for- mer of whom was a son of Sergeant Richard Case,

and a great-grandson of John Case (I). The mother of Mrs. Jemima Case was a daughter of Amos and Mary (Holcomb) Case, and a great- granddaughter of John Case (1). The children born to Oliver and Jemima Case were as follows: Oliver, Amy, Newton, Namaan ( who died in Ohio), Hiram, Japhet (who died in 1897), and Hilpha.

Hiram Case, father of George R. Case, spent the greater part of his life upon the old homestead at Barkhamsted, which he successfully operated from the time his school days were over until he was fifty years of age. He then sold the place and moved to West Granby, Hartford county, where he purchased a tract of one hundred acres known as the Higley farn1. He made extensive improve- ments upon the farm and successfully engaged in tobacco culture and general farming. In his po- litical affiliations he was first a Whig, later a Re- publican, but never cared for the honors or emolu- ments of public office. In West Granby he married Eunice Higley, a native of that place, daughter of Capt. Asa Higley, and granddaughter of Asa Hig- ley, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The fam- ily is one of the oldest and most highly-respected in New England. To Mr. and Mrs. Case were born six children : Adune, who died young; George R .; Anna M., who married Howard Wilcox (both are now deceased) ; Charles B. and Asa, both farmers of Granby town; and John, who died young. The father departed this life Jan. 11, 1879, the mother Dec. 25, 1888, and both were buried in West Gran- by cemetery.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 64

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