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 7

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 7

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).

Josiah Capen, father of J. Cleveland Capen, was born on Front street, at that time the residence site of many of Hartford's most prominent citizens. In 1807 he removed with his father to Charles- town, Mass., where he secured an education in the common schools, the family returning later to Hart- ford, Conn. On June 5. 1820, Josiah Capen and his brother Henry bought of Aaron Cook about four and one-half acres of land on the Windsor road (now Windsor avenue), it being the land that includes Capen street and the corner of the avenue mentioned. In 1824 they bought land of Thomas Marvin : in 1826, of James E. Marsh; in 1827, of Moses Dickinson ; in 1829, of Allyn Goodwin; in 1831, of William Sheldon and of Nathan N. Loomis ; in 1834, of John Bowles; in 1836, of Henry Utley, and in 1840, of William Hayden. Henry died March 19, 1840. In 1850 Josiah Capen owned about one hundred acres on Capen street and vicin- ity, and opened Capen and Clark streets, and later Barbour and Martin streets, as he owned land on both sides, excepting at the north and west ends. Josiah Capen continued in the real-estate business and in farming at Hartford until 1867, dividing up his farm and selling it in building lots, and in 1868 he sold his homestead, and removed to Bloomfield : he purchased the H. B. Case farm for $26,000, and

died here Aug. 3, 1884. He had lived in the house he had erected on the Cook property in Hartford from 1820, and this building stood until 1898, when it was torn down.

Josiah Capen was united in marriage April 3, 1839, at Hartford, with Miss Jane Spencer, a native of the city, born Jan. 12, 1818, a daughter of John and Olive (Rogers) Spencer, and to this marriage were born three children, John Spencer (who died in infancy), J. Cleveland and George F.

J. Cleveland Capen was born April 28, 1843, in the old Capen residence at the corner of Capen street and Windsor avenue, Hartford, Conn. He was educated at the Arsenal school, the public school on High street, the Hartford high school, and at Trinity College. For a short time he held a position in the Pension office, but in 1868 came to Bloomfield with his father. In 1873 he mar- ried Miss Alice L. Burr, daughter of Martin Burr, of Bloomfield, and this union has been blessed with three children : Lottie M., Robert S. and George C.

J. Cleveland Capen and his brother, George F., own and conduct a farm of over two hundred acres at Bloomfield, all in one body, on which they grow over 200 tons of hay each season, as well as large quantities of tobacco, and at different times have bought tobacco and packed it for market. They have also dealt largely in live stock, and at one ti.ne were in the sales stable business with E. F. Kenyon, on Albany avenue, Hartford, in some years selling as many as 500 horses. From their farm they sup- plied Portland quarries with horses and oxen, and in one year they sold about $25,000 worth of oxen. They have a fine half-mile trotting-track on their farm, and usually keep a horse-trainer, as they pos- sess a stable of fast animals that have won many hard-contested races on the tracks of Connecticut. Their herd of cows is also quite extensive.

In politics J. Cleveland Capen is a Democrat, and is very popular with his party as well as with the public at large. He has held many town offices, including those of selectman (many times ), member of the board of relief, school visitor, etc .; from 1876 until 1879 he was a representative in the State Leg- islature, and in 1893 a candidate for the State Sen- ate. In his societary relations he has been more than usually prominent and useful. He has been presi- dent of the Hartford County Agricultural Society, and vice-president of the Connecticut State Agri- cultural Society, also a member of the State Board of Agriculture, a delegate to the Farmers' National Congress held at Sedalia, Mo., in 1891, as well as to the Congress held at Savannah, Ga., in 1893. For many years he has been a director of the Connecti- cut Stock Breeders Association; treasurer of the Connecticut Farmers Union ; director of the New England Tobacco Growers Association, also a direc- tor of the Hartford Driving Club, and has filled many other positions of trust and responsibility.

HON. GEORGE F. CAPEN was born in Hartford, Conn., Sept. 30, 1846, was educated in the common schools of that city, came t. Bloomfield with his

807

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father in 1868, and has been here ever since, con- nected in business with his brother, J. Cleveland Capen. He has been ever chary of office, but served as representative in 1884, and was placed on the Committee on Agriculture by Speaker Simonds, in this position performing his duties most admirably. He is considered to be one of the best judges of live stock in the State, and has probably bought and sold more pairs of fine working oxen than any other man within its limits.

In 1868 George F. Capen married Miss Mary J. Chapin, daughter of Hollis T. and Sarah (Dickin- son) Chapin, and to this union was born one child, who died at the age of three and one-half years.

That the two brothers and thei- wives stand at the head of the social circles of Bloomfield it is hardly necessary to add, and their prominent posi- tion as business men sufficiently indicates their en- terprising spirit and untarnished reputation.

HON. GEORGE LUKE VIETS, a prosperous agriculturist of the town of East Granby, is one of its most highly-respected citizens, the sturdy quali- ties of his pioneer ancestry being well-exemplified in his character and career. As a representative in the State Legislature, and in other positions of public trust, he has served with faithfulness and efficiency, while in his successful business career he has won the confidence of the community by his upright methods.

As a genealogical review of the Viets family ap- pears elsewhere, we need only indicate here the line of our subject's descent from Dr. John Viets, a pioneer settler of Simsbury, through Capt. John Viets and his wife, Lois Phelps: Luke Viets, who married Keziah Phelps; Luke Viets, who married Abigail Phelps ; and Henry W. Viets, father of our subject.

Henry W. Viets was born Sept. 2, 1809, at the old homestead at Copper Hill, Simsbury (now East Granby), near Newgate. He received a good com- mon-school education, and in carly manhood en- gaged in farming, but his death, on Aug. 20, 1841, cut short his useful life at the age of thirty-two, his remains being interred in East Granby cemetery. He was an excellent citizen, industrious and thrifty, and was much esteemed in the community. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, but his inclination did not point to official life. On Nov. 24, 1831, he married Miss Lucia L. King, who was born March 13, 1813, a daughter of Horatio King. Of their four children: (1) William Ansel, born July 29, 1833, is a farmer in East Granby town ; he married Miss Sarah F. Alderman, and has had three children, Chloe Marietta, born Jan. 21, 1860; Charles Palmer, June 2, 1863 ; and Alice Elizabeth, June 28, 1874. (2) George L., our subject, is men- tioned more fully below. (3) Marietta Louisa, born Sept. 11, 1837, married George Griswold. (4) Henrietta Elizabeth, born Sept. 6, 1839, married George Owen, and died July 10, 1867. The mother, who is now the wife of James Osborne, resides in

West Suffield, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends, having been for many years a de- vout and faithful worker in the Methodist Church.

Our subject was born Sept. 6, 1835, at the old farm near Newgate, and was only six years old when he lost his father's care. The district schools near his home afforded him his only opportunities for instruction, and at an early age he was hired out at small wages to do farm work. He continued his labors as a farm hand until 1865, when he settled upon the Bates property, and engaged in business on his own account, raising general crops and giving especial attention to dairying, tobacco-growing, and stock raising. Through reading and observation his naturally keen mind has gained a wide knowledge of men and affairs. He takes an intelligent interest in all public movements, being active in the work of East Granby Grange, and in the local Republican organization, of which he is a leading member. At times he has served as town assessor and member of the board of relief, while in 1896 he was elected to the Legislture, where he did effective work, spe- cially as a member of the Committee on New Coun- ties and County Seats.

On April 11, 1865, Mr. Viets was married, in East Granby, to Miss Virginia G. Bates, who was born Feb. 8, 1845, a daughter of Anson and Louise (Garnett) Bates, well-known citizens of that local- ity. Four children have brightened our subject's home: (1) Ella Louise, born Dec. 28, 1867, died Sept. 24, 1886. (2) Miss Georgie Bates, born Nov. 21, 1870, is a graduate of McLean Seminary, at Simsbury, and the Normal School at New Britain, and is now a successful teacher at Montclair, N. J. (3) Clara Marietta, born Jan. 7, 1878, and (4) Ber- tha M., born July 15, 1882, are at home. The family is identified with the Presbyterian Church, and the daughters are prominent in social life, their culture and refinement fitting them for the best circles. On July 6, 1889, the beloved wife and mother passed away, and her mortal remains now rest in the East Granby cemetery.

CAPT. WILLIAM HENRY HEATII (de- ceased) was a leading business man of this section, and his name became well known along the Con- necticut river in connection with the River Trans- portation Co., of which he was the head for many years. While he was remarkably successful from a material standpoint, his intelligence and public spirit brought him into active co-operation with his fellow citizens in various movements of the day, in which he could always be relied upon to take an advanced stand, his influence being cast on the side of progress.

The Captain was born Dec. 16, 1803, at Ware- house Point, upon a farm, and the greater portion of his life was spent there. His father, Capt. Stephen Heath, who gained his title by service in the State militia, owned a large amount of land in that locality, and was the founder of the River Transportation Co., having perceived the advantage

808

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to the growing commerce of that day of having a regular line of boats for carrying merchandise up and down the Connecticut river.

As a boy our subject attended the common schools of East Windsor, and his education was com- pleted with a course in Amherst College. He then engaged in business with his father, and on the death of the latter he entered the firm of Abbe Woodward & Co., in the Transportation Co., of that name, and managed the real-estate left by his father. For some years previous to his death, on Jan. 29, 1889, he lived in retirement at the old homestead. His interest in local progress was manifested in many ways, and he was active in religious work as a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, while from the date of the organization of the Republican party he gave his support to its doctrines, and in 1863 he served ably as a representative of the town of East Windsor in the State Legislature.

On Nov. 1I, 1824, Capt. Heath married Miss Elizabeth S. Bartlett, who died in November, 1869, and Nov. 8, 1870, he married her sister, Miss Ade- line Bartlett, who survived him, residing at the homestead until her death, Feb. 22, 1899. She was much esteemed in the community for her excellent qualities of mind and heart, and was a devout mem- ber of the Congregational Church. Capt. Heath had eight children, all by the first marriage: Fran- cis died in July, 1887; Jane E. married Waldo M. Johnson,of Detroit, Mich .; Elisha S. resides in Balti- more, Md. ; Julia T. is the widow of John M. Booth, of the town of Enfield, Hartford county; Helen died in infancy ; Helen M. married Franklin Moore, of Detroit, Mich .; Carrie, widow of Dr. Studley, of New York, married James Ryan, and resides at Appleton, Wis. ; and Charles L., a deputy sheriff of Hartford county, resides at Warehouse Point.

CHARLES R. HART (deceased) was one of Hartford's most prominent business men, and for over forty years was identified with extensive mer- cantile interests. Coming from an old and honored ancestry, he well maintained the prestige of his name, and by his upright life won the personal es- teem of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Hart was of the ninth generation of his family in this country, being a descendant of (I) Stephen Hart, who was born about 1605, in Brain- tree, County of Essex, England, and came to Mas- sachusetts Bay about the year 1632. Deacon Hart and his first wife were constituent members of the church in Farmington, Conn., in 1652. He had been a deacon of Rev. Thomas Hooker's Church at Cambridge, Mass., and, when his pastor formed a colony at Hartford, Conn., he became a leading member of the new community, holding the office of deacon in the church, and taking an active part in the progressive movements of his day. In 1672 he was one of the eighty-four proprietors of the town of Farmington, in which he was prominent both socially and politically. In 1635 he was one of the original proprietors of Hartford. His house

lot was on the west side of what is now Front street, near where Morgan street crosses it, and there is a tradition that the town was called from the ford he discovered and used in crossing the Connecticut river at low water, and so, from "Hart's ford," it soon came to be called and written "Hartford." He died in March, 1682.

(II) Thomas Hart, youngest of the children born to Deacon Stephen Hart, was born in 1643. He married Ruth, who was born October 24, 1649, at Windsor, Conn., daughter of Anthony Hawkins, of Farmington. Thomas Hart was a captain in the militia, 1695; deputy to the General Court, 1690 to 1706; speaker, 1700 to 1706; justice, 1698 to 1706. John Hooker and he were the two prominent men of the town.

(III) Deacon Thomas Ilart, second son of Capt. Thomas Hart, was born in April, 1680, at Farmington, Conn., and Dec. 17, 1702, married Mary, daughter of John Thompson, of Farmington. He removed to Kensington, Conn., and became the most prominent man in that society. His first wife died in October, 1763, and Jan. 1I, 1764, at the age of eighty-four, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Norton, widow of Isaac Norton, of Berlin, Conn. He died Jan. 29, 1773, aged ninety-three years.

(IV) Deacon Elijah Hart, of New Britain, Conn., third son of Deacon Thomas Hart, was born June 18, 1711, at Kensington, Conn., and became a lifelong farmer. On Dec. 26, 1734, he married Abigail Goodrich, who was born Dec. 14, 1714, a daughter of Allen Goodrich. He located in New Britain, and he and his wife became constituent members of the first church organized there, April 19, 1758. He died Aug. 3, 1772 ; his widow passed away in Simsbury, Conn., at the home of her daugh- ter, Mrs. Eno, Jan. 21, 1809, aged ninety-five.

(V) Deacon Elijah Hart, son of the above and great-great-grandfather of the late Charles R. Hart, was born Sept. 26, 1735, in Kensington, Conn. With his parents he became a constituent member of the church in New Britain, 1758, and led the singing therein. He was of strictly puritanical habits, a farmer by occupation and possessor of considerable property. On May 11, 1757, he mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Ebenezer Gilbert. He died Dec. 10, 1800, his wife on Sept. 22, 1809.

(VI) Deacon Elijah Hart, son of the above, and great-grandfather of the late Charles R. Hart, was born May 7, 1759, at New Britain, Conn. He was a large farmer and an extensive manufacturer of cornmeal for the West Indies trade. On March 18, 1778, he enlisted in the Revolutionary army for three years, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. On Dec. 21, 1780, he married Anna Andrews, who was born Sept. 6, 1760, a daughter of Hezekiah Andrews. Deacon Hart died from the effects of a bee's sting Aug. 4, 1827, his widow passing away Dec. 2, 1835.

(VII) Jesse Hart, son of the above and grand- father of our subject, was born in New Britain, Conn., April 20, 1789, and became a respected citi- zen of that town. For many years he was engaged

Char. R. Hart

809

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in business there as a blacksmith, having learned the trade under Orrin Lee in Hartford. On April 5, 1810, he married Lucina Cowdry, who was born Sept. 17, 1788, a daughter of Asa Cowdry, of Hart- land, Conn., and they had two children: Artemus Ensign, a sketch of whom follows; and Lucina, born Dec. 3, 1821, who married John H. Good- win, and died May 16, 1885. Jesse Hart died in New Britain Feb. 21, 1825, his widow in Paris, France.

(VIII) Artemus Ensign Hart, father of the late Charles R. Hart, was born Feb. 1I, 1812, in New Britain, Conn., and was reared at the old home- stead, which occupied the site of the present Con- gregational parsonage. He built a house in New Britain on Washington street, which was used as the Episcopal parsonage. He was a man of re- tiring and unpretentious nature and a devout mem- ber of the Congregational Church, his excellent qualities of character making him a valued citi- zen. By occupation he was a jeweler, and after carrying on that trade for some years at Newington he removed to Hartford and later to West Hart- ford, where he died in 1884, his remains being taken to New Britain for interment. On Aug. 24. 1836, he married Ann Elizabeth Clark, who was born Dec. 7, 1816, a daughter of Abel and Catherine (Eckerst) Clark, of Litchfield, Conn., well-known residents of that section. Children as follows were born to Artemus E. and Ann E. Hart: Virginia Veeder, now Mrs. Charles J. Smith, of Hartford ; Charles R., subject of this sketch; Artemus Elijah, a banker of Hartford, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Lucina, who died in infancy; Ann Eliz- abeth, who married (first) Charles Macken, of New York, and (second) Alfred Huber, of Paris ; Henry L., deceased; and Joseph C., of the Pratt Street Bank, Hartford.

(IX) Charles R. Hart, the subject proper of this memoir, was born June 17, 1840, at the old home in New Britain, and was educated in the schools of that town. Instead of taking a college course he chose an active business career, and in 1857 he came to Hartford, where he entered the store of Joab H. Hubbard as clerk, beginning or very small wages. He proved admirably adapted to the business, being courteous and attentive, and readily acquiring a knowledge of the minute de- tails that escape the notice of many. As time passed he was enabled, through a judicious management of his resources, to engage in business on his own account, and so well did he succeed that he ac- cumulated a substantial fortune. He resided in Hartford until January 6, 1897, when he removed to Windsor, having purchased the Hutchison estate on Windsor Heights, known as "Broadview." The residence was thoroughly remodeled and fitted with ali conveniences known to city homes, and now, with its spacious, well-kept grounds, it is one of the finest and most pleasantly located suburban resi- dences around Hartford. In private life Mr. Hart was known as a kind and generous man, but he avoided all publicity in his benefactions. His in-

tegrity was never questioned, and in matters of opinion he was always ready to concede the rights of others, never seeking to change anyone's ideas to correspond with his own. For many years he was a member of Christ Church, Hartford, to which he contributed liberally. He died Nov. 22, 1898, at his home in Windsor, and among the many testi- monials to his worth which the sad event brought out we may quote the following from the "Carpet Review :'

"Charles R. Hart, president of the Charles R. Hart Co., of Hartford, died at his home in Wind- sor, of pneumonia, on the 22d ult., after an illness of about a week's duration. He was born in New Britain, Conn., in 1840. In 1857 he went to Hart- ford and found employment in the dry-goods store of J. H. Hubbard. Subsequently he was employed by Talcott & Post. From there he went to Sugden & Co., in the old Catlin block, at the corner of Main and Asylum streets. The business relations be- tween Mr. William E. Sugden, the senior member of the firm, and Mr. Hart, which began at that time, have been continued until now. Mr. Hart was soon taken into partnership, and the firm con- tinued under the same name until the admission into partnership of Lent. B. Merriam, when the name was changed to Hart, Merriam & Co., Mr. Suyden remaining in the firm, but the younger men taking more direct charge of the active business work. In 1888 the firm was changed to Charles R. Hart & Co., owing to the retirement of Mr. Merriam. The house was incorporated in 1897 as the C. R. Hart Company, the members of the cor- poration being W. E. Sugden, Charles R. Hart, Samuel A. Bacon and Grovenser W. Curtis, Mr. Hart being made president; G. W. Curtis, vice- president ; Mr. Sugden, treasurer ; and S. A. Bacon, secretary.

"The company moved a few weeks ago into its handsome quarters in the new Sage & Allen build- ing. Mr. Hart was a thirty-second-degree Mason. He was active in municipal politics, for a number of years serving in the court of common council from the old First ward. In 1884 he was appointed a member of the board of water commissioners by Mayor Morgan G. Bulkeley, and received a re-ap- pointment three years later from Mayor Bulkeley. He leaves a widow and one daughter.'

The "Connecticut Courant," Nov. 28, 1898, in an extended review of Mr. Hart's many noble qual- ities, said: "Charles R. Hart, head of the Charles R. Hart Co., and one of Hartford's leading busi- ness men, died at his home in Windsor last evening of asthma, from which he had been a sufferer for years. Mr. Hart was one of the original Wide Awakes, and was a member of the Veteran Asso- ciation of the Hartford City Guard, having served a term in the active company soon after the Civil war. He was a thirty-second-degree Mason and a member of Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He was an earnest Republican in politics, and a few years ago was an active force in politics. In the death of Mr. Hart Hartford has suffered a

810

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

severe loss in a philanthropic sense and from a progressive standpoint. Mr. Hart's personality was a strong feature. He was à bright, active busi- ness man, and very genial in his business and per- sonal relations."

On April 4, 1866, Mr. Hart was married, in Christ Church, Hartford, to Miss Ellen M. Wood- ruff, and two children blessed the union: (I) Charles R. died in infancy. (2) Edith W., born Sept. 21, 1869, was educated at the Hartford Fe- male Seminary, and married Charles A. Blake, a well-known business man of Taunton, Mass., and a member of one of the best families of that town. For some time he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Hartford, but at present is at the head of the Hartford branch of banking house of Lewis A. May & Co., of New York. He resides with his wife's mother in Windsor. Mr. and Mrs. Blake had one son, deceased in infancy.

Mrs. Ellen M. ( Woodruff ) Hart was born in Hartford Feb. 9. 1843, a daughter of O. D. Wood- ruff, a prominent citizen. Her mother, Mary J. Crosby, was a daughter of William and Rachel Crosby, of West Hartford, and a sister of Erastus Crosby, at one time president of the First National Bank of Hartford. Mrs. Hart was graduated from the Hartford Female Seminary, on Pratt street, class of '61, and is cultured and intelligent, her fine social gifts making her beautiful home, "Broad- view," the center of a gracious hospitality.

MOSES McKEE (deceased) was for many years a leading agriculturist of the Farmington Valley, and his successful life furnishes an example worthy of emulation, his prosperity having been gained by useful industry without the sacrifice of honor and integrity.

Mr. McKee was a representative of the Scotch- Irish race, which has given so many enterprising and successful men to America, and was born in County Antrim, Ireland, the son of William and Esther (Money) McKee, both of whom were natives of Scotland. They were members of the Presbyter- ian Church, and industrious, upright citizens, the father being a farmer by ocupation. Of their large family of children several settled in Canada, while John, Joseph and Moses engaged in agriculture in the Farmington Valley.

Our subject received a limited education in his native land, and at the age of eighteen came to America in a sailing vessel, landing in Canada, where he remained for a short time. On crossing the line into the United States he spent some time in New York State, but he was still a young man when he came to Connecticut and found employment as a laborer among the farmers of the Farmington Valley. When he had accumulated enough money to buy a homestead for himself he settled in that locality, engaging in general farming, dairying, stock raising and tobacco growing. After some years he bought the Gillett farm, a fine estate of 300 acres near Avon, and there he made many im-

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 7

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