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 73

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 73

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Job Cowing was born Aug. 31, 1820, at the old homestead in Chesterfield, Mass., and was reared as a farmer boy, receiving only a district-school education. When a young man he went to Orange county, N. Y., to learn the millwright's trade, which he followed for many years. After ten years he removed to Northampton, Mass., and later he spent six years at Stamford, Bennington Co., Vt., where. he became interested in the lumber business. He then came to this section to engage in farming, and settled upon Capt. Simon Kendall's farm, in Suffield, where he has since resided. In addition to general agriculture, he devotes much attention to dairying and stock raising, and by his able management he has gained satisfactory results in all these lines. Throughout his life he has been a firm believer in the policy of the Democratic party, and while he has not been an office seeker he has not shirked the duties of citizenship, and at one time served as as- sessor of Suffield. He is a man of sound judgment and extensive reading, and in religion he bases his faith upon the underlying principles of all creeds rather than in those of any one denomination.

On Dec. 25, 1844, Mr. Cowing was married, in Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Eleanor Cole, daughter of Josiah Cole, a prominent citizen of Paterson, N. J. Their home is marked by the influence of Mrs. Cowing's refined taste, and their eight chil- dren have been reared in a way to make them a credit to their parents: (1) Walter is a black- smith of Southington. (2) Julia married Senator

George F. Kendell, of Suffield. (3) Laura mar- ried Irvin Lindsay, of Meriden. (4) Fanny mar- ried Arthur Tildon, of Terryville, Conn. (5) Frank resides in Meriden, where he is chief engin- eer of the Fire Department. (6) James resides in Toronto, Canada. (7) Miss Helen is at home. (8) Addie married Ernest Austin, of Suffield.

WATSON GIBBONS, one of the oldest resi- dents and most highly-respected citizens of the town of Hartland, is the possessor of a handsome property which now enables him to spend his years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumulations. The record of his life, previous to 1884, is that of an active, enterprising, methodical and sagacious business man, and who bent his energies to the hon- orable acquirement of a comfortable competence for himself and family.

Mr. Gibbons was born in Granville, Mass., Feb. 18, 1812, and is a representative of an old and hon- ored New England family, of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion. His grandfather, Peter Gibbons, who was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, was born in Durham, Conn., April 20, 1730, and during his younger years was a subject of Great Britain, but lived to see the Colonies throw off the yoke of oppression and be- come free and independent. He made his home in Granville, Mass., where he died in 1792. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a most con- sistent Christian. His wife Sarah was born Jan. 31. 1731, and died in Granville many years ago. In their family were twelve children: Elizabeth, born Nov. 7. 1752 ; Peter, Aug. 1, 1754; Lemuel, Oct. 1, 1756; Bildad, Feb. 2, 1759; Mary and Sarah (twins), Dec. 31, 1760; Timothy, Feb. 22, 1762; Sarah (2), May 5, 1764; Eli, Aug. 28, 1767; Jedediah Howe, Feb. 18, 1770; Mary, Aug. 1, 1772; and Hannah, April 5, 1775.

Jedediah Howe Gibbons, the father of our sub- ject, received only a limited education in the pub- lic schools of his day, and throughout life followed the occupation of farming. When a young man he purchased a tract of one hundred acres of land, to the cultivation and improvement of which he de- voted his energies until called from this life, Aug. 4, 1849, his remains being interred in Granville cemetery. He was noted for his upright character, was honored and respected by all, and was a Whig in politics, but never an office seeker. He married Elizabeth Cowdrey, who was born in Hartland, Conn., in 1770, a daughter of Moses Cowdrey, one of the old and respected settlers of that town. She was a good Christian woman, and a faithful wife and mother. She departed this life at Granville, in 1844, and was laid to rest in the cemetery there In the family were nine children, whose names and diates of birth were as follows: Carlos, July 12, 1793; Dumaras, April 13, 1796; Philura, Oct. 25, 1798: Amoret, Aug. 20, 1800 ((lied June 4, 1802) ; Hiram B., Sept. 26, 1802 ; Amoret. Feb. 10, 1804 : Elizabeth, Oct. 10, 1806; Martha. Jan. 6, 1810

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(died July 13, 1810) ; and Watson, Feb. 18, 1812.

During his boyhood our subject attended the district schools, but his educational advantages were meager, as his father was well advanced in life and his services were needed on the home farm. He struggled hard to support his parents in com- fort, but labored under disadvantages on account of his limited education. He was, however, am- bitious, energetic and enterprising, and at the age of sixteen started out in the world for himself, selling farm produce in Hartford; in his trucking business he used ox-teams. Thus he laid the foun- dation of a useful and successful business life. With the first money which he saved he paid off the mortgage on his father's farm, and then as- sumed charge of the same, caring for his parents in their old age. In 1836 Timothy Cooley, a gen- eral merchant, offered Mr. Gibbons an interest in his business without putting in any capital, as that gentleman fully appreciated the sterling qualities and good business ability of the young man. He had, however, saved $400, and this he invested in the business, which was successfully conducted un- der the firm name of Cooley & Gibbons for four years. In 1839 they started a branch store at East Hartland, with Mr. Gibbons in charge, and when he withdrew from the firm in 1841 he kept the store at that place, being successfully engaged in mer- cantile business there until 1884, during which time he had three partners: Lyman Remington, for two years; John J. Phelps, for the same length of time; and Philo P. Coe, for twelve years. In 1884 he leased his store to Fred Harding, and has since lived retired from all business cares. For half a century he had successfully engaged in gen- eral merchandising, was also a dealer in lumber, and had farming interests. A man of strict in- tegrity, he was known far and wide for his upright, honorable business career, and for the success that he achieved in life he deserved great credit, for he started out for himself empty-handed and rose to a position of affluence entirely through his own industry, perseverance and good management.

On April 30, 1834, in Granville, Mass., Mr. Gibbons was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth C. Parsons, a daughter of Oliver Parsons, Esquire. She died June 3, 1882, and was buried in East Hartland. She was a most estimable lady and a good Christian. Mr. Gibbons was again married, his second union being in November, 1882, with Mrs. Almira H. (Colton) Emmons, a native of Granby, Conn., and a daughter of Lemuel and Polly (Watson) Colton. By her first hus- band, Darius Emmons, she had five children: Al- mera, wife of Wesley Miller; Almeron (twin of Almera ), who became a resident of Kansas, and died in January, 1898, aged fifty-five years; Irving D., a resident of Hartland; Mary J., who died in Boston in 1897, at the age of forty-eight years ; and Arthur, who died at the age of four years.

Mr. Gibbons has an adopted son, Watson E. Gib- bons, his nephew, who is a native of Granville, Mass., and a son of Hiram and Cynthia (King) Gibbons, the former a brother of our subject. Since a child of four years he had made his home with our subject, being well-reared and educated, and is now a traveling salesman for a mercantile house in Springfield, Mass. He wedded Mary Bannon, of that place, and has four children : Lena, Grace, Sadie and Edward. In politics he is a Re- publican.

Mr. Gibbons cast his first Presidential vote for the Whig candidate in 1836, and continued to sup- port that party until the organization of the Re- publican party, when he joined its ranks, and has since been identified therewith. In 1881 he was elected to the State Legislature, and most ably and satisfactorily represented Hartland town in that body. He has also most creditably filled a number of local offices, including those of selectman, town clerk, judge of probate, administrator in the set- tlement of numerous estates, and postmaster at East Hartland for four years. He is a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and his life has ever been in harmony with his profession. Mr. Gibbons was made a Freemason in Tariffville many years ago, and is a charter member of St. Mark's Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M., of Granby.

BURTON S. LOOMIS. The practical develop- ments of modern scientific research have brought into service a high class of talent, electrical science being especially attractive to the keen minds of the young men of to-day. The subject of this biography, who is now connected with the Eddy Electric Manufacturing Co., at Windsor, has made a special study of the mechanisms by which Na- ture's powerful fluid is converted into the servant of man, and by his intelligent work as a machinist has gained the respect, as well as the confidence, of his employers. As a citizen Mr. Loomis is thoroughly progressive and his elegant home in Windsor, built in 1894, gives indication of artistic taste and generous culture, his fondness for read- ing being shown by an excellent collection of books on current topics.

Mr. Loomis was born in Windsor March 10, 1868, the only child of Newton S. and Susan ( Cas- well) Loomis. In the paternal line he traces his descent from Joseph Loomis, who was born about 1590 at Braintree, County of Essex, England, and came in the fall of 1639 to Windsor, where he died Nov. 25, 1658. In 1640 he purchased prop- erty there, and his descendants in the town have always been among its thrifty, "fore-handed" citi- zens.

II. Deacon John Loomis, who was born in England in 1622, died Sept. 1, 1688, in Windsor. He was married, Feb. 3, 1649, to Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Thomas Scott, of Hartford.

III. Sergeant Daniel Loomis, who was born

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June 16, 1657, died June 25, 1740. On Dec. 23, 1680, lie married Mary Ellsworth, daughter of Josiah Ellsworth, and on July 9, 1713, he mar- ried Hannah Drake, a widow.

IV. Benjamin Loomis, the next in the line of descent, was born Feb. 7, 1699, and died Jan. 2, 1763. On Dec. 9, 1725, he married Joanna Alford. V. Serajah Loomis was born Dec. 4, 1740, and died in 1811. He was married, Oct. 24, 1767, to Sybil Loomis.

VI. Ira Loomis, our subject's great-grandfa- her, was born Feb. 13, 1770, and died Jan. 9, 1842. On March 5, 1798, he married Rosamond Warner, of Scotland, Conn., who died Sept. 18, 1849

VII. Ira Loomis, Jr., grandfather of our sub- ect, was born May 2, 1802, and died Sept. 19, [891. In his youth he taught school for a time, out his later years were spent at the old home- stead in farming and brickmaking, in which he gained a comfortable competence. On Feb. 12, 1834, he married Eliza Sheldon, of Suffield, daugh- er of Deacon Samuel Sheldon, and she survived im only ten months.

VIII. Newton S. Loomis, our subject's father, was born in Windsor Jan. 17, 1835, and was edu- cated in the Stony Hill district school, and in the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. In the meantime he assisted in the work of the farm, but is he was not inclined to settle down to that busi- hess he became a clerk in a grocery in Hartford soon after leaving school. About 1857 he made a prospecting tour through Minnesota and other west- ern States, but after an absence of a year and a half lie decided that there was "no place like home" und returned to the old farm. His time until his retirement was spent in agricultural pursuits, and after some years at the homestead he removed to Bloomfield, where he spent thirteen years. He then returned to the town of Windsor, and in April, (893, he located at Windsor Center, but he died on the 5th of May of that year. His remains were aken to Bloomfield for interment. He was a mem- per of a political organization, in 1860, called the 'Wide-awakes," and voted for Lincoln (first term). On June 4, 1863, he married Miss Susan Caswell, who was born in Hartford Dec. 23, 1835, and is till living at the homestead. She received an ex- ellent education in girlhood in the common and elect schools, and is held in high esteem in the community where she has resided for so many cars. Her father, Edwin Caswell, was proprietor of Washington market, Hartford, but during her childhood he engaged in farming in West Hart- ord, where she was reared. Her mother's maiden lame was Bethiah Wells, and Mrs. Loomis was he fifth child and third daughter in a family of leven children, all of whom lived to maturity.

IX. Burton S. Loomis attended the schools of he Southwest district of Bloomfield, his parents being then residents of that town, and Miss Lilian

Ilumphrey was his first teacher. When he was sixteen years old the family returned to Windsor, and afterward he studied for two terms in Han- num's Business College, Hartford, thus laying a good foundation for success in business life. On leaving home in 1888 he went to Wahoo, Neb., where he spent one year in the offices of the Bur- lington & Missouri railroad as agent's clerk. Later he spent a year and a half as a cashier at New Castle, Wyoming, and had the privilege of voting for Francis M. Warren, the first governor of that State, who was elected on the Republican ticket. Altogether he remained about three years in the West, a few months being spent as a baggage mas- ter at Aurora, Neb., but as his father's health was failing he came back home in November, 1890, to In the assist in the management of the farm. spring of 1892 lie entered the employ of the Eddy Manufacturing Co., with whom he has since con- tinued. On Nov. 14, 1894, he married Miss Annie L. Hubbard, daughter of Franklin B. and Louisa (Loomis) Hubbard, whose biographical sketch ap- pears elsewhere. Two children have blessed this union, Grace Hubbard and Theodore R., both liv- ing. Mr. Loomis is a Methodist, and member of the official board of the M. E. Church, but his wife is a member of the Congregational Church, and they are popular among a refined and cultured social circle. Politically Mr. Loomis is a stanch Republican, as was his father before him, and his first Presidential vote was cast for Benjamin Har- rison, at Windsor, in 1892; he has never entered the arena as an office seeker.

HENRY JACKSON DEWEY, the well-known superintendent of the Granby Creamery, is a lead- ing representative of the agricultural interests of the town of Granby. A man of excellent busi- ness ability and broad resources, he has attained a prominent place among the substantial citizens of his part of the county, and is recognized as a leader in public affairs.

Mr. Dewey was born in the town of Granby Oct. 5, 1826, and belongs to an old and distin- guislied New England family, which has a prom- inent representative in the hero of Manila. Thie first of the family to locate in Granby, then Sinis- bury, Conn., was David Dewey, a Baptist minister, who took up his residence at what is now known as Bushy Hill, where he engaged in farming, and also preaclied throughout the surrounding country. As he lived prior to the Revolutionary war, and did not wish to pay taxes to the British government, his cow was taken from him and sold for that pur- pose. He died in Granby, and his remains were interred in the cemetery there. This worthy gentle- man was the great-grandfather of our subject.

David Dewey, Jr., the grandfather, was born at Bushy Hill, and spent his entire life in the town of Granby, as one of its highly-respected citizens and well-to-do farmers and stock raisers. During

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the Revolutionary war he enlisted as a private in the Colonial service under Capt. Phillips, and valiantly fought until independence was achieved. He was twice married, his second wife being Le- vina Holcomb, daughter of Asa Holcomb, and to them were born seven children: David; John, fa- ther of our subject ; Samuel; Eli; Deborah ; Joseph ; and Levina, wife of Joseph Day. The parents of these children both died on the old homestead at Bushy Hill, and were buried in Granby cemetery. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and highly esteemed by all who knew them.

John Dewey, our subject's father, was born on the old homestead Oct. 16, 1786, and was edu- cated in the district school taught by Miss Rebecca Adams. He was one of the defenders of the coun- try during the war of 1812. He remained on the old homestead until 1818, when he moved to the farm now owned and occupied by our subject,. a tract of fifty acres, where he engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying throughout the remainder of his life. He died there July 16, 1853, and was buried in Granby cemetery. His political support was always given to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he most ably represented his town in the State Legislature. He filled other official positions, such as selectman, and his public and private life were alike above re- proach. He was married, in the town of Granby, to Miss Julia Hayes, who was born in North Granby, near the Massachusetts line, a daughter of Phineas Hayes. Of the six children born of this union, one died in infancy; Julia died unmar- ried; Henry J. is mentioned below; Hilton is a resident of Mississippi; Emma lives with our sub- ject ; and Hattie is the wife of Horace R. Chidsey. The mother, who was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, died in 1860, and was laid to rest beside her husband.

Henry J. Dcwey was educated in the public schools of his native town, grew to manhood on the paternal farm, and after the death of his fa- ther succeeded to the place, increasing its extent from time to time until he now has 140 acres of valuable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He has always followed gen- eral farming, dairying and stock raising, keeping a fine herd of Jersey cattle, and in 1882 he became interested in the organization of the Granby Cream- ery Co., of which he has ever since been a director and stockholder. In 1884 he was appointed super- intendent, and his good business ability and ex- cellent management have brought to the concern a high degree of success. Annually the company man- ufacture 206,000 pounds of butter, which finds a ready sale at the highest market price in Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury and other Connecticut towns, and in this way over $40,000 a year are dis- tributed among the farmers of Granby. The suc- cess of the enterprise is certainly due in a large

measure to Mr. Dewey, and through it he has pro- moted the welfare of the community.

In December, 1857, in Westfield, Mass., Mr. Dewey was united in marriage with Miss Laura Searle, a native of Southhampton, that State, and a daughter of Job and Laura (Tuller) Searle, an old and respected family. Five children were born to them: (1) William H., living on the home- stead, is his father's partner in business, and is a Republican in politics. He married Hattie Wells, and has five children, Edith, Wells, Ralph, LeRoy and Maurice. (2) Lizzie is the wife of Samuel Frederick Holcomb, and has had four children, Tudor, Laura, Lena (who died when eighteen months old), and one who died in infancy un- named. (3) Emma A. is the wife of George F. Clark, of North Granby, and has two children, Ellis F. and Laura D. (4) Julia died in infancy. (5) Nellie May, a cultured and refined lady, was married, April 27, 1899, to Leroy H. Wilcox ; she is now serving as secretary of the Granby Creamery Co. The wife and mother died from a cancer, in 1893, and was laid to rest in Granby cemetery. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a most estimable lady.

In early life Mr. Dewey was a Democrat, but since the organization of the Republican party, in 1856, he has fought under its banner, and has taken quite an influential part in local politics. In 1876 he was elected and served one term as State rep- resentative, was selectman of the town of Granby four terms, and has also been a member of the board of relief and of the school board. Socially he is affiliated with St. Mark's Lodge, No. 91, F. & A. M., and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as steward. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman, and is quite a popular and influential citizen of his community. Among his most cherished posses- sions are a number of old relics which belonged to his father and grandfather.

WALTER SMITH. Industry, thrift and sound judgment make a combination of qualities which will win success in any line of effort, and the his- tory of this well-known resident of Windsor town shows that he possesses them in a high degree. Com- ing to this country without any other capital than his own ability and energy, he has won a substantial competence by his own endeavors, and his attractive homestead near Windsor village is a tangible evi- dence of his success.

Mr. Smith was born Oct. 22, 1828, in Gloucester- shire, England, a son of George and Rebecca (Shel- ton) Smith, the latter of whom was a daughter of Samuel Shelton, and of the same family as the Sheltons of Connecticut. His father, who was em- ployed in a factory for many years, died when our subject was but two years old, leaving three chil- dren: Harriett, who married Timothy Hunt, and

Walter Smith

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died in England; Walter, the second in order of birth ; and George, a resident of Talcottville, Conn. The mother was married some years later to Will- iam Bendell, by whom she had three children : Charles, deceased; Frederick, a resident of Man- chester, Conn .; Elizabeth, who married and died in England. Charles possessed unusual ability, espe- cially in mechanical lines, and our subject cherishes a miniature, full rigged, three masted ship made by lim; which shows remarkable skill. He served ten years in the British navy, also five years in the United States navy, and was drowned in April, 1876, at Poquonock.

During boyhood our subject had but limited ed- ucational opportunities, as his mother found it difficult to make a livelihood for her little family,and each of the children was obliged to help as early as possible. At the age of eleven Mr. Smith found work in a mill, and as the mill law then required children so employed to be given some instruction every day he was not entirely deprived of a chance to study. At sixteen he left the mill, his health being impaired, and for some time followed various occupations, giving especial attention to gardening, in which he became known as an expert. For two years he had charge of a gentleman's garden, for one year of that time also having charge of a farm in Gloucester. In April, 1854, Mr. Smith was married, in England, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, who died in September, 1856, and in 1857 he came to America, having saved enough money from his earnings. He sailed from Liverpool and had a trying voyage, the ship finally striking a rock off Cape Sable, but after 700 passengers had endured a night and part of a day of keen anxiety they were safely towed into harbor at Shelburne, N. S. Mr. Smith proceeded thence by schooner to Halifax, where he worked in public gardens for five weeks, but his health being poor he left by steamer for Boston, and from that point he made a prospecting tour for work. His first employment was as a farm hand, in a market garden near Jersey City, his former experience in that line being of great value to him. Before leaving England he had decided to locate at Rockville, Conn., where he had an uncle, Samuel Shelton, and after a time he carried out his plan, securing work on a farm there and later in a mill. The panic of 1857 closed the mill, and in January, 1858, he went to Windsor, where he found employment in a woolen factory. llis characteristic thoroughness soon won the confidence of his employers, and three departments of the es- tablishment were placed in his charge, but in the spring of 1864 he resigned to engage in farming, which occupation he found not only profitable but healthful. He is still regarded as an expert in the business, especially as a cleanser and fuller, and at times has returned to the mill for short periods to perform some work requiring more than ordinary skill. His first home was on what is known as Cook's Hill, near Windsor village, and early in

1863 he removed to his present farm, which he pur- chased from Dr. Preston. Under his able and scientific management it yields a handsome income, and in the afternoon of his long and busy life he is surrounded by well-earned comforts. Mr. Smith is now practically retired from hard work, and with his good wife is spending the latter years of his life in leisure, respected by all. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of the county, and his business transactions will bear the closest scrutiny, his word being as good as his bond everywhere. Politically he is independent, with inclinations toward the Democratic party, and while he is inter- ested in public affairs he has always declined to be- come a candidate for office.

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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 73

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