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 83

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 83

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Chicago, Ill., and through his able work and over- sight the business has made rapid growth through- out the West.

The business of placing the goods on the market is done entirely through agents, of whom Mr. Tolles employs over one thousand. They are in all parts of the United States. No business whatever is done with dealers or jobbers, despite the fact that many orders are received from them. The Windsor factory. employs from fifteen to twenty, and the industry is one of the most prosperous in the town. Mr. Tolles gives the business his personal attention, and not- withstanding its great volume he is thoroughly fa- miliar with all its details. The products comprise a general line of collars and cuffs, which are made in all the prevailing styles and sizes, with polish or new linen finish, as desired; also shirt fronts, neckties, and a full line of collars and cuffs for ladies' wear, which are just the thing for shirtwaists and for bicycle wear. These goods are all made of solid rubber, no inner lining of cloth, and are not to be confounded with the ordinary celluloid goods. They are waterproof, and will not chip on edge or turn yellow, and contain nothing in any way injurious to the skin. Other specialties are ladies' belts, and a large variety of other useful and ornamental arti- cles, which are all manufactured under the com- pany's own registered trade mark of the "Windsor" waterproof.

As a citizen our subject is progressive, enter- prising, and his genial, courteous manner has won for him many friends. He married Miss Minnie Rummell, a native of North Manchester, Conn., and they have two children : Ethel F. and May Bell. The family is prominent socially. Socially, our subject is connected with Lincoln Lodge, No. 55. K. P., Hartford; Hartford Conclave, No. 259, Im- proved Order Heptasophs, and Capitol Lodge, No. 301, N. E. O. P., Hartford, in which latter organiza- tion he is an active worker. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. and a representa- tive from it to the Supreme Lodge in 1899 and 1900. He is also deputy of Haskell Lodge, Windsor Locks, N. E. O. P. In 1892 Mr. Tolles completed his ele- gant home, on Loomis Ave., Windsor, Conn .; in 1898 built another very desirable residence to rent in Windsor, and in 1899 he built a large iron covered factory building for his collar business.

WILLIAM BAILEY, the oldest meat dealer in Windsor, and one of its most highly respected citizens, was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Eng- land, Oct. 6, 1844, a son of Joseph and Ann ( Bailey) Bailey, who were both weavers and followed that occupation when all weaving was done by hand. The father died in England, the mother in Rock- ville, Conn. Our subject is the youngest in the family of twelve children. only four of whom came to the United States. Simeon died in New Jer- sev. Joseph was one of the first Englishmen to work in the mills at Rockville, Conn., and later he-

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came foreman of the same. He was a member of the 25th Conn. V. I., during the Civil war, and stood high in the community where he lived. Sarah, now the widow of William Randall, is a resident of Rockville, and her oldest son, George Randall, is a prominent Republican and postmaster of that place.

William Bailey's early educational advantages were quite meager, but to a limited extent he at- tended school in his native land, and after coming to the United States, the greater part of his edu- cation being .obtained in the district of Rockville, Tolland Co., Conn. In company with his brother- in-law, William Randall, he sailed from Liverpool on the "Isaac Webb," and after a voyage of a month landed in New York, in March, 1856. He remained in the vicinity of Rockville, Conn., until 1866, being employed in the finishing department of the woolen-mill at that place. Going to Poquo- nock he worked in the woolen-mill there, of which Kellogg & La Prease were the builders and first operators, and here he became familiar with every department of the work, being promoted from time to time until he was able to take charge of the mill during the absence of the proprietor. He remained there until 1876, when the product was changed to worsteds. Business being dull at that time along that line, he came to Windsor Center, where in June of that year he embarked in the butcher busi- ness, at first killing and dressing all his own meat with the exception of the beef. As his trade in- creased, he extended his operations and was soon at the head of a profitable business which he still enjoys.

Mr. Bailey was united in marriage with Miss Lenora B. Pease, a native of Enfield, Hartford county, and the youngest daughter of Wells and Betsey (Pease) Pease. Two sons have been born to them, namely: (1) William, who is a junior member of the Warner & Bailey Co., clothiers of Hartford, married Harriet Bell, of Windsor ; he has served two terms as councilman, and is now serv- ing as alderman in the city council. (2) Arthur A., is bookkeeper at the Eddy Electric Manufac- turing Co., and resides at home; he is chairman of the Republican town committee. In 1896 Mr. Bailey built his present comfortable residence on Loomis avenue, Windsor.

In early life Mr. Bailey was a Republican, and had that party put a Prohibition plank in its plat- form he would have continued one of its supporters, but since 1886 he has voted with the Prohibition party, being an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance and a member of the Good Templars when that society flourished. Although his edu- cational advantages were poor during his youth, he has by reading and observation become a well-in- formed man, and is especially well-posted on the Scriptures, being a great student of the Bible. In 1865 he united with the Congregational Church; was deacon of the church in Poquonock, and in 1884

was chosen to the same position in Windsor to succeed Deacon Woodford. He also served as superintendent of the Sunday-school for three years and nine months at two different periods. His life is exemplary in all respects, and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest com- mendation.

JAMES TROTTER. The extraordinarily suc- cessful business career of Mr. Trotter has resulted, in no small degree, to the benefit of the town of Manchester. Although not yet forty-five years of age, he has accumulated large and valuable hold- ings of real property there, and his public spirit has so influenced his management of the same that, while not unmindful of his. own interests, he has done as much, if not more, for the upbuilding of that beautiful suburb of Hartford.

Mr. Trotter is a native of County Armagh, Ire- land, born June 11, 1856, the eldest of eleven children of Richard and Jane (Forsyth) Trotter, of whom eight are yet living. The other surviving members of the family, in the order of their birth, are: Alexander, who is in the employ of Cheney Bros. at their mills in Manchester ; William J., and Richard, both of whom reside at Paterson, N. J .; Robert and George, whose home is in Australia ; and Josepli and Thomas, of Manchester.

In 1874 James Trotter emigrated to this country. His first employment in America was in one of the silkmills of Cheney Bros. His industry and thrift stood him in good stead, and little by little he added to his savings, until in 1883 he was able to make his first purchase of real estate in Manchester. He se- lected property on Wells street which he subse- quently sold to Ralph Cheney, and then bought what was known, at that time, as the Knox property. It was so remote from the heart of the town that many older heads advised him against making the transaction, but his sagacity, sound judgment and hard business sense convinced him that he was acting wisely. The result has abundantly justi- fied his prognostications, the property which he purchased on his own judgment at that time being at present among the most valuable in the choicest residence district of Manchester. This piece of ground embraced about eight and one-half acres, and on a portion of it are now located the barns of the Hartford, Manchester & Rockville Street Car Co. On this land Mr. Trotter has erected eight dwellings, one of which he still owns. In 1896 he bought the sixteen acres popularly called the "Hunt- ington property," one of the most beautiful tracts in Manchester, and has improved it and platted it in lots, some of which he sold, and upon which have been erected nineteen handsome residences; he has also opened and dedicated streets, etc. In 1897 Mr. Trotter bought, from Mrs. Ann Hunneford, an- other valuable plat, comprising twenty acres,

James Potter

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

whereon have been built six dwellings, two of which he has sold. Among the streets which he has opened are Summit, Orchard, Winter, Trotter, Val- ley, Huntington, and Wadsworth Avenue. In 1899 he purchased seventy-five acres known as the "Taintor estate."

It is difficult to speak too highly of the progress- ive spirit which has ever characterized Mr. Trotter's policy since he began dealing in Manchester real property. His faith in the town's growth has never wavered, and his success is due wholly to this abso- lute confidence based on his intelligent judgment as a business man. Yet while building up a fortune for himself he has adopted no niggardly, selfish scheme for his own aggrandizement at the expense of others, and his fellow townsmen both recognize and appreciate the fact. In politics he is of the Re- publican faith. He makes no profession of religion, but is a regular attendant at Divine service, and a liberal contributor to every good work.

Mr. Trotter has been twice married. His first wife was Maggie J. McClellan, of East Hartford, whom he married in 1883, and who bore him one child, Eva J .; mother and daughter both died in 888. Seven years afterward, on Oct. 9, 1895, Mr. Trotter was joined in wedlock to Miss Lucy John- ston, and they have had one son, Alton Victor.

GEORGE CALVIN HOWE, shipping clerk for he Hartford Carpet Co., and one of the enterprising citizens of Thompsonville, Hartford county, was born Feb. 14, 1840, at Mobile, Ala., a son of George Rice and Sarah Jane (Ryer ) Howe.

Dr. Calvin Howe, our subject's grandfather, was prominent physician and surgeon of Saccarappa, Maine. He was born at Sturbridge, Maine, Jan. 21, 1780, and died at Saccarappa Aug. 26, 1845. During the war of 1812 he served as a contract sur- geon, was captured by the British, and kept prisoner or nine months. On July 3, 1802, he married Abi- gail Cutter, who died at Westfield, Mass., Sept. 20, 855, and by her he had the following children, the ldest born at Windham, Maine, the others at Sac- arappa. Thomas C., born Nov. 20, 1803, died at Detroit, Mich., Jan. 22, 1892 ; George R., born Nov. 1807, died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1847; Harrison G. Otis, born July 28, 1810, was lost at sea ; Iaria, born Feb. 14, 1817, died March 4, 1892; Iary A., born July 2, 1819, died Feb. 17, 1890; Andrew J., born Oct. 16, 1823, died Oct. 9, 1825. George Rice Howe, our subject's father, was a ca captain by occupation. On Dec. 13. 1834, he harried Sarah J. Ryer, daughter of Michael and Hannah Ryer, and to this union were born the fol- bwing children : George Calvin, Ada B., and Sam- el B. (who died when only a few years old ). Mrs. Ada B. ( Howe) Mook is vice-regent of the Col- mial Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution, of New York City, and curator of the State of New ork, of the same order. She has one daughter, essie Stanley

George Calvin Howe was reared in Brooklyn and New York City. He received a common- school education, and losing his father early com- menced working in New York. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted, in July, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service at Riker's Island on Aug. 15, as a private in Company H, An- dersons' Zouaves, afterward the Sixty-second N. Y. V. 1. He served three years, when he was honora- bly discharged as sergeant. He participated with his regiment in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Rappahannock Station, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Gettysburg, and the battles around Richmond under Gen. Grant. During part of these three years he was brigade and regimental clerk. After his discharge he was clerk in the quartermas- ter's department under Capt. J. T. Wray, of the Army of the Shenandoah, continuing till the sur- render of Gen. Lee at Appomattox. After the close of the war Mr. Howe located in Westfield, Mass., and remained there as clerk and bookkeeper for a grocery and dry-goods firm for two years. Then he moved to Springfield, Mass, holding a similar position in a furniture store, and in June, 1871, lo- cated in Thompsonville, where he has since resided, entering into the employ of the Hartford Carpet Co., as shipping clerk, which position he has held con- tinuously up to the present time

Mr Howe was married May 23, 1863, at North Adams, Mass., to Josephine Lydia, daughter of Horace and Cynthia ( Bradley) Walker, of Walker Hill, Dalton, Mass. She has borne him six chil- dren : George Lyman, born June 15, 1865, who has one son, Willard E .: Ada Elise (Mrs. Roscoe A. Hutchinson), born March 18, 1867, who has one daughter, Elise D. W. ; Ella, born Feb. 2, 1870, who died Feb. 28, 1872; Will Stanley (cashier and pay- master of The Hartford Rubber Works Co.), born April 16, 1873, who has one son, Stanley M. ; Liz- zie Whitley (a teacher), born Sept. 28, 1876; and Harry Leslie (a student of Trinity College), born April 9, 1881.

Mr. Howe is a member of the Universalist Church. He is a member and past commander of Samuel Brown Post, No. 56, G. A. R., of Thomp- sonville ; of Abraham Lincoln Circle, Ladies G. A. R., of Springfield, Mass. ; and of De Soto Lodge, I. O. O. F., of that city. In 1884 he became an ad - vocate of the prohibition of the liquor traffic by law, and has voted for that principle ever since.

LEMUEL C. CASWELL, who for the past seventeen years has been engaged in farming and clairying, the last four years of the time at Bloom- field, was born in Hartford, Conn., Aug. 2, 1843, and is a son of Edwin and Bethia T. ( Wells) Cas- well, being the ninth in their family of eleven chil- dren.

Lemuel Caswell, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ludlow, Mass., but passed the greater part of his life in Hartford county, Conn.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He married Miss Jeanette Nevins, and died at Lake Champlain during the war of 1812-15.

Edwin Caswell, son of Lemuel and father of Lemuel C., was born in West Hartford, Conn., in 1804, and there passed his boyhood years. For a long time he conducted a meat market in Hartford, and also lived for some time in Bloomfield. To his marriage with Miss Wells children were born in the following order : Ann ; Mary ; Edwin and Will- iam, deceased; Susan, wife of N. S. Loomis, of Windsor; John, deceased; Charles, a market-man 011 Asylum street, Hartford; Jane, wife of Fred Kingsley, of Hartford; Lemuel Chauncey, our sub- ject ; Joseph, deceased; and Benjamin, deceased. The father was a trustee and steward of the Method- ist Episcopal Church at Bloomfield, but during his latter years farmed at West Hartford, where his death took place in 1884, his remains being interred at Bloomfield ; his wife had died in 1852, and her body was interred at Hartford.

Lemuel C. Caswell attended school in West Hartford in his earlier boyhood, and later attended the Bloomfield Academy. For fifteen years he ran a butcher's wagon in Bloomfield and West Hartford, and then went into the meat market busi- ness with his brother Charles at Hartford, in which he continued one year. For the past seventeen years, as has already been intimated, he has been engaged in farming and dairying, settling finally in Bloomfield in 1896.

Lemuel C. Caswell married in Bloomfield, Jan. 5, 1871, Miss Mary Ella Goodwin, daughter of Chester Goodwin, and to this union have been born three children: Mary Ella, Anna Josephine and Edwin Lemuel. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bloom- field, and for a long time Mr. Caswell was a prom- inent member of the Good Templars society, of the same town. He has always borne a reputation for honest dealing, and enjoys the respect of all who know him, and this respect is also accorded his wife and family.

FRANK B. CLARK, the well-known paper manufacturer of Glastonbury, is a self-made man whose history will be of general interest.

He comes of good old Vermont stock. On his mother's side he is a direct descendant of William Bradford, second governor of Massachusetts.

Arad W. Clark, his father, was born and reared at Brattleboro, Vt., receiving a district school edu- cation, but came to Connecticut in early manhood, locating first at Granby, where he followed farm- ing for some time. Later, he settled at Glaston- bury, entering the employ of Deacon Duel Higgins, who was prominent for many years in the affairs of that community, and served as deacon in the East Glastonbury Congregational Church and later in the church at South Glastonbury. This removal led to important changes in the life of the young employe, as he was married a few years afterward to Hen-

rietta Higgins, daughter of the Deacon and his wife, Fannie Blinn, and the remainder of his life was spent in East Glastonbury, in agricultural pur- suits. He was a man of average height, and en- joyed remarkably good health until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1883. Our subject was the youngest of five children. Of the others, (I) Charles died in childhood. (2) Katherine married T. S. Curtis, a farmer in East Glastonbury, and died in 1898, leaving two children, Clayton and Effie. (3) John D. married Kittie Mandeville, and now resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he is suc- cessfully engaged in the steam-heating business. He has three children, Frank (named after our sub- ject), Aida and Florence. (4) Dwight, who is in the meat business, married Emma Fick, and re- sides in Ellington, Conn. He has two children, Bertha and Ernest.

Our subject was born Sept. 26, 1854, in East Glastonbury, near Bucks Corners, on a farm now owned by him, and which was formerly owned by his great-grandfather on the maternal side. He attended the local schools, and Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., where he completed his course in 1878. He then taught school in Glastonbury- two years in the same school which he attended as a boy, and also in another district south of that. At the age of seventeen he bought his father's in- terest in the house and farm, and for a number of years operated the place at night and in his spare time, and worked in the daytime in the Roaring Brook Paper Mill, and also for A. G. Hills. In

1888 he formed a partnership under the firm name of the Naubuc Paper Co., for the purchase of Case Bros.' paper factory, at Naubuc. From time to time he bought the interest of his partners, and in 1894 became sole owner of the mill. Fire destroyed the original mill in 1893, but Mr. Clark immediately erected the present mill, where he has been doing an extensive business. He employs about twelve men, and makes a specialty of the manufacture of book binder's board, the product being sent to all parts of the country. In 1895 he removed from the old homestead to his present residence. Mr. Clark attends the Congregational Church, and in politics is a Republican.

On Oct. 3, 1880, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Nellie J. Belden, daughter of Francis and Nancy (Blinn) Belden, who had a family of three chil- dren, all living. The father died in 1896, and the mother resides at Rocky Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had the following children: Edith M., born July 19, 1881 ; Maude B., Oct. 13, 1883 ; Francis B., Feb. 22, 1885 (died same year) ; and Frank B., Jr., March II, 1894.

L. D. FAIRBANKS, a well-to-do farmer anu tobacco grower of the town of Windsor, was born Sept. 1, 1855, in the town of Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., a son of Rominer S. and Prucia (Sprague) Fairbanks. The father, who spent most

Frank B. Abank

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of his life as a farmer, was also born in Colerain, and was a son of Deacon Daniel Fairbanks, a na- tive of Rhode Island, and an active worker in the Baptist Church. In early life the father of our subject was also a member of that church, but later attended the Methodist Church, to which his wife belonged. He died at the age of seventy-one years, she at the age of sixty-two, and both were buried at Colerain, Mass. Our subject is the oldest of their children, the others being Della, wife of Frank Cutting, of Whitingham, Vt .; Charles M., a farmer of Colerain ; William P., a farmer of Heath, Mass .; Prilla D., who died at the age of thirty-two years; Jennie, wife of Albert Davenport, of Colerain ; Gertrude; and Oscar, a farmer.

The subject of this sketch was reared as a farmer boy, and educated in the common schools hear his childhood home, remaining with his par- ents until he attained the age of eighteen years. As soon as his brothers became old enough to take his place in assisting in the work of the home farm, he began working for neighboring farmers, and was thus employed until 1876. In September of that year he came to Hartford, Conn., and entered the employ of his uncle, E. L. Sprague, who was In the peddling business, selling tinware. For sev- eral years Mr. Fairbanks remained with his uncle, traveling over much of Hartford county, and then bought that portion of the business of which he had charge and started out for himself as a peddler. For fourteen years he gave his entire attention to the business, in the meantime purchasing land as his financial resources permitted, and for the fol- owing few years devoted a part of his time to farming. He would harvest his crop of tobacco, and during the remainder of the year devote his time to peddling ; but he gradually retired from the tinware business. and of late years has given his attention wholly to agriculture. He is engaged in general farming, giving special attention to the raising of tobacco. He now owns the old home- stead of his wife, and also has built a new house on Mill street, Windsor, which he rents. This property has all been acquired through his own Industrious and economical habits, and for his suc- cess in life he deserves much credit.

On Sept. 27, 1877, Mr. Fairbanks married Miss Ellen F. Elliott, who was born June 22, 1856, in Windsor, a daughter of Thomas D. and Mary E. (Rockwell) Elliott, and granddaughter of Alpheus and Silence (Palmer) Rockwell. The father, who vas a hatter by trade, died at the age of sixty-three years, the mother at the age of sixty-eight. In their family were six children : William R., a farmer of Northfield, Conn .; Helen, who died at age of two and one-half years : Charles T., a resident of Windsor; Sarah J., who died at the age of twelve; John B., a resident of Windsor ; and Ellen F. (Mrs. Fairbanks), who was reared in Windsor and attended the Windsor Seminary for several terms. To our subject and his wife were born three

children : Albert L., who died in infancy; and Alfred R. and May P., both at home. Mr. Fair- banks cast his first vote in Hartford, but since 1877 he has made his home in Windsor, and has been prominently identified with public affairs. Po- litically he is a supporter of the Republican party, and for seven years he has most efficiently served as school treasurer of District No. 4. Mrs. Ellen F. Fairbanks departed this life April 11, 1899; she was a consistent member of the Methodist Church.

HERMAN UDE, a well-known tobacco raiscr and market gardener, fruit grower and general farmer of West Suffield, was born in Brunswick, Germany, April 26, 1863, and is a son of Henry and Augusta (Hill) Ude, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter still living in the Father- land.

Herman Ude graduated from the College of Brunswick, and at the age of eighteen years came to the United States, where, in New York City, he worked in a pipe factory for a year. During the five years following he was employed in farm labor at Monterey, Berkshire Co., Mass., and in 1888 came to Suffield, Conn., where he worked for the Hemenway family for some time, and then bought the 100-acre tract known as the Frank Harmon farm. On this farm he has made many improve- ments, has planted 1,500 peach trees, and owns the only market garden in the neighborhood. He also grows tobacco extensively, and is one of the most enterprising farmers of the town, raising his gar- den truck plants in greenhouse, and even his to- bacco plants under glass.

In 1890 Mr. Ude married, in Suffield, Miss Mabel Esther Kent, daughter of Martin Kent, and to this union three children have been born, the first of whom died in infancy, the second bearing the name of Jennie Hermenia, and the third, Franz Edward. Mr. Ude is a man of decided talent, is well educated, and is a practical agriculturist in all details, while Mrs. Ude is a lady of culture and refinement, and all their surroundings give token of intelligence and taste. They are members of the Baptist Church ; in politics Mr. Ude is a stanch Rc- publican. Hc began life a poor man, but through intelligent effort has earned a competency ; has expended over $5,000 in improving his present place, and it is now the model farm of the county. He is respected as well as admired for his sagacity, and his kindly disposition has endeared to him all who know him.

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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 83

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