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 84

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 84

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David Kent, great-grandfather of Mrs. Ude, was born in Southwick, Mass., March 25, 1747, served in the war of the Revolution, and then sct- tled down to farming. Hle marricd Leomia Car- rington, who borc him three children: Esther, born Sept. 1, 1799; an infant that died unnamed : and Justus, born Nov. 3, 1803. Justus Kent farmed his tract of 100 acres in his native town of South-

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wick until 1856, when he sold out and brought his family to Suffield, Conn., bought the Parsons farm of thirty acres, and here died in 1864; he was a deacon in the Baptist Church. He first married Eliza Kellogg, of Southwick, Mass., who bore him one child, Evaline, mother and child soon passing away. Mr. Kent later married Olive M. Hamil- ton, who was born April 23, 1815, a daughter of Armor Hamilton, a school teacher of Granville, Mass., and to this marriage came five children : Nancy Jane, born June 5, 1836, is now the widow of L. W. Sampson, of Southwick; Emmerett, born May 2, 1838, is now the wife of Hiram B. Case, of Bloomfield, Conn .; Clifton B., born Aug. 31, 1842, is deceased; Martin H., born June 22, 1846; and Delphine O., born Sept. 18, 1850, is married to Newell T. Talmage, of Southwick. Mrs. Olive M. Kent died Aug. 19, 1852, and Mr. Kent next married Salina Merriman, of Westfield, who died in Suffield.

Martin H. Kent, father of Mrs. Ude, was born in Southwick, Mass., was educated in Suffield, Conn., and has passed all his life on his late father's farm in Suffield. On May 29, 1872, he married at. East Granby, Dolly Louise Bates, daughter of Anson Bates, and to this union have been born two children, Mabel Esther, wife of Herman Ude; and Jennie Louise, wife of Edward Kuechler, of New York City. The Kent family are all members of the Baptist Church, and, politically, Mr. Kent is a Republican.

Lemuel Bates, a maternal ancestor of Mrs. Ude, was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and before its close purchased, in 1774, a large tract of land in Simsbury (now East Granby), where he passed the remainder of his life. Erastus Bates, his son, was born Oct. 22, 1764, and died in 1826. He was commissioned an officer of Company 4, 18th Regi- ment Connecticut Militia, Oct. 12, 1799, but passed all his life on the farm. He married Amelia Higby, daughter of Seth and Mindwell Higby, and to the mariage were born nine children : Anson, born May 4, 1799; Daniel, born Aug. 23, 1800, died in 1821 ; Albert, born June 25, 1804, married Lucretia Bates, moved to Medina county, Ohio, and died in 1885; Flora, born May 1, 1806, married a Mr. Metcalf, removed to Caledonia, Minn., and died in 1877; Carlos, born March 23, 1808, first married Maria Stimpson, later wedded Hannah Stowell, and died Dec. 20, 1878; Milton, born in 1811, died in 1831 ; Laura, born March 17, 1813, was (first) married to Harvey Trumbull, and (second) to a Mr. Van Daurn, and died in 1884; Alfred, born March 13, 1815, married Elizabeth Owen, and died in 1897; and Mindwell, born June 9, 1819, was (first) mar- ried to Henry Johnson, and (second) to Deacon Benjamin Smith, who died in November, 1898. The mother of this family died in 1839, on the farm now owned by Albert C. Bates, and was interred beside her husband in Turkey Hill cemetery, East Granby.

Anson Bates, grandfather of Mrs. Ude, was born on the Bates homestead in East Granby, was a member of the Hartford County Bar, also a farmer, and died in East Granby in 1869. He mar- ried Louise Garnet, a native of Virginia, who bore him seven children : Anna Amelia, who died young ; Virginia G., deceased wife of George L. Viets; Ansonia F., wife of George W. Sandman, of East Granby ; Dolly Louise, wife of Martin H. Kent, and mother of Mrs. Ude; Ella, who died young, as also did Anson and Louise A. Mrs. Bates died at her home in East Granby, a member of the Epis- copal Church, and her remains were interred in the family cemetery.

ANTHONY PFEIFFER, a highly-respected citizen of East Windsor, was born in Rhine Hesse, Germany, June 9, 1829, and is a son of Balthas and Elizabeth (Hartleap) Pfeiffer, who were the parents of five children : John, Joseph, Mathias, Anthony and Catherine.

The father of this family, who was a blacksmith by trade, died when comparatively young, and the mother, shortly after this sad event, sold her home and, with her four children, in April, 1856, em- barked for America, to join the daughter Catherine, who had preceded the little family by three years. After a somewhat tempestuous voyage of forty-two days in a sailing-vessel, the family arrived in New York, whence they came by boat as far as Hartford, and then by wagon to Broad Brook, where Catherine had already located. Here the mother supported her family by keeping boarders, and here passed the re- mainder of her life, dying, at a ripe age, in the faith of the Catholic Church. Of her five children, enu- merated above, John was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died in a hospital ; Joseph is employed as watchman in Simon's silkmill, at Warehouse Point, Hartford county ; Mathias, who was a shoe- maker by trade, died at Broad Brook; Anthony is spoken of in full farther on; and Catherine, widow of Frederick Becker, who died in New Britain, now resides with her son Frederick in Hartford.

Anthony Pfeiffer, the subject proper of this bi- ography, attended the common schools in Germany, as was compulsory, earned a trifle as a farm boy, but lived at home until fourteen years old, and then went to Mainz and worked as a mason's helper until the time came for him to embark for America, where he found employment in the mills of Hartford county, Conn. On May 3, 1857, he married, in Broad Brook, Miss Grace Markt, who was born March 30, 1829, in Konigsheim, Wurtemberg, Germany, and was the third in a family of five chil- dren born to Mathias and Anna M. (Lebinger) Markt, namely: Leobold, Josephine, Grace, Joseph and Magdalene. Mrs. Grace Pfeiffer was the only member of her family to come to the United States. She sailed from Antwerp, was twenty-four days on the ocean, and on arriving in New York was de- tained on board the vessel, owing to the crowded con-

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dition of Castle Garden, thus making her stay on ship- board twenty-six days long. For a short time she worked as a tailoress in Williamsburg, L. I., and then came to Broad Brook, to work as a domestic in the house of John Wolfe, and was so employed when married.

Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer started housekeeping in Broad Brook, where both were employed in the mills-Mr. Pfeiffer in various capacities, among them that of watchman, and for twenty-three years he served his employers in a most trustworthy and faithful manner in whatever position he was called upon to fill. In 1879 he purchased what was known as the John Marsden farm, of twenty-four acres, east of Broad Brook, and this land he has materially improved ; he has remodeled the dwelling, placed the fences in first-class order, and in many ways has added to its conveniences, so that it is now one of the most valuable places of its size in the town.

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer have been born seven children, in the following order : John, Aug. 8, 1859, now a mill worker and farmer in Broad Brook; Joseph, Nov. 10, 1861, a boss spinner in Pittsfield, Mass .; Elizabeth C., Feb. 16, 1863, wife of James Loftus, of Broad Brook; An- thony A., June 24, 1865, a motorman in Spring- field, Mass .; Anna M., at home with her parents ; Frank, Feb. 14, 1870, died Dec. 16, 1872; and Carl H., Aug., 27, 1874, assisting his sister Anna in taking care of their parents in their declining years. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer and their children are mem- bers of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, at Broad Brook, to the support of which they liberally con- tribute, and in politics Mr. Pfeiffer is a Democrat.

Mr. Pfeiffer is a well-preserved man for his age, and is still active in his work on the farm. He affords a fine example of what may be accom- plished by a life of sobriety, frugality, industry and integrity-qualities which have won for him the unfeigned esteem of all his neighbors.

FINTON WALLACE. Among the many his- tories in this volume which convey the lesson of self-help, none shows a more sturdy and courage- ous effort in the overcoming of adverse circum- stances than the following brief record of one of the leading business men of Windsor Locks.

Mr. Wallace was born March 25, 1832, in Queens County, Ireland, where his ancestors have resided for generations. William Wallace, his grandfather, spent his life in Queens county, and by occupation was a nailmaker. Matthew Wallace, the father of our subject, was also a lifelong resi- dent of that locality, and for many years followed the nailmaker's trade, his death occurring in 1847. His wife, Margaret (Fitzpatrick) died there about 1864. They had a large family of children, of whom six sons and two daughters came to the United States, and of these Finton and his brother Michael are now the only survivors.

Our subject was eighteen years old when he

crossed the ocean and he wisely determined to learn a good trade at once. Accordingly he went to Pitts- burg, Penn., where he served an apprenticeship with a blacksmith, and in 1853 he came to this section and spent about a year in Hartford. Later lie was employed for five years by Goodwin & Parker, in Waterbury, and in 1859 he settled in Windsor Locks and was employed by the Seymour Paper Co., in their blacksmith shop, remaining with them thirty- three years. AAbout 1889 Mr. Wallace engaged in the grocery business on Spring street, and he now enjoys an extensive and profitable trade in that line. He has always taken an interest in public affairs, and, since his naturalization in 1857, he has been a steadfast supporter of the Democratic party. For six years he served as assessor, and at present he is a member of the local board of relief.

On June 9, 1856, during his residence in Water- bury, Mr. Wallace was married there to Miss Mary Doran, also a native of Queens County, Ireland, and the following children have blessed the union : Mar- garet ; Julia, deceased ; Angeline, deceased; Celia, deceased; Thomas; John; George, a painter at Windsor Locks; Frank, a resident of New Haven; and Sadie, Katie, and Katie (2), all three deceased. Mr. Wallace and his family are prominent members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and for thirty years he has held the position of collector of pew rents.

LINNEUS F. TURNER. Success is deter- mined by one's ability to recognize opportunity, and pursue this with a resolute and unflagging en- ergy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Turner, through such means, has attained a leading place among the representative men of Burlington, and his well-spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Turner was born in Palermo, Waldo Co., Maine, Nov. 29, 1856, a son of Abiel and Sarah (Dunton) Turner. The father, who was of Eng- lish descent, and a farmer by occupation, entered the Union army during the Civil war, and was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. The mother is still living. Our subject attended the public schools of his native place until nine years of age, when he was obliged to begin earning his own live- lihood, as his father had died two years previously. He first worked as a farm hand at $5 per montli for the first year, after that getting from eiglit to fifteen dollars per month, and was thus employed until fifteen years of age, when he entered the cotton- mills at Salem, Mass., as oiler on spindles, receiving $7.50 per week.

On leaving there Mr. Turner returned home, where he worked at farm labor until, in 1874. he came to Middletown, Conn., and for one year worked in the kitchen of the insane asylum there. The following six months he was employed in the

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insane hospital at Taunton, Mass., and then returned to the hospital in Middletown, where he remained as an attendant in the wards for six years. During his time he studied hard to obtain an education, and also took up the study of bookkeeping and music. In September, 1880, in company with his brother Leslie, who was also an employe in the insane hospi- tal, he came to Burlington and, forming a partner- ship, they purchased the general store of W. F. Ses- sons, which they conducted together for seven years. At the end of that time our subject purchased his brother's interest, and has since successfully engaged in business alone. He carries a large and well- selected stock of general merchandise, and has built up an excellent trade.

On March 29, 1881, at Hartford, Mr. Turner married Miss Carrie E. Beckley, daughter of Lu- ther Beckley, and to them have been born two chil- dren: Roy, who is a student at the Ohio Medical University. Columbus, Ohio; and Lila May, attend- ing the Collinsville high school. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are both members of the Grange at Whig- ville, and he also belongs to Collinsville Lodge, No. 29, F. & A. M. He is a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has served as auditor and tax collector of Burlington. For twenty consecutive years he has filled the office of postmaster-a longer period than that of any other in Hartford county-being first appointed during President Hayes' administration. He is lib- eral in his religious views, is temperate in habits, and is a man well liked and highly respected by all who know him.

ELLERY LEE BREWER, the well-known and highly-respected retired farmer and tobacco-grower of the town of East Hartford, was born Feb. 23, 1823, in the house now owned by Norman S. Brewer, south of the Hockanum cemetery, and is a son of Allen and Velina (Bidwell) Brewer, who were the parents of eight children, named Ashbel, Emmeline, Julia Ann, Sherman A., Francis S., El- lery Lee, Henrietta and Prudence C.

Allen Brewer was born March 23, 1789, on the old homestead near the river bank, and was a pros- perous farmer ; he clung to his birthplace until 1834, when he purchased the farm now occupied by El- lery Lee Brewer, erected the dwelling, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying Nov. 19, 1853. He served in the war of 1812. His wife passed away Nov. 28, 1855.

Ellery Lee Brewer was eleven years of age when brought by his father to his present farm, which has ever since been his home. His schooling he ob- tained under Solomon Cone, in the old brick school- house on the west side of High street and north of Pewter Pot brook. The school room was of the old-fashioned type. The scholars sat on settees along the walls, and faced the teacher. A long continuous desk ran along the four walls, between

the walls and the settees, and when the scholars wrote they were obliged to swing their legs over the settees and turn their backs to the pedagogue. Gov. Richard D. Hubbard was an older scholar when Mr. Brewer entered this school.

His boyhood our subject passed on his father's farm. His brothers as they came of age struck out for themselves, but Ellery at his father's wish re- mained at home to carry on the place. Corn, pota- toes, oats and rye were the main crops prior to the increase in tobacco production. Tobacco was raised, too, in a small way, back early in the century. Mr. Brewer recalls that his father himself made into cigars what little he grew, put them into boxes, 100 to a box, papered and branded the box, and in the spring put the boxes on board a sailing-vessel and sold them to New York buyers for a "York shilling" (121/2 cents), a box. During the winter Mr. Brewer was busy at boot-making.

At his father's death Mr. Brewer took entire charge of a farm of thirty-three acres. He turned his attention largely toward stock raising, in which he found considerable profit prior to the competi- tion from the West; was a lover of fine cattle, in which he dealt extensively at one time. Early in the war tobacco prices increased rapidly, and in two or three years the tobacco acreage in town nearly doubled. Mr. Brewer was among those who tried to make the supply equal to the demand. In 1854 he raised only one acre, which was far above the ordinary. In 1861 his planting was three acres, and in 1874 it was seven acres. In 1854 he ob- tained 12 cents a pound, but in 1864 he sold for 25 cents, and in 1869, 1870 and 1873 he obtained 55 cents a pound. Mr. Brewer's farm now includes about fifty acres.

The marriage of Ellerv L. Brewer took place April 5, 1854, to Miss Mary W. Porter, daughter of Jonathan and Marv (Wyllys) Porter, and born in East Hartford July 4, 1823. Jonathan Porter died, however, when his daughter, Mary W., was eight years old, and the latter at an early age was obliged to work out in order to aid in the support of the family, but succeeded in securing a good edu- cation in the same school in which Mr. Brewer was educated. To this felicitous union two children have been born: Julia Elma, born Nov. 15, 1857, who is still making her home with her parents; and Edna F., who was born Feb. 17, 1859, and was mar- ried March 10, 1885, to Charles H. Daniels, who was born March 20, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have two children, Mabel Florence, born Aug. 23, 1895, and Percy Raymond, born Dec. 12, 1896.

Mr. Daniels is a taxidermist of considerable skill, and has two rooms especially constructed in his new home, in one of which he mounts and pre- serves objects of natural history. The other room is fitted throughout with glass cases in which may be seen many fine specimens of his art, including, in variety, from the humming bird to the bald eagle, the American emblem. This fine modern dwelling

Eller Se Bunnen

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was planned and erected by Mr. Daniels in 1898, especially for his and his family's occupancy.

Mr. Brewer joined the First Congregational Church when he was twenty-five years of age, and has ever since retained his membership. In politics he is a straight Republican, but has never sought nor accepted nomination for public office. He is a very kind and generous gentleman, and with him his mother-in-law made her home until her death, Sept. 1, 1875. He began his business life by buying the interests of the other heirs to his father's estate, and with the assistance of his estimable wife soon paid for it all. Through his industry and unswerv- ing integrity he has placed himself among the best and most substantial residents of the town, by all of whom he is most highly esteemed, without excep- tion. He has an excellent memory, and many a pleasant old-time anecdote, many a curious story of by-gone days, and many an interesting reminis- cence of staid citizens in their gay youth, Mr. Brewer has at his command. Two forgotten in- dustries of Hockanum he can describe, industries which have passed from the memory of almost all but the older residents. These are boot-making and salmon fishing. In the middle of the century nearly every family in Willow Brook district was occupied in the making of boots for the Hartford market. There were no large boot and shoe facto- ries at the time, and dealers in those commodities bought their raw material and had it made into the form they wished. There was little demand for shoes, and boots had the call. "Stogy" boots in particular were popular. Hartford dealers had the majority of their work done in Willow Brook dis- trict, where a little colony of bootmakers followed the trade summer and winter. Mr. Brewer recol- lects twenty-five families ir .. sted in the trade about the year 1840. Some years subsequently boot and shoe factories began to increase and multiply, and the Willow Brook bootmakers began to wrestle with competition. This grew, and their profits kept decreasing until they were glad to turn to tobacco raising when it began to grow more extensive, about 1861-62.

Mr. Brewer watched with keen attention these mutations, was quick to avail himself of opportuni- ties as they offered and to keep abreast with the times, and now, having secured a competency, re- tires to enjoy in peace-for many years to come, it is hoped by his numerous friends-the fruits of his early industry.

JAMES B. RYAN. It is probably safe to say that no hotel man in Hartford county has been more popular with the better class of society than the subject of this sketch. The "Elm Tree Inn," over which he presided, is located in the sleepy old his- torical village of Farmington, nine miles from Hart- ford, with which it is connected by a suburban trol- ley line. This hostelry, which has become the Mecca of many pleasant parties, has been gradually

evolved from the old Whitmore home of thirty years ago, and because of its delightful location, ex- cellent service and efficient management has become one of the most sought-for places of rest in the county. Mr. Ryan had many years of experience as host before he became proprietor of the "El Tree Inn."

Our subject was born at Moore's Junction, in the northern part of New York, June 5, 1853, and being left an orphan at an early age, he accepted a position in the "Lake House," at Burlington, Vt. During his early school days he was an employe of the "American House," at Winchendon, Mass., and was successfully connected with the "Pequod House," at Athol, Mass., and the "Revere House," at Brattleboro, Vt., after which he traveled for a short time as a salesman for the firm of Holden & Clay, of Boston, Mass. After leaving their employ he successfully conducted a restaurant, billiard hall and bath house at Athol, Mass., and from there re- moved to Orange, same State, to become manager of the "Mansion House." For a time he held a similar position in the "Amherst House," at Am- herst, Mass .; the "Rockville House," at Rockville, Conn .; and the "United States Hotel," in Hartford. In May, 1893, Mr. Ryan became proprietor of the "Elm Tree Inn," of Farmington, and in 1895 bought the property, which he converted into one of the most popular and best hotels in the county. On Sept. 1, 1900, he took possession, as proprietor, of the "Parson Theater Cafe," which he is conducting with his customary consideration for the taste and comfort of his patrons.

Mr. Ryan married Miss Cora Putnam Rund, a native of Massachusetts. They have no family. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Masonic Fraternity.

KEIRAN MCCABE, a leading cigar manu- facturer of Windsor Locks, has been engaged suc- cessfully in that business for twenty-two years.

Mr. McCabe was born Aug. 24, 1844, in Kings County, Ireland, but was brought to this country when only seven months old. His father, James McCabe, who was a farmer and tobacco grower by occupation, came to America in 1845, and after residing for a time in Glendale, Mass., and Ware- house Point and Enfield, Conn., settled in 1861 at Windsor Locks; he died there May 4, 1898. His wife, Mary Cone, survived him but a short time, dying in August of the same year. They had thir- teen children, nine of whom are living, and two. Keiran and Thomas, reside in Windsor Locks.

Our subject was educated in the schools of En- field and Warehouse Point, and at an early age be- gan work in a cotton mill at Windsor Locks. He continued this occupation for about seven years. and for three years, from the age of seventeen until he reached his majority, he had charge of two rooms. Finding the business uncongenial, he learned the cigarmaker's trade in Windsor Locks

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and Suffield, and soon afterward engaged in man- ufacturing on his own account. On Sept. 10, 1875, he opened his present liquor store, where he con- ducts a profitable business. Politically he was a Democrat unt11 1896, when his convictions on sound money led him to give his support to the Republican party.

On June 29, 1875, Mr. McCabe married Miss Margaret Scanell; their family consists of two adopted daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Mr. Mc- Cabe is connected with several social organizations, being an honorary member of the A. O. H., and an associate member of J. H. Converse Post, No. 67, Grand Army of the Republic.

EDWARD G. FOWLER, a respected citizen and a resident of Bloomfield since 1874, was born in Suffield, Hartford Co., Conn., July 15, 1840, and is a son of Gamaliel and Elizabeth Elmina ( Humis- ton) Fowler.

Gamaliel Fowler, father of Edward G., was a son of Lieut. Fowler, a hero of the Revolutionary war, and was born in the town of Suffield, where he passed his life in agricultural pursuits. He first married Sallie Noble, of Southwick, Conn., who bore him three children-Newton, Gamaliel and Cor- delia, all of whom have passed away-and to his second marriage, with Elizabeth Elmina Humis- ton, of West Springfield, Mass., were born two children, Elizabeth Latham, deceased, and Edward G., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Fowler was a man of considerable influence in Suffield, where he taught school, was a chorister and deacon in the Baptist Church, and died, a sincere Christian, in July, 1865, at the age of sixty-eight years.

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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 84

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