Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 113

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 113

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(III) Jabez Brown, son of James and Lydia, married Jane - (name unknown), and became the father of the following chil- dren: Oliver, born 1696; Hezekiah, born 1698; Rebecca, born 1700, married Joseph Peck, Jr., and died in 1727; Elizabeth; Jane married in 1737, Nathaniel Bosworth ; Jerusha, born 1702; Asa, born 1706; Lydia, born 1709; and John, born 1710. The will of Jabez Brown bears date of 1746, and it was proved 1747, the year of his death. In this will are mentioned John; daughter Jane, wife of Na- thaniel Bosworth; son Oliver's daughters, Re- becca and Ann, at the age of eighteen; daugh- ter Rebecca Peck's children, Jerusha and Win- chester, at eighteen; and son Hezekiah.

(IV) Hezekiah Brown, son of Jabez and Jane, was born in 1698. He married Joanna (name unknown) and their children were : Asa, who married Chloe Hunt ; Jabez, who married Molly Bicknell; Keziah, born 1735, who married Benjamin Veall, and lived next her father; William, born 1737, married Althea Kent: Nathaniel; and Solomon and Hezekiah, who both died young. Hezekiah Brown, the father, passed away in 1755.

(V) Nathaniel Brown, son of Hezekiah and Joanna, was born May 31, 1739, and was taken to New Preston when a child of four or five years, by his aunt Jane Bosworth. He married Lucy Russell (time and place un- known), and made his home in New Preston. His children as recorded in Cothren's An- cient Woodbury, under "Births in Washing- ton," were as follows: Jane, born July 13. 1766; Rebecca, January 1, 1769 ; Lydia, Sep- tember 17, 1770; Solomon, August 17, 1772 (died 1773) ; Sally, May 11, 1774 : Chloe, No- vember 20, 1776 (married Joel Stone, grand-

father of Charles O. Stone), and died May 6, 1866; Nathaniel, January 20, 1779; Russell, April 4, 1781 ; Solomon, August 16, 1783; and Alvin, June 29, 1790.

Through his mother, Mrs. Laura A. (Hal- lock) Stone, Charles O. Stone is descended from Peter Hallock, who with his wife landed at Southold, Long Island, in 1640. William Hallock, son of Peter,. died in 1684, leaving a son, John, who passed away in 1737. Benja- min Hallock, son of John, had a son, Benja- min, Jr., born in 1729, who married Phebe Prindle (born 1740, died 1831), and died in 1796. Amos Hallock, son of Benjamin, Jr., was born in 1782, and married Eunice Phelps (born 1787, died 1861), by whom he became the father of Laura A., who married Russell Stone. Amos Hallock died in 1856. Mrs. Eunice ( Phelps) Hallock was a daughter of Joseph and (Tuttle) Phelps and a de- scendant of one Phelps, who came to Dorchester, Mass., in 1630, in the ship "Mary and John.' -

WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE GLEASON, deceased. There was no more prominent man in Portland, Middlesex county, than this gen- tleman, especially in financial circles. He was a man of the best judgment on all propositions that involved a knowledge of the business world, and the relative value of investments. In the church he was quite as prominent, and on account of his fine spirit and upright life his words commanded the careful considera- tion of all who heard them.

William T. Gleason was a native of Port- land, born January 7, 1817. son of Oliver and Hannah ( Graves) Gleason, the latter a native of Madison, Conn. The father was born in Portland, son of Joseph Gleason. Our subject was a child of tender age when his parents moved to Vermont, in which State his father, who was a merchant, spent the rest of his life. William T. Gleason was reared in Bethel, Vt .. and received his primary education in the schools of that town, afterward attending Roy- alton and Randolph Academies. His earlier business years were spent in the store under his father's eye. He had a good mercantile training, and was railroad station agent at Bethel, Vt., for some time. In 1851 he came to Portland to take a position that had been offered him in the quarry office. Arriving here he decided that he would take a position out

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of doors, and worked at whatever duties came o hand. He was for a while the treasurer of the Middlesex Quarry Com- pany, and then became agent of that concern, in whose employ he remained nearly twenty-four years. In that time he held different positions of trust and responsibility, and in every place he fully met the demands of those whose interests he was set to promote. Mr. Gleason died in March, 1874, after an ill- ness of but four weeks, and his death was un- doubtedly hastened by overwork. He was a most industrious man and left a considerable estate.

Mr. Gleason was a Republican, and served as judge of probate for several years. He was a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank ; was the main promoter of the First National Bank, of Portland, in which he served for years as a director, and was closely identified with that institution, and through his efforts the Portland Savings Bank was organized. He was a vestryman at Trinity Episcopal Church for many years, and took great interest in the welfare of that religious organization. Mr. Gleason was a Freemason, belonging to War- ren Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Portland, and was also a member of the Odd Fellows when the first lodge existed in Portland.

Mr. Gleason was first married in Vermont, to Miss Amanda Geer, who bore him one son, George W. The latter married Mary Blaine, and died in Columbus, Ohio, where he was long a prominent and successful book dealer. He left two sons, George Geer and John Mar- shall. Mr. Gleason was married, for his sec- ond wife, in Portland, in 1849, to Miss Abi- gail Gleason Wilcox, who was born in Port- land May 29, 1820, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Gleason) Wilcox. Elizabeth Glea- son's mother, Elizabeth (Fox), lived to be ninety-five and a half years old. Samuel Wil- cox was a farmer, and lived in Portland. He died at forty-eight years of age, and his wife was seventy-eight at the time of her demise. They were the parents of the following named children: Elizabeth married Wellington SI Cone, and died in Portland. Abigail G. is Mrs. Gleason. Harriet F. died unmarried at the age of thirty-one. Margaret died when two and a half years old. Samuel died in New York. Joseph Oliver lives in Lancaster, Pa., where he is engaged in the tobacco business.

Mrs. Gleason had such advantages as the

local schools afforded, though her school days were over at sixteen. She is a very wide read- er, and is an intelligent lady, exceptionally well preserved, with a mind as clear as ever. She has been a member of the Episocpal Church since she was twenty years old, and is a liberal contributor toward its support. Mrs. Gleason was the mother of four children, of whom two died in infancy. Eliza Wilcox, the eldest, died at the age of twenty-four years. William Trow- bridge died when two years of age. She gave a mother's care to George W. Gleason until he went to New York to begin his business career.

HENRY W. STOCKING. In this gen- tleman's death, which occurred July 23, 1892, Cromwell lost one of her best citizens. As one of the leading men of the town said at the time, "We have lost our best friend"-so great was the esteem in which he was held.

Mr. Stocking was a descendant of an old New England family. His remote ancestor, George Stocking, came from England to Mas- sachusetts in 1633. He was a man prominent in the affairs of his day, and occupied many important local offices.

Henry Stocking, the father of Henry W., was born in 1795, and was a farmer in Crom- well. In his active years he was a seafaring man, largely engaged in the West Indies trade. He had a grocery store in Cromwell, was post- master, and at one time was quite wealthy. He died in Cromwell in 1875, and was buried there. Mr. Stocking married Caroline Belcher, who was a native of Cromwell, born in 1800, and died November 20, 1887. She became the mother of the following named children : Hen- ry, who died in childhood; Charles B., who fol- lowed the water, and died in Cromwell; Henry W .; and Caroline M., who married George M Smith, of Middletown, and died in February, 1893.

Henry W. Stocking was born October 18, 1836, in the house immediately east of his late home in Cromwell, and obtained his edu- cation in the district school and in Cromwell Academy, enjoying somewhat unusual oppor- tunities for those days. After leaving school he continued on the home farm assisting his father, who was engaged in farming at that time, and following his marriage continued to operate the home farm, which came to him by purchase, following his father's death. There he spent his entire life. For a few

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years he was engaged with his brother-in-law, Elisha Stevens, in the manufacture of lamps and fixings, with a factory in Cromwell. He was vice-president and a director of the Crom- well Dime Savings Bank.

Mr. Stocking was a man of fine presence, standing about six feet and weighing in health about 200 pounds. As a boy in his father's store he could lift a barrel of flour by his little fingers. As a young man he was thought to be the strongest in the town. He could run and leap over a yoke of oxen standing side by side. He was known and liked by all, and his kind and generous heart made him the friend of all. A stanch Republican, he took an active part in local affairs, and filled several of the town offices. His official record was admirable, without spot or blemish. He served as a member of the State Legislature, and was a delegate to the National Convention in Chi- cago in 1888, when Benjamin Harrison was nominated for the Presidency. Mr. Stocking was a Mason, affiliating with Washington Lodge No. 81. He and his wife belonged to the Cromwell Baptist Church, where he was considered one of the helpful working mem- bers.

Henry W. Stocking was married January 21, 1858, to Harriette Almira Hubbard, who was born February 19, 1835, in Middletown, daughter of Ralph and Clarissa Johnson ( Rob- erts ) Hubbard. The Hubbard family is an old one in this country, its first representative in America having come hither in 1660. Ralph Hubbard was a sea captain. He owned, with his wife's father, Wickham Roberts, a part of the land where the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane now stands. This property was in the possession of the family for many years. Ralph Hubbard was born in Cromwell, in the house where Samuel V. Hubbard now re- sides, and spent his boyhood and youth in that town, where he received his schooling. When he becante a young man he went to sea, after the fashion of the times, engaged in the West Indies trade, presently became a captain, and had charge of a vessel enmployed in the Atlantic coast trade, and later in transporting stone from the Portland quarries. Meeting with an accident by which his leg was broken in two places, he was obliged to retire from the water. Coming to Cromwell, he opened a grocery store, but ill health necessitated his giving it up, and for some years he lived retired in his

native town. Ralph Hubbard had the follow- ing children: (1) Lucy Roberts married Marvin R. Warner, and is now deceased; a sketch of Mr. Warner appears elsewhere. (2) Clarissa Johnson married Elisha Stevens, the founder of the firm of J. & E. Stevens and both are now deceased. (3) Harriette Al- mira is the widow of Henry W. Stocking.

During the Civil war Mr. Stocking was drafted three tintes. Twice he furnished a sub- stitute, and the third time he reported to Fort Hill, Middletown, and engaged in drilling a company, of which he was captain. The regi- ments, however, were filled without him, and he was excused. He was assured that had he gone out he would have received at least a captain's commission, if not a higher one.

MARVIN RICHARDSON WARNER, for many years one of the most highly re- spected and popular citizens of Cromwell, Mid- dlesex county, is a descendant of an old New England family, and bears a name honored wherever it is heard. -

Abraham. Warner, his grandfather, was a native of New Haven, where he was engaged as a butcher, and where he died. He had the following children : Abraham, a mechanic : David, a sailor; Henry, who located near Cleveland, Ohio; Isaac, the father of Marvin R. ; Mrs. Pelton, who located near Cleveland, Ohio: and Mrs. Oliver Bidwell, of Middle- town.

Isaac Warner was born in New Haven. and came to Middletown when a young man. He was a blacksmith, and erected the large brick shop in that city, where he had four forges, doing a large business. While still engaged in blacksmithing he bought a farin on Long Hill from John Ward, and there fol- lowed farming when he retired from the shop in Middletown. Later in life he had a black- smith shop on Long Hill, where he was en- gaged in ironing schooners. Finally he gave up the smithy entirely and devoted himself to his farm. In his last years he met with an accident which destroyed his health, and unbalanced his mind to such an extent that he was taken to the Hospital for the Insane at Hartford, where he died. Diana Waterman Crosby, his wife, was born in Portland, and in her chidlhood the family home was where the quarries are being so largely worked. To then were born the following children: Will-

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iam and Ruth both died in infancy. Elizabeth married a Mr. Taylor, and made her home in Keokuk, Iowa, where she died. Maria R. married Chauncey Sheffer, an attorney in New York. Marvin R. is mentioned belowt Isaac married Martha Williams, and after her death wedded Julia A. Ranney ; he died in Cromwell. Harriet A. married Daniel Humphrey, of Sagi- naw, Mich., where he died. Charlotte married Jonathan B. Balch, of Harwinton, Conn., and is now deceased. Caroline married Rev. Romulus Kellogg, a Methodist clergyman. The mother of these children died, and for his second wife Mr. Warner married Prudence Bell, of Portland, to which marriage was born one child, Prudence, who lives in Detroit, Michigan.

Marvin Richardson Warner was born Oc- tober 17, 1823, in Middletown, and moved with his parents to Long Hill when he was seven years old. There he had his home until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he went on the road to sell brushes for a New York manufacturer. For four years he continued in that business and then came to Cromwell to engage in the manufacture of hammers with his brother Isaac. Their fac- tory was the building and water power belong- ing to William P. Allison. For two years they continued at that location, and then, in May, 1849, bought their present location, a grist and sawmill in West Cromwell, formerly the property of Calvin Kelsey and David Hurl- burt. There Marvin R. and Isaac Warner, in company with William M. Noble, under the firm name of Warners & Noble, continued in the manufacture of hammers until 1884, when Mr. Noble sold out to Chauncey M. Warner, a son of Marvin R. Warner, and the business is now carried on under the name of M. R. Warner & Son. They produce a very superior kind of hammer head, which is finding a mar- ket, not only all over the United States, but in foreign lands.

Mr. Warner was married, May 21, 1850, to Lucy R. Hubbard, a native of Middletown, daughter of Capt. Ralph and Clarissa J. (Rob- erts) Hubbard, and to them were born the following children: Chauncey M. married Miss Kate A. Butler, and is now engaged in business with his father. Charlotte L. died aged thirty-four years. Minnie, Lillian and Elizabeth died young. Nellie C. is at home. Lucy C. married Charles Benjamin, of New

York. Mrs. Lucy R. Warner died March 10, 1868.

Mr. Warner is a Republican. He served as justice of the peace until advancing age compelled his retirement; in 1852 and 1853 he represented Cromwell in the State Legisla- ture; was selectman for several years; and has filled various other local offices. Mr. Warner is a Mason, enrolled in Washington Lodge No. 81, of which for four years he was master, and he was second master at the in- stitution of the Lodge. Mr. Warner has been a member of the Middletown Methodist Church since his youth, though the family attend the Baptist Church at Cromwell. He is very high- ly spoken of by those who have known him best and longest. He is a hard worker, has earned what he possesses by honest industry, has a kind and generous heart, and is a friend to draw close to and stand by to the last.

JOSEPH T. ELLIOTT, one of the best known citizens of Middletown, comes from a substantial English family. His father, Charles Elliott, and mother, Mary A. (Smith) Mc- Keon, as well as his grandfather, Joseph Elliott, were all natives of Leicestershire, Eng- land.

Joseph Elliott, the grandfather, was twice married. About 1810, for his second wife he wedded at Dunton Bassett, England, Lady Jane Payne, who descended from English aristocracy, and her marriage to Mr. Elliott was bitterly opposed by her parents, who dis- inherited her because of it. By his first mar- riage Joseph Elliott had ten children, and by his union with Lady Jane Payne he had three children, of whom Charles, father of Joseph T., was the youngest. Joseph Elliott was an extensive dealer in live stock, and a man of mjeans and consequence.

; Charles Elliott was a soldier in the British Army, and for some time was detailed on ser- , vice in Ireland. He wearied of the service, however, and purchasing his discharge came to the United States in 1825. Charles Elliott, on coming to this country, settled in New York, while an elder brother, George, took up his residence in Jersey City. He found em- ployment as a clerk in a store on the Bowery, conducted by Mr. Thomas Knight. Through industry and thrift he found himself, in time able to purchase his employer's business, and he continued in trade, meeting with good suc-

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cess, until a few years before his death, and spending the remainder of his life in the city of his adoption. He was a Republican, but apart from exercising the right of suffrage, took no active interest in politics. Both he and his wife were confirmed in the Church of England, and continued in that faith until their death. In 1846 he married Mrs. Mary A. (Smith) Mckeon, two of whose brothers were officers in the British Navy. This union was blessed with six children, of whom three died in childhood. Those living to adult age were: Amelia, who became Mrs. Collins, and died July 1, 1894; Susan, now Mrs. George A. Clement, of New York; and Joseph T.

Joseph T. Elliott was born in the city of New York on December 4, 1847. He was educated in the public schools and at Bryant and Stratton's Business College. He early manifested a pronounced aptitude for business, and at the age of seventeen was entrusted by his father with the conduct of the latter's store. Four years later-in 1868-he came to Mid- dletown, where he began business for himself as the successor of Elijah. Ackley, his store being on Main street, in the premises now oc- cupied by Wilson & Burr. The venture did not prove especially profitable, and he aban- coned it to become a bookkeeper for Noyes B. Allen. That gentleman was succeeded by J. N. Tarleton, Mr. Elliott remaining in the es- tablishment and being promoted to the position of manager. Later he formed a partnership to enter the grocery business, with F. S. Hills, under the firm name of Hills & Elliott. This business connection continued from 1883 until 1887, in which year Mr. Elliott accepted the secretaryship of the Stiles & Parker Press Company, which concern was later burned out and did not rebuild in Middletown. He then became treasurer of the Schuyler Electric Company, continuing with that concern until its absorption by the General Electric Com- pany, when the Middletown plant was re- moved. Since then much of Mr. Elliott's life has been passed in public office. Upon the resignation of Mr. George W. Burke as town clerk, he was appointed his successor, and later served two terms in that capacity ( from October, 1894, to October, 1897) through election and re-election. In August, 1898, he received the appointment of assistant post- master at Middletown, and yet fills the office. bringing to the discharge of its duties the same

unwlearying attention and strict fidelity which have been among his salient characteristics through life. He is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1868. He has also served two terms in the city council with great acceptability to his constituents.

In no relation of life has Mr. Elliott been found wanting. Devotion to duty has been with him a watchword, while system and pre- cision characterize all that he does. Through a service of more than twenty years in the Connecticut National Guard, he has formed an acquaintance extending all over the State, and in military circles he is regarded as a sin- gularly competent and efficient man. Als a citizen he is broad-minded and public-spirited. a wise counsellor and ever ready to make sac- rifices for the public welfare. In private life he is social and whole-souled, a true friend, charitable and sympathetic. He belongs to St. John's Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M. (in which he has passed through all the chairs). to Washington Chapter, R. A. M., No. 6, and to Cyrene Commandery K. T., No. 8. while he is a charter member of the Middletown branches of the Knights of Honor, the Roval Arcanum and the New England Order of Pro- tection.

: Reference has been already made to Mr. Elliott's long service in the National Guard. His record in reference to that body is one of which he may justly feel proud. He enlisted in Company H, Second Regiment, on January 2, 1873, and was soon afterward made a cor- poral and on March 9. 1875, a sergeant. On February 6, 1876, he re-enlisted and on August 16, 1877, was again appointed sergeant by General Camp (then Captain of Company 11, Second Regiment), and became acting ser- geant-major. On March 23, 1880, he was commissioned second lieutenant, and just one year later was made captain and adjutant. On February 13. 1885. he became lieutenant colonel and A. A. G. of the brigade, serving until March 7. 1890. under Brigadier General Charles P. Graham. On August 7. 1800, hic again enlisted and served as second lieutenant from that date until January 1. 1802. On Jan- uary 2, 1894, he was made first lieutenant and quartermaster of the Second Regiment, resign- ing his commission December 7. 1895. In ad- dition to his other duties as an officer, hic served as assistant to the commissary general

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during three state encampments, and is now on the retired list of the Connecticut National Guard.

Mr. Elliott is one of Middletown's solid men and has been a director in the Columbia Trust Company since the date of its organiza- tion. His home on Broad street, which he himself erected, is a pleasant one, and there he resides with his estimable wife, whose maiden name was Ellen A. Paterson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Method- ist Church, being prominent in its affairs and liberal supporters of its work. Mr. Elliott with Samuel T. Camp was active upon the building committee at the time of the erection of the new Church edifice. He was long as- sistant superintendent of the Sabbath school, and was for some years one of the trustees of the church.

The PATERSON Family to which Mrs. Elliott belongs is one of the old Scotch fami- lies of Middlesex county. John Paterson and his five sons came to America and located in Middlefield in 1851. After a few years the father and three of his sons-David, Robert and Archibald-west West, locating first in Wisconsin and later scattering over various parts of the country. Of the five sons who ac- companied their father from Scotland, we have the following record : John, who is mentioned below; Archibald, who is a carpenter by trade and now resides in Chicago; William, who died in New Haven; Robert, an extensive farmer in Dana, Iowa; and David, also a prosperous farmer in Iowa. (His son Robert is one of the largest dry goods merchants in Spokane, Washington.)

John Paterson, son of John, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and there learned the trade of carpenter and builder, which he fol- lowjed after coming to America. One of his first jobs in this country was the building of the old fence around Indian Hill cemetery. He took great interest in church matters, and was a trustee of the Methodist Church many years. During the latter years of his life he lived on Farm Hill, where he had built a comfortable house. In politics he was a Republican. His wife, Frances Benson, was a native of Fal- mouth, England, in which country she wedded Mr. Paterson. Their children were: (I) John B., a merchant of Middletown, married Adaline G. Lucas, and has had four children- Alice Lucas, a graduate of Wesleyan Univer-

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 113

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502