Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 116

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 116

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Capt. Bacon married Miss Eunice Bridg- ham, September 4, 1839. She was born March 20, 1816, in Middletown, daughter of Samuel and Charlotte (Clark) (Bridgham. To this union came the following children: (1) Eliz- abeth, born January 26, 1841, married John Logan. (2) Charles H., born January 1, 1843, lives at South Farms, and follows the water. He married Miss Adaline Bailey, and is the father of Eunice Edna (who married Theo- dore W. Eastwood, of Middletown), Charles R., Walter W., Radcliff F., Bessie Burr, and Norman P. (3) Eveline, born August 3. 1845, married James Beattie, and died August 3. 1889. She left four children, Ada, Charles. Maude and William. (4) Walter W., born

June 23, 1847, is a contractor. He married Miss Phoebe Thompson, of New Britain, and makes his home in that city. They have had five children, Willard, Alice, Frederick, Wal- lace and Grace. (5) Frank, born February 6, 1849, married Ida Westover. He died in New Britain, where he was foreman in Russell & Erwin's brass foundry for years. Mrs. Eunice Bacon died April 3; 1851, and the Captain married for his second wife Miss Catherine Osborn, and for his third Miss Eunice Tryon. He is now a widower.

Capt. Bacon voted for Abraham Lincoln the first time he was a candidate, but since that time he has always been a Democrat. He has been an Odd Fellow for over forty years. The Captain is a plain and unassuming man, much respected in the community, and has the con- sciousness of long and honorable years behind him.

LEANDER L. HULL, president of the Clinton National Bank, and one of the most prominent citizens of that town, is descend- ed from an old Colonial family, which has borne an important part in the history of Kil- lingworth, Clinton, Madison and Guilford.

George Hull, the founder of the family in America, came to Dorchester, Mass .. from England, in 1629; was made freeman in 1632; was a member of the first board of selectmen of Dorchester, and a representative to the first General Court, held in the Colony, May 14, 1634. Later he became a resident of Windsor. Conn .; was representative to the General Court of that State. in 1637, and continued as same until 1646. He was made assistant governor in 1639. His next location was at Fairfield, Conn., where he also served as representative. and where he died in 1650. This worthy man was twice married, and by his first wife, Eliz- abeth Russell, he had two children: Josiah and Cornelius, and from the former our sub- ject traces his ancestry.

Capt. Levi llull. the father of Leander L. Hull, was born in Clinton, March 1. 1792, and when yet a boy adopted the water as a profes- sion, sailing upon his father's vessel (the lat- ter also being a sea-faring man), and engaged in the coasting trade from New York to Ban- gor, Me., including in his route Boston, Hart- ford, and all the important cities along the coast. Not only did he command his own ves- sel, but also a member of craft built by his

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brothers, Hiel and Oliver, until they met with a ready purchase. Being quite active, this good man continued his calling until after seventy, the last work he did being the carrying of pro- duce for some Clinton parties from that town to New York. His hearing had become affect- ed, but it was not until cataracts began to form on his eyes that he consented to retire. Having been so engaged for many years Capt. Levi Hull was very well known in his line, and when at home, resided upon the site of our subject's present home. His death was caused by heart trouble, from which he had been a sufferer for many years. He was a devout member of the Congregational Church, and a liberal supporter of its work. On January 21, 1819, Capt. Levi Hull married Betsey Dibbell, born August 31, 1795, at Clinton, daughter of David and Phebe (Redfield) Dibbell; she died May 2, 1873. To Capt. and Mrs. Hull were born: Phebe Eliz- abeth, born February 12, 1820, married Octo- ber 14, 1846, Henry A. Elliot, of Clinton; Ann Elizabeth and Polly Amelia, both died young ; and Leander L.

Leander L. Hull was born in Clinton March 5, 1829, and after completing the course of the district schools, attended the Clinton Academy. When deemed old enough, he was taken by his father and engaged in the coasting trade, which he learned thoroughly. As he did not like a seafaring life, he repeatedly refused the posi- tion of captain upon various vessels. Retiring from the sea he entered the store of the well- known "Deacon" William Hull, as a clerk, eventually purchasing the business, which was continued under the caption of L. Hull & Son (his father being his partner), the junior mem- ber having sole charge of the management of the house. After twelve successful years, this enterprise was disposed of to Henry Parks, and Leander L. Hull became wholesale agent, with headquarters at Clinton, for several well known manufacturers of scales and other hardware specialties, among which may be mentioned Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, at Stamford, Conn., John S. Fray & Co., manu- facturers of mechanics' tools, and I. S. Spen- cer's Sons, of Guilford, Conn., manufacturers of dial scales. In this line he did a large and profitable business, shipping goods all over the United States, as well as to foreign countries. When he first started his business, he traveled for many years over the eastern portion of the United States, but later put commercial men

upon the road, his own time being fully occu- pied with the affairs of his home office. After thirty years successfully engaged in this line he finally disposed of it in February, 1898, to an old employe, Sturges G. Redfield, since which time he has been caring for his many interests. Mr. Hull has always confined him- self closely to business, and has never sought for or accepted public office, although eminent- ly qualified for it. He gives his unbounded support to the Republican party.

In 1892 Mr. Hull was chosen president of the Clinton National Bank, to succeed the late John B. Wright, which position he still fills. He is also trustee of the Guilford Savings Bank, and a large stockholder in the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, of Stamford, and in the Millers Falls Company, of Millers Falls, Mass., as well as the United States Rub- ber Company.

On December 4, 1854, Mr. Hull was niar- ried to Miss Evaline C. Dowd, of Madison, the accomplished daughter of Heman D. and Abi- gail (Stannard) Dowd, and they reside in their beautiful home, one of the finest in Clinton, which was built by Mr. Hull in 1883 on the site of the old homestead. During the many years of Mr. Hull's business career, he estab- lished a reputation for strict integrity and abil- ity, which gained for him the highest esteem, not only of his customers, but of his associates in the commercial world, and the success he now enjoys he may justly attribute to his own efforts.

GUSTAV LOEWENTHAL, one of the leading contractors and builders of Middle- town, Middlesex county, is a man who, for his years, takes high rank in his line in that city. Few, if any men, in any line, may be said to have achieved such success as is now his, when we consider the fact that he camre to a strange country unable to speak a word of the lan- guage, and shortly afterward entered into com- petition with those native born. He is not yet a middle-aged man, and his rise and progress certainly entitle him to be called a self-made man in the fullest sense. -

Born October 18, 1865, in Holstein, Ger- many. Mr. Loewenthal was the eldest son of twelve children born to his mother by two marriages, nine of whom came to the United States. The father of our subject died when he was quite young, his mother married again,

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and, his step-father being a member of a con- tracting firm, Gustav learned under his instruc- tion the carpenter's and joiner's trade. In March, 1884, Mr. Loewenthal sailed from Hamburg for New York, with the very lauda- ble hope of materially improving his circum- stances in the New World. Fom New York he went to Middletown, Conn., where his un- cle, Herman Ehlers, was living; it was at the request of this uncle that he came to the United States. At this time he was a boy of eighteen years, and his capital consisted only of his en- ergy and willingness to work at any kind of honorable employment. The carpenter's trade was rather "slack," and but little was being done at it. Young Loewenthal wanted work, and being unable to find employment at his trade he concluded to try something else. He engaged as a farm hand for William Berry, of Westfield, in the town of Middletown. The next season he went to work for Charles E. Bacon, at the same kind of work, receiving $16 per month, for one and one half years. Meantime he made a study of American hab- ots, the customs, people and language, so that in less than eighteen months after he came to the United States he was able to use the Eng- lish tongue very readily. Leaving the em- ploy of Mr. Bacon, he came to Middletown, and with the countenance and support of his uncle resumed his trade of building and taking contracts. His beginning was modest, but his business began to grow from the first. Thor- oughness and honest work soon bore fruit, and he became known as a most reliable man in his line. On his first work he was his only employe, but he soon found help necessary, and hired according to the requirements of the business, which has grown until now from ten to twenty men are employed throughout the season. In 1896 the business had assumed such proportions that a general work-shop, 30x40 feet, was erected, which has been twice enlarged since. With the erection of the shop Mr. Loewenthal installed a complete wood- working plant, where mill work of every de- scription is turned out, inchiding sawing, planing, turning, molding, etc. Window frames, mantels, store and office fixtures of various kinds, and all kinds of inside finish- ings are made to order. This plant is equipped with the latest machinery, the power supplied by electricty. In connection with the shop he has a storage room, with capacity for

150,000 feet of lumber. Among the well known buildings in and around Middletown for which Mr. Loewenthal has contracted may is mentioned the residences of Judge Dona- hoe, on Washington street, and of Roger Ken- nedy, at Fort Hill, and the German Lutheran church. Among other contracts have been several factories for the Russell Manufactur- ing Company ; several large jobs for the Con- necticut Hospital for the Insane; a large fac- tory building for Wilcox, Crittenden & Co .; the big factory building (400x100 feet) of the New England Enameling Company-all in Middletown; and numerous other structures. He built the large pavilion at Crystal Lake, a structure 60x80 feet. In all his undertakings he has combined promptness with thorough- ness and good honest work. His business in- tegrity is unquestioned, being admitted by both patrons and competitors. Mr. Loewen- thal is an extensive owner of real estate, his holdings include no less than a dozen build- ings in Middletown, which he rents. His pleasant home on Russell street he also built. , Mr. Loewenthal was married for the first time, in Middletown, to Miss Sophronia L. Wirt, who was born February 22, 1859, in Bavaria, Germany. She died February 6, 1891, leaving one child, George, who was born January 5, 1889. In 1892 Mr. Loewenthal married Miss Lizzie Buchta, who was born October 2, 1869, and was a half sister of his first wife. Their children are as follows : Ber- tha R., born May 14 1893; Lucy L., Septent- ber 7, 1896; Arthur J., July 29, 1898; and Raymond Irvin, January 18, 1902. Mr. Loew- enthal is a Democrat in Natonal matters, but in local affairs he supports the best man, of whatever party, insisting upon character and ability. Fraternally he is a member of Schiller Lodge, No. 92, I. O. O. F., of Middletown ; of the Sons of Herman ; of the German Sick Aid Society; and a charter member of Middle- town Lodge, No. 771. B. P. O. E. He is looked upon as a valuable citizen, one who is never found deficient in public spirit and en- terprise.

HENRY IVES CLARK is one of the solid and reliable citizens of the town of Old Saybrook, where his abilities and manly qual- ities have alike commanded and retained re- spect and confidence. He belongs to an old and honored family in New England, long

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conspicuous in the local annals, and of which he is no unworthy scion. The family history is very fully set out in connection with the sketch of his brother, John N. Clark, which is to be found elsewhere.

Henry Ives Clark was born August 16, 1840, on the Clark homestead in the town of Saybrook, and part of his father's farm is now included in his own premises, his resi- dence being but a few rods from the site of the old family mansion. His education was derived from the home schools, including two private schools taught by different clergy- men, the Rev. E. B. Crane, and the Rev. Sol- omon McCall.

Mr. Clark donned the Union blue very early in the Civil war, enlisting August 25, 1862, in Company B, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, for a term of nine months, but actually served about a year. The regi- ment was sent to the Gulf, where it was in much hard service under the command of Gen- erai Banks. Mr. Clark bore his full share of the fighting and perils of the time. He was in the battle of Irish Bend and at the siege of Port Hudson, where for forty days he was un- der fire in the trenches. At the institution of the Freedmen's Bureau, under its chief, Colonel Hawks, he applied to him for appointment. The Colonel secured his discharge from the regular service, August 1, 1863, and Mr. Clark immediately entered upon his new duties, being placed in charge of a plantation in Louisiana, where he had 350 colored people under his direction. For about a year he filled this position, and then in May, 1864, returned home on account of failing health. Mr. Clark took up the work of school teaching as soon as he had recovered his health, and for nine- teen years was engaged in this business. The first school he taught was at Saybrook Point. He taught in every school in the town of Old Saybrook, several a number of terms, and also taught in the Centerbrook District in the town of Essex.

While teaching, Mr. Clark was engaged in fishing enterprises and also carried on farm- ing. Some twenty years ago he gave up fish- ing and now devotes his entire time to his farming, and to the town affairs, in which he is deeply interested. A strong Republican, he takes pride in the fact that he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since that cam- paign has steadily worked with the party. He

has filled many town offices, faithfully serving his townsmen as selectman, chairman of the board for three years, and second selectman for three years. He is now on the Board of Relief, and in 1899 was elected as a repre- sentative from the town in the State Legisla- ture, where he did good service as a member of the committee on the Sale of Lands.

On October 2, 1875, Mr. Clark was mar- ried to Emma, youngest daughter of the Rev. A. C. Chittenden, who was settled in West- brook many years ago. To this union were born: Elbert H., born May 16, 1879, is now depot agent at Fenwick, Conn .; Flora C., born August 27, 1889; and Ralph N., born Decem- ber 10, 1891. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Congregational Church, and he belongs to the local Grange, of which he is a charter member and has been second master.

HENRY A. LYNE. This honored and respected gentleman is one of the oldest active business men of Middlesex county, and is the oldest active business citizen of the town of Clinton, where he carries on an establishment devoted to the manufacture and sale of all kinds of harness.

Mr. Lyne is of Scotch descent, his grand- father, John Lyne, having been born in Scot- land. Coming to the United States, he settled in Harrisburg, Pa., where he successfully con- ducted a hotel until a short time previous to his decease, which occurred when he was eighty years old, at the home of one of his children; his burial took place at Carlisle, Pa. John P. Lyne, the father of Henry A., was born at Carlisle, and there spent his entire life, suc- cessfully carrying on the coppersmith's trade, making stills, etc., and later engaging in the hardware business. His death occurred in his sixty-second year. A prominent Mason, he took a great interest in the affairs of that fra- ternity, was also interested in public matters, and was a well known citizen. John A. Lyne married Susan Wittich, who was born at Ni- wit, on the Rhine, and came to America when she was but eight years old. After her death Mr. Lyne married Mary Brickman, of Phila- delphia, and they had one son, Harry, who is in the mining business as secretary of the Amer- ican Smelting & Mining Co., Denver, Colo. By the first union there were thirteen children, among them three sets of twins, but of this large number, only two now survive: Henry

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A. ; and Lewis F., who is president of the First National Bank of Carlisle, Pa., and one of the leading citizens there. George, a constructing engineer, resided in Texas, and died there.

Henry A. Lyne, the eldest of the family, and our immediate subject, was born May 31, 1825, in Carlisle, Pa., where he resided until he was fourteen years old, obtaining his school- ing in the common schools. Leaving home at the age mentioned, he went to Columbia, Pa., and entered the establishment of Jacob Pfah- ler, to learn the trade of harnessmaking, the contract calling for a year's work from him, for which he was to receive board and $20. The contract was carried out to the satisfaction of both parties, but an attack of illness fol- lowed, and several months passed before Mr. Lyne was able to engage in any employment. In 1846 he went to Erie, Pa., where for six months he had work, but a period of business depression ensuing he decided to try his for- tunes in a big city. Reaching New York with but a few dollars in his pocket, Mr. Lyne spent some time vainly trying to find an opening, and, when about in despair, learned that in Clinton, Conn., a harness worker was wanted. He made up his mind to attempt to secure the position. Leaving what then seemed to him a heartless city, he took boat for Essex at I A. M., a total stranger, and as soon as daylight appeared ap- plied for work to Henry L. Mack, the proprie- tor of a harness and barber shop, securing from him a job for six months. At the end of this time he made a short trip West, but returned, and in connection with Mr. Mack formed a partnership, in March, 1847, the capital being $50, which Mr. Lyne borrowed from his father. This partnership continued for a year, at the end of which Mr. Lyne was in a position to buy out his partner, and he has since . contin- ued in the business alone, by energy, honesty and industry, cardinal virtues, becoming a pros- perous business man, and now possessing the esteem of every resident of the community. While devoting a great part of his attention to the harness business, Mr. Lyne has also en- gaged in other enterprises, for a short time be- ing traveling salesman for the Union Manufac- turing Company, of Clinton, manufacturers of tin and japanned goods, and also for Nash & Co., scale manufacturers of New Haven, Conn., succeeding well in both cases. He has also dealt largely in real estate, has built business blocks and sold them to advantage, and still

owns a number of profitable tenements and val- uable shore property.

On October 8, 1848, Mr. Lyne was married to Susan M. Wright, born October 20, 1823, daughter of Capt. Benjamin and Polly (Crane) Wright, of Clinton. The death of this estim- able and much beloved lady took place Septem- ber 14, 1894. The family born of this union consisted of ( I) Lewis F., who was born De- cember 8, 1849, married December 8, 1874, Mary G. Key, of Jersey City, N. J., and has three children,-John H., Susie M. and Lewis F. He is a mechanical engineer, in the employ of James Briggs & Co., of N. Y., received his education in Cooper Institute, N. Y., for years was the brilliant editor of the American Machinist, and is an authority in his line. He resides in Jersey City, is prominent in Masonry, captain of a yachting club, etc. (2) Benny W., born in 1852, died in 1853. (3) Hattie A., born November 1, 1853, married William A. Pelton, superintendent of the Silver Plate Com- pany, at Meriden, Conn., and has two sons, Clifford L. and Albert L. both graduates of Huntsinger's Business College, at Hartford. (4) Susie W., born in 1856, died in 1864. (5) Jennie, born June 1, 1857, married James L. Pratt, and resides in Essex. (6) Johnnic. born March 27, 1860, was a bright little fel- low, who will never be forgotten by the people among whom his short life began and ended ; his sad death occurred October 15. 1873. the result of an accident which rendered him a cripple for several years before his demise. When upon his deathbed he gave his father a few dollars which he had carned by driving cows, and asked that the money might be used to start a library for the use of sailors, in whom he had become much interested. This gift was a nucleus, and his wish was carried out, his Sunday-school companions adding their mites, and this was the beginning of a well- known charity, the "Johnnie Lyne Memorial Library," which places good books on vessels for the use of the sailors whose welfare was so dear to the suffering child.

Since his location in Clinton Mr. Lyne has taken a deep interest in the welfare of that town, and has been identified closely with its public, educational and religions life; has served as grand juror, constable, and tax col- lector, for five years, to the satisfaction of all. Previons to the Civil war he was a Democrat, in politics, but since then has been a stanch Re-

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publican. Socially he was connected with the I. O. O. F. at Madison until that lodge dis- banded, and he was a member of the Sons of Temperance, holding offices in that organiza- tion. His place is never vacant in the Congre- gational Church, and for more than a half cen- tury, by precept and example, he has given testi- mony of a Christian life. Enjoying the esteem of his fellow-citizens, the confidence of every one, and doing honor to a name which came to him untarnished, Mr. Lyne can pass his re- maining years in comfort, under his own home roof. His dwelling was built after designs of his own.

LEROY H. SHAILER, one of the enter- prising and progressive business men of Deep River, Middlesex Co., Conn., was born in Gloucester, N. J., April 27, 1855, son of Hos- mer and Sarah W. (Stevens) : Shailer, Deep River, Middlesex Co., Conn. His great-grand- father was James Shailer, and his grandfather was Lyman Shailer, who was born June 2, 1781, and on October 2, 1803, married Olive Ely, who was born April 29, 1783, daughter of William and Hannah ( Barker) . Ely. Ly- man Shailer was engaged in the quarry busi- ness in Haddam, and later in the town of Saybrook, where he also followed farming. His eldest son, George, was also a quarryman, and the house where Leroy H. Shailer now lives was built by him. The following were the children of Lyman Shailer: (1) George, born in Haddam July. 11, 1804, died unmar- ried in New Orleans, in October, 1830. (2) Samuel (the father of Winslow), born Feb- ruary 14, 1807, married Catherine Rogers De- cember 28, 1834, and died April 12, 1875. (3) Hosmer, father of Leroy H., was born Sep- tember 1, 1809, and died April 18, 1899. (4) Rosina, born May 28, 1812, married Calvin B. Rogers, March 1, 1837, and died April 12, 1841. (5) Warren, who married Caroline Shipman January 29, 1845, was born Deceni- ber 14, 1814, and died May 24, 1894. (6) Ann, who married Edward D. Chapman April 30, 1838, was born August 26, 1817, and died January 26, 1854. (7) John Ely, who mar- ried Eunice Pratt May 10, 1846, was born May 2, 1820, and died October 18, 1895. (8) Will- iam L., the only surviving member of this family, who is unmarried and lives retired at Rio Vista, Cal., was born February 25, 1823. (9) Hannah O., who became the second wife

of Calvin B. Rogers, on October 28, 1849, was born December 15, 1825, and died March 15, 1851. (10) George, born September 24, 1830, died January 1, 1877, unmarried.

Catherine Rogers, who became the wife of Samuel Shaiter on December 28, 1834, was born July 6, 1813, and died November 3, 1870. She was a daughter of John C. and Phœbe (Gladding) Rogers, and a grand- daughter of Gordon Rogers. Samuel and Catherine Shailer had the following family : (I) Winslow, who was born August 24, 1835 ; (2) Lawrence, born October 1, 1844, who is living unmarried in Providence, R. I .; and (3) Virginia, born September 16, 1846, wife of Mortimer Kirtland. Samuel Shailer built the house where his son Winslow is now living, in 1834. He was engaged in the coasting trade, and owned a vessel with which he carried wood and stone to New York. He built and owned two vessels, both sloops, the "Deep River," and the "Marietta." He did business in Long Isl- and, and was for a time mate on a steamer which ran 'between Hartford and New York. In his later years he located in Deep River, where he followed factory work very closely up to the time of his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church.

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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 116

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