Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 139

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 139

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Judge Pearne has always taken an inter- est in public affairs, and in 1880 was elected a member of the city council, serving the city in that body for three years. Educational matters have appealed to him strongly, and for the past twenty-one years he has been a member of the board of education, and its secretary for the same period. He was in- strumental in bringing about the incorpora- tion of the Middletown City school district, and the erection of the new high school build- ing. For nearly a quarter of a century he has been connected with the State militia, having in January, 1875, enlisted in Company H, Sec- ond Regiment, C. N. G .; later he was made commissary sergeant on the non-commissioned staff of Col. Graham. In 1883 he was elected lieutenant of his company, two years later was made captain, and was at the head of the

company up to August, 1898, when, the sur- render of Santiago taking place, and there be- ing no prospect of any active service, he re- signed. He is generally conceded to be one of the best informed military men in the serv- ice of the State of Connecticut. When a young man, what the examining physician termed "physical inefficiency" barred him from entering West Point.

In politics Judge Pearne is a Republican, and for some years has been county health officer. He represented the town of Middle- town in the General Assembly of 1901, and was House chairman of the committee on In- corporation. Socially he is a prominent mem- ber of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., having been connected with the organization since 1875, and is a past master of the lodge; a member of Washington Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., and for five years was its high priest; is a past commander of Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, K. T., and member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also past grand high priest of Connecticut, and is now one of the officers of the Grand Commandery, K. T. He is one of the board of directors of the Masonic Building Associa- tion. The Judge is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, being a descend- ant of Col. Edward Shipman, and is popular in social, legal and military circles. Although a native of New York City, and reared in New York State, yet he is closely allied to" the State of Connecticut, being descended from one of the oldest families of Middlesex county, the Clarks and the Shipmans being honored and respected families in that lo- cality.

In 1883 Judge Wesley U. Pearne was married to Miss Harriet C. Arnold, of Middle- town, Conn., daughter of Charles G. and Bet- sey (Smith) Arnold, and one child graced this union, Dorothea A., who died November 14, 1898. Mrs. Pearne has been secretary of Wadsworth Chapter, D. A. R., her descent from Col. Russell Penfield, of Revolutionary fame, entitling her to membership in that so- ciety.

WALDO R. ATWELL, who for many years has been an active and prominent busi- ness man of Durham, has for nearly thirty years, successfully conducted a meat market, beginning in a modest way, and now controll- ing a general store, that is large for the size

W. R. atwell

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the town, and enjoys an extensive trade. Mr. Atwell has served as postmaster of Dur- ham, receiving his commission in 1897. He is one of the prominent citizens of that place, and descends from an old family. Jesse At- well, his great-grandfather, was a blacksmith by trade, and lived in the south part of Dur- ham.

Jesse Atwell, grandfather of Waldo R., was born on the Durham homestead about 1769. He became a farmer, tanner and shoe- maker, which latter trade, in his time, was very extensively carried on in Durham. The old tannery operated by Mr. Atwell was later occupied by a Mr. Davenport, as an axe fac- tory, but has long since fallen into decay. As a boy, Mr. Atwell had served in the later years of the Revolutionary war, seeing service on Long Island. In 1815 he was commissioned captain of the militia, by Gov. John Cotton Smith, of Connecticut. This commission is now in the possession of our subject, in an excellent state of preservation, and following is a copy :

JOHN COTTON SEITH, ESQ.

Captain General, and Commander in Chief, in and over the State of Connecticut in the United States of America.

To JESSE ATWELL, Gent.

Greeting.

You being, by the General Assembly of this State, accepted to be Captain of the Fourth Company of the Tenth Regiment of Militia in this State, to take rank from the 23rd day of August, A. D. 1815; reposing spe- cial Trust and Confidence in your Fidelity and Courage and Good Conduct, I Do, by virtue of the laws of this State, me thereun o enabling, appoint and empower you to take said Company into your Care and Charge as their Captain, carefully and diligently to discharge that Office and Trust, exercising your inferior Officers and Soldiers in the use of their arms, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, ordained and established by the Laws of this State, keeping and commanding them in good Order and Government, and commanding them to obey you as Captain; and you are to observe all such Orders and Directions as from time to time, you shall receive, either from me, or from other your Superior Officers, pursuant to the Trust hereby reposed in you.

Given under my Hand and the Public Seal of this State, at New Haven, the twelfth day of October. A. b. 1815.

By His Excellency's Command, THOMAS DAY: Secretary.

JOHN COTTON SMITH.

Jesse Atwell married April 17, 1790, Phehe Bishop, who was born in September. 1772. and died April 20, 1865. On her gravestone is this inscription: "The aged pilgrim is at rest." Jesse Atwell died September 20, 1834. On his tombstone, in Durham cemetery, ap- pears the following epitaph :

Why should we mourn departed friends Or shake at death's alarm?

'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call us to his arms.

Jesse Atwell was State representative from Durham in 1830, and was one of the promi- nent men of his time. The children of Jesse and Phebe Atwell were as follows: (1) Henry, born December 9. 1791, died Decem- ber 12, 1834. (2) Eunice, born May 7, 1793, died in 1802. (3) Emory, born in October, 1795, died in 1802. (4) Timothy, born in August. 1797, died in 1802. (5) Filena, born in October, 1709. died in 1802. (6) George, born in November, 1802. died in 1802. (7) George (2), born October 17. 1805, died Au- gust 22, 1881. (8) Timothy (2) was born December 7, 1806. (9) William, born De- cember 9, 1809, died in 1825. (10) Bishop, born December 9, 1812, was the father of our subject.

Bishop Atwell, the father of our subject, was born on the farm where stood the old tannery above mentioned, and there resided all his life. He followed farming, shoemaking and also tanning. He was a prominent citizen in the town, and held several offices of trust and honor. He was the first representative from Durham of the Know-Nothing party. in 1855. On March 16, 1837. he married Rachel G. Fowler, who was born in 1815. daughter of Nathan and Chloe ( Davis) Fow- ler, and their children were: (1) Waldo F .. who died young; ( 2) Charles A., who died young : (3) John C., who married Elizabeth Ives, and lives in Durham: (4) Emogene. who married Elijah Brainard, and lives in Durham: (5) Georgia Louise, who married Dr. William Downs, a dentist, of Lowell. Mass. : and (6) Waldo R., our stibject. The parents celebrated their Golden Wedding an- niversary March 16, 1887. in Durham. Bishop Atwell died March 13. 1802. his wife on July 27. 1804. She was for many years a member of the South Congregational Church.

Waldo R. Atwell was born November 11. 1847. on the old homestead. He attended the district schools and the Durham Academy. under Prof. Jewett. His school days ended. he farmed on the home place until he was twenty years old. Then for a year he teamed lumber to the old wringer factory, and did other work for Alfred Bailey, at Middlefield. Returning to Durham he for four years ped-

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dled meat and groceries for Mr. Brainard, his brother-in-law, and then accepted a position as clerk in the hardware store of Lewis & Griswold, in Meriden. This occupation prov- ing distasteful, he abandoned it, and during the ensuing summer, of 1873, worked on the farm. In the fall of that year he embarked in the meat business for himself, killing, his own beef, and selling it at Durham. He thus continued in business one year, and then bought out the interest of Curtis Atwell, who was in business with Silas W. Fowler. Our sub- ject and Mr. Fowler ran the meat business for four years under the name of Fowler & At- well, the establishment being located near the present Brainard Hall. In 1878 Mr. Atwell purchased Mr. Fowler's interest, and moved to a building that stood between the school house and the residence of the late Seth Crowell, carrying on the business there for several years. Later he erected a building near his present store, and was located there until 1897, when he purchased his present store of F. L. Well- man, and succeeded him as postmaster. Mr. Atwell also carries on the extensive meat busi- ness, the general store being operated under the name of F. L. & J. B. Atwell, sons of Waldo R. The store is a large one for the size of the town, and does a good business.

Mr. Atwell married November 13, 1870, in Durham, Martha, daughter of Frederick Lyman. They have had children as follows : (1) Frederick L., born February 2, 1872, married Lena Thompson, daughter of War- ren A. and - ( Hall) Thompson, of Guil- ford, and to them have been born children- Warren L., Martha, Bishop, Eunice, Myron, and an infant son. Frederick L. Atwell is a member of the firm of F. L. & J. B. Atwell, merchants, of Durham. (2) Jesse B. married Sarah Harris, and has a daughter Rachel. He is in business with his brother, Frederick L. (3) Waldo. (4) Howard. (5) Mildred is deceased.

In politics Mr. Atwell is a Republican. He. was State representative in 1895, a colleague of Dr. E. A. Markham, and served on the com- mittees on Probate and New Towns. He was also selectman for two terms-1895 and 1896. Fraternally Mr. Atwell is a member of Cogin- chaug Council, No. 62, O. U. A. M., of Dur- ham. He is a man of indefatigable energy, with which he combines a cheeriness of man- ner that has made him hosts of friends. As

postmaster he has been popular, and as a busi- ness man he holds the esteem of the community, for his success has been won by methods that universally commend themselves to his wide acquaintanceship.

DANIEL H. CHASE, LL. D., now living retired in Middletown, has long been promi- nent as an educator and author throughout the State of Connecticut.

Born March 8, 1814, in Hoosick, N. Y., Dr. Chase is a son of Rev. Henry and Rachel (Pine) Chase, the former of whom was a na- tive of New York State, born September 10, 1790, about two miles west of Hoosick. He (Henry) was reared a homespun farmer boy, attending only the district schools of his time and locality, in which section two families- the Bakers and Chases-were numerous, and from them the school of the neighborhood was largely made up. Henry Chase was possessed of a great thirst for knowledge, and when he had gone through the curriculum of the com- mon school he improved those comparatively meager advantages by self-study. His parents were Quakers by birth, but the advent of the Methodist revivalists converted them to that faith, and the son, when eighteen years old, following in his father's footsteps, joined the Methodists and took

out a license to preach their doctrine. He would work hard throughout the week, and ` on Sunday he preached the Gospel. Ha- bitually, after a hard day's work, he would study, by himself, without any tutor, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics, and, in fact, all the higher branches of learning. His fame as a successful school teacher in his old home dis- trict became widespread, so much so that in 1818 he was invited to accept a position as teacher in Troy Academy, and was there en- gaged in that capacity two years, adding fresh laurels to his fame as a teacher until he was called to Wesleyan Seminary, on Crosby street, New York, each change being a step upward. In the meantime he almost always filled some pulpit on Sundays. In New York his ability and popularity as a public speaker, as well as his earnestness, zeal and whole-heartedness, became so well known, a year or two after he arrived in that city, that he was offered and ac- cepted the position of assistant pastor of the Mariners Church, on Roosevelt street, and for several years he remained in that position, un-

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il the death of the pastor, Dr. Truair, whom ne succeeded, continuing his labors until his death, on July 1, 1853. His attractive person- ility and natural magnetism never failed to lraw people to him. While in New York he married over five thousand couples. In 1835 he received the honorary degree of A. M. He and his wife both died in New York, the latter on June 7, 1842, and both now sleep their last sleep in Indian Hill cemetery, Middletown, vhither the mother's remains had been re- moved by her son, Daniel H., from their first esting place in New York.

On September 10, 1809, Rev. Henry Chase married Miss Rachel Pine, who was born July [9, 1787, at Swansea, Mass., of Welsh descent, und a brief record of their children is as fol- OWS: (1) Arlina, born October 27, 1810, narried John Hoase, a farmer of Newburgh, N. Y., and they reared a large family ; she died when well advanced in life. (2) Elizabeth, born February 16, 1812, married Alfred Saxe, Methodist minister, who at one time was as- istant to Daniel H. Chase in his preparatory chool at Middletown. (3) Daniel H. comes next in the order of birth. (4) George W., born October' 10, 1816, a bright and promising oy, died when eight years old, his death be- ng caused by a blow on the head given by a brutal school teacher, with a large rattan stick. 5) Sidera, born October 31, 1818, was a suc- essful teacher, for years taught with his orother Daniel H., and was assistant principal of Middletown Institute. Later he was an in- tructor in the Middletown Female Seminary, ounded by Daniel H., and became its prin- ipal. He died at Nordhoff, N. J., in Sep- ember, 1887. (6) Richard A., born October ;1, 1820, went West when a young man, and secame an extensive landowner and cattle aiser. He died there, leaving a widow and ne daughter, Helen, who now reside in Brook- vn, N. Y. : the daughter is a literary woman, and frequently writes for magazines. (7) Cornelia A., born July 12, 1822, married Will- 1111 B. Buckhout, and died in Brooklyn, N. "., in 1805, without issne. (8) Jane E., born annary 16, 1824, married C. W. L. F. Mor- ow, at one time a teacher, later a manufac- urer ; he died in Huntington, L. L., and his vidow now lives in Norwich, Conn. (0) Rachel, born July 23. 1826, married Rev. Dr. Nathaniel J. Burton, at one time a Congrega- onal minister of Hartford, Conn., now de-

ceased ; his widow still lives there. (10) Sus- anna W., born April 30. 1830, died in infancy.

Daniel H. Chase inherited from his mother many of the sturdy traits which have made him so distinctive, and are characteristic of the Welsh race. On the paternal side he is of Quaker stock, as already intimated, his grand- parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Mosher) ( ?) Chase, having been birthright members of the Society of Friends. Daniel Chase was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on a large farm two miles west of Hoosick Falls, which, though situated in a hilly and slaty region, bore good crops. He was a great worker, quick and very strong, and could lift a thousand pound weight.

Mr. Somerby, the antiquarian, who visited the parish of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, Eng- land, is the authority for the pedigree of Aquila and Thomas Chase, descendants in the third generation of Thomas Chase, of Hund- rich, in that parish. through Richard Chase, of Chesham, who married Joan Bishop April 16. 1564. Among their children were Aquila, baptized August 14, 1580, and Thomas, bap- tized July 18, 1585. Thomas Chase was one of the original settlers of Hampton, and was in New England as early as 1636. In 1639 he was, together with his brother Aquila, after- ward of Newbury, one of the original settlers ' of Hampton. Of these two brothers, Aquila Chase married Aune, daughter of Jolin Wheel- er, and from him come the ancestors of Daniel H. Chase. Aquila Chase about 1646 removed to Newbury, and he received several grants of land there. As master of a vessel he made frequent voyages from Newbury. His chil- dren were : Sarah. Anne. Priscilla, Mary, Aquila, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Ruth, Dan- iel and Moses. From one of these sons, Moses Chase, descended the distinguished Hon. Sal- mon Portland Chase, former Chief Justice of the United States, United States sen- ator from Ohio, and Secretary of the United States Treasury; Hon. Dudley Chase, United States senator from Ver- mont, and Chief Justice of that State; and Bishop Philander Chase, the founder and first president of Kenyon College. Ohio, and bishop first of Ohio and later of Illinois.

Daniel H. Chase received his rudimentary education in his native town, in the winter of 1817-18 attending the school taught by his fa- ther. The next two years he was a pupil in

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the Troy Academy, and subsequently, from 1820 to 1830, he pursued his literary studies at Wesleyan Seminary, New York, Balch's private school, and the grammar school of Columbia College, in 1830 entering the Fresh- man class at the last-named institution. In September of the ensuing year he began the regular course at Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown, which he completed in 1833, graduat- ing with honors; he was valedictorian of his class. Dr. Chase received the first diploma from the university ever presented from the hand of Dr. Fisk, and for twenty-two years he has been the only survivor of his class. Of the class of 1834 none survive. The year fol- lowing his graduation he taught in Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbraham, Mass., going from there to take the position of tutor in Wesleyan University, where he was also engaged one year. He then established the Middletown In- stitute and Preparatory School, which was afterward so famous in that part of Connecti- cut, and which he conducted until 1870, in 1842 opening a female seminary, which he transferred later, however, to his brother Sidera.

In 1838, leaving his brother in charge of his school, Dr. Chase went abroad, returning home in time for the opening of the fall term in 1840. These two years he spent in study in Paris, Berlin and other cities, giving special attention to French, German, music, mathe- matics and philosophy, and in the summer of 1840 he made a delightful and profitable tour of Switzerland, on foot. In 1867 he again crossed the Atlantic, taking a long, interesting and instructive trip through England, Scot- land, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Holland and Bel- gium. As will be seen, Dr. Chase spared no pains to prepare himself thoroughly for his chosen profession, to which he was sincerely devoted and apparently fitted by nature, loving and sympathizing with the young, and eager to develop the highest mental and moral pos- sibilities of every one who came under his care. It is significant that during the forty years he was engaged as an instructor he never lost his self-control for a moment, and never gave cause for complaint or censure to any parents or guardian for undue severity ; some of his pupils, now mature men, have indeed said that they thought him too lenient in the matter of discipline, but his rare success in his

life work and the remarkable influence he wielded have proved that he erred on neither side, and that he knew-as only a man of such keen insight and powerful penetration could know-just where to draw the line. Many now celebrated men gained their early educa- tion under his direction, among them being Rev. Dr. Minor Raymond, professor of Greek in the theological institute at Evanston, Ill .; Rev. Dr. Lindsay, and Justice Brewer, of the United States Supreme Court, who was one of the Venezuelan commissioners. Another pupil, Dr. George W. Burke, says of him :

"The influence of such a man on the intel- lectual, moral and material interests of Mid- dletown for so long a period can scarcely be estimated, the results deepening and broad- ening in all those who have received right impulses through his teaching. A little digres- sion here to note some of those results may not be uninteresting. One of the first board- ing pupils in '35 was Daniel Ayers, who pre- pared in Middletown for Wesleyan. His late munificent gift of over $300,000 has been one of the direct results of his school, and will tend to increase the wealth as well as the city advantages of Middletown. Young Ayers was tired of the New York schools, and about to abandon his purpose of obtaining a collegiate education, when the friendship between the two families and the opportunity offered in Middletown drew him to Dr. Chase's school and determined his life work. Many years later, when the son of Dr. Ayers was old enough for this school, he also went to Dr. Chase."

While studying in Paris in 1838-39-40 Dr. Chase was occasionally invited to a liter- ary and scientific club which he found so pleas- ant and profitable that on his return home he mentioned it to Wesleyan professors, and sug- gested the formation of a similar club. It was finally founded, in 1862, by the professors and- their friends, and our subject has ever since been one of the most valuable members. Since abandoning the active work of teaching he has devoted himself to study and writing, and has written considerable in opposition to the spir- itual and Darwinian theories of evolution, in 1892, while opposing Prof. William N. Rice, of Wesleyan University, in the Scientific As- sociation and Conversational Club, developing a new and most interesting theory of evolu- tion. Dr. Chase was honored with the degree

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of LL. D. in 1858, by Wesleyan University. He is a Republican, but has never been active n politics, and shuns notoriety of any sort. Though he has never sought public prefer- nent, he was in 1852 elected to the State Leg- slature, without his knowledge, and he also served in that body in 1853. In fraternal re- ationship he is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. On March 8, 1834, he united with the Methodist Church, and has been as- sociated with the same ever since.

Dr. Chase laid out Chase avenue, in Mid- lletown, and built the first fifteen houses on that thoroughfare, which is now known as Grand street. Considering his patriarchal age, ne is a marvel of physical and intellectual preservation, none of his faculties being im- paired, and his activity is remarkable. Dur- ing his palmy days as an instructor he exerted in influence on the moral life of the com- munity many of the results of which he has lived to see. The Doctor began his career as a teacher over sixty years ago, and, therefore, has instructed more than one generation of Middletown's youth and the principles of honor and integrity which he always endeav- pred to inculcate in the minds of those under his charge, in addition to caring for their men- tal development, have borne good fruit, as is evidenced by the love and respect which has always been accorded him by his former pu- pils, many of whom have taken foremost rank in the various lines of enterprise which they have followed, in Middletown and elsewhere. On June 2, 1842. Daniel H. Chase married Miss Caroline E. Smith, one of his former pupils in the female seminary before men- tioned. She was born August 2. 1824. in Middletown, a daughter of John Lyon and Susan ( Ward ) Smith, of that place. Mr. Smith, who came from Edinburgh, Scotland, became the first treasurer of Wesleyan Uni- versity. Mrs. Chase, who was a noble woman, died December 1, 1891, and is buried in Indian Hill cemetery. She was in excel- lent health, and bid fair to live for years. but a serious fall resulted in her untimely death. Children as follows were born to Dr. and Mrs. Chase: Henry Mosier, John Lyon. Caroline Elizabeth, Daniel Wilbur, Susan Emma, Ellen Amelia and Albert Hunt. Of these, John L., born December 27. 1844. is a manufacturer in Buffalo, N. Y. ; he married Virginia Sackett ; they had no children. Caro-

line E., born December 3, 1846, is the wife of Elden. B. Birdsey, of Middletown, and has one daughter. Susan E., born March 17, 1855, is the widow of Edward Douglas, of Middletown, and has three children. Ellen A., born July 18, 1858, is the wife of C. Bingham Leach, of Middletown. Albert H., born April 3, 1861, is a member of the firm of Eaton, Chase & Co., of Norwich; he mar- ried Anna Prentice, of that city, and has four children.

HENRY MOSIER CHASE, eldest son of Dan- iel H. and Caroline E. Chase, was born March II, 1843, in Middletown, Conn., in the house formerly occupied by his father as a school, and now known as "The Prussian House." He received his education in part at his fa- ther's celebrated school, in part at Grace Southmayd's private school, on the corner of Ferry and Main streets. He remained in his native city until his enlistment. August 29, 1862, in Company A, Twenty-fourth Connecti- cut Volunteer Infantry, and was elected ser- geant ; was mustered in November 18, 1862, and mustered out September 30, 1863. after serving with his company and regiment wher- ever stationed. After the close of the war Mr. Chase assisted his father in the school for a time, and then went to Chicago, Ill., where he engaged in clerical work for a brief period. after which he once more took up his abode in Middletown. We next find him in New York, emploved in a business house : then for a short time he was engaged in a boot and shoe business in Piqua, Ohio, as a partner. but gave this up, and. returning to Middle- town, once more assisted his father in the school. On August 1, 1869, he entered the employ of the W. & B. Douglas Company. Middletown, and for over two years was their traveling representative, his territory cover- ing nearly the whole of the United States. In course of time he became president of the company, and he is now manager and treas- urer. For many years he has been a resident of New York, having charge of the Company's office there, a portion of his time being spent at the factory in Middletown.

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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 139

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