Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 156

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 156

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as a manufacturer in which he was destined to achieve so pronounced a success. He secured an interest in the Union Knife Company, of Naugatuck, being made treasurer of the con- cern. The plant and stock of the company were destroyed by fire some five years later, and Mr. Francis removed to Hartford, where he found a wider and more remunerative field for his native talent, mechanical skill and business experience. At the outset his prospects did not appear bright. The accumulations of years of patient effort had been swept away, and he was content to accept a position as traveling sales- man for the Hartford Rubber Company, the chief owner of which was John W. Tracy, Sr. Before sending him on the road, the firm assigned to Mr. Francis the task of preparing a new commercial catalogue. This was for him a comparatively novel experience, but he acquitted himself so well that the outcome was considered the most complete and handsome publication of its kind that had yet appeared to attract the attention and admiration of the trade. In consequence the compiler was given a responsible position in the company's office. his travels as a salesman being indefinitely post- poned. This line of business was entirely new to him, yet his innate ability, joined to keen power of observation and unwearying applica- tion, capacity and adaptability, were soon dem- onstrated, and he was rapidly advanced, first becoming secretary and later general manager. Through his keen insight and sound judgment the Hartford Rubber Works within four years attained a position in the front rank of insti- tutions of that class and kind. In 1892 the plant passed into other hands, and Mr. Francis severed his connection with the concern. In 1893 the Middlesex Rubber Company, Middle- town, was organized, and he was chosen presi- dent thereof, a position which he filled until 1896, when he resigned his office and left the company's service; the name meanwhile had been changed to the Omo Manufacturing Com- pany. In August, 1897, a receiver was ap- pointed for the company, but in February, 1898, a reorganization was effected, Mr. Fran- cis becoming general manager. In January of the succeeding year his responsibilities were in- creased by the additional imposition upon him of the duties of secretary and treasurer, which he filled until November, 1901, at which time he became president and treasurer. These three offices he yet holds.

The business of this company at first was the making of a general line of rubber goods, and it was with this concern that the celebrated Omo dress shield originated. The popular favor with which this device has been received, it having found a ready sale all over the civi- lized world, has induced the company to make a specialty of its manufacture. The output of the plant is large and constantly increasing and since passing out of the hands of a receiver the corporation has become, largely through the far-reaching foresight and broad comprehen- sion of its manager, a dividend-paying and profitable concern.

Mr. Francis married, in 1876, Miss Sara A. Bidwell, of Hartford, daughter of Samuel W. Bidwell, who married a Wheeler. Their only daughter, Leila, a young lady of many native graces and of high culture, died in her nineteenth year. Both Mr. Francis and his wife are eligible to membership in the order's known as the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, yet neither has applied for admission.

The life of Mr. Francis has been one of exceptional activity, yet while still at the merid- ian of life, he finds his labor crowned with a success which may, in many respects, be called well nigh phenomenal. Beginning his career as a business man and manufacturer at the foot of the ladder, he has mounted, rung by rung, to distinguished success through his own un- aided efforts. As a citizen he is public-spirited and conscientious. A Republican in politics, and always deeply interested in his party's suc- cess, the engrossing cares of his business life left him no leisure for practical work or ambi- tion as a politician. In private life he is social and genial, a member of the Middletown Club, and a generous and courteous host in his own home. Fraternally he is a member of Lafay- ette Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Charter Oak Lodge, I. O. O. F., both of Hartford. He is a director of the First National Bank of Middle- town.

MRS. JANE A. TIBBALS, who is living quietly at Cobalt, Middlesex county, surround- ed by her children, grandchildren and many friends, is descended from an old and honored family of this county.

Charles Ames, her father, was a native of Portland, this county. His parents dying young, he was early obliged to provide for him-

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self, and was a lifelong farmer in the town of Portland, where he died at the age of seventy- five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine C. Lewis, and was a native of the same town, died at the age of eighty- three. They were the parents of four chil- dren, namely : Margaret married Francis Hale, and died in June, 1899, at the age of seventy years : Jane A., now Mrs. Tibbals, is second in the order of birth; Frederick L., born in December, 1835, married Elizabeth Carpenter, and died in Portland; and Eliza D., born in 1841, married Alonzo D. Pellett, of Hartford, Connecticut.

Mrs. Tibbals was born in the town of Port- land January 18, 1833, and was married Octo- ber 6, 1852, to William T. Tibbals, a native of Middle Haddam, town of Chatham. He was engaged in oakum manufacturing, an enter- prise started by his father, Thadeus Tibbals, in 1828. and was also interested in the manufac- ture of brick at Portland. He was an invalid the last sixteen years of his life, and died Au- gust 1, 1885. Mr. Tibbals was well known, and comanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, in either busi- ness or social life.

Mr. and Mrs. Tibbals had a family of three children : William B., the eldest, is further mentioned below. Irwin M., born October 16. 1857, is the only one of the name now actively interested in the oakum business. Frank E .. born October 7, 1868, married Irene Wetmore, of Westfield, Mass., and has one child. Hazel I.

Mrs. Tibbals is devoted to her family, and all successes achieved by them are extremely gratifying to her. All accept the faith of the Congregational Church, and are highly re- spected and esteenred in the community where they reside. In his political views Mr. Tibbals was a Republican, and served as selectman of his town. Further mention of his father and the oakum business will be found elsewhere.

WILLIAM BENTON TIBBALS, born August 7, 1853, was engaged in brickmaking with his father at Portland at the time of the latter's death. He is a metal-caster by trade, but, owing to close attention to that business, has for some time been confined to his home with an ailment quite common among metal workers. As a Re- publican he has taken an active interest in politi cal matter, and was a member of the board of selectmen of his native town two years. Ile represented the Middle Haddam division of the

town of Chatham in the Legislature in 1899. He is one of the most popular and influential citizens of his community. Mr. Tibbals mar- ried Jennie M. Cone, who was born March 3. 1858, daughter of Orlo Cone, and died October I, 1896. They had three children : Jessie A., who was born December 20. 1882, and died when one year old : Catherine Lewis, born April 8, 1884; and William Ernest, born September 19, 1891.

FRANK PARSONS HULL. deceased. The scenes of childhood sometimes in after life draw irresistibly upon one who has gone out into the world from a limited to a wide field of action, and won success in his chosen voca- tion. When to these memories are added the claims and entreaties of aged parents upon an only surviving child, then are presented the reasons which brought the subject of this sketch back to Durham from an active business life in the city. Mr. Hull was a descendant of an old New England family. He was a man of powerful physique, weighing about two hundred pounds, was of very fair complexion and hair, genial in disposition. a favorite among a wide circle of friends, and a man of superior business ability.

Henry Hull. his grandfather, lived in the southern part of Durham, Middlesex county, in a house which has since been torn down. He married Marietta Chalker, and they had a fam- ily of six children, namely : ( 1) Isaac was a contractor and builder in Middletown for many years, and later moved to Madison, Conn .. where he died : he married Deborah Dee. of Madison, and had one child, Erastus, now of New Haven. ( 2) Phebe married Charles Ives. a farmer, and lived in Wallingford, where she died, leaving one son, Amos, who is now living in Wallingford. (3) Harriet married a Mr. Riggs, and died leaving three children. Georgi- ana, Grace ( wife of Frank Baisden, of Crom well and Charles. (D) Luzerne marrie 1 ( first ) Henrietta Fields, (second) Patricia Maynard, by whom he had nie child, William. and third Nancy Brainerd; he was a con- tractor and builder, and was killed by falling trom a building in New Haven (5) An Irew was the father of our subject (6) Helen mar ried Russell Nichols, a Lariver of Middleticket. and they have one son, die rge new residing in Middletown.

AAndrew Hull, the father of Frank P, was

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born October 17, 1824, in the south part of Durham, where his boyhood days were spent. He served an apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter with his eldest brother, Isaac, when the latter was located in Middletown, and later came to Durham, where he followed his trade, working at times with his brother, Isaac. Among the buildings they erected is the large residence of the late David Lyman, of Middle- field, and the late home of L. Marsden Leach, of Durham. Andrew Hull was an honest, very hard-working, straightforward man, care- ful and economical, at all times honorable in his dealings. When married he was practically penniless, but at the time of his death he was one of the most substantial men of Durham. He was self-made in the fullest sense of the term, though greatly assisted by his careful and industrious wife. Mr. Hull died January 20, 1890, and was buried in Durham. Ann Parsons, his wife, whom he married June 4, 1848, was born December 9, 1826, in Durham, daughter of Marcus and Orpha (Robinson) Parsons. She died July 27, 1898, after a long illness. Two children were born to Andrew and Ann Hull: Andrew, who died in infancy, ad Frank P., our subject.

Frank P. Hull was born January 19, 1849, in the north part of Durham, in the house that stands near the Middlefield road. He attend- ed the district schools and Durham Academy, under Prof. Jewett, completing his education at Providence Conference Seminary, East Greenwich, R. I. Returning to Durham, he entered the employ of L. M. & O. Leach, who conducted a general store and the post office in Durham, but remained there only a short time, going to New Haven, where for fifteen years he was in the clothing business on Chapel street, in partnership with a Mr. Cobb, under the firm name of Cobb & Hull. Disposing of this business, he went to Providence, R. I., and was there employed as a salesman in the large clothing store of C. M. Talbott & Co., where he remained about seven years. Then, at the request of his aged parents, he in 1886 re- turned to Durham, where he resided (retired) until his death, which occurred January 28, 1896.

Mr. Hull married, October 9, 1888, Eliza- beth L. Redfield, a native of Clinton, Conn., daughter of Charles and Mary (Scranton) Redfield ; her father was engaged in the whole- sale oyster business at Clinton. The union of

Frank P. and Elizabeth L. Hull was blessed with two children : Mary R., born July 28, 1889; and Maurice P., born September 8, 1891. The widow survives, and now resides with her children at the old homestead in Dur- ham. She is a lady of many accomplishments, highly respected and admired by her wide cir- cle of friends. Mr. Hull was of a retiring dis- position in public affairs, and, while always ready to perform the full duties of citizenship, was not a seeker of office. However, he served as assessor for two years. His career was typical of the best development of Connect- icut, and his memory is deeply revered by the people of his native town, and by his business associates and friends in the more active com- mercial field, where for many years he had labored and achieved. He was a member of the Union League Club in New Haven.

DANIEL M. HOLMES, a grocer of Old Saybrook, Middlesex county, belongs to a fam- ily long established in that part of the State.

Bartlett Holmes, his grandfather, was born in the town of Griswold, New London Co., Conn., where the family had long been resi- dent, and there grew to manhood and married a Miss Kimberly. He was a farmer all his life, and died when sixty-four years old; his wife died some years previously. They were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. They had the fol- lowing children: Henry J. was the father of Daniel M. Holmes. Mary Ann married a Mr. Wilcox, of the town of Griswold. Harris S. was for a number of years a resident of Mood- us, and died at Waterford. George was lo- cated near Jewett City, Conn. Maria, the widow of Ransom Perry, lives at the Masonic Home. Wallingford, Conn. Margaret is the widow of George Bacon. Sarah married James Palmer, and died in young womanhood.

Henry J. Holmes, the father of Daniel M., was born in the town of Griswold May 24, 1816. When a young man he removed to the town of East Haddam, where he married Har- riet N. Meech, daughter of Ephraim Meech, a native of Preston. Mrs. Holmes died when Daniel M. was a small boy, and the father sub- sequently married Jane Ashcroft, a resident of East Haddam. Henry J. Holmes had three sons, only one of whom, Daniel M., whose name introduces this article, lived to maturity. Charles died when five years old. Daniel M. was the second. Joseph died at the age of four

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years. Mr. Holmes bought land in East Had- dam and followed farming. In his later years he was a miller, and had both grist and saw- mills under his care. In company with his brother, Harris S., he built a mill on Wigwam brook which he operated for some thirty years, and when he sold it he retired from active busi- ness, after a successful career. He died while living with his son in Saybrook. In politics he was a Whig, and in his later years a Repub- lican. In the Baptist Church, of which he was a member, he was an active worker, and at Moodus was deacon of the church for many years.

Daniel Meech Holmes was born January 21, 1845, in East Haddam, in the Bashan Dis- trict, where he received his education, from pri- vate instructors and in the home schools. At the age of sixteen he began the battle of life for himself. going out as a hand "before the mast" in a coasting vessel, which sailed from the quarries at Portland. In this work he was en- gaged for three seasons, and then entered the blacksmith shop of Charles Spencer, at Moodus, to learn the trade. Mr. Holmes was with him . a year and a half, when he returned to the coasting trade. Subsequently he entered the shop of Austin Shailer, at the Upper Landing. in East Haddam. For two years he was em- ployed by the Russell Jennings Manufacturing Company, at Deep River, after which he opened a blacksmith shop at Duck Hole, in the town of Madison, where he remained a year and a half, at the end of that period moving to West- brook. There he conducted a grocery store with' marked success from 1870 to 1880, and after disposing of same came to Saybrook and pur- chased the G. A. Vogel, Jr., property, where he has since conducted a general grocery store, re- ceiving a liberal patronage, and winning the confidence of the trading community to a marked degree. In politics he is a Republican. In 1869 he joined Madison Lodge, No. 87. F. & A. M.

Mr. Holmes has been twice married. first in Westbrook to Harriet Bushnell, daughter of Samuel IT. and Cordelia Bushnell. She died in 1890, and for his second wife he married Nel- lie Phillips, daughter of Allen Phillips, of Say- brook. To the first imion were born: (1) Josephine married James Brady, and died at the age of twenty-two. (2) Daniel Henry is employed at Ivoryton, Conn. (3) Jesse N. died at the age of twenty-one years, while sery-

ing as a soldier in the Spanish-American war. He married Florence Daniels, and they had one daughter, Josie L. Holmes, born July 4, 1898. (4) Judson married a Miss Dennison. (5) George is at home. (6) Arthur is at home.

ASA E. BROOKS, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the town of East Haddam, comes of an old Middlesex county family. His great-grandfather, Simeon Brooks, a resident of Chester, was twice mar- ried, and his descendants in East Haddam were by his marriage with Lois Church, by whom he had children: Phoebe, Asa, Simeon, Nath- an, Mary and Eliza.

Asa Brooks, grandfather of our subject, was born in Chester about 1780, and died in Westbrook in 1858. By trade he was a mason, though he devoted much of his life to farming. He married Sarah Stannard, who was born in Westbrook in 1781, a daughter of Jasper Stan- nard, and died in September. 1874. The chil-

dren of this union were as follows : Ameline. born in 1806, died unmarried in East Haddam at the age of seventy-eight years; Abigail died at the age of twenty-five: Sarah Ann died at the age of twenty-one; Jasper S. is the father of Asa E. : Anson . A., a resident of Clinton, died in 1898: one died in infancy; Eliza, deceased. was the wife of J. Jolinson Bushnell : Mary is the wife of Benjamin D. Bushinell, of West- brook: Heury died in 1847. aged twenty-one years.

Jasper S. Brooks, father of Asa E., was born May 15, 1812, in Chester, where he grew to manhood, and in 1849 came to East Had- dam. The greater part of his life was de- voted to farming and trucking, and to the mason's trade, which he followed up to alot the age of sixty, when he began trucking: for a few years he lived retired On May 10. 1838, he married Harriet Chapman, danghter of Elijah and Sarah (Gates) Chapman. She was born in East Haddam September 28, 1811. and died June 18, 1808. Mr. Brooks died De cember S. 1000. To Jasper S. Brooks and his wife were born five children namely: E. Chapman, born November 25. 18.30, was a res- ident of Moodus, Middlesex county, and dieal January 1. 1001: AAsa F is next in order of birth : Harriet Meloria, born December 15. 1813, is the wife of Sidney S Carter, of Fast Haddam; one died in infancy; and Loren I. . born May 27. 1851, is a resident of Modus.

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Asa E. Brooks was born in Winthrop, town of Saybrook, Middlesex county, May 12, 1841, and was eight years of age when the family re- moved to East Haddam. After attending the home schools for some years, he was a student in Suffield Academy one year, and then com- menced teaching at the age of nineteen, follow- ing that profession for twenty-five years dur- ing the winter months, while through the sum- mer season he engaged in farming. His first experience as a teacher was in the Chestnut Hill school, town of Chatham, and he also taught in Westbrook, but most of his school labors were in the town of East Haddam. At the age of twenty-six he purchased a farm near Moodus, and for the past eight years has given his entire time and attention to farming, stock raising and dairying. selling his milk to the Co- operative Creamery in East Haddam.

On February 12, 1867, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage with Miss Julia Ann Barton Starr, whoi was born September 24, 1840, and they have become the parents of three children : (1) Malcolm B., born May 21, 1869, married Ellen Flint, of East Hampton, and they have had three children : Florence Starr, born January 31, 1894, died December 18, 1900; Howard Asa, born March, 1900; and Lillian Florence, born February, 1902. (2) Julia Augusta, born October 4, 1874, is the wife of J. Prentice Lamb, of Mystic, Conn., and has two children: Orville Prentice, born April 28, 1900; and Ruth Augusta, born April 18, I902. (3) John Starr, born May 9, 1879, is bookkeeper for Starr Brothers Bell Co. of East Hampton, Connecticut.

In political sentiment Mr. Brooks is a stanch Republican, and in 1891 he served as selectman of East Haddam. He also filled the office of assessor one year, and has ever faith- fully performed his duties of citizenship. Fra- ternally both he and his wife are members of the Grange, and religiously are earnest mem- bers of the Congregational Church.

NORRIS WHEELER RATHBUN be- longs to a family that traces its ancestry back to Richard Rathbun, who was born in 1574, and married Marion Whipple, a sister of Capt. John Whipple, who was a resident of Ipswich, Mass. They had four sons: Rev. William. born in 1598, who resided and preached in Vermont in 1634; Joseph, born in 1600; Thomas, born in 1604; and John, born in 1610.

The name is variously spelled, appearing as Rothbun, Rathbone, Rathbun, etc.

(II) John Rathbun, son of Richard, was born in 1610, and was married in 1633.

(III) John Rathbun, son of John, was born in 1634, and lived in New Shoreham ( Block Island), R. I. He was one of the those who met at the house of John Alcock, M. D., in Rox- bury, Mass., and was one of the original six- teen purchasers of that island from Gov. Endi- cott and three others, to whom it had been granted for public services. Mr. Rathbun was chosen one of the surveyors of highways, and in 1682, 1683 and 1684 he was deputy from Block Island to the General Court. He married Margaret Dodge, daughter of Trustaram, or Tristram, Dodge, and they had children as- follows: Thomas, born in 1657; John, 1658; Sarah, 1659; William, 1661; Joseph, 1670; Samuel, 1672; Margaret; and Elizabeth. The father of these died in Block Island in 1702. Years prior to his death he had settled his sons on farms on Block Island. The grandchildren, however, scattered, leaving, it is supposed, the descendants of Samuel.

(IV) Thomas Rathbun, son of John and Margaret, was born on Block Island, in 1657. On May 5, 1696, he was made a freeman, and was a deputy in 1700, 1703, 1704, 1705, 17II, 1730 and 1731. In 1711 he was a freeman in New Shoreham; was a representative in the Assembly in 1709, 17II and 1731; and was auditor of treasurer's accounts in 1702. He died greatly respected, December 20, 1733. On April 21, 1685, he wedded Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Joan Dickens, and the follow- ing is the record of their children: Margaret, born January 17, 1686; Mary, November 24, 1687: Patience, November 14, 1690; Con- stance, January 17, 1692; Thomas, January 29, 1695 ; Sarah, April 1, 1698; Elizabeth, July I, 1700; Samuel July 1, 1702; John, May 29, 1705; and Syble, March 16, 1707.

(V) Samuel Rathbun, mentioned as a son of Thomas, settled in North Kingston, R. I., where he was admitted as a freeman in 1730. He was town clerk in 1744 and grand jury- man in 1754. His first wife, Experience, he wedded April 13, 1725. On January 1, 1736, he married Abigail [surname not given]. His children were: John, born in 1737; Barbara, 1739; Margaret, 1740; Sarah, 1741; Abigail, 1742; Thomas, 1743; Samuel; Anthony; Roger ; and May.

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(VI) Thomas Rathbun, son of Samuel and Abigail, was married May 5, 1763, to Mary Wait, of Lyme, Conn., who belonged to the same family from which the late Justice Waite was descended. Thomas died in 1804, and was buried at South Lyme. His widow married Elisha Emerson. The children of Thomas and his wife were: John, born in 1764; Ebenezer, 1766; and Thomas, 1768.

(VII) Thomas Rathbun, son of Thomas and Mary, and the grandfather of Norris W., was born in Lyme, Conn., in 1768. His par- ents were formerly residents of Block Island, but were driven out by the British, and made their new location in Lyme. When he was a boy he was bound out to a tanner and currier and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1786 he located in East Haddam, and in time be- came a landowner, and was engaged in farining and lumbering. He built a store in Milling- ton Green, then a center of the thrifty and prosperous part of the town, but which is now practically .deserted. In East Haddam, ten vears after his location there, he married Sarah Williams, who was born in 1770, a daughter of Abraham Williams. She died in 1852, one year prior to the death of her husband, which occurred April 3, 1853. Their children were: (1) Sarah, born in East Haddam in 1792, mar- ried George Cone, and moved to Hopbottom, Pa. She died in East Haddam in 1817, leav- ing a son, Rev. William A. Cone, a minister of Waterloo. Iowa. (2) Thomas, Jr., born in 1794, was a farmer. He married, in Lyme, Ann Ingraham, and died in East Haddam. (3) Vesta, born in 1796, married Jededialı Gardner. (4) Eliza, born in 1800, married David Beckwith, and lived in Chesterfield. Conn. (5) Hulda W., born in 1804, married in 1826 Urson W. Gates, and lived in Lyme. (6) Norris is next in the order of birth. In politics Thomas Rathbun, the father of this family, was a Democrat. He was a member of no religious denomination, but his wife be- longed to the Methodist 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 156

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