Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 164

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 164

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lewis Strickland spent Ins entire hie 111 South Glastonbury, where he followed farm ing. He was a good citizen and a successful agriculturist. His wife, Amy Pennant, was a native of the same town, and they were the par- ents of the following children : Joseph, a ship carpenter and farmer of South Glaston bury: Frank C., a tailor, who married and lived in South Glastonbury; Heury, who was a blacksmith and the young: Watson, of South Glastonbury: Alma, who married Daniel Stevens, a merchant in South Glastonbury : Lucy, who married Paul Harvey, a timer and lived in St. Louis : Martha, who marmed Alion W. Kinne, a farmer and a mason and lived in South Glastonbury . Sarah, who married Ralph

898

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Savage, of Cromwell, a successful merchant of that town; and Eunice W.

Eunice W. Strickland married (first) Av- ery Tennant, after his death became, on De- cember 7, 1869, the wife of Solomon Ed- wards, with whose career she was thorough- ly identified. She is now a widow and is one of the highly respected old ladies of Port- land. After her marriage to Mr. Edwards, she came to live on his farm, where she has since resided.

Solomon Edwards was born and grew to manhood under the inspirations of a good fam- ily and an honored parentage. An account of his life will be found in the biography of Wat- son Edwards, elsewhere in this work.

CHARLES GUSTAFSON, second select- man of Portland, is one of the best known and prominent men of his nationality in the town, where many of the good citizens claim Sweden as the land of their birth. He was born July 30, 1847, in Vestergotland, Sweden, and in 187I came to this country, making the voyage in eighteen days from Liverpool to the city of New York, on the steamer "France." Deep River, Conn., was his immediate objective point, and there he earned his first American money. The Connecticut Valley Railway was then under construction and he found em- ployment along the line. His first year in the United States was discouraging as he was sick much of the time, and his little store of money was very nearly exhausted. In 1872 he came to Portland, and was a workman in the quar- ries for some two years. For a time he worked in the lumber regions of northern Pennsylvania, and then in a large tannery in that country. His health being restored he came back to Portland, but after a short inter- val he went south, and travelled through a wide section of the country, seeking a favor- able location, but he found very little to sat- isfy him. He came a third time to Portland, and entered the service of the Misses Brain- ard, as coachman, and was employed by them for five years. After the expiration of that period he resumed his quarry work, and for a number of years had charge of a hoisting ma- chine at the yard. Mr. Gustafson saw an oppor- tunity to go into a business then not occupied and started a bakery on a small scale in his present store. There had been other attempts to inaugurate such an enterprise, but they had

all eventuated in failure. Mr. Gustafson made different record. Starting on a small scale, in a little building, with one baker and a single team, he watched his trade, catered to its needs, and now has a business that employs four bakers, and keeps three teams constantly at work caring for his largely increased busi- ness. He covers Portland, Middletown, Hig- ganum, East Hampton, Haddam Neck, Crom- well, Rocky Hill and Glastonbury. His spe- cialties are hard bread and sweetened biscuit, and there is no other baker in this section of the country that make these brands of goods. They are delivered largely to grocers for the retail trade. He began the bakery in the spring of 1892, and he is now rated among the more successful men of this community.

In 1885 Mr. Gustafson was married to Miss Minnie Johnson, who was born near the city of Linkoping, Sweden, in 1860. Their children are: Nellie Regina, Lillian Othclia, Edwin Carl and Emma. One child, Elmer E., died in infancy. Mr. Gustafson is now serving his third year as a member of the board of selectmen of Portland. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran Church. He is one of the best citizens of the town, thor- oughly Americanized, and is a man of unusual good common sense and sound judgment.

GEORGE H. BLAKE. Among the well known business men of Ivoryton, Middlesex county, is George H. Blake, who most suc- cessfully conducts a business in ice, coal and teaming and is also engaged in the livery bus- iness.

Mr. Blake's ancestors were among the old-

est in Northwestern Connecticut. Allen Blake, his grandfather, was a tanner by trade, and lived in Winchester, Litchfield Co., Conn., where he died at the age of fifty-six. His wife Mabel (Beach) Blake, who survived him many years, passed away at the age of eighty-two, the mother of five children, the youngest be- ing the father of our subject.

Hervey V. Blake, the father of George H., was born June 20, 1818, in Winchester, where he spent his early life, and attended school. He settled his business in life by going to Hart- ford and there learning the trade of a tailor. For some years he followed that occupation in Winsted, but later bought a farm in Harwin- ton, consisting of eighty acres, and was a farmer until 1874, when he came to Ivoryton.

(

cana

11:

899

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

There he became proprietor of a hotel, known as "Hotel Ivoryton, succeeding William J. Lord. This house of rest and refreshment he conducted until 1887, when he entered, with George H., his son, into the business of team- ing and livery. This partnership continued until 1894, when he. sold out to his son. He died in 1901, in Torrington, Conn. A stanchi Democrat, he was once prominent in politics, and was connected with the Episcopal Church.

Hervey V. Blake married Celia Cleveland, a native of Catskill, N. Y., born in 1827, daughter of Charles and Rachel ( Halcott) Cleveland, the former of whom was a school teacher, later a bookkeeper, and, for many years, county school supervisor. Mrs. Blake resides in Torrington. To Mr. and Mrs. Her- vey Blake were born: Katherine, who died young ; Allen, who also died young ; Charles, who married Lillie Atwater, and is a prosper- ous physician, living at Harwinton, Conn .; Samuel, deceased; Elizabeth, who married F. F. Fuessenich, secretary of Hendey's Machine Company, Torrington, Conn .; George H .; Mabel, who married N. E. Shailer, and lives in Torrington, Conn .; and Maria, who married Dr. Elias Pratt, and also lives in Torrington.

George H. Blake was born January 19. 1858, in Winchester, Conn., and received his education in the Harwinton common schools. and the Morgan School, in Clinton. At the age of eighteen, he left school, and taught in the schools of ivoryton and Saybrook Point for one winter.

In 1878 Mr. Blake established his present business, beginning with but three horses. So rapidly did this enterprise grow that he soon found himself obliged to add to his stock. Ile also engaged in general teaming, this line im- mediately proving profitable. Later he en- gaged in the coal and ice business, and still later purchased a well drilling outfit, during the busy season giving employment to fifteen men and twenty-five horses. The business of Mr. Blake is one of great convenience to the residents of Ivoryton, where the factories re- quire so much heavy teaming. All of this work required by the Comstock, Cheney & Co., is done by him. By his energy and competent management Mr. Blake succeeds in everything he undertakes, and naturally takes a pride in his success, as it has been largely due to his own efforts,

On December 27. 1890, George H1. Blake

married Antoinette Ingham, of Old Saybrook, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (-Ayer) Ing- ham, and a daughter, Margaret, born Septem- ber 14, 1892, has blessed this union.

An active Democrat, Mr. Blake has served several terms on the board of selectmen; one term as first selectman; and was the represen- tative from Essex to the Constitutional Con- vention, held in 1902; he performed the duties of all offices to the satisfaction of the com- munity, where he is most highly esteemed. For many years a consistent member of St. John's Episcopal Church, he is at present one of its vestrymen. The residence of Mr. Blake is one of the most commodious in the village, and is fitted up with every modern conven- ience and appliance. The family is one of the highest respectability, and Mr. Blake possesses the confidence and regard of business men ev- erywhere.

FRANK C. HUBBARD, the youngest in the family of Hon. Alfred and Julia Ann ( Pad- dock ) Hubbard, of whom a lengthened record is given in a memoir of the Hubbard family elsewhere, was born in the West Long Ilill District of Middletown, Middlesex Co. Conn .. February 25. 1855, and now occupies the old homestead which has been in the possession of the Hubbard family for generations. When his fine old brick mansion was erected the clay was hauled from a distance, and molded into brick and burned south of the dwelling. in the construction of which it was used.

Frank C. Hubbard was educatel in the district schools and at Durham Academy, and on his return home assisted his father on the farm until the latter retired from active work. when he assumed full charge, and now owns the place, which comprises about 100 acres of choice land, improved with excellent farm buildings. Mr. Hubbard carries on general farming, grows fruit, and cultivates a few acres in tobacco. The place is neat and well kept in every particular, and is regarded as one of the best farms of its size in the town.

On November 16, 1881. Mr Hubbard mar ried in Derby, Conn .. Miss la M. Chaffee, a native of the place, born May 3. 1850. Only child of Charles S. and Mary ( Chalker ) Chat- fec, the former of whom is a machinet mel ex- mayor of Derby, and the latter a native of Dur- ham, Conn. To Mr. and Mrs Hubbard have been born five children, in the following ors

900

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

der : Ruth, October 24, 1886; Julia M., Au- gust 16, 1889; Carleton S. C., August 13, 1891 ; Raymond A., October 24, 1893 ; and Le- land F., July 14, 1896.

Mr. Hubbard is a Democrat in his politi- cal affiliations, but has never been an office seeker ; socially he is a member of Mattabes- sett Grange, and religiously he and his wife are members of the South Congregational Church. Mr. Hubbard is widely known, and wherever known is highly respected, being classed among West Long Hill's most substantial and com- petent farmers.

TIMOTHY COLEMAN, one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of Mid- dletown, Middlesex county, is living on his farm in West Long Hill, near the Durham town line. This is one of the best kept farms in town, and its every detail shows the touch of a master hand.

Mr. Coleman was born in County Cork, Ireland, where his father, Thomas Coleman, was engaged in farming, and where he died about twenty-five years ago. He married Mary Clew, who came to the United States and died February 2, 1901, in Middletown, after a peaceful old age. They had the fol- lowing children : Timothy ; Mary, who is now living in Middletown; Thomas, who married Anna Ragan, lives in West Long Hill; Will- iam, who married Elizabeth Hennessey, and is living in Middletown; Kate, a resident of Mid- dletown; and two children who died in Ire- land in infancy.

Timothy Coleman was born September 1, 1856, and received a limited education in the home schools, which he left when he was four- teen years old. He was employed as a farm hand, which work paid him $100 a year and his board. When he was twenty-four years old, hearing of the chances afforded poor boys in the United States, he decided to try his fortune in the land of promise. With his savings he paid his passage, sailing March 31, 1881, from Queenstown, and landing, after a rough voyage in New York, with little money in his pocket, but with stout spirits. Hart- ford, Conn., was his destination, and on the way he stopped in Middletown to see his uncle, William Clew. who advised him to stop in that place, and secured work for him with Andrew Fitzgerald, a farmer of West Long Hill, in the town of Middletown. The young emi-

grant remained with him eight months, after which, for a year, he was with Richard Davis. On the expiration of his engagement with the latter he began working for Stephen Miller, who owned the farm which is now the property of Mr. Coleman, continuing with him until his death, after which he bought the farm from the heirs. At the time of his purchase it con- sisted of 100 acres to which he has since added forty acres. On this property Mr. Coleman has made extensive improvements, building new barns, remodeling the house, etc., until the entire appearance of the property has been greatly changed. He carries on general farm- ing, does much market gardening, making a specialty of onions, and grows about four acres of tobacco a year. Mr. Coleman runs a milk wagon, using the milk of thirty-five cows. The place is known as the "Maple Drive Farm." When he bought the farm Mr. Cole- man ran deeply in debt, and his failure was freely prophesied. Hard work, however, and good management have brought him through safely. Much of his success is due to the judg- ment of his wife, with whom he freely con- sults on all matters.

Mr. Coleman was married, April 23, 1885, to Mary E. Dailey, who was born in West Long Hill, April 23, 1863, daughter of Will- iam and Mary E. (Lee) Dailey. Her father was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and was a farmer in West Long Hill, where he died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are: Thomas F., born February 3, 1886; William D., June 1, 1888; May, May 12, 1891; Mar- garet, July 15, 1892, Alice, November 14, 1898; and Richard N., August 10, 1901. Mr. Coleman belongs to the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus, and with his family holds membership in St. John's Catholic Church. He is a pleasant and popular gentle- man, universally respected.

STEPHEN HALL. The name Hall in Portland is one that has been long identified with the history of the county, and the fam- ily has given many honorable and upright cit- izens to the town. Stephen Hall is following in the footsteps of his most respectable fore- bears. He was born in Portland, in what was known as the "Dean House," April 19, 1852, a son of Nelson and Sabrina (Hall) Hall, the latter a daughter of Calvin Hall. Ebenezer Hall, the paternal grandfather of Stephen, was

901

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a son of Ebenezer Hall, and was a farmer by occupation, making his home on Penfield Hill.

Nelson Hall was foreman in the horse de- partment of the Brainerd Quarry Company, and held that position for twenty-five years. He lived to be fifty-four years old, and his wife seventy-three. His death, which occurred when he was aged fifty-four years, was caused by taking the epizootic, when it was raging in the equine world. He had been caring for many horses, and thereby contracted the dis- ease. A man of fine physique, he weighed two hundred and sixty pounds at his prime, and was endowed with amazing strength. In poli- tics he was a Whig and a Republican. He and his wife were the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom nine were boys.

Stephen Hall had his education in Port- land, and was a pupil in the old stone school. His schooling was over very early in his life, and when but a boy he went to Glastonbury, Conn., and entered the employment of Orrin Hale, a farmer in that region. After three years in that place he returned to Portland and took a position as a teamster in the Shaler & Hall quarry. He did not remain in the quarry long, as Miss Lily Hall took him into her sery- ice as a coachman and put the care of her horses upon him. She was a daughter of Frederick Hall, and a lady of much wealth and kindness of heart. The young man remained in her service for a number of years, and then was engaged at "scappling" in the quarry for some time. In May, 1876, hie went to work for E. I. Bell, who owned and operated a grist mill near the bridge, and was a miller there until the structure was consumed by fire. After the fire he worked for Coles & Wicks, grain and produce dealers in Middletown, a firm that has changed its name several times and is now known as the Coles Company, but Mr. Hall has been employed by practically the same concern for the past sixteen years, now having charge of its Portland branch.

Stephen Hall married Miss Annie Fram, of Portland, a daughter of Alexander and Mary ( Youngs) Fram, and has the following children : William A .. superintendent of the Connecticut Steam Brown Stone Company ; Nelson C., bookkeeper for the National Enam eling and Stamping Co., and Anna S. and Clara M., both at home. Mr. Hall is a stanch Re- publican. He is a charter member of the A.

O. U. W. at Portland. With his wife he be- longs to the Episcopal Church. He owns one of the comfortable homes of Portland, which he built himself. "Steve" Hail, as he is gen- erally known, is a plain, straightforward man. and one who has fought his own fight from boyhood. His earnings went to his parents until he was twenty-one, and since that time he has won a standing in the business world. He has a good home, a good name, and is re- garded with esteem by all who know him.

CHRISTIAN KUEHNEM.IN, the oldest cigarmaker and tobacconist in Middletown, is a thrifty and extremely well-to-do citizen, one who attends strictly to his own affairs. He has become one of the substantial business men of the town, is respected by all who come in contact with him, and is widely known as an upright and conscientious tradesman.

Mr. Kuehneman was born in Helmarshau- sen, Germany, February 12, 1844, and in the spring of 1867 came to the United States. He had learned the ciganmaker's trade in Ger- many, and was a capable workman. His fa- ther, August Kuehneman, was a merchant tailor, and died at the age of forty-nine. when Christian was about seventeen years old. His father. Andrew, who was also a merchant tail- or, died about the same time, at the age of seventy-six. August Kuehneman married Margaret Bundzenthal, and they had six sons. three of whom are now living : Christian is the only one in the United States. The mother lived to be sixty-seven years old, and ched in Germany.

Christian Kuehmeman attended the local school until he was fourteen, and then began at the cirgarmaker's bench. He was quick to learn, and in two years had his trade thorough- ly mastered. He worked two years longer in his native town, and at eighteen went to Cassel, where he was a clerk in a cafe for one year, and four years in the "Hotel Prince Frederick William," at the end of that period coming to this country. He sailed from Bremen on the steamer. "Weser," and was fourteen days on the voyage to New York, in which anty he spent three weeks, and then came to Middle town to work for Mr. Hartnett, a well known cigar man of a former generation Mr Kuchu- eman worked in several shops in this vicinity at Ins trade, and i 1822 opened up on business

902

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for himself. The next year he began retail dealing, and soon secured a good patronage. For the first fourteen years of his business ca- reer he was in the Southmayd block, and then removed to the first building south of the Kil- bourn block, in 1890, establishing himself in this block, where he has since conducted an extensive business.

Christian Kuehneman and Miss Josephine Matthias were united in marriage October 29, 1868. She was born in Middletown Febru- ary 22, 1849, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Scheuer) Matthias, the former of whom came from New York to Middletown, and was a baker by trade. In his family were the fol- lowing children: Josephine, Peter and Mar- garet, all living in Middletown. Peter Mat- thias was born in February, 1821, and was an honorable and upright man. He was em- ployed for years in the factory of W. & B. Douglas, and died December 18, 1870. His wife died when sixty-seven, and both were buried in Pine Grove cemetery. Josephine Matthias was reared in Middletown, in the family home on Warwick street, and then on Highland avenue, where her father built a good home shortly before his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Kuehneman came the following children : Louisa Margaret, born August 17, 1869, died April 5, 1875. Philip P., born September 22,

1871, is a clerk in Hartford. Elmer H., born June 12, 1876, is engaged in business with his father. Emma E., born May 6, 1879, died May 6, 1881. Carl C., born May 16, 1883, is a bookkeeper. The father and mother belong to the Episcopal Church. In 1897 Mr. Kuehneman built a home on Pearl street, where he resides. He is a Republican, and so- cially belongs to the Odd Fellows and Red Men. He owns three fine residences in this city, and is one of the solid men of the day. In the spring of 1892 he returned to Germany and visited his birthplace, after an absence of twenty-five years.

THEODORE ANDERSON, an enterpris- ing business man of Cromwell, Middlesex county, was born March 1, 1861, in Ulrike- hamn, Sweden, where his parents, Alexander and Eva (Magnusson) Johnson, were also born. Alexander Johnson was a farmer and gardener, and, as he was a poor man, had to work hard all his life. Since 1901, he has

lived at Cromwell, and is now seventy-nine years of age; his wife died in Sweden. To them were born the following children: An- atte, who is still living in Sweden; Theodore; and Gotfried, who is in the grocery business in Meriden.

On coming to this country our subject shortened his name of Alexanderson to An- derson, and has since been known as Theo- dore Anderson. He was educated in the schools of his native land. In 1880 he went to Goteborg, Sweden, where he en- gaged as a joiner and later worked for A. Frodeng & Co., wholesale dealers and exporters of iron, paper, cotton and ma- chinerv. On March 6, 1886, he came to the United States, having fifty cents in his pockets when he landed in New York. As a relative of his, August Swanson, was estab- lished in Portland, Conn., he made his way to the home of that gentleman as a temporary haven. In Cromwell he worked as a carpen- ter for A. N. Pierson, the florist, until May I, 1886, when he went to Oscoda, Mich., to engage in the lumber business, and there re- mained some five years. At the end of that time he came back to Portland, and took a posi- tion as clerk in the grocery store of Ahlquist & Allison. He interested Carl A. Ahlquist in starting a store in Cromwell, and in 1892, they associated themselves together under the firm name of T. Anderson & Co. The drug depart- ment was added in March, 1900. In April, 1901, Mr. Anderson bought out his partner. He was the active member and manager of the firm's business from the inception of the enter- prise. Mr. Anderson is a progressive and hustling business man. He deals extensively in groceries, flour, meal and feed, also crockery and glassware, stoves, light hard- ware, oils, paints, bicycle supplies, drugs and medicines, and he claims to carry as complete a stock of goods as may be found in the county. A remarkable suc- cess has attended his efforts. Mr. Ander- son also gives considerable attention to trans- portation to and from Old World ports, hand- ling cabin and steerage tickets for all the lead- ing steamship lines to and from any port of Europe. His business in this line has much increased, and the patronage is not confined to Cromwell, but comes from several of the neighboring towns. He is one of the leading

f T

903

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

merchants in his part of the county, and he has been to a very great extent the architect of his own fortune. In 1895 Mr. Anderson went back to Sweden on a visit of four months. So- cially he belongs to Washington Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., and is warden of the Vasa Or- den. He has liberal views on religion. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and has served as a juryman from his town, and on the school com- mittee. In April, 1902, he was appointed notary public by Gov. McLean.

On May 9, 1891, Mr. Anderson was mar- ried to Miss Minnie Swanson, a native of Jon- koping, Sweden, who came to this county when she was seventeen years old. Their children are as follows: Martin Emanuel, born in July, 1893; Lydia Ingeborg, born October 4, 1895; and Alice Christina, born March 8, 1898. In 1897 Mr. Anderson put up a fine house in Cromwell, provided with all mod- ern conveniences.

MILLARD WOODFORD AUSTIN, a popular meat dealer at Cromwell, is a striking illustration of the self-made man. His great- grandfather came from England in company with two of his brothers, and settled in Phil- adelphia, where he became a wealthy real-estate owner. He was married in Philadelphia, and had three sons, one of whom, Nathaniel, lo- cated at Dover, N. H., where he followed his trade, that of tailor. Another, who was the grandfather of Millard W. Austin, went to China, Maine, where he followed farming. In religious faith he was a Quaker. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Sybil, had the following children : Mary, who married Thomas Porter; Sybil, who married John R. Roberts ; and Elijah, the father of M. W. Aus- tin. For his second wife Mr. Austin married Judith Jepson, by whom he had the following children : Isaac 1., who married Abigail Por ter; Elizabeth, who was the second wife of John R. Roberts, before mentioned ; Marinm. who died ummarried; and Isaiah, a farmer, who is now living in China, Maine.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 164

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