Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 33

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 33

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At Middletown Mr. Guy, on January 24, 69, commenced business life as bookkeeper r the Hubbard Hardware Company, manu- turers of edge tools and carpenters rules, 1

Warwick street, and filled that position ne five years. In 1874 he was elected to the gislature from Middletown by a plurality of 4 votes, the largest plurality given any can-, 12

didate for that office up to that time, while it may be added he was the youngest man that had ever represented the town in the Legisla- ture. During his term he served on the com- mittee on Incorporations, and was clerk of the same. In 1875, without solicitation or effort on his part, he was made messenger in the State Senate. In 1876 he went to Meriden, where in the office of his uncle, Joel H. Guy, he took up the insurance business, and in that office received the training that has placed him second to none in local fire insurance circles in Connecticut. In 1878 Mr. Guy removed to Middletown, and in April, 1879, formed a partnership with Wallace K. Bacon, in the insurance and shoe business, at what is now No. 282 Main street. At that time the insurance companies represented in Middletown by this firm were the "Williamsburg City" and the "Agricultural," but with the push and energy of these two young men the business grew so rapidly that in a short time the shoe interests were disposed of and the attention of the firm became devoted exclusively to fire insurance. The business grew rapidly, the best and strong- est companies being represented, until at the present writing the firm's business as insurance brokers is by far the largest in the town, their list of agencies presenting a formidable array, comprising as it does the leading companies of the world. They include the four largest American companies-the Etna, Home, Con- tinental and German-American-whose com :- bined actual cash assets are over fifty million. dollars, with a net surplus of twenty-three mill -. ion dollars.

In January, 1882, Mr. Guy was elected a director of the Middlesex County National Bank, succeeding his father as already related. and in 1892 was elected to the presidency of that institution. His relations with the busi- ness and financial interests of Middletown are and have been extensive. He was one of the incorporators of the Middletown Street Rail- way Company, and has been secretary and treasurer of same since its organization : is a director of the Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company; a director of the Simpson. Hall & Miller Company, of Wallingford, Conn. ; a di- rector and vice-president of the Farmers & Me- chanics Savings Bank of Middletown, and a director in the H. B. Porter & Son Lumber Company, of Norwich, Conn. Politically Mr. Guy was for a considerable time one of the

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leading Democrats of the town, for several years a member of the State Central Commit- tee, and for ten or twelve years was registrar of voters. Of recent years, however, he has not been bound to the Democratic party, the finan- cial question causing him to support other doc- trines. For several years he has served on the board of school visitors, and is the pres- ent chairman of that board, taking much in- terest in educational matters. He has served for over twenty years as clerk and treasurer of the Millers Farms school district. He is a member of the Middlesex County Historical Society and of the Connecticut Association of Local Fire Insurance Agents.

: On September 24, 1871, James K. Guy was united in marriage, in Wayland, Mass., with Miss Elizabeth A. Cooper, who was born Sep- tember 24, 1848, in that city, daughter of John and Almira (Loker) Cooper, members of one of the best families in Wayland, and whose ancestors assisted in founding the town of Sud- bury, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Guy were born children as follows: (1) George W. died young. (2) James H., born May 5, 1874, is at present a bookkeeper in the banking house of DeCoppett & Doremus, of New York. (3) Alice Baker is a graduate of Vassar, class of 1898; she is a member of Vassar College Chap- ter D. A. R., and also of the University Club of New York. (4) Clarence Brainard was born October 29, 1881. (5) Harold Seymour was born December 12, 1887. Mrs. Guy and her daughter are members of the North Con- gregational Church of Middletown. The old homestead at South Farms, originally owned by Mr. Guy's father, has been considerably remodeled and improved, and is one of the most pleasant homes in that suburb. Our subject has seen much of the United States, having traveled extensively-"from coast to coast"-and for several years has passed his winters in Florida. He is considered one of the ablest financiers in Middletown, and his judgment in business matters is often sought and highly valued.

. WILLIAM HUBBARD ATKINS (de- ceased) in his day was one of the highly re- spected business men of Middletown. He was descended from one of the oldest families of the town, more complete mention of same being found elsewhere.

William Hubbard Atkins was born January

II, 1801, in West Long Hill District, of Mid- dletown, a son of Ithamar and Anna ( Hub- bard) Atkins. He was brought up to farmy work, and his education was received in the district schools. When a young man he came to Middletown and for a time worked at painting with his brother Henry. Later he engaged ir the hardware business at what is now No. 222 Main street, and continued in that busines the remainder of his life. For many years his was the only hardware store in the place. His death, which was due to paralysis, occurred January 1, 1865, and was preceded by a period of several years of poor health. In his early life he was a Whig, and at the time of his death a stanch Republican. He held a few of the minor offices in the town when a young man but later in life his ill health prevented hin from taking any active interest in politica matters. He was a strong anti-slavery man and during the days of the Civil war he wa intensely interested in the successes of the Fed eral army. While on what later proved to b his death bed, he manifested great pleasure upon the receipt of favorable news from th South, and extreme sorrow when news of re verses came. He was ever a strong temperanc advocate, and devoted time and means for th furtherance of the cause, and was an activ, and enthusiastic member of the order of th Sons of Temperance, when that order was in existence, and at his home he entertained man speakers, etc., when they visited the towr Uniting with the Methodist Church in earl manhood, he was ever an active and intereste worker in that denomination. In all his wor he was successful, in his dealings he was strict ly honest, and he was kind and liberal to th poor, leaving to posterity a good name. H was a man esteemed and respected by all, an was a kind and loving parent.

In April, 1830, Mr. Atkins was married t Eliza Powers. They were married in Hart ford, in which place her parents were then re siding. Mrs. Atkins was born in May, 1808 in Middletown, a daughter of Josiah and Ann (Gilbert) Powers, and granddaughter of Ec ward Powers, a Revolutionary soldier, who i buried in Mortimer cemetery in Middletowi Anna Gilbert was a sister of Joseph Gilber who was a prominent citizen of Hartford, deacon in the Baptist Church there, and wa State treasurer in 1845. 1846, 1848 and 184!

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a total of four years. Mrs. Atkins survived her husband only three weeks, dying January 25; 1865. They are buried in Indian Hill cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were born the follow- ing children : (1) Mary E. attended the com- mon schools, Middletown High School, a select school taught by Miss Mary Woodward, and a select school taught by Rev. Josiah Brewer, the father of Justice David G. Brewer, of the United States Supreme Court. She resides in College street in Middletown. (2) Horace at- ended the common schools, Middletown High School and the famous school taught by Daniel H. Chase. He was manager of the hardware store of his father, and after the latter's death ne succeeded him to the business which he con- lucted for several years, or until his death, April 28, 1872, in the thirty-fifth year of his ige. He was a sufferer from poor health, and le spent considerable time in travel, visiting oreign climes. Popular with his classes, his nany friends were drawn to him by his sunny lisposition and the courageous, uncomplain- ng way he bore his sufferings. His efforts in business were rewarded by a competence and n ample estate. In politics a Republican, he erved on the common council of Middletown. 3) Augusta is the wife of George A. Coles, resident of the Middletown Savings Bank, hention of whom is made elsewhere. (4)

George died in infancy. (5) Charles S. attend- d the High School and the Daniel H. Chase chool. He married at Lockport, N. Y., and ad three children, two of whom, Helen and Iorace, are now living.

JOSEPH H. LEET, one of the prosperous nd substantial citizens of Chester, Middlesex punty, is a descendant in the eighth genera- on from Gov. William Leete, who was born 1 1612 in Dodington, Huntingdonshire, Eng- nd, a son of John Leete, of Dodington, and as bred to the law. He served for a con- derable time as clerk in the Bishops' Court, Cambridge, where, observing the oppressions il cruelties then practiced on the conscientious id virtuous Puritans, he was led to examine leir dogmas and practices, and eventually came a Puritan himself, giving up his office. 1 company with Rev. William Whitfield he me to America, and was one of the signers the Plantation Covenant, on shipboard, June - 1639, arriving at New Haven about July

Ioth. When they had agreed upon Guilford as a place to settle Leete was one of the six selected to purchase the land of the native In- dians, in trust, for the Plantation, until their organization, and was later called upon to fill many public offices. He was one of four in- trusted with the whole civil power of the Plan- tation, without limitation, until a church was formed, in 1643, and when it was formed he was selected as one of seven pillars "for the foundation work." Mr. Leete was deputy to the General Court, from Guilford, from 1643 to 1650, and from 1651 to 1658 was the magis- trate of the town. In 1658 he was chosen dep- uty governor of the colony, and continued in that office until 1661, when he was elected gov- ernor, which office he held until the union with Connecticut, in 1664. After this union he was assistant until 1669, when he was elected dep- uty governor of the Connecticut Colony, hold- ing that office until 1676, when he was chosen governor, which position he retained contin- uously until his death, in 1683. The first mar- riage of this illustrious man took place in Eng- land, about 1638, to Ann Payne, who became the mother of all his children : John, Andrew, William, Abigail, Caleb, Gratiana, Peregrine, Joshua and Anna. Our subject's line is through John, John (2), Gideon, Allen, Edward A. and John C.

John Leete, son of Gov. William, was born in 1639, and married Mary Chittenden in 1670. He is said to have been the first white child born in Guilford. His death occurred in 1692. His children were Ann, John, Joshua, Sarah. Peletiah, Mehitable, Benjamin and Daniel.

John Leete (2), son of John, born in 1674. married Sarah Allen, who died in 1712, and his second marriage was to Mehitable Allis. His children were John, Mary. Gideon and Sarah, by the first marriage, and Reuben by the second. John Leete died in 1730.

Gideon Leete, son of John (2), born in 1703. married Abigail (Penfield) Rossiter, widow of Timothy Rossiter, in 1727. After her death he married Catherine Strong, widow of Bryan Rossiter. He moved to Chester, in the town of Saybrook, and he died in 1781. His children were Allen and Gideon.

Allen Leete, son of Gideon, was born in 1728, and married Abigail Kelsey. He died in 1783, being drowned in the Connecticut river, while attempting to cross on the ice.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Edward A. Leete, the grandfather of Jo- seph H., was born in Chester, Conn., in 1761, was a farmer by occupation, and for many years was extensively engaged in agricultural operations. The later years of his life were spent in Deep River, and he passed away in 1841. In 1793 he married Amy Morgan, daughter of John and Eunice (Casey) Mor- gan, of Preston, Conn., and their children were: Samuel M., John C., Elizabeth, Emily A., Eliza A., Edward A. and Eunice.

John C. Leet the father of Joseph H., was born November 25, 1797, in Chester, where his youth was spent in the district schools. He early learned the tanning trade, which was taught him in the factory of Mr. Holmes, lo- cated about one and one-half miles north of the present Chester town hall. For many years tanning was his occupation, but later in life he took up farming, at which he was engaged at the time of his death, June 15, 1874. A con- sistent and worthy member of the Congrega- tional Church, he was much respected in that body. He was an active member of the Whig, later of the Republican party. On December 25, 1822, Mr. Leet married a native of Chester, and children as follows blessed this union : Henry, born in 1823, who is deceased; Rachel, born in 1826, deceased; Harriet, born in 1828, widow of Ashael Emmons, residing in Ches- ter; Joseph H .; Eliza C., born in 1835, who married Edward F. Parker, of New York, where she died ; Sarah, born in 1838, who mar- ried John Alexander, and resides in Chester; and Albert C., born in 1840.

Joseph H. Leet was born July 27, 1833 in Chester, where he attended the district schools, and he later went to a select school in Deep River, kept by Priest Chapman. After leaving school he was employed in the factory of the Chester Manufacturing Company for many years. leaving there during the Civil war to engage in special work in the Springfield Arm- ory. Returning to Chester, with the money he had saved, in 1864, he established his present successful business, which he has conducted in so excellent a manner as to win the confidence of the whole community. For ten years he has occupied his present market, where he at all times carries a complete stock of fresh and cured meats, fruits, vegetables and canned goods, running two teams, on stated days, a week. Mr. Leet also deals largely in flour,

feed and baled hay, having a separate building for this line.

Prominently associated with the Demo- cratic party, Mr. Leet has occupied many posi- tions of honor and trust, having been the effi- cient postmaster of the town during the first administration of President Cleveland ; he was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Lewis; has been selectman a number of times ; collector of taxes ; in fact, has held all of the minor offices, being a citizen of such excellent character that he is the choice of the community, irrespective of party. In October, 1900, he was elected third selectman, which position he now holds.

Mr. Leet was married November 28, 1860, to Maria F. Post, of Chester, who was born July 17, 1838, daughter of John and Nancy (Post) Post, and the following children have come to this happy union: Evalina M., born March 13, 1862, was married July 5, 1885, to Joseph A. Parker, and lives in Chester ; she has three children, Clifford, Florence and Marion. Jennie O. was born in 1865. Emma G., born in 1867, was married January 19, 1898, to Charles Perkins, a well-known newspaper man of New Haven. Ina W., born in 1869, was married June 19, 1900, to Herman Crook. Josephine E., born in 1871, was married April 19, 1900, to George Hopkins, of Chester. J. Henry was born in 1878. C. Waller was born in 1882.

Mr. Leet is one of the self-made men of his locality. The good business and com- petency which he enjoys have been won by hard work, as he owes nothing to his ancestors but an honorable name. In the community Mrs. Leet is known as a most estimable lady, a kind and Christian neighbor, and all the members of the family possess the esteem of every one in Chester.

HON. WILLIAM ROBERT McDON- ALD, for thirty years a merchant of the town of Cromwell, Middlesex county, and one who has taken a leading part in its public affairs, representing the town in the General Assem- bly and his district in the Senate, is, while not himself a New Englander by birth, allied by marriage with one of Connecticut's oldest and most conspicuous families, that of Richard Treat, of Wethersfield.

Mr. McDonald was born April 15, 1841, in Nova Scotia, a son of William and Mar- garet E. (Clark) McDonald, and in the schools

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of New Brunswick received his educational training. He came to Connecticut in 1869, ind in August, 1873, established a general store in Cromwell, with which he has since been identified, and in which he has won the success often the result of honest and persist- nt effort. Through all of these years Mr. McDonald has held the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen in a marked degree, .nd has filled, as the choice of their selection, nearly every office within their gift. He has een the village postmaster, grand juror, chair- nan of the town committee, town auditor, jus- ice of the peace, town assessor, etc. In 1899 le was chosen a member of the General Assem- ly, and in 1901 a member of the Senate from he Twenty-second District. He had early ad- ocated the building of good roads, and when hat movement took definite shape in the Leg- slature, and a commission was decided upon carry out the provisions of the new law, he ras elected a member of that commission, and id much to give the work an impetus in the tate. He is at present serving as deputy pad commissioner. Mr. McDonald's serv- es in both branches of the Assembly of the tate have been valuable to the Common- ealth. In the Lower House he was a member f the committee on Roads, Bridges and Riv- 's and in the Senate he was chairman of that ommittee. For years he has been a member f the State Central Committee of his party or the Twenty-second District.

Ever regardful for the improvements of is town, Mr. McDonald has been a public- irited citizen, and the promoter of many en- rprises. His name is identified with the roniwell Creamery, the Cromwell Silver late Company, the New England Brownstone on pany, the Meriden, Waterbury & Crom- ell Railroad, etc. He is a stockholder in, and is a promoter of the Cromwell Water Works. he Senator is prominent in social circles, be- g a member of Washington Lodge, No. 81. & A. M., Cromwell; Washington Chapter, o. 6, R. A. M., Middletown; Doric Council, 0. 24, New Britain; Cyrene Commandery, 2. 8, K. T., Middletown; Pyramid Temple. M. S., Bridgeport ; Charter Oak Lodge of rfcction, fourteenth degree, Hartford ; Hart- rd Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Hartford ; rus Goodell Chapter of Rose Croix, Hart- rd; Connecticut Sovereign Consistory, S. P. 'S., thirty-second degree. Norwich; and

Putnam Phalanx, Hartford. He is also a mem- ber of the Middletown Club.

On October 22, 1872, Mr. McDonald mar- ried Sarah Treat, who was born July 10, 1832, a daughter of Hon. Lorenzo Hart Treat, of Middletown, who was a descendant in the sev- enth generation from Richard Treat, his pa- ternal American ancestor; who was at Wethers- field, Conn., as early as 1639, his lineage being through Richard (2) Thomas, Isaac, Elisha and Elisha Treat (2).

Lorenzo Hart Treat was a native of Mid -. dletown, born November 1, 1802. He was a member of the State Legislature from the town of Cromwell in 1854, and from 1851 until his death which occurred July 15, 1857, he served as a notary public. He married ( first) August 23, 1826, Sarah Sage Kirby, who died Au- gust 4, 1836, aged thirty-two years. He mar- ried (second) April 16, 1837, Mary Kirby, who died September 28, 1868. These sisters were daughters of Samuel Kirby, who was a descendant in the fifth generation from John Kirby, who came to America in the ship "Hopewell" in 1635, and became one of the first settlers of Middletown, his lineage being through Joseph, John and Thomas Kirby.

CAPT. J. HENRY JONES. The Jones family traces its ancestry back to Col. John Jones, who was one of the twelve judges that pronounced sentence against Charles I., king of England, who was executed January 30, 1649. On the ascension of Charles II. to the throne, in 1660, Col. Jones and nine others of the judges were condemned, and they were executed October 17, 1660. The two remain- ing judges were reprieved. Judge Jones had married Henrietta, the second sister of Oliver Cromwell, and his son, Hon. William Jones, survived him. One year prior to the death of his father he married Hannah Eaton, daughter

of Theophilus Eaton, of the parish of St. An- drews, Holborn, England, who was the first governor of the Colony of New Haven. They came together to America, where William Jones was deputy governor for several years. He died October 17. 1706. and both he and wife are buried under the same stone with Gov. Eaton, in New Haven.

Isaac Jones, son of William, died at Say- brook in 1741, aged seventy years, leaving a family of ten sons and five daughters. Zeb- ulon Jones, the great-grandfather of the Cap-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tain, was a resident of Westbrook, and early in life was engaged in the coasting trade. Later he became a shipbuilder, his yards be- ing located on the river, one-half mile south of his home, at what was then called the "sheep washing" place. He closed his life on a farm, at the age of seventy-nine, and his remains lie in the old cemetery at Westbrook. Although possessed of only moderate means, he had owned much land, and was a prominent man. He was a consistent member of the Congre- gational Church. Mr. Jones married (first) Beulah Grinnell, (second) Abigail Burns, of New Haven, and (third) Mary Smith, of New London, who survived him thirty years, dying at the age of seventy-four.

Phineas Jones, the grandfather of Capt. J. Henry, was a son by his father's first mar- riage, and was born October 17, 1769, at West- brook, in a house standing about one mile north of the Congregational Church. Reared a farmer boy, he followed that calling on the old homestead all his life, his death occurring May 16, 1840. He reared his family in the tenets of the Congregational Church. On De- cember 26, 1787, he married Phebe Dibble, who was born March 5, 1770, in Westbrook, daughter of Josiah and Mary ( Pierce) Dibble, and they reared the following children: Phebe, who married Ezra Bushnell, a seafaring man, later a farmer: Sally, who married Jonathan Pratt, a seafaring man and farmer; Benja- min Pierce, the Captain's father, who was born September 29, 1792; Betsey, who died when two years of age; Betsey (2) ; Phineas E .: Samuel D., who married Sarah Day, and died April 2, 1876, on Staten Island (he was a sailor, and made long trips to foreign lands, his ship being the first one to carry the Amer- ican flag into the Red sea; he resided in the city of New York ) ; Phineas E. (2), who mar- ried Sarah Edwards, of Middletown, and died of cholera, in Virginia, while on one of his vessels ; Beulah G., who married Edward Stan- nard; Frederick W .. who married Sarah M. Slaughter, and for his second wife, Mary C. Webeman, of Baltimore (he died on his vessel, and was buried at sea, in 1849) ; and Josiah H., who died in 1813.

Benjamin Pierce Jones was born at the homestead in Westbrook, and there remained until he entered the service in the war of 1812, as a substitute for a man in Middle Haddam,

his employer. The regiment to which he wa: assigned was first sent to Fort Griswold, nea: New London, and later to the fort at Say brook, and served until the war ended. Capt Jones afterward received a pension. After the close of the war he began life on the water first as a deck hand, and he later became cap- tain of crafts which ran between New York Baltimore and the West Indies, in time becom- ing the owner of his vessel, and continuing ir this line many years. The last trip made by Capt. Benjamin P. Jones was from Baltimore to the West Indies, when he was about fifty years old. On the passage home his ship was wrecked in a hurricane, and for several days he and his crew were exposed, being finally picked up off the island of St. Thomas and sent home by the United States consul there

Realizing that his large family needed his personal care, Capt. Jones decided to leave the sea, and purchased a large farm in the easterr. part of Clinton, although temptation came to him shortly afterward in the form of a fine offer, from New York, of the position of com- mander of a vessel. Capt. Jones was a fine entertainer, and not only were his stories of the thrilling adventures of his life interesting. to children, but his neighbors were delighted to hear his recitals. During his long life on the ocean he had many encounters with the pi- rates of the West India islands, his ship being at one time boarded by a Portugese gang. Fortunately he had on board a number of Brit- ish soldiers who were searching for these des- peradoes, and when the opportune moment ar- rived the pirates were captured, and later ex- ecuted at St. Thomas, Capt. Jones being pres- ent when twenty-nine of them were shot.

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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 33

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