Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 4

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

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vestments which yielded large returns. It is said of him that he gave away and lost by assisting others a sum fully equal to all that he made in China. In his business Mr. Rus- sell was very methodical and painstaking, in private life frugal and economical, avoiding all display and ostentation, but very hospitable. He always gave his friends a hearty welcome.

On October 6, 1815, Mr. Russell was mar- ried, in New York City, to Mary Cotton Os-

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17.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born, daughter of David and Mary (Cotton) Osborn, of Hartford, Conn. She was then an orphan, both her parents having died in the West Indies. Two children, George Osborn and John Augustus, were born to this mar- riage. The mother of these died at the early age of twenty-three, while the father was in China. Subsequently, on the completion of the five years in China, with the Providence house, Mr. Russell returned to this country and married Frances A. Osborn, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had one son, Samuel, who married Clara A. Casey, daughter of Dr. William A. Casey, of Middletown; they had three children : William W., Mary A., and Cornelia A .; the mother of these died at the early age of thirty-one. Mrs. Russell founded, in memory of her husband, the beautiful public library at Middletown bearing his name.

None of the sons of Samuel Russell inher- ited strong constitutions, and all died in early manhood. The two by the first marriage were sent to Europe for travel, and passed much time in the West Indies in treatment. George Osborn Russell married Amelia C., daughter of Thomas Mather, and left two sons, Samuel and George O. John A. Russell married Helen E. Webster, of Cuba, and left one son, Frank W.

Hon. Samuel Russell, son of George Os- born and Amelia C. (Mather) Russell, and grandson of Samuel Russell, was born in Mid- dletown, Conn. His education was completed at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., after which for two years he was in the office of James Benwick, an architect of New York. He has inherited many of the traits of char- acter which were possessed by his grandfather. He is benevolent, liberal and public-spirited, and a broad-gauged business man of this day of development and progress. For many years he was closely identified with the active business of the Russell Manufacturing Co., from which he retired in 1882, and of which he has been vice-president for twelve years. He was also connected with other large cor- porations of Middletown and elsewhere, hold- ing various offices in the same. Much of his time is occupied in caring for his property and special interests. Mr. Russell is one of the managers of the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane, the Russell Library, and the Connecti- cut Industrial School for Girls. Political hon- ors have frequently been tendered him, and he 2

has been several times mentioned for the office of lieutenant governor of the State. He has served as alderman of Middletown, also as mayor of the city, having been the first Demo- cratic mayor the city had had in a decade. He has traveled extensively both in this country and abroad. Socially Mr. Russell is a mem- ber of a number of - clubs, among them the Union Club, of New York, and the Lenox Club, of Lenox, Mass. He is also a member of the Carrituck Shooting Club, of North Carolina.

Mr. Russell married Lucy McDonough, who was born November 6, 1846, daughter of the late Hon. Henry G. Hubbard, who was a descendant of George Hubbard, born in Eng- land in 1601, and a settler of Hartford, Conn., in 1639, being one of those who came over- land from the vicinity of Boston, Mass., in the year 1635-36, and located the towns of Wind- sor, Hartford and Wethersfield, Conn. In 1650-51 George Hubbard moved to Matta- besett, so called until 1653, when it became Middletown. Mrs. Russell was a granddaugh- ter of Commodore McDonough, of the United States Navy. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, namely : Samuel, Thomas McD. and Lucy H. The mother of these died in 1876, and Mr. Russell subse- quently married Sarah Chaplin Clark, daugh- ter of John Clark (Jr.) and Caroline Madi- son Pickering, of Cambridge, Mass. One

child, Helen P., has come to this marriage.

Amelia C. (Mather) Russell, the mother of Hon. Samuel Russell, was born April 17, 1822, daughter of Thomas Mather, who was in the ninth generation from John Mather, of Lowton, Winwick Parish, Lancashire, Eng- land, his line being through Thomas, Rev. Richard, Timothy, Richard, Samuel, Richard and Samuel.

GEORGE GILBERT WILLIAMS. This name is indissolubly connected with the his- tory of the Chemical National Bank of New York, indeed, we might say, with the history of banking itself in that city, where Mr. Will- iams has been located for over half a century. The record of his business life is the record of the progress of the great institution of which he has so long been the head. Mr. Williams is accounted one of the most successful busi- ness men of the great metropolis, and enjoys high standing among the most substantial fi-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nanciers throughout the length and breadth of the United States. He resides in New York, but he was born and reared in East Haddam, Conn., on the Connecticut river, and there he still has his summer home. He comes of an old family of that locality, having an honor- ·able line of ancestors who have had their home in America from earliest Colonial days.

Robert Williams of Roxbury, Mass., was his first ancestor in America. Among others of note were Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island; the third president of Yale College; the founder of Williams College; and the founder of Providence and governor of the Colony of Rhode Island from 1654 to 1657, a warm friend and compatriot of Oliver Cromwell. The family was well represented in the early Colonial wars, and in the Revolu- tion, one losing his life at Bunker Hill, another at Lexington.

George Gilbert Williams was born October 9, 1826, at East Haddam, son of Dr. Datus Williams, in his day a noted physician. Datus Williams was born February 25, 1793, in the town of Norwich, New London Co., Conn. He was one of a family of nine children, and of the seventh generation in America, in de- scent from Robert Williams of Roxbury, Mass., mentioned previously. His father was a. farmer, and he passed his youth in the manner of other farmers' sons of the time and place, attending the lo- cal schools during the winter season, and assisting in the agricultural work the balance of the year. While thus engaged in helping his father on the farm pertaining to what has since been known as the Bacon Academy, in Colchester, Conn., he formed the purpose of preparing for the study of medicine. The lack of financial resources would have seemed an insurmountable barrier to many a young man, but it did not so appear to him. In order to supply himself with the necessary funds he engaged in teaching, his first work in that line being in New Jersey. During this period he devoted all his spare time to reading and study, and in the year 1820 became a pupil of Dr. Osgood, of Lebanon, Conn., and subsequently studied with Dr. Cogswell. of Hartford,

Conn. He also attended lectures

Yale Medical School, and while there was a "chum" of Prof. Charles Hooker. In 1823 he received a license to practice from that institution, and the same year commenced

practice in that part of East Haddam known as the Millington Society, remaining there until 1835, when, there being a vacancy in the western and more populous portion of the town, he removed thither. He continued in active and successful practice there, except when prevented by ill health, until his death, which occurred November 4, 1867, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. For two years previous he had been a sufferer from rheuma- tism, but on the morning of the day of his decease he seemed to be better than he had been for some time. Leaving the house he walked into the yard, where he was discovered by his wife a few minutes later lying on the ground. Dr. H. E. Williams, a son, who was at home at the time, writes: "I immediately ran to him and raised him, but life was already extinct, he having died evidently without a struggle, though yet rigid, in apparently the spasm of an apoplectic fit." As to the imme- diate cause of death he suggests, "either met- astatic rheumatism, or, perhaps, valvular os- sification." Datus Williams was endowed in an unusual degree with the qualities which constitute a good physician. At the bedside of the sick he was calm, self-possessed, cheer- ful, helpful, and benefited his patients as much by his strong spirits as by his prescriptions. If, in diseases of a mild nature he trusted more than some to vis medicatrix naturae, he had good reasons for so doing; while he could be prompt and unsparing with potent remedies in cases requiring their use. Practicing in a re- gion of rough and hilly roads, and in most places but sparsely populated, and frequently called upon long and fatiguing rides, it is be- lieved that very few men more promptly or faithfully responded to the summons of the sick, undeterred by storm, darkness or little prospect of compensation other than the con- sciousness of having ministered to suffering humanity. The esprit de corps of his profes- sion affected all his actions, and he was jealous of the honor of his calling, showing little fa- vor to quacks and their abettors. He usually attended and thoroughly enjoyed meetings of his professional brethren. By the recommen- dation of the Connecticut Medical Society he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Yale in 1843. In 1853 he rep- resented the Middlesex County Medical Soci- ety at a meeting of the American Medical As- sociation, and he repeatedly attended the meet-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing's of the State society in a similar capacity.

Dr. Williams appreciated and improved the privileges of citizenship, and faithfully dis- charged its duties. Indeed, he took an inter- est in whatever pertained to human progress, whether the affair was local or general, and kept well informed on public affairs and cur- rent events generally. In the family and so- cial circle he was uniformly kind, social and genial. The Doctor had a care for the future as well as the present. In 1839 he became a communicant of the First Congregational Church in East Haddam, with which he re- tained his connection until his death.

On August 24, 1824, Dr. Williams mar- ried Miss Clarissa Maria Peck, who was born October 23, 1803, and died August 3, 1885. Three children blessed this union : Henry Eg- bert, born June 5, 1825 ; George Gilbert, born October 9, 1826; and a son, born July 19, 1844, who died in infancy. Henry E. Williams graduated from the Medical College of the New York University in 1847, and practiced his profession in New York City until 1864, when he entered the service of his country as assistant surgeon of volunteers. He died De- cember 3, 1870, from disease contracted while in the army.

Daniel Peck, the maternal great-grand- father of Dr. Datus Williams, located in Had- lyme, Conn., where he put up a dwelling on land he had purchased and followed his trade, that of blacksmith. He died in about 1806, of yellow fever contracted while assisting in the burial of a West Indies sailor, who had died of the disease and whom the neighbors were afraid to approach.

Ezekiel Y. Peck, son of Daniel, was born and reared in Hadlyme, and followed in his father's footsteps, learning the trade of black- smith. He also engaged in farming on a lib- cral scale. In 1814, after his marriage, he re- turned to Millington, and there passed the re- mainder of his days, dying December 24, 1831, aged fifty-eight years. He married Lucena Clark, of Lyme, Conn., who died January 13, 1867, aged eighty-five years. To their union came children as follows: Daniel was born October 4, 1801. Clarissa Maria was the mother of Dr. Williams. Lucena Pernella was born October 4, 1806. Ezekiel Y., Jr., born December 23. 1808, was a student at Yale : he settled in Akron, Ohio. Erastus Frank, born February 6, 1811, lived and died in Mill-

ington. Jerusha died August 3, 1813, when ten weeks and ten days old. Roswell Clark, born June 30, 1815, died in the town of East Haddam. Theodore Dwight, born November 19, 1817, was engaged in mercan- tile business in New York City, where he died in 1845. Eliza Ann, born June 18, 1820, never married. Horatio H., born July 28, 1822, lived in New York for a time and died in East Haddam! Joseph Vale was born July 22, 1825.

From early boyhood George Gilbert Will- iams gave evidence of the earnestness and thoughtfulness which have characterized him throughout life. It has been his nature to im- prove, in an earnest, devoted manner, much as a matter of duty, every opportunity which has come his way, especially for the acquisition of knowledge. His first schooling was re- ceived in the home district, and in time he be- came a pupil at the academy, also receiving in- struction in Latin from Rev. Isaac Parsons. in his native town. He was next sent to the Brain- erd Academy at Haddam, then a flourishing institution, and applied himself assiduously to his studies, making rapid progress, especially in mathematics. His taste for good literature developed early, and has remained with him throughout life, a source of pleasure as well as a road to knowledge, and thus a most substan- tial aid in his success. It was his intention to qualify for admission to the Bar. He was fif- teen years of age when a gentleman from New York, who was a patient of his father, the Doctor, offered to take him to that city, prom- ising to secure the boy a position in what was the predecessor of the Chemical Bank, of which his brother, John Quentin Jones, was then cashier. Mr. Jones was the first president of the bank, taking that position at its organi- ization, in 18444. Mr. Williams entered the es- tablishment as assistant to the paying teller. The fidelity, honesty and application which have marked his whole life account for the progress which he made from the start, for by the tinde he was twenty he had risen to the position of paying teller, being at that time the · youngest man holding such a position in the City of New York. During all this time he had not relinquished his intention of preparing for the practice of law, and he continued his legal studies and reading, early becoming a member of the Mercantile Library, then one of the best in the city. In 1855 he was elected cash-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ier, and the day after the death of John Q. Jones, which occurred January 1, 1878, he was unanimously elected president. He had been the actual head of the institution for some years previous, as he has been ever since. For many years Mr. Williams had no assist- ant, but of late years the vice-presidency has been a more onerous incumbency, and the vice- president has taken much of the care off his shoulders, though he is still an indefatigable worker. In addition to, or, rather, in connec- tion with, his duties at the bank, he has twice served as president of the Clearing House As- sociation, and in that capacity, in 1893, ap- pointed the famous Loan Committee, of which, as president, he was an ex-officio mem- ber.

The history of the Chemical National Bank is one of continued and constantly increasing prosperity, so much so, in fact, that the market value of its shares has advanced to $4,000. Perhaps the most remarkable circumstance in its history is the fact that it was the only bank in the United States that did not suspend specie payments in 1857. It became the Chem- ical National Bank in 1865. Though no in- terest has ever been paid on deposits it had for many years larger deposits than any other bank in the United States. It has only been exceeded in that respect, of late years, by some of the Wall street banks. Its reputation is unassailable, so great is the confidence of its patrons in the wisdom and ability of its man- agement. The first president, Mr. Jones, es- tablished its affairs on so solid and firm a basis that the most conservative were willing to re- ly upon its management, and Mr. Williams has continued in his footsteps and held the business up to the old ideals. Of Mr. Williams himself it may be said that, in business, as in private life, he is an ideal Christian gentle- man. Throughout the life of his predecessor, Mr. Jones, he enjoyed the hearty friendship of that gentleman, who proved a valuable coun- selor to him in every way. From his earliest residence in New York he had the advantage of refined and cultured society, to the influ- ences of which atmosphere his fine mind and character were especially susceptible, and all these circumstances contributed to their de- velopment in the most desirable direction. Mr. Williams is a domestic man in every way, and his greatest pleasure is at his home and church. His ample fortune is expended in a liberal but

unostentatious manner. He is a member, ves- tryman and treasurer of St. Bartholomew's Church (Episcopal), and active in all the enter- prises of that congregation. He has always found time, in spite of the pressure of business, for benevolent and charitable works, and is especially interested in the Orphans Home and Asylum of the Protestant Episcopal Church; he is also one of the governors of the Lying-In Hospital. In addition he is president of the New York Clearing House Building Com- pany, vice-president of the United States Life Insurance Company, and connected, as treas- urer, trustee or director, with the following companies : The Bond and Mortgage Guaran- tee Company, Eastman's Company, Fabric Measuring and Packing Company, Fidelity and Casualty Company, Institution for the Savings of Merchants' Clerks, Mexican Tele- graph Company, New York Clearing Associa- tion, a member of the Clearing House Com- mittee, Realty Associates, Texas Midland Rail- road Company, Title Guarantee and Trust Company, and the Union Trust Company of New York. His only social affiliations are with the Metropolitan Club and the Riding and Driving Club.

On various occasions Mr. Williams' friends have given substantial evidence of their confidence in his ability and integrity by intrusting him with the settlement of their estates, a trust no man of honor regards light- ly. Among others who have thus shown their esteem we may mention John Q. Jones (his. life-long friend), and that gentleman's brother, Joshua Jones; Robert L. Stuart and his wife; Louis Hammersly; and Wilson G. Hunt.

Mr. Williams has always been an advocate of courtesy, upon any and all occasions, to any and all; in fact, in this respect, he may be re- garded as an ideal gentleman of the Old School. He insists upon his employes show- ing politeness and consideration to all, and sets the example himself, for no man is more accessible to those in his employ, or more kind- ly in his treatment of them.

On November 14, 1867, Mr. Williams was. united in marriage, in New York, with Miss Virginia Force King, daughter of Aaron King, of that city, and this union was blessed with five children: Virginia Buell, born October 20, 1868, died April 11, 1875. Clara Jay, the only survivor, born May 27, 1871, was mar- ried April 4, 1893, to Frank Browne Keech.

the

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

LeRoy Quentin, 'born October 8, 1874, died September 19, 1882. Clinton Caswell, born May I, 1877, died May II, 1877. Irene, born October 27, 1878, died January 7, 1882. In the beautiful family home in Fifty-eighth street, near Fifth avenue, are many evidences of Mr. Williams' literary and artistic tastes, his fine library and handsome paintings being its most noticeable features. Here he and his wife take pleasure in welcoming their many friends. Their summer home is in East Had- dam, in the locality where Mr. Williams spent his boyhood, and in whose progress and devel- opment he has always taken the greatest inter- est, and where he has erected for the church of his boyhood a chapel adjoining the old build- ing, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars.

HON. SAMUEL D. HUBBARD, LL. D., late of Middletown, former Postmaster General of the United States and member of Congress, was one of the distinguished sons of that city. 1

Born August 10, 1799, in Middletown, Mr. Hubbard was the son of Hon. Elijah and Abigail (Dickinson) Hubbard, the latter a daughter of Dr. John Dickinson, of Middle- town. He attended school in his native town until nine years of age, was then sent to a boarding school at Rocky Hill, Conn., and was subsequently placed under the tutorship of Rev. David Smith, of Durham, Conn., who prepared him for college. He was graduated from Yale in 1819, and read law under the direction of his uncle, Judge John Dickinson, of Troy, N. Y. After the completion of his law studies he returned to his native city, in- tending to commence the practice of his pro- fession, but the death of his father in the in- terim caused hin to devote his whole time to the settlement of the estate; and in further- ance of this object he subsequently entered into partnership with John R. Watkinson, in the manufacture of woolen goods, etc. This, proving a successful venture, enabled him in the course of a few years to complete the set- tlement of his father's estate and retire with a competence. He was identified with the Pameacha Manufacturing Company and also with the Russell Manufacturing Company, first as agent, then as treasurer.

Mr. Hubbard devoted much of his time to public affairs. His experience in manufactur- ing made him an ardent protectionist. He was

a Whig in politics. On the issue of a protec- tive tariff he was elected to the XXIXth Con- gress, receiving 7,325 votes, while his Demo- cratic opponent, Hon. Samuel H. Ingham, of Saybrook, received 6,668, there being at that time 416 Abolitionist and scattering votes. Mr. Hubbard remained in Congress from 1845 to 1849, and during this period distinguished himself as a public debater, by his upright course and firm adherence to the principles of his party, making many warm friends, among whom were Hon. Millard Fillmore and Gen. Winfield Scott. He was appointed Postmaster General by President Fillmore, serving from August 31, 1852, to March 7, 1853.

Mr. Hubbard was a warm supporter of Gen. Scott for the Presidency, and, it is said, had Scott been elected, Mr. Hubbard would have been a member of his cabinet. In 1854 Wesleyan College gave him the degree of LL. D. Mr. Hubbard was one of the few men who predicted the final issue of the "irrepres- sible conflict," which in the time of his official public career agitated both the North and South. He foresaw the end from the beginning and was firmly opposed to any compromise with the South. He never lived to witness the birth of a new Union through the "baptism of blood."

In February, 1835, Mr. Hubbard was mar- ried to Jane Miles, daughter of Isaac Miles, of Milford, Conn., who survived him. They had no children, but a niece of Mr. Hubbard-Miss Susan C. Clark-filled the place of a daughter. Mr. Hubbard died October 8, 1855. i

GEN. JOSEPH K. F. MANSFIELD (de- ceased ) was a son of Henry Stephen Mans- field, who was born February 1, 1762, in New Haven, Conn., and on August 3, 1786, married Mary, daughter of Ephraim Fenno. The an- cestry on both sides is English, and many of the line appear among the most distinguished names in the early settlement and history of the Colonies. Gen. Mansfield's parents had six children: Henry G., John F., Mary G. Grace T., Hannah F., and Joseph K. F.

Joseph K. F. Mansfield was born Decem- ber 22, 1803. in New Haven, Conn. In 1817 he entered the Military Academy at West Point, and in 1822 was graduated with high honors, standing second in his class. On July r. 1822, young Mansfield was appointed brevet second lieutenant of engineers. He received

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his commission as first lieutenant in 1832. In July, 1838, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and on the outbreak of the Mexican war was intrusted with the responsible post of chief engineer of the army commanded by Major Gen. Taylor during the years 1846-47. In the defence of Fort Brown, which was at- tacked on May 3, 1846, and heroically defend- ed until the 9th, Capt. Mansfield was par- ticularly distinguished, and received the brevet major for his services. In the three days con- flict at Monterey-September 21, 22, 23, 1846-Major Mansfield again distinguished himself, and was brevetted lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct. At the storming of Monterey he was severely wound- ed, but five months later-February, 1847- he was again at his post, being brevetted col- onel for gallant services in the battle of Buena Vista, February 23, 1847.

After the Mexican war was over Col. Mansfield was a captain in the corps of engi- neers. In 1851 his name was third in the list on the register of Inspector General George A. McCall. Col. Mansfield was elected May 28, 1853, to fill the important post of inspector general, with the full rank of colonel, and thereupon resigned his rank of captain of engi- neers. He continued to perform the duties of inspector general of the United States army until May 14, 1861, at which date he was nominated by the President for one of the new brigadier generalships in the regular army, then just created by Congress. Soon after this appointment he was summoned to Washington and assigned to the command of the defenses. Gen. Scott did not quite agree to his sugges- tion to fortify Arlington Heights, but he went ahead on his own responsibility. All the forts around Washington were engineered by Gen. Mansfield and built under his superintendence. For a time he was in command of Newport New's, and led the Union forces in the capture of Norfolk. He was there when he received orders to take command of Banks' Corps, un- der Gen. McClellan. Being greatly pleased at the thought of a more active life in the service of his country, he made haste to reach this command, and came up with the army before Sharpsburg, the night before the battle. On the following day, September 17, 1862, while gallantly leading his troops into action, he fell mortally wounded. Internal hemorrhage en-

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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 4

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