Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 5

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 5

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sued, and on the dawn of the 18th Major Gen. Mansfield gave his life a willing sacrifice to his country.

MELVIN BLAKE COPELAND, the able and honored president of the Middletown Na- tional Bank, is one of the prominent and rep- resentative citizens of Middletown, Middlesex county, one who occupies a foremost position in the social, religious and business life of that city. He was born in Hartford, Conn., November 7, 1828, son of Melvin and Lucinda (Blake) Copeland, the former of whom, was born in 1798, in Sturbridge, Mass., son of Daniel Copeland, a farmer of that vicinity. Lucinda Blake was a daughter of Capt. Na- thaniel Blake, a resident of Hartford, where she was born in 1799, and where she was reared and educated. Capt. Blake was a sea- faring man and an owner of vessels, and he suffered financially from the French ships, his posterity, in recent years, under provisions of French spoliation claims, receiving a consider- ation for these losses.

Melvin Copeland, with his brother Daniel, moved to Hartford, Conn., when young men and unmarried, and there Daniel became a manufacturer of steam engines and well known in his line. Melvin began the manufacture of joiners' tools, and his product became well known, the Copeland joiner's plane being the acknowledged standard of its day, as were many others of the planes and molding tools of his manufacture. Melvin Copeland re- mained a resident of Hartford until 1843, and he was a prominent citizen, a deacon in Center Church, and at one time superintendent of the Sabbath-school, always taking a great interest in church matters. A stanch Whig, he made many public speeches during the Harrison cam- paign, his style being forcible, his reasoning co- gent, and he was considered one of the best ora- tors in New England. He was representative in the Legislature at Hartford at one time. A strong anti-slavery man, he published a pa- per in Hartford called the American Protector, an anti-slavery paper, and he was also the au- thor of several tracts, one, "When Does the Sabbath Begin?," receiving wide attention. With Dr. Horace Bushnell he alternated in dis- cussions of the temperance question. Although he had received few educational advantages, his natural ability caused him to take an equal

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

position with those who had been much more favored by circumstances. In 1843 Mr. Cope- land removed to Massachusetts, locating at what is now Huntington, that State, and died in 1866, the death of his wife following close- ly; the severing of a close affection between them no doubt hastened her demise. A family of ten children were born to them, seven of whom were reared to adult age; three daugh- ters survive, while our subject and his brother, Edward P., a prominent merchant in North- ampton, Mass., are the only sons living.

Melvin Blake Copeland attended the old Stone school in Hartford, where his educa- tion was received, and at the age of fifteen he left school to accept a position as clerk with Henry L. Miller, whose store was lo- cated at the corner of Main and Temple streets, in Hartford. His courteous bearing made for him many friends, and greatly enhanced his value as a clerk; while as a son of Melvin Copeland he had no little prestige, and he in- variably proved a credit, even to so highly an esteemed father. He was one of those steady, reliable young men, such as are al- ways in demand in business circles. After be- ing employed as a clerk for about four years, he was offered a position in the Exchange Bank in Hartford. In this position, as in his former one, young Copeland applied him- self diligently, and his adaptability enabled him readily to take up the work. The rapidity with which he mastered the intricate retails of the banking business won for him high praise, and some time later, when the City Bank of Hartford was organized, he was offered the po- sition of teller, being the first one to fill that position in the institution. In April, 1855, Mr. Copeland ivas tendered the position of cashier in what was then the Middletown Bank. It was certainly a very high compliment to this young banker, then less than twenty-seven years old, and it was only after some little hesitancy that he concluded to accept the posi- tion. His acquaintance in Hartford had be- come very wide, and included practically every prominent business and professional man in the city ; his friends were numerous, and many of his friendships dated from boyhood, these pleasant ties which dated back to his childhood all serving to endear him to his native city. He entered upon his duties as cashier of the Middletown Bank in April, 1855, succeeding Frederick L. Gleason, and he remained in that

position until 1883, when he was elected to the presidency of the institution (which had become the Middletown National Bank), suc- ceeding John H. Watkinson. In that position Mr. Copeland has. since continued. He is the eldest in point of service of any bank official in the city, and has become very closely identified with the financial interests of the State. Dur- ing his almost half century of residence in : Middletown he has taken a deep interest in that city's growth and welfare, aiding, by in- fluence or means, any movement having for its object the advancement of the city's interests. Many acts of charity and benevolence, as well ; as of public spirit, have marked the life of Mr. Copeland. In politics he is a Republican, . and he has never missed voting in a State or . National election since he reached his majori- ty. His interest in political matters is that of a good citizen, the duties of which he has ; never shirked. In local politics his support is : given to the best man, regardless of party.

When twenty years old Mr. Copeland united with the Center Church, in Hartford, . and when the Pearl Street (now the Farming- ton Avenue ) Church of that city was formed he was one of the organizers. For years after his removal to Middletown he took a very prominent part in the South Church, where he was organist for sixteen years, and for a num- ) ber of years was superintendent of the Sab- , bath-school. In later years and after much study, he became a communicant of the Epis- : copal Church, and in the Church of the Holy Trinity took a prominent part, serving for four years as organist, and for several years as a warden. In 1901, when the semi-centennial . of the Farmington Avenue Church in Hartford was celebrated, Mr. Copeland was the only one of the original organizers present, and but one other than himself is living. In 1867 he was ntade an honorary member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, in which he has taken a keen inter- est, and has been treasurer of the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane since its foundation.

Personally Mr. Copeland is a inn of culti- vated tastes, whose quiet and refined, yet dem- : ocratic, manner has always been a strong char- acteristic. His politeness is inborn, conse- quently it is omnipresent. Few inen in his . position are as approachable, and as void of . superfluous dignity, and whether in his office, or on the street, his irauner is the same. His friends are found among the young as well as

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the old, and few, if any, men of his years in Middletown can claim as many friends among young people as Mr. Copeland, for whom the most profound respect is always shown. Mr. Copeland's pastimes and pleasures are found along the lines of art and music, to which he has given much of his leisure time. For a number of years he has given a great deal of his timje to illuminating painting, in which work he has shown much more than ordinary talent, deriving great pleasure from same. His work along this line has received very creditable comment from competent critics, and one of his productions in this line of art was presented by him to the Wadsworth Atheneum of Hartford, where it is highly prized.

On December 17, 1885, Mr. Copeland was ntarried to Mrs. Anna P. (Sanford) Mc- Crackan, whose death occurred in August, I90I.

JAMES H. BUNCE, of Middletown, is probably the best known man in mercantile circles throughout Middlesex county and the lower Connecticut Valley. He began life with little capital save boundless energy and a reso- lute purpose, and has pushed his way upward against almost every kind of hindering obsta- cle until he now stands close to the pinnacle, vindicating the old saying "labor is king." In the best sense of the word he is a self-made man, not, however, that he has lacked friends and that no kind words have been spoken to him. Merit commands recognition, and the deserving find doors opening and the way growing plainer as they go onward. Courage, fidelity, thrift and integrity are the price that must be paid, and Mr. Bunce has settled in large and overflowing measure for all that fav- oring fate or fortune has brought him in the gold of character.

Mr. Bunce belongs to an old and historic family in Connecticut. Thomas Bunce, his pa- ternal American ancestor, was one of the orig- inal proprietors of Hartford in 1639, his home lot being the site of the present Capitol. He served in the Pequot war, and in 1671 was granted sixty acres in consideration of his valiant conduct in that war, and fifty acres more in 1672. He and his wife, Sarah, were original members of the old South Church, which was established in 1670. He was a man of considerable prominence, and filled many

offices in the Colony. He died before August, 1683, and his widow about ten years later. Of their children, ( I) John, with his wife Mary, was admitted to the South Church in 1686. He was townsman in Hartford in 1701, 17II, 1715, and died before 1734. (2) Elizabeth, married Jacob White. (3) Thomas married Susannah, daughter of Capt. Thomas Bull, and with his wife was admitted to the South Church in 1677. He was townsman in 1679, 1680, 1689, 1693, 1695 and 1703. He owned a large landed estate in Hartford, Wethersfield, and other towns, and his will, which was pro- bated in 1712, made provisions for his children on a liberal scale. (4) Sarah married for her first husband John White, Jr., and for her second Nicholas Worthington, and she died in 1676. (5) Mary married first Thomas Mea- king, who was killed by the Indians, and second John Downing.

Capt. Bunce, the great-grandfather of James H. Bunce, was lost at sea. He was the father of six children: (1) William, who went South, printed the first newspaper in Atlanta, Ga. He became successful and left a large estate; he did not leave any posterity. : (2) Rufus was a jeweler for many years in Hart- ford, where he died, leaving no posterity. (3) Thomas went to York State in early days. (4) Betsey married David Taylor, of Hartford. (5) Lucy married a Mr. Kepper. (6) Horace was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Horace Bunce was born May 29, 1776, in Hartford, and died June 16, 1863, in South- ington. His wife, Hannah Woodruff, whom he married in Southington, where he was then living, December 25, 1797, was born July 24, 1776, a daughter of Robert and Jerusha (Bron- son) Woodruff, and died January 30, 1856. Horace Bunce was reared to manhood in Hart- ford, and learned the trade of cooper, then a popular and profitable occupation. He fol- lowed the trade many years, and owned a farm which he cultivated in connection with his cooper business. The children born to Horace and Hannah (Woodruff) Bunce were as follows: Nancy was born May 19, 1799. Emarilla, born October 9, 1800, married John O. Camp, who dropped dead on the streets of Newbern, N. C., while there on a visit, and she died December 23, 1888. William Joseph, the father of James H. Bunce, was born August - 12, 1802. Jerusha, born July 1, 1805, married Henry Norton, and died May 26, 1869, in

James 96 Burner

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Southington. Hannah, born March 14, 1808, married Romulus Andrews, a shoemaker at Farmington, and died November 6, 1835. Dorcas, born June 3, 1811, married James Hitchcock, and died May 16, 1852. Rufus Rodney, born May 22, 1814, married and lo- cated in Arkansas. Henry, born August 24, 1817, died the same day. Horace Henry, twin of Henry, married first Jane Norton and sec- ond Ann Curtiss, and died March II, 1888, on the old homestead in Southington.

William Joseph Bunce was born in South- ington, where he was reared to manhood. When a young man he learned the trade of a tailor and established himself in Wallingford. After a few years he sold out and engaged in farming in Burlington, and later in Ken- sington, on the Meriden and New Britain road, one mile south of the Kensington meeting- house. There he passed his life, and died May 26, 1878. On September 14, 1827, he was mar- ried in Wallingford to Miss Emeline Hough, who was born July 15, 1808, a daughter of James and Mary (Berry) Hough. She died October 22, 1890. Their children were as follows: (1) William, born December 21, 1828, married Ruth Curtiss, and had two daughters; he was a mechanic, and died at Plainville, Conn. (2) George, born January 20, 1831, is a farmer of the town of Berlin, Conn .; he has been twice married, to Sarah Hall and Mrs. Marcella (Brooks) Hastings. (3) James H. is mentioned below. (4) Lean- der, born December 20, 1835, married Harriet Louise Wilcox, and has an adopted daughter, Catherine Stillman, who is now a music teach- er. (5) Horace C., born May 1, 1839, died at the age of three days. (6) Lucy Emeline, born July 27, 1843, died April 12, 1844. The mother passed the years of her widowhood on the old homestead farm, and there died. October 22, 1890, and was laid to rest with her husband in the Kensington cemetery. She was a true Christian woman, and took a deep interest in the welfare of her family and in all that concerned her home. William J. Bunce, was a man of character and standing, whose word was as good as a bond. He did not act hastily, but calinly and deliberately, and his convictions, when once formed, were not easily shaken. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and a man of deep re- ligious proclivities.

James H. Bunce was born August 28, 1833.

in Kensington, and there passed his boyhood days. He attended district school and recalls Misses Alsenath Clark, Sarah Gridley and Har- riet Elderkin among his early teachers. When he was about seventeen he attended the acade- my at Southington, which was presided over by Rev. Mr. Day, and for two winters he attended a school at Berlin taught by Prof. Johnson. At the age of nineteen he entered the general store of John Brandegee, at Berlin, and contracted for three years at an annual salary of $50, $75, and $100, respectively. However, after a year's faithful service Mr. Bunce was released from his contract, and en- tered the grocery store of Ward Coe, at Meri- den. Six months later he returned to Mr. Brandegee, and was with him, at a very liberal advance in salary, until that gentleman failed in business. Mr. Bunce was appointed by the creditors as their agent to sell off the stock of goods, and his methods and ideas on that occasion received flattering commenda- tion from all concerned. Mr. Bunce came to Middletown in November, 1856, and en- tered the store of Colegrove & McFarland at a salary of $400 a year, and in March, 1857, he became clerk for Origin Utley, who carried a fine line of dry goods and carpets, and with whom Mr. Bunce remained until he sold out to H. C. Ransom, of Hartford, who conducted the store in Middletown in connection with his older and larger store at Hartford. Mr. Bunce later became his manager in Middletown for some time. In May, 1865, Mr. Bunce pur- chased the store, and became his own employer. He could now utilize his original ideas regard- ing business, which was not possible while in a subordinate position, and his push and energy soon becanse evident. He rented the room next door, cut an arch between the two store rooms, and soon found his business out- growing what he thought ample quarters. The building which now forms the front part of his store had been built but a year. and Mr. Bunce bought it in September, 1876. At that time it was 26x80 feet, and in 1895 he built an annex 80 feet deep, and four stories high. In 1900 he added a second annex. 48x80 feet, and six stories high. This gives him one of the largest stores in the State. much larger than any other in the city, and un- doubtedly the largest store in New England to be found in a city the size of Middletown. The business originally included but dry goods

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and carpets. In 1877 paper hangings were added, and in 1895 a furniture department was installed; with the additions erected, as previously mentioned, other departments were inaugurated, until at this time the business comprises a thorough, up-to-date department store, such as would do credit to a city several times larger than Middletown.

On May 17, 1865, James H. Bunce was married to Miss Mary A. Hubbard, who was born in Middletown, January 3, 1838, daugh- ter of Josiah M. and Sarah S. ( Hubbard ) Hub- bard, of whom the former, as well as his father, Jeremiah Hubbard, lived on the Wayside Spring Farm, where he died aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Hubbard lived to be ninety two. Four of their children are vet alive: Robert, a member of Company B, Fourteenth Connecticut Vol- unteer Infantry, was killed in the battle of Antietami; Mrs. Sarah S. Williams died July 8, 1902 ; those living are Josiah M., Mary A., Martha Louise and Lucy Lyman. Mrs. Bunce is in the sixth generation in the paternal line, and in the seventh in the maternal line, from George Hubbard, one of the original settlers of Hartford, who came to Middletown in 1650, and who was the accredited agent of the Mat- tabesset Company in dealing with the natives. On her father's side the line is through Josiah M., Jeremiah, John, Nathaniel and George, while on the mother's it is through Sarah Sill, Elisha, Nehemiah, Nathaniel (2), Nathaniel and George. Mrs. Bunce attended the school which was presided over by Rev. Mr. Brewer, in Middletown, and before her marriage was for two years a successful teacher. She takes much interest in genealogical research, and is an intellectual and highly cultivated lady. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bunce are as follows : Mary E., now the wife of Dr. Percy Evans, Professor of Chemistry in Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., attended Rev. Mr. Smith's private school, and Miss Patton's school in Middletown, and later was a pupil at Dana Hall. Grace Hubbard, who married Major William Paulding, an officer of the Third United States Infantry, was a pupil in the schools of Dr. Smith and Miss Patton, gradu- ated from Dana Hall, and spent two years in Wells College. James H., Jr., attended Dr. Smith's and Miss Patton's schools, and Capt. Roberts' military school, at Norwalk, and en- tered Wesleyan University, where he reached

the Junior year, when his eyesight failed, and he was obliged to take a voyage of six months along the Atlantic coast and into the West Indies for his health; he returned to Middle- town and entered his father's store, where he has become general manager, and is widely known as one of the ablest young business men of the city. Richard Hubbard is con- nected with the J. H. Bunce store.

Mr. Bunce has always been a Republican, but he is a business man and not a politician. He served in the common council two years, but declined re-election, and he was a candi- date for the State senatorship on one occasion, but was defeated. He and his family are prominently associated with the First Congre- gational Church. For some years he has been a trustee of the Middletown Savings Bank, and he has been associated with several im- portant enterprises from considerations of pub- lic need, but declined connection with most that have been offered him, as he has felt that he is distinctively a merchant, and ever keeps that fact uppermost. When he first went into business it was with money that he had accumu- lated entirely himself. He needed more money, and his father helped out by endorsing for him, with the distinct understanding that he was to ask for no other endorsers, and that he was not to endorse for others-a rule he has always followed. He conducts his business according to strict rules, and will not tolerate flagrant intemperance. Deception of his cus- tomers is never allowed, and his methods have been such as to make his commercial charac- ter a standard in Middletown. There is proba- bly not a store in the State that more thor- oughly holds and retains the confidence of its patrons.

Mrs. Bunce is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is ex-regent of the chapter at Middletown. She is promi- nent in church circles, and is president of the Home Missionary Society of the First Congre- gational Church.

HON. SAMUEL BABCOCK, late of the city of Middletown, where he served as post- master and mayor, and where he was also con- nected with a number of financial institutions, was a man of unusual abilities. He was a representative in both branches of the State Legislature.

Mr. Babcock was born February 18, 1822,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

on Liberty street, Middletown. In his early life he was engaged in the manufacture of spec- tacles, and later became interested in the lock factory at Zoar, and much of his time and business energy were devoted to that busi- ness. He was selected for political preferment, and represented his town in the Legislature, and his District in the Senate. He was a ster- ling Democrat of the Jeffersonian and Jack- sonian kind, and for the greater part of his life was a public man. He was appointed post- master under President Buchanan, and made one of the best postmasters Middletown ever had. He was also collector of the port for a time, and served with satisfaction to all. Mr. Babcock was one of the trustees of the old Mid- dletown Savings Bank, and was the real-estate agent of that institution. He was a director of the Middlesex Assurance Company, and for a time was interested in the red granite quar- ries at Stony Creek, Conn. When President Walker retired from the Valley railroad Mr. Babcock was elected to the responsible position, and managed the road with great ability and success until som'e five years before his death, when it passed into the hands of the Consoli- dated. In 1870 he was elected mayor, and served the city for two years with distinc- tion. He had an objection to making public speeches and while he occupied the office, where he was often called upon to deliver public addresses, sought to evade the honors as ntuch as possible. He was modest and retiring in disposition. In his death, which occurred Oc- tober 12, 1892, a good and useful man passed from earth.

Mr. Babcock was survived by his wife and two sons, namely: Arthur H., agent for the Hartford Transportation Company, in Middle- town; and Samuel Babcock, Jr., a clerk in the Middlesex Mutual Company.

SAMUEL INGHAM was born in Hebron, Conn., September 5, 1793, and died in Essex, in the same State, November 10, 1881. All the education he received previous to his pro- fessional training was gained in the common schools. He studied law in the office of Gov. Mattocks, at Peacham, Vt., and with the late Judge Gilbert, in Hebron, this State. He was admitted to the Bar in Tolland county, in 1815, and during the first four years of professional practice was located in Canaan, Vt., and Jewett City, Conn. In 1819 he removed to Essex,

Conn., (then a part of the town of Saybrook), where he continued to reside until his death.

From 1828 to 1834 Mr. Ingham represent- ed Saybrook in the Lower House of the Legis- lature. In 1834 he was Speaker. He was re- elected in 1835, and again made Speaker, but having been, at the same election, chosen a member of Congress, he of course, on being officially notified of his election to the. latter body, vacated his seat in the State Legislature; he was re-elected to Congress in 1837. He served two years as chairman of the committee on Naval Affairs. In 1839 he was again a candidate for Congress, but was defeated at the polls by the late Chief Justice Storrs. His failure to be returned to Congress was a source of great regret, not only to his friends at home, but to the members of that body, over which he had repeatedly presided as chairman of the committee of the whole, with great skill and ability, during some of its most stormy and protracted sessions. Had he been re-elect- ed he would undoubtedly have been the can- didate of his party for Speaker, the third Federal Office in power and dignity ; a posi- tion for which he was eminently fitted. In 1843 and 1850 Mr. Ingham was a member of the State Senate. In 1851 he was returned to the lower branch of the Legislature and elected Speaker.

For nine years Mr. Ingham was State at- torney for Middlesex county, and for four years judge of the County Court. He was also tendered a seat on the Bench of the Superior court and Supreme Court of Errors, but de- clined. From 1858 to 1861 he was commis- sioner of Custom's in the Treasury Department at Washington.

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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 5

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